Facing Viswanathan Anand, whom he defeated last year to claim the title, Magnus Carlsen of Norway has again come out on top in the 2014 World Chess Championship match. After 11 games, the final score was 6.5-4.5 5.5 for Carlsen. Three games went to Carlsen, one to Anand, and seven were draws.

Anand’s performance this year was stronger than last, yet Carlsen was still able to outlast him, even after apparently falling asleep during one game.

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The 2014 FIDE World Candidates Tournament has concluded in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia with Viswanathan Anand in the lead, thus qualifying to challenge Magnus Carlsen for the World Chess Championship this coming November. Anand, the immediate past World Champion, lost the title to Carlsen in a disappointing performance last November. The Candidates Tournament, however, saw Anand return strong, starting off with a win against Levon Aronian, whom many had considered the favorite going in to the event, and finishing undefeated.

The final standings of the FIDE World Candidates Tournament were: Viswanathan Anand in first place with 8.5 points out of 14; Sergey Karjakin in second at 7.5 points; Vladimir Kramnik, Dmitry Andreikin, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov following, tied at 7.0 points; Peter Svidler and Levon Aronian at 6.5 points; and Veselin Topalov at 6.0 points.

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Thursday marked the official opening of the 2013 World Chess Championship in Chennai, India. Magnus Carlsen of Norway is challenging reigning champion Viswanathan Anand on his home turf.

Twenty-two year-old Carlsen is currently the top FIDE-ranked player in the world. He achieved his grandmaster title at the age of 13, is the youngest to be ranked number 1, and holds the record for highest ever peak rating (2861). Carlsen also models for Dutch fashion line G-Star RAW, was selected as one of the sexiest men of 2013 by Cosmopolitan, and this year was declared one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.

Anand, the first FIDE grandmaster from India, has held the World Champion title since 2007, having defended it against Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, and Boris Gelfand.

Carlsen was accompanied to Chennai by security, a doctor, and a personal chef. Both players, though, employ a team of “seconds“, player-advisors who evaluate the opponents’ strategies and advise their players on counter-moves between games.

Live video coverage of the Championship can be seen on FIDE’s website. The first game, in which Carlsen will play white and Anand black, starts Saturday at 3:00 PM IST (4:30 AM EST).

Twelve games are planned, one each day, with a rest break every third day (plus an extra between the 11th and 12th games). Tie-break games would be held on the same day as scheduled for the closing ceremonies, November 28th.

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