Off-Topic: World Chess Championship 2013, Game 9

Before the world championship began this is what people were expecting. Everyone expected the reigning world champion Vishy Anand to be toppled from his throne by the young challenger Magnus Carlsen. But expecting it and seeing it happen are two different things. Commentator Tania Sachdev had tears in her eyes when she realised Vishy had lost.

Anand, Viswanathan – Carlsen, Magnus
FWCM 2013 Chennai (9) 21.11.2013

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. f3 d5
5. a3 Bxc3+
6. bxc3 c5
7. cxd5 exd5
8. e3 c4
9. Ne2 Nc6
10. g4 O-O
11. Bg2 Na5
12. O-O Nb3
13. Ra2 b5
14. Ng3 a5
15. g5 Ne8
16. e4 Nxc1
17. Qxc1 Ra6
18. e5 Nc7
19. f4 b4
20. axb4 axb4
21. Rxa6 Nxa6
22. f5 b3

Vishy went into the game with attacking play, knowing that he really had to win today. He built up an aggressive pawn formation in the centre, and Magnus had to draw all his pieces back to defend. At this point Vishy pondered for almost half an hour before playing Qf4.

23. Qf4 Nc7
24. f6 g6
25. Qh4 Ne8

Magnus' b-pawn is dangerously close to being queened, but Vishy doesn't care. He wants to use his rook and queen to get checkmate. This isn't a bad idea, but in move 28 he made a fatal blunder. There were groans all around when Vishy played Nf1, and he resigned in the same move.

26. Qh6 b2
27. Rf4 b1Q+
28. Nf1 Qe1
0 – 1

The game could have been at least drawn by playing Bf1, for instance 28. Bf1 Qd1 29. Rh4 Qh5 30. Nxh5 gxh5 31. Rxh5 Bf5

There were cheers from the Norwegian camp, but the rest of the world stood in shock. Not just the Indians. Even though I've been a fan of Magnus for years, seeing Vishy's last chances crumble away hurts me. After nine games the score is 6-3 to Magnus, and Vishy still hasn't won a single game. They say that it isn't over till the fat lady sings. If I close my eyes I can already hear her warming up.

Tania's reaction