Round 1: GM Analysis

(Sergei Shipov)
Round 1, May 20
Shirov - Kasparov 0:1
Morozevich - Sadvakasov 1:0
Kramnik - Gelfand 1:0
Morozevich,A (2749) - Sadvakasov,D
(2585) [B90]
At the transition from the opening to the
middle game the host of the tournament
failed to find the right path in a
complicated position and went down
without much fight.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 h5
This is a fashionable plan right now.
Black is preventing g2-g4.
9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Kb1 Be7
12.h3
White is insisting on pushing g2-g4.
Darmen already played this line on the
black side - 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5
14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Bg5 16.Bf2 0-0
17.h4 Bh6 18.g4 Bf4 19.Nd2 hxg4
20.fxg4 Re8 21.g5 += Perunovic,MSadvakasov,D/Subotica 2000/1/2 (62).

12...Qc7N
More common is 12...b5. From the
outside, 12...h4!? looks more logical.
13.Bd3
White is bringing his h1-rook into play.
13...b5 [13...h4!?] 14.g4 Nb6
Strange as it may look, Blacks bold
breakthrough at the center deserved a

closer look: 14...d5!? 15.g5 d4 16.Nxd4

(White is returning the favor) 16...exd4
17.Bxd4 Nh7 18.f4 with an unclear
position.
15.Bxb6!
White is fighting for the d5-square.
15...Qxb6 16.g5 Nd7 17.Nd5 Bxd5
18.exd5
A typical Sicilian structure arose, in which
White has a clear plan of attack, whereas
Black doesnt.
18...g6 19.Rhe1 Qc7 20.h4 Nb6 21.f4
exf4?
Blacks knight has left the e5-square.
Why? Black should have been more
courageous and snatched the pawn in the
center - 21...Nxd5 - with crazy
complications. White has an attack, but it
is not that clear compared to the course of
the game after the move in text.
22.Qxf4 0-0
Now 22...Nxd5? doesnt work in view
23.Qd4.
23.Nd4
From this point, Whites attack is as
smooth as glass.
23...Rfe8 24.Nf5! Bf8 25.Nh6+ Bxh6
26.gxh6 Kh7 27.Qf6 Kxh6 28.Re6!

An elegant coup de grace. White could

have closed the game in a more prosaic
way 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.Rg1 Rg8 30.Rg5+-.
After 28.Re6 Black could have played
28...Nxd5 29.Qg5+ Kg7 30.Rxe8 and
gradually lost being a piece down, but he
preferred not to suffer...
1-0

Shirov,A (2722) - Kasparov,G (2835)

[B84]

Garry run risks inviting Alexei in a sharp

fight, and proved himself better one more
time. White deviated from topical
variations of the Najdorf in favor of a
calm Scheveningen. However, White
failed to achieve an easy life after
Kasparovs very aggressive response
8...b5?!. In my opinion, the variation that
Kasparov opted for is very dubious. Black
lags in development. What for? Shirov did
not demonstrate great confidence and
failed to realize the plusses of his position.
It looks like instead of 12.Qb3 better was
12. Nb4. Also, instead of 14.Qc2, 14.Rfe1
suggested itself, and so on. The reason
behind the ex-champions victory lies in
the sphere of psychology.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3
Kasparov: Almost all my games with
Shirov in which I played on the black side
have started with the Najdorf variation
(except for the encounter in 1994 in
Novgorod). Almost exclusively he has
played 6.Be3. I played e6 today, bearing
in mind that Alexei plays g4, sacrificing a
piece and leading to crazy complications.
5a6 6.Be3 e6

Kasparov: Alexei is turning the opening

duel down which in my opinion bears out
his diffidence.
7.Be2 Qc7 8.0-0
Kasparov: A rare continuation. Alexei
played g2-g4 against me; Adams opted for
a2-a4; there is a rare continuation a2-a3. I
expected that Alexei would castle long.
Castling short is a cunning option - on
Be7 White is going to transpose to a
Scheveningen variation that he is ready to
play.
8 b5
Kasparov: The most natural move, as long
as White permits it. The light-squared
bishop is not on f3 yet...
9.a4
Kasparov: Otherwise White cant rely on
an opening advantage.
9 b4 10.Na2 Nxe4
Kasparov: One may think that 10...d5 was
good enough, but it could have been met
with 11.c3 e5 12.Nf3 bxc3 (or 12...dxe4
13.Nd2 and Blacks position looks quite
dangerous) 13.Nxc3 d4 14.Nxd4 exd4
15.Bxd4 with good compensation. Black
is undeveloped, and White already has
two pawns for a piece. This is exactly
Shirovs cup of tea. For this reason I
rejected d5, and decided to capture on e4.
11.c3 b3
Kasparov: This is the only move. If White
manages to open the c-file, he will obtain
a dangerous initiative.
12.Qxb3 Be7
Kasparov: This is a very precise move.
White could have started with Bb7, but it
was not so clear whether White could
proceed with a sacrifice on e6. So I
decided to wait and see.
13.Bf3 Bb7 14.Qc2 Nf6 15.Bxb7 Qxb7
16.b4
Kasparov: This move looks very
promising for White. For example if
Black plays g6 with the idea of pushing
e6-e5, then after c4 his position looks
dubious. That is why the move in text is
called for.
160-0 17.b5
Kasparov: It looks like Whites prospects
are very rosy in this position. His knight is

heading for c6 via b4. However, I made a

very strong move here.
17Ng4

Kasparov: This is a very important move.

Black could have played ...Qf6, but after
Ng3 White has a good counterplay on the
kingside. Now after Ng3 Black is winning
with ...Ne5!

26.Qg3
Kasparov: This looks like a decisive
mistake. 26.h3 d5 27.Ng3 looks better.
26Rfd8

Kasparov: This is the key position of the

game. All of a sudden Shirovs nerves
acted up because White finds himself in
win-or-lose situation. For example,
18.Nb4 Nxe3 19.fxe3 axb5 20.axb5 Bg5
21.Qd3 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Nd7 leads to an
unclear position a la the "Dvoretsky
effect" - Whites knights are in each
others way.
I expected Shirov to play 18.Bd2,
however, after 18...Rc8! 19.Nb4, Black
has a good continuation with 19...Bf6 and
Black has a very promising position
because his knight is headed for c4.
18.Bf4
Kasparov: This mistake is a consequence
of Blacks previous move. Black is
grabbing the initiative.
18e5 19.Qe2 exd4
Kasparov: This is a very important move.
Shirov might have expected 19...Qd7
20.Qf3 d5 21.h3 and White is fine in this
line.
20.Qxg4 axb5 21.axb5 Qxb5 22.cxd4
Qc4
Kasparov: Maybe Nc6 was better, but I
decided to play hard
23.Rae1 Nc6 24.Nc1
Kasparov: I think White should have
played 24.Rc1 Qxd4 25.Rxc6 Rxa2
26.Qg3 and White is close to a draw,
because most of the endgames are drawn.
However, it is not much fun playing such
a position on the White side.
24Qxd4 25.Ne2 Qa4

Kasparov: This is an extremely strong

move. Now Blacks bishop is ready to
protect the g7 square from f8.
27.Nc3 Qb3 28.Re3 d5 29.Bh6 Bf8
30.Ne4 Qb2 31.Nc5
Kasparov: Whites last hope was the
move 31.Bg5 and after 31...dxe4 32.Bxd8
Rxd8 33.Rxe4 Black has good winning
chances. However, I won a similar
endgame against Timman in 1985 (the
first game of the match, see viewer link on
right), having two knights with the queen
against queen and rook, but two knights in
such situations are more dangerous.
Nevertheless, I barely won that game.
31Bxc5
Kasparov: Now it is smooth sailing for
Black.
32.Rc3 Bxf2+ 33.Rxf2 Ra1+ 34.Rf1
Qb6+ 35.Re3 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Qd4
Kasparov: First I thought that I would
have to play an endgame with two extra
pawns after 36...Qb1+ 37.Re1 Qg6 but
later on I found a move which results in
all of Whites pieces hanging.
37.Qc7 Qc4+ 0-1

Kramnik,V (2797) - Gelfand,B (2712)

[E05]
Kramnik tortured his friend down in an
equal and simple position.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7
5.c4 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4
This is a very "dry" line of the Catalan
opening. Black is playing strictly for an
equal game.
7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5
Bd5 11.Qc2 Be4 12.Qd1
The main proving ground in this line
nowadays is in the line 12.Qc1 h6 13.Bf4
(13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 c6
16.e3 a5= Bareev,E-Anand,V/Shenyang
2000/1/2 (33)) 13...Nc6 14.Rd1 Bxf3
15.Bxf3 Nxd4 16.Kg2 c5 17.e3 Nb3
18.Rxd8 Nxc1 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.Bxb7
Ra7 21.Bc6 Nb3 22.Bb8 Rd7 23.Bxd7
Nxd7 24.Ra3 c4 25.Ba7 and Black is just
about fine, Tkachiev,V-Adams,M/Cannes
2001/1-0 (45).
12...c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5
White has nothing.

14.Qxd8N
Previously White played 14.Nc3 with
total equality.
14...Rxd8 15.Nbd2 Bc6
At this point of the game I had the
impression that a draw was not far away.
16.Nb3 Nbd7
White has nothing after 16...Be7!, for
example, 17.Na5 Bd5 18.Ne1 Bxg2
19.Nxg2 Nc6!
17.Rfc1 Bb6 18.Nfd2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2
Rdc8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Nc4 Bc7 22.Nc5
Rab8
The simplest way to achieve an equal
game was 22...b5 23.Nd2 Bd6 24.Ndb3

Kf8=.
23.b4 Kf8 24.Rab1
Now Black is facing some problems.
24...Ke7
On 24...b5 White has an interesting
continuation in store: 25.Nxa6 bxc4
26.Nxb8 Bxb8 27.b5 and his passed
pawns are very dangerous.
25.b5 Bd8 26.Nd3 axb5 27.Rxb5 b6?!
Safer is 27...Nd7!
28.Nde5 Kf8
This is a blunder. 28...Ne4! looks scary,
but I think Black can hold the position.
For example, 29.Rd1 f6 30.Rd7+ Ke8
31.Rd4 Nc3 32.Nd6+ Ke7 33.Nxc8+
Rxc8 34.Rd7+ (34.Rc4 Rxc4 35.Nxc4
Nxb5 36.axb5=) 34...Ke8 35.Rb4 g5!!
+/=.
29.Nxb6!
Not a very difficult combinational blow.
The following conversion of the
advantage is not that difficult (for
Kramnik).
29...Rxc1 30.Nbd7+ Nxd7 31.Nxd7+
Ke8 32.Nxb8 Rc8 33.Na6 Rc2 34.e3 Ra2
35.Nc5 Bc7 36.Rb7 Kd8 37.Rb4 Ke7
38.Ne4 f5 39.Rb7 Rc2 40.Ng5 h6 41.Nf3
Kf6 42.Nd4 Rc4 43.Nb5 Be5 44.f4 Bc3
45.Rf7+ Kxf7 46.Nd6+ Ke7 47.Nxc4
Kd7 48.Kf3 Kc6 49.e4 Kc5 50.Ne5 fxe4+
51.Kxe4 Kb4 52.Nc6+ Kxa4 53.Nd4
Kb4 54.Nxe6 Kc4 55.g4 Bf6 56.h3 Bb2
57.h4 Bc3 58.f5 Bb2 59.Nxg7!
White could have won with 59.g5 but why
not please the fans?
59...Bxg7 60.g5 1-0

Round 2: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 2, May 21
Shirov - Morozevich 1:0
Sadvakasov - Kramnik 0:1
Kasparov - Gelfand 1/2
Kasparov,G (2835) - Gelfand,B (2712)
[C07]
1.e4 e6
Here comes a little surprise! Usually Boris
plays the Najdorf Variation in the Sicilian
Defense. However it is really difficult to
play this variation with either White or
Black against Garry. So the Israeli chess
leaders decision to take up another
variation is quite logical.
Kasparov: For all I know, this is the first
time that Gelfand has played the French
Defence. His choice has proved to be
lucky.
2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5
Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Re1
In response Garry dodges the usual
continuation (8.Nb3) too.
8...Be7 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Rxe4 Nc6
11.Nxd4
A brave move.
11...0-0
Avoiding the complications. I mean the
following line: 11...e5!? 12.Qf3 (in the
variation 12.Bf4 exf4 13.Nxc6 Qxd1+
14.Rxd1 bxc6 15.Rde1 Kf8 16.Rxe7 Black
has the counterblow 16...Be6!) 12...Nxd4
13.Qxf7+ Kd8 14.Qxg7 Re8 15.Bf4 Bf6
16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5+ Kc7 and Black
gradually wins, Braig - Bibby/Bern
op/1991. Evidently Garry could have
strengthened these two prominent
players game.
12.Bf4 Qc5 13.Nxc6
Kasparov: (?!) An unhappy decision.
Perhaps stronger is the immediate 13.Bd3,
and after 13...Nxd4 14.Rxd4, Black has no
time for 14...b5 due to 15.Be4.
13Qxc6
White has a slight advantage thanks to his

good development. Much depends on

Blacks ability to develop his c8-bishop.
14.Bd3 b5!
Kasparov: This is the only possible way.
Otherwise Whites initiative might
become a real threat.
15.a4
Kasparov: Maybe stronger is 15.c4 b4
16.Re1 Bb7 17.Be4 Qc8 18.Bxb7 Qxb7,
though even now Whites advantage is of
a very abstract character.
15a6!
Boris makes "only" moves. After 15...b4?
16.Rc4 Qd5 17.Rd4! Black stands worse.
16.Re3
Kasparov: This move is made to
intimidate the opponent.
16Bb7 17.Be4
No good can come of 17.Qg4 f5 18.Qh3
Bc5. I believe that the most promising
way here is 17.Rg3 g6 18.Qh5.

17...Qxe4
A fear of miscalculation manifests itself.
He could do without giving away his
queen: 17...Qb6 18.Bxh7+ (the addition of
a4-a5 and Qb6-c7 does not change the
positions evaluation) 18...Kxh7 19.Qh5+
Kg8 20.Rh3 f5! (but not 20...f6? 21.Qh7+
Kf7 22.Rg3 Rg8 23.Qg6+ Kf8 24.Bh6)
21.Qh7+ Kf7 and there is nothing but
perpetual check to be seen for White.
Kasparov: (?!) An unjustified sacrifice. As
a matter of fact, White doesnt have a real
advantage, but if Black tries a variation
like 17...Qb6 18.a5 Qa7 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7
20.Rh3+ Kg8 21.Qh5, here 21...f6 is
probably losing, because of 22.Qh7+ Kf7

23.Rg3 Rg8 24.Qg6+ Kf8 25.Bh6 Bd5

26.Bxg7+ Rxg7 27.Qh6 (giving way to
the rook) and White has a serious
initiative, but after 21...f5 22.Qh7+ Kf7
23.Qh5+ there is nothing better for White
than perpetual check. However, Black
shouldnt play for a win either: dangerous
is 23...g6 due to 24.Qh7+ Ke8 25.Qxg6+
Kd7 and White has an attack.
18.Rxe4 Bxe4 19.Qe2
Kasparov: Now is the first time that White
has gained a considerable advantage in
this game.
19Bd5 20.h4 Rac8 21.axb5 axb5
22.Bg5 Bd6 23.Ra6 Bb8
From my point of view, stronger is
23...Bc5, keeping the bishops.
24.Be7 Rfe8 25.Bd6
The bishop exchange is inevitable, and
this is Whites little achievement. But that
does not suffice for victory.
Kasparov: White has played rather
precisely so far.
25...Red8 26.Bxb8 Rxb8

27.Ra3
The white rooks transposition to the gfile changes nothing. 27.Ra7!? deserves
attention.
Kasparov: (?) A terrible mistake. Surely I
should have played 27.Ra7 moving the
rook to the seventh rank. However, it is
rather difficult to win even this position,
yet the chances are much better than in the
game. More to the point, at that moment I
had twice as much time as my opponent.
27...Rb7 28.Rg3 f6 29.Rg4 Rc8 30.Rd4
Kasparov: Unfortunately there is nothing
better for White. I thought I had winning
chances after 30.h5 h6 31.b3, threatening

c2-c4, but Black could respond 31...b4

32.Qd2 Kh8 and after 33.Rxb4 Rxc2
White has nothing.
30Rbc7 31.Qxb5 Rxc2 32.b4 h6
Kasparov: Blacks defense is good. My
attempt to confuse my opponent in time
trouble was a failure.
33.Rg4 f5 34.Rg6 Kh7 35.h5 R2c7
36.Qd3 Rb7 37.Qg3 Rc1+ 38.Kh2 Rc4
39.b5 Rb4 40.Rxe6 Bxe6 41.Qg6+
Gelfands tenacity and stamina are
notable.
1/2-1/2

Sadvakasov,D (2585) - Kramnik,V

(2797) [C45]
Darmens play was decent. He might have
struggled for a draw. But his opponent
was much too strong.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
During the London match Kasparov never
tested Kramnik in the Scotch Game. He
must have known that there are no weak
points there...
3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qd2
bxc6 7.Nc3 Ne7
More common is 7...d6 8.Na4 or 8.Bd3.
8.Bd3
Now in response to 8.Na4 there is the
curious move 8...Bd6.
8...0-0 9.0-0 Ng6
Black doesnt want to move his pawn to
d6.
10.Na4N
10.Qg5 Qxg5 11.Bxg5 d6 12.Na4 Bd4
13.c3 Bb6 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.f3 c5=
Kotrotsos,V - Kapnisis,S/Ano Liosia
(Greece) 2001/0-1 (40); 10.Kh1!?
10...Bd6 11.g3
This is logical. There is a threat of f2-f4.
11...Re8 12.Qe3
But not the immediate 12.f4? Qd4+.
12...Bb7 13.Bd2
And here 13.f4 is quite possible.
13...Ne5 14.Bc3 Qf3 15.Qxf3 Nxf3+
16.Kg2 Ne5 17.Bxe5
17.Be2 c5 18.f3 Bc6 19.b3 deserves
attention. The important bishop is saved.
17...Rxe5 18.f4 Ree8 19.e5

It is difficult to refrain from this move.

But now Black has counterplay.
19...Bf8 20.Rae1 d6
It becomes obvious that Blacks position
is no worse.
21.Re3 Re7!
This is preparation for doubling the rooks.
22.Be4 dxe5
22...Rae8!?
23.fxe5 g6 24.Bf3
24.Nc5 Rxe5 25.Nxb7 f5 =+
24...Re6 25.Rd1
25.Bg4!? looks all right, the idea being
25...f5 26.Be2! and Bc4.
25...Rae8 26.Rd7 Rxe5 27.Rxe5 Rxe5
28.Rxc7 Re7 29.Rxe7 Bxe7
Blowing up the center is obviously
favorable for Black. The two bishops have
enough room for operating at both
kingside and queenside. But there is still a
long way to go to achieve victory.
30.Kf2 f5 31.c4 Kf7 32.c5 a5 33.a3 Ke6
34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 Ke5 36.Ke3 Bg5+
37.Kd3 Ba6+
Just beautiful!
38.Kc2?

