The 16 years old IM Benjamin Glendura (HUN) showed us recently how to beat a great GM and former World Champion like Anand. It is no secret a strong knowledge of endgames gives you an advantage; is it enough though? Benjamin was put on the spot by Anand when the GM chose the King and pawns endgame instead of a Bishop versus Knight one to finish their game. He succeeded with flying colors! I find the resulting endgame very educational and inspirational. It gives us hope to beat stronger players and even GMs if we can master the endgames. Now you know the secret too; easy peasy, eh? :-)
The complete game analysis is done here:
http://en.chessbase.com/post/gibraltar-07-anand-loses-anton-leads
[Event "Gibraltar Masters 2016"][Site "Gibraltar"][Date "2016.01.26"][Round "7.14"][White "Glendura, Benjamin"][Black "Anand, Viswanathan"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/1p1k1pp1/pb6/2NK3p/8/1P5P/P4PP1/8 b - - 0 36"][ECO "D45"]{Anand is the only one knowing why he decided to play this exchange} 36... Bxc5 {a possible explanation is he thought the King and pawns endgame gave him more chances to save the game} ({Andre Schulz, Chessbase wrote after the game}36...Kc7 37.Ne4 Kd7 38.Nd6 Bxf2 39.Nxb7 {is very unpleasant for Black}) 37.Kxc5 {Andre Schulz, Chessbase: "however, the pawn-ending is also lost for Black"} 37... Kc7 {The key position! Black could hold on if the f7- and b6- pawns together with their King could lock down and not move anymore. That means black needs enough tempo moves, as well as to stop the white pawns from challenging b6 and f7. There is no chance on the Queen side since white has minimum 4 possible pawn moves. On the King side both players have 5 possible pawn moves now, so probably these ones will cancel each other out. The verdict: white has sufficient pawn moves available on the Queen side to break down the defence and win} 38.h4 Kd7 {loses faster by about 4 moves} ({Example of how the King side settles and the Queen side collapses:} 38...g6 39.g3 f6 40.f3 g5 41.f4 gxh4 42.gxh4 Kd7 43.Kb6 1-0) 39.Kb6 Kc8 40.b4 {begins to use the available pawn moves to tighten the noose and break the opposition} Kb8 41.f3 Kc8 42.g4 hxg4 43.fxg4 Kb8 44.h5 f6 {forced or white wins with 45. g5 followed by 46. h6} 45.a4 Kc8 ({In case of} 45... Ka8 46.Kc7 {would win the King side pawns and the game}) 46.Ka7 Kc7 47.b5 a5 ({hoping for a last minute mistake} 47... a5 48.b6+?? Kc6 0-1) 48.Ka8
The complete game analysis is done here:
http://en.chessbase.com/post/gibraltar-07-anand-loses-anton-leads
[Event "Gibraltar Masters 2016"][Site "Gibraltar"][Date "2016.01.26"][Round "7.14"][White "Glendura, Benjamin"][Black "Anand, Viswanathan"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/1p1k1pp1/pb6/2NK3p/8/1P5P/P4PP1/8 b - - 0 36"][ECO "D45"]{Anand is the only one knowing why he decided to play this exchange} 36... Bxc5 {a possible explanation is he thought the King and pawns endgame gave him more chances to save the game} ({Andre Schulz, Chessbase wrote after the game}36...Kc7 37.Ne4 Kd7 38.Nd6 Bxf2 39.Nxb7 {is very unpleasant for Black}) 37.Kxc5 {Andre Schulz, Chessbase: "however, the pawn-ending is also lost for Black"} 37... Kc7 {The key position! Black could hold on if the f7- and b6- pawns together with their King could lock down and not move anymore. That means black needs enough tempo moves, as well as to stop the white pawns from challenging b6 and f7. There is no chance on the Queen side since white has minimum 4 possible pawn moves. On the King side both players have 5 possible pawn moves now, so probably these ones will cancel each other out. The verdict: white has sufficient pawn moves available on the Queen side to break down the defence and win} 38.h4 Kd7 {loses faster by about 4 moves} ({Example of how the King side settles and the Queen side collapses:} 38...g6 39.g3 f6 40.f3 g5 41.f4 gxh4 42.gxh4 Kd7 43.Kb6 1-0) 39.Kb6 Kc8 40.b4 {begins to use the available pawn moves to tighten the noose and break the opposition} Kb8 41.f3 Kc8 42.g4 hxg4 43.fxg4 Kb8 44.h5 f6 {forced or white wins with 45. g5 followed by 46. h6} 45.a4 Kc8 ({In case of} 45... Ka8 46.Kc7 {would win the King side pawns and the game}) 46.Ka7 Kc7 47.b5 a5 ({hoping for a last minute mistake} 47... a5 48.b6+?? Kc6 0-1) 48.Ka8