The JR Chess Report (April 23): Championship Match Starts Tomorrow

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand-Topalov Title Match begins tomorrow



The 12-round match for the world title between reigning champion Vishy Anand of India and Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov, who was the last of the FIDE champions that began in the schism that pitted Garry Kasparov against FIDE, begins tomorrow (Saturday) in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

The match will last until Tuesday, May 11, when the final round is played, with any necessary tiebreaks sceduled for May 13.

The match was originally scheduled to begin today, but was postponed for one day due to the difficulties the champion had in making arrangments for travel in the wake of the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajökul in Iceland. Anand, his wife and business manager, Aruna, and two assistants arrived in Sofia Tuesday morning after traveling from Frankfurt, where Anand and his entourage were stranded last week, to Sofia by car for 40 hours.

The Irish-based online betting website PaddyPower has made Anand a 4/9 favorite to win the match.

Games will be broadcast live on the Official match website. All games begin at 3 pm Eastern European Standard Time (5 am PST).


Ninth Asian Championships underway in the Philippines



The ninth annual Asian Championships began Wednesday in Subic Bay, the Philippines.

The competition is divided into two groups: the general group with 90 participants and the women's group with 24 competitors.

After three rounds in the general group, 16-year-old Wesley So of the Philippines, Yu Yangyi of China and Indonesian GM Magaranto Susanto are tied for first place with perfect scores.

In the women's group, Wang Yu of China is the only play with a perfect score after three rounds.

Both groups will play 11 rounds and finish April 30.


Other tournments starting this week:

Women's Grand Prix, Nalchik 23 April-6 May.


Calendar

Bosna 2010, Sarajevo 5-14 May.

Grand Prix, Astrakhan (Russia) 9-25 May.

US Championship, St. Louis 13-25 May.

Chicago Open 27-31 May.

Karpov Tournament, Poikovsky 31 May-14 June. Bacrot, Bologan, Jakovenko, Motylev, Onischuk, Rianzantsev, Rublevsky, Shirov, Ivan Sokolov, Sutivsky, Svidler and Wang Hao.

45th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 9-22 June. Alekseev, Bruzón, Domínguez, Ivanchuk, Nepomniachtchi and Short.

Kings Tournament, Banza 14-24 June. Carlsen, Gelfand, Nisipeanu, Ponomariov, Radjabov and Wang Yue.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 15-25 July. Kramnik, Le Quang Liem, Leko, Mamedyarov, Naiditsch and Ponomariov.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 6-8 August. The world economic crisis reduces the festival to three days in 2010, with the rapid open and simultaneous exhibitions by Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk being the only featured events.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

Pan-American Women's Championship, São Paulo 10-21 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downloaded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)


I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Ninth Asian Championships, Subic Bay

Subic Bay
Photo by Onat, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Salem - So, General Group, Round 2

Wesley So
Photo by Reginjanice for Wikipedia (Creative Commons: Atteribution/Share Alike)


Saleh Salem - Wesley So
Ninth Asian Championships (General Group), Round 2
Subic Bay, 22 April 2010

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Goglidze Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3

• 3.Nc3 is the usual move.

3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2

• If 8.f4 Nc6 9.d5 then:
• If 9...Nb8 10.a4 then:
• If 10...e5 11.a5 then:
• If 11...N6d7 12.Nf3 Qe7 13.Be2 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qc5 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Bd3 is equal (H. Steiner-DiCamillo, US Ch, New York, 1946).
• 11...exf4 12.axb6 fxe3 13.Rxa7 Qh4+ 14.g3 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxe4 16.Nf3 Bg4 17.Rxa8 Bxf3 18.Qd3 Qe5 19.bxc7 gives White the initiative (Winz-Czerniak, Lasker CC Ch, Tel Aviv, 1939).
• 10...c6 11.a5 N6d7 12.e5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Nc6 14.Nf3 Ndb8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bc4 gives White the advantage in space (Moskalenko-Tseshkovsky, IT, Balassagyarmat, 1990).
• 9...Na5 10.Bd4 e5 11.Bxe5 Bxe5 12.fxe5 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qe7 14.Qd4 Rd8 15.b4 Nac4 16.Bxc4 Qxb4 17.Nf3 Qxc4 18.Qe3 c6 19.Rc1 Bg4 20.Nd2 Qb4 21.0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Shirov, TMatch, Baku, 2009).

8...Nc6 9.0-0-0 f5

• If 9...e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.f4 Bg4 12.Re1 c5 13.fxe5 Bxe5 14.h3 then:
• 14...Qh4 15.Bd3 Rac8 16.Rf1 f5 17.Bg5 Qh5 18.hxg4 Qxh1 19.gxf5 Qh2 is equal (Khismatullin-Timofeev, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2004).
• 14...Bd7 15.Nf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Qe7 17.h4 c4 18.Bd4 Na4 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.f4 Qc7 21.e5 gives White the advantage in space and superior piece placement (I. Sokolov-Krasenkow, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).

10.e5 Nb4 11.Nh3

• 11.h4 Be6 12.a3 Na2+ 13.Nxa2 Bxa2 14.h5 c5 15.dxc5 Bb3 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Rd3 Rxd3 18.Bxd3 Nd5 is equal (Postny-Gopal, Op, Kolkata, 2009).

11...Be6 12.Kb1 Qd7

• 12...Nc4 13.Qc1 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Nd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Qc3 e6 darw (Bykhovsky-Golod, Israeli Op, Tel Aviv, 2001).

13.Nf4 Bf7 14.h4!?

• If 14.a3 a5 15.d5 Bxe5 16.axb4 axb4 then:
• If 17.Nb5 Ra5 18.Bxb6 cxb6 19.Qxb4 Rfa8 then:
• If 20.Rd4? then after 20...Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Ra1+ Black soon wins (Motylev-Svidler, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• Correct is 20.g3! Bxf4 21.gxf4 Ra1+ 22.Kc2 when White has an extra piece.
• If 17.Bb5? then 17...bxc3 18.Bxd7 cxd2 19.Bb5 Ra5 20.Bf1 Rfa8 gives Black a powerful attack.

14...Rfd8

• The game is equal.

15.Bb5!?

• With the theoretical part of the game behind him, White comes out swinging.
• 15.Qe1 N6d5 16.Ncxd5 Nxd5 17.Bc4 c6 remains equal.

15...c6

• White may have had plans about weakening Black's queenside and attacking, but they never materialize.

16.Be2 c5!?

• Black tries provocation.
• 16...Nc4 17.Qc1 Bh6 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.e6 Qc8 remains equal.

17.e6!?

• The pawn sacrifice is unsound.
• If 17.dxc5 Qxd2 18.Bxd2 then:
• If 18...Nc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.b3 Bd3+ then:
• If 21.Kc1! Bxe5 22.a3 then:
• 22...Nc6 23.h5 gxh5 24.Rxh5 Bxf4 25.Bxf4 gives White better pawn structure and more activity.
• 22...Bxf4 23.Bxf4 Nd5 24.Nxd5 Rxd5 25.b4 gives White more space on the queenside and he is threatening to break up Black's kingside pawns.
• 21.Nxd3!? Nxd3 22.Bg5 Kf8 23.Rd2 Nxe5 is equal.
• 18...N6d5?! 19.Ncxd5 Nxd5 20.e6 Be8 21.Bc4 Nxf4 22.Bxf4 leaves White with an extra pawn.

17...Bxe6 18.dxc5 Bxc3 19.bxc3
BLACK: Wesley So
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WHITE: Saleh Salem
Position after 19.bc3:B

19...Qa4!?

• Black proffers both his Rooks for the Queen.
• If 19...Bxa2+ 20.Kc1 Qc7 21.Qb2 Qe5 22.Bd2 then:
• 22...Qxe2 23.Qxb4 Qf2 24.cxb6 e5 25.Rhf1 is equal.
• 22...Qxc5 23.Qxb4 Qxb4 24.cxb4 Na4 25.Be3 is equal.

20.Qxd8+

• White takes the bargain.

20...Rxd8 21.Rxd8+ Kf7 22.Rf8+!?

• White tries to keep the initiative with an exchange sacrifice, but it should backfire (see next note).
• 22.cxb4 Bxa2+ 23.Kc1 Qa3+ 24.Kd1 Qxe3 25.cxb6 Qxb6 is equal.

22...Kxf8 23.Nxe6+ Kg8!?

• Black misses an opportunity to take command of the game.
• 23...Kf7! 24.Ng5+ Ke8 25.cxb4 Nd5 26.Bd2 Nxb4 27.Bxb4 Qxb4+ gives Black a clear advantage.

24.cxb4

• White has a material advantage equivalent to two pawns, but Black can force a draw if he wishes.

24...Qxb4+ 25.Kc2
BLACK: Wesley So
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WHITE: Saleh Salem
Position after 25.Kb1c2

25...Nd5!?

• The text move gives White the advantage, but the only safe alternative is not what Black, who outrates his opponent by 200 points, wants.
• 25...Qa4+ 26.Kb2 then:
• 26...Nc4+ 27.Bxc4 Qxc4 28.Nd4 e5 is equal.
• 26...Qb4+ 27.Kc2 Qa4+ etc. draws.

26.Bd2 Qa4+ 27.Kb2

• 27.Kb1 Nb4 28.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 29.Kc2 Qa4+ etc. draws.

27...Nb4 28.Bxb4

• The text is forced.

28...Qxb4+ 29.Kc2 Kf7

• 29...Qa4+ 30.Kb2 Qb4+ 31.Kc2 etc. draws.

30.Ng5+ Kg7 31.Kd3?

• White allows his King to be forced into an open center.
• 31.Rd1 Qxc5+ 32.Kb3 Qe3+ 33.Bd3 e5 34.a4 Qb6+ remains equal.
• 31.c6 bxc6 32.Ne6+ Kf6 33.Nf8 h6 34.h5 g5 remains equal.

BLACK: Wesley So
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WHITE: Saleh Salem
Position after 31.Kc2d3

31...Qa3+! 32.Kd4

• If 32.Kd2 then 32...Qxa2+ 33.Ke3 Qc2 34.f4 h6 35.Nh3 Qxc5+ wins easily for Black.

32...Qxa2 33.Bc4

• No better is 33.Bf1 h6 34.Nh3 e6.

33...Qd2+ 34.Ke5

• If 34.Bd3 then Black wins easily after 34...h6 35.Nh3 e5+ 36.Kxe5 Qxd3 37.Kf4 Qd4+.

34...Qc3+ 35.Kd5 h6 36.Ne6+

• If 36.Rb1 Black plays 36...hxg5 37.Rxb7 gxh4 38.Rxa7 h3 39.gxh3 Qxf3+ and crushes Black.

36...Kf6 37.Nd4 e6+! 0-1

• Black wins a piece.
• Salem Sahib resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bernales - Sukandar, Women's Group, Round 1

Irine Kharisma Sukandar, 18, is Indonesia's strongest woman chess master.



