Eljanov-Alekseev1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc8 8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Bd2 f5 10. d5 Na6 11. Nd4 Bf6 12. e3 Nd6 13. b3 c6 14. Rc1 Qe8 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Qf7 17. Rcd1 Rfd8 18. Bc1 Nc5 19. Ba3 Nce4 20. dxe6 dxe6 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. c5 Rd5 24. Qxe4 bxc5 25. Ne2 Rcd8 26. Rc1 Rd2 27. Rc2 Ba6 28. Rxd2 Rxd2 29. Nf4 e5 30. Bc1 Rxa2 31. Qb1 Ra5 32. Ne2 Rb5 33. Qa1 Bc8 34. Nc3 Rxb3 35. Ne4 Bh3 36. Nxf6+ gxf6 37. Qa4 c4 38. Qxc6 Kg7 39. Qe4 Qb7 40. Qxb7+ Rxb7 41. f3 Be6 42. e4 c3 43. Kf2 a5 44. Re2 Rb8 45. Ke3 Bb3 46. Kd3 Rc8 47. Re3 a4 48. f4 Kf7 49. fxe5 fxe5 50. g4 Kg7 51. Rf3 c2 52. Kd2 Rc4 53. Re3 Rd4+ 54. Kc3 Kf6 55. Kb2 Ke6 56. g5 Kf7 57. h4 Kg6 58. Rf3 Kh5 59. Rf6 Kxh4 60. Rh6+ Kg4 61. Rxh7 Rxe4 62. Rh6 Re1 63. g6 Kf5 64. g7 Rg1 65. Rh7 Kf6 0-1
Akopian-Wang1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 h6 17. Qc1 Qd7 18. Qb2 Bd6 19. Bxd6 cxd6 20. Nh4 Be6 21. Rad1 d5 22. Bd3 b6 23. Bb1 Qd8 24. Nf3 Qf6 25. Qb5 g6 26. Re3 Bxh3 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxd5 Bg4 29. Re1 Rd8 30. Qe4 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. gxf3 Kf8 33. Kg2 Ne7 34. Kg3 Nd5 35. c4 Nc3 36. d5 Re8 37. Rh1 Ne2+ 38. Kg2 h5 39. Bc2 Nf4+ 40. Kg3 Ne2+ 41. Kg2 Rc8 42. Bb3 Nd4 43. Ba2 Ke7 44. Rd1 Nf5 45. a4 Kd6 46. a5 Kc5 47. axb6 axb6 48. Bb1 Nd6 49. Bd3 Ra8 50. Rc1 Ra3 51. Be2 Ra2 52. Bf1 g5 53. Kg1 Rd2 54. Kg2 f5 55. Kg1 f4 56. Rb1 Rc2 57. Rd1 Ra2 58. Rb1 Rd2 59. Kg2 g4 60. fxg4 hxg4 61. Kg1 f3 62. Kh2 Ne4 63. Rb5+ Kd4 64. d6 Kc3 65. Re5 g3+ 66. Kg1 gxf2+ 67. Kh2 Rd1 68. Rxe4 Rxf1 69. Re3+ Kxc4 70. Rxf3 Rd1 71. Rf4+ Kc5 72. Rxf2 Rxd6 73. Rc2+ Kb4 74. Rb2+ Kc4 0-1
Gelfand-Inarkiev1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4 Neg4 15. g3 Bc5 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Bf4 Qb6 18. Nce2 Rfe8 19. a4 a6 20. a5 Qa7 21. f3 Ne5 22. Kg2 Bf8 23. Nf5 c5 24. Nc3 c4 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Qc1 b4 27. Qf4 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Bc8 29. Qe5 bxc3 30. bxc3 Qb8 31. Qxb8 Rxb8 32. Rd4 Rb2+ 33. Kh1 Bh3 34. Rg1 Be6 35. Rd8 g6 36. Ra8 Kg7 37. g4 Rf2 38. Rxa6 Rxf3 39. Rc6 Rxc340. Rg3 Rc1+ 41. Rg1 Rc3 42. Rg3 Rd3 43. Rxd3 cxd3 44. Rc3 d2 45. Rd3 Bb4 46. a6 Bc8 47. a7 Bb7 48. Kg1 Bc5+ 49. Kf1 Ba6 0-1
Jakovenko-Ponomariov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 Nc6 14. Bc4 b5 15. Be2 g5 16. Bg3 exd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. d6 Bb7 19. Qc2 Ng6 20. O-O Qb6 21. Rfd1 Qc6 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Rb1 Qc6 24. Qb3+ c4 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26. Rxb7 f5 27. Nxg5 f4 28. Ne6 Be5 29. Nxd8 Rxd8 30. Rc7 fxg3 31. hxg3 Bxc3 32. Rxc4 Ba5 33. Rd5 Bb6 34. a4 Rd7 35. a5 Bd8 36. f4 Kf7 37. Re4 Nf8 38. g4 h6 39. Kh2 Nh7 40. Rf5+ Kg7 41. Rd4 Nf6 42. g5 hxg5 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rb5 Ne8 45. a6 Nxd6 46. Rb7 Ke7 47. Rxd7+ Kxd7 48. g4 Ke6 49. Kg3 Bb6 50. Rb4 Bc5 51. Ra4 Bb6 52. Kf3 Nb5 53. Re4+ Kf7 54. g5 Nc7 55. f5 Bc5 56. Ra4 Be7 57. Kg4 Bf8 58. Rd4 Nxa6 59. Rd7+ Kg8 60. f6 Nc5 61. Rxa7 Ne4 62. Kf5 Nd6+ 63. Ke6 1-0
Standings:Inarkiev - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Eljanov, Jakovenko - +1
Sunday, May 16, 2010
US Championship Round 3
GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Robson, Ray 2569 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
Standings:
Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Akobian - 2.5
Christiansen, Ehlvest, Schulman, Hess, Stripunsky - 2
GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Robson, Ray 2569 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
Standings:
Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Akobian - 2.5
Christiansen, Ehlvest, Schulman, Hess, Stripunsky - 2
Saturday, May 15, 2010
US Championship Round 2
GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 GM Hess, Robert 2590 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 0-1
GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 1-0 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 1-0
GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 0-1
GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 0-1
Leaders:
Nakamura, Kamsky - 2
Onischuk, Akobian, Ehlvest, Shabalov, Christiansen, Kudrin, Krush - 1.5
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 0-1
GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 1-0 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 1-0
GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 0-1
GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 0-1
Leaders:
Nakamura, Kamsky - 2
Onischuk, Akobian, Ehlvest, Shabalov, Christiansen, Kudrin, Krush - 1.5
Friday, May 14, 2010
US Championship Round 1
This looks like a much better event than in the recent past, the first REAL championship event since I started this blog in 2004, without the lightweights that have polluted recent swiss formats.
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 0-1
GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 GM Robson, Ray 2569 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 0-1
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 0-1
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 0-1
GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 GM Robson, Ray 2569 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 0-1
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 0-1
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0
Grand Prix Round 5
Wang-Eljanov
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. O-O-O a6 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Na4 Rb8 14. Bd3 Rxh2 15. g4 Bd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. f4 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Nf8 19. Rg1 Qc8 20. Qc2 Bc7 21. Kb1 Ke7 22. Bc1 Qe8 23. b3 Nd7 24. Nc3 a5 25. Ba3 Ra8 26. Na4 Kf8 27. Qh2 Ke7 28. Nb6 Ra7 29. Be2 Kd8 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5 g6 32. Qh7 Nxb6 33. cxb6 Bxb6 34. Qg7 a4 35. Kb2 axb3 36. axb3 Rxa3 37. Kxa3 Kc7 38. Rh1 Qe7+ 39. Kb2 Ba5 40. Rh7 Qb4 41. Qxf7+ Kb8 42. Rh2 Qc3+ 43. Ka2 Bb4 44. Qe8+ Ka7 45. Qxg6 Qxe3 46. Qc2 Bc3 47. g6 Qe1 48. b4 Bxd4 49. Qd3 Qg1 50. Re2 Kb8 51. Kb3 Qa1 52. f5 exf5 53. Qxf5 Qc3+ 0-1
Ponomariov-Ivanchuk
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. h3 c5 11. Rd1 b6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Rfd8 15. Qe2 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Nf8 18. Ne5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Bd3 Bd4 21. Bb1 a6 22. h4 gxh4 23. Bf4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bd4 b5 26. a3 Nf4 27. Qf3 N6h5 28. Be3 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qg5 30. Qf3 e5 31. Nd5 Bc8 32. Kh2 Bg4 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. Qd3 f3 35. gxf3 Be6 36. Qe3 Qe5+ 37. f4 Qxb2 38. Bd3 Bxd5 39. exd5 Nf6 40. Kh3 Qa1 41. Be4 Nxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxa3+ 43. Kxh4 Qd6 44. Qf5 b4 45. Qg4+ Kf8 46. Qc8+ Kg7 47. Qc4 a5 48. Kg3 a4 49. Qc6 Qg6+ 50. Kf3 Qd3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Gelfand, Inarkiev - +1
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. O-O-O a6 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Na4 Rb8 14. Bd3 Rxh2 15. g4 Bd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. f4 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Nf8 19. Rg1 Qc8 20. Qc2 Bc7 21. Kb1 Ke7 22. Bc1 Qe8 23. b3 Nd7 24. Nc3 a5 25. Ba3 Ra8 26. Na4 Kf8 27. Qh2 Ke7 28. Nb6 Ra7 29. Be2 Kd8 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5 g6 32. Qh7 Nxb6 33. cxb6 Bxb6 34. Qg7 a4 35. Kb2 axb3 36. axb3 Rxa3 37. Kxa3 Kc7 38. Rh1 Qe7+ 39. Kb2 Ba5 40. Rh7 Qb4 41. Qxf7+ Kb8 42. Rh2 Qc3+ 43. Ka2 Bb4 44. Qe8+ Ka7 45. Qxg6 Qxe3 46. Qc2 Bc3 47. g6 Qe1 48. b4 Bxd4 49. Qd3 Qg1 50. Re2 Kb8 51. Kb3 Qa1 52. f5 exf5 53. Qxf5 Qc3+ 0-1
Ponomariov-Ivanchuk
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. h3 c5 11. Rd1 b6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Rfd8 15. Qe2 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Nf8 18. Ne5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Bd3 Bd4 21. Bb1 a6 22. h4 gxh4 23. Bf4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bd4 b5 26. a3 Nf4 27. Qf3 N6h5 28. Be3 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qg5 30. Qf3 e5 31. Nd5 Bc8 32. Kh2 Bg4 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. Qd3 f3 35. gxf3 Be6 36. Qe3 Qe5+ 37. f4 Qxb2 38. Bd3 Bxd5 39. exd5 Nf6 40. Kh3 Qa1 41. Be4 Nxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxa3+ 43. Kxh4 Qd6 44. Qf5 b4 45. Qg4+ Kf8 46. Qc8+ Kg7 47. Qc4 a5 48. Kg3 a4 49. Qc6 Qg6+ 50. Kf3 Qd3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Gelfand, Inarkiev - +1
