Watch LIVE the World Championship 2014 with computer analysis:
ANAND-CARLSEN Sochi 2014 | Candidates 2014
Previous championships:
Anand-Carlsen 2013 | Anand-Gelfand 2012 | Anand-Topalov 2010
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Commentary
Round 11 Commentary
Both the players were under tremendous pressure coming into this game. The championship was precariously balanced with only a point's difference between Anand and Carlsen. A small error on the part of either of them had the power to change the course of the championship dramatically.
Before the match, chess Grandmaster and commentator Susan Polgar tweeted "99.99% of the fans at home can't understand the amount of pressure Carlsen and Anand are going through right now. Very intense! I can tell you from experience playing in WC match. So much pressure at this stage, no matter if you're leading/trailing by 1."
Berlin defence was played in game 11. Learn about Ruy Lopez-Berlin defence here.
As usual Carlsen forced a queen trade-off as early as move 8 in the game. This is the sixth time in this championship that Carlsen has pulled off this manouvre, and he did it in style. As he only needed a draw he was intent on taking the queen off the board to minimise danger.
In move 15, Carlsen placed his Knight in 'D5' which was a powerful move as he gained control at the center. But even uptil this point, the game was open.
From move 18 to 23, Anand managed to place his bishops in better squares and for some time the chess engines showed a slight advantage for Anand. It looked like he had created a comfortable position for black and was all set for a long fight.
Carlsen recounted this in the post-match press conference, "Perhaps I didn't move accurately from 18 to 23 moves. It was tight."
.... all the chess experts gave Anand a clear advantage. Many chess observers felt that if Anand moves 'Be7' then it would be very difficult for Carlsen to take advantage.
At this point, Indian Chess Grand Master Ramesh tweeted, "Anand in driver seat!"
Polgar tweeted, "3 reasonable choices: Be7, Bg7 or Rab8. Strongest is Be7."
Anand went with 'Rab8'. What came next surprised everyone.
