Morozevich, A (2750) – Kramnik, V (2772) [E32]
Tal Memorial (3), 07.11.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Bf4 Ba6 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 Bxf1 12.Kxf1 c5 13.Bd6 Re8 14.e5 Nd5 15.h4 cxd4 16.Ng5 f5 17.Qc4 Qc8 18.Qxd4 Nc5 19.Rd1 Nb3 20.Qd3 Nc1 21.Qb5 Qc2 22.Rxd5 a6 23.Qxb6 Black is better but this game is wild. I expect 23…Qc4+ 24. Kg1 Qxd5 or 24…exd5 with a decent advantage.
23…Qc4+ 24. Kg1 exd5 White’s counter play idea is to get the Queen to the 7th ranked to get to the f7 square and launching an attack with the h pawn push. However, I like Black’s position a lot better. But this is typical Morozevich, always trying to make something happen. I just don’t think White’s position is sound at all.
25. g3 Black can start pushing back White’s pieces starting with h6.
25…h6 26. Nf3 Kramnik has many options here such as 26…f4, 24…Nd3, or 24…Rac8, etc. 26…f4 does look good. Actually, all those lines look good 🙂
26…f4 And who says Kramnik is boring 🙂 The man is juiced today.
27. g4 Now 27…Nd3 is super strong. The White Rook has no impact on h1.
27…Qe4 28. Kg2 Nd3 29. Qb3 The easiest way for Kramnik to win is to try to get the game to the endgame phase.
29…Qc4 30. Qb7?? Now Black can simply play 28…Nxf2 with a decisive advantage. 28…Nxf2 31. Kxf2 Qc2+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2 Qxh1 -+
30…Nxf2! Kramnik found the winning move.
31. Kxf2 Qc2+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2 Qxh1 34. e6 Now Rac8 will probably seal the deal for Kramnik.
34…Rac8 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Bc5 -+ It is now just a matter of time. White’s position is hopeless.
36…Qc1 37. b4 Black has 37….d4 with the threat of 38…Qe3+ is quite powerful. White’s King is too vulnerable and White has no winning threat on the Kingside.
37…Qc2+ Still winning but 37. d4 would have been stronger.
38. Kg1 Qe2 39. Nd4 Qxg4+ 40. Kf2 -+ Qxh4+ Morozevich is probably hoping for some cheapos as his position is quite hopeless.
41. Ke2 f3+ 42. Kxf3 Rf8 43. Bxf8 Rc3+ 44. Kg2 Qg3+ 45. Kf1 Rc1+ and Black will have mate in 4 moves. Morozevich resigns. 0-1
Click here to replay the game.
I thought Kramnik was sunk somewhere around move 15.
Maybe Morozevich thought so too.
“Kramnik gone wild”
is much more interesting than
“Gelfand gone to sleep”.
The man is juiced today!!! Lol, quite colourful commentary there:) Go Volodya!
This is a very nice game!
I am as usual rooting for Morozevich because of his “undrawish” style, so it’s a bit ironic that I now hope that this will be drawn… lol
Susan u have a typo there, 29. Qb2
should be 29. Qb3.
Anand won his game, so the string of draws is over.
“Now Black can simply play 28…Nxf2 with a decisive advantage. 28…Nxf2 31. Kxf2 Qc2+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2 Qxh1 -+”
Why not 32.Kf1 Qd1+ 33.Ne1 with extra knight for white?
Kramnik playing ferocious chess with the black pieces. Good to see!
A wonderful game to watch and play through. Morozevich is always pushing things towards a decisive result, and it was entertaining watching Kramnik push back so brilliantly.
Drawnik is boring !
samikd is boring. Kramnik is brilliant!
I’m so glad you chose this game as one of those on which to do live commentary. I am partial to Moro’s style of play (I do like a swashbuckler) but I just had a feeling about this game – that’s why yesterday I voted in your poll for commentary on this game. Good to see Kramnik step outside his box!
Jan Newton
This was proof of the Kramnik being the true World Champion.
This was proof of Kramnik being a very strong GM you mean. This is a small group of players, world champion however is one person only and this is not Kramnik.
i think vladmimir is tired of the name drawnik. hes trying to shed that label.ive always thought vlad had it him to bust out these kinda games.. lets get some more of these wild games going.. i like them. on the subject of gelfand. lets be honest he’s not the most exciting player. i would nickname him the grinder.. he grinds alot.
drawnik lol…simply the best player of tal so far. win against moro playing black was impressive
Pls can someone educate me hat hapened on he 10th move!!!
If Moroplayd 10.Qxc7, wat would have happened? I thought that will make white a pawn up and the game prolly queenless! Shouldnt that have given Moro a win?
I need a reply pls!!!
mrfemiodeyemi@gmail.com or here too.
Thanks.
Taking on C7 gives black control of the C file once he puts a rook on C8. A pawn up in that position is irrelevant.
Taking on C7 gives black control of the C file once he puts a rook on C8. A pawn up in that position is irrelevant.
As it was Kramnik dominated the C file anyway. Splendid game by Kramnik.