An obscure concession. In spite of

everything, White could stand his ground
with 38.Kc3! Bb5 39.Nb6 - the black c6pawn is rather weak.
38...Kd4!
Yes, of course!
39.Nc3 Bd3+ 40.Kb3 Bc4+ 41.Kc2 Bd3+
42.Kb3 Bd2 43.Nd1 Be4 44.Be2 Bd5+
45.Ka4 g5
The evaluation is getting clearer.
46.b5 Kxc5 47.bxc6 Bxc6+ 48.Kb3 Kd4
49.Bf1 Be1 50.Be2 g4 51.Ba6 h5 52.Kc2
Be4+ 53.Kc1 Bf3 54.Bc8 f4 55.gxf4 h4

56.f5 g3 57.hxg3 hxg3

The pawn reaches the promotion square.
White resigns. 0-1

Shirov,A (2722) - Morozevich,A (2749)

[C11]
This was a dramatic game. Alexander did
not play a happy opening, but later he
defended stubbornly. Alexey gave his
opponent a chance in the rook ending, but
Alexander did not notice an effective way
out.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4
5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.Nf3 a6
The extended fianchetto played in this
position is Morozevichs special weapon.
8.c4 f5 9.Nc3 Bf6 10.Qd2 c5 11.d5 0-0
12.0-0-0 Bg7
A novelty. Earlier 12...e5 was played.
Here is a relevant fresh example: 13.h4 b5
14.d6 Be6! (14...Nc6 15.d7! Bb7 16.Qd6
Shirov,A-Topalov,V/Sarajevo 2000/1-0
(27)) 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Nd7 17.Nd2
Bg7 18.Rh3 Qf6 19.cxb5 Rab8 20.Qc6 e4
21.Rc3 Qd8 22.Rc2 axb5 23.Qc7 Qe8
24.Nb3 Qe6 25.Nxc5 Nxc5 26.Qxc5 Qxa2
and soon Black won, Belotti,B Radjabov,T/Saint Vincent/2001.
As you can see, the young talent from
Baku has become a loyal follower of
Morozevichs ideas. I have also seen other
games where he followed Morozevichs
style.
13.h4 exd5
I am not sure that this is the best possible
move. It has an idea, though. On the spot I
can suggest 13...Qf6, the idea being b7b5!
14.Nxd5 Nc6
Here we go! The black knight has
managed to occupy a favorable square.
But the pawns are not too effectively
positioned.
15.h5 h6 16.Rh3 f4?!
And this move I cannot decode. Why not
16...Re8 or even 16...b5!? - ?
17.Rh4 Nb4
Gaining the exchange - 17...Nd4 18.Qxf4
Nxf3 19.gxf3 Be5 - changes the situation

for the worse: 20.Qxe5 Qxh4 21.Nf6+

Kh8 22.Nd7+.
At least here it is necessary to play 17...b5
and sharpen the game.
18.Nxb4 Qxd2+ 19.Rxd2 cxb4 20.Rxf4

White has an extra pawn in the ending.

There follows Morozevichs heroic
defense and Shirovs efficient conclusive
play.
20...Be6 21.Nd4 Bxd4 22.Rdxd4 Rac8
23.b3 Rc5 24.g4 Rfc8 25.Bd3 Kf8
26.Kb2 Ke7 27.Be4 Re5 28.Bxb7 Re2+
29.Kb1 Rc5 30.Rde4 Rd2 31.Rd4 Re2
32.Rde4 Rd2 33.Rf5 Kd6 34.Rxc5 Kxc5

35.Rf4 Rd1+ 36.Kc2 Ra1 37.Kb2 Rg1

38.Bd5 Bxd5 39.cxd5 a5 40.Rxf7 Rxg4
41.Ra7 Rf4 42.Rxa5+ Kb6 43.Ra8
Rxf2+ 44.Kb1 Kc5 45.Rc8+ Kxd5
46.Rc4 Rf1+ 47.Kb2 Rf2+ 48.Kb1 Rf1+
49.Kc2 Rf2+ 50.Kd3 Rxa2 51.Rxb4 Kc5
52.Ra4 Rb2 53.Kc3 Rh2 54.Ra6 Rh3+
And yet White has a winning position.
55.Kb2?
A vexing slip. 55.Kc2!+55...Kb4?
And there follows a serious slip in

response. After 55...Rxh5! 56.Ra5+ Kb4

57.Rxh5 there is a stalemate.
56.Rb6+ Kc5 57.Rxh6 Kb4 58.Kc2
Now Blacks position is hopeless.
58...Rc3+ 59.Kd2 Rh3 60.Rh8 Kc5
61.Kc2 Kb5 62.Kd2 Kc6 63.h6 Kb7
64.b4 Ka7 65.Ke2 Rh4 66.Kf3 Rxb4
67.Rg8 Rh4 68.Rg6 Kb7 69.Kg3 Rh1
70.Kf4 Kc7 71.Kf5 Kd7 72.Kf6 Ke8
73.Kg7 1-0

Round 3: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 3, May 22
Kramnik - Shirov 1/2
Gelfand - Sadvakasov 1:0
Morozevich - Kasparov 0:1
Morozevich,A (2749) - Kasparov,G
(2835) [B87]
Alexander Morozevich got into a scrape.
His blunder of yesterday in the game with
Shirov robbed him of a good nights
sleep. Nevertheless, the young Muscovite
decided not to avoid a hard fight with an
extremely strong opponent. It came to no
good...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4
The Sozin Attack.
Kasparov: When preparing for this game,
I realized, that I had not checked this
move for a while, so I decided to brush up
on a few lines.
6...e6 7.Bb3 b5
Another fashionable continuation in this
position is 7...Nbd7 with the idea of Nc5.
8.0-0 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.Qg3 0-0 11.Bh6
Ne8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.f4
Kasparov: I played 13.Nf3 vs. Gelfand
twice, and scored a point and half, but the
move in the text is the most consistent.
13Nc6 14.f5
This is a very aggressive move. White has
attacked the e6-square, but put the e5square at his opponents disposal. Sasha
played differently in his previous game:
14.Bg5 Bxg5 15.fxg5 Nxd4 16.Rxd4 Qc5
17.Qe3 b4 18.Nd1 Bb5 19.Re1 a5. Black

is fine, to say the least. Morozevich,AGelfand,B/Istanbul 2000/1/2-1/2 (41).

Kasparov: Here is another sharpest move.
14...Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Bf6
Kasparov: Black has option of 15...b4 but
after 16.e5 he is in trouble.
16.Rd3 Be5N
The game Macieja,BWojtkiewicz,A/Warsaw 1995 saw
16...Kh8 17.fxe6 (17.Bf4!?) 17...fxe6
18.Be3 b4 19.Ne2 e5 20.Rd2 Bc6 21.Qg4
Be7 22.Rxf8+ Bxf8 23.Qe6 (23.Bg5!?)
23...Nf6 24.Bg5 Re8 and Black emerged
with a slight advantage. However, I think
Whites game can be improved in this
variation.
Kasparov: A move 16...b4!? suggested
itself. After 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.e5 Bxe5
19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Qf3+ Bf6 21.Ne4 an
unclear double-edged position emerges.
However, I wanted to place my bishop on
e5, where it occupies an excellent
position.
17.Qg4
The e6-pawn is under attack. Besides,
White is threatening f5-f6 in some lines.
How should Black play?
Kasparov: On 17.Bf4 Black has the
excellent reply 17...Nf6 and White cant
go for 18.Rxd6 in view of 18...Nh5
19.Bxe5.
17...b4!
Black is driving the white knight away
from the d5-square, in order to exchange
on f5 "with a clear conscience".
18.f6
This looks like the best option for White.
It is not that clear how White was going to
equalize in the line 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6
bxc3 20.Bd5 because Black has a very
strong move at his disposal 20...Qc8!
Whites h6-bishop is in trouble.
Kasparov: It is very important that 18.fxe6
Bxe6 19.Bxe6 bxc3 20.Bd5 cxb2 21.Bxa8
does not work for White. Here Black can
play 21...Qb6+ 22.Be3 b1Q 23.Bxb6
Qxb6+ 24.Kh1 Nf6 25.Rxf6 Bxf6 26.Bd5
Qb1+ 27.Qd1 with a draw. However I had
a more interesting option in store, namely
21...Qa7+!? 22.Kh1 Qxa8 with good

compensation for the exchange.

18...g6!
18...Qb6+ 19.Kh1 Bxf6 20.Rxf6 bxc3
21.Bxg7!
Kasparov: This is the only move, but
White prepared a very strong
continuation.
19.Ne2
19.Nd1!?
Kasparov: Now 19...Bb5? is bad in view
of 20.Qh4 and White is attacking free of
charge; no fun for Black is 19...Nxf6

20.Qh4 Nh5 21.g4 Ng7 and at this point a

computer suggests 22.Rh3 g5 23.Bxg5 h5
and Black is in danger.
19...a5
As usual in this line, Black is hunting the
b3-bishop. Another option, 19...Bb5
20.Qh4, looks dangerous for Black.
Kasparov: This is the key move, which
turned out to be a highly unpleasant
surprise for my opponent. Black is going
to snatch the bishop.
20.Bxf8
Kasparov: I calculated 20.Qh4 a4 21.Bg5
and Black has to play 21...h5! (bad is
21...axb3? 22.Qh6 Nxf6 23.Rxf6 and
White delivers checkmate despite Blacks
overwhelming material advantage:
23...Qc5+ 24.Kh1 bxa2 25.Rh3 a1Q+
26.Nc1) 22.g4 with crazy complications,
exceeding human calculating ability.
20Kxf8 21.Qh4
White has taken a venturesome decision I
think Alexander should have prepare a
loophole for his bishop with 21.c3!?.
21...a4 22.Qxh7 Qa7+

Kasparov: Maybe I should have simply

played 22...Nxf6 with no fear of 23.Qh8+
Ng8 and White cant continue his attack
with 24.Rdf3? in view of 24...f5.
23.Kh1 Nxf6
Black managed to eradicate the dangerous
f6-pawn. White has no attack.
24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Bc4
Kasparov: Not so good was 25.Rdf3?
because of 25...axb3 26.Qg5 Rh8 27.Ng3
Bb5 28.Rxf6 Bxf1 29.Rxf1+ Ke8 30.axb3
Qe7 and Black emerges with a better
position.

The e5-bishop is the pride of Blacks

position. This piece is no worse than any
White rook. Black has good compensation
for the exchange.
25...Qc5
This move looks very natural, but I doubt
that it is a correct continuation. I think
better was 25...Bc6 26.Qh4 (26.Ng3 Bxb2!
27.Rdf3 Qc5) 26...g5! 27.Qxg5 Rg8 with
Blacks advantage.
26.b3 axb3 27.Bxb3
Another option, 27.axb3, looks better. The
key is that after 27...d5 (27...Bc6) 28.Qg5
dxc4 White has an elegant blow with the
interception motif: 29.Rd5!!.
If 27...Bc6, then simply 28.Ng3 with the
idea of Rd3-f3 putting pressure on the f6knight.
Kasparov: White did not want to open the
file in the time trouble: 27.axb3 Bc6
28.Ng3 leads to an unclear position. It
looks like Black has full compensation for
the exchange.

27...Bb5
Black is regaining the exchange.
28.Nf4
Kasparov: I was calculating 28.h3 Nxe4
29.Qh4+ Nf6 30.Rdf3 Rh8 31.Qxh8 Bxe2
- just another folly in this crazy game. The
e5-bishop guards Black against all the
troubles.
28Bxf4
Kasparov: It is just impossible to refrain
from capturing such a knight in time
trouble, with all sorts of combinational
blows in the air. At this point I had just 10
minutes left, whereas my opponent had 7.
29.Qxf4 Qe5 30.h3
30.Rxd6 Qxf4 31.Rxf4 Kxd6 32.Rxf6
Ra7! -/+
Kasparov: I calculated the line 30.Rxd6
Qxf4 31.Rxf4 Kxd6 32.Rxf6 and
32...Ra7! -/+. Blacks last move is very
important. It came in handy down the
road.
30...g5 31.Qf2
Kasparov: Probably 31.Qd2 was better.
31g4
Black is in no hurry to capture on d3,
because in this case White straightens out
his pawn structure.
32.Qb6
Kasparov: It is hard to reject such a
tempting move. Most likely my opponent
could have reached a draw after 32.Qxf6+
Qxf6 33.Rxf6 Kxf6 34.Rxd6 gxh3 35.Rd4
hxg2+ 36.Kxg2 Rb8 and White is not
worse.
32Nd7 33.Qf2
Kasparov: We repeated the position at this
point.
33Nf6
33...Qh5 34.h4!

34.Qb6 Rh8
Kasparov: Black is playing for a win.
35.Rxd6?
This is a decisive mistake. After the
correct move, 35.Qc7+ Nd7 36.Rxd6!, I
can see no winning continuations for
Black. For example, 36...Rxh3+
(36...Qxd6? 37.Rxf7+) 37.gxh3 Qxe4+
38.Kg1 Qe3+ 39.Rf2 Qe1+ 40.Kg2 Qe4+
41.Kg1.
Kasparov: This is a mistake. White could
have forced a draw after 35.Qc7+! Nd7
36.Rxd6 Rxh3+ 37.gxh3 Qxe4+ and
Black has nothing better than a perpetual
check.
35...Qxd6 36.Qxd6+
36.Qxb5 gxh3
36...Kxd6 37.Rxf6 Rh7!
Kasparov: The above-mentioned line with
the rook on the seventh rank stood me in
good stead. Now White is in trouble.
38.Kh2 Ke5 39.Rf2 gxh3 40.gxh3 Bc6!

The endgame that has emerged is hopeless

for White. The e4-pawn is falling. Blacks
pair of pawns in the center decides the
game.
41.Bc4
Kasparov: The following line is bad for
White 41.Re2 Bxe4 42.c3 bxc3 43.Rxe4+
Kxe4 44.Bc2+ Ke3 45.Bxh7 f5-+
41Bxe4 42.Re2 f5 43.Bd3 Kf4 44.Bxe4
fxe4 45.Rf2+ Ke3 46.Rf8 e5
Kasparov: (!) Another strong move. I was
going to react in the same way after
46.Rf6. Black needs this pawn on e5 in
many lines. White has to spend too much
time on capturing it.

47.Re8
Kasparov: There is no escape for White in
the line 47.Rb8 Rc7 48.Kg3 Rg7+ 49.Kh2
Kd2 50.Rxb4 e3 51.Rb5 Rg5 52.h4 e2-+
47Rc7 48.Rxe5
Kasparov: The rest is an easy ride for
Black. White could have posed some
problems with 48.Kg3.
48Kf4 49.Rb5 Rxc2+ 50.Kg1 e3
51.Rxb4+ Kf3 52.Rb1
Kasparov: After 52.Rb8 Rc1+ 53.Kh2 e2
54.Rf8+ Ke3 55.Re8+ Kd3 56.Rd8+ Kc3
57.Rc8+ Kb2 58.Re8 e1Q 59.Rxe1 Rxe1
60.Kg3 Re4-+ White is losing.
52Rg2+ 53.Kh1 e2 54.a4 Kf2 55.a5
Rg5 56.Kh2 Rxa5 57.h4 Ra3
The ex-champion has caught up to the
champion!
0-1
Kramnik,V (2797) - Shirov,A (2722)
[D12]
This is another encounter of old friendsrivals. Despite their youth, they both have
a lot to reminisce about. This game turned
out to be extremely interesting, especially
the ending. I am not sure that I managed
to comprehend all the intricacies of this
encounter, though.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3
Here we go! Kramnik has opted for an
unpretentious continuation, which does
not promise a real advantage. It looks like
the champion decided to play in this dry,
technical style with all the participants.
Why not, if it works?
4...Bf5!

White does not usually play 4.e3 exactly

because of this move. Black develops his
light-squared bishop on a good square.
5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qb6
9.Nxg6 hxg6
I see what attracted Kramnik in this line.
He has a soft spot in his heart for two
bishops. At the same time, this is
Kramniks strength!
10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 Qxb3
Black was not forced to trade the queens.
12.axb3 Bd6
As long as the position is closed, Whites
bishops are powerless. So, White has to
open it!
13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1N
This is a novelty. Another adherent to this
variation, Alexander Fominyh, usually
places this rook on a different square 15.Rhg1 a6 16.Kc2 Rc8 17.Ra1 0-0
18.Rgd1 Rfe8 19.Be1 Bb8 20.Bf2 g5
21.b4 dxc4 22.Bxc4 Nf5 23.e4 Nd6
24.Bf1 Nb5 25.Kb3 e5 26.Nxb5 cxb5
27.dxe5 Nxe5= Fominyh,A-Yevseev,D/St
Petersburg 2000/1/2 (44).
15...0-0-0
Probably Black has an interesting
maneuver at his disposal: 15...Nf5, with
the idea of Nf5-h4, if needed.
16.cxd5
The immediate 16.e4 dxe4 17.fxe4 is met
by 17...e5!
16...exd5 17.e4!
Everything is unfolding according to plan.
17...dxe4 18.fxe4 f6 19.Re3 Nh5
Black could not exchange the bishops 19...Bf4 20.Rf3 Bxd2+ 21.Kxd2 Nh5
22.g4+20.Rf3 g5 21.e5!
It is amazing how Kramnik manages to
carry out his plans, whereas mere mortals
dont.
21...fxe5 22.Bxg5 Nhf6 23.Bf5
It is quite another matter now. Whites
bishops are at liberty.
23...Kc7 24.Ne4 Be7 25.dxe5 Nxe5
26.Bf4! Rxd1+ 27.Kxd1 Rd8+
Black had no desire to trade his bishop.
Indeed, after 27...Bd6 28.Nxd6 Kxd6
29.Re3! (29.Rg3 Kd5! 30.Rxg7 Nh5)
29...Re8 30.Bh2 he would have found

himself in deep trouble.

28.Kc2 Nxe4 29.Bxe5+ Bd6
29...Nd6 30.Bg4!
30.Bxg7 Rg8 31.Bxe4 Rxg7 32.g4
After a forced sequence the game has
transposed into a bishop of opposite color
endgame. White has good winning
chances.
32...Be7 33.Kd3 Kd6 34.Kd4 a6 35.Bd3
Rg8 36.Bc4
36.Rf7 Rh8!
36...Rf8?
From the standpoint of classical chess
canons this is a correct decision.
Basically, it is easier to defend in such
endings without the rooks on the board.
There are many drawing positions.
However, in this particular situation this is
not so.
37.Rxf8 Bxf8 38.g5!

Whites pawn have darted forward.

