Now that the thrilling 2016 Candidates Chess Tournament has concluded, the next huge compelling chess competition of magisterial quality is the Carlsen-Karjakin title match. Following the 2016 Chess Olympiad in September, all eyes would be focused exclusively on the title match. Can Carlsen, the Norwegian chess grandmaster, prevail? However 
chess aficionados look at the pros and cons of the impending title match, one certainty seems to exist: Karjakin is already signalling his intention to be thoroughly prepared.
Karjakin withdrew his participation from the Altibox Norway Chess 2016, to be held in Stavanger, Norway, this month, a tournament of prestige which includes the world champion and half of the other top ten players. Carlsen and Karjakin would have clashed, presenting an engaging dress rehearsal for the key title match. Karjakin’s manager explained his withdrawal twelve days from the commencement of the tournament as follows: “Karjakin won’t play in the prestigious tournament in Stavanger. It is with great pleasure that Sergey accepted the invitation from the organizers of Norway Chess after being the winner in 2013 and 2014. But the explanation for the withdrawal put quite simply is: no one in advance could have guaranteed Karkakin’s victory at the Candidates Tournament. Now Sergey has a different status and has decided to
