Game 10 of FIDE WCC: Topalov vs. Anand

Watch the game live NOW:
http://chessbomb.com/o/2010-wcc/10-Anand_V-Topalov_V/
http://www.chessok.com/broadcast/?key=sofia2010_10.pgn&game=0
http://live.chessdom.com/anand-topalov-2010-g10.html
http://www.anand-topalov.com/en/live.htm

Current Match Score:
Anand: 4,5
Topalov: 4,5

Overall Classical Chess Score:
Anand win: 12
Draw games: 28
Topalov win: 13

Match so far:
01 Topalov-Anand 1-0 (Grunfeld)
02 Anand-Topalov 1-0 (Catalan)
03 Topalov-Anand 0,5 (Slav)
04 Anand-Topalov 1-0 (Catalan)
05 Topalov-Anand 0,5 (Slav)
06 Anand-Topalov 0,5 (Catalan)
07 Anand-Topalov 0,5 (Catalan)
08 Topalov-Anand 1-0 (Slav)
09 Anand-Topalov 0,5 (Nimzo)

Odds:
I would say the odds are very even right now. Over 53 games Topalov has a almost a 2% edge over Anand, and in the current Match he has a 3 out 4 points with White. Topalov has two games with White left, and one Black where he has 1,5 out of 5 points. Crudly calculating bases on current match score, Topov should on average lead by 6,3-5,7 after 12 games. If we further asume that Anand has a significant edge in the tie breaks, but a declining match form then that should level out the overall match odds.

Game 10: Topalov-Anand (Grunfeld)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

Topalov - Anand
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O b6!?

(A side line. In the opening game of the match Anand played 10... Na5)

Topalov-Anand
11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6 15.d5!?

(Novelty from Topalov)

Topalov-Anand
15...Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3?!

(Apparently Rybka doesn't like this according to ChessOK)

Topalov-Anand
18...Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5
22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 25.Ba6

Topalov-Anand
25...Nd4?! 26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5 Be5 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5

Topalov-Anand
31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5
36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3?! 40.g5! Bf2+

(Time Controll)

We are looking at another long drawn out endgame here. Its turning out to be a battle of stamina between the two players. It has been the story of the match so far. And so far topalov has proved better... in handling these end games.

Its the third game in the match that revolves around topalovs passed pawn/s with anand having to defend all three times. Tells you something

Originally posted by arterioes
Its turning out to be a battle of stamina between the two players.

On the official Bulgarian site, Topalov opens the main interview with:
My 'plus' is 'minus five' from the age

Could this be the reason why he is insisting on the Sofia rule?

Topalov-Anand
41.Ke5?! Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7
44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4 46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4

Draw

This can certainly be considered a moral victory for Anand, Topalov had a clearly better ending but began playing what seemed completely random moves and they drew with black a pawn up but insufficient material to win, Anand spending only a few minutes in the second time control and Topalov spending a lot time, getting nowhere!

It really is a mini-match of 2 games now, we can expect some sharp chess I think, Anand will want to be going into the last game a point ahead.

Originally posted by pulern
On the official Bulgarian site, Topalov opens the main interview with:
My 'plus' is 'minus five' from the age

Could this be the reason why he is insisting on the Sofia rule?

This is a world chess championship where FIDE rules apply not a tournament where they can use custom rules. The Sofia rules don't apply here.