In this game Anand chose the solid QGD and after employing a relatively unknown idea, at least for Topalov, he easily equalized. Topalov, on the other hand, wanted to finish the match today. He took risks and displayed great self-confidence. However, with strong strikes 30...e5! and 31...f5! Anand took the initiative. Then something absolutely unbelievable happened: In less than five minutes, despite having more than half an hour left on his clock, Topalov committed suicide with 31.exf5? and 32.fxe4??. Anand obtained a decisive attack as a result, which he converted with great precision to the end.
1.d4
d5
2.c4
e6!
A Queen's Gambit Declined! And a classic World Championship opening. Remember the famous Capablanca-Alekhine match? Or Karpov-Kasparov? To be honest, before the game I tried to guess the opening, and believe it or not, I actually managed to predict it! After all, which opening could be more solid or trustworthy than the good ol' Queen's Gambit?
3.Nf3
[I had expected 3.Nc3
in Kasparov style. 3...Nf6
(3...Be7
is how to avoid it- 4.cxd5
exd5
5.Bf4
and there are plenty of games to study. For example, Kasparov-Karpov 1985 as well as 2009!) 4.cxd5
exd5
5.Bg5
The point being that later White will develop his knight to the far more flexible e2, planning f3 and e4. 5...Be7
6.e3
c6
7.Qc2
Nbd7
8.Bd3
0-0
9.Nge2
Re8
10.0-0
Nf8
11.f3
]
3...Nf6
4.Nc3
Be7
5.Bg5
[5.Bf4
is another main-line with thousands of games played.]
5...h6
It is important to include this little move.
6.Bh4
0-0
7.e3
Ne4
The Lasker Defence! The solidest of the solid.
8.Bxe7
Qxe7
9.Rc1
c6
10.Be2
A new little nuance. [10.Bd3
was more popular previously, but here black has an interesting idea. 10...Nxc3
11.Rxc3
Nd7!?
12.0-0
(12.Qc2!?
) 12...e5!
]
10...Nxc3
11.Rxc3
dxc4
12.Bxc4
Nd7
13.0-0
b6
One of the two main moves. [Hundreds of games have been played with 13...e5
as well. The position is always between slightly better to equal.]
14.Bd3
c5
15.Be4
Rb8
16.Qc2
[I thought that 16.Qa4!?
was slightly stronger, but mainly for psychological reasons.]
16...Nf6!
An idea from the Polish player, Grabarczyk, which was probably a surprise for Topalov. [16...a5
was used to be one of the main moves here, as well as Bb7 and Ba6.]
17.dxc5
[17.Bc6
covers the c6 square, and can thus be answered with 17...cxd4
18.Nxd4
e5!
]
17...Nxe4
18.Qxe4
bxc5
So, let's stop and evaluate the position. Black has a weak pawn on c5 and later possibly on a7 as well. On the other hand, his bishop, which will be developed to b7 on the next move, will be much better than the white knight. All in all the position is about equal.
19.Qc2
An ambitious move. Topalov is not satisfied with the very slight advantage he would obtain after 19.b3. [19.b3
was played twice against the inventor of 16...Nf6. 19...Bb7
20.Qf4
(20.Qe5
Rbc8
(20...Bxf3
) 21.Rfc1
Rfd8
22.e4
Qd6!=
; 20.Qh4!?
) 20...Bxf3
21.Qxf3
Rfd8
22.Rfc1
Rd2
23.R1c2
Rbd8
24.g3
and White is a little better, but Black should draw this without any real problems.]
19...Bb7
20.Nd2
[20.Rxc5?!
Bxf3
21.gxf3
Rxb2!
is a trick that you will have to remember, because I don't want to mention it on every move.; 20.e4
can be answered with the sharp 20...f5!?
Now, one of the possible lines is 21.Nd2
Rfd8
22.exf5
Bxg2!
23.Kxg2
Qg5+
24.Rg3
Qxd2
25.Qxc5
exf5=
]
20...Rfd8
21.f3
This is slightly weakening, especially considering that later White would also play g3. However, White has to restrict Black's bishop, so the move is justified. [21.Rxc5??
Rxd2!
]
21...Ba6N
Until now, they were following a German correspondence game from 2000, but now Anand accidentally plays a novelty, and a good one at that. Since White is blocking the h1-a8 diagonal, why not bring the bishop to another?
22.Rf2
Another fighting move. [22.Rc1
seemed more logical to me, but here Black could immediately draw, among the other possibilities, which would favor the World Champion. 22...Qd7
23.Nb3
c4
And White would to exchange the annoying c4-pawn for either b2 or a2. (23...Bd3=
) ]
22...Rd7
Simply doubling on the d-file. [22...Rd5
23.e4
Rd7
only look clever. White doesn't mind playing e4 anyway.]
23.g3
A committal move, but White needs space for his king. Here it became clear to me that it was not Anand, but Topalov who may be in trouble.
23...Rbd8
24.Kg2
24...Bd3
Anand smartly decides to avoid making any committal moves, while it is not yet clear. He prefers to wait for Topalov to do part of the job. [More aggressive moves were also possible. For example, 24...h5!?
25.Ne4
(25.h4
e5
26.e4?!
g5!-+
) 25...Bd3
26.Qa4
Bxe4
(26...c4!?
27.Nd2
e5
28.Nxc4
Qe6
is unclear) 27.Qxe4
Rd2
with equality; Or 24...e5!?
