FIDE Candidates Tournament 2014 (5) |
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2014 (5) |
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 
is a slightly better version than the 7.Bb3 line as White's bishop is slightly safer and more importantly it can transfer to d3 much faster, pressuring on b5.
8. d4 dxe4 9. dxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 Bb6 15. Bxa8 Nd3+ 16. Kf1 Nxc1 is supposed to be equal as Black's counterplay outweights his temporary material deficit. This is a long known line.
9... Qxd1 9... exf3 has already been played twice against Svidler. 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Nd2! and Svidler obtained an important advantage against Stefanova that he used to win his game against her in 2009.
10. Rxd1 exf3 11. exf6 gxf6 12. Be4 Bd7 13. a4 Both sides show deep preparation despite the fact that the position hasnt' been seen before. So far these seem like the best moves for both sides.
13. Bxf3 is a pleasant advantage for White who has the better structure - Ne5 is not possible.
15. Bf4 Bxb5 Black's pawn structure is shattered but that is not as important as his massive activity. White's rook is sealed by Black's pawn on a6, and as long as the light-squared bishop remains alive it will be difficult for that rook to do anything on the a-file. For this reason Svidler develops as quickly as possible.
16. Na3 Rxd1+ 16... Be2 was certainly more logical, keeping the file for Black.
17. Rxd1 Be2 18. Rd5 Rg8?! 18... Bd6=
19. g3 Black's up a pawn but his pawn structure is shattered and h7 is hanging at the moment. There doesn't seem to be any need to have forced White into playing g3, a move that he probably wanted to play anyways. Black has not way of threatening a rook transfer to the first rank to take advantage of White's king position.
19... Bxa3?! 20. bxa3?! 20. Bxh7! seemed like a free pawn compared to the game continuation.
20... Ng6 21. Be3 Re8 22. Bf5+ Kb7 23. Rd4 White has the pair of bishops and Black doesn't really have an extra pawn: just look at how bad his f-pawns are.
23... Re5 24. g4 a5 25. h3 h5 26. Be4+ Ka6? This simply puts the king in a bad position.
26... Kc8 27. gxh5 Rxh5 and Black doesn't need to worry about getting mated.
27. gxh5 Rxh5 28. Rd8! Now the a6 king is suffering.
28... Ne5 29. a4 with a mate threat already.
29... c6 30. Rb8 Nc4 31. Bd4 c5 32. Bxf6 White gets the pawn back and his passed h-pawn has potential danger. He is again threatening checkmate.
32... Nb6 32... Rxh3 33. Ra8+ Kb6 34. Bd8#
33. Bd8 Nd5 34. Ra8+ Kb7 35. Rxa5 Re5 36. Rxc5 Rxe4 37. Rxd5 Rxa4 The dust has settled a little and Black's position is very bleak. The opposite colored bishops is the only thing that gives him any hope of holding this endgame, but the fact that White has two passed pawns on opposite flanks makes it difficult to believe that this endgame can be held.
38. Rf5 Kc8 39. Bg5 Rc4 40. Bd2 Rc7 40... Kd7 the f7 pawn has no value. Bringing the king closer to the action was a better try.
41. h4 Kd8 42. Bg5+ Ke8 43. Rd5 f5 44. h5 Rc4 44... Rxc3 45. h6 is similar to the games end.
45. Rd4! A great move, sealing Black's fate.
45... Rxc3 45... Rxd4 46. cxd4
is hopeless. All White has to do is support one of his pawns with his king, and keep one defended by the bishop. The distance between the pawns is too much for the king to defend both of their advances.
45... Kf7 46. Kh2! and since c3 is still poisoned White wins easily by bringing his king in.
46. h6 Rc8 47. h7 The pawn cannot be stopped.
47... Kf7 48. Bd8! 48. Bd8 Kg7 49. Rd7+ Kh8 50. Bf6# Not the most accuurate game, an important win by Svidler, but it is strange that Topalov - a player that loves the initiative - prepared such a nice and interesting variation only to spoil it soon after exiting the opening.
1-0
[Ramirez Alvarez A.]
Game(s) in PGN
Svidler P.
Topalov V.