Raymond Keene

Nos morituri

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, those two gladiators of the mind, will duel in London during the remainder of this month for the title of world chess champion.
 
Twelve games will be played, and if no clear victor emerges there will be a rapidplay tie break on November 28. It is my prediction that in spite of the fact that their ratings are very close (Carlsen 2835, Caruana 2832), the more artistic Caruana will succumb to the extreme pragmatist Carlsen, by the score of 6½ to 4½.
 
Should Caruana somehow escape to a level score after the stipulated dozen games, then I hold out little hope for him in the speed chess tiebreak on 28 November. Carlsen has hitherto dominated Caruana in quick games and I foresee no miraculous reversal of this trend.
 
Caruana-Carlsen: Wijk aan Zee 2015
(see diagram 1)
 
White is actually OK if Black takes the exchange here with 31 … Bxa1. Instead Carlsen activates his rooks when the mating threats make it impossible for White to defend. 31 … Rf4! 32 c3 After 32 Ke1 the reply 32 … Rd8 is very strong. 32 … Rd8 33 d4 Bh6 33 … Bxd4 was also winning as after 34 cxd4 Rh4 35 Kg1 Kh8 Black forces checkmate. 34 Ke1 Rxe4+ 35 Kd1 c5! The final trick. 35 … Re2 is met by 36 Rb2 but after 35 … c5 36 Nxc5 Re2 will win. 36 Kc2 cxd4 37 Kd3 Re2 38 c4 Rxf2 39 Rd1 Re2 White resigns
 
Caruana-Carlsen: Stavanger 2015
(see diagram 2)
 
In this game Carlsen defended with the Berlin Wall variation against the Ruy Lopez, a line used with great effect by Vladimir Kramnik against Garry Kasparov in their World Championship match in London 2000. With his previous move, Caruana has set a trap into which Carlsen now falls. 22 … Ne6? Carlsen either had to sit tight with 22 … b6 or risk the complications after 22 … Bxf5 23 gxf5 g6 24 fxg6 Ne6.













Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in