Corus Final Round LIVE Blogging

Radjabov, T – Topalov, V [E08]
Corus 2007, 28.01.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0–0 7.0–0 c6 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 a5 10.Rd1 (We are still in theories so far. Black now has 3 main choices: 10…Nh5, 10…a4 or 10…Ne4. I personally prefer 10.Nh5.) 10…Nh5 11.Bc1 (11…Nhf6 is the move here. The players can actually chose to repeat moves with 12.Bf4 Nh5 13.Bc1 Nhf6 but I doubt that it is Topalov’s style to do so.) 11…b5 (As I predicted, Topalov will not play for draw to share first place. He will try to win with either color. This is his strength as well as weakness. But this is also why the fans love to watch his games. He will play chess.) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e4 dxe4 (I think the position is about even. 14.Qxe4 Rb8 =) 14.Qxe4 (The only move as expected.) 14…Rb8 (It will take imagination to come up with a sound plan. This is a perfect position for you to play out against your computer or against a friend. Play it out with both sides. This will help you improve by knowing how to play various positions.) 15.Qe2 =/+= Nhf6 16.Bf4 Rb6 17.Ne5 Nd5 (This is still exactly the same position as the Kramnik vs. Topalov game 10 in Elista.) 18.Bxd5 exd5 (This is again a pawn sacrifice by Topalov just as in Elista. However, Topalov lost that game so I hope that he found an improvement since.) 19.Nc3 Nxe5 (Here is the first deviation from game 10 of the Kramnik vs. Topalov match in Elista. Topalov previously played 19…Nf6) 20.dxe5 d4 (I am sure Topalov had prepared an improvement since his disastrous game 10 in Elista. He is basically willing to give up a pawn for the Bishop pair and White’s weakness in the light diagonal. Win, lose or draw, he is gutsy for playing like this in the final round where everything is on the line. This is also why he has a big fan base for his style in spite of the actions by his manager. The idea of this move is to open up the light square diagonal. White’s best option here would probably be 21.Be3) 21.Be3 (So Radjabov found a Fritz suggested move. Does it mean he is cheating too? I think so much of the cheating allegation at this level is totally nonsense. Most of these players grew up in the computer / Fritz age and it is obvious that computer technology played a big role in their chess development. It is not good for the game when people just throw out baseless accusations for the sake of doing it. The safest continuation would be 21…Bc5.) 21…dxe3!? (Topalov is giving up his Queen for a Rook and Bishop. 22. Rxd8 exf2+23. Qxf2 Bxd8 +/-) 22.Qxe3 (Radjabov did not want to have any of that so he played a safer move.) 22…Bg5 23.Qc5 (Now we may see a repetition with 23…Be7 24.Qe3 Bg5. Everything else would give White a big edge. I hope Topalov does not go crazy here instead of repeating moves.) 23…Be7 24.Qe3 (Topalov has to repeat moves here. Nothing else gives him any compensation.) 24…Bg5 25.Qc5 Be7 26.Qe3 1/2 A very exciting draw!