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The last three rounds of the Candidates were epic. The winner was decided literally at the last move. Magnus Carlsen's luck held. He will challenge Viswanathan Anand for the title. Vladimir Kramnik was desperately unlucky not to have reached a play-off at the least.
Carlsen (+5, -2, =7) and Kramnik (+4,-1,=9) tied for first. Carlsen had the better tie-break and qualifies. Peter Svidler and Levon Aronian (8 each) shared 3-4. Alexander Grischuk and Boris Gelfand were both on 6.5, Vassily Ivanchuk scored 6 and Teimour Radjabov 4.
In round 12, Carlsen lost to Ivanchuk, while Aronian lost to Kramnik. That inverted standings. Kramnik took the lead ahead of Carlsen. Aronian dropped out of the race. Ivanchuk won by slowly outplaying Carlsen. Aronian-Kramnik was a blunderfest. First Kramnik flubbed a win and then Aronian blundered away a draw.
In round 13, Carlsen won against Radjabov who blundered big. Kramnik couldn't exploit an edge against Gelfand. That left them tied. The first tiebreak, scores against each other, was even. The second tiebreak of the greater number of wins favoured Carlsen.
The last round was another heart stopper. Both Carlsen-Svidler and Ivanchuk-Kramnik went into time scrambles. Carlsen had a kingside attack but Svidler had counterplay. Ivanchuk was clearly better but he had just 60 seconds for his last 8 moves. Carlsen missed a sharp tactic and emerged lost from the clock-bashing. Ivanchuk played pitch perfect to convert a won position. Both leaders lost in the last round and tailender Ivanchuk beat both!
Anand will have naturally watched with interest. He will not be surprised Carlsen has made it. The most positive takeaway for the world champion may be that Carlsen does apparently have some nervous issues. Carlsen's non-confrontational opening strategy and preference for avoiding early complications are known factors though it remains to be seen if these can be exploited in a long match.
The Diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (Carlsen Vs Svidler, Candidates 2013) is where the fun starts. Both kings are vulnerable and there is time pressure. Now 29.Nxf7 Nxf6 30.Qh6+ Ke7? 31.Ng5! is winning for white but 30.Qh6+ Kg8!! is a draw since 31.Nxe5+? Bd5 32.Nxd7 Rxe1# Both players confessed to missing 31.Ng5.
Carlsen played 29.Qe3 Bb7 30.Bh4 Qh3 31.f3? The fantastic 31.Bd5! Bxd5 32.Qxc5+ Kg7 33.Qxd5 Kxh6 34.Qxf7 Ba5 ( Or 34...Rc8?35.Qe7! Qf5 36.Rc1) 35.Qxe8 Bxe1 36.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Qxh2+ 38.Ke1 is a machine line where white has chances. Once Carlsen missed it, Svidler took over with 31...Nf4! 32.gxf4 Qxh4 33.Nxf7 Bxf3 34.Qf2 Qg4+ 35.Qg3 exf4 Black is winning 36.Rxe8+ Kxe8 37.Qxg4 Bxg4 38.Ng5 h6 39.Nf7 h5 40.Nh6 Bd1 41.Kf2 f3 42.h3 Bf4 43.Nf7 g5 44.Ke1 g4! 45.hxg4 hxg4 46.Kxd1 g3 47.Ke1 g2 48.Kf2 Bh2 (0-1).
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
