Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand defeated Bulgarian Grandmaster Veselin Topalov playing with Black in 12th game to successfully defending the World Chess Championship title!!!

Viswanathan Anand (2787) bt Veselin Topalov (2805) 6½-5½

Game Twelve - 11th May
Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787) 1-0

GM Viswanathan Anand (India,2787) 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 - 6½
GM Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria,2805) 1 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 - 5½

Anand used Queen's Gambit declined for the first time in this championship match ... This is supposed to safe opening for Black ... Match was moving as per text book moves until 27 moves, Anand played interesting 28 move, Ba8 ... Topalov made bad moves on 31 and 32, those were exf5 and fxe4 ... He walked into Anand's trap ... After that Topalov had no practical chances to hold but he kept fighting on because this was the final game of the world championship ... After 56 moves Topalov resigned and Anand scripted memorable victory.

Game 12 moves
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. 0-0 b6 14. Bd3 c5 15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 19. Qc2 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 e4 32. fxe4 Qxe4 33. Kh3 Rd4 34. Ne3 Qe8 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

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 5½-5½

Game Eleven - 9th May
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) ½-½

So this time Anand used different opening, 1. c4 e5, English for the first time in this World championship match ... But both players played very cautiously and in middle of the game match was heading towards boring draw ... But suddenly Anand played gutsy move on 49th move, Rd2 with giving a pawn ... Then game became complicated but Topalov smartly avoided falling into the trap and hold Anand to draw after 65 moves.

I was hoping more attacking game from Anand as playing with White, so now Topalov having advantage of playing last game with White ... Now last game will be played after a day rest on Tuesday.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 5-5

Game Ten - 7th May
Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787) ½-½

This time Anand chosen the Gruenfeld playing with the Black ... And had relatively easy draw after 60 moves considering last few games ... Anand would be happy with this result before rest day.

Topalov was also played cautiously as nobody wanted to make any mistake with three games r remaining ... Still he was pressing with White but Anand defended calmly without giving any chance to Topalov.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 4½-4½

Game Nine - 6th May
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) ½-½

Atlast some novelty in the game ... Today they started with the Nimzo!!!

They played safe game without any surprising move till 17 moves ... But Anand surprised with his 18 mives, Nh3 ... Topalov matched Anand's game making more complicated but he did mistake on 46th move with gxh5 ... But Anand missed opportunity on 62 move, he played Rc5+ instead of Rdd7 and Topalov take that small opportunity to draw this game ... In end 9 checks from Topalov to 3 repeat moves to offer draw.

Hurting draw for Anand, so now Topalov is in driving seat with 2 games he will start with white of 3 remaining games.

Game 9 moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. 0-0 cxd4 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Bd3 Re8 14. Qe2 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qc7 16. Bh4 Nh5 17. Ng5 g6 18. Nh3 e5 19. f3 Qd6 20. Bf2 exd4 21. Qxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Nf8 23. cxd4 Nf6 24. Ree1 Ne6 25. Bc4 Bd5 26. Bg3 Qb4 27. Be5 Nd7 28. a3 Qa4 29. Bxd5 Nxe5 1 Rh7+30. Bxe6 Qxd4+ 31. Kh1 fxe6 32. Ng5 Qd6 33. Ne4 Qxa3 34. Rc3 Qb2 35. h4 b5 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kf8 38. Ng5 Ke8 39. Rxh7 Qc3 40 Rh8+ Kd7 41. Rh7+ Kc6 42. Re4 b4 43. Nxe6 Kb6 44. Nf4 Qa1+ 45. Kh2 a5 46. h5 gxh5 47. Rxh5 Nc6 48 Nd5+ kb7 49. Rh7+ Ka6 50. Re6 Kb5 51. Rh5 Nd4 52. Nb6+ Ka6 53. Rd6 Kb7 54. Nc4 Nxf3+ 55. gxf3 Qa2+ 56. Nd2 Kc7 57. Rhd5 b3 58. Rd7+ Kc8 59. Rd8+ Kc7 60. R8d7+ Kc8 61. Rg7 a4 62. Rc5+ Kb8 63. Rd5 Kc8 64. Kg3 Qa1 65. Rg4 b2 66. Rc4+ Kb7 67. Kf2 b1=Q 68. Nxb1 Qxb1 69. Rdd4 Qa2+ 70. Kg3 a3 71. Rc3 Qa1 72. Rb4+ Ka6 73. Ra4+ Kb5 74. Rcxa3 Qg1+ 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

