GAMES 14

This is Grandmaster Sergey Shipov continuing commentary on the World Championship match tie-breaks. The second rapid chess encounter is about to begin. In the break between the games the most important thing is to breathe, walk around a bit and cast off the tension on your shoulders. To rest at least a little. We await the continuation of the battle... Anand was the first to sit down. He's livened up and pulled himself together. The demon has whispered in his ear... [see Shipov's introduction to the first game!]

1. e4 c5

The Sicilian Defence.

2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

The Rossolimo Variation

3... e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 e5 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. d4

The novelty of the season! In the eighth game Vishy chose 7. Bb2

7... d6 8. Nxc6 Qxe4+ 9. Qe2 Qxe2+ 10. Kxe2

Black has sacrificed a pawn, luring the enemy knight to c6 - where it's in danger.

10... Bb7 11. Na5

In case of 11. d5 Ne7! 12. Nxe7 Bxe7 White has no time for 13. c4 due to 13... Bf6!

11... Bxg2 12. Rg1

Black has won back the pawn and due to the advantage of the two bishops... No, it's too early to draw conclusions. First you need to develop and avoid losing immediately. And then things will be clearer.

12... Bh3

It seems White should have an initiative. After 12... Be4 there might follow 13. Be3 with Nb1-c3 to come. Here they're not playing for pawns.

13. dxc5

With a lead in development you're obliged to attack.

13... dxc5 14. Nc3

This threatens the newly-arrived knight jumping to d5 or b5. The suspicion is that this is all still the Champion's analysis. If that's the case, then it's going to be tough for the Challenger... At the very least he's going to lose a lot of time resolving his problems and will land straight in serious time trouble.

14... O-O-O

Killing two birds with one stone. The king has fled the centre while his rook-assistant has taken control of the d5-square.

15. Bf4

But will the black king feel cosy on the queenside? That's not clear. For now there's the threat... or rather the mild threat, of Nc3-b5-a7. But if a7-a6 there'd follow Nc3-a4! with the threat of mate. Gelfand's already noticeably behind on time: 0:24-0:14. That's no trifle.

15... Bd6

Precisely in Boris' style. He's ready to give up a pawn or two, but nevertheless seize the initiative. That's how he played in the serious games as well, and in rapid chess that counterattacking method of defence is even more relevant. The computer recommended the calm 15... Nf6 16. Nb5 Rd7 17. Rad1 Nd5! and, strangely enough, everything comes together for Black. He doesn't lose immediately and there's an ocean of struggle ahead.

16. Bxd6 Rxd6

Should the g7-bait be taken?

17. Rg5!

A very strong response. The c5-pawn is much more important than its friend on g7. Gelfand is obviously suffering at the board. He realises he's fallen right into a trap. He's clearly worse. Much worse. In case of 17. Rxg7 Nh6 Black got real counterplay, as the white king's got nowhere to hide.

17... Nf6

Better to develop late than never.

18. Rxc5+ Kb8

Black's a pawn down and it seems his compensation is insufficient. The bishop is, of course, strong, but for now it's firing into empty space. And empty space feels no pain.

19. Nc4

An instinctive desire to play more solidly and improve the piece coordination.

19... Re8+ 20. Ne3

Anand's settled for the bird in the hand, paying no attention to bigger birds in the bush. His idea is simple - to move the rook from a1, exchange a couple of pieces and gradually convert the extra pawn. Singer's sewing machine recommends 20. Kf3 , but it just knows no fear. In contrast to Vishy.

20... Ng4

Boris is attacking... but what? Is the h2-pawn really so appealing? I don't think so. For posterity here's the false path that the Russian commentators on the official site led me along: 20... Nh5 An amusing trick. Gelfand offers his opponent the chance to take the knight, blundering Bh3-g4+. But what's he attacking? No-one's yet died from a check. The king will calmly go to f3. 21. Ncd5 A sensible decision. Vishy is centralising his pieces and provoking his opponent into an exchange operation connected to the exchange on d5. ( I'd suggest the principled 21. Rd1 )

21. Ncd5

Everything's solid for White.

21... Nxe3 22. Nxe3?!

Played very quickly. But is it correct? It was better to play 22. fxe3! , freeing the f2-square for the king and leaving the knight-hegemony in the centre. In that case White would maintain a persistent edge.

