2010 World Championship - Time to dig in

The last 3 games (5,6,7) in the 2010 World Championship have all ended in draws. This may be part of a deliberate strategy from both players, but for differing reasons. Due to the match regulations that give the players the same colours for games 6 & 7 (to avoid the same player always have white or black after the rest day), Anand had White in games 4,6 and 7. Therefore Topalov has scored a small victory in not falling further behind due to his preponderance of blacks. On the other hand Anand may feel pleased to hang on to his 1 game lead, knowing that each draw puts him closer to winning the match.
That is not to say that a draw was the only result both players were looking for. Game 7 saw Topalov sacrifice the exchange in the opening, in return for a strong set of central pawns. This left Anand on the defensive for most of the middle game, but he eventually defused Topalov's threats. Then, just after the first time control, Anand may have played for a win, if he had found 42.Qa4. But once he missed this chance, a draw was the only result left.

Anand,Viswanathan (2787) - Topalov,Veselin (2805) [E11]
WCh Sofia BUL (7), 03.05.2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4 9.Ne5 b5 (D)
10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7 12.Bxa8 Qxa8 13.f3 Nd5 14.Bd2 e5 15.e4 Bh3 16.exd5 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 exd4 18.a4 Qxd5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.Rxa7 Re8 21.Kh1 Bf8 22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2 Bb4 26.Ra1 Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 30.Rc1 Rxh2+ 31.Kg1 Rg2+ 32.Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33.Qf1 Qe3+ 34.Qf2 Qc1+ 35.Qf1 Qe3+ 36.Kg2 f5 37.Nf2 Kh7 38.Qb1 Qe6 39.Qb5 g5 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4 Kg6 42.Qb7 d2 43.Qb1+ Kg7 44.Kf1 Qe7 45.Kg2 Qe6 46.Qd1 Qe3 47.Qf3 Qe6 48.Qb7+ Kg6 49.Qb1+ Kg7 50.Qd1 Qe3 51.Qc2 Qe2 52.Qa4 Kg8 53.Qd7 Kf8 54.Qd5 Kg7 55.Kg3 Qe3+ 56.Qf3 Qe5+ 57.Kg2 Qe6 58.Qd1 ½-½