38...Bg7+ 39.Ke4 Bxb2 40.Kf5
Whites main threat is quite simple. He is
going to march with his king to h7. If
White carries out this plan, his pawns will
be unstoppable.
40...b5 41.Bd3 a5!
Blacks only chance is counterplay on the
queenside. The attack with the bishop
from behind does not work. Black misses
either one tempi, or the right square for
his bishop!
For example, 41...Bd4 42.Kg6! (but not
42.h4 Bf2 43.h5 Ke7 followed by Be3
with a draw.) 42...Be3 43.h4 Bf2 (Black
wishes his king was already on e7...)
44.Kf7!+-.
A trip to the white b3 pawn takes too

much time: 41...Kc5 42.h4 Kb4 43.h5

Kxb3 44.g6 etc.
42.h4?!
I am under the impression that White let
his win slip with this natural move. It is
not clear what Black could have done
after the prophylactic move 42.Bc2! for
example 42...c5 (42...Ke7 43.Kg6) 43.Kg6
c4 (43...Kd5 44.Kh7 c4 45.g6 cxb3
46.Bxb3+ Kc5 47.h4!+-) 44.bxc4 bxc4
45.h4 Ke5 46.h5 Kf4 and here 47.Bd1!
(47.Kh6 Kg3 48.g6? Kh4 49.Bd1 a4
50.Bxa4 Bf6 51.Bd1 c3=) 47...Bh8
(47...Kg3 48.h6 Kh4 49.h7 followed by
Kh6, g5-g7; 47...Ke3 48.Kh7) 48.h6 c3
49.Kh5 Ke5 50.g6 Kf6 51.Bc2 and Black
is in a fatal zugzwang. The black king has
no time to reach the saving f8-square.
42...a4 43.bxa4 bxa4 44.Bc4 a3 45.Ba2
White had another route to the final
position of this game: 45.Kg6 Kc5 46.Ba2
Kb4 47.h5 c5 etc.
45...Bd4 46.Kg6 Kc5!
This is exactly an instance when offense is
the best defense. Black could have found
himself in the above mentioned zugzwang
after 46...Ke5? 47.h5 Kf4 48.h6 Bh8
49.Kh5 Ke5 50.g6 Kf6.
47.h5 Kb4 48.Kf5
48.Kh7 c5 49.g6 c4=
48...c5 49.Ke4
There is no win after 49.h6 c4! 50.Ke4
(50.g6 c3 51.g7 c2 52.g8Q c1Q 53.Qb3+
Ka5 54.Qd5+ Qc5=) 50...c3 51.Kd3 c2!
52.Kxc2 Be3 53.h7 Bd4 54.Kd3 Kc5
55.Ke4 Bb2 56.Kf5 Kd6 57.Kg6 Ke7=
49...Bb2 50.h6 Bc1 51.Kf5
White could have achieved a position with
the queen and the bishop vs. the queen
and a pawn after 51.h7 Bb2 52.Kd5 Ba1
53.Ke6 Bh8 54.g6 c4 55.Kf7 c3 56.g7
Bxg7 57.Kxg7 c2 58.h8Q c1Q but the
question is, what for?
51...c4 52.Ke6 Bb2 53.g6 c3 54.g7 c2
55.g8Q c1Q
Draw!
1/2-1/2

Gelfand,B (2712) - Sadvakasov,D (2585)

[D27]

36.Rxe6 Rxe6 37.Rc2 g5 38.Kg2 Re3

39.fxg5 hxg5 40.Rc5

Darmen was very close to his first half

point. He tragically lost once more. The
young Kazakh player forfeited on time.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6
5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.Bb3 cxd4 8.exd4
Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Re1 0-0 11.a3
Kramnik prefers 11.Bf4 in this position
nowadays.
11...b5! 12.d5
This breakthrough is on Whites agenda.
As far as I know the theory, Black can
gradually equalize here. This game bore
out my opinion.
12...exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bb7
15.Bf4 Bf6 16.Re2 Na5 17.Rd2 Bxd5
18.Rxd5 Qc8 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.Nxe5
The position is "drying up"!
20...Qe6 21.Rc1N
This is a novelty. White also tried a
different approach in this position: 21.b4
Nb7 22.Qd4 Rfe8 (22...Rad8! 23.Rd1
Rfe8 24.Rxd8 Nxd8=) 23.g3 Nd6 24.Rd1
Nf5 25.Qf4 Nh6 26.Nd7 += Matros,AHjelm,N/Stockholm 2000/1-0 (32).
21...h6 22.f4
An aggressive move. However...

Black forfeited on time at this point.

However, White hardly can win this rook
endgame. For example, 40.Rc5 Kg6
41.Rc6+ Kh5!

22...Nc4!
This is a very logical reaction. It is time
for Black to transfer his knight to a better
position from the edge of the board.
23.Nxc4 bxc4 24.Rxc4 Rab8
It has turned out that Black is regaining a
pawn. White would be glad to return his
f4 pawn to f2!
25.Rc2
25.Qd2? Rxb2
25...Qe3+ 26.Kh1 Rfe8
Why not 26...Qxf4 ? I cant imagine.
27.g3 Qe4+ 28.Kg1 Rb3 29.Rd4 Qe6
30.Rf2 Re3 31.Kg2 f5?!
31...Qc6+ 32.Kh3!
32.Rd6 Qe4+ 33.Kh3
White is slightly better. Time trouble now
crept in. There is not much sense in
commenting on the following sequence.
33...Re6 34.Qd5 Kh7 35.Qxe4 R3xe4

1-0

Round 4: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 4, May 24
Gelfand - Morozevich 1:0
Sadvakasov - Shirov 1/2
Kramnik - Kasparov 1/2

Kramnik - Kasparov [D85]

The public was looking forward to this
clash of the leaders. Unfortunately there
was not much fight in this encounter. The
champion deviated from the topical
continuation in the opening to simplify the
position.
Kasparov: I managed to hold a Grunfeld
ending today. Whites pieces are more
active, Blacks c4 is weak, but thanks to
the two bishops Black is just in time to
defend the position.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
Finally, Garry decided to test the Grunfeld
Defense against Vladimir again. After the
defeat in the second game of the London
match he played his favorite opening

against all players except Kramnik.

4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7
7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 Nc6
At this point the game deviates from the
London encounter of these opponents,
which saw 9...Bg4 10.Rb1 a6 11.Rxb7!
and White obtained a certain advantage.
10.Rc1
Another continuation, 10.Rb1, is being
extensively analyzed nowadays.
10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2
White has to capture with his king on d2
in order not to lose the d4-pawn. That is
why Black plays Nb8-c6 straight away,
before castling.
12...0-0 13.d5 Rd8
With the idea of e7-e6
14.Ke1 Na5
This is the best retreat square for the
knight. 14...Nb4 is not that convincing,
because after 15.Bd2 the a2-pawn is
poisoned - 15...Nxa2? 16.Rc2; Black cant
reach equality after 14...Ne5 15.Nxe5
Bxe5 16.f4, as proven in the match
Kramnik - Leko, Budapest, 2001.
15.Bg5 Bd7 16.Bd3
As is well known, the capture on e7 leads
to an equal game after 16.Bxe7 Re8 17.d6
Nc6 18.Bb5 Bf8
16...Rdc8 17.Ke2 e6
Black should open the center immediately
in order to start bothering the white king.
The opponents have followed the game
Kramnik - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2001
so far. I wanted to see how Garry was
going to improve the Dutchmans play.
However...
18.Rxc8+
On 18.Bd2 Black has a strong in-between
move 18...exd5! with the idea of regaining
a piece after 19.Bxa5 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Re8!
According to Kramnik, the main line is
18.Be3 exd5 19.exd5 A few important
games have been played in this position
lately. For example 19...b6 (on 19...Rd8
strong is 20.Rc5 b6 21.Rc7 Bg4 22.h3
Bxf3+ 23.Kxf3 +=; I think Black should
test 19...b5!? ) 20.Ba6 Rd8 21.Rhd1 Ba4!
(White obtained a clear advantage and
converted it after 21...Bc8 22.Bxc8 Raxc8
23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd4 This sequence

occurred in the above-mentioned game

Kramnik - Van Wely. ) 22.Rd3 b5 23.Bf4
Nc4 24.Bb7 Bb2 25.Bxa8 Bxc1 26.Bxc1
Rxa8 and Black solved the opening
problems in the game Piket - Van Wely,
Holland 2001 (as we can see Luke does
not like discarding his favorite lines). By
the way, White lost that game.
Kasparov: These are well-known
theoretical moves. In Wijk aan Zee 2001
Kramnik played 18.Be3 against Van Wely
and won easily. However, not only
Whites pieces are active in this line, but
Blacks also.
18...Rxc8 19.Rc1 Rxc1 20.Bxc1 exd5
21.exd5
White forces total exchanges. Apparently
Vladimir thought that it would be easier to
advance the d-pawn without the rooks on
the board. Besides, his king is safe now.
However, White did not manage to get
anything tangible.
21...b5!
Kasparov: This is a standard maneuver in
the Grunfeld Defense. The black knight is
heading for c4. Ftachnik introduced this
move in this position 20 years ago.
Black should bring his a5-knight into
play. With the last move I have prepared
to transfer it to c4.
22.Bf4
After 22.Be3 a6 23.Bd4?! Bxd4 24.Nxd4
Kf8 25.Ke3 Ke7 Black obtained a slight
advantage and finally won in the game
Tatai - Ftachnik. The blockade on the d6square and the exchange of the darksquared bishops - that is about all Black
needs in this position.
Kasparov: This looks like the most
consistent continuation.
22...Nc4
Only this move is new. Black had played
b7-b5 to take up the c4-square with his
knight. The game Caessens,RFette,M/Groningen 1988/ saw 22...Kf8
23.Bd6+ Ke8 24.Ne5 Nb7 25.Bb8 a6
26.Nxd7 Kxd7 with a roughly equal
position.
23.Bxc4
On 23.Nd2 White should reckon with
23...Nb6 24.Be4 Na4!

23...bxc4 24.Be5
What can I say about this position? I
doubt that White has any winning
chances. The transposition into a drawing
endgame with opposite-colored bishops is
always at Blacks service. Meanwhile, he
can try to pester the opponent with his
bishops.
Kasparov: Only this move poses some
problems to Black.
24...Bf8
24...Bh6 suggested itself.
Kasparov: This is a key move of the
game, which consumed a lot of time. Not
so good was 24...Bh6 in view of 25.Nd4;
then the pawn advances to f4, the knight
jumps to c6, and the white king heads to
Blacks c-pawn. If Black reacts with
24...f6 then White retreats, winning a
tempo: 25.Bd4 a6 26.Kd2 Kf7 27.Kc3 Bf8
28.Nd2, but not 28.Kxc4 Bb5+ 29.Kc3
with some hopes for a fortress. I was also
calculating the move 24...Bf5, but it can
be met by the unpleasant 25.Kd2 and
Black is at a loss. For example 25...f6
26.Bd4 Be4 27.d6 Kf7 28.Bxa7 Ke6
29.Bc5
25.Nd2!
Kasparov: The most consistent
continuation was 25.Nd4 but Black holds
in this line as well. 25...Bc5 26.Nc6 Kf8
27.f3 Bxc6 28.dxc6 Ke7 29.Kd2 Bb4+
30.Ke3 Bc5+ 31.Ke4 Ke6 32.c7 and
Black is just in time with the check
32...f5+
24Bb5 26.Ne4 f5!
Kasparov: I thought that this move was
obligatory in the course of the game. I was
under the impression that after 26...c3+
Black was losing -- 27.Ke3 c2 28.Nf6+
Kg7 29.Kd2 Bd3 30.d6 and White is
winning -- but it turned out that Black
probably escapes in this line, in a very
spectacular way. Black should play
29...Be7 30.Ne4+ f6 31.d6 Bd8 32.Bd4
Bd3 33.Nxf6 Bxf6 34.d7 Bxd4 35.d8Q Bb2
which leads to an amazing drawing
position. White has nothing better than a
perpetual check.
27.Nc3!
This is a good knight transfer to the

blocking position. White is fine now.

27.Nf6+ Kf7 28.Nxh7 c3+ was too
dangerous for White.
Kasparov: After the knights taking up the
c3-square instead of the king, Black has
nothing to worry about.
27...Bd7 28.Ke3 Bc5+
Black does not allow the White king to
advance to d4.
29.Bd4 Bb4 30.Be5
Draw. On 30.a3 Black would have played
30...Ba5!
1/2-1/2

Gelfand,B - Morozevich,A [D15]

Morozevich employed an eccentric
development of his rook on a7, which was
played in some of GM Volkovs games. A
few moves down the road Gelfand created
an advanced b6-pawn, which became the
main cause of Blacks defeat.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4
Bf5 6.Qb3 Ra7 7.a5 e6
Who knows, maybe after this game Black
will play like Stefanova vs. Efimov (Valle
dAosta 2001) in this position - 7...dxc4
8.Qxc4 e6 9.g3 (9.Nd2!?) 9...Nd5 10.Bg2
Bb4 emphasizing the weakness of the a5pawn.
8.Qb6
This natural move was also played in the
game Djimesi - Magomedov (Koshalin,
1999). The encounter Gelfand Morozevich followed the same track. It
looks like Black has no prospects in this
pawn structure: Whites b6 pawn is very
dangerous, whereas Blacks counterplay
in the center is very difficult to strike up.
8...Qxb6 9.axb6 Ra8 10.c5 Nbd7 11.e3
White had another plan deserving a look 11.Bf4 with the idea of stalling e6-e5.
However, Boris is settling his bishop "in
the house" and fortifying the d4-square.
11...Be7 12.Be2 0-0 13.Nd2
Whites plan is quite simple - he is going
to place his knight on a5 and capture the
pawns b7 and c6, clearing the way for his
own already advanced infantry.

13...e5 14.Nb3 Rfe8 15.0-0 Bf8

Maybe Black should have protected his
weakest pawn in advance - 15...Rab8 with
the idea of meeting 16.Na5 with an
immediate piece sacrifice - 16...Nxc5
17.dxc5 Bxc5, although after 18.Na4 Bb4
19.Nb3 Blacks compensation is not
adequate.
16.Bd2
This is the move of a real grandmaster.
Boris figured out that after 16.Na5 exd4
17.exd4 Nxc5 18.dxc5 d4 19.Nxb7 dxc3
20.Bf3 Whites advantage was not that
big. So he is taking time to transfer his
pieces to better positions bearing in mind
that this option will be there anyway.
16...Bc2
Alexander is nudging the opponent to
carry out his plan even in a better situation
for White. Allowing Na5 and b2-b4
means to condemn himself to hopeless
agony.
17.Na5 exd4 18.exd4 Nxc5 19.dxc5 d4
20.Bf3 dxc3 21.Bxc3
The material is equal. Had Black managed
to sweep Whites dangerous queenside
pawns, he would have been OK.
However, the position is full of tactical
subtleties.
21...Ne4
No good is for Black is 21...Rab8 22.Bxf6
gxf6 23.Nxb7! Rxb7 24.Bxc6; whereas in
the line 21...Bxc5 22.Bxf6! gxf6 23.Rfc1
a hidden drawback of the move 16...Bc2
comes to light; after 21...Be4 22.Nxb7
Bxf3 23.gxf3 Rab8 24.Nd6 Bxd6 25.cxd6
Rxb6 White transposes into a better
endgame. Nevertheless, I think Black
should have gone for this variation.
22.Rfc1 Bd3
22...Nxc3 23.Rxc2 Ne4 24.Nxb7 Rab8
25.Bxe4 Rxe4 26.Na5+23.Nxb7 Rab8
23...Nxc5 24.Nxc5 Bxc5 25.Bxc6 another tactical nuance.
24.Bxe4 Rxe4
After 24...Bxe4 25.Nd6 Bxd6 26.cxd6
Black cant capture on b6. With two
dangerous pawns on the sixth rank even
an endgame with opposite-colored
bishops will be winning for White.

25.Rd1!
This move is even better than 25.Nd6
25...Be2
Again, so near and yet so far. The knight
is taboo 25...Rxb7 26.Rxd3 Bxc5 27.Rd8+
Bf8 28.Rxa6
26.Rd7 Bg4
26...Re7 27.Rxe7 Bxe7 28.Re1! and one
of the Blacks unluckily lined up bishops
perishes. 28...Rxb7 29.Rxe2 Bxc5
30.Re8+ Bf8 31.Bb4+27.Rc7 Rc4 28.Rxa6 h5
28...Bxc5 29.Nxc5 Rxc5 30.b7 Rb5
31.Ra7+-; 28...Rxb7 29.Rxb7 Bc8
30.Raa7 Bxb7 31.Rxb7 Rxc5 32.Rd7 Rb5
33.b7+29.Ra7 Be6 30.Rxc6
This is Whites third extra pawn!
30...Bd5 31.Rc7 Re8
Finally Black has managed to create his
first threat - 32...Rxc3, but it is way too
transparent.
32.h3 Rf4 33.Nd6 Re2 34.f3 Rxg2+
35.Kxg2 Rxf3 36.Kg1 1-0

Round 5: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 5, May 25
Shirov - Gelfand 1/2
Morozevich - Kramnik 0:1
Kasparov - Sadvakasov 1/2

Morozevich,A (2749) - Kramnik,V

(2797) [D00]
After the three defeats in a row Alexander
should have pulled himself together and
drawn one game. But he failed.
1.d4
Here I thought that a draw was in store:
When Morozevich plays for a win, he
uses a different pawn.
1...d5 2.Bg5 c6 3.Nf3 h6 4.Bh4 Qb6 5.b3
Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Be7
9.Bxe7 Nxe7
At this moment I was absolutely sure that
the game would be drawn. I even stopped
commenting on it online...
10.c4 Nd7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.0-0 Qa6!
Black presses the c4-square.
13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.Rab1!?N
A novelty. Very delicately played, from
my point of view. Now we might well
expect an exchange on c4, and then the
b1-rook will be where it belongs. Earlier
the simpler and safer 14.Rac1 Nf5 15.Qb1
Ne7 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Qa5 18.c5 Qc7
19.Nd6 was played, Hodgson,JSergejev,R/Pula 1997/1/2-1/2 (69) or
14.a4 dxc4 15.bxc4 c5 16.Nb5 Rac8 17.d5
exd5 18.cxd5 c4 19.Qe4 Ng6 20.Qf5
Kuporosov,V-Yagupov,I/Kstovo 1997/1-0
(31), with Black facing certain problems
in both cases.
14...b6 15.Qf1 Rac8 16.Rd2 Nf6 17.Ne5
dxc4
18.Nxc4?
A wrong decision, after which Black
captures the initiative. Stronger is
18.Qxc4, so that in response to 18...Qxc4
(18...Qb7 19.b4 +=) 19.bxc4 c5 he can

immediately play 20.d5 exd5 21.cxd5,

with a fatal pin in case of capturing on d5.
18...Ned5
Whites c3-square is weak.
19.Rc2 Nxc3 20.Rxc3 c5!
The white pieces coordination is not
impressive, in particular, the b1-rooks
position.
21.dxc5
In the ending, after 21.Ne5 Qxf1+
22.Rxf1 cxd4 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.exd4 Rc2
White would not be as pleased as Punch.
21...b5
An interesting resource. It turns out that
White is losing the exchange.
22.Ne5 Ne4 23.Rd3 Nd2
And there follows a short agony. The
victim has gone for the hunter...
24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rd1 Nxf1 26.Rxd8+
Kh7 27.c6 Qa5!
A precise conclusive move. The champion
becomes the tournaments leader.
0-1

Kasparov,G (2835) Sadvakasov,D

(2585) [A29]
1.c4
Here comes the first surprise! Garry does
not use his main weapon - 1.e4. He
obviously thinks it necessary to save big
theoretical guns for other games. But his
plot hasnt worked... The young and
inexperienced opponent has proved to be
a hard nut to crack.
1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4
5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3
Re8
One of the acute positions of the English
Opening.
9.f3 e3!
This brilliant move was invented by Igor
Zaitsev for Karpov, who employed it at
the world championship when playing
Kasparov 14 years ago. So Black gives
away his pawn, but slightly spoils the
opponents position.
10.dxe3
In the original game play went 10.d3 d5
11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5

14.f4 Nc6 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Bb2 Bg4 17.c4

with a stubborn fight and roughly even
chances, Kasparov-Karpov, Seville, 1987.
10...Qe7
Black aims at the c4-pawn, moving his
queen. Previously Black was supposed to
play here 10...b6 11.e4 h6 12.Nh3 Ba6,
followed by a good play. Sure enough,
there are other possibilities for White
here. For example, White can sacrifice his
knight on f7 instead of retreating to h3.
11.Nh3N
A novelty. Whites knight makes for d5.
Earlier 11.e4 Qc5+ 12.Kh1 h6 13.Nh3
Qxc4 14.Bd2?! b6 15.Re1 Bb7 16.g4 Ne5
was played, with Black obtaining a good
position. Zagorskis,DSammalvuo,T/Copenhagen 1998.
11...Qc5
In case of 11...Ne5 12.e4 Nxc4 , an
interesting variation is 13.Bg5 h6
14.Qd4!?
12.Nf4
There is no way out for the pawn anyway.
12...Qxc4 13.e4!
A hint at capturing the pawn.
13...d6
Correct! If the sacrifice were accepted,
Black would be in for an unpromising
defense: 13...Qxc3 14.Rb1 Qd4+ 15.Qxd4
Nxd4 16.Rd1 Ne6 17.e5.
14.Qd3
Kasparov: Perhaps I should have insisted
on the pawn sacrifice - 14.Be3 Qxc3
15.Bf2 and White has compensation.
14Ne5 15.Qxc4
During the game I expected 15.Qd4 . In
my opinion, this is a good move.
15...Nxc4

White has the advantage of the two

bishops, but his pawn structure is worse.
Now Blacks task is to keep the position
closed. His c4-knight is strong enough, so
White does not have a considerable
advantage.
16.g4!
A move with an outermost pawn means a
struggle for the center. White intends to
move the knight to d5.
16...Rb8
In case of 16...c6 17.Rd1, there appear
certain weak points for Black.
17.Rd1 b6
Since the bishop is light-squared, the
pawns are to be positioned on the black
squares.
18.g5 Nd7 19.Nd5 Rb7
An oriental ruse. In the variation 19...c6
20.Ne3 Nde5 21.Nxc4 Nxc4 22.Bf4
White has an object for attack.

