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[Blwe_torch]

Anand strikes to level scores with Topalov
PTI, Apr 26, 2010, 01.01pm IST

SOFIA: World champion Viswanathan Anand put up a sterling show to outwit challenger Veselin Topalov to level scores after the end of the second round of the world chess championship.

After losing the first game quite easily it was comeback time for Anand who outplayed Topalov comprehensively and the Indian ace can now look forward to his title defense more confidently.

While most of the chess fans were wondering whether Anand will go all out to level score with White pieces, or adopt a more cautious strategy and wait for the rest day today to recollect his confidence, Anand showed everyone the way.

Playing Topalov faced the popular Catalan opening, in which White aims for the initiative and long-term pressure. This was clearly the special opening that Anand had prepared for the match.

The pace of the game was considerably slower compared to the first game when the players almost blitzed out the opening moves.

Anand sacrificed a pawn in the opening in exchange for the quick development and positional pressure. On the 15th move the world champion offered the trade of queens despite being a pawn less and this was the turning point of the game. Even though Anand was saddled with doubled pawns on the queen side, the activity of pieces more than compensated for the structural weakness.

Both pairs of Knights were firmly entrenched in the central positions and the play revolved around the c-file and queenside.

The decisive moment of the game came on the 27th move when Topalov decisively erred by going for the exchange of knights. Anand was already sensing victory after 27th move and his hard paid off after 43 moves and nearly four hours.

"I thought I had compensation for the pawn, maybe. But after Rc4 I don't know about Ne3; somewhere there it began to slip away for Black. I think Black is still sort of OK but after I take on b6 and come back, then I'm just much better already. I was quite happy to find this resource that wins the pawn back and I keep all my pieces. And then it's fairly straightforward," Anand said in the post match conference.

Naturally Topalov had less to say: "It was a very complicated game and at some point I started to make mistakes. Of course after some time it was simply already much better for White."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/chess/Anand-strikes-to-level-scores-with-Topalov/articleshow/5859009.cms

[Blwe_torch]

Vishy has shown how tough he really is
Hari Hara Nandanan, TNN, Apr 27, 2010, 01.05am IST

CHENNAI: One-all. A punch and a counter-punch. The Viswanathan Anand vs Veselin Topalov world chess championship match in Sofia has lived up to its billing so far. If Anand lost the first game in the most unusual way in less than two hours, Topalov got squeezed in a positional masterpiece in the second game.

Before the third game on Tuesday, the question that will do the rounds in chess circles will surely be about Anand's defence with black. Will he dare Topalov with Grunfeld again? Will he shelve it for the rest of the match?

If English IM Malcolm Pein's observation about Anand's selection of opening in Game 2 is to be believed, the world champion will throw the Grunfeld again at Topalov, unless, of course, he has found chinks in it, which is quite unlikely. "As the Catalan is a Grunfeld Defence in reverse with an extra move, he (Anand) has effectively played two Gruenfeld setups in two games," noted Pein in his comments.

This could be a pointer to where the Anand openings are disposed. It is quite possible that the world champion and his team has invested a lot of time working on this opening.

The most striking aspect of Anand's recovery is that he has put to rest the general criticism that he has always buckled down under pressure. During the Kramnik match, he was asked what was the most disturbing aspect of his opponent (in general), and the world champion replied: "When my opponent turns the game around. Sometimes it is almost liberating when you finally lose. I think to myself, okay, the point is gone, tomorrow you are going to play better. You have to be careful not to panic."

He did not face such a situation in that match against Kramnik as he was always in the lead, but against Topalov, in just two games he showed that his nerves are made of steel. It is a long match, with 10 more games to go. Anand could possibly wait for a while before pressing hard and in that case he would employ the safe Queens Indian Defence or the Slav before further trying his home preparation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/chess/Vishy-has-shown-how-tough-he-really-is/articleshow/5861629.cms

[dextrous]

that first match was unfair. how can they expect a guy to play a game a day after he drove for 40 days? ridiculous.

[indcric]

that first match was unfair. how can they expect a guy to play a game a day after he drove for 40 days? ridiculous.