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Grand Prix Round 4
Ivanchuk-Inarkiev
1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nd7 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne4 c5 15. f3 c4 16. Kf2 Nb6 17. Rd2 Ba6 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Be3 Rfc8 20. a3 h6 21. g3 Rc7 22. Bd4 Rd8 23. h4 Nb6 24. Bxb6 Rxd2+ 25. Nxd2 axb6 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. Nd6 Bd5 28. Ke3 f6 29. f4 fxe5 30. fxe5 Kh7 31. Rc3 Kg6 32. g4 h5 33. g5 Rc5 34. Kf4 Kh7 35. Rc1 Kg6 36. Rc2 Kh7 37. Ke3 Bh1 38. Kd4 Rd5+ 39. Kc3 Rd3+ 40. Kxc4 Rh3 41. Kb5 Rxh4 42. Kxb6 Kg6 43. Rc7 Rf4 44. b4 h4 45. Rc8 Bf3 0-1
Standings:
Inarkiev, Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nd7 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne4 c5 15. f3 c4 16. Kf2 Nb6 17. Rd2 Ba6 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Be3 Rfc8 20. a3 h6 21. g3 Rc7 22. Bd4 Rd8 23. h4 Nb6 24. Bxb6 Rxd2+ 25. Nxd2 axb6 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. Nd6 Bd5 28. Ke3 f6 29. f4 fxe5 30. fxe5 Kh7 31. Rc3 Kg6 32. g4 h5 33. g5 Rc5 34. Kf4 Kh7 35. Rc1 Kg6 36. Rc2 Kh7 37. Ke3 Bh1 38. Kd4 Rd5+ 39. Kc3 Rd3+ 40. Kxc4 Rh3 41. Kb5 Rxh4 42. Kxb6 Kg6 43. Rc7 Rf4 44. b4 h4 45. Rc8 Bf3 0-1
Standings:
Inarkiev, Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Grand Prix Round 2
Svidler-Ponomariov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. a4 a5 14. Nd5 g5 15. Bb2 Be6 16. c4 b6 17. Kh2 Ne7 18. g4 Ng6 19. Kg3 Be7 20. Nf6 Kb7 21. Nh5 Rhg8 22. Ng1 Rad8 23. Ne2 Bd7 24. Rd2 Bxa4 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Eljanov-Akopian
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bd3 c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bd2 Rfd8 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Raa1 Nd5 22. Ba5 Rdc8 23. Nd4 g6 24. g3 Nb4 25. Bf1 Kf8 26. Ra4 Nd5 27. e4 Nf6 28. f3 e5 29. Nb3 Rab8 30. Rc4 Bc6 31. Rc3 Ba4 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Rc1 Rxc1 34. Nxc1 Bc5+ 35. Kg2 Bd4 36. b3 Bb5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Ne2 Bb2 39. Bb4+ Ke8 40. Bc3 Bxc3 41. Nxc3 Kd7 42. Nxb5 Kc6 43. Nc3 Kc5 44. g4 h6 45. h4 Nd7 46. Nd5 f5 47. b4+ Kd4 48. exf5 gxf5 49. Ne7 fxg4 50. fxg4 e4 51. Nf5+ Kd3 52. b5 Kc4 53. Nxh6 Kxb5 54. g5 Ne5 55. h5 e3 56. Nf5 e2 57. Nd4+ Kc4 58. Nxe2 Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 60. Nd4+ Kf7 61. Kf4 Nc4 62. Nf5 Nb6 63. g6+ Kf6 64. Ne3 1-0
Leko-Alekseev
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Nxc8 Raxc8 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. Qd2 Qb7 20. Rfe1 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rb1 Be5 24. Kf1 Rd8 25. Rb7 Rxd5 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. a4 c4 28. Re7 Bg7 29. Bf4 h5 30. Rc7 c3 31. Be3 Rb8 32. Ke2 Rb4 33. a5 Ra4 34. Rc5 Bf8 35. Rc8 Kg7 36. Bb6 Bb4 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Bd4+ f6 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. a6 Rxa6 1-0
Gelfand-Mamedyarov
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4 Bf5 9. Ne1 Be6 10. e3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Qb3 Rfd8 14. Nd3 b6 15. Qxd5 Rxd5 16. c4 Ra5 17. a4 e5 18. Bd2 Ra6 19. f4 exd4 20. e4 Bf8 21. Kf2 f6 22. Rfb1 Nd8 23. Kf3 Nb7 24. e5 fxe5 25. fxe5 Re8 26. Re1 Na5 27. Bxa5 Rxa5 28. Ke4 Bg7 29. Kxd4 a6 30. Ra2 b5 31. c5 Rd8+ 32. Ke4 Bf8 33. Rea1 b4 34. Rc2 b3 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Rb1 Kf7 37. Kd4 Ke6 38. Kc3 Kd5 39. Nb4+ 1-0
Standings:
Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. a4 a5 14. Nd5 g5 15. Bb2 Be6 16. c4 b6 17. Kh2 Ne7 18. g4 Ng6 19. Kg3 Be7 20. Nf6 Kb7 21. Nh5 Rhg8 22. Ng1 Rad8 23. Ne2 Bd7 24. Rd2 Bxa4 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Eljanov-Akopian
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bd3 c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bd2 Rfd8 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Raa1 Nd5 22. Ba5 Rdc8 23. Nd4 g6 24. g3 Nb4 25. Bf1 Kf8 26. Ra4 Nd5 27. e4 Nf6 28. f3 e5 29. Nb3 Rab8 30. Rc4 Bc6 31. Rc3 Ba4 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Rc1 Rxc1 34. Nxc1 Bc5+ 35. Kg2 Bd4 36. b3 Bb5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Ne2 Bb2 39. Bb4+ Ke8 40. Bc3 Bxc3 41. Nxc3 Kd7 42. Nxb5 Kc6 43. Nc3 Kc5 44. g4 h6 45. h4 Nd7 46. Nd5 f5 47. b4+ Kd4 48. exf5 gxf5 49. Ne7 fxg4 50. fxg4 e4 51. Nf5+ Kd3 52. b5 Kc4 53. Nxh6 Kxb5 54. g5 Ne5 55. h5 e3 56. Nf5 e2 57. Nd4+ Kc4 58. Nxe2 Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 60. Nd4+ Kf7 61. Kf4 Nc4 62. Nf5 Nb6 63. g6+ Kf6 64. Ne3 1-0
Leko-Alekseev
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Nxc8 Raxc8 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. Qd2 Qb7 20. Rfe1 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rb1 Be5 24. Kf1 Rd8 25. Rb7 Rxd5 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. a4 c4 28. Re7 Bg7 29. Bf4 h5 30. Rc7 c3 31. Be3 Rb8 32. Ke2 Rb4 33. a5 Ra4 34. Rc5 Bf8 35. Rc8 Kg7 36. Bb6 Bb4 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Bd4+ f6 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. a6 Rxa6 1-0
Gelfand-Mamedyarov
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4 Bf5 9. Ne1 Be6 10. e3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Qb3 Rfd8 14. Nd3 b6 15. Qxd5 Rxd5 16. c4 Ra5 17. a4 e5 18. Bd2 Ra6 19. f4 exd4 20. e4 Bf8 21. Kf2 f6 22. Rfb1 Nd8 23. Kf3 Nb7 24. e5 fxe5 25. fxe5 Re8 26. Re1 Na5 27. Bxa5 Rxa5 28. Ke4 Bg7 29. Kxd4 a6 30. Ra2 b5 31. c5 Rd8+ 32. Ke4 Bf8 33. Rea1 b4 34. Rc2 b3 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Rb1 Kf7 37. Kd4 Ke6 38. Kc3 Kd5 39. Nb4+ 1-0
Standings:
Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
Anand at the finish, 6.5-5.5
Topalov,Veselin (2805) - Anand,Viswanathan (2787) [D56]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.dxc5 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 19.Qc2N Bb7 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1 Ba6 26.Ra3 Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5 31.exf5 [Now the position will crumble in a flash. 31.Nd2 fxe4 32.Nxe4 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Rd4 34.Qe3= ] e4 32.fxe4?? [Topalov loses his nerve and now it is all over. 32.Re3 exf3+ 33.Kg1 Qg5 34.Qc2 Rcd7 35.Re1] Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8! 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 g5+ 37.fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7 0-1
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6326
So that's that ... Anand won the FIDE tournament, Anand beat Kramnik, Anand beat Topalov. We have an undisputed champion of the world. Vishy, thanks for cleaning up the mess caused by Kasparov and Short in 1993.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.dxc5 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 19.Qc2N Bb7 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1 Ba6 26.Ra3 Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5 31.exf5 [Now the position will crumble in a flash. 31.Nd2 fxe4 32.Nxe4 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Rd4 34.Qe3= ] e4 32.fxe4?? [Topalov loses his nerve and now it is all over. 32.Re3 exf3+ 33.Kg1 Qg5 34.Qc2 Rcd7 35.Re1] Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8! 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 g5+ 37.fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7 0-1
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6326
So that's that ... Anand won the FIDE tournament, Anand beat Kramnik, Anand beat Topalov. We have an undisputed champion of the world. Vishy, thanks for cleaning up the mess caused by Kasparov and Short in 1993.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Grand Prix Round 1
I can't believe it already started and I had heard nothing. If somebody who follows such things pretty closely isn't aware it's going on, then FIDE is clearly not doing its job.
Anyway, the 6th and final Grand Prix event is underway in Astrakhan, which means all six events ended up taking place in a tiny little-known corner of the world. Not very good for world chess.
As I speculated back in August (wow, it really has been a long time since the last one), Aronian was left out of this event since he already had first place guaranteed. However, Kasimdhanov appears to have skipped this event and been replaced with Ruslan Ponomariov (his name is misspelled on the official website), who has not taken part in any of the five preceding events. Not sure I understand that.
