ODT071023

=**Anand World Champion**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in five.

Vishwanathan Anand of India convincingly won the World Championship tournament in Mexico City in September. The only unbeaten player, his 4 wins and 10 draws were enough to take first place by a full point ahead of defending champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Boris Gelfand (Israel) tied for second on 8/14.

The result also increased Anand's lead at the top of the world rankings, pushing him back over the 2800 mark in the October list. But he will face a stern task as the new champion in 2008, when he is scheduled to play a 12-game match with Kramnik for the world title. The match will take place in Rejkjavik, Iceland, the location of the famous Fischer-Spassky world championship match in 1972.

The secret to Anand's success in Mexico was thorough preparation matched with clinical finishing ability. In today's game from round 11 at Mexico we see Anand playing White more or less clinching the title with a brilliant finish against Alexander Morozevich of Russia.. media type="custom" key="26760118" The Najdorf Sicilian Defence often leads to violent attacks with castling on opposite sides. But here White's g-pawn push is more to remove a defender of the outpost square d5. Black gets f4 in return. Forcing away another defender of d5. White has occupied d5 but Black has counterplay down the f-file. 19 ... Nxf6 does not win a pawn as 20 Rd3 Nxe4? runs into 21 Qg2! winning. Exchanging the knight here was criticised as premature, allowing White a free hand. Heading for b4 and d5. Black is forced to weaken his queenside pawns. Anand courageously plays for the win. The resulting position offers many dangers for both sides. Boths sides have two passed pawns to advance and Black gives up material to gain time. The alternative 41...Qe6 may not have looked promising but now White gets a passed e-pawn which decides the game. Anand has calculated the finale exactly. Forcing home the e-pawn since 56 ... Qxe5 57 N g4+ forks king and queen.
 * 1. e4 c5**
 * 2. Nf3 d6**
 * 3. d4 cxd4**
 * 4. Nxd4 Nf6**
 * 5. Nc3 a6**
 * 6. f3 e5**
 * 7. Nb3 Be6**
 * 8. Be3 Nbd7**
 * 9. g4 Nb6**
 * 10. g5 Nh5**
 * 11. Qd2 Rc8**
 * 12. O-O-O Be7**
 * 13. Rg1 O-O**
 * 14. Kb1 Qc7**
 * 15. Qf2 ---**
 * 15. --- Nc4**
 * 16. Bxc4 Bxc4**
 * 17. Nd5 Bxd5**
 * 18. Rxd5 f5!**
 * 19. gxf6 Rxf6**
 * 20. Qe2 Nf4**
 * 21. Bxf4 Rxf4**
 * 22. Rd3 Qd7**
 * 23. Nc1 Rcf8**
 * 24. a3! Kh8**
 * 25. Na2 ---**
 * 25. --- Qh3**
 * 26. Rg3 Qh5**
 * 27. Qg2 Rh4**
 * 28. h3 Qh6**
 * 29. Rb3! b5**
 * 30. Nb4 Rh5**
 * 31. Qf1 Rh4**
 * 32. Qg2 Rh5**
 * 33. Nxa6! ---**
 * 33. --- Bh4**
 * 34. Rg4 Bf6**
 * 35. Qe2 Rxh3**
 * 36. Rxb5 Bd8**
 * 37. Rb8 Qf6**
 * 38. Nb4 Rxf3**
 * 39. Nd5 Qf7**
 * 40. Qa6 h5**
 * 41. Rg2 h4?!**
 * 42. Qxd6 Be7**
 * 43. Qxe5 Rxb8**
 * 44. Qxb8+ Kh7**
 * 45. Qc7 Bf8**
 * 46. Qxf7 Rxf7**
 * 47. Rg4 Rf1+**
 * 48. Ka2 Rh1**
 * 49. e5 Bc5**
 * 50. e6 Kh6**
 * 51. Rc4! ---**
 * 51. --- h3**
 * 52. Rxc5! h2**
 * 53. Ne3 Ra1+**
 * 54. Kxa1 h1=Q+**
 * 55. Ka2 Qe4**
 * 56. Re5!!**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Rb3+! 2 axb3 Qc2+ 3 Ka1 Qc3+ 4 Kb1 (or Ka2) Qxb3+ 5 Ka1 (5 Kc1 Qc2#) Nc2#.