World champion Magnus Carlsen (world #1 by rating) from Norway is defending his championship in New York on a 12 game match vs Russian Sergey Karjakin (world #9, winner of Candidates Tournament last March). Before the match Carlsen was about -350 favorite. Karjakin is a very good defensive player, many of his wins are punishing an opponent trying to overextend. OTOH, Carlsen is more of a technician, he likes getting calm positions and starts pressuring the opponent, forcing him to play precisely or face a long torture trying to hold a difficult position.
Before the match I assumed Carlsen would be a big favorite. He seldom overextends, and I thought it would be very hard for Karjakin to outmanouver Carlsen to win a game, while holding all his games with black. Furthermore, in the event of a tied match, the rapid tiebreak games would favor the champion, who is famous for his quick play.
The first games of the match went according to the script: 7 draws.
Game 1, Carlsen played a Trompowsky attack, a slightly offbeat opening which offers slim hopes for white advantage. Karjakin played solidly and got an easy draw.
Game 2, Karjakin played a closed Ruy Lopez with a timid d3, game got equal quickly and fizzled to a draw.
Game 3, Carlsen opened with Ruy Lopez, Karjakin countered with Berlin defense. Instead of entering the main Berlin line, a queenless middlegame with white space advantage vs black pair of bishops, Magnus took a side line which offers minimal advantage to white. Carlsen started his trademark pressure. Karjakin tried to force draw too early, and white got a large advantage. After small mistakes by both sides, switching from "white is winning" to "maybe black can hold the draw", Carlsen made the last inaccuracy, allowing Karjakin to escape with a draw by the skin of the teeth.
Game 4 was another closed Ruy Lopez, this time a more topical anti-Marshall. Karjakin dubitative game let Carlsen to take the advantage with black. In a difficult position Karjakin defended very well and Carlsen again missed his best chance for a win. After 94 moves, Carslen finally accepted the draw.
Game 5 Was again an open game, but instead of the Ruy, Carlsen opted for a solid Italian opening. Again, Carlsen worked the small opening advantage into some winning chances, but a precise active defense by Karjakin neutralized the game. At one point Carlsen played carelessly allowing Karjakin a strong pawn sacrifice. But instead of pressing for a win, Karjakin played it safe, heading for another draw.
Game 6 Karjakin went for Ruy Lopez again, and Carlsen countered with a kind of delayed Marshall attack, where black sacrifices a pawn and gets good piece activity. Once again, Karjakin played safely, steering into a draw.
Game 7, the second half of the match gives Karjakin white pieces again. For the first time Karjakin opens with d4, Carlsen goes with the Slav defense, reaching by transposition a Queens Gambit Accepted. Carlsen equalized easily and even had a chance to press for advantage, but played for a draw. So, 7 games, 7 draws. Carlsen has had some good winning chances, but Karjakin defense has hold. Pressure is mounting...
Game 8: Carlsen also opts for 1. d4. Game goes to the dull Colle-Zukertort system. White got nothing out of the opening. Carlsen played speculatively, but Karjakin once again played safely instead of going for a good-looking attack. A few moves later, Carlsen played dubiously to try to keep the game going, instead of settle for a draw. Karjakin simply hammered on the weaknesses, leading into a complex position where both players were short of time. Both players committed mistakes, first Carlsen, getting a lost position, and then Karjakin, allowing enough white counterplay to force a draw. But in the critical moment, instead of sacrificing a pawn to free his bishop and clinch the draw, Carlsen moved the queen to the queenside to stop the black passed pawn on a-file. Big mistake, white king was left unprotected and soon the black pieces build an unstoppable attack. Carlsen had to resign, and was so upset that he did storm out of press conference before answering questions.
So, Karjakin is one game ahead with 4 games left. He is now favored to win the match (-199/+150 on Pinnacle). Let's see if he can finish the work, reminiscent of the way Kramnik beat Kasparov on London 2000 (2 games to zero).
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Chess world championship match
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