Topalov upsets Anand
for the second time
Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria shot into sole lead in the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting 2001 defeating World Champion Vishwanathan Anand for the second time in the ninth round on Friday.
Topalov on 5.5 points was half-a-point ahead of Braingames champion Vladimir Kramnik while Anand was relegated to the bottom with 2.5 points.
Anand played the Rossolimo Sicilian for the first time in the tournament with white pieces. Looking to go for the kill given his tournament tally, Anand made his intentions clear very early with his king side pawns advance that left Topalov with a cramped position.
The middlegame was fiercely fought and Topalov's counter bid on the queenside met with the right riposte and Anand won a pawn.
The ensuing position, however, remained complicated and pieces got exchanged at regular intervals and Anand lost his advantage soon after the first time control.
Topalov seized the initiative as the game transformed into a rook and opposite colour bishop endgame.
It was a long torture for Anand as he was pushed to the wall with only a few correct moves to make. A long manoeuvering ensued with Topalov in control of the situation everywhere except on his clock, about an hour and a half hour ahead of
Anand's.
Taking advantage of his only plus, Anand rattled his moves at a good speed and put Topalov under pressure. However, this was again Topalov's day as he met Anand move for move and in the end successfully swindled him in 82 moves.
The second highest rated player in the world, Kramnik did not look in his usual pressing self and took a draw against Englishman Michael Adams in just 18 moves of a Queen's India defence with white pieces.
Kramnik, who has played excellently throughout the tournament, faced a routine set up in the Fianchetto variation and gained a miniscule advantage after the opening.
However, the middle game did not offer him much as Adams was equally well developed though he did not have as much space as the Russian.
