1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.g3
dxc4
5.Bg2
a6
Topalov deviates from the previous Catalan line which had led to a nasty defeat. The question now is what Anand would have in store.
6.Ne5
c5
7.Na3
cxd4
8.Naxc4
Bc5
9.0-0
0-0
10.Bg5
Though the official novelty only takes place a move later, this can be described as the real novelty and the essence of what the World Champion had prepared.
10...h6
11.Bxf6
Qxf6N
12.Nd3
Ba7
13.Qa4
13...Nc6
[The enticing fork with 13...b5
falls flat to 14.Qc2
bxc4
15.Qxc4
and the rook on a8 is lost.]
14.Rac1
e5
15.Bxc6
b5
16.Qc2
Qxc6
17.Ncxe5
Qe4
18.Qc6
Bb7
19.Qxe4
Bxe4
20.Rc2
We now have a very complex fight between the bishop pair and the knight pair.
20...Rfe8
21.Rfc1
f6
22.Nd7
This seemingly innocuous move is in fact the first move in a masterly plan by Anand to regroup his knights. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this does actually begin the longest run of consecutive knight moves ever seen in a World Championship match with no less than thirteen!
22...Bf5
23.N7c5
Bb6
24.Nb7
Bd7
25.Nf4
Rab8
26.Nd6
Re5
27.Nc8
Ba5
28.Nd3
Re8
29.Na7
"It seems that with this Vishy has lost his 'faith' in the position. Surprising. I liked it." – GM Yasser Seirawan
29...Bb6
30.Nc6
Rb7
31.Ncb4
a5
32.Nd5
a4
33.Nxb6
Rxb6
34.Nc5
Bf5
35.Rd2
Finally giving the cavalry a rest.
35...Rc6
36.b4
axb3
37.axb3
b4
38.Rxd4
Rxe2
39.Rxb4
Bh3!
Despite being a pawn down, it is now White who must tread carefully with the unpleasant threats around his king. This is all that is needed to neutralize Anand's winning ambitions.
40.Rbc4
Rd6
41.Re4
Rb2
[Black could even play 41...Rc2
illustrating the back rank weakness. 42.Rc4
Re2=
]
42.Ree1
Rdd2
At this point Topalov can be considered the moral victor, since even though he is hardly winning, his position appears preferable.
43.Ne4
Rd4
44.Nc5
Rdd2
45.Ne4
Rd3
And by refusing the repetition, he says exactly what he thinks.
46.Rb1
Rdxb3
47.Nd2
Rb4
48.f3
Opening the escape route for the king.
48...g5
49.Rxb2
Rxb2
50.Rd1
Kf7
51.Kf2
h5
52.Ke3
Rc2
53.Ra1
Kg6
54.Ra6
Bf5
55.Rd6
Rc3+
56.Kf2
Rc2
57.Ke3
Rc3+
58.Kf2
Rc2
1/2-1/2