Anand, Carlsen draw their 4th game

Game Four of the World Chess Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand appeared to be headed for a draw after 42 moves. The world champion, Carlsen, had a small material advantage of an extra pawn. But it was a highly simplified queen endgame where Anand could probably deliver perpetual check against Carlsen's exposed king. The match would remain tied at 2-2 with one win each if the two grandmasters sign the peace treaty.

Carlsen opted to open with the Kings pawn in his second try with the white pieces. Anand responded with the Sicilian Defence, deviating from his symmetrical defence in Game 2. Carlsen played a quiet variation with 3. g3 rather than heading into sharp prepared lines.

A position arose where black accepted an isolated queen pawn in order to get free play. Carlsen attempted to slowly build pressure against black's pawn weaknesses. However, Anand defended well by playing actively and forcing the exchange of most pieces. By around move 30, a Queen and Knight endgame had arisen with equal material.

Carlsen had a little pressure against Anand's pawn weaknesses. But Anand dissolved the pressure by heading for a queen endgame where his threats against white's exposed king and his counterplay with a strong passed pawn should suffice to hold the draw.

White: Carlsen Vs Black: Anand   
Game 4, WCM Sochi 2014, Nov 12, 2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.0–0 Nf6 7.d4 Be7 8.Be3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bg4 10.Qd3 Qd7 11.Nd2 0–0 12.N2f3 Rfe8 13.Rfe1 Bd6 14.c3 h6 15.Qf1 Bh5 16.h3 Bg6 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.c4 Be4 20.Bd4 Nh7 21.cxd5 Bxd5 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Qd3 Nf8 24.Nh4 Be5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.b3 Ne6 28.Nf3 Qf6 29.Kg2 Rd8 30.Qe2 Rd5 31.Rxd5 cxd5 32.Ne5 Qf5 33.Nd3 Nd4 34.g4 Qd7 35.Qe5 Ne6 36.Kg3 Qb5 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Kxf4 Qb4+ 39.Kf3 d4 40.Qe8+ Kh7 41.Qxf7 Qd2 42.Qf5+ Kh8 43.h4