ODT100518

=**Anand defends world championship**=




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

World champion Vishwanathan Anand of India successfully defended his title against Veselin Topalov in a 12-game match just finished last week. The challenger, playing on his home territory in Sofia, Bulgaria started strongly by winning the first game. But the champion struck back in the next game and took the lead in game four. After a series of tense draws Topalov wore down Anand and drew level with a win in game eight. After three further draws it looked as if Rapid tie-breaks would be needed to decide the match when Anand equalised and offered a repetition of moves in the twelfth game. But Topalov took one risk too many in trying to keep some winning chances and fatally exposed his king. Anand made no mistake and won the game, taking out the match 6½-5½.

So Anand's superb record as world champion continues, having now defeated both his greatest contemporary rivals, Topalov and the previous champion, Vladimir Kramnik, in matches for the title. Topalov may yet have another chance to wrest the crown, as he joins seven others in the playoffs for the next challenger to Anand.

Today's game is the spectacular fourth game of the match, in which Anand took the lead with his second win with the white pieces. media type="custom" key="26251828" Anand brings out a new move in the Catalan opening, which was the weapon of choice for Kramnik in his 2006 championship match victory over Topalov – an excellent psychological ploy. White has sacrificed a pawn to gain central control and scope for the Catalan bishop.. The effect of the gambit is felt in that Black has little manoeuvring room for his pieces. White gradually focuses his pressure on the d5 square. Retaining the extra pawn – 18 ...Bxc6 19 axb5 Bxb5 20 Naxc4 gives White the edge without material compensation. Preparing 21... Rfd8 by giving the king a luft (20... Rfd8?? 21 Qxd8+! wins), but at the same time providing White with a target on the kingside. 20 ... Qe7 was preferable – a move White immediately prevents. Leaving the king without a single defender – 21... Qg5 was the only way to prevent what comes next. To understand the power of White's attack: 24 ... Qe7 25 e5! Bxg2 26 Rd4! Bf3 27 Rcc4! and one of the rooks soon forces mate. Or 26...Qh7 27 Qg5+ Kh8 28 Rc4 Rg8 29 Nf7+! Qxf7 30.Rh4+ Qh7 31.Rxh7+ Kxh7 32.Qh5 mate. Black strives to keep the rooks from getting across to the kingside. If 27...Bd5 then 28 Qg6+ Kh8 29 Rc4! Bxc4 30.Rd4! Qh7 31.Rh4 Rf7 32.Rxh7+ Rxh7 33.Qe8 mate. Taking care to defend Black's own mate threat. Mate can no longer be prevented.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nf3 d5**
 * 4.g3 dxc4**
 * 5.Bg2 Bb4+**
 * 6.Bd2 a5**
 * 7.Qc2 Bxd2+**
 * 8.Qxd2 c6**
 * 9.a4 b5**
 * 10.Na3! ---**
 * 10.--- Bd7**
 * 11.Ne5 Nd5**
 * 12.e4 Nb4**
 * 13.O-O O-O**
 * 14.Rfd1 Be8**
 * 15.d5! Qd6**
 * 16.Ng4 Qc5**
 * 17.Ne3 N8a6**
 * 18.dxc6 bxa4**
 * 19.Naxc4 Bxc6**
 * 20.Rac1 h6?!**
 * 21.Nd6! Qa7?**
 * 22.Ng4! Rad8**
 * 23.Nxh6+!! gxh6**
 * 24.Qxh6 f6**
 * 25.e5! Bxg2**
 * 26.exf6! Rxd6**
 * 27.Rxd6 Be4**
 * 28.Rxe6 Nd3**
 * 29.Rc2! ---**
 * 29.--- Qh7**
 * 30.f7+! Qxf7**
 * 31.Rxe4 Qf5**
 * 32.Re7 Black Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Nf6+! gxf6 (1... Nxf6 2 Rd8#) 2 Qxe6+ fxe6 (2... Be7 3 Qxe7#) 3 Bh5#.