11.12.18 The third game of the World Chess Championship Match in London ended in a draw. Both players now have 1.5 points going into Game 4. Interesting points to consider after this game are opening preparation, pressing with the black pieces, and the Challenger not, as yet, hitting his best form.

The two strongest players in the world are turning opening chess theory on its head. On the sixth move of Game 3 at the World Chess Championship Match, Caruana, playing with the white pieces, essayed 6. 0-0 a move when compared to the most popular move in the position has been seen in only abut one-tenth of the games in master praxis. Not to be outdone, Carlsen followed this up with 6...Qc7. This move ranked as the sixth most popular choice and had only been played in this position in the master-level database fifteen times. The chance that Caruana had prepared for this move is very low. By the time the players had put their eighth moves on the board they were already completely out of "book" meaning the position in front of them had never been seen before in master-class chess competition. Such is the state of modern chess! Out of book on move 8!

Rich and original chess! --Yasser Seirawan

On move nine, the thrills continued with Carlsen sacrificing a pawn on c5 with a quick, engine-approved 9...0-0, a pawn nonetheless that Caruana did not accept.

After Carlsen's 13th a5, Maurice Ashley proclaimed, "It's a two-result game." That is, the most probable outcomes were a draw or a win for Caruana. (Be sure to check out Maurice on an upcoming Trevor Noah show to talk about the Match in particular and American chess in general.)

Carlsen is World Champion for good reason. By move 40, he pressed and turned the game around to a two-game result in the other direction--a win or draw for Carlsen were now the two most probable results.

Caruana held the resulting position without much difficulty although the player with the black pieces had the more comfortable task.

Game 4 is tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. eastern U.S.

Check out analysis of Game 3 from GM Alexander Yermonlinsky courtesy of chess.com:

Magnus Carlsen records his move on his scoresheet after playing 26...Nc5.

The Challenger Fabiano Caruana

The Champion Magnus Carlsen

Official Site of the FIDE World Chess Championship Match 2018

Official site of the venue for the Match: The College

Match Schedule
All games will be played at 10:00 a.m. eastern U.S. time (3:00 p.m. GMT.)

Game 1 Friday, November 9

Game 2 Saturday, November 10

Rest Day Sunday, November 11

Game 3 Monday, November 12

Game 4 Tuesday, November 13

Rest Day Wednesday, November 14

Game 5 Thursday, November 15

Game 6 Friday, November 16

Rest Day Saturday, November 17

Game 7 Sunday, November 18

Game 8 Monday, November 19

Rest Day Tuesday, November 20

Game 9 Wednesday, November 21

Game 10 Thursday, November 22

Rest Day Friday, November 23

Game 11 Saturday, November 24

Rest Day Sunday, November 25

Game 12 Monday, November 26

Tie Break/Awards Ceremony Tuesday, November 27

Tie Break/Awards Ceremony Wednesday, November 28