21 November 2016
Seven Draws in a Row in Carlsen-Karjakin
The match score remains equal, 3.5-3.5.
The 7th game of the World Championship Match in New York took place on Sunday, November 20, and the show was sold out. There were many famous chess players among the visitors, including Fabiano Caruana, Boris Gulko, Alexander Khalifman, Lev Alburt, Max Dlugy, Irina Krush, etc. 
A blitz game between Caruana and Dlugy
Actor and producer Gbenga Akinnagbe made the honorary first move for Sergey Karjakin, pushing his pawn from d2 to d4. His witty remarks made both grandmasters laugh.
Everybody is smiling
Having exclusively played 1.e4 in the first three games, Sergey finally decided to give 1.d4 a shot. Magnus responded with the Chebanenko Variation of the Slav Defense, which occasionally appeared in his repertoire, but is by no means the main weapon. It seems his opening choice was a surprise for Karjakin, who deviated from the most principled lines, released the central tension and went for mass simplifications already around the 12th move. One of his moves was also inaccurate, and Carlsen could even seize the initiative, had he played 16...Bd5 or 16...Rb8 instead of 16...Rc8?! The move in the game allowed Karjakin to win a pawn by tactical means, however, the resulting position was drawn due to the presence of opposite-colored bishops. White tested Black's defenses for a while, and agreed to a draw on the move 33.
After the first seven games the score is equal, 3.5-3.5. Only five classical chess games are left, and in three of them Magnus Carlsen will be playing White.
The next game will be played on Monday, November 21.
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