Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand failed to break the ice and played out another draw in the tenth game of the world chess championship, here on Friday. With the seventh draw in ten games, Anand continued to trail Carlsen by a full point and the Norwegian is now just one point away from retaining the crown he won last year against the Indian ace.
For the records, the scoreline now reads 5.5-4.5 in Carlsen's favour and he plays white in the penultimate game of the 12-games match slated on Sunday. Anand, with white, yet again tried but could not break through the way he wanted and the opinion of the experts was divided if the tiger from Madras could have pushed for more.
World Chess Championship Game 10
White: V. Anand (2.792). Black: M. Carlsen (2.863).
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 We have another Grunfeld.
5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8. Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Re8 The players are banging out moves very rapidly. In this position, 12. Rd1 has been played by Anand before. It is also the most popular line. The question is does Anand have a surprise?
12.Bg5 Anand spent a bit of time for this move. It deviated from what Anand played in the past. The battle will be the d pawn. This is not a new move but it is not as popular.
12... h6 Magnus is still in his preparation and he is playing quite fast. We are following the Wojtaszek - Ponomariov game.
13. Be3 We are lucky to witness an aggressive game as Magnus chose not to go for a more tame line. 13...Bf5 Will Anand follow Wojtaszek's idea of Rad1. It is interesting to note that Wojtaszek is in Anand's camp. So we can expect to see some of his idea in play.
14.Rad1 Previous popular move is Qb6. 14... Ne4 is a move recommended by GM Ramesh.
15. Nxe4 Two choices to recapture. Rxe4 is a little stronger but both playable. The reason is black would gain a tempo attacking the Queen. In such an important match, it becomes an important guessing game by both camps as to what the other side prepares for. And even if they know the lines, they need to take time to make sure they do not mix up move order.
15...Bxe4 Magnus spent a lot of time for this move. This is not as strong as 15...Rxe4. Magnus is known to sometimes play inferior lines just to throw his opponents off track. 16. d6 is the best response. But Rd2 is also playable. I think the Indian fans should be happy that Anand has a more dynamic position to try to play for a win. Anand clearly understands the importance of this game. This is why he is taking his time and checking everything very carefully.
16. Qc1 Both Ramesh and I prefer 16. d6. But this move clears the diagonal for the e3 Bishop while attacking the h6 pawn. Black can try Qf6 to attack the b2 pawn.
16...Qf6 Two main options for Anand is either 17. Bxh6 or 17. d6. Many journalists wrote off Anand after the Chennai match. Now that Anand won the candidates tournament and still in this match, the media is excited again.
17. Bxh6 Qxb2 If 18. Qxb2 Bxb2 19. Ng5 Bd4 20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21. Bf3 Re7 22. d6 Rd7 23. Bf4 is something Anand is looking at. 18. Bc4 is another option. Anand can't avoid trading Queens. Magnus is a strong endgame player in spite of his young age. But this is a potential endgame Anand can push.
18. Qxb2 Bxb2 Anand has a few options: Ng5, d6, or Bc4 all playable.
19. Ng5 the strongest option. Anand in the driver seat with a better endgame. Magnus has to work to hold this game. There are some problems on the board he needs to solve. Magnus knows that this is a critical position so he is taking his time evaluating all options.
19...Bd4 There was a slight transmission error and the move 19...Bxg2 was shown. It caused an uproar because 20. Bxa6 Bxf1 21. Bxf1 and white is much better. Thankfully for Magnus' fans, it was not the move and Magnus played the correct 19...Bd4.
Now if Anand chooses 20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21. Bf3 Ree8 22. Bg5 f6 23. Bf4 Rad8 24. d6 g5 25. Bg3 f5 26. Bxb7 f4 27. Bxf4 gxf4 28. Bxa6 Rxd6 Even though white is a pawn up, the Bishops are on opposite colors.
20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21. Bf3 If 21...Re7 22. d6 Rd7 23. Bf4 Anand with Bishop pair and dangerous d pawn.
22. d6 Rd7 23. Bf4 A possibility is Nb4 going after the a2 pawn or back to c6. Knight on a6 not in play.
23...Nb4 What to do. Defend a2 pawn with Rd2 or push the knight back with a3?
24. Rd2 Re8 White's initiative is shrinking. Anand is still better but not very much. I still believe Magnus will hold with accurate play.
25. Rc1 Re6 26. h4 Be5 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Bxb7 Rxb7 29. d7 Nc6 30. d8=Q+ Nxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kg7 32. Rd2 And the players agreed to a draw.
With just two games to come, Anand will now have to pin his hopes on the final game if he can draw the next one when he plays black. The title seems to be slipping out again unless the magician from Chennai can pull a rabbit out hat in the final game. In the 11th game, Carlsen is unlikely to push for more.
Anand summed up his chances in a few words in the post-game conference. "I know I have to play. We know the score and the situation, but I am still there".
Anand summed up his chances in a few words in the post-game conference. "I know I have to play. We know the score and the situation, but I am still there".
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