Carlsen keeps chess title match lead with quiet draw in Game 8

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen came up with a much better defense to his opponent’s Queen’s Gambit opening and secured an easy 41-move draw in Game 8 of his title match with Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in Sochi, Russia Tuesday.

The Norwegian champion now leads 4 1/2-3 1/2 with just four games to go in the scheduled 12-game title match. After a rest day, Game 9 will be played Thursday, with Carlsen enjoying the advantage of the White pieces.

Anand as White undoubtedly hoped to get more out of Tuesday’s game, but with 6…c5, Black did not allow his opponent to push the c-pawn down the board as happened in Game 3, the challenger’s only win so far in the match.

White might have tried 18. Rc1 to maintain the tension and avoid exchanges, since after 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 (Qh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8+ Ke7 leads nowhere) Be7 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 b4!, Carlsen forces a string of exchanges which lead to a dead-equal bishop ending.

Unlike the previous game, when Carlsen tortured his opponent for 122 moves before finally agreeing to a draw, Anand agreed to split the point just after the first time control.

Here are the moves to Tuesday’s Game 8:

White: Anand

Black: Carlsen

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 a6 15. O-O b5 16. Ba2 Bb7 17. Bb1 Rad8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 b4 22. Rc1 bxa3 23. bxa3 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Ne7 25. Rfc1 Rc8 26. Bd3 Red8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Rxc8+ Nxc8 29. Nd2 Nb6 30. Nb3 Nd7 31. Na5 Bc8 32. Kf1 Kf8 33. Ke1 Ke7 34. Kd2 Kd6 35. Kc3 Ne5 36. Be2 Kc5 37. f4 Nc6 38.Nxc6 Kxc6 39. Kd4 f6 40. e4 Kd6 41. e5+ Draw agreed