25.e4
h5
26.Nc4
h4
27.Ne3
Qe6
and here White can play the non-standard 28.gxh4!
with an unclear position.]
25.Qc1
[25.Qa4
was dangerous. 25...Qg5
(25...Bb5=
) 26.e4?!
(26.Ne4!=
) 26...Qe3
27.Qa5
Qe1
28.Qxc5
Be2!
29.Nb3
Rd1
30.Kh3
R8d3
and White is in danger to say the least.]
25...Ba6!
The c5-pawn was hanging, and Vishy decides to come back with the bishop and ask Topalov what he thinks.
26.Ra3
I had no doubts that Topalov would play on.
26...Bb7!
Now that c5 isn't in any danger, Vishy returns the bishop to its rightful spot. Now the bishop also smiles towards White's king, who will suffer a lot in this game!
27.Nb3
[27.e4
can be answered by 27...f5!
28.Qc2
g5!
and the bishop smiles again!]
27...Rc7
28.Na5
Ba8
Of course!
29.Nc4
If any other move had been played, then 29...g5! was strong. [For example 29.e4
g5!
and now let me demonstrate how White could end up if he calculated badly. 30.Re3
Rd4
31.h3
h5!
32.g4
hxg4
33.hxg4
f5!
34.gxf5
g4!
opening the diagonal for the bishop and winning; or 29.Rc3
g5
30.Nb3
g4
31.e4
gxf3+
32.Kxf3
f5
33.Nxc5
Qg7!?
and it is clear that white king is not the happiest piece on board.]
29...e5!
Played instantly. Anand is playing it safe. 29...g5 was possible here as well, but it would lead to a double-edged position. [For instance 29...g5!?
30.e4
(30.h3
f5
31.Kh2
(31.g4
h5!
) 31...h5
with an unclear position.) 30...g4
(30...f5!?
) 31.Qxh6
gxf3+
32.Kxf3
Rd4
33.Nd2
Rcd7
34.Kg2
Qd8
35.Rf4!
Rxd2+
36.Kh3
Bxe4!!
37.Rxe4
R2d4
38.Ra4
Rxe4
39.Rxe4
Rd4
40.Re5
Rd5
41.Re4
Rd4
is a truly beautiful draw.]
30.e4
Other moves were possible, but then Black would be able to play e4-f4 securing the d3 square for a rook, or make some other useful move.
30...f5!
31.exf5?
Crazy. [31.Nd2!
was the right move. 31...fxe4
32.Nxe4
Now Black can choose between equalizing or keeping his bishop and the pressure with 32...Rd4!?
(32...Bxe4
33.fxe4
Rd4=
) ]
31...e4!
32.fxe4??
Even crazier. Without any calculation it seems pretty obvious that it is very dangerous to expose your king this much. So it was even more surprising that Topalov played this and the previous move so quickly! [Something like 32.Re3
was essential, but it is clear that 32...exf3+
33.Kg1
Qg5
is not really what White wants. Black is clearly better.]
32...Qxe4+
From now on Anand never let Veselin escape, nor gave him a single reason to hope.
33.Kh3
Rd4
34.Ne3
34...Qe8!!
THE move, that Vishy had to find. I assume that it was the one that Topalov had missed.
35.g4
h5!
It is hopeless for White. All Black's pieces are ready to meet alone with the white king.
36.Kh4
g5+!?
Vishy chooses the most elegant way to keep his title. [36...Qd8+
37.f6
hxg4
was winning as well; but surprisingly 36...hxg4??
loses the advantage. 37.Nxg4
and White's king doesn't feel so bad anymore with a knight on g4 to keep him company, and a queen coming to g5.]
37.fxg6
Qxg6
38.Qf1
Rxg4+
39.Kh3
39...Re7!
Anand again goes for the most beautiful solution. [For example 39...Kh7
to avoid checks, was winning too.]
40.Rf8+
Kg7
41.Nf5+
[41.Rxa8
Now I can imagine how happy Vishy was while executing his moves. 41...Rxe3+!
42.Rxe3
Rh4+!!
43.Kxh4
Qg4#
Ohh, what a picture!]
41...Kh7!
Naturally not taking the rook which would turn the tables upside down.
42.Rg3
Rxg3+
43.hxg3
Qg4+
44.Kh2
Re2+
45.Kg1
Rg2+
46.Qxg2
Bxg2
At this point, some people got very nervous, screaming that they had found a draw. The calm World Champion, however, had seen everything in advance.
47.Kxg2
[47.Rf7+
Kg6!
48.Rg7+
Kxf5
49.Rxg4
hxg4!
50.Kxg2
Ke4
51.Kf2
Kd3
and the pawn ending is hopeless.]
47...Qe2+
48.Kh3
c4!
Our human Champion is as precise as an engine.
49.a4
a5
50.Rf6
Kg8!
It is zugzwang!
51.Nh6+
Kg7
52.Rb6
Qe4
[52...Qf3
would win as well, but Anand decided that today was Zugzwang Day! 53.Kh4
Qe4+!
54.Kxh5
Qd5+
]
53.Kh2
Kh7!
Zugzwang again!
54.Rd6
Qe5
55.Nf7
Qxb2+
56.Kh3
Qg7!
Great and flawless play by Anand! A perfect game to defend one's title with. 0-1