It was a little unfair. But he had 4 days rest as against a previously agreed 7 days. Not 1 day. The argument behind not postponing 3 days was that, they had all the arrangements made with TV deals etc. The organizers had to pay a lot of money as compensation, if they had to postpone it for 3 days.

I don't know whether we can say he lost the first game because of the lack of rest or not. He faltered right into a preparation. Every GM who was commenting the game was saying that 23...Kf7 is a bad move and .. Bd7 was the best in that position. Somehow, Vishy only spent 10 minutes on that move. Everyone who was following the game knew that the next step from Topalov would be 24.Nxf6. Vishy didn't spend much time analyzing on that move. He should have evaulated more deeply knowing that the next step would be Nxf6.

We can't say whether fatigue from travel was the reason, why Vishy couldn't analyze that position properly. Every GM commenting on that game on multiple websites said that 23. ..Bd7 was the right move. But Anand blundered with 23. ..Kf7. Most of his pieces were away from action, by the time Topalov was agressively attacking Anand's king. He should have opened up and brought his Bishop & Rook into play immediately with 23.. Bd7 which also allows the last Rank to be free for Rook to move. He would have had chances to make that game a draw then.

Now the 3rd game today was a draw. The scoreline now is 1.5-1.5. 9 more games to go.

I think Anand is now the favorite to win this match.

i) He came back from the loss in the first game.
ii) One line of Topalov's preparation with white pieces (the line he used in the first game) is out. Anand is avoiding that line now.
iii) Since Topalov took a public stance that he won't propose or accept draw offers unless they are dead draws, he is forced to find continuations even in games that are virtual draws. These situations might force him to make some mistakes and Anand would capitalize on those mistakes
iv) Anand started playing passively, and in closed variations. Topalov's style of agressive play with plenty of sacrifices requires open positions. Anand is carefully avoiding all kinds of open variations, which again forces Topalov to find aggressive moves and hence make mistakes.

[Blwe_torch]

Good analysis indcric!

[surya7]

that first match was unfair. how can they expect a guy to play a game a day after he drove for 40 days? ridiculous.

not 40 days my friend. 40 hours. your point still stands.

he is playing a bulgarian in bulgaria, they are going to make it as tough as possible. topalov used some new rule to disallow any press and cameras after the first 20 mins of the match much to anand's objection. he should have simply not shown up - they would have cancelled rather than forfeited. but i suspect he wanted the money. even the loser gets 800k euros.

[indcric]

that first match was unfair. how can they expect a guy to play a game a day after he drove for 40 days? ridiculous.

not 40 days my friend. 40 hours. your point still stands.

he is playing a bulgarian in bulgaria, they are going to make it as tough as possible. topalov used some new rule to disallow any press and cameras after the first 20 mins of the match much to anand's objection. he should have simply not shown up - they would have cancelled rather than forfeited. but i suspect he wanted the money. even the loser gets 800k euros.

A champion has to win against any one at any place. I guess Anand is a true champion. He will win. They are playing by the rules of FIDE. Press rules don't matter much for a player who is intent on playing chess rather than playing politics.

[CLR James]

Anand smashes the Catalan again, much more decisively this time. I wonder why Topalov played that opening once more. It is now 2.5-1.5, with 8 games to go. Today Anand was faultlessly brilliant; Topalov did not make any major mistakes, but was routed all the same. I thought with that dubious Qa3 in the first game, the WC was lucky to get a win, but today was a different story.

[naimdj62]

When all of the chess fans were searching whether Anand will go all out to level score with White pieces, or adopt a more cautious strategy and wait for the rest day today to recollect his confidence, Anand showed everyone the way. Thanks.

[Blwe_torch]

Great one!.
I hope his experiment while playing Black, works this time.

[Blwe_torch]

Anand wins fourth game to go one up
PTI, Apr 28, 2010, 10.23pm IST

SOFIA (Bulgaria): World champion Viswanathan Anand scored a rampaging victory over challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the fourth game to grab the lead in the 12-game World Chess championship on Wednesday.

