Autoplay:
Autoplay:
Welcome everyone to the ChessDom live coverage of the World Chess Championship in Mexico. My name is IM Miodrag Perunovic and I will be your commentator for the 1st round. Enjoy!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Before this tournament, Indian GM Vishy Anand was assigned as one of the biggest favourites to win the championship. With his perfect theoretical knowledge, amazing tactical skills and very fast play, it's not surprising at all... In tonight game he decided to play his pet 1.e4 move. On the other hand, Gelfand like so many players in top tournaments used Petrof defense! Nowadays, Petroff defense is very good weapon if black wants to play for draw.
3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 5. Nc3!? is a very fashionable continuation lately, mainly because Anand actually introduced this move into the practice. Idea is obvious, white wants to earn tempo and to open d-file and c1-bishop. Next is long castle and quick kingside assault. If we take preceding as plus sides, let's have a look what are minus sides of Nc3. The line is not so deeply analysed, so there is room for surprises. Also, White is exchanging one piece and releases central pressure, in the same time ruins his pawn structure and makes double pawns.
5... Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Qd2 Ne5 9.O-O-O O-O 10.h4 Looks like Chessdom team made a good choice for commented games tonight! In both games white just played h4 and announced hyperactive games! Idea behind h4 is simple...either to push that pawn further and to make strong attack against black's king, or to make strong outpost for its pieces on g5.
10... Re8 11.h5 Bf6 12.Nh2 This is novelty! - there is only one game in the database where Svidler played 12.Kb1 a6 13.Nh2!? - well I guess they can still transpose into that game but at least we know where Anand found his inspiration. ..anyway I think black can equalize after 12...Ng4!? 13. Ng4 Bg4 14. f3 or Re1 but in both lines white can't not count on more than slight advantage.
12... h6!? Stops further h-pawn advance and takes potentionally strong g5-outpost away... also this move stops critical attacking ideas related with g4-g5 at some point. On the other hand, after 13. Be2 white will have serious f4 threat and will try to make attack on king side with all of his effort.
13.Be2 Be6! Absolutely the most useful move at the moment. Gelfand is making hard pressure on a2, and not just that, he also wants to play either Nc4 or Bc4, depending on position.... In my opinion, Anand should consider Kb1 or f4, but as far as I am concerned, Gelfand just equalised his game!
14.f4 There is no much philosophy about f4. Vishy just started pushing his pawns, while 14...Nc4 is almost forced reply for Gelfand.
14... Nc4 This was Gelfand's idea anyway, after 13...Be6 and Ne5...
15.Bxc4 Bxc4 Interesting moment. Anand should consider 15.g4!? aiming for black's king. Arising line could be 15.g4 Qe7 ( 15...d5!? 16. b3 Bb5 17.Nf3 - with slight edge since he holds up the d4 square! ) 16.Rhe1 - with about equal game.
16.b3 More or less expected...Anand would like to see what are Gelfand's intentions. "Where does he put this bishop?!" - Anand must be wondering right now. Gelfand has at least 4-5 good looking moves. 16...Bd5!? if white takes the queen 17.Qd5 Re3! and black looks good; 16...Qe7 an interesting intermediary move where black tries to take advantage of semi open e-file; 16. ..c5!? -Worth of examination, a sacrifice that promises a lot after 17.bc4 Qa5
16... Bb5 After the calm 16...Bb5, white has two solid options - Ng4 or g4.17.Ng4 looks good if Anand wants game without stresses and 17.g4!? if he is willing to take his chances.
17.Rhg1 Normal follow-up of white's plan. g4 is very tempting in such positions, at least to aggressive players like Anand.
17... Re4 18.Ng4 Fights against very dangerous bishop on f6! Perhaps Anand will agree with equal result in this game. If he had to change his plan, and play Ng4 instead of g4, it must be he is not that satisfied with the current position. Gelfand should play over the e-file, probably with Qe7 or a5 with idea 19. Nf6 Qf6 and Rae8...
18... Qe7 19.Rde1 Re8 Gelfand is still pressuring. After 20.Nf6 Qf6 21.g4 Qe7! (steping out of g5 and threatens Re3) 22.Bf2 Re2! I think players might agree on draw.
20.Bf2 An invitation for exchanging pieces. After 20...Be2!? 21.Ne3 Bh5 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Re4 Re4 24.g4 Bg6 25. Nf6 Qf6 26.f5 Bh7, black's bishop will be very closed and weak but it should be compensated with open e-file and pawn up in black's favour.
20... Qd8 If now 21.Re4 Re4 22.Nf6 Qf6, Anand will have doubled c-pawns are slightly weak h5, g2 and f4. I am of opinion that Gelfand is starting to get better perspective!
21.Rxe4 Rxe4 22.Re1 Anand is perfectly aware of his worse position. By trying to exchange pieces, he shows his intentions now - "I want draw"! On the other hand, Gelfand has great prospects to start the tournament with worthy win - with black against Anand (although draw would be very good too)!
22... Rxe1+ Weird decis ion. Maybe he just missed his cheapo with 22...Rf4!. Post-mortem and their thoughts afterwards, will reveal the truth. Update: game was drawn!! Since Anand completely misplayed his opening tonight, he should be more than satisfied with draw! There is still this big question if Gelfand could go with 22... Rf4!? and to get winning position! After all, Gelfand should be very happy with his start holding dangerous Anand with white to a draw. Thank you everyone for following, we will continue commenting on Kramnik-Svidler and Morozevich-Aronian. See you there!
1/2-1/2