World Chess Championship First Game Prediction

Magnus Carlsen - Image source: Flickr

The result of the first game gives a significant indication to how the match will play out. Magnus Carlsen struggled to find any advantages in previous title defenses and admitted to taking a different approach this time. On the other hand, Nepomniachtchi's inside information on the Champion’s strengths and weaknesses could alter the results of the game. So many factors will play a role in determining the result, so what is your World Chess Championship first game prediction?

Nepo Style of Play Could Be the Answer

After an exciting Candidate tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi emerged as the new title challenger. Since then, chess experts have been stating the Russian has the style to dethrone the champion. Nepo is a fast player who likes to play aggressively regardless of who sits across from him. Other players sometimes fear Magnus and play with a reserved approach against him. However, Nepomniachtchi never showed any signs of that. In fact, the Russian is one of the very few players to have a plus score against the World Champion. Nepo holds a record of 4 wins, 1 loss, and 6 draws in classical chess. In addition to this advantage, the Russian was a member of the preparation team Carlsen used to work within previous championship matches. Therefore, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of the World Champion. This added a lot of excitement to the World Chess Championship first game prediction. The result of this game will certainly have a significant impact on the momentum of the match. It will reveal a lot of answers to questions analysts are asking at the moment.

Magnus Carlsen Admits To Taking a Different Approach

Analyzing the results of the last two World Championships, it seems that Carlsen came in underprepared on both occasions. The World Champion found himself a game behind in 2016 against Karjakin. Additionally, he never found his rhythm since Karjakin showed that he is significantly much more prepared. Luckily for the Champion, he managed to bounce back at the end to pull off a win. Similarly, Carlsen found himself unable to gain any advantage in the 2018 World Championship again against Caruana. The challenger was simply much more prepared. As a result, the defending champion admitted to taking a different approach for the upcoming match. In a recent interview, the World Champion stated “I can't say what, but I will do things a bit differently than before. I have several ideas about what I can do better, but I can't disclose what that is until after the World Championship”. This statement indicates that Carlsen is planning to surprise his opponent from the get-go. This even makes the World Chess Championship first game prediction more exciting. We might see new and unfamiliar ideas on the board. Until then, we can only speculate what Carlsen’s plan really is.

World Chess Championship First Game Prediction

The first game of a World Chess Championship sets the tone for the rest of the match. Each player tries to gain a psychological advantage over the other by displaying the depth of the preparation on the board. Additionally, winning the first game puts the winner in the driver’s seat and they dictate the momentum of the match. As a result, heavy emphasis is put on the World Chess Championship first game predictions. This prompted bookies and online sportsbook sites in the United States to dedicate a specific section for this game. For instance, at 22BET Sportsbook, the betting odds for Carlsen to win this game are 3.76, while the odds for Nepomniachtchi to score the first point are 5.15. However, one more option is available for you to pick, and that is a draw happening. The betting odds for a draw to occur are 1.562. Which betting option will you go for?

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