In football, the team that scores first usually wins. In short chess matches this happens even more often. More experienced participants of the World Cup final matches scored first, and then accurately defended to protect their lead. And they succeeded.
Grandmaster Sergey Shipov reviews the World Cup games
I’ll show you both goals.
A. Grischuk — P. Svidler
Grischuk’s incredible self-control in his horrible time troubles deserves huge respect, but in this case he failed to survive on the edge — the position was too complicated…
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3 Qb6
A new branch on the old Paulsen tree. I studied this line by replaying the games of Kveinys and Kengis. The World Cup finalists also made some serious contribution to the variation. Black’s idea is to push the White’s knight away from the center, which should give Black more active opportunities.
7.Nf3
A fashionable move — White prepares e4-e5.
After 7.Nb3 the game usually develops along the Scheveningen lines. However, there are some nuances: 7…Qc7 8.f4 d6 9.Qf3 Nd7 10.0−0 Ngf6 11.Bd2 b4 12.Nd1 Bb7 13.Nf2 a5 14.c3 bxc3 15.Bxc3 Be7 16.Rac1 Qb6 17.g4 a4 18.Bd4 Qd8 19.Nd2 0−0 20.g5 Ne8 21.h4 e5!, and Black’s counterplay in the center earned him success, Shirov-Svidler, Tilburg 1997.
Supporting the d4-knight just simplifies the position: 7.Be3 Bc5 8.Be2 (weaker is 8.Nce2 Nf6 9.h3 Bb7 10.e5 Nd5 with an advantage to Black, Hoiberg-Kveinys, Aarhus 1997) 8…Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxe3 10.fxe3 dxc6 11.Qd4 Qxd4 12.exd4 e5! 13.d5 Ne7 14.0−0−0 Bd7 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Nd5 Ra7 17.c3 Be6 18.Rd2 0−0 19.Rhd1 h6 with complete equality, Blehm-Kengis, Cappelle la Grande 1999.
7…Nc6 8.0−0 Qb8
Another paradoxical move — Black keeps moving the queen and does not develop other pieces. However, it is important to fight for the e5-square in this position and avoid any threats coming from the с3-knight.
9.Re1 Bd6
Another possible move is 9…Nge7. Grischuk-Smirin, New Delhi 2000 continued 10.Be3 d6 11.Qd2 Ng6 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Ne5 14.f4 Nc6 15.Bf2 Be7 16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Qe2 0−0 20.Bd4 exd4 21.Qxe7 g6 22.Qf6 Bb7 23.d6 Bd5 24.Qxd4, and the game was drawn.
However, after 9…Nge7 the most challenging move is 10.e5. It occurred many times, and Grischuk probably analyzed it a lot.
10.e5!
An excellent novelty, which might seriously change the theory of the variation. White finds the most principled move. Other continuations give Black a comfortable game.
For instance, 10.Qe2 leads nowhere due to 10…Ne5! 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Be5 15.Bd2 Nf6 16.f4 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bxf4, and White has no compensation for the lost pawns, Reeve-Yermolinsky, Edmonton 2005.
More interesting is 10.Bg5 Ne5 (10…Nge7 followed by 11…Ng6 is also fine) 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Qh5, but Black has counterarguments — 12…h6 13.Bd2 Ne7 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2 Nc6 16.Rab1 d6 17.f4 g6 18.Qh4 Bg7 19.f5 Ne5 20.f6 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Bf8 22.Rf1 Bd7 23.Qe1 a5 24.b3 h5 with mutual chances, Dovliatov-Kekelidze, Baku 2006.
10…Bc7
No wonder that Peter didn’t take the pawn — White’s direct attack looks very dangerous. However, my analysis shows that Black holds: 10…Nxe5!? 11.Be4 Nc6 (the exchange sacrifice 11…Ra7 12.Be3 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Bf4 is also interesting) 12.Bxc6 dxc6 13.Ne4 Be7! (weaker is 13…Bc7 14.Be3 and 15.Bc5) 14.a4 Nf6 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qd2 — White has compensation for a pawn, but all three results are quite possible. Here is a draw example: 17…h5! 18.Qc3 b4 19.Nxf6+ Kf8 20.Nd7+ Kg8 21.Nf6+ Kf8 22.Nd7+ with perpetual.
