Viswanathan Anand is 2008 World Chess Championship !!!

Viswanathan Anand (photo right) from India has become the undisputed World Chess Champion after drawing Russian - Vladimir Kramnik in game 11 to made the score 6.5-4.5 points.

GM Viswanathan Anand (2783) - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2772)

World Championship, Round 11, 29.10.2008

Will Anand continue to start with 1.d4 tonight? 1.e4!? The first shock for tonight game! A clever chooise from Anand. As we all know, Kramnik main weapon with black after 1.e4 is the Petroff or the Berlin Defense, both usually leads to a draw against top ellite player. So Kramnik has to play aggresive. 1...c5 conutershock by Kramnik. Will he played his former loved Sveshnikov !? 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 No Sveshnikov but a Najdorf by Kramnik. He must be crazy. Playing Najdorf against world expert like Anand ?? 6.Bg5

Anand choose the Richter-Rauzer Variation 6...e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.f5 Qc5 quite a weird move. Chess opening principle forbidden us to move the queen frequently before the minor piece . Possible continuation is 10.Nb3 Qe3+ 11.Qe2 Bh6 . According to IM Malcom Pein, Kramnik played 9...Qc5 because he want to avoid 10.fxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ 10.Qd3 Nc6 I think if Kramnik can force to exchange the queen as soon as possible . He will have good chance due to his bishop pairs advantage! 11.Nb3 Qe5 12.0-0-0 !? quite an interesting move. Kavalek-Chandler Bundesliga, 1982 continue with 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.0-0-0 12...exf5 Kramnik accept white pawn sacrifiece. possible continuation is 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Qf3 with initiative. IM Malcom Pien was shock with Kramnik reply because it seems that black has ruin his pawn structure. Black now have 5 pawn island and a triple f pawn where as white have only two pawn island and both are connected. However black do have the bishop pair and a pawn up! 13.Qe3 a weird move because usually u won't let your queen and king in the same dark square diaganol when your opponent dark square bishop is around. Of course Anand won't fell with cheap threat like 13...h5 and 14...Bh6+ but still.... 13...Bg7 14.Rd5 Qe7 15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Qf4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 f5 18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Nxc8 Rxc8 20.Kb1 Qe1+ 21.Nc1 Ne7 22.Qd2 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Bh6 24.Rf2 Be3 1/2-1/2 game drawn!!!! A dubious desicion by Kramnik. The position is pretty equal but why Kramnik agree for a draw? He had nothing to lose to proceed the game...probably he are so tired with the Championship and the preparation that he decide to finish it early and ...probably take a vacation!?

Anand photo from chessvibes.com