Chess - The Scotsman 13/05/13

FOLLOWING the FIDE farrago over the lack of a bidding process for the World Chess Championship match in Chennai, India, Magnus Carlsen, the contender and world No 1 from Norway, accepted it as a venue albeit with reservations. Disappointed about the decision, the 22-year-old said nevertheless he “will now start preparing for the match.”

While we start the countdown to their epic encounter, Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand met for a fascinating dress rehearsal in round two of the Norway Chess 2013 Tournament.

Carlsen, who admitted he wanted a psychological win over the world champion on his home soil, ahead of their meeting in November, in Anand’s hometown, was in full grinder mode, but couldn’t make anything of what minuscule advantage he had, as the game almost went the distance of going to “the kings”.

While both title contestants started with two draws, Sergey Karjakin - who won the Blitz tournament, to get the advantage of the No 1 pairing spot - has meanwhile made hay with a perfect 2/2, to take the early lead.

M Carlsen - V Anand

Norway Supreme Masters, (2)

Sicilian Rossolimo

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nd7 4 d4 cxd4 5 Qxd4 a6 6 Bxd7+ Bxd7 7 c4 e5 8 Qd3 b5 9 Nc3 bxc4 10 Qxc4 Be6 11 Qd3 h6 12 0–0 Nf6 13 Rd1 Be7 14 Ne1 0–0 15 Nc2 Qb6 16 Ne3 Rfc8 17 b3 a5 18 Bd2 Qa6 19 Be1 Nd7 20 f3 Rc6 21 Qxa6 Rcxa6 22 Ned5 Bd8 23 Nb5 Rc8 24 Bf2 Kh7 25 Kf1 Rcc6 26 Rac1 Bg5 27 Rc3 Bxd5 28 Rxd5 Rxc3 29 Nxc3 Rc6 30 Be1 Nc5 31 Nb5 Nb7 32 h4 Be3 33 Ke2 Bc5 34 h5 Bb4 35 Bd2 g6 36 a3 Bxd2 37 hxg6+ Kxg6 38 Kxd2 h5 39 g3 f6 40 Na7 Rc7 41 Nb5 Rc6 42 Ke2 Kf7 43 b4 axb4 44 axb4 Ke6 45 Rd3 Rc4 46 Rb3 d5 47 Kd3 Rc6 48 exd5+ Kxd5 49 Rc3 f5 50 Nc7+ Kd6 51 Ne8+ Kd5 52 Rxc6 Kxc6 53 Ng7 Nd6 54 Nxh5 e4+ 55 fxe4 Nxe4 56 Kd4 Kb5 57