GM Aronian (2759) – GM Shirov (2699) [D89]
FIDE candidates Matches Elista, Kalmykia Russia, 11.06.2007
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 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Qd4 Bf7 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 Re7 20.f4 exf4 21.Qxf4 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qxb5 24.Qxf6 Qe8 25.Qd4 Rf7 26.Rxf7 Qxf7 27.Bd2 Qg7 28.Qe4 Qf7 29.Bc3 Rc8 30.h3 Nc4 31.Qd4 Kf8 32.Qh8+ Qg8 33.Qd4 Qf7 34.Qh8+ Game drawn 1/2-1/2
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Why not play Nf4 instead of Qh8+ draw?
Ne6 with check next move.
I just came in to have a look at the games, so I’m not deep into it, but I suggest a move like ..a5 would be sufficient to defend against Nf4. A check on e6 is not much after Ke7 I think, and perhaps even dangerous for white.
Shorov repaired his Grunfeld. Until 25. … Rf7 this game was identical to Topalov-Shirov, Chorus 2007. IIRC, Topalov demonstrated in the press conference after this game, that black is completeley lost at this point. Errare humanum est.
As often the press is easier to convince than Shirov. 🙂
Thanks for the interesting and useful information on the varaition!