Anand, V (2798) – Aronian, L (2751)
Grand Slam Final Bilbao ESP (8), 10.9.2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Nd2 d6 8.Nb3 Bb6 9.a4 a5 10.Bd2 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Ne7 12.Rg1 0-0 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 c5 15.0-0-0 Bb7 16.Bb5 Bc6 17.e5 Rfd8 18.exd6 cxd6 19.Bxc6 Nxc6 20.Nd2 d5 21.Nb3 c4 22.Nd4 Nb4 23.Nb5 g6 24.Rg4 Rdc8 25.e4 h5 26.Rf4 dxe4 27.Rxe4 Rc5 28.f4 Ra6 29.Rd8+ Kg7 30.Rd7 Rd5 31.Rc7 Na2+ 32.Kb1 Nb4 33.Nd4 Rf6 34.Rxc4 Rg5 35.b3 Rg4 36.Ne2 Rh4 37.Rc5 Rxh2 38.Rxa5 h4 39.Rg5 Rf2 40.Rxb4 Rxe2 White has seen an endgame advantage dissolve. Now, one move after the time control, he gets himself into real trouble: 41.f5? h3 
42.Rh4 h2 43.Kb2 Rc6 44.fxg6 fxg6 45.Ka3 Rcxc2 46.Rg3 Ra2+ 47.Kb4 Re4+ 48.Rxe4 h1Q White is lost, isn’t he? World Champion Vishy Anand decides to put up stubborn risistance and test his Armenian opponent’s strategic abilities. 49.Reg4 Qb7+ 50.Ka5 Qd5+ 51.Kb4 Qd6+ 52.Kb5 Qb8+ 53.Ka5 Rf2 54.Rxg6+ Kf7 55.Rg7+ Ke6 56.R7g6+ Kd5 57.R6g5+ Kd4 58.b4 Rf4 59.Rg1 Rf3 60.Rc5 Qa8+ 61.Kb5 Rf6 62.Rd1+ Ke3 63.a5 Qe8+ 64.Kc4 Qa4 65.Rd3+ Ke2 66.Re5+ Kf1 67.Red5 Qc2+ 68.Rc3 Rf4+ 69.Rd4 Qa2+ 70.Kc5 Rf5+ 71.Kb6 Qe6+ 72.Kb7 Rb5+ 73.Kc7 Qe7+ 74.Kc6 Qb7+ 75.Kd6 Rh5. White Resigns! ( DIAGRAM ).
The computer advises us that it is now a forced mate in something like 12 moves. 0-1.
Topalov v Carlsen
The Chess Grand Slam Final concluded last week in Bilbao, Spain. It was a six-player round-robin event, one of the strongest in the history of chess with an average ELO rating of 2775. The prize fund was US$ 582,000 with the last place finisher receiving US$50,000.
A soundproof glass-enclosed playing hall was built in the middle of the town square as a tournament venue for the players. The public was able to watch the games through the fully soundproofed glass walls.
Here is Bulgarian former world champion Veselin Topalov’s win against Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Topalov, V (2777) – Carlsen, M (2787)
Grand Slam Final Bilbao ESP (8), 10.9.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 a6 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Rdg1 Rc5 17.Bh6 Kh7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.f4 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Rxc4 21.f5 e5 22.Nde2 Rh8 23.b3 Here the Norwegian GM had a choice of playing for a draw with 23…Rc8 or going for more with 23…Rc6. 24.Rxg4 Nf6 25.Rgg1 Rxh1 26.Rxh1 Ng4 27.Ng3 Kg8 28.Nd5 Rc5 29.Ne3 Nxe3 30.Qxe3 Qf6 31.Qh6 Qg7 32.Qg5 f6 33.Qd2 Rc6 34.Kb2 gxf5 35.Qa5 Qe7 36.Qd5+ Be6 37.Qd1 Qg7 38.exf5 Bf7 39.Ne4 Kf8 40.Nxd6 40…Ke7? 41.Nxb7. Threatening mate in one. 41…Qg8. Good enough, but there was something more spectacular: 42…Rh7! with overwhelming tactical continuations in every line. 42.Qd2 Rb6 43.Rd1 Qc8 44.Nd6 (44.Nd8 is stronger) Qd7 45.Nxf7 Qxd2 46.Rxd2 Kxf7 47.c4 Ke7 48.Kc3 Black Resigns. 1-0.
