Sometimes, knowing what needs to be done does not make the job any easier. Viswanathan Anand knows what to do to win but Magnus Carlsen is not the one going to make it any easier.
In sport, as in life, a defeat in a high-profile contest can either deflate the loser or reinforce his determination to turn the tables. Sunday’s loss can only leave Anand more fired up than he was on reaching Sochi for the re-match for the World chess title.
No doubt, the three defeats suffered to Carlsen in Chennai left Anand devastated. During the course of the defeat in Game 5, Anand regretted the position he got himself into and suffered from the slow grind that led to an inevitable result. In his own admission, the manner of defeat hurt him enormously and ended in successive defeats.
Middle-game strategy
In the ongoing match, Anand has no such reason to carry the after-effects of the defeat to another day. He needs no reminding that Carlsen punished him for the choices made once the opening phase was over. A chastened Anand knows the area that needs his attention.
It is clear that Anand looked better off out of the opening with white pieces in the first game and was not worse with black in the second. Opening preparation and repertoire are areas where Anand scores over Carlsen. But Carlsen is considered far superior in the middle-game positions and in endgames.
On Tuesday, Anand can be expected to make things happen in the transitory phase when the development of pieces is over and the players strategise their plan ahead. It is here that the preparations for match come handy. It is often said that in chess, in the world title match, the games played are only the tip of the iceberg and what is not visible is the sheer size of the iceberg.
Indeed, the enormous work done by the teams of ‘seconds’ is not visible. Though the players remain well aware of each others opening repertoire, the trick lies in finding a challenging and well researched line of continuation that foxes the rival.
So far, Team Carlsen has done a good job. Though worried for the initial part of Game One, Carlsen has called the shots in the middle-games of both games. It is important to remember here that Carlsen’s understanding of the middle-game and end-game positions is second to none in the world.
Being timid can be dangerous
For Anand, the lessons to be learnt from Chennai should serve as a pointer in the games ahead. In fact, a tentative or timid approach only invites punishing responses from the young Norwegian.
Anand will have to look for dynamic positions and execute his plans when he still has the energy to do so. Last year, Anand tried to be enterprising, as the last resort, with white pieces in the ninth game.
Despite holding a firm grip, Anand did not have the energy to think right at the crucial time. He lost again and hastened the end of the match. This time, Anand has the time to hit back. He cannot lower his guard and rush to land the first punch of Round Three. But he should be the one to land the punch that gets points.
Anand cannot show Carlsen excessive respect. If he still does, he cannot expect to win. By now, who better than Anand knows that only active, double-edged positions offer him any chance of winning against Carlsen.
But will knowing make it any easier?