Irine Kharisma Sukandar
Photo: ChessBase.com


Christy Bernales - Irine Kharisma Sukandar
Ninth Asian Championships (Women's Group), Round 1
Subic Bay, 21 April 2010

Closed Sicilian Game: Grand Prix Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5

• If 5.Bc4 then:
• If 5...e6 6.f5 Nge7 7.fxe6 then:
• If 7...fxe6 8.d3 d5 9.Bb3 b5 then:
• 10.exd5 exd5 11.0-0 c4 12.dxc4 dxc4 13.Qxd8+ Nxd8 14.Nxb5 cxb3 15.Nc7+ Kd7 16.Nxa8 bxc2 17.Rf2 Nd5 18.Rxc2 Ne6 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Rd1 Rxa8 gives Black the active game (Guerrero-Shaw, Op, Gibraltar, 2004).
• If 10.0-0 c4 11.dxc4 dxc4 12.Qxd8+ then:
• If 12...Kxd8 13.Nxb5 cxb3 then:
• If 14.Ng5? bxc2! 15.Nf7+ Kd7 16.Rf2 Nd4!! then:
• 17.Nxh8 Nxb5 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Rxc2 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 e5 21.Bg5 Bb7 22.Re1 Re8 23.Rce2 Nd6 24.h4 Nc6 White resigns (Topel-Kisonova, World Jr ChW, Athens, 2001).
• 17.Nxd4 loses to 17...Bxd4 18.Nxh8 Bb7 19.Nf7 Bxf2+ 20.Kxf2 Rf8.
• 14.axb3 h6 15.Bf4 Bd7 16.Bc7+ Kc8 17.Bg3 Rg8 is equal.
• 12...Nxd8 13.Nxb5 cxb3 14.Nc7+ Kd7 15.Nxa8 bxc2 16.Rf2 Bb7 17.Rd2+ Kc8 18.Rxc2+ gives White the initiative (Paschall-Bakre, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2001.12).
• If 7...dxe6 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 Na5 10.Bb3 then:
• 10...Bd7 11.Bg5 b5 12.Qe1 f6 13.Bd2 Rb8 14.Nd5 Nec6 15.Nf4 Nxb3 16.axb3 c4 is equal (Rasmussen-Hammer, Politiken Cup, Helsingør, 2007).
• 10...Nec6 11.Qe1 Nxb3 12.axb3 Nd4 13.Rf2 b6 14.Be3 Bb7 15.Qd2 f5 16.Bh6 fxe4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.dxe4 Bc6 20.Qxd4+ cxd4 21.Rxf8 Kxf8 22.Ne2 e5 23.c3 Bxe4 draw (Holmsten-Yrjola, Op, Jyvaskyla, 2000).
• If 5...d6 6.0-0 e6 7.d3 Nge7 8.Qe1 0-0 9.f5 d5 10.Bb3 then:
• 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 exf5 12.Qh4 fxe4 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nxf7 Qd4+ 15.Kh1 c4 16.Nxh6+ Bxh6 17.Bxh6 Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Nf5 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative (Macieja-Nakamura, IT, Bermuda, 2002).
• 10...c4 11.dxc4 dxe4 12.f6 Bxf6 13.Nxe4 Bg7 14.Bg5 f6 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Be3 b6 17.Nd6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gdanski-Wojkiewicz, Zonal, Budapest, 1993).

5...Nd4 6.0-0 a6

• If 6...Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.d3 Nf6 then:
• 9.Qe1 0-0 10.Qh4 c4 11.Nc3 cxd3 12.cxd3 b5 13.f5 b4 14.Ne2 Ba6 15.Nf4 Qb6+ 16.Kh1 Rac8 17.Ng5 Rc2 18.Nd5 Black resigns (Zude-Lowitz, Trmt, Nuremberg, 2006).
• 9.a4 0-0 10.Qe1 Bd7 11.Nc3 Bc6 12.Qh4 e6 13.f5 exf5 14.exf5 Nh5 15.Qf2 gxf5 is equal (Lappage-McDonnell, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).

7.Bc4 e6

• 7...b5 8.Bd5 Rb8 9.d3 e6 10.Bb3 Ne7 11.Be3 Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 d6 13.e5 Bb7 14.Qf2 Nf5 15.Rae1 0-0 16.Kh1 Qd7 gives Black the advantage in space (Larsson-Schoonhoven, Corres, 2002).

8.Nxd4!?

• 8.d3 Ne7 9.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 10.Kh1 d5 11.Bb3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 dxe4 13.dxe4 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bd7 15.a4 a5 16.Bc4 Bc6 17.Bb5 Rd8 18.Be3 Bxb5 19.axb5 b6 20.c4 0-0 21.g4 Nc8 22.e5 f6 23.Kg2 f5 24.g5 draw (Ringoir-Doran, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

8...cxd4

• The game is equal.

9.Ne2 Ne7 10.Bb3 0-0 11.d3 d6 12.Ng3

• 12.c3 dxc3 13.bxc3 Qb6+ 14.d4 Qc6 15.Qd3 remains equal.

12...Kh8

• Black gets her King out of the line of the White Bishop's fire.
• 12...Qc7 13.Qf3 f5 14.Bd2 Bd7 15.Rac1 a5 16.exf5 remains equal.

13.Kh1 f5 14.Qe2 Bd7 15.Bd2

• Better is 15.exf5 (weakening Black's central pawns) 15...Nxf5 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Bd2 Re8 18.Qf2.

15...Qb6 16.Rae1 Rae8 17.exf5

• If 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Nc6 19.Bf4 h6 20.c3 then:
• 20...Qa5 21.Qd2 g5 22.Bxg5 dxc3 23.Qe2 hxg5 24.Qh5+ remains equal.
• If 20...g5?! then:
• 21.Bxg5!! hxg5 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Nxf5 gives White a strong attack for the sacrificed material.
• If 21.Bd2!? then:
• 21...f4 22.Nh5 Bxe5 23.Qf3 Bc7 24.Qh3 Kh7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 21...Qc7 22.Rc1 then:
• 22...Qxe5 23.Qh5 Kg8 24.Rf3 Re7 is equal.
• If 22...Bxe5!? 23.Bxg5 hxg5 then:
• If 24.Qh5+! Kg8 25.Qg6+ Kh8 then:
• 26.Nxf5 Bc8 27.Rf3 g4 28.Qxg4 Qh7 29.Rh3 exf5 is equal.
• 26.Qh5+ Kg8 etc. draws.
• 24.cxd4 Bf4 25.Rc3 Qd6 26.Qd1 Nxd4

17...exf5 18.Qf2 Bc6

• 18...a5 19.a4 Bc6 20.Re2 Nd5 21.Rfe1 Ne3 remains equal.

19.Re6 Nd5 20.Rfe1
BLACK: Irine Kharisma Sukandar
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WHITE: Christy Bernales
Position after 20.Rf1e1

20...Ne3!?

• This move isn't accurate, but the young lady may be playing a deliberate provocation.
• 20...Rxe6 21.Rxe6 Ne3 22.Bxe3 dxe3 23.Qxe3 Qxe3 24.Rxe3 remains equal.

21.Bxe3?!

• The center of the board is mostly clear of pawns, something that will favor the side with the Bishop pair. White should not give up her Bishop so easily.
• Better is 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Nf1 Ng4 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Qe1.

21...Rxe6 22.Bxe6 dxe3 23.Qxe3 Qxb2 24.Bb3 Bf6!?

• This move blocks the Queen's escape route.
• 24...b5 25.Ne2 Re8 26.Qf2 a5 27.Ng1 Ra8 gives Black the edge in queenside space.

25.Ne2

• This move leaves the Queen's escape along the long diagonal completely covered.
• Nevertheless, White should play 25.Qf2! Re8 26.Rxe8+ Bxe8 27.h3 Qa1+ 28.Kh2 leaving White very much in the game.

25...Re8 26.Qg1!?

• This move fails to defend too many vital points.
If
• 26.Qd2! Re7 27.Kg1 Bh4 then:
• 28.g3! Bf6 29.Kf1 Bg7 30.Qb4 Bf3 31.Qd2 Bg4 is equal.
• 28.Rd1!? b5! 29.d4 Bf6 30.Nc3 b4 gives Black the initiative.

26...Kg7 27.Rb1?
BLACK: Irine Kharisma Sukandar
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WHITE: Christy Bernales
Position after 27.Re1b1

• Black goes after the Queen, but leaves her Knight loose.
• 27.a4 h6 28.Qf2 Bd8 29.Rg1 Ba5 30.Nd4 Bd7 gives Black an impressive advantage in space, but White still has defensive resources.

27...Qxb1!!

• The Queen sacrifice settles matters.
• If 27...Qa3!? then after 28.Nd4 Bd7 29.Re1 Rxe1 30.Qxe1 Qb2 31.Ne2 White can still fight and fight hard.

28.Qxb1 Rxe2 29.Qf1 Rd2 30.Qg1 Kh6!

• Black wisely avoids a Bishops-of-opposite-colors ending, which would make it easier for White to salvage a half point.
• 30...Bxg2+!? 31.Qxg2 Rxg2 32.Kxg2 Bc3 gives White hopes of a drawn game, although its still an uphill fight for even that.

31.h3 Bh4 32.Kh2 Rf2 33.a3

• If 33.d4 then 33...Be4! 34.c4 Rd2 35.Qf1 Bf2 36.Bd1 Bxd4 wins.

33...Kg7 34.c3 h6 35.Be6

• If 35.Bd1 b5 36.c4 Kf6 then:
• 37.Kh1 Bxg2+ 38.Qxg2 Rxg2 39.Kxg2 Be1 wins for Black in spite of the Bishops-of-opposite colors because White's a-pawn is toast.
• 37.Bb3 g5 38.d4 Be4 39.fxg5+ hxg5 is an easy win for Black.

35...Kf6 36.Bg8 g5 37.fxg5+ hxg5 38.c4
BLACK: Irine Kharisma Sukandar
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WHITE: Christy Bernales
Position after 38.c3c4

38...f4!

• 38...Rxg2+ 39.Qxg2 Bxg2 40.Kxg2 b5 41.Bd5 gives White a fighting chance to draw the game.

39.Bd5 Bg3+ 40.Kh1 Bxd5 41.cxd5 Re2 0-1

• White must either lose the Queen for the Rook or allow mate.
• Ms. Bernales resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Bonus Games: World Championship III: Karpov and Kasparpv, the Schism and the Present

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand (center) flanked by
former champions Garry Kasporov and Anatoly Karpov
Photo: ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Karpov - Kasparov, Round 9, Moscow, 1984

Anatoly Karpov became world champion in 1975 when Bobby Fischer declined to defend his title. To demonstrate his worthiness, Karpov spent the next three years participating in and winning a number of strong tournaments.

He lost the title in 1985 to Garry Kasparov, then only 22 years old. Between 1984 and 1990, the two fought a total of five matches for the world championship which generated some of the greatest chess ever.



Anatoly Karpov
Photo: Endgame: Montreal 1979 (Holland)


Anatoly Karpov - Garry Kasparov
Match for the World Title, Round 9
Moscow, 5 October 1984

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Tarrasch Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5

• The defense that Dr. Tarrasch advocated for so long was a favorite of the young Kasparov. Since Dr. Tarrasch (who called it the Normal Defense) was prone to overstating his case, let us just say that if Black can get the activity for his pieces that Tarrasch promised in exchange for accepting weaknesses in his pawn structure, then Black will have a playable game.

