Norway's Magnus Carlsen will drive white pieces today and will go all out against Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in a bid to retain the title of World Chess Champion he won for the first time in 2013.

Havana, December 8 (RHC)-- Norway's Magnus Carlsen will drive white pieces today and will go all out against Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in a bid to retain the title of World Chess Champion he won for the first time in 2013.

The duel staged at the Dubai Exhibition Center, goes 6-3 in favor of the world number one, who yesterday won in 39 moves of an English opening, to place himself 1.5 points away from defending his crown for the third time successfully.

The day before and with black pieces, the Norwegian champion took advantage of a mistake by his opponent to get on track for success in the ninth game, which brings him much closer to victory.

According to the specialists, the wear and tear suffered by Nepomniachtchi in the sixth match, in which he gave up the king after 136 moves and nearly eight hours of play, is taking its toll on him against an unforgiving opponent.

Since then, according to the Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, the Russian has lowered the level of his game and only a disastrous performance by "King Carlsen" will make it possible for him to make a comeback.

The history of the event states that only three mythical exponents of the so-called Science Game managed to recover from a disadvantage of two or three defeats, the Austrian Wilhelm Steinitz, the Dutchman Max Euwe and the American genius Robert "Bobby" Fischer.

To do so, "Nepo", as his admirers call the Russian chess player, will have to put all his talent into play, move the black pieces with mastery and score in the win box.

Otherwise, Carlsen will be only half a point away from retaining the crown that has made him World Champion since 2013.