Kasparov: (?!) Black has chosen a wrong

way of protecting the c7-pawn - he should
have moved c7-c6 instead. Whites bad
position begins to improve.
20.f4!
The bishops get started.
20...Nf8
The preventive 20...Kf8 suggests itself.
21.Rd4 Na5 22.f5
This is not merely an attack, but also a
protection from the threat of c7-c6
followed by Ne6xf4. This moves
drawback is the weakening of the e5square.
22...Bd7 23.Rb1

I dont understand this move. 23.f6 Ne6

24.Rd1 Ba4 changes nothing; To my
mind, not bad is 23.Bf4, developing the
bishop.
23...c5!
Blacks rook becomes operative again.
24.Rd3 Ba4
An unpleasant visit by the black bishop.

25.Bf4!
Garry is in the habit of cutting the knots!
In response to 25.Ne3 there is 25...Bc6!
25...Bc2 26.Rb2 Bxd3 27.exd3 Rd8
Why has White lost the exchange? He has
lost it for the sake of obtaining a good
structure.
28.h4!
There appears a dangerous positional
threat, i.e. the white pawns route to h6.
28...Nc6 29.h5 Ne7
29...Ne5 suggests itself, but in this case
White can response with 30.Bf1! and
implement h5-h6 all the same.
Kasparov: Probably better is 29...Ne5
30.Bf1, and White has compensation for
the exchange but no more.
30.Ne3
Sure enough, the knights should not be

traded off.
30...Rbd7
Of course, in response to 30...f6 one
should play 31.h6!, thus breaking up the
opponents pawn structure.
31.Ng4
From my point of view, it is at this
moment that White has lost his advantage.
Strong is 31.h6 followed by 31...g6
32.Ng4 Kh8 33.Nf6 Rb7 and then the line
34.e5 d5 35.c4 gxf5 36.cxd5 Neg6 leads
to an unclear game. Instead of this,
stronger is 34.c4!, and there is always a
threat of Bf4-d2-c3! for Black.
Kasparov: (?) A bad move from all
possible points of view. I couldnt see an
immediate win for White, so I didnt want
to make the position clear. Meanwhile, the
immediate 31.h6 would have posed more
serious problems to Black:
31...g6 (variations like 31...gxh6 32.Ng4
are not even worth examining - the white
pieces become too active ) 32.Ng4 Kh8
33.Nf6 Rc7 34.e5
A) now bad is 34...d5 because of 35.e6,
and Black has difficulties. For example,
losing is 35...Rb7 36.Be5 Nc6 37.Bxd5
Rxd5 38.Nxd5+ Nxe5 39.e7 Rb8 40.Re2
Nfd7 41.Nf6 followed by a win.
B) it is necessary to move 34...Nxf5
35.exd6 and here Black should play
35...Rxd6 (because bad is 35...Nxd6
36.Nd5 Rcd7 37.Be5+ with a big
advantage ) , but in that case White plays
36.Ne8 Rcd7 37.Be5+ f6 38.Nxf6 Re7
39.Bxd6 Nxd6 40.d4 and here comes the
ending where White has a considerable
advantage. For instance, 40...cxd4
41.cxd4 Ne6 42.Re2 Nf5 43.Rc2 Rc7
44.Rxc7 Nxc7 45.d5.
31...Nc6
Kasparov: A good defense. Now Blacks
knight can move to e5.
32.h6 Ne5!
A wonderful protective idea! The rooks
have to blow up one file at least.
33.Bxe5
Kasparov: Another possibility is 33.Nf2,
sticking to the same line of action - not to
make the position clearer, waiting for the
opponent to blunder. White does not risk

beyond reason, and the position is of a

fighting character. For example, 33...gxh6
34.gxh6 f6 35.d4 Nc4 36.Rb1.
33dxe5 34.hxg7 Kxg7 35.Bf1 Rd6
Bad is 35...Rxd3 because of 36.f6+, and
the g6-square is undermined.
36.Nxe5 f6!
Quite correct! It is necessary to blow up
the position before White has
consolidated.
37.Ng4
The move is made in Kasparovs style.
There are a lot of interesting variations
here. For instance, 37.gxf6+ Kxf6
38.Ng4+ Kg5 39.Rg2 Kf4! or 37.Nc4
Rxd3 38.gxf6+ Kxf6 39.e5+ Kxf5
40.Rf2+ Ke6 41.Bxd3 Rxd3 42.Rxf8
Rxc3 - and in all of the variations there
are good chances for a draw rather than
for Whites victory.
37...fxg5 38.Rh2
In case of 38.e5 Rxd3 39.Bxd3 Rxd3
40.e6 Nxe6 41.fxe6 Rg3+ 42.Rg2 Rxg2+
43.Kxg2 h5, the black king captures the
white passed pawn. So this line results in
a draw as well.
Kasparov: It is necessary to prevent h7h5.
38...Re8! 39.e5
It seems that in response to 39.Rh5, the
strongest move is 39...h6 (it is dangerous
to give away the g5-pawn). Further, it is
possible to move 40.f6+ (40.e5 Rd5
41.Rxh6 Rdxe5) 40...Rxf6 41.Nxf6 Kxf6
42.Rxh6+ Ke5 43.Kf2 c4! - most likely,
Black stands his ground here too.
39...Rd5 40.f6+
Kasparov: This is the "only" but simple
move.
40Kh8!
Dodging the last trap - 40...Kg6? 41.d4
cxd4 42.Bd3+ Kf7 43.Bc4 +/-.
41.Nh6 Rdxe5 42.Nf7+ Kg8 43.Nh6+
Draw! Darmen Sadvakasovs brilliant
achievement. The first step is the
hardest...
1/2-1/2

Shirov,A (2722) - Gelfand,B (2712)

[C42]
Gelfand has surprised us again with his
choice of opening. Shirov is a connoisseur
of the Petroff played with either color, and
nevertheless Boris has managed to hit on a
scheme which is not too modern but often
used by Yusupov. Avoiding Shirovs
traps, he draws.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.c4 Nf6
The main theoretical arguments are over
8...Nb4.
9.Nc3 Be6 10.c5
A rare continuation. The games against
Yusupov usually went 10.cxd5 Nxd5.
10...Bg4
Another connoisseur of this variation,
Eduardas Rozentalis, prevented the white
bishops subsequent lunge in this position
with 10...a6.
11.Bb5 0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.h3 Bxf3
Surely Black cannot let the white knight
occupy e5.
14.Qxf3 Re8 15.Be3
The Palac-Pavasovic duel (Pozega 2000)
went 15.Re1 Rb8 16.Re2 Nd7 (16...Rb4
17.Qd3 Ne4!?) 17.Qd3 Bf6 18.Rb1 Nf8
19.Rxe8 Qxe8 20.Be3, and White won in
a stubborn fight. Shirov immediately
protects his positions most vulnerable
square, and he is very likely to make
moves like Rab1, b4 etc. on the
queenside.
15...Qb8!
An effective strategic idea. Passing by the
pawns, the black queen is drawn into the
game.
16.Rab1 Bf8 17.Rfe1
In response to 17.b4 Black could act in the
center - 17...Ne4 18.Bf4 Nxc3 19.Qxc3
Re4.
17...Qb4
In response to 17...Ne4 White moves
18.Bf4 with unpleasant pressure.
18.a3 Qc4
The queen should cling to the d4-pawn. In
case of 18...Qb3 19.Qg3 Re7 20.Bg5,
White has an advantage.
19.Rbc1

Now if 19.Qg3 Re7 White has to spend a

tempo for the protection of the d4-square:
20.Red1, and Black has enough time to
prepare his attack on the knight - 20...
20...g6 (worse is 20...Rae8 21.Bg5 Ne4
22.Nxe4 Rxe4 23.Qxc7 Rxd4 24.Rxd4
Qxd4 25.Qxc6 Re6 26.Qa8 Qxc5 27.Rc1
Qb6 28.Rc8) 21.Bg5 Bg7 with a good
play.
19...Rab8 20.Qf5
This cant be even called a trap.
20...Qb3
20...Rxb2? 21.Ne4

21.Bg5
And this move is made in pure Shirov
style! Alexey challenges his opponent to
compete in calculations.
21...Ne4
Gelfand refuses the challenge, though if
the sacrifice were accepted, any result
would be possible. The basic variation is
as follows: 21...Qxb2 22.Bxf6 Rxe1+
23.Rxe1 Qxc3 24.Re3 Qc1+ 25.Kh2, and
now Black should be very cautious in
choosing which move to make.
A) For example, in response to the
following attempt of simplifying the
position - 25...Qb1 White plays 26.Qd7!
gxf6 27.Rg3+ Bg7 28.Qg4 Qg6 29.Qf4!
winning the queen.
B) the counterattack 25...Rb1 fails due to
26.Bxg7! Qh1+ 27.Kg3 Rg1 28.Bxf8
Qxg2+ (28...Rxg2+ 29.Kh4 Kxf8 30.Rf3
Rg7 31.Qc8+) 29.Kh4 Kxf8 30.Qc8+ Kg7
31.Rg3+.
But the line 22...gxf6 23.Qd3 Bh6!?
24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Rc2 Qxa3 deserves
attention, where the white queen attacks

and White suffers some material losses.

Sure enough, the arising irrational
position is typical of Shirov. Boris
calculations were good, but they assumed
a different direction.
22.Nxe4 dxe4
Bad is 22...Rxe4? 23.Rxe4 dxe4 24.Qxe4
Qxb2 25.Qxc6, and White captures more.
23.Rxe4 Qd3 24.Rce1 Rxb2
It is necessary to make White lose time in
developing the queen. The ending after
24...Rxe4 25.Qxe4 Qxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxb2
27.Re8 f6 28.Be3 Kf7 29.Rc8 Rb7 30.Bf4
is much too complicated for Black.
25.Qf4 Rxe4 26.Qxe4
It is impossible to save the queens,
because after 26.Rxe4 Qb1+ White, in
order not to lose the pawn after 27.Kh2
Rxf2!, has to employ the trick 27.Qc1.
26...Qxe4 27.Rxe4 f6 28.Bf4 Kf7!
The final touch. The loss of the c7-pawn
does not worry Black. The most important
thing is not to let the white rook into the
hinterland.
29.Bxc7 Ra2 30.Bd6
White cannot support two weak pawns
with one rook - 30.Re3 Ra1+ 31.Kh2 Rd1
32.Re4 Ra1.
30...Rxa3 31.Bxf8 Kxf8 32.Re6 Rd3
33.Rxc6 Rd1+
Here is a demonstration of ending
technique for the young: the king is kept
far away from the center.
34.Kh2 Rxd4 35.Rc8+ Ke7 36.c6
36.Rc7+ Rd7, and the pawn ending is not
at all dangerous for Black.
36...Rc4 37.Rc7+ Kf8
The a-pawns march will inevitably make
the white rook leave the passed c-pawn
unprotected, and then quite a drawn end
will set in.
1/2-1/2

Round 6: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 6, May 26
Kasparov - Shirov 1:0
Sadvakasov - Morozevich 0:1
Gelfand - Kramnik 1/2

Kasparov,G Shirov,A [C11]

Kasparov: It was a very tense and
interesting game. Many variations require
additional analysis.
1.e4 e6
More and more often Kasparovs
opponents go to "bois de Boulogne".
Khalifman and Gelfand managed draws in
the French defense facing Garry. Alexei
abandoned his favorite Petroff defense
and decided to follow in their footsteps.
He was one step away from his goal.
Alexei stumbled at the very end of the
game having committed a very vexing
mistake.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
I think this move is better than 3.Nd2.
3...Nf6 4.e5
4.Bg5 is more frequently played
nowadays.
4...Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4
8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0
This is the turning point in the opening.
White can castle either short or long. It
leads to totally different situations.
10.g3
White is preparing the development of his
bishop on g2. An immediate long castle is
the usual continuation in this position.
Kasparov: A rare move. White is just
waiting. One hand I am preparing short
castling, on the other hand, after 10...Qe7
castling long.
Blacks standard plan in this position is
a6, b5 etc. However, his queen is
somewhat misplaced on e7 compared to
her position on d8. On the other hand,
Black has created the threat f7-f6.
10...Qe7N

As White has not revealed his plans yet,

Black is dodging. Usually Black trades on
d4, then advances his queenside pawns in
order to develop his "bad" bishop on a6.
Black has a different plan in this position placing the knight on b6 followed by Bd7
and Rc8. Gurevich tried 10...Nxd4 against
Gofshtein in the French Team
championship, but failed to equalize after
11.Bxd4 a6 12.Bg2 b5 13.Ne2 a5 14.a3!
Bxd4 (14...Be7!?) 15.Nxd4 Qb6 16.0-0.
Another standard move in this position is
10...a6.
11.0-0-0!
White has castled long after all! On
11.Bg2 highly unpleasant is 11...Nb6 and
the black knight is penetrating to c4.
11...Nb6 12.Nb3
The exchange of the dark-squared bishops
is aimed at defusing the situation in the
center.
12...Bxe3 13.Qxe3 Bd7
How should White proceed? Basically, he
needs to advance his kingside pawns,
keeping control over the d4-square. At the
same time White should not forget about
his piece coordination.
14.Kb1
Useful prophylaxis.
14...Rfc8
Not so good was 14...f6 15.exf6 Qxf6
16.Bb5! and White has easy play in the
center. If Black places another rook on c8
14...Rac8, then after 15.Nb5! both a7pawn and the b6-knight are in danger.
15.g4
15.Nb5 also looks good for White. His
idea is to meet 15...Nb4 (15...Be8
16.Nxa7!) with 16.Nd6 Rxc2 17.a3!.
15...Nb4!
Right! Black should clear the c-file for his
rooks. The best case scenario for Black is
doubling his rook on this file followed by
an exchange sacrifice on c3. Generally
speaking, on g2-g4 Black often reacts
with f7-f6 in order to exploit the weakness
of Whites pawns. However, in this
particular case Blacks rook has already
left the f8-square. After 15...f6 16.exf6
Qxf6 Whites f4-pawn is not hanging.
16.Nd4

Kasparov: I was thinking about 16.a3 but

I did not want to give my opponent a
chance to sacrifice a piece. After
16...Nxc2 17.Kxc2 Ba4 18.Rd4 a5 Black
has got a initiative, whereas Whites
pieces are tied up.

16 Rc5
In the line 16...Qc5 17.Rd2 Nc6 18.Ncb5!
White retains control over the d4-square.
On 18...Na5 White has a good response
19.Nd6.
Kasparov: Another consistent
continuation was 16...Qc5 17.Bd3 and at
this point 17...Ba4. This last move baffled
me at the board. I could not calculate all
the lines. The idea of this move is to
prepare the queens transfer on a5.
Besides, after Nxd3 White cant capture
with the c-pawn. An interesting position
with mutual chances would have arisen.
17.a3 Nc6?!
To tell you the truth I dont understand the
reasons behind the following sequence.
Black could have proceeded with 17...Na6
The knight does not occupy an ideal
position, to put it mildly, but it is just for a
short period of time.
18.Ncb5
Why not 18.Nb3 - ? For example 18...d4
(18...Rc4 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.Qd3 +/-)
19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Rac8 21.Rd6!
and it looks like does not have adequate
compensation for a pawn.
Kasparov: It looks like better was 18.Nb3
d4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Rac8 and here
I missed a strong move 21.Rd6
neutralizing Blacks threat Rxc3. White
emerges up a pawn.
18...Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Rac8 20.Bd3
Finally White has completed development

and fortified the c2-square at the same

time. Everything is ready for an attack
now.
20...Nc4 21.Qh3
A positional attack - 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.f5
also deserved attention. Although, in this
line Black would have had a
compensation for his passive bishop in the
form of active rooks. Black could have
launched a pawn assault on the white king
as well. It is hard to say who would be fist
get to an opponents king in this case.
21...h6!
At first glance this move looks like a
decisive mistake, but in reality it is the
best defense. On 21...g6 strong is 22.Nf3
threatening with Nf3-g5. White might
break through by f4-f5 if needed. White
has a dangerous attack in this line.
Kasparov: Better was 21...g6 22.Bxc4
dxc4 23.Qc3 and Whites advantage is
minimal. However it is much better to be
in Whites shoes in this position.
22.g5
I was pretty sure that Black was doomed
at this point of the game. It looks like he
cant protect his king. If 22.Nb3 (with the
idea of g4-g5 after the black rooks
retreat) then Black also sacrifices the
knight - 22...Nxa3+ 23.bxa3 Rc3 24.Kb2
a5 with good attack.
22...Nxa3+!
This is the only chance, but it worked.
23.bxa3
Nobody wants to think about tricks like
23.Kc1. Why not just snatch the knight?
23...Rc3 24.gxh6 g6
24...Rxa3! resulted in a transposition.
However, I think White does not have as
many options in this case.

This is a very interesting position. White

has an extra knight and a tempi and a half
but there is no win in sight!
Kasparov: This is a critical position.
Here I was calculating 25.Kc1 but
25...R8c4 26.Kd2 Rxa3 looks very good
for Black. He has a very strong position
and continues his attack.
I could have posed more problems to my
opponents with an elegant and paradoxical
move 25.Qg3 Rxa3 (now bad is 25...Qxa3
in view of 26.Qh4) 26.Nb3 and Black
cant play 26...Rc3 because of 27.h7+
Kg7 28.Qg5 Qxg5 29.fxg5 and White
wins.
However, after the best 26...Ba4 27.h7+
(unfortunately 27.Kb2 does not work
because of 27...Bxb3 28.cxb3 Ra5 29.Ra1
Qc5 and Black wins) 27...Kg7 (27...Kxh7
is taboo in view of 28.Rhg1 and White is
winning) 28.Qg5 Qxg5 29.fxg5 Bxb3
30.Kb2 Bxc2 31.Kxa3 Bxd1 32.Rxd1 an
unclear ending arises. White has some
winning chances, but I am not sure that
my position is better compared to the
endgame that occurred in the game.
I played
25.Qg2
White had an opportunity to evacuate his
king from the fire, but I as far I see, it did
not lead to a win - 25.Kc1 Rxa3 26.Kd2
Rc4! 27.Nb3 (27.Nf3? Qc5) 27...Ba4
28.Bxc4 (28.Ra1 Qb4+ 29.Ke2 Re4+!)
28...dxc4 29.Ra1 cxb3 30.Rxa3 Qb4+
31.Qc3 Qxf4+! and a draw with perpetual
check.
Another tempting option for White is
25.Qg3 Rxa3 (25...Qxa3? 26.Qh4! R8c4

27.h7+ Kh8 28.Qf6+ Kxh7 29.Qxf7+ with

checkmate) 26.Nb3 Qb4 27.Bxg6! Note,
that the b3-square is protected but...
27...Rc3! 28.Bh7+ Kf8 29.Qg7+ Ke7
30.Qf6+ Ke8 and White cant avoid
perpetual check.
25...Rxa3 26.Nb3 Qb4!
Wrong is 26...a5? 27.Bxg6 fxg6
28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Rhg1 a4 30.h7!+-, also
bad is 26...Ba4 27.Bxg6 fxg6 28.Qxg6+
Kh8 29.Qg7+! Qxg7 30.hxg7+ Kxg7
31.Kb2 Bxb3 32.Rhg1+ Kf7 (32...Kh6
33.cxb3) 33.Kxa3 Bxc2 34.Rc1! and
White wins this endgame thanks to his h2pawn.
Kasparov: At this point Black could have
gone for the above-mentioned line after
26...Ba4 27.h7+ Kg7 28.Qg5 etc.
27.Bxg6
In the line 27.Rhg1 Rc3 28.Bxg6 Rcxb3+
29.cxb3 Rxb3+ 30.Kc1 Black should
coolly retreat with his king and then
deliver a perpetual check: 30...Kh8!
31.Bc2 Qa3+ 32.Kd2 Qb4+ 33.Kc1
(33.Ke2? Bb5+) 33...Qa3+.
Kasparov: This is the right move.
27...Rxb3+ 28.cxb3 Qxb3+ 29.Qb2
Qxb2+ 30.Kxb2 fxg6
It seems that White should be careful in
this endgame. There are too many black
pawns on the queenside.
31.h4 Kh7 32.h5 Kxh6 33.hxg6+
Another continuation - 33.Rdg1 gxh5
34.Rg5 Be8 35.Rg8 Bd7 36.Rg5 Be8 also
leads to draw.
33...Kxg6 34.Rhg1+

34Kf5??
Obviously Black should have opted for
the more reserved 34...Kf7 35.Rh1 and

here not 35...Rg8 (35...Kg6) 36.Rh7+ Rg7

37.Rxg7+ Kxg7 38.Rg1+ Kf7 39.Kc3 and
White has winning chances, but simply
35...Kg6!, which leads to a repetition.
Kasparov: A terrible blunder, although on
the correct 34...Kf7 I was going to play
35.Rd2 and White is fighting for win.
Probably Black can save this position with
accurate defense, but it is not that easy,
bearing in mind that we both had only 2-3
minutes left on the clock. For example,
bad is 35...Rc4 36.Rh2 Be8 37.Rh7+ Kf8
38.Ra1.
35.Rd4
Black resigned facing inevitable
checkmate. There is nothing worse than
such defeats. Alexei demonstrated an
excellent defense in the middle game just
to slip in the ending. He did not deserve
this loss.
1-0

Gelfand,B - Kramnik,V [D58]

It is a good grandmaster draw, in the
finest sense of the word. Low-key on the
surface, this encounter was very tense.
Both opponents had to calculate a lot of
variations on every move.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7
5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7
9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Bg3 c5 11.cxd5
More common continuations in this
position are 11. Rc1 and 11.Qe2.
11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.b3
White could have played 13.dxc5 in order
to define the pawn structure - with
isolated or with hanging pawns (no doubts
Vladimir would have opted for the latter).
However Boris is in no hurry. As we can
see, the pawn structure wont change till
the end of the game.
13...a6 14.Rc1 Re8
Blacks previous move was aimed at
making the e8-rooks life more
comfortable.
15.Re1 Nf6
After 15...Rc8 Black should reckon with
Bf5.
16.Bh4

With a very simple threat - 17.Bxf6.

