By Donald Duff in New York
Defending champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Serjey Karjakin, yesterday drew the fourth match of their 12-match championship series for the World Chess title after a marathon 94-move effort at the Fulton Market Building, South Street, Seaport, Manhattan.
The game fell short of the longest match in the history of the world chess championship, which was the fifth game of the world championship title match between Victor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov in 1978, which ended after Korchnoi’s 124 move, as White saw the game ending in a stalemate.
After the relative ease of the first two drawn games, Carlsen has definitely upped the ante. He seems determined to grind out victories through long drawn out encounters, possibly hoping to wear the challenger down and force a mistake.
Yesterday’s match was the second match in succession that lasted for over six hours, following Monday’s six hour and 40 minute marathon.
Speaking of the match upon its conclusion, Carlsen said:”It’s disappointing for sure. I’ll try and try again. I thought I was winning but I couldn’t do it in the end. It’s okay, I just have to keep going.”
Speaking after the match, Karjakin said: ”It was a very difficult game for me, because I made a big mistake in the opening by playing Bxh6.”
He added:” I have to keep fighting. There is no other way. I’m here to fight every day, it’s my job.”
When play began yesterday Karjakin opted for the Ruy Lopez Spanish Opening. On his 12th move, he played c3 in preparation for either the bishop to c2, in case of knight to a4, and later d4 contesting the centre.
Possible variations included …Nd8 d4 exd4 cxd4 ne6 Bc2 a5, or Na5 Ba2 c5 b4 Nc6 and Nf1.
On move 16, Black opted for dxe4, opening up his Queen file, and freeing up his white fianchettoed bishop, and at the same time making White’s bishop on a2 active.
Then came the mistake of the match! On his 18th move, White played bishop to h6, but Black responded with Qc6, avoiding the possible variations which could have been unpleasant for Black.
But Karjakin was able to retreat the black bishop after exchanging his white bishop for the knight on the strategic c4.
The exchange of the Queens on move 24, left White with the better pawn structure, an underdeveloped bishop and two rooks in the centre, to Black’s more active pawn structure, and well placed rook on b8.
Carlsen continued to try to grind down his opponent, and to his credit, Karjakin again played flawlessly under pressure, and in the end the game petered out into a draw, but only after a testing endgame, which saw Carlsen with doubled pawn on the f file. Notwithstanding, Carlsen tried desperately for the win, in what was essentially a bishop and four pawns versus a knight and four pawns endgame.
After four games the score is tied 2-2. Today is a rest day and the players will resume tomorrow.