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 4-4

Game Eight - 4th May
Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787) 1-0

Again both side decided to play the Slav ... But Topalov was looking more prepared than Anand and played attacking chess with complication ... He kept Anand under pressure from middle of the game ... Anand needed to play with precision and hope Topalov made mistake somewhere but that never happened ... Topalov kept pressing and Anand resigned after 56 move.

Now advantage is clear with Topalov in this World Championship match ... After game 4, Topalov was under pressure mentally and emotionally ... As he lost 2 matches with Black after winning opening game ... But after holding the first Black game (in game 6) with ease, he went all out for the win with Black in game 7 ... So even though Topalov is down by 1 point, he was slowly gaining momentum and most importantly, his self confidence ... Now tough situation for Anand as he knows that Topalov having ability of finishing strong.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 4-3

Game Seven - 3rd May
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) ½-½

Again Anand started with Catalan but with different deviation ... This time Topalov and his team were well prepared, Topalov slowly tried to take control of the game from 13th move, Nd5 ... But Anand played excellent middle game and complicated the game ... So after 58 moves game ended in a draw after 3 times repetition, so Anand keep his 1 point advantage.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 3½-2½

Game Six - 1st May
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) ½-½

Anand third time played with White using Catalan opening ... In last 2 Catalan opening matches he won comfortably but today Topalov came out with preparation.

Topalov played to the safer variation that he already tried in the 2nd game of the match but this time with lot perfection ... Anand played excellent game showing depth and flexibility of variation ... Other hand Topalov showed wonderful counterplay ... The repetition of moves stopped game on move 58.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 3-2

Game Five - 30th April
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) ½-½

Anand again hold Topalov in 5th game after 44 moves playing with Black ... Again the draw was reached by repetition of moves.

This game was looking drawish from the start but Anand made few interesting moves to keep viewers interst ... In end good result for Anand.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

ANAND WON FOURTH GAME!!!

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 2½-1½

Game Four - 28th April
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 1-0

Anand again opted for Catalan opening with that he defeated challenger Topalov in second round ... And this time also Anand defeated with truly spectacular victory in just 32 moves.

What a start for this World Championship where 3 decisive games in first 4 games ... With today's loss Topalov come under pressure.

Match moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3 Bd7 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 Be8 15.d5 Qd6 16.Ng4 Qc5 17.Ne3 N8a6 18.dxc6 bxa4 19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Rac1 h6 21.Nd6 Qa7 22.Ng4 Rad8 23.Nxh6+ gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 25.e5 Bxg2 26.exf6 Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Be4 28.Rxe6 Nd3 29.Rc2 Qh7 30.f7+ Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 1½-1½

Game Three - 27th April
Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787) ½-½

In game 3 Anand responded with solid Slav defence ... Anand played excellent game and didn't give any chance to Topalov, who agreed to draw after 46 moves.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 1-1

Game Two - 25th April
Viswanathan Anand (2787) - Veselin Topalov (2805) 1-0

YES!!! Anand strike back in second game ... This is huge moral boosting win for him after bad first game.

Anand opened with a popular Catalan setup, in which White aims for the initiative and long-term pressure ... Topalov responded with an early 4...dxc4 which creates imbalances in the position ... Topalov made real mistake on 25th move allowing Anand to seize a nice positional advantage and collect Black queenside pawns ... After that Anand kept pressure until Topalov resigns on 43rd move.

Tomorrow is the rest day, so both players team will re-analize their strategy.

