298 VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
My second Ubilava and I spent some
time looking for alternatives and
pretty soon we discovered 1 6 �b I .
16 li:lcd7
Khalifman played this after a long
thinJc. There are various other possi­
bilities for Black. After 16 ...d5 1 7
li:lxc5 .ixc5 18 1Va4+ li:ld7 1 9 b4 the
position is unclear, while in a later
game de Ia Riva-Van Wely, Zonal
tournament, Mondariz 2000 Black
played 16 ...li:lfd7 and went on to
win.
17 1i'd2
After 1 7 'ifc4 d5 1 8 'ifxc7 lb.c7
1 9 exd5 li:lxd5 Black regains his
pawn, since 20 .te l is answered by
20...<t)7b6!. Returning the pawn by
20 .id2 .i xa3 Ieads only to equality.
17 -·· dS
18 .th3
In this line White usually has to
meet ... d5 with .i h3, aiming for a
breakthrough by g5-g6 and possibly
a sacrifice on e6. The fact that the
queenside looks different doesn't
change that!
18 dxe4
19 gS hxgS
20 hxgS li:ldS (D)
21 fxe4?!
21 g6? is wrong due to 21...l:txh3!
(after my game with Ljubo in Bue­
nos Aires 1994, I won't forget this
resource - see Game 26, note to
Black's 17th move, for more about
this) 22 l:txh3 li:lxe3 23 'ifxe3 e5 and
Black is clearly better.
However, the correct line was 21
.ixe6! l:l.xhl 22 .ixd7+ 'i'xd7 23
l:l.xh I exf3 24 .i f2, as pointed out by
Ubilava and Mikhalchishin. Mate­
rial is equal, but Black's king re­
mains exposed.
21 ...
22 'ifxe3
Now Black's excellent knight on
e5 and pressure against the queen­
side give him good compensation
for the pawn.
23 l:thfi
Round about here I was having
second thoughts about this position.
What if Black doesn't allow the sac­
rifice on e6?
23 il..xa3
This move doesn't lose, but it
does allow White to stir up dangerous
complications. Black should have
considered 23 ... g6 (when 24 J:f6 is
answered by 24 ... .ie7!) if only be­
cause his position is easier to play
than White's.
24 g6
 ANAND - KHAUFMAN, WORW CUP, SHENYANG 2000
No exclams or question marks,
since after any other move White is
lost.
24 ltlxg6
25 �xe6
I had seen that White has a dan­
gerous attack, but hadn't realized
how strong it was.
25 fxe6 (D)
26 ltlxe6
26 'l'g5 is less accurate:
I ) 26 . .:Jt6 27 ltlxe6 'l'e7 28 'l'g4
. �a2 (29 �a! is met by 29 ... l:l.h4!
quite dangerous for Black, but he
can escape by 28 .. ..:1.c6 (28 ...l:l.c7?
29 l:d8+ 'l'xd8 30 ltlxd8 �xd8 3 1
l:l.d1+ �e8 3 2 'l'g3 l:l.c6 33 b4 J.xb4
34 '1'b8+ J.c8 35 'l' xb4 wins for
White) 29 l:l.d8+ 'it'xd8 30 ltlxd8
�xd8 31 l:l.d1+ �c7 (31...l:d6 32
�a2 J.b4 33 l:xd6+ �xd6 34 ltlb6
M 35 'l'xg7 :Jt7 36 'l'f6+ and
only White has winning chances) 32
l:d7+ �b8 33 l:d8+ J.c8 34 ltlb6
ltle7 35 llX:4 and I don't think White
has winning chances.
299
2) 26...�xe4! is the best defence,
aiming for a counterattack against
White's king. After 27 ll'lxe6 (D) (27
l:l.de I �e7 28 'I'd2 l:h2! wins for
Black) Black has a choice of good
lines:
2a) 27 ...�xc2+ 28 �a2 � xb3+
29 �xa3 �xe6 30 'l'xg6+ �f7 and
White's king is now the more ex­
posed.
2b) 27 ...'it'e7 28 'l'g4 �xc2+ 29
because 30 ltlxg7+ 'l'xg7+ is now
check !) 29 ... J.xb3+ 30 �xb3 l:l.b8+
31 �a2 (3 1 �c2 l:h2+ is also deci­
sive) 3 1 ... l:l.h2+ with a winning posi­
tion for Black.
26 ••• 'l'e7?
26 ... 'l'xc2+? is also wrong as 27
�al is winning for White. The only
move is 26 ... '1'e5, which I intended
to meet with 27 'itb6 J.xe4 28 l:l. d8+
�e7 29 'l'a7+ l:l.c7 30 ll'lxc7 �xd8
when (so I thought) Black couldn't
survive. However, back in the hotel
300 VISIIY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
our German friend (Fritz) showed us
that this line should be a draw ! After
26 ... '1'e5 27 'il'b6 (27 'l'a7 'l'xe6 28
'l'xb7 liJe7 29 tbb6 'l' c6 defends)
27 ... .i.xe4! White can play:
1) 28 .fu.g7+ �e7 29 lt:lf5+ .i.xf5
30 l:l.del .i.e4 3 1 l:l.xe4 (31 'i'xg6
.i.xg6 32 l:l.xe5+ �d8 is distinctly
better for Black) 3 1 ... 'l'xe4 32 'l'f6+
�d7 33 l:l.d1+ 'iti>e8 and Black de­
fends.
2) 28 l:l.d8+ 'iti>e7 (D) with an­
other branch:
2a) 29 tbf8 and now:
2a1) 29...l:l.xd8? 1oses to 30 'I'a7+
Wd6 3 1 l:l.d l +.
2a2) 29 ... .i.xc2+ 30 'iti>a2 tbxf8
(30... l:l.xf8?! 3 1 l:l.fxf8 favours White,
while 30 ... l:l.xd8 31 1i'b7+ 'iti>d6 32
'i'xa6+ is perpetual check) 3 1 l:l.xc8
tod7 32 'l'xa6 l:l.xc8 33 'I'xeS .i.xb3+
34 Wxb3 'in>5+ 35 Wxa3 'l'xfl 36
tbc3 with a drawn ending.
2a3) 29 ... tb xf8! 30 l:l.xc8 tbd7 31
'i'xa6 l:l.xc8 32 'l'xc8 'l' b5! 33 'ilfc4
'iWxc4 34 bxc4 with the better ending
for Black.
2b) 29 'ilfa7+ l:l.c7 30 tbxc7 (after
30 l:l.e8+, 30...Wxe8 31 liJxc7+ �d8
transposes to variation '2b2',while
30. ..l:l.xe8 31 tbxc7 .i.xc2+ 32 �a2
l:l.f8 33 tbb5+ Wd8 34 'i'a8+ We7 is
perpetual check) and now:
2bl) 30... l:l.xd8 3 1 liJd5+ �e6 32
'iWn+ Wd6 33 '6'c7+ ltixd5 (33. . .�
loses to 34 'i'c6+ 'i'd6 35 liJc7+ �e7
36 'i'xe4+ tbe5 37 l:l.f5) 34 liJb6+­
'iti>d4 35 'ilfxd8+ and Black will lose
his queen.
2b2) 30...Wxd8 3 1 l:l.d1+ .id6
with a further branch:
2b2 1 ) 3 2 tbxa6? l:l.h l ! (the tempt­
ing 32 .. . 1Lxc2+ 33 �xc2 l:l.h2+ 34
'iti> b1 'ilfe4+ 35 � a1 l:l.d2 36 1rb6T
�e7 37 l:l.xd2 'i'e 1 + 38 Wa2 'l'xd2+
39 tbb2 is a draw, but 32.. .:b2 is
also good for Black) and the attack
collapses since Black's centralized
pieces control too many squares.
2b22) 3 2 liJe6+ 'lfxe6 33 liX:5
.i.xc2+ 34 �xc2 'iVf5+ 35 �I �
36 l:l.xd6 l:l.h1+ 37 l:l.d1 will be a
draw.
2b23) 32 lbc5 .i.xc2+ (32. ...if5?
33 tbb5 ! axb5 34 tbb7+ We7 35
tbxd6+ favours White after 35....id7
36 tOeS+ or 35... �6 36 'fin+ �g5
37 fuf5) 33 Wa2 .i.xb3+ (33. ...if5
34 l:l.xd6+ 1fxd6 35 liJb7+ Wxc7 36
tbxd6+ 'iti>xd6 37 •xg7 is another
draw, while 33 ... .i.xd1 34 liJ7 e6+
'ilfxe6 35 ltlxe6+ 'iti>c8 36 lild4 is
about equal) 34 'iti>xb3 (34 �a3?
 ANAND - KHAUFMAN, WORW CUP, SHENYANG 2000 301

