If Magnus Carlsen were a company, then I would say his stock prices took a solid beating today! The first game of World Championship 2013 ended in a draw in just 16 moves. Usually in such matches, the onus is on the white player to push his opponent to fight for the half point! Magnus Carlsen being White had this responsibilty on his shoulders. Many people thought he would be a daredevil and play 1.e4, while some said he could try to throw Vishy off his game with 1.b3 or 1.g3. Nothing like that did occur as Carlsen went for a risk free edge with 1.Nf3. With the reti converting itself to the Slav Grunfeld, it seemed as if Vishy was going to face the chinese water torture! But there is something about champions that is very unique. I have always seen it in sports like Tennis or Cricket, when the commentators say that Federer raised the game to a whole new level or Sachin took the attack to the bowlers. Maybe it was first time that I witnessed in Chess that Vishy Anand increased the speed of the game to dizzying proportions! From a slow slight edge for white, the game turned right on its head with complete chaos on the board. Making 4 super strong moves in a row, dc4! Nb6!, Nc4!, and Nd5! Anand was in the drivers seat! It was then that Magnus Carlsen realised that he had to change his profession from being a hunter to and become a Fireman, as he quickly tried to extinguish Vishys Initiative! On a more demanding day, Vishy might have played on, but considering today was the first day, and after all the hype and hooplah, it was but natural for him to seek some rest! I think the draw had the following repercussions: 1. The ease with which Vishy drew with black, will give him a good nights sleep. 2. Carlsen as a favourite : this stock has just taken a huge fall! 3. Carlsen personally must be happy to the extent that in his first game in match play he didnt botch it up with a loss! 4. The spectators who spent 2000rs for the match must have felt a little sad! :) 5. And last but not the least as Harikrishna Pentala (india no. 2) rightly tweeted, the seconds got only 1.5 hrs of sleep!! As tomorrow Vishy dons the white pieces, I expect that he will make Carlsens life much more miserable than what Carlsen achieved today! For a detailed analysis of the game, do click on the link below: sagarteacheschess.blogspot.in/2013/11/game-1-sweet-sixteen-moves.html
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 17:48:21 +0000
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