Game - 11: The star is there to stay!

"The size of the moon, as seen by people one earth, is no larger than a big ball, but a moon-dweller would see it as a colossal world. The perception of the moon as a ball, or as a world, does not increase or decrease the size of the moon itself. When it is seen as large, its largeness is revealed and its smallness concealed, and just so the other way round."

                                                                                                    - Ch'eng-kuan

"Happy and relieved" said the World Champion Magnus Carlsen, after retaining the title and added..."I didn't really want to come back for a 12th game with Black", which is an indication of the intensity of struggle in this match, despite not being spectacular or lack of an aura that we usually associate with such significant events....

Both parties seemed to be relieved yesterday for different reasons!  Magnus obviously was pleased to retain his title and reinforce his position at the helm and Vishy probably relieved of the burden and probably would have realised that his time has come...not to retire but relinquish certain privileges which he enjoyed and let go the "possessions".  The sound "NO" that he uttered as an answer for that inevitable question -  'an expression of journalistic sadism' - was received with a loud round of applause in acknowledgment.  It is his prerogative to play, to enjoy and make the chess lovers enjoy , and ofcourse laydown his office when he decides enough is enough...and hell with some "Mr.X" who wants to see his back...hell with him!

Well, we shall get into the aspects of science and art of this match in a subsequent episode and for now, shall have a look at the final game...

Berlin and enough has been said about it by the commentators and others in various forums.

With his last move 15.....g5 Anand denied the square"f4" for White Knight on d5, which intended to marry the Bishop on e6 and go for a honeymoon. Incidentally, the entire game strategy revolved around this theme; White trying to eliminate this Bishop and Black taking sufficient care to protect and disaster struck him when Vishy rushed to some pseudo activity at the cost of parting with that Bishop.

White in reply played 16.c4 to anchor the knight on d5 for the time being!

16).....Kb7!; 17) Kh2!

The exclamation mark is to denote the commencement of some subtle play by both sides. Black needs to connect the Rooks and moving the King to b7 also allows him to meander through the Berlin wall when it is required. White on the other hand is intending to take his King to "g3" from where it will support the g4-pawn (after he pushes g2-g4) to allow him to advance h3-h4 and attack the Black's g5-pawn.

17) .....a5

The commentators and Chess lovers were worried about this advance and were looking for some action on the other side, more concerned with the Black's Bishop on f8 and the Rook on h8.

18) a4 Ne7

The White Knight on d5 is a powerful piece and Vishy rightly tries to get it transacted either for his Knight or even the Bishop on f8 which is at present jobless and is unlikely to get one!  Then why not play ...c6 to drive the knight and cover the d5 square?  Well, when the c-pawn is moved from c7, it relinquishes the control of d6-square and the Knight will make a detour to occupy that square and create more havoc!

19) g4 Ng6

And certainly not 19).....Nd5?  The intention is to exchange Knight, but not at the cost of allowing a pawn to that square!

20) Kg3 Be7; 21) Nd2 Rhd8; 22) Ne4 Bf8; 23) Nef6

Both White and Black have achieved their initial objectives.  Black has connected his Rooks and his only concern is his dark squared Bishop and probably an active plan....

White on the other hand has brought the other Knight to f6 square and has all of his pieces throbbing with activity.  He is intending a pawn sacrifice with h3-h4 and then push the f-pawn to f4 and f5.  If and when he achieves it, he will have powerful initiative.....and therefore....

Vishy hurled a bomb...with...

23) ......b5!!

This spectacular counter which diverted Carlsen's attention from his intended action on the Kingside was a true bolt from the blue!  It was not in the radar of any of the Grandmasters and chess lovers who were watching the match....and no chess engine has the "feel" to make such an audacious move!

Taking it with the c-pawn weakens the square "d5" and the pawn on b3 will also be gobbled later on. And capturing with the a-pawn allows 24) .....a4 and the Black Rook in filters through the a-file and creates enough counterplay in tandem with the light-squared Bishop.

24) Bc3!

A fine prophylactic move!  Magnus removes the Bishop from the b-file which will eventually be opened and has an eye on the a-pawn tying down the Rook for its support.  Who knows... Carlsen may have had a dream of the Rook appearing on b4!!

24) .....ba4; 25) ba4 Kc6! 26) Kf3!!

Magnus rises his game in tandem with Vishy; to keep him afloat and remain!  As he said in the post match chat, he felt that with the dynamics changing after the unexpected "b5" break, he felt the need to overprotect his central squares..."d5" and "e5" in particular. The King is marching towards the absolute center "e4"!

26) ......Rdb8; 27) Ke4 Rb4?!

"I can't say why I suddenly decided to go for this exchange sac...I didn't see anything very quick for White, except maybe h4. It was a bad gamble and it was punished....a nervous decision...", said Anand in the post match conference. 

A costly gamble...probably here or a move early, he could have played Be7 with the idea of trading one Knight with the dark squared Bishop and letting the other Knight swap each other, enabling him to retain the powerful Bishop on e6 - which will be superior to White's light squared counterpart.

28) Bb4

Carlsen had no reservations in accepting the gift!  He even said, "In general I am a believer in material...so I like to grab it instead of giving it up...I thought he shouldn't have enough compensation..." And it proved so!  He reeled-off the remaining moves quickly, which meant that he was more than comfortable with the position and probably had a very clear cut plan!  

The move Rb4 relieved him of all the tension....even the one of returning back to the board on Tuesday for the final game!

28) ....cb4; 29) Nh5 Kb7; 30) f4 gf4; 31) Nhf4 Nf4; 32) Nf4 Bc4; 33) Rd7 Ra6; 34) Nd5!

Effectively concludes the game!

34) ....Rc6; 35) Rf7 Bc5; 36) Rc7 Rc7; 37) Nc7 Kc6; 38) Nb5!

Drives the last nail in!

38) .....Bb5; 39) ab5 Kb5; 40) e6 b3; 41) Kd3!

The triumph of the strategy of marching the King to the center!

41) .....Be7; 42) h4! a4; 43) g5 hg5; 44) hg5 a3; 45) Kc3

And Anand shook the hands of the World Champion....and probably....

Carlsen was not prepared to predict whether this will be the last world championship match between him and Vishy or will there be another and said something like he was not prepared to go wrong like last time....

Congratulations Magnus!  We know you and admire thou art!  And we look forward to your fabulous creations in the coming years!

Congratulations Vishy for your sheer presence.... that gracefulness - even when your art seems to be on the wane!  We know you for long and you have filled us with immense joy through your creations thus far and we know that you would continue to...., too!

Who cares if you do not win this title which adored you for a substantial bit of time...it is not the title alone that has made you what you are and what we value you for!!