i.xdl ! wins fey Black) 34...1lh3+ 35 ltlb5+ and the c6-knight falls, with a
�a4 llh4+ 36 �b3! (36 � a5? ilc3+ winning position for White.
is winning for Black) and the com­ 28 lldB+
plications peter out to perpetual Not 28 ltlxf8 llc6 29 ltlg6 llxb6
check. 30 ltlxe7 lte6, which only leads to a
27 'ii'b6! (D) draw.
28 ••• lhd8
29 llJc7+ 'fllxc7
29... �d7? loses immediately to
30 'ii'xb7.
30 11xc7 lld7 (D)

Now White breaks through.

27 ltlf8
Or:
I) 27 ...l:th6 28 l:!.d8+ llxd8 29
lix7+ 'ffxc7 (29 .. .'�d7 30 'ii'xb7 �d6
31 'l'b6+ 'it>d7 32 l:!.dl+ wins since 31 1l'b8+
32... �c8 33 'ffxa6+ �xc7 34 'i!Va7+ 3 1 11t'e5+ is also strong; fey exam­
mates) 30 1!hc7 lld7 3 1 'i!Vb8+ �e7 ple, 3 1 ...�d8 (after 31 ... il..e7 32 ltlc5
32 1'g8 and White wins. White wins material straight away)
2) 27 ... ltle5 28 l:td8+ llxd8 29 32 ltlb6 i.d d6 33 il 5+ c7 (a
ltlc7+ �d7 30 'ffxb7 'i!fg5 3 1 ltlb6+ 33 ... 1le7 34 lldl White picks up the
(better than 3 1 ltlxa6+ �e8 32 ltlc7+, bishop) 34 'i!Va5 and Black must sur­
when 32 ... 'it>e7 hangs on for a draw) render material.
31...�d6 32 ltlbd5! ltlc6 (32 ... 'ii'g6 After the text-move, the queen is
33 �b5+ mates, while 32 ...1lh6 33 extremely powerful and Black must
'i!Vxa6+ �d7 34 •xa3 also wins for also contend with the possibility of
White)33 'ifxa6 il..c5 (if White is al­ ltlb6.
lowed to take the bishop,then he has 31 •.•
�e7
a crushing attack for no sacrifice) 34 32 1ifeS+ ltle6
302 VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
33 .:tgl 'lif7
The main alternative is 33 ... :.gs,
and now:
J) 34 lbb6 ..id6 (after 34 ... :.d6?
35 lbc4 �b4 36 .l:g6 White should
win) 35 'i'f5 (35 'i'h5 is unclear after
35 ...l:tdd8 36 lb d5+ ..ixd5 37 exd5
lbf4, but not 35 ...�c5? when 36 :.n
is s•ong) 35 ... g6 (35 .....ih2? loses to
36 l:tg6!) 36 l:lxg6 l:txg6 37 'i'xg6
:.c7 and Black is hanging on.
2) 34 l:tg6! l:td6 35 'lia2 (35 lbc3
'lid7 36 lbd5 �xd5 37 exd5 lbc7 38
lbg7+ l:txg7 39 'i'xg7+ 'ilrc8 is only
a draw) 35 ... �c1 (D) (the only move)
and now:
2a) 36 lbc5 �c8 37 lbxe6 �xe6
38 'irc5 'lid7 39 e5 �xb3+ 40 cxb3
:.xg6 41 'l"d5+ 'lie7 42 'irxg8 �h6
looks like a draw.
2b) 36 :Xe6+ :Xe6 37 'irc7+ �6
38 'i'xb7 is unpleasant for Black.
The vulnerable black king means
that White's queen has the edge over
Black's rooks.
2c) 36 &3 ..if4 (36... 'ilrd7 37
lbd5 and 36... �c6 37 lbd5+ 'ilrd7 38
c4 are winning for White) 37 lhe6+­
l:l.xe6 38 'irxf4 :.c8! 39 'irg4! (not39
'lib2 'lieS and now White can't play
40 lbd5 because of 40....ixd5 41
exd5 lle2 1atching on to the c2-pawn)
39... 'ilrf7 40 1Vf5+ 'ilre7 41 �5+.
followed by 42 c4, with a large ad­
vantage for White. In view of Black's
exposed king, his rooks will have a
hard time against the queen and ac­
tively placed knight. If Black ex­
changes on d5, then White obtains
two connected passed pawns.
34 lbbei muiB
35 'ilra2 (D)
I didn't want to allow ...l:ld1+, but
35 1Vf5+ 'lie7 36 :.g6 :.dl + 37 �a2
J:l.8d6 38 lbc4 should also win.
35 ••• .if8
36 �d7
36 1Vf5+ 'ilre7 37 l:tfl would have
been more precise, with a quick win.
36 :Xd7
 ANAND - KHAUFMAN, WORW CUP, SHENYANG 2000 303

37 'i'fS+ 38 :n �c8
By now White has a choice of good 39 fff7+ �d6
lines; for example, 37 l:l.fl + <j;e7 38 40 e5+ 1-0
l:l.xf8 �xf8 39 'l'xe6 is also decisive. Afler 40 ..<j;d5 41 lld l + White
.

37 rl;e7 wins a piece, so Black resigned.

Afrer Shenyang, I won a rapid event in Corsica and I came to the FIDE
World Championship very motivated. To play 21 games in an event of this
strength without a single loss says it all - I was on top form. Apart from a
scare against Khalifman, my play was convincing throughout. A pattern de­
veloped where I would win with White and draw with Black.While there is
probably an element of coincidence here, I think my black openings have be ­
come more solid over the past few years.
 Game 56

