Anand – Carlsen World Championship Match 2014

dates: 8–23 November 2014
location: Olympic Media Center, Sochi, Russia
score: 4½–6½ (Anand–Carlsen)
winner: Magnus Carlsen

Anand and Carlsen at the championship closing events in Sochi, 25 November 2014. Photo: Kremlin.ru.

Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand met again for the world championship in Sochi, Russia, from 8 to 23 November 2014. Their roles had reversed since Chennai: Carlsen was now the defending champion, while Anand had earned a rematch by winning the 2014 Candidates Tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Carlsen won game 2, but Anand answered immediately in game 3. The match remained level until game 6, when Carlsen recovered from a tactical oversight that Anand also missed and went on to win. The champion kept that one-point lead through four consecutive draws.

Game 7 lasted 122 moves, with Anand defending a difficult ending to remain in contention. The final decisive moment came in game 11, when Carlsen won with White and reached 6½ points. The 6½–4½ result retained his title and made the twelfth scheduled game unnecessary.

Compared with the 2013 contest, Anand scored a win and kept the match closer for longer. The collection combines prepared opening play, the double oversight in game 6 and the prolonged defence of game 7. Work through all eleven games from either side to compare the champion’s attempts to extend his lead with the challenger’s search for a comeback.

Viswanathan Anand's Profile Magnus Carlsen's Profile

Match results

Anand – Carlsen World Championship Match 2014 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Points
Magnus Carlsen	½	1	0	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	6½
Viswanathan Anand	½	0	1	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	0	4½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 11.

Completed 0 / 11

Game 1: A Grünfeld draw opens the rematch

Anand began with White against Carlsen’s Grünfeld Defence. The first game lasted 48 moves and ended in a draw. The rematch began level, with the players now occupying opposite championship roles.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Carlsen strikes in the Ruy Lopez

Carlsen chose a king’s-pawn opening for his first White game. He won against Anand’s Ruy Lopez defence after 35 moves. The defending champion took the first lead of the match.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Anand answers in the Queen’s Gambit

Anand returned to a queen’s-pawn opening and won with White. Carlsen’s Queen’s Gambit Declined could not withstand the pressure. The immediate response restored equality at 1½–1½.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen 1-0	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Anand holds the Sicilian

Carlsen tested Anand’s Sicilian Defence. The challenger held the position and the players drew after 47 moves. The match stayed level after the exchange of victories.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	47	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: A Queen’s Indian test

Anand pressed with White against a Queen’s Indian setup. Carlsen accepted structural weaknesses while finding enough activity to hold. The draw kept the score level before the dramatic sixth game.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: A double oversight changes the match

Carlsen gained active play against Anand’s Sicilian. Both players overlooked a tactical opportunity on move 26, after which Carlsen recovered and converted his pressure. His second win gave him a 3½–2½ lead.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Anand survives 122 moves

Carlsen had White again and pressed in a Berlin ending. Anand defended through a 122-move marathon to save the draw. The long resistance kept the challenger within one point.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	122	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Anand tests the Queen’s Gambit again

Anand returned to the Queen’s Gambit Declined that had brought him victory in game 3. This time Carlsen held the draw. The champion’s lead remained one point.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: A short Berlin repetition

Carlsen opened with a king’s pawn and the game followed the Berlin. A repetition ended the encounter after 20 moves. Anand stayed close on the scoreboard, but another opportunity to catch the leader had passed.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	20	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: The Grünfeld holds for Carlsen

Anand used White against Carlsen’s Grünfeld Defence. The 32-move draw left the champion ahead 5½–4½. Anand would need to score in the remaining games to force a playoff or win outright.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Carlsen closes the match

Carlsen again faced the Berlin with White. Anand’s attempt to change the course of the game did not succeed, and the champion won. The final score of 6½–4½ secured Carlsen’s first successful title defence.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Magnus Carlsen – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Carlsen - Anand World Championship Match	2014	45	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-08

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