The match for the World Chess Championship in Sochi started with a draw in 48 moves. Anand had slightly better opening preparation but Carlsen managed to equalise and Anand started to go wrong on the run up to move 40. It seems Carlsen didnt make the best of his chances and allowed a quick draw after 42...Re2 (42...Re3) Anand found a line with the fine 44.Qh1 which quickly forced a draw. Anand opened with 1.d4 and Carlsen replied with a slight surprise of the Gruenfeld Defence which he hasnt played on a regular basis for some time. Carlsen didnt play c5 where absolutely everyone plays c5. said Svidler about Carlsens choice of 8...Nc6. Anand was playing quickly at this stage and Carlsen used about 45 minutes of the first hour of play. Anand play his moves quickly but did pause for a while after 13...c6. Svidler around this position was saying: One mistake, and certainly two, could cost Magnus the game... and thats not a comfortable position The price of a mistake in a position of this type goes way up. 15.Bh3 seems to have been a prepared idea. I thought this idea with Bh3 was nice. Taking away the c8 square for the rook. Carlsen It didnt seem too problematic for Carlsen who had 17...Qb6 if he just wanted equalisation. Teimour Radjabov criticised 21.Rhe1 rather than something like 21.h4 and he may be right. After 27.Rd7 the position was more or less balanced and Anand chose to temporarily sacrifice his d-pawn for what seemed a position that was impossible to spoil in Svidlers words. However as mild time pressure approached Anand made some Some imperceptively careless moves. and at move 40 When the pawn came to a4 I thought I might be getting into some trouble. The assessment of the rest of the game turns on 42.Rd4 which Anand worked out in quite a bit of detail. Carlsens 42...Re2 43.Rb4 b5 44.Qh1 led to an immediate draw. The player discussed 42..Re3 43.Rd7+ Kh6 44. Rxb7 Rb3 Well I think he should have tried this. - Anand. Although neither seemed to suggested this was winning after 45. Rxb3 axb3+ 46. Ka1 Qxh2 as a quick engine check suggests. In which case Anand would have had to play 43. Qd1 Qxd1 44. Rxd1 b5 when the chances depend on how you evaluate this ending. Anand Im slightly relieved. Carlsen Its OK by me Im not disappointed at all. Carlsen Certainly this needs to be checked. The opening. Game 2 Sunday 9th November 12pm GMT: Carlsen-Anand. I will be hosting the ICC coverage with GM John Fedorowicz but you have to be a member to hear me. Score Carlsen 0.5 - Anand 0.5 Notes and photos below.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:31:41 +0000
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