Top level chess is all about psychology. Based on tournament performances Magnus Carlsen is the world's strongest player, but the reigning champion Viswanathan (Vishy) Anand has already won the world championship five times. Magnus is 22 and physically at his peak, but Vishy is 43 and has the advantage of experience. So who has the better nerves? Who will crack first under pressure?
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| Vishy relaxes with his wife |
The tension was already apparent before the game started. Magnus was sitting at the board a few minutes before the game, adjusting his pieces, collecting his thoughts before Vishy arrived.
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| Magnus prays to the Gods of Chess |
Magnus began the world championship with Nf3 and steered the game into a solid Fianchetto Grunfeld position, but then he soon showed why opening preparation is his weakness. He was already on the defensive after the 9th move. After 9. Nc3 Vishy played 9...dxc4 which weakened Carlsen’s pawn structure and allowed him to place his pieces on active squares. As he admitted in the following press conference, Magnus realised he had slipped up and saw no way to victory, so in the 13th and 14th moves he offered a draw by repetition. After long deliberation Vishy accepted the draw. This meant that the first game ended in a draw after 90 minutes and only 16 moves.
Carlsen, Magnus – Viswanathan, Anand
FWCM 2013 Chennai (1) 9.11.2013
1. Nf3 d5
2. g3 g6
3. Bg2 Bg7
4. d4 c6
5. O-O Nf6
6. b3 O-O
7. Bb2 Bf5
8. c4 Nbd7
9. Nc3 dxc4
10. bxc4 Nb6
11. c5 Nc4
12. Bc1 Nd5
13. Qb3 Na5
14. Qa3 Nc4
15. Qb3 Na5
16. Qa3 Nc4
½ – ½
It's no surprise for games at world championship level to be drawn, especially the first game in the series. The international press has been writing as if Magnus will have an easy victory. I can guarantee my readers, nothing will be easy in this world championship.
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