Heartbreak for Anand
Mumbai Mirror | Nov 17, 2013, 02.48 AM ISTR S Raghavan
World champion loses again as Magnus Carlsen takes a giant step forward for the title.
It was another heartbreak for Viswanathan Anand as he slid to his second straight defeat against Magnus Carlsen when he blundered in a clearly drawn position in the sixth game of the 2013 World Championship match here on Saturday.
At the halfway stage, Carlsen has taken a two-point lead (4-2) with six games still remaining. After a painful loss in the fifth game, Anand deployed the anti-Berlin variation on Saturday with the aim of getting an interesting position in the middle-game. The Indian probably didn’t want to enter a queen-less ending again against Carlsen where chances for victory will be minimal. Even though the fourth game produced one of the best games arising from the Berlin defence, the opening’s drawish reputation was the reason for Anand differing as early as the fourth move in the game.
The world champion’s 10th move (Bg5) improving on his earlier game against Levon Aronian in the Tal Memorial, which ended in a draw, forced almost a 20-minute think before the Norwegian replied with a solid bishop move. Being one point down in the match there was a general perception that Anand will adopt a more aggressive tactic. The first 15 moves indicated Anand was in a mood for fighting chess. However, a flurry of exchanges from the 21st move resulted in the position becoming almost equal.
The problems started when Anand gave up a pawn on the 39th move to transpose into a rook and pawn ending, which looked like a draw. The Indian sacrificed one more pawn on the 44th move to activate his rook. Carlsen, who has the ability to create pressure in harmless positions, played on with the idea of forcing a mistake from the world champion and succeeded when Anand blundered on the 57th move (Rg8+).
One poor move
After defending correctly for a long time one poor move cost Anand the game.
Anand, who looked dejected following his second straight loss, agreed it was big blow for his title hopes. However, he promised to give his best in the coming games.
Carlsen was thrilled to win for the second straight day.
Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com
Only Kramnik can kick butt on this guy which is why he should have won the candidates:
“I would say that Carlsen is an improved version of Karpov”
VK: Yes, he reminds one of Karpov a lot. He also has certain weaknesses, which everyone, even the greatest players, have. Karpovian weaknesses, yes. They are hidden and very few, yet they still exist. Their styles are very similar. I would say that Carlsen is an improved version of Karpov. I have heard people say that his style is too dry, too positional. Partly that’s so. However, I believe that a person of his mastery can choose any style he likes. He should ask himself only. With such a high rating and skill, you know, no one should be telling him what to do. He is indeed an outstanding player. Like we say in such cases, “If you don’t like it, don’t watch”. He can play whatever way he likes to.
MM: It is his soul playing…
VK: Yes, that’s the way he is. Cold-blooded, rather pragmatic, somewhat melancholic even. His chess is also swampy, laidback, choky/boa constrictor type. It doesn’t matter. For me personally, mastery is most important. His skills are remarkable. This is great. I think it’s a bonus that all the players have unique styles. I have one style, Aronian has a completely different style. Carlsen has the third variety. It is good for the game. This is interesting.
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?8913-Kramnik-Interview-Karpovian-Weaknesses
It is time for Anand to step aside, he borrowed Kramnik’s title for 6 years, now he needs to give it back and let Kramnik clean house and kick Viking butt!!!
This article says something completely false and wrong. Here is what it says:
“It was another heartbreak for Viswanathan Anand as he slid to his second straight defeat against Magnus Carlsen when he blundered in a clearly drawn position in the sixth game of the 2013 World Championship match here on Saturday.”
The problem is that Anand did NOT blunder at all!!
At move 57, Magnus plays Kf4, leaving Anand to decide whether or not he wants to take the offered pawn on c4. The best chess engines evaluate the position at basically 0, equal at this stage.
The game continues as: 58.Rc8 Ke3 59.Rxc4. Even at this stage where Anand takes the pawn on c4, the best chess engines still assess the position as equal at 0!!!
Even the grand masters commentators (Susan Polgar and her Indian colleague) did not see the win coming!! Only Susan Polgar saw Magnus’s idea but only afterward, as the Indian commnentator could not see Magnus’ idea of creating a passed pawn on the column f!!
Conclusion: Anand did NOT blunder, he was simply outplayed in an unbelievable way by a continuation that even the current best chess engines had not seen either!!! That is the reality of this game and to claim that Anand blundered is ridiculous. As after Anand took the pawn on c4, it was already a lost game for Anand, no matter the subsequent moves he made.
Chess champion shold be the same one who earns highest rating. Luckily this time it tends to be. What I think is, world chess championship is just a big match. If you want to know who is the real king, look at the one with highest rating. And this event should prove so.
Carlsen could crack-up like Fischer, Morphy and Alekhine and never play the game again, which would lead to Anand getting the title back before the AVRO tournament to pick a new successor. History has shown you can’t keep that much information in one’s head without going bananas. I would choose to have a sane World Champion like Anand over one like Fischer and Carlsen.