Clube Conquistense de Xadrez» Torneios

Circuito Relâmpago de Xadrez

Pedro Ferreira — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:40:45 +0000

O CCX vai realizar o circuito relâmpago de xadrez, que será um torneio a cada mês, com ritmo de jogo de 5 minutos. Terá inscrição de $5,00 reais, que serão distribuídos entre os vencedores de cada etapa. No final do ano, o jogador com mais pontos acumulados será considerado campeão conquistense de xadrez relâmpago. Em breve disponibilizaremos o regulamento completo do circuito.

Neste sábado, 17-07-2010, realizamos um torneio relâmpago com os enxadristas presentes no clube. O vencedor foi Pedro Ferreira, seguido de Orlando Damasceno e Marcelo Amaral. A seguir a classificação completa.

OBS: A partir desse torneio já foi calculado o rating relâmpago.

OBS 2: Em breve retornaremos com o torneio braxateca, agora com uma periodicidade mensal.

Resultado

Place Name                Feder Rtg Loc  Score Berg. Wins

  1   Ferreira, Pedro               1800 9     39.00    9
 2-3  Damasceno, Orlando            1800 8     32.50    8
      Amaral, Marcelo               1800 8     30.00    8
 4-5  Alcoforado, Antonio           1800 7     25.00    7
      Aguiar, Rômulo                1800 7     23.00    7
  6   Bianck, Washignton            1800 5.5   17.50    5
  7   Jean,                         1800 4      6.50    4
  8   Gerson,                       1800 2.5    3.00    2
9-10  Caires, Vivaldo               1800 2      4.00    1
      Izaias,                       1800 2      2.00    2
 11   Ruberito,                     1800 0      0.00    0

Resultado – IV Aberto Taiobeirense de Xadrez

Pedro Ferreira — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:50:19 +0000

Resultado – Xadrez Adulto

1º - WELLIGNTON CARLOS ROCHA, WELLIGNTON ( MESTRE )
2º - SERGIO EDUARDO OLIVEIRA,
3º - EVANDRO BATISTA CARDOSO,
4º - YURE COLARES,
5º - BRENO DE SOUZA DE JESUS,
6º - ADNILSON ANDRADA,
7º - RICARDO MENEZES,
8º - LAUDIMIR MARQUES
9º -THALES BERNAR SAQUE,
10º – JOAO VICTOR MALTA,
11º - JOAO PEDRO FERREIRA CELIO

º -

IV Aberto Taiobeirense de Xadrez

Pedro Ferreira — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:11:50 +0000

Local: Ginásio Poliesportivo
Data: 10 e 11 de julho de 2010
Sistema de jogo: Suiço com 7(sete) rodadas – xadrez rápido (31 minutos nocaute)
Inscrições: R$20,00
Realização: Escola Taiobachess

Maiores informações no folder ao lado

Anand mantém a coroa!

Pedro Ferreira — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:01:03 +0000

Depois de um disputado match, onde o placar marcava 5.5 à 5.5 e cada jogador tinha duas vitórias com as brancas, a decisão ficou mesmo para a última partida, que teve uma emocionante vitória de Anand jogando com as pretas.

Anand escolheu o tranquilo gambito de dama recusado (variante lasker), sistema de jogo passivo mas muito sólido. O jogo estava indo para um empate e a decisão ia ficar para o tie-break, mas Topalov arriscando mais do que devia, capturou os envenenados peões oferecidos por Anand nos lances 31 e 32, permitindo um forte ataque que teve como recompensa um final de Dama contra torre e cavalo, facilmente convertido.

Na cerimônia de encerramento Anand elogiou o espírito de luta do oponente. “Esse foi sem dúvida o match mais duro que já participei. Todos os jogos foram longos e bem disputados.”

Apesar de erros de ambos os jogadores em alguns jogos, foi um match espetacular, tanto no quesito qualidade dos jogos quanto emoção. Acho que a vitória de Anand é resultado de seu estilo mais universal, ele se adapta melhor aos variados tipos de posição. O engraçado é que no match de 2008 contra Kramnik, ele optou por um estilo mais agressivo, parecido com Topalov, e nesse último match contra Topalov, optou pelo estilo mais posicional, característico de Kramnik. Esse campeão é esperto!

Site oficial (inglês)

Veja todas partidas do match:

[Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "Sofia BUL"]  [Date "2010.04.24"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D87"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [Annotator "Pein,Malcolm"]  [PlyCount "59"]  [EventDate "2010.04.10"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {Anand has been playing the Gruenfeld a lot but  nevertheless, even as a Gruenfeld afficionado I have always thought it risky  at WCC level. However in this concrete age of computer preparation the top  players have everything worked out but not it would seem, memorised #} 4. cxd5  Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 {No surprise, this has been Topalov’s  choice before #} c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 (10… Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12.  Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 {was the battleground in the 1987 WCC match at Seville  with Karpov white and Kasparov black}) (10… Bg4 11. f3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13.  Bd3 Be6 14. d5 {is an exchange sacrifice from the 1950s that Topalov has  enjoyed success with}) (10… Qc7 {Smyslov Variation is the sharpest}) 11. Bd3  b6 {#} 12. Qd2 (12. Rc1 {is the other main line} e5 13. dxc5 Be6 14. c4 bxc5  15. Bxc5 Re8 {As in the st em game Topalov – Svidler Linares/Morelia 2006 but  15…Bh6! is better and Black seems to be OK}) (12. dxc5 $6 bxc5 13. Bxc5 Qc7  14. Bd4 e5 15. Be3 Nc4 {with good compensation is a typical Gruenfeld theme})  12… e5 ({The modern move which Peter Svidler explained to me on ChessFM he  invented} 12… e6 13. Rac1 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bb7 15. h4 {or 15.Bh6 is the older  line which is rarely seen nowadays. The plan of h4-h6 and e4-e5 can be  problematic for Black}) 13. Bh6 (13. d5 $6 f5) (13. dxe5 $6 Bxe5) 13… cxd4  14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 (16. f4 f6 17. e5 {Topalov – Kamsky WCC  Candidates Final (ish) Sofia} Bd7 18. exf6+ Qxf6 19. Ng3 Kh8 {and Black seemed  OK so it’s no surprise Topalov varies}) 16… Qd6 {#} ({A novelty but both  sides had obviously looked at it in detail} 16… Bb7 17. f4 Rc8 18. Rxc8 Qxc8  19. f5 Nc6 20. Rf3 Ne5 21. Rh3 Rh8 22. f6+ Kg8 23. Qh6 Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25.  Nxd4 Ke8 26. Bb5+ Kd8 27. Rc3 a6 28. Ba4 b5 29. Bb3 Re8 {1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S  (2732)-Carlsen,M (2765)/Foros UKR 2008/The Week in Chess}) 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5  {It’s vital to prevent e4-e5 in all circumstances as this would liberate  white’s pieces and expose what is a weakened Black kingside. Black would like  to play Na5-c6-e5 but it can’t be organised} (18… Nc6 19. Bb5 Ne5 20. Nxd4  $14) 19. Nf4 (19. Kh1 Bd7 20. Ng1 Rac8 21. Nf3 Qd6 $15) 19… g5 20. Nh5+ {All  played in just a few minutes – who is going to blink first ? Putting the  knight on h5 has to be justified by concrete computer analysis as it could be  badly placed later} Kg8 21. h4 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rf3 {#Both sides had been  playing very quickly to this point but now Anand thought for 10+ minutes} Kf7  $4 {Losing on the spot. It looks like Anand forgot his preparation.} (23… Bd7  {looks best as Nxf6 does not appear to work.} 24. Rg3 Kf7 {may have been what  was in his computer. It may well have been the classic error of forgetting the  move order rather than the moves.} 25. Nxf6 $2 (25. Bc4+ Nxc4 26. Rxc4 Rh8 27.  Rxd4 Bxf5 28. Rd7+ Bxd7 29. Qxd7+ Qe7 30. Qd5+ Qe6 31. Qb7+ Qe7 32. Qd5+ $11)  25… Qxg3) (23… Rf7 {Is the kind of defensive move Black wants to make but  it allows} 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. e5 Qxe5 26. Qxg5+ Qg7 27. Qd8+ Rf8 28. Qd5+ $18 {  #}) (23… Bd7 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. e5 Qxe5 26. Qxg5+ Kf7 27. Qg6+ Ke7 28. f6+  Kd8 $13) (23… Bd7 24. Bc4+ Nxc4 25. Rxc4 Be8 26. Nxf6+ Rxf6 27. Qxg5+ Rg6 $1  $13) 24. Nxf6 $3 {This ends the game. Topalov thought about this for just a  few minutes, played it and walked off leaving Anand in no doubt that this was  prepared analysis and that he was lost. The main tactical theme is that Black  cannot hold c7 and g5. Positionally his Na5 and Ra8 are out of the game.#} Kxf6  (24… Qxf6 {Makes no difference} 25. Rh3 Rh8 26. Rxh8 Qxh8 27. Rc7+ Kf6 28.  e5+) (24… Qxf6 25. Rh3 Kg8 26. e5 Qxe5 27. Qxg5+) (24… Qxf6 25. Rh3 Bd7 26.  Rh7+ Ke8 27. e5 Qxe5 28. Re1) 25. Rh3 $1 {The best move to win. #} Rg8 (25…  Qf4 26. e5+ $1 Qxe5 27. Rh6+) (25… Bd7 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Kf6 28. Rxd7  Rad8 29. Rh7 Rh8 30. Rcc7 Rxh7 31. Rxh7 Qf4 32. Qxf4 gxf4 33. Kf2 Rc8 34. Kf3  Rc3 35. Kxf4 Rxd3 36. e5# {Was found by Peter Svidler just for fun. #}) 26.  Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Ke8 (27… Rg7 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 (28… Qxg7 29. Rc7+) 29. Qxg5+  ) 28. Rcc7 {Black cannot make a constructive move} Kd8 29. Bb5 $1 Qxe4 (29…  Qxb5 30. Qxd4+ Ke8 31. Qf6) (29… Qxc7 30. Qxd4+ Bd7 31. Rxd7+ {both mating})  30. Rxc8+ {Choosing a prosaic win #} (30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Qc1+ Nc6 32. Bxc6 Qe3+  33. Qxe3 dxe3 34. Bxa8) (30. Rce7 Qxe7 31. Qxd4+ Bd7 32. Rxe7 {was more  Topalov’s style but what a start for the challenger. At least Anand may be  able to say he had a playable position but that depends on the assessment of  23…Bd7, if that does not hold up he really has to fall back on plan B and  will be struggling even more. Anand has white on Sunday at 1pm UK, 8am EST -  see you then for commentary at TWIC – Malcolm Pein}) 1-0   [Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2010.04.25"]  [Round "2"]  [White "Anand, Vishwanathan "]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E04"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [Annotator "Giri,Anish"]  [PlyCount "85"]  [EventDate "2010.04.25"]  [SourceDate "2010.04.25"]   1. d4 {Anand decides to open the game with the d-pawn, as he did in his World  Championship match against Kramnik in Bonn 2008.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {No  Nimzo today. Against Kramnik Anand used Nimzo and it brought him a point and a  good position in game 2.} d5 {Topalov doesn’t go for the safe Queen’s Indian,  but rather for a sharp Ragozin or Vienna.} 4. g3 {No! Anand goes for a calm  Catalan, which was and still is a great weapon of another world champion -  Kramnik.} dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 $5 {Diagram # The idea of this line is to save the  pawn by any means.} 6. Ne5 (6. O-O {is another main line, which is a real pawn  sacrifice.}) 6… c5 7. Na3 (7. Be3 Nd5 8. dxc5 {Was played recently by other  Catalan players, Bacrot and Wang Yue.}) 7… cxd4 8. Naxc4 Bc5 {Diagram #} (  8… Ra7 {is another possibility, with the idea b6. I remember it from the  game Wang Yue-Van Wely from Corus 2009, where black equalised without problems.  But I guess Anand had an improvement there.}) 9. O-O O-O 10. Bd2 Nd5 11. Rc1  Nd7 12. Nd3 Ba7 {Diagram # So far both players played logical moves, but from  here White has a big and wide choice.} 13. Ba5 {A questionable decision.} (13.  Qb3 $5 {Made sense, since later on Black was threatening b6, attacking the  bishop on a5. But perhaps Anand has analyzed this position deeply and came to  conclusion that it is better to include Ba5 Qe7. If} Nc5 {then simple} 14. Nxc5  Bxc5 15. Ne5 {and White keeps up the pressure.} (15. Ba5 $5)) 13… Qe7 14. Qb3  Rb8 {Preparing b6. Now white had a big choice and I am afraid Anand chose not  the best move, though later it worked out well for him.} ({After} 14… b6 {  White has} 15. Bb4 Nc5 16. Qa3 Bb7 17. Bxd5 $1 Bxd5 18. Nxb6 $1 Bxb6 19. Bxc5  Bxc5 20. Rxc5 {With some pressure and edge.}) 15. Qa3 $6 {Diagram # As I said,  later it worked out well for Anand. At the time I doubted the objective  evaluation of the move, but after seeing the whole game I was wondering -  maybe it was pure genius, from a psychological point of view!?} (15. Rfd1 $1 {  Is the move I like most. Now Black doesn’t have a very useful move, since} b6 {  falls into} (15… Nc5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. Ne5 {should also be slightly better.})  (15… Re8 $5 {or}) (15… h6 {are maybe the best moves, but White can then  try Qa3 or improve slowly with let’s say Rc2.}) 16. Bb4 $1 Nc5 17. Qa3 Bb7 (  17… Nxb4 18. Nxb4 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Rxd4) 18. Bxd5 $1 Bxd5 19. Nxb6 $1  Bxb6 20. Rxc5 $1 Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Qb7 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Qb4 {With advantage for  White.}) 15… Qxa3 16. bxa3 {Diagram #} N7f6 $6 {logical,} ({but the more  logical} 16… Nc5 $1 {was the move. I think White would have to fight for the  draw, and I am curious what Anand wanted to play here and what Topalov was  afraid of.}) 17. Nce5 $1 {Now I liked the white position again, though I think  he has no objective advantage.} Re8 $1 {preparing b6 and Bd7} (17… b6 18. Bb4  $1) (17… Bd7 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Rc7 $14) 18. Rc2 (18. g4 $5 {  looks interesting too.}) 18… b6 $6 {objectively must be okay, but I think if  there is no need to weaken the c6 square, then why to do it?!} ({I prefer}  18… Bd7 $1 {not weakening c6. Now the best white can do is} 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20.  Rfc1 N7f6 21. Ne5 {which should be around equal. White has two bishops and  good pieces, while black has an extra pawn and a solid position with no  weaknesses.}) 19. Bd2 Bb7 20. Rfc1 {Stronger than the immedeate Nc6. In  general Anand plays very well from now on, without forcing things too much,  just improving the position, no caring that he is a pawn down.} Rbd8 21. f4 Bb8  22. a4 a5 23. Nc6 {Diagram # Now that White has made all the useful moves, it  is time for this exchange.} Bxc6 24. Rxc6 h5 $6 {A strange, impulsive and  weakening move, although again, objectively it is not a mistake.} (24… h6 {  would be played by a more patient defender.