Sochi WCh G3: The Tiger roars

FIDE World Chess Championship Carlsen-Anand 2014

The FIDE World Chess Championship match between defending champion Magnus Carlsen and his challenger Viswanathan Anand is taking place from November 7 to 27, 2014 in Olympic Media Center located in the Adler City District of Sochi, Imeretinsky Valley, on the Black Sea.

The match is over twelve games, with time controls of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 61. The games start at 3:00 p.m. Sochi Time, which is the same as Moscow time:

International times for your location

Game three

The contrast of new school, old school that both players represent goes deeper than their age or even styles of play. Magnus is incredibly strong, but his style of play is hardly unheard of. Kasparov described Carlsen as a reflection of the Karpovian approach to chess, whilst a another GM compared him to the great Swedish player Ulf Andersson, albeit with a hyperactive approach.  Nevertheless, the largest change Magnus has truly brought is not in his style of play, nor even his endgame skills (Karpov in his heyday certainly as good), it is his openings play.

Vishy Anand showed that super preparation is not something of the past

In a day and age of ultra openings preparation pushed to the mate by engine analysis, the number one danger is finding yourself in another player's preparation facing perfect play by an engine. Unless there was some freak mistake by the machine, if you are playing against moves analyzed for long minutes or more by a top engine, there is simply no way you will outplay it: at best you will find the best moves as well.

Magnus's approach has been to eschew the ultra-theoretical preparation almost altogether. This isn't to say he does not prepare, but instead of trying to force an advantage in the opening, he has been content to go for playable positions, even equal, but with plenty of possibilities to be enjoyed. He would familiarize himself with the themes, and work his better understanding to his advantage.

Sergey Shipov and Alexandra Kosteniuk provide the live Russian commentary onsite

Although he has found a number of followers to this approach, Vishy grew up in a very different era, in which you faced the greatest openings specialist of all time: Garry Kasparov. The idea of giving up on the opening advantage of White was unthinkable since 3000+ Elo engines were not open to all. Game three showed that the idea of extensive hard work in the main lines is far from nullified.

Analysis by GM Gilberto Milos

This sensational victory was a vital one in so many ways. An Indian colleague emailed that the mood in India was one of jubilation and hope. The Indian media in Sochi has been meager at best, no doubt not wishing to be forced to recount tales of humiliation and defeat, in stark contrast to the massive Norwegian press contingent, with studio, TV cameras,  and newspaper reporters.

The lack of a glass wall is a boon to photographers and spectators

Perhaps not a knockout blow, but Anand's right hook was certainly felt

For those already worried about a very lopsided and uninteresting match to follow, it injected a much needed shot of interest, showing that this was indeed a different Anand. By breaking a long drought of wins in standard time controls, the Tiger of Madras not only proved to others that he had come to fight, but that his bite was still more dangerous than his roar.

Anand's play and preparation impressed everyone. Game on!

Photos by Anastasiya Karlovich

Score

Live commentary on Playchess

English commentators for game three
Rustam Kasimdzhanov: The FIDE-World Champion 2004, former second for Vishy Anand		Daniel King: Well known, popular, experienced, and very good. Author of many Fritztrainer DVDs

Schedule of live commentary, TV shows, training and tournaments

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Live commentary on Playchess is also available in other languages:

German

• Klaus Bischoff: German Champion and Anchor of the German chess commentary on Playchess
• Oliver Reeh: Also known as "Tactics Reeh" for his regular column in the ChessBase magazine and the ChessBase website
• Dr. Karsten Müller: Graduated mathematician and chess grandmaster. His works on the endgame changed endgame training completely.
• Thomas Luther: Several times German champion. Active in the FIDE commission for the handicapped.
• Merijn van Delft: From the Dutch dynasty of the van Delfts. Lives in Hambug and in Holland.
• Yannick Pelletier: Several times Swiss champion. With a linguistic gift he can provide commentary in a number of languages.
• Markus Ragger: Grandmaster and Austria's number one.
• Harald Schneider-Zinner: Chess trainer and moderator of ChessBase TV Austria.

French

• Christian Bauer: Grandmaster, several time French Champion and member of the French national team.
• Fabien Libiszewski: International Master and member of the French national team.
• Romain Edouard: Grandmaster, European Junior Champion and Vice-World Junior Champion, member of the French national team.
• Sebastien Mazé: Grandmaster and French national coaach

Spanish

• Ana Matnadze, Marc Narcisco, Sergio Estremera 

   

Links Official tournament site All the games in PGN (annotated by GM Ramirez) The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.