Defending champion Viswanathan Anand takes on world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth game of the 2013 World Chess Championship in Chennai on Saturday, with the Norwegian prodigy leading the tie 3-2.
After the first four games ended in draws, Carlsen showcased aggression and remarkable endgame skills on Friday to post a spectacular win in Game 5 at the Hyatt Regency. And it's now up to Anand to prove if he can bounce back and show the experience, composure and improvisation which made him a five-time champion.
Where to Watch Live
Game 6 starts at 3pm IST on Saturday. Click HERE to watch the action live on the official FIDE website. Click here to follow the game live.
Overview
Game 5 was a tight contest to analyse, as Carlsen's win came from sustained pressure towards the end, than any specific miracle moves. However, one can argue that a careless operation from Anand - 13...Bc7 - did not help the Indian in his cause.
"It feels good. It was good fighting game. It got messy at times. I got there in the end. I am very very happy about that," Carlsen pointed out.
The odds are now in favour of the 22-year-old, who has taken a 3-2 lead in the tie, with seven games to go. Anand has to produce a win in the next two games, in which he gets successive white pieces. Else, the 43-year-old- the game's undisputed champion since 2007 - will have to hand over the crown to Carlsen, that too on his home turf.
Anand appeared disappointed after the loss and did not offer up much in the post-game press conference. The Indian Grandmaster admitted he could not sleep after losing a game in his last title defence - to Israel ace Boris Gelfand - but did go on to win the following game on that occasion. He has to produce something similar today or in Game 7, to keep this contest
Schedule
The remaining matches take place from 16 to 26 November. Seven classical games are scheduled, each starting at 3 pm IST. There will be rest days after games 6, 8, 10 and 11. If the match remains tied after Game 12 on 26 November, tie-break games will be played on the 28th.