A move Anand will remember for ever

Chess Checks

Misjudgement, impulsive moves can be made at even the highest stage. However it is the elegant looking finishing touches which remain in the memory of the victor and Anand will remember his 34th move.

White: Veselin Topalov(2805) – Black: Viswanathan Anand (2787)
Sofia,2010 . Queen’s Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
The Queen’s Gambit Declined . This is one Opening which is called the World Championship Opening for it has virtually made an appearance in most World Championships
3.Nf3. Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 One of the most solid variation of this defence named after former World Champion Lasker
8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2  Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b614.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2.

White can think about 16.Qa4
16...Nf67 dxc5
If  17.Bc6 cxd4 18.Nxd4 e5
17...Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 19.Qc2
If 19.b3 Bb7 20.Qf4 19...Bb7 20.Nd2
If 20.Rxc5 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Rxb2 And if  21.Nd2 Rfd8 22.exf5 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qg5+ 24.Rg3 Qxd2 25.Qxc5 exf5 with a balanced game
 20...Rfd8 21.f3 Weakening his position. If  21.Rxc5 Rxd2  21...Ba6 A novelty!
22.Rf2  22.Rc1 is worth a look
22...Rd7 If  22...Rd5 23.e4 Rd7
23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3
Anand keeps his opponent guessing and does not make any commitment
 25.Qc1 If  25.Qa4 Qg5 26.e4 Qe3 27.Qa5 Qe1 28.Qxc5 Be2 29.Nb3 Rd1 30.Kh3 R8d3  25...Ba6  26.Ra3 Bb7
Topalov spurned the repetition of moves, indicating that he was not interested in a draw result

 27.Nb3 .Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4
If 30.Rd2 e4 31.f4 Rd3 32.Ne5 f629...e5
A safe move, played quickly.
If  29...g5 30.e4 g4  31.Qxh6 gxf3+ 32.Kxf3 Rd4 33.Nd2 Rcd7 34.Kg2 Qd8 35.Rf4!Rxd2+ 36.Kh3 Bxe4 37.Rxe4 R2d4 38.Ra4 Rxe4 39.Rxe4 Rd4 40.Re5 Rd5 41.Re4 Rd4 with a draw
30.e4 f5 31.exf5 The decisive blunder! Best here was  31.Nd2 fxe4 32.Nxe4 and maintain equality
31...e4 The World Champion does not like to miss a chance to gain initiative!
 32.fxe4 Momentary madness on Topalov’s part? His King will be dangerously exposed now! Incidentally Topalov made this move almost in a flash without much thought
32...Qxe4+ Anand is in the driver’s seat
33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3

Diagram 1

 34. ..Qe8
A fantastic retreat. It is obvious that Topalov had missed this move
 35.g4 h5 White must have got a sinking feeling by now
 36.Kh4 g5 37fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7
Once again a good move by the Indian
 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+
If  41.Rxa8 Rxe3+ 42.Rxe3 Rh4+ 43.Kxh4 Qg4 checkmate
41...Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2
If 47.Rf7+ Kg6 48.Rg7+ Kxf5 49.Rxg4 hxg4 50.Kxg2 Ke4

Diagram 2

47.Kxg2 If  47.Rf7+ Kg6! 48.Rg7+ Kxf5 49.Rxg4 hxg4! 50.Kxg2 Ke4 51.Kf2
47...Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 Anand is playing precisely
51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4
Also winning is  52...Qf3  53.Kh4 Qe4+ 54.Kxh5 Qd5+
 53.Kh2 Kh7
 Zugzwang  54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7 0-1 And Anand won the World Championship for the fourth time.