Carlsen-Caruana Chess World Championship

[barrysloate]

Well, after eight rounds we have eight draws, and I'm really not sure how this match will end. If all twelve games are drawn, quicker tiebreaker games will be played until someone wins. And Carlsen is a much better speed player and would have the advantage.

Caruana had a nice attack in today's game, as well as winning chances, but the pattern of the match has been he hasn't been able to bring home the point.

[barrysloate]

The 9th game just ended with yet another draw. The match is tied 4 1/2- 4 1/2, with all nine games drawn. Caruana plays white in two of the last three games, which are his best chances to win.

If the match ends tied, with either all twelve games drawn or with each player winning once, they will play a tiebreaker consisting of four games in one day, with each side getting 25 minutes per game. That's how the 2016 World Championship ended, with Carlsen steamrolling to the championship. Caruana should consider winning one of the last three games if he hopes to become World Champion.

[barrysloate]

After some spirited play, the 10th game ended in a draw. The match is now tied 5-5, with two games to play.

[Arazi4442]

I'm by no means an expert on chess but this is starting to feel a little repetitive to me. Each player has the opportunity to be aggressive every other game.

This just feels like the same game, over and over no matter who is black and who is white. Carlsen does his best to be unpredictable and throw Caruana of his prepared script and then both players go into a shell and hope to draw. I agree it is advantage Carlsen if the game goes to a blitz tiebreaker. Just hoping for more wins and less draws, maybe I watch too many movies.

[frankbmd]

If this ends in a 6-6 tie, I think they should just kick field goals. Right, Jake.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

After some spirited play, the 10th game ended in a draw. The match is now tied 5-5, with two games to play.

Where have you gone, Bobby Fischer.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Where have you gone, Bobby Fischer.

Between late 1970 and early 1972, on his way to qualifying to play Boris Spassky, Fischer won 20 consecutive games without drawing any, against the strongest grandmasters in the world. That is considered chess's 56 game hitting streak. It will never be broken.

Players today have access to reams of analysis, which anyone with a smartphone can utilize. I think the problem with the Carlsen-Caruana match is they are both playing too cautiously, rarely willing to take chances. And if one player falls behind, he has the ability to find a way to draw, even in very difficult positions. Both are incredibly skilled and know all the current theory. And their preparation is exceptional. The only thing that has been boring and predictable are the games.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Perhaps the way to shake things up is to do what Fischer eventually suggested -- for each game, pick a random order for the pieces in the back row.

[barrysloate]

They definitely need to do something to make the matches more interesting. Yes, most high level games are drawn, and always have been. But to have every game drawn is not good. I don't know what they can do.

[Arazi4442]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Perhaps the way to shake things up is to do what Fischer eventually suggested -- for each game, pick a random order for the pieces in the back row.

I can assume a lot of chess fans would go crazy over something like this but I'd be all for it. Like Barry said, it feels like nearly all of the highest level games end in draws. I'm not sure the random back row is a crazier idea than having the world champion decided by a best of 3 or best of 5 blitz game.