Karjakin, an incredible young talent, the world’s youngest ever GM, faces the world’s #1 and former World Champion Topalov. Is he ready to defeat the elite?
Karjakin – Topalov [B90]
Corus 2007 – Round 3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.0–0–0 Be7 11.Kb1 Qc7 (This is so far still all theories. 11…Rc8 is the more popular choice but 11.Qc7 has been played many times as well. 11…b5 is also possible.) 12.h3 (12.g3 or 12.Qf3 are also possible. From the look of this position in general, Black seems to be not in good shape because the King would have some problems castling to either side. However, in the Sicilian, sometimes it is best for Black to delay castling or not to castling at all while creating a counter attack on the Queenside starting with 12…b5) 12…b5 (This is a difficult moment for White to decide what plan to continue.) 13.Bd3 h4 (Basically Black temporarily holds off the Kingside attack from White to start the activities on the other side of the board.) 14.f4 (Since the h and g pawns are paralyzed at the moment, White tries to break with the f pawn.) 14…Rc8 (Not a blunder but surprising! I would have played 14…b4.) 15.Rhe1 (Centralizing the Rook.) 15…g6 16.Qf2 (Stopping Black from playing Nb6 then c4.) 16…Qb7 17.Na5 Qb8 (I like 18.f5. White can take charge and launch the first shot.) 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 Bc4 (White is slightly better but that is expected.) 20.Nxc4 bxc4 21.Be4 (This is a very difficult and dangerous position for Black. White has done a good job holding and deflecting the Queenside counter-attack. In this position, even the endgame favors White which is not a good sign for Black in a Sicilian. I think Black has to take the e4 Bishop with the Knight then bring the other Knight to f6 right away.) 21…Nxe4 22.Nxe4 (And now Nf6 is needed not to allow White to play f6.) 22…Nf6 (So far, Topalov defended well and Karjakin has also done well to reach a favorable position.) 23.Qf3 (Another strong continuation would have been 23.Nxf6 then Rd5 and Red1 and attack the d6 target.) 23…Qc7 24.Nc3 (This is not the most ambitious move.) 24…Rg8? (I do not like this move at all as it invites White to play Bf2. This cannot be good for Black as Black will lose a tempo going back to h8 with the Rook.) 25.Bf2 (Taking advantage of Black’s last move) 25…Rh8 26.Nd5 (A good move as White will have a strong attack on the d6 pawn and the d file.) 26…Nxd5 27.Rxd5 f6 28.Re4 (This is a dominating position for White. 24…Rg8 costs Topalov a tempo and I am not sure if he will be able to recover from it.) 28…Rb8 29.Rxh4 Rxh4 30.Bxh4 (I am very impressed with Karjakin’s play so far. I think he has the talent to stay among the top 5 or 10 for many years to come.) 30…Qb7 31. b3 Kd7 32. Be1 Qc6 33. h4 (This is not looking good for Topalov.) 33…Rc8 34. Qd1 Rg8 35. g3 Bf8 36. Bf2 Bh6 +- 37.Bc5 Bf8 38.Bf2 Bh6 39.Rc5 (Definitely an interesting choice of move. 39…Qg2 seems to be the only move.) 39…Qg2 40. Be1 cxb3 41. axb3 (Now 41…Bd2 is expected, blocking the pin on the d file. However, I think Topalov is lost no matter what.) 41…Bd2 (Topalov did find the right defense. Unfortunately, this opens up the tactical shot 42.Qh5!) 42.Rc4 (Not as ambitious as 42.Qh5 but no harm done.) 42…d5 43. Ra4Bxe1 44. Qxe1 (Topalov has defended perfectly. However, his position is still very bad.) 44…Rxg3 (Now, White needs to avoid trading Queen because it would give Black excellent drawing chances. Therefore, Kb2 is likely.) 45.Rxa5? (I believe he threw away a win. 45…Qg1 is must and this will give Black excellent drawing chances.) 45…Qg1 46.Qxg1 Rxg1 47.Kb2 (47…Rh1 here will most likely hold.) 47…Ke7 (Very interesting choice. Perhaps Topalov still thinks he can swindle the kid for a win? 47…Rh1 would be a much safer choice to draw. 48.Ra1 is a good choice.)48.Rd6+ Kf7 49. Rd6 (Topalov has to be careful with White’s b pawn. This is a posibility: d4 50. b4 Rf1 51. b5 Rxf5 52. b6 e4 53. Rxd4 Rb5+ 54. Kc3 Rxb6 55. Rxe4 Rb1 +=) 49…e4 (If 50. Rxd5 e3 51. Rd7+ Kf8 52. Rd8+ Kf7 53. Rd7+ Kf8 =. However, White can play 50.Rd7+ and still maintains the edge.) 50.Kc3?! (Now 50…Rf1 should give strong chances for Black to draw.) 50…Rf1 51.Rd7+ Kf8 52.Rd8+ Kf7 53.Rd7+ Kf8 54.Rd8+ 1/2 (Shocking end to the game! There is no way I would take a draw here. I can assure you that if he was playing a 2500 or 2600 GM, he would continue to push here. It may mean that Karjakin does need more experience on the biggest stage. Nice save by Topalov though in a lots position.)
