With these words chess world champion Magnus Carlsen commented in the social media a photo that shows him with an injury in the right eye. For the ninth World Cup match in London Carlsen has started with a plaster. The reason is a slight cut, which he has not suffered on the board against challenger Fabiano Caruana.
Carlsen had used the rest day to play football with friends. He and an opponent collided with his heads. Fortunately, the Norwegian suffered no concussion and was able to continue the World Cup as planned – with the same result as every day since the start of the World Cup.
In the ninth game, Carlsen had an advantage after a quick opening and could have put Caruana under pressure. But by a hasty advance with the h-peasant, he exposed his king and was forced in the episode to the ladies exchange. The ninth draw in the ninth match was unavoidable in the final with uneven-colored runners and the same number of peasants.
„I actually had a comfortable advantage, but gave it to me, which was weak,“ said Carlsen. After the 56th move, the players agreed to draw again. So both have 4.5 points after nine games. To become world champion, a player needs 6.5 points.
Should there be no winner after twelve games played, the tiebreak will occur. Then decide rapid chess, lightning chess and if necessary the variant „Armageddon“ over victory and defeat. The thinking time of the players is shortened.