11.Bf4 Nge7 12.Qe2
White strengthens the e5-pawn, solidifying his spatial gains. The e4 becomes a vital transition square for White pieces.
12…Ng6 13.Bg3 Bb7
Black doesn’t seem to suffer as his pieces are well-placed.
14.Rad1
However, he has a problem with the d7-pawn, and the king is unsafe — if he castles short, then White attacks by h2-h4-h5. So Black has to be tricky.
14…Nce7 15.Be4
At this point I thought White has a clear edge, but Svidler managed to complicate things.
15…Bxe4
During the online relay I liked 15…Ba5, but this move lost its appeal after I found 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Ne4! Nf5 (17…Bxe1? 18.Nd6+) 18.c3, and Black stands worse.
16.Nxe4 0−0!
An excellent practical chance.
17.Rxd7
No pawn — no problem.
17…Nd5
The rook is surrounded.
This is the critical moment of the game. White must play very precisely and calculate many variations. However, proper calculation requires time, which Grischuk didn’t have because he thought too much in the opening. The time factor turned out to be decisive.
18.Nd6
A blunder, albeit not a fatal one.
The idea to get a second pawn for an exchange after 18.Qd2 in not dangerous for Black after either 18…Qc8 19.Rxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Rd8 etc. or 20…Nb6!? 19.Rd4 Nc4 20.Qc3 Ncxe5 — Black regains a pawn and has no weaknesses.
During the game I thought White wins by 18.Nfg5!, but in home analysis I found the best reply — 18…h6! (18…Qe8? is bad — 19.Rxc7! Nxc7 20.Nxh7!) 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qg4 Qe8 21.Rxc7 Nxc7 22.Nd6 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 — White has an excellent compensation for an exchange but the victory is by no means guaranteed.
18…Nb6!
With the White knight on e4 this attack was harmless, but now the knight cuts the retreat path for the rook. I couldn’t believe that a supergrandmaster can blunder such an obvious thing, but Grischuk confirmed his mistake after the game. Life is a strange thing…
19.Rxf7 Rxf7!
You would not believe, but this is one of the best moves of Svidler in this game. 19…Bxd6 looked very natural, but it turned out that White has a Tal style reaction: 20.Rxg7+! Kxg7 21.exd6, and despite having an extra rook, it is difficult for Black to defend, while White has a clear-cut plan: h2-h4-h5 and Nf3-g5. Playing such position under time pressure is a nightmare. Computer analysis helps to find all the right moves (Black should start with 21…Qb7!), but it doesn’t matter at all.
20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Nxe6
Three pawns for a piece is a decent compensation.
22…Qc8 23.Qg4
In addition, Black’s king is still at risk.
23…Ra7!
This is probably the last critical moment. Sasha had almost no time to evaluate the position properly. His impatient moves quickly led White to a disaster, while objectively the chances were about even.
Black’s last move aims against the h2-pawn march. On 24.h4 Black can play 24…Bb8!, and the rook protects on g7, so after 25.h5 there is 25…Nf8.
The rook also comes into action after 24.f4 Bxe5! 25.fxe5 Re7, and White is in trouble.
24.Rd1?!
White does not let the bishop come to b8, but Black vacates another square.
Therefore 24.h3!, defending the queen, is a better try. Now the march of the f2-pawn is a real threat. The game may continue 24…Na4! 25.Nxc7! (not good is 25.f4?! Bb6+! 26.Kh2 Nf8) 25…Qxg4! (after 25…Qxc7? 26.b3 Nc5 27.f4 Black cannot hold) 26.hxg4 Rxc7 27.e6 Rc8 28.b3 Nc3 29.Bd6 Re8 (or 29…Rd8 30.Bb4! Nxa2 31.Ba5) 30.f4 Rd8 31.Bc7 Rc8 32.Bd6 Rd8 33.Bc7 — this move repetition would be a logical outcome of the game.
24…Na4!
Weaker is 24…Nc4, as after 25.b3 the e5-pawn is taboo.
25.h3?
The final mistake. White could resist by 25.b3 Nc5 26.Qd4 Qxe6 27.Qxc5 Bb6 28.Qc3, although Black’s advantage is quite obvious.
