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Round #12 Pairings
Topolov (Bulgaria) - Svidler (Russia)
Morozevich (Russia) - Polgar (Hungary)
Leko (Hungary) - Anand (India)
Kasimjanov (Uzbekistan) - Adams (England)
***
Round #12 Results
Topolov - Svidler, ½-½. This game would determine whether Svidler had the will and determination to catch Topalov. He did not. Topalov has coasted in the latter half of the tournament and is now poised to take the title barring a total collapse. Both Anand and Svidler must win both games to have a chance, but this will be impossible for both since they both face each other in the last round. Topalov must score one point in the last two rounds to clinch. (game, ChessBase video)
Morozevich - Polgar, ½-½. Morozevich started the game with 1.Nc3, but the game turned into another Najdorf. The 6. Be3 Ng4!? line has been tested three times this tournament … Kasimjanov-Anand (1-0, 38), Svidler-Topalov (0-1, 44) and Svidler-Polgar (1-0, 59). All of the games featured the 10.h3 line, but Morozevich may have expected an improvement and varied with 10.Be2. Polgar bolted out of the opening gates with 10…h5!? 11. h4 gxh4 12. Rxh4 Nc6 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. O-O-O Qb6 with good activity for black. Later, Judit developed a slight advantage with 26…Rg8 and 27…Rg4, but in a few moves her advantage dissipated.
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Susan Polgar, Judit's older sister and fellow Grandmaster suggested 30…Rxb6! 31.Bxb6 Bc8 32.Be3 e6 with good play for the bishop pair. Polgar played a move that raised great interest… 33…Rg3!? (diagram) Of course, mating traps starting with 34.Rxh4 were lurking about, but of course the game entered much more exciting terrain after 34.Rxg3 hxg3 35. Nd5!
On 42…Bxe4, white responded with 43.Bxd6+ Kxd6 44.Rxf7, but the game died out with another three-fold repetition. There was talk about trapping the white knight on the edge of the board or the black king rushing into to help deliver mate, but there was not such time for such plans. A good fighting battle! Despite her subpar performance, Polgar was in good spirits during the press conference. (game, ChessBase video)
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Key moment: Polgar plays 33…Rg3!?
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Leko - Anand, 0-1. Another disaster for Leko. In the press conference, a distraught Leko mentioned his frustration and stated that the game with Morozevich really the breaking point for him. He had not been able to sleep and is looking to end the tournament. This game featured a Petroff with a dubious pawn sacrifice by Leko after 17.Nd2?! It was said that Leko was playing his moves very quickly which indicated home preparation. He was counting on black's weakened king's position, but his plan fizzled as Anand consolidated with his extra material and raced his king forward. Leko was soon staring at mate before he resigned. Leko's unstable play is uncharacteristic indeed, so the rest day is timely. (game)
Kasimjanov - Adams, ½-½. This was perhaps the best game of the round. Kasimjanov continues to impress with his play. Apart from his thrashing at the hands of Polgar and Anand, he has been very consistent in his quality of play. Out of a Ruy Lopez anti-Marshall, Adams made a very interesting pawn sacrifice with 22…Nc5!? 23.Qxb5 Nd3 24. Rd1 Ra5 25. Qc4 Qb7 (25…Qxc4!? 26.Nxc4 Ra4! may have been more active) 26. Nxe4 Nxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxb2. Kasimjanov held steady and nursed a pawn advantage. After shuffling pieces for ten moves, Kasimjanov decided to break with 43.g4!? but after futile attempts to conjure up an attack, there was no chance for much more than a draw. (game)
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.jpg)
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Adams has yet to taste the sweetness of victory.
(Photo courtesy of ChessBase.com)
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Standings:
1st Topalov, 9-3
2nd-3rd Svidler, Anand, 7½-4½
4th Morozevich, 6-6
5th-6th Kasimjanov, Leko, 5-7
7th Adams, 4½-7½
8th Polgar, 3½-8½
The Chess Drum, "2005 FIDE WCC: FIDE Champ Kasimjanov ends reign," 13 October 2005.
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