1.e4
e5
2.Cf3
Cf6
3.Cxe5
d6
4.Cf3
Cxe4
5.d4
d5
6.Ad3
Cc6
7.0-0
Ae7
8.c4
Cb4
9.Ae2
0-0
10.Cc3
Af5
11.a3
Cxc3
12.bxc3
Cc6
13.Te1
Te8
14.cxd5
Dxd5
15.Af4
Tac8
16.Da4
A rare continuation, aiming to take Kramnik "out of book".
16...Ad7
17.Dc2
[This seems to be a new move. 17.Tab1
was played a couple fo times.]
17...Df5
18.Dxf5
Axf5
19.Ab5
Ad7
20.d5
Ce5
21.Axd7
Cxd7
Anand's experiment did not work out too well. Kramnik played relatively quickly and obtained an entirely satisfactory position. White's centre could become more of a weakness if Black is allowed to install his minor pieces on c5 and d6.
22.Axc7!?
White tries to maintain his initiative, but further simplifications will turn the position slightly dangerous for him.
22...Txc7
23.d6
Txc3
24.dxe7
f6
With queens on board, the e7-pawn would most probably ensure White's win, but in the endgame it is more of a source of worries.
25.Tad1
Tc7
26.Cd4
Ce5
27.f4
Cc6
28.Cxc6
bxc6
29.Td6
c5
30.Tee6
c4
31.Tc6
Texe7
32.Txc4
Txc4
33.Txe7
Ta4
34.Tb7
White will lose a pawn, but the drawish tendency of this type of ending is well-known. In the "theoretical" position, White's f-pawn stands on its initial square. The way it is, it could easily become a weakness, but also ensure White a stable advantage of space on the kingside.
34...h6
[34...h5!?
looks more active.]
35.f5
Txa3
36.Rf2
h5
37.g3
a5
[37...h4!?
would have offered more chances to keep White under pressure, by keeping the king's access to the f5-pawn open.]
38.Ta7
a4
39.h4!
White is out of any danger now. The kingside is practically frozen and the huge advantage of space prevents the standard plan: push the pawn to a3, in order to leave the a2-square available for the transfer of His Majesty. If Black tries to do so, he would lose the g7-pawn, after which White's counterplay (for instance g4) is much more dangerous than in the standard position (pawns on f2, g3, h4 and symmetrical for Black).
39...Ta2+
40.Rf3
a3
41.Re3
Ta1
42.Rf2
Rf8
43.Rg2
a2
This move somewhat restricts the activity of White's pieces (Kf2? loses to ...Rh1 and things like that), but there is no place to hide for the black king either.
44.Rh2
Re8
45.Rg2
Rd8
46.Rh2
Rc8
47.Rg2
Rb8
48.Ta3
Rb7
49.Ta4
Rb6
50.Ta8
Rc5
51.Ta7
Rd5
52.Ta4
Re5
53.Ta5+
Re4
54.Rh2
Actually, this move is not forced. decades ago, Kholmov has proven that even without the f5-pawn White can hold a draw. The only winning chance for Black is to create a passed pawn on the f-file, but this is impossible in case of accurate defence from White.
54...Rf3
55.Ta3+
Rf2
56.Ta4
Rf1
57.Rh1
[But this is an important move. In case of a neutral move such as 57.Ta5?
, Black can simplify to a won pawn ending with 57...Te1
58.Txa2
Te2+
59.Txe2
Rxe2
, for instance 60.Rg2
Re3
61.g4
Rf4!
62.gxh5
Rg4
and it is all over.]
57...Re1
58.Rg2
But now, there was no need to get back on the second rank.
58...Rd1
[58...Td1
is very much the same as in the game.]
59.Ta7
Tc1
60.Txa2
Tc2+
61.Txc2
Rxc2
62.Rf3
This is the difference. The white king is active enough now. Curiously, he will have to use this acitivity for getting... stalemated!!
62...Rd3
63.g4
hxg4+
64.Rxg4
Re4
Did Anand miscalculate anything?
65.Rh5!
Not really!
65...Rxf5
and, entirely in accordance with the Sofia rule, players had to split the point. 1/2-1/2