World Championship 2012: Anand – Gelfand
Held in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery, Anand's defence against the veteran Boris Gelfand went the classical distance level at 6–6 — including the shortest decisive game in championship history — before the champion's rapid-play class settled it 2½–1½.
◈The surprise challenger
Boris Gelfand, at 43, had won the 2011 Candidates to earn a title shot few had expected him to reach. The classical match was cautious — six opening draws — before Gelfand drew first blood in game seven.
Anand answered immediately: in game eight, Gelfand's queen was trapped on move 17, the shortest decisive game ever played in a World Championship.
◈Rapid resolution
Four more draws left the classical games tied 6–6. Anand, long one of the finest rapid players in the world, was the clear favourite in the playoff — and a win in the second rapid game carried him to a 2½–1½ tiebreak and another successful defence.
It was the last title Anand would hold; the following year he lost the crown to Magnus Carlsen.
◈Cross Table
This archive holds 16 of the 12 match games; the official score above is authoritative.
1 win · ½ draw · 0 loss — click a game number to replay it.