In this game Anand choose a totally different approach – solid, solid and once again solid. Topalov had some ideas in the line that he had already played against Kramnik, but Anand calmly followed his plan and didn't give Topalov any chances. Even though Topalov had slight advantage throughout the whole game, he never had any real opportunities to try for a win, since Anand played very precisely.
1.d4
Topalov, very expectedly, decided to hit on the same spot again.
1...d5
And this time Anands opts for a solid Slav, rather than a crazy Grunfeld.
2.c4
c6
3.Nf3
Nf6
4.Nc3
dxc4
Not the Moscow Line, which is a trademark of Anand.
5.a4
Bf5
6.Ne5
e6
7.f3
c5
8.e4
Bg6
Anand chooses the solid variation that Kramnik played against Topalov in their match in Elista. It is actually funny that Anand seem to follow what Kramnik played back then in 2006 – yesterday Catalan, today this rock solid but passive Slav.
9.Be3
cxd4
10.Qxd4
Qxd4
11.Bxd4
Nfd7!
12.Nxd7
Nxd7
13.Bxc4
a6
[13...Rc8
is another line, avoiding the 14.Rc1 idea, deserves attention. 14.Ba2
(14.Bb5!?
) 14...a6
]
14.Rc1
14...Rg8!N
A very logical move, which turned out to be a novelty. Now Black plans Bd6, Ke7, f6, Rgc8, Bg8, etc. White actually has to hurry up and do something against it, which is not easy, since his knight on c3 is misplaced. [Earlier people played 14...Rc8?!
but then White gets a big advantage with 15.Ne2!
Rg8
16.h4
h6
17.Kf2
the point being that 17...Be7?
is losing to (17...Rc6
18.b4!
) 18.h5
Bh7
19.Bxe6!
Rxc1
20.Bxd7+!
]
15.h4
h6
16.Ke2
[16.Kf2
Makes sense having the e2 square for the knight. But Topalov had another knight route in mind.]
16...Bd6
17.h5
Bh7
Here I was actually wondering if Topalov had prepared anything at all. White seems to be unable to stop the black development... But the next move of Topalov proved that I was wrong!
18.a5!
This move seemed a little bit strange to me at first sight, since I couldn't figure out the white plan after Bb4, as well as the simple Ke7 and so on. However Topalov had an answer to both.
18...Ke7
Safe and solid, Anand just concentrates on his plan. [18...Bb4
is challenging but dangerous. White has three interesting possibilities: 19.Nb5!?
is the most spectacular, and in all the following complications Black is in danger, though maybe he holds with precise play. There are a lot of possible lines, but I just give main: (19.Na4!
Bxa5
20.Nc5
is the simplest. The black king is stuck in the centre, but Black is still solid and he has an extra pawn.; 19.Rhd1!?
Bxa5
20.Nb5!
axb5
21.Bxb5
here black seems OK after 21...Ke7
22.Bc3!
Nb8!
23.Ra1!
Bxc3
24.Rxa8
Bxb2
25.Ra7
Kf6
26.Rxb7
g5
27.hxg6
Bxg6
28.Ke3
e5
with a dead knight, but counterplay) 19...axb5
20.Bxb5
Rxa5
21.Bxd7+
Kxd7
22.Rhd1
Rb5
23.Be5+
(23.Bb6+!?
Ke7
24.Rc7+
Kf6
25.Rxb7
Bc5
26.Bd8+
Rxd8
27.Rxb5
Bd4
28.b4
g6!
with an unclear position.) 23...Ke7
24.Rc7+
Ke8
25.Rc8+
Ke7
26.Rc7+=
]
19.Na4
f6
just following the plan. [19...Rac8
was clever, trying to avoid b4, but after let's say 20.Bd3!
White keeps up the pressure, for example 20...f6
21.Bb1
Rgd8
22.Nb6!
]
20.b4!
White does something active quickly, before Black manages to get all his pieces into play (Rgc8, Bg8-f7) [20.Nb6
Doesn't give White anything, as long as Black is a very little bit careful. 20...Nxb6
21.Bxb6
Rgc8
22.Rhd1
Rc6
(22...Bg8
23.b3
Bf7?
24.Rd3!
Bxh5
25.Rcd1
Rc6
26.Rxd6!