In any event, in round 1 the only decisive result was Gashimov over Ivanchuk:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 Bf8 14. Ng5 Re7 15.f4 h6 16. Nf3 d5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf4 Re8 20. e5 Nh7 21. d4 Ng5 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Be3 g6 24. Rf1 Bg7 25. c3 c5 26. Qg4 Rc8 27. Rf2 Rc7 28. Raf1 Bc8 29. Qd1 c4 30. Bb1 Qh4 31. Kh2 a5 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Kh7 34. Rf6 Re7 35. R6f4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 1-0
Anyway, the 6th and final Grand Prix event is underway in Astrakhan, which means all six events ended up taking place in a tiny little-known corner of the world. Not very good for world chess.
As I speculated back in August (wow, it really has been a long time since the last one), Aronian was left out of this event since he already had first place guaranteed. However, Kasimdhanov appears to have skipped this event and been replaced with Ruslan Ponomariov (his name is misspelled on the official website), who has not taken part in any of the five preceding events. Not sure I understand that.
In any event, in round 1 the only decisive result was Gashimov over Ivanchuk:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 Bf8 14. Ng5 Re7 15.f4 h6 16. Nf3 d5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf4 Re8 20. e5 Nh7 21. d4 Ng5 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Be3 g6 24. Rf1 Bg7 25. c3 c5 26. Qg4 Rc8 27. Rf2 Rc7 28. Raf1 Bc8 29. Qd1 c4 30. Bb1 Qh4 31. Kh2 a5 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Kh7 34. Rf6 Re7 35. R6f4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 1-0
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Game 11 Drawn
Anand,V (2787) - Topalov,V (2805) [A29]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 Qe8 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7 16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2 h6 22.Qb1 Nd5 23.Rb2 b6 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4 Rd8 28.Qb5 Nde7 29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6 34.d4 e4 35.Nd2 Qxd4 36.Nxe4 Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Bf3 Bd5 44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4 Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2 Nxb5 50.f5 Re4 51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3 Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3 Rd7 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5 b5 59.Nf4 b4 60.g6 b3 61.Rc3 Rd4 62.Rxc5 Rxf4 63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 ½-½
I have to say even the draws have been very exciting chess. Kudos to both players.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6321
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 Qe8 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7 16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2 h6 22.Qb1 Nd5 23.Rb2 b6 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4 Rd8 28.Qb5 Nde7 29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6 34.d4 e4 35.Nd2 Qxd4 36.Nxe4 Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Bf3 Bd5 44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4 Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2 Nxb5 50.f5 Re4 51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3 Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3 Rd7 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5 b5 59.Nf4 b4 60.g6 b3 61.Rc3 Rd4 62.Rxc5 Rxf4 63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 ½-½
I have to say even the draws have been very exciting chess. Kudos to both players.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6321
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Andor Lilienthal, RIP
Just three days after his 99th birthday the world's oldest grandmaster has passed away. Andor Lilienthal was born in Moscow but spent most of his life in Hungary. In his long career he recorded wins against Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik and Vasily Smyslov.
Lilienthal was the last living member of the Capablanca Club. Truly the end of an era.
Lilienthal was the last living member of the Capablanca Club. Truly the end of an era.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Game 10 Drawn
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 0-0 10.0-0 b6 Deviating from game one where he had instead continued with 10...Na5.
11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6N For all practical purposes, this is the novelty.
15.d5 Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3 Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 25.Ba6! Though this move should not give White an edge against best play, the maze Black must steer through is complex, and anything less leaves Topalov better.
25...Nd4?! Wishing to avoid unnecessary complications, but best was 25...Bxa6 26.Qxc6 Qa1+ 27.Kf2 Qxa2+ 28.Kg3 Qa3! 29.Qa8+ Qf8 30.Qxa7 Be5+ 31.Kh4 Qf1 32.g3 Bc8 33.g4 Bf6+ 34.Nxf6+ Qxf6+=
26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5 White has a very favorable endgame thanks to his bishop pair now.
28...Be5 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5 36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4! Topalov had undoubtedly missed this move, and now the World Champion has almost equalized. There is still play left, but Anand can certainly start breathing calmer now.
46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 Ba3 49.Bxa3+ Nxa3 50.Ke5 Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3 53.h4 Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4 55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4 57.Be2 Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4 1/2-1/2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2010/sofia/games/sofia10.htm
11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6N For all practical purposes, this is the novelty.
15.d5 Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3 Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 25.Ba6! Though this move should not give White an edge against best play, the maze Black must steer through is complex, and anything less leaves Topalov better.
25...Nd4?! Wishing to avoid unnecessary complications, but best was 25...Bxa6 26.Qxc6 Qa1+ 27.Kf2 Qxa2+ 28.Kg3 Qa3! 29.Qa8+ Qf8 30.Qxa7 Be5+ 31.Kh4 Qf1 32.g3 Bc8 33.g4 Bf6+ 34.Nxf6+ Qxf6+=
26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5 White has a very favorable endgame thanks to his bishop pair now.
28...Be5 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5 36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4! Topalov had undoubtedly missed this move, and now the World Champion has almost equalized. There is still play left, but Anand can certainly start breathing calmer now.
46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 Ba3 49.Bxa3+ Nxa3 50.Ke5 Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3 53.h4 Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4 55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4 57.Be2 Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4 1/2-1/2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2010/sofia/games/sofia10.htm
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Anand misses a win ... TWICE!!
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 This position also occured in the Kramnik-Kasparov WC 2000 match where Kramnik chose 13.Qb3.
13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3 The novelty. In Psakhis-Hillarp Person, 2000, White chose 18.Qd2 instead.
18...e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 This exchange of queen for two rooks, yields a complicated middlegame almost entirely centered around piece-play. The reason is that the queenside pawns of both sides are fairly vulnerable if ignored, and the best way to protect them is via active play with the pieces. Obviously neither side will go about committing suicide by opening up the kingside pawns since mating patterns have a nasty way of turning up at lightning speed when one does. So bottomline, who is better? If one had to choose a side, it would be White, not so much for the bishop pair, which are doing little here, but for the rooks, which can often coordinate to overwhelm the queen's ability to hold the fort.
23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7 28.a3 Qa4 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 If 30.dxe5 Black would recover the piece with 30...Qd4+ 31.Nf2 Qxd5
30...Qxd4+ Although this is the obvious move, it may not be best. The reason is that this materialistic grab of d4 followed by the capture on e6 will open the Bulgarian's king to rook threats on the 7th, precisely what White wants. 30...Nd3 31.Rc4 Qxa3 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Ng5+ Kf6 34.Ne4+ Ke6 35.d5+ Ke5 36.Rf1 and the difference here is that Black's king is not locked in a cage, awaiting the killing blow.
31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5 Qd6 33.Ne4 Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Veselin is now in deep trouble, maybe even objectively lost.
38...Ke8 39.Rxh7 Qc3 40.Rh8+? Argh! The collective sound of groans and comments of consternation by kibitzing amateurs and GMs was heartfelt. Right on the 40th move, to make the time-control, the World Champion does the unthinkable. He unlocks the cage and sets the Challenger's king free. Better was 40.Re4 b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 b2 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Ra4 Nd7 45.Rab4 which would pretty much quash Black's hopes for good.
40...Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Now Topalov is at a fulcrum and must choose the best way to proceed. There is no question the position is treacherous.
44...Qa1+?! Alas for the fans of the Bulgarian genius this is second best. This plan with Qa1+ is to support the queenside advance with a5 and push both a and b pawns. The problem is that this plan is too slow, and the king is still exposed. More incisive was 44...Qc1+! 45.Kh2 Nc6 46.Nxg6 b3! and the racing b-pawn doesn't allow White time to dictate the proceedings. 47.Nf4 Qd2 48.Rh6 b2 49.Rc4 b1Q 50.Rhxc6+ Ka5 51.R6c5+ Ka6 52.Rc6+ Ka5
45.Kh2 a5 46.h5! Opening lines for the rook.
46...gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 49.Rh7+ White is winning now.
49...Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rd6 Kb7 54.Nc4 Nxf3+ 55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 This is an imprecision. It isn't that Black is suddenly doing well, but the rooks would work better if they could threaten from afar.
57...b3 58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 a4 62.Rc5+?? This is a blunder, and suddenly Topalov can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The straightforward 62.Rdd7 was preferable. For example: 62...a3 63.Kg3 Qa1 64.Rc7+ Kb8 65.Rb7+ Ka8 66.Nxb3
62...Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3?? Twice offered the chance to finish his opponent off, and twice he slips. One could point to any number of factors to account for this: rustiness (hardly), age (not likely), nerves (possibly), and physical preparation. Nerves would be the obvious explanation, and could easily be the correct one, but the last one, physical preparation, cannot be overlooked. The blunders we are seeing, barring the odd first game, have begun appearing in the latter part of the match, and at later stages of the game, when the players have been sweating it out for hours already. Fatigue, and thus conditioning, could also easily explain these lapses of concentration.
64...Qa1 65.Rg4 b2 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3 The novelty. In Psakhis-Hillarp Person, 2000, White chose 18.Qd2 instead.
18...e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 This exchange of queen for two rooks, yields a complicated middlegame almost entirely centered around piece-play. The reason is that the queenside pawns of both sides are fairly vulnerable if ignored, and the best way to protect them is via active play with the pieces. Obviously neither side will go about committing suicide by opening up the kingside pawns since mating patterns have a nasty way of turning up at lightning speed when one does. So bottomline, who is better? If one had to choose a side, it would be White, not so much for the bishop pair, which are doing little here, but for the rooks, which can often coordinate to overwhelm the queen's ability to hold the fort.
23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7 28.a3 Qa4 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 If 30.dxe5 Black would recover the piece with 30...Qd4+ 31.Nf2 Qxd5
30...Qxd4+ Although this is the obvious move, it may not be best. The reason is that this materialistic grab of d4 followed by the capture on e6 will open the Bulgarian's king to rook threats on the 7th, precisely what White wants. 30...Nd3 31.Rc4 Qxa3 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Ng5+ Kf6 34.Ne4+ Ke6 35.d5+ Ke5 36.Rf1 and the difference here is that Black's king is not locked in a cage, awaiting the killing blow.
31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5 Qd6 33.Ne4 Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Veselin is now in deep trouble, maybe even objectively lost.
