Chess - The 2021 World Championship (Game 1 Review)

The 2021 FIDE World Championship crosses our paths following a three year stretch since 2018. It was a draw after draw type sequence of back to back suggestions last time for the first 12 games in a row! Former challenger GM Fabiano Caruana up against the now decade long No 1 GM Magnus Carlsen, back in 2018. packed in some stellar momentum in places where queen swap was forced to avoid mate, as did Carlsen then with his Sicilian timing and tiebreaker follow-ups where he successfully defended his World Championship title (2013-Present). Commentators enthusiastically dubbed their last names as Batlle of the CARs! The draws sure had their takeaways for this time around.

The COVID-19 outbreak was unexpected and unforeseen to have pushed things a bit behind to Nov 2021. Challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi enters contention for the world title as Carlsen plays Black on round 1, just like how round 1 in 2018 began.

The notation I discuss below belongs solely to game 1 of the 2021 World Championship that recently concluded.

I would say the momentum here is great, quite the refreshener since the Sicilian initiation which former challenger Fabiano Caruana got better at over the 12 game course. Carlsen's follow up on white pieces after his playing black keeps Round 2 in close anticipation. If we're to talk about the follow ups and repercussions of this game, it is rather likely for Round 3 to speak up, given that both players shall have the same colors as this one. Eagerness awaits!