On Saturday 8 November the first game will be played in the three-week long rematch between defending world champion Magnus Carlsen and the man from whom he took the title last year, Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. When Carlsen seized the title from Anand in Chennai last year, the magnitude of his victory was so immense that it would appear to have terminated Anand’s career at the top. Surprisingly, Carlsen then proceeded to display feeble form as world champion, losing a couple of games to lesser lights in this year’s Olympiad and turning in a lacklustre performance in the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis. Anand, on the other hand, qualified for this championship with a totally convincing performance in the Candidates tournament in Khanty-Mansisk in the spring of this year and recently took first prize in the elite tournament in Bilbao. On paper, Carlsen remains the favourite, but based on this year’s form, Anand’s chances certainly cannot be written off. Their lifetime scores are remarkably level, though a great point in Carlsen’s favour is that the last five decisive games between the two have all been victories for him.
As a foretaste of things to come I give representative wins each by the two mental gladiators.
Carlsen-Anand; Wijk aan Zee 2008
(diagram 1) Carlsen has a ferocious attack on the kingside but Anand keeps his nerve and beats it off with accurate defensive play. 26 … g627 Rh3 h5 28 Bf3 28 Ng3 was a better try. 28 … Bxd5 29 exd5 Bg7 30 Bxh5 gxf5 31 Bxf7+ Kxf7 32 g6+ Kg8 33 Qh7+ This leads nowhere. White had to try 33 Rxf5. 33 … Kf8 34 Rxf5+ Ke7 35 Qxg7+ Kd6 36 Rf7 Qxd5+ 37 Kg1 Rbd8 38 Rh7 Qd4+ 39 Kg2 Qg4+ 40 Kh1 Rg8 41 Rf6+ Kc7 42 Qe7 Qe4+ White resigns
Anand-Carlsen; Amber Blindfold 2008
(diagram 2) Anand’s negotiation of some complex tactics from this position was impressive considering the players were playing without sight of the board. 24 Qxa7 Ra8 25 d6 Rxa7 26 dxc7 Rc8 27 c5 bxc5 28 b5 cxb5 29 Nxb5 Rxa2 30 Bf1 Anand has calculated that the advanced c-pawn will eventually cost Black a piece. 30 … g5 31 Ra1 Rxa1 32 Rxa1 Nd8 33 cxd8Q+ Rxd8 34 Nc3 e3 35 f3 g4 36 f4 g5 37 fxg5 Nh7 38 Ne4 Re8 39 Bg2 Kg7 40 Kf1 e2+ 41 Ke1 Re5 42 Rc1 Nxg5 43 Rxc5 Rxc5 44 Nxc5 f5 45 Kxe2 Kf6 46 Ke3 Nf7 47 Nd3 Black resigns
Everyman have just published two up-to-the-minute must-have new guides for devotees of the Sochi protagonists, Anand Move by Move, by Zenon Franco, and Carlsen Move by Move, from the orotund but instructive pen of Cyrus Lakdawala. The best possible material to form your own view as to who will win.
Comments