SUsan,
Scandal seems to be going on. Very poor excuse by FIDE.
http://www.veselintopalov.net/article/open-letter-to-fide-by-silvio-danailov
Hi,
I think Black may be slight worse, but that´s not important because an error will decide this complicated game. I like this opening and it´s great that it is not an main-variation any more. This will be fun! But the other games are good too, ok, not the Kramnik one.
But that was predictible, Tiviakov surely is not better than Kramnik and is therefore satisfied with a draw and Kramnik likes a draw with black.He saves his power for the long tournament.
But it´s a torment for us. Draw offers should be prohibited!
Well Carlsen just lost to Pono.
That is 2 losses in a row. Now yesterday he could have had a super win with 32 c6 and missed the move but today he never had the better position.
Does anyone know how Radjabov game is going? Is he winning?
Thanks for information..
Radjabov has a nice position.
Shirov just offered his Q.
Sorry, I can’t hide my schadenfreude: Toppy screws up another Najdorf. I hope, Karjakin won’t miss the final blow.
it seems that moves 37 and 38 have gone missing… 37. Bc5 Bf8 38. Bf2 Bh6 39. Rc5 Qg2 40. Be1 exb3 41. axb3
Topalov is close to drawing this now after 42…d5
After 45.Qa5 Topalov seems in trouble, isn’t it ?
After 47 I don’t see a draw for Topa.
What about 50…e4? seems unstopable to me
42.Qh5 wins, according to my computer.
The game score reads 45.Qxa5; should be 45.Qxa6.
What about Radjabov? Did he win? Sorry I’m at work and cannot use other programs to see the games online.. And is Karjakin winning, these guys are great, new generation !
Many thanks,
Montrealer
Well it is up to move 52 and Sergy is still maintaining the advantage. Topalov is really working hard not to lose this one. This guy is tough to beat
I don’t understand how Rd7+ would have maintained the edge as opposed to Kc3 as Karjakin played. Doesn’t White have to play Kc3 either immediately or right after Rd7+ anyway to keep the e-pawn from queening? Why does it matter which move is played first?
Radj won
Loek draw
kramnik draw
svidler draw
Magnus lost
anand draw
Karjakin has a slight advantage which goes up and down. tough endgame now with rook and pawns.
karjakin just took a draw. he chickened out in the better position. no sense. he should have won. this game will be talked about.
Oh come on, don’t be ridiculous. Just because he’s a pawn up doesn’t mean he’s winning. Why don’t you suggest a winning try instead of all this nonsense about people taking draws? If you can come up with an alternative which leaves play in the position and doesn’t leave White worse I’ll be very surprised.
Remember last time they played Karjakin turned down a repetition unjustifiably and went on to lose. You’re got the wrong target here.
I am sure some good analyst will work on the move h5.
It is the computers that say white is winning after h5. Try to continue the analysis with fritz 10 for example and after 5-6 moves the eval drops to equal.
I an an expert Sicilan Najdoft player and playing B-e3 after a6
a6 6.Be3! e5?! White has a superior advantage. Black has a hard time. Karpov and Geller were greAT EXPONENTS AT EXPLOITING THIS position . Ficher had more losses againts Geller who thought Fischer was stubbon as he would never play 6. e6. and adept at exploiting this position. Kasparov played e6 so that goes to show you how tough it is.
7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3! White now has a superb attack and black has a disadvantage withthe e5 hole. the English Sicilian 6.Be3! e6 7. f3 followed by g4 White has good chances and at least blackm can survice without having played e5 earlier. There is a good game with Topalov as Black and Judith Polger playing a brillian game here. I have played a lot of 5 minute against shreder and set at to the hardest levels and can beat Shredder after to a6 6.Be3! e5?! 7. Nb3 and then followed by f3 and g4. either White gets a strong advantage positionally or strong king side attack with advante. Most Blcak sicilian players will transpose to other lines line e6.
Topalov drew in spite of the “schadenfreude” (malicious joy, gloating) of his enemies.
Ever thought why is it that only Topalov has ‘enemies’ ? What kind of conduct can provoke normal fans to the limits of antagonism ?
>> Ever thought why is it that only Topalov has ‘enemies’ ? What kind of conduct can provoke normal fans to the limits of antagonism ?
Stereotypes have a big role in this antagonism. Who is that cheeky lad coming from an obscure Balkan country to claim the World title? How dare he accuse the great Russian champion of cheating? Facts and arguments get lost on those fans.