Viswanathan Anand retained the title of the World Chess Champion

The last classical game of the FIDE World Chess Championship was opened with Lasker variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined as Viswanathan Anand sought for a solid defence in which White would have only minimal chances to score a victory.

The opening went quietly until Anand moved the slightly unusual 16...Nf6. This was the moment where Veselin Topalov took a bit longer to decide on the middlegame plan.

Topalov allowed Black to trade the Be4 and in return he forced an isolated pawn on c5. But is was not easy to besiege this pawn as Black successfully coordinated pieces and obtained excellent counterplay.

White took some time to consolidate the position and avoid tactics on the back-rank and against the Knight on d2. Anand silently offered a moves repetition with Bd3-a6, but Topalov snubbed the offer.

White established the Knight on c4, while Black Bishop possessed a long diagonal from a8.

Exactly in this moment, Topalov erred in an attempt to prevent Black's e5-e4. He played e4 himself, but Anand did not hesitate long before breaking the formation with 30...f5 and 31...e4.

Topalov carelessly traded the pawn on e4 and fell under a strong attack. The Black battery Queen-Rook-Bishop worked perfectly in the pursuit after White King.

It looked like the game was over, and even Anand admitted that he couldn't see a defence for White, but Topalov found some remarkable resources and managed to prolong the game.

But with a series of precise moves, Anand managed to convert the advantage and bring victory home on move 56. The final score is 6,5:5,5.

Thus Anand retained the title of the World Chess Champion! Congratulations!

Official website

FIDE World Chess Championship Match - Anand Retains the Title!

The FIDE World Chess Championship match between the reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India and his challenger Former World Champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria is set to start on the 21st April with the official opening ceremony.

The match is taking place at the Central Military Club in Sofia, Bulgaria. The total prize fund 2.000.000 EUR, full regulations can be found here, the updated playing schedule is posted bellow.

Viswanathan Anand won the World Championship in 2000 under knockout system and held the title until 2002. In 2007 he reclaimed the throne by winning the double round-robin World Championship tournament in Mexico. He successfully defended the title in the match against Vladimir Kramnik, which was held in 2008 in Bonn, Germany.

Veselin Topalov became the World Champion after winning the first double round-robin World Championship Tournament in 2005 in San Luis, Argentina. He lost the title in 2006, following the unification match against Vladimir Kramnik in Elista, Russia. He again earned the right to challenge the World Champion by winning the 2009 match versus Gata Kamsky.

Anand has arrived to Sofia by car and asked for a three day postponement. Closed German airspace prevented him from flying by plane.
FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos in his capacity of FIDE Supervisor for the match decided to postpone the first game for one day.

The final inspection took place on Wednesday morning, followed by the press conference with both players.

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