1.d4
Cf6
2.c4
e6
3.Cf3
d5
4.g3
Ab4+
5.Ad2
Ae7
The third time this position is reached in the match, and Topalov tries yet a third line, this time going into a Bogo-Indian. In game four he had chosen 5...a5, which had gone all wrong for him to say the least, and in game six he opted for 5...a6, which also didn't yield anything to his taste. Will 5...Be7 be the lucky move?
6.Ag2
0-0
7.0-0
c6
8.Af4
dxc4
Though hardly a stranger to this line, Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8...Nbd7 or 8...b6.
9.Ce5
b5
This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns. Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.
10.Cxc6
Cxc6
11.Axc6
Ad7
This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11...Ba6.
12.Axa8
Dxa8
13.f3
Cd5
14.Ad2
e5
15.e4
Ah3
16.exd5
Axf1
17.Dxf1
exd4
18.a4
Dxd5
19.axb5
Dxb5
20.Txa7
Te8
21.Rh1
#Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov's liking, one that he said he couldn't understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.
21...Af8
His first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think, and he plays the wrong move. [Why not 21...Dxb2
? Though it may not win, nor would it lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded. 22.De1
h6
23.Ca3
(23.Txe7
Would also lead to a draw after 23...Txe7
24.Dxe7
Dxb1+
25.Rg2
Db2
(25...Dc2?
26.Dd8+
Rh7
27.Dxd4
) 26.De8+
Rh7
27.De4+
g6
28.De8!
Count on an engine to see that sort of move... 28...Dxd2+
29.Rh3
Rg7
30.De5+
Rf8
31.Db8+
Rg7
32.De5+
And Black cannot prevent the perpetual.) ]
22.Tc7
d3
23.Ac3
Ad6
24.Ta7
h6
25.Cd2
Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!
25...Ab4!
#This move is about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that doesn't lose.
26.Ta1!
A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine detector is on and working. [Other moves such as 26.Ce4
would fail to 26...Axc3
27.bxc3
f5
28.Cd6
Dc5
29.Txg7+
Rxg7
30.Cxe8+
Rf7
And the combination of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end.; Or 26.Dc1
Axc3
27.Dxc3
Te1+
28.Rg2
Te2+
29.Rf1
Dc5
30.Ce4
Df5
and White would get mated.]
26...Axc3
27.bxc3
Te2
28.Td1
Da4
29.Ce4
Dc2
#This admittedly looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he was doing.
30.Tc1
Txh2+
31.Rg1
Tg2+
32.Dxg2
Dxc1+
33.Df1
De3+
34.Df2
Dc1+
35.Df1
De3+
36.Rg2
f5
37.Cf2
Rh7
38.Db1
De6
39.Db5
g5
40.g4
fxg4
41.fxg4
Rg6
42.Db7
d2
This seals the draw since White can neither take the pawn, nor Black force it through.
43.Db1+
Rg7
44.Rf1
De7
45.Rg2
De6
46.Dd1
De3
47.Df3
De6
48.Db7+
Rg6
49.Db1+
Rg7
50.Dd1
De3
51.Dc2
De2
52.Da4
Rg8
53.Dd7
Rf8
54.Dd5
Rg7
55.Rg3
De3+
56.Df3
De5+
57.Rg2
De6
58.Dd1
1/2-1/2