Despite a good show and possible world record move by the Indian against Veselin Topalov, Game Six ends in a draw
Despite a good show and possible world record move by the Indian against Veselin Topalov, Game Six ends in a draw
A third White for Viswanathan Anand, a third Catalan Opening, third time pawn sacrifice by Anand in the Opening but unfortunately it did not add to a third time victory much to Anand's disappointment.
The sixth game of the ongoing World Chess Championship ended in a draw after 58 moves at Sofia, Bulgaria.
Once again there was no need for the Sofia rule to be invoked as the players settled for a draw by repetition of moves.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anand was in total command throughout the game and one got the impression that towards the ending he toyed with Topalov, making him sweat that much more for the draw when it looked the obvious result for a long time, as usual.
The high point of the sixth game was the dancing pair of Anand's knights which romped merrily for 13 consecutive moves 22 to 34, a world record in all probability for maximum number of knight moves.
According to a commentating GM, it was in the 10th Match game between the legendary Mikhail Tal (one of Anand's favourites) versus Mikhail Botvinnik in 1961 that a single white knight played ten moves in a row.
It was Catalan for the third time and whether it was Topalov's confidence in his home preparation to shrug off two defeats in this very Opening or plain stubbornness, the following enthusiasts did not get a chance to find out as once again it was Anand who seized the initiative and deviated first on the 10th move, making sure that the game was fought on his home prepared territory.
World chess championship
Viswanathan Anand vs Veselin Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Qa4 Nc6 14.Rac1 e5 15.Bxc6 b5 16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5 Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2 Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7 Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6 24.Nb7 Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8 Ba5 28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2 Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3 b4 38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3 40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4 Rb2 42.Ree1 Rdd2 43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3 46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2 Rb4 48.f3 g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
