Magnus Carlsen remains the undefeated king after beating in Dubai by 7.5-3.5 (four wins and seven draws) an unfaithful challenger to himself, the Russian Ian Niepómniashi, who once again made another improper mistake of his great class in the 11th game, as if he wished not to play any more (the duel was the best of 14). The Norwegian, champion since 2013 and number one since 2010, will collect 1.2 million euros for his 5th crown, which he will have to put into play in early 2023.
“Niepo he can’t stand the prospect of playing again tomorrow, he wants this to end once and for all, ”said Dutchman Anish Giri, sixth in the world, a live commentator for Chess24, when he saw move 23 of the Russian. Maybe it was something subconscious, but it is certainly true that Niepómniashi, fifth in the world, never opts for such a set when he is in shape.
Carlsen immediately seized the opportunity to secure a winning position. But instead of being obsessed with finishing very brilliantly, he chose zero risk: he clipped his victim’s wings (avoiding all counterplay) and brought the fight to a technical finish that was very easy for him. The challenger surrendered in the 49th with a handshake, and stayed a minute at the table talking to his rival, while the audience exploded in applause and shouts, especially from the Norwegians.
One hundred years after the Cuban José Raúl Capablanca also defeated by four points (but in 14 games) the German Emanuel Lasker in Havana, Carlsen consolidates his name among the greatest of the 15 centuries of documented chess history, although the list of unofficial world champions begins in the 16th century with the Spanish Ruy López de Segura. However, his exploits still lag far behind that of Gari Kasparov, who chaired the world list for 20 years in a row (1985-2005).
This World Cup is one of the strangest and negatively surprising in history. Niepómniashi, who will earn 0.8 million euros, had the weapon that can most annoy Carlsen: the ability to turn each game into a tremendous mess, where the probability that the Scandinavian will make a mistake is much higher than in very positions. techniques. It is true that such a strategy would imply a huge risk, but none of the experts consulted by this newspaper sees another way that Niepómniashi could beat Carlsen in a duel if he performs near his maximum level.
But everything happened the other way around. The Scandinavian was the only one who risked in the first five rounds, which ended in a draw. And even more so in the sixth, leaving from the opening of the beaten track. It was the longest game in World Cup history and ended with his victory in almost eight hours and 136 moves. More importantly, that blow destroyed the psychological stability of the Russian, unable to risk the next with White: he lost again the 8th and the 10th after two major errors.
And he blew himself up on the 11th. Only he (or one of his assistants) will be able to explain why he believed that betraying his own natural style (aggressive and creative) was the best thing to dethrone Carlsen. The Russian gave a poor impression this Friday: he needed to win at all costs with the white pieces, but he chose a flat, bland, technical type of fight, where winning the Norwegian is almost impossible. And seeing that in this way he did not achieve any advantage, he opted for suicide.
In the first testimonies to the televisions that awaited him behind the scenes, the five-time champion put his finger directly on the sore: “I am particularly proud of my victory in the sixth game, which made the fight completely uneven. My rival was no longer the same after that.
In 1921, Lasker had a very beautiful gesture after his defeat against Capablanca. He went to the edge of the stage and, looking at the audience, asked: “Three cheers for the champion!” Niepómniashi did not reach that far, but it is true that his attitude after the four defeats has also been exemplary, always appearing in a good manner before the press and answering all questions. His final analysis was forceful and profound: “In this duel I have made mistakes that I don’t usually make in lightning games. [cinco minutos por jugador]. It is true that to learn from experience you have to suffer. But this has been too hard, although I hope to recover and apply what I have learned ”.
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