ODT070327

=**Change at the top**=


 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 3.

India's Vishy Anand is set to become the highest ranked player in the world after winning the Morelia/Linares SuperGM tournament earlier this month. The event has been held in two continents for the last two years – starting in Mexico and ending in Spain – and will become the cornerstone of the proposed Grand Slam next year. Anand's score of 8½/14 was enough to win by a full point ahead of 16 year-old Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen and the unpredictable Russian genius, Alexander Morozevich. The current world number one, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria was out of form and finished equal last on 6/14. The resulting loss of rating points combined with Anand's gain for the tournament will catapult Anand into the top spot on the April 2007 international rating list for the first time in his career.

Anand considered today's game his most beautiful from the event. It is his win with White against Carlsen from the 10th round in Linares, which allowed Anand to finally pull ahead of Carlsen. Notes are based on those of GM Mihail Marin. media type="custom" key="26922398" Not allowing Black to exchange on d4 followed by Nc6 with good counterplay after the more traditional response to the Chigorin variation of the Ruy Lopez, 12 Nbd2. A move intoduced only recently into practice. By clearing room for his bishops White plans to compete for the open c-file. A better square than h6. White plays first on the queenside to discoordinate Black's counterplay before looking to attack on the kingside. The bishop on e3 has already prevented the more desirable 20...Qxc8, with equal chances to control the c-file. Or else White will penetrate to c7. Assisting the development of White's attack, though the knight's role is hard to foresee. Black's next move also underestimates the kingside danger, 25...Kg7 and 26...h6 being necessary. If now 26...Kg7 27.f4 h6 then 28.Nxf7! Kxf7 29.fxe5+ with a decisive attack. The knight turns out to be very happy here. If 27...fxe6 28 Qxh6 forms a mating net around the black king. If now 29 ... fxe6 30 dxe6 Be8 31 f5 and the two connected passed pawns will advance devastatingly. White was threatening 32 f6 with a mating attack. Now the monstrous intruder on e6 cannot be evicted and simply wins the game for White. The only way to meet the threats 36 Rg7+ and 36 Rg6. Already down material, Black cannot stop 39 Qxf6, when White's myriad threats are too strong.
 * 1. e4 e5**
 * 2. Nf3 Nc6**
 * 3. Bb5 a6**
 * 4. Ba4 Nf6**
 * 5. O-O Be7**
 * 6. Re1 b5**
 * 7. Bb3 d6**
 * 8. c3 O-O**
 * 9. h3 Na5**
 * 10. Bc2 c5**
 * 11. d4 Nd7**
 * 12. d5 ---**
 * 12. --- Nb6**
 * 13. Nbd2 g6**
 * 14. b4!? ---**
 * 14. --- cxb4**
 * 15. cxb4 Nac4**
 * 16. Nxc4 Nxc4**
 * 17. Bb3 Nb6**
 * 18. Be3! ---**
 * 18. --- Bd7**
 * 19. Rc1 Rc8**
 * 20. Rxc8 Bxc8**
 * 21. Qc2 Bd7**
 * 22. Rc1 Na8**
 * 23. Qd2 Qb8**
 * 24. Bg5! Bxg5?!**
 * 25. Nxg5 Rc8?!**
 * 26. Rf1 h6**
 * 27. Ne6!! Kh7**
 * 28. f4 Qa7+**
 * 29. Kh2 Be8**
 * 30. f5 gxf5**
 * 31. exf5 f6**
 * 32. Re1 Nc7**
 * 33. Rc1 Bd7**
 * 34. Rc3 e4**
 * 35. Rg3 Nxe6**
 * 36. dxe6 Be8**
 * 37. e7! Bh5**
 * 38. Qxd6 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Rg5+ Kh6 2 Qf8+! Rxf8 3 Bg7#