}) 25. R1c4 {Diagram #} (25. Bf3 $5  {Immediately pointing at the h5 pawn.}) 25… Ne3 $2 {Now the real mistake  comes. I think Topalov got tired of making moves without any idea. He wanted  to force things. However there was another way…} (25… Ng4 $1 {Fits  perfectly with h5. If Topalov could have played it, I would have to give h5 an  exclamation mark!} 26. Bf3 (26. Rxd4 Ba7 $1 {is the point. Now White would be  in trouble.}) 26… e5 $1 (26… Ba7 $5 {is not human, but not a bad move  either.}) 27. fxe5 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Bxe5 29. Kf1 {should be aroung equal, with  Black having no problems after} (29. Bxh5 d3 $1 30. exd3 Ne7 $17) 29… h4 $1)  26. Bxe3 dxe3 27. Bf3 $5 {Diagram #} (27. Rxb6 {Was of course another option,  but Anand is trying to confuse Topalov, offering him a difficult choice  between giving up the h5 and b6 pawn. And he also perhaps didn’t like} e5 $5)  27… g6 $2 (27… Nd7 {was I think better, but White had a pleasant advantage  there as well. Still it was way better than what Topalov go in the game.} 28.  Bxh5 e5 $1 {being the idea}) 28. Rxb6 {Now there is no e5, and the a5 pawn is  extremely weak.} Ba7 (28… Re7 {Trying to defend a5 with Bc7 was better.  Surprisingly White is unable to win the pawn by force, but obviously he still  has a big advantage.}) 29. Rb3 $1 {So that Topalov can forget about any Rxd3.}  Rd4 30. Rc7 Bb8 31. Rc5 $1 {Diagram # a4 is untouchable due to Bc6 and White  wins the a5 pawn.} Bd6 32. Rxa5 Rc8 {Black is getting active, but it won’t  give him anything. White has a good protection of the key d3 and e2 squares  and the a-pawn (supported by a long-sighted bishop who keeps on looking at a8,  the promotion square) should decide the game in White’s favour.} 33. Kg2 {I  love these moves. I can imagine how disgusted Topalov must be with his  position now.} Rc2 34. a3 {The mean World Champion, who already gave the pawn  once in the opening, doesn’t want to give it now anymore. And he is right…  this will be the decisive pawn!} Ra2 $6 (34… Nd5 {It was necessary to still  try to complicate the matter a bit, but White is winning anyway.}) 35. Nb4 $1 {  Diagram # All suporters of Anand were now very relieved when they saw the  black king standing on g8, not g7…} Bxb4 (35… Rxa3 36. Rxa3 Bxb4 37. Ra8+  $1 {is what I meant with my previous comment.}) 36. axb4 Nd5 37. b5 $1 {The a4  pawn doesn’t matter anymore, while it’s colleague runs!} Raxa4 38. Rxa4 Rxa4  39. Bxd5 $1 {Killing the knight. The arising ending is the most winning rook  ending I ever saw in my life.} exd5 40. b6 Ra8 41. b7 {Diagram # At the end  the decisive factor is – the a-pawn! The little a-pawn that was standing on a2  at the beginning of the game.} Rb8 42. Kf3 d4 43. Ke4 {Diagram # A great  comeback by the World Champion, though I must add that it was obviously not  without help from Topalov.} 1-0   [Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2010.04.27"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Vishvanathan"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "D17"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [Annotator "Giri,Anish"]  [PlyCount "91"]  [EventDate "2010.04.25"]  [SourceDate "2010.04.25"]   {In this game Anand choose a totally different approach – solid, solid and  once again solid. Topalov had some ideas in the line that he had already  played against Kramnik, but Anand calmly followed his plan and didn’t give  Topalov any chances. Even though Topalov had slight advantage throughout the  whole game, he never had any real opportunities to try for a win, since Anand  played very precisely.} 1. d4 {Topalov, very expectedly, decided to hit on the  same spot again.} d5 {And this time Anands opts for a solid Slav, rather than  a crazy Grunfeld.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Not the Moscow Line, which  is a trademark of Anand.} 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6 {#Anand  chooses the solid variation that Kramnik played against Topalov in their match  in Elista. It is actually funny that Anand seem to follow what Kramnik played  back then in 2006 – yesterday Catalan, today this rock solid but passive Slav.}  9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 $1 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 (13… Rc8  {is another line, avoiding the 14.Rc1 idea, deserves attention.} 14. Ba2 (14.  Bb5 $5) 14… a6) 14. Rc1 {#} Rg8 $1 $146 {A very logical move, which turned  out to be a novelty. Now Black plans Bd6, Ke7, f6, Rgc8, Bg8, etc. White  actually has to hurry up and do something against it, which is not easy, since  his knight on c3 is misplaced.} ({Earlier people played} 14… Rc8 $6 {but  then White gets a big advantage with} 15. Ne2 $1 Rg8 16. h4 h6 17. Kf2 {the  point being that} Be7 $2 {is losing to} (17… Rc6 18. b4 $1) 18. h5 Bh7 19.  Bxe6 $1 Rxc1 20. Bxd7+ $1) 15. h4 h6 16. Ke2 (16. Kf2 {Makes sense having the  e2 square for the knight. But Topalov had another knight route in mind.}) 16…  Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 {Here I was actually wondering if Topalov had prepared anything  at all. White seems to be unable to stop the black development… But the next  move of Topalov proved that I was wrong!} 18. a5 $1 {#This move seemed a  little bit strange to me at first sight, since I couldn’t figure out the white  plan after Bb4, as well as the simple Ke7 and so on. However Topalov had an  answer to both.} Ke7 {Safe and solid, Anand just concentrates on his plan.} (  18… Bb4 {is challenging but dangerous. White has three interesting  possibilities:} 19. Nb5 $5 {is the most spectacular, and in all the following  complications Black is in danger, though maybe he holds with precise play.  There are a lot of possible lines, but I just give main:} (19. Na4 $1 Bxa5 20.  Nc5 {is the simplest. The black king is stuck in the centre, but Black is  still solid and he has an extra pawn.}) (19. Rhd1 $5 Bxa5 20. Nb5 $1 axb5 21.  Bxb5 {here black seems OK after} Ke7 22. Bc3 $1 Nb8 $1 23. Ra1 $1 Bxc3 24. Rxa8  Bxb2 25. Ra7 Kf6 26. Rxb7 g5 27. hxg6 Bxg6 28. Ke3 e5 {with a dead knight, but  counterplay}) 19… axb5 20. Bxb5 Rxa5 21. Bxd7+ Kxd7 22. Rhd1 Rb5 23. Be5+ (  23. Bb6+ $5 Ke7 24. Rc7+ Kf6 25. Rxb7 Bc5 26. Bd8+ Rxd8 27. Rxb5 Bd4 28. b4 g6  $1 {with an unclear position.}) 23… Ke7 24. Rc7+ Ke8 25. Rc8+ Ke7 26. Rc7+  $11) 19. Na4 f6 {just following the plan.} (19… Rac8 {was clever, trying to  avoid b4, but after let’s say} 20. Bd3 $1 {White keeps up the pressure, for  example} f6 21. Bb1 Rgd8 22. Nb6 $1) {#} 20. b4 $1 {White does something  active quickly, before Black manages to get all his pieces into play (Rgc8,  Bg8-f7)} (20. Nb6 {Doesn’t give White anything, as long as Black is a very  little bit careful.} Nxb6 21. Bxb6 Rgc8 22. Rhd1 Rc6 (22… Bg8 23. b3 Bf7 $2  24. Rd3 $1 Bxh5 25. Rcd1 Rc6 26. Rxd6 $1 Rxd6 27. Bc5 Rad8 28. Ke3) 23. b3 Rac8  24. Rd3 Bb4 $1 25. Rcd1 Rd6 {equalizing}) 20… Rgc8 {Again, Anand doesn’t get  distracted by anything, he simply makes his moves.} (20… Bxb4 {objectively,  was also too risky} 21. Rb1 Bxa5 22. Rxb7 (22. Nc5 $5 b5 23. Bxe6 Nxc5 24. Bxg8  Bxg8 25. Bxc5+ Kd7 {and Black has compensation, but White has the exchange.})  22… Rgb8 23. Bc5+ (23. Rhb1 Rxb7 24. Rxb7 Kd6 $1) 23… Ke8 24. Rxb8+ Rxb8  25. Bd6 {with an unclear position, but White should be better.}) {#} 21. Bc5 {  Actually I was expecting a different piece to be sent to this square.} (21. Nc5  $5 {is interesting, but probably Black holds here as well.} Bxc5 {looks  dangerous, but in fact it may be good} (21… Nxc5 {Is most logical, but white  keeps winning chances after} 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Bxe6 $1 Kxe6 24. Bxc5) (21…  Rc7 $5) 22. bxc5 Nxc5 {Now I didn’t find a way for White to achieve anything,  for instance} (22… Rc7 $14) 23. Ba2 Nd7 24. Bb2 Bg8 25. Ba3+ Ke8 26. Rhd1 b5  $1 27. axb6 Nxb6 28. Bb3 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Nxc8 31. Bc4) 21… Bxc5  22. bxc5 Rc7 (22… Rc6 {made sense, trying to win a tempo, which will be  usedul in case White plays Nb6, but here White goes} 23. Rhd1 $1 {with the idea  } Rac8 24. Rxd7+ $1 Kxd7 25. Nb6+ Rxb6 26. cxb6 Bg8 27. e5 $1 {with an edge.})  23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 {Simple and safe, but from Topalov I expected a move like  Bd5!} (24. Bd5 $5 {is beautiful and tricky. Black shouldn’t take anything now,  not d5, not c5 and not b6, but play} Ne5 $5 (24… Nxc5 25. Bxb7 $1) (24…  Nxb6 25. axb6 Rcd7 26. Bc4 $1) (24… Nb8 $5) 25. f4 Nd3 $1 26. Kxd3 exd5 27.  f5 $1 dxe4+ 28. Kxe4 Ke8 $1 {with equality}) 24… Rdxd7 25. Bd3 {#Here I  actually realized what Topalov was planning. He wants to play c6, change the  pawn to a b-pawn, and try to attack the remaining weak a6 pawn. The position  is quite unpleasant for Black.} Bg8 ({Anand should have perhaps been more  activebut perhaps he saw his was safer.} 25… f5 $5 {This was advocated by  Garry Kasparov, who was watching the game from a hotel room in Oslo.}) (25…  Rd4 $5 {seemed to force a draw, but White has a resource} 26. c6 $1 Ra4 27. Rb1  $1 Ra2+ 28. Ke3 bxc6 29. Ra1 Rxg2 30. Bxa6 {Still keeping some chances.}) 26.  c6 Rd6 27. cxb7 Rxb7 28. Rc3 Bf7 {#} 29. Ke3 (29. Rhc1 $1 {immediately also  made sense and was probably a better try, since it is risky to take the pawn.}  Bxh5 (29… Be8 $1 30. Rc7+ Rd7 {is holding} 31. Rxd7+ Bxd7 32. Bxa6 Ra7) 30.  Rc7+ Rxc7 31. Rxc7+ Rd7 32. Rc8) 29… Be8 30. g4 (30. Rhc1 $5 {wouldn’t  change much after} Bd7 $1) 30… e5 31. Rhc1 Bd7 32. Rc5 Bb5 $1 {#The final  touch. Now Black’s last problem, the pawn on a6, is gone, and it is time to  agree to a draw. It is funny that Anand equalized today without any of his  pieces being on the opponent’s half of the board.} 33. Bxb5 axb5 34. Rb1 b4 35.  Rb3 Ra6 36. Kd3 Rba7 37. Rxb4 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Rxa5 39. Rb7+ Kf8 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41.  Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 {#}  1/2-1/2   [Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2010.04.28"]  [Round "4"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E04"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [Annotator "Giri, Anish"]  [PlyCount "63"]  [EventDate "2010.04.25"]  [SourceDate "2010.04.25"]   {In the fourth game Anand had white, and we were all curious whether Topalov  would again try to fight against resist the World Champion’s Catalan. This  time Topalov went for another line, but after a strong novelty by Anand, the  challenger found himself under pressure and was unable to find a way to  develop comfortably. Anand played perfectly and after several  less-than-obvious inaccuracies by Topalov, the champion quickly found the  winning blow – 23.Nxh6! A quick and deserved win by Anand. Today he was  superior in both preparation and play.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {  Again a Catalan, let’s see what Topalov prepared for this game.} dxc4 5. Bg2  Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {# Kramnik’s favourite line. As he himself said, he scores  equally well with both sides in this position. As yesterday, the players  follow a game from the Elista match.} 7. Qc2 {Trying to recover the pawn as  quickly as possible, but I can tell you right out, in this game Anand was  unable to win the pawn back. That said, I don’t think he really regrets it.} (  7. O-O {is another main-move. White wants to develop first and try to  recapture the pawn later. I myself scored a nice victory here with white, but  perhaps I should switch to 7.Qc2 after seeing this game.}) 7… Bxd2+ (7… Nc6  {is the old approach. Black’s idea is} 8. Qxc4 Qd5 $1 {but apparently Topalov  wasn’t satisfied with another endgame.}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {# At first sight it seems  more logical to take the bishop with the knight, developing another piece, but  White wants to apply pressure on the future b5 pawn, which can be done from a3,  where the knight is headed.} (8. Nbxd2 b5 9. a4 c6 10. O-O O-O {And now White  is unable to attack b5, though he keeps some compensation after let’s say} 11.  b3 $5) 8… c6 {Preparing b5. Black has to stick to his pawn, to justify his  play. It is also logical, since he is undeveloped and the good bishop is  exchanged. This position has nothing in its favor other than the extra pawn.}  9. a4 {Attacking the b5 pawn which is not there yet.} (9. Ne5 {is too naive.}  b5 $1 10. Nxc6 Qc7 $1 {And White is unable to benefit from some kind of X-ray.}  (10… Qb6 $4 11. Ne7 $1 Bb7 12. Nc8 $1 {is a beautiful trap, but for this to  work both players would need to cooperate.})) 9… b5 {As said, Black already  has to stick to his pawn.} 10. Na3 $1 $146 {# A strong novelty. Anand just  wants to develop without winning back the pawn. Now, in order to protect the  pawn, Black is forced to place his pieces in awkward positions. I think  Topalov was out of book at this point, whereas Anand’s preparation had  probably just started!} ({Before, everyone, as if collectively hypnotized,  tried} 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {winning back the pawn, but Black achieves  equality after} O-O 12. Qxb5 Ba6 {This position was reached in the Elista  match. Kramnik (White) won, but it had nothing to do with the opening.}) 10…  Bd7 {Looks extremely ugly to me, but what else is there? As mentioned more  than once, Black is forced to stick to his pawn.} (10… Ba6 {fails to} 11. Ne5  Nd5 12. Nxc6 $1 Nxc6 13. axb5 {and White wins the pawn back with a large edge.}  ) 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. e4 $1 {# It is a little more precise than 0-0, since after} (  12. O-O O-O 13. e4 {Black also has the option of} Nb6 $5 14. axb5 cxb5 15. d5  Be8) 12… Nb4 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfd1 (14. d5 $5 {was also possible, but had no  independent value. White would have to play Rfd1 anyway.}) 14… Be8 {A  questionable moment, but I think other options were no good as it were.} ({For  example} 14… Qe7 {planning to avoid the immediate d5, but here} 15. Nxd7 $1  Qxd7 16. d5 $1 Rd8 17. Qg5 $1 {and Black is still undeveloped and already  under heavy pressure.} h6 18. Qh5 Nd3 19. b3) (14… Qc7 {is the same.} 15.  Nxd7 $1) 15. d5 $1 {# Now that everything is ready, the expected breakthrough  is executed.} Qd6 16. Ng4 {# Now the threat is e5, and Black is still  undeveloped.} (16. dxc6 {is nothing, since Black will return the piece.} Qxe5  17. axb5 c3 $1 18. bxc3 N4xc6 19. bxc6 Bxc6 {with equality.}) 16… Qc5 {At  first I liked this move very much, since I couldn’t find a way for White to  proceed. But Vishy found a strong and simple reply.} (16… exd5 17. exd5 f5 $1  {was another option that is in fact safer (though one that you could only find  with the help of a powerful engine next to you…). Still, White keeps some  advantage in the endgame after} 18. dxc6 (18. Ne3 $5 {in fact leads to a  forced draw, but only if you have analyzed it deeply-} f4 $1 19. gxf4 Qxf4 20.  dxc6 N8xc6 21. axb5 Rd8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 $1 23. Bxd5+ Rxd5 24. Qxd5+ Kh8 25. Nxc4  $1 (25. bxc6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Qf6 $1 $19) 25… Nb4 26. Qd4 Qg5+ 27. Kh1 Bxb5 28.  Ne5 Nc6 29. Qc5 Qf4 $1 30. Nd3 Qf3+ 31. Kg1 Qg4+ 32. Kh1 Qf3+ $11) 18… Qxd2  19. Rxd2 Bxc6 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Re8 22. f4 bxa4 23. Naxc4 N8c6 {But to be  honest I guess that Black should hold this, even if it is not the most  pleasant ending.}) 17. Ne3 {#} N8a6 $6 {It is very hard to call this logical  move a mistake, but I simply must find fault with at least one move by  Topalov! By the way, he played it almost instantly!} (17… Nd3 $1 {was very  very risky, but in order to get some counterchances Black should have gone for  this. Black’s idea would be to transfer the knight to e5.} 18. b3 ({After the  simple} 18. dxc6 Nxc6 19. axb5 Nce5 20. Nexc4 Nxc4 21. Qxd3 Nxa3 22. Qxa3 Qxb5  {Black equalizes.}) (18. Qc2 $5 Ne5 $1) 18… Nxf2 $1 {The whole idea, and  even though I really didn’t believe in it, I couldn’t find a refutation.} 19.  Qxf2 (19. Kxf2 {also makes sense}) 19… cxb3 {White has a big choice, but  either way, Black’s pawn mass on the queenside and bishop on g2 seem very poor.  Even though Black is undeveloped, White can hardly take advantage of this  temporary state of affairs.} 20. Rd3 bxa4 21. Qb2) 18. dxc6 bxa4 {To be honest  here I was actually quite disappointed with White’s position, since it seeems  as if Black has developed and solved his problems. The truth, however, is that  all his pieces are awkwardly placed, and even though Black is developed, his  position lacks harmony.} (18… Bxc6 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Naxc4 $1 Bxc4 21. Rac1 {  is also much better for White. Black has stupid knights and a weak pawn on a5.}  ) 19. Naxc4 Bxc6 20. Rac1 {#} h6 $6 {The position is already very unpleasant  for Black. It is true he doesn’t have any useful moves at his disposal,  however the move Topalov played is also weakening (though it isn’t obvious yet)  . With precise play I guess that Black could still hold the position together.}  ({Perhaps} 20… Qe7 $1 {would be the right move for Black. Now he wants to  develop his rooks into play, not minding that White finally recaptures the  pawn.} 21. Nxa5 (21. Nd6 $5 Qa7 $1 {with idea Nc5. The only difference with  the game is that there is no weak pawn on h6. Black holds, though White is  better of course.}) 21… Bb5 22. Nac4 Rfd8 23. Nd6 Rab8 {and white is  obviously better, but maybe not so much.}) 21. Nd6 Qa7 $2 {The decisive  mistake. Now the queen is saved, but the king is not.} (21… Qg5 $1 {was  already the only way to stay in the game. However white already has a big  advantage.}) 22. Ng4 $1 {# Played quickly by Anand. Now he threatens Nxh6 and  if Black tries to prevent it, White would simply prepare the decisive  sacrifice with Rc4!} Rad8 {Loses immediately, but it seems that it is already  lost. If you are a fan of beautiful variations and mates then I advise you to  check the alternatives!} ({Safer seemed} 22… f6 {avoiding the immediate Nxh6,  but here White still wins with} 23. Rc4 $1 {preparing e5. For example} Rad8 24.  e5 Bxg2 (24… Bd5 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 27. Qxh6 Qh7 28. Rg4+ Kh8  29. Qd2 $1 Qa7 30. h3 $3 {the most beautiful and strongest way. Now White  threatens Rh4+ Kg8 Qh6 Qg7 Rg4! which can’t be avoided.}) 25. exf6 h5 $1 26.  fxg7 Qxg7 27. Kxg2 Nd5 28. Nh6+ Kh7 29. Nhf5 Rxf5 30. Nxf5 exf5 31. Qxa5 Qb7  32. Kh3 $1 {with a big advantage for White. Black has a weak king and no way  to consolidate.}) (22… Nc5 {Didn’t help either:} 23. Rc4 $1 {for example} Nb3  24. Nxh6+ $1 Kh7 25. Qf4 gxh6 26. e5 $1 Bxg2 27. Nf5 $3 exf5 28. Qxf5+ Kh8 29.  Qf6+ Kh7 30. Rh4 {with mate!}) (22… Kh7 {also looks safe, but here} 23. Rxc6  $1 Nxc6 24. e5 Ne7 25. Be4+ $1 Ng6 26. h4 $1 Nc5 27. Bb1 Nb3 (27… h5 28. Qg5  $1) 28. Qe2 h5 29. Nh2 Nd4 30. Qxh5+ Kg8 31. Ng4 Rad8 (31… Rab8 32. Nf6+ $1)  32. Rxd4 $3 Qxd4 33. Ne4 $1 {mating!}) 23. Nxh6+ $3 {# Simple, yet beautiful!  Vishy played it very quickly. For a player of his caliber, it’s a piece of  cake to find such a move! (Green with envy)} gxh6 24. Qxh6 f6 (24… Qe7 {  doesn’t help either} 25. e5 Bxg2 26. Rd4 {is mate in 11.}) 25. e5 $1 {# The  strongest and most elegant!} Bxg2 26. exf6 {There is no way for Black to  defend.} Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Be4 28. Rxe6 Nd3 29. Rc2 $1 {# It is also pretty  important to not blunder into a mate yourself} Qh7 30. f7+ $1 Qxf7 31. Rxe4 Qf5  32. Re7 {# And since Black can’t avoid being mated, Topalov congratulated  Anand on his win! A great game by Anand, who now leads in the match!} 1-0   [Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "Sofia/Bulgaria"]  [Date "2010.04.30"]  [Round "5"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "D17"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [PlyCount "87"]  [EventDate "2010.04.30"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "BUL"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6  9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. Rc1 Rg8  15. h4 h5 {#In game three, Anand had played 15…h6, and had found himself  with a boxed in bishop as well as a stymied kingside after Topalov had  continued with h5 and g4. This time Anand doesn’t plan to let this happen.