Radjabov T. - Topalov V.

Good day, honoured viewers! Grandmaster Sergei Shipov invites you to view the final. Today, Sunday, there is much bright pageantry to meet the eye. The Australian Open of tennis draws to a close today, and so does the Corel supertournament at Wijk aan Zee. The luck of the round-robin has brought us the best possible final matchup. Radjabov and Topalov are the leaders, and they will decide first prize in a face-to-face encounter. If they draw, Aronian can catch them--if he defeats Tiviakov. This second most important encounter will be commented by Manowar online. Please consult www.crestbook.com for all links. Other games of the final round: Ponomariov - Motylev, Anand - Navara, Karlsen - Shirov, Svidler - Karjakin, and Kramnik - Van Wely. Today, I think, much blood will be spilled. And Federer defeated Gonzalez: 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 ! He won the Australian Open and once again maintained his status as world number one.
1.d4 I can't predict what Teimour has prepared for this game. In recent times he has considerably improved in this component of play.
1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Now almost all the strongest players of the world as White sidestep the Nimzoindian Defence. That is a true indication of the state of theory for Black!
3...d5 In my view, the strongest answer to 3.Nf3. White's possibilities considerably narrow in comparison with the Queen's Gambit move order 3.Nc3 d5.
4.g3 The Catalan Opening. Kramnik's successes did not pass unnoticed: all great knowledgable performers need to be comfortable in this opening. It is worth remembering too that in the title match at Elista, Topalov suffered serious problems as Black.
4...Bb4+ Veselin went into a long think ... and remembered that in the first game of his feud with Kramnik, he was able to equalize! And has played in a similar way.
5.Bd2 Be7 The paths have split. At Elista, in the first game Black maintained the bishop on b4 with a7-a5. True, there the position was somewhat different: the moves dxc4 and Bf1-g2 had been inserted. Black's bishop manoeuvre f8-b4-e7 excludes the possibility that his counterpart might appear at b2.
6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bf4 The big boys also arrived at this position in Elista. Let's see how theory has changed in three months.
8...Nbd7 The past repeated. Black develops the queenside. Let it be understood that Radjabov has carefully studied the games of Kramnik - Topalov and made his choice. It's also worth remembering that he was due to play a championship match with the Bulgarian grandmaster. But Topalov lost to Kramnik and all the arrangements foundered.
9.Qc2 A true national characteristic of the Catalan! Once the knight arrives at d7, the c4-pawn must be protected. The threat to take on c4 becomes real because the knight on d7 prevents White's answer Nf3-e5xc4.
9...a5 Veselin is true to his last. Sure, he is ready to improve his play from the 10th game of the Elista match, but somewhere later. The game move flows from the brush (figuratively) of Boris Spassky. Black truly develops the a8-rook, and the pawn may shuttle forward some more. Teimour is thinking. He remembers the game and its attendant analysis. Maybe he can foresee the opponent's novelty! Topalov lost that game with Kramnik, but hardly because of the opening.
10.Rd1 A strategical move. White in these positions would like to pressure Black's centre with a knight on c3. But then the c4-pawn falls. So the knight needs to find its moment. Veselin is not replying right away. In Elista he took the classical path and lost. So has he decided to follow Spassky's example?
10...Nh5 No, Topalov once again takes his own path. This is a standard Catalan way to mess up the ideal placement of White's pieces.

[Here is the historical game alluded to above:
10...a4 11.Ne5 Qa5 12.Nd2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Ng4 14.Nf3 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rd8 16.e3 Bd7 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 and here the players agreed to a draw, Andersson - Spassky, Turin 1982. ]

11.Bc1 At first glance, it is strange for White's bishop to return home. However, first of all, the bishop can always come back to f4! Second, White can now play b2-b3 and Bc1-b2. Third, placing the bishop at e3 also has its minuses, blocking the e2-pawn.
11...b5 Black seizes the opportunity while White is undeveloped to grab queenside space. Here Kramnik took on d5 and then broke open the centre with e2-e4! When I commentated that game from Elista, that choice struck me as the strongest.
12.cxd5 Keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats with dramatic tension.