16...Ne4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Rc2
After 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxe4 (19.Qe2!?)
19...dxe4 20.Nd2 Rad8 21.Qe2 Rd3
22.Nc4 Black has excellent compensation
in the form of control over the d-file for a
pawn. Boris is going to put pressure on
the c5-pawn with his heavy pieces.

18...a5!
Blacks counterplay on the queenside is
aimed at trading the a-pawns. In this case
the position with hanging pawns is not as
favorable for White because of the
weakness on b3.
19.Qc1 Rec8
An impatient player would play 19...a4
which may result in following sequence
20.b4!? (20.bxa4 c4 21.Bxe4 Qxe4 22.Rb2
Re6 regaining a pawn with an excellent
position.) 20...cxd4!? (20...c4 21.Bxe4
dxe4 22.Nd2 b5 23.a3 Qg5 24.Nb1 in such
a stark pawn structure, the knight can be
potentially better that the bishop. )
21.Nxd4! (On 21.Rc7 Black wriggles out
with 21...Qxb4 22.Rxb7 Nc5!) 21...Qxb4
22.Qb1 and White has a dangerous
initiative on the queenside.
Take into account that White can opt for
not reacting to this provocation, for
example by 20.Rd1. If so, why should
Black waste time on calculating all these
variations? Vladimir prefers a more solid
positional move, preventing all the tricks.
20.Rd1 a4 21.h3
Gelfand has calculated the pawn
exchanges 21.dxc5 axb3 22.axb3
22...bxc5 (dangerous is 22...Nxc5?!
23.Bf5 Nxb3?! 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.Qc6
Bb7 26.Qxb6) to make sure one more

time that White had nothing after 23.Bxe4

dxe4 24.Nd2. He made a move
maintaining pressure.
21...axb3 22.axb3 Qf6 23.Qb2
White is clearing the first rank for rook
maneuvers and to give extra protection to
the f2-pawn.
23...Nd6

24.Ne5
White is accurate. 24.Rdc1 would have
been met by 24...c4! 25.bxc4 dxc4
26.Bxc4 Nxc4 27.Rxc4 Rxc4 28.Rxc4
Bxf3 29.gxf3 Qxf3.
24...Rc7 25.Be2
The insertion of the moves 25.Rdc1 Rac8
yields White no dividends: 26.Be2 Ne4
27.Bg4 Re8 28.Nd3 Ba6 29.Nf4 Bb7 and
the c5-square is protected by Black.
25...Ne4 26.Bf3 Ng5 27.Bg4 Qe7
28.Rdc1 Bc8
Finally, Kramnik has solved the problem
of his bad bishop. The position is
completely equal.
29.Bxc8 1/2-1/2

Sadvakasov,D - Morozevich,A (2749)

[B30]
This encounter of two unlucky guys of the
tournament was to decide who would be
in last place after the round.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7
5.d3 d6 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Ng5 0-0 8.f4
Following Philidors instructions, White
made the way for his f-pawn.
8...exf4 9.Bxf4 h6 10.Nf3
A blow on f7 does not promise much.
10...Be6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.Bxd5 Nxd5
13.exd5 Nb4

This is a new itinerary for the knight. The

game Polgar,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Madrid
1995/0-1 (40) went 13...Ne5 14.Qd2 Ng6
15.Bg3 Bf6 16.Rae1 Qb6 17.c4 and White
obtained a certain advantage due to the
pressure on d6.
14.c4 Bf6 15.Qd2
I prefer Whites position in this case.
15...Re8 16.Kh1 [16.a3!] 16...a5! 17.a3
Na6

18.g4!?
As long as the black knight is having
some rest far away from the king...
18...g5
Black preventing the g4-g5 breakthrough
in the most radical way.
19.Bg3 Bg7 20.h4 f6 21.Ng1
This move looks somewhat ugly. I would
rather play 21.Rae1 Qd7 22.Qg2.
21...Qd7 22.Rf5 b5!
Opening the position favors Black.
Whites king is stripped.
23.cxb5 Qxb5 24.Bxd6 c4! 25.dxc4 Qxc4
26.Qg2 Rad8 27.Bh2 Nc5 28.d6 Ne4
29.Rxa5 Nxd6 [29...Bf8!?] 30.Bxd6?!
Safer was 30.Qd5+ and the opponents
chances are equal. However, it looks like
Darmen was playing for a win.
30...Rxd6 31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Qxa8+ Bf8
33.Qf3 h5!
An excellent move! Black is complicating
the game in his opponents time trouble.
Morozevich has a dangerous initiative.
34.Re1 hxg4 35.Qe4
No fun for White is 35.Qg2 f5 36.hxg5
Qf4 or 35.Qf5 Qc6+.
35...Qxe4+ 36.Rxe4 f5! 37.Re5 gxh4
38.Rxf5

Blacks passers are much more dangerous

than Whites.
38...Rd4! 39.Ne2
39.b4 Kg7! and Black gradually moves
his pieces to the ideal squares.
39...Rd1+ 40.Kg2
First I thought this was a blunder. I was
wrong. It looks like White is losing in all
variations. For example, 40.Ng1 Be7
41.Rf4 g3 42.Kg2 Rd2+ 43.Kh3 Rh2+
44.Kg4 Rh1 45.Nf3 g2.
40...h3+ 41.Kg3 Bd6+ 42.Nf4 Rg1+
43.Kh2 Rf1 44.Rg5+ Kf7 45.Rxg4
It looks like a draw, but...

45...Rf3!
No wonder White missed this subtlety in
his calculations.
46.a4 Bxf4+ 47.Kg1 h2+ 48.Kg2 Rf1
What can I say? Morozevichs class is
higher, so the result is natural.
0-1

Round 7: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 7, May 28
Morozevich - Shirov 1:0
Kramnik - Sadvakasov 1:0
Gelfand - Kasparov 1/2
Gelfand,B Kasparov,G [D91]

Gelfand didnt choose the sharpest

variation in the opening, but he did have
chances for getting an advantage. A few
interesting variations were available to
him. But caution proved stronger than the
desire to win.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5
Of course, the Grunfeld!
5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.e3 0-0
9.cxd5 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd5 11.Be2
A harmless variation. Here White does not
claim to gain a large advantage. At best he
can force a slightly better ending for
himself.
11...Nc6
I prefer 11...Qa5+ 12.Qd2 Nc6.
12.0-0 Bf5 13.Qa4 Qa5
And still Black strives to trade off the
queens.
14.Qb3
The transition into the ending does not

provide any advantage: 14.Qxa5 Nxa5

15.Rfc1 Rfc8 16.Kf1 Nc6 17.Ke1 Bf8
18.a3 Na5 19.Nd2 Bc2!, followed by a
peace deal in the Volkov-Leko game,
New Delhi, 2000.
14...Be4N
A novelty. As a matter of fact, everything
is logical: Black occupies the d5-square.
Blacks main problem is that the g7bishop is not employed: this bishop is
restricted by the d4-pawn. The following
game didnt last long; it ended in a draw
after 14...Qb4 15.Rfc1 Rac8 16.Bb5 Be6
17.Qd3 Qa5 18.a3 Bd5 19.Rab1 Ba2
20.Ra1 Bd5 21.Rab1 Ba2 - Bareev,EKasparov,G/Sarajevo 1999.
Kasparov: A novelty, created at the
chessboard. This move provokes tactical
complications. The common move here is
14...Qb4. I played it in my game with
Bareev, and, for example, after 15.Bc4
there appears a boring ending.
15.Rfc1
If 15.Rac1, the simplest line is 15...Bd5
16.Bc4 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qf5 18.Qxb7 Nxd4
19.Qe4 Qxe4 20.fxe4 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Nd2
with equality.
Of course, bad is 15.Qxb7? Nxd4!
15...Rac8
In response to 15...Bd5, unpleasant is
16.Qb1!, followed by the threat Rc5 and
the trap - 16...b6? 17.e4!.
Another possibility is 15...Qf5 and then in
response to 16.Rc5? there follows
16...Nxd4!. For White the correct way to
play is 16.Bg3 Rac8 17.Nd2 Bd5
18.Bd3!? Qd7 19.Qb5 with some
pressure.
This is the crucial moment of the game.
16.h3
The move is useful, but it is not concrete
enough. To capture on b7 is bad 16.Qxb7 Nxd4 17.Qxc8 Nxe2+ 18.Kh1
Bxa1.
The main continuation to examine is
16.Rc5!?. Further, it is possible to move
16...Qxc5 (dubious is 16...Nxd4 17.Rxa5
Nxb3 18.axb3 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 +/-) 17.dxc5
Bxa1 and here there is the serious
resource 18.Ng5 (18.Qxb7 Nd4!) 18...Bf5
19.g4!, the idea being to take on b7 with a

tempo in case of the bishops retreat.

And as long as Black does not feel
comfortable with that line, he has to play
16...Qb4 17.Rac1 Qxb3 18.axb3, and no
equality follows. There threatens b3-b4-b5
or Nf3-d2.
As a preliminary conclusion I can say that
Garrys novelty 14...Be4 is not of the best
quality.
Kasparov: After 16.Rc5 an interesting
game arises: 16...Nxd4 17.Rxa5 Nxe2+
18.Kf1, and here Black can either force a
draw via perpetual check - 18...Bxa1
19.Kxe2 Rc2+ 20.Kd1 Rd8+ 21.Nd4 Rb2
(I could see this idea while at the board,
so I wasnt nervous) or the move
18...Nxf4, with various complications
involving both opponents.
16...e5
This establishes equality. A fight could be
unleashed through 16...Qf5 17.Bh2 Rfd8
or 16...Bd5 17.Qb2 (17.Bc4 Bxf3! 18.gxf3
Qf5) 17...Rfd8.

Kasparov: A little trap.

17.Nxe5
Here is another trap for White: 17.Rc5?!
Bxf3! (worse is the immediate 17...Nxd4
18.exd4 Rxc5 19.Bd2!) 18.Bxf3 (in case of
18.Rxa5 Nxa5 19.Qa4 Bxe2 Black
captures more) 18...Nxd4 19.Rxa5 Nxb3
20.axb3 exf4 and he still has a long way
to go to equalize the game.
17...Nxe5
Kasparov: This move results in a draw. I
thought Gelfand would be tempted by the
line 17.Rc5 Nxd4 18.exd4 Rxc5 19.Bd2
Qd8 20.dxc5 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 e4 22.Rd1
exf3 23.Bb4, gaining the exchange. So I
prepared an unpleasant counterblow for

him - 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxd4 19.exd4

Rxc5 20.dxc5 exf4 21.Rd1 Qxc5 22.Bxb7,
with Black having an extra pawn and
chances for victory.
18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.dxe5
Draw. Boris Gelfand played a decent
micro-match with the ex-champion.
1/2-1/2

Kramnik,V - Sadvakasov,D [D27]

The opponents forces were much too
unequal.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6
5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.a4
Vladimir Kramnik has extensively played
this variation recently. White prevents b7b5 at the cost of weakening the b4-square.
7...Nc6 8.Qe2 Qc7
From my point of view, it is necessary to
force equality after the exchange on d4 8...cxd4 9.Rd1 Be7 10.exd4 0-0, as was
the case in one of the games between the
two "Ks" at the London match.
9.Rd1 Bd6 10.dxc5! Bxc5
There appears the Furman variation
(6.Qe2 a6 7.dxc5) which is favorable for
White.
11.b3 0-0 12.Bb2 e5
The capture of space is accompanied by
the weakening of Blacks hinterland.
Strange as it might seem, no one has ever
tried developing the bishop on b7 12...b6!?.
13.Nc3!N
A novelty. Vladimir with good reason
sees no point in taking preventive
measures in this position. However, after
taking preventive measures White usually
won here all the same: 13.h3 e4 14.Ng5
(or 14.Nfd2 Ne5 15.Nc3 Nxc4 16.bxc4 Re8
17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Bd7 19.Rdc1 Rac8
20.Rc4 Bf5 21.Nb3 +/- Magerramov,EFlear,G/Montpellier 1999/1-0 (37))
14...h6 15.Bxf6 hxg5 16.Bb2 Ne5 17.Nc3
Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Be6 19.Nd5 Qc6 20.Rac1
Rad8 21.Qc3 f6 22.Nxf6+! (Well done!)
22...gxf6 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Qxf6+Zhukova,N-Skripchenko
Lautier,A/Belgrade 2000/1-0 (37).

13...e4
Perhaps Black should have simply
continued developing: 13...Bg4.
14.Ng5 Bd6
In the line 14...Bg4 15.Nd5 Bxe2 16.Nxc7
Bxd1 17.Nxa8 Bh5 18.Bxf6 there is the
calm move 18...Bg6!?, which does not
equalize the position either.
15.Nd5!
No notice is paid to the h2-pawn!

15...Nxd5 16.Rxd5!
Worse is 16.Qh5 Bf5!
16...Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Be5 18.Qh5 Bf5?
Much more stubborn is 18...h6 19.Nxf7
Rxf7 20.Rxe5 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Qe7
22.Bxf7+ Qxf7 23.Qxf7+ Kxf7 24.Rc1
and the champion would have had to play
to his best technique in the opposed
bishops ending.
19.Nxf7! Rxf7
19...Bxb2 20.Rxf5 Bxa1 21.Ne5+ Kh8
22.Ng6#
20.Qxf5! g6
In order to go down in history, he should
have played 20...Rxf5! 21.Rd8# - mate
with double check.
21.Bxe5 1-0

Morozevich,A - Shirov,A [C42]

The tenacious Grandmasters turned the
seemingly boring and equal position into a
bright one. Morozevich demonstrated
splendid play and deserved his victory.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4

5.Bd3
This looks like another opening fad of
Alexander Morozevich. Leko was the first
to employ this move in his game with
Kramnik (Linares 1999). This idea was to
Morozevichs taste, and I believe this
variation is going to draw more admirers
after todays game. Alexanders ability to
make extravagant openings popular is
exceptional.
5...d5 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.0-0 Nd6
At the Sarajevo 2000 tournament, Shirov
played Morozevich in the following way:
7...Nc5. This time he follows Kramnik.
8.Qd1 g6
A novelty. Shirov does not want to waste
time retreating with the queen, so he
decides to fianchetto the bishop. At Wijk
aan Zee 2000 Kramnik played 8...Qd8
9.Re1+ Be7 10.Nc3 c6 11.Qe2 (the
queens transpositions to and fro are quite
funny!) 11...Bg4 12.b3 Nd7 13.Bb2 Nc5
14.Na4 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3, a
draw.
9.Re1 Be6 10.Bf1 Bg7 11.d4
So the bishop will be developed in the
usual way.
11...0-0 12.Bf4 Nc6 13.c3 Qd7 14.Nbd2
Rfe8 15.h3 f6
90% of chess players would draw this
game soon after exchanges along the efile. But, much to the publics relief,
Morozevich and Shirov are not among
them.
16.Qa4
Now this move is quite possible. If g7bishop wasnt screened by the f6 pawn
this move would allow Black to play
Nxd4.
16...Bf7 17.Rxe8+ Rxe8 18.b4 a6 19.Nb3
There threatens 20.Nc5 Qc8 21.Bxa6, and
the pawn is won. Morozevich created
problems for his opponent with the help of
a few precise moves.
19...Ne4 20.Nc5 Qf5
A witty decision in Shirovs style. Bad is
20...Nxc3 21.Qb3 Qf5 22.Qxc3 Qxf4
23.Nxb7; after 20...Nxc5 21.bxc5 the bfile is open for White.
21.Be3
In response to 21.Nxb7 there follows

21...Nxd4! 22.cxd4 Qxf4 23.Qxa6 Ng5!

24.Nxg5 fxg5, and the black pieces are
revived.
21...Nd8
Black has retreated to the prearranged
positions.
22.Qc2 Qc8 23.a4
If 23.Nxe4 dxe4 24.Nd2 f5, the bishops
are completely operative.
23...Nd6
From my point of view, also possible is
23...Nxc5 24.bxc5 Qd7 Black has a
passive but firm position.
24.Bf4 Nc4 25.a5
Otherwise there is 25...b6.
25...Ne6 26.Bg3 Nxc5 27.bxc5
The knight has taken on c5 at last. The
remaining knight is restricted, but he
controls the a5-pawn, and this means that
this knight is not useless.
27...Bh6 28.Bd3 Re7 29.Nh2
29.Qb3 deserves attention (the idea being
Qb4 and Rb1) with the possible
continuation 29...c6 30.Qb4 Qd8 31.Bxc4
dxc4 32.Bd6 Rd7 33.Re1, where White
has a prolonged initiative.
29...Qe8 30.Ng4 Bg7 31.Bh4
If 31.Bxc4 dxc4 32.Qb2 (32.Ne3 Bh6
33.Ng4 Bg7) 32...Bd5 33.Ne3 Bc6
34.Nxc4 Re2, Black has counterplay.
31...Re1+
In case of 31...Qc6 32.Bxc4 dxc4 33.Ne5!
Qd5 34.Nxf7 Kxf7 35.Rb1, Whites
position is preferable.
32.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 33.Kh2 f5
Safer is 33...Qe6, but Alexei must have
miscalculated or underestimated
something in time trouble.
34.Nf6+ Kh8?
And this is a mistake. Instead, possible is
34...Bxf6 35.Bxf6 Qe6 (after 35...Nxa5?!
36.Be5 c6? 37.Qb2! and the ensuing Qb6d8, White has a fatal attack. ) 36.Bxc4
Qxf6 37.Bd3 b6, and Black can defend
tenaciously.
35.Bxc4 dxc4 36.c6! bxc6
This is the only move. With the white
pawn on c7, Black wont last long: 36...b5
37.axb6 cxb6 38.c7 Qe6 39.Qe2! Bxf6
40.Bxf6+ Kg8 41.Qf3+37.Qb2!

