Off-Topic: World Chess Championship 2013, Game 5

 

After four draws, Magnus Carlsen drew the first blood today. It was a very complex game, beyond the capabilities of normal players like me. It's claimed that the game was won because Vishy blundered in move 45, but it's no exaggeration to say that Vishy's blunders are better than my best moves.

Carlsen, Magnus – Viswanathan, Anand
FWCM 2013 Chennai (5) 15.11.2013

1. c4 e6 
2. d4 d5 
3. Nc3 c6 
4. e4 dxe4 
5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 
6. Nc3 c5 
7. a3 Ba5 
8. Nf3 Nf6 
9. Be3 Nc6 

The next move at this position surprised the commentators. Expected was something like 10.dxc5, gaining a pawn advantage. In this position a doubling of the c-pawns would be strong, especially after a queen swap. Instead of this Magnus played 10.Qd3, preparing the way for queenside castling and moving the rook into the centre of the board. This gained a small but significant advantage for Magnus that Vishy had to fight against for the next 30 moves.

10. Qd3 cxd4 
11. Nxd4 Ng4 
12. O-O-O Nxe3 
13. fxe3 Bc7 
14. Nxc6 bxc6 
15. Qxd8+ Bxd8 
16. Be2 Ke7 
17. Bf3 Bd7 
18. Ne4 Bb6 
19. c5 f5 
20. cxb6 fxe4
21. b7 Rab8 
22. Bxe4 Rxb7 
23. Rhf1 Rb5 
24. Rf4 g5 
25. Rf3 h5 
26. Rdf1 Be8 
27. Bc2 Rc5 
28. Rf6 h4 
29. e4 a5 
30. Kd2 Rb5 
31. b3 Bh5 
32. Kc3 Rc5+ 
33. Kb2 Rd8
34. R1f2 Rd4 
35. Rh6 Bd1 
36. Bb1 Rb5 
37. Kc3 c5 
38. Rb2 e5 

By move 38 the game had developed into a complex rook and pawn endgame. Some commentators considered the game drawn, and others even saw a small advantage for Vishy, but over the next four moves Magnus gained a pawn advantage. The structure of Vishy's remaining pawns was shattered, and having them on advanced squares was a liability, not an advantage.

39. Rg6 a4 
40. Rxg5 Rxb3+ 
41. Rxb3 Bxb3 
42. Rxe5+ Kd6 
43. Rh5 Rd1 
44. e5+ Kd5 
45. Bh7 

This is the position at which Vishy's notorious blunder occurred. It's claimed that if he had played 45...Ra1 he would have had a chance at a draw. Instead he played 45...Rc1+, and by move 51 Magnus was two pawns up. Vishy should have resigned in move 51, but he struggled on for a few more moves and resigned in move 58.

45....Rc1+ 
46. Kb2 Rg1 
47. Bg8+ Kc6 
48. Rh6+ Kd7 
49. Bxb3 axb3 
50. Kxb3 Rxg2 
51. Rxh4 Ke6 
52. a4 Kxe5 
53. a5 Kd6 
54. Rh7 Kd5 
55. a6 c4+ 
56. Kc3 Ra2 
57. a7 Kc5 
58. h4 
1 – 0 

Even weak players should have no trouble seeing the easy win for Magnus here. The black rook can stop either the a-pawn or the h-pawn becoming a queen, but not both. At best Vishy could delay the inevitable by harrassing the white king with checks, but that wouldn't be worthy of world champions. The game was over and they both knew it.

The score is now 3-2 with seven games to go. Let's hope for more excitement tomorrow.