The Norwegian loss in game eight had put his reign as world champion under threat at the Fulton Market Building.

Having frustrated Carlsen in game nine with a draw, Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin had moved ever closer to ending his rival’s reign, which has lasted since 2013.

With only three chances remaining to draw level, Carlsen opted for another aggressive strategy as he looked to find gaps in Karjakin’s defences.

Playing with white, Carlsen opened up a position which gave him multiple opportunities to defeat the Russian.

Crucially Karjakin missed a combination which would have ensure the game would end in a draw, with Carlsen able to force numerous checks.

As the tension grew, Karjakin misplaced a rook and paid the price as Carlsen eventually forced the checkmate after over seven hours of play.

"It is a huge relief," Carlsen told a press conference afterwards.

"I hadn’t won in 10 games and that hadn’t happened to me before.

"Several games have been five, six, seven hours and it is taking its toll."

The 12-game series is now level at 5-5, with only two more matches left to play in the delicately poised competition.

If the deadlock is not broken after the two games, it would result in a four-game rapid chess match, in which the tournament time controls would be reduced.

If a winner is not decided after this, five two-game matches of blitz chess would be contested with players facing even less time to make their moves.

The final tiebreaker would be an "armageddon" game where the two players will face different rules.

White has more time on the clock, but a draw for black would be the same as a victory.

As such a winner under armageddon rules is guaranteed.