Vishy Wins!

Photo © John Saunders

The former world champion Vishy Anand said it right at the after-game analyzes: "I knew that with the soccer system the tournament definitely cannot be won. But there is a very high probability to end on last place." Which already speaks a lot about his attitude towards the last game at the LCC. Still, a silent Berlin quickly appeared on the board:

[Event "6th London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Anand , Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {I can almost hear the sigh of disbelief from
Anand's admirers when the Berlin appeared on the board. It has the reputation
of a very solid and drawish opening, but like I mentioned this many times
already it is also played for a win at the highest level.} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4
Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 {Vishy had tried many
sublines in the Berlin and today he opted for the "modern" positioning of the
king.} 10. Nc3 h5 11. Rd1 {Diagram [#] I read somewhere that Mickey was the
secret Anti-Berlin weapon for Magnus Carlsen in the WCC in Sochi this year.} ({
Adams deviates from a game that was played less than a month ago} 11. Ne2 b6
12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nf4 Bb7 {This was an excellent novelty which solved Black's
problems at once.} 14. e6 Bd6 15. exf7+ Kxf7 16. Ng5+ Kf6 17. Ne4+ Kf7 18. Ng5+
Kf6 19. Ne4+ Kf7 20. Ng5+ {1/2 (20) Carlsen,M (2863)-Anand,V (2792) Sochi 2014}
) 11... Be7 12. g3 b6 13. a4 Bb7 $146 {Curiously, it is once again Anand who
produces a novelty and once more it is the Bb7 move!} ({Previously} 13... a5 {
had been played by a great expert of the Berlin wall} 14. Bf4 Rg8 15. Ng5 Bb7
16. Rd3 Ba6 17. Rd2 Rd8 18. Rad1 Bc8 19. Kh2 Rxd2 20. Rxd2 Bd8 $11 {Efimenko,Z
(2689)-Bacrot,E (2705) Germany 2012}) 14. a5 ({The generally desirable trade
of the dark-squared bishops allows a fine square for the black king} 14. Bg5
Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Ke7 $11) 14... c5 {Vishy believes that the pawn thrust is not as
dangerous and that the long diagonal is of a greater importance,} 15. Nd5 Bd8 (
{The curious pawn sacrifice} 15... Rd8 16. Nxc7+ Kf8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {where the
two white knights are hanging is not that appealing once that Black spots the
line} 18. axb6 axb6 19. Ne1 Bxc7 20. Ra7 $1) 16. Bg5 ({However Mickey could
have tried} 16. c4 $5 {at once with his knight controlling the d4 square.}) ({
Nothing gives} 16. axb6 axb6 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 $11) 16... Rf8 $1 {Diagram [#]
"This move was very important and I still have that counterplay along the
diagonal if he takes the pawn"- Vishy} ({he former world champion was also
considering} 16... Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Ke7 {but he was not sure that
the pawn sacrifice will be sound after} 19. Rad1 ({However, there was also the
typical central strike} 19. e6 $1 fxe6 20. Re1 $16 {with the tactical point}
Kf6 21. Rxe6+ Kxg5 22. f4#) 19... Rhd8 (19... Nd4 20. c3 $1 {wins for White})
20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Rxd8 Kxd8 22. Nxf7+ Ke7 {Sometimes this is enogh for an
equality stated Anand, but maybe not here, for instance} 23. Ng5 Nd4 24. c3
Ne2+ 25. Kf1 Nc1 26. a6 $1 (26. axb6 cxb6 $1) 26... Nd3 27. f4 Nxb2 ({Or} 27...
h4 28. Ke2 c4 29. gxh4 Nxf4+ 30. Ke3 Nd3 31. Nf3 Nxb2 32. Nd4 $16) 28. Ke2 $16)
17. c4 {Vishy did not like this move as it weakens the d4 square. This is an
excellent outpost for the black knight.} ({If White wants equality he could go
for} 17. Bxd8 {but Adams was still hoping for something more} Bxd5 18. Rxd5
Rxd8 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. axb6 axb6 21. Ra8+ Ke7 $11) 17... Bxd5 18. Rxd5 ({
Nobody mentioned the other capture} 18. cxd5 $5 {but my feeling is that it was
good for White thanks to this little tactics} Bxg5 19. axb6 $1 {and if Black
keeps the bishop} Be7 (19... cxb6 {might be better but now Black will not be
able to undermine the white pawn center with c7-c6 like in the game.} 20. Nxg5
Nd4 21. Kg2 (21. f4 $5) 21... f6 22. exf6 gxf6 23. Re1+ Kd7 24. Ne6 $36) 20.
