This is the key question that both teams must be asking themselves this evening. To play safe and then play poker in the rapid games — and possibly lose in a silly fashion — is not the kind of story that Topalov would look forward to telling his grandchildren decades from now!” Kevin believed that although the Bulgarian GM “will not play for broke…he will go into the final game psychologically prepared to play the game of his life. That means that us spectators might be in for another roller coaster ride!”
Unfortunately for Veselin, however, and as many chess commentators, including moi, have noted, world champ Vishy Anand has nerves of steel and is a more seasoned match player. Topalov had white, but Anand essayed a most solid defense, and it was clear that Veselin could only settle for a draw and try his luck in rapid and blitz games against someone who is acknowledged as one of the world’s best rapid and blitz players — or he could go for broke.
After the game, Australian GM Ian Rogers reported, Topalov admitted that he had avoided a repetition draw on move 26 not because he didn’t want to play rapid games against Anand, “but because the tiebreakers were to be played on Thursday the 13th. And the 13th was the same day that he had lost his rapid tiebreakers against Kramnik in 2006.”
Game of the Week. IM Malcolm Pein annotates.
White: V. Topalov (2805)
Black: V. Anand (2787)
Queen’s Gambit Declined
World Championship 2010
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 The Lasker Variation has a reputation of being very solid. Anand is clearly looking for a draw with this. Anand has had this variation three times, twice as white (rapid), once as black (blitz). 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 13…e5 14.Bb3 Re8 15.Re1 e4 16.Nd2 Nf6 17.Rc5 Be6 18.Re5 Bxb3 19.Qxb3 Qc7 20.Rf5 Nd5 21.Rc1 Qb6 22.Re5 Qxb3 23.axb3 Rxe5 24.dxe5 Re8 25.Nxe4 Rxe5 26.Nc5 Re7 27.Nd3 f5 28.Kf1 g5 29.Rc4 Kg7 30.g4 fxg4 31.Rxg4 b6 32.b4 Nf6 33.Rc4 Re6 34.h3 Ne4 35.Ke2 Nf6 36.Kf3 Kf8 37.h4 Ke7 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.Ke2 Nd7 40.Rc1 Kf6 41.Ra1 Ne5 42.Rxa7 Nxd3 43.Kxd3 Rd6+ 44.Kc3 Kf5 45.f3 Re6 46.Kd3 Rd6+ 47.Ke2 Rh6 48.Kd3 Rd6+ 49.Kc3 Re6 50.Kd3 Rd6+ 51.Ke2 Rh6 52.Rb7 Rh2+ 53.Kd3 b5 54.Rb6 Rxb2 55.Rxc6 Rxb4 56.Rc5+ Kf6 57.Kc3 Rb1 58.Kc2 Rf1 59.Rxb5 Rxf3 60.Kd2 1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A (2736)-Anand,V (2788)/Moscow 2009 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Also playable: 15.Qc2, 15.Bb1 and 15.Bb5 15…Rb8 16.Qc2 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Rd1 (18.Qc2 a5 19.Rd1 Re8 20.h3 e5 21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Qxe5 23.Rcd3 Rbe7 24.Rd5 1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2790)-Kramnik,V (2772)/Monaco) 18…b5 19.Qb3 a5 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Qc2 Na6 22.a3 b4 23.Rc6 Rc7 24.Nd4 bxa3 25.bxa3 Rfc8 26.Rxc7 Qxc7 27.Qe2 Qc4 28.Qf3 Nc7 29.h3 1/2-1/2 Anand, V (2735)-Kramnik,V (2765)/ Koeln 16.Bc6 16…Nf6 16…a5 is the main move but there are other alternatives. 16…Nf6 is a very rare choice and obviously the result of Anand’s preparation. It’s a more dynamic plan, accepting the weak c pawn in return for the superiority of bishop over knight. Also playable: 16…Bb7, 16…Ba6, 16…b5, 16…e5 17.dxc5 Of course this is the way to unbalance the game and test Anand’s idea. 17…Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 18…bxc5 19.b3 Bb7 20.Qf4 (20.Qe5 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Rbc8 22.Rd1 1/2-1/2 Olsen,H (2376)-Grabarczyk, M (2516)/Klaksvik 2008) 20…Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Rfd8 22.Rfc1 Rd2 23.R1c2 Rbd8 24.g3 Rxc2 25.Rxc2 Rd5 26.Kg2 Qd6 27.h4 a6 28.Rc4 Rd2 29.Ra4 Qd3 30.h5 f6 31.g4 Kh7 1/2-1/2 Kulaots,K (2531) -Grabarczyk,M (2510)/ Borup 2008. 19.Qc2 The next two moves are pretty much forced to avoid a capture on f3 when Black would be comfortable placed 19…Bb7 20.Nd2 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Qd6 22.Nb3 Ba6 23.Rd1 Qxd1+ 0-1 Bellmann,H (2158)-Schulze,G (2012)/Germany 1998/Corr 20…Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6 22.Rf2 Topalov now moved ahead on the clock. By defending the knight he makes the threat of taking on c5 closer to becoming reality. Previously it could be met by Rxd2 now only Rxc5 Rxb2 remains a problem. In positional terms the bishop on a6 rules out the a5-a4 plan in answer to a possible b2-b3. Anand needs to decide where his rooks go now. The b file will soon cease to be useful so a rook to c8 or more dynamically, an attempt to double on the d file suggests itself particularly as d1 is vulnerable. Rd7 or Rd5 perhaps 22…Rd7 23.g3 Admittedly the c5 pawn is not going to get stronger but Anand could get quite active here. In practice he ought to be OK but one inaccuracy can leave him with an indefensible weakness; he must maintain the activity. 