Featured image credit: Niki Riga
Draws are so boring!
I hate it!
I hate that Carlsen and Caruana set the new record for the most consecutive draws at the beginning of a World Championship match after game 9.
I hate that they are so incredibly well prepared, that they are creating new frontiers of the opening theory and unable to gain a serious advantage with the White pieces.
I hate that we have the opportunity to observe two fantastic players at the height of their powers playing a World Championship match at a completely new level.
I hate that there wasn’t a single big blunder in the match so far.
But most of all I hate when they decide to go for each other’s throat in the game 10 and play such a fighting, exciting and fascinating encounter, full of incredible variations. And STILL manage to draw.
Because draws are so boring, right?
Round 10 report follows.
Game Course
For the fifth time in the match, Caruana opened with 1 e4 and Carlsen answered with 1…c5. Despite Anish Giri’s prediction that he will go for the main line Sveshnikov because „Openings are not repeated in 2018“, Caruana decided to employ the same 7 Nd5!? line he played in game 8.
However, instead of the rare but existing 12 Bd2!?, this time he went for a completely new move – 12 b4!?. Carlsen didn’t seem completely surprised, as he replied relatively quickly with the advance of his pawn. In turn, Caruana employed a completely new idea – 14 bxa5!?, breaking up his pawn structure on the queenside and creating active piece play.
After Carlsen advanced his f-pawn, it was clear we would get a fighting and exciting game, as both players had trumps on opposite sides of the board. The game became extremely complicated – chess24 commentators Giri, Svidler and Grischuk had trouble navigating through the forest of the complications. Grischuk even condemned the players for playing low-quality chess but changed his mind later during the broadcast.
In the maelstrom of possibilities, players did commit some inaccuracies, which were perfectly understandable from the human point of view. In general, they played excellently and maintained the position within the state of dynamic equilibrium. After exciting 30 moves, a heavy piece endgame was reached where Magnus seemed to be pushing, but which was equal all the way.
In the end, he even blundered with 44… Kd4?!. After Caruana’s reply – 45 Rb5!, it appeared Magnus position is dangerous, but after the precise 45… Rd6 it became clear the best Caruana can obtain is 3v2 rook endgame with the pawns on the same side of the board. He did indeed reach the theoretically drawn position and offered the draw immediately, ending a grandiose struggle, which will be analyzed by generations to come.
Game Analysis
The Aftermath?
Match couldn’t be more exciting at this point. It was apparent the players were quite nervous – hence some decisions (Caruana not taking on b5, for instance). At least one grandiose battle will happen in game 12 (we don’t think Carlsen will risk playing 1…e5). It will be also interesting to see if team Carlsen will manage to pose Caruana some serious problems in game 11.
In any case, two exciting games are in front of us.
Video Analysis Of The Game