V. Anand - M . Adams
FIDE World Championship, New Delhi 2000
Ruy Lopez, M0ller

1 e4 eS White wants to bury the bishop on

2 �f3 �6 g6. but I spent some lime looking at
3 �bS a6 the sacrifice on g4. The alternative
4 �a4 �f6 is 1 3 l:l.el 'ireS 14 ll'lfl b3 15 .ibl
s o-o �Q l:l.b5, with an edge for White, as
6 c3 bS played in Adams-Benjamin, World
7 �c2 d6 Team Championship, Lucerne 1997.
8 a4 �g4 13
•••
�g6
9 h3 �hS The sacrifice leads to complex
10 d3 0-0 play: 1 3...�xg4 14 hxg4 bg4 and
1 1 �bd2 b4 now:
After 1 l ...d5 12 axb5 axb5 1 3 I ) 15 �b3 and here:
l:l.xa8 'irxa8 1 4 exd5 �xd5 15 ll'le4 Ia) 15 ... f5 with two lines:
�b6 16 ll'lg3 �g6 17 ll'lh4 White I a ! ) 1 6 ll'lxc5? and now:
was slightly better in Gild.Garcia­ ! a l l ) 1 6 ... dxc5 17 �b3+ �h8
Benjamin, Toronto 1998. 1 8 �d5 ( 1 8 �e6 'ireS wins for
12 aS l:l.b8 (D) Black) 18 ... l:l.f6 19 �xc6 l:l.xc6 20
exf5 (20 �xe5 �xdl 2 I ll'lf7+ �g8
22 ll'lxd8 l:tg6+ 23 �h2 .if3 is very
good for Black) 20.. .' ti'f6 21 Ael
'irxf5 22 ltJh4 'irh5 is good f<r Black.
l a l 2) 1 6 ...fxe4 17 ll'le6 (17 .ig5
'ireS and 17 dxe4 �xf3 18 1i'd5+ �h8
are hopeless for White, in the latter
case because there is no defence to
19...1i'h4) 17 ... 1i'c8! ( 17...1i'f6 18
�g5 'ilt'g6 is less clear due to 1 9 1Dh4!
'ti'xe6 20 �b3) 18 ll'leg5 (18 dxe4
�xf3 19 'lid5 ll'le7 20 1i'c4 l:l.f6!
wins) 1 8... �xf3 19 �b3+ �h8 20
13 g4!? � 'ife8! with a decisive attack.
 ANAND - ADAMS, FIDE WORLD CH., NEW DELHI 2000 305
la2) 16 d4! iLa7 and now:
la21) 17 exf5? d5 18 1We2 bxc3
(18 ... e4? 19 iLxe4 dxe4 20 1Wxe4 is
unclear) 19 dxe5 l:txb3 20 iLxb3
{\d4 21 o!Dxd4 iLxe2 22 o!Dxe2 cxb2
23 .ixb2 1i'g5+ and Black wins.
la22) 17 dxe5 threatens 18 'iid5+,
and after 17 ...�h8 1 8 1i'd3 ! I don't
see anything obvious for Black.
I b) 15 ... iLa7! (or even 1 5 ... bxc3
16 bxc3 L7 !) is stronger. After 1 6
�g2 f5 White's knight i s misplaced
on b3 and will have to return to d2.
2) 15 �g2 f5 1 6 il.b3+ �h8 (D)
and now:
w analysis bore this out - White is in
2a) 17 l:th1 fxe4 18 dxe4 1i'f6,
followed by ...o!De7-g6, is awkyard
for White.
2b) 17 exf5 and here:
2bl) 17 ... 'iif6 1 8 iLe6 iLxf5 19
iLxf5 'iixf5 20 ll:le4 'iig4+ 21 ll:lg3
is unclear.
2b2) 17 ... l:txf5 18 il.d5 (18 iLe6
l:tf4 19 iLxg4 l:txg4+ 20 �h1 l:th4+!
21 � xh4 'iixh4+ 22 �g2 'iig5+ is a
draw, while 18 l:th1 d5 ! is unpleas­
ant for White) 1 8...1We8 1 9 l:th 1 W'g6
(19 ...o!De7 20 il.e4 'iig6 2 1 � comes
to the same thing) 20 � fl ll:le7 2 1
il.e4l:th5 ! (2 l ...d5 22 iLxf5 'iixf5 23
d4 exd4 24 cxd4 il.h3+ 25 � e1 fa­
vours White) 22 l:tg I iLh3+ 23 � e2
'iif7 with a messy position. Of
course, it is one thing to reach this
position in the calm of your study
and another to have it in a practical
game when elimination from the
world championship is hanging over
your head! I might have gone for
line '2c' had the sacrifice arisen at
the board.
2c) 1 7 iLe6 was the manoeuvre I
was hoping would save me. Later
no danger; e.g., 17 ...'iie8 ( 1 7 ... 'iif6
1 8 iLxf5 iLxf5 19 exf5 1ixf5 20
ll:le4 is slightly better for White) and
now:
2c l) 18 iLxf5 iLxf5 ( 1 8 ... l:txf5
looks better, but it falls short after 19
exf5 'iih5 20 l:th 1 'iixf5 2 1 ltle4; for
example, 2 1...l:tf8 22 ltlh4! and I
don't see anything for Black) 1 9
exf5 l:txf5 transposes to line '2c2'.
2c2) 18 exf5 iLxf5 1 9 iLxf5 :Xf5
20 ltle4 W'g6+ 21 �hi ! (the key
move; 2 1 ll:lg3 l:tbf8 looks fine for
Black) 2 1 . . .l:tbf8 22 ll:lh2 iLxf2 23
