GM Topalov (2780) – GM Radjabov (2735) [C63]
29.02.2008 / Linares – Round 9
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0–0 Bc5 7.Qd3 d6 8.Qc4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Nd4 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.a4 a6 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 0–0–0 17.Rf2 Rdf8 18.Raf1 Rxf2 19.Rxf2 Kb8 20.b3 Qe7 21.Qe4 g6 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.c4 c6 24.dxc6 Rxc6 25.e4 Qg5 26.h3 Qc1+ 27.Kh2 Qe1 28.Rf1 Qd2 29.Qf8+ Rc8 30.Qe7 Qd3 31.Rf3 Qxe4 32.Qxd6+ Ka7 33.Rf7 h5 34.a5 g5 35.Qe6 Rg8 36.Rf6 Rh8 37.Qd5 Qxd5 38.cxd5 e4 39.Re6 Rd8 40.Re5 e3 41.Kg3 g4 42.hxg4 hxg4 43.b4 b6 44.axb6+ Kxb6 45.Kxg4 Kb5 46.Re4 e2 47.Rxe2 Kxb4 48.Rd2 Kc5 49.Kh5 Rxd5+ 50.Rxd5+ Kxd5 51.g4 Ke6 52.Kh6 Kf7 53.Kh7 Kf6 54.Kh6 ½–½
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That nose looks questionable at best!
If Queens come off it is an ending and Radjabov wins. Black can hold right now since he is not in time trouble, likely draw.
What do the “=” mean?
Radjoabov got into time trouble for no reason and had to go into a worse (not even) rook+pawn ending. Topalov is blowing it as usual, he should have easily reached a g+h pawn vs. a-pawn book win but let Radj break up his pawns…it will be drawn R+p vs. R and Top will drag it out for an hour before draw. Maybe only Russians and Indians learn the endgame anymore???
yes, I totally didn’t understand Topalov 44. axb6 . What is this??
He built everything to keep Radj. king a way and they he just let him free into activity? why not keep him in the corner with kxg4 ?
Topalov can be so great sometimes, and sometimes play like 1500 player, I just can’t get this guy!
Perhaps so, Ken. Don’t forget to include the Shyesters, the Oysters, the Frogs, the Newts, the Cro-Magnons, the visonary philosphers, Michel Foucault, Golda Meir, and the rest of the game. I am very confident in their ability to assimilate the principles of endgames.
Dear “anonymous” (what a cop-out, you could at least make up a name)-
How does not learning translate to some derogatory comment about ability to assimilate?
If your country don’t teach it (endgames, math, science, etc.) you won’t learn it.
Aside from one insane genius many moons past, we here at the US school of chess seem to rely only on immigration to provide endgame skill.
Without adjournments, these days only correspondence players pick up endgame skills along the way. If you don’t learn early you end up short.
Radjabov plays badly but Topalov matches him all the way. 46…Rg8+ was equal, but White should play 47.Kf3 to catch the pawn not use the Rook. Toppy hates to move backwards, bad for endgames.
48…Kc5 is now easy draw, does Radj see? He thinks so long….
I don’t understand this game. According to the last move on the offical site (I think) Topalov is winning. No?
Immigration, Ken, is indeed something that you rely on and your level of written English seems fairly indicative that this is so.
Please limit your attempts to offer any substantive commentary about “other” countries. You are far better without tampering with traditions and educational systems outside the glorious borders of the North American abyss.
LOL the Topalov caricature looks like a Baboon lol!
His nose looks provacative!
I like his nose! Weeee!