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The result is 5-2 in Anand's favor. The outcome of this match seems to be obvious. Nevertheless, things still may change in the remaining 5 games. For such turnover, Kramnik has finally to get something from his White pieces. Today is the moment for him to demonstrate his opening preparation, or the match is going to be practically over. Let's see would the Russian be capable of this.
1.d4 Nf6 Anand deviates for first time in this match from the Slav Defense.
2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 ( Instead of his usual Queen's Indian, the Indian enters Queen's Gambit. A little surprise.)
4.Nc3 dxc4 So, the sharp Vienna Variation is to be played.
5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 ( The ambitious 7.e5 leads to very sharp positions.)
7... cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 ( A fashionable alternative to the main line 8... Bxc3+)
9.Bb5+ (9.Bd2 is played here mostly.)
9... Bd7 10.Bxf6 Bxb5 ( An opening surprise. 10... Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 gxf6 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.O-O a6 is considered to be almost forced.)
11.Ndxb5 ( I am curious what has in mind Anand against 11.Nb3 For example 11... Qc7 12.Bxg7 Rg8 13.Qh5 Qc4 14.O-O-O Rxg7 15.Rd4)
11... gxf6 12.O-O Nc6 Once again Kramnik is not prepared for the opening and spend a lot of time overboard: 1.30 1.56
13.a3 ( The direct attempt 13.Qf3 yields nothing: 13... Ke7 (13... a6 14.Nd4) 14.Rad1 Rhd8)
13... Bxc3+ 14.Nxc3 Rg8 As in his previous games as Black, Anand begins developing pressure on the semi-open 'g' file.
15.f4 Rd8 16.Qe1 ( The position demands very precise play. Anyway, 16.Qe1 Qb6+ 17.Rf2 (17.Qf2 Rd2) 17... h5 18.Rd1 h4 can't be bad.)
16... Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Rd3 A mysterious move.
18.Qe2 Qd4 The clock readings have already become about equal: 1.05 1.06
19.Re1 ( Kramnik doesn't like the variation 19.Nb5 Qe3 20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.Qxe3 Rxe3 22.Rd1 Rd8 23.Rfd2 but is there advantage after 19...a6.)
19... a6 I guess, White is studing the consequences of 20.Nd5. This seems the right way to exploit the position of the Black King. Another promising option is 20.Na4.
20.Kh1 (20.Nd5 exd5 21.exd5+ Kd7 22.dxc6+ Kxc6 and Black is holding.) ( On the other hand 20.Na4 threatening Na4-c5 20... Rh3 21.Kh1 Rd3 22.Qc2 Re3 23.Rff1 underlines the lack of coordination between Black heavy pieces.)
20... Kf8 21.Ref1 Rg6 Finally, Kramnik prepared the f4-f5 push, but it won't have the desired effect as Blacked successfully regrouped his pieces.
22.g3 Kg7 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Kh8 As the active Rook was traded, Anand immediately prepares a route for the other one towards the center.
25.Nc3 Rg8 26.Kg2 Rd8 27.Qh5 Kg7 Anand managed to regroup.
28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh4 Kg7 White approached the time control by repeating moves, but what next?
32.e5 f5 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2 Prevents Qe3 and Rd2.
36... Qc4 37.Qg5+ Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8 Draw agreed. Kramnik couldn't find a way to improve his position and it seems that the outcome of this match is determined, as Anand needs only 1 more point in the remaining 4 games.
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