On to Game 4:
Caruana, who was made to scratch for a draw over seven hours in Game 1 before flipping the script on Carlsen in Saturday’s shorter Game 2, managed to mine another promising position from today’s opening. But the American was forced to defend diligently for a third straight draw after 49 moves and four and a quarter hours (move-by-move recap). The position looked equal and drawish from around move 20, but the dogged Carlsen refused to let up and in fact it may have been the Norwegian champion who let the challenger off the hook somewhat with his 39th move (39. ... Nc5) before the action petered out to a peaceful finish. A short match, relatively speaking, and the players will no doubt be grateful for the extra preparation time ahead of Tuesday’s Game 4.
The players
Norway's Magnus Carlsen is defending the world chess championship against Fabiano Caruana of the United States. The best-of-12-games match is taking place at the College in Holborn between 9 and 28 November, with the winner earning a 60% share of the €1m ($1.14m) prize fund if the match ends in regulation (or 55% if it's decided by tie-break games).
Carlsen, 27, has been ranked No 1 for eight straight years and was considered the world’s best player even before he defeated Viswanathan Anand for the title in 2013. Caruana, 26, is ranked No 2, having earned his place the table by winning the candidates tournament in March. No American-born player has won or even competed for the world title since Bobby Fischer in 1972.
It marks the first title match between the world's top two players since 1990, when Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov faced off for a fifth and final time.
The format
The match will consist of 12 classical games with each player awarded one point for a win and a half-point for a draw. Whoever reaches six and a half points first will be declared the champion.
The time control for each game is 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. Players cannot agree to a draw before Black's 30th move.
If the match is tied after 12 games, tie-breaks will be played on the final day in the following order:
• Best of four rapid games with 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds after each move.
• If still tied, they will play up to five mini-matches of two blitz games (five minutes for each player with a three-second increment).
• If all five mini-matches are drawn, one sudden-death 'Armegeddon' match will be played where White receives five minutes and Black receives four minutes. Both players will receive a three-second increment after the 60th move. In the case of a draw, Black will be declared the winner.
The schedule
Thu 8 Nov – Opening ceremony
Fri 9 Nov – Game 1
Sat 10 Nov – Game 2
Sun 11 Nov – Rest day
Mon 12 Nov – Game 3
Tue 13 Nov – Game 4
Wed 14 Nov – Rest day
Thu 15 Nov – Game 5
Fri 16 Nov – Game 6
Sat 17 Nov – Rest day
Sun 18 Nov – Game 7
Mon 19 Nov – Game 8
Tue 20 Nov – Rest day
Wed 21 Nov – Game 9
Thu 22 Nov – Game 10
Fri 23 Nov – Rest day
Sat 24 Nov – Game 11
Sun 25 Nov – Rest day
Mon 26 Nov – Game 12
Tue 27 Nov – Rest day
Wed 28 Nov – Tie-break games/Awards and closing
The games commence each day at 3pm in London.
That’s all for now. Thanks for following along with us and be sure to check back tomorrow for our live commentary of Game 4.
Updated
Carlsen: "My results are OK, but I can still improve"
“I thought it was uncomfortable from the opening and I may have mixed up something,” Carlsen says, per Tarjei Svensen. “Then I got an advantage in the endgame, I don’t think I had any chances, but I would have liked to do something more.
“From the start, I thought it was a bit uncomfortable. I just tried to limit his advantage as much as possible. When we reached the endgame, I thought I had equalized. When we reached the endgame, I didn’t really play for a win. ... It was only when I had forced his pawn on a black square and established it there, I thought I would be able to press him.”
He’s asked about being uncomfortable in the opening: “I miscalculated the position. I thought what I entered was very close to equalizing. Then I realized I was clearly worse.”
He adds: “My results are OK, but I can still improve.”
Updated
Game 3 is a draw after 49 moves!
A few last moves (47. f5 gxf5 48. Nxc4 Kxc4 49. exf5) and it’s official: Game 3 is a draw after four and a quarter hours. Caruana and Carlsen are tied 1½-1½ after three games with a slight advantage to the champion, who has five games with white remaining compared to four for the challenger.
Quick rush of moves: 42. ... b4 43. cxb4 Bxb4 44. Ne3 Kc5 45. f4 exf4 46. gxf4 Ba5. A draw seems inevitable here.
Carlsen comes up with 41. ... Kc6, and Caruana responds with 42. Nf1. Carlsen ponders. And ponders. He’s been considering his position for 10 minutes and counting. Grandmaster Susan Polgar expects we’ll be here for a while.
