World Chess Match Game 4: Thrilling draw as Anand finds excellent resources for all Magnus threats

Game 4 at Chennai World Chess Championship Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2: Were it not for reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand’s ‘Houdini’ escape act with clever defence, challenger Magnus Carlsen could have scored the first win of the event.

The World Chess Champion survived the Berlin Defence with an extremely patiently played Game 4 in Chennai. Carlsen tried to push with all his might for a win while playing almost the entire game a pawn up, but it was not to be. Carlsen did not play the Caro Kann as he had done with Black in Game 2.

Photo: Official website (The YouTube telecast was interrupted mid-way, but still worth the watch. You can find the full game video plus the press conference at the official website as well. For all links for viewing live World Chess Championship, check our summary of live links.)

The Berlin defense became famous after Vladimir Kramnik used it to beat Garry Kasparov in the World Chess Championship Match of 2000 in London. Carlsen deviated from the more popular line of 10…Ke8 with 10…Be7. It’s not a novelty, but it has particularly been played lately by Jon Ludvig Hammer – Magnus Carlsen’s friend and second. Also, on the 15th move, Carlsen went Be6 instead of the more popular Bc6.

The 64 moves of Game 4 were pure gold. Anand had won a game versus Sergey Karjakin earlier this year by using the 4.d3 sideline. However, he used the main line against Carlsen in Game 4.

Magnus Carlsen went into a long think at the 18th move to decide whether to take the a-pawn or not. Thereafter, the game became a struggle of regrouping pieces while Black had to find a way to activate his Black Rook on a8 despite being a pawn up. White managed to withstand any damage by advancing his Kingside pawn majority and keeping the pressure on Carlsen.

The position became extremely complicated. Anand found a fantastic resource in 35.Ne4! which helped him to finally open up Black’s King on the Queenside and equalise. The defending champion remained a pawn down, but as more and more material got exchanged, White came closer to a draw and finally achieved it.

Right till the end, Carlsen even tried all kinds of checkmating threats living up to his promise of playing to the end, but Anand was up to the challenge all through. The game lasted just about six hours.

Eight classical time-control games are still to be played in the 12-game World Chess Championship Match. The score is now tied at 2-2. The last two games have been deadly energy-draining fights to the bitter end. More exciting chess is surely likely after the second rest day on Thursday. — Rajat Khanna

Game 4 moves

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Nc3 Kc8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 16. Ne1 Ng6 17. Nd3 b6 18. Ne2 Bxa2 19. b3 c4 20. Ndc1 cxb3 21. cxb3 Bb1 22. f4 Kb7 23. Nc3 Bf5 24. g4 Bc8 25. Nd3 h5 26. f5 Ne7 27. Nb5 hxg4 28. hxg4 Rh4 29. Nf2 Nc6 30. Rc2 a5 31. Rc4 g6 32. Rdc1 Bd7 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6 Be8 35. Ne4 Rxg4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4+ 37. Ke3 Rf8 38. Nd4 Nxd4 39. Rxc7+ Ka6 40. Kxd4 Rd8+ 41. Kc3 Rf3+ 42. Kb2 Re3 43. Rc8 Rdd3 44. Ra8+ Kb7 45. Rxe8 Rxe4 46. e7 Rg3 47. Rc3 Re2+ 48. Rc2 Ree3 49. Ka2 g5 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Rd7+ Kc6 52. Red8 Rge3 53. Rd6+ Kb7 54. R8d7+ Ka6 55. Rd5 Re2+ 56. Ka3 Re6 57. Rd8 g4 58. Rg5 Rxe7 59. Ra8+ Kb7 60. Rag8 a4 61. Rxg4 axb3 62. R8g7 Ka6 63. Rxe7 Rxe7 64. Kxb3 1/2-1/2