23.Nf1 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Qh4 gives you some insight into the reasoning behind this and the king needs some air in case of a back rank check. 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Nf1 Rd1; 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Nc4 (24.Nb3 Bd3!-/+) 24…Rd1+ 25.Kg2 Ra1!? 23…Rbd8 24.Kg2 Good prophylaxis from Topalov. Trying to neutralize Black’s threats in advance but Black looks very active now. I think it might be time for the elephant to sit down. 24…Bd3 and so he does 25.Qc1 Ba6 draw? 26.Ra3 no thanks 26…Bb7 Anand points the bishop at the king so e3-e4 must be a plan for White now 26…Bd3 27.e4 f5!? 27.Nb3 Rc7 27…Rd1 28.Qxc5 can be played with impunity and demonstrates the value of Topalov’s preparatory moves on the kingside 27…Rc7 28.Rc2 c4 29.Rxc4 Bxf3+ 30.Kxf3 Qf6+ 31.Kg2 Rxc4 32.Qxc4 Qxb2+; 27…Rc7 28.e4 f5 28.Na5 Ba8 28…Ba8 A) 29.Rc3 e5 30.Nb3 Bd5 (30…Rcd7 31.Rxc5 Rd1 32.Qc2) 31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Qxc5 Qxc5 33.Nxc5 Bxa2 34.b4 Bb1 35.e4 Bd3= 36.Rd2?? Bf1+ B) 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5 31.exf5? e4 29.Nc4 e5 Now e4 is met by f5 and I would rather be Black. If Topalov wants to fight he may go this way, the safer move is Rd2 29…e5 30.Rd2 e4 31.f4 Rd3! 32.Ne5 f6! 30.e4 f5 Topalov 40 minutes Anand 39. I think Topalov needs to be careful now 31.exf5 Really? 31…e4 32.fxe4 Qxe4+ I am astonished by this. 32…Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8!! 35.g4 h5 is clearly what Topalov missed. Has Vishy seen it? 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8!! It’s over. Topalov must have missed this somewhere, perhaps when he played 30.e4 It’s a very computer move and easy to miss. After all other moves White is fine 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 g5+ 36…Qd8+ looks cleaner to a computer but the human would rather win the queen which happens now 37.Kg3 (37.f6 hxg4 38.Nxg4 gxf6 and Rh7) 37…Qd6+ 38.Kh4 Qh6-+ 37.fxg6 37.fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Qg5 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Re4 42.Rxa8 Rxe3+ 43.Rxe3 Qg4# 37…Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7 39…Re7 40.Qd1 Rd4 41.Qe2 Qg5; 39…Qg5 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Re4 42.Rxa8 Rxe3+ 43.Rxe3 Qg4# 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 Now 47.Rf7+ Kg6 48.Rg7+ Kxf5 49.Rxg4 hxg4 50.Kxg2 Ke4 wins. 47…Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 Emphasizing the vulnerability of the white pieces. The rook cannot leave the knight. b2 can be captured next move and Kh4 runs into Qg4# 51.Nh6+ Kg7 When the rook moves Qf3 threatens Qh1# and sets up the decisive skewer or fork 52.Rb6 Qe4 Vishy is going to use his h pawn as well. 53. Kh2 Kh7 54. Rd6 Qe5 55. Nf7 Qxb2+ 56. Kh3 Qg7 0-1.
Here, Mark Crowther reports, Topalov shook hands and resigned the game and match. The final score: 6.5-5.5 in the champ’s favor. “Topalov started an animated and friendly conversation discussing lines from the game with Anand as they signed the scoresheets and for a short while afterward. Topalov then shook hands with his opponent once again before leaving the stage. In the last moments of disappointment he behaved with perfect sportsmanship. Also at the board Anand didn’t look overly elated either, probably he was tired and just glad he accomplished his mission…. I applaud the spirit and dignity with which this whole match has been played.”
“My opponent is a fantastic fighter,” the world champ said after the game. “Either of us could have won this match. This was by far the most intense match I have ever played.”
Anand, Crowther said, “has ticked yet another box in a now glorious career. He has retained the world chess championship, which many of his predecessors didn’t, and in his opponent’s back yard. Anand’s flexibility showed as he obviously had a theory about the kind of positions Topalov wouldn’t enjoy and had the ability to steer for those; he steered for a completely different category of position when he beat Kramnik. Anand also managed to keep playing after some moments in the match which might have broken a lesser man. I’m sure he too has learned something from this match which he will take to the next match when he defends in 2011 or 2012. Could this be against Magnus Carlsen, or can Veselin Topalov get back to fight again?”
It’s going to be Carlsen. And he will beat Vishy. You heard it first here.
Puzzler.
White — Ka4, Ba6, Nb8, Nc6, Qc1, pawns on e3 and h4
Black — Kd5, Nd6, Rf7, Bh7, Rh3, pawns on b3, c4, c7, d4, e6 and f3
White to play and mate in four.
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