Anand goes down in flames against Carlsen
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Yesterday’s encounter between world champion title holder gmV.Anand and the world’s best player (and the highest rated) gm M.Carlsen was an interesting clash of styles. Carlsen does not seem to put great emphasis on getting an opening advantage –which is very unusual in today’s super information world–preferring to outplay his opponents in the middlegame. And Anand–for his part–seems to have made a career out of defending–something that he has taken to another level all to gether compared to his colleagues– but this was not enough yesterday.
Now Anand has a negative score for the first time in this tournament, while Carlsen and Caruana leave everyone behind in their dust. There is one more round to go.
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 24th MOVE (24.g4)
gm ANAND
gm CARLSEN
Up to here a fairly reasonable exhibition by both players. Carlsen has sacrificed a pawn, but has (full ?!) positional compensation. Here Anand probably let his guard down and overlooked (or underestimated) Carlsen’s coming Nh3,Qh6,Ng5 manoeuvre.
To neutralize this, it was necessary to play actively with 24…Qd6 , with the idea of playing …e5 and …Ne6 (to handle Ng5). Play would be about equal after that. AS IT WAS, there was no second chance for Anand, and Carlsen’s grip on the Kingside soon netted him the full point.