The World Chess Championship match consists of 12 games with a classical time control: 120 minutes for 40 moves, then 60 minutes for 20 moves, and then 15 minutes plus 30 second per move until the end of the game. If the match is tied, a tie-break will be played on November 27th.
Game 1
The first game of the World Chess Championship between the World Champion Magnus Carlsen and the contender and former World Champion Viswanathan Anand was played in the Main Media Center in Sochi on November 8th, 2014. The Indian grandmaster played White. Igor Levitin, the adviser of the Russian President, made a symbolic first move.
Facing the queen’s pawn advance, Magnus Carlsen opted for the double-edged Gruenfeld defense, which often leads to very sharp positions with active piece play. Vishy Anand, however, preferred a quieter plan, playing a modest, but rather poisonous continuation, where he prepared a new idea. The World Champion consumed a lot of time, but was unable to completely equalize in the opening.
As usual, Carlsen defended very tenaciously and successfully rearranged his pieces. Trying to maintain the evaporating initiative, Anand rejected trading the queens with an equal ending, but overestimated his chances. Black managed to trade White’s strong bishop and got an advantage – Carlsen had a better pawn structure, and his king was safer.
As Anand confessed at the press conference after the game, he even started to worry about losing. White’s position was getting worse, and on the 42nd move Carlsen had a strong maneuver that could create White serious problems. However, the World Champion missed it. Anand secured his king, transferred the queen to the center and forced a draw with a perpetual check.
Game 2
The second game of the World Chess Championship match between the champion Magnus Carlsen and the former champion Vishwanathan Anand took place in the Main Media Center in Sochi on November 9th. The Norwegian grandmaster played White.
In the opening Magnus Carlsen showed a new idea aimed against the Berlin variation, which is currently the most dreadful line for those who like to start the game with е2-е4. Vishy Anand successfully rearranged his pieces and obtained a solid and safe position. However, such course of events apparently made Anand too relaxed, as later the Indian started making superficial and inaccurate moves. The World Champion found a very energetic plan – he transferred the queenside rook on the kingside and created a direct attack against the king.
White’s strategy looked very straightforward and obvious, but it turned out difficult for Black to parry the threats. At the press-conference Anand blamed his 18th move and suggested 18…Qf7 instead, pushing the opponent’s queen away from its strong position. Carlsen agreed with him, saying he did not obtain much out of the opening apart from slight initiative. However, after 19.Rg3 he already was quite optimistic.
The computer considers Black’s 20th move a nearly decisive error, as after it Anand was forced to defend a hopeless position. However, the only defense (20…Kh8) looks very unnatural for a human player. During the subsequent game Anand could defend more tenaciously, but the problems he had to solve were severe in any case. The World Champion converted his advantage in a calm manner, without forcing the events.
Game 3
Magnus Carlsen decided not to continue the opening discussion in the Gruenfeld defense and went for the classic Queen’s Gambit. The players entered a fashionable line, in which White develops his bishop to f4 and advances a pawn to c5 rather early. The former World Champion Alexander Khalifman commented the opening stage as follows:
– The 7…Nh5 is considered a safer continuation, planning to get rid of the dark-squared bishops. 7…с6, as Magnus played, allows a dangerous forced line: White sacrifices a pawn and creates a strong passed pawn on c7. I analyzed this variation extensively, and concluded that Black barely holds, often on various tactical tricks.
The first 16 or 17 moves were played very fast, but then the champion slowed down considerably. Clearly, he mixed up something and could not demonstrate his home analysis properly. The time on his clock was running out, and his position kept deteriorating. Anand played very precisely and obtained a significant advantage. His 26.Rc6! was particularly strong. After this move Carlsen started to worry about losing the game. He tried to complicate things, but Anand avoided all the traps and converted his advantage into a full point. This is a first victory of Anand against Carlsen in a classical game in the last four years.
Peter Svidler shared his thoughts about this game:
Vishy got an advantage and very accurately turned it into a victory. It was noticeable that he tried hard not to rush things and not to look at the clock at all. A very important victory by Anand! The match basically starts over.