42 Nf1 This is the right plan. Caruana wants his Knight on the more flexible e3 square. This game is still heading to a draw. But Carlsen enjoys this type of maneuvering. So I expect another long game. And this is why I said fitness is so important. Long games is expected. pic.twitter.com/Wqv8YXGC8w
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) November 12, 2018
Another flurry of moves (37. ... fxe4 38. dxe4 c4 39. Nd2 Nc5 40. Bxc5 Bxc5 41. Ke2) and we’ve hit the time control. Each player has been given another 50 minutes and both have stepped away from the board for a break from the tension.
and they've hit the time control and both quit the scene. chess! pic.twitter.com/TyyUUug2LZ
— Oliver Roeder (@ollie) November 12, 2018
Here’s what the board looks like.
Updated
Caruana goes with 37. Kd1 and he’s left with just under five minutes to make his next three moves before the time control gives him another 50 minutes. Carlsen has plenty of time to ponder his next move.
I can't believe after that opening it's come to this. Caruana now has to play accurately with not much time or things could go seriously wrong... #CarlsenCaruana
— Thomas Rendle (@TERendle) November 12, 2018
The position still looks drawish after another series of moves (33. c3 c5 34. Be3 Ke7 35. Kd1 Kd7 36. Kc2 f5), but Carlsen seems to have taken the initiative while Caruana is left to defend. The world champion is known for grinding and pressing long after other grandmasters might have offered a draw out of courtesy. Can he make something from nothing here as he’s done so many times before?
Carlsen having a slight squeeze again. Curious to see if he can use his magic and make something of it. #CarlsenCaruana
— Benjamin Bok (@benjamin_bok) November 12, 2018
Updated
Caruana takes a little more than seven minutes before going with 32. Bd2, eschewing the sacrifice on e5. Carlsen answers with 32. ... Bd6. Here’s what the board looks like.
An interesting sequence of moves from Carlsen (30. h4 Ne6 31. Nb3 h5) to squeeze the challenger and set up for an endgame. Time is not nearly the factor it was in the first two games, but worth mentioning Caruana has 17 minutes (and counting) to make his next nine moves before more time is added.
Caruana plays it safe with 29. Nd2, instead of targeting a win from an equal position. While it appeared to be a position with little chance of losing, the American doesn’t want to risk it. Carlsen comes back with 29. ... Ng5. Says Susan Polgar: “While most grandmasters would take a draw here, look at what Carlsen is doing. He is slowly provoking Caruana. He has no problem doing little poking for hours and hours. The problem is many will fall asleep mentally and lose to him. It is like some sort of hypnotism.”
Meanwhile, the Norwegian telecast has apparently spent the past hour deconstructing Carlsen’s 18th move, where he appeared to touch a piece without moving it and saying the customary “J’adoube”.
Here's the situation on move 18: Carlsen touches his knight, but does not appear to say "j'adoube". An arbiter could've intervened and forced him to move the knight. Instead 18...b5 was played. #CarlsenCaruana pic.twitter.com/0rG5QTaBae
— Tarjei J. Svensen (@TarjeiJS) November 12, 2018
Updated
On they go: 27. Bc3 Ne6 28. g3 Bf8. Remember: Players cannot agree to a draw before Black’s 30th move.
23...Qxb2 24. Bxb2 f6 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Ke2 Nc5 This is now 99.99% draw, unless someone falls asleep and loses on time. 😅😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/Cai9Z4rcXQ
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) November 12, 2018
Caruana takes about eight minutes to play 23. Qb2, then Carlsen quickly initiates the queen exchange (23. ... Qxb2 24. Bxb2). A quick flurry of moves follows (f6 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Ke2 Nc5) and we do appear headed in the direction of a peaceful result.
Caruana goes with 22. Bc3, opening a possible exchange of queens if Carlsen wants to force it. Instead he goes with 22. ... Qa2. Here’s a look at the board. Seems like Caruana has no alternative than 23. Qb2, but he’s got more than 38 minutes (and counting).
Carlsen responds with 21. ... Qa7 and he appears to be clear of danger with the rooks off the board and an equal position. But an easy draw from here is not the consensus, Hungarian-born grandmaster Dénes Boros says.
I'm still not convinced with the idea that it's an easy draw, still some choices to make for both players! #CarlsenCaruana,#CarlsenCaruana2018
— Denes Boros (@Gmasterg4) November 12, 2018
Updated
Both rooks are exchanged in a flurry (19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1). This appears to be an admission of inaccuracy by Caruana and a peaceful result appears afoot. The computer is calling it dead even at the moment.
18...b5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 Now, it seems that white got nothing out of the slight advantage. This is now practically equal. But Caruana must not fall asleep here as Carlsen can be very dangerous in this type of "boring" positions, his ability to grind. pic.twitter.com/cLMeUfYZTF
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) November 12, 2018
Updated
Caruana answers with 18. Bc3, and the computers call it an equal position. Looks like Fabi lost time with his previous move (17. Qb4), which has revealed itself as a bit of an inaccuracy. Carlsen has a bevy of playable options here, but he goes with 18. ... b5 and it looks like we’re headed for a draw.
