Despite Carlsen’s shaky form, Anand picks him to retain title
KOLKATA: Norway’s reigning champion Magnus Carlsen will take on American challenger Fabiano Caruana in the World Championship Match in London from Friday, when Viswanathan Anand, Sergey Karjakin, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian will begin their battle in the prestigious Tata Steel Chess India 2018 rapid and blitz tournament here. So, can Caruana upstage the 27-year-old Norwegian ace, seeking his fourth title?
Though opinion was divided in Kolkata, Anand picked the man who dethroned him for his first title in 2013, to begin his world reign. “I think Carlsen will retain his title. Caruana has improved a lot in recent times but Carlsen still has the edge, despite his recent form,” said Anand.
Karjakin, who lost 7-9 to Carlsen in the 2016 World Championship Match, too felt Carlsen had the edge. “Between the two, I would pick Carlsen, though it would be a very close match.”
India’s Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Dibyendu Barua too picked Carlsen. However, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna said Caruana had a good chance.
“Carlsen has dominated for years because of his unique style of play. But now other players have worked it out and so many of the games that would have earlier gone in his favour now tend to end in a draw. No doubt Carlsen is still a formidable player, but I think Caruana can beat him,” said Harikrishna.
Carlsen and 26-year-old Caruana are both prodigies returning mass appeal to chess. The venue is a former London school of art and design, whose sweeping glass dome and imposing columns have featured in a recent series of fashion shows.
Carlsen took time off prepara- tions to play an exhibition game against Liverpool team’s chessloving right-back Trent Alexander-arnold. The 20-year-old rising star lost, but can console himself that he held out against Carlsen for nearly twice as many moves as Bill Gates.
Caruana has the credentials to become another sensation in the 12-match series. The title will go to the first player to reach 6.5 points. The Italian-american from Miami has played for both countries, and became a grandmaster at 14. He earned his shot against Carlsen by winning this year’s Candidates meet in Berlin. The world No 2 is just three points behind Carlsen’s total of 2,835.