Kariakin-Carlsen for world title

So, Sergey Kariakin is the new challenger!

The Russian star dug deep for stamina and strength, rolling past American Fabiano Caruana in a thrilling final round to claim the coveted Candidates title and the right to play reigning champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway for the world crown.

At 26, Kariakin had competed in the 2014 Candidates Tournament without success. But as this year’s second lowest seed, the Ukrainian-born Russian, entered the final round with a champion’s mind-set. And he launched his conventional attack, pouncing at every opportunity – while Caruana, 23, competing in his first Candidates, unraveled in nerves and frustration under extreme time pressure.

Now the stage is set in November for the world championship match between two former prodigies.

Both 26, the Russian and Norwegian have played each other countless times since they were budding 12-year-olds, full of promise in the fertile chess climate of Europe.

Let us take a closer look into what it is that makes Kariakin win major tournaments and the reasons why he became World Cup winner at 25 and world title challenger at 26.

2016 Candidates Tournament

W) S. Kariakin (Russia)

B) F. Caruana (USA) Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 ...

The Richter-Rauzer Attack named in honor of German master Kurt Richter and Ukrainian master Vsevolod Rauzer, both well-known theoretical experts of the Sicilian Defense.

6... e6 7. Qd2  a6 8. 0-0-0 Bd7 9. f4  h6

9... Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. f5 h5 13. Bd3 Qb6 14. Ne2 0-0-0 15. Nf4, White has a slight edge.

10. Bh4     b5

After 10...Nxe4?! 11.Qe1! Nf6 12. Nf5 Qa5 13. Nxd6ch Bxd6 14. Rxd6 0-0-0 15. Rd1! White has the upper hand. Or 10...Nxe4?! 11. Nxe4 Qxh4 12. Nf3 Qe7 13. Qe3 Qd8 14. Nxd6ch Bxd6 15. Rxd6 Qc7 16. Rd2 Rc8 17. Kb1 0-0 18. a3 is slightly better for White.

11. Bxf6    gxf6

After 11...Qxf6 12. e5 dxe5 13. Ndxb5 Qd8 leads to complications which slightly favor White.

12. f5 Qb6 13. fxe6  fxe6 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Bd3 h5 16. Kb1 b4

16...0-0-0 seems a safer alternative.

17. Ne2 Qc5 18. Rhf1 Bh6 19. Qe1 a5 20. b3  ...

Capturing f6 gives Black a dangerous initiative. E.g. 20. Rxf6 Bg7 21. Rf1 Qe5 22. c3 Rb8 and Black has maximum prospect on the b file.

20... Rg8 21. g3 Ke7

21...Qe5 is a possibility.

22. Bc4 Be3

After 22...Rg4 23. Nd4 Rc8 24. Qe2 a4 the game is probably equal.

23. Rf3 Rg4 24. Qf1 Rf8 25. Nf4 Bxf4 26. Rxf4 a4

26...Qe5 seems preferable.

27. bxa4 Bxa4 28. Qd3 Bc6

28...Rxf4 29. gxf4 Rc8 30. Bb3 Bxb3 31. axb3 e5 leads to equality.

29. Bb3 Rg5 30. e5!? ...

A promising pawn sacrifice which keeps the tension on both sides..

30.. Rxe5 31. Rc4 Rd5 32. Qe2 Qb6

Chopping woods or exchange pieces at this point seems appropriate for Black as his King is stuck in the center. For instance 32...Rxd1ch 33. Qxd1 Qd5 34. Qxd5 Bxd5 35. Rxb4 Bg2 36. a4 f5 37. Kc1 Be4 and the game is about even.

33. Rh4     ...

After 33. Re1 Re5 34. Qd2 Rxe1ch 35. Qxe1 d5 36. Rxb4 Qc5, the game hangs in the balance.

33...  Rg5 34. Qd3 Bg2

34...d5 is met by 35. Qd2 which slightly favors White, while 34...Qc5 allows 35. Rc4.

35. Rd4 d5 36. Qd2 Re4?

Looks normal here, but actually the losing move as White gains a decisive tempo in his attack. 36...Bf3 seems best and after 37. Rxb4 Qc7 and Black perhaps can hang on.

37. Rxd5!    ...

A stunning rook sacrifice which opens up the position for White’s pieces.

37... exd5 38. Qxd5 Qc7?

The only move to continue is 38...Rd4, but White will obtain a big advantage in the ensuing endgame after 39. Qxd4 Qxd4 40. Rxd4 as Black’s weak pawns will be difficult to defend in the long run.

39. Qf5!     ...

The clincher, now Black is lost.

39...        Rf7

Or. 39...Qc6 40. Qh7ch Ke8 41. Qxh5ch Ke7 42. Bd5 wins material.

40. Bxf7 Qe5 41. Rd7ch Kf8 42. Rd8ch 1:0

After 42...Kxf7 (42...Kkg7/Ke7 43. Qg6/Qd7 mates) 43. Qh7ch Ke6 44. Qd7 mate.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to play and win.

White=Kg5, Re4, Bg6, Pf6, Pg3 Black=Kg8, Ra2, Ra5

1. Bf5!    ...

1. Kh6? Rh2ch 3. Rh4 Rxh4ch 4. gxh4 Ra6 5. f7ch Kf8 6. h5 Ra5 7. Kh7 Ra7 8. h6 Rxf7ch 9. Bxf7 Kxf7 and draw. Or 1. Kh4?! R2a4 2. Rxa4 Rxa4ch and Black should draw.

1...      Rf2

Or 1...R2a4 2.Re8ch Kf7 3. Re7ch Kf8 4. Kg6 Ra7 5. Rg7! R4a6 6. Be6 and wins.