Anand is World Champion again!

The first win with Black in the whole match and in the decisive last game.

Here is a summary of what happened in all the twelve games

So Anand makes it past the winning post to 6.5-5.5 and there is no need for a play-off.

All of our special World Champion videos can be viewed here:

I have analyzed all the games, so have a look at the earlier news articles concerning the match for games 1-11. Here is the decisive final match game.

Veselin Topalov (2805) - Viswanathan Anand (2787)

Sofia WCM (12th game) 11.05.2010

Queen's Gambit Declined (D56)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 ♘f6 4.♘c3 ♗e7 5.♗g5 h6 6.♗h4 0-0 7.e3 ♘e4

Black seeks to exchange two pairs of minor pieces and thus obtain a simpler life.

8.♗xe7 ♕xe7 9.♖c1 c6 10.♗e2 ♘xc3 11.♖xc3 dxc4 12.♗xc4 ♘d7 13.0-0 b6

The other plan involves 13...e5 when the bishop will be developed along the c8-h3 diagonal.

14.♗d3 c5 15.♗e4 ♖b8 16.♕c2 ♘f6

Black usually plays to develop his queenside, for example 16...♗b7 ; or 16...a5 e.g. 17.♖d1 ♗b7 18.♗xb7 ♖xb7 19.a3 ♖e8 20.h3 e5 as in Van Wely,L-Azmaiparashvili,Z Calvia Olympiad 2004, and Black went on to draw.

17.dxc5

Taking the opportunity to break up Black's structure.

17...♘xe4 18.♕xe4 bxc5 19.♕c2 ♗b7 20.♘d2 ♖fd8

Black has an additional pawn island, and in particular a weak pawn on c5, however his bishop is potentially the best minor piece so Topalov decides to block the diagonal.

21.f3 ♗a6

Switching diagonals to keep White occupied.

22.♖f2 ♖d7 23.g3 ♖bd8 24.♔g2 ♗d3 25.♕c1 ♗a6

White could repeat with ♕c2, but Topalov naturally wants more, especially as it doesn't look as if he entails any particular risk!

26.♖a3!?

In principle a step in the wrong direction, but the move may not be bad in itself.

26...♗b7 27.♘b3 ♖c7 28.♘a5 ♗a8 29.♘c4 e5!

Seeking activity!

30.e4

30...f5!

Tactically aware as always, Anand opens the light-squares where his bishop will dominate.

31.exf5 e4 32.fxe4 ♕xe4+ 33.♔h3 ♖d4

Suddenly Anand has generated a strong king attack from nowhere! White's rook on a3 is a spectator as the storm clouds gather on the other flank.

34.♘e3 ♕e8! 35.g4 h5

White's king seems too exposed especially as his pieces are not well placed to defend.

36.♔h4

36...g5+!

Opening lines is Black's top priority.

37.fxg6 ♕xg6 38.♕f1 ♖xg4+ 39.♔h3

Not 39.♘xg4?? as ♕xg4# is already the end.

Black now has a tantalizing selection of options.

39...♖e7

Plausible but not totally clear is 39...♖f7!? 40.♖xf7 ♗g2+ 41.♕xg2! ♖xg2 42.♖fxa7. However 39...♕g5 is certainly good enough: 40.♖f8+ ♔g7 41.♕f2 ♖e4! 42.♖xa8 ♖xe3+ 43.♕g3! ♕g4+ 44.♔g2 ♖xa3 45.bxa3 c4 with a rook ending that seems to be winning, for example 46.♖e8 c3 47.♕xg4+ hxg4 48.♖e1 c2 49.♖c1 ♔f6 50.h3 gxh3+ 51.♔xh3 ♔e5 52.♔g3 ♔d4 53.♔f3 ♔d3 etc.

40.♖f8+

Otherwise there is 40.♕d1 when after 40...♖d4 41.♘f5 ♕xf5+ 42.♖xf5 ♖xd1 43.♖g3+ ♖g7 44.♖xc5 Black is running out of pawns, but should still win.

40...♔g7?!

The killing move was 40...♔h7! as after the forced moves 41.♖h8+ ♔xh8 42.♕f8+ ♕g8 43.♕xe7 Black has a choice between 43...♕c8 44.♕e5+ ♔g8, and 43...♗g2+ 44.♘xg2 ♕c8, both of which seem to win.

Anand settles however for a 'slow but sure' win and who can blame him?

41.♘f5+ ♔h7 42.♖g3 ♖xg3+ 43.hxg3 ♕g4+ 44.♔h2 ♖e2+ 45.♔g1 ♖g2+ 46.♕xg2 ♗xg2 47.♔xg2

Unfortunately for Topalov regaining the material with 47.♖f7+ ♔g6 48.♖g7+ ♔xf5 49.♖xg4, is inadequate as 49...hxg4 50.♔xg2 ♔e4 51.♔f2 ♔d3 is a trivial win for Black.

47...♕e2+ 48.♔h3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.♖f6 ♔g8

Now it's just a question of avoiding any accidents.

51.♘h6+ ♔g7 52.♖b6 ♕e4 53.♔h2 ♔h7 54.♖d6 ♕e5 55.♘f7 ♕xb2+ 56.♔h3 ♕g7

0-1

...and that was that. Anand retains his crown.

The two protagonists have demonstrated that they are fairly evenly-matched players at this time limit, but one inspiritational game by Anand made all the difference.

For more information on the tournament official tournament site