Topalov power – Round 10 summary

Topalov 1/2 – 1/2 Morozevich

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Bb6 12.0–0 d4 13.e4 Bc7 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.h3 Qb6 16.b4 Be6 17.Rc1 h6 18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Qf4 Ne7 20.Rc5 Ng6 21.Qg3 a5 22.Rb5 Qc6 23.e5 b6 24.bxa5 bxa5 25.Rfb1 Nf8 26.Nd2 Bd5 27.f4 Qc3 28.R1b2 Qc1+ 29.Kh2 Rac8 30.f5 Rc3 31.Nb1 Rc5 32.Rxc5 Qxc5 33.Rc2 Qb6 34.Nd2 Re8?! 35.e6!+- Nh7 36.Rc7 Rf8 37.Nc4 Bxc4 38.Bxc4 This is a completely winning position for White 38…Nf6 39.Qe5 d3 40.exf7+ [40.Bxd3 fxe6 41.fxe6 And White should win easily] 40…Kh7 41.Bxd3 Qb3 42.Qd6 Qb8 43.Bc4 Ne4 44.Qe5 Nd2 45.Ba2 Qb6 46.Rc2? This move still wins but not as precise as Rc5 [46.Rc5 Nf1+ 47.Kg1 Ng3 48.Qe7 The position is hopeless for Black] 46…Qf2 47.Rxd2 Qxd2 48.Bd5 Qg5 49.Qd6 [49.Be6 is another option] 49…Qd8 50.Qxd8 [50.Qg6+ Kh8 51.Be6 White is still somewhat better but not the same as before] 50…Rxd8 51.Bc6 g6 52.Be8 [52.f6?! Rf8 53.Be8 g5] 52…Kg7 53.fxg6 h5= 54.a4 [54.Kg3 Rd3+ 55.Kh4 Rxa3 56.Kxh5 Rg3=] 54…h4 55.Kg1 Rd2 56.g3 hxg3 57.h4 Rh2 58.h5 Kf8 59.Kf1 Kg7 60.Kg1 Kf8 61.Kf1 ½–½

Topalov has no understanding of the draw concept! Have I said that before? Of course I have. Once again, even with 2 full points up on the next closest player, he was still gunning for his opponent. This time, it happens to be the very hot Morozevich who has won 3 consecutive games. He totally outplayed Morozevich to reach a winning position. In my opinion, his biggest mistake was on move 46. If he would have played 46. Rc5, the game would have been over. 46. Rc2 was too cautious and gave Morozevich more life that needed. Morozevich did everything he could to enhance his slim chances for a draw and he miraculously succeeded. It is not the end of the world. The World Championship is still in the firm hands of Topalov.

Kasimdzhanov 1 – 0 J. Polgar

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.a4 Be7 8.0–0 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.f4 Bd7 [10…Qc7 0 11.Kh1 0 11…Re8 0 12.Bf3 0 12…Rb8 13.g4 This is the most popular line] 11.Nb3 b6 12.Bf3 Qc7 13.g4 Bc8 14.g5 Nd7 15.Bg2 Re8 16.Rf3 Bf8 This is all theories so far but White’s position seems promising 17.Rh3 g6 18.Qe1 Nb4?! [18…Bg7 I think this move is a must. If 19. Qh4 then Nf8] 19.Qf2 Many were suggesting Qh4 but this move is fine [19.Qh4 h5 20.gxh6 Nxc2 21.Rc1 Nxe3 22.Rxe3 Qd8 Black is fine in this position] 19…Rb8 [19…Bb7 White is better but nothing decisive] 20.Rf1 f5 This move defies any defensive logic. It is scary to open up the Kingside 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Bd4 Gata Kamsky and I were discussing this position and came up with some alternatives such as Bb7 and Nc5. However, White still has an overwhelming advantage on all those variations. 22…Re7 23.Re1 e5 Another shocking move [23…Bb7 24.Bf6 Bxg2 25.Qxg2 Ree8 26.Nd4+-] 24.Nd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5+ Kh8 26.Bc3 Bb7 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.Nd4 [28.fxe5 Nxe5 29.Qxf5+-] 28…Rf7 29.Qh4 [29.Ne6! Re8 30.g6+-] 29…b5 30.Nxf5! [30.Qh5 Nc5 (30…Nf6 31.gxf6+- b4 32.Nc6 bxc3 33.Nxb8) 31.fxe5+-] 30…d5 31.g6?! Not as affective [31.Qh5 Bc5+ 32.Kf1 Rbf8 33.g6] 31…Qb6+ 32.Kh1 Qxg6 33.Rxe5?! White is beginning to give black too many chances [33.fxe5! Basically, the game is over] 33…Nxe5 34.Bxe5+ Bg7 35.Bxg7+?! Kasim is making a series of inaccurate moves to give Black some life [35.Nxg7 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 Rg8 37.Rg3+-] 35…Rxg7 36.Nxg7 Qxg7 37.axb5 axb5 38.c3 Qg6? Another mistake to make Kasim’s life much simpler [38…Rf8 39.Rg3 White is still better but Kasim is making it way more difficult than it had to] 39.f5 Qg7 40.Re3 Ra8 41.Qe1 Qf7 42.Qd1 Qg7 43.b4 h6 44.Qe1 Ra7? This helps White win immediately 45.f6! Qxf6 46.Re8+ Kh7 47.Qb1+ If 47…Qg6 48.Rh8+! or 47…Kg7 48.Qg1 Kf7 49.Qg8 checkmate 1–0

This game started similarly to the Karpov – Kasparov (1985 match game 24). I don’t know the theories behind it very well but I think Kasim made some improvements. Judit did not defend very well and she got into a completely lost position. However, Kasim made a series of inaccurate moves before the time control and gave Judit some life. Then on move 38 and 44, Judit made 2 crucial blunders to seal her fate. I know she is not having a good tournament but she sure fought hard in every game. She definitely has not given up like some other players. Kasim is now tied with Leko at -1.

Leko 1/2 – 1/2 Svidler

Another anti-Marshall! Svidler did not seem to have a problem equalizing as Black. This anti-Marshall was somewhat more interesting than the Adams – Anand battle that was taking place just a few feet away. However, both players decided not to risk so much and many pieces were exchanged. Leko offered a draw on move 36 and the two of them joined Adams and Anand for an early night. Svidler of course is fine with his second place and +2 score. I am not sure why Leko is content with a -1 score. It seems that just about all the players have handed the World Championship to Topalov.

Adams 1/2 – 1/2 Anand

Not much happened in this game. This game started similarly to the Leko – Svidler game. Adams was content to have an early dinner and so was his opponent. The food must be really good because I still don’t understand why Anand is content with a +1 score. If Topalov is leading by 2 points (+6) and the man is still gunning for his opponent, why not at least make an attempt to fight? Adams offered a draw on move 25 and Anand accepted.