Game 4 of FIDE WCC: Anand vs. Topalov

Watch game 4 live NOW (14:00 CET, Wedneday):
http://chessbomb.com/o/2010-wcc/04-Anand_V-Topalov_V/
http://chessok.com/broadcast/?key=sofia2010_04.pgn&game=0
http://live.chessdom.com/anand-topalov-2010-g4.html
http://www.anand-topalov.com/en/live.htm

Current Score: 1,5-1,5

01 Topalov-Anand (1-0): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 (Grünfeld)
02 Anand-Topalov (1-0): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.Bg2 a6 (Catalan)
03 Topalov-Anand (0,5): 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 (Slav)

04 Anand-Topalov: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.Bg2 Bb4+ (Catalan)

Anand is the one with todays Novelty:

Anand-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+
6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3 [Novelty]

Yesterday i commented on Topalov having a plaster on his finger which he kept putting in his ear. Well today he is sitting the other way around and, who'd have guessed it...he has a plaster on the other finger now! What is that about i wonder? Very strange coincidence if you ask me...

EDIT: Actually, this might be a trick of the light. The picture quality is a bit grainy..

Anand-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3!?

[Novelty. 10.axb5 (... 1-0), Kramnik-Topalov, Elista 2006.09.23]

10...Bd7 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.O-O O-O 14.Rfd1 Be8 15.d5!


And it looks like Topalov might be in trouble...

Originally posted by pulern
Anand-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3!?

[Novelty. 10.axb5 (... 1-0), Kramnik-Topalov, Elista 2006.09.23]

10...Bd7 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.O-O O-O 14.Rfd1 Be8 15.d5!

[fen]rn1qbrk1/5ppp/2p1p3/pp1PN3/Pnp1P3/N5P1/1P1Q1PBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 15[/fen]
And it looks like Topalov might be in trouble...

..Qd6, the guy has balls of steal!!

Iam really hoping for dxc6, saccing his knight for great positional compensation!

Yes, 16.Ng4 threatening e5 ... d6 pawn push. I thought Topalov was going slightly out on a limb with Qd6 seeing as it is undefended and there are so many ways for Anand to engineer an attack on that square. I'd hate to be in either chair tbh, very complicated position indeed!

..Qc5 looks pretty good, white is going to have to deal with the black knight hitting d3 pretty soon.

Anand just play Nxh6 here.

wow, anand sacs Nxh6! I would've never expect that from him, at least not before lifting the rook. but he chopped away, and now topalov looks close to being mated after e5-Rc4. nice attack! I was wondering whether black could afford having all his pieces far away on the queenside, and apparently he couldn't.

Originally posted by wormwood
wow, anand sacs Nxh6! I would've never expect that from him, at least not before lifting the rook. but he chopped away, and now topalov looks close to being mated after e5-Rc4. nice attack! I was wondering whether black could afford having all his pieces far away on the queenside, and apparently he couldn't.

Topalov has 13 minutes for 13 moves, this could be a decisive factor in the out come ...

I have to say, this is my favourite game so far. Fireworks abound!! 😀

1-0 WHAT a game!!!

Great game!

Originally posted by Marinkatomb
I have to say, this is my favourite game so far. Fireworks abound!! 😀

great games so far. I think the short format and topalov's unilateral enforcement of sofia rules are paying off. in a longer match players are always somewhat forced to save energy and play it safe, usually leading to a pile of boring 'gm draws'. the same thing is visible in fighting sports as well, where unlimited or high number of rounds leads to boring fights. but with the shorter format, and especially the other player refusing unforced draws, we're now seeing both players coming out with their guns blazing. taking risks, either finishing with a rumble or crashing down in flames. exciting stuff!