} 16.  Ne2 Bd6 17. Be3 Ne5 18. Nf4 Rc8 19. Bb3 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Ke7 21. Ke2 Rc8 22. Bd2  (22. Rd1 Rc6 23. Be3 Bc5 24. Bd2 f6 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Bxe6 Kxe6 27. f4 Bxe4 28.  fxe5 Kxe5 {and this game has almost no chances at all for White. – Nigel Short}  ) 22… f6 {#} 23. Nxg6+ {Obviously Topalov analyzed taking on e6 in depth,  but not only does it lead to nothing, it only gives Black chances to swipe the  game away from him.} ({For example, if he took it with} 23. Bxe6 {Black would  play} Rc2 24. Rb1 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Bxf4 26. Rd1 Rxb2 {recovering the pawn with an  active game.}) ({If White took instead with} 23. Nxe6 {Anand could follow-up  with} Bf7 24. Nd4 Bxb3 25. Nxb3 Rc2 26. f4 {almost forced} ({since} 26. Rb1 $2  {would run into} Nc4 27. Kd3 Rxb2 {and White is in trouble.}) 26… Nc6 27. Rb1  Rc4 {and again Black would recover the pawn with an active game.}) 23… Nxg6  24. g3 Ne5 25. f4 Nc6 26. Bc3 Bb4 27. Bxb4+ Nxb4 28. Rd1 Nc6 29. Rd2 g5 30. Kf2  g4 31. Rc2 Rd8 32. Ke3 Rd6 33. Rc5 Nb4 34. Rc7+ Kd8 35. Rc3 Ke7 36. e5 Rd7 37.  exf6+ Kxf6 38. Ke2 Nc6 39. Ke1 Nd4 40. Bd1 a5 41. Rc5 Nf5 42. Rc3 Nd4 43. Rc5 {  #Despite saying he would not offer any draws, Topalov obviously sees nothing  better than repeating moves without committing hara-kiri.} Nf5 44. Rc3 1/2-1/2   [Event "Campeonato Mundial 2010"]  [Site "Sofia/Bulgaria"]  [Date "2010.05.01"]  [Round "6"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "E04"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [PlyCount "116"]  [EventDate "2010.05.01"]  [EventRounds "12"]   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. O-O O-O  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.} h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 $146 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Qa4 {#} 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.} 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!} 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} Bb6 30. Nc6 Rb7 31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5 a4 33. Nxb6 Rxb6 34. Nc5  Bf5 35. Rd2 {Finally giving the cavalry a rest.} Rc6 36. b4 axb3 37. axb3 b4  38. Rxd4 Rxe2 39. Rxb4 Bh3 $1 {#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 $11) 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.} 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   [Event "World Chess Championship"]  [Site "Sofia/Bulgaria"]  [Date "2010.05.03"]  [Round "7"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "E11"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [PlyCount "115"]  [EventDate "2010.05.03"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "BUL"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 {The third time this  position is reached in the match, and Topalov tries yet a third line, this  time going into a Bogo-Indian. In game four he had chosen 5…a5, which had  gone all wrong for him to say the least, and in game six he opted for 5…a6,  which also didn’t yield anything to his taste. Will 5…Be7 be the lucky move?}  6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 dxc4 {Though hardly a stranger to this line,  Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp  play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8…Nbd7 or 8…b6.} 9. Ne5  b5 {This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns.  Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its  only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.} 10.  Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bd7 {This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk,  Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11…Ba6.} 12. Bxa8 Qxa8 13. f3 Nd5  14. Bd2 e5 15. e4 Bh3 16. exd5 Bxf1 17. Qxf1 exd4 18. a4 Qxd5 19. axb5 Qxb5 20.  Rxa7 Re8 21. Kh1 {#Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent  had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up  until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the  position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This  last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov’s liking, one that he said he  couldn’t understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his  preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.} Bf8 {His  first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think,  and he plays the wrong move.} ({Why not} 21… Qxb2 {? Though it may not win,  nor would it lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece  down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded.} 22. Qe1 h6 23. Na3 (23. Rxe7 {  Would also lead to a draw after} Rxe7 24. Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25. Kg2 Qb2 (25… Qc2 $2  26. Qd8+ Kh7 27. Qxd4) 26. Qe8+ Kh7 27. Qe4+ g6 28. Qe8 $1 {Count on an engine  to see that sort of move…} Qxd2+ 29. Kh3 Kg7 30. Qe5+ Kf8 31. Qb8+ Kg7 32.  Qe5+ {And Black cannot prevent the perpetual.})) 22. Rc7 d3 23. Bc3 Bd6 24. Ra7  h6 25. Nd2 {Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have  maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!} Bb4 $1 {#This move is  about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that  doesn’t lose.} 26. Ra1 $1 {A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine  detector is on and working.} ({Other moves such as} 26. Ne4 {would fail to}  Bxc3 27. bxc3 f5 28. Nd6 Qc5 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. Nxe8+ Kf7 {And the combination  of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end.}) ({Or} 26. Qc1  Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Re1+ 28. Kg2 Re2+ 29. Kf1 Qc5 30. Ne4 Qf5 {and White would get  mated.}) 26… Bxc3 27. bxc3 Re2 28. Rd1 Qa4 29. Ne4 Qc2 {#This admittedly  looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he  was doing.} 30. Rc1 Rxh2+ 31. Kg1 Rg2+ 32. Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33. Qf1 Qe3+ 34. Qf2 Qc1+  35. Qf1 Qe3+ 36. Kg2 f5 37. Nf2 Kh7 38. Qb1 Qe6 39. Qb5 g5 40. g4 fxg4 41. fxg4  Kg6 42. Qb7 d2 {This seals the draw since White can neither take the pawn, nor  Black force it through.} 43. Qb1+ Kg7 44. Kf1 Qe7 45. Kg2 Qe6 46. Qd1 Qe3 47.  Qf3 Qe6 48. Qb7+ Kg6 49. Qb1+ Kg7 50. Qd1 Qe3 51. Qc2 Qe2 52. Qa4 Kg8 53. Qd7  Kf8 54. Qd5 Kg7 55. Kg3 Qe3+ 56. Qf3 Qe5+ 57. Kg2 Qe6 58. Qd1 1/2-1/2   [Event "WCh"]  [Site "Sofia BUL"]  [Date "2010.05.04"]  [Round "8"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D17"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]  [PlyCount "111"]  [EventDate "2010.04.24"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6  9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 Rc8 {#Anand is  again the first to vary. He clearly wants to stop Topalov from getting his  improvements in first.} (13… a6 14. Rc1 Rg8 15. h4 h6 (15… h5 16. Ne2 Bd6  17. Be3 Ne5 18. Nf4 Rc8 19. Bb3 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Ke7 21. Ke2 Rc8 22. Bd2 f6 23.  Nxg6+ Nxg6 24. g3 Ne5 25. f4 Nc6 26. Bc3 Bb4 27. Bxb4+ Nxb4 28. Rd1 Nc6 29. Rd2  g5 30. Kf2 g4 31. Rc2 Rd8 32. Ke3 Rd6 33. Rc5 Nb4 34. Rc7+ Kd8 35. Rc3 Ke7 36.  e5 Rd7 37. exf6+ Kxf6 38. Ke2 Nc6 39. Ke1 Nd4 40. Bd1 a5 41. Rc5 Nf5 42. Rc3  Nd4 43. Rc5 Nf5 44. Rc3 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2805)-Anand,V (2787)/Sofia BUL  2010/The Week in Chess}) 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. b4  Rgc8 21. Bc5 Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 Rdxd7 25. Bd3 Bg8 26. c6  Rd6 27. cxb7 Rxb7 28. Rc3 Bf7 29. Ke3 Be8 30. g4 e5 31. Rhc1 Bd7 32. Rc5 Bb5  33. Bxb5 axb5 34. Rb1 b4 35. Rb3 Ra6 36. Kd3 Rba7 37. Rxb4 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Rxa5  39. Rb7+ Kf8 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+  45. Ke3 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2805)-Anand,V (2787)/Sofia BUL 2010/  The Week in Chess}) 14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Ke2 (16. O-O-O {1/2-1/2  Gordon,S (2508)-Ledger,A (2423)/Liverpool ENG 2008/The Week in Chess 717 (54)})  16… f6 17. Rhd1 {#} Ke8 {Anand gets out of the way of discovered checks. It  is possibly too dangerous to go Queenside although that isn’t clear.} (17…  Kc7 18. Ba7 Ra8 $4 (18… Be8 $1) (18… Bd6 19. b4 Bxb4 20. Nb5+ $1) 19. Nb5+  axb5 20. Rac1+ Bc5 21. Rxc5# {is an amusing line.}) 18. a5 {This seems to be  new. Probably both players had prepared this move although Anand did start to  think here.} (18. Bb6 {1/2-1/2 Bocharov,D (2614) -Amonatov,F (2574)/Voronezh  RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 659 (60)}) (18. Rac1 {1-0 Maletin,P (2545)-Amonatov,  F (2650)/Novokuznetsk RUS 2008/The Week in Chess 722 (49)}) 18… Be7 {Played  after 15 minutes thought.} (18… Bb4 $5 19. Ra4 Be7 $11) (18… Bb4 $5 19. Na4  Ke7 20. Rac1 Be8 $1 $11 {Shipov} 21. Rxc8 $2 Bb5+) (18… Rc6 19. Na4 Bd6 20.  Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22. Bc5 Bxc5 23. Nxc5 Rc8 24. Rc3 $14) 19. Bb6 {White  replied immediately.} Rf8 {Black continues to try and unravel with Rf8 Bf8 and  Rf8-f7-d7 but this takes time of course} 20. Rac1 f5 {Trying to activate rook  and bishop before lines open and White can exploit his lead in development.}  21. e5 {Keeping Black’s light squared bishop locked in.} Bg5 {Quite a quick  reply attacking the rook and intending Bf4} 22. Be3 {#} f4 $2 {Played quickly  again and a terrible move that allows the knight into d6} (22… Bxe3 23. Kxe3  f4+ (23… Ke7) 24. Kd4 Ke7 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Kxe4 g5 {with decent drawing  chances.