38...Ke8 39.Rxh7 Qc3 40.Rh8+? Argh! The collective sound of groans and comments of consternation by kibitzing amateurs and GMs was heartfelt. Right on the 40th move, to make the time-control, the World Champion does the unthinkable. He unlocks the cage and sets the Challenger's king free. Better was 40.Re4 b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 b2 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Ra4 Nd7 45.Rab4 which would pretty much quash Black's hopes for good.
40...Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Now Topalov is at a fulcrum and must choose the best way to proceed. There is no question the position is treacherous.
44...Qa1+?! Alas for the fans of the Bulgarian genius this is second best. This plan with Qa1+ is to support the queenside advance with a5 and push both a and b pawns. The problem is that this plan is too slow, and the king is still exposed. More incisive was 44...Qc1+! 45.Kh2 Nc6 46.Nxg6 b3! and the racing b-pawn doesn't allow White time to dictate the proceedings. 47.Nf4 Qd2 48.Rh6 b2 49.Rc4 b1Q 50.Rhxc6+ Ka5 51.R6c5+ Ka6 52.Rc6+ Ka5
45.Kh2 a5 46.h5! Opening lines for the rook.
46...gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 49.Rh7+ White is winning now.
49...Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rd6 Kb7 54.Nc4 Nxf3+ 55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 This is an imprecision. It isn't that Black is suddenly doing well, but the rooks would work better if they could threaten from afar.
57...b3 58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 a4 62.Rc5+?? This is a blunder, and suddenly Topalov can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The straightforward 62.Rdd7 was preferable. For example: 62...a3 63.Kg3 Qa1 64.Rc7+ Kb8 65.Rb7+ Ka8 66.Nxb3
62...Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3?? Twice offered the chance to finish his opponent off, and twice he slips. One could point to any number of factors to account for this: rustiness (hardly), age (not likely), nerves (possibly), and physical preparation. Nerves would be the obvious explanation, and could easily be the correct one, but the last one, physical preparation, cannot be overlooked. The blunders we are seeing, barring the odd first game, have begun appearing in the latter part of the match, and at later stages of the game, when the players have been sweating it out for hours already. Fatigue, and thus conditioning, could also easily explain these lapses of concentration.
64...Qa1 65.Rg4 b2 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Topalov evens the score 4-4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 Rc8 So far, both players had been repeating games three and five, where Anand had opted for 13...a6. In those games, he had found himself with a very cramped position which had left him mostly trying not to lose, hardly inspiring. Presumably he found no significant improvement, hence 13...Rc8.
14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7. Obviously, 13...a6 was designed to prevent this, so the question is whether the bishop pair will compensate for the king in the center, and the lack of development. Note how the g6 bishop is still hemmed in, and the g7 bishop still has to cover g7 for at least another move.
16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8 GM Amonatov played this twice before as Black a few years ago, drawing once and losing another. Anand must be familiar with the games, so what has he found?
18.a5N Be7 19.Bb6 Rf8 20.Rac1 f5 21.e5 Bg5. The World Champion had clearly played this with his next move in mind, but as it turned out, he had committed a very serious oversight.
22.Be3 f4. Anand completely and uncharacteristically missed White's next move, and now finds himself in a world of pain. Even if he had realized his mistake in time, and exchanged the bishop with 22...Bxe3 GM Dorfman commented that even after 23.Kxe3 f4+ 24.Kd4! Ke7 25.Ne4! Bxe4 26.Kxe4 he would much prefer to be White, but this was still the lesser evil.
23.Ne4! Topalov must have been mentally rubbing his hands in glee as his knight gets a free pass to d6.
23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1 Kc6 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3. This move came as a bit of a shock to the GM commentators, and Seirawan even refused to believe it was the move played when he was first informed. They had expected 28.Bb4! expecting to counter 28...Bxd6 with 29.Rd1! and it would be much harder on Black.
28...Bxd6 29.Rd1 Bf5 30.h4 A good move designed to prevent Black from consolidating his f4 pawn. The bishop on d6 is going nowhere.
30...g6. This move on the other hand is a mystery as all it does is create weaknesses and a target for a possible h5. Was Vishy dreaming of a possible h6 and g5?
31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Bxf4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7 The debate as to whether White could win this was huge. Granted it is an opposite-colored bishop ending, which is a significant argument, but there is no denying Black has work to do as the Bulgarian will soon show.
35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4 Ke8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Be3 Ba4 39.Kf4 Bb5 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7 42.Kg5 Bc6 43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8 So far, so good. White has put into action his best chance to try and take the full point, but Black has kept his cool and should hold. If Topalov takes on g6 they may as well shake hands right then and there, so he pulls back and hopes for a miracle.
45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5 48.Kg5 Kg7 49.Bd4+ Kf7 50.Be5 h4! This masterly shot is enough to draw.
51.Kxh4. If the challenger were to try 51.Kh6 h3 52.gxh3 Kg8 and there would be no way to get through.
51...Kg6. With the king now on g6, White can no longer try to squeeze Black off the board, and Veselin must have been getting ready to accept that a draw was all he was getting today.
52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5 Bc6?? And here comes his miracle: Black absolutely had to be able to protect the h7 pawn with his bishop. By being forced to retreat with Kg8, the game is now lost. Tragically, Anand played the only losing move.
55.Kh6 Kg8 56.g4 The resignation caused a good deal of confusion to many spectators, and no doubt, for their benefit, a few more moves could have been played to make it clearer. However, no doubt demoralized by his several blunders, and the impending defeat, Anand wanted no more of this game. So how would Topalov win from here? 56.g4 Bd7 57.g5 Be8 58.Bg7 Bd7 59.g6 hxg6 60.Kxg6 Be8+ 61.Kf6 Bd7 62.Ke7 Bc6 63.d7 Bxd7 64.Kxd7 Kxg7 65.Kxe6
[Analysis by Chessbase]
14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7. Obviously, 13...a6 was designed to prevent this, so the question is whether the bishop pair will compensate for the king in the center, and the lack of development. Note how the g6 bishop is still hemmed in, and the g7 bishop still has to cover g7 for at least another move.
16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8 GM Amonatov played this twice before as Black a few years ago, drawing once and losing another. Anand must be familiar with the games, so what has he found?
18.a5N Be7 19.Bb6 Rf8 20.Rac1 f5 21.e5 Bg5. The World Champion had clearly played this with his next move in mind, but as it turned out, he had committed a very serious oversight.
22.Be3 f4. Anand completely and uncharacteristically missed White's next move, and now finds himself in a world of pain. Even if he had realized his mistake in time, and exchanged the bishop with 22...Bxe3 GM Dorfman commented that even after 23.Kxe3 f4+ 24.Kd4! Ke7 25.Ne4! Bxe4 26.Kxe4 he would much prefer to be White, but this was still the lesser evil.
23.Ne4! Topalov must have been mentally rubbing his hands in glee as his knight gets a free pass to d6.
23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1 Kc6 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3. This move came as a bit of a shock to the GM commentators, and Seirawan even refused to believe it was the move played when he was first informed. They had expected 28.Bb4! expecting to counter 28...Bxd6 with 29.Rd1! and it would be much harder on Black.
28...Bxd6 29.Rd1 Bf5 30.h4 A good move designed to prevent Black from consolidating his f4 pawn. The bishop on d6 is going nowhere.
30...g6. This move on the other hand is a mystery as all it does is create weaknesses and a target for a possible h5. Was Vishy dreaming of a possible h6 and g5?
31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Bxf4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7 The debate as to whether White could win this was huge. Granted it is an opposite-colored bishop ending, which is a significant argument, but there is no denying Black has work to do as the Bulgarian will soon show.
35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4 Ke8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Be3 Ba4 39.Kf4 Bb5 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7 42.Kg5 Bc6 43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8 So far, so good. White has put into action his best chance to try and take the full point, but Black has kept his cool and should hold. If Topalov takes on g6 they may as well shake hands right then and there, so he pulls back and hopes for a miracle.
45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5 48.Kg5 Kg7 49.Bd4+ Kf7 50.Be5 h4! This masterly shot is enough to draw.
51.Kxh4. If the challenger were to try 51.Kh6 h3 52.gxh3 Kg8 and there would be no way to get through.
51...Kg6. With the king now on g6, White can no longer try to squeeze Black off the board, and Veselin must have been getting ready to accept that a draw was all he was getting today.
52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5 Bc6?? And here comes his miracle: Black absolutely had to be able to protect the h7 pawn with his bishop. By being forced to retreat with Kg8, the game is now lost. Tragically, Anand played the only losing move.
55.Kh6 Kg8 56.g4 The resignation caused a good deal of confusion to many spectators, and no doubt, for their benefit, a few more moves could have been played to make it clearer. However, no doubt demoralized by his several blunders, and the impending defeat, Anand wanted no more of this game. So how would Topalov win from here? 56.g4 Bd7 57.g5 Be8 58.Bg7 Bd7 59.g6 hxg6 60.Kxg6 Be8+ 61.Kf6 Bd7 62.Ke7 Bc6 63.d7 Bxd7 64.Kxd7 Kxg7 65.Kxe6
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Monday, May 03, 2010
Game 7 Drawn
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7. The third time this position is reached in the match, and Topalov tries yet a third line, this time going into a Bogo-Indian kind of Catalan. In game four he had chosen 5...a5, which had gone all wrong for him to say the least, and in game six he opted for 5...a6, which also didn't yield anything to his taste.
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4. Though hardly a stranger to this line, Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8...Nbd7 or 8...b6.
9.Ne5 b5. This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns. Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.
10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7. This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11...Ba6.
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 Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov's liking, one that he said he couldn't understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.
21...Bf8. His first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think, and he plays the wrong move. Why not 21...Qxb2? Though it may not win, it would not lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded. 22.Qe1 h6 23.Na3 23.Rxe7 would also lead to a draw after 23...Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25.Kg2 Qb2 26.Qe8+ Kh7 27.Qe4+ g6 28.Qe8! Qxd2+ 29.Kh3 Kg7 30.Qe5+ Kf8 31.Qb8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ and Black cannot prevent the perpetual.
22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2. Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!
25...Bb4! This move is about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that doesn't lose.
26.Ra1! A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine detector is on and working. Other moves such as 26.Ne4 would fail to 26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 f5 28.Nd6 Qc5 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Nxe8+ Kf7 and the combination of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end. Or 26.Qc1 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Re1+ 28.Kg2 Re2+ 29.Kf1 Qc5 30.Ne4 Qf5 and White would get mated.
