1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
g6
3.Nc3
d5
Anand has been playing the Gruenfeld a lot but nevertheless, even as a Gruenfeld afficionado I have always thought it risky at WCC level. However in this concrete age of computer preparation the top players have everything worked out but not it would seem, memorised
4.cxd5
Nxd5
5.e4
Nxc3
6.bxc3
Bg7
7.Bc4
No surprise, this has been Topalov's choice before
7...c5
8.Ne2
Nc6
9.Be3
0-0
10.0-0
Na5
[10...Bg4
11.f3
Na5
12.Bxf7+
Rxf7
13.fxg4
was the battleground in the 1987 WCC match at Seville with Karpov white and Kasparov black; 10...Bg4
11.f3
cxd4
12.cxd4
Na5
13.Bd3
Be6
14.d5
is an exchange sacrifice from the 1950s that Topalov has enjoyed success with; 10...Qc7
Smyslov Variation is the sharpest]
11.Bd3
b6
12.Qd2
[12.Rc1
is the other main line 12...e5
13.dxc5
Be6
14.c4
bxc5
15.Bxc5
Re8
As in the st em game Topalov - Svidler Linares/Morelia 2006 but 15...Bh6! is better and Black seems to be OK; 12.dxc5?!
bxc5
13.Bxc5
Qc7
14.Bd4
e5
15.Be3
Nc4
with good compensation is a typical Gruenfeld theme]
12...e5
[The modern move which Peter Svidler explained to me on ChessFM he invented 12...e6
13.Rac1
cxd4
14.cxd4
Bb7
15.h4
or 15.Bh6 is the older line which is rarely seen nowadays. The plan of h4-h6 and e4-e5 can be problematic for Black]
13.Bh6
[13.d5?!
f5
; 13.dxe5?!
Bxe5
]
13...cxd4
14.Bxg7
Kxg7
15.cxd4
exd4
16.Rac1
[16.f4
f6
17.e5
Topalov - Kamsky WCC Candidates Final (ish) Sofia 17...Bd7
18.exf6+
Qxf6
19.Ng3
Kh8
and Black seemed OK so it's no surprise Topalov varies]
16...Qd6
[A novelty but both sides had obviously looked at it in detail 16...Bb7
17.f4
Rc8
18.Rxc8
Qxc8
19.f5
Nc6
20.Rf3
Ne5
21.Rh3
Rh8
22.f6+
Kg8
23.Qh6
Qf8
24.Qxf8+
Kxf8
25.Nxd4
Ke8
26.Bb5+
Kd8
27.Rc3
a6
28.Ba4
b5
29.Bb3
Re8
1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S (2732)-Carlsen,M (2765)/Foros UKR 2008/The Week in Chess]
17.f4
f6
18.f5
Qe5
It's vital to prevent e4-e5 in all circumstances as this would liberate white's pieces and expose what is a weakened Black kingside. Black would like to play Na5-c6-e5 but it can't be organised [18...Nc6
19.Bb5
Ne5
20.Nxd4+/=
]
19.Nf4
[19.Kh1
Bd7
20.Ng1
Rac8
21.Nf3
Qd6=/+
]
19...g5
20.Nh5+
All played in just a few minutes - who is going to blink first ? Putting the knight on h5 has to be justified by concrete computer analysis as it could be badly placed later
20...Kg8
21.h4
h6
22.hxg5
hxg5
23.Rf3
Both sides had been playing very quickly to this point but now Anand thought for 10+ minutes
23...Kf7??
Losing on the spot. It looks like Anand forgot his preparation. [23...Bd7
looks best as Nxf6 does not appear to work. 24.Rg3
Kf7
may have been what was in his computer. It may well have been the classic error of forgetting the move order rather than the moves. 25.Nxf6?
(25.Bc4+
Nxc4
26.Rxc4
Rh8
27.Rxd4
Bxf5
28.Rd7+
Bxd7
29.Qxd7+
Qe7
30.Qd5+
Qe6
31.Qb7+
Qe7
32.Qd5+=
) 25...Qxg3
; 23...Rf7
Is the kind of defensive move Black wants to make but it allows 24.Nxf6+
Qxf6
25.e5
Qxe5
26.Qxg5+
Qg7
27.Qd8+
Rf8
28.Qd5++-
; 23...Bd7
24.Nxf6+
Qxf6
25.e5
Qxe5
26.Qxg5+
Kf7
27.Qg6+
Ke7
28.f6+
Kd8~~
; 23...Bd7
24.Bc4+
Nxc4
25.Rxc4
Be8
26.Nxf6+
Rxf6
27.Qxg5+
Rg6!~~
]
24.Nxf6!!
This ends the game. Topalov thought about this for just a few minutes, played it and walked off leaving Anand in no doubt that this was prepared analysis and that he was lost. The main tactical theme is that Black cannot hold c7 and g5. Positionally his Na5 and Ra8 are out of the game.
24...Kxf6
[24...Qxf6
Makes no difference 25.Rh3
Rh8
26.Rxh8
Qxh8
27.Rc7+
Kf6
28.e5+
; 24...Qxf6
25.Rh3
Kg8
26.e5
Qxe5
27.Qxg5+
; 24...Qxf6
25.Rh3
Bd7
26.Rh7+
Ke8
27.e5
Qxe5
28.Re1
]
25.Rh3!
The best move to win.
25...Rg8
[25...Qf4
26.e5+!
Qxe5
27.Rh6+
; 25...Bd7
26.Rh6+
Kf7
27.Rh7+
Kf6
28.Rxd7
Rad8
29.Rh7
Rh8
30.Rcc7
Rxh7
31.Rxh7
Qf4
32.Qxf4
gxf4
33.Kf2
Rc8
34.Kf3
Rc3
35.Kxf4
Rxd3
36.e5#
Was found by Peter Svidler just for fun. ]
26.Rh6+
Kf7
27.Rh7+
Ke8
[27...Rg7
28.Rxg7+
Kxg7
(28...Qxg7
29.Rc7+
) 29.Qxg5+
]
28.Rcc7
Black cannot make a constructive move
28...Kd8
29.Bb5!
Qxe4
[29...Qxb5
30.Qxd4+
Ke8
31.Qf6
; 29...Qxc7
30.Qxd4+
Bd7
31.Rxd7+
both mating]
30.Rxc8+
Choosing a prosaic win [30.Rxc8+
Kxc8
31.Qc1+
Nc6
32.Bxc6
Qe3+
33.Qxe3
dxe3
34.Bxa8
; 30.Rce7
Qxe7
31.Qxd4+
Bd7
32.Rxe7
was more Topalov's style but what a start for the challenger. At least Anand may be able to say he had a playable position but that depends on the assessment of 23...Bd7, if that does not hold up he really has to fall back on plan B and will be struggling even more. Anand has white on Sunday at 1pm UK, 8am EST - see you then for commentary at TWIC - Malcolm Pein] 1-0