Topalov-Kasparov: Catalan on a Hot Palm Roof - Who pays the Fiddler?

During the current World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov, observers have commented on how Anand has resorted to the Catalan System as White. It is normal for most players to change their opening choices in order to present their opponents with a shell game that requires guessing. These changes in openings provide players with broad experience. Anyone with the notion that Topalov is a stranger to the Catalan is wrong. The game to be shown has Topalov himself playing the white side of the Catalan against Garry Kasparov at Las Palmas 1996, the first ever category 21 tournament. Kasparov, the world champion at the time, and Anatoly Karpov, his immediate predecessor, were playing. Anand, Kramnik, and Topalov, all of whom would become world champions were there. Vassily Ivanchuk participated while Gata Kamsky, who was rated just higher than Topalov, did not. Six of the top rated seven in the world played in the double round robin. Kasparov, the only undefeated player, won with 6.5/10 followed by Anand 5.5, Kramnik 5, Topalov 5, Karpov 4, and Ivanchuk 4.

Topalov's handling of the dark pieces against Anand currently is different from Kasparov's in this game. Kasparov used the Closed Variation. Topalov has chosen to play the Open Variation, in which dxc4 is played, against Anand.