Carlsen beats Anand, retains world title

Magnus Carlsen retained the title of world champion with something to spare by winning game 11 of the match versus Viswanathan Anand. That win gave the Norwegian Grandmaster an unassailable lead of 6.5-4.5 and therefore, Game 12 will not be played.

It was a tragicomic end to the match as Anand ruined a good position by being over-optimistic. The  game started quietly with yet another Berlin Defence to the Spanish Opening. Black developed solidly with his bishop pair while white had more space and more control of the centre.

On move 23. -- black made a sharp pawn sacrifice to try and open up lines on the queenside for his rooks and bishops.  Carlsen refused to take the offered pawn and tried to maintain a solid position.  Anand appeared to be getting some play and the computers suggest that he had ways to maintain the pressure.

However, Anand followed up with an exchange sacrifice that was unsound. On move 27, he offered a rook to straighten out his pawn structure and eliminate white's bishop. Black was materially down after Carlsen accepted the sacrifice and White then played very accurately to cash in on his advantage.

Carlsen rapidly opened up the kingside, allowing free play to his rooks. After that, white played aggressively , counter-attacking with his rooks and dissolving down to a completely winning endgame with  a counter-sacrifice. Carlsen's famous endgame technique came to the forefront as he pushed his pawns home.

Anand admitted that he took a bad gamble in sacrificing on move 27 and also paid tribute to Carlsen saying that Carlsen's nerves held up well and that the world champion just played better. Carlsen said it was a real struggle and that he eventually handled the complications better. He admitted  that he was very relieved and happy to find the winning plan.

White: Carlsen, Magnus Vs Black: Anand, Viswanathan

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Bd7 10.Nc3 h6 11.b3 Kc8 12.Bb2 c5 13.Rad1 b6 14.Rfe1 Be6 15.Nd5 g5 16.c4 Kb7 17.Kh2 a5 18.a4 Ne7 19.g4 Ng6 20.Kg3 Be7 21.Nd2 Rhd8 22.Ne4 Bf8 23.Nef6 b5 24.Bc3 bxa4 25.bxa4 Kc6 26.Kf3 Rdb8 27.Ke4 Rb4 28.Bxb4 cxb4 29.Nh5 Kb7 30.f4 gxf4 31.Nhxf4 Nxf4 32.Nxf4 Bxc4 33.Rd7 Ra6 34.Nd5 Rc6 35.Rxf7 Bc5 36.Rxc7+ Rxc7 37.Nxc7 Kc6 38.Nb5 Bxb5 39.axb5+ Kxb5 40.e6 b3 41.Kd3 Be7 42.h4 a4 43. g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 a3 45. Kc3 (1-0).