Candidates 2016 (6) |
Candidates 2016 (6) |
An emphatic victory for Anand. Let's have a look at the game to see what really went right for him and wrong for Svidler.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 
1/2-1/2 (47) Anand, V (2779)-Svidler,P (2728) Morelia/Linares 2007
8... Bb7 Although this is the main move in the position, Anand thought for a good ten minutes. Why? Because Svidler has got the position 13 times in his games and all the times he has chosen b4.
8... b4 is Svidler's move.
9. d3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. c3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 This is all very standard Ruy Lopez stuff. Now White must remain consistent and break in the centre with d4.
13. d4 exd4 This came as a bit of a surprise to Anand. But Peter was mainly trying to play very concrete chess.
14. cxd4 d5?! Although this is very thematic. It is extremely dangerous. The main reason being that the two bishops on c1 and c2 are opened up against the black king.
14... cxd4 looks like the best way for Black to proceed. 15. e5 Nd5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Nxd4 Nb4 18. Bb1
is an interesting game.
15. e5 Ne4 This was a critical position where Anand took a lot of time. There are a lot of captures. As Anand correctly pointed out, the main question to him was whether to take on b5 or not. On one hand keeping the a-file closed keeps the rook on the back rank safeguarding it. On the other hand the rook doesn't take part in the game. It is a very difficult decision to make and almost impossible to see what possibilites may arise after say eight to ten moves. But this is where intuition comes into picture and Anand felt that bringing the a1 rook into the game was more important and that explains his next move.
16. axb5 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Now this exchange sacrifice is not as effective as in the game.(17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd5! Important to blockade the d-pawn before attacking it. 19. Re3 (19. Qe2 Nb3
)
19... Nc6)
17... Nb3! 18. Ng5 (18. Rh4 Bxf3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Rh3 Bxd1 21. Bg6+= All of these analyses lead us to the fact that Anand's decision of taking axb5 was better than not taking.)
18... Nxa1 19. Qh5 Qxg5! 20. Bxg5 g6 (20... Nxc2 21. Rh4 h6 22. Bxh6 g6 23. Rg4 Nxd4 24. Rxg6+ fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8=)
21. Qd1 Nxc2 22. Qxc2 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 cxd4 Only Black can be better here.
16... axb5 16... Nxd2? 17. Bxd2 axb5 18. Bxh7+! wins! It's a standard Greek Gift! 18... Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 (19... Kg6 20. Qg4
)
20. Qh5
16... cxd4?! 17. bxa6 Rxa6 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Bc5 21. b4! Bxb4 22. Rxd4 Qb8 23. Qd3
17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Rxe4! This move might be natural for a player like Anand, but for us who are taught about the relative value of the pieces since a young age, it is not easy to consider a such a move. Once you see it, though, and you realize that the bishop on e4 will be a complete monster, breathing fire in both directions, you make this move!
18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5= gives Black excellent chances to hold.
18... Nb3 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Ra7 (19... Rb8 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. Qh5)
(19... 19... g6 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21. Bd2 b4 22. Qa4)
20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Ng5+
19. Rxa8 Bxa8 At this point I went to tournament hall to check out what exactly was going on. I expected Anand to be looking happy while Svidler would be on the board with his head in his hands. But the scene I saw was completely opposite. Peter had just captured the rook on a8 and was moving around confidently. Anand on the other hand was nervous, fidgety, biting his nails and looked as if he was the one on the back foot. But it was clear that Vishy was calculating the details of his final attack, anxious to make sure that his opponent had no defensive resources. And in the above position he picked up his knight and made the best move 20.Ng5!
20. Ng5! Svidler came back and saw this move. I thought that the Russian would think for a while before he would make his move but he blitzed it out. He was showing that he had it under control.
20. Rh4 Bxf3 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Rh3 Bxd1 23. Bg6+
20... Nxc1 21. Qh5! Once again the only move. There is an attack on both the h7 and f7 pawns.
21... h6 This move was also made quickly.
21... Qxg5 was a way to avoid an immediate defeat, but doesn't really serve any purpose as after 22. Qxg5 Bxe4 23. Qxc1! Bxc2 24. Qxc2 the position is technically winning. It won't be so difficult for a player of Anand's calibre to turn this into a win.
21... Bxe4 22. Bxe4 h6 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qg6
22. Qxf7+ Kh8 At this point Peter once again stood up from the board and started walking around. Anand was making his final calculations, the other players were all coming to the board and making faces of disbelief. Nakamura stood right next to Svidler's seat for almost a minute. He just didn't want to leave. He checked the scoresheet, then the board and couldn't believe that Anand was just winning. He went back to his board, Anand lifted his hand and once again made the only winning move in the position.
23. Rg4! The rook defends the knight and now the threat is Qg6. Black doesn't really have a way to stop the attack.
23. Rf4 Ne2+
23... Qa5 And once again Anand has the only move to win.
23... Ne2+ 24. Kf1! wins!(24. Kh1?? however loses in an amazing fashion. 24... Qa5!! Suddenly the back rank weakness turns out to be the critical factor in the game. 25. h4 Qe1+ 26. Kh2 Qg1+ 27. Kh3 Qh1#)
24. h4! Svidler resigned as he saw no point in continuing. His bluff of playing quickly had not worked. Many of you might be wondering why this is the only move. Wouldn't h3 also win? The point is subtle. The h3 square has to be kept for the knight to control g1.
24. h3 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Ne2 26. Nf3 Bxf3 27. gxf3 Nxd4
24. h4 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Ne2 26. Nh3 Like a gentleman he analyzed the game with Anand, kept a very calm face in the press conference and showed great sportsman spirit.
1-0
[Sagar Shah]
Game(s) in PGN
Anand V.
Svidler P.