Still quick
At 52, Vishy Anand is still capable of scoring three wins in a row against top opposition in rapid chess. The Tiger from Madras was known early in his career for his ability to play quickly, even in classical events. As time went by, he became more patient in slow games, but as he proved on day 1 of the Superbet Poland GCT event, he has not lost his touch when needing to rely mostly on intuition.
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
Anand’s perfect start has left him a full two points ahead of his closest chasers — in the rapid section, players receive 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw — as Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian and Jan-Krzysztof Duda all finished the first three rounds with +1 scores. Anand has yet to face all three of them.
It was an exciting first day of action in Warsaw, with 11 out of 15 games finishing decisively and plenty of tactical skirmishes making for an entertaining show for the spectators.

Kirill Shevchenko playing white against Richard Rapport in round 1 | Photo: Bryan Adams
Anand’s success on Thursday is all the more impressive given the players he took down in the first three rounds. The veteran started off with a win over his former second Radoslaw Wojtaszek, and then got the better of two rapid-play specialists, Wesley So and Anton Korobov.
Facing So with black in round 2, the former world champion was a pawn down but had the safer king and the better development in a sharp middlegame.
So had bravely castled queenside on move 12 (a novelty), but had also seen his opponent handling the double-edged position exemplarily. Here, the Filipino-born star had just played 24.e6, and followed by doubling his rooks on the e-file via 24...fxe6 25.Rhe1.
Meanwhile, 1.b3 has also found its way into the practice of today's world elite, and now finally a modern top ten player has taken on the subject for ChessBase: none other than Grandmaster Wesley So!
However, Anand’s initiative on the queenside was stronger than So’s counterchances in the centre. The game continued 25...Rc6+ 26.Nc3 (26.Kd1 or 26.b3 were stronger, albeit difficult to find) Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Qxb2
28.Rb1 can be successfully responded by 28...Qa3, since the knight on d7 protects b8, while the other knight on f8 also plays a vital role, as it defends the weak e6-square.
So resigned two moves later, with his pieces all but paralysed, unable to create counterplay.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.a3 Bd6 8.Qc2 c6 9.Nge2 Nbd7 10.Bd2 Re8 11.f3 Nf8 12.0-0-0N 12.0-0 Bc7 13.Rf2 Ne6 14.Rd1 b6 15.b4 Bb7 16.Ng3 a5 17.Nce2 axb4 18.axb4 12...b5 13.e4 b4 14.axb4 14...Bxb4 15.e5 N6d7 16.Na4 Rb8 17.Qxc6 Bxd2+ 17...Bb7!? 18.Qc2 Qa5 18.Rxd2 Bb7 18...Qa5= 19.Qc2 Rb4 19.Qd6± Re6 20.Qa3 Ba6 21.Bc2? 21.Nf4 Rc6+ 22.Rc2 21...Bxe2 21...Qg5 22.Nec3± 22.Rxe2 Ra6 23.Qd3 Qa5 24.e6 fxe6 25.Rhe1 Rc6 26.Nc3 26.Kd1 26...Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Qxb2 28.Rb1 Qa3 29.Rxb8 Nxb8 30.f4 30.Re3 30...Na6 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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So,W | 2766 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.5 |
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Vishy Anand beat Wesley So with the black pieces | Photo: Lennart Ootes
In the next round, from the white side of a French Defence against Korobov, Anand’s e6-push had much better results.
Anand vs. Korobov - Round 3
25.e6 is the strongest move in the position, much like Korobov’s 25...f4 in the next turn. The Ukrainian’s pawn advance prompted Anand to spend 4 minutes on his reply (games are played with a 25+10 time control) — the Indian was in the zone, though, as he found 26.gxf4, the only manoeuvre that keeps his advantage.
After 26...fxe6 27.Rg3, Korobov blundered with 27...Qxh4
The obvious 28.Rxg6+ wins for White, but Anand’s 28.Qe5 is even stronger — the queen attacks the rook on c7 and creates deadly threats against the vulnerable black king. Korobov played 28...Rc4 and then resigned.
