Roll back your life to just over two weeks from now; almost everyone would say it is going to be the easiest Championship win for Magnus Carlsen. A week into the World Chess Championship in New York, some would say Sergey Karjakin is tougher than previously expected but the Norwegian needs to win just one game to win the championship. Another few days into the championship and after the first decisive result by the challenger many would take not and take back their words about this being an easy tournament for the Champion.

Anyone, who would have said or believed that the pre-tournament underdog would even dare threaten to take the title away from the Champion were shunned away as laughing-stock before the tournament began. And, their statement or belief would be assumed a little too ambitious or even unrealistic at times. However, here we are today with both the Champion and the challenger still tied after eleven rounds of elite Grandmasters Chess. The two are tied at 5.5 points each with one final round of Chess still to be played in the regulation.

A win for the Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin in this round will bring the so-called unrealistic statements to life, to absolute truth. And, he would have also proven his word, “Magnus Carlsen can be defeated”. However, as we all know, Magnus Carlsen is the best and top rated Chess player. He will not go down without a fight, the kind of fight that he bravely put up in round 10 to bring back the score to level.

After eleven exhausting games over the past two and a half weeks, the World Chess Championship is still where it began – tied. With one full-length game remaining that could decide the new Champion.

Looking for a clear path to victory

The Champion and the challenger will be hooked over the board, brain dashing back and forth though infinite tunnels of calculations to look for one more decisive win. This win can lift Russia back to its glory days in the sport that has not seen a Russian at the throne since Vishy Anand defeated Vladimir Kramnik in 2007.

Norway, on the other hand, would look to strengthen their hold in the world of Chess with Carlsen’s second successful title defense.

The match thus far has mostly been by theory so far, implying that all these moves can be found in many Chess training books. “Carlsen is always trying to get his opponent out of the book,” said Bruce Pandolfini, a chess writer to New York Times, he also said “but Karjakin is a great counterpuncher”.

No matter, how much Carlsen wants to take the match away to uncharted territory; Karjakin has found a way to counter it. This shows the amount of preparation and determination from the challenger.

One more game before tie-breaks

Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin will fight-out one more time under classical time-control. And, the Chess fans all across the world might be up for another gruelling encounter between the two youngest combatants for the throne of the World Chess Champion. However, if this ends a draw as predicted by some of the Chess engines, the match is headed into the tie-breaks.

The Norwegian and the Russian will lock horn under the rules of rapid games for four matches. If the two manage to keep the scores level in rapid the match will further move to Blitz and finally Armageddon if necessary.

If the match heads to the tie-breaks, which according to odds it may. Magnus Carlsen will once again be the overwhelming favourite based on his ranking in the format. That day also happens to be the Birthday of the current Champion Magnus Carlsen. Will the Norwegian celebrate his 26th Birthday as the World Champion or not, remains to be seen.

Image Courtesy: Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty

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