With one point away, GM Magnus Carlsen is closer to retaining his world chess championship title for the fifth time.
Tuesday’s match was a blackout for the Challenger—GM Ian Nepomniatchchi after the devastating roundhouse punch cut his jaw and a slip knocked his head on the canvass. Pundits and fans hoped that GM Ian would come back with some attacking spree.
Indian’s rising star GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was accorded the privilege of playing the first move of 1. c4! Many were surprised that Ian did not return the move. He tapped on the clock and proceeded.
The line has many complex positions, which entails the defending champion burying his head in his hands to play out the moves he has prepared for this particular line, as he said at the post-match interview.
The complicated positions were solved when the Russian
blundered his Bishop on the move 27. His Bishop got trapped after he played 27. c5?
Many chess players say that even kids should not commit such blunder with Elo rating under 1500. The game eventually ended in a win worthy of a noble King as Magnus Carlsen makes a public show of his opponent to deter others planning on a mutiny against his reign.
Rumor has it that Magnus might be around for many more years as he has become unconquerable, and many considered him the greatest of all time. His moves keep getting better by the play, and he is some points and a few games away from sealing his win.
Game 10 ended in a draw with Magnus on the white piece. The defending champion is now 3 points clear lead and with just half points to boldly say he has retained his title as the scoreline is now 6.5-3.5 in favor of Magnus Carlsen. Theoretically, any drawn game seals the win for the Norwegian GM.
Many Russian GMs still believe in some doom happening to the Norwegian GM, but a good chess player knows too well than to believe in luck alone.
GM Nijat Abasov made Game 10 annotations for lichess.
