Topalov (2805) – Gashimov (2759) [D11]
Linares (2), 14.02.2010
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Qc2 g6 6.Bd3 Bg7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b3 Nb8 11.Ba3 Nc6 12.Rac1 Be6 13.Qb2 Re8 14.h3 Rc8 15.Rc2 Bf5 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.Ne1 Ne4 18.Nd3 e5 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxc2 22.Qxc2 Qa5 23.Bd6 Bxe5 24.b4 Qd8 25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.Rc1 Rd5 27.a4 b5 28.axb5 Rxb5 29.Qa4 Qd6 30.Qa1 Qe5 31.Qxa6 Rxb4 32.Qh6 Rb8 33.g3 Qe6 34.Qf4 Rc8 35.Rd1 Rc6 36.Rd8+ Kg7 37.Kg2 h6 38.Qb8 Qf6 39.Rd5 Re6 40.h4 h5 41.Rd8 Kh7 42.Rg8 f4 43.gxf4 Qxh4 44.Rh8+ Kg6 45.Qg8+ Kf6 46.Qd8+ Re7 47.Rh6+ Kf5 48.Qd5+ White wins 1–0
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Topalov is still best.
If Topalov is ‘still’ best how come he didn’t defeat Kramnik and become World Champ? Ok he might become now,as – how can Topalov lose playing in Sofia?.
I was expecting a good game by Gashimov and got really desappointed
by his play. One thing is to lose a game after a tough resistance or a fierce battle and other is to aim for a draw and keep playing inaccuracies like that Bf5, b5, Rc6 etc.
Move by move he was getting worse and worse due to passive play. Playing like this makes life really easy for stroibg opponents like Topalov.
Yes, Gashimov will be no 1 of the world in two years from now. I see his play develop according this line to success.