[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Meduna, Eduard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bb4 9. Nh4 O-O 10. Nxf5 exf5 11. f3 Qe7 12. Qc2 g6 13. a5 Rad8 14. Kh1 Nh5 15.
Qf2 Ndf6 16. e4 f4 17. g4 fxg3 18. hxg3 Qd7 19. Ne2 Rfe8 20. Qg2 Ng7 21. g4 Ne6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "De Eccher, Stefano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2290"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. O-O
Nc5 9. Rb1 a5 10. f4 Nd4 11. b3 exf4 12. gxf4 f5 13. Be3 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 fxe4
15. dxe4 O-O 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. Rbd1 Kh8 18. Nc3 Bg4 19. Rde1 Rae8 20. Kh1 Qh4 21.
e5 Rd8 22. Bf2 Qh5 23. Qe3 Ne6 24. Nd5 g5 25. Bg3 gxf4 26. Nxf4 Nxf4 27. Bxf4
dxe5 28. Bxe5 Rxf1+ 29. Bxf1 Bf3+ 30. Kg1 Qg4+ 31. Kf2 Rf8 32. Bxg7+ Qxg7 33.
Qxf3 Qb2+ 34. Re2 Rxf3+ 35. Kxf3 Qf6+ 36. Kg2 a4 37. bxa4 Kg7 38. Kg1 Qb6+ 39.
Rf2 Qb4 40. Kg2 Qxa4 41. Kg1 Qa3 42. Bg2 Qc1+ 43. Bf1 h5 44. Kg2 h4 45. Rf3
Qb2+ 46. Rf2 Qa3 47. Kg1 Kg6 48. Be2 Kg5 49. Bf1 b6 50. Bg2 Qc1+ 51. Bf1 Qe3
52. Kg2 c6 53. Be2 h3+ 54. Kg1 Kh4 55. Bf1 b5 56. cxb5 cxb5 57. Be2 Qg5+ 58.
Kh1 b4 59. Bf1 Qc1 60. Kg1 Qe3 61. Ba6 Qg5+ 62. Kh1 Qd5+ 63. Kg1 Qg8+ 64. Kf1
Qg6 65. Bb7 Qb1+ 66. Ke2 Qxa2+ 67. Ke3 Qa7+ 0-1

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mantovani, Renzo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c4 e6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 h6 11. O-O c5 12. Qe2 Qc8 13. Bb2 Nc6 14. Rad1 Re8
15. c4 cxd4 16. exd4 Bf6 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Bg7 19. h4 Ne7 20. h5 Nf5 21. Qe2
g5 22. Ne5 Qc7 23. Qg4 Nh4 24. f4 f5 25. Qg3 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Qe7 27. Rf2 Rad8 28.
Bc3 Rd7 29. Bb4 Qd8 30. Bd6 Rg7 31. Bf1 gxf4 32. Qxf4 Qg5 33. Rd4 Be4 34. Rxe4
fxe4 35. Qxe4 Kh8 36. Qc6 Reg8 37. Bf8 Rh7 38. Qxe6 Rc7 39. Bxh6 Qxh5 40. Qf6+
Kh7 41. Bd2 Rd7 42. e6 Nxg2 43. Bxg2 Rdg7 44. Qf4 Qd1+ 45. Kh2 Rxg2+ 46. Rxg2
Qh5+ 47. Kg1 Qd1+ 48. Kf2 Rxg2+ 49. Kxg2 Qe2+ 50. Kg3 Qxe6 51. Qh4+ Kg6 52.
Qg4+ Kf7 53. Qxe6+ Kxe6 54. Kf4 Kd6 55. Be3 Kc6 56. Ke5 b5 57. c5 a6 58. Kd4 a5
59. Bd2 1-0

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Braga, Fernando Alberto"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Nh4 O-O 10. f3 Qa5 11. Na2 c5 12. Nxf5 exf5 13. Nxb4 Qxb4 14. b3 Rfe8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Garcia Palermo, Carlos H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Bg5 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. e4 Nf6 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8.
Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Qc7 10. Re1 Na5 11. Bf1 Be6 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 Nc6 14. b5 Ne5
15. Rc1 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Qa5 17. Nb3 Qxa2 18. Nc5 Rac8 19. Re2 Qa5 20. Nxe6 Rxc1
21. Bxc1 fxe6 22. Qb3 Kf7 23. g3 Rc8 24. Bb2 Qb6 25. e5 Nd5 26. Re4 Bh6 27. Bc4
a6 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Rh4 Rc5 30. Qf3+ Kg8 31. Rxh6 Rxb5 32. e6 Qxe6 33. Qc3 d4
34. Qxd4 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 e5 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37. Qe7+ Kxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Strikovic, Aleksa"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 b6 6. Nxd4 e6 7. c4 Nc7 8. Qf3
Bc5 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bd3 d5 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Nb5 Nxb5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. Qxa8 Nc6
15. Be4 Nbd4 16. Bxc6 Nxc6 17. O-O Ba6 18. b4 Qxc4 19. Na3 Rxa8 20. Nxc4 Bxc4
21. Rfc1 Bd5 22. a3 Kf8 23. f3 Ke8 24. Kf2 Kd7 25. Ke3 a5 26. b5 Ne7 27. Rc2
Rc8 28. Rac1 Rxc2 29. Rxc2 Nf5+ 30. Kd3 Nd6 31. a4 Nb7 0-1

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A69"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6 11. f4 Rb8 12. Bf3 Nb4 13. Be2 c4 14. Bxc4 Ng4 15.
Qa4 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Nxh2 17. g3 Nxf1 18. Bxf1 Bc5 19. a3 Na6 20. Qc4 Qf6 21. e5
Qg7 22. Nf3 Bg4 23. Nh2 Bf5 24. g4 Bd7 25. Ne4 dxe5 26. Nxc5 Nxc5 27. Qxc5 exf4
28. Bxf4 Qxb2 29. Qc1 Qxc1 30. Rxc1 Rbc8 31. Rb1 b6 32. d6 f6 33. Bb5 Bxb5 34.
Rxb5 g5 35. Bg3 Re3 36. Kg2 Rc2+ 37. Kh3 Rxa3 38. Rf5 Rcc3 39. Nf1 Kf7 40. Rf2
Rf3 41. Kg2 Rxf2+ 42. Kxf2 Ke6 43. Ne3 Rd3 44. Nf5 a5 45. Ke2 Rd5 46. Ng7+ Kf7
0-1

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Votruba, Pavel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. c4 Bg4 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d5 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Nd4 8. Nc3
c5 9. O-O Nf6 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Be2 O-O 12. Bd3 Qb6 13. Rb1 Qa5 14. f4 a6 15. Bd2
Qc7 16. a4 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Nxb5 19. cxb5 c4 20. Be2 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 Ra2
22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Rfa8 24. Bg4 Nf6 25. Bf3 Rb8 26. e5 Nd7 27. Qe1 Nf8 28.
Qh4 Ra7 29. exd6 Qxd6 30. f5 Rc7 31. Be4 Rb6 32. Rf3 Qf6 33. Qg3 Qd6 34. Qh4
Qf6 35. Qg4 g5 36. h4 h6 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Rh3 Qg7 39. f6 exf6 40. Bf5 Rc5 41.
Qd4 Rbxb5 42. Rxb5 Rxb5 43. Qxc4 Ra5 44. Qd4 g4 45. Bxg4 f5 46. Qxg7+ Kxg7 47.
Bxf5 Rxd5 48. Rf3 Ng6 49. Bxg6 Kxg6 50. Kh2 Rd2 51. Kg3 f5 52. Re3 Kf6 53. Kf3
Kf7 54. Kf4 Rxg2 55. Kxf5 Rf2+ 56. Ke5 Ke7 57. Kd5+ Kd7 58. Kc5 Rf6 59. Re5 Rg6
60. c4 Ra6 61. Rg5 Rf6 62. Rg7+ Kc8 63. Kb5 Rh6 64. c5 Rf6 65. Rh7 Rg6 66. c6
Rg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Forli op"]
[Site "Forli"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gonsior, Evzen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2305"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "1988.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. e3 c6 7. Rc1 Nbd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne4 N7b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Chania"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cela, Altin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nb4 6. Qe2 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. c4 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bd7 11. Re1 a6 12. Nf1 Bb5 13. Qc2 c5 14. Be3 Rc8
15. Rac1 cxd4 16. Qxc8 Qxc8 17. Rxc8 Rxc8 18. Bxd4 Bb4 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. bxc3
Rxc3 21. Ng3 Rc2 22. Nd4 Rxa2 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. Rb1 Ng4 25. Rxb5 Nxf2 26. Rxb7
g6 27. Rb3 h5 28. Rf3 Ng4 29. h3 Ne5 30. Rc3 Kg7 31. Nf1 Kf6 32. Nh2 Re2 0-1

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Chania"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kosic, Dragan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e4 e5 6. d5 Nc5 7. h3 Bh5 8. Qc2
Bxf3 9. gxf3 Nh5 10. Rg1 Be7 11. Ne2 c6 12. Ng3 Nf4 13. Nf5 g6 14. Nxe7 Qxe7
15. Be3 cxd5 16. cxd5 O-O 17. b4 Nd7 18. Qd2 Rfc8 19. Bb5 Nb6 20. Bxf4 exf4 21.
Rd1 Qe5 22. Rg4 h5 23. Rg1 Rc3 24. Rg5 Qf6 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 a6 27. Be2 Nd7
28. Rc4 Rxc4 29. Bxc4 Rc8 30. Be2 Rc1+ 31. Bd1 Ne5 32. Ke2 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Chania"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kocsis, Janos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2265"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Qa5 10. O-O Qxc3 11. Rb3 Qa5 12. Rb5 Qxa2 13. Rxc5 Bg4 14. d5
Nd7 15. Rc2 Qa4 16. h3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qa5 18. Bd2 Qb6 19. Be3 Qd6 20. f4 Nb6 21.
Qd2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Qc1 Nb6 26. Bf1 Qd7 27.
Qc5 Nc8 28. e5 a6 29. Be2 Bf8 30. e6 Qd8 31. exf7+ Kxf7 32. Bg4 Nd6 33. Be6+
Ke8 34. Qa3 Ne4 35. Qb4 Nd6 36. Bb6 Qb8 37. f5 g5 38. Qd4 Nb5 39. Qg4 Bg7 40.
Qh5+ 1-0

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Chania"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tzermiadianos, Andreas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. e3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. a4 d6
9. Ra3 Bb7 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. e4 Nb6 13. Be2 Nb4 14. O-O Ba6 15. Nb5
Qd7 16. h4 Rab8 17. b3 Na8 18. Bc4 Nc7 19. Nxc7 Qxc7 20. h5 Rb7 21. hxg6 hxg6
22. Ng5 Qd7 23. g3 Rc7 24. Kg2 Bxc4 25. bxc4 Ra7 26. Rh1 Rfa8 27. Rf3 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Ne4 O-O 11. O-O-O Na6 12. h4 f6 13. Bd2 Nac7 14. e3 Ne6 15.
Bc3 f5 16. Neg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 Nxg5 18. Bc4 Ne4 19. Bxd5+ Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Qe7 21.
Be5 Rad8 22. Bf4 d6 23. f3 Nf6 24. Rxf5 h6 25. h5 d5 26. Rd1 d4 27. exd4 cxd4
28. Kb1 Qe6 29. Re5 Qf7 30. Rf5 Rd5 31. Rxd5 Nxd5 32. Bc1 Ne3 33. Bxe3 dxe3 34.
Qe2 Re8 35. g4 Kh8 36. Rg1 Qf4 37. Rd1 Qe5 38. Re1 a5 39. Rd1 b5 40. f4 Qxf4
41. Qxb5 Qe4+ 42. Ka1 e2 43. Re1 Re5 44. Qb8+ Kh7 45. Qd6 Re6 46. Qc5 Qxg4 47.
Qc2+ Re4 48. Qd3 a4 49. Kb1 Kh8 50. Qd8+ Kh7 {...} 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ermenkov, Evgenij"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 a5 7. a4 Be7 8. c3 f6
9. Bb5 fxe5 10. dxe5 O-O 11. Qe2 Qe8 12. Nbd4 Nc5 13. O-O 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ninov, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Na2 e6 7. Bxc4 Nf6 8. Nf3
Nbd7 9. Bd2 a5 10. O-O Bb7 11. Nc1 Be7 12. Nb3 O-O 13. Qe2 c5 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15.
Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. f4 Bc6 18. Be1 Qb7 19. Nd2 Nb6 20. Bb5 c4 21. Bxc6
Qxc6 22. Rdc1 Nxa4 23. Qxc4 Qd7 24. Qc7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7 Bd8 26. Rc2 Nb6 27. e4
Nd7 28. Nc4 Rc8 29. Rac1 f6 30. h4 fxe5 31. fxe5 Rc5 32. Bf2 Rb5 33. Bg3 Bb6+
34. Kh2 b3 35. Rd2 Nc5 36. Nxb6 Nxe4 37. Rd7 Nxg3 38. Kxg3 Rxb6 39. Rcc7 Kh8
40. h5 h6 41. Rxg7 Rg8 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. Rc5 a4 44. Ra5 Rb4 45. Kf3 Kf7 46. g4
1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lukov, Valentin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 Bf5 4. Nc3 h6 5. Qb3 Qc8 6. g3 Nbd7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
e5 9. Re1 Be7 10. e4 Bh7 11. h3 O-O 12. Qd1 Bd8 13. a3 Re8 14. dxe5 dxe5 15.
Qc2 b5 16. Be3 Bb6 17. Bxb6 Nxb6 18. c5 Nbd5 19. Nd2 Nc7 20. b4 a5 21. Qb2 Ne6
22. Kh2 Nd4 23. f3 Qe6 24. Red1 Nh5 25. Nf1 f5 26. Ne2 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dimitrov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Ng4 11. Nf3 Qb6 12. Re2 Be6 13. h3 Ne5 14. Nxe5 dxe5
15. Be3 Qb4 16. c5 Rfd8 17. Rd2 Qa5 18. Bxa6 Rxd2 19. Qxd2 Qxa6 20. Rd1 Bf8 21.
b3 Be7 22. Qb2 f6 23. Na4 Kf7 24. f4 exf4 25. Bxf4 b5 26. cxb6 axb6 27. Rf1 Qd3
28. Bg5 Rxa4 29. Rxf6+ Kg8 30. bxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Simeonov, Stefan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be2 Na6 10. O-O Nc7 11. a4 b6 12. f3 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ba6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Be3
Re8 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Rab1 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 a6 19. Qd3 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5
Nfxd5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Qxd5 Rxb5 24. Qxf7 d5 25. Rfd1 d4 26. b4 Re7 27. Qc4
Qb6 28. Bd2 Rb7 29. Rdc1 cxb4 30. Rb3 Qa7 31. Kf1 Qa2 32. Qc2 Qa6 33. Qd3 Qd6
34. f4 Ra5 35. e5 Qf8 36. Qe4 Qf7 37. e6 Qe7 38. Rg3 Rf5 39. Rxg6 Kxg6 40. g4
Rbb5 41. gxf5+ Rxf5 42. Bxb4 Qh4 43. e7 Qxf4+ 44. Qxf4 Rxf4+ 45. Kg2 Re4 46.
Rc8 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Popov, Petar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. b3 Nbd7 5. Bb2 Bxf3 6. gxf3 e5 7. Nc3 g6 8. e3
Bg7 9. Bh3 O-O 10. Qd2 Qe7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. O-O Rfd8 13. Qc2 c6 14. a4 Nh5 15.
Rfd1 f5 16. Ne2 Qg5+ 17. Bg2 f4 18. e4 Bf8 19. Bc3 a5 20. Kh1 Qh4 21. Ng1 Bc5
22. Bh3 Nhf6 23. Rd2 Bd4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Rxd4 Ne5 26. Qd2 Re8 27. c5 Nf7 28.
Bf1 Re5 29. Bc4 Kg7 30. Bxf7 Rh5 31. h3 Kxf7 32. Re1 Re5 33. Qc2 Rae8 34. Red1
Rh5 35. b4 Ree5 36. bxa5 Kg7 37. Qe2 Rxc5 38. Rb4 Rxa5 39. Rxb7+ Kh6 40. Rd4
Rac5 41. Rf7 Rc1 42. Rd1 Rxd1 43. Qxd1 Qxf2 44. Qe2 Rxh3+ 45. Nxh3 Qxe2 46. Ng1
Qb2 47. a5 Nh5 48. Nh3 Qa1+ 49. Ng1 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Janev, Evgeni"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D95"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2260"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nc6 8.
Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. O-O Ne5 12. Bxe6+ Kh8 13. Rd1 Bxe6 14.
Qxe6 Qc8 15. Qxe7 Qg4 16. h3 Qh5 17. f4 Nc6 18. Qa3 Rad8 19. Rf1 Rfe8 20. Qb3
Na5 21. Qb4 b6 22. Kh2 Nb7 23. e4 Nc5 24. Be3 Nd3 25. Qb3 g5 26. fxg5 Be5+ 27.
Kh1 Qh4 28. Bg1 Nf4 29. Nd5 Ne2 30. Bf2 Qxg5 31. Qf3 Rg8 32. g4 Qh6 33. Ne7
Ng3+ 34. Kg2 Nxf1 35. Nxg8 Rxg8 36. Rxf1 Rf8 37. Qd3 c5 38. b3 Re8 39. Be3 Qh4
40. Bf4 Bd4 41. e5 Qe7 42. Qe4 a5 43. Bg3 Qd7 44. Rf5 a4 45. Bh4 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Donchev, Dimitar I"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Bb5 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3
f6 9. exf6 Qxf6 10. Nf1 Bd6 11. Ne3 O-O 12. c3 Ne7 13. O-O Bb7 14. Re1 Nf5 15.
Ng4 Qg6 16. h3 Rae8 17. Bc2 Qh5 18. Nfe5 Bxe5 19. Nh6+ 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Krum"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Bf6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. d5 Ne7 12. c5 Nh5 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Ne1 Nf4
15. Nd3 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Qb6 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. f4 f6 19. fxe5 fxe5 20. Nf2 Kg7 21.
Rab1 Rf7 22. Ng4 Raf8 23. Rxf7+ Rxf7 24. Ne3 Qc5 25. Rf1 Rxf1+ 26. Nxf1 b5 27.
Qe3 b4 28. Qxc5 dxc5 29. Nd1 Nc8 30. Nd2 Nd6 31. b3 Nb5 32. Nb2 Nc3 33. Nd3 Kf6
34. Nxc5 Bb5 35. d6 Nxa2 36. Nf3 Nc3 37. h4 a5 38. g4 a4 39. g5+ Kf7 40. Nxe5+
Ke8 41. bxa4 Nxa4 42. Ne6 Bd7 43. Nd4 Nc5 44. Kg2 Nxe4 45. Nd3 Nxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grigorov, Jordan N"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2360"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Be2 b5
9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bxc5 Nxc5 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd4 Qb6 14. b4 Na4 15.
Qxb6 Nxb6 16. Bd3 f6 17. O-O fxe5 18. fxe5 Ke7 19. Ne2 Be8 20. Nd4 Bg6 21. Rf4
Nd7 22. Nc6+ Ke8 23. a4 Bxd3 24. cxd3 Rc8 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra6 Rf8 27. g3 g5
28. Rf2 Rxf2 29. Kxf2 Kf7 30. Ke3 h5 31. h3 h4 32. g4 Nb8 33. Ra7+ Kf8 34. Nd4
Nc6 35. Nxe6+ Kg8 36. Rg7+ Kh8 37. Rxg5 Nxb4 38. Nf4 Nc2+ 39. Kd2 b4 40. e6 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Inkiov, Ventzislav"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O c4 12. Qa4 Rd8 13. a3 Ba5 14. b4 Bc7
15. Rfe1 Bg4 16. b5 Ne7 17. Nd2 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 Nf5 19. Nf3 g5 20. Rab1 g4 21.
Nd2 h5 22. e4 Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Qxd4 24. exd5 Qxd5 25. Nxc4 Qc5 26. Qb3 Rac8 27.
Ne3 Bb6 28. g3 Ba5 29. Rf1 Bd2 30. Ng2 Rd4 31. Ra1 Rcd8 32. a4 Rb4 33. Qa3 Qc4
34. Ne3 Qe4 35. Ng2 Rdd4 36. Rad1 Qc2 37. f3 Rd3 38. Ne1 Qc5+ 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Danailov, Silvio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 cxd4 5. O-O Be7 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. c4 a6 8. b3
Nc6 9. Nc3 Qc7 10. Bb2 d6 11. Rc1 Ne5 12. Qd2 Bd7 13. f4 Ng6 14. f5 Ne5 15.
fxe6 fxe6 16. e4 h6 17. Bh3 Nfg4 18. Nce2 Qb6 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nfe2 Rf3 21. Bxg4
Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Nxg4 23. h3 Ne5 24. Kg2 Rf8 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 26. Bc3 Qc7 27. Qe3
Qc5 28. Qd2 b5 29. cxb5 axb5 30. Bb4 Qb6 31. Nc3 Bg7 32. Nde2 Nf7 33. Qd3 Bc6
34. Qd2 d5 35. exd5 exd5 36. Nd1 d4+ 37. Kh2 Ne5 38. Ng1 Ba8 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Panbukchian, Valentin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2215"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 d5 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Ne4
8. Rd1 O-O 9. e3 Qe8 10. Qc2 a6 11. Bd3 f5 12. Bc1 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. b4 Rc8
15. Qb3 Ne7 16. Ne5 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Nd5 18. f3 Nd6 19. Qc2 Qh5 20. Bd2 Rf6 21.
Qc1 Rh6 22. h3 Rf6 23. Kh2 Rff8 24. a4 Qh4 25. b5 axb5 26. axb5 Nf6 27. Nc6
Rce8 28. Be1 Qh6 29. Bf2 g5 30. Bg3 g4 31. Bf4 Qh5 32. Be2 Rf7 33. Be5 gxh3 34.
gxh3 Ref8 35. Rg1+ Kh8 36. Rg2 h6 37. Rdg1 Nde8 38. Nd8 Re7 39. Nxb7 Kh7 40.
Qa3 Ref7 41. Nd8 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 43th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Zahariev, Zahari"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2365"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1989.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. Nd4 Rfd8 13. Kb1 Rab8 14. f3
b5 15. Nce2 b4 16. g4 a5 17. h4 a4 18. Be3 Nd7 19. g5 Ne5 20. Nc1 Nc4 21. Qf2
Bd7 22. Nd3 Rdc8 23. Bc1 e5 24. Ne2 Be6 25. Ka1 Na3 26. Rf1 Qxc2 0-1

[Event "Wch U14"]
[Site "Aguadilla"]
[Date "1989.07.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C16"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1989.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "PUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. Nh3 Ba6 8.
Bxa6 Nxa6 9. Qd3 (9. Qg4 f5 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qe2 Nb8 12. c4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Qc6
14. Qb3 Qxg2 15. Rg1 Qd5 16. Nf4 Qxb3 17. cxb3 Ne7 18. Nxe6 Nd5 19. Nf4 Nxf4
20. Bxf4 Nc6 21. O-O-O Rd8 22. d5 Ne7 23. d6 cxd6 24. exd6 Nc6 25. Rge1+ Kf7
26. d7 h6 27. Bc7 Ra8 28. Rd6 Nd8 29. Rd5 Nb7 30. b4 Kf6 31. Be5+ Ke6 32. Bxh8+
Kxd5 33. Re8 Rd8 34. Rxd8 Nxd8 35. Bf6 Ne6 36. Kd2 Kc4 37. Kc2 b5 38. h4 f4 {
Kristiansen,J (2430)-Spiridonov,N (2470) Zamardi 1980 1-0}) 9... Nb8 $146 (9...
Qa4 10. O-O Ne7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. f4 g6 14. g4 Rag8 15. Kh1 h5 16.
f5 hxg4 17. f6+ Kf8 18. Nf2 Rh4 19. Kg2 c5 20. Rad1 Rgh8 21. Rh1 c4 22. Qd2 Nc7
23. Rb1 Ke8 24. Qc1 Kd8 25. Rb4 Qe8 26. a4 R8h5 27. Rb1 Qh8 28. Qf4 Rf5 29. Qd2
Qh5 30. Qe2 Rh3 31. Rbf1 Rhf3 32. Qe1 Qh4 33. Rhg1 Na6 34. Qe2 g3 35. Nh3 gxh2
36. Rxf3 hxg1=Q+ 37. Nxg1 Rg5+ {0-1 (37) Pettersen,H-Haag,E ICCF corr 1958})
10. Nf4 Nc6 11. h4 O-O-O 12. Rh3 f6 13. Qe2 (13. a4 fxe5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Qa6+
Kb8 16. a5 $13) 13... fxe5 14. dxe5 Nge7 15. h5 h6 16. Nd3 Na5 17. f4 Nc4 $17
18. g4 Rhf8 19. Rf3 a5 20. a4 d4 21. Qe4 Qc6 22. Qxc6 Nxc6 23. cxd4 Nxd4 24.
Rf2 Rd5 25. Nb2 Nxb2 26. Bxb2 Rfd8 27. Ra3 Nc6 28. Re3 Nb4 29. Rfe2 Rd1+ 30.
Kf2 Rb1 31. Ba3 Rd4 32. Re4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 c5 34. Bxb4 axb4 35. f5 Kd7 36. f6
Ke8 37. Ke2 gxf6 38. Rf4 f5 39. gxf5 Rh1 40. fxe6 Rxh5 41. Rf6 Rxe5+ 42. Kd3
Ke7 43. Rxh6 Rxe6 44. Rxe6+ Kxe6 45. Kc4 Kd6 46. Kb5 Kd5 47. Kxb6 c4 48. a5 b3
49. cxb3 cxb3 50. a6 b2 51. a7 b1=Q+ 52. Kc7 Qh7+ 53. Kb6 Qg8 54. Kb7 Qf7+ 55.
Kb6 Qe8 56. Kb7 Qd7+ 57. Kb8 Kc6 0-1

[Event "Wch U14"]
[Site "Aguadilla"]
[Date "1989.07.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C16"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1989.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "PUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. Nh3 Ba6 8.
Bxa6 Nxa6 9. Qd3 (9. Qg4 f5 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qe2 Nb8 12. c4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Qc6
14. Qb3 Qxg2 15. Rg1 Qd5 16. Nf4 Qxb3 17. cxb3 Ne7 18. Nxe6 Nd5 19. Nf4 Nxf4
20. Bxf4 Nc6 21. O-O-O Rd8 22. d5 Ne7 23. d6 cxd6 24. exd6 Nc6 25. Rge1+ Kf7
26. d7 h6 27. Bc7 Ra8 28. Rd6 Nd8 29. Rd5 Nb7 30. b4 Kf6 31. Be5+ Ke6 32. Bxh8+
Kxd5 33. Re8 Rd8 34. Rxd8 Nxd8 35. Bf6 Ne6 36. Kd2 Kc4 37. Kc2 b5 38. h4 f4 {
Kristiansen,J (2430)-Spiridonov,N (2470) Zamardi 1980 1-0}) 9... Nb8 $146 (9...
Qa4 10. O-O Ne7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. f4 g6 14. g4 Rag8 15. Kh1 h5 16.
f5 hxg4 17. f6+ Kf8 18. Nf2 Rh4 19. Kg2 c5 20. Rad1 Rgh8 21. Rh1 c4 22. Qd2 Nc7
23. Rb1 Ke8 24. Qc1 Kd8 25. Rb4 Qe8 26. a4 R8h5 27. Rb1 Qh8 28. Qf4 Rf5 29. Qd2
Qh5 30. Qe2 Rh3 31. Rbf1 Rhf3 32. Qe1 Qh4 33. Rhg1 Na6 34. Qe2 g3 35. Nh3 gxh2
36. Rxf3 hxg1=Q+ 37. Nxg1 Rg5+ {0-1 (37) Pettersen,H-Haag,E ICCF corr 1958})
10. Nf4 Nc6 11. h4 O-O-O 12. Rh3 f6 13. Qe2 (13. a4 fxe5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Qa6+
Kb8 16. a5 $13) 13... fxe5 14. dxe5 Nge7 15. h5 h6 16. Nd3 Na5 17. f4 Nc4 $17
18. g4 Rhf8 19. Rf3 a5 20. a4 d4 21. Qe4 Qc6 22. Qxc6 Nxc6 23. cxd4 Nxd4 24.
Rf2 Rd5 25. Nb2 Nxb2 26. Bxb2 Rfd8 27. Ra3 Nc6 28. Re3 Nb4 29. Rfe2 Rd1+ 30.
Kf2 Rb1 31. Ba3 Rd4 32. Re4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 c5 34. Bxb4 axb4 35. f5 Kd7 36. f6
Ke8 37. Ke2 gxf6 38. Rf4 f5 39. gxf5 Rh1 40. fxe6 Rxh5 41. Rf6 Rxe5+ 42. Kd3
Ke7 43. Rxh6 Rxe6 44. Rxe6+ Kxe6 45. Kc4 Kd6 46. Kb5 Kd5 47. Kxb6 c4 48. a5 b3
49. cxb3 cxb3 50. a6 b2 51. a7 b1=Q+ 52. Kc7 Qh7+ 53. Kb6 Qg8 54. Kb7 Qf7+ 55.
Kb6 Qe8 56. Kb7 Qd7+ 57. Kb8 Kc6 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Claesen, Pieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A27"]
[WhiteElo "2260"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. g3 Ne7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qd2 Be6 11. b3 Qd7 12. Bb2 f5 13. f4 Kh8 14. Rad1 Ng8 15.
e4 Rad8 16. Qf2 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Bg4 18. Rde1 c5 19. h3 Bf5 20. g4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4
Rde8 22. Rfe1 Rxe4 23. Rxe4 Bf6 24. Qe2 Qg7 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Bf3 c6 27. Kg2
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Demirel, Tolga"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Be7 8.
Qc2 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bf4 Nf8 12. f3 Bd6 13. Qd2 Bxf4 14. Nxf4
Qa5 15. Kb1 b6 16. g4 Ne6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. Rdg1 Re7 19. Qg2 Ne8 20. g5 h5 21.
g6 f5 22. Qg5 Nf6 23. Qh4 Qb4 24. Rg5 Qd6 25. Ne2 Kf8 26. Ng3 Ke8 27. Bxf5 Kd7
28. Rd1 Kc7 29. Bc2 Rd8 30. Qf4 Qxf4 31. exf4 h4 32. Nh5 Rf8 33. f5 Bc8 34. Kc1
Nxh5 35. Rxh5 h3 36. Kd2 Rfe8 37. Bd3 Re3 38. f6 gxf6 39. g7 Rxf3 40. Rh8 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Stangl, Markus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. d5 Bd7
9. Rb1 Na6 10. b4 Qe8 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. b5 cxb5 13. cxb5 Nc5 14. Nd4 Nfe4 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Qb3+ Qf7 17. Be3 Qxb3 18. Rxb3 Rfc8 19. Rb4 d5 20. Rd1 e5 21. Nb3
d4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. Nc1 dxe3 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 g5 5. Bd2 Nxe5 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nc3 d6 8. Nf3
h6 9. Be2 Nbc6 10. h4 Nxf3+ 11. Bxf3 Be6 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. Rxh8+ Bxh8 14. Nd5
Ne5 15. Be2 c6 16. Ne3 Qb6 17. Qb3 Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anagnostopoulos, Dimitrios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2375"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 c5 12. Rb1 Nf6 13. f3 f4 14. b4 b6 15. bxc5
bxc5 16. Qa4 g5 17. Nd1 a5 18. Qb3 Ng6 19. Nc3 Qe7 20. Na4 Bd7 21. Nb6 Rab8 22.
Qc2 Rxb6 23. Rxb6 g4 24. Rb7 g3 25. h3 Qd8 26. Rfb1 Nh4 27. Ne1 Bc8 28. Rb8 Qd7
29. Bf1 h5 30. Bxa5 Nh7 31. Bc3 Ng5 32. a4 Bf6 33. a5 Kf7 34. R1b6 Rg8 35. a6
Be7 36. Rxc8 Qxc8 37. Qa2 Nxh3+ 38. gxh3 g2 39. Bxg2 Qxh3 40. a7 Rxg2+ 41. Qxg2
Nxg2 42. Nxg2 Qxf3 43. a8=Q Qxc3 44. Qh8 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A55"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Nbd7 4. Nc3 c6 5. e4 e5 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2
a6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Bg5 Re8 11. Rac1 h6 12. Bh4 Nf8 13. c5 exd4 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15.
Rxd4 Ng4 16. Bg3 Bxg3 17. hxg3 Qa5 18. Qd1 Qh5 19. Nh4 g5 20. Nd5 cxd5 21. Rxc8
gxh4 22. Bxg4 Qe5 23. Rxd5 Qxe4 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. gxh4 Re8 26. g3 Qb4 27. Rd2
Ng6 28. a3 Qc5 29. Bf3 Re7 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Rd5 Qb6 32. Qd2 Re6 33. Qc3+ Kg8 34.
h5 Nf8 35. Rd4 Re5 36. Qd2 Qf6 37. Rf4 Qe7 38. Rb4 b5 39. Qxh6 Ne6 40. Rg4+ 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qc2 Bg4 8. h3
Be6 9. b3 Qc8 10. Kh2 Nfd7 11. d4 f6 12. Ba3 Qc7 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Nh4 Qa5 15.
Bb2 exd4 16. Rxd4 f5 17. Rfd1 Na6 18. a3 g6 19. Qd2 Qc7 20. b4 Ne5 21. f4 Nf7
22. e4 Bf6 23. Re1 Rad8 24. Qf2 Nh6 25. Rd2 Qg7 26. Nd1 Bxc4 27. Qxa7 fxe4 28.
Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Qxb7 d5 30. Qb6 Rb8 31. Qe3 Nc7 32. Nb2 Bb5 33. Rc1 Nf7 34. a4
Bd3 35. Nxd3 exd3 36. Qxd3 Rxb4 37. a5 Ra4 38. Rdc2 Nd8 39. Nf3 Rxa5 40. Ne5
Re6 41. Qd4 Rb5 42. Qa7 Rb7 43. Qa5 Rd6 44. Qa4 Rb5 45. Bf1 Rb6 46. Qd4 Rb3 47.
Qa4 Rb6 48. Qa5 Rb7 49. Re1 Re6 50. Rce2 Nf7 51. h4 Nxe5 52. fxe5 Qf3 53. Bg2
Qd3 54. Rf2 Re8 55. Qc5 Rb3 56. Rf3 Qb5 57. Qd6 Rxf3 58. Bxf3 Ne6 59. Qd7 Ng7
60. e6 Qc5 61. Qf7+ Kh8 62. e7 Qf2+ 63. Kh3 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Norri, Joose"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 Nf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Qd2 Bg4 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bd8 13. Ra3 Nc6 14. Bc4 Kg7
15. Rd3 h6 16. c3 Na5 17. Ba2 b5 18. Qe3 Rb8 19. axb5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 axb5 21.
Rfd1 Nc4 22. Qe2 c6 23. Nb4 Ba5 24. Rd7 Bxb4 25. cxb4 Qe6 26. Bb3 Rfc8 27. h3
c5 28. bxc5 Rxc5 29. Ra7 Rc6 30. Rdd7 Rf8 31. Rd5 Rb8 32. Kh2 Ra6 33. Rxb5 Rxb5
34. Rxa6 Qxa6 35. Bxc4 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. Bd2 b6 6. Bb5 c6 7. Ba4 a5 8. a3 Bxc3
9. Bxc3 Ba6 10. Qg4 f5 11. Qg3 Qf7 12. Bd2 Ne7 13. Nh3 h6 14. c3 Bc4 15. Bd1 a4
16. Nf4 g6 17. h4 Nd7 18. Nd3 Kd8 19. Bc2 Kc7 20. O-O-O Bb3 21. Bxb3 axb3 22.
Kb1 c5 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. c4 dxc4 25. Nf4 Rhd8 26. Bc3 Nc6 27. Rd6 Nf8 28. Qe3
Rxd6 29. exd6+ Kb6 30. Re1 e5 31. Bxe5 g5 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Nh3 Qg6 34. f4 g4
35. Nf2 Re8 36. Qc3 Qf7 37. Nd1 Nd7 38. Ne3 Ncxe5 39. fxe5 Rxe5 40. Rd1 Re4 41.
Nd5+ Ka6 42. Nc7+ Kb6 43. Qh8 Qf8 44. Nd5+ Kc6 45. Ne7+ Kb5 46. Qh7 c3 47. bxc3
Re2 48. Nxf5 Nb6 49. Nd4+ cxd4 50. Qd3+ Nc4 51. a4+ Ka5 52. Qxe2 Qf5+ 53. Ka1
b2+ 54. Ka2 Qc5 55. d7 Qa3+ 56. Kb1 Qa1+ 57. Kc2 Qxa4+ 58. Kd3 Qxd7 59. cxd4
Qb5 60. Qe1+ Ka4 61. Ke4 Nd6+ 62. Ke3 Qg5+ 63. Kf2 g3+ 64. Kf3 Qf5+ 65. Kxg3
Ne4+ 66. Kh2 Qh5+ 67. Kg1 Nc3 68. Ra1+ bxa1=Q 69. Qxa1+ Kb3 70. Qe1 Kc2 71.
Qf2+ Kd1 72. Qf3+ Ne2+ 73. Kf2 Qh4+ 74. g3 Qxd4+ 75. Qe3 Qc4 76. Qe5 Nd4 77.
Qe1+ Kc2 78. Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pedzich, Dominik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Be3 c5 8. d5 e6
9. Qd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Re8 11. f3 Nbd7 12. Nh3 Ne5 13. Nf2 Kh7 14. O-O a6 15. a4
Rb8 16. Rfb1 Qa5 17. Qd1 g5 18. Qc2 Nfd7 19. Nfd1 Ng6 20. Bf2 Bd4 21. g3 Nde5
22. Ne3 Qd8 23. Nf5 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qf6 25. b4 Ne7 26. Nxe7 Rxe7 27. Kg2 cxb4
28. Rxb4 Rc7 29. Rc1 Bd7 30. Qb2 Ng6 31. a5 Be8 32. Qd2 Rbc8 33. Na2 Rxc1 34.
Nxc1 Rc7 35. Nb3 Ne5 36. Nd4 Bd7 37. Rb3 Bc8 38. Rc3 Qd8 39. Qc1 Rxc3 40. Qxc3
Bd7 41. Nc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Luther, Thomas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2410"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
h6 9. Bh4 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Be2 g5 12. fxg5 Ne5 13. Qe3 Nh7 14. Nf3 hxg5
15. Bg3 Bd7 16. Qd4 f6 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18. Bh5+ Kd8 19. Qd3 Qc6 20. Rhf1 Nf6 21.
Be2 b5 22. a3 Rb8 23. Qe3 a5 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Rc8 26. Rd3 Qa6 27. Kb2 Ra8
28. Nb1 Qc6 29. Nd2 Ra4 30. Rb3 Rg8 31. Nb1 d5 32. exd5 Nxd5 33. Qxe5 Ra8 34.
Nc3 Nb6 35. Bxb5 Nc4+ 36. Bxc4 Qxc4 37. Rd1 Bxb4 38. Qc7+ Qxc7 39. Bxc7+ Kxc7
40. Rxb4 Bc6 41. Nb5+ Kc8 42. Rd2 Rb8 43. Na7+ Kc7 44. Nxc6 Kxc6 45. Rxb8 Rxb8+
46. Kc3 e5 47. Kd3 Kd5 48. c4+ Ke6 49. Ra2 Rb1 50. Rc2 Rb3+ 51. Ke4 Rb4 52. Kf3
Kf5 53. c5 Rf4+ 54. Ke2 Re4+ 55. Kf1 Ke6 56. c6 Rf4+ 57. Ke2 Rf8 58. Ke3 Kd6
59. c7 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1989.12.31"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Markovic, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 f6 5. f4 fxe5 6. dxe5 Nh6 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qh3
Nb4 9. Bd3 c5 10. Bb5+ Kf7 11. Kd1 Kg7 12. a3 Nc6 13. Nf3 Nf5 14. g4 Nfd4 15.
Be2 Nxe2 16. Nxe2 d4 17. Ng3 Qd5 18. Rf1 d3 19. f5 exf5 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Bxf8
Bd7 22. Bd6 fxg4 23. Qh6 dxc2+ 24. Kc1 gxf3 25. Nh5 Qd1+ 26. Rxd1 cxd1=Q+ 27.
Kxd1 gxh5 28. Qg5+ Kf7 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. e6 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.01.02"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fogarasi, Tibor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1989.12.19"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11. Kf1 gxf6 12. Rc1 Qa5 13. h4 Ke7 14.
Rh3 Nc6 15. Nxc6+ bxc6 16. Rd3 Rb8 17. Kg1 Rb4 18. Qd2 Ra4 19. Qe3 Rd8 20. Bb3
Rxd3 21. Qxd3 Qa6 22. Qe3 Ra5 23. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dornbirn op"]
[Site "Dornbirn"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kranz, Armin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 b6 4. Nf3 Bb7 5. Bg5 f6 6. Bh4 Ne7 7. e3 Ng6 8. Bg3
O-O 9. h4 Ne7 10. Bd3 f5 11. Kf1 Bxc3 12. bxc3 h6 13. h5 d6 14. Rb1 Nd7 15. Qb3
Kh8 16. Rd1 Qe8 17. Be2 Nf6 18. Nd2 Bc6 19. Qa3 Nd7 20. Nf3 a5 21. Rb1 Rb8 22.
Rb2 Kh7 23. Bf4 Qc8 24. Rh2 Rf7 25. Rh1 Qb7 26. Rh2 Re8 27. Rb1 Qa8 28. Qb3 Ng8
29. Bg3 Ngf6 30. Rd1 Ng4 31. Rh1 Ndf6 32. Kg1 Ne4 33. Bh4 Kh8 34. Rh3 f4 35.
Ne1 fxe3 36. f3 Ngf2 37. fxe4 Nxh3+ 38. gxh3 Bxe4 39. d5 exd5 40. cxd5 Qc8 41.
Qa4 Re5 42. Bg4 Qf8 43. Nc2 Rf4 44. Bg3 Rxg4 45. hxg4 Qf3 0-1

[Event "Dornbirn op"]
[Site "Dornbirn"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Novkovic, Milan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2380"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Rb1
Qe8 9. d5 Na6 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. b4 Bd7 12. a3 c5 13. b5 Nc7 14. e4 Nxe4 15.
Nxe4 fxe4 16. Ng5 d5 17. cxd5 Nxb5 18. Bb2 Nd4 19. Nxe4 Bf5 20. Nxc5 Rb8 21.
Nd3 Qb5 22. Bxd4 Qxb1 23. Qxb1 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Bxd4 25. Rb4 Bb6 26. Be4 Bxe4 27.
Rxe4 Rf3 28. Nb4 Rxf2 29. Kh1 Bc5 30. Nd3 Rf1+ 31. Kg2 Rg1+ 32. Kf3 Bxa3 33.
Ra4 Bd6 34. Rxa7 Rd1 35. Ke3 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dornbirn op"]
[Site "Dornbirn"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Donev, Ivo Hristov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 d6 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Be3 Be6 10. Bxc5 Bxc4 11. Qxd8 Rfxd8 12. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 13. Rxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dornbirn op"]
[Site "Dornbirn"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mayer, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nd2 Qa5 5. Qc2 bxc4 6. e4 g6 7. Bxc4 d6 8. Ne2
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Qc7 12. h3 Nb6 13. a4 a5 14. Rd1 Ba6 15.
Nb5 Qd8 16. Ra3 c4 17. Nf3 Bxb5 18. axb5 Nfd7 19. Be3 Nc5 20. Nd4 Bxd4 21. Bxd4
Qd7 22. Bxc4 Nxc4 23. Qxc4 Rfb8 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Qxc5 Rxb5 26. Qd4 Rab8 27.
Rd2 Rb4 28. Qe5 a4 29. Re3 Qc8 30. Rc3 Qb7 31. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Liss, Eran"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 a5 7. a4 Be7 8. Bb5
Ncb8 9. h4 f6 10. exf6 Bxf6 11. Ng5 Qe7 12. f4 h6 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14. Bd3 b6 15.
Bg6 Nc6 16. c3 e5 17. O-O exd4 18. Nh7+ Rxh7 19. Bxh7 Qd6 20. Re1 Ba6 21. Bf5
Nc5 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Bd7 Ne7 24. Be6 g6 25. Qxh6+ Bg7 26. Qh7 dxc3+ 27. Be3 d4
28. f5 Nxf5 29. Qg8+ Ke7 30. Qf7+ Kd6 31. Qd7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Parker, Jonathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2325"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nc3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Na6 11. Nb5 Nc5 12. Qd4 d6 13. Rd1 e5 14. Qd2 Qa5
15. Ba3 Be6 16. Bb4 Qb6 17. Qe3 Rac8 18. Bd5 Rfd8 19. Rab1 Qa6 20. Rb2 h6 21.
Rbd2 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Qxa2 23. Nxd6 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Qxc4 26. Qxe5 Ne6
27. Rd7 Qc6 28. Rd6 Qe8 29. h4 b6 30. c4 Nf8 31. Qd4 f6 32. e3 Ng6 33. f4 Nf8
34. Bc3 Qf7 35. Rd5 Qg6 36. Kh2 Qc2+ 37. Kh3 Ne6 38. Qd2 Qe4 39. f5 Rxc4 40.
Rd6 Qe5 41. Kh2 Nc5 42. Rd8+ Kh7 43. Rd4 Ne4 44. Qc2 Rxc3 45. Qxe4 Qxe4 46.
Rxe4 a5 0-1

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, Sofia"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2410"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 f6 5. exf6 Nxf6 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 cxd6 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Bg2 d4 11. Ne4 O-O 12. Ne2 Bf5 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. O-O
Nb4 15. Rc1 Rad8 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. f3 Bg6 18. Rcd1 Qe6 19. Nc1 Ne7 20. c3 Nf5 21.
cxd4 exd4 22. Bh3 Qd5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. Ne2 Rxf3 25. Rxf3 Qxf3 26. Nxd4 Qe4 27.
Qc3 Bf7 28. Rd3 Bd5 29. Nf3 Rf8 30. Qd4 Bc6 31. Re3 Qb1+ 32. Ne1 Qf5 33. Qc4+
Kh8 34. Qf4 Qxf4 35. gxf4 Rxf4 36. Nd3 Rg4+ 37. Kf1 g6 38. Ne5 Rf4+ 39. Kg1 Be4
40. Rc3 Kg7 41. h3 Kf6 42. Ng4+ Kg5 43. Nf2 Bc6 44. a3 h5 45. Re3 Kh4 46. Nd3
Rf5 47. Ne5 Rg5+ 48. Kf1 Rg3 49. Re1 Kxh3 50. Nxc6 bxc6 51. Re6 g5 52. Rxc6 g4
53. a4 h4 54. b4 Rb3 55. b5 g3 0-1

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Desbonnes, Samy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Bg5 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Qc8 11. Bf3 a5 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb4 14. c3 Na6
15. a4 Nc5 16. Re1 Re8 17. Kh1 h6 18. Bh4 Kh7 19. Nd4 Na6 20. Qb3 Nc5 21. Qc2
e5 22. dxe6 Nxe6 23. Nb5 Nxf4 24. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qd7 26. Rd1 Qe6 27. Nxb7
N4d5 28. Qd2 Ne3 29. Re1 Nc4 30. Qf4 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qg3 Bd7 12. Nf3 b5 13. e5 Ne8 14. Rad1 f5 15.
exf6 Nxf6 16. Ng5 d5 17. Qh3 h6 18. Nxe6 Qc8 19. f5 Bxe6 20. fxe6 d4 21. Bxh6
dxc3 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rf5 Nh7 24. Rh5 Ng5 25. Qxc3+ Kg6 26. Rd7 Rf5 27. g4 Nd4
28. Qxd4 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nutiu, Horia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O a6 8. f4
Nc6 9. Kh1 O-O 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 Ne8 12. Bd3 Qc7 13. Qe1 c5 14. f5 exf5 15.
Nd5 Qb7 16. exd6 Bxd6 17. Ne3 g6 18. Nc4 Be7 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Qc3 f6 21. Rae1
Ra7 22. Re2 Qc7 23. Bf4 Qd8 24. Na5 Qd7 25. Bc4+ Kh8 26. Rd2 Qa4 27. b3 Qe8 28.
Re1 g5 29. Bb8 Rd7 30. Rde2 f4 31. Nc6 Bb7 32. Nxe7 Qxb8 33. Ng6+ hxg6 34. Qh3+
Nh5 35. Qxd7 f3 36. Re8 f2 37. Rxf8+ 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Paduch, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 7. f4 c5 8. d5 Qa5
9. Qd2 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Nf3 Nb4 12. O-O Nc6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Nd4 15.
Rad1 a6 16. Bd3 Nd7 17. Be7 Re8 18. Bd6 Nf6 19. Ne4 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Nxe4 21. Bxe4
Bf8 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. b4 Nf5 24. bxc5 1-0

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Nh3 c5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Be7 Rfe8
15. Bd6 Nd5 16. Kd2 cxd4 17. exd4 Red8 18. Bc4 Nb8 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxb8 Raxb8
21. Ke3 Rd7 22. Rac1 Rbd8 23. Nf2 f6 24. Rc3 Bb7 25. Rc4 Re8 26. Nd3 e5 27.
dxe5 Ba6 28. Rc3 Bxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxe5+ 30. Kd2 Rde7 31. Kc3 Re2 32. Rd2 Rc7+ 33.
Kd3 Re6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Votava, Jan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Qa5+ 6. c3 b4 7. Qc2 bxc3 8.
Nxc3 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 10. bxc3 Ba6 11. e4 d6 12. Kd2 e5 13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14.
Rab1 c4 15. Kc2 Nc5 16. Nd2 Be7 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Rb4 g6 19. Rxc4 f5 20. Rb1
Rac8 21. f3 h5 22. Rbb4 a5 23. Rb1 a4 24. Re1 f4 25. Rb4 g5 26. Nc4 g4 27. Nb2
Rhg8 28. Re2 gxf3 29. gxf3 Rg1 30. Nxa4 Ra8 31. Nxc5 Rxa2+ 32. Kd3 Rd1+ 33. Kc4
Rxe2 34. Rb7+ Ke8 35. Rb8+ Kf7 36. Rb7+ Ke8 37. Rb8+ Kf7 38. Rb7+ Kg6 39. Rb6
Re3 40. Rxd6+ Kg5 41. Re6 Rxf3 42. d6 Re3 43. Rxe5+ Kg4 44. d7 f3 45. h3+ Kg3
46. Rd5 Rxd5 47. Kxd5 Re1 48. Ne6 f2 49. d8=Q Rd1+ 50. Nd4 f1=Q 51. Qg5+ Kh2
52. h4 Qb5+ 53. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U16"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zoler, Dan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2275"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. g3 e5 5. e3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. b3 c6 10. Qc2 Qa5 11. Bb2 Nf8 12. a3 h5 13. b4 Qc7 14. Rfe1 N8h7 15.
Rad1 Ng5 16. f3 Nh3+ 17. Kf1 h4 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Ng1 Nxg1 20. Kxg1 Bf5 21. e4
Be6 22. c5 Nh5 23. Qf2 hxg3 24. hxg3 Bb3 25. Rd3 Rad8 26. Nb5 cxb5 27. Rxb3 Bh6
28. Bc3 Qd7 29. Bf1 a6 30. Rbb1 Bd2 31. Red1 Bxc3 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Qc2 Bd4+
34. Kg2 Be3 35. Rd1 Red8 36. Rxd7 Rxd7 37. Qc3 Bd4 38. c6 Rd8 39. Qc2 bxc6 40.
Qxc6 Be3 41. Qc3 Bd4 42. Qc7 Re8 43. Bd3 Ra8 44. Bb1 Ra7 45. Qd8+ Kg7 46. f4
Nf6 47. Kf3 Nd7 48. Ba2 Bb2 49. Qe7 1-0

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gabriel, Christian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bb4 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. h3 e5 11. Bb3 Bc7 (11... Qe7 12. Nh4) (11... b5 $6 12. Ne4
Nxe4 13. Qxc6 $16) 12. Bd2 exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. Rfe1 Qd6 15. Rac1 Nfd5 (15...
Bd7 16. Nb5 cxb5 17. Qxc7 Qxc7 18. Rxc7 Bc6 19. Bb4 $16) 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Re5
$1 Ne7 (17... Be6 18. Ng5 g6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 $16) 18. Ng5 Ng6 19. Rce1 Bd7 (19...
Qxd4 20. Nxf7 $1 Bxe5 (20... Rxf7 21. Re8+ Nf8 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. R1e7+ Kg8 24.
Bc3 $18) 21. Nxe5+ Kh8 22. Bc3 Qd6 23. Nxg6+ hxg6 24. Qe4 Rf4 25. Qe8+ Rf8 26.
Qe7 Qxe7 27. Rxe7 $18) (19... h6 20. Nxf7 Rxf7 21. Re8+ Nf8 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Qf5+ $18) 20. h4 $1 Qxd4 (20... h6 21. h5 $18) 21. h5 $1 {
Ftacnik,L} (21. h5 $1 Bxe5 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Qxg6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Schlosser, Philipp"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. Bxd4 Nb4 12. Rc1 c5 13. Be3 Nd7 14. Be2 Bxf3 15.
Bxf3 Be5 16. Be2 Nc6 17. Rc2 Nf6 18. Bf1 a6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Paehtz, Thomas Sr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 c4 6. b3 cxb3 7. axb3 Nc6 8.
Be2 Bb4 9. O-O Nge7 10. Ra4 a5 11. Bb2 Bf5 12. c3 Bd6 13. Re1 O-O 14. Nf1 Qb8
15. Ne3 b5 16. Ra2 Be4 17. g3 f5 18. Ng5 f4 19. Ng2 fxg3 20. fxg3 Bf5 21. Bf3
Rf6 22. Bg4 Bxg3 23. hxg3 Qxg3 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Bc1 Raf8 26. Qd2 h6 27. Ne6
R8f6 28. Qe2 Ng6 29. Qxb5 Nh4 30. Re3 Nf3+ 31. Rxf3 Qxf3 32. Ngf4 Rxe6 33. Nxe6
Qg3+ 0-1

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wirthensohn, Heinz"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 c6 8. Nbd2
Qe8 9. c4 Na6 10. Qc2 Rb8 11. a3 b5 12. b4 Nc7 13. Rac1 bxc4 14. Nxc4 Bh6 15.
e3 Ncd5 16. Nfd2 Bd7 17. Rce1 g5 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qg6 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21.
Qxg6+ hxg6 22. Na5 Kf8 23. Bc1 Rf7 24. Bd2 Bg7 25. Rc1 Rb6 $2 {25. - Bxd4!} 26.
Nxc6 $1 Bxc6 $2 {26. - Rxc6} 27. Bxd5 $1 $18 1-0

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Luther, Thomas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
Nh3 h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. e3 g5 12. Bg3 Ne4 13. Qc2 Qa5+ 14. Ke2 f5
15. f3 Nxg3+ 16. hxg3 Nc6 17. Nf2 Ne5 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Rf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Smejkal, Jan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Qe8 8. c4
Na6 9. Nbd2 c6 10. Qc2 h6 11. a3 g5 12. e3 Qh5 13. Rfe1 Rf7 14. Nf1 Bd7 15. Re2
Raf8 16. Rae1 Ne4 17. N3d2 Nxd2 18. Nxd2 e5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. b4 b6 21. Nf3 Re8
22. Rd2 Nb8 23. Red1 e4 24. Ne1 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 Be6 26. Rd8 Rff8 27. Rxe8 Qxe8
28. Rd6 Qf7 29. c5 bxc5 30. bxc5 Nd7 31. Bf1 Bd5 32. Rxh6 Qg7 33. Qxg7+ Kxg7
34. Rd6 Nxc5 35. Nc2 Rf7 36. Rd8 Ne6 37. Rc8 c5 38. Bb5 Rb7 39. a4 a6 40. Bxa6
Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Bb3 42. Na3 Ra1 43. Nc4 Bd1 44. Nd2 g4 45. h4 gxh3+ 46. Kxh3 Bg4+
47. Kg2 Rd1 48. Nf1 Ng5 49. Rxc5 Rd6 50. Rc7+ Kf8 51. Bb5 Rh6 52. Nh2 Nf3 53.
Nxg4 fxg4 54. Rc8+ {54. - Ke7!? 55.Re8+ Kd6 56.Rxe4 Rh2+ 57.Kf1 Nd2+ 58.Kg1=,
or 55.Rc7+ = (55. - Kd8? 56.Rd7+ Kc8 57.Rd1).} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rajkovic, Dusan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Rf2 Bb7 14. a3 g6 15.
f5 e5 16. Be3 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. f6 Bd6 20. Rd1 Be6 21. Bg4
Rfe8 22. Rfd2 Bc5 23. h3 Rab8 24. b4 Bf8 25. Qh4 e4 26. Kh1 Qc3 27. Bd4 Qxa3
28. Bc5 Bxc5 29. bxc5 Qxc5 30. Rd6 Qe5 31. Bxe6 Rxe6 32. Rd8+ Re8 33. R8d5 Qc3
34. Rd6 h5 35. Qf4 Kh7 36. Rd7 Rf8 37. Rc7 Qb2 38. Rdd7 Qa2 39. c4 Kg8 40. Qg5
Rfd8 41. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hickl, Joerg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Ne8 8. Nge2
Bd7 $5 {Unusal and interesting. Black prepares b5 but weakens e5 (not Nd7!).}
9. O-O Nc7 10. a4 {This is a standard move as a Black knight on b4 is slightly
out of play and rather harmless.} Nba6 11. h3 Nb4 12. Kh2 Rb8 13. f4 Bf6 14.
Ng1 a6 15. a5 b5 16. axb6 Na8 17. Nf3 Nxb6 18. Qe2 {18.fxe5!?} Qe8 19. f5 Bd8
20. g4 f6 21. h4 a5 22. Rg1 a4 23. Bf1 Bc8 24. Qd1 Ra8 25. Be3 Kh8 26. Be2 g6
27. Nb5 Qd7 28. Qd2 Ba6 29. Na3 Be7 30. Rg3 gxf5 31. gxf5 Rg8 32. Rag1 Rxg3 33.
Rxg3 Rg8 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Ng1 Bf8 36. Nh3 Qg7 37. Nf2 Kf7 38. Nd1 Ke8 39. Nc3
Kd8 40. Qd1 Qd7 41. h5 Kc8 42. h6 Kb7 43. Kh3 Kc8 44. Kh4 Kd8 45. Qg1 Qf7 46.
Bd2 Kc8 47. Qg2 Kb7 48. Ncb5 Bxb5 49. cxb5 Ka7 50. Bh5 $14 1/2-1/2

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Stangl, Markus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d6 3. d4 Nbd7 4. Bg2 e5 5. c4 c6 6. O-O Be7 7. Nc3 e4 8. Nh4
Nb6 9. b3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. f3 exf3 12. exf3 g6 13. Bg5 d5 14. c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mohr, Stefan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qd2 b6 13. f4 Bg7 14. c4 e5 15.
O-O exf4 16. Bb2 $6 (16. Qxf4 Qe7) 16... g5 $5 17. Bxg7 (17. e5 $2 Re8 $17)
17... Kxg7 18. a4 (18. e5 f6 19. Qc3 (19. e6 $2 Bxe6) 19... fxe5 20. Qxe5+ Qf6
$17) 18... Qd6 19. a5 (19. g3 Bh3 20. Rf2 fxg3 21. Qxg5+ Kh8 22. hxg3 Rg8 $17)
19... f6 20. Rb3 Rb8 21. Rfb1 Re8 22. Bd3 Re7 23. axb6 axb6 24. Qb2 Reb7 25. h3
(25. Re1 Qe5 $17) 25... Bd7 26. Qf2 Qe5 27. Kh1 Ba4 28. R3b2 Be8 29. Rb3 Bg6
30. Qe2 Qd4 31. Bc2 Be8 32. Bd3 Bd7 33. Qh5 Be8 34. Qe2 Bd7 35. Qh5 Qe5 36. Bc2
$2 Ba4 {Ftacnik,L} 0-1

[Event "Altensteig"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "1990.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 b6 4. Qb3 c5 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. a3 Ba5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8.
g3 Nc6 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Rb8 11. Qc2 d6 12. e3 Ne8 13. Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grivas, Efstratios"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Ne7 8.
d3 Ng6 9. Be3 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. g3 Qd7 13. Bc5 Rfe8 14. Qg4
Qxg4 15. hxg4 h6 16. f4 Nf8 17. Kg2 b6 18. Be3 c5 19. Kf3 f6 20. a4 a5 21. d4
cxd4 22. cxd4 exd4 23. Bxd4 Rad8 24. Rfd1 Rd7 25. Rd3 Red8 26. Rad1 Kf7 27. Be3
Ke7 28. Ke2 Ne6 29. c3 Nf8 30. Bc1 Rxd3 31. Rxd3 Rxd3 32. Kxd3 Nd7 33. Kd4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pandavos, Emanouel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C09"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Nge7 9. O-O O-O 10. N2f3 Bg4 11. Qa4 Bd7 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Be2 a6 14. Qd1
Rfe8 15. Re1 Ng6 16. Nb3 Nce5 17. h3 h6 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Be3 Nh4 20. Qd2 Rae8
21. Nd4 Rxe3 22. fxe3 Bh2+ 23. Kh1 Nxg2 24. Bg4 Nxe1 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Kxh2
Qd6+ 27. Kh1 Qg3 28. Rxe1 Re5 29. Re2 g6 30. h4 Qxh4+ 31. Kg1 h5 32. Rg2 Qh3
33. Nc2 Qf3 34. Qf2 Qd1+ 35. Qf1 Qxf1+ 36. Kxf1 Kh7 37. Kf2 g5 38. Nd4 Kg6 39.
a4 h4 40. Nf3 Rf5 41. Ke2 Kh5 42. Nd4 Re5 43. Nf3 Rf5 44. Nd4 Re5 45. Nf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gavrilakis, Nikolaos"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. O-O Qe7 13. Re1 Rd8 14. e4 cxd4
15. Nb5 dxe4 16. Rc7 Qf8 17. Rxb7 exd3 18. Nc7 Nc6 19. Nxa8 Rxa8 20. Qxd3 Qc8
0-1

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 b5 8. g5
Nfd7 9. a3 Bb7 10. h4 Nb6 11. h5 N8d7 12. Rh3 Be7 13. g6 Bf6 14. Qg4 Qe7 15. f4
Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. O-O-O Rc8 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. e5 dxe5 20. Nxe6 Bc6 21. f5
e4 22. Bd4 Rhg8 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 c3 25. b4 1-0

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Skalkotas, Nikolaos"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2310"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nb3 Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 e5 11. h3 O-O 12. c3 Be6 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. cxd4 Rad8
15. Bg5 e4 16. Nh2 Rd5 17. Be3 Rfd8 18. Nf1 h5 19. Nfd2 a5 20. a4 Bb4 21. Nc4
Rf5 22. Qc2 Bf8 23. Nc5 Qc8 24. Nxe4 Nb4 25. Nxf6+ Rxf6 26. Qb3 Qf5 27. Rac1
Bd6 28. Ne5 Re8 29. Nf3 Nd5 30. Qd3 Qd7 31. Bg5 Rfe6 32. b3 f6 33. Bd2 Ba3 34.
Rc4 Re4 35. Re1 Rxe1+ 36. Nxe1 Bb4 37. Nf3 Bxd2 38. Qxd2 b6 39. Qc2 Qf7 40. Rc8
Qd7 41. Rxe8+ Qxe8 42. Qf5 Qf7 43. Nd2 g6 44. Qc8+ Kg7 45. Qc6 h4 46. Nc4 Nf4
47. Qe4 g5 48. Ne3 Qxb3 49. Nf5+ Kf7 50. Nd6+ Kg7 51. Qe7+ Kg6 52. Qe8+ Kg7 53.
Nf5+ Kh7 54. Qd7+ Kg6 55. Nxh4+ gxh4 56. Qg4+ Kf7 57. Qxf4 Qxa4 58. Qc7+ Kg6
59. Qxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Skembris, Spyridon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nbd2 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. e4 e6 6. Qe2 c6 7. c3 Be7 8. g3 d5
9. Bg2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Nd7 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Qb6 14. Nh4 Rfe8 15.
b3 Rad8 16. Bb2 Nf6 17. Qc2 c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Rf1 Qc7 20. Kh1 Rd7 21. c4
Red8 22. Bc3 Bd4 23. Rac1 b6 24. Qb2 a5 25. Rfe1 Qc5 26. Rc2 Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Rd3
28. Qb2 Qb4 29. Re5 Bd1 30. Rc1 a4 31. c5 a3 32. Qb1 bxc5 33. Rexc5 Qd2 34. Kh2
h6 35. Rc8 g5 36. Qa1 Kg7 37. Rxd8 Rxd8 38. Nf3 Bxf3 39. Bxf3 Qxf2+ 40. Bg2 Rd2
41. Rg1 Rxa2 42. Qe5 Re2 43. Qa1 a2 44. b4 e5 45. Qf1 Qxf1 46. Rxf1 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Markovic, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Nh3 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. Bf4 c6 8. f3 O-O
9. e4 c5 10. exf5 exf5 11. Re1 Nc6 12. Nb5 Ne8 13. dxc5 Bxc5+ 14. Kh1 a6 15.
Rxe8 Rxe8 16. Nc7 Be6 17. Ng5 Nd4 18. Nxa8 h6 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. Be5 d4 21. Qd3
Qxa8 22. Qxf5 1-0

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tsorbatzoglou, Theodoros"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A02"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 c5 2. f4 d6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Qe1 Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. c3
Ne8 9. Na3 Nc7 10. Rb1 Be6 11. b3 Rb8 12. Nc2 Qc8 13. e4 Bh3 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15.
f5 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 b6 18. Qe2 Bh6 19. a4 Rbd8 20. b4 cxb4 21. Nxb4
Rd6 22. d4 exd4 23. cxd4 gxf5 24. Rxf5 Rg6 25. Rf3 Qd7 26. d5 Bg7 27. Bf4 Ne8
28. Nc6 e6 29. Rd1 exd5 30. exd5 Rxc6 31. dxc6 Qxc6 32. Bg5 Nc7 33. Rdf1 Ne6
34. Bf6 Nd4 35. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 36. Kg2 a5 37. Qa2 Kg7 38. Qd2 Qc5 39. Rf5 Qc6+ 40.
R1f3 Bc5 41. h4 f6 42. h5 Bd6 43. h6+ Kh8 44. Qd4 Be7 45. Kh3 Qe6 46. g4 Rd8
47. Qe3 Qxe3 48. Rxe3 Bc5 49. Re6 Bd4 50. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Moldovan, Daniel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
Bd3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bd7 10. h4 O-O-O 11. Qe2 f6 12. Rb1 Na5 13. O-O c5 14. Bb5 c4
15. Rfe1 f5 16. a4 Nc6 17. Qd2 h6 18. g3 Be8 19. Kg2 Rf8 20. Rh1 Bh5 21. Bxc6
bxc6 22. Rb4 a5 23. Rb6 Kc7 24. Rhb1 Rb8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Rxb8 Bxf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Markovic, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Be3 c4 6. b3 cxb3 7. axb3 Bd6 8. Bd3
Nf6 9. h3 O-O 10. Qf3 Nc6 11. Ne2 h6 12. Nd2 Re8 13. O-O Nh7 14. Bf4 Ng5 15.
Qg3 Be7 16. Nf3 Bf6 17. Nxg5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tsorbatzoglou, Theodoros"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2210"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e4 O-O 7. Bd3 Nfd7 8. Nge2
exd5 9. cxd5 Ne5 10. Bc2 Qh4+ 11. Ng3 c4 12. Be3 Na6 13. Qd2 h6 14. O-O Bc5 15.
Nb5 Qd8 16. Nd4 Nb4 17. a3 Nxc2 18. Nxc2 Bb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6+ 20. Qd4 Nd3 21.
Qxb6 axb6 22. Rab1 Bd7 23. Ne3 b5 24. Ne2 f5 25. Nc3 g6 26. exf5 gxf5 27. f4
Kf7 28. Nc2 Rfc8 29. Nb4 Nc5 30. Rfe1 Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad U20"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Moldovan, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1990.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Be2 e6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Nd2 Na6
9. O-O Nc7 10. a4 Re8 11. Kh1 Rb8 12. f3 a6 13. a5 exd5 14. cxd5 Bd7 15. Nc4
Bb5 16. Na4 Bxc4 17. Bxc4 Nb5 18. Bd2 Nd7 19. Rc1 b6 20. axb6 Nxb6 21. Ba5 Nxa4
22. Bxd8 Nxb2 23. Qd2 Rexd8 24. Qa5 Nd4 25. f4 Re8 26. Qxa6 Rb4 27. e5 dxe5 28.
fxe5 Bxe5 29. Qa7 Nf5 30. Qxc5 Bd6 31. Qc6 Rd8 32. Rfe1 Bf4 33. Qf6 Rbb8 34.
Rc2 Nxc4 35. Rxc4 Bd2 36. Rc7 Rf8 37. Rf1 Bh6 38. g3 Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dochev, Dimitar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2290"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 a6 8. a4 e6 9.
Bd3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nh5 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Be3 Re8 14. a5 Rb8 15. Qc2
Ne5 16. Be2 Ng7 17. Nd2 g5 18. Na4 g4 19. hxg4 Bxg4 20. Qd1 Bxe2 21. Qxe2 Qd7
22. Bf4 Rbd8 23. Nb6 Qe7 24. Rab1 Ng6 25. Be3 Be5 26. f4 Bd4 27. Bxd4 cxd4 28.
f5 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pantev, Veselin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2265"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Qc2 c6 10. b3 e4 11. Ng5 Qe7 12. a4 Re8 13. Ba3 Nc5 14. b4 h6 15. Nh3
Na6 16. c5 Bf5 17. e3 g5 18. Kh1 Nc7 19. Rac1 Nfd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Ng1 h5 22.
Qb3 h4 23. Rfe1 hxg3 24. fxg3 Kh7 25. Bb2 Bxb2 26. Qxb2 Qe5 27. Qe2 Kg7 28. Rc4
Rh8 29. Qf2 Nf6 30. h4 Ng4 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kurtenkov, Atanas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 d5 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8.
Bxd2 Ne4 9. Qc2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Qd6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Be2 Bg4 13. O-O a5 14. Rac1
Ne7 15. Rc3 c6 16. Rfc1 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 f5 18. Rc5 b6 19. R5c3 Kh8 20. Qc2 Rf6
21. Be2 a4 22. Bd3 b5 23. f4 g6 24. h3 Re6 25. Qf2 Qd8 26. Qf3 Qf8 27. R3c2 Re8
28. Bf1 Qf6 29. Rc3 Rb8 30. R1c2 Nc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grigorov, Jordan N"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. g3 Bg4 7. f3 Bd7 8.
Be3 a6 9. g4 e6 10. g5 Nh5 11. f4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 h6 13. h4 Ng3 14. Rg1 Nxf1 15.
Rxf1 hxg5 16. hxg5 Qa5 17. O-O-O Rh4 18. Rh1 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 O-O-O 20. a4 Qc7 21.
Rh8 Qc5 22. Rh7 Re8 23. e5 Bc6 24. exd6 Qxd4 25. Bxd4 Bxd6 26. Be5 Bxe5 27.
fxe5 Rg8 28. b4 Kd8 29. b5 axb5 30. axb5 Bd7 31. Kb2 Ke7 32. Kb3 Rc8 33. Kb4 b6
34. Rxg7 Rc5 35. g6 Be8 36. gxf7 Bxf7 37. Na4 Rxc2 38. Nxb6 Ke8 39. Nc4 Bh5 40.
b6 Be2 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Atanasov, Petko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2360"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c4 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 e5 8. Rd1
exd4 9. Nxd4 a6 10. e4 Re8 11. h3 Nc5 12. Nc3 Bd7 13. Rb1 Qc8 14. b4 Ne6 15.
Nde2 h6 16. f4 c5 17. Be3 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qxc4 20. Qb2 Bc6 21. Rbc1
Qe6 22. a4 Kh7 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxg7 Nxc3 27. Qxc3
Ra2 28. Ra1 Re2 29. Bd4 Qxh3 30. Qf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Chatalbashev, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. cxd5 Bxb1 4. Qa4+ c6 5. Rxb1 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. a3 Ngf6
8. e3 e6 9. Qc2 Bd6 10. Bd3 Qh5 11. O-O g5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. f4
gxf4 15. exf4 Ng4 16. h3 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 Qh4 18. Be2 Nf2+ 19. Kh2 Rg8 20. Qb3
O-O-O 21. Qf3 e5 22. Be3 Ng4+ 23. Qxg4+ Rxg4 24. Bxg4+ Kb8 25. Rbe1 e4 26. Bxd4
Rxd4 27. Re2 Qf6 28. g3 Qg6 29. f5 Qd6 30. Rf4 Qe5 31. Kg2 c5 32. Bh5 f6 33.
Bf7 e3 34. Kf3 Rd1 35. Rxe3 Rf1+ 36. Ke2 Re1+ 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Petrov, Marian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2265"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 c4 7. Be2 Na5 8. Nbd2 Qc7
9. O-O O-O-O 10. Rb1 f6 11. Re1 Ne7 12. g3 h6 13. Qc2 f5 14. h4 Rg8 15. Bd1 g5
16. hxg5 hxg5 17. Nf1 f4 18. Qh7 Rg7 19. Qh5 Be8 20. Qg4 Bg6 21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22.
Ra1 Bf5 23. Qh6 Rg6 24. Qh5 Bg7 25. Nxg5 Rh8 26. Qf3 Rxg5 27. Bxf4 Bg4 28. Qg2
Bh3 29. Qf3 Rf5 30. Ne3 Qb6 31. Nxf5 Bxf5 32. Qe2 Qg6 33. Qf1 Bh3 34. Qe2 Qh7
35. f3 Bf1 36. Rxf1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Rh2+ 38. Ke1 Rxe2+ 39. Bxe2 Qh7 40. Rf2 Ng6
41. Be3 Nb3 42. Rd1 Qh3 43. g4 Kc7 44. Rb1 Bh6 45. g5 Bxg5 46. Bxg5 Qf5 47. Rd1
Qxg5 48. Bf1 Nf4 49. Rh2 Qg3+ 50. Rf2 Qg1 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Genov, Petar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 c6 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bg2
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. e4 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qxe5
15. exd5 cxd5 16. Rfe1 Qf5 17. Rad1 Bc6 18. Qd4 Na6 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qxd5
21. Rxd5 Rad8 22. Re7 Nb4 23. Rdd7 Nxa2 24. Rxf7 Rxd7 25. Rxd7 Nb4 26. Rxa7 Nd3
27. Bd5+ Kh8 28. b3 Nxf2 29. Rb7 Ng4 30. Rxb6 Ne5 31. Bc4 Nxc4 32. bxc4 Rf3 33.
Re6 Rc3 34. Re4 Rc2 35. h4 g6 36. Kf1 Kg7 37. Ke1 Kf6 38. Kd1 Rg2 39. Re3 Ra2
40. c5 Ra6 41. Rb3 Ra5 42. Rc3 Ke7 43. Ke2 Ra4 44. Kf3 h5 45. Re3+ Kf6 46. Rc3
Ke7 47. Rd3 Rc4 48. Rd5 Rc3+ 49. Kf2 Rc2+ 50. Ke1 Ke6 51. Rg5 Kf6 52. Kd1 Ra2
53. c6 Ra8 54. Kd2 Rc8 55. Rc5 Ke7 56. Ke3 Kd6 57. Rc3 Kc7 58. Kf4 Re8 59. Re3
Rd8 60. Kg5 Rd6 61. Rc3 Re6 62. Kh6 Rf6 63. Rc5 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch 22nd"]
[Site "Pazardzik"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Janev, Evgeni"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
Qc7 9. Be3 O-O 10. g4 Nc6 11. g5 Nd7 12. f4 Re8 13. Qe2 Bf8 14. Rad1 Rb8 15. a4
Nb4 16. Rf3 g6 17. Qf2 Bg7 18. f5 Ne5 19. Rh3 Qd8 20. f6 Bf8 21. Qh4 h6 22.
gxh6 Kh7 23. Bf4 Qb6 24. Kh1 Nbc6 25. Bxe5 Nxe5 26. b3 Qc5 27. Nce2 b5 28. axb5
axb5 29. Ng1 Rb7 30. Rg3 d5 31. Nh3 dxe4 32. Ng5+ Kh8 33. Nxe4 Qc7 34. Qg5 Rd8
35. h4 b4 36. h5 Rd5 37. c4 bxc3 38. Nxc3 Ra5 39. Ne4 Rb4 40. Rc1 Qd8 41. Nc6
Nxc6 42. hxg6 Rxg5 43. g7+ Bxg7 44. fxg7+ Rxg7 45. hxg7+ Kg8 46. Kg1 Rxe4 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Christensen, Tobias"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd6 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Bf5 9. Nh4 Be6 10. Bf4 a6 11. Be2 f6 12. O-O-O Na7 13. Rhe1 Bb4 14. a3 Ba5
15. Qe3 Bf7 16. Qg3 Ng6 17. Bd2 Nxh4 18. Qxh4 Bg6 19. Bh5 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Qd7 21.
Bg4 Qc6 22. f4 Rfe8 23. Qh3 Qa4 24. Be6+ Rxe6 25. Qxe6+ Bf7 26. Qh3 Nc6 27. f5
a5 28. Qg3 Rc8 29. Rd3 b5 30. Qg4 h5 31. Qf3 b4 32. axb4 Nxb4 33. Bxb4 axb4 34.
Re7 Qa1+ 35. Kd2 Qxb2 36. Qe3 Rf8 37. Rb3 Qa1 38. Rxb4 Qf1 39. Qf3 Qg1 40. Rxf7
Re8 41. Re7 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2360"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c4 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 e5 8. Rd1
Re8 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 c6 11. h3 Qc7 12. c5 Bf8 13. Be3 b6 14. b4 bxc5 15.
bxc5 Qa5 16. Rc1 Ba6 17. Nbd2 Rab8 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Nfd2 Rb4 20. Bf1 Bxf1 21.
Kxf1 Reb8 22. Kg2 Ne8 23. Nc4 R4b5 24. Rab1 Ng7 25. Nb2 Ne6 26. Nd3 Be7 27. Rf1
Qd8 28. Rfd1 Qf8 29. a4 R5b7 30. Na5 Rxb1 31. Rxb1 Rxb1 32. Qxb1 Bxc5 33. Nxc5
Nexc5 34. Qb4 Ne6 35. Qb7 Ndc5 36. Qxc6 Nd3 37. Nb3 Qb4 38. Bh6 Qb8 39. Nd2 Nd4
40. Qa6 Nc5 41. Qf6 Nde6 42. Nf3 Nxe4 43. Qe7 N4c5 44. Nxe5 Qb7+ 45. Qxb7 Nxb7
46. Nc6 f5 47. Kf3 a5 48. Be3 Kf7 49. g4 Kf6 50. Bb6 Nbc5 51. Bxa5 Nxa4 52. Bb4
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Holst, Allan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 a5 4. g3 d6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bg2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Nxd4 9. Bxb4 axb4 10. Qxd4 Nf6 11. Nd2 O-O 12. Rfe1 Qe7 13. Nf1 c5 14. Qd2 Be6
15. Ne3 Ra6 16. a4 bxa3 17. Rxa3 Rb6 18. Qc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jepson, Christian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8.
Qxd2 f6 9. exf6 Qxf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bb5 Ne7 12. Ne5 c5 13. f4 a6 14. Bd7 Rd8
15. Bxc8 Raxc8 16. a3 Ba5 17. b4 cxd4 18. Na4 Bc7 19. Nc5 Nf5 20. Rae1 b6 21.
Nb3 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Qg6 23. Rf4 Rc4 24. g4 Rdc8 25. Rc1 h5 26. h3 Rc3 27. Nxd4
Nxd4 28. Qxd4 Rxh3 29. c4 Rg3+ 30. Kh1 hxg4 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Antonsen, Mikkel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2250"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. e5 Nfd7 7. c3 b6 8. Nf1
Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qc4 14. a3 Rc8
15. Qh5 g6 16. Qf3 O-O 17. Ne2 h6 18. Nh3 Qc2 19. b3 Nab8 20. Qe3 Kg7 21. O-O
Nc6 22. Rfc1 Qe4 23. Qxe4 dxe4 24. Nhf4 Na5 25. Rab1 Rfd8 26. Nc3 g5 27. Nh5+
Kg6 28. g4 Nb8 29. Nb5 Rxc1+ 30. Rxc1 Nxb3 31. Rc4 Nd2 32. Rc7 Nf3+ 33. Kg2
Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. Rc8 Nd7 36. Rg8+ Kh7 37. Rd8 e3 38. fxe3 Rxg4+ 39. Kf1
Kg6 40. Rxd7 Kxh5 41. Rxf7 Ra4 42. Rf6 Rxa3 43. Ke2 Ra2+ 44. Kd3 Rxh2 45. Rxe6
Rf2 46. Re8 Rf7 47. Rg8 a5 48. Ke4 Ra7 49. e6 a4 50. Rd8 Kg6 51. Rd7 Ra8 52.
Kd5 Re8 53. Kd6 g4 54. Re7 Ra8 55. Rd7 a3 56. e7 Re8 57. Ke6 b5 58. Rd8 Rxe7+
59. Kxe7 b4 60. Ke6 a2 61. Rg8+ Kh5 62. Ra8 b3 63. Kf5 0-1

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ciemniak, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2230"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. Bg5 d6 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8.
Bc4 Be7 9. Qh5 O-O 10. O-O f5 11. exf5 d5 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Rxd5 Qe1+ 14. Bf1 Qe4
15. Nc7 Rb8 16. g4 Nd4 17. Nd2 Qxc2 18. Rxd4 exd4 19. Nd5 Bd8 20. Nf3 f6 21.
Re1 Qc5 22. Nd2 b5 23. Bg2 Qd6 24. Ne4 Qd7 25. Nexf6+ Bxf6 26. Nxf6+ Rxf6 27.
Bd5+ Qxd5 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Qg5+ Rg6 30. f6+ Kf7 31. Re7+ Kf8 32. Qxd5 Rxg4+ 33.
Kf1 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fridman, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O Re8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 e5 12. Bg5 Nf6 13. Qh4 e4 14. Bxf6
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Gisbergen, Stan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe1 Nd7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 Bd6 10. Nc3 Qe7 11. Rd1 c5 12. Nd5 Qe6 13. Ne3 b5 14. d3 Bb7 15.
g3 a5 16. Ng5 Qg6 17. h4 a4 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 h6 20. f5 Qh5 21. Nh3 axb3 22.
axb3 Ra2 23. Rb1 c4 24. Nf4 Bxf4 25. Rxf4 cxd3 26. cxd3 Kh7 27. Qg3 f6 28. Rg4
Rf7 29. Kh1 Rxb2 30. Rg1 Kg8 31. Qxc7 Re2 32. Qd8+ Nf8 33. Qxf6 Qxg4 34. Nxg4
Rxf6 35. Nxf6+ Kf7 36. Nh5 Bc6 37. Rxg7+ Ke8 38. f6 Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U20"]
[Site "Aalborg"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zjukin, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Be2 f6 7. exf6 Qxf6 8.
Nf1 Bd6 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Qg6 11. c4 Nf6 12. g3 b6 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5
15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Bh3 17. Re1 Qf7 18. f4 Nxe5 19. Bb5 Ng6 20. g4 Rae8 21.
Bd2 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Qf6 23. f5 Ne5 24. Qg3 Nxg4 25. Bc3 Qg5 26. Re1 c5 27. f6
Qh5 28. fxg7 Rc8 29. Re7 Nh6 0-1

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gicev, Blagoja"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2315"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 d6 5. Qd2 Nbd7 6. Bh6 Bxh6 7. Qxh6 c5 8.
Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Ne5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 Bd7 13. f4 Nc6 14. Nb3 Qb4
15. Rc1 Be6 16. Nb5 Qxd2+ 17. Nxd2 Rac8 18. Kf2 a6 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. exd4 Rc7
21. a4 a5 22. b4 axb4 23. Rb1 Ra8 24. Rxb4 Bd7 25. Ra1 Bc6 26. Bf3 Ra7 27. Nb1
Bxf3 28. Kxf3 Ra6 29. Ra2 b6 30. Nc3 Kf8 31. Rab2 Nd7 32. g4 Rc8 33. Nb5 Ke8
34. h4 Kd8 35. f5 Rca8 36. Ra2 Nb8 37. fxg6 fxg6 38. c5 bxc5 39. dxc5 dxc5 40.
Re4 Nc6 41. Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kiroski, Toni"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 Nf6 7. Nc3 e6 8. b3
Be7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Be2 Rb8 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. O-O b5 13. cxb5 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 axb5
15. b4 Qb6 16. Qxb6 Rxb6 17. a4 bxa4 18. b5 d5 19. Rfd1 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxb5 21.
Bxb5 Rxb5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nc3 Rb3 24. Nxa4 Ra8 25. Ra2 f5 26. Kf1 Kf6 27. Ke2
h5 28. Rd3 Rxd3 29. Kxd3 e5 30. Nc3 Rxa2 31. Nxa2 Bc5 32. f3 e4+ 33. Kc3 Ke5
34. Nc1 Be3 35. Ne2 d4+ 36. Kc4 d3 37. Nc3 Bg1 38. h3 h4 39. fxe4 fxe4 40. Nd1
Bd4 0-1

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kocovski, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2325"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bd3 a6 8.
O-O Be7 9. a4 Qc7 10. f4 d6 11. a5 b5 12. axb6 Qxb6+ 13. Kh1 O-O 14. Qe2 Nb4
15. Na5 Nxd3 16. cxd3 Rb8 17. Be3 Qxb2 18. Nc6 Qxc3 19. Nxb8 Qc7 20. Nxa6 Qd7
21. Nb8 Qe8 22. Ra7 e5 23. Nc6 Qxc6 24. Rxe7 exf4 25. Rxf4 Be6 26. h3 Nd7 27.
d4 d5 28. e5 Qc3 29. Rh4 Rb8 30. Qf2 Qa3 31. Bg5 h6 32. Rf4 Rf8 33. Bf6 gxf6
34. exf6 Nxf6 35. Rxf6 Qxe7 36. Qg3+ Kh7 37. Qh4 Qxf6 38. Qxf6 Ra8 39. Qf2 Rg8
40. g4 Rg6 41. Qf4 Kg7 42. Kh2 Kh7 43. Qc7 Kg7 44. Qe7 Kh7 45. Kg3 Kg7 46. Kf4
Rg5 47. Ke3 Rg6 48. Qc7 Kh7 49. Qf4 Kg7 50. Kd2 Kh7 51. Kc3 Kg7 52. Kb4 Kh7 53.
Kc5 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rajkovic, Dusan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 a5 4. Nc3 f5 5. e4 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 fxe4 7. Qg4 Nf6 8.
Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 d5 10. f3 Nc6 11. O-O-O Rg6 12. Qe3 Nb4 13. Kb1 Qd7 14. b3 dxc4
15. fxe4 cxb3 16. axb3 Rg4 17. Qf3 Nxe4 18. Bxb4 axb4 19. Qxg4 Nc3+ 20. Kc2
Ra2+ 21. Kd3 Qb5+ 22. Ke3 Nxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Qg5+ 24. Kd3 Qb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piskov, Yury"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Qe8 8. Nbd2
h6 9. c4 g5 10. Qc2 Na6 11. d5 Qh5 12. e3 Bd7 13. Rae1 c6 14. e4 Nb4 15. Qb1
fxe4 16. Nxe4 Bf5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. a3 cxd5 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. Qd1 Nd3 21. Rxe7
dxc4 22. bxc4 Raf8 23. h3 g4 24. Nh2 Qg6 25. Bd5+ Kh8 26. hxg4 Be6 27. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bogdanovski, Vlatko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c4 Bg4 4. Qb3 Qc8 5. g3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 e5 7. d5 Nd8 8. Bg2
Be7 9. e4 O-O 10. O-O a5 11. Qe3 b6 12. Ne1 Qa6 13. Nd3 c6 14. b3 Bd7 15. Ba3
Ng4 16. Qe2 cxd5 17. cxd5 Re8 18. Rfc1 Nb7 19. Bf1 Nf6 20. Qe3 b5 21. b4 Bd8
22. Bb2 Bb6 23. Qe1 Qa7 24. h3 axb4 25. Nxb4 Bd4 26. Rab1 Nc5 27. Rc2 Qa4 28.
a3 Rac8 29. Kg2 Bxb2 30. Rcxb2 Qxa3 31. Nc6 Nh5 32. Bxb5 Nf4+ 33. gxf4 Qxh3+
34. Kg1 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 exf4 36. f3 Qh3+ 37. Ke2 Qh5 38. Kd1 Nxe4 39. Nxe4 Qxf3+
40. Qe2 Qxe4 41. Qxe4 Rxe4 42. Bd3 Re3 43. Kd2 g5 44. Rh1 Rce8 45. Rb7 Bc8 46.
Rc7 Bh3 47. Ne7+ R8xe7 48. Rxe7 Bg2 49. Rh5 Rxe7 50. Rxg5+ Kf8 51. Rxg2 Re5 52.
Bc4 f5 53. Rf2 Re4 54. Kc3 Kg7 55. Bd3 Re5 56. Kd4 h5 57. Rg2+ Kf6 58. Rg8 f3
59. Rd8 Re1 60. Rf8+ Kg5 61. Bxf5 Rd1+ 62. Bd3 Kg4 63. Ke3 Re1+ 64. Kf2 Re5 65.
Bc4 Re4 66. Ba6 Rf4 67. Bc8+ Kg5 68. Rg8+ Kf6 69. Rg3 Ke5 70. Rg5+ 1-0

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rashkovsky, Nukhim N"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 a5 8.
O-O d6 9. e4 e5 10. d5 Nb8 11. Ne1 h5 12. Nef3 Bg4 13. Qb3 b6 14. Qe3 Na6 15.
Nh4 Nc5 16. Rae1 g5 17. Nhf3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 h4 19. b3 Qd7 20. Qxg5 Ke7 21. Qf5
Qxf5 22. exf5 Rag8 23. Bd1 Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bielczyk, Jacek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qe1 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Qg3 Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Bd8 16. Be3 Be6 17. Bh6 g6 18. Rad1 Rc8 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Bxd8 Rcxd8 21. Bg4
Bc4 22. Rf2 Nc5 23. Rfd2 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 b5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qe3 b4 27. Nd5 Bxd5
28. Rxd5 Ne6 29. Bxe6 Rxe6 30. Qc5 Rc6 31. Qxb4 Rc4 32. Qa3 Rxc2 33. h3 Re2 34.
Qf3 Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Qf4+ 36. Qxf4 exf4 37. Rd3 Rxb2 38. Rf3 g5 39. h4 f6 40. Kh3
h5 41. g4 fxg3 42. hxg5 fxg5 43. Rf5 g4+ 44. Kxg3 Rb3+ 45. Kg2 Rh3 46. e5 Kg7
47. e6 Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nedev, Trajce"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2215"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. c4 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. h3
O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Na6 13. Re1 Rb8 14. Bf4 Nh5 15. Be3
Nc5 16. e5 Bf8 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. Qd2 b4 19. Ne4 c3 20. bxc3 b3 21. Bd1 Bf5 22.
Rb1 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Nf6 24. Re1 Qxd5 25. Bxb3 c4 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28.
exf6 Bxa3 29. Ne5 Qc7 30. Nd7 Bf8 31. Nxf8 Qd8 32. Nd7 1-0

[Event "Star Dojran"]
[Site "Star Dojran"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kurajica, Bojan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 Kh8 8. Qc2
Nc6 9. b4 a6 10. Re1 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. e4 f4 13. a4 Nh5 14. Ba3 b5 15. c4
fxg3 16. hxg3 Qf6 17. Bb2 bxa4 18. Qxa4 Rb8 19. b5 axb5 20. cxb5 Bg4 21. Rac1
Nd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. e5 Qb6 24. Nxd4 Rbd8 25. N2b3 Be6 26. Nc5 Bd5 27. Bxd5
Rxd5 28. Nde6 Re8 29. g4 Bh6 30. Qc4 Rxc5 31. Nxc5 Bxc1 32. Rxc1 Ng7 33. Nd7
Qe6 34. Nf6 Re7 35. b6 cxb6 36. Qc8+ Ne8 37. Qxe6 Rxe6 38. Rc8 Rxe5 39. Nxe8 h5
40. gxh5 Rg5+ 41. Kf1 gxh5 42. Rc6 b5 43. Rh6+ 1-0

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Simic, Radoslav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. d5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Bxc3 13. Rd1 Bg7 14. e5 Qc8
15. Bg5 f6 16. Bh4 Na6 17. Qc4 Kh8 18. d6 exd6 19. Rxd6 Qf5 20. Re1 Nc7 21. Rc6
Rac8 22. Bg3 fxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pavlovic, Milos"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 (6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8.
Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5 h6 10. Be3 h5 11. Be2 $1 (11. Nge2 Nbd7 12. Nc1 Ne5 13. Be2
Nh7 14. O-O f5 $5 15. f4 Nf7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bxc5 Re8 18. Nd3 e4 19. Ne1 Nf6
20. Nc2 Bd7 21. h3 Qc7 22. Qe3 b6 23. Bd4 b5 $13 {Yusupov,A-Dolmatov,S,Wijk cm
(08) 1991-CBM 22}) 11... a6 12. a4 Nh7 13. Bd1 Nd7 14. Nge2 Rb8 15. a5 b5 16.
axb6 Rxb6 17. O-O Ne5 18. b3 f5 $6 19. Bc2 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Nf7 21. Rae1 Re8 22.
Nf4 $16 {׻->,Yusupov,A-Dolmatov,S,Wijk cm (09) 1991-CBM 22}) 6... c5 7. d5 (7.
dxc5 {-E80}) 7... e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5 Bd7 $5 {N} 10. Nge2 $1 (10. a4 Na6 $13
{/\Nc7,Rb8}) (10. g4 $5 {()>>}) 10... b5 11. Ng3 a6 (11... c4 $6 12. a4 b4 13.
Nd1 c3 14. bxc3 bxc3 15. Nxc3 $16) (11... b4 12. Nd1 a6 13. Bh6 Bb5 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. b3 $14 {><c4}) 12. Be2 (12. a4 bxa4 $5 $132) (12. Nd1 $5 {/\} c4 $6
13. Bd4 {[+]}) 12... b4 13. Nd1 Bb5 14. O-O (14. Bh6 $5 Nbd7 15. h4 (15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. Ne3 Nb6 17. b3 $14) 15... Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Ne5 $13) 14... Nbd7 15. Bh6
Nb6 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Ne3 (17. b3 $14) 17... Nfd7 18. f4 $1 $36 (18. b3 Qf6
$132) 18... Kh8 (18... Kg8 $142 $5) (18... Bxe2 19. Qxe2 $14) 19. Rae1 Qh4 (
19... f6 $6 20. h4 $16) (19... Qf6 20. e5 dxe5 21. f5 $40) 20. b3 Rfe8 21. Rf3
(21. Qb2+ $5 Qf6 $8 (21... f6 22. Nef5 $18) 22. e5 dxe5 23. Ne4 (23. f5 $5)
23... Qg7 24. f5 $146 {->}) 21... Qh6 $1 $13 {/\Qg7} 22. Ng4 (22. Bd1 a5 {
/\c3<=>}) 22... Qg7 23. Re3 $6 Qd4 $1 24. Rd1 h5 (24... Qxd2 $142 25. Rxd2 h5
26. Nf2 c4 (26... f5 $5) 27. bxc4 Bxc4 $15) 25. Qe1 $5 Qg7 26. Nf2 Qh6 27. Nh3
$8 Nf6 28. Bf3 {/\e5[+]} (28. Ng5 Qg7 $13 {/\Nh7}) 28... Ng4 (28... Rad8 $5 $13
) 29. Bxg4 hxg4 30. Ng5 Kg8 31. Nh1 (31. e5 $5 dxe5 32. Rxe5 $142 $36) 31...
Bd7 32. Qg3 (32. e5 $6 dxe5 33. Rxe5 f6 34. Rxe8+ Rxe8 $15) 32... c4 $132 33.
bxc4 Nxc4 34. Ree1 Rac8 35. Nf2 Qh5 {[Stohl,I]} (35... Qh5 36. h3 (36. e5 $6
dxe5 37. Nfe4 Qh8 {/\f5}) 36... gxh3 37. gxh3 f6 38. Nf3 Kf7 $13) (35... f6 $6
36. Ne6 Bxe6 37. dxe6 Rxe6 38. Nxg4 $16) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Velimirovic, Dragoljub"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bb5+ $5 Nfd7 7. a4 Na6 8.
O-O Nc7 9. Bc4 O-O 10. Re1 a6 11. Bf4 Rb8 12. Qd3 $14 b5 $6 13. axb5 Nb6 14.
bxa6 $1 $16 Nxc4 15. Qxc4 Rxb2 16. a7 Ba6 17. Rxa6 Nxa6 18. Na4 Rb4 19. Qxa6
Qc8 20. Nxc5 $1 Bc3 (20... dxc5 21. Qxc8 Rxc8 22. Bb8 Ra4 23. e5 $18) 21. Rd1
dxc5 22. Qc6 Kg7 23. h3 Qxc6 24. dxc6 Rc8 25. c7 e5 26. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Malaniuk, Vladimir P"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 d5 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
Nbd7 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Ne2 Bd6 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Ng3 f5 13. Qe2 Rad8 14. Rfd1 c6 15.
Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Ba3 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Nxf5 Rxf5 19. Bxe4 Bxb2 20. Bxf5 Bxc1
21. Rxc1 g6 22. Bg4 Qxe5 23. Bf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Marinkovic, Slavisa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D95"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 e6 7. Be2 Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O Ne7 10. Bd2 Nf5 11. Qc2 Nd6 12. b4 Bf5 13. Qb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tosic, Miroslav"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. f4
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Nb3 b6 14. Qe2 Na5 15.
Rad1 Nc4 16. Bc1 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nd4 b4 19. Ncb5 Qc5 20. b3 Ne5 21. c4
bxc3 22. Ba3 Qb6 23. Bxd6 Bxd6 24. Nxd6 Ba6 25. Qa2 Nxf3 26. Nxf3 Bxf1 27. Nxe8
Bxg2+ 28. Qxg2 Rxe8 29. e5 Nd5 30. Rg1 g6 31. Ng5 Nxf4 32. Qf3 Qd4 33. Rf1 c2
34. Nxf7 c1=Q 35. Rxc1 Kxf7 36. Rf1 g5 37. Qh5+ Kg7 38. Qxg5+ Ng6 39. Qf6+ Kh6
40. Rf3 Qh4 41. b4 Rc8 42. Qxe6 Qe1+ 0-1

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8.
Nde2 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Be6 10. Bf4 O-O-O 11. Ne3 Ne7 12. Rd1 Rxd1+ 13. Kxd1 g5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hebden, Mark"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5
Qc7 9. Nc4 Bd7 10. d3 Bc6 11. Bf4 Qd8 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. Qh5 Nd7 15.
Na5 N7f6 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. c4 Nb4 18. Bxb4 cxb4 19. Nb3 Rad8 20. d4 b5 21. Nxf6+
Bxf6 22. c5 a5 23. c6 Bxc6 24. Rfc1 Rd6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Qxb5 Rc2 27. Qd3
Rxc1+ 28. Rxc1 Qb6 29. Rc5 a4 30. Na5 Rd8 31. Qb5 Qxb5 32. Rxb5 Rxd4 33. Rb8+
Rd8 34. Rxb4 h5 35. Nc4 Rd1+ 36. Kg2 a3 37. Nxa3 Ra1 38. Nc4 Rxa2 39. f4 Ra1
40. h4 Rc1 41. Kf3 Kh7 42. Nd6 Kg6 43. Rb7 Rf1+ 44. Kg2 Rd1 45. Nxf7 Rd2+ 46.
Kf3 Rxb2 47. Rxb2 Bxb2 48. Nd6 Bd4 49. g4 hxg4+ 50. Kxg4 Ba1 51. Ne4 Bb2 52.
Nd6 Ba1 53. h5+ Kf6 54. Ne4+ Kf7 55. Kf3 Bb2 56. Nd6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Drasko, Milan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Bb5 a5 7. O-O Na7 {
This move is premature.} (7... Be7 {is preferable.}) 8. Bd3 c5 9. c4 $5 (9. c3
{Advocated by the old theory; it isn't as aggressive as Topalov's move.}) 9...
cxd4 10. cxd5 Nc5 11. dxe6 $1 Bxe6 (11... Nxd3 12. exf7+ Ke7 13. Ne4 Nxc1 14.
Qxc1 {or 14.Nd6 with a promising attack. The value of the novelty depends on
this  position.}) 12. Nb3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Be7 14. Bc4 $1 b5 15. Bd3 {Weakening
of the queen's side is worth two tempi. Now white has a big advan-  tage.} Rb8
16. Bf4 Rb7 17. Rc1 Qd5 18. Qe2 O-O 19. Rfd1 Nxb3 (19... Ne6 20. Be3 Bc5 21.
Qc2 {and white gets a material advantage.}) 20. Rc3 $1 {Winning move. Black is
not able to defend himself against numerous threats.} Rd7 21. Bc2 Na1 22. Rxd4
Qe6 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Qd3+ Kg8 25. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Cvetkovic, Srdjan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 h5 7. d4 $1 h4 8. d5
Nb8 $5 (8... Nce7 9. e4 f5 10. Ng1 Nf6 11. Bg5 $1 hxg3 12. hxg3 Rxh1 13. Bxh1
Kf7 14. Qe2 $14 {Kortchnoj,V-Short,N Rotterdam 1990 CBM/18 49/37}) 9. e4 Bg4
10. Qa4+ (10. Qd3 Nd7 $1 11. f3 Nc5 12. Qe3 Bh6 13. Qg1 Nd3+ $15) (10. O-O $5
hxg3 11. fxg3 Nd7 12. Be3) 10... Kf8 11. Ng1 Na6 12. f3 Bd7 13. Qd1 Bh6 14.
Bxh6+ Nxh6 15. Qd2 Kg7 16. O-O-O Nc5 17. Bh3 f5 $13 18. exf5 Nxf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5
20. Nge2 hxg3 21. hxg3 Qf6 22. Qe3 a5 23. Kb1 a4 24. Nc1 a3 25. Nd3 Nxd3 26.
Qxd3 axb2 27. Kxb2 Qg6 28. f4 e4 29. Qd4+ Qf6 30. Qxf6+ Kxf6 31. Kb3 Rag8 32.
Ne2 Be8 33. Rde1 Bh5 34. Kb4 c5+ 35. dxc6 bxc6 36. a4 Ke7 37. a5 Kd7 38. Rh4
c5+ 39. Ka4 Rb8 40. Nc1 Bf7 41. Rxh8 Rxh8 42. g4 Bxc4 43. gxf5 d5 44. Nb3 Kc6
45. Rg1 Bxb3+ 46. Kxb3 Kb5 47. f6 d4 48. Rg5 e3 49. Re5 Rf8 50. Re6 c4+ 51. Kb2
Kxa5 52. Re4 d3 53. Rxe3 Kb4 54. Re6 c3+ 55. Kb1 Kc5 56. Re5+ Kd4 57. Re6 Rb8+
58. Ka1 c2 0-1

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mitkov, Nikola"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kaspi, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Ba6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O
c6 9. Bf4 Be7 10. Nbd2 d5 11. b3 Nbd7 12. e4 Rc8 13. e5 Nh5 14. Be3 g6 15. Rfd1
Ng7 16. g4 f5 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Rac1 Be7 19. Qb2 Bd6 20. Ne5 Qe7 21. Rc2 Nxe5
22. dxe5 Bc5 23. Nf1 Bxe3 24. Nxe3 Bb7 25. a3 Rf4 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 h5 28.
h3 hxg4 29. hxg4 Kh7 30. b5 c5 31. cxd5 exd5 32. Bxd5 Rd8 33. f3 Ne6 34. Rcc1
Ng5 35. Kg2 Nxf3 36. Rh1+ Kg7 37. Kg3 Rb4 38. Qc3 Nd4 39. Kg2 Rxd5 0-1

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Matulovic, Milan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
O-O Bg4 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 c5 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. dxc5 Qa5 14. Be3 Qxc3
15. Qa4 Nc6 16. Rac1 Qa5 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. Ne5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Davies, Nigel Rodney"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 b5 $6 7. e5 $1 $16 Ng4
8. Bf4 b4 9. Ne4 d6 10. exd6 exd6 11. O-O Nf6 12. Nfd2 Nxd5 13. Bxd6 Re8 14.
Nc4 Nb6 15. Nxc5 Nc6 16. Bf3 Nd4 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Bxa8 bxc5 19. Bxc5 Ne2+ 20.
Kh1 Qa5 21. Bc6 Re6 22. Bd5 Re8 23. Re1 Ba6 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qd7+ 1-0

[Event "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Maksimenko, Andrei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A55"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1991.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Be3
a6 9. d5 g6 10. Bh6 Re8 11. Nd2 cxd5 12. cxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Andreasen, Per Naesby"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2275"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 Rf8 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 c6 12. Bc4 cxd5 13. Bxd5 Nc6 14.
O-O-O Bd7 15. Kb1 h6 16. Be3 Rfd8 17. Rd2 Bf8 18. Rhd1 Be8 19. Bb3 Rxd2 20.
Rxd2 Kg7 21. Ng1 Be7 22. Ne2 Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. h3 Kf8 25. Ba4 a6 26. Bxc6
Bxc6 27. Nc3 Rc8 28. f3 Ke7 29. Kc2 f5 30. Kd3 Ke6 31. Ke3 a5 32. a3 Bd7 33.
Rd5 b5 34. Rd2 Rc4 35. g4 Bc6 36. gxf5+ gxf5 37. exf5+ Kxf5 38. Rd6 e4 39.
fxe4+ Ke5 40. Rg6 Bxe4 41. Rxg5+ Bf5 42. Nxb5 Rh4 43. Nd6 Rxh3+ 44. Ke2 Rh2+
45. Kd1 Kxd6 46. Rxf5 Rxb2 47. Rxa5 Kc6 48. Kc1 Kb6 49. Kxb2 Kxa5 50. Kb3 Ka6
51. Kb4 Ka7 52. Kb5 Kb8 53. Kb6 Ka8 54. a4 Kb8 55. a5 Ka8 56. a6 Kb8 57. a7+
Ka8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kristensen, Jorgen Juul"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2290"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. Be2 e5 8. Nb3
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Be6 11. Qd2 Rc8 12. a5 Nb4 13. Rfc1 d5 14. exd5 Nfxd5
15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Rd1 Qe8 17. Ba7 f5 18. Bf3 Nb4 19. Nc5 Rxc5 20. Qxb4 Rxc2 21.
Qxb7 e4 22. Be2 Bf6 23. Qxa6 f4 24. Bb5 Qf7 25. Rac1 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Ra8 27. Qd6
Be7 28. Qd4 Bf6 29. Qd6 Bxb2 30. Rc7 Qf5 31. Bd4 Bxd4 32. Qxd4 Qg6 33. Bc4 Re8
34. a6 e3 35. Bxe6+ Rxe6 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Qxf4+ Qf6 38. Rc7+ Kg6 39. Qg4+ Kh6
40. Qh3+ Kg6 41. Qg3+ Kh6 42. Qh3+ Kg6 43. Qg3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Luther, Thomas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. c3 Nxe4 8. d4
Na5 9. Bc2 exd4 10. b4 Nc4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Re1 d5 13. Nxd4 c5 14. bxc5 Bxc5
15. f3 O-O 16. fxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Qd5 18. Qf3 b4 19. Nd2 Ne5 20. Qf5 Rae8 21.
Bb2 g6 22. Qf2 f5 23. Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Meyer, Lars A"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A55"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b3
a6 9. Qc2 b5 10. d5 cxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Bb7 13. Rd1 Rc8 14. Qb1 Qe8 15.
a4 Nc5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Be3 Bd8 18. Ra7 Qd7 19. Ne1 g6 20. Rc1 Bb6 21. Rxb7
Qxb7 22. Bxb5 f5 23. Bc6 Qa7 24. exf5 Rxf5 25. g4 Rf7 26. Rc2 Na6 27. Ng2 Rcf8
28. b4 Bxe3 29. Nxe3 Rxf2 30. Rxf2 Qxe3 31. Qb2 Nxb4 32. Qd2 Qxf2+ 33. Qxf2
Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Kf7 35. Bb7 Ke7 36. Ke3 Kd7 37. Kd2 Kc7 38. Ba8 Kb8 39. Kc3 Na2+
40. Kb2 Kxa8 0-1

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Poley, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. b4 d6 3. Bb2 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. c4 Nc6 6. b5 Ne7 7. Be2 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7
9. Qb3 h6 10. c5 Ne4 11. cxd6 cxd6 12. d4 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 e4 14. Nd2 d5 15. f3
exf3 16. Bxf3 O-O 17. O-O Kh7 18. g3 Be6 19. Rac1 Ng8 20. Rc2 Nf6 21. Rfc1 Rf7
22. Bb4 Qe8 23. a4 Rd8 24. Qa3 g5 25. Bd6 Rfd7 26. Bc7 Rc8 27. a5 Ne4 28. Nxe4
fxe4 29. Be2 Bh3 30. Qb3 Qe6 31. b6 Rf8 32. Qb4 a6 33. Qe1 Rdf7 34. g4 Bxg4 35.
Bxa6 bxa6 36. h3 Bxh3 37. Kh2 Bf1 38. Qg3 Rf3 39. Rxf1 Rxg3 40. Bxg3 Rxf1 41.
b7 Qg4 0-1

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Christensen, Tobias"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. h3 Bf5 10. a3 Ne4 11. Nd5 Bd6 12. Re1 Re8 13. b4 Qd7 14. Ne3 Bg6 15.
Bb2 Bf4 16. Qb3 Bh5 17. Ng4 Nd2 18. Nxd2 Bxd2 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. d5 Ne7 21.
Bxg7 Bxg4 22. hxg4 Qxg4 23. Bb2 Nf5 24. Bf1 Bf4 25. Qc3 Be5 26. Qd2 Bxb2 27.
Qxb2 Nd4 28. Qc3 Qg7 29. Rc1 Re1 30. Rxe1 Ne2+ 31. Rxe2 Qxc3 32. Re3 Qd2 33.
Rd3 Qc1 34. g3 Kf8 35. Re3 Qd2 36. Bg2 Qd1+ 37. Kh2 Qh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fries Nielsen, Jens Ove"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7
8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Nb3 Nce4 11. Nfd4 Qd7 12. Qf3 g6 13. Bh6 Ng4 14.
Bf4 O-O 15. h3 Ngf6 16. c3 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 Bd8 18. Nc2 Bb6 19. Nbd4 Re7 20. Ne3
Rae8 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 Qc8 23. g3 a6 24. Kg2 Qc5 25. Be3 Qc7 26. Rh1 f6 27.
Rad1 Rd7 28. Rhe1 Qd8 29. Nc2 Bc7 30. Rd3 Qe7 31. Red1 Red8 32. Nb4 Qe6 33. c4
d4 34. Rxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxd4 Rxd4 36. Bxd4 Bd8 37. Nd5 Kf7 38. b3 Ng5 39. Qf4 Qe4+
40. Qxe4 Nxe4 41. f3 Ng5 42. a4 Ne6 43. Be3 Ke8 44. b4 Kd7 45. f4 Kd6 46. Nc3
Kd7 47. Kf3 f5 48. gxf5 gxf5 49. Ke2 a5 50. b5 Kd6 51. Kd3 h5 52. Bc1 Bb6 53.
Ba3+ Bc5 54. Bxc5+ Nxc5+ 55. Kc2 Ke6 56. Kd2 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jensen, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B16"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Bc4 e6 8.
Qf3 Rg8 9. Bf4 Nd7 10. h3 Nb6 11. Bb3 Nd5 12. Bg3 a5 13. Ne2 a4 14. Bc4 Bd6 15.
Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Ng3 Bg6 17. O-O Nf4 18. Rfe1 Ra5 19. Bf1 Kf8 20. Rad1 Bh5 21.
Nxh5 Rxh5 22. Kh1 Rhg5 23. g3 Nh5 24. g4 f5 25. Re5 fxg4 26. hxg4 Rxg4 27. Bh3
R4g5 28. Bxe6 Qe7 29. Bh3 Rxe5 30. dxe5 Qxe5 31. Rd8+ 1-0

[Event "Politiken Cup 13th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. Bg5 d5 11. Ne5 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e3 c6 14. Qh5 Nc7 15.
Rac1 Ne8 16. Bh3 Qe7 17. Ne2 Nd6 18. Bg2 Rac8 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Nf4 dxc4 21.
bxc4 c5 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. d5 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Qg5 25. Qb2 e5 26. Ne2 Nd6 27. Kg2
e4 28. a4 Rb8 29. Nf4 Qg4 30. Qe2 Qf5 31. Ra1 g5 32. Nh5 Kh7 33. g4 Qe5 34. Ng3
Rf8 35. Qc2 Kg7 36. a5 b5 37. cxb5 Rxb5 38. Ra3 Rfb8 39. a6 R8b6 40. h3 Kf6 41.
Ra4 Kg7 42. Nxe4 Rb2 43. Qc3 Rxf2+ 44. Kg1 Qxc3 45. Nxc3 Rf3 46. Ne4 Rxe3 47.
Nxd6 Rxd6 48. Rc4 Rxh3 49. Rxc5 Rg3+ 50. Kh1 Rxg4 51. Rc7 Ra4 52. Rf1 Raxa6 53.
Rfxf7+ Kg6 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Iruzubieta Villaluenga, Jesus Maria"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2310"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. Bd2 b6 6. Bb5 c6 7. Ba4 a5 8. a3 Bf8
9. Nce2 Ba6 10. c3 Bb5 11. Bc2 a4 12. Nf3 c5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Re1 Na5 15. Nf4
O-O-O 16. Be3 Nc4 17. Nd2 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 g6 19. Qf3 Kb8 20. Ree1 cxd4 21. cxd4
Ne7 22. Nb1 Bc4 23. Nc3 b5 24. Qd1 Nc6 25. b3 axb3 26. Bxb3 Na5 27. Bc2 Ka8 28.
Nd3 Rc8 29. Qd2 Qc7 30. Reb1 Bh6 31. Qxh6 Bxd3 32. Bxd3 Qxc3 33. Bxb5 Qxd4 34.
Qg5 Rc2 35. Rf1 Rb8 36. Rab1 Ka7 37. Qf6 Rb7 38. a4 Qc5 39. Rbd1 Nb3 40. Qf4
Rc7 41. g3 Nc1 42. Rd2 Rxd2 43. Qxd2 Nb3 44. Qf4 Qd4 45. Qf6 Nd2 46. Rd1 Qxe5
47. Qd8 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Franco Ocampos, Zenon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 a6 8. a4 Bg4
9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Rfe1 Rae8 15.
Bf1 Nh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Alvarez Ibarra, Rafael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2355"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. Bg5 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. a4 Nbd7 10. e3 c5 11. Ne1 Qb6 12. Bxb7 Qxb7 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nef3 d5 15.
axb5 axb5 16. Qc2 c4 17. b3 Bd6 18. bxc4 bxc4 19. Rfb1 Qc6 20. Kg2 h6 21. Ng1
g6 22. Ne2 e5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Rb2 e4 25. Ra2 Rb8 26. Rb2 Rd8 27. Qb1 h5 28.
Rb7 Qc8 29. Ng1 h4 30. Nh3 Ne8 31. Qb5 hxg3 32. hxg3 Bxg3 33. fxg3 Nd6 34. Qxd5
Qxb7 35. Qxb7 Nxb7 36. Nxe4 f5 37. Neg5 Nd6 38. Nf4 Ra8 39. Kf3 Ra3 40. Nxg6
Rxc3 41. Kf4 Rc1 42. e4 c3 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gomez Esteban, Juan Mario"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5
Bd7 9. Ng5 Na6 10. e4 fxe4 11. Ngxe4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 c5 13. Rb1 b5 14. b3 h6 15.
Bb2 Qf7 16. Bxg7 Qxg7 17. Qd2 Rab8 18. a3 Nc7 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20. h4 Bf5 21. b4
Qd4 22. Rfd1 Qe5 23. f4 Qg7 24. bxc5 dxc5 25. cxb5 c4 26. a4 Ne8 27. Rbc1 Nd6
28. Nxd6 exd6 29. Qc3 a6 30. bxa6 Qa7+ 31. Kh2 Qxa6 32. Re1 Rb3 33. Qf6 Rf8 34.
Qd4 Rd3 35. Qxc4 Qa7 36. Re2 Rf7 37. Re8+ Kh7 38. Rce1 Qf2 39. R8e7 Kg8 40.
Re8+ Kg7 41. R8e3 Kh7 42. Rxd3 Qxe1 43. Qc3 Qe8 44. Rd4 Re7 45. Rc4 Bd7 46. Rc7
Bxa4 47. Rc8 Re3 48. Qc4 1-0

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Izeta Txabarri, Felix"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2380"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O e5 6. Qa4 Bd6 7. Ng5 Be7 8. Nc3
d4 9. Nd5 Bd7 10. Nxe7 Qxe7 11. d3 O-O 12. e3 a6 13. Qd1 Rad8 14. e4 h6 15. Nf3
Ne8 16. Nh4 Nd6 17. Qh5 g5 18. Nf5 Nxf5 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qxh6 Rd6 21. Qh5 Bxd3
22. Bxg5 Qe6 23. Rfe1 Qg6 24. Qxg6+ Rxg6 25. Bd2 Re8 26. Bd5 e4 27. Kg2 Kg7 28.
Rad1 f5 29. f3 Bc2 30. Rc1 Bd3 31. Rcd1 Bc2 32. Rc1 Bd3 33. Rcd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hoffman, Alejandro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c4 cxd4 6. exd4 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Ng5 Bb7 10. d5 e5 11. f4 Nbd7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Kh1 h6 14. Nh3 Nc5 15.
Bc2 Bc8 16. b4 Na6 17. a3 Ng4 18. Nb5 Bd6 19. Bf5 h5 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Qd3 Qd7
22. Ng5 f5 23. Bb2 e4 24. Qh3 g6 25. Nxd6 Qxd6 26. Ne6 Rxc4 27. Nxf8 Kxf8 28.
Rac1 b5 29. Qh4 Nc7 30. g3 e3 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. h3 Qxd5+ 33. Kg1 e2 34. Re1 Qd2
35. Kg2 Qxe1 36. Qd8+ Ne8 37. Bg7+ Kxg7 38. Qe7+ Kh6 39. Qf8+ 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cruz Lopez Claret, Carlos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2275"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 e4 5. Qb3 Nf6 6. Bd2 Qb6 7. cxd5 Qxb3 8. axb3
cxd5 9. Nb5 Na6 10. f3 Be7 11. Ne2 O-O 12. Nec3 exf3 13. gxf3 Bf5 14. Na2 Nh5
15. Rc1 Rfc8 16. Rc3 Bc2 17. Nc1 Bh4+ 18. Ke2 Rc6 19. Na3 Bg6 20. Rxc6 bxc6 21.
Kd1 Nc7 22. Nc2 Ne6 23. b4 Nf6 24. Nd3 Nd7 25. Be2 Bd8 26. Nc5 Nf6 27. Nb7 Bc7
28. Bc3 Re8 29. Na5 Nf4 30. exf4 Bxa5 31. bxa5 Bxc2+ 32. Kd2 Bf5 33. Ba6 Nh5
34. Bb7 Bd7 35. f5 Nf4 36. Re1 Rxe1 37. Kxe1 Bxf5 38. Bxc6 Bd3 39. Bd2 Ne6 40.
Bxd5 Nxd4 41. Be3 Nc2+ 42. Kd2 Nxe3 43. Kxe3 Bf1 44. Kd4 Kf8 45. Kc5 Ke7 46.
Kc6 f5 47. b4 g5 48. b5 Kf6 49. a6 1-0

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Garcia Palermo, Carlos H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. g3 h6 11. Nh4 Nf6 12. Be3 Nh7 13. Qd2 g5 14. Ng2 f5 15. f4
exf4 16. gxf4 Ng6 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. fxg5 Nxg5 19. Rac1 Ne5 20. Kh1 Qe7 21. c5
Bh3 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. Qe3 Bf5 24. Nb5 a6 25. cxd6 cxd6 26. Nd4 Bd7 27. Rxf8+
Rxf8 28. Rc7 Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elgoibar 01st"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ubilava, Elizbar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 Re8 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d4 d6 6. c4 Nfd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
exd4 9. Nxd4 Nc5 10. Re1 Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gomez Esteban, Juan Mario"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. O-O Re8 13. Bb5 Re7 14. dxc5 bxc5
15. Na4 Na6 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. Rxc5 Bxb2 18. Qc2 Bf6 19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Nf5 Re4 21.
Rb1 a6 22. Ng3 Rc4 23. Rxc4 dxc4 24. Bxc4 Qc6 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26. Qxc6 Bxc6 27.
Bc4 a5 28. f3 Rc8 29. Ba6 Rd8 30. Nf1 Bd5 31. a4 Bc6 32. Bb5 Rb8 33. Nd2 Bxb5
34. axb5 a4 35. Nc4 Ke7 36. Rb4 Ke6 37. b6 Kd5 38. Rxa4 Kc5 39. Nd2 Rxb6 40.
Ne4+ Kb5 41. Ra2 Be7 42. Rc2 g6 43. Kf2 Ra6 44. f4 h5 45. Rc7 Bd8 46. Nc3+ Ka5
47. Rd7 Bb6 48. Kf3 Bc5 49. Rb7 Rc6 50. Ne4 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
Qc7 9. Na4 Qa5 10. b3 Nc6 11. Qb6 Qh5 12. h3 Ne4 13. Qe3 f5 14. Nd2 d5 15. Nxe4
fxe4 16. Rb1 b5 17. g4 Qf7 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Bb2 Bd6 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Nxd5 Bb7
22. Rbd1 Rbd8 23. Qxe4 Nb4 24. Nf6+ Qxf6 25. Bxf6 Bxe4 26. Bxd8 Bxg2 27. Rxd6
Bxf1 28. Kxf1 Nxa2 29. Ba5 Nc1 30. b4 Ra8 31. h4 Re8 32. Rd8 Rxd8 33. Bxd8 Nb3
34. e3 Nd2+ 35. Ke2 Nc4 36. Bc7 Kf7 37. Kd3 Ke6 38. Kd4 g6 39. Bg3 h5 40. gxh5
gxh5 41. e4 a5 42. bxa5 Nxa5 43. f4 Nb3+ 44. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Santo Roman, Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Qe2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
O-O Nc6 9. e4 Qc7 10. e5 Nd7 11. Bf4 Nd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Rc1 O-O 14. Bd3 Qb6
15. Nd2 Nc5 16. Nc4 Qa7 17. Bc2 f6 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 b6 21.
b4 Nd7 22. Nd6 Bb7 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d3 Nc6 5. f4 e6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Be3 b6 10. d4 Ba6 11. Rf2 Na5 12. Bf1 Bxf1 13. Qxf1 Qc7 14. Rd1 a6 15.
g4 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc4 17. Bc1 e5 18. Nde2 exf4 19. Nxf4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Ne5 21.
Qh3 Rac8 22. Qh4 Qd7 23. h3 f6 24. Qg3 Rc4 25. Nd3 Rxe4 26. Nxe5 Rxe5 27. Bh6
Rf7 28. Qf3 Nc6 29. Qd3 d5 30. c4 Re8 31. cxd5 Ne5 32. Qd4 Rc8 33. d6 Rc4 34.
Qd5 Rc5 35. Qa8+ Rc8 36. Qd5 Rc5 37. Qa8+ Rc8 38. Qe4 Re8 39. Qd5 Qe6 40. Qxe6
Rxe6 41. Be3 Rb7 42. Rd5 Nd7 43. Rf3 Rb8 44. Bf2 Rc8 45. Rd2 Rc6 46. Bg3 Kf7
47. g5 f5 48. Rf4 Rc3 49. Rh4 Kg8 50. Kg2 Re8 51. Rf4 Rec8 52. Rff2 Re3 53.
Rfe2 Rce8 54. Rxe3 Rxe3 55. Bf2 Re4 56. Bxb6 Nxb6 57. d7 Nxd7 58. Rxd7 Re2+ 59.
Kf3 Rxc2 60. Rd8+ Kf7 61. Rd7+ Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd2 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. f5 Qc7 8. Qf3
b5 9. g4 Nfd7 10. a4 b4 11. Nd1 Ba6 12. Ne2 Nc5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Ng3 Bxf1 15.
Kxf1 Nb7 16. Kg2 Bc5 17. Rc1 Qd6 18. Qe2 Bd4 19. Ne3 a5 20. g5 h6 21. Nc4 Qf8
22. g6 Qe7 23. Rhf1 f6 24. Nh5 Ndc5 25. Rf3 Qc7 26. Qe1 O-O-O 27. Nxa5 Nxa5 28.
Bxb4 Nab7 29. c3 Nxb3 30. Rb1 N3c5 31. cxd4 Rxd4 32. Bxc5 Nxc5 33. Nxg7 Rxe4
34. Qc1 Qd6 35. Rb2 Qd5 36. Nh5 Nd3 37. Qf1 Rxa4 38. Qxd3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Garcia Padron, Jose"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 c6 10. Nxe5 Re8 11. O-O-O Na6 12. Nf3 h6 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4
Rxe4 15. Rd8+ Kh7 16. Be3 Bf6 17. Rd2 Bg4 18. b3 Bc3 19. Rd3 Bb4 20. h3 Ba3+
21. Kd1 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Re7 23. Re1 Rae8 24. Re2 Nc5 25. Rd4 Ne6 26. Rd3 Bc5 27.
Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Rd4 Ne6 30. Rd3 a5 31. h4 Kg7 32. Kd2 h5 33. g3 c5
34. Rd5 Nd4 35. Bd1 b6 36. a3 Nc6 37. Rd6 Re6 38. Rxe6 fxe6 39. Ke3 Kf6 40. Ke4
Ne7 41. Kf4 Nf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "De la Villa Garcia, Jesus Maria"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. b4 a5 7. b5 Ne4 8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Nd2 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 f5 12. e3 e5 13. Bc4 Qe7 14. Qh5+ Kf8 15. O-O
f4 16. f3 fxg3 17. fxe4+ Bf6 18. h4 Kg7 19. Rf5 Qe8 20. Qf3 gxh4 21. Rf1 Rf8
22. Bd5 c6 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Bxc6 Ra6 25. d5 Qe7 26. Qg4+ Kh7 27. Nc4 Qg7 28.
Qf3 Kg8 29. Nd6 Nc5 30. Nxc8 Rxc8 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Franco Ocampos, Zenon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pomata, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. a4
Nge7 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ba3 cxd4 12. Bd6 Qd8 13. cxd4 Re8 14. Bd3 Nc8
15. Bc5 b6 16. Ba3 h6 17. c3 N8e7 18. Bc2 Na5 19. Qd3 Ng6 20. h4 Nc4 21. Bc1
Nf8 22. g3 f5 23. exf6 Qxf6 24. Bf4 Qf5 25. Qxf5 exf5 26. h5 Re7 27. Rfe1 Rae8
28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Ne5 Nxe5 30. Bxe5 Nh7 31. Bb3 Be6 32. f3 Ng5 33. Kf2 Nf7 34.
f4 Kh7 35. Bc2 Bd7 36. g4 g6 37. hxg6+ Kxg6 38. gxf5+ 1-0

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carbonell Bofill, Carlos Eloy"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. Nbd2 e6 4. h3 Bh5 5. c3 Nd7 6. Qb3 Rb8 7. e4 c6 8. a4 d5
9. e5 f6 10. g4 Bg6 11. h4 h5 12. exf6 Qxf6 13. g5 Qf7 14. c4 Bd6 15. Bd3 Ne7
16. c5 Bc7 17. Be2 O-O 18. Nf1 e5 19. Be3 exd4 20. Bxd4 Nf5 21. Qc3 Nxd4 22.
Qxd4 Rbe8 23. Ra3 Ba5+ 24. b4 Re4 25. Qa1 Bxb4+ 26. N1d2 Rfe8 27. Re3 Rxe3 28.
fxe3 Rxe3 29. Kd1 Bxd2 30. Nxd2 Qf2 31. Re1 Bd3 0-1

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leskovar, Mario Leopoldo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2 c6 5. f3 Nbd7 6. g4 d5 7. g5 Nh5 8. exd5
Be7 9. dxc6 bxc6 10. Ne4 f5 11. gxf6 Ndxf6 12. N4g3 O-O 13. dxe5 Qb6 14. exf6
Bc5 15. Ne4 Rd8 16. Bd2 Be3 17. Bxe3 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Qxe3 19. Rd8+ Kf7 20. Nd6+
Kxf6 21. Rf8+ Kg5 22. Rg1+ Kh4 23. Rxc8 1-0

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kleinplatz, Sam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 Be6 8.
Nbd2 Nbd7 9. c3 c5 10. Qc2 g6 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nd4 Qc7 13. Bh4 Nxd3 14. Qxd3
Ng4 15. Bg3 Qb6 16. Rfe1 Rae8 17. Qb5 Bc5 18. N2b3 Qxb5 19. Nxb5 Bb6 20. N5d4
Bd7 21. Bd6 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Rc8 23. f3 Nf6 24. Be5 Ne8 25. Bf4 Bd8 26. Re5 Nf6
27. Bg5 Bc6 28. h4 Kg7 29. Re2 Ba4 30. Rd2 a5 31. Nc1 h6 32. Bxf6+ Bxf6 33. g3
Bd7 34. Nce2 g5 35. h5 g4 36. f4 Bd8 37. Nc2 Bb6+ 38. Ned4 Re8 39. Kf2 Re4 40.
Ne3 Bc5 41. a3 Be6 42. Ke2 a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Komljenovic, Davorin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 d5 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Rd1 Ra6 10. a3 Bd7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nc3 g6 13. Bg5 Bf5 14. Qa4 Nd7 15.
Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Ne5 c6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Qb3 Nc8 19. Na4 Qe7 20. e3 Nd6 21. Nc5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Boyd, Stephen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2265"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
exd4 9. Nxd4 d5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. e5 Nfd7 12. f4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 a6
15. Be2 Nb6 16. b3 Be6 17. O-O Rc8 18. Bf3 Rc6 19. Kh1 Nc8 20. Rad1 Ne7 21. b4
Rc4 22. Bc5 d4 23. Ne4 b6 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Nd6 Rc7 26. Qxd4 f6 27. exf6 Qxf6
28. Qxb6 Rc2 29. Ne4 Qe7 30. Rfe1 Bxa2 31. Nc3 Qxe1+ 32. Rxe1 Bxc3 33. Rf1 Bc4
34. Be4 Re2 35. Bb7 Rb2 36. Qc5 Rxb4 37. Rd1 Rxf4 38. g3 Rf7 39. Bxa6 Bxa6 40.
Rd8+ 1-0

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Eingorn, Vereslav S"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Qe7 9. c5 Bc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 e5 13. Bg5 Qe6 14. Bd3 Qg6 15.
Qe3 exd4 16. Qxd4 Qh5 17. Rfe1 Bxh2+ 18. Kf1 f6 19. Bh4 Be5 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21. g4
Qh6 22. Kg2 Bxb2 23. Rh1 b5 24. cxb6 Bxa1 25. Bg3 Nxb6 26. Qb4 Qxh1+ 27. Kxh1
c5 28. Qe4 f5 29. Qe7 Bd7 30. gxf5 Bc6 31. Kg2 Rac8 32. Be5 Bxe5 33. Qxe5 c4
34. Bc2 Rfe8 35. Qd6 Red8 36. Qe5 Nd7 37. Qa5 Nf6 38. Kg3 Bxf3 39. Kxf3 Rd7 40.
Qa6 Rcc7 41. Qb5 h6 42. a4 c3 43. a5 Kh7 44. a6 Rd2 45. Qa5 Rc8 46. Qa4 Re8 47.
Qb3 Ree2 0-1

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pigusov, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. O-O Re8 13. Bb5 Rf8 14. dxc5 bxc5
15. Qb3 d4 16. Be2 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 dxc3 18. Bxa8 cxb2 19. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alicante op"]
[Site "Alicante"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Garcia Palermo, Carlos H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bd3 c6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Campos Moreno, Javier B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 Qxb6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 d6 8. a4 Bg7
9. a5 Qb4 10. Ra4 Qb7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Be2 Bd7 13. Ra3 Bb5 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Re1
Ne8 16. Bg5 Ndf6 17. Rb3 Nc7 18. Nd2 Rad8 19. Nc4 e6 20. Na3 exd5 21. exd5 Rde8
22. Naxb5 axb5 23. Bxb5 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Nfxd5 25. Ba4 Qa8 26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27. Bb5
Nb4 28. Bd2 Nc2 29. Qf1 Nd4 30. Rg3 Nxb5 31. Qxb5 Rb8 32. Qd3 Rxb2 33. h4 d5
34. Bc3 c4 35. Qd1 Bxc3 36. Rxc3 Qxa5 37. Re3 Qd2 38. Qf3 Qd4 39. g3 Rb1+ 40.
Kh2 Qd1 0-1

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. d4 Bg7 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 d6 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be2
a6 9. O-O b5 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nfd7 13. Nd5 Nc6 14. e6 Nde5
15. exf7+ Nxf7 16. a4 bxa4 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Nxc8 Rfxc8 19. Rxa4 Bxb2 20. Bxa6
Rd8 21. Rxd8+ Ncxd8 22. Be3 Nd6 23. Be2 Bf6 24. g4 Nc6 25. Kg2 Ne5 26. Nd4 Rb2
27. Bf1 Kf7 28. Nf3 Nxf3 29. Kxf3 Rb3 30. Kg2 Rb2 31. Bd3 Kg7 32. g5 Be5 33.
Ra5 Rb3 34. Bc2 Rb5 35. Rxb5 Nxb5 36. f4 Bd4 37. Bd2 Nd6 38. Kf3 e5 39. Bb4 Nf7
40. fxe5 Bxe5 41. Ke4 Bb2 42. h4 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fernandez Ponce, Luis Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Rb8 9. Bd2 b5 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxb5 e4 12. Nxa7 c4 13. Nxc8 cxd3 14. Ne5 Rxc8
15. cxd3 Qxd5 16. Bc3 exd3 17. Qxd3 Qxd3 18. Nxd3 Rfd8 0-1

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gallego Jimenez, Victoriano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. g4 fxg4 8. h3 g3
9. Bxg3 Nc6 10. Qd2 cxd4 11. exd4 Bb4 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bd3 O-O 14. a3 Be7 15.
Rg1 Ra7 16. O-O-O c5 17. Bb8 Rb7 18. Be5 Kh8 19. Qg5 Rf7 20. Qh4 Ne4 21. Qg4
Bg5+ 22. f4 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Bh6 24. Qh5 c4 25. Bxh7 Rf6 26. Bg6 Qf8 27. Rg4 Bd7
28. Rdg1 Ba4 29. Rh4 Kg8 30. Rg5 Qxa3+ 31. Kd2 Rb1 32. Bf7+ 0-1

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Chemli, Farid"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 d6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 e4 8. Nfd2
a6 9. Be2 Bf5 10. c4 O-O 11. d5 Ne5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. Nc3 Bb4 14. Qc2 Bxc3 15.
Qxc3 Nd7 16. Rfd1 Qe7 17. b4 b6 18. Nb3 Rfd8 19. a4 Bg6 20. a5 f5 21. axb6 cxb6
22. c5 bxc5 23. bxc5 f4 24. d6 Qg5 25. c6 f3 26. Bc4+ Kh8 27. g3 Nb6 28. Bf1
Qf5 29. Qc5 Bh5 30. c7 Rd7 31. Qxb6 Bg4 32. Qb8+ 1-0

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comas Fabrego, Luis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Na6 9. O-O-O Be6 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 Bd7 12. Kb1 Nc7 13. a3 Qe7 14. Nc1 Nh5
15. Qf2 a6 16. Nb3 f5 17. Bb6 Nb5 18. Nxb5 axb5 19. exf5 Nf4 20. g3 Bxf5+ 21.
Ka2 b4 22. gxf4 bxa3 23. bxa3 Qd7 24. fxe5 Qa4 25. Qb2 Bxe5 26. Bd4 Bc2 27.
Qxc2 Qxa3+ 28. Kb1 Rxf3 29. Bc4 b5 30. Rhf1 Rh3 31. Bxe5 bxc4 32. Bg3 Rb8 33.
Rf3 cxb3 34. Qb2 Qa4 35. Re1 Rh5 36. Bxd6 Rxd5 37. Bxb8 1-0

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Iruzubieta Villaluenga, Jesus Maria"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. O-O Be7 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. h3 O-O 10. Nf3 h6 11. Re1 Nh7 12. e5 Ng5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Qf3 Rb8
15. exd6 cxd6 16. b3 Bf6 17. Rb1 Qa5 18. Bd2 g4 19. hxg4 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Qg5 21.
Qg3 d5 22. Bd4 Qd2 23. Bxa7 Rb7 24. Bc5 Ra8 25. c3 Qxa2 26. b4 Be6 27. Bd4 Qc2
28. Ra1 Rbb8 29. Qd6 Bxg4 30. Rxa8 1-0

[Event "Aviles op"]
[Site "Aviles"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Roiz Baztan, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Qa5 10. Kb1 a6 11. Nc1 b5 12. Nb3 Qb4 13. cxb5 c5 14. dxc5 dxc5
15. Nd5 Qa4 16. Nc7 Ra7 17. Nxa6 Bb7 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Qc4 Qxc4 20. Bxc4 Bf8 21.
Rc1 Ne8 22. Rhd1 Bxa6 23. bxa6 Nd6 24. Be2 Rac7 25. Na5 f6 26. Nc4 Nxc4 27.
Bxc4+ Kg7 28. Be6 Rd8 29. Rd5 Be7 30. Bxd7 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Razuvaev, Yuri S"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 h6 (10... Rb8 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 b5 $132) 11. Rae1 (11.
Rfe1 $6 g5 12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Qh5 {Cooper,J-Kotronias,V
Thessaloniki OL 1988 inf. 46/136}) (11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 14.
Qe3 g5 15. h3 Qf7 16. Rae1 Rae8 $132 {Dzhandzhava,L-Basin,L URS-FL56
Simferopol 1988/Petran,Pa-Tolnai,T Budapest ch Hungary 1989}) 11... g5 12. Nd2
(12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Qh5 $132) 12... Qg6 13. e3 (13. e4 $6 fxe4
14. Ndxe4 Bf5 {/\Rf7+Raf8 <=>}) 13... Bd7 14. f4 $14 Kh8 15. b4 Nc7 16. b5 cxb5
17. cxb5 Rab8 {><b7} 18. Rb1 gxf4 19. exf4 Qf7 {/\20. - Be6, /^f7-a2, ><d5} 20.
d5 a6 21. bxa6 bxa6 22. Nc4 {/\22.Nb6} Nb5 23. Bb2 Rfc8 $2 (23... Nxc3 24. Bxc3
Bb5 25. a4 Bxa4 26. Qxf5 $13) 24. Na4 $1 $16 {/\25.Nab6} Rc7 25. Nab6 Be8 26.
a4 (26. Qxf5 $16) 26... Ne4 27. Rfe1 $6 (27. Bxe4 $5 fxe4 28. Qxe4 Nc3 (28...
Bxb2 29. Rxb2 Nc3 30. Qd4+ (30. Qf3 Qf6 31. Rc1 $16) 30... Qg7 $132) 29. Bxc3
Bxc3 $16) (27. Bxg7+ Qxg7 28. axb5 axb5 29. Bxe4 (29. Ne3 $6 Rc3 $1 30. Nxf5 (
30. Qe2 Qd4) 30... Rxd3 31. Nxg7 Kxg7 32. Bxe4 Re3 $10) 29... fxe4 30. Qxe4
bxc4 31. Nxc4 $14) 27... Nbc3 $1 28. Bxc3 Nxc3 29. Rb3 {/\פc3} Bxa4 $1 30.
Rxc3 Rxb6 31. Ne5 dxe5 32. Rxc7 e4 33. Qa3 Bb3 $1 34. Rxe7 Qxd5 $44 {ץg2} 35.
Re8+ Kh7 36. R8xe4 Bd4+ 37. Kh1 $4 (37. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 38. Kh1 $14) 37... fxe4 38.
Bxe4+ Kg7 $19 39. Qe7+ Qf7 40. Qd8 Bc5 41. Qc8 Bf8 42. Rb1 Bd5 43. Rxb6 Bxe4+
44. Kg1 Qd5 45. Qc3+ Kh7 46. Qc7+ Kh8 47. Rb8 Qd1+ 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sax, Gyula"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E31"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. e3
e5 9. Bd3 e4 10. Bc2 Nbd7 11. Qb1 Qe7 12. Ne2 g5 13. Bg3 Nf8 14. h4 Rg8 15.
hxg5 hxg5 16. Qb5+ Kd8 17. Nc1 Ng4 18. Rb1 f5 19. Qa5+ Qc7 20. Qxc7+ Kxc7 21.
Kd2 Bd7 22. f3 Nxe3 23. Kxe3 f4+ 24. Kd2 exf3 25. gxf3 fxg3 26. Rh6 Rg7 27. Ne2
Rf7 28. Be4 g2 29. Rg1 Re8 30. Rxg2 g4 31. Rg3 Re5 32. Nc1 gxf3 33. Rxf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 (4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 Qxb6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 (7.
a4 g6 8. a5 Qb4 $5 (8... Qb7 9. e4 Bg7 10. Be2 O-O 11. Nf3 Nbd7 12. O-O Rb8 13.
Nd2 Ne8 14. Nc4 Nc7 15. Na4 Nb5 16. Nab6 Nd4 17. Bd3 $14 {Lalic,B-Zamora,J,
Sevilla 1992,CBM 29}) 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. e4 Bd7 $1 {/\Bb5} (11... Nbd7
12. Be2 Ne8 13. Ra3 Nc7 14. Rb3 Qd4 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. O-O e6 17. Rd1 Nb5 18. Ndb1
c4 19. Rxb5 $18 {Portisch,L-Plachetka,J,Cannes op 1992,TD 92_04}) 12. Ra3 e6 (
12... Bb5 $2 13. Bxb5 axb5 14. Rb3 $1 $16) 13. Be2 exd5 14. exd5 Bb5 15. Nxb5
axb5 16. Rb3 Qd4 17. Rxb5 Nxd5 18. Nc4 Nc6 $36 {Chernin,A-Milos,G,Buenos Aires
1992,TD 92_05}) 7... g6 8. a4 Bg7 9. a5 Qb4 $1 10. Ra4 Qb7 11. Bc4 (11. Bd3 O-O
12. Nge2 Bd7 13. Ra3 Ng4 14. f4 $6 c4 15. Bxc4 Qa7 16. Qb3 Qf2+ 17. Kd1 Rc8 18.
Rg1 Ra7 19. Qb6 Rac7 $17 {Lorscheid,G-Lau,R,Berlin op 1992,TD 92_03}) 11... Bd7
12. Ra3 Bb5 13. Qb3 Nbd7 14. Bxb5 axb5 15. Qxb5 Qxb5 16. Nxb5 O-O $44 {|^,
Rapoport,I-Kantorik,M,Bratislava op 1992}) 4... g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6 Qxb6 7. Nc3
Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 (9. e5 $6 Ng4 $17) 9... d6 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. O-O (11. a4
$142 $5 $14) 11... Rb8 (11... Qc7 12. a4 Rb8 13. a5 Ne8 14. Nc4 Ne5 {
Moskalenko,V-Tukmakov,V,Wijk II 1992,CBM 28} 15. Nb6 Nd7 16. Nca4 $14 {Tukmakov
}) (11... Ne5 $142 $5 {/\} 12. Kh1 g5 $132) 12. Nc4 (12. a4 $5 $14) 12... Qc7
13. Bf4 (13. a4 $1 Nb6 (13... Ne8 14. a5 {-11...Qc7}) 14. Ne3 $14) 13... Nb6
14. e5 (14. Ne3 Ne8 $1 15. Qd2 e5 16. dxe6 (16. Bg3 $2 f5 17. f4 g5 $1 $17)
16... fxe6 17. Bg3 Bd4 $13 {/\e5}) 14... Ne8 (14... Nxc4 $2 15. exf6 Nxb2 16.
fxg7 Nxd1 17. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 18. Rfxd1 $18) 15. exd6 exd6 16. Qd2 $6 (16. Ne3 $5
$10) 16... Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Nf6 18. Rfe1 (18. h3 Nd7 $132) 18... Ng4 $1 19. Rad1 (
19. h3 Ne5 20. Bf1 Rb4 $36) 19... Bd4 20. Bg3 f5 21. Re2 $8 (21. h3 $2 f4 $19)
21... Rb4 22. b3 Qg7 $2 (22... Ne5 $2 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 $16) (22... Kh8 $1
{/\} 23. h3 Ne5 24. Bxe5+ dxe5 $1 $17) 23. Bxd6 $1 Bxc3 24. Qf4 $44 {/\Re7,Bc5,
Bf8} Rd8 25. Re7 Qf6 (25... Qh6 26. Qxh6 Nxh6 27. Bc7 $18 {o^d}) 26. Bxc5 {
/\Qc7} Rb7 (26... Be5 27. Rxe5 $18) 27. Rxb7 Be5 (27... Bxb7 28. Be7 $1 Qxe7
29. d6+ Kg7 (29... Qf7 30. Bxf7+ Kxf7 31. Qc4+ $18) 30. dxe7 Rxd1+ 31. Bf1 Nf6
32. Qc7 $18) 28. d6+ Kh8 29. Qf3 Bxh2+ 30. Kf1 Be5 31. Qd5 (31. Rf7 $5 Nh2+ 32.
Ke2 $18) 31... Bxb7 32. Qxb7 Qh4 33. d7 $18 Bf6 34. a4 $138 Qh5 35. Rd6 Ne5 36.
Qd5 (36. Rxf6 $4 Qd1#) 36... Nxc4 37. bxc4 Bg7 38. Re6 g5 39. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. Nc3 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd1 $5 (5. Qd2 Nf6 6. g3 $2 Be6 $1
$15 7. e4 Be7 8. b3 $2 Nxe4 $1 9. Nxe4 d5 $17 {Benko,P-Psakhis,L Aruba 1992
CBM/30}) 5... g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bg5 $1 Nge7 8. Nd5 f5 9. e3 h6 10. Bf6 Bxf6 11.
Nxf6+ Kf7 12. Nd5 Ne5 13. Nd4 c6 14. Nc3 a6 15. Be2 c5 16. Nf3 Be6 17. b3 Qa5
18. Qd2 Rad8 19. Rd1 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 22. O-O d5 (22... b4 23.
Ne2 d5 24. Nf4 $14) 23. b4 $1 Qxb4 (23... cxb4 $2 24. Ne2 $16) 24. Rb1 Qa5 25.
Rxb5 Qa7 26. Ne2 $14 Rb8 27. Ra5 Qb6 28. Nf4 Ra8 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Rd1 Qb4 31.
Qc2 Ra3 32. h4 Qc3 33. Qe2 Qe5 34. Qd2 $2 (34. Qb5 $1 $14) 34... c4 (34... Qc3
$2 35. Nxe6 $1 Qxd2 36. Nd8+ Ke8 37. Rxd2 Kxd8 38. Bxd5 Nxd5 39. Rxd5+ Ke7 40.
Rxc5 Rxa2 41. h5 $1 $18) 35. Rb1 c3 36. Qc2 d4 37. Nxe6 Qxe6 38. exd4 Qc4 (
38... Qxa2 39. Qc1 $1) 39. Be2 Qxd4 40. h5 $1 Kf6 41. Qc1 Rxa2 42. Qxh6 Qc5 43.
Re1 $1 Rd2 44. Kh1 Qb4 $2 (44... Qxf2 $1 45. Qf8+ Kg5 46. Qxe7+ Kh6 $13) 45. f4
Rd8 46. Bc4 $1 c2 47. Qg5+ 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Spasov, Vasil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 O-O 6. Ng3 c6 7. Be2 a6 8. Bg5
b5 9. cxb5 axb5 10. a3 Bb7 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Qd2 Qb6 13. b4 Qd8 14. f4 h6 15.
Bh4 Nb6 16. Kh1 Bc8 17. Bd3 e5 18. Qc2 exd4 19. Nce2 Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Nxd4
Qb6 22. Nge2 Ng4 23. Qd2 c3 24. Qxc3 c5 25. bxc5 dxc5 26. Qb3 Qxb3 27. Nxb3
Bxa1 28. Rxa1 Ba6 29. Nc3 c4 30. Nd4 Kg7 31. h3 Nf6 32. e5 Nh5 33. Rf1 Kh7 34.
Kh2 Bb7 35. g4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 g5 37. Bxg5 hxg5 38. Rf5 Rxa3 39. Ne6 fxe6 40.
Rxf8 Kg7 41. Rd8 Rxc3 42. Rd7+ Kf8 43. Rxb7 Re3 44. Rc7 c3 45. Kg2 Ke8 46. Rc6
Kd7 47. Rc5 Rd3 48. Rc4 Rd2+ 49. Kg3 Rd3+ 50. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Stohl, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 f5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 Qe8 8. Nd5
Nxd5 9. cxd5 Qb5 10. Ng5 h6 11. a4 Qc4 12. Ne6 Bxe6 13. dxe6 d5 14. Be3 c6 15.
Qd2 Na6 16. Bxh6 Qb4 17. Qf4 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Rf6 19. Qf4 Rc8 20. Rfc1 Nc7 21. Rc2
Kg7 22. e3 Nxe6 23. Qf3 Rh8 24. h4 g5 25. hxg5 Nxg5 26. Qf4 Rh5 27. Kf1 Qb3 28.
Re2 Qd3 29. Rae1 Rfh6 30. g4 fxg4 31. Qxg4 Kf7 32. f3 Nh7 33. Qf4+ Nf6 34. Kg1
Rg6 35. Rf2 Rg7 36. b4 Qh7 37. Kf1 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dorfman, Josif D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8.
O-O d6 9. Be3 Nf6 10. c4 O-O 11. Rd1 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 e5 13. Nc3 Be6 14. Nd5 Nd7
15. Be2 a5 16. Nc3 a4 17. Nd2 Nd4 18. Rac1 Nc5 19. Nf3 Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Qb6 21.
Nb5 Rfd8 22. Qe3 Qc6 23. f3 b6 24. Rd2 Rd7 25. b4 axb3 26. axb3 Nb7 27. b4 h6
28. Rdd1 Ra4 29. Qc3 Ra2 30. Bf1 Rd8 31. Ra1 Rda8 32. Rxa2 Rxa2 33. Kh1 Kf8 34.
Qb3 Ra8 35. Nc3 Nd8 36. h3 f6 37. Kh2 Bf7 38. Rd2 Ne6 39. Nb5 Rd8 40. Qa3 Ke7
41. Qa7+ Kf8 42. Ra2 Rd7 43. Qa8+ Nd8 44. Ra7 Qxa8 45. Rxa8 Ke7 46. Na7 Rb7 47.
Nc8+ Kd7 48. Nxd6 Kxd6 49. Rxd8+ Ke7 50. Ra8 Kd6 51. Kg3 Rd7 52. Ra6 Kc7 53. c5
bxc5 54. Bb5 Re7 55. bxc5 Kb8 56. Bc6 Be6 57. Kh4 Bf7 58. Bd5 Be8 59. c6 Kc7
60. Ra7+ Kd6 61. Rxe7 Kxe7 62. c7 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nf3 g6 7. c4 N5f6 8.
Nc3 Bg7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O c5 11. d5 Ne8 12. Re1 Nd6 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. Qd2 Nb6
15. Qf4 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 f6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. Rxe6 Nd7 19. Rae1 Ne5 20. Qg3 Rf7 21.
b3 b5 22. Nxb5 Nxb5 23. cxb5 g5 24. R1xe5 fxe5 25. Qxg5+ Rg7 26. Bxh7+ Kh8 27.
Qxe5 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. Bd3 Rg4 30. g3 Rd4 31. Bc4 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Rd2 33.
Rxe7 Rxa2 34. Rf7 Rd8 35. h4 Rd6 36. g4 Kg8 37. Rf5 Kg7 38. g5 Kg6 39. Rf8 Rd2
40. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Manolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Ne8 8. Nge2 g6
9. Bh6 Ng7 10. Qd2 Nd7 11. O-O Nf6 12. h3 Kh8 13. Be3 Nd7 14. Rad1 f5 15. Bh6
Nf6 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bf6 20. g4 Bd7 21. Bb1 Kg8
22. Ne2 Qe7 23. Kg2 b5 24. Nc3 bxc4 25. Ne4 Bh4 26. Qc3 Ba4 27. Rc1 Rxf1 28.
Rxf1 Rb8 29. Nxd6 Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Qxf8 31. Ne4 Bd1 32. Qxg7+ Qxg7 33. Bxg7 Kxg7
34. Nc3 Bxg4 35. hxg4 Kf6 36. Kf3 Ke5 37. Be4 Bg5 38. Nb5 a6 39. Nc7 Bc1 40.
Nxa6 Bxb2 41. Nxc5 h5 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. Nd7+ Kd4 44. a4 c3 45. Nf6 c2 46. Bxc2
Ke5 47. Nxh5 Kxd5 48. a5 Kc5 49. Bd3 Bc3 50. a6 Kb6 51. Nf4 Bd4 52. Ke4 Bg1 53.
Kd5 Bf2 54. Ne6 Bg1 55. Kd6 Bf2 56. Nd8 Bg3+ 57. Kd7 Ka7 58. Nc6+ Ka8 59. Ke8
1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kurajica, Bojan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b4 Bg7 5. Bb2 d6 6. d4 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. c4 Na6
9. Qb3 Nc7 10. a4 h6 11. Nc3 Qe8 12. d5 cxd5 13. cxd5 Bd7 14. b5 Qf7 15. Nd4
Ng4 16. Nd1 f4 17. Rc1 Rac8 18. h3 Ne5 19. a5 g5 20. b6 axb6 21. axb6 Na6 22.
Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Nc3 Nc5 24. Qd1 Ned3 25. exd3 Bxd4 26. gxf4 gxf4 27. Na4 Bxb2 28.
Nxb2 Qg7 29. d4 Bxh3 30. Qf3 Bxg2 31. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Nd7 33. Nd3 Rc4 34.
Nxf4 Rxd4 35. Kf3 Nxb6 36. Ke3 Rb4 37. Rh1 Kg7 38. Ne6+ Kf7 39. Nf4 Rb5 40. Kd4
Kf6 41. Ke4 Kg7 42. f3 Nd7 43. Kf5 Kf7 44. Ke4 Nf6+ 45. Kd4 Rb4+ 46. Ke3 Rb3+
47. Kf2 Rb5 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Skembris, Spyridon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
exd5 cxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 c6 11. Na4 h6 12. Bh4 Re8 13. c4 Be6 14. Rc1 Rb8
15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Bc4 Re6 17. b3 Qa5 18. Bxf6 Rxf6 19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. Qd4 Re8
21. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flear, Glenn C"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. Bf4 c6 8. e4
Na6 9. Be2 Qa5 10. O-O Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qf5 12. Bg5 Qxe4 13. Bd3 Qg4 14. Bxe7 Re8
15. Bd6 Be6 16. Qc3 Bd5 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. Bg3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qxd4 20. Qxc6 Qxb2
21. Rae1 Qb5 22. Rc1 Rad8 23. a4 Qb6 24. Kg2 Re6 25. Qc7 Bf6 26. Rc4 h5 27.
Rfc1 Qxc7 28. Rxc7 h4 29. Bf4 Rd4 30. R1c4 Re1 31. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia Gonzales, Guillermo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A10"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 e5 3. Bg2 f5 4. O-O Nf6 5. c4 Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Kh8 8. Nc3
c6 9. d3 Be6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. d4 e4 12. Ng5 Bg8 13. Nh3 d5 14. c5 Qe8 15. f3 h6
16. b4 g5 17. fxe4 fxe4 18. Nd1 Be6 19. Nhf2 Qg6 20. Ne3 h5 21. a4 g4 22. Bh1
h4 23. Ng2 hxg3 24. hxg3 Nh5 25. Nh4 Bxh4 26. gxh4 Kg8 27. Bg2 Nf4 28. Nh1 Nh5
29. Bc1 Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Rf8 31. Qg5 Kh7 32. Qxg6+ Kxg6 33. Bg5 Ndf6 34. e3 Rf7
35. Bxf6 Nxf6 36. Kh2 Rh7 37. Kg3 Nh5+ 38. Kg2 Ng7 39. Ng3 Rxh4 40. b5 Nf5 41.
Nxf5 Bxf5 42. a5 cxb5 43. a6 bxa6 44. Rxa6+ Kg5 45. Bxb5 Rh3 46. Ra3 Kh4 47. c6
Rg3+ 48. Kh2 Rf3 49. c7 Rf2+ 50. Kg1 Rc2 51. Rxa7 g3 52. Bf1 Rc1 53. Ra6 g2 54.
Kxg2 Bh3+ 55. Kg1 Rxf1+ 56. Kh2 Rf2+ 57. Kg1 Rc2 58. Rh6+ Kg3 0-1

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gomez Esteban, Juan Mario"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. f3 g6 6. e4 d6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. a4 O-O
9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Nh3 Ne5 11. Nf2 e6 12. dxe6 Bxe6 13. Rc1 axb5 14. Bxb5 Nc4 15.
Bxc4 Bxc4 16. b3 Ba6 17. Nd3 Qa5 18. O-O Rfe8 19. Rf2 Ng4 20. fxg4 Bxc3 21. Nf4
Rxe4 22. Nd5 Rxe3 23. Nxe3 Bd4 24. Qf3 Ra7 25. Kh1 Re7 26. Qa8+ Kg7 27. Nc4 Qb4
28. Qd8 Qe1+ 29. Rf1 Qe6 30. h3 d5 31. Nb6 Bxf1 32. Rxf1 Qe2 0-1

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gonzalez, L."]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. e3 d5 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. Ndf3
cxd4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. exd4 O-O 12. Bd3 c5 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rb1 a5
15. Re1 Bd7 16. Ne5 Rb7 17. Re3 Rfb8 18. Rg3 cxd4 19. cxd4 Rxb2 20. Rxb2 Rxb2
21. Qf3 Qb4 22. Nxd7 Qe1+ 23. Bf1 Nxd7 24. Qf4 Nf8 25. Rf3 f6 26. Re3 Qd2 27.
a3 Rb1 28. Qd6 Qxd4 0-1

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qc7 8. Nf3
Bd7 9. a4 Nbc6 10. Ba3 b6 11. h5 h6 12. Qd2 Na5 13. Bd3 O-O 14. Rh4 f5 15. exf6
Rxf6 16. Ne5 Nf5 17. Rf4 cxd4 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. g4 dxc3 20. Qxc3 Rc8 21. Qd2
Nh4 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Qxh6 Qg7 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. Ke2 Nc4 26. Bb4 a5 27. Bc3 e5
28. Rh1 Ng2 29. h6+ Kh8 30. Kf3 Nf4 31. g5 fxg5 32. Bxc4 Rxc4 33. Bxe5+ Kh7 34.
Rb1 Kxh6 35. Rxb6+ Kh5 36. Bxf4 Rxf4+ 37. Kg3 Rxa4 38. Rb5 d4 39. f4 Ra3+ 40.
Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Larsen, Bent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 a5 9. a4 Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 Nxb3 12. cxb3 Ra6 13. O-O Re6 14. Rfe1
b6 15. Bh6 Bb7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Re3 f5 18. Rae1 fxe4 19. Nxe4 h6 20. Nd2 Rxe3
21. Qd4+ e5 22. Qxe3 d6 23. Nc4 Rf4 24. Rd1 Re4 25. Qc3 Qg5 26. g3 Rd4 27. Rxd4
exd4 28. Qxd4+ Kh7 29. Ne3 Qe7 30. f4 h5 31. Kf2 Qe6 32. Qc4 Qd7 33. Ke1 Bc6
34. Kd2 b5 35. axb5 Bxb5 36. Qd5 a4 37. bxa4 Bc4 38. Nxc4 Qh3 39. Qh1 Qe6 40.
Qb7+ Kg8 41. Qb8+ Kh7 42. Qa7+ 1-0

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A51"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. e3 Qe7 7. Be2 Nxe5 8.
O-O Nxf3+ 9. Nxf3 O-O 10. Nd4 Bc5 11. Qc2 c6 12. b3 d5 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. Bd3 Rfe8
15. f3 Nf6 16. Rae1 dxc4 17. bxc4 Rad8 18. Bf5 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Nd7
21. Qa5 c5 22. Ba1 Nb6 23. e4 Rd3 24. Rc1 Nc8 25. Bc3 Qd6 26. Be1 b6 27. Qa6
Qd7 28. a4 Ra3 29. Qb5 Qxb5 30. axb5 Rd8 31. Bh4 f6 32. e5 Kf7 33. Rfe1 Rd2 34.
Rcd1 Raa2 35. Rxd2 Rxd2 36. exf6 gxf6 37. Re4 Nd6 38. Rf4 f5 39. Bg3 Kg6 40.
Rh4 Rd1+ 41. Kf2 Nf7 42. Bb8 Ra1 43. g4 fxg4 44. Rxg4+ Kf6 45. Rf4+ Kg6 46. Re4
Kf6 47. Re8 Ra4 48. Rc8 Ne5 49. Rh8 Nxc4 50. Rxh7 a6 51. bxa6 Rxa6 52. h4 Kg6
53. Rb7 Na5 54. Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vaisser, Anatoli"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c3 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Nc2 Bb7 16. exf5 Qg5 17. Ne3 h5 18. Be2 d5 19. Bf3 Rad8 20. Qb3 e4 21. Be2
d4 22. cxd4 Rxd4 23. Rad1 Rfd8 24. Rxd4 Rxd4 25. Qc2 h4 26. Qc7 Bd5 27. Qc8+
Kh7 28. Qxa6 Rd2 29. Qxb5 Bxa2 30. Bc4 Bd4 31. Bxa2 Rxf2 32. Rxf2 Qxe3 33. Qf1
Kg8 34. h3 Kg7 35. Bc4 Kf6 36. b3 Kg7 37. Be2 Qxb3 38. Kh1 Bxf2 39. Qxf2 Qb1+
40. Qg1 Qb2 41. Qe1 e3 42. Bg4 Qf2 43. Qc3+ f6 44. Qc7+ Kh6 45. Qd6 Kg5 46. Kh2
Qe1 47. Qb8 Qf2 48. Qc7 Qe1 49. Qd6 e2 50. Bxe2 Qxe2 51. Qe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa op"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zak, Uriel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 b5 7. Ne5 Qb6 8. O-O
Bb7 9. e4 Nfd7 10. Nf3 Bb4 11. Be3 c5 12. d5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. dxe6 Qxe6
15. Qb1 Bc6 16. Ng5 Qe5 17. Bf4 Qxc3 18. e5 Qd3 19. e6 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 fxe6 21.
Qxb5 Qd5+ 22. f3 Nc6 23. Rac1 Nd4 24. Qxc4 Qxc4 25. Rxc4 e5 26. Be3 Rab8 27.
Ne4 Rb2+ 28. Rf2 Nf5 29. Bxc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 Ne3+ 31. Kh3 Rxf2 32. Nxf2 Rxf3 33.
Ne4 Rf5 34. Rc8+ Rf8 35. Rc3 Nd1 36. Rc7 Nf2+ 37. Nxf2 Rxf2 38. Rxa7 e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Nf3 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8. Na4
Bd7 9. Nb2 Nc6 10. c4 Be8 11. Nd3 Ne4 12. Bb2 Bh5 13. Rc1 Ng5 14. Nfe5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 c6 16. b4 Qd7 17. f3 Nf7 18. Nf4 Bg6 19. e4 Bg5 20. exd5 Bxf4 21. gxf4
cxd5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Rc5 Qe6 24. Qxd5 Nd8 25. a3 Bf7 26. Qd2 Nc6 27. Bh3 Rad8
28. Qg2 Ne7 29. Kh1 Rd7 30. Rg1 g6 31. Qc2 Rfd8 32. Bc1 Qb3 33. Qxb3 Bxb3 34.
Bf1 Kf7 35. Be2 Nc6 36. Rc3 Nd4 37. Rxb3 Nxb3 38. Bc4+ Ke7 39. Bxb3 Rd3 40. Ba2
Rxf3 41. Re1 Rc3 42. Kg1 b6 43. b5 h5 44. Be3 Rc2 45. Bb3 Rc3 46. Ba2 Rc2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. d5 Ne7 7. h3 Bd7 8. c4 Ng6
9. Nc3 Be7 10. g3 O-O 11. Kf1 c6 12. Kg2 a6 13. a4 a5 14. h4 Re8 15. h5 Nf8 16.
Nh4 Qc8 17. Bd2 Bd8 18. h6 g6 19. Qb3 Qb8 20. Nf3 Bc8 21. Ng5 N6d7 22. Raf1 Nc5
23. Qc2 f6 24. Nh3 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Nd7 26. Be3 Ra6 27. f4 exf4 28. gxf4 Bb6 29.
Nf2 Nc5 30. Bxc5 Bxc5 31. f5 Rb6 32. Ne2 Rxb2 33. fxg6 Re5 34. g7 Rg5+ 35. Ng3
Qa7 36. Qf3 Bd4 37. Rh5 Bg4 38. Rxg5 Bxf3+ 39. Kxf3 fxg5 40. Nf5 Rxf2+ 41. Rxf2
Bf6 42. e5 dxe5 43. d6 Qc5 44. Kg2 e4 45. d7 e3 46. Nxe3 Qd6 47. Ng4 Be7 48. c5
Qd5+ 49. Kh2 b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Todorcevic, Miodrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. d5 Nb6 8. Nfd2
Bd7 9. a4 a5 10. Nc3 c6 11. dxc6 Bxc6 12. e4 Nfd7 13. Qc2 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxa4
15. Qe3 Qb6 16. Qh6 Nac5 17. Ra3 Ne5 18. Qe3 Qb4 19. Rc3 b5 20. f4 Nxc4 21.
Nxc4 bxc4 22. f5 Nd3 23. Qh6 Nxc1 24. Rfxc1 Qxb2 25. g4 Rfc8 26. Qh4 Qd2 27.
Kh1 Rab8 28. R3c2 Qxc2 0-1

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fernandez Garcia, Jose Luis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B05"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6 6. c4 Nb6 7. Nbd2 N8d7 8.
exd6 exd6 9. O-O Be7 10. a4 a5 11. Re1 O-O 12. Ra3 c5 13. d5 Nf6 14. Re3 Qd7
15. Qb3 Bd8 16. Bd1 h6 17. Bc2 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Qd1 Bc7 20. b3 Rae8 21.
Bb2 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Re8 23. Nh4 Qh7 24. Bxf6 Rxe3 25. fxe3 gxf6 26. Qg4+ Kf8 27.
Ne4 h5 28. Qf5 Qh6 29. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Franco Ocampos, Zenon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B61"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 Rc8 8.
f4 h6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nf5 Qa5 11. Bd3 Nb4 12. O-O Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Qb6+ 14. Kh1
Qxb2 15. Nd5 Qxc2 16. Qe3 Qc5 17. Nd4 Rg8 18. Rfc1 Qa5 19. Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. Qc1
Bd7 21. Nb3 Qa4 22. Qc7 Qc6 23. Qa5 b6 24. Qxa7 Qc2 25. Qb8+ Bc8 26. Ne3 1-0

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Bg4 6. c3 c6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
Nbd2 Be7 9. Nf1 O-O 10. Ng3 Re8 11. O-O Bf8 12. h3 Bc8 13. Qc2 h6 14. Bd2 b6
15. Rae1 Rxe1 16. Rxe1 Bb7 17. Nf5 c5 18. Bf4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nc6 20. dxc5 bxc5
21. Rd1 d5 22. Be4 Qd7 23. Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 c5 6. Nge2 O-O 7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. a4 Bd7 13. f4 Neg4 14. Bd2 h5 15. h3
Nh6 16. O-O Re8 17. Bf3 Nfg4 18. Nce2 f5 19. Qc2 Nf6 20. e5 dxe5 21. fxe5 Rxe5
22. Nf4 Kh7 23. Bc3 Re8 24. Rad1 Qe7 25. Nge2 Qd6 26. Qb3 Rab8 27. a5 Re3 28.
Rd3 Re7 29. Qa3 Bb5 30. Rdd1 g5 31. b4 gxf4 32. bxc5 Qd7 33. c6 bxc6 34. dxc6
Qc7 35. Nxf4 Bxf1 36. Bxf6 Bxf6 37. Nd5 Qa7+ 38. Kxf1 Bh4 39. g3 Rg7 40. c7
Rbg8 41. Qc3 Bxg3 42. Rd2 Bxc7 43. Nf6+ Kh8 44. Rg2 Bxa5 45. Qxa5 Qe3 0-1

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. h3 b6 11. e4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Bb7 14. Bf4 Bxf4
15. Qxf4 c5 16. Ne5 Nf6 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qc7 19. Qe3 Rad8 20. dxc5 bxc5
21. Nd3 Rd4 22. Nxc5 Rxc4 23. b4 Qc6 24. Qb3 Qb5 25. Nd3 Rec8 26. a4 Qb8 27.
Rac1 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 29. Nxc1 Nd5 30. Nd3 Qc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mesa-A"]
[Site "Mesa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 Kh8 13. Qc2 Ng8 14. exf5 gxf5 15. f4
Ne7 16. Nf3 e4 17. Ne1 c6 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Be3 axb4 20. axb4 Nb6 21. Qd2 Be6
22. Bd4 Rf6 23. Nd1 d5 24. c5 Nc4 25. Qc3 Nc8 26. Nc2 Ra2 27. Bxc4 dxc4 28.
Nde3 Na7 29. Rfd1 Qf8 30. Be5 Nb5 31. Qe1 Rg6 32. Qh4 Ra8 33. Bxg7+ Rxg7 34.
Nd4 Nxd4 35. Rxd4 Rga7 36. h3 c3 37. Kh2 Ra2 38. Qe1 Qg7 39. Qxc3 Bd5 40. Qe1
Qxd4 0-1

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rodriguez, Ja"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B96"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Qf3
b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Kb1 Be7 12. g4 Rc8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bg2 Nb6
15. Bf1 d5 16. Bd3 Bc5 17. Nde2 b4 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Be4 Bxc3 21.
Nxc3 Nxc3+ 22. bxc3 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxc3 24. Qa4+ Kf8 25. Qb3 Kg7 26. Qxc3 Rxc3
27. Rd4 Rb8+ 28. Kc1 Rbc8 29. Rd2 Rf3 30. f5 e5 31. Re1 a5 32. Rd3 Rf4 33. h3
h5 34. Rg3 hxg4 35. Rxg4+ Rxg4 36. hxg4 Rc4 37. Rg1 Kh6 38. Rh1+ Kg5 39. Rh7
Kxg4 0-1

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lozano Arribas, Carlos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8.
Neg5 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 c6 10. Re1 Be7 11. Qh3 Nf8 12. c3 Qc7 13. Bd2 Bd6 14. b4
O-O-O 15. c4 Ng6 16. g3 Rhe8 17. Bc3 Kb8 18. Nf3 e5 19. Bxg6 exd4 20. Bxd4 hxg6
21. c5 Bf8 22. Be5 Rxe5 23. Nxe5 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Qe1 Qc7 12. h4 b5 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5
e5 15. Kb1 Be7 16. Bc1 O-O 17. g4 Nxg4 18. Rg1 h5 19. f3 Nf6 20. Bd3 Kh8 21.
Rxg7 Kxg7 22. Qg3+ Ng4 23. fxg4 Rg8 24. Rf1 Kf8 25. g5 Ke8 26. Qf3 Rf8 27. Qxh5
Qc5 28. g6 Qxd5 29. g7 Rg8 30. Qh7 Kd7 31. Qf5+ Kc7 32. Be4 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Qc2 g6 6. e3 Bg7 7. Nge2 e5 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. O-O-O c6 10. g4 {[#]} fxg4 11. Ng3 Qa5 12. h4 e4 13. Ngxe4 O-O 14. Nd6
Ne5 15. Be2 Nh5 16. Qb3 Qc7 17. c5+ Kh8 18. Rd4 b6 19. cxb6 axb6 20. Rhd1 h6
21. Bf4 Nxf4 22. Rxf4 Bf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Qc2 Qc8 25. e4 fxe4 26. Qxe4 Rxf4
27. Qxf4 Qe6 28. Qe4 Rf8 29. Kb1 Qf6 30. Bxg4 Qxh4 31. f3 b5 32. a3 Qf6 33. Bd7
Nxd7 34. Rxd7 Qxf3 35. Rd6 Qf1+ 36. Ka2 Qh3 37. Qe6 Qxe6+ 38. Rxe6 0-1

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nh3 O-O 7. O-O Bxc3 8.
bxc3 b6 9. f4 exf4 10. Nxf4 Bb7 11. Ba3 Rf7 12. Nd5 g6 13. Qd2 Na5 14. Qf4 c6
15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Bb4 c5 17. Bxa5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxa5 19. Rac1 Qc6+ 20. Qf3 Re8
21. Qxc6 dxc6 22. Kf3 Rb7 23. Rb1 Reb8 24. Rb3 Rb6 25. Ra3 Ra6 26. Rb3 Rab6 27.
Ra3 Ra6 28. g4 fxg4+ 29. Kxg4 Rb2 30. Kf3 Kg7 31. Ke3 a4 32. h4 Ra5 33. d4
cxd4+ 34. cxd4 Rb4 35. Kd3 Rf5 36. Rxf5 gxf5 37. Rc3 Kf6 38. e4 fxe4+ 39. Kxe4
Ke6 40. h5 Rb2 41. Ra3 Rb4 42. c5 a5 43. h6 Rb1 44. Rxa4 Re1+ 45. Kf4 Rf1+ 46.
Ke3 Re1+ 47. Kd2 Rh1 48. Rxa5 Kd5 49. Kc3 Rc1+ 50. Kb2 Rh1 51. Ra7 Kxd4 52.
Rxh7 Kxc5 53. Ka3 Kb6 54. Rh8 Rh4 55. h7 Ka7 56. Kb3 c5 57. a4 Kb7 58. a5 Ka7
59. a6 Rb4+ 60. Kc2 Rc4+ 61. Kd2 Rd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 3. Nd2 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. h4 d5 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Ngf3 c6 8. Bf4
Ng4 9. h5 e5 10. dxe5 Ndxe5 11. Qb3 Nf7 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Rxh8+ Bxh8 14. Bg3
Qe7 15. O-O-O a5 16. a4 Bf6 17. Be2 Kf8 18. Nd4 Kg7 19. Re1 Nge5 20. Qc2 Bd7
21. Rh1 c5 22. Nb5 Bxb5 23. axb5 a4 24. Nb1 Nd6 25. Rd1 Ne4 26. Rxd5 Nxg3 27.
fxg3 Nd7 28. Qd3 Nb6 29. Rd6 c4 30. Qd1 Qxe3+ 31. Qd2 Qe7 32. Kd1 Rh8 33. Bf3
Rh1+ 34. Kc2 Bg5 35. Qd4+ Kh7 36. Bd1 Qe2+ 0-1

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. g3 Qb6 12. Nce2 O-O-O 13. Bg2 Kb8 14. Kb1
Rc8 15. Rhf1 Rc7 16. c3 h5 17. h4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Rg8 19. Ne2 Bc6 20. Bf3 Bb7 21.
Qd3 Qc5 22. Rd2 Rh8 23. Nd4 Qc4 24. Re1 Qxd3+ 25. Rxd3 Be7 26. f5 e5 27. Nc2
Rcc8 28. Nb4 Rcg8 29. Bd1 Rg7 30. Ree3 a5 31. Nd5 Bd8 32. a3 a4 33. Kc1 Ka7 34.
Kd2 Bxd5 35. Rxd5 Bb6 36. Red3 Bc5 37. Ke1 Rhg8 38. Bxh5 Rxg3 39. Rxg3 Rxg3 40.
Rd2 Rh3 41. Bxf7 Rxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Qb3
Nb6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bg2 Bd6 11. O-O Bg4 12. a4 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Rb8 14. a5 Nd7
15. Bg4 Qd8 16. e4 Nf6 17. Bf3 dxe4 18. Nxe4 O-O 19. Rfe1 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qf6 21.
Kg2 g6 22. Rae1 Bc7 23. Qc3 Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Bg5 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 f6 5. Bh4 e5 6. e3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Nh6 8. Nge2
O-O 9. f3 c6 10. O-O Qe8 11. b4 f5 12. Qd2 Nf7 13. b5 Bh6 14. f4 Nb6 15. c5
dxc5 16. dxe5 c4 17. Bc2 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Qxe5 19. Rf3 cxb5 20. Bg3 Qf6 21. Rd1
Be6 22. Nxb5 Rad8 23. Ned4 Nd5 24. Qe1 a6 25. Bh4 g5 26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. Nd4 Qb6
28. Nxf5 gxh4 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Ne7+ Kg7 31. Nxd5 Qb2 32. Rxf8 Kxf8 33. Qf1+
Ke8 34. Qxc4 Kd7 35. Qc7+ Ke6 36. Nf4+ Bxf4 37. Bb3+ 1-0

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Martin Gonzalez, Angel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Nge2
O-O 9. Ng3 Re8 10. Be2 a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. O-O Rb8 13. Be3 h5 14. Qd2 h4 15. Nh1
Nh7 16. Nf2 Qc7 17. Kh1 c4 18. Ba7 Ra8 19. Bd4 Ndf6 20. a5 Bd7 21. Na4 Bb5 22.
Nb6 Rad8 23. Rac1 Qe7 24. Bxc4 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 Qf8 26. Qf4 g5 27. Qd2 Nd7 28.
Nxd7 Rxd7 29. Be3 Qe7 30. Ng4 Rc7 31. Bxg5 1-0

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Todorcevic, Miodrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c4 e5 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. d5 Ne7 8. Nfd2
O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. b4 f5 11. f3 Kh8 12. h4 c6 13. g4 b5 14. dxc6 fxg4 15. cxb5
Nc7 16. fxg4 d5 17. b6 axb6 18. Bxb6 Rb8 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. b5 Qa7 21. Qc2 Qf2+
22. Kd1 Qg2 23. Re1 Bxg4 24. c7 Rbc8 25. b6 Nc6 26. exd5 Bf5 27. Qb2 Nd4 28. d6
Nxe2 29. Rxe2 Qg1+ 30. Re1 Qg4+ 31. Kc1 Qg3 32. Re4 Bh6 33. b7 Qg1+ 34. Kc2 Qd4
35. bxc8=Q Rxc8 36. Rd1 Qxd6 37. Nb5 Qc6+ 38. Kb1 Bxe4+ 39. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 40. Ka1
Bf8 41. Rd8 Qf5 42. Qb1 Qh3 43. Qd3 Qh1+ 44. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ubilava, Elizbar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nh3 Bg7 5. Nf4 Nc6 6. h4 e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. h5
c6 9. c4 O-O 10. hxg6 hxg6 11. Nc3 Qe8 12. c5 b6 13. Nb5 bxc5 14. Nd6 Qe7 15.
Qb3+ Rf7 16. Nxf7 c4 17. Nxg6 Nxg6 18. Nh6+ Bxh6 19. Qxc4+ d5 20. Qxc6 Bb7 21.
Bxd5+ Nxd5 22. Qxg6+ Bg7 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Bh6 Rg8 25. Bxg7 Rxg7 26. Qxf5+ Kg8
27. Rh4 Nf6 28. Rc1 Kf7 29. Rh6 1-0

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Del Rio de Angelis, Salvador Gabriel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8.
O-O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qa5 10. Kb1 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Bxh7+ Nxh7 13. Bxe7 Rfe8 14.
Bc5 Nhf6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 b4 17. Ng5 Nf6 18. Qc2 1-0

[Event "Ponferrada op1"]
[Site "Ponferrada"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Matamoros Franco, Carlos S"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qc2 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O Ba6 10. Bg5 Re8 11. Ne5 c6 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Rfe1 h6 14. Bf4 Bf8 15.
Rad1 Ra7 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nd5 18. Nxc6 Nxc6 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 20. gxf4 Rae7 21.
Qc1 Bb7 22. d5 Rd7 23. Nc3 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Bb4 25. Re5 Bd6 26. Re4 Qb8 27. Qe3
Rd8 28. Qxb6 f5 29. Re1 Kh8 30. h3 Rc8 31. Qd4 Ba6 32. Re6 Kh7 33. Bf1 Bxf1 34.
Kxf1 Qxb2 35. Rxd6 Rxc3 0-1

[Event "Seville op"]
[Site "Seville"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Alvarez de Toledo Cornello, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Be2 d5 7. exd6 Bxd6 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Ne4 Be7 10. c3 f5 11. Ng3 O-O 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Re1 Qc8 14. d3 Nd5 15.
Qe2 Nc7 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Bf4 Nd5 18. Bd2 f4 19. Ne4 Rf5 20. c4 Nc7 21. d4 Qf8
22. Bc3 Re8 23. Rad1 h6 24. Ne5 cxd4 25. Bxd4 Bb4 26. Rf1 a6 27. f3 Bxe4 28.
fxe4 Rg5 29. Kh1 Be7 30. Nd3 Rd8 31. Bb6 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Na8 33. Bg1 e5 34. Rd7
Bd8 35. Rxb7 Nc7 36. c5 Ne6 37. Qc4 Rg6 38. c6 Kh7 39. c7 1-0

[Event "Seville op"]
[Site "Seville"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Antunes, Antonio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 5. Be3 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. c4 Bg7 8. Nc3
Nf6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. Rac1 Ng4 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 Qa5 15. h4
gxh4 16. Bxh4 Rae8 17. c5 Qxc5 18. Nd5 Qa7 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Qxd6 Ng6 21. Qxd7
Rxe4 22. Bg3 Rxe2 23. Qxg4 Rxb2 24. Rfd1 Qb6 25. Rd6 Qb5 26. a4 Qa5 27. Rc4 Rb6
28. Rd7 h5 29. Qe4 Re6 30. Qxb7 Qf5 31. Rd5 Qf6 32. Rxh5 Rb6 33. Qe4 Qa1+ 34.
Kh2 Rb1 35. Kh3 Rh1+ 36. Nh2 Qa3 37. Rc6 Rd8 38. Rxa6 Qc3 39. Ra8 Nf4+ 40. Kg4
1-0

[Event "Seville op"]
[Site "Seville"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jimenez Morales, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. e4 e5 7. Bd3 O-O 8. h3 Ne8
9. g4 g6 10. Bh6 Ng7 11. Qd2 a6 12. a4 Qa5 13. Ke2 Nd7 14. Qc2 f6 15. Bd2 Qc7
16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Nxb6 18. Rhg1 Bd7 19. Nd1 Rfb8 20. Ne3 Qc8 21. h4 Kh8 22. h5
g5 23. h6 Ne8 24. Nf5 Qd8 25. Ra2 Nc7 26. Ba5 Ra7 27. Nd2 Rab7 28. Rb1 Nba8 29.
b4 cxb4 30. Rab2 Qf8 31. Nxe7 Bxg4+ 32. f3 Bxf3+ 33. Nxf3 Qxe7 34. Rxb4 Rxb4
35. Bxb4 Rg8 36. c5 g4 37. Nh4 g3 38. cxd6 Qd7 39. dxc7 Qh3 40. Bf8 Rxf8 41.
Rb8 Qh2+ 1-0

[Event "Seville op"]
[Site "Seville"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gomez, M."]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E71"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. g4 Nc5
9. f3 a5 10. Qd2 c6 $5 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. O-O-O Nb7 13. c5 d5 $1 14. exd5 (14.
g5 d4 $1 15. gxf6 Qxf6 $1 $17) 14... Nxd5 $1 (14... cxd5 $2 15. g5 $1 (15. c6
$2 d4 $1 16. cxb7 Bxb7 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Qxd4 Nd5 $1 $17) 15... d4 16. gxf6
Bxf6 17. Bh6 $16) 15. Bc4 $1 (15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. Qxd5 (16. c6 Qc7 $1) 16... Qxd5
17. Rxd5 Be6 $17) 15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qe7 $10 17. Na4 Be6 18. Bxe6 Qxe6 19. Kb1
Rad8 20. Ne2 Qc4 $6 (20... f5 $5) 21. Qe4 $1 Qb4 $1 22. a3 (22. Qxc6 $2 Rc8 23.
Qe4 Nxc5 $15) 22... Qb3 23. Nec3 Rd4 24. Qxc6 Rfd8 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. Rc1 (26.
Qe8+ Bf8 27. c6 Nd6 28. Qxe5 Rxa4 $13) 26... Bf8 27. Qe8 Rc4 $6 28. Nb6 $1 Nxc5
29. Nxc4 Qxc4 30. Rd1 $16 (30. Qxe5 Nd3 31. Qe4 $16) 30... Qf4 31. Qc6 Kg7 32.
Rd8 Be7 $5 33. Re8 Qd2 $1 34. Rxe7 $2 (34. Qd5 $6 Nd3 35. Rb8 Bxa3 $13) (34.
Qb5 $1) 34... Qd3+ $10 35. Ka2 (35. Ka1 Nb3+ 36. Ka2 Nc1+ 37. Ka1 Nb3+ $10)
35... Qc4+ 36. Kb1 Qf1+ 37. Kc2 $4 (37. Kc2 Qd3+ 38. Kc1 Nb3#) 0-1

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pomar Salamanca, Arturo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2345"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8.
O-O-O a6 9. Kb1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Ne4 b5 13. Be2 Bb7 14. Nc5
Nxc5 15. Qxc5 Qxc5 16. dxc5 Rfd8 17. Rd4 Kf8 18. Rhd1 Ke7 19. Ng5 f5 20. e4 Nf4
21. Bf3 Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Rf8 23. Nxh7 Rh8 24. Ng5 Rxh2 25. exf5 Nxg2 26. Nxe6 Nh4
27. Bg4 Rxf2 28. Nxg7 Nf3 29. Re4+ Kf7 30. Bxf3 Rxf3 31. Ne8 Bc8 32. Nd6+ Kf6
33. Nxc8 Rxf5 34. Nb6 Rf1+ 35. Kc2 Rf2+ 36. Kc3 Rf3+ 37. Kb4 Rf2 38. Ka5 Rxb2
39. Kxa6 Kf5 40. Re3 Rc2 41. Nd7 1-0

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kolev, Atanas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 e6 4. c4 Ne7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d5 d6 7. dxe6 Bxe6 8. Be2
Nbc6 9. O-O f5 10. Ng5 Bd7 11. c5 dxc5 12. Qb3+ Kh8 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Qxf7 Ne5
15. Qb3 N7c6 16. Be3 Nd4 17. Qd1 fxe4 18. Nxe4 b6 19. f3 Bc6 20. Kh1 Qe8 21.
Re1 Rd8 22. Bg5 Bxe4 23. fxe4 Rd6 24. Qc1 Bf6 25. Bf4 Bh4 26. g3 Bf6 27. Bxe5
Qxe5 28. Bf1 Kg7 29. Rb1 Nf3 30. Re2 Rd2 31. Qc3 Qh5 32. Qxd2 Nxd2 33. Rxd2 Bd4
34. Bg2 Qe5 35. b3 b5 36. Rbd1 a5 37. Rc2 h5 38. Bf3 Kh6 39. Kg2 g5 40. Kh1 g4
41. Bg2 h4 42. gxh4 Qf6 43. e5 Bxe5 44. Rxc5 Qf4 45. Rc6+ Kh5 46. Kg1 Qxh2+ 47.
Kf1 Qf4+ 48. Ke2 Bd4 49. Rf1 Qe3+ 50. Kd1 Qd3+ 51. Ke1 a4 0-1

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Glavina, Pablo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2405"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 h5 12. O-O Re8 13. Qd2 h4 14. Nh1 Nh7 15.
Nf2 f5 16. Rae1 a6 17. a3 Qf6 18. Nh3 Nf7 19. Nf4 b5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Bd3 Ne5
22. Ne4 Qd8 23. Be2 Nf7 24. h3 Nf6 25. Bd3 Ne5 26. Nxf6+ Qxf6 27. Bxf5 Nc4 28.
Qf2 Qxf5 29. Ne6 Bxb2 30. Qxh4 Nxe3 31. Rxe3 Qxd5 32. Rfe1 Be5 33. Nc7 Qd4 34.
Qg5 Kg7 35. Nxa8 Bf6 36. Kh1 Bxg5 37. Rxe8 Kf7 38. Nc7 Qc3 39. f4 Bd8 40. Kh2
Qd2 41. R1e4 Bf6 42. R8e6 c4 43. Kg3 g5 44. Kf3 d5 45. Re3 Qd1+ 46. Kg3 gxf4+
47. Kxf4 Qh5 48. g4 Qg5+ 49. Kf3 c3 50. Ne8 c2 51. Nxf6 c1=Q 52. Re7+ Kg6 53.
Nh5 Qxe7 54. Rxe7 Qxa3+ 55. Re3 Qa1 56. Nf4+ Kg5 57. Kg3 Qg1+ 58. Ng2 a5 59.
Re6 1-0

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Danailov, Silvio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bd6 8. a4
Na5 9. Ba2 O-O 10. Nc3 b4 11. Ne2 h6 12. Ng3 Re8 13. Bd2 Bf8 14. Re1 c5 15. h3
Rb8 16. Bc4 Qc7 17. Nh2 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. b3 Nxc4 20. bxc4 Nf4 21. Nf3 g6
22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Ne4 Bg7 24. Rb1 Bc6 25. Nfd2 Bxa4 26. Nb3 Bxb3 27. cxb3 Re6
28. Nd2 Rbe8 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Nf3 Bc3 31. Qc2 Qe7 32. Kf1 g5 33. Rd1 Kg7 34.
Qc1 Re2 35. d4 Ra2 36. Kg1 Qe2 37. Rf1 cxd4 38. Qd1 d3 39. Nh2 Ra1 40. Qxa1
Bxa1 41. Rxa1 d2 0-1

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lacasa Diaz, Jose Antonio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 f6 7. O-O Qb6 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. b4 Be7 10. Bf4 fxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Nf6 13. Nd2 O-O 14. a4 a5
15. b5 Rac8 16. c4 Be8 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Nc4 Qd8 19. Qd2 Bb4 20. Qb2 Qe7 21.
Qb3 Nf4 22. Bxf4 Rxf4 23. Rac1 Rc5 24. Ne3 Bf7 25. g3 Rd4 26. Rxc5 Bxc5 27. Bc4
Re4 28. Rd1 Bh5 29. Rc1 b6 30. Ng2 Qd6 31. Qc2 Rd4 32. Re1 Bf7 33. Ne3 Rd2 34.
Qe4 g6 35. Ng4 Kg7 36. Bxe6 Bxe6 37. Qxe6 Qxe6 38. Rxe6 Rd4 39. Ne5 Rxa4 40.
Nd7 Bd4 41. Nxb6 Rb4 42. Rd6 Kf7 43. Nc8 a4 44. b6 a3 45. Rd7+ Ke6 46. Ra7 Bc5
47. Kg2 Rb2 48. Ra5 Kd5 49. Na7 Rxb6 50. Nb5 Bb4 0-1

[Event "St Cugat op"]
[Site "St Cugat"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vidarte Morales, Arturo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Popchev, Milko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. b3 Bf5 7. Ne5 e6 8. g4 Bg6
9. h4 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. f3 f6 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. fxe4 dxe4 14. Qc2 f5 15.
gxf5 exf5 16. Bd2 Rc8 17. Bc3 Bb4 18. O-O-O Qa5 19. Ba1 Ba3+ 20. Kb1 Nb4 21.
Qc3 O-O 22. d5 Rf7 23. Rg1 Qc7 24. Bh3 bxc4 25. d6 Nxa2 26. Kxa2 Bxd6 27. Rxd6
cxb3+ 28. Qxb3 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Petkov, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2260"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nc3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 e5 11. Nb3 Nb6 12. Na5 Qc7 13. O-O Na6 14. c4
Rd8 15. Qc2 Rb8 16. Rfc1 Nc5 17. Rab1 Bf5 18. Qxf5 Rxd2 19. Rb5 Rxe2 20. Nc6
bxc6 21. Rxc5 Qd6 22. Rxc6 Qd2 23. Rf1 g6 24. Qf6 e4 25. Rd6 Qb2 26. Qxb2 Rxb2
27. c5 Nc4 28. Rd7 e3 29. c6 Ne5 30. Rb7 R8xb7 31. cxb7 Nc4 32. Bd5 e2 33. Re1
Nd6 34. Rxe2 Rb5 35. Re7 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Semkov, Semko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. e5 Nh5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Be7 12. a4 a6 13. Ne4 Nd7 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6
Ng7 16. Ne5 h5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. h4 gxh4 21. Bxh4
Qxd6 22. Bf6 Rg8 23. Qa1 Qb8 24. Bf3 Kd7 25. Qa3 Nf5 26. Ra1 Bb7 27. Qb4 Qd6
28. Qc3 Ra8 29. Rxa8 Bxa8 30. Be5 Qf8 31. Qa5 Qc8 32. Bxh5 Ke7 33. Qa3+ c5 34.
Qa7+ Bb7 35. Bf3 f6 36. Bxb7 Qd7 37. Qxc5+ Kf7 38. Bc6 Qe7 39. Bb8 Qxc5 40.
dxc5 Nd4 41. Bf4 b4 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Radulski, Julian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2270"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 Nc6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Be3 b6 10. d4 Ba6 11. Rf2 Na5 12. Bf1 Bxf1 13. Qxf1 d5 14. Rd1 Rc8 15.
dxc5 bxc5 16. exd5 exd5 17. Na4 d4 18. Bd2 Nb7 19. c3 Nd6 20. cxd4 cxd4 21. Qd3
Qd7 22. b3 Qb5 23. Qxb5 Nxb5 24. Bb4 Rfe8 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 26. Kf1 Bf6 27. Nb2 Nc3
28. Rc1 Rd8 29. Nc4 Re6 30. Nce5 Ra6 31. Nxd4 Nxa2 32. Rc6 Nb4 33. Rxa6 Nxa6
34. Ndc6 Rd1+ 35. Kg2 Bxe5 36. Nxe5 Nb4 37. Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kolev, Atanas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O b5 13. Re1 bxc4 14. bxc4 Nb6
15. c5 Nc4 16. Bf1 Nxd2 17. Bxd2 e5 18. dxe5 Bxc5 19. Qc2 Qe7 20. Rad1 Rac8 21.
Bh3 Rc7 22. Bf5 h6 23. Qa4 Bc8 24. e4 Be6 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Qg4 Bxf5 27. Qxf5
Qe6 28. Qd3 Bb6 29. Be3 d4 30. Bxd4 Rd8 31. Qe3 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Rc4 33. Rd6 Bxe3
34. Rxe6 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 fxe6 36. Re2 Ra4 37. Ke3 Kf7 38. Rc2 Kg6 39. Rc7 Rxa2
40. Kf4 Ra4+ 41. Kf3 a5 42. g4 Ra3+ 43. Kf4 Ra4+ 44. Kf3 h5 45. gxh5+ Kf5 46.
Rf7+ Kxe5 47. Rxg7 Rh4 48. Rg5+ Kf6 49. Rxa5 e5 50. h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Genov, Petar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 Qe8 7. b3 d6 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Re1 e5 10. e4 Nxe4 11. dxe5 d5 12. c4 Be6 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Nxe4 Bxe4
15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 f4 17. Re4 Rd8 18. Qc2 fxg3 19. hxg3 h6 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21.
Nf3 g5 22. Rh1 Qg6 23. g4 Rxf3 24. Kxf3 Rd2 25. Bc3 b5 26. Qc5 Rc2 27. Qe3 Ne7
28. Be1 Nd5 29. Qd3 Qc6 30. Kg3 Nf4 31. Qf3 Qd5 32. Re3 Qg8 33. e6 Nxe6 34. Bc3
Rxc3 35. Rxc3 Be5+ 36. Kg2 Nf4+ 37. Kf1 Qg6 38. Rc1 Kh7 39. Re1 Bd4 40. Re7+
Bg7 41. Qe4 Qxe4 42. Rxe4 Nd5 43. Kg2 Bf8 44. Rd1 c6 45. Kf3 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Genov, Petko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. h4 e5 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Qe7 12. Bd3 Nxd4 13. Rc1 c5 14. h5 b6
15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Nf4 Bb7 17. f3 Ne6 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Bc4 Qe5 20. Qe2 Rad8 21.
Qf2 Rfe8 22. Qh4 Kf8 23. Bb5 Qb2 24. Bxe8 Ba6 25. Bb5 Bf6 26. Qh6+ Bg7 27. Bxa6
Bxh6 28. Bxh6+ Kg8 29. O-O Qd4+ 30. Rf2 Qa4 31. Bf1 Rd1 32. Rxd1 Qxd1 33. Rd2
Qa1 34. Kf2 Kh7 35. Be3 Qc3 36. Be2 Qb4 37. Rd7 Kg7 38. Rxa7 Qb2 39. Rb7 Qxa2
40. Rxb6 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Panbukchian, Valentin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2340"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. c3 Nxe4 8. d4
Na5 9. Nxe5 Nxb3 10. Qxb3 Qf6 11. f3 Nc5 12. Ng4 Nxb3 13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. axb3
d6 15. Nd2 Kd7 16. Ne4 Be7 17. b4 Rhe8 18. Bh6 Bd8 19. Bg7 Re6 20. Ng3 f5 21.
Nxf5 Bg5 22. h4 Bf4 23. Rfe1 Rg8 24. Kf2 h5 25. g3 Bxg3+ 26. Nxg3 Rxg7 27. Nxh5
Rh7 28. Rxe6 Kxe6 29. Nf4+ Kf5 30. Ng2 Kf6 31. Rh1 Rh5 32. Nf4 Rh8 33. h5 Kg5
34. Kg3 Rg8 35. Nd3 Kh6+ 36. Kf2 Rg5 37. Nf4 Rf5 38. Ke3 Rg5 39. Rd1 Rg3 40. d5
Rg5 41. b3 Re5+ 42. Kf2 Bc8 43. c4 Bf5 44. Rd2 Kg5 45. Ne2 Kxh5 46. Nd4 Bc8 47.
Nc6 Rg5 48. Ra2 Kh6 49. Re2 Bh3 50. Ke3 Kg7 51. Rh2 Bc8 52. Ra2 Rg1 53. cxb5
axb5 54. Ra7 Bf5 55. Nd4 Bg6 56. Nxb5 Rb1 57. Rxc7 Rxb3+ 58. Rc3 Rxb4 59. Nxd6
Kf6 60. Nc4 Rb1 61. Kd4 Bh5 62. Kc5 Rf1 63. Nd2 Rd1 64. Rd3 Ke7 65. Re3+ Kd7
66. Ne4 Rc1+ 67. Kd4 Bg6 68. Ra3 Bxe4 69. fxe4 f6 70. Ra7+ Kd6 71. Ra6+ Ke7 72.
Re6+ Kf7 73. Rc6 Ra1 74. Rc7+ Ke8 75. d6 Ra5 76. Rc5 Ra7 77. Kd5 Ra4 1-0

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ermenkov, Evgenij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bg5 d4 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Ne1 Bf5 14. Nd3 Bxe4
15. Bxe4 Re8 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Re1 Re6 19. Qa4 Rae8 20. Rc2 g6 21.
Nf4 Rd6 22. Rec1 Rc8 23. Qa3 Be7 24. Rc4 Rd7 25. Qf3 Qxb2 26. Nd3 Qb5 27. a4
Qd5 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxc6 Rxc6 30. Rxc6 Rd7 31. Kf1 Kg7 32. Ke1 h5 33. Kd2 Rb7
34. Rc4 Bf6 35. Kc2 g5 36. Nc5 Rb6 37. Nb3 d3+ 38. exd3 g4 39. a5 Re6 40. Kd2
Bg5+ 41. Kd1 Kg6 42. Nc5 Re5 43. d4 Rd5 44. Ke2 Bf6 45. Nb3 Rb5 46. Rc3 Bd8 47.
a6 Rb6 48. Nc5 Rb2+ 49. Ke3 Bg5+ 50. f4 gxf3+ 51. Kxf3 Rxh2 52. Ne4 Ra2 53.
Rc6+ f6 54. d5 Ra3+ 55. Kg2 Rd3 56. d6 Kf5 57. Nc5 Rd2+ 58. Kf3 Bh6 59. Rc7
Rxd6 60. Rxa7 Rc6 61. Ne4 Rb6 62. Nc5 Rc6 63. Nd3 Rc3 64. Ke2 Rc2+ 65. Kf3 Rc3
66. Ke2 Rc2+ 67. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Donchev, Dimitar I"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. g3 Bd6 13. Re1 Qd7 14. d4 Qh3 15.
Bxd5 cxd5 16. Qf3 Bf5 17. Qg2 Qh5 18. Qxd5 Rfe8 19. Bd2 Rxe1+ 20. Bxe1 Qd1 21.
Qxa8+ Bf8 22. Qg2 Bd3 23. h3 Qxe1+ 24. Kh2 h5 25. h4 Qc1 26. Qf3 Qxb2 27. Qxd3
Qxf2+ 28. Kh1 Qb2 29. a4 Qxa1 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qxb5 Qa8+ 32. d5 Qa2 33. Qd3
Qf2 34. d6 Bxd6 35. Qxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grigorov, Jordan N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nh3 Bg7 5. Nf4 c6 6. Nc3 d5 7. h4 O-O 8. h5 Qe8
9. hxg6 hxg6 10. Nd3 Nbd7 11. Bh6 e5 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Qd2 Nxd3+
15. cxd3 Be6 16. d4 Rh8 17. O-O-O Qe7 18. Qg5 Kf7 19. Qf4 Nh5 20. Qe3 Qd6 21.
Rh4 Nf6 22. Rdh1 Rxh4 23. Rxh4 Rg8 24. Nb1 g5 25. Rh1 Ng4 26. Qf3 Kg6 27. e3
Qf8 28. Qe2 Rh8 29. Rg1 Qb4 30. f3 Nf6 31. Nc3 Rh2 32. a3 Qd6 33. Qe1 Kf7 34.
Bf1 b5 35. Na2 Bd7 36. Nb4 c5 37. Nd3 c4 38. Ne5+ Ke6 39. g4 fxg4 40. fxg4 Ne4
41. Bg2 c3 42. b4 Qa6 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Krum"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 Re8 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 c6 12. Bc4 cxd5 13. Bxd5 Na6 14.
O-O-O Nc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Lalev, Dimitar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 axb5 6. Bxb5 Qa5+ 7. Nc3 Bb7 8.
Nge2 Bxd5 9. O-O Bc6 10. a4 e6 11. e4 Bxb5 12. Nxb5 Nxe4 13. Bf4 Na6 14. Nec3
Nxc3 15. bxc3 d5 16. Re1 Be7 17. Qh5 Kf8 18. Re3 Qd8 19. Rf3 Kg8 20. Be5 f6 21.
Qg4 Kf7 22. Qh5+ g6 23. Qh6 c4 24. g4 Kg8 25. Nd4 Nc5 26. Nc6 Bf8 27. Qf4 Nd3
28. Qxf6 Qxf6 29. Bxf6 Bg7 30. Rb1 Nc5 31. Ne7+ Kf7 32. Bd4+ Kxe7 33. Bxc5+ Ke8
34. Rb7 Bf8 35. Bd4 Rg8 36. Rf6 Kd8 37. Rxe6 Rxa4 1-0

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dominguez Velazquez, Jose Manu"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Na3 f6 7. Nc2 fxe5 8. dxe5
Qc7 9. Bf4 O-O-O 10. Be2 Nh6 11. Qd2 Nf7 12. Qe3 Be7 13. Bb5 h6 14. h4 g6 15.
b4 cxb4 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Nxb4 Qc4 18. Nd2 Qc5 19. Qf3 Rhf8 20. Nb3 Qb6 21. Qe3
Qxe3+ 22. Bxe3 Nxe5 23. Bxa7 Nc4 24. Bc5 Bf6 25. Rc1 Rf7 26. Nd2 Bb5 27. Nf3 b6
28. Be3 Bg7 29. Nd4 Bd7 30. O-O e5 31. Ne2 Bg4 32. Ng3 Kb7 33. Rfe1 Bf6 34. h5
gxh5 35. Nf1 Bh4 36. g3 Bg5 37. Bxg5 hxg5 38. Ne3 Nxe3 39. Rxe3 e4 40. Nc2 Rdf8
41. Nb4 Rxf2 42. Nxd5 Rd2 43. c4 Rff2 44. Rb1 Rg2+ 45. Kf1 Rdf2+ 46. Ke1 Rxa2
0-1

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Leskovar, Mario Leopoldo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2365"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. e3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. dxe5 Nd7 6. Nf3 dxe5 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8.
Nc4 f6 9. h4 b6 10. h5 Bb7 11. hxg6 hxg6 12. Rxh8+ Bxh8 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Qg4 Qc8
15. Qxc8+ Rxc8 16. Ba3 g5 17. Bxc5 gxh4 18. Ba3 Bg7 19. Rd1 Be4 20. Rd2 Bc6 21.
Be2 b5 22. Bh5+ Kf8 23. Na5 Bxg2 24. f3 h3 25. Kf2 c5 26. Bxc5 Bh6 27. b4 Rc7
28. Nb3 Kg7 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. Nc5 f5 31. Nd7 Bxe3+ 32. Kxe3 Kh6 33. Nf6 Re6 34.
Bg4 h2 35. Rxg2 h1=Q 36. Ng8+ Kg7 37. Bxf5+ Qxg2 38. Bxe6 Qxc2 39. Bb3 Qc3+ 40.
Kf2 Qxb4 41. Kg3 a5 0-1

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Oll, Lembit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. e5 Bd7 5. Ne2 c5 6. Nf3 Bb5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Be3
cxd4 9. Nexd4 Bxf1 10. Kxf1 Nge7 11. g3 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Kg2 Be7 14. Re1
Qb6 15. Re2 Rc8 16. Rc1 O-O 17. h4 h6 18. h5 Qb5 19. Rec2 Na7 20. Nh2 Rxc2 21.
Rxc2 Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Nxc8 23. b3 Na7 24. Ng4 Nc6 25. Qd2 Qb4 26. Qc1 Qa3 27. Qc2
Qb4 28. Qc1 Qa3 29. Qc2 Qb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tejero Lamana, Santiago"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c3 Nf6 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4
Nbd7 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nxc5 bxc5 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. h3 Rad8
15. Rad1 Nd5 16. Qe4 g6 17. Qh4 f6 18. Bc1 Nb6 19. Qh6 Rf7 20. Qe3 Qc6 21. Rfe1
e5 22. Bf1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Qa4 24. Qe2 Qxa2 25. Qb5 Kg7 26. Be3 Bd5 27. Nd2 Qa4
28. Qxa4 Nxa4 29. Ra1 Nxb2 30. Bb5 f5 31. f3 Bf8 32. Rb1 Rb7 33. Rxb2 a6 34. c4
Be6 35. Rb1 axb5 36. Rxb5 Rd7 37. f4 g5 38. g3 gxf4 39. gxf4 e4 40. Rb6 Bf7 41.
Rc6 Be7 42. Nb3 Rd3 43. Bxc5 Bf6 44. Na5 e3 45. Rd6 e2 46. Kf2 Bh4+ 0-1

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sanchez Herrera, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3
b6 9. Nf3 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nxd5 Bxb2 13. Rb1 Bb7 14. Be4 Bxd5
15. Qxd5 Qa5+ 16. Ke2 Rd8 17. Qc4 Nd7 18. Rxb2 Nb6 19. Qb5 Qa3 20. Bxa8 Nc4 21.
Rd1 1-0

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sorin, Ariel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3
a5 9. Qc2 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bd2 Nh6 12. Rad1 Nf7 13. Be3 c6 14. c5 dxc5 15.
dxe5 Qe7 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Na4 Re8 18. Bc4 Kh8 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Bg4 21.
Bd4 Qf4 22. Qc3 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. f4 Qg7 26. f5 Qe5 27. h3 c5
28. Rd5 Qxc3 29. bxc3 Rxe4 30. Bd3 Bxf5 31. Bxe4 Bxe4 32. Rxc5 a4 33. Rc7 a3
34. Rff7 g5 35. Rfe7 Bb1 36. Rxb7 Bxa2 37. Rxh7+ Kg8 38. Rbg7+ 1-0

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A91"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nh3 d6 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qc7
9. Nd2 e5 10. Qc2 Ng4 11. e4 f4 12. c5 fxg3 13. hxg3 dxc5 14. dxc5 Be6 15. Qc3
Bf6 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. b4 b6 18. Nd6 a5 19. a3 bxc5 20. bxc5 Rab8 21. Rab1 Qa7 22.
Rfc1 Rb3 23. Qc2 Rfb8 24. Bf1 Kh8 25. Kg2 Qxc5 26. Qxc5 Nxc5 27. Rxc5 Rxb2 28.
Rxb2 Rxb2 29. Rxa5 h5 30. Kg1 Nh6 31. Ng5 Bxg5 32. Rxe5 Bf6 33. Rxe6 Bd4 34.
Re8+ Kh7 35. e5 Rxf2 36. Bd3+ g6 37. Kh1 Ng4 38. Re7+ Kh8 39. Re8+ Kg7 40. Re7+
Kh8 41. Re8+ Kh7 42. Re7+ Kh6 43. Nf7+ Kg7 44. Nd6+ Kh6 45. Nf7+ Rxf7 46. Rxf7
Nxe5 47. Rf4 Bb2 48. Be4 Bxa3 49. Rf6 c5 50. Kg2 Bb2 51. Ra6 Bd4 52. Rb6 Kg7
53. Rb7+ Kf6 54. Rb6+ Kg5 55. Rd6 Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ibercaja op"]
[Site "Zaragoza"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8 11. Bg5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Cockcroft"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 a5 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 e5 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Rd1+ Kc8 12. e3 f6 13. h4 Nh6 14. Bh3
Bxh3 15. Rxh3 a4 16. Ke2 Re8 17. Rhh1 e4 18. Nd2 f5 19. Nd5 Ne5 20. Nf4 Ra6 21.
Rc1 Nhg4 22. c5 Ra5 23. Rc3 Rd8 24. Nc4 Rxc5 25. Nxe5 Rxc3 26. bxc3 Nxe5 0-1

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Barcelo Pujadas, Pedro Jose"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 Nh6 7. Na3 cxd4 8. cxd4
Bxa3 9. bxa3 Nf5 10. Be3 Nxe3 11. fxe3 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Bd7 13. O-O Qxd2 14. Nxd2
Rc8 15. Nb3 b6 16. Ba6 Rc7 17. Rac1 Ke7 18. Rc2 Bc8 19. Bd3 Bb7 20. e4 dxe4 21.
Bxe4 Rhc8 22. Rfc1 Kd8 23. Bxh7 g6 24. Rf2 Ke7 25. Rcf1 Nd8 26. h4 Ba6 27. Rd1
Rc2 28. h5 Rxf2 29. Kxf2 Rc2+ 30. Nd2 Bd3 31. h6 Kf8 32. g4 Nc6 33. Kg3 Rc3 34.
Kf2 Rc2 35. Kg3 Rc3 36. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Reyes Larena, Juan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 exd5
9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 Qa5 11. Ra3 Re8 12. Nge2 Nbd7 13. Ng3 Rb8 14. Be2 Qc7 15. O-O
c4 16. Be3 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. b4 Ne5 19. Ra7 Qd8 20. Ra5 Bd7 21. f4 Neg4 22.
Bd4 h5 23. Bf3 h4 24. Nge2 h3 25. gxh3 Nh6 26. Bg2 Kh7 27. Ng3 Nfg8 28. Ra7 Ne7
29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. f5 Nc8 31. f6+ Kh7 32. Ra6 Re5 33. Nce2 Nb6 34. Nd4 Qc8 35.
Ra3 Na4 36. Nge2 Rh5 37. Nf3 Qc7 38. Kh1 Rc8 39. Ng5+ Kg8 40. Bf3 c3 41. Nxc3
Bxh3 42. Nxb5 Qb6 43. Nxh3 Rxh3 44. Be2 Nc3 45. Rxc3 Rcxc3 46. Nxc3 Qxb4 47.
Rf3 1-0

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ubilava, Elizbar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 e5 7. Bg5 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Qa5 10. Kb1 Nb6 11. b3 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nbd7 13. h4 Ne5 14. g4 Qb6
15. h5 a5 16. Qh2 Nfd7 17. Na4 Qa7 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Bh6 Re8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21.
g5 1-0

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Campos, Jose Felix"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 h6
9. Be3 exd5 10. cxd5 a6 11. a4 h5 12. Be2 Re8 13. Bd1 Nbd7 14. Nge2 Ne5 15. b3
Qa5 16. Ra2 c4 17. O-O cxb3 18. Bxb3 Nfd7 19. Nb1 b6 20. Qxa5 bxa5 21. Nd2 Rb8
22. Bc2 Rb4 23. Nb3 Nc4 24. Bf2 Ndb6 25. Be1 Nxd5 26. exd5 Rxe2 27. Nc1 Re3 28.
Bxb4 axb4 29. Nb3 Rc3 30. Re1 Ne3 31. Na1 Nxd5 32. Bb3 Bd4+ 33. Kh1 Ne3 34. Rd2
Be5 35. Bc2 Be6 36. Bd3 a5 37. g3 b3 0-1

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sanchez Almeyra, Jorge"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Kf1 Bg4 13. f3 Bd7 14. h4
Rfd8 15. h5 Be8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Kf2 Rac8 18. Bb3 e6 19. Qg1 Nxd4 20. Rxc8
Rxc8 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Qd2+ 23. Kg3 Qg5+ 24. Kf2 Qd2+ 25. Kg3 Qg5+ 26. Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "De la Villa Garcia, Jesus Maria"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 c5 5. exd5 exd5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Nb3 Bb6 8.
Bg5 Ne7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbc6 11. h3 Re8 12. Be3 Bf5 13. Nfd4 Bg6 14. h4
Rc8 15. h5 Be4 16. f3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. fxe4 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qc7 20. Bd3 Nf5
21. Qg5 Ng3 22. h6 Qe5 23. Qxe5 Rxe5 24. Rh3 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. hxg7 Rg5
27. Rd2 Kxg7 28. Re3 Re8 29. g3 Re7 30. c4 h5 31. b4 f5 32. Rd4 Kf6 33. a4 Reg7
34. Rd6+ Ke5 35. Rd5+ Ke6 36. Rdd3 h4 37. gxh4 Rg1+ 38. Kb2 R7g2+ 39. Kc3 Ke5
40. Rd5+ Kf4 41. Rh3 Rc1+ 42. Kb3 Rb1+ 43. Kc3 Rgb2 44. Kd4 Rxb4 45. h5 Rc1 46.
Rc5 b5 47. axb5 axb5 48. Rxb5 Rbxc4+ 49. Kd5 R4c3 50. Rh2 R3c2 51. Rh3 Rd2+ 52.
Ke6 Rc6+ 53. Ke7 Ra2 54. Rb7 Rh6 55. Rh1 Rh7+ 0-1

[Event "Palma de Mallorca op"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. O-O e5 10. Ba3 Re8 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. Qb3+ Kf6 13. f4 Bh6 14. fxe5+
Kg7 15. Rf6 Bg4 16. Rf7+ Kh8 17. Qxb7 Nxe5 18. Rxc7 Nd7 19. Bd6 Rc8 20. Ng3
Rxc7 21. Bxc7 Qg5 22. h3 Qe3+ 23. Kh2 Qxc3 24. Rf1 Be6 25. d5 Bg8 26. Bf4 Bxf4
27. Rxf4 Nf6 28. Qa6 Kg7 29. Qxa7+ Bf7 30. Ne2 Qe5 31. Kg1 Re7 32. Qd4 Qxd4+
33. Nxd4 Nxe4 0-1

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sion Castro, Marcelino"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Bf6 11. a4 Bb7 12. Be3 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. Bc1 d5 15. Nxe5
Bxe5 16. dxe5 dxe4 17. b3 Ncxe5 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nf6 20. Rd4 Qe7 21. axb5
axb5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bg5 h6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Nd2 Nc6 26. Rd3 b4 27. Qf3 Ra1+
28. Kh2 Qe5+ 29. Qg3 Rd1 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Qxe5 Nxe5 32. cxb4 Nc6 33. Rd7 Nxb4
34. Kg3 c5 35. Kf3 f5 36. Ke2 Rc1 37. g3 Rc3 38. h4 Nc6 39. Rd3 Rc1 40. Nf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gavrikov, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. f4
O-O 9. g4 d5 10. e5 Nfd7 11. O-O Nc6 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Rae1 b5 15.
Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Bd4 b4 17. Ne2 Re8 18. Kg2 Bf8 19. Rf2 Bb7 20. Ng3 Qc7 21. Qe3
Rbc8 22. f5 exf5 23. gxf5 Bc5 24. e6 Nf6 25. Nh5 fxe6 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. fxe6
Qg7+ 28. Kh1 Bxd4 29. Qxd4 Rc4 30. Qd2 Kh8 31. Rg2 Qf8 32. b3 Rc3 33. Bh5 d4
34. Bxe8 Qxe8 35. e7 a5 36. Qh6 Bxg2+ 37. Kg1 Kg8 38. Qxf6 Rc6 39. Re6 Bf3 40.
Qg5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ubach Miralda, Marcelo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f4 b5 8. Qf3
Bb7 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. O-O Be7 11. a3 Rc8 12. Qg3 g6 13. e5 Nh5 14. Qg4 Ng7 15.
exd6 Bxd6 16. Rad1 O-O 17. Qe2 Nf6 18. Kh1 Qe7 19. Bc1 Nf5 20. Nf3 Qc7 21. Ng5
Nh5 22. Bxf5 exf5 23. Ne6 Qb8 24. Nxf8 Rxf8 25. Qf2 Rc8 26. Be3 Rc4 27. Nd5 Re4
28. Ba7 Qe8 29. Qh4 Re2 30. Rg1 Qa8 31. Ne3 Qxa7 32. Nxf5 Qa8 33. Qg4 Nxf4 34.
Rxd6 Bxg2+ 35. Qxg2 0-1

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mellado Trivino, Juan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2 Be7 5. f3 exd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Be2 c5 8.
Nb3 Be6 9. O-O Nc6 10. f4 Re8 11. Bf3 Bf8 12. Kh1 a5 13. a4 Bxb3 14. cxb3 Nd4
15. g4 Nxf3 16. Qxf3 Qe7 17. Re1 d5 18. e5 d4 19. Nb5 Qd7 20. h3 Nd5 21. Bd2 f6
22. Nd6 Nb4 23. Nxe8 fxe5 24. Rxe5 Rxe8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Re1 Qc6 27. Kg2 Nd3
28. Qxc6 bxc6 29. Bxa5 c4 30. bxc4 Nxb2 31. Rc1 Nxa4 32. Kf3 Kf7 33. Rd1 Bc5
34. Rd2 Ke6 35. Ra2 Nc3 36. Bxc3 dxc3 37. Ke4 Be7 38. Kd3 Bf6 39. Ra6 1-0

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Dorfman, Josif D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 e5 8. Rd1
Re8 9. Nc3 c6 10. e4 Qe7 11. d5 c5 12. a3 Nb6 13. Nd2 Bh6 14. b4 Bd7 15. bxc5
dxc5 16. Rb1 Rab8 17. Qd3 Nc8 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. cxb5 b6 20. Bb2 Nd6 21. Nc4 Nxc4
22. Qxc4 Qd6 23. Re1 Re7 24. f4 Ne8 25. Bh3 Bg7 26. f5 Qd8 27. Rf1 Nd6 28. Qe2
Rc7 29. a4 Ra8 30. Rf3 a6 31. bxa6 Rca7 32. Rbf1 Qe8 33. a5 Rxa6 34. axb6 Rxb6
35. fxg6 hxg6 36. Ra3 Rab8 37. Bc1 Qf8 38. Bg2 Bh6 39. Bxh6 Qxh6 40. Qe3 Qxe3+
41. Rxe3 c4 42. Rc1 Rb2 43. Bf1 Rd2 44. Re2 Rbb2 45. Rxd2 Rxd2 46. Bxc4 Nxe4
47. Bf1 Nd6 48. g4 Kg7 49. h4 Rxd5 50. Kf2 Ne4+ 51. Ke3 Nf6 52. Be2 Rd4 53. Rg1
Nd5+ 54. Kf2 Nf4 55. Bf1 Kh6 56. Rg3 Rd2+ 57. Ke3 Rc2 58. Ke4 Rc1 59. Bb5 Re1+
60. Kf3 Rh1 61. Bc4 Kg7 62. Ke4 f6 63. g5 Rxh4 64. gxf6+ Kxf6 65. Rf3 g5 66.
Ba6 g4 67. Rxf4+ exf4 68. Kxf4 Kg6 69. Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comas Fabrego, Luis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Ne7
9. Nf3 Bd7 10. Nxc7+ Qxc7 11. Bd3 Nbc6 12. O-O h6 13. Qe2 Nf5 14. Rf2 h5 15.
Bb2 a6 16. Bxf5 exf5 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Be6 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. Rf3 Kf8 21. Rg3
Rh6 22. Rdd3 Qb6 23. Qe3 Rc4 24. h4 Rg6 25. Rxg6 fxg6 26. g3 Rc7 27. Nxf5 Qxe3+
28. Nxe3 Bf5 29. Rxd5 Bxc2 30. Nxc2 Rxc2 31. Rd8+ Ke7 32. Rd6 Kf7 33. Rb6 Ra2
34. Rxb7+ Ke6 35. Rb6+ Kf5 36. Rxa6 g5 37. fxg5 Kxe5 38. Rc6 Rxa3 39. Kg2 Rb3
40. Rc7 Rxb4 41. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 Kh8 13. Qc2 Ng8 14. Nb5 axb4 15.
axb4 Ndf6 16. f3 Nh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. b3 Na6
9. Bb2 Qe8 10. Re1 h6 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Qf7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qd2 Qg7 15.
Re2 Bf5 16. Rae1 Rae8 17. b4 Nc7 18. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Terrassa"]
[Site "Terrassa"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Be7 7. g4 d5 8. Bb5+
Kf8 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Qf3 Qxf3 12. Nxf3 Bd7 13. Be2 Bc6 14. O-O-O
Nd7 15. Rhe1 e5 16. Bc4 f6 17. Nh4 Bb4 18. c3 Bc5 19. g5 Bxe3+ 20. Rxe3 fxg5
21. Nf3 h6 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 g6 24. Rd6 Be8 25. Rf6+ Kg7 26. Rfe6 Rf8 27.
Re7+ Kf6 28. Bd5 Bf7 29. Bxb7 Rab8 30. Re3 Bxa2 31. Rc7 g4 32. Be4 Kg5 33. Rc5+
Kf4 34. Bxg6 Bb3 35. c4 Rb4 36. Bd3 Ra4 37. Kd2 Ra1 38. Rb5 Ba4 39. Ra5 Rf7 40.
Bc2 Rd7+ 41. Kc3 Bxc2 42. Rxa1 1-0

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Baena Canada, Jesus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Bd3 f6 7. Qe2 Nb4 8. O-O
Nxd3 9. cxd3 f5 10. Nb3 Be7 11. Be3 O-O 12. Nc5 Nb8 13. Qd2 b6 14. Na4 h6 15.
h4 Bd7 16. Nc3 Be8 17. g3 Bh5 18. Kg2 c5 19. Ne2 Nc6 20. Qc3 Rc8 21. Qb3 Bxf3+
22. Kxf3 cxd4 23. Bxd4 Qe8 24. Kg2 f4 25. gxf4 Qg6+ 26. Kf3 Qh5+ 27. Ke3 Qxe2+
28. Kxe2 Nxd4+ 29. Ke3 Nxb3 30. axb3 a5 31. h5 Rc2 32. Rab1 Bb4 33. Rfd1 Rf5
34. Rbc1 Bd2+ 0-1

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Glimbrant, Torbjorn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2235"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qc2 Nbd7 7. Nf3 c6 8.
O-O-O a6 9. Kb1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Ne5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nxd7
Qxd7 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Rhg1 Qc7 17. g4 c5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Rac8 20. g5 h5
21. g6 Qxh2 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bh7+ Kf8 24. Bg6 Rf6 25. Be4 Rxf2 26. Rgf1 Bxe4
27. Qxe4 Re8 28. Qc2 1-0

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlier, Bruno"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. O-O a6 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. e5 e6 8.
c4 dxe5 9. dxe5 Be7 10. Nc3 b6 11. Ne4 Bb7 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Bf4 Qc6 14. Rfe1
Qxe4 15. Qxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 h6 17. h4 g6 18. a4 O-O-O 19. Bd2 Nb8 20. Bc3 Nc6
21. Kf1 Rd7 22. Rf4 Bd8 23. Ke2 Bc7 24. Re4 Rhd8 25. Rc1 Kb7 26. Rc2 h5 27. Rd2
Na7 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Re3 b5 30. axb5 axb5 31. b3 bxc4 32. bxc4 Nc6 33. Rd3 Re7
34. Ke3 Kc8 35. Ke4 Bd8 36. Rd1 Rb7 37. Ra1 Rb3 38. Bd2 Be7 39. Be3 Nb4 40. Nd2
Rb2 41. Rb1 Rxb1 42. Nxb1 Nc6 43. f4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sorin, Ariel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Qc2 h6 8. Bh4
Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O-O Nhf6 11. Rg1 a6 12. g4 e4 13. Nd2 d5 14. Qb3 Qd6 15.
g5 hxg5 16. Rxg5 Rxh2 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 b5 19. Nc3 Kf8 20. Ndxe4 Nxe4 21.
Nxe4 Qc6+ 22. Nc3 Rxf2 23. Qb4+ Kg8 24. Bd3 Nf6 25. Rdg1 Bg4 26. e4 Rd8 27. Kb1
a5 28. Qxa5 Rxd4 29. Nd5 Qe8 30. Qc3 Rxd5 31. exd5 Rf4 32. R1xg4 1-0

