The King Retains his Title

Playing the black pieces Anand was able to win in the final game 12 of the World

Championship. The game can be replayed at http://www.anand-topalov.com/en/game12.html

The last classical game of the FIDE World Chess Championship was opened with Lasker variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined as Viswanathan Anand sought for a solid defence in which White would have only minimal chances to score a victory. The opening went quietly until Anand moved the slightly unusual 16...Nf6. This was the moment where Veselin Topalov took a bit longer to decide on the middlegame plan. Topalov allowed Black to trade the Be4 and in return he forced an isolated pawn on c5. But is was not easy to besiege this pawn as Black successfully coordinated pieces and obtained excellent counterplay. White took some time to consolidate the position and avoid tactics on the back-rank and against the Knight on d2. Anand silently offered a moves repetition with Bd3-a6, but Topalov snubbed the offer. White established the Knight on c4, while Black Bishop possessed a long diagonal from a8. Exactly in this moment, Topalov erred in an attempt to prevent Black's e5-e4. He played e4 himself, but Anand did not hesitate long before breaking the formation with 30...f5 and 31...e4. Topalov carelessly traded the pawn on e4 and fell under a strong attack. The Black battery Queen-Rook-Bishop worked perfectly in the pursuit after White King. It looked like the game was over, and even Anand admitted that he couldn't see a defence for White, but Topalov found some remarkable resources and managed to prolong the game. But with a series of precise moves, Anand managed to convert the advantage and bring victory home on move 56. The final score is 6,5:5,5. Thus Anand retained the title of the World Chess Champion! Congratulations!