Kramnik, Topalov Mtel Masters 2005 analysis

Sep 21, 01:57 AM

Kramnik,Vladimir (2753) – Topalov,Veselin (2778)
Sofia MTel Masters Sofia (10), 22.05.2005
Commentary by IM Miodrag Perunovic

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 b4

b4 move became really fashionable lately. The idea of the black side is not just to move the knight from c3, but at the same time to push his pawns forward attacking queen side and neutralizing pressure over d5 square so d5 will be easier further on in the game.

9.Nce2 e5 10.Nb3 Nc6!?

Interesting novelty since black had really solid results with other moves, but there is no doubt Topalov and his team found some critical lines there.Anyway, it seems to me that d5 looks as logical continuation here. [10…d5 11.exd5 Qxd5 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.Qe1 Qc6 14.Ng3 Nbd7 15.Kb1 Be7 16.Bd3 a5 17.Qe2 a4 18.Bb5 Qc7 19.Nc1 0-0 20.Nd3 b3 0-1 Bhawoodien,S-Mauba,S/Cape Town 1995/ (27)]

11.c4!

This move looks quite logical. Naturally black wants d5 and if he makes it somehow that should be potentionally big problem for white. Kramnik knew that and wanted to protect it at any price. An interesting approach made white in the following game [11.g4!? h6 12.Ng3 Be6 13.h4 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.0-0-0 Qc7 16.Bd3 a5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.Bxc5 0-0-0 19.Nf5 g6 20.Ng7 Kb8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Be3 With better position for white 1-0 Naiditsch,A-Palac,M/Warsaw 2005/ (48)]

11…Be7 [11…bxc3?! would be very bad cause white would take full control over d5 square.Also d6 pawn appear as big weakness there 12.Nxc3

12.Ng3 g6 [12…0-0 13.Be2 a5ч 14.0-0 a4 15.Nc1 Be6 16.Rb1 Qc7 17.b3 Nd7 18.Nd3 Rfb8ч] 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Rd1 [14.0-0 a5 15.Be2 Qc7ч 16.Rad1І] 14…0-0 15.Qf2 a5

Topalov has no need to exchange a pair of knights as it would make the weakness on d5 more palatable. [15…Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.b3 Nc5 18.0-0І]

16.0-0 [16.c5!? dxc5 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Nd4 (18…Bxc5 19.Qxc5 Qf6 20.0-0 Rd8 21.Bc4І) 19.Bxd4 Qxd4=] 16…a4 17.Nc1 Nc5 [17…Bg5!? 18.f4 exf4 19.Bxf4 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Nce5=] 18.Bb1 Qc7 19.Nce2 [19.Nd3 Be6! 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Bxc5 Bxc5 22.Qxc5 Ra5 23.Qe3 Bxc4і] 19…Be6

A paradoxal jump of black’s knight to a5 might have posed some unpleasant problems for white. [19…Na5! 20.Bh6 Rd8 21.f4 Nxc4 22.fxe5 Nxe5 23.Nf5? gxf5 24.Qg3+ Ng6 25.exf5 Bh4 26.Qe3 Ne5 27.Rf4 Bf6 28.Ng3 Kh8 29.Nh5 Qe7-+]

20.Bh6 Rfe8 21.Nf5! Very strong move which led this game to really complicated position [21.Rc1 Na5 22.Nf5 Bxc4 23.Ne3 Be6 24.f4©]

21…Bxc4 22.Ne3! Ba6 [22…Be6 23.f4! Bf8 (23…exf4 24.Nxf4 Ne5 25.Ned5 Qb7 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Nxe7+ Qxe7 28.Qd4 b3і) 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.f5І] 23.f4 exf4 24.Bxf4 [24.Nxf4!? Bxf1 25.Rxf1 Ne5µ] 24…Ne5

Black has pawn up , but he needs time to regroup his own pieces and defend himself properly. On the other hand white has obviously strong f file and fantastic central d5 spot.

25.Nd5 Qa7 26.Bxe5?!

Until this moment Kramnik played very inventive.He managed to create really active position , full of threats,and for him who likes to play positionally this game seemed as really refreshment. Anyway seems he lost his compas here with Be5?! [26.Be3! f5! with an idea Ng4! 27.Bd4! Frankly speaking these 3 moves were extremely dificult. After them such a mess would appear on the board that there can be no garanties who could have won this game andhow!?] 26…dxe5 27.Kh1 [27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Nxe7 Ne6+ 29.Kh1 Rxe7 30.Qf6+ Kg8 Would give black decisive advantage]

27…Bg5!

Great move in important moment! In this crossroad of the game where both players were looking for best way to seize their edge , Topalov found really strong move! Of course he opened up 7-th rank , controls f7 square and posses right now strong c1-h6 diagonal! [27…Bxe2 28.Qxe2 Ne6=]

28.Nxb4 Bc4!

Another great move which definatelly showed how strong defense black created around f7 square.Seemingly there is no way for white to improve this position anymore…..

29.Rfe1 Qb7?

Mistake in complicated position. Why black didnt play Ne6!? with clearly better game.Was Topalov satisfied with the draw here ?! [29…Ne6! 30.Qg3 Qb6 31.Nd3 f6! 32.Nc3 Nd4 33.Nd5 Bxd5 34.exd5 e4-+] 30.Nd5 [30.Qxc5 Rac8 31.Qa5 Ra8=]

30…Qxb2??

On such a level mistakes like this one can be met once in a while. For unknown reasons Kramnik missed Qc5! 31.Nc7?? [31.Qxc5! Bxe2 (31…Bxa2 32.Bxa2 Qxa2 33.Nec3 Qc2 34.Nc7+-) 32.Qf2+-] 31…Ne6 32.Nxe8 Rxe8 33.Rf1 Rf8

34.Nc1??

Almost unbelivable in game of two chess giants to see mistakes that would never happen even in blitz games!Who would of expected this move by white?! [34.Bd3 Bxd3 (34…Bxa2 35.Ra1 Bb3і) 35.Rxd3 f5 36.Rf3 Qxa2 37.Qb6 Bd8 38.Qc6 Ng5 39.Nc3 Qe6 40.Qxe6+ Nxe6і] 34…Qxb1

This really nervous game shows that even best players could make serious blunders when pressured, certanly a fact present at the upcoming event. Also shows us Kramnik should switch his repertoire to 1.d4 or 1.Nf3 which would lead him to more known positions and more calm play what he suits better.On the other hand Topalov still holds the image of fantastic tactical player and we all should look forward to upcoming match of players who are diametrally opposite! 0-1

IM Miodrag Perunovic

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