Rxd6
27.Bc5
Rad8
28.Ke3
) 23.b3
Rac8
24.Rd3
Bb4!
25.Rcd1
Rd6
equalizing]
20...Rgc8
Again, Anand doesn't get distracted by anything, he simply makes his moves. [20...Bxb4
objectively, was also too risky 21.Rb1
Bxa5
22.Rxb7
(22.Nc5!?
b5
23.Bxe6
Nxc5
24.Bxg8
Bxg8
25.Bxc5+
Kd7
and Black has compensation, but White has the exchange.) 22...Rgb8
23.Bc5+
(23.Rhb1
Rxb7
24.Rxb7
Kd6!
) 23...Ke8
24.Rxb8+
Rxb8
25.Bd6
with an unclear position, but White should be better.]
21.Bc5
Actually I was expecting a different piece to be sent to this square. [21.Nc5!?
is interesting, but probably Black holds here as well. 21...Bxc5
looks dangerous, but in fact it may be good (21...Nxc5
Is most logical, but white keeps winning chances after 22.bxc5
Bxc5
23.Bxe6!
Kxe6
24.Bxc5
; 21...Rc7!?
) 22.bxc5
Nxc5
Now I didn't find a way for White to achieve anything, for instance (22...Rc7+/=
) 23.Ba2
Nd7
24.Bb2
Bg8
25.Ba3+
Ke8
26.Rhd1
b5!
27.axb6
Nxb6
28.Bb3
Rxc1
29.Rxc1
Rc8
30.Rxc8+
Nxc8
31.Bc4
]
21...Bxc5
22.bxc5
Rc7
[22...Rc6
made sense, trying to win a tempo, which will be usedul in case White plays Nb6, but here White goes 23.Rhd1!
with the idea 23...Rac8
24.Rxd7+!
Kxd7
25.Nb6+
Rxb6
26.cxb6
Bg8
27.e5!
with an edge.]
23.Nb6
Rd8
24.Nxd7
Simple and safe, but from Topalov I expected a move like Bd5! [24.Bd5!?
is beautiful and tricky. Black shouldn't take anything now, not d5, not c5 and not b6, but play 24...Ne5!?
(24...Nxc5
25.Bxb7!
; 24...Nxb6
25.axb6
Rcd7
26.Bc4!
; 24...Nb8!?
) 25.f4
Nd3!
26.Kxd3
exd5
27.f5!
dxe4+
28.Kxe4
Ke8!
with equality]
24...Rdxd7
25.Bd3
Here I actually realized what Topalov was planning. He wants to play c6, change the pawn to a b-pawn, and try to attack the remaining weak a6 pawn. The position is quite unpleasant for Black.
25...Bg8
[Anand should have perhaps been more activebut perhaps he saw his was safer. 25...f5!?
This was advocated by Garry Kasparov, who was watching the game from a hotel room in Oslo.; 25...Rd4!?
seemed to force a draw, but White has a resource 26.c6!
Ra4
27.Rb1!
Ra2+
28.Ke3
bxc6
29.Ra1
Rxg2
30.Bxa6
Still keeping some chances.]
26.c6
Rd6
27.cxb7
Rxb7
28.Rc3
Bf7
29.Ke3
[29.Rhc1!
immediately also made sense and was probably a better try, since it is risky to take the pawn. 29...Bxh5
(29...Be8!
30.Rc7+
Rd7
is holding 31.Rxd7+
Bxd7
32.Bxa6
Ra7
) 30.Rc7+
Rxc7
31.Rxc7+
Rd7
32.Rc8
]
29...Be8
30.g4
[30.Rhc1!?
wouldn't change much after 30...Bd7!
]
30...e5
31.Rhc1
Bd7
32.Rc5
Bb5!
The final touch. Now Black's last problem, the pawn on a6, is gone, and it is time to agree to a draw. It is funny that Anand equalized today without any of his pieces being on the opponent's half of the board.
33.Bxb5
axb5
34.Rb1
b4
35.Rb3
Ra6
36.Kd3
Rba7
37.Rxb4
Rxa5
38.Rxa5
Rxa5
39.Rb7+
Kf8
40.Ke2
Ra2+
41.Ke3
Ra3+
42.Kf2
Ra2+
43.Ke3
Ra3+
44.Kf2
Ra2+
45.Ke3
Ra3+
46.Kf2
1/2-1/2