GM Morozevich (2741) – GM Topalov (2783) [B50]
09.03.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Bd7 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0–0 0–0 8.a3 Bc6 9.Re1 Nbd7 10.Bf1 Ne5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.b4 Rfd8 14.Qb3 b5 15.Na5 Be8 16.f3 Nd7 17.Be3 Nb6 18.Rec1 Na4 19.Qc2 h6 20.Qf2 Bg5 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.Rc2 Rac8 23.Rac1 Qe7 24.Qe1 Rc7 25.c4 Rdc8 (This is a critical moment. Each break can result in a completely different game. White has a horrible Bishop. Black’s pawn structure is not so hot. Verdict = Equal with chances for both sides.) 26.cxb5 Bxb5 27.bxc5 Rxc5 (I am not so crazy about this trade sequence. White is stuck with a bad d3 pawn and Bishop.) Black has now more than equalized.) 28.Rxc5 Rxc5 29.Qb4? (White traded everything to get to this. Unfortunately, I think Moro has miscalculated as Black has 29…Bxd3!) 29…Bxd3 30.Rxc5 Qxc5+ 31.Qxc5 Nxc5 32.Nc6 Kf8 33.Nxa7 Ke7 34.Nc6+ Kd6 35.Na5 f6 =+ (I do not see a decisive result in this game. Obviously Black has no reason not to try.) 36.Kf2 Bxf1 37.Kxf1 g4 38.Ke2 gxf3+ 39.Kxf3 Nd3 40.Nb3 Ne1+ 41.Kf2 Nc2 42.a4 Nd4 =+ (Black is still a little better but it is very hard to convert.) 43.Nc1 Kc5 44.Nd3+ Kc4 45.Ke3Nc2+ 46.Ke2 Kd4 47.Nf2 Nb4 48.h4 Nc6 49.h5 Na5 50.Ng4 = Nc4 51.h6 gxh6 52.Nxf6 Kc3 (I am afraid Topalov has overpushed. He has to fight for a draw now.) 53.Ng4 h5 54.Ne3 Na5 55.Kf3 = Nb3 56.Nf1 Kd3 57.Kg3 Kxe4 58.Kh4 (Now this is a draw if played correctly.) 59.Kxh5 e4? (59… Ke2 was must) 60. g4 (Now White is better.) 60…Nd2 61.Nxd2 Kxd2 62.a5 e3 63.a6 e2 64.a7 e1(Q) 65. a8(Q) (This is the kind of endgame no one wants to play. White is still better. The reason for that is the White pawn is closer to Queening and if White can trade Queens, game over.) 65…Qe5+ 66.g5 Qf5 67.Qd8+ Kc1 68.Qf6 Qd5 69.Kh6 e5 70.g6 e4 71.g7 (Topalov completely misplayed this endgame. Now it is completely winning for Morozevich.) 71…e3 72.Qc3+ Kb1 73.Qxe3 (Mate in 45!) 74.Kg6 Qg2+ 75.Qg5 Qc6+ 76.Kh7 Qb7 77.Qg1+Ka2 78.Qh2+ Ka1 79.Kh8 Qe4 80.g8(Q) 1-0
Topalov seems to have bad double pawn structure.
There is an error in the Diagram: Black should have a bishop on E8, not on F8.
Suggestion to webmaster: try using a different color combination for your diagrams. On my computer, black pawns on dark squares are invisible, making it look as though White is five pawns up!
30 .. Bd3?
Susan agrees xD
Isn’t Moro better after Nxd4? He has a passed pawn on a, and black will be hard pressed to keep that pawn in check and save the other pawns?
Ravi
What, no 80 … Qh7+: it has a 50% chance of drawing 🙂
It seems that with this loss Topalov loses his #1 ranking, while Anand finally becomes the top rated player.
Anand deserves his #1 spot, and what about Kramnik? He is also close, it will be nice if Anand will win in Mexico and play match with Kramnik in 2008, Anand won his first (out of 5) Wejk in 1989!
What is a career! (Ivanchuk won his first Linares in 1989! (out of 3)). And please no Topalov-Danailov anymore! Moro is a great man also, but not World Champion type (as Bent Larsen before probably), but lets see in Linares byself (without Morelia) Moro has 4.5 out of 6! and than Anand and Svidler with 3.5.
Morozevich made my day! I knew him personally from 1985, Congratulations, Sasha!
Position 70w is a mate in 52 but 70.g6? only draws. 70.e4? passes back the win, now in 34.
71.g7 turns this into a win in 48.
Topailov, I knew ur a pinche tramposo. Celebro que hayas perdido cabron.
Good job Moro!
Topailov cant perform unplugged, hes the Milli Vanilli of Chess
What a way to lose. I wonder if the police checking his car for bombs and drugs had anything to do with his bad performance today?
LOL, there’s always some excuse with the Topalistas, isn’t there. This guy and sportsmanship go together like oil and water.
Morozevich is doing a great tournment, in Linares. If Carlsen was great em Morelia, now we have to recognize the great moment of Morozevich.
Poor Topa
“Morozevich made my day! I knew him personally from 1985, Congratulations, Sasha!
“
Are you Anand?