Game 4
Carlsen started the game with 1.e4, same as in the second game of the Match. Anand deviated from the Ruy Lopez and went for an opening considered more aggressive – the Sicilian. Judging by the speed of White’s play, Magnus was prepared for this course of events. On the move 3 he opted for a modest, but poisonous plan with the kingside fianchetto. With this move White does not claim an opening advantage, putting more emphasize on the middlegame. Such strategy often brought success to the World Champion, who is justly considered one of the best technicians of modern chess.
The opening choice of his opponent did not surprise Anand. Black had a wide choice of plans, but the former champion quickly made up his mind. A standard situation with an isolated pawn on d5 arose, in return Black obtained good piece play. In a few moves in a dynamically equal position Anand faced a choice: a more active move, trying to seize the initiative, or a more passive one, leading to a slightly worse position. He went for the latter.
After multiple exchanges Black was left with weak pawns on the queenside, but utilizing it was difficult for White, because his own king needed protection. As usual, the World Champion kept playing as long as he had the slightest chance, but Anand was accurate, and the players agreed to a draw on the move 47.
At the press-conference Magnus Carlsen said that the last two games have been pretty bad and he has to improve. Answering about differences between this match and their first match in Chennai, he joked: “In Chennai after four games the score was 2-2, here also the score is 2-2, so there is no difference”.
Vishy Anand: “The position was very complex, but I was not worried at any particular moment, except when I had to find 41…Qd2”.
Game 5
Arkady Dvorkovich, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and the chairman of the organizing committee made a symbolic first move. Later during the press conference Mr. Dvorkovich expressed his gratitude towards those who prepared and carried out the match. “We are grateful to the Russian Chess Federation, the leadership of Krasnodar Krai, and our business partners – Summa Group, Gazprom, Fosagro company, Togliattiazot and others. We also thank our information sponsors and all media covering the match”, underscored the Deputy Prime Minister.
For the third time in this match Vishy Anand started the game with a queen’s pawn advance. Magnus Carlsen changed his opening again, this time opting for the Queen’s Indian defense. Interestingly, we are yet to see the same opening twice in this match.
The opening moves were played quickly – obviously, both players paid close attention to this line during the preparation. The first critical moment arose on the move 17, when Anand had a choice: to push his passed pawn forward or to exchange it. The former is riskier, because an advanced pawn can also turn into a weakness. The ex-World Champion decided to exchange it, aiming only at a minimal advantage. He indeed obtained a slight plus, because his bishop was superior to the opponent’s knight. However, the material was very limited, so a draw looked very likely.
On the move 27 Anand could avoid further simplifications, maintaining slight pressure. However, after serious thought he decided that his winning chances are negligible in any case, and went for a quick draw.
Game 6
Carlsen was true to himself and opened the game with е2-е4. Anand went for the Sicilian defense with 2…е6, like in the game four. This time Carlsen did not deviate from the main theory, and soon the players arrived at the fashionable position of the Kan Sicilian. White can handle it in many different ways – either launch a direct attack, or use a more positional approach. The World Champion opted for the latter, allowing Black to develop his minor pieces quickly and create some pressure against White’s center.
As it often happens in games with early tension, it continued with multiple exchanges, and transposed to an ending with a small advantage to White. Anand maneuvered skillfully and created a tricky defensive setup: White could win a pawn on almost every move, but Black would gain sufficient counterplay every time.
Carlsen continued to strengthen his position, but suddenly committed a blunder on the move 26, giving Anand a chance to deliver a simple tactical blow, collecting two pawns. Anand, however, did not notice this chance and made an indifferent move fairly quickly. The World Champion lifted his head, found that his blunder was forgiven, and lowered his head again for about 10 seconds. At this very moment Anand realized their mutual errors, and it was a tough mental blow for him.
The rest of the game was played very accurately by Magnus, while Anand did not defend perfectly, and his position was ruined even before the time control. The World Champion won the game and took the lead in the match.
Vishy Anand: “When you don’t expect a gift, you don’t look for it”.
According to Magnus Carlsen, if 26…Nxe5 was played, the World Championship match might have been lost for him. After the blunder Anand started to play less confidently – the missed chance clearly affected his morale. The ex-World Champion agreed with this assessment.