[This reaction did not bring White success:
12.c5 f5 13.Nc3 g5 14.a3 Bf6 15.Qd2 h6 16.h4 g4 17.Qxh6 gxf3 18.Qxh5 fxg2 19.Qg6+ Kh8 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Qg6+ with perpetual check in Rahman - Ghaem Maghami, Doha 2003.]

12...cxd5 13.e4! What to say? Follow the true path, comrades! White opens the light-square long diagonal for his powerful bishop.
13...dxe4 Let it be understood that e4-e5 is not to be allowed.
14.Qxe4 From the structural standpoint, Black is better: if he can find good squares for his pieces, he will gain the advantage. However, that will take some moves.
14...Rb8 It is still not yet time to be creative. The rook must be removed from danger, and the bishop placed on b7. To the outside viewer, it must appear remarkable that the players are following a known line for so long, but with such effort. The responsibility, however, is great. At any moment, Teimour and Veselin await from one another a strong new move, and therefore try to foresee it, even forestall it.
15.Qe2 Kramnik's move number 15! And the most precise. White could also bring the knight to e5, when in case of capture, White takes with the queen and forks b8 and h5. However, Black would play 15...Bb7, and White would have lost one possibility that might still arise in the game.
15...Nhf6 16.Bf4 The possibility I had in mind. First, White develops the bishop with tempo. The black rook must run some more.

[At this instant, the advance
16.Ne5 would not give White an advantage, in view of:
16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 and going after a pawn can backfire:
18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 d4 20.Be3 Bc5 and regard the light-square diagonal leading to White's king.]

16...Rb6 17.Ne5 Now is the time. White's knight heads towards c6. It's time to find the way to the bar--or back to the box. Once again I will point out that the players have not yet made a single original move!
17...Nd5 Topalov continues to plagiarize himself.

[If 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Be3 Rb8 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Nc3 we have achieved a position from the note to move 16, but with the difference that White has managed to insert Bc1-e3. Psychologically, Black simply couldn't give in to such a compromise. ]

18.Bxd5! The only try to fight for an advantage.
18...exd5 19.Nc3 So, White must win a pawn. Black has three distinct ways to get compensation. He has a potentially powerful bishop pair, and White's king fortress has been weakened. In my time, I have recommended the move 19...Nb8!? And Veselin in the game returned the knight to f6.
An hour and a half has gone by in the round, and still not a single draw has been agreed! It has been found that for chessplayers, in a difficult tournament, it is sin to sidestep the struggle at the end, not at the beginning.
19...Nxe5 Finally, a new move. This is the third way to organize counterplay. Now Teimour really must think.

[The 10th game of Kramnik - Topalov, Elista 2006 went
19...Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4 22.Rdc1 Qe8 23.Rc7 Bd8 24.Ra7 and here instead of the gross blunder 24...f6?? Black should regain the pawn with
24...Bxb5 25.axb5 Qxb5 26.Qxb5 Rxb5 , achieving a defensible endgame.]

[My recommendation remains unavailed:
19...Nb8!? 20.Nxb5 f6 21.Nf3 Ba6 22.a4 Qd7 and with the arrival of the knight on c6 Black achieves comfortable play. ]

20.dxe5 The only sensible reply. White attacks the d5-pawn. Black should play d5-d4, and on Bf4-e3, bravely sacrifice the queen.

[In the variation
20.Bxe5 Qd7! only Black can pretend to have the advantage, retaining the pawn and all of his positional advantages.]

20...d4 Just so. Note how happily Black gazes upon the empty a8-h1 diagonal! Given a couple of moves, Black could fling the glove towards White's monarch.
21.Be3 White eats up the impudent little pawn. But it still has teeth: 21...dxe3! Sure, White then has the chance to force a draw. Such a severe threat could frighten Topalov, who always plays to win.
21...dxe3 He took it! Now White could grab the queen, after which Black takes on f2 and bare the white king. But the move 22.Qxe3!? seems to lead to a repetition of moves: 22...Bg5! 23.Qc5 (23.f4 Bxf4!) Be7 24.Qe3 Bg5 and so on.
22.Qxe3 Really. Teimour does not risk playing with an airy king, preferring to retain his excellent result.

[Let's look at the main variation:
22.Rxd8 exf2+ 23.Qxf2 Bxd8 24.Nd5 Rc6 and now it begins to get difficult to prescribe a precise continuation. Black clearly has long-term compensation. Should Black's pieces penetrate White's position, fortune could easily shift in his favour. ]

22...Bg5!