Anand, who had lost the first game unceremoniously won the second in sparkling fashion and after drawing the third and winning the fourth game comprehensively, the fans are looking up to him to do what he did to Russian Vladimir Kramnik a couple of years ago at Bonn in Germany.

The scores are now on Anand's side as he leads the 12-game match by a 2.5-1.5 margin.

It was a Queen's gambit declined once again, something that Topalov has apparently prepared for this match which is not coming good given the fact that the Bulgarian has lost his second game with black on the trot.

Interestingly enough, it was yet again a replica of 2006 match that Kramnik won against Topalov as the latter went for the same system that he chose against the Russian in the previous match.

Surprising as it may sound, Anand won the second game using the pet line of Kramnik, drew the third doing the same and won on Wednesday simply repeating the opening of the 2006 match.

And all this is possible after crushing Kramnik in 2008 clash. As it happened in the game, Topalov won a pawn in the opening, kept it close to himself for a long time and once Anand threatened to open up the king side he was left with no answers.

The Indian ace came up with a resounding sacrifice of a knight to rip apart Topalov's king side and once he decided on that there was no respite for the challenger.

Anand simply squeezed out black's resources with some high quality moves. Down a piece, the world champion created havoc in the Bulgarian's territory with some deft manoeuvres and went on to score a memorable victory.

After the rest day on Thursday, Topalov will have white in the fifth game and the Bulgarian won't leave any stones unturned for his comeback attempt.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/chess/Anand-wins-fourth-game-to-go-one-up/articleshow/5869703.cms

[indcric]

I think Topalov should have opted for Slav in this game (just to see Anand's prepartion from White side of slav), but he again allowed Catalan, thinking that 5. .. Bb4+ would give him some attacking play.  But Anand seems to have prepared against this line too and kept Topalov's position cramped by 10.Na3 & 11.Ne5.

Topalov's style doesn't suit cramped positions. He tried to get some play using 12....Nb4 & 16....Qc5.

But I think 20...h6 was wrong as said by Topalov in the press conference and also 21....Qa7 was wrong,  21. ...Qg5 might have been his chance to save the game. I think Topalov didn't want his queen to go away from g1..a7 diagonal to have some counter play. But 22.Ng4 & 23. Nxh6+ were simply winning.

I guess Topalov doesn't allow Catalan in the 6th game, or else he will be very seriously behind in the match. Anand seems to have prepared on Catalan for this match. Topalov should simply avoid it in the future games.

[CLR James]

I think Topalov should have opted for Slav in this game (just to see Anand's prepartion from White side of slav), but he again allowed Catalan, thinking that 5. .. Bb4+ would give him some attacking play.  But Anand seems to have prepared against this line too and kept Topalov's position cramped by 10.Na3 & 11.Ne5.

Topalov's style doesn't suit cramped positions. He tried to get some play using 12....Nb4 & 16....Qc5.

But I think 20...h6 was wrong as said by Topalov in the press conference and also 21....Qa7 was wrong,  21. ...Qh5 might have been his chance to save the game. I think Topalov didn't want his queen to go away from g1..a7 diagonal to have some counter play. But 22.Ng4 & 23. Nxh6+ were simply winning.

I guess Topalov doesn't allow Catalan in the 6th game, or else he will be very seriously behind in the match. Anand seems to have prepared on Catalan for this match. Topalov should simply avoid it in the future games.

Yes the Slav I think is the only plausible way to avoid the Catalan playing black. Meanwhile Anand should not try the Grunfeld with black tomorrow. What was he thinking on the first day?

[Blwe_torch]

I think Topalov should have opted for Slav in this game (just to see Anand's prepartion from White side of slav), but he again allowed Catalan, thinking that 5. .. Bb4+ would give him some attacking play.  But Anand seems to have prepared against this line too and kept Topalov's position cramped by 10.Na3 & 11.Ne5.

Topalov's style doesn't suit cramped positions. He tried to get some play using 12....Nb4 & 16....Qc5.

