This was a position after Topalov played Ra1 against Ponomariov
29… Rbd8? (1… f6! -+ White no longer has much of an attack. Black will slowly win this game) 30. f6 gxf6 31. Kh2 d5? (3… Rg8 {And Black would still be doing fine} 4. Qxf7 Rg7 -+) 32. Nxf6! Bxf6 33. d4! Qxa2 34. Rxa2 and Black’s position is hopeless. Black resigned on move 65.
The sacrifice by Topalov was basically unsound. But for some inexplicable reasons, Ponomariov made a series of bad moves which resulted in a horrible loss.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
It took me a long time to realise Bb1 was the threat!
I’d love to know what Topalov was thinking. Did he believe the sacrifice was sound, and then get lucky? Or was he presuming his opponent would miscalculate?
Yes? Do they give interviews after the games, like tennis and soccer stars?
here are Anand and Kamsky interviews where they talk about their game (Kamsky’s win against Ponomariov and Anand’s draw against Bacrot):
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3118
Maybe it’s the ‘professional’ staring down of opponents that forces them to make mistakes. Kaspy employed it successfully. Maybe Toppy is doing it also (despite making unsound sacs). Wear dark glasses and don’t ever look at your opponents.
f6 looks anti-positional, opens diagonals for White’s queen and bishop, and blocks Black’s bishop. Is it a surprising move?