Anand, Viswanathan – Ivanchuk, Vassily

2798 2008 · Draw

Ruy Lopez, 2008: Anand (2798) against Ivanchuk (2781), an open game where Black seizes the initiative after the central knight exchanges. Both sides finish at 85% of moves rated at least good, and the struggle drags on with heavy pieces on the board. The turning point comes at move 46: after 45...Rxe2, the recapture 46.Rxe2 swings the evaluation from −1.0 to −2.7 from White’s side. Ivanchuk follows with 46...Qxc4, but the chance to convert slips away and the queen-and-rook ending ends split. The lesson: in such positions the choice of recapture is never automatic, and one technical decision can double your opponent’s edge.