bxc7 {he is definitely in trouble. Just look at the white pawn mass in the
center!}) 18... Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Ke7 {[%cal Ga8d8] Diagram [#] Now Black
equalizes ad starts thinking of something more.} 20. Kg2 ({This time} 20. Rad1
{does not work to} Nd4 $1 {as there is no c2-c3 resource.}) 20... Nd4 21. Rd1 (
{One little nice trick was pointed by Vishy} 21. b4 Ne6 $1 {wins a pawn for
Black.}) 21... Rad8 {The knight on d4 holds black's position together until he
trades a pair of rooks. Once that the penetration on the seventh rank is out
of the question, Black can start attacking the overexposed pawn(s) on e5 and
possible d5.} ({Another idea was} 21... c6 22. Rd6 f6 23. Ne4 fxe5 24. Rg6 {"I
did not see Black getting anywhere" Anand.}) 22. Nf3 ({If} 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23.
axb6 axb6 24. Ne4 {Black can go for the e5 pawn at once} Ke6 25. Ng5+ Kf5 26.
Nxf7 Rf8) 22... c6 ({Vishy was also considering the move} 22... Rxd5 {with the
idea to attack the white pawns later, but saw a nice idea for Mickey} 23. cxd5
Nxf3 (23... Nb3 24. axb6 axb6 25. d6+ (25. Nh4) 25... Kd7 26. Ng5 Nd4 27. dxc7
Kxc7 28. Ra1 $132) 24. Kxf3 f6 25. e6 Rd8 26. Ke4 {[%cal Gf2f4,Gf4f5] Diagram
[#] with the idea of a fast f2-f4-f5, when the undermining move} c6 $2 {fails
to} 27. dxc6 $1 Rxd1 28. c7 {and White wins.}) 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Ng5 ({They
both agreed that White was holding after} 24. axb6 axb6 25. Rd3 Nxf3 26. Rxd8
Nh4+ 27. gxh4 Kxd8 28. f4 g6 29. Kf3 Ke7 30. b3 Ke6 31. Ke4 b5 32. Kd3 Kf5 33.
Ke3 $11) 24... b5 ({The play along the b file is not fast enough} 24... bxa5
25. Ne4 Rb8 26. Nxc5 Ne6 {(Anand) and here strong is} 27. Rd7+ $1 Ke8 28. Rb7)
25. cxb5 cxb5 {Black achieved a lot. He has a very strong knight in the center,
active king and pawn majority on the queenside. It is not pleasant for Adams
at all but it was hard to believe that his position will collapse that soon.}
26. Ne4 Nc6 $1 {A nice winning try.} 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 {[%csl Ya5,Rc5,Ye5] Diagram
[#]} 28. e6 $2 {A mistake. Mickey did not trust his kingside pawns and this
lost the game for him.} ({Also dubious is} 28. a6 $6 Nxe5 29. Nxc5 Kc7 $17) ({
However} 28. f4 $1 {was strong when White has enough counterplay after both}
Nxa5 ({Or} 28... c4 29. Nd6 a6 30. Nxf7+ Kd7 31. Kf3 Nxa5 32. Nd6) 29. Nxc5 Kc7
30. e6 $1 {The key move!} fxe6 (30... f6 $4 31. e7) 31. Nxe6+ Kd6 32. Nxg7 Nc4
33. Nf5+ Kd5 34. Kf3 Nxb2 35. Ne3+ Kd4 (35... Ke6 36. Ke4) 36. g4 hxg4+ 37.
hxg4 {and it should be a draw after say} Nc4 38. Nxc4 Kxc4 39. g5 Kd5 40. g6
Ke6 41. f5+ Kf6 42. Ke4 a5 43. Kd4 b4 $11) 28... fxe6 29. Nxc5 Ke7 $17 {[%csl
Ya5,Yb2][%cal Ge7d6,Gd6d5,Gd5c4,Gc4b3,Yc6a5] Diagram [#] Now that the game
gets one-sided it is the activity of the kings that decides.} 30. Nb3 Kd6 31.
