CHESS
Golden oldie
Raymond Keene
CONTRARY to my prediction, Anatoly Karpov (aged 46) has won the Fide cham- pionship at Lausanne in Switzerland. My prognostication favoured Viswanathan Anand (aged 28), the Indian grandmaster who had also challenged Kasparov for the world championship in New York in 1995. On this occasion $2 million was at stake in the final shoot-out, provided by Kirsan Ilumzinov, the flamboyant president of the world body. Much is heard of the decline of brain cells, collapse of memory and slowing of reflexes as one ages, but in this contest Karpov proved himself thoroughly superior in all these departments to an opponent 18 years his junior. It was particularly surpris- ing, given Anand's reputation for expertise at quick play, that it was in that very seg- ment of the match, where games are played at a vastly reduced time limit, that Karpov finally sealed his triumph.
With Karpov's victory, the status quo has been maintained in the chess world. Karpov remains Fide champion, having now successfully defended the title over the past four and a half years against Timman, Kamsky and now Anand. Kasparov, though, is recognised by the world at large as the true champion. The likelihood that Kasparov and Karpov would ever agree on terms for a reunification contest is minimal but, as I have frequently argued in this col- umn, if Kasparov wishes to maintain his credibility he cannot delay much longer in accepting a challenge. The most likely opponent would be the Russian grandmas- ter Vladimir Kramnik, world ranked num- ber two, who also declined to play in Fide's version of the championship. If Kasparov does not organise a match in 1998 and put his title on the line, the three-year gap since his last defence will begin to make Karpov look like the legitimate champion. At least he is prepared to play! Karpov won overall by five games to three. This week I give his best win.
Anand-Karpov: Fide World Championship, Lausanne, January 1998; Caro-Kann Defence.
1 e4 c6 Karpov's favourite defence against 1 e4.
2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Nf3 Bel 7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 Bd3 Nc6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Re1 Bf6 11 Be4 Nce7 12 h4 Aggressive but also risky. The White h-pawn can become exposed. 12 Ne5 is a good alternative. 12 ... Nf5 13 Qd3 Alternatives are 13 Bg5 Nxc3 14 bxc3 when 14 ... Nxh4 would exploit White's bold thrust with his h-pawn. Or 13 Bxf5 exf5 14 Nxd5 Qxd5 15 Bg5 Bxg5 16 Re5 Qd6 17 hxg5 Bd7 with a dynamic imbalance. 13 Nxc3 14 bxc3 h6 And not 14 ...Bxh4 15 Bxf5 exf5 16 Ba3 Re8 17 Rxe8+ Qxe8 18 Nxh4 win- ning material. 15 h5 This is now almost defen- sive and the pawn proves a serious source of concern for White in the future course of the game. 15 ... Nd6 16 Ne5 Nxe4 17 Qxe4 BxeS 18 dxe5 f5 White should probably capture this en passant. Instead Anand begins to drift. 19 Qe2 Bd7 20 Rdl (Diagram) Anand must still have felt satisfied with his position, but Black's next sur- prise move seizes the initiative and leaves White with weak pawns all over the board. 20 ... Bb5 A shock for White. If now 21 Qxb5 Qxdl + winning or 21 Rxd8 Bxe2 22 Rxa8 RxaS and White's h- pawn falls. 21 Q13 Qe8 22 Bf4 Here or on the next move, White could have tried Qxb7 to reduce the number of pawns. 22 ... Rc8 23 Rd4 Rc4 24 Radl Qf7 25 Rxc4 Bxc4 26 a3 Rc8 27 Rd4 Kh7 In spite of level material and opposite- coloured bishops, both factors militating towards a draw, Black retains an edge. White has weak pawns everywhere and Black's pieces are well coordinated. 28 Bd2 Bd5 29 Qh3 b5 30 a4 A dangerous decision, immediately handing Black an outside passed pawn. 30 ... bxa4 31 Rxa4 Rc4 32 Rxc4 Bxc4 33 Qh4 Bb5 34 c4 Be8 35 c5 Qd7 36 Bc3 Qd3 It is fascinating to see Karpov at work. His 31st move and this one are typical. Whereas many players might have tried to launch an attack, Karpov calmly exchanges pieces, relying on the most minute of endgame advantages. 37 Qd4 Qxd4 38 Bxd4 a5 39 c6 This smacks of desperation but if 39 f3 Bxh5 40 c6 Be8 41 c7 Bd7 followed by ...Bc8-b7 and a mass advance of Black's kingside pawns, when it is most unlikely that White can survive. 39 ... Bxc6 40 13 f4 41 Bb2 Be8 42 Bel a4 43 Bxf4 a3 44 Be3 Bxh5 45 Kf2 Be8 46 Bd4 Bc6 47 Bc3 a2 48 g3 h5 (Diagram) 49 g4 This advance removes any
Position after 48 . . h5
doubt about Black's victory. Almost any other move would have been superior. 49 ...114 White resigns Black's two far-flung passed pawns can- not both be stopped.
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