Suddenly the black king is chased.

37...Bf8
Other responses dont provide Black with
relief: 37...Bh6 38.Qb8+ Kg7 39.Nd7
Bf4+ 40.Bg3 Bxg3+ 41.Kxg3 Qe7
42.Qxc7; 37...Qe7 38.Qb8+ Qf8 (38...Bf8
39.Nxh7! Qxh4 40.Qxf8+ Bg8 41.Qf6+
Qxf6 42.Nxf6) 39.Qxc7 Be6 40.Nd7; in
response to 37...Bxf6 38.Bxf6+ Kg8
White has the treacherous move 39.Be5!,
preventing the queen from the defense.
After this the black king is quickly done
for.
38.Bg3!
This is much stronger than 38.Qb8 Kg7
39.Qxc7 Qe6 (there threatens 40...Bd6+)
40.f4 h6.
38...Bd6 39.Bxd6 cxd6 40.Qb8+ Kg7
41.Qxd6 Qxf2
In the ending after 41...Qe6 42.Qxe6 Bxe6

43.Ne8+ Kf8 44.Nc7 Bc8 45.Na8!?

(45.Kg3 Ke7 46.Kf4 Kd6 47.Na8 c5 with
counterplay) 45...Ke7 46.Nb6 Be6 47.Kg3
Kd6 48.Na4, the knights advantage over
the bishop is obvious.
42.Nd7 Kh6 43.Qg3!
A way towards perpetual check is
43.Qf8+ Kg5 44.Qxf7 Qf4+.
43...Qd2

44.h4! Be6?!
Surely the bishop is a good fighter against
passed pawns, but only a very phlegmatic
person could risk 44...Bd5 45.Qg5+ Qxg5
46.hxg5+ Kxg5 47.Nc5. After 47...Kf6
(bad is 47...Kf4? 48.Nxa6 c5 49.Nxc5 Ke3
50.a6 Kd2 51.Na4 Bc6 52.Nb6 Kxc3
53.d5+-) 48.Nxa6 c5 it is hard to believe
that Black can escape, but there is no
definite win to be seen on the spot.
A) wishy-washy is 49.dxc5 Ke7 50.Nb4
Be4, and Black organizes a good defense
at the queenside, and as far as his kingside
is concerned, everything is OK.
B) more serious is 49.Nc7!? Bb7 50.a6 (in
the pawn ending after 50.dxc5 Ke7 51.a6
Kd7! 52.axb7 Kxc7 53.c6 g5 the best thing
that White can achieve is the queen
ending 54.g3 h5 55.Kg2 Kb8 56.Kf3 Kc7
57.Ke3 Kb8 58.Kd4 Kc7 59.Ke5 h4
60.gxh4 gxh4 61.Kf4 Kb8 62.Kxf5 h3
63.Ke6 h2 64.Kd7 h1Q 65.c7+ Kxb7
66.c8Q+ Ka7 where the pawn is much too
far away from the promotion square)
50...Bxa6 51.Nxa6 cxd4 52.cxd4 f4 but
even here Blacks defense seems to be all
right.
C) 49.Nxc5 49...Ke7 50.Na4
C1) losing is 50...Kd6? 51.Nb6 Kc6
(51...Be6 52.a6+-) 52.Nxd5 Kxd5 53.a6
Kc6 54.d5+;
C2) 50...Bb7! (this move is necessary for
protecting the e4-pawn) 51.Nb6 Ba6
52.Kg3 g5 53.Nd5+ Kd6 54.Nb4 Bb7
55.a6 Ba8 and the white king hasnt
managed to take part in the fight.
45.Nb8 Bc8 46.Nxc6 Bb7 47.Ne5
The queens are still on the chessboard,
and this means that Black should watch

out not only for the pawns safety but also

the kings.
47...Bd5 48.Nd7 Be4
48...Bc6 49.Nc5 Bb5 50.Ne6 Bc6 51.d5!
Bxd5 52.Qg5+ Qxg5 53.hxg5+ Kh5
54.Nf4+ Kxg5 55.Nxd5+49.Nc5 Kg7
If 49...Bd3 50.Nxa6 Qxc3 51.Nc5 Qxa5
(51...Qd2 52.Qg5+ Qxg5 53.hxg5+ Kxg5
54.a6; 51...Qxd4 52.Qg5+ Kg7 53.Ne6+)
, the king is in trouble: 52.Qg5+ Kg7
53.Qe7+ Kh6 54.Ne6 with a mate in a few
moves.
50.Ne6+ Kh6
After 50...Kf7 51.Ng5+ Ke8 52.Qe5+ Kd7
53.Qe6+ Black loses a lot of pawns. Now
there is more trouble for him.
51.Qg5+! Qxg5 52.hxg5+ Kh5 53.Kg3
The black king, who is in the stalemate
position, is in check from f4, therefore the
d4-pawn has a free hand.
53...h6 54.gxh6?!
There is a simple winning move, 54.d5!
hxg5 (54...Bxd5 55.Nf4+ Kxg5 56.Nxd5+) 55.d6 f4+ 56.Kf2 Bc6 57.Nc5 True, at
this moment the opponents were surviving
the second time-trouble.
54...Kxh6 55.Nc5 Kg5 56.Nxa6
In retrospect, the easiest way is the
transition into the pawn ending 56.Nxe4+
fxe4 57.Kf2 Kf4 58.g3+ Kf5 (58...Kg4
59.Ke3! Kf5 60.g4+) 59.Ke3 g5 60.g4+
Kxg4 61.Kxe4 Kh5 (in case of 61...Kh3 ,
White trades off the newly born queens
and wins ) 62.Kf5! g4 63.Kf4! Kh4 64.d5
g3 65.d6 g2 66.d7 g1Q 67.d8Q+ Kh3
68.Qh8+ Kg2 69.Qg8+ Kf1 70.Qxg1+
Kxg1 71.Ke4.
56...f4+ 57.Kf2 Kf6 58.Nc5 Bc6 59.a6
Ke7

60.Nb7!
Black loses the c4-pawn, and the fight is
over.
60...Bd5 61.Na5 Kd6 62.a7 Kc7 63.Nxc4
g5 64.Ne5 Kb6 65.c4
There is a popular puzzle that consists in
moving the knight all over the chessboard
without visiting any square twice.
Morozevichs heroic knight went along
the following route: f3-h2-g4-f6-d7-b8c6-e5-d7-c5-e6-c5-a6-c5-b7-a5-c4-e5.
This is 18 moves.
1-0

Round 8: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 8, May 29
Shirov - Kramnik 1/2
Sadvakasov - Gelfand 1/2
Kasparov - Morozevich 1/2
Shirov,A Kramnik,V [C67]
The second encounter of these opponents
repeated the scenario of their first game in
the tournament. The champion had an
advantage but did not manage to convert
it.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Quite naturally we see the Berlin wall.
Most likely the same position will appear
in the last round game between Kasparov
and Kramnik.
4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5
Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.h3 h6
11.b3 Kc8 12.Bb2 b6 13.Rad1 Ne7
Vladimir played this way in the match
with Kasparov.
14.Ne2 Ng6 15.Ng3N
This is a novelty. I analyzed this move in
my book about the London match.
Whites knight is heading for h5. The first
game of that match saw 15.Ne1 h5
16.Nd3 c5 17.c4 a5 18.a4 h4 19.Nc3 Be6
20.Nd5 Kb7 21.Ne3 Rh5 22.Bc3 Re8 with
an equal game, Kasparov,GKramnik,V/London 2000/1/2-1/2 (25).
15...Nf4!
This looks like the best move, thwarting
Whites plan. Note, that this was the
seventh move of this knight! And it was
not his last jump...
16.Nd4
This is a nontrivial response. The first
moves to consider are 16.Rfe1 and 16.Rd4
Ne6 17.Rd2. Apparently both opponents
came to the conclusion that Black was just
fine in these lines.
16...a5
This is a typical maneuver aimed at
loosening Whites queenside. Black had
another option which deserves a closer

look 16...c5!? with the idea to meet any

knights retreat with a7-a5, and if a2-a4
then c5-c4!.
17.a4
What else? Otherwise Black will play a5a4.
17...b5!
With this straightforward move Black is
striking up the play at the wing where he
is stronger. On the other hand, White has
not had much success on the opposite
flank. On 17...c5 White could have
reacted with 18.Nb5!
18.Kh2
I just dont understand this move.
18.Rfe1!? deserved attention instead.
18...bxa4 19.bxa4 Nd5
This is the eighth move! I think even more
dangerous for White was 19...c5 20.Nb5
Bc6 21.f3 Nd5! with two unpleasant
threats - Ne3 and Nb6.
20.Rd3
I doubt that this is a good move. It was
about time to attend to Blacks dangerous
pawn by 20.Nb3! Nb6 21.Bc3, with a
roughly equal game.
20...Nb6
Ninth!
21.Re1
White is preparing the e5-e6breakthrough. Had White protected his apawn, another one would have perished 21.Ra1 Nc4! and Nxe5.
21...Nxa4

Tenth! This knight is busy as a bee,

whereas the rest of Blacks pieces are
having a rest. One is working, other seven

are just watching - a typical Russian

scene. But it worked! Black is better.
22.Ba1 c5
Black allows White to carry out his plan.
22...Nc5 23.Rf3 Be8 looks more natural.
Whites breakthrough does not work
24.e6 fxe6 25.Nxe6 Nxe6 26.Rxe6 Kd7! /+ , however, in this case Black should
reckon with the maneuver 24.Bb2
followed by 25.Ba3.
23.e6! fxe6 24.Nxe6 Bd6
I think the transfer of the dark-squared
bishop to b4 looks good for Black 24...c4!
25.Rf3 Bb4.
25.Nxg7
The position is becoming more and more
complicated. White has regained a pawn.
He is going to finish his meal on Blacks
kingside. However, Blacks trumps - a
pair of bishops and the a5-passer - look
stronger so far.
25...Rf8 26.Kg1 c4 27.Rdd1
27.Rd5!?
27...Bb4 28.Re3 Ra6 29.Ne4 Rc6 30.Nh5
Better was to bring the bishop into action
by 30.Be5!
30...c3!
Gotcha!
31.Nhg3
White is planning to capture Blacks c3pawn.
31...Re6
You might laugh, but I think Black should
have made his tired knight work a little bit
more - 31...Nb2 32.Rb1 Nc4 33.Rd3 Nd2!
(thirteenth move!) 34.Re1 Re8, with a
slightly better position.
32.Rde1 Rfe8
Hard time trouble set in at this point. The

opponents started exchanging favors.

Interesting was 32...Bc6!? 33.Nxc3 Rxe3
34.Rxe3 Bc5 35.Re2 Nxc3 36.Bxc3 a4!
and despite his one-pawn deficit Black
plays for a win. His a-pawn is very
dangerous.
33.Nh5 Rf8

34.Nxc3?
34.g4!?
34...Rc6!
This is a refutation of Whites idea.
35.Nxa4
They shoot horses, dont they? It was an
amazing trip for this knight: g8-f6-e4-d6f5-e7-g6-f4-d5-b6-a4!
35...Bxe1 36.Rxe1 Rxc2
Black is threatening with Rf8xf2. White
has to give up a piece.
37.Bd4 Bxa4 38.Re5 Bd7?
It looks like the champion let the victory
slip at this point. Much better was
38...Rd8 39.Be3 c5! -/+, preserving the
a5-passer, which would have cost White
dearly.
39.Rxa5 Rf5 40.Rxf5
Also unclear is 40.Ra8+ Kb7 41.Ra7+
Kb8 42.Ng3!
40...Bxf5 41.Be3

A very complicated endgame has

emerged. Black has better chances. He
should push his c-pawn as quickly as
possible. White has a lot to busy himself
with on the kingside. Many long and
sharp variations may ensue down the road.
I checked out some of them. It looks like

Black hardly can win this endgame.

Vladimir decided not to take chances.
41...Bg6
Draw! This game demonstrated that the
Berlin wall is not only firm, but also
dangerous.
1/2-1/2

Kasparov,G Morozevich,A [D17]

Morozevich has employed the move

7...Nd5 - the invention of Yugoslavian
chess player Misailovic - for the second
time. The first time Alexander scored a
victory over Kramnik in Wijk aan Zee.
Morozevich solved the problem of an
isolated pawn in a very original way - he
just gave it up. However, having the upper
hand in development allowed him to
regain it and manage a draw in the
endgame.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4
5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nd5 8.g3
e5 9.Bg2 exd4
Morozevich played differently against
Kramnik - 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 exd4
11.Qxd4 Nc5 Alexander prepared a new
modification for the encounter with
Kasparov.
10.Qxd4 Qf6
Kasparov: This looks like the right move
and gives Black good chances to equalize.
11.Qxf6 N7xf6

No queens on the board when facing

Garry!
12.Nxd5 cxd5
I think that the line 12...Nxd5 13.e4 Nb4
14.exf5 Nc2+ 15.Kd2 Nxa1 16.Kc3 has
been analyzed in Alexanders home
laboratory. I venture upon a guess that
Morozevich evaluated this position as
highly unfavorable for Black.
Kasparov: Black cant play 12...Nxd5 in
view of 13.e4 Nb4 14.exf5 Nc2+ 15.Kd2
Nxa1 16.Kc3 and his knight is trapped.
13.Ne3 Be6
A position with an isolated pawn has
arisen. Normally it is not recommended to
transpose into an endgame with such a
positional defect. However, in this
particular case White pieces are not very
well coordinated. Morozevich hopes to
take advantage of that.
14.0-0 Bc5 15.Rd1

15...0-0!?
Another pawn sacrifice looks dubious
15...d4 16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Bc6+ Ke7
18.Ng2 (18.Nc2? Bb3 19.Rd2 Rhc8 and
Black has strong initiative) 18...Bb3
19.Rf1 Rhc8 (19...Rb6 20.Bb5 a6 21.Bd3)
20.Bb5 and Whites "underdeveloped"
pieces are hard to get to whereas an extra
pawn is still there.
Alexander is sacrificing his d-pawn in a
different way, because passive observing
Whites regrouping after 15...Rd8 16.Nc2
is no fun.
Kasparov: This is a courageous and
correct decision. Black is giving up a
pawn. It was not worth clinging to it. For
example, the following sequence looks

dangerous for Black: 15...d4 16.b4 Bxb4

17.Bxb7 Rd8 18.Bc6+ Ke7 19.Nc2 Bb3
20.Nxb4 Bxd1 21.Ba3, because White has
a dangerous initiative for the exchange 21...Bb3 22.Rb1 Bc4 23.Rc1, etc.
16.Nxd5
It looks somewhat ridiculous to regroup
forces for a classical siege of the isolated
pawn with Nc2, Be3 etc, if it can just be
snatched. Now the question is whether
White will manage to obtain other pluses
while his opponent spends time regaining
the pawn.
Kasparov: White could have played for
blockade by 16.Nc2 but in this case Black
takes control over the c-file and also
equalizes.
16...Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Rad8 18.e4 Bxd5
19.exd5 Rd7
Another option - 19...Rfe8 - lead to a fourrook endgame with the white rook on the
seventh rank: 20.Bg5 (innocuous is 20.Kf1
Re5) 20...f6 21.Rac1! b6 (
21...Bxf2+? 22.Kxf2 fxg5 23.Rc7 Rf8+
24.Ke3 Rf7 25.d6! Rfd7 26.Rxd7 Rxd7
27.Ke4 and Whites active king and d6passer make his advantage decisive. )
22.Be3 Rxe3!? (22...Bxe3 23.fxe3 Rxe3
24.Rc7) 23.b4! Ra3 24.bxc5 bxc5 25.Rxc5
Rxa4 26.Rc7.
Apparently Morozevich realized that this
course of event was unpleasant for him
and opted for a different continuation.
Kasparov: Another correct move. After
19...Rfe8 20.Bf4 Re2 21.Rac1 Blacks
position looks dangerous. He has
problems stopping Whites d-passer.
20.Rb1
Kasparov is dodging in his turn. After
20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Rfd8 22.Rac1 (22.e4
f5 23.exf5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.g4 Rd2
as usual the active position of the rook is
more important than extra material in the
rook endgames) 22...f5 23.Rc5 b6 24.Rb5
Kf7. White preserves an extra pawn but it
is not that important.
Kasparov: Maybe White should have gone
for a rook endgame with 20.Be3 Bxe3
21.fxe3 Re8 22.Kf2. White has an extra
pawn, after all, although it is really
difficult to win this ending. Whites

pawns are weak, whereas the black king is

marching to the center.
Another option that I also considered is
20.d6 Rfd8 21.Rd5 Bxd6 22.Be3 Bb8
23.Rxd7 Rxd7 24.Rc1 Rd8. White still
has a microscopic advantage which is
really hard to convert.
20...a5
Morozevich is preventing b2-b4 and
asking the opponent to show his cards.
On 20...Rfd8 Kasparov prepared 21.b4
Bf8 22.Be3 b6 (22...a6? 23.Bb6 +/-)
23.b5! (in case of 23.a5 Black is just in
time to take a drawing stance 23...bxa5
24.bxa5 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 Rxd5 26.a6 Ra5
27.Rb8 f5 28.Bxa7 Rxa6 29.Bc5 Rf6
untying by g6, Rf7, Kg7. ) 23...Rxd5
24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.Rc1.
A) 25...Bc5 26.Bxc5 bxc5 27.a5 Kf8
28.a6! (not 28.b6 axb6 29.axb6 Rd6
30.Rb1 Rd8) 28...Ke7 29.Kf1 and the
black king cant cross the d-file in view of
30.b6!.
B) 25...Rd7 26.Rc8 f6 27.a5. Blacks
position looks very unpleasant, but it can
be held with accurate defense - 27...Rd5!
(27...bxa5? 28.Bc5 Rf7 29.Ra8 g5
30.Bxa7 +/-) 28.a6 (28.Bxb6 Rxb5!)
28...Rxb5 29.Ra8 Ra5 30.Rxa7 Bc5.
Kasparov: Black is forced to play this
way. After 20...Rfd8 21.b4 Bf8 22.Be3 b6
23.b5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 White is
clearly better.

21.d6!?
Garry decided that White still had nothing
in the rook endgame after 21.Be3 Bxe3
22.fxe3 Rfd8 23.Rbc1 f5 24.Rc5 b6

25.Rb5 Rd6.
White could not develop his bishop to d2 21.Bd2 Rxd5 22.Bxa5 Bxf2+! 23.Kxf2
Rxa5. This is the reason behind the
parodoxical move that was played in the
game.
21...Rfd8
Again, Morozevich is in no hurry to
regain a sacrificed pawn. After 21...Rxd6
22.Rxd6 Bxd6 23.Be3 Rc8 24.Rd1 Be5
25.Rd5 Bxb2 26.Rxa5 Kf8 27.Rb5 Bc1
28.Rxb7 Bxe3 29.fxe3 Rc2 Black had
nothing to worry about, but there is no
need of forcing the issue. In the above
mentioned line White has a couple of
interesting options - 25.b3 or 23.Bd2,
keeping the edge thank to more active
pieces.
22.Rd5 b6
The following pawn sacrifice is incorrect
22...Bxd6 23.Rxa5 Bc7 24.Rb5 Rd1+
25.Kg2 b6 26.b3 +/23.Bf4 f6 24.Rbd1 Kf7 25.Kg2 Ke6
All Blacks pieces have attacked a poor
white pawn.
26.Kf3 g6
Black has refrained from capturing one
more time. After 26...Bxd6 27.Be3 Bc7
28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Rc1 White has a
minimal advantage, but Alexander wants
to regain the pawn with maximum
comfort.
27.g4
Kasparov: White pins his hopes on the
pawn endgame. I could have played
27.Ke2 with the idea of meeting 27...Bxd6
with 28.Be3.
Now bad is 28...Bc5 29.Rxd7 Rxd7
30.Rxd7 Kxd7 31.Bxc5 bxc5 32.Kd3 Kc6
33.Kc4 and the endgame is winning for
White.
However, Black can play 28...Bc7 and
after 29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.Rxd7 Kxd7
31.Kd3 Kc6 32.Kc4 White has the same
slight advantage, which is virtually
impossible to convert.
27Bxd6 28.h4
Now if 28.Be3 then 28...Bxh2 29.Rxd7
Rxd7 30.Rxd7 Kxd7 31.Bxb6 Bc7 with a
draw. Kasparov is trying his last chance a pawn ending.

