With his back to the wall, Russian challenger Vladimir Kramnik has won game 10 against world chess champion Viswanathan Anand of India in Germany to keep their title match going.
Kramnik now trails 6- 4 in the 12-game match and must win the next two games to force a playoff. Anand needs only one draw from the last two games to retain his title.
Asked about his chances, Kramnik told reporters Monday, "It's better for me not to think about them - they're still less than 50 percent."
Kramnik had the white side of what he called "a fashionable line" in the Nimzo-Indian Defense. His 18th move was a novelty that Anand called "tricky." Anand said: "It's not clear where Black should place his pieces," Anand said.
Kramnik said the position was highly nuanced.