Draw-Marathon in the world Cup final: What’s wrong with Magnus Carlsen?

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World champion Magnus Carlsen in the world chess championship in London in search of his best form. Without a win he is in the last matches. DW-chess expert Holger Hank attempts an explanation in five points.

Far away from his best: the chess world champion Magnus Carlsen

Since 2013, he repeated all of the world champion title, he is number one in the world rankings and is considered to be one of the best chess players of all time: Magnus Carlsen is just 27 years old, but so brilliant a few years ago, his chess career is no longer. Also currently in London for his third title defense of the Norwegian – so far, all the games ended against Challenger Fabiano Caruana from the USA with a draw.

In advance of the German chess-Federal trainer Dorian Rogozenco in the DW-Interview, the Form of the world champion in question was put: “Magnus Carlsen has failed to achieve in the last few games his best form. Therefore, I would even prefer Caruana as a “favorite” something.” So what is going on with Magnus Carlsen? The questions not only the chess fans – seems the earlier often called the “Mozart of chess”, which has been termed the Champion to search for an answer.

1. Chess is in the mind – the fear of losing inhibits

Magnus Carlsen: the world champion since 2013

He is not to strike when an opportunity offers? A question, not listen to a world champion in the middle of the title fight. And Carlsen was left to the journalists after the feeble-run seventh game of the answer is also guilty. He had given short lives previously a glimpse into his soul: “On another day, in another year, I would have found maybe a way to make more pressure,” admitted the world champion.

Obviously, is that Magnus Carlsen, the Victories as easily as at the beginning of his time as a world champion. Here, Carlsen’s still losing very few games, but the Superiority with which he played for a time, the best chess players in a row is not currently available. Without this safety in mind Carlsen is the level of risk. He avoids so were low, but gains are also less. A Vicious Circle.

2. The Carlsen method does not work anymore

An almost somnambulistic sense of where the characters are on the 64 black-and-white fields at the best, coupled with a great fighting spirit – this is the game of the Norwegian. Magnus Carlsen is not on all-out attack, but loves positions that are just a little out of Balance. Train for train, he improved his Position until he has a winning advantage on the Board.

The Problem: Now have to set his opponent on this style. Who is playing against Carlsen, who knows that he will be put under pressure – peaceful Short-there will be no draw with the Norwegians. But as in football the effect of this “Tiki Taka style”. At least Fabiano Caruana is so far this is in London, not the concept.

3. Carlsen’s first trains are to harmless

The Queen’s gambit, Rossolimo, or Russian? Magnus Carlsen and his Team attach comparatively little importance to the opening preparation – so the first trains, which are provided in the chess scene, often with peculiar names. Carlsen is not seeking necessarily to gain an advantage through the work out always new variants. Rather, the world champion is trying to get especially with the white stones as one of these typical “Carlsen-positions” – that is supposedly balanced, but with a bit of potential.

Fabiano Caruana has adjusted well to this game. Many experts, such as, for example, the Ex-world champion Gary Kasparov, are of the opinion that Carlsen needs to improve, but urgent in the opening. If this is however, at this world Cup is still possible may be doubted.

4. Caruana is just fine

The saying also applies to chess: “You play as good as the opponent allows.” In the past years, a number of players are moved up in the world, and who have coached Magnus Carlsen for a lifetime with computers and similar are set as the champion of the world.

Fabiano Caruana is the most complete player in this group of challengers. But also, for example, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan has established itself in recent years, in the top of the world and it is up to the Norwegians in the meantime.

The tracker will play a very active, for the Fans of attractive chess, and rankings are put into the world close to Carlsen. And in comparison to Carlsen more active opening repertoire you have.

5. Carlsen still has everything under control

Nothing is lost yet: Magnus Carlsen wrestles with Fabiano Caruana

Although Magnus Carlsen recently rather as the “Hamlet of the chess”, because, as the “Mozart of chess” presented: The duel with Fabiano Caruano is 4:4. With the exception of the sixth and eighth game of the Challenger was even more of a full point as the slightly troubled Carlsen.

Add to this: Magnus Carlsen is aware of the tension in the last rounds of the last tight title fight. The draw should continue in series until the twelfth game, Carlsen has the advantage. With a shorter period of time, the Norwegians have been playing a particularly strong and Fabiano Caruana comparatively weak. Then it is possibly again: the match ball to Carlsen.