Topalov – Shirov [D87]
2007 Corus Group A
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 (We are all still in theories.) 16…Bf7 (16…Bd7 is also playable.) 17.Bh6 Re8 += (White has more than enough compensation for the exchange sacrifice due to Black’s slow development and weakness in the dark squares.) 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 (Still in theories.) 19…Re7 20.f4 exf4 (White has to rely on the Bishop pair and Black’s Kingside weakness as compensation. This is truly fire versus fire!) 21.Qxf4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd523. exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 = 25.Qd4 (White still maintains the initiatives with the extremely vulnerable Black King. This is actually a very difficult for Black to play, not because Black is losing, but because of the King safety issue. The mate threat is annoying and White has the powerful d pawn.) 25…Rd8 (It may come down to White playing Rf8 leading to 2 Rooks vs. Queen position. However, that would mean that White will no longer have any winning chances. Therefore, if Topalov wants to have have any winning chances, the Bishop must stay on the board to take advantage of the dark square weakness of Black.) 26.h3 Rf7 27.Rxf7 Qxf7 28.Qc3 = (Topalov and Shirov are among the best current players in this kind of position. It is ironic that Shirov is on the defensive side. Even though the d pawn is unprotected, Black cannot touch it because of double mate threat of g7 and backrank.) 28…b6 29.Ng3 (I’ve been analyzing this position and I cannot come up with any concrete plan for Black. Black has to be extremely patient and careful.) 29…Nb7 (Right after I said that Black had to be careful, Black made a bad move. Now 30.Ne4 and +-) 30.Ne4 Qe7 (The only defense. Now White can continue with 31.Nf6+ Kf7 32.Nxh7 +-) 31.Nf6+ Kf7 32.Nxh7 Kg8 33.Nf6+ Kf7 34.Ng4 (34…Rxd5 35.Qg7+ Ke6 36. Qxg6+ Kd7 37. Nf6+ Kc6 38. Nxd5+ Kxd5 +/-) 34…Kg8 35.Qd2 (Another interesting plan is 35.Bc1 then 36.Bb2 +-) 35…Re8 36.Qf4 +- Qd6 (37. Nf6+ Kf7 38. Nxe8+ Qxf4 39. Bxf4 Kxe8 40. Kg1 is an option. Keeping the Queen on the board with 37.Qf2 is another.) 37.Qf2 (Black does not seem to have any good defense. This will just be a slow torture.) 37…Qc5 (Black is desperately trying to trade the Queen. Even though that will lead to a very bad endgame, it is probably the best chance he got. Black is in deep trouble with the Queens on the board. Topalov can continue avoiding this trade with 38.Qf1) 38.Qg3 (This is less accurate than 38.Qf1.) 38…Qd4? (38…Qe7 would be Black’s best chance. Now, after 39.Kh2 Black is lost. Black cannot stop both threats of Qc7 and Nf6.) 39.Kh2! Nd8 40.Qd6 (It is over. Black has no more hope as Black cannot defend the g6 pawn and f6 square.) 40…Ne6 (41.Be3 would be the final blow. Black will lose the Knight and the position is completely lost.) 1-0
Carlsen – Anand [B90] 1/2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 0–0 9.0–0 Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.Bg5 Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.c3 Na5 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.b3 Na3 17.Ne3 (This is not a very agressive line for White. Black’s key weakness is rthe d6 pawn =/+=) 17…Nxc2 18.Qxc2 Rc8 19.Rd1 Rc6 20.Rac1 = b5 (White’s main focus will the the center and the d6 pawn.) 1/2 After the last 2 brutal consecutive games/losses, Magnus decided to take the day off to regroup. It is also convenient for Anand getting another Black out of the way. I understand their positions and they are probably right to do that. However, I am sure their fans are a little disappointed.
Yes ! Topalov-Shirov in the Gruenfeld exchange variation with the exchange sac. Delicious ! :o)
Thank you for your analysis of the present game…
Hi all,
I’m at work and here computers are prevented to reach chess sites, si Susan’s blog is yhe only website that I can reach. Please tell me about other games.. How are they going? any decisive games? Will Radjabov win again?
Many thanks,
Melody
well Carlson took an early draw. kind of understand that for him. But Anand should have played on.
Yes,
I am very dissappointed about Anand here. Simply sad to see. Perhaps this lack of fighting spirit is part of the explanation why he so far has failed to become the classical WCC.
Why Susan?
Ne4 Nc5
Nf6+ Kh8 and then what?
The position after 29.Ng3 has as only rational move for white
30. Ne4
I find it impossible that Shirov overlooked the only possible move (after spending some time thinking). I therefore assume that Nf6+ is not that terrible threat.