[A mistake would be
22...Qc7? 23.Nd5 Bc5 in view of 24.Rac1 Bxe3 25.Rxc7 and White gains the endgame advantage in all variations.]

23.Qc5

[The continuation
23.f4 Bxf4! 24.Qxf4

(24.gxf4?! Rg6+!)

24...Qe8 would not promise White anything good. It's the same story: king weakness. ]

23...Be7 Black also has no room to wriggle.

[The lines 23...Bd7 24.Rxd7!]

[and 23...Bd2 24.Nd5 Re6 25.f4!! are telling. That path leads only to defeat.]

24.Qe3 Bg5 There's no sense talking about the fighting qualities of the players here. Zero chance of winning means not the slightest reason to put one's neck under the axe. DRAW! Radjabov and Topalov have guaranteed themselves a first place split. Pretty quickly, Aronian will join them. He has an extra rook against Tiviakov. Kramnik, in my opinion, has a winning attack against Van Wely. Anand grubbed a pawn and now must withstand Navara's blows. Svidler has shown phenomenal self-restraint in defence. But still Karjakin's attack is scary. Carlsen has gone after Shirov with naked swords; he will sooner lose than win. Finally, in the game Ponomariov - Motylev, Black successfully dealt with all opening problems and has gained the initiative. I will make a final wave in the ether: ARONIAN WON! Heading the standings are three victors. Congratulations on your success, grandmasters! Anand sensibly offered a draw in a complex situation, and Navara found that he could not refuse. Svidler's position appeals to me less and less. He lacked the finishing touch in this tournament, even after a tremendous victory over Topalov. Carlsen and Shirov have a complex game where anybody may win. Kramnik continues to storm the king fortress of Van Wely. He will win soon. Ponomariov and Motylev continue to manoeuvre. And with that I - grandmaster Sergei Shipov - say goodbye. Thanks to all who read my comments. We will meet again at the site www.crestbook.com with live transmission from the Morelia-Linares supertournament. All the best!
[Quick translation from Russian by Jonathan Berry]