4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3

• The finachetto of the King's Bishop in opposition to this defense is a legacy of Akiba Rubinstein. See not to Black's ninth move.
• The more common move order is 5.Nc3 Nc6 when:
• If 6.g3 then:
• If 6...c4!? 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.0-0 Nge7 then:
• If 9.e4 then:
• 9...0-0 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.a3 Ba5 14.Ne5 Qb5 15.a4 Qa6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Rfc1 gives White a small advantage owing to his pressure on the c-file (Timoshchenko-Tseitlin, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
• If 9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 0-0 11.a3 Ba5 12.Qa4 Bb6 then:
• 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.d5 Qxe4 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Nd2 Qd4 18.Nxc4 gives White the initiative (Dr. Euwe-Stoltz, Match, Zaanstreek, 1946).
• 13.Be3 Be6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Nd5 16.Bg5 Qc7 (Korchnoi-Rodríguez, IT, Salamanca, 1991).
• 9.Bd2 0-0 10.b3 Qa5 11.Qe1 cxb3 12.axb3 Qd8 13.Na4 Bd6 14.b4 a6 15.Nc5 b6 is equal (Taimanov-Kholmov, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).
• 6...Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 transposes into the text
• If 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Ngxe7 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e3 then:
• 9...0-0 10.Bd3 Qxc5 11.0-0 Be6 12.Ng5 h6 is equal (Marshall-Dr. Tarrasch, Match, Nuremberg, 1905).
• 9...Qxc5 10.Bd3 Bg4 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Re1 f5 13.h3 Bh5 14.Be2 0-0 15.Nd4 Bxe2 16.Ncxe2 gives White the advantage in space (Marshall-Dr. Lasker, World Ch Match, New York, 1907).

5...Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Bg5

• If 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5 d4 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Nd2 then:
• If 13...Re8 14.Rc1 then:
• If 14...Bb6 15.Re1 Bg4 16.Nc4 Ba5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.b4 Nxb4 then:
• If 19.Qxd4 Nxd5 20.Qxg4 then:
• If 20...Nf6 21.Qc4 then:
• 21...Rab8 22.Bf3 b5 23.Qb3 h6 24.Kg2 Rbc8 25.Red1 Qb6 26.Rb1 draw (Ghaem Maghami-Mamedyarov, Match, Baku, 2003).
• 21...b5 22.Qc7 Qxc7 23.Rxc7 Rac8 24.Rxa7 Rc2 25.Bf3 g5 26.e3 Rd8 27.Ra5 Rdd2 28.Rf1 h6 29.Rxb5 draw (Sjogren-Haag, Op, Bergen, 2000).
• If 20...Rad8 then:
• 21.Qc4 b6 22.Bf3 Nf6 23.Red1 g6 24.Kg2 Kg7 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Qb3 Qd2 27.Qa3 Rd7 28.Rc6 Qd4 29.Rc8 Qd6 is equal (Inarkiev-Potkin, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
• 21.Red1 Nf6 22.Qc4 b5 23.Qc2 h6 24.Bf3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Rc1 b4 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Bosch, Op, Hoogeveen, 1999).
• 19.Qd2 Nc6 20.Qxa5 Nxa5 21.f3 d3 22.Ra1 Bd7 draw (Jussupow-Petursson, Op, Reykjavik, 1985).
• 14...Bf8 15.Nf4 Bd6 16.Nd3 Bg4 17.Re1 Nb4 18.Ne4 Bf5 19.Ndc5 Bxc5 20.Nxc5 is equal (Almeida-Martínez, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2007).
• 13...a6 14.Rc1 Ba7 15.Nf4 Ne5 16.Nf3 Re8 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.e4 Bd7 is equal (Haba-Frolik, Op, Pardubice, 2005).

9...cxd4

• If 9...Be6 10.Rc1 cxd4 11.Nxd4 then:
• If 11...Nxd4 12.Qxd4 then:
• 12...Qd7 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxd7 Bxd7 15.Nxe4 Bc6 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Bh6 Rfc8 18.Bxc6 Rxc6 19.Rxc6 bxc6 20.Rc1 leaves White clearly better (Rubinstein-Salwe, Match, Lodz, 1908).
• 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Qxd7 Rxd7 16.Rxd7 Bxd7 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe7 Bc6 is equal (J. Henriksson-P. Johnson, Op, Gibraltar, 2010).
• 12...h6 13.Bf4 Qa5 14.a3 Rac8 15.Bd2 Qa6 16.e3 Rfd8 is equal (Marchand-R. Scott, IT, Bromley, 1920).
• If 11...h6 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Bh3 then:
• 14...g5 15.Bd2 d4 16.Na4 Ne4 17.Be1 Qd5 18.Bg2 gives White a tactical edge, but his Knight is poorly placed (Capablanca-Olland, IT, Hastings, 1919).
• 14...Bd6 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 exd5 17.Bxd7 Bxf4 18.gxf4 is equal (Adamski-Dr. Nunn, IT, Lublin, 1978).

10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Qb3

• If 12.Rc1 Bf8 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• If 14.Na4 Bd7 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 then:
• If 16...Bg4 17.Re1 Qa5 then:
• 18.h3 Bf5 19.Qd4 Rab8 20.a3 Qb5 21.b3 Ne4 22.b4 a5 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc5 Qb6 25.bxa5 gives White an extra pawn (Kasparov-Illescas, IT, Linares, 1994).
• 18.Qc2 Rab8 19.b3 Re7 20.h3 Bh5 21.Nd3 Bg6 22.Qc5 Qxc5 23.Nxc5 Black's pawn weaknesses leave White only slightly better (Ribli-Lobron, Bundesliga 9091, Frankfurt, 1990).
• 16...Bf5 17.e3 Rb8 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.b3 Ne4 20.Qd4 gives White a better center (Browne-Leski, IT, San Fransisco, 1987).
• If 14.Bd4 then:
• 14...Bg4 15.f3 Be7 16.Na4 g6 17.Nc5 Bf5 18.g4 Bc8 19.Qa4 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Mikhalevski-Sambuev, Op, Ottawa, 2007).
• 14...Nh7 15.Na4 Bg4 16.Re1 Qd7 17.Bc5 Ng5 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.Qc2 Kg8 20.Nc5 Qe7 21.Nd3 Bf5 22.Qc5 Bxd3 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.exd3 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Rb8 is equal (Adorjan-Lobron, IT, Indonesia, 1983).

12...Na5 13.Qc2 Bg4 14.Nf5

• If 14.h3 then:
• If 14...Bh5 15.Rad1 Rc8 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 Bb4 18.Bd4 then:
• If 18...Ne4 19.Qa4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 then:
• 20...Bxf5 21.gxf5 Nc6 22.Qb5 d4 23.Qa4 Qh4 24.Bxd4 Ng5 25.Rd3 Rxe2 26.Qd1 White's Bishops have better potential than Black's Knights (Korchnoi-Ivkov, IT, Rovinj/Zagreb, 1970).
• 20...Nc4 21.Qxa7 Bxf5 22.gxf5 Nxc3 23.bxc3 Qb6 24.Qxb6 Nxb6 25.e3 Re5 26.f6 gives White stronger kingside pawns (W. Schmidt-Chandler, IT, Nis, 1983).
• If 18...b6 19.a3 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Nc4 then:
• 21.Kh1!? Nxa3!! 22.bxa3 Bxf5 23.gxf5 Qc7 gives Black the initiative for the equivalent of two pawns (van Wely-Cifuentes, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).
• 21.Qd3! Ne5 22.Qg3 Nc4 23.Rfe1 Bxf5 24.gxf5 is equal.
• If 14...Bd7 15.Rad1 Rc8 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Bc5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxe3 19.Nxe3 Qc7 20.Kh2 Be6 21.Rd4 Bxa2 is equal (de Boer-Vladimirov, IT, Tilburg, 1994).
• 16...Bf8 17.Bxd5 Re5 18.Nxh6+ gxh6 19.Qg6+ gives White an excellent game (Tal-Stean, IT, Moscow, 1975).

14...Rc8

• This new move was introduced earlier in the match.
• 14...Bb4 15.Bd4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Rxe2 17.Qd3 Re8 18.Ne3 Be6 is equal (Portisch-Chandler, IT, Amsterdam, 1984).

15.Bd4

• If 15.Nxe7+ then after 15...Rxe7 16.Rad1 Qe8 17.h3 Bh5 18.Bxd5 Bg6 Black's activity compensates for the pawn (Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch Match Rd 7, Moscow, 1984).

15...Bc5 16.Bxc5

• 16.e3!? Ne4! 17.Nh4 Bxd4 18.exd4 b5 gives Black the advantage in space (Savchenko-Ivanchuk, Rpd, Black Sea, 2006).

16...Rxc5 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Rad1

• If 18.Rfd1 then:
• 18...Nc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Qd3 Qc8 21.e3 Bg4 22.Re1 Bf5 23.Qd1 d4 24.exd4 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Rxd4 26.Nb5 Rd8 27.Rd1 Rxd1 28.Qxd1 Be4 29.Nc3 draw (Shipov-Bezgodov, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
• 18...Nc6 19.Qa4 Qe7 20.Ncxd5 Bxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Bxd5 Qxe2 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Qxc6 leaves White a pawn to the good (Riazantsev-Yemelin, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).

18...Qc8 19.Qa4 Rd8 20.Rd3 a6 21.Rfd1 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Rxc4 23.Qa5 Rc5!?

• 23...Rd7 24.Rd4 b5 25.Rxc4 dxc4 26.Rf1 Rd6 draw (Morovic-Salazar, ZT, Santiago, 1986).

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 23...Rc4c5

24.Qb6

• The game somewhat better for White based on superior pawn structure.
• Better is 24.Qa3! Qc7 25.e4 Bg4 26.f3 Be6 27.exd5 gives White the more active game.

24...Rd7 25.Rd4

• 25.a3 a5 26.e3 Bg4 27.R1d2 Be6 28.Rd4 Qc6 is slightly better for White, as he is the one actively pressureing Black's weak pawn at d5.

25...Qc7 26.Qxc7 Rdxc7 27.h3!

• Writes Graham Burgess in The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games: "Karpov gives his King a flight square and prepares to inch up the kingside."

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 27.h2h3

27...h5!

• Black shows that in spite of his isolated d-pawn he has a quite playable game, slowing down White's kingside ambitions.

28.a3 g6 29.e3 Kg7 30.Kh2

• If 30.h4!? Rc4 31.R4d2 Bg4 then:
• 32.f3 Be6 33.Ne2 b5 34.Nd4 Nd7 is equal.
• 32.Rb1 Ne4 33.Rxd5 Nxc3 34.bxc3 Rxc3 35.a4 is equal.

30...Rc4 31.Bf3

• If 31.Nxd5 Nxd5 then:
• If 32.Bxd5! then:
• 32...Rxd4! 33.Rxd4 Bxd5 34.Rxd5 Rc2! remains equal.
• 32...Bxd5 33.Rxd5 Rc2 34.R1d2 Rxd2 35.Rxd2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 32.Rxc4!? Rxc4 33.Bxd5 Bxd5 34.Rxd5 Rc2! remains equal.
• If 31.Rxc4!? Rxc4 32.Kg1 Rc5! then:
• If 33.Rd3 b5 34.Rd4 g5 35.h4 g4 remains equal.
• 33.h4 b6 34.Kf1 Kf8 35.Rd2 Ke7 remains equal.

