Game 7 FIDE World Chess Championship: Viswanathan Anand happy to draw, Carlsen keeps the lead

Victory eluded him yet again, but defending champion Viswanathan Anand said he was relieved to eke out a draw after two losses on the trot against Magnus Carlsen in the World Chess Championship, in Chennai, on Monday.

“Obviously after the last two games it’s nice to break this result but I was hoping to be able to press him a little, but I could not manage,” Anand said in a press conference after the seventh round game.

Carlsen, meanwhile, continued to enjoy his two-point lead after the deadlock. The Norwegian now needs just two points in the next five games to become the next world chess champion. Anand elaborated the game in perfect fashion to a packed audience, a sign that the Indian has recovered and is raring to have a go again.

“I chose a line that both of us have played quite a bit in the past. He went for this Bishop move and then we have this slow manoeuvring game. White has two plans, a break on king side or play on the flank. ‘f4′ was not so good as black is basically preparing to play this knight manoeuvre.

“I thought I will be able to press a little bit, it’s not huge but somehow I was not able to make it happen,” Anand said matter-of-factly.

Carlsen almost echoed the opinion. “Not so much more to say, we both have played this line, there are many different plans of course. But whatever you play it’s usually quite slow and the game goes on. I thought I was doing more or less fine, just a little bit worse but not much. It’s just going to be a bit more pleasant, but my pieces are well developed,” he said.

Anand said he will definitely keep trying and push for a win.”I will definitely keep trying. The last two games were unpleasant, there is no getting around that, we played a game today and we will continue to do so,” noted the local hero.
Speaking about the psychological aspects related to the game, Carlsen was quite forthcoming.

“I think there are some psychological aspects. The outcome of game five influenced the next game, I think that’s unavoidable, you just try to move on as quickly as possible, but it’s not so easy in a match,” Carlsen said.

On whether the two were following the messages for both on social media, Anand said his team would let him know if they felt he should know something.

“I follow it just a little bit, I am very thankful to those who wish for me and for those who are not, I don’t read it anyway,” quipped Carlsen.

Carlsen said he was quite happy with the way things turned out in game seven.

“I have the lead, I won my last game with black, so this suited me just fine,” he said.

The eighth game will be played on Tuesday followed by a day’s break.

[Event "FWCM 2013"]
[Site "Chennai"]
[Date "2013.11.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2870"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Ne2 Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 a5 20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 f5 27. exf5 gxf5 28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6 1/2-1/2