World Chess Championships - Magnus Carlsen Wins!

Sparks · 19-10-2013 6:20pm #1

Hm. We don't have a thread on this yet, that won't do at all! Okay...

The official website is:
http://chennai2013.fide.com

There's a decent summary article here on Chess.com:

Anand-Carlsen: three weeks until game 1

The opening ceremony of the much awaited World Championship match in Chennai between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen is scheduled to start in 19 days from now: on Thursday, November 7th, 2013 — "tentatively" at 16:00 local time. Then, on Saturday, November 9th, at 15:00 hrs, the players will start their first game.

Three more weeks! Chess fans around the globe are waiting for one of the most anticipated chess events in recent years: the Anand-Carlsen world title match. ...continues

The players
Viswanathan Anand (India, 43) retained the world title after defeating the challenger, Boris Gelfand, in the FIDE World Championship Match 2012 in Moscow, Russia. Before that, after winning the Mexico 2007 World Championship tournament, Anand successfully defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn 2008 and against Veselin Topalov in Sofia 2010. Anand was also FIDE World Champion in 2000 after winning a knockout tournament.

Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 22) became the official challenger by winning the Candidates Tournament 2013, played in London in March of this year, after a thrilling finish where Vladimir Kramnik ended on an equal number of points but lost on tiebreak. Carlsen has been the most successful tournament player in recent years and is the highest rated player in the world by a big margin. In December last year he broke Garry Kasparov's record of highest rating ever.

EnPassant · 19-10-2013 11:11pm

The matches will start at 3PM Indian time which will be 9.30AM Irish time (I think).

RQ_ennis_chess · 20-10-2013 6:41pm

Should be interesting to see what Anand can come up with, he uncorked some serious work in the Meran against Kramnik and the Scandinavian against Kasparov, he always has something prepared

Sparks · 22-10-2013 9:41pm

From Susan Polgar's blog:

World Championship Novelties

Novelties for Anand-Carlsen match
BHOPAL, October 22, 2013

Some thoughtful introduction of novelties is set to brighten up the World chess title clash between Viswanathan Anand and Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen next month in Chennai.

For the first time, the World championship games can be followed on smartphones — both androids and iOS — once the free applications will be available for downloads from November 1. A ‘move-alert tone’ will help the user know that a move has been made. Live analysis, in text form, will also be available throughout the game. The opening encounter of the 12-game match is on November 9 at the Hotel Hyatt Regency.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the All India Chess Federation Bharat Singh Chauhan, “For the first time in India, chess games will be shown live on Doordarshan on all days. Since we expect an unprecedented following on the internet, we have arranged for five servers to ensure uninterrupted service.”

It may be recalled that on the final day of the Candidates tournament in London in April this year, the event’s server crashed due to heavy traffic of internet users.

Privileges

Talking about the privileges provided to the players, Chauhan said, “The players, along with their teams, will stay on two separate floors. Using two separate elevators for exclusive use, the players will reach the playing hall. The contest will be held in a sound-proof glass cubical. We have ensured that players get as much privacy as possible and are kept away from the reach of guests and spectators. After the game, the players will head for the mandatory media conference.”

Talking about the arrangements for those who wish to follow the commentary, Chauhan said, “We have hired Susan Polgar and Lawrence Trent as commentators. In the playing hall, two huge AV screens will be installed for the benefit of spectators. Behind the spectators’ area, we also have a designated area, without seats, for the 100 registered chess players at a time to watch the contest. We expect a lot of players in Chennai since a series of events are planned to coincide with the match.”

Team Anand and Team Carlsen are expected to arrive at the hotel on November 4.

Sparks · 05-11-2013 12:59pm

ChessVibes/Chess.com has arrived in Chennai to start their coverage:

In Chennai!

Arrived in Chennai! Typing this from a room on the 9th floor at the official Hyatt Regency hotel in Tamil Nadu's capital, I'm excited to be here and provide on-the-spot coverage of yet another World Championship. After Mexico 2007, Bonn 2008, Sofia 2010 and Moscow 2012, this is the fifth (and probably last) world title event for ChessVibes (while we're still up!) and the first (of many to come?) for Chess.com.

Following the initial schedule of 6-26 November, several journalists booked their flights nicely around the match, so arriving on the 4th and leaving on the 28th. At breakfast there were already a few Norwegian journalists and also Ulrich Stock, whose interviews were posted here earlier this week. To our horror, somewhere mid-September the dates were suddenly moved to 7-28 November so we'll need to rebook our return flights in case of a tiebreak (or timeout by one of the players). Oh well. At least it's nice to be early!