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2305"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Be2 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Nxe5 Bb4+ 7. c3 Nxe5 8.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 9. cxb4 Nd3+ 10. Bxd3 Rxd3 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. f3 Be6 13. e4 Nc6 14. a3
Nd4 15. Kf2 Nc2 16. Rb1 O-O 17. Bf4 Nxa3 18. Rbd1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Nc4 20. b3 Nb6
21. Bxc7 Bxb3 22. Rb1 Rc8 23. Bxb6 Rxc3 24. Bxa7 h5 25. b5 Bc4 26. Bd4 Rc2+ 27.
Kg3 h4+ 28. Kh3 Be6+ 29. g4 hxg3+ 30. Kxg3 f6 31. Ra1 Ba2 32. h4 Kf7 33. Kf4
Kg6 34. h5+ Kh6 35. Kf5 Rh2 36. Be3+ Kh7 37. h6 Bc4 38. Rc1 Bxb5 39. hxg7 Rh3
40. Bd4 Rxf3+ 41. Ke6 Kxg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sanchez Guirado, Francisco Javier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 d5 6. e3 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3
c6 9. Nge2 Re8 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Nf8 12. Rhg1 Qd6 13. h3 b5 14. g4 Bxc3
15. Nxc3 b4 16. Bg3 Qd8 17. Na4 Ne4 18. Kb1 Qa5 19. Rc1 Be6 20. Nc5 Rac8 21.
Nb7 Qb6 22. Nd6 Qa5 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. b3 Bd5 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Bd6 Ne6 27. Qd2
Qb5 28. Qxb4 Qd3+ 29. Kb2 a5 30. Qxa5 c5 31. Rgd1 Qe2+ 32. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Benidorm op"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. e3
dxc4 9. bxc4 Qb6 10. Qb3 Na5 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. Rc1 Rd8 13. Na3 Bd7 14. d3 Bc6
15. Ne1 Ne8 16. Bc3 Bf6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Rcb1 Nd7 19. Bf1 Kf8 20. Rb2 Ba4 21.
Nb1 Bd1 22. Nc3 Bh5 23. f4 Nc6 24. Bg2 Bg6 25. Bxc6 bxc6 26. a4 Ra5 27. e4 Ke7
28. Kf2 Bh5 29. h3 f6 30. g4 Bf7 31. Nf3 h6 32. h4 Rg8 33. Rh1 Raa8 34. Ke3 Kd6
35. Rg2 Kc7 36. h5 Rae8 37. e5 fxe5 38. Nxe5 Nxe5 39. fxe5 Rgf8 40. Ne4 Bg8 41.
g5 Rf5 42. gxh6 gxh6 43. Nf6 Rxe5+ 44. Kd2 Bf7 45. Nxe8+ Bxe8 46. Rg7+ Kd6 47.
Rb1 Bxh5 48. Rxb6 Re2+ 49. Kc3 Ra2 50. Rb1 Ra3+ 51. Kd2 Ra2+ 52. Kc3 Ra3+ 53.
Kb2 Rxa4 54. Rh1 Be2 55. Rh2 Rb4+ 56. Kc3 Bd1 57. Rxh6 Ba4 58. Rgg6 Rb3+ 59.
Kd2 Rb2+ 60. Ke3 Rb1 61. Rxe6+ Kd7 62. Reg6 Re1+ 63. Kd2 Rd1+ 64. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "De Prado Rodriguez, Oscar Bruno"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. d4 O-O 7. b3 Nc6 8. Nc3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qd5+ Kh8 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Ng5
Rf8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rad1 Bf6 17. Nf3 Re8 18. Ba5 c5 19. Bc3 a5 20. Rd5 a4 21.
Rxc5 axb3 22. axb3 Rb8 23. Rb1 Be6 24. Bxe5 1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nedobora, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A86"]
[WhiteElo "2355"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. c4 g6 5. Nh3 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.
Nc3 h6 9. b3 c6 10. Bb2 Be6 11. f3 Nbd7 12. Nf2 Kc7 13. Nd3 Re8 14. O-O-O Kc8
15. Rhe1 h5 16. e4 h4 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. g4 Bxd3 19. Rxd3 h3 20. Bf1 Nc5 21.
Rdd1 Bh6+ 22. Kb1 Bf4 23. Bd3 Nxd3 24. Rxd3 Bxh2 25. Ne2 e4 26. Re3 exf3 27.
Rxf3 Ne4 28. Kc2 Ng5 29. Rf2 Be5 30. Bxe5 Rxe5 31. Rh1 Re4 32. Rg1 Nf3 33. Rh1
Ne5 34. Kd2 0-1

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Antunes, Antonio"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qd2 a6 11. f3 Be6 12. Rc1 b5 $6 13. cxb5 axb5 14. a3 (
14. Bxb5 Bxa2 15. Nxa2 Rxa2 16. Bc4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Rxb2 {Con buen juego de las
negras}) 14... Nd7 $1 {Con idea de Cc5 y Cb3} 15. b4 Rxa3 16. Nxb5 Ra2 17. Qe3
h6 $1 18. Bh4 g5 19. Bf2 Qb8 20. O-O Rc8 21. h4 Bf6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rxc8+
Qxc8 24. Bd3 $6 (24. Rc1 Rc2 25. Rxc2 Qxc2 $10) 24... Ne5 25. Bb1 (25. Rc1
Qxc1+ 26. Qxc1 Nxd3 $19) 25... Rb2 26. Rc1 Qb8 27. Nd4 Qxb4 28. Nxe6 Rxb1 {
[Las negras tienen apuros de tiempo. 28...fe6 da ventaja]} 29. Nc7 {[Unica]}
Nc4 30. Qe1 Qxe1+ $6 31. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Bxe1 Bd4+ $6 33. Bf2 Bxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Kg7
35. g3 e6 36. f4 Kg6 37. Kf3 Nd2+ 38. Ke3 Nf1+ 39. Kf2 Nd2 40. Ke3 Nc4+ {
[En los apuros de tiempo las negras perdieron su ventaja. El peón de mís no es
suficiente para ganar]} 41. Kd4 Nb6 42. Nb5 Nc8 43. Ke3 g4 44. Kd3 f5 45. exf5+
Kxf5 46. Nd4+ Kf6 47. Nc2 Ne7 48. Ne3 Nf5 49. Nxg4+ Ke7 50. Nh2 Nxg3 51. Nf3
Kf6 52. Nd4 Nf5 53. Nf3 Ng7 54. Nd4 d5 55. Ke2 Ke7 56. Kd3 Kd6 57. Nb5+ Kc6 58.
Nd4+ Kc5 59. Nb3+ Kd6 60. Nd4 Nf5 61. Nxf5+ exf5 62. Kd4 Kc6 63. Ke5 Kc5 64.
Kxf5 d4 65. Kg6 {[Unica]} d3 66. f5 d2 67. f6 d1=Q 68. f7 Qd8 69. Kg7 Qg5+ 70.
Kh8 Qf6+ 71. Kg8 Qg6+ 72. Kh8 Qxf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hoffman, Alejandro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "176"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. b3 g6 5. Bb2 Bg7 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Nh3 Qe8 8. d5 c6
9. c4 Na6 10. O-O h6 11. Nf4 g5 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Nd3 e5 14. e4 Qg6 15. f3 c5
16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nf2 Rad8 18. g4 Bc8 19. Re1 Nb4 20. Bf1 h5 21. a3 Nc6 22. h3
Qh6 23. Bg2 Nd4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Re7 Nd7 26. Nde4 Ne5 27. Rxa7 Rf4 28. Ng3
hxg4 29. fxg4 Qh4 30. Bd5+ Kh8 31. Kg2 Rdf8 32. Ra2 Bxg4 33. Nxg4 Nxg4 34. hxg4
Rxg4 35. Qxg4 Qxg4 36. Ra1 Bh6 37. Rh1 Rf6 38. Ra8+ Kg7 39. Re1 Rf7 40. Bxf7
Kxf7 {Aquí se produce un interesante final. El blanco tiene clara ventaja ya
que las dos torres coordinadas con el caballo dominan al duo dama-alfil. Y
ademís la posibilidad de avanzar el peón 'a' esta latente y es decisiva.} 41.
Ra7+ Kg6 {[Si 41...Rf6 42.Ta6 seguido de la captura del peón 'd6']} 42. Rae7
Kf6 43. R7e4 $2 (43. a4 $5 d3 (43... Qc8 44. a5 Qa8+ 45. Kh3 {Ganando}) 44.
R7e4 {Seguido de 45.Td1 y se gana el peón}) 43... Qd7 44. a4 g4 $1 {Activando
el alfil y creando gran contrajuego} 45. Rf1+ Kg6 46. Rf5 d3 47. Rxg4+ Kh7 48.
Rh4 d2 49. Rd5 Kg6 50. Re4 Kf7 51. Nf5 Kg6 $1 52. Nxd6 $4 {[Habia que regresar.
Con poco tiempo no se puede controlar todo]} (52. Nxh6 Qb7 $1 53. Re6+ (53.
Rxd6+ Kh7 54. Kf3 d1=Q+ $1 55. Rxd1 Qxb3+ $10) 53... Kh7) 52... Bf8 {Las
negras estín claramente mejor} 53. Rxd2 Bxd6 54. Rd5 Kf6 55. Re3 Qg4+ 56. Kf2
Bh2 57. Rf3+ Kg6 58. Ke2 Qg2+ 59. Ke3 Qc2 60. Rd3 Qb2 61. Rf1 Qg2 {Aqui se
llegó al 2U control y se produjo el primer aplazamiento. Topalov tiene una
pequeña ventaja y necesita coordinar mejor sus piezas.} 62. Rf3 Qg5+ 63. Ke2
Bf4 64. Rf2 Qe5+ 65. Kf1 Be3 66. Rf3 Bd4 $2 {[Era necesario 66...Da1+ y luego
Ad4]} 67. Rd2 {[Ya hay suficiente contrajuego ante la amenaza al rey negro]}
Kh5 68. Rg2 Qe6 (68... Kh4 69. Rf7 $18) 69. a5 (69. Rfg3 Be5) 69... Bf6 70. Re2
Qd6 71. Ree3 Qd1+ 72. Kg2 Qd2+ 73. Kh3 Qd1 74. Kg2 Qd2+ 75. Kh3 Qd4 76. Rf5+
Kg6 77. Ref3 Be5 78. a6 Qa1 79. a7 Bd4 80. Kg4 $1 Qg1+ (80... Qxa7 81. Rg5+ Kh6
82. Rh3# {mate}) 81. Rg3 Qa1 {[Aqui se llegó el 2U aplazamiento, siendo el
blanco el que intenta ahora ganar} 82. Rgf3 Qg1+ 83. Rg3 Qa1 84. Kf4+ Kh6 85.
Rfg5 (85. Rh3+ Kg6 86. Rg5+ Kf6 87. Rh6+ Kf7 88. Rh7+ Kf6 {[y las blancas no
prosperan]}) 85... Qc1+ 86. Kf5 Qf1+ 87. Ke4 Qe1+ $1 (87... Qf8 88. Rg8 $18)
88. Kd5 Qe8 {[Si 89.Tg8 Dd7 y jaque perpetuo]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Danailov, Silvio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nge2 O-O 7. Ng3 e6 8. Be2
exd5 9. exd5 Ne8 10. h4 f5 11. h5 Nd7 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Rxh6 Qg5
15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Kg7 17. Rah1 Ndf6 18. R6h2 Bd7 19. a3 Nc7 20. b4 Rh8 21.
Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Rb1 b6 23. f4 Re8 24. Bf3 Kf7 25. Nge2 Kg7 26. bxc5 dxc5 27. Nc1
Rd8 28. Nd3 Nfe8 29. Ne5 Nd6 30. a4 Be8 31. Be2 Rb8 32. g4 Rd8 33. Bd3 fxg4 34.
Rg1 Kf6 35. Nxg4+ Kg7 36. Ne5 Kh7 37. Ne4 Nxe4+ 38. Bxe4 Rd6 39. Ke3 Rf6 40.
Rg5 Kh6 41. Ng4+ 1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Barlov, Dragan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Qc2 g6 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 Bg7 8.
Nf3 c5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be2 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qb6 12. d5 Ng4 13. O-O Nde5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5
15. Bxg4 Bxg4 16. Bh6 Rf7 17. b3 Bf5 18. Qd2 Qb4 19. Rac1 a6 20. Rfe1 b5 21.
Rxe5 dxe5 22. d6 Be6 23. dxe7 Re8 24. Qd6 Rfxe7 25. Ne4 Rf7 26. Qc6 Rfe7 27.
Nf6+ Kf7 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Qf3+ Bf5 30. g4 e4 31. Qf4 e3 32. gxf5 e2 33. fxg6+
Kxg6 34. Qg5+ Kf7 35. Qh5+ Ke7 36. Qxe2+ Kd7 37. Qd2+ 1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Maljutin, Evgeni"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. a4 a5 8. O-O
Be7 9. e4 Nb6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qe2 Ng4 12. Bd2 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. e5 Qd3 15.
Qxd3 cxd3 16. h3 Nh6 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Rfd1 Bd7 19. b3 Nd5 20. Be1 Nb4 21. Bxb4
Bxb4 22. Rxd3 Bc6 23. Nd4 Rfd8 24. Rad1 Nf5 25. Nxf5 Rxd3 26. Nh6+ Kf8 27. Rxd3
Bxe4 28. Bxe4 gxh6 29. Bxb7 Rb8 30. Rd7 Re8 31. Bf3 Re7 32. Rd3 Rc7 33. Bh5 Bc3
34. Re3 Rc5 35. Rf3 Bxe5 36. Rxf7+ Kg8 37. Rb7 Rc7 38. Rb6 Bd4 39. Rxe6 Rc2 40.
Be2 Rc3 41. Re4 Bc5 42. Kg2 Kg7 43. Bc4 Rc2 44. Rf4 Bb4 45. h4 1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Komljenovic, Davorin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 4. exf3 c6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. d5 Nf6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 Nbd7 10. f4 Nb6 11. f5 Rc8 12. fxg6 hxg6 13. Bg5 Re8 14. Qb3 Nfd7
15. Bf1 Nc5 16. Qa3 cxd5 17. cxd5 a6 18. Rad1 Qd7 19. Qb4 Nba4 20. Nxa4 Nxa4
21. Rd3 Nxb2 22. Rh3 Nc4 23. Bxc4 Qg4 24. f4 f6 25. Rg3 Qf5 26. Bd3 Qxd5 27.
Bxg6 Rc4 28. Qb3 Rec8 29. Bd3 fxg5 30. Bxc4 Rxc4 31. Rxg5 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Qxf4 33.
Rf5 Qh4 34. Ref1 e6 35. R5f3 b5 36. Qd3 Qe7 37. Qg6 Rc7 38. Rh3 Qf6 39. Qh7+
1-0

[Event "Candas op"]
[Site "Candas"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Martin Gonzalez, Angel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Rad1 Nb4 14. Qb3 a5 15.
a4 Rc8 16. Nc2 b5 17. Nxb4 bxa4 18. Nxa4 Rb8 19. Nb6 Rxb6 20. Bxb6 Qxb6 21.
Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5 Bh3 23. Qa4 Rc8 24. Nd3 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 Bb4 26. Qd7 Rb8 27. h4
Qb7 28. h5 a4 29. Qxb7 Rxb7 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Ra8 Rb5 32. Rxa4 Be7 33. Ra7 Bf6
34. Rxf7 Bxb2 35. Nxb2 Rxb2 36. f4 Rb5 37. g4 Kg8 38. Rf5 Rb2 39. Kf2 g6 40.
hxg6 Kg7 41. g5 Rb6 42. Rf7+ 1-0

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Etchegaray, Patrice"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2255"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O f5 14. c3 O-O
15. Nc2 Bb7 16. exf5 Qg5 17. Ne3 d5 18. Re1 Rfe8 19. g3 d4 20. cxd4 exd4 21.
Ng2 Qd8 22. Nf4 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qd7 24. Rc1 Bf3 25. Qa5 Rc8 26. Re1 Qc6 27. a4
bxa4 28. Qxa6 Qxa6 29. Bxa6 Rb8 30. Be2 Bc6 31. Rc1 Be4 32. Bd3 Bf3 33. Rc2 Be5
34. Ne2 Kg7 35. Nc1 Kf6 36. Kf1 Rb6 37. Ke1 Bd6 38. Ne2 Rb4 39. Kd2 Bd5 40. f4
h6 41. Nc1 Ke7 42. Kd1 Bf3+ 43. Ke1 Bd5 44. Rd2 Rb6 45. Kd1 a3 46. bxa3 Bxa3
47. Ne2 Bf3 48. Ra2 Bc5 49. Ra5 Rc6 50. Rb5 Bb6 51. Kd2 Rd6 52. Nc1 Kf6 53. Nb3
Ba7 54. Nc5 Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Iruzubieta Villaluenga, Jesus Maria"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2280"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qf3 Qb6 10. Be3 Qb7 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Rfe1 Kh8 14. Bg5 Nf6 15.
Rad1 Nbd7 16. Re3 Qb6 17. f4 Nh5 18. Qh4 Bxg5 19. fxg5 g6 20. Kh1 Bb7 21. Rh3
Nc5 22. g4 b4 23. Nd5 exd5 24. gxh5 Qc7 25. Bxd5 Rae8 26. Re1 Qe7 27. Bxb7 Qxb7
28. Rhe3 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 Re8 30. Kg1 Nxe4 31. Qf4 Kg8 32. c3 bxc3 33. bxc3 Re5
34. Nf3 Nxg5 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cruz Lopez Claret, Carlos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2260"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. cxd5 Nf6 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O a6 9. d3 b5 10. a3 Qe7 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Rc1 Rac8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nd5 Bxd5
15. exd5 Nd4 16. b4 Bb6 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Bg4 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 f5 20. Bxf5 Qf6 21.
Be4 Rd8 22. g3 h5 23. h4 Qg7 24. Kg2 Kh8 25. Qd1 Qh6 26. Qf3 Kg7 27. Qf5 Rd6
28. Bf3 Rf6 29. Qxh5 Qd2 30. Qg5+ Qxg5 31. hxg5 Rg6 32. Rc1 Bb2 33. Rc6 Bxa3
34. Be4 Rxg5 35. d6 Bxb4 36. d7 Be7 37. Rc8 f5 38. Re8 Kf6 39. Bb7 a5 40. d8=Q
Bxd8 41. Rxd8 e4 42. dxe4 fxe4 43. Bxe4 a4 44. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lakunza Oyarbide, Juan Carlos"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. d5 Bd7
9. Ng5 Na6 10. Qe1 Nc7 11. f4 h6 12. Nh3 cxd5 13. cxd5 Nb5 14. Be3 Ng4 15. Bd2
Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Ne3 18. Bxe3 Qxe3 19. Rf3 Qc5 20. Qd2 Rac8 21. Rc1
Qa5 22. Nf2 Rc4 23. Nd1 Rfc8 24. h4 h5 25. Rd3 b5 26. Kh2 Kf8 27. Bf3 Qc7 28.
a3 Ra4 29. Qb2 a5 30. Qb3 Rc4 31. Kg2 b4 32. axb4 axb4 33. Ra1 bxc3 34. Ne3 Rc5
35. Nc2 Rb5 36. Qa3 Rb2 37. Rc1 Qb6 38. Ne3 Rb3 39. Qa2 Qb4 40. Nc2 Qa4 41.
Qxa4 Bxa4 42. Nd4 Bxd4 43. Rxd4 Bb5 44. Kf2 Ra8 45. Rc2 Ra1 46. Ke3 Ke8 47. Kf2
Kd8 48. e3 Rb2 49. Rdd2 Raa2 0-1

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Suarez Roa, Jose Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Qc2 g6 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 Bg7 8.
Ng3 O-O 9. Nf3 Qe8 10. Be2 Qf7 11. O-O c5 12. Rad1 b6 13. Bc1 e5 14. dxc5 dxc5
15. Ng5 Qe7 16. Bf3 Rb8 17. Rfe1 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. f4 Rbb8 20. f5 Qe8 21.
Ne6 Rf7 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Nc7 Qd8 24. Qxg6 1-0

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ubilava, Elizbar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 a6 7. Bd3 Bg4 8.
Nge2 e6 9. O-O Bd6 10. Qd2 Bxe2 11. Nxe2 O-O 12. Rac1 Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Qd6 14. Ne2
Rac8 15. Rc3 Nb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elgoibar 02nd"]
[Site "Elgoibar"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Urday Caceres, Henry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. Qe2 d6 8. f4
Nbd7 9. Kh1 Be7 10. c4 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rae1 Rfd8 14. b4 Bf8 15.
f5 Re8 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Bc2 Kh8 18. Bb3 Qc8 19. a3 Ne5 20. Nf3 Nxf3 21. Rxf3
d5 22. e5 dxc4 23. Bc2 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Ng8 25. Ne4 Ra7 26. Ng5 g6 27. Nf7+ Rxf7
28. Qxf7 Bg7 29. Qf2 Qd8 30. Be3 Rf8 31. Qg3 Bh6 32. Bg1 Qd2 33. Be4 c3 0-1

[Event "BUL-ch"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Genov, Petar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 Be6 12. f3 Nge5 13. Nd5 b5 14. Bf2 Rb8 15.
Nd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Rg8 17. O-O-O Bxd5 18. exd5 Rc8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. h4 Bf6 21.
hxg5 hxg5 22. Bd3 Nc4 23. Bxc4 Bxd4 24. Bd3 Bf6 25. Bf5 Rb8 26. Rde1 Qc5 27.
Re4 Rb7 28. a3 Qb6 29. g3 Rc7 30. Rh6 Rc4 31. Re1 Kf8 32. Rxf6 exf6 33. Qh2 Qd8
34. Qh6+ Rg7 35. Re6 Kg8 36. Qxf6 1-0

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gazik, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nd7 (4... a6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 Bb7 7. h4 h5
8. Nh3 Nd7 9. Ng5 Ngf6 10. a4 b4 11. Ne2 a5 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Nc1 c6
$6 15. Nd3 $14 {(),Gazik,I-Sznapik,A,Budapest zt-B 1993-CBM 34}) 5. h4 $5 (5.
f4 e5 6. Nf3 exd4 7. Bxd4 Ngf6 8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Nh5 10. Be3 Nxe5 11. Qxd8+
Kxd8 12. Bg5+ Ke8 13. O-O-O (13. Nb5 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Be5 $13) 13... Bg4 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. Re1 f6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Rxe5+ Kf8 $10 {Marciano,D-Hauchard,A,
Bucharest 1993-CBM 34}) (5. Qd2 a6 6. h4 h5 (6... Ngf6 $5 $13) 7. Nh3 Ndf6 $1
8. f3 Bxh3 9. Rxh3 e6 10. Rh1 Ne7 11. Rg1 d5 12. Be2 b5 13. a3 c6 14. O-O-O a5
15. e5 Nd7 $132 {Ernst,T-Wessman,R,Gausdal Arnold-Cup 1990-TD 90_05}) 5... Ngf6
(5... h5 6. Nh3 c5 $6 7. dxc5 dxc5 (7... Nxc5 $142) 8. Qd2 a6 9. Bc4 e6 10. Ng5
Qb6 11. O-O-O Ngf6 12. Na4 Qb4 $8 13. Qxb4 cxb4 14. Nb6 Nxb6 15. Bxb6 Nd7 16.
Bc7 $16 {Wisnes,R-Svela,A,Gausdal Int 1990-TD 90_05}) 6. f3 e5 $5 (6... c5 7.
dxc5 Nxc5 8. e5 $1 $36) 7. Qd2 (7. d5 $14 {()}) 7... O-O 8. O-O-O (8. g4 $5 $13
) 8... h5 $8 9. Nge2 c6 10. Bh6 b5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Ng3 Rb8 $6 (12... Ne8 $5
$13 {/\Nc7,Qe7}) (12... Qe7 13. Qg5 $1 $36 {/\Nf5,Nh5}) 13. Be2 b4 14. Na4 Qa5
15. dxe5 $1 {><c4} dxe5 $8 (15... Nxe5 16. Qxd6 $16) 16. b3 Nb6 17. Qg5 Rh8 (
17... Nxa4 18. Rd6 $1 Ne8 (18... Be6 19. Nf5+ $18) 19. Nxh5+ Kh7 (19... Kg8 20.
Rxg6+ fxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Bc4+ $18) 20. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 21. h5 Nc3
(21... Nxh5 22. Rxh5+ gxh5 23. Rh6#) 22. hxg6+ Kg8 23. Qxf6 Qa3+ 24. Kd2 $18) (
17... Be6 18. Rd6 $40 {/\Nf5}) 18. Nb2 $1 (18. Rd6 $6 Ne8 $13) 18... Qxa2 (
18... Be6 $5 19. Rd6 (19. Kb1 $5 $36) 19... Ne8 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Qe7+ Kh6 22.
Qxe6 $44) 19. Rd6 Be6 $8 20. Nf5+ Bxf5 21. Qxf6+ Kg8 22. exf5 Qa1+ 23. Kd2 Qxb2
(23... Qxh1 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Rf6+ Ke7 27. Rf7+ Kd8 28. Qd6+ $18)
24. Bd3 $1 (24. fxg6 Qc3+ 25. Kd1 Qa1+ $10) 24... Nd5 (24... gxf5 25. Qxf5 $16)
(24... Qc3+ 25. Ke2 e4 $8 26. Qxc3 bxc3 27. Bxe4 $18 {ק_|_}) 25. Rxd5 $1 cxd5
26. fxg6 $18 Qc3+ (26... Rb7 27. Rh3 $1 fxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30.
Rg3+ $18) 27. Ke2 Qc7 28. Rh3 $1 (28. g7 Rh7 29. Bxh7+ Kxh7 $132) 28... fxg6 (
28... Rb6 29. gxf7+ Qxf7 30. Rg3+ $18) 29. Rg3 Rh7 (29... Rh6 30. Bxg6 Qg7 31.
Bf7+ $18) 30. Qxg6+ Rg7 (30... Qg7 31. Qe6+) (30... Kh8 31. Qf6+ Rg7 32. Qh6+ {
-30...Rg7}) 31. Qh7+ 1-0

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sznapik, Aleksander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Bf6 11. Be3 Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 Bb7 14. b3 Ncb6 15.
Nbd2 Re8 16. a4 b4 17. a5 bxc3 18. Nb1 exd4 19. axb6 c5 20. Na3 Nxb6 21. Nc4
Nxc4 22. bxc4 Ra7 23. Qd3 g6 24. Bf4 Be5 25. Bg5 Bf6 26. h4 Bc6 27. Ba4 Bxa4
28. Rxa4 a5 29. g3 Bxg5 30. hxg5 Re6 31. Kg2 Rae7 32. Ra2 Re8 33. Rea1 Qa8 34.
Re2 a4 35. Rae1 a3 36. Ra1 Rb8 37. Nh2 h5 38. gxh6 f5 39. h7+ Kh8 40. f3 Rb2
41. Kh3 a2 42. g4 fxe4 43. Rxe4 Rxe4 44. fxe4 Qf8 45. Nf3 Qf4 46. e5 dxe5 47.
Re1 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Spasov, Vasil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c3 (13. c4 f5 14.
O-O O-O 15. Qh5 (15. Qf3 Re8 $5 16. Rfe1 f4 17. cxb5 Qg5 18. h3 d5 $1 19. exd5
f5 $44 {B. Pons-Vallejo Menorca 1993}) 15... Qb7 $5 16. Rfe1 d5 $1 17. exd5 e4
18. Bf1 Bxb2 19. Rab1 Bg7 $14 {Beljavskij-Spasov Debrecen 1992 inf. 56 / 179})
13... f5 14. Nc2 (14. exf5 $6 e4 15. O-O Bxf5 16. Qh5 Qe6 17. Rae1 O-O 18. Bb1
b4 19. cxb4 Bxb2 $17 {Brock-Chow,Albert Chicago 1991}) 14... Bb7 (14... Qb7 15.
Qf3 O-O 16. Ne3 f4 17. Nd5 Be6 18. g4 $1 Rae8 (18... f5 $2 19. gxf5 Rxf5 20.
Ne7+ $18) 19. Kf1 f5 $13 {Leko,P-Kuif Nettetal 1992}) 15. exf5 Qg5 $6 (15...
O-O 16. Qh5 e4 17. Be2 d5 18. O-O Rad8 19. Rfd1 Rd6 $13 {Koschelski-Schipkov
UdSSR 1987}) 16. Ne3 d5 17. O-O O-O (17... h5 18. Qe2 $1 $16 {
Nisipenau-Genescu Romania 1992}) 18. f4 $1 exf4 19. Qg4 Qxg4 20. Nxg4 f6 (20...
h5 21. f6 $16 Bh8) 21. Rxf4 Rfe8 22. a4 Bc6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Kf2
h5 26. Ne3 Bf8 27. Nd1 Ra4 28. Rxa4 bxa4 29. Be2 Bc5+ 30. Kg3 {30. ... d4 31.
Bxh5? dxc3 32. Nxc3 Bd4 33. Nd1 Bxb2!-+ ; 31. Bf3 Be8} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. Nd4 Nc5 (13... e5 14. Nf5 g6
15. Nh6 Ng8 16. Nxg8 Rxg8 17. Qf3 Bd6 18. b3 b4 19. Nd1 a5 20. bxc4 Nc5 21. a3
Rb8 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nb2 Bc8 24. Nd3 Bd7 25. Nxc5 Bxc5 26. Ba4 $16 {Szmetan,
J-Morovic Fernandez,I/Buenos Aires/1992/}) 14. Bg5 $146 (14. b4 $1 cxb3 15.
axb3 b4 $8 16. Na4 Ncxe4 $1 17. dxe6 Rd8 $1 18. exf7+ $1 Kxf7 19. Be3 Bd6 20.
h3 Rhe8 21. Rc1 Qa5 $2 (21... Nc3 22. Nxc3 bxc3 $13) 22. Bd3 Kg8 23. Nc6 $1
Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Qe5 25. f4 Qe7 26. Bb6 $16 {Yakovich,Y-Sorokin,M/Calcutta op/
1991/}) 14... O-O-O $5 15. Bxf6 $6 (15. b4 cxb3 (15... Ncd7 16. dxe6 Ne5 17.
Rb1 Neg4 $1) 16. Bxb3 Bd6 17. f4 $5 Nfxe4 18. Bxd8 Rxd8 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rc1
Bc5 $13) 15... gxf6 16. b4 cxb3 (16... Nd7 17. dxe6 Ne5 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5
Rxd5 (19... Bxb4 20. exf7 (20. f4 Bc5 21. Kh1 Rxd5 22. fxe5 Rxd4 23. Qf3 $132)
20... Rxd5 21. Qb1 Rxd4 22. Qxb4 Nxf7 23. a4 $40) 20. Bf5 Kb8 21. Qd2 (21. Be4
Rd6 $1) 21... Nd3 22. Qe3 $13) 17. Bxb3 Kb8 18. Rc1 (18. a4 b4 19. Nce2 Nxe4
20. Rc1 Bc5 $15) (18. Qf3 Bd6 19. h3 Be5) 18... Bd6 19. Qh5 Bf4 20. Ncxb5 $2 (
20. Rc2 Qe5 21. Qxe5+ (21. Qd1 Nxb3 22. Nf3 Qh5 23. axb3 exd5 $17) 21... fxe5
22. Nc6+ Bxc6 23. dxc6 Rc8 $17) 20... Qb6 (20... axb5 21. Nc6+ (21. d6 Bxd6 22.
Nxb5 Qa5 23. Nxd6 Nxb3 24. Qxa5 Nxa5 25. Nxf7 Bxe4 $13) 21... Bxc6 22. Rxc5 $16
) 21. Nc6+ (21. Nc3 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Nd3 $19) 21... Bxc6 22. dxc6 Nxb3 (22... Bxc1
23. c7+ Ka8 24. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 25. Rxc1 Nxb3 26. Nc7+ Kb7 27. axb3 Rc8 28. Qxf7
$18) 23. Rb1 (23. c7+ Bxc7 24. Rxc7 axb5 25. Rxf7 Nd2 $19) 23... axb5 $1 (23...
Nd2 24. Nc3 Nxb1 25. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 26. Nxb1 Be5 $14) 24. Rxb3 Be5 25. Rfb1 (25. a4
b4 26. Rfb1 Rd4 27. Qxf7 Rhd8 $19) 25... Qxc6 26. Rxb5+ (26. Qxf7 Kc8 $1) 26...
Kc8 27. Rb6 (27. Qxf7 Qxb5 28. Qxe6+ Kc7 $19) 27... Qc2 28. g3 Rd7 29. Qg4 Rhd8
30. Kg2 Rd2 31. Rf1 Bd4 32. Rbb1 Rxf2+ 33. Rxf2 Qxb1 (33... Qxf2+ 34. Kh3 Qc2
$19) 34. Rf1 Qxa2+ 35. Kh3 Kd7 36. Rc1 Ke7 37. Qg7 (37. Rc7+ Rd7 38. Rc8 Bg1
$19) 37... Be5 (37... Be5 38. Qxh7 Rd2 39. Rh1 Qb3 40. Qh4 Qf3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C82"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Re1 O-O 13. Nf1 Re8 14. h3 Bh5 15.
Ng3 Bg6 16. Bxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Stohl, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O Qe8 8. c4 h6
9. Nc3 g5 10. Qc2 Qh5 11. e3 Na6 12. a3 c6 13. Rae1 Rb8 14. d5 cxd5 15. Nxd5
Nxd5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. cxd5 Qg6 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. f4 Rbc8 20. Qb2 Qf6 21. fxg5
hxg5 22. Bh3 Qe5 23. e4 Nc7 24. Bxf5 Nb5 25. Rd1 Nxd4 26. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 27. Rxd4
Bxf5 28. exf5 Rc3 29. Rb4 b6 30. g4 Kf7 31. Re1 Rfc8 32. a4 Rd3 33. a5 Rxd5 34.
axb6 axb6 35. Rxb6 Rd4 36. h3 Rc7 37. Re2 Rd3 38. Kg2 Rcc3 39. Rb7 Rg3+ 40. Kf2
Rcf3+ 41. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Haba, Petr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Ne5 9. h3 Bc5 10. Kh1 d6 11. f4 Ng6 12. Qd2 Bd7 13. Rae1 O-O 14. Bg1 Rad8
15. e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Istratescu, Andrei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C05"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ndf3 Qb6 8. h4
cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 f6 11. Be3 Be7 12. Qd2 Qa5 13. Bd3 Nb6 14. Qxa5 Nxa5
15. b3 Bd7 16. h5 Nc6 17. h6 g6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Ne5 Nb4 20. Be2 Nc8 21. Ngf3
Nd6 22. Rhc1 Nc6 23. g4 Rc8 24. Kg2 Nf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Ne5+ Ke8 27. Rf1 Rf8
28. Rac1 Bd8 29. Bd3 Bb6 30. Nxc6 Rxc6 31. Rxc6 bxc6 32. b4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Zsuzsa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Bd3
c4 $6 $14 (8... Ba4) (8... Qa5) 9. Be2 (9. Bf1 {/\ g3, h4, Bh3 (>< Pe6)}) 9...
Ba4 10. h4 (10. Rb1 $1) 10... h6 11. h5 $6 (11. Rb1) 11... Kd7 $1 12. Nh4 $6 (
12. g3 {/\ 13.Nh4 g5 14.Ng2+/=}) 12... g5 $1 $10 13. hxg6 (13. Nf3 Nec6 {
/\ f5|^}) 13... fxg6 14. g4 g5 15. Ng2 Nbc6 16. Be3 Qg8 17. Rh3 Qg6 18. Rc1 a5
$1 19. Qd2 b5 20. Kf1 Rab8 21. Ne1 Rhf8 22. Kg1 Rf7 23. Ng2 b4 24. axb4 axb4
25. cxb4 Rxb4 26. c3 Rb1 (26... Rb8 $13) 27. Kh2 $5 Ng8 $6 (27... Rxc1 28. Qxc1
Bc2 29. f4 Bd3 (29... Be4 30. fxg5 hxg5 31. Ne1 $13) 30. Bxd3 cxd3 31. fxg5
hxg5 $13) 28. Bd3 $1 Qxd3 29. Qxd3 cxd3 30. Rxb1 $14 d2 $5 (30... Kc8 31. f4
$16) 31. Bxd2 Rxf2 32. Bc1 Ra2 33. Rf3 $1 Bd1 34. Rf8 Nce7 35. Rb2 (35. Bxg5
Bc2 36. Rb7+ Kc6 37. Bxe7 Kxb7 38. Rxg8 Be4 $13) 35... Rxb2 $6 (35... Ra1 $5
36. Be3 Bxg4 37. Rb7+ Kc6 38. Rbb8 Ra2 $13) 36. Bxb2 Bxg4 37. Ba3 Be2 (37...
Bh5 38. Ne3 Bg6 39. Ng4 h5 40. Nf6+ Nxf6 41. exf6 $18) 38. Ne3 h5 39. Rf7 $1
Ke8 (39... Bd3 40. Rg7 Bg6 41. c4 dxc4 42. d5 Ke8 43. d6 Kf8 44. Rxe7 Nxe7 45.
d7 $18) 40. Rg7 g4 41. Kg3 $18 Bd3 42. Kh4 Bg6 43. Kg5 Bf7 44. Rh7 Nc8 45. Nf1
Nb6 46. Ng3 1-0

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
Re8 9. O-O Qe7 10. Bb2 b6 11. Rfe1 Bb7 12. Nd2 Rac8 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15.
exd5 cxd5 16. Bf3 Qd6 17. h3 Qb8 18. cxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kuczynski, Robert"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 a5 8. g3
Qd8 9. Bg2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rfd1 Nd7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 a4 14. Qc2 Qc7 15.
Nc3 a3 16. b3 Rd8 17. Rac1 Nf6 18. Ne5 Bd7 19. c5 Be8 20. Nc4 Nd7 21. Na4 Bf6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sion Castro, Marcelino"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 12. Ne2 Bg4 13. Bg5 Qd6 14. f3 Bh5
15. Qe1 Bg6 16. Rd1 Nd5 17. Qf2 Nb6 18. Bc1 Rac8 19. b3 Rfd8 20. Bb2 Nd5 21.
Nxd4 Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Nf4 23. Rd2 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Qg6 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Kh1 Rc8 27.
Rd1 h5 28. Rd2 Re8 29. h3 Qg5 30. h4 Qg6 31. Kh2 Qf5 32. Qxa7 Nxg2 33. Qd4 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2
Nd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Qc5 18. Qxc5 Nxc5 19. Be3 Nd7 20. Bf1
Rfc8 21. Bf2 h6 22. b3 b6 23. Rd4 Kf8 24. Kb2 Nc5 25. Red1 Ke8 26. Rg4 Kf8 27.
Rc4 Bd5 28. Rcd4 Ke8 29. Bh4 Bc6 30. Rd6 Nb7 31. R6d4 Nc5 32. a3 Nd7 33. Ba6
Rc7 34. Bf1 Rb8 35. Rd6 Rcc8 36. a4 Rc7 37. R1d4 g5 38. Bg3 Ke7 39. Rc4 Rbc8
40. h4 Bb7 41. Rxc7 Rxc7 42. hxg5 hxg5 43. Rd4 Nc5 44. Be1 Rd7 45. Rxd7+ Kxd7
46. Kc3 Be4 47. Bb5+ Kc7 48. Be8 Bg6 49. b4 Nd7 50. Kd4 Kd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5
Na6 9. Rb1 Bd7 10. b4 c6 11. dxc6 Bxc6 12. Qb3 Ne4 13. Bb2 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 Rc8 16. Rbc1 Rf6 17. a3 Kg7 18. Rfe1 Nb8 19. c5 Be4 20. Qe3 dxc5 21.
Rxc5 Rxc5 22. Qxc5 a6 23. Ne5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Nd7 25. Qc3 Nxe5 26. Qxe5 Qc6+ 27.
Kg1 Qd6 28. Qxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O Nf6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
Nc3 Ng4 $5 9. e3 d6 10. Nce2 $5 Bd7 (10... Nge5 {Wojtkiewicz,A-Tolnai,T/
Katerini-op/1992/EXP32/}) 11. b3 Nxd4 (11... a6 $6 $14 {Pein,M-Nicholson,J/
Lugano-op/1989/}) 12. Nxd4 Rb8 13. Bb2 Qa5 14. h3 (14. Qe2 $5) 14... Ne5 15.
Qe2 Rfc8 16. Rfd1 Nc6 17. Nb5 $1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 a6 19. Nc3 Qe5 20. Rac1 b5 21.
cxb5 axb5 22. Qd2 Kf8 (22... b4 23. Nd5 $14) 23. f4 $1 $14 Qg7 24. Ne4 (24. Nd5
$5) 24... Rd8 25. Nxd6 Bxh3 (25... exd6 $2 26. Qxd6+ Ne7 27. Rc7 $18) 26. Rxc6
Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qf6 $1 28. Kf3 (28. e4 $1 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 exd6 31.
Rxd6 Ra8 32. Rb6 Rxa2+ 33. Kf3 $16) 28... Ra8 29. Qd4 $6 (29. e4 $5) 29... Qxd4
30. Rxd4 Rxd6 31. Rdxd6 exd6 32. Rxd6 Rxa2 33. Rb6 h5 34. Rxb5 Rb2 35. b4 $2 (
35. e4 $1) 35... f5 36. Rb7 Kg8 37. b5 Kf8 38. b6 Kg8 39. g4 hxg4+ 40. Kg3 Kf8
41. Kh4 Rb3 42. Kg5 g3 43. Kxg6 Rxe3 44. Kf6 Kg8 45. Rg7+ Kh8 46. Rg5 Kh7 $1 (
46... Rb3 $2 47. Kf7 $18) 47. Rg7+ Kh8 48. Kf7 Rd3 49. b7 Rd8 50. Rxg3 Rd7+ 51.
Kf8 Rxb7 52. Rh3+ Rh7 53. Rxh7+ Kxh7 54. Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C69"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7.
Nxd4 c5 8. Nb3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Be3 b6 12. a4 a5 (12... Kf7 13.
Bf4 Rc8 14. Nc3 g5 15. Bg3 h5 $10 {Benjamin,J-Nikolic,Pr/Buenos Aires/1992/}) (
12... Bd6 13. Nc3 Kf7 14. Nd5 (14. a5 {Wedberg} c4 15. Nd4 b5 16. Nxe6 Kxe6 {
= Schmittdiel-Psakhis, Groningen 1990}) 14... Rb8 15. Nd2 Ne7 $10 {Longwitz,
A-Netz,E/CC-BdF-Meisterkl-VorrJ5/1986/}) (12... Ne7 {Wedberg} 13. Bf4 c4 14.
Nd4 O-O-O 15. Nc3 Bd7 {= Matanovic}) 13. Nc3 (13. Na3 Bd6 $6 14. Nb5 Rd8 15.
Rd2 $16 {De la Villa,J-Garcia,G/Salamanca/1989/}) 13... c6 $1 14. Nc1 g6 15.
N1e2 Nh6 16. Bxh6 Bxh6 17. Rd6 Bd7 18. Rad1 (18. Rxf6 Ke7 19. e5 Bg7 20. Rf4
Bxe5 21. Re4 Kf6 $15) 18... Rd8 19. Rxf6 Ke7 20. Rfd6 Be3+ 21. Kf1 Bd4 22.
R6xd4 cxd4 23. Nxd4 $14 Be8 24. Ke2 Rf8 25. Ke3 c5 26. Ndb5 Rxd1 27. Nxd1 Bf7
28. Ndc3 Kd7 29. f4 Be6 30. g3 h5 31. h4 Rd8 32. e5 Kc6 33. Nd6 (33. Ne4 Rd1
$132) 33... Rxd6 $1 34. exd6 Kxd6 35. Ne4+ Kd5 36. Nd2 Bf5 37. c4+ Kc6 38. Ne4
Be6 39. Nd2 Kd6 $10 40. Ne4+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bd6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O e4 8. Ne1
Re8 9. d3 Nxd5 10. cxd5 exd3 11. Nxd3 Ne5 12. e4 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Bc5 14. Be3 Bxe3
15. Qxe3 d6 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. Qf4 Re5 18. Rfd1 c5 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Rd4 Qe7 21.
Rcd1 Re8 22. Rxd6 Bxe4 23. Rd7 Qe6 24. Bxe4 Rxe4 25. Qf3 h6 26. Rxb7 Qc4 27. h4
Re1+ 28. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 Qe6 30. Rxa7 Re5 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. Qd3+ f5 33. Qf3
Re4 34. Ra5 f4 35. g4 Rd4 36. b3 Qe1 37. Rf5 Qd2 38. a4 Qc2 39. h5 Rd3 40. Qxf4
Rxb3 41. Re5 Rb4 42. Qf7 Rxg4 43. Re8 Rg2+ 44. Kxg2 Qc6+ 45. Qf3 Qxe8 46. Qf5+
Kh8 47. a5 Qc6+ 48. f3 Qd6 49. Qc8+ Kh7 50. Qc2+ Kh8 51. Qe2 Qd8 52. Qe5 Qd2+
53. Kg3 Qc1 54. f4 Qg1+ 55. Kf3 Qf1+ 56. Ke4 Qc4+ 57. Kf3 Qd3+ 58. Kg4 Qd1+ 59.
Kh4 Qd8+ 60. Kg3 Qd3+ 61. Kg4 Qd7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. Nh3
c6 9. Nf2 b5 10. b3 e5 11. d5 cxd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Qa5+ 14. Qd2 Qxd2+
15. Kxd2 Rb8 16. Rd1 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Nb6 18. Bd3 Be6 19. Rc1 d5 20. Ke2 a5 21.
Bb5 Rfd8 22. h3 Bf8 23. Nd3 f6 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. Rxc5 dxe4 26. fxe4 Nd7 27. Rc6
Rxb5 28. Rxe6 Nc5 29. Re7 Nxe4 30. Rc1 Ng3+ 31. Kf2 Nf5 32. Ra7 h5 33. Rc6 Rf8
34. Bc5 Nd4 35. Bxd4 exd4 36. Rcc7 Rf5+ 37. Kg1 Rd8 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Rh7+ Kg8
40. Rag7+ Kf8 41. Rxg6 Rd6 42. Rgg7 Rfd5 43. Rc7 Kg8 44. Rhg7+ Kh8 45. Rge7 Rd8
46. Re2 d3 47. Rd2 Rf5 48. Rc3 Rfd5 49. Kf2 Kh7 50. Ke1 Re8+ 51. Kd1 Re3 52.
Rf2 Rg3 53. Rc6 Rdg5 54. Rcxf6 Rxg2 55. Kd2 R5g3 56. h4 Rg4 57. Kxd3 Rxf2 58.
Rxf2 Rxh4 59. Rf7+ Kg6 60. Ra7 Rh1 61. Rxa5 h4 62. Ke2 h3 63. Kf2 Rc1 64. Kg3
Rc3+ 65. Kh2 Kf6 66. b4 Ke6 67. a4 Kd6 68. b5 Kc7 69. Ra7+ Kb6 70. Rh7 Ra3 71.
Rh6+ Kb7 72. Rh4 Ka7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 h5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Bg5 Rc5 14. g4 hxg4 15.
f4 Nc4 (15... Nc6 16. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 17. e5 Bg7 (17... dxe5 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19.
Qxd7 $18) 18. Ne4 $1 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Rc8 20. h5 Bf5 21. h6 Bh8 22. h7+ Kg7 23.
Qf2 $1 {/\ Qh4-h6 /Kalmar-Tiepelke/corr/1986-87/}) 16. Qe2 b5 17. f5 Qb6 18. h5
Nxh5 19. Qxg4 Nxb2 $5 20. Kxb2 Rxc3 21. Kxc3 Qc5+ 22. Kb2 Bxd4+ 23. Kb1 Bg7 (
23... Qc3 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. Be3 $1 Qxe3 $140 (25... Bxf5 26. Qxh5 gxh5 27. Bxd4
Bxe4 28. Rxh5 e5 29. Bxa7 $18) (25... Qg7 26. Qxg6 Qxg6 (26... Nf6 27. Qxg7+
Kxg7 28. Bh6+ Kg8 29. Rg1+ $18) 27. fxg6 Nf6 (27... Ng3 28. gxf7+ Rxf7 29. Rg1
$18) 28. Bh6 Nxe4 (28... Rb8 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Bf8+ $18) 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Rh8+
Kg7 31. gxf7 $18) 26. Qxg6+ Ng7 27. Qh7#) 24. Bh6 $1 Qc3 (24... Bxh6 25. Qxg6+
Bg7 26. Rxh5 $18) 25. Bxg7 Qxg7 26. Rdg1 (26. Rdg1 Nf6 27. Qxg6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 c5 14. cxd5 exd5
15. e4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nf6 18. Nxf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. h3 c5 7. O-O Qb6 8. Nbd2
Be6 (8... Qxb2 $2 9. Nc4 Qb5 (9... Qb4 10. c3 $1 Qb5 (10... Qxc3 11. Rc1 Qb4
12. Rb1 Qc3 13. Rb3 $18) 11. Nxd6 $16) (9... Qc3 10. Rb1 $1 {/\ Rb3}) 10. Nxd6
$16) 9. Ng5 Bd7 10. Nc4 Qc7 11. c3 h6 12. Nf3 b6 {During the game I thought
that Artur stood better but that doesn't seem to be the case} 13. Bd3 (13. a4
Bc6 14. a5 $140 Nbd7) 13... Qb7 14. Re1 Bc6 $1 15. Ncd2 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Bxe4
$10 17. Qe2 Nd7 18. Ba6 (18. a4) 18... Qc7 19. Nd2 Bb7 20. Bxb7 (20. a4 Nf6)
20... Qxb7 21. e4 {I'm not so happy with this move. It doesn't spoil much
though-White's mistake comes later} cxd4 22. cxd4 Rac8 $1 {Black has equalised}
23. Nf3 Rc7 24. Qe3 Kh7 25. Qb3 Nf6 $1 26. e5 (26. d5 Rfc8 {And White will
find it difficult to control Black's activity along the c-file}) 26... dxe5 27.
Nxe5 Rcc8 28. a4 Nd5 $10 {The knight on d5 solves Black's problems} 29. Bd2 e6
30. h4 h5 31. a5 Rc7 32. a6 $6 {White is overreaching} (32. axb6) 32... Qc8 33.
Qd3 Rd8 34. Bg5 Rd6 35. Qa3 Bxe5 $1 36. dxe5 Rdc6 $17 37. Qb3 Rc2 38. Ra4 R7c4
39. Re4 Rxa4 40. Rxa4 Re2 41. Qf3 Re1+ 42. Kh2 Kg8 $1 (42... Qc7 43. Rc4 $1
Qxe5+ 44. g3) 43. Bf6 Qc7 44. g3 Qc2 $19 45. b3 Re3 46. Qg2 Rxb3 47. Rd4 Rd3
48. Re4 Rd2 49. Rf4 Kh7 50. Rf3 Ne3 $1 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli Kortschnoj Topalov has a broad repertoire with both colours. In
Madrid he predominantly played 1.e4 but right after in Las Palmas kept trying
1.c4} Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 e4 6. Nh4 d6 7. Bg2 $1 {
A real improvement (if you can call a move like Bg2 earth-shattering!).Topalov
shows that g5 is not a threat} (7. Nxb4 Nxb4 8. a3 $1 (8. d3 exd3 9. exd3 O-O
10. Be2 Bh3 {Korchnoi-Adams Wijk aan Zee 1993. White was blown off the board
in 26 moves after some inaccurate play but anyway has no advantage at this
point}) 8... Nc6 9. d3 exd3 10. Qxd3 {is Gurevich-Adams Munich 1993. White won
a long ending but Michael was doing quite well out of the opening (full
compensation for the exchange).}) (7. a3 {Kortschnoj} Ba5 $1 $13) 7... g5 {
Show me!} 8. Qa4 $1 Bd7 (8... gxh4 9. Nxb4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Qb3 $14 {
/\ Qc3,b3,Bb2}) (8... Bc5 $5 9. d4 $1 (9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Bxe4 Qxf2+ 11. Kd1 Bd7
$19) 9... Bxd4 10. Bxg5 Bxb2 11. Rb1 h6 $1 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.
Bxe4 $14) (8... Ba5 {Ribli} 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Bxe4 gxh4 11. Bxc6+ $16) 9. Nxb4
Nd4 (9... gxh4 $5 {Ribli}) 10. Qd1 gxh4 11. Nc2 $1 {The knight on d4 has to be
eliminated.} h3 $2 (11... c5 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. d3 $1 $14) (11... Nxc2+ $1 12.
Qxc2 Qe7 (12... Bc6 {Kortschnoj} 13. O-O (13. b4 {Ribli} a6 14. Bb2 $16) 13...
Qe7 $14) 13. d3 {and white is a little better but not more}) 12. Bxe4 $1 Nxe4
13. Nxd4 Qf6 14. Nf3 $16 Bc6 15. O-O h6 16. d4 $1 (16. d3 Ng5 (16... Nc5 17. d4
$16) 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. e4 $16) 16... d5 (16... O-O-O 17. d5 Bd7 18. Be3 {
/\ Ba7,Bd4}) 17. c5 O-O-O 18. Ne5 {this looks like a Petroff with White having
a pawn on e2 !!} Rhg8 19. a4 h5 20. Ra3 $1 {Overprotecting g3} Qe6 (20... h4 {
Ribli} 21. b4 $36) 21. b4 f6 22. Nd3 $1 $18 (22. Nxc6 $5 $16 {Kortschnoj})
22... h4 23. Nf4 Qf5 24. b5 Be8 25. Qd3 Rd7 $6 26. Qb3 Rg5 27. c6 $1 Rdg7 28.
cxb7+ Kxb7 29. Qf3 Qd7 (29... hxg3 {Ribli} 30. fxg3 Nxg3 31. hxg3 Rxg3+ 32.
Qxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Rxg3 $18) 30. Nd3 Bh5 (30... hxg3 31. hxg3 (31. Bxg5 $18) (31.
Bxg5 $18 {Ribli}) 31... Rxg3+ 32. fxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Qxg3 Nxg3 34. Nc5+ $18) 31.
Nc5+ Nxc5 32. dxc5 Kb8 (32... Bxf3 {Kortschnoj} 33. c6+ $18) (32... Qe7 $5 $14
{Kortschnoj}) 33. Qxf6 Rf5 34. Qd4 Bxe2 35. Re1 hxg3 36. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 37. fxg3
Qe8 38. Rxe2 (38. Rxe2 Qxe2 39. Qh8+ Kb7 40. c6+ Kb6 41. Qd4+ $1 (41. Qb8+ $4
Kc5 42. Qxa7+ Kc4) 41... Ka5 42. Bd2+ Qxd2 43. Qxd2+ Kxa4 44. Qc2+) 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nde2 e6 8.
O-O a6 9. Bb3 Be7 10. Ng3 h5 11. h3 h4 12. Nge2 Na5 13. Kh1 Qc7 14. a4 b6 15.
Be3 Bb7 16. Qd4 d5 17. exd5 Bc5 18. Qf4 Bd6 19. Qd4 Bc5 20. Qd3 Nxb3 21. cxb3
Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Bxc5 Qxc5 24. Rac1 Qe7 25. Nc3 Nxc3 26. bxc3 O-O 27.
Rfd1 Rfd8 28. Qe3 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rd8 30. Rd4 b5 31. axb5 axb5 32. Qe5 Rxd4 33.
Qxd4 e5 34. Qd5 Qg5 35. Qa8+ Kh7 36. Qe4+ g6 37. c4 bxc4 38. bxc4 f5 39. f4
exf4 40. Qf3 Qe7 41. Qxf4 Kg7 42. Qf2 Qe4 43. Qb2+ Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 e4 5. d4 Be7 6. Nd2 c6 7. Nxe7 Qxe7 8. e3
f5 9. Be2 Nf6 10. O-O d6 11. Nb1 O-O 12. Nc3 Be6 13. f4 exf3 14. Rxf3 d5 15. b3
Re8 16. Bd2 Nbd7 17. Qf1 Rf8 18. Rc1 Ne4 19. Nxe4 fxe4 20. Rf2 Qg5 21. a4 h5
22. Rc3 Rxf2 23. Qxf2 Rf8 24. Qg3 Qxg3 25. hxg3 g6 26. Bc1 Rf6 27. Ba3 Kf7 28.
Bb4 Ke8 29. Ba5 Rf5 30. Bc7 Nf6 31. c5 Kd7 32. Bf4 g5 33. Bb8 a6 34. b4 Kc8 35.
Bd6 Bd7 36. Be7 Ng8 37. Bd6 Nh6 38. Ra3 Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 c6 5. Nf3 g6 $6 (5... e6) 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O
O-O 8. Ne2 $14 Ne4 9. c4 Kh8 $6 (9... e6) 10. Be5 e6 11. b4 Nd6 12. Bxg7+ (12.
Qb3 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Nd7 $14) 12... Kxg7 13. Qb3 Nd7 14. a4 Qf6 15. cxd5 $1 (15.
b5 dxc4 16. Bxc4 e5 $14) 15... exd5 16. b5 Ne4 (16... Nb6 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ne5
$16) 17. Rac1 Qd6 (17... g5 18. Rfd1 (18. Qb2 $6 c5 $1) 18... g4 19. Ne5 $1
Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qxe5 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Rxc6 $16) 18. Qc2 Rf6 (18... c5 19. Bxe4
fxe4 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxc5 exf3 23. gxf3 $16) 19. Rfd1 $16 a6
20. Nf4 h6 21. Qb2 $1 Kh7 22. Ne5 Nec5 $4 (22... Rb8 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Qa1 $16)
23. Rxc5 $1 (23. Rxc5 Nxc5 24. dxc5 Qxc5 25. Nd7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 f5 18. Qf1 Qh5 19. f4 Kh8 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Qg2 $5
(21. a4 bxa4 (21... g5 22. axb5 axb5 23. fxg5 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 f4 25. gxf4 Bxf4
26. Rg3 Qxg5 27. Kh1 Bd6 28. Qg2 Bxg3 29. Qxg3 h5 30. Rf1 Rxf1+ 31. Nxf1 Qc1
32. Kg1 Qxb2 33. h3 Bd1 34. Ne3 Qb1 35. Kg2 {+/-/+- Nunn}) 22. Rxa4 g5 23. Raa1
Re6 24. fxg5 Rfe8 25. Qf2 h6 {Nunn}) 21... Re4 22. h4 h6 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Rf1
Rf6 $5 $146 (24... g5 25. Qh2 $1 gxf4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Rxf4 Bxf4 28. gxf4 e3
29. Qg3 e2 30. Kf2 Qf5 31. h5 {+- Klover-Kant, Ostrava 1981}) 25. a4 Rg6 26.
axb5 axb5 $5 27. f5 $5 (27. Ra7 Bf3 28. Qh3 (28. Qh2 $2 Qg4 29. Kf2 Be2 $40)
28... Bg4 29. Qh2 Bf3 {/\ Qg4} 30. Re1 (30. Qh3 Bg4 $10) 30... Qg4 31. Kf2 Bd1
32. Qg2 Bf3 33. Qg1 $13) 27... Bxf5 28. Bf4 Be7 29. Be5 Bxh4 30. Ra7 Bxg3 $1 (
30... Bf6 $6 31. Bxf6 Rxf6 (31... gxf6 32. Ra8+ Kh7 33. Rfa1 $40) 32. g4 $1
Bxg4 33. Rxf6 gxf6 34. Qg3 Qg5 35. Qb8+ Qg8 36. Qxg8+ Kxg8 37. Kf2 $18) (30...
e3 $2 31. Qxd5 $18) 31. Bxg3 e3 32. Re7 Be4 33. Re8+ $1 Kh7 34. Rxe4 dxe4 35.
Qxe4 (35. Re1 $2 Qf3 $17) (35. Rf4 $5 Qg5 36. Kh2 Qh5+ 37. Rh4 Qf3 38. Qxf3
exf3 39. Rf4 f2 40. Rf3 Re6 41. d5 e2 42. Bxf2 e1=Q 43. Bxe1 Rxe1 $10) 35...
Qh3 $2 (35... e2 $1 36. Re1 (36. Rf3 $4 Qxf3 37. Qxf3 e1=Q+ $19) (36. Rf8 Qh3
37. Rh8+ (37. Rf3 $6 h5 38. Kf2 Qf1+ 39. Ke3 e1=Q+ 40. Bxe1 Qxe1+ {With at
least a draw}) 37... Kxh8 38. Qxg6 Qf1+ 39. Kh2 e1=Q 40. Bxe1 Qxe1 $10) 36...
Qh3 37. Rxe2 Qxg3+ 38. Rg2 Qxg2+ 39. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 40. Kxg2 $10) 36. Rf3 e2 {
/\ h5-h4} 37. Qb1 $1 $18 {/\ Kf2} (37. Kf2 $2 Qf1+ $10) 37... h5 38. Kf2 h4 39.
Be5 Qg2+ 40. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8.
Nf3 Bf5 9. d4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. h3 O-O 12. a3 Bf6 13. Be3 Rc8 14. Qe2 Rc7 15.
Rfd1 Rd7 16. Qd2 Qb8 17. Na4 Nxa4 18. Bxa4 Be4 19. Bf4 Qd8 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21.
Ne5 Bxe5 22. Bxe5 f6 23. Bg3 e5 24. Qc3 exd4 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26. Rd2 Qb6 27. f3
Rfd8 28. Bf2 Bb5 29. Qb4 a5 30. Qb3 Qc6 31. Qd1 d3 32. Rc1 Qe6 33. a4 Bc4 34.
Rc3 h6 35. Qe1 Qxe1+ 36. Bxe1 Ba6 37. Bg3 Re8 38. Rc7 Rd5 39. Rc3 Re6 40. Bf2
Rde5 41. Rc1 Kh7 42. Bd4 Re2 43. Bc3 Rxd2 44. Bxd2 Re2 45. Bc3 Bc4 46. Re1 Rc2
47. Rd1 b6 48. Kh2 Kg6 49. Bd4 Kf5 50. Bxb6 Rxb2 51. Bxa5 Kf4 52. Kg1 Ke3 53.
Re1+ Kd4 54. Rd1 Ra2 55. Bd2 Rxd2 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry Mark"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Qc2
c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qa4 a6 11. Ne4 b5 12. Qd1 Be7 13. Bg5 f6 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15.
Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Bd2 O-O 18. Qb3 f5 19. Ne5 Qe7 20. Nd3 Bd6 21. e4
fxe4 22. Bxe4 Nc3 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rxc3 e5 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rc1 Rf8 27. Be3
Ba8 28. Ne1 Kh8 29. Qd3 Bb4 30. Ng2 Qb7 31. Qf1 Rd8 32. Bg5 Bd2 33. Bxd8 Bxc1
34. b3 Bd2 35. h4 Qd7 36. Bg5 Bxg5 37. hxg5 Qh3 38. f4 Qxg3 39. fxe5 Be4 40.
Qe2 Qxe5 41. Qg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5 11. Rfd1 Ne4 12. Bxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Qe7
15. e5 Nd7 16. Kb1 Bb6 17. f4 h5 18. Ne2 g6 19. g3 Qc5 20. Bc3 Qf2 21. Qxf2
Bxf2 22. Bd4 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 Rc8 24. b3 Nc5 25. Bg2 b5 26. h3 Ke7 27. g4 hxg4 28.
hxg4 Bb7 29. Kb2 Nd7 30. g5 Nc5 31. Rxh8 Rxh8 32. Rh1 Rxh1 33. Bxh1 Kd7 34. Bf3
Kc7 35. Kc3 Kb6 36. b4 Na4+ 37. Kd2 Bc6 38. c3 Kc7 39. Bd1 Nb6 40. Bb3 Bd7 41.
Ke3 Nc8 42. Bc2 Ne7 43. Nb3 Kb6 44. Bd3 Be8 45. Nd4 Nc6 46. Nc2 a5 47. Be2 Bd7
48. Kd3 axb4 49. axb4 Bc8 50. Bf3 Bb7 51. Ne3 Kc7 52. Ng4 Kd7 53. Kd2 Ba6 54.
Be2 Kd8 55. Nf2 Kc7 56. Bf1 Ne7 57. Ng4 Kd8 58. Ne3 Nc6 59. Nc2 Kc7 60. Bd3 Kb6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 h5 12. Bh6 Rc8 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. O-O-O Nc4
15. Qd3 Na5 16. Nde2 Nxb3+ 17. cxb3 b5 18. Kb1 Qb6 19. Nf4 Bc6 20. Qe2 Qb7 21.
Rhe1 e5 22. Nfd5 b4 23. Nxf6 bxc3 24. Rxd6 Qb4 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Nd5 c2+ 27.
Kc1 Qa5 28. a3 Rb8 29. b4 Qa4 30. Qd3 Rd8 31. Re2 a5 32. b5 Rc4 33. Rd2 Rd4 34.
Qc3 Qxb5 35. Rxd4 exd4 36. Qxd4+ Kh6 37. Qd2+ Kg7 38. Qd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Izeta Txabarri, Felix"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. h3 e5 5. g4 h6 6. Bg2 exd4 7. Qxd4 g6 8. Be3
Bg7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. b3 d5 11. Rd1 c6 12. Nge2 Be6 13. Nf4 g5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15.
O-O Qe7 16. exd5 Nbxd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. c4 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Rf8 20. Qd3 Rf6 21.
Rxf6 Bxf6 22. Qg6+ Qf7 23. Qxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rd7+ Be7 25. Rxb7 Rd8 26. Bxc6 Rd1+
27. Kf2 Rd2+ 28. Kf3 Rxa2 29. Ke4 Kf6 30. Be8 Ra5 31. b4 Ra3 32. c5 a5 33. c6
Rc3 34. bxa5 Bc5 35. Rf7+ Kg6 36. Rf5+ Kg7 37. Rxc5 Rxc5 38. a6 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. d4 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 c6 7. O-O b6 8. b3 Ba6
9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. Nd2 Rc8 11. e4 dxe4 12. Ndxe4 b5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Re1 b4 15.
Na4 Bb5 16. Nec5 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Bc6 18. a3 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 a5 20. axb4 axb4 21.
Ra7 Ra8 22. Qa1 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Qd5+ 24. Kg1 Ne4 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Qd1 Qxd1 27.
Rxd1 Nxc5 28. Be5 f6 29. Bc7 Nxb3 30. Kf1 e5 31. f4 Ra2 32. Rd8+ Kf7 33. fxe5
fxe5 34. Rb8 Nd2+ 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. Be3 Nc6 8. f3
a6 9. Bc4 $146 (9. Qd2 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Bg2 Nxd4 13. Qxd4
Qxd4 14. Bxd4 Bd7 15. f4 Rc8 $10 {Frolov,A-Poluljahov,A Kobanya op (10) 1992 1/
2 54 -Inf.55/239}) (9. Qe2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. Bf2 Be6 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Qd2
Be7 14. h4 Qc7 $10 {Nunn,J-Jansa,V BL 1991 -Inf.51/216}) 9... Na5 (9... d5 $5
10. exd5 exd5 $13) 10. Bd3 b5 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O Rb8 (12... Nc4 $5 13. Bxc4
Qxc4 $13) 13. Kb1 g6 14. h4 Nd7 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. g5 (17. f5 b4 18.
Na4 e5 $15) 17... hxg5 18. hxg5 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Bb7 20. b3 Qc7 21. Rh8 e5 (21...
b4 22. Ndb5 $1 axb5 23. Nxb5 Qc6 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. e5 $16) 22. Ndxb5 $1 axb5
23. Nxb5 Qc6 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. fxe5 Ke6 (25... Nxe5 26. Qb4 Ke6 (26... Qxd6 27.
Bc5 Ke6 28. Rxf8 $18) 27. Rxf8 Rxf8 28. Nxb7 $18) 26. Nb5 $1 Qxb5 27. Rxf8 Qc6
(27... Rxf8 $4 28. Qd6#) 28. Rxb8 Nxb8 29. Qd8 Na6 (29... Nd7 $4 30. Qe8#) (
29... Qxe4 30. Qf6+ (30. Qxb8 Qxe3 31. Qxb7 Qe1+ 32. Kb2 Qxe5+ 33. c3 Qxg5 $14)
30... Kd7 (30... Kd5 $4 31. Qd6#) 31. Qxf7+ Kc8 32. Qe8+ Kc7 33. Bc5 $16) 30.
Qf6+ Kd7 31. Qxf7+ Kc8 32. Qf8+ Kc7 33. Qf7+ Kb8 34. e6 $18 Qxe4 35. e7 Bc6 (
35... Nc7 36. Bf4 $18) 36. e8=Q+ $1 (36. e8=Q+ Bxe8 37. Qa7+ Kc8 38. Qxa6+ $18)
1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E98"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 h5 13. c5 g5 14. a4 Kh8 15. a5 dxc5
{TN} 16. Bxc5 Nd6 17. Nd3 $6 (17. Nb5 $1 Ng8 18. Nxa7 Bd7 19. a6 $16) 17... Ng8
18. b4 $6 (18. Nf2 Nh6 19. Nb5 $14) (18. Bf2 $5 Nh6 19. Nc5 Rf6 20. Ne6 $146)
18... Nh6 19. Nf2 Rg8 20. Ra3 Bf8 21. h3 b6 $1 $15 22. axb6 cxb6 23. Bxd6 Bxd6
24. Nb5 Bxb4 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Nxa7 Bc5 27. Nc6 Qf6 28. Qa1 Nf7 29. Rc1 g4 30.
hxg4 hxg4 31. fxg4 Bxg4 32. Bxg4 Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Rxg4 (33... Qh4+ 34. Ke2 Qxg4+
35. Kd3 $13) 34. Rh1+ Kg7 35. Qa3 $2 (35. Qa7 Qg5 36. Rh7+ $15) (35. Qa7 Qd6
36. Rh7+ Kxh7 37. Qxf7+ Kh6 38. Kf1 $1 $15) 35... Qg6 36. Qh3 Rg3 $19 37. Qf5
Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 Qxf5 39. exf5 Rd2 40. Rg1+ Kf6 41. Rg6+ Kxf5 42. Ne7+ Ke4 43.
Rxb6 Ng5 44. Rb3 f3 45. Rb4+ Kd3 46. d6 Kc3 47. Ra4 Rxd6 48. Nf5 Rd2 49. Ng3
Kd3 50. Ra5 Ne4 51. Ra3+ Nc3 52. Ra8 Ke3 53. Nf5+ Kf4 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nxc6 dxc6 12. a4 Qc7 13. a5 e5 14. Qd2 Be6
15. Na4 Rd8 16. Qc3 O-O 17. Nc5 Bc8 18. Rad1 Nh5 19. Bc4 Nf4 20. b4 Qe7 21. Qf3
h5 22. c3 g5 23. Nd3 Nxd3 24. Bxd3 h4 25. Bc4 Kg7 26. Rxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Rc8
15. Kb1 dxe4 16. fxe4 Qe7 17. e5 Nd7 18. Qg3 Bc7 19. Qxg7 Bxe5 20. Qg4 Nf6 21.
Qh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 a6
9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Na4 Nbd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ambroz,J"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli} e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Rb1 f5 (6... a5 $6
{Ribli}) 7. d3 Nf6 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Ne7 $1 (9... a5 $6 {Ribli} 10. b3 $1 $14)
(9... g5 {Ribli} 10. f4 $1 $13 {Georgadze,G-Vyzmanavin,A/Podolsk/1992/CBM33/})
10. f4 (10. b3 $5 {Ribli Csom,I-Bhend,E/SWZ-GP Suhr/1992/EXP27/}) 10... c6 11.
b3 $5 (11. b4 Be6 12. b5 Nd7 13. Ba3 Qc7 14. Qd2 Rae8 $10 {Hanken-Anderson,M,
Los Angeles 1991}) 11... Be6 12. h3 (12. Kh1 $5 {Ribli} Qc7 13. e4 h5 14. Be3
$13) 12... Qc7 (12... Qd7 $5 13. Kh2 Rad8 14. e4 $13) 13. e4 h5 $5 (13... Rad8
14. Be3 b6 $13) 14. Be3 h4 15. c5 $5 Nh5 (15... hxg3 16. cxd6 Qxd6 17. fxe5 (
17. Nxg3 exf4) (17. d4 {Ribli} Nxe4 18. fxe5 Qd7 $13) 17... Qxe5 18. Bf4 Qc5+
$1 19. d4 Qa5 $36) 16. cxd6 Qxd6 17. d4 (17. fxe5 Bxe5 18. gxh4 f4 $17) 17...
exd4 (17... exf4 18. gxf4 $13 (18. e5 $2 Bxe5 $1)) (17... fxe4 {Ribli} 18. fxe5
Qd7 19. g4 $16) 18. e5 Qd7 19. Bxd4 Nxg3 20. Nxg3 hxg3 21. Bc5 $1 Qxd1 (21...
Rfd8 $142 22. Qf3 Nd5 23. Qxg3 Nxc3 24. Qxc3 Bf8 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 $15 {/\ Qd4 _|_}
(25... Rxf8 26. Rfd1 Bd5 27. Rd3 Qe6 28. Rbd1 Rad8 (28... Bxg2 29. Rd6) 29. Qd2
$16)) 22. Rbxd1 Kf7 23. Rd3 Rfd8 24. Rxg3 Bf8 (24... Rd2 $1 25. Rf2 (25. Bxe7
Kxe7 26. Rxg6 Kf7 27. Rg3 Bf8 $5 $44 {^^}) 25... Rxf2 26. Kxf2 Rd8 $10) 25. Ne2
$1 Rd2 (25... Bd5 {Ribli} 26. Rf2 $14) 26. Nd4 Bd5 27. e6+ Bxe6 (27... Kf6 28.
Bd6 $5 Rxd4 (28... Bxe6 29. Be5+ Kf7 30. Nf3 $16 {/\ Ng5}) (28... Kg7 29. Bxd5
(29. Be5+ Kh7) 29... Nxd5 30. Nxf5+ Kf6 31. Nh4 Kxe6 32. Rxg6+ Kf7 33. Bxf8
Rxf8 34. Rg2 $14) 29. Be5+ Kxe6 30. Bxd4 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Kf7 $14 {/\ Nd5}) 28.
Nf3 Rad8 (28... Re2 $2 29. Ng5+ Kg8 30. Bf3 $18) 29. Ng5+ (29. Nxd2 Rxd2 30.
Rf2 Rd1+ 31. Rf1 Rd2 $10) 29... Kf6 30. Bb4 (30. Re1 Rd1 31. Rge3 Rxe1+ 32.
Rxe1 Bg8 $17) 30... Rc2 31. Bc3+ (31. Nh7+ $142 Kf7 32. Ng5+ $10) 31... Rxc3
32. Rxc3 Bg8 $1 33. Rc2 Nd5 34. Bxd5 Rxd5 35. Re2 Bc5+ 36. Kh2 Rd4 37. Kg3 Bd5
38. Nh7+ Kg7 39. Ng5 Kf6 40. Nh7+ Kg7 $22 41. Ng5 Rd3+ 42. Kh4 (42. Kh2 {Ribli}
Be3 $13) 42... Kh6 (42... a5 $5) 43. b4 Be3 44. a4 a6 $1 45. Rb2 Bd4 46. Re2
Bf6 47. Rfe1 (47. Re8 Bg2) (47. Rff2 Rd4 48. Kg3 Rxb4) 47... Rf3 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Barua, Dibyendu"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ambroz} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (4... Nxd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6.
Re1 e6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. d3 Qc7 10. Nbd2 b5 11. a4 a6 $10 {Barua,
D-Khalifman,A Biel izt (11) 1993 0-1 45}) 5. O-O e6 (5... Nf6 6. e5 $5 dxe5 7.
Nxe5 Qd6 8. Nc4 Qd7 9. b3 $146 Nc6 10. Bb2 e6 11. f4 Be7 12. Ne5 Qc7 13. Na3
$10 {Georgiev,Kr-Genov,P/BLG-ch1992/}) 6. b3 (6. Qe2 Nc6 7. c3 Nf6 8. d4 cxd4
9. Bg5 $146 dxc3 10. Nxc3 Be7 11. Rfd1 $44) 6... Nf6 7. Re1 Nc6 8. Bb2 Be7 9.
d4 (9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 $10) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. c4 Rfd8 (11... Nxd4 $5 {
Ambroz /\ b5}) 12. Nc3 Rac8 $10 (12... a6 {Ambroz} 13. Na4 Rab8 14. Rc1 b5 15.
Nxc6 Qxc6 16. cxb5 Qxb5 $10 {Hjartarson-Watson, Brighton 1982}) 13. Qd2 (13.
Rc1 {Ambroz} Ne8 $5 {/\ Bf6}) 13... b6 (13... a6 $142 $5 {Ambroz}) 14. Rad1 a6
(14... Qb7 $5) 15. a4 Na5 (15... g6 {Ambroz} 16. Qe3 Qb7 (16... Nxd4 $5) 17.
Qh3 $143 (17. Nxc6 $5 Qxc6 (17... Rxc6 18. Qf3 {/\ Nd5, /^ a1-h8}) 18. Qh3 Bf8
19. Nd5 $1 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 exd5 21. Qc3 $18) 17... Nxd4 18. Rxd4 Bf8) 16. Qe3 Ne8
(16... e5 $2 17. Nf5 Nxb3 18. Qg5 (18. Nd5 {Ambroz} Nxd5 19. Qxb3 $1 (19. Rxd5
Na5 (19... Nd4 $5 20. Nxd4 (20. Rxd4 exd4 21. Bxd4 $13) 20... exd4 21. Bxd4
Rxc4 22. Bxb6 Rdc8 $10) 20. Bxe5 Nxc4 21. Qg3 g6 22. Ba1 $44 (22. Bxd6 Nxd6 23.
Nxd6 Bxd6 24. e5 Qe6)) 19... Nf6 20. Bxe5 Nxe4 (20... Rc6 21. Qg3 g6 (21... Nh5
22. Qg4 $40) 22. Qg5 (22. Bb2 $36 {/^ a1-h8}) 22... Nd5 23. Qh6 $5 Bf8 24. Bg7
$1 gxf5 (24... Ne7 25. Bxf8 Nxf5 26. exf5) 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. cxd5 (26. Rxd5)
26... Rc4 27. Rd3 f4 $8 28. Qxf4 $16) 21. Nxg7 Nf6 22. Qg3 Qg4 23. Nf5 $1 $18)
18... g6 19. f4 $40) (16... Nc6 {Ambroz} 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 (17... Rxc6 18. e5 (18.
Nd5 exd5 19. exd5 Rc7 20. Qxb6 Rb7 $15) 18... Ne8 19. Qg3 $40) 18. Nd5 exd5 19.
exd5) 17. f4 Qb7 18. Kh1 Bf8 19. Qh3 (19. Qg3 $5 {Ambroz}) 19... Nc7 (19... Nc6
{Ambroz} 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. f5 $16) (19... e5 $5 {Ambroz} 20. fxe5 (20. Nf3 $5)
20... dxe5 21. Nf5 Nxb3 (21... Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Nxb3 $2 23. Nd5 {/\ Nfe7}) 22. Nd5
Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Bxd4 $36) 20. Rd3 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qh4 Ne8 23. Rh3
h6 24. Rg3 Kh7 (24... g6 {Ambroz} 25. f5 Kh7 26. fxg6+ fxg6 27. Qg4) 25. f5
exf5 (25... Nf6 {Ambroz} 26. fxe6 fxe6 27. Nd5 $1 exd5 (27... Nxd5 28. exd5
exd5 29. Bxg7 $1 $18) 28. Bxf6 Re8 (28... gxf6 29. Qg4) 29. cxd5 $16 Qxd5 $140
30. Rxg7+) 26. Nd5 $1 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28. Qf4 bxc4 (28... Qd7 {Ambroz} 29.
exf5) 29. Qxf5+ Kg8 30. Bxg7 (30. Bxg7 Bxg7 (30... Nxg7 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Qh7#)
31. Ne7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kakageldyev, Amanmurad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. a3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5
9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. c4 e6 11. Nc3 exd5 12. cxd5 Ne8 13. Be3 b6 14. b4 cxb4 15.
axb4 f5 16. f3 Nd6 17. Qe2 f4 18. Bf2 Rf7 19. Nb5 Bf8 20. Ra4 a5 21. Rfa1 Bd7
22. bxa5 bxa5 23. Kf1 Be8 24. Be1 Nb7 25. R4a2 Bc5 26. Qb2 Qb6 27. Bc3 Bg1 28.
Bxe5 Bxh2 29. Qd4 Qd8 30. d6 Rc8 31. Nc7 Bg3 32. Rb1 Nc5 33. Bc4 Nd7 34. Bh8
1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. c4 d6 8. Nc3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Ne5 10. Nf3 Ng6 11. h3 Be7 12. Be3 O-O 13. Rac1 Bd7 14. b4 Rac8 15.
Rfd1 Qb8 16. a4 Rfe8 17. a5 d5 18. c5 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Red8 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Bd4
Bc6 22. Ne5 Bd5 23. Rd3 Bf8 24. Rcd1 Re8 25. Qe3 Bb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. a4 (13. a3) 13... h6 14.
Ng3 Bf8 15. d4 $1 Qc7 (15... Nc4 $142) 16. d5 Nc4 17. b3 Nb6 18. Be3 bxa4 $6
19. bxa4 Nc4 20. Bc1 Bc8 21. Qd3 Na5 22. c4 $16 Bd7 23. Bd2 Rab8 24. Rab1 Be7
25. Bc3 Bd8 26. Bxa5 Rxb1 27. Bxc7 Rxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Bxc7 29. Qc3 g6 30. Nd3 h5
31. f3 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hamdouchi, Hicham"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 5. Qg4 Bf8 6. Bg5 Qd7 7. Bb5 Nc6 8. Nf3
a6 9. Ba4 Bb7 10. O-O h6 11. Qh3 Nge7 12. Ne2 Rg8 13. Bd2 O-O-O 14. Rae1 Kb8
15. c3 Nc8 16. Bc1 a5 17. Bb5 N8a7 18. Bd3 Qc8 19. Nd2 Ba6 20. Bxa6 Qxa6 21.
Kh1 Rd7 22. f4 g6 23. g4 Ne7 24. Ng3 c5 25. f5 cxd4 26. fxe6 fxe6 27. cxd4 Nac6
28. Ne2 Bg7 29. a3 g5 30. Rf7 Nd8 31. Rf2 Ng6 32. Nb1 Rf8 33. Rxf8 Bxf8 34. b3
Rf7 35. Nbc3 Nc6 36. Rf1 Rxf1+ 37. Qxf1 Nxd4 38. Qf6 Nxe2 39. Qd8+ Ka7 40. Qd7+
Qb7 41. Nb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nalbandian, Tigran"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 (2... c5 $5) 3. e4 fxe4 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Nc5 b6 7.
Nb3 (7. Nd3 $6) 7... Nh6 $1 (7... Nf6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Qd6 10. O-O Nbd7 11.
Qc1 Ng4 12. h3 Rxf3 13. hxg4 Rf7 14. Qe3 Bb7 $5 {/\ Rae8 Kuzminyh,E}) 8. h4 $1
{/\ Nh3 ><e7, f4, e5, d5} Nf7 (8... Bg4 $2 9. f3 $1) 9. Nh3 $1 Qd6 (9... O-O
10. Qd2 {/\ Nd3, 0-0-0|^}) 10. Qd2 e5 11. O-O-O {><d5, e5} Nxg5 (11... O-O 12.
dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qd4 $1 $14) 12. hxg5 $1 e4 (12... O-O $2 13. dxe5) (12... exd4
13. Re1+ Kf8 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Qe3 $1 $40) (12... Bb7 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. f4 Bg7
15. Re1+ Kf8 16. f5 $1 $40) (12... c6 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. f4 Bg7 15. Bd3 {/\ f5->
}) 13. Qf4 $1 $14 {עe8} Bf8 $1 $8 (13... Rf8 14. Qh4 $1 $16) (13... Qxf4+ 14.
Nxf4 c6 15. c4 $36 {@}) (13... Bxh3 14. Qxd6 cxd6 15. Rxh3 O-O (15... Nd7 16.
Bb5 Rc8 17. Rdh1) 16. Be2 $1 Nc6 (16... Nd7 17. Bg4 $16) (16... Rxf2 17. Bg4
Kf7 18. Bc8 $1 $16) 17. f3 $5 $14 {/\ Rdh1 ><h7, d5}) 14. g3 (14. f3 $5 Bxh3 $5
15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16. Rxh3 Bf4+ 17. Kb1 e3 18. g3 Bxg5 19. f4 Bf6 20. Re1 $14)
14... c6 $6 (14... Bxh3 15. Bxh3 (15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16. Bxh3 Ke7 $1 $14 (16... Be7
$6 17. Bc8 $1 $16)) 15... Nd7 (15... Qxf4+ 16. gxf4 Bd6 17. f5 $1 $40) 16. f3
Qxf4+ $5 $14 (16... O-O-O $6 17. fxe4 Qxf4+ 18. gxf4 dxe4 19. f5 Bd6 20. Rdf1
$1 gxf5 21. Bxf5 $16)) (14... Be7 $1 $8 15. Kb1 $5 $14) 15. f3 $1 $16 Bxh3 (
15... Qxf4+ 16. Nxf4 exf3 17. Nxg6 Rg8 18. Re1+ Kf7 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 20. Rxh7 {/\}
Rxg5 $2 21. Rh8+ Rg8 22. Rxg8+ Kxg8 23. Re8+ $18) 16. Bxh3 $1 $8 {|^} (16. Qxd6
Bxd6 17. Rxh3 $14 (17. Bxh3 exf3 (17... Bxg3 18. fxe4 {/\ Bg2+/=}) 18. Rde1+ (
18. Bc8 a5) 18... Kd8 19. Re6 (19. Re3 Rf8 20. Rf1 f2 $13) 19... Kc7 20. Rf6
Nd7 21. Rf7 Rad8 $13)) 16... Qxf4+ 17. gxf4 Bd6 (17... exf3 18. f5 gxf5 (18...
Bd6 19. fxg6 Bf4+ 20. Kb1 Bxg5 21. Be6 Kf8 22. Rxh7 Rxh7 23. gxh7 Bf6 (23...
Kg7 24. Rg1 $18) 24. Rf1 Ke7 25. Rxf3 $18) 19. Bxf5 Bd6 20. g6 $16) 18. f5 $40
Bf4+ (18... gxf5 19. Bxf5 Bf4+ $8 20. Kb1 {- 18...Bf4}) 19. Kb1 gxf5 (19...
exf3 20. fxg6 O-O (20... hxg6 21. Bd7+ $18) 21. gxh7+ Kg7 (21... Kxh7 22. Bc8+
$18) 22. g6 Kxg6 23. Bc8 $18 (23. Bg4)) (19... O-O 20. fxe4 dxe4 21. fxg6 hxg6
22. Bg2 Re8 23. Rde1 e3 24. d5 $18) 20. Bxf5 e3 (20... O-O 21. fxe4 dxe4 22.
Bxh7+ Kg7 23. Bxe4 {/\} Bxg5 24. d5 $18) (20... Bxg5 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Bxh7 {
/\ 23.Bg6, 23.Be4+-}) 21. Rdg1 $18 Kf8 $2 22. g6 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kalesis, Nikolaos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O d6 9. Kh1 Be7 10. f4 O-O 11. Qf3 Bd7 12. a4 Rfe8 13. Qg3 Nb4 14. a5 Bc6 15.
f5 e5 16. Nf3 Rac8 17. Bb6 Qb8 18. Rad1 Bd8 19. Be3 Be7 20. Rd2 Bf8 21. Bg5 Be7
22. Bc4 Qc7 23. Bb3 Red8 24. Ra1 b5 25. axb6 Qxb6 26. Rad1 Qc7 27. Bxf6 Bxf6
28. Ng5 Be8 29. Nh3 Qe7 30. Nf2 Bg5 31. Re2 a5 32. Ra1 Ra8 33. Nd3 Bc6 34. Rd1
Bf6 35. Nxb4 axb4 36. Nd5 Bxd5 37. Bxd5 Ra6 38. Qb3 Rb8 39. Bc4 Rc6 40. Ra1 Qc7
41. Bd5 Rc5 42. Ra4 h6 43. g3 Bg5 44. h4 Bf6 45. Kg2 Bd8 46. Kh3 Rcb5 47. Re1
Rc5 48. Rea1 Rxc2 49. Ra7 Qc5 50. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Nxb3 8. axb3
f6 9. c4 b4 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Qe2 Bd6 14. Ne1 Ne7 15.
Nd3 Qb6 16. Qg4 f5 17. exf5 O-O 18. f6 Rxf6 19. f3 Rg6 20. Qh5 Rf8 21. Ne4 Nf5
22. Rae1 Bc8 23. Kh1 Qd8 24. Bg5 Be7 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Rf2 Bd7 27. Nexc5 Rh6
28. Qg4 Rh4 29. Rxe5 Qd8 30. Rd5 Rxg4 31. fxg4 Nh4 32. Nxd7 Rxf2 33. Nxf2 Ng6
34. Nd3 Qc7 35. N7e5 Nf8 36. Nxb4 Qb6 37. Nbc6 Qf2 38. Rd1 h6 39. h3 Qxb2 40.
Rf1 Ne6 41. b4 Nf4 42. Rg1 Qe2 43. b5 axb5 44. cxb5 Qxb5 45. Kh2 Kh7 46. Kh1
Qd5 47. Kh2 Qe4 48. h4 h5 49. gxh5 Nd3 50. g4 Nxe5 51. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 52. Kh3 Qe2
53. Rg2 Qf3+ 54. Kh2 Kg8 55. Rg3 Qe2+ 56. Kh3 Kf7 57. h6 Qf1+ 58. Kh2 Qf2+ 59.
Kh3 Qf1+ 60. Kh2 Qf2+ 61. Kh3 gxh6 62. g5 h5 63. g6+ Kg7 64. Rg5 Qf3+ 65. Kh2
Qf4+ 66. Kh3 Qf2 67. Rg2 Qf1 68. Kh2 Qe1 69. Rg3 Qe4 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Moutousis, Konstantinos"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. f4 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Ne7 8. Nxd4
cxd4 9. Ne2 O-O 10. Ba4 d6 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bb3 Rc8 13. Qe1 Kh8 14. Kh1 f5 15.
Ng3 Nc6 16. Qf2 Na5 17. Bxa5 Qxa5 18. exf5 exf5 19. Ne2 Qc5 20. Ng1 Bf6 21. Nf3
Rfe8 22. h4 Re3 23. Qg3 Kg7 24. h5 Rce8 25. Rf2 Be6 26. Rd1 a5 27. Bxe6 R3xe6
28. a4 b5 29. axb5 a4 30. Ra1 Qxb5 31. Ra2 R6e7 32. Rf1 Qc6 33. Rf2 Qb5 34. Rf1
Qb4 35. Kg1 Re2 36. Rf2 R8e3 37. b3 a3 38. Rxe2 Rxe2 39. c3 Rxa2 40. cxb4 Re2
41. Qe1 Rxe1+ 42. Nxe1 a2 43. Nc2 Kf7 44. Kf2 d5 45. b5 Ke8 46. h6 Kd7 47. b6
Be7 48. g4 Kc8 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Frolov, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Nc4 14. Qe2 Rfe8 (
14... Nb6 $6 15. d5 $1 c4 16. g4 $14) 15. b3 Nb6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. c4 Nh5 $1 (
17... bxc4 18. bxc4 Na4 19. Bxa4 Bxa4 20. Ne3 $14) (17... Bc6) 18. Bd2 (18. Ne3
Nf4 19. Qf1 Bd6 $5 20. Nd5 Nfxd5 21. exd5 f5 $15) 18... Rab8 $1 19. a4 (19.
Rad1 bxc4 20. bxc4 Na4 $1 $15) 19... bxc4 20. bxc4 Bd6 $6 (20... Nc8 21. Ne3
Nf4 22. Qf1 Ne6 $13) 21. a5 $6 (21. g4 $1 Nf6 (21... Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. e5
$16) 22. Ne3 $14) 21... Nc8 22. Ba4 (22. g4 Nf6 23. Ne3 Ne7 24. Ba4 Bxa4 25.
Rxa4 Nc6 26. Nd5 Qd8 $10) 22... Bxa4 23. Rxa4 Na7 24. g3 (24. Ne3 $142 $10)
24... Nf6 $1 25. Ra2 {><a4, e4, h3} Nc6 26. Bg5 Nd7 27. Nh4 (27. Ne3 Nd4 {/\}
28. Qd1 $2 Rb1 $19) 27... Nd4 28. Qg4 Qc6 $15 29. Ne3 h5 $1 (29... f6 30. Bh6
Bf8 31. Nd5 $5 (31. Nef5 Nxf5 32. Nxf5 g6 33. Bxf8 Nxf8 $10) 31... Rb3 $13) 30.
Qxh5 f6 $6 (30... Qxe4 31. Qd1 $1 Qh7 $1 32. Nd5 e4 $15) 31. Bh6 $1 Bf8 $2 (
31... Qxe4 32. Bxg7 $1 Qh7 33. Bh6 $18) (31... gxh6 $8 32. Nef5 Re7 $8 33.
Nxh6+ Kf8 34. Ng6+ Kg7 $13) 32. Nef5 $18 Nxf5 (32... gxh6 33. Qg6+ Kh8 34. Qf7
{/\ Ng6#}) 33. Nxf5 gxh6 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Rd2 Qe6 36. Red1 Rbd8 37. h4 Re7 38.
Nxe7 Bxe7 39. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Oll, Lembit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Nxf6 14. Bg2 Be7 15.
O-O Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nxb5 Qb6 18. Na3 Rh4 19. Qd2 Nf4 $6 20. Nxc4 Qc7 (
20... Qa6 $142 21. Ne3 $14 {Oll,L}) 21. f3 $3 $18 Nxg2 (21... Rd8 22. Qa5 $1)
22. Qg5+ Kf8 23. gxh4 Nf4 24. Kh1 Rd8 25. Ne5 Rd5 26. Rae1 Nd3 27. Qh6+ (27.
Qh6+ Ke7 28. Nxd3 Rxd3 29. Rxe6+ $1) 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lima, Darcy Gustavo Macha"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C64"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O Nd4 5. Nxd4 (5. b4 $5 Bxb4 6. Nxd4 exd4
7. Bb2 Ne7 (7... Qg5 8. Bd3 Bc5 9. c3 d5 10. cxd4 dxe4 11. Bb5+ c6 12. dxc5 Bh3
13. g3 cxb5 14. Re1 Nf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Nxe4 $16 {Ghinda-Hector/
Budapest 1986}) 8. Bxd4 O-O 9. c3 Ba5 10. Qg4 Ng6 11. Qh5 $14) 5... Bxd4 6. c3
Bb6 7. d4 c6 8. Bc4 $10 (8. Ba4 $1 d6 9. Na3 exd4 (9... Ne7 10. Nc4 exd4 (10...
Bc7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rd1+ $14) 11. Nxb6 Qxb6 12. cxd4 d5 13.
Bg5 f6 14. Bf4 Be6 15. Re1 O-O 16. Bd6 Rfe8 17. e5 $14 {Ravinsky-Chernenkov/
URS 1956}) (9... Nf6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. d5 Bd7 13. Nc4 Bc7 14. dxc6
bxc6 15. Qd3 O-O 16. Rad1 Rfd8 17. Ne3 g6 18. Rd2 Be8 19. Rfd1 h5 20. Bxc6 Bxc6
21. Qc4 $16 {Villavicencio-Lima/Las Palmas 1989}) 10. cxd4 Ne7 11. d5 $1 O-O
12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bf4 Ba6 15. Re1 d5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Qg4 $16) 8...
d6 9. Qb3 Qc7 $1 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 (11. a4 Nf6 12. a5 Bc5 13. Qc2 O-O 14. b4
Be7 15. Nd2 c5 16. b5 h6 $10 {Hort-Spassky/Reykjavik 1977}) 11... Nf6 12. Nd2
O-O 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. b3 Rfe8 15. Be2 Be6 16. a4 Rad8 17. Nc4 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nh5
19. Kh2 Rd6 20. g3 Red8 21. Qe2 Nf6 22. Ra2 h6 23. Kg2 R6d7 24. Qf3 Ne8 25. Re1
a5 26. Ba3 Nf6 27. Rc2 Qb8 28. Bc1 Ne8 29. h4 Qc7 30. Ree2 Nd6 31. Bd3 Bc5 32.
Rcd2 Nc8 33. Bc2 Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Rxd2 35. Bxd2 Qd7 36. Bc1 Nd6 37. Qh5 Qe6 38.
Qe2 Nc8 39. Qd3 Qd6 40. Qxd6 Nxd6 41. f4 f6 42. h5 Kf7 43. Kf3 Ke6 44. Bd2 Ba7
45. Bd3 Bb6 46. Bf1 Bc5 47. Be1 Bg1 48. Bh3+ Ke7 49. fxe5 fxe5 50. Bf5 Bc5 51.
g4 Nf7 52. Bc8 b6 53. Bf5 Ng5+ 54. Ke2 Bg1 55. b4 axb4 56. cxb4 b5 57. axb5 (
57. a5 Kd8 58. Bf2 Bxf2 59. Kxf2 Kc7 $10) 57... cxb5 58. Bc3 Kd6 59. Bg6 Bd4
60. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 Nd7 $5 (5... Nf6 $5) (5... b5) 6.
f3 (6. f4 b5 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. e5 (8. Bd3 $5) 8... b4 9. exf6 bxc3 10. Qxc3 Nxf6
11. Qxc6+ Bd7 12. Qa6 O-O $44 {Van Der Wiel,J-Gurevich,M/Amsterdam/1991/0,5 
(60) Inf 51/107/}) (6. O-O-O Qa5 7. Kb1 b5 8. h4 Nb6 9. Bd3 Nf6 10. f3 Rb8 11.
Nce2 Qxd2 12. Bxd2 a6 $10 {Sivokho,S-Shchekachev,A/S-Peterburg/1993/}) (6. Nf3
Ngf6 7. h3 O-O 8. Bd3 e5 9. O-O Re8 10. Rfe1 exd4 (10... b5 $5) 11. Nxd4 Nc5
12. Bh6 Nxd3 13. cxd3 $14 {Yudasin,L-Kakageldyev,A/Biel(izt)/1993/}) 6... b5 (
6... Ngf6 $5) 7. h4 (7. g4 Rb8 $5 (7... Nb6 8. Bd3 Nf6 9. g5 Nfd7 10. h4 Bb7
11. h5 Rg8 $1 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. f4 Qc7 14. Rh7 a6 15. a4 b4 $13 {Galinnis,
N-Belov,I/BRD/1993/}) 8. h4 h5 9. g5 e6 10. f4 b4 11. Nce2 Ne7 12. Ng3 c5 13.
Nf3 Bb7 14. Bd3 O-O $10 {BibbY,S-Mestel,J/ENG(ch)/1992/0:1 (29)/}) 7... b4 (
7... Ngf6 8. g4 h5 (8... Nb6 9. h5 Rg8 $13) 9. g5 Nh7 10. f4 $14) (7... h5 $5
8. Nh3 Ngf6 9. Ng5 Bb7 10. O-O-O O-O $132) 8. Nd1 Qa5 (8... a5 9. a3 Rb8 10.
axb4 axb4 11. h5 $16) 9. Nf2 Rb8 10. h5 gxh5 (10... Ngf6 11. h6 Bf8 12. Bd3 $16
) 11. Ne2 (11. a3 Ngf6 12. Nd3 c5 13. Rd1 Ba6 $13) 11... Ngf6 12. Ng3 Rg8 (
12... e6 13. Nd3) 13. Nd3 Ba6 14. Kf2 (14. Nf4 $5 Bxf1 15. Kxf1 Qb5+ 16. Qe2 $1
$16) 14... Bxd3 15. Bxd3 c5 16. Nf5 $5 (16. Nxh5 $5 Nxh5 (16... cxd4 17. Nxg7+
Rxg7 18. Bxd4 $16) 17. Rxh5 Qc7 18. c3 Nf6 19. Rh3 $16) 16... Qc7 17. c3 bxc3
18. Nxg7+ Rxg7 19. bxc3 e5 $6 (19... Qa5 $5 20. Rab1 Rb6 $14) 20. Rab1 Ke7 $6 (
20... Rb6 $5) 21. Rxb8 Qxb8 22. dxc5 $1 Nxc5 (22... dxc5 $6 23. Bg5 $5 Rg8 24.
Rd1 Rd8 25. Bb5 $1 $16) 23. Bxc5 (23. Rb1 Qc7 24. Bg5 Ne6) 23... dxc5 24. Rb1
$16 Qd6 $1 (24... Qc7 $6 25. Ba6 Nd7 26. Rb7 Qd6 (26... Qc6 27. Rxa7) 27. Qxd6+
Kxd6 28. Rxa7 $16) 25. Rb7+ Nd7 26. Qe3 (26. Rxa7 $2 c4) 26... a6 $1 27. Ra7
Qb6 28. Rxa6 Qb2+ 29. Be2 Rg6 $1 $14 30. Ra7 Qb6 (30... Rc6 31. Qg5+) 31. Ra8
Qf6 32. Ra7 Qb6 33. Ra6 Qb2 34. Ra8 h6 35. Ra7 Rc6 36. a4 c4 37. a5 Qb5 38. Kg3
Ra6 39. Kh2 $6 (39. Rc7 $5 Qxa5 40. Rxc4 $16) 39... Qxa5 40. Rb7 Rc6 $8 (40...
Qa4 $2 41. Qc5+ Ke8 42. Qc8+ $18) 41. Bxc4 $8 Rc7 $1 (41... Rxc4 42. Rxd7+ Kxd7
43. Qd3+ Ke7 44. Qxc4 $16) 42. Rxc7 Qxc7 43. Bd5 Qd6 $10 44. Qf2 Qf6 45. c4
Qf4+ $1 46. Qg3 (46. g3 Qc1) 46... Qg5 47. Kh3 f5 $5 48. Qxg5+ hxg5 49. exf5
Nf6 50. Be6 Kd6 $10 51. Bf7 Kc5 52. Kg3 Kd4 53. Kf2 h4 54. Be6 Nh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hjartarson, Johann"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Nb3 O-O 8.
O-O a6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. Re1 b5 11. Bd3 Rb8 12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Re8
15. Na5 Qc7 16. Bf1 b4 17. Nb3 a5 18. Rac1 a4 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. b3 Qa5 21. Ne2
axb3 22. axb3 Bc8 23. Red1 Bb7 24. h3 Rbc8 25. Bh6 Rc5 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Nf4
Kg8 28. Ra1 Qc7 29. Qxb4 Rxc2 30. Ra7 Rb8 31. Rda1 Qc3 32. Qxc3 Rxc3 33. b4 Rb3
34. b5 Nd7 35. h4 h6 36. g3 Kg7 37. Rd1 Nc5 38. Re1 Kf6 39. Bc4 Rb4 40. Rc1 Ra8
41. Rxa8 Bxa8 42. Rc2 Na4 43. Bd3 Nc5 44. Bc4 Bb7 45. f3 Nd7 46. Bf1 Nb6 47.
Rd2 Bc8 48. Ra2 Rb1 49. Kf2 Bb7 50. Rd2 Rb3 51. g4 e6 52. g5+ hxg5 53. hxg5+
Ke7 54. Ra2 Bxd5 55. Nxd5+ exd5 56. Ra7+ Kf8 57. Ra6 Nc4 58. Bxc4 dxc4 59. Rxd6
Rxb5 60. Rc6 Rb2+ 61. Ke3 Rc2 62. Kd4 Ke7 63. f4 Rc1 64. Rxc4 Rxc4+ 65. Kxc4
Ke6 66. Kd4 Kf5 67. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 5. Qg4 Bf8 6. Bg5 Qd7 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 h5
9. Qh3 Ba6 10. Nf3 Nh6 11. O-O-O Bxf1 12. Rhxf1 Nc6 13. Ng1 Nf5 14. Bf2 g6 15.
Qf3 Na5 16. g3 c5 17. h3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Rc8 19. Bf2 b5 20. g4 hxg4 21. hxg4 Ne7
22. Qd3 Rc4 23. b3 Rxf4 24. Nxb5 Nec6 25. Qg3 Rb4 26. Nd4 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Nc6 28.
Bb2 Re4 29. Kb1 Bh6 30. Rde1 Rxe1+ 31. Rxe1 d4 32. Nf3 d3 33. Qg2 Nb4 34. Nd4
dxc2+ 35. Nxc2 Nd5 36. Na3 Bf4 37. Rh1 Rxh1+ 38. Qxh1 Qc6 39. Qh8+ Kd7 40. Qf8
Ne7 41. Ka1 Qc5 42. Qxf7 Bxe5 43. Qf1 Bxb2+ 44. Kxb2 Qd4+ 45. Kb1 Qe4+ 46. Kb2
Qd4+ 47. Kb1 e5 48. Qf6 Qe4+ 49. Kb2 Qf4 50. Qa6 Qd4+ 51. Kb1 e4 52. Nc2 Qd1+
53. Kb2 Nc6 54. Qb7+ Kd6 55. Qc8 Qf3 56. b4 Qf6+ 57. Kb3 Qf3+ 58. Kb2 e3 59.
Qe8 Qxg4 60. Qxe3 Qf5 61. a4 Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ribli, Zoltan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. d4 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O Ne4 8. c4
Nc6 9. Nbd2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qd5+ Kh8 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Rfd1
Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Bd7 13. Ne5 a6 14. Be3 Qc7
15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. d5 exd5 17. Bf5 Qd6 18. Ne4 Qe5 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Bxh7+ Kh8
21. Bd3 Qxb2 22. Rab1 Qxc2 23. Bxc2 d4 24. Bf4 b5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Be4 Nce7 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. Qd3 g6 14. Bh6 Bg7
15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Re2 f6 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Rae1 Nc6 20. g3 Rf7
21. Na4 b6 22. Nc3 Rd8 23. Kg2 Qf5 24. Rd2 Qd7 25. h3 Re7 26. Rxe7+ Nxe7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Qf3 Qd7 8.
a3 O-O-O 9. Nge2 g6 10. h3 h5 11. O-O-O Ne7 12. Kb1 Kb8 13. Nc1 Nc8 14. Nb3 b6
15. Rhe1 Re8 16. Ba6 h4 17. Qe2 Rh7 18. Qd3 Rhe7 19. Na2 Nd6 20. Nb4 c6 21. f3
Bf7 22. Qc3 Kc7 23. a4 Bh6 24. e4 fxe4 25. Bb5 Nxb5 26. axb5 exf3 27. Rxe7 Rxe7
28. Qxf3 Qd6 29. Nxc6 Re3 30. Qf2 Bg5 31. Ne5 Be8 32. Nf3 Qf4 33. Qf1 Bd7 34.
Nc1 Bf5 35. Nd3 Qe4 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Ndxe1 Be3 38. Qe2 Bg5 39. Qd1 Bh6 40. Nd3
Bd7 41. Nf2 Qf4 42. Nd3 Qg3 43. Qe2 Bf8 44. Nc1 g5 45. Na2 Qf4 46. Nc3 Qf5 47.
Nh2 Qe6 48. Qf3 Kd6 49. Ng4 Qf5 50. Qxf5 Bxf5 51. Nxf6 Be6 52. Kc1 Be7 53. Ng4
Bf8 54. b3 Bg7 55. Ne2 Bd7 56. c4 Be6 57. Ne3 g4 58. hxg4 Bh6 59. Kd2 dxc4 60.
bxc4 Bxc4 61. Kc3 Bxe2 62. Nf5+ Ke6 63. Nxh6 Kf6 64. d5 Bxb5 65. Nf5 Kg5 66.
Nd6 Ba6 67. Kd4 Kxg4 68. Ke5 b5 69. Nf5 b4 70. d6 Bc8 71. Ne7 Bd7 72. Kd4 Kg3
73. Ng6 a5 74. Ne5 Be6 75. Ke3 Bc8 0-1

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c3 f5
14. Nc2 Qb7 (14... Qg5 {Horvath,T} 15. O-O $6 (15. Qe2 $1 O-O 16. exf5 Bxf5 17.
Bxf5 Qxf5 18. Ne3 Qe6 19. g4 $14) 15... Bb7 16. f3 O-O 17. exf5 d5 $1 $44 {
Leko-Magem Badals /Pamplona/1993}) 15. Qf3 (15. exf5 $6 Qxg2 16. Rf1 Bb7 17.
Ne3 Qxh2 $1 (17... Qc6 $2 18. Qg4 Bf6 19. Qb4 $13 {Koch,JR-Kouatly,B/FRA-ch/
1991/}) 18. Qg4 Bh6 19. Be4 O-O-O $17 {Boudre,JP-Kharlov,A/Paris-ch/1991/}) (
15. f3 $5 f4 16. Qe2 O-O 17. g4 Be6 18. Nb4 a5 19. Nd5 $14 {Renet,
O-Etchegarray,P/FRA-chT/1991/}) 15... O-O (15... d5 $6 16. exf5 e4 17. Qg3 Bf6
18. Be2 $16 {Lamoureux,C-Kouatly,B/FRA.chT/1993/}) 16. Ne3 (16. O-O d5 17. exf5
e4 18. Qg3 Kh8 19. Be2 Bxf5 20. Rad1 $14 {Polgar,J-San Segundo/Madrid/1993/})
16... f4 17. Nd5 Be6 18. g4 (18. Bc2 $2 Bxd5 19. exd5 f5 $15 {Qi
Jinguan-Vyzmanavin,A/Beijing op/1991/}) 18... b4 $1 $146 (18... Rae8 {Leko,
P-Kuijf,M/Nettetal/1992/} 19. O-O-O $1 $14) (18... Rfe8 19. Kf1 Rac8 20. a3 $1
Rc5 21. Rd1 $14 {Dolmatov,S-Tseitlin,M/Beer-Sheva/1991/}) 19. c4 (19. cxb4 Bxd5
20. exd5 Qxb4+ $17) (19. Nxb4 {Horvath,T} a5 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 e4 22. Bxe4
Qxb2 23. O-O Qxc3 24. Qxf4 Qh3 25. Rae1 (25. Bg2 Qh4 26. Rae1 Be5 27. Rxe5 dxe5
28. Qxe5 Qxg4 $15) 25... Be5 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. f4 Rg8 28. Qf5 Qxg4+ $10) 19...
Bxd5 20. cxd5 (20. exd5 e4 21. Bxe4 Bxb2 22. Rb1 Be5 23. Qh3 f6 $13) 20... Bf6
21. g5 $1 Bd8 (21... Bxg5 $2 22. Rg1 $18) 22. Bf1 {! Horvath,T} Kh8 23. h4 Rc8
24. Bh3 Rc2 25. Bf5 Bb6 26. Rh2 f6 (26... Rg8 $2 {Horvath,T} 27. Bxh7 $1 Kxh7
28. Qh5+ Kg7 29. Qh6#) 27. Kf1 (27. Qh5 Qf7 (27... Qg7 28. Rg2 $1 $36) 28. g6
Qg7 29. Qxh7+ Qxh7 30. gxh7 Rxb2 $13) 27... Bd8 (27... Rxb2 28. Qh5 Qf7 29. g6
Qg7 30. gxh7 $6 (30. Qxh7+ Qxh7 31. gxh7 a5 $13) 30... Rxf2+ $1 31. Rxf2 Bxf2
32. Kxf2 Qg3+ 33. Ke2 (33. Kf1 f3 34. Qg6 Qh2 $17) 33... Qe3+ 34. Kf1 f3 35.
Re1 Qd3+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ 37. Kxf3 Qxe1 $19) 28. Kg1 Rg8 29. Kh1 Qc7 30. Rg1 Rc1
31. Rhg2 Rxg1+ 32. Kxg1 fxg5 33. Qh5 g4 (33... gxh4 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Be6+ Kg7
36. Bf5 Kg8 37. Be6+ $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 b5 8. O-O
Bb7 9. Kh1 Nf6 10. Qe2 (10. a3 h5 (10... Ne5 $5) 11. f4 Ng4 12. Bg1 g5 $5 $13 {
Antunac,G-Kurajica,B/Jugoslavija/1967/INF04,448/}) 10... Bb4 11. a4 Bxc3 12.
bxc3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 (13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3 Qxc3 $13) 13... Nxe4 14. axb5 axb5 15.
Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Bxb5 O-O (16... Nc3 17. Qc4 Qb7 (17... Nxb5 $5 18. Qxb5 O-O 19.
Rc1 $10) 18. f3 Qxb5 (18... Nxb5 19. Rb1 $10) 19. Qxb5 Nxb5 20. Rb1 Ke7 21.
Rxb5 Rc8 22. Rc5 Rb8 23. Kg1 $10) 17. Bd3 Nc3 18. Qd2 Be4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qd3
d5 21. Rc1 Qb7 (21... Rc8 $5 22. f3 Nd6 23. Bf4 Qc4 $15) 22. c4 dxc4 23. Qxc4
Ra8 24. h3 h6 25. Qc6 Qxc6 26. Rxc6 Ra1+ 27. Kh2 Rd1 (27... Ra2 28. f3 Nd2 29.
Bxd2 Rxd2 30. Rc4 $10) 28. g4 Kh7 29. Rc7 Kg6 30. h4 Nf6 31. h5+ Kh7 32. Kh3
Kg8 33. Rc8+ Kh7 34. Rc7 Rg1 (34... Kg8 $10) 35. f3 Rd1 36. Bf2 Kg8 37. Rc8+
Kh7 38. Rf8 Rd2 39. Kg3 Rd3 40. Kg2 Nd5 41. Rxf7 Kg8 42. Ra7 Nf4+ 43. Kg3 Ne2+
44. Kg2 Nf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Oll, Lembit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. O-O Qe8 8. d5 a5
9. Ne1 $5 $146 (9. Rb1 Na6 10. a3 Nc5 11. Nb5 Qd8 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 Nce4 14.
Nfd4 e5 $1 15. dxe6 c6 $13 {Illeskas Cordoba,M-Mellado Travino,J/LLeida/1991/1:
0 (32)/}) (9. Nd4 Na6 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bh3 13. Bg2 (13. Re1
Nc5 14. Bh1 Qa4 $1 15. b3 Qb4 $13 {Komarov,D-Piskov,Y/Douai/1993/ Inf 57/113/})
13... Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nc5 $10 {Cvitan,O-Piskov,Y/Moscow(GMA)/1989/}) (9. Nd4 Na6
10. b3 Nc5 11. Bb2 Bd7 12. e3 c6 13. a3 Rc8 14. Nce2 cxd5 15. cxd5 g5 16. Rc1
Qh5 $10 {Stohl,I-Gazik,I/Stary Smokovec/1986/0,5 (44)/}) (9. Be3) 9... Na6 10.
Nd3 Bd7 11. Re1 Qf7 (11... h6 12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Qf7 14. Be3 $16) 12. Nf4 $5
Rab8 (12... g5 $2 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 Qxe6 15. Bxg5 $16) (12... Nc5 $5 13.
Be3 b6 14. Bd4 Rae8 $13) 13. Be3 h6 14. Ba7 $1 Rbd8 15. Bd4 b6 16. e4 fxe4 17.
Nxe4 g5 (17... Nc5 $6 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Bc3 $16) 18. Ne6 (18. Nd3 Rde8 $13)
18... Bxe6 19. dxe6 Qg6 (19... Qxe6 $4 20. Nxf6+ $18) 20. Nc3 (20. Qd3 $5 Kh8
21. Rad1 $14) 20... c5 21. Be3 Nc7 22. Rb1 Kh8 (22... g4 $5) 23. Nd5 Nfxd5 24.
cxd5 Nb5 (24... h5 25. a4 $14) 25. Qg4 Nd4 26. Be4 (26. f4 Nc2 $13) 26... Qf6
27. Kh1 (27. f4 $16) 27... b5 $2 (27... Nf3 $5 28. Red1 b5 $13) 28. f4 $1 $16
Nf5 (28... gxf4 29. gxf4 Rg8 30. Qh5 Bf8 31. Rg1 $18) 29. Bd2 gxf4 30. gxf4 h5
$8 (30... b4 31. Qh5 {/\Rg1-g6+-/}) 31. Qxh5+ Qh6 32. Qg4 $1 Nh4 $8 (32... Nd4
33. Re3 Rxf4 34. Qxf4 Qxf4 35. Rh3+ $18) (32... Qf6 33. Qh3+ Nh6 34. Rg1 $18)
33. Re2 $1 Rg8 34. f5 Qh7 35. Qh3 (35. f6 $5 Bxf6 36. Qh3 Qh5 37. Rf2 Rg4 38.
Bf3 $16) 35... Bf6 36. Bxa5 $5 (36. Rf2 $5) 36... Ra8 37. Bc3 Qh6 38. Bd2 Qh5
39. Rf2 Qg4 40. Qxg4 Rxg4 41. Bd3 Rxa2 $6 (41... c4 $5 42. Be2 Rd4) 42. Bxb5 c4
(42... Bxb2 $4 43. Rxb2 Rxb2 44. Bc3+) (42... Rxb2 43. Rxb2 Bxb2 44. f6 Bxf6
45. Rxf6 exf6 46. e7 $18) (42... Rg7 43. Rf4 Ng2 44. Ra4 $18) 43. Rf4 Rxf4 44.
Bxf4 Bxb2 45. Bxc4 Ra4 46. Bxd6 $1 $18 Rxc4 47. Bxe7 Nxf5 48. d6 Nxe7 49. d7
Rd4 50. Rxb2 Kg8 (50... Nc6 51. Rc2 Ne7 52. Rc8+ $18) 51. Rb8+ 1-0

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 (
7... exd5 {/^c8-g4 =/+/=}) 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Ba5 (9... Be7 {/\Bf6,קd4}) 10. Bd3
$5 (10. Bd2 {/\->>>0-0}) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 {/\->K} Nxd4 $5 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13.
Bb5+ Bd7 (13... Ke7 14. O-O Qxc3 15. Qe2 $44 {עe7, @} Rd8 $140 $2 16. Bg5+ f6
17. Rfc1 Qd4 18. Rd1 $1 Qb6 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 (20... Kxd8 21. Rd1+ Ke7
22. Qh5 $18) 21. Bc5+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Rd1 $18) (13... Kf8 14. O-O $5 Qxc3
15. Qe2 $1 $44 Qxa1 $140 16. Bb2 Qxf1+ 17. Kxf1 $36 {צa8,h8,Bc8, Pg7}) 14. O-O
Qd5 (14... Qxc3 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Qa4+ Ke7 17. Bg5+ f6 (17... Kf8 18. Rac1 $40
) 18. Rac1 Qe5 19. Bf4 Qf5 20. Bd6+ $1 $40) 15. c4 $1 {ץd7,ע} Qf5 $8 16.
Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qb2 {קb7,Pg7} b6 18. Rd1+ (18. Qxg7 $2 Rhg8 $132 {<->g,><g2})
18... Ke7 19. Be3 $44 (19. Qxg7 $6 Rhg8 20. Qd4 Rad8 21. Qh4+ f6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8
23. Be3 $13) 19... f6 20. c5 $1 Rhd8 (20... bxc5 $4 21. Qb7+ $18) 21. h3 (21.
Rxd8 $2 Rxd8 22. cxb6 axb6 23. Bxb6 Rd2 $15 {_|_}) 21... Kf7 (21... bxc5 22.
Qb7+ Kf8 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Qxa7 Bc3 25. Bxc5+ Kg8 26. Qe7 $16) 22. Qb5 $1 {
ץa5} a6 (22... Qh5 $5 23. Rd7+ $13) 23. Qa4 Bc3 24. Rac1 Bb2 25. cxb6 $1 Bxc1
26. Rxc1 Kg6 $2 (26... Qd5 27. Rc7+ Kg8 28. b7 Rab8 (28... Qd1+ 29. Qxd1 Rxd1+
30. Kh2 Rf8 31. Rc8 Rb1 32. Bc5 $18) 29. Qxa6 $16 {_|_}) 27. Qh4 $1 Rd7 28. Rc7
Rad8 (28... Rxc7 29. Qg3+ {/\Qxc7+-}) 29. b7 $1 e5 (29... Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Rxc7 31.
Qg3+ Kf5 32. Qxc7 Re8 33. Ba7 $18) 30. g4 $18 Qb1+ 31. Rc1 Qxc1+ 32. Bxc1 Kf7
33. Be3 h6 34. g5 Rxb7 (34... Rxb7 35. Qc4+ Ke7 36. gxf6+ gxf6 $8 37. Bc5+ Kd7
38. Qf7+ Kc8 39. Qxf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 (9. Qa4+ $1 Qd7 10. Qc2 Nxd2 (10... Nxc3 11. Qxc3 $14) 11. Qxd2 O-O
12. O-O Nc6 13. Rac1 Rad8 14. e3 Bf6 15. Rfd1 Na5 16. b3 Rfe8 17. Ne2 Qd6 18.
Nf4 c6 19. Ne5 $1 c5 20. Ng4 $16 {Kasparov-Gligoric/Niksic/1983}) 9... O-O 10.
O-O {->E18} Nd7 (10... Nxd2 11. Qxd2 c6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 $14) (10... Nxc3
11. Bxc3 Nd7 12. Nd3 Bd6 13. b4 c6 14. a4 a6 15. Qb3 Re8 16. Ra2 b5 17. Nc5
Nxc5 18. dxc5 $14 {Tal-Trifunovic/Palma de Mallorca/1966}) 11. Bf4 (11. Nxe4
dxe4 12. Qc2 c5 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qd5 $10) 11... Ndf6 (11...
c5 12. Nxe4 (12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxc5 $10) 12... dxe4 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. dxc5
Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bxc5 16. Rd7 Bc6 17. Rc7 Bd5 18. Rd1 Rfd8 19. a3 a5 20. h4 $14)
(11... Nxe5 $5 12. Bxe5 Bd6 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 c6 $5 $132 {/\Ba6-c4}) 13.
Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Nxe4 (14. Qc2 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18.
Bxd5 Bxd5 19. e4 Qe6 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Qxd5 $10) 14... dxe4 15. Rc1 Rad8
16. e3 f5 17. Qc2 Rf7 $10) 12. Qa4 c5 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 c5 (13... Qe8 14.
Qb3 c5 15. a4 $14) 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 $14) (12... Qe8 $6 13. Qxe8 Rfxe8 14.
Nxe4 (14. Nb5 Bd8 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. f3 a6 $13) 14... Nxe4 (14...
dxe4 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rfd1 $14) 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Bxe4
dxe4 18. Nd7 Rac8 19. Rfd1 $16) 13. Nxe4 (13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. Qxc6 Rc8 (14... cxd4
15. Bc7 Qc8 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxc7 18. Bxe4 Rad8 19. Rac1 $14) 15. Qa4
cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Rc4 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Be5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 $10)
13... dxe4 (13... Nxe4 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Qc2 Bd6 16. Nd3 $14) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15.
b4 Be7 (15... Bd6 $2 16. Rad1 Nd5 17. Nc6 Qd7 18. Bxd6 Bxc6 19. b5 Bxb5 20. Qb3
Rfc8 21. Qxd5 Bxe2 22. Bxe4 $16) 16. b5 (16. Rac1 $5 Nd5 (16... a5 17. b5 Bc5
18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. Nc6 Qe6 20. Qc4 $16) 17. Rfd1 (17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Rc8 $10)
17... Qe8 $132) 16... Bc5 17. Nc6 (17. Rad1 Qe8 18. Nc6 $2 a6) (17. Bg5 $6 Qd4
$1) 17... Qd5 (17... Qe8 18. Bg5 a6 19. Bxf6 axb5 20. Qxe4 Qxe4 21. Bxe4 gxf6
22. Ne7+ Bxe7 23. Bxb7 Ra7 24. Bd5 $14) 18. Rad1 Qf5 (18... Qh5 $5 19. Bxe4
Nxe4 (19... Qxe2 20. Ne7+ Bxe7 21. Bxb7 $16) 20. Qxe4 Rfe8 21. Qf3 Qxf3 22.
exf3 a6 23. a4 axb5 24. axb5 Rac8 $10) (18... Qe6 $5 $13 {/\a6}) 19. Bd6 $1
Rfe8 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Qh5 22. Qc4 (22. Rc2 a6 $10) 22... Bc8 $1 (22... a6
23. a4) 23. Rfe1 (23. a4 $5 Bh3 24. Rfe1 $14) 23... Be6 24. Qa4 h6 25. a3 Bh3
26. Qc4 Be6 (26... Ng4 $2 27. Bxe4 Nxh2 28. Ne7+ Rxe7 29. Bxa8 $18) (26... Re6
$5 27. Red1 Rae8 {/\} 28. Nxa7 Ng4 29. Rd5 g5 30. Bh1 Bg2 31. Bxg2 Qxh2+ 32.
Kf1 Rf6 33. Qd4 e3 34. f3 Qxg3 35. Kg1 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Rxf3+ 37. exf3 e2+ 38. Ke1
Qg3+ 39. Kd2 e1=Q+ 40. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 41. Kd3 Qd1+ 42. Kc3 Re3+ 43. Qxe3 Qa1+ $19)
27. Qb4 a6 (27... Bh3 $5) 28. bxa6 Rxa6 29. Bxe4 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Rxa3 31. Nd4 $14
Ra2 $2 (31... Qd5 32. Qxd5 Bxd5 33. Rb1 Ra6 34. Rb4 g6 35. Reb1 Rb8 $14) 32.
Nxe6 fxe6 33. Rc7 $16 Qd5 $4 (33... b5 34. Qc6 b4 35. Rb7 Rb2 $16) 34. Qg6 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B60"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Bf4 Ne5 9. Be3 Qc7 10. f4 Nc6 11. g4 d5 12. e5 Nd7 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. g5 a6 15.
N5d4 Qc7 16. Qf3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bb4+ 18. Kf2 Be7 19. h4 Nc5 20. Kg1 Bd7 21. Rh2
h6 22. c4 dxc4 23. Rc2 hxg5 24. hxg5 f6 25. exf6 gxf6 26. gxf6 Bxf6 27. Rxc4
Qd6 28. b4 Na4 29. Re1 Kf7 30. Qxb7 Nb6 31. Nf3 Nxc4 32. Bxc4 Qc6 33. Qxc6 Bxc6
34. Rf1 Bb5 35. Ng5+ Kg6 36. f5+ Kh5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Ne4 Bh4 39. f6 Rag8+ 40.
Kh2 Rg4 41. f7 Be7 42. Bd4 Rf8 43. Bc5 Kg6 44. Kh3 Rh4+ 45. Kg3 Rxe4 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ribli} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxc6 Rb8 $44) (10. Nce2 $5
{Ribli} Bd7 11. b3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Rb8 13. Bb2 Qa5 14. h3 Ne5 15. Qe2 $14 {
Topalov,V-Leko,P/Leon/1993/CBM33/INF60,(48)/}) 10... a6 $6 {xb6} (10... Bd7 11.
Bb2 Nxd4 12. exd4 Rb8 13. Qe2 Nh6 14. Rad1 Nf5 15. Nd5 Re8 16. Rfe1 Bc6 17. Nf4
Bxg2 18. Kxg2 e6 19. Qd3 Qd7 20. Ba1 b5 21. d5 e5 22. Ne2 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rec8
24. Rb1 $13 {Lechtinsky,J-Arkhipov,S/Nettetal (07)/1992/0-1 (46)}) (10... Nxd4
11. exd4 Nh6 12. Bb2 (12. Bd2 {Ribli} Rb8 13. d5 (13. a4 $5) 13... a6 14. Rc1
b5 $13 {Vaulin,A-Khalifman,A/St.Petersburg op/1994/EXP43/}) 12... Nf5 13. Nd5
Bd7 14. Qd2 (14. Re1 e6 15. Ne3 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 Bc6 {Lobron,E-Kindermann,S/Bad
Woerishofen op/1989/0.5 (16)}) 14... Bc6 15. Rad1 e6 16. Ne3 {Mikhalchishin,
A-Szalanczy,E/Budapest Noviki/1988/0.5 (16)}) 11. Bb2 Nxd4 12. exd4 Rb8 13. a4
(13. Qd2 b5 $132) (13. b4 {Ribli} Be6 14. h3 Nh6 15. d5 Bd7 $13) 13... Nh6 (
13... Bd7 $5 {Ribli}) 14. Nd5 Nf5 (14... e6 15. Ne3 b6 $14) (14... b5 {Ribli}
15. cxb5 axb5 16. a5 $14) 15. a5 $1 (15. Re1 {Ribli} e6 16. Ne3 Nxe3 17. Rxe3
$10 {de Boer,G-Hartoch,R/Wijk/1985/INF40,(66)/}) 15... b5 16. Nb6 (16. axb6 e6
(16... Bb7 $132 {Ribli}) 17. Ne3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qxb6 19. Ra3 f5 $13) 16... bxc4
17. bxc4 Rxb6 (17... Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Rb1 $16 (19. Qd3 $14 {Ribli})) 18.
axb6 Qxb6 19. Rb1 Nxd4 (19... Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Rfe1 $14 (
22. Rfe1 {Ribli} e5 23. Rb6 $14)) 20. Qd3 (20. Re1 {Ribli} Bf5 21. Bxd4 (21.
Be4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rb8 23. Re1 Qc6 24. Bxd4 Rxb1 25. Qxb1 Bxd4 $44) 21... Qxd4
22. Qxd4 Bxd4 $44) 20... Bf5 21. Be4 (21. Bxd4 Qxd4 22. Qxd4 Bxd4 23. Rb7 e6
$13) 21... Qc6 $2 (21... Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qc6 $1 (22... Nf3+ 23. Qxf3 Bxb2 24. Qe2
Rb8 25. Qxe7 $16) 23. Qxc6 Nxc6 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rb6 Ne5 26. Rxa6 Nxc4 $13)
22. Qxd4 $3 (22. Bxd4 Bxe4 $19) (22. Bxc6 Bxd3 23. Bxd4 Bxd4 $19) 22... Bxd4
23. Bxc6 Bxb1 (23... Rb8 24. Bxd4 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Bxb1 26. f4 $18) 24. Bxd4 Bd3
25. Re1 e6 (25... e5 26. Bb2 Bxc4 27. Rd1 Rb8 (27... Rd8 28. Bxe5 $18) 28. Ba3
d5 29. Bxd5 $18) (25... Bxc4 26. Rxe7 $18) 26. Bf6 Bxc4 27. Rd1 d5 28. Rb1 h6
29. h4 Kh7 30. f3 g5 31. h5 g4 32. f4 (32. fxg4 Rc8 33. Rb6 Rg8 $16) (32. f4
Rc8 33. Bd7 Ra8 34. Rb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ermenkov, Evgenij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxb4 $5 7. Nb5 Nc6 8.
axb4 Bxb4+ 9. c3 Be7 10. Ba3 Nh6 11. Bxe7 $1 Qxe7 12. Nd6+ Kf8 13. Bb5 $1 f5 $2
(13... f6 $1 14. Bxc6 (14. f4 Nf7 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nxc8 Rxc8 17. Nf3 fxe5 18.
fxe5 g6 19. Ra6 Rc7 20. Qa4 Kg7 21. O-O Qd7 22. Ra1 {Salm,M-Sagorovsky,V/corr
Wch4/1962/}) 14... bxc6 15. Qa4 Bd7 $13) 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Qa4 Bd7 16. Rb1 Nf7
(16... c5 17. Qa3 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nf7 19. Ne2 $44) 17. Qa3 $1 $16 {Der Mehrbauer
a7 ist wertlos.} Nd8 18. Ne2 h6 19. Nf4 Be8 20. Nd3 Kg8 21. O-O Kh7 22. Rb2 Rf8
23. f4 Bh5 24. Nc5 Kg8 25. Qa6 Qc7 26. Rfb1 Bf7 27. g3 Qe7 28. Ndb7 Rb8 (28...
Qc7 29. Nxd8 Rfxd8 30. Rb7 Qc8 31. Qa5 $18) 29. Qxa7 Nxb7 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31.
Rxb7 Qe8 32. Nd7 Bh5 33. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Epishin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e5 5. d4 e4 6. Ne5 cxd4 7. exd4 Bb4 8. Be2
Qe7 9. Bf4 Bd6 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. Qd2 O-O 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O Bg4 14. Rad1
Rad8 15. h3 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Rfe8 17. d5 a6 18. Qe3 cxd5 19. Nxd5 h6 20. b3 Qe5
21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rfe1 h5 23. c5 h4 24. b4 g6 25. a4 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Qb2 27. Rd4
Qc2 28. a5 Qb1+ 29. Kh2 Qb2 30. Qd2 Qa1 31. Qe3 Qb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 (4... c6 $142 5. Qd2 Nbd7) 5. f3 c6 6.
Qd2 b5 7. h4 (7. Bh6 Bxh6 8. Qxh6 b4 $5 9. Nd1 Qa5 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Qxa6
12. Ne2 Nbd7 13. Ne3 Rb8 14. b3 Rb5 15. Nc4 d5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Nb2 e6 18. O-O
Ke7 19. c4 bxc3 20. Nxc3 Rb6 21. Nca4 Rc6 22. Qd2 Rhc8 $10 {Kamsky,G-Gurevich,
M/Reggio Top 16/1991/}) (7. g4 $5 h5 8. g5 Nfd7 9. f4 (9. Nge2 Nb6 10. b3 N8d7
11. f4 b4 12. Nd1 c5 13. Bg2 Ba6 14. Nf2 Bxe2 15. Kxe2 $13 cxd4 $6 16. Bxd4
Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O 18. Qxb4 e5 19. Qxd6 exf4 20. Qxf4 Rc8 21. c4 f5 22. gxf6
Rxf6 23. Qg3 Qe7 24. Nd3 $16 {Vogt,L-Tischbierek,R/BL 9394/1994/}) 9... Bb7 10.
Bg2 Nb6 11. b3 N8d7 12. Nh3 O-O 13. f5 $1 Re8 14. O-O e5 15. d5 Qc7 16. dxc6
Bxc6 17. Rad1 Bf8 18. Qf2 Nc5 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rad8 21. Kh1 Nc8 22. c3 Bg7
23. Qc2 $16 {Magem Badals,J-Izeta,F/Pamplona/1993/}) (7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. g4 Nb6 9.
Ng3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. g5 Nfd7 12. h4 O-O-O 13. h5 Rhg8 14. Qf2 b4 15. Nb1
c5 16. Nd2 Kb8 17. Kb1 Rc8 18. Nb3 Na4 19. Bb5 Ndb6 20. Ne2 Nxb2 $1 21. Kxb2 a6
22. Bd3 c4 $40 {Gdanski,J-Hennigan,M/Santiago Wch-jr/1990/}) (7. O-O-O Qa5 8.
Kb1 Nbd7 9. Nd5 Qxd2 10. Nxf6+ Bxf6 11. Rxd2 O-O 12. h4 Nb6 13. Bh6 Rd8 14. h5
e5 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Bd2 Be6 19. Bc3 f6 20. Nh3
Na4 21. Bd2 Bb6 22. b3 Rd8 23. Kc1 Nc5 24. Be2 Bc8 $15 {Campos Lopez,M-Hort,V/
San Antonio/1972/}) (7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. a3 a6 9. g4 c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Nge2 Bb7
12. Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Qc7 14. Qe3 d5 $6 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. O-O-O
Bb7 18. Nc3 O-O 19. h4 Rac8 20. h5 Nxd3+ 21. Rxd3 a5 22. b4 $1 axb4 23. axb4 e5
24. Rhd1 Qe7 25. h6 $1 $36 {Polgar,Z-Polgar,S/Aruba/1992/}) 7... h5 8. a4 (8.
Nh3 $5 {/\Ng5+/=} Bxh3 9. Rxh3 Nbd7 10. Be2 a6 $13) 8... b4 9. Nd1 a5 10. Nf2 (
10. c3 bxc3 11. bxc3 Ba6 $10) 10... Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Ne2 Nd7 $1 13. O-O (
13. c3 Nb6 14. Qd3 d5 $15 {/\Nc4}) (13. Nd3 c5 14. dxc5 Naxc5 15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16.
Bd4 (16. Bxc5 dxc5 $36 {/^a1-h8}) 16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O $10) 13... c5 14.
Rad1 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 (16. Qxd4 $6 O-O {/\Rc8,><c2}) 16... Qb6 (
16... O-O 17. Qh6 $1 $40) 17. b3 Nac5 (17... Kf8 $5 $10 {/\Kg7,Nf6,Rhc8}) 18.
Kh1 Nf6 19. Nh3 Rc8 20. Rfe1 {/\e5|^} Ncd7 21. Nf4 Rc5 (21... O-O $142 22. Nd5
$5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Nf6 $1 (23... Rfe8 24. Qg5 $14) 24. Rxe7 Nxd5 25. Nf5 $5 Nxe7
26. Nxe7+ Kg7 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 $10) 22. Nd3 Rc8 23. Nb2 $1 {/\Nc4} Qc5 (23... Ne5
24. f4 $5 {/\Nc4,e5->}) 24. Nc4 Ne5 25. Ne3 O-O 26. Qf2 Nc6 (26... Rfd8 $10 {
/\d5}) 27. Ne2 e6 28. Nf4 Ne5 29. Rd2 $14 Rc6 30. Red1 Rfc8 31. Ne2 $1 (31. Nd3
Nxd3 32. Rxd3 d5 $10) 31... Qb6 32. Nd4 Rc3 33. Re1 R3c7 34. Nb5 Rc6 35. Qg3 (
35. Red1 Rd8 36. Kg1 $14) 35... Qc5 36. Qg5 $6 Kg7 37. Red1 Nh7 38. Qf4 g5 $1
39. Nf5+ $1 $8 (39. hxg5 Ng6 40. Nf5+ Kf8 $1 $17 {/\ef5}) 39... exf5 40. Qxf5
Ng6 (40... gxh4 41. Nxd6 {/\Rd5+-}) (40... Rd8 41. Rd5 Qxc2 42. Nxd6 $16) 41.
hxg5 $44 Ne7 (41... Qxf5 42. exf5 Ne5 43. Na7 $16) 42. Qxc5 (42. Qd7 Qxg5 $17)
42... Rxc5 43. Nxd6 R8c6 (43... Rb8 44. f4 f6 $5 45. gxf6+ Nxf6 $13) 44. f4
Rxc2 $2 (44... f6 $13) 45. Ne8+ $1 Kf8 46. Rd8 $36 Rc1 47. Nd6+ Kg7 48. Rxc1
Rxc1+ 49. Kh2 Rc6 (49... Nf8 50. f5 Nh7 51. f6+ Nxf6 52. gxf6+ Kxf6 53. Nc4 $16
) (49... f6 50. Rd7 Kf8 51. g6 Nxg6 52. Rxh7 Nxf4 53. Rf7+ Kg8 54. Rxf6 $16)
50. e5 $18 Rc5 (50... Ng6 $2 51. Nf5#) (50... Nd5 $2 51. Ne8+ Kf8 52. Nf6+ $18)
(50... Nf8 51. f5 $18) 51. Rd7 Ng6 (51... Kf8 $8 52. f5 Rxe5 53. f6 {/\Rd8#}
Nc6 54. Rxf7+ Kg8 55. Rg7+ Kf8 56. Rxh7 $18) 52. e6 $1 Rc6 53. Nf5+ Kg8 (53...
Kf8 $2 54. Rd8#) 54. e7 Re6 55. Rd8+ Nhf8 56. e8=Q Rxe8 57. Rxe8 Nxf4 58. Ra8
Nd3 59. Rxa5 Ne6 (59... Nc1 60. Nd4 $18) (59... Ne6 60. Rb5 {o^a}) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. a4 O-O 8. Ra3 d6
9. Nge2 Nbd7 10. Nf4 Ne8 11. h4 axb5 12. Nxb5 Nc7 13. h5 Nxb5 14. Bxb5 Ba6 15.
hxg6 hxg6 16. Be2 Qb6 17. O-O Bxe2 18. Nxe2 Rfb8 19. Ra2 Qb3 20. Ra3 Qb4 21. a5
Qb5 22. Nc3 Qa6 23. Qc2 Ne5 24. Ra2 Nd3 25. Qe2 Nb4 26. Qxa6 Rxa6 27. Ra3 Rba8
28. Nb5 Nc2 29. Rd3 Rxa5 30. Nc3 Nb4 31. Rd2 f5 32. e4 f4 33. Rdd1 Be5 34. Kh2
c4 35. Kh3 Nd3 36. Kg4 Bxc3 37. bxc3 Ra1 38. Kg5 R8a2 39. Bxf4 Rxd1 40. Rxd1
Rxf2 41. g3 Kf7 42. Rh1 Nxf4 43. gxf4 Rg2+ 44. Kh4 Re2 45. Kg4 Re3 46. e5 dxe5
47. fxe5 Rxe5 48. Rf1+ Kg7 49. Rf4 Rxd5 50. Rxc4 Kf6 51. Rc8 Rd1 52. c4 Ke5 53.
c5 Rg1+ 54. Kf3 Rf1+ 55. Ke3 Kd5 56. Rc7 Re1+ 57. Kf4 e5+ 58. Kf3 Kd4 59. c6
e4+ 60. Kf2 Rc1 61. Rd7+ Ke5 62. c7 Rc3 63. Re7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bh6+ 14. Be3
Bxe3+ 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Qxe7 $1 Be6 17. Qf6 (17. Qa3 $1 a5 (17... Qf2 18. Qa5 $1
$16 {Riveron-Cabrera,A/52-213/1991/,Wittmann-Gramer/Oberwart/1991/}) 18. Bd3
Qb4 19. Be4 Qxa3 20. bxa3 Ra6 21. Rd6 Rc8 22. Rhd1 Kg7 23. Bd5 $1 $16 {Klinger,
J-Tolnai,T/Velden op/1994/} (23. R1d3 $14 {Popovic,P-Tolnai,T/OST-chT9394/1994/
})) (17. Bd3 $1 Qe3+ 18. Rd2 c5 {Rodriguez,Am-Clavijo/Bogota 53-208/1991/} 19.
Qh4 $1 c4 20. Re1 Qc5 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Bxc4 $16) 17... Bxa2 $1 (17... Rfd8 18.
Bd3 Bxa2 19. Rhe1 $1 $16 {Gurevich,I-Petursson,M/Saint Martin 54-211/1992/})
18. b3 Bxb3 $1 {Sven Lindemanns suggestion.} 19. cxb3 Qxb3 20. Rd3 Qb6 $44 21.
Qb2 (21. Be2 Rab8 22. Qa1 Qf2 $44) 21... Rfe8 $1 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Rd1 Ra1+ 24.
Kc2 Ra2+ 25. Kb3 Rea8 $1 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Kxa2 Rd1 28. g3 g5 29. Kb3 Rd2 30.
h4 (30. h4 Rf2 31. hxg5 Rxf3+ 32. Kc2 Rxg3 33. Bd3 Rxg5 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Greenfeld, Alon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Nc3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Bd6 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Nc6 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. Bxg4 Be5 14. Bf3 Qa5
15. Qe1 Qc7 16. g3 Rad8 17. Rc1 Rfe8 18. Na4 b5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qe2 Qa7 21.
Nc5 d4 22. exd4 Rxd4 23. Rfe1 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qxc5 0-1

[Event "PCA-op"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sherzer, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E76"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Bd3
Qxc5 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Be3 Qa5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Rac1 Rac8 13. Rfd1 Nh5 14. Bb1 Bh6
15. h3 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Qa6 18. Rxh5 gxh5 19. Nh4 e6 20. Qxh5 Bg7 21.
e5 f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. f5 exf5 25. Nxf5 Rc7 26. Nxg7 Rxg7 27.
Bh6 Rxh6 28. Rf1+ Ke8 29. Qxg7 Qb6+ 30. Kh1 1-0

[Event "PCA-op"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8.
Be2 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. a4 O-O 11. Bg5 Nc6 12. Nb3 Be6 13. Kh1 Na5 14. Nd4 Bc4
15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16. b3 Na5 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Rc8 19. Rb1 Qd7 20. Re1 Rfe8 21.
c4 b6 22. Qd3 Nb7 23. Nc6 e6 24. b4 a5 25. Be3 axb4 26. Rxb4 exd5 27. cxd5 Nc5
28. Qc2 Ra8 29. Rd1 Ra6 30. Qc4 Rea8 31. a5 bxa5 32. Rb8+ Rxb8 33. Nxb8 Qc8 34.
Bxc5 dxc5 35. Nxa6 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bg5 (6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3
Na5 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 {Fischer,R-Petrosjan,T/Belgrade URS-World/1970/}) 6...
Bg4 (6... Ne4 $6 7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Qa4+ b5 10. Qxe4 f6 $14) 7. Ne2 (7.
Qb3) 7... e6 8. Qc2 Bxe2 (8... Rc8 $5 9. f3 Bh5 10. O-O (10. Bxh7 $6 g6 $1 11.
g4 Rxh7 12. Qb3 Rc7 13. gxh5 Rxh5 $15)) 9. Qxe2 h6 10. Bh4 Qb6 11. Bg3 Be7 12.
O-O O-O 13. b3 Rac8 14. Nd2 a6 (14... Ba3 15. Nf3 Nh5 $13) 15. a4 $1 Qd8 16.
Rac1 Re8 17. Kh1 Bd6 18. f4 Ne7 (18... Qc7 $5 19. Nf3 $140 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4
21. Ne5 Qg5 $15) 19. Nf3 Nf5 20. Ne5 Be7 21. Rc2 g6 $6 (21... Nd6 $1 {xe4}) 22.
Be1 h5 23. h3 h4 $6 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Bxh4 Ne4 26. Be1 (26. Bxe7 $2 Ng3+ 27.
Kh2 Nxf1+ 28. Qxf1 Rxe7 $17) 26... Bh4 27. g4 $1 fxg4 28. hxg4 Kg7 29. f5 Rc7
30. Kg2 Bxe1 31. Qxe1 Qg5 32. Qc1 $1 Qxc1 (32... Qh4 33. f6+ $1 Kg8 (33... Nxf6
34. Rh1 $18) 34. Qf4 $16) 33. Rcxc1 gxf5 34. Rxf5 f6 35. Nd3 Rxc3 36. Rxc3 Nxc3
37. Nf4 Re4 38. Kf3 Kh7 (38... Kf7 $2 39. g5) 39. Rxf6 b5 40. Rxa6 Rxd4 41.
Ra7+ Kg8 (41... Kh6 $2 42. g5+ Kxg5 43. Ne6+ $18) 42. a5 $1 Rb4 43. g5 Rxb3 44.
Ne6 b4 45. Kf4 $1 Ne2+ (45... Ne4 46. g6 $18) 46. Ke5 Re3+ 47. Kf6 Rf3+ 48. Kg6
Nf4+ 49. Nxf4 Rxf4 50. Ra8+ Rf8 51. Rxf8+ Kxf8 52. a6 b3 53. a7 b2 54. a8=Q+
1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. Bd3 Nh5 7. Bg3 d6 8. c3
Nd7 9. Qc2 g6 10. a4 a6 11. O-O O-O 12. h3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 c5 14. Rf2 Qc7 15.
Raf1 d5 16. g4 Rae8 17. c4 cxd4 18. exd4 e5 19. cxd5 Qxc2 20. Bxc2 exd4 21.
Nxd4 Bxd5 22. Kh1 Bc5 23. Rf4 Re3 24. N4f3 Rc8 25. Ne4 Bd6 26. Nxd6 Rxc2 27.
Nxf7 Re7 28. Nh6+ Kg7 29. g5 Rxb2 30. Rd1 Ba2 31. Kh2 a5 32. Nd4 Nc5 33. Rf6
Re8 34. h4 Kh8 35. Rdf1 Rb4 36. R1f4 Nxa4 37. h5 gxh5 38. Rf8+ Rxf8 39. Rxf8+
Kg7 40. Rf6 Rxd4 41. Nf5+ Kg8 42. Nxd4 Nc5 43. Rxb6 a4 44. Kg3 Bf7 45. Rc6 Nd3
46. Ra6 Nb2 47. Kf4 Nd3+ 48. Kf5 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E76"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Bd3
Qxc5 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Be3 Qa5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Rac1 Nd7 13. Qf2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nc5
15. Bb1 Na4 16. Nxa4 Qxa4 17. b3 Qa3 18. c5 dxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Rxc5 Bd4 21.
Rd1 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Rfd8 23. Rcd5 e6 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Nxd8 26. Ke3 Kf8
27. f5 e5 28. f4 f6 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. fxg6 hxg6 31. h4 Kg7 32. Kd3 Kf6 33. Kc4
Ke6 34. Kc5 b6+ 35. Kb5 Kd6 36. b4 Kc7 37. a4 Ne6 38. Ba2 Nd4+ 39. Ka6 Kb8 40.
Bf7 Nf3 41. Bxg6 Nxh4 42. Bf7 Nf3 43. a5 bxa5 44. bxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.02.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Karpov in Linares 1994 - das ist eine Erfolgsstory, die kaum Parallelen
aufweist. Aber halt: eine fällt mir doch ein. New York 1924, da hat der von
Capablanca drei Jahre zuvor besiegte Lasker plötzlich mit 16 aus 20 der
Schachwelt noch einmal gezeigt, was für ein Riese er ist.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5
3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O d6 10.
Bf4 $1 Nh5 11. e3 $1 {Ein bemerkenswerter Zug. Weiß läßt sich einen
Doppelbauern machen und verzichtet zudem auf das Läuferpaar. Das basiert aber
auf einer sehr tiefgründigen Einschätzung der Stellung: Das schwarze
Läuferpaar ist hinter den eigenen Bauern eingesperrt, der auf f4 entstehende
Bauer ist schnell zu f5 bereit und außerdem wird die e-Linie geöffnet.} Nxf4
12. exf4 Bd7 13. Qd2 Qb8 14. Rfe1 g6 {Schwarz mußte schon mit f4-f5 rechnen.}
15. h4 a6 16. h5 {Noch ist nicht ganz klar, was Weiß gegen den schwarzen König
ausrichten kann. Man wird es erst einige Züge später sehen.} b5 {Der junge
bulgarische Spieler gehört in die Kategorie "Initiative und Gegenspiel
suchend". Doch hier war es ohne Zweifel besser 16...Ra7 nebst b6 oder zu
spielen.} 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Nc5 $1 dxc5 (18... Be8 19. Nxa6 $1 Rxa6 20. cxb5
Rb6 21. bxc6 $18) 19. Qxd7 Rc8 20. Rxe6 $1 {Das ist das Salz in der weißen
Suppe! Der Turm bricht wie ein Tornado in die schwarze Stellung ein und
zerstört den Wall vor dem König.} Ra7 21. Rxg6+ fxg6 22. Qe6+ Kg7 23. Bxc6 Rd8
24. cxb5 Bf6 25. Ne4 {Weiß steht auf Gewinn.} Bd4 26. bxa6 ({Der Vorschlag von
Fritz lautet:} 26. f5 gxf5 27. Qxf5 $18) 26... Qb6 27. Rd1 Qxa6 28. Rxd4 $1 {
Das dritte Turmopfer in ein und derselben Partie! Selten sieht man ähnliches,
noch weniger in hochklassigen Turnieren.} Rxd4 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31.
Qe8+ Kg7 32. Qe5+ Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Be8+ Kf8 35. Qxc5+ Qd6 36. Qxa7 Qxf6 (
36... Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Rg1+ $1 38. Kh3 (38. Kxg1 $2 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qh1+ $1) 38...
Rh1+ 39. Kg4 {und Weiß gewinnt.}) 37. Bh5 Rd2 38. b3 Rb2 39. Kg2 {Schwarz
entschied, daß fünf Bauern für eine Qualität für einen leichten Sieg
ausreichend sind.} 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Blatny,P} g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. h3 (5. e5 {Blatny,P} Bg4 {
->[+]}) 5... Nh6 6. Bf4 f6 7. Be2 (7. exd5 cxd5 8. Nb5 O-O) (7. Qd2 {Blatny,P}
Nf7 8. exd5 cxd5 9. O-O-O $14 {<=>}) 7... Nf7 8. Bh2 (8. O-O {Blatny,P} e5 $5)
8... O-O (8... dxe4 {Blatny,P} 9. Nxe4 Qb6 10. Rb1 Bf5 11. Nc3 $14 (11. Ng3 Be6
$132)) 9. O-O b6 (9... Re8 {Blatny,P} 10. Re1 e6 $13) 10. Re1 Bb7 (10... Na6 {
Blatny,P /\Nc7-d5} 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Nb5 e5 $132) 11. Bf1 Nd7 (11... Re8 12. e5
) 12. a4 (12. e5 e6 $13) 12... a6 (12... e6 13. a5 Re8 $13) (12... e5 {Blatny,P
} 13. exd5 cxd5 14. dxe5 Ndxe5 15. Nd4 $14) (12... a5 {Blatny,P} 13. exd5 cxd5
{><b5}) 13. a5 b5 14. exd5 $5 cxd5 15. Re6 $5 Rc8 $6 (15... Re8 16. Nxb5 axb5
17. Bxb5 Bc8 $1 18. Bc6 Ra7 19. Bxd5 $2 Nf8 $17) (15... Ng5 {Blatny,P} 16. Nxg5
fxg5 {/\Rf6}) (15... Bc8 $142 {Blatny,P ><e6}) 16. Nxb5 $6 (16. Ne2 $1 Re8 17.
Nf4 Nf8 $1 (17... Nd6 18. Re1 Nf8 19. Nd3 Ne4 20. Nd2 Nd7 21. Nb3 $16) 18. Rb6
Qd7 19. Nd3 e5 20. Nc5 Rxc5 21. dxc5 $14) 16... axb5 17. Bxb5 f5 $1 (17... Ng5
{Blatny,P} 18. Nxg5 fxg5 19. a6 Ba8 {/\Rf6} 20. c3 {/\Qe2~/=}) 18. Qe2 $6 (18.
Qe1 Nf6 19. Rxe7 Ba8 $13) 18... Nf6 19. a6 (19. Rxe7 Rxc2 20. Rxb7 Rxe2 21.
Bxe2 Qa8 22. a6 Ne4 23. Rc1 Nd8 $17) 19... Ba8 20. Rxe7 Rxc2 (20... Ne4 {
Blatny,P} 21. Rd7 $18) 21. Qxc2 Qxe7 22. Qa4 $1 Qe6 $1 (22... Ne4 $6 23. Bc6) (
22... Rc8 23. a7 Ne4 24. Bd7 $1 Rc4 $140 $2 25. Qb5 Rb4 26. Qb8+ $1 Qf8 27. Be6
$18) 23. b4 $2 (23. a7 $1 g5 $1 (23... Ne4 24. Qa6 $1 Nfg5 (24... Qxa6 25. Rxa6
{/\ Bc6, Rb6}) 25. Nxg5 Nxg5 26. h4 $1 Qxa6 27. Rxa6 Nf7 (27... Ne4 28. Be5 $1
$44) 28. Ra4 Rc8 29. Bf4 $13) 24. Bc7 g4 25. Ne5 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 gxh3 27. gxh3 (
27. Qa6 Qf7 28. gxh3 Ne4 $1 $17) 27... f4 $1 $40) (23. a7 $142 {Blatny,P /\Qa6}
) 23... Ne4 24. Bf1 g5 25. b5 g4 (25... f4 $5) 26. Ne1 (26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. Bxe5
Bxe5 28. dxe5 Qb6 $19) 26... Qb6 27. Nc2 Rc8 28. Bf4 Bh6 $1 (28... gxh3 {
Blatny,P} 29. gxh3 Qg6+ 30. Bg2 Nc3 $19) (28... Nxf2 $5 {Blatny,P} 29. Kxf2
Rxc2+ 30. Qxc2 Bxd4+ 31. Be3 $8 Bxe3+ $40) 29. Bxh6 Qxh6 30. hxg4 (30. Ne3 gxh3
31. gxh3 Qf4 32. Ra2 (32. Nd1 Nfg5 33. Bg2 Kh8 {/\ Rg8}) (32. Qa2 Kh8 33. Bg2
Rg8 {/\ Nfg5}) 32... Nfg5 33. Bg2 Nxf2 $1 34. Rxf2 Qxe3 $19) 30... Qd2 31. f3
Qf2+ 32. Kh2 (32. Kh1 Ng3+ $19) 32... Nfg5 33. Ne1 Qh4+ (33... Qg3+ {Blatny,P}
34. Kh1 Nf2+ 35. Kg1 Ngh3#) 34. Kg1 Nh3+ (34... Nh3+ 35. gxh3 Qf2+ 36. Kh1 Ng3#
) 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
Qxc3 Nc6 9. Bb5 Bd7 (9... Qb6 10. Bxc6+ Qxc6 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. O-O (12. Be3
Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Be7 14. O-O-O f6 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Ba5 e5 17. Nc2 Be6 18. Kb1 Kf7
19. Bb4 Rab8 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rd2 Rhd8 {0,5/Akesson,R-Adamski,J/Polanica
Zdroj/1981/}) 12... Be7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Rfc1 $14 {Muresan,M-Savereide,D/
Tbilisi/1982/}) 10. O-O (10. Bd2 Qb6 11. Be2 Bc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Rac1 Nd4 $15 {
Kachar,V-Pavlovichev,Y/Podolsk/1991/}) 10... Qb6 11. a4 (11. Ba4 Qc5 (11... Qb4
12. Qxb4 Bxb4 13. Rd1 f6 14. Be3 Ke7 $10 {Belov,I-Pavlovichev,Y/Podolsk/1990/})
12. Qd3 (12. Qb3 Qb4 13. Qc2 Qc5 14. Qe2 a6 15. a3 b5 16. b4 Qh5 17. Bb3 Be7
18. Rd1 Ne5 $10 {Hansen,LB-Stein,B/Kopenhagen open/1989/}) 12... Qd6 13. Qe2 a6
14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Nd4 {0,5/Miles,A-Ribli,Z/Baden Baden/1981/})
11... Qc5 12. Bd2 (12. Qd3 Qd6 (12... a6 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. Bc4 Rd8 15. Be3 Bc8
16. Qc2 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Qc7 $13 {Chumichev,N-Pavlovichev,Y/Moskva/1972/}) 13.
Qe2 Be7 (13... a6 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Bc4 (15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Bg5 h6 17. Be3 Bd6 $10
{Gurevich,M-Epishin,V/Biel izt/1993/}) 15... Na5 16. Bd5 Bb4 17. Bg5 O-O $15 {
Makarov,V-Pavlovichev,Y/Podolsk/1979/}) 14. Bd2 (14. g3 e5 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Rxd7
Qxd7 17. Nxe5 Qe6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bc4 Qg6 20. f4 $44 {Van Wely,L-Hoeksema,H/
NL-ch/1993/}) 14... a6 15. e5 Qc7 16. Bd3 Nb4 17. Rfc1 Bc6 18. Bxb4 Bxb4 19.
Nd4 $16 {Damljanovic,B-Grosar,A/Vidmar mem/1989/}) (12. Be3 Qxc3 13. bxc3 a6
14. Be2 Bd6 15. Rfb1 O-O-O 16. Rb2 Bc7 $10 {Rohde,M-Ruban,V/Tilburg/1992/})
12... Qxc3 13. Bxc3 a6 14. Bc4 Rg8 15. Rfd1 {0,5/Mikhalchishin,A-Georgadze,Ta/
URS-ch/1978/} Bb4 16. Bxb4 Nxb4 17. Ne5 Bc6 18. Bb3 Ke7 19. f3 (19. Rd4 f6 20.
Ng4 a5 21. e5 f5 22. Ne3 Rgd8 23. Rad1 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Na6 25. g4 $14 {Gorbatov,
A-Pavlovichev,Y/Podolsk/1991/}) 19... Rgd8 20. Kf2 Be8 $1 21. Ke2 f6 22. Nc4 b5
$15 {><d4, ץb3} 23. Ne3 Nc6 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Bd1 Nd4+ 26. Ke1 Rc8 (26... b4
27. Rc1 $132) 27. axb5 Bxb5 {/\g7-g5,h7-h5-h4} 28. h4 $1 Kd6 29. Ba4 f5 {
/\30. - fxe4 31.fxe4 Ke5} 30. Bxb5 axb5 31. Rd1 Ke5 32. Kf2 Ra8 (32... fxe4 $4
33. f4+ $18) 33. exf5 exf5 34. g3 $10 Ra2 35. Rd2 h5 36. Nd1 b4 $6 37. Ne3 Ra6
38. Ng2 {/\Nf4, קh5} Ne6 39. Rc2 Kd4 (39... Rd6 $10) 40. Ne3 Kd3 $2 (40... f4
$2 41. gxf4 Nxf4 42. Rc4+ Ke5 43. Re4+) (40... g6 $10) 41. Rc1 {/\Rd1#} Kd4 $8
42. Rc4+ (42. Nxf5+ Ke5 43. Ne3 $16) 42... Kd3 43. Rxb4 Nd4 44. Rc4 {/\45.Rc3+
Kd2 46.Nf1+ Kd1 47.Rd3+ +-} Ne2 $8 45. Rc2 f4 $1 $8 46. gxf4 (46. Rxe2 fxg3+
47. Ke1 g5 $1 $13 (47... Re6 $2 48. Rd2+ Kxe3 49. Re2+ Kxf3 50. Rxe6 g2 51. Rg6
$18) (47... Ra4 $5)) 46... Nxf4 47. Rc3+ Kd2 48. Nc4+ Kd1 49. Re3 Kc2 50. Re4
Nd3+ 51. Ke3 Nxb2 52. Nxb2 Kxb2 53. Re5 g6 54. Kf4 Kc3 55. Kg5 Kd4 56. Re8 Rb6
57. Re4+ Kd3 58. Kh6 Ra6 59. Re7 Ra4 60. Kg5 Ra6 61. Rf7 Ke3 {Hansen,Cu}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. c4 a5 12. Nd2 Nd7 13. Ne4 f5 14. Nc3 O-O 15.
Be2 Bg5 16. Bf2 Qf6 17. O-O Na6 18. Bd3 Qh6 19. Qe2 Rae8 20. Bc2 Nac5 21. g3 e4
22. f4 Bd8 23. a3 Nf6 24. Kg2 Bb6 25. Bg1 Ncd7 26. Nb5 Bxg1 27. Rxg1 Qg6 28. b4
Rc8 29. Nxd6 Nxd5 30. Nxc8 Nxf4+ 31. Kf1 Qf6 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. Qd1 Nh3 34. Nd5
Qb2 35. Rg2 f4 36. gxf4 Qe5 37. Ra2 Nb6 38. Qa1 Rxf4+ 39. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Bg5 a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Nb3 Be6 11. Kh1 Rc8 (11... h6 $6 12. Be3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5
14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Nc5 Bxb2 16. Qxd5 Bxd5 17. Rad1 Nb4 18. Nd7 $16 {Xie
Jun-Chiburdanidze,M (11) WchW Manila 1991 1-0 34}) 12. f4 Na5 (12... Nb4 $6 13.
f5 Bc4 14. a5 Bxb3 15. cxb3 Rc5 16. Ra4 Nc6 17. b4 Rxc3 18. Bxf6 Re3 19. Bxg7
Kxg7 20. b5 $16 {Fishbein,A-Karason,A Saint John op-1 1988 1-0 40}) 13. Nxa5
Qxa5 14. Bd3 Rfe8 (14... Bc4 15. Qf3 e6 16. f5 Bxd3 17. cxd3 Qb4 18. Rf2 $16 {
Fishbein,A-Danek,L Vienna op (4) 1991 1-0 41}) 15. Qe2 (15. f5 $5) 15... Qb4
16. a5 $2 (16. f5 Qxb2 $2 (16... Bd7 $10) 17. Bd2 $18) 16... Bg4 (16... Qxb2 $2
17. Na4 Qd4 18. Nb6 Rc7 19. Ra4 $16) 17. Qd2 Bd7 $1 18. Qe2 $2 (18. Ra3 Bc6 $15
) 18... Qxb2 $17 19. Bxf6 (19. Na4 Bxa4 20. Rxa4 Nd7 $17) 19... Bxf6 20. Nd5
Bb5 (20... Qxa1 $5 21. Rxa1 Bxa1 22. Nb6 Rc7 23. Nd5 Rc5 $17) 21. Bxb5 Qxb5 22.
Qxb5 axb5 23. Rab1 Rc5 $1 (23... Rxc2 $6 24. Rxb5 $15) 24. Rfd1 (24. Nxf6+ exf6
25. Rfe1 Rxc2 26. Rxb5 Rxe4 $19) 24... Kg7 25. Nb6 (25. g4 g5 26. Nxf6 exf6 27.
fxg5 fxg5 28. Rd4 Re6 $19) 25... Rxc2 26. Rxb5 Re2 27. Nd5 (27. Rb4 $5 $17)
27... Rxe4 $19 28. Rxb7 Ra8 29. g4 (29. Rb5 Ra4 $19) 29... Rxa5 30. g5 Ba1 31.
Nxe7 (31. Rxe7 $2 Rxd5 $19) 31... Rxf4 32. Nc6 (32. Rb8 h5 33. gxh6+ Kxh6 34.
Rxd6 Be5 $19) 32... Ra8 $1 (32... Ra2 33. Nd8 (33. Nb4 Rb2 $19) 33... Kf8 34.
Rc1 {/\ Ne6}) 33. Rxd6 Ra2 34. Rd1 Rff2 35. Nd8 Kg8 36. Rb8 h5 (36... Be5 $4
37. Ne6+ Bxb8 38. Rd8#) 37. gxh6 Be5 38. Rb7 Rxh2+ 39. Kg1 Rhg2+ 40. Kh1 Rh2+ (
40... Rg4 $19) 41. Kg1 Rhg2+ 42. Kh1 Rg4 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nxc3 7. Qxc3 Nc6
8. e4 Bg4 (8... e6 {Morosevic,A-Moskolenko,V/Alushta/1993/CBM36/INF57,48/}) 9.
Bb5 Rc8 10. Be3 $5 (10. Bf4 $5 {Gelfand,B-Beliavsky,A/Reggio Emilia/1991/CBM27/
INF53,54/}) 10... a6 (10... Bxf3 $2 11. gxf3 a6 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Bxc6+ Qxc6 14.
Qd4 f6 15. O-O e5 16. Qa7 $16 {Portisch,L-Huebner,R/Montreal/1979/INF27,83/})
11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Ba4 b5 13. Bb3 e6 14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bd6 (15... Qe5 16. Qxe5
Nxe5 17. Rc1 $14 {Belov-Hudacek/Karvina/9293/INF56,(47)/}) 16. Qxg7 Bxh2+ 17.
Kh1 $14 Be5 (17... Qe5 $2 18. Qh6 $18) 18. Qh6 Qe7 19. Bg5 Qf8 (19... f6 20.
Be3 Bxb2 21. Rg1 $44) 20. Qh5 Nd4 21. Bh6 Qd6 (21... Bg7 22. Rxd4 Bxh6 23. Bxe6
$18) 22. Be3 Rc5 23. Qh3 $1 Rg8 24. f4 Bf6 25. Rg1 Rg6 (25... Rxg1+ 26. Kxg1
Ne2+ 27. Kf1 Nxf4 28. Qg3 $18) 26. Rxg6 hxg6 27. e5 Qc6+ 28. Qg2 Nxb3 29. axb3
Bd8 30. Bxc5 Qxc5 31. Qa8 Qe7 32. Kg2 a5 33. Qc6+ Kf8 34. Qc8 Ke8 35. Qc6+ Kf8
36. Rd7 Qh4 37. Qf3 Bb6 38. Qg3 Qh5 39. Rb7 Bd4 40. Qg5 Qxg5+ 41. fxg5 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Stohl} e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 (3. Nf3 {Stohl} Bb7 4. g3 Bxf3 5. exf3 Nf6 6.
Nc3 c6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Bd3 d5 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. Be3 Nd5 13.
Rc1 Bb4 14. Re2 Ne7 15. a3 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 a5 17. Ba2 Nd7 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Bb1 Qd7
20. Rc1 Rfd8 $13 {Danielsen,H-Olafsson,H/Akureyri/1994/}) (3. e4 {Stohl} Bb7 4.
d5 exd5 5. exd5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qe7+ 7. Be2 c6 8. Nh3 Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf3 Bxd2
11. Qxd2 Na6 12. Nc3 Qb4 13. b3 cxd5 14. Rad1 Ne4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Nf4 Rad8
17. Qd4 f5 18. Nb5 Qc5 19. Nxa7 g5 20. Nd5 $36 {Moskalenko,V-Lempert,I/
Alushta1/1994/}) 3... Bb7 4. a3 f5 5. d5 Nf6 6. g3 g6 (6... Bc5 {Stohl} 7. Bg2
O-O 8. e3 a5 9. Nge2 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Qc2 Rb8 12. h3 h5 13. h4 $6 Ng4 14.
Bd2 e5 15. e4 f4 $1 16. gxf4 Qe7 17. Qd3 Qxh4 18. Qh3 Bxf2+ 19. Kh1 Nc5 20. b4
axb4 21. axb4 Nb3 $19 {Ivanov,Vi-Lempert,I/Moscow/1994/}) (6... Na6 7. Bg2 Nc5
8. Nh3 Bd6 9. O-O Be5 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Nf4 Qe7 12. Be3 Nce4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14.
Rad1 c5 15. Bc1 g5 16. Nd3 Bd4 17. e3 Bg7 18. f3 Nd6 19. e4 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 g4 21.
exf5 gxf3 22. Bxf3 Rxf5 23. Nf4 Raf8 24. Bg2 $14 {Naumkin,I-Lempert,I/Moscow/
1994/}) (6... a5 {Stohl} 7. Bg2 Na6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. O-O Qe7 10. Nb5 O-O 11. Nxd6
Qxd6 12. Bf4 Qc5 13. Rc1 Ne4 14. Nd4 Qe7 15. Nb5 d6 16. Be3 Rae8 17. Qc2 Qf7
18. dxe6 Rxe6 19. Nd4 Re7 20. Rcd1 Qh5 21. Bc1 $14 {^^,Gurevich,M-Teske,H/BL
9192/1991/}) 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. e3 (8. Nh3 {Stohl} O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. Qc2 Nc5 11.
Be3 exd5 12. cxd5 Nce4 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Rac1 Rc8 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. b4 Qf6 17.
Bd4 Qd6 18. e3 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Re5 20. Rcd1 Qf6 21. f4 Re7 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. Nf2
$16 {Epishin,V-Muhutdinov,M/Moscow Tal/1992/}) (8. Nf3 {Stohl} O-O 9. O-O Na6
10. Bf4 Nc5 11. Nb5 d6 12. dxe6 Nfe4 13. Nbd4 Qe7 14. Be3 Nxe6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6
16. Bd4 Bh6 17. b3 c5 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. e3 d5 $132 {Baburin,A-Lempert,I/
Budapest Festival/1991/}) 8... O-O 9. Nge2 e5 (9... c6 $1 10. O-O cxd5 11. cxd5
Na6 $10) 10. O-O d6 11. e4 $14 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nd7 14. Nc3 (14. b4
{Stohl} a5 15. Be3 $14) 14... Bc8 15. Bg2 (15. h4 $5 Nf6 16. Bg5 $14) 15... Nf6
16. h3 Rf7 $1 17. Be3 Qf8 18. Qd2 a5 19. b4 (19. b3 $5 $14 {Stohl /\Rfc1,b4})
19... Ba6 20. Nb5 (20. b5 {Stohl} Bc8 $10) 20... Kh8 $1 {/\ Ng8, Bh6} 21. Rfc1
(21. bxa5 Bxb5 22. cxb5 Rxa5 23. a4 Ng8 24. Rfc1 Bh6 $10) (21. Rfb1 {/\ ba5}
Bxb5 22. cxb5 Ng8 $10) 21... Ng8 22. Ra2 Bh6 23. Rac2 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 axb4 25.
axb4 Bxb5 26. cxb5 Ra7 $10 27. Qc3 $1 {/\ f4} (27. h4 {Stohl} Nh6 28. Bh3 Nf5
$10) 27... Qg7 28. Ra1 Rxa1+ 29. Qxa1 h5 $1 30. Qc1 Qf6 {/\ h4} (30... Nh6 $142
{Stohl /\Nf5-d4=}) 31. h4 Qf5 (31... Kg7 {Stohl} 32. Bh3 $36) 32. Kh2 $8 {
/\ Bh3} Nf6 33. Bh3 (33. Rxc7 $2 {Stohl} Ng4+ $36) 33... Ng4+ (33... Qe4 {Stohl
} 34. Be6 $40) 34. Bxg4 hxg4 (34... Qxg4 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Ra2 Rf8 $10) 35. Kg1
Kg7 36. Qd2 g5 $5 (36... Qe4 37. Rc1 $10) (36... e4 {Stohl} 37. Rc4 $16) (36...
Kh7 {Stohl} 37. Rc4 Qf3 $5 $14) 37. hxg5 (37. Qxg5+ $6 {Stohl} Qxg5 38. hxg5
Kg6 $10) 37... Kg6 38. Rc4 Rh7 $6 {Zeitnot} (38... Qxg5 $2 39. Qc2+ (39. Qe2
$36 {Stohl ע}) 39... Kh6 40. Rxc7 $18) (38... Qb1+ 39. Kg2 (39. Rc1 Qe4 {
/\ Rh7}) 39... Rh7 40. Qc2+ Qxc2 41. Rxc2 Kxg5 42. Kf1 Kf5 43. Rc4 $10) 39. Qd1
$1 Kxg5 (39... Qf3 40. Qc2+ $1 (40. Qxf3 {Stohl} gxf3 41. Rh4 Re7 $13) 40...
Qf5 41. Rxc7 $18) 40. Qc1+ Kg6 41. Rxc7 Rxc7 $4 (41... Qe4 $1 42. Rxh7 $8 Kxh7
43. Qc7+ Kg8 $1 44. Qxb6 (44. Qxd6 Qb1+ 45. Kg2 Qe4+ 46. Kf1 Qd3+ 47. Ke1 Qe4+
48. Kd2 Qd4+ $10) 44... Qb1+ 45. Kg2 (45. Kh2 Qh7+ $10) 45... Qe4+ 46. Kf1 Qd3+
47. Ke1 Qc3+ 48. Ke2 Qc2+ 49. Ke3 Qc3+ 50. Ke2 $10 (50. Ke4 $4 Qf3#)) 42. Qxc7
$18 Qb1+ (42... Kg5 43. Qd8+ $1 (43. Qxb6 $2 Qb1+ 44. Kh2 Qh7+ 45. Kg2 Qe4+ $10
) 43... Qf6 44. Qxb6 $18) 43. Kh2 Qxb4 44. Qxb6 Kf5 45. Qa7 $1 (45. Qc6 {Stohl}
Qd4 $1 46. Qc2+ Kg5 $14) 45... Qxb5 46. Qh7+ Kf6 (46... Kg5 47. Qe7+ Kf5 48.
Qxd6 {See the game}) 47. Qh6+ Kf5 (47... Ke7 {Stohl} 48. Qe6+ $18) 48. Qxd6 Qe2
(48... Ke4 $142 49. Qg6+ (49. Qe6 $2 Qe2 (49... Qxd5 $2 50. Qxg4+ Kd3 51. Qd1+
$18) 50. Qf7 Qc4 $1 51. Qd7 (51. Qg8 Qe2 $1 $10) 51... Qe2 $1 $10) 49... Kxd5
50. Qxg4 $18 {/\ Qf5, g4}) 49. Qf8+ Kg5 50. d6 Qd2 51. Qg7+ Kf5 52. Qf7+ Kg5
53. d7 Qd4 (53... e4 {Stohl} 54. Qf4+ $18) 54. Qg7+ Kh5 (54... Kf5 {Stohl} 55.
Qf8+ {/\d8Q}) 55. Qh7+ Kg5 (55... Kg5 56. d8=Q+ $1 Qxd8 57. Qh4+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Bareev Ftacnik Knaak} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6.
Bxf6 Bxf6 7. c3 Nd7 8. Qc2 (8. f4 $5 Be7 9. Nf3 c5) (8. Nf3 O-O 9. Qc2 e5 {
This has been played a few times}) 8... e5 $1 (8... O-O {Ftacnik} 9. f4 $5) 9.
dxe5 (9. O-O-O $1 {Bareev}) 9... Nxe5 $10 10. f4 $6 {White is not developed
enough for this sort of thing} (10. Bb5+ {Knaak} c6 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. Nd6+ Kf8
13. Be2 Be6 $15) (10. Be2 $15 {Knaak}) 10... Ng6 11. g3 O-O 12. Bd3 (12. Bg2
Re8 13. Ne2 Bf5 14. O-O Qe7) 12... Qd5 $1 {White was threatening 0-0-0 with a
slight edge} 13. a3 $2 (13. O-O-O {Knaak} Qxa2 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Ne2 $17 (15.
Nf3 $15 {Ftacnik})) (13. Nf3 {Knaak} Bg4 14. O-O Be7 $15) (13. Nxf6+ $2 {
Ftacnik} gxf6 14. O-O-O Qxh1 15. Be4 Bf5 $1) (13. Ne2 {Ftacnik} Be7 14. a3 (14.
O-O {Bareev} Bh3 $15) 14... Bg4 (14... Rd8 {Bareev} 15. O-O-O Bg4 (15... Qa2 $2
16. c4 $1) 16. h3 Bf3 17. Rh2 c6 $10) 15. h3 (15. O-O-O Rad8 16. h3 Bc8 17.
Nf6+ (17. h4 {Bareev} Rfe8 $15) 17... Bxf6 18. Bxg6 Qc5 $13) 15... Bf3 16. Rh2
Rad8 17. O-O-O c6 18. Rf2 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 20. Qxd1 Rxd1+ 21. Kxd1 $10)
13... Nxf4 $1 $19 14. Nxf6+ (14. gxf4 Bh4+ 15. Kf1 (15. Kd2 {Knaak} Rd8 $19) (
15. Ke2 Bg4+ 16. Nf3 f5 $19) 15... f5 {Ftacnik} 16. Nf3 (16. Qe2 Kh8 $17) (16.
Nd2 Qxh1 17. Ndf3 Be7 $19) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 Bh3+ 18. Kg1 Qc5+ 19. Nd4 Rxf4
$19) 14... gxf6 15. Bxh7+ Kg7 16. Qe4 (16. Be4 {Knaak} Re8 $19) 16... Re8 $1 (
16... Nd3+ {Knaak} 17. Kf1 (17. Ke2 Qxe4+ 18. Bxe4 Nxb2 19. Bc2 Bd7 20. Nf3 Na4
$19) 17... Be6 $17 (17... Qxe4 {Ftacnik} 18. Bxe4 Nxb2 19. Nf3 (19. Ne2 {Bareev
} Re8 $17) 19... Re8 $16)) (16... Qxe4+ {Ftacnik} 17. Bxe4 Re8 18. gxf4 Rxe4+
19. Kf2 Rxf4+ $15) 17. Qxe8 Bf5 $3 {Like the romantic games of the last century
} 18. Qxa8 (18. Qe7 {Ftacnik} Nd3+ 19. Kf1 Bxh7 $19) (18. Qa4 {Ftacnik} Nd3+
19. Kf1 (19. Ke2 Qg2+) 19... Kxh7 $40 (19... Kxh7 {Bareev} 20. Qd1 Re8 $19))
18... Qe4+ 19. Kf2 (19. Kd2 Qg2+ $1 20. Ke3 $8 (20. Ke1 Nd3+ 21. Kd1 Bg4+ (
21... Bg4+ {Knaak} 22. Nf3 (22. Ne2 {Ftacnik} Qxe2#) 22... Bxf3#)) 20... Nd5+
21. Kd4 Qd2+) (19. Kd1 {Knaak} Qc2+ 20. Ke1 Nd3+ 21. Kf1 Qf2#) 19... Qg2+ 20.
Ke3 Nd5+ 21. Kd4 Qd2+ 22. Kc5 (22. Kc4 {Ftacnik} Nb6+ 23. Kb4 Qxb2+ 24. Ka5
Nc4+ 25. Ka4 b5#) 22... Qe3+ 23. Kc4 (23. Kxd5 Be6#) (23. Kb5 {Ftacnik} Qb6+
24. Kc4 Ne3#) 23... Nb6+ {and it's mate in three. This game won the brilliancy
prize in Linares} (23... Nb6+ {Knaak} 24. Kb3 (24. Kb5 {Ftacnik} c6+ 25. Kb4
Qe4+ 26. Kc5 Qe7+ 27. Kd4 c5#) 24... Qe6+ 25. Kb4 Qc4+ 26. Ka5 Qc5#) 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. d3 e5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nd2 Bd7 10. Nc4 f6 11. f4 b5 12. Ne3 Rc8 13. fxe5 (13. a4 $5 b4 14. Nb5
$5 (14. Ne4 $6 f5 15. Nf2 O-O $10 {Portisch,L-Sokolov,A/Bugojno/1986/INF40,(46)
/}) (14. Ncd5 O-O $6 (14... exf4 $5) 15. Nc4 $14 {Benko,P-Sherzer,A/
Philadelphia/1988/INF46,58/}) 14... exf4 15. Nxc7+ $6 {Hjartarsson,J-Sokolov,A/
Rotterdam WCup/1989/CBM13/INF47,60/} (15. gxf4 $5)) 13... Nxe5 14. Nf5 O-O $13
15. Kh1 Re8 16. Ne4 Bc6 17. Bf4 (17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Be3 Ne6 19. Rc1 c4 $1)
17... Bf8 18. a4 a6 $5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rc1 Qd7 21. Be3 Ne6 22. Bg1 Qb7 23.
Nh4 Kh8 24. Nd2 Rcd8 25. Ndf3 Nxf3 26. Nxf3 Nd4 27. Bxd4 Rxd4 28. Qc2 Rd6 29.
Nh4 (29. Qxc5 $2 Rxe2 $17) 29... Rde6 30. Bxc6 (30. e4 c4 $1 $36) 30... Qxc6+
31. e4 Qd7 (31... c4 $2 32. b3 $1) 32. Ng2 c4 33. dxc4 Rxe4 34. cxb5 (34. c5 $2
Rc4 $17) 34... Qxb5 (34... Re2 $2 35. Qc6) 35. Rf2 Re2 36. Rxe2 Rxe2 37. Qc8
Kg8 38. Nf4 $1 Rxb2 39. Qe6+ Kh8 40. Qc8 Qb4 41. Ng6+ $1 (41. Ng6+ hxg6 42.
Qh3+ Kg8 43. Qe6+ Kh7 44. Qh3+ $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 (7...
Qc7 8. a4 b6 9. Be2 Be7 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Nd2 Be6 12. O-O Nc6 13. Nf3 Nb4 14. Qd2
d5 $15 {Kalesis,N-Loginov,V Budapest FS FebGM (01) 1994 0-1 -CBM 40}) 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 (10. Qe2 Na5 11. Bd5 Be6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Bg5 Qc7 14.
Bxf6 $14 {Kalesis,N-Dao Thien Hai Budapest FS FebGM (11) 1994 0-1 37 -CBM 40})
10... Na5 (10... h6 11. a3 Be6 12. Nd5 b5 13. Ba2 Rc8 14. Nd2 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nb8
16. c4 $14 {Short,N-Anand,V Monaco rapid (01) 1993 1-0 41}) 11. Bf1 Be6 12. Nd5
Bxd5 13. exd5 b5 14. b3 Ng4 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. h3 Nxf2 $2 (16... Nf6 17. Be3 $14)
17. Bxa5 (17. Be3 $2 Qxe3 $19) 17... Qxa5 (17... Nxh3+ 18. Kh2 Qxa5 19. gxh3
$16) 18. Kxf2 Qb6+ 19. Kg3 f5 20. Kh2 (20. Nd4 f4+ 21. Kh2 Bh4 22. Ne6 Bxe1 23.
Qxe1 $14) 20... Bf6 21. c3 b4 22. Nd2 bxc3 23. Nc4 Qc5 24. a3 a5 25. Ra2 Rab8
26. Kh1 Rb7 $2 (26... g6 27. g4 $16) 27. Qf3 $1 $18 e4 (27... Rxb3 28. Qxf5
Qxd5 29. Ne3 $18) 28. Qxf5 Re7 29. Qh5 Bd4 30. Qd1 Bf2 (30... a4 $5 31. Be2 (
31. b4 $2 Rxf1+ 32. Rxf1 Qxc4 $17) 31... axb3 32. Qxb3 Qxd5 33. Na5 Qxb3 34.
Nxb3 $16) 31. Ree2 Bg3 32. Re3 Qd4 33. Ra1 Be5 (33... Qxd1 34. Rxd1 c2 35. Rc1
Bf4 (35... Ref7 36. Be2 $18) 36. Rxc2 Bxe3 37. Nxe3 $18) 34. Qc2 Bf4 35. Rxc3
$18 (35. Rd1 $2 Bxe3 36. Rxd4 Rxf1+ 37. Kh2 Bxd4 $19) 35... Ref7 36. Be2 Bg5
37. Rd1 Qf2 38. Bh5 (38. Nxd6 $18) 38... g6 39. Qxf2 Rxf2 40. Bg4 h5 41. Be6+
Kh8 42. h4 Bh6 (42... Bxh4 43. Nxd6 $18) 43. Re1 Rf1+ 44. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 45. Kh2
Re1 46. g3 e3 47. Kg2 {Boensch} (47. Kg2 e2 (47... Re2+ 48. Kf1 Rf2+ 49. Ke1
Rf3 50. Nxd6 $18) 48. Kf2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Epishin, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Ambroz,J"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. d3 (6. Bg2 d6 7. O-O O-O
8. e3 Bb6 $5 9. d4 Re8 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. d5 Ne7 12. Nd2 b5 $1 {Lautier,
J-Epishin,V/Tarrasa/1991/}) 6... h6 (6... Nxd5 7. cxd5 Ne7 8. Nxe5 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd5 11. Bg2 Nf6 12. O-O d6 13. Nf3 O-O 14. Rac1 c6 15. a3 Re8
16. Rfe1 Nd7 17. b4 a5 18. Nd4 Qf6 19. e3 axb4 20. axb4 Nb6 21. b5 $5 {
Gavrikov,V-Stefansson,H/Moscow GMA-op (3) 1989}) 7. a3 (7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O O-O 9.
e3 a5 10. Nc3 (10. b3 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Qd7 14. Bb2 c6 15.
dxc6 bxc6 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Rac1 Qe8 19. a3 Qf8 20. Qc3 Bb6 21. b4
axb4 22. axb4 Rab8 23. Nb3 Ba6 24. Ra1 Be2 25. Rd2 {Huebner,R-Karpov,An/Bad
Kissingen/1980/0.5 (35)}) 10... Ba7 11. a3 Nh7 12. Kh1 Bg4 13. Qc2 f5 14. Nb5
Qd7 15. Nxa7 Rxa7 16. b3 Raa8 17. Ng1 Rae8 18. Bd2 Nf6 19. f3 Bh5 20. b4 b6 21.
Bh3 Bf7 22. Ne2 axb4 23. axb4 Ne7 24. b5 Rd8 25. d4 {Kortschnoj,V-Petrosian,T 
(05)/Ciocco cm/}) 7... a5 8. Bg2 d6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nxf6+ $5 Qxf6 $140 11. Nd2 {
/\ Ne4} Qd8 12. e3 Ne7 13. Ne4 Ba7 14. Nc3 (14. b4 axb4 (14... d5 $5 15. cxd5
axb4 16. d6 (16. axb4 Nxd5) 16... cxd6 17. axb4 d5 $15) 15. axb4 d5 16. Nc3 (
16. cxd5 Nxd5) 16... Be6 (16... d4 $2 17. Nb5) 17. Nb5 $14) (14. b3 $5 {
/\ Bb2, /^ a1-h8}) 14... c6 15. d4 Be6 16. b3 (16. d5 cxd5 17. cxd5 Bd7 $10 18.
Ne4 $140 Bb5 {/\ f5} (18... f5 19. Nxd6 Qc7 20. Nc4 $5 $16 (20. Ne4) 20... Qxc4
21. d6)) 16... f5 17. a4 Qc7 18. Ba3 Rad8 19. f4 $5 Bf7 20. Kh1 exd4 21. exd4
Kh8 22. Ra2 $5 Ng8 $5 {/\ Nf6-e4} 23. Bh3 Bg6 24. Rd2 Nf6 25. Qc2 Rde8 26. d5 (
26. Bxf5 $5 Bxf5 27. Qxf5 Ne4 28. Qxe4 Rxe4 29. Nxe4 $44 {>< Ba7}) 26... Ne4
27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Rdd1 Rf6 $5 (28... c5 $2 $18 {>< Ba7}) 29. Bb2 e3 30. Qe2
Be4+ 31. Bg2 Rf7 (31... Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rf5) 32. Bxe4 Rxe4 33. f5 Qe7 34. Rf3
Bc5 35. Bc3 (35. Rdf1 $5) 35... Kg8 36. Rdf1 (36. Bxa5 Qe5 $13) 36... cxd5 37.
f6 $1 gxf6 38. cxd5 Re5 (38... b6 39. Bxf6 $40 {/\ Rf5, Qh5} (39. Rxf6 Rxf6 40.
Rxf6 Bd4 $1 41. Bxd4 Rxd4 42. Re6 Qf7 43. Rxe3 Qxd5+ 44. Qf3 $10)) 39. Bxe5
Qxe5 40. Rf5 Qe4+ 41. Kg1 Kg7 42. h4 Bb6 43. Kh2 Rc7 (43... Qb4 44. R5f4 Qxb3
45. Qg4+ $16) 44. Rxf6 Bd4 (44... Rc2 45. Rf7+ Kh8 46. Rf8+ Kg7 47. R1f7+ Kg6
48. h5+ Kg5 49. Rg7+) 45. R6f4 Qc2 46. Rg4+ Kh7 47. Rf7+ $1 Kh8 48. Rf2 Qxe2
49. Rxe2 Bc5 50. Re4 b5 51. Kh3 bxa4 52. bxa4 Kh7 53. Rb2 Kg6 54. Re6+ Kg7 55.
Rb5 Bd4 56. Re4 Rc4 57. Rxa5 Kf6 58. Ra8 Kf5 59. Rae8 Rxa4 60. R8e6 {/\ 60...
h5 61.Rf4#, 60...Be5 61.g4#} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 a6 8. a5
exd4 9. Qxd4 b5 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. Ba2 Bb7 12. Re1 Nfd7 13. Bf4 Bf6 14. e5 dxe5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Rfe8 19. Rae1 Kf8 20. f3 f6
21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rd1 Ke7 23. Ne2 f5 24. Kf2 Kf6 25. h4 g6 26. Nf4 a5 27. Rd3
Re7 28. Ra3 a4 29. Rc3 Rd7 30. Rc5 h6 31. g4 fxg4 32. fxg4 g5 33. hxg5+ hxg5
34. Rf5+ Ke7 35. Re5+ Kd6 36. Re6+ Kc5 37. Nd3+ Kb5 38. Re5+ Bd5 39. Rxg5 c5
40. c4+ Bxc4 41. Rxc5+ 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Gelfand} f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Qa4 (9. Nd2 c5) 9... c5 10. dxc6 bxc6 (10... Nxc6 11. Rd1 Qa5
12. Qb3 $14) 11. c5 $1 {Eine wichtige Verbesserung in dieser scharfen Variante.
Das bisher gebräuch- liche 11.Nd4 hat sich als harmlos erwiesen:} (11. Nd4 Bd7
$1 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Qxc6 Rc8 15. Qa4 Qd7 16. b3 d5 $1 17. Ba3
dxc4 18. Qxd7 Nxd7 19. Nd5 Kf7 20. Rac1 cxb3 21. axb3 Rfe8 $10 {Blees-Van Mil/
Wijk Sonnevanck/1993}) 11... dxc5 {N} (11... d5 12. Ne5 Ne4 13. Nxc6 Bd7 14.
Nxe7+ Kh8 15. c6 Be8 16. Rd1 $16 {Palac-Mencinger/Bled op/1992}) 12. Ne5 {
Für seinen geopferten Bauer hat Weiß eine ausgezeichnete Kompensation bekommen.
Der Doppelbauer 'c' ist schwach und der Na5 'hängt in der Luft'.} Qb6 (12...
Qc7 13. Nc4 (13. Bf4 $16) (13. Bf4 {Gelfand} g5 14. Bxg5 $16) 13... Nxc4 (13...
Nb7 14. Qxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxc6 $16) 14. Qxc4+ Kh8 15. Qxc5 $16) (12... Be6 {Gelfand
} 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qxc6 Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 17. Bd2 Ne8 18. Rfc1
Nd6 19. b3 b5 20. Rab1 Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Rxa2 22. Be5 Rxe2 23. Rxc5 $16 {
Bezold-Glek,Bad Ragaz,1994}) 13. Qc2 $5 {/\Na4.Etwas energischer sah 13.Be3
aus.} (13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxc6 Rb8 $13) (13. Be3 $1 Be6 (13... Ng4
14. Nxg4 fxg4 15. Ne4 $16) (13... Rb8 14. Nc4 Nxc4 15. Qxc4+ Kh8 16. Bxc5 Qa6
17. Qxa6 Bxa6 18. Rab1 Rb7 19. Rfd1 $16 {><a7,c6,e7}) 14. Qa3 Ne4 (14... Qb4
15. Bxc5 Qxa3 16. Bxa3 $16) (14... Nb7 15. Nxc6 Rfe8 16. Na4 $16) 15. Nxe4 Bxe5
16. Nxc5 Bxb2 17. Nxe6 Bxa3 18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 20. Rad1 $16) 13... Qc7
$1 14. Nd3 (14. Bf4 g5 (14... Nh5 $2 15. Nxg6 $1) 15. Nxc6 gxf4 16. Nxa5 Rb8
$132) 14... c4 (14... Nd7 {Gelfand} 15. Bd2 $1 (15. Na4 $6 c4 16. Ndc5 Nxc5 17.
Nxc5 Rb8 $15) 15... c4 (15... Nc4 $2 16. Nd5 $1 $18) 16. Nf4 Nf6 17. Na4 $16)
15. Nc5 {Hier steht der weiße Springer hervorragend,vor allem wird von ihm die
normale Entwicklung des Bc8 verhindert.} Rb8 (15... Nb7 $5 {kam sehr in
Betracht,um den Na5 auf eine bessere Position zu bringen.} 16. N3a4 (16. Nxb7
Qxb7 (16... Bxb7 $6 17. Qa4 $14) 17. Qa4 Qa6 $1 $10 {Gelfand} 18. Bxc6 (18.
Qxa6 Bxa6 19. Bf4 Ne4 20. Bxe4 Bxc3 $1 (20... fxe4 21. Rac1 $14) 21. bxc3 (21.
Bxc6 Bxb2 22. Rab1 c3 23. Bd5+ Kg7 24. Be5+ Kh6 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rxb2 cxb2 27.
Bxb2 $10) 21... fxe4 $10) 18... Rb8) 16... Nd6 17. Rd1 (17. Bf4 Nd5 18. Bxd6 $2
exd6 19. Qxc4 dxc5 20. Bxd5+ cxd5 21. Qxd5+ Kh8 22. Qxa8 Bd7 $17) (17. Bd2 Nd5
18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Bf5 $13) 17... e5 (17... Rb8 18. Bf4 Nh5 19. Qxc4+ Kh8 20.
Bxd6 exd6 21. Na6 Bxa6 22. Qxa6 d5 23. Rac1 $16) 18. Bg5 (18. Bd2 $5) (18. b3
$5) 18... h6 19. Qd2 Nf7 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qc1 e4 22. Qxc4 Rb8 $13) (15... Ne8
$5 {Gelfand} 16. Bd2 Nd6 $13 17. Rad1 $14) 16. Bd2 {/\N3a4} Rd8 {/\Nd5} (16...
Nb7 $2 17. Na6 $18) (16... Nd7 $2 17. Ne6 $18) (16... Nd5 {Gelfand} 17. Nxd5
cxd5 18. Bxd5+ Kh8 19. Na4 $16) (16... Ne8 $142 $5 {Gelfand}) 17. N3a4 (17.
Rad1 $5 {Gelfand}) 17... Nd5 18. Rad1 $1 {Weiß findet die richtige Idee,
Aktionen auf der d-Linie sind angesagt.} (18. Bxa5 Qxa5 19. Qxc4 Bxb2 20. Nb3
Rxb3 21. axb3 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 Bb7 $10) 18... e5 {/\e4} (18... Nb4 $5 19. Qb1 (19.
Qc1 $1 {Gelfand} Nxa2 $4 20. Bxa5 $18) 19... e5 20. Bg5 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 $16) 19.
e4 $1 {Der Nd5 hält die schwarze Stellung zusammen,deswegen muß er weg.} (19.
Bxa5 Qxa5 20. Qxc4 e4 $13) 19... Nb4 (19... fxe4 20. Qxe4 (20. Bxe4 $16 {
Gelfand}) 20... Bf5 21. Qe1 $1 Rb5 (21... c3 22. Nxc3 $16) 22. Na6 Qb7 23. Bxa5
Qxa6 24. Bxd8 Qxa4 25. b3 cxb3 26. axb3 Qxb3 27. Qd2 $14) 20. Bxb4 Rxb4 21.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Rd1 Qf8 (22... Qc7 $5 23. Bh3 $1 (23. Qd2 $6 Rb8 24. Qd8+ Qxd8
25. Rxd8+ Kf7 $13 {/\Bf6}) 23... fxe4 24. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 25. Bxe6+ Kh8 26. Rd7 Qb8
27. Qd2 Bf6 28. Qh6 $18) 23. Qd2 (23. exf5 $5 {Gelfand Topalov} Bxf5 24. Qd2
Rb5 $16) 23... Rb5 $8 24. Qd8 {Der Plan von Weiß ist vollkommen gelungen.Wegen
seines lahmgelegten Bc8 konnte Schwarz die d-Vertikale nicht halten.} Bf6 (
24... Nb7 25. Qc7 (25. Nxb7 Rxb7 $13) 25... c3 (25... Nxc5 26. Rd8 Nxa4 27.
Rxf8+ Bxf8 28. Qxc8 $16) 26. bxc3 Nxc5 27. Nxc5 (27. Rd8 $2 Rb1+ 28. Bf1 Ba6
29. Rxf8+ Bxf8 30. Nxc5 Bxf1 $17) 27... Bf6 28. Nd7 Bxd7 29. Qxd7 $16) 25. Qc7
Be7 (25... f4 {Gelfand} 26. gxf4 exf4 27. e5 Be7 28. Ne4 $1 {Gulko} f3 (28...
Bg4 29. f3 (29. Rd2 f3 (29... Rb7 30. Qxa5 Bb4 31. Qa6 $18) 30. Nf6+ Bxf6 31.
exf6 $18) 29... Bf5 (29... Rd5 30. Rxd5 cxd5 31. Nf6+ Bxf6 32. exf6 $18) 30.
Nf6+ Kh8 31. Nc3 $18) 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Bxf3 $18) 26. Bh3 $1 $16 {Eine
bildschöne Stellung! Alle schwarzen Figuren sind passiv und müssen entweder
eineinder oder verschiedene Schwachstellen in ihrem Lager verteidigen.Kein
Wunder,daß Schwarz in Zugzwang geraten ist.} (26. Nd7 {Gelfand} Bxd7 27. Rxd7
$2 Rb7 28. Qxe5 $16) 26... Kg7 (26... a6 27. exf5 gxf5 28. Nb6 Rxc5 29. Nxc8
Bg5 30. Rd7 $18) (26... Nb7 27. Nd7 Bxd7 28. Rxd7 Nc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 30. Rd8 $18
) (26... Qe8 27. Qxe5 Nb7 28. Bf1 Rxc5 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Bxc4+ $18) (26... Bf6
27. Qxa7 $16) 27. exf5 gxf5 28. Qxe5+ {Das materielle Gleichgewicht ist
wiederhergestellt.} Kg6 (28... Kg8 29. Qc7 $16) (28... Qf6 29. Qc7 $16) 29. Qc7
a6 (29... Bxc5 {Gelfand} 30. Nxc5 Rxc5 31. Rd6+ $18) (29... Rxc5 {Gelfand} 30.
Nxc5 Bxc5 31. Rd8 $18) 30. Nd7 {Jetzt ist es an der Zeit,zum entscheidenden
Königsangriff überzugehen.} Bxd7 31. Qxd7 Qf6 32. Re1 Rb7 (32... Re5 33. Rxe5
Qxe5 34. Bxf5+ Qxf5 35. Qxe7 Qc2 $2 36. Qd6+ Kh5 37. Qc5+ $18) 33. Qc8 Kg7 34.
Bxf5 $18 Qd4 35. Bb1 $1 $40 (35. Bxh7 Kxh7 36. Qf5+ Kg7 37. Qxa5 $18) (35. Bc2
$1 {Gelfand} Qd2 36. Qg4+ $18) 35... Bb4 36. Rf1 Rf7 37. Qh3 h6 38. Qh5 Rf6 39.
Nc3 $1 Bxc3 40. bxc3 Qxc3 41. Rd1 Qf3 42. Rd7+ Kf8 (42... Kh8 43. Rh7+ Kg8 44.
Qe8+ Rf8 45. Qg6#) 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rd7+ Kf8 45. Qc5+ Kg8 46. Bh7+ Kh8 47. Qa7
Rf8 (47... Nb7 {Gelfand} 48. Be4 $1) (47... c5 {Gelfand} 48. Rd8+ Rf8 49. Rxf8+
Qxf8 50. Be4) 48. Bc2 (48. Bc2 Qc3 49. Rd8 $1) 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. d3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. h3 Qc7 14. Ne3 Bf8 15. a4
Rb8 16. Nh2 Be6 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 b4 19. Qe2 bxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. g3 Nb3
22. Bxb3 Rxb3 23. c4 Reb8 24. Kg2 Rb1 25. Rxb1 Rxb1 26. Rh1 f6 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28.
exd5 g6 29. Bb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rb1 Nc6 12. dxc5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Rfd8 14.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 15. Bd2 Rd7 16. Kf1 e6 17. Ke2 f5 18. Ng5 Re7 19. f3 h6 20. Nh3 Kf7
21. Nf2 Rd7 22. Nd3 g5 23. h3 Bf8 24. Rh1 Kg6 25. h4 Bg7 26. Rh3 Bf6 27. h5+
Kf7 28. Rh1 Ke8 29. Rb1 f4 30. Rb3 Kd8 31. Be1 Kc8 32. Ra3 Kb8 33. Bf2 Ne5 34.
Nxe5 Bxe5 35. Rb3 Kc8 36. Ra3 Kc7 37. Be1 Kb8 38. Ra5 Bf6 39. g3 Bd8 40. Ra4
Bc7 41. Rd4 Rg7 42. g4 Kc8 43. Bf2 Bb8 44. Rd3 Rf7 45. Bd4 e5 46. Bf2 Rf6 47.
Rd2 Ra6 48. Kd3 Ra4 49. Rb2 Kc7 50. Kc2 Ra3 51. Kd3 Ra4 52. Kd2 Kc6 53. Kc1 Bc7
54. Kb1 Ra3 55. Rb3 Ra5 56. Kb2 Bd8 57. c4 Be7 58. Be1 Ra4 59. Bc3 Bf6 60. Bb4
Bd8 61. a3 a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. d4 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. O-O Bb7 14. Ng5 Nc5 15. e5
Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Be3 O-O 19. Rad1 Be7 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Nxe6
Rfc8 22. h3 Rab8 (22... Bf8 23. g4 {Karpov,An-Kramnik,V/Linares/1994/1-0 (40)})
(22... Bb4 $5 23. a3 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Bd5 25. g4 (25. Nf4 Bf7 26. Bf5 $14) 25...
Bxe6 26. Rxe6 Re8 27. Rb6 $14) 23. g4 Bf3 24. Rd2 b4 (24... Re8 25. g5 Rb6 26.
Bf5 g6 $2 27. gxf6 gxf5 28. f7+ Kxf7 29. Ng5+ $18) 25. Na4 Ba7 26. g5 (26. Nxg7
Rd8 $5 (26... c3 27. bxc3 Kxg7 28. Re7+ Kf8 29. Rxa7 bxc3 30. Rd6 $16) 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Re7 Bb8 29. Nf5 Rd2 30. Nh6+ Kh8 $13) 26... Nd5 27. Re5 Rb5 (
27... Re8 28. Be4 Bxe4 29. Rxe4 Nc7 $13) 28. Rf5 Nc7 (28... Re8 29. Rxf3 Rxe6
$13) 29. Nxg7 (29. Nxc7 Rxf5 30. Bxf5 Rxc7 31. Rd8+ Kf7 $15) 29... Bc6 (29...
Kxg7 30. Rd7+ Kg8 31. Rxf3 Rxg5+ 32. Kf1 $36) 30. Rd6 Nd5 31. Ne6 (31. Nh5 $36)
31... Ne7 32. Rxb5 Bxb5 33. h4 Ng6 34. h5 Ne5 35. g6 (35. Nb6 Bxb6 36. Rxb6
Nf3+ 37. Kh1 Ne1 (37... Bc6 $5) 38. Bf5 c3 39. Nd4 Rf8 $132) 35... hxg6 36.
hxg6 Nf3+ 37. Kh1 Bc6 38. Nac5 Nd4+ 39. Be4 Nxe6 40. Rxe6 Bxc5 41. Rxc6 (41.
Rxc6 Rxc6 42. Bxc6 c3 43. bxc3 bxc3 44. Be4 Bxf2 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Polgar,J"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ambroz} e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 f6 7. O-O Qb6
8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. b4 Be7 10. Bf4 (10. exf6 {Ambroz} Bxf6 11. b5 Na5 12. Be3 Qd8
13. Bd4 Nh6 $1 14. Bd3 O-O 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. Bxe5 Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. a4 Be8
$5 {Liepold-Muehl,T/2BLS 8889}) 10... fxe5 (10... Nh6 {Ambroz} 11. c4 (11. h3
Nf7 12. Be3 Qc7 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Na3 O-O 15. Rc1 Rad8 16. Qb3 Kh8 17. Rfd1
Nfe5 18. Nd4 Qb8 19. Nxc6 Nxc6 20. b5 Ne7 21. c4 dxc4 22. Nxc4 b6 23. Bf3 Nf5
24. Rd3 e5 $36 {Meyer,CD-Saacke,B/BL 8081}) 11... Nf7 12. cxd5 Ncxe5 13. a3
Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 e5 15. Be3 Qd8 16. Nc3 Nd6 17. Ne4 b6 18. Nc5 bxc5 19. bxc5 O-O
20. cxd6 Bxd6 21. Qd2 f5 22. Rfc1 e4 23. Be2 f4 24. Bc5 Bxc5 25. Rxc5 {
Mariotti,S-Kortschnoi,V/Thessaloniki ol (7)/1988/0.5 (40)}) 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12.
Bxe5 Nf6 (12... Bf6 {Ambroz} 13. Bd3 g6 14. Qe2 Kf7 15. Nd2 Bxe5 16. Qxe5 Ne7
17. Nf3 Rhf8 18. Qg5 {>< e5} Qd6 19. Qh6 Rh8 20. Qe3 Nc8 21. Ne5+ $16 {Thipsay,
P-Kopp,B London 89}) 13. a4 a5 (13... O-O {Ambroz} 14. a5 Qd8 15. Nd2 Be8 $5 {
/\ Nd7}) 14. bxa5 (14. b5 {Ambroz} O-O 15. Nd2 Rac8 16. Bd3 Bd6 $5 $15 17. Nc4
$5 dxc4 18. Bxd6 cxd3 (18... Rfd8 19. Be7 (19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Be7 Nd5) 19...
cxd3 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. Qxd3 Be8) 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Qxd3) 14... Rxa5 15. Nd2 O-O
16. Rb1 Qa7 17. Bb5 Bxb5 18. axb5 Ra2 19. Bd4 Qb8 20. Re1 (20. Qe2 $5 Ne4 (
20... e5 21. Bxe5 Rxd2 $2 (21... Bd6 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Qd3 (23. h3 Qf4 (23...
Ne4 $2 24. Nxe4) 24. Qe6+ Kh8 25. Nf3 Re8 26. Qb6 $14) 23... Ng4 $1) 22. Qe1)
21. Qg4 Ng5 (21... e5 22. Qe6+ Rf7 23. Nxe4 exd4 24. Qxd5 $16) 22. Be3 (22. h4
Rxd2 23. hxg5 Rf5 24. Rfe1 $13) 22... Rf5 23. Ra1 $13 (23. Ra1 $13 {Ambroz}
Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Qe8 $13)) 20... Qf4 21. Re2 (21. Nf3 {Ambroz >< e5} Ne4 22. Ra1 (
22. Re2) 22... Rxa1 (22... Rfa8 23. Rxa2 Rxa2 24. Qb1 $5 {/\ c4}) 23. Qxa1 Bf6
(23... Bd6 $5) 24. Qa7 $10) 21... Bd6 22. g3 (22. Nf3 {Ambroz} Rxe2 23. Qxe2
Ne4 $36 {/\ Ng5}) 22... Qf5 23. f4 {[#]} Qd3 $2 (23... g5 $5) (23... g5 $5 {
Ambroz >< Rb1} 24. fxg5 Ng4 25. Rc1 e5 $5 26. Qb3 $140 exd4 27. Qxa2 d3 28. Rg2
Ne3 $44) (23... Ng4 {Ambroz} 24. Qe1 $13) 24. Rf2 Rfa8 25. Qe1 Qf5 26. Rd1 Qg4
27. Kg2 (27. Bxf6 {Ambroz} gxf6 28. Ne4 dxe4 (28... Be7 $5) 29. Rxa2 Rxa2 (
29... Bc5+ 30. Rf2 Bxf2+ (30... Ra2 31. Rd4) 31. Kxf2 Qh5) 30. Rxd6 Qh5 $17)
27... Nh5 28. Kh1 Rc2 29. Qe2 (29. Ne4 $5 Rxf2 30. Nxf2 (30. Nxf2 {Ambroz} Qf5
31. Qe2 Nf6 32. Re1 $14)) 29... Qh3 30. Qe3 Nf6 31. Re1 {[#]} Bf8 (31... Raa2
$5 32. Qxe6+ (32. Bxf6 gxf6 $17) 32... Qxe6 33. Rxe6 Ba3 $15 (33... Bf8 {Ambroz
} 34. Ree2 Ne4 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Nxe4 Rxf2 37. Nxf2 Ra5 $1 $17 38. b6 (38. c4
Ra4) 38... Bc5 $19)) 32. Bxf6 gxf6 33. Ne4 $1 Raa2 (33... Rxf2 34. Nxf2 $16)
34. Nxf6+ Kh8 $2 (34... Kf7 35. Nxh7 $1) (34... Kg7 35. Ne8+ Kf7 36. f5 $18)
35. Qe5 $1 $18 Rxf2 36. Ng4+ Kg8 37. Qxe6+ (37. Qxe6+ Kh8 (37... Kg7 38. Qe5+
Kg8 39. Qxd5+ Kg7 40. Nxf2) 38. Qe5+ Kg8 39. Qxd5+ Kh8 40. Nxf2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Knaak} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 b6
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 Ba4 10. h4 (10. O-O Nbc6 (10... c4 11. Be2 h6 (11... Nbc6
12. Ng5 h6 13. Nh3 Kd7 14. Nf4 g6 15. Re1 Kc7 16. Bg4 $14 {Johansson,M-Kroll,O/
SWE-DEN/1990/}) 12. Re1 Nbc6 13. Nd2 Qd7 14. Nf1 O-O-O 15. Ng3 g6 $10 {Zadrima,
A-Antonsen,M/Forli open/1991/}) (10... Qc7 11. Ng5 h6 12. Nh3 Nd7 13. Nf4 (13.
Be3 Qc6 14. Rb1 a6 15. Rb2 Bb5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Qb1 O-O 18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Rxb5
Rxa3 $17 {Nijboer,F-Brenninkmeijer,J/NLD-ch/1992/}) 13... O-O-O $13 {Stepanov,
P-Shtirenkov,V/Budapest/1991/}) 11. Re1 Qd7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Be3 c4 14. Bf1
Rb8 $10 {Wedberg,T-Short,N/Dortmund/1983/}) (10. dxc5 bxc5 11. O-O c4 12. Be2
Ng6 13. Ng5 Nxe5 14. f4 $40 {Nunn,J-Nikolic,P/Beograd/1991/}) 10... h6 11. h5
Qc7 (11... Nbc6 12. Rh4 (12. g3 Rc8 13. Be3 Na5 14. O-O Qd7 15. Nh4 Bb5 16. Qg4
$14 {Dolmatov,S-Dokhoian,Y/Irkutsk/1986/}) 12... c4 13. Bf1 (13. Be2 Kd7 14.
Be3 Qg8 15. Qd2 Qh7 16. Rc1 Kc7 17. Rf4 Raf8 18. Nh4 Nd8 19. Bg4 Kb7 $10 {
Sokolov,A-Yusupov,A/Riga (m)/1986}) 13... Kd7 14. Rf4 Qg8 15. g3 Qh7 16. Ra2 g5
17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Nh2 $14 {Mortensen,E-Sorensen,J/Aarhus/1993/}) (11... c4 12.
Be2 (12. Bf1 Nbc6 13. g3 Kd7 14. Bh3 Qg8 15. O-O Qh7 16. Ra2 $14 {Anand,
V-Quillan,G/Prestwich/1990/}) 12... Kd7 13. Nh4 (13. O-O Qg8 14. g3 Qh7 15. Ra2
Na6 16. Nh4 Raf8 $10 {Dolmatov,S-Hansen,LB/Polanica Zdroj/1993/}) 13... Qg8 14.
Bg4 Qh7 15. Ra2 Na6 16. Rh3 Nc7 17. Kf1 Raf8 $15 {Georgiev,Ki-Yusupov,A/Las
Palmas/1993/}) 12. O-O (12. Bf4 Nd7 13. Qd2 O-O-O 14. O-O Kb7 $13 {Bologan,
V-Hertneck,G/BL/1994/}) (12. g3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qc3+ 14. Bd2 Qxd3 15. cxd3 Bxd1
16. Kxd1 Nbc6 $15 {Lau,R-Hansen,LB/Copenhagen Chess Cup/1992/}) (12. Rb1 $5 {
Knaak} Nd7 13. Rh4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Rc8 15. Rb2 Qc3+ 16. Kf1 f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18.
Qe2 Ne4 $13 {Yudasin,L-Casper,T/Leipzig/1986/}) 12... Nd7 (12... c4 13. Be2
Nbc6 (13... Nd7 14. g3 O-O-O 15. Nh4 Kb7 16. Bg4 Qc6 17. Re1 Rdg8 $13 {
Tischbierek,R-Kindermann,S/BW/1992/}) 14. g3 (14. Re1 O-O-O 15. Bf1 Rdg8 16.
Nh2 Kb7 $10 {Kuczynski,R-Hansen,LB/Groningen open/1988/}) 14... O-O-O 15. Nh4
Rdg8 16. Bg4 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Yusupov,A/USSR/1988/}) (12... Nbc6 13. Rb1 (13. Re1
c4 14. Bf1 O-O-O 15. Nh2 $14 {Spassky,B-Short,N/London/1982/}) 13... c4 14. Be2
O-O-O 15. Nh4 f6 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bg4 $14 {Gavilanes,A-Pecorelli Garcia,H/
Cuba ch/1989/}) 13. Re1 (13. Bd2 O-O-O (13... a6 $5 {Knaak}) 14. Qb1 Nc6 15.
Bb5 Bxb5 16. Qxb5 Na5 $15 {Pliester,L-Kindermann,S/Aruba/1992/}) 13... Qc6 {
/\Bb5} (13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 Kb7 15. Ra2 Qc6 $13 {Dolmatov,S-Nikolic,P/Moscow
GMA/1990/} (15... Qc6 {Knaak} 16. Qg4 Rdg8 17. Rb2 g5 18. Nf3 c4 19. Bf1 Rf8
$13 {Dolmatov,S-Nikolic,P/Moscow/1990/})) 14. Rb1 a6 {/\Bb5} 15. Nd2 cxd4 (
15... Bb5 16. c4 (16. Bxb5 axb5 17. Qe2 (17. Qg4 Nf5 $10) 17... Ra5 18. Nb3 Ra4
$10) 16... dxc4 17. Be4 (17. Nxc4 {Knaak} Bxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Nf5 $13)
(17. Bxc4 Bxc4 $5 (17... cxd4 18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Nf3 $14) 18. Nxc4 Nf5 19. dxc5
Qxc5 $13) 17... Nd5 18. a4 Bxa4 19. Nxc4 $40) 16. cxd4 Bb5 17. Rxb5 $1 (17.
Bxb5 axb5 18. Qe2 Qxc2 19. Rxb5 O-O $10) 17... axb5 18. Qe2 Ra4 (18... Qc3 19.
Nb3 Rc8 (19... Nc6 20. Bd2 Qb2 21. Qg4 $40 Qxa3 22. Bxb5 Ncb8 23. Ra1 Qxa1+ 24.
Nxa1 Rxa1+ 25. Kh2 Kf8 26. Bb4+ Kg8 27. Qh4 $18) 20. Bd2 Qb2 {Bulletin} 21. Bb4
$1 {CH} Nc6 22. Bd6 (22. Qg4 $5 Nxb4 23. axb4 (23. Qxg7 $2 Nxd3 $19) 23... O-O
24. Re3 $40) 22... Nxd4 $6 (22... Na5 23. Qg4 Rg8 24. Nxa5 bxa5 25. Bh7 $18)
23. Qg4 {Knaak} Nxc2 24. Qxg7 Rf8 25. Bxb5 Kd8 26. Bxf8 $18) (18... b4 $6 {
Knaak} 19. axb4 Qc3 20. Nb3 $1 Qxb4 21. Bd2 $44) (18... Nc8 $6 {Knaak} 19. Qg4
O-O 20. Re3 f5 (20... Kh8 21. Rg3 Rg8 22. Ne4 $40) 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Rg3 Rf7
23. Qg6 $40) (18... O-O $1 {Knaak} 19. Bxb5 Qc7 $10) 19. Nb3 (19. Bxb5 Qxc2 {
Knaak} 20. Bxa4 Qxa4 $17) 19... Rc4 20. Bd2 Nf5 (20... O-O 21. Bb4 Re8 22. c3
$14 {/\Nd2}) 21. Bb4 {>< Ke8, >< Rh8, /\ c2-c3, Nd2xc4} Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23.
Bxb5 Qc8 {/\Re4} 24. Rd1 Rxb4 $6 (24... Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qc7 (25... f5 {Knaak}
26. exf6 gxf6 27. Qg4 $18) 26. c3 {/\Qa4} (26. f4 Kd8 $13) 26... Kd8 $13) 25.
axb4 Qc3 (25... O-O 26. c4 $16) 26. Qg4 Qxe5 27. c4 f5 28. Qg6+ Ke7 29. cxd5
exd5 30. Bxd7 Kxd7 31. Qf7+ Kc8 (31... Kc6 32. b5+ Kc5 33. Qd7 $16) 32. Qa7 $18
Re8 33. Rc1+ Kd8 34. Qb7 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. Qxd5 Be7 (6... Nc6) (
6... d6 7. e4 Be7 8. Bg5 $5 O-O 9. O-O-O Bxg5+ 10. Nxg5 Nc6 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12.
Bc4 Qe8 13. Qxf7+ Qxf7 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. Rxd6 Be6 16. Rd2 Ke7 17. f4 g6 18.
Re1 Rf8 19. Rf2 $14 {Thesing,M-Szalanczy,E/Dortmund-C/1989/}) 7. e4 (7. Bg5 O-O
8. O-O-O Nc6 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Qd6 Qe6 11. Kb1 b6 12. e3 Bb7 13. Be2 Nb4 $1 14.
Qxe6 dxe6 15. Rd6 Nd5 16. Ne5 Nf6 $10 {Phominyh,A-Hudecek,J/Mlada Boleslav op/
1992/}) 7... O-O 8. Be2 $5 $146 (8. Bc4 d6 9. Qd3 $5 (9. Qh5 Be6 $1 10. Bxe6
fxe6 11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 Qa5+ $1 13. c3 Nc6 14. O-O Rae8 15. Bh4 Qb5 16. Bg3
e5 $1 17. Rfb1 Qc4 18. Re1 b5 19. Qg4 Qe6 $13 {Gelfand,B-Adams,M/Wijk cm8/1994/
}) (9. Bf4 Nd7 10. Qd2 Nb6 11. Bd3 Bg4 (11... d5 $142 $5) 12. O-O-O Qe8 13. Kb1
c4 14. Be2 Rc8 15. c3 Bh5 16. Ka1 Bg6 17. Qe3 Qc6 18. Rhe1 Na4 19. Nd4 Qb6 20.
Rd2 Bf6 $13 {Hansen,LB-Maus,S/Luxemburg op/1990/}) (9. O-O Nd7 $1 $10) 9... Nd7
(9... Nc6 $5) 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qxb5 a5 12. Qe2 Nb6 13. c4 a4 14. Bc2 Bf6 15. O-O
Re8 16. Rd1 Bg4 17. Rb1 Be5 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxc4 20. b3 $36 {Damljanovic,
B-Perenyi,B/Saint John op-2/1988/}) 8... d6 9. O-O Nc6 {/\Nb4,d5} (9... Nd7 10.
Rd1 Nf6 11. Qd3 $14) 10. c3 Be6 11. Qh5 h6 $5 (11... d5 12. Rd1 d4 13. e5 $5 {
/\Bd3->}) 12. Rd1 Re8 13. Bf4 Bf8 $1 {ףh5} 14. Nd2 g6 15. Qf3 d5 16. Qg3 Qe7
$5 $10 (16... Bg7 17. Nc4 $1 $36) (16... d4 17. e5 {/\Ne4+/-}) 17. exd5 Bxd5
18. Bf1 Qf6 (18... Rad8 $142) 19. Nb3 Rad8 20. Rd2 Be6 (20... c4 21. Nd4 Nxd4
22. Rxd4 Bc5 23. Rd2 $36 {/\Bh6,Bc7}) 21. Bc7 $1 Rxd2 (21... Rc8 22. Bd6 $14)
22. Nxd2 Bf5 (22... Bd5 $5) (22... Qg5 23. Qxg5 hxg5 24. Ne4 Be7 25. Nd6 Bxd6
26. Bxd6 $16 {_|_^^}) 23. Nc4 $1 $16 Re4 24. Ne3 Bc8 (24... Be6 25. Bd3 {צe4})
25. Rd1 Re8 26. h3 Qg5 27. Qf3 Kg7 $6 (27... Ne5 28. Qd5 $16) 28. Bf4 Qe7 29.
Nd5 Qe4 30. Nf6 $3 Kxf6 (30... Qxf3 31. Nxe8+ $18) 31. Be5+ Kxe5 $8 32. Qxe4+
Kxe4 33. Re1+ Kf5 34. Rxe8 $18 Be6 35. Rxf8 Bxa2 36. Rc8 {/\Rc7} 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. a4 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. h3 Rd8 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Rxd5 Na5
15. Ba2 Be6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qc2 Qb6 19. Bd2 Qb3 20. Qb1 Nc4
21. Bc3 Bf6 22. Qe4 Rd1+ 23. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 24. Kh2 Qd5 25. Qc2 Bxc3 26. Qxc3 Qd6+
27. Kg1 Qd1+ 28. Kh2 Qd6+ 29. Kg1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bf4 Nh5 11. Bd2 $5 (11. Be3) 11... Qb8 (11... Bc5 $5 12.
Be2 Qh4 (12... Nf6 $2 13. e5 Ng8 14. Ne4 $16) 13. g3 Qh3 14. Bf1 Qg4 15. Bg2
$14) 12. g3 f5 (12... Bc5 13. Be2 Nf6 14. f3 $5 O-O 15. O-O-O $14) 13. Bg2 {N}
(13. Bd3 Bd6 14. O-O-O (14. f4 $1 {>=} Nf6 (14... e5 $6 15. fxe5 Bxe5 16. Rf1
f4 17. Be2 fxg3 18. Bxh5+ g6 19. Bg4 gxh2 20. O-O-O $18) 15. O-O-O {/\e5} Ng4 (
15... fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 O-O 19. Bc3 Rd8 20. f5 $16) 16.
Rhe1 Nf2 17. exf5 Nxd1 18. Kxd1 $16) 14... f4 $1 15. Rhe1 Be5 16. Nd5 O-O 17.
Bb4 Rf7 18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. Nxc6 dxc6 20. Bf1 {Polugaevsky-Arnason/Reykjavik/1987}
) 13... Bd6 14. f4 $1 Nf6 15. O-O-O O-O (15... Qb7 $5 16. Rhe1 O-O 17. Bh1 fxe4
18. Nxe4 Nxe4 (18... Be7 19. Bc3 $14) 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxe4 21. Rxe4 Rfd8
22. Bc3 Bc5 23. b4 Bf8 24. Red4 d6 25. Kb2 $14) 16. Be3 (16. Rhe1 $5 Rc8 (16...
e5 17. Rf1 exf4 18. Bxf4 Bxf4+ 19. Rxf4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21. Rxf8+ Qxf8 22.
Bxe4 $14) 17. Bh1 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 (20. Qxe4 $2 b5)
20... b5 $132) 16... fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Qc7 20. Rd2 Rfd8
21. Rhd1 Bf8 $10 22. Kb1 (22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qxa8 Qd3 $10) 22...
Rac8 23. f5 $5 exf5 24. Qd5+ Kh8 25. Qxf5 Qxc4 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rxd7 Bxa3 $1
28. Bd4 (28. Rd4 Qg8 29. bxa3 Qb3+ 30. Ka1 Qxa3+ 31. Kb1 Qb3+ $10) 28... Bf8
29. Rxa7 Re8 30. Bc3 b5 31. Qf7 Qxf7 32. Rxf7 b4 33. Bd2 Kg8 34. Rb7 (34. Rb7
Re2 35. Bxb4 Bxb4 36. Rxb4 Rxh2 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 cxd4 6. Qxd4 g6 7. e5 dxe5 8.
Nxe5 Bg7 9. Bg5 a6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxd7+ Nxd7 13. Nd5 Rc8 14.
O-O-O e6 15. Rhe1 h6 16. Bd2 Rc4 17. Bb4 Rd4 18. Rxd4 Bxd4 19. f4 Bf2 20. Re4
Kd8 21. Be7+ Kc8 22. Rc4+ Kb8 23. Bd6+ Ka7 24. Rc7 Nb8 25. Ne7 Rd8 26. c4 a5
27. Kc2 Ka6 28. c5 Nd7 29. c6 Nb8 30. Be5 Bb6 31. Rxb7 Nxc6 32. Nxc6 Kxb7 33.
Nxd8+ Bxd8 34. Kb3 f5 35. Kc4 Kc6 36. b3 g5 37. fxg5 Bxg5 38. h3 h5 39. Bc3 Bd8
40. Be5 Be7 41. Bc3 Kb6 42. Bd2 Bd6 43. Bg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O g6 7. c4 Bg7 8. Be3
Nbc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. c5 Bxb2 11. Nd2 O-O 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Nc4 f5 14. Qd2 fxe4
15. Bxe4 Nd5 16. Bg5 Qc7 17. Rb3 a5 18. Nd6 a4 19. Rh3 Qa5 20. Qc2 Nb4 21. Qb1
Ba6 22. Rc1 Rxf2 23. Kxf2 Bd4+ 24. Be3 Nd3+ 25. Kg1 Qd2 26. Bxd4 Nxc1 27. Kh1
Qxd4 28. Qxc1 Rb8 29. Rf3 Rb2 30. h4 Rd2 31. Kh2 Be2 32. Rf2 Qxf2 33. Qxd2
Qxh4+ 34. Kg1 Bc4 35. a3 Bd5 36. Qf2 Qe7 37. Bc2 Qg7 38. Qf4 g5 39. Qe3 h5 40.
Qd3 Qa1+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. g3 Qf6 43. Qg6+ Qxg6 44. Bxg6 Kg7 45. Bxh5 Kf6 46.
Nc8 Ke5 47. Nb6 Kd4 48. Nxd7 e5 49. Kg1 Be6 50. Be8 e4 51. Kf2 Kc3 52. Ke3 Kb3
53. Nb6 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. Be3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Nc3 Qd6 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ne5 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Bf4 Qd8 15.
Bf3 Rc8 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Be3 Bd6 18. g5 Nd7 19. d5 exd5 20. Qxd5 Nb6 21. Bxb6
axb6 22. Rfd1 Be5 23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 24. Kg2 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.
Bd5 Kf8 28. Kf3 Bd4 29. Nd1 f6 30. Ke4 Bc5 31. gxf6 gxf6 32. a3 f5+ 33. Kd3 Ke7
34. b4 Bd6 35. Kc4 Kd7 36. Nc3 Nc6 37. Bg2 Bc7 38. Nd5 Bd8 39. Nf4 g5 40. Nd5
Kd6 41. f4 Ne7 42. Nc3 gxf4 43. Nb5+ Ke5 44. Bxb7 f3 45. Bxf3 Nc8 46. Nd4 Nd6+
47. Kd3 Kf4 48. Bc6 Kg3 49. Bd7 Kxh3 50. Bxf5+ Kg3 51. Bd7 Bh4 52. a4 Kg2 53.
Bc6+ Kf1 54. Nc2 Bf2 55. Ne3+ Ke1 56. Ng4 Bg1 57. Bf3 Kf1 58. Bd5 Ke1 59. Bb3
Kf1 60. Ne5 Kg2 61. Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Epishin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. h3
O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Re1 a6 13. Na3 Nf6 (13... f5 $6 14.
Nc4 Nd7 15. Bxe4 fxe4 16. Nxd6 Rf8 17. Nxe4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. d6 Bd4 20.
Be3 $18 {Voiska,M-Birens,EA/Cappelle op/1993/}) 14. Rxe8+ Nxe8 15. Bg5 (15. Nc4
Nd7 16. Bf4 Ndf6 17. Bd2 Bb7 18. Ba5 Nc7 19. Ng5 Qe7 20. Qb3 Bxd5 21. Qb6 Nd7
$1 22. Qxc7 Qxg5 23. Ne3 Be6 24. Qxd6 Bxb2 25. Rd1 Bd4 $17 {Shvidler,L-Lev,R/
ISL-ch/1992/}) 15... Bf6 (15... Nf6 16. Qd2 Bb7 17. Bc4 Nbd7 18. Re1 Qf8 19. b3
Nb6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nc2 Qd8 22. g3 Qd7 23. Kg2 Bg7 24. Qd3 Bc8 25. Ng1 Qd8
$15 {Sinkovics,P-Urban,K/Bagneux/1993/}) 16. Qd2 (16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qd2 Bb7 18.
Bc4 Nbd7 19. b4 cxb4 20. Qxb4 Nb6 21. Rb1 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 Bxd5 23. Nd4 a5 24. Qb5
Qc7 25. Nb6 Rb8 26. Nxd5 Rxb5 27. Nxf6+ Kh8 28. Nxb5 Qc2 29. Na3 Qxa2 30. Rb8+
Kg7 $17 {Wohlfahrt,H-Palkovi,J/Budapest FS 04 IM/A/1994/}) 16... Bb7 17. Re1 (
17. Bc2 Nd7 18. Nc4 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Ndf6 20. Ne3 h6 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Qg5 23.
g3 Nf6 $10 {Neverov,V-Berelovich,A/Sochi/1993/}) 17... Nd7 18. Be4 $1 Nb6 (
18... Ne5 19. Bf4 $14) (18... Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Ndf6 $5 {/\Nc7,h6<=>><d5}) 19. b3
Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf6 21. Nc4 $1 Nxc4 (21... Nbxd5 22. Na5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qc7 24.
Nxb7 Qxb7 25. Qxd5 $1 $18) (21... Nxe4 22. Nxe4 $16 {><d6}) 22. bxc4 Bc8 23.
Bc2 Ra7 24. Qe3 {<->e} Rb7 (24... Kf8 $5 {/\Re7=}) 25. Ba4 Bd7 (25... Rb4 26.
Be8 $1 $40) (25... Kf8 $2 26. Nxh7+ $1 Nxh7 27. Qe8+ Qxe8 28. Rxe8+ Kg7 29.
Rxc8 $16) 26. Bc6 Bxc6 27. dxc6 Rc7 (27... Rb6 28. Qe7 (28. Ne4 Nxe4 29. Qxe4
Kg7 $1 $10) 28... Qxe7 29. Rxe7 Rxc6 30. Nxf7 $14) 28. Qf3 h6 (28... Kg7 29.
Rb1 $1 {/\Rb7} h6 30. Ne4 $16) 29. Ne4 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Qa8 31. Qf4 Qf8 (31...
Qxc6 32. Qxh6 Rc8 $14 {/\Re8}) (31... Kg7 $5 32. Qxd6 Qxc6 33. Qe5+ Kh7 $10)
32. Qf3 Qa8 33. Qf6 Rxc6 34. Re7 $44 Qf8 35. Rd7 Qg7 36. Qd8+ Qf8 37. Qf6 Qg7
38. Qf3 Rb6 39. Qa8+ Kh7 40. Qe8 (40. g3 $5 Qg8 $8 41. Qa7 (41. Qd5 Kg7 42.
Rxd6 Rb1+ 43. Kh2 Qe8 44. Qf3 $1 Qe5 $8 45. Rxa6 $14) 41... Rb1+ 42. Kg2 Kg7
43. Qxa6 $14) 40... Qa1+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. Qxe5 dxe5 43. Rxf7+ Kg8 44. Re7 Rb2
45. Kg3 Rxa2 46. Rxe5 Kf7 $6 (46... Kg7 $1 $10) 47. Rxc5 a5 48. h4 h5 49. Kf3
$6 (49. f3 a4 50. Ra5 a3 51. Kf4 Rxg2 (51... Rc2 52. Rxa3 Rxc4+ 53. Kg5 {
/\Kh6+-}) 52. Rxa3 Rc2 53. Ra7+ Kf6 54. Ra6+ Kf7 55. Rc6 Rh2 56. Kg3 $14) 49...
a4 50. Ra5 a3 $10 51. Ke3 Rc2 52. Rxa3 Rxc4 53. g3 Kf6 54. f3 Rb4 55. Rd3 Ra4
56. Rd4 Ra5 57. Rc4 Ke5 58. Re4+ Kf5 59. Kd4 Kf6 60. Re8 Ra4+ 61. Ke3 Kf5 62.
Rf8+ Ke5 63. f4+ Ke6 64. f5+ gxf5 65. Rh8 f4+ 66. gxf4 Ra3+ 67. Ke2 Ra2+ 68.
Kd3 Ra3+ 69. Kd2 Ra2+ (69... Rf3 $1 $10) 70. Kc3 Ra3+ 71. Kd4 Ra4+ 72. Ke3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 g6 7. Nde2 (
7. Bg2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 Be6 11. Qb4 Qc7 12. Bg5 Rac8 13. Rfc1
a5 14. Qa3 Ng4 $15 {Spangenberg,H-Leko,P/Buenos Aires ARG-WORLD (02)/1994/})
7... Bg7 8. Bg2 Rb8 (8... O-O 9. O-O Rb8 (9... Bd7) (9... Bg4) (9... a5 $6) 10.
a4 b6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. h3 Nb4 13. Nd5 Nbxd5 14. exd5 Qc7 $10 {Georgiev,
Ki-Shirov,A/Pardubice (02)/1994/1-0 (58)}) 9. b3 $5 $146 b5 (9... Bg4 $5) 10.
Bb2 O-O 11. Qd2 Ne5 (11... b4 12. Nd5 $2 (12. Nd1 a5 $10) (12. Na4 Ba6 $10 (
12... Bd7 {Ernst} 13. O-O-O Qa5 $13)) 12... Nxe4 $19) 12. f4 Ned7 13. O-O-O $5
Bb7 14. Nd5 a5 $6 (14... e6 $1 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Qxd6 (16. Qb4 a5 $1) (16. Qe3
Qa5 $15) 16... Nxe4 17. Qxd8 (17. Qb4 $2 Bxb2+ 18. Kxb2 Qf6+ 19. Qd4 Qxd4+ 20.
Nxd4 (20. Rxd4 Nxg3 $1 $19)) 17... Rfxd8 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 $10) 15.
Rhe1 $14 Nxd5 (15... b4 16. Nd4 $14) 16. exd5 Bxb2+ 17. Kxb2 b4 18. Nd4 Nc5 $2
(18... Rc8 19. f5 Ne5 $14) 19. f5 $1 $40 a4 $6 20. Kb1 $16 Nd7 $2 (20... Kg7
21. Qxb4 axb3 22. axb3 Qc7 $16 (22... Bxd5 $2 23. Qc3 $18)) 21. fxg6 hxg6 22.
Qh6 $1 $18 {/\ Re4-h4} axb3 23. axb3 e5 {Verzweiflung!} (23... Ne5 24. Re4 $18)
(23... Nc5 24. Ne6 $1 fxe6 (24... Nxe6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Qxg6+ Kh8 27. Rd4 $18)
25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Rd4 $18) (23... Ra8 {Ernst} 24. Nf5 $1 gxf5 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26.
Rd4 Nf6 27. Rh4+ Nh7 28. Qxf5 $18) 24. dxe6 Bxg2 25. e7 Qa5 26. Ne6 $1 (26. Ne6
fxe6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Rd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morovic Fernandez, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 cxd4 6. Qxd4 e5 7. Qd3 h6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Bc4 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bb3 b5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Rb8 14. Ba7
Rb7 15. Bxb7 Bxb7 16. Nd2 Nf6 17. f3 d5 18. Bf2 Qc7 19. Rhe1 Rd8 20. Qb3 d4 21.
Kb1 Nd7 22. c3 Nc5 23. Qc2 d3 24. Qc1 Bc8 25. Bxc5 Qxc5 26. Nb3 Qc4 27. g3 Be6
28. Qd2 b4 29. Rc1 Qb5 30. Red1 a5 31. cxb4 axb4 32. Qe3 Qa6 33. Rc7 Bxb3 34.
axb3 Ra8 35. Qxd3 Qa2+ 36. Kc2 Bd8 37. Rc6 Bb6 38. Rxb6 Rc8+ 39. Kd2 Qxb2+ 40.
Ke1 Qxh2 41. Rxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O
d6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 O-O 11. Kh1 Rb8 12. a4 Re8 13. Qe2 Bd7 14. Nb3 Na5 15. g4
Nxb3 16. cxb3 Bc6 17. g5 Nd7 18. b4 b5 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Rxb5 21. Bd2 Qc2
22. Qe3 Qc6 23. Ra3 Qb7 24. Rfa1 Rb6 25. Qe2 Nb8 26. Rh3 g6 27. Qe1 Nd7 28. Bc3
e5 29. Qh4 h5 30. Bf3 Bd8 31. f5 Rxb4 32. Re1 Nc5 33. Bxb4 Qxb4 34. Re2 Qd4 35.
Bxh5 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 Nd3 37. Rxd3 Qxd3 38. fxg6 fxg6 39. Bg4 Qc4 40. Qh6 Qf7 41.
Rf2 Qg7 42. Qh3 Qh7 43. Be6+ Kh8 44. Qg4 Qh5 45. Qxh5+ gxh5 46. Bf7 Rf8 47. h4
Bb6 48. Rf3 Kg7 49. Bxh5 Rh8 50. Rf7+ Kg8 51. Rb7 Rxh5 52. Rxb6 Rxh4 53. Kf3
Rf4+ 54. Ke3 Rg4 55. b4 Rxg5 56. Kd3 d5 57. exd5 Rg4 58. Kc3 Rd4 59. Rxa6 Kf7
60. b5 Rxd5 61. Kc4 Rd1 62. Kc5 e4 63. Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1994.09.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. O-O (11. Qg4 $5 {/\׻}) 11... b6 12. Qg4 (
12. Re1 {<->e,|^[+]}) 12... g5 (12... Kf8 13. Re1 Nf6 $13) 13. Qh3 (13. Re1 Nf6
14. Qh3 g4 15. Qh4 gxf3 16. Qxf6 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 fxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Rg8+ $40) 13...
Rg8 14. Nd2 (14. Qxh6 Bf8 $19 {/\g4,Nf6}) (14. Bh7 $5 g4 (14... Rh8 15. Bd3 {
/\Bg5 <->h} (15. Qxh6 Bf8 16. Qh3 g4 $19) 15... Rg8 $10 (15... Bf4 16. Nxg5
Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Bf4 18. Nxe6 $1 $18)) 15. Qxh6 Rh8 (15... Bf8 16. Qh4 Rh8 17. Re1
(17. Ng5 Nf6 {ץh7 /\Bg7,Qe7}) 17... Rxh7 (17... gxf3 $4 18. Rxe6+ fxe6 19.
Bg6#) 18. Qxh7 gxf3 19. Rxe6+ $3 fxe6 20. Qg6+ Kd8 21. Bg5+ Nf6 $8 22. Bxf6+
Be7 23. Qg8+ Kd7 24. Qf7 Qd6 25. c4 $1 fxg2 26. c5 $1 $18) 16. Ng5 $16) 14...
Bb7 15. Nc4 O-O-O (15... Bf8 16. f4 $40) 16. c3 c5 17. Be3 $6 (17. Nxd6+ $142)
17... Bf4 18. Rfd1 (18. dxc5 g4 19. Qh4 Qc6 $40) 18... Nf6 19. dxc5 (19. Bf1)
19... bxc5 (19... g4 20. Qh4 Rxd3 $6 (20... Qc6 21. Bf1 $16) 21. Rxd3 Qc6 22.
f3 gxf3 $2 (22... Nd5) 23. Qxf4 f2+ 24. Kxf2 Qxg2+ 25. Ke1 $18) 20. Bf1 Nd5 21.
Bxf4 (21. Rd3 $142) 21... gxf4 22. Re1 (22. f3 {><f3}) (22. Nd2 $5) (22. Qxh6
$6 f6 $1 {/\Rh8,Rdg8->}) 22... f3 23. g3 Nf4 24. Qh4 (24. Qxh6 Rg6 $1 25. Qh7
Ne2+ $1 26. Bxe2 fxe2 {/\Qc6->}) 24... Ne2+ 25. Kh1 (25. Bxe2 fxe2 {/\Qc6->})
25... Rd5 26. Ne3 (26. Rad1 $142) 26... Re5 27. Qxh6 Reg5 28. Rad1 Qe5 29. Qh4
(29. Nc4 Nxg3+ $1 30. hxg3 Rh5+ 31. Bh3 Rxh6 32. Rxe5 Rxh3+ 33. Kg1 Rgh8 $19)
29... Rh5 30. Nc4 (30. Qc4 Nxg3+ 31. fxg3 Rxh2+ 32. Kxh2 Qxg3+ 33. Kh1 Qg1#)
30... Qh8 $19 31. Nd6+ Kb8 32. Nxf7 Rxh4 33. Nxh8 Rhxh8 (33... Rxg3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Tilburg"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1994.09.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Qd3 Ba6 5. a3 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. b4 Bb6 8. Bg2
d5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bb2 Nc6 11. Nbd2 Rc8 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Qxd3 14. Nxf6+ gxf6
15. cxd3 f5 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 Nd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Rxd4 20. Rxc8+
Bxc8 21. f4 Bd7 22. Kf2 Rd6 23. Ke3 Bc6 24. Bf1 Kf8 25. Rc1 Ke7 26. d4 Kd8 27.
Rc5 a6 28. h3 Bd5 29. g4 fxg4 30. hxg4 h6 31. Bd3 Ke7 32. Be4 Bxe4 33. Kxe4 Kf6
34. Rh5 Kg7 35. f5 Rd8 36. Rh3 Rd6 37. Rc3 Kf6 38. Rf3 Kg5 39. fxe6 fxe6 40.
Rh3 Rd8 41. Rh5+ Kg6 42. Rc5 Kf6 43. Rc6 Rg8 44. Kf4 Rd8 45. Ke4 Rg8 46. Kf4
Rd8 47. Ke3 Rd5 48. Rxa6 Rg5 49. Kf4 Rd5 50. Ke3 Rg5 51. Rb6 h5 52. gxh5 Rxh5
53. Ra6 Rh3+ 54. Ke2 Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zadrima, Aldo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2260"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxc4 7. e3 Be6 8.
Qb1 Qc8 9. Nf3 h6 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Bg7 12. Nd2 Nb6 13. a4 a5 14. Ne4 Bf5 15.
Qb5+ Qd7 16. Nc5 Qxb5 17. axb5 a4 18. Bf3 Ra5 19. Nxb7 Ra7 20. Nc5 g5 21. Bc6+
Kd8 22. Bg3 Bc2 23. f4 gxf4 24. Rxf4 Bf6 25. e4 a3 26. e5 Bg5 27. Rxf7 a2 28.
Ne6+ Kc8 29. Nxg5 hxg5 30. Rxe7 Bb1 31. e6 Na4 32. Be5 Rg8 33. d5 1-0

