Anand – Gelfand World Championship Match 2012

dates: 11–30 May 2012
location: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
score: 6–6 classical; 2½–1½ rapid (Anand–Gelfand)
winner: Viswanathan Anand

Entrance decorated for the 2012 World Chess Championship at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. — The entrance to the 2012 World Championship venue at Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, 10 May 2012. Photo: Rodrigo Fernández.

Viswanathan Anand defended the world championship against Boris Gelfand at Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery in May 2012. Gelfand had won the 2011 Candidates matches to qualify. The contest paired two highly experienced players and offered twelve classical games before any tiebreak.

The first six games were drawn. Gelfand then won game 7 with White, taking the first lead of the match. Anand responded immediately: game 8 ended after just 17 moves when Gelfand’s queen became trapped. Four more draws completed a 6–6 classical tie, with one victory for each player.

Four rapid games on 30 May settled the championship. Anand won the second and drew the other three, taking the playoff 2½–1½. The narrower time control produced a different practical test from the classical games, with less time to solve defensive problems or convert an advantage.

This collection includes all sixteen games in order, with the four rapid encounters following the classical phase. Compare Gelfand’s prepared defences with Anand’s attempts to create new problems, then work through the playoff from either side. The game counter includes both phases while retaining separate sessions for each player.

Viswanathan Anand's Profile Boris Gelfand's Profile

Match results

Anand – Gelfand World Championship Match 2012 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Game 16	Points
Viswanathan Anand	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	8½
Boris Gelfand	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	7½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 16.

Completed 0 / 16

Game 1: Gelfand introduces the Grünfeld

Gelfand answered Anand’s queen’s-pawn opening with the Grünfeld Defence. The challenger held the first game without conceding a full point. The opening draw began a sequence of six shared results.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Anand holds with Black

Gelfand had his first White game in a Slav structure. Anand kept the contest level and the game was drawn. Both players had now tested their initial opening choices.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Anand tests the Grünfeld again

Anand returned to the queen’s-pawn opening against Gelfand’s Grünfeld. This second White encounter lasted longer than the opener. Gelfand again held the draw, keeping the match level.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	37	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: The Slav debate continues

Gelfand continued with a queen’s-pawn opening and Anand again defended with the Slav. Neither player found a decisive breakthrough. Four draws left the score at two points each.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: A Sicilian change of direction

Anand switched to a king’s-pawn opening. Gelfand met it with the Sicilian Defence and held the draw. The match’s opening repertoire widened without changing the balance on the scoreboard.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Six draws at the halfway point

Gelfand took White in another queen’s-pawn encounter. Anand held the position and the sixth game was drawn. The classical match reached its halfway point at 3–3.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Gelfand takes the first lead

Gelfand used White to score the first decisive result of the match. His victory broke the run of six draws. Anand now had to recover a one-point deficit with five classical games left.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: A trapped queen and an immediate reply

Anand answered the previous day’s defeat with a 17-move victory. Gelfand’s queen ran out of safe squares after an ambitious opening. The shortest game of the match restored equality at 4–4.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1-0	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	17	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Gelfand presses in the Nimzo-Indian

Anand defended a difficult position arising from the Nimzo-Indian. Gelfand could not convert his chances into a second win. The draw preserved the tie after the match’s two consecutive decisive games.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Gelfand holds the Sicilian

Anand tested the Sicilian again with White. Gelfand’s defence held and the game was drawn. With two classical games remaining, the score stood at 5–5.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Anand changes his Black preparation

Gelfand met a new opening choice from Anand in another Nimzo-Indian. The challenger could not turn White into a full point. A draw left the players level before the final classical game.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: The classical phase ends level

Anand had White in the last scheduled classical game. Gelfand held another Sicilian and the game was drawn. A 6–6 tie sent the championship to four rapid tiebreak games.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	22	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Rapid game 1: the playoff begins

Gelfand began the rapid phase with White. The first playoff game was drawn, keeping the championship undecided. The players now had three rapid games left to separate them.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Rapid game 2: Anand breaks through

Anand won with White in the second rapid game. It was the only decisive result of the playoff. The champion led 1½–½ with two games remaining.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1-0	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	77	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Rapid game 3: Gelfand cannot equalise

Gelfand had White again and needed to recover the rapid deficit. Anand survived the long encounter and drew. The champion now needed only a draw in the final game to retain the title.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris Gelfand – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	63	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Rapid game 4: Anand retains the crown

Anand played White in the final rapid game. The draw secured a 2½–1½ playoff victory after the 6–6 classical tie. Gelfand’s challenge ended with Anand still world champion.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Gelfand World Championship Match	2012	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-08

Guess the Move tournaments