You know, it's actually kind of funny. I've become such a huge fan of Starcraft and Starcraft 2 over the past year, and it always blows my mind that people can talk about sports and chess seriously like this and been seen as reasonable fans and intellectuals, while if you know any of the big names in Starcraft and their past accomplishments, you're still just another videogame nerd.
Hopefully that's a trend that reverses as time goes on - I'd love to be able to speak in polite company about Starcraft as everyone in this thread is speaking about chess.
Anand is long regarded as a solid and classical player, quietly building up his position. Topalov is an uncompromising fighter, always looking at intensifying the struggle.
Every once in a while we get a glimpse of the youthful attacking Anand - a sacrificial attack with reduced material. Game 4 was another example of that remarkable talent being unleashed.
Over the years, Topalov is famous for games he has lost; it's not often he loses, but when he does it often is because of a brilliancy or dashing attack. Game 4 was one of those performances.
Even though I feel game 2 was a far better quality, game 4 will probably be the game that people will remember.
Usually openings are well studied, and it is difficult to find a good new move. A novelty is a move in the opening which noone has used before. It is usually prepared and studied in advance. The player that plays the novelty will then have some advantage in the game because he is already familiar with the position that arises.
Considering Topalov is a notorious slow-starter, or more accurately a very strong finisher, it's set up to be a very interesting clash for the rest of the match. Although this is a head-to-head match, so beating the tail-enders to catch up isn't an available strategy.
So far it's been a sublime performance from Anand to come back after the catastrophic first game. Game 2 was a splendid positional win, and game 4 is vintage Anand after a serious mistake from Topalov.
Anand's best games collection shows a number of wonderful examples of king attacks with reduced material, game 4 is another worthy addition.
All this on the backdrop of a psychological war: Topalov's decision to play by Sofia Rules, not talking/communicating with Anand, Topalov on home ground, Danailov's dual role as Topalov's manager and match organiser - for a player to face that and produce the quality Anand has done in games 2 to 4 is even more impressive.
You know, it's actually kind of funny. I've become such a huge fan of Starcraft and Starcraft 2 over the past year, and it always blows my mind that people can talk about sports and chess seriously like this and been seen as reasonable fans and intellectuals, while if you know any of the big names in Starcraft and their past accomplishments, you're still just another videogame nerd.
Hopefully that's a trend that reverses as time goes on - I'd love to be able to speak in polite company about Starcraft as everyone in this thread is speaking about chess.