Viswanathan Anand is the new king. At long last, the Indian wizard has captured the world championship, which has hither to eluded him. Anand’s first attempt at the title in 1995 fizzled when he lost to Garry Kasparov in a match held on the 100th floor of the World Trade Center. In 2000, Kasparov arranged a rematch, but it collapsed when chess politics intruded. Kasparov then lost a title bout to Vladimir Kramnik, who became the new incumbent.

In the world championship tournament just concluded in Mexico — not a one-on-one match but a competition among eight of the world’s best — Anand finished far above his adversaries, with a 2 point margin over Kramnik and a 1.5 edge over second-place finisher Boris Gelfand. In his encounter with Grischuk, Anand demonstrated all facets of his superiority: excellent opening preparation, sophisticated handling of the middlegame, and flawless realization of his advantages.

ANAND VS. GRISCHUK (white) (black) Ruy Lopez

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.d3 d6 10. Nbd2 More popular is 10.a5 depriving the c6 knight of this square. In the recent game Stellwagen – Khalifman 2007, after 10…Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Nc4 Rb8 13.h3 h6 14. Be3 Re8 15. Nfd2 Bf8 16. Qf3 Kh7 an approximately equal position arose. 10… Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.c3 Nc6 Admitting that the knight on a5 is ill-placed. After the logical-looking 12…Rb8 in Kholmov – Rajskij, 1991, white obtained the advantage after 13.d4 bxc3 14. bxc3 cxd4 15. cxd4 Bb7?! 16.d5! and the knight on a5 is clearly misplaced. 13.d4!? An interesting new plan in this position. 13. Nc4 in Morozevich – Leko, 2006, gave black a good game after 13…Rb8 14.h3 h6 15.d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Bf4 Be6. 13… bxc3 Deserving attention was 13… cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15. Nb3 d3! 16. Qxd3 (or 16. Nbd4 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Nc6 Qd6 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qxd3 Rd8 with an equal position) 16…Ne5 17. Qe2 Bb7 and black has counterplay. 14. bxc3 exd4 15. cxd4 Nb4 16. Bb1 In case of 16. Bc4 d5 17. exd5 Nbxd5 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Rb1 Rb8 the position is equal. 16… Bg4 17.h3 Bh5 18.g4?! White inexactly executes an effective strategic plan. Better was the immediate 18.d5! and in case of 18…Nd7 (White is better after both 18…Rb8 19. Nc4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Nd7 21. Bf4 and 18…Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Nd7) 19.g4 white could create the same position as arose in the game while avoiding the strong possibility of 19…Rb8. 18… Bg6 19.d5

( See Diagram)

19… Nd7?! The crucial moment. The seemingly beautifully placed b4 knight has closed the b-file for black’s counterplay and cannot be moved. So black finds himself in a passive position and can do little while white can quietly improve his position. But white’s hasty 18th move has nevertheless given black some tactical opportunities after 19…Rb8. For example A) a highly unclear situations could arise after 20. Ra3 Nbxd5 21. exd5 Bxb1 22. Nxb1 Rxb1 23. Qd3; B) or 20. Nh2 Nd7 21.f4 Bf6 (21…Bh4 22. Rf1 Bf6 23. Ra3 Nxd5 24.f5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Nc3 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. Qc2) 22. Ra3 Nxd5 23.f5 Nc3 24. Qc2 and again the position is unclear; C) 20. Nc4 Nbxd5! 21. exd5 Bxb1 and here white obtains some compensation by 22.g5 Nh5 (leaving d7 for the queen and e8 for the rook) 23. Bd2 Bg6 24. Na5 Qd7 25. Nc6 Rbe8 26. Nh4 Bd8 27. Qg4 with an intricate position. 20. Nc4 Rb8 21. Bf4 Nb6 22. Nxb6 If 22. Nfd2 Bf6 23. Ra3 then again it’s possible that 23…N4xd5! 24. exd5 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 (25. Bxg6 Nxa3) 25…Rxb1 with an advantage for black. 22… Rxb6 23. Nd2 Bg5!? 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Nc4 Rbb8 26. Qd2! Of course, not 26. Nxd6? in view of 26…Qe5. Now white can extinguish black’s activities and obtain an unequivocal strategic advantage. 26… Qxd2 27. Nxd2 f6 28. Nc4 Rfd8 29.f4 Bf7!? In case of 29…Kf8 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. Ra3 black has to await passively white’s actions in the center and on the kingside. Instead. black starts to fight back himself. 30. Ra3 g5!? Probably this is the best practical chance. 31.h4! gxf4 Not better was 31…gxh4 32. Rh3 mate. 32. Rf3 Be8 33. Rxf4 Kg7

34.h5!

Much worse was 34. Ref1? Bxa4 35. Rxf6 Bb5! and already black is better.

34… Bxa4!

34…h6 weakens the g6 square and now the line 35. Ref1 Bxa4 36. Rxf6 Bb5 37. Rg6+ Kh8 38. Rxh6+ Kg7 39. Rg6+ Kh8 40. Nxd6! Bxf1 41. Nf7+ Kh7 42. Nxd8 is hopeless for black.

35.h6+! Kxh6

36. Rxf6+ Kg7

Even worse was 36…Kg5 37. Ref1 Rg8 ( after 37…Nc2 38.R1f5+ Kh4 39. Bxc2 Bxc2 40. Kf2 there is a mating attack) 38. Nxd6 and white is winning.

37.g5!

Intending Nd6-f5 with an attack. In case of 37. Rxd6 Bb5 38. Rxd8 Rxd8 39. Ne3 Kf6 white pawns would be stopped.

37… Rf8!

38. Rxd6?!

This gives defensive chance to black. More direct was 38. Rxf8!? Kxf8 (38…Rxf8 39. Nxd6) 39. Nxd6 Ke7 40. Nf5+ Kf7 41. Kf2 with a promising position.

38… Bc2?!

Black could try 38…Bb5 39. Ne3 Rbe8 40. Rc1 (white didn’t have 40. Nf5+ Rxf5) 40…Nd3 41. Bxd3 Bxd3 42. Nf5+ Kh8 43. Re6! but black still hardly can escape here.

39. Ne5! Rf4

After 39…Bxb1 40. Rxb1 Rbe8 (40…Rf4 41. Rd7+ Kg8 42.d6 Rxe4 43. Re7 leads to the game) 41. Rd7+ Kh8 (41…Kg8 42. Ng4! Rxe4 43. Nf6+ Rxf6 44. gxf6) 42. Nf7+ Kg8 43. Rf1 black is defenseless.

40. Rf6! Rh4

Missing the chance 40…Nxd5!? 41. exd5 Re4! with some possibility of escaping despite the fact that after 42. Rxe4 Rxb1+ 43. Kf2 Bxe4 44.d6 the white passed-pawn is extremely dangerous.

41.d6! Bxb1

42. Rxb1

The black knight remains immovable!

42… Rxe4

43. Rf7+ Kg8

44. Re7!

White has achieved perfect coordination. Everything is ready for the decisive advance of the d-pawn.

44… Rd8

45. Rd1 c4

More stubborn was 45…Rf4 46.d7 Rf5 when white could win by means of 47.g6! hxg6 48. Rd6!

46.d7 Rf4

47. Rf1 Rff8

48. Rxf8+ Kxf8

49. Rxh7 c3

50. Ng6+

Black resigned because of 50. Ng6+ Kg8 51. Rh8+ Kg7 52. Rxd8 c2 53. Rc8

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