Topalov draws first blood

Topalov wins first game. The opening was a Grunfeld which both players came prepared judging by the clock times. However Topalov proved he was better prepared with 21. h4 and 22.Rf3. Black had a very difficult position to defend and Anand blundered with 23...Kf7 allowing the sacrifice 24. Nxf6 and it was virtually over.

Topalov finished with a neat rook sacrifice forcing resignation. 30...Kxc8 31. Qc1+ is mate and 30...Rxc8 31. Rd7+ Ke8 32. Rxd4 winning the queen and possibly mates as well

Tomorrow's game will start at the normal 8:00 PM Malaysian local time.

[Event "World Chess Championship"]
[Site "Sofia/Bulgaria"]
[Date "2010.04.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]



1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6 cxd4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nh5+ Kg8 21. h4
h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rf3 Kf7 24. Nxf6 Kxf6 25. Rh3 Rg8 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+
Ke8 28. Rcc7 Kd8 29. Bb5 Qxe4 30. Rxc8+ 1-0

Game can be replayed online below