Carlsen holds draw, Karjakin keeps lead in world chess title match

Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin was the aggressor again, but world chess champion Magnus Carlsen was able to hold a pawn-down ending to save a draw in Game 9 of their scheduled 12-game title match in New York City Wednesday.

Despite having an edge for much of the game, Karjakinin at the end could not convert his advantage as his brokenkingside pawns could not force their way past the Norwegian champion’s desperate defense. Black found a key defensive resource in this Ruy Lopez battle on 33. Qc2 Ra8!, when Carlsen preserves the draw on 34. Ba4?! Rxa4! 35. Qxa4 Qf5! 36. Qxb5 Qxf3+ 37. Rg2 Qd1+, with a perpetual check.

Karjakin in turn found a clever combination with 38. Kg2 Ne7 39. Bxf7+ Kxf7 40. Qc4+ Kg7 41. d5, with a myriad of threats, but Black held things together with 41…Nf5! 42. Bc3+ Kf8 43. Bxa1 Nxh4+ 44. Qxh4 Qxd5 45. Qf6+ Qf7, setting up a long ending in which White could torment his opponent but could never break through. After 74 moves of probing, the players called it a day.

Although he had to settle for a draw with the White pieces, the result leaves the Russian with a 5-4 advantage with just three games to play. With seven draws to open the match, the favored Carlsen has yet to win a game, and appears to be increasingly frustrated by the stout resistance the challenger is putting up.

Carlsen will have White in two of the three remaining games, being played at the Fulton Market atrium at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport. Game 10 will be played on Thanksgiving Thursday, and a one-day rapid playoff will be held Nov. 30 if the match is tied.

The moves of Game 9 were:

Karjakin - Carlsen, FIDE World Championship Game 9, New York, November 2016

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3
Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. Bc2 exd4 14. Nbxd4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nh5 17. Kh1 Qf6 18. Be3 c5 19. e5 Qe6 20. exd6 c4 21. b3 cxb3 22. Bxb3 Qxd6 23. Ra6 Rfd8 24. Rg1 Qd7 25. Rg4 Nf6 26. Rh4 Qb5 27. Ra1 g6 28. Rb1 Qd7 29. Qd3 Nd5 30. Rg1 Bc7 31. Bg5 Re8 32. Qc4 Rb5 33. Qc2 Ra8 34. Bc4 Rba5 35. Bd2 Ra4 36. Qd3 Ra1 37. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 38. Kg2 Ne7 39. Bxf7+ Kxf7 40. Qc4+ Kg7 41. d5 Nf5 42. Bc3+ Kf8 43. Bxa1 Nxh4+ 44. Qxh4 Qxd5 45. Qf6+ Qf7 46. Qd4 Ke8 47. Qe4+ Qe7 48. Qd5 Bd8 49. Kf1 Qf7 50. Qe4+ Qe7 51. Be5 Qe6 52. Kg2 Be7 53. Qa8+ Kf7 54. Qh8 h5 55. Qg7+ Ke8 56. Bf4 Qf7 57. Qh8+ Qf8 58. Qd4 Qf5 59. Qc4 Kd7 60. Bd2 Qe6 61. Qa4+ Qc6 62. Qa7+ Qc7 63. Qa2 Qd6 64. Be3 Qe6 65. Qa7+ Ke8 66. Bc5 Bd8 67. h3 Qd5 68. Be3 Be7 69. Qb8+ Kf7 70. Qh8 Qe6 71. Bf4 Qf6 72. Qb8 Qe6 73. Qb7 Kg8 74. Qb5 Bf6 Draw agreed