DUBAI – The high tension continued during the fifth game of the FIDE World Championship Dubai 2021 today (1 November), as defending champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi could once again not be separated, recording a fifth consecutive draw at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai.
When the time control was reached at move 40, Carlsen was visibly relaxed, and confident that he no longer had anything to fear on the board, despite looking tired, according to chess experts. After brief reflection, Nepomniachtchi agreed, and initiated a repetition of moves that signalled the draw.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, made the ceremonial first move, in the presence of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who took the opportunity to congratulate the UAE on the eve of its Golden Jubilee.
The World Championship, held at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai, will be played over 14 classical games for a EUR 2 million (USD 2.25 million) prize fund, with 60 per cent going to the winner and 40 per cent to the runner-up. It was originally scheduled to start on 20 December last year, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FACT SHEET, Game 5:
White: Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia
Black: Magnus Carlsen, Norway
Result: ½-½
Match score: 2½-2½
Game length: 43 moves
Opening: Ruy Lopez/Spanish
Variation: Anti-Marshall
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