It’s the final countdown. The score is 5.5 – 5.5 going into the final game. The World Championship is on the line. Can Topalov throw the knockout punch with the White pieces or will Anand score his first victory as Black? If they go into the rapid playoff, which player will have the edge?
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| Anand, Viswanathan | g | India | 2787 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 5½ | |
| Topalov, Veselin | g | Bulgaria | 2805 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 5½ | |
Game 12 will take place today at 7 am (U.S. central time).
Veselin Topalov – Vishy Anand
World Championship – Game 12
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 This is not the most popular line for Black but as a surprised weapon for one game, it can be effective as Anand needs to hold this game.
8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 We have the Queen’s Gambit declined for the first time in this match. It looks like Anand is choosing something safe for most chances to hold.
9…c6 10. Be2 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 We are still in opening book. This is a relatively safe opening for Black.
12….Nd7 13. 0-0 b6 14. Bd3 c5 The idea for Black is simple. He wants to have a symmetrical pawn structure. White still has a small advantage due to space advantage.
15. Be4 Rb8 I know many players who play this line as Black. It is very difficult to win this type of position as White. White’s temporary space and piece development advantage will evaporate soon. Here is a possible line: 17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 19. Qc2 Bb7 20. Nd2 Rfd8 21. Nb3 c4 22. Rxc4 Ba6 23. Rc7 Rbc8 24. Rxe7 Rxc2 =. This is also equal: 17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 19. b3 Bb7 20. Qf4 Rfd8 =
16. Qc2 Nf6 The reason why Anand cannot simply play cxd4 is because of the following: 16… cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bb7 18. Rc7 +/-
17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 Now that Topalov is able to avoid the symmetrical pawn structure, his main target will be the c5 pawn.
19. Qc2 Bb7 White retreats his Queen behind the Rook to put more pressure on the c pawn. Now is not the time for Black to play passively. Anand indirectly defends the c5 pawn with Bb7. If 20. Rxc5 then Bxf3 21. gxf3 Rxb2 22. Qxb2 Qxc5 =+
It is very clear that Anand and his team have prepared this very practical and safe line. It is a wise choice not to take any chances to send this match to the rapid playoff.
20. Nd2 Topalov is following the idea I previously mention back in move 15. He is doing the best he can to keep the remaining pieces on the board, stabilize the Kingside, then continue to put more pressure on the c5 pawn. This is his only chance, as slim as it may be, to win.
20…Rfd8 If this game ends with a draw, I think Anand will have a small edge in the rapid playoff.
21. f3 The idea is to block the effectiveness of Black’s b7 Bishop. Then he can re-focus on the c5 pawn. Anand will try not give Topalov time to do that. 21…Qg5 is possible right now.
21…Ba6 This is OK too. Anand spent a considerable amount of time for this move. He understands that is he fails to keep White busy, he will have a problem holding on to the c pawn and that can mean the game. White should put his f1 Rook on c1.
22. Rf2 This is an odd choice for Topalov. The problem is Anand can mount his pieces on the d file to go after the Knight as White may face back rank problem. I like 22. Rc1 a lot better.
22…Rd7 Following the plan of doubling up the Rooks on the d file. In my opinion, the position is equal.
23. g3 Topalov is creating a bubble for his King. Once he can neutralize Anand’s threats, he can then turn his focus back on the c5 pawn which is going nowhere. Both players understand the huge importance of this game. Therefore, they are very patient so far.
Here is an interesting question from one of the bloggers following the LIVE commentary: “During such kind of matches, how much sleep would you and other players usually are able to get? And how do you guys relax?”
The amount of sleeping hours differ from game to game. I know some players like to read to relax. Some like to watch TV. Many do like to take leisure walks. Some play tennis or swim. It is the seconds who have to work the hardest between games.
23…Rbd8 Following the plan.
24. Kg2
Here is another interesting question: “Do you agree that in case of a draw the champion is still a champion? Is it what Kasparov thinks? How do they fix the total number of matches?”
I do not think the old system which a champion sat and waited every 3-4 years for a challenger then retain the title if he / she can tie the match is fair. I also do not like 12 games. I think it is too short. I would prefer to see 14-16 games. I have many ideas about this and other important chess issues such as chess in education, women’s chess, college chess, professional chess, and chess expansion, etc. I will present them directly to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the near future. In fact, there will be a press release about it probably today.
24…Bd3
I am moving this LIVE commentary to the post above.
