World Chess Championship: If Magnus takes the lead in essential fourth sport it might get one-sided

I believe the primary three video games adopted the sample of a typical World Championship match. The two gamers had been testing one another on totally different strains, with none apparent weak point on both aspect by way of opening or technique. But Magnus (Carlsen) ought to positively be blissful, particularly in regards to the third sport, the place he had a comparatively straightforward draw regardless of taking part in with the black items.
Delving into the technical aspect of issues, Nepo’s (Ian Nepomniachtchi) first transfer was e4 (King’s pawn opening) in each video games the place he performed with the white items. Magnus responded to that with e5 in each video games. Against e5, Nepo adopted Ruy Lopez. Magnus countered that with the Morphy defence, using the Marshall variation. Nepo didn’t need to enable that and resorted to the Anti-Marshall counter. It’s a step-by-step course of.
Nepo’s subsequent sport with the white items could be Game No.5. If he performs e4 once more, not essentially that Magnus would repeat e5. He would possibly do it, he may not. He might nicely flip to c5, the Sicilian defence. But I believe within the fifth sport, Nepo would most certainly play d4 – the Queen’s pawn opening – to attempt to determine how Magnus’s staff has ready in opposition to that. He has performed e4 in his first two video games with white, and possibly he can suppose that it’s time to vary.
After two video games with the white items, Nepo has sufficient details about how Magnus’s staff has ready in opposition to e4. Now Nepo’s staff is anticipated to work on cracking the present line – Magnus’s e5 – whereas making an attempt to get details about the latter’s preparation in opposition to d4. Different groups have totally different match methods. When we had been on the World Championship, particularly throughout (Viswanathan) Anand’s match in opposition to (Boris) Gelfand, our technique was that we might play each e4 and d4, and with the black items, we might begin with e5 in opposition to e4 within the first couple of video games. And when the opponent would begin spending time on that, we might shift to another opening. So it’s very a lot potential that Magnus would now flip to the Sicilian, however that is one thing you possibly can’t predict. He would possibly nicely stick with the present line.
As a participant, I’m not speculating something. I’m excited in regards to the World Championship however with regards to openings and/or strikes, I don’t speculate. Of course, when Anand was taking part in, it was utterly totally different, for I used to be immediately concerned. Here, I’m wanting ahead to an important match and that’s what I’m seeing.

The second sport was very entertaining and on the post-game press convention Magnus spoke about committing a “blunder”. But I don’t learn an excessive amount of into that. Comments at press conferences are often very generic and I don’t take them critically. There can be errors in each sport. If I run each sport by means of the pc and put it underneath the microscope, some errors may be discovered. Very hardly ever will we see a fully flawless sport – one out 10, that’s the ratio and even there additionally, it could possibly be a case that the second-best transfer was performed someplace as an alternative of one of the best one. Mistakes will occur.
I had earlier talked about that if Nepo might take the match deep with the scores degree, his probabilities would improve. Whether that will occur, it’s too early to say. In normal, when attracts pile up, the challenger’s confidence degree goes up, whereas the world champion tends to get a tad nervy. For instance, if there’s a stalemate even after the Game No. 13, then Carlsen now not stays the favorite. From that perspective, Nepo must be blissful to take the match deep. Then once more, Magnus has acquired extra vitality usually. He won’t get drained.
In the one sport that Magnus has performed with the white items thus far, he went for the Catalan opening. But I don’t count on him to repeat it within the subsequent sport. In truth, based mostly on my expertise, I might be shocked if he does it. Nepo has performed two video games with the white items thus far and he can’t be thrilled with what occurred, however he shouldn’t be dissatisfied additionally with the result. The match hasn’t taken a departure from the traditional as but. With the black items within the second sport, Nepo was underneath critical stress at one level. But aside from that, it’s nonetheless in regards to the two gamers testing one another.I believe the fourth sport goes to be very essential, Magnus’s second try with the white items. If he takes the lead right here, it might simply get one-sided.
(Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly was one in every of Viswanathan Anand’s seconds and assisted him in successful the World Championship matches in opposition to Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. He spoke to Shamik Chakrabarty)