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Drasko, Milan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. Nd2 Nc7 11. Nc4 Nh5 12. a4 b6 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. b3 f5 15. Bb2
Qd7 16. Rfe1 Rae8 17. e3 g5 18. Rad1 Re7 19. Bh3 Ref7 20. Rd2 Qd8 21. Qd1 g4
22. Bg2 Re7 23. e4 Bxc4 24. bxc4 Rfe8 25. f4 gxf3 26. Qxf3 Nf6 27. Qxf5 Rf8 28.
Qg5 Re5 29. Qe3 Ng4 30. Qd3 Rh5 31. Qe2 Qg5 32. h4 Qg6 33. Nd1 Bxb2 34. Rxb2
Ne8 35. Rb3 Ne5 36. Rf1 Rxf1+ 37. Qxf1 Qg7 38. a5 Rh6 39. axb6 axb6 40. Ne3
Qxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ionescu, Constantin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg5 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. e3 a6 7. a4 b4 8. Nb3 d6
9. Bg2 Nbd7 10. c3 bxc3 11. bxc3 Ra7 12. O-O Qa8 13. Re1 h6 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15.
Nh4 Bxg2 16. Nxg2 O-O 17. Qd3 c5 18. dxc5 dxc5 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Qc2 Qd5 21. Ra2
Rad7 22. Re2 Ng4 23. h3 Ne5 24. Ne1 c4 25. a5 Nd3 26. Nef3 e5 27. e4 Qe6 28.
Kg2 Rb7 29. Nf1 Bc5 30. Ne3 Bxe3 31. Rxe3 Rdb8 32. Qa4 Rb2 33. Re2 Rxa2 34.
Rxa2 Rb3 35. Rc2 Nc5 36. Qa1 Nxe4 37. Qe1 Qd5 38. Qe3 f6 39. Re2 Nxc3 40. Rd2
Qb7 41. Qc5 Ne4 42. Qxc4+ Kh7 43. Rd7 Qxd7 44. Qxb3 Qc6 45. Qb6 Qc2 46. Nh4 Qe2
47. Nf5 Nd2 48. Ne3 Qf3+ 49. Kg1 Ne4 50. Ng2 Qd1+ 51. Kh2 Qf1 52. Qe3 Nxf2 53.
g4 h5 54. g5 fxg5 55. Qxe5 Qd3 56. Qxg5 Qxh3+ 57. Kg1 Ne4 58. Qf4 Qe6 59. Qf3
g6 60. Ne3 Ng5 61. Qg3 Qe5 0-1

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O Nbc6 8.
c3 O-O 9. Qc2 h6 10. Re1 Ba7 11. Nb3 e5 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Qd6
15. Rae1 f6 16. h3 Qc7 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 Nd8 19. Qd2 Nf7 20. Bb1 Bf5 21. Qc1
Bxb1 22. Qxb1 Nd6 23. Rd1 Rad8 24. Ree1 g5 25. Nbd2 Qc6 26. Nf1 Ndf5 27. Ne3
Nxe3 28. Rxe3 b5 29. Red3 Rxd3 30. Rxd3 e4 31. Nd4 Qd6 32. Rd1 Qe5 33. a4 f5
34. axb5 axb5 35. Qa2 g4 36. Qe6 Qxe6 37. Nxe6 Rf6 38. Rd8+ Kh7 39. Nf4 Ng6 40.
Rd7+ Kg8 41. Nh5 Ra6 42. hxg4 f4 43. Rd4 Ra1+ 44. Kh2 e3 45. fxe3 fxe3 46. Re4
Ra2 47. Rxe3 Rxb2 48. Re6 Kh7 49. Rb6 Ne5 50. Rb7+ Kg8 51. Nf6+ Kf8 52. Kg3 Nd3
53. Nd5 Nc5 54. Rc7 Ne6 55. Rc6 Rd2 56. Ne3 Ke7 57. Rb6 Rd3 58. Kf2 Nc7 59.
Nf5+ Kd7 60. Nxh6 Rxc3 61. Rb8 Rc5 62. Nf5 Ke6 63. Kg3 Ke5 64. Nh4 Kd4 65. Nf3+
Kc3 66. g5 b4 67. g6 Ne6 68. Re8 Rc6 69. Ne5 Rb6 70. Rc8+ Kd4 71. Rc6 Rxc6 72.
Nxc6+ Ke4 73. Nxb4 Kf5 74. Nd3 Kg5 75. Kf3 Kf5 76. Nf4 Ng7 77. g3 Kf6 78. Kg4
Nf5 79. Kh5 Nxg3+ 80. Kh6 Nf5+ 81. Kh7 Ke7 82. Nd5+ Kf8 83. Kh8 Ng7 84. Nf6 Ne6
85. Nd7+ Ke7 86. Ne5 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Balkaniad"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Arduman, Can"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 c5 8. Bg5 Ngf6
9. Nd2 h6 10. Bh4 a6 11. a3 O-O 12. b4 Qc7 13. O-O Nh7 14. Nb3 b6 15. bxc5 bxc5
16. Qd2 Ndf6 17. Rfb1 Bd7 18. Rb2 Rfb8 19. Rab1 Rb7 20. Bd1 Rab8 21. Nc1 Bf8
22. Bg3 Ng5 23. f3 Nh5 24. Be1 Kg7 25. Nd3 Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Be7 27. h4 Nh7 28. g4
N5f6 29. Rxb8 Qxb8 30. Bc2 Qd8 31. Qf2 Ng8 32. Nd1 f6 33. Ne3 Nf8 34. Bc3 g5
35. h5 Qb6 36. Nf5+ Bxf5 37. exf5 Nd7 38. Qd2 Bd8 39. Nf2 Ne7 40. Ne4 Nc8 41.
Kf2 Kf7 42. Ba4 Nb8 43. Qc2 Qb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hamdouchi, Hicham"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "188"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qf3 Qb6 10. Be3 Qb7 11. Qg3 b4 12. Na4 Nbd7 13. f3 O-O 14. Rad1 Kh8 15.
Kh1 Rb8 16. Qe1 Qa8 17. c4 bxc3 18. Qxc3 Bb7 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Rc1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
Re8 22. Ne2 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Nf4 N5f6 25. Kg1 Qb8 26. Qf2 Bd6 27. Ba7 Qa8
28. Nd3 e5 29. Bc5 Nxc5 30. Ndxc5 e4 31. Nxb7 Qxb7 32. Re1 Qc7 33. g3 e3 34.
Qg2 Bb4 35. Re2 g6 36. Qh3 Qc6 37. Kg2 Qb5 38. Kf1 Kg7 39. Nc3 Bxc3 40. bxc3
Qc6 41. Kg2 Nd5 42. Bxd5 Qxd5 43. Qh4 Qe6 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. c4 h5 46. h4 Kh7 47.
c5 Re7 48. Qc3 Qd5 49. c6 Rc7 50. Qxe3 Rxc6 51. Rd2 Qa5 52. Qd4 Rc1 53. Qd7 Rc7
54. Qd4 Re7 55. Kf2 Qf5 56. Kg2 Qb5 57. Qf2 Qa4 58. Rb2 Rc7 59. Qd2 Rd7 60. Qe2
Qa3 61. Rb3 Qc1 62. Rb2 Re7 63. Qd2 Qa1 64. Rc2 Re1 65. Qf2 Rb1 66. Rd2 a5 67.
Qa7 Kg7 68. Qe3 a4 69. g4 Rb4 70. Qe2 hxg4 71. fxg4 Qf6 72. Kh3 Qf4 73. Rd3 Re4
74. Qf3 Qe5 75. Ra3 Re2 76. Qg3 Qe4 77. Qf3 Qxf3+ 78. Rxf3 Rxa2 79. g5 Rb2 80.
Rf6 a3 81. Ra6 a2 82. Ra8 f5 83. gxf6+ Kxf6 84. Kg4 Ke5 85. Kg5 Rg2+ 86. Kh6
Kd4 87. Ra4+ Kc3 88. Rxa2 Rxa2 89. Kxg6 Kd4 90. h5 Ke5 91. h6 Ke6 92. Kg7 Rg2+
93. Kf8 Rf2+ 94. Kg7 Rg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Xu, Jun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Na3 Qb6 13. Nh4 Bc8 14. Qf3 Be6 15. Nf5
Qb7 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Nxb5 Qd7 20. c4 d5 21. Qe2
h6 22. h3 Nc6 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Be3 Nd4 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Bd2 dxc4 27. dxc4 Ra2
28. Bb4 d3 29. Qe3 Qa4 30. Bc3 Qxc4 31. f3 Nd7 32. Rd1 Nc5 33. Bxe5 Qc2 34. Rd2
Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 36. Bc3 Na4 37. Rxd3 Qh1+ 38. Kg3 Rc1 39. Bd4 Qf1 40. Rd2 e5
41. Bxe5 Rc5 42. f4 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. e4 d6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Be3
O-O 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Be2 Qa5 12. Rc1 a6 13. b3 Rfc8 14. Qb2 Nh5 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. O-O Qe5 17. Rfd1 b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Qd2 Rab8 20. Nxb5 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Rxb5 22. f4 Nxf4 23. Bxb5 Qg5 24. Kh1 Qxb5 25. Qxf4 Qe2 26. Ra1 Bd7 27.
Qf3 Qb2 28. Rf1 f6 29. Qf2 Qe5 30. Qc2 Bb5 31. Rd1 Ba6 32. Qc6 Be2 33. Re1 Bb5
34. Qd5 Qc3 35. Rd1 Qc2 36. h3 Ba6 37. a4 Bb7 38. Qd3 Qc5 39. Qd4 Qc2 40. Qd3
Qc5 41. b4 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Kh1 b5 11. Rae1 Bb7 12. a3 a6 13. h3 Nh5 14. Ne2 c5 15. c3
f5 16. d5 c4 17. Bc2 fxe4 18. Bxe4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Nc5 20. Bc2 Nd3 21. Bh2 Nxe1
22. Rxe1 Qd7 23. Be4 Nf6 24. Nf4 Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Rf5 26. Bg3 Bf6 27. Bh4 Bxh4 28.
Nxh4 Re5 29. Rd4 Rae8 30. Nf3 Rf5 31. Kh2 h6 32. Nh4 Rfe5 33. Nhg6 Qf7 34. Qd1
Rf5 35. Qg4 Rg5 36. Qf3 Rxg6 0-1

[Event "Cap d'Agde"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Nde2 Rb8 8.
Bg2 b5 9. O-O Bg7 10. Nd5 Nd7 11. c3 a5 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 e6 14. Nf4 b4 15.
Be3 Ba6 16. Re1 O-O 17. Qd2 Nb6 18. b3 Nc8 19. Rac1 Qd7 20. h4 Na7 21. a4 bxa3
22. Qxa5 Nb5 23. e5 Bb7 24. Bf1 Bc6 25. d5 exd5 26. e6 Qb7 27. exf7+ Rxf7 28.
Ne6 Bb2 29. Nd8 Rxd8 30. Rxc6 Qxc6 31. Qxd8+ Rf8 32. Bxb5 Qxb5 33. Qxd6 Re8 34.
Kh2 Bc3 35. Bc5 Kh8 36. Rxe8+ Qxe8 37. Bxa3 Qf7 38. Bc5 h5 39. b4 Kh7 40. b5
Bb4 41. b6 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 Be6 12. h4 gxh4 13. Bxh4 Qb6 14. O-O-O Rc8
15. f3 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nce5 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Ne3 19. Re1 Nxf1 20. Rexf1 Bd7
21. b3 f6 22. Kd2 Kf7 23. Bf2 Rcg8 24. Rh2 Nc6 25. Ne2 f5 26. exf5 Bxf5 27.
Rfh1 h5 28. g4 Bg6 29. gxh5 Bh7 30. Nd4 Rg5 31. Nxc6 bxc6 32. h6 Rhg8 33. c4
Rf5 34. Rh3 a5 35. R1h2 a4 36. Be3 axb3 37. axb3 c5 38. Kc3 Rf6 39. Kb2 Re6 40.
Bd2 Rg1 41. Rh4 Rf6 42. Rf2 Rfg6 43. Rf4+ Ke8 44. Kc3 Rxh6 45. Rg4 Rxg4 46.
fxg4 Rh3+ 47. Kb2 Rg3 48. g5 Be4 49. Rf4 Rg2 50. Kc3 Rg3+ 51. Kb2 Rg2 52. Kc1
Rg1+ 53. Kb2 Rg2 54. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Bc5 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Bxe6 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 fxe6 13. Ng5 O-O 14. Nxe4
Bb6 15. b3 Nxe5 16. Kf1 Ng4 17. f3 Nf6 18. Ng3 Nd5 19. c4 bxc4 20. bxc4 Nf6 21.
Bb2 Rad8 22. Ke2 Kf7 23. Rab1 Rfe8 24. Be5 Nd7 25. Bxc7 Bxc7 26. Rb7 Ne5 27.
Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rxc7+ Kg6 29. Ne4 Rb8 30. Ke3 Rb2 31. Kd4 Nf7 32. Rc6 Kf5 33.
Ng3+ Kf6 34. Nh5+ Kg5 35. Nxg7 e5+ 36. Ke3 Rxg2 37. Rxa6 Rxh2 38. Ne6+ Kf5 39.
Nc5 Ng5 40. Nd7 Ne6 41. Ra5 Nd8 42. Rxe5+ Kg6 43. a4 Ra2 44. Nb6 h5 45. Kf4 Nf7
46. Re6+ Kg7 47. c5 h4 48. c6 Rc2 49. Nd5 h3 50. c7 h2 51. Re1 Nd6 52. Rh1 Ne8
53. Rxh2 Rc4+ 54. Ke5 Nxc7 55. Nxc7 Rxc7 56. Ra2 Rc5+ 57. Kd6 Ra5 58. Kc6 Kf6
59. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O (13... Be6
14. Nce3 Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 a5 18. O-O Rb8 (18... f5 19. Qh5
Ra7 $5 {Hellers-Krasenkov/Malmo/1994}) 19. Ne3 $5 Qd7 20. Qh5 f5 21. Bd5 f4 $2
(21... Kh8 $142) 22. Qg4 $1 Rbe8 23. Nf5 Rf6 24. Bc6 $18 {Luther-Arakhamia/
Hastings/1994}) 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 b4 17. O-O bxc3 18. bxc3 Kh8 $2
(18... Qa5 $1 $13) 19. Qh5 e4 20. f3 Qa5 21. fxe4 Bxc3 (21... Qc5 22. Kh1 $1 (
22. exf5 $2 Bxd5 23. f6 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Bh6 25. Qxd5 Qc5 26. Qe4 Ra7 $17)) 22.
Rab1 Bg7 (22... Qc5 23. Rb7 Bg8 24. Kh1 $1 (24. exf5 $2 Bd4 25. f6 (25. Rf3
Qxd5) 25... Bxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Ra7 $19 28. Bxh7 (28. f7 Rxf7) 28...
Rxb7) 24... Bd4 25. Rf3 $18) 23. exf5 Bg8 24. f6 Bxf6 25. Rxf6 Rxf6 26. Nxf6
Qxh5 27. Nxh5 Bxa2 28. Rb7 Ra7 29. Rb6 Bf7 30. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. Nf3 d6 8. e4
Bxf1 9. Kxf1 Bg7 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2 Nbd7 12. h3 Ra6 13. Re1 Qa8 14. Re2 Nb6 15.
a4 Nfd7 16. Bg5 Re8 17. h4 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Rxa4 19. Rxa4 Qxa4 20. Qb1 f6 21. Bh6
Qc4 22. Rb2 Kf7 23. Nd2 Qa6 24. Ra2 Qe2 25. Qf1 Qxf1+ 26. Kxf1 Ne5 27. Ke2 Rb8
28. Rb2 Ned7 29. Ra2 Ra8 30. Rxa8 Nxa8 31. Bf4 Nab6 32. c4 Kg7 33. g4 h6 34.
Bg3 g5 35. h5 Nb8 36. Kd3 Na6 37. Kc3 Nb4 38. Nf1 Na2+ 39. Kb2 Nb4 40. Ne3 Kh7
41. Kb3 Nd3 42. Nf5 Nc1+ 43. Kc2 Ne2 44. Kd3 Nxg3 45. fxg3 Nd7 46. Nxe7 Ne5+
47. Kc3 Nf7 48. Kb3 Kg7 49. Nf5+ Kf8 50. Ka4 Ke8 51. Kb5 Kd7 52. Kb6 Ne5 53.
Nxh6 Nxc4+ 54. Kb5 Ne5 55. Nf5 Nxg4 56. h6 Ne5 57. h7 Nf7 58. Nh6 Nh8 59. Ng8
1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 Nge7 7. Nb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 (8... b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O Nc8 $6 11. f4 Be7 12. f5 $1 $14 {Jansa,
V-Taimanov,M/Brno/1975/INF20,391/}) 9. Bg2 Nc8 10. O-O Be7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Be3
Qc7 (12... Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Bd4 $14 {de Firmian,N-Zapata,A/Tunis izt/1985/
INF39,218/}) 13. f4 Rb8 $6 (13... Bf6 $5 14. a5 Nb4 (14... N6a7 $6 15. e5 $1
dxe5 16. Ne4 Be7 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bd4 Qc7 19. Qh5 $40 {Szmetan,J-Langeweg,K/
Buenos Aires ol/1978/INF26,369/}) 15. Qd2 Rb8 16. Rfd1 Rd8 17. Bd4 e5 18. Be3
b5 19. f5 Be7 20. g4 Be8 21. Qf2 $14 {Spangerberg,H-Zapata,A/Capablanca mem/
1993/CBM36/}) 14. g4 Re8 15. g5 Nb4 (15... Bf8 16. a5 $14) 16. Qf2 b5 17. axb5
axb5 18. f5 Nxc2 (18... Bf8 19. g6 $1 $40) 19. Qxc2 b4 20. g6 $1 e5 (20... bxc3
$2 21. gxf7+ Kxf7 22. fxe6+ Kxe6 23. Bh3+ Ke5 24. Bd4#) (20... hxg6 21. fxg6
fxg6 22. e5 $1 bxc3 23. Qxg6 $18) 21. Nc5 $1 bxc3 (21... dxc5 22. Nd5 Qd8 23.
gxf7+ Kxf7 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Qc4+ Kf8 26. Bxc5 $18) 22. Na6 Rxb2 (22... Qb7 23.
Nxb8 Qxb8 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. bxc3 $18) 23. Nxc7 Rxc2 24. Nxe8 Bxe8 25. f6 $1
Rxg2+ (25... Bxf6 26. Bh3 Ne7 27. Ra8 $18) 26. Kxg2 Bxf6 27. Ra8 Bd7 28. Rc1 {
Ribli} 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A67"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+
Nbd7 $5 (8... Nfd7 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. O-O c4 12. Be3 a6 13. Rc1 b5 14.
b4 $1 Nf6 15. Bd4 Bb7 16. a4 Re8 17. axb5 Nbd7 18. bxa6 Rxa6 19. Nb5 Qb8 20.
Bxc4 Rxe4 21. Nc3 $16 {Shereshevski,M-Berelovich,A/Elenite-B/1994/}) 9. e5 dxe5
10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Be3 Bxc3+ $1 (14... O-O
15. exd7 Bxd7 16. Bxd7) 15. bxc3 a6 (15... Qe4 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. exd7+ (17. Nxf3
fxe6 18. dxe6 a6 19. exd7+ Bxd7 20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Bxc5 Kc6 22. Be3 Rae8 23.
Kd2 Re4 24. Nd4+ Kd5 25. Kd3 Rc8 26. Nc2 $14 {Urban,K-Ciemniak,R/POL-ch/1993/})
17... Bxd7 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Nxf3 b6 $2 (19... Rhe8 $142) 20. Ne5+ Ke7 21. a4
f6 22. Nc4 Rhe8 23. a5 Rab8 24. axb6 axb6 25. Ra6 Kd7 26. Kd2 b5 27. Ra7+ Kd8
28. Na5 {1-0/Kouatly,B-Schmittdiel,E/Augsburg/1989/}) 16. Bxd7+ Bxd7 17. exd7+
Kxd7 $13 18. Qf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Rhe8 (19... Rae8 20. Kf2 Re4 $5 21. Bxc5 Rhe8
22. Re1 Rxe1 23. Nxe1 b6 $1 24. Bxb6 Kd6 25. Nc2 Kxd5 26. Ne3+ Ke4 27. a4 f5
$15 {Thuesen,M-DeFirmian,N/Farum/1993/}) 20. Kf2 Kd6 $6 (20... Re4 21. Bxc5 (
21. Ng5 Re5 {/\} 22. Nxf7 $2 Rf5+) 21... Rae8 {-19...Rae8}) (20... Rac8 21. a4
$1 $36 {/\a5,Rb1}) 21. c4 f6 (21... b5 22. Bf4+ Kd7 23. Ne5+ $16) 22. Rb1 b5 $8
23. Nd2 $1 (23. cxb5 $6 axb5 24. Rxb5 Rxa2+ 25. Nd2 Kxd5 (25... c4 $6 26. Kf3
$16) 26. Rxc5+ Kd6 27. Rc3 $10) (23. Bf4+ Kd7 24. Nd2 g5 25. Be3 Kd6 {-23.Nd2})
23... g5 (23... bxc4 $6 24. Nxc4+ Kxd5 25. Nb6+ Kc6 26. Nxa8 Rxa8 27. Rc1 $16)
24. Kf3 Rad8 {/\bc4} 25. Rd1 $6 (25. Ne4+ $5 Rxe4 (25... Ke5 26. Bxc5 bxc4 27.
d6 $16) 26. Kxe4 Re8+ 27. Kf3 bxc4 28. Rb6+ (28. Rd1 Re5) 28... Kxd5 29. Rxf6
c3 30. Rf5+ $16) 25... h5 $1 26. Ne4+ Rxe4 $8 27. Kxe4 Re8+ 28. Kf3 bxc4 29.
Bd2 (29. Rh1 Kxd5 (29... Rh8 $5 $10) 30. Rxh5 c3 $44) 29... Re5 (29... Kxd5 $2
30. Bxg5+ Kc6 31. Bf4 $16 {ק}) 30. Bc3 Rf5+ $8 (30... Rxd5 31. Rxd5+ Kxd5 32.
Bxf6 g4+ 33. Kf4 $18) 31. Ke4 (31. Ke3 g4 $10) 31... Rf2 $13 32. Ke3 (32. Rb1
$2 f5+ 33. Ke3 Rc2 $15) 32... Rf5 $10 33. Ke4 Rf2 34. Ke3 Rf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. O-O
Nf6 9. a4 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. f4 Rc8 12. Nb3 Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Qd2 Rfe8 15.
h3 h5 16. Kh2 Rc4 17. Qe2 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Bd2 Qxc2 20. Rfc1 Qb3 21. Rcb1
Qc2 22. Rxb7 e5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Qe3 Bxa4 25. Bc3 Bb5 26. Bxe5 Qc6 27. Rb8 Qe6
28. Rxe8+ Nxe8 29. Qd4 h4 30. Qd5 Qh6 31. Bf4 hxg3+ 32. Bxg3 Bg5 33. Ra3 Nf6
34. Qa8+ Kh7 35. e5 Ng4+ 36. Kh1 Ne3 37. Qe4+ g6 38. e6 Nxg2 39. Kxg2 fxe6 40.
Rf3 Qg7 41. h4 Bh6 42. h5 Be8 43. Qxe6 Qg8 44. Qe4 Bg5 45. Bd6 Qa2+ 46. Rf2 Qg8
47. Bf8 Bd8 48. Qb7+ Kh8 49. Bh6 gxh5+ 50. Kh1 Bg5 51. Bxg5 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 (10. Nce2 $5 Bd7 11. b3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Rb8 13. Bb2 $14 {
Topalov,V-Leko,P/Leon/1993/CBM36/INF60,(48)/}) 10... a6 11. Bb2 (11. Nce2 $5)
11... Nxd4 12. exd4 Rb8 13. a4 Nh6 14. Nd5 Nf5 15. a5 b5 16. axb6 (16. Nb6 Rxb6
17. axb6 Qxb6 $44 {Khalifman,A-Topalov,V/Elenite/1994/CBM44/}) 16... e6 (16...
Bb7 $5 $132) 17. Nb4 Rxb6 (17... Qxb6 18. Nc6 Rb7 19. b4 {/\ c5 +/=}) 18. Nc6 (
18. Qd2 $2 Nxd4 $1 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Rxb4 $15) 18... Qc7 19. Na5 d5 $5 20.
Ba3 Rd8 (20... Bxd4 $2 21. Rc1 $44 (21. Bxf8 Bxa1 22. Qxa1 Kxf8 23. cxd5 $40))
21. Bc5 (21. cxd5 $5 exd5 (21... Nxd4 22. Rc1 $36) (21... Bxd4 22. Rc1 $36 {
>< c6}) 22. Rc1 Qd7 23. Bc5 Rb8 24. b4 $14) 21... Rb8 22. cxd5 exd5 23. b4 Bd7
$1 24. Re1 (24. Bxd5 $2 Bb5 $36) 24... Bb5 25. Qd2 Qd7 26. Qf4 Re8 27. h4 Bd3
28. Qd2 Bb5 29. Qf4 Bd3 30. Qd2 Bb5 {Ribli} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Comas Fabrego, Luis"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8.
Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 Nbd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. h3 Ra6 13. Re1 Qa8 14. Re2 Rb8
15. Qe1 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Ng5 Re8 18. f4 c4 19. Be3 e5 20. Rd1 h6 21. Nf3
exf4 22. gxf4 Nxe4 23. Nd5 Qb7 24. Bd4 Qxd5 25. Bxg7 Qf5 26. Bxh6 Rxa2 27. Rxd6
Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Nxd6 29. Qc3 Qf6 30. Qxf6 Nxf6 31. Ne5 Nfe4 32. h4 c3 33. Rc2 Nf5
34. Kf3 Nd2+ 35. Kf2 Nxh6 36. Ke2 Nc4 0-1

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "De la Villa Garcia, Jesus Maria"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Wahls,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qa4+ {Von Sveshnikov in
die Turnierpraxis eingeführt,um die etwas schlappe Isolanistellung zu umgehen,
die nach 6.Le2 entsteht.Die vorliegende Partie stellt das Damenschach
ernsthaft in Frage.} Bd7 (6... Nbd7 7. Bc4 (7. Be3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 e6
10. Nc3 Qf5 11. Rg1 h6 12. Rc1 Be7 13. Rxg7 Kf8 14. Rg1 Nb6 15. Qb5 Qxb5 16.
Bxb5 Nfd5 17. Ne4 Rb8 18. Ke2 f5 19. Nc5 Kf7 20. Nd3 Bd6 21. Ne5+ Bxe5 22. dxe5
a6 23. Bd3 Nd7 24. f4 Rbc8 25. Kd2 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Rg8 27. Be2 Rd8 28. Bh5+ Kf8
29. Ke2 Rb8 30. Kf3 Rd8 31. Ke2 Rb8 32. Bf3 Kf7 33. a4 Ke8 34. b3 Nf8 35. Bxd5
exd5 36. Rc7 Nd7 37. e6 Nf8 38. Bc5 Ng6 39. Rg7 Nxf4+ 40. Kf3 Nxe6 41. Re7+ {
1-0 Sveshnikov,E-Madsen,D/Gausdal International (07) ;TD 92\08 1992}) (7. Be2
e6 8. Be3 Be7 9. h3 Bh5 10. c4 Qc6 11. Qxc6 bxc6 12. Nc3 Rc8 13. O-O-O cxd4 14.
Bxd4 Bc5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. g4 Bg6 17. Ne5 Ncd7 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. f4 Ke7 20. Bf3
Rhd8 21. Kc2 Nb8 22. Rhe1 Rxd1 23. Nxd1 Rd8 24. Kc3 Nfd7 25. Nf2 Nc5 26. b4
Na4+ 27. Kb3 Rd2 28. Re2 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Nb6 30. Bf3 N6d7 31. Nd3 Kd6 {Rabiega,
R-Schuh,H/BL 9394 (1994) ;BL 1994/1-0 (54)}) 7... Qe4+ 8. Be3 Bxf3 9. Nd2 Qc6
10. Bb5 Bxg2 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Qb3 Bxh1 13. f3 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bg2 15. Rc1 (15.
Qxb7 Rd8 16. Bf4 e5 17. dxe5 Nc5 18. Qxa7 Nd3+ 19. Kd1 Bc5 20. Qc7 Nd5 21. Qc6+
Ke7 22. Bg5+ f6 23. exf6+ gxf6 24. Bh6 Kf7 25. a3 Rhe8 26. Qb7+ Re7 27. Qb3
Re1+ 28. Kc2 Rxa1 29. Kxd3 Kg6 30. Kc4 Rc1+ {0-1 Braeuning,R-Hracek,Z/
Kecskemet (02) ;CBM 29 1992}) 15... b6 16. Qa4 e6 17. Rc7 Be7 18. Bg5 Bd8 19.
Rxd7 Nxd7 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. Qa3 Nf6 22. Nc4 Bxf3 23. Nd6+ Rxd6 24. Qxd6 Nd7 25.
Qg3 Be4 26. Qxg7 Rf8 27. Qg3 f5 28. b4 f4 29. Qg4 Bd5 30. Qh5+ Rf7 31. a4 f3 {
0-1 Rabiega,R-Hracek,Z/BL2-N 9293 (1993) ;BL2 1993}) (6... Nc6 7. Bc4 Qd7 (7...
Qe4+ 8. Be3 Bxf3 9. Nd2 Qg4 10. Nxf3 Qxg2 11. Ke2 $16 (11. Ke2 e6 12. Bb5 (12.
dxc5 Nd7 13. b4 Qg4 14. b5 Nce5 15. c6 Qxf3+ 16. Kd2 Nxc4+ 17. Qxc4 bxc6 18.
bxc6 Ne5 19. Qb3 Rd8+ 20. Bd4 Qxc6 21. Rhd1 Nf3+ 22. Ke3 Nxd4 23. cxd4 Bd6 24.
Rac1 Qa6 25. Rc3 O-O 26. Rg1 e5 27. d5 Qb6+ 28. Ke2 Qxb3 29. axb3 Rc8 30. Rcg3
g6 31. h4 Rc2+ 32. Kd1 Ra2 33. R1g2 h5 34. Rc3 Rd8 35. Rc6 Bf8 36. Rg5 Rxd5+
37. Ke1 Rc5 38. Rxc5 Bxc5 39. Rxe5 Bxf2+ 40. Kf1 Bxh4 41. b4 Rb2 42. b5 Bf6 43.
Rc5 Bd4 44. Rd5 Bb6 {0-1 Collins,D-Sorokina,A/WchJW-U14 Szeged (03) ;TD 94\01
1994}) 12... Nd7 13. Rhg1 Qh3 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rd8 16. dxc5 Qf5 17. Rad1
h6 18. Qa4 Bxc5 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. Rd1 O-O 21. Qxd7 Rb8 22. Rd2 Bxe3 23. fxe3
Qg4 24. Kf2 h5 25. Qc7 Rb5 26. Qg3 Qf5 27. Qf4 g5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Ke2 e5 30.
e4 Rf4 31. Ke3 f6 32. c4 g4 33. Nh4 Rf1 34. Rc2 Re1+ 35. Kf2 Rxe4 {Van de
Oudeweetering-Van Wely,L/Rotterdam Knok (01) 1990/1-0 (49)})) 8. dxc5 Bxf3 9.
gxf3 e6 10. Be3 $1 Nd5 11. Bxd5 Qxd5 12. Qe4 Qh5 (12... Qd7 13. Nd2 f5 14. Qa4
Be7 15. O-O-O $16) (12... O-O-O 13. Qxd5 Rxd5 14. b4 $16 {_|_}) 13. b4 Be7 (
13... a5) 14. Nd2 O-O (14... Bf6 $5 15. Rc1 (15. b5 Ne7 16. Qxb7 O-O 17. Ne4
Nd5 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 $13) 15... O-O 16. Nc4 Rfd8 17. Ke2 $1 {/\ Qg4+/-}) 15.
O-O-O Bf6 (15... a5 16. b5 Na7 17. Qc4 $1 Rfc8 18. Ne4 Qxf3 19. Rhg1 $16) 16.
Kc2 Rfd8 17. Nc4 $16 Rd5 (17... Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Qxh2 19. Nd6 $16) 18. Qg4 Rxd1 $8
19. Rxd1 (19. Qxh5 $5 Rxh1 20. Nd6 Nd8 21. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 (21... Be5 22. Bxd8 Bxd6
23. cxd6 Rxd8 24. Qc5 Rxh2 25. Qc7 Rxf2+ 26. Kd1 $16) 22. Qxg5 Rxh2 (22... f6
23. Qg2 {/\ Ne8+/-}) 23. Qe7 h5 24. Qe8+ Kh7 25. Nxf7 Rxf2+ 26. Kb3 $16) 19...
Qxh2 20. f4 $1 Qh6 21. Nd6 Nd8 22. b5 (22. f5 exf5 23. Qxf5 Qg6 (23... Qh4 24.
Qf3 $16) 24. Qxg6 $16 {_|_}) 22... Qg6+ (22... a6 23. b6 $1 {/\ Nb7+/-} (23. a4
$6 axb5 24. axb5 Ra3 $132) (23. c6 $6 bxc6 24. b6 Rb8 $13)) 23. Qxg6 fxg6 24.
Ne4 Be7 (24... h5 25. Rd7 h4 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Bd4 e5 28. fxe5 h3 29. exf6 h2
30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. f7 Nxf7 32. Rxf7+ Kg8 33. Rg7+ Kh8 34. Re7+ Kg8 35. Re1 $18)
25. Rd7 Kf8 26. Rc7 $1 h5 27. Bd4 e5 28. Bxe5 $18 {1-0 Sveshnikov,E-Neverov,V/
Moskva II 47/203 1989} (28. Bxe5 Ne6 29. Rxb7 $18)) 7. Qb3 (7. Qd1 e6 8. Be3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 O-O 12. Nc3 Qd6 13. Bd3 Bc6 14. Nb5
Bxb5 15. Bxb5 Ne4 16. Qe2 Qb4+ 17. Kf1 Nd6 18. Bd3 Nc6 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. a3 Qb6
21. b4 Ne8 22. Qe4 Nf6 23. Qh4 Rd5 24. b5 Ne7 25. g4 Ng6 26. Qg3 Qd6 27. Bc4 {
[#]} Rc8 28. Bxd5 Qxd5 29. g5 Ne4 30. Qg4 Nxg5 31. Rd3 Nxf3 32. Rxf3 Nh4 {
0-1 Olsen,S-Ornstein,A/Osterskan op ;TD 94\02 1994}) 7... cxd4 $1 (7... Qxb3 8.
axb3 e6 (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6 10. Nxc6 (10. Nb5 Rc8 11. Be3 a6 12. N5a3 Nd5
13. Nc4 Nxe3 14. Nxe3 e5 15. Nd2 Bc5 16. Nec4 Rc7 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Bd3 O-O 19.
f3 Be6 20. O-O Rd8 21. Bc2 f5 22. Nf2 Bf6 23. Rfe1 g6 24. Nd3 Re7 25. Ncxe5
Nxe5 26. Nxe5 Rd2 27. Rac1 Bd5 28. Nd3 Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 Bg5 30. Rd1 Be3+ 31. Kh1
Rf2 32. h3 Bc6 33. Kh2 Re2 34. b4 Kg7 35. Kh1 Bf2 36. Nd3 Rxc2 37. Nxf2 Rxf2
38. Re1 Rxb2 39. Re7+ Kh6 40. g4 fxg4 {0-1 Acs,P-Holzmann,H/Balatonbereny op 
(04) ;TD 92\11 1992}) 10... Bxc6 11. Na3 a6 12. Nc4 (12. Nb5 Rd8 13. Nd4 Be4
14. f3 e5 15. Ne6 fxe6 16. fxe4 Nxe4 17. b4 Bd6 18. Be2 Nf6 19. b5 axb5 20.
Bxb5+ Nd7 21. Ke2 O-O 22. Rd1 Nb6 23. Bg5 Nd5 24. Bxd8 Nf4+ 25. Kd2 Rxd8 26. g3
Nd5 27. Be2 Nc7 28. Bd3 g6 29. Be4 Kf8 30. Bxb7 Ke7 31. Bc6 h5 32. b4 h4 33. b5
hxg3 34. hxg3 Rb8 35. c4 Rh8 36. Rh1 Rxh1 37. Rxh1 Bc5 38. Rh7+ Kd8 39. Rd7+ {
1-0 Sequera,J-Gamboa,N/Merida 1992}) 12... e6 13. b4 Nd7 14. Bd2 b5 15. Na5 Bd5
16. f3 Be7 17. Be2 O-O 18. Kf2 Rfc8 19. Ra3 Nb6 20. Rha1 Bd8 21. Be3 Na4 22.
Rb1 Bxa5 23. bxa5 Nc5 24. Rd1 Nb3 25. Rxd5 exd5 26. Rxb3 Re8 27. Bd4 Re7 28. f4
Rae8 29. Bf3 Re1 30. Ra3 Rb1 31. Ra2 Rd8 32. b4 f6 33. Re2 Kf7 34. f5 g6 35.
Re6 Rb2+ 36. Kg3 h5 37. Rxf6+ Ke7 38. fxg6 {1-0 Godena,M-Tatai,S/Reggio Emilia
(09) ;CBM 45 1994}) 9. dxc5 (9. Na3 a6 10. Nc4 $16) 9... Bxc5 10. b4 (10. Nbd2
a6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Ne5 O-O 13. Bd3 Be8 14. Ne4 Nbd7 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Nxf6+ gxf6
17. Be4 Rab8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 f5 21. Bc2 Be6 22. Rf1 e4 23. Rd1
Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. h3 Kg7 26. Rf4 Kg6 27. g4 Re8 28. Kf2 Rd8 29. gxf5+
Bxf5 30. Bxe4 Bxe4 31. Rxe4 Rd2+ 32. Kf3 Rxb2 33. Re7 b5 34. Rc7 f6 {
Tzermiadianos,A-Sjodahl,P/EU-chJ U20 Arnhem ;TD 89\08 1989/0-1 (62)}) 10... Bb6
11. Nbd2 {/\ Nc4+/= Sveshnikov,E}) (7... e6 8. Bc4 Qc6 9. Be3 (9. O-O Qc7 10.
Be3 Nc6 11. dxc5 Na5 12. Qb4 b6 $10) 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Qc7 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Be2
Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Rfd1 Rac8 17. f4 Qb8 18. Bf3 (18.
a3 $5 {/\} Na5 19. Qa2 $14 {Daniliuk,S}) 18... Na5 19. Qc2 Nd5 20. Qe2 Nxe3 21.
Qxe3 Qd6 22. Kh1 Qb6 23. b3 Ba3 24. Rb1 Bb4 25. Na4 Qc7 26. Nc5 Nc6 27. Rbc1
Ba3 28. Rc4 b5 29. Nxc6 bxc4 30. Nxd8 Rxd8 31. bxc4 Bxc5 32. dxc5 Rxd1+ 33.
Bxd1 {Daniliuk,S-Petrosian,A/St.Petersburg op ;TD 93\09 1993/1-0 (59)}) 8. Bc4
(8. Nxd4 $6 Nc6 $32 9. Be3 (9. Bc4 $2 Qxg2 10. Bxf7+ Kd8 11. Rf1 Nxd4 12. cxd4
e6 $19 13. d5 Qxd5 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Bh5 Rc8 16. Bg5+ Be7 17. Bxe7+ Kxe7 18.
Na3 Rhf8 19. Rg1 g6 20. Be2 Rf4 21. Rg4 Rcf8 22. Rxf4 Rxf4 23. Kf1 Bc6 24. Kg1
Rd4 25. Bf3 b5 26. Rc1 Kd6 27. Nb1 b4 28. Rc2 Ba4 29. Rd2 Rc4 30. b3 Rc1+ 31.
Kg2 Bc6 32. Rb2 g5 33. Bxd5 Bxd5+ 34. f3 g4 35. Nd2 gxf3+ 36. Nxf3 Rc3 {
0-1 Schmitt,An-Sokolov,A/FRA-chT ;TD 94\03 1994}) 9... Na5 10. Qc2 Ng4 11. Nd2
Nxe3 12. fxe3 g6 {Sein Läuferpaar und die bessere Bauernstruktur geben dem
Schwarzen Vorteil.} 13. e4 Qg5 14. O-O-O Bg7 15. Kb1 O-O 16. N2f3 Qf4 17. h4
Rad8 18. h5 e5 19. Rh4 Bg4 20. hxg6 exd4 21. gxf7+ Rxf7 22. e5 Bf5 23. Bd3 Bxd3
24. Rxd3 Qf5 25. Rhxd4 Rdf8 26. Rd6 Nc4 27. R6d5 Nxe5 28. a3 Re7 29. Ka2 Qf7
30. Ng5 Qg6 31. Qb3 Nxd3 32. Rd6+ Kh8 33. Rxg6 Nc1+ {0-1 Smagin,S-Atalik,S/
Heraklio op (04) ;TD 93\09 1993}) 8... Qe4+ 9. Kf1 e6 10. Nxd4 (10. cxd4 {
Vielleicht genauer als der Textzug.Probleme jedoch,hat Schwarz auch hier keine.
} Bc6 $5 (10... Nc6 11. Nc3 Qf5 12. Qxb7 Rb8 13. Qc7 $8 Rc8 $6 (13... Be7 $1
$44 {Kharlov,A}) 14. Qf4 Qxf4 $6 (14... Qa5 $1 $13) 15. Bxf4 Nxd4 16. Ne5 $1
Nh5 $2 (16... Bd6 $1 17. Rd1 $1 (17. Nxd7 Kxd7 $1 (17... Bxf4 18. Nxf6+ gxf6
19. Ba6 $14) 18. Bxd6 Kxd6 19. Ba6 Rc6 $10) 17... Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Rxc4 19. Bxd4
a6 20. Ke2 $14) 17. Rd1 $1 $16 {~/= Kharlov,A-Hoffmann,M/Porz 58/(181) 1993}) (
10... Qc6 11. Nc3 $14) 11. Nc3 Qg6 12. Nb5 Na6 13. Bf4 Qf5 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15.
Bxd6 Ne4 16. Bxa6 Nxd6 17. Bd3 Qa5 18. Qc3 Qd5 19. Qc5 O-O $15 20. Ke2 Rfd8 21.
Rhd1 Ne4 22. Qxd5 Bxd5 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Ne1 Rac8 25. Rac1 Kf8 26. f3 Bd5 27.
b3 Ke7 28. Nd3 Bc6 29. Ke3 a5 30. Ne5 Be8 31. Nc4 a4 32. bxa4 Bxa4 33. Nb6 Rxc1
34. Rxc1 Bc6 {Sveshnikov,E-Markowski,T/Oviedo 25' (09) ;EXP 38 1993/0-1 (49)})
10... Nc6 11. Nd2 Qg6 $1 {Eine wichtige Neuerung!} (11... Nxd4 12. Nxe4 Nxb3
13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. axb3 Bc5 15. b4 Bb6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rg8 18. g3 Bc6 19.
Rg1 Rg5 20. Ra5 a6 21. Ke2 Ke7 {1/2-1/2 Kharlov,A-Tukmakov,V/Biel op (04) ;EXP
31 1992}) 12. Qxb7 {Was sonst?} (12. N2f3 $4 Na5) (12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Nf3 Bc5
14. Bb5 O-O-O 15. Bxc6 Qd3+) 12... Rb8 13. Qc7 (13. Qa6 {Danach hat Schwarz
mindestens Remis.} Rb6 14. Qa4 Nxd4 (14... Be7 15. Qc2) (14... Bc5 15. N4b3 Bd6
(15... Bxf2 $5 16. Kxf2 Ng4+)) 15. Qxa7 Qh5 16. f3 Nc2 17. Qxb6 Nxa1 18. Qb8+
Ke7 19. Qb4+ Kd8 20. Qb6+ $10) 13... Rc8 14. Qg3 (14. Qb7 $2 Na5) 14... Nxd4
15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. cxd4 Bb4 17. b3 (17. Bb3 $2 Rxc1+ 18. Rxc1 Bxd2) 17... Bc3
18. Rb1 Bxd4 {Der Kampfesstaub hat sich verzogen,und Schwarz sitzt obenauf.}
19. Nf3 (19. Bb2 Bxb2 (19... Bb6) 20. Rxb2 Bc6 21. f3 Nd5 22. Kf2 Ke7 $15)
19... Bb6 20. Bb2 Ne4 $17 21. Ke2 Nxf2 22. Rhc1 (22. Rhf1 Ng4 23. Bxg7 Rh5 $17
(23... Rh7 24. Ne5)) 22... Ng4 (22... f6 23. Bd4 (23. Nd4 Rh4) 23... Ne4) 23.
Bxg7 Rh5 24. h3 (24. h4 f6 25. Bd3 Kf7 26. Rxc8 Bxc8 27. Rc1 Bb7) 24... Ne3 25.
g4 (25. Ne1 Ke7 (25... Bc6 26. Rc3) 26. Bd3 f6 (26... e5) 27. Rxc8 Bxc8 28. Rc1
(28. Bxg6 Ba6+) 28... Bb7 29. Bxg6 Rg5 30. Bh6 Rxg6 31. Bxe3 Bxg2 32. Bxb6 axb6
) 25... Rxh3 26. Rh1 Rxh1 27. Rxh1 Nxg4 28. Rh4 e5 29. Ng5 Ke7 30. Rh7 Bf5 31.
Bh8 Rf8 32. Bxf7 Nf6 33. Rg7 Nh5 34. Rh7 Nf4+ 35. Kf3 Rxh8 36. Rxh8 Kf6 37.
Bxg6 Nxg6 38. Rh5 Nf4 39. Nh7+ Bxh7 40. Rxh7 Ne6 41. Rh5 Ng5+ 42. Kg4 Nf7 43.
a4 a5 44. Kf3 Ke6 45. Ke4 Nd6+ 46. Kd3 Kd5 47. Rg5 Bc5 48. Rh5 Bb4 49. Rg5 Nb7
0-1

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E66"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {EndgameCD Hecht} Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. Bg2 d6
7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 a6 10. Qc2 e6 11. b3 (11. dxe6 $5 Bxe6 12. b3 Rb8 (
12... Qd7 13. Bb2 Nc6 14. Nce4 $14) 13. Bb2 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Rad1 $14 {ECO}
) 11... exd5 12. cxd5 b5 13. Bb2 Re8 14. Rae1 (14. e4 Bd7 (14... Ra7 15. Nd1
Nh5 16. Ne3 Rae7 17. a4 Bd4 18. axb5 axb5 19. b4 Nb7 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Nd1 f5
22. Qd3 fxe4 23. Qxd4 $16 {Filip,M-Bilek,I/Lugano 1968}) 15. h3 Rc8 16. Kh2 h5
(16... Re5 $5 {/\ Rh5|^>>}) 17. Rae1 Qc7 18. Nd1 h4 19. g4 c4 20. b4 c3 $1 21.
Bxc3 Nc4 $44 {Shirov,A-Cseshkovsky,V/Moskva (GMA) 1989}) 14... Bd7 15. Nce4 $1
Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Nb7 (16... Bf5 $2 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 (17... Bxe4 18. Qb2 $16) 18. Qc3+
f6 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxa5 $16) 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qb2+ f6 19. f4 $14 Qe7 {
/\Bf5,><e3} 20. e3 Rac8 21. Nd2 c4 (21... Nd8 $5 22. e4 Nf7 (22... c4 $2 23.
bxc4 bxc4 24. Qc3 $16) 23. Re3 $14 {/\Rfe1,Nf3,e5}) 22. bxc4 Nc5 23. Qd4 bxc4
24. Nxc4 Bb5 25. Rf2 Nd3 (25... Ne6 26. dxe6 Rxc4 $1 (26... Bxc4 27. Rb2 Bxe6 (
27... Qxe6 28. Rb7+ Kg8 (28... Re7 29. Bh3 $18) 29. Qa7 $18) 28. Rb6 Rc2 29. a3
Ra2 30. Bc6 Rc8 31. Rxa6 $16) 27. Qd2 (27. Qb6 Qxe6 28. Rd2 $14) 27... Bc6 28.
Bh3 (28. Bf1 Rc5 29. Bxa6 Qxe6 30. Bf1 $14) 28... Be4 29. Qb2 $14) 26. Qxd3
Rxc4 27. Qd2 $16 Rec8 28. e4 (28. Qb2 Rc3 29. e4 Qa7 30. Kh1 Bd3 $44) (28. Bh3
$5 R8c5 29. Be6 Qc7 30. g4 Rc2 31. Qd4 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 Rc2+ 33. Kg3 $16 {/\g5})
28... Qa7 $1 {/^a7-g1} 29. Kh1 Ba4 30. Bh3 (30. Rfe2 Rc2 31. Qb4 Rxe2 32. Rxe2
Rc1+ 33. Re1 Qe3 34. Rf1 Bb5 $19) (30. Qe3 $1 Qxe3 31. Rxe3 Rc1+ 32. Bf1 Bc2
33. Kg2 Re8 34. Rfe2 $16 (34. Kf3 $2 Bxe4+ 35. Rxe4 Rc3+)) 30... R8c7 31. Qe3
$2 (31. Rfe2 Rc2 32. Qe3 Qxe3 33. Rxe3 Rxa2 $10) 31... Rxe4 $1 32. Qxe4 Qxf2
33. Qe2 (33. Qe6 Bd1 $1 34. Bg2 Bg4 35. Qe4 Rc2 $15) 33... Qxe2 34. Rxe2 Bb5
$17 35. Re1 (35. Rf2 Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Bc4 37. Be6 Ra1 $17) 35... Bc4 36. Kg1 Bxa2
37. Re6 Bxd5 38. Rxd6 Bc4 {/\Ra7} 39. Bf1 Bxf1 40. Kxf1 Ra7 $19 {Die Türme
gehören hinter die Freibauern (Tarrasch).} 41. Rd4 a5 42. Ra4 Kf7 43. Ke2 Ke6
44. Kd3 h5 45. h3 Kd5 46. g4 hxg4 47. hxg4 Kc5 48. Kc3 Kb5 49. Re4 {Nun soll
der Kc3 anstelle des R den schwarzen a-Freibauern blockieren. Jetzt mangelt es
aber den weissen Bauern an Schutz.} a4 50. Kb2 a3+ 51. Ka2 Ra4 52. Re6 Rxf4 53.
g5 fxg5 54. Re5+ (54. Rxg6 {Hecht} g4 55. Kxa3 Kc4 56. Kb2 Kd3 57. Kc1 Ke2 $19)
54... Kb4 55. Rxg5 Rf2+ 56. Kb1 Rf6 57. Rg4+ Kc3 58. Rg3+ (58. Ka2 {Hecht} Ra6
$19) 58... Kd2 59. Rxa3 g5 60. Rg3 Rb6+ 61. Ka2 Rg6 62. Rb3 g4 (62... g4 {
Endgame CD} 63. Rb2+ Ke3 64. Rb3+ Kf2 65. Rb2+ Kg1 66. Rb1+ Kh2 67. Rb2+ Kh3
68. Rb7 g3 69. Rh7+ Kg4 70. Rc7 g2 71. Rc1 Kh3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Ne2 $4 (9. Be3 Nf6 10. f3 $14) 9... Ne5 $1 10. Nbc3 (10. Na3 $142
Rc8 11. Qb3 Qc6 $17 12. Ng3 Nf6 (12... Nxc4 13. Nxc4 Qxc4 14. Qxb7)) 10... Nxc4
11. b3 Nb6 12. a4 Qd8 13. Be3 Nf6 14. Rc1 O-O 15. h3 Nbd7 16. g4 Ne5 17. f4 Nc6
18. f5 Rc8 19. Nf4 Nd7 20. g5 Nb4 21. Nce2 Nc5 $6 (21... Rxc1 $17) 22. Rc4 a5
23. Ng3 Be5 24. Qg4 $5 Nxb3 $4 (24... Bxf4 $142 $1 $17) (24... Qd7 $142 25.
Bxc5 Rxc5 26. fxg6 (26. Rxc5 dxc5 27. Rd1 Bd4+) 26... Qxg4 27. gxh7+ Kxh7 28.
hxg4 Rxc4 29. bxc4 Rc8 $17) 25. fxg6 $1 Rxc4 (25... fxg6 26. Qe6+ Kg7 (26...
Kh8 27. Nxg6+) 27. Nfh5+ gxh5 28. Nxh5+ Kh8 29. Rxf8+ $18) (25... hxg6 26. Nxg6
$1 Rxc4 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. g6 fxg6 (28... f6 29. Qh5 $18) 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. Qh6+
Kg8 31. Nf5 Rf7 (31... Rxf5 32. Rxf5 Qd1+ 33. Rf1 $18) 32. Kh1 $1 (32. Qg6+ Kh8
$1 33. Qxf7 Qg8+ 34. Qxg8+ Kxg8 35. Nxe7+ Kg7 $132) 32... Rh7 33. Qe6+ Kh8 34.
Qxe5+ Kg8 35. Nh6+ Rxh6 36. Bxh6 $18) 26. gxh7+ $142 Kh8 (26... Kxh7 27. Nf5 $1
Nc2 (27... Bxf4 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. g6 $1 $18) (27... e6 28. g6+ fxg6 29. Qxg6+
Kh8 30. Qh5+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh7 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ Bg7 34. Nh5 $18) 28. g6+
fxg6 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. Qh5+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh7 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ Bg7 34. Ne6
$18) 27. g6 Nc2 (27... e6 28. gxf7 $1 (28. Ngh5 Rxe4 $1 29. g7+ Kxh7 $17) 28...
Bxf4 29. Rxf4 Nc2 30. Nh5 $18) 28. Nf5 $18 Bg7 29. gxf7 Rxf7 30. Qh5 Rf6 31.
Ng6+ Rxg6+ 32. Qxg6 Qf8 33. Bh6 $1 (33. Bh6 Bxh6 34. Nxh6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Franco Ocampos, Zenon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O Be7 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Ng5 Bxg5 8.
Qh5 Qe7 9. Qxg5 Qxg5 10. Bxg5 Ngf6 11. f3 b5 12. Be2 Nb6 13. Nd2 Be6 14. b3
Nfd7 15. Rfc1 f6 16. Be3 Ke7 17. c4 bxc4 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Rxc4
Rhc8 21. Rac1 Kd6 22. h4 Nb6 23. Rc5 Rc7 24. Ra5 Nd7 25. Kf2 a6 26. Rd1+ Ke6
27. g3 Rb7 28. Ra4 a5 29. Rc4 Ra6 30. Rd2 Rb4 31. Rc1 Rb7 32. h5 a4 33. bxa4 c5
34. Bxc5 Nxc5 35. Rxc5 Rxa4 36. g4 h6 37. Kg3 Rba7 38. Rdc2 Kf7 (38... Rxa2 39.
Rxa2 Rxa2 40. Rc7 Ra8 41. Rxg7 Rh8 42. f4 exf4+ 43. Kxf4 Ra8 44. Rh7 Ra1 45.
Rxh6 Kf7 (45... Rf1+ 46. Ke3 Re1+ 47. Kf3 Rf1+ 48. Ke2 Rf4 49. g5 Rxe4+ (49...
Ke5 50. Rxf6 Rxf6 51. gxf6 Kxf6 52. Ke3 Kg5 53. Kd4 Kxh5 54. Ke5 $18) 50. Kf3
Rh4 51. Rxf6+ Ke5 52. h6 $18) 46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. Rd7 Rf1+ 48. Kg3 Rg1+ 49. Kf3
Rf1+ {Remis? - Analyse!}) 39. Rc7+ Rxc7 40. Rxc7+ Kg8 41. Rc2 Ra3 42. Kf2 Kf7
43. Ke2 g5 44. Rb2 Kf8 45. Kd2 Rxf3 46. a4 Ke7 47. a5 Kd6 48. Rb6+ Kc5 49. Kc2
Ra3 50. Ra6 Kb5 51. Rxf6 Rxa5 52. Rxh6 (52. Kb3 Ra4 53. Rxh6 Rxe4) 52... Kc4
53. Rc6+ (53. Rg6 Ra2+ 54. Kb1 Rh2 55. Rxg5 Kd4 56. Rg6 Kxe4 57. h6 Kf4 58. Kc1
e4 59. Kd1 e3 60. g5 e2+ 61. Kd2 Kf3 {siehe Partie}) 53... Kd4 54. Rg6 Ra2+ 55.
Kb3 Rh2 56. Rxg5 Kxe4 57. Rg6 Kf3 58. h6 e4 59. g5 e3 60. Kc3 e2 61. Kd2 Rh1
62. Re6 Kf4 63. g6 e1=Q+ 64. Rxe1 Rxh6 65. g7 Rg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Magem Badals, Jordi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Ba5 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. O-O
Rc8 $1 {New move in a sharp position, white has also problems with exposed
pieces.} (14... Qd5 15. c4 Qf5 $1 16. Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qb2 $1 b6 18. Rd1+ Ke7 19.
Be3 $44 {Topalov,V-Tukmakov,V/Groningen/1993/}) 15. Rd1 Qxd1+ 16. Qxd1 Bxb5 17.
Qh5 a6 18. Bb2 $1 {Smart way to keep initiative firmly in hands. Black must
fight to coordinate his exposed pieces.} (18. a4 Bxc3 19. Rb1 Bc6 $15) 18...
O-O (18... Bb6 $6 19. c4 $1 $16) 19. c4 (19. a4 g6 20. Qe5 Bc7 21. Qf6 Bc4 $13)
19... Rxc4 20. a4 Rb4 $1 {Little artistic, but probably best. Black can not
afford to lose material.} (20... Rc2 21. Ba3 Bc3 22. Qc5 $1 $18) 21. Be5 $1 (
21. axb5 Rxb2 22. bxa6 Bb6 23. axb7 Bd4 $1 24. Rd1 e5 25. Qf3 Rb8 26. Rc1 g6
$17) (21. Qe5 Rxb2 22. Qxb2 Bc6 $13) (21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8
24. Qg5+ $10) (21. Bc3 Rxa4 22. Bxg7 (22. Rxa4 Bxc3 $15) 22... Kxg7 (22...
Rxa1+ 23. Bxa1 f6 24. Qg4+ Kf7 25. Qh4 Kg6 26. g4 $1 $40) 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Rxa4
Bxa4 25. Qxa5 Bb5 26. Qc7 $13) 21... Bc6 (21... Rxa4 $4 22. Rxa4 Bxa4 23. Qg4
f6 24. Qxa4 $18) (21... Bxa4 $2 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qxa5 Rc4 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25.
Qf6+ Kg8 26. h4 $18) 22. Bd6 $6 {Grabbing the exchange, but black will have
enough counterplay.} (22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qxa5 Rg4 25. f3 Rg6 26.
Rd1 $14) 22... Rd4 23. Bxf8 Rd5 24. Qh3 (24. Qxd5 Bxd5 25. Bd6 f6 $10) 24...
Kxf8 25. Qxh7 Bc3 26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. Rc1 Bf6 28. Qc8 (28. Qh3 $5) 28... a5 29. g3
g6 $1 30. h4 (30. Qc7+ Kf8 $10) 30... Be5 31. Rxc6 {Forced, as Rd8 threatened
to lock the queen on an unexpected square.} (31. Qg8 $2 Rd8 32. Qh7 Rh8 $19)
31... bxc6 32. Qxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qb6 5. a3 Bg4 6. Qd2 e5 7. h3 exd4 8. Na4
Qc7 9. hxg4 b5 10. Qxd4 bxa4 11. g5 Nfd7 12. Qxa4 Nc5 13. Qd4 Nbd7 14. Nf3 Rb8
15. Bc4 Ne6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. g6 h6 18. Ng5 hxg5 19. Rxh8 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Rxb6 21.
Be3 gxf4 22. Bxf4 e5 23. Be3 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Be7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Bd7 10. Qe2 Bc6 11. Rd1 Bd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. Qe4 g6
15. Bh6 Re8 16. Ne5 Bf8 17. Bd2 Bg7 18. Bb5 N7f6 19. Qf3 Rf8 20. Bc4 Qd6 21.
Rac1 Rac8 22. g4 Qe7 23. h4 Rfd8 24. Ba5 b6 25. Bd2 Rc7 26. Ba6 Rxc1 27. Rxc1
Rf8 28. Bb5 a5 29. h5 Nc7 30. Bd3 Nfd5 31. Kg2 f6 32. Nc6 Qe8 33. b4 axb4 34.
Bxb4 Bh6 35. Ne7+ Kg7 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Bxf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Zvjaginsev,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ernst Stohl} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 (4... Bb7 $142 {Ernst}) 5.
Qc2 (5. cxb5 {Stohl} a6 6. Qc2 Bg7 7. Qxc5 $5 O-O 8. Nc3 d6 9. Qc4 axb5 10.
Nxb5 Nbd7 11. e3 Bb7 12. Qc2 Nxd5 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Be2 Rfc8 15. Qb1 Nc5 16. O-O
Ba6 17. a4 Nxa4 18. Qd3 Nc7 19. Rxa4 Bxb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Qb3 Qa6 $15 {
Sokolov,I-Khalifman,A/Wijk aan Zee op/1995/}) (5. a4 {Stohl} b4 6. b3 Bg7 7.
Bb2 O-O 8. Nbd2 e6 9. dxe6 fxe6 10. e4 d6 11. Bd3 e5 12. h3 Nc6 13. Bf1 Bh6 14.
g3 Bb7 15. Bg2 Qe7 16. O-O Rf7 17. Qe2 Raf8 18. Ne1 Nh5 19. Nd3 Na5 20. Nc1 Ng7
$15 {Dufek,J-Vodicka,V/CR-chT2 9495/1995/}) 5... bxc4 6. e4 Bg7 7. Bxc4 d6 8.
O-O O-O (8... Bg4 {Stohl} 9. Nfd2 $5 $14 {/\f3,Be2,Nc4,|^[+]}) 9. h3 (9. Nc3 {
Stohl} Nbd7 10. h3 Rb8 (10... Nb6 {Stohl} 11. Be2 e6 $13 (11... Ne8 {Ernst} 12.
Bf4 Nc7 13. Rfd1 Bb7 14. a4 $14 {Klebel,M-Borgo,G/Baden-Baden/1990})) 11. Re1
Rb4 12. Bf1 Ne8 13. Bd2 Nc7 14. Nd1 Rb8 15. Bc3 Ba6 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bxa6 Nxa6
18. Ne3 Qa5 19. Nc4 Qb4 20. a3 Qb3 21. Qe2 Nc7 22. Nfd2 Qa4 23. b3 Qa6 24. Qd3
Nb6 $10 {Szymczak,Z-Wach,M/Bohemians Prague B/1989/}) 9... Nbd7 (9... Ba6 10.
Na3 $1 Nfd7 11. Nb5 Nb6 12. Be2 $14) (9... Nfd7 $5 {Stohl /\Nb6,Na6-c7,e6<=>})
10. Rd1 Nb6 11. Be2 e6 (11... Ne8 $5 12. Bf4 f5 13. e5 Nc7 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. Qb3
$13) 12. dxe6 Bxe6 (12... fxe6 {Stohl} 13. e5 $16) 13. Nc3 (13. e5 Nfd5) 13...
Qe7 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. Qxd6 Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Rfd8
19. Rad1 (19. Rxd8+ {Stohl} Rxd8 20. Rc1 Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Na4 $1 22. Ra3 Nxb2 23.
Rxa7 c4 $44) 19... Rxd6 20. Rxd6 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Bxa2 22. Ba6 $10) (15. Bf4 {
Stohl} d5 $10) 15... Rad8 (15... g5 16. Bg3 d5 $10 (16... d5 {Stohl} 17. exd5
Nfxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bc4 $36 {׻})) 16. Re1 $5 (16. a4 Rb8 $1 17. Bg3 Ne8
$13) (16. Rd2 {Stohl} g5 $5 17. Bg3 d5 $132) 16... g5 (16... Qc7 $5 {Ernst})
17. Bg3 Nh5 (17... Qb7 $6 {Stohl} 18. Bxd6 $1 Rxd6 19. e5 $36) 18. Bh2 f5 (
18... Nf4) (18... Nf4 {Stohl} 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Rad1 $14) 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qd1
d5 21. g4 Be4 22. gxh5 Qf7 (22... Bxc3 23. bxc3 Qf7 24. Bg3 Bxf3 25. Bxf3 Qxf3
26. Re6 $16 (26. Qxf3 {Stohl} Rxf3 27. Re6 Rxc3 28. Rxh6 Re8 $5 $13)) 23. Nxe4
(23. Bd6 Bxc3 (23... Rxd6 24. Nxe4) 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 (24... Bxe1 25. Bxc5 $16) 25.
bxc3 g4 $5 26. hxg4 Qf4 27. Kh1 Nc4 28. Rg1 Nd2 29. Rg3 Nxf3 30. Bxf3 Bxf3+ 31.
Qxf3 Qxf3+ 32. Rxf3 Rxf3 33. Rd1 Rxf2 $10) 23... dxe4 24. Qc2 (24. Nd2 {Stohl}
Bxb2 $17 {/\Qf2,Ba1,Bc3}) 24... exf3 25. Bf1 $14 Qxh5 (25... Rfe8 26. Re4 $14)
(25... Bd4 $142 $5 {Stohl}) 26. Re7 Rf7 (26... Nd5 27. Rxa7 Nf4 28. Bxf4 Rxf4
29. Re1 $16) 27. Rae1 Bd4 28. Bc7 $1 $18 Rdf8 29. Bxb6 axb6 30. Bc4 Qh4 $8 (
30... Qxh3 31. Bxf7+ Kh8 (31... Rxf7 32. Qg6+ Rg7 33. Re8#) 32. Qh7+ $1 $18 (
32. Qh7+ $1 {Stohl} Kxh7 33. Be6+ $18)) 31. Bxf7+ Kh8 32. R1e3 $1 (32. Be6 $4 {
Stohl} Qg3+) 32... Qxh3 (32... Bxe3 33. Rxe3 Qxh3 (33... Rxf7 34. Qg6 Rf8 (
34... Qf4 {Stohl} 35. Re8+ Rf8 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. Rxf8+ Qxf8 38. Qxf8+ Kxf8 39.
Kh2 $18) 35. Re7) 34. Qc3+ Kh7 35. Rxf3 $18) 33. Qh7+ Kxh7 34. Be6+ Kg6 35.
Bxh3 Bxe3 36. Rxe3 h5 37. Bd7 g4 38. Re6+ Kg5 (38... Rf6 {Stohl} 39. Be8+ Kg5
40. Rxf6 Kxf6 41. Bxh5 $18) 39. Rxb6 $6 (39. Re5+ $1 Kh4 (39... Kh6 $5 {
Stohl /\} 40. Be8 h4 41. Rh5+ Kg7 42. Bd7 Rd8 $1 43. Bxg4 Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Rd2 45.
Bxf3 Rxf2+ 46. Bg2 Rxb2 $10) 40. Be8 Rh8 41. Kh2 Rh6 42. b3 Rh8 43. a4 Rh6 44.
a5 bxa5 45. Rxc5 Rh8 46. Re5 $18) 39... Rf4 40. Rc6 $2 (40. Rb5 $1 Rc4 41. b4
Rd4 42. bxc5 $1 {/\42...Rd7 43.c6/}) 40... Rc4 41. b4 Rxb4 $2 (41... Rc1+ 42.
Kh2 c4 43. Rc5+ Kf4 44. Rf5+ (44. Rxh5 {Stohl} Rf1 $13) 44... Ke4 45. Rxh5 Rf1
46. Bxg4 Rxf2+ 47. Kh3 Rxa2 $14) 42. Rxc5+ $1 $18 Kh4 43. Be8 g3 44. Rxh5+ Kg4
45. Rb5 Rd4 46. Bh5+ Kf4 47. fxg3+ Kxg3 48. Rg5+ Kh4 49. Rg4+ $1 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Ye, Jiangchuan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2 (
8. g4 h6 (8... b4 9. Nce2 h6 10. Qd2 e5 11. Nf5 d5 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Be6
14. Nc1 d4 15. Bf2 g6 16. Ng3 Nbd7 17. h4 Rc8 $15 {Nunn,J-Situru,N Moskow olm 
(04) ENG-INA 1994 0-1 36 - CBM 45}) 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 Nfd7 11. Qd2 Ne5 12.
O-O-O Nbd7 13. g5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Qa5 15. f4 Nc6 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. f5 $16 {Frolov,
A-Arnason,J EUCup f Lyon 1994 1-0 34 - CBM 45}) 8... Bb7 (8... Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6
10. g5 Nfd7 11. f4 Bb7 12. a3 Nc5 13. Bg2 Nc4 14. Qe2 e5 15. Nb3 Ne6 16. f5
Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nf4 18. Qg3 Rc8 19. Bf3 h6 $17 {Hatanbaatar,B-Short,N Moskow olm
(01) MON-ENG 0-1 54 - CBM 45}) 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. h4 (11. Bd3 Ne5 12.
Rhe1 b4 13. Na4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Bf2 Bd6 16. Bf5 O-O 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18.
Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bxd5 Nxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxf3 21. Bb6 Bxd1 22. Bxd8 Raxd8 $15 {
Hjartarson,J-Kasparov,G Thessaloniki ol 1988}) 11... b4 12. Nce2 (12. Na4 $146
d5 13. Bh3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc5 15. g5 Nxa4 16. bxa4 Nd7 17. g6 Nc5 18. gxf7+ Kxf7
19. Nb3 Nxb3+ 20. axb3 $16 {Gunawan,Ru-Paschall,W New York op (09) 1994 1-0 34}
) 12... d5 13. Bh3 (13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nf4 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Bc4 O-O-O 17.
Nd3 Qc7 $15 {Sax,Gy-Anand,V Philadelphia 1986}) 13... dxe4 (13... Ne5 14. Nf4
g5 15. hxg5 Nc4 16. Qe2 Qa5 17. Kb1 hxg5 18. Nfxe6 fxe6 19. Bxg5 Be7 20. Nxe6
$16 {De La Riva-Vera/1993/}) (13... Qa5 14. Kb1 g6 (14... dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16.
hxg5 exf3 17. Ng3 Bd5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. gxf6 Nxf6 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22.
Qg5 $18 {Magem_Badals,J-Vera,R Barcelona 1990 -Inf.50/247}) 15. g5 Nh5 16. f4
O-O-O 17. f5 gxf5 18. exf5 e5 19. Ne6 $18 {Magem_Badals,J-Brenninkmeier,J Novi
Sad (ol) 1990 -Inf.50/247}) 14. g5 hxg5 (14... exf3 15. Ng3 (15. Nf4 Ne4 16.
Qe1 f2 $2 (16... Bd6 17. Ndxe6 $1 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Qe7 19. Bd4 {/\ 20.Ng7, 20.Bf5
+/- Magem_Badals -Inf.50/248}) (16... Qa5 $6 17. g6 f5 18. Nfxe6 Qxa2 19. Nb3
Rc8 20. Rxd7 Kxd7 21. Bxf5 Ke8 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Bc5 Bxc5 24. Nexc5 Kd8 25.
Qxe4 Kc7 26. Qe7+ {1-0 De la Villa Garcia,J-Martin Vazquez/Sevilla op (2) 1993}
) 17. Bxf2 Bd6 18. Nfxe6 fxe6 19. Bxe6 Qe7 20. Nf5 $18 {Magem_Badals,
J-Rojo_Huerto,G Spanien(ch) 1990 -Inf.50/248}) 15... Nd5 16. g6 Nc5 17. gxf7+
Kxf7 18. Nxf3 $13 {Savko-Karklins URS 1990 -Inf.50/248}) 15. hxg5 exf3 16. Ng3
(16. Nf4 Ne4 17. Qe1 f2 (17... Rxh3 $146 18. Nxh3 e5 19. Nb3 (19. Nf5 $2 Qa5
20. Kb1 Bd5 21. a3 Rb8 {/\ Nc3 -+}) (19. Nxf3 $2 Qa5 (19... Nc3 20. g6 $13) 20.
Kb1 Nc3+ 21. bxc3 Bxf3 $17 (21... bxc3 22. Nd4 $1 $13)) 19... a5 20. Nd2 Qc7 $6
$16 {Anand,V-Ljubojevic,L Buenos Aires Sicilian (08) 1-0 39 - CBM 44} (20... f2
$1 21. Nxf2 Nxf2 22. Bxf2 Bxh1 23. Qxh1 Rc8 $15)) (17... Nxg5 18. Ndxe6 $1 $16
fxe6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rxh8 Qf6 21. Rd6 $1 O-O-O 22. Nxe6 Re8 23. Qxb4 f2 24.
Qc4+ Kb8 25. Qc7+ Ka8 26. Rxa6+ {1-0 Romero Holmes,A-Tukmakov,V Wijk-B (08)
1991}) 18. Bxf2 Qxg5 19. Be3 Qh4 20. Ndxe6 $1 Qxe1 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Rhxe1 Rxh3
$1 23. Nxh3 Bxg7 24. Ng5 Ke8 $2 (24... Kc8 $1 25. Nxf7 a5) 25. Nxf7 Ne5 $2 (
25... Ndf6 $5 26. Nd6+ Nxd6 27. Rxd6 $14) 26. Nd6+ $1 Nxd6 27. Rxd6 Kf8 28. Bh6
Bxh6+ 29. Rxh6 Nf7 30. Rb6 $18 {Anand,V-Beliavsky,A/Groningen/1993/1-0 (38)})
16... Ne4 (16... Ne5 $5 17. gxf6 gxf6 $13 18. Kb1 Qc7 19. Bf4 Bd5 20. Qe3 Be7
21. Bg2 Rxh1 22. Bxh1 O-O-O 23. Nxf3 $6 Bxa2+ 24. Kc1 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Nc4 $1 26.
Qc1 e5 27. Bh6 f5 $17 {Velimirovic,D-Bronstein,D Donner mem-B (08) 1994 0-1 38
- CBM 43}) 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bf4 $2 (18. Bxe6 $1 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 (19. Bxd7+ Qxd7
20. Rxh1 O-O-O $17) 19... fxe6 20. Nxe6 Qe7 $1 (20... Qa5 $2 21. Rd1 Bc6 22.
Nxf8 Nxf8 (22... Qxa2 23. Qd6 Qa1+ 24. Kd2 Qxb2 25. Bd4 $18) 23. Qd6 Rc8 24.
Bc5 Kf7 25. Qf4+ $1 Kg6 26. Rd6+ Kh5 27. Qf5 $1 $18) (20... Qc8 21. Bf4 Kf7 22.
Re1 $1 $40) 21. Nc7+ Kf7 22. Qd4 Kg6 $1 23. Rh4 Nc5 24. Nxa8 $1 Bxa8 25. Rf4 $1
Qe8 26. Rxf8 Qxf8 27. Qxc5 Qxc5 28. Bxc5 $10 {Zagrebelny,S-Efremov,V Alushta
op 1994 1/2 37}) (18. Nxe6 $6 fxe6 19. Bxe6 Nc5 $1 20. Rxh8 (20. Qxd8+ Rxd8 21.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Rxh8 Nxe6 $19) 20... Qxd2+ 21. Bxd2 Nxe6 22. Bxb4 Kf7 $19) 18...
Nc5 19. Qe3 Qa5 20. Kb1 Bd5 21. Nb3 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qc5 $19 {Die Partie wurde
durch die bessere Hausanalyse entschieden.} 23. Qd3 Qc6 24. g6 Be4 25. gxf7+
Kxf7 26. Qd2 Rc8 27. Rc1 Be7 28. Rh2 Qd5 29. Qe1 (29. Qe1 Rxh3 $1 30. Rxh3 Qf5
31. Rh2 Qxf4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Gagarin,V"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7
8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Re1 a6 13. Na3 Nf6 14. Rxe8+
Nxe8 15. Bg5 Qc7 $1 (15... Bf6 16. Qd2 (16. Bxf6 $6 Nxf6 17. Nc4 Bb7 18. Ne3
Nbd7 19. Bc4 Nb6 20. b3 a5 $15) 16... Bb7 17. Re1 (17. Bc2 Nd7 18. Nc4 Bxg5 19.
Nxg5 Ndf6 20. Ne3 h6 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Qg5 23. g3 Nf6 24. Bg2 Re8 $10 {
Neverov,V-Berelovich,A/Sochi/1993/1:0/39/}) 17... Nd7 18. Be4 $1 Nb6 19. b3 $1
Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf6 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. bxc4 $14 {Epishin,V-Topalov,V/Las Palmas/
1994/0,5/72/}) 16. Qd2 (16. Qe2 $5) (16. Qa4 $5 Nd7 17. Re1 Nef6 18. Qc6 Qb8
19. Nc4 Bb7 20. Qxd6 {Horvath,Cs-Hardiscay,P/HUN/1994/0,5/68/} Qxd6 21. Nxd6
Bxd5 22. b3 a5 23. Bc4 Bxc4 24. Nxc4 a4 $10 {Hardiscay/}) 16... Bb7 17. Re1 Nd7
18. Bc2 (18. Be4 Nef6 19. Nc4 Re8 $15) 18... Nef6 19. Bb3 Re8 $15 {>< d5/} 20.
Rxe8+ Nxe8 21. Nc4 Nef6 $1 (21... Ndf6 22. Bf4 Nh5 23. Qe3 Qd8 24. Bg5 Nhf6 25.
Ncd2 $14) 22. Bf4 Bf8 23. Ne3 $6 (23. Na5 $5 Ba8 $15 (23... Bxd5 $6 24. Bxd5
Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Qxa5 26. Bxd6 $10)) 23... Nb6 {>< d5/} 24. Qd3 Qd7 $1 {/\ Qb5/}
25. Bc4 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Qb5 $1 {^^ ><d5/} 27. b3 Qb4 $1 {/\ Nd5/} 28. Bg5 $6 (28.
g4 $2 Nxd5 $1 29. Nxd5 Bxd5 30. Qxd5 Qxf4 $17) (28. Bg3 a5 $15) 28... Bg7 29.
a4 Ne4 30. Bd8 $2 {>< Bd8/} (30. Bf4 $15) 30... f5 $1 $17 31. g4 (31. Qxb4 cxb4
32. Ba5 Bc3 $17 {>< d5/}) 31... f4 $1 32. Nc2 Qxc4 33. bxc4 Bc8 $1 {>< a4/} 34.
a5 (34. Ba5 Bd7 $19) 34... h6 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke2 Ke8 37. Bc7 Kd7 38. Bb6 Ke7
39. Nd2 Nc3+ 40. Kf3 g5 41. Ne4 Bd7 42. Nxc3 (42. Nd2 Ba4 $19) 42... Bxc3 43.
Ke2 {-+ Hecht: The very good 2B give Black the advantage. The weak Pc4 and the
very badly posted Bb6 give Black a winning position.} Bf6 44. Na3 Ba4 45. Nb1
Bc2 46. Nd2 $8 (46. Na3 Bg6 $19) 46... Bc3 $1 $19 47. Nf3 Bb4 48. Bc7 Kd7 49.
Bb6 Bb3 50. Kd3 Ke8 $1 51. Bc7 Ke7 $1 52. Bb6 Kd7 {(.)/} 53. Ng1 (53. Nd2 Bxd2
$19) (53. h4 Bd1 54. Ke4 Bc2#) 53... Be1 54. f3 (54. Ke2 Bc3 55. Kd3 Bd4 $19)
54... Ba2 $1 55. Ke2 (55. Ne2 Bb1#) 55... Bb4 56. Kd3 Bb1+ 57. Ke2 Bc3 $1 {(.)/
} 58. h4 $8 gxh4 59. Nh3 Be5 60. Nf2 Bg6 (60... Bg6 61. Nh3 h5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gausel, Einar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 a6 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5
15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 Be6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Qf5 g6 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 Rfd8
21. Rd2 Bf6 22. Rb1 Na5 23. b3 Kg8 24. Kf1 Rac8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Bd2 Rd5 27.
a4 Nc6 28. Ke2 Kf8 29. Be3 Ke7 30. Rd1 Rh5 31. h4 Ke6 32. g3 Be7 33. Ng5+ Bxg5
34. Bxg5 Rh8 35. Rd3 f6 36. Bd2 Ne7 37. Re3+ Kf7 38. Rc3 Nd5 39. Rc5 Ke6 40.
Rc1 Ke5 41. Kd3 Kd6 42. f3 f5 43. Bg5 Nb4+ 44. Kc4 Nd5 45. Kd4 b6 46. Re1 Rc8
47. Re5 Nc7 48. Be7+ Kd7 49. Ba3 Ne6+ 50. Kd3 Re8 51. Rd5+ Kc7 52. Rd6 a5 53.
Kc4 Kb7 54. Rd7+ Kc6 55. Rf7 Rc8 56. Re7 b5+ 57. axb5+ Kb6+ 58. Kd5 Nc7+ 59.
Ke5 Nxb5 60. Re6+ Kb7 61. Be7 Rc3 62. Rxg6 Rxb3 63. h5 Re3+ 64. Kf6 Nc7 65. Kf7
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.06"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Speelman,J"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 {Boensch Ftacnik Dolmatov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 (7... e5 {Dolmatov} 8. Nf5 g6 $13 (8... g6 9. g5 gxf5 10.
exf5 $13)) 8. f4 (8. f3 {Dolmatov} b5 9. Qd2 Bb7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. a3 Rc8 $13)
(8. Qf3 {Boensch} Nbd7 9. Qh3 (9. Rg1 g5 $5 {x e5,f4} 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Qe2 Bd7
12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 Rc8 14. h3 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Kb1 Qxc3 17. Rg3 Qc7 $44
{Kotronias,V-Van Wely,L Wijk Sonnevanck (03) 1992 1-0 41}) 9... Ne5 10. f3 Ng6
11. O-O-O b5 12. Qg2 b4 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Nxb4 d5 15. Nd3 dxe4 16. fxe4 Bb7 17.
Be2 Rc8 $44 {Thorhallsson,T-Belotti,B Forli op (09) 1992 1/2 64}) (8. h4 {
Boensch} e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. Nxh6 Bxh6 11. Bxh6 Bxg4 12. Qd2 Nc6 13. Bg5 Nd4 14.
Bg2 Bf3 $15 {Richagov,M-Stohl,I Gausdal Arnold Cup (2) 1991 0-1 49}) (8. Bg2 {
Boensch} Nc6 9. Nxc6 (9. h3 Ne5 10. Qe2 g5 11. O-O Be7 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. f4 gxf4
14. Bxf4 b5 15. a3 Bb7 16. Nf3 Nfd7 17. Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 Stefansson,H-Akopian,V/
New York op (04) 1994}) 9... bxc6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. c4 dxe5 13. cxd5
Bb4+ 14. Kf1 O-O 15. a3 Bd6 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 $44 {Stefansson,
H-Olafsson,H Reykjavik (09) 1992 1-0 48}) 8... Nc6 9. Be2 e5 10. Nf5 (10. Nxc6
{Dolmatov} bxc6 11. fxe5 dxe5 (11... Nxg4 $5 {Boensch} 12. Bxg4 Qh4+ 13. Bf2
Qxg4 14. exd6 Qg2 15. Rg1 Qxh2 $13) 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. O-O-O+ Kc7 14. h3 Bb4) (
10. Nb3 $2 {Dolmatov} Nxg4 11. Bxg4 Qh4+ 12. Bf2 Qxg4 13. Nd5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1
Rb8 $17) 10... g6 11. Ng3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Rf1 (13. h3 {Dolmatov} Qb6 14.
Qd2) 13... Rc8 (13... Qb6 $5) (13... Qb6 $5 {Ftacnik}) 14. h3 Qb6 {Black seems
to obtain a comfortable position after the opening. White's g3 knight is quite
passive; his king is not safe enough both in the centre and on the Q-side.
However, Black's king is in danger too.} (14... d5 {Boensch} 15. e5 (15. exd5
Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 $10) 15... Nh7 $1 $15) 15. Qd2 (15. Qc1 Nd4 16. Bd3 (16. Be3
$2 {Ftacnik} Nxc2+ 17. Qxc2 Qxe3 $17)) 15... Bg7 (15... Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qa3 17.
Rf3 $13 (17. Rxb7 $6 {Ftacnik} Na5 18. Nb5 axb5 19. Bxb5+ Nc6 $17) (17. Rf3 {
Boensch} Qa5 18. Rxb7 $13)) (15... Nd7 16. O-O-O Nde5 17. a3 (17. Be3 $10 {
Boensch}) 17... Na5 $40) 16. Bxd6 Nxg4 {The complication started with this
move prove rather favourable for White. Therefore 16...Nd4 17.Ba3 Rd8 deserved
serious attention.} (16... Nd4 {Dolmatov} 17. e5 $5 (17. Ba3 Rd8 18. Bd3 $14)
17... Qxb2 18. exf6 (18. Qxd4 {Ftacnik} Qxa1+ 19. Kd2 Qxc3+ 20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21.
Kxc3 (21. exf6 Bf8 22. Kxc3 Bxd6 $17) 21... Nd7 $17) 18... Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qxc3
20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. fxg7 Rg8 22. Ne4 $18) (16... Nd7 17. O-O-O $13 (17. e5 {
Boensch} Ncxe5 18. O-O-O $13) (17. O-O-O Nb4 18. Bxb4 Qxb4 19. a3 Qb6 $36)) 17.
Bxg4 (17. Na4 {did not work in view of} Qd4 18. Bxg4 (18. Qxd4 {Dolmatov} Nxd4
19. Bxg4 Nxc2+ 20. Kf2 $132) 18... Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Bxg4 20. hxg4 Rd8) 17... Qxb2
(17... Bxg4 {Dolmatov} 18. Na4 (18. hxg4 $2 Qxb2 19. e5 (19. Rb1 Qxc3 (19...
Bxc3 $2 20. Rxb2 Bxd2+ 21. Kxd2 Rd8 22. Rf6 Ne5 23. Kc1 Nxg4 24. Rf4 Rxd6 25.
Rxg4 $16) 20. Rxb7 $13) 19... Nxe5) 18... Qb5 19. hxg4 Qxa4 20. Qd5 Qa5+ (20...
Nd8 $2 21. Rxf7 $18) 21. c3 Qxd5 22. exd5 Rd8 (22... Ne5 23. O-O-O $14 (23.
Bxe5 {Boensch} Bxe5 $10)) (22... Be5 $2 23. Ne4 $16) 23. Ne4 $14 (23. dxc6 $6
Rxd6 24. cxb7 Ke7)) 18. e5 $5 {This temporary rook sacritice allows White to
maintain the initiative.} (18. Nge2 $1 Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qb2 20. Rb1 $18) 18...
Nxe5 {This natural move is probably wrong. However, 18...Bxe5 19.Nge4! also
yielded White a strong attack. 18...Qxa1+? was poor in view of 19.Kf2 Qb2 20.
Rb1} (18... Bxg4 {Dolmatov} 19. Rb1 $18) (18... Bxe5 {Dolmatov} 19. Nge4 Qxa1+
20. Kf2 Qb2 (20... Bd4+ {Ftacnik} 21. Kg2 Qb2 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rb1 $18) 21.
Rb1 $18 (21. Rb1 Bd4+ (21... Qxb1 $6 {Ftacnik} 22. Nxb1 Rd8 (22... f5 23. Bxe5
Nxe5 24. Nd6+ $18) 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. c4 Bxd6 25. Nxd6+ Ke7 26. c5 $16) 22. Kg2
Qxb1 23. Nxb1 f5 24. Bf3 fxe4 25. Bxe4 Bf6 26. Bxg6+ Bf7 27. Qd5 $1 (27. Qe3+ {
Ftacnik} Ne7 28. Bxf7+ Kxf7 29. Qb3+ $14) 27... Bxg6 28. Qe6+ Kd8 29. Qxf6+ Kd7
30. Bg3 $40) (21. Bxe6 {Ftacnik} Bxc3 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Kg2+ Kg7 24. Nxc3 Rhd8
$17)) (18... Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qb2 20. Rb1 Qxb1 21. Nxb1 $16 (21. Nxb1 {Boensch}
Bxg4 22. hxg4 $16)) 19. Rb1 Qxc3 (19... Nc4 $1 {Boensch} 20. Rxb2 (20. Bxe6 $2
Bxc3 21. Bxf7+ Kd7 $19) 20... Nxd2 21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21... Bxc3 $2 22. Bxc8 Nxf1+
23. Kxf1 Bxb2 $16) 22. Rxb7 (22. Kxd2 Bxc3+ 23. Kc1 Bxb2+ 24. Kxb2 $13) 22...
Bxc3 23. Rff7 Ne4+ 24. Kd1 Nxd6 25. Rbe7+ Kd8 26. Rd7+ Ke8 $10) 20. Qxc3 Rxc3
21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21... Rxg3 22. Rxb7 (22. Bxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kd7 $1 (22... Nxf7 23.
Bxg3 $16) 23. Bxe5 Re3+ 24. Kd2 Rxe5 25. Bxg6 $14) 22... fxe6 23. Rxg7 (23.
Re7+ $1 Kd8 24. Rxg7 Rxh3 25. Ra7 Re3+ 26. Kd1 Re8 27. Bc5 Re4 28. Rf2 $16)
23... Rxh3 (23... Re3+ {Boensch} 24. Kd1 Nc4 25. Ra7 Nxd6 26. Ra8+ Kd7 27. Rxh8
Rxh3 $16) 24. Kf2 $1 $18) 22. Rxb7 Nc4 (22... Nd7 23. Ra7 Rc8 24. Ne4 Bd4 25.
Rxa6 $14) 23. Bb4 (23. Bc5 $5) 23... Re3+ (23... Rxg3 24. Rxg7 $16 (24. Rxg7 {
Boensch} Ne3 25. Rff7 Nxc2+ 26. Kf2 Rxh3 27. Ra7 $18)) 24. Ne2 Be5 25. Rff7
Rxh3 $2 {A decisive mistake. Black should have played} (25... Bd6 {, e.g.} 26.
Bxd6 (26. Rg7 $5 $16 {Dolmatov}) 26... Nxd6 27. Rfe7+ (27. Rbe7+ Kd8 28. Rd7+
Ke8 29. Rfe7+ Kf8 30. Kf2 (30. c4 $16 {Ftacnik})) 27... Kf8 {, and despite
White's clear advantage (practically an extra rook) Black still maintains some
chances. Now he loses at once.}) (25... a5 26. Bc5 Re4 27. Rfe7+ Kd8 28. Ra7
Kc8 29. Ra8+ Bb8 30. Ba7 $18) 26. Nd4 $1 Re3+ (26... Bxd4 27. Rfe7+ Kd8 28.
Rb8#) (26... Rh1+ {Boensch} 27. Ke2 Rh2+ 28. Kd3 $18) 27. Kf1 Re4 28. Rfe7+ Kd8
(28... Kf8 29. Nxe6+ Kg8 30. Re8#) 29. Nc6+ (29. Nc6+ Kc8 30. Na7+ Kd8 31.
Rbd7#) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.08"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Spain"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
Bd7 9. a3 Qc8 10. Nf4 Rb8 11. b4 Nh5 12. Nfe2 cxb4 13. axb4 a6 14. b5 axb5 15.
cxb5 Nd8 16. d4 Re8 17. Qb3 Bh3 18. e4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 e5 20. d5 f5 21. f3 Nf7
22. b6 Bf6 23. Nb5 Qd7 24. Nc7 Re7 25. Ra2 Ng7 26. Qa4 Ne8 27. Qxd7 Rxd7 28.
Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Be3 h5 30. Rc1 fxe4 31. fxe4 Bg5 32. Rc3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 Ng5 34. h4
Nh7 35. Ng1 Rc8 36. Nf3 Rc4 37. Ree2 Rf7 38. Rac2 Rb4 39. Rb2 Rc4 40. Rbc2 Rb4
41. Rb2 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.09"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E87"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Netherlands"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5
8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O (9. Nge2 f4 (9... a5 10. O-O-O f4 11. Bf2 Na6 12. Kb1 Bd7
13. Nc1 Qe7 14. Be2 Rfc8 15. Nd3 Nf6 16. g3 fxg3 17. hxg3 c6 18. Rh2 Nc7 $1 19.
Rdh1 cxd5 20. Nxd5 Ncxd5 21. cxd5 Ba4 $13 {Prudnikova,S-Ioseliani,N/YUG/1992/})
10. Bf2 Bf6 11. O-O-O Bh4 12. Bg1 Nd7 13. Kb1 Be7 14. Nc1 $14 {Gurevich,
M-Nielsen,Pe/Taastpur/1992/1:0/40/}) 9... a6 $5 (9... Nd7 10. Bd3 Nc5 11. Bc2
a6 12. Nge2 b5 13. b4 Nd7 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5 Rxa2 $13 {Timman,J-Kasparov,G/
Linares/1992/0:1/25/}) (9... Nd7 10. exf5 gxf5 11. Bd3 Nc5 12. Bc2 Qh4 $5 $13 {
Kuzmin,A-Sakaev,K/Doha/1993/0,5/75/}) 10. exf5 (10. Kb1 Nd7 11. Nge2 Ndf6 12.
Nc1 (12. exf5 $5 gxf5 13. Ng3) 12... Bd7 13. Bd3 Qe8 14. Nb3 b5 15. c5 b4 16.
c6 Bc8 $13 {Beni,V-Uhlmann,W/Prague/1956/0:1/31/}) 10... gxf5 11. Nge2 (11. Kb1
Nd7 12. Nge2 (12. Bd3 e4 $5 13. fxe4 f4 14. Bf2 Ne5 $36) 12... Ndf6 {/\Bd7,Qe8,
b5|^/}) (11. Bd3 {Ftacnik} b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Bxb5) (11. Nh3 $5 {Ftacnik} Nd7
12. g4 fxg4 13. fxg4 Nf4 14. Nxf4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 $13) 11... b5 $5 12. Ng3
Nf6 (12... Nxg3 $2 {Ftacnik} 13. hxg3 $16) 13. Bg5 (13. Bh6 $6 {Ftacnik} f4 14.
Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Nge4 b4 16. Ne2 (16. Nxf6 $2 bxc3 17. Nh5+ Kh6 $19) 16... Nxe4
17. fxe4 a5 $15) 13... b4 $2 (13... bxc4 $5 14. Bxc4 (14. Nh5 {Ftacnik} Bh8 15.
g4 $1 $40) 14... Qe8 $13) (13... Qe8 {Ftacnik} 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Bxb5 Qg6 16.
Bd3 $14) 14. Nb1 Qe8 (14... a5 15. Bd3 f4 16. Bxf6 (16. Nh5 $16 {Ftacnik})
16... Bxf6 17. Ne4 $16) 15. Qxb4 $1 h6 (15... Qg6 16. Qd2 $16) 16. Bd2 $6 (16.
Bh4 $1 a5 17. Qd2 {/\Nc3,Bd3+/-/} (17. Qd2 {Ftacnik} Na6 18. Nc3 $13)) 16... a5
17. Qa3 Na6 18. Nc3 (18. Qxa5 $2 Bd7 (18... f4 {Ftacnik} 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. fxe4
Bg4 $40) 19. Qc3 Nc5 20. Na3 e4 21. Qc2 Ba4 22. b3 Bxb3 23. axb3 Rxa3 $19) (18.
Bxa5 $6 f4 19. Ne2 (19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Bg4 21. Re1 Nc5 $36)) 18... Bd7 $44 (
18... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 19. Nb5 $1 Qe7 20. Be3 $36) 19. Bd3 Qg6 20. Bb1 (20. Nb5 {
Ftacnik} e4 21. Bb1 Nb4 $132) 20... Nb4 $1 (20... Rfc8 $6 {Ftacnik} 21. Rhg1
Bf8 22. Nge2 c6 23. g4 $40) 21. Rhg1 (21. Nge2 Qxg2 22. Rdg1 Qxf3 23. Bxh6 Rf7
$17) (21. Nb5 {Ftacnik} Rfc8 22. Bxb4 axb4 23. Qxb4 h5 $1 24. Rhg1 Bh6+ 25. Kc2
Be3 26. Rge1 Bc5 27. Qd2 Bxb5 28. cxb5 h4 29. Nf1 Rcb8 $132) 21... h5 $1 22.
Nge2 $2 (22. Nf1 $5) 22... Qf7 23. Ng3 (23. h3 $5 {Ftacnik} c6 $1 (23... Rfc8
$6 24. g4 c6 25. gxf5 Kh8 26. Rg6 cxd5 27. Bh6 $16) 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Bxf5 Qxc4
26. Qb3 Qxb3 27. axb3 d5 $13) (23. g4 {Ftacnik} hxg4 24. fxg4 fxg4 (24... Nxg4
$2 25. h3 Nf6 26. Bh6 Ne8 27. Rxg7+ Nxg7 28. Rg1 $18) (24... f4 25. g5 Nh5 26.
Ne4 $40) 25. Ng3 $44) 23... Nh7 24. Nb5 Rfc8 $1 25. Qb3 Bf8 26. a3 $2 (26. Bxb4
$5 axb4 27. Bd3 (27. Qxb4 {Ftacnik} Bh6+ 28. Kc2 Be3 $132) 27... h4 28. Ne2 c6
29. dxc6 Bxc6 30. Kb1 d5 $36) 26... c6 $1 27. Nc3 (27. axb4 cxb5 $19) (27. dxc6
Rxc6 $1 28. axb4 Rxc4+ 29. Nc3 (29. Bc3 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 30. Bd3 (30. bxa5 Ba4 $1
) 30... axb4 31. Bxc4 Bxc4 32. Qxb4 d5 $19) 29... axb4) (27. Nxd6 Bxd6 28. axb4
cxd5 29. c5 axb4 $19) 27... cxd5 (27... Na6) 28. cxd5 (28. axb4 axb4 $1 (28...
dxc4 29. Qc2 axb4 30. Nxf5 $13 (30. Nce2 {Ftacnik} c3 31. bxc3 bxc3 32. Nxc3 d5
33. Ba2 Ba4 $19)) 29. Qxb4 d4 $1 $19) 28... Rab8 $1 $19 29. axb4 $8 axb4 30.
Qc2 bxc3 31. bxc3 (31. Bxc3 Bh6+) 31... Rc4 32. Qd3 (32. Nxf5 Rxb1+ 33. Qxb1
Bxf5 $19) 32... Ra4 33. Be3 (33. Be1 Ra1 34. Kd2 Rb2+ 35. Bc2 Raa2 36. Rc1 Bh6+
$19) 33... f4 34. Qxh7+ Qxh7 35. Bxh7+ Kxh7 36. Ne4 Ra1+ (36... Rxe4 {Ftacnik}
37. fxe4 fxe3 $19) 37. Kd2 (37. Kc2 {Ftacnik} Ba4+ $19) 37... Rb2+ (37... fxe3+
$19) 38. Kd3 (38. Ke1 Rxd1+ 39. Kxd1 Ba4+ $19) 38... Bb5+ 39. c4 Ra3+ 40. Nc3
Be8 $1 (40... Be8 41. c5 (41. Bd2 {Ftacnik} Bg6+ 42. Ke2 Rxc3 $19) 41... Bb5+
42. Ke4 Rxc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.10"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. a3 Bf6 13. Be4 h6 14. h3 Qd7 15.
Bc2 Bf5 16. Ne4 Rae8 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. Ba4 Qd6 20. Be3 Re7 21.
Rc1 Nd5 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Ne5 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Be4 25. Qg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.11"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Argentina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. c3 Ngf6 6. dxe5 Nxe4 7. Qe2 d5 8. Bd3
Ndc5 9. Bc2 Bf5 10. O-O Bg6 11. c4 d4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Rd1 Bc5 14. Be3 Qb6 15.
Bxd4 O-O-O 16. Nc3 Bxd4 17. Nxe4 Qxb2 18. Nxd4 Qxe2 19. Nxe2 Bxe4 20. c5 g5 21.
Nc3 Bd3 22. h4 h6 23. f3 Rhe8 24. hxg5 Rxe5 25. gxh6 Rxc5 26. Na4 Rc2 27. Rac1
Rh8 28. Nc5 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 Bg6 30. Re1 Rxh6 31. Re7 Rh5 32. Ne4 Rd5 33. Nf6 Rd6
34. Re8+ Rd8 35. Re5 b5 36. g4 Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Rd2+ 38. Ke3 Rxa2 39. f4 Bc2 40.
Re7 b4 41. Kd4 b3 42. Kc3 Ra4 43. f5 a5 44. Rxf7 Rb4 45. Kb2 a4 46. Ra7 Rd4 47.
Ng8 Kb8 48. Re7 Rd2 49. Kc3 Rf2 50. Nf6 a3 51. Nd7+ Kc8 52. Nc5 a2 53. Ra7 Rf1
0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.12"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Switzerland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. bxa6 Bg7 7. Nc3 Bxa6 8. e4
Bxf1 9. Kxf1 d6 10. h3 Nbd7 11. g3 Nb6 12. Kg2 Qd7 13. Qb3 Qb7 14. Qb5+ Nfd7
15. a4 Qa6 16. Bd2 Nc4 17. Rhc1 Nxd2 18. Nxd2 Qc8 19. Qe2 O-O 20. Nc4 Qb7 21.
Nb5 f5 22. Rd1 f4 23. Rd3 fxg3 24. fxg3 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26. Rb3 Qa6 27. Raa3
Qa5 28. Rf3 c4 29. h4 Rac8 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Rf3 Rxf3 32. Kxf3 Qxa4 33. Nc3
Qa1 34. Nd1 Qc1 35. Kg2 Bd4 36. Kh3 Bxb2 37. Nxb2 c3 38. Nd3 Qh1+ 39. Kg4 c2
40. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.13"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Oll, Lembit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Estonia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "EST"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 h5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Bg5 Rc5 14.
g4 hxg4 15. f4 Nc4 (15... Nc6 $5 16. e5 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Bc6 18. Rhe1 Bf3 19. Rd2
Nh7 20. Qxc5 dxc5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Bxe7 Rc8 23. Bd5 $14 {Yudasin,L-Ljubojevic,
L Moskow olm (05) ISR-YUG 1994 1-0 72 -CBM 45}) 16. Qe2 Qc8 $5 (16... Na5 $5
17. e5 Nxb3+ 18. Nxb3 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Bc6 (19... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 20. h5 $1 $18 {
Mohr,G-Baric,D/Bled op/1992/1-0 (22)}) 20. Rhf1 Ne4 21. Qc4 d5 22. Qxe4 dxe4
23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Bxe7 Rd7 $15 {Smirin,I-Ivanchuk,V Paris PCA Intel-GP 1994 1/
2 33}) (16... b5 17. f5 Qa5 (17... Qb6 18. h5 Nxh5 19. Qxg4 Nxb2 20. Kxb2 Rxc3
21. Kxc3 Qc5+ 22. Kb2 Bxd4+ 23. Kb1 Bg7 24. Bh6 Qc3 25. Bxg7 Qxg7 26. Rdg1 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Romero,A Leon (8) 1993}) (17... gxf5 18. Bxf6 exf6 19. Bxc4 (19.
exf5 Bh6+ 20. Kb1 Ne3 21. Rdg1 Rxf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Nd5 Re8 24. Nxe3 Rxe3 25.
Qxb5 Re5 $132 {Fernandez Auado,E-Martin,A Catalunya-ch (08) 1992}) 19... fxe4
$6 20. Bxb5 f5 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Rhf1 Rb8 $2 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Qf4 Ree5 25. h5
$16 {Tseitlin,MD-Alterman,B Beesheba 1991}) (17... gxf5 {Ftacnik}) 18. Bxf6 (
18. fxg6 Nxb2 19. gxf7+ Rxf7 20. Kxb2 Qxc3+ 21. Kb1 d5 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Rd3
Qa5 24. exd5 $14 {Gofshtein,L-Mestel,A Hastings Challenger 1991 1-0 32}) 18...
Bxf6 19. Qxg4 Kg7 20. Rh3 Qb6 21. Nd5 Rxd5 22. exd5 Rh8 23. c3 Bxd4 24. Qxd4+
Qxd4 25. Rxd4 Bxf5 26. Rg3 Ne5 {Morovic Fernandez,I-Georgiev,Ki Las Palmas (4)
1993 1/2 41}) 17. f5 $6 (17. h5 $5) (17. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} Bxf6 18. Nd5 Be6 19.
Nxf6+ exf6 20. f5 Bd7 21. fxg6 fxg6 22. h5 g5 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. exf5 $13 {
Patterson,R-Spinath,P/corr/1987/0.5 (39)}) 17... Nxb2 $1 $146 (17... e5 18.
Ndb5 Bxb5 19. Nxb5 Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc4 Rb4 22. Bd5 gxf5 23. Rdf1 f4 24.
Rhg1 Re8 25. Rxg4+ Kf8 $15 {Yudasin,L-Tiviakov,S Groningen PCA (04) 1993}) (
17... gxf5 {Ftacnik} 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. exf5 Ne5 20. Ne4 Ra5 21. Nxf6+ exf6 22.
Qd2 Rc5 23. Qh6 a5 24. Qxf6 $18 {Fahner,D-Spinath,P/corr/1987/1-0 (26)}) 18.
Bxf6 $2 (18. Kxb2 Rxc3 19. fxg6 (19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. fxg6 Be6 21. Bxe6 fxe6 $17)
19... Rxb3+ (19... Be6 {Ftacnik} 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. e5 Nd5 (21... dxe5 22. h5 $1
$40) 22. Kc1 Bxe5 23. Qxg4 Rxb3 (23... Rf2 24. Rd2 Rxd2 25. Bxd2 Rg3 26. Qh5
Nf6 27. Qh6 $13) 24. axb3 Qc3 25. Qxe6+ Kg7 26. Bh6+ Kxh6 27. g7+ Rf6 28. Qxe5
$1 (28. g8=N+ Kg7 29. Rdg1+ Kf8 30. Nxf6 Qb2+ 31. Kd1 Qd4+ 32. Kc1 Bf4+ $18)
28... Qxe5 29. g8=Q Qa1+ 30. Kd2 Qc3+ 31. Kc1 $10) 20. axb3 fxg6 $15) 18...
Nxd1 $17 (18... Bxf6 {Ftacnik} 19. Qxg4 $1 Kh8 (19... Nxd1 $4 20. Qxg6+ Bg7 21.
Rg1 $18) 20. Kxb2 Rxc3 21. Qf4 $40) 19. Qxg4 (19. Bxg7 Nxc3 20. Qxg4 Kxg7 21.
h5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Nxf5+ Qxf5 $19) 19... exf6 (19... Nxc3 $2 20. Qxg6
exf6 (20... Ne2+ {Ftacnik} 21. Nxe2 Rxc2+ 22. Kb1 exf6 23. Rg1 $18) 21. Rg1
Ne2+ 22. Nxe2 Rxc2+ 23. Kb1 $18) 20. Rg1 (20. Qxg6 Rc4 $19 (20... d5 $1 {
Ftacnik} 21. Qg2 (21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nxd5 fxg6 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 Nf2 $19)
21... Ne3 22. Qg3 Rxc3 23. Rg1 Nxf5 $19)) (20. Nxd1 $5 Rc4 $1 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 $19
) 20... Rc4 $1 (20... Rxc3 $4 21. Qxg6 $18) 21. Nxd1 (21. Nd5 Bh6+ 22. Kxd1 (
22. Kb1 Rxd4 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 (24. Nxg6+ Kh7 25. Nxf8+ Qxf8 $19) 24...
Nc3+ 25. Kb2 Rxc8 26. Bxf7 Bxf5 $19) 22... Rxd4+ 23. Ke1 Kg7 $19) 21... d5 $1
22. h5 (22. Bxc4 Qxc4 23. exd5 Qxa2 $19 {/\ Bh6}) 22... Rxd4 $19 23. hxg6 fxg6
24. Qxg6 Rf7 25. Nf2 (25. Ne3 Qc3 $19) (25. Bxd5 {Ftacnik} Rxd5 26. exd5 Bxf5
$19) (25. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Kf8 $19) 25... Qc3 26. Kb1 Qe3 27. Rg2 (27. exd5 Ba4 $1
$19 (27... Qxf2 $6 28. d6 Qxg1+ 29. Qxg1 $17)) 27... Kf8 28. exd5 (28. Bxd5 {
Ftacnik} Rxd5 29. exd5 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qe5+ 31. Kb1 Bxf5 $19) 28... Qe1+ 29. Kb2
Qe5 30. Kb1 Qxf5 (30... Qxf5 {Ftacnik} 31. Qg3 Qe5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.15"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 Bf6 11. O-O Nde7 12. Be3 h6 13. Rad1 O-O 14. Qd2 Bd7
15. Bb1 Rc8 16. Qd3 Ng6 17. Ne4 Be7 18. b4 a6 19. Nc5 Qc7 20. g3 Rfd8 21. Bf4
Qb6 22. h4 Be8 23. h5 Nf8 24. Ba2 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.16"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Bd3
c4 9. Bf1 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nbc6 11. g3 O-O-O 12. h4 f5 13. h5 h6 14. Nh4 Kb8 15. Bh3
Rdf8 16. a4 Be8 17. f4 g5 18. hxg6 Nxg6 19. Nxg6 Bxg6 20. Bg2 Rfg8 21. Kf2 Rh7
22. Bf3 Ka8 23. Rh3 Be8 24. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E89"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Na6 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Bd7 11. Ng3 h5 12. Bb5 Bxb5 13. Nxb5 Qd7 14. Nc3 Nc5
15. O-O a5 16. Rfc1 Nh7 17. Nh1 f5 18. Nf2 b6 19. Qe2 Nf6 20. Rab1 Qe7 21. Bg5
Kh7 22. b3 Bh6 23. Bxh6 Kxh6 24. a3 Ne8 25. b4 axb4 26. axb4 Nd7 27. Nb5 Kg7
28. Rc6 Rf7 29. Rbc1 Ra4 30. Qc4 h4 31. Rc8 Ndf6 32. Qb3 Ra6 33. Qd3 fxe4 34.
fxe4 Ra2 35. Rf1 Qd7 36. Rcc1 Nh5 37. Nc3 Nf4 38. Qe3 Rb2 39. Rb1 Rc2 40. Rbc1
Rxc1 41. Rxc1 b5 42. Ne2 Nxe2+ 43. Qxe2 Qa7 44. h3 Qd4 45. Rb1 Nf6 46. Kh2 Nxd5
47. exd5 Rxf2 48. Qxb5 Kh6 49. Rg1 Rb2 50. Qb8 Qf4+ 51. Kh1 Qf6 52. b5 e4 53.
b6 e3 54. b7 Qg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8.
Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. Bf4 Bb4+ 14. Nd2
Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 O-O 16. Rhd1 Nc5 17. Ke1 Nd5 18. Bg3 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 b5 20. a4
Ba6 21. Qd2 b4 22. Ng6 Qc6 23. Nxf8 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Rxf8 25. f3 Rc8 26. Kd2 Rd8
27. Ke1 Rc8 28. Kd2 Qc5 29. Re1 Qb6 30. Qb3 Qd4+ 31. Ke2 a5 32. h3 h5 33. Kf1
Qd2 34. Re2 Qd1+ 35. Be1 h4 36. Rd2 Qa1 37. Qd3 Qxb2 38. c4 Qe5 39. cxd5 Rc1
40. Qe2 1-0

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E89"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 a6 11. g4 h5 12. g5 Nh7 13. Rg1 f6 14. gxf6 Rxf6 15.
O-O-O b5 16. b3 Nb6 17. Kb2 Bd7 18. Nc1 Be8 19. Be2 b4 20. Nb1 a5 21. Nd3 Rf8
22. Nf2 Nf6 23. Rc1 Rb8 24. Rc2 Qe7 25. Nh3 Nh7 26. Qd3 a4 27. Kc1 axb3 28.
axb3 Na8 29. Qa6 Qd7 30. Nf2 Nc7 31. Qa7 Rc8 32. Qb7 Nxd5 33. Qxd5+ Bf7 34. Qd3
Rxc2+ 35. Kxc2 Ra8 36. Rc1 Nf6 37. Kd1 d5 38. Ke1 Qe6 39. Bd2 dxe4 40. fxe4 Bf8
41. Bg5 Nh7 42. Be3 Qf6 43. Nd2 Ng5 44. Qb5 Ne6 45. Bc4 Rd8 46. Qb6 Rd6 47. Qa7
Qh4 48. Nf3 Qf6 49. Nd2 Be7 50. Bd5 Nf4 51. Rc8+ Kg7 52. Bxf7 Ra6 53. Qd7 Ra1+
54. Nd1 Qh4+ 55. Bf2 Ng2+ 56. Ke2 Nf4+ 57. Ke3 Qg5 58. h4 Ng2+ 59. Kf3 Nxh4+
60. Ke2 Ng2 61. Nf3 Nf4+ 62. Kd2 Qg2 63. Qxe7 Rxd1+ 64. Kxd1 Qxf3+ 65. Kc1 Nd3+
66. Kd2 Qxf2+ 67. Kxd3 1-0

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8.
Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. Bf4 Bb4+ 14. Nd2
Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 O-O 16. Kc1 Rd8 17. Rd1 Nc5 18. Bc4 Rxd1+ 19. Kxd1 a6 20. Nd3
Qc6 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22. Bd3 Bd7 23. Be5 Bc6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qg4+ Kf8 26. Qf4
Kg7 27. Qg3+ Qg5 28. f3 f5 29. Ke2 f4 30. Qxg5+ hxg5 31. a4 a5 32. h3 f5 33. c3
Kf6 34. Bb5 Bd5 35. Rd1 Rc8 36. Rd4 Ke5 37. Kd2 Rc7 38. Be2 Bc6 39. Ke1 Rd7 40.
Rxd7 Bxd7 41. b3 Kd6 42. Kf2 e5 43. Bd3 Kd5 44. Bc4+ Kc5 45. Bd3 Be6 46. Bc2 e4
47. Ke2 b6 48. Kd2 Kd5 49. Ke2 Ke5 50. Kf2 Bd5 51. Ke2 Kf6 52. Ke1 exf3 53.
gxf3 Bxf3 54. Kf2 g4 0-1

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d5 6. cxd5 Bc5 7. e3 O-O 8.
N5c3 e4 9. a3 Re8 10. Nd2 Bf5 11. b4 Bf8 12. Nc4 Nbd7 13. Bb2 Nb6 14. Nxb6 Qxb6
15. Be2 a5 16. b5 Rad8 17. O-O Nd7 18. Na4 Qg6 19. Re1 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21.
Nc3 Bd6 22. Qd4 Bh3 23. Bf1 h5 24. b6 h4 25. Kh1 Bd7 26. Ra2 Rde8 27. Nb5 Bxb5
28. Bxb5 Rg5 29. Bf1 Ree5 30. Rd1 Kh7 31. Rc2 Qf6 32. Kg1 Qf5 33. g3 hxg3 34.
hxg3 Rxd5 35. Qxd5 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Rxd5 37. a4 f5 38. Rc8 Be5 39. Re8 Bf6 40. Rb8
Rd6 41. Rxb7 Bd8 42. Bb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Varna rap m"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O Nd7 7. Nh4 a6 8. Nd2 c5
9. c3 Rc8 10. Nxf5 Nxf5 11. Nf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qb6 13. Rb1 Be7 14. b4 O-O 15.
Qa4 Qc7 16. Bd3 Nb6 17. Qd1 g6 18. Rb3 Na4 19. g4 Ng7 20. Qd2 f5 21. exf6 Bxf6
22. Qh6 Ne8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. Be3 Nb6 25. Re1 Nc4 26. Bf4 Bxd4 27. Bxg6 Nf6 28.
Bf5 e5 29. Nf3 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Ne4+ 31. Rxe4 dxe4 32. Bg5 Qg7 33. Bxc8 Rxc8 34.
Qe6+ 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c6 14. Ne5 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Qf3 Be6 17. Bd2 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Rfe1 Rae8 20. g3 Qf5 21.
Qd1 Nb6 22. Bd3 Qf6 23. Qc2 g6 24. Rb1 Bc8 25. Re2 Re7 26. Rbe1 Rfe8 27. Qb3
Be6 28. Qa3 Nc8 29. Re3 Qg7 30. Qb4 Qf8 31. a4 Rc7 32. Qb2 Nd6 33. c4 Rd8 34.
h4 Nf5 35. Re4 Ng7 36. Rf4 Nh5 37. Rf3 Qd6 38. g4 Bxg4 39. Nxg4 Qxd4 40. Nh6+
Kg7 41. Qc1 f6 42. Re4 Qc5 43. Ng4 Rf7 44. Rfe3 Rfd7 45. Be2 Rf8 46. Qc3 Qf5
47. Nh2 Qc5 48. Bg4 Rdd8 49. Nf3 Kh8 50. Bxh5 Qxh5 51. Rf4 Kg8 52. Kh2 Rd6 53.
c5 Qh6 54. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Bb3 Rc8 12. g4 $5 {Die
Hauptvariante 12.h4 gehört zu den am weitesten ausanalysierten Varianten. Mit
12.g4 setzt Weiß nicht auf bedingungslosen Angriff, vorrangig möchte er den
Nf6 vertreiben.} (12. h4 {Ftacnik}) 12... b5 $1 {Ein ausgezeichnetes
Bauernopfer! Die Kompensation bezieht Schwarz aus den halboffenenen Linien b
und c, außerdem übernimmt der Nachziehende die Initiative, so daß Weiß alle
eigenen Angriffsträume vergessen kann.} (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h4 Qa5 15.
Nb3 Qa6 16. h5 Rfc8 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Kb1 b5 19. Bh6 Bh8 20. e5 dxe5 21. g5 $16
{Rigo,J-Braga,F Rome 1988 1-0 33}) 13. g5 (13. a3 a5 14. h4 b4 15. axb4 axb4
16. Na2 (16. Nb1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. b3 Rc7 19. h5 Qc8 20. Rh2 e5 21. Nf5
Bxf5 22. exf5 Qa8 23. g5 Nxh5 24. f6 Rfc8 $132 {Lopez,H-Martin,AD Candas op 
(06) 1992 0-1 45}) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. b3 Rc5 19. Nxb4 Bxg4 20. fxg4
Qa5 21. Kb2 Nxe4 22. Qd3 Qxb4 23. Qxe4 Qc3+ 24. Kb1 Ra5 {0-1 Lornje-Pavlovic,M/
Lvov-Belgrade (1/[06]) 1993}) (13. Ncxb5 $2 {Ftacnik} Nxf3 14. Nxf3 Bxb5 $17) (
13. h4 $6 {Ftacnik} b4 14. Nb1 a5 15. a4 bxa3 16. Nxa3 Qb6 17. Ba2 Qb7 18. Qg2
Rb8 19. c3 Rfc8 20. h5 Nxf3 $1 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. Nxf3 Nxe4 23. Bd5 Qb4 24. Bxe4
Rxc3+ $40 {Mortensen,E-Karlsson,L/Esbjerg/1984/}) 13... Nh5 (13... b4 $2 14.
Nce2 Nh5 15. Qxb4 $16) 14. Ncxb5 Nc4 (14... Bxb5 $2 15. Nxb5 Nxf3 16. Qe2 Ne5
17. Nxa7 $16) (14... Nxf3 $2 15. Nxf3 Bxb5 16. Bxa7 $16) 15. Bxc4 (15. Qe2 $5
Nxe3 16. Qxe3 e5 17. Nf5 gxf5 (17... Bxb5 18. Nxd6 Qa5 $13) 18. Nxd6 f4 19.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. Qb3 Qe7 21. Qxf7+ Qxf7 22. Nxf7 $16) 15... Rxc4 16. Qd3 (16. b3
$5 {/\ c4}) 16... Rb4 $1 {Schwarz möchte c3 oder a3 provozieren. Dies nimmt
den weißen N Felder weg und schaft Angriffsmarken.} 17. Nc3 (17. c3 Ra4 18. Na3
Qc7 $40 {Schwarz droht mit 19...Nf4 20.Bf4 Bd4 seinen schlechten Rand-N gegen
den guten weißen Zentral-N zu tauschen.}) (17. a3 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Bxb2+
19. Kd2 Ra4 20. Qb3 Qa5+ $17) 17... Qb8 18. Nb3 Be6 19. Qa6 $6 (19. Nd5 Bxd5
20. Qxd5 (20. exd5 Rc8 $40 {/\ a4-a4}) 20... Rc8 $44) 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 (20.
Bxa7 $2 {Ftacnik} Qa8 21. bxc3 Rb7 $19) 20... Rb7 {Die schlechte weiße
K-Stellung garantiert eine dauerhafte Initiative.} 21. Rd4 Rc8 22. Kd2 Qc7 23.
Qd3 (23. Qa5 Qc6 $1 $17 {Es droht Rb5.}) 23... d5 $1 (23... Bc4 $2 {Ftacnik}
24. Rxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Na5 Rcc7 27. Nxb7 Rxb7 $14) 24. Kc1 (24. exd5
$2 Bf5 $19 (24... Bf5 {Ftacnik} 25. Re4 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Nf4 $17)) 24... dxe4 25.
fxe4 Bc4 26. Qd2 (26. Rxc4 {Ftacnik} Qxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 28. Na5 Rxe4 29. Nxb7
Rxe3 $17) 26... e5 27. Rd6 Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Rd1 (29. Qxf4 $2 Bxb3 30. cxb3
Qxc3+ 31. Kb1 Rxb3+ $1 32. axb3 Qxb3+ 33. Ka1 Qa3+ 34. Kb1 Rb8+ 35. Kc2 Rb2+
36. Kd1 Qa1+ 37. Qc1 Qa4+ $1 38. Ke1 Qxe4+ 39. Kf1 Qxh1#) 29... f3 30. Qf4 (30.
Rd8+ $2 Rxd8 31. Qxd8+ Qxd8 32. Rxd8+ Kg7 33. Rd2 (33. Rd1 {Ftacnik} f2 34. Nd2
Be2 35. Rh1 Rd7 36. c4 Rxd2 37. Kxd2 f1=Q $19) 33... Be2 $19) 30... Qe7 31. h4
(31. Qxf3 Qxg5+ $15) 31... Be2 32. R1d5 Rbc7 $1 (32... Rxc3 $2 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34.
e5 Qa3+ 35. Kb1 (35. Kd2 Rxc2+ 36. Kxc2 (36. Ke3 Rxb3+ 37. axb3 Qc1+ 38. Ke4
Qxf4+ 39. Kxf4 f2 $19) 36... Qxa2+ 37. Kc1 Rc7+ 38. Nc5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Qd1+ 40.
Kc3 (40. Ke3 Qc1+ 41. Rd2 Qxc5+ 42. R8d4 Rc6 $44) 40... Qa1+ $10) 35... Rcxb3+
36. axb3 Rxb3+ 37. cxb3 Qxb3+ $10) 33. Nd4 $2 (33. Qf6 $2 Qxf6 34. gxf6 h6 35.
Rd8+ Kh7 $1 (35... Rxd8 $2 36. Rxd8+ Kh7 37. Kd2 Ba6 38. Ke1 Rxc3 39. Nd4 $10)
36. Rxc8 Rxc8 37. Kd2 Bc4 $19) (33. Kd2 $1 Rxc3 34. Nd4 $13) 33... Bc4 $19 34.
Qxf3 (34. Re5 $2 Qxd6 35. Re8+ Rxe8 36. Qxd6 f2 $19) (34. Ra5 {Ftacnik} f2 $19)
34... Bxd5 35. Rxd5 Rxc3 36. Qf6 Qc7 37. Qf2 Qc4 38. Kb2 Qb4+ 39. Ka1 (39. Nb3
{Ftacnik} Rxc2+) 39... Rh3 40. Qf1 Re3 (40... Re3 {Ftacnik} 41. Ne2 Rb8 $19)
0-1

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. c3 d5 $5 10. exd5 Nxd5 (10... e4 11. dxc6 exf3 12. d4 fxg2 13. Bg5 Nd5 (
13... Bg4) (13... Re8 14. Qf3 Bg4 15. Qxg2 Bf5 16. Nd2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb8 18.
Re5 Bg6 19. Rae1 Kf8 20. h4 Ng8 21. Qf3 f6 22. h5 Bxh5 23. Qxh5 Rxb3 24. Nxb3
fxe5 25. Nc5 {1-0 Yudasin,L-Plachetka,J/Trnava 1983}) 14. Bxe7 (14. Bxd5 Bxg5
15. Bxg2) 14... Nxe7 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Nd2 Rb8 17. Bxe6 (17. Rab1 Rb6) 17... fxe6
18. Qg4 bxc3 19. bxc3 (19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. Qxe7 cxd2 $14) 19... Ng6 20. Nc4 Nf4
21. Re4 h5 22. Qf3 Qh4 23. Rae1 g5 24. Qe3 Nh3+ 25. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 26. Kh1 Rxh2+
27. Kxh2 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 Qg4+ {0-1 Martin del Campo,R-Pein,M/Mexico open (11) 1991
}) 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 (12... Nf6 $5) (12... Nf6 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re2 Rb8
15. c4 Nh5 16. Nd2 Nf4 17. Re3 c5 18. d5 Qg5 19. Rg3 Qe5 20. Re3 Ne2+ 21. Kf1
Qxh2 {-/+ Kremenietsky,A-Zaitsev,I/USSR 35/(437) 1983}) 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re1 Qh4
15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 (16. Bc4 Bg4 17. Bf1 Qh5 18. Be2 Rae8 $1 (18... f5 $5) 19.
Bxg4 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Qxg4 $15) 16... Bg4 17. Qd3 bxc3 $1 (17... Rae8 $6) 18.
Nxc3 (18. bxc3 $6) 18... Rfb8 $1 19. Bd1 $1 $8 (19. Bc4 Rxb2 20. Nxd5 Bxg3 $1
21. hxg3 Bf3 $19) 19... Rxb2 $2 (19... Bf5 20. Qd2 Nf6 21. Bg5 $8 Ng4 22. f3
Bxg3 23. fxg4 (23. hxg3 $2 Qxg3+ $19) 23... Bxe1 24. Qxe1 $10) 20. Bxg4 Qxg4
21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. Reb1 Rxb1+ 23. Rxb1 $16 {Es droth Rb6.Weiß stehet klar
besser dankbar beherschung des Offene b-Linie;Schwarze schwache bauern am
Damenflügel a6 und d5;bessere Königslage(schwache 8-Reihe).[Donev,I]} a5 $2 (
23... Qe4 24. Qxe4 dxe4 25. Rb6 $16) (23... Qf3 24. Rb6 Bf8 25. Rxa6 Rc8 26.
Qf1 $16) 24. Rb5 Qf3 25. Qb3 Bb4 26. Qxd5 Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Rf8 28. Qc4 $1 h6 $2 (
28... Qxa4 29. Bd2 Qa3 30. Bxb4 axb4 31. Rxb4 $16) 29. d5 Qxa4 30. d6 $1 $18
Qa1 31. d7 Qf6 32. Bb6 Be7 33. Bxa5 Qa6 34. Qd5 Kh7 35. Qe4+ g6 36. Re5 Bd6 37.
Rd5 Qa8 38. f3 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Qd2 (10. O-O Nh5 11. f4 (11. Qd2 Nf4) 11... Nf6 12. Bf3 Bg4
$1 13. Nxc6 (13. Bxg4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 Nxd4 $10) 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 bxc6 15. Bd2
Qb8 16. b3 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 Nxe4 $1 18. Nxe4 Qd4 $1 19. Nxd6 (19. Rae1 d5 $15)
19... cxd6 $15 {Van der Sterren,P-Glek,I/BL/9495/0:1/37/}) 10... Nh5 11. Bg5
$146 (11. O-O Nf4 (11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf4 $5) 12. Nxc6 Nxe2+ 13. Nxe2 bxc6 14.
Bd4 Bxd4+ 15. Nxd4 c5 16. Nc2 Bb7 17. Ne3 h5 18. Rad1 a5 $10 {Sakaev,K-Belov,I/
Capelle la Grande op(06)/1995/0,5/26/}) 11... f6 (11... Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13.
Ndb5 Qh4+ 14. Kd1 Qd8 (14... Ng3 15. Qe1 $18) 15. Nd5 $16) 12. Nxc6 (12. Be3 f5
13. Bg5 (13. exf5 $2 Rxe3 14. Nxc6 Rxe2+ $17) 13... Qd7 14. Nxc6 bxc6 $13)
12... bxc6 13. Bh6 (13. Be3 f5 14. O-O (14. Bg5 Bf6 $5) 14... Rb8 $132) 13...
Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Rb8 (14... f5 15. exf5 (15. O-O f4) 15... Bxf5 16. O-O Rb8 17. b3
Qf6 18. Qd2 Bd7 $10) 15. O-O-O (15. Qd2 $5) 15... Qe7 16. g4 Ng7 17. f4 Ne6 (
17... Bd7 18. f5 g5 19. h4 gxh4 (19... Qe5 20. hxg5 Qf4+ 21. Kc2 $18) 20. g5
Rf8 21. Rdg1 $36) 18. f5 Qf8 $1 19. Qe3 Nc5 20. Rhf1 gxf5 $1 (20... g5 21. h4
h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rh1 Re5 24. Rh5 Bd7 25. Rdh1 Qg7 26. Qh3 $18) 21. gxf5 Kh8
22. Rf3 Bd7 23. Qf4 Qe7 24. Rg1 (24. Re3 Qe5 25. Rf1 (25. Qh6 Bxf5) 25... Qxf4
26. Rxf4 Rg8 27. Rh4 Rg1+ 28. Kc2 Rbg8 29. Reh3 R8g7 $17) 24... Nxe4 25. Re3 d5
26. Nxe4 (26. cxd5 cxd5 27. Nxd5 $2 Qc5+ $19) 26... dxe4 27. Rg4 Qb4 (27... Qe5
28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Rexe4 Rbe8 30. Rxe5 Rxe5 31. Bd3 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 Rxf5 33. Rd4
$15) 28. Rb3 (28. b3 $2 Re5 29. Rxe4 (29. Qh6 Qe7 $17) 29... Qc3+ 30. Kd1 Bxf5
31. Rxe5 Rd8+ 32. Rd5 Bc2+ 33. Kc1 Bd3+ 34. Kd1 Qc2+ 35. Ke1 Qxe2#) 28... Qe1+
29. Bd1 e3 (29... Rxb3 30. axb3 (30. Qh6 $2 Rc3+ $19) 30... e3 31. Qd4 Qd2+ 32.
Qxd2 exd2+ 33. Kxd2 Bxf5 34. Rf4 Re5 $15) 30. Rd3 (30. Qd4 $5 Qd2+ 31. Qxd2
exd2+ 32. Kxd2 Bxf5 33. Rxb8 (33. Rf4 Rbd8+ 34. Kc1 Re1 35. Rxf5 Rexd1+ 36. Kc2
Kg7 $15) 33... Rxb8 34. Rf4 Rxb2+ 35. Kc3 Rb1 36. Bf3 Bg6 37. Rxf6 Rf1 $15)
30... Qb4 (30... e2 31. Rxd7 exd1=Q+ 32. Rxd1 Qe2 33. Rd2 $10) 31. Qd4 Re5 32.
Rb3 Qd2+ $8 33. Qxd2 exd2+ 34. Kxd2 Rxb3 35. axb3 Bxf5 36. Rd4 $132 Kg7 $15 37.
Bf3 c5 38. Rd8 Kh6 (38... Re7 $5 39. Ra8 (39. Rd5 Rd7 40. Kc3 Rxd5 41. cxd5 Kg6
$17) 39... Kh6 40. Rxa7 Kg5 $17) 39. Rf8 Kg5 40. Rf7 h5 41. Rg7+ Kh4 42. Rf7 $1
(42. Rxc7 Bg4 43. Bd5 f5 44. Rxc5 f4 45. Rc7 f3 $17) 42... Bg4 (42... Kg5 43.
Rg7+) 43. Bxg4 Kxg4 44. Rxf6 Kh3 45. Ra6 Kxh2 46. Rxa7 h4 47. Rxc7 Rg5 48. Kc2
(48. Kd3 Rg3+ 49. Ke4) 48... Rg2+ 49. Kd3 Rg3+ 50. Ke4 Rxb3 (50... h3 51. Rxc5
Kg2 52. Rh5 h2 53. Rxh2+ Kxh2 54. c5 $10) 51. Rxc5 Rxb2 52. Rh5 h3 53. c5 Kg3
54. Kd5 h2 55. Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C74"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Notkin Wedberg Ftacnik} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5 6.
exf5 Bxf5 7. O-O Bd3 8. Re1 Be7 9. c4 $6 (9. Re3 $5) (9. Bc2 $5) (9. Bc2 {
Notkin} Bxc2 10. Qxc2 Nf6 11. d4 O-O 12. d5 (12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14.
Be3 Ng4 15. Nd2 $14 {Balashov,Y-Yandemirov,V/Elista(RUS-sh)/1994/1:0/32/})
12... e4 13. Ng5 Ne5 14. Ne6 Qd7 15. Nd2 e3 16. Rxe3 Nxd5 17. Nxf8 (17. Rxe5
dxe5 18. Nxf8 Rxf8 19. Ne4 $14 {Wolff,P/}) 17... Nxe3 18. Qxh7+ Kxf8 19. fxe3
Re8 20. e4 (20. h3 Qb5 $1 21. Nb3 Bf6 22. Bd2 Qd3 23. Qxd3 Nxd3 24. Rb1 Bg5 25.
Nc1 $10 {Xie,J-Lautier,J/Amsterdam/1994/0,5/47/}) (20. Ne4 Qg4 21. Bd2 Nf3+ 22.
Kh1 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Qe2 $2 (23... d5 $5 $44) 24. Ne4 $16 {Almasi,Z-Winants,L/
Wijk/1995/1:0/37/ ;CBM 45}) 20... d5 $2 (20... Bf6 $5 $44) 21. Nb3 $1 $16 {
Anand,V-Yusupov,A/Wijk aan Zee/1994/1:0/25/}) (9. Qb3 {Notkin Ftacnik} b5 10.
Qd5 Qd7 11. Qxd3 bxa4 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. d3 O-O 14. Qxa4 Nd4 15. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 16.
gxf3 Nxd7 17. Kg2 Rf6 18. Be3 Raf8 19. Nd2 d5 20. b4 d4 21. Bxd4 Bxb4 22. cxb4
exd4 23. Re4 c5 24. a3 {Browne,W-Kavalek,L/Netanya/1971/0.5 (32)}) (9. Re3 {
Notkin Ftacnik} e4 10. Ne1 Bg5 11. Nxd3 $6 Bxe3 12. Nb4 Bxf2+ $1 13. Kxf2 Qh4+
14. Kg1 Nh6 15. Qf1 Ng4 16. Qf4 Rf8 17. Qg3 Rf1+ $1 $19 18. Kxf1 Nxh2+ 19. Qxh2
{Adams,M-Piket,J/Wijk (10)/1991/0-1 (19)}) 9... Rb8 $1 (9... Bxc4 {Notkin} 10.
d4 b5 (10... Nf6 11. dxe5 (11. Nc3 $5 {Wedberg}) 11... dxe5 12. Bxc6+ $6 (12.
Qxd8+ $5 Rxd8 13. Nxe5) 12... bxc6 13. Qc2 Bd5 $15 {Pakkert,A-Grechkin,D/corr/
1969/} (13... Bd5 {Ftacnik} 14. Nxe5 Qd6 15. Nc3 O-O 16. Bg5 Rae8 17. Nxd5 cxd5
18. Qc6 Qxc6 19. Nxc6 Bc5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Rxe3 22. fxe3 Re8 23. Re1 Re6
24. Nd4 $10 {Pakkert-Grechkin/corr/1969/0.5 (37)})) 11. Bb3 Bxb3 12. axb3 Nxd4
13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bg5 $1 $16 {Lepeshkin,V-Estrin,J/Moscow/1964/1:0/28/}) 10.
Qb3 e4 (10... Bg6 {Notkin} 11. d4 $16) 11. Ng5 (11. Nd4 Nf6 12. Bxc6+ (12. Ne6
$2 Qc8 (12... Qd7 $2 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Nxg7+ {/\Nf4/} Kf7 15. Nf5) 13. Nxg7+
Kf7 $19) (12. Nxc6 $6 bxc6 13. Bxc6+ Kf7 14. Qa4 d5 {/\ Bc5} 15. cxd5 (15.
Bxd5+ Nxd5 16. cxd5 Bc5 $17 {/\ Bf2, Qh4}) 15... Bc5 16. Nc3 Ng4 $17) 12...
bxc6 13. Nxc6 Rxb3 14. Nxd8 Rb4 15. Nc6 (15. Ne6 Kf7 $17 (15... Rxc4 16. Nxg7+
Kf7 17. Nf5 Rc5 $44) 16. Nxc7 $2 (16. Ng5+ {Notkin} Kg6 $15) 16... Rxc4 $19)
15... Rxc4 16. Nxe7 Kxe7 17. Nc3 $15) 11... Nf6 (11... Bxb1 $2 12. Ne6 Qc8 13.
Rxb1 Qxe6 14. Bxc6+ $18) (11... Bxg5 $2 12. Qxd3 Nf6 13. Nc3 $16 (13. Qg3 {
Notkin} Bh6 14. Nc3 $16)) (11... b5 $2 {Notkin Ftacnik} 12. cxb5 Bxg5 (12...
axb5 13. Qf7+ Kd7 14. Qf5+ Ke8 15. Ne6 $16) 13. Qxd3) 12. Nc3 (12. Ne6 $2 {
see 11.Nd4}) (12. Ne6 {Notkin} Qd7 13. Nf4 $2 (13. Nc3 Qxe6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 $1 (
14... Kf7 15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. d3 $16) 15. Qxb8+ Bd8 16. Qb7 O-O 17. Qxc6 Qg4 $17)
(13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Na3 {/\Nf4/} (14. Nxg7+ Kd7 $44) 14... Nh5 $1 $17) (13.
Nxg7+ {Ftacnik} Kf7 $19) 13... b5) 12... O-O 13. Ncxe4 (13. Ne6 $2 Qc8 (13...
Qe8 {Notkin Wedberg} 14. Nxf8 Qxf8 15. h3 Ng4 16. hxg4 Bh4 17. g3 Bxg3 18. fxg3
Qf3 $36) 14. Nxf8 (14. c5 {Notkin} Na5) 14... Nd4 15. Qd1 Bxf8 $17 {/\ Qf5,
Be7, Rf8, /\ Nf3, Ng4 ->} (15... Qxf8 $44 {Notkin Ftacnik})) (13. c5+ {Notkin}
d5 14. Ne6 Qd7 15. Nxf8 Bxf8 $44 (15... Rxf8 $6 {Ftacnik} 16. Qxb7 Bxc5 17.
Qxc6 Qxc6 18. Bxc6 Ng4 19. Bxd5+ Kh8 20. Nxe4 $18)) 13... Nxe4 14. Nxe4 (14.
Ne6 $2 Bh4 $1 (14... Nc5 $1 {Notkin} 15. Nxd8 Nxb3 16. Nxc6 Bh4 17. g3 Nxa1 18.
Nxb8 Rxb8 19. gxh4 Bxc4 $13) 15. Nxd8 (15. Rxe4 Qf6 $19) 15... Bxf2+ 16. Kh1
Bxe1 17. c5+ Kh8 18. Nf7+ Rxf7 19. Qxf7 Ne5 20. Qe7 (20. Qxc7 Rf8 21. g3 Rf1+
22. Kg2 Rf2+ 23. Kh1 Nxg3+ 24. hxg3 Be4+ 25. Kg1 Nf3+ 26. Kh1 Rh2#) (20. Qf4 g5
21. Qe3 Bf2 22. Qh3 Bd4 $19) 20... Ng6 21. Qf7 (21. Qxc7 Rf8 22. g3 Ng5 $1 $19)
21... Rf8 $19) 14... Ne5 15. Re3 $8 (15. Qc3 $2 Bh4 $17) (15. c5+ $6 Kh8 $1 {
/\ dc5} (15... d5 $2 16. Ng3 (16. Nc3 {Notkin} Bc4 $17) 16... Bc4 17. Qe3 $1
Bf6 18. d4 Nd3 19. Rd1 Nxc1 20. Qxc1 $16) 16. Ng3 (16. cxd6 cxd6 $17 {/\ b5})
16... Bh4 $17 {/\ Qf6}) 15... b5 $6 (15... Bxc4 16. Qc3 {/\ d4} (16. Qc2 d5 17.
Ng3 (17. d4 Bd3 $1 18. Qc3 Bxe4 19. dxe5 Kh8 $5 $17) 17... Bc5 $1 $17) 16...
Bd5 (16... c5 17. d4 cxd4 18. Qxd4 $13) (16... Bf7 17. d4 $14) 17. d4 (17. Bb3
Bxb3 18. axb3 (18. Qxb3+ d5 (18... Kh8 {Notkin} 19. d4 Nc6 20. d5 $14) 19. Nc3
(19. d4 Nc4 20. Re2 Na5 21. Qc3 dxe4 22. Qxa5 Qxd4 $17 23. Be3 Qc4 $17) (19. d3
Kh8 20. Ng3 Ng4 $17) 19... Nc4 20. Nxd5 (20. Re2 $6 Bc5 (20... c6 21. d3 Nd6
22. Be3 $10) 21. d3 Rxf2 22. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qh4+ $19 {->}) 20... Nxe3 (
20... Qxd5 $5 21. Rxe7 Rbe8 (21... Qc5 22. Re3 Kh8 23. Qc3 $13) 22. Rxe8 Rxe8
$17) 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Qxe3 Re8 $17) 18... Qd7 $15 (18... Ng4 19. Rg3 Nf6 20.
d3 $13)) 17... Ng4 18. Rg3 Bxe4 (18... Qc8 19. Bb3 $10) 19. Rxg4 Bf5 (19... d5
20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Be5 $13) 20. Rg3 Bf6 21. Be3 $15) (15... Bxe4 {Notkin} 16. Rxe4
Bh4 17. f4 $16) (15... Bxc4 $15 {Notkin Wedberg}) 16. cxb5+ d5 17. Rxd3 (17.
Ng3 $2 Bc5 $1 18. Rxe5 (18. Rxd3 {Notkin} Bxf2+ 19. Kh1 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Rf1+ 21.
Kh2 Ng4+ 22. Kh3 Nf2+ 23. Kh2 Rh1#) 18... Bxf2+ (18... Rxf2 $2 19. Re3 $16) 19.
Kh1 Qh4 $1 20. Nf5 (20. Rh5 Bxg3 $19) (20. Qxd3 Bxg3 21. h3 Bxe5 22. Qxd5+ Kh8
23. Qxe5 Rbe8 $19) (20. Rxd5 Bxg3 $1 $19 (20... Bc4 21. Qxc4 $5 Qxc4 22. Bb3))
20... Rxf5 21. Rxf5 (21. Rxd5 Kh8 $1 (21... Bc4 22. Rxf5 Bxb3 23. Bxb3+ Kh8 $15
) 22. Qxd3 (22. Rxd3 Bg3 $19) 22... Bg3 23. h3 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Re8 $19) 21... Bg3
22. h3 (22. Qxd5+ Kh8 23. Rh5 Re8 $1 $19) 22... Bxf5 23. Qxd5+ Kh8 24. Qxf5 (
24. d4 Bxh3 $19) 24... Re8 $19) (17. Nc3 {Notkin Ftacnik} Bc4 18. Qc2 Bc5 19.
Rxe5 Rxf2 $19) 17... Nxd3 18. Qxd3 dxe4 19. Qxe4 (19. Bb3+ Kh8 20. Qxd8 Rbxd8
21. bxa6 Bc5 (21... Rd3 22. Bc2 Bc5 23. Bxd3 Bxf2+ 24. Kh1 exd3 25. g3 Bd4 26.
Kg2 $13) 22. d4 exd3 23. Be3 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rde8 25. Rf1 Rxf1+ 26. Kxf1 Rxe3 27.
a7 Re8 $15) (19. Qxd8 {Notkin Ftacnik} Rbxd8 20. bxa6 Bc5 $17) 19... Bf6 (19...
axb5 20. Bc2 (20. Bb3+ {Notkin} Kh8 21. d4 Bg5 $13) 20... g6 21. d4 $14) (19...
Bc5 $2 {Notkin} 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21. Qxc5 Re8 22. h3) 20. bxa6 $1 {>< e8} (20. Bb3+
$2 Kh8 {/\ Re8}) (20. d3 $6 axb5 (20... Re8 $6 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Be3 Bxb2 23.
Rd1) 21. Bb3+ Kh8 $15 {/\ Bd4, /\ Re8} (21... Kh8 {Notkin} 22. Be3 Bxb2 $15))
20... Bd4 21. d3 Rxf2 (21... Bxf2+ $5 22. Kh1 Ba7 (22... Bd4 $6 23. Bg5 Qxg5
24. Qxd4 $16) (22... Qf6 23. Qd5+ (23. Qc4+ Kh8 24. Bc6 Rb6 25. Bf3 Rxa6 $36)
23... Kh8 24. Bg5 Qxa6 25. Bb3 $13) 23. Bf4 Qf6 $13) 22. Be3 Rbxb2 $1 (22...
Bxe3 $2 23. Qxe3 Rbxb2 24. Bc6 $16 (24. Bc6 {Notkin} Rbe2 25. Qc5 $16)) 23.
Bb3+ (23. Bxf2 $2 {Notkin} Rxf2 24. Qe6+ (24. Bb3+ {Ftacnik} Kh8 $19) 24... Kf8
$1 $19) (23. Qxd4 {Notkin} Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Qf8+ 25. Bf4 Rgf2+ 26. Kg1 (26. Ke1
Qe7+ 27. Be5 Rbe2+ 28. Kd1 Rd2+ 29. Ke1 Rfe2+ 30. Kf1 Rxe5 $19) 26... Rxf4 $1
27. Qxb2 Rg4+ 28. Qg2 $17) (23. Bxd4 {Notkin} Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Qf8+ 25. Ke1 Rbe2+
(25... Qb4+ {Ftacnik} 26. Kf1 Qf8+ $10) 26. Qxe2 Qb4+ 27. Kf1 Rxe2 28. Bb3+ (
28. a7 Qxa4 29. Kxe2 $16) 28... Kh8 29. Bxg7+ (29. Kxe2 {Ftacnik} Qxd4 30. Rf1
$13) 29... Kxg7 30. Kxe2 Qb6 (30... Qe7+ 31. Kd2 Qg5+ 32. Kc2 Qg2+ 33. Kc3 Qc6+
34. Bc4 Qf6+ 35. d4 $10) 31. Rf1 Qxa6 32. Rf7+ Kg6 33. Rxc7 Qd6 $10) 23... Kh8
24. Re1 $5 (24. Bxd4 $2 Rxg2+ 25. Kf1 (25. Kh1 Rxh2+ 26. Kg1 Qg5+ 27. Kf1 Rh1+
$1 28. Qxh1 Qf4+ $19) 25... Qf8+ 26. Ke1 Rbf2 $1 $19 27. Bxg7+ Qxg7) (24. Qxd4
Rxg2+ 25. Kh1 $1 (25. Kf1 $2 Qf8+ 26. Bf4 (26. Qf4 Qxf4+ 27. Bxf4 Rbf2+ 28. Ke1
Rxf4 29. a7 (29. Rd1 Rg1+ 30. Ke2 Rxd1 31. Kxd1 Rf5 32. Kd2 g5 33. Kc3 Rf8 {
/\34.Bd5 c6!/}) 29... Rf8 $19) 26... Rxh2 (26... Rbf2+ 27. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 28. Kxf2
Qxf4+ 29. Kg2 $15 Qg5+) 27. Bd5 Rbf2+ 28. Kg1 Rxf4 29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Kxh2 Qd6+
31. Kg2 Rf5 $1 $19) 25... Rxh2+ 26. Kg1 Rbg2+ 27. Kf1 Qf8+ 28. Qf4 Qxf4+ 29.
Bxf4 Rf2+ 30. Kg1 $10) 24... Rxg2+ (24... Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Qf8 26. h3 $13 (26. h3
{Notkin} Rxg2+ 27. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 28. Kxg2 Qa8+ 29. Kf2 h6 30. Bc4 $10)) 25. Qxg2
Rxg2+ 26. Kxg2 Qa8+ (26... Bc3 {Notkin Ftacnik} 27. Rf1 Qa8+ 28. Kg1 Qe8 29.
Rf3 $132) 27. Kf2 (27. Kg1 Qe8 (27... Bxe3+ 28. Rxe3 Qa7 (28... h6 {Notkin} 29.
Bc4 $10) 29. Kf2 g6 (29... g5 30. Bc4 $13) 30. Bc4 Qd4 $10) (27... Bc3 {Ftacnik
} 28. Rf1 (28. Rc1 Qf3 29. Bf2 Be5 $13)) 28. Kf2 Qf8+ 29. Kg2 $10) 27... Bc3
28. a7 $1 $8 (28. Rc1 Qxa6 29. Rxc3 $2 Qf6+ $19) 28... Bxe1+ 29. Kxe1 Qh1+ 30.
Kd2 Qxh2+ 31. Kc3 $13 Qg2 32. Kd4 {/\ Bd5} Qa8 (32... h5 $2 {Notkin Ftacnik}
33. Bd5) 33. Ke5 Qe8+ (33... h5 {Notkin} 34. Bd5 c6 35. Be4 {/\Kd6/}) 34. Kf4 (
34. Kd4 $6 c5+ 35. Kc3 Qc6 {/\ h5}) 34... c6 $6 (34... g5+ $6 35. Kf5 h6 (35...
Qg6+ {Notkin} 36. Ke5 Qd6+ 37. Ke4 Qg6+ $10 38. Kf3 Qc6+ 39. Kg4 $2 Qg2+ 40.
Kf5 Qf3+ $19) 36. Bd5 c6 37. Be6 $36) (34... Qd8 35. Ke4 $13) 35. Bc5 (35. Be6
$1 {Notkin} Qf8+ 36. Ke5 $2 c5 $1 $19) 35... h5 (35... Qa8 {Notkin Ftacnik} 36.
Ke5 h5 37. Kd6 h4 38. Ba4 Qd8+ 39. Kxc6 h3 40. Kb7 h2 41. Bc6) 36. Bd6 (36. d4
$5 {/\ d5}) 36... Qd8 (36... Qa8 {Notkin Ftacnik} 37. Bb8 h4 38. Kg4 g5 39. Be6
Qb7 40. Kxg5 Qe7+ 41. Kf5 Qa3 42. Kg5 $10) 37. Bb8 Qd4+ (37... Qa5 {Notkin} 38.
d4 h4 39. d5 h3 (39... cxd5 40. Ke5 h3 41. Bxd5 h2 42. a8=Q $18) 40. dxc6 h2
41. c7 Qb4+ $1 42. Kg3 Qc3+ 43. Kxh2 Qd2+ $10) 38. Kf5 (38. Kg5 $4 {Notkin
Ftacnik} Qg4#) 38... Qxd3+ 39. Ke6 Qa6 40. Kd7 $6 $138 (40. Kd6 $1 $36 {
/\ Be6-d7}) 40... g5 (40... Qb7+ {Notkin} 41. Kd6 {/\Be6-d7/}) (40... h4 {
Notkin} 41. Kc7 $2 (41. Be6 {Ftacnik} Qb7+ 42. Kd8 g5 (42... Qa6 43. Kc7 g5 44.
Bc8 Qxa2 45. Bb7) 43. Bc8 Qa8 44. Kc7) 41... h3 42. Bc4 Qxa7+ 43. Bxa7 h2 $19)
41. Kc7 g4 42. Bc4 (42. Be6 {Notkin Ftacnik} g3 43. Bc8 Qxa2 44. Kb7 g2 45. Bh2
$10) 42... Qa4 (42... Qa5+ {Notkin Ftacnik} 43. Kb7 Qb4+ 44. Kc7 $10) (42...
Qxc4 {Notkin Ftacnik} 43. a8=Q g3 44. Qxc6 Qxa2 $10) 43. Bb3 Qa6 44. Bc4 Qa4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 h6 8. O-O
Ng4 9. Bc1 Na6 $5 $146 (9... Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Ne1 f5 (11... h5 12. f3 (12. h3
Nh6 13. f4 $5 f5 $6 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nf3 Nf7 16. c5 f4 17. Bc4 Kh8 18. b4 Ng8
19. d6 $16 {Mozetic,D-Ligterink,G/Tilburg/1993/1:0/40/}) 12... Nh6 13. Nd3 f5
14. f4 Nf7 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. b3 c6 17. Ba3 $14 {Shipov,S-Groszpeter,A/Passau/
1994/0,5/42/}) 12. Bxg4 fxg4 13. b4 g5 14. Nc2 a5 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. a4 Ng6 17.
Ne3 h5 18. Ba3 Rf7 19. Bb4 Ra6 20. c5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Bf8 $10 {Lalic,B-Nunn,J/
Isle of Man/1994/0,5/40/}) 10. Rb1 (10. h3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nf6 12. Re1 Re8 13.
Bf1 Nc5 14. Qc2 Nfxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxd4 $10) 10... f5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 (11... dxe5 12.
h3 Nf6 13. Nxe5 Nxe4 14. Nxg6 $16) 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. b4 $14 c6 14. b5 $5 (14.
c5 Nc7 15. Bc4+ Be6 16. Qb3 Qe7 17. Bb2 $14) 14... cxb5 (14... Nc5 15. Ba3 b6 (
15... Qe7 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Na4 $18) 16. bxc6 $16) 15. Nxb5 (15. cxb5 $5 Nc5
16. Ba3 b6 17. Bc4+ Kh7 18. Bd5 $14) 15... Be6 16. Ba3 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Rfd8 $1
18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Nxa7 Bf8 $1 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 $44 21. exf5 (21. Rxb7 $6 Rd2 22.
Kf1 (22. Bf1 Rd1) (22. Bf3 Nc5 23. Rb5 Nxe4 $36) 22... Nc5 23. Rc7 Nxe4 $15)
21... gxf5 22. Rb2 Nc5 23. f3 Na4 24. Rc2 (24. Rb4 Nc3 25. Bf1 Rd1 26. Kf2 Rd2+
$17) 24... f4 25. Kf1 Bf5 26. Rc1 Rd2 (26... Nc5 27. Nb5 (27. Ke1 Ra8 28. Nb5
Rxa2 $15) 27... Rd2 28. Nc3 Kf7 $44) 27. c5 $1 e4 (27... Rxa2 28. Nb5 Bd7 (
28... e4 29. Nd6 exf3 30. Bxf3 Bd3+ 31. Kg1 $16) 29. Nd6 Bc6 $10) 28. c6 bxc6
29. Nxc6 exf3 (29... e3 30. Rc4 $2 (30. Nb4 $13) 30... Rxa2 31. Rxf4 Ra1+ 32.
Bd1 Nc3 33. Rxf5+ Kg7 34. g3 Rxd1+ 35. Kg2 e2 $19) 30. Bxf3 Rxa2 31. Nd4 Bd7
32. Bc6 $14 Nb6 (32... Bxc6 33. Rxc6 Kf7 34. Ne2 $14) 33. Bxd7 Nxd7 34. Ne6+
Kf7 35. Nxf4 Ne5 36. h3 Ra4 37. Nd5 Ke6 38. Rd1 Ra3 39. Kf2 Nd3+ $4 (39... Kf5
$14) 40. Rxd3 (40. Rxd3 Rxd3 41. Nf4+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 (16. O-O Ra7 17. Qh5 e4 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. f3
exf3 21. Rxf3 Ne5 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. Nf4 Nc4 24. Nxe6 $14 {Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/
London PCA (3)/1994/0.5 (52)}) (16. Qh5 Qd7 (16... Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nxf5
Qf6 {Vogt,L-Bukacek,E/Lenk op (8)/1991/1-0 (18)} 19. Ne7+ $1 Qxe7 20. Bxh7+ (
20. Qxh7+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ Kf6 22. Qh4+ Kxg6 23. Qxe7 $18) 20... Kh8 21. Bf5+ $1
Kg8 22. Qh7+ Kf7 23. Qg6+ Kg8 24. Bxe6+ $18) (16... e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Bb3 Nxd5
19. Nxd5 a5 20. Nf4 Bxb3 21. axb3 Qe7 22. O-O b4 $5 23. cxb4 Qe5 24. Qg5 {
Adams,M-Beliavsky,A/Debrecen/1992/0.5 (54)}) 17. g4 e4 18. Bc2 Rae8 19. O-O-O
Ne5 20. gxf5 Bxf5 21. Nb6 Bg4 22. Nxd7 Bxh5 23. Nxf8 Bxd1 24. Nxd1 {Vogt,
L-Klundt,K/Bad Woerishofen op (08)/1992/0-1 (42)}) 16... Bh6 {Black have
prepared an agressive plan in order to avoid positional problems with pawn
chain d6-e5-f5.} (16... Ne7 17. Bb3 (17. O-O Ng6 18. f3 Bh6 19. Re1 Ra7 20. b4
Rg7 21. Kh1 Nh4 22. Re2 f4 23. Nf1 {Larduet,C-Ochoa De Echaguen,F/Capablanca
mem-C (12)/1992/0-1 (23)}) 17... Kh8 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Qh5 h6 20. O-O f4 21.
Nd5 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Rab8 {Jansson,A-Kytoniemi,J/Osterskan op/1994/0.5 (23)}) 17.
O-O Ra7 (17... f4 18. Qh5 Qg5 (18... fxe3 $2 19. Qxh6 exf2+ 20. Rxf2 Rxf2 21.
Bxh7+ Kf7 22. Bg6+ Kg8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ Bg8 25. Qh6#) 19. Qxg5+ Bxg5 20.
Nc7 fxe3 21. Nxe6 exf2+ 22. Rxf2 Be3 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24. Raf1 $14) 18. f4 Qh4 (
18... Raf7) 19. g3 Rg7 $2 {This backfires badly. Black should have noticed,
that in case should his attack fail center was left dangerously unprotected.} (
19... Qh3 20. a4 $14 (20. Nc7 Rxc7 21. Qxd6 Re7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Qxd5+ Rff7 24.
Qxc6 exf4 $40) (20. Ng2 Nd4 21. cxd4 Bxd5 $132)) 20. Nc7 $1 {Illescas was
reportedly shocked by this surprising jump, since he must have had the
position on the board at home!} exf4 (20... Rxg3+ 21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Ng2 Bc4
23. Qf3 $18) 21. Ng2 Qh3 (21... Qe7 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Bb3 $18) 22. Rxf4 $1 {
Few tactical blows have decided the issue before black had got any chance to
fire a single shot.} (22. Nxe6 fxg3 23. hxg3 Be3+ $1 24. Rf2 (24. Nxe3 Qxg3+
$19) 24... Bxf2+ 25. Kf1 Bxg3 $19) 22... Bxf4 (22... Rxc7 23. Rh4 Qxh4 24. Nxh4
$16) 23. Nxf4 Rxg3+ 24. Kh1 $1 (24. hxg3 Qxg3+ 25. Ng2 Ne5 $1 26. Nxe6 Nf3+ 27.
Qxf3 Qxf3 28. Nxf8 Qe2 29. Bxf5 Kxf8 30. Rf1 Qxb2 31. Bc8+ Kg7 $13) 24... Qh6 (
24... Qh4 25. Ncxe6 $18) (24... Qg4 25. Ncxe6 $18) 25. Qxd6 (25. Qxd6 Nd8 26.
Nfxe6 $18) (25. Ncxe6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 (4... Bg7 5. h3 $5 {,followed by f4
promises White a space advantage. It's better for Black to de- lay the
development of his Bishop, in order to play e5 with the better placed Bf8.}) 5.
f3 Nbd7 6. g4 $5 (6. Qd2 {is more usual, e.g.} e5 7. O-O-O Qa5 8. Kb1 Bg7 9. h4
h5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nh3 Bf8 $1 12. Ng5 Bc5 13. Bc4 O-O 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Bb3
Qe7 16. Qd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Kg7 18. Rhd1 Nc5 19. Rd8 Nxb3 20. axb3 Ne8 21. Na4
Nc7 22. Nc5 b6 23. Rxf8 Kxf8 24. Nd7+ Kg7 $10 {and Black maintained equality,
Magem Badals,J-Beim,V/Novi Sad olm/1990/}) 6... b5 (6... Qb6 7. Qc1 Bg7 8. Nge2
a6 9. h4 c5 10. h5 Rg8 11. a3 Qc6 12. Bg2 b6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Rg1 Qc7 15. h6 Bh8
16. g5 Nh5 17. O-O-O cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc5 20. f4 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 Nc5
22. Nd5 Rc8 23. Kb1 b5 24. Bf3 $16 {Yudasin,L-Chernin,A/Pamplona/1991/ White
has a large space advantage and Black has no counterplay.}) 7. h4 (7. g5 Nh5 8.
a4 b4 9. Nce2 e5 10. Qd2 Bg7 11. O-O-O O-O 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. b3 c5 14. dxc5 dxc5
15. Nh3 Nb6 16. c4 Be6 17. Nc1 Nxa4 $5 18. bxa4 Rad8 19. Qc2 b3 20. Nxb3 Rb8
21. Kb2 Rb7 $13 {Georgiev,Kr-Smirin,I/Elenite/1993/}) 7... Bb7 (7... Nb6 $5 $13
{/\Nc4<=>}) (7... h5 $6 8. g5 {is bad, as the Knight must retreat passively
and White has a huge space advan- tage on the Kingside.}) (7... e5 8. h5 b4 (
8... exd4 $2 9. Qxd4 b4 10. Nce2 d5 11. hxg6 fxg6 12. g5 c5 13. Qd2 d4 14. Nxd4
cxd4 15. Bxd4 Bg7 16. gxf6 Nxf6 17. Qxb4 Be6 18. O-O-O Rb8 19. Bxf6 {1-0,
Georgiev,Kr-Moutousis,K/Athens/1991/}) 9. Nce2 Nb6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8
12. Nc1 Be6 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. Nd3 Bd6 15. f4 Ke7 16. Nf3 h6 17. Bh4 g5 $8 18.
fxe5 Nxe5 19. Ndxe5 gxh4 20. O-O-O (20. Nxc6+ $5) 20... Rac8 21. Ba6 Rc7 22.
Rxh4 Nxe4 23. Re1 Ng5 $13 {Georgiev,Kr-Chabanon,J/Sofia tt/1990/}) 8. h5 Rg8 $8
(8... Bg7 $6 9. h6 Bf8 10. g5 $16 {loses too much time and space.}) (8... gxh5
$2 9. g5 $40) 9. Qd2 Qc7 10. Nh3 (10. h6 e5 $132) 10... a6 11. O-O-O e6 $146 (
11... c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. hxg6 hxg6 14. g5 {/\Nd5|^. Opening the position is
premature, as Black is behind in development.}) (11... e5 12. Be2 O-O-O 13. Ng5
exd4 14. Bxd4 c5 15. Be3 Nb6 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Qe1 $36 {and
Black's position is rather shaky, Canfell,G-Chabanon,J/Novi Sad om/1990/}) 12.
hxg6 hxg6 13. Ng5 $14 {White has advantage in the center and occupies the only
open file, but Black's position is still solid.} Be7 14. Kb1 Rf8 {/\0-0-0} (
14... c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bxb5+ $5 axb5 17. Nxb5 $36 {With three passed pawns
for a piece in an endgame White is clearly better.}) 15. Nh7 Nxh7 (15... Rh8 $5
16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Qh2 O-O-O {+/=/<=> This seems to be a better
possibility for Black, as the Rook is more dan- gerous on the h-file, than the
White Queen.}) 16. Rxh7 Nf6 (16... O-O-O 17. g5 $14 {-16...Nf6}) 17. Rh2 O-O-O
18. g5 Nd7 (18... Nh5 19. Bh3 {/\Bg4,d5-> Black's Knight on h5 is misplaced,
so Beliavsky must allow the Rook back to h7.}) 19. Rh7 Nb6 (19... c5 20. d5 $36
) 20. Qf2 c5 $8 (20... d5 $6 21. Qh4 $16 {/\Bf4 would seriously weaken the
black squares.}) 21. b3 (21. d5 $2 b4 $17) 21... cxd4 (21... Nd7 22. d5 $1 e5
23. Bh3 $36) 22. Bxd4 Nd7 {/\e5-+} 23. Qe3 Kb8 (23... e5 $6 24. Ba7 $16 {><d5})
24. a4 $1 b4 25. Na2 Rc8 (25... d5 26. exd5 Bxd5 27. Bxa6 $16) 26. Rd2 (26.
Nxb4 $2 d5 $19) 26... Qa5 27. Bg7 $5 (27. f4 e5 $132 {would give Black play
against White's weakened pawns e4,g5. The interesting maneuvre in the text
keeps the advantage.}) 27... Rfe8 (27... Bxg5 $2 28. f4 $16) 28. Bh6 Ne5 29.
Be2 {/\f4} (29. f4 $6 Ng4 $13) 29... Rh8 $8 30. Rxh8 Rxh8 31. Qd4 Rc8 32. Qxb4
(32. Nxb4 Nd7 33. Na2 d5 $5 {gives Black conterchances for a pawn, so White
strives for a better endgame.}) 32... Qxb4 33. Nxb4 d5 34. Bg7 $1 (34. Nxa6+ $2
Ka7 {פa6}) (34. Nd3 Nxf3 $1 35. Bxf3 dxe4 $13) 34... Bxb4 (34... Nxf3 $5 35.
Nxa6+ $1 Bxa6 36. Bxf3 Bxg5 (36... dxe4 $2 37. Be5+ $18) 37. Be5+ Ka7 38. Rg2
dxe4 39. Bxe4 $14 {עa7 White is slightly better, as his pawns are more
dangerous and his King is better sheltered. But this was much better than the
game, where Black has no counterchances.}) 35. Bxe5+ Ka8 36. Rd1 dxe4 37. fxe4
Bxe4 38. Bd3 Bxd3 (38... Bf5 39. Bxf5 gxf5 40. Rd7 $16) (38... Bb7 39. Rf1 $18)
39. Rxd3 Be7 40. Rd7 Bxg5 41. Rxf7 $16 {ק Black's passed pawns are weak and
his pieces are tied to their defence.} Rc5 (41... Rg8 42. Bd4 $16) 42. Bb2 (42.
Bd4 Rd5 43. c3 e5 $132) 42... Bh4 (42... e5 43. Rg7 e4 44. Rxg6 $16) 43. Rf8+
Kb7 44. Re8 Rc6 (44... g5 45. Rxe6 {/\} g4 46. Re4 $18) 45. c4 $1 (45. Rg8 g5
46. Bf6 Rc5 $14) 45... Bg3 (45... Rc8 46. Rxe6 Rg8 47. Bd4 $18) 46. Kc2 Bf4 47.
Bf6 g5 48. Re7+ Kc8 (48... Rc7 49. Rxe6 Rf7 50. Bd4 Bc7 51. Rg6 $18) 49. Rg7
Rc5 50. Kd3 a5 $6 {><a5,><b5 The decisive mistake, which weakens the a-pawn.
But White had a big advantage anyway.} (50... Rf5 $142 51. Be7 Re5 52. b4 $5
$16 (52. c5 Re3+ 53. Kc4 Re4+ $10)) 51. Be7 Rf5 (51... Re5 52. c5 Re3+ 53. Kc4
{/\Kb5->}) 52. c5 {/\Kc4-b5-c6} Kd7 $8 53. Bxg5+ Kc6 54. Bxf4 Rxf4 55. Ra7 Rf3+
(55... Kxc5 56. Rxa5+ Kb4 57. Rb5+ $18) 56. Kc4 Rf4+ 57. Kc3 Rf3+ 58. Kb2 $8
Kxc5 59. Rxa5+ Kd4 60. Ra8 e5 61. a5 Rf6 (61... Kc5 62. Rb8 {/\a6+-}) 62. Re8
e4 (62... Ra6 63. b4 Kc4 64. Ka3 $18) 63. b4 e3 (63... Kc4 $5 64. Ka3 $1 (64.
Rxe4+ $2 Kb5 65. Rd4 Rh6 $10) 64... Rf3+ (64... Kb5 65. Re5+ $18) 65. Ka4 e3
66. a6 Rf1 67. Ka5 $1 Ra1+ 68. Kb6 $18) 64. Kb3 (64. b5 $2 Rf5 $10) 64... Rf1
65. Rd8+ (65. a6 $5 Rb1+ 66. Ka4 Kd3 67. Kb5 Ra1 68. Kb6 e2 69. a7 Kd2 70. Kb7
$18) 65... Ke4 66. a6 Ra1 (66... e2 $5 67. Re8+ $1 (67. a7 $2 Rb1+ $1 (67...
Ra1 68. a8=Q+ Rxa8 69. Rxa8 e1=Q 70. Re8+ $18) 68. Kc4 (68. Kc2 Rc1+ $10) (68.
Ka2 Ra1+ $1 $10) 68... Rxb4+ $1 69. Kc5 Ra4 70. Rd4+ (70. a8=Q+ Rxa8 71. Rxa8
Ke3 $10) 70... Rxd4 71. a8=Q+ Ke3 $10) 67... Kd3 (67... Kf3 68. b5 $18) 68. a7
Ra1 (68... Rb1+ 69. Ka2 $18) 69. a8=Q $1 Rxa8 70. Rxa8 e1=Q 71. Rd8+ $18) 67.
b5 e2 68. Re8+ Kd3 69. Kb4 $1 $18 Kd2 (69... e1=Q+ 70. Rxe1 Rxe1 71. a7 $18)
70. Kc5 e1=Q 71. Rxe1 Kxe1 72. Kb6 Kd2 73. Ka7 $1 {/\b6-b7-b8Q} (73. a7 $2 Kd3
74. Kb7 Kc4 75. b6 Kc5 $10) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. Nf3 d6 8. e4
Bxf1 9. Kxf1 Bg7 10. g3 Nbd7 11. Kg2 O-O 12. Re1 Ra6 13. h3 Qa8 14. Bg5 (14.
Re2 Rb8 15. Qe1 e6 $1 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Ng5 Re8 18. f4 c4 19. Be3 e5 $1 20. Rd1
h6 21. Nf3 exf4 22. gxf4 Nxe4 23. Nd5 Qb7 $15 {Comas Fabrego,L-Topalov,V/
Pamplona 9495/1995/}) 14... h6 15. Bd2 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qd2 Rb8 17. Re2 Kh7
18. Rc1 Rb4 19. Rc2 Qa7 20. h4 h5 21. Qf4 Kg7 22. Qc1 Qb8 23. b3 c4 $44 {
Goldin,A-Koch,JR/Lyon op/1993/}) 15... e6 $1 $146 (15... Rb8 16. b3 Ne8 17. Re2
Nc7 18. Rc1 Ra7 19. Qc2 Na6 20. Na4 Nb4 21. Bxb4 Rxb4 22. Qd3 Ra5 23. Rec2 $14
{Karpov,A-Gelfand,B/Sanghi Nagar FIDE-cm (06)/1995/}) 16. dxe6 fxe6 $44 {<=>[+]
} 17. Qc2 d5 18. a4 (18. exd5 $6 exd5 $40 {גh1-a8}) (18. e5 Ne8 $13 {/\} 19.
Qxg6 $2 d4 20. Ne4 Rxf3 $1 $19) 18... g5 (18... d4 $6 19. Nb5 Qc6 20. b4 $16)
19. Ra3 Rb6 20. Bc1 Rf7 21. Nd2 Rb4 22. Rb3 (22. Kg1 $142 $13 {/\Nb5,Rae3})
22... Rxb3 23. Qxb3 c4 24. Nxc4 $8 (24. Qb5 Ne5 $40 {/\Nd3}) 24... dxc4 25.
Qxc4 Ne5 $1 $15 (25... Re7 26. b4 $13) 26. Qxe6 (26. Qe2 Rd7 $36) 26... Nd3 27.
Rf1 Nc5 28. Qc4 Ncxe4 29. Nxe4 Nxe4 30. f3 Nd6 31. Qe6 Nf5 32. Qe4 Qc8 (32...
Qb8 $5 33. f4 Bxb2 $15) 33. Re1 Rc7 $1 (33... Re7 34. Qd5+) 34. Bd2 Rc2 35. Re2
Rxb2 36. Be1 Rxe2+ (36... Rb8 $142 37. a5 $15) 37. Qxe2 Nd4 38. Qd3 Qe6 39. Bd2
Qa2 40. a5 Nc6 41. h4 $1 gxh4 42. gxh4 Ne5 (42... Nxa5 $2 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Qxa5
$10) 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. f4 Bf6 (44... Nc4 45. Qd3+ Kg8 46. Qd5+ Kf8 47. Qd8+ $10)
45. Qd4 $1 (45. Qxf6 Qxd2+ 46. Kg3 Qd3+ $40) 45... Qg8+ (45... Nc4 46. Qd7+ Bg7
47. Qd3+ $10) 46. Kf1 Qc4+ (46... Ng4 47. Qe4+ {/\a6}) 47. Qxc4 Nxc4 (47...
Nxc4 48. Be1 Bd4 49. a6 $10 {~/=}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5
Nxd5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Be4 Nce7 12. Qd3 h6 13. Ne5 Nxc3 14.
Qxc3 (14. bxc3 {Ftacnik} Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qxd3 16. Bxd3 Bd7 $15) 14... Nf5 15. Be3
a5 $5 (15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 (16. fxe3 {Ftacnik} Rb8 17. Rad1 Bd7 18. Bb1 Be8 19.
Ng4 Bg5 20. e4 h5 21. Nf2 Rc8 22. Qh3 g6 23. d5 e5 24. Qb3 {Chiburdanidze,
M-Ioseliani,N (5)/Telavi-WchW/1988/0.5 (60)}) 16... Qb6 (16... Qb6 17. Rad1 Rd8
18. b3 (18. Rd2 Bd7 {Hoi,C-Hansen,LB/Vejstrup/1989/0.5 (18)}) 18... Bd7 19. Qf3
Bb5 {Sher,M-Hansen,LB/Vejle/1994/0.5 (20)})) 16. Rac1 a4 17. Red1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3
(18. fxe3 {Ftacnik} Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qg5 $132) 18... Qb6 19. Ng4 Bg5 20. f4 Be7
21. Bb1 Bd7 (21... Qxb2 $6 22. Qg3 (22. d5 Qa3 23. Rc3 Qd6 24. Qg3 exd5) 22...
f5 (22... Kh8 23. Qh3 Kg8 24. Nxh6+ gxh6 25. Qxh6 f5 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Rc7 Qb4 (
27... Qa3 28. Rd3 $18) 28. a3 $1 Qxa3 (28... Qd6 29. Rd3 $18) 29. Rd3 $18) 23.
Nxh6+ Kh7 (23... Kh8 24. Qh3 $18 {/\Nxf5}) 24. Ng4 Bd6 (24... Bd7 25. Rc7 {
/\Ne5}) (24... Rd8 25. Ne5 $40) 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 $16 {<->c,d, ץc8}) 22.
Qg3 f5 $8 (22... Kh8 $2 23. Qh3 (23. Qd3 {Ftacnik} f5 24. Ne5 Be8 $13) 23... f5
24. Nxh6 gxh6 25. Qxh6+ Kg8 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Rc3 $18) 23. Nxh6+ Kh7 $8 (23...
Kh8 24. Qh3 $18) 24. Ng4 Rfd8 25. Ne5 Be8 $132 {(><b2,d4)} 26. Qe3 $6 (26. Qf2
$5 {(><b2)} g6 $1 (26... Bf6 27. d5 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 exd5 29. Bxf5+ $16) (26...
Rd5 27. a3 $1 (27. Nc4 Qa7 28. Rd2 Rad8 (28... Rxd4 $2 29. Rxd4 Bc5 30. Rcd1
Rd8 31. Qh4+ $18) 29. Rcd1 Bf6 (29... Rxd4 30. Rxd4 Rxd4 31. Rxd4 Bc5 32. Qh4+
Kg8 (32... Kg6 33. Ne5#) 33. Qd8 Bxd4+ 34. Kh1 Kf8 35. Nd6 $18) 30. Ne5 Bh5)
27... Rad8 28. Ba2 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Rxd4 31. g3 (31. Bxe6 Rxf4 32.
g3 Rd4 33. Bxf5+ Kh6 $14 {^^, ><b2}) 31... Bd8 (31... Rd6 32. Rc7) 32. Bxe6 Bb6
33. Kg2 Rd2+ 34. Kh3 Rxb2 35. Bxf5+ g6 36. Be6 $16 {/\Nc4, /\Rc7->}) 27. a3
Rac8 28. Rxc8 (28. Ba2 $2 Rxd4 $1) 28... Rxc8 29. Ba2 $14) 26... Bf6 (26...
Qxb2 27. Nc4 Qb5 28. Qxe6) 27. g4 $6 {(עg1)} (27. Rd2 $14 {Ftacnik}) 27... g6
28. gxf5 (28. g5 {Ftacnik} Bxe5 29. Qxe5 Rac8 (29... Bc6 $2 30. Rc3 $18) 30.
Rc3 Rxc3 31. bxc3 Rc8 32. Qe3 $14) 28... exf5 29. Qc3 $6 (29. Qf2) 29... Rac8
30. Qh3+ (30. Qxc8 {Ftacnik} Rxc8 31. Rxc8 Bc6 $132) 30... Kg7 31. Rxc8 Rxc8
32. Qg2 Rd8 33. Qf2 Be7 34. h4 $2 (34. a3 $5 {(/\Ba2)} Qb3 35. Rd3 Qd5 $44 36.
Qg2 Qxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Bc6+ 38. Nxc6 bxc6 {/\Bf6, ><d4, b2}) (34. Nc4 {Ftacnik} Qc7
$13) 34... Qf6 $17 (34... Rxd4 35. Rxd4 Bc5 36. Nf3 Bc6 37. Kf1 Kh6) 35. Rc1 (
35. Nf3 Bc6 36. Ng5 $6 Bc5 $1 37. Rd2 Rxd4 38. Rxd4 Kh6 $1 (38... Bxd4 39. Ne6+
Qxe6 40. Qxd4+ Kh7 $15) 39. Nf3 (39. Ne6 Qxe6) 39... Bxf3 40. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 41.
Kg2 Qxb2+ $19) (35. Qg2 {Ftacnik} Bc5 36. Qf2 (36. Qxb7+ Kh8 37. Nf3 Bc6 38.
Qa6 Rxd4 $1 39. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 40. Kf1 Bg2+ $19)) 35... Qxh4 36. Rc7 Kf8 37. Qe3 $6
Bd6 38. Rxb7 Bxe5 39. Qxe5 (39. fxe5 Rxd4 $19) 39... Qg3+ 40. Kf1 Qf3+ 41. Ke1
Qxb7 42. Qf6+ Bf7 43. Qxd8+ Kg7 $19 {(/\Qh1xb1)} 44. d5 $6 (44. Kd2 Qxb2+ 45.
Bc2 Qxa2 46. Qe7 a3 47. Qe5+ Kh7) (44. Bc2 {Ftacnik} Qxb2 $17) 44... Qb4+ 45.
Kd1 Qd4+ 46. Kc2 Qe4+ 47. Kc3 {?!?} (47. Kc1 Qxf4+ 48. Kd1 Qd4+ 49. Kc1 Bxd5
$19) 47... Qxb1 48. d6 Qe1+ 49. Kd4 Qb4+ 50. Ke3 (50. Ke5 $2 {Ftacnik} Qxb2#)
50... Qe4+ 51. Kd2 Qxf4+ 52. Kc2 Qe4+ 53. Kd2 Qd4+ 54. Kc1 f4 (54... f4 55. d7
f3 56. Qe7 f2 57. d8=Q f1=Q+ 58. Kc2 Qfd3+ 59. Kc1 Qd1#) 0-1

