Historical deadlock at World Chess Championship

The World Championship has reached this position after the final classical game was drawn in 31 moves of Siclian Pelikan, with Magnus Carlsen in a slightly better position.

Published : Nov 27, 2018 19:47 IST , Kozhikode

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana during the World Chess Championship in London.
Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana during the World Chess Championship in London.
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Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana during the World Chess Championship in London.

The World chess championship created history in London on Monday, when Fabiano Caruana accepted the offer of draw from Magnus Carlsen – the champion from 2013, when he dethrone Viswanathan Anand in Chennai – in Game 12.

The draw meant none of the classical games could produce a decisive result, and that is something that has never happened in the last 132 years since the first World Championship was played in 1886. The scoreline read 6-6.

Now, the title will be decided via the tie-breakers on Wednesday. First up will be four rapid games of 25 minutes each and if the scores still remain level, there will be two blitz games of five minutes apiece. If the tie is still not broken, the Armageddon will be enforced (the player with black pieces needs only to draw, but White will get five minutes, one more than the rival).

The World Championship has reached this position after the final classical game was drawn in 31 moves of Siclian Pelikan , with Carlsen, playing black, having a slightly better position.

“I wasn’t necessarily going for the maximum,” the Norwegian admitted later. “I just wanted a position that was completely safe, but where I could put some pressure. If a draw hadn’t been a satisfactory result, obviously I would have approached it differently.”

“I was a bit surprised by the draw offer,” Carlsen's American opponent said. “I can never be better after the 31 move. And I didn’t really have any active ideas. If anything, black was better. At least I thought I was over the worst of it. I thought it was much more dangerous a few moves ago.”

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