28...Bxf4 29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.Rxd7 Kxd7

31.Kxf4 Kd6 32.Ke4 Kc5
Black could have achieved a draw by
keeping his king on the sixth rank, but this
crusade on Whites queenside pawns
looks very tempting.
33.f4 Kb4

34.f5
White had a problem-like move at his
disposal: 34.Kd5!
A) Black is losing after 34...Kxa4?
35.Kc4 b5+ 36.Kc3 b4+ (36...h5 37.f5!)
37.Kc4 b3 38.Kc5 h6 and White wins
after the typical breakthrough 39.g5! fxg5
40.h5! gxh5 41.f5 g4 42.Kd4! h4
43.Ke3+-.
B) 34...Kb3 35.f5 gxf5 36.gxf5 Kxa4
37.Ke6 Kb3 38.Kxf6 Kxb2 39.Kg5 a4
40.f6 a3 41.f7 a2 42.f8Q a1Q 43.Qg7+
Ka2 44.Qa7+ Kb2 45.Qxb6+ Kc2 and
White captures the h7 pawn, although in
this case his king finds himself under
numerous checks.
Nevertheless, Garry would have had some
winning chances only in this line.
Kasparov: At this point I had the option of
34.Kd5, containing an elegant trap. Now
Black loses after 34...Kxa4 in view of
35.Kc4 b5+ 36.Kc3 h6 37.g5 and White
either delivers checkmate - 37...fxg5
38.h5 gxf4 39.hxg6 f3 40.g7 f2 41.g8Q
b4+ 42.Kc2 f1Q 43.Qe8+ Qb5 44.b3+, or
Black fails to promote his pawn 37...hxg5 38.f5 gxf5 39.h5 g4 40.Kd2 and
Whites king is in the square.
Alas, Black is just in time to save the
position after 34...Kb3 35.f5 gxf5 36.gxf5
Kxa4 37.Ke6 Kb3 38.Kxf6 Kxb2 39.Kg7

a4 40.f6 a3 41.f7 a2 42.f8Q a1Q, with a

draw.
Probably I should have played Kd5 Black would have had more "chances" to
go wrong.
34...gxf5+ 35.Kxf5 Kxa4 36.Kxf6 Kb3
37.Kg7 Kxb2 38.Kxh7 a4 39.g5 a3 40.g6
a2 41.g7 a1Q 42.g8Q Qb1+ 43.Qg6
It is a forced draw now. The pawns reach
the last rank at the same time.
43...b5 1/2-1/2

Sadvakasov,D - Gelfand,B [B52]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+
Qxd7 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.d4 cxd4
8.Nxd4 g6 9.f3 Bg7 10.Be3 0-0 11.0-0
Rfc8 12.b3 Qd8 13.Qd2 Qa5 14.Rfd1 a6
15.a4 Nd7 16.Nde2 Re8 17.Rab1 Rac8
It is hard to say much about this game.
The opponents decided to have another
day off.
1/2-1/2

Round 9: GM Analysis
(Sergei Shipov)
Round 9, May 31
Gelfand - Shirov 1/2
Kramnik - Morozevich 1/2
Sadvakasov - Kasparov 1/2

Sadvakasov,D (2585) - Kasparov,G

(2835) [B52]
The young Kazakh GM stood his ground
in a micro match with "the Great and
Terrible". This proves that he has good
prospects to become a big name on the
chess circuit.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+
This is a reliable line. White does not need
to know much about it.
3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nc6 6.d4
cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nf6 8.Nc3 g6 9.f3 Bg7
10.Be3
Darmen is not retreating his knight to e2
as many do. This continuation has its pros
and cons. A good thing about this move is
that Black is deprived of a b7-b5
breakthrough.
10...0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 e6 13.Rc1 Ne5
14.Qe2 Rfc8
I think that the natural 14...Rac8 also
looks pretty good. I doubt that the black
rook is placed better on a8 compared to
f8.
15.b3 d5!
On the other hand, Black has this
breakthrough move in the center. This is a
drawback of Whites setup.
16.cxd5
16.f4 Neg4! leads either to crazy
complications or to a simple transposition
of moves.
16...exd5 17.f4!
If 17.exd5 then 17...Rxc3!? 18.Rxc3 Nxd5
=+, whereas in the line 17.Nxd5 Nxd5
18.exd5 Qxd5 Black has a big advantage
due to the weakness of the b3-pawn in
Whites camp.

17...Rxc3!?
This move is aimed at complicating the
issue at any cost! An exchange for a pawn
is not such high price. After long
deliberation I must say that Black could
have brought about very complicated play
even without this sacrifice: 17...Neg4
18.e5 Ne4! (but not 18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3
Ng4 20.Qf3! +/-) 19.Nxe4 dxe4 and upon
a closer look Black has promising
counterplay.
18.Rxc3 Nxe4 19.Rc2 Ng4
It is just about impossible to refrain from
this move, though from the standpoint of
fighting for the center 19...Nc6 looks
pretty good.
20.Rfc1!
The upcoming infiltration of the white
rooks is highly unpleasant for Black. A
possible rook exchange on c8 will reduce
Blacks attacking potential. I also
analyzed 20.f5, but it does not look as
strong as the move played in the game.
20...h5
With this move Black is making a useful
luft and fortifies the g4-knight at the same
time.
21.Rc7 Qd6
In my opinion Black had more chances to
complicate the issue with 21...Qe8!?
(preventing an exchange on c8) 22.Nf3
(22.Rxb7? Nd6) 22...b5!.
22.Nf3
Simplier and better was 22.Rc8+! Rxc8
23.Rxc8+ Kh7 24.Nf3 and it is only White
who is playing for a win.
22...Bf6!
Black is preparing a comfortable g7-

square for his king. On 22...d4 White can

simply react by 23.Bd2.

23.g3?!
White is loosening the position of his own
king. Time trouble has set in. Neither
player can boast of impeccable play at this
stage of the game. It looks like 23.Qd3
was better.
23...Qe6
The spectacular blow 23...Nxg3 24.hxg3
Qe6 suggested itself. However, analysis
revealed that it lead to a forced draw after
25.Rxb7 Re8 (25...Nxe3 26.Rcc7) 26.Rcc7
Qxe3+ 27.Qxe3 Rxe3 28.Kg2 Re2+
29.Kg1 Re3 in view of the move
repetition.
24.Bd4 Bxd4+ 25.Nxd4 Qb6
25...Qf6!?
26.Qd3
26.Qb2 is met by 26...h4! and Black has a
strong initiative.
26...Ngf2 27.Qe3 Ng4 28.Qd3
Black already has a draw, but who really
needs it?

28...h4! 29.a5
In case of 29.Kg2 h3+ Black would have
woven a mating net around the white
king.
Objectively speaking the best move for
White in this position was 29.gxh4, but
human beings do not even consider such
moves.
29...Qf6
There is no time to check the opponents
calculation in time trouble. Black could
have captured the a5-pawn with good
winning chances.
30.Nf3?
It is hard to give a reasonable explanation
for this move. Much stronger was
30.Ne2!+=
30...hxg3 31.hxg3 Nxg3
The cover of Whites king is completely
destroyed. One might have thought that
Black was winning here, but both
opponents were in terrible time trouble by
now...
32.Rc8+ Rxc8 33.Rxc8+ Kg7 34.Kg2
Nf5!
On 34...Nh5 Garry apparently feared the
exchange of queens. He was quite right.
White can capture on b7 and play for a
win with 35.Qd4!
35.Qc3

35Nge3+?
This is a serious mistake. The right
continuation was 35...d4 36.Qc5 Nd6!
37.Rc7 d3! and White has problems
holding this position. The key is that he
can trade queens only in a very bad
situation: 38.Qc3 Ne3+ 39.Kg1 Nd5

40.Qxf6+ Kxf6 41.Rd7 Ke6 42.Rd8 Nxf4

-/+
36.Kg1 d4 37.Qc5
At this point the ex-champion realized
that he had lost his advantage. After
playing
37...Ne7
he offered a draw.
After 37...Nd6 38.Rc7 Black cant avoid
transposing into an endgame.
The final position is most likely drawn.
For example, 38.Rb8 N3d5! 39.Qxd4
(39.Rxb7 d3!) 39...Nc6 40.Qxf6+ Kxf6
41.Rxb7 Nxa5 with the inevitable
extermination of the pawns.
1/2-1/2

Kramnik,V (2797) - Morozevich,A

(2749) [D17]
Morozevich is playing perfectly in the
second part of the tournament. Finally he
has pulled himself together. Note that he
managed to hold both great "Ks" to draws
on the black side. However, he failed to
do so with the white pieces. Playing with
White is Alexanders old weak spot.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4
5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5
9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5!?
This line is Morozevichs trademark. At
first glance this move defies all positional
principles. However, it is not that easy to
refute this continuation.
12.Ne3 gxf4 13.Nxf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2
Whites f5 pawn is very strong and his
pawn structure is better. On the other hand
there are some drawbacks -- the c3-knight
and g2-bishop have no prospects.

14...Nc5!
A novelty, looking like a good one.
Alexander opted for an inferior move
when facing the thirteenth World
Champion: 14...Ng4 15.a5! fxg3 16.hxg3
a6 17.Ra4! Ndf6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4
h5 20.Kf1 Kb8 21.Kg2 Be7 22.Nxe7
Qxe7 23.Bf3 Ne5 24.Bxh5 and White
converted his advantage in the endgame.
Kasparov,G-Morozevich,A/Wijk aan Zee
2000/1-0 (45).
15.0-0
15.b4 was not good in view of the
counterblow 15...f3!
15...Ne6
With this move Black is not only
preventing b2-b4, but also keeping his
pawn on f4. On 15...a5 White could have
plucked up his courage - 16.gxf4 Nc4
17.Rad1! and Black is in trouble.
16.Rad1 Bc5 17.Ne4 Bb4
An interesting maneuver of the black
bishop. This way Morozevich has
connected his rooks.

18.Qc1
Kramnik is insisting on trading pawns. If
18.Qb3 then the correct reply, 18...Qb6!,
gives Black good counterplay.
White had an interesting continuation in
18.Nf6! with the idea of Qe4. Besides,
this move contains a trap: 18...Be7?
19.Nd5!+-I cant see a clear way to
equalize for Black.
18...fxg3 19.hxg3 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rd8
Black is playing strictly for a draw. This is

the right decision!

21.Bh3 Kb8 22.Kg2 a5 23.b3
Prudence is above all. White has made a
solid move and offered a draw. Vladimir
could have played for a win with 23.f4.
For example, 23...Rxd1 24.Qxd1 Nc4
25.e3! and Black cant capture on b2
because his knight is trapped. White has
good prospects on the kingside. Naturally,
Black is not going to twiddle his thumbs.
One way or another, the opponents agreed
for a draw.
1/2-1/2

down to perpetual check pretty soon.

14.Qxc7 Bxc7 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Be3
The white bishops are aiming at the
queenside. The question is whether Black
will be able to bring his light-squared
bishop into play.
16...Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Be5

Gelfand,B (2712) - Shirov,A (2722)

[D45]
The summary is quite simple: Boris
wanted to win with few casualties. It did
not pan out.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3
Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 e5
9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e4
This variation became popular after
Karpovs victory over Kramnik in Vienna
1996. Their second encounter in the same
year in Las Palmas was a draw. Vladimir
tested this position with White against
Shirov at Frankfurt 2000.
10...dxe4
Another method of defense for Black is
10...exd4 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 h6
13.Nxd4 Qh4 14.Nf3 Qh5 15.Bh7+ Kh8
16.Qf5 and here Kramnik brough into
fashion the sharp continuation 16...g5
(Karpov - Kramnik, Las-Palmas 1996).
11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 h6 13.Rd1
More frequently seen is 13.Be3 exd4
14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bxd4 Nf6 16.Bf5.
13...Qc7
Dreev opted for 13...exd4 in his game
with Dlugy (New York 1990). After
14.Nxd4 Nf6 15.Bf3 Qa5 16.g3 Bg4
17.Bxg4 the opponents agreed to a draw.
The encouter Degerman - Telle
(Stockholm 1998) saw the continuation of
the battle in the endgame of the above
mentioned game: 17...Nxg4 18.h3 Nf6
19.Nf5 Rac8 20.Qd3 Bc5 and it came

In response Alexei is attacking the white

pawns on the queenside, paving the way
for total exchanges.
18.Bc5
Another possible continuation was 18.Rd2
Be6 19.Rad1 Bxa2 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Be4
Rxb2? 22.Rxb2 Bxb2 23.Rd2 Rb8
24.Bxa7 and White wins (because the
black rook is overloaded and cant defend
the last rank and bishops at the same
time). However, Black is not forced to
capture on b2 immediately.
18...Re8 19.Re1 Bd7 20.Bxb7
White would be glad to have a better
pawn structure in the line 20.Rad1 Bc6
21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.b3 but as long as the
white king has no luft Black can simply
capture the pawn: 20...Bxb2.
20...Rab8 21.Rxe5
After 21.Be4 Bxb2 (or 21...Rxb2 22.Bxa7
Bc3 23.Re3 Bd2 24.Bd4! Rb4 25.Rd3
Rxe4 26.Bc5 Rb2 27.Rxd7 Rxa2!
28.Rd1=) 22.Rad1 Bc3 23.Bxa7! Rb2!
24.Bd4! (24.Re3?! Ba4 25.Rf1 Bd2)
24...Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Bc6 26.Kf1 a witty
exchange of blows lead to a total
extermination of the opponents forces.
There are a few similar lines.
21...Rxe5 22.Bd6 Ree8 23.Bxb8 Rxb8
24.Be4
The right move! The point is that after
24.Bd5 Rxb2 25.Rc1 Be6 the black rook

is much more active than Whites.

24...Rxb2 25.Rd1
White could have traded rooks with
25.Rb1, although it is just a different way
to reach the same result.
25...Be8
After 25...Rxa2 26.f3 (26.Kf1? Bb5+)
26...Be8 27.Rd8 Kf8 28.Bc6 Re2 29.Ra8
the game would have been drawn as well.
26.Rd8 Kf8 27.a4 Ke7
Seeing the line 28.Ra8 Bxa4 29.Rxa7+
Bd7 30.Bf5 Rd2 (or an "impressive"
30...Kf6) the opponents agreed to a draw.
1/2-1/2

Round 10: GM Analysis

(Sergei Shipov)
Round 10, June 1
Morozevich - Gelfand 1/2
Shirov - Sadvakasov 1:0
Kasparov - Kramnik 1:0
Kasparov,G Kramnik,V [C67]
A classic situation has arisen: Garry has to
win in the final round without fail. And he
has to outplay his main rival - the world
champion - at that. So we can see that
after the failures of many years Kasparov
managed to beat his successor in such an
important game.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Even before the game commenced, I
didnt doubt that the Berlin Defense
would be played. And it really happened
this way.
Kasparov: I knew that Vladimir would
play the Berlin system again. It was a
point of honor for me to go for the main
line. Kramnik has played this system on a
regular basis lately. Contrary to Bareevs
statement, it is not just an anti-Kasparov
variation, but an opening weapon which
my opponent has employed against many
opponents Leko, Shirov and others. I
felt obliged to prove that Black had to
fight for equality in this line. I can play
the Scotch or Italian as well, but the
Berlin system is not the reason to abandon
the Ruy Lopez.
4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5
Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 h6 10.h3 Bd7
11.b3 Ke8!?N
A novelty! Vladimir is the first to surprise
us. Earlier 11...Kc8 was commonly played
here, the idea being to move the king to
b7.
12.Bb2 Rd8
Thats the idea - Black is developing the
queens rook.
Kasparov: This is a new plan. Kramnik
evacuated his king to c8 in his previous
games. Blacks idea is to trade a couple of

the rooks. However, this plan has a

serious drawback Blacks king remains
in the center. White has to take advantage
of this situation as quickly as possible
13.Rad1 Ne7
Thats the standard way of transferring the
knight to g6 in this variation. It is this
maneuver that has reanimated the Berlin
Wall. For Black, bad is 13...Be6 14.g4
Rxd1 15.Rxd1 Ne7 16.Nd4.
But 13...Bc8 deserves attention.
Kasparov: A very important maneuver
(authored by Almasi in a slightly different
position). The knight is transferred to g6
via e7 to thwart the advancement of the
white pawns on the kingside. After the
introduction of this maneuver, the
evaluation of the Berlin Defense as a very
difficult system for Black has changed.
14.Rfe1!
A simultaneously elegant and strong
move. There is no point in the stereotyped
14.Ne2 Ng6 15.Rd3 Be7 16.Rfd1 h5! and
h5-h4, with Black having a good play.
If the intention of breaking through with
e5-e6 is clearly defined at once (14.Nd4),
Black will respond with 14Nf5!
Kasparov: I spent a lot of time on this
move. I started calculating the
consequences of the pawn sacrifice on e6
at this point.
14...Ng6
I think that Black should analyze 14...c5
(preventing the white knight from
occupying the d4-square) 15.Ne4 Ng6.
15.Ne4
I believe the following might result in
Whites advantage: 15.Nd4 Nf4
(otherwise, e5-e6) 16.Ne4 and in response
to 16...c5 there is a graceful strike
17.Nf6+! gxf6 18.exf6+ Ne6 19.Nxe6
Bxe6 20.Rxe6+ fxe6 21.f7+ with an
almost winning position.
15...Nf4
It would be interesting to develop the
light-square bishop: 15...Be6!?, for
example, 16.Nd4 Bd5 17.Ng3 Nf4 18.c4
Bxg2 19.Bc1 Rxd4! 20.Rxd4 Ne6 , and
Blacks compensation for losing the
exchange is not bad. Instead, Vladimir has

made up his mind to gain control of the

key e6-square again. However...
Kasparov: I could not believe my eyes. It
looks like Black has fortified the e6square with his last move, but White
naturally proceeds with this pawn thrust
anyway
16.e6!
A brilliant move. White is clearing space
for his pieces activities.
16...Nxe6
Bad is 16...fxe6 17.Be5, and equally bad
is 16...Bxe6 17.Nf6+! gxf6 (17...Ke7
18.Ba3+ Kxf6 19.Rxd8) 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8
19.Bxf6+ and White wins.
17.Nd4
This was played rather quickly. I think,
still stronger is 17.Be5 Rc8 (17...Be7
18.Bxg7! Nxg7 19.Nf6+) and here the
precise move is 18.Nh4! - and Blacks lot
is hard. Both the h4-knight and the f2pawn can occupy the f5-square. And
meanwhile Blacks pieces are located
along the 8th rank and are almost unable
to move.
Kasparov: It looks like White has a
winning continuation in this position (a
computer points out this move as the first
option, but is almost impossible for a
human to find such a move at the board):
17.Be5. The point is that after 17...Rc8
18.Nh4 Black is nearly in zugzwang. He
cant do much about the f-pawns march
f2-f4-f5 (not so strong a forced line is
18.Bf6 Ra8 19.Ne5 Bc8 20.Bh4 g5
21.Bg3 Be7 and Black can hold the
position). Black cant deviate with
17...Bc8 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.Nh4 g6 20.Nd7
(not so clear is 20.Nd5+ cxd5 21.Bxh8
and Black has some compensation for the
exchange.)
By the way, an immediate 17.Nh4
threatening f2-f4-f5 does not work in view
of 17...Bc8 18.Nf6+ gxf6 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8
20.Bxf6+ Be7 and Black captures the h4bishop: 21.Bxh8 Bxh4.
17...c5
Losing (gracefully, though) is 17...Bc8
18.Nf6+! gxf6 19.Nxe6 Rxd1 20.Ng7+.
The safest defense here is 17...Rh7!, and
no clear-cut way of gaining the advantage

