1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.g3
I think we get Anand's match strategy now: play like Kramnik and remind Topalov of his favourite person.
4...dxc4
5.Bg2
Bb4+
6.Bd2
a5
7.Qc2
Bxd2+
[The seventh world champion preferred 7...Nc6
8.Qxc4
Qd5
9.Qxd5
exd5=
Browne-Smyslov Las Palmas]
8.Qxd2
[The Catalan has been all the rage since Kramnik started to play it. For the latest theory it is best to consult the brilliant book by Boris Avrukh. I refer to it all the time. 8.Nbxd2
b5
9.a4
c6
10.b3
cxb3
11.Nxb3
0-0~~
White has some play but not enough for advantage - Avrukh]
8...c6
9.a4
[9.Ne5
b5
10.Nxc6
Qc7=
Avrukh 11.Qg5
Nxc6
12.Qxg7
Ke7
13.Qxh8
Bb7
14.Qg7
Nxd4-/+
]
9...b5
10.Na3
A novelty! [10.axb5
cxb5
11.Qg5
0-0
12.Qxb5
Ba6
13.Qa4
Qb6
14.0-0
Qxb2
15.Nbd2
Bb5
16.Nxc4
Bxa4
17.Nxb2
Bb5
18.Ne5
Ra7+/=
Kramnik-Topalov game 1 Elista 2006, but Avrukh suggests Black can improve]
10...Bd7
[10...Ba6
11.Ne5
Nd5
12.Nxc6
Nxc6
13.axb5+/=
]
11.Ne5
[11.axb5
cxb5
12.Qg5
h6!
13.Qxg7
Rh7!-+
]
11...Nd5
12.e4
12...Nb4
[12...Nb6
Anand is already ahead on the clock after the novelty 13.axb5
cxb5
14.Nxd7
Qxd7
15.Qg5!+/-
Qxd4?
16.Rd1
Qf6
17.Qxb5+
]
13.0-0
0-0
14.Rfd1
A new but typical Catalan position where White has full compensation. Black has to watch out for d4-d5 opening the Catalan bishop and undermining his queenside pawn chain
14...Be8
[14...Qe7
15.Nxd7
Qxd7
16.d5
exd5
17.exd5
cxd5
18.axb5
Rd8
19.Qg5+/=
]
15.d5!
Well timed and I guess still preparation
15...Qd6
[15...exd5
16.exd5
cxd5
17.axb5
Nd7
18.Nc6
Nxc6
19.Qxd5!+/-
]
16.Ng4
[16.dxc6!?
Qxe5
17.axb5
looks promising but Black can sacrifice back and is only a bit worse]
16...Qc5
17.Ne3
The perfect square supporting d5. Topalov's problem is capturing on d5 opens the Bg2 but leaving it allows dxc6
17...N8a6
18.dxc6
bxa4
[18...Bxc6
19.axb5
Bxb5
20.Naxc4!
Bxc4
21.Rac1
with a nice edge]
19.Naxc4
Bxc6
20.Rac1
White looks more comfortable here but nothing could prepare us for what follows. Topalov's sense of danger deserted him
20...h6?!
Stops Qg5 in some lines and challenges Anand to do something constructive which he declines to do and does something very destructive instead! Getting the queen near the kingside made sense [20...Qe7
21.Nxa5
(21.Nd6!?
) 21...Rfd8
22.Nxc6
Nxc6
23.Qc3
]
21.Nd6
Qa7
22.Ng4!
Suddenly it's critical. The black pieces have deserted the king.
22...Rad8?
[22...Nc5
Speelman 23.Nxh6+
(23.Rc4
maybe best here.) 23...gxh6
24.Qxh6
Ncd3
; 22...f6
is better than the game but still very bad for black.; 22...Rfd8
23.Nxh6+
gxh6
24.Qxh6
Qe7
25.e5
Bxg2
26.Rd4
Bf3
27.Rcc4!
sums up the attacking plan.]
23.Nxh6+
gxh6
24.Qxh6
f6
25.e5
Anand reached to play this move, the brought his hand back then played it a minute later. Nerves ? not surprising. It took him 10 minutes in total but now it's game over
25...Bxg2
[25...Qg7
26.Qxg7+
Kxg7
27.Bxc6
]
26.exf6!
26...Rxd6
[26...Qh7
27.Qg5+
Kh8
28.Rc4
Rg8
29.Nf7+!
Qxf7
30.Rh4+
Qh7
31.Rxh7+
Kxh7
32.Qh5#
]
27.Rxd6
Be4
[27...Bd5
28.Qg6+
Kh8
29.Rc4!
you've guessed it 29...Bxc4
30.Rd4!
Qh7
31.Rh4
Rf7
32.Rxh7+
Rxh7
33.Qe8#
]
28.Rxe6
Nd3
29.Rc2
Qh7
30.f7+
Qxf7
31.Rxe4
Qf5
32.Re7
1-0