Chess - The Scotsman 25/05/12

After the shortest decisive game in the history of the world championship, challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel in game nine again came close to toppling the champion Viswanathan Anand of India, who had to dig down deep into his resources to hold the draw.

Gelfand got the better of Anand from the opening, as the champion switched from his Slav to the Nimzo-Indian Defence after his painful loss in game seven. Simplifying the position with a series of timely exchanges though, Anand managed to find a queen sacrifice that built a game-saving fortress.

“My position was worse as he had two bishops for my knights,” commented Anand during the press conference after the game. “My chances hinged on the fortress that I was going to choose.” The fortress was complete after 40 ..Ne4! The point being that 41 Qf3 (threatening g4) Nf6! 42 Qg3+ Kh7 43 Qg5?? Ne4! and suddenly black is winning as 44 Qxh5+ Kg7 45 g4 Rd8 and white loses his queen.

And as we go to press, game ten on Thursday was also drawn in just 25 move. The score is now 5-all with two games to play. If the match is tied at 6-6, the players return for a nervous day of rapid and blitz playoffs for the title and the prize fund of $2.55-million, with 60 percent going to the winner.

B Gelfand - V Anand

World Championship, (9)

Nimzo-Indian Defence

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0–0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c5 7 0–0 dxc4 8 Bxc4 cxd4 9 exd4 b6 10 Bg5 Bb7 11 Qe2 Nbd7 12 Rac1 Rc8 13 Bd3 Bxc3 14 bxc3 Qc7 15 c4 Bxf3 16 Qxf3 Rfe8 17 Rfd1 h6 18 Bh4 Qd6 19 c5 bxc5 20 dxc5 Rxc5 21 Bh7+ Kxh7 22 Rxd6 Rxc1+ 23 Rd1 Rec8 24 h3 Ne5 25 Qe2 Ng6 26 Bxf6 gxf6 27 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 28 Kh2 Rc7 29 Qb2 Kg7 30 a4 Ne7 31 a5 Nd5 32 a6 Kh7 33 Qd4 f5 34 f4 Rd7 35 Kg3 Kg6 36 Qh8 Nf6 37 Qb8 h5 38 Kh4 Kh6 39 Qb2 Kg6 40 Qc3 Ne4! 41 Qc8 Nf6 42 Qb8 Re7 43 g4 hxg4 44 hxg4 fxg4 45 Qe5 Ng8 46 Qg5+ Kh7 47 Qxg4 f6 48 Qg2 Kh8 49 Qe4 Kg7 draw agreed