Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Last time, we discussed the early chess successes of Magnus Carlsen. Slowly but surely, he ascended to the very top of the chess world. If we examine his rating trajectory, we see that he crossed the 2600 mark in early January 2006. By October 2007, he had come tantalizingly close (2698) to breaking the 2700 barrier, which he finally surpassed in April 2008 with a rating of 2710. Although there were occasional fluctuations, Carlsen reached another major milestone in November 2009: he crossed the magical 2800 barrier with a rating of 2801. From that point onward, Carlsen has never fallen below 2800, consistently breaking records.
The pinnacle of his achievements came in May 2014, when he reached the highest classical chess rating ever recorded: 2882. He replicated this remarkable feat in August 2019, despite some minor rating dips along the way. When FIDE began tracking blitz and rapid ratings, Carlsen added another milestone to his resume in December 2017, achieving the highest blitz rating ever recorded: an astonishing 2986.
Let’s rewind to 2013, a pivotal year for Carlsen. First, he won the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee with a commanding score of 10 out of 13 points, finishing 1.5 points ahead of the runner-up. He then tied for first with Vladimir Kramnik at the Candidates Tournament in London. Thanks to a superior tiebreak (he had won more games), Carlsen was declared the winner, earning the right to challenge reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand.
The world championship match against Anand took place in November 2013. After four consecutive draws, Carlsen struck twice, winning both the fifth and sixth games. Two more draws followed before Carlsen clinched another victory in the ninth game. In that game, Anand launched a fierce attack against Carlsen’s king, putting the Norwegian in serious trouble. However, Carlsen’s counterplay on the opposite side of the board came just in time. When Anand blundered, Carlsen calmly secured the full point. A draw in the tenth game sealed the match, giving Carlsen an unassailable lead with a score of 6½–3½ over 12 games. For the first time in his career, Magnus Carlsen could call himself world champion.
The year 2014 brought even greater triumphs. Carlsen captured the world titles in both rapid and blitz chess in Dubai. However, the most significant challenge came in the form of a rematch with Anand, who had won the Candidates Tournament to earn another shot at the world title. The match took place in Sochi, Russia.
After a draw in the first game, the tension escalated in games 2 and 3. Carlsen won the second game, but Anand immediately retaliated by winning the third—his first victory in their world championship encounters. Following two more draws, Carlsen regained the lead in dramatic fashion. In a middlegame without queens, Carlsen made a severe blunder after a slightly favorable opening. Anand could have capitalized on this mistake with a simple discovered attack, winning a decisive pawn and securing a winning endgame. Yet, inexplicably, Anand missed the opportunity. Carlsen then slowly outmaneuvered him in the endgame.
What might have happened if Anand had seized his chance? We will never know. With Carlsen now ahead, the remaining games ended in draws. Anand, needing a win in the 12th game with White, never got the chance—he lost the 11th game, ending the match.
From these two matches, I want to highlight some critical moments. The diagram position is one such moment. In this position, Carlsen (White) has just played the reckless 26.Kc1-d2?. How could Anand have exploited this significant blunder, one that might have changed the course of chess history?
_REPLACE_BY_ADV_2
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
| Advertising |