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Rc8 7.0-0 h6 8.Be3 8...Qb6N 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Nge7 10.Nc3 Nf5 11.Bd3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Be7 13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Bb1 Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 9...Qxb2 10.Nbd2 Qxc3 11.Rb1 Nge7 10.Bxc5 Qxc5 11.Nbd2 Nge7 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Bd3 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.a4 0-0 16.Re1 Qb6 17.Qd2 a6 18.h4 Rc7 19.a5 Qc5 20.Re3 Nf5 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.Nd4 Qe7 23.g3 h5 23...Rc5 24.Qe2 g6 25.e6 f4 26.gxf4 26.exd7? fxe3 27.Qxe3 Qxe3 28.fxe3 Rxd7-+ 26...fxe6 27.Rg3 Qxh4? 27...Qg7± 28.Qe5+- Rc4 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Anand,V | 2751 | Korobov,A | 2671 | 1–0 | 2022 | | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.1 |
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The tournament is taking place at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Notably, another living chess legend, Garry Kasparov, visited the tournament in Warsaw. The ardent critic of Vladimir Putin’s regime and Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation also met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Garry Kasparov's rise to the top was meteoric and at his very first attempt he managed to become World Champion, the youngest of all time. In over six hours of video, he gives a first hand account of crucial events from recent chess history, you can improve your chess understanding and enjoy explanations and comments from a unique and outstanding personality on and off the chess board.
Standings after round 3 (2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw)
Rk. | | Name | Rtg. | Nt. | Pts. | n | | | | | | | | | | | TB | Perf. |
---|
1 | | | 2751 | | 6.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 8.00 | 3511 |
2 | | | 2765 | | 4.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 6.50 | 2878 |
3 | | | 2786 | | 4.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 4.00 | 2803 |
4 | | | 2750 | | 4.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 3.00 | 2818 |
5 | | | 2776 | | 3.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 3.00 | 2720 |
6 | | | 2766 | | 3.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2.50 | 2689 |
7 | | | 2671 | | 3.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 1.50 | 2678 |
8 | | | 2696 | | 2.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2.50 | 2595 |
9 | | | 2644 | | 1.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 1.00 | 2473 |
10 | | | 2518 | | 0.0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 1936 |
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger |
All games
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.cxd5 Nxd5 9...cxd5= 10.Bd2 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bd3 Nc6= 10...Nc6 10.e4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Be7 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.g3 Nd7 14.Be3N 14.Kf2 e5 15.Be3 c5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Qb5+ Nc6 18.Rb1 0-0-0 19.Bc4 Bd6 20.Kg2 14...0-0 15.Be2 c5 16.Kf2 e5 17.Rac1 Rac8 18.Rhd1 c4 19.Qb2 a6 20.a4 Rb8 21.dxe5 b5 22.f4 Nc5 23.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 24.Kf3 bxa4 25.Qa2 a3 26.Qxc4 Qb6 26...Rb2 27.Qxc5 Bxc5 28.Bc4± 26...Qc8= 27.Rb1! Qxb1 28.Rxb1 Rxb1 29.Qxa6 29.Kg4± 29...Rb3 30.Bc4 Rxc3+ 31.Kg4 Rd8 31...Rxc4!= 32.Qxc4 Ra8 32.Kh3 32.Bd5± 32...Rxc4!= 33.Qxc4 Rd2 34.e6 f5 35.exf5 gxf5 36.Qc8+ Kh7 37.Qc3 a2 38.Qa5 Kg6 39.g4 fxg4+ 40.Kxg4 Rg2+ 41.Kh3 Rc2 42.Kg4 42...Rxh2 43.Qe5 Kh6 44.Qa5 Bf6 45.e7 Bxe7 45...Rh4+? 46.Kg3 Bxe7 47.Qxa2± 46.Qa8! Kh7 46...Bf6 47.Qh8+ Kg6 48.Qxh2 Bd8 49.Qxa2 Kf6 50.f5 Ke5 51.Qe6+ Kd4 52.Qd6+ Kc4 53.Qxd8 47.Qe4+! Kg8 47...Kh6!? 48.Qa8 Bh4= 48.Qa8+ Kh7 49.Qe4+! Kg8 49...Kh6!? 50.Qa8 Bh4= 50.Qa8+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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- Create an account to access the games cloud.
