MARK RUBERY CHESS

World Champion Magnus Carlsen defends his world title next month against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi over 14 games to be played in Dubai. Carlsen has dominated the chess world since he dethroned Anand in 2013 and this has persisted during the pandemic where major tournaments are played online with much faster time limits. It should be mentioned that his previous title defences against Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana were both tied at 6-6 and it was the champion’s prowess at speed chess in the tie breaks that made the difference. The challenger qualified by winning the (interrupted) 2020/21 Candidates Tournament and has a plus score against the champion (+4 -1 =6). Nepomniachtchi has improved markedly over the last few years and the French GM, Maxime Vachier la Grave gives him a 40% of being successful, whilst it should be added that the challenger plays significantly more quickly than his elite colleagues.

The following game played almost a decade ago could be considered a ‘modern classic’.

Carlsen,M (2843) - Anand,V (2780) [B52]

5th Final Masters Sao Paulo/Bilbao BRA/ ESP (9) 2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bb2 Nc6 12.0–0 0–0 13.Nce2 Rfd8 14.Bc3 Qb6 15.Kh1 d5! (An innovation from Anand that should secure equality) 16.Nxc6 (16 cxd5 Nxd5 17 exd5 Rxd5 18 Nxc6 {18 Qe1!?} Rxd1 19 Nxe7+ Kh8 20 Raxd1 Qe6 is better for Black)…bxc6 17.Qe1 Rdc8?! (Such is the need for accuracy and the highest echelons that Black’s position is quickly overrun after this. Instead 17…Re8 18 e5 Nd7 19 e6 fxe6 20 Bxg7 Kxg7 21 Nf4 e5 is equal) 18.e5 Ne8 19.e6 fxe6 (19…f6 had to be tried) 20.Nf4 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 d4 22.Qd2 c5 23.Rae1 Ng7 24.g4 Rc6

25.Nh3! (This unobvious retreat of the knight sets up an irresistible attack with Qh6 and Ng5)…Ne8 26.Qh6 Nf6 27.Ng5 d3 28.Re5 (With the idea of 2 Nxh7)… Kh8 29.Rd1 Qa6 30.a4 1–0

Magnus Carlsen is stylistically universal. He can play all formats. Perhaps you can compare him to the cricketer Brian Lara, who could play just about any shot (Nigel Short)