It's end game for India's chess legend as Magnus Carlsen is crowned champ; final scoreline: 6.5-4.5
Norway's Magnus Carlsen (right) tackles Viswanathan Anand in Sochi, Russia yesterday
With pressure building up in crucial games, challenger Viswanathan Anand was first to crack to make a costly mistake to lose the 11th game and the match to Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Norway's Magnus Carlsen (right) tackles Viswanathan Anand in Sochi, Russia yesterday. Pic/AP/PTI
As usual in this match, Anand was better prepared in the Berlin Defence which had many outings in this match. The endgame which was reached quite early, was nearly equal with many dynamic possibilities for both the players.
Under pressure to catch up with Carlsen in the match score, Anand played an interesting move to open up avenue for his pieces. Carlsen was taken aback as he sensed that Anand was in a mood to take a risk in this game.
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Cool Carlsen
True to his style, Carlsen stayed cool, steadily maintaining the equilibrium. Anand could not control his aggression and gave a dubious exchange sacrifice. Carlsen pounced at this opportunity and with a nice Knight manoeuvre wrapped up the game and retained his crown as he reached 6.5 points.
Carlsen looked relieved and very happy after the game. After the last match with Anand in Chennai he had not expected Anand to win the Candidates tournament competing against world's young talent and become his challenger.
He admitted that Anand was well prepared in the openings and gave him a very good fight throughout the match. Anand praised the world champion for his steady nerves.
Awesome ability
He conceded that Carlsen has won this match as he is enormously talented player and he just played better than Anand in the match. Chess lovers all over the world will be disappointed by Anand's mistake in yesterday's game as this means that the 12th game in the match will not be played as the champion is already decided.
The author, a former India women's chess champion, is the youngest Padma Shri awardee at 16