26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 This admittedly looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he was doing.
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. This seals the draw, since White can neither take the pawn, nor Black force it through.
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 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4. Though hardly a stranger to this line, Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8...Nbd7 or 8...b6.
9.Ne5 b5. This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns. Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.
10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7. This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11...Ba6.
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 Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov's liking, one that he said he couldn't understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.
21...Bf8. His first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think, and he plays the wrong move. Why not 21...Qxb2? Though it may not win, it would not lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded. 22.Qe1 h6 23.Na3 23.Rxe7 would also lead to a draw after 23...Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25.Kg2 Qb2 26.Qe8+ Kh7 27.Qe4+ g6 28.Qe8! Qxd2+ 29.Kh3 Kg7 30.Qe5+ Kf8 31.Qb8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ and Black cannot prevent the perpetual.
22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2. Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!
25...Bb4! This move is about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that doesn't lose.
26.Ra1! A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine detector is on and working. Other moves such as 26.Ne4 would fail to 26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 f5 28.Nd6 Qc5 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Nxe8+ Kf7 and the combination of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end. Or 26.Qc1 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Re1+ 28.Kg2 Re2+ 29.Kf1 Qc5 30.Ne4 Qf5 and White would get mated.
26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 This admittedly looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he was doing.
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. This seals the draw, since White can neither take the pawn, nor Black force it through.
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 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Game 6 Drawn
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 Topalov deviates from the previous Catalan line which had led to a nasty defeat. The question now is what Anand would have in store.
6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Though the official novelty only takes place a move later, this can be described as the real novelty and the essence of what the World Champion had prepared.
10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6N 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Qa4
13...Nc6 [The enticing fork with 13...b5 falls flat to 14.Qc2 bxc4 15.Qxc4 and the rook on a8 is lost.]
14.Rac1 e5 15.Bxc6 b5 16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5 Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2 We now have a very complex fight between the bishop pair and the knight pair.
20...Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7 This seemingly innocuous move is in fact the first move in a masterly plan by Anand to regroup his knights. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this does actually begin the longest run of consecutive knight moves ever seen in a World Championship match with no less than thirteen!
22...Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6 24.Nb7 Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8 Ba5 28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 "It seems that with this Vishy has lost his 'faith' in the position. Surprising. I liked it." – GM Yasser Seirawan
29...Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2 Finally giving the cavalry a rest.
35...Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3 b4 38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3! Despite being a pawn down, it is now White who must tread carefully with the unpleasant threats around his king. This is all that is needed to neutralize Anand's winning ambitions.
40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4 Rb2 [Black could even play 41...Rc2 illustrating the back rank weakness. 42.Rc4 Re2=]
42.Ree1 Rdd2 At this point Topalov can be considered the moral victor, since even though he is hardly winning, his position appears preferable.
43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3 And by refusing the repetition, he says exactly what he thinks.
46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2 Rb4 48.f3 Opening the escape route for the king.
48...g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Though the official novelty only takes place a move later, this can be described as the real novelty and the essence of what the World Champion had prepared.
10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6N 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Qa4
13...Nc6 [The enticing fork with 13...b5 falls flat to 14.Qc2 bxc4 15.Qxc4 and the rook on a8 is lost.]
14.Rac1 e5 15.Bxc6 b5 16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5 Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2 We now have a very complex fight between the bishop pair and the knight pair.
20...Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7 This seemingly innocuous move is in fact the first move in a masterly plan by Anand to regroup his knights. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this does actually begin the longest run of consecutive knight moves ever seen in a World Championship match with no less than thirteen!
22...Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6 24.Nb7 Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8 Ba5 28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 "It seems that with this Vishy has lost his 'faith' in the position. Surprising. I liked it." – GM Yasser Seirawan
29...Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2 Finally giving the cavalry a rest.
35...Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3 b4 38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3! Despite being a pawn down, it is now White who must tread carefully with the unpleasant threats around his king. This is all that is needed to neutralize Anand's winning ambitions.
40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4 Rb2 [Black could even play 41...Rc2 illustrating the back rank weakness. 42.Rc4 Re2=]
42.Ree1 Rdd2 At this point Topalov can be considered the moral victor, since even though he is hardly winning, his position appears preferable.
43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3 And by refusing the repetition, he says exactly what he thinks.
46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2 Rb4 48.f3 Opening the escape route for the king.
48...g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
Friday, April 30, 2010
Game 5 Drawn
Topalov,Veselin (2805) - Anand,Viswanathan (2787) [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6 14.Rc1 Rg8 15.h4 h5
In game three, Anand had played 15...h6, and had found himself with a boxed in bishop as well as a stymied kingside after Topalov had continued with h5 and g4. This time Anand doesn't plan to let this happen.
16.Ne2 Bd6 17.Be3 Ne5 18.Nf4 Rc8 19.Bb3 Rxc1+ 20.Bxc1 Ke7 21.Ke2 Rc8 22.Bd2
22.Rd1 Rc6 23.Be3 Bc5 24.Bd2 f6 25.Nxe6 Rxe6 26.Bxe6 Kxe6 27.f4 Bxe4 28.fxe5 Kxe5 and this game has almost no chances at all for White. – Nigel Short.
22...f6 23.Nxg6+
Obviously Topalov analyzed taking on e6 in depth, but not only does it lead to nothing, it only gives Black chances to swipe the game away from him. For example, if he took it with 23.Bxe6 Black would play 23...Rc2 24.Rb1 Nc4 25.Bxc4 Bxf4 26.Rd1 Rxb2 recovering the pawn with an active game. If White took instead with 23.Nxe6 Anand could follow-up with 23...Bf7 24.Nd4 Bxb3 25.Nxb3 Rc2 26.f4 almost forced. 26...Nc6 27.Rb1 Rc4 and again Black would recover the pawn with an active game.
23...Nxg6 24.g3 Ne5 25.f4 Nc6 26.Bc3 Bb4 27.Bxb4+ Nxb4 28.Rd1 Nc6 29.Rd2 g5 30.Kf2 g4 31.Rc2 Rd8 32.Ke3 Rd6 33.Rc5 Nb4 34.Rc7+ Kd8 35.Rc3 Ke7 36.e5 Rd7 37.exf6+ Kxf6 38.Ke2 Nc6 39.Ke1 Nd4 40.Bd1 a5 41.Rc5 Nf5 42.Rc3 Nd4 43.Rc5
Despite saying he would not offer any draws, Topalov obviously sees nothing better than repeating moves without committing hara-kiri.
43...Nf5 44.Rc3 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6 14.Rc1 Rg8 15.h4 h5
In game three, Anand had played 15...h6, and had found himself with a boxed in bishop as well as a stymied kingside after Topalov had continued with h5 and g4. This time Anand doesn't plan to let this happen.
16.Ne2 Bd6 17.Be3 Ne5 18.Nf4 Rc8 19.Bb3 Rxc1+ 20.Bxc1 Ke7 21.Ke2 Rc8 22.Bd2
22.Rd1 Rc6 23.Be3 Bc5 24.Bd2 f6 25.Nxe6 Rxe6 26.Bxe6 Kxe6 27.f4 Bxe4 28.fxe5 Kxe5 and this game has almost no chances at all for White. – Nigel Short.
22...f6 23.Nxg6+
Obviously Topalov analyzed taking on e6 in depth, but not only does it lead to nothing, it only gives Black chances to swipe the game away from him. For example, if he took it with 23.Bxe6 Black would play 23...Rc2 24.Rb1 Nc4 25.Bxc4 Bxf4 26.Rd1 Rxb2 recovering the pawn with an active game. If White took instead with 23.Nxe6 Anand could follow-up with 23...Bf7 24.Nd4 Bxb3 25.Nxb3 Rc2 26.f4 almost forced. 26...Nc6 27.Rb1 Rc4 and again Black would recover the pawn with an active game.
23...Nxg6 24.g3 Ne5 25.f4 Nc6 26.Bc3 Bb4 27.Bxb4+ Nxb4 28.Rd1 Nc6 29.Rd2 g5 30.Kf2 g4 31.Rc2 Rd8 32.Ke3 Rd6 33.Rc5 Nb4 34.Rc7+ Kd8 35.Rc3 Ke7 36.e5 Rd7 37.exf6+ Kxf6 38.Ke2 Nc6 39.Ke1 Nd4 40.Bd1 a5 41.Rc5 Nf5 42.Rc3 Nd4 43.Rc5
Despite saying he would not offer any draws, Topalov obviously sees nothing better than repeating moves without committing hara-kiri.
43...Nf5 44.Rc3 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Anand takes the lead 2.5-1.5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 Kramnik's favourite line. As he himself said, he scores equally well with both sides in this position. As yesterday, the players follow a game from the Elista match.
7.Qc2 Trying to recover the pawn as quickly as possible, but I can tell you right out, in this game Anand was unable to win the pawn back. That said, I don't think he really regrets it. [7.0-0 is another main-move. White wants to develop first and try to recapture the pawn later. I myself scored a nice victory here with white, but perhaps I should switch to 7.Qc2 after seeing this game.]
7...Bxd2+ [7...Nc6 is the old approach. Black's idea is 8.Qxc4 Qd5! but apparently Topalov wasn't satisfied with another endgame.]
8.Qxd2!? At first sight it seems more logical to take the bishop with the knight, developing another piece, but White wants to apply pressure on the future b5 pawn, which can be done from a3, where the knight is headed. [8.Nbxd2 b5 9.a4 c6 10.0-0 0-0 And now White is unable to attack b5, though he keeps some compensation after let's say 11.b3!? ]
8...c6 Preparing b5. Black has to stick to his pawn, to justify his play. It is also logical, since he is undeveloped and the good bishop is exchanged. This position has nothing in its favor other than the extra pawn.
9.a4 Attacking the b5 pawn which is not there yet. [9.Ne5 is too naive. 9...b5! 10.Nxc6 Qc7! And White is unable to benefit from some kind of X-ray. (10...Qb6?? 11.Ne7! Bb7 12.Nc8! is a beautiful trap, but for this to work both players would need to cooperate.) ]
9...b5 As said, Black already has to stick to his pawn.