But I think 20...h6 was wrong as said by Topalov in the press conference and also 21....Qa7 was wrong,  21. ...Qh5 might have been his chance to save the game. I think Topalov didn't want his queen to go away from g1..a7 diagonal to have some counter play. But 22.Ng4 & 23. Nxh6+ were simply winning.

I guess Topalov doesn't allow Catalan in the 6th game, or else he will be very seriously behind in the match. Anand seems to have prepared on Catalan for this match. Topalov should simply avoid it in the future games.

Yes the Slav I think is the only plausible way to avoid the Catalan playing black. Meanwhile Anand should not try the Grunfeld with black tomorrow. What was he thinking on the first day?

he is experimenting for sure. it didn't work out in the first game.....lets hope he succeeds in the 5th game though.

[indcric]

I think Topalov should have opted for Slav in this game (just to see Anand's prepartion from White side of slav), but he again allowed Catalan, thinking that 5. .. Bb4+ would give him some attacking play.  But Anand seems to have prepared against this line too and kept Topalov's position cramped by 10.Na3 & 11.Ne5.

Topalov's style doesn't suit cramped positions. He tried to get some play using 12....Nb4 & 16....Qc5.

But I think 20...h6 was wrong as said by Topalov in the press conference and also 21....Qa7 was wrong,  21. ...Qh5 might have been his chance to save the game. I think Topalov didn't want his queen to go away from g1..a7 diagonal to have some counter play. But 22.Ng4 & 23. Nxh6+ were simply winning.

I guess Topalov doesn't allow Catalan in the 6th game, or else he will be very seriously behind in the match. Anand seems to have prepared on Catalan for this match. Topalov should simply avoid it in the future games.

Yes the Slav I think is the only plausible way to avoid the Catalan playing black. Meanwhile Anand should not try the Grunfeld with black tomorrow. What was he thinking on the first day?

I don't think Anand would play Grunfeld any more in this match, at least until his victory in this match becomes sure. That gives Anand's seconds enough time to find a sound combination on the line 23.. Bd7 or some other sound combination.

A plausible explanation for selecting Grunfeld defence in the first game is that, Anand prepared for Grunfeld to use in this match, but he somehow couldn't fully recollect the correct continuation & mixed the moves during the first game. Anand himself admitted the same that he couldn't recollect his preparation & mixed his moves.

[indcric]

5th game is a draw. Anand seems to be holding quite easily with Slav.

The problem is with the Sofia rules and Topalov sticking to them. Topalov since he is down a point in this match, is trying to force a win and is making slightly inaccurate moves. Anand is forced to find a continuation where it forces repetition of moves and hence a draw. The idea behind Anand trying to force a draw around 40 moves is that, he will not become too tired for a game which is any way going to be a draw. He can thus not spend too much energy with black pieces and save his energy for the next games with White pieces.

Anand has two whites in the next two games (He will have white again in the 7th game, because piece colour will be exchanged after 6 games). Hope he will convert at least one of them to a win.

[indcric]

Finally Topalov draws against catalan in the 6th game. Anand should find a new opening for his next white games. He has white in 7th game too, need to see what new he can come up with.

[indcric]

Wow. Topalov going for a win with black against Catalan. He is gutsy.  He sacrificed a piece for 2 passed pawns on the queen side. Anand has to play very carefully. If Anand doesn't make any blunder, he should win because Topalov is a piece down. But if he falls into Topalov's preparation, Topalov might just win.

[indcric]

Topalov's preparation is quite strong. Anand is in trouble now. He has to play really well to hold this game. Wow. Topalov's seconds came up with a great preparation. Anand should have avoided Catalan, after 6th game's draw.

[indcric]

Great. Anand successfully  defended against all attacks and now in advantage in the end game. Win this game & effectively close the match, Anand. This is the best chance to close this match and defend the championship.

[indcric]

Seems like Anand missed a win. 42. Qa4! or Qb1! seems to have won the game. He, in fact, thought for a long time before making the move 42. Qb7.

Now Topalov has 3 whites in 5 games. Anything can happen.

