World Chess C'ship: Anand blunder gives Carlsen win in Game Nine

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Kill or be killed

Vishy, who is two points behind, has no options left. He needs to go for sharper lines, he needs to take the risks, he needs to show initiative if he wants to get out of this with his pride intact – all in all, it means that he needs to kill or be killed. A draw is no solace for a man who will lose unless he can win. It does not even gain time to work on his next plan and Carlsen knows that.

In Game 8, once the Berlin defence came into play, he stuck to the obvious — to lines played by other Grandmasters — not venturing out and trying any novelty. Rapid exchanges didn’t give Anand the chance to gain an upper hand or even force a complex position. This can also be seen from the fact that Carlsen only used up 20 minutes on the clock. Anand, meanwhile, desperately looking for a break used up 55 minutes.

Preview

With four games to go, defending champion Viswanathan Anand will probably have one last chance in the ninth game to defend his title against challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the ongoing World Chess Championship here today.

With eight games gone, Anand is down but still not out. It’s a two-game deficit for the Indian ace and the ninth game would decide the course of the match as Anand plays white today.

Carlsen has been the pick between the two and he appears completely relax with his 5-3 lead.

It’s a now or never situation for Anand as he has just two white games left. A victory in the ninth game will reduce the deficit to just one point and can unsettle Carlsen who is playing his first serious match.