10.Na3!N A strong novelty. Anand just wants to develop without winning back the pawn. Now, in order to protect the pawn, Black is forced to place his pieces in awkward positions. I think Topalov was out of book at this point, whereas Anand's preparation had probably just started! [Before, everyone, as if collectively hypnotized, tried 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 winning back the pawn, but Black achieves equality after 11...0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 This position was reached in the Elista match. Kramnik (White) won, but it had nothing to do with the opening.]
10...Bd7 Looks extremely ugly to me, but what else is there? As mentioned more than once, Black is forced to stick to his pawn. [10...Ba6 fails to 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Nxc6! Nxc6 13.axb5 and White wins the pawn back with a large edge.]
11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4! It is a little more precise than 0-0, since after [12.0-0 0-0 13.e4 Black also has the option of 13...Nb6!? 14.axb5 cxb5 15.d5 Be8 ]
12...Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 [14.d5!? was also possible, but had no independent value. White would have to play Rfd1 anyway.]
14...Be8 A questionable moment, but I think other options were no good as it were. [For example 14...Qe7 planning to avoid the immediate d5, but here 15.Nxd7! Qxd7 16.d5! Rd8 17.Qg5! and Black is still undeveloped and already under heavy pressure. 17...h6 18.Qh5 Nd3 19.b3 ; 14...Qc7 is the same. 15.Nxd7! ]
15.d5! Now that everything is ready, the expected breakthrough is executed.
15...Qd6 16.Ng4 Now the threat is e5, and Black is still undeveloped. [16.dxc6 is nothing, since Black will return the piece. 16...Qxe5 17.axb5 c3! 18.bxc3 N4xc6 19.bxc6 Bxc6 with equality.]
16...Qc5 At first I liked this move very much, since I couldn't find a way for White to proceed. But Vishy found a strong and simple reply. [16...exd5 17.exd5 f5! was another option that is in fact safer (though one that you could only find with the help of a powerful engine next to you...). Still, White keeps some advantage in the endgame after 18.dxc6 (18.Ne3!? in fact leads to a forced draw, but only if you have analyzed it deeply- 18...f4! 19.gxf4 Qxf4 20.dxc6 N8xc6 21.axb5 Rd8 22.Nd5 Nxd5! 23.Bxd5+ Rxd5 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.Nxc4! (25.bxc6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Qf6!-+ ) 25...Nb4 26.Qd4 Qg5+ 27.Kh1 Bxb5 28.Ne5 Nc6 29.Qc5 Qf4! 30.Nd3 Qf3+ 31.Kg1 Qg4+ 32.Kh1 Qf3+= ) 18...Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Bxc6 20.Ne5 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Re8 22.f4 bxa4 23.Naxc4 N8c6 But to be honest I guess that Black should hold this, even if it is not the most pleasant ending.]
17.Ne3
17...N8a6?! It is very hard to call this logical move a mistake, but I simply must find fault with at least one move by Topalov! By the way, he played it almost instantly! [17...Nd3! was very very risky, but in order to get some counterchances Black should have gone for this. Black's idea would be to transfer the knight to e5. 18.b3 (After the simple 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.axb5 Nce5 20.Nexc4 Nxc4 21.Qxd3 Nxa3 22.Qxa3 Qxb5 Black equalizes.; 18.Qc2!? Ne5! ) 18...Nxf2! The whole idea, and even though I really didn't believe in it, I couldn't find a refutation. 19.Qxf2 (19.Kxf2 also makes sense) 19...cxb3 White has a big choice, but either way, Black's pawn mass on the queenside and bishop on g2 seem very poor. Even though Black is undeveloped, White can hardly take advantage of this temporary state of affairs. 20.Rd3 bxa4 21.Qb2 ]
18.dxc6 bxa4 To be honest here I was actually quite disappointed with White's position, since it seeems as if Black has developed and solved his problems. The truth, however, is that all his pieces are awkwardly placed, and even though Black is developed, his position lacks harmony. [18...Bxc6 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.Naxc4! Bxc4 21.Rac1 is also much better for White. Black has stupid knights and a weak pawn on a5.]
19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Rac1
20...h6?! The position is already very unpleasant for Black. It is true he doesn't have any useful moves at his disposal, however the move Topalov played is also weakening (though it isn't obvious yet). With precise play I guess that Black could still hold the position together. [Perhaps 20...Qe7! would be the right move for Black. Now he wants to develop his rooks into play, not minding that White finally recaptures the pawn. 21.Nxa5 (21.Nd6!? Qa7! with idea Nc5. The only difference with the game is that there is no weak pawn on h6. Black holds, though White is better of course.) 21...Bb5 22.Nac4 Rfd8 23.Nd6 Rab8 and white is obviously better, but maybe not so much.]
21.Nd6 Qa7? The decisive mistake. Now the queen is saved, but the king is not. [21...Qg5! was already the only way to stay in the game. However white already has a big advantage.]
22.Ng4! Played quickly by Anand. Now he threatens Nxh6 and if Black tries to prevent it, White would simply prepare the decisive sacrifice with Rc4!
22...Rad8 Loses immediately, but it seems that it is already lost. If you are a fan of beautiful variations and mates then I advise you to check the alternatives! [Safer seemed 22...f6 avoiding the immediate Nxh6, but here White still wins with 23.Rc4! preparing e5. For example 23...Rad8 24.e5 Bxg2 (24...Bd5 25.Bxd5 Nxd5 26.Nxh6+! gxh6 27.Qxh6 Qh7 28.Rg4+ Kh8 29.Qd2! Qa7 30.h3!! the most beautiful and strongest way. Now White threatens Rh4+ Kg8 Qh6 Qg7 Rg4! which can't be avoided.) 25.exf6 h5! 26.fxg7 Qxg7 27.Kxg2 Nd5 28.Nh6+ Kh7 29.Nhf5 Rxf5 30.Nxf5 exf5 31.Qxa5 Qb7 32.Kh3! with a big advantage for White. Black has a weak king and no way to consolidate.; 22...Nc5 Didn't help either: 23.Rc4! for example 23...Nb3 24.Nxh6+! Kh7 25.Qf4 gxh6 26.e5! Bxg2 27.Nf5!! exf5 28.Qxf5+ Kh8 29.Qf6+ Kh7 30.Rh4 with mate!; 22...Kh7 also looks safe, but here 23.Rxc6! Nxc6 24.e5 Ne7 25.Be4+! Ng6 26.h4! Nc5 27.Bb1 Nb3 (27...h5 28.Qg5! ) 28.Qe2 h5 29.Nh2 Nd4 30.Qxh5+ Kg8 31.Ng4 Rad8 (31...Rab8 32.Nf6+! ) 32.Rxd4!! Qxd4 33.Ne4! mating!]
23.Nxh6+!! Simple, yet beautiful! Vishy played it very quickly. For a player of his caliber, it's a piece of cake to find such a move! (Green with envy)
23...gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 [24...Qe7 doesn't help either 25.e5 Bxg2 26.Rd4 is mate in 11.]
25.e5! The strongest and most elegant!
25...Bxg2 26.exf6 There is no way for Black to defend.
26...Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Be4 28.Rxe6 Nd3 29.Rc2! It is also pretty important to not blunder into a mate yourself
29...Qh7 30.f7+! Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0
[Comments by GM Giri]
7.Qc2 Trying to recover the pawn as quickly as possible, but I can tell you right out, in this game Anand was unable to win the pawn back. That said, I don't think he really regrets it. [7.0-0 is another main-move. White wants to develop first and try to recapture the pawn later. I myself scored a nice victory here with white, but perhaps I should switch to 7.Qc2 after seeing this game.]
7...Bxd2+ [7...Nc6 is the old approach. Black's idea is 8.Qxc4 Qd5! but apparently Topalov wasn't satisfied with another endgame.]
8.Qxd2!? At first sight it seems more logical to take the bishop with the knight, developing another piece, but White wants to apply pressure on the future b5 pawn, which can be done from a3, where the knight is headed. [8.Nbxd2 b5 9.a4 c6 10.0-0 0-0 And now White is unable to attack b5, though he keeps some compensation after let's say 11.b3!? ]
8...c6 Preparing b5. Black has to stick to his pawn, to justify his play. It is also logical, since he is undeveloped and the good bishop is exchanged. This position has nothing in its favor other than the extra pawn.
9.a4 Attacking the b5 pawn which is not there yet. [9.Ne5 is too naive. 9...b5! 10.Nxc6 Qc7! And White is unable to benefit from some kind of X-ray. (10...Qb6?? 11.Ne7! Bb7 12.Nc8! is a beautiful trap, but for this to work both players would need to cooperate.) ]
9...b5 As said, Black already has to stick to his pawn.
10.Na3!N A strong novelty. Anand just wants to develop without winning back the pawn. Now, in order to protect the pawn, Black is forced to place his pieces in awkward positions. I think Topalov was out of book at this point, whereas Anand's preparation had probably just started! [Before, everyone, as if collectively hypnotized, tried 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 winning back the pawn, but Black achieves equality after 11...0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 This position was reached in the Elista match. Kramnik (White) won, but it had nothing to do with the opening.]
10...Bd7 Looks extremely ugly to me, but what else is there? As mentioned more than once, Black is forced to stick to his pawn. [10...Ba6 fails to 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Nxc6! Nxc6 13.axb5 and White wins the pawn back with a large edge.]
11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4! It is a little more precise than 0-0, since after [12.0-0 0-0 13.e4 Black also has the option of 13...Nb6!? 14.axb5 cxb5 15.d5 Be8 ]
12...Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 [14.d5!? was also possible, but had no independent value. White would have to play Rfd1 anyway.]
14...Be8 A questionable moment, but I think other options were no good as it were. [For example 14...Qe7 planning to avoid the immediate d5, but here 15.Nxd7! Qxd7 16.d5! Rd8 17.Qg5! and Black is still undeveloped and already under heavy pressure. 17...h6 18.Qh5 Nd3 19.b3 ; 14...Qc7 is the same. 15.Nxd7! ]
15.d5! Now that everything is ready, the expected breakthrough is executed.
15...Qd6 16.Ng4 Now the threat is e5, and Black is still undeveloped. [16.dxc6 is nothing, since Black will return the piece. 16...Qxe5 17.axb5 c3! 18.bxc3 N4xc6 19.bxc6 Bxc6 with equality.]
