World Chess Championship 2021

World Chess Championship 2021, Game 11

 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

World Champion Magnus Carlsen versus Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi

It’s very entertaining to listen to excellent commentary at this high level of play.

I followed the match on YouTube channel thechesswebsite, with commentary by Kevin, who describes himself thus:

“From an early age I started playing chess. Once I began to get older I played competitively on a regular basis. Since I first learned how to play chess, I have learned many things, some basic and some advanced.”

The channel began broadcasting on February 24, 2009. As of this writing, it has chalked up 571K subscribers and 109,822,534 views.

Kevin’s commentary is just right for my so-so chess skills, nowhere near competitive caliber.

Although this year’s championship games no doubt speak for themselves, my purpose is to just document my diversion.

Game 2, Magnus Carlsen, white

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYaCka5NYs

—thechesswebsite, “2021 World Chess Championship Game 2 - Carlsen vs Nepo,” YouTube video, 16:14 minutes, November 28, 2021

After testing the waters in Game 1, which ended in a draw, both players attempt some bold moves in Game 2, namely,

Magnus plays Ne5 (6:51), an unusual move, which leads to

Magnus plays Nd6 (7:23), a strong outpost for Magnus’ knight.

Nepo plays Nb3 (7:44), leading to an exchange where Nepo goes up a rook for Magnus’ knight, but later on

Nepo plays Rxg8 (11:40), losing his material advantage when he exchanges a rook for Magnus’ knight. It’s a questionable move because at this point the threat from Magnus’ position is not decisive.

Nepo’s exchange equalizes the material of both players, and with negligible tactical advantage both sides, the game ends in a draw.

Throughout the game Nepo carries himself respectably. At one point he had gained an intriguing material advantage.

After three more draws, the outcome of Game 6 dramatically changes the complexion of the match.

Game 6, Magnus Carlsen, white

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5PXrLFkXJg

—thechesswebsite, “2021 World Chess Championship Game 6 - Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi,” YouTube video, 25:51 minutes, December 4, 2021

Magnus pulls out a win in the longest game—7 hours 45 minutes—for a world chess championship series. It’s a gritty victory, BRILLIANT.

Nepo commits three blunders, the first under time pressure, Qd5 instead of Bxb4 (7:25), throwing away a golden opportunity to gain both material and positional advantages with the passed pawn on the first file and fourth rank.

His second blunder hands over to Magnus the threatening passed pawn by moving Qe4 (11:56). Magnus happily obliges by taking the pawn, Rxa4.

Through intricate maneuvering, Magnus works out a two-pawn advantage with a strong position. He exchanges a rook for Nepo’s pawn Rxf7 (15:24) and bishop, Rxa7 (16:21).

This point onward, Magnus’ unflagging drive joined to his impeccable endgame powers him to a win—he relentlessly pushes his pawns forward until the exhausted Nepo commits his third blunder, Qg6 (21:25), and folds. It’s game over.

To keep the title, all that Magnus has to do now is to hold on for the remaining eight games by drawing them. The burden is on Nepo to even the series.

Game 8, Magnus Carlsen, white

https://youtu.be/V051J79GllE

—thechesswebsite, “2021 World Chess Championship Game 8 - Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi,” YouTube video, 15:50 minutes, December 6, 2021

Nepo risks innovative play to squeeze out a win but pays dearly for it. The interesting Rh5 (1:55) has potential, but b5 (5:55) is a blunder.

After a flurry of exchanges, Magnus, up a pawn, conducts a clinic in the endgame where he is an acknowledged master.

The match is as good as over as the faltering Nepo has only six games left to climb the hill of Marcus’ two-win advantage.

Disappointing that Nepo did not dazzle us again with the flair of Game 2. I was hoping he would pull off a win over a savant who ever so rarely blunders.

Game 9, Ian Nepomniachtchi, white

https://youtu.be/RRGGyg9Y2kQ

—thechesswebsite, “2021 World Chess Championship Game 9 - Nepomniachtchi vs Carlsen,” YouTube video, 15:01 minutes, December 8, 2021

2021 World Chess Championship Game 9 - Nepomniachtchi vs Carlsen

Bravely, Nepo sallies forth again. He deserves credit for heart.

He starts out differently to eke out a win but blunders badly, c5 (8:18). Magnus’ c6 (9:09) traps Nepo’s bishop, which he eventually loses.

Going into the endgame with the advantage of one bishop, Magnus the perfect chess machine rolls on to victory.

Five games left, the only question that remains is if Nepo can hit a single.

Game 11, Ian Nepomniachtchi, white

https://youtu.be/IWwt4QuVzI0

—thechesswebsite, “2021 World Chess Championship Game 11 - Nepo vs Carlsen,” YouTube video, 17:19 minutes, December 11, 2021

The winning game that clinched the world championship for Magnus—I had to watch it three times to really appreciate it.

Magnus in a brilliant sacrifice exchanges a rook for a knight—Magnus, dxe3 (8:11) followed by Nepo, gxf4 (8:17)—and a threatening positional advantage. In the hands of lesser mortals, Magnus’ positional edge would lapse into a loss, but not so with the highest rated chess player in history. Drawing on computational power that exceeds the capacity of a chess supercomputer and with the precision of a microlathe, Magnus orchestrates his audacious sacrifice into a superior position going into the endgame with a pawn advantage.

This point onward, the writing is on the wall. Magnus impeccably powers his pieces into a memorable win.

“[Magnus Carlsen] should donate his brain to science.”—Veselin Topalov, 2005 World Chess Champion