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.14"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4
Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 Nbd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Re1 (12. h3 {Ftacnik})
12... Qa5 13. h3 Rfb8 14. e5 $5 (14. Re2 Ne8 15. Rc2 Nc7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bd2 Na6
18. Qe2 Nb4 19. Nd1 Qa6 20. Qxa6 Rxa6 21. Bxb4 Rxb4 22. Nd2 f5 $44 {Haba,
P-Weindl,A/Kecskemet GMT/1992/}) 14... dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Rb7 (16...
Ra7 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe2 Rbb7 {Spassky,B-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/1990/} 18. Bf4 $1 Nh5
19. Rxh5 gxh5 20. Re1 $1 Qa6 21. Qxh5 Rxb2 22. Be5 Qg6 23. Qf3 $1 $36 {Ivanchuk
}) 17. Qe2 (17. Qf3 $5 Ne8 18. Re2 Nd6 19. Ne4 Nf5 20. Bd2 Qb5 21. Bc3 Nd4 22.
Bxd4 cxd4 23. Rc1 Bh6 24. Rc5 Qa6 25. Rc6 Qxa2 26. d6 $36 {Naumkin,I-Manca,F/
Cappelle op/1993/}) 17... Qd8 $146 (17... Kf8 $5 18. Bf4 Nh5 19. Re4 Nxf4+ 20.
Rxf4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc3 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Qe6 f6 24. d6 Rxd6 25. Qc8+ Kg7 26.
Qxb7 Qxe1 27. Re4 Rd7 $1 $10 {Murzin,L-Darchia,D/Bratislava op/1993/}) 18. a4 (
18. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Nh5) 18... Ne8 (18... Rd7 $5 {Ftacnik} 19. Qf3 Ra6 $13) 19.
Re3 Bd4 (19... Nd6 $5 $132 {/\Nf5-d4}) 20. Rd3 Nf6 {><d5} 21. Be3 Rb4 (21...
Nxd5 $2 22. Bxd4 cxd4 23. Rxd4 e6 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. b4 $16) (21... Bxc3 22.
bxc3 c4 23. Rd2 Nxd5 24. Bd4 $40 {עg8}) 22. Rad1 Qb6 23. Qf3 Rd8 (23... Rxb2
24. Bxd4 (24. d6 {Ftacnik} Qb7 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. dxe7 Re8 27. Qxb7 Rxb7 28.
Rxd4 $16) 24... cxd4 25. Rxd4 $14) 24. R1d2 Kg7 (24... Bxc3 25. Rxc3 $16 {><c5}
) (24... Rxb2 25. Rxb2 (25. a5 Rxd2 $1 26. axb6 Rxd3 $17) 25... Qxb2 26. Bxd4
cxd4 27. Rxd4 Rc8 28. Rd3 $14) 25. Re2 Rd7 26. Bf4 $5 (26. g4 Qb7 $10) 26...
Rxb2 (26... Qb7 $142 $5) (26... Qb7 $5 {Ftacnik}) 27. a5 Qb4 28. Rxb2 Qxb2 29.
Na4 Qb5 30. Nb6 Ra7 31. Bd2 Qa6 (31... Nd7 32. Nc8 $1 (32. Rb3 {Ftacnik} Qa6
33. g4) 32... Ra8 33. Rb3 {/\Ne7}) (31... Ne8 $5 {/\Nd6}) 32. g4 Nd7 33. Rb3
Ne5 (33... Nxb6 34. Rxb6 Qc4 35. d6 $14) (33... c4 {Ftacnik} 34. Rb1 Nxb6 35.
axb6 Bxb6 36. Bc3+ f6 37. d6 $40) 34. Qe4 (34. Qf4 {Ftacnik} f6 $1) 34... Nc4
35. Nxc4 Qxc4 36. Rf3 (36. Rb8 {Ftacnik} Rd7 37. Qf4 Qxd5+ 38. f3 Rd8 $13)
36... f6 $2 (36... Qa2 $132) 37. g5 f5 (37... Qa2 $142 $5) (37... Rd7 {Ftacnik}
38. gxf6+ exf6 39. d6 Qa6 $13) 38. Qe6 $40 Qa6 (38... Qc2 $1 {Ftacnik}) 39. Rb3
$1 Qxe6 40. dxe6 c4 41. Rb4 Rc7 (41... Rxa5 42. Rxc4 Rd5 43. Rxd4 $1 Rxd4 44.
Bc3 $18) (41... c3 42. Bf4 $1 $18 Bc5 $2 43. Be5+ Kf8 44. Rb8#) 42. a6 $18 Rc6
(42... c3 43. Bf4 c2 44. Rxd4 c1=Q 45. Be5+ $1 $18) 43. a7 $1 Bxa7 44. Bc3+ Kf8
45. Rb7 Ra6 (45... Rxe6 46. Rxa7 {-45...Ra6}) (45... Bc5 {Ftacnik} 46. Rb8+)
46. Rc7 Rxe6 $8 47. Rxa7 {/\Ra8-h8,><h7} (47. Rxa7 {Ftacnik} Kf7 {1-0 Shirov,
A-Topalov,V/Linares (11) ;CBM 46 1995}) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.16"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 b6 11. h4 Bb7 12. c3 Nf6 13. Neg5 Bxf3 14. gxf3
Kh8 15. Kb1 Qd6 16. Rdg1 h6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 e5 19. f4 exd4 20. Qg2 Rg8
21. e5 Qe6 22. Qe4 f5 23. Qe2 dxc3 24. Bc4 Qc6 25. Bxg8 Rxg8 26. Rh3 cxb2 27.
Rd1 Qa4 28. Rf3 Bxh4 29. Qc2 Qxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Re8 31. Rd7 Re7 32. Rd1 Re6 33.
Kxb2 Kg8 34. Kb3 Kf7 35. a4 Be7 36. Rd7 Rc6 37. Rc3 Rxc3+ 38. Kxc3 g5 39. Rxc7
gxf4 40. Rxa7 h5 41. Rb7 f3 42. Kd3 h4 43. Rxb6 h3 44. a5 Bd8 45. Rb7+ Kg8 46.
a6 h2 47. Rb1 Bb6 48. Rh1 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.17"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B93"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Nbd7 7. a4 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. O-O Nc5 11. Qe1 b6 12. Bd2 Bb7 13. b4 Nxd3 14. cxd3 Rc8 15.
Rc1 e6 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. f5 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bh6 Re8 20. fxg6 hxg6 21. Qf2
f5 22. d4 Bg7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. d5 Rc4 25. dxe6 Bxe4 26. Nxe4 Rxe4 27. Rc6
R8xe6 28. Rxb6 Qf6 29. Rxa6 Rxb4 30. a5 Qd4 31. h3 Qxf2 32. Rxf2 Ra4 33. Rd2
Ra1+ 34. Kh2 Kh6 35. Rdxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.28"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E93"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Speelman,J"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Nd2 $5 (11. h4) 11... Nf4 12. O-O f5 13. exf5
Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2 Nf6 15. Nde4 (15. c5 $5 {Smyslov-Fischer Candiadates 1959})
15... Bxf5 16. f3 b6 17. b4 a5 18. a3 Nh5 19. Bf2 $5 (19. Rac1) 19... Nf4 20.
Qd2 Qe8 21. Be3 Qg6 {intending ...g4} 22. g4 $5 Bd7 23. c5 axb4 24. axb4 Rxa1
25. Rxa1 bxc5 26. bxc5 h5 27. Bxf4 $1 exf4 (27... Rxf4) 28. c6 Bxg4 $5 (28...
hxg4 $5) (28... Bc8 29. h3) 29. fxg4 hxg4 30. Ra7 $5 f3 $4 (30... Re8 $1 {
intending} 31. Rxc7 Rxe4 32. Nxe4 Qxe4 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qc3+ Kf7 $1 35. c7
Qb1+ 36. Kf2 Qa2+ 37. Ke1 f3 $1 38. Qd3 $1 (38. Kd1 $2 Qe2+ 39. Kc1 f2 $19)
38... Qa5+ 39. Kd1 Qa1+ $10 (39... Qxc7 $4 40. Qh7+ $18)) 31. Rxc7 $18 Be5 32.
Re7 Bf4 33. Qf2 Qh6 34. c7 Ra8 35. Nd1 Kf8 36. Rd7 Ke8 37. Rh7 $1 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.28"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. c3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e4 d6 8.
Bc4 Bg7 9. Qe2 c5 10. dxc5 dxc5 11. O-O Nc6 12. h3 Qc7 13. Rfe1 Rd8 14. e5 Rb8
15. e6 f5 16. h4 Na5 17. Bd3 Rd6 18. Nc4 Rxe6 19. Qxe6+ Bxe6 20. Rxe6 Kf7 21.
Rae1 Nc6 22. h5 g5 23. Bxf5 Bf6 24. Ne3 Rd8 25. Ng4 Kg7 26. Nxf6 exf6 27. b4
cxb4 28. Nd4 Rd6 29. Re8 Ne5 30. Ne6+ Rxe6 31. Bxe6 bxc3 32. Bb3 Qd7 33. Ra8 b6
34. Rd1 Qe7 35. Rdd8 f5 36. Rg8+ Kh7 37. Rh8+ Kg7 38. Rag8+ Kf6 39. Rxh6+ Ng6
40. Rgxg6+ Ke5 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.28"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 $6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bc4 Nxc3
8. bxc3 Qc7 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. Nf3 e6 11. O-O Bd6 12. Re1 a6 13. a4 Na5 14. Ba2 Bd7
15. Ne5 Rc8 16. Bd2 b6 17. Qg3 $1 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Kf8 {[#]} 19. d5 $1 f6 $2 (
19... exd5 20. Bxd5 f6 (20... Nc4 21. Bf4 $1 $40) 21. Re7 $1 Qxg3 22. Rf7+ Ke8
23. hxg3 $16) 20. dxe6 $1 fxe5 (20... Qxe5 21. exd7 Rd8 22. Bf4 $18) 21. e7+ $1
1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. e3 Bc5 10. exd4 exd4 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Ng5 O-O 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Nd2 Qd6
15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 h6 17. Bd3 Rf6 18. a3 a5 19. Qe2 a4 20. Bd2 Bb6 21. Bf4
Qd7 22. Qe4 g5 23. Bd2 Ba5 24. Rad1 Bxd2 25. Rxd2 Ra5 26. f4 gxf4 27. gxf4 Kf8
28. Rg2 Raf5 29. Rf1 Qf7 30. Rgf2 Ke7 31. Kh1 Kd8 32. Bc2 Kc7 33. Bxa4 e5 34.
Bxc6 bxc6 35. Rg1 Qxc4 36. Rc2 Qb5 37. a4 Qxa4 38. fxe5 Rf4 39. Qg2 R6f5 40. b3
Qb5 41. Qg8 Rg5 42. Rxg5 hxg5 43. Qxg5 Qd5+ 44. Kg1 d3 45. Rxc6+ Kxc6 46. Qxf4
d2 47. Qa4+ Kb7 48. Qb4+ Kc8 49. Qg4+ Kc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C75"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King Wedberg Dolmatov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 {
Black also has 5...f5, which leads to sharper positions.} 6. d4 Nge7 (6... g6 {
Dolmatov}) 7. Be3 {In my opinion, this gives white more choice than the normal
7.0-0.} Ng6 {In his third game of the match against Anand Yusupov played 7...
h6 but couldn t equalise after 8.Nbd2 g5 9.de de 10.h4!} 8. h4 $1 {This was my
idea. The white pawns restrict the black pieces.} h5 (8... Be7 {Dolmatov} 9. h5
(9. g3 {Wedberg} h6 10. d5 Nb8 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. Nf1 Nf6 14. N1h2
Bd7 15. Nd2 h5 16. a4 $14 {Milos,G-Magomedov,M/Moscow ol/1994}) 9... Nh4 10.
Nxh4 Bxh4 11. d5 Nb8 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. Qg4 Bf6 14. c4 O-O 15. O-O $10) (8...
Bg4 {Dolmatov} 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Qa4 Bd7) 9. g3 (9. Ng5 {Dolmatov}
Be7 10. Bb3 $16) 9... Be7 10. d5 Nb8 11. Bxd7+ (11. Nfd2 {Dolmatov} b5 12. Bb3
c5 13. a4) 11... Nxd7 12. Nfd2 {Now a typical indian structure arises with
white square B exchanged, which clearly favors white. Also the Ng6 is out of
play.} Nf6 13. f3 O-O (13... c5 $5 {Dolmatov} 14. c4 b5 15. Nc3 Rb8 $14) 14. c4
c5 {Stops the standard developing of the white attack on the queenside - Nc3,
b4, Nb3, c5 etc.} (14... c6 {Dolmatov} 15. Nc3 Qd7 $16) (14... b5 $132 {Wedberg
}) 15. Nc3 Qd7 16. a4 a5 $2 {Black is clearly worse on the kingside, so he had
to play the more flexible 16...b6 preparing b5 in some positions. This i
positional suicide. Almost anything is better.} (16... Bd8 {Dolmatov} 17. a5 {
Wedberg} Bc7 {With much more play for Black than in the game.}) 17. Qe2 Kh7 18.
O-O-O {King Cleverly, White has waited before committing his K, and now that
the Qside has closed he moves it there. Black has no counterplay to off-set
White's ferocious Kside attack.} Rh8 19. Nf1 $1 {The knight looks for its best
place on f5, where it can cause much damage for black.} Kg8 20. Bd2 Ne8 (20...
Kf8 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Ne3 Ke8 22. Nf5 Bf8 $16) 21. Ne3 Nf8 $6 {Black has to be
more afraid of f4 than of g4. That s why Nc7, Bf6 and Re8 was the right plan.}
22. b3 {I didn t know where to put the Rd1, so I made a useful move.} g6 $6 {
Following the wrong plan. In such positions each pawn move weakens the
position. It was still not too late for Nc7 and Re8.} (22... Nc7 $142 {/\Re8})
23. f4 Bf6 24. Rdf1 Qe7 25. f5 $1 {The e5-square is well-protected, but after
22...g6 the f-file became weaker. Now the black king is in danger.} Ng7 26. Nb5
b6 $2 {The final mistake. After 26...Nd7 I had 27.fg6 fg6 28.Nc7 Ra7 29.Rf3 b6
30.Nb5 ok} (26... g5 {Dolmatov} 27. g4 gxh4 28. gxh5 Bg5 29. f6 $1 Bxf6 30.
Rhg1 $16) 27. fxg6 fxg6 28. g4 $1 {The kingside opens.} (28. Rf2 {Dolmatov} Nh7
29. Rhf1 Rf8) 28... Bxh4 29. Nxd6 Qxd6 30. Rxh4 Nd7 31. gxh5 Rxh5 32. Rxh5 Nxh5
(32... gxh5 {Wedberg} 33. Rg1 $18) 33. Nf5 (33. Nf5 {Wedberg} Qc7 34. Ne7+ Kg7
35. Nxg6 Kxg6 36. Qg4+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. a3 Be7 10. c4 Qd8 11. dxc5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 a5 13. Be3 Ne4 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15.
bxc3 Bg6 16. Nd4 O-O-O 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bf3 Bf6 19. Rac1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rd8
21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Bxc6 Bxc3 23. Bb5 e5 24. f3 Kc8 25. Kf2 Bb2 26. a4 Bd4 27.
Bxd4 exd4 28. Ke2 Kc7 29. Be8 Bb1 30. h4 f6 31. Kd2 h6 32. h5 d3 33. Bb5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King Baburin Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6.
Be3 Nf6 7. f3 Be7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. g4 a6 10. O-O-O {Ftacnik The fight immediately
becomes very tense, each tempo is important.} Nxd4 (10... Nd7 11. Kb1 Nxd4 12.
Bxd4 b5 13. h4 b4 14. Na4 a5 15. g5 Qc7 16. Bb5 Rb8 17. Qe2 Ne5 18. f4 Ng6 19.
Be3 d5 $132 {Stefansson,H-Akesson,R Reykjavik zt (09) 1995 0-1 39 - CBM 47})
11. Bxd4 b5 (11... Nd7 12. h4 b5 13. g5 b4 $6 14. Ne2 (14. Na4 Bb7 $6 (14...
Qa5 15. b3 Nc5 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Qf4 Ra7 18. Kb1 Rd7 19. Bc4 Rd4 $5 $10 {
Inkiov,V-Vera,R Varna 1986}) 15. Nb6 $1 Rb8 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Kb1 Qc7 (17... a5
$5) 18. Bd3 $10 {Fischer,R-Spassky,B St Stefan Belgrade m25 1992 1-0 35}) 14...
Rb8 15. Ba7 Rb7 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Nd4 Nc5 18. Kb1 Na4 19. Nb3 a5 20. Ka1 Rd8 21.
Nd4 d5 22. e5 Bd7 23. h5 Nc3 $132 {Torhallsson,T-Akesson,R Reykjavik zt (04)
1995 1-0 37 - CBM 47}) 12. Kb1 (12. h4 Rb8 13. g5 Nd7 14. Kb1 (14. Ba7 Rb7 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Ne2 b3 18. axb3 Rxb3 $15 {Magem Badals,J-Ehlvest,J
Pamplona (5) 1991 0-1 38}) 14... b4 15. Ne2 Ne5 (15... Qc7 16. h5 Ne5 17. Ng1 (
17. f4 Nc4 18. Qd3 e5 19. Nc1 Bg4 20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Bxc4 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 exd4 23.
Nb3 $14 {Tiviakov,S-Van Wely,L Wijk (06) 1994 1-0 46}) 17... Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4
19. h6 g6 20. Bf6 Bxf6 21. gxf6 Rb6 22. Nh3 Bb7 23. Qe3 Rc6 $132 {Smirin,I-Van
Wely,L Wijk (09) 1994 0-1 41}) 16. Bg2 Nc4 17. Qd3 Qc7 18. b3 Na3+ 19. Kb2 Bd7
20. c4 $10 {Leko,P-Van Wely,L Wijk (02) 1994 1/2 56}) (12. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 13.
Qxd6 Qa5 $40) 12... Bb7 13. h4 Rc8 14. g5 Nd7 15. a3 {King It is satisfying to
see that Topalov came to the same conclusions as I did about this position. If
you return to Topalov-Kasparov, Amsterdam 1995, played a couple of months
prior to this, I recommended 15.a3. The only thing that takes the shine off
the medal that I've just awarded myself is the fact, that it doesn't actually
alter the result of the game: Kasparov keeps his head and wins in fine style.}
(15. Rg1 b4 $146 (15... Ne5 16. Qf2 (16. Rg3 Qc7 17. h5 b4 18. Na4 d5 19. g6
fxg6 20. Bh3 Qd6 21. hxg6 h6 22. Nc5 Nc4 23. Bxe6+ Qxe6 24. Nxe6 {
Thorhallsson-Palac/Hartberg op (5)/1991/0-1 (37)}) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18.
h5 Qc7 19. g6 fxg6 20. hxg6 h6 21. Rh1 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R
Manila olm 1992 0-1 30} (22... Rxf6 23. Qg3 b4 24. Na4 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R/
Manila olm (11.20.4)/1992/0-1 (30)})) 16. Ne2 (16. Na4 Bc6 17. Qxb4 d5 $19)
16... Ne5 17. Rg3 $6 (17. Bg2 Nc4 (17... a5 18. b3 $13) 18. Qxb4 Qd7 19. Qb3 a5
$40) (17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $17) 17... Nc4 (17... a5 18. b3 $13) 18. Qc1
e5 $1 19. Bf2 a5 {Ftacnik} 20. Bg2 Ba6 21. Re1 a4 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Qd1 d5 24.
exd5 $17 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/Amsterdam Euwe-mem (3)/1995/0-1 (28)}) (15. g6
fxg6 (15... b4 16. gxh7+ Kh8 17. Ne2 e5 18. Be3 f5 19. Qxb4 Ba8 20. Qd2 fxe4
$13 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,A Kobanya op (08) 1992 1-0 54}) (15... Ne5 $6 16. Qg2
Bf6 17. gxh7+ Kh8 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 20. f4 $16 {Varavin,V-Obukhov,A
Krasnodar 1991 1-0 30}) 16. Bh3 e5 $17) (15. Bd3 $1 b4 (15... Ne5 16. Qg2 Nxd3
17. Rxd3 b4 18. Nd1 Qc7 19. b3 $10 {Fedorov,A-Mochalov,E Minsk (10) 1995 1-0
63 - EXP 46}) (15... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 16. Rdg1 e5 17. Be3 b4 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5
Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qc7 21. Rg4 a5 22. Rhg1 f5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Bg5 $14 {Rodriguez,
A-Larsen,B/San Martin (03)/1995/1-0 (57)}) 16. Ne2 a5 17. Ng3 Qc7 18. h5 Ne5
19. f4 Nf3 20. Qf2 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc5 22. Qg1 Qxg1 23. Rhxg1 Rc5 24. Ne2 $10 {
Salazar,H-Panno,O/Buenos Aires Konex (07)/1991/0.5 (29)}) (15. Bh3 Ne5 16. Qg2
Nc4 17. g6 Bf6 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Ne2 Rc7 20. Nf4 {Ftacnik} Bc8 21. e5 dxe5 22.
Bxe5 Qe7 23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Bxe6+ {Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C/Szekszard op (09)/1994/
0.5 (37)}) 15... Ne5 16. Qe3 (16. Bxe5 $6 {Ftacnik} dxe5 $17) 16... Nc4 17.
Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Rhg1 {Baburin A typical position in the Sicilian Defence. The
a3P often allows the N to remain on c3, but at the same time helps Black to
open the b-file.} (18. Rd3 $5 Qe8 (18... Qc7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20. Ba5 $14 {/\ Bb4})
(18... Qb8 $5 {/\ b4}) (18... b4 $2 19. axb4 Rxb4 20. Bc5 $16 {/\ Bd6}) 19. Rg1
e5 20. Bb6 f5 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Ba5 Bf8 23. Rgd1 Qh5 24. Bb4 h6 25. Bxd6 Bxd6
26. Rxd6 Qxf3 $10 {Wang Zili-Boensch,U Peking op (07) 2nd. S.T. Lee Cup 1995
1-0 62}) (18. f4 {Ftacnik} b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 {xe4}) 18... b4 {[%csl Rb2]
Ftacnik In order to generate concrete threads as the b2P is vulnerable. King
15.a3 gave White some security in the centre as the Nc3 was able to maintain
its position. However, we now see the disadvantages of the little pawn move:
Kasparov is able to open the b-file towards the K. Having said that, it will
take some time before the rest of Black's pieces can join in the attack, and
White has his own play on the other side of the board. Topalov's problem is,
what is the best way to open a file on the kingside?} 19. axb4 Rxb4 20. Rg2 {
King Over the next few moves Topalov loses the initiative. To be honest, I
don't see the point of 15.Rg2. Trundling on with 15.h5 seems reasonable,
hoping for a chance to disrupt Black on the kingside with h6 or g6.} (20. Bc5
$2 Rc4 21. Bxd6 Bxd6 22. e5 Bc5 $19) (20. f4 Qc7 21. f5 e5 $1 22. Ba7 Ra8 $17 (
22... Rc8 $15 {Ftacnik})) 20... Ba8 {King Clearing the B from the b-file in
preparation for the attack} 21. b3 $2 (21. h5 Qc7 (21... Qa5 $2 22. Bf6 $1 (22.
g6 $2 fxg6 23. hxg6 h6 $15) 22... Qa3 23. Nd5 $1 Qxe3 24. Nxe3 $16) (21... e5 {
Ftacnik} 22. Bc5 (22. Bxe5 Qb8 $17) 22... Rc4 23. Ba3 Qc7) (21... Qb8 22. Ne2
Rc8 $132) 22. Bf6 Rfb8 $1 $40) (21. Bf6 Bxf6 22. gxf6 Qxf6 23. Rxd6 Bxe4 $1 $17
) (21. Bc5 $1 dxc5 $5 (21... Rb7 22. Rgd2 (22. Ba3 $2 Qa5 $15) 22... Qa5 (22...
Qb8 23. Ba3 $13) 23. Bxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Rxb2+ 25. Kxb2 Rb8+ 26. Nb5 $1 (26. Kc1
Qa3+ 27. Kd2 Qxd6+ 28. Ke2 Qc7 $17) 26... Rxb5+ 27. Kc1 $18) (21... Rb8 22.
Bxd6 Bxd6 23. Rgd2 Rxb2+ 24. Kxb2 Qb8+ 25. Ka2 Bf4 $17) (21... Rc4 22. Bxd6
Bxd6 23. Rgd2 Bc5 24. Qxc5 Qxd2 25. Qxf8+ Kxf8 26. Rxd2 $18) 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23.
h5 $1 $13) 21... a5 22. h5 $6 {Zu langsam!} Qc7 {Threatening ...e5.} 23. Bf6 {
King Smart way to get rid of the main kings defender. Ftacnik Looks flash, but
the B can be safely ignored. Kasparov refuses to allow an open file in front
of the K.} (23. g6 e5 24. gxh7+ Kxh7 (24... Kh8 {Ftacnik} 25. Ba7 Rc8 26. h6 g6
27. Rd3 Bc6 $40) 25. Ba7 Rc8 26. Kb2 Bc6 $15 {/\ a4, Ra8}) 23... Rfb8 (23...
gxf6 $4 {Ftacnik} 24. gxf6+ Kh8 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Bxe7 (24. h6 {Ftacnik} a4 $40)
24... Qxe7 {King Although the pawns on h5 and g5 look impressive, it is
impossible to open a file, for instance: 25 g6 fxg6 26 hxg6 h6, and Black's K
remains safe.} 25. Rd4 {Verhindert a4.} (25. h6 $2 {Ftacnik} a4 $19) 25... e5 (
25... Qa7 $4 26. Rxb4 $18) 26. Rxb4 axb4 {King Recapturing with the P is an
interesting decision. With one pair of R exchanged, Kasparov recognises that
the attack down the b-file has diminished, and he changes the nature of his
advantage. White's N is driven from the centre, and there is a chance that
Black can use the open a-file.} 27. Na2 (27. Na4 Bc6 28. Nb2 Bb5 29. Rd2 Qc7
$17) (27. Nd5 {Ftacnik} Bxd5 28. exd5 Qb7 $17) 27... Qc7 $1 $17 28. Qd3 Kf8 {
King Intending to support the dP with ...Ke7 in the case of Rd2.} 29. g6 {
King With the BlackK on the march, Topalov feels justified in blowing the
position open; however, Kasparov scuttles the K back into the corner, and
White has only managed to weaken his position.} (29. Rd2 Ke7 $17) 29... fxg6 (
29... hxg6 {Ftacnik} 30. hxg6 f6 31. Rh2 $40) 30. hxg6 h6 31. f4 $6 {Sieht aus
wie Selbstmord, aber wenn Weiß passiv bleibt ist er gegen die Verdoppellung
auf der a-Linie hilflos.} exf4 32. Rf2 Kg8 33. Rxf4 {King The bishop on a8
lives again: the e-pawn is a target, and potentially the g-pawn as well.} Qc5 (
33... d5 $5 {Ftacnik} 34. Rf7 Qd6 35. exd5 Qxd5 36. Nxb4 Qxd3 (36... Rxb4 $2
37. Qxd5 Bxd5 38. Rd7) 37. Nxd3 Be4 38. Rc7 Bxg6 $15) 34. Rf1 Qb5 (34... Qe5 {
Ftacnik} 35. Qc4+) 35. Rc1 $2 (35. Qf3 Qe8 $1 $19 {x e4, x g6}) (35. Qxb5 {
Die beste Chance liegt in einem schlechteren Endspiel.} Rxb5 36. Rd1 Bxe4 37.
Rxd6 Kf8 38. Rd4 Bxg6 39. Nxb4 h5 $17) (35. Rf5 {Ftacnik} Qb6 (35... Qe8 $6 36.
Qxd6 Rd8 37. Re5) 36. Qc4+ Kh8 37. Nxb4 Qg1+ 38. Rf1 Qxg6 $15) (35. Rd1 {
Ftacnik} Qxd3 36. cxd3 (36. Rxd3 Bxe4 37. Rxd6 Kf8 $17) 36... d5 37. e5 d4 $17)
35... Qe5 $19 36. Qc4+ (36. Re1 {Ftacnik} d5 $17) 36... Kh8 37. Rh1 (37. Re1 {
Ftacnik} d5) (37. Nxb4 {Ftacnik} Qxe4 38. Qxe4 Bxe4 39. Nd3 Bxg6 $17) 37...
Bxe4 {[%csl Ge4,Ra2] Ftacnik The B is stronger in open positions, on top of it
the N occupies very modest square.} 38. Qc7 (38. Rxh6+ gxh6 39. Qc7 Rb7 $19)
38... Rf8 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 (39... gxh6 $4 {Ftacnik} 40. Qh7#) 40. Nc1 (40. Qc4+ {
Ftacnik} d5 $19) (40. Nxb4 {Ftacnik} Rf1+) (40. Rh3 {Ftacnik} Qe6 $1) 40...
Bxc2+ (40... Bxc2+ 41. Kxc2 (41. Qxc2 gxh6 $19) 41... Rf2+ 42. Kd3 (42. Kd1 {
Ftacnik} Qd4+) 42... Qd5+ 43. Ke3 Qd2+ 44. Ke4 Rf4#) 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B73"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 d6 7. Be2 Nf6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Qd2 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. Nxc6 (11. f4 Bd7 12. Rad1 Rc8 13. h3 b6 $6
(13... Na5 14. b3 $10) 14. f5 Ne5 15. b3 Bc6 16. Bg5 Bb7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5
a6 19. a4 Qd7 20. c4 $16 {Nevednichy,V-Rogozenko,D Bucharest 1993 1-0 31}) (11.
f3 Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Qb6 16. Rfd1 Qxd4+
17. Rxd4 Rfc8 $10 {Hekmet,Z-Olesen,M Rilton Cup (04) 1995 0-1 56 - EXP 45})
11... bxc6 12. Bh6 (12. h3 Be6 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Qa5 15. Qe3 Rfd8 16. f4 d5
$10 {Brochet,P-Prevot,E Hyeres op 1992 1-0 41}) 12... Bxh6 (12... Be6 13. Bxg7
Kxg7 14. Ne2 Qb6 15. b3 a5 16. Rae1 f6 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Re3 a4 $10 {Kristensen,
B-Sher,M Vejle 1994 1/2 29}) 13. Qxh6 Rb8 (13... Qb6 14. Rab1 Be6 15. Rfd1 Rab8
16. Rd3 Qc5 17. b3 Rb4 18. Re1 f6 19. Qd2 a5 20. Na4 Qa7 21. c3 Rb7 22. c4 $14
{Kindermann,S-Benko,P Aruba (1) 1992 1-0 57}) 14. b3 (14. Rab1 Be6 15. Qe3 Qb6
16. Qxb6 axb6 17. a4 b5 18. axb5 cxb5 19. Ne2 Rfc8 20. Rfc1 Rc4 $15 {Mencinger,
V-Vera,R Portoroz 1987 1/2 41}) 14... Qa5 15. Qe3 Rfd8 (15... e5 16. h3 Be6 17.
Rad1 Rbd8 18. Kh1 f6 19. f4 Kg7 20. a4 Qb6 $10 {Kamsky,G-Rao,V Philadephia
World op (8) 1991 1-0 42}) 16. h3 Be6 17. Rfd1 f6 18. Rd3 Qb6 19. Qh6 Qc5 20.
Rad1 Kh8 21. R1d2 Rg8 22. Qe3 $6 {Weiß gibt seine Gewinnversuche auf, das
Endspiel ist ausgeglichen.} (22. Ne2 g5 23. Nd4 Bf7 24. Nf5 $13) 22... Qxe3 23.
Rxe3 $10 g5 24. Ne2 Kg7 25. Nd4 Bd7 26. Nf5+ Bxf5 27. exf5 Kf7 28. Rde2 Rb7 29.
g4 h5 30. Kg2 hxg4 31. hxg4 Rh8 32. Re4 a5 33. Re1 Rh7 34. Re6 a4 35. bxa4 $6
Rh8 36. R1e3 Ra8 37. Rh3 Rxa4 38. Rh7+ Kf8 39. Kg3 Rxa2 40. Rxf6+ exf6 41. Rxb7
Rxc2 42. Rb8+ Ke7 43. Rb7+ Ke8 44. Rb8+ Kd7 45. Rb7+ Ke8 (45... Kd8 46. Rf7 c5
47. Rxf6 Rd2 48. f4 Rd3+ 49. Kf2 gxf4 50. g5 $13) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 (7.
Bg5 $6 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Bd3 c5 $10) 7... b6 (7... c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O (9.
Qe2 O-O 10. Bg5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Be7 12. Ne5 $14) 9... O-O 10. Qe2 h6 $14 {Rogers,
I-Vaganian,R/Manila(ol)/1990/}) 8. Qe2 Bb7 9. Bg5 (9. c3 $6 Be7 10. Bg5 h6 11.
Bh4 Qd5 $13 {Kamsky,G-Kortchnoi,V/Tilburg/1991/}) 9... Be7 10. O-O-O Qd6 11.
Ne5 (11. Kb1 O-O-O 12. Ne5 Rhf8 13. Ba6 $14) 11... O-O 12. Kb1 Rad8 13. c4 $6 (
13. Bf4 $5 Qd5 (13... Nd5 14. Bg3) 14. c4 Qxd4 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Rxd4 Rxd4 17.
Be3 $16) 13... h6 14. Bf4 $6 (14. Be3 c5 15. f4 cxd4 16. Bc2 $14) 14... Qxd4 $1
$8 15. Bh7+ Kxh7 16. Rxd4 Rxd4 17. Be3 Re4 18. Nf3 Rd8 (18... Ba6 $6 19. Nd2
$14) 19. h3 Kg8 20. b3 a5 $6 (20... b5 $5 21. cxb5 Nd5 22. Rc1 Bf6 $132) 21.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 b5 23. Nd2 (23. cxb5 $6 Nd5 24. Bd4 Bb4 $44) 23... Rh4 24.
f3 Rh5 25. Qf1 bxc4 26. bxc4 (26. Nxc4 a4 $44) 26... a4 27. Bf4 (27. Qd3 Bd6
28. Bd4 Nd7 $132) 27... Rc5 28. Qd3 Rc6 29. a3 Ba6 $2 (29... Bd6 $1 30. Bxd6 (
30. Be3 Nd7 $132) 30... cxd6 $132) 30. Be5 Bd6 31. Bb2 Rb6 (31... Nd7 $5 32.
Qd4 Be5 33. Qxd7 Rb6 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxf7 Rxb2+ 36. Kc1 Rb6) 32. Qc3 Bf8 33.
Ka2 Nd7 34. Qa5 Nc5 $16 35. Bd4 Nb3 36. Nxb3 axb3+ 37. Kb2 Rc6 38. c5 (38. Qa4
$2 Rxc4 39. Qxa6 Rxd4 $14) 38... Bc4 39. Qa8 Ra6 40. Qd8 Bd5 $6 (40... c6 41.
Be5) (40... Rc6 $32 41. a4 Ra6 $16) 41. Qxc7 $18 f6 42. Qd7 Rc6 43. Qe8 Ra6 44.
a4 Ra8 45. Qb5 Rd8 46. a5 Ba8 47. Bc3 Kf7 48. a6 Rd5 49. Qb8 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 {Tal's Idee.} cxd4 (5... dxc4 $2
6. d5 Na5 7. e4 b5 8. Nxb5 Nxe4 9. Ne5 $16 {Tal,M-Timman,J/KRO m/1988/CBM10/
INF46,60/}) 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11.
Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 (14. Kxd2 O-O-O 15. Kc2 Kc7 16. Ne5
Rhf8 17. Bf3 f6 18. Nd3 Kb6 $10 {Vaganian,R-Alterman,B/Groningen PCA/1993/
CBM39/INF59,(65)/}) 14... Nb4 15. Be4 Ke7 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Rhc8 18. f4 c5 19.
Kf2 Rab8 $5 {Der erste neue Zug. Schwarz will gegen den geschwaechten b3P
spielen.} (19... Rc7 20. Rc2 Rac8 21. Rhc1 Nb6 22. Bf3 Bb5 23. e4 f6 24. a4 Ba6
25. Be2 Bxe2 26. Kxe2 Kd8 27. Rc3 $14 {Weiss steht nur sehr minimal besser.
Vaganian,R-Kindermann,S/Bundesl/9495/}) 20. Rc2 Nf6 21. Bf3 Rd8 22. Rhc1 Bb7
23. Ke3 Bxf3 (23... Nd5+ $2 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxc5 Bxb3 26. Rc7+ Rd7 27. Rxd7+
Kxd7 28. Rb1 $18) 24. exf3 {Jetzt droht sofort den c5P zu nehmenn.} (24. Kxf3
h5 $10) 24... Nd7 25. Rc3 Rb5 26. Ke2 h5 $5 27. a4 Rb4 28. Nc4 (28. Ne4 g6 29.
Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 Rxb3 31. Rc7+ Rd7 $10) 28... h4 29. Na5 Rc8 30. Rc4 Rxc4 31.
Rxc4 hxg3 32. hxg3 a6 33. Rc1 Rh8 {Weiss hat gar nichts erreicht. In dieser
Variante (5.d4) kann Schwarz mit leichter Muehe das Gleichgewicht behalten.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 (10... h6 11. h4 hxg5 12. hxg5 Ng4 13.
Be2 e5 14. Qg1 exf4 15. Bxg4 Bxg5 16. Bxc8 Rxc8 17. Rd3 Bh6 $10 {
WiersmaE-Sosonko,G NLD-ch (02) 1995 1/2 29 - CBM 48}) 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Bb3 {
Mit der Hauptvariante 12.e5 wird es immer schwerer den weit ausanalysierten
und remisverdächtigen Endspielen aus dem Weg zu gehen. Auch in dieser Partie
hat Schwarz keine Mühe auszugleichen.} Bc6 13. h4 $6 $146 (13. Rhf1 h6 14. Bh4
Qh5 (14... e5 15. fxe5 dxe5 $10) 15. Bg3 d5 16. exd5 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Bxd5 18.
Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Qe5 $10 {- ECO}) 13... h6 14. Kb1 {King Unlike the game
Wiersma-Sosonko, Black would be ill-advised to capture on g5 - the attack down
the h-file would be far too strong. Instead, Kramnik develops the standard
Sicilian play on the queenside, and very nearly wins.} Qc5 15. Qd3 (15. Qxc5
dxc5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Ba4 Bxc3 18. Bxc6 $10) 15... b5 16. a3 a5 17. f5 b4 18.
Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxd6 Qxd6 20. Rxd6 bxc3 (20... Rfc8 $2 21. axb4 axb4 22. Na2 exf5
23. exf5 Bxg2 (23... Be5 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Bd5 Rxa2 26. Bxa2 $16) 24. Rg1 Be5
25. Rd7 $16) 21. Rxc6 a4 22. Bc4 exf5 23. exf5 Rfb8 $6 {Gestattet dem Weißen
die Qualität zu opfern und damit in ein unverlierbares Endspiel abzuwickeln.} (
23... cxb2 24. Rc7 Rad8 $15 (24... Rfc8 $6 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27. Be6
Rc3 28. Rh3 $10)) 24. b4 $1 axb3 25. Bxb3 Rxa3 26. Rh3 $8 Rba8 27. Rhxc3 Bxc3
28. Rxc3 Ra1+ 29. Kb2 Rf1 30. g4 Rg1 31. Rc4 Rb8 (31... h5 $6 32. g5 (32. gxh5
$2 Rf1 $15) 32... Kh8 $1 (32... Rg4 33. Rc7 (33. g6 $2 Rxc4 34. Bxc4 Kf8 35.
gxf7 $15) 33... Rxh4 34. Rxf7 $1 (34. f6 Rf8 35. g6 gxf6 $17) (34. g6 Rf4 35.
Rxf7 Kh8 $17) 34... Kh8 35. f6 gxf6 (35... g6 36. Rg7 $18) (35... Rg8 36. g6
Rg4 37. fxg7+ Rxg7 38. Rf8+ Rg8 39. Rxg8#) 36. g6 $1 $18) 33. Rc7 f6 34. gxf6
gxf6 35. Rf7 Ra6 36. Be6 $10) 32. Kc3 Kh7 33. Rd4 Rb7 34. h5 Rf1 35. Bc4 Rf3+
36. Bd3 Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 (7. Bg5 h6
8. Bh4 Nbd7 9. Nd2 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Nde4 Nxg3 12. Nxg3 a6 13. e3 Ne5 14. Be2
Bg7 15. Nh5 O-O 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 17. O-O g4 18. Qd2 Rg8 19. Kh1 Kh8 20. Ne4 Bf5
21. Ng3 Bh7 22. Qc3 b5 23. b4 Rc8 $132 {Nedobora,M-Moskalenko,V/Noyabrsk/1995/}
) 7... Bg7 (7... Na6 8. Nc4 Nc7 9. e4 $1 (9. a4 b6 (9... Rb8 10. e4 Bg7 11. Bf4
O-O 12. Be2 Nce8 13. O-O a6 14. a5 Qe7 15. e5 Nd7 16. exd6 Qd8 17. Na4 Bd4 18.
Qd2 Ng7 19. Rae1 f6 20. b4 $18 {Van Der Sterren,P-Austin,D/Novi Sad olm /1990/}
) 10. e4 Ba6 11. Be2 Bg7 12. Bf4 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nh5 14. Be3 Qh4 15. Qd2 O-O 16.
Bg5 Bxc3 17. Bxh4 Bxd2+ 18. Kxd2 Rfe8 19. Rhe1 Kg7 20. e5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 dxe5
$44 {Gostisa,L-Ivanka Budinsky,M/Belgrade GMA-op/1988/}) 9... b5 10. Na5 a6 11.
Bg5 Bg7 12. Qf3 Bd7 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nb7 Qe7 15. d6 Qe6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxc5 {
1-0,Sadler,M-Stratil,L/Oakham/1988/}) 8. Nc4 (8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 (9. Nc4 a6 10.
a4 Qc7 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. f4 Re8 13. O-O Rb8 14. Na3 Nf8 15. Re1 Bd7 16. Bd2 Kh8
17. Qc2 Ng8 18. Kh1 Ne7 19. a5 f5 20. Nc4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxd5 22. Nexd6 $36 {
Flamarzi,T-Abdullah,A,M/WCH B-14 Bratislava/1993/}) 9... Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11.
Nc4 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Qd2 a6 15. a4 c4 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. a5 b5
18. axb6 Qxb6 19. Be3 $14 {1/2-1/2,Reshevsky,S-Arnason,J/Reykjavik op/1984/})
8... O-O 9. g3 b6 10. a4 Ba6 $1 (10... Na6 $6 11. Bg2 Ne8 (11... Nc7 $2 12.
Nxd6 $1 $16) 12. O-O Nac7 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Rb1 f5 15. b4 cxb4 16. Rxb4 Na6 17.
Rb1 Nc5 18. Na5 $1 Bb7 19. Nc6 Bxc6 20. dxc6 Rc8 21. Qc2 Nf6 22. Rfd1 Qe7 23.
Bg5 Kh8 24. e3 $16 {Baburin,A-Joyce/Bunratty op/1995/}) 11. Nb5 Ne8 12. Bg2 (
12. Bf4 Bxb5 13. axb5 Qe7 (13... g5 $6 14. Bd2 f5 15. h4 $36 {[%csl Rg7,Rg8,
Rh7,Rh8][%cal Rh1h7] <->h,׻}) 14. Qd2 Nd7 15. Bg2 $13) 12... Bxb5 13. axb5 {
[%csl Rb5] ><b5} Nd7 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. O-O $6 (15. Qd2 $142 Ne5 16. Nxb6 (16. Qe3
$5 $13) (16. Rc1 $2 Nxc4 17. Rxc4 Nc7 $17) 16... Rb8 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nc4 $10)
15... g5 $1 {()>>} 16. Bd2 Nc7 {[%csl Rb5]} 17. Qb3 $8 f5 18. Rae1 (18. f4 $5
$132 {[]} gxf4 19. Bxf4 (19. gxf4 Nf6 $15 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Yf6e4] ><d5,/\Ne4})
19... Ne5 20. Rae1 $13) 18... f4 $17 19. gxf4 gxf4 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Bf3 (21.
Nxe5 Bxe5 $17 {[%cal Re7d7,Yg8h8,Yf8g8] /\Qd7,><b5,-><->g}) (21. Na3 Ng6 $5 $40
{[%cal Rg6h4] /\Nh4}) 21... Qd7 22. Rg1 Qxb5 23. Qxb5 Nxb5 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25.
Bg4 (25. Rg4 Kh8 26. Reg1 Bf6 $17) 25... Kh8 26. Bd7 Nc7 $1 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5} (
26... Nd6 27. e4 $15) 27. Bc6 (27. d6 Rad8 28. dxc7 Rxd7 $17 {[%cal Rd7c7] /
\Rc7}) 27... Rad8 28. e4 fxe3 29. Rxe3 (29. Bxe3 Nxd5 30. Bg5 Rd6 $19) 29...
Nxd5 30. Reg3 Ne7 $1 (30... Rg8 $2 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Bh6 Rd7 33. Rg5 $132 {~/=}
) 31. Rxg7 Nxc6 $19 32. Be3 Rd6 33. Rc7 (33. R7g5 Nd4 {[%cal Rd4f3] /\Nf3})
33... Rg8 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Kg2 e4 (35... Rf6 36. Kg3 (36. f3 Nd4 37. Bxd4
exd4 38. Rxa7 Rc6 $19) 36... e4 {-35...e4}) 36. Kg3 Rf6 37. Bg5 Rf3+ (37... Rg6
$142 38. Kf4 Nd4 39. Rc8+ Kf7 40. Rc7+ Ke8 {/\} 41. Rxh7 Ne6+ 42. Kf5 Nxg5 $19)
38. Kg2 Nd4 39. Rxa7 Nf5 $6 (39... Rb3 40. Bh6 Nf5 $19) 40. Ra4 Rb3 41. Rxe4
Rxb2 42. Rf4 Ng7 {Black has made it difficult for himself, but the position
still remains won. First he will free his K and then advance his passed P.} 43.
Rf6 Rb4 44. Kf3 h5 45. h4 (45. Bh6 b5 46. Rg6 Kh7 $19) 45... b5 46. Rc6 Rc4 $1
(46... c4 $6 47. Bf6 $132 {/\} Nf5 48. Ke4) 47. Rc8+ (47. Bf6 Nf5 $19) (47. Be7
Nf5 $1 48. Bxc5 Nd4+) 47... Kf7 48. Rc7+ Kg6 49. Rc6+ Kf5 50. Rf6+ Ke5 51. Rh6
{[%cal Rg5f6] /\Bf6} Nf5 $1 52. Rxh5 {[%csl Gb5,Gc5][%cal Rb5b1] White has
equalized material, but the passed pawns are already too far.} b4 53. Rh8 Nd4+
54. Kg4 Ne6+ 55. Kh5 (55. Kf3 b3 56. Rb8 Nxg5+ 57. hxg5 Rb4 $19) 55... b3 56.
Rb8 Rb4 $1 $19 (56... Nxg5 $6 57. Rxb3 $17) 57. Rxb4 cxb4 58. Bc1 Nf4+ 59. Kg5
Nd3 60. h5 Ke6 $1 (60... Nxc1 $6 61. h6 b2 62. h7 b1=Q 63. h8=Q+ Kd5 $19) (
60... Ke6 61. Kg6 (61. h6 Kf7) 61... Nxc1 62. h6 b2 63. h7 b1=Q+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bc2 Bf8 13. d5 Ne7 14. c4 (14. b3 c5
15. a4 Nd7 16. Nf1 f5 17. c4 bxc4 18. bxc4 f4 19. h4 g5 20. hxg5 Ng6 21. gxh6
Bxh6 22. Ng3 Kh7 23. Nf5 Nf6 24. Nh2 {Smagin,S-Blatny,P/Stary Smokovec (2)/
1990/1-0 (46)}) 14... c6 15. b3 cxd5 (15... Rb8 16. Nf1 g6 17. Ng3 Bg7 18. a4
cxd5 19. cxd5 Rf8 20. Bd2 Nh7 21. Qc1 Rc8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra2 f5 24. Bxh6 {
Klovans,J-Siegel,G/Biel op (03)/1994/1-0 (77)}) (15... Qa5 16. Nf1 Reb8 17. Bd2
Qd8 18. Ng3 a5 19. Bd3 Nd7 20. Bf1 bxc4 21. bxc4 cxd5 22. cxd5 f5 $13 {
Kereszturi,S-Glatt,G/HUN-chT 9293/1993/0-1 (66)}) 16. cxd5 Rc8 17. Nf1 Nh5 18.
a4 (18. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 19. Qxh5 Rxc2 $19) 18... Qc7 19. Bd3 f5 (19... Qc3 20. Rb1
$14) 20. axb5 fxe4 21. Rxe4 $1 (21. Bxe4 axb5 $132) 21... Qc3 (21... Bxd5 22.
Bc4 $1 Nf6 23. bxa6 $16) 22. Ba3 Nf6 (22... Nf4 23. bxa6 Bxd5 24. Re3 Bxb3 $6
25. Qb1 $1 $18) 23. Bxd6 $1 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 axb5 25. Ra7 Rcd8 $1 (25... Ba8 26.
Bxe5 $16) 26. Rxb7 Rxd6 27. Rxb5 Nc6 28. Qe2 Nd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 (29... exd4 30.
Bh7+ Kf7 31. Bg8+ $1 Kxg8 32. Qxe8 $18) 30. Ng3 Rf6 (30... g6 31. Qc2 $40) 31.
Nf5 Qa7 32. b4 $1 (32. d6 Bxd6 33. Rb7 Qa1+ 34. Kh2 Rxf5 $1 35. Bxf5 e4+ 36. g3
Qf6 37. Bxe4 $140 Rxe4 $1 38. Qxe4 Qxf2+ 39. Qg2 Bxg3+ 40. Kh1 Qe1+ 41. Qg1
Qe4+ $10) 32... Rc8 $6 (32... Qd7 $1 $14) 33. d6 $1 g6 (33... Bxd6 34. Rb7 Qxb7
(34... Qa1+ 35. Kh2 Rxf5 36. Qg4 $1 $18) 35. Bxb7 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 Rxf5 37. Qd2 Rc7
38. Bd5+ Kh8 39. Be6 $18) 34. Bd5+ Kh8 35. Qxe5 Bg7 36. Nxg7 Qxg7 37. d7 (37.
Rb7 Qf8 38. d7 $18 (38. Rf7 $2 Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Qxd6)) 37... Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Rf8 39.
f4 (39. Qd6 $18) 39... Rd1 (39... Qxe5 40. fxe5 Rd8 41. e6 $18) 40. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. a3 d6 6. Rb1 h5 7. h3 Nh6 8. e3 e5
9. d3 f5 10. Nd5 Be6 11. b4 cxb4 12. axb4 Ne7 13. Qa4+ Kf7 14. e4 Nxd5 15. exd5
Bd7 16. Qb3 Bf6 17. Nf3 Kg7 18. h4 Nf7 19. Be3 Qe7 20. c5 f4 21. cxd6 Nxd6 22.
Bc5 e4 23. dxe4 Qxe4+ 24. Kf1 Ba4 25. Nd2 Bxb3 26. Nxe4 Bc4+ 27. Kg1 Nxe4 28.
Bxe4 Rhe8 29. f3 b6 30. Rc1 bxc5 31. Rxc4 cxb4 32. Rxb4 fxg3 33. Kg2 Be5 34.
Rb7+ Kh6 35. Rc1 Rac8 36. Rxc8 Rxc8 37. Re7 Bf6 38. Re6 Kg7 39. Kxg3 Rc1 40.
Ra6 Rg1+ 41. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Baburin} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3
Be7 8. g4 O-O 9. Qd2 a6 10. O-O-O Nxd4 (10... Nd7 11. Kb1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13.
h4 b4 14. Na4 a5 15. g5 Qc7 16. Bb5 Rb8 17. Qe2 Ne5 18. f4 Ng6 19. Be3 d5 $132
{Stefansson,H-Akesson,R Reykjavik zt (09) 1995 0-1 39 - CBM 47}) 11. Bxd4 b5 (
11... Nd7 12. h4 b5 13. g5 b4 14. Ne2 (14. Na4 Bb7 $6 (14... Qa5 15. b3 Nc5 (
15... Bb7 $5) 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Qf4 Ra7 18. Kb1 Rd7 19. Bc4 Rd4 $5 $10 {
Inkiov-Vera Varna 1986}) 15. Nb6 $1 Rb8 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Kb1 Qc7 (17... a5 $5)
18. Bd3 $10 {Fischer,R-Spassky,B (25) St Stefan/ Belgrade m 1992 1-0 35}) 14...
Rb8 (14... a5 15. Be3 Ne5 16. Nd4 Bb7 17. h5 b3 $1 18. axb3 a4 19. b4 a3 $132 {
Ilincic-Cvetkovic/Jugoslavia-ch/1990/}) 15. Ba7 Rb7 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Nd4 Nc5 18.
Kb1 Na4 19. Nb3 a5 20. Ka1 Rd8 21. Nd4 d5 22. e5 Bd7 23. h5 Nc3 $132 {
Torhallsson,T-Akesson,R Reykjavik zt (04) 1995 1-0 37 - CBM 47}) 12. Kb1 (12.
h4 Rb8 13. g5 Nd7 14. Kb1 (14. Ba7 Rb7 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Ne2 b3 18.
axb3 Rxb3 $15 {Magem Badals,J-Ehlvest,J Pamplona (5) 1991 0-1 38}) 14... b4 15.
Ne2 Ne5 (15... Qc7 16. h5 Ne5 17. Ng1 (17. f4 Nc4 18. Qd3 e5 19. Nc1 Bg4 20.
Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Bxc4 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 exd4 23. Nb3 $14 {Tiviakov,S-Van Wely,L Wijk 
(06) 1994 1-0 46}) 17... Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. h6 g6 20. Bf6 Bxf6 21. gxf6 Rb6
22. Nh3 Bb7 23. Qe3 Rc6 $132 {Smirin,I-Van Wely,L Wijk (09) 1994 0-1 41}) 16.
Bg2 Nc4 17. Qd3 Qc7 18. b3 Na3+ 19. Kb2 Bd7 20. c4 $10 {Leko,P-Van Wely,L Wijk
(02) 1994 1/2 56}) (12. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qa5 $40) 12... Bb7 13. h4 Rc8 14.
g5 Nd7 15. Rg1 (15. g6 Ne5 (15... b4 16. gxh7+ Kh8 17. Ne2 e5 18. Be3 f5 19.
Qxb4 Ba8 20. Qd2 fxe4 $13 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,A Kobanya op (08) 1992 1-0 54})
16. Qg2 Bf6 17. gxh7+ Kh8 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 20. f4 $16 {Varavin,
V-Obukhov,A Krasnodar 1991 1-0 30}) (15. Bd3 b4 16. Ne2 a5 17. Ng3 Qc7 18. h5
Ne5 19. f4 Nf3 20. Qf2 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc5 $15 {Salazar,H-Panno,O Buenos Aires
Cup Lat (7) 1991 1/2 29}) (15. Bh3 Ne5 16. Qg2 Nc4 17. g6 Bf6 18. gxf7+ Kxf7
19. Ne2 Rc7 20. Nf4 $40 {Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C Szekszard op (09) 1994 1/2 37 -
EXP 45}) 15... b4 $146 (15... Ne5 16. Qf2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. h5 Qc7 19. g6
fxg6 20. hxg6 h6 21. Rh1 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R Manila olm 1992
0-1 30}) 16. Ne2 (16. Na4 Bc6 17. Qxb4 d5 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rg3 $6 (17. Bg2
Nc4 (17... a5 18. b3 $13) 18. Qxb4 Qd7 19. Qb3 a5 $40) (17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Qxd8
Rfxd8 $17) 17... Nc4 (17... a5 18. b3 $13) 18. Qc1 e5 $1 19. Bf2 a5 $17 20. Bg2
Ba6 21. Re1 a4 {Baburin: Just by looking at the position we can say that Black
is succeeding in his attack. White's pieces are in awkward positions and not
coordinated. It means that some time ago White did not play energetically
enough.} 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Qd1 d5 $1 24. exd5 (24. Qxd5 Rd6 $19 {Baburin The
Queen is trapped in the very centre!} 25. Qc5 Rd1+ $19) 24... Rd6 25. f4 (25.
c3 b3 $19) 25... Rxd5 26. Rd3 (26. Qc1 Nd2+ 27. Ka1 Ne4 28. Rf3 Bxe2 $19) 26...
Na3+ 27. bxa3 Bxd3 28. cxd3 Rxd3 (28... Rxd3 29. Qxa4 Rxh3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Stohl Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6
7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 Nbd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Re1 Qa5 (12... Ra6
13. h3 Qa8 14. Bg5 (14. Bf4 {Stohl} Nb6 15. Qc2 Na4 16. Nxa4 Rxa4 17. a3 Nd7
18. Rad1 Ra7 19. Bc1 (19. e5 $5) 19... Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. f4 Bd4 22. Be3
Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Rb8 24. Rb3 Rxb3 25. Qxb3 Rb7 $44 {Pacheco,JL-Pelikian,J/Sao
Paulo zt/1995/}) 14... h6 15. Bd2 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 $13 {Ljubojevic-Topalov
Linares 1995}) 13. h3 Rfb8 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Rb7 (16... Ra7 {
Ftacnik} 17. Qe2 (17. Qe1 Qd8 18. Rb1 Rd7 19. Bf4 Rbb7 20. Na4 Rxd5 21. Nxc5
Rxe5 22. Qxe5 Rb4 23. Qe1 Qd5+ 24. Kg1 {Dao Thien Hai-Sorensen,J/WchJ Tunja (2)
/1989/0-1 (40)}) (17. Qf3 {Stohl} Rb4 18. Re2 Rab7 19. Bg5 Qd8 20. d6 Qxd6 21.
Rd1 Qb8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Bc1 Qc8 25. Rc2 Rc7 26. Be3 c4 $132 {
Epelbaum,M-Phominyh,A/Alushta3/1994/}) 17... Rbb7 18. a4 (18. Bf4 Nh5 19. Rxh5
gxh5 20. d6 Qa6 21. Qxh5 Qc6+ 22. Kg1 exd6 23. Rd1 Rxb2 24. Rxd6 {Caselas,
J-Martin Gonzalez,A/ESP-ch Canete/1994/0-1 (26)}) 18... Ne8 19. Re3 Nd6 20. g4
c4 21. Qf3 (21. Rf3 Bxc3 $1 $10 {Spassky,B-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/1990/0.5 (26)})
21... Rb8 22. Ra3 Rab7 23. Ne4 Bxb2 24. Bxb2 {Shneider,A-Khalifman,A/Moscow
PCA-Intel qual (07)/1995/0.5 (30)}) (16... Kf8 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe2 Ra7 18. Bf4
Qb4 19. Re1 Qxb2 20. Qe3 Ra3 21. Rxe7 Rxc3 22. Rxf7+ Kg8 23. Qe6 Kh8 24. Rxf6 {
Kiss,B-Molnar,E/HUN-chT 9293/1993/1-0 (27)}) 17. d6 $146 (17. Qe2 Qd8 18. a4
Ne8 19. Re3 Nd6 $1 $44 (19... Bd4 $6 20. Rd3 Nf6 21. Be3 Rb4 22. Rad1 Qb6 23.
Qf3 Rd8 24. R1d2 {Stohl} Kg7 25. Re2 Rd7 $13 {Shirov,A-Topalov,V/Linares/1995/}
)) 17... exd6 (17... e6 $2 18. Re2 $5 (18. Qf3 {Stohl} Rbb8 (18... Rd7 $2 19.
Rxc5 $16) 19. Re2 $14 {/\Bf4,Bg5})) (17... Rd8 18. Qf3 exd6 19. Rxc5 (19. Qxb7
dxe5 20. Bg5 $14) 19... Qxc5 20. Qxb7 $14) 18. Qxd6 Rc8 $1 {Nach diesem Zug
hat Schwarz drei starke Drohungen: a) 19...Rd7 mit Damenfang, b) 19...Qa8 mit
Röntgenwirkung nach g2 und c) 19...Ne8 mit Doppelangriff.} (18... Ne8 19. Qc6
$1) 19. Nd5 (19. Ne4 $2 Rb6 $15) (19. Qd1 Qa8 20. Qf3 Ng4 21. Re1 (21. Re2 {
Ftacnik} Ne5 22. Qe4 Rd8 $132) 21... Ne5 $36) (19. Re2 {Ftacnik} Qa8 $1) (19.
Be3 $2 {Stohl} Rd7 20. Rxc5 Qa8+ 21. Nd5 Rxc5 $19) (19. Qd1 $5 $13 {Stohl})
19... Nxd5 (19... Ne8 {Ftacnik} 20. Qc6 $3 Bxe5 (20... Rxc6 21. Rxe8+ Bf8 22.
Bh6 $18) 21. Qxb7 $16) 20. Qxd5 (20. Rxd5 {Stohl} Bxb2 21. Rb1 Qxa2 $10) 20...
Qa6 (20... Bxe5 {Stohl} 21. Qxb7 Rb8 22. Qe4 $14 {/\} Bxb2 $2 23. Bxb2 Rxb2 24.
Qe8+ Kg7 25. Qe5+ $18) 21. Re4 c4 (21... h5 22. Rc4 $14) (21... Bxb2 $2 {Stohl}
22. Rb1 Rcb8 23. Rxb2 Rxb2 24. Bxb2 Rxb2 25. Re8+ Kg7 26. Qe5+ Kh6 (26... Qf6
27. Rg8+ $18) 27. Qxb2 (27. Qe3+ $5 $40) 27... Qc6+ 28. Kh2 Qxe8 29. Qc1+ $16)
22. Bf4 $1 (22. a4 $2 h5) 22... Bxb2 (22... Rxb2 23. Rae1 h5 24. Re8+ Rxe8 25.
Rxe8+ Kh7 26. Re7 $14) 23. Rae1 Qb5 (23... Kg7 24. Be5+ Bxe5 25. Qxe5+ Qf6 26.
Qxf6+ Kxf6 27. R1e2 $10) (23... Qa8 $5 24. Re8+ Rxe8 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. Qxb7
Ba3 $10 {o^c}) (23... Qc6 $2 {Ftacnik} 24. Qxc6 Rxc6 25. Bh6 Re6 26. Rxc4 Rb8
27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. a4 $18) 24. Re8+ Rxe8 25. Qxb5 (25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 (25... Kg7 26.
Qd8 $40) 26. Qxb7 $10 (26. Qxb7 {Stohl} Bf6 $15 {o^c})) 25... Rxb5 26. Rxe8+
Kg7 27. Rc8 Rb4 (27... c3 {Ftacnik} 28. Rc4 (28. a4 {Stohl} Ra5 29. Rc4 $10 {
/\Be3-d4}) 28... g5 29. Be3 $10) 28. Bd6 Ra4 29. a3 $1 (29. Bf8+ $2 Kf6 30.
Rc6+ Ke5 31. Bg7+ Kd5 $1 $19) 29... Kf6 30. Bb4 Bxa3 (30... Ke6 31. Rxc4 Bxa3
32. Rc6+ Kd7 33. Rd6+ $10) (30... Bxa3 {Stohl} 31. Bxa3 Rxa3 32. Rxc4 $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bh6+ 14. Be3
Bxe3+ 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Qxe7 Be6 17. Qa3 Rfd8 (17... a5 18. Bd3 Qb4 19. Be4 Qxa3
20. bxa3 Ra6 21. Rd6 Rc8 22. Rhd1 Kg7 23. R1d3 (23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. R1xd5 {
Hoffmann,M-Tolnai,T/Budapest GM/1992/0.5 (30)}) 23... Rb6 24. Rc3 {Popovic,
P-Tolnai,T/OST-chT9394 (02)/1994/0.5 (46)}) (17... Qf2 18. Qa5 (18. Rd2 Qe1+
19. Rd1 Qf2 20. Rd2 Qe1+ 21. Rd1 Qe5 22. Kb1 Rab8 23. b3 c5 24. Qb2 $13 {
Schabanel,S-Van Dongen,P/Paris-ch (8)/1991/0.5 (41)}) 18... Rab8 19. h4 (19. b3
Qe3+ 20. Qd2 Qe5 21. Qd4 Qa5 22. Qb2 Rfd8 23. Bd3 Qg5+ 24. Rd2 $13 {
Fusi-Genser/AUT-chU20/1994/0.5 (54)}) 19... Rb6 20. h5 Rfb8 21. b3 Qe3+ 22. Qd2
Qc5 23. Qd4 Qa5 24. hxg6 $16 {Riveron-Cabrera,A/Jiguani/1991/1-0 (30)}) 18. Ba6
(18. Be2 $6 Bxa2 $1) 18... c5 19. Be2 c4 (19... Rab8 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rd1 $16
) 20. f4 Rd4 (20... c3 21. Qxc3 Bxa2 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. b3 $18) 21. Rxd4 Qxd4
22. g3 c3 (22... Qf2 23. Qf3 $16) 23. Qxc3 Qxc3 24. bxc3 Bxa2 25. Kb2 (25. c4
$2 Rc8) 25... Be6 26. c4 Kf8 (26... a5 27. Ra1) 27. Ra1 a5 28. c5 Ke7 29. c4
Bd7 (29... Kd7 30. Bf3 Ra6 31. Kc3 $16) 30. Bf3 Rb8+ (30... Ra6 31. Kc3 f6 32.
Bb7 Ra7 33. Re1+ Kf8 34. c6 $18) 31. Kc3 a4 32. Ra3 (32. c6 Rb3+ 33. Kd4 Rxf3
34. cxd7 Kxd7 35. Rxa4 $16) 32... Rc8 33. Kd4 h5 34. Bb7 Rd8 (34... Rc7 35. Ba6
Bf5 36. Bb5 Bc2 37. Bxa4 Bxa4 38. Rxa4 $18) 35. Kc3 h4 36. gxh4 Rh8 37. Bd5 (
37. c6 Be6 38. Rxa4 Kd6 39. Ra2 Rxh4 40. Rf2 $16) 37... Rxh4 38. Kb4 (38. c6
Be6) 38... Rxh2 (38... Rxf4 39. c6 Be6 40. Bxe6 fxe6 (40... Kxe6 41. Rd3 $1 $18
) 41. Kc5 Rh4 42. Rxa4 Rxh2 43. Ra8 $1 $18) 39. c6 Be6 (39... Bf5 40. Kc5 Bc2
41. c7 Rh8 42. Bb7 Bf5 43. Rxa4 $18) 40. Bxe6 fxe6 (40... Kxe6 41. Kc5 Rh8 42.
Rxa4 $18) 41. Kc5 Kd8 42. Rxa4 (42. Rxa4 Rf2 43. Ra8+ Kc7 44. Ra7+ Kc8 45. Rg7
$18) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
Bb7 9. O-O-O Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Rc8 11. g4 d6 12. Kb1 Nf6 13. a3 Nd7 14. h4 Ne5 15.
Qe3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Rh2 e5 18. Ba7 Be7 19. h5 h6 20. Qb6 Qc7 21. Qxc7
Rxc7 22. Bb6 Rc6 23. Ba5 Bg5 24. a4 bxa4 25. Nxa4 Ke7 26. b3 Rb8 27. Nc3 Ba8
28. Nd5+ Kd7 29. Bd2 f6 30. Kb2 Rf8 31. Ra1 Bb7 32. Be3 Ke6 33. Rd2 Rf7 34. Rd3
Bxe3 35. Nxe3 Bc8 36. Rad1 Rfc7 37. c4 a5 38. Nf5 Rd7 39. Ra1 Ra6 40. Kc3 Rc7
41. Rd5 Rca7 42. Rad1 Rd7 43. Rb5 Rc7 44. Rb8 a4 45. bxa4 Rxa4 46. Nxd6 Bd7 47.
Rb6 Ke7 48. Rdb1 Be6 49. Kb3 Rca7 50. Kc3 Rc7 51. R1b4 Ra3+ 52. Rb3 Ra4 53. Kb2
Bxc4 54. Rc3 Ra2+ 55. Kc1 Ra1+ 56. Kd2 Rd7 57. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Baburin} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3
Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 Be7 (9... b5 10. g5 Nh5 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 $40) 10. Qd2 O-O
11. O-O-O b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Nh5 (13... Ne8 14. Ng3 a5 15. Kb1 a4 16. Nc1 Nc7
17. f4 $16 {Smirin,I-De Firmian,N/Polanica Zdroi (4)/1995/}) 14. Ng3 Nf4 15. h4
a5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nd4 (17. Nc1 $5) 17... exd4 18. Bxf4 Qa5 $6 (18... Ne5 $5 19.
Nf5 $5 (19. Be2 Qc7 20. Nf5 (20. Qxd4 $2 Bxa2+ 21. Kxa2 b3+ $17) 20... Bxf5 21.
exf5 Rfc8 22. Rc1 a3 23. b3 Qc3) 19... Nxf3 (19... Bxf5 20. exf5 Qc7 21. Qxd4
$16) 20. Qd3 Ne5 21. Qxd4 $40) 19. Nf5 $1 (19. Qxd4 Rfc8 20. Bd3 Ne5 $14) 19...
Bxf5 20. exf5 Qxf5 21. Qxd4 $16 b3 (21... Ne5 $2 22. Bh3 Qg6 23. h5 Qxh5 24.
Bf5 $18) 22. Bd3 bxa2+ 23. Ka1 {Baburin: The same opening line and the same
middlegame idea, as in Smirin-De Firmian (CBM 49).} Qc5 24. Qe4 (24. Be4 Qxd4
25. Rxd4 Ra6 26. Rhd1 Nc5 $16) 24... g6 25. Be3 (25. Qxe7 $6 a3 26. Bc1 axb2+
27. Bxb2 Rfb8 $132) 25... Qe5 26. Bd4 Qxe4 27. Bxe4 Ra5 {/\d5} 28. Bc3 $1 Rc5 (
28... Ra6 29. h5 Bxg5 30. hxg6 $18) 29. Bb4 Rc4 30. Bxd6 Bxd6 31. Rxd6 $18 Nc5
32. Rc6 Rd8 33. h5 Kf8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Kxa2 Ke7 36. Bd3 Kd7 37. Bxc4 Kxc6 38.
Bxf7 Rf8 39. Bxg6 Rxf3 40. Rg1 Kd6 41. Bh7 Rf7 42. Bg8 Rg7 43. Bc4 Ke5 44. g6
1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ftacnik, Lubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. b3 c6 12. Bb2 Bh6 13. Rb1 Nc8 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15.
Bd3 Nb6 16. b4 axb4 17. axb4 Nh5 18. g3 Bd7 19. Qe2 Rc8 20. Nb3 Na4 21. Nxa4
Bxa4 22. Bc1 Bxc1 23. Rfxc1 Bxb3 24. Rxb3 Ng7 25. c5 Ne6 26. Rbc3 dxc5 27. bxc5
Qa5 28. Qc2 Kg7 29. Kg2 Rc6 30. Qb2 Qc7 31. Bc4 Nxc5 32. Bb5 Qb6 33. R1c2 Rc7
34. Qc1 Rfc8 35. Bf1 Ne6 36. Rxc7 Rxc7 37. Rxc7 Qxc7 38. Qb2 Nd4 39. Bd3 Qc6
40. f4 Qf6 41. Bc4 b5 42. Bxb5 exf4 43. gxf4 Nxb5 44. Qxb5 Qxf4 45. Qb2+ Kh6
46. Qb7 f6 47. Kg1 Qf3 48. Qe7 Qg4+ 49. Kf2 Qf4+ 50. Kg1 Qg5+ 51. Kh1 Qe5 52.
Qb7 Qg5 53. Qc8 Qe3 54. Qc4 Qf2 55. Qd3 Kg5 56. Qc4 h5 57. Qd3 Kh4 58. Qd1 Qe3
59. Kg2 Qxe4+ 0-1

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Krasenkov,M Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6.
Be3 a6 7. Bd3 b5 8. O-O Bb7 9. Qe2 Nf6 10. Kh1 (10. a3 {Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 d6
12. Nf3 (12. Rad1 O-O 13. f5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15. Bf2 Rfe8 16. Bh4 Rad8 17. Kh1
Nd7 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. a4 b4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 a5 22. f6 Nxf6 23. Rxf6 e4
24. Rf2 exd3 25. Qxd3 Qc5 {Przewoznik-Gdanski,J/Naleczow (02)/1988/0.5 (60)}) (
12. Kh1 O-O 13. Rae1 Rac8 14. Rf3 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 e5 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Qd6 $2
(17... Ne8 $5 18. Rg3 Bf6) 18. Bg5 Nd7 19. Bxe7 $2 (19. Rd1 Qe6 20. Bxe7 Qxe7
21. a4 b4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Nc5 24. d6 $16) 19... Qxe7 20. a4 b4 21. Nd5
Bxd5 22. exd5 Nc5 $132 {Tkachiev,V-Brodsky,M/Wijk op/1995/0.5 (39)}) 12... O-O
13. Rae1 b4 $1 14. Nd1 $2 (14. Na4 bxa3 15. bxa3 d5 $1) 14... bxa3 15. bxa3 e5
$1 16. Nf2 exf4 17. Bxf4 Ne5 $1 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 $2 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Ng4 Be7 22. Bc4 Bc8 $2 (22... Rad8 $1 $17 {Karpov,An}) 23. Bd5 Ra7 24. a4 Qc3
25. Ne3 $10 {Polgar,J-Ljubojevic,Lj/Buenos Aires/1994/0-1 (51)}) (10. Rad1 {
Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 O-O 12. e5 Ne8 13. Qh5 f5 14. Bxf5 exf5 15. Nxf5 d6 16. Nd5
Qd7 17. g4 Bd8 18. exd6 Nxd6 19. Bc5 Rxf5 20. gxf5 Qxf5 21. Qxf5 Nxf5 22. Rfe1
$17 {Geller,E-Gipslis,A/Moscow/1969/0-1 (31)}) (10. h3 {Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 d6
12. Nf3 O-O 13. a3 b4 14. Na4 Nd7 15. c3 bxa3 16. b4 d5 17. e5 g6 18. Qf2 f6
19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Qa2 Kh8 21. Qxa3 e5 22. fxe5 Ncxe5 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Rad1 d4
25. cxd4 Nf3+ 26. Rxf3 Bxf3 $17 {Romanishin,O-Balashov,Y/URS-ch/1979/0-1 (36)})
10... Be7 (10... Bb4 $5 11. a4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Nxe4 14. axb5 axb5
15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Bxb5 O-O $10 {Topalov,V-Benjamin,J/Groningen PCA/1993/CBM39/
Topalov-Benjamin, Groningen 1993}) 11. f4 d6 12. a4 $5 {Weiss hat eine
interessante Idee, weil er normalerweise am Koeningsfluegel spielt.} (12. Nxc6
{Ftacnik} Bxc6 13. Bd4 e5 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Bf2 b4 16. Nd1 O-O 17. Bh4 Ne8 18.
Bxe7 Qxe7 19. a3 a5 20. axb4 Qxb4 21. Qe1 Qxe1 22. Rxe1 Nd6 23. Nc3 a4 {
Djoric,D-Rajkovic,D/Nis op/1993/0-1 (42)}) 12... b4 13. Na2 d5 (13... O-O 14.
Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxb4 Bxe4 16. Bxa6 $16) (13... Rb8 14. c3 bxc3 15. Nxc3 Nb4 16.
Rac1 $36) 14. e5 Ne4 (14... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. a5 {xb4}) 15. c3 $5
bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nb4 (16... Nxc3 $2 17. bxc3 O-O 18. Nxc6 (18. Rf3 $40 {Ftacnik})
18... Bxc6 19. Bd4 $40 {/\ f5}) (16... Nc5 {Krasenkov,M}) 17. Rac1 Nxd3 18.
Qxd3 (18. Nxd5 $6 Qxc1 19. Bxc1 Nef2+ 20. Rxf2 Nxf2+ 21. Qxf2 Bxd5 22. f5 Rc8
23. Be3 Kd7 $13) 18... Qb8 {Der Nachziehende braucht noch einen Zug ( 0-0 )
und dann ist alles in Ordnung. Mit dem folgenden Bauernopfer will Weiss seine
Initiative behalten.} (18... Nxc3 19. Rxc3 Qd7 20. f5 $40 (20. Rfc1 $36 {
Ftacnik})) 19. f5 $1 Qxe5 (19... Nxc3 {Ftacnik} 20. fxe6 (20. Qxc3 {Krasenkov,M
} Qxe5 21. Bf4 Qf6 22. Qc7) (20. Rxc3 Qxe5 21. Bf4) 20... fxe6 (20... Ne4 21.
exf7+ Kd8 22. Ne6+ Kd7 23. Nc7 $18) 21. Rxc3 $40) 20. fxe6 fxe6 {[#] [#]} (
20... O-O {Ftacnik} 21. Rf5 Qd6 (21... Nc5 {Krasenkov,M} 22. Qd2 Qd6 23. exf7+
Rxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Nf5) 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Qb3 $16) 21. Ncb5 $1 {Der
Schluesselzug.} Nc5 (21... axb5 $2 22. Qxb5+ Kd8 23. Qxb7 $18) (21... Rc8 {
Ftacnik} 22. Rxc8+ (22. Bf4 Rxc1 $1) 22... Bxc8 23. Nc6 Qxb2 24. Nc7+ Kd7 25.
Nxd5 $40) 22. Qe2 {Droht /\ b4 oder Nf3} Rc8 (22... axb5 23. Qxb5+ Kd8 (23...
Nd7 24. Qxb7 Rb8 (24... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 25. Nb5 $18) 25. Rc8+ $18) 24. Rxc5 $1 (
24. Qb6+ Ke8 25. Rxc5 Qxe3 (25... Bxc5 26. Qxb7 $18) 26. Qxb7 $18) 24... Bxc5 (
24... Qxe3 25. Qxb7 $18) 25. Rf7 $1 (25. Qxb7 $18) 25... Qd6 26. Bg5+ $18) 23.
Na7 Rc7 (23... Ra8 {Ftacnik} 24. Nac6 Qd6 25. Bf4 Qd7 26. Nxe7 Qxe7 27. b4 $18)
(23... Bd6 $2 {Ftacnik} 24. Nf3 $18) (23... Rb8 {Krasenkov,M} 24. Nac6 Bxc6 25.
Nxc6 Rxb2 26. Qf3) 24. b4 $1 Nxa4 (24... Ne4 25. Rxc7 (25. Bf4 $2 Qxf4 26. Rxf4
Rxc1+ 27. Rf1 Rxf1+ 28. Qxf1 Rf8 $17) 25... Qxc7 26. Nxe6 Qe5 27. Qg4 $16) 25.
Nac6 (25. Rxc7 {Krasenkov,M} Qxc7 26. Nxe6 Qe5) 25... Qe4 (25... Bxc6 26. Nxc6
Rxc6 (26... Qe4 27. Rf4 Qg6 (27... Rxc6 {Ftacnik} 28. Rxc6 (28. Rxe4 Rxc1+ 29.
Bxc1 dxe4 30. Qxa6 O-O $16) 28... Qb1+ 29. Bg1 $18) 28. Qxa6 $18) (26... Qb2
27. Qxa6 $18) 27. Rxc6 d4 28. Qxa6 dxe3 29. Qc8+ Bd8 30. Rxe6+ $18) (25... Qd6
{Ftacnik} 26. Bf4 $18) 26. Rf4 Qg6 27. Rg4 Qf7 {[#]} (27... Qf6 {Krasenkov,M}
28. Rf1) 28. Rxg7 $1 {Eine kleine, aber huebsche Kombination entscheidet die
gut gespielte Partie.} Qxg7 29. Nxe6 Qb2 (29... Qxg2+ {Ftacnik} 30. Qxg2 Rxc6
31. Rxc6 Bxc6 32. Bd4 $18) 30. Nxc7+ Kd7 (30... Kf7 {Ftacnik} 31. Qh5+ $18) 31.
Qxb2 Nxb2 32. Ne5+ Kd6 (32... Kc8 {Ftacnik} 33. Nxd5+ Kd8 34. Nf7+ Ke8 35. Nxh8
$18) 33. Nf7+ Kd7 34. Ne5+ (34. Nxh8 $18) (34. Nxh8 {Ftacnik} Bd6 35. Nxa6 Bxa6
36. Ra1 $18) 34... Kd6 35. Bf4 Rf8 (35... Rc8 {Ftacnik} 36. Nc4+ Kc6 37. Nxb2+
Kd7 38. Na4 $18) (35... Rg8 {Krasenkov,M} 36. Nd3+ Kd7 37. Nxb2 d4 38. Bg3 (38.
Rc2 Rf8) 38... Bd6 39. Na4 $1 Bxg3 40. hxg3 Kd6 (40... d3 41. Nxa6 $18) 41. b5
Rxg3 42. bxa6 $18) 36. Nc4+ Kd7 (36... Kc6 {Ftacnik} 37. Nxb2+ $18) 37. Nb6+ (
37. Nb6+ Kd8 38. Ne6+ Ke8 39. Nxf8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sosonko, Gennadi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8.
Kxf1 d6 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2 Nbd7 12. Qe2 Qb6 13. Re1 Rfb8 14. e5 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Qxe5 Rb7 17. Qe2 Ne8 18. Bd2 Nd6 19. b3 Qa6 20. Rac1 Qxe2 21.
Rxe2 c4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3
e6 8. g4 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 (12. h4 Rb8 13. g5
Nd7 14. Kb1 (14. Ba7 Rb7 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Ne2 b3 18. axb3 Rxb3 $15 {
Magem Badals,J-Ehlvest,J Pamplona (5) 1991 0-1 38}) 14... b4 15. Ne2 Ne5 (15...
Qc7 16. h5 Ne5 17. Ng1 (17. f4 Nc4 18. Qd3 e5 19. Nc1 Bg4 20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21.
Bxc4 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 exd4 23. Nb3 $14 {Tiviakov,S-Van Wely,L Wijk (06) 1994 1-0
46}) 17... Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. h6 g6 20. Bf6 Bxf6 21. gxf6 Rb6 22. Nh3 Bb7
23. Qe3 Rc6 $132 {Smirin,I-Van Wely,L Wijk (09) 1994 0-1 41}) 16. Bg2 Nc4 17.
Qd3 Qc7 18. b3 Na3+ 19. Kb2 Bd7 20. c4 $10 {Leko,P-Van Wely,L Wijk (02) 1994 1/
2 56}) (12. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qa5 $40) 12... Bb7 13. h4 Rc8 14. g5 Nd7 15.
a3 (15. Rg1 b4 $1 (15... Ne5 16. Qf2 (16. Rg3 Qc7 17. h5 b4 18. Na4 d5 (18...
Bc6 $5) 19. g6 fxg6 20. Bh3 Qd6 21. hxg6 h6 22. Nc5 Nc4 23. Bxe6+ Qxe6 24. Nxe6
$16 {Thorhallsson-Palac Hartberg op (5) 1991 0-1 37} (24. Nxe6 Nxd2+ 25. Rxd2
dxe4 26. Nxf8 Rxf8 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rd7 $17 {0-1 Thorhallsson-Palac/Hartberg
op (5) 1991 (37)})) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. h5 Qc7 19. g6 fxg6 20. hxg6 h6
21. Rh1 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R Manila olm 1992 0-1 30} (22...
Rxf6 23. Qg3 b4 24. Na4 d5 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R/Manila olm/1992/0-1 (30)})) 16.
Ne2 (16. Na4 Bc6 17. Qxb4 d5 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rg3 $6 (17. Bg2 Nc4 18. Qxb4
Qd7 19. Qb3 a5 $40) 17... Nc4 18. Qc1 e5 $1 $17 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G
Amsterdam Euwe-mem (3) 1995 0-1 28} (18... e5 {Ftacnik} 19. Bf2 a5 20. Bg2 Ba6
21. Re1 a4 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Qd1 d5 24. exd5 $17 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/Amsterdam
Euwe-mem (3)/1995/0-1 (28)})) (15. g6 fxg6 (15... b4 16. gxh7+ Kh8 17. Ne2 e5
18. Be3 f5 19. Qxb4 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,A/Budapest op/1992/} (19. Bh3 $1 {
Ftacnik} f4 $1 20. Bf2 a5 $44) 19... Ba8 20. Qd2 fxe4 $13 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,
A Kobanya op (08) 1992 1-0 54}) (15... Ne5 $6 16. Qg2 (16. gxf7+ {Ftacnik} Rxf7
17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Bh3 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 Rc6 20. Bg4 $10) 16... Bf6 17. gxh7+ Kh8 (
17... Kxh7 {Ftacnik} 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 $13) 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 20.
f4 $16 {Varavin,V-Obukhov,A Krasnodar 1991 1-0 30  Varavin,V-Obukhov,A/USSR/
1991/}) 16. Bh3 e5 $17) (15. Bd3 b4 (15... Ne5 16. Qg2 Nxd3 17. Rxd3 b4 18. Nd1
Qc7 19. b3 $10 {Fedorov,A-Mochalov,E Minsk (10) 1995 1-0 63 - EXP 46} (19. b3
e5 20. Bb2 f5 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Ne3 Rcf8 23. Ng4 Re6 24. h5 $14 {Fedorov,
A-Mochalov,E/Minsk (10) 1995/1-0 (63)})) (15... Nc5 16. Rdg1 e5 17. Be3 b4 18.
Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qc7 21. Rg4 $14 {Rodriguez,A-Larsen,B San
Martin (03) 1995 1-0 57} (21. Rg4 {Ftacnik} a5 22. Rhg1 f5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24.
Bg5 $14 {Rodriguez,A-Larsen,B/San Martin (03)/1995/1-0 (57)})) 16. Ne2 a5 17.
Ng3 Qc7 18. h5 Ne5 19. f4 Nf3 20. Qf2 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc5 $15 {Salazar,H-Panno,O
Buenos Aires Cup Lat (07) 1991 1/2 29} (21... Qc5 22. Qg1 Qxg1 23. Rhxg1 Rc5
24. Ne2 Rd8 25. c3 bxc3 26. Nxc3 Bc6 27. Be2 Bd7 28. Rd4 Rb8 29. Na4 Bxa4 {
1/2-1/2 Salazar,H-Panno,O/Buenos Aires Cup Lat (7) 1991})) (15. Bh3 Ne5 16. Qg2
Nc4 17. g6 Bf6 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Ne2 Rc7 20. Nf4 Bc8 21. e5 dxe5 22. Bxe5 Qe7
23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Bxe6+ $16 {Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C Szekszard op (09) 1994 1/2
37 Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C/Szekszard op (09)/1994/0.5 (37)}) 15... Qc7 $2 $146 {
Zu langsam und in einigen Varianten ein Tempoverlust.} (15... Ne5 16. Qe3 (16.
Bxe5 $6 dxe5 $17) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Rhg1 (18. Rd3 $5 $146 Qe8 (18...
Qc7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20. Ba5 $14 {/\ Bb4}) (18... Qb8 $5 {/\ b4}) (18... b4 $2 19.
axb4 Rxb4 20. Bc5 $16 {/\ Bd6}) 19. Rg1 e5 20. Bb6 f5 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Ba5 Bf8
23. Rgd1 Qh5 24. Bb4 h6 25. Bxd6 Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Qxf3 $10 {Wang Zili-Boensch,U
Peking op (07) 2nd. S.T. Lee Cup 1995 1-0 62}) (18. f4 b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 {xe4})
18... b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 $15 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G Novgorod (04) 1995 0-1 40 -
CBM 48} (19... Rxb4 {Ftacnik} 20. Rg2 (20. f4 Qc7 21. f5 e5 22. Ba7 Rc8 $15)
20... Ba8 21. b3 (21. h5 e5 22. Bc5 Rc4 23. Ba3 Qc7) 21... a5 22. h5 Qc7 23.
Bf6 (23. g6 e5 24. gxh7+ Kh8 25. Ba7 Rc8 26. h6 g6 27. Rd3 Bc6 $40) 23... Rfb8
(23... gxf6 $4 24. gxf6+ Kh8 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Bxe7 (24. h6 a4 $40) 24... Qxe7
25. Rd4 (25. h6 $2 a4 $19) 25... e5 26. Rxb4 axb4 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/
Novgorod (04)/1995/0-1 (40)})) 16. Rg1 Kh8 $6 (16... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe3 Nc4
18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Bf6 $1 $16) 17. h5 e5 {xd5} (17... f5 {Ftacnik} 18. h6 e5 19.
hxg7+ Kxg7 20. Be3 $16) 18. Be3 f5 {Damit wird der direkte K-Angriff zwar
gestoppt, aber die Felderschwaechen d5 und e6 garantieren Weiß vorzuegliches
Spiel.} (18... Nb6 {Ftacnik} 19. g6 $1 $40) 19. exf5 $1 (19. g6 {Ftacnik} f4
20. Bf2 h6 $13) 19... Rxf5 (19... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 20. f6 $5 (20. Be2 Bxe2 21.
Qxe2 Rxf5 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. g6 $40 h6 $140 24. Qg4 Rf8 25. Bxh6 $1 $18) 20...
gxf6 21. g6 Rg8 22. Be2 $40) 20. Nd5 $3 {Ganz hervorragend gespielt! Mit der
radikalen Ausnutzung der weißen Felder widerlegt Topalov den Aufbau seines
Gegners.} Bxd5 (20... Qd8 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 $18 (23. Rxd6 {
Ftacnik} Rf7 24. Bh3 $18)) 21. Qxd5 Qxc2+ 22. Ka2 {Es droht Bd3, Bh3, Rc1 und
gelegentlich Qe6 bzw. mit dem B auf d3 Qe4.} Rff8 (22... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 23. Rd2
(23. Bh3 $2 Na4 24. Qd2 Nc3+ 25. Ka1 Nxd1) 23... Qa4 24. Bh3 $16) (22... Rc3 {
Ftacnik} 23. Rd3 (23. Bd3 $4 Rxa3+ $1 24. Kxa3 Qa4#) 23... Rc7 24. Bh3 Qc4+ (
24... Rf8 25. Rc1 $18) 25. Qxc4 bxc4 26. Bxf5 cxd3 27. Bxd3 $16) (22... Qc6 {
Ftacnik} 23. Qe6 $18) 23. Rc1 Qa4 (23... Qf5 24. Bd3 Qh3 25. Rh1 Qg2 26. Qe4 g6
27. hxg6 $18) (23... Nb6 {Ftacnik} 24. Qb7 $18) 24. Qe6 (24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qe6
b4 26. Qxe7 bxa3 27. Rg4 Qc2 28. Rg2 Qc6 (28... Qa4 29. b3 $18) 29. h6 $18)
24... Rxc1 25. Bxc1 Qd4 (25... b4 26. Qxe7 bxa3 27. b3 Qc6 28. Bd3 Qxf3 29. Rf1
Qg2+ 30. Kxa3 Rxf1 31. h6 gxh6 32. Qxh7#) (25... Qc2 {Ftacnik} 26. Qxd7 Qxc1
27. Qxe7 $18) 26. Rg4 (26. Rg4 Qd1 27. Qxd7 Qxf1 (27... Bd8 {Ftacnik} 28. h6 $1
$18) 28. Qxe7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Ng4 (8... d6) 9. e3 d6 (9... Nge5 10. b3 d6 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Qd2
a6 14. Nde2 $14 {Smeikal,J-Honfi,K/CSSR/1968/}) 10. b3 (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxc6
Rb8 12. Bf3 Ne5 $44 {Saadi,J-Fisher,R/Mar del Plata/1960/}) 10... a6 (10...
Nxd4 11. exd4 Nh6 12. Bb2 Nf5 13. Nd5 Bd7 14. Re1 Re8 15. Qd2 $14) 11. Bb2 Nxd4
12. exd4 Rb8 13. a4 Nh6 14. a5 Nf5 15. Nd5 (15. Na4 $2 Qxa5) 15... b5 $1 $8 (
15... e6 $2 16. Nb6 $16) 16. axb6 $6 (16. Nb4 $5 Qc7 17. Nc6 Rb7 18. Rc1 $40)
16... e6 17. Ne3 Ne7 (17... Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qxb6 19. Ra3 $10) 18. Ba3 $6 (18. b7
Bxb7 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Rxa6 Qb8 21. Ra3 $14) 18... Qxb6 19. c5 dxc5 (19... Qxb3
$2 20. cxd6 Nf5 21. Nxf5 gxf5 22. d7 $16) 20. Bxc5 Qc7 21. Rc1 Rd8 $1 $10 22.
b4 Qd7 23. Qe2 Bb7 24. Rfd1 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qb7+ 26. Kg1 (26. Qf3 Qxf3+ (26...
Nd5 $10) 27. Kxf3 Nc6 $2 (27... Nd5 28. Nxd5 Rxd5 29. Ra1) 28. d5 $10) 26...
Nd5 27. Nxd5 Rxd5 28. Ra1 Ra8 29. Ra3 h5 30. h4 Kh7 31. Qf3 $10 Kg8 32. Rda1
Bf8 33. Ra5 Bxc5 34. bxc5 Qb2 35. R5a4 Rad8 36. Rxa6 Qxd4 37. c6 Rf5 38. c7
Rxf3 39. cxd8=Q+ Qxd8 40. Ra8 Qxa8 41. Rxa8+ Kg7 42. Kg2 Rb3 43. f4 Rb7 44. Ra5
Kf6 45. Kf2 Rd7 46. Ke3 Rd5 47. Ra7 Rb5 48. Kf3 Rb3+ 49. Kf2 Rc3 50. Rb7 Rc5
51. Kf3 e5 52. fxe5+ Rxe5 53. Ra7 Ke6 54. Ra6+ Kf5 55. Ra7 f6 56. Ra4 g5 57.
hxg5 fxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Rc8 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. Kb1 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. g4 b5
15. b3 Rc8 16. Ndxb5 Qa5 17. a4 a6 18. Nd5 Qxd2 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Rxd2 Rce8 21.
Nxg6+ fxg6 22. Nxd6 Re6 23. Nb7 Bc8 24. Nc5 Rc6 25. h3 g5 26. Rhd1 Ng8 27. Rf2
Rh6 28. Rh1 Rhf6 29. Rhf1 Rh6 30. Rh1 Rhf6 31. Rhf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Markowski, Tomasz"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. d3 f5 6. e4 (6. f4 Nf6 7. Nf3 Nc6 $13
) 6... Nf6 7. Nge2 (7. h4 $6 c6 8. h5 gxh5 9. Bf3 Qe7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Bxh5 Be6
$13) 7... O-O 8. O-O c6 9. exf5 gxf5 (9... Bxf5 $5 10. d4 $13 {Kovacevic,
V-Ostojic,P/La Habana/1968/}) 10. d4 Na6 11. b3 Bd7 (11... Be6 $6 12. d5 cxd5
13. Nxd5 $14) 12. dxe5 (12. Ba3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $132) 12... dxe5 13. Qd6 Qe8
14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Rd8 16. Rad1 Bc8 17. Qa3 Rxd1 (17... Rf7 $5) 18. Rxd1 f4 19.
Qd6 (19. Ne4 Bg4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. f3 Be7 22. Qb2 Bf5 $132) 19... Ng4 (19...
Bg4 $5) 20. Be4 fxg3 21. Bxg3 $14 Nf6 22. Bg2 (22. Qxe5 $2 Nxe4 (22... Qxe5 23.
Bxe5 Nxe4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Nxe4 $14) 23. Qxe4 Nc5 $44) 22... Nh5 23. Ne4 Bf5 (
23... Bg4 24. Rd2) 24. Qd2 $6 Qg6 25. Qe3 Nc7 26. Rd6 (26. Nd6 $6 Rd8 (26...
Bc2 $2 27. Be4 Bxe4 28. Qxe4 $14)) 26... Qf7 27. Rd2 Ne8 (27... Qg6 $2 28. Nd6
$14) 28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Rxd6 Bg4 $10 30. h3 Bc8 31. Bh4 (31. Qxa7 $6 Nf4 32. Nxf4
exf4 33. Bh4 f3 $40) 31... Nf4 32. Nxf4 exf4 33. Qf3 $10 Qc7 34. Rd2 Bf5 35.
Re2 Rf7 36. Rd2 Kh7 37. Bf1 Qe5 38. Rd1 Qe6 39. Bd3 Qg6+ 40. Kh2 Bxd3 41. Qxd3
c5 42. Qf3 Bd4 43. Rg1 Qf5 44. Qg2 Rg7 45. Qf3 Rf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kaminski, Marcin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 f5 12. Bxg4 fxg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 c5 15. Rb1
g5 16. b4 b6 17. bxc5 bxc5 18. O-O Rf7 19. Rb3 Ng6 20. Qb1 Bf8 21. Qb2 Nf4 22.
Rb1 h5 23. Rb8 Rxb8 24. Qxb8 h4 25. g3 h3 26. Kf1 Nd3 27. Rb3 Nb4 28. Ke2 Nc2
29. Qa8 Nd4+ 30. Bxd4 exd4 31. Nd1 Qe8 32. Rb8 Rc7 33. Nb2 Kh7 34. Nd3 Bg7 35.
Rb1 Qe7 36. Kf1 Ba6 37. Ke2 Bc8 38. Kd1 Bd7 39. Rb8 Kg6 40. Kc1 Kf7 41. Rb3 Qf8
42. Qxf8+ Bxf8 43. e5 Bf5 44. e6+ Ke7 45. Kd1 Kd8 46. Ke2 Kc8 47. f3 gxf3+ 48.
Kxf3 Rb7 49. Rxb7 Kxb7 {starkes Springerpaar gegen 2 Läufer bei blockierter
Stellung und schwarzen Bauernschwächen} 50. Ne4 Be7 51. g4 Bg6 52. Ndf2 Kb6 53.
Nh1 (53. Nxh3 Bxe4+ (53... Ka5 54. Nhxg5 Kb4 55. h4 Kxc4 56. h5 Be8 57. Nf7
Kxd5 58. h6 Kxe6 59. h7 $18) 54. Kxe4 Ka5 55. Kd3 Kb4 56. Ng1 Ka3 57. Nf3 Kxa2
58. h4 $18 gxh4 59. g5 a5 60. g6 Bf6 61. g7 Bxg7 62. e7) 53... Kc7 54. Nhg3
Bxe4+ 55. Nxe4 Kd8 56. Nf2 Ke8 57. Ke4 Kf8 58. Nxh3 Kg7 59. Nf2 Kg6 60. Nh1 Kf6
61. Ng3 Bf8 62. Nf5 Be7 63. h4 1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. e4 d6 6. c3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5
13. Nc2 Be6 (13... O-O {Dolmatov} 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 b4 $2 (16...
f4 17. Qh5 Rf7 $13) 17. O-O bxc3 18. bxc3 $16 {Topalov,V-Illeskas Cordoba,M/
Alcobendas/1994/}) (13... Ne7 {Dolmatov} 14. Bd3 Be6 15. Be4 $14) 14. g3 O-O
15. Bg2 a5 (15... Rb8 {Horvath,T Short-Kramnik/CBM/}) 16. O-O f5 $1 $146 (16...
Rb8) 17. Qh5 {Fritz 3 empfehlt hier als besser für Weiß 17.Nf4.Nach meiner
Meinung ist diese Bewertung ist falsch:} (17. Nf4 exf4 18. Bxc6 fxg3 $13 (18...
fxg3 {Horvath,T} 19. Bxa8 (19. hxg3 f4 $1 20. Bd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5+ Kh8 {Schwarz
hat mindestens genug kompensation für geopferte Qualität.}) 19... gxh2+ 20.
Kxh2 Qxa8)) (17. Re1 Rc8 $5) (17. a4 b4 $1 (17... bxa4 {Horvath,T} 18. Rxa4 Rb8
19. b4 axb4 20. Ncxb4 Nxb4 21. cxb4 Kh8 $13)) (17. Qd2 $5) (17. Ndb4 {Horvath,T
} axb4 (17... Nxb4 18. Bxa8 Nxc2 (18... Qxa8 $5 19. cxb4 (19. Qxd6 $2 Qd5 $19)
19... d5 $44) 19. Bd5 Nd4 $1 20. Bg2 $1 Bc4 $10) 18. Bxc6 bxc3 $6 19. Bxa8 Qxa8
20. Qxd6 Bc4 21. bxc3 Bxf1 22. Qe6+ Kh8 23. Rxf1 $16) 17... b4 $1 18. Nce3 (18.
cxb4 axb4 19. Ncxb4 Nxb4 20. Nxb4 e4 $15) 18... bxc3 19. bxc3 Kh8 20. Rad1 Rb8
(20... Rc8 $6 21. Bh3) 21. Bh3 (21. f4 $5 {Dolmatov} e4 22. g4 $5 Bf7 (22...
fxg4 $6 23. Bxe4 $16) 23. Qxf5 Bg6 24. Qg5 Qxg5 25. fxg5 Ne5 26. h4 $16) 21...
Qd7 22. f4 e4 23. Kh1 $2 (23. Rd2 $13) (23. Rf2 $13) (23. Rb1 $142 $10 {
Horvath,T}) (23. Rd2 $5 {Dolmatov} Rb5 (23... Ne7 $2 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Nxf5 $16
) 24. Rfd1 $14) 23... Rb2 24. Nc4 $2 (24. a4 $8 Ra2 $15) 24... Rxa2 25. Nde3 (
25. Nxd6 Bd4 $1 (25... Nd4 $1 26. Ne3 (26. cxd4 Bxd5 (26... Bxd5 $1 {Horvath,T}
27. Bxf5 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Qxf5 29. Nxf5 e3+ $19)) 26... Nf3 27. Bg2 Nd2 28. Ndc4
Bxc3 $19 {Topalov}) 26. cxd4 Bxd5 27. Qh6 Qe7 $19) (25. Ndb6 Qc7 26. Rxd6 Bxc4
27. Nxc4 Ne7 28. Re6 Qd7 $1 29. Rd6 (29. Rxe7 Qxe7 30. Bxf5 Bxc3 31. Rd1 Ra1
32. Rxa1 Bxa1 33. Nxa5 e3 $19) 29... Qc8 30. Ne3 Qxc3 31. Bxf5 Nxf5 32. Nxf5
Qc5 33. g4 e3 $19) 25... Bf7 $1 (25... d5 26. Nb6) (25... Bxc4 26. Nxc4 d5 27.
Nb6 Qb7 $140 $2 28. Bxf5 $1 Rxf5 29. Qxf5 Qxb6 30. Qc8+ $18) 26. Qg5 (26. Bxf5
Bxh5 27. Bxd7 Bxd1 28. Rxd1 Ne7 29. Nxd6 Bxc3 30. Nxe4 Re2 31. Nxc3 Rxe3 $19) (
26. Qxf5 $2 {Dolmatov} Qxf5 27. Bxf5 Bxc4 $17) 26... Bxc4 (26... h6 $6 {
Dolmatov} 27. Bxf5 hxg5 28. Bxd7 Nb8 29. Bg4 $14) 27. Nxc4 d5 28. Ne5 (28. Nb6
Qb7) (28. Ne3 Ne7 (28... Ne7 {Horvath,T} 29. Nxd5 (29. g4 {Dolmatov} Bxc3 30.
gxf5 Bf6 31. Qh6 $13) 29... Nxd5 30. c4 Qb7 31. cxd5 Qb2 $19)) 28... Qe6 $1 (
28... Nxe5 $2 {Dolmatov} 29. fxe5 Qb5 30. Rxf5 $1 $40) 29. g4 $4 (29. Rb1 Nxe5
30. fxe5 Qg6 31. Qe7 (31. Rxf5 Rxf5 32. Qxf5 Qxf5 33. Bxf5 Bxe5 $19) 31... Qh6
32. Rb7 Rg8 33. Bg2 Qd2 34. Rg1 e3 $19) 29... Bxe5 30. fxe5 Qxe5 31. Bg2 f4 (
31... f4 {Dolmatov} 32. Qxe5+ Nxe5 33. Rxd5 f3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E76"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Bd3
Qxc5 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Be3 Qa5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Rac1 Nd7 13. Qf2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nc5
15. Bb1 Na4 16. Nxa4 Qxa4 17. Rfd1 Rac8 18. b3 Qa5 19. Rd5 Qc7 20. Rcd1 b6 21.
a3 Rfd8 22. h4 e6 23. Rg5 Qe7 24. h5 Qf6 25. hxg6 fxg6 26. f5 Bh6 27. Rg2 Bxe3
28. Qxe3 Rc7 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. e5 dxe5 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. Rxg6+ Rg7 33. Qh6 Qf6
34. Kf2 Rxg6 35. Bxg6 Nd4 36. Bh7+ Kf7 37. Qxf6+ Kxf6 38. b4 Ke7 39. Ke3 Kd6
40. Be4 Nf5+ 41. Kd3 Nd4 42. a4 Nb3 43. Kc3 Nd4 44. a5 bxa5 45. c5+ Kd7 46.
bxa5 Nb5+ 47. Kd3 Nc7 48. Bb7 Ke7 49. Bc6 Na6 50. Kc4 Nc7 51. Ba4 Kd8 52. Bc2
Ke7 53. Bd3 Kd7 54. Bc2 Ke7 55. Be4 Kd7 56. Bb7 Ke7 57. Kd3 Kf6 58. Ke4 Nb5 59.
Ba6 Nc7 60. Bc4 Ne8 61. Bf1 Nc7 62. Be2 Ne8 63. f4 exf4 64. Kxf4 Nc7 65. Bc4
Ke7 66. Ke5 Kd7 67. Bd3 Kc6 68. Kd4 e5+ 69. Kc4 Kb7 70. Be4+ Kb8 71. c6 Na8 72.
Kd5 Nc7+ 73. Kc5 Na8 74. Kd6 Nc7 75. Kd7 Na8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nxe4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ e6 8.
Qxe4 d5 9. Qf3+ Qf6 10. Be3 b6 11. cxb6 axb6 12. Bd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Ra4 14.
Qxf6+ gxf6 15. Ne2 Bb4+ 16. Nbc3 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Ba6 18. Kd2 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 Rha8
20. Rhb1 Rxa2+ 21. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 22. Ke3 Rc2 23. Rxb6 Rxc3+ 24. Kd2 Ra3 25. Rd6
Ra2+ 26. Ke3 Ra1 27. Ke2 Rh1 28. h3 h5 29. Rd7+ Kg6 30. Re7 Kf5 31. g4+ hxg4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kolev, Atanas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4
Nc6 9. Qf3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Bxe5 Nxg4 13. Bg3 Bb4 14. a3
Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 O-O 16. Bd3 Qg5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Qxg5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 hxg5 20. Kd2
Bd7 21. Rac1 Rac8 22. d4 Rfe8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. d5 f6 25. Re1 Rd8 26. Kc3 Bh3
27. Kd4 Bg2 28. Bc7 Rd7 29. d6 Kf7 30. Re3 Ke6 31. e5 f5 32. Rg3 Bc6 33. Rxg5
f4 34. h4 f3 35. Ke3 Rf7 36. Kf2 Bd7 37. Ba5 Kd5 38. Bc3 Be6 39. h5 Kc6 40. Rg1
Kd7 41. Bd4 Bd5 42. Rg6 Be6 43. Rg5 Bd5 44. e6+ Kxe6 45. Bxg7 Kxd6 46. Rxd5+
Kxd5 47. h6 Ke4 48. h7 Rxg7 49. h8=Q Rg2+ 50. Kf1 b5 51. Qa8+ Ke3 52. Qa7+ Kd3
53. Qxa6 Rxb2 54. a4 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Alterman, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A27"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Dolmatov} e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bb4 {Eine seltene Fortsetzung.} (3... Nf6
$5) (3... f5 $5) (3... g6 $5) 4. d3 {Eine Neuerung} (4. Nd5 $5 a5 (4... Be7 {
Dolmatov} 5. g3 Nf6) 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 e4 7. Ng1 Nf6 8. f3 $13 {Gurevich,
M-Pribyl,J/BL9394/INF60,30/}) (4. g3 Bxc3 (4... Nf6 $5 {-> A29}) 5. bxc3 d6 6.
d4 e4 7. Nd2 f5 8. Bg2 Nf6 9. f3 O-O 10. O-O exf3 11. Nxf3 h6 $13 {Lautier,
J-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/1995/CBM46/INF63,16/}) 4... Bxc3+ (4... Nf6 5. Bd2 {-> A28
}) 5. bxc3 d6 6. Rb1 Nge7 $5 (6... Nf6 7. e4 (7. Bg5 $5) 7... O-O 8. Be2 b6 9.
O-O $13) 7. e3 (7. g3 $5 {Dolmatov} O-O 8. Bg2 b6 9. O-O h6 10. Ne1 f5 11. f4
Be6 12. Nc2 $14) 7... O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. Nd2 (9. O-O {Dolmatov} f5) 9... Be6 10.
O-O Qd7 11. d4 $5 {Ein zweischneidiger Zug, der Raum im Zentrum gewinnt,
dafuer aber den c4-Bauern schwaecht.} (11. Ba3 $5 {/\ d4, c5}) 11... Na5 12.
Rb2 (12. e4 {Dolmatov} f5) 12... f5 13. d5 Bf7 14. f4 $5 e4 (14... exf4 15.
exf4 c6 16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. axb3 cxd5 18. Bf3 Rac8 19. cxd5 Rxc3 20. Qd4 Rc5 21.
b4 Rb5 22. Re2 Nxd5 23. Bb2 Nf6 24. Rfe1 $44) (14... Ng6 {Dolmatov} 15. Nb3 Nb7
16. Bd3 e4) (14... c6 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. fxe5 $5 (15. Nb3 $6 Nxb3 16. axb3 cxd5
17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. fxe5 Nxc3 $17) 15... cxd5 (15... dxe5 16. Nf3) 16. Nf3 (16.
cxd5 Nxd5 $40) 16... Nxc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. exd6 Nd5 19. Ne5 Qxd6 20. Nxf7 Rxf7
21. Rd2 Rd8 22. Rf4 Qe6 23. Rxc4 Rfd7 $13) 15. Nb3 Nb7 (15... Nxb3 16. axb3 $14
) 16. Rd2 Rac8 (16... c6 $5 17. dxc6 Qxc6 (17... Nxc6 18. g4 $132) 18. Rd4 Rae8
$13 {Schwarz gewinnt ein Tempi.}) 17. g4 $5 {Weiss steht im Zentrum und auch
am Damenfluegel schlechter, deswegen sollte er am Koenigfluegel etwas
versuchen.} c6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 (18... Rxc6 19. Nd4 Rxc4 20. gxf5 Nxf5 $40) 19.
Rd4 (19. Nd4 {Dolmatov} Qc5 20. Qa4 Bxc4 21. Ba3 $13) 19... fxg4 (19... Be6 $5
{Dolmatov}) 20. f5 $1 {/\ Rff4} (20. Bxg4 $2 Bxc4 $1 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 (21... Qxc8
$44 {Dolmatov}) 22. Rf2 Nf5 $44 {>< e3}) 20... Rce8 (20... Kh8 $5 {Dolmatov}
21. Ba3 Ng8 22. Bxg4 Nf6) 21. Ba3 $1 Qc8 22. Bxg4 h5 23. Bh3 (23. Bxh5 {
Dolmatov} Nxf5 $40) 23... Nc6 {Der Nachziehende gewinnt jetzt einen Bauern,
aber er kann die Initiative nicht behalten.} (23... Bg6 $5 24. fxg6 $5 (24.
Rxe4 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 Rxf5 $15) 24... Qxh3 25. Rxe4 $1 $13 Nxg6 $6 26. Rxe8 Rxe8
27. Qd5+ Kh7 28. Qxb7 Nh4 {Jetzt hingegen ist es sehr fragwuerdig, ob Weiss
genuegend Kompensation fuer den Laeufer hat.}) 24. Rd2 Bxc4 (24... Ne5 {
Dolmatov} 25. Rg2) 25. Rf4 Rf6 26. Rg2 {>< g7} (26. Qxh5 $2 Rh6 (26... Ne5 $5 {
Dolmatov}) 27. Qg4 Ne5 $17 (27... Ne5 28. Qg3 Nf3+ $2 29. Rxf3 exf3 30. f6))
26... Bf7 27. Qe1 $1 {Droht Qg3 oder Qh4.} Bxb3 (27... Nc5 {Dolmatov} 28. Qg3
$18) 28. axb3 Ne5 29. Qg3 (29. Rxe4 $4 Nf3+ $19) 29... Re7 30. c4 Nc5 31. Kh1
$1 Qa6 (31... Nxb3 32. Bxd6 $1 Rxd6 33. f6 Rd1+ 34. Rg1 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Rd7 36.
Be6+ $18) 32. Bb2 Ncd3 33. Bxe5 (33. Bd4 $2 {Dolmatov} Nxf4 34. exf4 Nd7) 33...
dxe5 $2 (33... Nxe5 34. Rxe4 $13) 34. Rf1 $1 $36 {Eine sehr unangenehme
Ueberrraschung. Weiss konzentriert sich ganz auf Angriff.} (34. Rxe4 $2) (34.
Rxe4 $2 {Dolmatov} Qa1+ 35. Rg1 Qb2) 34... b5 35. Qh4 bxc4 36. bxc4 Nc5 (36...
Qc6 $5 {Dolmatov} 37. Rfg1 a5) 37. Rfg1 Ref7 38. Rg5 $1 Qa2 (38... Qxc4 {
Dolmatov} 39. Rxh5 Kf8 40. Rh8+ Ke7 41. Rc8 $40) 39. Qg3 $1 (39. Rxh5 {Dolmatov
} Kf8 40. Rh8+ Ke7 41. Qg3 Nd3) 39... Kf8 40. Rxg7 (40. Qxe5 {Dolmatov} Nd3 41.
Qb8+ Ke7) 40... Nd3 {Schwarz hat eine sehr gefaerhliche Drohung, aber jetzt
ist noch Weiss am Zug.} 41. Rxf7+ (41. Rg8+ {Dolmatov} Ke7 42. Rf1 a5 43. Ra8
$40) 41... Rxf7 42. Qg8+ Ke7 43. f6+ Kd6 (43... Kxf6 44. Qg5#) (43... Rxf6 44.
Rg7+ Kd6 45. Qb8+ Kc5 46. Qb5+ Kd6 47. Qd5#) 44. Qb8+ (44. Qd8+ $2 Kc5 45. Qd5+
Kb4) 44... Kc6 (44... Rc7 45. Qd8+ Kc6 46. Qd5+ $18) (44... Kc5 45. Qb5+ Kd6
46. Qd5+ $18) 45. Qc8+ Kb6 (45... Kd6 {Dolmatov} 46. c5+ Nxc5 47. Rc1 $18) 46.
Rf1 Nf2+ 47. Kg1 $1 (47. Rxf2 $2 {Dolmatov} Qxf2 48. Qe6+ Kc5 49. Qxf7 Qe1+ 50.
Kg2 Qe2+ 51. Kg3 Qe1+ $10) 47... Nxh3+ 48. Qxh3 Qxc4 49. Qf5 {Im Endergebnis
hat der Anziehende einen Bauern weniger, aber gegen seinen starken f-Bauern
ist Schwarz hilflos.} a5 (49... Qd5 {Dolmatov} 50. Rb1+ Kc7 51. Rc1+ $16) 50.
Qxe5 Qc6 51. Rf5 Qc1+ 52. Kg2 Qd2+ 53. Kh3 Qxe3+ 54. Kh4 Rc7 55. f7 $1 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. h3 $5 Bb7 (8... d6 9. c3) 9. d3 Re8 (9... d6 {Dolmatov} 10. c3 Na5 11.
Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ng3 d5 15. exd5 $14 {Psakhis,L-Malaniuk,V/
URS/1987/}) 10. c3 Bf8 (10... h6) 11. Bg5 $1 (11. Nbd2 d5) (11. Ng5 $6 d5 12.
exd5 Na5 13. c4 h6 $44) 11... h6 12. Bh4 d6 13. Nbd2 (13. a4 $5 {/\ 14.Na3+/=})
13... g6 (13... Nb8 14. Nf1 Nbd7 15. Ne3 $14) 14. Nf1 Bg7 15. Qd2 $1 (15. Ne3
Qd7) 15... Qe7 (15... Nb8 16. Ne3 Nbd7 17. Ng4 g5 18. Nxh6+ Bxh6 19. Bxg5 Bg7
20. Nh4 $40) (15... Qd7 {Dolmatov} 16. Ne3 Kh7 (16... Ne7 $2 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Ng4 $16)) 16. Ne3 Qf8 17. a4 (17. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. a4 $36 (19. Nh2
{Dolmatov} Kh7 (19... Na5 $6 20. Ng4 Nxb3 21. Ngf6+ Kh8 22. axb3 Re6) 20. f4
$40) (19. d4 Na5)) 17... Ne7 18. Bxf6 (18. axb5 $142 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20.
Bxf6 $36) 18... Bxf6 19. Ng4 Bg7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. d4 Nc8 $6 (
22... h5 $1 23. Ne3 c5 $13) 23. Qd3 $14 exd4 (23... c6 {Dolmatov} 24. d5 $14)
24. Nxd4 h5 25. Nh2 d5 $5 (25... Bxd4 26. cxd4 c5 27. dxc5 dxc5 28. Qxb5 Rxe4
29. Rxe4 Bxe4 30. Nf1 $14) (25... c6 {Dolmatov} 26. Nhf3 Qe7 $14) 26. Nxb5 Qc5
$1 (26... dxe4 $6 27. Qg3 Kh7 28. Qxc7 Re7 29. Qa5 $16) 27. Ra1 $1 (27. Rd1
dxe4 (27... Rxe4 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Re1+ 30. Nf1 Qxd5 31. Rxd5 c6 32. Rd8+
Bf8 33. Nd4 $16) 28. Qd7 Rf8 $1 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Nd4 Nb6 31. Qe6 Bd5 $19)
27... Nb6 $1 (27... dxe4 $2 28. Qd7 Bc6 29. Qxf7+ Kh7 30. Nxc7 Rf8 31. Qxg7+
$18) (27... Bc6 28. Nxc7 dxe4 29. Qc4 Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd8 $132) 28. exd5 Bxd5 29.
Bxd5 Nxd5 30. Nf3 $1 $14 Rb8 (30... Nf4 {Dolmatov} 31. Qd7 Re2 32. Nbd4 $16)
31. Nbd4 Rxb2 $5 (31... Bxd4 32. cxd4 $14) 32. Ra8+ Bf8 (32... Kh7 {Dolmatov}
33. Ng5+ $18) 33. Ne5 $1 Qxc3 $1 $8 (33... Nxc3 34. Rxf8+ Qxf8 35. Qxc3 $16) (
33... Nb6 34. Re8 $16) (33... Qd6 34. Nc4 $18 (34. Nc4 {Dolmatov} Nf4 35. Qe4
$16)) 34. Qxc3 Nxc3 35. Nd7 Kg7 (35... Rd2 {Dolmatov} 36. Nxf8 $18) 36. Nxf8
Rd2 37. Nb3 $1 (37. Nf3 $6 Rd1+ 38. Kh2 Ne4) (37. Nc6 $6 Ne4 38. f3 Ng3 39. h4
Nf5) 37... Rd5 $10 {>< Nf8} 38. Kh2 (38. h4 Ne2+ 39. Kh2 Nd4 40. Nd2 Nf5 $10)
38... h4 (38... Ne4 39. f3 Nf6 $10) 39. Re8 Nb5 40. Rc8 Nd4 $2 $138 (40... Rg5)
(40... g5) (40... Nd6 {Dolmatov} 41. Rd8 $18) 41. Nd2 $1 {/\ Nd2-e4, Nf8-h7} c5
42. Ne4 $18 Nb3 43. Nh7 $1 Nd2 (43... Nd2 44. Nhf6 Nf1+ 45. Kg1 Rd1 46. Rg8+
Kh6 47. Ng4+ Kh5 48. Rh8#) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nc3 Nb6 9. d5 Na5 10. Qc2 Nxd5 11. Rd1 c6 12. Ne1 (12. e4 Nb4 13. Qa4 (13. Qe2
Qc7 14. a3 Na6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Be3 Nb3 17. Rab1 h6 18. Qc2 Be6 19. Bf1 Nac5 20.
Bxc5 Nxc5 21. b4 Bg4 22. bxc5 Bxf3 {Tukmakov,V-Sanchez Almeyra,J/Zaragoza op ;
EXT 93op 1993/1-0 (38)}) 13... Qb6 (13... b5 14. Qxb4 (14. Rxd8 bxa4 15. Rxf8+
Kxf8 16. Nxa4 Nc4 17. Bf1 Bg4 18. Kg2 Bxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Ne5+ 20. Kg2 Rd8 21. Bf4
Ned3 22. Bxd3 Nxd3 23. Be3 Nxb2 24. Nxb2 Bxb2 25. Rb1 {1/2-1/2 Litinskaya Shul,
M-Qin Kanying/Subotica iztW (02) ;TD 93\02 1991 (30)}) 14... Bxc3 15. Rxd8 (15.
Qxc3 Qxd1+ 16. Ne1 Qd8 17. Bh6 f6 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Nd3 Be6 20. Nc5 Bf7 21. e5
Nc4 22. exf6 exf6 23. b3 Nb6 24. Nb7 Qe7 25. Qxc6 {Foisor,O-Kleinplatz,S/
Hyeres op ;TD 92\11 1992/1-0 (59)}) 15... Bxb4 16. Rxf8+ Kxf8 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18.
e5 e6 19. Rd1 Bf8 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 21. Ng5 {1/2-1/2 Matthaei,A-Leissner,J/Porz op
(01) ;EXT 93op 1993 (28)}) 14. Bg5 (14. Be3 c5 15. a3 Nbc6 16. b4 Bxc3 17. Bxc5
Qc7 18. Rac1 Nc4 19. Rxc3 Nb2 20. Qc2 Nxd1 21. Qxd1 Rd8 22. Qc1 Bg4 23. h3 Bxf3
24. Bxf3 {Barbero,G-Banas,J/Belgrade GMA ;TD 88\07 1988/0-1 (64)}) 14... Na6
15. Bxe7 Re8 16. Nd5 Qxb2 17. Rab1 Nc4 18. Rxb2 Nxb2 19. Qb3 cxd5 20. Rxd5 Nc7
21. Ba3 Nxd5 22. exd5 {Grabarczyk,M-Babula,V/Pardubice op ;EXT 95op 1995/1-0 
(44)}) (12. Ng5 e6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Qa4 Qb6 15. Bf4 Nc4 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qa4 Nc4
18. Qb3 Na5 {1/2-1/2 Beil,Z-Stohl,I/Stary Smokovec ;EXT 87 1987}) 12... Bd7 (
12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 14. c4 Nf6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Bg5 Kg7 17. Qc1 Ng8 18. Nd3
Bg4 19. f3 Be6 20. Nc5 Rae8 21. Rb1 Bc8 22. Rb2 h6 23. Bd2 Rd8 {Lalic,B-Stone,
R/Groningen op (05) ;EXP 26 1991/1-0 (37)}) (12... Qe8 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Nxd5
Bf5 15. e4 Rc8 16. Qd2 Nc4 17. Qb4 Bxe4 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. Nxc8 Qxc8 20. Bg5 $16
{Sulava,N-Popovic,P/Jugoslavija/1990/}) (12... Be6 13. e4 Bg4 {Sulava,
N-Peshina,G/Budapest op/1990/} 14. Rd3 $18) 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Rxd5 e6 15. Rd3 (
15. Rd6 Qc8 16. Qxc8 Bxc8 17. Rd1 e5 18. Bd2 Nc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bc3 Ba6 21.
Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rad1 Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Bc4 {1/2-1/2 Jurka,M-Daniliuk,S/Pardubice op 
(03) ;EXT 94op 1994 (31)}) (15. Bg5 f6 16. Rd3 fxg5 17. Rad1 Qb6 $13) 15... Rc8
(15... Qc8 16. Qxc8 (16. Bd2 Nc6 17. Bc3 e5 18. Rd2 Be6 19. Nd3 Bf5 20. Qb3 Qc7
21. Nb4 Nxb4 22. Qxb4 Rab8 23. Rad1 b6 24. a4 Rfe8 25. Bd5 {1-0 Mandel,
A-Trettin,U/BL2-S 9192 (1991) ;BL2 1992 (35)}) 16... Bxc8 17. Rb1 Nc6 18. Bd2
e5 19. Rd6 Bf5 20. Rc1 Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bg5 Rc8 23. h3 Nd4 24. Kf1 b6
25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 {Korpics,Z-Banas,J/HUN-chT1 9495 (09) ;EXT 95ch 1995/0-1 (47)})
16. Qd1 (16. Qd2 Nc4) 16... Rc7 17. Bf4 e5 18. Bg5 (18. Rc1 Nc6 19. Bd2 Qe7 20.
Be3 b6 21. Be4 Rfc8 22. Rdc3 f5 23. Bd5+ Kh8 24. Nf3 h6 25. h4 Be8 26. Qd2 Kh7
27. h5 gxh5 28. Nh4 f4 29. Qd3+ Kh8 30. Bxc6 {Schlosser,P-Fogarasi,T/Budapest
Elekes (07) ;EXT 92 1992/1-0 (41)}) 18... Qe8 (18... Qxg5 19. Rxd7 Rfc8 20.
Rxc7 Rxc7 21. Nd3 Bf8 22. Qa4 Nc4 23. Qxa7 Qd2 24. Qb8 Re7 25. b3 {1-0
Schlosser,P-Herbrechtsmeier,C/BL 9293 (1993) ;BL 90 1993 (34)}) 19. Rc1 (19. e4
h6 (19... Be6 $2 20. Bd8 $1 Rc5 21. b4 $18) 20. Bd2 Nc6 21. Nc2 Be6 $10) 19...
Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Bf5 $1 {Important improvement over the known forced line. Black
balances on tiny rope, but the positional rewards are worth it.} (20... Be6 21.
b3 e4 22. Bxe4 Bxb3 23. axb3 Qxe4 24. Ba3 (24. Nf3 h6 25. Be3 Nc6 26. Rd7 b6
27. Qc1 $5 Na5 28. Nd2 $6 (28. Bxh6 $1 Nxb3 29. Qg5 Nc5 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31. Re7
Ne6 32. Qd2 $36) 28... Qe6 29. Rxa7 Nxb3 30. Nxb3 Qxb3 31. Qc6 Qd1+ 32. Kg2
Qxe2 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Ftacnik,L/Tilburg (01)/1994/}) 24... Re8 25. Qd2 b6 26.
Bb4 Qc6 27. Bxa5 bxa5 28. Rd8 Bf6 29. Qc2 Qe6 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 $14 {Konopka,
M-Ftacnik,L/CSR chT/1994/}) (20... Bc6 21. e4 {xa5}) 21. e4 Be6 22. b3 Qb5 23.
Ba3 Re8 24. Rd8 Bf6 $1 (24... Bf8 $6 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qd6+ Kg7
28. Bf1 $16) 25. Qd3 Qc6 26. Rxe8+ (26. Rd6 Qc7) 26... Qxe8 27. Nc2 Be7 28. Bc1
{White has little ground to believe, that his chances are better, since d5
weakness is fully compensated with character of the d4 spot.} (28. Bb2 Nc6 29.
Ne3) 28... Qc8 29. Be3 (29. Bd2 Nc6 30. Ne3 Bb4 $1 $10) 29... b6 30. Bf1 h5 31.
h4 Qc7 32. Kh2 f6 33. Bd2 Qc5 34. Ne3 (34. Be3 Qc6) 34... Nc6 35. Bh3 Bf7 36.
Qd7 Kg7 (36... Qd6 37. Qxd6 Bxd6 $10) 37. Kg2 Qd6 38. Nd5 $6 (38. Qxd6 Bxd6 $10
) 38... f5 39. Qxd6 Bxd6 40. Kf1 $6 (40. Nc3 Nd4 $15) 40... Bxd5 41. exd5 Ne7
42. Bg2 e4 43. f3 exf3 44. Bxf3 Bxg3 45. Bg5 Nc8 46. Ke2 $5 (46. Kg2 Be5 47.
Be3 $15) 46... Nd6 47. Kd3 (47. Ke3 Nf7 48. Be7 Bd6 49. Bxd6 Nxd6 50. Kf4 Kf6
51. Bg2 Nf7 $17) 47... Nf7 48. Be7 Ne5+ 49. Ke3 Nxf3 $1 50. Kxf3 Be5 51. Bb4
Kf7 52. a4 a6 (52... Bf6 53. Kg3 f4+ 54. Kxf4 Bxh4 55. a5 b5 56. a6 $1) 53. Bd2
Ke7 54. Be3 b5 55. axb5 axb5 56. Bc5+ Kd7 57. Bb4 Bf6 58. Kg3 f4+ $1 59. Kxf4 (
59. Kh3 f3 60. Kg3 Bxh4+ $19) 59... Bxh4 60. Ke4 Be7 61. Bd2 (61. Bxe7 Kxe7 $19
) 61... g5 62. Kf5 g4 63. Kf4 Bd6+ 64. Kg5 g3 65. Be3 Be5 66. Kxh5 g2 67. Bg1 (
67. Kg4 Bh2 $19) 67... Kd6 (67... Kd6 68. Kg4 Kxd5 69. Kf3 Bd4 70. Kxg2 Bxg1
71. Kxg1 Kc5 72. Kf2 Kb4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. c5 $2 (7. Nf3
Be7 8. Rc1 O-O 9. c5 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Be2 $14 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Nxe5
Nxe5 14. Re3 $16) 7... Bd7 8. Bb5 (8. a3 $5 b6 9. b4 bxc5 10. dxc5 $13) 8... b6
9. Bxc6 (9. cxb6 Qxb6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nge2 $10 {Psakhis,L-Granda Zuniga,J/
Manila/1992/}) 9... Bxc6 10. b4 bxc5 11. bxc5 Qa5 $1 (11... Be7 12. Nf3) 12.
Bd2 Qa6 13. Nf3 (13. Rb1 Be7 14. Nf3 Nd7 $10) (13. Nge2 Be7 14. O-O O-O) 13...
Nd7 14. Qe2 (14. Rb1 Be7 15. a4 O-O 16. Nb5 Rab8 17. Qb3 Rb7 18. O-O Rfb8 $15)
14... Qxe2+ 15. Kxe2 Be7 16. Be3 f6 17. Ne1 O-O 18. Nd3 Rab8 19. Rab1 a5 (19...
e5 $2 20. Nb4 $16) 20. f4 (20. Nf4 $2 Kf7 $15) 20... g5 $1 21. fxg5 $6 (21. g4
gxf4 22. Nxf4 Kf7 (22... e5 $2 23. Nfxd5) 23. Kd3 $132) 21... fxg5 22. Rxb8
Rxb8 23. Rf1 Bf6 $15 24. g4 Kg7 25. h3 Re8 26. Kd1 Kg6 27. Kc1 h5 28. gxh5+ (
28. Rh1 Rh8) 28... Kxh5 29. Kd2 Kg6 30. Rg1 Rh8 31. Rg3 Rh4 32. Nf4+ Kf5 33.
Ng2 Rxd4+ $2 (33... Rh8 34. Rf3+ Kg6 35. Rg3 e5 $17) 34. Bxd4 Bxd4 35. h4 $1
$10 gxh4 (35... g4 36. Ne2) 36. Nxh4+ Kf6 37. Rg8 Nxc5 38. Nf3 Bxc3+ 39. Kxc3
e5 40. Rc8 (40. Rf8+ Ke6 $10) 40... Ne4+ 41. Kb2 Bd7 42. Ra8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. d4 Nc6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. b3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Be6 10. e3 f5 11. Qe2 Bf7 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. a3 Qd5 15.
Qc4 e6 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Nxg2 g5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 Ra6 20. Ba1 Rb6 21. Rb1
e5 22. Qc2 e4 23. Qc4 Rd7 24. Bc3 Ra6 25. Qe2 h6 26. b4 axb4 27. Bxb4 Nxb4 28.
axb4 Bf8 29. b5 Ra2 30. Rd2 Rxd2 31. Qxd2 Qc4 32. Qd1 Kg7 33. h3 Qd5 34. Qe2
Bd6 35. Ra1 Rd8 36. Qb2 b6 37. Qe2 Ra8 38. Ra6 Rh8 39. Ra7 Kf6 40. Kh2 Qb3 41.
Ra1 Qc3 42. Qa2 Rf8 43. Rd1 Ke7 44. Kg1 Qa3 45. Qd5 Qb2 46. Rf1 Qe2 47. Rc1 Rf7
48. Ra1 Qh5 49. Kh2 Qf3 50. Kg1 Kf6 51. Ra8 Kg7 52. Ra1 Qh5 53. Kh2 Qe2 54. Kg1
Rf8 55. Ra7 Qd1+ 56. Kh2 Rf7 57. Ra2 Qf1 58. h4 Rf8 59. Ra7 Rf6 60. Ra8 Rf7 61.
Rh8 Qxf2 62. Rh7+ Kxh7 63. Qxf7+ Kh8 64. Qf6+ Kh7 65. Qf7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Mowsziszian Ribli} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3
e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bd6 9. g3 Be5 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bd2 b5
$10) 8... h5 $5 {Ribli: Mit dieser seltenen Fortsetzung will der Nachziehende
die Stellung verschaerfen. /\Ng4} (8... Ne5) (8... Ne5 {Dolmatov} 9. h3 Bc5 10.
Na4 Ba7 11. c4 d6 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Nc3 $14) 9. h3 b5 {Ribli: Miladinovics
Lieblings Fortsetzung.} (9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bc5 11. Bxc5 (11. Be2 Qd6 (11... d6
{Mowsziszian} 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd3 b5 14. Rfd1 Ke7 $10) 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd3
b5 14. Qg3 Bb7 15. e5 h4 $1 16. Qf4 Nh5 $15 {Kulaots,K-Miezis,N/Riga zt/1995/
CBM47/}) 11... Qxc5 12. Na4 $14 {/\ 13.c4} (12. Qf3 {Ribli} h4 $1 {Gegen Qg3}
13. Rad1 d6 {Gulobev})) 10. Nxc6 $5 (10. a3 $5 Bb7 11. Qe1 (11. Qe2 {Ribli} h4
12. f4 Nh5 13. Qf2 Be7 $13 {Agnos,D-Miladinovic,I/Ano Liosia/1995/EXP46/}) (11.
Qe1 Rc8 (11... h4 $5) 12. f4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 15. Kh1 d6 16.
Qh4 $36 {Mainka,R-Miladinovic,I/Ano Liosia/1995/EXP46/})) 10... Qxc6 (10...
dxc6 $6 11. a4 (11. f4 $16 {Dolmatov}) 11... Bb7 12. f4 $16) 11. a3 (11. e5 {
Dolmatov} Bb7 12. Qf3 Qxf3 13. gxf3 b4 $10) 11... Bb7 12. Re1 $5 {Eine
interessante neue Idee.} (12. Qe2 $5) (12. Bg5 {Mowsziszian} Bc5 13. Re1 d6 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 $5 Kd8 $1 16. Qf3 (16. Nxf6 Bd4 17. Qf3 Bxb2 18. Ra2 Bc3 {
/\Qc5-Qg5}) 16... f5 17. c4 $13) (12. f4 {Dolmatov} Bc5 13. Qf3 Qb6 $10) (12.
Qe2 {Dolmatov} Rc8 13. f4 h4 14. Rf2 b4 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Ra4 $14) 12... Bd6 {
Droht /\ Be5} (12... b4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Bd4 d6 15. Re2 e5 $2 16. Nd5 $1) (
12... Bc5 {Dolmatov} 13. Bf1 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 d6 15. Qf3 $14) 13. Bd4 (13. f4 $5)
13... e5 (13... Bb8 {Mowsziszian /\Qd6} 14. Bf1 $1 {/\e4-e5,Ne4}) (13... Bf4 {
Dolmatov} 14. Bf1 $16) 14. Be3 b4 (14... Bc5 $5 {Ribli} 15. Qf3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3
d6 $13) 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Bd2 (16. Ra4 $2 {Dolmatov} Bxc3 17. Rc4 Bxe1 18. Rxc6
Bxf2+ $10) 16... O-O (16... d6 17. Qf3) 17. Qf3 {Mowsziszian: Weiß will d7-d5
verhindern.} Rfe8 (17... Qe6 $5 $13) 18. Rad1 $14 {/\ 19.Nd5} Bxc3 $6 {Schwarz
will Nd5 nicht lassen.} (18... a5 $142) (18... Rac8 19. Nd5 Bxd2 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6
21. Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd2 $14) (18... a5 {Ribli} 19. Nd5 Bxd2 (19... Nxd5 20. exd5
Qxd5 21. Be4 $18 (21. Be4 Qxd2 22. Bxb7 $1 $18 (22. Rxd2 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Bxd2 $14
))) 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd2 $14) 19. Bxc3 Qe6 {Der Nachziehende
steht wegen seines "aktiven" h5-Bauern schlechter.} 20. b3 (20. Qg3 Rac8 21.
Bd2 d5 $14) 20... Rac8 21. Bb2 (21. Bc4 $2 Rxc4 22. bxc4 Rc8 $44) 21... h4 $8 {
Schwarz will Qg3 verhindern.} (21... d5 $6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Qg3 $16 {>< e5})
22. Qe3 $6 {Ribli: Weiss verhindert d5 und droht /\ Qg5, aber
hoechstwarscheinlich hat er den Partiezug unterschaetzt.} (22. c4 $1 Qb6 23.
Rb1 $16 {/\ Bb2-c1-g5}) (22. Bc4 Rxc4 23. bxc4 Qxc4 $44) 22... Nh5 $1 23. Qg5 {
><h4} Nf4 24. Bc4 (24. c4 Qf6 $5 (24... Nxd3 25. Rxd3 a5 $13 {Droht /\ a4}) 25.
Qxf6 gxf6 $14) (24. Qxh4 $2 Nxd3 25. cxd3 (25. Rxd3 {Dolmatov} Rxc2) 25... Qxb3
$10) 24... Rxc4 (24... Qe7 {Ribli} 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. Ba3 $18 {/\Rd7}) 25. bxc4
Bc6 (25... Ng6 26. Qf5 $1 $16) (25... Qxc4 $2 {Dolmatov} 26. Bxe5 Ng6 27. Bd4
$16) 26. c5 (26. Qxh4 $2 {Dolmatov} Qxc4 27. Bxe5 $2 Ne2+ (27... Ng6) 28. Rxe2
Qxe2) 26... Ng6 $14 (26... f6 $5 {Dolmatov} 27. Qxh4 Qc4 28. Qg4 (28. g3 Ne2+
29. Kh2 Qxc2 $13) 28... Qxc2 29. Bc1) 27. Qe3 a5 {Der Nachziehende hat einige
Kompensation fuer die verlorene Qualitaet.} 28. Qc3 a4 29. Rd6 Qe7 30. Bc1 {
Mowsziszian: Die Stellung ist nicht leicht zu gewinnen, Weiß muss zuerst die
Figurenaufstellung verbesseren.} Ra8 31. f3 Kh7 32. Be3 Qe8 $6 (32... Nf4) (
32... f6) (32... Qf8) 33. Ra1 Rb8 $2 {Ribli: Nur Tempoverlust} (33... Nf4 34.
Qd2 Ne6 $5) (33... f6) (33... f6 $5 {Ribli /\ Qf7,f5}) (33... f6 34. Qe1 (34.
Bf2 $2 {Dolmatov} Nf4 35. Qe1 Qg6)) 34. Rdd1 $1 Qe6 35. Kh2 f6 $6 $138 {
Ribli: Warum nicht sofort f5!?.} (35... f5 $1 $132) 36. Rdb1 Ra8 37. Rb4 $16 {
/\ Qe1, Be3-f2:h4} Qf7 (37... Ne7 $5 {Dolmatov /\g5}) 38. Qe1 {Droht /\ Bf2,
Bh4 /\Bf2-Bh4} f5 $8 {Ribli: Na endlich, aber schon zu spaet, weil der weisse
Turm auf b4 ausgezeichnet steht.} (38... a3 39. Qc3 a2 40. Qb3 $18) (38... Qe7
$5 {Dolmatov} 39. Bf2 Nf4 40. Bxh4 Qxc5 $132) 39. exf5 Qxf5 40. Qc3 Re8 (40...
e4 41. fxe4 Bxe4 42. Raxa4 Rxa4 43. Rxa4 Nf4 44. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 45. Kg1 $16) 41.
Rg4 $1 Re6 (41... e4 42. f4) 42. Rb1 Re8 43. Rbb4 {/\Bg5-Bh4} e4 (43... Re6 {
Dolmatov} 44. Bg5) 44. f4 (44. fxe4 $5 {Ribli} Rxe4 (44... Bxe4 {Mowsziszian}
45. Rxa4 Bxc2) (44... Qe5+ {Dolmatov} 45. Qxe5 Rxe5) 45. Rgxe4 Bxe4 46. Rxa4
$16) 44... Qf7 45. Bd4 $1 Bd5 {Droht /\ Be6} (45... Nxf4 46. Rxg7+ Qxg7 47.
Bxg7 Nd5 48. Qe1 $1 Nxb4 49. Ba1 $18) 46. f5 $1 (46. Rxa4 Be6) 46... Qxf5 47.
Rxa4 $18 Bc6 48. Rb4 {/\ 49.Qe3 Droht /\ Qe3,Rg5} e3 (48... Re7 {Mowsziszian}
49. Qe3 {/\Rb8 nebst Rg5-Rh5+}) (48... Qf7 {Dolmatov} 49. Qe3) 49. Bxe3 Qd5 50.
Rg5 (50. Rxg6 $2 Kxg6 51. Rg4+ Kh5 52. Rg5+ $2 Qxg5 53. Bxg5 Re2 $1 $10) 50...
Re5 51. Rbg4 $1 (51. Rxh4+ $6 Nxh4 52. Qxe5 Qxg2+ 53. Rxg2 Nf3+ 54. Kg3 Nxe5)
1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Bf6 11. a4 Bb7 12. Na3 Nb6 13. d5 Na5 $6 {N} (13... Ne7)
14. axb5 axb5 15. Be3 Nbc4 (15... Nxb3 16. Qxb3 c6 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Nxb5 Rxa1
19. Rxa1 Bxe4 20. Nd2 Bf5 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Qxb6 $16) 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Nd2 c6
18. Naxc4 Nxc4 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Nxc4 cxd5 21. exd5 $16 Be7 22. Qd2 f5 23. f4
Qc7 24. b3 Bf6 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Bb6 Qb7 27. d6 f4 28. Rf1 Qd7 29. Bc7 Qb5 30.
Nb6 Bb7 31. b4 f3 32. c4 Qe8 33. Nd5 Bh4 34. d7 Qg6 35. b5 (35. d8=Q Bxd8 36.
Bxd8 Rxd8 37. Ne7+ Kf7 38. Nxg6 Rxd2 39. Nxe5+ Ke6 40. Nxf3 Rb2 41. b5 Kd6 $16)
35... Kh8 36. Ne3 Bg5 37. Rf2 Qe4 38. Rxf3 Qb1+ 39. Nf1 $1 Bxf3 40. Qxg5 Be2
1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E63"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. b3
Rb8 9. Bb2 b5 10. Ne1 Na5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nd3 b4 13. Ne4 Nd5 14. e3 Ba6 15.
Re1 e6 16. a3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 bxa3 18. Qxa3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Rxb2 20. Reb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B93"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Nbd7 7. Be2 g6 8. O-O
Bg7 9. a4 O-O 10. Bf3 e5 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. Kh1 h6 13. Bf4 Bd7 14. Be2 Rc8 15.
Qd2 Kh7 16. Rad1 Bg4 17. Bxg4 Nfxg4 18. Nd5 Nc4 19. Qe2 Nge5 20. b3 Nb6 21. Nf3
Nxd5 22. Rxd5 Qc7 23. c4 Rfe8 24. Rfd1 Qb6 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Qd3 Re7 27. Rd6
Qc5 28. h3 Rb8 29. Qc3 Rc8 30. R6d5 Qc6 31. Qb4 Qe8 32. Qb6 f5 33. Re1 Qf7 34.
exf5 Qxf5 35. Nd2 Rf8 36. Ne4 Qh5 37. Kg1 Rf4 38. Qe3 Qf5 39. b4 Qe6 40. b5
axb5 41. axb5 Ref7 42. Qd3 Qb6+ 43. c5 Qa5 44. Qe2 Qb4 45. Kh2 Re7 46. Rdd1 Qa4
47. Ra1 Qd4 48. Rad1 Qb4 49. Rb1 Qd4 50. Rbc1 Rc7 51. Rc4 Qd7 52. Rb1 Bf8 53.
Kh1 Rc8 54. Qc2 Rf7 55. c6 bxc6 56. Rxc6 Rxc6 57. bxc6 Qa7 58. Qc4 1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "176"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. Qd2 Be7 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Qf2 $5 $146 (13. Bxb6 {
Lanka,Z - Piesina,G, Vilnius (zt) 1993 - 57/(255)}) 13... Rb8 $1 (13... Nc4 14.
Bxc4 bxc4 15. Nc5 Qc7 (15... Qa5 $4 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bb6 Qb4 18. a3 $18) 16.
Nxe6 (16. N5a4 $5) 16... fxe6 17. h4 $14) 14. Nc5 $6 (14. h4 $13) 14... b4 $1
15. N3a4 (15. Nxa6 $2 bxc3 16. Nxb8 Qxb8 17. Bxb6 Bd8 18. Bb5+ Nd7 19. Bxd8
Qxb5 20. b3 Kxd8 21. Rxd6 Ke7 $19 {->}) 15... Nxa4 16. Nxa4 Qc7 17. b3 (17. Nb6
$6 Qc6 {/\ Bd8} 18. b3 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 $17) 17... d5 18. exd5
Nxd5 19. Bc1 (19. Bxa6 $2 O-O $19 {/\ Nc3, Qa5, Ra8->}) 19... Nc3+ (19... O-O
$142 20. Bc4 (20. Bd3 $6 Nc3+ 21. Nxc3 bxc3 22. f4 a5 23. f5 (23. g5 hxg5 24.
fxg5 a4 25. Qh4 g6 26. Qh6 (26. Qxa4 Ra8 27. Qh4 Qa5 28. a4 Rfb8 $19) 26...
axb3 27. cxb3 Bxb3 28. axb3 Rxb3+ 29. Kc2 Qb6 $19) 23... Bd5 24. Rhg1 a4 25. g5
axb3 26. cxb3 Bxb3 27. axb3 Rxb3+ 28. Kc2 Qb7 $19) (20. h4 $6 Nc3+ 21. Nxc3
bxc3 22. f4 (22. g5 h5 $17) 22... Bxg4 23. Be2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 exf4 $17) (20. Rg1
$6 Nc3+ 21. Nxc3 bxc3 $17 {/\ Bc5}) 20... Rfd8 (20... Nc3+ 21. Nxc3 Bxc4 22.
Nd5 (22. Ne4 Be6 23. h4 f5 24. gxf5 Bxf5 25. Qg2 Rb6 26. h5 a5 27. Rhg1 Rf7 $15
) 22... Bxd5) 21. h4 Nc3+ 22. Nxc3 Bxc4 23. Ne4 Be6 $15) 20. Nxc3 bxc3 21. f4
$1 a5 (21... exf4 $2 22. Bxf4 Qa5 23. Qa7 $1 $16) (21... Bxg4 $6 22. Re1 $1 {
/\ Rg1->} (22. Be2 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 O-O (23... exf4 $2 24. Rhe1 Rb7 25. Ba3 $18)
24. fxe5 $13)) 22. f5 Bd7 23. Bd3 (23. h4 $1) 23... a4 (23... Bg5 $1 24. Ba3
Be7 25. Bc1 $10 (25. Bxe7 Kxe7 26. Rhe1 f6 $13)) 24. Qe2 (24. h4 $1 $36) 24...
Bg5 $1 25. Rhe1 $2 (25. Ba3) (25. Ba3 Be7 $10) 25... f6 26. Ba3 Qa5 27. Bd6 Rc8
$2 (27... Rb6 $1 28. b4 $8 (28. Bc7 Qc5 $1 29. Bxb6 Qa3 $19) 28... Rxb4+ 29.
Ka1 Rd4 30. Ba3 $17) 28. a3 $5 axb3 29. cxb3 Bd2 30. Bc2 Bb5 31. Qf3 $6 (31.
Qe4 Bc6 32. Qc4 Qd5 $15) 31... Bc6 32. Qh3 {/\ Qd5} Bd5 $1 33. Bb4 Qc7 {
/\ Rb8, Rb4!} 34. Re2 Kf7 35. Qh5+ Kg8 36. Rdxd2 cxd2 37. Rxd2 Qc6 38. Kb2 Bf7
39. Qh3 h5 $2 $138 (39... Kh7 $1 40. g5 fxg5 41. f6+ Bg6 $1 $17) 40. g5 $1 fxg5
41. Qe3 g4 42. Bc3 $2 (42. Qxe5 Rh6 43. Bc3 Rf6 44. Qe3 Rd6 45. Qe5 $10) 42...
Re8 $1 43. Be4 $6 (43. Bxe5 Qb5 44. Re2 Rh6 $15) 43... Qb5 44. Bb4 Rh6 45. Qc5
Qf1 46. Rf2 Qd1 47. Bc2 Qh1 48. Qe3 Rc8 $1 {/\ Rhc6->} 49. Bc3 Rhc6 50. Bxe5
Re8 51. Qd4 Qe1 52. Bf4 (52. Bxg7 $2 Re2 $1 53. Qd8+ Kxg7 54. f6+ Kh6 55. Qf8+
Kg5 56. Qg7+ Kh4 $19) (52. Bg3 Re3 $1 $40) 52... Rec8 53. Rd2 Rc3 $17 54. Be5
Rf3 55. Bg3 (55. Bxg7 $2 Rxb3+ $1 56. Bxb3 Qc1+ 57. Ka2 Rc2+ 58. Rxc2 Qxc2+ 59.
Qb2 (59. Ka1 Qxb3 60. Qb2 Qd1+ $19) 59... Bxb3+ 60. Ka1 Qd1+ $19) 55... Qf1 56.
Bd1 Rxf5 57. Qd7 Re8 58. Bc2 Rf3 59. Bd3 Qg1 60. Bc4 Qe3 $1 61. Bxf7+ Rxf7 62.
Qd5 Re6 $6 (62... Qf3 $1 63. a4 (63. Qxh5 Re2 $1 $19) 63... Qxd5 64. Rxd5 Re2+
65. Ka3 h4 66. Bxh4 Rxh2 $19) 63. a4 $6 (63. Rc2 $1 $132) 63... Rf5 64. Qd8+
Kh7 65. Rc2 Qe4 66. Qd7 Rd5 67. Qf7 Qd4+ 68. Ka3 Rf6 69. Qc7 Rf3 (69... Rf1
$142 $19) 70. Qc6 $8 Qd1 (70... Qa1+ 71. Ra2 Rxb3+ 72. Kxb3 Qb1+ (72... Rd3+ $4
73. Kc4 (73. Kc2 $4 Qd1+ 74. Kb2 Rb3#) 73... Qc3+ (73... Rc3+ 74. Kb4 $18) 74.
Kb5 Qb3+ 75. Ka6 Qxa2 76. Qe4+ $18) 73. Rb2 Rd3+ 74. Kc4 Qc1+ 75. Kxd3 Qxc6 $19
) 71. Qc4 Rd4 72. Qc6 $8 (72. Qc5 Qa1+ 73. Ra2 Rxa4+ $19) 72... Rdd3 $2 $138 (
72... Qa1+ 73. Ra2 Rxb3+ 74. Kxb3 Qb1+ 75. Rb2 (75. Kc3 Qd3+ 76. Kb2 Rb4+ $19)
75... Rd3+ 76. Kc4 Qc1+ $19) 73. Qe4+ Kg8 74. Rc8+ $6 (74. Qe6+ Rf7 $8 75. Rc8+
Rd8 $17) 74... Rd8 75. Qe6+ Kh8 76. Rxd8+ Qxd8 77. Be5 Qf8+ $1 78. Bd6 Rf6 $1
$19 79. Bxf8 Rxe6 80. Bc5 h4 81. Bf2 g3 82. Bxg3 hxg3 83. hxg3 Rg6 84. a5 Rxg3
85. Ka4 Rg1 86. b4 g5 87. b5 g4 88. b6 Rb1 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bc1 Nc6 10. h3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nge5 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. O-O f5 14. exf5 Bxf5
15. Be3 Qf6 16. Qd2 Nd4 17. Bg4 c5 18. Nd5 Qf7 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Bxf5 gxf5 21.
Rae1 Rae8 22. b3 Re5 23. g3 Rfe8 24. Kg2 b5 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Rxe5 dxe5 27. Ne3
f4 28. Qf5 Qg7 29. Qh5 Rf8 30. Nf5 Qf6 31. g4 bxc4 32. bxc4 e4 33. Re1 e3 34.
fxe3 fxe3 35. Qh6 Qxh6 36. Nxh6 Rf2+ 37. Kg3 Be5+ 38. Kh4 e2 39. Nf5 Bc3 40.
Rb1 Rxf5 41. gxf5 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.11.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Diese Partie erhielt nicht nur den Spezialpreis für die "Beste Partie" beim
Belgrader Invest Turnier, sondern galt auch als die Partie des Jahres 1995.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3
Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 10. Bd3 Neg4 11. Bc1 g6 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Qe2 Bg7 14. f4 {Topalov
strebt das Maximum an (wie stets): h3 und nach dem Rückzug des Springers würde
Be3 folgen.} Nh5 $1 15. Nd5 (15. Bd2 $5) 15... Qd8 16. Bd2 (16. O-O O-O 17. h3
Ngf6 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 $11) 16... e6 $1 17. Ba5 $5 {Typisch Topalov: Jede
Herausforderung wird angenommen.} (17. Qxg4 exd5 18. Qf3 O-O 19. O-O dxe4 20.
Bxe4 $11) 17... Qh4+ 18. g3 Nxg3 19. Nc7+ {Nach} (19. hxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kd2 exd5
21. exd5+ Kd7 {steht der weiße König gefährdeter.}) 19... Ke7 20. hxg3 Qxg3+
21. Kd1 Nf2+ 22. Kd2 Nxh1 23. Nxa8 $2 {Dieser Fehler ist schwer zu begreifen:
Topalov vermeidet eine Zugwiederholung und gibt Schwarz seinerseits die
Möglichkeit zur Zugwiederholung.} (23. Rxh1 Qxf4+ (23... Rb8 24. Bb6 $11) 24.
Kd1 Rb8 25. Bd2 Qg3 26. Be1 Qf4 {mit Zugwiederholung.}) 23... Qxf4+ 24. Qe3
Qh2+ 25. Qe2 Qf4+ 26. Qe3 Qh2+ 27. Qe2 Bh6+ $1 {Kramnik will auch mehr als ein
Remis.} 28. Kc3 ({Schwächer ist} 28. Kd1 Qg1+ 29. Qe1 Qg4+ 30. Be2 Qxe4 31. Nb6
Be3 {mit Vorteil für Schwarz (Kramnik).}) 28... Qe5+ ({Objektiv besser ist
vielleicht} 28... Qxe2 29. Bxe2 Ng3 $17 {Die weißen Figuren stehen
unkoordiniert, der Pe4 ist sehr schwach und der schwarze h-Bauer wird ganz
schnell sein.}) 29. Kb4 Ng3 30. Qe1 Bg7 (30... Qxb2 $5) 31. Nb6 $2 ({Die beste
Verteidigung bestand in} 31. Rb1 Bd7 32. Ka3 {Doch nach} Rxa8 33. Bc3 Qf4 34.
Bxg7 {steht Schwarz auch ein wenig besser; in Frage kommt z.B. 34...e5.}) 31...
d5 $19 32. Ka4 (32. exd5 Qd6+ 33. Kc4 Qf4+ 34. Kc5 Bd7 35. a4 {wird widerlegt:}
Be5 $1 {(Burgess/Nunn/Emms)} 36. Nxd7 Kxd7 37. dxe6+ (37. c4 Rc8+ 38. Kb4 exd5
$19) 37... fxe6 38. Bd2 Rc8+ 39. Kb6 Bd4+ 40. Ka5 Bb6+ $1 41. Kxb6 Qc7+ 42. Ka7
b5+ 43. Kxa6 Ra8+ 44. Kxb5 Rb8+ 45. Ka6 Qb6#) 32... Bd7+ 33. Nxd7 b5+ 34. Kb4
Kxd7 35. Bb6 Qxb2 {Schneller und sicherer gewann} (35... Nxe4 $1 36. Bxe4 Qxb2
$3 37. Bd3 Kc6 $3 {Das wäre noch schöner gewesen!}) 36. exd5 Rc8 37. dxe6+ Ke8
$1 {[#]} 38. Bc5 $6 {Verliert schnell ebenso wie} (38. c4 $2 Ne4 $3 {: schauen
Sie selbst!}) ({Etwas zäher ist} 38. Bxb5+ axb5 39. exf7+ Kxf7 40. Qxg3 Qc3+
41. Qxc3 Bxc3+ 42. Kxb5 Bxa1 43. Nxa1 h5 {und Weiß steht nur materiell besser,
hat aber den schwarzen Bauern wenig entgegen zu setzen.}) 38... Bc3+ $1 39.
Qxc3 a5+ 40. Kxb5 Qxc3 {Quellen: "Informator 65" (Kramnik) Burgess/Nunn/Emms
"The World's Greatest Chess Games" Schach 1/1996} 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 d6 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. e4 c5 7. Bd3 $6 {
White's pieces, especially his N on d2, are not well placed to maintain a full
e4,d4 centre. Therefore it's better to resolve the d4,c5 tension.} (7. dxc5
dxc5 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Na5 (9... Qc7 $142 $10) 10. Be2 a6 11. Re1 Be6 12. Bf4
h6 13. Qc2 b5 14. h3 g5 15. Bh2 Qb6 16. e5 Nd7 17. Ne4 Rfd8 18. Ng3 Nf8 19. Nf5
Ng6 20. Bd3 Kf8 21. Be4 Rab8 22. b3 Rd7 23. Bg3 $14 {Gausel,E-Lejlic,S/Gausdal
TM/1996/}) (7. d5 $5 h6 8. Bh4 e6 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Bc4 Bxc4 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12.
Nxc4 Qe6 13. Qd5 Qxd5 14. exd5 Re8+ 15. Kd2 Bf8 16. Rhe1 Nd7 17. Rxe8 Rxe8 18.
Re1 Rb8 (18... Rxe1 19. Nxe1 Nb6 20. Ne3 h5 21. Kd3 Bh6 22. Nc4 $16 {[%csl Gd3]
_|_K[+],Spielmann,A-Szylar,E/Cannes op/1995/}) 19. a4 Nf6 20. Ne3 a6 21. Kd3 h5
22. Nd2 b5 23. axb5 $14 {Rodriguez,Or-Barbero,G/Benasque op/1993/}) (7. Bc4
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O Rb8 11. Qc2 Qa5 12. Bh4 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Qxa6
14. Rfe1 e5 15. b3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Bg3 f6 18. f3 Bh6 19. Ne4 Rbd8 20. Bf2
Nf4 21. Nc5 Qa3 22. Rad1 Rd5 23. Ne4 Ne6 $10 {Toth,J-Krutti,V/HUN-tt
DSE-Nagykanizsa/1993/}) (7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 (8. cxd4 Nc6 (8... h6 $142 9. Bh4
g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 $15) 9. d5 Nb8 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Re1 Re8 12. h3 Nc5 13. Bc4 Bd7
14. a4 Rc8 15. e5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 Bf5 17. d6 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. b4 exd6 20.
Ng4 Ncd7 21. Ne4 d5 22. Nd6 Qb6 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24. Be3 $16 {Tangborn,E-Djeno,D/
Vienna op/1991/}) 8... Nbd7 9. O-O Nc5 10. Bf3 Bd7 11. Qe2 Rb8 12. Qe3 b5 13.
Bh6 e5 14. Nc2 Bc6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Rfd1 Qc7 17. Nb4 Bb7 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3
Rfd8 20. Qe3 Qc5 21. Re1 Qxe3 22. Rxe3 a5 23. Nf1 Kf8 $10 {Zdravko,M-Vasilev,V/
Zaragoza opC/1995/}) (7. h3 cxd4 8. cxd4 d5 (8... Qa5 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Be3 $13)
9. e5 Ne4 10. Be3 f6 11. exf6 exf6 12. Qb3 Kh8 13. Bd3 f5 14. g3 Nc6 15. h4 Qe7
16. O-O-O Be6 17. Kb1 Nb4 18. Qa3 f4 $6 19. gxf4 Bf5 20. Ne5 a5 21. h5 Qe6 22.
Bxe4 dxe4 23. hxg6 $16 {Pihajlic,A-Sedina,E/JUG-chT Cetinje/1992/}) 7... cxd4
8. cxd4 (8. Nxd4 h6 9. Bh4 Nc6 $36) 8... h6 $1 (8... Nc6 9. h3 $1 (9. O-O h6
10. Be3 Ng4 11. Qb3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 e5 (12... e6 $5 $15 {^^}) 13. d5 Ne7 14. Nc4
f5 15. Nfd2 Kh8 16. Qb4 Rf6 17. Rac1 f4 18. exf4 exf4 19. Nf3 g5 20. Nd4 Ng6
21. Nb5 Bf8 22. Qc3 Bg7 23. Qb4 Bf8 24. Qc3 {1/2/Agababjan-Levitina/
Spartakiada/1979/}) 9... Qa5 (9... Bd7 10. O-O Qa5 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. Rc1 Rac8 13.
a3 b5 14. Ne3 Qb8 15. Qe2 a6 16. d5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Nc2 h6 19. Be3 Ne8
20. Nb4 Nd6 21. Nxa6 Qa8 22. Nc5 Be8 23. f3 f5 24. Ne6 $18 {Leuba,D-Deubelbeis,
R/SWZ-chT/1993/}) 10. Be3 e5 11. d5 Nb4 12. Bb1 Bd7 13. O-O Bb5 14. Re1 Qa6 15.
a4 Bd3 16. Qb3 Bxb1 17. Rexb1 Nd3 18. Qb5 Rfc8 19. Ne1 Nxe1 20. Rxe1 Rc2 21. b3
Bf8 22. Rec1 Rac8 23. Rxc2 Rxc2 24. Rd1 h5 25. Qxa6 bxa6 26. Bxa7 Bh6 $44 {
Soppe,G-Simonenko,S/Manila olm/1992/}) 9. Bh4 (9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bf4 e5 $1 $17)
9... Nh5 $36 (9... Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Nc6 12. d5 Nb4 13. O-O Nxd3 14.
Qxd3 Nh5 15. Nh2 Qd7 16. Qb3 Rfc8 17. Rac1 Kf8 18. Ng4 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Rc8 20.
Re1 Rc5 21. Qe3 g5 22. Bg3 Nxg3 23. Qxg3 Qc7 24. e5 h5 $1 $17 {Sharif,
M-Apicella,M/FRA-chT/1995/}) 10. O-O (10. Nb3 Nc6 $36) 10... g5 $146 (10... Nc6
$6 11. d5 Nb4 12. Bc4 a5 13. Rb1 Na6 14. Nb3 a4 15. Nbd4 Nc5 16. Re1 g5 17. Bg3
Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qa5 19. b4 axb3 20. axb3 Qb4 21. Nc2 Qb6 22. Nfd4 Kh8 23. Qh5 e5
24. dxe6 fxe6 25. Rbd1 $14 {Strikovic,A-Vujadinovic,G/JUG-Cup f Pula/1991/})
11. Bg3 g4 12. Nh4 Nxg3 (12... Bxd4 $6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nf6 (14... Nxg3
15. Qxg4+ $16) 15. Ne4 $44) 13. hxg3 Bxd4 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 h5 16. f6 $5 (
16. Ne4 d5 $17) (16. Qe2 Nd7 $5 (16... Nc6 17. f6 $1 Bxf6 18. Qe4 Re8 19. Qh7+
Kf8 20. Qxh5 $132) 17. Qe4 Bf6 $17) 16... Nd7 $6 (16... Bxf6 17. Qa4 $5 {
[%cal Ra4e4] /\Qe4} d5 18. Qf4 $44) (16... exf6 17. Nc4 d5 18. Ne3 $5 $132) (
16... e6 $1 17. Nc4 (17. Qa4 Nc6 $17) 17... d5 $17 {Black would be simply 2 P
up and White's counterchances would be very nebulous.}) 17. fxe7 Qxe7 18. Bf5
Nc5 19. Nc4 $44 {[%csl Rf6,Rg5,Rh6] ׻ Now White has active pieces and some
play against Black's K , which balances the situation.} Qf6 20. Qd2 d5 21. Ne3
Ne4 (21... Rad8 $5 22. Rad1 (22. Bxg4 Ne4 $1 23. Qc1 Bxb2 $19) 22... Bxe3 (
22... Be5 $2 23. Nxd5 $1 Qxf5 24. Ne7+ $18) 23. fxe3 Qg5 $15 (23... Qe5 24. e4
$5)) 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Nd5 Qe5 $8 (23... Qg7 $2 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Nf5 $18) 24.
Rfd1 Qxd5 (24... Bxb2 25. Rab1 Rad8 $1 $8 (25... Ba3 26. Qh6 $40) 26. Rxb2 Rxd5
27. Qxd5 Qxb2 28. Qxh5 $10) 25. Qxd4 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 f5 (26... Rfe8 27. Re1 Rac8
28. Rexe4 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 Rc1+ 30. Kh2 Rc2 31. Rb4 $10) 27. Rc1 $10 {White
occupies the open c and d-files, to activate his R Black will have to shed
material.} Rac8 (27... Rad8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rc5 $10) 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Rd5
Rc1+ (29... Rf8 30. Kf1 Kg7 31. Ke2 Kf6 32. Ke3 $44 {With a passive R Black
would have no winning chances at all. But even after the active move in the
game White has enough counterplay.}) 30. Kh2 Kf7 $5 (30... Rc2 31. Rxf5 Rxb2
32. a4 Kg7 33. Rxh5 (33. Kg1 Kg6 34. Re5 Rb4 35. a5 a6 $17 {[%cal Rb4b5] /\Rb5}
) 33... Rxf2 34. Rg5+ Kf6 35. Rxg4 Kf5 36. Rg7 e3 37. Rxb7 $10) 31. Rxf5+ Ke6
32. Rxh5 Rc2 33. Rg5 Rxf2 34. Rxg4 Kd5 (34... Kf5 $5 35. Rg7 (35. Rf4+ $2 Rxf4
36. gxf4 Kxf4 37. Kg1 Ke3 $1 38. g4 Kf4 $19) 35... Rxb2 36. g4+ (36. Rf7+ Ke6
$5 $15) 36... Kf4 (36... Kf6 37. Rc7 e3 38. Kg3 $10) 37. g5 e3 38. g6 Kg5 39.
Kg3 Kf6 40. Rc7 Kxg6 41. Kf3 e2 42. Kf2 Kf5 43. a4 $10) 35. Rg7 e3 36. Re7 Kd4
37. g4 Kd3 (37... Rxb2 38. g5 $10) 38. g5 Rxb2 39. g6 Rb6 40. g7 Rg6 41. Rxb7 (
41. Rxb7 e2 42. Re7 Kd2 43. Rd7+ Kc2 44. Re7 $10 {The black Rook can never
help her K, as it must watch White's Pg7.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Nd5 12. Ng2 Bg6 13. Na2 Be7 14. Qe2 N5b6 15.
Bb3 c5 16. Nc3 O-O 17. a5 cxd4 18. exd4 Nc8 19. Nf4 Nd6 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Bf4
Ne8 22. Qf3 Bd6 23. Be3 Ndf6 24. g5 Nh5 25. Rfd1 Nc7 26. Bc2 f5 27. h4 b5 28.
axb6 axb6 29. Rxa8 Qxa8 30. Qxa8 Rxa8 31. d5 Nxd5 32. Nxd5 exd5 33. Bb3 Kf8 34.
Bxd5 Ra4 35. Bxb6 Rxh4 36. Bc6 Be7 37. Ra1 Nf4 38. Ra8+ Kf7 39. Be8+ Ke6 40.
Ra6 Kd5 41. Bf7+ Ke4 42. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. Bc4 (9. O-O-O {ist die Hauptalternative. 9.Bc4 verhindert d6-d5, was
nach 9.0-0-0 möglich ist.}) 9... Bd7 10. h4 Rc8 11. Bb3 h5 12. O-O-O Ne5 13.
Bg5 Rc5 {Dieser starke Zug, 1976 von Sosonko entdeckt, hat die Popularität der
Verteidigung mit ...h5 begründet. Schwarz bereitet b7-b5 vor, der Turm greift
auf der 5.Reihe in das Geschehen ein, indem er z.B. den Bauern h5 indirekt
überdeckt und nach Wegzug der Dame nach a5, b6 oder b8 ist die Möglichkeit zur
Turmverdoppelung mit ...Tfc8 gegeben.} 14. g4 {Häufiger wird stattdessen der
wartende Vorbereitungszug 14.Kb1 gespielt.} hxg4 15. f4 Nc4 16. Qe2 {16.Bxc4
oder 16.Qd3 kommt ebenfalls vor.} Qc8 $5 {Die neueste Mode in der
Drachenvariante in diesem Abspiel. Schwarz deckt den Nc4, verstärkt den Druck
auf der c-Linie, droht Nxb2 und kontrolliert die Diagonale c8-h3 mit den
wichtigen Schlüsselfeldern e6, f5 und g4. Der Nachteil des Zuges liegt in
einer Schwächung des Feldes e7, besonders wenn dort ein Springer hingelangt.
Früher war statt 16...Qc8 der Bauernzug b7-b5 obligatorisch. Übrigens kann die
gleiche Stellung mit eingeschobenem Zugpaar Kb1 und b7-b5 entstehen.} 17. Bxf6
(17. f5 {Das ist die Stammpartie der Idee ...Qc8} e5 18. Ndb5 Bxb5 19. Nxb5
Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc4 Rb4 22. Bd5 gxf5 23. Rdf1 f4 {mit unklarem Spiel
und späterem 0-1 in Yudasin,L-Tiviakov,S/Groningen PCA (04) ;CBM 39 1993 (52)})
17... Bxf6 18. Nd5 $2 {Fragwürdig, denn nun bekommt Schwarz die Möglichkeit
zum folgendem "Opfer" eingeräumt. Möglicherweise hat Ivanchuk hier die
Varianten verwechselt und die Stellung im Sinn gehabt, die nach
eingeschaltetem 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.Nd5 entsteht. Dort ist der Springerzug stärker,
denn die Möglichkeit des Opfers gibt es nicht, weil der Rc5 nun auf c4 steht.
Dies würde auch erklären, warum er frustriert schon im 24.Zug aufgibt.} (18.
Bxc4 Rxc4 19. Nd5 Re8 (19... Be6 {Danailov ist übrigens der Trainer von
Topalov.} 20. Nxf6+ exf6 21. f5 (21. h5 $142 $1 g5 22. fxg5 fxg5 23. Nb5 $16 (
23. h6 $16)) 21... Bd7 22. Rhg1 (22. Qxg4 Qc5 23. c3 Rxc3+ 24. bxc3 Qxc3+ 25.
Kb1 Qb4+ 26. Ka1 (26. Nb3 Bxf5 $19) 26... Qc3+ $10) (22. Kb1 Re8 23. Qxg4 Qc5
24. c3 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Bxf5 $19) 22... Qc5 23. Qf2 Rc8 24. Rd2 Ra4 25. Kb1 gxf5
26. exf5 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxf5 28. Rg2 Qe5 29. Rd2 Rc4 30. Rg1 {1/2-1/2 Hamdouchi,
H-Danailov,S/Sitges op ;EXT 94op 1994}) 20. e5 (20. h5 g5 21. e5 Rc5 22. Qe4 (
22. exf6 Rxd5 23. fxe7 gxf4 24. Qe4 Re5 25. Qxf4 R8xe7 26. Qf6 Kh7 27. h6 Qg8
28. Qxd6 $13) 22... Be6 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,I-Payen,A/Budapest
Cansys IM-Nov (09) ;EXT 91 1991}) 20... dxe5 (20... Bg7 21. h5) (20... Rc5 21.
exf6 (21. Nxf6+ exf6 22. Nb3 Rc6 $19) (21. Nb3 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Bc6 $19) (21. Qe4
dxe5 22. fxe5 Bf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Nxf6+ exf6 $19) 21... Rxd5 22. fxe7 Be6 23.
Nxe6 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rxe7 (24... Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Rxd6 Rxe7 $13) 25. Qxg4
Qxe6 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 $17) 21. fxe5 Bg7 22. h5 Bf5 (22... Qc5 23. e6) 23. h6 Bh8
24. h7+ Kf8 25. Qh2 Rd8 26. Nxf5 gxf5 (26... Qxf5 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Nc7+ Rxc7
29. Qf8+ Kxf8 30. Rxd8+ Kg7 31. Rg8#) 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qg5 $18) 18... Rxd5 $1 {
Hier gibt der Drachenspieler ohne Nachdenken die Qualität und sagt "Danke".
Der Drachenläufer bleibt erhalten und der gefährliche Nd5 verschwindet vom
Brett. In der Philosophie des Drachenspielers ist dies auch kein Opfer,
sondern ein ganz normaler Tausch.} 19. exd5 b5 {Mit der Idee a7-a5-a4 folgen
zu lassen und den Bb3 in Schwierigkeiten zu bringen. Außerdem entstehen durch
die vorgerückten b- und a-Bauern eine Menge Hebel gegen die weiße
Königstellung, um das Läuferpaar zur Geltung zu bringen. Der schwarze Plan
dauert zwar ein paar Züge, aber Weiß muß etwas unternehmen, um nicht unter die
Räder zu kommen.} 20. h5 g5 {Vermeidet die Öffnung der h-Linie. Ein wichtiges
Motiv in dieser und ähnlichen Stellungen.} 21. fxg5 Bxg5+ 22. Kb1 {Nun ist
wieder eine für die Drachenvariante ganz typische Stellung entstanden. Als
Resultat der weißen Angriffsbemühungen hat Schwarz Spielmöglichkeiten am
Königsflügel erhalten. Der folgende Vorstoß des f-Bauern verhindert eine
Einschnürung am eigenen Königsflügel und bildet ein gefährliches
Freibauernpaar, das die Partie im Endspiel zugunsten von Schwarz entscheidet.
Schwarz muß nun noch aufpassen, daß dem etwas luftigen K nichts geschieht und
wird ansonsten möglichst Abtausch anstreben. Gelegentliche Angriffdrohungen
gegen den weißen K werden die Angelegenheit unterstützen.} f5 23. Rd3 $6 (23.
h6 {ist vielleicht noch ein Angriffsversuch.} f4 {leistet mehr als Königszüge}
(23... Kh8 $6 24. Rh5 (24. h7 f4 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 f3 27. Qe4 Ne5 28. Rh5
Bf6 $17 {Die schwarze Position um den König ist fest und man kann daran denken,
nach Verbesserung der Damenstellung, die Freibauern vorzuscheiben.}) 24... Bf6
25. Bxc4 {Der Läufer hat keine große Perspektive.} bxc4 (25... Qxc4 26. Qxc4
bxc4 27. Nxf5 $16) 26. c3 f4 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 f3 29. Qe4 $18 {mit stark
eingeschränktem Spiel für Schwarz, die Bauern g4,f3 und c4 sind sehr schwach.})
(23... Kh7 $2 24. Rh5 Bf6 (24... Rg8 25. Rxg5 Rxg5 26. Qxe7+ $18) 25. c3 $18 {
/\ 26.Bc2 Der weißfeldrige Läufer erwacht zum Leben und der Pf5 geht verloren.}
) 24. h7+ (24. Bxc4 Qxc4 25. h7+ Kh8 26. Qxc4 bxc4 $19 {Die Freibauern und das
Läuferpaar machen das Rennen.}) 24... Kh8 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 Ne3 27. Rdg1
Qc5 $17 {Schwarz steht gut, auch wenn die technische Realisierung des Vorteils
bestimmt noch mit taktischen Schwierigkeiten verbunden ist.}) (23. Ne6 $2 Bxe6
24. Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Qxc4 $2 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rhf1 $18 {Schwarz verliert den
Bauern f5 oder g4.}) 25. dxe6 Rf6 $19 {Weiß hat kein Spiel.}) (23. Bxc4 $2 Qxc4
24. Qxc4 bxc4 $19 {Weiß ist chancenlos.}) (23. Rhg1 $5 {Knaak; ist wohl noch
der beste Zug.} f4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Qxc4 $2 25. Rxg4 Bxg4 26. Qxg4 $18) 25.
Qe4 Kh8 (25... Rf6 $2 26. Qxe7 $18) 26. Ne6 Bxe6 27. dxe6 g3 28. Rd5 Bh6 {
und Weiß hat auch hier Mühe, Gegenspiel gegen die drohenden Freibauern zu
finden, z.B.} 29. Rf5 Rxf5 30. Qxf5 Qc5 31. Qxc5 dxc5 32. c3 Kg7 33. Kc2 Kf6
34. Kd1 Kg5 35. Ke2 Kg4 $19) 23... f4 24. Bxc4 Qxc4 {und hier gab Weiß auf.
Gute Güte!. Sicher hat Schwarz im mächtigen Freibauernpaar weit mehr als
Kompensation für die Qualität, aber ist es wirklich schon so schlimm?} (24...
Qxc4 25. Qg2 {verhindert f4-f3.} Kh8 (25... f3 $2 26. Nxf3 $18) (25... Bh6 $2 {
um mit folgenden Kh8 den Vorstoß des f-P vorzubereiten.} 26. Re1 Rf7 27. Qe4
Bg7 (27... Rg7 28. Rc3 Qb4 29. Rc7 $18 {wohin mit dem Bd7?}) 28. h6 Bxh6 29.
Rc3 Qa4 30. Rc7 b4 31. b3 $18 {gewinnt den Bd7}) 26. Re1 (26. Qe4 $2 Bf5 $19) (
26. b3 Qc5 27. Rg1 (27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 g3 {und Weiß muß nicht nur auf die
Freibauern aufpassen, sondern auch auf Gefahren auf der langen Diagonalen
h8-a1 achten.} 29. Rf1 (29. Rd5 f3 $19) 29... Bh6 30. Rd5 Qc3) 27... Bf6 28.
Qe4 Be5 $19 {Weiß hat kein Gegenspiel gegen die schwarzen Freibauern.}) 26...
b4 $1 {verhindert die Möglichkeit Rc3 und läßt sich Zeit, den Vorteil in Ruhe
zu realisieren. Was soll Weiß jetzt machen?} (26... Bf5 $2 {verliert sofort}
27. Nxf5 Rxf5 28. Qxg4 Rxd5 29. Rxd5 Qxd5 30. Rg1 $18) (26... f3 $2 {führt zu
forciertem Remis} 27. Nxf3 Rxf3 28. Rxf3 gxf3 29. Qxg5 f2 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. Qg5+
$10 {mit ewigem Schach.}) 27. Qe4 (27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. Rxe6 f3 29. Qf2 g3 30. Qxg3
f2 $19) 27... Bf5 $1 {einfach und klar.} 28. Nxf5 Qxe4 29. Rxe4 Rxf5 $19 {
und gegen das Vorrücken der Freibauern gibt es keinen Verteidigung mehr.}) 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Engqvist"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8.
Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. Bf4 Bb4+ 14. Nd2
(14. Kf1 Bd6 15. Rd1 (15. Bg3 O-O 16. Rd1 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Rd8 $1 $8 18. Nc4 Bxg3
19. hxg3 Bd7 20. Qe5 Rac8 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Ne3 Kf8 23. Rh4 Bc6 $10 {
Timman-Karpov, Amsterdam 1988 - 45/161}) (15. Re1 O-O 16. c3 (16. g4 Nxg4 $1)
16... b6 17. h4 Bb7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Ne5 Qc7 20. Rh3 Nd5 21. Bc1 Rfd8 22. Rg3
Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Kf8 25. Re1 {1/2 Mestel-Hodgson, Great Britain (ch)
1989}) 15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Bb5+ Ke7 18. Nxe5 a6 19. Bd3 b5
$13 {Gallagher-Morrison Blackpool, ch-GB 1988}) 16... O-O 17. Bg3 Rd8 18. Nc4
Bxg3 19. hxg3 b6 $1 {/\ Ba6} 20. Ne5 Bb7 $1 21. Re1 Qe7 {/\ Nd7}) (14. Bd2
Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nd5 16. Rhe1 Nf4 17. Qe4 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxd3 19. Nxd3 Bd7 20. Qe5
Qxe5 21. Nxe5 Ke7 $10 {Leluashvili-Simonenko, cr 1988/92}) (14. c3 $2 Bxc3+)
14... Bxd2+ (14... Nxe5 $5 15. Bxe5 Bd6 16. Bb5+ Bd7 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Ne4 Be7
19. O-O-O O-O-O 20. Bxd7+ Rxd7 21. Rxd7 Kxd7 22. Qe3 a6 23. g4 Kc8 24. h3 f5
25. gxf5 exf5 26. Qc3 Qxc3 27. Nxc3 Bg5+ 28. Kb1 Bh4 29. Rh2 Re8 $17 {
Diaz-Kudrin, Las Palmas 1989}) 15. Kxd2 O-O 16. Rhd1 Nd5 $146 (16... Nc5 17.
Ke1 (17. Bc4 b5 {1/2 SandÉn-Wessman, Sweden (ch) 1994}) 17... Nd5 18. Bg3 Nxd3+
19. Rxd3 b5 20. c3 Qb7 21. Rad1 Bd7 22. Rd4 $14) (16... Qb6 17. Kc1 (17. Nc4
Qc6 18. Qf3 $5 Nd5 $1 19. g3 (19. Bd6 $2 b5 $19) (19. Bg3 Nc5) 19... Nc5 20.
Bd6 (20. Bxh6 $2 gxh6 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Ne5 Qa4 $1 23. Qh5 Kg7 24. Ng4 Qb4+ $1
25. Ke2 Qf4 26. c4 e5 27. Nxe5 Re8 $19) (20. Ne5 Qa4 $1 21. Ke2 Nxd3) 20... b5
$1 21. Bxf8 bxc4 22. Bxc5 cxd3 23. b4 dxc2 24. Rdc1 a5 25. a3 {Karpov}) 17...
Nd5 18. Bg3 Nc5 (18... Nxe5 19. Bxe5 (19. Qxe5 Bd7 {/\ Bb5=}) 19... f6 20. Bd4
(20. Bg3 $5) 20... Qc7 21. g3 $14 {Timman} (21. Qe4 $5)) 19. Bc4 Na4 (19... Bd7
20. Nxd7 Nxd7 21. a4 $1 Rac8 22. Ra3 Qb4 (22... Qc5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Rc3 Qb4
25. Qb5 $16 {Timman}) 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Qb5 Qe4 25. Qd3 Nf6 $8 26. Qxe4 dxe4
27. Rb3 $16 {Timman-Karpov, Zwolle (m/3) 1993 - 59/161}) 20. Rb1 $1 (20. Bb3
Nc5 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Be6 $44) 20... Qc5 (20... Qb4 21. c3 Naxc3 22. bxc3
Qxb1+ 23. Kxb1 Nxc3+ 24. Kc2 Nxe2 25. Bxe2 $16 {Enders}) 21. Qd3 Nab6 22. Bb3
Nf6 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. Rxd4 Nbd5 25. a4 $1 $16 {Enders-Engqvist, Budapest 1995})
17. Bg3 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Qa5+ 19. Kc1 f6 20. Bg3 Bd7 21. c4 Nb4 22. Bb1 Ba4 23.
Rd2 Rad8 24. Bd6 Rfe8 25. h4 Nd5 26. c5 f5 27. a3 Bb5 28. Qe5 Bc4 29. g4 Bb3
30. a4 Qa6 31. Bd3 Bc4 32. Bc2 Nb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. c3 h6 (3... b6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e5 Qe7
7. Qf3 Nc6 8. Qg3 Bb7 9. Nd2 O-O-O 10. f4 g5 11. fxg5 Qxg5 12. Qf2 Be7 13. Nh3
Qg7 14. Be2 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bf3 Rhf8 17. Qe2 h5 18. O-O-O h4 19. Kb1 Kb8
$17 {[%csl Gb7,Gd7,Ge6,Gf6] ^^[+],Qi,J-Karpov,A/Luzern tt WCh/1985/}) (3... Be7
4. Nd2 d5 5. Ngf3 (5. e3 Nbd7 6. f4 $5 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. Ngf3 g6
10. Ne5 a6 11. Qf3 Bg7 12. h4 Qe7 13. h5 c5 14. O-O-O O-O-O 15. Kb1 c4 16. Bc2
Kb8 17. e4 b5 18. exd5 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bxd5 20. Be4 $16 {Bohm,H-Van Doorn,R/
NLD-chT9495/1995/}) 5... b6 6. e3 Bb7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4
c5 11. a5 c4 12. Bc2 b5 13. a6 Bc6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17.
f4 f5 18. Nf3 Nc5 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. g4 $36 {Hort,V-Cramling,P/Biel/1984/}) 4. Bh4
(4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nd2 g6 6. e4 d6 7. Ngf3 Nd7 8. Bd3 Bg7 9. O-O Qe7 10. Nc4 e5
11. dxe5 dxe5 12. b4 O-O 13. Qc2 Rd8 14. a4 Nf8 15. a5 Bg4 16. Ne1 a6 17. Ne3
Be6 18. Nf3 Nh7 19. Rfd1 Ng5 20. Nxg5 Qxg5 21. c4 c6 22. c5 Rd4 23. Bc4 $10 {
1/2/Backwinkel,P-Goetz,R/BL 8889/1988/}) 4... b6 5. Nd2 Bb7 (5... Ba6 $5 6.
Ngf3 Be7 7. Qc2 d5 8. e4 Bxf1 9. Rxf1 Nbd7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Rfe1 b5 12. Kb1 $2
Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxh4 14. Nxh4 Qxh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Nd2 Nf6 17. f3 Rfe8 $17 {
Gonzalez Mateos,R-Garcia Palermo,C/Oviedo 25'/1993/}) 6. Ngf3 (6. e3 d6 7. f3
Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. e4 cxd4 11. cxd4 e5 12. Bg3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nh5 14.
Nf5 Nc6 15. Nc4 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Ne5 17. O-O Nxc4 18. Bxc4 d5 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.
Bxd5 Rad8 21. Qd4 Qg5 22. Rad1 Qxg3 23. Qf2 Qc7 24. Rc1 $10 {1/2/Ivanchuk,
V-Adams,M/Belgrade/1995/}) 6... d6 $5 7. Bxf6 (7. e3 Nbd7 $10 {[%cal Ye6e5,
Yg7g5,Yf6h5] /\e5,g5,Nh5}) 7... Qxf6 8. e4 Nd7 9. a4 a6 $10 10. Bd3 g6 11. a5
$6 (11. Qe2 Bg7 12. O-O O-O $10) 11... b5 12. c4 bxc4 13. Nxc4 Qe7 (13... Bg7
$5 14. e5 Qe7 $15) 14. O-O Bg7 15. Rc1 O-O $15 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7] ^^ Opening the
position for Black's Bishop pair was not a good idea, with his compact pawn
structure Black is already slightly better.} 16. Re1 Rfb8 17. Qc2 (17. b4 $6 d5
18. exd5 Bxd5 $17) 17... Ra7 $1 18. Qa4 Ba8 {[%cal Gb8b2] <->b} 19. Qa3 Qd8 20.
Bc2 Bf8 21. Qe3 Rab7 (21... d5 $5 $36) 22. h4 Rb4 23. b3 Bg7 24. Qd2 R4b5 25.
Na3 R5b7 26. Qd3 Ra7 27. Qe3 d5 $1 $36 {After thorough preparation Black opens
the position for his B-pair and his advantage grows.} (27... c5 $6 28. dxc5
Nxc5 29. Nc4 $13) 28. exd5 (28. e5 c5 $1 {[%csl Ra5,Rd4,Re5] ><a5,[+]}) 28...
Bxd5 29. Nc4 Rb5 30. Be4 Nf6 (30... Bxc4 $2 31. bxc4 Rxa5 32. d5 $36) 31. Bxd5
Nxd5 32. Qe4 Qf6 (32... Rxb3 $5 33. Nce5 Qf6 $17) 33. Nce5 Qf5 (33... Rxb3 $5 {
-32...Rxb3}) 34. Nc6 Qxe4 35. Rxe4 Ra8 36. Nd2 Kf8 37. Rc5 Ke8 $1 $17 {[%cal
Rb5c5,Re8d7] /\Rc5,Kd7 Black's advantage has now a different form-better pawn
structure and more active K. White will be unable to protect all his
weaknesses in the long run.} 38. Rxb5 (38. Rc2 Kd7 {[%cal Rd5b4] /\Nb4}) 38...
axb5 {[%csl Ra5] ><a5} 39. Re1 Bf8 (39... Kd7 40. Rc1 Ra6 $4 41. Nb8+ $18) 40.
Ne4 f6 (40... Ra6 41. Rc1 f5 $17) 41. g4 Ra6 42. Rc1 f5 43. gxf5 gxf5 44. Nd2
Nb4 $1 45. Nxb4 (45. Ne5 Bd6 46. Ra1 $6 Nc2 $19) 45... Bxb4 {Hecht: TS-TL:
starker L, aktiver sK, weiße B-Schwächen, Technik} 46. Nf3 Bxa5 47. Ra1 Ra7 48.
h5 (48. Kf1 Bb6 $19) 48... Kd7 $1 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Yd7d5] /\Kd6-d5,><d4} 49.
Kh2 Kd6 50. Rg1 c6 51. Rg6 Rh7 52. Kg3 Kd5 53. Kf4 Bc7+ $1 (53... Bb6 $6 54. b4
$132) 54. Ke3 Bb6 55. Kd3 (55. b4 e5 $1 $19) 55... c5 56. dxc5 Bxc5 57. Ke2 $8
Ra7 $1 $19 {[%csl Gd5,Ge6,Gf5] [+] Black's powerfully centralized pieces and
passed pawns will decide, the h-pawn is simply too slow.} 58. Rxh6 Ra2+ 59. Kd1
(59. Kd3 e5 $1 {[%cal Re5e4,Rb5b4] /\e4,b4#}) 59... Rxf2 60. Nh4 Rh2 61. Nf3 (
61. Ng6 e5 $19) 61... Rh1+ 62. Ke2 e5 63. Rh8 e4 64. Rd8+ Ke6 65. Ng5+ Kf6 66.
Nh7+ Ke5 (66... Ke7 $6 67. Rd5 $132) 67. Re8+ Kf4 $40 68. Nf6 $8 Rh2+ 69. Kd1
Bd4 70. Nd5+ (70. Nd5+ Kf3 {[%cal Rh2h5,Re4e2] /\Rh5,e3-e2-+}) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 Bg4 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 O-O 13. Bc2 $146 (13. Be3 {
Almasi-Onischuk, Wijk an Zee 1995}) 13... d5 $5 14. Bg5 (14. exd5 Qxd5 15. dxe5
Qxb5 16. Ba4 $1 (16. exf6 Rbd8 17. Ba4 Qh5 18. Qe2 Rfe8 19. Qb5 (19. Be3 $4 Ne5
20. Bxe8 Bxf3 $19) 19... Ne5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Qb4 Bc5 22. Qf4 Bd6 23. h3 Bxh3
24. Qg3 Bg4 25. Bf4 Rg5 $132) 16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 $1 (17. Bxb5 Bxd1 18. Bxc6
Ng4 19. Rxd1 Nxf2 $10) (17. gxf3 Qxe5 18. Bxc6 Qe6 19. Qa4 Rbd8 $44) 17... Nxe5
18. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb5 $14) (14. h3 $5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 exd4
16. Bg5 $13) 14... exd4 15. cxd4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 (16. gxf3 dxe4 $10) 16... Bxd4
$10 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Be4 Nf6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Ra7
Rfe8 $6 (22... Rxb2 23. Rxc7 Rd2 $10) 23. Bd3 Re7 24. Rb1 Nb3 $6 (24... Rb4 $10
) 25. h3 Nd2 26. Rc1 Rb3 27. Rc3 Rxc3 $6 (27... Rxb2 28. Rcxc7 Rxc7 29. Rxc7
Rb4 $1 $10) 28. bxc3 Nb3 29. Ra4 $1 $14 Nc5 30. Rg4+ Kh8 31. Bc4 h6 32. Bd5 Nd7
33. Kh2 Ne5 34. Rg3 Rd7 35. Bb3 Rd2 (35... Rd3 $4 36. f4 $18) (35... Re7 $14)
36. f4 Nd3 37. Bxf7 Nxf4 38. Rg4 Ne2 39. Rc4 Rc2 $2 $138 (39... Rd3 $10) 40.
Bh5 $1 Nxc3 $8 41. Bg6 $6 (41. Rxc7 Rc1 $14 42. Bf7 $140 f5 $1 (42... Ne2 $4
43. Rxc1 Nxc1 44. Bc4 $18) 43. Bb3 (43. h4 Kg7 $1 $10) 43... f4 $1 44. h4 Ne2
45. Rxc1 Nxc1 46. Bc4 Kg7 47. Kg1 (47. Kh3 h5 $10) 47... Kg6 48. Kf2 Kh5 49.
Kf3 Kxh4 50. Kxf4 Kh5 51. Bf7+ Kh4 $10) (41. Rc6 $5 Rc1 42. Rxf6 Kg7 43. Rf7+
Kg8 44. Rxc7 Ne2 $14) 41... Rc1 42. Bd3 Na2 $1 43. Rxc1 Nxc1 44. Bc4 f5 45. Kg3
Kg7 46. Kf3 Kf6 47. Kf4 c6 48. h4 Kg6 49. Ke5 Kh5 50. g3 Kg4 51. h5 Kxg3 (51...
c5 $4 52. Kf6 Kxg3 53. Kg6 $1 $18) (51... Kg5 52. Ke6 f4 $1 (52... c5 $4 53.
Ke5 $18) 53. gxf4+ Kxf4 54. Kf6 Ke3 55. Kg6 Ne2 $10) 52. Kxf5 Kf2 53. Kg6 Ne2 (
53... Ne2 54. Bxe2 Kxe2 55. Kxh6 c5 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Johnson,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. Qe1 e6 (10... e5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. exd5 cxd5 (12... Nxd5)
13. Bg5 Be6 14. Bc4 $14) 11. h4 Qc7 12. h5 Nxh5 13. exd5 exd5 14. Ndb5 (14.
Nxd5 $6 Qe5 $15) 14... Qg3 15. Bf2 (15. Qxg3 Nxg3 16. Rg1 Nf5 $15) 15... Qf4+
16. Be3 Qf6 17. Rxd5 Nf4 (17... Be6 $2 18. Bg5 $18) 18. Rd6 Be6 19. Qd2 Nh5 20.
Bg5 $6 (20. Nc7 Ng3 (20... Rad8 21. N7d5 $1 Qe5 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Ne7+ Nxe7 (
23... Kf8 24. Nxc6 Rxd2 25. Nxe5 $18) 24. Qxd8+ $18) 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bc4 Rfe8
(22... Nxh1 23. Rxe6 Qd8 24. Rd6+ Kh8 25. Rxd8 Raxd8 26. Qe1 Rfe8 27. Ne4 $18)
23. Re1 Ne5 24. Bb5 Rf8 25. Bd4 $16) 20... Qe5 21. g4 Ng3 22. Bf4 (22. Rg1 Nxf1
23. Rxf1 Bxa2 24. b3 a6 $19) 22... Nxf1 23. Rxf1 Qc5 24. Be3 Qc4 $15 (24... Qb4
$10) 25. Rh1 Nb4 26. Bd4 Nxa2+ 27. Nxa2 Qxa2 28. Qh2 h5 (28... Qa1+ 29. Kd2
Qa5+ 30. Bc3 Bxc3+ 31. Nxc3 h5 32. gxh5 Qxh5 33. Qxh5 gxh5 34. Rxh5 Rfd8 $10)
29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Nc3 (31. Rxh5 f6 $1 32. Qxe6+ Qxe6 33. Rxe6 gxh5
34. gxh5 Kf7 $15) 31... Qa1+ 32. Nb1 Ba2 33. Kd2 Rfe8 34. Qf6 Bxb1 (34... Rac8
$142 $1 35. gxh5 $1 (35. Rxh5 $2 Rxc2+ $1 36. Kd3 (36. Kxc2 Qxb1+ 37. Kc3 Qc1+
38. Kb4 Qc4+ 39. Ka5 b6+ 40. Rxb6 axb6+ 41. Qxb6 Ra8+) 36... Bc4+ 37. Kxc2 Qa4+
38. Kc3 Qb3+ 39. Kd4 Qd3+ 40. Kc5 Rc8+ 41. Kb4 Qb3+ 42. Ka5 b6+ 43. Rxb6 axb6+
44. Qxb6 Ra8+ 45. Qa6 Rxa6#) 35... Rxc2+ (35... Bxb1 $4 36. h6 $1 Rxc2+ 37. Kd1
$18) 36. Kxc2 Bxb1+ 37. Rxb1 Rc8+ 38. Kb3 Qxb1 39. hxg6 Qc2+ 40. Ka2 Qa4+ 41.
Kb1 Qc2+ $10) 35. Rxh5 gxh5 36. Qg5+ Kf8 37. Qh6+ Ke7 38. Qf6+ Kf8 39. Qh8+ Ke7
40. Qf6+ Kf8 41. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. Bb3 Nf6 8.
Nc4 Qd8 9. Qxd4 Qxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5 11. Nb5 Na6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Nbd6 Nc7 14. Nxc8
Rfxc8 15. Ne5 Ncd5 16. Bg3 Ne7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A67"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Bb5+ Nbd7 $2 (8... Nfd7 9. a4 O-O 10. Nf3 Na6 11. O-O Nc7 12. Bd3 a6 13. Kh1
Rb8 14. f5 b5 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Bb7 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. dxc6 c4 20.
Bc2 Qxd1 21. Raxd1 Rb6 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. fxg6 fxg6 24. Be4 bxa4 25. Nxa4 Rb4
$15 {Sotnikov,A-Totsky,L/RUS-chS Orel/1992/}) 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 (
11. Nf3 O-O 12. Bg5 Qb6 13. Qe2 a6 14. Bc4 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Re8 16. O-O Rxe5 17.
Qd2 Qb4 18. Be2 Qd4+ 19. Kh1 Bg4 20. Bf3 Rae8 21. Rad1 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 Bxf3 23.
Rxf3 f5 $15 {Cherepkov,A-Katishonok,N/Leningrad/1990/}) 11... Qh4+ 12. g3 (12.
Kd2 $5 fxe6 13. dxe6 O-O 14. exd7 Bxd7 15. Bxd7 Rad8 16. Kc2 Rf2+ 17. Kb1 Bxc3
18. Qg4 Bf6 19. Nh3 Rxd7 20. Nxf2 {1-0/Alexandrov,A-Wojtkiewicz,A/Wisla BES/
1992/}) 12... Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Be3 $1 (14. exd7+ Bxd7 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.
Qg4+ f5 (16... Kd8 17. Bg5+ f6 18. O-O-O Re8 19. Nge2 Qh2 20. Nf4 fxg5 21. Ne6+
Rxe6 22. dxe6+ {1-0/Zaja,I-Kutuzovic,B/CRO-Cup Pula/1995/}) 17. Qa4+ Kc8 18.
Be3 Bxc3+ 19. bxc3 Qxd5 20. Rd1 Qc6 21. Qxc6+ bxc6 22. Bxc5 Rb8 23. Rd2 Rd8 24.
Re2 Rd3 25. Bd4 Kd7 26. Kf2 c5 27. Bxc5 Rxc3 28. Bd4 Rc1 29. Bxa7 Rbc8 30. Be3
R1c2 $10 {Thorsteins,K-Ashley,M/New York op/1989/}) 14... Bxc3+ (14... O-O 15.
exd7 Bxd7 16. Bxd7 Rae8 17. Bxe8 Rxe8 18. Qe2 Bd4 19. O-O-O Rxe3 {Littlewood,
P-Norwood,D/Commonwealth (ch)/1985/} 20. Qc2 $1 Rxg3 21. Nge2 Qh6+ 22. Kb1 Rg2
23. Qa4 $18) 15. bxc3 a6 {This game will probably change the evaluation of the
15..a6 line and in the future black will have to switch towards 15...Qe4.} (
15... Qe4 $5 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 (17. exd7+ Bxd7 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Nxf3 b6
$2 (19... Rhe8 $142) 20. Ne5+ Ke7 21. a4 f6 22. Nc4 Rhe8 23. a5 Rab8 24. axb6
axb6 25. Ra6 Kd7 26. Kd2 b5 27. Ra7+ Kd8 28. Na5 {1-0/Kouatly,B-Schmittdiel,E/
Augsburg/1989/}) 17... fxe6 18. dxe6 O-O (18... a6 19. exd7+ Bxd7 20. Bxd7+
Kxd7 21. Bxc5 Kc6 22. Be3 Rae8 23. Kd2 Re4 24. Nd4+ Kd5 25. Kd3 Rc8 26. Nc2
Rce8 27. Rb1 $16 {Urban,K-Ciemniak,R/POL-ch/1993/}) 19. exd7 (19. Ke2 $2 Nf6
20. e7 Rf7 21. Bxc5 Bg4 22. Rd1 Nd5 23. Rd3 Nxe7 24. Bc4 Nc6 25. Kf2 Re8 26.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Nd4 Ne5 $17 {Lautier,J-Ivanchuk,V/Monaco act/1995/}) (19. Bh6 $3
{Ftacnik} Rxf3 (19... Re8 20. O-O-O Nf6 (20... Rxe6 21. Bc4 Nb6 22. Ng5 $1 $18)
21. Bxe8 Bxe6 22. Ba4 Bxa2 23. Ne5 $1 $16 {/\ c4, Rd6}) 20. Rd1 $1 Rxc3 21.
exd7 Bxd7 22. Rxd7 a6 23. Rg7+ $2 (23. Bf1 $1 Rf8 24. Rg7+ Kh8 25. Rxb7 $18)
23... Kh8 {Kalinin,O-Konev/corr/1991/}) 19... Bxd7 20. Bxd7 $14 (20. Bxd7 Rxf3
21. Bxc5 Rxg3 22. Be6+ Kg7 23. Bd4+ Kf8 24. Kd2 b6 $10 {Nikolic,G-Lindemann/
Harkany/1987/})) (15... O-O 16. exd7 Bxd7 17. Bxd7 $16) 16. exd7+ Bxd7 17.
Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Qb3 $1 $146 {A strong novelty in a position, considered
double-edged until now. But White's K is safer, there is still a possibility
of castling. so Sokolov keeps the Queens on and plays for the attack, which
quickly proves to be very strong. It is truly surprising, that white have not
found this logical concept before. This move combines attack with quick
removal of the K from the fire zone. Black's chances are quite poor.} (18. Qf3
Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Rae8 (19... Rhe8 20. Kf2 Kd6 21. c4 f6 (21... b5 {Ftacnik} 22.
Bf4+ Kd7 23. Ne5+ $16) 22. Rb1 (22. a4 $1 {Ftacnik /\ a5} b5 $8 23. Nd2 $16)
22... b5 23. Nd2 g5 24. Kf3 Rad8 25. Rd1 h5 26. Ne4+ Rxe4 27. Kxe4 Re8+ 28. Kf3
bxc4 29. Bd2 Re5 30. Bc3 Rf5+ $10 {Illescas Cordoba,M-Topalov,V/Alcobendas m/
1994/}) (19... Kd6 $1 {Ftacnik} 20. c4 f6 $14) 20. Kf2 Re4 21. Bxc5 Rhe8 22.
Re1 Rxe1 23. Nxe1 b6 24. Bxb6 (24. Bd4 {Ftacnik} Kd6 25. c4 Rc8 26. Bxb6 Rxc4 {
0-1 Krachler,G-Shabalov,A/Werfen op (01)/1990/ (35)}) 24... Kd6 25. Nc2 Kxd5
26. Ne3+ Ke4 27. a4 f5 $44 {Thuesen,M-De Firmian,N/Farum/1993/}) (18. Qa4+ b5
19. Qg4+ (19. Qf4 {Ftacnik} Rhe8 20. O-O-O Qe4 21. Bxc5 Qxf4+ 22. gxf4 Rac8 23.
Bd4 Re4 24. Nf3 Rxf4 25. Ne5+ Kd6 26. Nc6 Re4 27. Bg1 f5 {0-1 Remlinger,
L-Shabalov,A/Las Vegas op (06)/1993/ (44)}) 19... f5 20. Qf3 Qxf3 21. Nxf3 Rhe8
22. Kf2 Re4 23. Ng5 Rc4 24. Nxh7 Rh8 25. Rh1 Kc8 26. d6 Rxc3 27. d7+ Kxd7 28.
Nf6+ Ke6 29. Rxh8 Kxf6 30. Rc8 Rc2+ 31. Kf3 Rxa2 32. Rxc5 $14 {Remlinger,
L-Brownescombe,T/San Mateo/1994/}) (18. Qg4+ $5 {Ftacnik} f5 19. Qf3) 18... b5
(18... Kc8 {Ftacnik} 19. O-O-O $16) 19. O-O-O $40 (19. Bxc5 {Ftacnik} Rac8 20.
Bf2 Rhe8+ 21. Kf1 Rc4 $36) 19... Rhe8 (19... c4 20. Qb4 Rhc8 21. Bg5 $18) (
19... Rac8 20. Qa3 $18 (20. Qa3 {Ftacnik} Qe4 21. Bxc5 $16) (20. Bf4 $5)) (
19... Rhc8 $142 $5 20. Qa3 Qe4 21. Bxc5 Qc4 22. Bd4 (22. Bb4 $5) 22... b4 23.
Qa4+ Qb5 $16 {Black must try to get the Q off to survive for a while, even if
it costs him a pawn.}) 20. Bxc5 Rac8 21. Bd4 Qg2 22. Qa3 (22. d6 {Ftacnik} Re6)
22... Qxg3 (22... Ra8 {Ftacnik} 23. c4 $1 $16) 23. Qxa6 $18 {With black K on
g8 the second player would be quite comfortable, but on d7 his fate is sealed.}
Rxc3+ (23... Qg5+ {Ftacnik} 24. Kc2 Qg2+ 25. Rd2 Qf1 26. Ne2 $18) 24. Kb2 $18 {
Now Black's K is helpless in the middle.} (24. Bxc3 $2 Qxc3+ 25. Kb1 Qb4+ 26.
Kc2 Qc4+ $10) (24. Kb1 $1 {Ftacnik} Rb3+ (24... Qg4 25. Qxb5+ $18) 25. Ka1 $18)
24... Rcc8 (24... Qg2+ {Ftacnik} 25. Kxc3 (25. Ka1 $2 Qxd5 $17) 25... Rc8+ 26.
Kd3 (26. Bc5 Rxc5+ 27. Kb4 Qc2 $13) 26... Qc2+ 27. Ke3 Re8+ (27... Qxd1 28.
Qxb5+ Kd6 29. Ne2 $16) 28. Kf4 Qf5+ (28... Qxd1 29. Qxb5+ Kd8 30. Bb6+ Ke7 31.
Bc5+ Kd8 32. Qb8+ Kd7 33. Qb7+ Kd8 34. Bb6#) 29. Kg3 Qg5+ 30. Kf2 Qh4+ 31. Kf1
Qf4+ 32. Bf2 $16) 25. Qxb5+ Kd6 (25... Ke7 26. d6+ $1 Qxd6 27. Re1+ Kf8 28.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Bc5 $18) (25... Kc7 26. Qc6+) 26. Ka1 $1 {The difference
between the fortunes of the two K can hardly be more striking.} (26. Bc5+ $2
Rxc5 27. Qb6+ Kd7 28. Qxc5 Qh2+ $1 29. Ka1 Qe5+) 26... Qa3 (26... Re1 $2 27.
Qb4+ $18) (26... h5 27. Bc5+ $1 Rxc5 28. Qb6+ $18) 27. Bb2 Qc5 (27... Qa7 28.
Nf3 $18) 28. Qa6+ Kd7 (28... Kc7 29. d6+ $18) 29. Qa4+ $1 (29. Qa4+ Kd8 (29...
Kc7 30. d6+ {[%cal Rd6d7] /\d7}) 30. Bf6+ $18 {[%cal Rd5d7] /\d6-d7}) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Ne7 (12... Nb8) 13. Nf1 (13. c4
Nd7 14. Bc2 c6 15. b3 Rc8 16. Nf1 Qc7 17. Ne3 $14 {Anand,V-Deshmukh,A/Calcutta/
1992}) 13... Ng6 14. N3h2 Nd7 {N} (14... Qd7 15. Ng4 Nxe4 $5 16. Rxe4 f5 17.
Re1 fxg4 {Rodriguez,Am-Arencibia,W/Capablanca mem-B/1994} 18. Qxg4 Qxg4 19.
hxg4 Ne7 20. Rd1 $14) 15. a3 Nc5 16. Ba2 Nf4 17. c4 c6 18. cxb5 cxb5 19. Bb1 a5
20. h4 g6 21. g3 Nh5 {The main theme of this game is the positioning of the
minor pieces. White constantly tries to push blacks minors away from the good
central squares.} 22. Ng4 Qe7 23. Bc2 Bc8 24. b3 Bd7 (24... f5 25. exf5 gxf5
26. Nxe5 Nxg3 27. Nxg3 dxe5 28. Qh5 $40) 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Qf3 f6 27. Bd2 Rec8
28. Rec1 Be8 29. Ng4 Bg7 30. Qe2 Qb7 31. Nge3 Bf8 32. Qe1 Qb6 33. b4 $14 axb4
34. axb4 Rxa1 35. Rxa1 Na4 36. Ra3 Bd7 37. Rb3 Be7 38. Bd3 Ng7 39. Nh2 Bd8 40.
Qe2 Qa6 41. Kg2 Nb6 42. Rc3 Rxc3 43. Bxc3 {White has a space advantage. And
blacks minor pieces are just defending.} Na4 44. Be1 Kg8 45. Nhg4 h5 $2 {
Now white gets someting to attack on the kingside. Its a long way back for Na4
to the defence.} 46. Nh2 Bb6 47. Nhf1 {Whites minor pieces looks a bit cramped.
But its just temporary. In fact they are quite mobile, with easy access to
both flanks.} Kf7 48. Nd1 Ba7 49. Nfe3 Qb6 50. f3 Qb7 51. Nc2 Ne8 52. Kh2 Qa6
53. Nce3 Bd4 54. f4 $1 $16 {Now the h5-P looks really weak.} Qb6 55. f5 Ng7 56.
fxg6+ Kxg6 57. Nf5 $1 Nxf5 58. exf5+ Bxf5 59. Bxf5+ Kxf5 60. Qc2+ $1 {A series
of Q-checks forces the black K into a mating net.} (60. Qxh5+ $2 Ke4 $13) 60...
e4 (60... Kg4 61. Qe4#) 61. Qc8+ Kg6 62. Qg8+ Kf5 (62... Kh6 63. Bd2+ e3 64.
Nxe3 Bxe3 65. Qh8+ Kg6 66. Qe8+ $18) 63. Qh7+ Ke5 64. Qxh5+ f5 65. Qf7 Be3 66.
Kg2 $1 {The K delivers the final blow by preparing Bf2 after an exchange on e3.
} f4 (66... Bc1 67. Bf2 e3 68. Nxe3 Bxe3 69. Qe6+ Kd4 70. Bxe3+ $18) 67. gxf4+
Bxf4 68. Nf2 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E98"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 h5 13. c5 g5 14. a4 dxc5 $6 $146 (
14... Rf6 {-64/562}) 15. Bxc5 Rf6 16. Nd3 Rg6 17. Bf2 $1 (17. Nf2 $5) 17... g4
(17... Nd6 18. Nc5 b6 19. Ne6 Bxe6 20. dxe6 Rxe6 21. Qb3) (17... Bf6 18. g4 $1
(18. h3 $5) 18... hxg4 (18... fxg3 19. Bxg3) 19. fxg4 Nd6 20. Nc5 $16) 18. Bh4
a6 (18... Nd6 19. Nc5 Qf8 20. Nb5 $5 (20. Ne6 Bxe6 21. dxe6 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6
23. fxg4 $13) 20... Nxb5 21. axb5 Bf6 22. Be1 $1 $16) 19. g3 $1 (19. Nc5 Qd6
20. Ne6 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Qb3 Kh8 23. Kh1 (23. Qa3 Bxe6 24. Qxd6 cxd6 25.
dxe6 Nc6 $13) 23... h4 24. fxg4 Nxg4 25. Bxg4 Rxg4 26. Nd1 $14) 19... Qd6 (
19... fxg3 20. hxg3 $16) (19... gxf3 20. Bxf3 Bg4 21. Bxg4 $16) 20. fxg4 (20.
Kh1 Bf6 21. fxg4 (21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. gxf4 g3 23. Rg1 Qh4 24. Rg2 exf4 25. Qd2
Bh3 26. Rag1 Bxg2+ 27. Rxg2 Rf6 28. Nc5 $44) 21... hxg4 22. gxf4 Bxh4 23. fxe5
Qb6 $13) 20... Bxg4 21. Bxg4 (21. Kh1 $5 fxg3 22. Bxg3 c6 $5 23. Bxg4 hxg4 24.
Qb3 cxd5 25. exd5 (25. Nb4 Nf6 26. Nbxd5 Nexd5 27. Nxd5 Nxd5 28. Rad1 Kh8 $14)
(25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. exd5 Nc7) 25... Qb6 26. Qc2 $16 Rg5 $140 27. Bh4) 21... Rxg4
22. Nf2 (22. h3 Rg6 (22... Rxh4 23. gxh4 Qg6+ 24. Kh1 Qg3 25. Qf3 $16) 23. Qxh5
Nf6) 22... Rg6 (22... Rxh4 23. gxh4 $16) 23. Qxh5 Nf6 24. Qe2 $6 (24. Bxf6 $1
Bxf6 (24... Qxf6 25. Ng4 Qb6+ (25... Qg5 26. Qxg5 Rxg5 27. h3 fxg3 28. Ne2 $16)
26. Rf2 Rf8 27. Raf1 $16) 25. Kh1 Kg7 (25... fxg3 26. Ng4 Kg7 27. Rxf6 Rxf6 28.
Nxf6 Qxf6 29. Rg1 $16 (29. Qg4+ $16)) 26. gxf4 exf4 27. Nd3 Rh8 28. e5 $5 Rxh5
29. exd6 Nf5 30. dxc7 Ng3+ 31. Kg2 Nxf1+ 32. Kxf1 $18) 24... Kf7 $1 25. Kh1 Rh8
26. Rg1 fxg3 (26... Bh6 27. Raf1 (27. Bxf6 Qxf6 28. Ng4 Qg7 $132) 27... Ke8 28.
Nd3 $14) 27. Bxg3 (27. hxg3 Rgh6 28. Kg2 Ng6 29. Bg5 Rh5 30. Be3 (30. Bxf6 Rh2+
31. Kf1 Qxf6 {/\Bf8}) 30... Rh2+ 31. Kf1 Bh6 $44) 27... Nh5 28. Ng4 $2 (28. Nd3
$3 Rgh6 (28... Rxg3 29. Qf2+ Qf6 30. Rxg3 (30. Qxf6+ $2 Bxf6 31. hxg3 Nf4#))
29. Raf1+ Ke8 30. Rf2 $16) 28... Ke8 $1 29. Bf2 (29. Nd1 Nxd5 $1) (29. Raf1 Qd7
30. Be1 Nf4 31. Qd1 Rg5 $1 $15) 29... Nf4 30. Qd1 Qd7 31. Rg3 (31. Be3 Nh3 32.
Rg2 Rh4 33. Nf2 Rxg2 34. Kxg2 Nxf2 35. Bxf2 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Qxh2+ 37. Kf1 Rf4 $19)
31... Rh3 $2 (31... Rh4 $1 32. Ne3 Rxh2+ 33. Kxh2 Rxg3 $19) 32. Qf3 $1 Rxg3 33.
hxg3 Qxg4 (33... Nh3 34. Nh2) (33... Rxg4 34. gxf4 Rxf4 35. Qh5+ Kd8 36. Rg1 (
36. Bg3 Rf8) 36... Rxf2 37. Rxg7 $13) 34. Qxg4 Rxg4 35. gxf4 exf4 36. Rg1 Rxg1+
37. Kxg1 Nc8 $5 38. Bc5 $1 Kd7 39. Kg2 $6 (39. Kf2 $10) 39... Nd6 40. Bxd6 (40.
Kf3 Nc4) 40... Kxd6 41. Ne2 (41. Kf3 Bxc3 42. bxc3 Ke5 $19) 41... Bxb2 42. Nxf4
b5 43. Nd3 Be5 (43... Bd4 44. axb5 a5 45. Kf3 a4 46. Ke2 a3 47. Nc1 (47. b6 $2
a2 48. b7 Ba7 $19) 47... Bb2 (47... Kc5 48. Nb3+ Kc4 49. Nxd4 Kxd4 50. b6 $10)
48. b6 cxb6 (48... Bxc1 49. b7 a2 50. b8=Q a1=Q 51. Qd8+ Kc5 $10) 49. Na2 Kc5
50. Kd3 b5 51. d6 $1 (51. Kc2 Kc4 52. d6 b4 53. d7 (53. Nc1 Bxc1 54. Kxc1 Kc3
55. Kb1 b3 56. d7 a2+ $19) 53... b3+ 54. Kb1 Bf6 $19) 51... Kxd6 (51... b4 52.
d7 Bf6 53. Kc2 Kc4 54. Nc1 $10) 52. Kc2 $10) 44. axb5 a5 $1 45. Kf3 a4 46. Ke2
(46. Kg4 a3 47. Nc1 Kc5 48. Kf5 Kd4 $13) 46... a3 47. b6 $1 (47. Nc1 Kc5 48.
Kd3 Kxb5 49. Na2 Kc5 $17) 47... cxb6 48. Nc1 Kc5 49. Kd3 Bf4 (49... b5 50. d6
$1 $10 (50. Kc2 Kc4 51. Kb1 Bf4 52. d6)) 50. Kc2 Kc4 51. Kb1 b5 52. d6 $1 Bxd6
53. Ka2 Kd4 54. Nb3+ Kxe4 55. Nc1 Kd4 56. Nb3+ Kc3 57. Nc1 Kb4 58. Nb3 Ka4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Fritz} c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3
Nf6 8. O-O Bd6 (8... Ne5) 9. f4 $5 Bc5 (9... Nxd4 10. e5 $1 $44 Bc5 11. exf6
Nxc2 12. fxg7 Bxe3+ 13. Kh1 Rg8 14. Qxc2 Rxg7 15. Rae1 Bxf4 16. Rxf4 Qxf4 17.
Nd5 Qh4 18. Re4 $1 $18 {Azmayparashvili,Z-Kurajica,B/Strumica/1995/INF64,192/})
10. Nf5 (10. Be2 $6 Qb6 11. Na4 Bxd4 12. Nxb6 Bxe3+ 13. Kh1 Bxb6) 10... Ne7 $6
{Mit diesem Zug erzwingt Schwarz seinen Gegner eine Figur zu opfern.} (10...
Bxe3+ $5 11. Nxe3 d6 (11... Qb6 $6 12. Qd2) 12. Kh1 O-O 13. g4 $13 {Schmid,
L-Panno,O/Lugano olm/1968/INF06,472/}) (10... Qb6 $6 11. Nxg7+) 11. Nxg7+ Kf8
12. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 13. Kh1 Kxg7 14. e5 Ne8 15. Ne4 Qc7 16. Qh5 Ng6 17. Nf6 $5 $146
{[#] Mit dieser Neuerung will Weiss seinen Angriff beschleunigen.} (17. Rf3 d5
18. Ng5 $44 {Tseitlin,Ma-Faerman/Israel/1993/INF57,192/}) 17... Qd8 (17... Nxf6
$2 18. exf6+ Kxf6 (18... Kf8 19. Qh6+ Ke8 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Qg7) 19. f5 $40 {
>< f7}) (17... d6 $2 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 (18... Rxh7 19. Nxe8+ Kf8 20. Nxc7 $18) 19.
Nxe8 Kxe8 20. Qg7 $1 $18 {Droht /\ Bxg6}) (17... d5 18. Qxh7+ $1 (18. Bxg6 fxg6
$1 19. Qxh7+ Rxh7 20. Nxe8+ Kf8 21. Nxc7 Rxc7) 18... Rxh7 (18... Kf8 19. Nxe8
Kxe8 20. Qg7 {/\21.B:g7}) 19. Nxe8+ Kf8 20. Nxc7 Ra7 21. f5 $1) 18. f5 $1 exf5
19. Qxf5 d5 (19... d6 20. Nxe8+ Qxe8 (20... Rxe8 21. Qxf7+ Kh6 22. Rf6 Rg8 23.
exd6 $18) 21. Qf6+ Kg8 22. exd6 $18) (19... Nxf6 20. exf6+ Kg8) 20. Qg5 {
Weiss hat nur einen Bauern fuer den geopferten Bauern, aber seine Figuren,
besonders der f6-Springer, begrenzen sehr stark die schwarze Befreiung.} (20.
Nh5+ Kh6) 20... Be6 21. Rae1 $1 Qa5 $2 {Es nicht so leicht dem Nachziehenden
einen guten Rat zu geben, aber jetzt wird die schwarze Dame bei der
Verteidugung fehlen.} (21... Rc8 22. h4 h6 $5 23. Qg3 h5 24. Qg5 Bg4 $13) (
21... Rg8 $142 $1 {Fritz} 22. Qh5 (22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Nh5+ Kh7 $19) 22... Nxf6
23. exf6+ Kh8 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. f7 Rg7 26. Bxg6) 22. Nh5+ {Nun rollt der
schwarze Angriff unaufhaltsam voran.} Kf8 (22... Kg8 23. Qh6) 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24.
Nf4 $1 {>< e6,g6} Bf5 (24... Kg7 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Qe7+ Kh6 27. Re3 $18) (
24... Kg8 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Qxg6+ Ng7 27. Qf7+ Kh7 28. Re3 $18) (24... Ng7 25.
Nxg6+ Kg8 26. Nxh8 Kxh8 27. Re3 $18) 25. e6 $1 {[#] Weiss will den wichtigsten
Verteidiger beseitigen --f7-Bauer--, dem schwarzen Koenig ist nicht mehr zu
helfen.} Qc7 (25... f6 26. Nxg6+ Bxg6 27. Qxg6 $18 (27. Rxf6+ $5)) 26. exf7
Kxf7 (26... Qxf7 27. Re7 $1 Qxe7 (27... Qf6 28. Nxg6+ $18) 28. Nxg6+ $18) 27.
g4 $1 {Ausgezeichnet gespielt. Weiss gewinnt die geopferten Figur mit gutem
Spiel zurueck.} Qxc2 (27... Qd8 28. Qxd8 Rxd8 29. gxf5 gxf5 30. Ne6 $18) (27...
Be4+ 28. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 29. Nd5+ $18) 28. Re2 Qc6 (28... Be4+ 29. Ng2+ $18) 29.
gxf5 d4+ 30. Kg1 d3 31. Qe7+ (31. Re7+ $1 Kg8 32. Nxg6 Qc5+ (32... Qf6 33.
Rxe8+ $18) 33. Rf2 Rxh2 (33... Rh7 34. Ne5+ Rg7 (34... Ng7 35. f6 $18) (34...
Kh8 35. Rxh7+ Kxh7 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Nf7#) 35. Rxg7+ Nxg7 36. f6 $18) 34. Ne5+
Kh8 (34... Kf8 35. Nd7#) 35. Nf7+ Kh7 36. Qg6#) 31... Kg8 32. Re6 Rh7 33. Nxg6
Rxe7 34. Nxe7+ Kf7 35. Nxc6 bxc6 36. Rd1 Rd8 37. Re3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d5 6. cxd5 Bc5 7. N5c3
(7. e3 O-O 8. Bc4 a6 9. N5c3 e4 10. a3 Bd6 11. Nd2 Re8 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. b4 Bf5
14. Bb2 Nbd7 15. Be2 Rac8 16. Qb3 Ne5 17. h3 h5 18. Nc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 Nd7 20.
Be2 h4 21. Kd2 Qg5 22. g4 hxg3 23. fxg3 Ne5 $36 {Pokorny,T-Voloshin,L/Lazne
Bohdanec-B/1996/}) 7... O-O 8. e3 Qe7 9. Be2 e4 10. a3 (10. b3 Rd8 11. Qc2 Bf5
12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. a3 Ne5 14. b4 Nd3+ 15. Bxd3 exd3 16. Qd2 Bb6 17. O-O Rac8 18.
Re1 Ng4 19. h3 Ne5 20. e4 Bxh3 21. Qf4 Rd6 22. Nd1 Rg6 23. Bxe5 Rxg2+ 24. Kh1
Rg4 25. Bf6 Qxf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 $19 {->,Esteban,JM-Gomez,M/San Sebastian op/
1994/}) (10. Nd2 Rd8 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Nc4 Rac8 14. Rd1 Ne5 15. Nxe5
Qxe5 16. Bd2 Bg4 17. Be1 Bd6 18. Bxg4 Qxh2+ 19. Kf1 Nxg4 20. Qxe4 f5 21. Qf3
Rf8 22. Rac1 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Nh2 $1 24. Qh3 Qf1+ 25. Kd2 Ng4 26. Kc2 b5 $1 $40 {
Servat,R-Hoffman,A/ARG-ch/1995/}) 10... Rd8 (10... a6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Nd2 Bf5
13. Bb2 Rd8 14. Qb3 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Ne8 16. g4 Bg6 17. h4 h6 18. O-O-O Nd6 19.
Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Kb1 Ne5 21. h5 Bh7 22. g5 hxg5 23. Rdg1 f6 24. h6 Bg6 25. Ka1
Rac8 26. Bg4 $5 f5 27. Bxf5 Bxf5 28. Rxg5 $40 {Stepovoj,V-Usov,A/Kstovo op/
1994/}) (10... a5 11. Nd2 Rd8 12. Qc2 Bf5 13. g4 Bg6 14. h4 h6 15. h5 Bh7 16.
g5 hxg5 17. h6 Nbd7 18. hxg7 Rac8 19. Nc4 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bd2 Nxd5 22.
Nxd5 Qxd5 $13 {1/2/Modr,B-Tseitlin,Mi/Prague/1983/}) 11. b4 Bd6 (11... Bb6 12.
Bb2 Bf5 13. g4 Be6 14. Qc2 Bxg4 15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Nxe4 Nd7 17. Rg1 Nde5 18. Qe2
f5 19. Ng3 Rxd5 20. Nxf5 Qf7 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Qxg4 Rxf5 23. Nd2 Rc8 24. Rd1
Rc6 $44 {Rotstein-Stranjakovitch/Paris-ch/1992/}) 12. Bb2 a5 $5 $146 {A fresh
new idea. Before Black concentrated mainly on gaining back his pawn after
Nd7-b6, or placing the N on e5 and massing forces against White's King-side.
Topalov chooses another route for his N and shows, that also White's
Queen-side has been seriously weakened.} (12... Bf5 13. Nd2 Nbd7 14. Nc4 Ne5
15. Nxd6 Rxd6 16. O-O Rad8 17. Qb3 a6 18. f3 $6 exf3 19. Bxf3 Bd3 20. Be2 Neg4
21. Rf3 Nxh2 22. Rg3 Bxe2 23. Nxe2 Nhg4 24. Qc3 Rxd5 25. Nd4 Ne4 26. Rxg4 Nxc3
{0-1/Trapl,J-Kupka,S/Litomerice/1990/}) (12... Be5 13. Qb3 Nbd7 14. Nd2 Nb6 15.
Nc4 (15. Rd1 Bf5 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 Rac8 18. Qb3 a6 19. Na4 Bxb2 20. Qxb2
Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Nxd5 22. O-O Qf6 23. Rc1 Qxb2 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nxb2 Nc3 26. Kf1
Be6 $15 {[%csl Ra3,Rb4] ׫,Lautier,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Linares/1995/}) 15...
Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bf5 17. Nb5 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxd5 19. Nd4 Qe5 20. Qb3 Bg6 21. Bxd5
Rxd5 22. Rc1 f5 23. Rc5 Bf7 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. Qc3 f4 $132 {Hodos-Gofshtejn/
Daugavpils/1978/}) (12... Nbd7 13. Nd2 Nb6 14. Qb3 Bf5 15. Rd1 Rac8 16. Nb5 {
1/2/Haba,Z-Hudecek,J/CS-chT/1992/}) 13. bxa5 (13. b5 Nbd7 $44) 13... Be5 14.
Qa4 (14. O-O Rxa5 $15 {/\Nd5} 15. Bc4 $2 Bxh2+ $1 $40) 14... Na6 (14... Qc5 $2
15. Nxe4 $1 Nxe4 16. Bxe5 $16) (14... Bd7 15. Qb4 $16) 15. Nd2 $6 {White
should have tried to evacuate his K as soon as possible. Now Black's
initiative will be very dangerous.} (15. O-O $142 Nc5 16. Qb4 Bg4 $5 $13 (16...
Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Rxd5 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 {[%cal Ye7c7] /\Qc7=})) 15... Nc5 16. Qb4 Bg4
$1 $44 17. Nc4 (17. Bxg4 $4 Nd3+) (17. f3 exf3 18. gxf3 Nxd5 $1 19. Nxd5 Rxd5
20. fxg4 (20. Bxe5 Qxe5 $17) 20... Bxb2 21. Qxb2 Qxe3 $17 {[%csl Re1][%cal
Rc5d3] /\Nd3,->עe1}) 17... Bxc3+ 18. Qxc3 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 Qd7 {[%csl Ra4,Rb5,
Rc4,Rd3,Re2,Rf3,Rg4] White is weak on the white squares and his K is misplaced.
Black has more than sufficient compensation.} 20. Rhd1 Rac8 21. Kf1 Nd3 {
[%cal Rd3b2] /\Nb2-+} 22. Qb3 (22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Qxd3 (23. e4 $2 Qb5 24. Rc1 d2
$19) 23... Qxd5 $15) 22... Qf5 (22... Qxd5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Nd2 Qf5 25. f3 $13
) 23. Rxd3 $8 (23. f3 $2 Nxb2 (23... Nxd5 24. Rxd3 exd3 25. e4 Qf4 $17) 24.
Nxb2 exf3 $40) 23... exd3 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 (24... gxf6 $142 $1 25. Qb4 Rxd5 $17 {
/\} 26. Nb6 Rc2) 25. Rd1 Qa6 26. Nd2 Qxa5 27. e4 Qa6 28. a4 Rc5 (28... Rc2 $5
$36) 29. g3 Rdc8 30. Kg2 Rc1 (30... Rc3 31. Qb4 $132) 31. Rxc1 Rxc1 32. Qb4 {
[%csl Gd5][%cal Yb4d4,Yd5d6] /\Qd4,d6,o^d} Qf6 $1 (32... Rc2 33. d6 $10) 33.
Qxb7 g6 (33... h5 34. Qb8+ Kh7 35. e5 $13) 34. Qb8+ Kg7 35. e5 Qf5 36. Nf3 Rc2
37. Qb4 Re2 {[%cal Rd3d2] /\d2-+} (37... d2 $6 38. Qd4 $1 {[%cal Rf3d2] /\Nd2+/
=} (38. Nxd2 Qxe5 $17)) 38. Qc3 $6 (38. Qd4 Qe4 39. Qxe4 Rxe4 {[%cal Re4e5] /
\Re5} 40. Kf1 Rxa4 41. Ke1 Ra2 $17) 38... Kh6 $2 {Losing an important tempo
and misplacing his K, as will be seen later. (see comment to move 41)} (38...
d2 $1 39. e6+ f6 $1 (39... Kh6 40. Qd4 fxe6 41. dxe6 Qxe6 (41... Qc2 42. Qf4+
$10) 42. Nxd2 $10) 40. Qb3 (40. Qd4 Qc2 41. Nxd2 Qxd2 $19 42. Qa7+ Kh6 43. Qc5
Re5 44. e7 Qe2 $19) 40... Qe4 {[%cal Re2e1] /\Re1} 41. e7 (41. Qd1 Qe3 $19)
41... Qxe7 42. Qd3 Qe4 43. Qxe4 Rxe4 44. Nxd2 Rxa4 $19) 39. Qd4 $1 Qe4 40. Qxe4
Rxe4 {Hecht: S-T: Abwicklung in 3-2 Bauern am K-Flügel, theoretisches Remis}
41. d6 Rxa4 (41... Rxe5 $2 42. Nxe5 d2 43. d7 d1=Q 44. d8=Q $1 $18) 42. Nd2 $1
{[%cal Yg2f3,Yf3e3] /\Kf3-e3} Kg5 43. f4+ Kf5 44. Kf3 f6 45. exf6 Kxf6 46. Ke3
Ke6 (46... Ra3 47. Nc4 Rc3 48. Ne5 $10) 47. Kxd3 Ra3+ 48. Ke2 Ra2 49. Ke3 Kxd6
50. Ne4+ Ke7 51. h3 $10 Ra3+ 52. Kf2 h6 {[%cal Re7e6,Re6d5] /\Ke6-d5} 53. Kg2
Ke6 54. g4 $1 h5 (54... Kd5 55. Ng3 {[%cal Yf4f5,Yh3h5] /\f5,h4-h5<=>}) 55.
Ng5+ Kd5 56. Kf2 Kd4 (56... h4 57. Nf3 $10) 57. Kg2 Ke3 58. Kg3 Ra6 (58... Ra4
59. gxh5 gxh5 60. Kh4 $10) 59. gxh5 gxh5 60. Kh4 Kxf4 61. Kxh5 Kf5 62. h4 Ra8
63. Kh6 Kg4 (63... Rh8+ 64. Nh7 {[%cal Rh6g7] /\Kg7=}) 64. Kg6 Kxh4 65. Ne6 Kg4
66. Kf6 Ra5 67. Nd4 $10 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Bangiev,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Qe1
h6 9. Bb3 Nd4 {Die am meisten gespielte Fortsetzung.} 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 O-O
12. Kh1 {Plan:Ne2-g1-f3} (12. Bd2 Bd7 13. Kh1 Rc8 14. Ng1 Kh7 15. Nf3 f5 16. e5
dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nd5 18. Rf2 Be8 19. Re2 Bf6 20. Qf2 b5 21. Qxd4 g5 22. Qxa7+ Rf7
23. Qf2 Rg7 24. Qf3 Nxf4 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Bxe6 Qd6 27. Qd5 Qc7 28. d4 f3 29.
Nxf3 Bc6 30. Qxf5+ Kh8 31. d5 Be7 32. Qe5 {1-0 Reinderman,D-Forster,R/EU-chJ
Sas van Gent (05) 1992}) (12. Qf2 Nc6 13. Bd2 Kh7 14. c3 Qb6 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16.
Be3 Qa6 17. Bxd4 Qxd3 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rad1 Qxe4 20. Rxd6 b6 21. Re1 Qf5 22.
Re5 Qf6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Re1 Rb7 25. Bc2 Rc7 26. Be4 Bb7 27. a4 Rfc8 28. g3 {
1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,G-Novikov,I/Manila olm 1992}) 12... f5 13. Ng1 Kh8 14. Nf3
Bd7 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Qg3 $5 (16. Bb4 $6 fxe4 17. dxe4 Bb5) 16... fxe4 (16... b5
$6 17. Bb4 $5) (16... a5 $6 17. a4 {[%csl Yb5]}) 17. dxe4 d5 (17... Bb5 18. Rf2
$5 (18. Bxe6 $6 Bxf1 19. Bxc8 Qxc8 20. Rxf1 Qxc2 $132) 18... Bc4 19. Rd1 (19.
Nh4 $5 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 Kh7 21. Qd3 {22./\f5}) 19... Bxb3 20. cxb3 Rc2 21. Be1 $5
$14 {[%csl Rd4]}) (17... Kh7 18. Qh3 $5 e5 19. Ng5+ (19. Be6 $2 Bxe6 20. Qxe6
Rxc2) (19. f5 gxf5 20. Ng5+ Kg6 $5) 19... Kh8 20. Ne6 (20. f5 gxf5 21. Nf7+
Rxf7 22. Bxf7 f4 $13) 20... Bxe6 21. Qxe6 $16) 18. exd5 (18. e5 $6 Qb6 (18...
Nf5 $5 19. Qxg6 Rg8 (19... Rc6 20. Qg4) 20. Qh5 Be8 21. Qh3) 19. Rad1 Kh7 20.
Be1 Nf5 21. Qf2 Bb5 $13) 18... exd5 19. Nh4 {Weiß steht klar besser und
verfügt über eine Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten.} (19. Qf2 $5 Nf5 (19... Bf5 $2
20. Nxd4) (19... Bb5 20. Rfe1 Bc4 21. Nxd4 Qb6 22. Rxe7 (22. c3 Nf5 $14) 22...
Bxd4 23. Qh4 Bg7 24. f5 $16) 20. Rfe1 $14 (20. Ne5)) (19. Ne5 $5 Bf5 20. Rae1 (
20. Nd3 Be4) (20. Bb4 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Kh7) 20... Kh7 (20... Bxc2 21. Bxc2 Rxc2
22. Bb4 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 $16) 21. Bb4 $36) 19... Rf6 20. Nf3 Nf5 21. Qf2 Bb5 22.
Rfe1 Bc4 23. Nxd4 Qb6 24. c3 Nxd4 25. Be3 Rf7 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rad1 Re8 (27...
Rcf8 28. Rxd4 $5 $16) 28. Bxd4 (28. Rxd4 $6 Rfe7 $1 $17 (28... Rxe3 29. Rxe3
Bxd4 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. cxd4 $14)) 28... Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 $16 Qxb2
31. h3 Qb5 (31... Qxa2 $2 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Rd8 $18) 32. Qe6 Kg7 33. Rxc4 h5 (
33... Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Qxa2 $2 35. f5 $1 $16 gxf5 $8 36. Rg4+ fxg4 37. Qxa2) 34. a4
Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Qc1 36. Qe5+ Kh7 37. Qd5 Re7 38. Qd4 Rf7 (38... h4 $2 39. Rc8 $18)
39. Qxa7 (39. Rc8 $2 Qxf4+) 39... Qe1 {/\40...h4} (39... Rxf4 $2 40. Qxb7+ Kh6
41. Rc7 $18) 40. Qg1 $1 Qe2 41. Qd4 Qf1 42. Rb4 Re7 43. Qf6 Rg7 44. Re4 Qf2 {
/\40...h4} 45. Qd4 Qc2 46. Re5 $18 Qa2 47. Qe4 {[%csl Rh5] /\48.Rxh5} Kh6 48.
Re8 {[%csl Rh8]} Kh7 (48... Qf2 49. Qe5 h4 50. Rh8+ Rh7 51. Qg5+ Kg7 52. Qe7+
$1 Kxh8 53. Qf8#) 49. Rf8 {/\50.f5} Rf7 50. Rb8 {[%csl Rb7]} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 $5 {In der letzten
Zeit kommt diese Variante nur sehr selten vor. Leko wird seinen Gegner
ueberraschen.} e5 7. Be3 a6 (7... Nf6 $5 8. Bg5 Be6 9. Nd2 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6
11. Nc4 O-O 12. Qxd6 Qc8 13. c3 Bxc4 14. Bxc4 Qg4 $44 {Nunn,J-Tal,M/Reykjavik
WCup/CBM10/1988/INF46,(229)/}) 8. N5c3 Nf6 9. Bg5 (9. Bc4 Be7 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11.
Bxd5 O-O 12. Qd2 Be6 13. Nc3 Rc8 14. O-O b5 15. a3 (15. Rfd1 $5) 15... Qc7 16.
Rfd1 Na5 $13 {Ninov,N-Horvath,J/Odorheiu zt/1995/CBM47/}) 9... Be7 10. Nd2 $5
$146 (10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd2 O-O 12. Nc4 b5 13. Nxd6 Be6 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. Qxd8
Raxd8 16. exf5 e4 $44 {Berg,K-Eingorn,V/London/1989/INF48,(239)/}) 10... O-O
11. Nc4 Be6 (11... Nxe4 $2 12. Bxe7 Nxc3 13. Bxd8 Nxd1 14. Bc7 $1 b5 15. Nb6
Ra7 16. Bxd6 Rd8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Rxd1 $18) (11... b5 $5 12. Bxf6 (12. Ne3 $2
Nxe4 $1 13. Bxe7 Nxc3 14. Bxd8 Nxd1 $17) 12... Bxf6 13. Nxd6 {Siehe die
Anmerkungen bei 10.Bxf6.}) 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 $1 Qxd6 (13... Bxc4 $2 14.
Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bxc4 $16 {Schwarz hat keine Kompensation fuer den Bauern.}) 14.
Nxd6 b5 15. Bd3 (15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 e4 $5 17. Nxe4 Rfe8 18. Bd3 Bxb2 19. Rb1
Bc3+ 20. Kf1 Bd4 {Der Unterschied ist zwischen dieser Stellung und der anderen
Partie --Berg-Eingorn siehe oben--, dass der schwarze Turm nicht auf d8
sondern auf a8 steht. Jetzt ist sehr fragwuerdig, ob Schwarz genugend
Kompensation hat oder nicht?}) 15... g6 {Droht /\ Be7} 16. Nb7 (16. a4 b4 $2 (
16... Be7 $5 17. axb5 Nd4 (17... axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Ndxb5 Ra1+ 20. Nd1 $16)
18. Nb7 axb5 19. O-O Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Rb8 21. Na5 Rc8 $44 {/\ b4 oder Bb4 ><c2})
17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Ne7 19. Ne4 Bg7 (19... Nxd5 $2 20. Bc4 $18) 20. Bc4 $16)
16... Be7 {Droht /\ Rfc8} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Nb4 19. Be4 (19. d6 Nxd3+ 20.
cxd3 Rfb8 21. dxe7 Rxb7 $10) 19... f5 20. a3 fxe4 21. axb4 Bxb4+ 22. c3 Rf7 $1
(22... Be7 23. Ke2 Rfb8 24. Na5 $16 {Weiss ist im klaren Vorteil: 1.Er hat
eine bessere Bauernstruktur. 2.Seine Figuren postieren gut-Na5,Ra1,Ke2-.}) 23.
cxb4 Rxb7 {Im Endergebnis hat der Nachziehende den Bauern zurueckerobert und
jetzt ist das Endspiel ohne weiteres haltbar fuer ihn.} 24. Ke2 Rd7 25. Rhd1 {
Droht /\ Ke3,Kxe4} Rad8 $1 26. Rxa6 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 Rxd5 28. Rb6 Kg7 29. h4 h5
30. g3 Kf7 31. Ke3 Kg7 32. Kxe4 Rd4+ 33. Kxe5 Rxb4 34. Rb7+ Kh6 $1 $8 (34...
Kg8 $4 35. Kf6 $18) 35. f3 Rxb2 36. g4 hxg4 37. fxg4 Rh2 (37... Re2+ 38. Kf4
g5+ $1 (38... Rf2+ $4 39. Kg3 Rb2 40. g5+ Kh5 41. Rh7#) 39. hxg5+ Kg6 $10) 38.
g5+ Kh5 39. Rh7+ Kg4 40. Kf6 Rxh4 41. Rb7 (41. Rxh4+ Kxh4 42. Kxg6 b4 43. Kf6
b3 44. g6 b2 45. g7 b1=Q 46. g8=Q $10) 41... Kh5 $8 42. Rh7+ {Ribli} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Johnson,M"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4
O-O 8. Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. h4 a5 13. a4 (13. Nd5 a4
14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Bxf6 axb3 16. Bc3 Rxa2 17. O-O b4 $1 18. Bd4 (18. Bxb4 Qb6+
19. Kh1 Rxb2 20. Qc3 Rxc2 21. Qxb3 Rfc8 $17) 18... Qa5 19. Rxa2 bxa2 20. b3 Rc8
21. Ba1 Qc5+ 22. Rf2 Be6 23. g4 Bxb3 24. cxb3 Qc1+ 25. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 26. Rf1 Rb1
$19 {Engel,K-Stern,W/Corr Eu ch 1978 0-1(40)}) 13... bxa4 14. Nxa4 e5 15. Bb6 (
15. Be3 Be6 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Nc4 d5 18. Nxa5 d4 19. Bg5 Bxb3 20. Nxb3 Qb6 21.
Qd3 Nh5 22. g4 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. h5 Rfc8 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Rh2 Rc6 27. Re2
Qd8 28. O-O-O Qb6 29. Kb1 Be5 30. Rh2 Qb4 31. Qf1 Qa4 32. Qh3 Ra8 33. Rd3 Rca6
34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh6+ Bg7 36. Qh8+ Bxh8 37. Rxh8+ Kg7 {0-1 Beliavsky,A-Miles,A/
Teesside 1973}) 15... Qb8 16. Be3 Be6 17. Ra3 Qb4 18. Nb6 Rab8 19. Qxb4 axb4
20. Ra5 Bxb3 21. cxb3 Rfd8 22. Ke2 Nh5 23. Rc1 f5 24. Rc7 fxe4 25. fxe4 Nf4+
26. Kd2 Ne6 (26... Nxg2 27. Raa7 Bh8 28. Nd5 Nxe3 (28... Ra8 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30.
Bh6+ Ke8 31. Nc6 Rxa7 32. Rxa7 $18) 29. Kxe3 Ra8 30. Rxh7 Rxa7 31. Rxa7 $16)
27. Re7 Re8 28. Nd5 Rxe7 29. Nxe7+ Kf8 (29... Kf7 $2 30. Ra7 Kf8 31. Nc6 Rb5
32. Kd3 d5 33. exd5 Rxd5+ 34. Kc4 $18) 30. Nd5 (30. Ra7 Nf4 31. Bxf4 exf4 32.
Nd5 Kg8 $1 33. Nxf4 Bxb2 34. Rd7 Be5 35. Nd3 Bg3 $10) 30... Rb7 31. Ra6 Rd7 32.
Rb6 Nf4 33. Bxf4 (33. Nxf4 exf4 34. Bxf4 Bxb2 35. Rxb4 d5 36. exd5 Rxd5+ 37.
Ke2 $14) 33... exf4 {Hecht: Thema: TS mit b-Freibauer vs TL} 34. Nxf4 Bh6 35.
Ke3 d5 36. exd5 Rxd5 37. Rxb4 Rd1 38. g4 Kg8 (38... Rb1 39. g5 Bg7 40. Ne6+ Kg8
41. Nxg7 Kxg7 42. Kd4 Rxb2 43. Kc3 Rf2 44. Re4 $18) 39. Rb8+ Kf7 40. Rb7+ Kg8
41. g5 Bg7 42. b4 Bxb2 43. Nd3 Bc3 44. b5 Rh1 45. Nf4 Rxh4 46. Nd5 Bd4+ 47. Kd3
Kf8 48. Nf6 h6 49. Rh7 Be5 (49... Bxf6 50. gxf6 Rb4 $10) 50. b6 Rb4 51. Nd7+
Kg8 52. Re7 (52. Rxh6 Rd4+ 53. Ke3 Rxd7 54. Rxg6+ Kf7 55. Rc6 Rd6 $10) 52...
Bg7 53. gxh6 Bxh6 54. Nf6+ Kf8 55. Re4 Rb1 (55... Rxe4 $4 56. Kxe4 $18) 56. Nd5
Bg5 57. Nb4 Be7 58. b7 Bd6 59. Kc2 Ra1 60. Nc6 Ra6 61. Nd8 (61. b8=Q+ Bxb8 62.
Nxb8 Rd6 $10) 61... Ra5 (61... Rb6 $4 62. Re6 {/\ 63.Rxd6 +-}) 62. Re6 Bh2 63.
Kc3 Rb5 $10 64. Kc4 Rb2 65. Re1 Bc7 66. Ne6+ Kf7 67. Nxc7 Rxb7 68. Ne8 Rd7 69.
Kc5 Rd2 70. Nd6+ Kg7 71. Kc6 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4
Nc5 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nfd7 11. Bf4 b5 12. Qe2 (12. Qg4 Qb6 $5 (12... Nb6 $6
13. O-O-O $1 Bd7 14. Rhf1 h5 $6 15. Qf3 Rc8 16. Kb1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Bg5
$1 {Zapolskis,A-Tataev,M/Stare Mesto/1992/1-0 (18)}) (12... Nf6 $1 13. exf6
Qxd4 $13) (12... h5 $1 13. Qg3 h4 14. Qg4 g5 15. O-O-O $1 $8 Qe7 $2 (15... Rh6
$1 16. Qxg5 (16. Bxg5 Rg6 $17) 16... Qxg5 17. Bxg5 Rh5 18. Bf4 Bb7 $17 {
><g2, e5}) 16. Nc6 $3 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 Qc5 18. Ne4 Qxc6 19. Bxg5 {1/2-1/2 Short,
N-Kasparov,G/London (m8)/1993/ (41)}) 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. Rhf1 g6 15. h4 h5 16.
Qg3 Bg7 17. Kb1 Nxb3 18. Nxb3 Qc7 19. Rd6 O-O 20. Rfd1 Nc5 21. Be3 Nxb3 22.
axb3 Bc6 $15 {Zontakh,A-Piza,V/Hlohovec/1994/}) (12. Qh5 g6 13. Qe2 Bb7 14.
O-O-O Bg7 15. h4 h5 16. Qe3 b4 17. Na4 Qa5 18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Bc4 Bxg2 20. Rhg1
Bb7 21. Nxe6 Nxe6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rxg6 Qxa2 24. Rd6 {1-0 Laesson,T-Zhu Chen/
Moscow olw (11)/1994/ (30)}) 12... Bb7 13. O-O-O (13. O-O b4 14. Na4 Nxb3 15.
axb3 Nc5 16. Rad1 Nxa4 17. bxa4 Bc5 18. Be3 $2 {Zapolskis,A-Slekys,E/
Mariampole/1992/} (18. Kh1 $1 $13) 18... Qc7 $1 $15 {Zapolskis,A-Slekys,E/
Mariampole/1992/}) 13... Qb6 (13... Qa5 14. Rhf1 (14. Rhe1 Rc8 15. Qg4 b4 16.
Na4 Nxa4 17. Nxe6 Nac5 18. Nxg7+ Bxg7 19. Qxg7 Nxb3+ 20. Kb1 Nd4 21. e6 Bd5 22.
Qxf7+ {1-0 Morawietz,D-Ottens,S/NRW-II 9192/1992}) 14... Be7 {N} (14... Nxb3+
15. Nxb3 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Be7 18. Qg4 O-O 19. Rde1 Rfd8 20. Bh6 Bf8 21.
Bg5 Rd7 22. Re3 $13 {Motwani,P-Pigott,J/BCF-ch/1989/0-1 (40)}) 15. Qg4 g6 16.
Bh6 $1 (16. Bg3 Qb6 17. h4 h5 18. Qe2 Rh7 19. Nf3 $6 (19. Rf2 $5 O-O-O 20. Qf1
$36) 19... O-O-O 20. Kb1 Qc6 $1 21. Rd4 Nb6 $1 {0-1 Zadrima,A-Ftacnik,L/Moscow
olm/1994/ (39)}) 16... Nxe5 (16... b4 $5) 17. Qf4 b4 18. Nd5 (18. Ncb5 $5 Ned3+
(18... f6 19. Nd6+ $1 Bxd6 20. Qxf6 Rg8 21. Bxe6 Be7 22. Qf7+ Nxf7 23. Bxf7+
Kd7 24. Nb3+ $16) 19. cxd3 Nxb3+ 20. Nxb3 Qxb5 21. Qxf7+ Kd7 22. d4 $40) 18...
Bxd5 19. Qxe5 f6 20. Bxd5 $5 (20. Qe3 Nxb3+ 21. Nxb3 Bxb3 $1 22. Qxb3 Kf7 23.
Rfe1 Qb6 $17) 20... fxe5 21. Bc6+ (21. Nxe6 $5 Kd7 $3 22. Nxc5+ Qxc5 23. Bxa8+
Ke8 $17) 21... Nd7 22. Nxe6 Ra7 23. Be3 {1/2-1/2 Vavra,P-Ftacnik,L/Cesko/1995/
(46)}) (13... b4 14. Na4 Nxb3+ 15. axb3 Qc7 16. Rhf1 Nc5 (16... g6 17. Bg5 Bd5
18. Qf2 Nxe5 19. Qf6 Rg8 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Kb1 g5 22. Nf5 gxf4 23. Rxd5 exd5 {
1-0 Kobalija,M-Verner,A/Moscow-ch op (03)/1995/}) 17. Nf5 (17. Kb1 Nxa4 18.
bxa4 Bc5 19. Qg4 O-O-O 20. Bg3 g6 21. Bh4 Rd5 22. Bf6 Re8 23. Nb3 Bf8 24. g3 {
Riegler,P-Osterman,R/SLO-ch/1992/0-1 (35)}) 17... exf5 18. e6 Nxb3+ 19. Kb1 Qc6
20. Nb6 Qxe6 21. Rfe1 Nc5 22. Nxa8 $16 {Emms,J-Petrosian,A/London Lloyds (08)/
1991/1-0 (65)}) 14. Kb1 {Black struggles to avoid various sacrifices from the
attacker, but he will have to castle long. In such case f7P remains palpably
weak.} (14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Qg4 g5 16. Bg3 h5 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. a3 h4 19. Bf2 Qc7
20. Ba2 Nb6 21. Ndxb5 axb5 22. Nxb5 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Ba6 24. b4 Bxb5 25. Qxb5
Nca4 26. Bb3 {1-0 Macieja,B-Kaminski,M/POL-chT Lubniewice (07)/1994/ (46)}) (
14. Rhf1 Be7 15. Qg4 g5 16. Bxg5 Rg8 17. h4 Nxe5 18. Qf4 Bd6 19. Qd2 Rc8 20.
Nf5 Bf8 21. Kb1 b4 22. Na4 {Oral,T-Tkebuchava,S/Ml.Boleslav op (1)/1994/1-0 
(42)}) 14... Be7 15. h4 $1 O-O-O $5 16. a3 $1 (16. Rhf1 b4 17. Na4 Nxa4 18.
Bxa4 Nc5 19. Bb3 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 Nxb3 21. Rc4+ Nc5 $13) 16... Nb8 (16... Nxb3 17.
Nxb3 Nc5 18. Bg5 $14) 17. Be3 Nc6 18. Ba2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc6 20. Rhf1 Rhf8 (
20... Qxg2 $2 21. Qxg2 Bxg2 22. Rxf7 $18) 21. g3 Kb8 22. Rf4 f5 $6 {Anand was
seriously criticized for this decision, even though it should have solved the
biggest headache with f7P. The tactics works against the defender.} (22... g5
$1 23. hxg5 Bxg5 24. Rff1 $14) 23. exf6 gxf6 24. b4 $1 e5 (24... Nd7 25. Qxe6
$16) 25. bxc5 Rxd4 $2 (25... exf4 $1 26. Qxe7 fxg3 27. Bd5 Qc7 28. Bxf6 Rde8
29. Qxc7+ Kxc7 30. Bg7 $14) 26. Rfxd4 exd4 27. Qxe7 Re8 28. Qf7 (28. Qf7 dxc3
29. Bd5 Rd8 30. Bxc6 Rxd1+ 31. Ka2 Bxc6 32. Qf8+ Kb7 33. Kb3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 e5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nf3 f5 6. O-O d6 7. Rb1 a5 8. a3 Nf6
9. d3 O-O 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 {Eine typischer Stellungstyp der Englischen
Eröffnung. Weiß hat Raumvorteil am Damenflügel, Schwarz am Königsflügel.} h6
12. b5 Ne7 13. Bb2 Be6 14. Ra1 (14. c5 g5 15. b6 c6 16. cxd6 Qxd6 17. Ra1 Ng6
18. Na4 Qb4 19. Bc3 Qb5 20. Nd2 Nd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Qb3 Qc6 23. Bb2 d4 {
0-1 Kagan,Is-Reilly,T/AUS-ch Melbourne (01) ;EXT 91ch 1991 (37)}) 14... Rc8 (
14... Rb8 15. c5 Nd7 16. Na4 dxc5 17. Ra3 g5 18. Qa1 Ng6 19. Nd2 Qe7 20. Nc3
Nf6 21. Ra7 b6 22. Qa6 Rfd8 23. Rd1 Qf7 24. Rb7 Rxb7 25. Qxb7 Ne8 26. Nc4 e4
27. Ne3 f4 {0-1 Urban,J-Soffer,R/Budapest FS09 GM (06) ;EXP 37 1993 (40)}) 15.
c5 $6 $146 (15. Ra7 b6 16. Qc2 (16. Qb3 g5 17. Nd2 f4 {1/2-1/2 Hickl,J-Mohr,S/
BL 9495 (1994) ;BL 90 1995 (35)}) 16... g5 17. Rfa1 f4 18. Nd2 fxg3 19. hxg3
Qe8 20. Nce4 Ng4 21. Nf1 Nf5 22. e3 Qg6 23. Rb7 Nh4 24. gxh4 gxh4 25. f3 Rxf3 {
0-1 Schneider,B-Short,N/Solingen ;TD 86\01 1986 (30)}) (15. Ne1 b6 16. Nc2 g5
17. Nb4 f4 18. d4 fxg3 19. fxg3 exd4 20. Ncd5 {1/2-1/2 Jackelen,T-Kindermann,S/
BL 9293 (1992) ;BL 90 1993 (30)}) 15... Nd7 (15... dxc5 $2 16. Nxe5 Nfd5 17.
Na4 $36) 16. cxd6 cxd6 17. Na4 d5 {Als Folge des weißen Vorstoßes c4-c5 hat
Schwarz zusätzlich ein Übergewicht im Zentrum bekommen.} 18. Nd2 Qe8 (18... f4
$5 19. e3 fxe3 20. fxe3 Nf5 21. Qe2 Qg5 $36) 19. e3 g5 20. Qe2 Qf7 21. f4 {
Notwendig, sonst wird er von den schwarzen Bauern überrollt.} Ng6 22. fxe5
Ndxe5 23. Nf3 Nxf3+ 24. Bxf3 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 f4 26. Bg2 Qe7 27. Nb6 Rcd8 28. Qd4
Qd6 29. exf4 (29. gxf4 $5 gxf4 30. Ra7 Rf7 $13 (30... Qb8 31. Nxd5)) 29... gxf4
30. Rae1 Kh7 (30... fxg3 $5 31. Rxf8+ Nxf8 $17) 31. Kh1 Bg8 32. Rf3 fxg3 33.
Rxg3 Rf4 34. Qe3 $2 (34. Qg1 $142 Rb4 35. Bh3 $13) 34... Rdf8 $2 (34... d4 $142
$1 35. Qd2 Rh4 $19 (35... Qxb6 $2 36. Rxg6)) 35. Rg1 d4 (35... Bf7) (35... Nh4)
36. Qd2 Ne5 $2 $18 (36... Qxb6 37. Be4 Rxe4 38. Rxg6 Qxg6 39. Rxg6 Re3 40. Rd6
Be6 {/\ 41...Rf1 42.Kg2 Bh3#} 41. Qxe3 dxe3 42. Rxe6 Rf5 43. b6 $16) (36... Rf2
37. Qe1 Qxb6 38. Rxg6 Qxg6 39. Be4 $18) 37. Be4+ $5 (37. Qxf4 $1 Rxf4 38. Be4+
$18) 37... Rxe4 38. dxe4 (38. Qg2 $2 Rg4 39. Rxg4 Nxg4 40. Qxb7+ Kh8 41. Rxg4
Rf1+ 42. Kg2 Qf6 43. Qg7+ Qxg7 44. Rxg7 Rb1 $10) 38... Nf3 $6 (38... Qxb6 39.
Qg2 $18) 39. Rxf3 $1 Rxf3 40. Qg2 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht Topalov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6
7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. O-O (9. f5 Be7 10. fxe6 fxe6 11. O-O Nxb3 12. axb3 O-O
13. Be3 Bd7 14. Kh1 Qc7 15. Qd3 $6 Ng4 $1 $15 {Akopian,V-Ivanchuk,V/Erevan/
1989/}) (9. Qf3 b5 10. f5 Bd7 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Be3 Qc8 13. a3 Be7 14. Ba2 O-O
$6 15. Nf5 Rf7 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. e5 $16 {1-0 Macieja,B-Dao Thien Hai/Budapest
FS02 GM (11) ;EXP 51 1996 (35)}) 9... Ncxe4 (9... Be7 10. e5 $5 (10. Be3 Qc7
11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Qxe5 13. Nf5 Ng4 14. Nd6+ Qxd6 15. Qxg4 O-O 16. Bh6 Qe5
17. Rae1 f5 $17 {0-1 Velimirovic,D-Peng Zhaoqin/Pozarevac (04) ;EXP 49 1995 
(36)}) 10... dxe5 11. fxe5 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bc5 13. Be3 Nd5 14. Bf2 $5 Nxc3 15.
bxc3 Qc7 $10 {Arakhamia,K-Ftacnik,L/Sydney Mercantile (7) 1991/0-1 (44)}) (9...
Be7) 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. f5 e5 12. Qh5 (12. Ne6 $6) 12... Qe7 $6 (12... d5 $3
$146 13. Re1 Bc5 (13... exd4 $4 14. Rxe4+ Be7 15. f6 $1 gxf6 16. Bxd5 Rf8 17.
Bh6 $18) 14. Rxe4 Bxd4+ (14... O-O $5 15. Rg4 (15. Rh4 Bxf5 $1 $19) 15... Bxd4+
16. Kh1 Kh8 $17) 15. Be3 (15. Rxd4 $5 Qb6 (15... exd4 $2 16. Bg5 Qa5 $8 (16...
Qd7 17. Re1+ Kf8 18. f6 $18) 17. Qe2+ Kd7 18. Qe7+ Kc6 19. Qxf7 $16) 16. c3
exd4 (16... O-O 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 $44) 17. Qe2+ Kf8 18. Qf2 Qf6 19. cxd4
Qxf5 $17) 15... O-O 16. Rxd4 exd4 17. Bxd4 f6 18. Bc5 $2 (18. Qf3 $1 $44) 18...
Re8 $15 {0-1 Topalov,V-Short,N/Amsterdam VSB (03)/1996/ (46) ;CBM 52}) 13. Qf3
Nc5 (13... exd4 14. Re1 $16) 14. Nc6 (14. f6 $2 gxf6 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Qxf6 Nxb3
17. axb3 (17. Qxh8 Nxc1 $1) 17... Rg8 18. Nd8 Bh3 $19) (14. Ne2 $5 {/\
Ne2-c3-d5}) 14... Qc7 15. Bd5 (15. Nb4 $6 Nxb3 16. Qxb3 b5 $1 17. Nd5 Qc6 18.
f6 Bb7 $1 $17) 15... a5 $6 (15... Bd7 16. Nb4 Be7 $1 (16... Qb6 $2 17. Bxf7+ $3
Kxf7 18. Nd5 Qc6 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. f6 $18) 17. Bc4 (17. Bxf7+ $2 Kxf7 18. Nd5 (
18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. f6 Bxf6 20. Rxf6 gxf6 21. Nd5 Qd8 $19) 18... Qd8 19. Qh5+ Kg8
$19) 17... Bc6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 $44) 16. Bg5 $1 (16. Be3 Ra6 17. Nd4 exd4
18. Bxd4 $13 {Spanish TV-Kasparov 1990}) 16... Ra6 $2 (16... Bd7 17. Ne7 $3 {
Topalov} (17. Nd4 $2 {Topalov} f6 18. Qh5+ Kd8 19. Ne6+ Nxe6 $1 20. fxe6 Qc5+
$19) (17. f6 $6 {Topalov} g6 18. Ne7 Ne6 $1 $13) 17... f6 (17... Bxe7 $2 18.
Bxe7 Qb6 (18... Kxe7 19. f6+ Kd8 20. fxg7 Re8 21. Bxf7 $18) 19. f6 g6 20. Kh1
$16) 18. Qh5+ Kxe7 (18... Kd8 19. Ng6 Be8 20. Be3 $16) 19. Bxf6+ $1 gxf6 (19...
Kxf6 20. Qh4+ g5 21. fxg6+ Kg7 22. Rf7+ $18) 20. Qf7+ Kd8 21. Qxf6+ Kc8 22.
Qxh8 Qd8 23. f6 $16 (23. f6 Bh6 24. Qxh7 Be3+ 25. Kh1 $16)) 17. Nd8 $3 $18 f6
$8 18. Nf7 Rg8 19. Be3 g6 20. Ng5 $1 (20. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 21. Bxg8 Bxf5 $132)
20... Rg7 (20... fxg5 21. f6 $1 Rh8 22. f7+ Kd8 23. Bxg5+ Be7 24. f8=R+ Rxf8
25. Qxf8+ Kd7 26. Qxe7#) 21. fxg6 Rxg6 $1 (21... hxg6 22. Qxf6 Qe7 23. Bf7+ (
23. Qf2 $18 {Topalov}) 23... Kd8 24. Bc4 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 Ke7 (25... Be7 26. Rf7
$18) 26. Raf1 Bf5 27. Rxf8 Kxf8 28. Bxa6 Nxa6 29. g4 $18) 22. Bf7+ Qxf7 23.
Nxf7 Kxf7 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Rad1 Be7 26. Rd5 Bg4 (26... Re6 27. Qe4 b6 28. Rxe5
Bb7 29. Rxe6 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 $18) 27. Qe4 (27. Qb3 {Topalov} Be6 28. Qxb7 Bxd5
29. Qxd5+ Re6 30. Qa8 $18) 27... Kg7 28. Rfd1 $2 (28. Rf2 {/\ Rfd2 + Rd7 ist
das bessere Feld eine Qualität zurück zu opfern.}) 28... Bxd1 29. Rxd1 Re6 $1
$16 30. Qf5 (30. Qxb7 $2 e4 31. Rd7 Kf7 $13 {[%cal Ge4e1]}) 30... Kf7 31. Re1
b6 (31... b5 $5 32. c4 bxc4 33. a4 $16) (31... b5 $1 $16 {Topalov /\ 32...c4;
33...a4}) (31... Rd6 $2 {Topalov} 32. Rxe5) 32. h4 $6 (32. c4 $142 $1 {War
jetzt oder in den nächsten beiden Zügen stärker.}) (32. a4 $142 $1) 32... Rg7 (
32... b5 $142 $1 {Topalov}) 33. Kf1 (33. a4 $142 $1 {Topalov}) 33... Bd6 (33...
b5 $1) (33... Bf8) 34. Kf2 Bc7 $2 {Hier steht der B passiv, noch immer war b5
stärker.} 35. Kf3 Ke7 36. Re4 Kf7 37. Rg4 $1 $18 Re7 38. Ke4 Rxg4+ 39. Qxg4 {
Hecht: D-TL: 1 schwarzer Mehrbauer, passive schwarze Figuren, Bauern auf
L-Farbe festgelegt, schwache weiße Felder, schlechte Koordination von T und L,
Technik} Bd8 40. a4 {Endlich wird der Q-Flügel festgelegt.} (40. Qf5 Kg7 41. h5
{/\ 42.h6+ +-}) 40... Kf8 41. c3 Rg7 42. Qc8 Ke8 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. g4 Rf7 45. h5
Rg7 46. h6 $6 (46. b3 Rf7 {nachdem der R die g-Linie verlassen hat} 47. h6 $1
$18 (47. h6 {Topalov} Ra7 48. Qd5 $1 $18)) 46... Rg6 47. Qd5 Be7 48. Kf5 Rxh6
49. Qb7 e4 (49... Bd8 50. Ke6 (50. Qd7 Be7 51. Qc8+ Kf7 52. Qb7) 50... f5+ 51.
Kxf5 Rf6+ 52. Kxe5 h6 53. Qc8 Ke8 54. Qxd8+ Kxd8 55. Kxf6 $18) 50. Qb8+ Kf7 51.
Qxb6 e3 52. Qe6+ Ke8 53. Qxe3 {Nach dem Verlust des b-P hätte Schwarz getrost
aufgeben können.} Rg6 54. Qe4 Rg5+ 55. Kf4 Kd7 56. Qb7+ (56. Qxh7 {Topalov} c4
$1 {/\ 57...Rc5}) 56... Ke6 57. Qc8+ Kf7 58. Qc7 h5 59. gxh5 Rxh5 60. Qxa5 Bd6+
61. Ke4 (61. Kf3 {Topalov} Rh3+ 62. Ke4 $4 Ke6 {/\ 63...f5#}) 61... f5+ (61...
Re5+ {Topalov} 62. Kf3 Rf5+ 63. Ke3 Re5+ 64. Kd2 $18) 62. Kd5 Be7 63. Qc7 Rh6
64. a5 Rd6+ 65. Ke5 Rf6 66. Qc8 (66. Qc8 f4 67. a6 f3 68. a7 f2 69. a8=Q Bd6+
70. Kd5 f1=Q 71. Qg8+ Ke7 72. Qae8#) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Topalov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 (
7. Be3 Qc7 8. f4 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bf3 Nbd7 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. Qe2 Be7 13. Qf2 O-O
14. O-O Rfe8 15. Rad1 Bf8 $10 {Gunnarsson,J-Tisdall,J/Reykjavik op (01) ;CBM
52_06 1996/0-1 (43)}) 7... Be7 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Bf3 (9. g4 d5 $5 10. exd5 (10. e5
Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. h4 Nd7 13. c4 b6 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. O-O-O Nc5 16. Kb1 O-O-O
17. g5 Nd3 18. Rhf1 Bc5 19. Bxd3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Bologan,V-Novikov,
I/St.Petersburg op (09) ;EXP 46 1995}) 10... Bb4 11. dxe6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+
13. Kf2 fxe6 14. Qd3 Qc7 15. Bf3 O-O $132 {1/2-1/2 Yemelin,V-Novikov,I/
Novgorod op (08) ;EXP 49 1995 (16)}) (9. O-O O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. f5
$6 (12. g4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 $13) 12... e5 13. Nde2 Nbd7 $10 {Lutz,C-Gelfand,B/Cap
d'Agde (01) ;EXP 43 1994/0-1 (61)}) 9... Nc6 10. Qe2 Nxd4 $1 $146 (10... Bd7
11. O-O-O O-O 12. g4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc6 14. Rg1 b5 15. g5 Nd7 16. f5 $40 {
1-0 Navarro,R-Fougy,F/Novi Sad olm (04) MEX-HAI 1990 (30)}) (10... O-O 11.
O-O-O Nxd4 12. Rxd4 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Rc4 Qd8 15. Rd1 Bd7 16. Bc5 b5 17.
Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rc7 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 $10 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Arnason,J/Jurmala
1987 (39)}) 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3 b5 13. O-O-O (13. O-O Bb7 $10) (13. a3 Rb8 {
/\ 14...b4}) 13... O-O 14. g4 $6 (14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd6 17.
g4 $132) (14. f5 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 a5 $10 (16... a5 {Topalov} 17. Kb1
Ba6 18. Qf2 Bc4 19. Rhd1 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 $44)) 14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5
exf4 17. Bxf4 a5 $15 18. Rhe1 $6 (18. g5 Bf5 (18... Re8 {Topalov /\ 19...Bf5}
19. Bg4 $1 $13) 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Rfe8 $15) 18... Bh4 $1 19. Rg1 $6 (19.
Bg3 Bxg3 (19... Bg5+ 20. Kb1 Ba6 21. Qe4 $10) 20. hxg3 a4 $15) 19... a4 $1 20.
Qd2 (20. g5 b3 21. a3 bxc2 22. Rd4 (22. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 23. Kxc2 Bf5+ 24. Kd2 Rfb8
$19) 22... Ba6 23. Qd2 Rfe8 24. Be3 Qb6 $17) 20... Rb8 (20... b3 21. a3 $15)
21. Kb1 Re8 22. Rg2 Bd7 23. Re2 a3 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. g5 $6 (25. b3 Bf6 $17 {
[%cal Rf6a1]}) 25... f6 {/\ Be8-g6} (25... axb2 {Topalov} 26. Qd4 f6 27. Bxd6
Qxd6 28. Qxh4 $13) 26. Be4 (26. Bg4 Bg6 27. Be6+ Kh8 28. b3 Bxg5 (28... fxg5
29. Be3 Rf8 30. Rc1 $15) 29. Bxg5 fxg5 30. Rf1 h6 $17) 26... axb2 27. Qd3 g6
28. Qa6 (28. Qh3 Ra8 (28... Qc4 $19 {Topalov}) 29. Qxh4 Qc4 30. Kxb2 Rxa2+ 31.
Kb1 b3 $1 $19) 28... Rb6 29. Qa8 Rb8 30. Qa6 Rd8 31. Rd4 f5 $19 {[%cal Gf5f1]}
32. Bd3 Qe7 33. Bd2 (33. Kxb2 Be1 $19) 33... Be1 $1 34. Be2 Bxd2 35. Rxd2 Qxg5
36. Rd1 Qe3 37. Bc4 f4 38. Bb3 f3 (38... g5 $142 {Topalov /\ 39...Bg6}) 39. Qd3
Qe2 40. Bc4 Qxd3 41. Rxd3 Rc8 42. Ba6 Rc3 43. Kxb2 Bd7 44. Rd4 (44. Rxc3 bxc3+
45. Kxc3 Bh3 46. Kd2 f2 $19) 44... Bf5 45. Rxb4 (45. Bd3 Bxd3 46. cxd3 Rc8 47.
Rf4 Rf8 $19) 45... Rxc2+ 46. Kb3 Rxh2 47. Rf4 f2 48. a4 Bh3 (48... Bc2+ {
Topalov} 49. Kc3 g5 50. Rg4) 49. a5 g5 50. Rf3 g4 (50... Kg7 {Topalov} 51. Bc4
g4 52. a6 gxf3 53. a7 $18) 51. Rf5 g3 (51... g3 52. Rg5+ Kh8 53. Rxg3 f1=Q 54.
Bxf1 Bxf1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Topalov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3
Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. O-O Nfxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. f5 e5 12. Qh5 d5 $1 (12... Qe7 $2
13. Qf3 Nc5 14. Nc6 $1 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/Amstedam VSB (01)/1996/1-0/ ;CBM
52}) 13. Re1 Bc5 (13... exd4 $4 14. Rxe4+) 14. Rxe4 Bxd4+ (14... O-O 15. Rg4 $1
(15. Bg5 $2 Qb6 16. Bxd5 Bxd4+ 17. Kh1 Bxf5) (15. Rh4 Bxf5 $1 16. Be3 Bg6)
15... Bxd4+ 16. Kh1 $13) 15. Be3 (15. Rxd4 $5 Qb6 (15... exd4 $2 16. Bg5) 16.
c3 exd4 17. Qe2+ Kf8 18. Qf2 $44) 15... O-O 16. Rxd4 exd4 17. Bxd4 f6 18. Bc5
$2 (18. Qf3 $10 {Topalov}) 18... Re8 19. Rd1 Kh8 20. Rxd5 (20. Bxd5 Bd7 21. b4
$5 (21. Bxb7 $2 Qc7 22. Bxa8 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 Qe7 $19) (21. Rd3 {/\ 22.Q:h7+!} h6
$1 22. Bxb7 $2 Qc7 23. Bxa8 Qxc5+ $19) 21... Qc7 $17) 20... Bd7 (20... Re1+ $2
21. Kf2 Qe8 22. Qxe8+ Rxe8 23. Bb6) 21. h3 Re5 22. Rxe5 fxe5 23. Bf7 Be8 (23...
Qc8) 24. Bg6 h6 25. Bxe8 Qxe8 26. Qxe8+ Rxe8 27. Bd6 Rd8 28. Bxe5 Rd5 29. Bc3
Rxf5 30. Bd4 b5 31. c3 h5 32. Bf2 Kg8 33. Kf1 Kf7 34. Ke2 Ke6 35. Bd4 g6 36.
Bb6 Kd5 37. Bc7 Ke4 38. Bd8 Rd5 39. Bh4 Rd3 40. Bf2 a5 41. Be1 a4 42. Bd2 Rd7
43. Bh6 Rd5 44. Bc1 Rc5 45. Be3 a3 46. Bc1 b4 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. e3 Re8 12. Bb5 (12. Bf2 c5 $1 13. Bb5 cxd4
14. Qxd4 Bc6 15. Bd3 Nbd7 $36 {Seirawan,Y-Karpov,An/Rotterdam 1989}) (12. Nh3
Qe7 $1 13. Bf2 c5 $1 14. Bb5 Bc6 15. Be2 Bd7 16. O-O Bxh3 17. gxh3 Nbd7 18. Kh1
Nh5 19. Rg1 Ndf6 20. dxc5 $6 bxc5 $15 {Gulko,B-Chandler,M/Hastings 1989}) (12.
O-O-O c5 13. dxc5 Nbd7 14. Bb5 Rc8 15. Kb1 Rxc5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qd3 Re5 $15 {
Sadler,M-Gurevich,M/Linares zt (07) ;CBM 51 1995}) 12... c6 13. Ba4 Nbd7 $5 {N}
(13... b5 14. Bc2 c5 $1 15. Ne2 (15. Qxc5 Rxe3+ 16. Kf2 Re6 $36) 15... c4 16.
O-O a5 17. b4 Nc6 18. Rab1 axb4 19. axb4 Qe7 $15 {Timman-Hracek/Prague m/1995})
14. Ne2 Qe7 15. Bf2 Ba6 $1 16. b4 (16. Ng3 $6 c5 $36 {עe1}) (16. Qd2 c5 17.
O-O-O Rec8 18. Kb1 b5 19. Bc2 b4 20. axb4 cxb4 $15 {->}) 16... Rec8 $1 17. Qb2
Bc4 18. Bb3 (18. O-O $5 a5 19. b5 c5 (19... cxb5 20. Bxb5 Bxb5 21. Qxb5 Rc2 22.
Rfc1 $10) 20. Rfe1 $10) 18... b5 (18... Bxb3 19. Qxb3 c5 20. O-O cxd4 (20... c4
21. Qb2 b5 22. Nc3 a6 $10 {/\} 23. a4 a5 $1) 21. Nxd4 Rc4 22. Rac1 Ne5 $10) 19.
Bxc4 bxc4 20. O-O a5 21. Nc3 Rcb8 22. Rab1 axb4 23. axb4 Rb7 (23... c5 $5 24.
b5 (24. dxc5 Nxc5 $15 {[%csl Rd3] ><d3}) 24... cxd4 25. exd4 Ra3 26. Qc2 $10)
24. Rfe1 Qf8 (24... Rab8 $5 25. Bg3 Rxb4 26. Qa3 (26. Bxb8 $2 Rxb2 27. Rxb2 Qa3
$19) 26... R8b6 27. Na2 c5 28. Nxb4 cxb4 29. Qa8+ Qf8 (29... Kh7 30. e4 dxe4
31. fxe4 c3 32. e5 $16) 30. Qxf8+ Nxf8 31. e4 Ne6 32. Be5 $14) 25. e4 Rab8 26.
b5 dxe4 (26... cxb5 27. Bg3 (27. e5 $2 b4 $17) (27. Qb4 $1) 27... Ra8 28. e5
Nh5 29. Nxd5 Nxg3 30. hxg3 Qd8 $13) 27. fxe4 cxb5 28. Qb4 $1 $44 Qxb4 (28...
Ra8 29. Qxf8+ Kxf8 30. e5 Ng4 31. Nxb5 Rab8 32. Nc3 Rxb1 33. Rxb1 Rb3 34. Rc1
Rb2 35. Bg3 Ne3 36. Bf2 Ng4 $10) 29. Rxb4 Ra8 30. Reb1 (30. Rxb5 Rxb5 31. Nxb5
Ra2 $10) 30... Ra3 31. Be1 (31. Nxb5 $2 Rd3 32. e5 Ne4 $17 {/\} 33. Rxc4 $2
Rxb5 $1 $19) 31... Nf8 32. Nxb5 (32. e5 $2 Rxc3 $1 33. Bxc3 Nd5 $17) (32. d5 $5
) 32... Rd3 33. e5 Nd5 34. Rxc4 Ne6 $10 35. Rcc1 Nxd4 36. Nxd4 Rxb1 37. Rxb1
Rxd4 38. Rb8+ Kh7 39. Rd8 Kg6 40. Bg3 Rd2 41. Rd6+ Kf5 42. Rd7 Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Knaak Kortschnoj Ftacnik Blatny,P} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5.
Be2 Nd7 6. O-O h6 {[%cal Yf5h7] If white plays Nf3-h4 black now has the
possibility Bf5-h7} (6... Ne7 {Kortschnoj} 7. Nh4 $5) (6... c5 {Kortschnoj}) 7.
b3 {[%csl Gc4] After 8.c4 dxc4 white wants to be able to take back with the
b-pawn.} (7. Nbd2 {Blatny,P} Ne7 8. Re1 Ng6 9. Nf1 Nh4 10. N3d2 Bh7 11. c3 Be7
12. Ng3 O-O 13. Ndf1 Kh8 14. Nh5 {Renet,O-Grotnes,N/Gausdal Troll/1992/}) (7.
c3 {Blatny,P} Qc7 8. a4 g5 9. Na3 f6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O-O 12. exf6 Ngxf6
13. Re1 {Anand,V-Timman,J/Paris Immopar/1991}) (7. c3 {Kortschnoj}) (7. Be3 $5
{Kortschnoj}) 7... Ne7 8. c4 (8. Ba3 {Blatny,P} g5 9. c3 Ng6 10. Bxf8 Rxf8 11.
Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 g4 13. Ne1 Qg5 {Benjamin,J-Hort,V/Manila ol/1992}) 8... Ng6 (
8... g5 $5 {Blatny,P} 9. Nc3 Bh7 10. Ne1 Ng6 $13 {Shirov-Brunner/Biel/1995/} (
10... Ng6 {Ftacnik} 11. Nd3 $6 (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nd3 Rc8 13. Bb2 f5 $13) 11...
dxc4 12. bxc4 c5 $1 $17 {1-0 Shirov,A-Brunner,L/Biel/1995 (45)})) (8... Nc8 9.
Nc3 Be7 10. Be3 a6 11. c5 {Tseitlin-Luce/Paris op/1995/} (11. c5 {Ftacnik} a5
12. a3 b5 13. Ne1 O-O 14. f4 f6 15. g4 Bh7 16. Nf3 fxe5 17. fxe5 Rf7 18. Qd2
Nf8 19. Rf2 Be4 20. Raf1 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Rxf3 22. Rxf3 Bg5 23. Bd3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3
Ne7 {1-0 Tseitlin,MD-Luce,S/Paris op/1995/ (48)})) 9. Na3 {[%cal Ya3c2,Yc2e3,
Ye3f5] In the lines where blacks doesn't play 6. - h6 white irritates Bf5 with
Nf3-h4. Now the idea is to irritate Bf5 by Na3-c2-e3.} (9. h3 {Blatny,P} dxc4 (
9... h5 {Ftacnik} 10. Be3 Be7 11. a3 dxc4 12. bxc4 c5 13. Nc3 O-O 14. d5 Ndxe5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nd7 17. Bxh5 Nb6 18. Qf3 Nxc4 19. Rad1 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Bf6
21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. dxe6 Bd4 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. Qxd4 cxd4 {
1/2-1/2 Tkachiev,V-Adams,Mi/Wijk/1995/ (29)}) 10. bxc4 c5 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4
Ngxe5 13. Nxf5 exf5 14. Nb5 $40 {Kaminski-Sapis/Poland/1995/} (14. Nb5 Bc5 15.
Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qe7 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 18. Ba3+ Kd8 19. Rad1 {1-0 Kaminski,
M-Sapis,W/POL-chT Lubniewice (06)/1995/ (56)})) (9. Be3 {Ftacnik} Bb4 10. a3
Be7 11. Nc3 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. g4 Bh7 14. f4 f6 15. f5 exf5 16. e6 Nb6 17.
gxf5 Bg5 18. Qd3 O-O 19. Bf2 Bf4 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 {1-0 Savon,V-Guliev,S/
Orel/1992/ (35)}) 9... Nf4 (9... Be7 {Kortschnoj} 10. Ne1 $1 $16 (10. Nc2 O-O
11. Ne3 $14)) 10. Bxf4 Bxa3 {[%cal Ra3b2]} 11. Bd3 Bg4 (11... Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Qe7
(12... Be7 $14 {Kortschnoj}) 13. c5 Bb4 14. a3 Ba5 15. b4 Bd8 16. b5 Nb8 17.
Rab1 O-O 18. Rb3 $16 {() Xie Jun-Hort,V/Prague/1995}) 12. Rb1 {[%csl Ra3][%cal
Yb3b4,Yb1b3] /\b3-b4, Tb1-b3 ץa3} Be7 (12... c5 {Blatny,P} 13. h3 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 $14 (14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. cxd5 $16)) 13. h3 Bh5 (13... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 14.
Qxf3 Qa5 $14) 14. Qe2 {()} (14. g4 {Blatny,P} Bg6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 {<->f}) 14...
O-O 15. Qe3 a5 $4 {Blacks has fallen asleep. Maybe he only thougt of Qe2-e3 as
a way to get out of the pin h5-e2.} (15... Bxf3 {Blatny,P} 16. Qxf3 Bg5 17. Bh2
{/\f4->}) (15... Bg6 $142 $1 $14 {Kortschnoj}) 16. cxd5 cxd5 (16... exd5 {
Blatny,P} 17. Bxh6 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 gxh6 19. Qf5 $18) 17. Bxh6 $16 Bxf3 (17...
gxh6 18. Qxh6 Bg6 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Qxe6+ $18 {
[%cal Ye6d5] White will have five Ps for the piece. Not bad.}) 18. gxf3 (18.
Bxg7 {Blatny,P} Kxg7 19. Qxf3 Rg8 $13 (19... Rh8 $15 {Ftacnik})) 18... Bh4 {
Blacks only hope is whites bad pawn strukture. If he could set up a blokade
with full control over f5 he would be okay. However there is no reason why
white should withdraw his forces} (18... gxh6 19. Qxh6 f5 20. Kh1 $18 (20.
Qxe6+ Kg7 21. Kh1 $18)) (18... f5 $142 $1 {Knaak: ist nicht ohne weiteres zu
widerlegen, z.B.} 19. exf6 (19. Bf4 $6 g5) 19... Rxf6 20. Bg5 Rf7 {Es folgt
dann noch Nf8, und im Gegensatz zur Partie, in der Schwarz chancenlos war,
könnte die ruinierte weiße Bauernstellung eine Rolle spielen.}) 19. Kh1 {
[%cal Yf1g1,Yg1g8] /\Rg1} f5 $8 20. Rg1 (20. exf6 $16 {Kortschnoj}) 20... Rf7
21. Bxg7 $1 (21. Rg6 {Blatny,P} Kh8 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Rxg5 f4 24. Rh5+ $16)
21... Rxg7 22. Qh6 {The queen is hitting too many targets: Rg7, Bh4 and Pe6.}
Bg5 (22... Qe7 {Blatny,P} 23. Rxg7+ Qxg7 24. Rg1 $18) 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 (23... Kf8
{Blatny,P} 24. Qxf5+ Kg8 25. f4 $18) 24. Qxf5 {The opposite colour bishops
favour the attacker and the knight is no match for 4 white pawns.} (24. f4 $1 {
I like this move better than the game.}) 24... Qe7 25. Qg4 {[%cal Yg4h5,Yf3f4]
/\Dh5+, f3-f4} Nxe5 (25... Kg8 {Blatny,P} 26. f4 Bh6 27. Qh5 Rxg1+ 28. Rxg1+
Bg7 29. Bh7+ Kf8 30. Qf5+ Ke8 (30... Qf7 {Ftacnik} 31. Qxf7+ Kxf7 32. e6+) 31.
Qg6+ Kf8 32. Rg5 $18) (25... Qe8 {Ftacnik} 26. f4 Bh6 27. Qh4 Rh7 28. Bxh7 Kxh7
29. f5 $18) (25... Rf8 {Kortschnoj} 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. h4 Bxh4 28. Rxg7+ $18) 26.
dxe5 Qxe5 27. Rbe1 Qf4 (27... Qf6 {Ftacnik} 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. f4 (29. Re8+ Rxe8
30. Qxe8+ Qf8 31. Bh7+ Rxh7 32. Rxg5+ Rg7 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qxf8+ Kxf8 35. Kg2
$18) 29... Qxf4 (29... Bh6 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Qf8 32. Qe6+ Qf7 33. Qxh6
$18) 30. Rxg5 Rxg5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qh6+ Kf7 33. Bg6+) 28. Qh5+ Kg8 (28... Bh6
{Blatny,P} 29. Re8+ $18) 29. Rxg5 $1 Rxg5 (29... Qxg5 {Ftacnik} 30. Re8+) 30.
Qh7+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Kf7 (31... Kg8 32. Bh7+ Kh8 33. Bg6+ (33. Bf5+ {Kortschnoj}
Kg8 34. Be6+ $18) 33... Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh8#) 32. Bg6+ {Timman handed the
point to Topalov on a plate.} (32. Bg6+ {Ftacnik} Kf6 33. Be8+ Kf5 34. Bd7#)
1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O d6 7. b3 $5
Nbd7 8. Bb2 Be7 9. d4 O-O $6 (9... cxd4 $142 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qc7 12. e3
$5 a6 13. f4 O-O 14. Qf3 Rac8 (14... Rfe8 15. g4 g6 16. Rad1 Rac8 17. g5 Nh5
18. Ne4 Bf8 19. Rd2 Nc5 20. Nf2 f5 21. gxf6 Nxf6 22. Ne2 Qf7 23. Ng3 b5 24.
cxb5 axb5 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Nge4 $16 {Petursson,M-Pira,D/Torcy op/1991/}) 15.
g4 Nc5 (15... Nb8 16. g5 Nfd7 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. h4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxc6
Rxc6 21. Rd2 Rec8 22. Rfd1 b5 23. Ne4 bxc4 24. Nxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6
$16 {Yuferov,S-Yagupov,I/Moscow/1989/}) 16. g5 Nfd7 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. h4 Bf8
19. Rd2 Nb8 20. Rfd1 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qxc6 Rxc6 23. Ba3 Be7 24. Bxc5 bxc5
25. Ne4 Rd8 26. Kf3 Kf8 27. Kg4 Ke8 28. f5 exf5+ 29. Kxf5 $16 {[%csl Rd5,Rd6,
Re7] ><d5,d6,Be7,Andersson,U-Sokolov,A/Bilbao/1987/ Andersson shows White's
plan in an ideal form. With White's pawn only on e3 and possibile K-side
expansion (f4,g4-g5) hisa chances are somewhat better even against more
accurate play. But Topalov's move is clearly worse and gives White a strong
initiative.}) 10. d5 $1 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Ge4,Ge5] ()[+]} (10. e3 {Kramnik} Ne4 $1
$10) 10... exd5 (10... e5 11. Ne1 {[%cal Ye1d3,Ye2e4,Yf2f4] /\Nd3,e4,f4|^}) 11.
Nh4 (11. Ne1 {[%cal Re1c2,Rc2e3] /\Nc2-e3} Rb8 $1 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5
14. Qxd5 Bf6 $10) (11. cxd5) 11... g6 12. cxd5 $1 $36 (12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Bxh4 (14... Bf6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Qf3 $14 {[%cal Yh4g2,Yg2f4]
><d6,/\Ng2-f4}) 15. gxh4 Qxh4 16. Qxd6 Qg4+ 17. Qg3 (17. Kh1 Qe4+ 18. f3 Qxe2
$15) 17... Qxg3+ (17... Qxe2 18. Qc3 f6) 18. hxg3 Rad8 19. Rad1 Rfe8 $10) 12...
Ne8 13. f4 $1 Nc7 {Now and later on accepting the pawn sacrifice is extremely
risky: White's Bb2 without an opponent will be very strong.} (13... Bxh4 14.
gxh4 Qxh4 15. e4 $44 {[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Rb2h8] גa1-h8,>>} (15. Qd2 {
Kramnik} Qe7 16. e4 f6 17. Rae1 Ng7 18. Bh3 $44)) 14. e4 b5 15. e5 $1 {[%cal
Re5d6,Rc3e4] /\ed6,Ne4} (15. Nf3 $5 {Kramnik}) 15... f5 $8 (15... dxe5 $2 16.
d6 $18) (15... Bxh4 16. gxh4 $16 (16. exd6 $6 Ne8 $1 17. gxh4 Nxd6 $13) 16...
dxe5 $2 17. d6 Bxg2 18. dxc7 Qxc7 19. Kxg2 $18) 16. a4 $1 (16. Rf2 {Kramnik}
Nb6 17. Rd2 b4 18. Ne2 c4 $132) (16. Ne4 $5 {Kramnik} fxe4 (16... dxe5 $5) 17.
Nxg6 hxg6 18. Qg4 $40) 16... b4 (16... bxa4 $142 {[%cal Yd7b6] /\Nb6+/-}) (
16... a6 $2 {Kramnik} 17. a5 $1 b4 18. Na4 Nb5 19. e6 Nf6 20. Nb6 $18) 17. Nb5
Nxb5 18. axb5 Qb6 (18... Nb6 {Kramnik} 19. Qe2 $1 {/\ 20.Rad1}) 19. Re1 $1 Qxb5
(19... dxe5 20. fxe5 c4+ 21. Kh1 $1 c3 22. Bc1 $16) (19... c4+ 20. Bd4 Qxb5 21.
bxc4 Qxc4 22. Rc1 Qb5 23. exd6 $5 Bf6 (23... Bxd6 24. Re6 $1 $40) 24. Rc7 $5
$40) 20. Bf1 (20. exd6 $6 Bf6 $1 $13) 20... Qb6 21. Bc4 {White's pawn
sacrifice gave him total central control, he can now prepare an attack against
Black's K without any real interference.} Qd8 (21... Rae8 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. Re6
$40) 22. exd6 (22. Nf3 $5 {Kramnik}) 22... Bf6 $8 (22... Bxd6 23. Re6 Nf6 (
23... Nb6 24. Nxg6 $1 $18) 24. Be5 $1 Bxe5 (24... Ne8 25. Nxg6 $40) 25. fxe5
Bxd5 (25... Nxd5 {Kramnik} 26. Rd6 $18) 26. Rxf6 $18) (22... Bxh4 23. gxh4 Qxh4
24. Re7 Rf7 25. Qe2 {[%cal Re2e6] /\Qe6} Qg4+ 26. Qxg4 fxg4 27. Bb5 Nb6 28.
Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Bc6 $18) 23. Qd2 (23. Be5 $6 Nb6 {/\ 24...Nc8}) 23... Bxb2 (23...
Nb6 24. Re6 $1 Bc8 (24... Bxb2 25. Qxb2 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxg6 $1 Rf6 28.
Ne7+ $18) 25. Bxf6 Rxf6 26. Rae1 Bxe6 27. dxe6 Nxc4 28. bxc4 $18 {Kramnik}) 24.
Qxb2 Qf6 25. Qf2 Nb6 (25... Qxd6 26. Re6 Qb8 27. d6 $18) (25... Rfe8 {Kramnik}
26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Rxa7) 26. Rad1 (26. Qxc5 $2 {Kramnik} Rac8 $132) 26... Rfe8
(26... Nxc4 27. bxc4 Qxd6 28. Re6 Qd7 (28... Qc7 29. Qe3 Rf7 30. Nf3 $1 $18)
29. Qxc5 {[%cal Re6e7,Rc5b4] /\Qb4,Re7-+}) 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxc5 $18 Qc3 (
28... Rd8 {Kramnik} 29. Qxb4 $1 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 Rxd6 31. Ng2 $1 Kg7 32. Ne3 $18)
29. Ng2 Re2 (29... Rc8 30. d7 $1 Nxd7 31. Qe7 $18) (29... Qc2 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31.
Nxe1 Qd2 32. Nf3 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 $18) 30. d7 $1 {smoothly deals with Black's
counterplay.} Nxd7 31. Qb5 {Attacking three pieces at once.} Rxg2+ 32. Kxg2
Qc2+ 33. Be2 Nb6 34. Kf2 Kg7 (34... Qxb3 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qe7+ $18) 35. d6 {
[%cal Rd6d7] /\d7} Bc6 36. Qxb4 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Qe2 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
O-O Nc6 9. a3 Bd6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bd3 b5 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Bb7 14. Rd1 f5
15. Bb1 Qc7 16. a4 bxa4 17. Rxa4 Nb4 18. e4 a5 19. h3 Bc5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3
Rad8 22. Rc1 f4 23. Qc3 Qxc3 24. bxc3 Nd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Ne5 Rd2 27. Rb1 Ba8
28. f3 Rc2 29. c4 Rd8 30. Rxa5 h6 31. Ng6 Bc6 32. h4 Rxc4 33. Nxf4 Kf7 34. Rb6
Rd7 35. h5 Rb7 36. Rba6 Kf6 37. Kh2 Rc3 38. Ra8 Ke7 39. Rg8 Kf6 40. Ng6 Rf7 41.
Ne5 Rc7 42. Rf8+ Ke7 43. Rf7+ 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Gelfand Hecht} Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7.
O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 Kh8 12. Rc1 Nf6 13. f3 c6 14.
Be3 a6 $1 {Ein sehr feiner Zug, der die Spannung aufrecht hält. Weiß muß ein
Tempo für das eher nutzlose b4 aufwenden.} (14... f4 {Schwarz legt es auf den
typischen Wettlauf zwischen Königsflügel - und Damenflügelangriff an.} 15. Bf2
c5 (15... g5 16. b4 Ng6 17. Nb2 cxd5 18. cxd5 Rg8 19. Kh1 Bf8 20. Nb5 g4 21.
fxg4 Nxe4 22. Nc7 Nxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rb8 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 d5 $13 {Ragozin,
E-Ehlvest,J/Linares op (05) ;TD 94\02 1994}) 16. b4 cxb4 17. Nxb4 b6 18. a4 g5
19. a5 Rg8 20. Ra1 bxa5 21. Nc6 Qd7 22. c5 $16 {Ehlvest,J-Van Wely,L/New York
op (08) ;EXP 40 1994}) (14... cxd5 {Auch hier gibt Schwarz die Spannung zu
früh auf.} 15. cxd5 Neg8 16. Nf2 Bh6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Nb5 Nh5 19. Nc7 Rb8 20.
Qc2 Nf4 21. g3 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 f4 $13 {Nikitin,Y-Zaitsev,I/URS-ch36 Alma Ata 
(09) ;URS-ch 1968}) 15. b4 cxd5 16. cxd5 Bd7 17. Nb2 (17. a4 $5 {[%csl Gb6]
[%cal Ya4a5]}) 17... b5 18. a4 bxa4 19. Nbxa4 Rb8 20. Rb1 fxe4 21. fxe4 Neg8 $1
{[%cal Rg8h6,Yg7h6,Yh6e3] Schwarz koordiniert seine Figuren. Die Idee ist
Abtausch des schlechten Läufers mittels ...Bh6.} 22. Qd3 (22. Bxa6 $5 Ng4 (
22... Bxa4 23. Nxa4 Nxe4 24. b5) 23. Qd2 (23. Bd2 Qh4) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6
{gibt Schwarz sicherlich Kompensation für den Bauern.}) 22... Bh6 23. Kh1 Bxe3
24. Qxe3 Ng4 25. Rxf8 Qxf8 26. Bxg4 Bxg4 $10 {Schwarz hat keine Problem mehr,
aber Weiß sollte eigentlich auch keine haben. Irgendetwas ist in den nachsten
Zügen schiefgelaufen.} 27. h3 Bd7 28. Nb6 (28. Qa7 $142 {Gelfand}) 28... Qd8
29. Nxd7 Qxd7 30. Qd3 Qa7 31. b5 axb5 32. Rxb5 Rxb5 33. Nxb5 {[%csl Re4] Hecht:
DS-DS: weiße Bauernschwäche e4, später Bauern- und Felderschwächen am weißen
Königsflügel, Lavieren, Technik, Springergewinn} Qc5 $17 {[%csl Re4][%cal
Yb5c3,Yc3e2,Ye2g3,Yg2g4,Yd3f3] Es ist überraschend, daß Weiß in dieser
Stellung Probleme hat. Der Anziehende würde gerne die Defensivaufstellung Qf3,
Ng3, Pg4 erreichen, aber Schwarz hindert ihn daran.} 34. Nc3 Nf6 35. Qf3 Kg7
36. g4 (36. Ne2 Qc4 37. Ng3 h5 {[%cal Yh5h4,Rh4g3] /\ ...h4}) (36. Kh2 {
Hecht oder 36.Sd1 mit dem Plan g3,Sf2 und Kg2 =}) 36... Qa3 $1 37. Kg2 Qb2+ 38.
Kg1 (38. Ne2 Qc2 {[%csl Re4]}) 38... Qc1+ 39. Kg2 Qd2+ 40. Kf1 h6 41. Ne2 (41.
Kg1 Nh7 {[%cal Yh7g5,Rg5f3,Rg5h3] /\ ...Ng5}) 41... Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qc2 43. Ke3
Qb1 44. Ng3 Qe1+ 45. Kd3 Qg1 {[%csl Re4,Rh3][%cal Rf6d7,Rd7c5,Rf6h7,Rh7g5]
Weiß hat Dame und Springer koordiniert, aber nun steht der König schlecht. [#]}
46. h4 (46. Qe3 $5 {Hecht}) (46. Ne2 $5 {Hecht}) (46. Nf1 $2 {Hecht} Qd4+) (46.
Ke2 {Hecht} Qh2+) 46... Qb1+ 47. Ke2 Qc2+ 48. Kf1 (48. Ke1 $142 $10 {Gelfand})
48... Qc8 49. h5 (49. g5 hxg5 (49... Qh3+ {Hecht} 50. Ke2 hxg5 51. hxg5 Nh7 $19
) 50. hxg5 Nh7) 49... Nxg4 50. Qe2 Qc1+ 51. Kg2 Qf4 52. hxg6 Kxg6 53. Qf3 Kg5
54. Nf5 Qd2+ 55. Kg1 h5 56. Ng7 (56. Nxd6 {Hecht} Qc1+ 57. Kg2 Qc2+ 58. Kg1
Qc5+ $19) 56... Qc1+ 57. Kg2 Qb2+ 58. Kg1 Qa1+ 59. Kg2 Qa2+ (59... Qa2+ 60. Kg1
Qa7+ {[%cal Ra7g7,Ra7g1]}) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.04.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Piket} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Ne7 13. c4 (13. Nf1) 13...
c6 (13... Nd7 14. Bc2 c6 15. b3 Rc8 16. Nf1 Qc7 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bd2 Bg7 19. Rc1
$14 {Anand,V-Deshmukh,A/Calcutta/1992}) 14. Bc2 bxc4 15. dxc6 Nxc6 16. Nxc4 Nd4
$5 {N} (16... h6 17. Bd2 Rc8 18. Rc1 Nd4 19. Ba4 $14 {Ermenkov-Lukacs/Albena/
1985}) 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bg5 (18. Qxd4 $2 d5 $15) 18... d5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. e5
Qh6 21. Nd2 (21. Na5 $5 Bb4 22. Nxb7 Bxe1 23. Qxe1 Qc6 24. Bxh7+ Kxh7 25. Nd6
Re7 26. Qd2 $44) 21... Bb4 22. Re2 Bxd2 23. Qxd2 Qxd2 24. Rxd2 Rxe5 25. b4 $1
a5 $6 (25... Rc8 $142) 26. b5 {[%cal Yb5b8]} Rc8 27. Bd3 Kf8 28. Bf1 Ke7 (28...
Rc3 $1 29. Rxd4 Re4 $10 {Piket}) 29. Rxd4 Re4 30. Rd3 Kd6 31. Ra3 a4 32. Rb1 g6
33. f3 Rd4 34. Bd3 Kc5 35. Bf1 Kb6 36. Rb2 f5 37. Re3 Rd1 38. Kf2 Rdc1 39. Re6+
Ka5 40. Bd3 a3 41. Rb3 $18 R8c3 42. Rxc3 Rxc3 43. Ke3 Rb3 44. Kd4 Rb2 45. Re2
f4 46. Kc5 Rxe2 47. Bxe2 g5 48. b6 h5 49. Bb5 d4 50. Bd3 h4 51. Bf1 Ba8 52. Bc4
Bb7 53. Bd3 Bc8 54. Be4 Ka6 55. Kc6 Ka5 56. Bd3 Kb4 57. Kc7 Kc5 58. Bf1 1-0