Caruana spents a pair of moves developing his queen (16. Qb1 Nd7 17. Qb4 Rfe8). He’s back on the clock again with about 53min left, roughly 20 minutes behind Carlsen (1hr 13min 16sec).
As mentioned these games are being aired in prime time on national television in Carlsen’s native country. You can have a look at the telecast on Norway’s VGTV here.
Another pawn exchange (14. bxa5 Rxa5). Then Caruana forces the issue to Carlsen’s rook with (15. Bd2), sending Carlsen into tactical retreat (15. ... Raa8). The American is playing on the front foot today, with confidence and initiative. And the Norwegian supercomputer Sesse is giving him a marked advantage.
A quick flurry of moves (11. h3 Bxf3 12. Nxf3 cxb4 13. axb4 a5). Carlsen exchanges his bishop for the knight. Norwegian grandmaster Simen Agdestein says he sees “absolutely no advantage for white here” and believe we may be headed for a short draw.
Susan Polgar offers a harsher assessment: “This is basically survival mode. Carlsen hopes to trade a lot of pieces off to hold the endgame.”
12...cxb4 13. axb4 a5 This is basically survival mode. Carlsen hopes to trade a lot of pieces off to hold the endgame. He needs to mix things up drastically in the next few games. The missed opportunity in game 1 now looms larger. pic.twitter.com/qomVuHYNiE
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) November 12, 2018
Updated
Caruana thrusts his knight into the fray with 10. Nbd2 after pondering the board for about a quarter hour. But Carlsen wastes no time coming in hot with 10. ... Bg4. Caruana doing far better with time today than in Friday’s Game 1. Here’s a look at the board.
Caruana has been on the clock for about 10 minutes or so. Fide master Mike Klein, speaking on one of the commentary feeds, says that Carlsen spent yesterday’s rest day taking in the Chelsea v Everton match at Stamford Bridge.
Caruana is having a think after a quick series of moves: 7. Re1 e5 8. a3 Nf6. He takes his time before going with a queenside expansion (9. b4), and Carlsen castles in response (9. ... O-O).
After Caruana's 9.b4, Carlsen thinks for about 30 seconds and then goes for 9...0-0. His whole body language suggests he's ready to invade Italy. https://t.co/hlDqWSeAe6 pic.twitter.com/D00xp4G7Bx
— Olimpiu G. Urcan (@olimpiuurcan) November 12, 2018
Updated
Carlsen’s response (6. ... Qc7) is a hell of an early psychological salvo. Russian grandmaster Peter Svidler notes that it’s never been played before in this line. Adds Susan Polgar: “Immediately, it is putting doubt in his opponent’s head. Carlsen wants to show that he expected 6. 0-0 and is fully prepared for it. So Caruana now must think how to avoid possible home prep. A complete mind game!”
Fabiano Caruana after the slightly obscure 6...Qc7. Good luck reading that. pic.twitter.com/XCSVfTNi1O
— Olimpiu G. Urcan (@olimpiuurcan) November 12, 2018
Updated
Another surprise. Carlsen is playing the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian, same as Friday’s opening game (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6).
They proceed with 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7, then Caruana is first to deviate from the common line with 6. 0-0 (instead of 6. h3).
Game 3 is under way!
Here we go! The third game is under way and so far it’s a repeat of Game 1: another Sicilian (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6).
Cheaters never prosper! According to Norwegian journalist Tarjei Svensen, officials are scanning the playing hall for electronic devices ahead of today’s match.
Apparently they are doing a scan for electronic devices before the #CarlsenCaruana game today. Just like in 1972! pic.twitter.com/xIdIAbAkLC
— Tarjei J. Svensen (@TarjeiJS) November 12, 2018
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Game 3 of the World Chess Championship. We’re back in action today after the first rest day following a pair of draws in Friday’s Game 1 and Saturday’s Game 2 that were notable for Black having the upper hand in both.
For those of you just coming aboard, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen is defending the title he’s held for the past five years against Fabiano Caruana of the United States, who is looking to become the first American to win the world title since Bobby Fischer in 1972. The best-of-12-games match is taking place at the College in Holborn over the next three weeks, with the winner earning a 60% share of the €1m ($1.14m) prize fund if the match ends in regulation (or 55% if it’s decided by tie-break games).
Carlsen, 27, has been ranked No 1 for eight straight years and was considered the world’s best player even before he defeated Viswanathan Anand for the title in 2013. Caruana, 26, is ranked No 2, having earned his place the table by winning the candidates tournament in March. It marks the first title match between the world’s top two players since 1990, when Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov faced off for a fifth and final time.
We’re a little over a half hour from today’s first move, so not much longer now. In the meantime here’s my interview with Caruana ahead of this month’s showdown.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s our Tim Lewis’s take on the match so far.