can be seen for White. For instance, 18.f4

(18.Nf5 Bc8! 19.Bf6 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 c5)
18...c5 19.Nxe6 (19.Nf3 Bc6!) 19...Bxe6
20.Bf6 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Bd6 22.Bh4 f6
23.Nxd6+ cxd6 24.Rxd6 with equality.
Kasparov: The reflection on this move
consumed more than an hour of
Vladimirs time. He had just 18 minutes
left up to the time control. Indeed, there is
a whole array of options in this position. It
is easy to commit a mistake on every
move.
On 17...Rh7 I was going to play 18.f4 c5
(after 18...Be7 19.Nf5 Bc8 20.Nxe7 Rxd1
21.Rxd1 Kxe7 22.f5 Nf4 23.f6+ Black
loses) 19.Nf3 Bc6 20.Rb1! This is an
extremely important move. White protects
his bishop in the line 20...Bxe4 (bad is
20...Be7 21.f5 Nd4 22.f6) 21.Rxe4 g6
22.g4 Bg7 (No fun for Black is 22...Rd5
23.c4 Rd3 24.Ne1 Rxh3 25.f5, whereas on
22...Kd7 White can react by 23.Ne5+ Kc8
24.Nxg6 , regaining a pawn and keeping
the edge. I reached this position in my
calculations in the course of the game.)
23.f5;
Another option for Black is 17...Bc8
18.Nf6+ gxf6 19.Nxe6 Rxd1 20.Ng7+
Kd7 21.Rxd1+ Bd6 22.Bxf6 c5 (after
22...h5 23.c4 Rh6 24.Bd4 Black is in deep
trouble) 23.g4. After this important move
Black is nearly in zugzwang. My
opponent feared this continuation the
most.
On the other hand, White has another
good option, namely 18.Nxe6 Rxd1
19.Nxc7+ Kd8 20.Rxd1+ Kxc7 21.Be5+
Kb6 22.Rd8 Bf5 and at this point neither
23.Nd6 23...Bxd6 24.Bd4+ c5 25.Rxd6+
Kc7 26.Be5 Re8 27.f4 g6 28.g4 Be4 29.c4
Kc8 30.Rf6 Re7 31.Bd6 Rd7 32.Bxc5
(and Whites win is in doubt), nor 23.Nd2
Bxc2 24.Nc4+ Ka6 25.Bd6 Bxd6 26.Rxh8
Bc5 and Blacks bishops are very strong.
The right path is 23.Nc3 Bxc2 24.Na4+
Ka6 (24...Kb5 25.Rd7 Ka6 26.Rxf7)
25.Nc5+ Bxc5 26.Rxh8. White preserves
his bishop and has good winning chances.
18.Nf5
Not as strong is 18.Nxe6 fxe6!.
18...Rh7

Kasparov: The only move

19.Bf6! Rc8 20.Bxg7
Leading to a better ending. As a matter of
fact, it is possible to prolong the tension
with 20.f4, because it is extremely
difficult for Black to gain a free hand.
Kasparov: This was not the best move.
My previous-round game with
Sadvakasov played a bad joke on me.
Being in time trouble I did not capture the
a5-pawn and let the victory slip in that
game. For this reason I subconsciously
wanted to restore material equilibrium in
this encounter.
Much better was 20.f4 Bc6. There are two
interesting lines here:
A. 21.Bh4 21...Bxe4 22.Rxe4 g6 23.Ne3
Be7 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 25.Nd5+ Kf8 26.Nf6
Rh8 27.Rd7 (an important move) 27...c4
28.Rxc4 Kg7 29.Nd5 c6 30.f5 gxf5
31.Ne7 and White is clearly better.
B.21.Nfg3 Kramnik feared this move
the most. After 21...Bd6 White wins in all
variations - 22.Nxd6+ cxd6 23.f5 gxf6
24.fxe6 d5 (24...fxe6 25.Rxe6+ Re7
26.Rxf6) 25.e7 h5 26.Nf5 Kd7 27.c4 d4
28.b4 b6 (after 28...Ba4 29.Rd2 b6 30.Re3
the black bishop is trapped again) 29.b5
Ba8 30.Nxd4 cxd4 31.e8Q+ and White
wins.
The only move is 21...g6. After 22.Bh4
(also deserving attention is 22.c4 b6 23.f5
gxf5 24.Nxf5; or even the immediate
22.f5 gxf5 23.Nxf5 in both cases White
has a stable and long-lasting advantage)
22...Be7 23.Bxe7 (not so clear is 23.Nf6+
Bxf6 24.Bxf6 Kf8 25.f5 Nf4) 23...Kxe7
24.Nxc5 and White has good winning
chances.
20...Bxg7 21.Nxg7+ Rxg7 22.Nf6+ Ke7
23.Nxd7 Rd8 24.Ne5 Rxd1 25.Rxd1
Kasparov: Black had a good option in
25...Nd4, which left him chances for
defense.
25Nf4 26.Kh1!
The transition into the rook ending via
26.Ng4 Nxh3+ 27.gxh3 f5 28.f3 h5
29.Kf2 fxg4 30.hxg4 hxg4 31.Rg1 is not
that dangerous for Black. His king
occupies the position in front of the white
pawn, and the rook is activated.

Kasparov: This is the best move and

enables White to fight for the advantage.
In the course of the game I thought that
after 26.Ng4 Nxh3+ 27.gxh3 h5 28.f3 f5
29.Kf2 hxg4 30.hxg4 fxg4 31.Rg1
Whites advantage was insufficient for a
victory. Indeed, the pawn endgame that
might emerge after 31...c4 32.Rxg4
(Black easily reaches a draw in the rook
ending after 32.bxc4 Rg6) 32...Rxg4
33.fxg4 cxb3 34.cxb3 Kf6 is drawing.
There was one more option for White:
26.Kf1, with the idea of transposing into a
knight ending after 26...Nxg2 27.Rd7+ (or
27.Nxf7 Nf4 28.Nxh6 Rh7 and White
does not have much)
27...Ke6 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 29.Nxf7 Nf4.
However, it did not promise much. Black
has good chances to hold the game in this
case.
26...Rg5
Of course, not 26...Rxg2? 27.Nd3;
26...Nxg2? 27.Rg1 Rg5 28.Nf3.
27.Ng4
The continuation 27.Nf3 Rxg2!? 28.Re1+
Kd6 29.Re4 Rxf2 30.Rxf4 Rxc2 results in
an extra piece for White, but at the same
time Black manages to capture too many
pawns.
27...Rd5
Kasparov: Black could have played
27...h5 28.Ne3 and White would have had
a slight but long-lasting advantage
28.Re1+
Towards the time-trouble, Garry refuses
to trade off the rooks in order to make the
game more complicated. I stopped
analyzing the knight ending after the
moves 28.Rxd5 Nxd5 29.Nxh6 Nb4
30.Nf5+ Ke6 31.Ne3 Nxa2 32.h4 Whites position is better, but it is unclear
how much better.
Kasparov: A correct move. White has no
advantage in the knight ending.
28...Kf8 29.Nxh6 Rd2?!
A slip. First he should have included the
moves 29...Kg7! 30.Ng4 and only then the
rook could well intrude - 30...Rd2 - and
further possible is 31.Re4 Ne6 32.Ne3
Rxf2 33.Kg1 Rd2 34.Kf1 Kf6 35.Ke1,
and White, having banished the

opponents active rook, retains his

chances for victory thanks to his pawn
superiority on the kingside.
Kasparov: Much better was 29...Kg7!
Whites only hope in this case is to launch
an attack on the black king without
numerous forces. For example 30.Ng4
Rd2 31.Re4 Ne6 32.c3! Rxa2 33.f4 and
snatching the opponents pawns looks too
dangerous for Black. For example
33...Rb2 34.f5 Nd8 35.Re8 Nc6 36.h4
Rxb3 37.h5 Rxc3 38.h6+ Kh7 39.Rf8 and
White wins.
30.Re5!
The white rooks answering intrusion
proves stronger. It heads for f5.
30...Rxf2?
The decisive slip. More stubborn is
30...Kg7! and it is difficult for White to
win.
A) After 31.Nf5+?! Kf6 32.Ne3 (32.Rxc5
Ne6) 32...Kxe5 33.Nc4+ Kd4 34.Nxd2
Kc3 Black has serious counterplay.
B) Also possible is 31.Nxf7 Rxc2! (worse
is 31...Rxf2 32.Rf5! Kg6 33.g4 Nxh3
34.Ne5+ Kg7 35.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 36.Kg2 +/-) ,
and here White has a number of
possibilities: 32.Rf5, 32.Nd8 or 32.Re7 and no clearly-defined win can be seen
anywhere. The black rook takes almost all
of the white pawns.
C) I reckon the following move is the
best: 31.Rf5! 31...Kxh6 32.Rxf4 Rxc2
(32...Kg6 33.Rg4+ Kf6 34.Rc4 Rxf2
35.Rxc5 +/-) 33.Rxf7 Rxa2 with a very
sharp rook ending - 34.g4!? and so on. It
is unclear whether White can win here.
Kasparov: This is a serious mistake.
White is winning easily after this move.
Bad was 30...Kg7 31.Rf5 Kxh6 (after
31...Nxh3 32.Ng4 the black knight is
trapped, whereas the rook ending that
arises after 31...Nxg2 32.Kxg2 Kxh6
33.Rxc5 is very bad for Black) 32.Rxf4
Rxc2 33.Rxf7 Rxa2 34.Rxc7 b6 35.f4 Ra3
36.g4 and Whites passed pawns
supported by the rook are first to reach the
last rank.
However, Black could have played
30...Rxc2 31.Rf5 Rxf2 32.Ng4 (an unclear
endgame emerges after 32.Rxf7+ Ke8

33.Rf5 Nd3) 32...Rxg2 33.Rxf4 Rxa2.

White has winning chances in this ending,
but it is not that easy to break down
Blacks resistance.
31.Rf5
A decisive pin.
Kasparov: The rest is smooth sailing for
White.
31...Kg7 32.Ng4 Rxg2 33.Rxf4 Rxc2
34.Rf2
White has not merely won the piece, but
also saved the queenside from destruction.
The games outcome is clear.
34...Rc3 35.Kg2 b5 36.h4!
This is the most precise way to victory.
36...c4 37.h5 cxb3 38.axb3 Rc5
Or 38...Rxb3 39.h6+ Kg8 (39...Kg6
40.Rf6+) 40.Nf6+ Kf8 41.Re2+-.
39.h6+ Kf8 40.Nf6 Rg5+ 41.Kh1!
Whites rook moves to h2. Black resigns.
Garry Kasparov wins the tournament congratulations!
1-0

Morozevich,A - Gelfand,B [C55]

Alexander tried to act in accordance with
the recipe that had secured him a victory
in the game with Shirov: a calm opening
followed by gaining slight advantages in
the middle-game. But Boris did not agree
to this, and, with the help of the positional
sacrifice of a pawn, he forced his
opponent to turn to a patient defense. And
when Morozevich was about to change
the situation for the better, Boriss new
sacrifice resulted in a drawish ending.
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Be7
5.0-0 0-0 6.Re1 d6 7.a4 Nd4!?
Here the common continuations are
7...Be6, 7...h6 and 7...Kh8.
8.Nxd4 exd4 9.c3
Another plan is to leave the d4-pawn
alone for a while and to develop the
pieces. Black has enough resources to
obtain good play: 9.Nd2 Bg4 (9...Be6)
10.Nf3 (10.f3 Be6 11.Nb3 d5!? 12.exd5
Nxd5 13.Nxd4 Bc5 14.c3 Bxd4+ 15.cxd4
c6) 10...d5!? 11.exd5 Bb4 12.Re5 Bd6
13.Re1 Bb4.

9...dxc3 10.Nxc3 Be6

Thats how the Nevednichy-Tseshkovsky
sharp duel went (Yugoslavia, 1994) 10...c6 11.Qb3 Ng4 12.d4 Bh4 13.g3 Qf6
14.Re2 Qg6 15.Kh1 Bf6 16.f3 Bxd4
17.fxg4 Bxg4, and Black won. Surely, not
all of the above-mentioned moves are
necessary.
11.Bxe6
Perhaps, next time Alexander will prefer
11.Qb3.
11...fxe6 12.Qb3 Qd7!
Boris does not want to defend passively.
After 12...Qc8, dubious is the immediate
13.e5 in view of 13...Ng4, but White can
prepare this advance by means of 13.h3 or
13.Bg5.
13.Qxb7 Ng4
The queen is difficult to catch, but Black
gains a long-lasting initiative for the
sacrificed pawn.
14.Nd1
In response to 14.Re2 Black makes the
following moves 14...Bh4 15.g3 Rfb8!
(this is better than 15...Bf6 16.Nb5)
16.Qa6 Bf6 with sufficient compensation.
For White, dangerous is 14.f3 Bh4 15.Re2
(15.g3? Ne5! 16.gxh4 Nxf3+ 17.Kf1 Qf7
with a decisive attack ) 15...Ne5 16.d4
Rab8 17.Qa6 (17.Qxa7? Ra8 18.Qb7
Nxf3+! 19.gxf3 Rfb8 - in this line the
queen is done for, though ) 17...Rb6
18.Qa5 Nc6 19.Qh5 (White has moved his
strongest piece away from the danger
zone, but in the meantime his opponent
has managed to obtain an excellent
position) 19...Bf6 20.d5 Nd4 21.Rf2 Nb3 /+.
14...Bf6 15.Qb3
Or 15.h3 Ne5 16.Qb3 c5
15...c5
What deserves attention is 15...Bd4!?
16.Be3
A) Now the beauty is to Whites
advantage - 16...Rab8 17.Qc2 Rxf2?! (the
exclamation mark goes for beauty,
whereas the question-mark stands for the
real value of this move) 18.Bxf2 Nxf2
19.Qc4! (19.Nxf2? Rxb2) 19...c5 20.Nxf2
Rxb2 21.Rf1 and now losing elegantly is
21...Qf7 22.Qxd4!! cxd4 23.Nd1 Qb7

24.Nxb2 Qxb2 25.Rab1 followed by a

mate on b8.
B) The bishops impartial retreat is much
better - 16...Be5 17.h3 Nxe3 18.Rxe3 (bad
is 18.fxe3 Qf7 followed by Bg3) 18...Rab8
19.Qc2 c5, and Blacks pieces occupy
active positions.
16.f4 Bd4+ 17.Kh1 Rab8 18.Qc2 Qf7
19.h3
It is better to make this move at once, in
order not to calculate the possible awful
consequences of 19.Rf1 Nxh2! 20.Kxh2
Qh5+ 21.Kg3 g5!.
19...Qh5
With an obvious threat of Qh4-g3.
20.Rf1
In response to 20.Qe2 there follows
20...Nf6, and in case of the queen
exchange, Black wins the pawn back.
20...Qh4
Hinting at 21...Qg3 again.
21.Qe2 h5
Maybe he will slip up at last?!
22.Ne3!
Morozevich regains the material. After
22.Qe1 Qxe1 23.Rxe1 Nf6, followed by
h5-h4, Whites flanks are weak, and Black
can count on a heavy pawn crop.
22...Nxe3 23.Bxe3 Rxb2 24.Qf3 Bxe3
Here is a possible way of playing for an
advantage: 24...Be5, but dont forget that
a draw can well satisfy Gelfand.
25.Qxe3 Qf6 26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5 Re2!?
An effective transition into the ending
without a pawn. But Boris has correctly
evaluated the resulting rook ending.
28.Rxf6
In response to 28.Qc1 there probably
follows 28...Qg6 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Qf1+
Qf6! 31.Qxf6+ gxf6 32.Rb1 c4 33.dxc4
Rxe4 34.Rb7 a5 with a draw.
28...Rxe3 29.Rxd6 Rf2
The necessity of protecting the g2-square
prevents Whites second rook from
actively participating in the game. The
further events need no comments.
30.Rd5 h4 31.a5 Rg3 32.Rg1 Ra2
33.Rxc5 Rxd3 34.Rh5 Rg3 35.Rxh4
Rxa5 36.Kh2 Rg6 37.Rf4 Ra2 38.h4 Re2
39.Kh3 Re6 40.Ra1 R2xe4 41.Rxe4
Rxe4 42.Rxa7 g6 1/2-1/2

Shirov,A - Sadvakasov,D (2585) [C02]

This was a dramatic duel. The hardened
grandmasters technique played the
decisive role.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3
Nh6 6.a3 Nf5 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bd7
9.Bb2 Qb6 10.g4 Nh6 11.h3 Rc8 12.Nc3
Na5 13.Na4 Qc6 14.Rc1N
This is an introduction to an enchanting
spectacle. Earlier we could come across
14.Nc5 Nc4 15.Bc1 Be7 16.Bd3 b6
17.Nxd7 Kxd7 18.0-0, with White having
an advantage, Vysochin,S-Smikovski,I/St
Petersburg 1996/1-0 (43).
14...Nc4 15.Rxc4!?
A creative move.
15...dxc4 16.Nc3
White has positional compensation. But it
is unlikely to suffice even for a equality.
However, this can be hardly proved in the
game against Shirov.
16...Qb6 17.Bg2 a5! 18.b5!
With the exchange lost, there is no point
in crying for the pawns!
18...Bxb5 19.d5 Bc5 20.0-0 Rd8?!
[20...exd5!] 21.d6 Bc6 22.Qe2 Qa6?!
[22...0-0!] 23.Rb1 Ba7 24.Bc1 Rc8
25.Be3 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 b5 27.Ng5 Bxg2
28.Kxg2 Qb7+ [28...Rb8 29.Qc5!]
29.Qe4 Qxe4+ 30.Ngxe4 0-0 31.Rxb5
Alexey has managed to confuse his young
counterpart. White has already gained an
advantage.
31...f6! 32.Rxa5
Evidently, better is 32.g5!
32...fxe5 33.Rxe5 Nf7 34.Rxe6 Rce8
35.Rxe8 Rxe8 36.Kf3 Re6 37.Nb5 Re5
38.a4 Rd5 39.Ke2 Nd8 40.f3 Nc6
Now it looks like equality. But the fight is
continuing with the same tension.
41.Ke3 Rd3+ 42.Kf4 Kf7 43.Ng5+ Kf6
44.Ne4+ Kf7 45.Ng5+ Kg6 46.h4 h6
47.h5+ Kf6 48.Ne4+ Kf7 49.g5 Rd5
50.g6+ Kf8 51.Ng3 Rd1 52.Nf5 Rd5
53.Ke4 Re5+ 54.Kf4 Rd5 55.Ke4 Re5+
56.Kf4 Rc5?!
And this was done in vain! He should
have accepted a draw.

57.Nc3 Nd8 58.Ke4 Ne6 59.f4 Ke8

60.Ng3 Kd7 61.f5
The white pawns have become too
dangerous. Black is living through hard
times.
61...Ng5+ 62.Kd4 Rc6 63.Nge4 Nxe4
64.Nxe4 c3 65.Nxc3 Kxd6 66.a5 Ke7
67.Nd5+ Kf8 68.Nb4 Rc8 69.a6 Ra8
70.Kc5 Ke8 71.Nd5 Kd8 72.f6 1-0