Game 7
For the fourth time in this match Magnus opened the game with е2-е4. Vishy Anand rejected the Sicilian defence, in which he had suffered a loss two days before, and replied by 1…е5. The Ruy Lopez had already occurred in the Sochi match, but this time Carlsen did not avoid the principled theoretical discussion in the Berlin Variation. For the first 25 moves the players followed Giri-Radjabov game, played just two weeks before at the FIDE Grand Prix in Tashkent. That game ended in a draw, however, the computer shows that White’s play could be improved. We did not have a chance to see what Carlsen prepared, because the ex-World champion was first to deviate.
However, the game tempo did not slow down even after Anand’s novelty – clearly such course of events did not surprise Carlsen. White sacrificed a pawn, obtaining very active pieces in return – his rook was on the 7th rank, and the knight settled on f5. Anand thought for 35 minutes on his 31st move and made a very committal decision to sacrifice his bishop for two pawns, intending to set up a fortress. Later at the press conference the former World Champion said he found this plan at the board, although he had seen similar positions successfully defended before.
Carlsen’s task was to trade the rooks and keep his two pawns from exchanges. However, it was hard to achieve, as the black rook was not allowing the white knight settling in the centre, while supporting с2-с4 would expose the white king. Eventually Carlsen was forced to put a pawn on c4, because he could not make progress otherwise, but Black advanced his pawn to b5 and activated the king, threatening to exchange all the pawns. Soon Anand managed to simplify the position, achieving a book draw with a rook against a rook and knight.
The World Champion kept playing, trying to utilize minimal practical chances for a win. However, Anand demonstrated the required accuracy, and the game ended in a draw on the 122nd move, just three moves short from breaking the record for the longest World Championship game. The fifth game of the match between Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi in Baguio, 1978, ended in a draw in the 124th move.
Magnus Carlsen said at the press conference that he was convinced that there would be a way to win the endgame after black’s sacrifice. However, soon he realized that he could not make progress without pushing c4, which gave Black counterplay.
Vishy Anand was asked if it was frustrating to defend for so long. “It is not frustrating if I get a draw in the end”, replied the ex-World Champion.
Game 8
So far the players demonstrate exceptional devotion to their first move – Magnus Carlsen begins all his games with the king’s pawn advance, while Vishy Anand prefers to push the queen’s pawn. This time the Norwegian grandmaster responded by the Queen’s Gambit, but on the move 6 deviated from the variation that occurred in the third game. In that game Carlsen failed to solve his opening problems, and Anand eventually won.
The line played by Magnus is considered quite risky and did not occur at the highest level for a while. However, the World Champion prepared a strong novelty that will probably lead to a re-evaluation of the whole variation. Anand consumed a lot of time in the opening, but did not find obvious flaws in Black’s setup, and rejected the most ambitious plan connected with castling long. In the subsequent game he also went for the safest options without creating too much trouble for his opponent. Naturally, Anand took for granted that his opponent carefully analyzed everything at home. During the early phase of the game Carlsen almost did not think on his moves. For most of the game White had an hour less on the clocks than Black.
Following mass exchanges, a minor piece opening with a symbolic advantage to White arose. Magnus Carlsen demonstrated a certain degree of accuracy, and a draw was agreed on the move 41.
Vishy Anand: “I didn’t get much from this one, but there are still two games with white pieces.”
According to Magnus Carlsen, he was not in the best physical shape early in the game, but got some energy later. Answering about the doping test (that takes place today), the World Champion was sarcastic: “Doping control is always a nice surprise.”
Game 9
The players went for the Berlin Variation of the Ruy Lopez, the same opening that occurred in the seventh game. That game ended in a draw on 122nd move, and Anand was on the ropes for the most part of it. This time the scenario was completely different.
The Norwegian deviated from the seventh game on the move 11. Apparently he was confident the opponent analyzed their previous game carefully and will make a draw with ease. However, his new move also did not surprise Anand, who demonstrated a paradoxical idea: he developed the light-squared bishop to a6 first, provoking an active centralizing move of the white knight, and modestly retreated the bishop from a6 to b7 on the next move.
At first glance such waste of a tempo looked like a complete ignorance to the opening principle of not moving the same piece twice. Black was still undeveloped and his king was stuck in the center. According to the same general principles White opened the central files immediately in order to get to the enemy king, however Anand turned out really well prepared for such course of events. His king was surprisingly secure, while the pieces quickly joined the action. Carlsen realized that White has no opening advantage, and if the game continues, Black can seize the initiative thanks to his bishop pair. Therefore White utilized an opportunity to force a draw by perpetual.
