Towards the end of the eighth game on Tuesday, Magnus Carlsen infused life into an otherwise drab position by sacrificing his Queen only to take it back two moves later. Interestingly, it was the first combination in the eight games in the match.
After the match, Carlsen explained: “As a young player I was trying to play attacking chess sacrificing material all the time. A bit different from what I did today.”
It was clear that Carlsen did not want to give Viswanathan Anand the kind of positions that the world champion liked most: complexities, scope for dynamic play and more pieces on the board.
The sacrifice in game 8 was just for the galleries, an attempt to change the public perception that he is a boring player. Usually, sacrifices are made when the player looks for a win with a definite plan.
It is difficult to cite past champions who come close to Carlsen in style. Anatoly Karpov, a lot of Tigran Petrosyan but certainly in terms of success, he also has a Kasparovian trait in him, though the Russian’s style was much more spectacular. The world finds it amusing for someone as young as Carlsen to possess such a dry style.
“Although I am playing the game for a long time I have been playing top level for seven years. I have had some time to adjust to the situation and adjust to the other players and develop my play,” he said on Tuesday in defence of his style.
Maybe, he did not expect Anand to offer his opening back to him in the eighth game. “He played the Berlin. I played the most solid line ... yada yada yada we go to the doping control,” said Carlsen referring to the test they were subjected to after the game.
Contrary to his image as a player who always fought till the end, the game was slightly different as it was Carlsen who seemed to be the one looking for the draw. He made his moves quite rapidly consuming only half the time Anand had used for the game. “With the line I chose there was not too much to think about. The moves very much suggest themselves. It has been played before.
There wasn’t too much to think about. I wasn’t in any mood to think either. That influenced my decision,” he explained.
So far, the players looked in control and the match was evenly poised except for the two blunders Anand committed in endgames.
So far both the players have not taken out their home preparation yet but the scorecard reads 5-3 in favour of Carlsen. That is bad for Anand because even without posing any problems for him in openings or middle games, the challenger has reached a position of strength in the series.
Anand’s supporters believe he still has an ace up his sleeve which he would reveal only in the ninth game when he has white. The champion said. “Well, the match situation speaks for itself. It is my job to liven it up. I guess I will try in the next game.”
But the problem for him is that Carlsen has proved to be a chameleon choosing the right time to prolong the fight. He bored Anand when the Indian was looking for draws and now when the world champion is looking for a reversal, he could bring down the shutters and offer solid defence.
Well, there is an amusing mind game going on in this match.
