One of the strongest chess tournaments ever assembled moved to Russia’s Red Square today. Viswanathan Anand demonstrated to the world that he is not satisfied to “rest on his laurels” but is willing to use whatever means necessary to defeat his challengers at the Tal Memorial. The first 21 moves are considered book. It is very difficult to tell exactly where Leko went wrong and how Anand’s 30.h3 clinched the victory. Please enjoy our current World Chess Champion at his finest.
[Date “2009.11.10”]
[EventDate “?”]
[Round “5”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “Viswanathan Anand”]
[Black “Peter Leko”]
[ECO “D43”]
[WhiteElo “2788”]
[BlackElo “2752”]
[PlyCount “90”]
1. d4 d5{notes by Chris Torres} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8.
Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4
e5 15. Bg4 exd4 16. e5 c5 17. Re1 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 O-O 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Ne2
f5 21. Bh5 f4 22. Nxd4{a rarely played idea invented by Kasimdzhanov} cxd4 23. Re6 Bc8{23…Bc8 seems to be good enough to draw. Rf6 is the alternative which could lead to 24.Qe1 Rxe6 25.Qxe6 Qc7 26.Re1 d3 27.Re5 d2 28.Rf5 d1Q+ 29.Bxd1 Rf8 30.Rxf8 Kxf8 which is complicated but equal} 24. Rg6+ Kh7 25. axb5 Rf6 26. Rxf6
Qxf6 27. Qc2+ Bf5 28. Qxc4 Rc8 29. Qd5 axb5 30. h3{The little move which changes it all. All of a sudden Anand is winning.} Kh8{Rc7 is an alternative. However… if Anand continues 31.Ra8 Be6 32.Qd6 31. Qxb5 Rf8 32. Ra6 Rd7 33.Qc6 Re7 34.Ra6 d3 35.Qd6 Kg7 36.Bg4 d2 37.Qxd2 he will still win} 31. Qxb5 Rf8 32. Ra6 Qg7 33. Rd6{Anand uses fantastic technique for the remainder of the game to seal Leko’s fate.} d3 34. Qb6 Qe5 35. Bg6 d2 36. Bxf5 Qxf5 37. Qd4+ Kh7 38. Qxd2
Rf7 39. f3 h5 40. Rd5 Qg6 41. Qa5 Rg7 42. h4 Qb1+ 43. Kh2 Qxb2 44. Rxg5
Rxg5 45. Qxg5 1-0
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