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If Carlsen deigns to enter the Candidates tournament, scheduled for London in March next year, he will be the hot favourite to unseat Anand in a world title clash. In the game which follows, Carlsen adopts his usual stratagem of selecting a slightly unusual opening to throw the opponent onto his own resources of calculation and assessment, rather than memory. Having split the black position in two, Carlsen concluded with a devastating attack against the black king.
Carlsen-Anand: Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012; Sicilian
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Bd7 4 Bxd7+ Qxd7 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Although not exactly unknown, this variation is far less explored than the main lines emanating from 3 d4. 6 … g6 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 Bg7 9 f3 Qc7 10 b3 Qa5 11 Bb2 Nc6 12 0-0 0-0 13 Nce2 Rfd8 14 Bc3 Qb6 15 Kh1 d5 A bold attempt to free himself. The plan is that if 16 cxd5 Nxd5 17 exd5 Rxd5 Black will regain the piece. Carlsen, however, refuses to co-operate. 16 Nxc6 bxc6 17 Qe1 Rdc8 White was threatening Ba5. 18 e5 Ne8 19 e6 (see diagram 1) The crux of the matter. This thrust drives a wedge between Black’s forces on the queenside and his somewhat isolated king.
19 … fxe6 20 Nf4 Bxc3 21 Qxc3 d4 (see diagram 2) 22 Qd2 Most people would play 22 Qe1 here to regain the pawn but Carlsen’s move is stronger. Former Irish champion Nick Patterson, commented, ‘Carlsen’s 22 Qd2 is one of the most impressive moves I have ever seen. Any ordinary player plays Qe1 with a clear if small edge. But Carlsen sees that the Black squares around the black king are weaker than they look and that he has a clear plan to exploit them. A wonderful and subtle move!’ 22 … c5 23 Rae1 Ng7 24 g4 Rc6 A possible defensive improvement here is 24 … Qd6. 25 Nh3 Ne8 26 Qh6 Nf6 27 Ng5 d3 28 Re5 Kh8 29 Rd1 Qa6 30 a4 Black resigns Black’s position is now hopeless as he cannot defend his d-pawn: 30 … Rd6 or 30 … Rd8 allow 31 Nf7+.
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