Minister of Defence Meets the King of Endgames: Carlsen vs Karjakin 2016
Back Story with Player Introduction
The 2016 World Chess Championship in New York brought together two very different personalities. Magnus Carlsen, the reigning World Champion from Norway, was known for his deep positional understanding, relentless fighting spirit and ability to outlast opponents in even the dullest positions. Sergey Karjakin, the Russian challenger, had earned the nickname “Minister of Defence” for his exceptional ability to hold inferior positions and spring counterattacks at the right moment.
By Game 10, Carlsen was under pressure. He had lost once earlier in the match and had not managed to break through Karjakin’s defences. A draw here would leave him with little room to recover, so the stakes were high. This was not just another game; it was Carlsen’s chance to prove that his championship title was built on resilience as much as brilliance.
The hush in the playing hall felt almost like a church before a sermon, and even through the livestream I could sense the tension building Among the players because nobody knows when the game can flip the boards towards which players end.
Game Analysis
Opening
Game 10 began with the Ruy López, a classical opening rich with strategic possibilities. Both players developed pieces along familiar lines, maintaining tension rather than seeking early fireworks. Carlsen chose a slow build-up, avoiding sharp theoretical duels and instead steering the game into a territory where he could test Karjakin’s patience and accuracy. The opening phase ended with a balanced but slightly more comfortable position for White.Carlsen leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed, as if already visualising the middle game as well as the end game whereas his opposite karjakin also thinking very accurately for his every single move as it his extremely important for him to play the correct move at the correct time.
Middlegame
The middlegame showed why this encounter stands out. Carlsen, rather than rushing, made small, useful moves, improving the placement of his rooks and central pawns. Karjakin responded solidly but had to spend time on each decision, gradually slipping into time trouble. The queens came off, and the board simplified into rooks and minor pieces with pawns on both flanks. It looked level to casual observers, but Carlsen had engineered tiny weaknesses on the queenside which he could now probe.I remember thinking at this moment that Carlsen was weaving a net, invisible to everyone but himself he was not as karjakin and carlsen game have reached the middle game now and soon the real game the winning factor decide who will win the battle that is the endgame.
Endgame
The endgame became a test of willpower. Carlsen activated his king and used his slight space advantage to push pawns at just the right moments. Karjakin’s pieces, once so harmoniously placed, became tied down to defence. Under mounting pressure and with little time left, he played a couple of passive moves that allowed Carlsen’s rooks to invade decisively. The Norwegian’s technique here was clinical: he converted a seemingly equal endgame into a full point without any flashy tactics.
When Karjakin finally resigned, the room erupted in applause. Carlsen allowed himself a rare smile – not of triumph but of relief. This win levelled the match score and swung the momentum back in Carlsen’s favour. Two games later he secured his title in the rapid tiebreaks, but Game 10 is remembered as the true turning point.Seeing him rise from the board with that small nod, I realised this was the quiet, relentless Carlsen at his best.So
For me, this game captures why I fell in love with chess: the drama isn’t just in the moves, it’s in the human struggle behind them.
References
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2016
https://www.chess.com/blog/Victorssouri/carlsen-karjakin-game-10-wcc-2016