31...b5 32.Kg2 R7c5! 33.Rxc4

• 33.h4 Kf8 34.Kf1 Rxd4 35.Rxd4 Ke7 remains equal.

33...Rxc4 34.Rd4!?

• This is the time to take the weak pawn.
• If 34.Nxd5! Bxd5 35.Bxd5 Nxd5 36.Rxd5 Rc2 then:
• After 37.Rd6! a5 38.b4 a4 39.Rd3 f5 40.h4 White has an extra pawn and Black is out of reserve pawn tempi.
• Not quite as good is 37.Rd8 when after 37...Rxb2 38.Ra8 Ra2 39.Rxa6 b4 40.a4 White is still better, but must contend with Black's passer.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 34.Rc4d4

34...Kf8!

• The game remains equal.

35.Be2!

• Karpov forces his opponent to make a decision.

35...Rxd4!?

• While this gives White an isolated d-pawn to balance the one Black assumed by his choice of opening, it also saddles Black with a bad Bishop.
• If 35...Rc5 36.Bd3 Nd7 37.f4 then:
• If 37...Nf6 38.a4 bxa4 39.Nxa4 Rc6 remains equal.
• 37...Nb6 38.Ne2 Nc4 39.Bxc4 Rxc4 remains equal.

36.exd4 Ke7 37.Na2 Bc8 38.Nb4 Kd6

• The King will guard the d-pawn, freeing the Knight.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 38.Ke7d6

39.f3 Ng8 40.h4

• 40.f4 Nh6 41.Nc2 Nf5 42.g4 Ng7 43.Kg3 hxg4 44.hxg4 remains equal.

40...Nh6 41.Kf2 Nf5 42.Nc2 f6 43.Bd3 g5 44.Bxf5 Bxf5

• While my silcon sidekick rates the game equal, Burgess writes that White has a good Knight against Black's "somewhat bad" Bishop.

45.Ne3 Bb1 46.b4 gxh4

• 46...Ke6 47.Ng2 Bg6 48.g4 hxg4 49.fxg4 gxh4 50.Nxh4 remains equal.

47.Ng2

• If 47.gxh4 Bg6 48.Ng2 Bf7 49.Nf4! then:
• 49...Ke7 50.Nd3 Be6 51.Nc5 Bc8 52.Ke3 Kd6 53.f4 offers nothing to anybody.
• 49...Be8 50.Nd3 Bd7 51.Nc5 Bc8 52.Ke3 Kc6 53.f4 is really drawish.

47...hxg3+ 48.Kxg3 Ke6 49.Nf4+ Kf5 50.Nxh5

• 50.Nxd5 Kg5 51.f4+ Kf5 52.Nc7 h4+ 53.Kxh4 Kxf4 remains equal.

50...Ke6 51.Nf4+ Kd6 52.Kg4

• 52.Kf2 Bc2 53.Kg2 Bh7 54.Kf1 Bf5 remains equal.

52...Bc2?

• Kasparov has defended heroically, but now allows his pieces to be ensnared behind enemy lines.
• 52...Bh7 53.Nh5 Ke7 54.f4 Bc2 55.f5 Bd1+ remains equal.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 52...Bb1c2

53.Kh5!

• White goes after the f-pawn.

53...Bd1

• 53...Bb1 54.Kh6 f5 55.Nh5 Bc2 56.Ng7 f4 57.Kg5 wins the pawn.

54.Kg6 Ke7

• If 54...Bxf3 then after 55.Kxf6 Bg4 56.Nd3 Be6 57.Nc5 Bc8 58.Kg5 White's Knight is active, Black's Bishop is not.

55.Nxd5+!

• White goes up by a pawn.
• 55.Nh5? Bxf3 56.Nxf6 Ke6 restores equality.

55...Ke6

• 55...Kd6 56.Nxf6 Bxf3 57.Kf5 Bg2 58.Kf4 Ke6 59.Nh5 Kd5 60.Ke3 then after the King move the Knight plays to f4 and swings into action against Black's queenside.

56.Nc7+!

• White goes up by two pawns.

56...Kd7 57.Nxa6 Bxf3 58.Kxf6 Kd6 59.Kf5

• 59.Nc5 Kd5 60.Ne6 Kd6 61.Nf4 Bc6 62.Kg5 Bd7 63.Nd3 gives White a tremendous advantage.

59...Kd5 60.Kf4 Bh1 61.Ke3 Kc4

• If 61...Kd6 62.Nc5 then:
• If 62...Kd5 63.Kd3 Bg2 64.a4 then:
• 64...Bf1+ 65.Kc3 bxa4 66.Nxa4 Be2 67.Nb6+ wins for White.
• 64...bxa4 65.Nxa4 Bf1+ 66.Kc3 wins.
• 62...Bc6 63.Ne4+ Kd5 64.Kd3 Ke6 65.Nc3 Kd6 66.Ke3 leaves White two pawns to the good.

62.Nc5 Bc6 63.Nd3 Bg2 64.Ne5+ Kc3

• If 64...Kd5 65.Kd3 Kd6 66.Ng6 then:
• If 66...Bd5 67.Nf4 Bc4+ 68.Ke3 Bf1 69.Ne2 then:
• 69...Kd5 70.Nc3+ Kc4 71.Ne4 Kd5 72.Nc5 Bc4 73.a4 wins for White.
• 69...Bh3 70.Nc3 Bf1 71.Kf3 Bd3 72.Kf4 Bf1 73.Ke4 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• If 66...Bb7 67.Nf4 Bc6 68.Ne2 Bd7 69.Nc3 then:
• 69...Bc6 70.d5 Bd7 71.Kd4 Be8 72.Ne4+ Kc7 73.Kc5 Bg6 74.Nd6 wins.
• 69...Be8 70.Ke4 Bg6+ 71.Kf4 Bd3 72.d5 leaves White two pawns to the good.

65.Ng6 Kc4

• 65...Bh1 66.Nf4 Kc4 67.Ne6 then:
• 67...Kb3 68.Kd3 Kxa3 69.Kc3 Ka4 70.Nc7 Bc6 71.d5 wins for White.
• If 67...Bc6 68.Nc7 Kb3 69.d5 Bd7 70.Kd4 then:
• 70...Kxa3 71.Kc5 Ka4 72.d6 the King must withdraw and Black's pawn falls.
• 70...Ka4 71.Kc5 Kxa3 72.Nxb5+ wins easily.

66.Ne7 Bb7
BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 66...Bg2b7

67.Nf5!

• White threatens 68.Nd6+.

67...Bg2

• If 67...Kb3 then after 68.Kd3 Kxa3 69.Kc3 Bd5 70.Ne3 Be6 71.d5 White wins.

68.Nd6+ Kb3 69.Nxb5 Ka4 70.Nd6 1-0

• Black's King cannot move forward in order to defend against advancing White pawns.
• 70...Bd5 71.Kf4 Bh1 72.Ke5 Bg2 73.d5 serves to underscore that White must allow a pawn to Queen or lose his Bishop, after which White still has two more pawns.
• Garry Kimovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Karpov - Kasparov, Round 16, Moscow, 1985

Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov
palyed five matches for the world title from 1984 through 1990
Photo: ChessBase.com


Anatoly Karpov - Garry Kasparov
Match for the World Title, Round 16
Moscow, 15 October 1985

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense (Szen Opening/Kasparov Gambit)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6

• For a detailed survey of the Taimanov Defense, see Smith-Stellwagan, IT, Malmø, 2008.

5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 8.Nb5a3

8...d5

• This move is Kasparov's innovation and was played for the first time in this match. Kasparov played it in an earlier game and repeated it here.
• The main line is 8...Be7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.Be3 when:
• 11...Bb7 12.Qb3 Nd7 13.Rfd1 Nc5 favors Black with more active pieces, especially his Knights.
• If 11...Ne5 12.f4 Ned7 13.Bf3 Bb7 is balanced.

9.cxd5 exd5 10.exd5 Nb4

• In the 12th game of the match, play continued 11.Bc4 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2+ Qe7 14.Be3 Nbxd5 15.Nc2 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Qe6 17.O-O Bc5 18.Rfe1 O-O draw.

11.Be2 Bc5!?

• Kasparov prepared this move as well.
• 11...Nbxd5 12.0-0 Be7 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bf3 Be6 15.Nc2 is better for White in Kasparov's judgment.

12.0-0?!

• This move is regarded now as inferior.
• A few months later, Karpov again had this position and played 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Qa4+ Nd7 14.Qxb4 Bc5 15.Qe4+ Kf8 16.0-0 b5 17.Nc2 Nf6 18.Qd3 giving White an extra pawn and more freedom (Karpov-van der Wiel, Brussels 1986).

12...0-0 13.Bf3 Bf5 14.Bg5 Re8

• Black brings his Rook to an active post.
• 14...Nd3! 15.Qd2 Be7 16.Rfd1 Bc5 17.Be3 the Knight at d3 is a long term problem for White.

15.Qd2 b5 16.Rad1

• White's pieces are suffocating each other at home.
• 16.Qf4! Bg6 17.Qh4 Nd3 18.d6 Ra7 19.Nd5 does more to bring White's pieces to life.

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
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WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 16.Ra1d1

16...Nd3!!

• This Knight has come to be called in chess lore the octopus. It's tenticles are all over White's camp. The Knight will be a facotr for the rest of the game.

17.Nab1

• White is laboring to regroup his pieces. Black's position has bedome so dominant that White is fast running out of satisfactory moves.
• After17. d6 Qxd6 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 Black's pieces are still active and he has two minor pieces for a Rook.

17...h6 18.Bh4 b4 19.Na4

• The Knight must run to the flank because there's no place for him in the center.
• If 19. Ne2 Ne5 20. Bh5 Bd3 21. Kh1 then:
• 21...Bb5! 22.a3 a5 23.Qc2 Rc8 is balanced.
• 21...Bxb1 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Rxb1 continues to give Black more freedom in compensation for his pawn minus.

19...Bd6 20.Bg3

• Black keeps the Bishop on the h7/a2 diagonal in order to protect the Knight.
• 20.Qc2 Rc8 21.Qb3 Ne5 22.Rd2 a5 23.Be2 Ng6 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal.

20...Rc8 21.b3 g5 22.Bxd6?!

• White trades his most active piece.
• After 22.h3 Be5 23.a3 Ne4 24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.axb4 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Qxd5 White could show signs of breaking out.

22...Qxd6 23.g3 Nd7

• Better is 23...Re5 24.Nb2 Nxb2 25.Qxb2 Nxd5 26.Qd4 Rd8 27.Nd2 Nc3 when Black continues to enjoy the edge with active pieces.

24.Bg2 Qf6

• The position is level.
• After 24...N7e5?! 25.Qe3 Qf6 26.Qb6 Nd7 27.Qxf6 Nxf6 28.Nb6 White is fighting back.

