World Chess Championship 2010 (7)
Anand and Topalov draw Fascinating Struggle
IM Malcolm Pein - Wednesday 5th May 2010
Game 7 of the World Chess Championship between defending Champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Veselin Topalov saw a draw which was fascinating in all phases.
Anand and Topalov in play in Game 7. Photo © | http://www.chessdom.com
Defending champion Vishy Anand retains his one point lead over Veselin Topalov going into the eighth game of the World Chess Championship at Sofia.
Game seven, a 58 move draw, the longest so far, was fascinating and had almost everything you could want from a top flight game of chess. There was a stunning opening novelty, a piece sacrifice, swings of fortune and near the end, a study-like winning possibility that emerged only from computer analysis.
The score is 4-3 with five to play but it was hard to know which player felt the happier after the game. Anand retained his lead and had survived an onslaught from Topalov that had been prepared in advance with a computer but he had missed a chance to win. Topalov would be deighted he had been able to surprise Anand in the opening and put the champion under pressure with the black pieces but might be disappointed that his opponent had not buckled. At least Topalov can look to the three games he has with the white pieces which includes the twelth and final game.
The players observed a minute's silence in honour of the former FIDE President Florencio Campomanes whose death was announced on Monday.
V Anand - V Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+
(Topalov had difficulties after 4...dxc4 in games 2,4,6)
5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4 9.Ne5 b5 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7!
(New, 11...Ba6 Gelfand-Ivanchuk Amber 2010)
12.Bxa8 Qxa8 13.f3 Nd5 14.Bd2 e5 15.e4
(15.dxe5 Bh3 16.Rf2 Bc5 Anand 40 minutes, Topalov 2)
15...Bh3 16.exd5 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 exd4 18.a4 Qxd5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.Rxa7 Re8 21.Kh1 Bf8!?
(Topalov stopped to think, 21.Kh1 Qxb2 22.Qe1 h6 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25.Kg2 Qb2 26.Qe8+ Kh7 27.Qe4+ g6 28.Qe8 is a draw)
22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2 Bb4!
(A great move that makes Bxc3 and d3-d2 a threat. White is hampered by the pawn chain and Re2 is coming but chances are about equal. White's next is forced)
Veselin Topalov
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Viswanathan Anand
Position after 25...Bb4!
26.Ra1 Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 30.Rc1 Rxh2+ 31.Kg1 Rg2+ 32.Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33.Qf1 Qe3+ 34.Qf2 Qc1+ 35.Qf1 Qe3+
(35...d2 draws)
36.Kg2!
(Anand plays for a win!)
36...f5 37.Nf2 Kh7 38.Qb1 Qe6 39.Qb5 g5 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4 Kg6 42.Qb7
(42.Qa4!! seems to win, analysis below)
42...d2! 43.Qb1+ Kg7 44.Kf1 Qe7
(Now if Qd1 Qe3 White cannot progress)
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.Nd1 draw
Veselin Topalov
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Viswanathan Anand
Position after 58.Nd1
Could Anand have won?
42.Qa4!! is incredibly complex but I will try and distil it here. White's objective is to take the e file with the queen after Kf1 and Qe1 or by tactical means after which he can advance the queen by threatening a queen exchange.
A) 42...d2 43.Qc2+ is the first point
B) 42.Qa4 Qd5+ 43.Kf1 Qe6 44.Qa2 Threat Nxd3 44...Qd5 45.Qa6+ Kg7 46.Qa7+ Kg6 47.Qe3 Qb5 48.Kg2 Qb3 49.Ne4 Qc2+ 50.Kg3 and White will win a pawn
C) 42.Qa4 Qc8 43.Qd1 Qe6 44.Kf1! idea Qe1 44...Qf6 45.Qe1 Kf7 46.Kg2 Kg7 47.Nd1 Qc6+ 48.Kg1 Qb6+ 49.Nf2 Qd6 50.Qe4! and you can see progress, Qb7+ and Ne4 may come.