}) 23. Ne4 {Using a discovered attack on the rook to plant his knight  on the excellent square d6. It isn’t really possible to believe Anand missed  this intermezzo, but if he did it was a terrible oversight} Rxc1 24. Nd6+ Kd7  25. Bxc1 Kc6 (25… Be7 26. Rd4) 26. Bd2 {This was certainly not the only  alternative Topalov had in this position} (26. g3) (26. Rd4 {was possibly even  better}) 26… Be7 27. Rc1+ (27. Bb4 Rd8 28. Rd4 {was also good}) 27… Kd7 {  Forced. White has a complete bind in this position so Anand heads for a  difficult opposite bishop endgame with drawing chances} (27… Kd5 28. Rc7 Bxd6  29. exd6 Kxd6 30. Rxb7 Kd5 31. Rxg7 $16) 28. Bc3 (28. Bb4 Rd8 29. Rc4 Bxd6 30.  Rd4 {was at least as good}) (28. Bb4 Bxd6 29. Rd1 $1) 28… Bxd6 29. Rd1 Bf5  30. h4 (30. Bb4 g5 31. Rxd6+ (31. Bxd6 Rc8) 31… Ke8 32. Rb6 Rf7 {holds}) {#}  30… g6 $6 {Every pawn move is weakening and this one proves fatal later} (  30… Kc7 31. exd6+ Kd7 32. Bxg7 $2 (32. Rd4 Rf7 33. Rxf4 Kxd6 {holds easily}  34. g4 Bd3+ $1 35. Ke3 Rxf4 36. Kxf4 g6 37. Kg5 Ke7 38. Kh6 Kf7 39. Kxh7 (39.  g5 Be2 40. f4 Kg8 $11) 39… g5+ $1) 32… Rg8 $11) 31. Rxd6+ Kc8 32. Bd2 {  White is clearly on top and is winning a pawn but not necessarily the game.} (  32. Rd4 h6 $1 {Shipov} 33. Rxf4 (33. Bd2 g5) 33… Bd3+) 32… Rd8 33. Bxf4  Rxd6 34. exd6 Kd7 {#As always bishops of opposite colours make the position  drawish even though White has an extra protected passed pawn. Now Indian GM  Harikrishna proposed a possible winning plan involving a king march to h6 and  h4-h5 which I thought was rather unpatriotic of him   } 35. Ke3 Bc2 36. Kd4 Ke8  {Black must stop Kf6} 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Be3 Ba4 39. Kf4 Bb5 40. Bc5 Kf6 41. Bd4+  {#} Kf7 (41… e5+ 42. Bxe5+ Ke6 43. Ke4 Bf1 44. g3 Be2 {and the bishop is  tied to the d6 pawn. This is terribly hard to assess and in practice unless  Vishy thought the line played was losing he would not sacrifice a pawn but I  am not sure how White wins from here}) 42. Kg5 Bc6 43. Kh6 Kg8 44. h5 Be8 {#}  45. Kg5 ({Anand seems to be holding here so Topalov comes back – good  practical chess at the very least!} 45. g4 $2 gxh5 46. gxh5 Bd7 {holds}) 45…  Kf7 {Now the draw starts to look favourite} 46. Kh6 Kg8 47. Bc5 gxh5 48. Kg5  Kg7 49. Bd4+ Kf7 50. Be5 h4 $1 51. Kxh4 Kg6 {At this point it looked more  likely that Anand would hold the draw since he blundered on move 22.} 52. Kg4  Bb5 53. Kf4 Kf7 54. Kg5 {Topalov is just meandering now but he is about to be  rewarded.#} Bc6 $4 {Within moves of the draw Anand blunders fatally. A truly  dreadful move. He removes the possibility of protecting the h-pawn with his  bishop which is an easy draw.} (54… Bd3 {putting the bishop on the b1-h7  diagonal and now Kf7-e8-d7 draws for example} 55. f4 Ke8 56. g4 Kd7 57. f5 exf5  58. gxf5 h6+ $1 59. Kf6 Bc2 {and Black just waits with the bishop}) (54… Ke8  {should be the same}) 55. Kh6 Kg8 56. g4 {#} (56. g4 Be8 57. g5 Bc6 58. f4 Bd7  59. Bd4 Be8 60. Bg7 {zugzwang} Bc6 61. g6 hxg6 62. Kxg6 Be8+ 63. Kf6 Bc6 64.  Bh6 {wins.}) 1-0   [Event "World Chess Championship"]  [Site "Sofia / Bulgaria"]  [Date "2010.05.06"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "E54"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [Annotator "Giri, Anish"]  [PlyCount "165"]  [EventDate "2010.05.06"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "BUL"]  [SourceDate "2010.04.25"]   {The 9th game was one of the tensest of the championship so far, where we  could see that both players get very tired and nervous. Anand desided to stop  the Catalan debate and used his other weapon – the Nimzo with 4.e3. The  champion was also better prepared and quickly got some edge in a complicated  position with two rooks for queen. Later Topalov had some ways to equalize,  but the position was too complicated. Anand also did not play perfectly.  Nevertheless after the second time control he got winning position (for the  second time in the game), but he erred on move 53 and the game was drawn.  Another disappointment for the World Champion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {  Anand refuses the Catalan, which brought him two wins, and opts for another  complicated opening – the Nimzo.} Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O {#  A very famous position, which was played in other World Championships as well.  Here some very big theory starts, with thousands of games played.} cxd4 {One  of the main moves.} (7… Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 {and}) (7…  dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 {are other big main lines.}) 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {  Developing the bishop first, which is much more flexible in this case.} 10. Bg5  Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 {#So far everything was simple, both players were  developing, but now Anand has a choice – which he already made at home.} 13.  Bd3 {Not forcing anything yet.} (13. Qb3 {is what Kramnik managed to beat  Kasparov with, in London back then in 2000. However, later Black found a way  to deal with it.} Be7 (13… Bxc3 $1 {is safer}) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 (14… Bxf6 $5)  15. Bxe6 $1 {Is how Kramnik-Kasparov from the other World Championship Match  went.}) 13… Re8 14. Qe2 Bxc3 {Black has already made all useful moves, so  now it is time for this exchange. White get’s the bishop pair, but Black is  solid and has an easy development.} 15. bxc3 Qc7 {#} 16. Bh4 {Trying to attack  the queen that has just appeared on c7.} (16. c4 {is too early-} h6 $1 {and if}  17. Bh4 {then} Nh5 $1) 16… Nh5 $1 {Typical way to meet all Bh4′s.} 17. Ng5 (  17. Bxh7+ {doesn’t work:} Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg6 $1 19. g4 $1 Qf4 $1 20. gxh5+ Kh6 {  and Black will take over.}) 17… g6 {#} 18. Nh3 $5 $146 {A new move. It seems  a little bit ugly, but White protects the f4 square, which is more important.}  ({Another possible and more logical way of solving the problem is} 18. Qd2 {  but then Black is still able to go to f4, though this time with his queen.} Qf4  $5) (18. Nxh7 $4 Nf4 $1) 18… e5 {This breakthrough seems very good, but in  fact now this pawn is kind of pinned and the pin is actually pretty anoying  for Black.} (18… Qd6 $5 {first, made sense, avoiding f3.} 19. f3 $2 Rxc3 $1)  19. f3 $1 {protecting e4 and bringing the bishop to f2.} Qd6 (19… exd4 20.  Qxe8+ Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Kg7 22. Bf2 $1) (19… Bd5 $5 20. Qd2 (20. g4 Nhf6 21. Bg3  h5 22. Nf2) 20… Bc4 21. Bb1 Qd6) 20. Bf2 {#} exd4 $6 {Topalov just ignores  the pin and sacrifices his rooks for White’s queen. I think it was not needed.}  (20… Nhf6 $1 {Seems much safer and better to me. Now exd4 and also e4 are  threats. I think Black more or less equalizes:} 21. Qb2 exd4 $5 {seems fine  for Black. White knight looks odd on h3, and in case of cxd4 the black knight  will enjoy the d5 square.} (21… e4 $5)) 21. Qxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Nf8 {#} 23.  cxd4 {White also had an option of taking with bishop, which was strong, but  Anand decides to go for a safe option.} (23. Bxd4 $1 {Black may try to  transfer one of two knights to e6, but in both cases White will meet it with  Re3 and the bishop will be free to go to e5.} Ng7 (23… Bc6 24. Re3 Ne6 25.  Be5 {And white is better.}) 24. Re3 Nge6 25. Be5 Qc5 26. Rce1 Nd7 27. Bg3 Nf6  28. c4 $1 {And all the threats are neutralized and white’s advantage is big  and clear.}) 23… Nf6 24. Ree1 Ne6 25. Bc4 $1 {#Very clever. White wants to  play Bg3 without giving up the d4 pawn.} Bd5 26. Bg3 Qb4 $1 {Topalov rightly  decides to enter some complications} (26… Qd7 {was bad due to} 27. Be5 $1)  27. Be5 $1 Nd7 $1 {#The point of Qb4. Now the position gets complicated, and  it seems that objectively Black is holding, though I may be wrong.} 28. a3 $6 {  Those moves are always nice to make- it seems not to change the position much,  but it offers the opponent a choice and confuses him a bit.} (28. Bxd5 $1 {  however, was objectively stronger.} Nxe5 29. Bxe6 Nd3 $1 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Rd1  fxe6 {Now White has a choice: to grab the pawn, or not to and have a better  piece cooperation. White has winning chances in both cases, but I would prefer  to take the pawn.} 32. Rc7+ (32. Rc2 $5 Kf6 $1 {protecting g5. Now White has  nothing better than exchanging the knights} 33. Nf2 Nxf2 34. Kxf2 {And White  has winning chances, but because Black will have a passed pawn on the  queenside I think he should draw this.}) 32… Kf6 33. Rxa7 Qb2 $1 {Protecting  f2 and keeping and eye on a2.} (33… Qxd4+ $6 34. Kh1 Qb2 $2 35. Rd7 $1) 34.  Rf1 $1 Qxd4+ 35. Nf2 h5 36. Ra3 $1 Nxf2 37. Rxf2 h4 {And here White will  slowly unpin and then be having very fine winning chances.}) 28… Qa4 (28…  Qb2 $1 {Was equalizing easier, for example-} 29. Bxd5 (29. Rb1 Qc3 $1 30. Bxd5  Nxe5 31. Bxe6 Qxd4+ 32. Nf2 Nd3 33. Rf1 Nxf2 34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Rxf2 h5 $1 36.  Rc1 a5 37. g3 h4 {with equality.}) 29… Nxe5 30. Bxe6 Nd3 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rd1  fxe6 33. Rc7+ Kf6 34. Rxa7 Qxd4+ 35. Kh1 h5 {And the difference between the  knights is the reason why Black holds this position easily.}) 29. Bxd5 Nxe5 30.  Bxe6 {#} Qxd4+ $2 {Topalov probably couldn’t calculate all the complications  of Nd3! till the end and opted for the “safe” option. In fact now Black’s  position becomes critical – he is maybe already lost.} ({However the  complications after} 30… Nd3 $1 {are in his favour. Black seems to be equal  in all lines. For example} 31. Rc4 $5 (31. Bxf7+ Kxf7 32. Ng5+ $2 Kg7 33. Rc7+  Kh6 $1 {and it is not the black king but White who will be in trouble.}) 31…  Qxa3 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Ng5+ Kf6 34. Ne4+ Ke7 35. Rf1 Nf4 36. Rc7+ Kd8 37. Rxh7  Qb2 38. Nf2 Ne2+ 39. Kh1 a5 {with counterplay that is enough for equality.})  31. Kh1 fxe6 32. Ng5 $1 {Finally the knight is back!} Qd6 {#} 33. Ne4 $2 {  Anand decides again not to calculate everything but to play simple positional  chess.} (33. Rc8+ $1 {was winning immediately!} Kg7 34. Rec1 Kh6 (34… Qd2 35.  R8c7+ Kg8 36. Ne4 {and White wins}) 35. h4 Qd4 (35… Kh5 36. Rh8 h6 37. Re1  $18) 36. g3 $1 Nd7 37. Kg2 $1 {and it is clear that Black is lost.