[dextrous]

Seems like Anand missed a win. 42. Qa4! or Qb1! seems to have won the game. He, in fact, thought for a long time before making the move 42. Qb7.

Now Topalov has 3 whites in 5 games. Anything can happen.

who won? or was it a draw?

[indcric]

Seems like Anand missed a win. 42. Qa4! or Qb1! seems to have won the game. He, in fact, thought for a long time before making the move 42. Qb7.

Now Topalov has 3 whites in 5 games. Anything can happen.

who won? or was it a draw?

It was a draw. Anand missed a win.

[justforkix]

Seems like Anand missed a win. 42. Qa4! or Qb1! seems to have won the game. He, in fact, thought for a long time before making the move 42. Qb7.

Now Topalov has 3 whites in 5 games. Anything can happen.

does Anand retain if it is a tie ? Does Topalov have to win 2 of the remaining 5 ?

[indcric]

Topalov wins the 8th game. It was a draw, until Anand blundered at the very end at 54th move. He could have been more patient. I guess the age is catching upon Anand.

Now, the match is equal. Will this be advantage for Topalov? Topalov seems to have become comfortable with Anand's Slav with black & Catalan with white. Should Anand play other preparations?

Both players have 2 whites each in the remaining 4 games.

Anand, the champion, still have to get 6.5 points to win this match & defend his title. Earlier, in 1980's, the champion had to just score a tie to retain his championship. No more. Even champion now has to win the title match outright.

[Blwe_torch]

I am sure Anand will fight back into the game again.

[justforkix]

Anand, the champion, still have to get 6.5 points to win this match & defend his title. Earlier, in 1980's, the champion had to just score a tie to retain his championship. No more. Even champion now has to win the title match outright.

what happens if it is tied after 12 games ?

[dextrous]

Anand, the champion, still have to get 6.5 points to win this match & defend his title. Earlier, in 1980's, the champion had to just score a tie to retain his championship. No more. Even champion now has to win the title match outright.

what happens if it is tied after 12 games ?

you throw 5 pieces of your choices at 5 pieces of your opponent's choice...each citi moment of success gives you 1 dhamaka point

[indcric]

Anand, the champion, still have to get 6.5 points to win this match & defend his title. Earlier, in 1980's, the champion had to just score a tie to retain his championship. No more. Even champion now has to win the title match outright.

what happens if it is tied after 12 games ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2010#Match_conditions

They have to play 4 rapid games. The time control for these games will be 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.

If the score is tied after the four rapid tie break games, two blitz games (5 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move) will be played.  If the score is tied after two blitz games, another two-game blitz match will be played, under the same terms. The process will repeat, if necessary, until five blitz matches have been played.

If the score is tied after ten blitz games, a single sudden-death "Armageddon game" will determine the champion. The winner of a draw of lots gets to choose the color to play, with white given 5 minutes and Black 4 minutes. Beginning with move 61, a three-second increment will be added following each move. If the game is drawn then the player of the Black pieces is declared champion.

[kban1]

They have to play 4 rapid games. The time control for these games will be 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.

If the score is tied after the four rapid tie break games, two blitz games (5 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move) will be played.  If the score is tied after two blitz games, another two-game blitz match will be played, under the same terms. The process will repeat, if necessary, until five blitz matches have been played.

If the score is tied after ten blitz games, a single sudden-death "Armageddon game" will determine the champion. The winner of a draw of lots gets to choose the color to play, with white given 5 minutes and Black 4 minutes. Beginning with move 61, a three-second increment will be added following each move. If the game is drawn then the player of the Black pieces is declared champion.

This has to be the most ridiculous piece of rule framing to jduge a world championship --especially the last part.

[indcric]

They have to play 4 rapid games. The time control for these games will be 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.

If the score is tied after the four rapid tie break games, two blitz games (5 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move) will be played.  If the score is tied after two blitz games, another two-game blitz match will be played, under the same terms. The process will repeat, if necessary, until five blitz matches have been played.

