Chess (#1033)

Anand's victory at the Baden Baden Grenke Classic broke one of the longest and oddest droughts in chess history. Anand has been world champion since 2007 and defended the title thrice in matches. He's been world no:1 on the rating lists for long periods.

But he hadn't won a classical tournament since Morelia Linares, 2008. After a poor 2012, and indeed, a poor 2011, Anand's rating and ranking had plummeted. In 2013, he's started well. Third at the Tata Steel was reasonable and would have been better except for a last round loss to Wang Hao.

At Baden Baden, things didn't start well for Anand. Caruana led through most of the tournament, riding his luck in winning two lost positions from Naiditsch. Anand meanwhile, struggled to convert good positions.

In the ninth and penultimate round, things turned. First, Anand won a good game against Fridman and then, Caruana lost to Adams. In the last round, Anand won a sharp technical endgame against Naiditsch. But Caruana was better against Fridman. If Caruana had won, they would have tied and entered playoff. As it happened, Caruana let the win slip.

Anand took sole first with 6.5 from 10 games (+3,=7), ahead of Caruana 6 (+3,=6,-1). Adams and Meier tied for 3-4 with 5 each. Naiditsch (+3,=2,-5) who played enterprisingly ended on a minus score while Fridman (3.5) brought up the rear.

Karjakin took the Aeroflot Rapids, beating Grischuk in a nail-biting final. In sudden death, Grischuk physically fumbled with a piece when both had three seconds left and Grischuk was winning with queen versus Karjakin's rook. This cost him two seconds and he flagged out next move. Earlier, Ian Nepomniachtchi won the Aeroflot blitz, (15.5 from 18 games), beating second-placed Peter Svidler (14.5) in the very last game.

In the diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (White: Naiditsch Vs Black: Anand Baden Baden 2013), White continued 25.b4!? Rc2! Given perfect play, white draws so b4 is not objectively bad.

Anand found the best chance. The forced continuation is 26.bxa5 bxa5 27.Rxa5 Nd3 28.Ra7+ Kc6 29.Rxf7 Nxe1 30.Kxe1 Rxc1+ 31.Kd2 Rg1 32.Rxg7 Rxg2. The moment of truth – 33. Ke2 draws because it saves the Rh1 tempo.

Instead. 33.Ke1? Rxh2 34.Rxg6 Rh1+ 35.Kd2 h5 36.Rh6 h4 37.a4 h3 38.a5 h2 39.a6 Kc7 40.Rh7+ Kb8. Tactics ensure this is a win. The rook can't leave the h-file 41. Rg7? Rg1. The king can't go to the third 41. Kd3? Rhd1+. The f-pawn can't be pushed 41.f4? Ra1! 42. Rxh2 Ra2+.

Net-net it's zugwang after 41.Ke2 d3+ 42.Kd2 Ka8 43.Rh5 Ka7 44.Rh6 d5 45.Rh8 Kxa6 46.Rh6+ Kb5 47.Rh8 Kc4 48.Rc8+ Kd4 49.Rh8 Ke4 (0–1). Black can just pick up the f-pawn and then play for Ra1, etc.

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player