GM Anand (2799) – GM Leko (2753) [C88]
04.03.2008 / Linares – Round 12
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 Re8 10.Nc3 h6 11.a3 Bc5 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.c3 Bc5 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.Be3 d6 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Re3 Re7 19.Qh5 Qg5 += 20.Qxg5 hxg5 21.c4 c6 22.Rg3 Rd8 23.Rc1 b4 24.axb4 cxb4 25.c5 a5 26.Ra1 Ba6 27.Rxa5 Bxd3 28.Rxg5 Kh7 29.Rg4 Be2 30.Rg3 Rd2 31.Ba4 Rc7 += 32.Rb3 Rd1+ 33.Kh2 Rd4 34.Re3 Rd2 35.b3 Ra2 36.Ra8 Bb5 37.Rb8 ½–½
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Very odd game. Through 22 moves Queens and Knights are off the board, as well as one Bishop for each player.
All pawns are still on the board, and yet Leko has doubled pawns on two different files.
Anand is doing the only thing he knows how to do…..drawung to the top. This is the worst World Champion ever. There is no fighting spirit in him.
What stupid comments about Anand not having fighting spirit: the guy is on top of the list almost each tournament, which means he scores the heaviest of the contenders.
Isn’t it surprising then that Anand with his drawing abilities has managed to win so many tournaments or atleast come in the top 2!
The comment that Anand has no fighting spirit by anonymous shows a complete lack of understanding of competitive chess. Winning tournaments of this caliber are amazing accomplishments even though Anand has won so many we take his extraordinary skill for granted. Chess is not just about one style. Chess Competition is a clash of all styles of the participants. The goal is to score more points than your opponents. At this stage that obviously is what Anand has done.