Anand World Champion

Problem: Black to play and mate in five.

Vishwanathan Anand of India convincingly won the World Championship tournament in Mexico City in September. The only unbeaten player, his 4 wins and 10 draws were enough to take first place by a full point ahead of defending champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Boris Gelfand (Israel) tied for second on 8/14.

The result also increased Anand's lead at the top of the world rankings, pushing him back over the 2800 mark in the October list. But he will face a stern task as the new champion in 2008, when he is scheduled to play a 12-game match with Kramnik for the world title. The match will take place in Rejkjavik, Iceland, the location of the famous Fischer-Spassky world championship match in 1972.

The secret to Anand's success in Mexico was thorough preparation matched with clinical finishing ability. In today's game from round 11 at Mexico we see Anand playing White more or less clinching the title with a brilliant finish against Alexander Morozevich of Russia..

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. f3 e5
7. Nb3 Be6
8. Be3 Nbd7
9. g4 Nb6
10. g5 Nh5
The Najdorf Sicilian Defence often leads to violent attacks with castling on opposite sides. But here White's g-pawn push is more to remove a defender of the outpost square d5. Black gets f4 in return.
11. Qd2 Rc8
12. O-O-O Be7
13. Rg1 O-O
14. Kb1 Qc7
15. Qf2 ---
Forcing away another defender of d5.
15. --- Nc4
16. Bxc4 Bxc4
17. Nd5 Bxd5
18. Rxd5 f5!
19. gxf6 Rxf6
White has occupied d5 but Black has counterplay down the f-file. 19 ... Nxf6 does not win a pawn as 20 Rd3 Nxe4? runs into 21 Qg2! winning.
20. Qe2 Nf4
Exchanging the knight here was criticised as premature, allowing White a free hand.
21. Bxf4 Rxf4
22. Rd3 Qd7
23. Nc1 Rcf8
24. a3! Kh8
25. Na2 ---
Heading for b4 and d5.
25. --- Qh3
26. Rg3 Qh5
27. Qg2 Rh4
28. h3 Qh6
29. Rb3! b5
Black is forced to weaken his queenside pawns.
30. Nb4 Rh5
31. Qf1 Rh4
32. Qg2 Rh5
33. Nxa6! ---
Anand courageously plays for the win. The resulting position offers many dangers for both sides.
33. --- Bh4
34. Rg4 Bf6
35. Qe2 Rxh3
36. Rxb5 Bd8
37. Rb8 Qf6
38. Nb4 Rxf3
39. Nd5 Qf7
40. Qa6 h5
41. Rg2 h4?!
Boths sides have two passed pawns to advance and Black gives up material to gain time. The alternative 41...Qe6 may not have looked promising but now White gets a passed e-pawn which decides the game.
42. Qxd6 Be7
43. Qxe5 Rxb8
44. Qxb8+ Kh7
45. Qc7 Bf8
46. Qxf7 Rxf7
47. Rg4 Rf1+
48. Ka2 Rh1
49. e5 Bc5
50. e6 Kh6
51. Rc4! ---
Anand has calculated the finale exactly.
51. --- h3
52. Rxc5! h2
53. Ne3 Ra1+
54. Kxa1 h1=Q+
55. Ka2 Qe4
56. Re5!!
Forcing home the e-pawn since 56 ... Qxe5 57 N g4+ forks king and queen.

1-0

Solution: 1 ... Rb3+! 2 axb3 Qc2+ 3 Ka1 Qc3+ 4 Kb1 (or Ka2) Qxb3+ 5 Ka1 (5 Kc1 Qc2#) Nc2#.