Carlsen set to retain World Championship title

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen (right) contesting the 2021 World Championship Match with Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai, UAE (Photo: Niki Riga)
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen (right) contesting the 2021 World Championship Match with Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai, UAE (Photo: Niki Riga)

When World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the first game of the classical championship match, a 136-move thriller, a colleague called and said, “It is finished.” The caller knew the might of Carlsen, and, supposedly, concluded his opponent did not stand a chance.

However, the match was in its infant stages as only six games had so far been played in the 14-game encounter, which began on November 26 and ends on December 16. But when Carlsen knocked off his opponent in consecutive games (6th and 7th) thereby scoring wins at the world championship level, I felt something was up. Carlsen has so far accumulated three victories from 10 games and needs one point to win the championship match. Experts and novices alike are contending the match is over in the Norwegian Carlsen’s favour and I share that view.

Carlsen’s swift rise to the world championship level has been extra-ordinary. His peak classical FIDE rating of 2882 is the highest in history. He has successfully defended his world championship title four consecutive times.

Meanwhile, in local chess, Loris Nathoo emerged victorious in the most recent online chess tournament that was held by the Guyana Chess Federation. Anthony Drayton was the runner-up.

Chess game 

This game is the second win by Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Championship Match.

White: Magnus Carlsen 

Black: Ian Nepomniachtchi

Event: 2021 World Championship Match, Dubai, UAE, Round 8 

Type of Game: Russian Game, Modern Attack

1. e4e5 2. Nf3Nf6 3. d4Nxe4 4. Bd3d5 5. Nxe5Nd7 6. Nxd7Bxd7 7. Nd2Nxd2 8. Bxd2Bd6

9. O-Oh5 10. Qe1+Kf8 11. Bb4Qe7 12. Bxd6Qxd6 13. Qd2Re8 14. Rae1Rh6 15. Qg5c6

16. Rxe8+Bxe8 17. Re1Qf6 18. Qe3Bd7 19. h3h4 20. c4dxc4 21. Bxc4b5 22. Qa3+Kg8

23. Qxa7Qd8 24. Bb3Rd6 25. Re4Be6 26. Bxe6Rxe6 27. Rxe6fxe6 28. Qc5Qa5 29. Qxc6Qe1+ 30. Kh2Qxf2 31. Qxe6+Kh7 32. Qe4+Kg8 33. b3Qxa2 34. Qe8+Kh7 35. Qxb5Qf2 36. Qe5Qb2 37. Qe4+Kg8 38. Qd3Qf2 39. Qc3Qf4+ 40. Kg1Kh7 41. Qd3+g6 42. Qd1Qe3+ 43. Kh1g5

44. d5g4 45. hxg4h3 46. Qf3. 1-0. Black resigns.