World Chess Championship underway with $1 million tournament purse
Norwegian top-ranked grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin face off in a best-of-12 match that could last through the end of November.
The competition, staged in New York this year, requires both mental and physical stamina as each game could last as long as six hours.
The prize purse of $1.1 million will be divided 60-40 between the young grandmasters, both in their mid-20s.
- Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen, left, of Norway, and challenger Sergey Karjakin, of Russia, study the board during the first round of the World Chess Championship, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
- Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway moves a piece on the board as current World Chess Champion and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia (R) looks on during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- World Chess Champion and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia concentrates during his World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match against chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen (L) of Norway, in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Challenger Sergey Karjakin, right, of Russia, makes a move against chess world champion Magnus Carlsen, of Norway, during the first round of the World Chess Championship, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
- Chess grandmaster and current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway moves a piece on the board against challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway (L) and current World chess champion and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia concentrate during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016.6. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Chess grandmaster and current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway moves a piece on the board against challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen (L) of Norway and current World Chess Champion and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia concentrate during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen, left, of Norway, makes a move against challenger Sergey Karjakin, of Russia, during the first round of the World Chess Championship, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
- Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen, left, of Norway, and challenger Sergey Karjakin, of Russia, study the board during the first round of the World Chess Championship, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
- Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway (L) moves a piece on the board as current World chess champion and challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia looks on during their World Chess Championship 2016 round 1 match in New York on November 11, 2016. / (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)
- Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen, left, of Norway, and challenger Sergey Karjakin, of Russia, study the board during the first round of the World Chess Championship, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
- Sergey Karjakin, of Russia, studies the board during the first round of the World Chess Championship against champion Magnus Carlsen, not in photo, of Norway, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)