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| Edited By: |Source: |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 02:32 PM IST
FI> Prasad Deshmukh: In the last game our viewers got a glimpse of the World champ's defensive prowess.
FI. Praful Zaveri: Absolutely. The way in which he handled a more than slightly worse position from the black-side was remarkable.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: The consummate ease with which he nullified white's edge nice to see.
FI. Praful Zaveri: Very true. Every now and then it seemed as if white would infiltrate the seventh rank with a rook, but that never actually happened!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Yes. All white's threats just remained threats and never materialised.
FI. Praful Zaveri: To Gelfand's credit he emerged with an edge in the opening in the last game & had a realistic chance in the previous one as well.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: No doubt, the challenger has come well-prepared but in my opinion the champ won't have much of a problem.
FI. Praful Zaveri: Coming back to the last encounter it was really a lesson for the student of the game on how to defend difficult positions. It was a sort of moral victory for black!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Yes indeed. Now that he has had the much needed rest do you think the champion will come-out all guns blazing in the third.
FI. Praful Zaveri: I hope so but it's unlikely that Team Anand would have had much rest, instead they might have spent the whole time in contemplation!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: oh hoho! what is that
FI. Praful Zaveri: A surprise for Gelfand in the Grunfeld!
FI. Praful Zaveri: Both players are playing at a rapid pace and it appears that even Gelfand is prepared!
FI. Praful Zaveri: Fireworks! Anand has gone for the attacking 13. h5!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I am stunned. The first few moves were absolutely breath-taking
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Both are literally slugging it out
FI. Praful Zaveri: White has a choice of 15.Kb1 - the text move played by Nielsen.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: A rare sight - Anand in deep thought while Gelfand has left his seat
FI. Praful Zaveri: We are witnessing a great theoretical battle between these two giants
FI. Praful Zaveri: Prasad, are we in for a novelty from Anand in this line?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Unlikely, Can't see anything brtter than Kb1
FI. Praful Zaveri: Both the players are still following Nielsen - Tazbir game
FI. Prasad Deshmukh:Both players ain't on their respective seats
FI. Praful Zaveri: Nielsen had played 16.d6, which is also suggested by Houdini. Fritz13 suggests 16.Nh3
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I suspect the champion is in unfamiliar territory
FI. Praful Zaveri: Looks unlikely. He must have definitely seen this line!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Is Anand acting confused then?...
FI. Praful Zaveri: A psychological battle!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Anand's choice (16. Ka1) prophylactic or plain passive?
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand deviates! 16.Ka1. We have only 1 game in this line - played by GM Hillarp Persson against an unrated player, Aberg. White had lost that game!!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Anand's choice (16. Kb1) prophylactic or plain passive?
FI. Praful Zaveri: 16...d4 by Gelfand! Novelty unleashed!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Anand trailing Gelfand by 30 mins!!
FI. Praful Zaveri: White has two options - 17.d6 and 17.Bd4
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand plays 17.Bd4. Stockfish evaluates this as slightly better for White
FI. Praful Zaveri: Prasad, what must be the reason for Anand deviating from the well know path - 16.d6?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Dunno, Appears psyched by the challenger's speed and confident demeanour
FI. Praful Zaveri: That brings us to the question - how good is his preparation for this match?
FI. Praful Zaveri: Now we find Gelfand in the 'Thinking Mode'!!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: It's always good, but to me Anand himself looks a wee-bit off-colour. His form has been almost the same for the past year
FI. Praful Zaveri: The clock time: Anand (1h 11m), Gelfand (1h 37m)
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Please take that juicy pawn ANAND while it is still available. fxe4 pls
FI. Praful Zaveri: With the text move 18...Qa5, Gelfand is hoping for the exchange of Queens
FI. Praful Zaveri: The position is dynamically balanced.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Sorry I withdraw my request 19. Nxe4 would be a mistake
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Gelfand's lead in time has extended to more than 38 mins
FI. Praful Zaveri: After 19.Nxe4, Black has managed to exchange the Queens.
FI. Praful Zaveri: We are likely to see a good number of pieces getting exchanged
FI. Praful Zaveri: The predictable exchanges have taken place and Black would be able to recover the Pawn
FI. Praful Zaveri: Yet another draw?
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: White is a pawn ahead but can he hang on to it?.. my bet is on 23. Rh4
FI. Praful Zaveri: White is a Pawn to the good however; in compensation Black has good activity.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Gelfand moving about in a carefree manner.. has he spotted a forced mate in the next few moves??
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand hangs on the extra Pawn
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: but for how long. I think black will be able to round it up
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: A draw looming large!!
FI. Praful Zaveri: I agree with you Prasad, draw is in the air. Engines evaluates this position as roughly equal.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Interesting complications!!
FI. Praful Zaveri: It would be interesting to see what Gelfand plays in this position
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Champion lives up to his reputation- creates complications from nowhere
FI. Praful Zaveri: Yes, Prasad! We have reached a defining position in the game!
FI. Praful Zaveri: From the previous tag of 'Lightning kid' Anand is now also regarded as the player with 'Best Defensive' technique!
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand now has roughly 24 minutes to Gelfand's 41. Anand in Time trouble?
FI. Praful Zaveri: With the text move 25.Rh4, Anand consolidates
FI. Praful Zaveri: 26.b3 looks a logical continuation and the d6 Pawn will become menacing!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: I remember examining a game won by the twentieth century German master Dr. Tarrasch with white, without moving his Kings bishop at all !!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Will history repeat??
FI. Praful Zaveri: Now Engines evaluates "Anand is Wining"!!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: getting more exciting every moment
FI. Praful Zaveri: Nerves! Nerves!! Game become exciting!! A pawn plus to the good but Anand is behind by 20 minutes.
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Anand has 17 mins to Gelfand's 38
FI. Praful Zaveri: Hang on! Game has become exciting
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: It doesn't get better than this
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand looks calm and relaxed on the board!!
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Looks as though Anand has everything under control
FI. Praful Zaveri: Anand has 12m 30s to Gelfand's 26m
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: Gelfand deep in thought
FI. Praful Zaveri: The last of the minor pieces are exchanged and we have now to see whether Anand can convert his material advantage to a win in this Rook endgame
FI. Prasad Deshmukh: 35. Ree2 is a draw!!
FI. Praful Zaveri: It appears that Gelfand has survived!
FI. Praful Zaveri: Yes, draw!
FI. Praful Zaveri & FI. Prasad Deshmukh: See you tomorrow at 16.30 IST for game-4. Bye for now from 'Team DNA'
FI. Praful Zaveri: A very good afternoon from team DNA and welcome to game 3!!