Anand vs. Gelfand WCC 2012 started

[JuLieN]

P.S. Excellent commentary by Peter Leko on the live stream.

Agreed!

EDIT: Leko, talking about BG's edge over Anand in this game and explaining that it's a very good result against Vishy: "it's clear you won't crush him in the opening because he knows everything!"

[Jack Lad]

[d] 1rr3k1/1b1n1pp1/p2qpn1p/3p4/3P4/2NB1NP1/PPR1QPP1/2R3K1 w - - 5 21
BG has just thrown his edge away with 21. Na4? - better was Qe3. Now VA can trade rooks on c2 with an easy draw.

[AdminX]

P.S. Excellent commentary by Peter Leko on the live stream.

Agreed!

EDIT: Leko, talking about BG's edge over Anand in this game and explaining that it's a very good result against Vishy: "it's clear you won't crush him in the opening because he knows everything!"

Agreed as well, Just tuned in and it looks like this will be a good one.

[Jack Lad]

P.S. Excellent commentary by Peter Leko on the live stream.

Agreed!

EDIT: Leko, talking about BG's edge over Anand in this game and explaining that it's a very good result against Vishy: "it's clear you won't crush him in the opening because he knows everything!"

Agreed as well, Just tuned in and it looks like this will be a good one.

VA has just played Ne4? instead of trading rooks on c2. Now BG should win with Rxc8!
[d] 1rR3k1/1b1n1pp1/p2qp2p/3p4/N2Pn3/3B1NP1/PP2QPP1/2R3K1 b - - 0 22
So should indeed be a good one now!

[JuLieN]

Karpov: "and so they try to gain some small advantages without taking risks, that's why..."

Karpov didn't finish his sentence.

This is actually the most interesting game by far! BG has real chances.

[Houdini]

[Event "World Chess Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. c5 Nbd7
7. Qc2 b6 8. cxb6 Nxb6 9. Bd2 c5 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6
12. Bg5 O-O 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. O-O Qb8 16. Bg3 Rc8
17. Qe2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Qd6 19. Rc2 Nbd7 20. Rfc1 Rab8
21. Na4 Ne4 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qc2 *

[d]1rb3k1/3n1pp1/p2qp2p/3p4/N2Pn3/3B1NP1/PPQ2PP1/2R3K1 b - -

[Jack Lad]

Karpov: "and so they try to gain some small advantages without taking risks, that's why..."

Karpov didn't finish his sentence.

This is actually the most interesting game by far! BG has real chances.

VA has just blundered again with f6? now 26. Bxe4 should win for BG.
[d] 1rb3k1/2Rn4/p3pp1p/3p2p1/N2PB3/5NP1/PP3PP1/6K1 b - - 0 26

[Houdini]

[Event "World Chess Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. c5 Nbd7
7. Qc2 b6 8. cxb6 Nxb6 9. Bd2 c5 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6
12. Bg5 O-O 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. O-O Qb8 16. Bg3 Rc8
17. Qe2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Qd6 19. Rc2 Nbd7 20. Rfc1 Rab8
21. Na4 Ne4 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qc2 g5 24. Qc7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7
f6 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Nd2 f5 28. Nc4 *

[d]1rb3k1/2Rn4/p3p2p/5pp1/N1NPp3/6P1/PP3PP1/6K1 b - -
After a couple of poor moves (g5 and f6) Anand is in big trouble.
Houdini evaluates this at +1.7 for white.

[JuLieN]

After a couple of poor moves (g5 and f6) Anand is in big trouble.
Houdini evaluates this at +1.7 for white.

Yes, the bishop is trapped and Anand will lose it. Incredible.
Shall we see Gelfand's first victory against Anand since... 1993?

[JuLieN]

Incredible! Well done Gelfand!

And that was a very interesting game! I loved how white managed to masterfully use their temporary dynamical advantage (especially their moves on the c file) against black's long term advantage (pawn structure).