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| Edited By: |Source: DNA |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 02:32 PM IST
Fi. Praful Zaveri: A very good afternoon from DNA!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: So the game 1 was hailed as a combative draw on the FIDE website. Your views Praful..
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Yes, I think the people were happy to see sparkling complications in the initial phase of the game.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Yeah, especially with both players crossing Swords
Fi. Praful Zaveri: The end was a bit of a dampener, Wasn't it?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I agree, Gelfand had a slight edge and should have pressed on in my opinion
Fi. Praful Zaveri: But he revealed in the post-match conference with the media that he thought he couldn't have done much with whatever advantage he had.
Fi. Praful Zaveri: To a degree, yes, but Anand was up to it as he sprang his own surprise with 13.Rb2 and had the challenger thinking!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: We are live now! Gelfand has opted for his pet - 1.d4 - the Queen's Pawn Opening
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Anand has opted for the Semi-Slav variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Here now, White has a choice of 6.b3 and 6.Qc2
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: This is bread and butter for Anand. He has almost made Semi Slav his own. Its like he has exclusive copyrights of this opening strategy
Fi. Praful Zaveri: The players are following the well-known path till now.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: With Black and we are into the semi-slav already I really hope and pray the world champ has something up his sleeve. Something similar to the Anand-Kramnik Match of 2008 when he simply steamrolled past the Russian.
Fi. Praful Zaveri: You never know but there is a similarity. Both are positional players and there is always a chance that the GM from Israel may be at the receiving end of a similar treatment!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Anand opts for 10.e5, which is favoured by GM Morozevich
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: According to Stockfish 2.2.2 white has slight edge while Houdini 15a-32b thinks its even at this point
Fi. Praful Zaveri: White's normal continuation is 12.dxe5. The players are now following Bu - Zhou game played in the year 2009.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: At the top-level Black hasn't had a win in a long time in this line of play. Does Anand have a surprise for his opponent?
Fi. Praful Zaveri: 12.e4! A new move by Gelfand!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: The clock time - Gelfand 1h, 38m. Anand 1h 48m
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I don't quite like this for me only Anand has the right to make all new moves and spring surprises in the Semi-Slav. Its his domain!!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: It appears that Gelfand is also well prepared in this line! Team Anand has lot to think about on the rest-day tomorrow.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Maybe but the game has just begun. I'm backing Anand to the hilt in this opening
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Me too!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Anand is ahead on the clock by 16 minutes
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: 15. Bg5 pinning the Knight or dxe5 counter-attacking the bishop on d6 seem to be the two main options here
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: for white ofcourse
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Prasad, are we ever going to see e4 in this match?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: the square will always be seen. Idoubt whether White will ever use it to move his king pawn on his first
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: White continues to enjoy a slight edge, but for how long?
Fi. Praful Zaveri: It seems both the players are testing each other on their familiar turf for present. We are likely to see something new at the later stage. What do you say?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I agree, it may well be the case
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Gelfand has already spent a lot of time to Black's 14...Nf6
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Yup, cause it's a Novelty acccording to Chess Assistant
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: The players have rattled a couple of moves very quickly
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Exchanges have taken place at a fast pace! Are they heading for a draw?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Black has a couple of problems to solve mostly connected to his development
Fi. Praful Zaveri: White is threatening to take control of the 7th Rook with his Rook after the exchange of Queens. I agree with you Prasad, It appears that White now has got a slight edge.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: A little awkward for black, I agree
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Hope it isn't more than that
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Queens have disappeared.
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Yes, but Gelfand has nothing to lose to press his slight advantage!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Houdini suggests 19... Rfe8 with an electron microscopic edge for white
Fi. Praful Zaveri: From the layman's point of view Engines do not make any mistake but it's altogether a different ball game of taking decisions over the board! One slip and the downslide begins!!
Fi. Praful Zaveri: Anand is skating on a thin ice!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Absolutely. Although it appears a certain draw, Anand has to tread very carefully.
FI. Praful Zaveri: Gelfand has opted for a Bishop v/s Knight ending after exchange on f5
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Black's 21st move is aimed to stop the g2 pawn from harassing his knight by moving to g4, plus creates an escape for his king
FI. Praful Zaveri: It remains to be seen whether Anand opposes the Rook on d1 with his Rook on d8 or goes for the active Re2
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: It all depends upon how much Gelfand is willing to stretch, otherwise the writing is clearly on the wall
FI. Praful Zaveri: Yes, I agree! Anand appears to have weathered the storm!!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: and with relative ease
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand is a great endgame Maestro!
FI. Praful Zaveri: Draw agreed!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: For a moment I thought Gelfand forgot how to ask for a draw
FI. Praful Zaveri: Well, he has tested Anand enough!
FI. Praful Zaveri: The much awaited rest-day tomorrow for the players and hope that they come out with fresh ideas!
FI Praful Zaveri & FI Prasad Deshmukh: See you on Monday, 14th May, 2012 at 16.30 IST for game 3. Bye for now from team DNA!!
Gelfand would be having the advantage of the 1st move against Anand.