25…Nxb2 26.Rd5 Bb6!
It’s all over baby.
27.Rd6 Nc4 28.Qf5 Rf7 29.Qe4 Nxd6 30.exd6 Nf8
And White resigns due to 31.Ng5 Qf5!
R. Ponomariov — V. Ivanchuk
Ruslan failed to foresee the opening, started to make poor moves in a well-known position, and ended up in a tough ending. He had some practical chances to survive, but failed to find the right moves in a time trouble.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5
The Vienna Variation is not for people who fear dangers or hate homework.
6…c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Nbd7 11.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12.Kf1 gxf6
Ruslan probably prepared another sideline (Black has many options on each move), so he ended up confused by a completely unfamiliar position. Being tired didn’t help handling it right either.
13.Nxe6?
Maybe my assessment is too harsh, but it is well-known that this move is abandoned by the book.
The main lines are 13.h4 and 13.Rc1, and they often lead to similar positions. For example, 13…a6 14.Rh3 Qb4 15.Be2 Ne5 16.Rc1 Qd6 leads to a popular critical position.
Piket-van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2002 continued 17.Rb3 b5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rbc3 Bd7 20.h5 Rb8 21.f4 Ng6 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Qd2 Rh4 24.Kg1 Rxf4, and Black got decent compensation for a piece.
Recently in Grischuk-Kramnik, Moscow 2011 the players decided to avoid the battle and do not reveal their secrets: 17.Rc2 Bd7 18.Rd2 Qc7 19.Rc2 Qd6 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Rc2, and the game was drawn.
13…Qe5!
Of course not 13…fxe6? 14.Rc1 Qe5 15.Rxc8+!
14.Nd4
In case of 14.Ng7+ Kf8 the weakness of the rook on a1 prevents from taking on d7.
14…0−0
Here White began to realize that something went wrong. He regained a pawn, but Black completed his development, and is going to bring the knight to c5 and the rook to d8, attacking White’s loose pieces. More importantly, White’s rook gets stuck on h1, because the plan h2-h4 and Rh1-h3 does not work as the e6-pawn has left the board, and the c8-bishop is now free.
15.Qd3
This novelty does not solve any problems. Here is another try: 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Rd1 Nc5 17.Qh4 Ne6 18.Bc4 Nxd4 19.f4 Qd6 20.e5 fxe5 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Rxd4 Bf5, and Black got a healthy extra pawn in Schmidt-Slobodjan, Saarbruecken 2002.
During the game I considered 15.Bxd7 Bxd7 16.Nf3 Bb5+ 17.Kg1 Qxe4 the lesser of evils, and here White should play 18.Qd6, attacking the pawn on f6 and intending to play h2-h4, finally developing the rook. I think White would get some compensation for a pawn.
15…Nc5 16.Qg3+ Kh8 17.Qxe5 fxe5 18.Nf3 a6
18…Nxe4 is even stronger: 19.Nxe5 f6 20.Nf3 Nc3, planning to play a7-a5 at once, while the bishop will retreat anyway.
Sitting with a microphone, I could not understand why Black rejected 18…f6 19.Nd2 Be6, and White has serious problems with the e4-pawn. The players probably considered 20.Ke2 a6 21.Bc4 Bxc4+ 22.Nxc4 Nxe4, and decided that White has compensation for a pawn after, say, 23.Rac1.
Well, they know better.
19.Bc4 Nxe4
Here 19…f6 is ruled out due to 20.Bd5!
20.Nxe5 f6 21.Nf3 Bf5
Black simply improves his pieces and exerts pressure on the queenside, where he is a pawn up. And White keeps playing without a rook.
22.h3
The idea to play g2-g4 and Kf1-g2 is tempting but impossible to carry out.
22…b5 23.Bb3 Nc3
Getting ready to place the bishop to e4 when there is a chance.
24.Nd4 Bd3+ 25.Kg1
The daring 25.Ke1 works after 25…Rfd8 26.Kd2!, but after 25…Rac8! the king is in trouble.
25…a5 26.Kh2
The rook comes into play, but it cost White three tempi — the price is too high!
