The world title match is level at 2.5-2.5 after five draws but Carlsen has the favourable white pieces in two of the next three as he tries to break the deadlock
Magnus Carlsen, the champion, and Ian Nepomniachtchi, the challenger, resume their 14-game world title match in Dubai on Friday (12.30pm start) with the score 2.5-2.5 after five straight draws, which represents a small but significant success so far for the 31-year-old
Russian underdog.
The next trio of games this weekend, with two Whites for the Norwegian, are critical if Carlsen is to regain momentum, because the following two rest days before games nine and 11 will precede Whites for Nepomniachtchi. Additionally, some observers already noted that Carlsen looked tired during game five, which could be ominous so early in the match.