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I would say Carlsen's stamina is what bringing him the victories. Anand is not being able to keep his concentration on high level after 5 hours of battle. Clea

• pi-rat 13y ago
  Indeed, carlsen is also in incredible good shape in addition to his young age. Regularly works out, plays soccer on the side (and is actually quite good at soccer). You can see Anand getting tired from sitting in the same position some of the matches, moving about in his chair.
• petegrif 13y ago
  His stamina is undoubtedly a major strength. And this is allied with his uncanny ability to keep pressure on his opponents in even the most apparently even positions. This pressure mounts and the psychological impact is devastating because his opponent knows that the most tiny inaccuracy will be noted and he will immediately be under still more pressure. This pressure to play perfectly is gruelling over 6-7 hours. The thing that most people don't appreciate is that a player like Carlsen, even against the most phenomenal opponent like Anand, is like a python, the slightest pause for breath, the most minute inaccuracy, and the coils tighten. It's suffocating.
  • pk2200 13y ago
    Agree 100%. In this regard, Carlsen's playing style reminds me of Bobby Fischer, who was legendary for playing on (and winning) from equal positions.
• asdfologist 13y ago
  That can't explain everything though. Carlsen's playing at a much higher level than Anand ever did in his prime. Even accounting for inflation, Carlsen's ELO is much higher than Anand's ever been.