W'g4! and White has beaten back the
immediate attack, though Black is
very much in the game with three
pawns for the piece.
14 li:.c4 (D)
306 V!SHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
Not l 4 ltJh4?bxc3 1 5 bxc3 ltJxe4.
14 bxc3
15 bxc3
Intending .i.e3.
15 ... "i'c8
Aiming for a sacrifice on g4, but
Black never manages to execute it.
15 ...ltJa7!? 16 ..ie3 .1xe3 17 ltJxe3
h6 was a possible alternative.
16 ..ta4 ltJa7
Alternatively, l6 ... ltJd8 and now:
l) 1 7 d4 .i.a7 is good for Black as
the e4-pawn is too weak.
2) 1 7 .i.e3 ..txe3 18 ltJxe3 (if in­
stead 1 8 fxe3, then l 8 ...ltJe6 fol­
lowed by ...ltJd7) l 8 ...ltJe6 is the
point of ... ltJd8 - Black's knight is
heading for f4.
3) l 7 ltJh4! ltJe6 18 ltJf5 'iid8 19
'li'f3 ltJd7 and White is slightly bet­
ter, but nothing more. Black's posi­
tion is quite resilient.
17 .i.e3! ..txe3
The sacrifice still doesn't work:
after l 7 . . .ltlxg4 1 8 .i.xc5 dxc5 1 9
hxg4 '6'xg4+ 20 �hl ..ih5 2 1 �h2
the attack collapses.
18 ltJxe3 (D)
Now White is slightly better.
18 c6
19 'li'd2 'ilc7
20 c4
Intending to disrupt Black's pawns
with the temporary pawn sacrifice
c5.
20 ... cS? (D)
Preventing White's advance but
weakening the d5-square. Normally
speaking, one never expects a posi­
tional error from Michael. I thought
I saw him wince as soon as he made
the move - a slip of the hand, per­
haps? 20... ltJd7! is better, since after
21 ..tc2 Black can go for ... lt:lc8-e7.
He is slightly cramped, but his posi·
tion is solid.
21 ltJh4?
Dubious, as playing the knight to
f5 gives B lack the chance to rid him­
self of the passive bishop on g6.
 ANAND - ADAMS, FIDE WORW CH., NEW DEIRI 2000 307
Also, this is the tempo Black needs
to swing his knight to e7. White
should have played 2 1 g5 ! lllh5 22
llld5 'ii'dS 23 :fb I , when the critical
line runs 23 ... f6 (Black has nothing
else) 24 :b6 fxg5 25 :abl ! :as
(25 ...l:l.xb6? loses to 26 axb6 lllcS 27
b7) 26 lllxg5 lllf4 27 h4 h6 (it looks
like Black has broken out, but White
can sacrifice the knight on g5) 2S
:tb7! (not 2S lllxf4? l:l.xf4 29 llle6
:tg4+ 30 �l -xh4 3 1 :bS+ :xbS
32 :t xbS+ �f7 33 �2 •h i + 34
�e2 .txe4! and Black is winning)
28...hxg5 29 :d7 •es 30 :bb7 (30
:txg7+ �xg7 31 .txeS :axeS is un­
clear) 30... •e6 31 :xg7+ �hS 32
.td7! •xd5 33 exd5 ! (33 cxd5 �xg7
and there is nothing clear for White
after 34� �h6! 35 'ifb lllb5mr
34 hxg5 l:l.f7) 33...�xg7 34 hxg5
(D) and now:
1) 34... :f7 35 'ifb2 :hs 36 .te6
lll e2+ 37 �fl lllf4 38 :xf7+ .txf7
39 �g1 be6 40 dxe6 and White
wins easily.
2) 34 ...� gS 35 1Wb2 with another
branch:
2a) 35 ...l:l.f7 loses to 36 .te6 lllxe6
37 dxe6.
2b) 35 ... lllc S 36 l:l.bS! l:l.xbS (or
36...llle 2+ 37 �g2 lllf4+ 3S �h2
l:l.xbS 39 •xbS .txd3 40 .txc8 .txc4
41 ..c7 and White wins) 37 •xbS
.txd3 3S .t xcS .tf5 39 •xd6 .txcS
40 •xe5 should win for White.
2c) 35 ... bd3 36 •b6 llle2+ (or
36 ....txc4 37 .te6+ lllxe6 3S • b1
mating) 37 �fl lllf4+ 3S �e1 .txc4
39 •c7 and after a couple of checks
Black will have no defence to the
threat of .te6+.
3) 34...l:l.abS 35 �2 l:l.xb7 (White
wins after 35 . . .lllxd3 36 .te6+) 36
•xb7 :f7 37 •xa7 .t f5 3S •xa6
:xd7 39 •c6 llle2+ 40 �g2 llld4 4 1
•cs and the passed a-pawn i s very
hard to stop; e.g., 4 Le4 42 dxe4
.txe4+ 43 f3 .txf3+ 44 �h2 :e7 45
a6 l:l.f7 46 •b7 !.
Now we return to the position af­
ter 2 1 lllh4? (D).
JOB VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
21 1oh8?
Too slow. 2 1 ...ll:lc8! was correct,
