Game 5 Drawn

The game can be replayed at http://www.anand-topalov.com/en/game5.html

After the second rest day, the FIDE World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand of India and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria continued today with game five in which Topalov played with White pieces.The first symbolic move were made by the "father of the euro" professor Robert Mundell. The President of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Parvanov visited the match.The opening was replay of game three in which Anand used the Slav defence and comfortably held a draw. The expectation were that Topalov will find an improvement in the variation and fight for opening advantage.But it was Anand who first diverted from the earlier game by moving 15...h5 instead of 15...h6. Topalov continued with the logical 16. Ne2 having in mind Nf4, to exploit the newly created situation with Black pawn on h5.Anand established strong Knight outpost on e5 and traded off a pair of Rooks to reduce White's chances of gaining initiative.After further exchange of minor pieces, an endgame with Rook and Bishop versus Rook and Knight has arisen.Anand's 29...g5 initiated changes in the pawn structure, which allowed him to solve one issue and concentrate on pieces' play.Black Knight gradually suppressed White Bishop, which eventually landed on the backward d1-square. Right after the time-control, Topalov offered moves repetition before the situation goes out of the hand. Or perhaps it was a psychological move, attempting to test Anand's resolve to play for a win, in case of which White would also have chances for full point.But Anand needed no risk and accepted the threefold repetition. Draw signed on move 44.The current score is 3-2 in favour of Anand who tomorrow plays with White pieces. Live coverage on the official website starting at 14:45 local time.