Kf3 Kd5 32. Kf4 Kc4 33. Nc1 ({Anand had already seen the win after the more
resilent} 33. Nd2+ Kd3 34. Nf3 (34. Ne4 e5+ 35. Kf5 g6+ $19) 34... b4 $1 $19 ({
Rather than} 34... Nxa5 35. Ne5+ Kc2 36. b4 Nc4 37. Nc6)) 33... Nxa5 34. Kg5
Nb3 35. Ne2 b4 $1 36. Kxh5 a5 {The rook pawns are most unpleasant for the
knights and this one is unstoppable! This was the only win for the black
pieces at the LCC and it gave the best tie break to Vishy Anand who won the
tournament!} 0-1

Complete report.

The Match Had Started!

The first game did not disappoint! The challenger produced a novelty, got some initiative but the world champion defended well and leveled the chances. Anand then hesitated and stood on the edge of the abyss. Magnus missed the continuation though and Vishy bailed out.

[Event "World Chess Championship 2014"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2863"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 {The long awaited match have started! Anand choses a move which is not
his favorite but one which gives more winning chances in the past years.
Remember, the Berlin?} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {The last time Carlsen played
the Gruenfeld was in 2013. This variation should not come as a surprise for
Anand though. The Gruenfeld has a reputation of a very solid and forced
opening for good reason. Anand had played it himself in matches and Gelfand
have even prepared it as a surprise weapon against Vishy in their match in
2012. "The Hammer" in Carlsen's camp is a vivid fan of the defense as well.} 4.
cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 {Diagram [#] A curious choice. According to Megabase both the
opponents have pleasant memories in this line, scoring 2/2 each.} ({Their last
game in the Gruenfeld saw} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 cxd4 9. cxd4
Nc6 10. Rd1 {Anand,V (2811)-Carlsen,M (2826) Moscow 2011}) 5... Bg7 6. e4 Nxc3
({Previously Carlsen have only tried} 6... Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8. h3 ({Wang Yue
tried against Carlsen} 8. Bb5 Be6 9. Nge2 {to which the future World Champion
reacted with the novelty-} ({Magnus also faced} 9. Nf3 Bc4 10. b3 Bxb5 11. Nxb5
Qd7 $11 {Zimmerman,Y (2320)-Carlsen,M (2385) Salzburg 2003}) 9... c6 {and
later won, Wang,Y (2752)-Carlsen,M (2813) Medias 2010}) 8... e5 9. Nf3 exd4 10.
Bxd4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 {Anand,V (2788)-Svidler,P (2754) Moscow 2009}) 7. Bxc3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nc6 ({Deviating from} 8... c5 9. d5 Bxc3 10. bxc3 e6 11. d6 {Anand,V
(2783)-Hammer,J (2608) Stavanger 2013}) 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. d5 Bxf3 {Diagram [#]}
11. Bxg7 $146 {Vishy revealed his first novelty in the match. He is trying to
prove that the Ne5 is vulnerable.} ({Previously only} 11. gxf3 {have been
tested} Ne5 12. Be2 c6 13. f4 Nd7 14. Bxg7 (14. dxc6 $5 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Rc8)
14... Kxg7 15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Rc1 Nf6 {this game was definitely familiar to the
World Champion as he had Black as his second some time ago, Moiseenko,A (2707)
-Nepomniachtchi,I (2714) Yaroslavl 2014}) 11... Kxg7 12. gxf3 Ne5 13. O-O-O {
White is stronger in the center and thus he intends to attack on the kingside.}
c6 {Magnus reacts logically to the novelty. He opens files on the queen's
flank for an attack and bothers Vishy in the center.} ({I doubt we will ever
see a blunder like} 13... Nxf3 $4 14. Qc3+ {in a WCC match.}) 14. Qc3 f6 15.