and now:
1) 22 g5 ll:lh5 23 ll:ld5 '6'd8 is no
longer so effective since Black can
challenge the white knight with
... ll:le7.
2) 22 ll:lhf5 i.xf5 (after 22 ...ll:le7
23 ll:lxe7+ '6'xe7 24 l:l.fbl Black is
handicapped by the poorly placed
bishop on g6) and now White should
be content to keep an edge by 23
ll:lxf5 ll:le7 24 ll:le3, as 23 exf5 ll:le7
24 l:l.fbl (or 24 g5 ll:lh 5) 24 . .d5 ! 25
. ll:l xf4 Wxg5+ 28 ll:lhg2 exf4 29
g5 lLlhS gives Black counterplay.
3) 22 ll:lhg2 is the safest move;
after 22 ...ll:le7 23 f4 exf4 24 ll:lxf4
White has an edge but cannot claim
more.
22 gS! ll:lhS
23 ll:lds WdB
24 J:l.lbl! (D)
White reverts to the correct plan -
exploiting the outpost on b6 and the
offside a7-knight.
24 ll:lf4
The other possibility is 24... l:l.xbl +
25 l:l.xb 1, and now:
1) 25 ...ll:lf4 26 etJxf4 'i'xg5+ (or
26 ... exf4 27 'irxf4) 27 ll:lhg2 exf4 28
l:l.b7 ll:l c8 29 i.d7! (29 'i'xf4 trans­
poses to line '2a') and White has a
large advantage.
2) 25 ...ll:lc8 and now:
2a) 26 l:l.b7 (this wins, but it's
quite complicated - however, the
variations are very attractive, so it is
worth analysing in detail) 26...lllf4
27 ll:l xg6+! (even stronger than 27
Wxf4 WdS 30 Wd2 ll:le7 31 ltlf4 and
White stands well) 27 ..ixg6 28 h4
(D) with another branch:
2al ) 28 ... ll:le6 29 l:l.d7! 'liteS 30
Wd 1 is decisive.
2a2) 28 ... ll:lxd5 29 cxd5 l:l.f4 (or
29 ... ll:le7 30 i.d7!) 30 .id7 l:l.xh4
(30 ...ll:le7 31 .ie6 l:l.xh4 32 'l'b2
ll:lc6 33 dxc6 Wxg5+ 34 <j;>fJ l:l.hl+
35 <j;>e2 Wh5+ 36 <j;>d2 wins f<r
White) 31 .ie6 l:l.f4 32 l:l.b8 'i'xgS+
33 <j;>f) and Black loses.
 ANAND - ADAMS, FIDE WORLD CH., NEW DELRI 2000 309
2a3) 28... ltJh3+ 29 �g2! (not 29
'ii>h l? l:txf2 30 'ire3 'irf8 with prob­
lems for White) 29 .. .l:txf2+ 30 'ifxf2
l2Jxf2 (White has only a rook for a
queen, but remarkably he still wins)
31 l:b8! h6 (forced, as after 3L.h5
32 ttlb6 �h7 33 l:xc8 'ire7 34 ltJd7
White wins on the spot) 32 ltJb6
�h7 33 J:xc8 'ire7 34 ltJd7! (White
cannot pause to capture the knight on
f2, since after 34 �f2 hxg5 Black's
queen slips out, when it will be im­
possible to avoid perpetual check)
34 .. hxg5 35 ltJf8+ �h6 36 ltJe6 ! !
.
(the remarkable point) 3 6. . .�h5 (the
only move) 37 �xf2! (now is the
correct time to take the knight; 37
l:h8+?? is a mistake because Black
wins after 37... �g4 38 �xf2 'irf6+!)
37 . .' 1'f6+ (37... �g4 38 R.dl+ �h3
.
39 hxg5 ! and 37 ... 'ifxe6 38 R.dl+
are also winning for White) 38 �g2
'lxe6 39 R.dl+! (and not 39 l:lh8+??
�g4 40 R.dl+ �4 since here e3
Isn't covered)and White wins the
queen
2b) 26 l:lb8 is a simpler win:
26... ltJf4 27 ltJxf4 exf4 (27 ...'ifxg5+
28 ltJhg2 exf4 29 R. d7! is decisive)
28 'irxf4 (a clearer continuation than
28 ltJg2 f3 29 ltJh4 ilc7 30 l:lb2)
28 ...'irc7 (28 ...1Wxa5 loses after 29
'1Vxd6!) and now:
2bl ) 29 l:lbl 'ii xa5 30 R.c6?! (30
R.d7 'ifc7 3 1 R.g4 would still be
good for White) 30 ...ifc7 3 1 R.d5
ltJe7 32 ltJxg6+ ltJxg6 (32 ...hxg6 33
R.xf7!) 33 'ilfg3 l:lb8 34 l:txb8+ 'ilfxb8
35 R.xf7 a5 and the a-pawn gives
Black counterplay.
2b2) 29 l:la8! is simple and crush­
ing, since White can meet 29 ...'1Vb7
by 30 'ilfxd6 !.
25 lLlxf4 'l'xg5+
25 ... l:lxbl+ 26 l:lxbl 'ilfxg5+ 27
ltJhg2 exf4 28 'irxf4 'l'd8 29 l:lb6!
leaves White with a clear advantage.
26 ltJhgl (D)
26 ••• exf4?!
After this White has an intermezzo
that allows him to keep both rooks.
310 VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS

