*World Chess Championship Game 10: Nervous Carlsen Saves Another Draw*
Game 10 of the world championship has also ended in a draw with both Carlsen and Caruana at 5 points each and only 2 games left to decide the championship title. Today’s round lasted 5 hours and 19 minutes with a total of 54 moves, when the players agreed to a draw.
The game started into the Sicilian and with 4. … Nf6 5. Nc3 e5, went into the Sveshnikov variation which is the same line as Game 8. Later Caruana’s 12. b4 has took Carlsen by surprise. The champion had been on the clock for nearly 10 minutes and didn’t look particularly happy about it. After a few close encounters with both losing time, the players scrambled toward the time control (38. … Rc8 39. Ra3 Kf7) as the game entered the fifth hour.
Carlsen played a 44. … Kd4 and was clearly grinding for a win. Caruana elevated the urgency with 45. Rb5 after a 10-minute think. To everyone’s surprise, the American was suddenly pressing! Carlsen moved his king after nearly 14 minutes and Caruana quickly responded with 45. Rb5. He was looking very positive and confident with nearly twice as much time as Carlsen who was already below a quarter hour. Towards the end, the game was a draw with 49. Rxc4 Rdxb6 50. Rxe4+ Kf7 51. Rf5+ Rf6 52. Rxf6+ Kxf6 53. Kxf3 Kf7 54. Kg3.
Carlsen admits at the Presser that he was nervous! “I felt that it was very close tonight. The problem is if I don’t mate I’m losing,” Carlsen said.
Caruana: “I think at some point I had a big advantage but I couldn’t see how to play it,”
World Championship Game 10..Another Draw!
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