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.28"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O b6 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. c3 Be7 12. h4 c5 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. Neg5 Nf6
15. Qc2 h6 16. Rde1 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Bxc5 18. Ne5 Bd6 19. f4 Rad8 20. Qe2 Nd5 21.
Bc2 Rfe8 22. Qe4 f5 23. Qf3 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Qc4 25. Kb1 Qf4 26. Qe2 Rc8 27. Rh3
Red8 28. Rf1 Qc4 29. Bd3 Qa4 30. Bb5 Qa5 31. Bc4 b5 32. Bb3 b4 33. cxb4 Qxb4
34. a3 Qb6 35. Rd1 Nf4 36. Rxd8+ Rxd8 37. Qf3 Nxh3 38. gxh3 Rb8 39. Ka2 f4 0-1

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.28"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 g6 8. Nf3 Bg7
9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nxb6 11. Bf4 Ne8 12. h3 Nc7 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Bh6 f5 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. b4 Nd7 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Qd4+ Kg8 19. e5 Rc8 20. Rad1 Ne8 21. Rfe1 Ng7
22. Bf1 Rc7 23. Rc1 Qc8 24. exd6 exd6 25. Ng5 Re8 26. Qh4 Nh5 27. Rxe8+ Qxe8
28. Qb4 Qe7 29. Nf3 Nf6 30. Re1 Qd7 31. Ng5 Rc8 32. Qd4 Qg7 33. Ne6 Nxe6 34.
Rxe6 Nxd5 35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. Nxd5 Bxd5 37. Rxd6 Bxa2 38. Rxa6 Rc2 39. g3 Rb2
40. Bg2 h5 41. h4 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Rb2 43. Kg1 Bc4 44. Rc6 Be2 45. Rc7+ Kh6 46. Bd5
Rb8 47. Re7 Bd1 48. f4 Rd8 49. Bc4 Bc2 50. Kf2 Be4 51. Ke3 Rc8 52. Kd4 Bc2 53.
Bd5 Rd8 54. Ke5 Bb1 55. Bf7 Bc2 56. Kf6 Bb1 57. Re8 Rd6+ 58. Re6 Rd8 59. Re8
Rd6+ 60. Be6 Kh7 61. Re7+ Kh6 62. Re8 Kh7 63. Kg5 Kg7 64. Rg8+ Kh7 65. Rxg6 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Salov, Valery"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Bologan} Nf6 2. Bg5 {It is Valeri's style to avoid the main theoretical
lines and to transpose the game into silent and peaceful positions with a
small advantage for him. Especialy it works against active and dinamic players
as Vesselin is. Even in the tournament in Buenos-Aires 1994, where the
participants were obliged to play the open Sicilian he managed after 1.e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.f3!? to close it.} e6 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bh4 g5 $5 {
Ultra-sharp and typical for Topalov. More solid is In his game against
Miladinovic (Beograd 95) Topalov had chosen the simpliest plan with developing
the bishop on 'b7' without playing 'g5'.} (4... c5 5. e3 b6 6. c4 (6. Nc3 cxd4
7. exd4 Bb7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Ne4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. c3 d6 13. Bc2
Nd7 14. Qd3 g6 15. Rfe1 Re8 16. Rad1 Nf6 17. Ng3 Bf8 18. h4 Bg7 19. h5 g5 20.
Nh2 Qc7 21. Bb1 Kf8 22. f3 d5 $10 {Rozentalis,E-Vyzhmanavin,A/Leningrad ch-SU/
1990/}) 6... Bb7 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. h3 a6 12.
Rfd1 Rc8 13. Bg3 cxd4 14. exd4 Re8 15. Bh2 d5 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Ne5 b5 18. a3
Nb6 19. Bf3 Bd6 20. Rac1 Rc7 21. Re1 Ne4 $1 $15 {Wockenfuss,K-Vyzhmanavin,A/
Ostende op/1991/}) 5. Bg3 Ne4 6. Nbd2 Nxg3 7. hxg3 Bg7 8. c3 (8. e3 d6 9. c3 (
9. Bd3 Nc6 10. c3 Qe7 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. g4 Rdf8 14. Nf1 f5 15. d5
Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. dxe6 Qxe6 18. Bxf5 Qxa2 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. f3 a5 21. Nd2
b5 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. Nxb3 a4 24. Nd4 Rb8 25. Kc2 $10 {1/2,Tseitlin,MS-Levitt/
Polanica Zdroj/1988/}) 9... Nd7 (9... Nc6 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. Qc2 (11. Qe2 Bd7 12.
g4 Qf8 13. Ne4 f5 14. gxf5 exf5 15. Ng3 O-O-O 16. O-O-O f4 17. exf4 Qxf4+ 18.
Qd2 Qf7 19. b3 Rhf8 20. Rdf1 Rde8 21. Ne1 Ne7 22. Nc2 Ng6 23. Nh5 Nf4 $10 {
Eiber,M-Veselovsky,S/Pardubice op/1994/}) 11... Bd7 12. g4 Qf8 13. O-O-O O-O-O
14. Nc4 Kb8 15. e4 Ne7 16. Ne3 c5 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Qb3 Qe8 19. Bb5 $1 Bc6 20.
a4 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nc8 22. Nc4 Bxb5 23. Qxb5 $16 {Meduna,E-Prandstetter,E/
TrenTep ch-CS/1985/}) 10. Qc2 a6 11. Bd3 Qe7 12. a4 b6 13. Be4 d5 14. Bd3 c5
15. O-O Bb7 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Be2 h5 18. Nd4 g4 19. f4 gxf3 20. Bxf3 Qg5 $40 {
Scheller-Razuvaev/Oberwart/1991/}) 8... d6 9. e4 {The most dangerous. The
passive 9.e3 gives Black some chances for surviving.} a6 $146 {Perhaps the
Bulgarian grandmaster was afraid after 9...b6 to get the check on "b5", but I
don't think that this is enough reason to lose the tempo in the beginning of
the game. Another plan was connected with 9...Nc6,Qe7,Bd7.} (9... c5 $6 10.
dxc5 (10. Bb5+ $5 Nd7 11. d5 $36) 10... dxc5 11. Qc2 O-O 12. e5 Qe7 13. Ne4 Nd7
14. Nexg5 f5 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Ne4 Bd7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Bd3 Bc6 19. Be4 Bxe4
20. Qxe4 $16 {Onat,I-Taimanov,M/WchS Wildbad/1993/}) (9... Qe7 10. Bd3 Nc6 11.
Qb3 a6 12. O-O-O b5 13. Rhe1 Bd7 14. d5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Nf1 Qc5 17. Ne3
a5 18. dxe6 fxe6 19. Be2 h5 20. Bxh5+ $1 Rxh5 21. Rxd7 Kxd7 22. Qd1+ Kc6 23.
Qxh5 $18 {Tseitlin,MS-Stempin,P/Polanica Zdroj/1989/}) (9... Nd7 10. Qb3 a6 11.
Bd3 Qe7 12. Nc4 g4 13. Nh4 b5 14. Ne3 c5 15. Nhf5 $1 exf5 16. Nxf5 c4 17. Qa3
Qf6 18. Nxd6+ Kd8 19. e5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qxe5+ 21. Be4 Kc7 22. O-O-O b4 23. Qxb4
Be6 24. Qb7+ {1-0,Berend,F-Lempert,I/EUCup Vilnius/1995/}) 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. Qe2
Qe7 {[#]} 12. Nc4 $14 {White doesn't commit his K yet and moves his pieces to
better squares. Black's position is rather cramped and White's space advantage
and central control somewhat outweigh Black's B-pair. Compare to Adams-Topalov,
Madrid 1996, where Topalov had more pressure against the center and his B were
not so passive. Until now Salov played some regular moves as anybodyelse would
do. Nc4 looks already a little bit deepper, it is connected with very flexible
dislocation of his knights on the central squares "e3" and "d2".} b6 13. Ne3
Bb7 14. a4 Kf8 {Losing the right to castle. May be the best chance for black
was 14...Nf6.} (14... c5 15. d5 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Nc4 $1 $36 {[%csl Rb6,
Rh6] ׻<<}) 15. Nd2 c5 16. d5 Ne5 17. Bc2 a5 $6 {><b5,c4 Activates the Bb7,
but seriously weakens the Q-side.} (17... Qc7 18. dxe6 fxe6 19. Bb3 Re8 20. f4
$40) (17... Re8 $142 $5 $14 {<=>}) 18. Bb3 Ba6 19. Ndc4 f5 $2 {A tactical
mistake, after which Black's position becomes critical. As I said before
Vesselin is a good tactician and even in such strategically hopeless positions
he founds some tactical counterchances.} (19... exd5 20. Nxd5 Qb7 21. f4 $16) (
19... Re8 $5 20. O-O-O $16 (20. dxe6 $6 Bxc4 (20... fxe6 $2 21. Nxe5 $1 Bxe2
22. Ng6+ $18) 21. Nxc4 fxe6 $14)) 20. Nxe5 $1 (20. exf5 $2 {Bologan} exf5 21.
Nxf5 Nd3+ 22. Kd2 Qxe2+ 23. Kxe2 Nxb2) (20. dxe6 {Bologan Another way to win.}
fxe4 (20... Qxe6 21. exf5 Qf6 22. Qd2 $18) 21. Nxe5 $18) 20... Bxe5 (20... Bxe2
$2 21. Ng6+) (20... dxe5 21. Bc4 $18) 21. Bc4 f4 (21... Bb7 22. exf5 $18) (
21... Bxc4 22. Nxc4 fxe4 (22... exd5 23. Nxb6 $18) 23. Qxe4 $1 exd5 24. Qxd5
Kg7 (24... Bxc3+ 25. Kf1 $18) 25. O-O-O $40 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6,Rg7] ><d6,b6,Kg7,+/
-/+-}) 22. gxf4 gxf4 (22... Bxc4 23. Nxc4 Bxf4 24. g3 $40) 23. Ng4 (23. Bxa6 $6
fxe3 $14 {^-}) 23... Bxc4 24. Qxc4 Bg7 $1 {Black must keep his B even at the
cost of material, otherwise he will have no counterplay at all.} (24... exd5
25. Qxd5 Re8 26. Rh5 $18) 25. dxe6 (25. Rh5 Qf7 $1 $132) 25... h5 (25... Re8 {
Bologan} 26. Rh5 $1 Qxe6 27. Qxe6 Rxe6 28. f3 Kf7 29. O-O-O Kg6 30. Rdd5 $18)
26. Qd5 (26. Nh2 Re8 $14) 26... Re8 27. Qf5+ $5 Kg8 28. Rxh5 Rxh5 29. Qxh5 Qxe6
30. O-O-O (30. f3 d5 31. O-O-O dxe4 $132 (31... d4 32. cxd4 Bxd4 33. Nh6+ Kf8
34. Qf5+ $18)) 30... Qxe4 31. Nh6+ $1 {Too simple. It will be didicult for
White to get use from the weakened psition of the Black's king.} (31. Rxd6 $2
Qe1+ 32. Kc2 Re2+ 33. Kb3 Rxb2+ $1 34. Kxb2 Qxc3+ $19) (31. Rxd6 $18 {Bologan})
31... Bxh6 $8 (31... Kh8 32. Nf5+ {[%cal Rf5d6] /\Nd6}) 32. Qxh6 $16 {ע
White's K is much safer, this gives him a large advantage.} Re6 (32... Qxg2 33.
Qxf4 d5 34. Qh4 $5 {[%cal Rd1h1] /\Rh1->}) 33. Qg5+ (33. Qh5 $5 $16) 33... Kf7
34. Rh1 {White has no any special threats til the rook must stay on the first
rank.Using this moment Black can go for some forced variations as 34...Rg6.}
Rf6 (34... Rg6 {Bologan} 35. Qd8 (35. Rh7+ Kg8 36. Qh4 Qe1+ 37. Kc2 Qe2+ $10)
35... Rxg2 36. Qxb6 (36. Qxd6 Rxf2 37. Qc7+ Kg8 38. Qc8+ Kf7 39. Qc7+ $10)
36... Rxf2 37. Qc7+ Kg8 38. Rg1+ Rg2 39. Qd8+ Kf7 40. Qd7+ Kg8 $10) 35. Qg4 {
[%cal Rg4d7] /\Qd7+-} Qf5 (35... Qe6 36. Rh7+ Ke8 37. Qh5+ (37. Qg7 Qe1+ 38.
Kc2 Qe2+ 39. Kb3 Qd1+ $10) 37... Kd8 38. Ra7 $40) (35... Ke7 $142 $5) 36. Qf3 {
Step by step White is getting back his advantage.Now Salov managed finaly to
settle his queen on good position on 'f3' from where it can attack both king
and queensides.} d5 (36... Rg6 37. Rh7+ Rg7 38. Rxg7+ Kxg7 39. g3 $16) 37. Rh5
Qe4 38. Rxd5 Qxa4 (38... Qxf3 39. gxf3 Ke6 40. Rh5 $18 {[%csl Rb6,Rf4][%cal
Rc1c2,Rc2b3,Rb3c4] ><b6,f4,/\Kc2-b3-c4} (40. Rh5 {Bologan} Kd6 41. Kc2 c4 $1
42. b3 cxb3+ 43. Kxb3 {There are very small chances for black to escape.})) 39.
Qh5+ (39. Qg4 $5 $40) 39... Ke6 40. Qe5+ Kf7 41. Qc7+ Kg6 42. Qc8 $5 Qa1+ 43.
Kc2 Qa4+ 44. Kc1 Qa1+ 45. Kc2 Qa4+ 46. Kd2 Qc6 47. Qg8+ Kh6 48. Qh8+ Kg6 49.
Qg8+ (49. Rh5 $5) (49. Qh5+ $1 Kg7 50. Rg5+ Rg6 (50... Kf8 51. Qh8+ Ke7 52.
Qh7+ Kd6 (52... Rf7 53. Re5+ Kd6 54. Qg6+ $18) 53. c4 $1 $18) 51. Rxg6+ Qxg6
52. Qxg6+ Kxg6 53. c4 Kf5 54. Kd3 a4 55. g3 $18) 49... Kh6 50. c4 $1 $18 Qe6
51. Qh8+ Kg6 52. Rh5 Qd7+ 53. Kc1 Qe7 54. Kb1 (54. Rh6+ Kg5 55. Qxf6+ $18)
54... Qe4+ (54... Rf8 55. Qh6+ Kf7 56. Qxf4+ $18) (54... Qg7 $2 55. Rg5+) 55.
Ka1 Re6 $2 (55... Qe7 56. Ka2 $18) 56. f3 (56. f3 Qe1+ 57. Ka2 {[%cal Rh8h7,
Rh5f5] /\Qh7,Rf5#}) 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 {Shirov
hat diemal keine Lust auf ein theoretisches Duell mit dem Drachenexprten
Topalov.} O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O {Kurze Rochade war ihm dann anscheinend doch
zu blöde.} Nxd4 (9... Ng4 $5 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. f3 Be6 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. Nde2 Rfc8
14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. Qxd5 Qa6 16. Qd2 Bxb2 17. Kxb2 Ne5 18. Ka1 Nc4 19. Qd3 Nxe3
20. Qxe3 Rxc2 21. Nc1 Rac8 22. Qb3 R8c3 23. Qb1 Rxg2 24. Rd3 Qc4 25. Rhd1 Rgc2
{0-1 Knezevic,B-Kahn,E/Budapest FS04 IM (05) ;EXT 95 1995}) 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. h4
$146 Qa5 12. Qg5 b5 $5 {Ein typisches Drachenmotiv: Tausche b-Bauer gegen
halboffene b-Linie.} (12... Qxg5+ 13. hxg5 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 $10) 13. Qxb5 Qc7
14. e5 (14. h5 Rfb8 $40) 14... Ne8 (14... Rfb8 $5) 15. exd6 Nxd6 16. Qc5 Qxc5
17. Bxc5 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Rfc8 19. Bxd6 exd6 20. Rxd6 Rxc3 21. h5 Rc5 22. Kb2 Rf5
23. Rb1 (23. Rb1 Rxf2 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 10. g5 Nh5 $1 $146 {B.Gelfand,+A.Huzman,1993} (10... b4 11. gxf6
bxc3 12. fxg7 Bxg7 13. bxc3 Qh4+ 14. Bf2 Qf4 15. Be2 O-O 16. Rg1 Qxh2 17. Qd2
Kh8 18. Be3 Qh4+ $13 {Saltaev,M-Zagrebelniy,S,1988,Tashkent}) 11. a4 (11. Nd5
Bxd5 12. Qxd5 Be7 13. Qd2 Nf4 $13) 11... bxa4 (11... b4 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. Qxd5
Be7 14. Na5 $1 $16) 12. Rxa4 Be7 13. Nd5 (13. Qd2 $5) 13... Bxg5 $5 (13... Bxd5
14. Qxd5 O-O 15. Qd2 Nf4 16. h4 Nb6 17. Rxa6 Rxa6 18. Bxa6 d5 19. O-O $14) (
13... O-O $5 14. Qd2 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nf4 (15... f5 $5) 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. h4 $13)
14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Nc7+ Ke7 16. Nxa8 Qh4+ (16... Rxa8 17. Qd2 Nf4 18. Nc1 $14)
17. Kd2 Qg5+ (17... Qf4+ $5 18. Ke2 $1 (18. Ke1 Rxa8 19. Nc1 Qh4+ 20. Kd2 Ng3
$17) 18... Rxa8 19. Qd2 Qh4 (19... Qf6 20. Qe3 $13) (19... Nb6 20. Rb4 Bc4+ 21.
Kf2 Qh4+ 22. Kg1 Bxf1 23. Rxb6 $16) (19... Rb8 20. Rxa6) 20. Kd1 $14) (17...
Rc8 $5 18. c4 Rxa8 19. Qe1) (17... Rxa8 18. Qe1 Qg5+ 19. Qe3 Nf4 $13 20. Nc1
$14) 18. Ke1 (18. Kc3 Qe3+ (18... Rc8+ 19. Kb4 Bxb3 20. Rxa6 $13 (20. cxb3 Qe3)
) (18... Bxb3 19. cxb3 Qe3+ 20. Kc2) 19. Qd3 Rc8+ 20. Kb4 Qe1+ 21. Qd2 Rb8+ 22.
Kc3 Rc8+ 23. Kb4 $10) 18... Qh4+ 19. Kd2 Qg5+ 20. Ke1 Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 c6 6. Nf3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Nb6 12. Bf2 Bd7 13. e4 Ne7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15.
e5 Rfc8 16. Re1 Nc4 17. Qe2 {Novelty. It is not just new move it is a new plan.
White is trying to avoid the exchange on "c" file defending the knight on "c3"
in a little bit unusual way Rd1-d3.} Rc7 (17... b5 $5 18. Rad1 (18. b3 Nxe5 19.
Nxd5 Nf3+ $1 20. Bxf3 Nxd5 $13) 18... b4 19. Nb1 $14) 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Rd3 Nb6
$6 {Too slaw.} (19... b5 $5 20. g4 b4 21. Nd1 Na5 {Trying to create some
counterplay on the queenside.}) 20. g4 Na4 21. Qd2 $1 {It is very important to
keep the "c" file closed as long as White can.} Bf8 22. Rf3 b5 23. a3 a6 24.
Rf1 Rc6 (24... Nb6 25. Bh4 Nc4 26. Qf2 $16) 25. f5 $1 {Miguel is on top now
the temporary sacrifice of the pawn gives White the decisive attack.} exf5 (
25... gxf5 26. Bh4 Ng6 27. gxf5 Nxh4 28. Qg5+ Ng6 29. fxg6 fxg6 30. Nxd5 $1
exd5 31. Bh3 Qg7 32. Bxc8 Rxc8 33. Rf7 Qh8 (33... Qxf7 34. Rxf7 Kxf7 35. Qf6+
Ke8 36. Qxa6 $18) 34. Qg4 Re8 35. Qe6 Rxe6 36. Rxf8+ Kg7 37. R1f7+ Kh6 38. Rxh8
$18) 26. Bh4 Nb6 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. gxf5 Rd8 29. Qf2 Bh6 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rf7
Qg5 32. Kh1 Qe3 33. Nxd5 $4 {As we knew later this move costed Illescas the
clean victory in the 17 kategory tournament.} (33. Qh4 Qg5 34. Qh3 $16) 33...
Qxf2 {I think in this moment the spanish grandmaster realized that he has no
the intermediar check on 'e7' and the position turned from winning to lost.}
34. R7xf2 (34. Ne7+ Kxf7 $1) 34... Nxd5 35. Rf7 Rc1 36. Rxc1 Kxf7 37. Rc6 Nf4
38. Rc7+ Kg8 39. d5 Nxd5 40. Ra7 Nf4 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Na3
cxd4 9. Naxc4 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qb6 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. Qa4 O-O-O 13. Rd1 Be7 14.
Rxd4 Bc5 15. Rc4 Kb8 16. Kf1 e5 17. Bg5 Qxb2 18. Rcc1 Nb6 19. Qe4 Rd7 20. Rab1
Qd4 21. Qxd4 Bxd4 22. e3 h6 23. Bh3 hxg5 24. Bxd7 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Nxd7 26. Kg2 b6
27. Rb5 f6 28. Rc6 Re8 29. Rd5 Nc5 30. Kf3 Kb7 31. Rcd6 Kc7 32. Kg4 Rh8 33. h3
a5 34. Rd1 a4 35. a3 Ne4 36. Rd7+ Kc6 37. Kf3 f5 38. Kg2 Rc8 39. Rf7 Nc3 40.
Rc1 Kd5 41. Rxf5 Kc4 42. Rxg5 Kb3 43. Rxg7 Kxa3 44. h4 Kb2 45. Rf1 Rh8 46. Kh3
a3 47. Ra7 b5 48. g4 b4 49. g5 Rg8 50. Rg1 a2 51. Rg2+ Kb1 52. g6 b3 53. h5 b2
54. Ra3 $1 Rd8 (54... a1=Q $2 55. Rg1+ Kc2 56. Raxa1 bxa1=Q 57. Rxa1 $18) (
54... Nd1 55. Rd3 Nxe3 56. Rxe3 a1=Q 57. Re1+ Ka2 $13) (54... Ka1 55. Rxc3 b1=Q
56. Rcc2 $13) 55. Rxc3 $3 a1=Q 56. Rb3 $1 $18 Qa6 57. Rbxb2+ Kc1 58. Ra2 $1
Qe6+ 59. Kh2 Kb1 60. Rab2+ Kc1 61. Ra2 Kb1 62. Raf2 $1 Kc1 (62... Rd1 63. g7
Qg8 64. Rf8 $18) 63. g7 Qg8 64. Rf1+ Rd1 65. Rxd1+ Kxd1 66. h6 Ke1 67. Kg1 $1 {
/\ 68.h7} Qb3 68. g8=Q Qxe3+ 69. Kh1 Qxh6+ 70. Rh2 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Na6
9. Nd2 Ne8 10. O-O (10. a3 f5 11. f3 Bh6 $132) (10. h4 $5 f5 11. f3) 10... f5
11. f3 (11. exf5 gxf5 (11... Bxf5 $6 12. Nde4 $14) 12. f4 $6 (12. f3) 12...
exf4 13. Bxf4 Qb6+) 11... f4 12. Bf2 c5 13. a3 b6 (13... g5 14. g4 $5) 14. b4
h5 (14... cxb4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qb3 Na6 (16... a5 17. Na2) 17. Nb5 $44) 15.
bxc5 Nxc5 16. a4 $2 (16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 g5 18. Qd1) 16... a5 $1 17. Ra3 Bf6
18. Nb3 Rf7 19. Kh1 {[#]} Nc7 $1 {/\ Nc7-a6-b4} 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. Rg1 Na6 $17
22. g3 Rg7 23. Kg2 Raa7 24. Kf1 Nb4 25. Ke1 Raf7 26. Nb5 fxg3 27. hxg3 h4 28.
Kd2 hxg3 29. Rxg3 Bh4 30. Rg2 Bxf2 31. Rxf2 Qg5+ 32. Re3 Rf6 33. Rh2 Rh7 34.
Rxh7 Kxh7 35. Bf1 Qf4 36. Nc3 Bd7 37. Bg2 Kg7 38. Qg1 Qg5 39. Qf2 Rf4 40. Bf1
Rh4 41. Be2 Qf4 42. Qg1 Qh6 43. Bd1 Rh3 44. Qe1 Rh2+ $19 45. Ne2 Rh1 46. Qf2
Be8 47. Bb3 Rb1 48. f4 Qh1 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C76"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Be3
Nf6 9. Nbd2 O-O (9... Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Ne7 12. h3 Nh6 13. Bb3 b5 14. Qe2
c5 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. Rfd1 $16 {Vladimirov,E-Smyslov,V/EU-Cup Moscow-ZSKA 1990/
1-0 (56)}) 10. dxe5 (10. Re1 Qe8 $2 (10... b5 $142 11. Bc2 h6) 11. Bxc6 $1 Bxc6
12. dxe5 Nxe4 (12... dxe5 $2 13. Bc5 $16) 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. exd6 cxd6 15. Ng5
Bc6 16. Qxd6 $16 {1-0 Adams,M-Barbero,G/Buenos Aires Najdorf (05) 1991 (40)})
10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. f3 Bxa4 13. Qxa4 Qd3 $10 14. Rfe1 Rfd8 15. Qb3 Qb5
16. Nc4 Ne8 17. Rad1 Bf6 18. Bf2 Ng7 19. Ne3 (19. Qxb5 axb5 20. Na3 c6 21. Bb6
Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Be7 $13) 19... Qxb3 20. axb3 Ne6 21. Ng4 (21. Nd5 Bg5 $10) 21...
Bg7 22. Bh4 g5 23. Bf2 Nf4 24. g3 Nd3 25. Re2 Nxf2 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Kxf2 f6
28. Ne3 {White has secured a nice square for his knight on f5. But the
position is still fairly even. The black bishop is not that bad, moreover is
rook and bishop generally better than rook and knight.} Kf7 29. Rc2 Bf8 30. Ke2
h5 31. Rc1 Bh6 32. Nf5 Kg6 33. Rf1 (33. Rd1 Rxd1 34. Kxd1 g4 $10) 33... Rd7 34.
b4 Kh7 35. Ne3 Kg6 36. Nd5 Kf7 37. h3 c6 38. Nb6 Rd8 39. Nc4 Ke6 40. Na5 $6 (
40. g4 h4 41. Na5 Rb8 42. Rd1 Bf8 $10 {Optically promising for White, but what
to do?}) 40... g4 $1 {The bishop is alive!} (40... Rd7 $6 41. Rd1 Rc7 42. Rd8
$16) 41. Nb3 (41. fxg4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Rd2+ $10) 41... h4 $1 42. fxg4 (42. gxh4
$2 g3 $17) 42... hxg3 43. Nc5+ Ke7 44. Nd3 b6 45. Rf3 c5 (45... Bf4 46. Kf1 (
46. Nxf4 $2 exf4 47. Rxf4 Rd2+ $1 $17) 46... c5 47. bxc5 bxc5 48. Kg2 Rb8 $13)
46. bxc5 bxc5 47. Kf1 (47. Rxg3 c4 48. Nc5 Rd2+ 49. Kf1 Rxb2 50. Nxa6 Rb1+ $10)
47... a5 48. Nxc5 Rd1+ 49. Kg2 Bf4 50. b4 Rd2+ 51. Kf1 Rd1+ 52. Kg2 Rd2+ 53.
Kf1 Rd1+ 54. Kg2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Topalov} Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] A
sharp and unbalanced position. White has a lead in development and more space,
especially due to his proud pawn center. But Black's position is extremely
solid and his B-pair is a latent power.} d6 6. Qd2 g5 (6... g6 7. O-O-O Bg7 8.
f4 Qe7 (8... g5 9. g3 Nc6 10. e5 Qd8 11. d5 exd5 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Re1+ Kf8 14.
Qxd5 Qb4 15. Bc4 Be6 16. Rxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6 Qe7 18. Qf5+ Qf6 19. Qc5+ Ne7 20.
Nge2 b6 21. Qa3 Rd8 22. Rf1 g4 23. f5 Qc6 24. Qb3 $44 {Fernandez,SL-Ramesh,R/
Ubeda op/1996/}) 9. Nf3 a6 10. e5 d5 11. h4 h5 12. Ng5 Nc6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. g4
hxg4 15. Bxg4 O-O-O 16. h5 gxh5 17. Bxh5 f6 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. Ne2 Rdf8 20. Kb1
Ne7 21. Bg4 Bh6 22. Qe3 Nf5 23. Qe5 Qxe5 24. dxe5 Ne3 $15 {Lukasiewicz,G-Guex,
P/Geneva op/1996/}) (6... a6 $5 7. O-O-O Nd7 8. f4 g6 9. Nf3 Qe7 10. e5 d5 11.
h4 h5 12. Ng5 Nb6 13. g4 hxg4 14. Qg2 Bd7 15. Qxg4 O-O-O 16. h5 f5 17. Qg3 gxh5
18. Be2 Be8 19. Rh4 Bh6 20. Rg1 c5 21. Bxh5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5 Qxg5 23. Rxg5 cxd4
$36 {[%csl Rh5] ץh5,Dunnington,A-Lerner,K/Cappelle la Grande op/1996/}) (6...
c6 7. O-O-O (7. f4 $142 $13) 7... e5 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Kb1 Nd7 10. Ne2 Nf8 11. Qa5
Ng6 12. Ng3 Bd8 13. Qc3 O-O 14. d5 cxd5 15. Rxd5 Bb6 16. Qe1 Bg4 17. Rd2 Nf4
18. Ng1 Rac8 19. f3 Be6 20. N1e2 Rc6 $15 {Summerscale,A-Knezevic,B/Cannes op/
1996/}) 7. O-O-O Bg7 8. g3 (8. e5 dxe5 9. dxe5 Qe7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Nf3 Bd7 12.
h4 gxf4 13. Qxf4 O-O-O 14. Ne4 Nb8 $1 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Nf6 Nd7 17. Nh5 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Bxe5 19. Qe4 c6 20. Rxd7 Bxb2+ 21. Kxb2 Rxd7 22. Qe3 Rhd8 23. a3 Rd4 24.
g3 Qc5 $17 {Adams,M-Karpov,A/Las Palmas/1994/}) 8... Nc6 9. Nb5 (9. Bb5 $5 Bd7
10. Nge2 a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe3 (12. f4 O-O-O 13. Rhf1 Qg6 14. g4 Bxe4 15.
Ng3 d5 16. Ncxe4 dxe4 17. f5 exf5 18. Nxf5 Rhe8 19. Qg2 Bf8 20. Rfe1 Qe6 21.
Kb1 h5 22. h3 hxg4 23. hxg4 Qd5 24. Re3 Re6 25. Rde1 $44 {Hodgson,J-Gabriel,C/
Horgen-B/1995/}) 12... O-O-O 13. f4 Kb8 14. Rhf1 Qg6 15. Qd3 f5 16. exf5 Qxf5
17. Qc4 g4 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Qf7 20. Qb3 Rhe8 21. Nec3 $13 {Milov,
V-Chuchelov,V/Brussels op/1995/}) 9... Qd8 10. Ne2 (10. d5 $5 {is the crucial
try.} Ne7 (10... Ne5 $6 11. Qc3 $16) (10... exd5 $5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. Bg2 Nf5
13. Re1+ Kf8 14. Ne2 Qf6 15. c3 Bd7 16. Nbd4 Re8 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nd4 Bd7 19.
Re3 Rxe3 20. Qxe3 h5 21. Qf3 h4 22. Qxf6 Bxf6 23. Nc2 Be5 24. Kd2 f5 $36 {
[%csl Gd7,Ge5] _|_^^,Garcia,Rau-David,Al/Linares zt/1995/}) 11. f4 (11. Qa5 b6
12. Qa4 O-O $15 {[%cal Gh8a1] /^h8-a1,/\} 13. Qc4 a6 14. Nxc7 b5 $19) 11... a6
$13) (10. c3 $5 {Topalov} a6 11. Na3) 10... a6 11. Nbc3 b5 $5 {Black increases
the tension by diversions on both flanks (g5,b5). However, in the center his
position remains solid.} 12. Bg2 (12. d5 Ne5 {[%cal Re5c4] /\Nc4} 13. Nd4 g4 $5
$15) (12. f4 {Topalov} b4 13. Na4 Bd7) 12... Bb7 13. f4 {[%cal Rd4d5,Re4e5] /
\e5,d5} Ne7 $5 {This flexible retreat takes the sting out of White's threats.}
(13... Na5 {Topalov} 14. Rhg1 Nc4 15. Qd3) 14. h4 (14. fxg5 $6 hxg5 15. Qxg5 $4
Bh6) (14. Kb1 $142 $5 $13) (14. d5 Qd7 $1 $132 {[%cal Ye8c8,Yb5b4,Yd7b5] /
\0-0-0,b4,Qb5}) (14. Rhg1 $142) 14... g4 15. h5 $6 {This costs White too much
time and allows Black to build up an active position.} b4 16. Nb1 a5 17. Qe3
O-O $36 {Black's K is relatively safe behind his pawns on the K-side, White's
monarch on c1 can have more trouble from the advancing black pawns.} 18. Nd2 f5
$1 {/\ Ne7-f5} 19. Rhg1 fxe4 20. Bxe4 (20. Nxe4 Nf5 21. Qb3 (21. Qf2 Bxe4 $1
22. Bxe4 d5 $15) 21... Bd5 $17) 20... Nf5 21. Qb3 (21. Qd3 $2 Ba6 22. Nc4 d5
$19) (21. Qf2 $142 $5 Bxe4 (21... d5 $2 22. Bxf5 exf5 23. Nb3 $13) 22. Nxe4 Qe8
$5 $36 {[%cal Ye8b5,Re8h5,Ya5a4,Yb4b3] /\Qh5,Qb5,a4,b3->}) 21... d5 $1 22. Bxf5
exf5 {Now the central pawn structure is symmetrical, but due to the clumsy
positions of White's pieces the e-file will soon fall into Black's hands. Also
Black's B begin to play a major role on the open diagonals (a6-f1,a1-h8).} 23.
Rge1 Re8 $1 $17 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7,Rb3,Rd2,Re2][%cal Ge8e2] ^^,<->e,ףb3,Nd2,Ne2
White's Q and N are misplaced} 24. Nf1 (24. c4 $142 $5 Kh8 $17) 24... Ba6 (
24... Qf6 $142) 25. Ng1 Bc4 26. Qa4 Bxf1 (26... Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Bxd4 28. Nd2 Qf6
$1 29. Nxc4 dxc4 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Qf8 32. Qe6+ Qf7 $19) 27. Rxf1 Re6 $1
(27... Re3 28. Qc6 $132) 28. Qb3 (28. Rfe1 $1 {/\ 29.Re5!} Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Bxd4
30. Qc6 $1 $13) 28... c6 29. Rfe1 (29. Qd3 Qf6 30. Ne2 Rae8 31. Rf2 Re3 $19)
29... Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Bxd4 31. Ne2 Qe7 $1 $19 32. Kd1 Bf2 33. Rf1 Bc5 34. Qd3 Re8
35. Re1 (35. Nc1 $142) 35... Qe6 $22 (35... Qe4 $19) 36. c3 (36. Rf1 Qe3 $19)
36... bxc3 37. bxc3 d4 $1 38. cxd4 Bb4 39. d5 (39. Rf1 Qxa2 $40) 39... Qxd5 40.
Qxd5+ cxd5 {A strong B against passive N, extra pawn-the endgame is hopeless
for White.} 41. Rg1 Re3 42. Nc1 (42. Rg2 d4 $1 43. Nxd4 Rd3+ $19) 42... d4 43.
Nb3 a4 $1 (43... a4 44. Nc1 (44. Nxd4 Rd3+) 44... d3 {[%cal Rg8d5,Rd5f3,Rd3d2]
/\Kf7-e6-d5-e4-f3,d2-+}) 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4 13. a4 Be7
14. Nxd4 Qxd4 (14... Nxd4 {Wedberg} 15. axb5 (15. Ne4 O-O (15... Ne6 16. Be3
O-O 17. f4 Qxd1 18. Rfxd1 Rfb8 19. Rd7 Bf8 20. f5 $16 {1-0 Karpov,
An-Kortschnoj,V (18)/Wch30-Merano ;MAINB 1981 (41)}) 16. axb5 Nxb5 17. Be3 Qc8
18. Qc2 (18. Qd5 Rd8 19. Qc6 Qf5 20. f4 h5 21. h3 Rab8 22. Rfd1 $16 {Chandler,
M-Yusupov,A/Hastings-A1 ;TD 89\14 1989/1-0 (56)}) 18... Qe6 19. f4 f6 (19...
Rad8 20. Ra4 Rd7 21. Rfa1 Qd5 22. h3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Yusupov,A/
Hastings-A1 ;TD 89\14 1989 (36)}) 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. f5 Qe5 22. Bc5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Yusupov,A/Linares 1989 (32)}) 15... Nxb5 16. Qg4 (16. Qc2
O-O 17. Nf3 Nd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Qxc7 Bb4 20. e6 fxe6 21. Qc6 Qd6 22. Qe4 Bc5
23. Be3 Bxe3 {1/2-1/2 Kindermann,S-Mikhalchishin,A/Dortmund op-A (09) 1993})
16... O-O 17. Nf3 Qc8 18. Qg3 Qe6 19. Ra4 f5 20. Bg5 Rfe8 21. Bxe7 Rxe7 22. Ng5
Qd5 23. Nxh7 Qxe5 24. Qf3 Rd8 25. Ng5 $14 {Oll,L-Vucic,M/New York op (06) 1994/
1-0 (67)}) 15. axb5 {Until now this line was considered as equal but the way
Topalov won this game says that it is not so easy for Black to get back its
pawn.} Qxe5 16. bxa6 O-O {In this position White has many opportunities to
continue the game but nor 18.Nf3 neather 18.Qg4 does not give White any
advantage.} 17. Qa4 $1 (17. Nf3 Qb5 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. Rxa4 Nc5 20. Ra5 (20. Rc4
{Wedberg} Rxa6 21. Nd4 Ra4 22. Rxa4 Nxa4 23. b3 Nb6 24. Nb5 Nd5 25. Rd1 Rd8 26.
Ba3 Nf4 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Kf1 Ne6 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Sokolov,I/Leon (04) ;CBM
48 1995}) 20... Rxa6 $10 {Psakhis,L-Dolmatov,S/Frunze URS ch 1981.}) (17. Qg4
Qb5 18. Qc4 Rfb8 19. Ra2 Ra7 20. Rd1 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Rba8 22. Be3 Rxa6 23. Rxa6 {
1/2-1/2 DeFirmian,N-Timman,J/Biel 1995.}) (17. Re1 {Wedberg} Qb5 18. Qa4 Qxa4
19. Rxa4 Nc5 20. Ra3 Ne6 21. Ra1 Ra7 22. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Popovic,P-Grivas,E/Dubai
olm (02) ;TD 86\02 1986}) 17... Nc5 (17... Rfb8 18. a7 (18. Nf3 Qb5 19. a7 Rb7
20. Qxb5 Rxb5 21. Be3 Bf6 22. Ra2 Kf8 23. Nd2 Bd4 24. Nc4 Rb7 25. Rfa1 Bxe3 26.
fxe3 $14 {Hjartarson,J-Smejkal,J/BL 8990 (1990) ;BL 1990/1/2-1/2 (53)}) 18...
Rb7 19. Nf3 Qd5 20. Be3 Bc5 21. Rad1 Qb3 22. Qxb3 Rxb3 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. Nd4
Rb7 25. Nc6 $16 {Ehlvest J. - Marin M./Tallinn 1989.}) 18. Qc4 Rfb8 19. Ra5 Qd6
20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Bxb4 23. Ra4 {Novelty.Nowdays it is not a
big deal when you shaw an improvement in the very deep ending. Rooks mission
on 'a4' is to attack the Black's bishop that creates a certain problems to
have the pawn back. Before was played 23.Ra2.} Rb6 24. a7 Bc5 25. Rd1 h6 $4 {
Kortschnoj is just waisting time after} (25... Rb7 26. Be3 Bxe3 27. fxe3 Kf8
28. Rda1 Rxb2 {Black is equalizing the game.}) 26. b4 $1 $16 Rxb4 (26... Bxb4
27. Be3 c5 28. Rd7 (28. Bf4 {Wedberg} Rb7 29. Bb8 $16) 28... Bd2 29. Kf1 Bxe3
30. fxe3 $16) 27. Rxb4 Bxb4 28. Be3 $18 Kf8 (28... c5 29. Rd7 c4 30. Bb6 $18) (
28... Ba5 29. Rd7 {+-}) 29. Rb1 {After 29...c5 the simple but convincing 30.
Bc5 Bc5 31.Rb8 is winning.} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. a3
Nc6 9. Nb3 Be7 10. Qf3 Qc7 11. Be2 Rb8 12. Qg3 h6 13. Bh4 O-O 14. O-O b5 15.
Kh1 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Rad1 e5 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Nd4 Nb6 20. Bh5 f6 21. b3
Kh8 22. h3 Rb7 23. Nde2 Be6 24. Qe3 Rbb8 25. Rd3 Bg8 26. Bg4 Bh7 27. Rfd1 f5
28. exf5 Nxf5 29. Bxf5 Bxf5 30. R3d2 Bh7 31. Ne4 Rbd8 32. N2c3 Rxd2 33. Rxd2
Nd7 34. Kh2 Qb7 35. Rd6 Rc8 36. Qd2 Bxe4 37. Rxd7 Qc6 38. Nxe4 Qxe4 39. Rxg7
Kxg7 40. Qd7+ Kf6 41. Qxc8 Qf4+ 42. Kg1 Qe3+ 43. Kf1 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Azmaiparashvili Har Zvi} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Bg4 8. f3 (8. Nd5 {Azmaiparashvili} Qa5+ (8... Qxb5 9. Bxb5
Bxd1 10. Kxd1) 9. b4 Qxb5 (9... Nxd5 10. Qxd5 Qxb4+ 11. Bd2 e6 12. Qxc6+ bxc6
13. Bxb4 cxb5 14. Bxb5+ Kd8 15. f3 Bh5 16. O-O-O) (9... Bxd1 10. bxa5 Nxd5 11.
exd5 Nxa5 12. Kxd1 Nxc4 13. Nc7+ Kd7 14. Nxa8 g6 15. Rb1) (9... Nxb4 10. Nxf6+
gxf6 11. Qxg4 Nxc2+ 12. Ke2 Nxa1 13. Bd2 Qa4 14. Nc7+ Kd8 15. Bb5) 10. Bxb5
Bxd1 11. Kxd1 Nxe4 12. Re1 Nxf2+ 13. Ke2 Ne4 14. Kf3 Nf6 15. Nc7+ Kd7 16. Nxa8
g6) 8... Bd7 9. Qe2 a6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. Nd4 b5 12. Bb3 e6 13. O-O-O b4 14. Nb1 (
14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nd5 $2 exd5 16. exd5 Bb5 17. Qe1 Be7 18. Bd4 Kf8 19. a3 Rc8
20. axb4 Qc7 $17 {Onoprienko V.-Khasin A. Ch Russia (club) Kazan (Russia) 1995.
}) (14. Nd5 {Azmaiparashvili} exd5 15. exd5 Nxd4 16. Bxd4+ Kd8) 14... Be7 15.
g4 (15. Nd2 $5 d5 16. g4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 $14) 15... Nxd4 16. Rxd4 e5 (16... Ba4 {
Azmaiparashvili} 17. Nd2) 17. Rdd1 Be6 18. Nd2 Bxb3 (18... O-O {Azmaiparashvili
} 19. Bxe6 (19. Kb1 Rac8) 19... fxe6 20. Qc4 Kf7) 19. cxb3 $1 (19. axb3 Qa1+
20. Nb1 O-O $40 {there is no any good move for White to avoid the march of the
'a' pawn.}) 19... d5 $6 {Of course it is played in Sicilian style but may be
that was done in the wrong moment. Better was to take the pawn on 'a2'.} (19...
Qxa2 20. Nc4 (20. Kc2 {Azmaiparashvili} Qa5 (20... d5 21. Ra1 Rc8+ 22. Nc4
Rxc4+ 23. bxc4 b3+ 24. Kc3 d4+ 25. Kd3) 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Kb1 $44) 20... Qxb3 21.
Kb1 O-O 22. g5 Ne8 23. Nb6 Rb8 24. Nd7 Rc8 $13) 20. exd5 $6 (20. Kb1 $1 d4 (
20... Qb5 21. Rhe1 (21. Qxb5+ axb5 22. g5 d4 23. gxf6 dxe3 24. fxe7 Kxe7 $1 $10
) 21... Qxe2 22. Rxe2 dxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 $16) 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Bf2 $16)
20... Qxa2 21. Nc4 Qxb3 22. Kb1 {[#]} Rc8 $4 {Just a blunder.} (22... Nd7 23.
d6 Bh4 24. f4 O-O 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. fxe5 Qe6 27. Bc5 $13) 23. Rd3 $1 $18 Qxc4
24. Rc1 Qxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Bd6 {Of course the position is completly winning for
White and also it's clear that in this case many roads lead to Rome so it's
dificult to critisize the Whites play.} 26. f4 e4 27. g5 O-O 28. Rd1 (28. Rh3 {
Azmaiparashvili} Rxc1+ 29. Kxc1 Bxf4+ 30. Kb1 Bxg5) 28... Nd7 29. Qxa6 {
I prefer much more to take the "e" pawn after white should not worry about
this pawn which in the game caused his serious problems (Har Zvi).} Bc5 30. Qb5
(30. d6 {Azmaiparashvili} e3 31. Re1 Rfd8 32. Bxe3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 $18) 30... Rc7
31. d6 Ra7 32. b3 {Again I can not understand why Topalov underestimated
black's "e" it seems after 32.Re1 white is better (Har Zvi).} (32. Qc4 $142 {
Azmaiparashvili} Re8 33. f5) 32... e3 33. Bb2 (33. Rd5 $5 Rfa8 34. Bb2 Rb8 35.
Qc4 Re8 36. Rf5 $18) 33... Re8 34. f5 Bxd6 35. g6 hxg6 36. fxg6 Re6 37. gxf7+
Kxf7 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Bxg7 e2 (39... Kxg7 $4 {Azmaiparashvili} 40. Rg1+ Kf6 (
40... Kf8 41. Qh8+ Ke7 42. Rg7+ Kf6 43. Rxd7+ Kf5 44. Rxa7 e2 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46.
Qh4+ Kd3 47. Rf3+ Kd2 48. Qg5+) 41. Qg5+ Kf7 42. Qg8+ Ke7 43. Rg7+ Kf6 44. Rg6+
) 40. Qh8+ (40. Re1 Kxg7 41. Rg1+ Bg3 $8 42. Qg5+ Kf7 43. Qxg3 {With good
winning chances for Topalov.}) 40... Kf7 41. Re1 Ra3 42. Qh5+ Kxg7 43. Rg1+ Bg3
{[#]} 44. Qg4+ {Here Vesselin offered a draw that was imedeatly exepted. But
even in this position after long forced variations which may happent after 44.
Rg3 White is still winning. I am almost sure that this halfpoint the bulgarian
GM was remembering on the closing ceremony.} (44. Qg4+ Kf7 (44... Kf6 {
Azmaiparashvili} 45. Qxg3 e1=Q+ 46. Rxe1 Rxb3+ 47. Qxb3 Rxe1+ 48. Kc2 Re2+ 49.
Kd1 Rxh2 50. Qf3+ Ke7 51. Qe4+ Kd8 $10) 45. Qxg3 e1=Q+ 46. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 47. Qxe1
Rxb3+ 48. Kc2 Rc3+ 49. Kd2 Rc5 $10) (44. Rxg3+ Kf8 45. Qh8+ Ke7 46. Qh4+ Kd6 (
46... Ke8 47. Rg8+ Nf8 48. Qh5+ Ke7 49. Qc5+ Rd6 50. Rg7+ $18) (46... Ke8 {
Azmaiparashvili}) 47. Qxb4+ Kc7 48. Qc3+ Rc6 49. Qd2 Re6 (49... Rca6 50. Qf4+
Kb7 51. Qb4+ Ka7 52. Qd4+ Kb8 53. Re3 e1=Q+ 54. Rxe1 Rxb3+ 55. Kc2 $18) 50.
Qc1+ Kb7 51. Re3 $18) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. b3 (7. Be2 Bg7
8. O-O Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rb1 a6 11. b3 Qa5 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13. Rfd1 Bg4 14. Qe3
Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e6 18. Nc3 Rd8 19. Rbd2 Nde5 20. Be2
Nb4 21. h4 b5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Nxb5 Nbc6 24. a3 {1-0 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/
Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/1995/ (28)}) 7... Bg7 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. Be2 O-O
11. h3 (11. O-O a6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd7 14. Be2 Nc5 15. Rfe1 Qa5 16. Bf1
Rab8 17. Rad1 b5 18. Ba1 Rfd8 19. Rb1 e6 20. f3 b4 21. Ne2 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 Qb6
23. Kh1 e5 24. Red1 Ne6 25. a3 bxa3 26. Rxa3 {Gorelov,S-Chiburdanidze,M/
Moscow-ch (15)/1981/1-0 (79)}) 11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nd7 13. O-O (13. Nd5 Bxb2
14. Qxb2 e6 15. Nc3 Nde5 $15) 13... Qa5 14. Rab1 Rfd8 15. Rfc1 $6 (15. Rfd1 a6)
15... a6 16. a3 Bf6 $5 17. Bg4 (17. b4 Qg5) 17... e6 18. b4 Qg5 $1 (18... Qc7
19. Nd5 (19. f4 $5) 19... exd5 20. cxd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2) 19. f4 (19. Qxg5 Bxg5
20. Rd1 Nce5 21. Be2 Nb6 22. c5 Nbc4 $15) 19... Qh6 20. Ne2 (20. Rd1 Nb6 21.
Be2 Nd4 $15) 20... Nde5 21. Rc2 (21. b5 axb5 22. cxb5 Na5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Qc3
Qg7 $15) 21... Nxg4 22. hxg4 Bxb2 23. Rbxb2 Qh4 24. g5 (24. b5 axb5 25. cxb5
Nb8 26. Rb3 Qxg4 $17) 24... e5 25. b5 $2 (25. Rb1 exf4 26. Qxf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4
Ne5 28. Nd5 b5 $10) 25... axb5 26. cxb5 Nd4 $1 27. Nxd4 (27. Rc7 Nxe2+ 28. Qxe2
Rxa3 $19) 27... exd4 28. Rb3 (28. Qxd4 Qxf4 (28... Rxa3 29. Qd2 Ra4 $17) 29.
Rc7 d5 $19) 28... Re8 29. g3 (29. Qxd4 Qxf4 $17) 29... Qg4 30. Qxd4 Ra4 $1 31.
Rc4 (31. Qxa4 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 (32. Kg2 Qxc2+ 33. Kf3 Rxe4 $1 $19) 32... Qxc2+ 33.
Kh3 Qd1 34. g4 (34. Kg2 Rc8 $19) 34... Qh1+ 35. Kg3 Rxe4 36. Qa5 Qg1+ 37. Kf3
Re8 $17) (31. Qxd6 Raxe4 32. Kg2 Re2+ 33. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 34. Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Re2+
$19) 31... Rxc4 32. Qxc4 Rc8 $1 33. Qd3 $2 (33. Qf1 $1 Rc2 34. Rf3 Rc1 35. Qxc1
Qxf3) 33... Rc1+ 34. Kg2 (34. Kf2 Qh3 $19) 34... Qh5 35. e5 (35. Qxd6 Qe2+ 36.
Kh3 Rh1#) 35... Rd1 36. Qf3 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 (37. Kf2 Qg1+ 38. Ke2 Qe1#) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Azmaiparashvili Johnson,M} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O {Nach 9.0-0-0 hat Schwarz erheblich
mehr Probleme als nach 9.Bc4.} d5 (9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Kb1 Qc7 (11...
Qa5 $2 12. Nd5) 12. h4 Rfc8 {In dieser Variante muß Schwarz höllisch aufpassen,
daß er nicht unter die Räder kommt.} 13. h5 $14 (13. g4 $14)) (9... Bd7 {
mit der Idee Nc6-e6, Rc8 wird von der Theorie als schlecht beurteilt. Weiß
spart im Gegensatz zu der Variante 9.Bc4 ein Tempo. Es ist aber fraglich, ob
Weiß daraus Kapital schlagen kann, denn der B steht auf der Diagonalen b3-g8
vermutlich besser als z.B. auf e2.}) 10. Qe1 (10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12.
Bd4 e5 13. Bc5 {ist das Hauptabspiel, in dem es Schwarz auch nicht leicht hat.}
(13. Bc5 {Johnson,M} Be6 14. Ne4 Re8 15. h4 a5 16. Bc4 h5 17. g4 Nf4 18. Qe1
Bd5 19. gxh5 Nxh5 20. Nd6 Re6 21. Rxd5 cxd5 22. Bxd5 Rxd6 23. Bxa8 Bh6+ 24. Kb1
Rd2 25. Be4 Ng3 26. Bb6 Qxb6 27. Qxg3 a4 28. a3 Be3 29. Qg4 Qb8 30. Ka1 Bd4 31.
Rb1 Qc7 32. h5 Qc5 33. Ka2 Qc4+ 34. Ka1 Qc5 {1/2-1/2 Blumberg,V-Golubev,M/USSR
1990})) (10. Kb1 $5 Nxd4 (10... e6 $5) 11. e5 $1 {ist eine interssante Idee,
nach} Ne8 12. Bxd4 {hat Schwarz kaum Spiel.}) 10... e6 (10... e5) 11. h4 (11.
g4 $6 e5 $1 {Sieht absurd aus. Erst e7-e6 und dann doch nach e5. Der
springende Punkt ist, daß später der Bauer f3 hängt.} (11... Qe7 12. Nb3 b6 $5
(12... Rd8 13. Bc5 Qc7 14. Qg3 Qxg3 15. hxg3 $10) 13. Bb5 Bb7 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15.
Nd4 Bb7 16. e5 Nd7 17. f4 f6 $1 $15 {De la Villa Garcia,J-Romero Holmes,H Leon
(04) 0-1 31}) 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. Bc4 (15. Qxe5 h6 16.
Bh4 g5 17. Be1 Nxg4 $17) 15... d4 {Jetzt! Wenn Schwarz gleich 10...e5 spielt 
(statt 10...e6), steht der weiße g-Bauer noch auf g2 und deckt f3.} 16. Ne4 Rc8
17. Bb3 Qb6 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. h4 Rfd8 20. Kb1 a5 21. g5 Bg7 22. h5 Rb8 $1 $17 {
Dvoirys,S-Tolnai,T EUCup Gr5 Balatonbereny 1993 0-1 39}) 11... Qc7 (11... Qe7 {
Johnson,M}) (11... Re8 {Johnson,M}) 12. exd5 {Ruhiger als das scharfe} (12. h5
{mit wilden Verwicklungen. !?Azmaiparashvili} Nxh5 {Johnson,M} 13. g4 Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Rxd4 Qe5 16. Qd2 Ng3 17. Rg1 dxe4 18. f4 Nxf1 19. Rxf1 Qg7 20. g5
e5 21. Rd6 e3 22. Qxe3 exf4 23. Qxf4 Bh3 24. Rf2 Rae8 25. Nd5 Re1+ 26. Kd2 Qe5
27. Rh2 h5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Rxh3 Rxg5 30. c4 Kg7 31. Rd7 Rg4 32. Kd3 Kh6 33.
Rxb7 f5 34. Rd7 f4 35. Rf3 h4 36. c5 Rg3 37. Ke2 g5 38. Rd6+ Kg7 39. c6 h3 40.
Rf2 f3+ 41. Ke3 Rg2 42. Rxf3 Rxf3+ 43. Kxf3 g4+ 44. Kf4 Rf2+ 45. Kg5 h2 46. c7
Rf8 47. Rd7+ Kh8 48. Rd8 h1=Q 49. Rxf8+ Kg7 50. c8=Q Qxd5+ 51. Rf5 Qd2+ {
1-0 Mainka,R-Alterman,B/Lloyds Bank op(08) 1994}) 12... Nxd5 (12... exd5 13.
Qd2 Re8 14. Bf4 Qa5 (14... Qb6 $5) 15. Nb3 Qb4 16. a3 Qe7 17. Bg5 Be6 18. Nb5
d4 19. N3xd4 Rad8 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Nd4 Rd6 22. Nf5 gxf5 23. Qxd6 Qb7 24. Qb4
Qa8 25. Bc4 Rb8 26. Qa4 Nd5 27. Bb3 Qb7 28. Rhe1 c5 29. Rxd5 Bxb2+ 30. Kxb2
Qxd5 31. Bf4 Rb6 32. Re5 Qd1 33. Rxc5 Qe2 34. Rc3 Bxb3 35. Rxb3 {1-0 Dvoirys,
S-Los,S/Groningen op (01) ;EXP 38 1993}) 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qd2 Re8 $1 $146 {
/\ Rxe3} (14... h5 15. Nb5 Qe7 16. Bg5 Qe5 17. c3 Be6 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bg5 Qe5
20. Re1 Qb8 21. Bh6 Qd8 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nd4 Qf6 24. Rd1 Rac8 25. Bb5 a6 26.
Be2 Rfe8 27. Nxc6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Alterman,B/URS-qualJ Sochi ;EXT 90 1990})
(14... Qe5 15. h5 Re8 16. Bf2 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Be6 $14
20. Bd3 Kg7 21. Kd2 Kf6 22. c3 b6 23. a3 Rac8 24. g4 Rc7 25. Bb5 Rf8 26. Be2
Ke7 27. f4 f6 28. Bf3 Rc4 29. Kd3 Rxd4+ 30. Kxd4 Kd6 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. Rh6 g5
33. f5 Bd7 34. Bxd5 Bc6 35. c4 a5 36. Rh7 a4 37. Ra7 Bd7 38. Rb7 Rh8 39. Rxb6+
Ke7 40. Rb7 {1-0 Dvoirys,S-Alterman,B/Leeuwarden op (07) ;EXT 94op 1994}) 15.
h5 (15. Bf4 $5 Qb6 16. Nb5 (16. Nb3 a5 $15) 16... a6 17. Bc7 Qc5 (17... Qe3 18.
Qxe3 Rxe3 19. Bf4 $16) 18. Bd6 $10) 15... Rxe3 16. Qxe3 Nxd4 (16... Bxd4 {
Johnson,M} 17. Qe8+ Kg7 18. h6+ Kf6 19. Rxd4 Nxd4 20. Qh8+ Ke7 21. Qxd4 $14)
17. Rxd4 (17. Qe8+ {Johnson,M} Bf8 18. Rxd4 Bf5 19. Qa4 $16 (19. Qe2 {
Azmaiparashvili} Re8 20. Qf2 Bc5 $17)) 17... Bf5 {|^} 18. Bd3 (18. Rd2 d4 19.
Qg5 (19. Qb3 Bh6) 19... d3 20. Bxd3 Qe5 $40) 18... Qb6 19. Rhh4 $2 (19. c3 $142
Bxd4 (19... Rc8 20. Kb1 Rxc3 21. Qe8+ Bf8 22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Bxf5) 20. cxd4 Rc8+
21. Kb1 Qe6 (21... Bxd3+ {Azmaiparashvili} 22. Qxd3 $10) 22. Qd2 (22. Qxe6
Bxd3+ $19) (22. Re1 $2 Bxd3+ $19) 22... Bxd3+ 23. Qxd3 $10 (23. Qxd3 g5 $15))
19... Be4 $1 20. Rdxe4 Qxb2+ 21. Kd1 dxe4 22. Rxe4 Qxa2 23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Re7
Qb1+ (24... Qa1+ {Azmaiparashvili} 25. Ke2 Bc3 $17 26. Bxg6 Qe1+ 27. Kd3 Rd8+
28. Kc4 Rc8+ $19) 25. Ke2 Bf6 (25... Bc3 {Azmaiparashvili} 26. Kf2) 26. Rd7 a5
(26... Qh1 $5 27. Bc4 $1 Qxg2+ 28. Kd1 $13) 27. Bxg6 Qb5+ 28. Qd3 Re8+ 29. Be4
Qxd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4
cxd4 9. exf5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Qe2 {Soweit ich weiß, ist
dies ein neuer Versuch.} dxc3 13. Qxe6+ Qe7 14. Bxc4 (14. Qxe7+ Bxe7 15. bxc3
Nd5 16. Bd2 Bf6 17. Rc1 Rb8 18. Bxc4 Bxc3 (18... Nxc3 19. O-O Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Nxa4
21. Rfe1+ Kf8 22. Bf4 Rd8 23. Bg5 $16) 19. Bxd5 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 cxd5 21. Rc7 O-O
{dürfte Schwarz aushalten können.}) 14... Qxe6+ 15. Bxe6 cxb2 (15... Bb4 16.
Ke2 Nd5 $10 {sieht mir viel besser aus.}) 16. Bxb2 Bb4+ 17. Ke2 Ke7 18. Bc4
Rhd8 19. Rhd1 Rab8 (19... Kf8 {kam sehr in Betracht; Schwarz sollte meines
Erachtens versuchen, seinen Springer so bald wie möglich auf d5 zu verankern.})
20. g3 h5 $6 (20... Kf8 {kam noch immer in Betracht. Auch}) (20... a5 {gefällt
mir besser als der Textzug, der den Königsflügel unnötig schwächt.}) 21. Rd4
Ba5 $2 {Schwarz sollte die Diagonale a3-f8 nicht aufgeben.} (21... Rxd4 22.
Bxd4 a5 {war angezeigt.}) 22. Ba3+ Ke8 {Der Schaden ist schon nicht mehr zu
reparieren:} (22... Bb4 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Rb1 a5 (24... c5 25. Bc1 $16 {
Jetzt ist der Läufer des Schwarzen plötzlich sehr schlecht geworden und steht
außer Spiel; zudem ermangelt Schwarz der Kontrolle der weißen Felder.}) 25.
Bxb4 $16 {Weiß erhält einen gefährlichen entfernten Freibauern auf der a-Linie.
}) 23. Rad1 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rb1 $6 (24... Rd8 $5) 25. Bd3 Re1+ 26. Kf2 Kf7 (26...
Nd5 27. Bg6+ $18) 27. Bc5 $18 Ra1 28. Bc4+ Ke8 29. Bd3 Kf7 30. Bxa7 Ra2+ 31.
Kg1 Ra1+ 32. Kg2 Ra2+ 33. Kh3 Ra3 34. f4 Be1 35. Bc5 Rc3 36. Bc4+ Ke8 37. Bb4
Rc1 38. Bxe1 Rxe1 39. a5 Ra1 40. a6 Ke7 41. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Tisdall,J"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Stohl Bologan} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7.
g3 {It is a p ity that Kamsky opts for such a quiet line. Topalov is one of
very few top level Benoni players and it would have been interesting to see
him face a more fashionable variation.} Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Na6 {Less
popular than the reflex Benoni plan of Nbd7, Re8 and a6, though it is also
very respectable.} 10. h3 (10. Nd2 $5 Nc7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. Bf4 Qb6
$5 14. d6 Ne6 15. Bxa8 Nxf4 16. gxf4 Rd8 17. Qd2 Bh3 18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 b4
20. Nd5 Qb7 21. e4 Nxe4 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Qd5 Qxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxb2 25. Rad1 Nxd6
26. Rfe1 a5 $15 {Gerber,R-Anastasian,A/Cannes op/1996/}) 10... Re8 (10... Nc7
11. e4 Nd7 12. Bf4 Qe7 13. Re1 f6 14. a4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Be3 b6 17. Rb1
Na6 18. Na2 Bd7 19. Bf1 Nc7 20. b4 Rab8 21. Nc3 Qe8 22. Qc2 Qc8 23. h4 Na6 24.
bxc5 Nxc5 25. Nb5 Bxb5 26. axb5 Rb7 27. Rb4 $16 {Razuvaev,Y-Romero,An/Palma/
1991/}) 11. Nd2 {White's last two moves appear to be accepted theory, and are
both aimed at preventing black from easing his position by relocating the f6N
to g4-e5, or e4. Paradoxically, Topalov's eventual plan involves avoiding
exchanges.} (11. Bf4 Nc7 12. a4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Nd2 Rb4 15. b3 b5 16. Ra2
a5 17. Qc1 Ba6 18. Ne4 Ne8 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Qc2 c4 21. bxc4 Bxc4 22. Ra3 Bxd5
23. Bg5 Qd7 24. Bd2 Rc8 25. Qd3 Rd4 26. Qe3 Qb7 $36 {Razuvaev,Y-Romanishin,O/
Palma GMA-op/1989/}) (11. Re1 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Rxe4 13. Bg5 Qf8 14. Qc1 Rb4 15. b3
Re4 16. Nd2 Re8 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nc3 Bd7 19. Bf1 b5 20. e4 Nc7 21. a3 a5 22. exf5
Qxf5 23. Bd2 Bd4 24. Be3 Bxc3 25. Qxc3 Nxd5 $17 {Alburt,L-Wedberg,T/New York
op/1988/}) 11... Nc7 (11... Rb8 {Stohl} 12. a4 Nc7 13. Nc4 a6 14. a5 Nb5 15.
Na4 Bf5 16. Nab6 Be4 17. f3 Bf5 18. g4 Bc8 19. Bf4 h5 20. e3 hxg4 21. hxg4 Qe7
22. Qd2 $14 {Burtman,S-Ratcu,T/Kishinev iztW/1995/}) 12. a4 (12. Nc4 $6 b5 $1
13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. d6 Ne6 16. Bxa8 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Bxh3 18. Bf3 (18.
Bg2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 b4 20. Na4 Qc6+ 21. Kg1 Qd7 22. e3 Qh3 23. d7 Rd8 24. f3 Qg3+
25. Kh1 Rxd7 26. Qe2 Rd5 $40 {Kiss,A-Lazarev,V/AUT-chT2 9394/1994/}) 18... Bxf1
19. Kxf1 Rd8 20. e4 b4 21. Na4 Qa6+ 22. Kg2 Rxd6 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. e5 Rd4 25.
Nxc5 Nxc5 26. Qxc5 Rxf4 27. Rd1 h5 $17 {Kaidanov-Foisor/Moskva II/1987/}) 12...
b6 13. e4 (13. Nc4 Ba6 14. Na3 Qd7 15. Re1 b5 16. axb5 Nxb5 17. Naxb5 Bxb5 18.
e4 Rab8 19. Ra3 Qc7 20. Be3 a6 21. Qc2 Nd7 22. f4 c4 23. Qf2 f5 24. g4 fxg4 25.
hxg4 g5 $1 26. fxg5 Ne5 $36 {Ionescu,Co-Suba,M/Bukarest/1980/}) (13. Re1 Ba6 $5
14. e4 {-13.e4}) (13. Rb1 Ba6 14. Re1 Nh5 15. Nde4 f5 16. Nd2 Qd7 17. Qc2 Qf7
18. e4 Nf6 19. Rd1 Rad8 20. Nf3 Bc8 21. e5 dxe5 22. d6 Na6 23. Ng5 Nb4 24. Nxf7
Nxc2 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Bg5 Nd4 27. b4 cxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxd6 $44 {Kobylkin-Tunik,G/
Yalta op/1995/}) 13... Ba6 14. Re1 Nd7 15. Nf3 Qe7 $5 $146 {A very interesting
novelty from Topalov. Previously  Stohl:Topalov's new move is stronger-White's
pieces are not so ideally placed for action in the center, so Black doesn't
exchange the Nf3 and starts maneuvring. Tactically it also works.  Bologan:
Novelty. Of course it doesn't look like real improvement just a simple
developpment.} (15... Ne5 {had been played, though this led to a pleasant
white advantage after} 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 {N} 17. Be3 Bg7 18. Qd2 $14 Rb8 19. Rab1
$1 {Goldin,A-Emms,J/ Cappelle la Grande 54/69 1992 Black's idea here has a lot
of nice advantages; he avoids the exchange of knights. In fact, the N on f3
hinders both the expansion of the center and easy protection of d5 by the Bg2,
while black's knight on d7 is one of his most flexible pieces. The Q is headed
for f8 where it will preserve the Bg7, guard d6, support the kingside and help
expansion with h6/g5 as well as ...f5. I'm very impressed, and only wish it
were as easy to find such ideas as it is to see their merits afterwards.} (19.
Rab1 Bc8 (19... b5 {Bologan} 20. b4 $1) 20. b4 cxb4 21. Rxb4 Na6 22. Rbb1 Bd7
23. Nb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Nc5 25. Bd4 Rb7 26. Re3 Rbe7 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qd4+ f6
29. f4 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4] [+],Goldin,A-Emms,J/Cappelle op/1992/})) 16. Bf4 (
16. Be3 $5 {would be desirable, but the e4 pawn requires attention. Snatching
it off at once is risky:} Bxc3 $2 (16... Qf8 17. Qc2 {is similar to the game,
but white will find it harder to achieve the thematic advance b2-b4 while
protecting e4.}) 17. bxc3 Qxe4 18. Bxc5 Be2 19. Rxe2 Qxe2 20. Bxd6 Qxd1+ 21.
Rxd1 Rac8 22. Nd4 {must give white much more than compensation.}) (16. e5 $2
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. f4 $2 Bd4+) 16... Qf8 17. Qc2 (17. Qd2 h6 18. Rab1 g5
19. Be3 f5 $5 (19... Bxc3 $5 20. bxc3 Nf6 (20... Rxe4 $2 21. Nxg5 Rxe3 22. Qxe3
hxg5 23. Qxg5+ Qg7 24. Qe7))) 17... h6 18. Rab1 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4} g5 19. Bd2
Bb7 {One of the differences between Topalov's idea and the stem game becomes
clearer. The white queen has been forced to take up a post on c2, rather than
d2, to keep a watchful eye on e4 and f5. A result of this (and the presence of
an extra pair of knights) is that the d5 pawn is much weaker now, and ...f5 is
a nagging possibility. Black also prepares to hurry the Nc7 back into play via
a6.} 20. Nh2 {Greener pastures beckon - on f3 the knight is fairly useless.
But what about the trusty b4 break?  Stohl: Inconsequent. Now with a few
clever N maneuvers Black gets a position with rich counterplay.} (20. b4 Na6 (
20... cxb4 21. Rxb4 Na6 $36 {[%cal Ra6c5,Ra8c8] /\Nac5,Rac8 is dubious-Black's
pieces get too many good squares.}) 21. bxc5 Naxc5 22. Nb5 Rec8 {and black's
activity guarantees him good chances.} (22... Ba6 $5 {is also interesting.})) (
20. Nb5 $142 $5 Nxb5 (20... Na6 21. Bc3 $14) 21. axb5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Bc3
{/+/=/}) (20. Nd1 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Rd1e3] /\Ne3,><f5} f5 $8 21. exf5 Bxd5 22.
Nc3 Bc6 $132 {[%cal Rd6d4] /\d5-d4}) 20... Ne5 21. Ng4 (21. f4 $6 gxf4 22. gxf4
Nc4 23. Bc1 f5 $1 (23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25. Rd1 Bd4+ 26. Kh1 Be6 27. f5 $16
) 24. b3 Na5 $36) 21... Nc4 (21... Nxg4 $6 22. hxg4 {[%cal Yc3d1,Yd1e3,Ye3f5] /
\Nd1-e3-f5->}) 22. Ne3 Nxe3 (22... Nxd2 $5 23. Qxd2 Bc8 $13) 23. Bxe3 {After
much running around, the threat of Nf5 has finally led to type of position
seen in Goldin-Emms, but black has gained time to prevent the b4 advance.} Na6
24. Nb5 Nb4 25. Qd2 {Bologan: Better looks 25.Qb3 with the idea of Bd2.} Red8
26. Kh2 {It looks natural to clear the g-line to prepare f4, but the immediate
advance looks critical as well:  Stohl: Loses a tempo. Bologan: Typical Gata's
move. Even when he was playing the soviet youth champioships he was using any
possibility to improve the position by playing h3,Kh2 or h6,Kh7.} (26. f4 a6
27. Nc3 gxf4 28. gxf4 {Stohl:} (28. Bxf4 Re8 29. Re2 $14) 28... Re8 $5 {
still looks solid for black} (28... Qe7 29. Ne2 $5 {looks more pleasant for
white, who has gained the fearsome g3 square as a launching pad for his knight,
though even here} Kh8 30. Ng3 Rg8 31. Nf5 Qf6 {may give enough counterplay.}) (
28... f5 $6 29. e5 $1 dxe5 30. fxe5 Bxe5 31. Bxh6 {looks very risky for black.}
) 29. f5 $5 (29. Ne2 f5) 29... Kh7 30. Rf1 Bf6 {and white has paid rather a
high price for preventing ...f5.}) 26... a6 27. Nc3 (27. Na3 $5 {Bologan} f5
28. f4 $16) 27... Re8 28. f4 gxf4 29. Bxf4 $1 {White prefers a more civilized
approach since} (29. gxf4 f5 {should again be pleasant for black.}) 29... Bc8 (
29... c4 $6 30. Be3 $1 Nd3 31. Rf1 Nc5 32. Qe2 $36) 30. Re2 {Bologan: Kamsky
is improving the position of his rooks but I think the first guy who should be
put on better square is the knight on 'c3'.} (30. Nd1 $5 {Bologan}) 30... Bd7 (
30... f5 $6 31. Rf1 $40) 31. Rbe1 (31. Rf1 $5 {is a very natural alternative,
though it is not so easy to mount frightening pressure against f7.} b5 (31...
c4 $6 32. Be3 b5 33. axb5 axb5 34. Ref2 $16 (34. Nxb5 $5 $16)) 32. a5 $5 {
and now most moves with Ra8 are interesting - I would estimate the position is
roughly balanced.} (32. axb5 Bxb5 $1 (32... axb5 33. Ref2 $14) 33. Nxb5 axb5
34. Ref2 Ra2)) 31... c4 32. e5 (32. Nb5 $5 {looks the most entertaining way to
play.} axb5 33. Qxb4 Rxa4 34. Qxd6 Qxd6 35. Bxd6 Ra2 36. e5 Bf5 37. Bc7 b4 38.
d6 $5 {with absolute pandemonium.}) 32... dxe5 (32... Nd3 $2 33. e6 Nxe1 34.
Qxe1 $18 {[%cal Re6d7,Re6e7] /\e7,ed7 /\}) 33. Bxe5 Rxe5 {Of course black
plays to keep his dark-squared bishop.} (33... Bxe5 34. Rxe5 $16 {[%csl Rf6,
Rg6,Rg7,Rh7] ׻}) 34. Rxe5 Nd3 {It's very important for Black to keep his
Bg7-a strong defensive and attacking piece.} 35. Re7 Nxe1 36. Qxe1 $1 {[%csl
Gd7,Gg7] Black's active B-pair (especially Bg7) compensate him for the weak
K-side and passed d-pawn.} (36. Rxd7 Nd3 $5 {should not be dangerous for black
- his pieces are active and the d-pawn is not frightening for the time being.}
(36... Nxg2 37. Qxg2 (37. Kxg2 Qe8 $15) 37... Qe8 $13)) 36... Rd8 37. Qe4 b5
38. d6 $1 (38. axb5 $5 axb5 (38... Bf5 $1 {is a better try when black's
pressure against b2 gives him good counterplay. Kamsky's choice looks more
testing since he keeps his pieces well centralized.}) 39. d6 b4 40. Nd5 c3 {
looks better for white - he can try} 41. b3 {with ideas like Qf4, or Bf1-d3!?
to follow.} Be6 $2 42. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 43. Ne7+) 38... bxa4 $1 (38... Be6 $5 {
looks like a solid alternative.} 39. Qf4 $1 {is more testing.} (39. axb5 Rxd6 {
looks slightly better for black.}) 39... Bxc3 {is risky, but critical} 40. bxc3
bxa4 41. Bc6 $5 (41. Ra7 Rxd6 (41... Qxd6 $5) 42. Ra8 Rd8 43. Rxa6 a3 44. Qc1 {
is marginally better for white.})) (38... b4 39. Nd5 $36) 39. Qxc4 (39. Qf4 a3
$1 (39... Bxc3 40. bxc3 Be6 {transposes into the previous note.}) 40. bxa3 Bxc3
41. Rxd7 Rxd7 42. Qg4+ Kh8 43. Qxd7 Be5 {favors black, and vindicates his 38th
move.}) (39. Nd5 $6 Bxb2 $15 {[%csl Ga4] o^a}) 39... Be6 40. Qxa4 (40. Qxa6 $5)
40... Be5 (40... Rxd6 $4 41. Re8) 41. Ne4 (41. Qxa6 Bxd6 42. Ra7 Bb8 43. Ra8
Qg7 44. Ne4 Qxb2) (41. Rxe6 fxe6 42. Qg4+ Kh8 43. Qxe6 Qxd6 $17) (41. Ra7 $5
Qxd6 42. Ne4 Qd4 $10) 41... Bxd6 42. Ra7 Be5 43. b3 (43. Rxa6 Rd4 $5 (43...
Bxb2 $10) 44. Qa3 Qg7 45. Ra4 $5 $10) 43... Qg7 44. Qxa6 (44. Rxa6 $5 Rd4 (
44... Bf5 45. Ra8) (44... Bd5 $6 45. Qa5 $1 {and white gains the upper hand.} (
45. Nf6+ Bxf6 46. Bxd5 Be5 $1 (46... Rxd5 47. Qe8+))) 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Rxe6
fxe6 47. Qxe6 {should be safe for white.}) 44... Rd4 {[#]} 45. b4 $4 {A very
peculiar move that perhaps just shows how draining this tremendous battle has
been. After} (45. Qb5 $1 {white parries all threats.} h5 {is probably too
loosening.} 46. h4 $2 (46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Qe2 {looks worrying for black. Black
does better to sit tight when his bishop pair and kingside pressure make
white's technical task highly problematic.}) 46... Bxg3+ $1 {is the idea but})
(45. Re7 $142 $5 Bf5 (45... Rxe4 $2 46. Qa8+ $18) (45... Bd5 46. Rxe5 Qxe5 47.
Nf6+ $16) (45... Qg6 46. Qa5 Rxe4 47. Qa8+ Kg7 48. Qxe4 Qxg3+ 49. Kg1 Kf8 $10)
46. Qa8+ (46. Rxe5 Qxe5 47. Nf6+ Kf8 $17) 46... Kh7 47. Qb7 $1 $132 {/\} Rxe4
$6 48. Rxf7 Bxg3+ 49. Kg1 Re1+ 50. Bf1) (45. Qf1 Bd5 46. Ra4 Rxa4 47. bxa4 Bxe4
$19) 45... Bf5 $1 {This brings unbearable pressure to bear on e4 and
simultaneously blunts the b1-h7 diagonal that was providing white with
counterplay.} (45... Rxe4 $4 46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Bxe4+ $18) 46. Qe2 $2 (46. Ra8+
Kh7 47. Qe2 (47. Qf1 Bxe4 48. Bxe4+ Rxe4 49. Qf5+ Qg6) 47... Rxe4 48. Qf2 $1 {
was the only way to fight on.} (48. Bxe4 $2 Qxg3+ 49. Kh1 Qxh3+ 50. Kg1 Bd4+))
(46. Qb7 Rxe4 $1 $19) 46... Bxe4 $19 {preventing the check on a8.} 47. Ra3 (47.
Bxe4 Qxg3+ 48. Kh1 Rd1+ $1 49. Qxd1 Qh2#) 47... Bxg2 48. Kxg2 Rxb4 49. Ra8+ Kh7
(49... Kh7 50. Qd3+ Qg6) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4 13. a4 {
The open Variation of the Ruy Lopez was the main oppening for Anand in his
match against Kasparov therefore it was supposed that he has to be well
prepared in this line. It's incredible but after six moves he was already
queen down.} Bc5 14. Ne4 O-O $2 {Wedberg: !?N Just a blunder it was better not
to look at Vishi's face when he saw the consequense of this move. I guess he
rejected the normal 14...Bb6 because of next game.} (14... Bb6 15. Nfg5 $1 {N}
Nxg5 16. Bxg5 Qd7 17. axb5 $6 (17. Re1 $140 $1 O-O 18. Ra3 $1 $40 {Rodriguez,Am
}) 17... Qxb5 18. Nc3 Qd7 $1 19. Qa4 Qxa4 20. Nxa4 h6 $1 21. Nxb6 cxb6 22. Bd2
{1/2-1/2 Rodriguez,Am-Korneev,O/Barbera del Valles 1994.}) 15. Nxc5 Nxf3+ 16.
Qxf3 Nxc5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bg5 $1 Rxa1 {Wedberg: The point of Anands novelty
is to give away the queen and build a drawing endgame fortress.} 19. Bxd8 Rxf1+
20. Kxf1 Rxd8 21. g3 $14 {It is not so easy to improve White's position as it
looks from the first sight.} (21. Qc6 Ne6 22. Qxb5 $4 Rd1+ 23. Ke2 Nd4+ $19)
21... Ne6 22. Qb7 g6 23. Qxb5 c5 24. h4 {Wedberg: After this move the draw is
a mathematical certainty. The only hope was to press through g4 and f5 to
drive the gigantic knight away, but it looks very difficult - especially if
Black posts his R on d4.} h5 25. b4 $6 {After this exchange White has no one
chance to win the game. Better was to keep the 'b' pawn and to try to
speculate with both ideas 'f4-f5' and penetration to the White's king on the
queenside.} cxb4 26. Qxb4 Kg7 27. Kg2 Kg8 28. Qc3 Ra8 29. Qf3 Rb8 30. Qe3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Na5 13. Bg1 Bf8 14. Qe1 Rb8 15.
h3 Nd7 16. Bh2 Nc6 17. Rd1 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. e5 f5 21. exd6
Bxd6 22. Nd5 Qa7 23. Rd1 b4 24. Bg1 Qa5 25. Bh5 g6 26. Qg3 Kf7 27. Bf3 Bf8 28.
Rfe1 Bg7 29. Ne3 Kf8 30. Nc4 Qc7 31. Nd6 Re7 32. Bd4 Bxd4 33. Rxd4 Nf6 34. Red1
Ba6 35. Qh4 Nd7 36. Qe1 e5 37. fxe5 Nxe5 38. Qg3 Nxf3 39. gxf3 Ra8 40. Qf4 Be2
41. R1d2 Ra1+ 42. Kg2 Bf1+ 43. Kg3 Ba6 44. Rd1 Rxd1 45. Rxd1 Qxc2 46. Qd4 Kg8
47. Qd5+ Kg7 48. Qd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.06.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 f4 17. Qh5 Rf7 18. Bxh7+ Kf8 19. Bf5 Qe8 20. Bxe6 Qxe6
21. Qg4 Qh6 22. Nf5 Qe6 23. Nfe3 Qh6 24. Nf5 Qe6 25. Nfe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B71"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Johnson,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Schulz,A Boensch} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4
Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bd3 O-O (8... Qb6 {Boensch} 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Rb1 Ng4 11. Nd5
Qd8 12. O-O b6 13. Bd2 e6 14. Ne3 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Bb7 $10 {Kolar,S-Baric,D/
Ljubljana op (07) ;EXP 53 1996/1-0 (43)}) 9. O-O Bg4 (9... b5 10. Qe1 b4 11.
Nd5 Bb7 (11... Rb8 12. Kh1 Bg4 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. e5 Bg7 $14 {Kuijf,M-Banas,J/
Mitropa Cup (09) SVK-NED ;EXP 46 1995/1/2-1/2 (55)}) 12. f5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Ne5
14. fxg6 fxg6 15. Qe4 Qa5 16. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 17. Bxf1 Bxe5 18. Be3 Bxb2 19. Qe6+
Kh8 20. Rd1 Bf6 21. Bc4 Qc7 22. Bb3 a5 23. Rf1 Qc3 24. Bh6 Ba6 25. Rb1 Bb5 26.
a4 bxa3 27. h4 Qd4+ 28. Be3 Qxh4 29. c4 Bxc4 {0-1 Hector,J-Smirin,I/Antwerp op
(4) 1994}) (9... a6 10. Qe1 Nb4 (10... b5 11. Qh4 e6 12. Kh1 Nd7 13. Qh3 Nb4
14. f5 Ne5 15. fxg6 Nxg6 $14 {Kolar,S-Krasevec,A/Ljubljana op (3/26) 1992/0-1 
(56)}) 11. Qh4 Nxd3 12. cxd3 e6 13. f5 exf5 14. Bg5 h6 15. Nd5 $2 (15. Bxh6
Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Qxb2 $13) 15... hxg5 16. Nxg5 Re8 $19 {0-1 Masserey,Y-Gurevich,D/
Genf op (4) 1992 (33)}) 10. Qe1 Bxf3 (10... Rc8 {Boensch} 11. Kh1 Qa5 12. Qg3
Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nd4 14. Qh3 d5 15. Bd2 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Qd5 $10 {Klinger,J-Lobron,E/
Munich zt 1987/1/2-1/2 (75)}) 11. Rxf3 e6 12. Kh1 Rc8 {Schulz: Das ist nun
eher ein Stellungstyp der Scheveninger Variante als des Drachen. Wenn man die
üblichen Stellungen des Drachen nicht mag, kann man mit 6.f4 und 7.Nf3 ganz
andere Stellungsbilder erzeugen.} 13. Rf1 (13. Bd2 Nd7 14. Rd1 Nc5 15. Bc1 d5
16. Rh3 Nxd3 17. cxd3 f5 18. e5 Rf7 19. d4 Bf8 20. Qg1 a6 21. g4 fxg4 22. Qxg4
Qd7 23. Ne2 Ne7 24. Ng1 Nf5 25. Nf3 Be7 26. Ng5 Bxg5 27. fxg5 Qa4 28. Ra3 Qc2
29. Rad3 Qb1 {0-1 Roofdhooft,M-Tukmakov,V/Antwerp op(04) 1993}) (13. f5 {
Boensch} Ne5 14. Rh3 Nfg4 $15) 13... Re8 (13... d5 14. e5 Nd7 {with the idea ..
.f6}) 14. Qf2 a6 15. f5 Nd7 16. Qg3 Qb6 17. Nd1 (17. Qxd6 Nde5 {Leaves White's
queen awkwardly placed. Black threatens 18...Bf8. Also possible is 17...Be5!?
when 18.Qxd7?? loses to 18...Rcd8} (17... Nde5 {Boensch} 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Be2
Red8 20. Qa3 Nd4 21. Be3 Qc6 $44) (17... Be5 18. Qxd7 (18. Qa3 Nb4 $44) 18...
Rcd8 19. fxe6 Rxd7 20. exd7 Rd8 21. Nd5 $10)) 17... Nce5 18. Be3 Qa5 19. Bg5 h6
$6 (19... exf5 20. exf5 Nxd3 {with counterplay e.g.} 21. cxd3 (21. Qxd3 Re1 22.
Ne3 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Bxb2) 21... Qe5 $1 {and now} 22. fxg6 (22. Bf4 Qxf5) (22. Qh3
Qxf5 $1) (22. Qf3 Qxf5) 22... fxg6 23. Bf4 Qe2 24. Nf2 Bxb2 25. Rad1 (25. Rab1
Rc1 $3 $19) 25... Be5 $17) 20. Be3 Kh7 21. Qh3 exf5 (21... Nc5 {Boensch} 22. f6
Bf8 23. g4 Ncxd3 24. Bxh6 (24. cxd3 Nxd3 25. Bxh6 Bxh6 26. Qxd3 Qg5 $17) 24...
Bxh6 25. g5 Ng4 $19) 22. exf5 Qb4 23. Nf2 (23. fxg6+ fxg6 24. Bxg6+ Nxg6 (24...
Kxg6 $2 25. Qf5#) 25. Qxd7 Rcd8 $44 (25... Rf8 $17 {Schulz,A})) 23... Nc5 (
23... Qxb2 $2 24. fxg6+ fxg6 25. Bxg6+ Nxg6 (25... Kxg6 {Boensch} 26. Nd3 Nxd3
27. Qf5#) 26. Qxd7 $36) 24. a3 Qa4 (24... Qxb2 25. Rab1 Qa2 (25... Qxa3 26.
fxg6+ fxg6 27. Bxh6 Kg8 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. Ne4 {looks equal}) 26. Bxc5 Rxc5 27.
fxg6+ fxg6 28. Rxb7 {with complications and equal chances}) 25. Rae1 Ncxd3 26.
cxd3 h5 27. Bd2 Ng4 28. Ne4 (28. Nxg4 {Boensch} Qxg4 29. Qxg4 (29. fxg6+ Kxg6
30. Qxg4+ hxg4 $17) 29... hxg4 30. fxg6+ Kxg6) 28... Qc2 29. Rc1 (29. Nxd6 $4
Qxd2 30. Rxe8 Nf2+ $19) 29... Qxb2 30. Qf3 Ne5 31. Qe3 Qxa3 {Black is
collecting pawns while White's last few moves seem rather aimless. Time
trouble perhaps? White certainly doesn't appear to have enough compensation
for two pawns} 32. Bc3 Kg8 (32... Ng4 {Schulz,A} 33. fxg6+ fxg6 34. Ng5+ Kg8 (
34... Kh8 $2 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Rc7+ Rxc7 37. Qxe8 Nf2+ 38. Kg1 Nh3+ 39. Nxh3
$18 (39. gxh3 $2 Qc5+ 40. Kh1 Qxg5 41. Qf8+ Kh7 42. Rf7+ Rxf7 43. Qxf7+ Kh8 $10
)) 35. Qf3 Qb3 36. Bxg7 Rxc1 (36... Kxg7 $4 37. Rb1 $18) 37. Rxc1 Kxg7 $19) 33.
fxg6 fxg6 34. Qb6 Rf8 35. Qxb7 $2 {A blunder which should lose instantly. 35.
Rfd1 appears to be the best chance to survive a bit longer but White has a
lost position anyway} (35. Nxd6 {Boensch} Rxc3 $19) 35... Qa2 $4 {And now
Black returns the blunder!} (35... Rxf1+ 36. Rxf1 Rxc3 37. Nxc3 Qxc3 {is
winning easily for Black}) (35... Rxc3 $19) 36. Bxe5 $1 {Black must allow mate
or lose a rook. I suspect that both players were short of time during the last
few moves} (36. Bxe5 Bxe5 (36... Rxc1 37. Qxg7#) 37. Rxc8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. g3 O-O
15. Bg2 a5 16. O-O f5 17. Qe2 $1 (17. Re1 $5 {Svidler-Filippov/CBM/51/695})
17... Rb8 18. Rfd1 Kh8 19. Rd2 Qd7 20. Rad1 Qf7 21. b3 Na7 $6 (21... e4 22. Nf4
Be5 $6 (22... Bxc3 $1 23. Rxd6 Nd8 $13) 23. Rxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Nd8 25. Nd4 Bd7
26. f3 $1 $16) 22. Kh1 Nc8 23. Na3 Na7 24. f4 $1 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 exf4 26. gxf4
Bxc3 27. Qd3 $1 Bb2 28. Nc2 Nc6 29. Rxb5 Nb4 30. Nxb4 axb4 31. Rxb8 Rxb8 32.
Qxd6 Qf8 33. Qd7 Qc5 34. Bd5 Rf8 35. Qe6 Bg7 36. Rg1 Qc7 37. Rg3 Qd8 38. Qc6
Qe7 39. Be6 h6 40. Kg2 Rf6 41. Qa8+ Bf8 42. Bd5 Kh7 43. Bg8+ Kh8 44. Kh3 $1 {
Die weisse Konig ist hier unangreiffbar.} Rd6 45. Bc4 Rd8 46. Qa5 Bg7 47. Qxf5
Rf8 48. Qd5 Qf6 49. Qd7 Qf5+ 50. Qxf5 Rxf5 51. Kg4 Ra5 52. Rg2 Bf6 53. Kf3 Bg7
54. Ke4 Kh7 55. h3 Kh8 56. Be6 Kh7 57. Rc2 Bc3 58. Kd3 Kg7 59. f5 Kf6 60. Rg2
Ke5 61. Kc4 Ra7 62. h4 Rc7+ 63. Kd3 Kf4 64. Rg6 Rg7 65. a4 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6 d6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. a4
Qxb6 9. a5 Qa7 10. e4 Bg7 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Rb8 13. Nd2 Ne8 14. Nc4 Nc7 15.
Bg5 Re8 16. Na4 Nb5 17. Nab6 Qb7 18. Ra2 Nf6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxc8 Rbxc8 21.
Nb6 Rb8 22. Bc4 Nc7 23. Qd3 Qa7 24. b3 Na8 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. g3 Reb8 27. Kg2
Kg7 28. h4 h5 29. Re1 Bd4 30. Rb1 Rb4 31. Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 (7...
Be7 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Bf3 (9. g4 d5 $5 10. exd5 (10. e5 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. h4
Nd7 13. c4 b6 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. O-O-O Nc5 16. Kb1 O-O-O 17. g5 Nd3 18. Rhf1 Bc5
19. Bxd3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Bologan,V-Novikov,I/St.Petersburg op (09)
;EXP 46 1995}) 10... Bb4 11. dxe6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Kf2 fxe6 14. Qd3 Qc7
15. Bf3 O-O $132 {1/2-1/2 Yemelin,V-Novikov,I/Novgorod op (08) ;EXP 49 1995 
(16)}) (9. O-O O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. f5 $6 (12. g4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 $13)
12... e5 13. Nde2 Nbd7 $10 {Lutz,C-Gelfand,B/Cap d'Agde (01) ;EXP 43 1994/0-1 
(61)}) 9... Nc6 10. Qe2 Nxd4 $1 (10... O-O 11. O-O-O Nxd4 12. Rxd4 e5 13. fxe5
dxe5 14. Rc4 Qd8 15. Rd1 Bd7 16. Bc5 b5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rc7 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+
Rxc8 $10 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Arnason,J/Jurmala 1987 (39)}) 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3
b5 13. O-O-O O-O 14. g4 $6 (14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd6 17. g4 $132
) (14. f5 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 a5 $10) 14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 exf4
17. Bxf4 a5 $15 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Amsterdam VSB (02) ;CBM 52 1996/0-1 (51)})
8. Bf3 Qb6 (8... Qc7 9. O-O Be7 (9... Rb8 10. a4 b6 11. Kh1 Bb7 12. Qe1 h5 13.
f5 e5 14. Nb3 Be7 15. Qg3 Kf8 16. Bg5 $16 {Hlgatian,G-Haroutjunian,D/Erevan op
(06) ;EXP 52 1996/0-1 (53)}) 10. Kh1 Nf8 (10... h6 $6 11. Qe1 Rg8 12. f5 Ne5
13. Be2 b5 14. a3 Bd7 15. Qg3 $16 {1-0 Totsky,L-Petrushin,A/Kstovo op (07) ;
EXP 42 1994 (39)}) 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 N6d7 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bh5 $13 {1-0
Emelin,V-Galkin,A/St.Petersburg op (05) 1994 (28)}) 9. a3 e5 10. Nde2 Qc5 11.
g4 exf4 12. Nxf4 Ne5 13. h3 Be6 14. g5 Nfd7 15. Nfd5 g6 $6 (15... Rc8 16. Be3
Qa5 17. Be2 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxd5 19. exd5 Be7 $10) 16. Be2 Bg7 17. Be3 Qc6 18.
Qd2 Nc4 (18... Bxd5 19. Nxd5 Nc5 20. Qb4 Kf8 21. O-O-O a5 22. Qe1 (22. Qb6 $6
Nxe4 23. Bb5 Qxb6 24. Nxb6 $44) 22... Nxe4 23. Nb6 Re8 24. Qxa5 $16) 19. Bxc4
Qxc4 20. O-O-O Rc8 21. Kb1 $16 Rd8 22. b3 Qc6 23. Bd4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Ne5 25. Qf2
Kd7 (25... Nd7 26. h4 $16) 26. Rd4 f5 (26... Qc5 27. Rhd1 Nc6 (27... Qxa3 28.
Rb4 Rb8 29. Qb6 $18) 28. Na4 Qxa3 29. Nab6+ Ke8 30. Nc7+ $18) 27. gxf6 $18 Rhf8
28. Rhd1 Ke8 29. Qe3 Rc8 30. R1d2 Qc5 31. Kb2 b5 (31... Nc6 32. Na4 Qa5 (32...
Qa7 33. Nab6 Nxd4 34. Nxc8 Bxc8 35. Rxd4 $18) 33. Nab6 Nxd4 34. b4 $18) 32. Qg3
Rf7 33. h4 a5 34. a4 b4 35. Nb5 Rb7 36. Kb1 (36. Ne3 $2 Rxb5 37. axb5 Qc3+ 38.
Kb1 Bxb3 $13) 36... Rxb5 37. axb5 Qxb5 38. Qf4 (38. h5 $18) 38... Nf7 39. Qf2
Rc5 40. Nf4 Re5 41. Rxd6 Nxd6 (41... Nxd6 42. Rxd6 Bg8 43. Qa7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 Nge7 7. Be3 b5 8. Nb3
d6 9. f4 Bd7 10. Bg2 Nc8 11. Nd4 Nb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Bd4 b4 14. Ne2 Nd7 15.
Qd3 e5 16. Bf2 Qb8 17. O-O-O Be7 18. Rhe1 O-O 19. Kb1 a5 20. Nc1 Qb7 21. Qe2
Rfc8 22. Nd3 Rc7 23. Rd2 Bf6 24. f5 Bg5 25. Be3 Be7 26. Bf2 Nb6 27. b3 Nd7 28.
h4 Bb5 29. g4 Rac8 30. g5 f6 31. g6 h6 32. Qd1 Rc3 33. Nb2 Kh8 34. Bf3 Bf8 35.
Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bxc5
Qxc5 9. Qd4 Nd7 10. Nc3 a6 11. Qxc5 Nxc5 12. Nd4 Ne7 13. f4 h5 14. O-O-O Rc8
15. Rhe1 Bg6 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. cxd3 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Kd2 g6 20. Rc1 Ke7 21.
Ne2 Rhc8 22. Nd4 R6c7 23. h4 Na4 24. Rxc7+ Rxc7 25. b3 Nb6 26. a4 Nc8 27. b4
Kd7 28. Rb1 Na7 29. b5 axb5 30. axb5 Rc5 31. Ke3 b6 32. Rb3 Ke7 33. Kf3 f5 34.
exf6+ Kxf6 35. Ke3 Nc8 36. Rb1 Nd6 37. Kd2 e5 38. fxe5+ Kxe5 39. Rb4 Nc4+ 40.
dxc4 Kxd4 41. cxd5+ Kxd5 42. Kd3 Rc1 43. Rf4 Ke5 44. Re4+ Kf5 45. Rd4 Rc5 46.
Rb4 Re5 47. g3 Re1 48. Rf4+ Ke5 49. Rf3 Rc1 50. Rf4 Rg1 51. Rf3 Kd5 52. Ke3 Ke5
53. Kd3 Kd5 54. Ke3 Ke5 55. Kd3 Ra1 56. Kc4 Ra4+ 57. Kb3 Rg4 58. Rd3 Rd4 59.
Rc3 Rg4 60. Rd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. O-O
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. Qc2 (10. f3 $142) 10... Qe7 11. f3 d5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13.
Bd3 {N} (13. Bb5 Bd7 $1 (13... Nbd7 14. Rfe1 dxe4 15. Bf2 a6 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17.
Rxe4 $16 {Hulak-Scheeren, Wijk aan Zee 1983})) 13... Na6 $1 (13... dxe4 14.
Nxe4 Nd5 15. Bf2 $14) (13... Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Bf2 $1 $14 (15. Rfe1 Ng4 $1
16. fxg4 d4)) 14. a3 (14. Bxa6 bxa6 $13) 14... Bd7 $10 15. Rfe1 dxe4 16. Nxe4
Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rac8 18. Qf2 Nc5 $10 19. Bc2 Qf6 20. Rad1 b6 21. Qd2 Ne6 22. Be4
Rcd8 23. Qc1 Ba4 24. b3 Bd7 25. Nc6 Bxc6 26. Qxc6 Nc5 27. Bxc5 Qxc6 28. Bxc6
Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 bxc5 30. Re8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3
Bg7 (7... a6 8. a4 Qe7 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. e3 h6 (10... Nbd7 11. Bd3 (11. Be2 $142)
11... h6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. O-O Re8 14. a5 Qf8 15. Nd2 Ne5 16. Bc2 g5 17. Bg3 Bd7
18. f4 gxf4 19. exf4 Ng6 20. Qf3 Bb5 21. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Ra1 $6 Qe7
24. Nxb5 axb5 25. Re1 Qd8 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 $17 {Jakobsen,O-De Firmian,N/
Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 11. Bh4 Nbd7 12. Be2 Ne5 13. Nd2 g5 14. Bg3 Bf5 15. O-O
O-O 16. a5 Rae8 17. Ra3 Nfd7 18. Kh1 Bh7 19. Rb3 Rb8 20. f4 Nd3 21. Nc4 Nb4 22.
e4 $1 b5 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. f5 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 $14 {[%csl Rh7] ץh7,Hansen,
Cu-Emms,J/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 (10. O-O b4 11.
Ne2 Re8 12. Ng3 Nfd7 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. Bg5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17.
Nd2 Nc7 18. Nc4 Nb5 19. f4 Qh4 20. Kh2 Nb6 21. Ne3 Qe7 22. Rae1 h5 23. Qf2 Qf6
24. e5 $1 dxe5 25. f5 Nd6 26. fxg6 Qxf2 27. Rxf2 fxg6 28. Rf6 $40 {Petursson,
M-Borbjerggaard,L/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 10... Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Re1 (12. Qb3
a6 13. Na3 Nd7 14. Nc4 Rb8 (14... Ndf6 15. Re1 Ra7 16. Qb6 $1 Qxb6 17. Nxb6 Bf5
18. a4 a5 19. Bb5 Rb8 20. g4 Rxb6 21. gxf5 Rbb7 22. Ra3 Re7 23. fxg6 hxg6 24.
Rae3 Bh6 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Bxh6 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 Nxd5 28. Nc2 Nc7 29. Bf4 $16 {
Epishin,V-Nepomnishay,MI/St.Petersburg-ch/1996/}) 15. Qc2 f5 16. Bf4 Nb6 17.
Nxb6 Qxb6 18. Rab1 Bd7 19. Nd2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Bd4 $5 (20... Bb5 $10) 21. Rfe1
Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Re8 23. Qd2 a5 24. b3 Be5 25. a3 Bb5 26. Bxb5 Qxb5 27. Bxe5 Rxe5
28. Re1 $10 {Karpov,An-Kamsky,G (15)/Fide-Wch (Elista)/1996/}) (12. Qa4 Bd7 13.
Bxe4 Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Rxe4 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Qd3 Re8 17. Rab1 Nd7 18. b3 Ne5 19.
Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rbc1 Bg7 21. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 a6 23. Qe3 Qb5 $10 {Franco,
Z-Otero,E/Capablanca mem-B/1991/}) 12... a6 (12... Bd7 13. a4 a6 14. Na3 Nf6
15. Nc4 Rxe1+ 16. Nxe1 Ra7 17. Qf3 Bc8 18. Nc2 Bb7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
N2e3 Bg5 22. Qg3 Ba8 23. a5 Qf6 24. Ng4 Qf4 25. Qxf4 Bxf4 26. Re1 $36 {Horvath,
J-Dinstuhl,V/Budapest FS03 GM/1994/}) 13. Qa4 (13. Na3 Nf6 14. Rxe8+ Nxe8 15.
Nc4 Nd7 16. Bg5 Ndf6 17. Bc2 Bb7 18. Ne3 Nc7 19. Bb3 h6 20. Bh4 Bc8 21. Qc2 Nb5
22. Rd1 Bd7 23. Bg3 Rc8 24. Qd3 Nh5 25. Bh2 Qf6 26. Nc4 Nf4 27. Qe3 g5 28. Nb6
Re8 29. Nxd7 Qd8 30. Nde5 Bxe5 $132 {Chuchelov,V-Hendriks,W/NLD-ch op/1992/})
13... Nd7 $5 $146 {A nice new idea. The pawn sacrifice is only temporary and
seems to solve Black's problems in this line after 13.Qa4.} (13... Bd7 14. Qa3
Qb6 15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. bxc3 Nd7 18. Bf4 Qc7 19. Rb1 $5 (19. Re1
Nf6 20. c4 a5 21. Qc1 Bd7 22. Bd2 a4 23. Bc3 Re8 24. Rxe8+ $10 {1/2,Wells,P-De
Firmian,N/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 19... Nb6 20. c4 a5 21. Ng5 Nd7 22. Bf1 Ne5 23.
Nf3 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rb8 25. Re1 Bd7 26. Qg3 Bf8 27. Bd3 Re8 28. Rf1 Ba4 29. h4
$14 {Krasenkov,M-De Firmian,N/Polanica Zdroj/1995/}) 14. Rxe4 (14. Bxe4 Nb6 15.
Qb3 axb5 16. Qxb5 Ba6 (16... Bb7 $5 17. Bg5 f6 $13) 17. Qb3 Bc4 $10) 14... Rxe4
15. Qxe4 (15. Bxe4 Nb6 16. Qb3 axb5 17. Qxb5 Ba6 $10) 15... Nf6 (15... axb5 {
Dolmatov} 16. Bxb5 Nf6) 16. Qh4 (16. Qa4 Bd7 17. Qb3 axb5 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19.
Qxb5 Nxd5 $15 {[%cal Ga8a2,Gb8b2,Gg7b2] <->a,b,/^a1-h8}) 16... axb5 17. Bxb5
Qb6 18. a4 Bb7 (18... Qxb5 $2 {Dolmatov} 19. axb5 Rxa1 20. Qf4 Nxd5 21. Qxd6
Rxc1+ 22. Kh2) 19. Bh6 Bxd5 (19... Bh8 $5 $13) 20. Nd2 (20. Bxg7 {Dolmatov}
Kxg7 21. Qf4 $15) 20... Qb7 $10 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qg3 (22. f3 $5 Bc6 23. Bxc6
Qxc6 24. b3 $10) 22... Nh5 $1 23. Qc3+ (23. Qxd6 $6 Bxg2 24. Qxc5 Kg8 $5 $44 {
[%csl Rf2,Rg1,Rh3] ׻} (24... Nf4 $2 25. Qd4+) (24... Bxh3 $2 25. Qc3+)) 23...
Kg8 24. f3 (24. Bf1 Nf4 25. g3 Ne6) 24... Qe7 25. Ne4 $6 (25. Nf1 $142 Nf4 26.
Qd2 (26. Re1 {Dolmatov} Qg5 $19) 26... Qg5 27. Kh2 $10) 25... Bxe4 26. fxe4 $6
{Now White will have insufficient compensation for the pawn, Black will
activate his N fast.} (26. Re1 d5 (26... Nf4 27. fxe4 (27. Rxe4 {Dolmatov} Qg5
$17) 27... Qg5 28. Qf3 $15) 27. fxe4 d4 $15) 26... Qxe4 27. Re1 Qb7 {[%cal
Yh5f4,Yf4e6,Ye6d4] /\Nf4-e6-d4} 28. Rf1 Ng7 29. Qf6 (29. b4 $5 {Dolmatov} cxb4
30. Qxb4) 29... Nf5 (29... Qd5 $2 30. Bc6 $1 Qxc6 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 32. Qf8+ $1)
30. Re1 $2 (30. Bc4 d5 $17) (30. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 31. Qxd6 $15 {[%csl Rc5,Rf5,Rf7,
Rg8,Rh7] ק,K The immediate exchange sacrifice was a good chance to save the
game. Black's weak pawns and K give White realistic drawing chances. Later
White adopts this idea in a worse version.} (31. Qg5+ {Dolmatov} Kf8 32. Qh6+
Ke7 33. Qg5+ Ke6 $17)) (30. g4 Nd4 (30... Ne3 31. Rf2 Qd5 $36) 31. Qxd6 Nxb5
32. axb5 Qxb5 $17 33. Rxf7 $2 Ra1+ {[%cal Rg8f7] /\Kf7-+}) 30... Qd5 {Black
activates his Q-it's zig-zag will decide the game.} 31. b3 (31. Be8 Qd4+ 32.
Qxd4 Nxd4 $17) 31... Qd2 $1 {A strong move. Before taking tha b3P Black chases
White's R away from the e-file.} (31... Qd4+ $6 32. Qxd4 Nxd4 33. Bc4 $15) (
31... Qxb3 32. Bd7 Qg3 $17 (32... Qg3 {Dolmatov} 33. Rf1)) 32. Rf1 Qe3+ 33. Kh2
Qg3+ 34. Kg1 Qxb3 35. Rxf5 (35. Bd7 {Dolmatov} Ng3 $17) 35... gxf5 {White has
no perpetual check.} 36. Qg5+ (36. Qxd6 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 f4 $19) 36... Kf8 37. Qh6+
Ke7 38. Qh4+ f6 $8 39. Qxh7+ Qf7 40. Qxf5 Kd8 $19 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6] Now Black's
K is safe and the united passed pawns will sooner or later decide the game.
The exchange sacrifice came too late.} 41. Bc6 Ra7 42. Bd5 Qe7 {[%cal Re7e1,
Re1e5] /\Qe1-e5-+} 43. Qb1 Kc8 (43... Kc7 {Dolmatov} 44. a5) 44. Qf5+ Kc7 45.
Qb1 Qe3+ (45... Qd7 46. a5 Rxa5 47. Qb7+ Kd8 48. Qb8+ Ke7 49. Qg8 $132) 46. Kh1
Qd2 $1 47. Qb3 (47. Bf3 d5 $19) 47... Qc1+ (47... Qc1+ 48. Kh2 Qf4+ 49. Kh1
Qxa4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht Tischbierek} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {
Dieses Gambit ist in der letzten Zeit wieder etwas in Mode gekommen. Meines
Erachtens hat Weiß Kompensation - nicht mehr und nicht weniger.} dxc4 7. e4 g5
8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 (9... a6 $6 {Dieser Zug ist wahrscheinlich ein
Tempoverlust.} 10. Qc2 Be7 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Rg8
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. e5 Be7 17. Qh7 $40 {Lobron,E-Slobodjan,R/Nussloch (03) ;CBM
53 1996}) (9... b4 10. Na4 Nxe4 11. Be5 Rg8 12. Qc2 $36) 10. O-O (10. e5 Nd5 (
10... Nh5 11. O-O Nd7 12. a4 a6 13. Kh1 (13. d5 $5) 13... Ng7 14. Ne4 Nf5 (
14... c5 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6 $40) 15. Nfd2 Qb6 (15... Nxd4 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17.
Qxd4 $16) 16. Bh5 Qxd4 17. Qg4 Nc5 (17... c5 $142 18. Rae1 Rh7 $1 19. f4 O-O-O
$17) 18. Rae1 Nd3 19. Re2 Be7 20. f4 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Nxf4 22. Rxf4 Qxe5 23. Ng3
Qg7 {1-0 Piket,J-Dreev,A/Groningen/1991/ (26)}) 11. h4 Qa5 12. Rc1 g4 13. Nd2
c5 (13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 h5 15. Ne4 Nd7 16. f3 c5 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. exd6 cxd4
19. Qxd4 O-O-O 20. fxg4 Bxg2 21. Rg1 Bc6 22. a4 {Kishnev,S-Bykhovsky,Av/USSR/
1982/}) 14. Nce4 cxd4 15. O-O h5 16. a4 a6 17. b4 Qd8 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Nxc4
Nc3 20. Nxc3 dxc3 21. Nd6+ Bxd6 22. exd6 Qf6 23. Qd3 O-O 24. Rxc3 Bd5 {1/2-1/2
Kasparov,G-Tal,M/Moscow izt (05)/1982/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... Be7 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12.
f4 Nxe5 13. fxe5 Nh7 14. Bh5 O-O 15. Qf3 f5 16. exf5 Qxd4+ 17. Bf2 Qxe5 18.
Rae1 Qxf5 19. Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Rxe6 Bf6 21. Bg6 Rxf2 22. Kxf2 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Nf8
24. Rd6 {1-0 Kupreichik,V-Sveshnikov,E/URS-ch52 Riga (06)/1985/ (39)}) (10...
a6 11. a4 Bg7 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 Bf8 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6 Nd7 16. Ne5 Nxe5
17. dxe5 Qd7 18. Qd4 Rc8 19. Qc5 Qd8 20. a5 h5 21. h3 Ra8 22. f4 g4 23. f5 exf5
24. Rxf5 Bc8 25. Bh4 {Poluljahov,A-Meister,Y/RSFSR-ch Kuibishev/1990/0-1 (76)})
11. a4 $146 (11. d5 cxd5 12. exd5 Nxd5 (12... Qb6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Nd4 Bc5 15.
Ndxb5 O-O 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Rac8 18. Rad1 Qc6 19. Qe2 Nd5 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21.
Qxe6+ Kg7 22. Bxd6 {1-0 Spassky,B-Kostro,J/Siegen olm/1970/}) 13. Nxb5 a6 (
13... N7b6 14. Qd4 Rg8 15. Qe4 Qd7 16. Nc7+ Nxc7 17. Qxb7 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19.
Rfd1 Qe7 20. Bxc4 Kf8 21. Rac1 {1-0 Ivanov,Se-Drogoon,A/Minsk (09)/1995/ (33)})
14. Nd6+ (14. Nbd4 Bg7 15. Bxc4 O-O 16. Re1 Rc8 17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Qd2 Rfe8 19.
Nf5 exf5 20. Bxd5 Nf6 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Be5 Ne4 24. Qd4 {1-0
Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Frankfurt rap (03)/1996/ (40)}) 14... Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Qb6 (
15... N7b6 16. Qd4 Rg8 17. Bg3 Nf4 18. Qe5 f6 19. Qe3 Nbd5 20. Qe4 Nc3 21. Qxb7
Ncxe2+ 22. Kh1 Qd5 23. Qh7 O-O-O 24. Qa7 Qc6 25. Rfe1 Nd4 26. Bxf4 gxf4 {
0-1 Neurohr,S-Ribli,Z/BL 9091/1991/}) 16. Bg3 (16. Ba3 $2 Nf4 17. Bxc4 Nxg2 $1)
16... Rc8 $15 {Bareev,E-Dreev,A/Wijk (5.3) ;CBM 45 1995} (16... Rc8 17. Rc1 c3
18. Ne5 cxb2 19. Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. Qc2 O-O 21. Nc4 Qd4 22. Rb1 Nc3 23. Rxb2 Ne4
24. Nd2 Nxg3 25. hxg3 Nc5 {Bareev,E-Dreev,A/Wijk (5.3)/1995/1/2-1/2 (75)}) (
16... c3 17. Rb1 $1)) (11. Qc2) 11... b4 (11... a6) 12. e5 (12. Na2 Nxe4 13.
Bxc4 Bg7 14. Nxb4 Nxg3 15. hxg3 c5) 12... Nh5 (12... bxc3 13. exf6 cxb2 14. Rb1
c3 15. Qb3 $14) (12... g4 13. Ne1 bxc3 14. exf6 cxb2 15. Rb1 Ba6 16. Rxb2 $15)
(12... Nd5 13. Ne4 $36) 13. Ne4 c5 14. Nfd2 (14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6 Nxg3 16.
fxg3 O-O 17. Bxc4 Nb6 (17... cxd4 18. Qxd4 Qb6 $10)) (14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. dxc5
Qd5 16. Qc1 Ba6 $15) 14... Nxg3 15. fxg3 Be7 (15... cxd4 16. Bh5 Nxe5 (16...
Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe5 18. Nf6+ Ke7 $13) 17. Nxc4 $1 Nxc4 (17... d3 18. Nxe5 Qd4+
19. Kh1 Qxe4 20. Bxf7+ $16) 18. Rxf7 $18) 16. Nd6+ Bxd6 17. exd6 c3 $1 (17...
O-O 18. Nxc4 $14) (17... cxd4 18. Nxc4 e5 19. Bh5 O-O 20. Rc1 $15) 18. bxc3
bxc3 19. Nc4 (19. Qb3 Qb6 (19... cxd2 $140 $4 20. Qxe6+ $3) (19... O-O $5) 20.
Qxc3 cxd4) 19... O-O 20. Rc1 f5 $1 {Black has to secure f6 square for the queen
} (20... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Nb6 22. Rxc3 $10) 21. dxc5 (21. Ne5 cxd4 22. Qxd4 (22.
Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxd4 Bd5 $10) 22... Qf6) (21. Rxc3 $13 {Gelfand}) 21... Rc8 $5 (
21... Nxc5 $5 22. Rxc3 Ne4) 22. Bf3 $2 (22. Rxc3 Rxc5 $13) (22. Qb3 $13 {
Gelfand}) 22... Ba6 $1 (22... Bxf3 23. Rxf3 Rxc5 24. Rfxc3 $10) 23. c6 (23.
Rxc3 Rxc5 (23... Rxc5 24. Qb3 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. Qxc4 Qb6+ 27. Kh1 Qxd6 28.
Rd1 $15)) 23... Bxc4 24. c7 (24. Re1 Rxc6 25. Bxc6 Qb6+ 26. Kh1 Qxc6 27. Rxc3
Qa6 $19) (24. cxd7 Qxd7 25. Re1 c2 $1 {Tischbierek} (25... Rfd8 $17)) 24... Qf6
(24... Rxc7 25. dxc7 Qxc7 26. Re1 $13 (26. Rxc3 Qb6+ 27. Rf2 Ne5)) 25. Re1 (25.
Rf2 Nc5 {/\Nd3}) 25... Nc5 26. Re3 Ne4 $1 (26... Bb3 27. Qe1 Nxa4 28. Bb7 Qd4
29. Bxc8 Rxc8 30. Rb1 f4 31. d7 Qxd7 $19) 27. h3 (27. g4 e5 28. gxf5 Nxd6) (27.
Bxe4 fxe4 28. Kh1 c2 $1 29. Qe1 Bd3) 27... Bd5 28. Bxe4 fxe4 (28... Bxe4 29.
Rexc3 e5 30. d7 $16) 29. Rexc3 Rf7 (29... e3 30. Kh2 Bxg2 31. d7 $3 (31. Kxg2
Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxg3 33. Qh5 (33. Qg4 Qxd6 $19) 33... Kg7 34. d7 Rf2 $19) 31...
Be4 (31... Qf2 32. R1c2 Bc6+ 33. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 34. Kg1 Rg2+ 35. Kf1 Rf8+ (35...
e2+ 36. Qxe2 Rf8+ 37. Rf3 $18) 36. Ke1 Rg1+ 37. Ke2 Rxd1 38. c8=Q Bxd7 $13) (
31... Bb7 32. R1c2 (32. R3c2 Rxc7 $19) 32... Qf2+ 33. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 34. Kg1 Rg2+
35. Kf1 (35. Kh1 Rd2+ 36. Kg1 Rxd1+ 37. Kh2 Rh1#) 35... Rf8+ 36. Ke1 Ba6 37.
Qd3 $1 Bxd3 38. Rxd3 $18) 32. Qe2 (32. R1c2 Bxc2 33. Qxc2 Rxc7 34. Rxc7 Qf2+
35. Qxf2 exf2 36. Rc1 Rd8 $17) 32... Qf2+ 33. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 34. Kg1 Rcf8 35. c8=Q
Rg2+ 36. Kh1 $10) 30. Kh2 (30. Qe2 Qd4+ 31. Kh2 (31. Qe3 Qxe3+ 32. Rxe3 Kf8)
31... Qb6 $19) 30... Qe5 31. Rc6 {Black is easily winning here, but I was
short of time and lost control of the position} e3 (31... Bxc6 32. Rxc6 Qd5 33.
Qc2 Rd7 $19) 32. Qe2 Bxc6 $2 (32... Qe4 33. R6c4 Bxc4 34. Rxc4 Qd5 $19) 33.
Rxc6 Qd5 (33... Kg7 34. Qa6 Rf3 $1 35. gxf3 (35. Rc1 Qxg3+ 36. Kh1 e2 37. Qxe2
Rf2 38. Qe4 Qxd6 $19) 35... Qb2+ 36. Kg1 (36. Kh1 e2 $19) 36... Qf2+ 37. Kh1
Qe1+ 38. Kg2 Qd2+ 39. Kg1 e2 $19 {Tischbierek}) 34. Qa6 Rff8 35. Rc3 Kg7 (35...
e2 36. Re3) 36. Rd3 (36. Rxe3 Rf2 $19) 36... Qe4 (36... e2 37. Rxd5 e1=Q 38.
Qxc8 (38. d7) 38... Rxc8 39. d7 $132) 37. Qxc8 Rxc8 38. d7 Rxc7 (38... Qa8 39.
d8=Q Rxd8 40. Rxd8 $1 $18 (40. cxd8=Q Qxd8 41. Rxd8 e2 $19)) (38... Qxd3 39.
dxc8=Q e2 40. Qxe6 Qc2 41. c8=Q $18) 39. d8=Q Rf7 40. Qd4+ (40. Rd7 e2 $19)
40... Qxd4 41. Rxd4 {Hecht: Ab Zug 48 je 1 Randfreibauer, taktikischer Witz
Zug 53} Rb7 $2 (41... e5 $1 {Black could use the fact, that the white King is
out of play and still win} 42. Re4 Kf6 43. Rxe3 Ke6 44. Re1 Kd5 45. Rd1+ Kc4
46. Re1 Kd4 47. Rd1+ Kc3 48. Re1 Re7 $19) (41... e2 42. Re4 Rf2 43. g4) (41...
Rf1 42. Re4 Re1 43. Rxe6 e2 44. g4 $15) 42. Re4 Kf6 43. Rxe3 Rb4 (43... a5 $5)
44. Rf3+ Ke7 45. Rc3 (45. Ra3 {Hecht} a5 $17) 45... Rxa4 (45... Kd6 46. a5 $5)
46. Rc7+ Kd6 (46... Kf6 47. Rh7 Kg6 48. Re7 Ra6 (48... Kf5 {Hecht} 49. g4+ Kf6
50. Rh7 $15) 49. g4 h5 50. gxh5+ Kxh5 $15) 47. Rh7 a5 48. Rxh6 Rc4 49. Rh8 $1 (
49. h4 Rc8 $1) 49... a4 50. h4 g4 (50... gxh4 51. gxh4 Kc5 (51... Ke5 52. Kh3
$10) 52. h5 a3 53. Ra8 Kb4 54. Kh3 $13) 51. h5 Ke7 52. h6 Kf7 53. Re8 Rc5 (
53... Kg6 54. Rxe6+ Kh7 $10) 54. Ra8 Rh5+ 55. Kg1 Rxh6 56. Rxa4 Rg6 57. Kf2 Kg7
58. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Bangiev,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T Ftacnik Konikowski,J} c5 2. Nc3 {Topalow gilt als einer der
besten Kenner der Sizilianischen Verteidigung; deshalb wollte Judit wohl die
Hauptvarianten nach 2.Nf3 vermeiden. Interessanterweise spielt der Bulgare
selbst ab und zu den Textzug.} Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 {Jetzt wirken
die weißen Figuren, die auf den Punkt e5 zielen, optimal zusammen. Manche
Spieler hegen Vorliebe für den Zug} (5. Bc4 {Konikowski,J z.B.} e6 6. d3 Nge7
7. O-O d6 8. Qe1 h6 9. Bb3 Nd4 (9... a6 10. e5 Nf5 11. Kh1 Nfd4 12. Ne4 Nxf3
13. Rxf3 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nxe5 15. Rf1 g5 16. Qg3 O-O 17. Bxg5 $5 hxg5 18. Nxg5
Ng6 19. Rae1 Qe7 20. Rf5 $1 {mit sehr kompliziertem Spiel; Anand-Gelfand, Wijk
aan Zee 1996}) 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 O-O 12. Kh1 f5 13. Ng1 Kh8 14. Nf3 Bd7 15.
Bd2 Rc8 16. Qg3 fxe4 17. dxe4 d5 18. exd5 {mit weißem Vorteil (Topalow-van
Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1996).}) 5... Nd4 {Mit diesem Zug vermeidet Schwarz, daß
ihm auf der c-Linie ein Doppelbauer zugefügt wird.} 6. Bd3 d6 7. Nxd4 cxd4 8.
Ne2 {Der Abtausch auf d4 hat neue strategische Elemente in die Stellung
gebracht. Der schwarze Vorposten d4 (Bauer auf d4) übt auf die weiße Stellung
einen starken Druck aus; aber der Bauer auf d4 ist auch verwunbar und wird oft
zum Objekt eines Angriff.} Nf6 9. O-O (9. c3 {Ftacnik} dxc3 10. dxc3 O-O 11.
O-O b5 12. Ng3 a5 13. a3 Bd7 14. Qe2 Qb8 15. Bd2 Bc6 16. Rad1 Nd7 17. Rf2 {
1/2-1/2 Campora,D-Jukic,M/Bern/1989/}) 9... O-O 10. Qe1 $5 {/\11.Qf2->Pd4
Natürlich geht nicht} (10. c3 $6 e5 (10... dxc3 11. bxc3 b6 $1 (11... Qa5) 12.
Bc2 Bb7 13. d3 Qc7 14. Kh1 Rac8 {0-1 Hodgson,JM-Petursson,M/Reykjavik 1989 (33)
} (14... Rac8 {Ftacnik} 15. f5 $2 d5 $3 $17 16. Bf4 Qc6 $1 17. Ba4 b5 18. Nd4
Qc5 $1 19. e5 bxa4 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. fxg6 hxg6 {0-1 Hodgson,J-Petursson,M/
Reykjavik/1989/ (33)})) 11. cxd4 exd4 12. b3 (12. b4 Re8 13. Ng3 h5 14. f5 h4
15. Ne2 g5 16. Bc2 d3 17. Bxd3 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxa1 {0-1 Friis,C-Kristensen,J/
DEN-chB (06) 1992 (29)}) 12... Re8 13. Ng3 h5 14. f5 h4 15. Ne2 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
Rxe4 17. d3 Re5 18. fxg6 Bg4 {0-1 Basman,M-Adorjan,A/London 1975 (36)}) (10.
Nxd4 $2 Qb6 11. c3 e5) 10... Nd7 {/\11...Nc5} (10... e5 11. b3 Re8 12. Bb2 $14)
11. Bc4 $5 {/\12.d3} (11. Qf2 $142 {Horvath,T}) 11... d5 $5 {Der aktive Plan
im Kampf um die Zentrumsfelder.} (11... Qc7 12. d3 Nb6 13. Bb3 Be6 $5 {[%csl
Rc2]} 14. c3 (14. f5 $6 Bxb3 15. cxb3 Qc2 $5 $132 16. Bg5 $6 Qxd3 17. Nc1 Qc2
18. Bxe7 Rfe8 $15) (14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. c4 dxc3 16. bxc3 Rac8 17. Bd2 e5 $132 (
17... Na4 $132)) (14. c4 f5 $5 $132 (14... dxc3 {->14.c3}) 15. c5 $6 Bxb3 16.
cxb6 $6 axb6 $17) 14... dxc3 15. bxc3 (15. Nxc3 Bxb3 16. axb3 Qc5+ 17. Be3 Qb4
$36) 15... Rac8 16. Bd2 Bd7 (16... Bg4 $6 17. Nd4 (17. Rc1 d5 $5 $36)) 17. Qf2
$13) 12. exd5 (12. Bxd5 {Ftacnik} Nf6 13. Ng3 (13. Bb3 {Horvath,T} Nxe4 14. d3
Nd6 $15) 13... Nxd5 14. exd5 d3 $13) 12... Nb6 $5 13. d3 (13. Bb3 d3 $5 (13...
a5 {Ftacnik} 14. a4 Nxd5 15. d3 e6 16. Kh1 b6 17. Ng3 f5 18. Ne2 Qd6 19. Ng1
Bb7 20. Nf3 Rae8 21. Ne5 Nb4 22. Qg3 Bd5 23. Bd2 Nc6 24. Rae1 Bxb3 25. cxb3 Qd5
26. h4 Nxe5 27. fxe5 Qxb3 {0-1 Weeramantry,S-Lein,A/USA-op Dearborn (10)/1992/
(42)}) 14. cxd3 Nxd5 $36) 13... Nxc4 $5 (13... Nxd5 14. Kh1 $5 $36 {/\Ng1-f3;
Qh4} (14. Ng3 e6) (14. Qf2 Nb6 15. Bb3 Qd6 $10) 14... Nb6 15. Bb3 a5 (15... Qd6
16. Ng1 Bd7 17. Nf3 Rac8 {/\18...Ba4} 18. a4 $36) 16. a4 Bd7 17. Bd2 $14) (
13... Nxd5 $10 {Konikowski,J}) 14. dxc4 b5 $5 (14... e6 $5 {Ftacnik} 15. Qf2 (
15. f5 exd5 16. fxg6 fxg6 17. cxd5 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 Bf5 $36) 15... exd5 16. Nxd4
dxc4 17. Be3 Re8 18. Rad1 Qa5 $15) 15. Qf2 (15. cxb5 Qxd5 16. Ng3 Bb7 17. Qe2
a6 $36) 15... bxc4 16. Nxd4 Qxd5 17. Be3 a5 (17... Bb7 18. f5 Rad8 19. c3 $36)
(17... Rb8 {[%csl Rb2]} 18. c3 {[%csl Yb2]}) (17... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 18. Rad1 (18.
c3) 18... Bg4 19. Rd2 c3 20. bxc3 Qxa2 21. Qh4 $13) 18. c3 Rd8 (18... Bf5 $5
19. Nxf5 (19. Rad1 Bd3) 19... Qxf5 20. Rad1 Rfd8 $10) 19. Qc2 $5 (19. Rad1 Bf5
$5 (19... Rb8 {Ftacnik} 20. Rd2 Qe4 $15) 20. Nxf5 (20. h3 h5 $5 (20... Be4 $5))
20... Qxd1 (20... Qxf5 $10) 21. Nxg7 (21. Rxd1 $2 Rxd1+) 21... Kxg7 (21... Qd5
22. Bd4 $16) 22. Bd4+ Rxd4 23. cxd4 Qd3 $13) (19. f5 {Ftacnik} Bxd4 20. Bxd4
Bxf5 $15) 19... e6 (19... Bf5 $5 20. Nxf5 Qxf5 21. Qxf5 gxf5 22. Rfd1 $14) (
19... Bb7 $5 {Konikowski,J kommt in Betracht.}) (19... Bb7 {Ftacnik} 20. f5
$132) 20. Rad1 {Dank der Unterstützung durch den vorzüglich postierten
Springer d4 kann Weiß seinen positionellen Angriff organisieren.} Qh5 {Die
Dame hat hier nichts zu suchen. Immer noch wäre} (20... Bb7 21. f5 $5 (21. Nf3
Qh5 $132 (21... Qb5 {Ftacnik} 22. Bd4 Rab8)) 21... gxf5 22. Nxf5 Qxg2+ (22...
Qe4 23. Qxe4 Bxe4 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Bd4+ $14) 23. Qxg2 Bxg2 $13 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8
25. Kxg2 exf5 26. Rxf5 $14) (20... Bb7 {Konikowski,J gut.}) (20... Bb7 {
Horvath,T Hier,und auch schon fruher war der Läuferzug besser.}) 21. Nc6 $1 (
21. Rfe1 Bb7 $15) (21. Qa4 Bb7 $15) 21... Rxd1 (21... Rd7 22. Bd4 $14) 22. Rxd1
{[%csl Rd8]} Bb7 (22... Bf6 23. Bd4 Bb7 24. Bxf6 Bxc6 25. Qd2 Bd5 26. h3 $14 {
/\Qd4,Rd2,Kh2} (26. Qd4 $6 Qe2 27. Qd2)) 23. Ne7+ $1 {/\24.Rd7,Qd2} Kh8 (23...
Kf8 24. Rd7 {[%csl Rb7]} Qb5 {[%csl Yb7,Yc5]} 25. Qd2 {[%csl Rd8] /\26.Rd8} (
25. Rc7 {Ftacnik} e5 (25... Rd8 {Horvath,T} 26. a4 Qa6 27. Bc5 Ke8 28. Nxg6 $18
) 26. Bc5 Ke8 27. Ng8 $1 $16) 25... Bd5 (25... Re8 $2 26. a4 $1 $18 {[%csl Rb7,
Rc5]} Qxa4 (26... Qa6 27. Bc5) 27. Rxb7) 26. Rc7 Rd8 27. Bc5 $16) (23... Kf8 $5
{Konikowski,J ist besser.}) 24. Rd7 Qb5 25. Qd2 {[%csl Rd8] /\26.Rd8} Bd5 (
25... Re8 26. a4 (26. Rd8 $36 {Ftacnik}) 26... Qb3 27. Bd4 (27. Rd8 Qxa4 $17)
27... f6 28. f5 $1 (28. Qe1 Qxb2 29. Nxg6+ Kg8 $1 (29... hxg6 30. Qh4+ Kg8 31.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qxf6+ $18) 30. Nh4 $36) 28... e5 (28... gxf5 29. Nxf5 $1) (28...
exf5 29. Nxf5 $1 gxf5 30. Rxg7 Kxg7 31. Qg5+ $18) 29. Bc5 $36) 26. Rc7 {
[%csl Rd5] /\27.Nd5} Be4 {In Frage käme} (26... Rd8 {z.B.} 27. Nxd5 (27. Nc6
Rf8 28. Ne5 Kg8 {und Schwarz hält seine Stellung}) 27... Qxd5 28. Qxd5 (28.
Rxc4 Qxd2 29. Bxd2 h6 30. Be3 Rd1+ 31. Kf2 Rb1 {und nun scheitert} 32. Rc8+ Kh7
{an} 33. Rb8 $2 Bxc3 $1 {mit schwarzem Vorteil}) 28... exd5 29. Rxf7 $16 (29.
Rxf7 {Konikowski,J} d4 30. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 31. cxd4 Rxd4 {mit Überlebenchancen im
Turmendspiel.})) 27. Nc8 $1 {[%csl Yf7,Rd6,Rd8] /\28.Qd8; /\28.Nd6} Qd5 (27...
Bf6 28. Nd6 $18) (27... Bd5 {Ftacnik} 28. Nd6 Qa4 29. Nxf7+ Kg8 30. Bd4 $18)
28. Nd6 $16 {[%csl Rf7]} Kg8 29. Nxc4 {Aber nicht} (29. Rxf7 $2 {Konikowski,J}
Bd3 $1 30. Rd7 Qc6 31. Nxc4 Bxc4 (31... Qxd7 $2 {hält einer näheren Prüfung
nicht stand wegen} 32. Nb6 Qd6 33. Nxa8 $18) 32. Rd6 (32. Rd8+ Rxd8 33. Qxd8+
Bf8 $19) 32... Qe4 33. b3 Bd5 {und Schwarz gewinnt.}) (29. Nxf7 {Ftacnik} Bb1
30. a3 Rf8 $14) 29... Rb8 {[%csl Rb2]} 30. Qxd5 exd5 (30... Bxd5 31. Ba7 $16 (
31. Ba7 {Ftacnik} Rd8 32. Nxa5 Bxa2 33. Be3 $16)) 31. Ba7 $1 Ra8 (31... Rb5 $2
32. a4 Rb3 33. Rc8+ Bf8 34. Nxa5 Rxb2 35. Bc5 $18) (31... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 32.
Nxa5 $18) 32. Nd6 {Weiß hat einen Mehrbauern und behält die Initiative.} (32.
Nxa5 d4 $140 $1 33. cxd4 (33. Nb3 {Ftacnik} dxc3 34. bxc3 Bxc3 $16) 33... Rxa7
$1) 32... Bb1 (32... Bf8 {Ftacnik} 33. Nc8 $18 (33. Nxf7 $2 Rxa7) (33. Nxe4
dxe4 34. Be3 $16)) 33. Nxf7 (33. Rxf7 $2 {Konikowski,J} Bf8 $1) 33... Bxa2 34.
Ng5 Re8 35. Bd4 Bh6 $4 {Ein grober Schnitzer, der sofort die Partie beendet.
Unbedingt notwendig war} (35... Bxd4+ 36. cxd4 h5 37. Ra7 $16 (37. Ra7 {Ftacnik
} Re2 38. Rxa5 Rxb2 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. Ra7+ Kg8 41. Nh7 $16)) 36. Nxh7 $18 (36.
Nxh7 {Ftacnik} Re6 37. g3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hecht Baburin Fritz} d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. e4 Bxf3 $5 (4... e5) 5.
Qxf3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Qd1 c5 (7... c6 8. Be3 a6 9. Be2 b5 10. a3 Ngf6 11. cxb5
cxb5 12. O-O O-O 13. Qd2 Nb6 14. b3 Qb8 15. f3 Rc8 16. Rfc1 e6 $13 {
Supatashvili,K-Minasian,A/Ankara zt/1995/EXP49/}) 8. d5 $6 (8. Be3 $5) 8...
Bxc3+ {Baburin: Another good example of this strategic idea!} 9. bxc3 Ngf6 10.
f3 Qa5 11. Qb3 O-O-O {Baburin: The black king is perfectly safe on the king
side, and the text enables him to play on the opposite wing and in the centre.
Der strategische Vorteil ist auf der Seite des Nachziehenden} 12. Be2 Rdg8 13.
Rb1 {Weiß hat das Läuferpaar, aber das ist nicht gut in solchen geschlossenen
Stellungen.} Qc7 14. Be3 Kb8 15. Qc2 g5 16. O-O Rg6 17. Rb2 Ka8 $1 18. Rfb1 Rb8
{Großmeisterlich gespielt! Nach 18...b6 kommt Weiß mit 19.a4 und nach 19...a5
hat er noch nichts Konkretes, aber später können sich die Schwächungen zeigen.}
19. Kh1 h5 20. Qd2 g4 21. Qc2 {Diese Stellung erinnert mich an die Partie
Spassky,B-Fischer,R, Reykjavik,1972.} gxf3 22. gxf3 Ne5 23. f4 $1 {Fritz: 18"}
Qc8 $1 {[#]} 24. Bf1 (24. fxe5 Qh3 25. Bf1 (25. Bd3 Qf3+) (25. Bd1 Qf1+) (25.
Rg1 Rbg8 26. Rxg6 (26. Rbb1 Qxe3 27. Rxg6 Rxg6 28. exf6 Qf2 29. Bd3 Qf3+) 26...
Rxg6) 25... Qxe3) 24... Nxc4 $1 {Fritz 18'} 25. Bxc4 Qh3 {Weiß muss Qf3
abwehren. Nach 26.Qe2 kommt Nxe4 mit den Drohungen Ng3 und Nxc3.} 26. Rf1 Qxe3
27. Qd3 Qxe4+ 28. Qxe4 Nxe4 29. Bd3 f5 30. Bxe4 fxe4 {Hecht: Nach Abtausch
vieler Bauern T+Einzelbauer (h) vs T+verbundene Freibauern (a+b) mit wT hinter
dem eigenen Freibauern aber passivem wK; Mattfinale} 31. Re2 {Weiß konnte das
Matt vermeiden, landete aber in einem schlechten Endspiel. Ein Mehrbauer
reicht in diesem Turmendspiel zum Gewinn.} a6 (31... e6 $6 {Hecht} 32. dxe6
Rxe6 33. f5 Re5 34. f6 d5 35. f7 Rf8 36. Rg2 $18 {8.Reihe!}) 32. Rxe4 Rg7 33.
a4 Ka7 34. Rfe1 Rf8 35. a5 Rff7 36. R1e3 Rg4 {Weiß hat nicht nur einen Bauern
weniger, sondern auch Schwachpunkte in seiner Stellung.} 37. Rxe7 Rxe7 38. Rxe7
Rxf4 39. Re6 Rc4 40. Rxd6 Rxc3 41. Rh6 Rd3 42. Rxh5 c4 43. Rh4 c3 44. Rc4 Rxd5
45. Rxc3 Rxa5 {[#]} 46. h4 Rh5 47. Rh3 b5 48. Kg2 Kb6 49. Kf3 a5 50. Ke2 (50.
Kg4 Rh8 51. h5 a4 52. h6 a3 53. Kg5 b4 54. Kg6 a2 55. Rh1 b3 $19) 50... b4 51.
Kd2 Kb5 52. Kc2 a4 53. Kb2 Rf5 54. h5 (54. Rh2 {Hecht} a3+ 55. Kb3 Rf3+ 56. Ka2
Ka4 $19) 54... a3+ 55. Kb1 (55. Kb3 {Hecht} Rf2 $19) 55... Rf1+ 56. Ka2 {
Fritz: mate in 10} Ka4 57. Rh4 Rf2+ 58. Ka1 a2 59. h6 Ka3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Anand came to this game as the leader of the tournament,and Topalov in a very
strange situation for him in the last,2 out of 5 after losing 2 games in a row
the game changes nothing as it was Topalov's third defeat in a row!!} 1. e4 {
Dolmatov Petursson HarZvi Boensch} c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Nc6 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. a4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3
Na5 (12... Bd7 {Har Zvi,R} 13. Nb3 Na5 14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. Qd3 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Bc6
17. b4 Qc7 18. b5 Bd7 19. Rab1 $1 $146 {Anand,V-Kasparov,G New York (m/9) 64/
240 [Anand,V] 1995} (19. Rab1 {Dolmatov} axb5 20. Nxb5 $14 {Anand,V-Kasparov,G/
New York(WM/9)/1995/})) (12... Rb8 {Dolmatov}) 13. g4 $1 {Kasparov played 13.
Bg1 against Topalov one month earlier} (13. Qe1 Nc4 14. Bc1 e5 15. Nde2 Qc5 16.
Ng3 (16. fxe5 {Boensch} dxe5 17. Ng3 Be6 18. b3 Nb6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Qc7
$10 {0-1 Zagrebelny,S-Wojtkiewicz,A/Katowice op (09) 1992 (40)}) (16. Qg3 {
Har Zvi,R} Bd7 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nf4 Nxf3 19. Qxf3 Bc6 $13 {Glek,I-Sutovskij,E
Haifa 1996}) 16... exf4 17. Bxf4 Nxb2 18. Be3 Qe5 19. Be2 Be6 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21.
Rxf5 Qe6 22. Rf4 Rac8 23. Bd4 Nc4 24. Qg3 Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Fedorowicz,J-Arnason,J/
St Martin op (09) 1992}) (13. Bg1 Bf8 (13... Nd7 14. Qe1 Bf6 15. Rd1 Nf8 16. g4
Ng6 17. Bg2 h6 18. Rd3 Nc6 19. Nde2 Nb4 20. Rh3 e5 21. f5 Nf4 $10 {Apicella,
M-Panzalovic,S/Biel op (08) 1990/0-1 (59)}) 14. Qe1 Rb8 15. h3 Nd7 16. Bh2 Nc6
17. Rd1 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 b5 {Har Zvi,R} 19. axb5 axb5 20. e5 {with advantage for
white Kasparov,G-Topalov,V Dos Hermanas 1996/1/2-1/2/48/}) (13. Qe2 {Boensch}
Nc4 14. e5 Nxe3 15. exf6 Nxf1 16. fxe7 Qb6 17. Qd3 e5 $17 {0-1 Geller,E-Stangl,
M/Dortmund-B (9) 1991 (45)}) (13. Qd3 {Boensch} Bf8 14. Rad1 Rb8 15. b3 Bd7 16.
Nde2 Nc6 17. g4 Bc8 18. g5 Nd7 19. Bg2 g6 20. Bg1 Nb4 21. Qg3 b6 22. h4 Bb7 23.
h5 Bg7 24. Bd4 e5 $15 {(42) 0-1 Gurevich,I-Arnason,J/St Martin op (08) 1992})
13... Nd7 (13... Nc4 {Dolmatov} 14. Bc1 e5 15. Nf5 exf4 16. g5 $16) 14. Bg2 Bf8
(14... b6 {Dolmatov} 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Rd1 Rac8 (16... Nc6 17. Nde2 Nb4 18. Rd2
Rac8 19. g5 $40) 17. g5) 15. Qe1 (15. g5 {Boensch} b6 (15... g6 {Har Zvi,R} 16.
Bg1 b6 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Qh3 Nc6 19. f5 $36 {Morawietz,D-Dokhoian,Y Cologne 1992}
) 16. Qh5 $40) 15... b6 (15... Nc4 16. Bc1 {/\ b3,Bb2} (16. Bc1 {Dolmatov} b6
17. b3 Na5 18. Bb2 Bb7 19. Rd1 $13)) 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Qh4 Nc6 (17... Nc4 18. Bc1
g6 19. Rd3 $40) 18. Nde2 $1 {white need to play this move since black idea is
to take on d4 an d then play e5 with a fine position} (18. Rf3 {Boensch} Nxd4
19. Bxd4 e5 20. Rh3 h6 $13) 18... Nb4 19. Rd2 Qd8 (19... d5 20. e5 f6 21. exf6
Nxf6 22. Bd4 $14) 20. g5 f6 (20... g6 {Boensch} 21. Rf3 Rc8 22. Rh3 h5 23. Ng3
$40 {[%csl Rh5]}) (20... h6 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nd4 $5 (21. Qf2 hxg5 22. fxg5 Ne5
) 21... hxg5 22. fxg5 Ne5 23. Rdf2) 21. Nd4 $1 {[%csl Re6]} fxg5 (21... Nc6 22.
gxf6 $1 Qxf6 (22... Nxf6 {Boensch} 23. e5 (23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24. e5 Bxg2+ 25. Rxg2
Nd7 $10) 23... Nd5 24. Qxd8 Nxd8 $10) 23. Qxf6 Nxf6 24. e5) 22. fxg5 Nc6 23.
Rdf2 $1 Rc8 (23... Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Ne5 25. Bxe5 (25. Qg3 {Dolmatov} Qc7) 25...
dxe5 26. Rf7 $16) 24. Nce2 $1 Nc5 (24... Nde5 $2 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Rxf8+ Qxf8
27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Nf4 Ree8 29. Nd5 $16) 25. Nxc6 Bxc6 26. Nd4 Bd7 (26... Bxa4
27. Rf3 $40 (27. Rf3 {Boensch threatening Rh3} e5 (27... Rc7 {Har Zvi,R} 28. b4
$3 Nd7 (28... e5 29. bxc5 exd4 30. cxb6) (28... Nb7 29. Nxe6 $1 Rxe6 30. g6 {
and white is winning}) 29. Bh3 Ne5 30. g6 $3 Nxg6 (30... Qxh4 31. Bxe6+) 31.
Qxd8 Rxd8 32. Bxe6+ {and white is winning}) 28. Rh3 h6 29. Nf5 $40 (29. Qh5 $1
{and white's attack is very strong})) (27. b4 {Dolmatov} Nd7 28. Bh3 $16)) (
26... Bb7 {Boensch} 27. b3 $16) (26... Bb7 {Har Zvi,R}) 27. e5 $1 (27. Rf3 e5
28. Nf5 g6 29. Rh3 h5 $1) 27... dxe5 (27... d5 28. Rf3) 28. Nf3 Bc6 {Nach} (
28... Bd6 29. Rd2 (29. Rd1 {Har Zvi,R} Qe7 (29... Qc7 30. g6 h6 31. Bxh6 gxh6
32. Qxh6 Bxa4 33. Nxe5) 30. Rfd2 e4 31. Rxd6 exf3 32. Bxf3) 29... Qc7 30. Rfd1
$18) (28... Qc7 $1 {Boensch} 29. g6 h6 {kommt der Angriff ins Stocken.}) 29.
Nxe5 Bxg2+ 30. Rxg2 $18 Rc7 (30... Be7 {Har Zvi,R} 31. Ng4 $1 Qd5 (31... Kh8
32. Nf6 Bxf6 (32... gxf6 33. g6) 33. gxf6 gxf6 (33... g6 34. Bg5) 34. Rxf6 {
and white's attack seems decisive}) 32. Nf6+ Bxf6 33. gxf6 Rc7 34. a5 $1 {
and white is winning} bxa5 35. f7+ Rxf7 36. Rxf7 Kxf7 37. Qf2+) (30... Qd5 {
Har Zvi,R} 31. g6 h6 32. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 (32... Qxe5 33. Bc1 {with mate}) 33. Ng4
Nd7 34. g7 {and white is winning}) 31. Ng4 {the decisive maneuver,the knight
is leaving the e5 square in order to gain control over the f6 and h6 squares,
black is hopeless against white's attack} Kh8 (31... e5 {Boensch} 32. Nf6+ gxf6
33. gxf6+ Kh8 34. Qg3 Bd6 35. Bh6 $18) (31... Qd5 {Boensch} 32. Nf6+ (32. Nh6+
{Dolmatov} gxh6 33. gxh6+ $16) 32... gxf6 33. gxf6+ Bg7 34. Bh6 $18) 32. Qh3 $1
{[%cal Yg5g6]} Qd5 (32... g6 {Boensch} 33. Bf4 (33. Nf6 {Har Zvi,R} Rf7 (33...
Ree7 34. Rgf2 $1 Rf7 (34... Rc8 {Petursson} 35. b4 Nxa4 36. Nxh7 Qd5+ 37. Kg1
Rxh7 38. Rxf8+ Rxf8 39. Rxf8+ Kg7 40. Qf1 $18) 35. Nxh7 Qd5+ 36. Kg1) 34. Rgf2
Ree7 35. Nxh7 $1 Qd5+ 36. Kg1) 33... Bd6 34. Qc3+ Rg7 35. Rd1 Ne4 36. Qc6 $18)
33. g6 h6 34. Bxh6 $1 {Ist einfacher als} (34. Nxh6 gxh6 35. Bxh6 $1 (35. g7+
Bxg7 (35... Rxg7 36. Qxh6+ (36. Rxf8+ {Dolmatov} Rxf8 37. Qxh6+ $18) 36... Kg8
37. Rxf8+) 36. Bxh6 Kg8) (35. Rxf8+ Rxf8 36. g7+ Kg8 37. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 38. Bxh6+
Ke8 39. Qg4 $18) 35... Bxh6 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. g7 Qxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Rxg7+ 39. Kh1
Nxa4) 34... gxh6 35. g7+ $1 {Nach} (35. Rxf8+ Rxf8 36. g7+ Kxg7 37. Qxh6+ Kf7)
35... Bxg7 (35... Rxg7 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 (36... Rh7 37. Rxf8+) 37. Nf6+ (37. Nf6+ {
Har Zvi,R} Kf7 38. Nxd5+)) 36. Nxh6 {/\ Nf7 Kg8 Qh8} Qxg2+ 37. Qxg2 Bxh6 (37...
Kh7 38. Qh3 Bxh6 39. Rf6 $18) 38. Qg6 (38. Qg6 Rg8 39. Qxh6+ Rh7 40. Qf6+ Rhg7
41. Qh4+ Rh7 42. Qd4+ Rhg7 43. Rf7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson Dolmatov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.
Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2 O-O 9. O-O-O Bd7 (9... a6 10. Bb3 Qc7) 10. f4 (10. Bb3
$5 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 12. Rhg1 {P g4-g5,f4~/=} b5 $2 (12... Bc6 13. g4 e5 14.
Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bb5 $13) (12... Rac8 13. g4 e5 14. Be3 Rxc3 $1 $44 {Ivanov,
Alexa-Dlugy, Philadelphia 1989}) 13. e5 $1 dxe5 14. Qxe5 $14 {1-0 Yudasin,
L-Fedorowicz,J/Novi Sad olm (07) URS-USA 1990 (38)}) 10... Rc8 (10... a6 $6 11.
e5 dxe5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Timman,J-Ljubojevic,L/Novi
Sad olm (13) NLD-JUG 1990 (42)}) (10... Qc8 $5 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Bd3
e5 14. f5 Nb4 15. Rhg1 d5 16. exd5 Nfxd5 $132 {Wolff,P-Dlugy, Toronto 1989})
11. e5 (11. Bb3 Na5 12. e5 Nxb3+ 13. axb3 Ne8 14. Kb1 Qa5 15. Bc1 dxe5 16. fxe5
Nc7 $10 {0-1 Szuk,B-Feher,G/Budapest FS DecGM (08) ;EXP 45 1994 (34)}) (11. f5
Na5 12. Bd3 e5 13. Nb3 b5 14. Bxb5 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 $10 {Kholmov,R-Tal,M/URS/
1968/}) 11... Ne8 (11... dxe5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Qc7 15. Bc5
$16) (11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4) 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 exf5 (13... Bxg2 14. Rhg1 (14.
fxe6 Rxc4 15. exf7+ Rxf7 16. Qxg2 $16) 14... Bh3 15. f6 $16) (13... d5 14. Bd3
$16) 14. e6 Kh8 (14... f6 15. Bxa7 $16) 15. exf7 Nf6 16. Be6 Bd7 17. Bb3 $1 {
Um dem B-Tausch aus dem Wege zu gehen, opfert Topalov die Qualität.} (17. Bd4
Ne4 (17... Bxe6 $5 {Dolmatov} 18. Qxe6 Qd7 19. Qxd7 Nxd7 20. Nd5 Bg5+ 21. Kb1
Rxf7 22. Bxa7 $10) 18. Bb3 (18. Bxd7 $2 {Dolmatov} Nxc3 $15)) 17... f4 (17...
Ng4 {Dolmatov} 18. Bf4 Bg5 19. Qd2 Bxf4 20. Qxf4) (17... Bc6 $5 {Dolmatov} 18.
Rhf1 Qd7) 18. Bxf4 Bg4 19. Qe3 Bxd1 20. Rxd1 a6 21. Be6 Rc5 22. g4 b5 23. h4 b4
24. Ne2 Qc7 (24... Qa8 {Dolmatov} 25. g5 Nd5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Qxe7 Rxd1+ 28.
Kxd1 Qd5+ 29. Ke1 Qh1+ 30. Kf2 Qxh4+ 31. Bg3) 25. g5 (25. Nd4 {Dolmatov} Nd5 (
25... Qb7 26. g5 Nd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5) 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Ne6 Rxd1+ 28. Kxd1 $16)
25... Rxc2+ 26. Kb1 Nh5 (26... Nd7 {Dolmatov} 27. Bb3 Rc5 28. Qxe7) 27. Bh2 g6
(27... b3 $5 28. axb3 (28. Bxb3 Rc8 $132) 28... g6 $16) 28. Bb3 Rc5 (28... Rc8
29. Qd3 Rc6 30. Be6 $16) 29. Nf4 Re5 (29... Ng7 {Dolmatov} 30. Ne6 Nxe6 31.
Qxe6 $18) 30. Qd4 Nxf4 31. Bxf4 Qc5 32. Bxe5+ dxe5 (32... Qxe5 33. Qf2 $16) 33.
Qe4 Kg7 34. Bd5 Qd6 35. Bb3 Qc5 36. Rc1 Qd4 37. Qb7 Bd8 38. Rd1 Qb6 (38... Qxh4
$2 39. Rxd8 Rxd8 40. f8=Q+ Kxf8 41. Qf7#) 39. Qe4 Bc7 40. Bc4 a5 41. Rd7 a4 (
41... Qg1+ {Dolmatov} 42. Kc2 Qf2+ 43. Kb3 Qg3+ 44. Ka4 $16) 42. Qf3 Bd8 43.
Qg3 Bc7 44. b3 a3 45. Qf3 Bd8 46. Kc2 Kh8 47. Kd3 Kg7 48. Ke2 Kh8 49. Qd5 Bc7
50. Rd8 $3 {The most beautiful winning move.} (50. Rxc7 $1 {Petursson} Qxc7 51.
Qe6 {now Black must give a piece and resign}) 50... Bxd8 (50... Rxd8 51. Qxd8+
Bxd8 52. f8=Q#) 51. Qxe5+ Bf6 52. Qxf6+ Qxf6 53. gxf6 h5 (53... h6 54. Kf3 Kh7
55. Kf4 Kh8 56. Ke5 Kh7 57. Ke6 Rb8 58. Bb5 Rf8 59. Ke7 $16) 54. Kf3 Kh7 55.
Kf4 Kh6 56. Ke5 g5 57. Ke6 Rb8 58. Bb5 Rh8 (58... Kg6 {Dolmatov} 59. Be8 Rb6+
60. Ke5 Rxf6 61. f8=Q+ $18) 59. Ke7 Kg6 60. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D74"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 O-O 5. g3 $6 d5 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Qa4 (7. Ne5
c5 8. e3 Na6 9. Nxc4 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Ne5 $17) 7... Nfd7 8. Qxc4 Nb6 9. Qd3 (
9. Qb3 Nc6 10. e3 Be6 11. Qd1 Bc4 12. b3 Ba6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bf4 Nxd4 $1 {N/}
(10... Bf5 11. e4 Bg4 12. d5 e6 13. O-O exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nb4 16. Qc4
Nxd5 17. Bxc7 Qxc7 18. Qxd5 Bxb2 $15 {Fridshtein,G-Nikitin,A/URS/1958/}) 11.
Nxd4 e5 $17 12. Ndb5 Qxd3 13. exd3 exf4 14. Nxc7 Rb8 15. O-O (15. gxf4 Rd8 16.
O-O-O Bg4 $17) 15... fxg3 16. hxg3 Rd8 17. Rfe1 Bf5 (17... Bg4 $5) 18. Be4 Bxe4
19. dxe4 Bxc3 $5 (19... Rbc8 20. N7d5 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Rc2 22. Rad1 Kf8 $17) 20.
bxc3 Rbc8 21. Nb5 a6 22. Nd4 Rxc3 $17 (22... Na4 $5 $19) 23. Nb3 Nc4 (23... Na4
$5 24. Rad1 Rcd3 25. Rxd3 Rxd3 $17) 24. Red1 Rxd1+ (24... Rcd3 $2 25. Rxd3 Rxd3
26. Nc5 Ra3 27. Nxb7 $15) (24... Re8) 25. Rxd1 a5 $2 (25... Rc2 $5 26. Rd8+ Kg7
27. Rc8 b5) 26. Rd8+ Kg7 27. Rc8 $10 a4 (27... b5 28. Nxa5 $10) 28. Nd4 Kf6 29.
Rc5 g5 (29... b6 30. e5+ Ke7 31. Rc7+ Kd8 32. Rxf7 Nxe5 33. Rxh7 $15) 30. e5+
Kg6 31. Rc8 g4 $6 (31... Kh5 $5 {/\Kg4-h3}) 32. Rg8+ Kh5 33. Rc8 a3 34. Kh2 Rc1
35. Rc7 $10 Kg6 36. Rc8 h5 37. Rg8+ Kh7 38. Rc8 Rc3 39. Kg1 b5 40. Nxb5 Rc1+
41. Kh2 Rc2 42. Kg1 Rc1+ 43. Kh2 Rc2 44. Kg1 Ne3 45. Rd8 (45. Rxc2 Nxc2 46. Kf1
Kg6 47. Ke2 Kf5 48. Kd3 Nb4+ 49. Kd4 Nxa2 50. Nxa3 Nb4 51. Nc4 $10) 45... Rc1+
46. Kh2 Rc2 47. Kg1 Nf5 48. Nxa3 Rxa2 49. Nb5 h4 50. Nd6 Ra1+ 51. Kh2 hxg3+ 52.
fxg3 Ra2+ 53. Kg1 Nxg3 54. Nxf7 Nf5 55. e6 Ra1+ 56. Kg2 Ra2+ 57. Kg1 g3 58.
Ng5+ Kg7 59. Ne4 Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik Shirov Kramnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6.
e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13.
d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Rb1 Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 19. Qd5 (
19. Kxf1 {Ftacnik}) 19... Bxe7 (19... Bh6 {führt gemäß Shirov zum Remis, man
vergleiche seine Anmerkungen zu Beliavsky,A-Shirov,A/EUcup f Ljubljana (03)/
CBM 51 1995 und Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A/Madrid (03)/CBM 53 1996.
Anscheinend sind Topalov und Kramnik da anderer Meinung.}) (19... Bh6 {Ftacnik}
20. exd8=Q+ (20. Bxh6 Bd3 21. Qa8+ (21. Ne4 $5 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Rde8 23. Bg7 $1
Rh5 24. Rd1 Qb5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Beliavsky,A-Shirov,A/EUCup f Ljubljana (03)/1995/ 
(40)}) 21... Nb8 22. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 23. Re1 bxc3 24. Bf4 Qb6 (24... Qb7 25. Re7
$1 $18) 25. bxc3 Bf5 26. h4 Be6 (26... Qb7 27. Qxb7+ Kxb7 28. Re7+ Rd7 29. Bxb8
Kxb8 30. Rxd7 Bxd7 31. Kg2 {1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A/Madrid (03) ;
CBM 53_05 1996 (42)}) 27. Kh2 (27. h5 Bd5 28. Qxb8+ Qxb8 29. Bxb8 Kxb8 30. Re7
Rh8 31. Re5 Be6 32. f4 Kc7 $1 33. Rxc5+ Kd6 34. Ra5 Rh6 $13) 27... Rd7 28. h5
Rb7 29. Bxb8 (29. h6 Qb2 30. Kg1 Qxc3 31. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 32. Bxb8 Qf3 33. Bd6+
Kd7 34. Qxb7+ Qxb7 35. f7 $18) 29... Rxb8 30. Qe4 {Yermolinsky,A-Gurevich,D/
USA-ch (10)/1994/1-0 (63)}) 20... Kxd8 21. Ne4 Bh3 22. Nxc5 Be6 23. Nxe6+ fxe6
24. Qa8+ Qc8 25. Qxa7 Bxg5 26. Qa5+ Qc7 27. Qxg5 Qe5 $1 $10 {Yermolinsky,
A-Ivanchuk,V/Pinsk/1986/0,5/40/}) (19... Bd3 {Ftacnik} 20. Bf4 $3 Qb6 21. Na4
Qb5 22. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 23. Re1 $16) 20. fxe7 Bd3 (20... Rdg8 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,
V (01)/New York PCA 25 (04)/CBM 41 1994 reicht nicht zum Ausgleich.}) (20...
Rdg8 {Ftacnik} 21. Ne4 Rg6 22. Rxf1 $2 (22. Qa8+ $1 Nb8 23. Rxf1 Qc6 24. Rd1 $3
Qxa8 25. Rd8+ Kc7 26. Bf4+ Kb6 27. Rxh8 Re6 28. e8=Q Rxe8 29. Rxe8 Qd5 30.
Rxb8+ Ka6 31. Nd2 $1 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Nb3 c4 34. Nc1 c2 35. h4 $18) 22...
Qc6 23. Qxc6+ Rxc6 24. Rd1 $2 Re8 25. Nd6+ Rxd6 26. Rxd6 f6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Kramnik,V (01)/New York PCA 25' (04)/1994/ (35)}) 21. Ne4 Bxb1 22. Nd6+ Kc7
23. Bf4 (23. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 24. Nxf7 Re8 25. Bf4+ Kb6 (25... Kc8 {Ftacnik} 26.
Qa8+ Nb8 27. Qxb8+ Kd7 28. Qc7+ Ke6 29. Ng5+ Kf5 30. Qd7+ $18) 26. Qd6+ Ka5 27.
Qxd7 {Mit klarem weißen Vorteil gemäß Shirov. Aber Kramnik gibt die folgende
Variante an:} Re1+ 28. Kg2 Be4+ 29. f3 Bc6 30. Qd8+ Ka4 31. Qd2 Ra1 $17) 23...
Kb6 24. Nxc4+ (24. exd8=Q+ {Ftacnik} Rxd8 25. Nxf7 Qc8 26. Qd6+ Ka5 (26... Kb5
27. Qd1 Qa6 28. Nxd8 $16) 27. Qc7+ Qxc7 28. Bxc7+ Ka4 29. Nxd8 Bxa2 $13) 24...
Kb5 25. Nd6+ Kb6 26. exd8=B+ Rxd8 27. Nc4+ (27. Nxf7 $5 Re8 28. Qd6+ Ka5 29.
Qc7+ (29. Qxd7 $2 {Ftacnik} Re1+ 30. Kg2 Qf1+ 31. Kf3 Qe2+ 32. Kg2 Be4+ 33. Kh3
Qh5#) 29... Qb6 30. Qxd7 Re1+ 31. Kg2 Ka6 $14 (31... Bxa2 $2 {Ftacnik} 32. Bc7
$18)) 27... Kb5 28. Nd6+ Kb6 29. Nc4+ Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Rc1 Kh8 15. a4
a6 16. a5 Bd7 17. Bd3 Ng8 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Na4 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Nb6 fxe4
22. Rxe4 Bf5 23. Rc4 Rf7 24. Qc2 Bg7 25. Nd2 Bf8 26. h3 Kg7 27. Ne4 Nf6 28. Ng3
Bxd3 29. Qxd3 h5 30. Ne4 Nxe4 31. Qxe4 Kh7 32. Qc2 Bh6 33. Na4 Qf6 34. Rc7 Rxc7
35. Qxc7+ Bg7 36. Nc3 Qf4 37. g3 Qc1+ 38. Kg2 Qc2 39. h4 e4 40. Nb5 Qd2 41.
Nxd6 e3 42. Qf7 exf2 43. Ne8 f1=Q+ 44. Kxf1 Qd1+ 45. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. O-O b6 11. Qd3 (11. Bg5 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Qd3 a6 {
transposes to the game}) (11. Re1 Bb7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Rc8 14. Nd5 g5 15.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Bg3 Nxb3 17. axb3 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxc2 19. Rxa7 Qc7 20. Qd1 Rc8
$13 {De Firmian,N-Kaliksteyn,A 1995}) 11... Bb7 12. Bg5 (12. Bd5 Qd7 13. Bxb7
Qxb7 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. Rfe1 {Moldovan,D-Marin,M Bucuresti 1994 60/230 [Marin,M]
} a6 $1 16. Nf3 b5 17. a3 Nc4 18. Bc1 Rc7 $15 {Marin}) (12. Rad1 Rc8 13. Rfe1
Rxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxe4 15. Qd3 Nxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. c3 Nc5 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Bg5
$13 {/+/= Kholmov,R-Hachian,M Moscow 1995}) (12. f4 Rc8 13. Rae1 Rxc3 14. Qxc3
Nxe4 15. Qd3 Nxb3 16. axb3 e5 17. Ne2 Qa8 18. b4 Nf6 19. Rf2 Ne4 20. Rff1 Re8 {
with good compensation for black Mortensen-Kudrin 1983}) 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 a6
14. Rfe1 h6 15. Bd2 $2 {normally in this position the bishop goes to h4,where
he can put some presure along the h4-d8 diagonal,and indeed white's bishop is
not good on d2} (15. Bh4 Re8 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Nde2 Rac8 18. Rd2 b5 19. f3 b4
20. Na4 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 {when black has a good position Mitkov,N-Osmanbegovic,
S Cannas op 1995}) 15... b5 16. f4 e6 {black is already better,he has the pair
of bishops it is not clear where white wants to attack,and black just wants to
open the center with e5 and d5,now we can see why the bishop is needed on h4}
17. Kh2 $6 {putting the king in the h2-b8 diagonal is not the best idea} Rc8 {
white played a wrong plan,insted of playing positionly,with B on h4 and rooks
on d1-e1 white is playing for the attack,but this only serves black since
white really has no attack but creating weakness} 18. Re2 Qc7 19. b4 Rfd8 {
it is clear now black is going to break in the center and his 2 bishops will
become very powerfull} 20. Nb3 e5 $1 21. fxe5 d5 $1 {of course not 21...dxe5,
now the g7 bishop will enter the game and with the "d" and "c" file black's
rooks are also placed very good,white is paying now for Kh2} 22. exd5 Nxd5 23.
Qg3 Nxb4 24. Rf1 Re8 $1 {going for the e5 pawn there is no defence} (24... Nxc2
25. Bxh6 Bxh6 26. Rxc2 b4) 25. Bf4 g5 26. Nd4 gxf4 27. Rxf4 Rxe5 28. Rxe5 (28.
Nf5 Rxf5 29. Rxf5 Qxg3+ 30. Kxg3 Bxc3 31. bxc3 Rxc3+) 28... Qxe5 29. Nf5 Rc4 $1
{the game is over,it is impossible to prevent the exchange of queens} 30. Nxh6+
Kh7 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. Nxf7 Qxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Kg6 34. Nd8 Bc8 35. Na4 Be5+ 0-1

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c6 14. Ne5 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Qf3 Be6 17. Bd2 f6 18. Nd3 Qd7 19. Rfe1 Bd6 20. h3 Bf7 21. Bb3
Rae8 22. Qg4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Rd8 24. Qxd7 Rxd7 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 fxe5 27.
Rxe5 Nf6 28. Bg5 Bxb3 29. axb3 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 Kf7 31. Re3 h6 32. Bxf6 Kxf6 33. h4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Short,N"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Bg4 8. d3
Nd7 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. Bc2 Ne6 $1 11. h3 Bh5 12. Nf1 (12. g4 Bg6 13. Nf1 h5 $132)
12... Ng5 13. Bxg5 (13. N1h2 $5) 13... Bxg5 14. Ng3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 g6 $10 16.
Rad1 Qf6 17. Qe2 O-O (17... Nd8 $5 {Xf4 /\} 18. Nf1 h5 (18... Ne6 $6 19. g3)
19. Ba4+ Kf8 $13) 18. Nf1 Qg7 19. Nh2 f5 20. Nf3 Bf6 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Rae8
23. Qc4+ Kh8 $6 (23... Qf7 $1 {/\} 24. Qxf7+ Kxf7 25. exf5 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 Rxe1+
27. Rxe1 Bxd4 $10) 24. Kf1 $1 (24. exf5 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Nxd4 {Xf2}) 24... fxe4
25. Bxe4 $14 Nd8 26. b4 Re7 27. Re3 $1 Rfe8 $2 (27... Qf7 $142 $1 28. Bd5 Qg7 {
/\c7-c6}) 28. Rde1 $16 Qh6 (28... Qf7 $2 29. Bd5 Qg7 30. Qxc7 $1 $18) 29. a4 c6
$5 (29... Qg7 30. g3 Qh6 31. Kg2 Qg7 32. b5 $16) 30. d5 b5 31. axb5 $2 (31. Qa2
$1 cxd5 32. Qxd5 bxa4 33. Qxd6 $16) 31... cxb5 32. Qa2 Qg7 $2 (32... Nf7 $1 33.
Qxa6 Ng5 $1 34. Qxd6 Nxe4 35. Rxe4 Rxe4 36. Rxe4 Rxe4 37. Qxf6+ Qg7 $10) 33.
Qxa6 Bc3 34. Rc1 (34. R1e2 $142 Bxb4 35. Qxb5 Qa1+ $8 (35... Bc5 36. Bxg6 $1
$18) 36. Ne1 Bxe1 (36... Bc5 37. Bxg6) 37. Rxe1 Qf6 $14) 34... Bxb4 35. Qxb5
Bc5 $44 36. Re2 Qf6 (36... Rxe4 $2 37. Qxe8+ Rxe8 38. Rxe8+ Qg8 39. Rxg8+ $18)
37. Bd3 Rxe2 38. Bxe2 Re4 $138 39. Bd3 Re7 40. Qa6 Ra7 41. Qc4 Nf7 (41... Ra3
$142) 42. Qc3 Ne5 43. Qb2 $1 Re7 44. Re1 Kg7 $6 (44... Kg8) 45. Nd4 $1 h5 $1 (
45... Nxd3 $2 46. Rxe7+ Kf8 (46... Qxe7 47. Nf5+ Kf8 48. Qh8+ Kf7 49. Nh6#) 47.
Ne6+ $1 Kxe7 48. Qb7+ Ke8 49. Qc8+ Ke7 50. Qd8+ Kf7 51. Qf8#) (45... Kf7 46.
Nc6 Nxc6 47. Qxf6+ Kxf6 48. dxc6 $16) 46. Nf3 (46. Bb1 $5 Bxd4 47. Qxd4 Rf7 $44
) 46... Rf7 (46... Bxf2 $1 47. Qxf2 (47. Rxe5 dxe5 48. Kxf2 e4 49. Qxf6+ Kxf6
50. d6 Re6 {/\} 51. d7 Ke7 52. Bc4 Rf6 $17) 47... Nxd3 48. Rxe7+ Qxe7 49. Qd4+
Ne5 $10) 47. Be4 Nxf3 48. Qxf6+ Kxf6 49. Bxf3 Re7 50. Rb1 Ra7 51. Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Na6
9. O-O Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bd2 f5 12. Ng5 Nf6 13. exf5 gxf5 14. f4 e4 15. Be3 c5
16. Nh3 Ng4 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. Nf2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 h5 20. Qe2 Bf5 21. Bd2 Nc7 22.
Nd1 Rf7 23. Ne3 Qf6 24. Rab1 Ne8 25. Qd1 Rc8 26. Rb2 Ng7 27. Be1 Re8 28. Qa4 b6
29. Re2 Ree7 30. Qb3 Bc8 31. Qc2 Nf5 32. Nxf5 Bxf5 33. Re3 Re8 34. Bf2 Rh7 35.
Qd2 Qd8 36. Qc2 Rf8 37. Ra1 Bg6 38. g3 Bf5 39. Qb3 Rb7 40. Re2 e3 41. Rxe3 Re8
42. Rxe8+ Qxe8 43. Qb5 Re7 44. Qc6 Qxc6 45. dxc6 Bc2 46. Rc1 Ba4 47. Re1 Kf7
48. Be3 Bxc6 49. Kf2 Be4 50. Rd1 Re6 51. Rd2 Ke7 52. a4 Kd8 53. a5 Kc7 54.
axb6+ Kxb6 55. Rb2+ Kc7 56. Ra2 Kb8 57. Rd2 a6 58. f5 Bxf5 59. Bf4 Kb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Huzman HarZvi} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6
7. Nxc6 $5 bxc6 8. O-O e6 (8... g6 $5 {Diese Fortsetzung führt zur
Drachenvariante.}) 9. Qe2 (9. b3 {HarZvi} Be7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Qe2 e5 (11... d5
$2 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Qxe7) 12. Kh1 (12. Na4 Qc7 13. Bd3 Nd7 14.
c4 Nb6 15. Nc3 a5 16. Nd1 Nd7 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Bc2 Re8 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. g3 Qb6
21. Nf5 $6 c5 $1 {Har Zvi: and black position seems very nice Dimitrov,
V-Cabrilo,G 1990}) 12... Qc7 13. Rae1 Nd7 14. Na4 Bb7 (14... Bf6) 15. Bd3 Rfe8
16. c4 $13 {Karpov-Stein,L URS-ch39 Leningrad 1971}) (9. Bf4 {HarZvi}) 9... Nd7
{Har Zvi: probably black does not want to enter 9...Be7 10.e5} (9... Be7 {
HarZvi} 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 O-O 12. Na4 Qb4 13. b3 Nd5 14. Qe2 Bf6 15. Bd2 Qe7
16. Rad1 Nb6 17. Nc3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 a5 19. Rfe1 $14 {/+/- Sutovskij,E-Gross,D
Wch under 18 1995}) 10. b3 Be7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Na4 Qc7 13. f4 {Vermeidet ...
Ne5.} Bb7 (13... d5 14. Bd3 (14. exd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5 $4 Bc5+ $19) 14... Bf6 (
14... g6 {HarZvi} 15. c4 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e5 Nd7 18. c5 f6 19. Rae1 {
Prie,E-Miralles,G France-Ch 1989}) 15. c4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 $14) (13... Bf6 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. e5 $1 $16) 14. Rad1 Rae8 $6 {Wie wir später sehen werden,
entwickelt Kramnik auf e8 den falschen Turm. Das Problem, mit welchem Turm
wohin, kommt im Mitelspiel sehr oft vor. Die Entscheidung ist von den
beiderseitigen Mittelspielplänen abhängig. Um die eigene Intuition zu
verbesern, empfehle ich den Lesern die Partien des ehemaligen Weltmeisters
Capablanca zu studieren. Er hat fast immer die richtige Entscheidung bei der
Turmplazierung getroffen.} (14... d5 15. Bd3 $1 {/\ed5 nebst Bh7,Qh5 und Bg7,
so könnte Topalov die berühmte Kombination Laskers mit dem Doppel Läuferopfer
vorbereiten.} (15. Bd3 {Huzman} Nc5 (15... c5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.
Qh5+ Kg8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Rd3 Nf6 (21... Be4 22. Rh3+ Bh7 23.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rf3 $18) 22. Rh3+ Nh7 23. Qh5 Be4 24. f5 $18) 16. Qg4 g6 17.
Nxc5 Bxc5+ 18. Kh1 $14 {/\} dxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Qg5 $16)) (14... c5 {Huzman}
15. f5 $16) 15. Rd3 c5 {Not a correct move,after this move white gets a very
pleasent position. Topalov hat zwei Figuren, die ungünstig stehen: Bc4 und Na4.
Er versucht, den Läufer abzutauschen und den Springer zu zentraliesiren.} (
15... d5 16. Rg3 Bf6 (16... Nf6 {Huzman} 17. Bd3 $40) 17. e5 Be7 18. Bd3 $40) (
15... Bf6 {HarZvi} 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 (17... Bxe5 $2 18. Rxd7 Bxh2+
19. Kh1 Qxd7 20. Kxh2 $18) 18. Rxf6 $3 gxf6 19. Rh3 $1 {the threat is simply
Qh5 there is only one defence} c5 20. Qh5 {the simplest way} Be4 21. Qh4 $1 {
with both threats Qxe4 and Qxf6 when black can resign}) 16. Bb5 $1 {A very
strong move both positionally a tactically because now white's threat after
the pin along the a4-e8 diagonal is Rg3. Es droht 17.Bd7 Qd7 nebst 18.Nc5.} Bc6
(16... Rd8 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Qg4 (18. Rg3 {HarZvi} g6 $6 (18... e5 19. c4 $14 {
/+/-}) 19. f5 $40) (18. f5 $40 {Huzman}) 18... g6 19. f5 $40) 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18.
c4 $1 {Har Zvi: white got his advantage,black has a weak "d" pawn plus white
has some threats over the king's side ><d6 Strategisch richtig. Fixiert den
schwachen Bauern d6 auf der halboffenen d-Linie.} Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rfe8 {Schwarz
versucht sich wieder harmonisch aufzustellen. Kramnik mußte jedoch in der
Zwischenzeit seinem Gegner viel Raum im Zentrum überlassen.} 20. Qf3 $16 {
Es droht e4-e5 mit Druck auf der d-Linie, deshalb weicht die schwarze Dame aus.
} Qc7 21. Qg3 {Der Anziehende bezitzt Raumvorteil. Hinter seinen Bauern (c4,
e4 und f4) gruppiert er seine Figuren neu, um einen Angriff am Königsflügel zu
beginnen.} Nf6 22. Nc3 a6 23. Qh3 {Har Zvi: a very strong move,white has some
idea about an f5 break after which he is looking to have some preasure on the
h3-c8 diagonal,plus he has a very interesting idea,putting all his heavy
pieces in the third rank! ><24.f5} Qc6 24. Rg3 {[%cal Yb2g7,Yg4g7]} Kh8 25. Re1
(25. f5 {Huzman} Bf8) 25... Qc8 26. Ree3 $1 {Der weiße Angriff wird Zug um Zug
stärker. Momentan droht das Turmopfer auf g7.} Rg8 27. Nd1 Rd7 {/\ 28...d5
><28...d5} (27... Rde8 {Huzman} 28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Nd7 30. Nf2 $16) 28. f5 $1
{/\ 29.B:f6 B:f6 30.Q:h7+!} (28. Bxf6 $2 {HarZvi} Bxf6 29. Qxh7+ $4 Kxh7 30.
Rh3+ Bh4 $19 (30... Kg6 31. Reg3+ Bg5 $19)) 28... e5 {[%csl Rd5] Kramnik will
den starken Läufer b2 einschränken. Der große Nachteil dieses Zuges ist die
Schwächung des Feldes d5.} (28... exf5 29. Rg5 (29. exf5 $1 {HarZvi with the
idea Bxf6-Qxh7} Re8 {this is an excellent example of white's idea to put all
his heavy pieces in  the third rank} (29... h6 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Bxf6 Re1+ 32.
Kf2 Rxd1 33. Qxh6#) 30. Rxg7 $3 Kxg7 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. Qh6 {with mate}) 29...
fxe4 (29... h6 30. Reg3 $16) 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Qxh7+ $3 Kxh7 32. Rh3#) 29. Nc3
$18 {Har Zvi: the knight has nothing more to do on d1,now white wants to
change it with black's one after the h7 square will be very weak} Bd8 30. Nd5
h6 (30... Nxd5 31. Qxh7+ $1 $18 (31. Qxh7+ $1 {HarZvi} Kxh7 32. Rh3+ Bh4 33.
Rxh4#)) 31. Bc1 $1 {Alles läuft nach Plan. Nachdem der Springer seinen starken
Vorposten d5 erreicht, will auch der Läufer b2 am Angriff teilnehmen.} Nxd5 32.
exd5 Bf6 33. Re4 {Mit zwei Ideen: a)Bh6 b)Reg4} Qf8 (33... Kh7 {HarZvi} 34.
Reg4 Rh8 35. Bxh6 gxh6 36. Qxh6+ Kxh6 37. Rh3+ Bh4 38. Rhxh4#) 34. Reg4 {
Die Drohung 35.B:h6 ist nicht abzuwehren. Der junge Bulgarische Großmeißter
hat eine musterhafte, wunderbare Partie zum Thema "Figurenangriff am
Königsflügell bei beiderseitiger kurzer Roschade" durchgefürt.} 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 b5 8.
Nxc6 Qxc6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 Nf6 11. Re1 Be7 12. Qf3 d6 13. Qh3 h5 14. Bg5 Qc5
15. Be3 Qc6 16. f3 g5 17. a4 b4 18. Na2 g4 19. fxg4 d5 20. c3 bxc3 21. bxc3
Nxg4 22. Bd4 Bc5 23. Be2 Nf6 24. e5 Ne4 25. Nb4 Bxd4+ 26. cxd4 Qb6 27. Nc2 Rc8
28. Rab1 Qa7 29. Bd3 Rg8 30. a5 Bc6 31. Rb6 Bb5 32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. Rxe6+ Kf8 34.
Qa3+ Kg7 35. Re7 Rc7 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. Ne3 Kh8 38. Rc1 Qd8 39. d5 Qg5 40. Qc3
Kh7 41. Qd4 Bd3 42. d6 h4 43. Rc7 Rb8 44. Rxf7+ Kg8 45. e6 Qxe3+ 46. Qxe3 Rb1+
47. Qc1 Rxc1+ 48. Kf2 Rc6 49. Rd7 Bb5 50. Ke3 Rc2 51. Rc7 Re2+ 52. Kf4 Rf2+ 53.
Kxe4 Re2+ 54. Kf5 Rf2+ 55. Ke5 Re2+ 56. Kf6 Rf2+ 57. Ke7 Re2 58. d7 Bxd7 59.
Kxd7 Rd2+ 60. Ke8 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Donev Huzman Huzman} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6.
Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. f4 O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 {Donev: Auf dem Brett eintsteht eine
aktuelle, typisch sizilianische Stellung, in der der meistbenutzte Plan des
Anziehenden der Angiff am Königsflügel ist. Weiß steht grundsätzlich vor der
Frage: Wie soll ich b7-b5 vermeiden? Es gibt zwei Möglichkeiten - a)
mechanisch mitels a2-a4 b) taktisch Bf3 und e4-e5 vorbereiten.} 10. a4 Nc6 11.
Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 {this line has become recently very dangerous for black,and
white seems to have very good results with it,right now I think it is just
good for white} Rb8 (12... Bd7 13. Nb3 Na5 (13... b6 14. g4 Bc8 15. g5 Nd7 16.
Bg2 Bb7 17. Qh5 g6 $6 (17... Nb4 $14) 18. Qh3 Nb4 $2 (18... Bf8) 19. f5 Nxc2 $4
(19... exf5) 20. fxg6 fxg6 21. Rf7 $3 $18 {Tiviakov,S-Van Wely,L Groningen
1995 65/(233) [Tiviakov,S]}) 14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. Qd3 Rad8 (15... Bc6 $2 16. b4 $1
Qc7 (16... Qxb4 $4 17. Rfb1 Qa5 18. Bb6) 17. b5 $16) 16. Rfd1 $1 (16. Qd2 Rc8
17. e5 $6 (17. Qf2 Bc6 $13) 17... dxe5 18. fxe5 Qxe5 19. Bxb7 Rcd8 $15 {
Van der Wiel,J-Kasparov,G Amsterdam 1988}) (16. g4 Bc6 (16... h6) 17. b4 Qc7
18. g5 d5 (18... Nd7 19. Nd5 $1) 19. gxf6 dxe4 20. Qc4 exf3 21. b5 Bxf6 22.
bxc6 Rc8 $1 $14 {Van der Wiel,J-Polugaevsky,L Haninge 1988}) 16... Bc6 17. b4
Qc7 18. b5 Bd7 (18... axb5 $2 19. axb5 Bd7 20. Na4 $16) 19. Rab1 $1 (19. Ne2
Rc8 20. bxa6 bxa6 21. Qxa6 Ra8 22. Qd3 Rxa4 $10 {Cuijpers-DeBoer 1988}) 19...
axb5 (19... Rc8 20. e5 dxe5 21. fxe5 Qxe5 22. Bd4 Qc7 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Qxd7
$16) 20. Nxb5 $1 $14 {Anand,V-Kasparov,G PCA-Wch New-York (09) 1995 64/240 
[Anand,V]} (20. axb5 Rc8)) 13. g4 {this move seems to be black's problem in
this line,white wants to play g5 and then try to put is queen and rook on the
"h" file simply mating black,the main "old" move is 13.Qd2 which was played by
Karpov} Bf8 (13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 b6 15. g5 Nd7 16. Bg2 Bb7 17. Qh5 g6 (17...
Qc4 18. Rad1 g6 19. Qh3 Bf8 20. f5 $16 {Kovalev,A-Skomorokhin,R Leningead 1989}
) 18. Qh3 Bf8 19. f5 Ne5 (19... Qc4 20. fxg6 (20. Rad1 $16 {17...Qc4}) 20...
fxg6 21. Rf7 h5 22. Rxd7 Qxd4 23. Rf1 $16) 20. Rf4 $5 $16 {Tiviakov,S-Akopian,
V Linares 1995 63/205 [Tiviakov]}) (13... Nd7 14. g5 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 $6 (15. Bxd4
) 15... b6 16. Bg2 Bb7 17. f5 Ne5 18. Rad1 Bc6 19. f6 Bf8 20. fxg7 Bxg7 21.
Qxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Rbc8 {with full compensation for black Gurevich,D-Wolff,P
USA-ch Modesto 1995}) 14. g5 Nd7 15. Bg2 Nxd4 (15... g6 16. Rf3 $5 Bg7 17. Rh3
Nb6 (17... Nb4) (17... Nf8 18. Rh4 $1 Nb4 19. Qd2 b6 20. Rf1 $36) 18. Nde2 Nc4
19. Bc1 d5 20. b3 d4 $2 21. bxc4 dxc3 22. e5 $16 {Fishbein,A-Dorfman,J
New-York 1989}) (15... Na5 16. Bg1 (16. Rf3 Nc4 17. Bc1 e5 18. Nf5 exf4 19.
Bxf4 Nce5 20. Rh3 g6 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. Qe1 (22. Nh6+ Bxh6 23. Rxh6 b5 $13 {
Fishbein,A-Browne,W USA 1989}) 22... gxf5 $2 (22... h5 $1) 23. Qh4 h6 24. exf5
b5 25. Rg1 Bb7 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Bxb7 Rxb7 28. Qxh6+ $3 $18 {Gluzman,M-Arbakov,
V Sibenik 1990}) 16... b6 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh3 Bg7 19. Rad1 Nc6 20. Ndb5 $1 axb5
21. Nxb5 Qd8 22. Nxd6 Rf8 23. e5 $16 {Sokolov,A-Jansa,V Dubai Ol 1986}) 16.
Bxd4 b5 $6 {Giving white a rook in the seventh rank is not a very good idea 
Zu optimistisch. Weiß bekommt die a-Linie und der b-Bauer wird schwach.
Wahrscheinlich wäre der passive Zug 16...b6 nebst Bb7 die bessere Entscheidung.
} (16... b6 $5 {Huzman} 17. Rf3 Bb7 18. Rh3 g6 {/\19...e5}) (16... b6 $5 {
Huzman Lutz-Tratar (Wien 1996)}) 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra7 Qd8 19. b4 $1 {
preventing b4 from black,and taking also the c5 square under control,black has
not play a big mistake but already his position is unpleasent ><Nd7} e5 (19...
d5 {Huzman} 20. exd5 Bxb4 21. dxe6 Rxe6 22. Nd5 (22. Be5 Rxe5 23. fxe5 Bxc3 24.
Qf3 Bxe5 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Re1 Qg8 $10) 22... Bd6 23. f5 Re8 24. Qh5 Be5 25. g6
$40) 20. Be3 exf4 21. Bxf4 Ne5 {Schwarz hat das Problem des Springers d7
gelöst, aber im Gegenzug erhält der weiße Springer auf d5 einen starken
Vorposten, wodurch auch die Wirkung des Ra7 verstärkt wird.} 22. Nd5 Bg4 (22...
Nc6 {Huzman} 23. Rc7 Ne7 24. Nxe7+ Bxe7 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Qxd6 $18) 23. Qd2 Nc6
24. g6 $3 {[%cal Yf1f7,Ya7f7,Yg6f7] making room on the g5 square for the
bishop! black is losing now  Dieser wichtige Zug erlaubt es Iwantschuk, alle
Figuren in den Angriff einzuschalten.Die Idee ist die Räumung des Feldes g5
für den Läufer. Man beachte, daß die schwarze Dame kaum Felder hat; wird sie
mit Bg5 angegriffen, gerät sie in eine schlimme Fesselung.} Nxa7 (24... hxg6
25. Bg5 (25. Bg5 {Huzman} Qc8 (25... Be7 26. Nxe7+ Nxe7 27. e5 d5 28. Qf4 Be6
29. Qh4 $18) 26. Rc7 Qa6 27. Qc3 Rbc8 28. Ra1 $18) (25. Rxf7 $16) (25. Rxf7 $16
) (25. Rxf7 $16 {Der Turm ist wegen Bg5+ mit Damengewinn unbekömmlich.})) (
24... fxg6 25. Bg5 (25. Bg5 Be7 (25... Qc8 {Donev} 26. Rc7 Qa6 27. Qc3 $18 {
/\Ra1,Qc6}) 26. Nxe7+ Nxe7 27. e5 d5 28. Bxe7 Rxe7 29. Qxd5+ $18)) (24... f6 {
Huzman} 25. Nxf6+ (25. Rc7 Rc8 26. Rxc6 Rxc6 27. Nxf6+ Qxf6 (27... gxf6 28.
Qd5+ Be6 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Qxc6 $16) 28. Qd5+ Be6 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Qxc6 Rc8
31. Qxb5 $16) (25. gxh7+ Kxh7 26. Ra3 {/\ Ra3-g3+/-}) 25... Qxf6 26. Qd5+ Kh8
27. Qxc6 Qxg6 $10) 25. gxf7+ Kh8 (25... Kxf7 26. Bg5+) 26. Bg5 Qd7 27. fxe8=N
Rxe8 (27... Qxe8 {Erlaubt die kleine Kombination.} 28. Nf6 $1 gxf6 29. Bxf6+
Bg7 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qd4+ $16 {[%cal Yd4g7,Yd4a7]}) 28. Qf2 $1 {[%cal Yf1f8]}
Kg8 {Das materielle Gleichgewicht blieb erhalten, aber die weißen Figuren sind
nun sehr aktiv geworden. Der Ukrainische Großmeister startet einen hübschen
Schlußangriff gegen den schwarzen König.} 29. e5 $1 h6 (29... dxe5 30. Nb6 (30.
Nc7 $1 {Huzman} Qxc7 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Qxf8+ (32. Qxf8+ {Donev} Rxf8 33. Rxf8#))
30... Qc7 31. Bd5+) (29... Be6 {Huzman} 30. Nf4 Bc4 31. e6 Qc7 32. Nd5 $18) (
29... Nc8 {Huzman} 30. Nc7 $1 Qxc7 31. Bd5+ $18) 30. Nb6 Qc7 31. Bd5+ Kh7 (
31... Kh8 32. Qxf8+ $1 Rxf8 33. Rxf8+ Kh7 34. Be4+ g6 35. Bf6 $1 {with mate} (
35. Nd5 Qc4 (35... Qc4 {Huzman} 36. Nf6+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ Qxg8 (37... Kf7 38. Bxg6+
$18) 38. Bxh6+ Kxh6 39. Nxg8+ Kg5 (39... Kg7 40. Nf6 $18) 40. exd6 Nc8 41. Ne7
Nxd6 42. Bd3 $16))) 32. Be4+ Kg8 (32... g6 {Donev} 33. Nd5 {nebst Nf6}) 33. Nd5
Qd7 34. Ne7+ {a very impressive victory by Ivanchuk} (34. Ne7+ Bxe7 35. Qf7+
Kh8 36. Qg6) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 fxe4 $5 $146 (12... c6 13. Bb2 {
Dautov-Kindermann,96,66/}) 13. Ncxe4 (13. Ngxe4 $5 Nf5 14. Bg5 Nd4 15. Nb5 $1
Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 $14 {Kramnik-Gelfand,Vienna,1996}) 13... Nf5 14. Nxf6+ (14. Ne6
Bxe6 15. dxe6 c6 (15... Nd4 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Bd5 Qxf2+ 19. Kh1
Kh8 20. Be3 $16) 16. Bg5 Nd4) 14... Bxf6 15. Ne4 Nd4 16. Be3 (16. Be2 Nxe2+ (
16... a5 $5) 17. Qxe2 Bf5 18. Bh6 Rf7 19. Qd2 Bh4 $10) 16... Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Bh4
$5 (17... Bg7 {Epishin- Danailov,Vienna op,1996}) 18. Qe2 Bf5 19. Nc3 (19. Nd2
$5 Bg5 20. c5 (20. Bxg5 Qxg5 $10) 20... Bxe3 21. fxe3 (21. Qxe3 Qh4 $132) 21...
Qg5 $13 (21... dxc5 $140 22. e4)) 19... Bg5 20. a3 (20. c5 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 (21.
fxe3 Qg5 22. e4 Bg4 23. Qe3 Rf4 $132) 21... Qh4 22. a3 Qc4 23. Rac1 a5 24. cxd6
axb4 $13 (24... cxd6 25. Na4)) 20... Bxe3 21. Qxe3 (21. fxe3 Qg5) 21... Rf7 (
21... Qh4 $142) 22. c5 (22. c5 a6 23. Rac1 $14 (23. b5 axb5 24. Nxb5 Ra4 $13))
1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O (10. Bb3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. O-O-O a5 13. e5
dxe5 14. Bxe5 Bc6 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 16. a4 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Bxa4 18. Nxa4 Nd5 19.
Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rxd5 Rxd5 21. Nb6 Rad8 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. c4 Re5 24. Kd2 Kf6 25.
Rd1 Ke6 26. Kc3 {King: Black's K is prevented from reaching the cP, and the
win is relatively trivial for White. Nisipeanu,L-Moldovan,D/Bucharest
Ciocaltea (04) ;CBM 48 1995/1-0 (48)}) 10... Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 $5 $146 12. Bxd4
b5 $6 {Meist kommt Schwarz nicht so schnell zu b7-b5. Normalerweise geht der
Nc6 nach e5 und dann wird er oft nach ...Nc4 gegen den Bb3 getauscht. Oder
bleibt dort stehen, und kontrolliert die Felder f3,d3,c4 und (wichtig!) g6,f7.
Hier hat er sich gegen den Nd4 getauscht, der eigentlich nicht so gefährlich
ist. Außerdem steht nun auf d4 ein B und Weiß kann mit g4-g5 den Abtausch des
Bg7 erzwingen.} 13. Nd5 $5 {Vereinfacht die Stellung. Sicher nicht die
Widerlegung der schwarzen Idee, aber Weiß hat Angst, daß der Bb3 nach a5-a4
ins Gedränge kommt.} (13. Kb1 $6 a5 $1 $13 (13... b4 14. Ne2 a5 15. e5 $5)) (
13. g4 $6 a5 14. g5 Ne8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 (15... Nxg7 {/\a5-a4-a3;})) (13. e5 $142
$5 Ne8 (13... dxe5 14. Bxe5 {/\Bf6}) 14. exd6 Nxd6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4+ f6 (
16... Kg8) 17. Qxa7 $16) (13. Bxa7 $5 Rxc3 (13... Qa5 14. Bd4) 14. Qxc3 $1 Nxe4
15. Qe3 $16) 13... Nxd5 (13... a6) 14. Bxd5 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Qc7 16. c3 a5 17. Kb1
Qc5 (17... b4) 18. Rhe1 Rfd8 19. a3 Qxd4 20. Rxd4 Kf8 21. Re3 Rc7 22. g3 Rb8
23. f4 Bc6 24. Bxc6 Rxc6 25. e5 dxe5 26. Rxe5 e6 27. a4 bxa4 28. Ka2 Rcb6 29.
Rd2 Ra6 30. Re4 Rb5 31. Rxa4 Rab6 32. c4 Rb4 33. Rxb4 Rxb4 34. b3 a4 35. Ka3
Rxb3+ 36. Kxa4 Rc3 37. Kb4 Rc1 38. c5 Ke7 39. Kb5 f6 40. c6 (40. Kc6 $142 e5
41. fxe5 fxe5 42. Kd5 $16) 40... e5 41. fxe5 fxe5 42. Kb6 e4 43. Rd7+ (43. c7
e3 44. Rd3 e2 45. Re3+ Kd6 46. Rxe2 Rc6+ $10) 43... Kf6 44. Rd8 e3 45. Re8 Rb1+
46. Ka7 Ra1+ 47. Kb7 Rb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Gavrikov, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 d6 6. e3 c5 7. d5 h6 8. Bh4 e6
9. Nd2 Na6 10. e4 Nc7 11. a4 b6 12. Be2 a6 13. O-O e5 14. a5 Rb8 15. axb6 Rxb6
16. Ra2 Bd7 17. Qc2 Qb8 18. b3 Re8 19. Rb1 Nh7 20. Bd3 h5 21. f3 Bh6 22. Nf1
Rf8 23. Bf2 Rb7 24. Rab2 Nf6 25. Ra2 Qd8 26. Ne2 Qe7 27. Be1 Rfb8 28. Rab2 Be8
29. Kh1 Nd7 30. Ra2 h4 31. Ng1 Nf6 32. Bxh4 Kg7 33. Ra3 Bd7 34. Ne2 Kg8 35. g4
Bg7 36. h3 Qe8 37. Kg2 Nh7 38. Bf2 Qe7 39. Qd2 Bf6 40. Qe1 Qd8 41. h4 Be7 42.
Ne3 Rb6 43. Bc2 Ne8 44. Qh1 Ng7 45. Rg1 Bc8 46. Kf1 Rb4 47. Be1 R4b7 48. Ba5
Qe8 49. Qh2 Bd8 50. Be1 Rb6 51. Bd2 Qe7 52. Rh1 Qf6 53. Qf2 Qe7 54. Qh2 Qf6 55.
Kf2 Qe7 56. Ng3 Ne8 57. Ke2 R6b7 58. Qg2 Kf8 59. Rh2 Qf6 60. Qh1 Ra7 61. Nd1
Ke7 62. g5 Qg7 63. h5 Kf8 64. Nf2 Kg8 65. Qc1 a5 66. Ng4 Bxg4 67. fxg4 Qf8 68.
hxg6 fxg6 69. Rh6 Rg7 70. Be3 Qe7 71. Nf5 gxf5 72. gxf5 Nxg5 73. f6 Nxf6 74.
Bxg5 Qd7 75. Bxf6 Rg2+ 76. Kd3 Rg3+ 77. Kd2 Bxf6 78. Rxf6 Qg7 79. Qe1 Qg5+ 80.
Kd1 Rf8 81. Rxf8+ Kxf8 82. Qf2+ Kg7 83. Qf5 Rg1+ 84. Ke2 Rg2+ 85. Kf1 Rg1+ 86.
Ke2 Rg2+ 87. Kf1 Rg1+ 88. Ke2 Rg2+ 89. Kf1 Rg1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gavrikov, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O e5 9. Bg5 Qxb2 10. Qd3 Qb6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nd5 Qd8 13. Ne3 Bh6 14. Rad1
Ke7 15. Bb3 Be6 16. Nc4 d5 17. Ba4 Rc8 18. Qa3+ c5 19. exd5 Bg4 20. f3 Bf5 21.
d6+ Kf8 22. d7 Rc7 23. Rd5 Kg7 24. Nd6 Bxd7 25. Rfd1 Qe7 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Qd3
Qe6 28. Qe4 Kg8 29. Nf5 1-0