New updates will follow soon. Meanwhile, below is how Chess.com will cover the match. (Don't miss Ian Rogers' excellent overview of the coverage by other chess media!) ...continues

mikhail · 05-11-2013 4:53pm

Slate.com has published an interesting article on why the WCh should be scrapped.

TOMP · 05-11-2013 9:25pm

How does the time control for these games work?

EnPassant · 05-11-2013 10:42pm

TOMP wrote: »

How does the time control for these games work?

The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting after move 61 has been made.

If the score is 6-all then there is a further 4-game rapid-play match at 25 minutes per player per game plus 10-second increment after every move.

If the score is still tied then there are up to 5 2-game blitz matches at 5 minutes + 3 second increment after every move.

If the score is still tied then there is a single game where white has 5 minutes, black has 4 minutes and there is a 3-second increment from move 61. The players toss for colours and if the games is drawn then black becomes world champion.

Detailed rules are here: http://chennai2013.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FWCM20131.pdf

TOMP · 05-11-2013 11:01pm

EnPassant wrote: »

The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting after move 61 has been made.

If the score is 6-all then there is a further 4-game rapid-play match at 25 minutes per player per game plus 10-second increment after every move.

If the score is still tied then there are up to 5 2-game blitz matches at 5 minutes + 3 second increment after every move.

If the score is still tied then there is a single game where white has 5 minutes, black has 4 minutes and there is a 3-second increment from move 61. The players toss for colours and if the games is drawn then black becomes world champion.

Detailed rules are here: http://chennai2013.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FWCM20131.pdf

So is it 120 mins for 40 moves per player?

EnPassant · 05-11-2013 11:13pm

TOMP wrote: »

So is it 120 mins for 40 moves per player?

Yes - the clocks will be set so that each player has 2 hours for their first 40 moves, so the first 40 moves could take up to 4 hours.

Sparks · 06-11-2013 1:12pm

First pictures of the venue up on chessvibes:

Not quite polished yet, but they have until Saturday... :eek:

cdeb · 06-11-2013 2:36pm

mikhail wrote: »

Slate.com has published an interesting article on why the WCh should be scrapped.

Interesting article alright. I didn't want to agree with it - I don't go for the basic argument that the format is old and so should go - but certainly bits there that I couldn't disagree with.

Sparks · 07-11-2013 5:40pm

*heh*
Even XKCD is getting in on this

I love the alttext:

Prediction for Carlsen v. Anand: ... 25. Qb8+ Nxb8 26. Rd8# f6 27. "... dude." Qf5 28. "The game is over, dude." Qxg5 29. Rxe8 0-1 30. "Dude, your move can't be '0-1'. Don't write that down."[Black flips board]

Echecs · 08-11-2013 12:49am

There are even more reasons why World Chess Championship shouldn't be scrapped, and this match, with excitement it brings, is one of them.

L1m1tless · 08-11-2013 2:10pm

I think Anand has been underestimated by the public. Would be interesting to see him get a win early on.

Past sell by Date · 09-11-2013 12:13pm

round 1 draw, that was quick

Ciaran · 09-11-2013 12:14pm

So the first game was a pathetic damp squib of a draw in 16 moves. :rolleyes:

I'm glad I didn't get up to watch the start live.

Echecs · 09-11-2013 12:45pm

It wasn't a pathetic draw. I don't think they could avoid threefold repetition.

EnPassant · 09-11-2013 12:51pm

It's a good start by Anand. For Carlsen to agree a draw with white after 16 moves is not what he would have wanted.

Sparks · 09-11-2013 11:37pm

Loving the android app for this actually. Notification of moves if you're not watching live, commentary and annotated game records, it's a nice piece of work.

L1m1tless · 09-11-2013 11:40pm

Sparks wrote: »

Loving the android app for this actually. Notification of moves if you're not watching live, commentary and annotated game records, it's a nice piece of work.

Agreed, its a great app! You can download an engine that works with it too.

cdeb · 10-11-2013 11:47am

Game 2 over already? Another quick, dull draw; 25 moves and just over an hour (66 minutes)

Hmm...

L1m1tless · 10-11-2013 12:30pm

Still plenty of game left to see some blood. It's nice to see some openings that are not a slav. The last WC match must have been the most boring in history.

