520
The British Chess Magazine
Let’s see what happened.
36 b2!
The World Champion is probably planning on
playing …a4 to tie down the white pieces.
This move intends b4, when an exchange on
b4 would improve White’s position.
36…h7 37 b4 g6 38 h×g6+ ×g6 39
d2!?
Clearing the d5 square for the knight.
39…h5 40 c3 ×a3 41 d5
41 b5 a6 42 db2 f5 is probably not enough
to trouble Black seriously.
41…f7 42 ×b6 b3!
Correctly, the Indian Grandmaster identifies
that he should occupy the d4 square with a
knight.
43 d7+ e8!
43…g6 would not be so accurate as the black
king is vulnerable to mating attacks, e.g. 44
d5 bd4+ 45 f1 a1+ 46 g2 a2+ (46…
ca6?? 47 e7+ f7 48 f5+ e8 49 e7+
d8 50 b8# is a big threat) 47 h3 g5+! 48
×g5 ×f3 49 d2! ×d2 50 e7+ f7 51
×d2 ×e7 with a slight edge to White.
44 b7 bd4+ 45 ×d4 ×d4+ 46 d1
d8?!
46…×f3 ~ Black should grab a pawn whilst
he can ~ 47 a4 d3+ 48 e1 (48 c1 b3+
49 c2 c5 50 a8+? d8) 48…c2+ 49 e2
a3=.
47 d7+?!
47 f4! would keep the advantage.
47…e8 48 b7 d8 49 d5! a1+
Now 49…×f3 does not work: 50 a4 d3+ 51
c1 c8 52 h7 b8 53 h8+ b7 54 b4+
a7 55 h7+ a8 56 c7+ a7 57 b5+
a6 58 a7+ b6 59 ×d4++–.
50 d2 a2+ 51 b2
51 c1 c2+ 52 d1 6×c4 53 ×c4 ×c4 54
h7 offers some small chances for White, although it looks rather drawish.
51…×b2+ 52 ×b2 ×f3+!
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Taking the key pawn.
53 d3 g5 54 b8+
54 b7 looks more accurate.
54…d7 55 b7+ d6 56 ×f6 a6!
Anand activates his rook.
57 e8+ c5 58 c7+ b4 59 b7+ c5
60 c7+ b4 61 b7+ ½–½
White’s advantage has gone.
Overall, great defence from Anand. He will
need to be on his best form to resist the
challenger in the World Championship.
G M Carlsen
O V Anand
Sandes Masters, 2013
[Pert]
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