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Armageddon looms in World Chess Championship final | Armageddon looms in World Chess Championship final |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Two chess grandmasters have spent November locked in stalemate, with the world chess championship up for grabs. | Two chess grandmasters have spent November locked in stalemate, with the world chess championship up for grabs. |
After 11 games and 11 draws, American Fabiano Caruana is seeking to take the title from Norwegian Magnus Carlsen. | After 11 games and 11 draws, American Fabiano Caruana is seeking to take the title from Norwegian Magnus Carlsen. |
The final match is under way in London - but another draw would begin a series of fast-paced tie-breakers, culminating in a game type known as "Armageddon". | |
If he wins, Caruana would be the first US world champion since Bobby Fischer in 1972. | If he wins, Caruana would be the first US world champion since Bobby Fischer in 1972. |
But he is facing a fierce title defence from Carlsen, who has been champion since 2013 and is the top-ranked player in the world. | |
On top of the prestige that comes with the title, the pair are also battling over a €1m (£880,000) cash prize. | On top of the prestige that comes with the title, the pair are also battling over a €1m (£880,000) cash prize. |
By 17:00 GMT, the two players had been locked in a soundproof box at the play venue for some two hours, having exchanged fewer than two dozen moves each. | |
The game's moves are being live-streamed with commentary from other chess grandmasters across platforms including YouTube and popular video game streaming site Twitch.tv. | |
The 11-draw series in London makes it one of the most fiercely contested in history - never before have so many games ended in a draw, much to the disappointment of some keen chess fans. | The 11-draw series in London makes it one of the most fiercely contested in history - never before have so many games ended in a draw, much to the disappointment of some keen chess fans. |
Awarded half a point each for every draw, the score is 5.5 to 5.5 in this best-out-of-12 format. | Awarded half a point each for every draw, the score is 5.5 to 5.5 in this best-out-of-12 format. |
If they draw all 12 games, the tie-breaker is a series of increasingly fast games on Wednesday. | If they draw all 12 games, the tie-breaker is a series of increasingly fast games on Wednesday. |
In the ordinary games, each player starts with a generous time bank of 100 minutes, and more time is added as the game progresses. That means it is possible to watch a grandmaster do nothing except stare at the board for several minutes. | In the ordinary games, each player starts with a generous time bank of 100 minutes, and more time is added as the game progresses. That means it is possible to watch a grandmaster do nothing except stare at the board for several minutes. |
But in the tie-breakers, four games are played with just 25 minutes on the clock, and 10 seconds added after each move. | But in the tie-breakers, four games are played with just 25 minutes on the clock, and 10 seconds added after each move. |
If it is still a draw after that, two "blitz" games are played - with just five minutes per player and three added seconds per turn. In such circumstances, mistakes are much easier to make. | If it is still a draw after that, two "blitz" games are played - with just five minutes per player and three added seconds per turn. In such circumstances, mistakes are much easier to make. |
In the unlikely event that after two sets of blitz, the title is still tied, a sudden death variety called "Armageddon" is played. | In the unlikely event that after two sets of blitz, the title is still tied, a sudden death variety called "Armageddon" is played. |
In this chess game type, there will be a winner - a draw means a victory for the player wielding the black game pieces. To compensate, white gets more time on his clock - a minute more, but the pace is still as fast as a blitz game. | In this chess game type, there will be a winner - a draw means a victory for the player wielding the black game pieces. To compensate, white gets more time on his clock - a minute more, but the pace is still as fast as a blitz game. |