25.a3

• If 25.h3 Re7 then:
• After 26.a3 bxa3 27.Nxa3 N7e5 28.b4 Rb7 29.f4 gxf4 30.gxf4 Ng6 White's pawn is counting for less.
• After font color="darkred"]26.f4 gxf4 27.g4 Bg6 28.a3 a5 29.axb4 axb4 Black has regained his pawn and has a clear advantage.

25...a5 26.axb4 axb4 27.Qa2

• White still has trouble maneuvering in his own camp, so dominant are Balck's pieces.
• After 27.h3 Re7 28.Qa2 N7e5 29.Qd2 Rce8 30.Qa2 Black still has more freedom.

27...Bg6 28.d6?

• White seems to have no other moves, so he advances the pawn to its doom.
• Nevertheless, better is 25. h3 Re7 when:
• After 26.a3 bxa3 27.Nxa3 N7e5 28.b4 Rb7 29.f4 gxf4 30.gxf4 Ng6 White's pawn is counting for less.
• After 26. f4 gxf4 27. g4 Bg6 28. a3 a5 29. axb4 axb4 Black has regained his pawn and has a clear advantage.

29...g4 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3

• If 30.h3 h5 then:
• After 31.Kh2 Rcd8 32.f4 Bf5 33.Bd5 Qxd6 34.Bc4 Nf6 Black still has the advantage in mobility.
• After 31.f4 gxf3 32.Rxf3 Qxd6 33.Rdf1 N7e5 34.Rf6 Qxf6 35.Rxf6 Kxf6 Black's two Rook trump White's Queen.

30...Qxd6 31.fxg4

• 31.Nb2 Qd4+ 32.Kh1 Qxb2 33.Qxb2+ Nxb2 34.Rxd7 Re3 Black's superior piece activity will soon achieve a won position.

31...Qd4+ 32.Kh1 Nf6 33.Rf4

• After 33. h3 Ne4 34. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 35. Kg1 Re6 36. Kh2 Qe2+ 37. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 38. Kg1 Rcc2 the end is in sight.

33...Ne4 34.Qxd3

BLACK: Garry Kasparov
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Anatoly Karpov
Position after 34.Qd2d3:N

34...Nf2+!

• Kasparov now does what a great tactician with superior piece does: puts on a display of tacitical flair, statrtin with a fork that forces White to give up the exchange.

35.Rxf2 Bxd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3 37.Rxd3 Rc1!

• This double attack on both Rooks combined with a fork on the back rank is another fine tactical shot.

38.Nb2

• 38.h3 Rxb1 39.Rxe3 Rxd1+ 40.Kh2 Rxe3 is lights out.
• 38. Rxe3 Rxd1+ 39. Bf1 Rxe3 is a resignable position for White.
• The rest is forced.

38...Qf2 39.Nd2 Rxd1+ 40.Nxd1 Re1+ 0-1

• Black mates in two.
• Anatoly Evgenyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kasparov - Anand, Round 10, New York, 1995

In 1993, Kasparov, whose relationship with FIDE was always tempestuous, and his official challenger, British GM Nigel Short, became so impatient with FIDE's incompetence in organization their match that they broake away from the world governing body and organized their own match. The pair proved that they could organize a match as well as FIDE could, if not a lot better.

FIDE, however, took exception to being shown up and stripped Kasparov of his title, organizing a match between Jan Timman and Anatoly Karpov for the title (Mr. Short had beaten both of them in candidates' matches). Thus began the great chess schism, a period of 13 years in which there were two world champions at any given moment.

After becoming president of FIDE in 1995, Kirsan Ilyumzhanov added to the confusion by reinventing FIDE's world championship cycle, substituting a knock out tournament for the world championship match. While Kasparov maintained he was the world champion until somebody beat him, Kirsan maintained that the winner of the most recent knock out tounament was. At one point this was Vishy Anand, a perfectly credible champion who is, in fact, the current reigning champion today. At another point it was Alexander Khalifman, a Russian grandmaster ranked about 50th in the world at that time. While Khalifman is a fine player, he is certainly not of the calibur of Lasker, Capablanca or Alekhine, and certainly not Kasparov.

After defending his title against Nigel Short in 1993, Kasparov organized another championship cycle in which Anand emerged as the challenger. The match began in the World Trade Center in New York on, ironically, September 11, 1995. Kasparov won the match with four victories, one loss and 13 draws.



Garry Kasparov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Garry Kasparov - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 10
New York, 26 September 1995

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Open Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 d4

• For a survey of this opening, see Grandelius-I. Sokolov, IT, Malmø, 2009.

11.Ng5

• If 11.Bxe6 Nxe6 12.cxd4 Ncxd4 13.a4 Be7 14.Nxd4 then:
• 14...Qxd4 15.axb5 Qxe5 16.bxa6 0-0 17.Qa4 Nc5 18.Qc4 Rfb8 19.Ra5 Qd6 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Bxb4 23.Ra4 Rb6 24.a7 Bc5 25.Rd1 h6 26.b4 Rxb4 27.Rxb4 Bxb4 28.Be3 Kf8 29.Rb1 Black resigns (Topalov-Korchnoi, IT, Madrid, 1996).
• 14...Nxd4 15.Ne4 0-0 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Be3 Qc8 18.Qc2 Qe6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Ra4 Rd7 21.Rfa1 Qd5 22.h3 f6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Rxa6 Rxa6 26.Rxa6 Nd4 27.Qa4 gives White a huge lead in space (Adams-Jussupow, Op, Hastings, 1989).

11...dxc3

• If 11...Qxg5 12.Qf3 0-0-0 then:
• If 13.Bxe6+ fxe6 14.Qxc6 Qxe5 then:
• If 15.b4 Qd5 16.Qxd5 exd5 17.bxc5 dxc3 18.Nb3 d4 19.Ba3 g6 20.Bb4 Bg7 then:
• 21.c6 d3 22.a4 d2 23.axb5 Kb8 24.Bc5 c2 25.Rxa6 d1Q 26.Ba7+ Kc8 27.Bd4 Kb8 28.Ba7+ draw (Smeets-Reinderman, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2008).
• If 21.a4 then:
• 21...d3 22.axb5 d2 23.c6 Kb8 24.Bc5 Rhe8 25.Nxd2 cxd2 26.Rab1 a5 27.b6 Bd4 28.Bxd4 Rxd4 29.bxc7+ Kxc7 30.Rfd1 Rde4 31.h4 Re1+ 32.Kh2 a4 White resigns (Burnett-Bacerra, USCL, Cyberspace, 2006).
• 21...Kd7 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rfd1 Ke6 24.Rac1 Rhe8 25.Kf1 Kf5 26.c6 g5 27.Ba5 Rd6 28.Bb4 Rdd8 29.Rd3 g4 30.Bc5 Ke4 31.Rcd1 h5 32.Nxd4 b4 33.Re3+ Kd5 34.Bxb4 Kc4 35.Bxc3 Rxe3 36.fxe3 Rf8+ 37.Ke2 Kxc3 38.Ne6 Black resigns (Kasparov-Shirov, IT, Linares, 2001).
• 15.cxd4 Qxd4 16.b4 Qxb4 17.a4 Bd6 18.Ba3 Qxd2 19.Bxc5 Qd5 20.Qxa6+ is equal (Ehlvest-Korneev, Op, Reykjavik, 2004).
• 13.Qxc6 dxc3 14.Nc4 bxc4 15.Bxg5 Bd5 16.Rad1 Bxc6 17.Rxd8+ Kb7 18.Bxc4 leaves White up by an exchange (Skage-Daoudi, Op, Gibraltar, 2010).

12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.bxc3 Qd3 14.Bc2

• "Kasparov is the absolute master of preparation," writes British GM and trainer John Emms in The Mammoth Book of Chess Games. He has shown on numerous occasions that it's particularly dangerous to repeat a line against him. Anand learned his lesson the hard way."
• 14.Nf3 0-0-0 15.Qe1 Nxb3 16.axb3 Kb7 17.Be3 Be7 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Nd4 Rxd4 21.cxd4 Qxb3 22.Qe3 Qxe3 23.fxe3 Nd5 24.Kf2 Kb6 25.Ke2 a5 26.Rf7 a4 27.Kd2 c5 28.e4 draw (Kasparov-Anand, World Ch Match Rd 6, New York, 1995).

14...Qxc3 15.Nb3 Nxb3!?

• If 15...Rd8 16.Bd2 then:
• If 16...Qxe5 17.Re1 Qd5 then:
• 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Bb3 Qd4 20.Rxe6+ Ne7 gives Black an extra pawn (J. Berg-O. Nevesteit, Corres, 1990).
• John Emms, in The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games, writes that Ian Rogers, a member of Kasparov's team, analyzed 18.Qg4! as leading to a strong attack for White, which seems to be bourne out by Fritz' continuation 18...Ne5 19.Qh3 Kf7 20.Bg5 Re8 21.Rad1.
• If 16...Rxd2 17.Nxd2 then:
• 17...Qxe5 18.Re1 Qf6 19.a4 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Nd4 22.Qd3 g6 23.Qxa6 Bd6 24.Bc6+ Kf7 25.Rad1 b3 26.Re4 Rb8 27.Rexd4 Qxd4 28.Rxd4 b2 29.g3 draw (Sakai-Epiney, Cyberspace, 2003).
• 17...Nxe5 18.Nb3 Ned7 19.Nd4 Bd6 20.Rc1 Qb2 21.Bb3 gives White a much better game; Black's Queen is in an awkward spot (Khalifman-Hracek, Keres Mem, Parnu, 1996).

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 15...Nc5b3:N

16.Bxb3!!

• Kasparov's response to Anand's novelty is to proffer his Rook.
• 16.Rb1 Nbd4 17.Qh5+ Kd7 18.Be4 g6 19.Qd1 Rd8 gives Black an extra piece.

16...Nd4!?

• Suddenly, White has the advantage with better pawn structure and a potentially deadly Bishop pair.
• 16...Qxa1 17.Qh5+! g6 18.Qf3 Nd8 19.Qf6 Qd4 20.Qxh8 is equal, with White's initiative giving him compensation for the pawn.

17.Qg4!

• 17.Bd2 Qd3 18.Be3 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1 Nxb3 20.axb3 a5 remains equal.

17...Qxa1 18.Bxe6 Rd8 19.Bh6!

• Black's kingside is paralyzed.
• 19.Bg5? Qb2 20.Bxd8 h5 21.Bf7+ Kxd8 22.Qg5+ Kc8 leaves Black a piece to the good.

19...Qc3

• If 19...gxh6?? then 20.Qh5+! Ke7 21.Qf7#.

20.Bxg7 Qd3

• If 20...Bxg7?? then 21.Qh5+! Kf8 22.Qf7#.

21.Bxh8

• White wins back the Rook.

21...Qg6?

• Black attempts to keep up with the threats.
• 21...Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Ng3+ 23.hxg3 Qxf1+ 24.Kh2 Qd3 is equal.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 21...Qd3g6

22.Bf6!

• White finds the move that parries all threats.
• 22.Qxg6+?! hxg6 23.Bg4 c5! 24.f4 c4 25.Bf6 Rd5 is equal.

22...Be7

• If 22...Qxg4 then after 23.Bxg4 Be7 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 25.f4 White's pawn keep rolling.

