GAME 13

Hello, dear friends! This is Grandmaster Sergey Shipov inviting you to watch the tie-break games that will today decide the fate of the title. Four encounters are planned at a time control of 25 minutes per game with a 10 second increment after each move. If the score ends 2-2 then we'll see blitz with a 5+3 time control. And if five blitz mini-matches end 1-1 there'll be Armageddon... In any case, the toughest of tests awaits the players. The stakes are immensely high and nerves will be stretched to breaking point. For Gelfand this spring day in Moscow is the most important of his career, and perhaps of his whole life. He's at the peak and on the verge of taking a step into immortality. While for the great Anand... That's the thing - what kind of day this is for him will determine the outcome. After all, why should Vishy worry too much? He's a multiple World Champion who's won the title in all the formats and systems that it's been held. By the way, Anand's also been the rapid and blitz World Champion. In principle, today's a normal weekday for the Indian grandmaster. Just a Wednesday! He can turn up and play a rapid and blitz chess match for a decent prize fund. If Vishy does that easily and boldly, or at least coolly, he'll unquestionably win. However, if someone authoritative whispers in his ear this morning something like, "come on, fighter, pull yourself together, get in the mood. Today's a really important day," then he might be doing the Champion a disservice. Anand's nervous system is a subtle and fragile substance. Sometimes it fails. Crumbles under the stress. And that authoritative demon whispering in his ear might be himself - Vishy Anand... Well, and now a few words about more down-to-earth matters. I expect surprises at the start of the games. The players will still have a lot of opening ideas stashed away. In rapid chess it's especially important to force your opponent to puzzle over things in the opening, as there's no option of falling into an hour-long slumber, digging deep and producing a series of accurate moves. The player ends up having to play on sight, and it's important that happens not to you but to the person sitting opposite. So those are the two keys to success in today's mini-match: it's just a Wednesday and opening with a cunning serve. Well, and a little luck...

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

Again the Slav Defence. The good old Nimzowitsch has been retired.

3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7

The Meran Variation?

6. Qc2

No, the Anti-Meran.

6... Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e5

A rare continuation! Usually Black takes on c4 and then attacks on the queenside.

9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4

The match tradition continues. Gelfand always opens the centre as wide as possible.

10... exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5

We're not going to get a Tower of Babel [i.e. 8 pieces on the d-file], but rapid simplifications, equality and a draw are perfectly likely.

12... h6 13. b3

Boris wasn't surprised for long and has played a novelty! The c1-bishop couldn't get to g5. Now his path leads to b2. Previously seen were 13. Nxd4 , 13. h3 and 13. Re1

13... Ne5

Vishy's reaction was instant. Simplifications in the centre are favourable for Black.

14. Nxe5 Bxe5

The d5-pawn is already under attack. And will White equalise?

15. Re1

Yes, he'll equalise! And even fight for an advantage. He's better developed. The d5-pawn doesn't strike me as tasty. Anand is having a serious think, as far as that's possible in the given chess genre.

15... Re8

A restrained and solid move. In the line 15... Qxd5 there could have been entertaining complications: 16. Ba3 Rd8 17. Bc4 Qa5 18. Qg6! Qc7 19. Rxe5 (bold, but it doesn't win) ( better is 19. Qh5! ) 19... Qxe5 20. Qxf7+ Kh8 21. Bf8 and here Black doesn't resign but instead plays for a win with 21... Be6! 22. Bxg7+ Qxg7 23. Qxe6 d3! and so on. If 15... Qd6 there would follow the cunning 16. Qe2! with the trap 16... Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Bf4? 18. Qe4! winning.

16. Bb2

The d4-pawn is in the firing line.

16... Bd7

Development and active play should help Black. I can't work out what the clocks show - in that regard the broadcast on the official site has been done carelessly.

17. Qd2

With the clear intention of picking the apple on d4. A ripe one.

17... Qf6

Reinforcing the "apple" and provoking g2-g3 and f2-f4. From the point of view of playing to equalise it looked good to play 17... Qg5

18. g3

Gelfand is playing principled chess! Bold.

18... Rac8

Anand's ignoring all the threats... It'll be interesting to see where the d3-bishop will go? To e4, c4 or f1? It's possible that at some point Black will have to play g7-g5 to defend against f2-f4. Visually the position strikes me as one in which Black should find decent counterplay even if he loses a pawn. His pieces are well-placed. I managed to look at the complications after 18... Bg4 19. f4 but I'm not sure about the conclusion. Therefore I'll hide it from you...

19. a4?!

A mysterious manoeuvre. I won't even try to comment on it! Let's go on... Black's been given an important tempo. For instance, for Qf6-f3!, after which White loses the pawn on either d5 or b3. It was nevertheless stronger to play 19. Bf1 , for example, 19... g5 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Bf5 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Qb4! with an initiative for White.

19... Qf3

Precisely! Now White is forced to switch to the defensive. The move 19.a4 turned out to be too clever for its own good. ["woe from wit"] Both players now have a single-digit number of minutes i.e. less than ten.

20. Be4

Boris is looking for counterplay in the centre. In rapid chess it looked practical to get counterplay after 20. Qe2 Qxd5 21. Bc4 Qd6 22. Qh5 , though I've no doubt analysis would show a defence for Black.

20... Qxb3

A juicy fruit.

21. Reb1

Another super-subtle decision. And when you're subtle things tend to go from bad to worse... On 21. Bxd4 there was the unpleasant 21... Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Rc4 23. Qd3 Qxd3 24. Bxd3 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rd4 with a tough ending for White.

21... Bxg3

A street fight has begun! Good manouvres have been retired. What's important is to play as quickly as possible. However you can! White's e4-bishop is en prise, but Black's queen is in a dangerous position. The computer recommended the icy move 21... Rc4! with an edge for Black. But people aren't capable of being quite so cool at the board.

22. Ra3

A strong response. Now they're playing for three results. Black's also taking serious risks.

22... Qb6

A human being couldn't play otherwise. The machine waxes lyrical about the variation 22... Qc4! 23. Rc1 Bf4! 24. Qxf4 Qe2 with a double attack on e4 and b2.

23. Bxd4 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Qd6+ 25. Rg3 Rxe4 26. Bxg7 Kh7

As a result of a forced series of moves we've ended up with a totally crazy position! Both sides are bad...

27. Rxb7

Bold! Boris is playing extremely sharply, on the brink of the abyss. Well done!

27... Rg8

With your flag hanging kings come first. The experience of playing for long years...

28. Qxh6+

This leads to exchanges and a probable draw. Both sides had chances of winning after 28. Qd3 Qf4 29. Kg2!

28... Qxh6+ 29. Bxh6 Rxg3 30. Kxg3 *

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