Topalov shocks Anand in World C`ship opener

Sofia (Bulgaria), Apr 25 (PTI) Indian chess maestro
Viswanathan Anand's title defence got off to the worst
possible start as he was shocked by challenger Veselin Topalov
of Bulgaria in the first game of the World Chess Championship
here.
At the Central Military Club here yesterday, the Indian
ace found it incredibly tough to handle local stalwart Topalov
who cruised to a fascinating victory in just 30 moves in the
first of the 12-game match to decide the next world champion.
The match was postponed by one day to allow Anand better
rest after a 40-hour road journey from Germany and further two
hours to meet Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boiko Borisov's
previously arranged schedule.
At 17:00 local time the two contestants started the much
awaited clash with Topalov playing out an expected queen pawn
move with white pieces.
Anand started off with the Gruenfeld Indian defense, an
opening that many feared to be unlikely, owing to the risk of
being run over if things go sour.
The choice led to one of the quickest and most decisive
opening games in World Championship history with Topalov
rattling off his moves very quickly and comfortably.
The game followed playable moves in computer books until
move eleven, where Anand deviated a little bit but was still
in known territory.
At move 16, Topalov moved away from the main lines with a
rook manoeuvre, a move that had only been played once before,
and disturbed Anand. The opening moves were played at a very
fast pace and in under five minutes as many as 14 moves were
already on the board.
Topalov followed a move played by Ukrainian Sergey
Karjakin against Magnus Carlsen of Norway in a game played in
2008 on his 16th turn and soon Anand was under pressure.
Anand followed the standard plan to slow down White's
advance in the center but meanwhile Topalov moved his Knight
closer to the enemy King, and a sudden Rook lift on the 23rd
move created dangerous threats, highlighting the fragile
nature of Black's castle.
With a piece sacrifice imminent, Anand dove into his
first long thought, but erred immediately to allow the
sacrifice with a devastating attack.
It was Topalov all the way as he penetrated the seventh
rank to make life difficult for Anand's king. A picturesque
finale was on the anvil and it followed with a quiet yet
decisive Bishop move on the 29th turn by the Bulgarian.
Anand resigned one move later. There are 11 games still
left in the championship for Anand to make a comeback.
Team Anand will have to spend a lot of thinking time to
combat Topalov who has emerged as a far superior rival than
Russian Vladimir Kramnik – who was comprehensively outplayed
at Bonn in Germany in 2008. PTI