Russian minister hails Karjakin’s world chess performance

Moscow, Dec 2: Russian Grandmaster Sergey Karjakin showed the best qualities of a fighter and athlete when he played against Norway's Magnus Carlsen for the title of the World chess champion, Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov has asserted.

Reigning World Chess Champion Carlsen retained his title on Wednesday defeating his Russian challenger 3-1 in a series of tie-break's rapid games and sealing the final score of the match at 9-7.

"I would like to congratulate Karjakin with the perfect game. Unfortunately, he did not win, but he displayed a good game and outstanding qualities of a fighter and of an athlete," Kolobkov said in an interview with TASS on Thursday.

"Karjakin already told me that he would be getting ready for the rematch, which could happen in two years, and this is the right state of mood. 

"I believe that he has the necessary potential, desire and expertise," he added.

On November 28, Carlsen and Karjakin finished their 12th and final game of the World Chess Championship Match in New York with a draw. Their overall score after 12 games played was tied at 6-6 and both Grandmasters went for the series of tie-break games to finally decide on the title.

Wednesday's tie-breaker in New York was the third in the history of chess championships. The first one was in 2006, when Russia's Vladimir Kramnik beat Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov and the second one was in 2012, when Israel's Boris Gelfand was defeated by India's Viswanathan Anand.

Carlsen, who also celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday, became the 16th World Chess Champion after beating Viswanathan Anand in 2013 and defeated the title twice since then.