World Chess Championship 2014: Anand loses to Carlsen in 6th game

World champion Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand in a very dramatic and error-filled Game six to edge ahead in the World Chess Championship match at Sochi. Carlsen won in 38 moves to take the lead with 3.5 points against 2.5  points.

Anand defended against Carlsen's king's pawn opening with the Sicilian Defence, and Carlsen headed for a well-known theoretical line of the Sicilian Paulsen Variation. White exchanges queens early and then accepts a broken pawn structure in order to keep the bishop pair and gain some space.

Carlsen seemed to have some advantage in a  queenless middlegame with strong pressure against black's kingside. Black had to defend because he had pawn weakness and  passive pieces.  However, white played carelessly and then he blundered on move 26, suddenly allowing a counter-attack where black can win a couple of pawns with checks. But, Anand also blundered in that he missed the key move in response.

Both players noticed the possibility only after it had passed and both said they were very upset mentally when they realised their respective mistakes. Carlsen said he experienced momentary panic and lost confidence while Anand said regretfully, "When you don't expect a gift you don't accept it."  

After that dual blunder, Carlsen settled down and continued to exert pressure. Black might have had some better defences but he seemed to find it difficult to recover his equilibrium and play accurately. White eventually converted his advantage, by winning a lot of material.

White : Carlsen  Vs Black: Anand 
Game 6, World CM Sochi 2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Qd3 Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.e5 Nd7 11.Bf4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Kc7 13.h4 b6 14.h5 h6 15.0-0-0 Bb7 16.Rd3 c5 17.Rg3 Rag8 18.Bd3 Nf8 19.Be3 g6 20.hxg6 Nxg6 21.Rh5 Bc6 22.Bc2 Kb7 23.Rg4 a5 24.Bd1 Rd8 25.Bc2 Rdg8 26.Kd2?? DIAGRAM, WHITE TO PLAY a4??

27.Ke2 a3 28.f3 Rd8 29.Ke1 Rd7 30.Bc1 Ra8 31.Ke2 Ba4 32.Be4+ Bc6 33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Rxg6 Ba4 35.Rxe6 Rd1 36.Bxa3 Ra1 37.Ke3 Bc2 38.Re7+ Black resigns (1-0)