Robert Ris: Anand beats Topalov in the final game of their 2010 match

by Robert Ris
4/28/2023 – A new world chess champion is about to be crowned. Game 14 of the match facing Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren will be played on Saturday. The score is tied, so a draw will lead to a rapid playoff on Sunday. As a preview to what is likely to become a memorable weekend for chess fans, Robert Ris recaps similar deciding encounters, focusing on the 2010 match in Sofia — the score was also tied, and defending champion Vishy Anand beat Veselin Topalov with the black pieces to keep the title!

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The final countdown

Game 14 (out of 14) of the World Championship match in Astana kicks off at 11.00 CEST on Saturday. Read all our reports from the match here.

Vishy Anand retained his title as world champion by beating Veselin Topalov 6½-5½ in their 2010 12-game match in Sofia. The Indian legend clinched overall victory by beating his famed colleague with black in game 12, played on May 11, a Tuesday.

Topalov faltered on move 31.

Toplaov vs. Anand - Game #12

Anand had just played 30...f5, attacking White’s central structure. Topalov, an attacking player himself, failed to feel the danger and replied by 31.exf5, opening up the light-squared long diagonal (with the black bishop from a8 dangerously lined up with the black king on g2).

31...e4 followed, naturally, and Topalov erred again with 32.fxe4. Check out the video analysis below to see how Anand wrapped up the game in style!

Robert Ris analyses final games from WCh matches

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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 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 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. Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 One of the two main moves. 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6! An idea from the Polish player, Grabarczyk, which was probably a surprise for Topalov. 17.dxc5 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.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 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.Nb3 c4 22.Rxc4 Ba6 23.Rc7 Rbc8 24.Rxe7 Rxc2 25.Ra1 Rxb2 26.h4 Bc4 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. 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. Rbd8 24.Kg2 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!? Or 24...e5!? 25.Qc1 25.Qa4 was dangerous. 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. 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 f5! 28.Qc2 g5! and the bishop smiles again! 27.Rxa7 Bxf3+ 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. or 29.Rc3 g5 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 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. f5! 31.exf5? Crazy. 31.Nd2! was the right move. fxe4 32.Nxe4 Now Black can choose between equalizing or keeping his bishop and the pressure with 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 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 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 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. 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
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2805Anand,V27870–12010D56World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=712
Carlsen,M2857Karjakin,S2769½–½2016C67World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +1-1=1012
Caruana,F2832Carlsen,M2835½–½2018B33World-ch Carlsen-Caruana12

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Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
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