}) 33… Qxa3  34. Rc3 Qb2 {Probably not the best square, but without a computer it is hard  to see which square is best and why. #} 35. h4 ({The immediate} 35. Rc8+ $1 {  was also possible} Kg7 36. Rc7+ {and Black is losing a pawn – h7 or a7… or  both..}) 35… b5 $2 {I am curious, why Topalov touched this pawn on not  a-pawn, which fits much more with queen b2.} (35… a5 $5 {Was more logical  than pushing the b-pawn, but perhaps it is not quick enough..} 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37.  Rc7+ Kg8 38. Rd1 Nd3 $1 39. Rd7 Nc5 40. Ra7 Nd3 41. Kh2 Qe2 42. Rd2 Qe3 43.  Nf6+ Kf8 44. Nxh7+ Ke8 45. Nf6+ Kd8 46. Ne4 {and Black’s position seems  horrible – but may in fact be holdable..}) ({The clever} 35… Qb4 $5 {is  interesting too}) (35… Nf7 {is safe, but I think Black shouldn’t be passive,  and his chance is in pushing the pawn – the a-pawn, not the b one…}) 36. Rc8+  Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kf8 38. Ng5 Ke8 {#} 39. Rxh7 {A safe move.} (39. Nxe6 $1 {was  winning, for example} Nxf3 $5 40. Rd1 $1 Nd2 41. Rxa7 $1 Qe5 42. Rxh7 $3 Qxe6  43. Ra1 $1 Qc6 44. Ra8+ $1 {and after playing five moves in a row with an  exclamation mark White wins!}) 39… Qc3 {#} 40. Rh8+ $2 {Anand lets the black  king escape, on the famous 40th move. Probably Anand thought that Black has to  repeat the moves, missing 41…Nd3! after 41.Rd1.} (40. Re2 {was winning for  White. Black has no pepetuals whatsoever, and White will eventually get to  Black’s king. For example} b4 41. Nxe6 b3 42. Kh2 $1 a5 43. Rc7 Qa1 44. Rb7 Qc3  45. Rb5 Nc4 46. Rb8+ $1 Ke7 47. Rxb3 $1 Qxb3 48. Nd4+ Qe3 49. Rxe3+ Nxe3 50.  Nc6+ {winning. That was of course just one of the possible lines.}) (40. Re4 {  would win as well}) 40… Kd7 41. Rh7+ (41. Rd1+ Nd3 $1 {could be what Anand  missed}) 41… Kc6 42. Re4 {Even though the black king is out of the dangerous  zone, his position is still tricky and difficult to play.} b4 $6 ({The  immediate} 42… Kb6 $1 {is much stronger, e6 is untouchable due to Nxf3!  while Kb6 is neccesary in any case.} 43. Re7 Nc6 44. R7xe6 b4 45. Nf7 Ka5 $1 {  and it will eventually finish in a draw.}) 43. Nxe6 Kb6 44. Nf4 {#} Qa1+ (44…  Qc1+ $1 {was drawing in a study like way:} 45. Kh2 Nc6 46. Rh6 b3 47. Rxg6 Qd2  $3 (47… b2 $2 48. Nd3 b1=Q 49. Nxc1 Qxc1 50. Ree6 $18) 48. Rc4 b2 49. Rgxc6+  Kb7 50. Rc7+ Kb8 51. Rc8+ Kb7 52. R4c7+ Ka6 $1 {with a draw. Strangely enough  White can’t get anything more.}) 45. Kh2 a5 46. h5 {#} gxh5 {Now it’s over for  Black again.} (46… g5 $5 {was perhaps stronger, but it is not clear if it  was enough to save the game. However, over the board it is not clear if it is  better than gxh5, so we should forgive Topalov.}) 47. Rxh5 Nc6 48. Nd5+ Kb7 49.  Rh7+ Ka6 50. Re6 Kb5 51. Rh5 Nd4 52. Nb6+ $1 {Nice check, forcing the black  king to stay inside the mate zone. Now White is totally winning, for about the  third time in this game…} Ka6 53. Rd6 Kb7 {#} 54. Nc4 $6 {Making things a  bit more complicated, though White is still winning.} (54. Nd5 $1 {  centralizing the knight was much simpler, and black can resign.}) 54… Nxf3+  55. gxf3 Qa2+ 56. Nd2 Kc7 {#} 57. Rhd5 $6 {Again an inaccuracy:} (57. Rhh6 $1 {  was stronger. White will play Kg3 and Ne4 and mate Black.}) 57… b3 58. Rd7+  Kc8 59. Rd8+ Kc7 60. R8d7+ Kc8 61. Rg7 $1 {#Here all Anand’s fan were relieved  again – he seemed to have found a win. But…} a4 62. Rc5+ $6 {Okay, just  repeating the moves, nothing wrong yet…} (62. Rdd7 a3 63. Kg3 Qa1 64. Rc7+  Kb8 65. Rb7+ Kc8 66. Nxb3 Qg1+ 67. Kf4 Qh2+ 68. Ke3 Qe5+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70. Kf1  Qh3+ 71. Ke2 Qh2+ 72. Kd3) 62… Kb8 63. Rd5 Kc8 {#} 64. Kg3 $2 {This and the  quick next move give away the win for the last time in this game. But to be  honest, it wasn’t so easy anymore, especially for someone who played for some  five to six hours already. And, well, White had easier wins earlier in this  game…} (64. Rdd7 {was an easy move, but the win wasn’t easy to calculate:} a3  65. Kg3 Qa1 66. Ra7 Qg1+ (66… Qe5+ 67. f4 Qe1+ 68. Kf3 Qh1+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70.  Ke3 $18) 67. Kh3 Qh1+ 68. Kg4 Qg1+ 69. Kf5 Qc5+ 70. Ke4 Qb4+ 71. Kd3 Qd6+ 72.  Kc3 Qe5+ 73. Kxb3 Qb2+ 74. Kc4 Qc2+ 75. Kb5 Qb2+ 76. Kc5 Qe5+ 77. Kb4 Qd6+ 78.  Kc3 Qe5+ 79. Kc2 Qc5+ 80. Kd1 {And the king managed to hide. Black had other  possibilities of checks, but white always manages to hide somewhere.}) 64…  Qa1 65. Rg4 $2 (65. Rdd7 {was probably still winning, but Anand played Rg4  almost instantly.} Qe1+ 66. Kg4 $1 {and I will just trust my Fritz, who says  that White is winning…}) 65… b2 {Now it is already over, Black will draw  easily.} 66. Rc4+ Kb7 67. Kf2 b1=Q 68. Nxb1 Qxb1 69. Rdd4 {Black doesn’t need  his pawn to make a draw.} Qa2+ 70. Kg3 a3 71. Rc3 Qa1 72. Rb4+ Ka6 73. Ra4+ Kb5  74. Rcxa3 Qg1+ {#With rooks on a3 and a4, it is obvious that there is a  perpetual check.} 75. Kf4 Qc1+ 76. Kf5 Qc5+ 77. Ke4 Qc2+ 78. Ke3 Qc1+ 79. Kf2  Qd2+ 80. Kg3 Qe1+ 81. Kf4 Qc1+ 82. Kg3 Qg1+ 83. Kf4 {A very comlicated game,  full of fight, but also mistakes.} 1/2-1/2   [Event "World Chess Championship"]  [Site "Sofia/Bulgarien"]  [Date "2010.05.07"]  [Round "10"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "D87"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [PlyCount "119"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {After the traumatizing loss in game one, Anand  is finally back with the Gruenfeld, presumably confident a similar disaster is  not in store.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3  O-O 10. O-O b6 {Deviating from game one where he had instead continued with 10.  ..Na5.} 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. Rac1 Rc8 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. cxd4 Qd6 $146 {#For all  practical purposes, this is the novelty.} 15. d5 Na5 16. Bb5 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Rc8  18. h3 Rxc1+ 19. Qxc1 e6 20. Nf4 exd5 21. Nxd5 f5 22. f3 fxe4 23. fxe4 Qe5 24.  Bd3 Nc6 25. Ba6 $1 {#Though this move should not give White an edge against  best play, the maze Black must steer through is complex, and anything less  leaves Topalov better.} Nd4 $6 {Wishing to avoid unnecessary complications,  but best was} (25… Bxa6 26. Qxc6 Qa1+ 27. Kf2 (27. Kh2 Be5+ 28. Bf4 Bxf4+ 29.  Nxf4 Qe5 30. g3 (30. Kg3 g5 31. Qa8+ Kf7 32. Qxa7+ Ke8 33. Qa8+ Ke7 $11) 30…  Qb2+ 31. Ng2 Bf1 32. Qe8+ {And White must take the perpetual.}) 27… Qxa2+ 28.  Kg3 Qa3 $1 29. Qa8+ Qf8 30. Qxa7 Be5+ 31. Kh4 Qf1 32. g3 Bc8 33. g4 Bf6+ 34.  Nxf6+ Qxf6+ $11) 26. Qc4 Bxd5 27. Qxd5+ Qxd5 28. exd5 {#White has a very  favorable endgame thanks to his bishop pair now.} Be5 29. Kf2 Kf7 30. Bg5 Nf5  31. g4 Nd6 32. Kf3 Ne8 33. Bc1 Nc7 34. Bd3 Bd6 35. Ke4 b5 36. Kd4 a6 37. Be2  Ke7 38. Bg5+ Kd7 39. Bd2 Bg3 40. g5 Bf2+ 41. Ke5 Bg3+ 42. Ke4 Ne8 43. Bg4+ Ke7  44. Be6 Nd6+ 45. Kf3 Nc4 $1 {#Topalov had undoubtedly missed this move, and  now the World Champion has almost equalized. There is still play left, but  Anand can certainly start breathing calmer now.} 46. Bc1 Bd6 47. Ke4 a5 48. Bg4  Ba3 49. Bxa3+ Nxa3 50. Ke5 Nc4+ 51. Kd4 Kd6 52. Be2 Na3 53. h4 Nc2+ 54. Kc3 Nb4  55. Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56. Kb3 Nb4 57. Be2 Nxd5 58. h5 Nf4 59. hxg6 hxg6 60. Bc4  1/2-1/2   [Event "WCh"]  [Site "Sofia BUL"]  [Date "2010.05.09"]  [Round "11"]  [White "Anand,V"]  [Black "Topalov,V"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2805"]  [EventDate "2010.04.24"]  [ECO "A29"]   1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7  8. a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 f6 11. Ne4 Qe8 12. Nc5 Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5 14. Bb2  Rd8 15. Qc2 Nde7 16. Rab1 Ba2 17. Rbc1 Qf7 18. Bc3 Rd7 19. Qb2 Rb8 20. Rfd1  Be6 21. Rd2 h6 22. Qb1 Nd5 23. Rb2 b6 24. cxb6 cxb6 25. Bd2 Rd6 26. Rbc2  Qd7 27. h4 Rd8 28. Qb5 Nde7 29. Qb2 Bd5 30. Bb4 Nxb4 31. axb4 Rc6 32. b5  Rxc2 33. Rxc2 Be6 34. d4 e4 35. Nd2 Qxd4 36. Nxe4 Qxb2 37. Rxb2 Kf7 38. e3  g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. f4 gxf4 41. exf4 Rd4 42. Kf2 Nf5 43. Bf3 Bd5 44. Nd2  Bxf3 45. Nxf3 Ra4 46. g4 Nd6 47. Kg3 Ne4+ 48. Kh4 Nd6 49. Rd2 Nxb5 50. f5  Re4 51. Kh5 Re3 52. Nh4 Nc3 53. Rd7+ Re7 54. Rd3 Ne4 55. Ng6 Nc5 56. Ra3  Rd7 57. Re3 Kg7 58. g5 b5 59. Nf4 b4 60. g6 b3 61. Rc3 Rd4 62. Rxc5 Rxf4  63. Rc7+ Kg8 64. Rb7 Rf3 65. Rb8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2   [Event "World Chess Championship"]  [Site "Sofia/Bulgaria"]  [Date "2010.05.11"]  [Round "12"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D56"]  [WhiteElo "2805"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [PlyCount "112"]  [EventDate "2010.05.11"]  [EventType "match"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "BUL"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7  Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5  15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 19. Qc2 $146 Bb7 20. Nd2  Rfd8 21. f3 Ba6 22. Rf2 Rd7 23. g3 Rbd8 24. Kg2 Bd3 25. Qc1 Ba6 26. Ra3 Bb7 27.  Nb3 Rc7 28. Na5 Ba8 29. Nc4 e5 30. e4 f5 {#} 31. exf5 {It is hard to know what  happened when he took, but now the position will crumble in a flash.} (31. Nd2  {was completely necessary so as to support e4, after which the position would  have remained balanced. Ex:} fxe4 32. Nxe4 Bxe4 33. fxe4 Rd4 34. Qe3 $11) 31…  e4 32. fxe4 $4 {#At the last minute, clearly fearful he was losing a grip on  his position, he loses his nerve, and now it is all over provided Anand  doesn’t return the favor.} (32. Re3 {was the only move to try and hold.} exf3+  33. Kg1 Qg5 34. Qc2 Rcd7 35. Re1 {And while unpleasant, it isn’t over yet.})  32… Qxe4+ 33. Kh3 Rd4 34. Ne3 {#} Qe8 $1 {A lovely shot, and Anand plays the  rest of the game nearly flawlessly.} 35. g4 h5 36. Kh4 g5+ 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38.  Qf1 Rxg4+ 39. Kh3 Re7 40. Rf8+ Kg7 41. Nf5+ Kh7 42. Rg3 Rxg3+ 43. hxg3 Qg4+ 44.  Kh2 Re2+ 45. Kg1 Rg2+ 46. Qxg2 Bxg2 47. Kxg2 Qe2+ 48. Kh3 c4 49. a4 a5 50. Rf6  Kg8 51. Nh6+ Kg7 52. Rb6 Qe4 53. Kh2 Kh7 54. Rd6 Qe5 55. Nf7 Qxb2+ 56. Kh3 Qg7  0-1