Created with PGNtoJS

Good day, honoured viewers! Grandmaster Sergei Shipov invites you to view the final. Today, Sunday, there is much bright pageantry to meet the eye. The Australian Open of tennis draws to a close today, and so does the Corel supertournament at Wijk aan Zee. The luck of the round-robin has brought us the best possible final matchup. Radjabov and Topalov are the leaders, and they will decide first prize in a face-to-face encounter. If they draw, Aronian can catch them--if he defeats Tiviakov. This second most important encounter will be commented by Manowar online. Please consult www.crestbook.com for all links. Other games of the final round: Ponomariov - Motylev, Anand - Navara, Karlsen - Shirov, Svidler - Karjakin, and Kramnik - Van Wely. Today, I think, much blood will be spilled. And Federer defeated Gonzalez: 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 ! He won the Australian Open and once again maintained his status as world number one. 1.d4 I can't predict what Teimour has prepared for this game. In recent times he has considerably improved in this component of play. 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Now almost all the strongest players of the world as White sidestep the Nimzoindian Defence. That is a true indication of the state of theory for Black! 3...d5 In my view, the strongest answer to 3.Nf3. White's possibilities considerably narrow in comparison with the Queen's Gambit move order 3.Nc3 d5. 4.g3 The Catalan Opening. Kramnik's successes did not pass unnoticed: all great knowledgable performers need to be comfortable in this opening. It is worth remembering too that in the title match at Elista, Topalov suffered serious problems as Black. 4...Bb4+ Veselin went into a long think ... and remembered that in the first game of his feud with Kramnik, he was able to equalize! And has played in a similar way. 5.Bd2 Be7 The paths have split. At Elista, in the first game Black maintained the bishop on b4 with a7-a5. True, there the position was somewhat different: the moves dxc4 and Bf1-g2 had been inserted. Black's bishop manoeuvre f8-b4-e7 excludes the possibility that his counterpart might appear at b2. 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bf4 The big boys also arrived at this position in Elista. Let's see how theory has changed in three months. 8...Nbd7 The past repeated. Black develops the queenside. Let it be understood that Radjabov has carefully studied the games of Kramnik - Topalov and made his choice. It's also worth remembering that he was due to play a championship match with the Bulgarian grandmaster. But Topalov lost to Kramnik and all the arrangements foundered. 9.Qc2 A true national characteristic of the Catalan! Once the knight arrives at d7, the c4-pawn must be protected. The threat to take on c4 becomes real because the knight on d7 prevents White's answer Nf3-e5xc4. 9...a5 Veselin is true to his last. Sure, he is ready to improve his play from the 10th game of the Elista match, but somewhere later. The game move flows from the brush (figuratively) of Boris Spassky. Black truly develops the a8-rook, and the pawn may shuttle forward some more. Teimour is thinking. He remembers the game and its attendant analysis. Maybe he can foresee the opponent's novelty! Topalov lost that game with Kramnik, but hardly because of the opening. 10.Rd1 A strategical move. White in these positions would like to pressure Black's centre with a knight on c3. But then the c4-pawn falls. So the knight needs to find its moment. Veselin is not replying right away. In Elista he took the classical path and lost. So has he decided to follow Spassky's example? 10...Nh5 No, Topalov once again takes his own path. This is a standard Catalan way to mess up the ideal placement of White's pieces.
	[Here is the historical game alluded to above: 10...a4 11.Ne5 Qa5 12.Nd2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Ng4 14.Nf3 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rd8 16.e3 Bd7 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 and here the players agreed to a draw, Andersson - Spassky, Turin 1982. ]
11.Bc1 At first glance, it is strange for White's bishop to return home. However, first of all, the bishop can always come back to f4! Second, White can now play b2-b3 and Bc1-b2. Third, placing the bishop at e3 also has its minuses, blocking the e2-pawn. 11...b5 Black seizes the opportunity while White is undeveloped to grab queenside space. Here Kramnik took on d5 and then broke open the centre with e2-e4! When I commentated that game from Elista, that choice struck me as the strongest. 12.cxd5 Keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats with dramatic tension.
	[This reaction did not bring White success: 12.c5 f5 13.Nc3 g5 14.a3 Bf6 15.Qd2 h6 16.h4 g4 17.Qxh6 gxf3 18.Qxh5 fxg2 19.Qg6+ Kh8 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Qg6+ with perpetual check in Rahman - Ghaem Maghami, Doha 2003.]
12...cxd5 13.e4! What to say? Follow the true path, comrades! White opens the light-square long diagonal for his powerful bishop. 13...dxe4 Let it be understood that e4-e5 is not to be allowed. 14.Qxe4 From the structural standpoint, Black is better: if he can find good squares for his pieces, he will gain the advantage. However, that will take some moves. 14...Rb8 It is still not yet time to be creative. The rook must be removed from danger, and the bishop placed on b7. To the outside viewer, it must appear remarkable that the players are following a known line for so long, but with such effort. The responsibility, however, is great. At any moment, Teimour and Veselin await from one another a strong new move, and therefore try to foresee it, even forestall it. 15.Qe2 Kramnik's move number 15! And the most precise. White could also bring the knight to e5, when in case of capture, White takes with the queen and forks b8 and h5. However, Black would play 15...Bb7, and White would have lost one possibility that might still arise in the game. 15...Nhf6 16.Bf4 The possibility I had in mind. First, White develops the bishop with tempo. The black rook must run some more.
	[At this instant, the advance 16.Ne5 would not give White an advantage, in view of: 16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 and going after a pawn can backfire: 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 d4 20.Be3 Bc5 and regard the light-square diagonal leading to White's king.]
16...Rb6 17.Ne5 Now is the time. White's knight heads towards c6. It's time to find the way to the bar--or back to the box. Once again I will point out that the players have not yet made a single original move! 17...Nd5 Topalov continues to plagiarize himself.
	[If 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Be3 Rb8 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Nc3 we have achieved a position from the note to move 16, but with the difference that White has managed to insert Bc1-e3. Psychologically, Black simply couldn't give in to such a compromise. ]
18.Bxd5! The only try to fight for an advantage. 18...exd5 19.Nc3 So, White must win a pawn. Black has three distinct ways to get compensation. He has a potentially powerful bishop pair, and White's king fortress has been weakened. In my time, I have recommended the move 19...Nb8!? And Veselin in the game returned the knight to f6. An hour and a half has gone by in the round, and still not a single draw has been agreed! It has been found that for chessplayers, in a difficult tournament, it is sin to sidestep the struggle at the end, not at the beginning. 19...Nxe5 Finally, a new move. This is the third way to organize counterplay. Now Teimour really must think.
	[The 10th game of Kramnik - Topalov, Elista 2006 went 19...Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4 22.Rdc1 Qe8 23.Rc7 Bd8 24.Ra7 and here instead of the gross blunder 24...f6?? Black should regain the pawn with 24...Bxb5 25.axb5 Qxb5 26.Qxb5 Rxb5 , achieving a defensible endgame.]