16...Qc5 At first I liked this move very much, since I couldn't find a way for White to proceed. But Vishy found a strong and simple reply. [16...exd5 17.exd5 f5! was another option that is in fact safer (though one that you could only find with the help of a powerful engine next to you...). Still, White keeps some advantage in the endgame after 18.dxc6 (18.Ne3!? in fact leads to a forced draw, but only if you have analyzed it deeply- 18...f4! 19.gxf4 Qxf4 20.dxc6 N8xc6 21.axb5 Rd8 22.Nd5 Nxd5! 23.Bxd5+ Rxd5 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.Nxc4! (25.bxc6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Qf6!-+ ) 25...Nb4 26.Qd4 Qg5+ 27.Kh1 Bxb5 28.Ne5 Nc6 29.Qc5 Qf4! 30.Nd3 Qf3+ 31.Kg1 Qg4+ 32.Kh1 Qf3+= ) 18...Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Bxc6 20.Ne5 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Re8 22.f4 bxa4 23.Naxc4 N8c6 But to be honest I guess that Black should hold this, even if it is not the most pleasant ending.]
17.Ne3
17...N8a6?! It is very hard to call this logical move a mistake, but I simply must find fault with at least one move by Topalov! By the way, he played it almost instantly! [17...Nd3! was very very risky, but in order to get some counterchances Black should have gone for this. Black's idea would be to transfer the knight to e5. 18.b3 (After the simple 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.axb5 Nce5 20.Nexc4 Nxc4 21.Qxd3 Nxa3 22.Qxa3 Qxb5 Black equalizes.; 18.Qc2!? Ne5! ) 18...Nxf2! The whole idea, and even though I really didn't believe in it, I couldn't find a refutation. 19.Qxf2 (19.Kxf2 also makes sense) 19...cxb3 White has a big choice, but either way, Black's pawn mass on the queenside and bishop on g2 seem very poor. Even though Black is undeveloped, White can hardly take advantage of this temporary state of affairs. 20.Rd3 bxa4 21.Qb2 ]
18.dxc6 bxa4 To be honest here I was actually quite disappointed with White's position, since it seeems as if Black has developed and solved his problems. The truth, however, is that all his pieces are awkwardly placed, and even though Black is developed, his position lacks harmony. [18...Bxc6 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.Naxc4! Bxc4 21.Rac1 is also much better for White. Black has stupid knights and a weak pawn on a5.]
19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Rac1
20...h6?! The position is already very unpleasant for Black. It is true he doesn't have any useful moves at his disposal, however the move Topalov played is also weakening (though it isn't obvious yet). With precise play I guess that Black could still hold the position together. [Perhaps 20...Qe7! would be the right move for Black. Now he wants to develop his rooks into play, not minding that White finally recaptures the pawn. 21.Nxa5 (21.Nd6!? Qa7! with idea Nc5. The only difference with the game is that there is no weak pawn on h6. Black holds, though White is better of course.) 21...Bb5 22.Nac4 Rfd8 23.Nd6 Rab8 and white is obviously better, but maybe not so much.]
21.Nd6 Qa7? The decisive mistake. Now the queen is saved, but the king is not. [21...Qg5! was already the only way to stay in the game. However white already has a big advantage.]
22.Ng4! Played quickly by Anand. Now he threatens Nxh6 and if Black tries to prevent it, White would simply prepare the decisive sacrifice with Rc4!
22...Rad8 Loses immediately, but it seems that it is already lost. If you are a fan of beautiful variations and mates then I advise you to check the alternatives! [Safer seemed 22...f6 avoiding the immediate Nxh6, but here White still wins with 23.Rc4! preparing e5. For example 23...Rad8 24.e5 Bxg2 (24...Bd5 25.Bxd5 Nxd5 26.Nxh6+! gxh6 27.Qxh6 Qh7 28.Rg4+ Kh8 29.Qd2! Qa7 30.h3!! the most beautiful and strongest way. Now White threatens Rh4+ Kg8 Qh6 Qg7 Rg4! which can't be avoided.) 25.exf6 h5! 26.fxg7 Qxg7 27.Kxg2 Nd5 28.Nh6+ Kh7 29.Nhf5 Rxf5 30.Nxf5 exf5 31.Qxa5 Qb7 32.Kh3! with a big advantage for White. Black has a weak king and no way to consolidate.; 22...Nc5 Didn't help either: 23.Rc4! for example 23...Nb3 24.Nxh6+! Kh7 25.Qf4 gxh6 26.e5! Bxg2 27.Nf5!! exf5 28.Qxf5+ Kh8 29.Qf6+ Kh7 30.Rh4 with mate!; 22...Kh7 also looks safe, but here 23.Rxc6! Nxc6 24.e5 Ne7 25.Be4+! Ng6 26.h4! Nc5 27.Bb1 Nb3 (27...h5 28.Qg5! ) 28.Qe2 h5 29.Nh2 Nd4 30.Qxh5+ Kg8 31.Ng4 Rad8 (31...Rab8 32.Nf6+! ) 32.Rxd4!! Qxd4 33.Ne4! mating!]
23.Nxh6+!! Simple, yet beautiful! Vishy played it very quickly. For a player of his caliber, it's a piece of cake to find such a move! (Green with envy)
23...gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 [24...Qe7 doesn't help either 25.e5 Bxg2 26.Rd4 is mate in 11.]
25.e5! The strongest and most elegant!
25...Bxg2 26.exf6 There is no way for Black to defend.
26...Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Be4 28.Rxe6 Nd3 29.Rc2! It is also pretty important to not blunder into a mate yourself
29...Qh7 30.f7+! Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0
[Comments by GM Giri]
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Game 3 Drawn
1.d4 Topalov, very expectedly, decided to hit on the same spot again.
1...d5 And this time Anands opts for a solid Slav, rather than a crazy Grunfeld.
2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 Not the Moscow Line, which is a trademark of Anand.
5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 Anand chooses the solid variation that Kramnik played against Topalov in their match in Elista. It is actually funny that Anand seem to follow what Kramnik played back then in 2006 – yesterday Catalan, today this rock solid but passive Slav.
9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7! 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6 [13...Rc8 is another line, avoiding the 14.Rc1 idea, deserves attention. 14.Ba2 (14.Bb5!? ) 14...a6 ]
14.Rc1
14...Rg8!N A very logical move, which turned out to be a novelty. Now Black plans Bd6, Ke7, f6, Rgc8, Bg8, etc. White actually has to hurry up and do something against it, which is not easy, since his knight on c3 is misplaced. [Earlier people played 14...Rc8?! but then White gets a big advantage with 15.Ne2! Rg8 16.h4 h6 17.Kf2 the point being that 17...Be7? is losing to (17...Rc6 18.b4! ) 18.h5 Bh7 19.Bxe6! Rxc1 20.Bxd7+! ]
15.h4 h6 16.Ke2 [16.Kf2 Makes sense having the e2 square for the knight. But Topalov had another knight route in mind.]
16...Bd6 17.h5 Bh7 Here I was actually wondering if Topalov had prepared anything at all. White seems to be unable to stop the black development... But the next move of Topalov proved that I was wrong!
18.a5! This move seemed a little bit strange to me at first sight, since I couldn't figure out the white plan after Bb4, as well as the simple Ke7 and so on. However Topalov had an answer to both.
18...Ke7 Safe and solid, Anand just concentrates on his plan. [18...Bb4 is challenging but dangerous. White has three interesting possibilities: 19.Nb5!? is the most spectacular, and in all the following complications Black is in danger, though maybe he holds with precise play. There are a lot of possible lines, but I just give main: (19.Na4! Bxa5 20.Nc5 is the simplest. The black king is stuck in the centre, but Black is still solid and he has an extra pawn.; 19.Rhd1!? Bxa5 20.Nb5! axb5 21.Bxb5 here black seems OK after 21...Ke7 22.Bc3! Nb8! 23.Ra1! Bxc3 24.Rxa8 Bxb2 25.Ra7 Kf6 26.Rxb7 g5 27.hxg6 Bxg6 28.Ke3 e5 with a dead knight, but counterplay) 19...axb5 20.Bxb5 Rxa5 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Rhd1 Rb5 23.Be5+ (23.Bb6+!? Ke7 24.Rc7+ Kf6 25.Rxb7 Bc5 26.Bd8+ Rxd8 27.Rxb5 Bd4 28.b4 g6! with an unclear position.) 23...Ke7 24.Rc7+ Ke8 25.Rc8+ Ke7 26.Rc7+= ]
19.Na4 f6 just following the plan. [19...Rac8 was clever, trying to avoid b4, but after let's say 20.Bd3! White keeps up the pressure, for example 20...f6 21.Bb1 Rgd8 22.Nb6! ]
20.b4! White does something active quickly, before Black manages to get all his pieces into play (Rgc8, Bg8-f7) [20.Nb6 Doesn't give White anything, as long as Black is a very little bit careful. 20...Nxb6 21.Bxb6 Rgc8 22.Rhd1 Rc6 (22...Bg8 23.b3 Bf7? 24.Rd3! Bxh5 25.Rcd1 Rc6 26.Rxd6! Rxd6 27.Bc5 Rad8 28.Ke3 ) 23.b3 Rac8 24.Rd3 Bb4! 25.Rcd1 Rd6 equalizing]
20...Rgc8 Again, Anand doesn't get distracted by anything, he simply makes his moves. [20...Bxb4 objectively, was also too risky 21.Rb1 Bxa5 22.Rxb7 (22.Nc5!? b5 23.Bxe6 Nxc5 24.Bxg8 Bxg8 25.Bxc5+ Kd7 and Black has compensation, but White has the exchange.) 22...Rgb8 23.Bc5+ (23.Rhb1 Rxb7 24.Rxb7 Kd6! ) 23...Ke8 24.Rxb8+ Rxb8 25.Bd6 with an unclear position, but White should be better.]
21.Bc5 Actually I was expecting a different piece to be sent to this square. [21.Nc5!? is interesting, but probably Black holds here as well. 21...Bxc5 looks dangerous, but in fact it may be good (21...Nxc5 Is most logical, but white keeps winning chances after 22.bxc5 Bxc5 23.Bxe6! Kxe6 24.Bxc5 ; 21...Rc7!? ) 22.bxc5 Nxc5 Now I didn't find a way for White to achieve anything, for instance (22...Rc7+/= ) 23.Ba2 Nd7 24.Bb2 Bg8 25.Ba3+ Ke8 26.Rhd1 b5! 27.axb6 Nxb6 28.Bb3 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Rc8 30.Rxc8+ Nxc8 31.Bc4 ]
21...Bxc5 22.bxc5 Rc7 [22...Rc6 made sense, trying to win a tempo, which will be usedul in case White plays Nb6, but here White goes 23.Rhd1! with the idea 23...Rac8 24.Rxd7+! Kxd7 25.Nb6+ Rxb6 26.cxb6 Bg8 27.e5! with an edge.]
