I have some thoughts about this, but I am not 100% sure they are correct, as I have zero experience playing chess at master level. But here goes:

The majority of chess games, even at a high level, is not decided by one of the players forgetting (part of) his opening preperation. Opening preperation is important for world-class players, but so are lots of other facets of chess.

In a world championship match (or other very important match), however, opening preperation is more critical. This is because both players have saved their novelties (=moves never played before in a known opening position) for quite some time, hoping to win a game or two with them now. This is how the first game of the match was decided, and maybe a couple of more will be. But rest assured that being chess world champion surely isn't equivalent to being the best move-memorizer.

This sounds reasonable.

I'm following the match live right now. It seems that Anand is doing okay in game 3. Seems like a draw to me.

Weird choice by Topalov. Shirov claimed in his DVD on the slav that this variation is a draw because of Kramnik's way to handle it. Looks to me that Topalov cannot add anything new to this evaluation.

It's move 25 now and it looks to me that GM technique should be sufficient to hold a draw.

after 31 moves I think topalov might actually be able to win this. He can put more pressure on the a pawn than anand can, his rooks are more coordinated on the c file, I think this can be an interesting endgame

Just what I thought.

However after 31 moves I think topalov have chance. might still be a draw but white has chances IMO

Anand seemed to hold that pretty comfortably, bad news for 6. Ne5 on the top level. My guess is Topalov will revert to 4. e3 as against Kramnik, provided he doesn't lead the overall standings.

Glad to see that Anand played the Slav and not the Gruenfeld in game 3.

I like the strategy of playing very solidly with Black until you're up in the match.

+1

I heard that Topalov is communicating draw offers through the arbiter rather than asking at the table. What a class act.

He's implementing Sofia Rules unilaterally, not shaking hands still tells volumes though.

would make much more sense

interesting game going. I think this one clearly avoided opening prep, at least for topalov.

d5 and this game is going to take off

mildly amusing disclaimer on the official tournament site (www.anand-topalov.com)

Warning! It is absolutely prohibited the live broadcast of the moves or video during the game on other websites, media or software without the explicit permission of the organizers of the match.

This prohibition is being violated by ChessBase

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has Chess gone the way of the NFL?

Anand is doing very good now.

Topalov looks destroyed to me (move 26). Rc4/Rd4 seem to be unstoppable.

shaping up to be a great game

The commentator on chess.fm (Miguel Illescas) is hilarious - he's answering a player's question -

"kibliter xxx says his computer engine says move xxx is a draw - well you need to take your computer to the shop - "

I can't believe Topalov played 25. .. Bg2. He's much stronger than me and I haven't run the position through rybka or whatever but that move just seems incredibly terrible. I really hope I'm missing something. Otherwise this world championship will have to go down in the books as one of the silliest.

terribly stupid post deleted

all he can do is trade queens and then the piece is dropped, right? - seems like it's hanging otherwise

Anand wins game 4 to take the lead - way to go

That's right......... big daddy........

Nice sac! I thought maybe wasnt completely correct, but it was. Although wasnt my engine's first choice, it recognize at least equal position.
EDIT: At least after 7-8 minutes. It took a couple of moves later to realice decisive white advantage.


Bxg2 was only move.

right

Computer consensus was stone busted in all lines by this point, and that the decisive mistake was 22. ... Rad8. I think at least, based on watching ICC analysis/commentary.

I did - with 27 offsuit at the Aria tourney

RB

I read buying live broadcasting rights cost 15K for the whole match....they probably did just that.