So,W | 2766 | Korobov,A | 2671 | ½–½ | 2022 | D12 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 1.1 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | 1–0 | 2022 | C77 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 1.2 |
Shevchenko,K | 2644 | Rapport,R | 2776 | 0–1 | 2022 | C02 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 1.3 |
Aronian,L | 2765 | Caruana,F | 2786 | 1–0 | 2022 | C27 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 1.4 |
Duda,J | 2750 | Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | 1–0 | 2022 | C13 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 1.5 |
Korobov,A | 2671 | Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | 1–0 | 2022 | D38 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.1 |
Caruana,F | 2786 | Duda,J | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | D35 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.2 |
Rapport,R | 2776 | Aronian,L | 2765 | ½–½ | 2022 | B50 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.3 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | Shevchenko,K | 2644 | ½–½ | 2022 | A58 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.4 |
So,W | 2766 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | E48 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 2.5 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Korobov,A | 2671 | 1–0 | 2022 | C02 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.1 |
Shevchenko,K | 2644 | So,W | 2766 | 0–1 | 2022 | C67 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.2 |
Aronian,L | 2765 | Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | ½–½ | 2022 | B30 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.3 |
Duda,J | 2750 | Rapport,R | 2776 | 1–0 | 2022 | E98 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.4 |
Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | Caruana,F | 2786 | 0–1 | 2022 | B30 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 3.5 |
Korobov,A | 2671 | Caruana,F | 2786 | ½–½ | 2022 | A26 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 4.1 |
Rapport,R | 2776 | Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | 1–0 | 2022 | C00 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 4.2 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | Duda,J | 2750 | 0–1 | 2022 | B06 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 4.3 |
So,W | 2766 | Aronian,L | 2765 | ½–½ | 2022 | E04 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 4.4 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Shevchenko,K | 2644 | 1–0 | 2022 | B33 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 4.5 |
Shevchenko,K | 2644 | Korobov,A | 2671 | ½–½ | 2022 | B84 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 5.1 |
Aronian,L | 2765 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | C24 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 5.2 |
Duda,J | 2750 | So,W | 2766 | 0–1 | 2022 | C65 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 5.3 |
Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | ½–½ | 2022 | B52 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 5.4 |
Caruana,F | 2786 | Rapport,R | 2776 | 0–1 | 2022 | C18 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 5.5 |
Korobov,A | 2671 | Rapport,R | 2776 | 0–1 | 2022 | E94 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 6.1 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | Caruana,F | 2786 | ½–½ | 2022 | E08 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 6.2 |
So,W | 2766 | Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | ½–½ | 2022 | B14 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 6.3 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Duda,J | 2750 | ½–½ | 2022 | C02 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 6.4 |
Shevchenko,K | 2644 | Aronian,L | 2765 | ½–½ | 2022 | C77 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 6.5 |
Aronian,L | 2765 | Korobov,A | 2671 | 1–0 | 2022 | B50 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 7.1 |
Duda,J | 2750 | Shevchenko,K | 2644 | ½–½ | 2022 | D15 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 7.2 |
Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | C45 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 7.3 |
Caruana,F | 2786 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | C65 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 7.4 |
Rapport,R | 2776 | Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | 1–0 | 2022 | B50 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 7.5 |
Korobov,A | 2671 | Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | 0–1 | 2022 | B92 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 8.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Rapport,R | 2776 | 1–0 | 2022 | E94 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 8.2 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Caruana,F | 2786 | ½–½ | 2022 | C42 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 8.3 |
Shevchenko,K | 2644 | Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | 1–0 | 2022 | C00 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 8.4 |
Aronian,L | 2765 | Duda,J | 2750 | 0–1 | 2022 | C28 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 8.5 |
Duda,J | 2750 | Korobov,A | 2671 | 1–0 | 2022 | E92 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 9.1 |
Gavrilescu,D | 2518 | Aronian,L | 2765 | 0–1 | 2022 | C45 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 9.2 |
Caruana,F | 2786 | Shevchenko,K | 2644 | ½–½ | 2022 | D11 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 9.3 |
Rapport,R | 2776 | Anand,V | 2751 | 1–0 | 2022 | C47 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 9.4 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2696 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | E05 | Superbet Rapid Poland 2022 | 9.5 |
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