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.31"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. d4 a6 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O
Be7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Nfd4 Ne4 13. f3 Nd6 14. Kh1 Qf6
15. Qc1 Re8 16. Bd3 h6 17. Be3 Bd7 18. Bg1 Ne5 19. Bc2 Ndc4 20. Nd2 Rac8 21.
Re1 Nd6 22. Nf1 Nec4 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. b3 Na5 25. Qd2 Bc7 26. Re1 Rxe1 27.
Qxe1 Nc6 28. Qd1 g6 29. Ne3 Ne7 30. Qe1 h5 31. Bf2 Nb5 32. Bh4 g5 33. Nxb5 axb5
34. Bf2 Be6 35. Nf1 Nc6 36. Qe3 h4 37. Qd3 h3 38. Ng3 hxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Ne5 40.
Qh7+ Kf8 41. Bf5 Nxf3 42. Bxe6 Nh4+ 43. Kf1 Qxe6 44. Bc5+ Ke8 45. Qg8+ Kd7 46.
Qxg5 Qh3+ 47. Ke2 Qxh2+ 48. Bf2 Bxg3 49. Qxg3 Qxg3 50. Bxg3 Nf5 51. Bh2 Ne7 52.
Kd3 Nc6 53. c4 Nb4+ 54. Kd4 bxc4 55. bxc4 Kc6 56. cxd5+ Nxd5 57. Ke5 b5 58. Kf5
Kc5 59. Bg3 Kc4 60. Bd6 Kd4 61. a3 Kd3 62. Bf8 Nb6 63. Bc5 Nd7 64. Be7 Kd4 65.
Bb4 Kc4 66. Bd6 Kb3 67. Kg5 Nb6 68. Kf6 Nc4 69. Bf8 Nxa3 70. Kxf7 Nc2 71. Ke6
Kc4 72. Kd7 Nd4 73. Be7 Kd5 74. Kc7 Nc6 75. Kb6 Nd4 76. Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.31"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. h4 gxh4 12. Rxh4 Nc6 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Qd2 Qb6 15.
Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nce5 17. c3 Ng6 18. Rh3 h4 19. Bxg4 hxg3 20. Rxh8+ Bxh8 21.
Qe3 gxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Qxe3+ 23. Kxe3 Ne5 24. Be2 Kd7 25. Nd2 Rg8 26. Rh1 Bf6 27.
Kf2 Ng4+ 28. Bxg4+ Rxg4 29. Rh7 Ke8 30. Kf3 Rg5 31. Ne4 Rf5+ 32. Ke3 Rxd5 33.
Nxf6+ exf6 34. Rh8+ Kd7 35. Rb8 Re5+ 36. Kf3 Kc7 37. Rf8 Re7 38. g4 Kd7 39. Kf4
Ke6 40. c4 Rc7 41. b3 b5 42. Re8+ Kd7 43. Ra8 bxc4 44. bxc4 Rxc4+ 45. Kf5 Ra4
46. Kxf6 Rxg4 47. Ra7+ Kc6 48. Rxa6+ Kc5 49. Kxf7 d5 50. Ra5+ Kd6 51. Kf6 Rf4+
52. Kg5 Rf1 53. a4 Ke5 54. Ra8 Rg1+ 55. Kh6 d4 56. a5 d3 57. Rd8 Ke4 58. a6 Ra1
59. Rd6 Ke3 60. Re6+ Kf2 61. Rd6 Ke2 62. Re6+ Kd1 63. Kg5 d2 64. Kf4 Kc2 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. c4 Bg4 {Ribli.Es ist interessant, dass Topalov mit Weiss gegen
Adams, Dortmund 1996 CBM54 nach 1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Nd7 4.e4 Bxf3 verloren
hat. Vielleicht hat Topalov Lust, diese Variante mit Schwarz zu spielen.} 3. e4
$6 $146 {Ribli. Nach diesem Zug hat Weiss keine Chance, zu Eroeffnungsvorteil
zu kommen.} (3. Qb3 $5 Qc8 4. d4 {A 41 Ribli}) (3. e3 $5 {Ribli}) (3. d4 $5 {
A 41 Ribli}) 3... c5 $1 4. Nc3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nc6 6. d3 g6 $10 {[#] Ribli.Es ist
klar, dass Schwarz auf den schwarzen Felden spielen muss. Der Laeufer auf g7
kontrolliert den Schwachpunkt d4.} 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 e6 {Ribli.Das ist
elastischer als 8...Nf6.} 9. O-O Nge7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qe2 Rb8 {Ribli. Meiner
Meinung nach ist 11...a6 besser. Rb8 sollte eventuell spaeter kommen.} 12. Qd2
Nd4 {Ribli.Schwarz muss diesen Zug machen, sonst kommt Weiss mit 13.Ne2 und 14.
d4.} 13. Kh1 Nec6 14. f4 f5 {[#] Ribli.Typischer Zug in solchen Stellungen.
Jetzt oder spaeter muss Schwarz den moeglichen Vorstoss f4-f5 verhindern.} 15.
Rae1 Qa5 (15... Qd7 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nb5 $10 {Ribli.}) 16. Bg1 (
16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nb5 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Nxb5 19. cxb5 Nd4 20. Bc3 {Ribli.}) 16...
Kh8 17. h3 a6 18. g4 {Ribli.Es waere besser, zuerst die Diagonale h1-a8 mit 18.
exf5 zu oeffnen und danach 19.g4 zu spielen.} Rbe8 19. Bh2 (19. exf5 {Ribli.})
19... Qd8 20. exf5 $1 gxf5 21. gxf5 (21. g5 {Ribli}) 21... Nxf5 $15 22. Ne4
Ncd4 (22... Qd7 {Ribli}) (22... Qh4 23. Ng5 $13 {Ribli}) 23. Qd1 Nh4 24. Rg1
Ndf5 25. Ng5 Bd4 {[#]} 26. Nxh7 $36 (26. Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Bxg1 28. Bxg1 Rg8
$17 {Ribli.}) 26... Kxh7 27. Qh5+ Kg8 (27... Nh6 28. Be4+ N4f5 (28... Rf5 29.
Rg4 Bf6 30. Rxh4 Bxh4 31. Bxf5+ $18) 29. Bxf5+ Rxf5 30. Qg6+ Kh8 31. Qxh6# {
Ribli.}) 28. Be4+ Bg7 (28... Bxg1 29. Rxg1+ Ng7 30. Qh7+ Kf7 31. Qxg7# {Ribli.}
) 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 $1 (29... Nxg7 $2 30. Bh7+ Kh8 31. Qh6 {Und Schwarz ist
hilflos.Ribli.}) 30. Rg1+ Kf6 31. Bg3 Ng6 (31... Rh8 32. Bxh4+ Nxh4 33. Qg5+
Kf7 34. Qg7# {Ribli.}) 32. Be1 (32. Bxf5 exf5 33. Bh4+ Nxh4 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35.
Rg7+ Rf7 36. Qxh4+ Ke6 37. Qe1+ Kf6 38. Qc3+ Ke7 $19 {Ribli.}) 32... Ke7 $8 33.
Rxg6 Kd7 34. Qg4 Kc8 35. Rxe6 $4 {Ribli.Weiss ist in grosser Zeitnot. 35.h4
waere viel besser - wenn moeglich gefolgt von 36.h5.} Rxe6 $19 36. Bxf5 Rxf5
37. Qxf5 Qd7 {Ribli.Nach 38.Bc3 kommt 38...Re1,und nach 38.Qf8 kommt 38...Re8.}
0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O
d6 9. Re1 Rb8 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 dxe5 12. Rxe5 Qxe5 13. Bf4 Qc5 14. Bxb8 Be7
15. Bf4 O-O 16. Na4 Qb5 17. b3 e5 18. c4 Qb8 19. Be3 e4 20. Bf4 Qa7 21. Qc2 Bf5
22. h3 h5 23. Rd1 Re8 24. Qe2 Qb7 25. Kh2 Qc8 26. Bd6 h4 27. Bxe7 Rxe7 28. Nb6
Qc7 29. Qe3 hxg3+ 30. fxg3 Bg4 31. Rd2 Bf3 32. c5 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Qe5 34. b4 Qa1
35. a3 Re5 36. g4 Kh7 37. Rf2 Qd1 38. Rf1 Qc2+ 39. Rf2 Qd1 40. Rf1 Qc2+ 41. Rf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Nh3
Bg7 9. Nf4 Nbd7 10. h4 h5 11. Bh3 O-O 12. Qc2 Ne5 13. O-O Qb6 14. Rb1 Bc8 15.
Bxc8 Rfxc8 16. b3 Nfg4 17. Kg2 c4 18. Ne4 Qa7 19. a3 cxb3 20. Qxb3 Nc4 21. Ng5
Nxa3 22. Qxa3 Qxa3 23. Bxa3 Rxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Petursson Hazai} Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5
7. Be3 c6 8. d5 (8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Nd2 (9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Nxe5 Re8 (10... Nxe4)
11. f4 Nbd7 $3 12. Bd4 (12. Nxd7 Nxe4 13. Ne5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 f6) 12... Nh5 $1
13. Bxh5 Nxe5 14. Be2 (14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. fxe5 gxh5 16. O-O-O Bg4) 14... Nf3+
15. Bxf3 Bxd4 16. Rd1 (16. Kd2 Be6 17. b3 Rad8 18. Kc2 Be3 $17) 16... Bxc3+ 17.
bxc3 Bf5 $10 18. Kf2 Bxe4 19. Rd7 $10 {Stojanovic,Mi-Damljanovic,B JUG-ch
Podgorica 1996}) 9... Qe7 10. c5 Nbd7 11. Qa4 Rd8 (11... Nxc5 $2 12. Qa3 Nfd7
13. Na4 b6 14. Nb3) 12. Nb3 Nf8 13. O-O Ne6 14. Rad1 Rxd1 15. Rxd1 Nf4 16. f3
h5 $1 $40 {Portisch,L-Ivanchuk,V Reykjavik Wcup 1991}) (8. Qd2 {this move was
played 2 round later by Shirov against Topalov but it was another very
convincing Victory for Topalov with the King's Indian with black} Qe7 (8...
Nbd7 9. Rd1 Re8 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. O-O b5 $2 (12... Ng4 13. Bg5 f6 14.
Bh4 h5 15. Ne1 $13) 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. a4 $1 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Nxa4 16. Qxa4 Rb8 17.
Nd2 $1 $16 {Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V Reggio Emilia 1992}) 9. d5 cxd5 (9... Ng4 10.
Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Na6 12. O-O Bh6 (12... g5 13. Bg3 h5 14. h3 Nh6 15. a3 $14) (
12... h5 13. h3 Nh6 14. a3 $14) 13. Qd1 $1 Bf4 (13... g5 14. Bg3 f5 15. exf5
Bxf5 16. h4 $1 $16) 14. a3 g5 15. Bg3 c5 16. Nxg5 $1 Nxh2 17. Bxf4 Nxf1 18. Ne6
Bxe6 19. Bh6 $1 $14 {/+/- Khalifman,A-Wahls,M Deutschland 1992 54/597 
[Khalifman,A]}) 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Na6 13. O-O Nh6 14. Ne1 Nf7 15.
Bxa6 bxa6 16. Nc2 Rb8 17. Ne3 a5 18. Rfc1 h5 19. f3 Bh6 20. Ncd1 Ng5 21. Qxa5
f5 $36 {Shirov,A-Topalov,V Vienna 1996}) 8... Na6 (8... Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4
Na6 11. Nd2 Nh6 (11... h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. g4 hxg4 14. hxg4 Nf7 15. Nb3 c5 16.
Nc1 $13 {Giorgadza,G-Poluljahov,A Kropotkin 1995}) 12. a3 (12. O-O Nf7 13. Bd3
$1 c5 14. a3 Bh6 15. Qe2 Bg5 16. Bxg5 fxg5 (16... Nxg5 17. g3 {with f4}) 17. f3
Bd7 18. Rab1 h5 19. Qe3 $1 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Novik,M Sankt_Peterburg 1994 60/561 
[Nesis,G; Novik,M]}) 12... Nf7 13. f3 Bh6 14. Bf2 f5 15. Qc2 Bd7 16. b4 c5 $1
17. Rb1 b6 $13 {Karpov,An-Kasparov,G Lyon Wch (19) 1990}) 9. a3 {White is
playing against Na6 planning b2-b4. This, however looks a bit slow.} (9. Nd2 {
(Hazai: is the typical common sense move here.)} Ne8 10. O-O f5 11. f3 f4 12.
Bf2 c5 13. a3 b6 14. b4 h5 15. bxc5 Nxc5 16. a4 $6 a5 $1 {San Segundo,
P-Topalov,V Madrid 1996}) 9... Nh5 (9... Nc5 $6 {Hazai} 10. Nd2 a5 11. b4 $16)
(9... Ne8 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. c5 $1 $14) 10. g3 (10. b4 {Hazai} Nf4 11. Bf1 c5)
10... cxd5 11. Nxd5 (11. cxd5 {Hazai} f5) 11... Nf6 12. Nxf6+ (12. Nc3) (12.
Nd2 {Hazai} Nxd5 13. cxd5 f5) 12... Qxf6 13. b4 Qe7 14. O-O b6 $1 {a very
strong move the bishop will be best placed on the a8-h1 while white does not
have a c5 break} 15. Qa4 $6 {wasting too much time with useless queen moves}
Nc7 (15... Bb7 $2 16. c5 $1) 16. Qc6 Ba6 $1 {a good move playing against a c5
break} (16... Rb8 17. c5) 17. Rfd1 (17. b5 $2 Bc8 18. Rfd1 Rd8 {and white's
queen is in great danger}) 17... Rfd8 {The weakness on d6 does not play an
important role here.} 18. Rac1 Ne6 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Qc2 {The attack against d6
is repelled, Black has a comfortable game.} Rf8 $1 {prepering the f5 break,it
is already clear black has the initiative  Now f7-f5 is threatening, after
which the weakened diagonal may cause some headache for White.} 21. Nh4 (21. c5
dxc5 $1 22. bxc5 Rac8 {winning the c5 pawn}) 21... Nd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Bd3
Rae8 24. Kf1 (24. f3 {Hazai} Bh6 $17) (24. Re1 {Hazai} f5 $17) 24... Qd7 $1 {
much better than 24...Bxe4} (24... Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26. Qxe4 Rxe4 27. Nf3 {
gives some chances to save the game in the ending.}) 25. Re1 {[#]} f5 $1 {
Black opens up the long diagonal with a great effect. Now White is going to
have great problems on the white squares} 26. exf5 g5 $1 {this is topalov's
idea the knight must go to g2} 27. Ng2 Qc6 28. f3 (28. f4 gxf4 29. gxf4) 28...
Qxf3+ 29. Kg1 Re3 $1 30. Rxe3 (30. Nxe3 dxe3 {and there is nothing to do
against Qh1}) (30. Rcd1 $5 {defending the bishop on d3 and threating Rf1 was a
better defencive way}) 30... dxe3 31. Rf1 Qg4 32. f6 $2 (32. Qe2) (32. Be2) (
32. Nxe3 {Petursson} Bd4 33. Qf2 Qh5 34. Re1 Re8 35. Bf1 {had to be tried})
32... Rxf6 33. Rxf6 Bxf6 34. Bxh7+ Kh8 35. Bd3 Bd4 36. Qe2 $4 {a terrible
blunder losing immediately white must have played 36.Be2} (36. Be2 Qe6 37. Qd1
{black was threatening Qf6} Qe4 38. Qf1 Kg7 {and white's position is hopeless})
36... Bf3 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 $5 6. Bg5 Be6 $1
7. a3 Qd7 (7... g6 {Ftacnik} 8. Bxf6 exf6 9. c5 $14) (7... h6 {Survey CBM 55})
(7... Bg4 {Ftacnik} 8. f3 Be6 9. c5 g6 10. Bb5 Bg7 11. Nge2 O-O 12. O-O Bf5 13.
b4 a6 14. Ba4 h6 15. Be3 Ne8 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Ng3 e6 18. Nge2 g5 19. Bc2 Bxc2
20. Qxc2+ f5 21. Rab1 Nf6 22. a4 {Kasparov,G-Dreev,A/Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25' 
(2.1) 1996/0-1 (81)}) 8. Bxf6 (8. b4 {Survey CBM 55}) (8. f3 {Survey CBM 55}) (
8. c5 {Ftacnik} Ne4 $1 $10) 8... gxf6 $1 9. g3 $6 $146 (9. b4 $13) (9. c5 {
Ftacnik} Bg4 10. Nge2 Bh6 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qd3 f5 13. f4 Bxe2 14. Bxe2 Bg7 15.
Rd1 Nxd4 16. Qg3 Kf8 17. O-O Nxe2+ 18. Nxe2 e6 19. b4 Bf6 20. Qd3 a6 21. Nd4
Rg8 22. Qb3 Kg7 23. Kh1 Kh8 {Grabics,M-Horvath,Ju/HUN-chW (08)/1993/0-1 (82)})
9... O-O-O $1 10. Bg2 Bg4 $1 (10... dxc4 $2 11. d5 Ne5 (11... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 12.
Qa4 Qe5+ 13. Nge2 Rxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. O-O $13) 12. dxe6 Qxe6
13. Qe2 $18) 11. f3 (11. Nge2 dxc4 12. d5 (12. Qa4 Bxe2 13. Nxe2 Nxd4 $17)
12... Ne5 $17) 11... Be6 12. c5 (12. f4 Bg4 $1 13. Qa4 e5 $3 (13... Nxd4 $2 14.
Qxa7 Nc2+ 15. Kf2 Nxa1 16. Nxd5 $18) 14. cxd5 Nxd4 $19) 12... Bf5 $1 13. b4 (
13. f4 {Ftacnik} e5 $1) 13... e5 14. Nge2 Qe6 $1 15. dxe5 (15. O-O exd4 16.
Nxd4 $2 Qe3+ $19) (15. Kf2 Bh6 16. Re1 (16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Be4
$1 $17 (18... Be4 {Ftacnik} 19. Re1 f5 $40)) (16. Nb5 exd4 $17) 16... Be3+ $3
17. Kxe3 exd4+ 18. Kf2 Qe3+ 19. Kf1 dxc3 $19) (15. Kf1 {Ftacnik} Bh6) 15... d4
$1 (15... fxe5 $17) 16. Ne4 (16. Nf4 $1 {Ftacnik} Qxe5+ 17. Ne4 d3 (17... Bxe4
18. fxe4 f5 19. Nd3 Qe6 20. Nf4 Qe7 21. Qh5) 18. Ra2 $15) 16... d3 17. Nf4 d2+
$1 18. Kf2 (18. Qxd2 Rxd2 19. Nxe6 Rxg2 20. Nxf8 Bxe4 $19) (18. Nxd2 Qxe5+ 19.
Ne2 (19. Kf2 {Ftacnik} Qb2 20. Ke1 Rxd2 $19) 19... Rxd2 $3 20. Kxd2 Bh6+ 21.
Ke1 (21. f4 {Ftacnik} Rd8+ 22. Ke1 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Qb2 $19) 21... Rd8 $19) 18...
Qc4 $3 (18... Qxe5 19. Qe2 (19. Ne2 {Ftacnik} Bxe4 20. fxe4 Bh6 $17) 19... Qd4+
20. Qe3) 19. Bh3 (19. exf6 Qd4+ 20. Ke2 Bh6 $19) (19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. exd6 (20.
cxd6 {Ftacnik} Qd4+ 21. Kf1 Nxe5 22. Ne2 Qxd6) 20... Qd4+ 21. Kf1 Rhe8 $19) (
19. Nxd2 {Ftacnik} Qd4+ 20. Ke1 Qxe5+ 21. Ne2 Rxd2 $1) 19... Bxh3 20. Nxh3 Qd4+
21. Kg2 (21. Ke2 {Ftacnik} Qxe5 22. Kf2 f5 $19) 21... Nxe5 $19 22. Qb3 (22. Ra2
{Ftacnik} Nc4 $19) 22... Nc4 23. Rhd1 f5 $1 (23... Ne3+ $6 {Ftacnik} 24. Kh1
Nxd1 25. Rxd1 Bh6 26. Nd6+ $15) 24. Neg5 (24. Nd6+ {Ftacnik} Bxd6 25. cxd6 Ne3+
26. Kh1 Nxd1 27. Rxd1 Qxd6 $19) 24... Rd7 25. f4 Bg7 $1 26. Nf2 (26. Rab1 {
Ftacnik} Ne3+ 27. Kh1 Nxd1 28. Rxd1 Re8 29. Nf3 Qc3 $19) 26... Qd5+ 27. Nf3
Bxa1 28. Rxa1 Re8 (28... Re8 {Ftacnik} 29. Nd1 Ne3+ 30. Qxe3 Rxe3 31. Nxe3 Qe4
$19) 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hazai} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 c6
8. Qd2 {This move is a bit sophisticated, after d4-d5 the natural place of the
N is d2.} (8. d5 {Hazai}) (8. O-O {Hazai}) 8... Qe7 9. d5 cxd5 {Hazai: If
immediately 9...Ng4, than later taking on d5 can strongly met by Nd5.} 10. cxd5
Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Na6 $5 $146 13. O-O Nh6 (13... h5 $5) 14. Ne1 Nf7 15.
Bxa6 $5 {Hazai: From strategical point of view these sort of exchanges are not
to be recommended.} (15. Nc2 Bh6 $1 16. Ne3 Nc7 $13) (15. Nd3 {Hazai} Bd7)
15... bxa6 16. Nc2 (16. Nd3 {Hazai} Rb8) 16... Rb8 17. Ne3 a5 (17... Bh6 $142
$13) 18. Rfc1 $1 (18. Nc4 {Hazai} Qc7 (18... Ba6 $2 19. Nxa5 $1 Bxf1 20. Rxf1)
19. b3 Ba6) 18... h5 $5 19. f3 Bh6 20. Ncd1 {[#]} (20. Bf2 {Hazai} f5) 20...
Ng5 $5 {Hazai: The a5 pawn is not important, Black prepares f6-f5.} (20... g5
$6 21. Bf2 g4 22. Qe2 $1 $16) 21. Qxa5 (21. Bxg5 $6 fxg5 $1 22. Qxa5 g4 $40)
21... f5 22. Qe1 $4 (22. Bxg5 Qxg5 $1 (22... Bxg5 $2 23. Rc7 $16) 23. Qxa7 Rxb2
$1 (23... Rb7 $2 24. Qa6) (23... Rb4 $2 24. Qa3 $1 Rd4 25. Qxd6) (23... fxe4
24. Qxb8 Bh3 25. Qxd6 exf3 26. Rc6 $1 fxg2 27. Qxg6+ Bg7 28. Nxg2 Qd2 29. Nde3
Bxg2 30. Nf5 $18) 24. Nxb2 Qxe3+ 25. Qxe3 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 Bxc1 27. Rxc1 fxe4 28.
fxe4 Ba6 29. Kg1 $1 (29. h3 Rf2 30. Nc4 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 Rxa2 32. Rc6 Re2 33. Rxd6
Kf7 $10) 29... Rf4 $1 (29... Rb8 30. Rc6 $16) 30. Re1 Rf8 $3 31. Rc1 (31. h3
Rc8 $44) 31... Rf4 32. Re1 Rf8 $10) (22. Qc7 {Hazai} Bd7 23. Bxg5 Bxg5) 22...
fxe4 23. fxe4 Rf4 $19 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Rc4 (25. Nc4 Bg4 26. Nxd6 Rbf8 27. Ne3
Rf2) 25... Ba6 $6 {Hazai: The pair of bishops in the open position kill White.}
(25... Bd7 $1 $19 {/\ Rbf8, Bb5->}) 26. Rc6 $1 Bd3 27. Rac1 Rbf8 28. Rc8 $1
Bxe4 29. Nf2 R4f7 $2 (29... Bxg2 $1 30. Nxg2 Rxf2 31. Qxf2 Qxc1+ 32. Rxc1 Rxf2
33. Rc8+ Rf8 $17) 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Rc3 $15 Qf4 32. Qe2 $4 (32. Neg4 $1 Bxd5 (
32... hxg4 33. Nxe4 Qf7 $13) 33. Nxh6+ Qxh6 34. Qd1 $1 (34. Rd3 $2 Ba8 35. Rxd6
Rxf2 $1 $19) 34... Ba8 (34... Bxa2 35. Qxd6 (35. b3 $2 Qf4 36. Rf3 Qd4 37. Qc2
e4 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Qxa2 e3 $19) 35... Qg7 36. Ne4 $44) 35. Qxd6 Qg5 36. Rg3
Qc1+ 37. Nd1 Be4 38. Qe6+ Kh7 39. Qe7+ $10) 32... Bb1 $19 33. a3 Qd4 34. g3 a5
35. Qe1 e4 36. Kg2 Bd3 37. Nfd1 Qf6 38. h4 g5 39. Nf2 Qf3+ 40. Kg1 gxh4 {
Hazai: This is a nice illustative game for the Kings Indian.} 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 {Ribli. Kramniks Wunderwaffe 4.Qb3
scheint mir besser.} b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 {Ribli.Das ist klar besser,
als 7.d4?! Bc3 8.bc Nc6 9.Nd2 Na5 l0.Bb7 Nb7 11.e4 Ne8 - mit gleichen Chancen.
Pinter -Horvath,T.Budapest 1984.} d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8... exd5 9. Bf4 Re8 $2 (
9... Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. d4 Re8 12. Rc1 a6 13. Rc2 Nbd7 14. Qc1 Ne4 15. Rd1
Qf6 16. Qf4 $14 {Savchenko,S-Vukanovic,S,Ljubljana op,1996,EXP53.}) 10. Nb5 $1
Na6 11. Rc1 c6 12. Nbd4 Bc5 13. a3 Nh5 14. Bd2 $14 {Kramnik-Gulko,Horgen 1995.}
) 9. Qc2 Be7 $5 {Ribli. Schwarz strebt nach vollwertigem Spiel. Wenn er c7-c5
ziehen und das Laeuferpaar nicht abgeben möchte, kann er diesen Rueckzug nicht
vermeiden.} 10. Rd1 (10. d4 $5 {Ribli.Aber das kostet Weiss ein Tempo im
Vergleich :z.B. zu der normalen Zugfolge 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.
Bg2 Be7 6.o-o o-o 7.Nc3 d5 8.cd Nd5 9.Qc2 mit leichtem weissen Vorteil.}) 10...
Nxc3 (10... c5 $5) 11. bxc3 c5 12. d4 (12. Bb2 Nc6) 12... Qc8 $1 {Ribli.
Schwarz spielt auf die Fesslung in der c-Linie.Es droht 13...cd.} 13. dxc5 (13.
Ba3 Nd7 14. e4 $5) 13... bxc5 (13... Bxc5 14. Ng5 g6 15. Ne4 $14) 14. Rb1 $14
Bc6 (14... Nd7 $4 15. Rxb7 Qxb7 16. Ng5 $18) (14... Nc6 15. Ng5 g6 16. Ne4 $16)
15. Bg5 f6 (15... Bxg5 16. Nxg5 g6 (16... f5 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Rd6) 17. Ne4)
16. Bf4 Nd7 {Ribli. Schwarz muss ein paar gekuenstelte Zuege machen um
auszugleichen. Weiss hat nicht so grosse, dafür aber dauerhafte Initiative.} (
16... e5 17. Bc1 {Ribli.Und die weissen Felder sind schwach im Lager des
Nachziehenden.}) 17. Bd6 Rf7 $1 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Rd6 Nf8 $1 $8 (19... Qc7 20.
Rxc6 Qxc6 21. Ng5 $18) 20. Rxc6 Qxc6 21. Nd2 Qe8 22. Bxa8 Qxa8 {Ribli.Weiss
hat einen microscopisch kleinen Vorteil, da Schwarz einige Schwaechen hat.
Aber seine Verteidigung ist sehr gut koordiniert, und so nähert sich die
Partie dem Remis.} 23. Qe4 Qd5 $10 (23... Qc8 24. Nc4 $14) 24. Qxd5 exd5 25.
Kf1 Kf7 26. Rb5 (26. c4 dxc4 27. Nxc4 Ke6) 26... Rc7 27. a4 {Ribli} (27. e4 Ke6
) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 h6 8. Rb1 a5
9. a3 Re8 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 e4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. Nc2 exd3 14. exd3 Qc8 15. Ne3
Be6 16. Bb2 Nc6 17. Ncd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Na7 19. Ra1 Nb5 20. Ra5 b6 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. Qc2 Re7 23. d4 Na7 24. Ra1 b5 25. Qc6 Qb8 26. Qa6 Nc8 27. Qa8 Qxa8 28. Rxa8
Re8 29. Bf1 Nb6 30. Rxe8+ Nxe8 31. Bxb5 Nf6 32. Bc6 h5 33. Kf1 Ng4 34. h3 Nxe3+
35. fxe3 f5 36. Ke2 Bh6 37. Kd3 Kf7 38. Bc3 Bg5 39. Be1 Kf6 40. Bf2 Kf7 41. Be1
Ke7 42. e4 fxe4+ 43. Kxe4 Nd7 44. Kd3 Nb6 45. Bb7 Bh6 46. Ke4 Nd7 47. Bc6 Bg5
48. Kf3 Nb6 49. Bc3 h4 50. gxh4 Bxh4 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Ke4 Bg5 53. Bb5 Bc1 54.
Be1 Ke7 55. Bh4+ g5 56. Be1 Kf6 57. Be2 Kg6 58. Bg4 Kf6 59. Bf3 Kg6 60. Kd3 Bf4
61. Ke4 Bc1 62. Bg4 Kf6 63. Be6 Kg6 64. Kd3 Kf6 65. b5 Bf4 66. Kc3 Be3 67. Kd3
Bc1 68. Kc2 Bf4 69. Kb3 Ke7 70. Kb4 Ke8 71. Kb3 Be3 72. Kc3 Ke7 73. Kd3 Bc1 74.
Ba5 Kf6 75. Ke4 Kg6 76. Kf3 Bb2 77. Kg4 Bc1 78. Bf5+ Kf6 79. Be4 Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nh5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Rd8 15. O-O Nf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Rxd7 18. Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Rd1 Nf6 20. Kf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.20"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Torre, Eugenio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C82"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov,A"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Philippines"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PHI"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Bg4 11. Bc2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rd8 13. b4 (13. Nf1 d4 $5 14. h3
(14. cxd4 $6 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nxd4 16. Qd1 Nxc2 17. Qxc2 Qd3 $15) 14... Bh5 (14...
d3 $5) 15. Ng3 Bg6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 (18... Kxe7 $5 19.
Qd2 (19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxd4 21. Qf3 Qxb2 $1 22. e6 Nxe6 23. Qc6 Qd4 24.
Qxc7+ Rd7 25. Qc6 Rb8 $10 {Zagrebelny,S-Kharitonov,A/Tashkent/1985/0,5/25/})
19... Ne6 20. Rad1 dxc3 21. Qc1 Qc8 22. Qxc3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rc1 $13 {
Klovans,J-Kharitonov,A/Omsk/1985/0,5/24/}) 19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Ne6 21. Nge2
c5 22. Nc6 Rxd1 23. Nxe7 Rxe1+ $10 {Martin del Campo,R-Sagalchik,G/Linares/
1994/0,5/23/}) (13. Nb3 $5 Ne6 14. h3 Bh5 15. a4) 13... Ne6 14. Nf1 (14. Nb3 $5
) 14... Bh5 (14... Be7 15. Ng3 d4 $22 16. Be4 dxc3 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 $36) 15. a3
$6 (15. Ng3 $5 Bg6 16. Nf5 Be7 $13) 15... Bg6 16. Ra2 a5 $1 $132 17. Bxg6 hxg6
18. Qe2 Ra8 19. Qxb5 $6 (19. Ng3 $5 Be7 20. Be3 $132) 19... axb4 20. cxb4 Bxb4
21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Qd3 $2 (22. Be3 $5 Nxe5 23. Qxd7+ Nxd7 24. Bxc5 Ndxc5 25. Rxd5
$10) 22... Ncd4 $1 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Kh1 (24. Be3 Ra4 $1 $17) 24... Qa4 $1 25.
f4 Bb6 (25... Bc5 $5) 26. Rb2 (26. Qxd5 $4 Rd8 $19) 26... Bc5 27. Ng3 c6 $17
28. Rf1 (28. f5 $2 Rxh2+ 29. Kxh2 Qh4#) 28... Qd4 $1 29. Qc2 (29. Qxd4 Bxd4 $17
) 29... O-O 30. Rb3 Qa4 31. Qb1 Qc4 32. Qb2 Bd4 33. Qb1 Bc5 34. Qb2 Bd4 35. Qb1
Bc3 36. Be3 d4 37. Ne4 (37. Bg1 Nc5 $17) 37... Nc5 $1 38. Nxc5 (38. Rxc3 dxc3
39. Bxc5 (39. Nxc5 c2 40. Qc1 Rfd8 41. Re1 Rab8 $19) 39... c2 40. Qc1 Rfd8 41.
Re1 Rd1 42. Rxd1 cxd1=Q+ 43. Qxd1 Qxe4 $19) 38... Qxc5 39. Bg1 (39. Bc1 Qc4 $17
) 39... Qc4 $5 (39... Rxa3 $5 $17) 40. Rf3 Rfd8 41. Rd3 c5 42. h3 Qa4 (42...
Qe6 43. Rbxc3 dxc3 44. Rxc3 c4 $17) 43. e6 $5 Qe8 $5 (43... fxe6 44. Rg3 $132)
44. exf7+ Qxf7 45. Rb7 Rd7 46. Rxd7 Qxd7 47. Qb3+ Qf7 (47... Kh7 $6 48. Qc4 $5
(48. Qxc3 $5 dxc3 49. Rxd7 c2 50. Be3 Rxa3 51. Bd2 Ra1+ 52. Kh2 Rd1 53. Rc7 $10
)) 48. Rxc3 dxc3 49. Qxc3 c4 $19 50. Bd4 Rb8 51. Be5 Rb3 52. Qa5 Rd3 53. Kh2
Kh7 54. Qb4 (54. a4 c3 $19) 54... Qa7 $1 55. Qxc4 Qe3 (55... Qe3 56. Qc2 Qg3+
57. Kh1 Re3 58. Bd4 Re1+ 59. Bg1 Qe3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.21"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Galego, Luis"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Portugal"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Qb3 a5 6. a3 Bxc3 7. Qxc3 Re8 (7...
Qe7 8. b3 d6 (8... d6 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. Nf3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nc5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4
Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Re8 15. Ra2 Bg4 16. e3 Qg5 17. O-O Bf5 18. Qc3 Be4 19. Bxc5 Bxg2
20. Kxg2 Qxc5 {Mack,P-Budde,V/BL 8586/1986/0-1 (50)})) (7... e4 8. b3 d5 9. Bb2
Be6 10. Nh3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Bxh3 12. Bxh3 Qxd5 13. Bg2 Qe6 14. Rc1 Rfd8 15. Qc4
Qd6 16. O-O Qxd2 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxe4 Nd4 19. Rxc7 {1-0 Koehler,G-Pichler,M/
OLO-A 9293/1993 (26)}) 8. d3 (8. Nf3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qc2 e4 11. Nd4 Nf6 12.
e3 b6 13. d3 c5 14. Nb5 exd3 15. Qc4 Be6 16. Qf4 Bd5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. O-O d2
19. Bxd2 Qxd2 20. Nc7 Nbd7 21. Nxa8 Rxa8 {Martinez,A-Bronstein,L/Buenos Aires
Konex (02)/1991/0-1 (42)}) 8... d5 9. Bg5 (9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qc2 Nc6) 9... d4
10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. c5 $2 (11. Nf3 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. O-O $10) 11... c6 $1 12.
Nf3 h6 13. Bxf6 (13. Bd2 a4 $15) 13... Nxf6 14. Nd2 Be6 15. O-O a4 16. Nc4 (16.
b4 axb3 17. Nxb3 Qe7 $15) 16... Bxc4 $1 17. Qxc4 (17. dxc4 Qe7 $17) 17... Ra5
18. Bh3 (18. Rfc1 Nd7 19. Qb4 Qa8 (19... Rb5 20. Qxa4 Nxc5 21. Qxb5 $1 $8 (21.
Qc2 Nb3 $19) 21... cxb5 22. Rxc5 $15) 20. Rc4 Rb5 21. Qxa4 Rxb2 $17) 18... Qe7
19. Rfc1 Rea8 20. Rab1 Nd5 21. Rc2 (21. Bg2 Nc7) 21... Rb5 22. Bg2 Nc7 $1 (
22... Raa5 $6 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 Rxc5 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Qe4 $15) 23. b4 $8
(23. Bf3 Ne6 $17) 23... axb3 24. Rxb3 Rxb3 25. Qxb3 Nb5 26. a4 Nc3 27. Rb2 Rxa4
(27... Qxc5 28. Qxb7 Rxa4 29. Bxc6 $10) 28. Qxb7 Ra1+ 29. Bf1 Qe6 (29... Qxc5
$2 30. Qc8+ Qf8 (30... Kh7 $2 31. Qf5+ $18) 31. Qc7) 30. Kg2 (30. f3 Kh7 (30...
Qh3 31. Qa8+ $1) 31. Kg2 Rc1 32. Rb6 Nd5 33. Rb1 Ne3+ 34. Kg1 Rxc5 $19) 30...
Qd5+ 31. f3 (31. Kg1 Rxf1+ $1 32. Kxf1 Qh1#) 31... Kh7 (31... Nd1 32. Rb1 (32.
Qc8+ Kh7 33. Rb8 Ne3+ 34. Kh3 Rxf1 35. Qh8+ Kg6 36. Rg8 Qe6+ 37. g4 Qf6 $19)
32... Ne3+ 33. Kf2 Rxb1 34. Qxb1 Qxc5 $17) 32. h4 (32. Qc8 Nd1 $19) (32. Rb6
Nd1 33. Rb1 Ne3+ 34. Kf2 Rxb1 35. Qxb1 Qxc5 $17) 32... Qe6 33. Rb6 (33. Rd2 Nd5
34. Kf2 Rxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Qh3+ 36. Ke1 Ne3 $19) 33... Rxf1 $1 (33... Nd5 34. Rb1)
34. Rxc6 (34. Kxf1 Qh3+ 35. Kf2 (35. Kg1 Qxg3+ 36. Kf1 Nd1 $19) 35... Qh2+ 36.
Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Nd1#) 34... Qa2 35. Kxf1 Qxe2+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+ (36... Qe1+ 37.
Kh2 (37. Kg2 Nd1 38. f4 Ne3+ 39. Kf3 Qh1+ 40. Ke2 Qd1+ 41. Kf2 Qf1#) 37... Ne2
$19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.23"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5
8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. O-O-O b6 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. f4 Nd5 14. Kb1
f6 15. Nf3 Nxf4 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Rhf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.24"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Saltaev, Mihail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. a3 Be7 8. Ba2
Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Qe2 b5 12. Rad1 Rb8 13. f3 Na5 14. Bc1 b4 15.
axb4 Rxb4 16. Kh1 Qb6 17. Be3 Qb7 18. b3 Qc7 19. Qd2 Rb8 20. Na4 Nc6 21. Nxc6
Qxc6 22. Ba7 Rb7 23. Bd4 Rd8 24. c4 Bd7 25. Qe3 Be8 26. Rfe1 Nd7 27. f4 Rdb8
28. Qg3 Bf8 29. Rd3 e5 30. fxe5 dxe5 31. Bxe5 Nxe5 32. Qxe5 Qe6 33. Qxe6 fxe6
34. Nc3 Bc5 35. Rf1 Bc6 36. h3 Rf7 37. Rff3 Rf6 38. Kh2 Kf7 39. Kg3 Bb6 40.
Rxf6+ gxf6 41. Kf4 h5 42. g4 hxg4 43. hxg4 Bc7+ 44. Kf3 Be5 45. Nd1 a5 46. Nf2
Ke7 47. Ke2 Bd6 48. Rd1 Bg3 49. Nh1 Bh4 50. Kf3 Rb4 51. Rd2 Rb7 52. Rh2 Bg5 53.
Rh7+ Kd6 54. Rxb7 Bxb7 55. Nf2 Kc5 56. Bb1 Kd4 57. Nd1 f5 58. gxf5 exf5 59. Nf2
Bh4 60. c5 Kxc5 61. Nd1 Kd4 62. Ne3 fxe4+ 63. Ke2 Ba6+ 64. Nc4 a4 65. Kd1 Bxc4
66. bxc4 Be7 67. c5 Bxc5 68. Kc2 e3 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.25"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. a4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15.
fxe5 dxe5 16. Ba7 Ra8 17. g5 Rd8 (17... Bb4 18. Na2 a5 (18... Ba5 19. Be3 Rd8
20. Qe2 Ne8 21. c4 Be6 22. Rfc1 Qe7 23. Nc3 Bxc3 24. Rxc3 Nc7 {Dolmatov,
S-Kalegin,E/RUS-ch Elista (07)/1995/1/2-1/2 (76)}) 19. Be3 Nd7 20. Nxb4 axb4
21. Qd2 Nf8 22. Qxb4 Qxc2 23. Rfc1 Qd3 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Marcantoni,H/Paris-ch 
(08)/1991/ (51)}) (17... Rxa7 18. gxf6 Bxf6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qc1
Kh8 22. Rg1 (22. Qh6 Rg8 23. Bh5 Bg4 24. Bxg4 Rxg4 25. Rad1 {1-0 Oll,L-Cvitan,
O/Eupen op 25' (06)/1995/ (30)}) 22... Rg8 23. Qh6 Rg6 24. Rad1 Qe7 25. Qd2 Be6
{1/2-1/2 Sutovskij,E-Zoler,D/ISR-ch (06)/1994/ (42)}) (17... Nd7 18. Nd5 Qc6
19. Be3 Bc5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Qf3 Rf8 22. Bg4 b6 23. Bxd7 Bxd7 24. Bxc5 bxc5 {
1-0 Fishbein,A-MacArthur,J/New York op '60 Newark (01) 1996}) 18. Qe2 (18. Qc1
Rxa7 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qc6 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Bh5 Qh4 23. Bxf7+ Kh8 24. Bd5
Bh3 25. Rf3 {Kaiumov,D-Semeniuk,A/Vladivostok2 op (06)/1995/1-0 (78)}) 18...
Ne8 (18... Rxa7 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Rxd5 21. exd5 Be7 22. Be4 Bd6 23. Qd3 h6
24. Rf3 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Andruet,G/Torcy op/1991/ (29)}) 19. Be3 Be6 20. Qf2 Qc4
$5 (20... Rdc8 21. Bg4 (21. a5 Nd6 22. Na4 Rf8 23. b3 Nb5 24. Nb6 Rad8 25. Nd5
{1/2-1/2 Sax,G-Bairachny,R/Budapest Spring op (06)/1996/ (49)}) 21... Nd6 22.
Bxe6 fxe6 23. g6 Rf8 (23... Bf6 24. Qg2 Qe7 25. Rf3 Nc4 26. Bc1 hxg6 {Fishbein,
A-Gligoric,S/Moscow GMA-op (09)/1989/0-1 (75)}) 24. Qg2 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Rf8 {
1/2-1/2 Riemersma,L-Ligterink,G/NLD-ch/1987/ (36)}) 21. Bb6 (21. Nd5 Bxd5 22.
exd5 Rac8 $15) 21... Rdc8 22. Be3 Bc5 23. Rad1 (23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Be2 Qb4 25.
Bg4 Bc4 26. Be2 Nd6 $15) 23... Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qb4 25. Rd3 Rd8 (25... Qxb2 26.
Rb1 Qa3 (26... Qxc2 $2 27. Bd1 $18) 27. Nd5 Qa2 28. Rdd1 Rd8 $17) (25... Bc4
26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 (27. c3 Qxa4 28. exd5 Qb5 29. Bg2 Nd6 $17) 27... Rxc2 28.
Qxe5 Nd6 $17) 26. b3 Rd4 $1 (26... Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Qe7 28. Qd2 Rd8 29. Nd5 $15)
27. Rfd1 Rc8 28. R1d2 (28. Nd5 $5 Rxd3 (28... Bxd5 29. Rxd4 exd4 30. Rxd4 Bc4
$1 $17 (30... Qc3 31. Qxc3 Rxc3 32. exd5 Rxf3 33. d6 $15)) 29. Rxd3 Bxd5 30.
exd5 Rxc2 31. Qxe5 Nd6 32. Re3 $15) 28... Qc5 29. Kg2 (29. Nd5 Rxd3 (29... Bxd5
30. exd5 Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Nd6 $15) 30. Qxd3 Bxd5 31. Qxd5 Qe3 $15) 29... b5 30.
axb5 axb5 31. Nd1 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 (32. Qxc5 $2 Rxd2+ $19) 32... f6 33. gxf6 (33.
h4 fxg5 34. hxg5 Qe7 35. Qe3 Nd6 $17) 33... Nxf6 34. Ne3 Kh8 $1 (34... b4 35.
Qd6 $1) 35. c4 (35. Qd6 $2 Qxe3 $19) 35... bxc4 36. Nxc4 (36. bxc4 h6 $17)
36... h6 37. Rc2 (37. Qd6 Bxc4 38. bxc4 Qe3 $17) 37... Qb5 38. Rc1 (38. Nb2
Rxc2+ 39. Qxc2 Bxb3 $17) 38... Qc5 39. Rc2 Qb5 40. Rc1 Qb4 41. Qc3 Qe7 42. Qe3
(42. Qxe5 Bh3+ 43. Kxh3 Qxe5 44. Nxe5 Rxc1 $17) 42... Nd7 43. Be2 Rb8 44. Nd2 (
44. Qg3 Bg8 $17) 44... Nf8 45. Kh1 Ng6 46. Nc4 Bg8 47. Rf1 Qc7 48. Qg3 Bh7 (
48... Nf4 $2 49. Nxe5 Nxe2 50. Ng6+) 49. Rf2 Nf4 50. Qe3 (50. Nxe5 Bxe4+ 51.
Kg1 (51. Nf3 Rxb3 $19) (51. Bf3 Qxe5 $19) 51... Qc1+ 52. Bf1 Rf8 $19) 50... Bg8
51. Bf1 (51. Nxe5 Nxe2 52. Ng6+ Kh7 53. Nf8+ Rxf8 54. Rxf8 Qc2 $17) 51... Rf8
52. Nd2 (52. Ra2 Ne6 53. Bg2 Nd4 $17) 52... Qc1 53. Nc4 Qa1 (53... Qxe3 54.
Nxe3 Bh7 55. Bd3 Rc8 $17) 54. Qc5 Ne6 55. Qe3 (55. Qxf8 Nxf8 56. Rxf8 Kh7 $19)
55... Nf4 56. Qc5 Re8 57. Qe3 (57. Rf3 Qd1 58. Qe3 Bxc4 59. bxc4) 57... Bxc4
58. bxc4 Rd8 59. Qf3 (59. Rxf4 exf4 60. Qxf4 Kg8 $19) 59... Qe1 60. Qg3 (60.
Kg1 Rd3 61. Qg4 Nh3+ $19) 60... Rd1 61. h4 (61. c5 Qxf1+ 62. Rxf1 Rxf1+ $19)
61... Rd3 62. Qg1 (62. Qh2 Rh3 $19) 62... Qxe4+ 63. Kh2 (63. Bg2 Rh3+) 63...
Qe3 (63... Qe3 64. Kh1 Rc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.26"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Apicella, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Shipov,S"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
exd4 (8... c6) 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 Nc5 11. Re1 Bd7 (11... a5) 12. Bf4 (12. Rb1
h6 13. b3 a6 14. Bb2 Rb8 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nde2 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19.
exd5 Ng5 20. Nf4 Be5 $132 {Greenfeld,A-Spasov,V/Belgrade/1994/0:1/35/}) 12...
a6 (12... Qc8 13. Kh2 a6 (13... h6 14. f3 a5 $6 (14... a6 $5 {/\ Rb8,b5/}) 15.
Qd2 Kh7 16. Rad1 a4 17. Ndb5 $1 Bc6 18. Be3 b6 19. Qc2 $16 {Zaichik,G-Georgiev,
Ki/Katerini/1992/1:0/36/}) 14. Rc1 h5 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. c5 dxc5 18.
Nd5 $1 Bxd5 19. exd5 Rxe1 20. Qxe1 Qf5 21. Bxc7 Re8 22. Qd2 Ne4 23. Qf4 Qxd5
24. Rxc5 $14 {Ginsburg,G-Ryskin,A/Pinsk/1993/0,5/42/}) 13. Qd2 (13. Qc2 $2
Nfxe4 $1 $17) 13... Rb8 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. Kh2 b5 (15... Ne6 $5 16. Be3 b5 $132)
16. b4 $1 Ne6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Nd7 $2 (19... b4 $1 20. Nd5
Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 a5 $132) 20. Nd5 $1 Ne5 (20... Nxc5 $6 21. Nxc7) (
20... Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Nxc5 23. Rc1 $16) 21. Bg5 $1 Bxd5 (21... Nc4
22. Qf4 $16) 22. exd5 $16 Qf5 23. d6 cxd6 24. cxd6 Bf6 (24... Nc4 25. Qf4) (
24... Nd7 25. Qf4 $16 (25. Bc6 $2 Ne5 $1 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. d7 Qxg5 28. Qxg5
Rxg5 29. d8=Q+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Bf8 $10)) 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Qf4 $1 Qxf4 (26...
Kg7 27. d7 $18) 27. gxf4 Nc4 (27... Nd7 28. Re7 $1 Nb6 (28... Red8 29. Bd5 $1)
29. Ra7 $18) 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. d7 Rd8 30. Bb7 Nb6 (30... a5 31. Ba6) 31. Bxa6
Rxd7 (31... b4 32. Bb5 Kf8 33. Rd4 $18) 32. Rxd7 Nxd7 33. Bxb5 Nc5 (33... Nb6
34. a4 Kf8 35. a5 Nc8 36. Kg3 Ke7 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Bc4 $18) 34. a4 Nb3 35. Bc4
Na5 36. Bd5 $18 Kf8 37. Kg3 Ke7 38. Kf3 f6 39. Ke4 Kd6 40. Kd4 g5 41. fxg5 fxg5
42. Ke4 Kc5 43. f3 h6 44. Ke5 Kb4 45. Kf6 Kxa4 46. Kg6 Kb4 47. Kxh6 Kc5 48. Ba2
Nc6 49. Kxg5 Kd6 50. h4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.27"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Estonia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "EST"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 c6 8. Rb1
Re8 9. e4 a5 10. a3 Na6 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 h6 13. Be3 Nc7 14. b5 Ne6 15. bxc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.28"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D67"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne4 N5f6 12. Ng3 e5 13. O-O exd4 14. Nf5 Qd8
15. N5xd4 Nb6 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. Qc2 Bg4 18. a3 Rad8 19. Rfe1 Nbd7 20. Ng5 h6 21.
Nh7 Rfe8 22. h3 Be6 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Bf1 Bd5 25. f3 Ne5 26. Qf2 a6 27. b4 b5
28. Red1 Nc4 29. e4 Be6 30. Bxc4 Bxc4 31. Rd2 Rd7 32. Rcd1 Red8 33. f4 g5 34.
fxg5 Qxg5 35. Nf3 Rxd2 36. Rxd2 Rxd2 37. Qxd2 Qe7 38. Qd4 a5 39. Qe5 Qa7+ 40.
Nd4 axb4 41. axb4 Be6 42. Kh2 Qd7 43. Kg3 Kh7 44. Kf4 Qa7 45. Qc5 Qc7+ 46. Kf3
Qd7 47. Qe5 Kg8 48. Kg3 Kh7 49. Kh4 Qe7+ 50. Kg3 Qd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.30"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qd2 e5 8. d5 Na6
9. h4 cxd5 10. cxd5 Qe8 11. f3 Bd7 12. Nh3 $1 (12. g4 $6 h5 13. Bxf6 (13. O-O-O
hxg4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. fxg4 Nf4 16. Bxa6 bxa6 17. Qh2 f6 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Qh7+
Kf7 20. Rh6 Rh8 21. Qxg6+ Kg8 22. Rxh8+ Kxh8 23. Qxe8+ Rxe8 $17 {Gyurkovics,
M-Kuzmin,A/Budapest/1989/0|1/32/}) 13... Bxf6 14. gxh5 Kg7 15. O-O-O Rh8 16.
hxg6 fxg6 17. h5 b5 18. h6+ Kh7 $146 {Gaprindashvili,N-Makropoulou,M/MAS/1990/
0|1/26/}) 12... Nc5 13. g4 h5 14. Nf2 hxg4 15. fxg4 Rc8 (15... a5 $22 16. h5 b5
) 16. Be3 Nh7 17. Nd3 (17. h5 $5) 17... Nxd3+ 18. Qxd3 a6 19. a4 Qd8 (19... b5
20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 (21. Ra6 $5) 21... Bxb5 22. Qxb5 Qxb5 23. Bxb5 Rb8 24.
Ra5 Nf6 $132) (19... f5 $5) 20. a5 Bf6 21. Bf2 Be7 22. Kd2 Nf6 23. Rhg1 Ne8 24.
Bb6 Nc7 25. g5 $36 Qe8 26. Qe3 (26. Qf3 $5 f6 (26... Nb5 27. Bxb5 Bxb5 28. h5
Kg7 29. Be3 Rh8 30. Rh1 $36) 27. gxf6 Rxf6 28. Qg3 Kh7 29. Be3 $36) 26... Nb5
27. Bxb5 Bxb5 28. h5 Kg7 (28... gxh5 29. Rh1 (29. g6 fxg6 30. Qh6 Rf6 31. Rg5
Qf7 32. Rag1 Be8 33. Rxh5 Qg7 $17) 29... Kg7 30. Rxh5 Rh8 31. Rah1 Rxh5 32.
Rxh5 Qd7 $132) 29. Qf3 Bc4 $6 (29... gxh5 $5 30. Rg2 (30. Qxh5 Rh8 31. Qf3 Rh2+
32. Rg2 Qh8 $132) 30... Rh8 31. Rh1 h4 32. Be3 Bd7 $17) 30. Rg2 Rh8 31. Rh1 Bb5
(31... Qd7 32. h6+ Kg8 33. h7+ Kg7 34. Qf2 $22 Bb5 35. Qh4) 32. Be3 Bd7 33.
Rgh2 Qd8 (33... Rxh5 34. Rxh5 gxh5 35. Rxh5 $36 (35. Qxh5 Qh8 36. Qf3 Qg8 37.
Rh6 $36)) 34. Kd3 $1 (34. hxg6 Rxh2+ 35. Rxh2 fxg6 $13) 34... Qc7 (34... Bxg5
35. hxg6 Rxh2 36. Qxf7+ $18) (34... Qxa5 35. hxg6 Bb5+ 36. Kd2 fxg6 (36...
Rxh2+ 37. Rxh2 fxg6 38. Qh3 Rg8 39. Qh7+ Kf8 40. Rf2+ $18) 37. Rxh8 Rxh8 38.
Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Qf7 Qd8 40. Nxb5 axb5 41. Qxg6 $16) 35. hxg6 Qc4+ 36. Kc2 fxg6
37. Rxh8 Rxh8 38. Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Qf7 $18 Ba4+ 40. Kd2 Qb4 41. Ke1 (41. Ke1 Qxb2
42. Nxa4 Qa1+ 43. Kf2 Qxa4 44. Qxe7 Qxe4 45. Qxd6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.10.01"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Lalic, Bogdan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. Qd2
Qe7 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Nh6 13. O-O Nf7 14. Ne1 h5 15.
f3 Bh6 16. Qd1 Na6 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. Bxa6 bxa6 19. Qe2 Rab8 20. Rb1 Bc8 21. Nc2
a5 22. Qc4 Rb6 23. Qa4 Ba6 24. Rfd1 Rfb8 25. Qxa5 Bc8 26. Qa3 Ra6 27. Na4 Qb7
28. b3 Bd7 29. Ra1 Kg7 30. Be1 Bxa4 31. bxa4 Qb2 32. Qxb2 Rxb2 33. Nb4 Rxa4 34.
Rab1 Re2 35. Bg3 f5 36. exf5 gxf5 37. Kg1 h4 38. Bf2 a5 39. Nd3 Raxa2 40. Re1
Red2 41. Rbd1 h3 42. gxh3 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Tischbierek} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7.
O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 9. Ne5 (9. b3 Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. e4 dxe4 13. Ne5
$13 {Palatnik,S-Rashkovsky,N/Palma de Mallorca/1989/}) 9... Nfd7 (9... Bb7) 10.
Nd3 (10. Nxc6 $2 Nxc6 11. cxd5 Nxd4 12. Qe4 Bf6 $17) 10... Bb7 11. Rd1 a5 (
11... Na6 12. a3 Rc8 13. Be3 Bf6 14. Nc3 Qe7 15. Rac1 c5 $13 {
Skembris-Tiviakov,S/Gausdal/1993/}) 12. a3 $6 (12. Be3 $5 b5 13. c5 Ba6 14. a3
$14) 12... Ba6 13. cxd5 (13. b3 a4 14. cxd5 axb3 15. Qxb3 cxd5 $10) 13... cxd5
14. Be3 Ra7 $10 15. Nc3 Rc7 16. Bf4 $6 (16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Rac1 Bd6 (17... Bf6 18.
Nf4 g6 $10) 18. Bf4 $10) 16... Rc8 17. Bxb8 Nxb8 18. Rac1 Nc6 19. e3 Bc4 20.
Bf1 Qd7 21. Nf4 (21. b3 $2 Bxd3 22. Bxd3 Bxa3 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. Ra1 Bb4 $17)
21... b5 (21... Bxf1 22. Rxf1 b5 23. Qe2 b4 24. Na4 Qb7 25. Nc5) 22. Bxc4 (22.
Nxb5 $2 Nb4 23. axb4 Bxf1 $17) 22... bxc4 23. e4 Bf6 (23... Qa7 $5 24. exd5
Nxd4 25. Qe4 e5) 24. exd5 Nxd4 25. Qe4 (25. dxe6 Qb7 (25... fxe6 26. Qe4 e5 27.
Nfd5 $10) 26. Qe4) 25... e5 26. Nh5 $1 Bg5 27. f4 f5 (27... Qg4 $5 28. Nxg7
Bxf4 29. Kh1 f5 30. Nxf5) 28. Qg2 Qf7 (28... Bh6 $5 {Tischbierek} 29. fxe5 $140
(29. Rb1 $5 g6 30. fxe5 gxh5 31. Kh1) (29. Ne2 g6) (29. Qh3) 29... Bxc1 30.
Rxc1 Qe8 $1 $19) 29. Nxg7 Qxg7 30. fxg5 Qxg5 (30... e4 31. h4 Nf3+ 32. Kh1 $13)
31. Kh1 (31. d6 $5 e4 (31... Rcd8 32. Qd5+ Rf7) 32. Qf2 Nf3+ 33. Kh1 Ne5 34.
Qd4 Nd3 35. Qd5+ $16) 31... e4 32. g4 (32. Ne2 $5 Nf3 33. Nf4) 32... Kh8 33.
gxf5 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Nxf5 35. Kh1 $11 (35. Re1 e3) 35... Nd6 36. Re1 Rf4 37. a4
(37. Re2 $5 Kg7 38. Rce1 Re8) (37. Rg1 Rf2 38. Rg2 Rxg2 39. Kxg2 Kg7) 37... Rb8
38. Re2 $2 (38. Nb5 $142 $1 Nxb5 39. axb5 Rxb5 40. d6 $1 (40. Rxc4 Rxd5 41.
Rcxe4 Rxe4 42. Rxe4 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Rd2+ 44. Kg3 Rxb2 45. Re5 a4 46. Ra5 $10)
40... Rd5 (40... Rxb2 41. d7 Rf8 42. Rxc4 Rd8 43. Rc8 Rb8 44. Rxb8 Rxb8 45.
Rxe4 $18) 41. Rcd1 Rxd1 42. Rxd1 Rf8 43. d7 Rd8 44. Kg2 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf6 46. Ke3
Ke6 47. Rd4 Rxd7 48. Rxc4 $10) 38... Kg7 39. Rce1 Rb4 $1 40. Nb5 (40. Nxe4 Nxe4
41. Rxe4 Rxe4 42. Rxe4 c3 43. Re7+ Kf8 44. bxc3 Rb1+ $19) 40... Nxb5 41. axb5
Kf7 42. d6 Ke6 43. Rd2 Kd7 44. Rg1 Rf7 45. Re1 a4 46. Re3 $6 (46. Kg2 $5 Rf6 (
46... Rxb5 47. Rxe4 Rg5+ 48. Kh3 $10) 47. Rxe4 c3 (47... Rxd6 48. Rc2 $10) 48.
Re7+) 46... Rg7 47. Rxe4 (47. h3 $142 {Tischbierek} Rb3 (47... Rg6 48. Rxe4
Rxd6 49. Rc2 Rd5 50. Rexc4 $10) (47... Rxb5 48. Rxe4 $10) 48. Rxe4 Rxh3+ 49.
Rh2 Rhg3 $5 (49... Rd3 50. Rh6 Rd1+ 51. Kh2 Rd2+ 52. Kh3 Rxb2 53. Rxc4) (49...
Rxh2+ 50. Kxh2 Rg5 51. Rxc4 Rxb5 52. Rxa4 Rxb2+ $10)) 47... a3 (47... c3 48.
Rxb4 cxd2 49. Rd4 $10) 48. Re7+ Rxe7 49. dxe7+ Kxe7 50. bxa3 Rb1+ 51. Kg2 c3
$19 52. Re2+ Kd6 53. Kf3 Kd5 54. a4 Kd4 55. a5 Rxb5 56. a6 (56. Ra2 Kd3 57. a6
c2 $19) 56... Ra5 57. Re4+ Kd5 58. Re3 c2 59. Rc3 Rc5 (59... Rc5 60. Rxc5+ Kxc5
61. a7 c1=Q 62. a8=Q Qh1+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov Shamkovich} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2
e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 a5 (9... Nh5 {Dolmatov} 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 $14)
10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 (11... b6 12. a4 Ne8 13. Nb5 f5 14. Ng5 $6 Bh6 15.
Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 c6 19. Nc3 Nf6 {Black is better,
D. Gurevich-T. Shaked/1996 U.S. Closed 1996}) 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 (13. Nd2 f5 14.
Nb3 b6 15. a5 Nc5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nb5 Ng6 18. Re1 e4 {with mutual chances,
Sokolov,I-Gelfand,B/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED 1996}) 13... f5 14. Nd2 Kh8 15.
Bd3 (15. Bf3 Ra6 $5 16. Re1 b6 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. axb6 cxb6 19. Qc2 {White is
slightly better, Bareev,E-Georgiev,V/32nd Chess Olympiad Yerevan ARM 1996})
15... Rf6 (15... Ng8 {Dolmatov} 16. Na4 Qe7) (15... Nb8 $5 {Dolmatov}) (15...
b6 {Dolmatov} 16. axb6 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Bxd2 $2 18. bxc7 Qxc7 19. Nb5 $16) 16. Na4
Rf7 17. c5 dxc5 18. Bc3 $1 {The big diagonal is more important than c-pawn. If}
(18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxc5 fxe4 20. Bxe7 (20. Bxe4 {Dolmatov} Bf5 $5 (20... Nxd5
$6 21. Nc4 c6 22. Nxe5 Rf4 23. Re1 Bg7 $14) 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 $10) 20... Qxe7 21.
Nxe4 {Black is no worse}) 18... fxe4 (18... Bg7 {Dolmatov} 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb6
cxb6 21. Nd6 $16) 19. Bxe4 Nf5 20. Nc4 Bg7 (20... Nd6 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. Bxe5+ Bg7 23. Bxg7+ Rxg7 24. Nxc5 b6 25. Ne6 (25. axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1
cxb6 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 Nxe4 29. Rd1 Qf8) 25... Bxe6 26. dxe6 Nxe4 27. axb6
cxb6 28. Re1 Nc3 29. Qf3 $40) 21. Bxf5 $1 (21. d6 $5 {Dolmatov} Nd4 22. dxc7
Qxc7 23. Re1 Ra6 $13) 21... Rxf5 22. d6 Rb8 (22... b5 $6 {Dolmatov} 23. dxc7
Qxc7 24. Nab6 Nxb6 25. axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Qe7 27. Qa7 Rf7 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Rd1
$16) (22... Qh4 {Dolmatov} 23. Qd3 $36) 23. dxc7 (23. Rb1 $6 {Dolmatov} b5 24.
dxc7 Qxc7 25. Nd6 bxa4 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Qxa4) 23... Qxc7 24. Qd6
Qxd6 25. Nxd6 Rf8 26. Rfd1 {Despite Black is a pawn up, White stays better due
to the numerous weaknesses in Black's position. So Topalov decides to create
counterplay at any cost} (26. Rab1 $5 {Dolmatov} Rf4 27. Nb2 b5 28. axb6 Nxb6
29. Nbc4 Nxc4 30. Rxb8 Nxd6 31. Rd1 Rd4 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. Rc1 $16) 26... b5 $5
27. axb6 (27. Nxc8 $5 {Dolmatov} Rfxc8 28. Rxd7 bxa4 29. f4 $5 (29. Rxg7 Kxg7
30. Bxe5+ Kf7 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 32. Kf1 c4 33. Ke2 Rd8 34. Rxa4 c3 35. Rc4 Rd2+ 36.
Ke3 Ra2 37. Rc7+ Kg8 38. Ra7) 29... Rb3 30. Bxe5 Bxe5 31. fxe5 c4 32. e6 $16)
27... Nxb6 28. Nxc5 Bg4 29. f3 Nd7 $1 30. Na6 $1 Rb3 31. Rac1 Be6 32. Nc7 (32.
Ne4 {Dolmatov} Rb6 33. Nc7 Nf6) 32... Bf7 33. Ne4 Nb8 (33... Nf6 {Dolmatov} 34.
Ng5 (34. Bxe5 $6 Nxe4 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. fxe4 Re3 37. Re1 Rxe1+ 38. Rxe1 Rc8
$14)) 34. Ng5 Nc6 35. Rd7 Be8 (35... Kg8 {Dolmatov} 36. Nce6 Bxe6 37. Nxe6 Rf7
38. Rd6 $16) 36. Rxg7 $6 {It looks like better was} (36. Nxe8 Rxe8 37. Rc7 Nd4
38. Kf2) (36. Rd6 {Dolmatov} Nd4 37. Bxd4 exd4 38. Nge6 Rg8 39. Nxg7 Kxg7 40.
Ne6+ Kh8 41. Rc7) 36... Kxg7 37. Nce6+ Kg8 38. Nxf8 Kxf8 39. Nxh7+ Ke7 {
White has an extra pawn and tries to convert the advantage into a victory, but
this is not an easy task.} 40. Ng5 Bd7 41. Bd2 (41. Kf2 {Dolmatov} Bf5 42. Bd2
Nd4) 41... Rb2 42. Ne4 Nd4 43. Re1 (43. Rc7 {Dolmatov} Rb1+ (43... Ke6 44. h4
$5 (44. Nc5+ $6 Kd6 45. Rxd7+ Kxc5 46. Be3 Kc6 47. Rg7 Rb1+ 48. Kf2 Rb2+ $10))
44. Kf2 Rb2 45. h3 $5) 43... Bc6 44. Bg5+ Ke6 45. Nd2 Nc2 46. Rc1 Nd4 47. Re1
Nc2 48. Rd1 Nd4 49. h4 Ne2+ (49... Kd5 {Dolmatov} 50. Kh2) 50. Kh2 Nd4 51. Kh3
Kd5 52. Re1 Ra2 53. Ne4 Rc2 54. Ra1 Bd7+ 55. Kg3 Bb5 (55... Nf5+ {Dolmatov} 56.
Kh2 Nd4 57. Nf6+ Kd6 58. Ra6+ Bc6 59. Kh3 $14) 56. Ra8 Bf1 57. Rd8+ Ke6 58. Bd2
(58. Nd2 $6 {Dolmatov} Bd3 59. Re8+ Kd5) 58... Bd3 (58... Ke7 {Dolmatov} 59.
Rg8 Kf7) 59. Re8+ Kf7 60. Nd6+ Kg7 61. Re7+ Kf8 62. Bg5 Bf1 {Black's
counterplay is quite sufficient for a draw} 63. Rxe5 Rxg2+ 64. Kf4 Re2 65. Ne4
Bg2 66. Be7+ $2 (66. Bh6+ $1 {Dolmatov Fritz} Kf7 (66... Kg8 67. Re7 $16 (67.
Re8+ Kh7 68. Bf8 Rxe4+ 69. fxe4 $18)) 67. Rd5 $3 Nf5 (67... Ne6+ 68. Kg3 Rxe4 (
68... Nf8 69. Nf2 Bf1 70. Rd1 $18) 69. fxe4 Bxe4 70. Ra5 $18) 68. Rd7+ Ne7 $8
69. Bg5) 66... Kf7 67. Bc5 Ne6+ 68. Kg3 Bf1 69. Bf2 Ng7 70. Kg4 Ne6 71. Rd5 Rc2
72. Rd7+ Ke8 73. Nf6+ Kf8 74. Bg3 (74. Be3 {Dolmatov} Rg2+) 74... Rc4+ 75. Ne4
Ke8 76. Ra7 Bd3 77. Bd6 Bxe4 78. fxe4 Rxe4+ 79. Kf3 Re1 80. Kf2 Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Shamkovich} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7.
Bb3 Nc6 8. Qe2 cxd4 9. Rd1 d3 (9... Be7 {is worse; Black should not give up
the center} 10. exd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Na5 $6 12. Bc2 b5 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Bg5 Nc6 $2
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qe4 g6 17. Nxc6 Qc7 18. Qf3 b4 (18... Bg7 19. Be4) 19. Qxf6
bxc3 20. Ne7+ {1-0 Petrosian,A-Suetin,A/Memorial T.Petrosian Erevan 1994}) 10.
Rxd3 Qc7 11. Nc3 Be7 12. e4 Nd7 13. Be3 Nc5 14. Rdd1 O-O 15. Rac1 Nxb3 16. axb3
Rd8 17. Na4 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Bd7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Nd3 e5 22. Nc3 Qe6
23. Nd5 Rc8 24. h3 {game is even} f6 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Kf7 27. Nxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This was one of the most dramatic and complicated games of the tournament} 1.
e4 {Ftacnik Dolmatov} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6
7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qe2 (11. Qh4 {Dolmatov} Ke7
$5 12. Ne5 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qa5+ 14. c3 Qxe5+ 15. Be3 b6 16. O-O-O g5 17. Qa4 c5
18. Rhe1 {Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/Dortmund/1993/}) 11... Qc7 12. Bd2 b6 13. O-O-O (
13. Ne5 c5 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. c3 Bb7 16. O-O Rhd8 17. f4 Ne4 18. Be3 Kf8 19. Rae1
Kg8 20. Qg4 {with attack, Kamsky,G-Anand,V/It, Dos Hermanas ESP 1996}) 13...
Bb7 14. Kb1 (14. Ne5 c5 15. Bb5+ Ke7 $1 16. dxc5 Qxc5 {Black equalized, Kamsky,
G-Karpov,A/w-ch (8) Elista RUS 1996}) (14. Rhe1 O-O (14... O-O-O {Dolmatov} 15.
Ba6 b5 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Kb1 Ka8 18. Bc1 Qb7 19. Nd2 Bb4 20. c3 Bd6 21. Nb3
Nd5 $10 {Chandler,M-Adams,M/Blackpool/1990/}) 15. g4 $5 c5 16. g5 hxg5 17. Nxg5
Bf4 18. h4 {with initiative, Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/w-ch (12) Elista RUS 1996})
14... Rd8 (14... O-O-O $5 {Dolmatov} 15. Ba6 (15. Ne5 $6 c5) (15. c4 c5 16. Bc3
Rhe8 17. Rhe1 Kb8 18. g3 Ka8 19. Bc2 a6 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Ne5 $14 {Sokolov,
A-Spraggett,K/St.John/1988/}) 15... b5 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Rc1) (14... Rc8 {
Ftacnik} 15. Rhg1 (15. c4 $5) 15... c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Bc3 O-O 18. Bd4 Qc7
19. g4 Nd5 (19... Bxf3 $2 20. Qxf3 Be5 21. g5 $1 hxg5 22. Rxg5 Bxd4 23. Rxg7+
$1 $18) 20. g5 h5 21. Ne5 (21. g6 $2 Nf4 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 $17) 21... Nf4 22. Qe3
Nxd3 23. cxd3 Bxe5 (23... Qc2+ 24. Ka1 Bd5 25. g6 $13) 24. Bxe5 Qc2+ 25. Ka1
Bd5 26. b3 {1/2-1/2 Wolff,P-Orlov,G/USA-ch Modesto (09)/1995/ (30)}) 15. Rhg1 (
15. Rhe1 {Ftacnik} O-O 16. Ne5 (16. g4 Bf4 17. Ne5 Rxd4 18. Bxf4 Rxf4 19. h4 $2
(19. Qd2 $5) 19... c5 20. Qd2 Rd4 21. c3 (21. g5 $2 Ne4) 21... Rd5 22. Qe2 $2 (
22. g5) 22... Rxe5 $1 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Nxg4 25. Ree1 (25. Re2 Bf3) 25...
Nxf2 26. Rd2 Nxd3 27. Rxd3 Bd5 $19 {0-1 Adams,M-Speelman,J/New York PCA-qual 
(08)/1995/ (39)}) 16... c5 17. f4 cxd4 18. g4 Nd5 19. g5 hxg5 20. Qh5 f5 21.
Ng6 Nf6 22. Qxg5 Nh7 23. Qh5 Rf6 24. Rg1 Be4 25. Rg3 Rc8 26. Rc1 (26. Rdg1 $2
Bxd3 27. Rh3 Qxc2+ 28. Ka1 Nf8 $1 $17) 26... Qc6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Epishin,V/
Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/1995/ (36)}) (15. c4 {Ftacnik} O-O 16. Bc3 (16. g4 Bf4
$1 17. Rhg1 c5 18. h4 $13) 16... Rfe8 (16... Qe7 17. g4 (17. Rhe1 Bb4 $1 18.
Qd2 $5) 17... c5 18. Rhg1 Bxf3 (18... cxd4 19. Nxd4 Bb4 20. g5 $1 hxg5 21. Rxg5
Bxc3 22. Rdg1 $1 g6 23. bxc3 $16) 19. Qxf3 cxd4 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Qe4 (21. g5 Ne5
22. gxh6 Nxf3 23. Rxg7+ Kh8 24. Rh7+ $10) 21... f5 22. gxf5 Nc5 23. Qe2 exf5 {
Almasi,Z-Adams,M/Groningen (04)/1995/1-0 (57)}) 17. Ne5 (17. g4 c5 18. Rhg1
Bxf3 19. Qxf3 cxd4 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Qe4 g6 $1) 17... c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. f3 a5
20. Bc2 Ba6 21. Ba4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bc2 {Almasi,Z-Karpov,
An/Groningen (08)/1995/0-1 (74)}) (15. Rhe1 {Ftacnik}) 15... c5 (15... Nd5 {
Ftacnik} 16. c4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Bxf4 18. c5 $16 {Leko}) 16. dxc5 Qxc5 (16... Bxc5
$5 {Dolmatov} 17. Ne5 Bd4 18. Bb5+ Ke7 19. Bb4+ Bc5) 17. a3 {/\ 18.Bb4} O-O (
17... a5 {Ftacnik} 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Bb5+ Ke7 20. Nd4 Bxh2 (20... g6) 21. Nf5+
Kf8 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rd1 Qc7 24. Bd4 e5 (24... exf5 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rd7 Qe5
27. Rxb7 (27. Qc4 Qe1+ 28. Ka2 Qe6 29. Rxb7) 27... Qxe2 28. Bxe2 $16) 25. Bxb6
Qxb6 26. Rd6 Qc7 27. Qc4 {1-0 Timman,J-Leko,P/Groningen (01)/1996/ (34); CBM 57
}) 18. g4 {The methodical advance /\ 19.g5+-} Qd5 $2 (18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qd5
$11) (18... Nd5 {Dolmatov} 19. g5 (19. Qe4 $2 Nc3+ 20. Bxc3 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 $17)
19... Nf4 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. g6 $14 Qh5 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bg6 $16) 19. g5 $1 (
19. Nh4 {Ftacnik} Bxh2 20. Rge1 Bd6 $15) 19... Qxf3 20. gxf6 g6 {It is
understandable why Ivanchuk didn't take on f6: White's attack looked very
strong, yet Black could hold} (20... Qxf6 $142 21. Bc3 e5 22. f4 Qxf4 (22...
Rfe8 23. Rdf1) 23. Rdf1 Qh4 (23... Qa4 24. Bxe5 (24. Rxg7+ Kxg7 25. Bxe5+ $18)
24... Bxe5 25. Qxe5 $18) 24. Rg4 (24. Bxe5 {Ftacnik} Bxe5 25. Qxe5 g6 (25... f6
26. Qe7 $18) (25... g5 26. Qf5 $18 (26. Rf4 $5 {/\ h4->})) 26. Bxg6 $18) (24.
Rxg7+ $5 Kxg7 25. Bxe5+ f6 26. Bxd6) 24... Qe7 (24... Qh3 25. Rg3 Qh4 26. Rfg1
g5 27. Rg4 Qh3 28. Rxg5+ {wins}) 25. Qe3 g5 (25... f5 26. Qxh6 Bd5 27. Bxf5 Rf6
28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ Bg8 30. Rfg1 {wins}) 26. Rf5 f6 27. h4 Bc8 28. hxg5 hxg5
29. Rfxg5+ fxg5 30. Rxg5+ Kf7 31. Qg3 Qf6 32. Rg6 Qf4 33. Qxf4+ exf4 34. Rg7+
Ke6 35. Bc4+ Kf5 36. Bd3+ $11) (20... Qxe2 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Rxg7+ Kh8 22. Rh7+
Kg8 23. Rg1+ $18) 21. Bxh6 $6 {There was an interesting 'Tal's style' Rook
sacrifice 21. Rxg6+ which lead to wild complications. We spent a lot of time
analyzing this continuation and still cannot be sure that it is 100% sound;
the sacrifice can be a theme for a special analytical article. We invite the
interested readers to follow our steps!} ({Meanwhile} 21. Bxg6 {is not
dangerous in view of} fxg6 (21... Qxe2 22. Bd3+ Kh8 23. Bxe2 Bxh2 24. Rg4 {
is in White's favor}) 22. Rxg6+ Kf7 23. Rg7+ Kxf6 24. Bc3+ Kf5 $1 {and White's
attack vaporises} ({Of course not} 24... e5 $4 25. Rxd6+ Kxg7 26. Qxe5+ {wins})
) (21. Rxg6+ $5 fxg6 22. Qxe6+ {White sacrifice the Rook for dangerous attack.
There are three replies: 22... Kh7, 22... Rf7 and 22...Kh8} Kh8 (22... Kh7 $1 {
As we will see later, this is the best reply. Now 23.Bxg6+ is unclear} 23.
Bxg6+ ({White has a forced draw at this point:} 23. Rg1 Bc8 24. Rxg6 Bxe6 25.
Rg7+ {draw by perpetual check}) 23... Kh8 (23... Kxg6 $2 24. f7+ Qf6 25. Rg1+ {
winning}) 24. f7 $1 Bc8 $1 (24... Bd5 25. Bc3+ Qxc3 26. Rxd5 Qg7 27. Rxd6 Rxd6
28. Qxd6 Rc8 29. f4 Qf8 30. Qe5+ Qg7 31. Qe8+ Qf8 32. f5 Rd8 33. f6 h5 34. h4
Rc8 35. b4 Rd8 36. c4 {and White's pawns decide the matter}) (24... Qxd1+ 25.
Ka2 {and Black has no defense against double threat 26.Bc3+ and 26.Qf6+}) 25.
Qe1 Kg7 (25... Be7 26. Qxe7 Qxd1+ 27. Ka2 {wins}) 26. Be4 Qf6 $1 (26... Qh5 $2
27. Bc3+ Kxf7 (27... Be5 28. Bf3 Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 {wins}) 28. Bd5+ Kg6 29. Qe4+
Bf5 (29... Kg5 30. Rg1+ Bg4 31. f3 {and Black has no defense}) 30. Rg1+ {
winning}) 27. Qg1+ Kxf7 (27... Kh8 28. Bc3 Be5 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Bd5 $1 {
threatening 31.Qg8+} Be6 31. Bxe6 Qxe6 32. Qe1 Kg7 33. Bxe5+ Kxf7 34. f4 {
and White stays better}) 28. Bd5+ Be6 29. Bc3 Rg8 30. Bxf6 Rxg1 31. Rxg1 Kxf6
32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Rg6+ Kf5 34. Rxh6 Bc5 35. Rh7 Rd1+ 36. Ka2 Rd2 37. Rxa7 Rxc2
{White is fighting for a draw}) (22... Rf7 23. Rg1 g5 (23... Rdf8 24. Rxg6+ {
easy winning}) 24. Bc4 Qh5 (24... Rdf8 25. Qxd6 Qxf2 26. Rg3 {White is on top}
Qc5 27. Qf4 $1 Kh8 28. Qg4 Bd5 29. Bd3) 25. f4 Qg6 26. f5 Qh7 (26... Qh5 27. h4
g4 28. Rxg4+ Qxg4 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Bg5 $1 {and mate follows}) 27. Re1 (27. h4
Bc8 28. hxg5 hxg5 (28... Bxe6 29. fxe6 hxg5 30. Rxg5+ Kh8 31. exf7 {winning})
29. Rxg5+ ({if} 29. Bxg5 Bxe6 30. fxe6 Rdf8 {and White has only draw after} 31.
Bh6+ Kh8 32. exf7 Rxf7 33. Bg7+ Rxg7 34. fxg7+ Qxg7 35. Rxg7 Kxg7) 29... Kh8 (
29... Kf8 30. Qd5 (30. Qxf7+ Qxf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32. Bc3 Rg8 33. Rh5 Rg2 $10)
30... Rdd7 31. Rg6 Ke8 32. Bb5 $14) 30. Qxf7 {and the game is over}) 27... Bf8
28. Bb4 Bc8 29. Qe8 $1 {Unbelievable position of zugzwang! White is winning})
23. Rg1 Rc8 (23... Rxf6 24. Bc3) 24. Qxd6 Rxf6 (24... Qxf6 25. Rxg6 $1 Qxd6 26.
Rxd6 Rc6 27. Rd7 Bc8 28. Rxa7 {with advantage}) 25. Qe7 $1 Qxf2 26. Be3 Rf7 27.
Qe5+ Qf6 28. Qxf6+ Rxf6 29. Bd4 {winning}) 21... Bxh2 (21... Rfe8 $2 {Ftacnik}
22. h4 $16) 22. Rh1 (22. Bxf8 {Dolmatov} Bxg1 23. Be7 (23. Qxf3 {Ftacnik} Bxf3
24. Rxg1 Kxf8 25. Rg3 Bh5 $15) 23... Qxe2 24. Bxe2 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Bxf2 $17) (
22. Bxg6 {Ftacnik} Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 fxg6 $13) 22... Qxe2 23. Bxe2 Rxd1+ (23...
Bxh1 {Dolmatov} 24. Rxh1 Be5 25. Bg7 $18) 24. Rxd1 Rc8 25. f3 (25. Rd7 {Ftacnik
} Be4 $15) (25. Bg7 $5 {Ftacnik} Kh7 (25... g5 26. Rd7 Be4 (26... Bc6 27. Rxa7
Rd8 28. Bh5 (28. Bd3)) (26... Rc7 $2 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Bd3+) 27. Bd3 $1 (27. Bh5
Kh7 28. Rxf7 Rxc2 29. Rf8 Rxf2+ (29... Rc8+) 30. Kc1 Bf4+ 31. Kd1 Bf3+ 32. Bxf3
Rxf3) 27... Bxd3 28. Rxd3 {/\ Rh3} g4 (28... Rc4 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Rh8+ Kg6 31.
Rxh2) 29. Rd1 $18 {/\ Rh1}) (25... Be4 26. Ka2 $1 g5 (26... Bd5+ 27. c4 Rxc4
28. Bxc4 Bxc4+ 29. b3 Bd5 30. Rd3 $1 $18 {/\ Rh3}) 27. f3 Bh7 28. Rh1 Bg3 (
28... Bf4 29. Bd3) 29. Rh5 $1 $18 (29. Bd3 Bh4)) 26. f3 Rc5 27. c4 $18 {
/\ b4, Rd8; Rh1} (27. Rd7 Rc7)) (25. Ba6 $2 {Ftacnik} Bxa6 26. Rh1 Rc5 27. Rxh2
Rh5) 25... Bg3 26. Bg7 {threatening 27.Rh1} (26. Rh1 {Dolmatov} Rc5 27. Bg7 Rh5
28. Rd1 Rd5 29. Rh1 Rh5 $10) (26. Rd7 {Ftacnik} Rc7 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Bg7 Rc8
29. Rd1 Rc5 $8 (29... g5 30. Rd7 Rc7 31. Bd3+ Kg8 32. Rd8#) 30. c4 $1 {/\ b4,
Rd8; Rh1} a5 (30... Re5 31. Rd8) 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 $18) 26... g5 27. Rd7 $6
{This natural move withdraws the Rook from the K-side. Correct was} (27. Bh6 $1
{and now} Bf4 $2 {fails. Correct is} (27... Kh7 28. Bxg5 Kg6 29. f4 Be4 30. Bd3
Bxd3 31. Rxd3 Bf2 32. Rd7 {White has some winning chances}) (27... Bh4 {
Dolmatov} 28. Rg1 Rc5 29. f4 Be4 30. Bd3 Bxd3 31. cxd3 Kh7 $15) 28. Rh1 Bg3 29.
Rh5 {and White is winning}) (27. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Bh4) 27... Bc6 28. Rxa7 Rd8 29.
a4 ({Perhaps better was} 29. Bh6 Bf4 30. Ra6 Be3 31. a4) (29. Ra6 {Ftacnik} Bc7
(29... Bf2 30. Ra7 Rd2 $5 (30... Bg3 $10) 31. Rc7 Rxe2 32. Rxc6 Kh7 $13) 30.
Bh6 Rd2 31. Bc4 Rg2 $15) (29. Ka2 $5 {Ftacnik} Rd2 $140 (29... Bd5+ 30. b3) 30.
Bd3 Bxf3 $2 31. Rd7 $18) 29... Be5 (29... Rd2 $2 {Dolmatov} 30. Bd3 Bd5 31. b3
(31. c4 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 (31... Rxd3 32. cxd5 exd5 $17) 32. Rd7 Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Be4
34. Kc2 g4 $17) 31... Be5 (31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Be5+ $19) 32. Kc1 Bf4 33. Kb2
Be5+ 34. Ka3) 30. a5 (30. Ra6 {Ftacnik} Rd2 31. Rxb6 (31. Bd3 Bd5) 31... Bd5
32. c4 Ba8 $13) 30... Rd2 $1 {Black's counterplay is quite sufficient;
moreover, White must give up his f-pawn, and Black g-pawn begins to run...} 31.
Bc4 (31. Bd3 {Dolmatov} Bd5 (31... bxa5 $6 32. Be4 $1 Bxe4 33. fxe4 g4 34. Rxa5
g3 (34... Bf4 35. Rh5) 35. Rxe5 g2 36. Rg5 Rd1+ 37. Ka2 g1=Q 38. Rxg1 Rxg1 39.
b4 $16) 32. c4 Bxf3 (32... Rxb2+ $1 {Ftacnik} 33. Kc1 Bc6 34. Be4 Bxe4 35. fxe4
g4 $17) (32... Rxd3 33. cxd5 Rxd5 34. a6 Ra5 35. b3 $13) 33. Bc2 (33. Rd7 Rxd3
34. Rxd3 Be4 35. Kc2 bxa5 36. Kd2 Bxd3 37. Kxd3 Bxb2 38. c5 Be5 $19) 33... bxa5
34. Rxa5 Re2 35. Rc5 (35. b4 $13) 35... Bb7) (31. axb6 {Ftacnik} Rxe2 32. b7
Re1+ 33. Ka2 Bd5+ $19 (33... Bd5+ 34. Ka3 Ra1+ 35. Kb4 Rxa7)) 31... b5 32. Bb3
(32. Ra6 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 33. Bxb5 Be4 34. Ba4 g4 $17) (32. Bd3 {Ftacnik} Bd5 $1)
32... Bxf3 33. Re7 (33. a6 {Ftacnik} g4 34. Bh6 Rd6) 33... Rd6 (33... g4 $2 {
Dolmatov} 34. Rxe6 fxe6 (34... Rd1+ {Ftacnik} 35. Ka2 fxe6 36. Bxe6+ Kh7 37.
Bf5+ Kg8 38. Be6+ $10) (34... Bxf6 35. Rxf6) 35. Bxe6+ Kh7 36. Bf5+ $10 (36.
Bf5+ Kg8 37. Be6+ $10)) 34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Bf8 (35. Rc8 {Ftacnik} Kg6 36. Rc5
Bxf6 37. Bxf6 Kxf6 38. Rxb5 g4 $17) 35... Rd1+ 36. Ka2 Bxf6 37. a6 (37. c4 {
Dolmatov} Rd2 38. cxb5 Bxb2 $17) 37... g4 {Suddenly, White realized that he
must stop the Black passed pawn. But how?!} 38. c4 (38. a7 {Ftacnik} g3 39. c4
(39. a8=Q Bxa8 40. Rxa8 g2 41. Bc5 Bd4) 39... Rc1 40. a8=Q Bxa8 41. Rxa8 g2 42.
Bc5 bxc4 43. Ba4 g1=Q 44. Bxg1 Rxg1 $19) 38... Rd2 39. cxb5 (39. a7 {Ftacnik}
bxc4 40. Bxc4 g3 41. a8=Q Bxa8 42. Rxa8 g2 43. Bc5 Bd4 $19) 39... g3 40. b6 (
40. Bc5 Bxb2 41. Rc8 Bd4+ (41... g2 42. Bg1 Bd4+ 43. Rc2 Bxg1 44. Rxd2 Bc5 45.
Rxg2 Bxg2 $19) 42. Ka3 g2 43. Bxd4 Rxd4 44. Rc1 Rh4 (44... Rd3 {Ftacnik} 45.
Kb4 Bd1 $19) 45. Rg1 Rh1 46. Rxg2 Bxg2 {and Black is winning}) 40... g2 41. Bc5
Bxb2 {and there is no defense against deadly discovered check! White resigns.
This was one of the most dramatic and complicated games of the tournament.} (
41... Bxb2 {Ftacnik} 42. Be3 Bd4+ 43. Bxd2 g1=Q 44. Ka3 Qa1+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich,L"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. d3 d6 {This quiet
system has a drawish reputation.} 7. Nc3 (7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 O-O 9. Nc3 b5 10.
Bb3 Na5 11. Qe1 c5 12. Bd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 f5 14. a3 Bd7 15. Kh1 Nb7 {Black is
no worse, Illescas Cordoba,M-Malaniuk,V/32nd Chess Olympiad Yerevan ARM 1996})
(7. c3 O-O 8. Nbd2 b5 9. Bc2 Bb6 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 h6 13. a4 {
White is slightly better, Hartman,C-Martinovsky,E/It, Wrexham WAL 1996}) 7...
b5 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Kh1 c6 10. h3 Ra7 11. Nh2 O-O 12. f4 {The only chance to
break through} Nxb3 13. axb3 Re8 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qe1 Nd7 16. Nf3 Nf8 17. Be3
Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Rd7 19. Rf2 f6 20. Nh4 Ne6 21. Nf5 Nd4 {The chances are equal}
22. Qg3 Nxf5 23. Rxf5 c5 24. Rf2 Bb7 25. Raf1 Rf7 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qxd5
28. Rxf6 Rxf6 29. Rxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Shamkovich} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {Scotch game has is one of the
Kasparov's favorites} exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Ne7 8.
Qf4 (8. Na4 {Dolmatov} Bd6 9. f4 O-O 10. Bd3 Ng6 11. g3 Re8 12. Qe2 Bb4+ 13. c3
Bf8 14. Be3 Bh3 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 $10 {Gluzman,A-Romanishin,O/Moscow/1994/}
) 8... Ng6 (8... Qxf4 {Dolmatov} 9. Bxf4 Bd6 $5 10. Bxd6 (10. e5 Bb4 $132)
10... cxd6 11. O-O-O Kd7 $10) 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Bd2 (10. Na4 Bd6 11. Be3 f5 12.
exf5 Bxf5 13. O-O-O O-O-O {Play is even, Relange,E-Onischuk,A/WchJ-U20 Halle/
1995}) (10. f4 $5 {Dolmatov} f5 11. Bd3 Nh4 12. g3 Nf3+) 10... Rg8 11. Na4 (11.
f4 {Dolmatov} Nh4 12. Na4 Bd6 13. Kf2 b5 14. g3 bxa4 15. gxh4 Rb8 16. b3 $14)
11... Bd6 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Nc3 (13. f3 $6 {Dolmatov} Bxa2) 13... O-O-O 14. g3
(14. f3 $6 {Dolmatov} Nh4) 14... Bg4 (14... f5 $2 15. Bg5 {is good for White})
15. Be2 Ne5 16. Bf4 (16. f4 {Dolmatov} Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Ng4 18. Rdf1 (18. Rhf1
Nxh2 19. Rh1 Ng4 20. Rxh7 Nf2 21. Rf1 Nxe4) (18. Be1 Rde8 19. Nc3 Bb4 20. h3
Ne3 (20... Bxc3 21. hxg4 Bxe1 22. Rdxe1 Rxg4 23. Rxh7 Rxg3 24. Rxf7 $16) 21.
Rd3 Nc4 $13) 18... Bc5) 16... Bh3 $5 {after} (16... Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Bc5 18. Rxd8+
(18. Bxe5 {Dolmatov} fxe5 19. f3 Rd6 20. c3 Be3+ 21. Kc2 Rgd8 $10) 18... Rxd8
19. Bxe5 fxe5 20. Rf1 {the ending is even}) 17. Bh5 Bc5 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Nd1
Bg2 20. Re1 Nf3 (20... Bb4 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nc3 $8 (21. Re2 $2 Bf1 $17) 21...
Rd4 $5 (21... Bc5) (21... Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bf3 $2 23. Bxe5 Bxh5 24. Bxf6 $16) 22.
Rg1 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Bxf7 Re2 $15) 21. Re2 Ng1 $1 {the
only way to keep the position balanced} (21... Nxh2 $5 {Dolmatov} 22. e5 (22.
f3 $2 Bxf3 23. Rxh2 Rxd1#) 22... fxe5 23. Rxe5 Bd6 24. Rf5 $14) 22. Bg4+ Kb8
23. Rd2 Rxd2 24. Kxd2 Bxe4 25. Nc3 Bg2 26. Be3 Be7 27. Bh5 (27. h4 $5 {Dolmatov
} Nf3+ 28. Ke2 Ng1+ (28... Ne5 29. Bf5 $14) 29. Kd2 Nf3+ 30. Kc1 Ne5 31. Bf5)
27... Nf3+ 28. Ke2 Ng1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3
c6 8. d5 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 ({Black should not grab the b-pawn at cost of
development:} 9... Qb6 $6 10. O-O Qxb2 11. Bd2 {with the following 12.Rb1}) 10.
Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. Ne1 Nd7 13. Rb1 (13. Nd3 {Dolmatov} g5 14. Bg3 f5 15.
exf5 Nf6 16. Qd2 g4 17. Bh4 Bxf5 $132 {Ioseliani,N-Dolmatov,S/Moscow/1993/})
13... b6 14. a3 g5 (14... Nf7 {Dolmatov} 15. Bg4 h5 16. Be6 g5 17. Qxh5 gxh4
18. f4 $40) (14... Qe7 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. Nb5 Nb8 16. b4 a6 17. Nc3 Nd7 18. bxc5
bxc5 19. Qa4 g5 20. Bg3 f5 21. exf5 Nf6 $132) 15. Bg3 f5 $6 {Black has no
choice but to push the f-pawn, otherwise he has no counterplay. The
disadvantage of this continuation is that the white squares are becoming weak}
16. exf5 Nxf5 (16... Nf6 $142 {Dolmatov} 17. Nf3 Nh5 18. Ne4 Rxf5 19. Nxe5 (19.
Nfd2 Nf4) 19... Nxg3 20. Nc6 Nxe2+) 17. Ne4 h6 18. Nc2 Nf6 19. Bd3 Qe8 (19...
Nxe4 {Dolmatov} 20. Bxe4 g4 21. Qxg4 Ne3 22. Qg6 Nxf1 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rxf1 Rh8
25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Ne3 $40) (19... Bd7 {Dolmatov} 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxg3 22.
fxg3 $16) 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 h5 (21... Nxg3 22. hxg3 a6 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4
{White is definitely better}) (21... Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23. Qxf1 {is in
White's favor}) 22. Qd3 (22. Nxf5 {Dolmatov} Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. f3 Qg6 $10)
22... Qf7 23. f3 (23. h3 {Dolmatov} Nxe3 24. fxe3 $18) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6
25. Be1 Qg7 26. Bd2 $1 Rf6 27. Qd3 g4 (27... Bd7 $2 {Dolmatov} 28. b4 $16) (
27... a5 {Dolmatov} 28. h3 Ra7 29. g4 $16) 28. Bxh6 Qxh6 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rxf6
Qxf6 31. Rf1 Qg7 32. h3 Bd7 33. Qf3 $1 {The King side is a White's possession}
Be8 (33... h4 {Dolmatov} 34. Qf6 $18) 34. Qf5 Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg7 36. Qh4 Qh6 $2 (
36... b5 {allowed Black to stay in the game just a little bit longer, for
example:} 37. Rf6 (37. cxb5 Rb8 38. a4 a6 39. bxa6 Rxb2 {with some counterplay}
) 37... Rb8 38. Rxd6 bxc4 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8 Qd7 41. Qb8 {and White is
winning}) 37. Rf6 (37. Qe7 $18 {Dolmatov} Qg7 38. Rf8+ Qxf8 39. Qh7#) 37...
Qe3+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Shamkovich} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4
Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 $5 {This tactical shot initiates a forced sequence, in
which Black's chances are certainly better, than in the quiet lines. After e.g.
9...Nbd7 White's center and space advantage give him the upper hand. 
Shamkovich: This sharp continuation leads to interesting complications} 10.
Bxb5 (10. Nxb5 Re8 11. Nd2 Nxd5 12. Nc4 Nb4 13. Be2 Ba6 14. Nbxd6 Re6 15. Bf4
Nd7 16. O-O Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. a3 Rxd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. axb4 Qxd1 21. Bxd1
(21. Rfxd1 Bxe2 22. Rd2 Bb5 $13) 21... Bxf1 22. Kxf1 cxb4 (22... Bxb2 23. Ra2
Bd4 24. b5 c4 $11) 23. Ra4 a5 24. b3 Rd8 25. Be2 Bc7 {1/2,Hilarp Persson,
T-Gdanski,J/Goteborg Excelsior Cup/1997/}) 10... Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2
Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 (13... Qd3 14. N2c4 Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 {gives White more chances
to get an advantage.}) 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Nxc8 Raxc8
18. Rb1 $5 {The latest wrinkle. After other moves Black usually quickly
regains his pawn with a drawish position.} Rfd8 $5 ({Not long ago} 18... Qd6 {
was considered the best, as now the d-pawn really falls. But lately White
managed to create some problems for Black especially after this move.} 19. Bg5
$5 (19. Be3 $5 Rfd8 20. Qa4 Qxd5 21. Rfd1 Bd4 22. Rd2 Qc6 23. Qxc6 Rxc6 24. b3
$14 {Kozul,Z-Vranesic,Z/Toronto/1990/}) (19. Re1 Rcd8 20. Bg5 f6 $6 (20... Rd7
$142) 21. Be3 Qxd5 22. Qa4 f5 23. Qxa7 f4 24. Bxc5 Ra8 25. Qe7 Rf7 26. Qe4 $1
$16 {Lima,D-Outerelo,M/Aceimar op/1995/}) (19. Qf3 Rfd8 20. Rd1 Bd4 21. Be3
Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Rd2 a5 24. Rbd1 Rb8 25. Kf1 Kg7 26. Rc2 a4 27. Rcd2 Rf5
28. Bxd4+ cxd4 29. b3 axb3 30. axb3 Rxb3 31. Rxd4 {1/2,Smejkal,J-Wahls,M/BL/
1989/}) 19... h6 20. Be3 Rfd8 21. Qa4 Qxd5 22. Qxa7 c4 23. Qa4 Ra8 24. Qc2 Rxa2
25. Rfd1 Qa8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxc4 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Bxb2 29. Bxh6 $14 {
Ibragimov,I-Nepomnishay,M/St.Petersburg op/1995/}) 19. Bf4 (19. Bg5 $143 $6 Rd7
20. Qg4 Qb7 21. Rfd1 h5 {1/2,Ibragimov,I-De Firmian,N/Reykjavik op/1994/})
19... Qb7 $1 $146 {Topalov did his homework well and found an important
improvement, which finally checks the dangerous pawn. The previous tries
failed rather drastically, e.g.} (19... Rd7 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qg4 Qb7 22. Rfd1 Rc6
23. Rd2 Bxd6 24. Rbd1 Qc7 25. Rd5 h5 26. Qf3 Kf8 27. Be5 Qd8 28. b3 Qc7 29. Qd3
Ke7 30. g3 h4 31. Qe3 {1-0,Grabarczyk,M-Oliwa,M/POL-ch Brzeg Dolny/1996/}) (
19... Qa6 20. d6 Rd7 21. Qd5 c4 22. Rbd1 Bxb2 23. Rfe1 Bf6 24. Be5 Bxe5 25.
Rxe5 Rf8 26. Re7 Rdd8 27. d7 Qxa2 28. Rde1 Qa4 29. Kh2 a6 30. Rxf7 {1-0,
Rogozenko,D-Marin,M/Bucharest Ciocaltea/1995/}) 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd2 (21. Qd3 {
Simplest and the best is however} Bxd6 $1 (21... Qb4 $143 22. Qg3 $36 {[%csl
Gd6] o^d6}) (21... c4 22. Qg3 (22. Qd4 Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Rc6 $11) 22... Rc6 23.
Rfd1 Qb6 $5 24. Rd5 (24. d7 Qb7 25. Qg4 h5 $11) 24... Bxd6 25. Rbd1 Be7 $132)
22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qd7 $1 {[]} (23... Qb6 $2 24. Bxc5 $16) 24. Qb5 Rxd6 25.
Qxd7 R8xd7 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 $11) 21... Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qa6 $1 (23...
Rdxd6 $2 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 $16 {Two mobile R are stronger than the Q in
such open positions.}) 24. Qg5 (24. Qc2 Rcxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. b3 Rd5 $11)
24... Rdxd6 (24... Rcxd6 $2 25. Qxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Kg7 27. a3 $16) 25. Rxd6
Rxd6 26. Qxc5 Qxa2 $1 $11 {Shamkovich: Tactically, Black holds the equality
Blow for blow.Black has calculated the tactical sequence well and is rewarded
by equality.} 27. Re1 Rd8 ({Also possible was} 27... Re6 28. Rd1 (28. Rxe6 Qxe6
29. Qxa7 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Qe5+ $11) 28... Re8 $11 (28... Qxb2 $4 29. Rd8+ Kg7 30.
Qf8+ Kf6 31. Qh8+ $18)) 28. b4 a6 29. Qg5 Rf8 (29... Qd5 $4 30. Re8+ $18) (
29... Rc8 $142 $5) 30. h4 {Shamkovich: White is still better, but it is hard
to believe that he can win the game} Qc4 31. Qe7 h5 (31... Rb8 32. Re4 Qd5 $11)
32. g3 {White's pieces are slightly more active, but of course this advantage
is merely formal. Karpov continues to probe in this lifeless position,
probably due to dissatisfaction with his result in Las Palmas.} Rc8 33. Rd1 Qc6
(33... Qc2 34. Rd7 Qf5 35. Kg2 Kg7 $11) 34. Rd6 Qa8 (34... Qf3 $143 $6 35. Qe1
Ra8 36. Qd2 $14) 35. Qe1 Qb7 (35... Rc6 $143 36. Rd7 $36) 36. Qd2 Re8 37. Qc3
Rc8 38. Qd2 Re8 39. Rd5 Qc6 40. Kh2 Qf6 41. Rd4 Qc6 $6 (41... Kg7 $142 42. Rd6
Re6 $11 {Black should have moved his K to a safer place long ago and would
have saved himself the trouble later on.}) 42. Rd6 Qf3 43. Qd4 Qe4 44. Qc3 Qb7
(44... Re6 $5 45. Qc8+ Re8 $142 $11 (45... Kg7 46. Qxa6 Qxb4 {leads to the
position in the game.} (46... Qf3 47. Qa1+ Kh7 48. Rd2))) 45. Rc6 Qb5 46. Rf6
$1 $36 Re7 47. Qc8+ Re8 48. Qxa6 Qxb4 49. Qa2 $1 {This double attack against
f7 and g6 wins a pawn. Luckily for Black the arising Q_|_ doesn't offer Karpov
realistic winning chances.  Shamkovich: suddenly, Topalov realized that he
must give up a pawn (the threat is Rxg6+) Yet it seems that the Queen ending
is still drawn} Re6 $1 {[]} (49... Qe7 $2 50. Rxg6+ Kh7 51. Rg5 $18) 50. Rxe6
fxe6 51. Qxe6+ Kg7 52. Qd7+ Kf6 53. Qc6+ Kg7 54. Qd5 Qc3 55. Kg2 Qf6 56. Qd7+
Kg8 57. Qc7 Qe6 58. Qf4 Qc6+ 59. Kf1 Qe6 60. Qe3 Qc4+ 61. Ke1 Qc2 62. Kf1 Qd1+
63. Kg2 Qd5+ 64. f3 {White can't penetrate anywhere with his K and after
advancing his pawns he will be liable to perpetual check.} (64. Qf3 Qe5 $11)
64... Qa2+ 65. Kh3 Qb1 66. g4 hxg4+ 67. fxg4 Qf1+ 68. Kg3 Qf6 69. Qc5 Qe6 70.
Qc3 Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Psakhis} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O
Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 Qc7 10. Kh1 O-O 11. Bf3 Re8 12. a4 Bd7 13. Qd2 Rab8 14.
Nb3 b6 15. g4 Bc8 16. Qf2 {Psakhis New move, but I don't see any real
difference compare to normal} (16. g5 Nd7 17. Rad1 (17. Bg2 Na5 18. Nxa5 (18.
Qf2 Nc4 19. Bc1 Bf8 20. Nd4 Bb7 21. b3 Na5 22. Bb2 Nc6 23. Nde2 Nb4 $13 {
0-1 Smirin,I-Avrukh,B/Tel-Aviv 30' Cup 1996 (39)}) 18... bxa5 19. b3 Bb7 20.
Ne2 Rbc8 21. Ra2 Ba8 22. Ng3) 17... Bf8 18. Bg2 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rf3 b4 21.
Ne2 Bb7 22. Rh3 g6 23. e5 Ne7 24. exd6 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Qc6+ 26. Kg1 Nd5 27. Ng3
Qxd6 28. f5 Bg7 {Glek,I-Ribli,Z/Budapest 1996}) 16... Na5 17. Rad1 Nc4 18. Bc1
b5 19. g5 Nd7 (19... b4 $2 {Psakhis} 20. gxf6 bxc3 21. fxe7 cxb2 22. Bd2 $16)
20. axb5 axb5 21. Bg2 (21. Nd4 {Psakhis} b4 22. Ncb5 Qc5 23. b3 Na5 $15 {
[%csl Rb5]}) 21... b4 22. Ne2 Nc5 23. f5 (23. Nxc5 {Psakhis} dxc5 24. b3 Nd6
$11) 23... Bf8 24. g6 Nxb3 25. cxb3 Ne5 26. gxf7+ Qxf7 27. Nd4 exf5 28. exf5 (
28. Nxf5 {Psakhis} Qxb3 (28... Ba6 29. Qg3 $1) 29. Nxd6 Bxd6 30. Rxd6 Bh3 $13)
28... Bb7 $11 {Topalov didn't get any advantage .} 29. Ne6 Rbc8 $1 30. Ng5 (30.
Bxb7 {Psakhis} Qxb7+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rc2+ 33. Rf2 Rec8 34. Bf4 Rxf2+ 35.
Kxf2 Rc2+ 36. Rd2 $11) 30... Qe7 (30... Bxg2+ $5 {Psakhis} 31. Qxg2 Qxb3 32. f6
Rc7 33. Rd4 $44) 31. Qd2 (31. f6 $2 {Psakhis} gxf6 32. Ne4 (32. Qxf6 Rc2 $1 33.
Be4 Qxf6 34. Rxf6 Ng4 $19) 32... Ng4 33. Nxf6+ Nxf6 34. Qxf6 Bxg2+ 35. Kxg2
Rc2+ 36. Kh1 Qxf6 37. Rxf6 Ree2 $36) 31... Kh8 32. Rde1 Qd7 33. Ne6 Qb5 (33...
Ba6 $5 {Psakhis} 34. Rg1 Nd3) 34. Rd1 Be7 35. Bxb7 (35. Nxg7 $2 {Psakhis} Rg8
$1 (35... Kxg7 $6 36. f6+ Bxf6 37. Qh6+ Kg8) 36. f6 Bxf6 37. Rxf6 Rxg7 38. Rf2
Rcg8 $19) 35... Qxb7+ 36. Qd5 Qxd5+ 37. Rxd5 $11 Nf7 (37... Rc2 {Psakhis} 38.
Bd2 (38. Nd4 Rc5 39. Rxc5 dxc5 40. Ne6 Nd3 $15) 38... Rxb2 39. Bxb4 Rxb3 40.
Bxd6 Bxd6 41. Rxd6 $11) 38. Bd2 Bf6 39. Bxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 {
Alternate lines are 6... e5 and 6... Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5. Black is ready to
play the regular Scheveningen after 6. Be2} 7. g4 $5 {Ivanchuk demonstrates
his fighting spirit} h6 8. f4 b5 $5 (8... e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. g5 $1
{is in White's favor}) (8... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 9. g5 hxg5 10. fxg5 Nfd7 11. g6 Ne5
12. gxf7+ Nxf7 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Qc4 Nfd8 16. h4 Rc8 17. Qe2 Be7
18. Qg2 Bf6 19. h5 Ne5 20. h6 gxh6 21. Rxh6 Rxh6 22. Qg8+ Ke7 23. Nf5+ exf5 24.
Nd5# {1-0 Mironov,S-Popov,A/Bankia op (08) 1990}) (8... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 9. Qf3 (
9. h3 Qc7 (9... d5 $5 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 Qh4+ $1 12. Kd2 Bc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14.
Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Qe3 Qe7 16. Rd1 Rb8 17. Kc1 a5 $15 {Shirov,A-Salov,V/Moscow/1992/
0|1/44/}) (9... Bd7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Bg2 Qc7 12. O-O Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3
exf4 15. Rxf4 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 O-O $10 {Balashov,Y-Psakhis,L/
Sverdlovsk/1987/0,5/31/}) 10. Qe2 Bd7 $5 (10... e5 $5 11. Nb3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6
13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5+ Ne5 15. O-O-O Nfd7 16. Kb1 g6 17. Qd2 Bg7 18. Bd3 h5
$132 {Bologan,V-Novikov,I/Nikolaev/1995/0,5/42/}) 11. O-O-O (11. Bg2 b5 12. e5
$1) 11... b5 $5 12. Bg2 b4 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Nxd4 15. Bxd4+ Be7 16. g5 Bb5
17. Qe3 Rc8 18. Rd2 hxg5 19. fxg5 Nd7 20. Bxg7 Rg8 21. Re1 Ne5 22. Bxe5 dxe5
23. h4 Bd6 24. Be4 a5 25. h5 a4 26. g6 {1-0 Hracek,Z-Oll,L/Parnu-A (06)/1996/ 
(34)}) 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Bxe5 Nxg4 13. Bg3 Bb4 14. a3
Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 O-O 16. Bd3 Qg5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Qxg5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 hxg5 20. Kd2
{Topalov,V-Kolev,At/Elenite (03)/1995/1-0 (54)}) (8... d5 {Ftacnik} 9. e5 Nfd7
10. Qd2 Nc6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Bd3 g5 13. Nf3 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Ndxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5
16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Bxh8 Bf4 19. Rhe1+ Be6 20. Re3 d4 21. Bxd4 O-O-O
22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. gxf5 {1-0 Palac,M-Soln,P/Bled op (02)/1996/}) 9. Bg2 Bb7 10.
g5 $6 {This line is double-edged, but after defeat in the previous round,
Ivanchuk tries to create complications at any cost. It is nteresting to
mention that at the same time this variation was tested in the first round of
Groningen International.} (10. a3 Nbd7 11. O-O (11. g5 {Ftacnik} hxg5 12. fxg5
Nh5 13. g6 Ne5 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. O-O+ Nf6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qc7 18. e5
dxe5 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qg4 Rc8 21. Ne4 Rc4 22. Ng5+ Kg6 23. Qg3 Nh5 {0-1
Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Tilburg (07)/1996 (41)}) 11... g6 12. Qe2 e5 13. Nb3 exf4
14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Rad1 Nfxg4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 g5 18. Bg3 h5 19. Nd4 Bg7 20.
h3 h4 21. Be1 Nh6 22. Qh5 Nhg4 23. hxg4 Rxh5 24. gxh5 Ng4 25. Nc6 Qb6+ 26. Kh1
Kf8 27. Rd3 Re8 28. Rdf3 Kg8 29. Ba5 Qc5 30. Rxf7 Ne3 31. h6 Bxh6 32. Re7 Rf8
33. Rxf8+ Bxf8 34. Bb4 Qb6 35. Re6 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 Kh7 37. Re4 Qb7 38. Rg4 Qf7
39. Nd4 Qxd5+ 40. Nf3 Be7 {0-1 Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED
1996}) 10... hxg5 11. fxg5 b4 {The necessary counterblow; now White Knight is
distracted from center. After 11... Nh5 White is better.} 12. Na4 (12. gxf6 {
Ftacnik} bxc3 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. bxc3 Bxe4 $1 $17) (12. Nd5 {Ftacnik} exd5 13.
gxf6 Qxf6 (13... dxe4 14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Nf5 Be5 16. Bd4 $10) 14. exd5 Qe5 15.
Qe2 Be7 $15) 12... Nh5 (12... Nxe4 $6 13. Qg4 d5 14. O-O-O {with dangerous
attack} (14. Bxe4 {Ftacnik} dxe4 15. O-O-O $40 Nd7 (15... Qa5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17.
Qxe6+ Be7 18. Qg6+ Kf8 19. Rhf1+ $18) 16. Nxe6 $16)) 13. O-O (13. Bf3 {Ftacnik}
g6 14. e5 d5 $15) (13. g6 $5 {Ftacnik} Nd7 (13... Qh4+ 14. Bf2 Qe7 15. gxf7+
Qxf7 16. Nb6 Nf4 17. Bf3 $14) 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. Qg4 Qe7 16. Rf1+ Nhf6 17. Qg3
$14) 13... Nd7 14. g6 ({Maybe} 14. c3 bxc3 (14... Ne5 15. cxb4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Nxe3
17. Qxe3 {with the threat 18.g6}) 15. g6 $1 {is more accurate}) 14... Nhf6 15.
c3 (15. gxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 16. Qg4 Qe7 17. Rad1 (17. e5 $6 Nxe5 18. Qxe6+
Qxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxg2 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Kxg2 Nd5 $17) 17... Ne5 $13) 15... Ne5 (
15... bxc3 $2 {Ftacnik} 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qb3 cxb2 18. Rab1 Rb8 19. Nxe6 Qc8
20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Qf7+ Kh6 22. Rf3 $18) (15... Qe7 {Ftacnik} 16. Qb3 d5 17. exd5
Bxd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Rae1 $18) 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. cxb4 (17. Qb3 $5 {Ftacnik}
Qe7 18. Qxb4 Neg4 (18... Rh4 19. Nxe6 $1 Kxe6 20. Qb3+ d5 21. Bg5 $18) 19. Bf4
$16) 17... Rh4 $1 {Suddenly, Black Rook becomes very active. White must
consider both 18... Bxe4 and 18... Rg4} 18. Qb3 (18. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Rb8 19. b5
$16) 18... Qe8 {The critical position of the game} 19. Rac1 (19. Nc3 Rxh2 (
19... Rg4 20. h3 Rg3 21. Nf5 Rg6 22. Rad1 {with very complex play}) 20. Kxh2
Neg4+ 21. Kg1 Nxe3 22. Rf2 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 g5 {leads to complications with
unclear outcome}) (19. Bf4 Rc8 20. Bg3 Rh5 21. Nb6 Rc7) (19. Nc3 $16 {Ftacnik})
19... Bxe4 20. Rc7+ {Not a precise moves' order. Better was} (20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21.
Rc7+ (21. Nb6 Rb8 22. Nc4 Nxc4 23. Rxc4 Kg8 $10) (21. Bf2 Rg4+ 22. Kh1 Rf4 23.
Rc7+ Nfd7 24. Nc3 $10) 21... Kg8 (21... Ned7 22. Nb6 {and White is on top}) {
and if} 22. Nxe6 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxe6 {the position is difficult to estimate})
20... Kg8 (20... Ned7 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxe4 $1 (21. Nxe6 $6 Qxe6 22. Rxd7+ Be7
23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxe6+ Kxe6 25. Ra7 Rxa7 26. Bxa7 Rxb4 $10) 21... Rxe4 22. Nb6
Rd8 23. Nc6 Kg8 24. Nxd8 Qxd8 25. Rc8 $18) 21. Nxe6 (21. Qxe6+ $2 {Ftacnik}
Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Rg4 23. Rf2 Nd5 $19) 21... Rg4 $1 {The coldblooded reply!
Discovered checks are not dangerous for Black, for instance.} {Ivanchuk's hope
was the next move...} 22. Rxf6 $2 {Here 22... gxf6 fails to 23.Ng5+} (22. Nxg7+
Kh8 23. Nxe8 Rxg2+ {mating}) (22. Ng5+ Bd5 $1 $19) (22. Nxf8+ {Ftacnik} Bd5 $19
) (22. Rf2 $2 {Ftacnik} Bd5 $1 23. Qxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. Nxf8 Nxe3 $19)
(22. Nf4+ $142 {Ftacnik} d5 23. Nc3 (23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. bxc5 Nd3 25. h3 Rg5 $17)
23... Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Rxb4 $15) 22... Rxg2+ (22... gxf6 $4 23. Ng5+ $16) 23. Kf1
(23. Kh1 {Ftacnik} Rg3+ 24. Rf3 Bxf3#) 23... Qb5+ {Ivanchuk obviously
overlooked it.} (23... Qb5+ {Ftacnik} 24. Rc4 gxf6 $19 (24... Qxc4+ 25. Qxc4
Nxc4 $19)) 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Armbruster, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 Nfd7 5. cxd5 Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. dxe6 Bxe6 8.
Nf3 Nd7 9. h3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Ng5 Qd7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Nxe6 Qxe6 14. Qf3
Kb8 15. Bg5 f6 16. Rfe1 Qg8 17. Be3 Nh4 18. Qh5 g5 19. Rad1 Qg7 20. Bc1 Rdg8
21. a3 f5 22. Nb5 Be7 23. Re6 f4 24. Rde1 Bd8 25. R6e4 Nd5 26. Qd1 g4 27. hxg4
Qxg4 28. Qxg4 Rxg4 29. Re8 Rxg2+ 30. Kf1 Rhg8 31. Rxg8 Rxg8 32. Bxh7 Rf8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Armbruster, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
a6 9. h4 h5 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bh6 Bb7 12. g4 Nc6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. gxh5 Nxh5 15.
Nf5+ Kg8 16. Qh6 e6 17. Nxd6 Qe7 18. Rg1 Ng7 19. h5 Qh4 20. Nxb7 Qxh5 21. Qxh5
Nxh5 22. Nc5 Ne5 23. Be2 Nf4 24. Nd3 Nxe2+ 25. Nxe2 Nxf3 26. Rg3 Nh4 27. Rh1
Nf5 28. exf5 exf5 29. Nef4 Rfd8 30. b3 Rac8 31. Kb2 a5 32. Nxg6 fxg6 33. Rxg6+
Kf7 34. Ne5+ Kf8 35. Rh8+ 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Auslaender, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O Nbd7 9. Be3 b6 10. e5 Ne8 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rad1 f5 13. Bc4 c6 14. Bxe6+ Kh8
15. Bxf5 h6 16. e6 Ndf6 17. Ne5 Nd6 18. Ng6+ Kg8 19. Nxf8 Qxf8 20. Bg6 Rd8 21.
Rfe1 Rc8 22. Bf4 Nd5 23. Be5 Nc4 24. Bg3 Qf6 25. Bf7+ Kh8 26. Ne4 Qf5 27. Qxc4
Nf6 28. Nxf6 Qxf6 29. Be5 Qg5 30. Qc1 c5 31. Qxg5 Bxg5 32. d5 Be7 33. d6 Bh4
34. d7 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Rf8 36. d8=Q 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bloessl, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2180"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Ng4
9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 Na6 11. O-O Nh6 12. Ne1 Nf7 13. Nd3 c5 14. a3 Bd7 15. b4 b6
16. Rb1 Qc8 17. Qb3 h5 18. f3 Kh7 19. Bf2 Bh6 20. Qa2 Nc7 21. a4 a5 22. bxa5
bxa5 23. Qb3 Na6 24. Nb5 f5 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. h3 Nb4 27. Rbe1 Nxd3 28. Bxd3
Bxh3 29. Bh4 Qd7 30. f4 Bxg2 31. Bxg6+ Kxg6 32. f5+ Kh7 33. Kxg2 Rg8+ 34. Kh1
Rg4 35. Qh3 Bf4 36. Nc3 Qxf5 37. Rf3 Rag8 38. Bf2 Qg6 39. Ne4 Ng5 40. Nxg5+ 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bonnaire, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. d4 e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Be2 Bd7 8.
O-O O-O 9. Be3 c6 10. a3 f6 11. Qc2 Be8 12. Rad1 Bf7 13. Nd2 Qc7 14. Nb3 a6 15.
Nc5 N8d7 16. b4 a5 17. f4 Rfd8 18. e5 Nxc5 19. bxc5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Bc4
Rdd8 22. Rb1 Rab8 23. Qb3 Rf8 24. Bxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 26. Rb2 Qc8 27. Qxc8+
Rxc8 28. Rxb7 Bd8 29. Rfb1 Rxb7 30. Rxb7 Rc7 31. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dahlmann, Dirk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. c4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. c5 Nd5 8. Bd3
c6 9. Qb3 O-O 10. O-O Nxc3 11. bxc3 b6 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Qd1 Nd7 14. a4 a6 15.
Re1 Re8 16. Rxe6 fxe6 17. Ng5 Nf6 18. Nxe6 Qd7 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Bf4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dege, Carsten"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 b5 3. e3 Bd7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bxf6 exf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. dxc5 b4 8. a3
Bxc5 9. axb4 Bxb4+ 10. c3 Ba5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. O-O Ne5 13. Bc2 Bb5 14. Ba4 Qd7
15. Bxb5 Qxb5 16. Nd4 Qxb2 17. Rxa5 Qxc3 18. Qa4+ Nd7 19. Rxd5 O-O 20. Nb1 Nb6
21. Nxc3 Nxa4 22. Nxa4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dressler, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. c4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 Nf6 8. f3
O-O 9. Qd2 Re8 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O e6 12. Rfd1 d5 13. exd5 exd5 14. c5 Be6 15.
Bf1 Qd7 16. a3 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Red8 18. b4 Ne8 19. Ne2 Nc7 20. a4 Rdb8 21. Bxg7
Kxg7 22. Nd4 b5 23. axb5 Nxb5 24. Bxb5 axb5 25. Qf4 Qe8 26. c6 Ra4 27. Rxa4
bxa4 28. b5 Rb6 29. Ra1 Qa8 30. Nxe6+ Kg8 31. Qd4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Franz, Berthold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d6 5. g3 Bd7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. a3 Qc8 8. O-O
Bh3 9. Nd5 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 h6 11. e4 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Nb8 13. Be3 O-O 14. Nd2 f5 15.
f3 Nd7 16. Rc1 b6 17. b4 Qd8 18. Rc3 f4 19. Bf2 Nf6 20. Qc2 Ne8 21. Nc4 fxg3
22. hxg3 Bg5 23. d4 Bf6 24. dxe5 Bxe5 25. Nxe5 dxe5 26. Rc6 Rf6 27. Rc1 a5 28.
b5 Qe7 29. a4 Rd8 30. Qb3 Kh8 31. R1c4 Rdd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Be1 Rg6 34. Qe3
Nd6 35. Rc6 Rf6 36. Bc3 Nf7 37. f4 Rxc6 38. bxc6 exf4 39. gxf4 Nd6 40. Be5 Nc4
41. Qd4 Nxe5 42. Qxe5 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Goebel, Andreas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qd2 a6 13. Ba7 Ra8 14. Bd4 Qd7
15. Rfd1 Rab8 16. Rac1 Rfc8 17. b3 b5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qb7
21. h4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rc6 Bd7 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Bf3 Qc7 26. Kg2 Qc5 27.
Qd2 b4 28. h5 Qc3 29. Qg5 Qf6 30. Qe3 Kf8 31. Qb6 Qc3 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Qxe7 Qe5
34. h6+ Kxh6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Goettsche, Jens"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Qd3 h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. f4 Qc7 14. f5 Bd7 15.
fxe6 Bxe6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Qg6+ Kf8 19. Rhf1 Rg8 20. Rf2 Qc6 21.
Rdf1 Qe8 22. Qh7 Rxc3 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxf6+ Ke7 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grimme, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C28"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. f4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
Nd4 9. Qd1 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. Be3 c5 12. Nd5 b5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bd5 Rb8 15.
c3 Ne6 16. fxe5 Bxe5 17. Qg4 Re8 18. Rf5 g6 19. Raf1 Re7 20. Rxf7 Qe8 21. Rxe7
Qxe7 22. Bh6 Bg7 23. Bxe6+ Kh8 24. Rf7 Qxf7 25. Bxf7 Bxh6 26. Qd7 Rf8 27. g3
Be3+ 28. Kg2 Bh6 29. d4 cxd4 30. cxd4 Bg7 31. Qe7 g5 32. e5 dxe5 33. dxe5 b4
34. e6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Henrici, Claus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 a5 5. d3 h6 6. g3 Bc5 7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O O-O
9. b3 Nd4 10. Nd2 Ne6 11. e3 c6 12. Nf3 Bb6 13. Rb1 Rb8 14. b4 Nd7 15. d4 axb4
16. axb4 Bc7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 b5 19. cxb5 Rxb5 20. Nd2 Nf6 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6
22. Ne4 Qe7 23. Nc3 Rb8 24. Nd5 Qd7 25. Qd3 Bb7 26. Rd1 Rfd8 27. Bd2 Bxd5 28.
Bxd5 Qb5 29. Qb3 Qe8 30. Rdc1 Bb6 31. Rc6 Nc7 32. Rbc1 Nxd5 33. Qxd5 Qd7 34. b5
Bc5 35. Ba5 Rdc8 36. R1xc5 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Henrici, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d6 3. Nc3 h6 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Bd7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. Nd5 c6 8.
Nxe7 Qxe7 9. Ne2 Be6 10. c4 d5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. O-O O-O 13. Nf4 Qd7 14. Rc1
Nc6 15. Bb5 Rac8 16. Qa4 a6 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Rxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxc6 bxc6 20. Rc1
Bd7 21. Nd3 Rb8 22. Nc5 Be8 23. b3 Rb6 24. Kf1 Kf8 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. Kd3 f5 27.
Kc3 Kd6 28. b4 f6 29. a4 Rb8 30. Nxa6 Ra8 31. Nc5 Ra7 32. Rb1 g5 33. a5 f4 34.
exf4 gxf4 35. Re1 Bf7 36. f3 Re7 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 38. a6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Imperatori, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 Be7 4. Nc3 h6 5. Be3 d5 6. e5 Nfd7 7. f4 O-O 8. Nf3
f5 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Bd3 c6 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. O-O Nxe5 13. fxe5 Nh7 14. Rxf8+
Qxf8 15. Qh5 Kh8 16. Rf1 Qg8 17. Bxh7 Kxh7 18. Bxh6 g6 19. Qh3 Qe8 20. Bg5+ Kg8
21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Rf6 Qg7 23. Ne2 Bd7 24. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jobst, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Koch, Hans Juergen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2075"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 e6 3. e4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bc4 c6 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 Nb6 8. a4 b4
9. Ne2 a5 10. Ng3 g6 11. Qd2 Ba6 12. Re1 Bc4 13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. Qd3 Nb6 15. Nf1
h6 16. c4 Nc8 17. b3 g5 18. d5 exd5 19. cxd5 Nb6 20. Ng3 Kf8 21. Be3 Nf6 22.
Rac1 Ng4 23. Nf5 Nxe3 24. fxe3 g4 25. Nd2 f6 26. Rc2 Kf7 27. Rxc6 Kg6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Koernlein, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. d4 e6 6. Nc3 c5 7. Bg5 Qd6 8.
dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 N6d7 10. Nb5 Na6 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. cxd6 O-O 13. Be2 b6 14.
O-O f6 15. Be3 e5 16. Bc4+ Kh8 17. Bd5 Rb8 18. a3 Rd8 19. b4 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Rxb7
21. Rc1 Nf8 22. b5 Nc5 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxd6 25. Rc8 Kg8 26. a4 Kf7 27.
g3 Rd3 28. Kg2 Ra3 29. Rc4 a6 30. bxa6 Ra7 31. Rb1 Rxa6 32. Rb7+ Kg6 33. Nh4+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kolb, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. a3 d5 5. Nc3 Be7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bf4 Bd6 8.
Bg3 Bf5 9. e3 a6 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Bh4 Qd7 12. Nxd5 O-O 13. Nc3 Ne7 14. O-O b5
15. Rc1 Rac8 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Bg3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 c6 20. Rc5 h6
21. Qc2 Rc7 22. Rc1 Rfc8 23. d5 Qf5 24. d6 Qxc2 25. R1xc2 Rd7 26. dxe7 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Korfmacher, Lubinko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. Qc2 h6 10. O-O c5 11. Bh7+ Kh8 12. Be4 Qc7 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 Bxd5 15.
cxd5 d6 16. Nc4 dxe5 17. Ncxe5 Nf6 18. Qb3 Bd6 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. Rd1 Nxd5 21.
Rxd5 Bxh2+ 22. Nxh2 Rxd5 23. Qf3 Qc6 24. Be3 f6 25. Nf1 Rd7 26. Qh3 Na6 27. Ng3
Rad8 28. Nf5 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Kh2 Qc7+ 31. Ncd6 Rb1 32. Bf4 Rxb2 33.
Bxh6 gxh6 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 35. Qg6+ Kf8 36. Qxf6+ Kg8 37. Ne7+ Qxe7 38. Qxe7 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Link, Klaus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d6 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 h6 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 a5
9. Rb1 Bd7 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 Qc8 12. b5 Nd4 13. Nd2 Bh3 14. e3 Bxg2 15. Kxg2
Ne6 16. Nf3 Re8 17. e4 Qd7 18. h3 Ra5 19. Be3 Rea8 20. Qc2 Nh7 21. Nd5 Bd8 22.
Rh1 Nhf8 23. d4 exd4 24. Nxd4 Ra2 25. Rb2 Rxb2 26. Qxb2 c6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lukas, Sebastian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15.
O-O b4 16. Rb1 Bh6 17. Bxh6 Rxh6 18. dxe6 Nxf6 19. Bxb7+ Qxb7 20. exf7 Rf8 21.
Qd6 Rxf7 22. Qe6+ Kb8 23. Rbd1 Rfh7 24. Rd8+ Kc7 25. Qd6# 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Meyer, Armin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c6 7. O-O Bg4 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Qc7 11. Qd2 Rfe8 12. Rfd1 Rad8 13. b4 Nb6 14. Qe2 h6
15. Rac1 Qb8 16. a4 e5 17. d5 Nbd7 18. a5 Kh7 19. Rb1 Rc8 20. dxc6 Rxc6 21. Nd5
Bf8 22. Bg4 Nxd5 23. cxd5 Rc7 24. Qf3 Kg7 25. Rbc1 Nf6 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Rc1
Qe7 28. Bc8 a6 29. Bb6 Rxc8 30. Rxc8 Ne8 31. Qb3 Nf6 32. Rc7 Qe8 33. b5 axb5
34. Rxb7 Nh5 35. g3 Qc8 36. a6 Qxh3 37. a7 Nf4 38. Qf3 g5 39. a8=Q g4 40. Qxf4
exf4 41. Bd4+ 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morgenstern, Harry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Qd7 8. Nc3
O-O-O 9. O-O Nd4 10. Qf2 c6 11. Be3 c5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 f6 14. c3 Nc6 15.
b4 exf4 16. Bxf4 Ne5 17. Qe2 cxb4 18. cxb4 Qb5 19. Rfc1+ Kb8 20. a4 Qxd3 21.
Qf2 Be7 22. Be3 Rc8 23. Bxa7+ Ka8 24. Qb6 Nc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27.
Qa5 Qxe4 28. Bb6+ 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Moroder, Mainhard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. Nb3 Bb4+ 8.
Nc3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14.
Qxd5 Be6 15. Qf3 Qe7 16. Nd4 Rac8 17. Rfb1 Rfd8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Rd1 Rxd1+ 20.
Rxd1 Rf8 21. Qe4 Qf6 22. f4 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Nxd8 24. Qd3 Qe7 25. h4 b6 26. Kh2
Nf7 27. Qe4 Nd6 28. Qa8+ Kh7 29. h5 Qf7 30. Be4+ Nxe4 31. Qxe4+ Kh8 32. Qe5 Qe7
33. Kh3 Kg8 34. e4 Kf7 35. f5 exf5 36. Qxe7+ Kxe7 37. exf5 Kf6 38. g4 Ke5 39.
Kg3 a6 40. Kf3 b5 41. Ke3 a5 42. a3 a4 43. Kf3 Kd5 44. Kf4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Petry, Joachim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bd7 11. Qd2 a6 12. f3 Qa5 13. Rfd1 Rfc8 14. Rab1 Be6
15. b4 Qd8 16. c5 Ne8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nf6 20. Qe3 Rc7 21.
Rbc1 Rac8 22. a3 Qd7 23. c6 bxc6 24. Bxa6 Nxd5 25. Qd4+ e5 26. Bxc8 Qxc8 27.
Qf2 Nf4 28. Qb2 f6 29. g3 Ne6 30. Kg2 d5 31. b5 cxb5 32. Rxc7+ Qxc7 33. Rxd5
Nd4 34. Rxd4 exd4 35. Qxd4 Qc2+ 36. Kh3 Qf5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Plaumann, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Bd6 8.
Nge2 O-O 9. Qc2 h6 10. Bh4 Qc7 11. O-O-O Re8 12. h3 Kh8 13. g4 Ng8 14. Kb1 Be7
15. Nxd5 Qa5 16. Nxe7 Nxe7 17. Rhg1 g6 18. Nc3 Kg7 19. e4 Nf8 20. f4 Kh7 21. f5
b6 22. Rgf1 g5 23. Bg3 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Qxa6 25. e5 Kg8 26. e6 fxe6 27. f6 Kf7 28.
fxe7+ Kxe7 29. Ne4 Rad8 30. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pollmann, Helge"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
O-O c6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qc2 Nfd7 11. Bf4 c5 12. d5 Nf6 13. d6 Bxd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. e5 Qe7 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 Nc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Rfd1 e5
21. Ne4 Qg6 22. Nxe5 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Populoh, Sascha"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. d5 c6 8. Bg5 h6
9. Be3 Re8 10. Nd2 Nh7 11. g4 g5 12. Be2 a6 13. Nf1 Nf8 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. f3 c5
16. a3 Bd7 17. b4 b6 18. Rh2 a5 19. bxc5 bxc5 20. Bf1 Na6 21. Rb2 Rb8 22. Rab1
Rxb2 23. Rxb2 Qa8 24. Rb6 Bf8 25. Nf5 Rb8 26. Qb1 Qa7 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Qxb8
Nxb8 29. Bd2 Nf4 30. Nb5 Bxf5 31. exf5 a4 32. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Raab, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O f4 13. c4 b4 14. Nc2 a5 15.
b3 Rg8 16. Kh1 Rg6 17. f3 Rh6 18. Qe1 Be7 19. Nxe7 Qxe7 20. a3 Qg5 21. Rf2 Qg3
22. Qg1 bxa3 23. Rxa3 Rb8 24. Rd2 a4 25. Rxa4 Rxb3 26. Ra1 Rb2 27. Re2 Nb4 28.
Nxb4 Rxb4 29. c5 dxc5 30. Ra8+ Ke7 31. Qxc5+ Kf6 32. Qg1 Rd4 33. Ra3 Rd7 34.
Rb2 Rxh2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rauschenbach, Rainer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Qc7 7. a4 Ngf6 8. h3
O-O 9. Bg5 e5 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf1 Nf8 12. d5 h5 13. Bc4 c5 14. Nd2 N8h7 15. Be3
g5 16. Be2 g4 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Nc4 Qd8 19. g3 Kh8 20. Kg2 Rg8 21. Rh1 Bf8 22.
Qd2 Rg6 23. Rh2 Be7 24. Rah1 Qg8 25. Bd3 Bd7 26. Nb5 Qb8 27. Bg5 Kg7 28. Rxh7+
Nxh7 29. Bxe7 Bxb5 30. axb5 Qc7 31. Bh4 Rh8 32. c3 f6 33. Ne3 Qd7 34. Be2 Kf8
35. b4 b6 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Nf5 Kf7 38. Ra1 Rb8 39. c4 Ng5 40. Bxg4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Richtscheid, Jens"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. e4
d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc8 11. b3 a6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. f4 Rac8 15.
h3 Nc5 16. Kh2 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Qb8 18. Nd5 exd5 19. exd5 Re8 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Bxf6
gxf6 22. Qd4 Bg7 23. b4 Nd7 24. Ne7+ Kf8 25. Nxc8 Qxc8 26. Qd3 h6 27. Be4 Re7
28. Bg2 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Qd8 30. a3 Nb8 31. Qe4 a5 32. h4 Na6 33. Rb1 axb4 34.
axb4 Qa8 35. Kh3 b5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Scherbel, Klaus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 e6 4. Nf3 h6 5. Bd3 Bb4+ 6. c3 Be7 7. O-O a6 8. Nbd2 c5
9. Re1 c4 10. Bc2 b5 11. Nf1 Bh4 12. a4 Bd7 13. axb5 Be7 14. bxa6 Rxa6 15. Rxa6
Nxa6 16. b4 Bb5 17. h4 Qd7 18. h5 Bd8 19. N3h2 Nc7 20. Qg4 Kf8 21. Bd2 Qc6 22.
Ra1 Ne7 23. Ng3 Rg8 24. f4 Ke8 25. Bh7 Kf8 26. Bxg8 Nxg8 27. f5 f6 28. fxe6
Nxe6 29. Nf3 Be7 30. Nf5 Bd8 31. Ra7 Bc7 32. Nd6 Nd8 33. Nxb5 Ne6 34. Nxc7 Nxc7
35. Qc8+ Qe8 36. Qxc7 Ne7 37. exf6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Schmalfuss, Konrad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Rc8 7. O-O Nh6 8. Bxh6
gxh6 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Ne7 11. Nc3 a6 12. Bd3 Ng6 13. Ne2 f5 14. exf6 Qxf6
15. Rac1 Rg8 16. Rxc8+ Bxc8 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Bxg6+ Qxg6 19. Nf4 Qf5 20. Ne5 Bd6
21. Qe3 Rg5 22. h4 Rg7 23. g3 Kd8 24. Re1 Bb4 25. Nxd7 Kxd7 26. Qxe6+ Qxe6 27.
Rxe6 Bd2 28. Rf6 Bxf4 29. Rxf4 Ke6 30. Rf3 Rc7 31. Rc3 Rc4 32. Rxc4 dxc4 33. f4
Kd5 34. f5 b5 35. Kf2 b4 36. Ke3 a5 37. g4 a4 38. Kd2 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Schmid, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 h6 8. Bf4
c6 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bxg6 fxg6 13. Ne5 g5 14. Bg3 Bd6 15. h4
Nh7 16. hxg5 Nxg5 17. f4 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qb3+ Kh7 20. O-O-O Qc7 21. Qc2
Bxe5 22. dxe5 Kg8 23. g5 Qf7 24. gxh6 Qxa2 25. hxg7 Qa1+ 26. Kd2 Rd8+ 27. Ke2
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qa6+ 29. Kf2 Kxg7 30. e6 Kf6 31. Qxe4 c5 32. Bh4+ 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Schmitt, Hans Walter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. c4 e6 6. dxe6 Nc6 7. d5 Bb4+ 8. Nc3
Qe7 9. dxc6 Bxe6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Kf2 Rfe8 12. Ne4 Nxe4+ 13. fxe4 Qh4+ 14. g3
Qxe4 15. Bg2 Qe5 16. Nf3 Qxb2+ 17. Qe2 Qa3 18. Rhd1 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qxe3+ 20. Kf1
Bc5 21. Qc2 b6 22. Re1 Qh6 23. Qf5 Re6 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. Qg5 Qxg5 26. Nxg5 Rf8+
27. Nf3 g5 28. h3 h5 29. g4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Schutzmann, Henry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe1 Nd7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 f6 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Rd1 Qe8 14. f4 Nf7
15. h3 Bc5 16. Kh1 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 b6 18. Qg3 Nd6 19. Rfe1 c5 20. Bb2 Qf7 21. e5
Nf5 22. Qf2 fxe5 23. Bxe5 Bb7 24. Nf3 h6 25. Bb2 Nd6 26. Be5 Ne4 27. Qe3 Rae8
28. Kh2 Re7 29. Qd3 Nf2 30. Qe3 Nxd1 31. Rxd1 Rd7 32. Re1 Rfd8 33. Bc3 Rd1 34.
Ne5 Rxe1 35. Bxe1 Qd5 36. Qg3 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Snuverink, Jochem"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Re8 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Bxc3 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. bxc3 Nd7
15. Qe3 Rad8 16. a5 e5 17. d5 Qf4 18. Qxa7 Bxe4 19. dxc6 Bxf3 20. gxf3 bxc6 21.
Ra4 Qxf3 22. Qe3 e4 23. Qxf3 exf3 24. Rb1 Nc5 25. Ra2 Re4 26. Bf1 Rg4+ 27. Kh1
Ra4 28. Rxa4 Nxa4 29. Rc1 Nxc3 30. Rxc3 Rd5 31. a6 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zielke, Wolfgang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Be6 7. O-O g6 8. d4
Bg7 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxe5 12. Bxb7 Bxc3 13. Qa4+ Bd7 14.
Qe4+ Qe7 15. Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. Ba3+ Ke6 17. Rac1 Rab8 18. Ba6 Be5 19. Bc4+ Kf6 20.
Bb3 Be6 21. Bxe6 Kxe6 22. Rc6+ Kd7 23. Ra6 Rb7 24. Rd1+ Kc8 25. f4 Bg7 26. Bc5
Re8 27. Kf1 Re6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Kf2 Rb2 30. a3 Rb5 31. Be7 Rd5 32. Rxd5 exd5
33. Bc5 a6 34. e4 dxe4 35. Ke3 Kd7 36. Kxe4 Kc6 37. Bb4 Kb5 38. Be7 c5 39. g4
Bb2 40. f5 gxf5+ 41. gxf5 Bxa3 42. f6 Bb2 43. f7 Bg7 44. Kd3 a5 45. f8=Q Bxf8
46. Bxf8 Kb4 47. Kc2 Kc4 48. Kb2 a4 49. Ka3 Kb5 50. Be7 h5 51. h4 Kc4 52. Kxa4
Kd4 53. Kb3 c4+ 54. Kb4 Kd5 55. Bf6 Ke6 56. Bd4 Kf5 57. Kxc4 Kg4 58. Bf2 Kf3
59. Be1 Ke2 60. Kd4 Kxe1 61. Ke3 Kd1 62. Kf4 Ke2 63. Kg5 Kf3 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zweschper, Erich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8.
Nc3 Qa5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bd3 h6 11. O-O Nc6 12. a3 Bd6 13. Rad1 a6 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 Ne7 16. Ne5 Bb8 17. Rfe1 Nd5 18. Bd2 Qd8 19. Qb3 Qd6 20. Rc1 Rd8 21.
Ba5 Bc7 22. Bxc7 Nxc7 23. Qf3 f6 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Bxc8 Rdxc8 26. Ng6 Rxb2 27.
Qc6 Qxc6 28. Rxc6 Kf7 29. Nf4 Rb7 30. Rec1 Ke7 31. Nxe6 Nxe6 32. Rxc8 Rd7 33.
Re1 Kd6 34. Ra8 Nxd4 35. Rxa6+ Kc5 36. h3 Kb5 37. Ra8 Kc4 38. Rae8 g6 39. Rg8
g5 40. Rg6 Rd6 41. Rxh6 Nc2 42. Rc1 Kb3 43. Rb1+ Ka2 44. Rf1 Kxa3 45. Rh8 Kb2
46. Rc8 Nb4 47. g3 Nd5 48. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Abreu, Jorge D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3
O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Qd2 Rb8 11. f3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qa5 13. Rab1 Be6 14. b4 Qh5 15.
f4 Bg4 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. h3 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Nf6 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Rbd8 21.
Qe3 Nd7 22. Rbe1 f5 23. Nd5 Rfe8 24. Nxe7+ Kh8 25. e6 Nf6 26. Nxg6+ 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pereda de Pablo, Ernesto"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. e3 Bg7 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Bf5 13. Qb3 Qxb3 14.
axb3 e5 15. d5 e4 16. dxc6 exf3 17. Bxf3 bxc6 18. Ra3 Rfc8 19. Bg3 a5 20. h3
Bc2 21. Bd6 a4 22. bxa4 Rxa4 23. Rc1 Rxa3 24. Bxa3 Ba4 25. g4 Bb5 26. h4 h6 27.
h5 gxh5 28. gxh5 Ra8 29. Bd6 Ra1 30. Rxa1 Bxa1 31. Be4 Bg7 32. f4 Bf8 33. Be5
Bg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rodriguez, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
Qe7 9. c5 Bc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Re1 Nf6 14. Bd3 Nd5 15.
Bd2 Qf6 16. Ne5 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Re4 Qg5 19. Rae1 Bd8 20. h4 Qe7 21. b4
Qe8 22. Rf4 b5 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Bg6 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Martin, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. b3 d6 6. Bb2 Ne4 7. Nbd2 Nxd2 8.
Qxd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. h4 h6 11. c4 Be6 12. Qc3 Qd6 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 d4
15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. Bxd4 O-O-O 17. f4 Kb8 18. Bc5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Re8 20. e3 c6
21. Bb4 Kc7 22. Kc2 Bc8 23. h5 g5 24. a4 Be6 25. a5 Bf7 26. Ra1 gxf4 27. gxf4
e6 28. Bd6+ Kd7 29. Bc5 a6 30. Bf3 Bf8 31. Rd1+ Kc8 32. Bxf8 Rxf8 33. Rg1 Rg8
34. Rxg8+ Bxg8 35. e4 c5 36. exf5 Bh7 37. Be4 exf5 38. Bd5 Kd8 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morcuende Hurtado, Miguel Angel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. h3 c6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3
Qc7 9. Be2 a6 10. Rc1 O-O 11. O-O e5 12. Qd2 Kh7 13. Rfd1 Ne8 14. Qc2 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Ndf6 16. b4 Bd7 17. c5 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. a4 f5 21. c6
bxc6 22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Qxc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Rf6 25. Rc5 Rb6 26. b5 axb5 27. Bxb5
Nf6 28. Rc7 Re6 29. Bd4 Rd8 30. a5 g5 31. a6 Kg6 32. a7 Ne8 33. Bxe8+ Rdxe8 34.
Rxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Alonso Negro, Miguel Angel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8.
O-O a6 9. c5 Qc7 10. Be3 d6 11. cxd6 exd6 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rc1 Rac8 14. Qd2 Qa5
15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Nb3 Qh5 17. g4 Qe5 18. Bf4 Qe8 19. Bg5 Be6 20. Qf4 Qe7 21.
Ne4 Nd5 22. Rxd5 f6 23. Nxf6+ 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Moreira Romero, Jairo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2180"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Rc1 h6 8. Bxf6
Qxf6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. a3 Ba5 13. Rfd1 Nf6 14. Qc2 Bd7 15.
b4 Bc7 16. Qb2 Rac8 17. h3 Ne8 18. a4 Nf6 19. Ne5 Bb8 20. f4 dxc4 21. Bxc4 Nd5
22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Re1 Bd6 24. Nxd7 Qxd7 25. Nd1 Qe7 26. Nf2 Bxb4 27. Re2 Ba3
0-1

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Reyes, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B05"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 dxe5 8.
dxe5 e6 9. O-O Nd7 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Re1 Bc5 12. Nd2 Nf4 13. Qe4 Ng6 14. Nc4 O-O
15. h4 Rad8 16. h5 Ne7 17. h6 Ng6 18. hxg7 Kxg7 19. Bg5 Rde8 20. Rad1 f5 21.
exf6+ Nxf6 22. Qe2 Nd5 23. Ne3 Qe5 24. Bh6+ Kg8 25. Nxd5 Qxe2 26. Rxe2 exd5 27.
Bxf8 Rxf8 28. Rde1 Kg7 29. Re8 Rf7 30. R1e2 Nf4 31. Rd2 Rf6 32. g3 Nh3+ 33. Kg2
Ng5 34. Rd3 h6 35. Rb3 b6 36. Re2 a5 37. Bh5 a4 38. Rd3 Ne4 39. Rf3 Rxf3 40.
Bxf3 Ng5 41. Bg4 a3 42. bxa3 Bxa3 43. Bd7 c5 44. Bc6 d4 45. Re7+ Kf6 46. Rb7
1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Arnaiz Yanes, Miguel Angel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qd3 a6 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. Rac1 Be6 13. b3 Rab8 14. Rfd1 Nd7
15. Qd2 b5 16. cxb5 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Rxc8+ Rxc8 19. Nxe7+ Kf8 20. Bxd2
Kxe7 21. bxa6 d5 22. Bb4+ Ke8 23. e4 d4 24. e5 Bxe5 25. Bb7 Nb6 26. Re1 Bb8 27.
Ba5 d3 28. Bxb6 d2 29. Rd1 Rc1 30. Bf3 Bd5 31. Be2 Be5 32. Be3 Rxd1+ 33. Bxd1
Bc3 34. Kf1 Bc6 35. a7 Kd7 36. a4 Bb7 37. f4 Kc7 38. Ke2 Ba6+ 39. Kf2 Bb7 40.
Bc5 Kc6 41. b4 Kd5 42. Bb3+ Ke4 43. Ke2 f5 44. b5 h6 45. Be3 Ba5 46. Bxd2 Bb6
47. Bc2+ Kd5 48. Be3 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Garcia, Al"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 f5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 c6 6. d4 e4 7. Ng5 d5 8. Qb3 Qb6
9. O-O Qxb3 10. axb3 h6 11. Nh3 g5 12. f3 exf3 13. exf3 Be6 14. Re1 Kd7 15. Bf1
Bb4 16. Nf2 c5 17. Nd3 Nc6 18. Nxc5+ Bxc5 19. dxc5 Nd4 20. cxd5 Bf7 21. Rd1
Nxf3+ 22. Kg2 Ne5 23. Be3 Bh5 24. Bb5+ Kc8 25. Rf1 f4 26. gxf4 gxf4 27. Bxf4
Rg8+ 28. Bg3 Neg4 29. Rae1 Nd7 30. b4 a5 31. Bxd7+ Kxd7 32. b5 Rae8 33. c6+ Kc8
34. Kh3 Ne3 35. Rxe3 Rxe3 36. d6 Bf3 37. d7+ Kd8 38. Rg1 Rg5 39. Rf1 bxc6 40.
b6 Rh5+ 41. Bh4+ Kxd7 42. Rh1 0-1

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Espinola Martin, Maria Jose"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. f4 a6 10. Qe1 Qc7 11. Qg3 Re8 12. Kh1 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 14. a3 Bb7
15. Bd3 Kh8 16. Rae1 Nh5 17. Qh3 e5 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Qxh5 exd4 20. Nd5 Bxd5
21. exd5 g6 22. Qe5+ Qxe5 23. Rxe5 Kg7 24. Rfe1 Kf8 25. g3 Bd6 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8
27. Rxe8+ Kxe8 28. Kg2 Ke7 29. Kf3 f5 30. h3 Kf6 31. a4 bxa4 32. Bxa6 Ke5 33.
Bb5 a3 34. Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gonzalez, Ja"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. Nc3 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Be2
e6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Bg5 Qd7 11. a3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Nd5 exd5 14. Qxd4 dxe4
15. Qxe4 Re8 16. Qf3 Qf5 17. Bh6 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 c6 19. a4 Nc4 20. b3 Ne5 21. Be2
Be6 22. Rfe1 Bxb3 23. Reb1 Bc4 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Rxb7 Nd6 26. Rd7 Red8 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rc1 Nf5 29. Bg5 Rd6 30. Bf4 Re6 31. Rc5 f6 32. g4 Nd4 33. Be3
Nb3 34. Rc3 Na5 35. Bxa7 Re1+ 36. Kg2 Ra1 37. Rf3 Kg7 38. Bd4 Rxa4 39. Bxf6+
Kg8 40. Bg5 Kg7 41. Rd3 Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kg8 43. Bf6 Rf4 44. Bc3 Nc4 45. Rg7+ Kf8
46. Rxh7 Rf7 47. Rh6 Nd6 48. Rxg6 Ne4 49. Be1 c5 50. Re6 Re7 51. Rxe7 Kxe7 52.
f3 Nd6 53. f4 c4 54. Kf3 Nb5 55. Ke4 c3 56. Kd3 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Izquierdo, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 Be7 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxe7 Nxe7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 b6 8.
Be4 Nbc6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. a3 Rb8 11. Qd3 h6 12. O-O-O Na5 13. Rhe1 Bxe4 14. Qxe4
Nb7 15. d5 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 d6 18. g3 dxe5 19. Qxe5 Nd6 20. h4 Qd7
21. Qf4 Rfe8 22. Ne5 Qf5 23. Qxf5 Nxf5 24. Nc6 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Ra8 26. h5 Kf8 27.
b4 a6 28. a4 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Kxe8 30. Kd2 Nd6 31. Kd3 b5 32. a5 Kd7 33. Nb8+ Kc8
34. Nxa6 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gonzalez, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. g4 Nd7 11. h4 Nc5 12. h5 c6 13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. axb3 b5 15. dxc6
bxc4 16. Bxc4 Nxc6 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Qf3 Nd4 19. Qh3 Re8 20. Nd5 Nc2+ 21. Kd2
Nxe3 22. fxe3 Ba6 23. Raf1 Bxc4 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. bxc4 Ra7 26. Qxg6 Re6 27. Qxe6
1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Correa Fo, Sidney"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e5 9. Qd3 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. Qxd5 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Be7 14.
Rd3 g5 15. h3 Qg6 16. Rb3 Rd7 17. Rd1 g4 18. hxg4 Qxg4 19. g3 Rhd8 20. Kb1 f5
21. exf5 e4 22. Nh2 Qh5 23. Nf1 Qe2 24. Ne3 Qxf2 25. Qxe4 Qxg3 26. Nd5 Qe5 27.
Qc4+ Kb8 28. Re3 Qg7 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. f6 Rc7 31. fxg7 Rxc4 32. Nf6 Rcc8 33.
Kc1 Kc7 34. Re1 Rg8 35. Re7+ Kc6 36. Kd2 d5 37. Ke3 a5 38. Kf4 b5 39. Kf5 h5
40. Kg6 Kd6 41. Nxg8 Rxg8 42. Re3 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Trujillo Delgado, Dafnae Lorena"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. g4 Ne5 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bd3 Nc4 13. Bxc4 bxc4 14. g5 Nd7 15.
h4 Rb8 16. h5 Qb7 17. b3 cxb3 18. axb3 Ne5 19. Qe2 Qc7 20. Na4 Qa5 21. Nb2 Bd7
22. f4 Nc6 23. Nc4 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Qb5 25. h6 e5 26. Bb2 gxh6 27. Rxh6 Rfd8 28.
fxe5 1-0

[Event "Tenerife sim"]
[Site "Tenerife"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rodriguez, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Nge2 Be6 9. a3 h6 10. Bh4 Na5 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. b4 Nc4 14. Bxc4
dxc4 15. Nf4 c6 16. Qf3 Nf6 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Rfe1 Rac8 19. Rad1 Nd5 20. Nfxd5
cxd5 21. e4 Qd6 22. exd5 Bd7 23. Re5 Re8 24. Ne4 Qg6 25. Nc5 Rxe5 26. dxe5 Bf5
27. d6 b6 28. g4 Be6 29. Nxe6 Qxe6 30. Qb7 Kh7 31. d7 Rd8 32. Qc7 Qe7 33. Rd5
c3 34. Qxc3 h5 35. Qd4 Qg5 36. Kg2 hxg4 37. hxg4 Qc1 38. Qe4+ Kg8 39. e6 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Ba7 (8... Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O $10) 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Bd3 (10. Be2 Qe7 11. O-O Rd8 12.
Qc2 d4 13. exd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Bf3 $14 {Gheorghiu,F-Parma,B/Ljubljana/
1969/}) 10... Qe7 (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 Qe7 (11... b5 12. Bb3 $10 (12. Bd3)
12... Bb7 13. O-O Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Rfd8 15. Rxd8+ Rxd8 16. Rd1 Rxd1+ 17. Nxd1 {
1/2-1/2 Razuvaev,Y-Tukmakov,V/URS-FL Ashkhabad 1978}) 12. O-O b5 13. Bd3 Bb7
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Zaltsman,V-Sosonko,G/Lone Pine op 1979})
11. O-O Rd8 12. Qe2 Bd7 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. cxd5 ({Another plan for the white
leads to the "Merano" type position(by changing colour)after} 14. c5 $5 {
/\15.e4d416.e5} e5 15. e4 d4 16. Nd5 Qe6 17. Bc4 $16) 14... exd5 15. h3 h6 16.
Rfd1 Be6 17. b5 (17. Na4 d4 $1 18. exd4 Bb3 19. Qxe7 Nxe7 20. Re1 Rxc1 21. Bxc1
Nc6 22. Nc5 Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 $14 {\=}) 17... axb5 18. Nxb5 Bb8 19. Bb1 Ne4
$11 20. Ba2 Ng5 21. Nfd4 (21. Nbd4 $5 Qd6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 (22... Nxf3+ 23. Qxf3
fxe6 (23... Qh2+ $2 24. Kf1 fxe6 25. Qg4 $18) 24. g3 $14) 23. g3 Ne4 (23...
Nxh3+ 24. Kg2 Ng5 25. Nxg5 hxg5 26. e4 $36) 24. Bb1) 21... Nxd4 22. Bxd4 (22.
Nxd4 Qd6 23. f4 $11) 22... Ne4 23. a4 (23. Qh5 Rc6 24. Bb2 Rdc8 $132) (23. Qb2
Qg5 $40) 23... Rc6 $1 24. Ba7 $2 Rdc8 $1 25. Qb2 (25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Bxb8 Rxb8
27. Nd4 (27. f3 Ng3 (27... cxb5 28. fxe4 dxe4 29. Bxe6 Qxe6 30. axb5 Qb3 $17)
28. Qf2 cxb5 29. Qxg3 Qa7 30. Qf4 bxa4 31. Rd4 Ra8 $17) 27... Qa3 28. Bb1 Nc3
29. Qc2 g6 $1 $17) (25. Qe1 Nxf2 $1 26. Rxc6 (26. Kxf2 Qh4+ 27. Kf3 Qe4+ 28.
Kf2 Qxa4 $1 $19) 26... bxc6 27. Bxb8 (27. Qxf2 Bxa7 $19) 27... Nxd1 28. Na7
Rxb8 29. Nxc6 Qd6 30. Nxb8 Nb2 $19) 25... Qh4 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Rc1 Nxf2 $1 28.
Qxf2 Bh2+ 29. Kf1 Qxa4 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 b5 8.
Nxc6 Qxc6 9. O-O (9. a3 Bb7 10. O-O Ne7 11. Qg4 Ng6 12. f4 Bc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5+
14. Kh1 O-O 15. Rae1 f6 $11 {0-1 Minic,D-Taimanov,M/Palma de Mallorca izt 1970
(33)}) 9... Bb7 10. Qd2 (10. Kh1 Nf6 11. f3 Bc5 12. Qe1 Bxe3 13. Qxe3 Qc7 14.
a4 b4 15. Na2 a5 16. c3 bxc3 17. Nxc3 O-O 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Rfe1 Rc8 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Lutz,C-Ribli,Z/BL 1996 (21)}) (10. Re1 Nf6 11. Bd4 Be7 12. a4 b4 13.
Nb1 d6 14. f3 O-O 15. Nd2 Nd7 16. a5 Rfd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Damaso,R-Horvath,G/
EU-Cup Thessaloniki 1996 (41)}) 10... Nf6 11. f3 Qc7 {N/} (11... Bc5 12. Kh1
Bxe3 13. Qxe3 b4 14. Ne2 Rg8 15. Rfc1 $1 $14 {Short,N-Rogers,I Manila ol 1992})
12. a4 {Topalov made good preparartion to the game and made first 15 moves in
less then 5 minutes.} b4 13. Ne2 (13. Na2 d5 14. Nxb4 dxe4 15. Be2 Rd8) 13...
Bd6 (13... d5 $5 14. e5 $140 Qxe5 15. Bf4 Qh5 $1 (15... Bc5+ $2 16. Kh1 Qh5 17.
Ng3 Qh4 18. Bg5 Qd4 19. c3 bxc3 20. bxc3 Qe5 21. Bf4 $18) 16. Ng3 Qh4) 14. h3
O-O 15. a5 $5 Bc5 (15... Be7 16. Bd4 d5 $140 17. Bxf6) 16. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Kh1
Bc6 {[%cal Yc6b5,Yb5d3]} (17... d5 $5 18. e5 Ne4 $5 (18... Nd7 19. f4 $14) 19.
Qe1 $1 (19. Qc1 Nf2+ 20. Kh2 Rac8)) 18. c3 bxc3 (18... Rfb8 19. Rfc1) 19. Qxc3
(19. bxc3 d5 (19... e5 $5) 20. e5 Nd7 21. f4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Rfb1 Qc4) (
19. Nxc3 Rfb8) 19... Qxc3 20. Nxc3 (20. bxc3 d5 21. e5 Nd7 22. f4 Nc5 23. Nd4 (
23. Bc2 Bb5) 23... Rfc8 24. Be2 Ne4 $15) 20... Rfb8 $11 {It is clear now, that
black's position not worse.} 21. Rf2 Kf8 (21... Rb4 $5) 22. Na4 Bb5 23. Bc2 (
23. Rd2 Bxd3 24. Rxd3 Rb5 25. Nb6 Rd8 26. b4 Ke7 (26... Rxb4 27. e5) 27. Rc1
Rxb4) 23... d5 ({Interesting was also} 23... Bxa4 24. Bxa4 Ra7 25. Rc1 d5 26.
e5 Nd7 27. f4 Ke7 28. Rc6 Rb4 29. b3 f6 $13) 24. Nb6 dxe4 $1 {Simple but nice
tactical resource.} ({But after} 24... Ra7 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 exd5 {
Black position is also OK.}) 25. fxe4 (25. Nxa8 e3 26. Nc7 (26. Rff1 Bxf1 27.
Rxf1 Rxa8 28. Bd3 Rb8) 26... exf2 27. Nxb5 Rxb5 28. Bd3 Re5 (28... Rxb2 29.
Bxa6 Nd5 30. Bd3 Nb4 31. Bf1 (31. a6 Nxd3 32. a7 f1=Q+ 33. Rxf1 Ra2) 31... Nc2
32. Rc1 Ne3) 29. Rf1 Rxa5 $17) 25... Ra7 26. e5 Nd7 (26... Nd5 $5 27. Nxd5 exd5
28. Rd1 (28. Bxh7 Re7 29. Re1 Rbe8 30. Bg6 Kg8) 28... Bc4) 27. Nxd7+ Rxd7 28.
Bxh7 $1 Rbd8 (28... Rd5 29. Bg6 Be8 30. Raf1 f5 31. Bxe8 Kxe8 $13) 29. Bg6 Ke8
({After} 29... Kg8 $1 {for white it will be not so easy to make draw.For
instance:} 30. Be4 Rd2 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. Rc1 g6 33. Rc2 Rd1+ 34. Kh2 Re1 $15)
30. Bh5 g6 31. Bf3 Rd2 32. Kg1 ({Maybe slightly better was} 32. Rxd2 {but after
} Rxd2 33. Rb1 Rd3 (33... Be2 $6 34. Bxe2 Rxe2 35. b4 Rxe5 36. b5 $1 Kd7 37.
bxa6 Rxa5 38. Rb7+ Kd6 39. Rxf7 Rxa6 40. Rg7 $16) 34. Rc1 (34. Be2 Rb3 35.
Bxb5+ Rxb5 36. b4 Kd7 37. Rd1+ Ke7 38. Rd6 Rxb4 39. Rxa6 Rb5 $11) 34... Rd2 35.
Bc6+ Bxc6 36. Rxc6 Rxb2 37. Rxa6 Re2 38. Ra8+ Ke7 39. Ra7+ Kf8 40. a6 Rxe5 41.
Rd7 Ra5 42. a7 Kg7 {ending is drawish}) 32... Rxf2 33. Kxf2 Rd2+ 34. Ke3 Rxb2
35. Kf4 {I,ll prefer to have my K on g8} Rc2 36. Rd1 Ke7 37. Rd4 Ra2 38. h4 {
Topalov lost pawn, but active position of all his pieces+passed pawn h allow
to him with optimism to look in future.} Rxa5 39. g4 Ra3 {Judit could play now
39... Ra4, but she understood that after rooks eschanged her winning chances
will not big enough.} 40. Be4 Be2 41. Rd2 Bc4 42. Bc6 (42. h5 $6 gxh5 43. gxh5
f6 (43... f5 44. Bf3 Rd3) 44. h6 (44. exf6+ $6 Kxf6 45. h6 $4 e5+ 46. Kg4 Be6+
47. Kh4 Rh3#) 44... Rh3 45. h7 f5 46. Bc6 Kf7) 42... Rd3 43. Rb2 (43. Rxd3 $5
Bxd3 44. g5 $1 (44. h5 gxh5 45. gxh5 Bc2 46. Kg5 a5 47. h6 Kf8)) 43... Rb3 44.
Rxb3 Bxb3 45. g5 $1 {It was a good time to finish game, but Judit has not very
good score against Veselin, and she decided to continue to torture her
opponent.} (45. h5 $6 gxh5 46. gxh5 a5 47. Kg5 a4 48. h6 Kf8 49. Kf6 Kg8 $19)
45... Bd5 46. Ba4 Bb7 47. Ke3 Bc8 48. Kd4 Bd7 49. Bd1 a5 50. Kc5 Kd8 51. h5
gxh5 52. Bxh5 Be8 53. Bd1 Kc7 54. Bh5 Kb7 55. Bf3+ Kc8 56. Bd1 Kd8 57. Be2 Ke7
58. Bd1 Kf8 59. Bc2 Kg8 60. Bd1 Kg7 61. Bc2 Kf8 62. Bd1 a4 63. Kb4 Ke7 64. Bc2
(64. Bxa4 $4 Bxa4 65. Kxa4 Kf8 $1 $19) 64... Kd8 65. Bd1 Kc7 66. Bh5 (66. Bf3)
(66. Bg4 $5 a3 $140 67. Kxa3 Kc6 68. g6 $1 fxg6 69. Bxe6 Kc5 70. Kb2 Kd4 71.
Kc2 Kxe5 72. Bc8 $11) 66... a3 $1 {Last chance!} 67. Kxa3 Kc6 68. Kb4 Kd5 69.
Bg4 Kxe5 70. Kc3 $1 ({Veselin avoids last trap} 70. Kc5 $2 Kf4 71. g6 fxg6 72.
Bxe6 Ke5 73. Bc8 Bf7 {is desperate for aWhite.}) 70... Bc6 71. Bh5 $1 Be8 72.
Bg4 Kf4 73. g6 fxg6 (73... f5 74. Bh5 $1 Bxg6 75. Bxg6 Ke3 76. Kc2 f4 77. Kd1
$11) 74. Bxe6 Ke3 75. Bc8 Bc6 76. Be6 Be4 77. Bf7 g5 78. Be6 Kf4 79. Kd2 Bf5
80. Bf7 g4 81. Ke2 (81. Bh5 $2 g3 82. Ke2 Bd3+ $1 $19) (81. Ke2 Kg3 82. Bh5 $11
) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C69"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 Bg4 7. dxe5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 fxe5 9. Nbd2 O-O-O 10. Re1 Bd6 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bf7 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ng3
Re8 15. Bd2 g6 16. Kg2 Nf6 17. g5 hxg5 18. Nxg5 Bg8 19. Re3 Be7 20. Rf3 b6 21.
Rh1 Rh4 22. Rd3 Bd6 23. Rf3 Be7 24. Rd3 Rf8 25. Nf3 Rxe4 26. Nxe4 Nxe4 27. Bh6
Rf5 28. Re3 Nd6 29. Nxe5 Bd5+ 30. f3 Bf6 31. Rhe1 Bxe5 32. Rxe5 Bxf3+ 33. Kh2
Rxe5 34. Rxe5 Be4 35. c3 Bb1 36. a3 Nf7 37. Re1 Bf5 38. Bf4 Nd8 39. Re7 Ne6 40.
Be5 c5 41. c4 a5 42. a4 Kd8 43. Bf6 Kc8 44. Kg3 Kb7 45. h4 Kc8 46. Kf2 Kb7 47.
Ke3 Kb8 48. Be5 Kc8 49. Rf7 Bc2 50. Rf6 Kd7 51. Kd2 Be4 52. Rxe6 Kxe6 53. Bxc7
Kd7 54. Bxb6 Kc6 55. Bxa5 Bf5 56. Kc3 Bh3 57. Bd8 Kd6 58. Bg5 Bd7 59. a5 Bc8
60. Be3 Kc6 61. Bxc5 Kxc5 62. b4+ Kd6 63. Kd4 Bh3 64. b5 Bf1 65. a6 Kc7 66. Kc5
Be2 67. Kb4 Bf1 68. c5 Be2 69. Ka5 Bf3 70. c6 Kb8 71. Kb6 Be2 72. a7+ Ka8 73.
Ka6 Bf3 74. c7 Bb7+ 75. Ka5 Bc8 76. b6 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 192]} 1. d4 {Petursson Psakhis} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 {
Psakhis: Rare move. It doesn't promise advantage to White} Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7.
a4 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 (10. Nxe5 $6 {Psakhis} Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4
$36) 10... Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5 (11... g5 $5 {Psakhis} 12. Nxg5 Ndxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. f3 (14. h3 $5 Bc5) 14... Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Ne3 16. Bxe5 Nxg2 17. Bf6 Rd3 18.
Kxg2 Rd2+ 19. Kh1 h6 $13 {Ristic,N-Maksimovic,B/YUG/1989/0:1/48/}) 12. e6 (12.
Qe2 {Psakhis} Ndxe5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Qxc4 Be6 $15) 12... fxe6 {
Psakhis: Difficult choice for White. Black got very comfortable positions if
White'll choose other moves. For instance} 13. Qe2 (13. Bh3 $6 {Psakhis} Nde5
14. Nd4 Rd8 15. Bxg4 $2 Nxg4 16. Nxc6 Qh5 $1 17. Nxe7+ Kf7 $19) (13. Bd6 {
Psakhis} Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Nde5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rab1 Rd8 17. Qe7 Ng6 18. Qa3 e5
$15 {Sosonko,G-Van der Wiel,J/Wijk aan Zee/1987/0,5/30/}) (13. e5 {Psakhis} Nb6
14. Qe2 Nd5 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. Rab1 Bd7 17. Qxc4 Rxf3 18. Qxg4 Rf5 19. a5 Qb3 {
1/2-1/2 Wirthensohn,H-Schlosser,P/Graz zt 1993}) 13... Nge5 14. Nd4 (14. Nxe5 {
Psakhis} Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16. Qxc4 Qc5 $1 $15) 14... Nd3 $1 $146 {Psakhis: A
natural and strong move. Kramnik can be very happy with the result of his
opening. After 14 moves he is a pawn up and got a knight on d3. I am afraid,
White will not play this variation in the future.} (14... Nb6 15. Bd2 Bb4 16.
Nc2 c5 17. Qh5 $1 {Psakhis} Nc6 18. Ne3 $6 Bd7 19. e5 Be8 $13 {0-1 Gelfand,
B-Timman,J/Tilburg 50/525 1990 (47)}) (14... Nf6 $6 {Psakhis} 15. Bh3 $16) 15.
Nxe6 (15. Bd2 {Psakhis} Bb4 16. Nxe6 Re8 17. Nd4 Nxb2 $17) 15... Rf6 (15...
Nxf4 $6 16. gxf4 Rf6 17. f5) 16. Bc7 (16. Nc7 $2 Nxf4 (16... Rxf4 {Psakhis} 17.
Nxa8 Rf8 18. f4 N7c5 19. e5 Qd8 $17 {[%csl Ra8]}) 17. Qxc4+ Kh8 (17... Rf7 18.
Nxa8 Nxg2 19. Kxg2 Qh5 20. f4 $14) 18. Nxa8 Ne5 19. Qb3 Nxg2 20. Kxg2 Nf3 $40 {
/\ Bh3+}) (16. Ng5 N7e5 $13 (16... Rxf4 17. gxf4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 Qxg5 {/\ N7e5}
19. f4 $1 Nxf4 20. Rxf4 (20. Qxc4+ $6 Kh8 21. Rxf4 Qxf4 22. Rf1 Qe3+) 20...
Qxf4 21. Rf1 Qd6 22. Qxc4+ Kh8 23. Qf7 $36) (16... h6 $13)) (16. Nd4 $13) 16...
Qb4 17. Nd4 $2 (17. Ng5 Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. f4 $44) (17. Nf4 $5) ({Psakhis:
Deserve attention} 17. Nf4 {Psakhis} Qxb2 (17... Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rad1
N7e5 $13) 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. e5 Rh6 20. Rab1 Nd3 21. Nxd3 cxd3 $15) 17... Bc5 $1
(17... Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. f4 Bc5 20. Nce2 $44) 18. Nc2 {Psakhis: Topalov
decided to start hunt un blacks queen, and he almost succeded!} (18. Nf3 $5 {
Psakhis} Qxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxb2 20. e5 Re6 21. Ne4 Bb6) 18... Qxb2 19. Nd1 Qb3 20.
Nde3 N7e5 21. h3 {/\ Kh2, f2-f4} ({Psakhis: Unfortunately, doesn't work} 21.
Rfb1 {Psakhis because of} Rxf2 $1 22. Qxf2 (22. Qh5 Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Rf5+) 22...
Nxf2 23. Rxb3 cxb3 24. Kxf2 (24. Bxe5 Nh3+ (24... Ng4 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4
Nxe3 $19) 25. Kf1 bxc2 26. Nxc2 Bg4 $19) 24... Ng4+ 25. Ke2 bxc2 26. Nxc2 Nxh2
$19) 21... Be6 (21... Rf7 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. Kh2 $44) 22. Kh2 (22. Rab1 {Psakhis
} Rxf2 $1 23. Qxf2 Nxf2 24. Rxb3 cxb3 25. Kxf2 (25. Bxe5 Nd3 $19) 25... Rf8+
26. Ke2 Rxf1 27. Nxf1 (27. Bxf1 b2 $1 $19) 27... bxc2 28. Kd2 Nd3 $19) (22.
Rfb1 {Psakhis} Rxf2 23. Qxf2 Nxf2 24. Rxb3 cxb3 25. Kxf2 Nc4 26. Ke2 bxc2 $19)
22... Rh6 $5 23. Rab1 $2 (23. f4 Ng4+ 24. Nxg4 Bxg4 25. Qxg4 Qxc2 26. h4 $15) (
23. Rfb1 {Psakhis} Qc3 $1 (23... Bg4 $2 24. f3 Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 Bxf3 (25... Bxh3
26. Bh5 $1) 26. Qxf3 Rf6 27. Qg2 (27. Qxf6 gxf6 28. Rxb3 cxb3 $17) (27. Bf4 Qc3
$44) 27... Rf2 28. Rxb3 cxb3 29. Ne1 $1 Bxe3 30. Nxd3 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 $16) 24.
f4 $5 (24. Rxb7 Bxe3 $1 25. Bxe5 (25. fxe3 Bg4 $1 26. Bxe5 Nxe5 27. Qf2 Rf8 $19
) 25... Nxe5 26. Ra3 (26. fxe3 Bg4 $19) 26... Qd3 $3 27. Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qd1 dxc2
29. Qxc2 Ng4+ 30. Kg1 Bxf2+ 31. Kh1 Rd8 $19) 24... Bxe3 $1 25. Nxe3 (25. Bxe5
Nxe5 26. fxe5 Bb6 27. a5 Bc7 $19) 25... Nxf4 $1 26. gxf4 Qxe3 27. Qxe3 Ng4+ 28.
Kg1 Nxe3 29. f5 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 $17) 23... Bg4 $1 $19 24. Nxg4 (24. Rxb3 $2 Bxe2)
(24. Qd2 $2 Rxh3+ 25. Kg1 (25. Bxh3 Nf3+ (25... Nf3+ {Psakhis} 26. Kh1 (26. Kg2
{Petursson} Nxd2 27. Rxb3 Bxh3+ 28. Kxh3 cxb3 $19) 26... Nxd2 27. Rxb3 cxb3 $19
)) 25... Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 Bxf3 27. Ng2 Bxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rh1+ 29. Kxh1 Nxf2+) (24. f3
Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 (25. Kh1 Bxh3 26. Bxh3 Rxh3+ 27. Kg2 Rh2+ 28. Kxf3 Rf8+ $19) (
25. Rxf3 Qxb1) 25... Bxh3 26. Ng2 (26. Bh5 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 g6 $19) (26. Qd1 Bxf1+
27. Kg1 Bxe3+ 28. Nxe3 Qxd1 29. Rxd1 Bh3 $19) 26... Qc3 $1 $19 {/\} (26... Bg4+
27. Nh4 Bxf3 28. Qd2 $1 (28. Qd2 $1 Qa2 29. Ra1 Qb2 30. Rxf3 Be7 $17)) 27. Rxb7
(27. Nce3 {Psakhis} Qd4 28. Bh5 g6 29. g4 (29. Nc2 Qg7 30. Rxb7 Bc8 $19) 29...
Bxg2 30. Nxg2 Bd6+ 31. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 32. Kh1 gxh5 $19) 27... Bc8+ $19) 24... Nxg4+
25. Qxg4 (25. Kg1 {Psakhis} Ndxf2 $1 (25... Ndxf2 $1 {Petursson} 26. Rxb3 Nxh3+
27. Kh1 Nf4+ 28. Bh3 Rxh3+ 29. Qh2 Rxh2#)) 25... Qxc2 {Suddenly Black is
winning!} 26. Qg5 (26. Rxb7 Nxf2 27. Z0 (27. Qd7 {Psakhis} Rxh3+ $1 28. Qxh3 (
28. Bxh3 Ng4+) (28. Kg1 Rh1+ $1 29. Bxh1 Nh3#) 28... Nxh3 29. Be5 Nf2 30. Rxg7+
Kf8 31. Rxh7 Re8 $19) 27... Rxh3+ 28. Bxh3 Nxg4+) (26. Qd1 {Petursson White's
best try is to go for a very gloomy ending:} Qxd1 27. Rfxd1 b6 $17) 26... Nxf2
27. Rxf2 (27. Qxc5 Rxh3+ $1 28. Kg1 (28. Bxh3 Ng4+) 28... Rh1+ 29. Bxh1 Nh3#) (
27. Rxb7 {Petursson} Rxh3+ 28. Bxh3 Ng4+ 29. Kh1 Qh2#) 27... Qxf2 28. Rf1 Qd4
29. Be5 Qd7 30. Qc1 (30. Bxg7 {Psakhis} Bg1+ 31. Rxg1 Rg6 32. Qc1 Qxg7 33.
Qxc4+ Kh8 $19) 30... Qe6 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32. Qg5+ Rg6 33. Qxc5 Qd6 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 b5 8.
Bb3 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. f4 Nc6 11. Qc3 Bb7 12. e5 Ne4 13. Qe3 Na5 14. Nd2 Nxb3
15. cxb3 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 O-O 17. Bc3 Qh4 18. Rae1 Rfe8 19. Qf2 Qxf2+ 20. Rxf2
dxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. g4
Nxg4 9. Nxd5 O-O 10. Bg2 Bh4 11. Bg3 Be6 12. Kf1 a5 13. Nh3 a4 14. Qc4 Na5 15.
Qc5 b6 16. Bxh4 bxc5 17. Bxd8 Raxd8 18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. d5 Bd7 20. Rc1 c4 21. Ng5
h6 22. Nf3 Rb8 23. h3 Nf6 24. Nd4 Rxb2 25. Bf3 Rxa2 26. Kg2 Re8 27. Nec6 Bxc6
28. Nxc6 Nxc6 29. dxc6 Rxe3 30. Rxc4 Rb3 31. Rd4 Rbb2 32. Rf1 Rd2 33. Rb4 Kh7
34. Rb7 Ne8 35. Kg3 g6 36. Re1 Nd6 37. Rxc7 Kg7 38. Rd7 Nf5+ 39. Kf4 Rxf2 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Nh5 14. g3 {[%csl Rh3]
N/ New move, but I am not sure, that it will get popularity in future. Black
has nothing to worry and after} (14. Qd2 Be5 15. g3 Ng7 (15... Bh3 16. Rfe1 Qd7
17. f4 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Bg4 19. Bf1 Bh3 20. Be2 Bg4 21. Bb5 Qf5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.
Bxc6 bxc6 24. Re1 Re6 25. Re5 {1/2-1/2 Nikolaidis,I-Kotronias,V/Ankara zt 1995}
) 16. Rfd1 (16. Rfe1 Nf5 $1 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nxd5 Nd4 $1 19. Bxd4 Qxd5 20.
Rad1 Rad8 21. Be3 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Rxd2 23. Bxd2 Bxb2 $15) 16... Be6 $5 (16... Nf5
17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nxd5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd5 20. Bf2 Qc6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,
G-Nalbandian,T/Erevan op 1996 (47)}) 17. f4 Bxd4 $1 18. Bxd4 Nf5 19. Bf2 d4 20.
Nb5 Qe7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee 1996 (42)}) 14... Bh3
15. Re1 Qg5 ({Deserves attention also} 15... Bxd4 $5 16. Bxd4 Qg5 17. Bf2 Nf4
$13) 16. Ndb5 {[%cal Rb5d6]} (16. Nxc6 $5 bxc6 17. Qa4) 16... Rad8 (16... Nf4
17. Nd6 (17. Nc7 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxe2+ 19. Rxe2 Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Rc8 $15) 17... Re7
$11) 17. Nd6 Bd4 $1 18. Qc1 $5 ({Dangerous for white} 18. f4 $6 Bxf2+ 19. Kxf2
Nxf4 {for example} 20. Qd2 (20. Nxe8 Ng2 (20... Qf5 21. gxf4 Qxf4+ 22. Kg1 Qg5+
23. Bg4 $1 Bxg4 24. Qc1 $1 Qh4 25. Qf4 $18) 21. Bf1 (21. Bb5 Nxe1 22. Qxe1 (22.
Nd6 d4 23. Qxe1 dxc3 24. Qxc3 Rxd6 25. cxd6 Qxb5 $19) 22... Nd4 (22... Qf5+ 23.
Kg1 Qf3 24. Qf2) 23. Bd3 Ne6 24. Bb5 a6 $1 25. Ba4 Nxc5 $17) (21. Bd3 Nxe1 22.
Qxe1 Ne5 $19) 21... Nxe1 22. Qxe1 (22. Bxh3 Rxe8) 22... Ne5 $1 23. Qc1 (23.
Bxh3 Nd3+ 24. Kg1 Nxe1 25. Rxe1 Qd2 $19) 23... Qf5+ 24. Qf4 Qc2+ 25. Kg1 Rxe8
26. Bxh3 Qxb2 $17) 20... Re6 $1 $40 {[%cal Re6f6]}) (18. Nxe8 Nxg3 19. Nf6+
Qxf6 (19... Kh8 20. Ng4 $1) 20. Bxd4 (20. hxg3 Qg5 21. g4 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Qh4+
23. Ke3 d4+ $19) 20... Qg5 21. Kf2 Nf5 22. Bf1 Qh4+ 23. Kg1 Ncxd4 $17) 18...
Be3 $1 (18... Qe5 19. Nxe8 Rxe8 (19... Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Qd4+ 21. Qe3 Qxe3+ 22.
Kxe3 d4+ 23. Kf2 dxc3 24. Nd6 $16) 20. Qd2 $16) 19. Bxe3 Rxe3 20. Kf2 d4 21.
Nd1 $6 (21. Nce4 Qe7 22. Nc4 Rxe4 23. fxe4 d3 24. Bxh5 Qxc5+ $36 {Black has
great compensation for exchange, but nevertheless it was stronger than move in
the game.}) 21... Rxe2+ $1 22. Rxe2 (22. Kxe2 d3+ (22... Qd5 $5 23. Nf2 Ne5 24.
Nfe4 f5) 23. Kxd3 Qd5+ 24. Ke3 Ne5 {is too dangerous for White.}) 22... Qd5 {
[%csl Rf2][%cal Rc6b4,Rc6e5]} 23. Ne4 Ne5 24. Qg5 (24. Qh6 Bf5 $40 (24... Re8
25. g4 Bxg4 $140 26. Qxh5 $1)) 24... Re8 25. Rd2 $2 (25. Qh4 $5 Bf5) 25... Qc4
$6 {[%cal Rc4f1] It is very strange, that Topalov didn't found simple} (25...
Ng4+ $1 26. fxg4 (26. Kg1 Qxg5) (26. Qxg4 Bxg4 27. h3 Bxf3) 26... Qxe4 $19) 26.
Ndc3 (26. Re2 Qd3 $19) 26... h6 27. Qh4 dxc3 28. Rd8 $6 (28. bxc3 $5 {was the
best chance in bad position.}) 28... cxb2 $1 29. Rxe8+ Kg7 30. Rd1 Qc2+ 31. Rd2
b1=Q 32. Qxh3 Qcc1 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8.
Bd3 Re8 9. Qc2 c6 10. h3 Nf8 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O-O a5 14. Kb1 Be6
15. g4 Rac8 16. Ng5 b5 17. f4 Bd7 18. Qe2 a4 19. Rc1 a3 20. b3 Ng6 21. Qd2 h6
22. Nf3 Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. fxe5 Rxe5 26. Qh2 Re6 27. Qxd6 Rxd6
28. Nxe4 Rd5 29. Nc5 Re8 30. Rhe1 Bc8 31. Nd3 h5 32. Nf4 hxg4 33. Nxd5 Bf5+ 34.
Ka1 cxd5 35. hxg4 Bxg4 36. Rc5 Bf3 37. Rxb5 g5 38. Ra5 g4 39. Rxa3 f5 40. b4 g3
41. b5 g2 42. b6 Re7 43. Ra8+ Kf7 44. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 c5 5. d5 b5 6. cxb5 a6 7. bxa6 Nf6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg2 Bf5 10. O-O Nxa6 11. Ne1 Qd7 12. e4 Bh3 13. Rb1 Rfb8 14. b3 Bxg2 15.
Nxg2 Ng4 16. Bb2 Nc7 17. Qc2 Bd4 18. Kh1 Ne5 19. Qe2 Qc8 20. f4 Ng4 21. Qf3 Rb4
22. h3 $4 (22. Rbc1 $13) 22... Ne5 (22... Ne5 23. fxe5 Qxh3#) 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.15"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 a6 7. Qd2 (7. Nge2 Nbd7
(7... c5 8. d5 b5 9. cxb5 Qa5 10. Ng3 axb5 11. Bxb5 Ba6 12. Bxa6 Nxa6 13. O-O
Rfb8 14. Rb1 Rb7 {1/2-1/2 Dreev,A-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Reggio Emilia 1996}) 8. Qd2
c5 9. d5 b5 10. cxb5 Qa5 11. a4 Nb6 12. Nc1 axb5 13. Bxb5 Ba6 $44 {1-0
Lorscheid,G-Howell,J/BL 1996 (20)}) 7... c5 8. Nge2 (8. d5 Qa5 9. Nge2) 8...
Qa5 9. d5 b5 $1 {N/ Much stronger, than} (9... Nbd7 10. Ng3 Rb8 (10... b5 $5)
11. a4 Nb6 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Bd2 Nc8 14. Bd3 $16 {1-0 Benitah,Y-Russell,L/
Glenalmond 1996 (29)}) 10. Nc1 Nbd7 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 (12. Bxb5 Ba6 13.
Nb3 (13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. Bxe7 Rfb8 {with dangerous initiative.}) 13... Qb6 $44)
12... Nb6 13. Qxa5 Rxa5 14. Bd2 (14. Nc3 $5) 14... Ra8 15. Ne2 $6 (15. Bd3 Na4
16. Rb1 Bd7 17. Nc3 e6 {with good compensation for a pawn.}) 15... Nc4 $1 16.
Nec3 (16. Bc3 Bd7) (16. Bc1 $5 e6 $140 $6 17. Nec3 exd5 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Nxd6
$16) 16... Nxb2 17. a4 (17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Rc2 Na4 $17) 17... c4 $1 18. Ra2 (18.
Rb1 $5 Nxa4 (18... Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Be3 Nd7 21. Kd2) 19. Bxc4 Bd7 20. O-O
Rfc8 $15) 18... Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Bg5 (20. Be3 $5 Ba6 21. Kd2 Nd7 $13)
20... Ba6 21. Nc7 $6 {Maybe decisive mistake.Black,s position is perfect and
Dreev had to play very carefully.} (21. Kd2 Rfc8 22. Rb1 $1 (22. Ra3 Bxb5 23.
Nxb5 Rc2+ 24. Kxd3 Rxg2 $15)) 21... Nd7 $1 22. Ra3 (22. Bd2 $2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3
Rfc8 $1 24. Nxa8 (24. Ba5 Ra7 $19) 24... Rxc3 25. Kd2 Rc8 26. Rc1 Rxa8 27. Rc7
Nc5 $19) (22. Nd1 Bc4 23. Rd2 Rxa4 24. Bxe7 Ra1 $1 25. Bxd6 (25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26.
O-O Ra7 $19) 25... Bc3 $1 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. d6 Bb3 $19) 22... Rfc8 23. N3b5 (
23. Nxa8 Bxc3+ 24. Rxc3 Rxc3 {[%csl Ra8][%cal Rc3c8]} 25. a5 Ra3 26. O-O Rxa5
27. Nc7 (27. Bxe7 Rc5 $1 28. Bxd6 d2 $1 29. Bf4 Bxf1 30. Bxd2 Bxg2 $1 $19)
27... f6 28. Be3 Ne5 $17) 23... Bxb5 24. Nxb5 Rc5 $1 25. Rb3 (25. Rxd3 Rxa4 26.
Ra3 (26. Na3 Bc3+ $19) 26... Rac4 (26... Rxb5 27. Rxa4 Rb1+ 28. Kf2 Rxh1 29.
Ra8+ Bf8 30. Bxe7 Kg7 31. Bxf8+ Nxf8 32. h3) 27. Ra8+ Bf8 28. O-O Rxb5 29. Bxe7
Kg7 $19) 25... Rxa4 26. O-O (26. Kf2 Rc2+ 27. Kg3 Nc5 28. Ra3 Be5+ 29. Kh3 f6
$19) 26... Ra2 27. Kh1 (27. Bxe7 Rcc2 28. Bxd6 Rxg2+ 29. Kh1 Ne5 30. Bxe5 Bxe5
31. Rfb1 Bf4 $19) 27... d2 $19 28. Na3 Bd4 29. Rd3 (29. Nb1 $5 Rc1 30. Rxc1 (
30. Nxd2 Rxf1+ 31. Nxf1 Ra1 $19) 30... dxc1=Q+ 31. Bxc1 Rf2 32. Nd2 Re2 $1 $19)
29... Rc1 (29... Rc1 30. Rxc1 dxc1=Q+ 31. Bxc1 Ra1 32. Rd1 Bb2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
Qxc3 Nc6 9. a3 Bd7 10. Be2 Rc8 11. O-O Na5 12. Qe3 Bc5 13. Qf4 Nb3 14. Qg3 Nxc1
15. Raxc1 O-O 16. Ne5 f6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Qb3 Kh8 19. Bc4 e5 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21.
Be6 Rcd8 22. Bd5 b6 23. Qh3 Bd4 24. Rd2 f5 25. Rdc2 Qg5 26. Qg3 Qh6 27. Rf1 g6
28. Kh1 Rc8 29. Qd3 Rcd8 30. b4 Qh4 31. f3 fxe4 32. Bxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nh6 7. O-O Nf5 8. Na3 (
8. Bd3 cxd4 9. Bxf5 exf5 10. Nxd4 $5 Be7 11. Nf3 Be6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Nbd2 Qc7
14. Re1 b5 $11 {0-1 Qin Kanying-Ulibin,M/Beijing op 1996 (52)}) (8. dxc5 $5
Bxc5 9. Bd3 Nh4 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Qe2 Nxf3+ 12. Nxf3 g5 13. b4 Be7 14. a3 Qc7 15.
Re1 O-O-O 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Rac1 $16 {1-0 Rozentalis,E-Zakharevich,I/St.
Petersburg Chigorin 1996 (26)}) 8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Bxa3 10. bxa3 Qb6 11. Be3
Nxe3 {N/ Black can and wait with this exchange, but Topalov don't want to be
in hurry with castle.} (11... O-O 12. Bd3 Rac8 13. g4 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qd8 $13 {
1-0 Rosentalis,E-Zueger,B/Chiasso 1991 (33)}) 12. fxe3 Qd8 $5 (12... O-O 13.
Rb1 Qc7 14. Bd3) 13. Bd3 Rc8 14. Rc1 (14. Rb1 Na5) ({Deserves attention} 14.
Qb1 $5 {[%cal Rd3h7,Rb1b7]} {but after} Rc7 (14... h6 15. e4 $5 (15. Qxb7 Rb8
16. Qa6 Rb6 17. Qa4 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 $1 Bxa4 19. Nxf7 Qe7 20. Nxh8 Qxa3 21. Bg6+
Kd7 $17)) 15. Bxh7 (15. e4 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Qe7 $13) 15... Qe7 16. Bd3 Qxa3 {
Black can get reasonable position.}) 14... Qe7 15. Rc5 O-O (15... b6 16. Rc3
O-O 17. Qc2) 16. Qb1 b6 17. Rc2 (17. Bxh7+ $6 Kh8 18. Rcc1 g6 (18... Qxa3 $5)
19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6 Qh7 $15) 17... h6 18. Ba6 Rcd8 (18... Qxa3 $6 19. Bxc8
Qxe3+ 20. Kh1 Rxc8 21. Rfc1 $36 {[%cal Rc2c8]}) 19. Bb5 Na5 20. Rc7 a6 $1 21.
Rxd7 $6 {I suppose, that at that moment Shirov lost chances for advantage.
Stronger was to play} (21. Bxa6 $5 Qxa3 22. Qxb6 Qxe3+ 23. Kh1 $36 {[%csl Ra5]}
) 21... Rxd7 22. Bxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxb6 Qb5 $1 24. Qxb5 (24. Rb1 Qd3 $1) 24... axb5
25. Rb1 Rc8 $44 26. Rxb5 Rc1+ 27. Kf2 Rc2+ 28. Kf1 {[%csl Ra2,Ra3,Re3] White
have to fight for a drawin spite of material advantage.} (28. Kg3 Nc4 29. Rc5
Rxa2 $15) 28... Nc4 29. Rb3 Rxa2 30. Rc3 g6 (30... Nxa3 $6 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Ra8
) 31. h4 Kg7 32. e4 $1 $11 dxe4 (32... Nxa3 33. exd5 exd5 34. Rc7 {[%cal Re5e6]
}) 33. Rxc4 exf3 34. gxf3 Rxa3 35. Kf2 Ra2+ 36. Kg3 Rd2 37. Ra4 g5 38. hxg5
hxg5 39. f4 Kg6 40. fxg5 Kxg5 41. Ra7 Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 (4... d6 5. Bb5 Nf6 6. Bxc6+ $1
bxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe1 $14 {Short-Azmajparashvili/Yerevan/ol./1996})
5. Bb5 Nge7 6. Ne5 (6. Qe2 $5 dxe4 7. Nxe4 a6 8. Bxc6+ Nxc6 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2
O-O 11. O-O $14) 6... Bd7 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. exd5 exd5 9. O-O O-O-O 10. a3 Nf5 11.
Be2 c4 12. Bf3 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 h5 $1 14. Bxd5 (14. Nxd5 $2 h4 15. Ne3 Ng3+ 16.
hxg3 hxg3+ 17. Kg1 Rh2 $19) 14... h4 15. h3 Ng3+ 16. Kh2 Nxf1+ 17. Qxf1 Rhe8
18. Bxc4 Qd4 19. d3 Qf2 20. Qxf2 Bxf2 {Materiel steht Weiß nicht schlechter,
hat aber große schwierigkeiten mit der Entwicklung.} 21. Bd2 (21. Ne4 $2 Rxe4
22. dxe4 Bg3+ 23. Kg1 Rd1+ 24. Bf1 Nd4 $19) 21... f5 22. Bb5 Rd6 23. Rf1 Bg3+
24. Kg1 a6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Kf1 Rce6 28. Rd1 Kb7 29. d4 Rd6 30. d5
Kb6 31. b4 Kb7 32. Bc1 Rd7 33. Ne2 Red8 34. Nc3 Rc8 35. Rd3 Re7 36. Be3 Rce8
37. Nd1 Re4 38. d6 Kc6 39. d7 Rd8 40. Nc3 Re6 41. Ne2 Rxd7 42. Rc3+ (42. Nd4+
$2 Rxd4 $19) 42... Kb7 43. Nxg3 hxg3 44. Ke2 Rc7 45. Rxc7+ Kxc7 {Hecht:
technisches Endspiel L vs T mit einer weißen Bauernschwäche mehr als bei
Schwarz. Zugzwangmotive.} 46. Kf3 Kd7 47. Bd4 Rg6 48. Ke3 Ke8 49. Kf3 Kf7 50.
c3 (50. Be5 $2 {Hecht} Rc6) (50. Bc5 {Hecht} Ke6 51. Ke3 Kd5 52. Kd3 Re6 {
[%cal Re6e1,Re1a1]} 53. Be3 Re4 54. Bd2 Rd4+ 55. Ke3 Kc4 56. Be1 Re4+ 57. Kd2
Rxf4 58. Bxg3 Rf1 $19) 50... Ke6 51. Ke3 Kd5 52. Kd3 Re6 53. Bxg7 Re1 54. Bd4
Ke6 (54... Ra1 $5 {Hecht} 55. Ke2 (55. c4+ bxc4+ {mit Schach!}) 55... Rxa3 56.
h4 Ke6 57. h5 Kf7 58. h6 Kg6 59. Bg7 Kh7 $22 {[%csl Rg2,Rh6][%cal Ga3g3]}) 55.
Kd2 Ra1 56. Ke2 Rxa3 57. Be5 (57. Kf3 {Hecht} a5 58. bxa5 b4 $19) 57... a5 58.
bxa5 Rxa5 59. h4 Ra3 60. h5 Kf7 61. Bd4 Kg8 62. h6 Kh7 63. Bg7 Kg6 64. Kd2 Ra2+
65. Ke3 Rf2 (65... Rxg2 {Hecht} 66. Kf3 Rg1 67. Bd4 Rd1 68. Bg7 Rd3+ 69. Kg2
Kh7 70. Kh3 Rf3 $19) (65... Rf2 {Hecht} 66. Bf8 Rxg2 67. Kf3 Rc2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3
Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 b5 (15... Nb4+ {Ftacnik} 16. Kb3 b5 17. Kxb4 bxc4 18.
Qxc4 Rb8+ 19. Ka3 Qd6+ 20. Ka2 O-O 21. Qc2 {1-0 Trifunovic,P-Sokolov,V/JUG-ch
Zagreb (15)/1961 (46)}) 16. axb5 Nb4+ 17. Kc3 (17. Kb3 {Ftacnik} cxb5 18. Kxb4
bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb8+ 20. Ka3 Qa5+ 21. Qa4+ {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Khalifman,A/Ubeda 
(08) 1997}) 17... cxb5 18. Rd1 (18. Nb6 {Ftacnik} Qc5+ 19. Kb3 Nc6 20. Qxb5
Qe3+ 21. Kc2 Qf2+ 22. Kc3 Qd4+ {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Khalifman,A/Ter Apel (05) 1997
}) 18... bxc4 {Eine überraschende Lösung von verblüffender Einfachheit; ich
setze aber kein Vertrauen in sie. Meines Erachtens ist es nötig, sich auf die
von Z. Ribli in der Informatormonographie (Slawisch D16-19 unter D 17/76,
Fußnote 473) angegebene Fortsetzung} (18... Qc5 19. Qe5 Nd5+ (19... Qxe5+ 20.
Nxe5 Nd5+ 21. Rxd5 $1 (21. Kb3 a6 22. Bd3 $14) 21... exd5 22. Bxb5+ Ke7 23. Re1
$16) 20. Rxd5 Qxd5 21. Nd6+ Kf8 (21... Ke7 22. Nf5+ Kd8 23. Qxd5+ exd5 24. Bxb5
$14) 22. Qxd5 exd5 {einzulassen.} (22... exd5 {Ftacnik} 23. Bxb5 $14)) (18...
Qxc4+ $6 {Ftacnik} 19. Qxc4 bxc4 20. Kxb4 Rb8+ 21. Kc3 $16) 19. Rxd5 (19. Kxb4
$2 {Ftacnik} Rb8+ 20. Kc3 Qa5+ 21. Kc2 Qa4+ 22. Kb1 c3 $19) 19... Nxd5+ 20. Kc2
(20. Kd2 {wurde in der Partie Salow-Illescas Cordoba aus dem gleichen Turnier
gespielt; dieser Zug scheint mir stärker zu sein als 20.Kc2. Weiß eilt, seinen
König am Königsflügel in Sicherheit zu bringen; außerdem hängt der Bauer auf
c4 sofort. Schwarz dürfte verloren sein.}) (20. Kxc4 {Ftacnik} O-O 21. Kd4 Rfd8
$13) 20... O-O 21. Qe4 (21. g3 {kommt in Betracht, um den Springer auf d5
möglichst bald zu befragen. Nach} Rab8 (21... c3 22. Bg2 Nb4+ (22... cxb2 23.
Bxd5 {sieht hoffnungslos für Schwarz aus.}) 23. Kxc3 Rab8 24. Be4 {dürfte
Schwarz nicht überleben können.}) 22. Bg2 Nb4+ 23. Kc3 Nd3 24. Rb1 Rb3+ (24...
Rfc8 {wird mit} 25. b4 {beantwortet.}) 25. Kxc4 Rfb8 26. Qxd3 R8b4+ 27. Kc5
Rxd3 28. Kxb4 Rd2 29. Bc6 Rxh2 30. b3 {Schwarz dürfte die Partie auf Grund der
Schwäche seines a-Bauern kaum halten können.}) 21... Rfc8 {Ftacnik: Black
builds a very unusual fortress. Ftacnik: Schwarz baut eine sehr ungewohnliche
Festung.} 22. h4 (22. Be2 Rc5 (22... c3 23. b3 ({Auch nach} 23. Ba6 Rc7 24.
bxc3 Rb8 25. Ra1 Rxc3+ 26. Kd1 {hat Weiß Aussichten, seinen Materialvorteil zu
konsolidieren.}) 23... Rab8 24. Ra1 Nb4+ 25. Kc1 {scheint mir vielversprechend
für Weiß auszusehen.}) (22... Rab8 23. Ra1 c3 24. b3 Nb4+ 25. Kc1 {führt zur
selben Stellung wie Variante A. Auch wenn Schwarz auf den Vorstoß seines
c-Bauern verzichtet, kommt er in Schwierigkeiten.}) 23. Ra1 a5 {ist aber von
der Partiefortsetzung nicht wesentlich verschieden.}) (22. Bxc4 $2 {Ftacnik}
Rxc4+ 23. Qxc4 Ne3+ $19) 22... Rc5 23. Rh3 Rac8 24. Ra3 a5 25. Kc1 (25. Ra4 {
Ftacnik} h5 26. Qd4 Nb6 27. Ra1 Nd5 $13) 25... h5 {Weiß kann seine Stellung
nicht mehr verbessern.} 26. Qd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Salov, Valery"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. Nbd2
e5 9. h3 Bd7 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Nc4 Re8 13. a4 Nh5 14. Bf1 Nf4 15.
Be3 Qe7 16. Kh2 a5 17. Qc2 h5 18. Rad1 h4 19. Rd2 Bc6 20. Na3 Red8 21. Bb5 Rxd2
22. Bxd2 Bxb5 23. Nxb5 Ne6 24. Na3 Bf6 25. Nc4 Bg5 26. Be3 Bf4+ 27. Kg1 Bxe3
28. Nxe3 Rd8 29. Rd1 c6 30. Kf1 Kg7 31. Ng4 Rxd1+ 32. Qxd1 Nc5 33. Qc2 Qg5 34.
b4 axb4 35. cxb4 Ne6 36. Qc3 f6 37. Qe3 Kf7 38. Ke1 Qxe3+ 39. Nxe3 Nf4 40. Kd2
Ke6 41. a5 f5 42. f3 Nh5 43. Kd3 Nf6 44. Nd1 Kd6 45. Nb2 Nh5 46. Nc4+ Ke6 47.
Kc3 Ng3 48. Kd3 Nh5 49. Ne3 Nf6 50. Nf1 Nd7 51. Nd2 Kf6 52. Nb3 Kg5 53. Ke3 Kf6
54. Nc1 Ke7 55. Kd3 Kd6 56. Nb3 Kc7 57. Nd2 Kd6 58. Nc4+ Ke6 59. Nb2 Kd6 60.
Na4 Kc7 61. Nb2 Kd6 62. Nc4+ Ke6 63. Ke3 Nf6 64. Nb2 Nd7 65. Nd3 Kd6 66. f4
fxe4 67. fxe5+ Nxe5 68. Nc5 Kd5 69. Nxb7 Nc4+ 70. Ke2 Na3 71. a6 Nb5 72. Ke3
Na7 73. Na5 g5 74. Nb7 Kc4 75. Kxe4 Kxb4 76. Kf5 Kb5 77. Kxg5 Kxa6 78. Nd6 c5
79. Kxh4 Nb5 80. Nc4 Nd4 81. Kg5 Kb5 82. Ne3 c4 83. h4 c3 84. h5 Ne6+ 85. Kf5
Ng7+ 86. Kg6 Ne6 87. Kf5 Ng7+ 88. Kg4 Ne6 89. h6 Nf8 90. Kf5 Kc5 91. g4 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Finkel,A} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 {
[%csl Gc5,Rc6,Gd4,Rd5,Ge5,Re6]} (6... h6 $6 7. Ne6 Qa5+ 8. Bd2 Qb6 9. Nf3 fxe6
10. Bg6+ Kd8 11. O-O c5 12. c4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 e5 14. c5 $1 Nxc5 15. Ba5 $18 {
Tal-Oll, USSR 1986}) (6... g6 7. N1f3 Bg7 8. O-O h6 9. Ne6 fxe6 10. Bxg6+ Kf8
11. Qe2 $40) (6... c5 7. N1f3 $16 cxd4 8. O-O h6 9. Ne6 Qb6 10. Re1 $1 Nc5 11.
Nxc5 Qxc5 12. Nxd4 a6 13. c3 e6 14. Bf4 Be7 15. Bc2 {/\15...0-0 16.Qd3} Bd7 16.
Nf5 $1 Bc6 17. Re5 $40) (6... Nb6 7. N1f3 h6 8. Ne4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Bg4 10. O-O e6
11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 {^^}) 7. N1f3 Bd6 (7... h6 8. Nxe6 $5 {Geller}) (7... Be7
8. Qe2 O-O 9. h4 c5 10. Be3 a6 11. O-O-O $132 {Shirazi-Neamtu, Biel (op) 1987})
(7... Qc7 $2 8. Qe2 h6 9. Bg6 $1 hxg5 10. Bxf7+ $1 $40 {Van der Wiel-Karpov,
Amsterdam 1987}) 8. Qe2 (8. O-O h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 O-O 11. c3 e5 $132 {
1-0 Ulibin,M-Georgadze,G/URS-FL56 Simferopol 1988 (41)}) 8... h6 9. Ne4 (9.
Nxe6 $2 fxe6 10. Bg6+ Ke7 11. O-O Nf8 12. Bd3 Bd7 13. Ne5 Qe8 14. f4 Kd8 $17 {
Arnason-Ostenstad, Torshavn 1987}) 9... Nxe4 10. Qxe4 c5 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4,Yd5,
Ye5]} (10... Nf6 11. Qh4 (11. Qe2 $142 Qb6 {N} (11... O-O 12. Bd2 c5 13. dxc5
Bxc5 14. O-O-O Qc7 15. g4 $5 e5 $8 {1/2-1/2 Smirin,I-Kharitonov,A/Sverdlovsk
1987 (27)} (15... Nxg4 16. Rdg1 {/\ Rhg1->})) 12. O-O O-O 13. a3 $6 (13. c3 {N}
c5 14. dxc5 Qxc5 15. Be3 Qh5 16. Bd4 Nd5 17. g3 $14 {+/= Almasi,Z-Kallai,G/
Magyarorszag (ch) 1992}) 13... Qc7 14. c4 b6 15. b4 c5 $13 {~~ Smirin,I-Dreev,
A/Vilnius 1988}) 11... Bd7 (11... Ke7 $5 {Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/ Dortmund/1993/0:1/
(49)}) (11... Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qh5 13. Qxh5 Nxh5 14. Ne5 O-O 15. O-O-O c5 {
Hector-Hodgson/London/1991/ (19)}) (11... Nd5 $1 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. c3 Ke7 $14)
12. Bf4 $13 {1-0 Svidler,P-Burmakin,V/RUS-ch Elista 1994 (37)}) (10... Qc7 {N}
11. Qg4 (11. Bd2 b6 12. Qg4 g5 $1 {0-1 Sion Castro,M-Karpov,A/Leon 1993 (35)})
11... g5 {N} (11... Kf8 12. O-O (12. Bd2 $5) 12... c5 13. b3 e5 {1/2-1/2
Gelfand,B-Speelman,J/Munchen 1992 (29)} (13... cxd4 14. Qxd4 Ne5 15. Bb2 Nxf3+
16. gxf3 Bxh2+ 17. Kg2 f6)) 12. Qh3 $1 Rg8 $1 $8 13. Nd2 $1 {1-0 Kasparov,
G-Kamsky,G/Linares 1994 (39)}) 11. O-O (11. Bd2 Nf6 12. Bb5+ (12. Qh4 Qc7 13.
dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Rhe1 O-O-O 16. Ne5 Be8 17. f4 Bd4 {Luther,T-Gelpke,
P/Linares op 1995/1/2-1/2 (63)}) 12... Bd7 (12... Ke7 13. Qe2) 13. Qxb7 Rb8 14.
Bxd7+ Nxd7 15. Qa6 (15. Qxa7 Rxb2 $44) 15... Rb6 16. Qa4 Rxb2 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18.
Bc3 $36 {1-0 Psakhis,L-Meduna,E/Trnava 1988 (41)}) (11. Qg4 g5 12. dxc5 Nxc5
13. O-O Nxd3 14. cxd3 Bd7 15. Qh5 Qf6 16. Bd2 Rg8 $13 {0-1 Lobron,E-Vatter,H/
BL 1988 (40)}) 11... Nf6 (11... a6 12. c3 Nf6 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. cxd4 $132 {
1-0 Markovic,G-Dimitriadi,A/Thessaloniki olw 1988 (21)}) 12. Bb5+ Ke7 13. Qe2
Qc7 (13... Bd7 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. a4 Bxb5 16. axb5 Qb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Akopian,
V-Anastasian,A/Erevan 1996 (33)} (16... Qb6 {Finkel,A} 17. Bd2 Rhc8 18. c4 $14
{Akopian,V-Anastasian,A/Erevan 1996 (33)})) (13... a6 $5 {Finkel,A} 14. dxc5
Bxc5 15. Bd3 Qc7 16. c4 Rd8 17. b3 b6 18. Bb2 Bb7 $11 {Wang Zili-Arlandi,E/
Open, Geneva SUI 1997 (19)}) 14. dxc5 Qxc5 (14... Bxc5 {Finkel,A} 15. Be3 Bxe3
16. Qxe3 (16. fxe3 $5 $14) 16... Bd7 17. Bd3 Rhd8 18. Rad1 $14) 15. Be3 Qc7 (
15... Qh5 16. Bd4 $14) (15... Qh5 $5 {Finkel,A}) 16. Bd4 $14 Rd8 17. c3 (17.
Rad1 Bd7 18. Bd3 $14 (18. Bd3 {Finkel,A} Rac8 19. Ne5 Ba4 $5 20. b3 Bc6 (20...
Nd7 $6 21. Nxf7 $1 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Kxf7 23. Qh5+ Kf8 24. Qxh2 $16) 21. c4 $14))
17... Bd7 18. Bc4 {Hoping in the future to play Ne5,f4-f5 and in this case
bishop is very good placed on c4.Unfortunetly this plan is not so easy to
carry out,so it was better to put a bishop on d3 keeping small opening
advantage} (18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. Rad1 Qa5 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 Rad8 22. Rxd7+
Rxd7 23. a3 $14) 18... Bc6 19. Ne5 Be4 $11 {[%cal Re4g2,Rd6h2,Re4g6,Re4c6,
Rc7d6]} 20. Ng4 {After this move almost by force arises equal endgame,but
white has nothing better} Nxg4 21. Qxe4 (21. Qxg4 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Qf4 $2 (22...
Rxd4 $5 23. cxd4 Bf4 $14) (22... Be5 $1 {Finkel,A} 23. Qxe4 Bxd4 24. Bxe6 fxe6
25. cxd4 Qb6 $11) 23. Qh3 $18) 21... Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 {[%csl Gh2][%cal Gd4g7,
Gc4e6,Ge4e6,Ge4g4]} Be5 {[%csl Ye5]} 23. Bxe6 $1 $14 fxe6 24. Qxg4 {[%csl Ge6,
Gg7]} Bxd4 25. cxd4 {[%csl Gc5,Yd4,Rd5,Ge5,Ye6,Rf5,Rf6,Yg7][%cal Gg4e6,Gg4g7,
Gg4d4,Rd8d4,Re7f7,Rf7g8,Rc7b6,Rb6d4]} Kf7 26. Rac1 Qb6 27. Qf4+ Kg8 28. Rc7
Qxd4 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Rxb7 $11 a5 31. Rc1 Rad8 32. f3 Rd1+ 33. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 34.
Kh2 a4 35. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Huzman Belov VanWely,L} Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6.
Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6
13. c5 Nh5 14. Qd2 Be5 15. g3 Ng7 16. Rfd1 a6 $146 (16... Be6 $5 $146 17. f4 (
17. Nxe6 {van Wely,L} fxe6 {/\ Nf5}) 17... Bxd4 $1 18. Bxd4 Nf5 (18... Nxd4 {
van Wely,L} 19. Qxd4 Nf5 20. Qf2 d4 21. Nb5 {/\ Nd4-e6+/=}) 19. Bf2 d4 20. Nb5
Qe7 $132 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-van Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee 65/561 1996 (43)}) (16...
Nf5 {N} 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nxd5 (18. Qxd5 $4 {Belov} Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rxe2 $19)
18... Nd4 19. Bxd4 (19. Nc3 {Belov}) 19... Qxd5 20. Bf2 (20. Bxe5 {Belov} Qxe5
21. Bf1 Qxc5+ $11) 20... Qc6 21. Bf1 (21. f4 Bh3 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Rad8 24.
Qc2 Bd4 25. Rad1 $14) 21... Rad8 22. Qb4 Qxf3 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 $14 {1/2-1/2
Giorgadze,G-Nalbandian,T/Erevan op (06) ;EXP 52 1996 (47)}) 17. Bf1 (17. Nb3
Be6 18. Bf1 (18. f4 $14 {[%cal Ye2f3] Huzman}) 18... Nf5 $132) (17. Nc2 Be6 (
17... Bf5 18. Nxd5) 18. f4 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 Bf5 20. Bf3 Be4 $132) 17... Be6 18.
Nxe6 (18. Nc2 $5 {Huzman} Nf5 (18... Qf6 19. f4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 $14 {[%csl Rb7]})
19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qf6 $132) (18. f4 {Huzman} Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4
Nf5 21. Qf2 d4) (18. Nb3 {Huzman} Nf5 (18... Qf6 19. f4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 $132) 19.
Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qf6 $5) 18... fxe6 $14 19. f4 (19. Ne2 Nf5 20. Rac1 a5 21.
Bh3 $14) (19. Rab1 $5 $14 {Huzman} g5 (19... Nf5 20. b4 $36) 20. Ne2 Rf8 21.
Bg2 a5 $5 $132) 19... Bf6 20. Rab1 (20. Rac1 $5) (20. Ne2 g5 21. Bh3 $14) 20...
g5 (20... Rf8 $5) 21. Ne2 (21. fxg5 Bxg5 22. Be3 Bxe3+ (22... Ne5 23. Be2) 23.
Qxe3 $13) 21... Rf8 (21... a5 {Huzman Ochoa} 22. Bh3) 22. b4 (22. Bh3 gxf4 23.
Nxf4 Bg5 24. Qe2 (24. Be3 d4) 24... Bxf4 25. Bxe6+ (25. gxf4 Qf6) 25... Kh8 26.
gxf4 Re8 27. f5 Nxf5 $17) (22. fxg5 Bxg5 23. Be3 Ne5 $1 24. Bxg5 Nf3+ 25. Kh1
Qxg5 26. Qxg5 Nxg5 27. Nf4 $140 Ne4) (22. Be3 gxf4 (22... h6 23. Bh3) 23. Nxf4
d4 (23... Ne5 {Huzman}) 24. Bf2 Bg5 (24... e5 $140 $2 25. Bc4+ Kh8 26. Ng6+ $18
)) 22... gxf4 23. gxf4 (23. Nxf4 Bg5) 23... Bh4 (23... Nf5 {Huzman} 24. Bh3 Bh4
25. Ng3) 24. Bg3 Rc8 (24... Bxg3 $5 {Huzman} 25. hxg3 h5 26. Rb3 Qf6 27. Bh3
Rad8 $132) 25. Rb3 Rc7 26. Bh3 Nf5 (26... Kh8 $5) (26... Rcf7 27. Qe3) 27. Bxf5
(27. Kh1 Rg7 28. Rg1 Rg6 $13) (27. Qe1 $5 {Huzman} Rg7 28. Kh1 {[%cal Yh3f5]})
27... Rxf5 28. Bxh4 (28. Qe3 Kf7 {/\Bf6}) (28. Nd4 {Huzman} Nxd4 29. Qxd4 Rg7)
(28. Qe1 {Huzman} Rg7 29. Kh1 Bf6 $15) 28... Qxh4 29. Rg3+ Rg7 (29... Kh8 30.
Kh1 Rh5 31. Rg2) 30. Rxg7+ (30. Qe3 Rf6) 30... Kxg7 31. Ng3 Qg4 (31... Rf6 32.
Kh1) 32. Rf1 Rf6 (32... Ne7 33. Qg2) 33. a4 Ne7 (33... Rg6 34. b5 axb5 35. axb5
Ne7 36. Qc3+ (36. c6 bxc6 37. b6 (37. bxc6 Nxc6) 37... Nf5 38. Qc3+ d4 39. Qf3
Nxg3 40. Qxg4 Rxg4 41. b7 Nxf1+ 42. Kh1 Nd2 $19) 36... Kf7 37. c6 bxc6 38. b6
Nf5 39. Ra1 $40) 34. Qe2 (34. b5 axb5 35. axb5 Nf5 36. Qc3 (36. Qd3 Rg6 37. Rf3
{[%cal Rc5c6]} Nxg3 (37... Kh6) (37... Kh8 38. c6 bxc6 39. bxc6 Rg7) 38. Qd4+ (
38. hxg3 Rh6 $132) 38... Kf7 39. Rxg3 Qe2) 36... d4 (36... Kf7 37. c6 bxc6 38.
bxc6 Rg6 39. Rb1 Nxg3 (39... d4 40. Rb7+ Kf6 41. Qa5 Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qc2+ 43. Ke1
(43. Ne2 Rg2+ $11) 43... Qc1+ 44. Ke2 d3+ 45. Kxd3 Qd1+ $19) 40. Rb7+ Kg8 41.
Rb8+ Kf7 42. Rb7+ $11) 37. Qf3 (37. Qd3 Ne3 38. Rf2 e5 $132) 37... Qxf3 38.
Rxf3 Nxg3 {Huzman} 39. Rxg3+ (39. hxg3 Rf5) 39... Kf8 40. c6 bxc6 41. bxc6 e5
$11) 34... Rg6 35. Qxg4 Rxg4 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Kf7 38. Kh1 (38. Kg2 Rg8 (
38... Ng6 39. Rb1) 39. Ra1 Rc8 $11) (38. Kh1 Rg8 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 {another popular line is 9Nc3.} Bxd2 {Relatively a new
interpretation in this position.} (9... Re8 10. Nc3 d6 11. Rfe1 Bxc3 12. Bxc3
Be4 13. Qb2 Nbd7 14. Bf1 d5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. f3 Bg6 18. cxd5 exd5
19. Rad1 c6 20. e4 dxe4 21. Bh3 Ra7 22. f4 f5 23. exf6 $16 {1-0 Oll-Nikolic/
32nd Chess Olympiad, Yerevan 1996 (25)}) (9... Qe7 10. Nc3 h6 11. a3 $2 Bxa3
12. e4 Bb4 13. e5 Nh7 14. Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxb7 Nc6 $1 16. Bxc6 dxc6 17. Bxg5 Qxg5
18. Ne4 Qf5 19. Qe2 Rfd8 $17 {0-1 Cativelli,G-Markeluk,S/Buenos Aires BCA op
1989 (29)}) (9... h6 $5 10. Nc3 Re8 11. a3 (11. Rfe1 d5 $10) 11... Bxc3 (11...
Bf8 12. e4 $16) 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qd1 (13. Qb2 a4 14. b4 d5 $15) 13... d5 (13...
a4 14. bxa4 d5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. a5 $1 $14) 14. Rc1 Nbd7 15. Re1 (15. Bh3 $6
dxc4 16. bxc4 Bxf3 17. exf3 e5 $1) 15... Qc8 16. Bf1 Qb7 (16... Bxf3 17. exf3
$14 {/\ f4, Bg2}) 17. Nd2 Bh7 18. Bb2 c6 19. e3 b5 $5 20. cxb5 (20. c5 a4 $15)
20... cxb5 21. Qe2 $1 Reb8 (21... Rab8 22. Bc3 $5) 22. f3 $14 {Karpov,A-Anand,
V/Tilburg 1991/1-0 (53)}) (9... Be4 10. Qb2 d5 11. a3 Bxd2 12. Nbxd2 Nbd7 13.
Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 c6 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 Garcia
Ilundain,D-Gomez Esteban,J/Linares zt 1995}) 10. Nbxd2 d5 11. Rfd1 $146 (11.
cxd5 exd5 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Ndc4 g6 14. Rac1 Na6 15. Qb2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Ne8 17.
Ne3 c6 18. a3 Nd6 19. Rd2 Kg7 20. Rdc2 Nb8 21. a4 f6 22. Nd3 Rce8 23. b4 axb4
24. Qxb4 $16 {1-0 Beliavsky-Ahmed/32nd Chess Olympiad, Yerevan 1996 (33)})
11... Na6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nf1 {[%cal Gf1e3]} (13. Rac1 Re8 14. Ne5 c5 15.
Ndf3 Ne4 $11) (13. Ne5 Re8 {with next c5}) 13... Ne4 (13... c5 14. Ne3 $14 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 14. Ne5 (14. Rac1 Qf6 15. e3 c5 16. Ne5 Rfc8 17. Qb2 cxd4 18. exd4
b5 $132 {[%cal Gb5b4,Ge4c3]}) 14... Qe7 $6 (14... Nb4 $142 15. Qb2 f6 16. Nf3
$14) 15. Bxe4 $1 {Unusual, positional decision, but very strong.} dxe4 16. a3
$1 {[%csl Ga6]} c5 {[%csl Gb6]} (16... Rad8 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Nb8 19. Qb7
$1 $16 {[%csl Gb8,Gc7]}) 17. Nc4 Rad8 (17... cxd4 $142 18. Rxd4 (18. Nxb6 $2
Rad8 $17) 18... Rad8 19. Rad1 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 Qc7 (20... Rd8 21. Qd2 Rxd4 22.
Qxd4 Nc5 23. b4) 21. Nfe3 Nc5 22. Qd1 $14) 18. d5 b5 (18... Rxd5 $143 19. Nxb6
Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Ne3 $16 {[%csl Ga5,Gc5]}) 19. d6 Qe6 20. Nxa5 Ba8 (20...
Bd5 21. Ne3 Rxd6 22. a4) 21. a4 bxa4 22. bxa4 Rxd6 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Rd1 Qc7 (
24... Qe6 25. Ne3 $16) 25. Qc3 Rd8 (25... Nb4 26. Nb3 Rc8 27. Qxc5) 26. Rxd8+
Qxd8 27. Nb3 h6 28. Ne3 $16 {it's difficult to believe , but black's position
is very hard.The white's piecies more active , than their opponents, as well ,
as a pawn more dangerous,than black's one,at the same time black has no active
play and white can gradually to intesify their position.} Qc8 29. h4 h5 30. a5
g6 31. Qf6 Qc6 (31... c4 $2 32. Qc3 $18) (31... Qb7 32. Nd2) 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33.
Nd2 Nc7 34. Ndc4 Ne6 35. Qb8 Qa6 (35... Nd4 36. Kf1 Bb7 {[%cal Gb7a6]} 37. Qe5+
Kg8 38. Nd6 Ba6 39. Qe7 {with decisive attack.}) 36. Nd6 $2 {i think the time
trouble mistake.} (36. Qb6 Qxb6 (36... Bb7 37. Nd6 $18) 37. axb6 Kf6 38. Na5
Nd8 39. Kf1 Ke6 40. Ke1 Kd6 41. Kd2 Bb7 42. Ng2 Ba6 $11) (36. Qd6 Qxd6 37. Nxd6
Nc7 {not so clear.}) (36. Nb6 Bc6) (36. Qe8 Bc6 37. Qe7 Qb7 38. Qd6 Bb5 $11) (
36. Qe5+ $1 {was the right way.} Kg8 (36... f6 37. Qb8 {and black has no
chances to hold position.}) 37. Qf6 {[%csl Gf7][%cal Gc4e5]}) 36... Bc6 $2 (
36... Qxa5 37. Qe8 (37. Ne8+ Kh7 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. Ne8+ Kh7 40. Qe5 Qe1+ 41. Kg2
Qxe2 42. Nf6+ Kh6 43. Ng8+ Kh7 $11) 37... Qa7 38. Nxf7 Qxf7 39. Qxa8 Nd4 40.
Qxe4 Nxe2+ 41. Kg2 Nd4 {and it must be draw.}) 37. Qb6 Qa8 (37... Qxb6 38. axb6
Nd8 39. Nec4 $18 {[%cal Gc4a5]}) 38. a6 Nd4 39. Kf1 Ne6 40. a7 {Fantastic
domination of white piecies,of course black hopeless against 41Qb8 with next
Ne3-c4-a5-b7. We are not often see , such a positional games of Veselin,
usually his games full of tactics and complicated variations;no wonder , that
he considered one of the best players of the world.} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d6 8. a4
Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. d3 O-O 13. b4 Bb6 14. Na3 Qa6 15.
Bb3 Nd8 16. g4 Bg6 17. Nh4 Ne6 18. Nf5 c5 19. Nc2 Bd8 20. c4 cxb4 21. Nxb4 Qb6
22. Be3 Nc5 23. Qb1 Bxf5 24. gxf5 Qb7 25. Ba2 g6 26. Bh6 Re8 27. cxb5 Qxb5 28.
Kh2 Qd7 29. Rg1 Kh8 30. Bc4 Rg8 31. Nd5 gxf5 32. Nxf6 Bxf6 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 34.
exf5 Qb7 35. Qa2 Qe7 36. Bxf7+ Kh8 37. Bc4 Qd8 38. Qa7 e4 39. Qf7 Nxd3 40. Bd5
Ne5 41. Qb7 Qe7 42. Qc8+ Qd8 43. Qb7 Qe7 44. Qb1 Nd7 45. Kh1 Bg7 46. Be3 Nf6
47. Be6 Qe8 48. Bd4 Qa8 49. Kg1 Qd8 50. Qb2 Qf8 51. Kf1 Qd8 52. Qc3 Qf8 53. h4
h6 54. Qb3 Nh7 55. Be3 Nf6 56. Qc4 Qd8 57. Qc6 Qe7 58. Bb6 Kh7 59. Ke1 Kh8 60.
Qc8+ Qe8 61. Bd8 Ng4 62. Bd7 Qg8 63. Be6 Qe8 64. Qc7 Qb5 65. Bg5 Qe8 66. Bd2
Ne5 67. Kf1 Nf3 68. Bc3 Nd4 69. Bxd4 Bxd4 70. Qc4 Bg7 71. Qxe4 Qf8 72. Kg2 Bf6
73. Kh3 Bg7 74. Qc6 Bf6 75. Kg4 Be7 76. Kh5 Kh7 77. Qc4 Qf6 78. Qg4 Qg7 79. Qe4
Qf6 80. f3 Bd8 81. Qg4 Qg7 82. Qxg7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Bd2 $6 (10. Rd1 {erscheint mir kritischer.}) 10... c5 11.
Bd3 (11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a4 b6 13. e4 Qc7 14. h3 Bb7 15. Rfe1 Ncd7 16. Bf1 $6 (
16. Bd3 $11 {Kramnik}) 16... Rac8 17. Rad1 Qb8 18. Qb1 h6 $15 {0-1 Costa,
J-Kramnik,V/Manila olm 1992 (30)}) (11. a4 Qc7 12. Qd3 cxd4 13. exd4 b6 14.
Rac1 Bb7 15. Bb3 Rac8 16. Rfe1 Qb8 17. h3 Rfd8 $11 {1-0 Vyzmanavin,A-Novikov,I/
URS-ch57 Leningrad 1990 (32)}) 11... h6 12. Rad1 (12. Rfd1 $5) 12... cxd4 13.
exd4 Qc7 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. Rfe1 b5 16. Ne4 Bb7 (16... Nxe4 $2 17. Bxe4 Bb7 18.
Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Qc6 Qxc6 20. Rxc6 Be7 21. d5 $16) 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 $11 {Die Drohung
...Bxf3 nötigt Weiß zum Damentausch. Schwarz hat keine Probleme mehr.} 18. Qc7
Qxc7 19. Rxc7 Rab8 (19... Bxf3 $2 {würde zwar die weiße Bauernstellung
ruinieren, hinterläßt jedoch einen geschwächten schwarzen Damenflügel, z.B.}
20. gxf3 Rfc8 21. Rec1 Rxc7 22. Rxc7 Nb6 23. Rc6 Nfd5 (23... Nbd5 24. b3 {/\ a4
}) 24. Ba5 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6] >< a6, c6}) 20. Ba5 Rfc8 21. Rec1 Nd5 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8
23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Ne5 Nb8 25. Be4 f6 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Bc7 fxe5 28. Bxb8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe5 7. b3 d5 8.
d4 Nc6 9. h3 O-O 10. Bg2 dxc4 11. d5 Ne5 12. Qd4 Nfd7 13. Bf4 Qf6 14. Rhd1 Nd3+
15. Rxd3 cxd3 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. e4 c6 18. d6 Be6 19. Rd1 Nd7 20. Rxd3 a5 21.
Rd2 Rfe8 22. e5 h5 23. Re2 Bf5 24. Bf3 Bxh3 25. Bxh5 Be6 26. Re3 Nb6 27. Ne4
Nd5 28. Re2 Bf5 29. Nc5 b6 30. Na4 Rab8 31. Bf3 Be6 32. Rd2 Red8 33. Bxd5 cxd5
34. Be3 b5 35. Nc5 Rdc8 36. a3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Ra2 Ra8 39. Rxa8 Rxa8 40.
d7 d4 41. Bg5 Bxd7 42. Nxd7 Ra2+ 43. Kf3 Rc2 44. Ke4 Rc3 45. Kxd4 Rxb3 46. Bf4
Rf3 47. Nb6 b3 48. Nc4 Kh7 49. e6 fxe6 50. Be5 g5 51. Ke4 Rf2 52. Ke3 Rf5 53.
Kd2 Kg6 54. Kc3 Rf3+ 55. Kb2 Kf5 56. Bc7 Rd3 57. Bb8 g4 58. Bf4 Ke4 59. Ne5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D75"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 O-O 8.
Nf3 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. e3 Qa5 11. Qb3 Qc7 12. Ba3 b6 13. dxc5 Rb8 14. Rfc1 Be6
15. cxb6 axb6 16. Qb5 Bd7 17. Qc4 Rfc8 18. Qh4 Be8 19. Nd4 Bf6 20. Qf4 Ne5 21.
Bf1 Qb7 22. Bb4 Kg7 23. Rd1 Ba4 24. Rd2 Rd8 25. Bg2 Qa7 26. Qe4 Qc7 27. f4 Nc4
28. Re2 Be8 29. g4 h6 30. a4 e5 31. Nb5 Bxb5 32. axb5 exf4 33. exf4 Re8 34.
Qxe8 Rxe8 35. Rxe8 Nd6 36. Rea8 Nxb5 37. Bd5 Qd7 38. Bf3 Bxc3 39. Rd1 Qc7 40.
Bf8+ Kh7 41. Kg2 Nd4 42. Re8 Nxf3 43. Kxf3 Qc6+ 44. Re4 f5 45. gxf5 gxf5 46.
Rd7+ Kg8 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. O-O Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8.
Qb3 Qd7 9. Qxb7 Rb8 10. Qa6 Nf6 11. Qd3 Bd6 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. Nc4 Ng4 14. h3
Rxf3 15. Qxf3 Nh2 16. Qd3 Nxf1 17. Kxf1 Nb4 18. Qb3 Nc6 19. Qa4 Rb4 20. Qc2 Ne5
21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Qd3 c5 23. b3 c4 24. bxc4 Qc6 25. Bd2 Rxc4 26. Rb1 Bc7 27.
Rb2 Bb6 28. Ke2 h6 29. g3 Rc5 30. h4 Qd7 31. Kf3 Rc8 32. Kg2 Qa4 33. Bb4 Rc1
34. h5 Qe8 35. Qf3 Qb5 36. Qe2 d3 37. Qg4 Qc6 38. Bd2 Rc4 39. Bxh6 Qxe4+ 40.
Qxe4 Rxe4 41. Kf3 Re5 42. Be3 Bxe3 43. fxe3 Rxh5 44. Rd2 Ra5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Bc4 Nd7 9. Qe2 Be7 10. O-O-O c6 11. h4 b5 12. Bd3 Qc7 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Qe4 g6 16. h5 Bb7 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Ne5 Rfd8 19. Qg4 Bxe5 20. dxe5
Qxe5 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Rde1 Qf5 23. Qh4 Kf7 24. Qh7+ Kf6 25. g4 Qxg4 26. Qxb7
Rh8 27. Rhg1 Qf5 28. Qxc6 Rhe8 29. Qc3+ e5 30. f4 Rac8 31. fxe5+ Kg7 32. Qd2
Rcd8 33. Qe3 Rc8 34. Rg2 Re7 35. Rf2 Qh5 36. Qf4 Kg8 37. a3 Rce8 38. e6 Rd8 39.
Qf6 Rd1+ 40. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 41. Ka2 Qd8 42. Rh2 Qd5+ 43. b3 Rg7 44. e7 Qf7 45. Rh8+
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 d5 7. Re1 Bf5 8. Nh4
Bg4 9. Bg5 c6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. f3 Be6 12. e4 c5 13. exd5 cxd4 14. dxe6 dxc3 15.
bxc3 Qb6+ 16. Kh1 fxe6 17. Rab1 Qc7 18. Rxe6 Nc5 19. Bf4 Qd8 20. Re2 Qxd2 21.
Bxd2 Nd5 22. f4 Rad8 23. c4 Nc3 24. Bxc3 Bxc3 25. Bxb7 Nxb7 26. Rxb7 e5 27. Rb3
Rd1+ 28. Kg2 Ba5 29. Rxe5 Rd2+ 30. Kh3 Bc7 31. Re7 Bb6 32. Rd3 Rxd3 33. cxd3
Rd8 34. Nf3 Rxd3 35. Ng5 h6 36. Ne4 Kf8 37. Rb7 Rd4 38. c5 Rxe4 39. cxb6 axb6
40. Rxb6 Kf7 41. Rb2 Ra4 42. Kg2 Ra3 43. Kf2 Kf6 44. Ke2 Kf5 45. Kd2 g5 46.
fxg5 hxg5 47. Kc2 Kg4 48. Kb1 Ra5 49. Rb8 Ra7 50. Rb5 Rh7 51. Rb2 Ra7 52. Rf2
Kh3 53. Kb2 g4 54. a3 Rb7+ 55. Ka2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 13. Nf1 c5 14. a3 Nc6 15.
Be3 a5 16. Rc1 c4 17. Bc2 d5 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. e5 Na4 21. Rb1 Ra6
22. Ng3 g6 23. Bh6 Re8 24. e6 Bg5 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Qf3+ Bf6 27. Nh5 Re4 28.
Nxf6 Qxf6 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Qg3 Ra7 31. d5 Bxd5 32. Rbd1 Qf5 33. Qb8 Rb7 34.
Qf8+ Ke6 35. Qc8+ Rd7 36. g4 Qf7 37. Rxd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd2 Be6 8.
O-O-O Nd7 9. e4 f6 10. h3 Bh6 11. Be2 c6 12. a3 Ke7 13. b4 a5 14. Kb2 Nb6 15.
c5 Bxd2 16. Nxd2 axb4 17. axb4 Na4+ 18. Nxa4 Rxa4 19. Ra1 Rxb4+ 20. Kc3 Rd4 21.
Rhb1 Rd7 22. Ra8 Kf7 23. Bc4 Bxc4 24. Nxc4 Kg7 25. Nd6 Ne7 26. Ne8+ Kf7 27.
Nxf6 Rd3+ 28. Kxd3 Rxa8 29. Nxh7 Ra2 30. Ke3 Ra3+ 31. Ke2 Ra2+ 32. Kf3 Rc2 33.
Rxb7 Rxc5 34. Ng5+ Kf6 35. h4 Rc3+ 36. Kg4 Rc2 37. f4 exf4 38. e5+ Kxe5 39.
Rxe7+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. h4 cxd4 8. cxd4
Qb6 9. Na3 Nf5 10. Nc2 Bb4+ 11. Kf1 h5 12. a3 Be7 13. b4 Rc8 14. g3 f6 15. Bd3
fxe5 16. Bxf5 exf5 17. dxe5 d4 18. Ncxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 a5 20. Be3 axb4 21. axb4
Qxb4 22. Kg2 Qc5 23. Qb3 Qb4 24. Rhb1 Qxb3 25. Rxb3 Rc7 26. Ra8+ Rc8 27. Ra5 b6
28. Ra7 Rd8 29. e6 Bc8 30. Nc6 Bf6 31. Nxd8 Bxd8 32. Bxb6 Bf6 33. Bc5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. d3 h6 7. O-O a6 8. a3 O-O
9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb2 Bg4 11. h3 Be6 12. Rc1 Qd7 13. Kh2 Ne7 14. e3 Ng6 15. Ne2 c6
16. Qc2 Rad8 17. e4 b5 18. cxb5 cxb5 19. Qc6 Qc8 20. Qc7 Qa8 21. Qc6 Qc8 22.
Qc7 Qb8 23. Qxb8 Bxb8 24. Rc6 d5 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Rxa6 Bxf3 27. Bxf3 Rxd3 28.
Ng1 h5 29. Rd1 Rb3 30. Rd2 h4 31. Bd1 hxg3+ 32. fxg3 Rxg3 33. Rxf6 e4 34. Rxg6
fxg6 35. Kh1 Rf1 36. Bd4 e3 37. Bb3+ Kh7 38. Rg2 Rxh3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5
dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 b4 17. Nd5 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 19. Kg1 Nxg5 20.
Nd7 Rd8 21. Nxc7 Kh8 22. Nxa8 Rxa8 23. Rd4 Ra1+ 24. Kf2 Rb1 25. Rxb4 Rxb2+ 26.
Ke3 h5 27. h4 Ne6 28. g3 Rg2 29. Kf3 Rb2 30. Ke3 Rg2 31. Kf3 Rb2 32. Ke3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Andersson, Ulf"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Bf5 6. Re1 O-O 7. Nbd2 Qc8 8. e4
Bg4 9. c3 Nc6 10. Qc2 Bh3 11. Nc4 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 e6 13. Bg5 b5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Ne3 Bg7 16. a4 a6 17. axb5 axb5 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Re8 21. Qb3
Qb7 22. Qa2 Qb8 23. Qa6 Nd8 24. Qa7 Qxa7 25. Rxa7 c6 26. Nb4 Rxe4 27. Ra8 Re8
28. Nxc6 Nxc6 29. Rxe8+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
Nc3 d6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 11. Qa4 Bb7 12. Bxb7 Rxb7 13. Rb1 Qc8 14. Bd2
Qh3 15. f3 Nh5 16. Rf2 Qe6 17. Kg2 Rc8 18. b3 Bd4 19. e3 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Qxe3 21.
Qa5 Ng7 22. Re1 Qc5 23. Rd2 Qxa5 24. Bxa5 f6 25. Rd5 Kf7 26. Bd2 a6 27. Ra5 Rc6
28. Be3 Ne6 29. Rd1 Rbc7 30. h4 Nd8 31. g4 Nb7 32. Rad5 Rc8 33. h5 e6 34. R5d2
g5 35. f4 gxf4 36. Bxf4 e5 37. Be3 Rg8 38. Kh3 Ke6 39. Rf1 Nc5 40. Re2 Rc7 41.
Rf3 Ne4 42. Rf1 d5 43. Bh6 Nc3 44. Ref2 Ne4 45. Re2 Nc3 46. Ref2 Ne4 47. Re2
Nc3 48. Ref2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O b5 13. c5 e5 14. dxe5 Nxc5 15.
a3 Bb7 16. Bb2 a5 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. f4 f5 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Kh1 Qe7
22. Re1 Rcd8 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. e4 Qxa3 25. e5 Qe7 26. Nf3 g6 27. Nd4 Rc8 28. Qd2
Qb4 29. Qxb4 axb4 30. Nxc6 Kg7 31. Nd4 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Rc8 33. Rxc8 Bxc8 34. Bxd5
Nc5 35. Nxb5 g5 36. Kg2 Kg6 37. Kf3 h5 38. Nd4 Bg4+ 39. Ke3 h4 40. Nc6 Bd1 41.
Nxb4 hxg3 42. hxg3 gxf4+ 43. gxf4 Bxb3 44. Kd4 Ne6+ 45. Bxe6 Bxe6 46. Nc2 Kf5
47. Ke3 Bc8 48. Nd4+ Kg6 49. Kd3 Ba6+ 50. Kc3 Kh5 51. Kb4 Kg4 52. f5 Kg5 53.
Kc5 Bc8 54. Kd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. g3 b6 8.
Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rd1 Re8 12. c4 Qc8 13. Bh3 Be4 14. Ng5 Bf5
15. Bg2 h6 16. Nf3 Be4 17. b3 c5 18. Bb2 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Qb7 20. Re1 Bc6 21. Nh4
Bxg2 22. Nxg2 Rad8 23. Red1 Rxd4 24. Bxd4 Ne4 25. f3 e5 26. Qxe4 Qxe4 27. fxe4
exd4 28. Kf2 Bc5 29. Kf3 a5 30. Nf4 g6 31. Nd3 h5 32. e5 f6 33. exf6 Re3+ 34.
Kf2 Kf7 35. Nf4 Rc3 36. Ke2 Re3+ 37. Kf1 g5 38. Nd5 Rf3+ 39. Ke2 g4 40. Rd3 Rf5
41. a3 Bxa3 42. Rxd4 Bc5 43. Rf4 Rxf4 44. Nxf4 Kxf6 45. Nxh5+ Ke5 46. Nf4 Kd4
47. Nd5 b5 48. Ne3 bxc4 49. Nxc4 a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
O-O d6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 11. Qa4 Bh3 12. Bg2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qd7 14. Rb1
Qxa4 15. Nxa4 Rfc8 16. c5 dxc5 17. Be3 c4 18. Bxa7 Rb4 19. Nc3 e6 20. Bd4 Nd5
21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rfc1 Nxc3 23. Rxc3 Rcb8 24. Rc2 g5 25. a3 Rb3 26. Rxc4 Rxb2
27. Rxb2 Rxb2 28. e3 Ra2 29. Ra4 h5 30. h3 f5 31. Ra7+ Kf6 32. Ra8 g4 33. hxg4
hxg4 34. a4 Ra1 35. a5 Ke5 36. a6 Ke4 37. a7 Ke5 38. Kh2 Ke4 39. Kg2 Ke5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
h6 9. b3 b6 10. Bb2 Bb7 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nb5 Rfc8 14. Qe2 Bb8 15.
Ba3 Qd8 16. Rac1 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Ne8 18. g3 a6 19. Nc3 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Nxd6 21. Ne5
Rc8 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Bxa6 Ne4 24. Bxb7 Nxc3 25. Rxc3 Rxc3 26. Ba6 Qc7 27. Qb5
g6 28. a4 Rc2 29. Qd3 Rb2 30. Qd1 Qc3 31. Bb5 Kg7 32. Qf3 Qc7 33. e4 Qc1+ 34.
Kg2 Rb1 35. Kh3 Qc2 36. Be8 f6 37. Qf4 Qc8 38. Bxg6 Kxg6 39. Qg4+ Kf7 40. exd5
Qd7 41. Qh5+ Ke7 42. Qg6 e5+ 43. Kg2 Qxd5+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8.
Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3 Nbd7 12. h3 Qb6 13. Re1 Rfb8 14. Re2 Qa6
15. Qe1 Ne8 16. Bf4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 f6 18. a4 Ne5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Rea2 Qd3 21.
Qe3 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Nd6 23. Nd2 Ra5 24. g4 Kf7 25. Kf3 h5 26. Ke2 c4 27. Kf3 Rba8
28. Kg3 hxg4 29. hxg4 g5 30. Kf3 Ke8 31. Nf1 Kd7 32. Ng3 Rb8 33. Nf5 Nxf5 34.
exf5 Rb3 35. Ra3 Rb8 36. e4 Kd6 37. R3a2 Rb3 38. Ra3 Kc5 39. Ke3 Rb8 40. Rd1
Rba8 41. Rb1 Rxa4 42. Rxa4 Rxa4 43. Rb7 Ra3 44. Rc7+ Kb5 45. Rb7+ Kc5 46. Rc7+
Kb5 47. Rb7+ Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Ne5 Be6 7. Bc4 Bxc4 8.
Nxc4 Qa6 9. Qe2 e6 10. Bf4 Nd5 11. Bd6 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 14. Qd3
Ke7 15. a4 Nb6 16. Ne5 Qxd3 17. cxd3 Nd7 18. Nf3 Rhc8 19. Kd2 c5 20. Rhb1 Rc7
21. a5 Rac8 22. Ra3 cxd4 23. Nxd4 Nc5 24. Nb3 Nd7 25. c4 e5 26. Re1 Kd6 27. f4
f6 28. Kc3 Nc5 29. fxe5+ fxe5 30. Nxc5 Rxc5 31. Re3 Rf8 32. Ra2 Rf6 33. Rg3 g6
34. Rh3 Rf7 35. Kb4 Rcc7 36. Re2 Rf1 37. Rhe3 Rb1+ 38. Kc3 Rc5 39. Ra2 Rc1+ 40.
Kd2 Rf1 41. Re2 Rh1 42. h3 Rf1 43. Ke3 Rf7 44. g3 Ke6 45. Reb2 Kd6 46. a6 b6
47. Rxb6+ axb6 48. a7 Rc8 49. a8=Q Rxa8 50. Rxa8 Rf1 51. Rd8+ Kc6 52. Rh8 Rg1
53. Kf2 Rd1 54. Ke2 Rg1 55. g4 Kc5 56. Rxh7 e4 57. Rc7+ Kd6 58. Rg7 Kc5 59.
dxe4 Rg3 60. Rc7+ Kd4 61. Rc6 g5 62. Rxb6 Rxh3 63. Rb5 Kxc4 64. Rxg5 Kd4 65. e5
Re3+ 66. Kf2 Rxe5 67. Rg6 Kd5 68. Kg3 Re8 69. Kf4 Rf8+ 70. Kg5 Ke5 71. Kh5 Kf4
72. g5 Kf5 73. Rh6 Rf7 74. Rh8 Kf4 75. g6 Rf5+ 76. Kh6 Kg4 77. g7 Rh5+ 78. Kg6
Rg5+ 79. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. a3 O-O 8. Rb1
d6 9. b4 b6 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Ne4 h6 14. b5 Bb7 15. a4
f5 16. Nd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qd7 18. Bb2 Kh7 19. e3 dxe3 20. Bxg7 Qb7+ 21. Nf3 e2
22. Rfe1 Kxg7 23. d4 g5 24. Kg1 Ng6 25. Rxe2 Rf6 26. c5 bxc5 27. dxc5 dxc5 28.
Ne5 Re8 29. Rd1 Nxe5 30. Rxe5 Qc7 31. Qc3 c4 32. Rd4 Re7 33. Rxc4 Qd7 34. Rd4
Qb7 35. Rd6 Kf7 36. Rc5 f4 37. Rdc6 fxg3 38. hxg3 Qd7 39. Qc2 Rf5 40. Rc7 Qd6
41. Rxf5+ exf5 42. Qxf5+ Kg7 43. Rc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 b5 8. a4 b4
9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. e4 cxd4 11. e5 Nfd7 12. Nc4 Nc6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Rc1 Bc5 15.
Nxd4 Ndxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Nf3 Qd6 18. Qc2 Ba7 19. Rfd1 Qc7 20. Qe4 O-O 21.
Bf4 Qb6 22. Be3 Qa5 23. Ng5 Qf5 24. Qxf5 exf5 25. Bxa7 Rxa7 26. Nxf7 Na5 27.
Be6 Ba8 28. Rc5 Nc6 29. Ne5+ Kh8 30. Nxc6 Rc7 31. Rxf5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bg5 c5
8. Bc4 Qa5+ 9. c3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Rd8 12. Re5 Qb6 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. Nxd4
h6 15. Bh4 Nd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Re1 Bd7 18. Bd3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Bb1 Rd6
21. Qc2 Kf8 22. Qh7 Rd2 23. Rf5 Be4 24. Rxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxe4 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Kf8
27. Qb4+ Kg8 28. Qe4 Rad8 29. Qxe6+ Qf7 30. Bh7+ Kf8 31. Qe4 R8d6 32. h4 Rd1
33. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 34. Kh2 Qc7+ 35. g3 Rd2+ 36. Kh3 Qd7+ 37. Bf5 Qc6 38. Qf4 Qd6
39. Qf3 Qf6 40. Qf4 Rd6 41. h5 a5 42. Qe4 Rd8 43. g4 b6 44. a4 Kg8 45. Kg3 Kh8
46. Kf3 Qh4 47. Qe6 Qh3+ 48. Kf4 Qh2+ 49. Kf3 Qd6 50. Qxd6 Rxd6 51. Ke4 Rd2 52.
b4 Kg8 53. bxa5 bxa5 54. c4 Kf7 55. Ke5 Ke7 56. c5 Rd1 57. c6 Rc1 58. Kd5 Rc3
59. Bd7 Kd8 60. Ke6 Rc5 61. Kd6 Rc4 62. Be6 Rd4+ 63. Bd5 Rd1 64. c7+ Kc8 65.
Kc6 Rc1+ 66. Kb6 Rxc7 67. Be6+ Kb8 68. Kxa5 Rb7 69. Ka6 Rb2 70. Bf5 Kc7 71. a5
Kc6 72. Be4+ Kc5 73. Ka7 Ra2 74. a6 Kd6 75. Kb7 Rb2+ 76. Kc8 Ra2 77. Kb7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Andersson, Ulf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bd3 d5 8. O-O
Bd6 9. exd5 exd5 10. h3 O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bd4 Rxe1+ 14. Qxe1
Be6 15. Na4 Bc7 16. Be5 Nd7 17. Bxc7 Qxc7 18. Qe3 a5 19. b3 Qa7 20. Qf4 Qb8 21.
Qh4 h6 22. Qd4 Qb4 23. c3 Qd6 24. Re1 c5 25. Qe3 Rd8 26. Rd1 Rc8 27. Be4 Nf6
28. Bf3 Bd7 29. Nb2 Bc6 30. Nc4 Qc7 31. Nb2 Bb7 32. Qd2 Re8 33. Na4 Rc8 34. Re1
Ba8 35. Qd3 Bb7 36. h4 Ba8 37. Qf5 Bb7 38. h5 Rd8 39. Qe5 Rc8 40. Qe7 Ba6 41.
Re5 Qc6 42. c4 Re8 43. Qxc5 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Salov, Valery"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E29"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nc6 8.
Nf3 d6 9. e4 h6 10. h3 e5 11. d5 Ne7 12. Nd2 Nh7 13. g4 Ng6 14. Nf1 Nf4 15. Qf3
Qf6 16. Bc2 Nxd5 17. Qxf6 Ndxf6 18. f3 Ng5 19. Kf2 Kh7 20. Ne3 g6 21. a4 b6 22.
a5 bxa5 23. Rxa5 Ne6 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. h4 Kg7 26. Bd2 Nf4 27. Rda1 Rd7 28. Ba4
Rc7 29. Bb5 Bd7 30. Ra6 Rb7 31. R1a5 Ne8 32. Bxd7 Rxd7 33. Nd5 Nxd5 34. cxd5 f6
35. Ke2 g5 36. h5 Rb7 37. c4 Kf7 38. Ra2 Ke7 39. Kd3 Nc7 40. R6a3 Kd7 41. Kc2
Kc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov plays this game in a very low key, slow, positional style. But his
handling of the positional problems is fresh and free of preconceptions.} 1. e4
{Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6
8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 c5 (11... Rb8 12. Qf3 c5 13. Nf5 Bxf5
14. Qxf5 Qd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. b3 Nd7 18. Bb2 $14 {Siepelt,
H-Stobik,D/BL2-S 1996/BL2/1-0 (77)}) 12. Nf3 $146 (12. Nde2 Be6 (12... Bc6 13.
Ng3 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15. Qf3 Bd7 16. Bg5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Be7 18. Re2 $14 {Adamson,
R-Stetson,R/Webb op 1989/EXT 89op2/1-0 (52)}) 13. Nf4 Nd7 14. Ncd5 Bf6 15.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Nh5 Qe7 $11 {1-0 Soltis,A-Haririan,B/Boston op 1988/EXT 88op2 
(35)}) 12... Re8 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Bd6 15. Bf4 Bf5 16. Rc1 {Very cool
defence of c2, but its good becase its the only weakness in Whites position.}
Re6 17. Qf3 Qe8 18. Nd3 c4 19. Rxe6 Bxe6 20. Ne5 Rb8 21. Re1 Qf8 (21... Rxb2
22. Nxc4 Rxc2 23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Qd3 $16) 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $14 Re8 24. Nd3
c5 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Qf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4 Bf5 28. Rc1 $1 {Again, this funny R
move. Now the threat is g4, kicking the B, then Ra1 is coming.} c4 (28... h5
29. Nfd5 Nxd5 30. Nxd5 Be6 31. Nc7 $1 (31. Ne3 f5 $132) 31... Rc8 32. Nxe6 fxe6
33. Ra1 Rc6 34. Kf1 c4 35. b4 c3 36. Ke2 Rc4 37. Rxa6 Rxb4 38. Kd3 $16) (28...
Re5 29. g4 g5 30. Ng2 $16) 29. bxc4 Rc8 30. Ncd5 $1 {Black is not going to get
his P back after this.} Nxd5 31. Nxd5 Kf8 32. Ra1 Bxc2 33. Nb6 Rc7 (33... Rc6
34. Rxa6 Ke8 35. Ra8+ Ke7 36. Nd5+ Kd6 37. Ne3 Bb3 38. Rg8 $16) 34. Rxa6 g6 35.
f3 Kg7 36. Ra3 Rc6 37. Rc3 Rxb6 38. Rxc2 Kf6 39. Kf2 Ke5 40. Re2+ Kd6 41. Kg3
Rc6 42. Rd2+ Ke5 43. Rd5+ Ke6 44. Rd4 Ra6 45. Re4+ Kd6 46. h4 Ra2 47. c5+ Kd7
48. c6+ Kd6 49. Rc4 Kc7 50. Rf4 f5 51. Rc4 h5 52. Rc5 Ra4 53. Re5 f4+ 54. Kh3
Rd4 55. Re6 $18 Rd6 56. Rxd6 Kxd6 {Hecht: Weiß benutzt die momentane
Abwesenheit des schwarzen Königs zum Gewinn eines Bauern....} 57. g3 Kxc6 58.
gxf4 {[#] Wie schon im Endspiel Izeta-Frois/EU-chT Pula/1997/ gewinnt Weiß
trotz der schlechten Bauernstellung durch vorsichtiges Herumspielen seines
Königs um den Doppelbauern zur Mitte. Danach gewinnt er leicht infolge
Zugzwang oder Damengewinn.} Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 (59... Kd4 {Hecht} 60. f5 Ke5 61.
fxg6 Kf6 62. Kf4 Kxg6 63. Ke5 $18) 60. Kf2 Kf6 61. Ke2 Ke6 62. Kd3 Kd5 63. Ke3
Ke6 64. Ke4 Kf6 65. f5 g5 (65... gxf5+ 66. Kf4 $18 (66. Kd5 {Hecht} f4 67. Ke4
Ke6 68. Kxf4 Kf6 69. Ke4 Ke6 70. f4 Kf6 71. f5 Kf7 72. Ke5 Ke7 73. f6+ Kf7 74.
Kf5 Kf8 75. Kg6 Kg8 76. Kxh5 Kf7 77. Kg5 $18) (66. Kf4 Ke6 67. Kg5 Ke5 68. Kxh5
Kf4 69. Kg6 $18)) 66. hxg5+ Kxg5 67. Ke5 h4 68. f6 Kg6 (68... h3 {Hecht} 69. f7
h2 70. f8=Q h1=Q 71. Qg7+ Kh4 72. Qh6+ $18) 69. Ke6 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Shirov plays a new move, with a brand new plan to go with it, but he fails to
prove its value. Whites play could perhaps be improved, so the line is worth
another try.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7.
d3 Qf6 8. Be3 (8. Nbd2 {Leads to the drawish main line.} Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4
Bd6 11. hxg4 hxg4 12. Nh2 Rxh2 13. Qxg4 Qh4 14. Qxh4 Rxh4 15. Nf3 Rh5 16. dxe5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. c3 {Gipslis in ECO gives +/= here} O-O-O (18... g5 $11)
19. Be3 g5 $11 {Barendregt,J-Zuidema,C/Amsterdam IBM 1965/MCL 08/0-1 (88)})
8... Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qxf3 10. gxf3 Bd6 11. Nd2 (11. Kh2 f5 12. Rg1 Kf7 13. a4 Ne7
14. Kg2 Ng6 $132 {1-0 De Vreugt,D-Van de Oudeweetering,A/NLD-ch op 1994/EXT
94ch (38)}) (11. c4 Nf6 12. c5 Be7 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Rc3 f5 16.
exf5 Rhf8 $15 {Den Broeder,G-Van der Weij,A/NLD-chT 1993/EXT 93ch/0-1 (74)}) (
11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Kg2 (12. Kh2 f6 13. h4 Ng6 14. Kh3 Nf8 15. Rg1 Kf7 16. Rg2 Ne6
17. Rag1 Rhg8 18. Ne2 {1/2-1/2 Siroky,J-Mrva,V/SVK-chT 1995/EXT 95ch}) 12...
Ng6 13. Rg1 O-O-O {1/2-1/2 Siroky,J-Sturc,G/SVK-chT 1995/EXT 95ch}) 11... Ne7
12. Rfb1 $146 {Shirov launches a completely new plan in this position. Rather
than trying to do something on the g-file, he starts play on the Q-side. The
main drawback is that there is little to be had there if Black is cautious.} (
12. Rfd1 f6 13. Kf1 (13. Nb3 Kf7 14. Kf1 g5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Ng6 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Dassel,U-Harzheim,L/NRW-I 1989/BIG 80 (23)}) 13... g5 14. Ke2 Ng6 15.
Nf1 Kf7 16. Ng3 Ne7 17. Rh1 h4 18. Nf1 a5 19. a4 {1/2-1/2 Larsen,O-Notkin,M/
Aalborg op 1995/EXT 95op}) (12. Nc4 Ng6 13. Kh1 f6 14. Rg1 Kf7 15. Rg3 Ne7 (
15... Nh4 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Bxf4 d5 $10 {0-1 Ljubojevic,L-Spassky,
B/Tilburg 1978/MCL 08/[Ftacnik] (43)}) 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Bxf4 Rad8
19. Rag1 Rhg8 $11 {Zaitsev,I-Notkin,M/Podolsk-chT 1993/TD 93\07/0-1 (65)}) (12.
Kh1 O-O-O 13. Rg1 Rh7 14. Rg2 c5 15. Rag1 g6 16. Bg5 Re8 17. Bxe7 Bxe7 18. Nc4
Bf6 19. a4 $14 {Rozentalis,E-Duong Thanh Nha/Montreal op 1995/EXT 95op/1-0 (57)
}) (12. Kh2 f6 13. Nc4 O-O-O 14. h4 Kd7 15. Rg1 g6 16. Rab1 Ke6 $13 {Watanabe,
R-Zapata,M/WchJ-U20 Santiago 1990/EXT 90ch/0-1 (46)}) 12... Ng6 13. b4 f6 14.
a4 Kf7 15. Kf1 Nf8 16. Ke2 Ne6 {Now White has to explain the meaning behind
the moves a4 and b4.} 17. c3 $6 {Achange of plan, now White wants to go d4
instead.} (17. c4 $5 {trying for b5 or c5 is at least more in line with the
main idea of a Q-side expansion.} Nd4+ (17... b6 18. c5 bxc5 19. bxc5 Bxc5 20.
Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Rc1 $16) 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. c5 Bf4 20. Nc4 $13) 17... Rhd8 18. Nc4
(18. d4 exd4 (18... g5 19. d5 cxd5 20. exd5 Nf4+ 21. Bxf4 exf4) 19. cxd4 Nf4+ (
19... Bf4 20. Nb3) 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. Nb3 Rd6 22. Rd1 Rad8 23. Rd3 $11) 18... b6
19. Kd2 (19. Nxd6+ Rxd6 20. a5 b5 21. Rd1 Rad8 22. Rac1 g5 23. c4 Ke7 24. cxb5
cxb5 25. Bc5 Nxc5 26. Rxc5 c6 $11) 19... Be7 20. Kc2 Rd7 21. Rd1 Rad8 22. Rd2
g6 23. Rad1 Bf8 24. Kb3 {Finally White threatens d4 again.} c5 $1 $17 25. b5 a5
26. Kc2 Bg7 {White's play is gone, now Black has all the options.} 27. Rh1 f5
28. Rdd1 f4 29. Bc1 Bf6 30. h4 Kg7 31. Rh2 Kh7 32. Rg2 Kh6 33. Rdg1 Rg7 34. Rh1
Kh7 35. Rhg1 Rdg8 36. Rh1 Kh6 37. Kd2 g5 38. hxg5+ Nxg5 39. Ke2 Ne6 40. Rgh2 h4
41. Rxh4+ {The best practical chance} Bxh4 42. Rxh4+ Kg5 43. Rh1 Kf6 44. Bb2
Rg5 45. Rh7 Re8 46. Rd7 Re7 47. Rd5 Rh7 48. d4 exd4 49. e5+ Kf5 50. cxd4 Rg2
51. Nd6+ {Imaginative counterplay, but the position is still lost.} cxd6 52.
exd6+ Kg6 53. d7 Nd8 54. dxc5 bxc5 55. Bc3 Kf7 56. Bxa5 Ke6 57. Rxc5 Rxd7 58.
Bc7 Rgg7 59. Bxf4 Nb7 60. Rc6+ Kd5 61. Be3 Rg1 $19 62. Rh6 Kc4 63. Rc6+ Kb3 64.
b6 Kxa4 65. f4 Kb5 66. Rc2 Nd6 67. Rc5+ Ka6 68. Rd5 Rgg7 69. Kf3 Nc4 70. Rc5
Nxb6 71. Rc6 Rb7 72. f5 Rgc7 73. Re6 Kb5 74. Re5+ Kc4 75. Ke4 Nd7 76. Ra5 Nf6+
77. Ke5 Rc6 78. Bg5 Rb5+ 79. Rxb5 Nd7+ 80. Ke4 Kxb5 81. Kd5 Rc5+ 82. Ke6 Nf8+
0-1