Bh3 {Takes control of the c8 square which would be quite tempting for a black
rook.} ({Winning a pawn is too risky} 15. f4 Nf7 16. dxc6 (16. Bh3 {would most
likely transpose to the game} cxd5 17. exd5) 16... Qc7 17. cxb7 Qxb7 18. Qe3
Rab8 19. b3 a5 $36 {as Black will have lovely attack on the queenside.}) 15...
cxd5 {The World Champion prefers to spoil the opponent's pawn structure rather
than his own one} (15... Qb6 16. f4 Nf7 17. dxc6 bxc6 {in this line the black
pawns are quite vulnerable as well.}) 16. exd5 {The challenger pins his hopes
with the activity.} ({Safer from strategical point of view was} 16. f4 Nf7 17.
Rxd5 Qb6 18. Qe3 {alhtough Black is fine after} Qa6 {for example.}) ({White
will have problems with his pawns after} 16. Rxd5 Qb6) 16... Nf7 $11 {[%csl
Yd5,Gd6,Gf7] Diagram [#] Nimtzowitsch would be delighted to see the d5
criminal in prison.} 17. f4 Qd6 ({Black connects the rooks and activates the
queen. One would expect the knight to occupy this outpost. However, the white
initiative will be unchallanged in that case} 17... Nd6 18. Kb1 a5 19. Rhg1 a4
20. f5 {and Black cannot advance the g pawn} g5 21. Rxg5+ ({Or also} 21. f4))
18. Qd4 Rad8 19. Be6 {[%csl Ye6,Re7][%cal Re1e7] Diagram [#] I have the
feeling that this was the first inaccuracy by White in the game. The bishop on
e6 blocks the e7 pawn and stops it from going forward, but at the same time
blocks the white rooks from attacking it.} (19. Rhe1 $5 {looks preferrable} e5
20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Re3 {followed by f2-f4 with a slight pull for White.} (21. f4
$2 Nf3)) (19. Qxa7 $2 {is bad} Ra8 20. Qd4 Rxa2 $17) 19... Qb6 {Magnus
untangles his pieces.} 20. Qd2 {Vishy wisely prefers to play with the queens
on the board. His pawn structure is indeed quite a mess and he migth easily
get into trouble once that Black consolidates.} (20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Kb1 Nd6 22.
Rc1 f5 23. Rc7 Kf6 {this looks easier for Black.}) 20... Rd6 21. Rhe1 Nd8 {The
bishop is too strong and needs to go west. Magnus starts to create some
problems to his opponent.} 22. f5 ({Better than} 22. Bh3 e6 $1 23. Bg2 exd5 24.
Bxd5 $2 Qc5+ 25. Kb1 Nc6 {where White loses material on the pin.}) 22... Nxe6
23. Rxe6 Qc7+ (23... Rxe6 24. fxe6 Qd6 25. Kb1 Rc8 26. h4 {looks OK for White.}
) 24. Kb1 ({The rook endgame favors Black} 24. Qc2 Qxc2+ 25. Kxc2 Rc8+ 26. Kb3
Kf7 $15) 24... Rc8 {with the threat Rd6xd5 and if White captures the
rook-Qc7-c2-c1 and mate.} 25. Rde1 Rxe6 26. Rxe6 Rd8 27. Qe3 $1 {Activity
above all. This is the key in positions with heavy pieces on the board.} Rd7 {
Diagram [#]} 28. d6 {Anand decided to get rid of the weakness at once. However,
he could have saved some unpleasant minutes to himself had he played the active
} (28. fxg6 $1 hxg6 29. h4 $1 {Next, White is going to discover the opponent's
king and secure at least a draw} Qd8 30. d6 exd6 31. h5 $1 {[%csl Yg7][%cal
Rg1g8,Re1e8] Diagram [#]} gxh5 32. Re8 Qc7 ({Black has to be careful} 32... Qb6
$4 33. Qg3+ Kh7 34. Rg8 {will lead to mate.}) 33. Qg3+ {with these active
pieces White can never lose and if needed can force perpetual, for example} Kh6
34. Rh8+ Rh7 35. Qe3+ Kg7 36. Re8 Qc4 37. Re7+ Kh8 38. Re8+ $11) 28... exd6 29.
Qd4 Rf7 30. fxg6 hxg6 31. Rxd6 a6 {Seemingly a dead draw but just like in the
previous match Carlsen manages to create a lot of trouble to his opponent.} 32.