Nice commentary by GM Anish Giri on Chessbase.com
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. 1...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. 3...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. 4...dxc4 5.Bg2 a6!?
The idea of this line is to save the pawn by any means. 6.Ne5. 6.0-0 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. 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.
9.0-0 0-0 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Nd3 Ba7
So far both players played logical moves, but from here White has a big and wide choice. 13.Ba5. A questionable decision. 13.Qb3!? 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 13...Nc5 then simple 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Ne5 and White keeps up the pressure. (15.Ba5!?) 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! Bxd5 18.Nxb6! Bxb6 19.Bxc5 Bxc5 20.Rxc5 With some pressure and edge.
15.Qa3?! 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! Is the move I like most. Now Black doesn't have a very useful move, since 15...b6 falls into (15...Nc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Ne5 should also be slightly better.; 15...Re8!? or; 15...h6 are maybe the best moves, but White can then try Qa3 or improve slowly with let's say Rc2.) 16.Bb4! Nc5 17.Qa3 Bb7 (17...Nxb4 18.Nxb4 Bb7 19.Bxb7 Qxb7 20.Rxd4) 18.Bxd5! Bxd5 19.Nxb6! Bxb6 20.Rxc5! Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Qb7 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Qb4 With advantage for White. 15...Qxa3 16.bxa3
16...N7f6?! logical, but the more logical 16...Nc5! 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! Now I liked the white position again, though I think he has no objective advantage. 17...Re8! preparing b6 and Bd7. 17...b6 18.Bb4!; 17...Bd7 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Bxd5 exd5 20.Rc7+/=. 18.Rc2. 18.g4!? looks interesting too. 18...b6?! 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! 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. 20...Rbd8 21.f4 Bb8 22.a4 a5 23.Nc6
Now that White has made all the useful moves, it is time for this exchange. 23...Bxc6 24.Rxc6 h5?! 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
25.Bf3!? Immediately pointing at the h5 pawn. 25...Ne3? 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! Fits perfectly with h5. If Topalov could have played it, I would have to give h5 an exclamation mark! 26.Bf3 (26.Rxd4 Ba7! is the point. Now White would be in trouble.) 26...e5! (26...Ba7!? 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! 30.exd3 Ne7-/+) 29...h4! 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Bf3!?
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 27...e5!? 27...g6? 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! being the idea. 28.Rxb6. Now there is no e5, and the a5 pawn is extremely weak. 28...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! So that Topalov can forget about any Rxd3. 29...Rd4 30.Rc7 Bb8 31.Rc5!
The pawn on a4 is untouchable due to Bc6 and White wins the a5 pawn. 31...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. 33...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! 34...Ra2?! 34...Nd5 It was necessary to still try to complicate the matter a bit, but White is winning anyway. 35.Nb4!
All suporters of Anand were now very relieved when they saw the black king standing on g8, not g7... 35...Bxb4 [35...Rxa3 36.Rxa3 Bxb4 37.Ra8+! is what I meant with my previous comment.] 36.axb4 Nd5 37.b5! The a4 pawn doesn't matter anymore, while it's colleague runs! 37...Raxa4 38.Rxa4 Rxa4 39.Bxd5! Killing the knight. The arising ending is the most winning rook ending I ever saw in my life. 39...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. 41...Rb8 42.Kf3 d4 43.Ke4
A great comeback by the World Champion, though I must add that it was obviously not without help from Topalov. 1-0.

Chess News
At World Championship Match 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria

Game One - 24th April
Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787) 1-0

Topalov won first game in just 30 moves ... I think this was one of the shortest but most decisive opening games in World Championship history ... As per report Anand made blunder on 23rd move.

Here is small update on first game
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Rac1 Qd6 17.f4 f6 18.f5 Qe5 19.Nf4 g5 20.Nh5+ Kg8 21.h4 h6 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Rf3. Everything was looking dangerous, but basically okay for Black. The only defence looked like 23...Bd7 followed by Rg3 and then maybe Kf7. However Anand blunders with 23...Kf7??
This loses immediately to 24.Nxf6! Now the game ends very quickly: 24...Kxf6 25.Rh3 Rg8 26.Rh6+ Kf7 27.Rh7+ Ke8 28.Rcc7 Kd8 29.Bb5 Qxe4 30.Rxc8+ 1-0