Following the World Championship match
Like me, I’m sure that many of you are following the world championship match with great interest. The amount of live coverage, and ongoing discussion, is huge – with analysis and opinions evolving almost minute by minute.
As I write this, seven of the scheduled twelve games have been played, and nobody knows if many twists and turns lie ahead. But one thing is certain: what we see appearing on the chessboard is only the visible part of preparation, and of the analysis and judgments made at the board during the games.
In the coming weeks, our team of lecturers will find many of the great “teachable moments” for you, and will plumb the depths of the strategies – both those shown at the board, and those hidden below the surface – for you.
With all of the great players who have been commenting daily – both during the game, and then in hurriedly written articles in the ensuing hours – it seems like sometimes the most basic underlying truths can be easily overlooked. Then, suddenly, one comment makes it all clear, such as GM Hikaru Nakamura’s tweet after game six, “…can someone tell me why Anand eschewed 53.b3 which led to a theoretical draw?” And indeed, none of the commentators seemed to have noticed that the theoretically drawn endgame of rook plus f- and h-pawns vs. rook could be reached, and that Anand should hold the draw. We will bring you these kinds of insights, which only the most talented players in the world seem to be able to produce right on the spot.