Carlsen, Karjakin tied ahead of final world chess title match

PanARMENIAN.Net - Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen easily held the draw in the penultimate game of his 12-game title match with Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin Saturday, November 26, leaving the two players tied at 5 1/2-5 1/2 with just one more round to go, The Washinton Times reports.

After a rest day Sunday, Carlsen, who won Thursday’s Game 10 to level the match, will again have the advantage of the White pieces and the first move Monday. If the two grandmasters are still tied, a one-day rapid playoff will be held Wednesday. The match, with a total purse of $1.1 million, is being played at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport complex.

In another Closed Ruy Lopez (6. d3), Karjakin as White could make little headway against Black’s solid defensive set-up.

Carlsen even appeared to hold a slight initiative with a series of forceful central pawn pushes. The exchanges triggered by 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 dxe4 22. fxe6 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Qxe6 produced a completely equal game in which both players had a queen and rook and no clear way to obtain an advantage. Carlsen tried to inject some life into the position by infiltrating his queen via a2, but after 32. Qxe6 Qxe1+ 33. Kh2 Qf2, White has a perpetual check with 34. Qe4+ and the Black king has nowhere to hide. The players instantly agreed to the draw.