The 2nd major earthquake in 3 games has resulted in the match being tied up as the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, ground out a boa constrictor like win over the challenger, Sergey Karjakin. The game was a six and a half hour slug fest that teetered on the edge of a draw but one slip by Karjakin led to an excruciating game where he had absolutely no counter play. The match has been revived as anyone's to win.
Carlsen finally did what he does best: grind out a win in a position with very minimal advantage. Karjakin missed a nice tactic to force a draw and was forced to set up a position with seemingly impenetrable defenses. But, GM Sam Shankland's words rang again "a fortress is a very fragile thing". The fragility of his position became clear when he let down his guard; Carlsen immediately jumped on the chance to breakthrough. Even with little left in the position a small slip by Carlsen gave Karjakin a chance of a draw. But, the position was already past the point of no return. Carlsen scored his first win of the match with a chorus of fans from Norway cheering in the background.
What to expect now? No one can predict what will happen in the next two games. The competitors have been playing such fierce chess that it is likely we will see a decisive result even before the tie breaks. But, if the games do draw in rounds 11 and 12, the World Championship could be decided by either rapid, blitz or a single Armageddon game.
Game 11 will be Saturday 11/29 at 11 AM PST.
Carlsen - Karjakin World Championship Site: New York, New York Date: 2016.11.24 Round: 10 Result: 1-0 White: Magnus Carlsen Black:"Sergey Karjakin 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.O-O d6 9.Nbd2 Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Nc4 Nf4 12.Ne3 Qf6 13.g3 Nh3+ 14.Kh1 Ne7 15.Bc4 c6 16.Bb3 Ng6 17.Qe2 a5 18.a4 Be6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Nd2 d5 21.Qh5 Ng5 22.h4 Nf3 23.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 24.Qxf3 Rxf3 25.Kg2 Rf7 26.Rfe1 h5 27.Nf1 Kf8 28.Nd2 Ke7 29.Re2 Kd6 30.Nf3 Raf8 31.Ng5 Re7 32.Rae1 Rfe8 33.Nf3 Nh8 34.d4 exd4 35.Nxd4 g6 36.Re3 Nf7 37.e5+ Kd7 38.Rf3 Nh6 39.Rf6 Rg7 40.b4 axb4 41.cxb4 Ng8 42.Rf3 Nh6 43.a5 Nf5 44.Nb3 Kc7 45.Nc5 Kb8 46.Rb1 Ka7 47.Rd3 Rc7 48.Ra3 Nd4 49.Rd1 Nf5 50.Kh3 Nh6 51.f3 Rf7 52.Rd4 Nf5 53.Rd2 Rh7 54.Rb3 Ree7 55.Rdd3 Rh8 56.Rb1 Rhh7 57.b5 cxb5 58.Rxb5 d4 59.Rb6 Rc7 60.Nxe6 Rc3 61.Nf4 Rhc7 62.Nd5 Rxd3 63.Nxc7 Kb8 64.Nb5 Kc8 65.Rxg6 Rxf3 66.Kg2 Rb3 67.Nd6+ Nxd6 68.Rxd6 Re3 69.e6 Kc7 70.Rxd4 Rxe6 71.Rd5 Rh6 72.Kf3 Kb8 73.Kf4 Ka7 74.Kg5 Rh8 75.Kf6 1-0