Past sell by Date · 10-11-2013 3:41pm

The caro kann is the e4 version of the slav. So far nobody is willing to take a risk

L1m1tless · 10-11-2013 3:51pm

True but expect to see much more variety in this match. Both are testing the waters at the moment. I am rooting for Anand, always for the underdog

Sparks · 10-11-2013 4:31pm

Why does everyone rag on the caro-kann?

Lovely solid opening that :pac:

(Also, isn't it neat to be looking at the first few moves from these matches' openings and recognising tabiyas from your own games?)

Sparks · 12-11-2013 2:45pm

Another draw for round 3, but this one took most of the morning and only just wrapped up a few minutes ago.

L1m1tless · 12-11-2013 3:08pm

Carlsen said he was nervous. Anand had a chance today. It's heating up!

Sparks · 12-11-2013 3:11pm

Nice analysis of the second game here.

Sparks · 12-11-2013 5:40pm

Game 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH_5Ko7QCi8

Game 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLgTVKZxRcA

Game 3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l16qGBBJwEk

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 2:21pm

Amazing Defense by Anand! 35. Ne4!

http://chennai2013.fide.com/live-game-with-video/

Sparks · 13-11-2013 2:22pm

Certainly looks to be the most interesting match so far, doesn't it?

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 2:24pm

for sure! Small blunder there by Anand Kc3

cdeb · 13-11-2013 2:37pm

Random fact - Carlsen has never beaten Anand with black. A win here would be huge for Carlsen.

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 2:40pm

most likely a drawn R+P endgame now

cdeb · 13-11-2013 2:44pm

Can Carlsen go in for 43. RxN RxR 44. RxP? 2R+1 v R, B+3. Interesting imbalance, though you'd imagine the two rooks would be good for a draw at least.

Much better than the opening two games though.

cdeb · 13-11-2013 2:47pm

Hm. Rdd3. Not the best line per the analysis engine (-0.49 v -0.04, even a pawn up). Is he happy to take a perpetual again?

***Edit*** - there's no perpetual with c3 covered, of course. Doh!

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 2:48pm

Could have alright, would be interesting!

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 2:53pm

Carlsen still trying to win. Could be easy to go wrong here. Come on Anand!

cdeb · 13-11-2013 3:24pm

Carlsen with a slight endgame advantage should be in his element though. This could go on a while yet.

cdeb · 13-11-2013 3:29pm

Nice line in the analysis there - 48. ... Ree3 49. Rc3 RxR 50. Rb8+ (saccing two rooks to push the pawn home) KxR 51. e8=Q+. Q+1 v 2R+3, but plenty of checks on. Anand could sneak a draw that way.

L1m1tless · 13-11-2013 3:32pm

..49 Ka2 would give the possibility of queening and only give up 1 rook

Sparks · 13-11-2013 4:20pm

Anand just making it to the time control there. The game's live here for anyone who doesn't have that link yet btw, just in case.

Sparks · 13-11-2013 4:24pm

And Carlsen offers a draw and Anand agrees.

Ciaran · 15-11-2013 3:53pm

Looks like Anand has got into some trouble today. Computers seem to think this rook endgame is winning for white but it's still very tricky. I don't understand why Anand played 39...a4 sacrificing the pawn.

Ciaran · 15-11-2013 4:03pm

Carlsen wins. Big pressure on Anand now.

funnights74 · 16-11-2013 3:39pm

Carlsen wins with Black :eek:, 4-2 overall. Anand has a mountain to climb now.

TheGogginator · 18-11-2013 1:01pm

Saw an interesting interview with Carlsen's sister yesterday, she made a comment about hoping Magnus doesn't beat himself, that Magnus can always beat himself even when no-one else can.

Still, after a solid draw in R7 he's continuing to look good...

brilliantboy · 18-11-2013 2:18pm

Hope Anand gives it a real go in the last few rounds after a tame effort today. May as well go down fighting.

He should take a leaf out of Carlsen's book and play on his own terms, not taking heed of what theory and tradition says is best and proper.

TheGogginator · 18-11-2013 2:28pm

fingers crossed Anand gets the finger out alright, he has nothing more to loose now anyway!

L1m1tless · 18-11-2013 2:33pm

Commentators were joking about him playing a Kings Gambit today lol That would have been fun!

World Chess Championships - Magnus Carlsen Wins!

Comments