Black could still have exchanged on 3 l ...'i'e5 32 h4 and 3 l ....xh3 32

bl. iilf4 'fih6 33 'i'xh6 gxh6 34 l:lc7 are
27 J:.b6! also hopeless for Black.
Occupation of the outpost brings 32 'fig3 W'r6
Black's a- and d-pawns under fire. 3 3 it:lf4 l'i:Je7
27 ••. J:.bd8 34 'it>g2! (D)
28 'i'xC4 (D) 34 l:lxe7? ! ilxe7 35 'i'xg6 l:lb8 is
unnecessarily complicated.

28 •.• 'fie7
29 l:lab1 34 •••

There is no rush to take the pawn 35 lMS

on a6. 36 i.dl! 1-0
29 ••. ltX:8 There is no defence to the threats
30 J:.b7 'fie6 of 37 i.g4 and 37 l:l lb6, because
By now there are many ways to 36... lt:lf6 runs into 37 l:le7. There­
win. fore Michael resigned, giving me the
31 'figS h6 lead in our semi-final match.
 Game 57

V. Anand - A. Shirov
FIDE World Championship Final (4), Teheran 2000
French Defence

1 e4 Against 6 c3 cxd4 7 cxd4, Black

Needing only one point from three can tty to blast White's centre imme­
games to become World Champion, diately with 7 .f6. 8 f4 is a possible
..