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Bb4 {Eine in letzter Zeit sehr populäre
Zugfolge. In einigen Varianten kann Schwarz statt des "normalen" Nf6 - Ne7
spielen.Ribli.} 4. Nf3 Nf6 {So entsteht die sogenannte "Ragosin-Variante".
Schwarz strebt lebendiges Figurenspiel an. Meiner Meinung nach ist das ganze
System jedoch ein wenig unnatürlich.Ribli.} 5. Bg5 {Mit dem Partiezug bietet
Weiß seinem Kontrahenten die Gelegenheit mit 5...dxc4 in die Wiener-Variante
einzulenken. Wenn Weiß das umgehen möchte, kann er zuerst 5.cxd5 cxd5 und
anschließend 6.Bg5 ziehen.Ribli.} h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 {Das ist
ein sehr einfaches und gutes System für Weiß. Er besitzt Vorteil im Zentrum
und in Wirklichkeit ist die schwarze Dame auf f6 schlecht postiert. Schwarz
hat zwar das Läuferpaar, aber es dürfte schwierig sein, für den Bc8 eine gute
Zukunft zu finden.Ribli.} dxc4 (8... c6 9. a3 (9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Bxc3 11. Rxc3
dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. Bb3 exd4 14. exd4 Qd6 15. Re1 $14 {Kasparov,G-Benjamin,J/
Horgen 1994/1/2-1/2 (58)})) 9. Bxc4 c5 (9... Nc6 10. O-O Bxc3 11. Rxc3 e5 12.
d5 Ne7 13. Bb3 Bg4 14. Rxc7 Qd6 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. Rxc8 Rxc8 17. Qe4 {1-0 Van
der Sterren,P-Blatny,P/Moscow olm 1994 (53)}) 10. O-O (10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O
Qe7 12. Ne4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bb6 14. a3 Bd7 15. Ba2 Be8 16. Bb1 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,
Z-Serper,G/Groningen PCA 1993 (25)}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4 (11. Nxd4 {Das ist
die andere Möglichkeit, wenn Weiß keinen Isolani bekommen möchte.Ribli.} a6 $5
12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Nb3 Rd8 14. Qc2 Qf8 15. Be2 Bd7 16. a3 Be7 17. Na5 b6 18. Nc4
b5 19. Ne5 Ra7 20. Rfd1 {0-1 Gagarin,V-Aleksandrov,A/RUS-Cup2 Moscow 1996 (38)}
) (11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Nc6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Rd1
Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {1/2-1/2 Podgaets,M-Gorelov,S/URS-FL Sverdlovsk 1984 (23)})
11... Nc6 (11... Bxc3 $5) 12. Ne4 Qd8 (12... Qf4 {Das wäre eine Alternativet,
aber die Qf4 ist nur scheinbar aktiv, in Wirklichkeit ist sie für Weiß mit
Tempogewinn leicht anzugreifen.}) (12... Qe7 13. Qe2 $14) (12... Qf4 13. Qe2
Rd8 14. g3 (14. Rfd1 Be7 15. d5 $4 exd5 {0-1 Vandevoort,P-Sosonko,G/Brussels
zt (03)/1993/}) 14... Qf5 (14... Qg4 15. Qe3 Ba5 16. Be2 Bb6 17. Rfd1 (17. Ne5
Qf5 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Nc5 Qd5 20. Rfd1 Qxa2 21. Bc4 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qc2 23. Bd3
Qa2) 17... Qf5 18. Nc5 Qf6 $1 19. Ne5 Nb4 $2 (19... Nxe5 20. Qxe5 $5 Qxe5 21.
dxe5 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 Bd7 24. Bf3 Rc8 25. Ra5 $16) 20. a3 (20. Bh5
$5 g6 21. Qxh6 Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Bf3 Nxa2 24. Ra1 Nb4 25. Nc4 $16) 20...
Nd5 21. Qe4 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Benjamin,J/Horgen CS (10)/1994 (41)}) 15. Rfd1 Ba5 (
15... Bf8 16. a3 Bd7 17. Bd3 Qh5 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Rxc5 Qg4 20. Kg2 b6 21. Rc3
Qh5 22. Ne5 Qxe2 23. Bxe2 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Ba4 25. b3 Rxd1 26. Bxd1 Bb5 {1/2-1/2
Cebalo,M-Dizdar,G/CRO-ch/1995 (32)}) 16. Nh4 Qh7 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bf5 {
1-0 Shneider,A-Blatny,P/Bern op 1995 (35)} (18... Bf5 {Ftacnik} 19. Nc5 Bb6 20.
Nxb7 Nd4 (20... Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Nd4 22. Qd2 $18) 21. Rxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxd8 Rxd8 23.
Rc7 {1-0 Shneider,A-Blatny,P/Bern op (05)/1995 (36)})) 13. a3 (13. d5 exd5 14.
Bxd5 Bf5 $1 $8 (14... Ne7 $2 15. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 16. Qb3+ Nd5 17. Rfd1 Be6 18.
Nd4 $40) (14... Bg4 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6 $16) (14... Bd7 15. a3 $1 Be7 16. b4
$14) 15. Qb3 Qb6 {1/2-1/2 Komarov,D-Kupreichik,V/Jugoslavija 1995 (25)} (15...
Qb6 {Ftacnik} 16. Ng3 (16. a3 Be7 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Ng3 Bd3 20.
Rfd1 Bb5 21. Nd4 Bf6 $11) 16... Bd7 17. Nh5 $5 {><g7} Bg4 18. Bxc6 (18. Nf4 $6
Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bd2 $1 $36) 18... bxc6 (18... Bxh5 19. Bd5 $11) 19. Rc4 (19. Nxg7
$2 Kxg7 20. Ne5 Bd2 $1 $19) 19... Bxh5 20. Rxb4 Qa5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Komarov,
D-Kupreichik,V/JUG/1995 (26)})) (13. Qd3 {Ftacnik} Be7 14. a3 Bd7 $11) 13...
Ba5 (13... Be7 {Meiner Meinung nach wäre diese Fortsetzung logisch, aber Judit
hat andere Gedanken im Kopf. Sie möchte Pd4 attackieren.Ribli.}) (13... Be7 {
Ftacnik} 14. Qd3 $5 (14. d5 exd5 15. Bxd5 Bf5 $11)) 14. Qd3 Bb6 15. Rfd1 {
Weiß hat einen isolierten Pd4 aber -wie üblich im Damengambit- auch
Raumvorteil. Der schwarze Bc8 findet kein gutes Feld.Ribli.} Qe7 (15... Ne7 {
Ftacnik} 16. Ba2 Bd7 17. Bb1 $14) 16. Bb5 (16. Ba2 {Ftacnik} Rd8) 16... Bd7 (
16... Rd8 $5 {Ftacnik} 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rxc6 (18. Qe3 Bb7 19. Ne5 Rac8 20. b4
$13) 18... Bb7 19. Rcc1 e5 20. Ng3 Qe6 21. Qe3 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Bxd4 23. b4 a5 $11
) 17. Nc5 $14 Be8 (17... Bxc5 18. dxc5 {[%csl Rd6]}) (17... Rac8 {Ftacnik} 18.
Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Ne5 $14) 18. Qc3 Rc8 (18... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 19. Nxb7
Qxb7 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxc6 Qxc6 22. Rxc6 $14) 19. b4 {[%csl Gc5] Weiß hat ein
sehr gut plazierten Nc5. Es ist schwierig für Schwarz, zu Gegenspiel zu kommen,
aber Judit verteidigt sich hartnäckig.Ribli.} a5 20. Bd3 {[%cal Gd3b1,Gd3h7]
Der Läufer wechselt auf die Diagonale b1-h7, auf der er den schwarzen König
ein wenig beunruhigen kann.Ribli.} axb4 21. axb4 Rc7 (21... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 22.
Qe1 $14) 22. Qe1 $1 {Ein wahrhaft großmeisterlicher Zug! Die Opposition mit
dem Turm war der weißen Dame unangenehm, von e1 droht sie nun nach e4 zu
ziehen. Übrigens steht sie auch sonst ganz gut auf e1, sie deckt Pb4 und
kontrolliert die e-Linie.Ribli.} Kh8 (22... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qe1
Rfc8 25. Bc4 $14) 23. h4 $5 {Weiß gewinnt zusätzlich Raum und verhindert das
später eventuell mögliche Qg5.Ribli.} Qd6 24. Bb1 (24. Qe4 {Ftacnik} f5 $1 25.
Qxe6 $4 Bxc5 $19) 24... Qf4 25. Be4 {Jetzt droht Weiß mit 26.Nxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxc6.
Ribli.} Ne7 (25... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 26. g3 $14) 26. g3 Qf6 27. Ne5 {[%csl Gc5,Ge5]
[%cal Re5g4,Rg4f6] Weiß aktiviert nicht nur seinen Springer, sondern droht
zugleich 28.Ng4 mit Damenfang.Ribli.} (27. Nxb7 $6 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Bxd4 (28...
Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Qb6 31. Nc5 $14)) 27... Nf5 (27... Bc6 $4
{Ftacnik} 28. Ng4 $18) (27... Nc6 $5 {Ftacnik} 28. Ng4 Qe7) 28. Ng4 Qd8 (28...
Qe7 29. d5 (29. Bxf5 {Ftacnik} exf5 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. Ne3 $16) 29... Bxc5 30.
bxc5 Rxc5 31. Bxf5 $18 (31. d6 $2 Nxd6 32. Rxc5 Nxe4 $13)) 29. d5 $1 $16 {
All the white pieces are harmoniously supporting this breakthrough. Da nun
alles gut vorbereitet ist, zelebriert Weiß den Durchbruch.Ribli. Alle weisse
Krafte unterstutzen mit Harmonie diesen wichtigen Durchbruch.} Nd6 (29... Qe7 {
Ftacnik} 30. Bxf5 exf5 31. d6 Qxe1+ 32. Rxe1 $16) 30. dxe6 f5 {Jetzt beginnt
ein scharfer taktischer Kampf, jedoch mit weißem Vorteil.Ribli.} 31. Nxb7 (31.
Qd2 $5 {Ftacnik} fxe4 (31... Ba4 32. Bc2 Bxc2 33. Rxc2 fxg4 34. Qxd6 $18) 32.
Qxd6 Qxd6 33. Rxd6 Ba7 34. Ne5 $16) 31... Qe7 $5 (31... Rxb7 32. Bxb7 Qe7 (
32... fxg4 33. e7 $18) 33. Rxd6 {Führt zur Partiefortsetzung.} (33. Ne5 {
Ftacnik} Nxb7 34. Rd7 (34. Nd7 Rf6 35. Nxf6 $16) 34... Qxe6 35. Rxb7 f4 36. Nd3
Qg6 37. Nc5 $18)) 32. Rxd6 (32. Nxd6 Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Qxd6) 32... Rxb7 $8 (32...
fxe4 33. Rxb6 $18 (33. Rxb6 {Ftacnik} Rxb7 34. Rxb7 Qxb7 35. Qc3 $18)) (32...
fxg4 33. Rxb6 $18) 33. Bxb7 Qxd6 (33... Qxb7 34. e7 $18 (34. Nxh6 $1 {Ftacnik}
gxh6 35. Qe5+ $18)) 34. e7 $1 {Weiß hat keine Angst vor Komplikationen. Er
opfert seinen Pg3 mit Schach, aber das ist irrelevant, weil sein Pe7 so
mächtig ist.Ribli.} (34. Qe5 Bxf2+ $1 35. Kxf2 $4 fxg4+ $19) (34. Ne3 {Ftacnik}
Qxe6 35. Nd5 Qd7 36. Nxb6 Qxb7 37. Rc8 $18) 34... Qxg3+ $6 (34... Rf7 $5 {
Meiner Meinung nach wäre das die beste Verteidigung für Schwarz. Natürlich hat
Weiß auch hier Vorteil, aber Schwarz kann sich noch verteidigen.Ribli.}) (34...
Rf7 {Ftacnik} 35. Rc8 Rxe7 36. Rxe8+ Rxe8 37. Qxe8+ Kh7 38. Kh2 $18) 35. Bg2
Rg8 (35... Rf7 {Ftacnik} 36. Rc8 $18) 36. Ne5 {[%csl Ge5,Ge7]} Qxh4 37. Rc8 {
[%csl Rg6][%cal Rc8e8]} Kh7 (37... Qxe7 $2 38. Ng6+ $18) ({Die Drohung ist} 
37... Z0 38. Rxe8 Rxe8 39. Ng6+ $18) (37... Qf4 $2 {Ftacnik} 38. Rxe8 Bxf2+ 39.
Qxf2 Qxe5 40. Rxg8+ Kxg8 41. Qxf5 $18) (37... Bh5 {Ftacnik} 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39.
Nd3 Kh7 40. e8=Q Bxe8 41. Qxe8 Qd4 42. Qb5 $18) (37... Qg3 $5 {Ftacnik} 38. Nc4
Bd4 (38... Ba7 39. b5 Bd4 40. Qd2 $18) 39. Qd2 (39. Rd8 $1 Qg4 40. Nd6 f4 41.
Nf7+ Bxf7 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. e8=Q+ Bxe8 44. Qxe8+ Kh7 45. Qe4+ Qg6 $11) 39...
Ba7 40. b5 Bxb5 41. Rxg8+ Kxg8 42. Qa2 Bxf2+ 43. Qxf2 $18) 38. Nc4 Bd4 (38...
Qf6) (38... Ba7 {Ftacnik} 39. Nd6 Qh5 40. Nxe8 $18) 39. Nd6 $18 Qh5 (39...
Bxf2+ {Ftacnik} 40. Qxf2 Qxe7 41. Nxe8 $18) 40. Nxe8 Rxe8 41. Rxe8 Qxe8 42. Qe6
{[%csl Ge6][%cal Rg2c6,Rc6e8]} Bf6 $8 (42... g6 {Ftacnik} 43. Bc6 $18) 43.
Qxf5+ Kg8 (43... Kh8 44. Be4 $18) 44. Bd5+ Kh8 45. Be4 {Und Schwarz gab. Eine
von Topalov sehr stark gespielte Partie.Ribli.} (45. Be4 Qg8 (45... Kg8 {
Ftacnik} 46. Qh7+ Kf7 47. Bg6+ $18) 46. e8=Q $18) 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 f5 11. Bg5 Qe8 12. Nd5 Qf7 13. dxe5 Ngxe5 14. exf5 Bxf5
15. Qd2 Rae8 16. Rae1 Kh8 17. b3 a6 18. Kh1 Nxf3 19. Bxf3 Nd4 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21.
Bd1 Be4 22. Nc3 Bc6 23. Bg4 Bf3 24. Bh3 Be2 25. Re1 Qxf2 26. Bg4 Nc2 27. Rc1
Bxc3 28. Qxc3+ Nd4 29. Bd7 Re5 30. Qg3 Qf7 31. Bh3 Re4 32. Rg1 Kg8 33. Bd2 Bf1
34. Bg4 Be2 35. Bh3 h5 36. Bc3 Qf6 37. c5 h4 38. Bxd4 Rxd4 39. Qe3 Qe5 40. Qh6
Bd3 41. cxd6 cxd6 42. Rc1 Bf5 43. Bxf5 Qxf5 44. h3 Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. a4 O-O 8. Ra3 Bb7
9. Nf3 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Be2 $6 (11. Qd6 axb5 (11... Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13.
Bd3 Bb7 14. Qxc5 axb5 15. axb5 d6 16. Qb4 Qc7 17. O-O Nd7 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Bd2
Nc5 20. Bc2 Qb6 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Ra2 24. Rc1 {1-0 Flear,
G-Fedorowicz,J/Brussels OHRA op (08)/1987 (41)}) (11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Qc8 13.
f4 Ne8 14. Qd1 axb5 15. Bxb5 Nc7 16. Be2 d5 17. h4 Nc6 18. h5 Ne7 19. hxg6 hxg6
20. e4 Qb7 21. Nb5 c4 22. Bg4 Ra6 23. Nxc7 Qxc7 24. exd5 exd5 25. Qe2 Nf5 {
1-0 Thorsteins,K-Meinsohn,P/Lyon op/1990 (42)}) (11... Qa5 12. Bd2 Qb4 13. Nd1
Qg4 14. Qg3 Qf5 15. Qg5 Ne4 16. Qxf5 gxf5 17. Ba5 d5 18. Be2 Nd7 19. O-O Rfc8
20. Be1 c4 {0-1 Marszalek,R-Berg,K/Pernik (04)/1984 (43)}) (11... Qc8 12. Be2
Ne8 13. Qg3 (13. Qd2 d5 14. O-O Nd7 15. b3 Nd6 16. Bb2 Rf5 17. bxa6 Bxa6 18.
Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 Rxa3 20. Bxa3 Ne4 21. Qa5 Nc3 {1/2-1/2 Jelen,Ig-Baklan,V/
Groningen op (06) 1996 (33)}) 13... d5 (13... axb5 $1 14. Bxb5 (14. Nxb5 $1 d5
$6 (14... Na6 $5 {Catalan}) 15. Ng5 {/\ Qh3} (15. O-O Nc6 16. b3 Ne7 17. Ra2
Nf5 18. Qh3 e5 19. Ba3 e4 20. Nh4 Rf6 21. Rc2 c4 22. Bb2 Rf7 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24.
Bxg7 Rxg7 25. Rfc1 Qd7 26. bxc4 Rxa4 27. Nd4 {1-0 Fedorowicz,J-Kohlweyer,B/
Dortmund/1986/}) 15... Ra6 16. O-O (16. Bg4 $6 Nf6 17. Nc7 Nxg4 18. Nxa6 Bxa6
$44) 16... c4 17. Bg4 Rf6 18. e4 $1 dxe4 19. Re3 Bh6 (19... Rf5 20. Nxe4 $1 $16
) 20. Rc3 $16 {Al Thani-Logins/corr/1991/}) 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nc6 16. O-O Ne5
17. Be2 d5 18. Bd2 (18. f4 {>=}) 18... Nd6 19. b3 Nf5 20. Qh3 g5 $1 $17 {
Martin del Campo,J-Fedorowicz,J/Mexico/1991/}) 14. O-O Nf6 (14... axb5 $1) 15.
Qh3 (15. Bd2 Qe8 16. Ra2 Qe7 17. Rd1 Nh5 18. Qg4 axb5 19. Bxb5 Nc6 20. Be1 Rf5
21. a5 Nb4 22. Ra4 Rb8 23. a6 Ba8 24. e4 Rf4 25. Qh3 d4 {1-0 Conquest,S-Mainka,
R/Dortmund-B/1987 (43)}) 15... Qe8 (15... axb5 16. axb5 Rxa3 17. bxa3) 16. Rd1
Qe7 (16... Nbd7 17. Ng5) 17. Ng5 $1 Bc8 18. Bg4 axb5 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Bxc8 b4
21. Rad3 h6 22. Be6+ Kh8 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxd5 {1-0 Tarjan,J-Benjamin,J/
USA-ch (10) ;MCL 03 1983 (37)}) 12. Bxb5 Na6 (12... Qc8 13. O-O Ne8 14. Qg3
Bxf3 15. gxf3 d5 16. e4 d4 17. Ne2 Nc6 18. Bd2 Ne5 19. Rc1 d3 20. f4 dxe2 21.
fxe5 Qc7 22. Bc3 Bh6 {1/2-1/2 Boissonet,C-Matamoros,C/WchJ Gausdal (11)/1986 
(29)}) (12... Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bd3 (14. O-O Rf5 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 Qf6 16.
Nd2 Bc2 17. Rf1 Qd8 18. Nf3 Bf8 19. Qg3 d5 20. Qh3 Qf6 21. Ne1 Bd1 22. f3 c4
23. g4 Re5 24. Ng2 Bb3 {Burger,K-Alburt,L/New York Kavkasian/1983/1/2-1/2 (54)}
) 15... Nc6 16. Qg3 d5 17. Qh3 Qe7 18. Nd2 Bc2 19. Bg4 Rf6 20. e4 Rxa4 21. exd5
Rxa3 22. Qxa3 exd5 23. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Petursson,M-Hodgson,J/Moscow-A/1987 (27)})
14... Bxd3 15. Qxd3 (15. Rxd3 Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Qxa4 17. Ra3 Qc6 18. Qxc6 Nxc6 19.
Bc1 Rab8 20. b3 Rb5 21. Kd1 Rfb8 22. Kc2 Nb4+ 23. Kd2 d5 {0-1 Babu,NS-Hebden,M/
London Lloyds/1990 (36)}) 15... d5 16. b3 Nc6 17. O-O Qe7 18. e4 d4 19. Bd2 h6
20. Ra2 Rf7 21. Qb5 Rc8 22. Rc2 Rxf3 23. Rxc5 {1-0 Stone,R-Popovych,O/
Philadelphia (05)/1989 (37)}) 13. O-O Rc8 14. e4 Nb4 15. e5 Bxf3 16. exf6 Qxf6
17. gxf3 Nc2 18. Ne4 Qh4 19. Bg5 Qh5 20. Bxd7 Nxa3 21. Bxe6+ Kh8 22. Bg4 {
1-0 Andruet,G-Widmann,Ru/Dortmund op (10)/1986/}) 11... d5 (11... axb5 12. Nxb5
d5 13. O-O {1/2-1/2 Schmidt,Wl-Popov,L/Warsaw zt-B (03)/1979/}) 12. bxa6 (12.
O-O $5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Nc6 14. Bd2 Qe7) 12... Nxa6 13. O-O Nb4 14. Bd2 Qe7 15.
Nb5 Nc6 (15... e5 16. Bxb4 cxb4 17. Ra1 Rfd8 $44) 16. Qb1 (16. Bc3 e5 17. a5 d4
$36) 16... e5 {White has only limited possibilities to counter the massive
black pawn center. Weiss hat nur begrenzte Moglichkeiten dem massivem
schwarzem Zentrum zu wiederstehen.} 17. h3 Kh8 (17... Ne4 $5 18. Qc2 (18. Rd1
Nxf2 $1 19. Kxf2 e4 20. Bc3 exf3 21. gxf3 Ne5 $17) (18. Bc4 $2 dxc4 19. Qxe4
Nd4 $19)) 18. Rc1 e4 19. Nh2 (19. Ne1 d4 $15) 19... d4 20. exd4 (20. Ng4 d3 (
20... Nxg4 21. Bxg4 Ne5 22. exd4 cxd4 23. Rc7 Qh4 24. Be1 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Bd5 26.
Qd1 d3 $13) 21. Bd1 Nxg4 22. Bxg4 Ne5 $17) 20... cxd4 21. Qa2 $6 (21. b4 Nd5
22. Rc5 Rad8 $13 (22... Rf5 23. Bg4 Re5 24. Qb3 $16) (22... e3 23. fxe3 dxe3
24. Rxd5 exd2 25. Rxd2 Rxa4 26. Rxa4 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxd2 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Bxd1
Rf4 $11)) 21... Rad8 22. a5 d3 23. Bg4 (23. Bd1 Nd5 24. Ng4 (24. a6 Rxf2 $1 25.
Nf3 Ncb4 26. Qc4 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Bxa6 $17) 24... h5 25. Ne3 Qf6 $15) (23. Bf1 Nd5
) 23... Nd5 24. a6 Ncb4 (24... Qf6 25. Rf1 Ncb4 26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Qe6 Nxa6 $17)
25. Qb3 (25. Qa1 Bc6 26. Nc3 (26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Rxc6 Nxc6 28. a7 Ra8 $19) 26...
Nc2 27. Rxc2 dxc2 $17) 25... Nxa6 26. Nc7 (26. Nc3 e3 27. fxe3 Nxe3 $17) 26...
Naxc7 27. Qxb7 Rb8 (27... Rb8 28. Qc6 (28. Qa7 Bxb2 $19) 28... Rxb2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Illescas Cordoba,M"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Lutz} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 $5 (10. Be2 Bb7 $11) 10... Bb7 11. e4 e5 12.
dxe5 (12. Rd1 {Lutz}) 12... Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. h3 b4 $1 $146 {Schwarz
ruiniert mit dem Textzug entgültig seinen Damenflügel, er hat jedoch eine
konkrete taktische Idee vor Augen.} (14... Re8 15. Be3 $14 (15. Be3 {Lutz} Qe7
16. Rae1 a6 17. Ne2 c5 $1 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. Bd4 {1/2-1/2 Portisch,L-Tukmakov,V/
Reggio Emilia 1987})) 15. Ne2 (15. Na4 Bd4 $1 {/\c5,Qe7,Rfe8} 16. e5 $6 Bxe5
17. Nc5 Bc8 $15) 15... c5 $1 {|^[+]} 16. f3 $1 (16. f4 c4 $5 (16... Bd4+ 17.
Kh1 Qd7 $5 18. e5 $4 Qxh3#) 17. Qxc4 (17. Bxc4 Bxe4 $17) 17... Rc8 18. Qxb4
Qxd3 19. fxe5 Rc2 (19... Qxe2 $6 20. Re1) (19... Nxe4 20. Nf4 (20. Qxb7 Qxe2
$17) 20... Qa6 $44) 20. Nf4 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Nxe4 $44) (16. Be3 Rc8 (16... c4 $5)
17. Rad1 Qe7 $15 {/\c5-c4} 18. b3 $2 Nxe4) (16. Rd1 Qe7 $15 (16... Nxe4 $5))
16... c4 $1 {Ein sehr schönes Bauernopfer für die Initiative. Nach andern
Zügen drohte Weiß vorteilhaft mittels Bc4, Be3 und Rad1 seine Entwicklung zu
vollenden; dann kämen die strukturellen Nachteile des Schwarzen zum Tragen.} (
16... Rc8 17. Bc4 $14) 17. Qxc4 $8 (17. Bxc4 Qb6+ 18. Rf2 (18. Kh1 Rac8 $17 19.
Qb3 Rxc4 20. Qxc4 Ba6 21. Qc2 Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Nh5 $19) 18... Rac8 $1 (18... Bd6)
19. Qb3 Rxc4 20. Qxc4 Ba6 21. Qc2 (21. Qb3 Bxe2 22. Be3 Qb5 $17) 21... Bh2+ $3
22. Kxh2 (22. Kf1 Bg3) 22... Qxf2 $19) 17... Qb6+ (17... Rc8 18. Qb5) 18. Kh1
Rfd8 $1 {Schwarz kontrolliert viele Diagonalen und Linien, außerdem schläft
der weiße Damenflügel noch.} 19. Qb5 {Weiß muß schleunigst die Damen
abtauschen, um nicht in Nachteil zu kommen.} (19. Rb1 $2 {Lutz} Rac8 20. Qb5 (
20. Qb3 Ba6 21. Bxa6 Qxa6 {/\ ...Qxe2, /\ ...Rd3}) 20... Rc5 21. Qxb6 axb6 $36)
19... Qxb5 $1 (19... Qd6 20. Qxb7 $1 (20. Rd1 $2 Ba6) (20. Bf4 Bxf4 21. Nxf4
Qxf4 22. Qxb7 Nh5 $44) (20. f4 Qxd3 21. Qxd3 Rxd3 22. fxe5 Nxe4 $17) (20. Bc4
$5) 20... Qxd3 21. Bf4 Bxb2 22. Rae1 $11) 20. Bxb5 a6 $6 (20... Rac8 $5) (20...
Rab8 $1 $44 21. Bf4 Bxf4 22. Nxf4 Bxe4 23. Ba4 $1 $11) 21. Ba4 a5 {/\ ...Ba6}
22. Bf4 $1 Bxf4 (22... Bxb2 23. Rab1 $14 (23. Rab1 {Lutz} Ba3 24. Rfd1 {
[%csl Ra3,Ra5][%cal Yf4c7,Yc7a5] /\ Bc7; >< a5, a3})) 23. Nxf4 g5 24. e5 (24.
Ne2 {Lutz} Rd2) 24... gxf4 25. exf6 Ra6 26. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Rxf6 {Aufgrund
seiner besseren Bauernstruktur hat Weiß noch einen kleinen Vorteil.} 28. a3 $14
{_|_} bxa3 29. bxa3 Rf5 $1 30. Rd4 Kg7 31. Kh2 Bc8 32. Bc2 Rc5 33. Bd3 Be6 34.
Ba6 Rf5 35. a4 h6 36. Bb5 Kf6 37. Rd8 Kg7 38. Ra8 Bb3 $1 39. Kg1 Rc5 40. Rxa5
Bxa4 (40... Bc4 $5 41. Kf2 (41. Kh2 Rd5 $11) 41... Re5 $44) 41. Rxa4 Rxb5 42.
Rxf4 $11 {+/=_|_} Rb2 43. Kh2 Ra2 44. Rf5 Kg6 45. Rb5 Kg7 46. h4 Ra4 47. Kh3
Ra2 48. g4 Ra1 49. g5 hxg5 50. Rxg5+ Kf6 $1 51. Rg2 Kf5 52. Kg3 Ra8 $1 53. Rb2
Rg8+ 54. Kf2 Rh8 55. Rb5+ Kf4 56. Rb4+ Kf5 57. Kg3 Rg8+ 58. Rg4 Ra8 59. Rf4+
Kg6 60. Kg4 Ra5 $1 61. Rb4 f6 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2 d5 {
Nowadays this move becoming more and more popular, with help of A.Karpov and
his coach A.Epishin.This line now becoming the main their weapon against
Queens Indian.} 8. O-O Nbd7 (8... Bd6 $143 $6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. b4 $1 c6 11. Rb1
O-O 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. Qc2 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. e4 $14 {Juhasz,
B-Rigo,J/HUN-chT1 9394 ;TD 94/03 1994}) 9. Nc3 (9. Re1 Bb4 10. Bd2 a5 11. Nc3
Ba6 12. a3 Be7 13. e4 Bb7 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Ne4 N5f6 16. Nfg5 Bd5 $2 (16...
Nxe4 17. Nxe4 O-O 18. Qc2 Bd5 $11) 17. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 18. Ng5+ Kg8 19. Nxe6 {
with decisive attack. 1-0 Kamsky,G-Salov,V/Amsterdam Donner 1996 (37) .}) (9.
Ba3 Bxa3 (9... c5 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Bxc5 $1 Bxc5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. b4
Ncd7 15. Qa4 Qb6 16. Ne5 $14) 10. Nxa3 Ba6 11. b4 Qe7 (11... c6 $5 {/\Qb6}) 12.
Rb1 Rb8 $2 (12... O-O $142 13. Qc2 Rfb8 $132) 13. Qa4 $1 Bxe2 14. Rfc1 Bxf3 (
14... Qd8 $2 15. Ne5 Rb7 16. Rb2 Bh5 17. Nc6 Qc8 18. Na5 Rb6 19. Rbc2 $16) 15.
Bxf3 Qd8 16. Nb5 O-O 17. Nxc7 (17. Nxa7 $2 Ra8) 17... Rb7 18. Na6 Qb6 19. b5
$16 {1-0 Huzman,A-Salov,V/Amsterdam Donner 1995 (37)}) 9... Ba6 10. Ne5 $1 $146
{[%csl Gc6] A slightly more active move, than in the others last games in this
variation.White trying to use the fact , that black needs two moves to castle
and this time is quite enough , so that to get positional pluses.} (10. Na4 Bb5
11. Nc3 Ba6 12. Na4 Bb5 13. Nc3 {1/2-1/2 Thiel,K-Rigo,J/Wuppertal-B 1986}) (10.
Rb1 {[%cal Gb3b4]} c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. b4 Be7 13. b5 Bb7 14. Nd4 Rc8 15. Bd2
Nb6 16. a4 Nc4 17. Na2 {[%cal Ga2b4,Gb4c6]} a5 18. Nb3 Qb6 19. Qe1 Bd8 20. Bc3
O-O 21. e3 e5 22. Qe2 $14 {Nikolic,P-Karpov,A/Amber-blind6th rapid 1997/1-0 
(55)}) (10. Re1 Bb4 11. Bd2 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. b4 Bxb4 14. Qa4 Qa5 15. Qxa5
Bxa5 16. Nxd5 Bxd2 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Nxd2 Rc8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Karpov,A/
Amber-blind6th rapid 1997 (24)}) (10. Bb2 Be7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Na4 Qb8 (12...
Bb5 13. Nc5 Nxc5 14. dxc5 a5 15. Nd4 Qb8 $10) 13. Ne1 (13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 c6
15. Ne5 Qc7 16. f4 $13 {0-1 Polak,T-Epishin,V/Open1/4/22 1996 (36)}) 13... Bb5
14. Nc3 Rc8 15. Nxb5 Qxb5 16. Nd3 a5 17. Ba1 Bd6 18. e3 Rcb8 19. Bc3 a4 20. b4
$16 {1-0 Arbakov Valentin-Epishin Vladimir/Biel 1996 (40)}) 10... Bd6 (10...
Bb7 $2 {[%csl Gc6]} 11. Bf4 {[%csl Gc7][%cal Gc3b5,Ga1c1]} c5 (11... Bd6 12.
Rc1 O-O 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nxd6 cxd6 15. Nc4 $1 (15. Nc6 Qb6) 15... dxc4 16. Bxb7
Ra7 17. Bg2 cxb3 18. Bxd6 $18) 12. Nb5 $16) (10... Nxe5 $2 11. dxe5 $32 Bb4 (
11... Nd7 12. Nxd5 $1 exd5 13. Qxd5 Nb6 (13... Rb8 14. e6 $18) 14. Qc6+ Qd7 15.
Bg5 $1 {[%cal Gf1d1]} (15. Rd1 Qxc6 16. Bxc6+ Ke7 17. Bxa8 Nxa8 18. Bg5+ f6 19.
exf6+ gxf6 20. Bf4 $16) 15... Rc8 16. Rfd1 Bb5 17. Rxd7 Bxc6 18. Bxc6 Nxd7 19.
Rd1 $18) 12. exf6 Bxc3 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. Rb1 O-O 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Rc1 $16 {
[%csl Ga7,Gc7]}) 11. Nc6 (11. Bf4 Bxe5 (11... O-O $142) 12. dxe5 (12. Bxe5 Nxe5
13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4 c5) 12... Nh5 (12... Ng4 13. Qd4 c5 14. Qa4 Qb6 15. Bxd5 $1
exd5 16. Nxd5 Qb7 17. e6 $1 $18) 13. Be3 {[%cal Gg3g4]} Nxe5 14. f4 Nc6 15. b4
{[%cal Gd1a4]} (15. f5 Nf6 (15... O-O 16. Bc5 Ne7 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Rxf8+ Qxf8
19. Nxd5 $18) 16. Bc5 Ne7 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Qd4 O-O 19. Qe5 Qd7 20. Bh3 Bc8 21.
e4 {looks very good for white.}) 15... Bb7 16. Bc5 Nf6 17. e4 {with strong
intiative.} (17. b5 Ne7)) 11... Qc8 12. a3 (12. Bb2 Qb7 $140 13. Rc1 Qxc6 $2
14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Rc2 O-O 17. Qc1 $16 {[%csl Gc7][%cal Gb2a3]
But 13... 0-0 gives to black comfortable position.}) (12. Re1 $2 Bb7 13. Na5
Bb4) 12... O-O 13. Bg5 (13. Bf4 $5 Qe8 (13... Qb7 $6 14. Na5 Qb6 15. b4 {
and white is clearly better.}) 14. Nb4 $1 (14. Rc1 Nb6 (14... Bxa3 $2 15. Ra1
Nb6 16. Rxa3 Qxc6 17. Qa1 $1 Bb7 18. Rc1 Qd7 19. Na4 $1 $16 {[%cal Gc1c7]}) 15.
Bxd6 cxd6 16. Nb4 Bb7 $11) 14... Bb7 15. Nd3 {[%csl Gc5,Ge5]} Bxf4 16. gxf4 $14
(16. Nxf4 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. b4 $14)) 13... Qe8 {Black has to play against
annoying knight on c6, in order to play c7-c5.} (13... Qb7 $2 14. Na5 Qb6 15.
b4 $16) (13... Bb7 $6 14. Na5 c5 15. Rc1 {[%cal Gc1c8]}) 14. Qd2 (14. b4 h6 (
14... Nb6 15. Na5 (15. Ne5 Nfd7) 15... Nc4 16. Nxc4 (16. Nb3 Bb7 17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. e4 $16) 16... Bxc4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 $11) 15. Bxf6 (15. Bd2 Nb6 16. Ne5 Nc4 $11
) 15... Nxf6 16. Na5 (16. Ne5 Bb7 {also good for black.} (16... Bxe5 17. dxe5
Nd7 18. Qd4 c5 $1 (18... Qe7 $2 19. b5 $16) 19. bxc5 Rc8 $11)) 16... c6 {
[%cal Ge6e5]} 17. Rc1 (17. f4 Bc7 18. Na4 (18. Nb3 Bc4 $132 {[%cal Ga7a5]})
18... Bxa5 19. bxa5 Rb8 20. Nc5 Bc4 21. Qd2 Nd7 $11) 17... e5 (17... Rc8 18. f4
$14) 18. Nxc6 $5 Qxc6 19. Nxd5 Qb5 20. a4 (20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Qd2
$6 Qxe2 23. Qxh6 Qf3 $17) 20... Qxe2 21. b5 Qxd1 22. Nxf6+ gxf6 23. Rfxd1 Rac8
$11) 14... Nb6 (14... h6 15. Bf4 $1) 15. Na5 {after this move black gets a
competent play.} (15. Nb4 $1 Bb7 (15... Bxb4 $6 16. axb4 Bb7 17. Ra5 $16 {
[%csl Ga5,Ga7,Gc5,Gc7]}) 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 (18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19.
Nxe4 Kg7 20. Rac1 $14) 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Rc8 (19... Bxb4 20. Qh6 f5 21. Bxa8
$18) 20. Nc6 $16) 15... c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bxf6 (17. Rfc1 Rc8 18. b4 Be7 $11
{[%cal Gh7h6]}) 17... gxf6 18. Rfc1 {[%cal Ge2e4]} (18. b4 Be7 {with next 19...
f5 and 20...Bf6}) 18... Rc8 19. e4 d4 (19... dxe4 $2 20. Nxe4 Be7 21. Rxc8 Bxc8
(21... Nxc8 22. Qh6) 22. b4 $16) 20. Nd1 (20. Ne2 d3 (20... e5 $2 21. Bh3 Rc7
22. Qh6 {[%csl Gh7][%cal Gh3f5]} Bc8 $8 23. b4 Bd6 24. Bxc8 Nxc8 25. Qxf6 $18)
21. Nf4 Qb5 (21... Qd7 22. Nh5 Bd4 23. Qh6 f5 24. exf5 exf5 25. Nc6 $40) 22.
Bf1 (22. Nh5 $2 Bd4 (22... Bxf2+) 23. Qh6 Qg5 $19) 22... Rfd8 23. b4 Bf8 24.
Rxc8 Nxc8 25. Rd1 Qa4 $11) 20... d3 21. e5 (21. b4 $6 Bd4 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Rc1
Qd7 {and black has even better chances with d3 pawn.}) 21... Bd4 (21... fxe5
22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ (23. Qxe5+ $2 f6 $17) 23... Kg8 24. Nc6 $5 Bd6 {and
white has to make draw.}) 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 (22... Nxc8 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Rc1 Qb5
25. Ne3 $13 (25. b4 $5)) 23. Rc1 (23. Nc6 Qd7 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Qf4 fxe5 26. Qg5+
Kf8 27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ $11) 23... Qd7 24. Bc6 (24. Nc6 {see 23Nc6}) 24...
Qe7 $6 (24... Qd8 25. b4 (25. Bb7 Bxb7 26. Nxb7 Qd5 27. Qxd3 (27. exf6 Bxf6 28.
Nc5 Rd8 29. Ne3 Qd4 30. b4 $13) 27... Rb8 28. Na5 {[%cal Ga5c6]} Nd7 {[%cal
Gd7e5,Ge5f3]} 29. Qc4 Qxc4 30. Rxc4 Nxe5 $11) 25... Bxe5 (25... fxe5 26. b5 Bc8
27. Bg2 $14 {[%cal Ga5c6]}) 26. b5 Bc8 27. Be4 Qd4 28. Qxd3 f5 29. Qxd4 Bxd4
30. Bf3 $14 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Ga5c6]}) 25. Be4 (25. b4 fxe5 (25... Bxe5 26. b5
Bc8 27. Qxd3 Rd8 28. Qb3 Rd2 29. Bf3 $14) 26. b5 Bc8 27. Qxd3 f5 (27... Rd8 28.
Qb3 $11 {[%cal Gc6f3,Ga5c6]}) 28. Bg2 Rf7 29. Nc6 Qg5 30. Rc2 $13) 25... fxe5 (
25... Bxe5 $142 26. Nc6 Qd6 (26... Qxa3 $2 27. Nxe5 fxe5 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Qh6
f5 30. Rc7 $18) 27. Qa5 (27. Nb4 f5 28. Bf3 Bb5 29. a4 a5 $1 $17) 27... Bb7 28.
Qxa7 Qc7 (28... Bxc6 29. Rxc6 Qd4 30. Bf3 $16) 29. Qa5 $1 {[%csl Gc1][%cal
Ga5d2] and black's compensation is not enough.} (29. Bxd3 Ra8 30. Ne7+ Qxe7 31.
Qxb6 Rxa3 $11)) 26. Nc6 Qf6 27. Bxd3 (27. Nxa7 $1 Nd7 (27... Nc4 28. bxc4 Bxa7
29. Qa5 $18) (27... Rd8 28. Nc6 Rd7 29. Nb8 $1 $18) 28. Nc6 Nc5 29. Rxc5 (29.
Bxh7+ $2 Kxh7 30. Nxd4 Rc8 $1 $17) 29... Bxc5 30. Qa5 Qh6 31. Qxc5 (31. Qxa6
$18) 31... Qd2 32. Ne3 Qe1+ 33. Kg2 d2 34. Qxe5 $18) 27... Bb7 $143 (27... Bxd3
28. Qxd3 Nd5 29. Rc4 Bb6 30. Qe4 $16 {[%csl Ge5]}) 28. Be4 (28. Ne3 Qg5) 28...
Bxc6 (28... Rc8 29. b4 (29. Rc2 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 Rxc6 31. Bxc6 $11) 29... Bxc6 30.
Bxc6 $14) 29. Rxc6 Rd8 30. Nc3 (30. Qc2 h6 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Rxc8+ Nxc8 33. Nb5
Qd8 $11) 30... Nc8 (30... Rc8 31. Rxc8+ Nxc8 $11) 31. Bg2 {[%cal Gc3e4]} (31.
Nb5 $6 Bb6 32. Qc2 Ne7) 31... Kg7 (31... Bb6 32. Ne4 Qg7 (32... Rxd2 $140 $2
33. Nxf6+ Kg7 34. Ne8+ $18) 33. Qe2 Ne7 $132) 32. Ne4 Qg6 33. Qa5 Rd5 (33...
Qh5 34. Bf3 $1 (34. Qxd8 $2 Qd1+ 35. Bf1 Bxf2+ $19) (34. h3 Bb6 {[%cal Gc8e7,
Ge7d5,Ge7f5] and black gets intiative.}) 34... Qxf3 35. Qxd8 Bxf2+ 36. Nxf2
Qxc6 37. Qg5+ Kf8 38. Qxe5 $11) 34. Qb4 Nb6 (34... a5 $5) 35. Qe7 (35. Rc7 Bb2
36. Rxa7 $140 $2 Rd1+ 37. Bf1 Nd5 $19 {[%csl Ge4]}) 35... Bb2 $2 (35... Rd7 36.
Qh4 {[%cal Ge4d6,Gd6e8]} (36. Qb4 $11) 36... Nd5 {[%cal Gd5e7,Ge7f5]} 37. Nd6
Bxf2+ $1 (37... Ne7 38. Ne8+ Kf8 39. Be4 $16) 38. Kxf2 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Qc2+ 40.
Ke1 Qc1+ 41. Ke2 Qc2+ $11) 36. h4 $2 (36. Nc5 $1 {[%cal Gc5e6]} Rd1+ 37. Bf1
Kh8 (37... Kh6 38. Nxe6 $1 $18) 38. Qxa7 Qb1 39. Qa6 Nd5 (39... Bxa3 40. Nxe6
$1 fxe6 41. Rxb6) 40. Qe2 $18 {[%cal Gc6c8,Ge2g4]}) 36... Rd1+ $2 (36... Rd7
$142 37. Qc5 Bd4 (37... Rd1+ 38. Kh2 Rc1 39. Qd6 Rxc6 40. Qxc6 Bxa3 41. Qc3 $14
{[%csl Ga3,Ge5][%cal Gb3b4]}) 38. Qc2 Nd5 $11 {[%cal Gd5f6]}) 37. Kh2 Nd5 38.
Qe8 (38. Qxa7 Nf6 (38... Bd4 39. Qb8 $18 {[%cal Gc6c8]}) 39. Nxf6 Qxf6 40. Rc8
Rd8 (40... Bd4 41. Qa8) 41. Rc2 Bd4 42. Qa5 {with big advantage.}) 38... Nf6
39. Nxf6 $8 Qxf6 40. Rc8 Kh6 41. Qf8+ Qg7 42. Qc5 {[%cal Gc5e3]} Qg6 (42... Bd4
43. Qc2 Qg4 44. Rf8 (44. Rh8 e4) 44... Qg7 45. Qc8 {[%cal Gf8g8,Gc8f8]} (45.
Re8 Qg4 46. Re7 Kg7) 45... Bxf2 (45... f6 46. Qe8 $18 (46. Rg8 Qf7)) 46. Rg8
Bxg3+ 47. Kh3 $18) 43. Bf3 {[%cal Gg3g5]} (43. Qe3+ $1 Kg7 44. Qxa7 Qf6 45. Qc5
{and white wins easily.}) 43... Rd7 44. g4 f6 45. Qf8+ (45. Bc6 $1 Rf7 $8 46.
Be8 Qxg4 47. Qe3+ (47. Bxf7 Qxh4+ 48. Kg2 Qg4+ $11) 47... Kg7 48. Bxf7 Qxh4+
49. Kg2 Bd4 50. Qg3+ Qxg3+ 51. Kxg3 Kxf7 52. Rc7+ Kg6 53. b4 {and white must
win.}) 45... Qg7 46. Qe8 $2 (46. Qc5 Bd4 (46... Qg6 47. Bc6 {see 45 Bc6}) 47.
Qc1+ Kg6 48. Bc6 Re7 49. Be8+ $18) 46... Qf7 47. Qh8 {[%cal Gc8g8,Gg4g5]} e4 $1
{Very strong, black's idea to dictract white's bishop from h5 field.} (47...
Qg7 $4 48. Rg8 $3 $18) 48. Bxe4 (48. Be2 Rd2) 48... Qg7 49. Qxg7+ Kxg7 $11 50.
Rc6 Bxa3 51. Rxe6 Re7 52. Ra6 Bc5 53. f3 Bb6 54. Ra2 Bc7+ 55. Kh3 Bf4 56. Ra5
h6 57. Rf5 Bd2 58. Kg2 Re5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.31"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb5 Nb6
15. c4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 Qd7 18. a4 g6 19. Bd2 c3 20. Bxc3 Rac8 21.
Be4 Rc4 22. Rfb1 Rfc8 23. R5b3 Nxa4 24. Bd2 Rxd4 25. Be3 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Nc3 27.
Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid playoff 20'"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. d3 Qf6 8.
Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Nf4 11. dxe5 Qg6 12. Nh4 Bxd1 13. Nxg6 Nxg6 14. Rxd1
O-O-O 15. Re1 $146 (15. a3 Nxe5 16. b3 Rh6 17. Kf1 Bc5 18. Bb2 Rhd6 19. Ke2 Ng6
20. g3 Bxf2 21. Kxf2 Rxd2+ 22. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 23. Ke3 Rg2 24. Kf3 Rxc2 {Forchert,
M-Notkin,M/NRW-II 1996/GER 13/0-1 (57)}) 15... Nxe5 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bb4
18. c3 Bc5 19. Kf1 Rd3 20. Ke2 Rhd8 21. Rg1 g6 22. Bf4 b5 23. Rac1 Kb7 24. Rc2
a5 25. Rf1 $6 (25. c4 $1 b4 (25... Bb6 26. c5 Ba7 27. Be3 $16) (25... bxc4 26.
Rxc4 Bb6 27. Rgc1 $16) 26. Rg5 $1 Kb6 $1 (26... Bb6 27. c5 $16) (26... Bd6 $2
27. Be3) 27. Bxc7+ Kxc7 28. Rxc5 Kb6 29. Re5 $14) 25... a4 26. Rd2 Rxd2+ 27.
Bxd2 Be7 28. Be3 Bf6 29. Bc5 Bg5 30. Rd1 Rxd1 31. Kxd1 Kc8 32. b3 axb3 33. axb3
Kd7 34. Ke2 Ke6 35. Be3 Be7 36. c4 Bd6 37. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid playoff 20'"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. h3 $146 (11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qe2 O-O
14. Be3 Qe7 15. Bxb6 Rxb6 16. Nd2 c5 17. Rfd1 c4 18. Bc2 Qc5 19. h3 Be6 20. Ra5
h6 {Todorcevic,M-Giorgadze,G/Zaragoza op-A 1995/EXT 95op/0-1 (46)}) 11... O-O
12. Re1 Bb7 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4
g5 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 b3 21. Bd3 c4 22. e5 dxe5 23. Rxe5 Qxd4 24. Re3 Ng4
$2 (24... Rfd8 $1 $19) 25. Rxa5 cxd3 (25... Bxa5 $2 26. Bh7+) 26. Bf6 $3 Qxf6 (
26... Qf4 27. Qxg4+ Qxg4 28. hxg4 Kh7 29. Rh5+ Kg6 30. Rxd3 $16) (26... Nxf6 $2
27. Rg3+ Kh7 28. Rh5+) 27. Qxg4+ Qg6 28. Rg5 Bxe3 29. Rxg6+ fxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kh8
31. fxe3 Rbd8 32. Qh6+ $2 (32. Nd2 Rd7 33. e4 $18) 32... Kg8 33. Qg6+ Kh8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid playoff 5'-6'"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 d5 16. Ng4 c6 17. Qf3 Kh8 18. c3 Re6 19. Bc2 Qc7 20. b4 c5 21. Bb2 Rae8 22.
Rad1 c4 23. dxc4 dxe4 24. Qe2 bxc4 25. Ba4 Rc8 26. Rd2 Nb6 27. Bc2 Nbd5 28. g3
Qc6 29. Nfe3 Nxe3 30. Qxe3 Nd5 31. Qxe4 g6 32. Nxe5 Rxe5 33. Qxe5+ Bg7 34. Qe4
f5 35. Qf3 Rd8 36. Red1 Kh7 37. h4 h5 38. a4 Qe6 39. a5 Bc6 40. Qe2 Qxe2 41.
Rxe2 Nxc3 42. Bxc3 Rxd1+ 43. Bxd1 Bxc3 44. Rc2 Be1 45. Rxc4 Bb5 46. Rd4 Bc3 47.
Rf4 Bd2 48. Bf3 Kg7 49. Bd5 $4 (49. Bg2 Kf6 50. Bf1 Bxf1 51. Kxf1 Bxf4 52. gxf4
Ke6 53. Ke2 Kd5 54. Kd3) (49. Kg2 Kf6 50. Rd4 Bc3 51. Rd6+ Kg7 52. Bc6 $1 $18)
49... Kf6 50. Kg2 Ke5 51. Bf7 Bxf4 52. gxf4+ Kxf4 53. Bxg6 Kg4 54. f3+ Kxh4 55.
Bxf5 Kg5 56. Bc8 Kf4 57. Bb7 Ke5 58. Kg3 Kd4 59. f4 Kc4 60. Kh4 Kxb4 61. Kxh5
Bd3 62. Kg5 Kxa5 63. Kf6 Kb4 64. Ke5 a5 65. Be4 Bxe4 66. Kxe4 Kc5 67. Ke5 a4
68. f5 a3 {Here in fact I stopped the clock, so the correct result should be
0-1.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 (10. Bh4) 10... Kh8 (10... Qe8 11. h3 Nh6 12. dxe5 dxe5
13. b3 (13. Be3 c6 14. a3 Nf7 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qc1 Be6 17. Rd1 Rfc8 18. Nd2 Bh6
19. Bxh6 Nxh6 20. c5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Illescas Cordoba,M-Magem Badals,J/Pamplona
1991 (46)}) 13... Be6 14. Ba3 Rf7 15. Qc2 Bf8 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. a3 Rd7 18. b4
$5) (10... Nh6 11. dxe5 (11. Rb1 c6 (11... exd4 12. Nxd4 Nc5 13. Be3 Re8 14.
Nb3 Ne6 15. Qd2 Nf7 16. Rbd1 b6 17. f3 Bb7 18. Rfe1 $14 {1-0 Gausel,E-Sanden,S/
Rilton Cup96/97 1996 (30)}) 12. b4 Nc7 13. d5 Nf7 14. Qb3 cxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5
16. cxd5 f5 17. Nd2 f4 18. b5 g5 19. f3 h5 20. h3 Kh7 21. Nc4 Rh8 22. Qd1 Bd7
23. Ba3 Qe7 24. b6 $36 {1-0 Baigorri Navarro,F-Llanes Luno,P/Zaragoza open
1992 (40)}) (11. h3 Nf7 12. a3 c6 13. Be3 f5 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16.
Rad1 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 f4 18. Bc1 Be6 19. b4 Nc7 20. Bb2 Kf8 21. a4 b6 22. b5 cxb5
23. axb5 Ke8 24. Na4 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Nikolic,G-Schumi,M/Oberwart op 1991 (48)}
) 11... dxe5 12. Qxd8 (12. h3 c6 13. Be3 Nf7 14. c5 Nc7 (14... Be6 15. Qa4 Qc8
16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 18. Rd1 Nf7 19. Nd2 Nc7 20. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Boensch,
U-Fecht,H/BL 1991 (34)}) 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Qe6 19.
Qxe6 Nxe6 20. Rfd1 Rfd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Arlandi,E-Timoshchenko,G/Mitropa Cup
ITA-SVK 1995 (23)}) 12... Rxd8 13. Nd5 Nf7 14. Be3 Kf8 15. Rfd1 c6 16. Nc3
Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Ke7 $11 {Tisdall,J-Timoshchenko,G/Cappelle op 1993/1/2-1/2 (72)}
) 11. h3 (11. c5 exd4 12. Nxd4 f5 13. exf5 Nxh2 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Qxd4 16.
cxd6 Bxf5 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. dxc7 Qh4 19. Be3 Rae8 20. Qa4 $1 $16 {(time) 1-0
Hutters,T-Gofshtein,L/Groningen op 1993 (32)}) 11... Nh6 12. dxe5 dxe5 (12...
fxe5 13. Be3 Nf7 14. Qd2 Nc5 15. Ng5 (15. Bxc5 dxc5 $10) 15... Nxg5 16. Bxg5
Bf6 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Bg4 $1 $14 {Karpov-Kasparov,1990}) 13. Qxd8 (13. Be3 $143
Nf7 14. Qxd8 Nxd8 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Yd8e6]}) 13... Rxd8 14. Be3 Be6 15. a3 (15.
Rfd1 Nf7 16. a3 {[%cal Yb2b4]} Bh6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. b4 c6 $14 {/=}) 15... Nf7
16. b4 {[%cal Gc4c5]} c6 (16... Bh6 17. Nd5 $1 (17. c5 Bxe3 18. fxe3 c6) (17.
b5 Bxe3 18. bxa6 Bb6 19. axb7 Rab8 20. Rab1 Nd6) (17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Nd5 Kg7 19.
b5 Bxd5 (19... Nc5 20. Nxc7 Rac8 21. Nxe6+ Nxe6 $44 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4]}) 20. cxd5
Nc5 21. Rfc1 b6 $11 {[%cal Yh6f7,Yf7d6]}) 17... Bxe3 18. fxe3 Kg7 (18... Nd6
19. Nxf6 (19. b5 Nc5 20. Nxc7 Rac8 $17) 19... Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Nxc4 21. b5 $16 {
[%cal Ga1c1,Gc1c7]}) (18... f5 19. b5 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Nc5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Rac1
b6 23. Nh4 $16) 19. c5 $1 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Bc4 Rdd8 22. c6 $1 $16) 17.
Rfd1 Rxd1+ (17... Bh6 $5 $11 18. Rxd8+ $140 Rxd8 19. Bxa7 Ra8) 18. Rxd1 Nc7 19.
Nd2 {[%cal Gd2b3,Gb3a5]} Bf8 {[%cal Ya7a5]} (19... Bh6 20. Bxh6 Nxh6 21. Nb3 b6
22. Rd6) 20. Rb1 $1 {[%cal Ya3a5,Yd2b3,Yb3a5]} b6 $6 (20... f5 $142 $1 21. exf5
(21. Nb3 b6) 21... gxf5 22. f4 Bh6 23. g3 {[%cal Gg1f2]} Bg7 $132) 21. c5 $1 b5
22. a4 bxa4 (22... a6 23. Nb3 {[%cal Gb3a5]} Bxb3 24. Rxb3 $14 Bh6 $140 25.
Bxh6 Nxh6 26. Ra3 Kg7 (26... Nf7 27. Bg4) 27. axb5 axb5 28. Rxa8 Nxa8 29. Nxb5
cxb5 30. Bxb5 $16) 23. Nxa4 (23. Nc4 Nb5 24. Nxa4 Bxc4 25. Bxc4 Na3 26. Rc1
Nxc4 27. Rxc4 Rb8 $11) (23. Bc4 $5 Rb8 24. Bxe6 Nxe6 25. Nxa4 f5 26. f3 $14)
23... f5 24. exf5 (24. Nc4 fxe4 $132 {[%csl Rd5]}) (24. f3 $5) 24... gxf5 25.
Nc4 {[%cal Gc4a5]} Nd5 26. Bd2 e4 27. Na5 Rc8 (27... Ne5 $142 28. Ba6 {[%cal
Ga6b7]} Rb8 29. Bb7 $140 Nc4 30. Nxc4 Rxb7) 28. Ba6 Rc7 29. Nc3 Nxc3 (29... Bg7
30. Ne2 $1 {[%cal Ge2f4]} Bc8 31. Bxc8 Rxc8 32. Ng3 Ne7 33. Bf4 {[%cal Gb1d1]}
Rd8 34. Nh5 $36) 30. Bxc3+ Bg7 31. Bd2 Ba2 32. Rc1 (32. Rd1 $1 Rd7 33. Bc8 Rd3
34. Kf1 Bh6 35. Ke1 $16) 32... Be5 33. Nc4 (33. Bc4 Bxc4 34. Nxc4 Kg7 35. Nxe5
$140 Nxe5 36. Bf4 Nd3 $17) 33... Bxc4 34. Bxc4 Kg7 35. b5 cxb5 36. Bxb5 Bd4 $2
(36... Re7 $142 37. c6 Bc7 38. Bc3+ Kg6 39. Rd1 $16) 37. c6 Kf6 38. Rd1 Be5 (
38... Ke5 39. g3 $1 $18) (38... Rc8 $8 39. Ba5 Nd6 (39... Bb6 40. Bc3+ $16 {
[%cal Yd1d7]}) (39... Be5 40. Rd7 a6 41. Ba4 $16) 40. Rxd4 Nxb5 41. Rd5 a6 42.
c7 $1 $18) 39. Ba5 Re7 40. Bc4 $1 $18 {[%cal Gd1d7]} f4 (40... Nd6 41. Bd8 $1
Nxc4 42. Rd7 $18) 41. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Nb3
Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. g5 Nd7 14. a3 Rb8 15.
h4 b4 16. axb4 Rxb4 17. Na2 Rb6 18. Qc3 Qxc3 19. Nxc3 h6 20. Be2 Bb7 21. Na5
Ba8 22. Nc4 Rc6 23. Kb1 Nb6 24. b3 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 Rc5 26. Kb2 a5 27. Bd3 Bc6 28.
Na4 Bxa4 29. bxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qa4+ c6 {
This move leads to a position which is a little bit passive, but nevertheless
very solid, similiar to QGD. Other moves are} (7... Bc6) (7... Qd7) (7... Nfd7
8. Bf4 dxc4 9. Qxc4 c5 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 b5 12. Qe4 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 $16 {
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Timman,J/Groningen (07) 1996 (60)}) 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. cxd5 exd5
10. g3 O-O 11. Bg2 c5 12. Rd1 Qe7 13. O-O Rd8 14. e3 Na6 15. Rd2 (15. Rfe1 Nc7
16. h4 (16. Qc2 Ne6 17. h4 Rac8 18. Rd2 a6 19. Qd1 b5 20. Ne5 b4 21. axb4 cxb4
22. Na4 a5 23. Nd3 Bc6 {1/2-1/2 Spraggett,K-Kortschnoj,V/Enghien Les Bains (5)
;CBM 58 1997 (62)}) 16... Ne6 17. Nh2 g6 18. Qb3 c4 19. Qc2 Bg7 20. f4 Nc7 21.
Nf3 b5 22. Ne5 f6 23. Nf3 a5 24. e4 dxe4 25. Nxe4 Qf7 26. h5 {1-0 Wells,
P-Almasi,Z/HUN-chT1 9495 (12) ;EXT 95ch 1995 (40)}) (15. Qb3 Rab8 16. Rd2 Nc7
17. Rfd1 g6 18. Qa2 Bg7 19. Ne5 b5 20. f4 b4 21. axb4 cxb4 22. Na4 f6 23. Nf3
Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Qe6 25. Nc5 Qb6 26. f5 Bc8 {1/2-1/2 Tyomkin,D-Kortschnoj,V/Beer
Sheva16th (4) ;CBM 58 1997 (60)}) 15... Nc7 16. Rfd1 Ne6 $6 {I think that this
move is a mistake, as the Knight is better placed on c7, defending the pawn on
d5 and keeping control of e5} (16... g6) (16... c4 $5 {Poluljahov,A /\ a5, b5})
17. h4 g6 18. Qb3 $146 {Only this move is new.White has got a pleasent edge in
the following game} (18. Nh2 $5 {Poluljahov,A} cxd4 19. exd4 h5 20. Nf3 (20.
Nf1 $5 {Poluljahov,A /\ Ne3 ><d5}) 20... a6 21. Re1 b5 22. Qd1 Qd6 23. Bh3 Ng7
24. Ne5 Bc8 $1 25. Bg2 Be6 $2 (25... Bb7 $11 {Poluljahov,A}) 26. Ne2 $1 {
1-0 Poluljahov,A-Hjartarson,J/New York (open) 67/584 1996 (58) /\ Nf4+/-})
18... h5 $6 {This weakens g5, an important square . As h4-h5 is not a threat,
it was unnecessary.} (18... Bg7 19. Nh2 (19. Qa2 a6 20. Nh2 c4) 19... Nc7 {
The knight belongs to c7 square!} (19... c4 $5 20. Qc2 a6 21. Nf3 f5 $13) 20.
dxc5 $140 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc5) 19. Qa2 a6 $6 {Now White forces a welcome
simplification to achieve positional superiority} (19... Nc7 $5 {Was again
called for}) (19... c4 20. b3) 20. dxc5 $1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc5 {The only way to
keep material equal,as after} (21... Nxc5 22. Ng5 {Black loses the d5 pawn, as
h7-h6 is not possible (pawns cannot go back!)} Na4 (22... Ne4 $4 23. Bxe4 $1)
23. Bxd5 (23. Qb3 b5 24. Bxd5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Rc8 27. Qb4 $16)
23... Rxd5 (23... Nxc3 24. Bxf7+ Kf8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Ne6+ $18
) 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 (24... Nxc3 25. Rd8+) 25. Qxd5 $16) (21... bxc5 22. Nh2) 22.
Nd4 Nxd4 (22... Qxc3 $2 23. Rc2 Qa5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rc7) 23. cxd4 (23. Rxd4
Qxc3 24. e4 Qc5 25. exd5 Qd6 $14) 23... Qd6 24. Rc1 {White establishes control
over the c-file} Rac8 25. Rdc2 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 $16 Bc6 $1 27. Rc3 (27. Bf1 Bd7 $5
28. Bxa6 $140 Ra8) 27... Bb5 28. Qb2 $6 {Too ambitious. I decided to play for
an attack, because I was not sure if} (28. Bf1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 $16 {<->c,would
be enough for victory.In particular, I thought that Black could give up his
'a' and 'b' pawns for White's 'a', exchange a pair of pieces, and thereby keep
some drawing chances. All the same, I should have tried it.}) 28... Qe6 (28...
Bc4 29. e4 f6 {the attempt to prevent e4-e5 doesn't work} 30. Qc1 Kg7 31. exd5
(31. Re3 Re8 32. Qc3 (32. exd5 Rxe3 33. Qxe3 b5 $11) 32... b5 33. e5 $36) 31...
b5 (31... Bxd5 32. Rc7+ Rd7 33. Rxd7+ Qxd7 34. Bxd5 Qxd5 35. Qc7+ $18) 32. Re3
Bxd5 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 34. Re7+ $18) 29. Qc1 Bc4 (29... Kg7 30. Bf1 Bxf1 31. Kxf1
$16) 30. e4 b5 31. e5 Re8 {Black had alternatives leading to unclear positions
in all cases.} (31... Qg4 32. f4 (32. Rf3 Qxd4 33. e6 (33. Qg5 Rf8) 33... Rf8
34. Qg5 Qg4 $1 $11 (34... Qg7 35. Rf6 Kh7 36. Qf4 d4 37. Be4 Kg8 (37... Bxe6
38. Bxg6+) 38. e7 Re8 39. Qd6 $18)) 32... Qe6 33. Re3 a5 34. Kh2 $13) (31...
Qb6 32. Qf4 {-similiar to the game} (32. Qg5 Rf8 33. Rf3 Qxd4 34. e6 {-31...Qg4
})) (31... Rf8 $5 32. Re3 a5 33. Kh2 $13) 32. Kh2 {/\Bh3} (32. Re3 $5) 32...
Qb6 {My opponent misses a chance to equalize by} (32... f5 $1 33. exf6 Qxf6 34.
Qh6 (34. Rf3 Qxd4 35. Qg5 Kg7) 34... Rf8 (34... a5 35. Rf3 Qg7 36. Qg5 b4 37.
axb4 axb4 38. Rf6 Kh7 39. f4 Rf8 40. Rb6 $14) 35. Rf3 (35. Re3 Qg7) 35... Qg7)
33. Qf4 Rf8 34. Rf3 {White's task is to put all the pieces in attacking
positions and to breakthrough} (34. Bh3 f5 $5) 34... a5 (34... Kg7 35. Qe3 $1)
(34... Be2 35. Re3 Bc4 36. Bh3 Kg7 37. g4 hxg4 38. Bxg4 Qd8 (38... Rh8 39. e6)
39. h5 g5 (39... Rh8 40. e6) (39... f5 40. e6 Qf6 (40... Qh4+ 41. Rh3 Qxg4 42.
Qe5+ $18) 41. Bh3 $18) 40. Qf5 $16) 35. Bh3 {/\e6} Be2 36. Re3 Bc4 (36... Bg4
37. Bxg4 hxg4 38. Qxg4 $18) 37. Rf3 $138 (37. Qh6 $1) 37... Be2 38. Re3 Bc4 39.
Qg5 $2 {being short of time, I missed an easy win} (39. Qh6 Qxd4 40. e6 Qg7 41.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 42. e7 Re8 43. Bd7 $18 {I forgot about this last move.}) 39... Qxd4
40. e6 $6 {Mistakes normally come together. After I made this 40th move I
realised how Black could save the game.} (40. Rf3 $5 Qe4 (40... Qd1 41. Rf6 d4
42. Bf5 $18) 41. Rf4 $18 {Was still winning}) 40... Qb2 $4 (40... fxe6 $3 {
Believe it or not, but this move was leading to a draw} 41. Qxg6+ Qg7 42. Bxe6+
Kh8 43. Qxh5+ Qh7 44. Qe5+ Qg7 45. Bxd5 Rxf2+ 46. Kg1 Qxe5 47. Rxe5 Ra2 $11)
41. Rf3 {Now White is winning again} d4 (41... Qg7 42. e7 Re8 43. Bd7 f6 44.
Be6+ (44. Rxf6 Rxe7 45. Rxg6 Rxd7 46. Rxg7+ Rxg7 47. Qxh5 $18) 44... Kh7 45.
Rxf6 Rxe7 46. Rxg6 Qxg6 47. Qxe7+ $18) 42. Rxf7 (42. Rxf7 Rxf7 43. Qxg6+ Rg7
44. Qe8+ Kh7 45. Bf5+) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nh6 7. Bxh6 gxh6 8. O-O
Qb6 9. Qd2 Bg7 10. Na3 O-O 11. Nc2 cxd4 12. cxd4 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. b4 Raf8
15. b5 Ne7 16. Ne5 Be8 17. g3 h5 18. a4 h4 19. Bd3 hxg3 20. hxg3 h5 21. Ne3 Bh6
22. a5 Qd8 23. f4 Kh8 24. Qh2 Qd6 25. a6 b6 26. Rab1 Qc7 27. Nc2 Qc3 28. Rf3
Qc7 29. Rbf1 Ng6 30. Qxh5 Qg7 31. Nxg6+ Bxg6 32. Bxg6 Rxg6 33. Qe5 Rc8 34. Nb4
Rc4 35. Nc6 Kh7 36. Qxg7+ Rxg7 37. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6 14. O-O e6 $5 ({
The main alternatives are:} 14... Rc8 15. Nd5 (15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bd4 f6 17. Qd3
Rb8 18. Nd1 c5 19. Bf2 O-O 20. Re1 a5 21. Rb1 Be6 22. Nc3 a4 23. Nd5 Qd7 24. b3
axb3 25. axb3 Rb7 26. f4 gxf4 27. Nxf4 Bf7 28. Nd5 Ra8 29. Rbd1 Kh8 30. Ne3 Qb5
$11 {Tiviakov,S-Georgiev,K/Cacak 1996}) 15... e6 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Bd4 Be5 18.
Ne3 f6 19. Rf2 Ke7 20. c3 Qa5 21. Rd2 Rhc8 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Rd4 Qc5 24. Qd2 h4
25. Rd1 b5 26. Kh1 Be8 27. Ng4 Qb6 28. e5 dxe5 29. Rd7+ Bxd7 30. Qxd7+ Kf8 31.
Qh7 Rd6 32. Qh8+ Kf7 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qxg5+ Kf8 35. Qf6+ Kg8 36. Nh6+ {
1-0 Bologan,V-Ribli,Z/Deutschland 1996}) (14... Ne5 15. Nde2 Rc8 16. Nd5 Be6
17. Bd4 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qa5 19. f4 gxf4 20. Nxf4 Qa4 21. c3 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Rh7
23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Nd3 Bh8 25. Rf4 Kd7 26. Rdf1 Bf6 27. Rb4 $14 {Lanka,
Z-Ftacnik,L/EU-chTM Pula 1997 (69)}) 15. Nxc6 (15. Qd2 {followed by 16.Rad1
was worth considering.}) 15... Bxc6 16. Bd4 Be5 {Essential move. Otherwise
Whtie has a large advantage.} 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Bxe5 $6 (18. Ne2 $5 {intending
advancement of the queenside pawns seems to be stronger.}) 18... dxe5 19. a4
O-O 20. b3 $2 ({Strange decision. Much stronger seems} 20. Ne2) 20... Rfd8 21.
Qe3 Qf4 $1 {Transforming game into a perspective ending, since the threat Rd2
is very unpleasant.} 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23. Rfd1 h4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rd1 Rc8 $1 {
Certainly, exchange of the second rook pair would be in White's favor.} 26. Rd2
Kf8 27. Nd1 Ke7 28. Nf2 f5 29. Kf1 fxe4 30. fxe4 (30. Nxe4 {fails to} Bxe4 31.
fxe4 Rc3 $1) 30... a5 31. Ke2 Be8 $1 {Threatening 31...Rc3.} 32. Kd1 $2 ({
After this move White faces irreolvable problems.Essential was} 32. c4) 32...
Bh5+ (32... Rc3 $2 {is strongly met by} 33. Rd3) 33. Kc1 (33. Ke1 {fails to}
Rc3) 33... Rg8 $1 {Starting the effective operations on the kingside.} 34. Nd3
h3 $1 {Excellent blow. This pawn sacrifice yields Black decisive advantage.}
35. gxh3 Rg1+ 36. Kb2 Bf3 37. Nxe5 Bxe4 {Intending to play 39...f3 followed by
Rg2.} 38. Rf2 Kf6 $1 39. Nc4 (39. Ng4+ Kg5) 39... Kg5 {/\f4-f3, Kg5-f4.} 40.
h4+ {A desperate attempt to push own passed pawn. Clearly, this march cannot
yield anything to White.} Kg4 41. h5 f3 42. h6 Kf4 43. Nd2 Rg6 44. h7 Rh6 45.
h8=Q Rxh8 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O g6 9. e5 (9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Qe1 (10. Qd3 Bg7 11. Be3 Qxb2 12. Rab1 Qa3 13. Rb7
Qa5 14. e5 dxe5 15. Ne4 O-O $17 {Rigo-Finegold,New-York,1993}) 10... Qc5 11. b3
Bg7 12. Na4 Qh5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 Ng4 16. h3 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Nxe5
18. f4 $16 {Madl-Varga,Budapest 1997}) (9. h3 Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bb3 Bb7 12.
e5 dxe5 13. Rxe5 e6 14. Re1 c5 15. Qe2 Rfc8 $15 {Martinez.S-Spragett.K,1993}) (
9. Bb3 Bg7 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Bg5 a5 12. Qf3 Ne5 13. Qg3 Ba6 14. Rfe1 Qc7 15. Rad1
$14 {Prie-Tukmakov,France 1991}) 9... dxe5 10. Qe2 Qd4 (10... Qc7 $143 11. f4
e4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bg7 14. c3 O-O 15. Be3 $14) (10... Bg7 11. Qxe5 O-O
12. Qxe7 Bf5 13. Bb3 Rae8 14. Qd6 h5 15. Bg5 Ne4 16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. Bf6 c5 18.
Qxb6 axb6 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rfe1 $44 {Rcegler-Kozul,1997 Portoroz}) 11. Be3 (
11. Rd1 $2 Bg4 $1) 11... Qd6 $146 (11... Qh4 12. g3 $6 (12. f4 $1 $40) 12...
Qh5 13. f3 Bg7 14. Bc5 Nd7 15. Ba3 Nb6 16. Bb3 O-O 17. Bxe7 Re8 18. g4 Qh3 19.
Bg5 h5 $15 {Toloza-Ricardi,1997 Mar del-Plata}) 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. f4 $1 Bg4 (
13... Bg7 $2 14. fxe5 Qxe5 15. Bb6 $1 $18) 14. Qf2 (14. Nb5 Qb7 $1 $17 (14...
cxb5 $2 15. Bxb5+ Bd7 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Bxd7+ Nxd7 18. Qf3 O-O-O 19. Bd4 $18))
14... e4 (14... Bxd1 15. fxe5 Qxe5 16. Bd4 Qd6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qc5 $18) 15.
Rde1 Bf5 $1 (15... Bg7 $6 16. h3 Bd7 17. Bd4 $16) 16. h3 h5 $11 17. Bd4 Bg7 18.
b3 O-O 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. axb5
axb5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. d4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. f4 Nc6 13. Qc3 Ne7 14. Qd3 O-O
15. Nc3 c5 16. Nxb5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxb5 18. Ra7 c4 19. Bxc4 d5 20. Qxe7 dxc4 21.
Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Ra8 Rf8 23. Ra4 Be6 24. f5 Bd5 25. Re1 h5 26. h3 Rc8 27. Kh2 h4
28. f6 gxf6 29. b3 f5 30. bxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Baburin,A Ribli} Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4
7. Ng5 (7. Ne1 $5 {Ribli}) 7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 (9. d3 $5 {Ribli}) 9...
e3 {Ribli: Vor 10 Jahren war das Karpovs Neuerung in der 2.Partie
Kasparov-Karpov/Wch- Sevilla/1987/} (9... exf3 {Ribli} 10. Nxf3 d5 11. d4 $1
Ne4 12. Qc2 Bf5 13. Nh4 $36) 10. dxe3 {Ribli: Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht,
obwohl Weiß einen Bauern gewinnt. Er hat zwei Doppelbauern, die seine
Möglichkeiten spürbar einschränken.} (10. d4 {Ribli} Na5 (10... b6 $5) (10...
d6 $5 {/\ Qe7, Na5, h6, Be6 Dlugy,M}) 11. Qd3 b6 12. c5 (12. Bxe3 $1 Ba6 13.
Rfe1 Nxc4 14. Bf2 {/\ e4[+]}) 12... Bb7 13. Bxe3 Qe7 14. Bf4 {0-1 Olafsson,
H-Naumkin,I/Belgrade GMA 1988 (41)}) (10. d3 $1 {Ribli} d5 $8 11. cxd5 (11. Qb3
Na5 12. Qa3 c6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. f4 Bg4 15. Re1 h6 16. Nf3 Nc6 17. Rb1 Qd7 18.
d4 Bh3 19. Bh1 Nh5 $1 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Qg4 22. Bxe3 Nxg3 23. Bf3 Qg6 24.
hxg3 Qxg3+ 25. Kh1 Bg4 {0-1 Lautier,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1995 (40)
}) 11... Nxd5 12. Qb3 (12. Ne4 f5 13. c4 Nf6 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. Rb1 f4 16. Bb2
Nd4 17. gxf4 b6 {0-1 Cuadras,J-Rodriguez,A/Terrassa open 1996 (40)}) 12... Na5
(12... Qxg5 13. f4 Qh5 14. Bxd5 Bg4 15. Bf3 Rab8 16. Rb1 h6 {0-1 Grant,
J-Timoshchenko,G/EU-chTM 1997 (29)}) 13. Qa3 b6 14. f4 Bb7 15. Bb2 (15. c4 Ne7
16. Bxb7 Nxb7 17. Bb2 c5 18. f5 f6 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Savchenko,S/Minsk 1996})
15... c5 16. c4 Nb4 17. Qc3 f6 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Nf3 Nd6 20. g4 $5 Nc6 21. Kh1
{1/2-1/2 Gulko,B-Ivanchuk,V/Horgen 1995 (29)}) 10... b6 (10... Na5 {Ribli} 11.
e4 h6 12. Nh3 Nxc4 13. Qd4 d5 (13... Ne5 14. c4 d6 15. Nf4 b6 16. Nd5 c5 17.
Qc3 Nxd5 18. cxd5 b5 19. f4 b4 20. Qc2 Nd7 {1-0 Gulko,B-Illescas,M/ESP-tt
Oropesa del Mar ESP 1996 (41)}) 14. Nf4 c6 15. exd5 cxd5 16. e4 Qb6 {0-1
Kopilov,N-Raetsky,A/Voronezh 1990 (38)}) (10... h6 {Ribli} 11. Nh3 b6 (11...
Ne5 $5) 12. e4 Ba6 (12... d6 $5 13. Nf2 (13. f4 Nxe4 14. Qd5 Bxh3 {Und Weiss
hat viele Schwachungen.Ribli.}) 13... Ba6 14. f4 Na5 $13 {[%csl Rc4]}) 13. c5
bxc5 14. Ba3 d6 15. Qa4 (15. f4 $5) 15... Nb8 16. e5 dxe5 17. Rfd1 Qc8 {
1/2-1/2 Gulko,B-Timoshenko,G/2nd op, Nova Gorica SLO 1997 (32)}) 11. e4 (11. f4
{Ribli} h6 12. Nf3 Bb7 13. c5 Na5 14. Qd4 Qe7 15. cxb6 axb6 16. c4 Qe4 17. c5
Qxd4 18. exd4 Rxe2 {0-1 Fatin,T-Soffer,R/London Lloyds 1989 (34)}) 11... h6 (
11... Ba6 $6 {Ribli} 12. f4 h6 13. Nxf7 Kxf7 14. e5 $40) 12. Nxf7 $5 $146 {
Baburin: A dubious sacrifice. Ribli: Weiß opfert eine Figur für Aktivität. Es
ist wahr, daß er Initiative erhält, aber mit guten Zügen kann sich Schwarz
verteidigen und den Angriff abwehren.} (12. Nh3) ({Baburin: Better was} 12. Nh3
{Baburin,A} Ba6 13. Nf2) 12... Kxf7 13. f4 {Ribli: Weiß hat schon zwei Bauern
für die geopferte Figur und das Läuferpaar.} Kg8 14. e5 Nh7 15. Ba3 $2 {
Ribli: Beide weißen Läufer kontrollieren wichtige Punkten. Der Textzug richtet
sich gegen Nf8.Trotzdem hat Schwarz eine feste Stellung ohne Schwächen.} (15.
f5 $8 Qe7 (15... Kh8 16. f6 Nxe5 (16... gxf6 17. exf6 $40) 17. fxg7+ Kxg7 18.
Bxa8 c6 19. Bf4 $18) (15... Bb7 16. f6 Rxe5 17. Bd5+ Kh8 18. fxg7+ Kxg7 19.
Rf7+ Kh8 20. Bxh6 $18) (15... Ba6 16. e6) 16. f6 gxf6 (16... Qc5+ $5 17. Kh1
Kh8 {Huzman}) 17. Bd5+ Kg7 (17... Kh8 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Bxc6 dxc6 (19... Qc5+
20. Qd4) 20. Qd4) 18. Qd2 Qxe5 19. Qxh6+ Kh8) 15... Bb7 $17 ({Baburin: Also
interesting was} 15... Kh8 {Baburin,A}) 16. Be4 (16. Qd3 Kh8) (16. Bd5+ Kh8 17.
Bf7 Na5 $17 (17... Nxe5 18. Bxe8 (18. fxe5 Rxe5) 18... Nxc4)) 16... Kh8 17. Bc2
(17. Bg6 {Ribli} Ne7 (17... Na5 {[%csl Rc4]} 18. Bxe8 Qxe8 $13 {[%cal Gb7h1]})
18. Bxe8 Qxe8 $13 {[%cal Gb7h1]}) 17... Nxe5 $1 {Baburin: This
counter-sacrifice reveals Gelfand's intentions - he wants to attack as well!
Ribli: Schwarz gibt das Material zurück. Sein Läufer auf b7 ist ohne Gegenpart
auf der Diagonalen sehr stark. Ich möchte bemerken, daß die weiße
Bauernstruktur konisch ist.} (17... d6 18. Qd3 Nf8 19. exd6 cxd6 20. Bxd6 Na5
21. Bxf8 Qxd3 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. exd3 $13) 18. fxe5 Rxe5 {Baburin: Now the
black bishop is excellently placed on the long diagonal and the knight is
ready to jump to g5, while the White bishop pair isn't particularly useful.} (
18... Ng5 19. e4 $17) 19. Bxh7 {Ribli: Die schwarze Drohung war Ng5. Weiß
sieht sich gezwungen das Läuferpaar aufzugeben.} (19. Qd3 {Ribli} Be4) (19. Rf7
{Ribli} Ng5 20. Rf8+ Qxf8 21. Bxf8 Nh3+ 22. Kf1 Rxf8+ 23. Ke1 Ng1 $40 {[%csl
Re1]}) 19... Kxh7 {Ribli.Auf dem Brett gibtes nun ungleichfarbige Läufer, aber
mit Türmen und Damen. Das hilft nur Schwarz, denn er hat Angriff.} 20. c5 {
Ribli: Weiß möchte sich befreien von seinen Doppelbauern, aber wirklich guter
Rat ist teuer.} Qe8 (20... bxc5 21. Bxc5 $17) 21. Qd3+ (21. cxb6 {Ribli} axb6
22. Rf8 Qe6 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 $17) 21... Be4 $19 22. Qd2 (22. Qd4 $5) 22... Qe6 {
Baburin: Very simple - the attack on the light squares is unstoppable; as
usual in such positions the presence of opposite coloured bishops makes the
attack more deadly. Meanwhile the queen is aiming for the h3-square.} 23. Rf2 (
23. cxb6 axb6 24. Bb2 Qh3 25. Rf2 Rf8 26. Raf1 Ref5 27. Qe3 Qg2+ $1) 23... bxc5
{Baburin: Adding a material advantage to the existing positional plus.} 24.
Raf1 Re8 {Ribli: Schwarz hat eine überlegene Stellung. Er hat einen Bauern
mehr. Was noch wichtiger ist, er hat die entscheidende Herrschaft auf den
weißen Feldern.} 25. c4 Qh3 {Baburin: From this square the queen attacks the
kingside very comfortably, being absolutely undesturbed itself. A crash on the
g3-square is coming...} 26. Bb2 Rg5 27. Qc3 {Ribli: Weiß verteidigt sich gegen
27...Rxg3, und droht selbst auf g7. Aber der schwarze Angriff ist unaufhaltbar.
} Re6 28. Qe3 Rg4 {Ribli: Nach diesem Zug droht entscheidend 29...h5-h4 oder
29...Rg6 nebst 30...Rxg3.} (28... Reg6 $4 {Ribli} 29. Qxe4 {[%cal Ge4h7]} Rxg3+
30. hxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Rg2) 29. Rc1 h5 ({Baburin: Also possible was} 29... Rxg3+ {
Baburin,A} 30. Qxg3 Rg6 31. Rc3 Qe6 $19 {but 29...h5 is easier - White has no
counterplay and cannot prevent the collapse of the g3-square.}) 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. Na4 Qa5+ 7. c3 Bxd4 8.
Qxd4 Nf6 9. Nc5 Nc6 10. Qe3 O-O 11. Nb3 Qa4 12. Bd3 b6 13. O-O Ba6 14. Bxa6
Qxa6 15. Re1 d5 16. e5 Nd7 17. Qg3 Kh8 18. Nd4 Rac8 19. Nxc6 Rxc6 20. Bg5 Rfc8
21. Qf3 Kg8 22. a3 Qb5 23. Re2 h6 24. Bf4 Rc4 25. Rd2 Re4 26. Qg3 Qc4 27. Be3
Rg4 28. Qh3 Nxe5 29. f4 Rxf4 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. Rf2 Qg5 32. Raf1 Rc4 33. Re2 a5
34. Qe3 Qxe3+ 35. Rxe3 Ng4 36. Rd3 Rc7 37. a4 f5 38. b3 Kf7 39. c4 dxc4 40. Rc3
Ne5 41. Rfc1 Rc6 42. h4 g5 43. hxg5 hxg5 44. bxc4 Nd7 45. Kf2 Nc5 46. Ra3 g4
47. Ke2 Kf6 48. Rd1 Ne4 49. Rc1 f4 50. Rb3 Nc5 51. Ra3 e5 52. Rh1 Kf5 53. Rh5+
Ke4 54. Rh4 Rg6 55. Rh1 g3 56. Rh5 Kd4 57. Ra2 Re6 58. Rh1 Nd3 59. Rc2 e4 60.
Rh8 f3+ 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 a5 11. Ba3 Nf4 12. Bf1 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 axb4 15.
Bxb4 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. a3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 g5 7. g3 Bg7 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 gxf4 10. gxf4 Nc6 11. Nf3 O-O-O 12. Qe3 Kb8 13. Rg1 Rhg8 14. a3
a6 15. e5 Qe7 16. Bd3 Bh8 17. Rg3 dxe5 18. fxe5 Rxg3 19. hxg3 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6
21. Ne4 Bg7 22. c3 Bc8 23. Bc2 b6 24. Nf2 Qd6 25. Be4 Bb7 26. Nd3 Ka7 27. Kb1
Rf8 28. Qe2 a5 29. Nf4 Rg8 30. Bh7 Rh8 31. Bc2 Nd8 32. Nh5 Bf8 33. Ne5 Rg8 34.
g4 Be7 35. Nf4 Bg5 36. Nfg6 Qd5 37. Re1 Rg7 38. Bd3 Nc6 39. Bc4 Qd6 40. Rf1 Nd8
41. Rf8 c5 42. dxc5 Qxc5 43. Rxd8 Bxd8 44. Nf4 Bc7 45. Nfd3 Qe7 46. Bb5 Qd6 47.
Qe3 Rh7 48. Bc4 h5 49. g5 h4 50. g6 Rg7 51. Qh6 Qe7 52. Qh5 Qf6 53. Bb5 Qf5 54.
Qe2 Qe4 55. Qh5 h3 56. Ka2 Qf5 57. Qe2 Qe4 58. Qh5 Bd6 59. c4 h2 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. a3 c5 5. d5 Ba6 6. b3 exd5 7. cxd5 g6 8. Bb2
Bg7 9. e4 Bxf1 10. Kxf1 d6 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Re1 Nbd7 14. g3 b5 15.
Kg2 Ng4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. h3 Ngf6 18. Re3 Qb6 19. Rhe1 Kg8 20. Qb2 a5 21. Ng5
a4 22. b4 Rac8 23. bxc5 Rxc5 24. Ndf3 Ne5 25. Nxe5 dxe5 26. Rc3 Rec8 27. Rxc5
Rxc5 28. Nf3 b4 29. axb4 Rc4 30. Qxe5 Rc2 31. Nd4 Rd2 32. Rc1 Qxd4 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8.
Be3 Ng4 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bg7 12. Be2 h5 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. f3 Bd7
15. Bf2 Nc6 16. O-O e6 17. Nde2 Qc7 18. Qd2 g4 19. f4 h4 20. Be3 b5 21. Rad1
Bf8 22. e5 dxe5 23. Ne4 O-O-O 24. Qe1 f5 25. Ng5 h3 26. g3 Re8 27. Qf2 Kb8 28.
fxe5 Bc8 29. Nf4 Rg8 30. Nh5 Rxg5 31. Bxg5 Nxe5 32. Bf4 Bc5 33. Rfe1 Bxf2+ 34.
Kxf2 Qxc2+ 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Nf6 13. Bd3 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Bxb5 Rc8 16. Qe2 Ne4 17. Bd3 Qf6 18. Nd2 Nd6 19. e4 Qg6 20. g3 f5 21. e5
Ne4 22. Nxe4 fxe4 23. Bc2 Bd5 24. Bb3 Rf3 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Bxb3 27. axb3
Rcf8 28. Rfd1 Qg4 29. Rd2 h5 30. Kh1 Qh3 31. Rg1 Qf5 32. Ra1 Qxe5 33. Rxa7 h4
34. Rdd7 hxg3 35. Rxg7+ Qxg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. Qc4 Rh8 38. Qxe6 Rf1+ 39. Kg2
gxh2 40. Qe7+ Rf7 41. Qe5+ Rf6 42. Kh1 Rhh6 43. b4 Kg8 44. Qd5+ Kh8 45. Qd8+
Kg7 46. Qe7+ Rf7 47. Qe5+ Kg8 48. Qb5 Rg6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qe5+ Kg8 51. Qe8+
Kg7 52. Qe5+ Rff6 53. b5 Rg1+ 54. Kxh2 Rgg6 55. b6 Rh6+ 56. Kg3 Rhg6+ 57. Kh4
Rh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lobron, Eric"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A96"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 a5 8. Re1
Ne4 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. a3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 e5 12. Rb1 Bf6 13. e3 Qe8 14. a4 Qf7 15.
Nd2 Qh5 16. Rb5 Re8 17. Rf1 Nd8 18. Ba3 c6 19. Rbb1 Nf7 20. f4 exd4 21. exd4
Qe2 22. Bf3 Qe7 23. Kg2 Qc7 24. Qd3 Be6 25. Rfe1 Rad8 26. Re2 Bc8 27. Rbe1
Rxe2+ 28. Qxe2 g5 29. Qd3 Kh8 30. Kh1 gxf4 31. gxf4 c5 32. Nf1 Bh4 33. Re2 b6
34. Ne3 Nh6 35. h3 Rg8 36. Nd5 Qd8 37. Rg2 Bg3 38. Kg1 Qh4 39. Nxb6 Re8 40. Be2
Bxf4 41. Nd5 Bb7 42. dxc5 Bxd5 43. cxd5 Qe1+ 44. Bf1 Be3+ 45. Kh1 f4 46. c4 Rb8
47. Bb2+ Rxb2 48. Rxb2 Nf5 49. Rb8+ Kg7 50. Rb7+ Kh6 51. Rxh7+ Kxh7 52. Qxf5+
Kh6 53. Qf6+ Kh7 54. Qf7+ Kh6 55. Qf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 e6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Nc6 8. c3
d5 9. e5 Nd7 10. d4 b6 11. a3 Ba6 12. Nbd2 Bd3 13. Nf1 Bg6 14. Ng3 Rc8 15. Be3
b5 16. Ne2 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nb6 18. Nf4 Bf5 19. Qe2 Nc4 20. Rac1 Qb6 21. Bc2 Be4
22. Bd3 g6 23. Bxc4 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 bxc4 25. Qg4 Qxb2 26. h4 Bxa3 27. h5 Ne7 28.
Ra1 Rc7 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Reb1 Qc2 31. Qe2 Qc3 32. Qa2 Bc5 33. dxc5 Nf5 34. Ne2
Qd3 35. Bg5 c3 36. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics 3rd place"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lobron, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1997.06.27"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2 Bb4+ 8. Bd2
a5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 d5 11. a3 Be7 12. Nc3 Ba6 13. Qc2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15.
b4 c6 16. e3 h6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd2 e5 19. Nb3 exd4 20. exd4 axb4 21. axb4
Bc4 22. Na5 Nb6 23. Bh3 Rc7 24. Nxc4 Nxc4 25. Bf1 Nd6 26. Ra6 Qd7 27. Rb6 Rb7
28. Rxb7 Qxb7 29. Na4 Qxb4 30. Qxc6 Rc8 31. Qa6 Bxd4 32. Bd3 g6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34.
Rf1 Rc7 35. Rb1 Qa3 36. Qa5 Qxd3 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics 3rd place"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.06.27"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 Nc6 8. Rb1
h6 9. b4 a6 10. a4 Be6 11. b5 axb5 12. axb5 Ne7 13. Bb2 b6 14. Ra1 Rc8 15. Ne1
d5 16. cxd5 Nexd5 17. Nc2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Nd5 19. Bb4 Re8 20. e4 Nxb4 21. Nxb4
Qd6 22. Nc6 Ra8 23. Qc2 Bd7 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rc1 Ra3 26. Bf1 h5 27. Qb2 Be6
28. d4 Ra2 29. dxe5 Qxc6 0-1

[Event "Chess Classics 3rd place"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lobron, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.06.27"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. b3 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nh3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb2 a5 8. c4 Na6
9. Nd2 c6 10. Nf4 g5 11. Nd3 Nb4 12. Ne1 Qe8 13. a3 Na6 14. Nd3 Qg6 15. Qc2 Nc7
16. e3 Ne4 17. a4 Bd7 18. c5 Nxd2 19. Qxd2 Nd5 20. cxd6 Bxd6 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22.
Rxa3 f4 23. Ne5 Qg7 24. Raa1 Be8 25. Kh1 Kh8 26. Bf3 Bg6 27. exf4 gxf4 28. Rae1
fxg3 29. fxg3 Rf6 30. Bg2 Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 Rf8 32. Rxf8+ Qxf8 33. Qxa5 Bc2 34.
Qd8 Qxd8 35. Nf7+ Kg8 36. Nxd8 Bxb3 37. a5 e5 38. dxe5 Ne3 39. Nxb7 1-0

[Event "Chess Classics 3rd place"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1997.06.27"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.07.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3
c5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Qe2 Bf5 11. Rd1 Be4 12. Bb2 Qb6 13. Nc4 Qa6 14. Bf1 Rfd8 (
14... cxd4 15. cxd4 (15. exd4 Rac8 16. Nfd2 Bf5 17. Qe1 Qa4 18. Ne3 Bd7 19. d5
Na5 20. c4 b5 21. cxb5 Bxb5 22. Bh3 Rcd8 {0.5/Korotylev,A-Zvjaginsev,V/St.
Petersburg op (03)/1994/}) 15... Rac8 16. Nfd2 Na5 17. Na3 (17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18.
Nxa5 Qxa5 19. Bg2 f5 $13) 17... Qxe2 18. Bxe2 Bd5 19. Bd3 Nd7 20. Rdb1 (20. e4
Be6 21. Rdb1 Bh3 $13) 20... Nb6 21. Nb5 (21. e4 Bc4 22. Naxc4 Naxc4 23. Nxc4
Nxc4 $15) 21... a6 22. Nc3 Be6 23. Nce4 Nbc4 {0-1 Kurajica,B-Palac,M/Vinkovci
1995 (33)}) 15. Nfd2 (15. Ne1 {/\ f3} Rac8 16. f3 Bd5 $13) (15. a4 $5) 15...
Bc2 16. Rdc1 Ba4 17. Nb3 Nd7 (17... b6 18. dxc5 Bb5 19. Nd4 (19. a4 $1 Bxa4 20.
Ncd2 Qxe2 21. Bxe2 Bxb3 22. Nxb3 bxc5 23. Rc2 $14) 19... bxc5 (19... Bxc4 $1
20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Bxc4 Ne5 22. Be2 bxc5 $11) 20. Nxb5 Qxb5 21. Qc2 Qb7 22. Rab1
Qc7 23. Ba3 {1-0 Georgiev,K-Kozul,Z/Erevan olm 1996/ (38) ><c5, ^^}) 18. dxc5
Nce5 $5 (18... Rac8 $13) 19. Nxe5 Qxe2 20. Bxe2 Nxe5 21. Nd4 e6 22. Rab1 Bf8
23. Ba1 Rab8 (23... Rd7 $6 24. Rb4 Bc6 25. f4 $16) 24. c4 Nd7 $1 (24... Bxc5
25. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 26. Bxe5 $16) (24... Nc6 25. Nxc6 Bxc6 26. Bd4 $14) 25. c6 $1
(25. Bf3 Nxc5 $15) 25... bxc6 26. Bd1 Rxb1 (26... Nc5 $2 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. Bxa4
Nxa4 29. Nxc6 $16) 27. Rxb1 Bxd1 28. Rxd1 Nb6 (28... Ne5 29. Rb1 Nxc4 30. Nxc6
Rd2 31. a4 $11) 29. Rc1 c5 30. Nb3 Bg7 (30... f5 31. Be5 $11) 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32.
Nxc5 (32. Nxc5 Rc8 33. Nb3 Rxc4 34. Rxc4 Nxc4 35. Kf1 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D74"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 c6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4
Be6 9. Na4 Na6 10. Bd2 Rc8 11. e3 b5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 c5 14. a3 Bd5 15. b4
cxb4 16. axb4 Qb6 17. Ra3 Nb8 18. Qa1 Rc7 19. Nh4 Bc4 20. Rd1 Rfc8 21. Bf3 e6
22. Ng2 Bf8 23. Bd2 Nc6 24. Ra6 Qb8 25. Qa3 Ne7 26. Ne1 Nd5 27. e4 Nb6 28. Bf4
Qb7 29. Bxc7 Rxc7 30. Ra5 Na4 31. Nd3 Bxd3 32. Rxd3 Rc4 33. e5 Qb6 34. Rxa4
bxa4 35. Qxa4 Rxd4 36. Ra3 Rxb4 37. Qe8 Rb1+ 38. Kg2 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Na6
9. O-O Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 (11... h5 12. Ne1 Nh6 13. f3 Nf7 14. Nd3 c5
15. a3 Bh6 16. Bf2 Bd7 17. b4 b6 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Qc2 Rb8 21.
Rfb1 $14 {Tunik,G-Doroshkievich,V/Krasnodar 1991/1-0 (72)}) 12. Ne1 (12. Nd2
Nh6 13. g4 (13. a3 Qe8 14. Bd3 f5 15. Bc2 Bf6 16. Ba4 Qe7 17. Bxf6 Rxf6 18. Bb5
f4 19. Bxa6 bxa6 20. f3 g5 $132 {Li Wenliang-Ye Jiangchuan/Beijing Tan Chin
Cup 1995/1/2-1/2 (48)}) 13... Nf7 14. a3 Bd7 15. Rb1 Nc7 16. b4 b6 17. Kg2 Bh6
18. h3 Rb8 19. Qc2 Qe7 20. Rb2 Bg5 21. Bxg5 Nxg5 22. bxc5 dxc5 23. Qd3 Nf7 24.
a4 a5 25. Rfb1 Qd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gschnitzer,O-Vogt,L/Wildbad 1990 (30)}) 12...
h5 (12... Nh6 13. Nd3 Nf7 14. Bg4 h5 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. f4 Nb4 17. f5 g5 18. Be1
g4 19. Nf2 Ng5 20. a3 Na6 21. h3 $16 {1-0 Ostenstad,B-Kozakov,M/Arnold mem,
Gausdal NOR 1997 (40)}) 13. a3 Qe7 14. Rb1 {[%cal Gb2b4]} b6 (14... Nh6 $5 15.
f3 g5 16. Bf2 f5 17. b4 b6 $132) 15. b4 Bd7 16. Nd3 g5 17. Bg3 f5 $5 18. h3 Nf6
19. bxc5 $1 (19. Bxh5 f4 20. Bh2 cxb4 21. axb4 (21. Nxb4 Nxh5 22. Qxh5 Nc5 $44)
21... Nxh5 22. Qxh5 Rac8 {[%csl Rc4]}) 19... Nxc5 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. Bxh5 Nxh5
22. Qxh5 Be8 23. Qf3 (23. Qe2 f4 24. Bh2 f3 $132) 23... f4 24. Bh2 Bf6 {
[%cal Ye7h7,Ye8h5,Yg5g4]} 25. g4 $6 (25. Qe2 $5 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gc3d1,Gd1f2,Gf2g4]
}) 25... Qh7 $1 {[%cal Yf6d8,Yd8a5]} 26. Nb5 Rd8 27. Kg2 Rd7 $1 {[%cal Yf6d8,
Yd8b6]} 28. Qe2 Bd8 29. f3 Ba5 30. Rb3 Rf6 31. Qb2 Rb7 32. Rh1 (32. Nxd6 $1
Rxb3 33. Qxe5 $16 {[%cal Ge5f6,Ge6e8]}) 32... Rb6 {[%cal Yh7b7]} 33. Nc3 Bg6
34. Rf1 (34. Na4 $2 Rxb3 35. Qxb3 Bxe4 36. fxe4 Qxe4+ 37. Qf3 Qxc4 $19) 34...
Qh4 35. Rxb6 axb6 36. Nb5 Bf7 37. Qf2 Qh7 38. Rh1 Be8 39. Qb2 Bxb5 40. Qxb5 Qh4
41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Qe7+ Kg6 43. Qe8+ (43. Rb1 Be1 44. Rb2 Ba5 $132 {[%cal Yh4e1]}
) 43... Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Bangiev,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. a4 Nc6 7. O-O (7. d3 Nf6
8. Be3 O-O 9. h3 Ne8 (9... Rc8 10. Qd2 Nb4 11. Bf2 a6 12. Bc4 Bc6 13. Bb3 b5
14. O-O Qc7 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rfe1 Ra8 17. Rxa8 Rxa8 18. Ng5 Rf8 19. f5 $36 {
1-0 Hort,V-Sigurjonsson,G/Reykjavik 1985 (33)}) 10. O-O Nc7 11. Bc4 a6 12. Qd2
Nd4 13. f5 b5 $132 {0-1 Sigurjonsson,G-De Firmian,N/Reykjavik op 1986 (25)})
7... e6 (7... Nd4 8. e5 $5 (8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. d3 $14) 8... dxe5 9. Nxe5 $5 (9.
fxe5 Nh6 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne4 Bxb5 12. axb5 Bxe5 13. Ra3 f5 14. Ng5 Qd6 $17 {
0-1 Moisan Plante,M-Reeve,J/Quebeck op 1994 (21)}) (9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Nxe5 Qc7
11. d3 Bxe5 12. fxe5 Qxe5 13. Bf4 Qg7 14. Qd2 $36)) (7... Nf6 8. e5 $5 dxe5 9.
Nxe5 $14) 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. d4 $5 Nf6 (9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Be3 $36 Qxb2 $2
12. Ncb5 $1 {[%csl Rc7,Rd6]} Bxb5 13. Nxb5 Qxa1 14. Qxd6 $18) 10. d5 (10. Re1
O-O $11) 10... exd5 (10... Bd7 $6 11. dxe6 Bxe6 $14) 11. exd5 Bd7 12. Re1+ Kf8
$14 {Schwarz benötigt drei Tempi (h6,Kg8,Kh7) um seine Entwicklung
abzuschließen. Weiß hat also genug Zeit um seine Kräfte zu koordinieren. Die
Frage der weißen Initiative ist hier die Frage der Entwicklung des Bc1. Falls
Weiß es schaffen sollte, den Bc1 ins Spiel zu bringen, dann entscheidet er den
Kampf um die Initiative für sich.} 13. b3 h6 14. Bb2 a6 15. a5 Kg8 16. Qd2 {
/\Na4 -> Nb6} Bg4 (16... Kh7 17. Na4 {Das Ziel dieses Zuges besteht darin, daß
Weiß mit dem Manöver Nb6-c4 und anschließendem Tausch auf f6 die wichtigen
weißen Felder (c4,d5) unter Kontrolle halten kann. Das weitere Spiel könnte
sich etwa folgendermaßen gestalten.} Bg4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Qf2 Re8 20. Rxe8 Qxe8
21. Re1 Qb5 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Nc4 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Re8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Kf1 $14)
17. Rf1 (17. Qf2 $2 Nxd5) 17... Kh7 18. Ne5 $5 {Dieser "überraschende" Zug
wurde sicherlich vorbereitet.} (18. h3 Bxf3 19. Rxf3 Ne4 (19... Re8 20. f5 $5)
20. Nxe4 Bxb2 $13) 18... Re8 $1 (18... dxe5 {Die Annahme des Opfers gestattet
es dem Weißen, zum scharfen Angriff überzugehen.} 19. fxe5 Nd7 20. Rxf7 $1 Nxe5
(20... Re8 21. Ne4 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Qc3 $16) 21. Rxg7+ Kxg7 22. Ne4 Re8 (
22... Qe7 23. d6 Qe6 24. Nxc5 $40) 23. Qf4 Qe7 (23... Qxd5 24. Nf6 $16) 24. Re1
Bf5 25. d6 $16) 19. Nxg4 (19. Nc4 $6 Nh5 $5 $36 {/\Bd4}) (19. Nxf7 $2 Qd7)
19... Nxg4 {Schwarz steht momentan etwas aktiver. Man beachte die weißen
Bauernschwächen (d5,a5), und die Aktivität der schwarzen Leichtfiguren. /\Bd4;
Qh4} 20. Na4 $1 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 Qh4 22. g3 (22. h3 Ne3 23. Rf3 Nf5 $15) 22... Qf6
$1 {Das beste Feld für die schwarze Dame.} 23. Nc4 $1 {Weiß hat sein Ziel
erreicht. Der Spinger auf c4 wird perfekt postiert. Nun wäre für Weiß der
Tausch der schweren Figuren sehr erwünscht, weil dann die Springerkraft wächst.
} h5 $1 {Es gelingt jetzt dem Schwarzen den Spinger nach f5 vorteilhaft zu
überführen.} 24. Rae1 Nh6 25. Kg2 {Dies soll den Zug 26.Rf2 vorbereiten.} (25.
Rf2 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Ng4 $36) 25... Nf5 26. Rf2 Nd4 $36 27. Re3 Qf5 28. Kg1 Rxe3
(28... Qxd5 $2 29. Nb6) 29. Qxe3 Qd7 {/\Re8} (29... Nxc2 30. Qe7 Qxd5 31. f5 $5
Qd1+ 32. Rf1 Qd4+ 33. Rf2 $11) (29... Rd8 30. Qe7 $36) 30. Nb6 Qe8 31. Qd3 $5 {
Es droht b3-b4, bzw. f4-f5 mit dem Ziel, die schwarze Bauernkette zu sprengen.}
(31. Qxe8 Rxe8 32. Kf1 $11) 31... Rd8 32. Kg2 (32. b4 $2 Qe1+) 32... Kg8 33. b4
{Dies soll auch den Zug c2-c3 ermöglichen.} (33. c4 $6 Qe1 $5) 33... Qb5 $5 (
33... Qe1 34. c3 $14) 34. Qxb5 axb5 35. c3 Nf5 36. Re2 {Die weiße Stellung ist
nun vorzuziehen. Alle weißen Figuren stehen aktiver.} Kf8 37. Kf2 (37. bxc5 $6
dxc5 38. Rb2 Nd6) 37... c4 38. h3 $6 {/\g4} (38. Re1 $5 {/\39.h3} f6 39. h3 h4
40. g4 Ng3 41. Re6 Kf7 42. Ke3 $14) 38... h4 $1 {Ein aktiver Plan.
Andererseits bekommt Weiß nach 39.g4 eine gewisse Initiative und spürbaren
Raumvorteil.} 39. g4 Ng3 40. Re3 f5 $1 41. g5 Ne4+ 42. Ke2 Re8 $11 43. Kd1 Ke7
44. Ke1 Kd8 45. Kd1 Nf2+ 46. Ke2 Rxe3+ 47. Kxe3 Ne4 (47... Nxh3 48. Kf3 Ng1+
49. Kf2 Nh3+ 50. Kf3 $11) 48. Kd4 Kc7 49. Na8+ Kd7 50. Nb6+ Kd8 51. Na8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 {Der prinzipielle Zug ist 3.d4,aber der Textzug ist
auch moeglich.Auf diese weise Weiss kann z.B. der Sizilianische Angriff -
erreichbar nach 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 - zu vermeiden,
als jetzt nach 3...Nf6 kommt 4.e5.Ribli.} a6 (3... Nc6 4. Bb5) 4. d4 cxd4 5.
Nxd4 b5 {Eine agressive Fortsetzung.Schwarz macht noch einen Bauernzug am
Damenfluegel,und gibt Entwicklungsvorspung fuer Weiss,aber gewinnt Raum am
Damenfluegel,und in einigen Varianten droht b5-b4.Ribli.} (5... d6 {Das ist
ein interessantes System - aehnlich zur Najdorf-Variante,und es kann fuer
Schwarz vorteilhaft sein,das er hat noch nicht seine Springer entwickelt,und
auf diese weise sein Koenigsfluegel ist nicht so leicht angriffbar.Ribli.}) 6.
g3 Bb7 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. a3 (8. O-O b4 9. Nd5 (9. Na4 Bxe4 (9... Nxe4 10. Re1 d5
11. c4 bxc3 12. bxc3 Bd6 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qb3 Ra7 15. Be3 Bc8 16. c4 Rb7 17. Qc2
Rxb1 18. Rxb1 e5 19. cxd5 Qxc2 20. Nxc2 Bf5 {Barczay,L-Votava,J/Budapest FS09
GM 1995/0-1 (87)}) 10. Bxe4 Nxe4 11. Re1 d5 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qe5
Qf6 15. Rxe4 Qxe5 16. Rxe5 Kf7 17. Re3 Nd7 18. Rf3+ Kg7 19. b3 Rc8 20. Bb2+ e5
21. Rd3 d4 22. f4 Rxc2 23. fxe5 Nc5 {1/2-1/2 Barczay,L-Korpics,Z/tt_HUN 1996 
(32)}) (9. e5 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 bxc3 11. exf6 Qxf6 12. bxc3 Be7 13. Rb1 O-O 14. Rb7
Rc8 {0-1 Jober,R-Ilijin,N/SLO-chT sf 1996 (33)}) 9... exd5 10. exd5 Bc5 11.
Re1+ Kf8 12. Bf4 (12. Nf5 d6 13. Bf4 Bc8 14. Nd4 Qb6 15. Qe2 h6 16. Nb3 Nbd7
17. a3 Bb7 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. c3 Bc5 {0-1 Marinkovic,S-Cabrilo,G/Belgrade 1991 
(25)}) 12... h6 13. c3 Qb6 14. Be5 d6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nf5 Bxf2+ 17. Kh1 Bxe1
18. Qg4 Rg8 19. Qe4 Qd8 20. Rxe1 Rg5 {0-1 Felix,V-Rehorek,M/Sumperk op 1990 
(31)}) (8. Qe2 b4 (8... Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Nd5 (10. O-O b4 11. e5 Bxg2 12.
Kxg2 bxc3 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Qe4 Qd8 15. bxc3 Be7 16. Rd1 O-O 17. c4 Rb8 18. Bf4
Rb4 19. a3 Rb2 20. Bc1 Rb8 21. Bf4 Rb2 22. Bc1 {1/2-1/2 De la Villa Garcia,
J-Strikovic,A/San Sebastian op 1994}) 10... Rc8 11. O-O Bc5 12. Bg5 h6 13.
Nxf6+ gxf6 14. Bf4 h5 15. h4 Qb6 16. e5 Bd4 {Marinkovic,I-Pekarek,A/Biel op
1989/1/2-1/2 (50)}) (8... Qb6 9. Nb3 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. a4 b4 12. a5 Qc7 13.
Na2 d5 14. Bf4 Qc4 15. Qxc4 dxc4 16. Nd2 Rc8 17. c3 bxc3 18. Nxc3 Ng4 19. Bf3
Nge5 20. Be2 Bc5 21. Ra4 Bc6 22. Ra2 Bb7 23. Ra4 Bc6 24. Ra2 Bb7 {1/2-1/2
Kraut,R-Kveinys,A/Marbach 1994}) 9. Na4 Qa5 (9... d5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. exd5 (11.
e5 Nfd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. f4 O-O 14. O-O Nc6 15. Nb3 a5 16. Qf2 Ba6 17. Rfd1
Bb5 {0-1 Boudre,J-Abramovic,B/Paris-ch 1988 (31)}) 11... Bxd5 12. O-O-O Qa5 13.
f4 Nbd7 14. b3 Bxg2 15. Qxg2 Qd5 16. Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Rhe1 {1-0
Kupreichik,V-Sax,G/Münster op 1996 (42)}) 10. b3 Nc6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qb5
13. Qd3 Be7 14. O-O e5 15. Be3 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. c4 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,
F-Kengis,E/Skolernes Skakklub 1997}) 8... d6 (8... Nc6 9. O-O Qc7 10. Be3 Ne5
11. Nde2 Be7 12. h3 O-O 13. g4 d5 14. exd5 Rfd8 {0-1 Pazos,P-Blanco Fernandez,
A/Manzanillo 1991 (28)}) 9. O-O Qc7 {Schwarz muss den Laeufer auf b7 decken.
Ribli.} (9... Be7 $2 10. e5 Bxg2 (10... dxe5 11. Bxb7 Ra7 12. Nxe6 (12. Bc6+
Kf8 13. Ndxb5 axb5 14. Bxb5 $16) 12... fxe6 13. Bg2 $16) 11. exf6 Bxf1 12. fxe7
Qxe7 13. Qxf1 $16 {Und Weiss hat Materialsvorteil.Ribli.}) 10. Re1 (10. f4 Nc6
11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe2 Be7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Rad1 Rfe8 {1/2-1/2 Kveinys,A-Espig,L/
Muenster op 1993 (46)}) (10. Kh1 Nbd7 11. f4 Rc8 12. Nb3 {1/2-1/2 Tompa,
J-Kubacsny,L/HUN tt Elektromos-Balatonalmádi 1997 (41)}) 10... Be7 11. a4 $5
$13 {Einen interessanter Zug.Weiss spielt noch eine Zug mit dem a-Bauern in
der Eroeffnung,was ist gewoenlich nicht zu empfehlen,aber die Sizilianisch ist
so konkret,das alles ist moeglich.Ribli.} (11. g4 h6 12. h4 g6 13. g5 hxg5 14.
hxg5 Nh5 15. Nde2 Nc6 16. Be3 Ne5 17. Qd4 f6 {0-1 Mueller,K-Bologan,V/Oakham
1992 (31)}) 11... b4 (11... bxa4 12. Rxa4 (12. Nxa4 O-O) 12... Nbd7) 12. Na2
O-O 13. Bg5 (13. Nxb4 d5 {[%csl Re4][%cal Re7b4] Nach diesem Zug Schwarz
bekommt den e4-Bauern.Ribli.} 14. c3 dxe4 $13 (14... Nxe4)) 13... Nbd7 14. Qd2
(14. Nxb4 d5 $13 15. exd5 $2 Bxb4 16. dxe6 Bxe1) 14... a5 {Eine schwere
Entscheidung,als der Punkt b5 wird schwach,aber Schwarz hat nichts besseres.
Ribli.} (14... d5 15. exd5 Bxd5 (15... Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Nxb4 Bxg2 18.
Kxg2 Qb7+ 19. Kg1 Rab8 20. c3 a5 21. Nd3 $16) 16. Bxd5 $1 (16. Nxb4 Bxg2 17.
Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Nbc6 (18. Ndc6 $2 Bxb4 $19) 18... Nb8 19. Qc3 Rc8 20. Qb3) 16...
Nxd5 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Nxb4 $16) 15. Nb5 {[%csl Gb5]} Qb6 16. c3 (16. Be3 Nc5)
16... Nc5 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gc5b3,Gc5e4]} (16... bxc3 17. Naxc3 $14 {[%csl Gb5]}
) 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17... Bxf6 $5 18. Qxd6 Nxa4 (18... Qxd6 19. Nxd6 $16) 19. Qxb6
Nxb6) (17... Nb3 $2 18. Qd1 Nxa1 (18... Bxf6 19. Qxb3 $18) 19. Bxe7 $18) 18.
Nd4 bxc3 19. Nxc3 {Schwarz hat Laeuferpaar,aber der e7-Laeufer steht noch
nicht gut.Schwarz kontrolliert der Punkt b4,aber die b5-Schwachung ist mehr
gefuehlbar,und die schwarze Koenigsstellung ist erschwaecht,aber es ist nicht
leicht zu benutzen.Ribli.} Rab8 (19... Rad8 $5) 20. Ncb5 Rfd8 21. Qh6 {[%csl
Rg8,Gh6]} d5 $132 {Nach diesem Zug,der bis jetzt ein wenig passiv Schwarz hat
auch seine Chancen.Ribli.} 22. e5 (22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 (23. Nf5 $2 Bf8 24.
Qxf6 exf5) 23... Rxd5 $13) 22... Nd7 $1 {Ein guter Verteidigungszug,wonach
Schwarz hat keine Sorgen am Koenigsfluegel.Ribli.} (22... f5 $2 23. Nxf5 $16 {
[%cal Gh6b6]}) (22... fxe5 23. Rxe5 {[%cal Ge5h5]}) 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Rad1 Bg7
25. Qh4 Rbc8 $15 {Schwarz hat feste Zentrumstellung,Laeuferpaar,aber sein
Koenigsfluegel ist ein wenig schwach,und Weiss hat eine Festpunkt auf b5.Ribli.
} 26. b3 Nc5 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Gc5e4]} 27. Re3 $5 {Ein kleiner,aber sehr gute
Verteidigungszug von Weiss.Er deckt indirekt das Feld f2.Ribli.} Ne4 {[%cal
Gb6f2,Ge4f2]} 28. Bf1 Ba6 (28... Bf6 29. Qg4+ Kh8) 29. Bd3 f5 (29... Bxd4 30.
Nxd4 Qxd4 (30... Bxd3 31. Rdxd3 (31. Rexd3 e5 {[%csl Rf2]})) 31. Qg4+ Qg7 (
31... Kh8 $2 32. Bxa6 Qb2 33. Rxe4 (33. Re2 $2 Qxb3) 33... dxe4 34. Bxc8 Rxc8
35. Qxe4 Qxb3 36. Qe5+ Kg8 37. Qg5+ Kf8 38. Rd8+ Rxd8 39. Qxd8+ Kg7 40. Qxa5
$16) 32. Qxg7+ Kxg7 33. Bxa6) 30. Bb1 Rd7 31. Qh5 {[%csl Gh5] Weiss
aktivisiert die Dame,und obwohl Schwarz steht aktiver,sein Koenig ist
angriffbar.Ribli.} Rf7 (31... h6 32. Qg6 {[%csl Gg6,Rg8]}) 32. Nf3 {[%cal
Gf3g5,Gg5f7,Gg5h7]} Bxb5 (32... f4 33. Rxe4 dxe4 34. Bxe4 $44) 33. axb5 h6 (
33... Qxb5 $6 34. Bxe4 fxe4 35. Ng5 (35. Rxe4 $2 {[%cal Gh5b5]} Rxf3 (35...
Qxb3 36. Ng5) 36. Qxf3 dxe4 $17)) 34. Bd3 Rc3 35. Qg6 $11 {[%csl Gg6]} Rf6 (
35... Rxb3 36. Bxe4 Rxe3 37. Bxd5 $44 {Das fuehrt zur Partiefortsetzung.Ribli.}
) 36. Qe8+ Rf8 37. Qg6 Rf6 38. Qe8+ Rf8 39. Qg6 Rxb3 {Endlich Schwarz
entscheidet der Kampf fortsetzen,aber er kann das remis nicht vermeiden.Ribli.}
(39... Rf6 $11) 40. Bxe4 $1 Rxe3 41. Bxd5 {[%csl Gd5,Gg6][%cal Gg6b6]} Rf6 (
41... Re2 42. Nd4 {[%cal Rd4e2,Rd4e6]}) (41... Rc3 42. Bxe6+ (42. Nd4 {[%csl
Re6]}) 42... Kh8 43. Rd7 {[%csl Rh8]}) 42. Qe8+ Rf8 43. Qg6 $11 {Und remis mit
Zugwiederholung.Ribli.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 c6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. c4 Bf5 8. b3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Nd7 10. Nh4 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Be6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Qb4 Rb8 14. Rfc1 Re8
15. e3 Bf8 16. Qa4 a6 17. Bc3 Nf6 18. Nf3 Bd7 19. Qa5 e6 20. Qxd8 Rexd8 21. a4
Ne4 22. Ba5 b6 23. Be1 Rdc8 24. Ne5 Be8 25. f3 Nd6 26. g4 a5 27. Nd3 Rxc1 28.
Rxc1 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Nxc8 30. Kf2 Ne7 31. Bf1 Nc6 32. Bc3 g5 33. e4 f6 34. exd5
exd5 35. f4 Nb4 36. Bxb4 Bxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Bd7 11. Kb1 h5 12. Bc4 O-O-O 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bb3
Kb8 15. Rhf1 Qc5 16. Qd3 h4 17. Qh3 Be7 18. f5 Qe5 19. Rde1 Rde8 20. Ne2 Bf8
21. Nf4 Rh6 22. a3 Bb5 23. Nd3 Bxd3 24. cxd3 Rh8 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. d4 Qxd4 27.
Bxe6 Bg7 28. Bd5 Re7 29. Rd1 Qa4 30. Rd3 Rc8 31. Rb3 Rc5 32. Ka2 Qd4 33. Rd3
Qa4 34. Rb3 Qd4 35. Rff3 f5 36. Rb4 Qd1 37. Rd3 Qe1 38. Qxf5 a5 39. Rb6 Rc1 40.
Qf4 Ra1+ 41. Kb3 Rd7 42. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 axb4 (10... Nd7 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Bb4 Ra8 13. a4 Bh6 14.
a5 f5 15. Nd2 Kh8 16. Ra2 Nf6 17. c5 Bxd2 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Rxd2 Nxe4 20. Nxe4
fxe4 21. Qb1 b6 $1 $17 {1/2-1/2 Panno Oscar-Fiorito Fabian/Ch Argentina,
Argentina 1995 (34)}) 11. Bxb4 Nd7 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 f5 14. Nd2 Kh8 15. Bd3 Rf6
(15... Ng8 16. Qc2 Rf7 17. Na4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Ndf6 19. Nac3 Bf5 20. Ng3 Bxd3 21.
Qxd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y-Renet,O/EU-chTM 1997 (32)}) 16. Na4 Rf7 17. c5
dxc5 18. Bc3 fxe4 19. Bxe4 Nf5 20. Nc4 Nd6 $1 $146 (20... Bg7 {Kramnik-Topalov,
Las Palmas96}) 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5+ Bg7 23. Bxg7+ Rxg7 {[%cal Ya8a5,Yd6e4]}
24. Nxc5 $8 b6 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 Nxe4 27. axb6 cxb6 (27... Rb8 $5 28. Qxd8+
(28. Re1 Nd6 $17) 28... Rxd8 29. Rfe1 Nd6 30. Rad1 cxb6 31. e7 Re8 32. Rxd6
Rgxe7 $11) 28. Re1 Nc3 (28... Nf6 29. e7 $1 Qe8 30. Rxa8 Qxa8 31. Qd8+ Rg8 32.
Qd4 Qc6 33. e8=Q $11) 29. e7 (29. Rxa8 Qxa8 30. Qd4 Nb5 31. Qxb6 Nc7 $15) 29...
Nxd1 30. exd8=B Rxd8 31. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 32. Rxd1 $11 Rb7 33. Kf1 b5 34. Rb1 Kg7
35. Ke2 Kf6 36. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3
f5 9. exf6 Rxf6 10. Bg5 Rf7 11. Qh5 g6 12. Qd1 Qa5 ({In a recent game Artur
opted for} 12... Nbc6 13. Nf3 Qf8 (13... c4 14. Be2 Bd7 15. h4 Qa5 16. Qd2 Nf5
17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 d4 19. Bf6 dxc3 20. Qf4 Qc7 21. Qxc4 Qxc4 22. Bxc4 Rc8
23. Ba2 h6 24. h5 g5 25. O-O-O Re8 26. g4 Ng7 27. Rh3 Ref8 28. Rxc3 Bc6 29. Bc4
Rxf6 30. exf6 Rxf6 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. Bb5 Rf3 33. Rdd3 Rxd3 34. Bxd3 Ne8 35. Bg6+
{1-0 Komarov,D-Naumkin,I/Porto San Giorgio 1996}) 14. O-O c4 15. Be2 h6 16. Bh4
Nf5 17. Bg3 g5 18. Qd2 {+/= Timman,J-Yusupov,A/Novgorod 1995}) 13. Bd2 Nbc6 14.
Nf3 c4 15. Be2 Bd7 16. O-O Kg7 $6 ({An interesting concept, which was, however,
refuted byTopalov in this game. The popular alternative is} 16... Nf5 17. Qc1
Raf8 18. a4 Nd6 19. Ng5 Rf6 20. Qa3 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qxd2 22. Qxd6 Bc8 23. Bxc4
Qxg5 24. Bd3 Qf4 25. Qc5 b6 {1/2-1/2 Vehi Bach,V-Alvarez Ibarra,D/San
Sebastian op 1994}) 17. Qc1 $1 {Forcing 17...Ng8 and preparing bishop transfer
to the b8-h2 diagonal.} Ng8 18. Bf4 Raf8 (18... Qxc3 $4 {loses immediately
after} 19. Bd2 {Black sacrifices the exchange hoping to get sufficient
compensation. It seems the most reasonable decision. Otherwise after 19.Ne5 
(or 19.Be5) White has a huge advantage.}) 19. Bd6 Qxc3 20. a4 $1 {[%csl Rc3]
[%cal Ga1a3,Ga4a5,Ga3c3]} ({The strongest reply. After} 20. Bxf8+ $6 Rxf8 {
><d4, Black gets good counterplay. In the presence of the dark-squared bishop
the d4 pawn is indirectly protected. The text move creates the threat of 21.a5
followed by 22.Ra3.}) 20... Nf6 {Threatening Nd4.} 21. Rd1 Ne4 ({After} 21...
Rd8 {the black queen is in the trouble:} 22. a5 $1 Nb4 23. Ra3 $1 Qxc2 24. Bxb4
Qxe2 25. Re1 $18) 22. Ra3 Qa5 23. Bxf8+ Rxf8 24. c3 {Essential move,
preventing 24...c3 and fixing White's advnatage.} Qb6 25. Re1 Nd6 26. Bd1 Rf6
27. Ra2 Nf7 28. Qa3 Na5 29. Ne5 Nxe5 30. Rxe5 Qd8 31. Re3 {Black clearly did
not obtain sufficient compensation for the exchange. Yet, White needs to finds
the effiicient way to convert his advantage.} Qf8 32. Qc1 {Queen exchange
would be in Black's favor.} Nb3 33. Qb1 Na5 34. h3 b6 35. Bg4 Qd6 36. Qe1 {
Aiming at e6 pawn.} Nc6 37. h4 Nd8 38. g3 Nf7 39. Rae2 Nd8 {[%csl Re6][%cal
Ge1e6,Gg4e6] Black managed to protect his weakest e6 pawn, but White has other
resources for imporving his position.} 40. Qa1 Nc6 41. Rf3 $1 {Rook exchange
increases White's attacking chances and yields him more freedom for aggressive
actions.} Rxf3 42. Bxf3 Nd8 43. Bg4 Nf7 44. Re1 Kf6 45. Qc1 Ke7 46. h5 $1 Kf6 (
46... g5 {fails to} 47. Qc2 h6 48. Qg6 {, and the white queen penetrates the
kingside.}) 47. hxg6 hxg6 48. Kg2 Kg7 49. Bd1 Qe7 50. Bc2 Qg5 51. Qd1 Nh6 52.
Qe2 Qf6 53. Rh1 Be8 54. f4 g5 {Otherwise after 55.Qf3 followed by g4 Black's
position is unbearable.} 55. Rf1 $1 Bf7 56. fxg5 Qxg5 57. Rf4 Bg8 58. Qe3 Kh8
59. Qc1 $1 {Excellent maneuver, allowing White to transfer his queen to the
diagonal a3-f8. The white queen's invasion into the Black's kingside decides
the game.} Kg7 (59... Qe7 $4 {loses after} 60. Rh4) 60. Qa3 Bf7 61. Qd6 Ng4 62.
Kf3 $1 Nf6 63. Qe7 Qh5+ 64. Ke3 Qg5 65. Ke2 a6 66. Kd1 $1 {The final subtlety.
Transferring his king to the queenside, White develops irresistible attack.}
Qh5+ 67. Kc1 Ng8 68. Qc7 b5 69. axb5 axb5 70. g4 Qh1+ 71. Kb2 Nh6 72. Qe5+ Kg8
73. Qg5+ Kf8 74. Qd8+ Kg7 75. Qf6+ {In view of 76.g5 Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Veselin Topalov plays the model plan against the Breyer defence, invading the
Q-side with the R:s on the a-file. Van der Sterrens tactic of offering
reconsiliatory pawns is without success.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5
19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Ra3 Rb8 22. Rea1 $146 (22. Qe3 Nh7 (22... Bc8 23.
axb5 axb5 24. Rea1 Nh7 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 $11 {Ebeling,M-Valkesalmi,K/Espoo 1988/
EXT 88b/1/2-1/2 (54)}) 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rea1 Bc8 25. axb5 axb5 26. Nd2 Rb7 27.
Ra5 h4 28. Ngf1 f5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Kavalek,L-Spassky,B/Turin 1982/MCD-r8 (56)}) (
22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3 Bf8 24. Qe2 Bc8 25. Nd2 Bd7 26. Rea1 Qc8 27. Ra7 Rb7 28.
Qf1 $14 {Dimitrov,V-Gullaksen,E/EU-chT Debrecen 1992/EU-chT/1-0 (56)}) 22...
Nh7 23. Be3 {White should not exchange this B} Bf6 24. Ne2 Nf8 25. Nc1 Nfd7 26.
axb5 axb5 27. b4 cxb3 28. Nxb3 Qc7 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Qe2 Bc8 31. Ra7 Qd8 32.
R1a5 Re7 $2 (32... Bd7 $14) 33. Rxe7 Bxe7 34. Rxb5 Ba6 35. Rxb8 Qxb8 36. Qd1
$16 {A pawn is a pawn} Qc7 37. Qa1 Bc8 38. Qa3 Nd7 39. Nd2 Kg7 40. Ba4 f5 41.
Bxd7 Bxd7 42. Qb4 Bc8 43. c4 Ba6 44. Qa4 Qc8 45. f3 Kf7 46. Kf1 Bh4 47. Ke2 Kg7
48. Qb4 Qc7 49. Kd1 Bd8 50. Kc2 f4 51. Bf2 Qa5 $2 52. Qxd6 $1 $18 Qa2+ 53. Kc1
Qa1+ 54. Nb1 Ba5 55. Qa3 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Novikov, Igor A"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 a6 {Black wants to
create a Benko Gambit type of position after c7-c5} (6... c5 7. d5 h6 8. Be3 e6
9. Qd2 exd5 10. cxd5 {is the real main line here.}) 7. Qd2 c5 8. Nge2 (8. d5 {
deserves attention:} b5 9. cxb5) 8... Nc6 (8... Qa5 {is a playable alternative
as well:} 9. Rd1 (9. d5 b5 10. Nc1 Nbd7 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Nb6 13. Qxa5
Rxa5 14. Bd2 Ra8 15. Ne2 Nc4 $13 16. Nec3 Nxb2 17. a4 c4 18. Ra2 Nd3+ 19. Bxd3
cxd3 20. Bg5 Ba6 21. Nc7 Nd7 22. Ra3 Rfc8 23. N3b5 Bxb5 24. Nxb5 Rc5 25. Rb3
Rxa4 26. O-O Ra2 27. Kh1 d2 28. Na3 Bd4 29. Rd3 Rc1 {0-1 Dreev,A-Topalov,V/
Ciudad de Linares14th 1997/CBM 57/[Psakhis]}) (9. Nd5 {Liquidating for the
endgame doesn't give any chances for an advantage.} Qxd2+ 10. Kxd2 Nxd5 11.
cxd5 Re8 12. Be3 Nd7 13. Rc1 b6 14. g3 a5 15. h4 Ba6 16. Bh3 Red8 17. Rhd1 Bxe2
18. Kxe2 cxd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Pecorelli Garcia,H-Pupo,E/Capablanca Premier-B 1997/
EXP 58}) 9... Nc6 (9... cxd4 $1 10. Nxd4 Nc6 $11 {with a comfortable Maroczy
bind position for Black.}) 10. d5 Na7 (10... Ne5 11. Ng3 b5) 11. Nc1 (11. b3 $1
b5 12. Rc1 $1 Bd7 13. Ng3 $14) 11... b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Nxb5 14. Qxa5
Rxa5 15. Bd2 Ra8 16. Bxb5 Rb8 17. a4 Bd7 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. b3 f5 $13 {
Gervais-David, Cappelle la Grande 1997}) (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6) 9. d5 Ne5 10.
Ng3 b5 11. cxb5 Qb6 12. a4 axb5 13. Bxb5 Ba6 14. O-O Qa5 {Black's play is not
very impressive losing a tempo with his Q so early.} 15. Bxa6 $6 {White has to
keep his B on b5, taking back with the P.} (15. Ra2 $1 c4 (15... Qb4 16. Rfa1
Nc4 17. Qe2 Bxb5 18. axb5 Rxa2 19. Rxa2 {/\ Ra4}) (15... Nc4 16. Qe2) (15...
Bxb5 16. axb5) 16. Nh1 Nd3 17. Nf2 Nb4 18. Ra3 $16) 15... Rxa6 16. Nb5 Qxd2 17.
Bxd2 Nc4 18. Bc3 Nd7 $1 19. Bxg7 (19. Ra2 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rfa8 21. Rfa1 Ra5 {
/\ Ndb6}) 19... Kxg7 20. Rfb1 (20. Rf2 Na5 $1 {>< b3}) 20... Nd2 $1 {><b3} 21.
Rd1 Nb3 22. Ra3 c4 23. Nf1 Ndc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.08.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Winants,L"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32]} 1. e4 {Mikhalevski,V. Novikov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 {La continuation d'Ossip
Bernstein que l'on retrouve également dans l'arsenal théorique d'Anatoly
Karpov ou de Garry Kasparov. Les Blancs poursuivent le développement et
envisagent de chasser le Né4 de son piédestal. D'autres possibilités seraient:
a) 9.c3 le coup classique, qui permet de redéployer le Fou en c2; b) 9.Dé2
suivi de Td1 et c4: l'attaque Keres} Nc5 10. c3 Be7 {On pourrait aussi jouer
10... d4 immédiatement. Mais, il faudrait alors disposer d'un remède contre le
sacrifice de Zaïtsev. 11.Ng5!? qui avait offert une splendide victoire au
champion PCA sur Anand, lors du dernier championnat du monde.} 11. Bc2 d4 {
Une percée typique dans cette ouverture. La position ne date d'ailleurs pas
d'hier puisque Capablanca en avait publié une analyse détaillée dès 1914.} 12.
Nb3 {Mikhalevski,V: There are two more options:} ({Sur} 12. Ne4 {, le coups
jadis recommandé, il suivrait:} d3 $1 ({Après} 12... dxc3 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Be4
Qd7 15. bxc3 {les Blancs détiendraient l'avantage comme l'ont démontré deux
parties entre Capablanca et Chajes jouées а New York en 1915 et 1916.}) 13.
Nxc5 dxc2 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 {(l'idée de Daniliuk)} 15. Nxe6 (15. Nxa6 Bc4 ({
Ou même} 15... Kd7 16. Bg5 Ra8 17. Bxe7 Rxa6 18. Ba3 Bd5 19. Rac1 Bxf3 20. gxf3
Nxe5 21. Rxc2 Nc4) 16. Re1 b4 17. Nxb4 (17. Nxc7+ Kd7 18. Nd2 Bxa2 19. Rxa2
Kxc7) 17... Nxb4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bg5 Bxe1 20. Bxd8 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Kxd8 22.
Nd4 Re8 {et les Noirs sont bien}) 15... fxe6 16. Be3 Rd5 17. Rac1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5
Rxe5 19. Rxc2 Kf7 20. c4 b4 21. Rd1 Rd8 $11 {Avec égalité, Xie Jun-Z.Polgar
Championnat du monde féminin, Jaen 1996}) 12... d3 13. Bb1 (13. Nxc5 dxc2 {
reviendrait aux variantes précédentes.} (13... dxc2 {Mikhalevski,V} 14. Qxd8+
Rxd8 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 O-O (16... Rd5 17. Rfc1 (17. Rac1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5
19. Rxc2 Kf7 {Xie Jun-Polgar,Zsu 1996}) 17... Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxc2 Kf7
20. a4 Rd8 21. g3 Red5 22. Kg2 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Re2 Rd6 26.
h4 h6 27. Rae1 Kf6 28. Re4 {1/2-1/2 Seibold,H-Pieper Emden,C/BL9091 1991}) 17.
Rac1 Rd5 18. c4 bxc4 19. Rxc2 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxc4 $14 {1/2-1/2
Nevanlinna,R-Tuomala,T/Jyvaskyla op 1994 (49)})) 13... Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 15.
Be3 O-O (15... Bg6 {Mikhalevski,V} 16. Nd4 Nxe5 17. f4 c5 18. fxe5 cxd4 19.
Bxd4 $16 {1-0 Sawatzki,F-Pieper Emden,C/Karlsruhe 1997 (52)}) 16. Bd4 {'!'
Mikhalevski,V. Une nouveauté semble-t-il. Une partie Ulibin-Daniliuk, disputée
cette année, а la coupe de Russie, avait continué par:} (16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4
c5 {'!' Mikhalevski,V.} 18. Bxd3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 20. Bxf5 Qxb2 {etc.}) 16...
Qd5 17. Re1 {[%cal Ye1e3] 'N' Mikhalevski,V. Mikhalevski,V: /\Re3 and B:d3 La
prise du Pd3 aurait évidemment entraîné la chute de b3. C'est pourquoi Topalov
prépare Ré3.} ({Au lieu de cela,} 17. b4 {était aisément contré par} Bxb4) (17.
Bxd3 {Mikhalevski,V} Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Qxb3 19. Qe4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxb2 21. Nf5 Rae8
22. Rxa6 Qxc3 23. Rc6 Bc5 24. Qg4 g6 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kh8 27. Qg5 Bxf2+
28. Rxf2 Qxc6 $19 {0-1 Maus,S-Pieper Emden,C/BL8889 1989/BL 80 (36)}) 17...
Rfd8 ({Un renforcement possible serait} 17... d2 $5 {et maintenant:} 18. Nxd2 (
18. Re2 Bxb1 19. Rxb1 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 (20. cxd4 Bb4) 20... Bg5 21. Nf3 Bh6 {
et les Noirs se portent а merveille}) (18. Qxd2 Bxb1 19. Raxb1 Qxb3) 18... Bxb1
({ou} 18... Nxd4) 19. Nxb1 Nxd4 20. cxd4 b4 $1 {(enfermant le Cavalier). Avec
un excellent contre-jeu}) 18. Re3 Nxd4 (18... Be4 {Mikhalevski,V} 19. Bxd3 Bxf3
20. Qxf3 Qxf3 (20... Nxd4 21. Qxd5 Rxd5 22. cxd4 $14) 21. Rxf3 Nxd4 22. cxd4
Rxd4 $140 23. Bxb5) 19. cxd4 (19. Nxd4 $6 {Mikhalevski,V} Bg6 20. b4 Bg5) 19...
c5 (19... Be4 $2 {Mikhalevski,V} 20. Bxd3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxd4 $2 22. Bxh7+ $1
Kxh7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Rh3 $18) 20. Bxd3 cxd4 {Les Noirs sont parvenus а
conserver l'équilibre matériel, mais leur position présente encore quelque
danger car le pion d4 est vulnérable.} 21. Re2 {'!' Mikhalevski,V. Mikhalevski,
V: Very intresting position has arised.In the beginning it looks like 'Black
is OK',but white has a simple plan.He exchanges bishops,put his knight on d3
and white has clear advantage.Look at the position after 25 moves.Now
everything is clear.The knight on d3 is much stonger than black's bishop,pawn
on d4 is blocked and c-file is open for the white rooks.} Qe6 (21... Bxd3 $1 {
Mikhalevski,V Black had to put white's queen on d3.Piket probably had
forgotten that the queen is not as good blocker as the knight is.} 22. Qxd3
Rac8) 22. h3 $1 {[%cal Yd3f5,Yf3e1,Ye1d3] Mikhalevski,V: White is preparing
Ne1.It wasn't so good immediately because of 22...Bg4. [#] Un coup d'apparence
anodine, mais extrêmement venimeux du point de vue stratégique. Pour le
comprendre, il faut avant tout réaliser que le plan des Blancs consiste ici а
échanger le Bf5, pour conduire ensuite le Nf3 vers la case de blocage (d3) et
laisser ainsi les Noirs avec le mauvais Bé7.} ({Toutefois,} 22. Ne1 {
immédiatement, était réfuté par} Bg4 23. f3 Bh5 {suivi éventuellement de Bg5-й3
}) ({et} 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Nxd4 Qf4 24. Rd2 Qxe5 25. Nc6 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Bg5 $11
{conduisait а l'égalité.}) 22... Rd5 $2 {Mikhalevski,V: Now black missed the
last chance to play Piket a sous-estimé le danger.} ({Il était nettement
préférable de jouer} 22... Bb4 {[%csl Ge1] afin d'empêcher le transfert du
Cavalier blanc vers d3.} {Par exemple,} 23. Rc1 ({si} 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Nxd4
Qf4) 23... Rac8 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Nxd4 $4 Qd7 27. Re4 Bc5 {
et les Noirs gagnent.}) (22... Bxd3 $1 {Mikhalevski,V and after} 23. Qxd3 Rd5
$1) 23. Ne1 $1 {Mikhalevski,V: Now black is hopeless against B:f5 and Nd3.} a5
({Surtout pas} 23... Rxe5 $2 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qf3 $18 {avec attaque double.})
24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3 {'+/-' Mikhalevski,V.} h5 26. Rc2 {Mikhalevski,V: Now
the c-file is also in the white's hands. Topalov a remarquablement manoeuvré
et son avantage est désormais évident: il domine la colonne -c- et le Fé7
manque de perspectives.} f6 {Mikhalevski,V: The situation on the board has
changed very quickly and black is in the panic.} 27. exf6 Bxf6 28. Qe2 Ra7 29.
Rac1 Re7 30. Qd1 Kh7 31. Rc5 {Premier signe d'invasion. Les fantassins de
l'aile-Dame seront bientôt assiégés.} g6 {'?!' Mikhalevski,V.} (31... Red7 $142
{Novikov}) 32. Rxd5 Qxd5 33. Rc5 Qb7 34. Qc2 Bg7 $2 {Mikhalevski,V: Blunder in
strategicly lost position. [#] Précipite les événements.} ({Pourtant après} 
34... Kg7 35. Rc6 {suivi de Qc5, les Noirs seraient également condamnés.}) (
34... Qe4 35. Rxb5) 35. Rxh5+ $3 {et les Noirs abandonnèrent. Prendre la Tour
coûterait la Dame} 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was crucial for the outcome of the short tournament as both players
started well and the winner would get a clear lead.} 1. d4 {Epishin} Nf6 2. c4
c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. Qc2 $5 {A rather rare move, occasionally
used by Korchnoi and I.Sokolov.} Bg7 ({Interesting is} 6... Nxd5 $5 7. Qxc5 Bb7
8. e4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bg7 10. Qe3 O-O 11. Bd2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14.
bxa6 Nxa6 15. Bc3 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Nc5 17. Be2 Ne4 18. O-O Rxa2 19. c4 $11 {
1/2,Schmidt,W-Plachetka,J/Trnava A/1986/}) (6... d6 $143 7. e4 Bg7 8. a4 O-O 9.
Na3 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Bd3 axb5 12. axb5 Nbd7 13. O-O Nh5 14. Bg5 Bf6 15. Bh6
Bg7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qc3+ e5 18. Nc4 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Nf4 20. Nxd6 Nh3+ 21. gxh3
Rxf3 22. Kg2 Qf8 23. Rf1 Qf4 24. Qc1 {1-0,Gutman,L-Hertneck,G/Kirchheim act/
1990/}) (6... axb5 7. Qxc5 Bg7 8. Nc3 Na6 9. Qxb5 Rb8 10. Qa4 O-O 11. e4 Nc5
12. Qa7 Rb6 13. Be3 d6 14. Bxc5 dxc5 15. Bc4 Rxb2 16. O-O Bg4 (16... Ne8 17.
Rac1 Bg4 18. Qxc5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qb8 20. d6 Nxd6 21. Bb3 Bh6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Qc3
Bg7 24. Qc7 e6 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 $16 {Najer,E-Lempert,I/Moscow
Alekhine mem op/1996/}) 17. Ne5 Qd6 18. Nd3 Nd7 19. Nxb2 Bxc3 20. Rab1 Qf4 21.
Qa3 Be5 22. g3 Qxe4 23. Qe3 Qf5 24. Nd3 Bd4 25. Qf4 $14 {Anapolsky,S-Moraru,M/
ROM-chT/1994/}) (6... Qb6 7. e4 axb5 8. Nc3 b4 9. Na4 Qa5 10. Qxc5 Bb7 11. Qb6
$1 b3+ 12. Qxa5 Rxa5 13. Nc3 Na6 14. Bc4 Nb4 15. Bxb3 Nd3+ 16. Kf1 Ba6 17. Kg1
Bg7 18. Be3 Bc8 19. Bb6 Ra8 20. Bd4 O-O 21. Ne1 $16 {Bagirov,V-Alburt,L/
URS-ch45 Leningrad/1977/}) 7. e4 ({Taking the second pawn gives Black a large
lead in development and is quite risky.} 7. Qxc5 O-O (7... d6 $5 8. Qd4 O-O 9.
e4 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Qb4 axb5 12. Bxb5 Nfxe4 13. Nxe4 Ra4 14. Qxa4 Nxa4 15.
O-O Qa5 16. Bc6 Bf5 17. Ng3 Bd3 18. Re1 Nxb2 19. Bg5 Nc4 20. Rad1 $44 {Sadler,
M-Mestrovic,Z/Cannes op/1995/}) 8. Nc3 d6 9. Qc4 axb5 10. Nxb5 Nbd7 11. e3 Bb7
12. Qc2 Nxd5 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Be2 Rfc8 15. Qb1 Nc5 16. O-O Ba6 17. a4 Nxa4 18.
Qd3 Nc7 19. Rxa4 Bxb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Qb3 Qa6 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Qc2 $11 {
1/2,Sokolov,I-Khalifman,A/Wijk op/1995/}) 7... axb5 ({More consistent is} 7...
O-O $5 8. Nc3 Bb7 (8... e6 $6 9. dxe6 fxe6 10. e5 Nh5 11. Be3 $1 $16 (11. Qe4
$6 Ra7 12. Be3 Bb7 13. Qc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3 axb5 15. Qxc5 Rc7 16. Qxb5 Nc6 17. Bb6
Nxe5 18. Be2 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rxf3 20. Bxc7 Qxc7 $40 {Kortschnoj,V-Greenfeld,A/
Beersheba m/1995/})) (8... d6 9. a4 e6 $132) (8... axb5 9. Bxb5 $14) 9. a4 (9.
Bf4 d6 10. Bc4 axb5 11. Nxb5 Nbd7 12. O-O Nb6 13. Be2 Nxe4 $1 14. Qxe4 Ra4 15.
Nfd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qf3 Nxd5 18. Bh6 Qa8 19. Qg3 Re8 20. b3 Ba6 $17 {
Psakhis,L-Arbakov,V/Irkutsk URS-ch qf/1983/}) 9... e6 10. d6 axb5 11. Bxb5 Nc6
12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. O-O Qb8 14. Be3 Qb4 15. Ne5 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxd7 Rfd8
18. Nxc5 Nxd6 19. Nd3 Qe4 20. Rfd1 Nc4 21. Qe2 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Rxa4 23. Qxe4 Rxe4
24. Kf1 Red4 $15 {Bagirov,V-Glek,I/Tashkent 1L/1984/}) 8. Bxb5 Qa5+ $6 {
Black stubbornly avoids the logical d6 advance and gets into trouble.} (8...
O-O $142 9. O-O d6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. h3 Ne8 13. Bd2 Nc7 14. Bxa6 Rxa6
$14 {1/2,Bagirov,V-Grigorian,K/Erevan/1982/}) 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Nxe4 $2 {Epishin
} 10. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxb5 (11... Qxc3+ 12. Kd1 Qxa1 13. d6 $18) 12. c4 $16
) 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 (10... Qxa6 11. e5 Ng4 12. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5] [+]()}) 11.
O-O (11. e5 $2 Nb4 {[%cal Rf6d5] /\Nfd5}) 11... Nb4 12. Qe2 O-O (12... d6 13.
e5 $1 $40 {[%csl Re8] @,עe8}) 13. Be3 (13. Bg5 $142 $5 d6 (13... h6 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. e5 $16) 14. a3 Na6 15. e5 $36) (13. Rd1 $5 {Epishin} d6 (13... Qa6 14.
Qxa6 Rxa6 15. Bg5 $16) 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Qc7 16. Nc4 Rfd8 17. Ne3 Qb7 18.
Qc4 Nd7 19. Bd2 Ne5 20. Qb3 $14) 13... Ng4 14. Bg5 f6 $5 {This ugly move is
necessary to prevent the e5 advance. With his Bg7 hemmed in Black's
compensation is nebulous.} 15. Bd2 Qa6 {Otherwise White has attacking chances.}
16. Qxa6 Rxa6 17. h3 Nh6 18. Rfd1 Nf7 19. Ne1 Raa8 20. Be3 Rfc8 {Black keeps
the d6-square free for his N.} (20... d6 21. a3 Na6 22. Nd3 $16) 21. a3 Na6 22.
Na4 $6 {[%csl Ra4] A step in the wrong direction. The N is misplaced here and
Black will gradually gain full compensation.} (22. f4 $5 {[%cal Rf4f5] /\f5,
ץg7} Nd6 23. Nd3 $16) 22... Rab8 23. Rac1 d6 24. Nd3 Rb3 (24... f5 $5 $14) 25.
Rc3 Rbb8 26. Rc4 Rb3 27. Nc1 (27. Rc3 Rbb8 $11) (27. g4 $5 $14) 27... Rbb8 28.
f4 f5 $1 $132 29. exf5 gxf5 {[%csl Ra4,Rb2,Rd5] Now Black has good
compensation for his pawn, as White's pawns are weakened and his pieces lack
coordination.} 30. Rd2 h5 $1 {Stops g4.} 31. Bf2 Nh6 (31... Bf6 $142 $5 $44) (
31... Bf6 {Epishin} 32. Ne2 Kg7 $11) 32. Ne2 (32. Bh4 Kf7 33. Ne2 {-32.Ne2})
32... Kf7 33. Bh4 (33. Ng3 Kg6 34. Re2 Bf6 $13) 33... Bf6 (33... Ng8 {Epishin}
34. Bg5 Nf6 35. Ng3 Kg6 36. Nc3 Nc7 $13) 34. Bg5 $1 (34. Bxf6 {Epishin} Kxf6
35. Kh2 h4 36. Ng1 Kg6 37. Nf3 Kh5 $16) 34... Ng8 (34... Bxg5 $2 35. fxg5 Ng8
36. Nf4 $16 {[%csl Rg8] פg8}) 35. Kh2 (35. Ng3 Kg6 36. h4 Rb3 $44) (35. Nac3
$142 $5 $14 {White should try to get his unlucky N into play.}) 35... Nc7 36.
Ng1 Rb3 37. Nf3 Rcb8 38. Nh4 $2 (38. Rcc2 $142 $8 Na8 $5 (38... Ra8 39. Bxf6 (
39. Rc4 Rab8 $11) 39... Nxf6 40. Nc3 $14) 39. Nh4 Nb6 40. Nxb6 R8xb6 41. Bxf6
Kxf6 42. Re2 Rd3 $44) (38. Rcc2 $11 {Epishin}) 38... Bxb2 39. Nxf5 (39. Nxb2
Rxb2 40. Rxb2 Rxb2 41. Nxf5 Nxd5 $17 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Ge7] [+],o^c,d}) 39... Bf6
$17 {Now the Na4 is trapped.} 40. Ng3 (40. Bxf6 $142 Nxf6 41. Nc3 Rxa3 $17)
40... Nb5 41. Nxh5 Bd4 (41... Nxa3 42. Re4 Bd4 {[%cal Rb8b4] /\R8b4-+}) 42. Ng3
Nxa3 43. Rcxd4 (43. Rc1 Be3 $19 (43... R8b4 $19)) 43... cxd4 44. Rxd4 Nc2 45.
Rd2 Ne3 $19 {[%cal Rb3a3] /\Ra3-+} 46. f5 Nf6 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5} 47. Bxf6 Kxf6 (
47... Kxf6 48. Re2 (48. Nc3 Rxc3 $1 49. Ne4+ Kxf5 50. Nxc3 Nf1+ $19) 48... Nxd5
49. Re6+ Kf7 $19) 0-1