Magnus Carlsen acknowledged that his opponent was better prepared in the opening and added: “Always better to be able to press with White, but draw is okay with the current score in the match”.
Vishy Anand: “An easy draw with Black is good for confidence, I just have to press harder with White”.
Game 10
As usual in his white games, Vishy Anand started with the d-pawn advance. Magnus Carlsen responded by returning to the roots – he already employed the Gruenfeld defense in the first game on November 8th. A distinguishing feature of this double-edged opening is that White has a variety of promising choices, but if he gets carried away and plays inaccurately, he may face problems. In order to play the Gruenfeld successfully as Black one needs to remember many complicated and lengthy variations against each White’s plan.
Vishy Anand did not repeat the quiet maneuver Bc1-d2, as in the first game, and went for 5.Qb3 – a plan invented by the Soviet grandmaster Viacheslav Ragozin in the 30s of the previous century. The opening theory of this variation is now very broad and deep. The players followed a game played by Anand’s coach grandmaster Wojtaszek until Carlsen demonstrated a novelty on the move 15.
In a complex ending that arose in a few moves White had an advantage due to the bishop pair and a strong passed pawn on d6. However, Carlsen solidified the center with his bishop, then seized an open file with his rook, and subsequently traded off the opponent’s passer. The position became equal, and a draw was agreed on the move 32.
Vishy Anand said 19…Bd4 was very precise. He also mentioned that 24.Rfe1 instead of 24.Rd2 could be better, but he didn’t like that black knight land on c6.
Magnus Carlsen: “With two bishops White had some pressure, but I am not certain if it was enough for anything more than a draw.”
Game 11
For the sixth time in this match the champion opened the game with е2-е4. The players continued the theoretical discussion in the Berlin variation, however, this time Anand chose a different 9th move, evacuating his king on the queenside and opting for a more aggressive game. In this line Black attempts to connect rooks as soon as possible, and sometimes can seize the initiative, if he neutralizes White’s pressure in the center.
The former champion demonstrated a new and interesting idea – he carried out g7-g5 in order to stop White’s pawn advance of the kingside, not worrying about the weakened square on f6. Black successfully solved his opening problems, and when the World Champion got somewhat carried away maneuvering his knights, Anand made a nice break b6-b5, sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. The champion declined the offer and switched to defending.
The critical moment occurred on the move 26. After a lengthy consideration Anand decided that quiet play does not give Black enough winning chances, and sacrificed an exchange, obtaining a dangerous passed pawn on the queenside in return. Generally this sacrifice is typical in similar positions, however in this position it was refuted tactically. Carlsen broke through in the center and invaded the 7th rank with his rook, forcing Black to defend. The World Champion was very precise during the technical stage, and on the move 45 Vishy Anand congratulated his opponent on winning the match.
The grandmasters agreed that the match was very tense. Vishy Anand said that “Magnus is very strong and I have to admit that he was better. My nerves gave up first, and psychologically Magnus was holding up well.”
Magnus Carlsen: “Anand played better than in previous match and this time he really pushed me.” He also said he is very happy with the way the match was organized, and his whole team was treated well.
Fabiano Caruana on Chess24: Anand tried to get a sharp position, as otherwise he could perfectly well have repeated the line with 9…Ke8, 10…h5 and, perhaps, have held it, as he did in the previous games. The problem is that over the whole course of the match he played worse than his opponent and he was unable to get to grips with the complex situation that arose.
But how would you explain the move 27…Rb4?
Well, that’s probably a move you’d like to make in blitz.
Why not make a draw in that game and take your chances in the final game, with the white pieces?
Vishy probably didn’t believe in the possibility of beating Magnus in the deciding game. In fact the only time he managed to win in the match it occurred due to Carlsen choosing a terrible variation. In the remaining games he didn’t come close and, it seems, he didn’t really believe in his chances of succeeding in the final encounter.
But still, 27…Rb4 is madness!
Yes, it seems that by that point Anand had already lost control of his nerves.
Were you rooting for anyone in this match?
No, I had no personal preferences.
Do you really think Vishy will try to qualify for yet another match with Carlsen?
I’m almost sure that’s the way it’s going to be. At the end of the day, that’s the professional approach, and I don’t think Vishy is currently considering the option of quitting chess.
