GM Cramling (2544) – GM Kosteniuk (2510) [D37]
WWC-Nalchik, 11.09.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 a6 6.Bxc4 b5 7.Be2 Bb7 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.b3 c5 10.Bb2 Bd6 11.a4 b4 12.Nb1 0–0 13.Nbd2 Rc8 14.Rc1 Bb8 15.h3 Qe7 16.Nc4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nc5 18.f4 Ba7 19.Kh2 Be4 20.Ne5 Rfd8 21.Bf3 Qb7 22.Bxe4 Nfxe4 23.Qe2 Bb8 24.Nc4 f6 25.Rc2 e5 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.Nf5 Kh8 28.Kg1 Nc3? A much stronger move is 28…Nxb3. This would give Black an advantage
29.Qg4 Rf8 +/- White is in good shape with 30.Bxc3
30.Rcf2? White just gave away her advantage. Black can now play N5e4 and the position is equal.
30…Nd3 31.Nfd6 Black just take the Rook with Nxf3 and the position is even.
31….Bxd6 32.Nxd6 The only move for Black now is Nxf2. Everything else would be losing.
32…Nxf2 33.Rxf2 Qd5 = 34. Nxc8 Rxf2 35. Kxf2 Qd2+ The ONLY move to save the game is Kf1. Everything else loses immediately.
36. Kg3?? Qe1+! 37. Kf3 Qe2+?? Black wins immediately with e4+ 38.Kf4 Qf2+ 39.Kg5 Qf6+ Kh5 Qh6 mate
38.Kg3 Qe1+ 39. Kf3 Qe2+ 40. Kg3 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2
Kosteniuk moves on to the final.
Qe2+??
No question marks, Susan. Alexandra was looking to win the match, not to humiliate Pia. She took the perpetual and advances to the finals.
It was also classy when Anand offered a draw to Carlsen in the last game in Mainz when Anand had a clear (probably winning) advantage.
Congrats to Kosteniuk !!
She made it to the final:)
I partially agree with anon. 10:31, 1 question mark is enough…Alexandra saw a way to win the match – and so she just did! Though she may have missed a win and/or wasn’t going to risk a miscalculation!
I am curious about the ECO on this game. Surely it is not among the QGD family (with 4…dxc4) which D37 is. Who determines the game designation?
Susan, how does it come that you still don’t have a picture of the first finalist on your site?
Susan:
Can you add Kosteniuk’s chesskillertips to your special site list? It is very cool!