Anand and Topalov level going into the final game

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World Chess Championship 2010 (11)

Anand and Topalov level going into the final game

IM Malcolm Pein - Tuesday 11th May 2010

Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov go into the final game locked at 5.5 each Malcolm Pein reports.

Draw in Game 11. Photo ©

Draw in Game 11. Photo © | http://www.europe-echecs.com

The world chess championship between Vishy Anand of India and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov remains tied 5.5-5.5 going into the twelfth and final game of Classical Chess to be played this afternoon at the Central Military Club in Sofia. Topalov, the challenger, plays White. A win for either player decides the match but a draw would ensure it goes to speed chess tie breaks. The prize fund of 2million Euros will be split 60-40

The eleventh game was a quiet affair at first with Anand playing carefully and opting for the English Opening, 1.c2-c4 for the first time in the match. Topalov responded robustly but after some manouevring Anand secured a small advantage. This soon dissipated and after several exchanges an endgame with rook, bishop, knight and three pawns each was reached where Topalov stood slightly better because of Anand's weak pawn on b5. Rather than defend the pawn Anand sacrificed it for activity which was quite a daring plan and breathed new life into the game as Topalov's two connected passed pawns on the queenside were potentially decisive. Gradually the champion's ideas, a plethora of tactics, became apparent and his threats balanced Topalov's pawn advance. There were some very pretty lines. The game was agreed drawn on move 65.

V Anand - V Topalov

WCh Sofia (11)

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 Qe8

12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7

(White would like to activate his bishops with d3-d4 but Topalov prevents this)

16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2 h6 22.Qb1! Nd5 23.Rb2 b6

(White keeps his bishop. 23...Nxc3 24.Rxc3 pressures b7 if 24...Nd8 25.c6!)

24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4 Rd8 28.Qb5 Nde7

(28...Nce7?? 29.Qxd7 Bxd7 30.e4)

29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6

(This ensures exchanges and an equal position)

Viswanathan Anand

Veselin Topalov

Position after 31...Rc6 forcing exchanges

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

(Anand is troubled by the weak pawn on b5. Now 46.Rd2 to hinder Nd6 was possible)

46.g4!? Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2! Nxb5 50.f5 Re4

(To meet Rd7+ with Re7. 50...a5 51.Rd7+ Ke8 52.Rb7 Rb4 53.Rxb6 Nd4! 54.Rxf6 Nxf3+ 55.Kh5 a4 56.Ra6 should be drawn)

51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3!

(Planning Kh6 Ng6 Rd8 threatening mate)

54...Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3

(56.Nxe7 Nxd3 57.Nc8 holds 57...b5 58.Nd6+)

56...Rd7 57.Re3

(With the idea of Kh6 and Nh8+ drawing)

57...Kg7 58.g5 b5 59.Nf4

b4 60.g6 b3 61.Rc3 Rd4

(61...b2 62.Rxc5! b1Q 63.Ne6+ Kg8 64.Rc8+ mates)