Viswanathan Anand
Wins!!!

2½  -  1½

over Vesselin Topalov

Reported by
GM Zenón Franco Ocampos
Press Chief

Before the beginning of the tournament World Champion Vesselin Topalov said that Vishy Anand was the favourite to win the Ciudad de León chess tournament, and it was so.  Anand won for the sixth time, after a hard fight between both champions.

In the first game Anand seemed to have a slight initiative, but it was Topalov who got a pawn up, which was insufficient to win the game, however.  Anand was unsure about the outcome of the ending; only when the last pair of rooks was exchanged he felt safe enough to hold the game.

In the second game Anand obtained a better ending, very difficult to defend for the black side, as both players commented in the press conference, especially with Topalov behind in time (this happened in all the games).  Anand pressed very hard, got a pawn up, and converted his advantage with good technique.

In the third game Topalov, in spite of his efforts, didn’t achieve anything tangible.  Anand defended accurately, and conserved his lead in the match.

Topalov needed a win with black in the fourth game to tie the final.  He opted for a complex line, taking risks, and it was Anand who was better, but nonetheless Topalov continued trying to win, but it was not sufficient, and he had to be content with a draw.

Topalov said that Anand’s victory was deserved, and a happy but tired Anand, after his chess marathon of the last few months, said it was time for a rest.  It was an exciting final between the two strongest chess players of the moment.

Download all four games here, in a 6 kb zipped pgn file.

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