Magnus Carlsen Defeats Viswanathan Anand in 10 Moves at Casablanca Chess Event

Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand in just 10 moves in their first clash at the Casablanca chess event, showcasing his dominance in the unique Casablanca chess variant. The event, which took place over the weekend, saw Carlsen emerge as the winner, with USA’s Hikaru Nakamura coming in second and Anand finishing third. Africa’s Bassem Amin ended last in the four-player contest.

The Casablanca chess variant format transported players back in time to historical games at a mid-way point, challenging their memory and instincts to navigate through the maze. The four grandmasters had to battle their way out from the middlegame of six such games in rapid time control, with positions revealed just minutes before the game started.

In their first game, Carlsen and Anand started from the 11th move of the 1889 clash between Wilhelm Steinitz and Mikhail Chigorin. Carlsen, playing with white, made a move that deviated from the original game, leading to a quick victory in just 10 moves. Anand’s queen took a bold path but found itself trapped, resulting in Carlsen’s win.

Anand described the Casablanca chess variant as a tricky format, highlighting the challenge of grasping the position in rapid play with limited time for preparation. Despite the initial difficulties, Anand found the concept fun and looked forward to further games in the variant.

The world champion duo met again on the second day, with the game ending in a draw after a spectacular rook sacrifice from Carlsen. The position for this game was selected by Women Grandmasters Dana Reizniece-Ozola and Anna Burtasova, offering a dynamic and balanced gameplay experience for both players.

Overall, the Casablanca chess event showcased the strategic depth and adaptability of top grandmasters like Carlsen and Anand in a unique and challenging format, providing an exciting spectacle for chess enthusiasts.