Sochi Challenge

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.