Kramnik-Leko 2004 Match Game 8

Match Game 8 – 10/7/2004
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Ruy Lopez, Marshall Gambit [C89]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 [Allowing the Marshall Gambit, unlike games 2, 4 and 6.] d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 [15. Be3 is the usual line (Goldsby), but this old line is gaining popularity (New In Chess).] g5 16. Qf1 [16. Nd2 or 16. Qf3] Qh5 [16. ... Qxf1, Peng-Grischuk, Shanghai 2001] 17. Nd2!? [TN] Bf5 18. f3 Nf6 [18. ... Bxe4 is advantageous for White.] 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a4 Qg6! 22. axb5? [22. Ne4 - Kramnik] Bd3! 23. Qf2? [23. Qd1 Be2 24. Qc2 Bd3 - Geuzendam] Re2 24. Qxe2? [Illescas Cordoba recommended 24. bxa6, but after 24. ... Rf2 25. Kf2 Qh5 26. Kg1 Qh3! 27. a7 Bg3 28. a8=Q Kg7 29. hxg3 Qxg3 30. Kh1 g4! White can not avoid mate.] Bxe2 25. bxa6 Qd3!! [Very nice and deeply calculated. - Knaak] 26. Kf2 Bxf3! 27. Nxf3 [27. a7 is also mate. - Geuzendam] Ne4+ 28. Ke1 Nxc3! [28. ... Qxf3?? actually manages to lose.] 29. bxc3? [Loses quickly. - Knaak] Qxc3+ 30. Kf2 Qxa1 31. a7 [31. Bxg5 - Knaak] h6! [Precise till the end. - Geuzendam] 32. h4 g4 0-1 [Leko won brilliantly. We can hope for more games of this level. - Knaak]

I agree. A great game. One of the two best in the match. Leko takes the lead 4.5-3.5; the next game is Saturday 10/9/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).