What is your game 7 prediction? Will Anand continue with 1. d4 or will he try something else?

Game 7 will take place today at 7 am (U.S. central time). The score is 3.5 – 2.5 after 6 games in favor of Anand.

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Vishy Anand – Veselin Topalov
World Championship (game 7)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ Once again another Catalan. However, we have a deviation.

5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 dxc4 9. Ne5 So far we are still in book.

9…b5 Topalov is offering an exchange right out of the opening.

10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bd7 12. Bxa8 Qxa8 Even though White is up an exchange, his position has weaknesses. += With only 6 games left, Topalov is willing to take bigger chances to even up the score. The potential problem is if he loses, he will be down -2 and the match is basically over.



13. f3
Anand took a bit of time for this move. He has to be careful as his h1-a8 diagonal is very week. f3 gives it a little more protection.

The players were following the Gelfand – Ivanchuk game from Melody Amber (played a few weeks ago – end of March) for the first 12 moves. That game continued with 13. Qc2 Qc6 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. f3 e5 and eventually (on move 33) the game ended in a draw. Therefore, the new move was 13. f3 by Anand according to my database.

13…Nd5 Topalov played this move immediately. It is obvious that Topalov and his team have prepared this. He would not sacrifice an exchange right out of the opening for nothing. The tide is turned a little in this game. Topalov is dictating the position instead of Anand. And it is he who deviated first while putting Anand on the defensive side.

14. Bd2 e5 Topalov is offering another pawn! The idea is to clear up the diagonal for Black’s Bishop to get to h3. Black has plenty of compensation for the material disadvantage. However, it is not without risk. If Black is not successful with his attack, he will be down another game. This is Topalov’s style. It is very different from most players who have played in a World Championship before. Usually players want to hold with Black and try to win with White. In this game, Topalov is going for it even with Black.

15. e4 Once again, Anand took his time with this move. This is less risky than taking on e5.

15…Bh3 Another immediate reply by Topalov and he is again offering to give up more material. If 16. exd5 Bxf1 17. Qxf1 exd4. Black will have an incredibly strong Queenside pawn chain.

Former President of FIDE and current Honorary President Florencio Campomanes just passed away at age 83. I first met him a lot time ago. The last time we saw each other was at the 2008 Dresden Olympiad. My condolences to his family.

16. exd5 Bxf1 17. Qxf1 exd4 18. a4 Qxd5 19. axb5 Qxb5 20. Rxa7 Pretty much forced lines. Black has a pawn for a pieces. However, the b2 pawn may soon fall and that would give Topalov a pair of passed pawns for a Knight. Anand has less than 60 minutes left while Topalov only used a few minutes for the first 20 moves.

20….Re8
If 21. Bc1 then Bc5 22. Ra2 d3+ 23. Kh1 Qb7 and Black is doing fine, perhaps even better. =+ Therefore, I don’t think Anand can do that. I like 21. Kg2 more.

21. Kh1 I still think Kg2 is a little better. This move invites 21…Qxb2. Here is a possible line: 21… Qxb2 22. Qe1 h6 23. Rxe7 Rxe7 24. Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25. Kg2 Qb2 26. Qe8+ Kh7 27. Qe4+ Kg8 28. Qe8+ Kh7 29. Qe4+ Kg8 30. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

21…Bf8 Topalov spent more than 15 minutes for this move. He once again avoided the strongest line which would lead to a draw to go for an inferior but more complicated line. Anand is taking a lot of time again for this next move.

22. Rc7 The best move. I think Black has to play 22…d3 here to protect the c4 pawn. However, this allows White to play Bc3 to block the pawns. I think Topalov may regret 21…Bf8.

22….d3 23. Bc3 Now this may be a possible continuation: 23…Bc5 24. Nd2 Qb6 25. Be5
Rxe5 26. Rc8+ Bf8 27. Nxc4 Qe6 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Nxe5 Qxe5 30. Qxd3 +=

23…Bd6 24. Ra7 Amazingly, I think Topalov has to pause for 1 move and play h6. Then he can freely bring his Rook and Bishop into play. However, this is an un-Topalov-like move.

24…h6 I am impressed! He actually played it. It is the most logical move but it is a difficult move for Topalov to make. Anand has played well so far. He can play brilliantly and he can be patient enough to take time to neutralize Black’s attack. I think this is a quality which Anand developed over the years with age and experience.

25. Nd2 Now Topalov MUST play Bb4 to maintain any pressure and compensation for the material disadvantage.

25…Bb4 Both players are facing tremendous pressure. Anand knows that if he can win this game, he basically has the match in his hand. On the other hand, it would be devastating for him and the momentum of the match would reverse immediately if he loses.