I decided just to play normally and reply, but this contains a lot of dan­
forget about the score. There was a ger for White.
rest day after the third game, which I 6 ... �
spent checking all the openings Al­ Played fairly quickly. Black can
exei plays. go for 6 ... cxd4, but Alexei was head­
1.•. e6 ing for his prepared improvement,
During 2000, Alexei and I played so he saw no reason to enter a side­
a lot of French Defences. Now he line.
tries it again, based on an improve­ 7 c3 ....,6
ment he had found over our game in 8 �f3 (D)
Frankfurt.
2 d4 d5
3 �c3 l0f6
4 e5
In Sydney, 1 went for 4 i.gS, but
didn't get much out of the opening.
4 ... l0fd7
5 �el
During 2000, I used this variation
quite successfully, gaining two wins
against Shirov in Leon and Frank­
furt. In contrast, against Bareev in
Shenyang I didn't get much from the
opening. However, I included this 8 ... f6
variation in my preparations for New He played 8... i.e7 in Frankfurt,
Delli. am felt ready to use it again. but we soon transpose in any case.
5 cS One can already make out the con­
6 f4 tours of the battle; White is trying to
311 VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS
maintain his pawn wedge in the cen­
tre (d4 and e5) while Black will try
to breach it ( ...f6, ... c5).
9 a3 iJ..e7
10 h4 0-0
11 l:th3 aS!
The earlier game went I I . .. lll a5?
1 2 b4 cxb4 1 3 axb4 lll c4 14 lllg3
and now that the pressure on the cen­
tre has disappeared, White can direct
his pieces to the kingside (Anand­
Shirov, Frankfurt Rapid 2000) . The
text-move is much stronger, since by
not allowing b4, Black is able to
maintain the tension in the centre.
12 b3
Or 12 lllg3 cxd4 (Black tries to
open the centre as much as possible)
1 3 cxd4 fxe5, and now:
1 ) 14 dxe5 lllc5 1 5 lllg5 (15 iJ..d3
lllxd3+ 16 'l'xd3 iJ..d7 17 lllg5 'l'g l +
18 lll fl :C5 is good for Black)
15 ... lllb3 16 'l'd3 (16 iJ..d3 h6 fa­
vours Black) 16 ... iJ..xg5 (not 16 ... g6
1 7 lllxh7) 1 7 hxg5 g6 1 8 l:tb1 lllx cl
1 9 J:txcl J:txf4 defends.
2) 14 fxe5 :Xf3! (a typical ex­
change sacrifice) 15 gxf3 lllxd4 (the
alternative 15 ...'1'xd4 16 f4 lllc5
also gives Black lots of play for the
exchange) 16 f4 lllb3 and Black has
enough compensation.
12 'l'c7
There are two games featuring
1 2 . . .'l'd8, but this move looks much
better; for a start, there are possibili­
ties of ... 'l'c3+ in some lines.
13 l0eg1 (D)
13 a4?
Alexei wants to sacrifice a piece
to blast open the centre, but his idea
falls short. There was no need to take
such drastic measures, since Black
can simply try to swap light-squared
bishops by l 3 ...b6!, and now:
1 ) 1 4 iJ.. d 3?! cxd4 15 cxd4 (15
iJ..xh7+? �xh7 16 lllg5+ fxg5 17
hxg5+ �g8 and Black defends after
18 l:th8+ �xh8 19 'l'h5+ �g8 20
g6 iJ..h4+ 21 'l'xh4 lllf6 or 18 Wb5
llldxe5 19 fxe5 'l'xe5+ 20 lt)e2 i.a6)
15 ... fxe5 1 6 fxe5 ( l 6 dxe5 lllcxe5 17
fxe5 'l'c3+ 18 �e2 'l'xa1 19 'l'c2
iJ..a6 again defends) 16...lllxd4 is
very good for Black.
2) 14 iJ..e3 iJ..a6 15 iJ..xa6 :Xa6
looks about equal.
14 b4 fxeS
1 4... b6 no longer works since 15
iJ..e3 iJ..a6 is met by 16 b5.
15 rxeS lLldxeS
In this position, drastic measures
are necessary. If White can consoli­
date his centre, then his kingside
 ANAND - SHIROV, FIDE WORW CH., TEHERAN 2()()()
attack will be overwhelming; for ex­
ample, 15 ...cxd4 16 cxd4 liJdxe5 17
dxe5 liJxe5 18 .ltb2.
16 dxe5 liJxe5
17 liJxe5!
The best move. White's knights
would keep tripping over each other's
toes, so it's useful to exchange one
of them.
17 ••• 'IVxeS+
18 '�Vel .ltxh4+?
He played this quite fast, but it's
an error. Mter 18 ... '1Vc7! Black fol­
lows up with ...e5, which should
give him some play. Still, the extra
piece should favour White after 19
.lg5.
19 Wd1 ! (D)
Now Black has to swap queens or
make some other concession.
19 ... '1Vf6?
Mter 19 ...'1Vxe2+ 20 .ltxe2 .ltf2
21 .i.e3 e5 22 .ltxf2 J:l.xf2 23 J:l.g3
White has a comfortable edge in the
ending. The situation reminds me of
313
one of the main lines of the Slav,
where White also has a piece for
three pawns (I d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 liJc3
liJf6 4 liJf3 dxc4 5 a4 .ltf5 6 liJe5 e6
7 f3 .ltb4 8 e4 .ltxe4 9 fxe4 liJxe4 10
.ltd2 1fxd4 l l liJxe4 '1Vxe4+ 12 'IVe2
.ltxd2+ 13 �xd2, etc.). In the cur­
rent position, Black's centre would
be too loose.
20 �f3! 'Wxc3?!
20 ... g5 2 l liJxh4 'IVxfl+ 22 'IVxfl
lbfl + 23 �e2 J:l.xcl 24 J:l.xc I gxh4
25 .l::txh4 is very good for White, as
his rooks have all the open files they
need!
21 .ltb2
Now White wins a second piece.
21 ... 11b3+
22 �cl e5 (D)
The only move - otherwise lLie5
wins the queen.
23 J:l.xb4
Obviously a pleasant choice - to
win Black's queen or be two pieces
up. I saw that after the text-move I
314 VISHY ANAND: MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS

could swap queens and decided not 28 �1?!

