Kramnik, Vladimir (2743) – Topalov, Veselin (2813) [E04]
WCC Match 2006 – Game 1, 09-23-2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 0–0 12.Qxb5 Ba6+= 13.Qa4 [13.Qxa5 Bb7 14.Qxd8 Rxa1 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 16.0–0 Ra2 17.Ne5 Ba6 18.Nc3 Rxb2+=] 13…Qb6 14.0–0 Qxb2 [14…Nc6 15.Nc3 Qxb2 16.Rfc1 Qb6 17.e3+=] 15.Nbd2 Bb5 [15…Qb4 16.Ne5 Nd5 17.Qxa5 Qxa5 18.Rxa5 c3 19.Nb3±] 16.Nxc4 Bxa4 17.Nxb2 Bb5 18.Ne5 Ra7?! [18…Nd5 19.Rfe1 a4 20.Ra3 Rd8+=] 19.Bf3 [19.Nbc4 I prefer this continuation better 19…a4 20.Rfb1 Bxc4 21.Nxc4+=] 19…Nbd7 20.Nec4 Rb8 21.Rfb1 g5!? So typical of Topalov. This is the kind of move that someone like Tal, Shirov or Judit would make. 22.e3= g4 23.Bd1 Bc6 [23…a4 This is equally OK 24.Rc1 Kg7=] 24.Rc1 Be4 25.Na4 Rb4 26.Nd6 Bf3 27.Bxf3 gxf3 This pawn can be a curse or blessing for Black 28.Nc8 Ra8 29.Ne7+= Kg7 30.Nc6 Rb3 31.Nc5 Rb5 32.h3 Nxc5 33.Rxc5 Rb2 [33…Rxc5 34.dxc5 a4 35.Nd4 a3 36.c6 Nd5=] 34.Rg5+ [34.Rcxa5 Rxa5 35.Nxa5 Ne4 36.Rf1 Nd2=] 34…Kh6 35.Rgxa5 Rxa5 36.Nxa5 Ne4 37.Rf1 Nd2= 38.Rc1 Ne4 39.Rf1 f6 40.Nc6= Nd2 41.Rd1 Ne4 42.Rf1 Kg6 43.Nd8 [43.d5 e5=+] 43…Rb6 44.Rc1 h5 45.Ra1 h4 46.gxh4 [46.g4=] 46…Kh5 47.Ra2 Kxh4 48.Kh2 Kh5 [48…Ng5 49.Ra4 Rb2 50.d5+ Kh5 51.Nxe6 Rxf2+ 52.Kh1 Rf1+ 53.Kh2 Rf2+=] 49.Rc2 Kh6 50.Ra2 Kg6 51.Rc2 Kf5 52.Ra2= Rb5 53.Nc6 Rb7 54.Ra5+ Kg6 55.Ra2 Kh5 56.d5 e5 57.Ra4 f5?? [57…Nxf2 58.Kg3 e4 59.Kxf2 Rb2+ 60.Kf1 (60.Kg3 Rg2+ 61.Kf4 f2 62.Ra1 Rg1–+) 60…Rb1+ 61.Kf2 Rb2+ This would be the way to draw the game; 57…Nd2 58.Kg3 (58.d6 Nf1+ 59.Kg1 Nd2 60.Kh2 Rb1 61.Kg3 Rg1+ 62.Kh2 Rd1=; 58.Rg4 Rb1 59.Rg1 Rb2 60.Rg8 Ne4 61.Rh8+ Kg6 62.Rg8+ Kf7 63.Rg3 Rxf2+ 64.Kg1 Rd2 65.Rxf3 Rxd5=+) 58…Rg7+ 59.Rg4 Nf1+ 60.Kxf3 Nh2+ 61.Ke4 Nxg4 62.hxg4+ Kxg4 63.d6+-; 58 …Rb1!=] 58.Nxe5 Rb2 59.Nd3 Rb7 60.Rd4 Rb6 61.d6 Nxd6 62.Kg3 Ne4+ 63.Kxf3 Kg5 64.h4+ Kf6 65.Rd5 Nc3 66.Rd8 Rb1 67.Rf8+ Ke6 68.Nf4+ Ke5 69.Re8+ Kf6 70.Nh5+ Kg6 71.Ng3 Rb2 72.h5+ Kf7 73.Re5 Nd1 74.Ne2 Kf6 75.Rd5 1–0
This is a very painful loss for Topalov. He took almost nothing and made it very exciting. I give him a lot of credit for this. If he can keep this up for the next 11 games, Kramnik would have a very difficult task ahead of him.
Topalov will have White tomorrow. I hope he will bounce back immediately. Kramnik is one of the most difficult opponents to beat. Another blunder like today may seal his fate in this match.
On the other hand, if Topalov can bounce back and have a convincing win tomorrow, the tremendous pressure will be back on Kramnik.
It is clear that Topalov pressed and over-reached in this game.
39..f6! was strong but already on his 42th move he should have repeated the manoeuver Nd2-e4-Nd2, as Kramnik had to repeat with Rf1 to cover f2.
Then it would be interested to know if Topalov was in time pressure on his fatal mistake on move 57th. It was already difficult to find the drawing lines at this point, which indicates he should have settled for the draw circa the 42th move.
His activity compensated for the deficit of a pawn, but wasn’t enough to break through.
Kramnik has proven against Kasparov in 2000 and Leko in 2004 that he is a tough defender, so Topalov will have to be more objective in assessing when to press for a win.
Leko did that well but decided to play for the draw towards the end of the match in Brissago in 2004.
The following games in the first half will be decisive in order to guess who will win the epic battle.
thanks to GM polgar for a great and fast analysis.
May I quote myself?
“Anonymous said…
I really hope Topalov is going to win. I like his style. He’s always looking for initiative, and it doesn’t matter if it takes a pawn, an exchange or even more. However, I’m afraid that Topalov is going to lose against himself, if you know what I mean. In other words Kramnik wins but not really. Well, you get the picture.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:05:07 AM”
Source: http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2006/09/showdown-countdown.html#links
Susan in boxing usually the two fighters are guarded and defensive in the early rounds to feel out there opponent and try to establish their objectives. I would think Grandmasters vying for the World Title would do likewise. I think Topalov pressed too hard too early in the match for a win thus putting tremendous pressure on himself to win game two. In drawing game one he would have had time to ease into the match and maybe create a little pyschology with Kramnik that Topo is ready for Vladimir’s best shot.
such an obvious blunder. i bet Bobby Fischer is going nuts seeing it.