a3 Qa5 33. f4 Qh5 34. Qd2 ({There is no need to sacrifice a pawn yet} 34. Ka2
Qxh2 35. Rd8 Qe2 36. Qd5 Qe7 $15) 34... Qc5 35. Rd5 Qc4 36. Rd7 {This should
be OK, but active play was still better} (36. h4 $1 Qe4+ 37. Ka2 Qh1 38. h5 $1
gxh5 39. Qd3 {and the exposed king deprives Black of any winning chances} Qh4 (
39... h4 $2 40. Rh5 f5 (40... Qg2 41. Rxh4) 41. Qd8 {and Black is getting
checkmated.}) 40. Qe4 Qg4 41. Rd2 Kh6 42. Rg2 Re7 43. Qxe7 Qxg2 44. Qxf6+ Qg6
45. Qh8+ Qh7 46. Qf6+ $11) 36... Qc6 37. Rd6 {Once more hesitation. After
saying A Anand could have gone for the B} (37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Qd3 {with
holdable endgame as} Qh1+ {does not win a pawn} 39. Ka2 Qxh2 40. Qd7+ Kf8 41.
Qc8+ Kg7 42. Qxb7+ $11) 37... Qe4+ 38. Ka2 Re7 39. Qc1 ({It is too late for}
39. h4 Qc4+ 40. Ka1 Re2 $17) 39... a5 $1 {A very strong practical resource!
The pawn on a4 will create a lot of tactical possibilities for Black.} 40. Qf1
$2 {One more mistake and Vishy gets close to a disaster.} (40. Qc8 $1 {was
still a neat draw after} a4 41. Rd8 Qe6+ (41... Kf7 42. Rf8+ Kg7 43. Rg8+ Kf7 (
43... Kh7 $4 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45. Qf8#)) 42. Qxe6 Rxe6 43. Rd7+ Kh6 44. Rxb7 Re4
45. b4 (45. Rb4 f5 $1) 45... axb3+ 46. Kxb3 Rxf4 $11) 40... a4 41. Rd1 Qc2 {
with the threat of Re7-e2 to completely paralize White.} 42. Rd4 {Diagram [#]}
Re2 $6 {Magnus lets Vishy off the hook.} ({Critical was} 42... Re3 $1 {[%csl
Ya2,Ra3][%cal Re3a3] with the threat Re3xa3! and mate on the next move. White
has three defenses} 43. Rd7+ {which leads to a difficult queen endgame} (43.
Rb4 $6 {which loses to} Rb3 44. Rxb3 axb3+ 45. Ka1 Qxh2 $19) (43. Qd1 {which
lead to a difficult rook endgame} Qb3+ (43... Qxd1 44. Rxd1) 44. Ka1 Qxd1+ 45.
Rxd1 Kh6 $17) 43... Kh6 44. Rxb7 Rb3 45. Rxb3 axb3+ 46. Ka1 Qxh2 47. Qd1 Qxf4
48. Qh1+ Kg5 49. Qd5+ f5 50. Qxb3 {Only further analyzes will prove if Black
was winning here or not, but whatever the conclusion is one thing is certain-
this would be a nightmare to defend in a parctical game.}) 43. Rb4 $1 {Now
Anand confidently saves the game.} b5 44. Qh1 (44. Rxb5 $4 Qc4+) 44... Re7 45.
Qd5 $1 Re1 46. Qd7+ Kh6 (46... Kg8 47. Qd8+ Kf7 48. Qd7+ $11 Re7 49. Qxb5) 47.
Qh3+ Kg7 48. Qd7+ {A very interesting start of the match. Vushy showed
willingness to risk and play for a win and Magnus showed strong nerves and
great positional maneuvering.} 1/2-1/2