23.Bxe7 Qxg4 24.Bxg4 Kxe7

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Garry Kasparov
Position after 24...Ke8e7:B

25.Rc1!

• The Rook holds Black's queenside under restraint.

25...c6 26.f4 a5

• If 26...Rg8 27.Bd1 Rd8 28.Kf2 then:
• 28...c5 29.g4 c4 30.Ke3 Nc6 31.Be2 Rd5 32.h4 White wins by storming ahead with his kingside pawns.
• 28...Rd5 29.Ke3 c5 30.Ke4 Rd8 31.f5 c4 32.a3 wins for White.

27.Kf2 a4 28.Ke3 b4

• Black might last a little longer after 28...Kf8 29.g3 a3 30.f5 h5 31.Bxh5 Nxf5+ 32.Ke4.

29.Bd1

• If 29.Rc4 a3 then:
• 30.Kf2! b3 31.axb3 Nxb3 32.Ra4 White wins.
• 30.Rc1?! b3 31.axb3 Nxb3 32.Rc2 Ra8 is equal.

29...a3 30.g4 Rd5 31.Rc4

• Even better is 31.h4 c5 32.h5 Kf8 33.Ke4 Rd8 34.Rxc5.

31...c5 32.Ke4 Rd8 33.Rxc5 Ne6

• 33...h6 34.Rc7+ Kf8 35.Rh7 Ne6 36.Rh8+ Ke7 37.Rxd8 easily wins for White.

34.Rd5 Rc8 35.f5 Rc4+ 36.Ke3 Nc5 37.g5 Rc1 38.Rd6 1-0

• White is two pawns to the good and it will be impossible to stop his kingside pawns from producing at least one Queen.
• Anand Shahib resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Kramnik - Leko, Round 14, Brissago, 2004

In 2000, Vladimir Kramnik defeated Garry Kasparov in a 14-game match held in London to take control of the "classical" world title, as FIDE had finally dubbed it.

This was the final game of the 2004 world championship match. Leko led by a point; Kramnik needed a win to tie the match and keep his title.



Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Peter Leko
Match for the World Title, Round 14
Brissago, 18 October 2004

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Tal Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Bd7 6.Nd2

• This move is rarely played. Kramnik, needing a win, did not want a theoretical discussion with such a skilled technician as Kramnik.
• More usual is 6.h5 e6 7.f4 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.Nf3 Qb6 then:
• If 10.Kf2 Rc8 11.Kg3 then:
• If 11...f5 12.gxf5 Nge7 13.Bh3 Nxf5+ 14.Bxf5 exf5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.b4 Be7 17.Qxd5 Nd8 18.Qd3 g5 19.Qd4 gxf4+ is equal (Mariano-Adianto, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 Rxc1 14.Qxc1 Qxd4 15.Qd2 Qb6 16.Nc3 Bc5 17.Bd3 a6 18.a3 Ne7 19.Rae1 Qa7 20.Bb1 b5 21.b4 Bd4 22.Re2 Nc6 23.Rd1 gives White the advantage in space (Jirovsky-Lechtynsky, Czech ChT, Czechia, 1996).
• 10.Rh2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 12.Be3 Nge7 13.b3 a5 14.Rc2 Rg8 15.Nc3 Nb4 16.Rcc1 g6 17.hxg6 Rxg6 18.Nh4 Rg8 19.a3 Na6 20.Na4 Qd8 21.Rxc8 Nxc8 22.Ng2 is equal (Magem-Megaranto, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 10.Na3 cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0-0 12.Nc2 Kb8 13.Bd3 Nge7 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.b4 Nc4 17.b5 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 g6 19.Nb3 Bxb5 20.Nc5 Rxc5 21.dxc5 Qa5+ 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Kxd2 Bxd3 24.Kxd3 gives White a material and spatial advantage (Tal-Pachman, IT, Bled, 1961).

6...c5

• 6...e6 7.Nb3 a5 8.a4 Na6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Nf3 h5 11.gxh5 Rxh5 12.c3 Ne7 13.Bd3 Nf5 14.Qe2 Qb6 15.Nbd2 c5 16.Ng5 Rh8 17.Ndf3 g6 18.Kf1 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nc5 20.Bb5 Qc7 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Bf4 Rc8 23.Rd1 Bxb5 24.axb5 Ne4 is equal (Kurnosov-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

7.dxc5 e6

• 7...Qa5 8.c3 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qc7 10.Bf4 e6 11.Bd3 Na6 12.Nf3 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Qe2 Ne7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.h5 Nc6 18.Rhg1 d4 19.c4 Nb4 is equal (P. Smirnov-Panarin, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).

8.Nb3 Bxc5 9.Nxc5 Qa5+ 10.c3 Qxc5 11.Nf3!?

• Even today, the book stops here.
• White has a small advantage in space; his lack of development is not a real problem.
• 11.h5 Ne7 12.Nf3 Nbc6 13.Bf4 g5 14.Bg3 0-0-0 15.Bd3 d4 16.c4 Nf5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.Bh2 f4 19.Qb3 Bg4 20.Be4 Rhe8 21.0-0 Bxh5 22.Ne1 Qxe5 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Qh3+ g4 gives Black three pawns for a Knight and a huge advantage in space (Shomoev-Bareev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

11...Ne7

• Black sets up to defend the d-pawn.
• 11...Nc6 12.Bg2 Nge7 13.Be3 Qc4 14.Bd4 is equal.

12.Bd3

• 12.Bg2 Qc7 13.Bf4 Bc6 14.Qe2 Nd7 15.0-0-0 White maintains the advantage in space.

12...Nbc6

• 12...Qc7 13.Qe2 Ba4 14.Rg1 Nd7 15.g5 h5 16.g6 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

13.Be3 Qa5 14.Qd2

• If 14.Qb3?! Rc8 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Qa3 then:
• 16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxa7 Qd6 19.Qb6 Bc6 is equal.
• 16...f6?! 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Rg1 e5 19.Be2 a6 20.Bc5 White retains the advantage in space.

14...Ng6 15.Bd4 Nxd4

• If 15...Qc7 16.Bxg6 fxg6 then:
• 17.Qe3 b6 18.0-0-0 0-0 19.Kb1 Rac8 is equal.
• 17.Qe2 Qa5 18.g5 h5 is equal.

16.cxd4 Qxd2+?!

• Exchanging Queens is not the way to secure a draw.
• If 16...Qb6 17.a4 Rc8 18.g5 a5 then:
• 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Rg1 Rg8 is equal.
• If 19.Ke2 Ne7 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Rhc1 Rxc1 then:
• 22.Rxc1 Bxa4 23.Ra1 Bb5 24.Rxa5 Bxd3+ 25.Kxd3 is equal.
• 22.Qxc1 Rg8 23.Ke1 Nc6 24.Qc3 Rg4 25.Bb5 is equal.

17.Kxd2 Nf4 18.Rac1

• 18.Bf1 h5 19.g5 Rc8 20.Ke3 Ng6 21.Bd3 Rf8 22.Rhc1 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

18...h5

BLACK: Peter Leko
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 18...h6h5

19.Rhg1!

• This move indicates a plan to open the g-file and play on the kingside.
• The variation 19.gxh5 Bc6 20.Rhg1 Kf8 21.Bf1 Nxh5 22.Ke3 is also consistant with such a plan.

19...Bc6 20.gxh5 Nxh5 21.b4

• White threatens to exploit the unguarded b5 square.

21...a6 22.a4 Kd8

• The center is locked and White is stronger on the wings.
• 22...Bxa4 23.Rc7 Bc6 24.Ng5 0-0 25.Ke3 Bb5 26.Bh7+ is strong for White.

23.Ng5 Be8 24.b5

• 24.Ke3 Rh6 25.f4 g6 26.a5 Ng7 27.Nf3 prepares for action on the c-file.

24...Nf4 25.b6 Nxd3

• 25...Rxh4!? 26.Rc7 Nxd3 27.Kxd3 Rc8 28.Rgc1 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 gives White a strong position for his pawn.

26.Kxd3 Rc8

• 26...Rxh4 transposes into the previous note.

27.Rxc8+ Kxc8 28.Rc1+ Bc6

• If 28...Kb8 then 29.Rc7 Rf8 30.Ke3 a5 31.Nh7 Rh8 32.Re7 ties up Black's back rank.

29.Nxf7 Rxh4 30.Nd6+ Kd8

• If 30...Kb8 31.Rg1 Rh7 32.a5 then:
• 32...Rh3+ 33.Ke2 Rh7 34.Rg3 Ka8 35.Rf3 Rh8 36.Rf7 puts White on a clear path to victory after he brings his King into the fray.
• 32...Ka8 33.Rg3 Kb8 34.Rf3 transposes.

31.Rg1 Rh3+ 32.Ke2 Ra3

• If 32...Rh7 33.a5 Kd7 34.Rg3 Ke7 35.Rc3 Kd8 36.Rf3 and 37.Rf8+.

33.Rxg7 Rxa4 34.f4?!

• Better is 34.Ke3! Ra3+ 35.Kf4 Rd3 36.Kg5 when White successfully brings his King into the attack.

34...Ra2+?

• Black commits the final mistake and it costs him the world championship.34...Rxd4! 35.Rg8+ Kd7 36.Ke3 Rb4 37.Rg7+ is a likely draw.

BLACK: Peter Leko
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34...Ra4a2+

35.Kf3!

• Black cannot stop the march of the White King.

35...Ra3+ 36.Kg4 Rd3 37.f5 Rxd4+ 38.Kg5 exf5

• After 38...Rd1 39.Kf6 Rh1 40.Rg8+ Be8 41.Kxe6 Rh6+ 42.f6 White delivers mate in two moves at most.

39.Kf6 Rg4 40.Rc7 Rh4 41.Nf7+ 1-0

• All that remains is 41...Ke8 42.Rc8+ Kd7 43.Rd8#.
• Grandmaster Leko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Svidler - Topalov, FIDE World Championship Tournament, Round 5, San Luís, 2005

While my staff I personally feel that it is sufficient to name only the champions whose title is pased from Steinitz, there are two sides to this story.

With the knock tournaments recorgnized by the public at large for the joke it was, and serious movement toward a reunification of the world title, FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinkov abandoned the knock out format in 2005 and organized a strong tournament among eight players to determine the new world champion. Vladimir Kramnik, who had defeated Kasparov in a match held in London in Ocotber 2000 to take charge of what FIDE condescendingly called the "Classical" world title, was invited, but had to decline due to having scheduled back surgery. Also invited was Rustam Kasidzhanov of Uzbekistan, another excellent but not great player who had won the most recent knock out tournament, making him Kirsan's idea of a world champion.

The tournament was held in San Luís, Argentina in September and October 2005. It was won handily by Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov. The other competitors in addition to Kasimdzhanov were Anand, Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich, Leko, Mickey Adams and Judit Polgar, who became the first and so far only woman to compete for the world chess championship

In light of the facts that Topalov had won the title in a strong tournament and that the classical champion's health would not allow him to compete, it seemed that Topalov actually a legitimate claim on the title.

We therefore present one of Topalov's victories from San Luís.



Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Peter Svidler - Veselin Topalov
FIDE World Championship Tournament, Round 5
San Luís, Argentina, 2 October 2005

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3

• For analysis of moves up to here, see Akopian=Karjakin, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

10...Ne5

• If 10...Nf6 then:
• If 11.Qf3 Qb6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 then:
• If 14.Be2 Nd7 15.Nd5 Ne5 then:
• If 16.Qa3 then:
• 16...b5 17.h4 Be6 18.hxg5 Rc8 19.Rd2 hxg5 20.Rxh8+ Bxh8 21.Qe3 is equal (Akopian-Karjakin, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).
• 16...Rb8 17.h4 Be6 18.hxg5 Rc8 19.Rd2 hxg5 20.Rxh8+ Bxh8 21.Qe3 Qa4 22.a3 Bxd5 23.exd5 Bf6 24.Bxe5 Bxe5 25.g3 Bf6 26.Kb1 Qa5 27.c3 Qc5 28.Qxc5 draw (Anand-Shirov, Rpd, Villarrobledo, 2001).
• 16.Qe3 b5 17.h4 g4 18.Qb6 Qxb6 19.Nxb6 Rb8 20.Nxc8 Rxc8 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxg4 Rc4 23.Rhe1 e6 24.Be2 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Kurmann-Levin, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 14.e5 Qxf3 15.gxf3 dxe5 16.Bxe5 Bd7 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxg7 Rh7 19.Be5 f6 20.Rxd5 Bc6 21.Rd3 fxe5 22.h4 gxh4 23.Rxh4 Rd8 24.Re3 Rd6 25.Rxe5 Rg7 26.Bd3 Rg2 27.Reh5 draw (Shirov-Kasparov, IT, Sarajevo, 2000).
• 11.Bc4 Qb6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nde2 Qxb2 14.Bb3 Qa3 15.f4 Nc6 16.Kh1 Be6 17.Qd3 Rac8 18.fxg5 hxg5 19.Nd5 Rfe8 20.Rad1 Nb4 gives Black the extra pawn and the initiative (Kasparov-J. Polgar, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).

11.Nf5

• If 11.f3 Nbc6 12.Bf2 then:
• 12...Ng6 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Be6 16.h4 gxh4 17.Rxh4 Qa5 18.Rh1 Qg5 19.Ne2 0-0-0 20.g3 is equal (Akopian-Safarli, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 12...Be6 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qa5 15.a3 Rg8 16.h4 Rc8 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.0-0-0 Rh8 19.Rxh8+ Bxh8 20.Qf2 Rc6 is equal (Barnsley-Aldrete, Corres, 2002).

11...Bxf5 12.exf5 Nbc6

• 12...Qa5 13.Qd5 Nbc6 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Nd5 Rc8 16.0-0-0 e6 17.Ne3 d5 18.fxe6 fxe6 is equal (Kovacevic-Jurcsak, Op. Vrasac, 2000).

13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne3 Qa5+!?

• 14...Qe7 15.Be2 0-0 16.0-0 d5 17.c3 Rad8 18.fxe6 Qxe6 is equal (Spassov-Elsness, Euro ChT, Gothenburg, 2005).
• If 14...0-0 15.Be2 d5 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.0-0 Ng6 then:
• If 18.c4 then:
• If 18...Nd4 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bg4 Nf4 then:
• 21.Bxf4 Rxf4 22.Qd3 Qd6 23.Rad1 Raf8 24.Rd2 Kh8 is equal (Shirov-Gelfand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2000).
• 21.Rc1 Qa5 22.Nc2 Nxc2 23.Rxc2 Rae8 24.Bf3 Rd8 25.Bxf4 Rxf4 is equal (Bologan-Aldy, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2009).
• 18...d4 19.Nc2 Nf4 20.Ne1 e5 is equal (Yemelin-Naumann, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 18.c3 Nf4 19.Re1 Qb6 20.Qc2 d4 21.Nc4 Qc5 22.Bxf4 Rxf4 is equal (De Vreugt-Naumann, Bundesliga 0809, Germany, 2008).

15.c3

• The game is equal.

15...Nf3+!?

• This move, and thos which follow, were probably part of Topalov's home preperation.
• 15...0-0-0 16.Be2 d5 17.0-0 Qb6 18.Qc2 remains equal.

16.Qxf3! Bxc3+ 17.Kd1 Qa4+ 18.Nc2!?

• White is not playing for a draw, either.
• 18.Kc1 Bxb2+ 19.Kxb2 Qb4+ 20.Kc1 Nd4 21.Qd1 Qc3+ gives Black no choice but top force a draw by repetition.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$t+ +l+ T%
$+o+ +o+ %
$o+mOo+ O%
$+ + +pO %
$w+ + + +%
$+ V +qBp%
$pPn+ Pp+%
$R +k+b+r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 18.Ne3c2

18...Bxb2!

• Black wins the exchange. Any other move loses.
• 18...Be5? 19.b3 Qa5 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Bc4 leaves White a piece to the good/

19.fxe6

• This weakens Black's center pawns, but, as is aften pointed on in chess literature, it isn't really a weakness if the other side can't exploit it. Here we see Black's grand plan: eliminate White's Queen's Rook, exchange Queens and begin attacking the King in the open; White's Bishop at f1 keep the King's Rook at home, otherwise White would have counterplay againt Black's center.
• 19.Rb1 Qxa2 20.Rxb2 Qxb2 21.fxe6 Qxc2+!! 22.Kxc2 Nd4+ gives Black the same material advantage as in the text.

19...fxe6 20.Qb3

• 20.Qe3 e5 21.Qb3 is similar to the text, while 21.Rb1 is similar to the previous note.

20...Qxb3 21.axb3 Bxa1 22.Nxa1 Ke7

• Black emerges from the skirmish with a material edge equivalent to a pawn, but also some pawn weaknesses. The pawn weaknesses are of little matter because White has only one active piece and Black's Rooks are ready for action.

23.Bd3 Rac8

• Black brings a Rook to a file that will open up with a Knight move. Black chooses this move over 23...Rhf8 because White's queenside is weaker.

24.Re1 Nd4

• Black covers his e-pawn.
• If 24...Rhf8 25.Nc2 Kd7 then:
• 26.Be2 Rf5 27.Bd3 Rd5 28.Kd2 Ra5 29.Bc4 d5 does less to shut down White's counterplay than the text.
• 26.Be4 a5 27.Ke2 d5 28.Rd1 Ra8 29.Bd3 a4 also improves White's activity.

25.f3

• This is a prophylactic move against a threat that has not materialized.
• Better is to maneuver against Black's weaknesses: 25.Nc2 Nxb3 26.Bf5 Kf6 27.Bxe6 when White finally gets some play against Black's hanging pawns.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ +t+ + T%
$+o+ L + %
$o+ Oo+ O%
$+ + + O %
$ + M + +%
$+b+b+pBp%
$ + + +p+%
$N +kR + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 25.f2f3

25...Rc3! 26.Kd2 Rhc8 27.Rb1!?

• White feels compelled to protect his weak b-pawn.
• 27.Bc4! R8xc4 28.bxc4 Rxc4 29.Bf2 b5 30.Re4 Nc6 gives Black three passed pawn for a piece, making the material theoretically balanced.

27...R3c5 28.b4 Rd5 29.Bf2 Kd7

• Better is 29...Nc6! 30.Nc2 Ne5 when:
• 31.Ne1 h5 32.Rb3 Nc4+ 33.Ke2 Rb5 34.h4 Re5+ allows Black to press forward.
• If 31.Rb3 then after 31...Nxd3 32.Rxd3 Rxd3+ 33.Kxd3 e5 34.Ne3 Ke6 Black's Rook trumps White's uncoordinated minor pieces.

30.Be3 Nf5!?

• Again, the more aggressive 30...Nc6 is to be preferred.
• 30...Nc6! then:
• 31.Ke2 Ne5 32.Be4 Rb5 33.Bd4 Nc4 Black threatens 34...a5!.
• 31.Nc2?! Ne5! 32.Ne1 b6 33.Ke2 Nxd3 34.Nxd3 Rc2+ Black's King enters the fight while White's pieces are tied down to a passive defense.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ +t+ + +%
$+o+l+ + %
$o+ Oo+ O%
$+ + +mO %
$ P + + +%
$+ +bBp+p%
$ + K +p+%
$Nr+ + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 30...Nd4f5

31.Bf2!

• White has equalized.

31...Nh4

• If 31...h5 32.Nc2 h4 33.Ra1 then:
• 33...Ke7 34.Ne3 Nxe3 35.Bxe3 Kf6 36.Ke2 Re5 remains equal.
• 33...Re5 34.Ra5 Rxa5 35.bxa5 d5 36.Bb6 Ng3 remains equal.

32.Bxh4 gxh4 33.Nc2 h5

• 33...Rg8 34.Ne3 Rd4 35.b5 Ra4 36.Bc2 remains equal.

34.Re1

• 34.Rd1 Rg8 35.Ne3 Rd4 36.Kc3 Rf4 remains equal.

34...Rg8 35.Kc3?!

• Oops! Who's minding the g-pawn.
• If 35.Re2! Rg3 then:
• If 36.Rf2 then:
• If 36...Ke7 then:
• 37.Re2 Kd7 38.Rf2 Ke7 39.Re2 etc. draws.
• 37.Ne3 Rd4 38.Kc3 Rf4 39.Re2 Kd7 40.b5 Ra4 remains equal.
• 36...b5 37.Ne3 Rdg5 38.f4 Rg8 remains equal.
• 36.Ne3!? Rd4 37.Nc2 Rf4! 38.Kc3 Rg5 39.Kb3 d5 retains a material and spatial edge for Black.

35...a5!?

• There is nothing wrong with 35...Rxg2 36.Ne3 Rxd3+ 37.Kxd3 Rh2 38.Nc4 Rxh3, leaving Black with four pawns for a piece.

36.Bc4?

• White misses the opportunity to keep the game balanced.
• 36.bxa5! Rc8+ 37.Kd2 Rxa5 38.Re4 is equal.
• 36.Be4?! fails to 36...axb4+ 37.Kxb4 Rd2 38.Ne3 Rc8 39.Kb3 d5 leaving Black with a material advantage and two passers.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ + + +t+%
$+o+l+ + %
$ + Oo+ +%
$O +t+ +o%
$ Pb+ + O%
$+ K +p+p%
$ +n+ +p+%
$+ + R + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 36.Be3c4

36...Rc8!

• The pin of the Bishop gains Black time to maneuver.

37.Ne3 Rb5 38.Kd3

• White now loses quickly.
• 38.bxa5 d5 39.Ra1 dxc4 40.Nxc4 e5 leaves White an exchange down and out of reserve pawn tempi.

38...Rxb4 39.Bxe6+

• If 39.Ba2 then after 39...d5 40.Re2 Kd6 41.Rc2 Rxc2 42.Kxc2 b5 Black's passed pawns keep rolling.

39...Kxe6 40.Nc2+ Kd5 41.Nxb4+ axb4 42.Re7

• If 42.Re4 then Black wins after 42...Rc3+ 43.Ke2 Rc4 44.Re7 Rc2+ 45.Kd3 Rxg2.

42...b5 43.Rh7

• If 43.Rb7 then Black wins after 43...Rc3+ 44.Kd2 Rc5 45.Rh7 Kc6.