Vishy! Vishy! Vishy!
Topa! Topa! Topa!
New king of chess will rise today in Sofia and will rule the world for years to come!!! Can’t rain all the time for Topalov!!!
1.d4 means Topa will look for chances and proceed cautiously as both players are well prepared. 1.e4 and other openings will mean Topa will risk everything to avoid the rapid games.
I believe we will be seeing the Grunfeld for one more time with some (quite early) improvement from Topalov’s side, unless Anand is willing to make a surpise (QGA for instance?) where he has a prepared novelty really early in the game (so that he keeps the upper hand).
This great match is 2 short!In my opinion we have a dangerous Tie-Break
in Sofia…
A QGD! Anand is playing to not lose. Topalov I feel should’ve gone with the sharper exchange variation! This game will be close, Topalov would’ve had more chances if he with a sharper line against the QGD. Most people think the QGD is solid, stats say different, the Grunfeld is actually more solid statistically! I’m biased for counter-attack anyway though, 🙂
Nigel Short: Statistically Black doesn’t do too well here. Objectively he should be fine, but it indicates that in practice it is easier for White to play. (It seems Nigel Short agrees with my earlier point, stats say QGD is not so solid in reality! Just like in reality a Najdorf is more solid in terms of results that a Petrov or a Ruy Lopez, still people think these passive systems are solid?)
Anand will draw this one for sure
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Susan, you highlight that it is difficult for white to take an edge with this position, so do you think Topalov is right to allow this? Would you have chosen some deviation in this opening to play a more complicated game?
20. … dont take c6 🙂
I heard Anand was a monster at rapid chess, is that true?
Queen b6 the best option under the circumstances .
Does the move f3 occur a lot on the board in such a position ?
I smell a draw here since both the players are very cautious. But for Topalov It is a must to risk and play. Now or never. He has made a mark of his tongue before the event. Now he has to show it on board.
A champion need to play like a champion.As susan says “Win with grace”
Although the position looks equal I think Anand is also playing aggressively in this game.
Susan,
this is a really random question-do you know what kind of cars Anand/Topalov drive? 🙂
I do not know what they drive but they are being driven in Mercedes Benz. Each player is assigned a chauffeur. It looks like a c class MB to me.
Best wishes,
Susan
Susan: During such kind of matches, how much sleep would you and other players usually are able to get? And how do you guys relax?
Why Rf2 by Topa? to protect d2?
move 23 was g3, not Kg2.
it is 23.G3, not Kg2. Please correct it.
Susan,
Do you agree that in case of a draw the champion is still a champion? Is it what Kasparov thinks? How do they fix the total number of matches?
Does anyone else have problems accessing susan’s blog on internet explorer? I’m able to access it on firefox, not on IE
Is black planning Bd3 and c4?
Whats the number of followers today? I usually saw more than about 100 comments by this time in previous matches. I wonder why the number is less today for this final match.
I cannot see the posts in google chrome, but it works on firefox. It used to work in chrome before.
The decisive games were 1,2,4 & 8. So as per mathematics next is 16th. Hence we may see the rapid play off.
@Susan: Honestly, I prefer the world championship how it was in the past with candidate matches and the champion sitting on the throne for 4 years waiting for a worthy challenger. Perhaps nowadays this waiting period should b reduced to 3 years, but this longer period guarantees that the event is followed widely. Also, the talk about this not being fair is just bollocks. People should stop wining and get to it. But no, nowadays its all about money, so chess events follow some commercial logic
I agree with you Alex!
But the cycle can be 2 years. Candidate matches in one year and the challenge next year end.
I agree with Kasparov about 16 games, but no more than that! I don’t think the rapid games are fair, a lot of GMs are really bad at rapid and blitz. If Topalov draws this game and loses in the rapid games then to me that’s not fair! This isn’t a rapid or blitz WC. For me the biggest change from FIDE would be to ban seconds! If these guys think they’re the best players in the world then prove it! Why use a team of seconds (or computers)? The title doesn’t mean as much today as it did in the past. If I used seconds and computers and won a tournament, it wouldn’t mean a thing to me anyway, but that’s just me and I never compromise with anyone!:)
Topalov just played 32,fxe4? I liked 32,Re3 pinning the pawn to the Queen! Well, it looked playable at a glance, 🙂
Go, Anand, Go!!!!!
He is going to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
Susan you are too hot be a chess player 🙂 you should be a model or something 😛