Anand Wins XIX Ciudad de León

GM Viswanathan Anand won the XIX Ciudad de León for the sixth time this past week in Leon, Spain! As if five times wasn't enough to brag about, the world's greatest rapid player decided to add another to his incredible record, making this his second year in a row at Leon.

The Ciudad de León each year has an interesting set up. There are only two rounds during the event. Two semi-final matches and the winners of these two matches meet in the finals. All the games are played with a time control of 20 minutes with a 10 second increment. If there's a tie between two players after four games, the two players will go into a tie-break where the time control changes to 5 minutes with no increment. The tournament lasts only three days, but provides some of the most exciting rapid chess in the world.

This year's contestants were GM Veselin Topalov (2804) of Bulgaria, ranked number one in the world, GM Viswanathan Anand (2803) of India, ranked number two in the world, GM Fransisco Vallejo-Pons (2666) of Spain, ranked number 39 in the world, and GM Lazaro Bruzon (2652) of Cuba, ranked number 55 in the world.

On day one and in the first semi-final match Anand took on Bruzon. With Anand rated 151 point higher than Bruzon, Bruzon had his work cut out for him that seemed near impossible. However, the Cuban star put on an incredible match, holding Anand to a draw in the first four games forcing them both into tie break matches and the faster time control! In game one of the tie breaks Bruzon defeated Anand with the white pieces keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. It wasn't to last, however, Anand struck back with a win in game two. Game three was a draw and Anand took game four, again playing white. Anand moved on into the finals with a score of 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 over Bruzon.

DAY ONE:

Round	White	Black	Result	Download
1	Bruzon	Anand	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
2	Anand	Bruzon	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
3	Bruzon	Anand	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
4	Anand	Bruzon	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]

DAY ONE - TIE BREAKS:

Round	White	Black	Result	Download
1	Bruzon	Anand	1 - 0	[PGN]
2	Anand	Bruzon	1 - 0	[PGN]
3	Bruzon	Anand	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
4	Anand	Bruzon	1 - 0	[PGN]

On day two and the second semi-final match it was the world champion Topalov taking on Vallejo-Pons. This match up was much more decisive. Topalov won the first two games with the white and black pieces. Game three was a draw and game four was won by Vallejo-Pons, but it was not enough. Topalov pushed into the finals against Anand with a score of 2 1/2 to 1 1/2.

DAY TWO:

Round	White	Black	Result	Download
1	Topalov	Vallejo	1 - 0	[PGN]
2	Vallejo	Topalov	0 - 1	[PGN]
3	Topalov	Vallejo	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
4	Vallejo	Topalov	1 - 0	[PGN]

The finals were very exciting to watch on the ICC and to listen via the ICC Webcast. The number one and number two player in the world, both separated by only one rating point, battling it out in a rapid time control. Game one started out with 1.Nf3 and ended in a draw with Topalov on White. In game two Anand defeated Topalov playing the Ruy Lopez, exchanging queens early on, and getting both rooks on the seventh rank by move 31. Game three ended in a draw. Game four was critical for Topalov, he needed the win to stop Anand from winning the tournament and go into tie breaks. It was not to be. Anand held him to a draw in the Najdorf, Opocensky variation of the Sicilian defense. Anand won the finals 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 giving him his sixth win at XIX Ciudad de León. Congratulations to Anand!

THE FINALS:

Round	White	Black	Result	Download
1	Topalov	Anand	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
2	Anand	Topalov	1 - 0	[PGN]
3	Topalov	Anand	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]
4	Anand	Topalov	1/2 - 1/2	[PGN]

The ICC had live relay coverage and live audio coverage of this event. GM Alexander Baburin, GM Larry Christiansen, NM Brian Wall, and IM Danny Kopec all provided commentary on the webcast. GM Peter Svidler also made a guest appearance!

Photos courtesy of XIX Ciudad de León.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.Bg2 0-0 6.Nf3 b6 7.0-0 Ba6 8.Qc2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bg5 Be7 Both sides have moved pieces twice in the opening but Black seems to have lost more time with than White 11.Nc3 Bb7 12.Rac1 h6 13.Bf4 c6 14.Ne5 Nfd7 A typical manouevre to try and simlify but Ivanchuk wants to avoid exchanges [14...Nbd7 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 attacking c6 and after 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 its like the game] 15.Nf3 Nf6 16.Rfd1 Nbd7 17.Ne5! Nfd7 is not possible now 17...Nh5 [17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd7 19.e4] 18.Bd2 Nhf6 19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Nxe5 22.dxe5

Ivanchuk has a clear advantage. His rooks are active, Black's queenside pawns are weakened and the Bb7 passive. 22...Qc8 23.Be3 Rb8 24.Qa4 Gaining control of d7 [24.Bxb6?? c5 25.Qc4 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Rxb6] 24...c5 25.Rd7 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Rb7 27.Rcd1 b5 28.Qg4 Qc6+ 29.Kg1 With threats of Bxh6 and Rxb7 followed by Rd7 29...h5 30.Qh3 Rxd7 31.Qxd7 Qf3 [This loses to a clever tactic. Defence with 31...Qxd7 32.Rxd7 Re8 was not appealing but a better chance as a passed pawn may appear on the queenside 33.f4 (33.Rb7 b4 34.Rb5 c4 35.Rxa5 Rc8) 33...f6 34.Rd5 Kf7 Black loses a pawn but he has chances to draw 35.exf6 Bxf6 36.Kf2 Bxb2 37.Rxc5 Rb8 38.Rxh5 a4] 32.Re1 h4 33.Qxe7 h3 34.Kf1! Qd5 35.Qxc5 Qd3+ 36.Kg1 Qe4 Black threatens to draw after 37.Kf1 Qd3+ 38.Kg1 Qe4 but 37.Qxf8+! Kh7 [37...Kxf8 38.Bc5+] 38.Qxg7+!

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