Sharing his impressions with our website is 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik:
– The final classical game was taking quite an underwhelming course for the candidate. Firstly, it was about his ineffective prep since 12...h5 has somehow escaped his attention. I employed 12.h4 against Roganovic at the Batumi Olympiad, and the opponent came back with 12...a6, which is probably the strongest in this position. I am amazed by his not having looked into 12…h5 at all. Something to say about his coaching staff’s work.
Fabiano’s followup performance was quite poor. I would have never played f2-f3 as a move contradicting the nature of the position. Tastes differ, as they say, and this complex position can be handled in many ways, but I am not a fan of f3. Another disappointer is 0-0-0…Although not devoid of logic, it became clear before long that the only side with attacking potential is Black.
However, it was followed by something weird. Somehow, Carlsen wanted to make a draw instead of winning the game. Even after а5-а4 the edge is still with Black, and the final setup looks very promising indeed. Meanwhile, Black’s play could have been sharper, including such ideas as b7-b5. White seems to have one foot in the grave already. Even the final position is quite unpleasant for White, at least from the practical point of view. Black can play Ra6, threatening a4-a3 and Rb6 ... In practical terms, White’s position is extremely unpleasant, coupled with his lack of thinking time. Carlsen’s decision defies logic and is hard to fathom. The World Champion is bound to persist in such positions.
I understand that he is rightfully considers himself a tiebreak favorite. However, there is no absolute certainty in that, in the first place: I think the chances of winning the final position were much higher than winning the tie-break itself. Even from a purely human point of view: the fact of everyone watching the match obliges to battle it out, which is especially true for a world champion. However, it has nothing to do with Fabiano, who came out to fight as White and refrained from repeating moves when running into 12 ... h5, which he clearly overlooked in his preparation. He did want to fight, but it just did not work out for him. As for Magnus, refusing to go on in a better position has had the entire world shocked! This is not the Magnus we have come to know. This said, a champion should act differently in situations like this, from my conservative point of view. Being too old-fashioned and conservative perhaps, I still think it is not the way to go - offering a draw in a better position in the most crucial of moments, with more thinking time at that. It does not raise to the status of world champion.
Sided with no player before, this incident has convinced me to root for Fabiano in the upcoming tie-break. At least, he has demonstrated a champion’s character, if not a champion’s play; unfortunately, this is not to be said about Magnus. With this in mind, I wish that Caruana won because the champion has to fight and be a fighter, always showing his preparedness to do what it takes.
Objectively speaking, Carlsen's tie-break chances are much higher, even if there is no guaranteeing anything. Caruana is not at all bad in rapid chess; even if not his stock in trade, there is no neglecting him as a weak rapid player, especially if motivated enough. And motivated he will be; besides, an element of randomness is rather high. I would evaluate chances as 60 to 40.
The only positive thing about this premature draw is yet another exciting day of chess in store for us. Had the game continued, there might have been no tie-break, it feels like. Thanks Magnus for giving us one more day of exciting chess!