Carlsen still favourite as World Chess Championship crosses halfway mark

Magnus Carlsen is a big favourite to retain the World Chess Champion title. CNBC and Yahoo Sports quoted New York chess master Mig Greengard as saying that the only way Sergey Karjakin—his challenger—has a chance is if he can take Michigan and Pennsylvania.

ChessLogoFact: Carlsen, 25, the Norwegian grandmaster, unwrapped the little-played Trompowsky Attack during the first game of his title match against his Russian challenger Karjakin, 26, perhaps in an apparent salute to president-elect Donald Trump.

Fact: Carlsen attacked his opponent’s knight with his bishop on the second move of the game thereby initiating the rare Trompowsky Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5).