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A lesser player than Anand would have met with disaster, as Karpov coolly defended and held the theoretical advantage.
Near the end, Anand had to jettison a pawn to hold the rook and pawn endgame. Anand was never in danger of losing, but one does not want to play an endgame a pawn down against Karpov.
Karpov leads the match 3-2. Things look bad for Anand. He must win tomorrow. Otherwise, the match is over.
However, it is to be remembered that Kasparov once faced almost the same situation against Karpov. Kasparov had to win and did win his last round match game to keep the world title.
Everyone agrees that Anand is a stronger player than Karpov, even though only slightly so. This preposterous six game match for the "World Chess Championship", as opposed to a regulation 24 game match, will end in disaster for the notorious criminal Kirsan Iljumzhinov, unless Anand manages to pull it out and win the match.
Karpov is only the sixth ranked player in the world. Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Ivanchuk and Topolov are all clearly better than Karpov. Even if Karpov does win this match, his FIDE world chess title will have no credibility.
I may not offer the most comprehensive analysis of the match, but I do offer the best music. Check it out at http://www.ishipress.com/game-5.htm
Sam Sloan
[Event "World Chess Championship 97 100 30"]
[Site "Lausanne"]
[Date "1998.01.07"]
[Round "8.5"]
[White "Karpov"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 e5 14. Qh4 Re8 15. Bd3 h6 16. Bc2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Bf8 18. b3 Nf6 19. Qh4 g5 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 c5 22. Bb2 Bg7 23. Rd6 Be6 24. Rad1 Rec8 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Be4 Ra7 27. Bd5 Bxd5 28. R1xd5 Kg7 29. Rd2 Be7 30. Rb6 Bd8 31. Rbd6 Be7 32. R6d5 a5 33. Kf1 a4 34. Ke2 axb3 35. axb3 Ra3 36. b4 Rc3 37. bxc5 R3xc5 38. Rxc5 Rxc5 39. Nd4 Bf6 40. g4 b4 41. Rb2 Rc4 42. Kd3 Rc3 43. Kd2 Bxd4 44. exd4 Rc4 45. Kd3 Rc3 46. Kd2 Rc4 47. Kd3 Rc3 48. Ke4 b3 49. f3 Kf6 50. d5 Rc4 51. Kd3 Rf4 52. Rxb3 Ke5 53. Rb6 Kxd5 54. Rxh6 Ke5 55. Ke3 Ra4 (1/2-1/2)
(3:03/2:47)
[Final Position]
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Here is commentary: The Road to the World Chess Championship: Karpov's Path to HIS Glorious Victory .
Here is: Game One
Here is: Game Two
Here is: Game Three
Here is: Game Four
Here is: Game Six
Here is: Karpov defeats Anand in two Quick Chess games to retain FIDE World Championship.
Here is my chart showing all seven rounds of the 1997 FIDE World Chess Championship Candidate's 96 player knockout tournament, won by Anand: The FIDE World Chess Championship Candidate's Tournament Chart. Here is: Here is a picture I took of Garry Kasparov with Zsuzsa Polgar.
This diagram was made possible by Willy Iclicki and the team at Chess Planet, whom we must all thank for the magnificent job they have done in providing first ever live on-line access to the FIDE World Chess Championship. Here is: The Chess Planet Web Site.