Thoughts/musings on the WCC2016 (Game 3, Game 5 Game 8, Game 11)

Indeed, the final Classical game is at hand. 

The match between two players of the engine generation has indeed been a sight to behold. The Norwegian Magnus Carlsen has proved himself a player worthy of the title. The Russian star Sergey Karjakin, despite considered the underdog, has held  his own in solid fashion

GAME 3

Game 3 saw the first Berlin Defence of the match, though it didnt reach the dreaded Berlin Endgame which was featured heavily in the Kramnik vs Kasparov 2000 match. Instead, Carlsen avoided this with 5. Re1, opting for a middlegame. The game is most notable for Carlsen's 10th move, in which he irregularly retreated his King to e2 instead of e1, although he eventually did exactly that in the very next move. The move induced Karjakin to weaken his queenside pawn structure, specifically the light squares, with 10...b6.

Carlsen soon won a pawn to emerge with the first real winning chances of the match. After many vicissitudes along the way, Carlsen missed the winning 70. Re8. instead playing the inferior 70. Nc6. Black could've reached a theoretical draw, although some engine lines might be needed before the pawnless drawn endgame would definitively be reached. Karjakin instead immediately grabbed White's f-pawn (70... Kxf5), which would've been punished against an engine. Carlsen, however,  granted him another drawing opportunity two moves later with 72. Rb7, which Karjakin defended correctly against with 72... Ra1. Eventually Karjakin's passed h-pawn proved strong enough to compel Carlsen to concede the draw after a long struggle.

GAME 5

In a see-saw game, Karjakin equalized easily out of a Giuoco Piano and grabbed the initiative in a complicated middlegame. Carlsen expertly neutralized Karjakin's initiative, drawing the game to a major piece endgame with opposite-colored bishops, a riskless positon – exactly his kind of game . However, he played aimlessly before reaching the first time control. After the mistake king move 41. Kg2? (blocking his major pieces from the soon-to-be-opened h-file) he found himself under pressure. Karjakin failed to make the most of his chances, failing to find the 43...Rh8!,  and the game ended in a draw, albeit the first in the match in which Karjakin had serious winning chances.

GAME 8

Carlsen played the time-tested Colle System, as is typical of his playstyle: he only aims to get a playable position and not to prove that his opening preparation is superior to the opponent's. He then uncharacteristically plays recklessly for a win, creating vast complications. Analysis suggested that the complicated 19...Qg5 would have been good for Black, however Karjakin refused to oblige, playing instead 19...Bc6. The position was equal, and a draw may have resulted ,but Carlsen continued to play for a win.  Carlsen eventually gave away his position with the overly ambitious try 35. c5?, going down two pawns for almost no compensation. In time trouble, Karjakin blundered with 37...Qd3? (37...Qa4 was winning), allowing Carlsen to win back both pawns. The resulting position was objectively equal but winnable in a game between humans, with connected outside passed pawns but an exposed king for Karjakin. Once again Carlsen had forced drawing perpetual checks at his disposal, but persistently played for a win. Instead, he erred with 51. Qe6? and after 51...h5! 52.h4 a2! he resigned. (After 53. Qxa2 Ng4+ 54. Kh3 Qg1, White has to sacrifice the queen to avoid immediate mate.)

GAME 10

Game 10 was a Ruy Lopez. Karjakin tried to remain solid. Carlsen's 20. Nd2 allowed Black to force a draw or a favourable endgame (see diagram), but Karjakin missed 21... Nh3+ 22 Kg2 Ngf4+ 23 gxf4 Nxf4+ 24 Rxf4 Qxf4, which would lead to a draw. 

The game evolved into one in which Carlsen held all the trump cards, while Karjakin defended. Karjakin played the questionable 56...Rhh7?, which allowed Carlsen to play the break 57 b5! at a favourable time.Although Karjakin fought to seek active counterplay, Carlsen fended him off and simplified into a winning endgame, forcing Karjakin's resignation.

FINAL THOUGHTS BEFORE GAME 12

Carlsen and Karjakin are two talented players, and indeed both deserve to be where they are right now, As the match nears its end, the final classical game will certainly bring an element of contention and decisiveness. A win is a given in my opinion, but who can take the crown? Comment below.