Well-Prepared Gelfand Holds Anand In Game 10
Vishy Anand opted for 1.e4 for his penultimate turn with the white pieces, and Gelfand once again replied with 1...c5.
This time the champion avoided the Sveshnikov by choosing 3.Bb5, but Gelfand proved to be just as well prepared in this variation. Even when Anand chose the relatively rare continuation 5.b3, Gelfand immediately responded with the even rarer (almost-novelty) 5...e5!
The challenger's pawn structure looked a mess, but his bishop pair proved ample compensation and Anand conceded a draw after only 25 moves.
Chess statisticians may wish to check whether this world championship match has the fewest moves (and lowest average game length) in history!
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| Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pts |
| Vishy Anand | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | . | . | 5 |
| Boris Gelfand | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | . | . | 5 |
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.Anand sidesteps the Sveshinikov...
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...but runs into more excellent preparation from Gelfand
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Alexander Morozevich (centre) and Peter Svidler (right) in the commentary box
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The psychological battle is now at fever pitch. With just 2 standard time-control games left in the match, there are still more questions than answers. Will the adversaries now play it safe or go for broke? Will someone crack - and if so, who will it be? Or are we destined to see the fate of the world chess championship decided by rapid tie-break games?
Tomorrow is another rest day, so game 11 is on Saturday 26 May when Gelfand will have the white pieces.
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All games start at 15:00 local time (11:00 UTC). The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 60 minutes for the next 20 moves, and a final 15 minutes to a finish with a 30 seconds increment after move 61.
The prize fund is $2.55 million, with the winner receiving $1.53 million (60%), the loser $1.02 million (40%).
If the match is level after 12 games there will be a 4-game rapid match tie-break at 25 minutes per game plus 10 second increment. If scores are still level a 2-game blitz match will be played at 5 minutes plus 3 second increment. If the deadlock is still not broken, there can be up to 5 of the these 2-game blitz matches before a sudden-death blitz game will decide the winner (5 minutes for white, 4 minutes for black, and a 3 second increment from move 61).
The full rules for the match can be found here (pdf).
The match schedule is below (times are Moscow time = UTC+4 hours):
| Date | Event | Time | Date | Event | Time | |
| 11-May | Game 1 | 15:00 | 21-May | Game 8 | 15:00 | |
| 12-May | Game 2 | 15:00 | 22-May | Rest day | ||
| 13-May | Rest day | 23-May | Game 9 | 15:00 | ||
| 14-May | Game 3 | 15:00 | 24-May | Game 10 | 15:00 | |
| 15-May | Game 4 | 15:00 | 25-May | Rest day | ||
| 16-May | Rest day | 26-May | Game 11 | 15:00 | ||
| 17-May | Game 5 | 15:00 | 27-May | Rest day | ||
| 18-May | Game 6 | 15:00 | 28-May | Game 12 | 15:00 | |
| 19-May | Rest day | 29-May | Rest day | |||
| 20-May | Game 7 | 15:00 | 30-May | Tie break | 12:00 |
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The official match website has video commentary in Russian and English. The English language host is Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, who will be joined by Nigel Short (on 11–12 May), Jan Timman (14–15 May), Joel Lautier (17 May), Peter Svidler (18, 23–24 and 28 May), Peter Leko (20–21 May), and Vladimir Kramnik (26 May).
Screenshots taken from the official coverage, which is available for replay at the match website.
Computer analysis from the official website.
