Vishy regime

The Candidates tournament has been won by Vishy Anand who adopted the safety-first policy of winning two of his first three games and then drawing most of the rest. By avoiding defeat, Anand more or less coasted to victory, since all of his rivals slipped up on various occasions. Anand, at the age of 44, was the only player in his forties; the next oldest player, Topalov, is five years his junior. It is remarkable that Anand was able to dominate a field which included a former world champion and so many up and coming talents. He is now set for a revenge match against Magnus Carlsen towards the end of this year.
 
This week, a final selection of critical moments from this important event.
 
Mamedyarov-Anand: Fidé Candidates, Khanty-Mansisk 2014
 
In this position, played before Mamedyarov had got into his stride, White has weakened his kingside and now Anand poured his forces in for the kill. 26 … Ng4 27 Qc2 c5 28 Nxc5 Rc8 29 Rd1 Bxc5 30 Bxc5 h6 31 Kh1 White resigns
 
Aronian-Karjakin: Fidé Candidates, Khanty-Mansisk 2014 (see diagram 2)
 
This game witnessed one of Aronian’s reverses in the second half of the tournament and enabled Karjakin to claim clear second place. White’s b-pawn is dangerous but Karjakin kept it under control with a neat bishop manoeuvre. 86 … Bc8+ 87 Kg2 Qg5+ 88 Kf3 Qxf4+ 89 Kxf4 Kg6 90 Ke5 h5 91 Kd6 h4 92 Kc7 Ba6 93 Kb8 h3 94 Ka7 h2 White resigns
 
Kramnik-Topalov; Fidé Candidates, Khanty-Mansisk 2014
 
Tension between Kramnik and Topalov dates back to their controversial championship match of 2006. In the following position Kramnik proves that his pair of knights and separated passed pawns can master Black’s two bishops and connected passed pawns. 41 d5+ Kd7 42 Ng3 Bd3 43 Rf7+ Ke8 44 Rf3 Rxa2 45 Nef5 Rd2 46 Ng7+ Ke7 47 d6+ Kxd6 48 Rf8 b4 49 Rxh8 b3 50 N7f5+ Bxf5 51 Nxf5+ Kc7 52 h7 b2 53 Rc8+ Kxc8 54 h8Q+ Kd7 55 Qh7+ Black resigns
 
Final scores (out of 14) were: Anand 8½; Karjakin 7½; Kramnik, Andreikin and Mamedyarov 7; Svidler and Aronian 6½; Topalov 6.