We are now just one more nervous game away from the unthinkable – deciding a classical world title by playing increasingly faster games. I know that it happened not so terribly long ago, but I still find unthinkable a good word for it. Because the champion seemed such a clear favorite, and because I don’t think I will ever find it a satisfactory way to settle such an important event.
Weeks of frustration have finally ended for the champion, and once again he pauses after the game to speak with Norwegian media. Visibly nearly as weary as he is happy, he cannot hide a face-splitting smile. The match is now tied 5-5, and some might say we now have a two-game title contest.
The players had had a day to recover from their exertions in game 8, and to earth themselves again from two dramatically different perspectives.
Challenger Sergey Karjakin has seized a 4.5-3.5 lead in his title match with Magnus Carlsen, preventing a record-tying world championship sequence of eight initial draws by winning with black in a heart-stoppingly dramatic game that was far more excitement and emotion than precision. The champ now has only four games left to solve the invincibility enigma posed so far by his Russian adversary.
Norwegian Grandmaster Jonathan Tisdall on game 7 of the World Championship Match in New York.
As someone who reported the first 42 – or was it 44? – games of the first Karpov-Kasparov match, from the USSR, an experience that lasted four and a half…
National fever After two marathon battles a rest day was even welcome for the huge Norwegian viewing public, who had been staying up glued to their screens until the tiny…
Predictions The social media sphere began buzzing early as world championship fans prepared for game four. The previous encounter ended with honors divided after a ferocious and dramatic battle, thanks to an incredible defensive…
– Hvis jeg hadde visst at jeg ville få så mange spørsmål om det, hadde jeg spilt noe annet, sa en spøkefull verdensmester etter en solid remis.
Game time is finally about to arrive!