26…a4 27.Bd1 Bc4
The immediate pawn break 27…b4 is difficult to evaluate even in the analysis: 28.Nc6! b3 (28…Nxd1 gives Black nothing — 29.Rhxd1 Bc2 30.Rd4 b3 31.Rb4!) 29.axb3 Be4! 30.Nd4 Rfd8 31.Rc1! Nxd1 32.Rhxd1 a3, etc. Such variations have one major drawback: sometimes you win material, but cannot win the game.
28.a3
The Black’s pawns are temporarily stopped.
28…Rad8 29.Nc6 Rd2 30.Bf3
White finds a nice way to rearrange his pieces.
30…Rxf2
He can even afford to give away a pawn.
31.Rhc1!
The rook comes to life.
31…Na2 32.Re1
Frankly speaking, here I felt that White’s activity will allow him to make an easy draw. However, I did not consider two important factors: time trouble and energy preservation law. Ponomariov was completely exhausted after the nervous first part of the game, while Ivanchuk spared a lot of energy, and the difference began to tell…
32…Rc8 33.Re7
On 33.Ne7!? Black probably plays 33…Rc5, not allowing the knight to f5. Although it is not clear how to win after 34.Rad1 Nc3 35.Rd7 Re5 36.Rc1!, for example, 36…Ne4 37.Rd8+ Kg7 38.Nc6 Re6 39.Nd4 with move repetition.
33…Nc3
33…Rxf3 34.Na7 Rxa3 35.Nxc8 leads to a very sharp and unclear game. Obviously Vassily didn’t like to risk his king.
34.Nb4
One can understand Ruslan’s worries about the b5-b4-break, but removing the knight from the center has its own disadvantages. 34.Rd7 looked good, leaving more options for the knight, which can jump to e7 or even d8. Ideally White can create some threats against the enemy king.
34…f5!
An important resource — the e4-square has to be secured.
35.Rae1
I think White could afford the daring 35.Kg3!? Rb2 36.Kf4 — at least his king is out of danger, and the pawn on f5 is attacked.
35…Rg8!
Black’s pressure on the g2-pawn with the bishop on f3 looks puzzling, but the point is that the bishop can eventually be driven away…
36.R7e5
The more active-looking 36.R1e5 is no good due to 36…Be2! I examined this line to the end: 37.Rxe2 Nxe2 38.Nd3 Rxf3 39.gxf3 Nd4 40.Ne5 Nc2 41.h4 Ra8! (weaker is 41…Nxa3 42.h5 Nc4 43.Nd7 Rg7 44.Re8+ Rg8 45.Re7 with a draw) 42.h5 h6 43.Nd7 Ra6 — White runs out of threats and Black wins.
The most tenacious is 36.Rd7!, and if 36…Be2?, then 37.Rd2!
Although Ivanchuk would likely reply to 36.Rd7 by 36…Ne4!, keeping the initiative.
36…Be2!
After this move White’s position is critical.
37.Rxf5?
The final mistake. I was very surprised with the speed of Ruslan’s losing move. He still had about three minutes and could calculate a few lines, but he responded instantly — playing by hand and without thought.
Black’s main idea is shown in 37.R1xe2 Nxe2 38.Rxe2 Rgxg2+ 39.Bxg2 Rxe2, and White pieces cannot hold the passing pawns, for example, 40.Kg1 Re3 41.Nc2 (41.Bf1 also loses — 41…Rxa3 42.Bxb5 Rb3) 41…Rc3 42.Nd4 Rxa3 43.Nxb5 Rd3 44.Bf1 a3!
Of course, after 37.R1xe2 Nxe2 White has 38.Nd3!, but then 38…Rxf3 39.gxf3 Nd4 40.Ne1, and… Black must work hard to convert his advantage, and it is easy to make a mistake. For example, 40…f4 41.Rd5 Re8 42.Rxd4 Rxe1 43.Rxf4 Re3 44.Rf5 Rxa3 45.Rxb5 Rxf3 46.Ra5 a3 47.Ra7, and White should hold.
37…Bxf3 38.Rxf3 Rgxg2+ 39.Kh1 Rh2+ 40.Kg1 Ne2+
White loses an exchange in a hopeless position, so he decided to resign.
Grischuk and Ponomariov did not manage to equalize the score despite having a few good opportunities.
More here.
Nice analysis.