GM Topalov (2783) – GM Morozevich (2741) [C11]
25.02.2007

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qc1 g5 10.c3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bb4+ 12.Kf2 f6 13.g3 Rf8 14.Kg2 g4 15.Nh4 Rg8 16.h3 h5 17.hxg4 hxg4 (White is better here. One of the reasons for that is Black’s pieces are out of place on the Queenside. The best plan now is to get the Queen in action with Qc2 or Qb1.) 18.Nc3 fxe5 19.fxe5 Ncxe5 20.dxe5 d4 (White would have a big advantage with 21.Na4. Bf2 would be less accurate.) 21.Na4 Qa5 22.Qc4 (Topalov played the last few moves perfectly. The win may be in his hands now.) 22…Nxe4 23.Qxd4 Nf3 (Just a desperate attempt to complicate things. However, Topalov can play 24.Nxf3 gxf3 25.Kg1 and Black has nothing.) 24.Nxf4 gxf3 25.Kf2 (More accurate would have been 25.Kg1 +-) 25…Qxa4 26.Bd3?! (26. Bd2 a5 27. a3 +-) 26…Qd7 27.Qe4?! (Rh8! wins!) 27…Bd6?! (27…Qg7 may hold. Bd6 loses to 28.Rh7!) 28.Rag1?! (28.Rh7 is much stronger. Now Black seems to be able to hold. Topalov played too fast and made a series of inaccurate moves.) 28…Qg7 29.Rh6 (The only chance to win. It is better than Bd4 but he sure missed a number of opportunities before.) 29…Qxb2 30.Kxf3 (I believe 30.Bc2 is stronger.) 30…Rf8+ 31.Bf4 (Black may have chances to draw with 31…Qe5.) 31…Qe5 32.Qg6+ Kd8 33.Kg2 Qb2+ 34.Kh1 Bxf4 35.gxf4 Bd7 (White is still a little better with 36.Be4.) 36.Be4 Kc7?? (Morozevich blundered in time pressure. 36…Qd4 would be a much better move. Now 37.Rb1 and White is completely winning.) 37.Rb1 Qf238. Rxb7+?? (38. Qg7! wins!) 38… Kc8 39.Rb1? (This move may have given away the win. 39.Bg2 is must to at least salvage the position.) 39…Ra7 (Instead of playing the position, Topalov was playing the clock hoping to beat Morozevich on the clock. He made about half a dozen mistakes because of this.) 40.f5 Rc7? (Morozevich blundered on the last move of the time control. 41.fxe6 is now very strong for White. 40…Qf4 or 40…Qe3 would have been better. Honestly, I am stunned about the number of inaccuracies by both players. Perhaps they just want to get out of Morelia and head to Linares.) 41.fxe6 +- Be8 (Now 42.Qg4 is the strongest continuation. Black is helpless against e7.) 42.Qg5 (I still prefer Qg4 better.) 42…Qd4 43.Bg2 Rf4 (The best continuation here is 44.e7.) 44.e7 Rc5 45.Qg3 Rc3 46.Qe1 (Topalov is making much stronger moves when he is taking his time.) 46…Re3 (47.Rc1+ or 47.Qa5 are both very strong and wining moves.) 47.Qa5 (It is basically hopeless for Black.) 47…Bb5 48.Rc1+ and mate will soon come. Black resigns!

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