Did you rate Anand’s chances of victory highly before the match?
He had good results this year and in Dubai during the blitz and rapid chess tournaments he looked more inspired than he had in the last couple of years. Nevertheless, Magnus is now clearly stronger. Before the match I’d have called him the clear favourite, although things didn’t go all that smoothly. In the 3rd game he was let down by his preparation, but overall he never got into any serious danger in Sochi.
Do you think the turning point of the match was the 6th game, when Anand failed to find 26…Nxe5?
That was a tough blow for him, of course, but that situation arose absolutely by chance. What was strange was instead Anand choosing an opening variation that involved a transition to a worse ending for Black. Moreover, it was all well-known. And it was also the type of position in which Magnus is particularly strong. It was simply inexplicable. If you fail to spot a one-move win, of course, it’s hard to count on much in such a match.
What was Vishy’s main mistake in this match?
The strange way in which he twice played the Sicilian Defence. Already on the first attempt it didn’t go so well, but he continued it a second time. The whole course of the match in Sochi showed that Carlsen had nothing special prepared against the Berlin and Vishy should have stuck to his guns. The idea of playing the Paulsen was very bad and very strange, in my view.
Did the match surprise you in any way?
No, except for that mutual blunder with 26…Nxe5 in the 6th game it was all more or less normal. But such things happen – just think, for instance, of mate in a few moves being missed in the second game of the Topalov-Kramnik match. It was another matter the way it all ended so abruptly. I expected a draw in the 11th game and a big battle in the 12th.
Do you think you’d be able to withstand the enormous mental stress of a World Championship match?
It’s hard for me to say since I’ve never played at that level. I think I’d manage to remain calm and focussed, but until you find yourself in such a situation it’s impossible to judge.
What do you consider Carlsen’s main weakness?
He’s considered a great endgame specialist, but when he’s forced to defend he’s hardly stronger than other top players. In the past openings were a weak spot and he had problems with principled players who went for main lines – for example, with Kramnik… (by the way, Vishy is also well-known precisely for such an approach to the opening.) Then, however, Magnus paid attention to that aspect and did a lot of work. Overall, you can outplay him in many types of positions if you play strongly. Yes, it’s not easy, but it’s possible.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Total | |
| Carlsen, M | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6 ½ |
| Anand, V | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 4 ½ |
At the press conference Carlsen revealed he started the match very confidently but the loss in game three set him back and he only really recovered his balance when he had two whites in a row in the middle of the match. He also said that if in game 6 Anand had taken his chance the match would have been different.
Carlsen on the match: “I thought after the first couple of games that I was playing much better than he was but then game three got me back to earth again.”
“It’s been inconsistant but it was evidently good enough. I can still improve but I certainly did some good things as well. For sure he played better than he did last time and he really pushed me to the end.”
“it was tougher this time.”
Anand on the match: “I was happy with some things. I did much better with white than last year but with the black pieces it didn’t work out so well. I think it was a tougher match but in the end I have to admit he was superior. His nerves held up better.”
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN:
Friends, I would first like to congratulate Magnus Carlsen on his victory. Congratulations! This victory allows you to retain the title of World Chess Champion.
I would also like to thank Viswanathan Anand for the wonderful game we will all remember.
This match between the two strongest grandmasters of the planet has truly become the focal point of the entire world chess championship. Millions of chess fans from all over the world followed it. As I have just been told, this was about 2 million people in over 100 countries every day. I am certain that the honest and fierce struggle of two equal and respectable players has met the expectations of millions of fans across the globe.
Chess is fairly considered an important part of world culture. In Russia it has traditionally enjoyed special respect.
We are happy and proud that the Olympic city of Sochi hosted the decisive match for the world chess crown.
This city is filled with a festive atmosphere of sports and competition, and the participants in this match have demonstrated the same qualities as the Olympic athletes did during the Winter Olympics.
The match to determine the World Chess Champion will definitely serve to further develop chess in Russia and the world at large.
We in Russia have a special love for chess. Let me remind you that this country gave the world ten champions.
We have about 540 thousand people doing this sport, while the number of those who like to spend their free time over a game of chess runs into millions.
Once again, my congratulations to Magnus Carlsen on his outstanding victory! I wish you success!”