	[My recommendation remains unavailed: 19...Nb8!? 20.Nxb5 f6 21.Nf3 Ba6 22.a4 Qd7 and with the arrival of the knight on c6 Black achieves comfortable play. ]
20.dxe5 The only sensible reply. White attacks the d5-pawn. Black should play d5-d4, and on Bf4-e3, bravely sacrifice the queen.
	[In the variation 20.Bxe5 Qd7! only Black can pretend to have the advantage, retaining the pawn and all of his positional advantages.]
20...d4 Just so. Note how happily Black gazes upon the empty a8-h1 diagonal! Given a couple of moves, Black could fling the glove towards White's monarch. 21.Be3 White eats up the impudent little pawn. But it still has teeth: 21...dxe3! Sure, White then has the chance to force a draw. Such a severe threat could frighten Topalov, who always plays to win. 21...dxe3 He took it! Now White could grab the queen, after which Black takes on f2 and bare the white king. But the move 22.Qxe3!? seems to lead to a repetition of moves: 22...Bg5! 23.Qc5 (23.f4 Bxf4!) Be7 24.Qe3 Bg5 and so on. 22.Qxe3 Really. Teimour does not risk playing with an airy king, preferring to retain his excellent result.
	[Let's look at the main variation: 22.Rxd8 exf2+ 23.Qxf2 Bxd8 24.Nd5 Rc6 and now it begins to get difficult to prescribe a precise continuation. Black clearly has long-term compensation. Should Black's pieces penetrate White's position, fortune could easily shift in his favour. ]
22...Bg5!
	[A mistake would be 22...Qc7? 23.Nd5 Bc5 in view of 24.Rac1 Bxe3 25.Rxc7 and White gains the endgame advantage in all variations.]
23.Qc5
	[The continuation 23.f4 Bxf4! 24.Qxf4
		(24.gxf4?! Rg6+!)
	24...Qe8 would not promise White anything good. It's the same story: king weakness. ]
23...Be7 Black also has no room to wriggle.
	[The lines 23...Bd7 24.Rxd7!]

	[and 23...Bd2 24.Nd5 Re6 25.f4!! are telling. That path leads only to defeat.]
24.Qe3 Bg5 There's no sense talking about the fighting qualities of the players here. Zero chance of winning means not the slightest reason to put one's neck under the axe. DRAW! Radjabov and Topalov have guaranteed themselves a first place split. Pretty quickly, Aronian will join them. He has an extra rook against Tiviakov. Kramnik, in my opinion, has a winning attack against Van Wely. Anand grubbed a pawn and now must withstand Navara's blows. Svidler has shown phenomenal self-restraint in defence. But still Karjakin's attack is scary. Carlsen has gone after Shirov with naked swords; he will sooner lose than win. Finally, in the game Ponomariov - Motylev, Black successfully dealt with all opening problems and has gained the initiative. I will make a final wave in the ether: ARONIAN WON! Heading the standings are three victors. Congratulations on your success, grandmasters! Anand sensibly offered a draw in a complex situation, and Navara found that he could not refuse. Svidler's position appeals to me less and less. He lacked the finishing touch in this tournament, even after a tremendous victory over Topalov. Carlsen and Shirov have a complex game where anybody may win. Kramnik continues to storm the king fortress of Van Wely. He will win soon. Ponomariov and Motylev continue to manoeuvre. And with that I - grandmaster Sergei Shipov - say goodbye. Thanks to all who read my comments. We will meet again at the site www.crestbook.com with live transmission from the Morelia-Linares supertournament. All the best! [Quick translation from Russian by Jonathan Berry]