Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship (2010)

MATCH STANDINGS
Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship Match

Viswanathan Anand	6.5/12	(+3 -2 =7)	[view games]
Veselin Topalov	5.5/12	(+2 -3 =7)	[view games]

WCC Overview

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HISTORY OF THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

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Anand vs Topalov, 2010
Sofia, Bulgaria

After defeating Gata Kamsky in the eight-game challenger match, Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov once again found himself preparing for a World Championship title match. The match took place in Sofia, Bulgaria from April 24 to May 13, 2010. The title match was mostly following the format of Anand-Kramnik 2008 and Kramnik-Topalov 2006 in that 12 games would be played, with a series of successively faster tiebreak rounds if needed. Topalov demanded that the match be played in silence, in the style of the "Sofia Rules" which require draws to be mitigated by an arbiter.

Vishy Topalov 2010
Anand defends his title in enemy territory.

According to FIDE regulations, reigning champion Viswanathan Anand had the right to refuse Sofia as a suitable location, as that would give Topalov the "home field" advantage. However, Anand raised no objections. The match was delayed due to air travel disruptions caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which offset the entire schedule by one day.¹

The match was grueling and dynamic, with five decisive games, and some unexpected surprises in the openings. Topalov got off to a great start, demolishing Anand's Grunfeld in the first game in only 30 moves. Anand struck back in game two demonstrating his mastery of the Catalan opening, and in game four took the lead, but the ever-aggressive Topalov seemed to have a psychological edge even while trailing. Tied 5.5 apiece, Anand chose the drawish Lasker Defense of the Queen's Gambit for the last game, and quickly equalized. In an effort to create winning chances, Topalov captured the pawn offered by Anand. Topalov soon found himself defending against a sharp attack and lost, thereby ending the match without the need for tiebreaks.

"Vishy" once again defended his title. In a post-match interview Anand mentioned that in addition to his normal team of seconds, he also received help in preparation from Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik.

click on a game number to replay game 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Anand 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1

Topalov 1 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0

FINAL SCORE: Anand 6½; Topalov 5½
Reference: game collection FIDE World Chess Championship, Sofia, 2010

NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]

    · Game #4     Anand vs Topalov, 2010     1-0
    · Game #12     Topalov vs Anand, 2010     0-1
    · Game #2     Anand vs Topalov, 2010     1-0

¹ Wikipedia article World Chess Championship 2010

page 1 of 1; 12 games

Game Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening
1. Topalov vs Anand 1-0 30 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D86 Grunfeld, Exchange

2. Anand vs Topalov 1-0 43 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship E04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3

3. Topalov vs Anand ½-½ 46 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav

4. Anand vs Topalov 1-0 32 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship E04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3

5. Topalov vs Anand ½-½ 44 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav

6. Anand vs Topalov ½-½ 58 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship E04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3

7. Anand vs Topalov ½-½ 58 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship E00 Queen's Pawn Game

8. Topalov vs Anand 1-0 56 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav

9. Anand vs Topalov ½-½ 83 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship E53 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3

10. Topalov vs Anand ½-½ 60 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D86 Grunfeld, Exchange

11. Anand vs Topalov ½-½ 65 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship A29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto

12. Topalov vs Anand 0-1 56 2010 Anand-Topalov World Chess Championship D56 Queen's Gambit Declined

REFINE SEARCH: White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 107 OF 406 · Later Kibitzing>
Apr-24-10		chancho: We came to see a spectacle only to find a debacle. I hope this was just an isolated incident. Fischer went down two games to come back against Spassky, but this match is only 12 games. I still believe in Vishy winning this...

Apr-24-10		newton296: <surely Anand put his King on f7 in anticipation of Nxf6. If that is so, then why is he taking so much time to move?> yep, anand is really out of sorts here! the weird part is 23.Rf3 didn't look like much when top played it. but thats the kind of move top says he likes. it gives top all the attacking chances and its complicated. its also a 3rd rate move on the computers so anand probably didn't even look at it. that's tops genius. imo, he said it best himself when he said he doesn't want to play the best moves, he wants the moves that give him the type of attacking positions he likes and puts max pressure on his opponents. thats when he thinks he can outplay anand or anyone in the world . he's proving that here!

Apr-24-10		iamsheaf: The problem is that three pawns for the Knight and there are no tricks left bad king queen on the board. Just a massacre. There isn't a trick left.

Apr-24-10		patrice: if 25... Qf4 26. Rh6+ if Ke5 27. Qxa5+ bxa5 28. Rc5+ mat !!

Apr-24-10		Cushion: <behrouz1363> Don't you mean he got slaughtered in a match with Anand?

Apr-24-10		rmilamrtapa: <Is it really at a higher quality than 10-15 years ago?> I believe it is - the increase in 147s being a sign of it. I used to watch in the 80s and it seemed to improve massively as it went into the 90s, the long potting and the level of safety play - though the quality is so high that it is more difficult to maintain an edge now. Anyway, are we on the right board? I'm sorry if Anand has lost this badly and hope he comes back.

Apr-24-10		iamsheaf: Why did he not choose strategic opening with rook endings in sight. This is not even a game where topalov can even return the favour.

Apr-24-10		bharatiy: I agree, I dont mind Anand losing but not like this

Apr-24-10		behrouz1363: what anand is thinking about? he didint see Rh3 in his long thought? i cant understand this.he is so boring

Apr-24-10		siamesedream: Great start of the match! Topalov fully deserved to win the title. He is very creative and brave!

Apr-24-10		iamsheaf: <chancho> I don't. History teaches us that only bad things happen to good people. At least if the title was with Kramnik. Ugly D and his team of criminals would not have got a shot for a very long time to come.

Apr-24-10		goldenbear: <behrouz1363> Well said about Topalov, unfortunately...

Apr-24-10		pankajdaga: <Topalov fully deserved to win the title> Let's not hand out titles yet. It is only one game.

Apr-24-10		shach matov: <anand has been never the best player he just ouprepared and outplayed kramnik in their match> In fact Anand beats Kramnik in every possible way: Anad has a +1 score against Kramnik in their classic games. Anand beats him in rapid and fast blitz games. He also had a more consistent higher rating than Kramnik. And of course the match in 2008. So in every possible way Anand is better than Kramnik.

Apr-24-10		jair: It's hard to see long variations sometimes, but look at Anand's Knight and Bishop. Most moves after 10 mins thought are blunders as well. On the positive side, Anand will fired up by this. Topalov is not Kramnik.

Apr-24-10		The Rocket: <"Why did he not choose strategic opening with rook endings in sight."> Would you mind telling us how he can force upon rook endings straight out of an opening? Its not all up to Anand which type of position that results you know.

Apr-24-10		support anand: Anand has save lost position against Topalov before. So the past gives us some hope.

Apr-24-10		unsound: It is hard to overstate what a serious reversal this looks likely to be for Anand. And yet iamsheaf has managed it effortlessly.

Apr-24-10		AuN1: so many people acting like fatalists when the first <<game>> is not even over yet.

Apr-24-10		carlsen o: 26) Bb5 !!

Apr-24-10		evlozare: after Rh7+, the king returns to f6, then what?

Apr-24-10		GiuocoPianoMan: This is without a doubt the worst game I have ever seen Vishy play- I am not a fan and haven't seen ever game- but he's World Champion- this is unreal. Anyone think we will get a volcano excuse at the press conference?

Apr-24-10		siamesedream: <Let's not hand out titles yet. It is only one game.> Agree, I mean in general.

Apr-24-10		Squares: that's pretty funny "unsound"

Apr-24-10		iamsheaf: <eviozare>the second rook goes to the back rank and 1-0

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