The wind-up to the title match has seen one balloon of controversy. According to his manager, Topalov will unilaterally play Sofia Rules, neither offering nor accepting draws. All in-game verbal communication from Anand (presumably draw offers) is to be routed through the arbiter.
Apparently the Bulgarians wanted Sofia Rules declared but Anand refused to incorporate it in the official match conditions. Hence the “Silent Resistance” as it literally translates from Bulgarian (not a language in which I claim fluency).
What this means in practice is tough to determine. Anand could in theory, offer draws ad infinitum via arbiter. It would mean loss of face for Topalov to offer or accept draws, which reduces his flexibility.
The 35-old Topalov may assume long games will favour him but 40-year-old Anand is a better endgame technician. The schedule includes a rest day after every two games and 12 “Classicals” is unlikely to tap out reserves of stamina.
The third time control may also favour Anand, who has a 13-3 lead in rapid games. (The time controls are 120 minutes/ first 40 moves, 60 minutes/ next 20 moves and 15 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting after move 61.)
Dutch GMs Jan Smeets and Erwin L’Ami are with Team Topalov (headed by Ivan Cheparinov) while Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Peter Heine Nielsen are on Team Anand. Several others are rumoured to be involved including reportedly, a computer specialist Jiri Dufek (who designs the book for the Rybka chess-engine), who is part of Topalov’s team.
Home advantage is double-edged to some extent. Topalov will have to insulate himself better. But he obviously has less to worry about in terms of conditions. As to preparation, both players have a wide repertoire with both colours and both like sharp positions. Anand is better at handling quiet set ups. Will he get them? At least a dozen sites will cover the match. The official http://www.anand-topalov.com/ offers live video broadcast but the commentary, engine analysis and audience participation may be better elsewhere.
Most of the decisive Anand-Topalov encounters have involved complicated tactics where one or the other has missed something. The DIAGRAM, WHITE TO PLAY, (Anand -Topalov, Leon 2007) is one of the relatively simpler finishes. The win was 20. b5 Bxg2 21. Rxd7! Kxd7 22. Qg4+ Ke8 23. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rxa4 25. b6! Materially white is marginally behind but the passed pawn is huge and the Rh8 is useless. The standard defence of 25. - Rb4 26. Ra1 Kd7 27. Ra7 Kd6 28. Rxe7+ Kxe7 29. Bc5+ doesn't work. So 25. - Ra5 26. Rd1 Bg5 27. b7 Ke7 28. Bb6 Re5 29. Bd8+ (1-0). The line 29. - Rxd8 30. Rxd8 is convincing enough.
(Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player)