22... Bg4+ 23. f3 Bc8

Black has unexpectedly got powerful counterplay. Anand has clearly played poorly. He's got a serious edge in terms of time, but how should he play now? The e3-knight is pinned and the second rank is weak.

24. Re1

Vishy hasn't lost his cool and has made the most solid move. Singer approves!

24... Rh6

Boris is skillfully keeping the flame of the initiative alive.

25. Rh1 Rhe6

Gelfand wasn't able to play the extremely subtle 25... Rd6 with the threat of Bc8-a6+. He's already in real time trouble!

26. Rc3 f5

The knight is hanging over the abyss.

27. Kd2

His comrades will save him. Well done, Anand - what else can you say? He's showing agility to escape.

27... f4 28. Nd5 g5

Black continues the attack. He couldn't delay.

29. Rd3

An interesting rearrangement. Lining up with the d5-knight! But it was stronger to play 29. h4

29... Re2+ 30. Kc1 Rf2

The black rooks have developed terrifying activity. The Champion is already taking serious risks.

31. h4

He realised that passive defence will no longer help. Big complications are beginning. The clocks aren't in the Challenger's favour: 0: 09-0:01!

31... Ree2

Nevertheless. I looked at the line 31... Bb7 32. hxg5 Ree2 33. Nxf4 Rxc2+ 34. Kd1 Rxa2 35. Ke1 Rxf3 36. Rxf3 Ra1+ 37. Kd2 Rxh1 38. Re3 and things would end peacefully.

32. Rc3

The move 32. Nb4 had a serious drawback - 32... g4 33. fxg4 Bxg4 , and the f4-pawn becomes a real threat.

32... Bb7 33. Rd1

Bold, but risky. Will the black passed pawn make it to h1?

33... gxh4

Of course.

34. Nxf4 Re8

An extremely complex position! In time trouble you wouldn't wish something like this even on your worst enemy.

35. Rh1

Black's passed pawn has been disarmed. The smoke is clearing...

35... Rc8 36. Rxc8+ Bxc8 37. Rxh4 Bf5

Black is two pawns down, but his activity leaves him with drawing chances. Good ones! Boris is playing under the regime of 10 seconds a move. Vishy has the option of taking breaks.

38. Rh5 Bxc2

It was too late to take fright.

39. Rb5+ Ka8

Of course not 39... Kc7? 40. Rc5+!

40. Nd5

Threatening mate-in-one.

40... a6

We didn't get a blunder.

41. Ra5 Kb7

The suspense has been maintained.

42. Nb4 Bg6 43. Nxa6 Rxf3 44. Nc5+ Kb6 45. b4

White's two connected passed pawns are good, but Black also has a trump. And his bishop is stronger than the white knight.

45... Rf4 46. a3 Rg4 47. Kd2

I'll no longer manage to commentate in time. I'll simply enter the moves!

47... h5 48. Nd7+ Kb7 49. Ne5 Rg2+ 50. Kc3 Be8 51. Nd3 h4

If I was playing White I'd be in a state of shock! Black's pawn is just about to queen.

52. Re5

But Anand is calm.

52... Bg6 53. Nf4 Rg3+ 54. Kd4 Bc2 55. Rh5 Rxa3

A great achievement for Gelfand!

56. Rxh4

Things are ripening for a draw.

56... Rg3 57. Nd5 Rg5 58. b5

But the battle goes on. White's got practical chances with his opponent's flag about to fall.

58... Bf5 59. Rh6 Bg4 60. Rf6 Rf5 61. Rb6+ Ka7 62. Rg6 Bf3

A wonderful position for the bishop.

63. Rg7+ Kb8 64. Nc3 Bb7 65. Kc4 Bf3 66. Kb4 Bd5

A flattering offer to switch to Philidor's drawn position.

67. Na4

Rejected.

67... Rf7 68. Rg5 Bf3 69. Nc5

The noose is tightening.

69... Kc7 70. Rg6

Boris' flag almost fell here!

70... Kd8 71. Ka5

Vishy's like a steam-roller!

71... Rf5 72. Ne6+

The knight jumps and sets forks. Very dangerous!

72... Kc8 73. Nd4

And this is getting serious.

73... Rf8 74. Nxf3 Rxf3 75. Kb6

And it's over! The black king's squeezed out.

75... Rb3 76. Rg8+ Kd7 77. Rb8

Black resigned. The Champion nevertheless tortured the Challenger! Playing on flags the knight turned out to be stronger than the bishop. 1-0