11.21.13 It was do-or-die for Anand and he and everyone else knew it. The World Champion played 1. d4 and threw everything he had at the challenger in the form of the Saemisch Variation of the Nimzo Indian Defense. It was a textbook kingside vs queenside battle. Seeing that he was not getting mated on the kingside, Carlsen pushed his b-pawn to b3 on his twenty-second move and Anand's attack recoiled on the head of its general. Although Carlsen still needs half a point to win the crown, the match, for all intents and purposes, is over.

The greatest games of chess ever played have been enshrined in the annals of history with monikers such as The Evergreen Game (Anderssen-Dufresne, 1851), The Immortal Game (Anderssen-Kieseritzky, 1851), The Opera House Game (Morphy-the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard, 1858), The Pearl of Zandvoort (Euwe-Alekhine, 1935) and The Game of the Century (Byrne-Fischer, 1956). In time, Game 9 from the World Chess Championship Match of 2013 will take its place among these pillars of chess wisdom, imagination and creativity. For on this day in Chennai, India another Darya-ye-Noor has manifested.

Anand's back was up against the wall. He needed something double-edged, something risky, something all-in and the Saemisch Variation of the Nimzo Indian fit the bill. It was the first time in this twelve-game match that Anand had essayed the queen pawn. When he did, the gallery of spectators gathered in the match hall at the Hayatt Regency Chennai broke into applause. Carlsen responded with the Nimzo and when Anand played 4. f3, we knew we were in for an all-or-nothing game. Although the variation was obviously in Carlsen's preparation, he did take the most time to get out of the opening thus far in the match. Anand played 10. g4 and, for one of the very few times in this match, stood up from the board and went off stage into the players' room. After 16. e4, the world's strongest chess software programs differed in their opinion of who stood better.

If Carlsen felt any pressure his Pillsbury-like pose didn't let on. While waiting for white's eighteenth move, and despite a highly unbalanced position, Carlsen cracked a vacuous yawn.

After a forty-six minute think, by far the most time spent on a single move in this match, Anand played 23. Qf4 but even after this tsunami of synapses he was unable to stem the flood gates that Carlsen had opened. Carlsen played 25...Ne8 and GM Jonathan Speelman, commenting on the match for the Internet Chess Club, said, "If anyone is going to win this position it's going to be black." Carlsen queened his b-pawn on move twenty-seven and the one move that marred this exquisite symphony was played, Anand's 28. Nf1. He didn't get to play another move. Carlsen immediately responded with 28...Qe1 and left the stage. Anand, amongst millions of chess fans the world over, sat alone and stared at the position in front of him. When Carlsen returned to the board all the World Champion could do was offer his hand in resignation.

Game 10 is scheduled for Friday, November 22nd at 4:30 a.m. eastern time.

This interesting shot subtly conveys that although both players brought teams of seconds and have millions of fans and well-wishers, when it comes down to it, it's mano y mano.

Will this be Anand's last handshake with the white pieces as World Champion?

The miracle didn't come.

All the games of the Match can be found here.

Official Match Website

Official Schedule

Time control is 40 moves in 2 hours followed by 20 moves in 1 hour then 15 minutes for the remainder of the game with a 30 second increment beginning on move 61.

Times are on the east coast of the U.S.

11.07.2013 Opening Ceremony 5:30 A.M.
11.09.2013 Game 1 4:30 A.M.
11.10.2013 Game 2 4:30 A.M.
11.11.2013 Rest Day
11.12.2013 Game 3 4:30 A.M.
11.13.2013 Game 4 4:30 A.M.
11.14.2013 Rest Day
11.15.2013 Game 5 4:30 A.M.
11.16.2013 Game 6 4:30 A.M.
11.17.2013 Rest Day
11.18.2013 Game 7 4:30 A.M.
11.19.2013 Game 8 4:30 A.M.
11.20.2013 Rest Day
11.21.2013 Game 9 4:30 A.M.
11.22.2013 Game 10 4:30 A.M.
11.23.2013 Rest Day
11.24.2013 Game 11 4:30 A.M.
11.25.2013 Rest Day
11.26.2013 Game 12 4:30 A.M.
11.27.2013 Rest Day
11.28.2013 Tie Break Games To be decided
11.29.2013 Closing Ceremony To be decided