If the score is tied after ten blitz games, a single sudden-death "Armageddon game" will determine the champion. The winner of a draw of lots gets to choose the color to play, with white given 5 minutes and Black 4 minutes. Beginning with move 61, a three-second increment will be added following each move. If the game is drawn then the player of the Black pieces is declared champion.

This has to be the most ridiculous piece of rule framing to jduge a world championship --especially the last part.

I understand the concept of one sudden-death "Armageddon game", but why give black only 4 minutes, while giving 5 minutes to white? I guess the concept of declaring the player with black pieces might be fine, because he was given only 4 minutes and white still couldn't break through.

I guess they didn't want the championship to be decided by a lottery or toss of a coin, but to be decided by a game of chess, with some twisted rules like giving one minute less to Black player and if he can draw with that, then he is a winner.

But I don't think it will come down to this, any way.

If Anand doesn't win the championship in the next 4 classical games, his chances are bleak. Anand already looks tired. As Topalov said before the game, Topalov's advantage is that he is 5 years younger.

Most people think that Anand will be the favourite, if it comes down to rapid games. But my experience of following Anand in FIDE candidate & championship cycles is that he is a bad rapid player when the championship or qualification to the next round is on line, Anand, though one of the greatest rapid players, lost to Kamsky in 1994 & even to a slow player like Karpov in the rapid play offs in 1998.

[indcric]

9th game is a draw. Anand missed win several times in this game. This is a psychological boost for Topalov, who has 2 whites in the next 3 games. Topalov now has more chances to become champion.

[indcric]

10th game a draw again. Anand played considerably better than yesterday.

Looking back at the whole match after 10 games, I think Anand should have prepared lot on end games, both from positions of weakness & from advantage. Topalov insisted on playing by Sofia rules and not offering draws until they are obvious. So, it was logical that there would be many games that go into 60+ moves. Topalov would take the games to 60+ moves, hoping that Anand would blunder somewhere and give him winning options from drawn positions.

[dextrous]

10th game a draw again. Anand played considerably better than yesterday.

Looking back at the whole match after 10 games, I think Anand should have prepared lot on end games, both from positions of weakness & from advantage. Topalov insisted on playing by Sofia rules and not offering draws until they are obvious. So, it was logical that there would be many games that go into 60+ moves. Topalov would take the games to 60+ moves, hoping that Anand would blunder somewhere and give him winning options from drawn positions.

won't the pawns have killed each other by the 60th move...or do only amateurs like me exchange pieces

[Blwe_torch]

10th game a draw again. Anand played considerably better than yesterday.

Looking back at the whole match after 10 games, I think Anand should have prepared lot on end games, both from positions of weakness & from advantage. Topalov insisted on playing by Sofia rules and not offering draws until they are obvious. So, it was logical that there would be many games that go into 60+ moves. Topalov would take the games to 60+ moves, hoping that Anand would blunder somewhere and give him winning options from drawn positions.

won't the pawns have killed each other by the 60th move...or do only amateurs like me exchange pieces

yeah...we guys fight till the last piece...like true jats!

[justforkix]

Ad draws 11th game with white - wriggles out of a tough situation. Down to the last game with Anand playing black !!

[indcric]

Ad draws 11th game with white - wriggles out of a tough situation. Down to the last game with Anand playing black !!

It was not a tough situation at all. He sacrificed a pawn, but that was all calculated. Counter play on the black King would be sufficient enough to earn a draw.

This is going to be tough for Anand to retain the title now. He is not only playing with black in the 12th game, he will be at a disadvantage in rapid play-off.

[justforkix]

I actually think its advantage Anand if he holds off Topalov in this final game. Anand has advantage over Topalov in the rapid playoff. Anand has excellent head-to-head vs. Topalov in speed chess and that cannot be discounted.

[Blwe_torch]

Anand is a master in rapid-chess.
I belive, he has an edge over Topalov, if it comes to that.
Hope Anand can strike a clinching blow on the 12th game itself...even with black.

[indcric]

Topalov just now blundered in 12th game. Anand has a winning position now. If he can't convert this, he doesn't deserve to be a world champion.