1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.g3
The usual Catalan, one of Kramnik's speciailities, with white pieces!
4...dxc4
5.Bg2
Nc6
6.Qa4
Bb4+
7.Bd2
Nd5
8.Bxb4
Ndxb4
9.0-0
Rb8
10.Na3
Clearly the most fashionable move.
10...0-0
[The tempting 10...a6
seems to lead by force to the following continuation: 11.Ne5
0-0
12.Nxc6
Nxc6
13.Qxc4
Qxd4
14.Bxc6
Qxc4
15.Nxc4
bxc6
with a slightly better endgame for White according to practise, due to Black's weak pawn structure and rather bad pieces coordination.]
11.Qb5
b6
12.Qxc4
Ba6
13.Nb5
Qd5
14.Qxd5
Nxd5
[14...exd5?!
is just wrong in my opinion, as it is positionally weak and there is no tactical reason to play it: 15.Nc3
Rfe8
16.Rfd1
Ne7
17.a3
Nbc6
18.b4
Bb7
19.Rdc1
and White was better in Huzman-Cornette, Montreal 2008.]
15.a4
Na5
16.Ne5
Rbd8
17.Nxa7
[17.Bxd5
has already been tried, but it looks like Black simply equalized by force: 17...Bxb5!
18.Bxe6
(18.axb5
is more or less the same sketch: 18...Rxd5
19.b4
Nb3
20.Nc6
Nxa1
21.Rxa1
Ra8
22.Ne7+
Kf8
23.Nxd5
exd5
24.Rc1
Rc8
25.Ra1
Ra8
26.Rc1
Rc8
27.Ra1
1/2-1/2 Rodshtein-Macieja, Copenhagen 2010) 18...Be8
19.b4
fxe6
20.bxa5
Rxd4
and after more and more simplification, draw was agreed in Grischuk-Gelfand (Sochi 2008) later on.]
17...Nb4
18.Rac1
Rxd4
19.Rxc7N
There comes the novetly! Actually, the impression I had is that both players had more or less analyzed the rest of the game. After Kramnik's perfect defense, Anand took some time in order to try to find out some ideas, but could not disrupt the solid leader. [19.Nb5
has been played twice, and twice gave White an edge. But according to Rybka 4, Black can defend with 19...Bxb5
20.axb5
f6
21.e3
Rdd8!N
(21...Rd2
22.Nf3
was better for White in Prohaszka-Csonka 2010.) 22.Nf3
Rf7
and Black seems to hold in spite of his slightly misplaced knights on the border.]
19...Bxe2
20.Rfc1
f6!
Looks like Kramnik knew that the following simplifications are leading to a draw.
21.Nec6
Naxc6
22.Nxc6
Nxc6
23.R7xc6
Rfd8
24.h3
R8d6
This is where Anand spent the most of time (about 25 minutes). Taking into account that Kramnik had more time on clock at this moment, the most logical explanation would be that Anand couldn't find any "real try" at home. After having a new look at the position over the board, he probably drew the same conclusion.
25.Rxd6
Rxd6
26.Rc6
[26.b4
was the other logical try, and I guess Black should hold after 26...Rd4!?
27.Rc2
(27.Re1
Rd2
28.Ra1
Kf7
29.a5
bxa5
30.bxa5
Ba6=
; 27.Rb1
e5=
) 27...Bd1
28.Rc8+
Kf7
29.a5
bxa5
30.bxa5
Ra4
31.Ra8
Ra1
32.Kh2
Be2
and I believe White has no winning chances, as it is very difficult to bring the so-needed King help the a-pawn.]
26...Rxc6
27.Bxc6
e5!
Maybe not the only move to hold, but an important one from the technical aspect. Black should gain some space and at the same time not let White go f4 and create Black and isolated pawn on e5 in the event of ...e5 move.
28.f4
exf4
29.gxf4
Kf7
30.Kf2
Bc4
31.b4
g5
32.fxg5
fxg5
33.h4
Setting a definite draw.
33...gxh4
34.a5
1/2-1/2