Anand wishes to play Nimzovitsch Defense but not the classical variety of new Indian Defense or the Queen Gambit-that means all the positions arising were thoroughly analyzed by the challenger and by his team as well. The Black held the initiative and Kasparov proposed a draw, which was accepted right away.
Game 5
Game 5
Sicilian Defense
In this game the champion had introduced some necessary clarifications in comparison with the third game and the challenger was rather self-possessed and did not “give in to provocation”. The game was drawn.
Game 6
Game 6
Spanish Game
The tension at the Match increases every day: none of the opponents does manage to take over and to seize the leadership. In this game Anand, playing black, deserved the best estimate. He had applied a very important innovation, got a psychological advantage and sacrificed quality for initiative. The World Champion proposed a draw in a complicated ending, which testifies his deep respect towards the challenger.
Game 7
Game 7
Sicilian Defense
The equilibrium was not disturbed after this game as well. Anand, having made the move from e2 to e4, had played the opening not quite aggressively and it was clear: Vishi did strive to win too much playing white. Answering the questions of the journalists he said: “let the champion win at least one white game and then the challenger will be the next…” Each joke has a true sense. The brilliant readiness of the challenger to play black doesn’t give any reasons to suppose that while preparing for this match he never spent time to seriously prepare to play white. It looks more like an insidious psychological settlement. The game was drawn.
Game 8
Game 8
Scotish Game
In the meanwhile the champion continued prospecting testing the opponent’s defense throughout the entire chessboard. This game once again proved the absolute high level of the prematch preparations of the challenger. The game was once again drawn. Eight draws in a row were the end of the second week of the match. In the games 9 and 10 the proceedings of the match started to develop in a more dynamic way.
Game 9
Game 9
Sicilian Defense
It was not possible to believe that after the start series of draws, the match calm will turn into a storm. It felt like the tension is becoming stronger and stronger, but this game exceeded all the expectations. The 9th game was the apotheosis of Anand’s thoroughly thought over match strategy. This game had brought a new sensation: Anand had found a weak point in Kasparov’s opening repertoire, used a very strong novelty and, having sacrificed the quality, at least strove for the victory. Anand’s victory in this game was the reason for the further turning point. This couldn’t last for a long time, Kasparov started to act using a more severe strategy, which then broke the measured flow of the match and destroyed the entire Andn’s strategy together with his mental equilibrium.
Game 10
Game 10
Ruy Lopez
While the challenger was celebrating his victory, Kasparov was preparing for another the 10th game, testing the most complicated variants of Spanish game. He was about to take out of his pocket a very heavy analytical stone that was waiting for its time almost for two days. The champion took a brilliant return for his defeat in game 9. The most surprising was the way he did it: first the pawn victim and then of a rook. Anand did not take this fantastic idea into consideration during his preparations. It took Anand 45 minutes to think over his 15th move trying to find the defense, but Kasparov’s idea was perfect. According to the words of one of champion’s assistants, Kasparov had created this idea while dreaming and at first nobody believed in it. However, due to 48 hours of the trainers’ group hard work, it was possible to realize it. Kasparov had another chance to prove that the fact, that he is considered to be one of the strongest champions in the entire chess history, is not in vane. At the press conference after this game Garry Kasparov said: “I am glad to have mended my matters and I hope now that the flow of the match will change.”
Game 11
Game 11
Sicilian Defense
The champion’s victory in the previous game had restored the equilibrium in the score, but also made the challenger for the champion’s crown worry for his “analytical safety” very much as well. Kasparov proposed the draw, but Anand, to his disadvantage, rejected it. The white surrendered.
Game 12
Game 12
Ruy Lopez
This was the first time when Anand decided to play Arkhangelsky variant, where he had stored the fortification. The black managed to keep the balance. Th opponents were playing very logically, and although the white still had a slight advantage, the draw seemed to be almost inevitable. Suddenly the situation for the black got worse and white had perfect chances ti win, but a graceful victim of the pawn fortified the draw.
Game 13
Game 13
Sicilian Defense
This game was a complete disappointment for the challenger. He played in a very poor manner so that one could think that everything was due to the special attitude of Kasparov towards figure 13 (it would be appropriate to remind that the Champion was on the 13th of April). However, the Anand’s defeat in the 10th game, he was deprived of the faith in his strength and capability to act independently. The great Garry had used his “sudden” dragon’s variant. It was assumed that Anand will appear for this game armed with new ideas, but his team did not did not prepare such. The white surrendered. Such a disappointment for the challenger. The play of Kasparov deserves to be admired.
Game 14
Game 14
Scandinavian Defense
After the third defeat and astonished by “Spanish attempt”, Anand had undertaken the last try to struggle for the victory in the match. An opening battle, which developed in this game, testified once again that the Indian was prepared for the match very well. However, it was a very bad day for him. It seemed like he had wasted so much energy for the opening training. A rare Scandinavian defense was surprising for Kasparov and for the spectators as well. Anand never used it before this match. He managed to gain an obvious advantage here, he failed to turn this advantage into the score: in the time trouble he spoiled his position and surrendered right after the first time control.
Game 15
Game 15
Sicilian Defense
As soon as the score was 8.5:5.5 at the advantage of Kasparov, Anand had nothing to do but to switch on to the program minimum: he again acquired his calm mental equilibrium and tried to avoid another defeat. The champion needed some break as well, moreover, every draw would now lead him to the victory.
Game 16
Game 16
Sicilian Defense
This game looks like the previous one so much, that it looked like something of those 30 years ago. The psychology of both sides is clear: the winner is obviously known and why should they fight any more. The intrigue of the New York Match went in vane and the opponents had to neglect the audience’s interests, for each game of every match depends on the general sport situation too much.
Game 17
Game 17
Sicilian Defense
Kasparov had to gain 0.5 points to retain his title, but at a very last moment Anand offered him a hell of a battle having found the weak points of the “dragon”. The dragon’s variant brought Kasparov 3 points out of 4 and after 10 games were finished with the score 5:5, it was clear that Kasparov would win.
It was the longest game of the match. To Anand’s disappointment, it turned out that the endgame technique is far from being perfect. Having used a masterly defense, Kasparov had saved 0.5 points and his title as well. After the game at the press conference Garry said that this match was one of the most difficult ones and he was glad and happy that to have retained the World Champion Title. To his mind, had Anand some other opponent but Kasparov, he would have beaten him up.
Game 18
Game 18
Sicilian Defense
Garry Kasparov deserves sincere congratulations. His play was a proof that he is the strongest chess player on the planet.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Total
Anand, V
½
½
½
½
½
½
½
½
1
0
0
½
0
0
½
½
½
½
7 ½
Kasparov, G
½
½
½
½
½
½
½
½
0
1
1
½
1
1
½
½
½
½
10 ½
New York, IX-X, 1995.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Total
Anand V
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
1
0
0
=
0
0
=
=
=
=
7.5
Kasparov G
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
0
1
1
=
1
1
=
=
=
=
10.5
After the match Kasparov talked on BBC TV: “Definitely now, if I am not collapsing. I don’t see any players amongst the youngsters (that are now the potential challangers) that could challange me with clear chances of winning. Because this match was also a very important lesson. I believe the next Championship I will play differently and I will not be caught in such trouble as I was at the beginning of the match. If I want to go, if I want to play, if I have enough energy, enough motivation, enough chess stamina, I will retain the title until the end of the century.”
