Anand Gets Nothing From Opening, Short Draw In Game 8

GM Viswanathan Anand produced only a modicum of pressure in game eight of the 2014 FIDE World Championship on Tuesday. He could not net the full point as White against the champion GM Magnus Carlsen.

White got nothing from his pressure on the b1-h7 diagonal; otherwise the pawns were symmetrical and not much happened. The game ended in a draw after Anand stopped trying in a bishop ending. 

Carlsen spent much less time than Anand and was seen with his eyes closed for part of the first 15 minutes of the match. He alternately slumped to his left and then right while not on move. The Norwegian used barely more than 40 minutes for the entire game (Anand used an hour more on his clock).

"The Queen's Gambit is looming ever larger in the problems Vishy is facing here," was commentator GM Peter Svidler's take. He added that Carlsen's easy draw was a "serious blow" to the challenger's preparation and wondered if he will switch to allowing the Nimzo-Indian in his two remaining turns with White.

Carlsen has trotted out a little bit of everything against 1. d4. Asked if he would repeat today's variation, he quickly said, "We'll see."

The score is now 4.5/8 for Carlsen and 3.5/8 for Anand with four games remaining. Tomorrow is a rest day — play resumes Thursday at noon GMT.

"I didn't get a huge amount," Anand conceded. "Unfortunately he has [...b4] and after this ...[ending] probably it's only symbolic. There's nothing really I can do." He called 17...Rad8 "very accurate."

White got slightly more activity early but Carlsen essentially agreed with Anand's assessment.

"Yeah, sure, it looks risky for Black but I agree with Vishy that once I get this ..R[a]d8 I'm in time with ...b4 and everything and there's just very little for White to do."

Carlsen explained in the press conference that his posture was a result of not being "in the best shape at the start." He added that he became "fresher" as the game continued.

The world champion is famous for choosing to sleep past noon, but reporter Tarjei Svensen tweeted that Carlsen was up much earlier than usual today for preparation.

That study material was lauded by Svidler, especially what he presumed to be the work of Carlsen second GM Peter Heine Nielsen.

For his part, when asked to elaborate on why he was tired Carlsen did not wish to explain. When asked how his preparation was different, he deflected the question by saying that "I played a different line" and smiling.

"Obviously now as the match progresses the free days are becoming more and more valuable," Carlsen said later. 

It would be improper for him to call them "rest days" so far, for the simple reason that his love for sport usually takes hold every third day (including scoring many points against this reporter in basketball).

Not much can be said about Anand -- has been coy about his recent free day activities.

Later, however, Carlsen switched terms and did refer to them as "rest" days. Judging by his energy level today, that may be more than a semantic difference.

"The rest days become more and more about exactly that: rest."

Analysis by GM Dejan Bojkov:

The endgame was trivial for these players, but not for everyone associated with the match. Carlsen's other second, fellow countryman GM Jon Ludvig Hammer, tweeted that he once won nearly the exact same ending (no exaggeration -- the pieces are barely different from today's game!). He was referring to this game from 2012:

"Of course Magnus Carlsen studies all my games, and knows this one very well!" Hammer joked.

Game 8 video

Both players had to submit to a drug test following the game. According to Carlsen's team doctor, this is in the contract and also occurred last year at the match in Chennai. Anand claimed that this was his fifth career test.

"It's always a nice surprise, isn't it?" Carlsen said.

Espen Agdestein, Carlsen's manager, told Chess.com that his player does not have a problem with doping control measures: "As a professional, you have to expect to do it," he said, but also admitted that it is a "bit of a hassle."

"His energy level was a bit down today. During a match it will vary a little bit from day to day...Today he wasn't that inspired at the press conference...He's in very good physical shape."

Agdestein said Carlsen's tiredness at the beginning of the game was not worrisome to him. "I've seen that before." Although Carlsen has a team doctor with him from Norway, Agdestein said that that part of the entourage is only for more catastrophic illnesses and he doesn't assist with matters like energy levels.

We'll close by saying that, without any research, we are fairly certain that this is the first world championship press conference to include a certain word. Scroll down the tweets list to see which one a Norwegian reporter asked about following the game.

When the pawn structure is balanced you rely on piece play. If it is not mate on h7 (it isn't) why should White stand better? #CarlsenAnand

— Nigel Short (@nigelshortchess) November 18, 2014

"The point being, Magnus, that if you like your health care plan, you can keep it." pic.twitter.com/TBYvbfR3TG

— Rick (@Rick_Chess) November 18, 2014

Judging by the nap Carlsen is taking, it looks as if he still thinks he is playing a Berlin. #CarlsenAnand

— Josh Friedel (@joshfriedel) November 18, 2014

Looks like a typical condom variation from Magnus: to be used once and thrown away #CarlsenAnand

— Nigel Short (@nigelshortchess) November 18, 2014

Very accurate game from Magnus today, and it must be somewhat discouraging for Vishy after he worked so hard yesterday. #CarlsenAnand

— Thomas Rendle (@TERendle) November 18, 2014

Carlsen-Anand 2014 | Score