ODT140415

=**Anand earns world title rematch**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 6.

The FIDE Candidates tournament to decide the next challenger to World Champion Magnus Carlsen took place last month in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The eight qualifiers in the double round-robin were headed by top seed Levon Aronian of Armenia. But signs that seedings would play no part began in the very first round when Aronian was beaten by Vishwanthan Anand of India. Having only recently been deposed as world champion by Carlsen late last year, Anand displayed an assuredness that was missing in that match. He assumed the sole lead in round three with a second win and added a third in round nine, remaining unbeaten to the end. Meanwhile none of his opponents could muster the sort of consistency required to mount a challenge. The closest was Aronian, but two losses in the closing rounds put him near the bottom of the evenly matched field. Thus Anand was assured of first place and a rematch with Carlsen with a round to spare. Final scores: 1 Anand 8½/14; 2 Sergey Karjarkin (RUS) 7½; 3-5 Vladimir Kramnik (RUS), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) & Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) 7; 6-7 Aronian & Peter Svidler (RUS) 6½; 8 Veselin Topalov (BUL) 6. Today’s game is the victory which put Anand into the sole lead from round three. He is playing with the black pieces against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan. media type="custom" key="25617404" **1.d4 d5** **2.c4 c6** **3.Nf3 Nf6** **4.Qc2** An offbeat line against the Slav Defence, where Anand has a reputation for fearsome preparation. The move promises only an even but complex game. **4... dxc4** **5.Qxc4 Bg4** **6.Nbd2 Nbd7** **7.g3 e6** **8.Bg2 Be7** **9.Ne5 Bh5** **10.Nxd7 Nxd7** **11.O-O O-O** **12.Nb3 a5** **13.a4 Bb4** **14.e4 e5** Varying from Ivanchuk-Vallejo Pons, Istanbul 2012, which continued 14... Qe7. **15.Be3 exd4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16.Bxd4 Kh8!?** Preparing to play … f6 and … Bf7, recycling his bishop. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.e5?!** An overoptimistic response, as the opening up of the game that occurs favours Black. Instead 17. f4 f6 18. Qc2 Re8 leads to a tenable position. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17... Re8!** Forcing the advance of the White f-pawn before exchanging pawns, leaving the White kingside exposed. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.f4 f6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.exf6** The aggressive try 19. e6 fails tactically: 19... Nb6 20. Bxb6 Qxb6+ 21. Kh1 Qe3! and now 22. f5 loses the exchange to 22... Be2 while 22. Nd4 Rad8 highlights the control of the key squares for the white rooks by the black bishops—the knight can't be maintained on d4 and the e-pawn is lost. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19... Nxf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.Bf3** Against the threat of 20... Be2, but the exchange of bishops leaves the light squares very weak. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20... Bxf3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.Rxf3 Re4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Re3** A necessary move, but more accurate was 22. Qd3! so as to recapture with the queen after 22... Qe7 23. Re3 Rxe3 24. Qxe3 when the queen defends the kingside. The tactical 22. Bxf6?! Rxc4 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. Re3 Rc2 25 Rb1 c5! leads to Black domination. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22... Rxe3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Bxe3 Qe8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24.Bb6?!** Allowing Black's next, which fingers the weak kingside. After 24. Bd4 the possibility of 25.Bxf6 holds the black pieces from coming into the attack so quickly. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25... Qh5!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25.Bd4 Re8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26.Rf1?** Necessary was defending the third rank by 26. Qd3 Ng4 27. h4! and Black is very dominant but there is no immediate win. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26... Ng4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27.Qc2** Now if 27. h4 Ne3 28. Bxe3 Rxe3 and g3 can't be defended. E.g: 29. Kh2 Qg4 30. Rg1 Be1 with mate to follow. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27... c5!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28.Nxc5** White must lose material, since 28. Bc3 runs into the fork 28... Ne3 and 28. Bf2?? Qxh2# is even worse. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28... Rc8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**29.Rd1 Bxc5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**30.Bxc5 h6** Not 30... Qxc5+?? 31 Qxc5 Rxc5 32 Rd8 mate. Having dealt with the back rank threat the white bishop is doomed. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**31.Kh1** Hoping for 30... Qxc5?? 31 Rd8+! Rxd8 32 Qxc5 winning! But White resigned before 31... Nf2+ winning a whole rook appeared on the board.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**0-1**


 * Solution:** 1. Rf6!! Bd2 (1... Bxf6 2. exf6# Qxf6 (else 3. Qg5+ Kh8 4. Qg7#) 3. Bxf6 and 4. Qh8#) 2. e6! Be3+ 3. Kh1! Qxf6 (3... Bxd4 4. Qg5+ and 5. Rh6#; 3... fxe6 4. Rg6+! Bxg6 5. Qxg6#; 3... Bh6 4. Qxh6 Qxf6 5. Bxf6 and 6. Qg7#) 4. Bxf6 fxe6 5. Qh8+ Kf7 6. Qg7#.