For the first time, all twelve classical games were drawn — Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana matched each other move for move. Then, on the rapid-play tiebreak, Carlsen swept all three games 3–0 to retain his crown in emphatic style.
An immovable object
Caruana, the American world number two, arrived as the strongest challenger Carlsen had faced — the first to enter a title match within touching distance of him on the rating list. The classical games bore that out: twelve hard, tense, error-light draws, several of them genuine fights that came within a move of a decisive result.
Controversially, Carlsen offered a draw in a promising position in game twelve, content to take his chances in the faster tiebreak where he was the clear favourite.
Speed settles it
The four-game rapid playoff was one-sided. Carlsen won game one from a near-winning position, crushed Caruana, who had to press, in game two, and won the third as well for 3–0, turning down even a safe draw that would have been enough.
It was Carlsen's third title defence, and the first time since 2013 that he came through a championship without losing a single game of any kind.
Cross table
1 win · ½ draw · 0 loss — click a game number to replay it.