to bother with the alternative. How­ 28 bxc5 e2 29 �d2 exn• 30
ever, taking the queen would have l:xfl wins as well, but there is no
finished it earlier: 23 ll:ld2 .i.xh3 24 reason to return material. However,
ll:lxb3 :t2 (after 24 ... .i.g4 25 'ifxg4 28 .i.e2! would have gained a tempo;
.=:xn + 26 �c2 axb3+ 27 �xb3 c4+ after 28 ...c4 (28 ...d4 29 .i.c4+ �h8
28 �a2 White just collects all the 30 bxc5 d3 3 1 .i.c3 keeps everytbing
pawns) 25 'il'b5! .i.g5+ (25 ....i.d7 under control) 29 .i.d4 White can
also loses, to 26 'il'xd7 .=:xn + 27 play �b2 immediately.
�c2 axb3+ 28 �xb3) 26 �bl .i.f5+ 28 c4
27 .i.d3 axb3 28 bf5 l::txf5 29 bxc5 29 .i.e2 .i.e4
is winning for White. 30 �1 l:e6
23 ••. .i.f5 31 .i.cJ 1lg6
24 'il'd1 e4 32 .1:112 .i.d3
25 111xb3 axb3 33 hd3 ad3
26 ll:ld2 34 �b2 d2
Harvesting all Black's central 35 �xb3
pawns is going to take a while, but By now there are alternative routes
basically the evaluation of the posi­ to victory; e.g., 35 .=:dt e2 36 l:xd2
tion is clear - White is winning. :Xf3 37 l::txe2 or 35 .i.xd2 exd2 36
26 ••• e3 ltd! .
26 .. c4 27 .i.d4 wins for White.
. 35 ••• :g3
27 llJr3 36 �b2
27 o!llxb3 .i.g6 28 .i.e2 :n 29 Yes, 36 �c2 is quicker. I guess I
�dl l::txg2 30 l:g4 is also sufficient. was getting nervous!
27 l:ae8 (DJ 36 g5 (D)
 ANAND - SHIROV, FIDE WORW CH., TEHERAN 2000 115

37 �c2 ltc8 Avoiding Black's last trick in the

White also wins after 37 ... g4 38
.ie5(38 li)d4 l:lf2 39 l:ldl e2 40
li:\xe2 J:be2 41 l:bd2 is also good)
38 ... gxf3 39 i.xg3 f2 40 l:lh4 l:lf5
(40 l:lc8+ loses to 4 1 'it>d3 l:lc l 42
...
position: 41 li)d4?? d lli'+! 42 l:lxdl
l:ld2+!, which only works because
the move ll'ld4 cuts off the bishop's
guard of the rook on a I .

:h i) 4 1 :l.g4+ �f7 42 i.xf2 :l.xf2 After the text-move, I left the

43 �d3. stage. The situation is hopeless for
38 �d3 g4 Black, so when I carne back Alexei
39 i.eS :l.cl graciously congratulated me on be­
40 :l.h1 l:lxg2 coming World Champion.
41 lLlli4 1-0

Winning the world championship was the highlight of my career so far.

The knockout format used in the FIDE championship is relatively new, but I
think that it is a legitimate format and anyone who wins this event deserves
the title of World Champion.
The impact of my victory in the world championship was extraordinary.
Chess has become steadily more popular in India over the past few years, and
the media coverage of the world championship was excellent even during the
New Delhi segment, but it reached a whole new level after I won the final On
my return from Teheran to Delhi, I was met at the airport by thousands of
people and had a motorcade through the city, with banners hanging every­
where. In Chennai (Madras), my hometown, I was taken in a horse-carriage
through the city and also honoured by the State Government. The publicity
was not confined to India; there was also plenty of press coverage in other
Asian countries such as Malaysia, while on my return to Spain I was, for the
f1rst time, met by a media corps. I think the game can only benefit from the
developmentof chess in India and other countries which are not currently
considered major chess nations. I am sure that chess will continue to make
progress in India and we may well see a new generation of players emerging
there.

Having won the world title I feel content with what I have achieved on the
chessboard and look forward to new challenges in the future.
Combinations

A. Hamed - V. Anand V. Tukmakov - V. Anand

Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984 Delhi 1986

Although White's king is in an White's bishop is horribly placed

awkward situation, for the moment and Black is effectively a piece up
the bishop on g2 is providing an ade­ on the rest of the board, but does he
quate defence. How did Black press have anything better than simply ex­
home his attack? changing on f2?
 COMBINA110NS
White chose to meet the attack on
his queen by 31 .:td2 (3 1 'lre2 would
have been a better chance). How did
Black finish the game at a stroke?
J. Levitt V. Anand
-
Match (3), London 1987
White is threatening to make fur­
ther progress on the queenside with
29 l:lcc6. How did Black pre-empt
this with a kingside strike?
317
5
B
J. Gdanski - V. Anand
World Junior Championship,
Baguio City 1987
Although Black's protected passed
pawn on a2 is very dangerous, White
has an extra pawn and threatens to
start eliminating the queenside pawns
by li'ld4+ and lLlxb3. How did Black
make use of his advanced pawns?
Note that it is not Black's first move
but his fourth which is the difficult
one!
318 VISHY ANAND: MY BESI' GAMES OF CHESS

V. Anand - M. Adams
Uoyds Bank, London 1987

Black has just played 14 ..ll:lf6.

. This was a lucky escape for An·
dS, preparing to answer 15 b5 by and. White has sacrificed a piece for
1 5 ...ll:lxc3 followed by 1 6 ... �xb5. an enormous attack, and now he

What is the flaw in this plan which could have won by 35 '1'116+ Wg8 36
allowed White to score a quick win? J:e6, when there is no answer to the
threat of 37 'il'g5+ W f8 38 J:f6. In­
stead, he rushed in with 35 J:e6, but
Black replied ... what?
7
B

V. Anand - P. Thipsay
Coimbatore 1987

Anand had gone into this ending

deliberately, even though his king is
now far away from the action. Is the
position a win?