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Anand à frente no campeonato mundial

Pedro Ferreira — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:26 +0000

Depois de completado metade do match, o atual campeão mundial, Viswanathan Anand, lidera o placar 3.5 a 2.5 sobre o desafiante, Veselin Topalov. Na primeira partida Anand jogou a defesa Grunfeld, mas perdeu de forma inapelável ante a preparação caseira de Topalov, com direito a sacrifício de cavalo 24.Cxf6. Na partida seguinte Anand descontou, jogando a tranquila Catalan, preferindo assim um jogo mais posicional e tentando tirar Topalov de sua zona de conforto, que é o jogo tático. Sua escolha surtiu efeito e ele venceu. Terceira partida, Anand escolheu a defesa eslava, mesma variante escolhida por Kramnik no infamous match pelo campeonato mundial de 2006, conseguindo empatar com certa tranquilidade.

Na Quarta partida Topalov escolheu enfrentar novamente a Catalan de Anand, desviou do jogo anterior logo no lance 6, mas não soube responder adequadamente a uma novidade de Anand e perdeu num ataque fulminante empreendido pelas brancas. A quinta partida foi novamente uma defesa eslava, pretas jogam de forma passiva mas sólida e conseguem empatar. Em fim, na sexta partida, vimos novamente a catalan, mas desta vez Topalov conseguiu empatar. O interessante desta última partida foi dança dos cavalos de Anand, ele jogou nada menos do que 13 lances seguidos com os cavalos.

Hoje, recomeça a segunda metade do match. Pode-se acompanhar a partida ao vivo no site oficial ou no chessdom com comentários do GM Christian Bauer and IM Alexander Ipatov.

A seguir as seis primeiras partidas do match:

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