World Chess Championship 2010 (2)
Anand strikes back immediately in game 2
IM Malcolm Pein - Tuesday 27th April 2010
Viswanathan Anand settled his nerves by leveling the scores immediately in game two of his match against Veselin Topalov.
Game 2 Anand - Topalov. Photo © Europe-Echecs | http://www.europe-echecs.com
Vishy Anand levelled the score by outplaying challenger Veselin Topalov in the second game of their world title contest being staged at the Central Military Club in Sofia. Anand had suffered a humiliating defeat in the first game when he forgot his opening analysis and was crushed by a sacrifice.
In his first game with the white pieces Anand played a known pawn sacrifice in the Catalan Opening but again found his opponent very well prepared. My assumption is that on move 15 he took a practical decision to take the Bulgarian out of his computer prepared lines by playing a move that while not the best, gave Topalov some decisions to make.
The idea proved to be inspired, queens came off the board and the resulting position was level. If anything, Topalov's position was the more comfortable but he made a series of imprecise moves and subsequently avoided exchanges when the limit of his ambition by then should have been to draw. Anand regained the sacrificed pawn, won another and Topalov's cause was hopeless.
The 2 million Euro match is the best of twelve. The score is 1-1 and Topalov has white in this afternoon's third game.
Topalov plays very badly from a level but quiet position. Note how feeble Black's dark squared bishop becomes and how powerful White's light squared bishop is after 25...Ne3?!
Opening synopsis:
a) Topalov's Modern Benoni 3...c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 did badly on its last outing at Linares
b) 4.g3 The Catalan. c) 6.Ne5 stops b7-b5 but White soon gives up d4 for development in an amusing echo of game one
d) 12...Qf6 13.Nd3 Be7 14.e4!! Gelfand-Aronian 2003.
e) 12...Be7 13.Nf4!
V Anand - V Topalov
Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5
4.g3 dxc4
5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7
12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Ba5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qa3?!
(A novelty and a dubious one 15.Rfd1 was possible indeed there were many better moves)
15...Qxa3 16.bxa3 N7f6?!
(16...Nc5 removing the Nd3 was much better when Black is fine)
17.Nce5 Re8 18.Rc2 b6 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Rfc1 Rbd8
( 20...Rec8 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.Rxc8+ Bxc8 23.Nc6 wins)
21.f4 Bb8 22.a4 a5?!
(22...Bd6!? or 22...Rc8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.Nc6 Bd6 26.Nxd4=
23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.Rxc6 h5
(Prophylaxis against Bg2-f3 and g4-g5. Perhaps 24...e5 25.fxe5 Bxe5 26.R1c4)
25.R1c4
Veselin Topalov
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Viswanathan Anand
25.R1c4
25... Ne3?! 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Bf3!
(27.Rxb6 Rxd3 28.exd3 e2 29.Rb1 Ba7+ 30.d4 is also good but this sets up an impregnable position)
27...g6?!
(When b6 goes a5 is weak so 27...Nd7 28.Bxh5 e5 was better)
28.Rxb6 Ba7
(After much thought, Topalov realized he was in trouble)
30.Rc7 Bb8 31.Rc5! Bd6 32.Rxa5 Rc8 33.Kg2 Rc2 34.a3 Ra2
35.Nb4
(Winning)
35...Bxb4
Veselin Topalov
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Viswanathan Anand
Position after 35....Bxb4
(35...Ra1 36.Nc2 or 35...Rxa3 36.Rxa3 Bxb4 37.Ra8+)
36.axb4
(Two connected pawns ensure a win)
36...Nd5 37.b5
(Simplest, the rest is forced)
37...Raxa4 38.Rxa4 Rxa4 39.Bxd5 exd5 40.b6 Ra8 41.b7 Rb8 42.Kf3 d4 43.Ke4 1-0
White picks up both pawns or heads for b6 with his king for example 43.Ke4 Kf8 44.Kxd4 Ke7 45.Kc5 Kd7 46.Kb6
Veselin Topalov
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Viswanathan Anand
Final Position after 43.Ke4