43...Rc3+ 44.Kd2 Rc4 0-1

• 45.Rxh5+ Kc6 46.g3 b3 47.Rxh4 Rc2+ 48.Kd1 Rc3 cinches the queening of the b-pawn or the loss of White's kingside pawns.
• Peter Veniaminovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Kramnik - Anand, Round 5, Bonn, 2008

In 2006, Kramnik, rejuvenated after his back surgery, defeated Topalov in a match intended to reunify the title of world champion.

In 2007, FIDE held another tournament to determine the world champion, this time in Mexico City.

The tournament was won by Vishy Anand. Anand then defended his title against Kramnik in a match in Bonn, Germany, the following year.



Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 5
Bonn, 20 October 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Reynolds Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.Bxb5

• Up to here, the players have repeted the moves of Round 3, which was won by Anand.

15...Rg8!?

• Black does not intoroduce any novelty; he is merely changing his move oredr from the third round.
• 15...Bc5 16.Bd2 Ke7 17.a4 Rhg8 18.g3 Qc7 19.Nh4 Ne5 20.Rfc1 Qd6 21.Bd3 Rg4 22.Bf4 Rag8 is equal (Abdul-Rahman, Bangladesh Ch, Dhaka, 2006).

Game 3 continued 15...Bd6 16.Rd1 Rg8 17.g3 Rg4 18.Bf4 Bxf4.

16.Bf4

• White seizes an open diagonal.
• Better would be to attack the d-pawn: 16.Rd1 Bd6 17.g3 Rg4 18.h3 Re4 19.Qd3 gives White more activity.
• 18.Bf4 Bxf4 is Game 3.

16...Bd6 17.Bg3!?

• There is no longer any chance of returning to the lines of the third round.
17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rfd1 Rd8 19.a4 Qf4 20.Ra3 e5 21.b4 gives White more freedom.

17...f5!?

• This is a sharp move. Black's plan is to advance his kingside pawns and scatter White's minor pieces.
• 17...Bxg3 18.hxg3 Rd8 19.a4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Ke7 21.Qe2 may be slightly better for White.

18.Rfc1 f4 19.Bh4 Be7?!

• This may be more provocative than careless.
• Better is 19...Bd5 20.Bc4 Qb7 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 with equality.

20.a4!

• 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.a4 Rg7 22.Kh1 Rag8 23.Rg1 Nf6 is equal.

20...Bxh4 21.Nxh4 Ke7 22.Ra3

• White has the advantage in space.
22.b4 Rg5 23.Nf3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Rag8 25.Bf1 gives White a small advantage in space.

22...Rac8 23.Rxc8!?

• Since White has the advantage in space, he should seek to avoid the exchange of Rooks.
• 23.Rd1 Qc5 24.Bxd7 Kxd7 25.Nf3 Qd6 26.a5 gives White more freedom.

23...Rxc8 24.Ra1

• White still has more freedom. Black's main asset is in his two advanced central pawns.

24...Qc5 25.Qg4 Qe5

• 25...Qc1+?! 26.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27.Bf1 Ba6 28.h3! although Black wins the Bishop, he won't get enough compensation for the Queen.

26.Nf3 Qf6

• If 26...Bxf3 27.Qxf3 Nf6 then:
• 28.Ba6 Rb8 29.a5 Ne4 30.Qe2 White maintains the active game.
• 28.Bd3?! Qb8! 29.Qe2 f3 30.Qxf3 Qxb2 is equal.

27.Re1 Rc5 28.b4

• White clearly has the initiativce.

28...Rc3!?

• Black makes a risky moves hoping the lure White into an inaccuracy.
• 28...h5 then White maintains his advantage after 29.Qh3 Rc3 30.Qxh5 Bxf3 31.gxf3 Nf8 32.Qd5.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+v+mLo+o%
$ + +oW +%
$+v+ + + %
$pP O Oq+%
$+ T +n+ %
$ + + PpP%
$+ + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 28...Rc5c3

29.Nxd4?

• White sees he can get the piece back with an extra pawn and a Rook on the seventh, which sounds pretty good. If he could see beyond the that, he would not have make this move.
• 29.Nd2 Qg6 30.Qxg6 hxg6 31.a5 Bd5 32.Rd1 e5 is equal.

29...Qxd4 30.Rd1 Nf6!

• The offer to exchange Queens secures Black's victory. Any other move loses.
• If 30...Qe4? then 31.Rxd7+ Kf6 32.Bf1 Bc6 33.Qh4+ wins for White.

31.Rxd4

• If 31.Qe2 Qxb4 32.Qf1 Rb3 then:
• 33.Rc1 f3 34.g3 Ne4 35.Qe1 Rb2 36.Qxb4+ Rxb4 gives Black an extra piece.
• If 33.Bc4 then 33...Rb2 34.Qd3 Bd5 35.Bxd5 Nxd5 36.Qxh7 f3! wins,

31...Nxg4 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7

• There is nothing better.

33...Rc1+ 34.Bf1
BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+r+ +o+o%
$ + +oL +%
$+ + + + %
$pP + O +%
$+ + M + %
$ + + PpP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34.Bc4f1

34...Ne3!!

• The sacrifice of the Knight ends the game in short order.

35.fxe3 fxe3! 0-1

• White must surrender the Rook to avoid a forced mate.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Saturday): Topalov takes first game

Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov defeated reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India in the first round of their title match today in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Topalov, playing White, opened with his Queen's pawn and Anand defended with a Grünfeld Defense. The game lasted just 30 moves.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Sunday): Vishy bounces back, takes Game 2

Reigning world chess champion Vishy Anand of India, the first Asian ever to hold the title, bounced back from a crushing defeat in the first round to take down Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov in 43 moves today in the second game of the world championship match now being held in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Anand, playing White, opened with his d-pawn and the game spun into a Catalan Opening, basically a Queen's Gambit where White develops his King's Bishop on the flank. Anand allowed Topalov to keep the gambit pawn for some time, with Black being a pawn to the good until the 28th move. White was able to minimize Black's advantage after the 16th move when an exchange of Queens opened up the queenside and White was able to activate his Rooks. After leveling the pawn count, Anand took advantage of a series of inferior moves by Topalov to get the upper hand and win a Rook-and-pawn ending.

Tomorrow is a rest day with the match resuming at 3 pm Eastern European Standard Time (5 am PST) with the game broadcast live from the official match website.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Updates (Tuesday)

Vishy, Topa Draw in Round 3; Match still Knotted



Reinging world champion Vishy Anand of India, playing Black, drew the third game of his title match with Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov in an uneventful game today in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The scheduled 12-game match is currently deadlocked at 1½ points apiece, with each player winning one of the first two games.

Round 4 will take place tomorrow at 3 pm Eastern European Standard Time (5 am PST) and will be broadcast on the official tournament website.


New Leaders in Subic Bay after Ni Hua Beats So



Grandmaster Ni Hua of China defeated 16-year-old Filipino GM Wesly So today in the general group of the Ninth annual Asian Championships in Subic Bay, the Philippines, to push So out of first place and replace him with a quartet of players.

The new leaders are Ni, his compatriots Li Chao and reigning Chinese champion Ding Liren, and Indian grandmaster and forer world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta, all with 5½ points out of seven rounds. Young Mr. So, who entered today's round alone in first place, falls to a four-way tie for fifth with Chinese GM Zhao Jinchao, Yu Ruiyuan, an untitled player for China, and grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran, India's second-rank player to reining world champion Vishy Anand.

In the women's group, Chinese WGM Wang Yu and Iranian WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan lead the pack with 6 points each. Ding Yixin, a WFM from China, is in third place with 5 points.

The tournaments directors at the technical meeting before the start of the tournament reduced the number of game from eleven to nin for both the general group, which has 90 participants, and the women's group, which has 24.

Third Leg of Women's Grand Prix in Progress

The third leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix began Monday in Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in Russia.

The first two rounds have been full of exciting chess and a couple of major upsets. Yesterday, in Round 1, Betul Cemre Yildiz of Turkey, one of the lower rated players in the Grand Prix, defeated Chinese grandmaster Zhao Xue, the leader of the GP after the first two legs, in 64 moves. In today's second round, Mongolia's Batkhuyag Munguntuul took down the world second highest rated woman, grandmaster Koneru Humpy of India, when she delivered checkmate on the fortieth move.

As of now, four players are tied for first with a point and a half each: Ms. Yildiz, Tatiana Kosintseva of Russia, Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze and former world women's champion Zhu Chen, a native of China who since 2006 has played for Qatar, where she lives with her husband, grandmaster Mohammed al-Modiahki.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Update (Wednesday): Anand Crushes Topalov in Game 4, Takes Lead

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand dealt challenger Veselin Topalov a crushing and brilliant tactical defeat in 32 moves just minutes ago in the fourth round of their world title match in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Anand leads for the first time in the match, where the score now stands at 2½-1½.



Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Tomorrow is a day off. The match resumes Friday with Topalov playing White.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Updates (Firday)

Game 5 drawn; Vishy Leads Title Match, 3-2



Reigning world champion Vishy Anand and challenger Veselin Topalov played to a draw today in the fifth game of their title match in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

The champion leads the scheduled 12-round match with 3 points to Topalov's 2.

The sixth game takes place tomorrow with live coverage at the official website beginning at 3 pm Eastern European Summer Time (5 am PDT).

Ni Hua, Atousa Win Asian Continental Championships



Chinese grandmaster Ni Hua won the general group of the Asian Continental Championships yesterday in Subic Bay, the Philippines, with 7 points out of a possible 9 while WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan of Iran won the women's group with the same score.

Mr. Ni took a share of the lead in round 7 when he defeated 16-year-old Filipino GM Wesley So, who had held the lead from the early going. Ni then defeated his compatriot Li Chao in the eighth round to take sole possession of first place. Young Mr. So, former world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta of India, Chinese GM Zhou Jianchao and top seed Le Quang Liem of Vietnam tied for second at 6½ points each.

Ms. Pourkashiyan came from behind to overtake Chinese international master Wang Yu in the late rounds after losing to Ms. Wang in the second round. Ms. Pourkashiyan's key victories were her sixth round win over WFM Ding Yixin of China, who finished tied for second with Ms. Wang with 6½ points, and a stunning tactical tour-de-force from the Black side of the board against tournament top seed Ju Wenjun in just 22 moves in round 7.


Tanya Kosintseva Leads Women's GP in Nalchik after Five



Russian grandmaster Tatiana Kosintseva leads the field in the third leg of the 2009-10 FIDE Women's Grand Prix by a widening margin with 4½ points from the first five rounds in Nalchik, the capital of the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkar.

Four players are currently tied for second with 3 points each, two of whom Tatiana Anatolyevna has alredy defeated. They are 16-year-old Chinese GM Hou Yifan (Tatiana Anatolyevna's first round victim), Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia (who fell to Tatiana Anatolyevna earlier today), Russian WGM Baira Kovanova and the reigning European women's champion, Pia Cramling of Sweden.

[subsuelo]

17. I love how they played the same first 15 (or so) moves from the previous game

And with Anand breaking out of it first. He then apparently got up to get a drink of water, after sensing that Topalov's plan had been foiled...