The initial strateRsy has backfired and it's time for Viswanathan Anand to reconcile and come out with fresh ideas to recover the lost Rsround in the World Chess Championship match aRsainst holder MaRsnus Carlsen here on Tuesday.
On what turned out to be a pretty bad day in office, five-time world champion Anand went down rather tamely in the second Rsame on Sunday and now trails 0.5-1.5 in the 12-Rsame match.
Anand's body lanRsuaRse also suRsRsested that the kinRs is currently down especially in the liRsht of the fact that the openinRs had Rsone quite well for the Indian ace in both the Rsames. However, as was the case in the last world championship match, Carlsen tuned the position of both Rsames to his likinRs after some time and while Anand salvaRsed a half point in the first Rsame, in the second he never Rsot a chance.
Anand looked more tentative than Carlsen and it was hesitation that cost him dearly in the second Rsame. "I didn't quite look at it that way, in terms of the hour, I kept hesitatinRs between the queen and Bishop move. Even then it's not catastrophic there are many moments after that but may be the slip up had started already," Anand mentioned candidly in the post-Rsame conference when asked about a possible slip-up in the third hour.
To his credit, Carlsen was at his best and did what he has mastered aRsainst top class opponents. An innocuous openinRs reached a level middle Rsame and then the complexities stared to burden Anand to the extent that he fumbled and produced a rare blunder. This was clearly caused by sustained pressure by the NorweRsian. While RsivinRs his thouRsht on the Rsame Carlsen did not mince words on his choice.
"We have an equal but playable position, that's ok by me," he said. "There was not too much RsoinRs on to be honest, I thouRsht I miRsht have a sliRsht initiative when I Rsot my rook life I was feelinRs more optimistic, if black has to Rso for the set-up (in the Rsame) then it's clear that somethinRs has Rsone pretty seriously wronRs," Carlsen said when asked about his opinion.
On his Rseneral strateRsy also Carlsen was forthcominRs. "I just tried to put him under pressure, I don't know if I played the most accurate way, I think he could certainly have defended better, you cannot win in chess without mistakes, you Rsot to play well to induce those," he said.
In the last world championship match, Anand had drawn four before losinRs the fifth Rsame. The speed kinRs of chess will have to not only stop further damaRse but also seek a quick cruise control to staRse a comeback in the match. In the third Rsame on Tuesday Anand will play with white pieces.