Anand – Topalov World Championship Match 2010

dates: 24 April–11 May 2010
location: Central Military Club, Sofia, Bulgaria
score: 6½–5½ (Anand–Topalov)
winner: Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand in 2010, the year of his title defence against Topalov. This portrait is not from the Sofia match. Photo: Stefan64.

Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov contested the world championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 24 April to 11 May 2010. Anand was defending the title he had retained against Kramnik in Bonn. Topalov had earned the challenge by defeating Gata Kamsky in their 2009 match.

Travel disruption before the opening game complicated Anand’s arrival in Bulgaria. Once play began, Topalov won immediately with White against the Grünfeld. Anand answered the next day and won again in game 4, using the Catalan to take the lead. Topalov later equalised in game 8 after a long struggle against Anand’s Slav.

The score remained level through game 11. In the final classical game, Anand adopted the Lasker Defence to the Queen’s Gambit Declined with Black. Topalov sought complications, but Anand’s counterplay became decisive. The champion won the game and the match 6½–5½, avoiding a rapid playoff.

Study the changing demands of a close twelve-game contest: recovering from an opening defeat, building pressure with White and defending difficult endings. The final game is especially useful for comparing apparent attacking prospects with the opponent’s threats. All twelve games are available from either player’s perspective.

Viswanathan Anand's Profile Veselin Topalov's Profile

Match results

Anand – Topalov World Championship Match 2010 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	Points
Viswanathan Anand	0	1	½	1	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	1	6½
Veselin Topalov	1	0	½	0	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	0	5½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 12.

Completed 0 / 12

Game 1: Topalov wins the opener

Topalov began with a forceful White victory against Anand’s Grünfeld Defence. The game ended after 30 moves. Anand faced an immediate one-point deficit in the challenger’s home city.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	30	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Anand answers with the Catalan

Anand chose the Catalan for his first White game. He won after 43 moves to cancel the opening defeat. The match was level again before the first rest day.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1-0	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: The Slav holds for Anand

Anand switched his Black defence to the Slav. Topalov could not repeat the first game’s success, and the players drew. The change established an opening battle that would recur throughout the match.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: A second Catalan win

Anand returned to the Catalan and won another White game. His attack brought the contest to an end after 32 moves. Two victories in three games gave the champion the match lead for the first time.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1-0	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Topalov presses against the Slav

Topalov again tested Anand’s Slav Defence with White. The game was drawn after 44 moves. Anand preserved his one-point advantage without returning to the Grünfeld of the opening defeat.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	44	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: The Catalan battle continues

The players returned to Anand’s Catalan for a longer struggle. This time Topalov held the position and the game was drawn after 58 moves. At the halfway point Anand led 3½–2½.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Topalov changes the opening debate

Anand had White for the second consecutive game as the color order reversed. Topalov chose a different queen’s-pawn structure instead of repeating the Catalan discussion. Another 58-move draw kept the score close.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Topalov draws level

Topalov’s persistence against the Slav finally brought a full point. Anand lost a long ending with Black. The score returned to 4–4 with four classical games remaining.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: An 83-move test

A Nimzo-Indian led to the longest game of the match. Anand pressed with White, but Topalov survived the 83-move struggle. Neither player could break the tie.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	83	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: The Grünfeld returns

Anand revisited the Grünfeld Defence after losing with it in game 1. This encounter lasted 60 moves and ended in a draw. The match remained level at five points each.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	60	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: An English before the decider

Anand changed his first-move approach to the English Opening. The players continued for 65 moves without a decisive result. At 5½–5½, the final classical game would decide whether rapid tiebreaks were needed.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	65	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Anand wins the title with Black

Anand chose the Lasker Defence in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Topalov’s attempts to sharpen the position allowed Black to take over the attack. Anand converted to win the last game and retain the title 6½–5½.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand 0-1	Anand - Topalov World Championship Match	2010	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-08

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