There is a scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where Sir Lancelot’s servant, Patsy, is shot in the back by an arrow and seems to expire. As Lancelot ( John Cleese) brusquely proceeds on his mission, Patsy (Eric Idle) protests that contrary to appearances he is not dead yet. The world champion Vishy Anand has put me in mind of this. He defended his title last year, but his performance was fairly lacklustre, and he has generally seemed uninspired in his tournament games. His loss to the up-and-coming star Magnus Carlsen towards the end of last year more or less confirmed Anand as a write-off, a roi fainéant, keeping the throne warm for his next challenger. Then, at the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Holland, last week, Anand played a game of such brilliance against Aronian that any suggestion that he is due to yield the world title must be dismissed as wildly premature. Here is that game.
Aronian-Anand: Wijk aan Zee 2013; Semi-Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 Bd6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Qc2 10 b3 Bb7 11 Bb2 a6 12 Ne4 Nxe4 13 Bxe4 Nf6 14 Bc2 c5 led to a win for Black in Carlsen-Anand, Morelia 2007. 10 … Bb7 11 a3 Rc8 12 Ng5 An attempt to breathe fresh life into White’s position, given that the natural 12 b4 which apparently locks Black down, is refuted by the extraordinary 12…c5!! as in the game Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, London Grand Prix 2012. This seems to lead by force to clear equality: 13 bxc5 Bxf3 14 gxf3 Nxc5 15 dxc5 Rxc5 16 f4 Nd5 17 Bb2 Nxc3 18 Bxc3 Qc7 19 Rfc1 Rc8 20 Bxh7+ Kh8 21 Bd3 Rxc3 22 Qxc3 Qxc3 23 Rxc3 Rxc3 24 Bxb5 Bxa3 25 Kg2 and the game was quickly drawn. 12 … c5 13 Nxh7 Ng4 14 f4 cxd4 15 exd4 Bc5!! (see diagram 1) This is a colossal coup. After 16 dxc5 Nxc5 17 Bxb5 (17 Be2 Qd4+ 18 Kh1 Nf2+ 19 Rxf2 Qxf2 and White gets mated) 17 … Ne4 Black has a terrifying initiative. One possible line which demonstrates his chances is 18 Nxf8 Qb6+ 19 Kh1 Ngf2+ 20 Kg1 Nh3+ 21 Kh1 Qg1+ 22 Rxg1 Nef2+ 23 Qxf2 Nxf2 mate. 16 Be2 Nde5!! An astounding move to maintain a knight at g4. The obvious 16 … Bxd4+ 17 Kh1 Nxh2 is refuted by 18 Ng5 when White has his own mate threat on h7 and has prevented the entry of the black queen. 17 Bxg4 17 fxe5 Qxd4+ 18 Kh1 Qg1+ leads to smothered mate. 17 … Bxd4+ 18 Kh1 Nxg4 19 Nxf8 f5 Anand avoids the obvious 19 … Qh4 which is ostensibly deadly but allowing White the alleviating resource Qh7+ trading queens and eliminating the black attack. 20 Ng6 Qf6 21 h3 Qxg6 22 Qe2 Qh5 23 Qd3 Be3 White resigns (see diagram 2) A beautiful concluding coup which slices off all avenues of salvation for White. A brilliant victory against the world rated No. 3 which has been compared to the classic finish of Rotlewi-Rubinstein (see this week’s puzzle)
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