Carlsen vs Anand — WCC 2013 Game 5
Magnus Carlsen ground down Vishy Anand in a masterful endgame to take the lead in their World Championship match.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand (2013)
Event: World Chess Championship, Chennai (Game 5) | Result: 1-0
Professor Archer says: This game showed the chess world what makes Carlsen different from every other player. He does not need brilliance to win. He needs patience, precision, and the ability to squeeze water from stone in positions that look completely drawn. Anand played well for most of this game and still lost. That is what makes Carlsen so terrifying.
A New Era Begins
The 2013 World Chess Championship in Chennai, India, was a generational clash. Viswanathan Anand, the 43-year-old defending champion and hero of Indian chess, faced 22-year-old Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian prodigy who had been the world's top-rated player for years.
Game 5 proved to be the turning point of the match. Carlsen, playing White, steered the game into a complex middlegame that gradually simplified into a rook endgame. What happened next was a masterclass in endgame technique that left the chess world in awe.
The Middlegame Transition
Carlsen chose a solid opening setup and slowly maneuvered his pieces to optimal squares. He was not looking for a quick knockout — instead, he was building small advantages that would accumulate over time. This patient approach is Carlsen's signature style.
The position gradually simplified as pieces were exchanged, but Carlsen ensured that each exchange slightly improved his position. By the time a rook endgame was reached, White had a barely perceptible edge that most grandmasters would consider insufficient to win.
A complex middlegame position where Carlsen slowly accumulated advantages.
Endgame Mastery
The rook endgame that arose appeared holdable for Black according to both human commentators and computer analysis. But Carlsen kept pressing, making precise moves that posed constant problems for Anand.
The key was Carlsen's active king. While Anand's king remained passive, Carlsen marched his king into the center and then toward the queenside, creating threats that forced Anand to defend precisely on every single move. Over the course of many moves, the cumulative pressure proved too much.
Anand eventually made inaccuracies under time pressure, and Carlsen pounced. The conversion was clinical and demonstrated why rook endgames are considered the most important endgame type to master.
The Match Turns
This victory gave Carlsen a 3-2 lead in the match, and the momentum never shifted back. Anand appeared shaken by the loss, and Carlsen went on to win the match 6.5-3.5, becoming the 16th World Chess Champion.
Game 5 encapsulated what makes Carlsen the most dominant chess player of his generation. His ability to win "drawn" positions through superior technique, patience, and psychological pressure has earned him the nickname "the Endgame King." This game is the clearest demonstration of that ability on the world championship stage.
What to Learn from This Game
For improving players, this game teaches several critical lessons. First, endgame technique matters. You can play the opening and middlegame perfectly but still lose if your endgame skills are lacking.
Second, an active king is a powerful weapon in the endgame. Carlsen's king was a fighting piece that created threats and restricted Anand's options. Third, patience wins games. Carlsen was not in a hurry to force the win — he methodically improved his position, move by move, until the breakthrough came naturally.
Finally, this game shows that even at the highest level, defensive precision over long stretches is incredibly difficult. Creating persistent pressure can cause even world champions to crack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Carlsen vs Anand 2013 Game 5 considered a masterpiece?
This game is considered a masterpiece of endgame technique because Carlsen won a rook endgame that commentators and engines initially assessed as drawn. His patient, precise play demonstrated why he earned the nickname 'the Endgame King.'
What opening was played in Carlsen vs Anand?
Carlsen chose a solid opening setup that led to a complex middlegame. The game gradually simplified through careful piece exchanges into a rook endgame where Carlsen's superior technique proved decisive.
Who won Carlsen vs Anand 2013 Game 5?
Magnus Carlsen won Game 5 as White, taking a 3-2 lead in the match. He went on to win the match 6.5-3.5, becoming the 16th World Chess Champion at age 22.
What key tactic or theme decided Carlsen vs Anand 2013 Game 5?
The game was decided by Carlsen's active king and relentless pressure in the rook endgame. He marched his king into the center and toward the queenside, creating threats that forced Anand into time-pressure inaccuracies.
Professor Archer says: The endgame of this game should be studied by every serious chess player. Carlsen found winning chances where most grandmasters would have shaken hands and agreed to a draw. It is a reminder that the game is never over until it is over, and that endgame technique is just as important as opening preparation.
Quick Quiz
What type of endgame did Carlsen use to defeat Anand in Game 5 of the 2013 WCC?
- A queen endgame - The decisive phase was a rook endgame, not a queen endgame. Carlsen is particularly renowned for his rook endgame technique.
- A rook endgame (Correct) - Correct. Carlsen won a rook endgame that many commentators initially assessed as drawn, demonstrating his legendary endgame technique.
- A bishop vs knight endgame - The endgame involved rooks, not minor pieces. Carlsen's rook endgame mastery was on full display.
- A pawn endgame - Rooks remained on the board throughout the critical phase. It was a rook endgame that Carlsen converted with brilliant technique.