Former World Champion Vishwanathan Anand had to use his fightback resources once again to level scores at 3-3 against world's top woman player Judit Polgar of Hungary for the third day in succession in the sixth round of the Chess Classic at Mainz.
Hundreds of spectators in the Rheinegoldhalle were feasted to yet another day of fascinating chess as the two stalwarts played out two more decisive games on the penultimate day. The 8-game match is now on the threshold of an exciting finish with the last two games slated for Sunday night.
Incredible has been the one word response from various quarters. So far all the six games have been decisive and on all days Anand lost the first game and came back strongly in the second.
The sixth game too was no exception to the rule except that Anand had to use a lot more defensive skills coupled with meticulous aggression. The opening was another Sicilian, the fifth in the match so far - and Anand embarked on the English attack for the second time on the trot.
Judit went for the setup that had given her a full point from an apparently collapsed position and this time around did well to get a dynamically balanced structure after losing a pawn.
Anand got his pieces rolling after Judit erred on her 35th move that allowed the Indian to get a near impregnable position.
Thereafter Anand unleashed a series of attacking moves and successfully crashed through the kingside. Judit lost all hopes of survival once Anand had the queens traded on the 55th move. Anand wrapped up the issue just five moves later.
Earlier on Saturday, the fifth game of the match was another saga of Judit ruling the roost with her nonchalant, uncompromising, thematic and brilliant attacking chess. Anand failed to repeat his performance with the last black when he had come back after being on the ropes and scored a fine victory.
Once more the Nazdorf was the opening choice and this time Judit was in a mood to go for the Classical variation. Anand employed a tested variation against the English attack but Judit got the initiative with her better board control and did not let the slight advantage slip.
It was on the 17th move that Judit offered a typical knight sacrifice. Anand decided to decline the sacrifice and was forced to mingle with unfavourable tactical complications as his queen took an unwanted ride into opposition territory and could not come back.
Judit, on her part, did well to keep Anand's counter play in check and won the queen just in exchange for a rook and one minor piece. Anand called it a day on the 27th move.
The moves: Judit Polgar v/s Viswanathan Anand
Game 5: 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 Nfd7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. O-O-O N8d7 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Kb1 Rc8 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Rhe1 Ne5 15. f4 Nec4 16. Qc1 h6 17. Nd5 Qc5 18. Nb3 Qf2 19. Rf1 Qg2 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Qe3 Nc4 22. Qa7 Bxe4 23. Qxa6 Rb8 24. Rg1 hxg5 25. Rxg2 Bxg2 26. Bxc4 bxc4 27. Qa4+ black resigned.
Game 6: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 Qb6 7. g4 Nc6 8. Nb3 e6 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Be3 b5 11. O-O-O Nd7 12. Qf2 b4 13. Ne2 a5 14. Nbd4 Be7 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Nd4 Qb7 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Qd2 O-O 19. Nxd6 Ne5 20. f4 Nf3 21. Qf2 Bxd6 22. Qxf3 Bb7 23. Kb1 a4 24. Bd3 Qc7 25. Qf2 e5 26. f5 a3 27. b3 Qc3 28. Bc1 Qc7 29. Qe2 Bc5 30. Bc4 Bd4 31. g5 Qc6 32. Rhe1 Ba6 33. Bxa6 Rxa6 34. Rd3 Rc8 35. Rh3 Qc7 36. c4 bxc3 37. Kc2 Rd6 38. Rd1 g6 39. Qg4 Rcd8 40. Rdd3 Bb6 41. Qh4 h5 42. gxh6 Kh7 43. Rxd6 Qxd6 44. fxg6+ fxg6 45. Qg4 Qd4 46. Qe2 Qg1 47. Rg3 Qh1 48. Rf3 Qg1 49. Rf7+ Kh8 50. Rf1 Qc5 51. Qc4 Qd6 52. Bg5 Rf8 53. Qd5 Qb8 54. Rxf8+ Qxf8 55. Qxe5+ Kh7 56. Qg7+ Qxg7 57. hxg7 Bd4 58. Be7 Kxg7 59. Bxa3 Kf6 60. Bb4 black resigned.
