1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf64. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 Of course, this is the modern opening at top level, Slav with a6 today!
6. c5 in the first 3 tries Gelfand managed to reach nothing at all out of opening and the games ended in unspectacular draws... so Gelfand is choosing the 6.c5 line today. Before he was going for the 6.b3 or 6.Qc2
6... Nbd7 the 6.c5 line is of course also a well known one and Anand played it himself couple of time with the White color. Usually White is trying to close the queenside by playing b4-a3-Bb2. On this Black is usually reacting with the e5 push
7. Qc2 The current position after 7.Qc2 is not new but been very rarely played. From the Top games there was in 2003 Radjabov-Grischuk which continued with: 7...e5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.e6 with quite a sharp position. A very interesting moment now, if Anand is going to play the forced 7...e5, or if he is going for the moves like 7...b6 or maybe 7...Be7. Of course in our new CE production Complete Slav by GM Sakaev that is coming out in June, the author put a lot of attention on the line with a6 - which seems to be super solid - at least until now.
7... b6 7...b6!? is already a novelty by Anand, this position never been played before-at least on the Top level
8. cxb6 now Black has to decide, to play 8...Qxb6 and let White 9.Na4 with a tempo, or to play 8...c5!? Probably also 8...Nxb6 is a possibility, but somehow this move doesn't feel right to me even if probably after 9.Bd3 Black can still push the 9...c5 !
8... Nxb6 so Black went for 8...Nxb6 and White answer quickly with 9.Bd2-I have the feeling both players still know what they are doing. It is clear, that the main point if, can Black play the c5 move or not, in case Yes-Black is OK, in case not-White should be a bit better. White will slowly create a pressure on the pawn c6-for example by playing Na4 next
9. Bd2 c5 probably White wants now to go for 10.dxc5 Bxc5 and 11..Nb5!?
10. Rc1 probably Black would counter the 10.dxc5 with Bxc5 11.Nb5 Ne4! and it seems like Black is ok. We can see Anand having a thought. Let us think with him as well. From my point of view, Black has only 2 logical moves, to play 10...cxd4 or 10...c4. At the 10...c4 it is clear that White is going to try with 11.b3 (usually moves like e4 are leading to nothing just by simple reply like dxe4 and Nbd5) 11...cxb3 and maybe 12.axb3 with a small advantage for White - maybe better to say even with a minimal advantage for White. Now let us take a look at 10...cxd4 11.exd4 and maybe Bd6 12.Bd3 O-O can White be better here? Hard to say, maybe.
10... cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6 as expected we see the 11.exd4 Bd6. Can White play now the 12.Na4!?, with quite a forced line 12...Nxa4 ( otherwise is coming the Ba5 move) 13.Qc6 Bd7 14.Qxd6 Ne4 15.Qa3 Nxd2 and 16.Kxd2! and maybe White could be little better, but maybe not after the 16...f6! blocking the White's Ne5 move. Gelfand is thinking, but it is clear, that this position can not be suprizing to him. Until now Anand did all the logical moves. So why is White thinking? Maybe on whether to play 12.Na4 which leads to a forced line ending in close to an equal position, whether to keep more pieces on the board and play 12.Bd3
12. Bg5 O-O after a long thinking Gelfand is playing 12.Bg5 and of course we see the 12...O-O. So considering the structure, Black should have no problems. On the 13.Bd3 is coming the 13...h6 14.Bh4 and maybe Bb7 followed by Rc8 or maybe even by the g5!? move in the right moment to have after Bg3 the Ne4. So White is doing the logical 13.Bd3 h6 14.Bh4
13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Black has to make a choice now and it is "do I need to play 14...Bf4 to get the White rook away from the C line or maybe to continue with the immediate 14...Bb7"
14... Bb7 So 14...Bb7 it is. Probably White is going to castle short now, so 15.O-O and Black can try to play 15...Nbd7! a very solid move against the White Ne5 and same time preparing the Blacks Qb8-Rc8 maneuver, which is a very typical one for this kind of structures. I would say, the position should be about equal.
15. O-O While waiting for the decision of Anand, I strongly recommend you to check out the CEWN magazine, it is customized for almost any level of players and is a 25-30 pages resource that you get every week by pdf and pgn. And the best bonus: it is in 6 languages. You can see the example edition 1 for free and it is getting even better with next editions.
A bit strange that Anand is taking so much time on his current moves, usually we see the World Champion playing quite fast. Maybe Anand is still considering now to play 15...Bf4 and only then Nbd7. Also it is not that clear, if now 15...Qb8!? is a possible choice, 16.Bxf6 gxf6 is looking a bit dangerous, but might be totally harmless. It will be very hard for White to create any threats on the kind side. Black always got the idea of playing Rc8 and Bf8-Bg7 protecting the King from all the coming threats. So maybe we will see 15...Qb8!? Quite an interesting moment, 15...Nbd7 followed by Qb8 leads to a very safe position, but 15...Qb8!? leads to a bit more sharp lines
15... Qb8 it is a clear sign, that Anand wants to play this game for a win, if possible. What is Gelfand going to do?! Try to go into the big battle after 16.Bxf6 gxf6 or to play the very safe 16.Bg3 and probably we will see another short draw? Both options are on the table. Can maybe Boris try now the 16.Bxf6 gxf6 and 17.Ne2! with the idea Ng3-Nh5. In case the knight would reach the h5 square, Black will face quite a dangerous threats on the kingside.