23.Nb6 Rd8 24.Nxd7 Simple and safe, but from Topalov I expected a move like Bd5! [24.Bd5!? is beautiful and tricky. Black shouldn't take anything now, not d5, not c5 and not b6, but play 24...Ne5!? (24...Nxc5 25.Bxb7! ; 24...Nxb6 25.axb6 Rcd7 26.Bc4! ; 24...Nb8!? ) 25.f4 Nd3! 26.Kxd3 exd5 27.f5! dxe4+ 28.Kxe4 Ke8! with equality]
24...Rdxd7 25.Bd3 Here I actually realized what Topalov was planning. He wants to play c6, change the pawn to a b-pawn, and try to attack the remaining weak a6 pawn. The position is quite unpleasant for Black.
25...Bg8 [Anand should have perhaps been more activebut perhaps he saw his was safer. 25...f5!? This was advocated by Garry Kasparov, who was watching the game from a hotel room in Oslo.; 25...Rd4!? seemed to force a draw, but White has a resource 26.c6! Ra4 27.Rb1! Ra2+ 28.Ke3 bxc6 29.Ra1 Rxg2 30.Bxa6 Still keeping some chances.]
26.c6 Rd6 27.cxb7 Rxb7 28.Rc3 Bf7
29.Ke3 [29.Rhc1! immediately also made sense and was probably a better try, since it is risky to take the pawn. 29...Bxh5 (29...Be8! 30.Rc7+ Rd7 is holding 31.Rxd7+ Bxd7 32.Bxa6 Ra7 ) 30.Rc7+ Rxc7 31.Rxc7+ Rd7 32.Rc8 ]
29...Be8 30.g4 [30.Rhc1!? wouldn't change much after 30...Bd7! ]
30...e5 31.Rhc1 Bd7 32.Rc5 Bb5! The final touch. Now Black's last problem, the pawn on a6, is gone, and it is time to agree to a draw. It is funny that Anand equalized today without any of his pieces being on the opponent's half of the board.
33.Bxb5 axb5 34.Rb1 b4 35.Rb3 Ra6 36.Kd3 Rba7 37.Rxb4 Rxa5 38.Rxa5 Rxa5 39.Rb7+ Kf8 40.Ke2 Ra2+ 41.Ke3 Ra3+ 42.Kf2 Ra2+ 43.Ke3 Ra3+ 44.Kf2 Ra2+ 45.Ke3 Ra3+ 46.Kf2 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by GM Giri on Chessbase]
1...d5 And this time Anands opts for a solid Slav, rather than a crazy Grunfeld.
2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 Not the Moscow Line, which is a trademark of Anand.
5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 Anand chooses the solid variation that Kramnik played against Topalov in their match in Elista. It is actually funny that Anand seem to follow what Kramnik played back then in 2006 – yesterday Catalan, today this rock solid but passive Slav.
9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7! 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6 [13...Rc8 is another line, avoiding the 14.Rc1 idea, deserves attention. 14.Ba2 (14.Bb5!? ) 14...a6 ]
14.Rc1
14...Rg8!N A very logical move, which turned out to be a novelty. Now Black plans Bd6, Ke7, f6, Rgc8, Bg8, etc. White actually has to hurry up and do something against it, which is not easy, since his knight on c3 is misplaced. [Earlier people played 14...Rc8?! but then White gets a big advantage with 15.Ne2! Rg8 16.h4 h6 17.Kf2 the point being that 17...Be7? is losing to (17...Rc6 18.b4! ) 18.h5 Bh7 19.Bxe6! Rxc1 20.Bxd7+! ]
15.h4 h6 16.Ke2 [16.Kf2 Makes sense having the e2 square for the knight. But Topalov had another knight route in mind.]
16...Bd6 17.h5 Bh7 Here I was actually wondering if Topalov had prepared anything at all. White seems to be unable to stop the black development... But the next move of Topalov proved that I was wrong!
18.a5! This move seemed a little bit strange to me at first sight, since I couldn't figure out the white plan after Bb4, as well as the simple Ke7 and so on. However Topalov had an answer to both.
18...Ke7 Safe and solid, Anand just concentrates on his plan. [18...Bb4 is challenging but dangerous. White has three interesting possibilities: 19.Nb5!? is the most spectacular, and in all the following complications Black is in danger, though maybe he holds with precise play. There are a lot of possible lines, but I just give main: (19.Na4! Bxa5 20.Nc5 is the simplest. The black king is stuck in the centre, but Black is still solid and he has an extra pawn.; 19.Rhd1!? Bxa5 20.Nb5! axb5 21.Bxb5 here black seems OK after 21...Ke7 22.Bc3! Nb8! 23.Ra1! Bxc3 24.Rxa8 Bxb2 25.Ra7 Kf6 26.Rxb7 g5 27.hxg6 Bxg6 28.Ke3 e5 with a dead knight, but counterplay) 19...axb5 20.Bxb5 Rxa5 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Rhd1 Rb5 23.Be5+ (23.Bb6+!? Ke7 24.Rc7+ Kf6 25.Rxb7 Bc5 26.Bd8+ Rxd8 27.Rxb5 Bd4 28.b4 g6! with an unclear position.) 23...Ke7 24.Rc7+ Ke8 25.Rc8+ Ke7 26.Rc7+= ]
19.Na4 f6 just following the plan. [19...Rac8 was clever, trying to avoid b4, but after let's say 20.Bd3! White keeps up the pressure, for example 20...f6 21.Bb1 Rgd8 22.Nb6! ]
20.b4! White does something active quickly, before Black manages to get all his pieces into play (Rgc8, Bg8-f7) [20.Nb6 Doesn't give White anything, as long as Black is a very little bit careful. 20...Nxb6 21.Bxb6 Rgc8 22.Rhd1 Rc6 (22...Bg8 23.b3 Bf7? 24.Rd3! Bxh5 25.Rcd1 Rc6 26.Rxd6! Rxd6 27.Bc5 Rad8 28.Ke3 ) 23.b3 Rac8 24.Rd3 Bb4! 25.Rcd1 Rd6 equalizing]
20...Rgc8 Again, Anand doesn't get distracted by anything, he simply makes his moves. [20...Bxb4 objectively, was also too risky 21.Rb1 Bxa5 22.Rxb7 (22.Nc5!? b5 23.Bxe6 Nxc5 24.Bxg8 Bxg8 25.Bxc5+ Kd7 and Black has compensation, but White has the exchange.) 22...Rgb8 23.Bc5+ (23.Rhb1 Rxb7 24.Rxb7 Kd6! ) 23...Ke8 24.Rxb8+ Rxb8 25.Bd6 with an unclear position, but White should be better.]
21.Bc5 Actually I was expecting a different piece to be sent to this square. [21.Nc5!? is interesting, but probably Black holds here as well. 21...Bxc5 looks dangerous, but in fact it may be good (21...Nxc5 Is most logical, but white keeps winning chances after 22.bxc5 Bxc5 23.Bxe6! Kxe6 24.Bxc5 ; 21...Rc7!? ) 22.bxc5 Nxc5 Now I didn't find a way for White to achieve anything, for instance (22...Rc7+/= ) 23.Ba2 Nd7 24.Bb2 Bg8 25.Ba3+ Ke8 26.Rhd1 b5! 27.axb6 Nxb6 28.Bb3 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Rc8 30.Rxc8+ Nxc8 31.Bc4 ]
21...Bxc5 22.bxc5 Rc7 [22...Rc6 made sense, trying to win a tempo, which will be usedul in case White plays Nb6, but here White goes 23.Rhd1! with the idea 23...Rac8 24.Rxd7+! Kxd7 25.Nb6+ Rxb6 26.cxb6 Bg8 27.e5! with an edge.]
23.Nb6 Rd8 24.Nxd7 Simple and safe, but from Topalov I expected a move like Bd5! [24.Bd5!? is beautiful and tricky. Black shouldn't take anything now, not d5, not c5 and not b6, but play 24...Ne5!? (24...Nxc5 25.Bxb7! ; 24...Nxb6 25.axb6 Rcd7 26.Bc4! ; 24...Nb8!? ) 25.f4 Nd3! 26.Kxd3 exd5 27.f5! dxe4+ 28.Kxe4 Ke8! with equality]
24...Rdxd7 25.Bd3 Here I actually realized what Topalov was planning. He wants to play c6, change the pawn to a b-pawn, and try to attack the remaining weak a6 pawn. The position is quite unpleasant for Black.
25...Bg8 [Anand should have perhaps been more activebut perhaps he saw his was safer. 25...f5!? This was advocated by Garry Kasparov, who was watching the game from a hotel room in Oslo.; 25...Rd4!? seemed to force a draw, but White has a resource 26.c6! Ra4 27.Rb1! Ra2+ 28.Ke3 bxc6 29.Ra1 Rxg2 30.Bxa6 Still keeping some chances.]
26.c6 Rd6 27.cxb7 Rxb7 28.Rc3 Bf7
29.Ke3 [29.Rhc1! immediately also made sense and was probably a better try, since it is risky to take the pawn. 29...Bxh5 (29...Be8! 30.Rc7+ Rd7 is holding 31.Rxd7+ Bxd7 32.Bxa6 Ra7 ) 30.Rc7+ Rxc7 31.Rxc7+ Rd7 32.Rc8 ]
29...Be8 30.g4 [30.Rhc1!? wouldn't change much after 30...Bd7! ]
30...e5 31.Rhc1 Bd7 32.Rc5 Bb5! The final touch. Now Black's last problem, the pawn on a6, is gone, and it is time to agree to a draw. It is funny that Anand equalized today without any of his pieces being on the opponent's half of the board.
33.Bxb5 axb5 34.Rb1 b4 35.Rb3 Ra6 36.Kd3 Rba7 37.Rxb4 Rxa5 38.Rxa5 Rxa5 39.Rb7+ Kf8 40.Ke2 Ra2+ 41.Ke3 Ra3+ 42.Kf2 Ra2+ 43.Ke3 Ra3+ 44.Kf2 Ra2+ 45.Ke3 Ra3+ 46.Kf2 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by GM Giri on Chessbase]
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