17 November 2018

Magnus Carlsen Survives in Game 6 of His Match Versus Fabiano Caruana

The score is 3-3.

The sixth game of the World Championship Match between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana took place in London on November 16. The World Champion played with the white pieces. The Norwegian grandmaster "changed the serve" and started the game with the king's pawn. As many specialists had expected, the American grandmaster chose the Petrov Defence. Carlsen tried to surprise his opponent in a rare line, but Caruana was very well prepared for such a scenario and precisely equalized the position.

It seemed that the grandmasters would agree to a draw soon, however, a slightly inaccurate World Champion's play allowed the challenger to develop an advance on the queenside and fully seize the initiative. Magnus had to do his best to save half a point; he sacrificed a piece and eventually built an unassailable fortress. The draw was fixed on move 80.

The score is 3-3. The seventh game is to be played on Sunday, November 18. Magnus Carlsen will have the white pieces again.

Sharing his impressions with our website is Alexander Grischuk

– Alexander, I have read in Twitter that while broadcasting on Chess24 you highly praised Fabiano Caruana's game, saying that it was the first time that he had played like a World Champion in the London match. Is it so?

– Indeed, he delivered an excellent performance, outplaying Magnus from a level position and attaining a substantial edge. However, Magnus managed to find a study-like defense. It is amazing how an hour after the game started it felt as if it might end any moment, whereas it went on to last for almost seven hours.

– Is it an offshoot of the mainline that the game was opened to?

– No, the line has been gaining popularity lately. Caruana's play seems like a refutation of the whole idea. It goes without saying that finding all those knight pirouettes is impossible over the board, but a prepared player will navigate into a level ending from the word go.

– How did Fabiano manage to outplay the champion?

– 21…с5! seems like an excellent move to me. Well, Magnus followed by playing in a somewhat disorderly manner, while Fabiano’s each subsequent move was very strong indeed. The position being very concrete, each move was of great value.

– Is the piece sacrifice undertaken by Carlsen the only way to salvation?

– No, I do not think so – there was another choice as well. It’s hard to tell. Besides, it is not to be taken for granted that the sacrifice leads to an immediate draw. However, it is a quite different story after the white king made it to h7 – it is a draw, perhaps. The struggle, breaking out on level ground, build into an interesting game in the end.

– Has the Candidate taken over the gaming initiative?

– No, I do not think so. I rather think the forces start to balance each other out.

– Do you still keep from forecasting?

– I now root for 12 draws, but time will tell if it is going to be so.

– Is Carlsen a favorite if it comes to rapid chess?

– Yes, but he is a slight favorite anyway. No match has ever ended in all draws; it would be an interesting case if so. Alternatively, with 11 draws and thinking it highly unlikely to win on a tiebreak, Caruana will act more aggressively in the 12th game. Indeed, eleven draws and game 12 full of fight is my picture perfect.

Questions by Vladimir Barsky