16. Bg3 Gelfand continues his match strategy: no chances for me and no chances for you games... pity for us. I guess in case of 16.Bxf6 we would have seen a lot of action. White wants to play the Ne5 now, so of course 16...Rc8 ?! would be an inaccuracy. But the 16...Bxg3 17.hxg3 and Rc8! now is looking pretty good for Black.
16... Rc8 I consider 16...Rc8 to be an inaccuracy because of the 17.Ne5, and the White bishop on g3 can be a very dangerous piece in the future. Can Black be planning to play 17...Ne4!? is looking a bit dangerous, but maybe it is fine, after 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19. Qe2 maybe Black can try to forced 19...f6!? Anyhow, 16...Bxg3 was a much more solid continuation
17. Qe2 17.Qe2 quickly played by White - Gelfand continues avoiding any kind of complications... In this kind of manner it is not possible to put any pressure on the World Champion!
17... Bxg3 18. hxg3 so 17...Bxg3 18.hxg3 and we are facing again an "empty" position. White will try to play Rc2-Rfc1 or maybe Ne5 but all this is of course not dangerous anymore for Black. Black will double on the c file as well, maybe play Nbd7. 18...Qd6 is looking very solid as well followed by Rc7-Rac8
18... Qd6 Anand is choosing the 18....Qd6 and probably we can expect now White to play 19.Rc2, of course 19.Ne5 brings nothing now to 19...Nfd7! and White would be forced to play 20.f4 which is not a nice move to do, weakening the center a lot and especially the pawn d4. Another thing is, Gelfand clearly showed today, that he wants to risk 0 % to lose, so 19.Rc2 seems to be the right move for that. Note: the World Chess Battle II starts at 18:00 GMT.
19. Rc2 for Black is looking logical now 19...Rc7 20.Rfc1 Nbd7 ( Black could not play 20...Rac8 because of 21.Bxa6) and it seems like White can do nothing against Black's Rac8 next ( now the pawn a6 is protected by the Queen on d6). Of course 21.Nb5 is not working because of the 21...Rxc2. It is a bit pity for Black, that the logical 19...Nc4 is getting countered by the 20.Na4! leading to a better position for White. Somehow it is difficult to get rid of the feeling, that both players are trying to make an "accurate" draw... spending a lot of time on every move - not to make a blunder, avoiding any complications, choosing ultra solid openings...
19... Nbd7 Anand starts with 19...Nbd7 and probably at 20.Rfc1 we can expect now the Rc7
20. Rfc1 Rab8 Black is playing the 20....Rab8, probably Anand thinks that White will have anyway nothing better than to start the exchanges on the c file and then Black could just wait for White to play Rxc8 Rxc8 Rxc8 Bxc8 and all the rooks will be gone... It would be nice for White to play now 21.Na4 but on this Black do have a nice respond 21...Rxc2 22.Rxc2 and Bc6! 23.Nc5 Bb5 and Black solved the problem of the bad bishop on b7. We have to say, that White might be doing minimally better here with again 0 % risk to loose. Gelfand's strategy "to push " with a super small advantage continues and maybe today Gelfand will get his first chance to put "real" pressure on the Anand. Anand's 40 minutes for the last 20 moves is a clear sign, that for some reason the World Champion is not feeling himself comfortable in this type of position.
21. Na4 so Gefland found nothing better than to play 21.Na4, we can probably expect 21...Rxc2 22.Rxc2 ( 22.Qxc2 Rc8) 22...Bc6! 23.Nc5 Bb5, does Gelfand found here something that would lead to better chances for White!? I guess this we will see in a couple of moves
21... Ne4 Vishy is playing now a really surprizing 21...Ne4. This move gives some choice. Why Black played 21...Ne4 and not Rxc2 followed by Bc6-Bb5? It is impossible he has not seen the option. He was afraid of something? Maybe-but of what!?... White has now 2 main choices: 22.Rxc8 and 22.Bxe4 followed by Rxc8. Does it make a difference? Maybe in case White doesn't want to take on e4 after : 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 and now wants to do something else like 23.Qc2. After 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Qxe4 Bb7 the position is looking close to equal to me. Black will be a pawn down, but the b7 bishop will compensate a lot for that!