Topalov is down a game. He understands that every game is now do or die. If he loses another game, he will have virtually no chance to come back as he would have to beat Anand twice just to have a rapid playoff.

Anand is in a mild time pressure. He has about 20 minutes for 15 moves.

26. Ra1 Now another must sequence for Topalov 26…Bxc3 27. bxc3 Re2 = Otherwise, he will have problems.

26…Bxc3 27. bxc3 Re2 28. Rd1 Now 28…Qh5 29. Qg1 Qe5 = Here is another line:

28…Qb2 29. Nxc4 Qxc3 30. Nd6 Qc2 31. Ne4 f5 32. Rc1 Rxh2+ 33. Kg1 Rg2+ 34. Kh1 Rh2+ 35. Kg1 Rg2+ 1/2-1/2; Also possible is 28…Qe5 29. Nxc4 Qxc3 30. Nd6 Qc2 31. Ne4 f5 32. Rc1 Rxh2+ 33. Kg1 Rg2+ 34. Kh1 Rh2+ 1/2-1/2
28…Qa4 So Topalov picked a line I did not even consider. It is a fine move as well. The position is still equal.

29. Ne4 Now 29…f5 is coming. Anand has about 15-16 minutes for 11 moves. Topalov has more than 35 minutes. 29…f5 30. Rd2 fxe4 31. Rxe2 dxe2 32. Qxe2 exf3 =

29…Qc2 Just as before, Topalov is choosing an inferior line to maintain a complicated position. Other lines would have lead to simpler draws for Anand.

30. Rc1 Topalov can force a draw at will with Rxh2+

30…Rxh2+ 31. Kg1 Rg2+ It looks like a 3-time repetition again. If 32. Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33. Qf1 d2 34. Nxd2 Qxd2 35. Qxc4 =

32.
Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33. Qf1 This is still equal.

33…Qe3 If 34. Qf2 then Qc1+ =

34. Qf2 Qc1+ 35. Qf1 I have to believe that Topalov allow a repetition soon. He has no win and it is risky to keep playing inferior moves. In addition, he will have 3 games with White in the final 5 games. So it is better to accept truce to fight another day.

35….Qe3+ 36. Kg2 So Anand repeated a few times to gain time to make time control.

36…f5 37. Nf2 Kh7 38. Qb1 Now Topalov has to be careful not to lose. I think he over pushed. He could have sealed the draw before and decided to repeat moves too late.

38…Qe6 39. Qb5 g5 40. g4 Anand made time control with about 5 minute to spare. 40…fxg4 is must as 40…f4 is losing. It allows White to play Ne4.

40…fxg4 += 41. fxg4 I believe this game is still heading for a draw. However, Topalov has to work harder than he would have liked to.

41…Kg6 How to make progress for White? It is not easy.

42. Qb7 This is a tricky move by Anand. The threat is Qe4+ to exchange Queens for an easy win. Topalov MUST play d2 or he will lose. A nice shot by Anand to provoke a possible blunder from Topalov.

42…d2 43. Qb1+ Kg7 I was asked if I am pro-Anand or Topalov. Neither. I have known both of them for over 20 years. I consider both of them friends. I am rooting for an exciting match.

44. Kf1 If 44…Qe3 45. Qb7+ Kg6 46. Qc6+ Kg7 47. Qd7+ Kg6 48. Qd4 Qe1+ 49. Kg2 Qe2 +=

44…Qe7 This is a good move as well.

45. Kg2 Qe6 46. Qd1 Qe3 47. Qf3 Qe6 += I do not see a win for White. Having said that, White can keep on maneuvering his pieces and Black must play accurately every move. Otherwise, it is over.

One of Topalov’s strengths is he is fearless. He is not afraid to lose. He plays very aggressive chess. From this strength, his weakness is he often over pushes and he sometimes mis-evaluates his position.

Anand is a very opportunistic player. In this game, he was very patient and when the fireworks subsided, he went for the win.

48. Qb7+ Kg6 49. Qb1+ Kg7 50. Qd1 Qe3 51. Qc2 Black can play either 51…Qe2 or 51…Qf4.

51…Qe2 52. Qa4 A simple 52…Qe3 is fine. White cannot let go of the d1 square because Black has Qxf2+

52…Kg8 This is fine too. Same concept. White cannot make progress.

53. Qd7 Kf8 It is up to Anand now to repeat moves to draw this game.

54. Qd5 Kg7 55. Kg3 Qe3+ 56. Qf3 Qe5+ 57. Kg2 Qe6 += As I mentioned above, I simply do not see any winning line for Anand other than a catastrophic blunder by Topalov.

58. Qd1 I believe this is the 3rd time we reach this position. Let me go back and double check. Yes, it is a 3-time repetition. A daring opening choice for Topalov. A well played all around game for Anand. 1/2

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