Wednesday 13 November 2013

Off-Topic: World Chess Championship 2013, Game 4


Another day, another draw. Does that sound boring to you? If you answer yes you're obviously not a chess fan. This was the most exciting game of the world championship so far. The advantage see-sawed back and forth. For most of the game Vishy had the advantage. Then Magnus took over. And finally the game ended in a draw.

The players chose the Ruy-Lopez Berlin Defence, an opening that leads to an early queen swap in move 8. 

Anand, Viswanathan – Carlsen, Magnus
FWCM 2013 Chennai (4) 13.11.2013

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4
5. d4 Nd6
6. Bxc6 dxc6
7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8
9. h3 Bd7
10. Rd1 Be7
11. Nc3 Kc8
12. Bg5 h6
13. Bxe7 Nxe7
14. Rd2 c5
15. Rad1 Be6
16. Ne1 Ng6
17. Nd3 b6


In move 18 Vishy offered a pawn sacrifice by playing Ne2, which Magnus immediately accepted. This led to a middlegame in which Vishy had more active pieces and total control of the centre of the board. Magnus fought to hold onto the pawn advantage, and it wasn't until the end of the first time control (move 40) that the game looked favourable for him.

18. Ne2 Bxa2
19. b3 c4
20. Ndc1 cxb3
21. cxb3 Bb1
22. f4 Kb7
23. Nc3 Bf5
24. g4 Bc8
25. Nd3 h5
26. f5 Ne7
27. Nb5 hxg4
28. hxg4 Rh4
29. Nf2 Nc6
30. Rc2 a5
31. Rc4 g6
32. Rdc1 Bd7
33. e6 fxe6
34. fxe6 Be8
35. Ne4 Rxg4+
36. Kf2 Rf4+
37. Ke3 Rf8
38. Nd4 Nxd4
39. Rxc7+ Ka6
40. Kxd4 Rd8+


After move 45 the game turned into a very tricky double rook endgame. The two opponents slugged it out until Magnus finally offered a draw at move 64. I'm looking forward to seeing an analysis of this part of the game by a grandmaster. Was there a possible win that Magnus missed? I don't know. I'm not that good a player.

41. Kc3 Rf3+
42. Kb2 Re3
43. Rc8 Rdd3
44. Ra8+ Kb7
45. Rxe8 Rxe4
46. e7 Rg3
47. Rc3 Re2+
48. Rc2 Ree3
49. Ka2 g5
50. Rd2 Re5
51. Rd7+ Kc6
52. Red8 Rge3
53. Rd6+ Kb7
54. R8d7+ Ka6
55. Rd5 Re2+
56. Ka3 Re6
57. Rd8 g4
58. Rg5 Rxe7
59. Ra8+ Kb7
60. Rag8 a4
61. Rxg4 axb3
62. R8g7 Ka6
63. Rxe7 Rxe7
64. Kxb3
½ – ½


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