Not so sure. This will be Carlsen's toughest challenge yet. Caruana has had a terrific year, and is now only three points behind Carlsen on the rating list. Carlsen is my favourite to win, but it should be quite close. Expect Caruana to really push for wins with white, unlike Karjakin who played extremely carefully two years ago.I occasionally play it against schoolmates and/or online. I'm not so excited for the Carlsen vs Caruana; there will be some interesting games, but Magnus' victory is almost certain.
Quite interested in chess, but I don't play actively (or regularly) and I believe I would've been utterly destroyed in a game against e.g. SMX.I believe @Dr. Eddies Wingman is an enthusiast.
Carlsen either knew the opening or he played perhaps the best chess we've seen in the championship yet. Astonishing defence by him, and he has been in charge of all his games as black so far. Caruana has to come up with something special to win this.Seems Carlsen managed to survive the storm, at least according to the chess computers and two Norwegian GMs commenting; Simen Agdestein (Norway's first GM and at the time the world's youngest GM, Carlsen was later one of his students) and Jon Ludvig Hammer.
Carlsen was in top form in the press conference after the game, and when asked who is his all-time favourite chess player he replied "me three, four years ago".
Great reaction from him when being told there was a mate in 36(?) at one point. But finding stuff like that is more or less impossible for humans.At one point during the match with Karjakin two years ago, Carlsen said "I don't believe in fortresses". After the game on Friday he was asked during the press conference and said "I do now ..."
As in, it will literally take poisoning him with some nigh-alien substance to remove him competition.The guy is superman at the chess board.