The world champion, Vishy Anand, drew the black pieces in the in the drawing of lots held by international arbiter Joaquín Espejo in the celebrated halls of Hotel Conde Luna. The match which will pit him against Alexei Shiron in a best of six games played at 40 minutes per game with a 30-second increment after each move.
1.e4
c6
The Caro Kann defense that Anand has employed with great success against Shirov in the past with four victories and four draws. A result that is nothing to spit upon.
2.d4
d5
3.e5
Shirov, true to himself, employs the most agressive system.
3...Bf5
4.Nf3
[4.Nc3
e6
5.g4
Bg6
6.Nge2
is a variation much to Alexei's taste, but which has not yielded good results against the Indian GM.]
4...e6
5.Be2
Ne7
A continuation used by the Vietnamese phenom Le Quang Liem, never played by the two protagonists however. [5...Nd7
6.0-0
Ne7
7.Be3
Bg6
8.Nh4
Nf5
9.Nxf5
Bxf5
10.g4
Bg6
11.f4
f5
was an interesting struggle which ended in a draw in Shirov,A (2690)-Anand,V (2725) Wijk aan Zee 1996.; y 5...c5
6.Be3
cxd4
7.Nxd4
Ne7
8.c4
Nbc6
9.Nc3
Nxd4
10.Bxd4
dxc4
11.Bxc4
Nc6
12.Bb5
Be7
13.0-0
0-0
14.Bxc6
bxc6
15.Ne2
c5
led to an equal game that Anand was able to turn to his favor in Shirov, A (2710)-Anand,V (2770) Linares 1998.]
6.0-0
c5
7.dxc5
Nec6
This is the idea behind Ne7, reserving the d7 square for the queen's knight.
8.Bg5
Be7
9.Bxe7
Qxe7
10.c4
dxc4
11.Na3
c3
12.bxc3
Nd7
13.Nb5
A new idea prepared in advance by Shirov if one is to judge by the little time spent. [In the aforementioned game they played 13.Bb5
Qxc5
14.Nc4
0-0
15.Qxd7
Qxb5
16.Nd6
Qb6
17.Qxb7
Nxe5
18.Qxb6
Nxf3+
19.gxf3
axb6
20.Nxf5
exf5
21.Rfb1
Ra6
and only Black can aspire to anything in Naiditsch,A (2684)-Le Quang Liem (2681) Dortmund 2010.]
13...0-0
14.Nd6
Nxc5
15.Bb5
Bg4
[Of note was 15...Be4
pressuring the e5 pawn as in the game and keeping the option of capturing the knight on c6.]
16.Bxc6
bxc6
We can now take stock of the opening: Anand seems to be about equal but it did take over twelve minutes while his opponent still has his initial 40 minutes almost intact and a strong knight on d6 which may give Black a serious headache in the future.
17.h3
[Not 17.Qd4?!
since after 17...Bxf3
18.Qxc5
Qg5!
19.g3
Qh5
and White is starting to get into trouble.]
17...Bh5
18.g4!?
Shirov fights for the initiative.
18...Bg6
19.Qd4
Nb7!
[Another option was to play against e5 with 19...Nd7
20.Rad1
f6
21.Rfe1
fxe5
22.Nxe5
Nxe5
23.Qxe5
Rf3
24.Re3
Rxe3
25.Qxe3
and now both 25...e5
(as well as 25...Rd8
26.Qe5
seem to give White an advantage.) 26.f4
]
20.Rad1
c5!
21.Qa4?!
[21.Qe3
was safer, keeping c5 under attack and control of the kingside.]
21...Nxd6
22.Rxd6
[Not 22.exd6
Qf6
23.Kg2
Qxc3
and White would have to deal with both his material deficit and kingside weaknesses.]
22...f5!?
highlighting the weakened kingside, though also giving White full control of the d-file.
23.Rd7
Qe8
[23...Be8
was less convincing due to 24.Rxe7
Bxa4
25.Rb1
fxg4
26.Ng5
Bc6
27.hxg4
even though the position doesn't give White anything clearcut.]
24.Rfd1
fxg4
25.Qxg4
Rf7!
Anand neutralizes White's rook activity.
26.Rxf7
Qxf7
27.Ng5
Qf5!
28.f4
[After a long think, Shirov decides to forgo 28.Nxe6
Qxe5
29.Rd7
Qe1+
30.Kg2
Be4+
31.Kg3
Qxc3+
(not 31...Qg1+?
32.Kf4
winning.) 32.Kh2
Qe5+
and Black holds.]
28...Re8
29.Qxf5
Bxf5
30.Rd7
30...Rf8!
[Capturing the h3 pawn with 30...h6?!
would be less precise since after 31.Nf7
Bxh3
White can play 32.Nd6!
(Not the superficial 32.Rxa7?
Rf8
33.Kh2
Rxf7
34.Rxf7
Kxf7
35.Kxh3
g6!
which leads to a won pawn endgame by Black.) 32...Ra8
33.Rc7
and White gets the advantage.]
31.Re7
As a result of Black's perfect defense, Shirov liquidates into an equal rook endgame, in which White is the one who must play with care.
31...h6
32.Nxe6
Bxe6
33.Rxe6
Rxf4
34.Ra6
Rf3!
Anand chooses the continuation that gives him the most practical chances: if the h3-pawn is eliminated, the position could become perilous for White.
35.Rxa7
Rxh3
36.e6
Re3
37.Re7
[37.a4
seems drawn after 37...Rxe6
38.a5
Re2
39.Rc7
Ra2
40.Rxc5
g5
41.c4
Kg7
42.Rb5
Kg6
43.c5
and White would have no trouble holding the draw,]
37...Kf8
[37...g5
38.Kf2
Rxc3
39.Re8+
Kg7
40.Rh8!!
A study-like move that forces the draw.; 37...Rxc3
leads to a draw. 38.Re8+!
Kh7
39.Kf2!
Rc4
40.Kf3
Rc1
41.Kf2
]
38.Rf7+
Kg8
39.Re7
Kf8
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