11.14.14 Game 5 saw yet another opening twist. This time it was a Queen's Indian Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined. We've had five openings in five games! Tomorrow's Game 6 marks the midpoint of the Match. In the second half of the match players switch colors (like American football teams switching end zones at the half) and this means Carlsen will have two consecutive whites. His comment on the situation was, "I'm quite optimistic. It's not going to be easy. Since I have two whites in a row this is the moment to pull ahead." Time will tell if that assessment comes to fruition.

Carlsen, playing the black pieces in this game, seemed well prepared and used very little time on his first 20 or so moves. When Anand was asked during the press conference if he had expected Carlsen's Queen's Indian he responded, "You have to expect everything." And later added, "There are certain problems at the board. I don't want to wander too much." meaning he's not ready to speak about his chances or match strategy but would rather focus on the problems at hand that each position brings--sound advice.

By move 39, one move before the first time control, the players were deep into a rook and pawns endgame and agreed to call it a day.

Game 6 is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. Friday, November 15. It's the midpoint of the match which has the practical significance of giving Carlsen two consecutive whites. It will be interesting to see if he can convert one or both of those into a win.

To watch games live with video feed and commentary click on the World Chess Championship Live! link in the left-hand column of ChessMaine.net.

Replay all the games of the Match on the ChessMaine.net Games link.

Here is the official website of the match: sochi2014.fide.com.

Twelve games will be played between November 8 and 28. The first player to score 6.5 points or more will be the World Champion. In case of a tie rapid and (if necessary) blitz games on November 27 will decide the match.

The venue is the Sochi Media Center, in Sochi, Russia. Players have 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds added per move starting from move 61. The prize fund is 1 million euro with 60% going to the match winner.

World Chess Championship 2014
Match Schedule

Games will begin at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time which is 7:00 a.m. on the east coast of the United States.

08 November 2014 Saturday Game 1
09 November 2014 Sunday Game 2

10 November 2014 Monday Rest day

11 November 2014 Tuesday Game 3
12 November 2014 Wednesday Game 4

13 November 2014 Thursday Rest day

14 November 2014 Friday Game 5
15 November 2014 Saturday Game 6

16 November 2014 Sunday Rest day

17 November 2014 Monday Game 7
18 November 2014 Tuesday Game 8

19 November 2014 Wednesday Rest day

20 November 2014 Thursday Game 9
21 November 2014 Friday Game 10

22 November 2014 Saturday Rest day

23 November 2014 Sunday Game 11

24 November 2014 Monday Rest day

25 November 2014 Tuesday Game 12

26 November 2014 Wednesday Rest day

27 November 2014 Thursday Tie-break games