And as I said I cannot see a winning line after
30.Ne4 Nc5
31.Nf6+ Kh8
(with no computer help though..)
i’ve got the feeling anand was cutting the kid some slack… giving him an early draw.
it’s amazing because if carlsen saw c6 in the navara game everyone would say he was having a good tournament- 1 missed move can change everyone’s perception – the truth is he isn’t quite there yet- he struggles against these kinds of players- 1/4 is not going to get things dones- i don’t see him beating anyone the rest of the way
I agree that Anand was good to Magnus today. Maybe Anand remembers when he was the kid coming up. Not easy. Magnus has had a fairly easy fast rise to the top and now he hits a brick wall. Must be hard on Magnus.
Hopefully it will be good for him. He is finding out that he needs to get better. The top is different. That is why the top is the top. These few people have put in the work to be at the top. Not easy.
However, I too am disappointed that Anand did not try to win. He made the last move and I have to assume that Anand made the draw offer. Naturally Magnus took it. He is coming off of 2 losses. Magnus needs some time to heal up from those loses.
How about Radjabov game? Do you think he is winning?
Topalov & Shirov are certainly the most entertaning chess players around. They aren’t afraid of complex position, sacs and most of all losing!!
Tournaments should invite players such as them…. dull draws are a total waste of organizers prize money and spectators time.
where can i watch live games??
Draws can be dull if you only look at the crosstables.
If you look at the games, draws can be fascinating. A good drawn game is much more stimulating than a game won or lost due to a blunder. THAT leaves an awkward aftertaste.
Personally, I think I would have a heart attack getting a draw out of Anand.
yes carlsen has been having a hard time with the cream of the crop but i belive after some more experience he will explode again its only a matter of time and convidence! 🙂 gogo magnus!
http://www.coruschess.com/livegames.php
You can go here to watch live games.
I wonder if Anand, seeing the tournament that Carlsen is having, decided he could have an easy draw today.
Despite all the drama that has been going on regarding Topalov, his play still continues to inspire and impress me.
I am thankful that I am able to separate the art from the artist, and enjoy the wonderful games of this chess virtuoso.
Topalov punished Shirov for his mindless writings on the topic of Elista match.
Welldone, Topa, send all your detractors to hell.
Topa RULEZ!!!!! Beautiful win in a typical Topa style!
“Topalov punished Shirov for his mindless writings on the topic of Elista match….”
Nah, I think Topalov punished Shirov for playing the Grunfeld poorly.
When I read in some post in ChessNinja Site that Shirov is a Washup Chessplayer… I didnt want to believe it…. but the way he is playing leave little doubt… Shirov doensnt have the fire anymore… he messes up tactics and make one move blunders 🙁
This is really sad for a player once considered the new Tal..
Carlsen has just turned 16 and is already a 2700 player. This is a great experience for him. The young need failure to progress. This will motivate him to work even harder.
Future world champion, Kasparov said, and he is probably right.
shirov has been washed up for some time now- i would venture to say that even carlsen can beat him since he;s already done it
Shirov played the opening deep into theory. Only when the game came out of book, Shirov lost ground. It shows that Shirov does not have the class to criticize and give judgements about the #1 chess player in the world.
Most probably it just shows that Topalov has prepared what we have seen today. Really nice, but not an heroic deed.
On the other hand Shirov’s Gruenfeld is obviously overdue for service.
From an earlier BLOG:
“never liked the kid anyways.”(Carlsen)
“someone should have ripped that sweatshirt right off of carlsen. champion?!?!?
sad to see someone peak so young in life.”
and now:
“When I read in some post in ChessNinja Site that Shirov is a Washup Chessplayer… I didnt want to believe it…. but the way he is playing leave little doubt…”
Gimme a break people. Shirov is 25 and Carlsen is 16. Washed up???? What does this mean?
I guess since Rafael Nadal is ranked 14th on the ATP (Tennis) then he is washed up as well and may as well quit playing tennis?
I would love to be as “washed-up” in chess as Shirov is now.
If Topalov needs someone to say nasty things about him to be motivated to win, he wasn’t really much of a champion was he? Somehow I think his motivations lie outside the controversy surrounding the Elista match.
“Carlsen has just turned 16 and is already a 2700 player.”
Almost. 2690.
“Shirov is 25 and Carlsen is 16.”
Shirov is 34.
>> If Topalov needs someone to say nasty things about him to be motivated to win, he wasn’t really much of a champion was he? Somehow I think his motivations lie outside the controversy surrounding the Elista match.
Topa is always motivated enough to play to the end with no need for additional stimulus. However, the abuse he had to endure in Elista and after, put oil in fire.
Shirov was smashed by a steam engine