22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 White maybe has another idea now, to play 23.Qe1!? Bb7 and 24.Qa5! with in my opinion already clearly better position
23. Qc2 Gelfand is playing quickly 23.Qc2. A very logical move, but I still think 23.Qe1 was worth consideration. Probably now at 23...Bb7 White wants to continue with 24.Nc5!... But maybe Black can play 23...Ndf6 with the idea of Ng4 at some point and at 24.Nc5 Nxc5 25.dxc5 Qc7 25.Qe2 and maybe White is doing just a bit better
23... g5 again quite a strange play by White. Seems like Anand is in a pretty bad shape today. Can we see the first decisive game!? I think White has now a choice between 24.Qc7 going into a clearly better endgame and maybe 24.Nc5 f5 and now White needs to find something strong. Let us take more closer to the move 24.Qc7, so Black will probably have to take 24....Qxc7 25.Rxc7 and maybe 25...Kf8 trying to bring the King to d8, but all this gives White time for Ra7 and Bxa6 idea, or maybe Ne5. To me Blacks position is looking quite bad! It is not going to be an easy task to save the game today for Black. Especially if we look at the whole game from above, the last 3-4 moves for Black were quite strange.
24. Qc7 and yes, we see the 24.Qc7! which is fitting perfectly into Gelfand's match strategy - 0 risk and if possible to put some pressure. Anand has only 15 minutes for the last 16 moves to solve very difficult problems in front of him! And the thing is, Black is not facing a "forced" problem, just the endgame that will appear now is a bad one. The pawn on a6 can get weak and lost, the White's knight is going to e5, plus White will control the 7th rank
24... Qxc7 on the other hand: Anand escaped in so many bad endgames. I think nobody ever saved as many bad positions as Anand. So we should be not too fast with out judgments.
25. Rxc7 f6 we see 25...f6?. This is already a serious tactical mistake, giving White a chance for 26.Bxe4! fxe4 and 27.Nd2! with very good chances for a full point... a very exiting moment if Gelfand will make use out of his "11 meters" Gelfand has enough time to find the right moves here, 22 minutes for the last 15 moves, this is totally enough. Can Gelfand's biggest dream come true now? I think in case of 26.Bxe4 it could!
26. Bxe4 also we should not forget, that in the current time control there is NO time increment after each move, so things could get pretty messy today! Finally quite an exiting game!
26... dxe4 27. Nd2 Gelfand is playing the 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.Nd2! now things are looking really badly for Anand. At 27...f5 is coming 28.Nc4
27... f5 White knights totally dominates the position. Next White move could be Nc4 and then Nc5
28. Nc4 Nf6 29.Nc5 should be clearly the main move now, no need to go for any adventures after 30.Nd6 Bd7 31.Nc5 Rxb2!
29. Nc5 the terrible thing for Black is, 0 counterplay! The bishop on c8 is dead! today Gelfand might win his first classical game since 1993 against Vishy Anand! For 19 years Boris had to wait for this.
29... Nd5 30. Ra7 next White moves are for ex: b3, then to bring King to d2. Black is totally paralyzed.
30... Nb4 Black is playing 30...Nb4 well...I don't think this move has a deep idea inside. 31.Nd6 is looking pretty logical now, with the threat Rc7
31. Ne5 White is playing 31.Ne5 now at 31...Nxa2 32.Nc6 is finishing the game
31... Nc2 31...Nc2! a great move by Anand, probably the best practical chance he could get, now at 32.Nc6 Rxb2 33.Ra8 e3! Of course Whites position is winning, but Black keeps some chances. I guess Gelfand is not very happy now about his 31.Ne5
32. Nc6 Rxb2 Gelfand got now few choices of how to take away the bishop on c8, to play 33.Rc7, 33.Ra8 or 33.Ne7...
33. Rc7 so we see 33.Rc7 and I think 33...e3 is the only chance to try something even if it is losing as well
33... Rb1+ 34. Kh2 e3 Anand is going for 33...Rb1 34.Kh2 e3, does Black has chances-not really. Blacks King is now going to be in a big danger of being attacked be the rook with 2 knights.
35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36.Rc7! seems to win immediately for White. Black King got no squares to go, at 36...Kg6 37.Ne5 Kh5 38.Nxe6! and White is mating
36. Rc7+ Gelfand is playing 36.Rc7! Dramatic change in the match and we will have our first decisive game! Almost nobody could believe that Gelfand could keep up with Anand, who has beaten Topalov and Kramnik in his previous 2 WCC matches, but here we see after round 7 Gelfand is making his lead count!
36... Kh8 the most easy way to finish the games seems to be 37.Nd7 with the idea Nf6-Rh7 mate
37. Ne5 37.Ne5 is a good move as well, now White wants to play 37...e2 38.Nxe6! with a mating threat Ng6 check and Rg7 mate. Amazing, who would expect this?! The question, can Anand react like a champion and return tomorrow in the match? Or will Gelfand solidify his lead? We can be already now very exited about tomorrow, Anand is White and needs to win! Thank you for following with me GM Naiditsch from Chess Evolution. Stay with us for the live commentary tomorrow!
37... e2 38. Nxe6 1-0
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