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ye, Rongguang"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. c5 a5 11. a3 Nc6 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne5 Bf6 15.
Bf4 Bd7 16. f3 Ng5 17. Nc3 Rb8 18. Rf2 Ne6 19. Bg3 Re8 20. f4 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Qg5
22. Kh1 Rb7 23. Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C82"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Re1 O-O 13. Nb3 Re8 (13... Ne6 14.
Qd3 g6 15. Qe3 Re8 16. Nfd4 Ncxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Be6 19. Bh6 Bg5 20.
Bxg5 Qxg5 21. a4 c6 22. h4 Qe7 23. Qf4 b4 24. Re3 b3 25. Bd3 h5 26. Rg3 Kg7 27.
Rg5 Rg8 28. Re1 {Nielsen,P-Ofstad,P/Gausdal Masters 1995/EXP 45/1-0 (50)}) 14.
Nxc5 $146 (14. h3 Nxb3 (14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bf8 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. Bf4 Qd7 18.
Rad1 Ne7 19. h4 Qe6 20. h5 c6 21. Bg5 a5 22. Bf6 Ra7 23. Qg3 g6 24. Qg5 Nf5 25.
g4 Ne7 26. Kf1 {1-0 Milos,G-Garcia,G/Bogota Lat Cup Final 1991/EXT 91}) 15. Qd3
g6 16. Bxb3 Be6 17. Rd1 Qd7 18. Bxd5 Rad8 19. Be4 Qxd3 20. Rxd3 Rxd3 21. Bxd3
Bd5 22. Bf4 Bc5 23. e6 fxe6 24. Bxc7 e5 25. b4 Ba7 26. Ng5 e4 27. Bxe4 Rxe4 28.
Nxe4 Bxe4 {Sax,G-Huebner,R/EUCup Honved-Bayern 1991/CBM 26/[Ernst]/1/2-1/2 (38)
}) (14. Nbd4 Qd7 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bd6 17. Bf5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Rxe5 19. Bxd7
Re1# {0-1 Hansen,S-Lyon,P/Hillerod op 1980/MCD-op}) (14. Bf4 Ne6 15. Qd3 g6 16.
Qe3 Nxf4 17. Qxf4 Bxf3 {1/2-1/2 Skrochocka,J-Barashianth,M/EuYouth U14 Girls,
Tallinn EST 1997}) 14... Bxc5 15. Bf4 Qd7 (15... Bh5 16. Bb3 Ne7 (16... d4 17.
e6 $1) 17. e6 $1 $14) 16. h3 Bxf3 (16... Bh5 $6 17. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg6
19. Qd3+ Qf5 20. Qg3 $1 Bb6 21. Rac1 $3 {/\e6,Ne6} (21. e6 $2 f6 22. Nf3+ Kh7
23. Nh4 Qc2 $19) (21. Ne6+ $5 Bg4 22. Nd4 $1 Nxd4 23. hxg4 Qc2 24. cxd4 Kh7 $14
) 21... f6 $2 ({Now it's very difficult to find any good answer.For instance} 
21... a5 $2 22. e6 $1 (22. Ne6+ $5 Bg4 23. Nd4 $1) 22... f6 $140 23. Nf3+ $1
Kh7 24. Nh4 $1 $18) 22. Ne6+ Bg4 (22... Kf7 23. Qxg7+ Kxe6 24. exf6+ $18) 23.
Nd4 Nxd4 24. hxg4 {/\25cd+-}) 17. Qxf3 $14 Nd8 18. Rad1 c6 19. h4 $5 (19. Be3
$5 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 {/\f2-f4-f5}) 19... Ne6 20. Bc1 Rf8 {/\f6} 21. Qg4 (21. h5 f5
$1 (21... f6 $2 22. Qf5 $18) 22. Bxf5 $140 $2 Rxf5 $1 23. Qxf5 Rf8 $15) 21...
f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Be3 Raf8 (23... Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Raf8) 24. Bxc5 (24. Rd2 $5)
24... Nxc5 25. Qxd7 Nxd7 26. Rd2 Nc5 {/\a5} 27. Rde2 a5 28. g3 {/\f4!} Rf3 $1
29. Rd1 $6 (29. Rd2 $142 $14 {and rook on e-file is free.}) 29... a4 30. a3 $8
Nb7 {/\Nb7-d6-c4} 31. h5 Nd6 $11 32. Bb1 R8f6 33. Kg2 Rf8 34. Rf1 Nc4 35. Rfe1
Nd6 36. Kg1 {Nobody can strengthen his position.Positional draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 {Topalov is the only one of the world elite who
employs this sharp opening.} 4. d5 d6 {A refined move order, championed by the
great Benoni devotee Mihai Suba. The point is after} (4... exd5 5. cxd5 d6 {
White can, amongst others, continue} 6. e4 $5 g6 7. Bd3 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Yb1d2,
Yb1a3] and the Nb1 can be also developed via a3 or d2, thus controlling the
important c4 square. Thus 4...d6 limits White's options.}) 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5
g6 7. e4 {Currently White's most popular weapon against the Benoni is the
setup with Bd3,h3, and subsequent play in the center.} ({If White tries to
reach his goal by a different move order} 7. h3 {he must be prepared also for}
a6 (7... Bg7 8. e4 {-A70}) 8. a4 Qe7 $5 {Here White's attempts to gain an
advantage have not been too successful lately:} 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 (10...
Bg7 11. e3 Bf5 $5 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 O-O 14. O-O Nbd7 15. e4 Rfe8 16. Rfe1
g5 17. Bg3 Nh5 18. Bh2 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Qf3 Bxh2+ 21. Kxh2 Qe5+ 22. g3 Nf6
23. Qe3 Qd4 24. Rad1 Qxe3 25. Rxe3 Rab8 26. Rde1 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28. e5 $11 {
Komarov,D-Yudasin,L/St.Petersburg/1997/}) 11. e3 Bg7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Bd3 Rb8
14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Ne8 16. Qc2 Ne5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Bf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 b5 20.
axb5 axb5 21. Ra5 Nc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Ra2 Kg8 24. Rc1 Rb4 $132 {Cramling,
P-Suba,M/ESP-chT/1994/}) 7... a6 {Last year Topalov managed to take some sting
out of the aforementioned line:} (7... Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 $1 10. Bxb5 Nxe4
11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6
17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qb7 $1 {This new move neutralizes the
passed pawn for good.} 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd2 Bxd6 $1 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qa6 24.
Qg5 Rdxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Qxc5 Qxa2 $11 {Kaprov,An-Topalov,V/Las Palmas/1996/
Now, however, hte Bulgarian grandmaster plays a more ambitious move, which is
new in his Black repertoire.}) 8. a4 {This prophylaxis is usually played
automatically, but it certainly is not the only move.} ({Another move deserves
more attention:} 8. Bf4 b5 9. Qe2 $5 Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 Re8 13.
Bd3 Bf8 14. O-O b3 (14... a5 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 16. h3 Nb6 17. Rfe1 Nfd7 18. Bb5 Ba6
19. Bc6 Ra7 20. e5 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Ree7 23. Rad1 $16 {Yakovich,
Y-Filippov,V/Jekaterinburg/1997/}) 15. Qxb3 Nxe4 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. a5 Nbd7 18.
Qc2 Nh5 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bd2 Bf6 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Rfe1 Nhf6 23. Nc3 Bf8 24. Rxe8
Qxe8 25. h3 Rb8 26. Bc4 Ne5 27. Nxe5 Qxe5 28. Re1 Qd4 29. b3 Bb7 30. Be3 Qh4
31. Qd3 Ra8 32. Bd2 $16 {Yakovich,Y-Totsky,L/St.Petersburg op/1994/}) ({
Rather tame seems to be} 8. h3 b5 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. O-O c4 $5 11. Bc2 O-O 12. Bf4
Re8 13. Re1 Bb7 14. a3 Qb6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nbd7 17. Qd2 Nc5 18. f3 Re7 19.
Re2 Nfd7 20. Nd1 Nb6 $13 {Malaniuk,V-Emms,J/Hastings/1996/}) 8... Bg4 ({
Black has a good reason to avoid the lines after} 8... Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. Bd3)
9. Qb3 {The most ambitious, but also extremely risky} (9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3
Nbd7 11. O-O Bg7 12. Bf4 Qe7 {doesn't give White big chances to gain an
advantage.}) ({The same applies to} 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Bg7 12.
O-O O-O 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Rfe1 Rae8 15. Bf1 Nh5 {1/2,Topalov,V-Franco,Z/Elgoibar/
1991/}) 9... Bxf3 ({After} 9... Qc7 $6 10. Nd2 {the B-sortie just looses sense.
}) 10. Qxb7 (10. gxf3 $143 Qc7 $132 {[%csl Re4,Rf2,Rf3] ה,f2,f3}) 10... Nbd7
$5 {An enterprising sacrifice of 1-2 pawns.} ({Also possible is} 10... Bxg2 11.
Bxg2 Nbd7 12. O-O (12. Qc6 Be7 13. e5 Rc8 14. exf6 Rxc6 15. fxe7 Qxe7+ 16. Kd1
Rb6 17. Re1 Ne5 18. f4 O-O 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Kc2 f5 21. Rb1 Rb4 22. Be3 Rfb8
23. Bf1 Qb7 24. Bxc5 Rxb2+ 25. Kd3 Rc8 {0-1,Olafsson,H-De Firmian,N/Reykjavik
op/1994/}) 12... Qb8 $5 (12... Be7 $5 $11) (12... Bg7 $5 13. Bf4 $36) 13. Qc6
Bg7 14. Bf4 Ke7 15. e5 dxe5 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. d6+ Qxd6 18. Qxd6+ Kxd6 19. Rad1+
Ke6 20. Bg5 h6 $5 $13 {Komarov,D-Foisor,O/Lyon op/1995/}) (10... Nxe4 $2 11.
gxf3 Nxc3 12. Qxa8 Bg7 13. Ra3 O-O 14. bxc3 Re8+ 15. Kd1 Qf6 16. Be2 {1-0,Van
Wely,L-Guseinov,A/EU-chTM/1997/}) 11. gxf3 Bg7 12. Bf4 $5 $146 (12. Qb3 $143
O-O 13. Be2 Nh5 14. h4 Be5 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Bd2 Bf4 17. Qc2 Qd8 18. Nd1 Ne5 19.
Ne3 Qf6 20. Rh3 Bh6 21. Ng4 Bxd2+ 22. Qxd2 Qg7 23. Ne3 Rfb8 24. Nd1 Rb3 25. Rc1
Qf6 $44 {[%csl Rb4,Rd4,Re5,Rf4] Kurz,E-Emms,J/OLBaden/1992/ Black has
fantastic black-square play for the pawn.}) (12. Qc6 O-O $1 (12... Qb8 13. Bxa6
O-O 14. Qb7 Ne5 15. Qxb8 Nxf3+ 16. Kf1 Rfxb8 17. Be2 Nd4 18. Bd1 Nd7 19. h4 c4
20. Ra2 Nc5 21. Bf4 Ra6 22. h5 Nd3 $40 {Douven,R-Psakhis,L/Groningen op/1993/})
13. Qxd6 Nh5 14. Bh3 (14. f4 Re8 15. Bg2 Ra7 16. a5 Qh4 17. Na4 Rc8 18. Nb6 Bf8
19. Nxc8 Bxd6 20. Nxa7 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 22. Nc6 Nf6 23. Rd1 Nxe4 24. Rf1 Nf6
25. h3 Qh2 26. Bf3 Qxh3 27. Be2 Qb3 $19 {->,Gavrikov,V-Lutikov,A/Minsk
Sokolsky mem/1981/}) 14... f5 $1 {[%cal Rf8f6] /\Rf6|^}) (12. Bxa6 Rb8 13. Qa7
{gives Black good compensation with a draw whenever he wants.} (13. Qc6 $6 O-O
{[%csl Rc6,Re1][%cal Rb8b6,Rd7e5] /\Ne5,Rb6,ע,Q})) 12... Rb8 $8 13. Qxa6 Nh5 (
13... Rxb2 $5 14. Nb5 (14. Qxd6 $2 Nh5 $40) 14... O-O 15. Bxd6 (15. Bc1 Rb3 $36
) 15... Nh5 $1 $40 {@}) (13... Rb6 $143 14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Bc1 $5 {[%csl Ga4,Rb6]
[%cal Ga4a5] and the misplaced Rb6 just gives White a tempo to advance his
passed pawn.}) 14. Bc1 (14. Bxd6 $2 Rb6 $19) (14. Qxd6 $2 Nxf4 15. Qxf4 Rxb2
$40) 14... O-O 15. Be2 (15. Qxd6 $4 Rb6) ({White must allow the blockade of
his doubled pawn, as} 15. f4 $6 Re8 {[%csl Re4,Rf4] ה is too dangerous.})
15... Be5 $44 {[%cal Rd8h4]} 16. h4 {White has to prevent Qh4} Nf4 (16... Qf6
$5 17. Bg5 Qg7 (17... Bxc3+ $2 18. Kf1 $1 $16) 18. Nb5 $5) (16... f5 $5 $36)
17. Bb5 f5 (17... Ra8 $143 18. Qb7 Nb6 19. a5 $14 {[%cal Ra1a3] /\Ra3}) (17...
c4 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. Qxc4 Rfc8 20. Qa6 $5 $14) 18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20.
Qe2 Be5 {White managed to exchange a lot of pieces, but Black still has
compensation.} (20... Rbe8 $143 21. Kf1 fxe4 22. Nxe4 $5 {[%cal Rf1g2] /\Kg2,
escaping to relative safety.}) (20... Rb4 $5 $44 {[%cal Gb8b1] <->b}) 21. Nb5
Kh8 $5 (21... fxe4 22. fxe4 Rf4 23. f3 Rbf8 24. Ra3 Qg7 25. Rh2 $14 {[%csl Ga4]
is not too promising, the a-pawn can become dangerous.}) 22. O-O-O $6 (22. Kf1
$2 fxe4 23. fxe4 Rf4 24. f3 Rbf8 25. Ra3 Qg4 $19) ({More flexible was} 22. Ra3
$5 {White will decide about his K later on, Black is pressed to show his
compensation.}) 22... fxe4 23. fxe4 Qd8 $1 (23... Ra8 24. Qc2 Rfb8 $44) 24. Rd3
(24. b3 Qa5 25. Rh3 (25. Qc2 Rxb5 26. axb5 Qa3+) 25... c4 $1 $40) (24. Qe1 $143
Rf3 $40) 24... Qa5 25. Ra3 (25. Qc2 $2 Rxb5 26. axb5 Qa1+ 27. Qb1 Bxb2+ 28. Kc2
Rxf2+ 29. Rd2 Qa4+ $19) 25... Qb4 $36 26. f3 (26. Rhh3 c4 $36 (26... Bxb2+ $4
27. Qxb2+ $18)) (26. Kb1 $2 Rxf2 27. Qxf2 Qxe4+ $19) 26... c4 27. Qc2 Rfc8 $6 (
{More logical was} 27... Rf4 $142 $1 28. Kb1 (28. h5 g5) 28... c3 $1 29. Qb3
Qc5 $17 (29... Rxe4 $5)) 28. Rf1 Rf8 {Cierny nezúfa a uznáva svoju chybu.
Napriek strate casu pozícia ostáva plná napätia.} 29. Kb1 Ra8 $2 (29... Rf4 $44
) 30. Rc1 $6 $138 {Hratelny tah, ale pri nedostatku casu mal biely vyuzít
moznost uvolnit sa a vymenit dámy po} (30. f4 $142 $5 Rxf4 (30... Bxf4 31. Qc3+
Qxc3 32. Rxc3 Rxa4 $2 33. Rcf3 Rb8 34. Nc3 Ra3 35. Kc2 $1 $18) 31. Rxf4 Bxf4
32. Qc3+ Qxc3 33. bxc3 $14) 30... Rf4 31. Qe2 Rc8 {[%cal Rf4h4,Rh4h2] /\Rh4-h2}
(31... Rxa4 $2 32. Rxa4 Qxa4 33. Rxc4 $1 $16) 32. Na7 (32. Ra2 $2 Rxh4 33. Na7
Rh2 34. Qxh2 Bxh2 35. Nxc8 Bf4 36. Rc3 (36. Rh1 Qb7 $19) 36... Be5 $19 {
[%cal Rc4c3] /\c3}) (32. Qf2 Rxh4 $1 33. Nxd6 Rf8 $1 34. Rxc4 Rh1+ {[%cal
Rb4d6] /\Qd6-+}) (32. Rc2 Rxh4 33. Na7 Rh1+ 34. Ka2 Rb8 35. Nb5 (35. Nc6 $2
Qxa3+ $1 $19) 35... Rh2 36. Qxh2 Bxh2 37. Rxh2 $13) 32... c3 33. Qb5 $2 $138 {
A tactical blunder.} (33. Ra2 Rc5 $1 34. Nc6 cxb2 35. Rxc5 Qxc5 36. Rxb2 (36.
Qd1 Bc3 37. a5 Rxf3 38. a6 Rd3 $1 $40) 36... Bxb2 37. Qxb2+ Kg8 38. Nd4 Rxh4
$17) (33. Nxc8 $142 $1 cxb2 34. Rcc3 Bxc3 35. Rxc3 Qxc3 36. Qxb2 Rxf3 37. Nxd6
$14 {and White certainly doesn't risk losing this endgame.}) 33... c2+ $1 34.
Ka2 (34. Rxc2 Qe1+ $19) 34... Qd2 35. Qf1 Qd4 (35... Qd4 36. Qb5 Qxa7 {gives
Black an extra piece with an ongoing attack.}) 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1997.12.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Piket,L"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1997.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hansen,LB} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 {Hansen,LB: Piket plays several different Ruy Lopez
variations.} 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Bb7 {Hansen,LB: The Romanishin Variation.} 12.
d5 Nc4 13. a4 (13. b3 {Hansen,LB} Nb6 14. a4 Bc8 {is the main line.}) 13... Nb6
14. Qe2 {Hansen,LB: White gives up the two Bs to get the better pawn structure
(>< a6).} (14. b3) 14... Nxa4 (14... Nfd7 15. axb5 (15. a5 Nc4 16. b4 f5 $13)
15... axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Qxb5 f5 (17... Ba6 18. Qa5 (18. Qc6 Qa7)) 18. Bg5
$1 $14) 15. Bxa4 bxa4 16. Rxa4 (16. c4 $5) 16... Nd7 (16... Qc7 17. Nbd2 (17.
c4 $5) (17. Bg5) 17... Rfb8 18. Nc4 Bc8) 17. c4 (17. Nbd2 f5 $13) 17... Nb6 (
17... Bc8 {Hansen,LB} 18. Nbd2 Nb6 19. Ra3 a5 20. Nf1 a4 21. Bd2 Bd7 $11 {
Gazik,I-Romanishin,O/Novy Smokovec/1992/}) 18. Ra3 a5 $1 19. Nc3 a4 (19... Ba6
20. Nd2 (20. b3 a4 21. Nxa4 Bxc4 $11) 20... a4 (20... Bg5 21. b3 Bc8 $13) 21.
Nxa4 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 Rxa4 23. Rxa4 Nxa4 24. Bd2 $16) 20. Be3 (20. Nd1 $1 Bc8 (
20... f5) 21. Ne3 Kh8 (21... g6 22. Ng4 (22. Nh2 f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. f4)))
20... Bc8 21. Nd2 {Hansen,LB: Perhaps 21. Rb1 was more precise.} (21. Rb1 $5
$14 {Hansen,LB}) 21... Bg5 (21... Bd7 22. f4 $5 $14) 22. Rb1 $1 Bxe3 (22... f5
23. exf5 (23. f3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 f4 25. Qe2 Rf6 26. b4 axb3 27. Raxb3 Nd7) 23...
Bxf5 24. Nce4 $14) 23. Qxe3 Bd7 24. b4 axb3 25. Raxb3 {>< Nb6} Ra6 (25... Nc8)
26. Qd3 h6 27. Kh2 Qc7 28. Nf1 Rfa8 (28... f5 29. Ne3 f4 30. Nf5) 29. Nb5 $6 (
29. Ne3 $14) 29... Qd8 $1 (29... Bxb5 30. Rxb5 $14) 30. Nc3 (30. Nxd6 Ba4 31.
Nf5 Bxb3 32. Rxb3 $44) 30... Nc8 31. Ne3 Ra3 32. Rb7 R8a7 33. Qc2 Kh7 $6 (33...
g6 $1 $11) 34. Rxa7 Rxa7 35. g3 g6 (35... Ne7 {Hansen,LB}) 36. h4 Ra6 $6 $138 (
36... h5) 37. Rf1 Nb6 38. h5 (38. f4 exf4 39. Rxf4 Qe7) 38... Bc8 {/\ Nd7-f6}
39. Qd2 $6 $138 (39. f4 $1 exf4 40. Rxf4 Qe7 41. Qf2 Kg7 42. Nb5) 39... Nd7 40.
hxg6+ fxg6 41. Ng4 g5 42. Kg2 Nf6 43. Nxf6+ Qxf6 44. Qb2 Ra8 (44... h5 45. Qb8
Ra3 46. Nb5 Rxg3+ 47. Kxg3 (47. fxg3 Bh3+)) 45. Qb6 Ra3 $1 46. Qc7+ (46. Nb5
Qf3+ 47. Kh2 (47. Kg1 Bh3) 47... Ra2) 46... Kg6 47. Qxc8 (47. Nb5 Rxg3+ $1 48.
Kxg3 (48. fxg3 Bh3+ 49. Kxh3 (49. Kh2 $4 Qxf1 50. Qxd6+ Kh5 $19) 49... Qxf1+
$11) 48... Qf4+ 49. Kg2 Qg4+) 47... Rxc3 48. Qg8+ (48. Ra1 h5 $5 (48... Rc2)
49. Kg1 g4) 48... Qg7 49. Qe6+ Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1997.12.12"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1997.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. Nf3 {Gegen ein mögliches Wolga-Gambit gerichtet. Jetzt
kann Weiß nach 2...c5 3.d5 b5 mit 4.Bg5 und den etwas besseren Aussichten
fortsetzen. Ribli.} e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Die sogenannte Wiener-Variante
des Damengambits, die zu lebendigem Figurenspiel und konkreten taktischen
Verwicklungen führt. Die erste Partie dieses Miniwettkampfes endete remis und
daher ist nach meiner Ansicht nicht logisch, daß sich Topalov mit Schwarz auf
eine so riskante Sache einläßt.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 {Früher galt 7.e5 cxd4 8.
Qa4 Nc6 9.0-0-0 als Hauptvariante für Weiß. Heutzutage scheint die
Partiefortsetzung die für Weiß bessere Wahl zu sein.} 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 {Es ist interessant: Weiß hat gutes Figurenspiel und
Entwicklungsvorsprung, Schwarz nur einen kleinen strukturellen Vorteil.
Trotzdem gilt die Variante in der Großmeisterpraxis als spielbar für Schwarz!}
10. Bb5+ Bd7 (10... Nbd7) 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 {[%csl Re8] Das ist natürlich
eine lange Theorievariante. Ich möchte nur anmerken, daß Schwarz in der ganzen
Wiener-Variante Schwierigkeiten mit der Plazierung des Königs hat.} a6 13. Be2
Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 15. Qa3 {[%cal Ga3f8]} Rc8 (15... Qa5 16. Qb2) 16. Rad1 $5 {
Es ist immer sehr schwierig zu entscheiden, welcher Turm in die Linie gehört.}
(16. Rfd1 Na5 (16... Rg8 17. Rab1 Rg5 18. Qb2 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Qc2 20. Bd3 Qxb2
21. Rxb2 Bc6 22. f4 Ra5 23. Kf2 Rd8 24. Ke3 Ra3 {0-1 Berg,M-Morawietz,D/Porz
op24 1990/ (40)}) 17. c4 Qc5 {[%csl Rc4,Gc5]} 18. Qg3 Nc6 19. Nb3 Qf8 $13 {
Schwarz hat scheinbar eine sehr schlechte Stellung mit dem König in der Mitte,
aber er kontrolliert die wichtigsten Felder. Es ist für Weiß nicht leicht
voranzukommen, denn im Endspiel hat Schwarz keineswegs schlechtere Aussichten.}
(19... Qf8 {Ftacnik} 20. Rd2 Rg8 21. Qe3 Nb8 22. Rb1 Bc6 23. Na5 Qg7 24. g3 {
1-0 Khenkin,I-Akopian,V/Minsk 1990/ (43)})) (16. Rab1 Na5 17. Rfd1 Qxc3 (17...
Qc5 $1 {[%csl Gc5]}) 18. Qd6 $1 $44) 16... Na5 (16... Qa5 17. Qb2 $1 $14) (
16... Ne5 17. f4 Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Rf3 Qc5 $13 (19... e5 {Ftacnik} 20. Nf5
$16)) 17. Qc1 $146 {Ftacnik: White loses no time and strives to attack black's
main weakness pawn f6, since the praxis have shown that the control of the
a3-f8 diagonal brings no fruits.} (17. Rd3 Qc5 (17... Nc4 {Ftacnik} 18. Qc1 Ke7
19. Rg3 Qa5 $13) 18. Qc1 Ke7 $5 (18... Rg8 $6 19. Qh6 Ke7 20. Rfd1 Rc7 (20...
Ba4 {Ftacnik} 21. Nxe6 $3 Kxe6 22. Rd6+ Qxd6 23. Rxd6+ Kxd6 24. Qxf6+ Kc7 25.
Qe5+ Kb6 26. Qd4+ $18) 21. Qxh7 Rgc8 22. e5 $3 fxe5 23. Qh4+ Ke8 24. Nxe6 $1 {
1-0 Beliavsky,A-Lukacs,P/Oesterreich 1997}) 19. f4 (19. Rfd1 {Ftacnik} Ba4 20.
Nb3 $5 Nxb3 21. axb3 Bxb3 22. Rd7+ Ke8 23. R1d4 e5 $13) 19... Bb5 20. Re3 Bxe2
21. Rxe2 Qxc3 22. Nc2 Rhd8 23. h3 Rd3 24. Kh2 Nc4 25. Qb1 Nd2 26. Qxb7+ Rc7 {
0-1 Lobron,E-Brunner,L/Garmisch 1994}) 17... Ke7 $2 (17... h5 $5 {Auf diese
Weise kann Schwarz die Fortsetzung 18.Qh6 vermeiden.}) (17... Qxc3 $6 18. Qh6
$44 {[%csl Re8,Rf6,Gh6]} Ke7 (18... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 19. Qxf6 Rf8 20. Rd3 $16) 19.
e5 $1 fxe5 20. Nf5+ exf5 21. Qd6+ Ke8 22. Qxd7+ Kf8 23. Qxf5 $40 {[%csl Rf8]
und Weiß droht stark 24.Rd7.}) (17... e5 $5 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 Rg8 $13) (
17... h5 $5 {Ftacnik} 18. Rd3 $14) 18. Qh6 $1 $14 Bc6 $4 {Ein unglaublicher
Fehler für einen Supergroßmeister!} (18... Qc5 $5 {[%csl Gc5]}) (18... e5 19.
Nc2 {[%cal Rc2e3,Re3d5]} (19. Nf5+ Bxf5 20. exf5 Qxc3 $13) 19... Be6 $11 (19...
Be6 {Ftacnik} 20. Ne3 Rcd8 21. Nd5+ Bxd5 22. exd5 b5 $14)) (18... Nc6 19. f4
$14) (18... Rcg8 19. f4 $14) {[#]} 19. Nxe6 $1 $16 {Ftacnik: Chessplayers
dreams are made of similar stuff, shield around black king is shattered in one
blow. The game is thus already decided, even though black fights on. Dieser
schöne Springerzug entscheidet die Partie und den Wettkampf! Der schwarze
König findet keine Ruhe mehr.} Qe5 (19... fxe6 20. Qg7+ Ke8 21. Bh5+) (19...
Kxe6 20. Bg4+ (20. e5 $5 Qxe5 21. Bg4+ Ke7) 20... Ke7 (20... Ke5 21. f4+ Kxe4
22. Rfe1#) 21. e5 $1 Qxe5 (21... fxe5 {Ftacnik} 22. Qg5+ Ke8 23. Bxc8 $18) 22.
Rfe1 Be4 23. Bxc8 (23. Rd7+ Ke8 24. Rd4 Rc4 25. Rexe4 Qxe4 26. Rxe4+ Rxe4 27.
f3 $16) (23. Rd4 Rc4 24. f4 Qxd4+ 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Bf3 $18) 23... Rxc8 24. f3
$18 {[%cal Re1e7]} (24. Qh4 Rc4 25. Rd4 $18)) 20. Nd4 Rcg8 (20... Bxe4 21. Bf3
$16 {[%cal Rf1e1,Re1e7]} (21. Bf3 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 22. Nxf3 $18)) 21. f4 (21.
Nf5+ $4 Qxf5 22. exf5 Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 Rg6+ $19) 21... Qc5 (21... Qxe4 22. Bf3
Rxg2+ (22... Qg6 {Ftacnik} 23. Rfe1+ $18) 23. Kh1 $18 {[%csl Re7]} (23. Bxg2 $4
Qxg2#)) 22. Kh1 Rg6 (22... Bxe4 23. Bf3 Rg6 (23... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 24. Nxf3 $18)
24. Qh3 $16 {[%csl Re7] führt zur Partiefortsetzung.}) 23. Qh3 Bxe4 {Die
schwarze Mehrbauernstellung ist wegen der sehr schlechten Plazierung des
Königs in der Mitte kaum verteidigungsfähig. Auch der Na5 ist nicht auf der
Höhe des Geschehens.} (23... Bd7 24. Qxd7+ Kxd7 25. Nb3+ Kc6 26. Nxc5 Kxc5 27.
Rd5+ Kb6 28. Rb1+ $18) 24. Bf3 Bxf3 (24... f5 25. Rfe1 {[%cal Re1e7]}) 25. Rxf3
{Ftacnik: Blacks king would have to be on the queenside to be in the safe
heaven, instead he sits undr fire in the center. Weiß hat einen überlegenen
Angriff mit allen Figuren, während der schwarze König auf sich allein gestellt
ist.} (25. Nxf3 {Ftacnik} h5 26. Qd7+ Kf8 27. Nh4 Rg4 28. Nf5 $18) 25... Qc7 (
25... Nc4 26. Re3+ $1 (26. Nf5+ {Ftacnik} Ke8 27. Nh4 $18) 26... Nxe3 (26...
Kf8 27. Nf5 $18 {[%cal Rd1d8,Rd8f8]}) 27. Qxe3+ Kf8 28. Ne6+ $18) (25... Rc8
26. Re3+ Kf8 27. Qxh7 $18) (25... Re8 26. f5 Rg7 (26... Rg5 27. Re3+ Kf8 28.
Qh6+ $18) 27. Qh6 $18) 26. Nf5+ $18 Kf8 27. Rfd3 Nc6 28. Rd7 {und Schwarz gab
in völlig hoffnungsloser Stellung auf.} (28. Rd7 Qb8 (28... Qa5 29. Qd3 $18 {
[%csl Rf8]} (29. Qd3 {Ftacnik} Ke8 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Qd7 $18)) 29. Qe3 $5 {
Die weiße Drohung ist 30.Qe7 Nxe7 31.Rd8.} (29. Nd6 {[%csl Rf7]} Nd8 30. Qe3
$18) 29... Qe8 30. Qxe8+ Kxe8 31. Rc7 $18 {uns es folgt Matt in zwei Zügen.
Ribli.}) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 a6 8. h3 Bg7
{Topalov surprisingly goes for a position, considered dificult for Black.} ({
Usual is} 8... b5) 9. a4 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O c4 (11... Nbd7 12. Bf4 c4 13.
Bc2 Nc5 14. Re1 Rb8 15. e5 Nh5 16. Be3 Nd3 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. Qxd3
Bd7 20. Qd2 Qb4 21. Bd4 Nf6 22. Ne5 Red8 23. Qe3 $14 {Avrukh,B-Anastasian,A/St.
Petersburg op 1994/0-1 (46)}) 12. Bc2 (12. Bxc4 $5 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Bg5
Bf6 15. Bd3 Re8 16. Bxf6 (16. Qd2 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 Re5 18. f4 Rxd5 19. Qe3 Nc6 20.
Rae1 Bd7 21. Bc4 Rf5 22. g4 Rxg5 23. fxg5 Ne5 24. Qf4 Be6 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Re2
Qc7 $44 {Cramling,P-Antonio jr,R/Biel Mixed 1991/1/2 (40)}) 16... Qxf6 17. Rc1
{@} Nd7 18. Re1 $1 Ne5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Rc7 Qd6 21. Qc2 Bd7 22. Rxb7 Qxd5 23.
Be4 Qa5 24. Ra1 Be6 25. b4 Qd8 26. Rd1 $36 {Sokolin,L-Sarkar,J/New York op
1997/1-0 (37)}) 12... Nbd7 13. Be3 (13. Bf4 $5 {-11...Nbd7 12.Bf4} Qc7 14. Re1
Nh5 15. Be3 Rb8 16. Qd2 b6 17. Nd4 Rb7 18. Red1 Nhf6 19. Qe2 Nb8 20. Rac1 Bd7
21. b3 Rc8 22. b4 b5 23. axb5 Bxb5 24. Ra1 Bd7 25. Rdb1 Ne8 26. Qd2 Qd8 27. Bg5
Qb6 28. Be3 Qd8 29. Bg5 Qb6 30. Nde2 Qc7 31. Be3 Qd8 32. Bg5 Qc7 33. Be3 Qd8
34. Bd4 $1 $16 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Ge4] [+](),->>>,Gelfand,B-Wahls,M/Arnhem EU-chJ
1988/1-0 (54)}) 13... Qc7 (13... Nc5 14. Bxc5 dxc5 15. Nd2 Rb8 16. a5 Bd7 17.
f4 b5 18. axb6 Bb5 19. Qf3 Qxb6 20. e5 Nd7 21. Kh1 Nf8 22. Nde4 f6 23. e6 f5
24. Nd2 Qd8 25. Rad1 Bd4 26. g4 $40 {Shipov,S-Depchinsky,S/URS-chClub Pavlodar
1991}) (13... Rb8 14. Ba7 Ra8 15. Bd4 Rb8 16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Nxb6 18. Re1 Bb7
19. Qd2 Rc8 20. Rad1 Nfd7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nh2 Nc5 23. Ng4 Nbd7 24. Qd4+ f6
25. f4 h5 26. Ne3 Nb3 27. Bxb3 cxb3 28. Nc4 $16 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Gd5,Rd6,Ge4,Gf4,
Rf6,Rg6,Rg7] ׻,d6,[+],Gligoric,S-Cebalo,M/JUG-Cup Svetozarevo 1990/1-0 (41)})
14. Qe2 $5 $146 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Rf3d2,Yf1c1] /\Nd2,Rfc1 White shows the weak
Pc4 some attention.} ({The older move gives Black more counterplay:} 14. Re1 b6
$5 (14... Nc5 15. Bd4 Bd7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bxe5 Qd8 18. Qd4 Rc8 19. d6 Bc6 20.
Qxc5 Bxf3 21. Qd4 Bc6 22. a5 Rxe5 23. Qxe5 Ne4 24. Qf4 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Bxc3 26.
Re7 Qf8 27. Rd1 Bxa5 28. Be4 Bb4 29. Bxc6 bxc6 30. Rb7 a5 31. Qxc4 Rd8 32. d7
c5 33. Qb5 Kg7 34. Rc7 h6 35. Qc6 {1-0 Browne,W-Brownscombe,T/Philadelphia
World op 1991}) 15. Bd4 Rb8 (15... Bb7 16. b3 cxb3 17. Bxb3 Nc5 18. e5 dxe5 19.
Nxe5 Nxb3 20. Qxb3 Qd6 21. Nc4 Bxd5 22. Qxb6 Qc6 23. Bxf6 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxc4
25. Rd1 Bc6 26. Rd8+ Bf8 27. Bd4 Rxd8 28. Qxd8 Qe6 29. a5 {1/2,Arlandi,E-Manca,
F/Reggio Emilia9394 1993}) 16. Rc1 Bb7 17. b3 cxb3 18. Bxb3 Rbc8 19. Qd2 $13 {
1/2, Osieka,U-Friedrich,N/BL2-SW 1989}) 14... Rb8 $8 (14... b6 $2 15. Nd2 $16)
15. Ba7 {Just a small trick to gain time.} Ra8 16. Be3 (16. Bd4 Rb8 $132 {
[%cal Ge8e4] <->e}) 16... Rb8 17. a5 $1 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Rfc1 (19. Nd2 $142
$5 $146 {[%csl Ra6,Rc4] ><a6,c4 This clever move ties the Nb6 to the defense
of c4, thus preventing possible black counterplay on the <->b as in our game.}
Nfd7 20. Ra2 Bb7 21. Ba4 $1 Nxa4 22. Rxa4 Nb6 23. Rb4 Bc8 24. Nxc4 Nxc4 25.
Rxc4 Qb7 26. Qd3 Bd7 27. Bd4 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 Qxb2 29. Rb1 Qa3 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31.
Rc7 Be8 32. e5 Rb4 33. Qe3 Rb8 34. Qf4 Rd8 35. e6 fxe6 36. dxe6 Qa1+ 37. Kh2
Qa5 38. e7 {1-0,Vescovi,G-Peptan,C/Mermaid Beach schev 1998}) 19... Nbd7 $1 20.
Nd2 Rb4 $5 $132 (20... Rxb2 21. Nxc4 Rb8 22. Ba4 $5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Nd2
Rxa4 25. Rxc7 Rxa1+ 26. Kh2 $36) 21. Ra4 (21. Ra2 $5 $14) 21... a5 22. Nxc4 (
22. Rxb4 axb4 23. Nb5 Qb8 24. Ba4 (24. Qxc4 $2 Ba6 25. Ba4 Rc8 $19) 24... Ba6
25. Nd4 (25. Ba7 Qa8 26. Nxd6 Qxa7 27. Nxe8 Nxe8 28. Bxd7 c3 $1 29. Bb5 cxd2
30. Rd1 $13) 25... c3 (25... Qc8 $5 $13) 26. Qxa6 Nc5 27. Qa5 cxd2 $132) 22...
Ba6 23. Bd3 (23. b3 Rxa4 24. Nxa4 Nxe4 25. Bd3 Ndf6 $11 (25... Nec5 26. Nxc5
Nxc5 27. Nxd6 $1 Qxd6 28. Bxc5 $16)) 23... Bxc4 24. Bxc4 Nxe4 25. Rxb4 (25. Nb5
$6 Qb8 $36) (25. Bb5 Nxc3 26. bxc3 Rxa4 27. Bxa4 Rb8 $15) 25... axb4 26. Nxe4
Rxe4 27. Qd3 (27. Bd3 $6 Qxc1+ 28. Bxc1 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Nb6 30. Bf3 Nc4 $11 (
30... b3 31. Bd1 $11)) 27... Rxe3 $1 {This sacrifice finally solves Black's
defensive problems.} (27... Re8 $143 28. Bb5 Qd8 29. Qc2 $36 {[%csl Rd6][%cal
Gc2c8] <->c,><d6}) (27... Bxb2 $5 28. Qxe4 (28. Rc2 Nc5 $1 29. Bxc5 Re1+ 30.
Kh2 dxc5+ 31. g3 Bd4 $17) 28... Bxc1 29. Qe8+ (29. Bxc1 Ne5 30. Bd2 Qxc4 $11)
29... Kg7 30. Bxc1 Qxc4 31. Bb2+ Nf6 $5 (31... Ne5 32. Bxe5+ dxe5 33. Qxe5+ Kh6
34. d6 b3 35. d7 Qc1+ 36. Kh2 Qd2 37. Qc7 $14) 32. Qe7 Qf4 33. g3 Qf5 34. Bd4
b3 35. Qxd6 b2 $1 36. Bxf6+ Qxf6 37. Qb4 Qe5 38. d6 $11) 28. Qxe3 (28. fxe3 $6
Bxb2 29. Rc2 Bc3 $15) 28... Bxb2 $44 29. Rc2 Bc3 {[%csl Gb4] o^b} 30. Bb5 Nf6
31. Ra2 (31. Bc6 Qa5 $44 {[%cal Rb4b3] /\b3!}) 31... Qc8 $5 (31... Nxd5 $143
32. Ra8+ Kg7 33. Qe8 $40) 32. Bc6 Qf5 33. Ra8+ Kg7 34. Qe7 (34. g4 Qc2 35. Qe7
Ne4 36. Qf8+ Kf6 37. Qd8+ (37. Qh8+ Kg5 38. Qd8+ Bf6 39. Qb6 Qd1+ 40. Kg2 Bd4
$40) 37... Kg7 $11 (37... Ke5 $6 38. Qe7+ Kf4 39. Qxf7+ Bf6 40. Qa7 $16)) 34...
Ne4 $1 $11 35. Qf8+ (35. f3 Bd4+ 36. Kh1 (36. Kf1 $4 Ng3+ 37. Ke1 Qb1+ 38. Kd2
Nf1+ 39. Ke2 Qc2+ $1 40. Ke1 Qf2+ 41. Kd1 Qd2#) 36... Ng3+ 37. Kh2 Nf1+ $11)
35... Kf6 36. Qd8+ Kg7 (36... Ke5 $2 37. Qe7+ Kd4 38. f3 $40) 37. Qf8+ Kf6 38.
Qd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. Ne5 $5 $146 {An dieser Stelle ein neuer Zug.} (10. O-O) (10. e5)
10... Bg7 (10... Nbd7 $5) 11. h4 Nfd7 $6 (11... Nbd7 $5) 12. Ng4 $1 Qa5 (12...
h5 13. Ne3 $16) (12... f5 $5 {sieht zwar nicht sehr solide aus, kommt
angesichts der unerfreulichen Partiefolge aber stark in Betracht.} 13. Ne5 (13.
exf5 exf5 14. Ne3 f4 15. Bh5+ Kf8 16. O-O $13) 13... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15.
dxe5 Qxd1+ 16. Rxd1 g4 $13) 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Rxh8+ Bxh8 15. Kf1 $16 Na6 16. e5
$1 {[%csl Rd6,Rf7,Rg3,Rg5,Rh8][%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d6] Ein sehr starker Zug. Weiß
sperrt zwar seinen Bg3 ein, aber nun sind Pg5, Pf7, das Feld d6 und der Bh8
schwach.} O-O-O 17. a4 Qb4 18. Bf3 $1 {/\ ab5} Qxb2 19. axb5 Qxc3 20. bxa6 Ba8
{[%csl Ra8,Rh8] Nun sind beide schwarzen Läufer kaltgestellt.} 21. Rc1 Qb3 22.
Nh6 Rf8 23. Bh5 $1 (23. Qxb3 $2 cxb3 24. Bxc6 b2) 23... Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 f5 25.
exf6 Bxf6 26. Nf7 Be7 27. Nd6+ Bxd6 28. Bxd6 Rf5 29. Bg4 Rd5 30. Bg3 c5 31.
Bxe6 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Bxc4 Be4 34. f3 Bf5 35. Bf2 $2 {Erlaubt Schwarz
die Rettung.} (35. Ke2 $16) 35... Ne5 $1 36. Bb5 Bd7 37. Bxd7+ Kxd7 38. Bxd4
Nc6 39. Bc5 g4 $1 40. Ke2 Ke6 41. f4 Nb8 42. Bxa7 Nxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kapengut"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht Stohl Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5
g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 {Stohl: Topalov is currently the greatest
Benoni expert and he has enriched this topical line with quite a few ideas of
his own.} 10. Nxb5 ({Stohl: One of the Bulgarian's novelties is} 10. Bxb5 Nxe4
11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6
17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qb7 $1 {which he used against Karpov in
Las Palmas 1996.} 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd3 $5 $146 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Rcxd6 (
23... Qd7 24. Qa3 $5 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Qxd6 26. Qxa7 $14) 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 c4
26. Rd2 c3 27. Rc2 Qe4 28. Rcc1 cxb2 29. Rxb2 h5 30. g3 a5 31. Rb3 Qd5 32. Rcb1
Qd2 33. a3 Qc2 34. Rb8+ Kg7 35. Re1 Qc3 36. Re3 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 Qc1+
39. Kg2 Qc6+ {1/2,Shipov,S-Velimirovic,D/m Belgrade-Moscow 1998}) 10... Re8 (
10... Nxe4 $6 11. Bxe4 Re8 12. Ng5 $1 (12. Qc2 $6 Bf5 $5 (12... f5 $1 13. O-O
fxe4 14. Ng5 Bf5 15. g4 $140 $2 e3 $1 {AK}) 13. Nc3 $6 (13. Nd2 Bxe4 14. Nxe4
f5 15. O-O Rxe4 16. f3 Rb4 $15 {AK}) 13... Bxc3+ 14. Qxc3 Bxe4 15. O-O Nd7 $1
16. Rd1 Qf6 17. Ng5 Qxc3 18. bxc3 Nb6 19. Bf4 Rad8 20. f3 Bxd5 21. c4 f6 22.
cxd5 fxg5 23. Bxg5 Rd7 24. Bf6 Rf8 25. Bc3 Rf5 26. Ba5 Rxd5 27. Bxb6 Rxd1+ 28.
Rxd1 axb6 $17 {Solana Alvarez,E-Garcia Gonzalez,G,Cadiz open 1990}) (12. O-O {
->10...Re8})) 11. Nd2 Nxe4 {Stohl: A duble-edged sacrificial line.} ({Stohl:
Quite playable is the safer} 11... Nxd5 12. Nc4 (12. O-O Nf4 13. Nc4 Nxd3 14.
Qxd3 Ba6 15. a4 Nc6 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Ncxd6 Re7 18. Bg5 Rd7 19. Rac1 Nd4 20.
Rfe1 Ne6 21. Be3 Bxb2 22. Rc2 Be5 23. Nc4 Bg7 24. e5 Rd5 25. f4 Bf8 26. Ncd6
Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Rd3 $11 {Ambarcumjan,A-Wang Zili/PRC-CIS Beijing 1991/0-1 (54)})
12... Nb4 13. Be2 Ba6 $5 (13... Rxe4 14. Ncxd6 Rxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Ba6 16. Bg5 Bxb5
17. Bxd8 Bxe2 18. Kxe2 N8c6 19. Bg5 Nd4+ 20. Kf1 Ndc2 21. Rd1 Nxa2 22. Nc4 Bd4
23. Rd2 Nab4 24. g4 Kg7 25. Kg2 $14 {Lazarev,V-Cebalo,M/Cannes op 1995/1/2 (30)
}) 14. Nbxd6 Re6 15. Bf4 Nd7 16. O-O Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. a3 Rxd6 19. Nxd6
Qxd6 20. axb4 Qxd1 21. Bxd1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 cxb4 23. Ra4 a5 24. b3 Rd8 25. Be2
Bc7 $11 {1/2,Hillarp Persson,T-Gdanski,J/Goteborg Excelsior Cup (2) 1997}) 12.
Bxe4 (12. Nxe4 {Stohl} f5 13. O-O fxe4 $13) 12... Ba6 $1 (12... a6 $6 13. Nxd6
$1 (13. Nc3 f5 14. O-O fxe4 15. Ndxe4 Bf5 16. Re1 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 (17. Rxe4 $1
Rxe4 18. Nxe4 Qe7 19. Qc2 $16 {AK}) 17... Nd7 18. Bg5 Qb6 19. Qa4 (19. Rb1 $1 {
AK}) 19... Qb5 20. Qc2 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Rab8 23. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1
Nb6 25. Ne4 Nxd5 26. Nxc5 $16 {Kuzmin,G-Taimanov,M,Rostov 1969}) 13... Qxd6 14.
O-O Nd7 15. Nc4 Qf6 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. Bd2 Rab8 18. Rfe1 Ne5 19. Bc3 Qd8 20. Nxe5
Bxe5 21. Bf3 Bd6 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Re1 Qf8 24. Qa4 $16 {Arlandi,E-Olivier,JC,
Geneva SUI open 1997}) (12... Qb6 $6 13. a4 a6 14. Nc3 f5 15. O-O fxe4 16. Nc4
Qc7 17. Bf4 Bd4 18. Ne2 (18. Bxd6 Qb7 19. Re1 Qb4 $140 $4 20. Qxd4 $1 {AK})
18... Qg7 19. Nxd6 Rd8 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Nxe4 Bb7 22. Bg5 $1 Rf8 23. Qb3 Qf7
24. Rad1 Nc6 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qb6 $18 {Sapis,W-Labuckas,A, Katowice open 1995})
(12... f5 $6 13. O-O fxe4 14. Nc4 $1 (14. Re1 Ba6 15. a4 e3 $5 16. Rxe3 Rxe3
17. fxe3 Bxb5 (17... Nd7 18. Ne4 Qh4 19. Nbxd6 Rf8 20. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Barbero,
G-Raina,G,Budapest 1988}) 18. axb5 Nd7 19. Qg4 Qe7 20. Nc4 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5
22. Qe6+ Qxe6 23. dxe6 Kf8 24. Ra6 Ke7 25. b6 Kxe6 26. b3 Kd5 27. bxa7 Ke4 28.
Bd2 Kd3 $132 {Novak,I-Rosiak,A,Bydgoszcz tt 1990}) 14... Ba6 $5 15. Nbxd6 (15.
a4 {->12...Ba6}) 15... Bd4 $1 {AK} (15... Be5 16. Qa4 Bxd6 17. Nxd6 Rf8 18. Nc4
Qxd5 19. b3 $16 {Bae,T-Gassouma,M,World Juniors, Zagan 1997})) 13. a4 Qa5 (
13... f5 $6 14. O-O fxe4 15. Nc4 Bf8 (15... Be5 $2 16. Nxe5 Rxe5 17. b4 $1 Bb7
18. Bb2 Nd7 19. Nxd6 Rxd5 20. Qb3 Qc7 21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Rad1 c4 23. Qxc4 Nb6
24. Qc3 {1-0 Shipov,S-Maslej,M,Katowice open 1992}) (15... Bd4 $6 16. Ncxd6
Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Qb6 $5 18. Be3 $1 Bxe3 (18... Bxb2 19. Rb1 Be5 20. d6 $16) 19.
fxe3 Na6 (19... a6 20. d6 $1 $18) 20. d6 Rad8 21. Qd5+ $16 {AK}) 16. Bf4 Bxb5 (
16... Qf6 17. Qg4 Nd7 18. Bxd6 Nb6 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Qxe4 Rae8 21. Qd3 Bxb5 22.
axb5 Qd4 23. Qxd4 cxd4 24. Nxb6 axb6 25. Ra4 Re4 26. d6 Rd8 27. f3 Rf4 28. g3
Rf6 29. Rxd4 $16 {Barbero,G-Zelcic,R,Belgrade GMA-op 1988}) 17. axb5 Qf6 18.
Qg4 Nd7 (18... Qd4 $6 19. Nb6 $1 axb6 20. Rxa8 Qxd5 21. Ra7 Qd3 22. Qh4 Bg7 23.
Bg5 Be5 24. Bf6 $1 Re6 25. Bh8 $1 Qxb5 26. Qd8+ Re8 27. Qg5 Re6 28. Bxe5 dxe5
29. Qd8+ {1-0 Aronov,Y-Ibraev,N,WchJ-18 Guarapuava 1995}) 19. Bxd6 Qf7 20. Bxf8
Nf6 21. Qe2 Rxf8 22. d6 Qb7 23. Ne3 Rab8 24. Qc4+ Rf7 25. Ra5 Qb6 26. Rfa1 $16
{Lazarev,V-Kreutzkamp,R,Hamburg Wichern-op 1993}) 14. Nxd6 (14. O-O $6 Bxb5 15.
Nb3 (15. axb5 $2 Qxa1 16. Nc4 Rxe4 17. Nxd6 Re7 18. Nc4 Nd7 19. Qc2 Nb6 20. d6
Rd7 21. Qe4 Rc8 22. Bh6 Qa4 23. Bxg7 Qxc4 {0-1 Miladinovic,I-Kovacevic,A,
Arandjelovac 1993}) 15... Qb6 16. axb5 Rxe4 $15 {Ilic,Z}) 14... Nd7 (14... Rd8
$2 15. Nb5 $1 (15. Nb7 Bxb7 16. O-O Qb4 17. Ra3 c4 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. a5 Qb5 20.
Ra4 Nd7 21. Rxc4 f5 22. Bd3 Qxa5 23. d6 Ne5 24. Qb3 Bd5 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Qb5
Qxb5 27. Bxb5 Rb8 28. Be2 Rd8 29. Rd1 Rxd6 30. Nb1 Rc6 31. Be3 Bc4 32. Bxc4+
Nxc4 33. Bxa7 Bxb2 $11 {Vezzosi-Vera,R, Aosta 1988}) 15... Bxb5 16. axb5 Qxa1
17. d6 Re8 18. O-O $16 {Marin,M}) (14... Re7 $6 15. Qf3 Nd7 16. Kd1 f5 17. Nxf5
$1 gxf5 18. Qxf5 Rae8 19. Bd3 Nf6 20. d6 Re5 21. Qf3 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Rd5 23. Qc4
Kh8 24. Kc2 Rb8 25. Nb3 Qd8 26. Bd2 Qxd6 27. Bc3 $16 {Lazarev,V-Handke,F,MTO
Biel 1997}) 15. Qc2 {The best move.} (15. f3 $2 Be5 $1 {/\Bg3#} 16. Kf2 Bxd6
17. Re1 c4 18. Nf1 Nc5 19. Be3 Nxe4+ 20. fxe4 Rxe4 21. Nd2 Re5 22. Nf3 Rxd5 23.
Qc2 Rd3 24. Rad1 Qd5 25. Bd4 Rc8 26. Re3 Qb7 $17 {AK} (26... Bf4 $4 27. Rdxd3
$1 $18 {Timoshchenko,G-Shabalov,A,Barnaul 46/(119) YB/14(136) 1988})) (15. Nxe8
$6 Rxe8 16. f3 (16. Qc2 {->}) 16... f5 17. Kf2 Bd4+ 18. Kg3 Nf6 $1 19. f4 (19.
Bb1 $2 Nh5+ 20. Kh2 Qc7+ $18) (19. Kh2 $2 Qc7+ 20. g3 Bf2 21. f4 fxe4 {/\e3,
Nh5-+}) 19... Qc7 $1 20. Bf3 Re3 $1 21. Kh2 Be2 $1 22. Qc2 (22. Bxe2 Qxf4+ 23.
Kg1 Rxe2#) 22... Nh5 23. g3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Rxf3 $19 {Z.Ilic}) (15. g4 Ne5 (15...
Rxe4+ 16. N6xe4 Ne5 (16... Re8 $6 17. f3 Bd4 18. Qc2 c4 19. Kf1 $1 Qxd5 20. Kg2
f5 21. Rd1 Re6 22. Ng3 Nc5 23. Ra3 Nd3 24. Rxd3 cxd3 25. Qb3 Bb7 26. Qxd3 fxg4
27. hxg4 Re3 28. Qb5 Qf7 29. Rf1 Be5 30. Nde4 {1-0 Pisulinski,J-Gdanski,J,
Bielsko Biala 1990}) 17. Qc2 $5 (17. Ra3 Nd3+ 18. Rxd3 (18. Kf1 $6 Nxc1+ 19.
Kg2 Bxb2 20. Rg3 Ne2 $17 {AK}) 18... Bxd3 19. f3 (19. Qb3 $2 Bxe4 20. O-O c4 $1
21. Qxc4 (21. Nxc4 Qxd5 $19) 21... Bxd5 $19 {Barlov,D}) 19... f5 20. gxf5 (20.
Nc3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Re8+ 22. Kf2 Re2+ 23. Kg1 Qxc3 24. Rh2 Qd4+ 25. Kh1 $11 {
Barlov,D}) 20... gxf5 21. Ng5 c4 $1 22. Ne6 Bf6 23. Kf2 Qxd5 24. Re1 Bh4+ 25.
Kg2 Qd6 $1 (25... Bxe1 26. Qxe1 Re8 27. Qg3+ Kf7 28. Ng5+ $13 {Barlov,D}) 26.
Nf1 Bxe1 27. Qxe1 Re8 28. Ng3 Rxe6 29. Qf2 f4 $19 {Kozul,Z-Barlov,D,Kladovo 47/
118 1989}) 17... Nf3+ $140 18. Kd1 Be2+ 19. Kxe2 Nd4+ 20. Kd1 Nxc2 21. Kxc2 $44
{AK}) 16. Ra3 Nd3+ $5 (16... Qb4 $2 17. Qc2 Bh6 18. Kd1 $1 Qd4 19. Re1 Bf4 20.
Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Bf3 Kg7 22. Qc3 Qxf2 23. Ne4 Qh2 24. Bxf4 Qxf4 25. Qd2 {1-0
Blees,A-Tolnai,T,Kecskemet 1989}) 17. Rxd3 Bxd3 18. Qf3 (18. f3 $2 f5) 18...
Rxe4+ 19. N6xe4 c4 20. Nd6 (20. Qe3 Qxd5 21. f3 Bd4 22. Qf4 Re8 23. g5 Qa5 $44)
20... Rf8 $5 (20... Qxa4 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22. Qb7 Rf8 23. f3 Qc2 24. Kf2 Bd4+ 25.
Kg2 Be2 26. Nf7+ Kg8 27. Ng5 $1 $18) 21. Rg1 Qxa4 $44 {AK}) 15... f5 16. Nxe8 (
16. Kd1 $5 $11 fxe4 17. N2c4 $5 (17. Nxe8 Bd3 $5 {/\ Re8-/+ AK}) 17... Qd8 $1 (
17... Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Qa6 19. Re1 $5 {/\ Re2, Ke1-f1-g1 /\ Re2, Ke1-f1-g1} Nb6 $5
{Marin,M} (19... Qb7 20. d6 Rad8 21. Bd2 (21. Bg5 $140 $2 Qd5+ $6 $19 {Vilela,J
}) 21... Bd4 22. Ba5 $1 Rb8 23. Re2 Qa6 24. Rb1 Re6 25. b3 Rbe8 26. Bd2 $1 (26.
Ke1 $6 Ne5 $5 {Vilela,J}) 26... Qc6 27. Be3 Nb6 28. Ke1 $6 (28. Nxb6 Qxb6 29.
d7 Rd8 30. Bxd4 cxd4 31. Rxe4 $14 {Vilela,J}) 28... Nd5 29. Rd1 $1 (29. Bd2 $2
Rf8 30. Rc1 Qd7 31. Qa2 Qf7 32. Kd1 Kg7 (32... Bxf2 33. Bh6) 33. Rc2 (33. Rb1
$2 Bxf2 34. b4 e3 35. Qb2+ Kg8 36. Bc3 Re4 $19 {Vilela,J-Ristic,Neb,Bela Crkva
47/119 1989}) 33... Bxf2 $140 34. Bh6+ {Vilela,J}) 29... Nb4 (29... Rf8 30.
Bxd4 cxd4 31. Rxd4 Nf4 32. Rexe4 $18) (29... Nc3 30. Bxd4 Nxe2 31. Qxe2 cxd4
32. Rxd4 $16) (29... Bxe3 30. fxe3 $14 {Vilela,J}) 30. Qb1 Nd3+ 31. Kf1 (31.
Rxd3 exd3 32. Qxd3 Qxg2 $13 {Vilela,J}) 31... Be5 32. Nxe5 Rxe5 (32... Nxe5 33.
Red2 {Vilela,J}) 33. Rxd3 exd3 34. Qxd3 Rd5 35. Qc4 Qxd6 36. Rd2 Rd8 (36...
Ree5 $2 37. Bf4 {Vilela,J}) 37. Bxc5 $1 $13 {Vilela,J}) 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Bf4
Rad8 (21... b5 $5 22. Rxe4 bxa4 {Garcia,G}) 22. d6 Be5 23. Bxe5 (23. Rxe4 $140
$4 Qf1+ 24. Re1 Bxf4 $1 25. Rxf1 Rxd6+ $19 {Stohl,I}) 23... Rxe5 24. Ra3 Rxd6+
25. Kc1 Rd4 26. Kb1 Kg7 27. Qe2 (27. Rd1 $5 {Stohl,I}) 27... Qa5 28. f3 Rd2 29.
Qe3 Rxg2 30. fxe4 Qd2 $1 31. Qxd2 Rxd2 32. Rb3 Re6 $15 {Sarno,S-Garcia
Gonzales,G,Aosta 48/(115) 1989 _|_,ק}) 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Bd2 Qf7 $1 20. Nd6 $5
Qxf2 $5 (20... Qxd5 $5 21. Qxe4 Qb3+ 22. Qc2 Qd5 $1 $11 {Prudnikova,S}) 21.
Qxe4 Rf8 $5 (21... Ne5 22. Nb5 $5 (22. Ra3 $6 Rd8 23. Nb5 Bb7 $1 24. Nc3 {
Matveeva,S-Prudnikova,S/USSR (ch) 1991} c4 $1 $17 {Prudnikova,S}) 22... Rd8 23.
d6 (23. Re1 Bb7 24. Nc3 c4 $13) 23... Qf7 24. Ra3 Bb7 $13 {Prudnikova,S}) 22.
Qe6+ Kh8 23. Re1 (23. Qxd7 $2 Qe2+ 24. Kc2 Qd3+ 25. Kc1 Bxb2+ 26. Kd1 Qb3+ 27.
Ke1 Bxa1 $19 {Prudnikova,S}) 23... Nb6 (23... Bxb2 $2 24. Ra2 Qd4 25. Qxd7 $18
{Prudnikova,S}) 24. Ra3 Nc4 25. Nxc4 Bxc4 26. Rf3 Rxf3 27. gxf3 Qxf3+ (27...
Bb3+ 28. Kc1 Bxb2+ 29. Kb1 $1 {Prudnikova,S} (29. Kxb2 $140 Qxd2+ $11)) 28. Kc1
Bxb2+ $1 (28... Bxd5 29. Qc8+ Bg8 30. Qxc5 $16 {Prudnikova,S}) 29. Kxb2 Qb3+
30. Kc1 Qa3+ $11 {Prudnikova,S}) 16... Rxe8 17. Kd1 fxe4 18. Ra3 {Ftacnik:
With so many black pieces directed against the poor white king Van Wely has to
trade very carefully. White hopes to survive the threats and keep part of
sacrificed material.} (18. Nxe4 Qb4 (18... Re5 $5 19. Bd2 Rxd5 20. Kc1 Qd8 $5 {
/\Ne5} (20... Qc7 $6 21. Ra3 Ne5 22. Nc3 Nd3+ 23. Kb1 Rd7 24. Nb5 Bxb5 25. axb5
c4 26. Bc3 Bf8 27. Ra6 Qb7 28. Qa4 Qd5 29. Rxa7 $18 {Koczka,Z-Kozlov,V,
Budapest Festival 1991} (29. Rxa7 {Stohl} Rxa7 30. Qxa7 Qxg2 31. Rd1 Qf3 32.
Qa4 Qf7 33. b6 h5 34. Qc6 Nc5 {1-0,Koczka,Z-Kozlov,V/Budapest Spring op 1991}))
21. Nc3 Bd3 22. Qd1 Rf5 23. Be3 c4 $44 {AK}) (18... c4 $5 {Stohl}) 19. f3 (19.
Re1 Qd4+ 20. Nd2 Rxe1+ 21. Kxe1 Ne5 22. Ra3 Nd3+ 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 $19) (19. Nc3
Ne5 $40 {Marin,M}) 19... Re5 $5 (19... Qd4+ 20. Qd2 Bd3 21. Ra3 c4 22. Re1 Qxd5
(22... Re5) (22... Rb8 23. Re3 {/\ Rd3 /\ Rd3} Bh6 24. Rexd3 cxd3 25. Qxh6 $16
{Marin,M}) (22... Re5 {Ftacnik 1/2-1/2 Kloepfer,M-Meissner,B/Altensteig-B 1993/
}) 23. Nf2 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Nc5 25. Qe8+ Bf8 26. Bh6 Bf5+ 27. Rd3 $1 Qf7 28. Rd8
Ne6 29. Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rd7+ $18 {Van Rijn,A-Enklaar,B,Nederland tt 1995}) 20.
Bd2 $5 {Marin,M} (20. Qd2 Qb3+ 21. Ke1 Rxd5 22. Ra3 Rxd2 (22... Qb7 $44 {
Marin,M}) 23. Rxb3 Rxg2 {/\ Bd4, Ne5~/= Marin,M}) (20. Nc3 Qd4+ 21. Qd2 Bd3 {
/\Re8,c4,Nc5-b3~/= /\ Re8, c4, Ne5} 22. Re1 Bh6 $8 23. f4 $8 (23. Qxh6 $2 Rxe1+
24. Kxe1 Qg1+ 25. Kd2 Qf2+ 26. Kxd3 Ne5+ 27. Ke4 Qd4# {# Marin,M}) 23... Bxf4
24. Qxf4 Be2+ 25. Kc2 Bd3+ 26. Kd1 (26. Kb3 $2 c4+ 27. Ka2 Qb6 {/\ Re1-/+Marin,
M}) 26... Be2+ 27. Kc2 Bd3+ 28. Kd1 Be2+ {1/2-1/2 Lokotar,E-Marin,M,Vosu 48/
115 1989}) 20... Rxd5 (20... Qd4 21. Ra3 Rxd5 22. Qc3 Qxc3 (22... Ne5 23. Qxd4
Rxd4 24. Kc2 Bd3+ 25. Rxd3 $1 Nxd3 26. Bc3 $18) 23. Nxc3 Rd4 24. Kc2 Bd3+ 25.
Kc1 Ne5 26. Rb3 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 21. Kc1 Qb8 (21... Qd4 22. Qc3 Ne5 23. Qxd4
Rxd4 24. Nf2 $1 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 22. Ra3 Ne5 (22... c4 23. Rd1 Ne5 24. Bc3 Nd3+
25. Kb1 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 23. Rb3 $1 Qf8 24. Kb1 $16 {Lokotar,E-Maidla,Tallinn
51/(77) 1991}) 18... c4 {Stohl: Again Topalov comes up with a new move.} (18...
Bd3 19. Rxd3 $8 exd3 20. Qxd3 Qxa4+ 21. b3 (21. Qb3 $5 $13 {Palkovi,J}) (21.
Qb3 $5 {Ftacnik}) (21. Qb3 $5) 21... Ne5 $1 (21... Qd4 $2 {/\} 22. Qxd4 Bxd4
23. Re1 $16 {Legky,N}) (21... Qa1 $2 22. d6 Kh8 23. Qb5 Bb2 (23... Nf6 $2 24.
Qxe8+ $1 Nxe8 25. d7 $18) 24. Kc2 Bxc1 25. Rxc1 Qg7 26. Rd1 $18 {Legky,
N-Muller,H,Liechtenstein 1990}) 22. Qe3 (22. Qe4 $2 Qxe4 23. Nxe4 Nd3 24. f3
Rxe4 25. fxe4 Nf2+ 26. Ke2 Nxh1 27. Bf4 Bd4 $1 28. e5 Kf7 $19 {Palkovi,J}) (22.
Qxg6 $5 Qb5 (22... Qd7 $2 23. Qg3 $16) (22... hxg6 $5 23. bxa4 Nd3 24. Rf1 $13)
(22... Nxg6 $5 23. bxa4 Rd8 $13) 23. Qf5 (23. Qg3 Nd3 24. h4 h5 $1 25. Rf1 $13)
23... Nd3 24. d6 Kh8 (24... Rf8 $6 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Ne4 $14) 25. Rf1 $13 {
Legky,N}) 22... Qb5 $5 (22... Qd7 $2 23. Re1 Rd8 24. f4 Nf7 25. Qxc5 $5 Rc8 (
25... Qxd5 $2 26. Re8+ $18 {Legky,N}) 26. Re7 Qf5 27. g4 (27. Rc7 $5 {Legky,N})
27... Rxc5 (27... Qxg4+ $2 $16 {Legky,N}) 28. gxf5 Rxd5 29. Rxa7 (29. Re8+ Bf8
30. Ba3 Rd8 $14) (29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Rxa7 Rh5 31. b4 Rxh3 $14 {Legky,N}) 29...
gxf5 (29... Rxf5 $2 30. Ra8+ Bf8 31. Ba3 $16 {Legky,N}) 30. Ke2 $1 h6 $2 (30...
Bf8 $5) (30... Nd6 $1 $14 {Legky,N}) 31. Nc4 $1 {/\} Bf8 (31... Rb5 $2 32. Rxf7
$18) 32. Rb7 $1 Nd6 33. Nxd6 Rxd6 34. b4 $16 {Legky,N-Lupu,M,Val Torens 1990})
(22... Qd4 23. Qxd4 cxd4 24. Ba3 {1/2-1/2 Kloepfer,M-Meissner,B,Altensteig-B
1993} (24. Re1 Rd8 $11 {Legky,N}) 24... Nd3 25. Rf1 Nf4 26. d6 Nd5 $1 27. Nc4
d3 $5 {/\ Re2} 28. Ne3 (28. Kd2 $4 Re2+ $1 29. Kxd3 Nf4# {# Palkovi,J}) (28.
Re1 Nc3+ 29. Kd2 Ne4+ 30. Kxd3 Nxf2+ 31. Kd2 Ne4+ 32. Kc1 Nxd6 $11 {Palkovi,J})
28... Rxe3 29. fxe3 Nxe3+ 30. Kd2 Nxf1+ 31. Kxd3 $11 {Zueger,B-Palkovi,J,
Leibnitz 50/90 1990}) 23. Re1 Rd8 24. Kc2 $1 (24. Qe4 $1 $13 {Ftacnik}) 24...
Rxd5 $140 25. f4 Nd3 26. Qe6+ Kf8 $8 27. Qxd5 Nxe1+ 28. Kd1 $14 {Legky,N}) 19.
Re3 (19. Nxe4 $2 Qxd5+ 20. Nd2 (20. Qd2 {Stohl} Qxe4 21. Re3 Qa8 $17 {/\} 22.
Qxd7 $2 Rd8) 20... c3 $1 $19) (19. Nxc4 $6 Qxd5+ 20. Nd2 Nc5 $17) (19. Re1 $6
Nc5 20. Nxc4 Qb4 {/\ Nd3~/=}) 19... Qxd5 $5 $146 {Stohl: In fact only this
move is new.} (19... Nc5 20. Nxc4 Qb4 21. b3 $1 $18 {Palkovi,J}) 20. Rxe4 Rf8
$1 {[#] @עd1,Rh1 Stohl: Despite being an exchange and a pawn down Black has
promising compensation in good piece play. White's forces are in a tangle and
he is behind in development.} 21. f3 $6 {Ftacnik: The problems are not over
yet, black remains with many active possibilities.} (21. Rhe1 $142 $11 Ne5 $5 (
21... c3 22. bxc3 Bd3 23. Qb3 Qxb3+ 24. Nxb3 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxf2 26. Re7 $16)
22. f3 Nd3 {->21...Ne5}) (21. Re7 $5 Ne5 (21... Bf6 $140 $2 22. Qe4 $16) (21...
Qxg2 $6 22. Qe4 Bb7 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Re1 Bc6 25. Qxc4 Rxf2 26. b3 $16) (21...
Nc5 {Ftacnik} 22. Rxa7 (22. f3 {Stohl -21.f3}) 22... Qxg2 $132) (21... Rxf2 22.
Qe4 Nf6 23. Qxd5+ (23. Re8+ $1 $18) 23... Nxd5 24. Rxa7 $16) 22. Qe4 (22. f3 {
->21.f3}) 22... Qc5 (22... Qa5 $2 23. Rxa7 Qxa4+ $140 $2 24. b3 $18) 23. Re6
Qa5 (23... Nd3 24. Rf1 c3 25. bxc3 Qxc3 26. Rxa6 (26. Rc6 Qa1 27. Nb3 Qb1 28.
Qd5+ Kh8 $44) 26... Qxc1+ 27. Ke2 Nf4+ 28. Qxf4 Re8+ 29. Qe3 Qc8 $14) 24. Rf1
c3 25. Rxa6 Qxa6 26. bxc3 Rd8 27. Re1 Nc4 (27... Nd3 28. Qe6+ Qxe6 29. Rxe6
Bxc3 30. Kc2 Bxd2 31. Bxd2 $14) 28. Qe6+ Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Bxc3 30. Re2 Rd4 31. Kc2
Bxd2 32. Bxd2 Nxd2 33. Rxd2 Rxa4 $11) (21. Rxc4 $5 {Stohl} Bxc4 (21... Rxf2 $5)
(21... Qxg2 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 Bb7 24. Rhe1 Bxe4 25. Nxe4 $14) 22. Qxc4 Qxc4
23. Nxc4 Rxf2 24. g4 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26. b3 Bc3 $44) 21... Nc5 (21... Ne5 22.
Rhe1 Nd3 23. R1e2 Nb4 24. Qb1 c3 25. bxc3 (25. Rxb4 $6 Bd3 26. Qa1 Bxe2+ 27.
Kxe2 cxd2 28. Bxd2 Re8+ $36) 25... Na2 $5 (25... Bxe2+ $6 26. Rxe2 Na2 27. Bb2
Bxc3 (27... Nxc3+ 28. Bxc3 Bxc3 29. Qb5 $16) 28. Qe4 Qf7 29. Qc2 Bxb2 30. Qxb2
Rd8 31. Ke1 $16) 26. R2e3 Nxc3+ 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 $44) 22. Re7 Bf6 $1 (22... Nd3
23. Rf1 (23. Rxg7+ {Stohl} Kxg7 24. Qc3+ Kg8 25. Kc2 $14) 23... Bd4 24. Re4 Rb8
$44) (22... c3 $5 {Stohl} 23. Rxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qxc3+ Kg8 $44 {/\} 25. b3 Nd3 26.
Bb2 Nf2+ $1 27. Ke1 (27. Kc1 Rc8 28. Nc4 Nd3+ $36) 27... Nd3+ $11) 23. Rxa7 c3
24. Rxa6 {Ftacnik: Panicky reaction in the face of mounting pressure, white
had to cross fingers and defend. Stohl: A tactical mistake, which loses the
game.} (24. bxc3 $6 Bc4 {/\Bb3} (24... Bd3 25. Qb2 Re8 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1
Qe5+ 28. Ne4 Bxe4 29. Kf1 Bc6 $14) 25. Ra5 Re8 $40 (25... Re8 {Ftacnik} 26. Re1
(26. Rxc5 $4 {Stohl} Be2+ 27. Ke1 Bh4+ 28. g3 Bxg3#) 26... Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1 Nd3+
28. Kd1 (28. Kf1 {Stohl} Nxc1+ 29. Nxc4 Qxc4+ 30. Kg1 Ne2+ $11) 28... Nf2+ (
28... Qxa5 $2 {Stohl} 29. Nxc4 $18) 29. Ke1 Nd3+ 30. Kf1 Nxc1+ 31. Nxc4 Qxc4+
$13) (25... Bb3 $2 {Stohl} 26. Qxb3 $18)) 24... cxd2 25. Rxf6 (25. Rb6 dxc1=Q+
26. Kxc1 Qa2 $17) (25. Qxd2 {Ftacnik} Qxd2+ (25... Qb3+ {Stohl} 26. Qc2 $8
Qxc2+ 27. Kxc2 Nxa6 $15) 26. Bxd2 Nxa6 $15) 25... dxc1=Q+ 26. Kxc1 Rxf6 {
-> Stohl: Despite having 3 pawns for the N White's position is very difficult,
as his K is still in danger and he will have to give up at least a pawn to
stave off the attack.} 27. Rd1 (27. Kb1 $5 {Ftacnik} Qf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 $15 (
28... Rxf5 {Stohl} 29. a5 Nb3 $17)) 27... Qc6 28. Kb1 (28. a5 {Ftacnik} Nb3+
29. Kb1 Qxc2+ (29... Nxa5 $19 {Stohl}) 30. Kxc2 Nxa5 $17) 28... Nxa4 29. Qxc6
Rxc6 $17 {Ftacnik: Winning this endgame will be anything but easy, white has
to push b pawn in order to generate counterplay. [#] Hecht:  Klarer Vorteil
für Schwarz bei einem Springer gegen 2 Bauern. Die weißen Hoffnungen beruhen
auf dem geringen Bauernmaterial sowie dem Umstand, daß ein Springer bei Bauern
auf beiden Flügeln weniger effektiv ist als ein Läufer. Bei Turmtausch hätte
Weiß mit dem entfernten Freibauern etliche Überlebenschancen. Kommentare nach
Van der Wiel. Eine Medaille für schwierige Strategie + Taktik} 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31.
Rd7+ Kh6 32. h4 $6 (32. Rd4 Nb6 33. b3 Kg5 34. Kb2 $17) (32. g4 {Ftacnik} Nb6 (
32... g5 33. Rd4 Nb6 34. f4 $15) 33. Ra7 g5 (33... Rf6 34. h4 $1) 34. Ra6 Rg6
$17) (32. b3 {Stohl} Nc5 $19) 32... Nc5 (32... Rb6 $2 {Stohl} 33. g4 $1 Rxb2+
34. Kc1 g5 35. hxg5+ Kg6 36. f4 $11) 33. Rf7 Ne6 34. Ka2 (34. g4 $140 Rc7 $1 (
34... Rc7 {Ftacnik} 35. Rxc7 Nxc7 36. Kc2 {mit einigen technischen
Schwierigkeiten für Schwarz, da der Springer nur von einer zentralen Position
aus (etwa d5) nach beiden Flügeln wirken kann. In Betracht kommt nun neben Kg7
auch g5. Hier einige Remis- und Gewinnaspekte. Wie man unschwer erkennt, fällt
der Gewinn mit dem lahmen Gaul schwer.} Kg7 $17 (36... Kg7 {Hecht} 37. Kd3 Kf6
38. Kd4 Ke6 39. b4 Kd6 40. h5 gxh5 41. gxh5 Nd5 42. b5 Nf6 43. h6 Ng8 44. b6
Nxh6 45. b7 Kc7 46. Ke5 Nf7+ (46... Ng8 47. f4 Kxb7 48. f5 h5 49. Kf4 Kc6 50.
Kg5 Nf6 51. Kxf6 h4 52. Kg7 h3 53. f6 h2 54. f7 $11) 47. Kf6 h5 (47... Kxb7 48.
Kxf7 h5 49. f4 h4 50. f5 h3 51. f6 h2 52. Kg7 h1=Q 53. f7 $11) 48. Kf5 $3 (48.
Kxf7 h4 $19) 48... Z0 49. Kf4 Z0 50. Kg3 Z0 51. Kh4 {Der Springer ist mit wie
auch gegen Randbauern ein Ritter von der traurigen Gestalt.}) (36... g5 37. h5
(37. hxg5+ Kxg5 38. Kd3 Kf4 39. Ke2 Nb5 $19 {[%cal Rb5d4,Rd4f3]}) 37... Kg7 38.
Kd3 Kf6 39. Ke4 h6 40. f4 gxf4 41. Kxf4 Nd5+ (41... Na6 42. g5+ hxg5+ 43. Kg4 {
[%cal Rh5h6,Rh6h7]}) 42. Ke4 Nb4 43. Kf3 Kg5 44. Kg3 Nd5 45. Kf3 Nf6 46. b4
Nxg4 47. Ke4 (47. b5 Kf5 48. b6 Ne5+ 49. Ke2 Kg4 50. b7 Nd7 51. Ke3 Kxh5 52.
Kd4 Kg6 53. Kd5 Kf7 54. Kd6 Ke8 55. Ke6 $11) 47... Kxh5 48. b5 Nf6+ 49. Kd4 Nd7
50. Kd5 Nb6+ 51. Kc5 (51. Kc6 Na4 $19) 51... Nc8 $1 $19)) (34... g5 $2 35. Rf6+
Kg7 36. hxg5)) 34... Ra6+ 35. Kb1 (35. Kb3 {Ftacnik} Nd4+ 36. Kc3 Nf5 37. g4 $1
(37. h5 {Hecht} Rc6+ 38. Kb4 Rb6+ 39. Kc3 Nd6 40. Rd7 gxh5) 37... Nxh4 38. f4
Ng2 39. b4 Ne3 40. b5 Rd6 41. g5+ Kh5 $19) 35... Nd4 36. Rf4 (36. g4 $1 {
Ftacnik} g5 37. hxg5+ Kg6 38. Rf4 (38. Rf6+ Rxf6 39. gxf6 Nxf3 40. b4 Kxf6 41.
Kc2 Ke5 42. Kd3 Nh2 43. b5 Nxg4 44. b6 Kd6 45. b7 Kc7 46. Ke4 Kxb7 47. Kf5 h5
48. Kg5 Nf6 $19) 38... Rd6 39. Rf8 (39. b4 {Hecht} Kxg5 40. Rf8 Rb6 41. Kb2
Rxb4+ 42. Kc3 Ra4 $19) 39... Kxg5 $15) (36. f4 {Stohl} Nf5 37. g4 Nxh4 38. g5+
Kh5 39. Rxh7+ Kg4 $19) 36... Nf5 37. Re4 (37. h5 {Stohl} Kxh5 38. g4+ Kg5 $19)
37... Rd6 {/\Rd4} 38. Kc2 (38. b4 {Ftacnik} Rd2 39. b5 Nd6 40. Rb4 Rxg2 41. b6
Rf2 $19) 38... Ng3 (38... Rd4 {Stohl} 39. Rxd4 Nxd4+ 40. Kc3 Nf5 41. b4 Nxh4
42. b5 Nf5 43. b6 Nd6 44. Kd4 $132) 39. Rg4 (39. Re7 {Ftacnik} Rd4 $19) 39...
Nf1 40. Kc3 (40. Re4 $2 {Stohl} Rd2+ $19) 40... Ne3 41. Rg5 (41. Rg3 {Stohl}
Kh5 $19) 41... Nf5 42. Rg4 (42. g3 {Ftacnik} Re6 43. Kd2 (43. f4 Re3+ (43...
Rc6+ {Hecht} 44. Kb4 Rb6+ 45. Ka3 Nd6 46. b4 Ne4 47. Re5 Nxg3 48. b5 Rf6 (48...
Nf5 49. Kb4 Nd6 50. Kc5 $1) 49. Kb4 Rxf4+ 50. Kc5 Ne4+ 51. Kc6 Rf6+ 52. Kc7 Nd6
53. b6 Nc4 54. b7 Rf7+ $19) 44. Kd2 Rxg3 45. Rxg3 Nxg3 46. b4 Nf5 $19) 43...
Nd4 44. Rd5 Nxf3+ $19) 42... Kh5 43. b4 (43. g3 {Hecht} h6 44. b4 Rd5 $1 {
[%csl Rf3,Rg3][%cal Gd5b5,Gf5e3,Re3g4,Re3c4,Ge3d5,Gd5d3] verhindert b5, Kc4
und Kc2. Damit fällt f3 und/oder g3}) 43... Ne3 {Ftacnik: From this square the
knight manages to attack on both sides.} (43... Nxh4 {Ftacnik} 44. b5 Rb6 45.
Kc4 $132) (43... Nxh4 $19 {Stohl}) 44. Rd4 (44. Re4 {Ftacnik} Nxg2 $19) (44.
Rg3 $5 {Ftacnik} Kxh4 (44... h6 $5 $19 {Stohl}) 45. Rh3+ Kg5 46. Rxh7 Nxg2 $19)
44... Rxd4 45. Kxd4 Nc2+ 46. Ke5 (46. Kc3 {Ftacnik} Nxb4 47. Kxb4 Kxh4 $19)
46... Nxb4 47. Kf6 Nd5+ 48. Kg7 Ne3 (48... Ne3 {Ftacnik} 49. g4+ (49. Kxh7 Nxg2
$19) (49. g3 Nf5+) 49... Nxg4 (49... Kxh4 {Stohl} 50. Kxh7 g5 51. Kg6 Nxg4 $19)
50. fxg4+ Kxh4 51. Kxh7 g5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Salov,V"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik Tyomkin,D} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
e6 7. f4 Bd7 8. f5 $1 $146 (8. Qe2 h6 9. Bh4 Be7 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. Nf3 Qa5 $132
{Groszpeter-Adorjan, Hungary 1996}) (8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qa5 10. Qe2 Bb4 $132) (
8. Nf3 $5) (8. Qf3 {Ftacnik} Nc6 9. O-O-O Nxd4 (9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. f5
Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Qe5 13. Rd1 O-O-O 14. Bc4 h5 15. g3 h4 16. g4 Bc6 17. h3 Kb8 18.
Rhf1 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Bg5 20. Rfe1 Rhe8 21. Qf2 Qa5 22. Rd3 Qc7 23. Bb3 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Hyldkrog,L-Kristensen,K/Copenhagen op 1993}) 10. Rxd4 Bc6 11. f5 Qa5
12. Bxf6 (12. Be2 Be7 13. Bd2 Qe5 14. Rc4 O-O 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. Qg3 Bb5 17. Bh6
Ne8 18. e5 exf5 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nc7 Bh4 21. Rxh4 Qxc7 $17 {0-1 Nunn,J-Lennox,C/
BCF-ch 1974/ (29)}) 12... gxf6 13. fxe6 Qg5+ 14. Kb1 fxe6 15. Bc4 Qe5 16. Rhd1
O-O-O 17. Ne2 f5 18. Qb3 Re8 19. Nc3 fxe4 20. Bxa6 d5 21. Bb5 Bc5 22. Ra4 Kc7
$17 {0-1 Alexander,C-Larsen,B/Hastings5657 1956 (40)}) 8... Be7 (8... b5 {
Tyomkin,D Tyomkin,D} 9. Qf3 Be7 10. O-O-O e5 11. Nb3 Bc6 (11... Nc6 $2 12. Bxf6
) 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. g4 $36 O-O 14. Kb1 h6 15. a3 Be7 16. Be2 Ra7 17. Qf2 Rb7
18. h4 b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 20. g5 Nd7 21. f6 $18 {Shabalov,A-Dao Thien Hai/Donner
mem op 1996/1-0 (50)}) 9. fxe6 (9. Bc4 $5 $14) 9... fxe6 10. Bc4 {Ftacnik: The
central idea of this less played line is white attempt to attack the
vulnerable e6 square.} Qc8 11. Bb3 $6 (11. Qe2 $1 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. O-O-O
$14) 11... Nc6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 (12... bxc6 $5 {Tyomkin,D} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh5+
$36) (12... Bxc6 {Ftacnik} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh5+ $14) 13. Qd3 Qc5 $1 14. Be3
Qh5 $1 $11 15. Bf4 Rd8 (15... Qc5 $6 {Ftacnik} 16. O-O-O $16) 16. O-O (16. Bxd6
$2 {Ftacnik} Bc6 17. e5 Ng4 $1 $17) 16... O-O (16... Qc5+ {[%cal Gc5d6]
Tyomkin,D} 17. Be3 Qc6 $14 (17... Qc7 18. Na4 $16)) 17. h3 (17. Bxd6 $5 Bc8 (
17... Ng4 18. h3 (18. Qg3 Bh4 19. Rxf8+ Rxf8 20. Qh3 Bf2+ 21. Kh1 Be1 $1) 18...
Ne5 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Qd1 $16) 18. Bxe7 (18. e5 {Tyomkin,D} Bxd6 19. exd6 Qc5+
(19... Ng4 $15) 20. Kh1 Qxd6 (20... Ng4 21. Ne4 Qe5 22. g3 b5 23. Kg1 $1 Bb7
24. Rfe1 $16) (20... Rxd6 21. Ne4 Rxd3 22. Nxc5 $16 {[%csl Re6]}) 21. Qe2 Kh8
$14) 18... Rxd3 19. cxd3 Re8 (19... Rf7 20. Bd6 $44 (20. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} gxf6
21. d4 $15)) 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rxf6 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Rf8 23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. d4 Qf2
$132) 17... Kh8 18. Rad1 (18. Bxd6 Bxd6 (18... Bc8 {Ftacnik} 19. Bxe7 Rxd3 20.
cxd3 Rf7 $15) 19. Qxd6 Bb5 20. Rxf6 gxf6 21. Qxe6 Bd7 (21... Qg5 $11) 22. Qd5
Qg6 $132) 18... Bc8 (18... d5 $5 19. exd5 exd5 20. Qe3 $1 Rfe8 $1 21. Nxd5 Bb5
$1 22. g4 (22. Nxf6 Bxf6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 $11) 22... Nxg4 23. hxg4 Qxg4+ 24. Qg3
Bc5+ $13) 19. Qg3 {Tyomkin: Black central pawns are under pressure Ftacnik:
White plays rather pointedly against d6 pawn, but so far black was defending
quite successfully.} Qc5+ (19... Qa5 $5 {Ftacnik} 20. Be3 (20. Kh1 Nh5 $1)) 20.
Be3 Qc6 $1 21. e5 $1 dxe5 (21... Ne4 $2 {Ftacnik} 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 23. Bb6 $16)
22. Qxe5 Bd6 $4 (22... b5 23. Rxd8 (23. Ne2 $140 $2 Bb7 24. Nf4 Nd7 {[%cal
Rf8f4]}) 23... Rxd8 (23... Bxd8 24. a4 $5) 24. a3 $1 (24. Ne2 $2 Bb7 (24... Qe4
{Tyomkin,D}) 25. Nf4 g5 $1 $17 (25... Bd6 26. Qg5)) 24... Bd6 (24... Bb7 {
Ftacnik} 25. Rf2 $14) 25. Qg5 h6 26. Qg6 Bc5 $11) 23. Rxd6 $1 {Ftacnik: Neat
combination that combines several motives, among them the vulnerability of the
8th rank.} Rxd6 (23... Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Bc5 Rdd8 (25... Rfd8 {Tyomkin,D}
26. Bxd6 Rxd6 27. Ne4) 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27. Ne4 $1 $16) 24. Ne4 Rd5 (24... Rd7 25.
Nxf6 (25. Rxf6 $4 {Tyomkin,D} Rd1+ 26. Kh2 gxf6 27. Nxf6 Qd6) (25. Bd4 {
Tyomkin,D} Qc7) 25... Rdf7 (25... gxf6 26. Rxf6 Rxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Bxe6+
$18) 26. Bc5 (26. Bg5 $2 {Tyomkin,D} Qb5) 26... gxf6 27. Rxf6 Qxc5+ (27... Rxf6
{Tyomkin,D} 28. Bxf8 $18 (28. Bxf8 Qb6+ 29. Bc5 Qd8 30. Bd4 $18)) 28. Qxc5 Rxf6
29. Qe5 $16 (29. Bc4 $16 {Ftacnik})) (24... Rdd8 {Tyomkin,D} 25. Nxf6 gxf6 26.
Rxf6 Kg8 27. Qg5+ {with mate}) 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 (25... exd5 26. Nd6 (26. Nxf6 {
Tyomkin,D} gxf6 (26... Rxf6 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Qe7 $18) 27. Qf4 {[%csl Rf6]
[%cal Re3d4]} (27. Qd4 $16 {Ftacnik}) 27... Qxc2 28. Qd6 Kg8 29. Bh6 $18) 26...
Kg8 27. Bg5 $18) 26. Bd4 Qxe5 (26... Bd7 $5 27. Nxf6 (27. Rf4 {Ftacnik} Bc6 28.
Qxd5 Bxd5 29. Nxf6 gxf6 30. Bxf6+ Kg8 31. b3 $16) 27... Qxe5 28. Bxe5 gxf6 29.
Bxf6+ Kg8 $16) 27. Bxe5 Bd7 {Ftacnik: Black hopes to save himself in an
endgame with active bishop.} (27... Nd7 {Tyomkin,D} 28. Rxf8+ Nxf8 29. Nd6 Bd7
(29... Ng6 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxc8 $18) 30. Nxb7 Bc6 31. Nc5 $18) 28. Bxf6 gxf6
29. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 (29... Rc8 {Ftacnik} 30. Nd6 $18) 30. Nxf6 {Tyomkin: This is
not a big deal to win in this ending on this level.} Bc6 31. Kf2 Kg7 32. Ng4
Be4 33. c3 $16 (33. c4 {Ftacnik} h5 34. Ne5 Kf6) 33... h5 34. Ne5 (34. Ne3 {
Ftacnik} Kf6 35. g4 $16) 34... Kf6 35. Nd7+ Kf5 (35... Ke7 {Ftacnik} 36. Nc5
Bd5 37. b3 Kd6 38. Nd3 e5 39. g4 $16) 36. b4 Bc6 37. Nc5 Ke5 38. g3 Kd5 39. Ke3
Kc4 40. Ne4 (40. Kd2 {Ftacnik} Bg2 41. Nxe6 Bxh3 42. Nf4 Bg4 43. Ng2 $16) 40...
e5 {Ftacnik: Black can not afford to trade into the pawn endgame, but the
fight is not over. Pawn structure c3-b4 is quite exposed, Salov hopes to
exchange all pawns.} (40... Bxe4 $2 {Ftacnik} 41. Kxe4 Kxc3 42. g4 hxg4 43.
hxg4 $18) 41. g4 (41. h4 $5) (41. Nf6 $2 {Tyomkin,D} Kxc3 42. Nxh5 Kxb4 (42...
Bd5 43. a3) 43. Nf6 Kc5 44. h4 Kd6 {[%cal Gd6e6]}) 41... h4 (41... hxg4 42.
hxg4 Kd5 43. Nc5 $1 (43. g5 Ke6 44. g6 b5 $1 $14) 43... Kc4 44. Kd2 e4 45. g5
e3+ 46. Kxe3 Kxc3 47. a3 Kb2 48. g6 Kxa3 49. g7 Bd5 50. Kd4 Bg8 $1 (50... Bf7
51. Kc3 Bg8 52. Nxb7 Ka4 53. Nd6 $18) 51. Kc3 Bf7 52. Nxb7 Ka4 53. Nd6 Bg8 54.
Nf5 Kb5 55. Nh6 Bh7 (55... Ba2 56. Kd4 $18) 56. Kb3 $1 a5 (56... Kb6 57. Ng4 $1
Bg8+ 58. Ka4 $18) 57. bxa5 Kxa5 58. Kc4 Kb6 59. Kd5 Kc7 60. Ke6 Kd8 61. Kf7 Kd7
62. Ng4 Kd6 63. Nf6 Bd3 64. Kf8 Bc4 65. Ng4 $18) 42. g5 Bd7 43. g6 Bxh3 44. Ng5
Bg2 45. Nf3 Bh3 (45... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 46. Kxf3 h3 47. g7 $18) 46. Kd2 Be6 (
46... e4 {Ftacnik} 47. Ng5 e3+ 48. Kxe3 Bg2 49. Nf3 Bh3 50. Kd2 $18) 47. Nxh4
Kb5 (47... e4 48. Ng2 (48. g7 $2 e3+ 49. Kxe3 Kxc3) 48... Kb5 49. a3 (49. Ne3
$18 {Tyomkin,D} Bxa2 $140 50. c4+) 49... Ka4 50. Nf4 Bg8 51. Ke3 $18) 48. Nf3
Bxa2 (48... e4 $2 {Ftacnik} 49. Nd4+ $18) 49. Nxe5 Be6 (49... a5 {Ftacnik} 50.
c4+ $18) 50. Kc2 a5 (50... b6 51. Kb2 Ka4 (51... a5 52. Ka3 $18) 52. Nc6 a5 53.
bxa5 bxa5 54. g7 Bc4 55. Ne7 Kb5 56. g8=Q Bxg8 57. Nxg8 Kc4 58. Nf6 $18) 51.
bxa5 Kxa5 52. g7 Kb5 (52... b5 53. Kd3 Ka4 54. Kd4 $18 (54. Nc6 {Ftacnik} Bf7
55. Ne7 b4 56. c4 b3)) 53. Kd3 (53. Ng6 {Ftacnik} Kc4 54. Ne7 b5) 53... Ka5 (
53... Kc5 54. Nd7+ $18) (53... Ka4 {Ftacnik} 54. Nd7 $1 Bf7 (54... Ka3 55. Nc5
Bg8 56. Nxb7 $18) 55. Nc5+ Kb5 56. Nxb7 $18) 54. Kd4 b6 (54... b5 {Ftacnik} 55.
Kc5 Ka4 56. Nc6 Bf7 57. Nd4 $18) 55. Nc6+ Ka4 56. Ne7 b5 57. g8=Q (57. g8=Q {
Tyomkin,D} Bxg8 58. Nxg8 b4 59. c4 b3 60. Nf6 (60. Ne7 $144) 60... b2 61. Ne4 (
61. Nd5 $144) 61... b1=N 62. Nc3+ Nxc3 63. Kxc3 Ka5 64. Kd4 Kb6 65. Kd5 Kc7 66.
Kc5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik had an explosive start with 4/4 and Topalov and me were on a "mere" 3/
4.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {Topalov and
Shirov have been playing this line for some two years now and have been
responsible for it's growth in popularity. They have had many interesting
encounters in this line as well. As with topical lines, the theory develops
rapidly. I beat Shirov in Groningen, but in the 3rd round in Wijk aan Zee,
Piket had shown an improvement over Shirov's play in Groningen, so the ball
was back in White's court. I was attracted to a plan that Topalov used against
Shirov used in Madrid 1997, so I decide to give it a shot.} 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6
9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. h3 {Topalov had a big advantage against Shirov and
subsequently Hracek obliterated Shirov in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, Shirov
demonstrated an improvement on these games as well (against me in the last
round of Wijk aan Zee), so matters are not clear here theoretically speaking.
Topalov deviated even earlier.} O-O 12. Re1 Re8 $5 {Topalov prefers to leave
the bishop on c8 and pressurize e4.} (12... Bb7 13. Na3 {Topalov's point - in
comparision with a normal Archangelsk, White has a concrete target on b5.} exd4
14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 cxd4 $1 {The last word
on this variation - Anand-Shirov Wijk aan Zee (13) 1998. However, it's time to
leave theory and go back to the game!} (18... g5 $2 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 b3
21. Bxb3 $1 (21. Bd3 c4 {Topalov-Shirov Madrid 1997}) 21... cxd4 22. Ra3 $1 $16
{Hracek-Shirov})) 13. Na3 b4 $1 {The next few moves all look forced.} 14. Nc4 (
14. dxe5 bxa3 $1 (14... dxe5 15. Nc4 $14) 15. exf6 axb2 16. Bxb2 (16. Bxf7+
Kxf7 17. Qd5+ Be6 18. Ng5+ Kg8 19. f7+ (19. Nxe6 Qxf6) 19... Kh8 $3 20. Nxe6
bxa1=Q 21. Nxd8 Rexd8 $19) 16... Qxf6 $11) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. Nxb6 (
16. cxd4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $17) 16... Rxb6 17. cxd4 Nxe4 (17... Rxe4 $2 18. Bxf7+ $1
$16) 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Rxe4 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Nxe4 {Black has simplified
the position and even got bishops of opposite colours. Nevertheless, he still
has to be careful. His pieces are misplaced - the rook on b6 and even the
knight on c6 are vulnerable in some lines. Black's king is slightly exposed,
not only because he only has two pawns in front of him, but because of vague
threats of Ra8 etc.} Bf5 22. Ng5 $1 Ne7 (22... h6 $2 23. Qf3 Ne7 24. Ra8 Rb8 (
24... Bc8 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Qxe7 $1) 25. Qb3+ $1 $18) 23. g4 $1 Bg6 (23... Bd7
24. Qf3 $1 $18 (24. Qd3 g6 $16)) 24. Ne6 Qc8 $4 {We thought that 22...Ne7 was
a big mistake, but in fact it is only 24...Qc8 that proves fatal. I found 22...
Qb8 at home trying to stop Ra7, but I am unable to find anything really
convincing against it.} (24... Qb8 $1 {Maybe White is still better, but it
doesn't look too serious.} 25. d5 (25. Qf3 d5) 25... Bf7 $1 {The difference is
that Black has Rb1 is many lines.} (25... c5 26. Bg5 $16) 26. Qd4 (26. Nxg7 $2
Kxg7 27. Qd4+ Kf8 28. Bh6+ (28. Qh8+ Ng8 29. Bh6+ Ke8 30. Re1+ Kd7 $17) 28...
Ke8 29. Re1 Rb1 $1 $17) (26. Bg5 Ng6 27. Nd8 (27. Be3 Rb5) (27. Qd4 Ne5) 27...
Ne5) 26... Bxe6 27. dxe6 Rb1 28. Rxb1 Qxb1 29. Qf4 h6 (29... Qg6 30. Qa4 $14)
30. Qf7+ Kh7 31. Qxe7 Qxc1+ 32. Kg2 {This might just be a draw.}) 25. d5 $1 {
I don't see any defence anymore.} Bf7 (25... c5 26. Ra7 $1 {Topalov} Rb7 27.
Rxb7 Qxb7 28. Qf3 $1 Qc8 (28... Bf7 29. Qxf7+ $1 $18) 29. Qc3 $18) 26. Nxg7 $1
Kxg7 {Both alternatives would have prolonged the game, but Black's king is
much too weak now to really save the game.} (26... Bxd5 27. Nh5 $16) (26...
Nxd5 27. Nf5 $16) 27. Qd4+ Kf8 (27... Kg8 28. Bh6 $18) (27... Kg6 {The most
tricky line.} 28. Qe4+ Kf6 (28... Nf5 29. Ra3 $1 $18) 29. Bh6 $1 {My intention
during the game.} (29. g5+ Kg7 30. Qxe7 Qf5 31. Ra8 $1 Kg6 {I thought during
the game, but later Fritz found a way} 32. Qf8 $1 Qxh3 33. Ra3 {Still, this
isn't the easiest line around.}) 29... Nf5 (29... Bxd5 30. Qxh7 Nf5 31. Re1
Nxh6 32. Qxh6+ Kf7 33. Qh5+ $18) (29... Bg6 30. Qd4+ Kf7 31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Bg5
Qd8 33. Ra8 $18) 30. gxf5 Qxf5 (30... Qg8+ 31. Kh2 Bxd5 32. Qh4+ Kxf5 33. Qh5+
Kf6 34. Rg1 $18) 31. Qh4+ Kg6 (31... Ke5 32. Rd1 $1 Bxd5 33. Qe7+ $18) 32. Kh2
$18) 28. Bh6+ Ke8 29. Re1 {Kramnik lost to Shirov and now I joined him in the
lead with 4/5.} (29. Re1 Kd7 30. Rxe7+ $1 Kxe7 31. Qe4+ Be6 $8 (31... Kf6 32.
g5#) (31... Kd7 32. Qf5+ $18) 32. Qxh7+ Bf7 (32... Ke8 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Bg5+
Kf7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37. Bh6 Qd7 38. Qf8+ Kh7 39. dxe6 $18) 33. Qe4+
Be6 34. Bg5+ Kf8 35. dxe6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 {Der holländische Großmeister umgeht - wie schon in Groningen
1997 - das Wolgagambit, zu dem es nach 2.c4 und c5 3.d5 b5 kommen könnte.Ribli.
} e6 3. c4 c5 {In Groningen - ein paar Wochen zuvor - spielte Topalov 3...d5 4.
Nc3 dxc4, die Wiener Variante.} 4. g3 {Piket vermeidet die nach 4.d5 exd5 5.
cxd5 d6 entstehende Benoni-Verteidigung, die Schwarz lebendiges taktisches
Spiel bietet.} cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qb6 (5... Bb4+) (5... Nc6) (5... d5) 6. Bg2 Bc5 (
6... Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. O-O d5 10. Be3 Qa6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qd4
Be7 13. a4 O-O 14. Nb5 Ne8 15. Nxa7 Bd7 {Hsu Li Yang-Ker,A/Jakarta zt 1993/1/
2-1/2 (42)}) 7. e3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 {Meiner Meinung nach ist das eine etwas
ambitionslose Fortsetzung, nach der Schwarz keine Probleme hat.} (8. Nc3 Nxd4
9. exd4 Bxd4 10. O-O e5 11. Nb5 (11. Qc2 O-O 12. Bg5 d5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nxd5
Qd8 15. Rad1 Be6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Qd2 Re8 {1/2-1/2 Wells,P-Emms,J/Bad
Woerishofen op 1996}) 11... O-O 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. b3 d5 14. Bb2 {1/2-1/2
Ehlvest,J-Wedberg,T/Rilton Cup96/97 1996}) (8. Nb3 Bb4+ 9. N3d2 Ne5 (9... O-O
10. a3 Be7 11. Nc3 d5 12. O-O Rd8 13. b4 (13. cxd5 exd5 14. Qb3 Qc5 15. Qb5
Qxb5 16. Nxb5 {= Agzamov,G-Groszpeter,A/Sochi 1984}) 13... a5 14. b5 Ne5 15.
Qb3 Nxc4 16. Nxc4 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Bd7 18. Rb1 Rac8 19. Qb3 e5 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21.
Bxd5 Be6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 {1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Brodsky,M/Nikolaev zt 1993}) 10. O-O
Nd3 11. Ne4 Nxc1 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Qxc1 Be7 14. Nc3 Qa5 15. Rd1 Rb8 16. Ne4 b6
17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Rxd6 Bb7 19. Qd1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc5 21. Kg1 Qc7 22. Qd4 Ke7
23. Rd1 {1-0 Arakelian,E-Arkhipov,S/RUS-chT 1995 (33)}) (8. O-O $5 {Nach
diesem Bauernopfer bekommt Weiß Kompensation, aber -meines Erachtens- auch
nicht mehr.} Nxd4 9. exd4 Bxd4 10. Nc3 e5 (10... O-O 11. Na4 Qd6 12. Bf4 e5 13.
Be3 $44) 11. Nb5 O-O 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. b3 {[%cal Rc1b2,Rb2d4]} d5 14. Ba3 Re8
15. c5 Qa5 16. Bb2 Qxc5 17. Bxd4 Qd6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxd5 {Weiß steht dank
seines etwas aktiveren Läufers nur scheinbar besser. Schwarz kann sich jedoch
leicht befreien.} Qe7 {[%cal Ge8e1]} 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Qc5 b6 $11) 8... dxc6 (
8... bxc6 9. O-O Ba6 10. Qc2 d5 11. Nd2 O-O 12. b3 Rac8 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Rfd1
Rfd8 15. Rac1 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Yee,L-Stone,R/Toronto op 1995 (35)}) 9. O-O e5 $11 {
Wir haben jetzt eine symmetrische Bauernverteilung, der Bewegungsfreiraum des
Bg2 ist durch die Bauern auf b7 und c6 eingeschränkt. So befindet sich Schwarz
in einer bequemen Stellung.} 10. Nc3 {[%cal Rc3a4]} Qc7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. b3 Be6
13. Bb2 Rad8 14. h3 (14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 f6 16. Rfd1 Qa5 $11) 14... Nd7 {
Schwarz bereitet 15...f5 mit Angriffschancen am Königsflügel vor.} 15. Rad1 f5
$15 {Schwarz verfügt über die etwas besseren Perspektiven. Weiß hat keinen
aktiven Plan, während Schwarz die Initiative am Königsflügel besitzt.} 16. Rfe1
a5 17. Kh2 h5 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gc7h2]} 18. Kh1 Rde8 19. a3 (19. e4 $2 f4 $17 {
[%csl Gc5,Rd4,Gf8,Rh1]}) 19... Ba7 20. Rd2 Nf6 21. Qd1 h4 $6 {Die Hauptidee
ist gut, aber Schwarz hätte noch ein paar Vorbereitungszüge ausführen sollen.
Jetzt ist Weiß gut darauf vorbereitet, den Angriff zu parieren.} (21... Bc8 $5)
22. gxh4 $13 e4 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Rc7h2,Ra7b8,Rb8c7]} 23. Ne2 {[%cal Gb2g7]} Nh5
(23... Bb8 24. Nf4 $16 {[%csl Gf4][%cal Ge1g1,Gg1g8]}) 24. Rg1 $8 Bb8 25. Ng3
Nf6 $6 ({[#]} 25... Qxg3 26. fxg3 Nxg3+ 27. Kh2 Nf1+ 28. Kh1 Ng3+ $11) (25...
Nxg3+ $2 26. fxg3 Qxg3 27. Bf1 $18 {[%cal Gd2h2,Rg1g8]}) 26. f4 $1 $16 Rd8 $6 (
26... exf3 27. Bxf3 $16 {[%cal Gg1g8]}) 27. Bf1 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 {Weiß hat einen
Bauern mehr, und was noch wichtiger ist, er hat gute Angriffsmöglichkeiten am
Königsflügel. Sein Bb2 ist besonders stark.} Ba7 29. Be2 Qd7 30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31.
Nh5 {Auch durch den Damentausch hat die weiße Initiative nichts von ihrer
Kraft eingebüßt.} Ne8 32. c5 $5 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Re2c4,Rc4g8]} (32. Bxg7 Bxe3
33. Rg2 $18) 32... g6 $6 (32... Bxc5 33. Bxg7 (33. Bc4+ $6 Kh7 34. Bxg7 (34.
Nxg7 Nf6) 34... Nxg7 35. Rxg7+ Kh6 36. Rxd7 Kxh5 $11) (33. Nxg7 Kf7 34. Nxe8
Kxe8 35. Bg7 Bxe3 36. Bh5+ Rf7 37. Rd1 $14) 33... Kf7 34. Bc4+ Ke7 35. Bxf8+
Kxf8 $16) 33. b4 {[%csl Ra7] Jetzt ist der schwarze Ba7 ausgeschlossen.} Kh7
34. Rd1 {[%cal Rd2d7]} Be6 35. Rd8 {Droht 36.Rxe8 nebst 37.Nf6 oder das
sofortige 36.Nf6.} gxh5 36. Bxh5 {[%csl Re8][%cal Gd8f8]} axb4 37. axb4 b6 (
37... Ng7 38. Rxf8 Nxh5 39. Ra8 $18 {[%csl Ra7]}) 38. Bd4 bxc5 39. bxc5 Kg8 40.
Bxe8 {Schwarz hat zwei Bauern weniger und eine gelähmte Stellung.} Bc4 {
Und Schwarz gab zugleichg auf, denn es folgt 41.h5 mit sehr konkreten
Drohungen.Ribli.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Die sogenannte Wiener Variante des
Damengambits, die dem Schwarzen gute taktische Gegenchancen bietet. Nach
meiner persönliche Meinung ist das ganze System ein wenig verdächtig, aber bis
jetzt ist keine Widerlegung bekannt.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Qa5 $5 {Eine interessante Zugfolge. Normalerweise spielt Schwarz 8...Bxc3 9.
bxc3 Qa5, aber dort ist 10.Nb5 gefährlich für Schwarz.} 9. Bd2 {Durch andere
Züge - 9.Bxf6 oder 9.Bb5 Nbd7 10.Bxf6 - kann Weiß mit Zugumstellung die
Hauptvarianten erreichen.} (9. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxc3+ 11. Ke2 Qxc4+ 12. Kf3
Qc3+ 13. Kg4 e5+ 14. Nf5 Bxf5+ 15. exf5 gxf6 16. Kh5 Qc7 17. Kh6 Nc6 18. Rc1
Qd7 19. Qh5 O-O-O 20. Rhd1 Qe7 21. Qf3 Rxd1 22. Qxd1 Rg8 23. g4 Rg5 {0-1 Daly,
C-Stummer,A/Budapest FS06 IM-B 1994}) (9. Bb5+ Nbd7 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Rc1 a6
12. Ba4 Ke7 13. O-O Rd8 14. Nb3 Qe5 15. Bxd7 Bxd7 16. f4 Qd6 17. Qh5 Qb6+ 18.
Kh1 Bc6 19. f5 e5 {0-1 Welin,T-Rantanen,Y/FIN-SVE 1988 (33)}) (9. Ndb5 $6 Nbd7
$5 10. Nd6+ Ke7 $15) 9... Qc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nb3 (11. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 $11) 11...
Qe7 $11 (11... Qb6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O e5 $6 (13... Nc6 $5) 14. Be3 Qd8 15. Nd5
$16 {Dautov,R-Levin,F/USSR 1987}) 12. Bd3 (12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bxd7 Nbxd7 14. a3
Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O {1/2-1/2 Zueger,B-Kishnev,S/Gelsenkirchen 1991}) (12.
Bxd7+ Nbxd7 $11) 12... Nc6 13. a3 Bd6 (13... Bxc3 $5 14. Bxc3 e5 {Nach meiner
Meinung ist das weiße Läuferpaar nicht von Bedeutung und auch der b3-Springer
steht nicht gut.} (14... O-O 15. e5 Nd5 $11) 15. O-O O-O 16. f4 Ng4 {[%cal
Rg4e3,Re3f1,Re3d1]} (16... exf4 17. Rxf4 Ne5 18. Bb4 $16) 17. Qe2 exf4 18. Rxf4
Nge5 $11) 14. O-O $5 $146 (14. Be3 a6 15. O-O O-O 16. f4 e5 17. f5 Nd4 18. Nxd4
exd4 19. Bxd4 Bc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21. Kh1 Bc6 22. Qf3 Rfe8 23. Qg3 Rad8 {
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Tkachiev,V/FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997}) 14... Rd8 (14... O-O 15. f4
e5 16. Nd5 (16. Nb5 exf4 (16... Bc5+) 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Bxf4 Ne5 $11) 16...
Nxd5 17. exd5 Nd4 18. Re1 $14 {[%cal Ge1e7]} (18. fxe5 Bxe5 (18... Qxe5 19. Bf4
Qxd5 (19... Qf6 $2 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Nxd4 $18) 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.
Qxd4 $11) 19. Bb4 Qh4 20. g3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Qh3+ $11
)) 15. f4 $14 Bc8 {[%cal Gd8d1]} 16. e5 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 (17. Nxc5 $2 Qxc5+ 18. Kh1
Rxd3 (18... Nd5 $2 19. Ne4 $14) 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Ne4 Qd4 $17) 17... Rxd3 18.
exf6 gxf6 19. Qe2 $44 {Durch den schwarzen König in der Mitte hat Weiß Spiel
für den geopferten Bauern.} Qd8 $8 (19... Rd8 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Ne4 Qe7 (21...
Qd4 22. Bc3 $18) 22. Bc3 Nd4 23. Qc4 $14) 20. Rad1 (20. Nxc5 Rxd2 $132) 20...
Be7 21. Be3 Rd7 $5 (21... Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Bd7 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 $44 {[%csl
Gc5][%cal Gc5f8]}) 22. f5 (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. Bxc5 b6) (22. Ne4) 22... Rxd1 23.
Rxd1 Qc7 {Es ist interessant, daß Weiß trotz besserer Entwicklung und der
schwarzen Königsstellung in der Mitte nichts konkretes hat.} 24. fxe6 (24. Nb5
Qe5 $13 (24... Qb8)) (24. Nc5 b6) 24... Bxe6 (24... fxe6 $4 25. Qh5+ Kf8 26.
Bh6+ $18) 25. Nd4 (25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. Bxc5 Qe5) 25... Nxd4 26. Bxd4 Rg8 {Schwarz
hat einen Mehrbauern und das Läuferpaar, aber die weiße Initiative gibt etwa
gleiche Chancen.} 27. Qf2 {[%csl Ra7,Rf6]} (27. Nb5 Qc4 $5 (27... Qc6 28. Nxa7
Qc4 (28... Qa4 29. Qb5+ Qxb5 30. Nxb5 $14) 29. Qxc4 Bxc4 $11) (27... Qf4 28.
Nxa7 Bg4 29. Qd2 $11) 28. Qxc4 Bxc4 29. Nxa7 Bd5 {[%csl Gd5]} 30. Rd2 Rg5)
27... Rg5 $15 {[%cal Gg5a5]} 28. Ne4 (28. Bxf6 $2 Rf5 $19) (28. Bxa7 $5 Rh5 (
28... Rf5 29. Qh4 $13) 29. h3 Qc6 30. Kg1 Bxa3 31. Qxf6 Be7 $13) 28... Rf5 29.
Qe3 Qc4 {[%cal Rf5f1]} 30. Kg1 Rd5 {Schwarz hat wirklich aktives Figurenspiel,
aber wegen seiner strukturellen Schwächen hat Weiß hat gute Ausgleichschancen.}
31. b3 Qc7 32. Rf1 f5 33. Nf6+ $11 Bxf6 34. Bxf6 Qc5 {Die Anwesenheit der
ungleichfarbigen Läufer bietet immer gute Remischancen für den Verteidiger.
Schwarz hat nur theoretischen Vorteil.} 35. Qxc5 Rxc5 36. Rd1 {[%cal Rd1d8]
Die letzte Drohung in der Partie.} Rd5 37. Rxd5 Bxd5 38. b4 {Die Stellung ist
natürlich remis. Ribli.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8.
Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 Nbd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Re1 Qa5 (12... Ng4 13. Nd2 Nge5
14. Qe2 Nb6 15. f4 Ned7 16. a4 Ra7 17. a5 Na8 18. Nc4 Nc7 19. Bd2 Qa8 20. Qf3
Rb8 21. Ra4 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Rxb5 23. Bc3 Nb6 24. Nxb6 Rxb6 25. e5 Rb3 26. Re2 dxe5
27. fxe5 Rd7 28. Rf4 Qxd5 29. Rxf7 $1 $16 {Rustemov,A-Gladischev,O/St.
Petersburg Petrov 1998/1-0 (34)}) 13. e5 $5 {This move, previously considered
too committing (קd5) became popular after Dautov successfully used it against
Kir. Georgiev. Topalov shows, how Black can retain typical Volga gambit
counterlpay and keep the position balanced. It seems White should look for
other ways to gain an advantage.} (13. Bf4 Ng4 14. Re2 (14. h3 Nge5 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. Rc1 Nc4 17. Qe2 Qb4 18. a3 Qb3 19. Nd1 Ra4 20. Qc2 Rb8 21. Qxb3 Rxb3
22. Re2 h6 23. h4 Kh7 24. Rcc2 Bf6 25. Bc1 Bd4 26. Nc3 Ra5 27. Nd1 Ra4 $44 {
1/2,Van der Sterren,P-Van Wely,L/NLD-chT f Panfox-HSG 1997}) 14... Rfb8 15. Rc1
Qa6 16. Rcc2 Rb4 17. h3 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. b3 c4 21. Nb1 cxb3
22. axb3 Qb5 23. Re3 Bd4 24. Rf3 Bf6 25. Nd2 Rd4 26. Rc4 Ra2 $132 {Kaidanov,
G-Wang Zili/Jerevan olm 1996/1/2 (33)}) (13. Bg5 Rfb8 (13... h6 14. Bd2 Ng4 15.
a4 Qb4 16. Ra2 Rfb8 17. Nb5 Qc4 18. b3 Qd3 19. Qc2 Nge5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Re3
Qxc2 22. Rxc2 c4 23. f4 Ng4 24. Rxc4 Nxe3+ 25. Bxe3 $14 {Brezeanu,C-Horvath,A/
EU-chJ U14 Herculane 1994/1-0 (44)}) 14. Re2 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Rc1 Ra7 17.
Qd3 Qb4 18. Rcc2 h5 19. h3 Bg7 20. b3 Nb6 21. Nb5 Ra5 22. a4 c4 23. bxc4 Rxa4
24. Nfd4 Nxc4 25. Nc6 Ne5 $1 $11 {Danner,G-Groetz,H/Vienna Schlechter op 1996/
1/2 (77)}) (13. Bd2 Rfb8 14. Qc2 Ng4 15. a4 (15. h3 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Ne2
Qb5 18. Bc3 Qd3 19. Qxd3 Nxd3 20. Reb1 Ra4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. b3 Rxe4 23. Nc3
Rd4 24. Rd1 Nb4 $17 {Acosta,T-Hoffman,A/Salta Clarin op 1995/0-1 (38)}) 15...
Qb4 16. h3 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nb5 Qc4 19. Bc3 Qd3 20. Qd1 c4 21. Nc7 Ra7
22. Nb5 Raa8 23. Nd4 Qxd1 24. Rexd1 Nd3 25. a5 Nc5 26. Nc6 Rb7 27. e5 Bxe5 28.
Nxe5 dxe5 29. Bxe5 f6 30. Bc3 Ra6 31. Ra3 Ne4 $132 {Sadler,M-Hoffman,A/Buenos
Aires Najdorf 1995/1/2 (42)}) (13. Qe2 $5 Qa6 14. e5 Ng4 15. exd6 exd6 16. Bf4
Rfb8 17. Rad1 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxa6 Rxa6 20. Re2 c4 21. Rd4 Rab6 22. Nd1
Ra8 23. a3 Rc8 24. Rc2 Rc5 25. Kf1 Kf8 26. h3 h6 27. Ne3 g5 28. Bxe5 Bxe5 29.
Rdxc4 Bxb2 30. Rxc5 dxc5 31. Nc4 {1-0,Witt,R-Roobol,M/NLD-chT 1995}) (13. Re2
Rfb8 14. h3 Rb4 15. Rb1 Qa6 16. Bd2 Ne8 17. Be1 Rd4 18. Qc2 Rd3 19. Nd1 c4 20.
Ne3 Qxa2 21. Rc1 Rc8 22. b3 Qxb3 23. Qxb3 Rxb3 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Nxc4 Nc5 26.
Na5 Rb2 27. Rxb2 {1/2,Schmidt,W-Staniszewski,P/POL-ch 1987}) 13... Ng4 14. exd6
exd6 15. Bf4 (15. Re4 $146 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bg5 Rfb8 18. Ra4 Qb6 19. Rxa8
Rxa8 20. Qe2 Qa6 21. Nb5 Rb8 22. a4 c4 $36 {Bosboom,M-Van der Weide,K/NLD-ch
sf Enschede 1998/0-1 (40)}) (15. Ne4 Qa6 16. Qe2 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxa6
Rxa6 19. Re2 Nd3 20. Nc3 Rb8 21. Kf1 h5 22. Rc2 Rab6 23. a4 Ra6 24. Ke2 Nxc1+
25. Raxc1 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rxa4 $15 {Gebhardt,U-Gallo,J/OLO-B 1993/0-1 (37)})
15... Rfb8 $1 (15... Nge5 $143 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Rc1 Qa6 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Rc2
(19. Re2 Rab8 20. Qa4 Qxa4 21. Nxa4 Rb4 $2 22. Nxc5 Bxb2 23. Rb1 dxc5 24. Rbxb2
Ra4 25. Rbc2 c4 26. Re4 Rd8 27. Rexc4 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Rxd5 29. Rc2 h5 30. a4 $18
{_|_R,Varga,P-Krutti,V/Cseppko op 1997/1-0 (48)}) 19... Bg7 20. Qf3 Ra7 21. b3
Rb7 22. Ne4 Qa5 23. Ree2 Qd8 24. Nd2 h5 25. Nc4 h4 26. Qf4 hxg3 27. hxg3 Rd7
28. Rcd2 Bf6 29. Rd1 Kg7 30. Rh1 Bg5 31. Qg4 Rh8 32. Rxh8 Kxh8 33. a4 $16 {
/+-,Dautov,R-Georgiev,K/Altensteig 1995/1-0 (52) This game clearly shows
White's strategy-to stabilize the << and gradually simplify the position.}) 16.
Re2 Qa6 (16... Bxc3 $143 17. bxc3 Qxc3 18. Rc1 Qf6 19. Ng5 Qf5 20. Ne4 Ngf6 21.
Nxd6 Qxd5+ 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Bh6 f6 24. Rd2 N5b6 25. Be3 Ra5 26. Ne4 c4 27.
Bxb6 Nxb6 28. Nxf6+ Kg7 29. Ne4 Re8 30. Nc3 $14 {Yakovich,Y-Solozhenkin,E/
RUS-ch Elista 1996/1/2 (48)}) (16... Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rc1 c4 (18... Qa6
$142 $44 {-16...Qa6}) 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Rd2 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rb5 22. Qf3 Re8 23.
Re2 Rxe2 24. Qxe2 Rxd5 25. Qxc4 Rd2 26. a4 Qa8+ 27. Kg1 Qf3 28. Qf1 h5 29. a5
Ra2 30. Ra1 Rxa1 31. Qxa1 h4 32. a6 h3 33. Qf1 Qa8 34. Qxh3 Qxa6 35. Qf1 $14 {
Gyimesi,Z-Gershon,A/Zagan-WchJ 1997/1-0 (56)}) 17. Rc1 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19.
Bxe5 Bxe5 20. b3 $146 {This enables Black to liquidate the << quickly and
release the tension. But other moves also give him sufficient counterplay.} (
20. Rcc2 Rb4 $1 21. Qd2 $6 (21. Qc1 $10) (21. b3 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 Rd4 23. Rd2 Rxd2
24. Qxd2 Qxa2 25. Qf4 {1/2,Karolyi,T-Vajda,L/Balatonbereny IM-A 1996}) 21...
Rd4 22. Qg5 Kg7 23. Qc1 Rd3 $44 {Rogozenko,D-Vajda,L/Bucuresti 1996}) (20. Rd2
$5 Rb4 21. Qf3 $13) (20. Rec2 Bxc3 $5 21. bxc3 Qc4 $44) 20... Rb4 21. Rd2 (21.
Ne4 Rd4 22. Qc2 Rxd5 $15) (21. Na4 c4 $44) 21... c4 {Topalov has handled the
position in a model fashion, an accurate move order his given him good piece
play, sufficient to avoid the squeeze Black suffered in Dautov-Kir.Georgiev.}
22. Ne2 (22. bxc4 Rxc4 23. Ne2 Ra4 (23... Kg7 $5 $44 {-22.Ne2}) (23... Rxc1 24.
Qxc1 $5 $14 (24. Nxc1 Qb5 25. Nb3 Bf6 $44)) 24. Rcc2 Qa5 $132) 22... Kg7 23.
bxc4 Rxc4 24. Rxc4 Qxc4 25. Qc2 (25. Qb3 $5 Qxb3 (25... Qe4+ 26. f3 $14) 26.
axb3 Ra3 27. f4 (27. Rd3 Ra2 $132) 27... Bf6 28. Rd3 Ra2 29. Kf3 h5 $44 {
Despite the extra pawn in an endgame White can hardly make any progress.})
25... Qb4 26. Ng1 Ra3 $44 27. Nf3 Bf6 28. Rd3 {Otherwise White can't unblock
his passed pawn, but this leads to an immediate draw.} Qe4 $1 $11 29. Rc3 $8
Qxc2 30. Rxc2 Ra5 31. Rd2 Bc3 {White can't avoid repetition or losing a pawn.}
(31... Bc3 32. Rd3 (32. Rc2 Bf6 $11) 32... Bb2 33. Nd2 (33. Rd2 Bc3 $11) 33...
Rxa2 34. Nc4 Be5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Topalov Tsesarsky Baburin} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6
6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 (7. f3 $5) 7... Bf5 8. Qd2 {Baburin: This line remains quite
popular and it seems that Black still has problems here.} Nf6 ({Another option
here is} 8... Nd7 {Baburin} 9. f3 g5 (9... Nb6 {Topalov} 10. e4 Be6 11. e5 $16
{Karpov-Kasparov (London 1986)}) 10. Bg3 h5 {which led to White's victory in
the game Yakovich-Geller, RUS-ch Elista 1995 after} 11. e4 dxe4 12. fxe4 Bg6
13. Bd3 h4 14. Bf2 Nf8 15. O-O-O Qa5 16. Nf3 Bh5 17. d5 h3 18. Bd4 Rh6 19. Rhg1
hxg2 20. Be2 Ng6 21. Rxg2 Nf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23. Rxg8+) 9. f3 (9. Nge2 {
Tsesarsky} Nbd7 10. Ng3 Be6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O (12. Bh6 Re8 13. f3 c5 14. O-O
a6 15. Rad1 Qb6 16. Bb1 Rad8 17. Kh1 cxd4 18. exd4 Nf8 19. a3 Bd7 20. Ba2 Bc6
21. Rfe1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yanin,P-Donchenko,A/Russian Cup 8th Leg, Smolensk RUS
1997 (35)}) 12... Ne8 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. Nce2 f5 15. b4 a6 16. a4 a5 17. b5 Bb4
18. Qc2 Rc8 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rfc1 $14 {1-0 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Diaz,J/
Capablanca mem-A 1988 (59)}) 9... h5 {Baburin: This enables Black's light-
squared bishop to stay on f5, but it comes at a price - Black's kingside is
weak now. Vermeidet g2-g4} (9... O-O {Tsesarsky} 10. g4 (10. Nge2 Nbd7 (10...
c5 $6 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bg5 $14) (10... Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Be2 c5 13. O-O cxd4
14. exd4 Nc6 15. Kh1 Bf8 16. Rad1 Bg7 17. Be5 h5 $132 {1-0 Sherbakov,
R-Ahlander,B/Alborg 1993 (56)}) 11. Ng3 (11. g4 Be6 12. Ng3 c5 (12... Ne8 $6 {
/\ g5} 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. O-O-O $14) 13. Rd1 $6 (13. h4 Ne8 $13) 13... cxd4 14.
exd4 Ne8 $1 $15 {1-0 Howell,J-Diaz,J/Frunze 1989 (28)}) 11... Be6 12. Be2 $14)
10... Be6 11. Nge2 (11. Bd3 c5 12. Nge2 Nc6 13. Kf1 Nd7 14. Rc1 a6 15. Kg2 Re8
16. Qe1 Bf6 17. Qf2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qb6 19. Be3 Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Rxb7 Reb8
22. Rhb1 Rxb7 23. Rxb7 Rb8 24. Rxb8+ Ndxb8 $11 {1-0 Wessman,R-O'Donnell,T/Novi
Sad olm SVE-CAN 1990 (37)}) (11. h4 c5 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. Nge2 {Howell}) 11... c5
12. h4 Nc6 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O-O Rc8 15. Kb1 Qa5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Nd4 Ne5 18.
h5 Nxf3 $1 19. Nxf3 d4 20. exd4 Ne4 21. Bxe7 (21. Qg2 Rxc3 22. d5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5
Qxd5 $19) 21... Nxd2+ 22. Rxd2 Rfe8 $17 {0-1 Belli,M-Upton,T/Thessaloniki olm
1988 (29)}) (9... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 10. Nge2 Nb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 h5 13. Nge2
h4 14. e4 (14. Bg5 Qd7 15. e4 O-O-O 16. e5 Ng8 17. b3 Bf5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19.
O-O-O Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Kb8 $132 {1-0 Doroshkievich-Belikov/Bjeloreschensk 1989 
(71)}) 14... Nh5 15. Be3 Qd7 16. e5 Bf5 17. b3 Rd8 18. g4 hxg3 19. hxg3 Bxd3
20. Qxd3 Rg8 21. O-O-O Ng7 22. g4 $14 {1-0 Anapolsky,S-Saric,I/Leningrad
URS-JUG TeamJ 1991 (32)}) 10. Bd3 (10. Nge2 {Tsesarsky} h4 $5 (10... Nbd7 11.
Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O a6 14. Bg5 $14 {1-0 Gulko,B-Anikaev,Y/Klaipeda
1983 (25)})) 10... Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Na6 {[%cal Ya6c7,Yc7e6] Der Springer strebt
nach e6.} (11... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 12. Nge2 O-O 13. e4 (13. O-O Re8 14. e4 $1
Nf8 (14... dxe4 15. fxe4 Nc5 16. Qf3 Ne6 17. Be5 $14) 15. e5 N6h7 16. Bd2 (16.
Bh6 $6 Qd7 $1 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 (18. exf6 $6 Bxf6 19. f5 g5 $15) (18. Bxf8 Nxf8
19. Nd1 Ne6 20. Ne3 Rf8 $10) 18... Ne6 $132 {1-0 Ionescu,C-Geller,E/Sochi 1986
(46)}) 16... Qd7 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 Ne6 19. Ne3 $14) (13. O-O-O $5 $14) 13...
dxe4 14. fxe4 Nc5 15. Qf3 Ne6 16. O-O-O $14 {1-0 Gurevich,M-Geller,E/Moscow-A
1987 (23) ()[+] M.Gurevich}) 12. Nge2 (12. a3 {Tsesarsky} Nc7 13. Nge2 Ne6 14.
Be5 Bd6 15. O-O h4 16. Rad1 $14 {0-1 Raisa,U-Nokso Koivisto,A/Tampere SM 1989 
(42)}) 12... Nc7 (12... Qd7 {Tsesarsky} 13. Be5 h4 14. Nf4 g5 15. Nh3 Rg8 16.
Nf2 Qe6 17. h3 Nc5 18. Qd2 Ncd7 19. Bh2 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. O-O O-O-O 22.
Rac1 $14 (22. e4 $6 dxe4 23. Nfxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Ne5 25. Rad1 g4 $15 {1-0
Mielke,K-Hofstetter,H/cr JMZ-06 1988 (60)})) 13. O-O (13. Be5 $5 $14 {Tsesarsky
} Ne6 14. O-O-O) 13... Ne6 14. Be5 h4 ({Baburin: Perhaps Black should have
castled immediately -} 14... O-O {Baburin}) (14... O-O {Tsesarsky} 15. a3 (15.
e4 Qb6 16. Na4 Qb4 $15) (15. f4 $1 {Topalov} Ng7 16. f5 $1 Nxf5 (16... g5 17.
Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 $16) 17. Rxf5 gxf5 18. Rf1 $40 (18. Qxf5)) 15...
Nd7 16. Bg3 Bh4 (16... h4 17. Bf2 $14) 17. b4 $14) 15. Rae1 (15. e4 {Tsesarsky}
Rh5 $1 $132 (15... O-O {Topalov} 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e5 Bg7 18. f4 f5 $13)) (15.
Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 16. exf4 Qd7 17. Rae1 Kf8 $1 (17... O-O 18. g4 $1)) 15...
O-O (15... Qd7 {Tsesarsky} 16. g4 $2 (16. e4 Rh5 17. Rd1 (17. exd5 Nxd5 18.
Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Nc3 Qd7 $11) 17... Rd8 18. Qc2 $14) 16... hxg3 17. hxg3 Ng5 18.
g4 Rh7 19. Ng3 (19. Kg2 Nxg4 20. fxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Bg3 Rh3 $17) 19... Qe6 $15) 16.
g4 (16. e4 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 $132) (16. h3 {Tsesarsky} Nd7 17. Bh2 Re8 $132) (16.
Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 (16... Qd7 17. g4 $1) 17. exf4 (17. Bxf4 Nh5 18. Bh6 Re8 19.
e4 Bg5 $1) 17... Qd7 18. g4 Ne8 $1 (18... hxg3 $2 19. hxg3 Qh3 20. Ne2 Nh5 21.
Rf2 $1) (18... Nh7 $6 19. Kh1 $16)) (16. f4 $5 {Topalov} Ng7 17. f5 Nxf5 18.
Rxf5 gxf5 19. Qxf5 Nh7 20. e4 (20. g3 Bb4 $1 {/\ 21... Qg5}) 20... dxe4 21.
Nxe4 f6 22. Bf4 Qd5 $1) 16... hxg3 {Baburin: It's too risky to open up the
h-file; the immediate 16...Nd7 would have been more prudent.} (16... Nd7 {
Topalov} 17. f4 $1 (17. Nf4 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qd7) (17. h3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Kg7 19. f4
f6 20. exf6+ Bxf6) 17... Nxe5 (17... f6 18. Qxg6+ Ng7 19. Kh1) 18. dxe5 f5 19.
Kh1 $16 (19. Nd4 $16)) 17. hxg3 (17. Nxg3 $6 Nd7 18. f4 f5 $11) 17... Nd7 18.
Kg2 (18. f4 {Topalov} f6 $1 19. Qxg6+ Ng7 20. g4 (20. Kg2 Qe8 $1) 20... fxe5
21. dxe5 (21. fxe5 Bh4 $1) 21... Qe8 22. Qh6 Bc5 23. Nd4 Nxe5 $1 24. fxe5 Qxe5
$17) 18... Nxe5 (18... Re8 {Tsesarsky} 19. Rh1 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qb6 21. f4 (21.
Rh2 Bf8 22. Reh1 (22. f4 Qxb2 23. e4 d4 $17) 22... Bg7 23. f4 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qa3
$17) (21. Qd2 Bc5 22. Nf4 Nxf4+ 23. exf4 $14) 21... Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qa3 $17) 19.
dxe5 {/\ f3-f4-f5} Qd7 (19... Kg7 20. f4 (20. Rh1 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 21. Qd2 Rh8
22. f4 $11) (20. Nd4) (20. Nf4) 20... f5 21. Rh1 (21. g4 Bh4 $1 {Topalov} (
21... fxg4 $17) (21... Nc5 22. Qd2 fxg4 23. f5 $1 gxf5 24. Ng3) (21... fxg4 22.
Ng3) 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Rd1 Qe8 24. Rh1 (24. Rg1 Qh5) 24... Qg6+ $1 25. Kf1 Qh5
26. Nd4 $1 $14 {Fritz}) (21. exf6+ Bxf6 $11) 21... Qd7 $13) (19... Qb6 $132 {
Tsesarsky}) 20. f4 f5 ({Der Nachziehende verpaßt die aktivere Fortsetzung:} 
20... Nc5 $142 21. Qb1 (21. Qc2 {Baburin} Qg4 22. Nd4 {is also in White's
favour.}) 21... Qg4 $11) (20... Kg7 {Tsesarsky} 21. e4 Nc5 22. Qf3 dxe4 23.
Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 $132) 21. g4 (21. exf6 {Tsesarsky} Rxf6 (21... Bxf6 22.
Qxg6+ Qg7 23. Qxg7+ Bxg7 24. g4 $16) 22. e4 Nc5 23. Qd2 dxe4 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 25.
Nxe4 Rf7 26. Nd4 $132) 21... Rf7 $6 {Auf f7 der Turm dem König den Fluchtweg
verspert.} ({Besser ist:} 21... Ng7 22. Rh1 Kf7 (22... fxg4 23. Qxg6 Qf5 24.
Qh6 $1 $40 {/\Ng3, Nd4}) 23. Rh6 Rh8 24. Reh1 Rxh6 25. Rxh6 Rd8 $14) (21... Nc5
{Tsesarsky} 22. Qc2 Ne4 23. Rh1 (23. gxf5 {Topalov} gxf5 24. Nd4 $16) 23... Kg7
24. gxf5 gxf5 25. Reg1 Rg8 26. Kf3+ Kf8 27. Rxg8+ Kxg8 28. Nd4 $18) (21... Rae8
{Tsesarsky} 22. Rh1 $16) 22. Rh1 Bf8 (22... Kg7 $142 $1 {Tsesarsky} 23. Ng3 (
23. g5 $5 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Kxh8 25. Rh1+ Kg8 (25... Rh7 26. Rxh7+ Kxh7 27. e4 fxe4
28. Nxe4 Nc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 (29... Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Bxc5 31. Qh3+ Qxh3+ 32. Kxh3 Kg7
33. Kg4 Kf7 34. f5 $16) 30. Qh3+ Qxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Kg7 32. Kg4 Kf7 33. f5 $16) 26.
Rh6 Rg7 27. Nd4 Nf8 28. a3 $14) 23... Rg8 (23... fxg4 $2 24. f5 (24. Nh5+ $2
gxh5 25. Rxh5 Rh8 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. Rh1+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Rg7 29. Qh5 d4 $19) 24...
Raf8 (24... gxf5 25. Nxf5+ $18) 25. Ref1 $1 (25. fxe6 $6 Rf2+ 26. Kg1 Qxe6 27.
Qd4 b6 $13) (25. f6+ $2 Bxf6 26. exf6+ Rxf6 27. Ref1 Rf3 $17) 25... gxf5 26.
Nxf5+ Rxf5 27. Rxf5 $18) 24. gxf5 (24. Rh2 fxg4 25. f5 (25. Reh1 Rxf4 $1 26.
Rh6 Kf7 (26... Kf8 27. Rxg6 Rf7 28. Nh5 Rxg6 29. Qxg6 $16) 27. Rxg6 Rxg6 28.
Rh7+ Rg7 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. Nh5+ Kh6 31. Nxf4 Nxf4+ 32. exf4 Bh4 33. Ne2 c5 34.
f5 Kg5 $17) 25... gxf5 26. Nxf5+ Kf8 27. Rf1 Nc5 28. Qb1 Ke8 $17) (24. g5 Rff8
25. Rh6 Rh8 26. Reh1 Rxh6 27. Rxh6 Rh8 28. Rxh8 Kxh8 29. Nge2 $132) (24. Qd1 $1
fxg4 25. Ref1 (25. Qxg4 $4 Nxf4+ $19) 25... Nc5 26. b4 Na6 27. e4 Bxb4 28. f5
$3 (28. exd5 Bxc3 29. e6 Qxd5+ 30. Qxd5 cxd5 31. exf7 Kxf7 $15) 28... Qe8 29.
e6 Rf6 30. Qc1 Kf8 31. e5 $18) 24... gxf5 25. Kf3 (25. Nxf5+ Kf8+ 26. Ng3 Rxf4
27. Ref1 Rxf1 28. Rxf1+ Ke8 29. Qh7 Rg7 $15) (25. Rh5 Nc5 26. Qd4 (26. Qc2 Ne4
27. Ncxe4 fxe4 28. Reh1 (28. f5 $2 Kf8 29. Rf1 Qc7 30. f6 Bxf6 31. Rhf5 Ke8 32.
R1f2 Rh7 $1 $19) 28... Kf8 (28... Qg4 29. Qe2 Qxe2+ 30. Nxe2 Kf8+ 31. Kf2 Rfg7
32. f5 Bc5 33. Nf4 Ke8 34. Rh8 $16) 29. Rh8 (29. Qe2 Rfg7 30. R1h3 d4 31. exd4
Qxd4 $17) 29... Rfg7 30. Rxg8+ Rxg8 31. Qe2 Qg4 (31... Qe6 32. Qh5 (32. Rh3 Qg6
33. Qh5 (33. a3 Bh4 34. Qf2 Qg4 35. f5 c5 36. e6 Ke7 $19) 33... Qxh5 34. Rxh5
Bc5 35. Rh7 (35. Kf2 Bxe3+ 36. Kxe3 Rxg3+ 37. Kd4 Rd3+ 38. Kc5 e3 $19) 35...
Bxe3 36. e6 Ke8 (36... Rg4 37. f5 Bf4 38. e7+ Ke8 39. f6 Rxg3+ 40. Kh1 Kd7 41.
Rh8 $18) 37. f5 Bd4 38. Kh3 (38. Rxb7 Be5 39. Rb3 Rg5 $19) 38... Rh8 39. Rxh8+
Bxh8 $17) 32... Bc5 33. Qh4 Bxe3 $1 (33... Bb6 $2 34. Kf1 d4 35. exd4 Qxa2 36.
Qf6+ Ke8 37. Rh8 Qc4+ 38. Ne2 $8 Qf7 39. Rxg8+ Qxg8 40. Qf5 Qd5 41. Qc8+ Bd8
42. Kf2 $1 $16 (42. Qxb7 e3 43. Kg1 Qf3 $11)) 34. Qd8+ Qe8 35. Qf6+ Qf7 36.
Qd6+ Qe7 37. Qb8+ Qe8 38. Qd6+ $11) 32. Qxg4 Rxg4 33. Rh8+ Kg7 (33... Kf7 34.
Kh3 $16) 34. Rb8 b6 35. f5 Bc5 36. Kh3 Rg5 37. Kh4 Bxe3 38. Nh5+ $16) 26... Kf8
27. Reh1 Rfg7 28. R1h3 Qe6 29. Nce2 Ne4 30. Qxa7 Nxg3 31. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 32. Nxg3
Rxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Qg6+ 34. Rg5 Bxg5 35. fxg5 Qxg5+ 36. Kf2 Qh4+ 37. Ke2 Qh2+ 38.
Kd3 Qxb2 39. Qb8+ Kf7 40. Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qd6+ Kg5 42. Qf6+ Kg4 43. Qg6+ Kh4 44.
e6 $14) 25... Kf8 26. Rh5 (26. Rh6 Nc5 27. Qc2 Ne4 28. Nce2 Rfg7 29. Rg1 d4 $1
$17) 26... Nc5 27. Qc2 Ne4 28. Nce2 $132 (28. Ngxe4 fxe4+ $19)) 23. gxf5 (23.
Ng3 {Tsesarsky} Nc5 24. Qd1 fxg4 25. Rh4 Bg7 26. Rxg4 Nd3 27. Rh1 Nxb2 28. Qe2
Qe6 29. Rg5 Nc4 30. Qd3 Re8 31. Rxg6 Nxe3+ (31... Qd7 32. Rhh6 $16) 32. Kg1 Qd7
33. Qxe3 d4 34. e6 dxe3 35. exd7 $16) 23... Nc5 (23... gxf5) (23... gxf5 {
Tsesarsky} 24. Ng3 $16 (24. Ng3 {Topalov} Nc5 25. Qd1 $18)) 24. Qd1 Qxf5 25.
Nd4 Qd7 (25... Qd3 {Tsesarsky} 26. Qf3 Bg7 27. Qg3 $16) 26. Reg1 {Baburin:
White has a much more solid pawn structure and clear prospects of attack on
the kingside.} (26. Rh3 $142 $1 {[%cal Yh3g3,Ye1h1]} Rh7 (26... Ne6 27. Reh1
Bg7 28. Qc2 Nf8 (28... Nxd4 29. Qxg6 Kf8 30. exd4 $18) 29. e6 $1 Nxe6 30. Qxg6
$18) 27. Rg3 $1 Rg7 28. Qc2 {/\ 29.Reg1, 30.Kf1}) 26... Re8 27. Rh3 (27. Qc2 $6
Rxe5 $1 28. Kf2 {[%cal Yg1g6,Yc2g6]} (28. fxe5 $4 Qg4+ 29. Kh2 Rh7#) 28... Ne4+
29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Rxg6+ $11) (27. Kf2 $142 $1 {Topalov} Rxe5 28. Rxg6+ Bg7 29.
Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 30. Qg1+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Ke7 32. Qg8 Nd3+ 33. Kg1 Rxe3 34. Nf5+ $1
Rxf5 (34... Qxf5 35. Qd8+ Ke6 36. Re8+) 35. Rh7+ Kd6 36. Rxd7+ Kxd7 37. Qh7+ $1
Ke6 38. Qg6+ Rf6 39. Qe8+ $18) 27... Ne6 (27... Rh7 {Tsesarsky} 28. Rxh7 Kxh7 (
28... Qxh7 29. Qg4 Qf7 30. Kf1 Kh7 31. Qh3+ Bh6 32. Rh1 Qg7 33. b4 $18) 29.
Rh1+ (29. Qf3 Bh6 30. Rh1 Rh8 (30... Qf7 31. Qh3 $16) 31. f5 $16) 29... Kg8 30.
Qf3 Bg7 31. Qg3 (31. b4 Nd3 32. a3 Qf7 $14) 31... Qf7 32. Nf3 Ne6 33. Qh3 Kf8
34. Qg4 $16) 28. Rgh1 Bg7 29. Qc2 Nf8 ({Baburin: Black had no time to take on
d4 -} 29... Nxd4 {Baburin} {bacause of} 30. Qxg6 {which threatens 31 Rh8#.})
30. Nce2 (30. e6 Rxe6 (30... Nxe6 $2 31. Qxg6 $16) 31. Nxe6 Qxe6 $44) 30... Qe7
(30... Rfe7 {Tsesarsky} 31. Nf3 $16 (31. e4 dxe4 32. Qxe4 c5 $132)) 31. Nf3 Qb4
32. Rg3 c5 33. Nh4 Re6 34. Nc3 ({Baburin: For White there is no point getting
involved in this line:} 34. Nxg6 {Baburin} Rxg6 35. Rxg6 Nxg6 36. Qxg6 Qxb2
$132 (36... Qd2 $2 37. Kf3 d4 38. Qe4 $18) 37. Kf3 $16 {Fritz} Qxa2 38. e6 Re7
39. Rh5) 34... d4 35. Nd5 Qb5 (35... d3 {Tsesarsky} 36. Nxb4 dxc2 37. Nxc2 $16)
36. e4 c4 37. Nf3 d3 38. Qc3 Ra6 39. Nd4 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5][%cal Yd4b5,Yd5f4,
Yd4c6,Yd5f6,Yd5e7,Yd5c7] Baburin: White's mass in the centre looks very
impressive! Es ist merkwürdig, wie der junge bulgarische Großmeister seine
Springer im Zentrum plaziert hat. Sie kontrollieren alle wichtigen Felder im
Zentrum und jeder ist mindestens ein Turm wert! Im Gegenteil dazu, stehen die
schwarzen Leichtfiguren sehr bescheiden. Besonders schwach ist der Läufer auf
g7 der sich kaum bewegen kann.} (39. Nd2 {Tsesarsky}) 39... Qc5 ({Baburin:
Black had to play} 39... Qa4 {Baburin although} 40. Nb4 Rb6 41. a3 {is stil
better for White.} (41. a3 {Tsesarsky} a5 42. Nd5 Ra6 43. b3 cxb3 44. Qxd3 Qxa3
45. Qc4 $16)) 40. Rxd3 $1 (40. a3 {Topalov /\ 41.R:d3} Rd7 $2 (40... Ne6 $1 41.
Nxe6 Rxe6 42. Rxd3 $2 Bxe5 $1) 41. Rxd3 Rxd5 42. exd5 Qxd5+ 43. Rf3) 40... Rxa2
41. Rdh3 b5 42. Nf3 $1 (42. Nf6+ Rxf6 $1 $13 43. exf6 Bxf6 (43... b4 $5 44.
fxg7 bxc3 45. gxf8=Q+ Qxf8 46. Rh8+ Kf7 47. Rxf8+ Kxf8) 44. Rh8+ (44. e5 b4)
44... Kf7) (42. e6 $2 {Topalov} Bxd4 43. Rh8+ (43. exf7+ Kxf7) 43... Kg7) (42.
Kg3 $5 {Topalov}) 42... Ne6 (42... b4 {Topalov} 43. Nxb4 Ne6 44. Nxa2 Nxf4+ 45.
Kf1 Nd3 46. Qd2 $8 g5 47. Rg1 $18) 43. Kg3 b4 44. Qd2 Rf8 (44... c3 {White
triples on the h-file and his attack succeeds after the further} 45. Qh2 Rxf4
$3 (45... Rf8 46. f5 (46. Rh7 $1 {Baburin}) (46. Rh7 $18 {Tsesarsky}) (46. Rh7
$1 {Topalov} Rxb2 47. Rxg7+ Nxg7 48. Qh7+ Kf7 49. e6+ $1 Kxe6 50. Qxg6+ Kd7 51.
Qxg7+ Kc8 52. f5 $18) 46... Nd4 47. Rh8+ Kf7 48. Qh7 $18) (45... Rd7 46. Rh8+
Kf7 47. Qh7 $18) (45... Rb7 46. Rh8+ $1 Kf7 47. Qh7 $18 {[%cal Yh7g8]}) 46.
Nxf4 Qe3 $3 47. Rh4 $1 Rxb2 (47... g5 48. Rh8+ Kf7 49. Qh5+ $18) 48. Qg1 Qxg1+
49. Rxg1 Nxf4 50. Kxf4 c2 51. Rc1 b3 52. Nd4 a5 53. Nxb3 Rxb3 54. Rxc2 $18) 45.
Nf6+ (45. Nxb4 $18 {Tsesarsky}) 45... Rxf6 46. exf6 Bxf6 47. e5 (47. Qh2 {
Tsesarsky} Nf8 48. e5 $18) 47... Bg7 48. Rh7 (48. Qd7 $2 Nf8 $1) 48... Qf8 (
48... Nf8 {Tsesarsky} 49. Rxg7+ (49. Qd8 Ra6 $8 (49... Rxb2 50. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7
51. Qf6+ Kg8 52. Rh8#) 50. Nd4 c3 51. bxc3 Qxc3+ 52. Kg4 Qc4 53. R7h3 $14)
49... Kxg7 50. Ng5 Rxb2 (50... c3 51. Qh2 Qe3+ 52. Kg4 $18) 51. Qxb2 Qe3+ 52.
Kg4 Qd3 53. Qxb4 $18) 49. Ng5 (49. Rxg7+ $142 $1 {Topalov} Qxg7 $8 50. Ng5 $1 (
50. Qd5 Qf7) 50... Nxg5 51. Qd8+ Kf7 (51... Qf8 52. Rh8+ $18) 52. Qc7+ Kg8 53.
Qb8+ Kf7 54. fxg5) 49... Ra6 (49... Nxg5 50. Qd5+ Qf7 (50... Nf7 51. e6 $18 (
51. e6 {Topalov} Rxb2 52. exf7+ Qxf7 53. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 54. Rh7+ Kxh7 55. Qxf7+
Kh6 56. Qg8 Rb3+ 57. Kg4)) 51. Qd8+ Qf8 52. Rh8+ $1 Bxh8 53. Rxh8+ Kxh8 54.
Qxf8+ $18) 50. Rh8+ {ein sehr hübsches Mattmotiv:} (50. Rh8+ Bxh8 51. Rxh8+
Kxh8 52. Qh2+ {[%cal Yh2h7]} (52. Qh2+ {Topalov} Kg7 53. Qh7#)) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Auch diese Partie ist von Kramnik kaum gespielt. Es ist erstaunlich, daß er
sich mit Remis begnügt.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 Rd8 11. Rd1 b6 12. Bb2 Nc6
13. Rac1 Bb7 14. e4 e6 15. h4 (15. Qe3 Rac8 16. h4 h6 17. Be2 Qe7 18. h5 g5 19.
Ba3 Bf8 20. dxc5 Qf6 21. e5 Qf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 {Portisch,L-Kasparov,G/Madrid
rapid 1988/EXT 88/1/2-1/2 (69)}) 15... Rac8 16. h5 Qf4 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bb1
Na5 19. Re1 Qg4 20. Rcd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Nc4 22. Bc1 b5 23. g3 Re8 24. Kg2 f5 25.
Ng5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 a5 12. bxa5 Rxa5 13. a4 (13. Nd2 f5 14. a4
Kh8 15. g3 Nh5 16. Nb3 Ra8 17. a5 f4 18. Ra2 Ng8 19. c5 Ngf6 20. cxd6 cxd6 21.
Na4 fxg3 22. fxg3 Bg4 23. Qd3 Ng8 24. Nb6 Rb8 25. Bg2 $16 {1-0 Lobron,E-Ahn,M/
Eupen op 1996 (37)}) 13... c5 14. Ra3 (14. Rb1 h6 15. Nd2 Ra6 16. Nb3 g5 17. a5
f5 18. g3 Nfg6 19. exf5 Nxf5 20. Bd3 e4 21. Nxe4 Ne5 22. f4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Nh4
$44 {Sokolov,I-Glek,I/Hoogovens 1997/CBM 57/[Huzman]/1/2-1/2 (40)}) (14. Qb3 f5
15. Bxf4 fxe4 16. Bxe5 exf3 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. g3 $14 {1-0 Prudnikova,S-Ershova,
S/RUS-chW 1997 (38)}) 14... h6 (14... Ra6 15. Nb5 Bd7 16. Nd2 Nh5 17. g3 Nf6
18. Bb2 Nc8 19. Qc2 Bh6 20. Nf3 Ne8 21. Nh4 Ng7 22. Bd3 Bh3 $13 {1-0 Gofshtein,
L-David,A/Czerniak mem Bikurei Haitim 1997 (41)}) 15. Nd2 Ra6 16. Nb5 Bd7 (
16... g5 17. g3 Nfg6 18. Be2 f5 19. exf5 Nxf5 20. Bh5 Nge7 21. Bg4 e4 (21...
Bd7 22. Ne4 Kh8 23. Bb2 $14 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Arakhamia,K/WchT 4th 1997 (37)})
22. Rxe4 Ng6 23. Nf3 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. f4 Bg7 26. fxg5 hxg5 27. Rf3 $16 {
1-0 Krasenkow,M-Fedorov,A/Mikenas mem op 1997 (34)}) 17. g3 Nh5 18. Bb2 Be8 $5
{This move is the beginning of a very interesting plan,the idea of which is:1)
moving Nh5-f6-d7 to just freed square,where it controls the square e5;2)moving
Be8-g6 after the moves f5 and g5.} 19. Be2 Nf6 {[%cal Yf6d7,Yd7e5]} 20. f4 Nd7
21. Qa1 f5 $132 22. Kh1 (22. Nxd6 $5 Rxd6 23. fxe5 Rb6 {[%cal Yb6b2]} 24. Bc3
Qb8 (24... f4 25. e6 $44) 25. e6 Ne5 $15) 22... g5 $1 {[%cal Ye8g6]} 23. Rf1 (
23. fxg5 $5 hxg5 24. exf5 Nxf5 25. Ne4 Bg6 $132) 23... Bg6 24. Bd3 (24. fxg5
fxe4 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $36) 24... g4 (24... Rf7 $2 25. fxg5 hxg5 26. exf5 Nxf5 (
26... Bxf5 27. Bxf5 (27. Ne4 $16) 27... Rxf5 (27... Nxf5 28. Raf3 $16) 28. Ne4
$16) 27. Qb1 Qf8 28. Nc7 $16) 25. exf5 Nxf5 26. Qb1 {[%cal Gb1f5,Gf1f5]} exf4
27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rxf4 Ne5 $1 29. Bxf5 (29. Rxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5 Qg5 31. Nc7 Qxf5
32. Ne6+ (32. Qxf5 Rxf5 33. Nxa6 Rf2 $1 (33... bxa6 34. Kg2 $14) 34. Nxc5 (34.
Ne4 Re2 35. Naxc5 Nf3 $19) 34... Rxd2 35. Ne4 Re2 36. Nc3 Rc2 $17 {[%cal Ye5f3]
}) (32. Qxb7 Rf7 33. Qxa6 Qf2 $11) 32... Kg8 33. Qxb7 Rf7 34. Qxa6 Qf2 35. Ra1
Qxd2 (35... Nf3 $11) 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Nf8+ $11) 29... Rxf5 $1 30. Rxf5 Qd7 31.
Re3 $1 {[%cal Ge3e5]} Qxf5 (31... Bxf5 32. Qa1 $1 {[%cal Gb5d6]} Kf6 33. Ne4+ (
33. Qf1 $5) 33... Bxe4+ 34. Rxe4 $16) 32. Qxf5 Bxf5 33. Nxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxe5 Kf6
35. Re8 (35. Re3 Ra6 36. Ra3 b6 $132 {[%cal Yf5d7]}) 35... Ra6 36. Ne4+ Bxe4+
37. Rxe4 h5 $11 38. h3 gxh3 $1 (38... Kf5 39. Rf4+ Kg5 40. h4+ Kg6 41. Rf1 Rxa4
42. d6 Ra8 43. Rd1 Kf6 (43... Rd8 44. Rd5 b6 45. Kg2 $16) 44. Rd5 Ke6 45. Rxc5
Kxd6 46. Rxh5 $16) 39. Kh2 Rxa4 40. Kxh3 Kf5 41. Rh4 Kg5 42. Rf4 (42. Kg2 Ra2+
43. Kf3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+ $11) 42... Rb4 43. Re4 Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. Be2 (7. Nc3
Bh6 8. Qd1 Bg7 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Bg4 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Ng5 (13. h3
Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nd4 15. Be2 a6 16. Bd3 Ne5 17. Be3 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc6 $11 {
/+/= 1/2-1/2 Lutikov,A-Zuckerman,B/Polanica Zdroj 1972/MCL 05 (28)}) 13... Bxe2
14. Qxe2 Nd4 15. Qd1 h6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 a6 18. Qe2 Kh7 19. b3 Rc8 20.
Qe3 $14 {1-0 Vasiukov,E-Ermenkov,E/Polanica Zdroj 1972/MCL 05 (40)}) (7. b3 Bg7
8. Bb2 (8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. Be2 O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nd7 13. O-O (13.
Nd5 Bxb2 14. Qxb2 e6 15. Nc3 Nde5 $15) 13... Qa5 14. Rab1 Rfd8 15. Rfc1 $6 (15.
Rfd1 a6) 15... a6 16. a3 Bf6 $5 17. Bg4 (17. b4 {Ftacnik} Qg5) 17... e6 18. b4
Qg5 $1 $132 {0-1 Polgar,J-Topalov,V/Dos Hermanas 1996/CBM 53/[Ftacnik] (36)} (
18... Qc7 19. Nd5 (19. f4 $5) 19... exd5 20. cxd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2)) 8... Bxb2 9.
Qxb2 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O (10... Bg4 11. Nd2 O-O 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nd5 e5 14. Ne3 Nd4
15. Nc2 Ne6 16. Qc3 Bc6 17. f3 a6 18. a4 a5 19. g4 h5 $17 {0-1 Ciocaltea,
V-Quinteros,M/Vidmar mem 1973/EXT 97 (41)}) 11. Be2 Bg4 12. Nd2 Bxe2 13. Nxe2
a6 14. O-O b5 15. Nc3 b4 16. Nd5 Nd7 17. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Savon,V-Bronstein,D/
URS-ch39 1971/URS-ch}) 7... Bg7 8. O-O Bg4 (8... Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rb1 a6 11.
b3 Qa5 (11... Rb8 12. a4 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nd7 15. Bb2 Qa5 16. Qe3 Bd4
17. Qc1 e6 18. Ne2 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 $11 {0-1 Galego,L-Khalifman,A/Sevilla op 1993/
TD 93\03 (66)}) 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13. Rfd1 Bg4 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2
Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e6 18. Nc3 Rd8 19. Rbd2 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Moscow
PCA-GP rapid 1995/EXP 46 (27)}) 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. Rb1 O-O 11. b3 Nd7 12. Bb2 Nc5
$6 {the knight on "c5" does not stand good at all,since in some position black
will have problems to play Qa5 because white is may play "b4",I like the
normal play,Qa5-Rfc8-a6 and one day I am going to take on "f3" and play b5} (
12... Qa5 $5) 13. Rfd1 a6 14. Qe3 Bxf3 (14... Qa5 $5) 15. Bxf3 $14 e6 $6 {
[%csl Rd6] I do not like move at all,just creating a big big weakness for all
the game,I mean the "d6" pawn,just look at the game Anand-Kasparov mentioned
above,even the world strongest player had terrible problems in this position}
16. g3 Qc7 17. Bg2 Rfd8 18. Ne2 $1 {a good move,after the exchange of the
bishops white will be able to double his rooks on the "d" file quickly,another
factor is the weakening of black's king,the "f6" square} Bxb2 19. Rxb2 Rac8 20.
Nc3 $14 {white's plan now is very simple,double the rooks on the "d" file and
then starting to play on the king's side with h4-h5,the problem is that black
does really has counter play,and in order the get some he weakens his position
alot} Qa5 {I know this is bad,but I can not say what is good,since I can not
any active plan for black at all, maybe doing nothing is the best?} 21. Rbd2 b5
$6 {black must have some counter-play but by trying to get one,he makes the
end much closer since he weakeness his position so much} 22. cxb5 axb5 {
this is almost symetrical to the game Anand-Kasparov just look!} 23. Bf1 $1 Na7
(23... b4 24. Nb5 Nb7 25. Qf4 {[%csl Rd6]} (25. Qe2 e5)) 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6
b4 (25... Nxb3 26. axb3 Rxc3 27. Qg5 $1 Rc8 (27... Qc7 28. e5 $1 {[%cal Gd6d8,
Gg5f6]} Rf3 29. Be2) 28. Qe7 Rf8 29. Rd7 Nc6 30. Qc5 $16) 26. Na4 Nb5 (26...
Nxa4 27. bxa4 $16 (27. Ra6 Qc5)) 27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. Nb6 $1 Rb8 29. Nc4 $16 {/+-}
Na4 (29... Nd7 30. Qd4) 30. Qd3 Nc3 (30... Nc5 31. Rd8+ (31. Qd4) 31... Rxd8
32. Qxd8+ Kg7 33. Nd6 Nb7 (33... Qd7 34. Qb6 $18 {[%csl Rc5]}) (33... Qd3 34.
Qe7 $18) 34. Nxb5 Nxd8 35. f4 $18) 31. a4 $1 $18 {creating a pass pawn} Qg5 32.
Kg2 {there is nothing more to annotate} Qc1 33. a5 Qa1 34. a6 Rf8 35. Ne5 Ne2
36. Qxe2 Qxe5 37. Qd3 Qa5 38. Qc4 h5 39. h4 {probably time trouble but any way
the game is over here.this is a very interesting game not because of the why
white or black played here but just because I almost gave to variations here,
the reason is quite simple there is almost nothing to analyse here,no big
variation,just small advantage with clear plans,and very very easy to play
with white if black gives you what he must not give!} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.02.01"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Rodriguez,Am} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5
dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Qxa2 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Be2 O-O 18. O-O Ra7 $1 {
[%cal Ga7g7] Rodriguez: Big surprise! Thus far no strong player from the top
had ever had the courage to play this move. All in all it is a highly obscure
variation supported mainly by Poulsen,A from Denmark. Instead many games have
followed the line 18...f5, one of its supporters, cuban IM Irisberto Herrera
believes there is no win available for White.} (18... f5 {This move leads to
the drawTyomkin,D} 19. Qh6 Qxc2 {There is also the more dubious 19...Rf7} 20.
Rd3 {Also 20.Rf3 and 20.Ng5 have been played without success.} (20. Ng5 Bc5+ (
20... Qc5+ $2 21. Kh1 Bxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Rd8 Ra7 (23... Rxd8 24. Qxd8+ Kg7
25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Rd1 $18) 24. Rfd1 (24. Rxf5 $3 exf5 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26. Bc4+) (
24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rxf5 $3 {mating}) 24... Raf7 25. Bh5 Rb7 26. Rxf8+ Qxf8 27.
Rd8 {1:0 Wang Lei-Lhagvasuren, Beijing 1991}) 21. Kh1 Ra7 $17 {
Liberzon-Gruenfeld, Biel 1980}) (20. Rf3 f4 21. Rh3 Rf7 (21... Qxe4 22. Bd3 Rd8
23. Bxe4 Rxd1+ 24. Kf2 $18) 22. Rhd3 Qxe2 23. Rd8+ Rf8 24. Nf6+ Kf7 25. Nh5
Bxd8 26. Qxh7+ Ke8 27. Qg6+ $11 {Watson-King, London 1990}) 20... Qxe2 21. Rg3+
Kf7 22. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 23. Rg7+ Ke8 24. Qxc6+ Kd8 25. Qb6+ $11 {
Velimirovic-Ftacnik, Vrsac 1981} (25. Qb6+ {Rodriguez,Am} Ke8 26. Qc6+ Kd8 27.
Qb6+ Ke8 {A real proven position! 1/2-1/2 in Velimirovic-Ftacnik, Vrsac 1981,
Oll-Dolmatov,SSSR 1985, Pérez,R-Herrera,I, La Habana 1992, Kolev-Herrera,I
Madrid 1997.})) 19. Qh6 $2 {white changes the order of moves,but black didn't
use the chance} (19. Rf3 $142 $5 Kh8 20. Rg3 Rd7 (20... Rg8 {Rodriguez,Am} 21.
Qh6 Rxg3 22. hxg3 Rd7 23. Nxf6 Qxc2 24. Bh5 $4 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Qxd1+ 26. Kh2 Qd3
{0-1 Hakki-Iskov,G/Eksjo 1982}) 21. Qh6 Rf7 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Qa5 24. Kf1
Qd8 $11 {-see19.Qh6 Rd7 20.Rf3 Rf7 21.Rg3Kh8 22.Qh5etc.}) (19. Nxf6+ $2 Bxf6 $1
(19... Rxf6 20. Qg5+ Rg6 21. Rd8+ Kg7 22. Qxe5+ Bf6 23. Qc5 Rf7 24. Rxc8) 20.
Rxf6 Rxf6 21. Qg5+ Rg6 22. Rd8+ Kf7 $19) 19... Rd7 $2 (19... Qxc2 $17 {I don't
see clear way for white how to develope an initiative,but I guess Topalov and
Gelfand knew something about this move.Later,I asked the second of Gelfand and
my treiner A.Huzman about what was happening in this game and he answered me
that Boris analysed this variation,but simply forgot the right way.[Tyomkin,D ]
!!-Ftacnik Rodriguez: An important alternative to which Ftacnik attaches a !!
sign in his notes on Modern Chess Classics 6. There are two games available,
both won by Poulsen as Black.} 20. Nxf6+ (20. Bd3 Qb3 (20... Qa4 $5) 21. Kh1 (
21. Rd2 f5 22. Rf3 Ba3 $3 23. Rg3+ (23. Bc2 $2 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 fxe4) 23... Kh8 24.
Nf6 Raf7) 21... f5 22. Qe3 Rd7 $1 23. Rd2 (23. Qg3+ Kf7) 23... Bb4 $1 {0-1
Morris,W-Poulsen,A/Copenhagen op 1980} (23... fxe4 24. Qg3+ Kh8 25. Qxe5+) (
23... Bb4 $1 24. Rdd1 (24. Rb1 Bxd2 25. Qg3+ Rg7) 24... fxe4 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8)) (
20. Rd3 {Tyomkin,D} Qxe2 21. Rg3+ Kf7 22. Rxf6+ Ke8 (22... Bxf6 23. Qxf6+ Ke8
24. Nd6+ Kd7 25. Rg7+ Kxd6 26. Qxf8+ Kd5 27. Rxa7 Qd1+ 28. Qf1 Qd4+) 23. Rxf8+
Bxf8 24. Nf6+ Kf7 25. Qxh7+ Kxf6 26. Rg6+ (26. Rf3+ Qxf3) 26... Kf5 27. Rg7+
Kf4 $19) (20. Qe3 {Tyomkin,D} Rb7 21. Rd2 (21. Bd3 Qb3 22. Rb1 Qd5 23. Rbd1 Rb3
) 21... Qa4) 20... Bxf6 (20... Kh8 $5 {Tyomkin,D} 21. Bd3 (21. Nd7 Rg8 22. Rd2
(22. Nf6 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Qxe2 24. Nxg8 Rg7) 22... Qe4) 21... Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Bxf6 23.
Rxf6 Rg8) 21. Rxf6 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Rg7 23. Qh4 {Hyldkrog-Poulsen,A/corr/1979 -+
Ftacnik} (23. Rdf1 {Tyomkin,D} Rxf6 24. Qxf6 Qe7 25. Qxe5 Qg5) 23... Bd7 $1 {
Tyomkin,D} 24. Bxa6 Qe7 (24... Rb8)) 20. Rd3 $11 {Rodriguez: A prudent novelty
that goes directly towards a forced draw.} (20. Rxd7 $2 Bxd7 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22.
Rxf6 Qa1+ 23. Bf1 Qd4+) (20. Rf3 {Tyomkin,D} Rf7 21. Rg3+ Kh8 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23.
Bxd1 {[#]} Qa5 (23... Qd5 24. Qxf7 Qxd1+ 25. Kf2 Qxc2+ 26. Kf3 Qd3+ 27. Kf2
Qd4+ 28. Kf3 Qd1+ 29. Kf2 $11) 24. Kf1 Qb5+ (24... Qd8 $11) (24... Qd8 {
CCYB 11/164} 25. Qxf7 Qxd1+ 26. Kf2 Qxc2+ 27. Ke3 Bc5+ 28. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 29. Kf3
e4+ $1 (29... Qd5+ $4 30. Kg4 $1 {P h3+-}) 30. Kxe4 Qc4+ $10 {RR CCYB 1/2-1/2
Andersson,G-Poulsen,A/corr Olympiad) 1991}) (24... Qd8 {Rodriguez,Am
transposes into one of the above games where Black drawed easily.}) 25. Be2
Qb1+ 26. Kf2 Qb7 $4 (26... Qb6+ 27. Kf3 f5 $1 28. Qxf7 fxe4+ 29. Kg4 Qd8) 27.
Bxa6 $18 Qa7+ 28. Kf3 Qxa6 29. Qxf7 Qf1+ 30. Nf2 e4+ 31. Kg4 e5+ 32. Kh4 {
1:0 Poliakov-Khenkin, USSR 1988}) 20... Rxd3 21. Bxd3 f5 (21... Rf7 $11 22.
Nxf6+ (22. Ng5 fxg5 23. Bxh7+ Rxh7 24. Qg6+ $11) (22. Rf3 $2 f5) 22... Bxf6 (
22... Rxf6 $4 23. Bxh7+ {with mate}) 23. Bxh7+ Rxh7 24. Qxf6 Rg7 25. Qd8+ Kh7
26. Qh4+ $11) 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5+ Kh8 24. Qe7 Rg8 $8 (24... Kg8 25. Rf3 Qa1+
26. Kf2 Qd4+ 27. Kf1 $18) 25. Qf6+ Rg7 26. Qf8+ (26. Qxe5 $2 Qd5) 26... Rg8 27.
Qf6+ Rg7 28. Rd1 Qd5 29. Qf8+ Rg8 30. Qf6+ Rg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Be2 Qb6 7. O-O Nh6 8. b3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Nf5 10. Bb2 Be7 11. a3 a5 12. h3 Rc8 13. g4 Nh4 14. Nbd2 Ng6 15.
Re1 O-O 16. Bf1 f6 17. Rc1 fxe5 18. dxe5 Nf4 19. Rc2 Be8 20. Bd4 Qd8 21. Bc5
Bg6 22. Rc1 Nxe5 23. Bxe7 Rxc1 24. Bxd8 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Rxd8 27.
Ne5 Bc2 28. Rc1 Bxb3 29. Rc7 d4 30. Nd3 Nxd3 31. Bxd3 Bd5 32. f4 Rf8 33. f5
exf5 34. gxf5 Bc6 35. Kf2 g6 36. Kg3 gxf5 37. Kf4 Kh8 38. h4 h5 39. Re7 Re8 40.
Rxe8+ Bxe8 41. Bxf5 Kg7 42. Be4 b6 43. Ke5 Bg6 44. Kxd4 Bxe4 45. Kxe4 Kf6 46.
a4 Ke6 47. Kf4 Kd6 48. Kg5 b5 49. axb5 a4 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 3. h4 h6 4. Bf4 d6 5. e3 Nf6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Bc4 e6 8. Nd2 Qe7
9. Bg3 Nc6 10. Ne2 e5 11. Qc2 Be6 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. c4 Kb8 15. d5
Nb4 16. Qb3 Bxb5 17. Qxb4 Be8 18. Nc3 g5 19. f3 c5 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. Nb3 g4 22.
Rhf1 gxf3 23. gxf3 Rd7 24. Kb1 Rc8 25. Na5 Ka8 26. Rd2 h5 27. Nxc6 bxc6 28.
Rfd1 Bf8 29. e4 fxe4 30. fxe4 Qh7 31. Ka1 d5 32. Qa4 d4 33. Qa6 Rb7 34. Bxe5
dxc3 35. Bxc3 Nxe4 36. Rd8 Qc7 37. Rxc8+ Qxc8 38. Be5 Qe8 39. Qa5 Rd7 40. Re1
Nc5 41. Bg3 Qd8 42. Qxd8+ Rxd8 43. a3 Bg7 44. Re2 Nb3+ 45. Kb1 Rd2 46. Re8+ Kb7
47. Rb8+ Ka6 48. Rxb3 Rd1+ 49. Ka2 Rg1 50. Bf4 Rg4 51. Bg5 Rxc4 52. Rb8 Rc2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. Nbd2 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. c3 Nge7 8. h4 h6
9. O-O b6 10. Re1 Ba6 11. exd5 exd5 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. d4 O-O 14. dxc5 bxc5 15.
Nb3 Qb6 16. Be3 d4 17. cxd4 Qb4 18. Nxc5 Qxa4 19. Nxa4 Rab8 20. Nc5 Ba8 21. Nd7
Nf5 22. Nfe5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Rxb2 25. Nxf8 Bxf8 26. Bxa7 Rb7 27.
Be3 Bb4 28. Rab1 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. Nbd2 Be7 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e4 O-O 7. Bd3 g6 8.
Qe2 Bg7 9. c3 Nc6 10. O-O-O d5 11. e5 b6 12. h4 h6 13. Rdg1 Ne7 14. g4 f4 15.
h5 g5 16. Nxg5 hxg5 17. h6 Bh8 18. Nf3 c5 19. Nxg5 cxd4 20. Bh7# 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Nf3 Qb6 7. e3 Qc7 8.
Be2 b6 9. a3 a6 10. O-O Bb7 11. b4 Be7 12. Bb2 d6 13. Rac1 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Rc8
15. Qb3 O-O 16. h3 Qb8 17. Rd2 Rc7 18. Rcd1 Rfc8 19. Ba1 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Ne5 21.
Rd4 Qa8 22. Kg2 Ng6 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Qb7 25. Kh2 b5 26. cxb5 axb5 27. Rg1
Rc2 28. Qd3 d5 29. Reg4 Bf8 30. R1g2 Qc7+ 31. f4 Ra2 32. Bd4 e5 33. fxe5 Nxe5
34. Bxe5 Qxe5+ 35. f4 Qf6 36. Qxd5 Rxa3 37. Bxb5 Rxe3 38. Bc4 Rd8 39. Qh5 Rd4
40. Ba2 h6 41. b5 Rdd3 42. R2g3 Rxg3 43. Rxg3 Rd2+ 44. Rg2 Qxf4+ 45. Kg1 Bc5+
46. Qxc5 Rd1# 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Bd3 Qe7+ 7. Kf1 h6 8.
Bh4 Qd8 9. Qe2+ Be6 10. Ne5 Be7 11. Ng6 Rg8 12. Nf4 Qd7 13. Nxe6 Qxe6 14. Qxe6
fxe6 15. Bg6+ Kd7 16. Nd2 c5 17. Re1 Rf8 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Nf3 Nc6 20. Bg3 Bd6
21. Bd3 a6 22. c3 Rae8 23. Bg6 Rd8 24. Kg1 Bxg3 25. hxg3 Kd6 26. Bc2 b5 27. Nh4
b4 28. Ng6 Rfe8 29. Ba4 bxc3 30. bxc3 Rc8 31. Rh4 e5 32. c4 d4 33. c5+ Kxc5 34.
Bxc6 Rxc6 35. Nxe5 Kd5 36. Rxd4+ Kxd4 37. Nxc6+ Kc3 38. Rb1 Re6 39. Rb3+ Kd2
40. Rb2+ Kc1 41. Rc2+ Kd1 42. Rc4 h5 43. f3 Kd2 44. Nd4 Re1+ 45. Kh2 Kd3 46.
Ra4 Nd5 47. Nf5 Kc3 48. Rxa6 Re2 49. Nxg7 Ne3 50. Nxh5 Rxg2+ 51. Kh3 Rg1 52.
Kh4 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 Qe8 10. O-O Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 12. Qd2 g5 13. Bg3 g4 14. hxg4 Nxg4 15.
Nd5 Qf7 16. Ne3 Bh6 17. Qc3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qg7 19. Bh4 Nc6 20. Rf2 Bg4 21. Raf1
Qg6 22. Nh2 Bxe2 23. Rxe2 Bg5 24. Bxg5 fxg5 25. Qd3 Rxf1+ 26. Nxf1 Rf8 27. Ng3
Qh6 28. Nf5 Qh5 29. d5 Nb4 30. Qd2 Qg4 31. Rf2 Qxe4 32. Ng3 Qb1+ 33. Kh2 Rg8
34. Qxb4 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hansen,Cu Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4
O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 {Weiß besitzt
minimalen Stellungsvorteil , weil der schwache Bb7 vom Pd5 eingeschränkt ist.}
c6 12. O-O a5 13. b5 {Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht, weil er Schwarz starkes
Gegenspiel verschafft.} (13. a3 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nd7 16. Qb2 (16.
Rd1 Qc7 17. Qb1 Re8 18. b5 c5 19. Qf5 cxd4 $2 (19... Rd8 $1 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Qxd5 Ne5 $1 22. Qe4 Nxf3+ 23. Bxf3 cxd4 24. exd4 Bxd4 $1 $11) 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Qxd5 Nc5 22. Nxd4 $16 {1-0 Van der Sterren,P-Lutz,C/BL9495 1995/BL 90 (48)})
16... Qc7 17. Ra1 b5 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Be7 20. Rc1 Qf4 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5
Bf6 23. Qd2 Qc7 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Qe3 Bc8 26. h3 Be6 $15 {0-1 Tsvetkov,I-Donev,I/
Sofia-ch Student 1986 (45)}) (13. bxa5 {Ftacnik} Rxa5 14. a4 c5 (14... Bc8) 15.
Qb3 Na6 16. Rfb1 Nb4 17. Na2 Nxa2 18. Rxa2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Qb5 Qa8 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxa4 23. Rxa4 Qxa4 24. h3 {Lautier,J-Kramnik,V/Belgrad
Investbanka/1997/}) 13... c5 14. Re1 $146 {Üblich ist 14.Rc1 mit leichtem
weißem Vorteil.} (14. Rc1 {Ftacnik} Nd7 (14... Qd6 $2 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Ne4 Qb6
17. Nxc5 {Ivanov,I-Horvitz,R/Midwest Masters 1985}) 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nd4 Rc8 (
16... Qd6 17. Bg4 Rad8 18. Nce2 {Nikolic,P-Beliavsky,A/Groningen PCA 1993}) 17.
Bg4 Rc7 18. Na4 (18. Nce2 Be5 19. g3 g6 20. Bh3 Qd6 21. Rc2 h5 {Lutz,C-Van der
Sterren,P/Munich SKA 1994}) 18... Ne4 19. Qd3 Rc4 20. Nb2 Rc5 21. Na4 Bxd4 22.
exd4 Rc4 23. Nc3 Qc7 {Gretarsson,H-Jussupow,A/Groningen FIDE Wch/1997 (33)})
14... Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. g3 (16. dxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxc5 17. Nd4 Qd6 $11) 16...
Nf8 17. Na4 $6 (17. dxc5 $142 bxc5 18. Na4 c4 19. Nd4 (19. Nc5 {Ftacnik} Qe7 (
19... Rb8 20. Nxb7 Rxb7 21. a4 Ne6 $11) 20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. a4 Ne6 22. Bf1 Nc5
$11) 19... Ne6 $11) 17... c4 $1 {Ftacnik: Fixing the structure, so the weak
spots b6,c6 will be less accessible. The bishops will enable black to spread
his pieces in such a way, as to enable activity on the kingside.} (17... cxd4
$6 {Ftacnik} 18. Nxd4 $14) 18. Bf1 Qd6 19. Bg2 Rad8 20. h4 Ne6 21. Nc3 g6 22.
Nd2 Ba8 (22... Ng7 $2 {Ftacnik} 23. Nxc4 $1 $16) 23. h5 $6 {Hansen,Cu: A
serious positional mistake. Whites Ns are too far away from the K-side (f5) to
make any use of the weaked square the textmove creates. However on the long
term the posibility f7-f5 might be useful for black Der Anfang eines
schlechten Planes.} (23. f4 $142 $5 {/\ Nf3, Ne5.} Ng7 24. Bh3 (24. Nf3 {
Ftacnik} Nf5 $15)) (23. a4 $11 {Ftacnik}) 23... g5 24. Nf1 Be7 {Hansen,Cu: The
first part of a regrouping of the black forces that improves his position
considerably} 25. g4 $6 {Noch eine bedenkliche Entscheidung, die zur
Schwächung der Diagonale b8 - h2 führt.} (25. e4 $142 dxe4 26. d5 Bxd5 27. Nxd5
Qxd5 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxe4 $44) (25. a4 {Ftacnik} f5 $15) 25... Qd7 26. Ng3
Ng7 27. a4 Bb4 {Ftacnik: Kramnik would gladly use weakness of b8-h2 diagonal,
but the plan needs a bit more preparation. Hansen,Cu: It becomes clear that
white will have to perform a miracle to make any of is active possibilities
e3-e4 or f2-f4 work. While it seems much more likely that an evertual f7-f5
will have a positive effect on blacks position} (27... Bd6 $6 {Ftacnik} 28.
Bxd5 Bxg3 29. Bxa8 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rxa8 31. e4 $14) 28. Bh3 (28. Qf3 {Ftacnik}
Kf8 (28... Bb7 29. e4 $5 (29. Nf5 Nxf5 30. gxf5 Qd6 $15) 29... dxe4 30. Ngxe4
Qxd4 31. Red1 (31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Rxe8+ Nxe8 33. Qxb7 Qxf6 (33... Qf4 $2 34. Qxf7
$1) 34. Nd5 Qe6 35. Nxb6 Rd4 36. Qa8 $13) 31... Bxe4 32. Nxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxd4
Rexd4 34. Qc6 $14) 29. Rc2 $13) 28... Bb7 29. Qc2 Bd6 30. Nf5 (30. Nce2 {
Ftacnik} Rc8 $15) 30... Nxf5 31. gxf5 Bb4 {Hansen,Cu: Whites has made f7-f5
impossible. But now he can only sit and wait to see whether black can improve
his position by putting pressure on f5 or launch an attack on the K-side by
Bxc3, followed by Re4} 32. Kg2 Qd6 33. f3 (33. Bg4 {Ftacnik} Re7 $17) 33... Re7
{[%csl Re3,Rf5]} 34. Re2 Rde8 35. Rce1 Qf6 36. Bg4 (36. e4 $2 {Ftacnik} dxe4
37. fxe4 Qxd4 $19) 36... Bd6 37. Qd1 Bb4 38. Qc2 Rd8 {[%csl Gd5][%cal Yb7c8]}
39. Rd1 Bc8 {[%cal Rc8f5,Rb4c3] Ftacnik: Black has achieved maximum, now the
pawn f5 causes white lot of troubles.  Hansen,Cu: /\40..Bxc3 41.Qxc3 Bxf5
Schwarz gruppiert in Ruhe seine Figuren um, während Weiß nur abwarten kann.}
40. e4 $2 {Der letzte Zug vor der Zeitkontrolle kostet die Partie. Jetzt ist
alles vorbei.} ({Mit dem passiven:} 40. Na2 Rde8 41. Kf2 (41. e4 {Hansen,Cu}
Bxf5 $1 $19) 41... Qd6 42. Rh1 {hätte Weiß die Schotten dicht machen können.})
(40. Rde1 {Ftacnik} Bxc3 41. Qxc3 Bxf5 42. Bxf5 Qxf5 $19) 40... Bxc3 41. e5 (
41. Qxc3 dxe4 42. fxe4 (42. Rxe4 {Ftacnik} Rxe4 43. fxe4 Bb7 44. Qe3 c3 45. d5
c2 46. Rc1 Rc8 $17) 42... Bb7 43. Bf3 g4 $1 44. Bxg4 Rxe4 45. Rxe4 Bxe4+ 46.
Kf2 Bd3 $19) 41... Rxe5 $3 {Eine außerordentliche Lösung im Kramnik - Stil,
die das weiße Zentrum vernichtet. Das Läuferpaar und die starken Freibauern
entscheiden die Partie.} 42. dxe5 (42. Rxe5 Bxd4 $1 43. Re2 Bc3 $19 {/\d5-d4})
42... Bxe5 {Ftacnik: The triumph of strategical concept, despite an exchange
sacrifice black controls the whole board and pawns c4-d5 will one day start
rolling.  Hansen,Cu: Blacks two passed pawns in the centre gives him a winning
advantage} 43. Rde1 Bc7 44. Re8+ Kg7 (44... Rxe8 $2 {Ftacnik} 45. Rxe8+ Kg7 46.
Rxc8 $18) 45. Rxd8 Bxd8 46. Rd1 Bb7 47. f4 (47. Bh3 {Ftacnik} Bc7 48. Kg1 Bd6
$19) 47... d4+ 48. Bf3 (48. Kg1 {Ftacnik} c3 49. Qf2 Be7 $19) 48... d3 (48...
d3 {Ftacnik} 49. Qf2 (49. Qxc4 Qb2+ 50. Kg3 Bxf3 51. Kxf3 Qe2+ $19) 49... Qxf5
50. Rxd3 (50. Qg3 Bxf3+ 51. Qxf3 g4 52. Qe3 Qxh5 $19) 50... cxd3 51. Bxb7 gxf4
$19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Qb6 6. Nb3 Qc7 7. Qe2 (7. Nc3
d6 8. O-O Nf6 9. f4 Nbd7 10. Qe2 (10. Qf3 Be7 11. Be3 b5 12. g4 h6 13. Qh3 g6
14. g5 Nh5 15. gxh6 Ndf6 16. f5 gxf5 17. exf5 b4 18. Ne4 e5 19. Kf2 Bb7 {
0-1 Aronian,L-Sulava,N/Cappelle op 1996/ (30)}) (10. Kh1 b5 11. a4 b4 12. Na2
Bb7 13. Qe1 a5 14. c3 Be7 15. cxb4 axb4 16. Nxb4 O-O 17. Bd2 Nc5 18. Nxc5 dxc5
19. e5 Nd7 20. Nc2 {1-0 Agopov,M-Rowson,J/EU-chJM 1997/ (30)}) 10... b5 11. Bd2
Bb7 12. a3 Be7 13. Rae1 e5 14. Nd1 O-O 15. Na5 Rfe8 16. Nxb7 Qxb7 17. Qf3 Bf8
18. Ne3 exf4 19. Ng4 Nxg4 {1/2-1/2 Gallagher,J-Emms,J/Wichern-op 1995/}) 7...
Nf6 8. Nc3 d6 9. f4 Be7 (9... b5 10. g4 Nfd7 11. O-O Be7 12. g5 Nc6 13. a4 b4
14. Nd1 Bb7 15. Be3 g6 16. Nf2 h6 17. gxh6 Rxh6 18. c3 bxc3 19. Rac1 cxb2 20.
Qxb2 Rh4 21. Nd2 Rb8 {0-1 Kurajica,B-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Strumica 1995/ (37)})
10. e5 $5 {Shirov is fully aware, that his e5 pawn is hopelessly exposed, but
his temperament requires space for the pieces.} (10. O-O Nbd7) 10... dxe5 11.
fxe5 Nfd7 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. O-O Ndxe5 (13... Ncxe5 $5 14. Rae1 Qb6+ 15. Kh1 (15.
Be3 Qc7) 15... Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Nf6 $13) 14. Rae1 Qb6+ (14... Bf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16.
Qh5 $44) 15. Kh1 Nxd3 (15... Ng6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Na4 b5 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nxc8
Rxc8 20. c4 $44) 16. Qxd3 O-O 17. Qg3 $1 Kh8 $2 {Topalov misses the point of
white's last move. Apart from chances on the kingside white his hoping to
exploit the weakness of b6 square.} (17... f5 18. Ne4 $5 (18. Bc7 Qb4 19. Rf4 (
19. a3 Qh4) 19... Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxf5 Qxg3 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. hxg3 $11)
18... fxe4 19. Bh6 g6 20. Qc3 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 e5 22. Qc4+ Be6 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 24.
Rf7 $18) (17... Qd8 18. Rd1 Bd7 19. Bh6 Bf6 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Rxf6 $18) (17...
f6 18. Ne4 $44) 18. Bc7 Qa7 19. Na4 f6 (19... b5 20. Nb6 Bb7 21. Nxa8 Qxa8 $14)
20. Bb6 Qb8 21. Bc7 Qa7 22. Nb6 e5 (22... Rb8 23. Bxb8 Qxb6 24. Bc7 $16) 23.
Nxa8 Qxa8 24. Rd1 Re8 $2 {Black badly needs a harmonious piece play to
compensate for the material disadvantage and white's attacking chances.} (24...
Bd8 25. Bxd8 Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Nxd8 27. Qxe5 $18) (24... Be6 25. Bd6 Qe8 26. Nc5
Bc8 $16) 25. Bd6 Bd8 26. Nc5 b6 27. Ne4 Nd4 (27... Bb7 28. Ba3 {/\ Nd6}) 28.
Bxe5 $1 Nf5 (28... Rxe5 $4 29. Qxe5 fxe5 30. Rf8#) (28... Qxe4 29. Bxd4 Qxc2
30. Rde1 $16) (28... fxe5 29. Nd6 Nf5 (29... Qc6 30. Qxe5 $1 (30. Nxe8 Qxe8 31.
Qxe5 Ne6 32. Rd6 $18) 30... Ne6 31. Qd5 Qxd5 32. Rxd5 $18) 30. Rxf5 Bxf5 31.
Nxe8 $18) 29. Qg4 $1 (29. Qd3 $2 Bb7 30. Qd7 Bc6 31. Qxf5 Bxe4 32. Qd7 Be7 33.
Bd4 Bxg2+ $19) (29. Rxf5 Qxe4 30. Rff1 fxe5 $17) 29... Ne3 $2 {Topalov is a
sharp player himself and with this jump he shows great courage. It is somewhat
unpleasant to admit, that such a nice knight jump turns out to be a decisive
mistake.} (29... fxe5 30. Rxf5 Be7 (30... g6 31. Rxe5) 31. Qf3 Bxf5 32. Qxf5
$14) 30. Qh5 Rg8 (30... Rf8 31. Qf7 $3 Rg8 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Bxf6 Rg8 34. Bxg7+
Rxg7 35. Qe8+ Rg8 36. Qe5+ Rg7 37. Rf8#) (30... Qc6 $1 31. Rd6 (31. Rxd8 Rxd8
32. Nxf6 $2 Qxg2#) 31... Qb5 32. Re1 (32. c4 Qxe5) 32... Bg4 (32... Nc4 33.
Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Nxf6 $18) 33. Qf7 Qxe5 (33... Nc4 34. Rxd8 (34. Rxf6 Bxf6 (34...
Nxe5 35. Qf8+) 35. Nxf6 Nd6 36. Qd5 Qxd5 37. Nxd5 Bf5 38. Re3 $16) 34... Rxd8
35. Bxf6 Rg8 36. Nc3 $18) (33... Nxc2 34. Nc3) 34. Rxe3 Bh5 35. Qd5 Qf4 $1 36.
Qd3 (36. Re1 Bc7 37. Qxh5 g6 $13) 36... Bc7 37. g3 $16) 31. Qf3 $1 Nxd1 (31...
Bb7 32. Nd6 Re8 33. Qxb7 Qxb7 34. Nxb7 Nxf1 35. Bd6 Nd2 36. Bg3 Nc4 37. b3 Na3
38. Nxd8 $18) (31... Nxf1 32. Nd6 Qa7 33. Nxc8 Qf7 34. Qxf1 $18) 32. Nd6 $1 {
Black is a piece up, but he will have to drop a lot of material because of the
threat Nf7 mate.} Qa7 $8 (32... Qxf3 33. Nf7#) 33. Nxc8 Qd7 34. Nd6 (34. Nd6
Nxb2 35. Qd5 Rf8 36. Bxb2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Svidler,P"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht Ftacnik Hansen,Cu} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Na5 (11... Qc7
{Ftacnik} 12. Rc1 Rd8 13. Qc2 a6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. dxc5 Be6 16. Qa4 Rdb8 17.
Rb1 Rb5 18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. cxd4 Rab8 {Bern,I-Swidler,P/Gausdal Arnold Cup (8)/
1991/0.5 (33)}) 12. Rb1 (12. dxc5 Nc4 $1 (12... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 13. Nf4 Nc4 (
13... e6 14. Nd3 b6 15. Bb5 Bb7 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Qc2 Bc6 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Rfd1
bxc5 20. Nxc5 Nc4 21. Bf2 Reb8 22. Rab1 Rb6 {1/2-1/2 Shariyazdanov,A-Dvoirys,S/
RUS Cup Moscow/1998/ (34)}) 14. Nd5 Nxe3 15. Nxc7 Nxd1 16. Rfxd1 Rb8 17. Rab1
Be5 18. Nd5 e6 19. Ne7+ Kg7 20. c6 b6 21. c4 Kf6 22. Nxc8 Rfxc8 23. f4 Bxf4 24.
Rf1 {1-0 Aleksandrov,A-Yandemirov,V/RUS-Cup8/1997/}) 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bg5 Bd7
15. Bb3 Na5 16. Bxe7 Re8 17. Bd6 Rxe4 18. Nd4 Nxb3 19. axb3 Bxd4 {1/2-1/2
Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/Linares 1998/}) 12... Nc4 (12... b6 13. dxc5 Ba6 14. Bb5
$1 (14. cxb6 {Topalov} Qxd1 15. Bxd1 axb6 $44 16. Bxb6 Nc4 {/\17... Rfb8; 17...
Nd2}) 14... Bxb5 15. Rxb5 Nc4 (15... Qe8 16. Qa4 a6 17. Rb4 $16) 16. Qxd8 (16.
Bg5 $1 f6 (16... h6 17. Rb4 $1 $16) (16... Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Rfd8 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8
19. f3 $16) (16... Qc7 17. Qb3 Na5 18. Qa3 $14) 17. Rb4 (17. Qb3 Qd3 18. Nd4 $1
fxg5 19. Rd1 Qxe4 20. Qxc4+ $14) 17... Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. g3
(20. f3 Ne5 $1 21. Rd4 $8 Rxd4 22. cxd4 fxg5 23. dxe5 bxc5 24. e6 Be5 $15)
20... fxg5 21. Rxc4 bxc5 (21... Rd2 22. c6 $18) 22. a4 $14) 16... Rfxd8 17. Bg5
f6 $1 (17... Kf8 18. Rb4 Nd2 19. Re1 bxc5 20. Ra4 $14 {פd2}) 18. Bc1 (18. Rb4
Nd2 19. Bxd2 Rxd2 $15) 18... Rdc8 $13) (12... cxd4 13. cxd4 b6 14. d5 e6 (14...
Ba6 15. Re1 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Nf4 $16) 15. Bd2 $1 Ba6 (15... exd5 16. Bxa5
bxa5 17. Bc6) 16. Bb4 $16 {Dautov-Labunsky (UdSSR 1989)}) (12... e5 {Ftacnik}
13. dxe5 $16) (12... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. dxc5 $14) 13. Bg5 h6 $6 (
13... Qc7 $5 14. Qd3 Na3 (14... Nb6 {Ftacnik} 15. Bc2) 15. Rb2 Qa5 16. Bd1 cxd4
(16... c4 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe3 Re8 18. Bh6 $40) 17. Bxe7 Re8 (17... dxc3 {Ftacnik}
18. Rb3 c2 19. Rxa3 cxd1=Q 20. Rxd1 Qe5 21. Bxf8 Bxf8 22. Rb3 $16) 18. Bb4 Qb5
19. Bc2 (19. Qxb5 {Ftacnik} Nxb5 20. Ba4 dxc3 21. Bxb5 cxb2 22. Bxe8 Be6 23.
Bb5 Bxa2 $132) 19... dxc3 20. Rb3 Qxd3 21. Bxd3 Rd8 22. Nf4 Rxd3 23. Nxd3 Nb5
$13 (23... Nb5 {Ftacnik} 24. Bc5 b6 $132)) (13... a6 {Ftacnik} 14. Bb3 $14) 14.
Bh4 b6 $2 {Hansen,Cu: Around here things start to go seriously wrong for black}
15. Bc6 Rb8 16. Bd5 $1 (16. Bg3 e5 (16... Bb7 {Ftacnik} 17. Bxb8 Bxc6 18. Bxa7
Bxe4 (18... Qc7 19. Qd3 $1) 19. dxc5 Bxb1 (19... Qa8 $5 20. cxb6 Bxg2 21. Qd3
Ne5 22. Qg3 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 $13) 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. Rxb1 bxc5 22. Bxc5 $14) 17.
Bd5 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 $13) (16. Qa4 Na5 $13) 16... Ba6 $8 17. Qd3 b5 $8 18. a4
{Hansen,Cu: Black has build his position on his N-position on c4, but this
stronghold cannot be kept after whites textmove White pieces are firing into
the opponent with a suprising ferrocity, only rook on f1 is still waiting for
its turn.} (18. dxc5 $16) 18... cxd4 $8 (18... Na3 19. Ra1 Qa5 20. axb5 Qxb5
21. c4 Nxc4 22. Rxa6 Qxa6 23. Bxc4 $18) 19. Nxd4 (19. axb5 Ne5 $13 (19... Ne5 {
Ftacnik} 20. Qd2 Bxb5 21. cxd4 Nc4 $14)) 19... Bxd4 {Hansen,Cu: A sign of
serious crisis. Normally black would not want to change this bishop for any
other piece that whites dark-squared B unless he gets something serious in
return. Here the Bg7 is exchanged to avoid imidiate material loss.} 20. cxd4 $6
(20. Qxd4 e5 (20... Na3 21. Rbc1 (21. Qxa7 Nxb1 22. Bxe7 Qb6 23. Qxb6 Rxb6 24.
Rxb1 $18) 21... bxa4 22. Rfd1 $18) (20... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 (21...
bxc4 22. Bg3 $18) 22. Qxc4 bxc4 23. Bxe7 Rfe8 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. Bf6 $16) 21.
Qxa7 (21. Bxf7+ $5 Rxf7 22. Qxd8+ Rxd8 23. Bxd8 bxa4 $16) 21... Qxh4 22. Qxa6
Nd2 23. axb5 $1 (23. Qxg6+ Kh8) 23... Nxf1 24. Rxf1 $18) 20... Nd6 $16 21. Rfc1
Rb6 $6 (21... Bb7 $1 22. Bxb7 Rxb7 23. axb5 Qd7 24. f3 (24. Rc5 Qg4) 24... Nxb5
25. d5 $16) 22. a5 (22. Qd2 $5 {Hansen,Cu} Kh7 23. a5 Rb8 24. Bg3 $16) (22.
axb5 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 23. Qa3 (23. Qh3 $5) 23... g5 24. Bg3 e6 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26.
Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxb5 exd5 28. e5 $16) 22... Rb8 {[#] Hecht:  The start of the
transition into a queen+rook versus queen+bishop+knight ending. By tactical
means (pin), the g6 point will be stormed to get at the black king. [#] Hecht:
Beginn des Übergangs in das Endspiel D+T gegen D+L+S Mit taktischen Mitteln 
(Fesselung) soll der Punkt g6 mit Hinwendung zum schwarzen König gestürmt
werden.} 23. Rc6 $1 Bb7 $8 (23... Bc8 24. Rxd6 $1 Qxd6 25. Bg3 $18) 24. e5 $1
Nf5 (24... Bxc6 $4 {Ftacnik} 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Rb3 $18 (27. Rb3 {
Hecht} Nf5 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Bf6+ exf6 30. Rh3+ {(Hecht)})) 25. Rxg6+ Kh8 {
This position shows a model situation of a great exposure of white pieces.
Black king narrowly survives, but rook g6 and both white bishops are under
fire.} (25... Kh7 $2 {Ftacnik} 26. Rd6 $18) 26. Bxf7 $2 (26. Qxf5 fxg6 27. Qxg6
Qxd5 (27... Bxd5 {Ftacnik} 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 29. Qg6+ $11) 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 29. Qg6+
Kh8 30. Bxe7 Qe4 $1 31. Bf6+ Rxf6 32. Qxf6+ Kh7 33. Qf7+ Kh6 34. Qe6+ Kg7 35.
Qf6+ Kh7 $11) (26. Rg4 $5 Qxd5 27. Qxf5 Rg8 28. f3 $1 (28. Bxe7 $2 Rxg4 29.
Qxg4 Rg8 30. Bf6+ Kh7 31. Qf5+ Rg6 32. f3 Qa2 $1 33. g3 Bxf3 34. Qxf3 Qxb1+ $17
) 28... Rxg4 29. Qxg4 Rg8 30. Qf4 Kh7 31. Rb2 Qxf3 32. Qxf3 Bxf3 33. Bxe7 a6
$16) (26. Bf6+ $1 exf6 27. Bxf7 $1 {[#] Variation Diagram [#] Variantendiagramm
} Rxf7 (27... Qd7 $1 28. e6 Qd5 29. Qh3 Kh7 30. Rxf6 Nh4 $1 {/\Q:d4,Qg5 Idea: .
..Qg5 and ...Qxd4. Ideen: Dg5 und Dd4 Ideen: Dg5 und Dd4} 31. Qd3+ $1 (31. e7
Rxf7 32. Rxf7+ Qxf7 33. Qxh4 Qg6 $1 $19) (31. Rxh6+ Kxh6 32. Qxh4+ Kg7 33. Qg3+
Kf6 34. Qf4+ Kg7 $11) 31... Qe4 32. Qxe4+ Bxe4 33. Re1 $16) 28. Qxf5 Qxd4 (
28... Qf8 29. Qh5 Rh7 30. Rxf6) 29. Rxh6+ Kg8 30. Qh5 $18) 26... Rxf7 (26...
Nxh4 $2 {Ftacnik} 27. Rxh6+ Kg7 28. Rh7# (28. Qh7#)) 27. e6 Rf8 28. Bg3 Kh7 (
28... Nxg3 {Ftacnik} 29. Rxh6+ Kg7 30. Qg6#) 29. Rg4 Rc8 $2 (29... h5 $1 30.
Rg5 (30. Rxb5 $1 Qc8 $1 31. Rc5 $1 {[#] Variation Diagram: [#]
Variantendiagramm} (31. Bxb8 Qc1+ 32. Qf1 Qxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Ba6 34. Rf4 Bxb5+ $17)
(31. Qb1 hxg4 32. Rxf5 Be4 33. Rf7+ Rxf7 34. Qxe4+ Kg7 35. Qxg4+ Kf8 36. Qd1
Rf6 $19) (31. h3 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Bxg2 $1 33. Kxg2 Rxb5 $19) 31... Qxe6 $6 (31...
Ba6 $5 32. Qe4 (32. Rxc8 Bxd3 33. Rxb8 Rxb8 34. Bxb8 hxg4 35. Bxa7 Kg6 $15)
32... Bb7 (32... hxg4 33. Bxb8 Qxb8 (33... Qb7 34. Qxb7 Bxb7 35. Bxa7 $14) 34.
Rxf5 Rxf5 35. Qxf5+ Kh6 $13) 33. Qd3 $11) 32. Re5 Rbc8 (32... Qc8 $2 33. Rxe7+)
(32... Ba6 $5 33. Qe4 Rbc8 34. h3 Qf7 35. Rg5 e6 $13) 33. h3 $1 (33. Bf4 Qxe5
34. dxe5 hxg4 $17) 33... Qf7 (33... Qxe5 34. Bxe5 hxg4 35. hxg4 $18) 34. Rg5 e6
{for example: zum Beispiel: zum Beispiel:} 35. d5 $5 (35. Qd1 $5 Ng7 36. Rxh5+
Nxh5 37. Rxh5+ Kg8 38. Qg4+ Qg7 39. Rg5 $18) 35... Bxd5 (35... Rcd8 36. Qe2
Rxd5 37. Rxh5+ Kg8 38. Rg5+ $1 Kh8 39. Rxe6 $16) 36. Rgxf5 exf5 37. Rxd5 Rc3
38. Qd4 $44) 30... Qxd4 31. Qxd4 Nxd4 32. Bxb8 Rxb8 33. Rxh5+ (33. Rbxb5 Nxb5
34. Rxb5 Rd8 $19) (33. Rd1 Rd8 $17) 33... Kg6 $15) 30. Be5 {/\Rg7+} Rc5 $8 {
Black goes into extremes in order to survive the attack. [#] [#]} (30... Qd5 {
Ftacnik} 31. f3 $18) 31. Rg7+ (31. Re1 $142 $1 Rd5 (31... Rxe5 32. Rxe5 Qc8 33.
h3 $18) 32. Rg7+ Kh8 33. Rf7+ Rxe5 34. Rxe5 $18) 31... Kh8 32. dxc5 Nxg7 (32...
Qxd3 33. Rg3+ $18 (33. Rg3+ {Hansen,Cu} Kh7 34. Rxd3 $18 (34. Rxd3 {Ftacnik}
Be4 35. Rdb3 Bxb1 36. Rxb1 $18))) 33. Qg6 Rf6 34. Bxf6 exf6 {[#] Hecht: 
Tactical endgame. White has a material- and positional advantage. The only two
easily maneagable weaknesses are his first-rank and the g2 point. For the
highly-interesting developments up to this point and the following aberrations,
we give a 'big' Tactics Medal, which the finesse-rich play of both opponents
deserves. [#] Hecht: Taktisches Endspiel. Weiß hat Material- und
Stellungsübergewicht. Einzige leicht behebbare Schwächen sind die Grundreihe
und der Punkt g2. Für die hochinteressante Abwicklung bis hierher und die
nachfolgenden Irrungen gibt es eine "große" Taktikmedaille, die das
finessenreiche Spiel beider Kontrahenten würdigen soll.} 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Re1
$2 $138 {Hansen,Cu: Giving away whites best P Horrible back rank oversight,
when white had still all the reasons to believe in success.} (36. Qg6 $18 Bc6 (
36... Qe7 {Hansen,Cu} 37. Rxb5 (37. Re1 {Ftacnik} Bd5 (37... Bc8 38. h4) 38. h4
Bxe6 39. h5 Qf7 40. Qxf7+ Bxf7 (40... Kxf7 41. h6 $18) 41. Re7 Bxh5 42. Rxa7
$18) (37. Qf7+ Qxf7 38. exf7+ Kxf7 39. Rxb5 Bc6 40. Rb8 $16) 37... Qxe6 38. h3
{Hansen,Cu: is the game continuation with the very important difference that
black does not have a P on b5. White has R + 3Ps for B+N and should win} (38.
h3 Qc6 39. Rb4 $18)) 37. h4 Qd5 (37... Qd4 38. h5 Be8 39. Qg3 Qe4 40. Rd1 Kh7
41. Rd7 $18) 38. h5 Be8 (38... Qxh5 39. Qxh5 Nxh5 40. Rd1 $18) 39. Qxf6 Qxe6
40. Qxe6+ Nxe6 41. Re1 $18) 36... Nxe6 {Hecht: Back Rank! Grundreihe!} 37. h4 (
37. Rxe6 $4 {Ftacnik} Qd1+ 38. Re1 Qxe1#) (37. Qg6+ {Ftacnik} Ng7 38. h4 Bc6
39. a6 b4 $13) 37... Ng7 38. Qf4 $1 {/\39.Qd6} Qd5 $8 (38... Bc6 39. Qd6 Qxd6
40. cxd6 Nf5 41. Rc1 Be8 42. Rc7 Nxd6 43. Rxa7 b4 44. a6 b3 45. Rb7 $1 $18) 39.
Qg3 $4 $138 (39. Qg4 $1 Qxc5 (39... Kf7 40. Rd1 $18) 40. Qg6 Qf8 41. h5 Qf7 42.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 43. h6 Nf5 44. h7 Kg7 45. g4 $18) 39... Kf7 $11 (39... Qxc5 $2 {
Ftacnik} 40. h5 $1 Kh8 (40... Qxh5 41. Qb8+ $18) 41. h6 Nf5 42. Qg6 $18) 40.
Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qg3+ Kf7 42. Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Nbd7 8. a4
b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. h3 Be7 11. g4 Nc5 12. Ng3 g6 13. Bh6 (13. O-O O-O 14. Re1 Re8
15. Be3 Rc8 16. Qd2 Bf8 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. Bg5 Nfd7 19. Bh6 Be7 20. Re3 Nf8 21.
Nce2 Nfe6 22. f4 exf4 23. Nxf4 Nxf4 24. Bxf4 Rcd8 25. Re2 Ne6 26. Be3 Bf6 {
1/2-1/2 Wolf,V-Gerbert,P/BL8081 1981/BL 80}) (13. g5 Nfd7 14. h4 Ne6 (14... f5
$5) 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 Nd4 17. Kd1 b5 18. a5 Rc8 19. c3 Rc5 20. Qa2 Nc6 21.
Bd2 Ncb8 22. b4 $14 {1-0 Matulovic,M-Palac,M/EUCup f 1996/CBM 56 (43)}) 13...
Ne6 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. O-O-O $5 (15. O-O $5 {normal}) 15... Rc4 16. Kb1 Qc7 (16...
g5 $2 17. Nf5 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. Qd5 Rxa4 21. Qc6+ Qd7 22.
Qa8+ Nd8 23. Bg7 Rg8 24. Bxe5 $40) 17. Rhe1 Rd4 18. Qc1 Rb4 19. Bd2 Rd4 20. Bh6
Rb4 21. Bd2 Rd4 22. Bh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 e6 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. Re1 b6 14. c3 Bb7
15. h4 Re8 16. h5 Bd5 17. Bd2 Rd8 18. Re2 Kg8 19. Qh3 Qc6 20. Re3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3
Nf6 22. Qh4 Be7 23. Rh3 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qd6 25. Be3 Kf8 26. Rc1 Qb4 27. b3 Nd5
28. Qe4 Bf6 29. Bc4 Qd6 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Qxd5 Rxd5 32. Rc7 a5 33. a4 Kg8 34.
Rb7 Kh7 35. Rxf7 Rb8 36. Ra7 b5 37. Bf4 Rf8 38. Be5 Bxe5 39. dxe5 bxa4 40. bxa4
Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rc8 17. b4 O-O 18. h4 Rc7 19. Bh3 Nh7 20. Bg2 Rfc8 21.
Nc6 Nf6 22. f4 Nxg4 23. Bh3 h5 24. Rhg1 f5 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Rgf1 Rf8 27. Nxe7+
Rxe7 28. d6 Ref7 29. Bxg4 hxg4 30. Qd5 f4 31. Qxe5 g3 32. Qd5 Qb7 33. Qxb7 Rxb7
34. d7 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 f3 36. Rdd1 f2 37. Rg1 fxg1=Q 38. Rxg1 Rf3 39. Kc1 Kh7 40.
Kd1 Kh6 41. Ke2 Rc3 42. Kd2 Ra3 43. c3 g2 44. Ke2 Rxa2+ 45. Kf3 Kh5 46. Kg3 Rc2
47. Ra1 Rxc3+ 48. Kxg2 Rc4 49. Rxa6 Rxh4 50. Ra7 g6 51. Rh7+ Kg5 52. Rxh4 Kxh4
0-1

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7.
e4 Bg7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3
Nc6 14. d5 Bxf3 (14... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 15. Rxb7 Rfb8 16. Rxe7 Rb2 17. Bd4 Rxe2
18. Bxe5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 $16) 15. Bxf3 Ne5 (15... Na5 {Ftacnik})
16. Be2 (16. Rxb7 {Ftacnik} a5 (16... e6 $5 17. dxe6 (17. Be2 exd5 18. exd5
Rfd8 19. d6 Qe6 20. Bc5 Bf8) (17. d6 Qa6 18. Rc7 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Be5 20. Bc5
Rfd8) 17... Qxe6 18. Rxa7 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 (19. gxf3 Rxa7 20. Bxa7) 19... Rxa7
20. Bxa7 Re8 21. Re1 f5 22. Qe3 fxe4 23. f3 {1/2-1/2 Chernin,A-Azmaiparashvili,
Z/Vidmar mem12th/1997/ (30)}) 17. Rxe7 a4 18. Bd4 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxd4 20. Qxd4
a3 21. Kg2 Qb2 22. Qxb2 axb2 23. Rb1 Rfb8 24. d6 Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Bacrot,
E-Illescas Cordoba,M/Pamplona9798 1998 (39)}) (16. Bc5 {Ftacnik} Bf6 17. Rxb7
Rfb8 18. Bxe7 Rxb7 19. Bxf6 Re8 20. h4 Qa3 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Qd4 Qb2 23. Qc4
Re8 24. Qc6 Qb5 {Krasenkow,M-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Erevan olm/1996/96ch2/0-1 (73)})
16... Nc4 17. Bg5 Nd6 (17... Rfe8 {Ftacnik} 18. Rxb7 Nd6 19. Rb4 a5 20. Ra4 Qb2
21. Bc1 Qb6 22. Be3 Qb2 23. Bc1 Qb6 24. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Notkin,M/RUS-ch
1996/ (31)}) 18. Bxe7 $1 $146 {Gelfand} (18. Bd3 {Ftacnik} Rfe8 19. Re1 e5 (
19... Rad8 $5 20. h3 $5) 20. Bd2 $1 b5 $6 (20... Rec8 21. Bb4 Nc4 22. Be7 $44)
(20... a5 $5 21. Re2 Qa3 22. Be3 $5 $44) 21. Bxb5 Nxb5 22. Rxb5 a5 23. d6 $1 {
><d5} (23. Rb7 a4 24. Qf3 Rf8 $5 25. Bb4 Rab8) 23... Red8 24. Rd5 Rd7 25. Qc1
Bf8 (25... a4 26. Qc6 Rdd8 27. d7 $16) 26. Bg5 $2 (26. Qc3 $1 Rb8 27. Qxe5 Rb1
28. Rf1 $1 {Kramnik,V} Rdb7 29. Bc1 Qc2 30. Rdd1 $16) 26... Qa4 27. Red1 Ra6 $1
$11 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas/1997/ (31)}) 18... Nxe4
19. Bf3 $1 $16 {After this move black is in serious trouble} (19. Rb4 {Ftacnik}
Nc3 20. Bc4 Qxc4 $1 $11) 19... Nd2 (19... Nc3 $2 {Ftacnik} 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21.
Rxb3 Rfe8 22. d6 $16) 20. Qe2 (20. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Bxf8 21. Rxb7 Nxf1 22. Qxf1 (
22. d6 Nd2) 22... Bd6 $11) 20... Rfe8 (20... Nxf3+ {Ftacnik} 21. Qxf3 Rfb8 22.
d6 b6 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qf3 Qe6 25. Rfe1 Qd7 26. Qd5+ Kh8 $13) 21. d6 {White must
be better due to the dangerous pawn on d6. Black can claim counterplay with a
pawn, but the proximity to the promotion square plays an important role.} (21.
Rxb7 {Ftacnik} Qa5 22. Rd1 Rab8 23. Rxb8 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rxb8 25. d6 Qe5 26. Qe3
$1 $16) 21... Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bf8 (22... Rab8 {Ftacnik} 23. Rxb7 Rxb7 24. Qxb7
Bf8 25. Qc6 Rb8 26. d7 Bxe7 27. Qc8+ $14) 23. Rxb7 a5 (23... Bxe7 24. Rxe7 Rxe7
$2 25. Qxa8+ $18) 24. h4 (24. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Rxf8 25. Re7 Rae8 26. Rfe1 Qa4 27.
Qf6 Qc6 $13) 24... a4 25. Rd1 (25. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Rxf8 26. d7 Qe6 $11) 25...
Qe6 26. Bg5 (26. d7 {Ftacnik} Rxe7 27. d8=Q Rxd8 28. Rxd8 Rxb7 29. Qxb7 Qe1+
30. Kh2 Qe5+ 31. g3 Qf6 32. Rd2 a3 $11) 26... h6 27. d7 (27. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Red8
28. d7 a3 $132) 27... hxg5 28. dxe8=Q Rxe8 29. hxg5 a3 30. g3 $1 {A very good
move. White moves his K away from the first rank, so the a-pawn will never
queen with check. This means the following tactics should have worked in
whites favour Strange slip of attention, white must be better if he can stop
the march of black's a pawn.} (30. Ra7 $1 {Ftacnik} Bc5 (30... Be7 31. Qc3 Rc8
32. Qe1 Qxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Bc5 34. Rd7 $14) (30... a2 $2 31. Ra1 Qe1+ 32. Rxe1
Rxe1+ 33. Kh2 a1=Q 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Qxf8#) 31. Ra5 Qb6 32. Ra8 Rxa8 33. Qxa8+
Kg7 34. Qf3 $16) 30... a2 31. Kg2 (31. Ra7 {Ftacnik} Bg7 32. Ra8 a1=Q 33. Rdxa1
Bxa1 34. Rxa1 $14) 31... Rd8 32. Re1 $2 {The obvious but not the best move} (
32. Ra7 $1 {After this move I believe that black - if he plays very precise -
can get whites g5-P for the a2-P but even that should not be enough to draw}
Rxd1 33. Qxd1 Qe4+ (33... Bg7 $2 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. Qh1+ {Another positive
side-effect of the manouvre g2-g3 and Kg1-g2}) 34. Qf3 Qe6 35. Qa8 $18 {
and white has achieved his ideal position. He controls the /^ a8-h1 and has Q
and R behind the a2-P}) (32. Rxd8 {Ftacnik} a1=Q 33. Rbb8 Qe7 (33... Qg7 $6)
34. Qd5 $11) 32... Qc4 (32... Qxe1 $4 {Ftacnik} 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Qh7#) 33. Ra7
Rd3 $1 {Now blacks R is very active. White has great problems coordinating the
defence of f2 with winning or neutralising the a2-P} 34. Qa8 Rd2 {[%cal Yd2f2,
Gd2a2]} 35. Qf3 (35. Re8 {Ftacnik} Qc5 36. Rxf8+ Qxf8 37. Rxa2 Qxa8+ 38. Rxa8+
Kg7 $11) 35... Rd3 36. Qa8 Rd2 37. Ra4 $2 (37. Re4 $145 Qc5 38. Rf4 $18) 37...
Qc5 38. Rf1 Qc2 39. Ra7 Qb3 40. Qf3 $2 (40. Qe8 {Ftacnik} Qd5+ 41. Kg1 Rb2 42.
Ra8 Qc5 $14) (40. Rc7 $142 Qa3 41. Rc8 Qxa8+ 42. Rxa8 $18 {Kramnik}) 40...
Qxf3+ 41. Kxf3 Bc5 (41... Bg7 $2 {Ftacnik} 42. Ra8+ Bf8 43. Ra1 $18) 42. Ra8+
Kg7 43. Ra1 (43. Ke4 {Ftacnik} Bxf2 44. Ra1 Bxg3 45. R1xa2 Rxa2 46. Rxa2 Bd6
47. Ra7 Kf8 $11) (43. Kg2 {Ftacnik} Bd4 $11) 43... Rxf2+ 44. Kg4 Rd2 {Ftacnik:
The drawing idea becomes clear, white g5 pawn is too weak.} 45. Ra4 (45. R1xa2
{Ftacnik} Rd4+ 46. Kf3 Rd5 47. Kf4 Be7 $11) 45... Bb6 46. R1xa2 Rd5 47. Kh4 Bd8
48. Rg4 Rd1 49. Rh2 (49. Kh3 {Ftacnik} Rd5 $11) 49... Kg8 50. Re4 Rd5 51. Re8+
Kg7 52. Rb2 Bxg5+ 53. Kg4 Rd4+ 54. Kh3 (54. Kxg5 $4 {Ftacnik} f6#) 54... Rd7
55. Rbb8 Bf6 (55... Bf6 {Ftacnik} 56. Rh8 Be5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.04"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Mueller,Karsten"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Weltklassegroßmeister Alexei Shirov, der wie der unvergessene "Magier"
Michail Tal aus Riga stammt, gilt schon lange als äußerst kreativer Spieler.
Doch mit 47...Lh3!!, was im ungleichfarbigen Läuferendspiel einfach den Läufer
"einstellt", fand er einen so außergewöhnlichen Zug, daß das renomierte
British Chess Magazine sogar eine Suche nach dem "Most Amazing Move (MAM)"
aller Zeiten startete. Jan Timman nahm "Shirovs Geniestreich" - wie die
Zeitschrift Schach es nannte - zum Anlaß, im New in Chess Magazine die Frage
zu untersuchen, ob die Stellung als Endspielstudie taugt. Er kommt zum
Ergebnis, daß dies der Fall ist (und auch meine Ausführungen drehen sich
hauptsächlich um diese Frage):} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 Nd7 (9... c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3
Qc7 12. Rc1 e6 13. Bf4 $14 {Kramnik-Moutousis/Arnhem/1992/ (18)}) (9... e5 10.
O-O Qe7 11. Bc2 Rd8 12. a4 Be6 13. Ba3 Qe8 $1 $132 {Kramnik,V-Stohl,I/
Chalkidiki/1992/ (17)}) 10. O-O e5 11. f3 (11. Bb3 Qe7 12. Qc2 Re8 13. f3 Nb6
14. a4 $14 {Kiselev,S-Rogozenko,D/Bucuresti 1993/Inf 57 (24)}) (11. Ba3 Re8 12.
Bb3 Nb6 $6 (12... exd4 $5 $132 {(Shirov,A)}) 13. f4 exd4 14. f5 gxf5 15. Ng3
$40 {Shirov,A-Smejkal,J/GER-chT/1992/}) 11... Qe7 12. Be3 Rd8 $1 (12... b5 13.
Bb3 Rd8 14. a4 $14 {0-1 Dimitrijeski,K-Stephan,A/Leipzig 1995/JUN 95 (47)}) 13.
Qc2 (13. Qc1 $5) 13... Nb6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Rad1 (15. f4 exf4 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17.
Bxf4 Nc4 $11 {(Ftacnik)}) 15... Nc4 $5 16. Bc1 b5 $1 17. f4 $1 {"Topalov has
to exploit his central pawn majority in an attempt to compensate for the
knight on c4."(Ftacnik)} exd4 (17... f6 18. dxe5 fxe5 19. f5 $36 {(Shirov,A)})
18. Nxd4 Bg4 19. Rde1 (19. Rd3 $2 Qxe4 $19 {(Ftacnik)}) 19... Qc5 20. Kh1 a5 $5
(20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Qxd4 22. f5 $40 {(Ftacnik)}) 21. h3 $1 Bd7 $6 (21... a4
22. hxg4 axb3 23. axb3 Na3 24. Qf2 Qxc3 25. Bb2 Bxd4 26. Bxc3 Bxf2 27. Rxf2 c5
$13 {(Shirov,A)}) (21... Bc8 $5 {(Shirov,A)}) 22. a4 bxa4 23. Ba2 $1 {erhält
den Druck gegen den nunmehr entwurzelten Springer c4 aufrecht} Be8 $2 (23...
Nd6 24. Be3 Nb5 25. Nxb5 Qxb5 26. f5 $40 {(Shirov,A)}) (23... Bc8 $5 {(Shirov,
A)}) 24. e5 $18 {(Shirov,A)} (24. Qxa4 $2 Nb6 25. Qb3 a4 26. Qa3 $15 {(Ftacnik)
}) 24... Nb6 (24... Nxe5 $2 25. fxe5 Rxd4 26. Be3 Bxe5 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Rxe8+
$18) (24... Rab8 25. e6 Nb6 26. exf7+ Bxf7 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Ne6 Qxc3 29.
Nxd8+ Rxd8 30. Qe4 $40) 25. f5 Nd5 (25... Rxd4 26. Be3 Rad8 27. Re2 $18 {
(Shirov,A)}) 26. Bd2 $2 {erlaubt den Abtausch des Springers gegen den
weißfeldrigen Läufer. Statt dessen hätte Topalov den Angriff weiter fortsetzen
sollen:} (26. Rf3 $18 {(Shirov,A)}) (26. f6 $1 {(Kasparov)} Qxc3 (26... Bh8 27.
e6 $18) (26... Bf8 27. e6 Nxc3 (27... Qxc3 28. Bxd5 Qxc2 29. Nxc2 Rxd5 30. e7
$16 {(Kasparov)}) 28. exf7+ Bxf7 29. Bxf7+ $18 {(Kasparov)} Kxf7 30. Ne6 Qc4
31. Rf3 Bb4 32. Ng5+ $18) 27. Bxd5 (27. fxg7 Qxd4 28. e6 $18 {(Shirov,A)})
27... Qxd4 28. Bc4 Bf8 29. e6 $18) 26... Nb4 $1 27. Qxa4 (27. cxb4 $2 Qxc2 28.
Nxc2 Rxd2 $19) 27... Nxa2 28. Qxa2 Bxe5 29. fxg6 (29. Re4 Bg7 30. fxg6 (30. Bg5
$6 Rd5 $17 {(Ftacnik)}) 30... hxg6 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Qxf7+ Kh7 33. Ne6 Rxe6
34. Qxe6 Qd5 $15 {/-/+}) 29... hxg6 30. Bg5 Rd5 $1 {"Two bishops and a spare
pawn favour black, but he has to survive the dangers of white attack."(Ftacnik)
} 31. Re3 (31. Ne2 a4 $17 {(Ftacnik)}) 31... Qd6 $2 (31... Bxd4 32. cxd4 Qxd4
$17 33. Qe2 $140 Bd7 34. Bf6 Qd2 35. Qxd2 Rxd2 {(Shirov,A)}) 32. Qe2 $44 {
(Shirov,A)} Bd7 (32... c5 $2 33. Nf3 f6 34. c4 $18) 33. c4 (33. Nf3 $5 Bg3 34.
c4 Rf5 35. Rd1 Qc7 36. Qb2 $44) 33... Bxd4 34. cxd5 $2 (34. Be7 $1 {(Kasparov)}
Re8 (34... Qb8 35. cxd5 Bxe3 36. Qxe3 $13) 35. Bxd6 (35. cxd5 $2 Qxd5 $17)
35... Rxe3 36. Qxe3 Bxe3 37. cxd5 cxd5 $11 {(Shirov,A)}) 34... Bxe3 35. Qxe3
Re8 $1 36. Qc3 (36. Qc1 $6 Qxd5 37. Bf6 $2 Bxh3 $1 $19 {(Ftacnik)}) 36... Qxd5
37. Bh6 (37. Bf6 $2 Re2 $19 {(Ftacnik)}) 37... Re5 {"White still preserves
drawing chances due to the opposite colour bishops."(Ftacnik)} 38. Rf3 (38. Re1
$2 Bxh3 $1 $19 {(Ftacnik)}) (38. Rb1 $2 Bxh3 39. Qxh3 Rh5 $19 {(Ftacnik)})
38... Qc5 39. Qa1 (39. Qxc5 Rxc5 40. Ra3 Be6 41. Bd2 Rc2 42. Bxa5 Bd5 43. Rg3
$17 {(Ftacnik)}) 39... Bf5 $2 (39... g5 $1 $17 {(Shirov,A)}) 40. Re3 $1 f6 (
40... Rxe3 $4 41. Qg7#) 41. Rxe5 Qxe5 42. Qa2+ $2 (42. Qa3 $1 Qe1+ (42... Kf7
43. Bd2 $11) 43. Kh2 Qb4 44. Qa2+ Kh7 45. Bd2 Qd6+ 46. Kh1 $11 {(Shirov,A)})
42... Qd5 43. Qxd5+ $6 (43. Qa3 $5 Kf7 $17 (43... c5 $2 44. Qxa5 Bxh3 45. Qd2
Bxg2+ (45... Qc6 46. Kg1 $15 {(Shirov,A)}) 46. Qxg2 Qh5+ 47. Qh2 Qxh2+ 48. Kxh2
$11 {(Shirov,A.)})) 43... cxd5 44. Bd2 a4 45. Bc3 Kf7 46. h4 (46. Kg1 g5 $17 {
(Shirov,A)}) 46... Ke6 47. Kg1 Bh3 $3 {[%mdl 4608] "Fascinating idea of Shirov,
since black has to push his two pawns a4,d5 as quickly as possible. The bishop
would obstruct the way of the king on the natural square e4, on h3 it wins a
precious tempo." (Ftacnik) ""Shirovs Geniestreich" they call it in the April
issue of Schach. It's a very sharp way of highlighting the bishop's relative
value in endgames with opposite-coloured bishops." (Timman)  Zu diesem
unglaublichen Zug gab es naturgemäß eine ganze Reihe von Kommentaren in der
Schachpresse, von denen ich einige zusammengestellt habe: ""Was ist das?
Schwarz schmeißt einfach so einen ganzen Läufer über Bord? Da stimmt doch
etwas mit dem Diagramm nicht, auf h3 muß etwas gestanden haben!" So ähnlich
war mein erster Gedanke, als ich auf der Zugreise von Madrid nach Linares in
einer spanischen Zeitung auf die Diagrammstellung stieß. Doch es ging alles
mit rechten Dingen zu! An mangelnder Phantasie hat Schirow ja noch nie
gelitten; wahrscheinlich sah er den Textzug als logisch an: Schließlich werden
die weißen Bauern verdoppelt, und der schwarze König dringt unter Tempogewinn
ins weiße Lager ein, von wo aus er den Vormarsch der Freibauern koordiniert!" 
(Poldauf)} (47... Be4 $2 48. g3 Kf5 49. Kf2 a3 50. Ke3 (50. Ba1 Bh1 51. Ke3 Kg4
52. Bxf6 (52. Kf2 $2 f5 53. Be5 a2 54. Bb2 f4 55. gxf4 Kxh4 56. Ke3 Be4 57. Kf2
Kg4 58. Ke3 (58. Be5 Kf5 59. Ke3 g5 $19) 58... Kg3 59. Ba1 Kg2 60. Be5 (60. Ke2
Bf5 61. Bd4 Bg4+ 62. Ke3 Kf1 63. Kd2 Be2 64. Kc1 Kg2 65. Kb2 Bc4 $19) 60... Kf1
61. Bc3 Bf5 $22 62. Kd2 (62. Kf3 d4 63. Bxd4 Ke1 64. Ke3 Kd1 $19) 62... Kf2 63.
Bb2 Kf3 64. Be5 Bb1 $19) 52... Kxg3 53. Ke2 a2 (53... d4 54. Bxd4 Kxh4 55. Bf6+
g5 56. Kd2 $11) 54. Ke3 Kg4 55. Ke2 Kf5 56. Ba1 Ke4 57. Kd2 d4 58. Bb2 Bf3 59.
Ba1 d3 60. Bf6 Bg4 61. Ba1 Bf5 62. Bb2 Kf4 63. Bc3 Kg4 64. Bf6 a1=Q 65. Bxa1
Kxh4 66. Bf6+ g5 67. Ke3 Kh5 68. Bc3 g4 69. Be1 (69. Kf4 $2 Kh4 70. Ke3 (70.
Kxf5 g3 $19) (70. Be1+ Kh3 71. Ke3 g3 72. Kf3 g2 73. Bf2 Kh2 $19) 70... g3 71.
Kd2 Kh3 72. Bd4 Kg2 73. Be5 Kf2 $19) 69... Kg5 70. Bg3 Kf6 71. Bh2 Ke6 72. Bg3
Kd5 73. Bf2 Kc4 74. Be1 Bc8 75. Ba5 Bb7 76. Kf4 Bf3 77. Ke3 Bg2 78. Kf4 Bh3 79.
Ke3 g3 80. Kd2 Kd4 81. Bc7 g2 82. Bb6+ Ke4 83. Bg1 $11) 50... Kg4 51. Bxf6 Kxg3
52. Ke2 d4 (52... a2 53. Ke3 Bf3 54. Kd2 d4 55. Bxd4 Kxh4 56. Kc1 $11) (52...
Kf4 53. Kd2 {siehe unter 50.La1}) 53. Bxd4 Kxh4 54. Kd2 g5 55. Kc3 a2 56. Kb2
Bd5 57. Bf6 Kg4 58. Bxg5 Kxg5 59. Ka1 $11) (47... Kd6 $2 48. Kf2 Kc5 49. Ke3
$11) 48. gxh3 (48. Kf2 Kf5 49. Kf3 Bxg2+ 50. Kxg2 Ke4 $19 {(Shirov,A)}) 48...
Kf5 $8 (48... f5 $2 49. Kf2 Kd6 50. Ke3 (50. Bd4 Kc6 (50... a3 51. Ke3 Kc6 52.
Kf4 Kb5 53. h5 gxh5 54. Kxf5 Kc4 55. Ke5 h4 56. Ba7 Kd3 57. Kxd5 a2 58. Bd4
a1=Q 59. Bxa1 Ke3 $11) 51. Ke3 Kb5 52. Kd3 a3 53. Be5 a2 54. Ba1 Kc5 55. Kc3 f4
56. Kd3 Kb4 57. Ke2 Kc4 58. Kf3 d4 59. Kxf4 Kd5 60. Kf3 Ke5 61. Bb2 Kd5 62. Kf4
Kc4 63. Ba1 Kd5 $11) 50... Kc5 51. Kd3 (51. Bd4+ $2 Kc4 52. Bb2 d4+ 53. Bxd4 (
53. Kf4 d3 $19) 53... f4+ 54. Ke4 f3 55. Be3 a3 56. Kxf3 a2 $19) 51... a3 52.
Bf6 a2 53. Be5 f4 54. Ba1 Kb4 55. Ke2 Kc4 56. Kf3 d4 57. Kxf4 Kd5 $11) 49. Kf2
Ke4 $8 50. Bxf6 (50. Ke2 f5 $19 {(Shirov,A)}) (50. Bb4 Kd3 51. Ba3 d4 52. Bb2
f5 53. Kf3 Kc4 54. Ke2 d3+ 55. Kd2 f4 56. Be5 f3 57. Ke3 f2 58. Kxf2 Kb3 $19)
50... d4 $8 51. Be7 (51. Ke2 $6 a3 $19 {(Ftacnik)}) (51. Bg5 Kd3 52. Ke1 Kc2
$19) 51... Kd3 $8 52. Bc5 Kc4 $8 53. Be7 Kb3 (53... Kb3 54. Bc5 d3 55. Ke3 Kc2
56. Bb4 a3 $19 {(Ftacnik) Quellen: New in Chess Magazine Nr. 3/98, S. 11
Analysen der Partie von Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, der Anregungen von Kasparov
aufnimmt NiC Magazine Nr.4/ 98, "Shirovs recent endgame adventures" von Jan
Timman auf S. 90.  ChessBase Magazin 64, Kommentar von Ftacnik Informator 72
(415), Kommentar von Shirov Schach 4/98 Titelseite und S. 15f von Dirk Poldauf}
) 0-1

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Petursson,M"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. Rd1 Ne7 11. Nd4 Ng6 12. f4 (12. Ne4 Be7 13. f4 {
This in a way looks impressive, but the problem is how to ever achieve the
thrust f5.} Bg4 14. Rd3 Rd8 15. h3 Bd7 16. Be3 c5 17. Ne2 b6 18. c4 h5 {
1/2-1/2 Peng Xiaomin-Almasi,Z/FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997/CBM 63 [Wedberg] (33)}) 12...
Bc5 13. Ne4 (13. Be3 Bxd4 14. Rxd4 Bf5 15. Rc1 b6 16. b4 Ne7 17. Bf2 Rd8 18.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Bh4 Ke8 20. Ne2 Ng6 21. Bg3 h5 {Ye Jiangchuan-Rausis,I/Lee Cup
1996/EXP 54/1/2-1/2 (48)}) 13... Bxd4+ 14. Rxd4 b6 15. Be3 h5 16. Re1 Be6 17.
Ng5 Bf5 18. Rc4 Ne7 19. Rd1 a5 20. Bf2 c5 21. Rc3 Ng6 22. Re1 Rg8 (22... Ke7
$142 23. Z0 Rhd8) 23. a3 a4 24. e6 f6 25. Ne4 h4 26. Rc4 Ke7 $2 (26... Ra5 $142
$11) {[%tqu "En","Can you find the strongest move for White in this position?",
"Break through on the dark squares!","Sacrifice your knight!","e4c5","",20]}
27. Nxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Nxf4 (28... Bxe6 29. f5 Ne5 30. fxe6 $16) (28... Bg4 29.
h3) 29. Rxf5 Nxe6 30. Bxh4 $16 Rgb8 31. Rc5 Kd6 32. Rc3 Rxb2 33. Bg3+ Kd7 34.
Rd1+ Ke8 35. Rc6 Kf7 36. Rd7+ Ke8 37. Rd1 Kf7 38. Re1 Re8 39. Re4 Ra2 40. Rxa4
Rd8 41. Re4 Rd1+ 42. Kf2 Nd4 43. Rxc7+ Kg6 44. Rg4+ Kf5 45. Rc5+ Ke6 46. Re4+
Kf7 47. Rc7+ Kg6 48. Rg4+ Kf5 49. Rc5+ Ke6 50. Rxg7 Nxc2 51. Rc6+ Kf5 52. Rc5+
Ke6 53. Kf3 Nd4+ 54. Kg4 Rxa3 55. Rc8 Ra4 56. Re8+ Kd5 57. Rd7+ Kc4 58. Bf2 Kc3
59. Bxd4+ Rdxd4+ 60. Rxd4 Kxd4 61. Kf5 Ra2 62. g4 Rf2+ 63. Kg6 Rf4 64. Kh5 f5
65. g5 Re4 66. Rf8 Ke5 67. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Na5 12. dxc5 (12. Rb1 Nc4 13. Bg5 Qc7 14.
Qd3 Na3 $6 {1-0 Dyachkov,S-Yandemirov,V/Orel 1995/CBM 48 [Ftacnik] (47)}) 12...
Nc4 $1 $146 (12... Qc7 13. Nf4 e6 (13... Nc4 14. Nd5 Nxe3 15. Nxc7 Nxd1 16.
Rfxd1 Rb8 17. Rab1 Be5 18. Nd5 e6 19. Ne7+ Kg7 20. c6 b6 21. c4 Kf6 22. Nxc8
Rfxc8 23. f4 Bxf4 24. Rf1 {1-0 Aleksandrov,A-Yandemirov,V/RUS-Cup8 1997/EXP 58}
) 14. Nd3 b6 15. Bb5 Bb7 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Qc2 {1/2-1/2 Shariyazdanov,A-Dvoirys,
S/RUS-Cup02 1998/CBM 63 (34)}) 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bg5 Bd7 $1 15. Bb3 Na5 {
/\16... Kf8; 17... Rac8 - קc5 Dokhoian} 16. Bxe7 $8 Re8 17. Bd6 Rxe4 18. Nd4
Nxb3 19. axb3 Bxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.08"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Bc4 (10. h3) (10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6
14. O-O e6 15. Nde2 $1 {1-0 Lanka,Z-Rogozenko,D/Chebanenco mem 1st 1998/CBM 64
(31) [Rogozenko]}) (10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 Nge5 12. f3 b5 13. Bf2 Rb8 14. Nd4 Bd7
15. Be2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Rb1 Rg8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. h3 h5 20. Bd4 Bxd4 21.
Qxd4 Qb6 22. Qxb6 Rxb6 23. b4 cxb3 24. axb3 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/
Linares (10)/1998/CBM 64 [Atlas]}) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. h4 $146 (12. Qf3
Rf8 13. Bb3 Ne5 14. Qe3 Rb8 15. O-O Qb6 16. Qe2 Rh8 17. Kh1 h5 18. f4 gxf4 19.
Bxf4 Bg4 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Rad1 Qa5 22. Qe1 h4 23. h3 Nc4 24. Bc1 Kd7 25. Qf2 Rb7
26. Ne2 Nxb2 27. Bxb2 Bxb2 28. Rb1 Qa3 29. Nf4 Bxb3 30. axb3 Bf6 31. Nd3 Qa5
32. e5 Bxe5 33. Qf5+ Kc7 34. Ra1 Qd5 35. Nxe5 Qxe5 36. Qxe5 {1/2-1/2 Anand,
V-Topalov,V/Amber Rapid 1998/EXP 63}) 12... Qb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. hxg5 O-O-O 15.
Qd2 (15. gxh6 Bxh6 {[%cal Rh6c1] Weiß kann nicht rochieren}) 15... hxg5 16.
Rxh8 Rxh8 17. O-O-O Ne5 18. f3 Qa5 19. Kb1 Bf6 20. Qe3 Kb7 21. Bf2 Rb8 $2 $16 {
Zu optimistisch} (21... Ra8 $142 $14 {Anand}) 22. g3 Kc8 23. Qe2 $1 {[%csl Ra6]
[%cal Yd1d4,Yd4a4]} Ng6 {[%csl Yd4]} 24. Be1 {[%cal Ge1c3,Yc3a5]} (24. Bxf7
Bxc3) 24... Qb6 (24... Bxc3 25. Bxc3 Qb6 26. Bxf7 $18) 25. Na4 Qb5 $18 (25...
Qa7 $142 26. Bxf7 $16 {Anand}) 26. c4 $1 Qb7 27. Ba5 $16 (27. c5 $1 $18 {Anand}
) 27... c5 28. Nb6+ Qxb6 (28... Kd8 29. Nd5+ Ke8 30. Nxf6+ exf6 31. Rxd6 $18)
29. Bxb6 Rxb6 30. Rd2 (30. Qe3 $5 {[%csl Rg5]}) 30... Be5 31. Qh2 Kc7 32. Rf2
Rb8 33. f4 Rh8 $2 (33... Bd4 $142 {Bietet Schwarz bessere Überlebenschancen.}
34. Rf1 gxf4 35. gxf4 Bc6 36. Qe2 $16) 34. fxe5 $1 $18 Rxh2 35. exd6+ Kxd6 36.
Rxh2 {Dies Endspiel ist gewonnen, auch wenn die technische Realisierung nicht
so einfach ist.} Bc6 37. Bc2 Ne5 38. b3 Nf3 39. Rh7 f6 40. Kc1 a5 41. Kd1 Ke6
42. Bd3 Kd6 43. Ke2 Ne5 44. Kd2 Bb7 45. Kc3 Nc6 46. Rh8 Kc7 47. Bf1 Ne5 48. Bg2
Bc6 49. a3 Bb7 50. Rh7 Kd7 51. b4 axb4+ 52. axb4 cxb4+ 53. Kxb4 Ba6 54. Bh3+ g4
55. Bf1 Bb7 56. Bg2 Ba6 57. Rh5 Ke6 (57... Nxc4 58. Bf1 $18) (57... Bxc4 58.
Rxe5 $18) 58. Kc3 Kd6 59. Bf1 Bb7 60. Bd3 Bc6 61. Rh7 Bd7 62. Be2 Be6 63. Bf1
Bf7 64. Bd3 Be6 65. Rh8 Nc6 66. Bc2 Kc5 67. Bb3 Bf7 68. Ba4 Ne5 69. Rc8+ Kb6
70. c5+ Kb7 71. Rh8 Bg6 72. Kd4 Bf7 73. Rh7 Kc7 74. Bb5 Nf3+ 75. Ke3 Ne5 76.
Rh8 Bg6 77. Ra8 Kb7 78. Ra6 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.09"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. a4
b6 9. f4 Bb7 10. Bf3 Nbd7 11. Qe2 e5 12. Nf5 g6 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg5 Qd8 15.
Ne3 Bg7 16. O-O h6 17. Bh4 O-O 18. Ncd5 g5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bg4 Qd8 21. Bg3
Nxg4 22. Qxg4 Qe7 23. Nf5 Qxe4 24. Qxe4 Bxe4 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Bxd6 Rfe8 27. c3
f5 28. a5 Re6 29. Bc7 b5 30. Rad1 Kg6 31. Rd6 Rxd6 32. Bxd6 h5 33. Rd1 Rd8 34.
Rd4 h4 35. Kf2 h3 36. g4 f4 37. Be7 Rxd4 38. cxd4 Bd5 39. b4 Bb3 40. Ke2 Be6
41. Kf3 Bd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. a3 Ng4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. h3 Nh6 14. Ng3 Qh4
15. Rfe1 Be6 16. b4 a6 17. Na4 Re7 18. Nc5 Rae8 19. Bf1 Bc8 20. a4 Ng6 21. b5
axb5 22. axb5 Qg5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Ra8 Nh4 25. Rb1 N6f5 26. Nxf5 Nxf5 27. Rbb8
Nd6 28. Nd3 Rc7 29. Qc5 Qe7 30. Nb4 g6 31. Ba6 Qe6 32. Bxc8 Nxc8 33. Ra6 Kg7
34. Rxc6 Rxc6 35. Qxc6 Qxc6 36. Nxc6 Nd6 37. Rxe8 Nxe8 38. g4 h6 39. f3 Kf6 40.
Kf2 Ke6 41. h4 Nd6 42. Ne5 Nb5 43. Nd3 g5 44. h5 Na3 45. Ke2 Nc4 46. Nf2 Nd6
47. e4 Ne8 48. Nd1 Nf6 49. e5 Nd7 50. Ne3 f6 51. exf6 Nxf6 52. Kd3 Ng8 53. Nf5
Kd7 54. Ke3 Ke6 55. f4 Kf6 56. Kf3 Kf7 57. Nxh6+ Nxh6 58. fxg5 Ng8 59. Kf4 Ke6
60. g6 Kf6 61. g5+ Ke6 62. g7 Ne7 63. h6 Ng6+ 64. Kg4 Kf7 65. Kf5 Kg8 66. Kf6
Nh4 67. h7+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 d6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd2 Be6 8.
O-O-O Nd7 9. Ng5 Bxc4 10. e4 Bxf1 11. Rhxf1 Nh6 12. f4 c6 13. fxe5 Ke7 14. Nf3
Ng4 15. Bg5+ Ke8 16. e6 fxe6 17. Rd6 Nf8 18. Rfd1 Bf6 19. e5 Bxg5+ 20. Nxg5
Nxe5 21. Nxe6 Ke7 22. Nd8 Rb8 23. Ne4 Nfd7 24. Re6+ Kxd8 25. Rxe5 Rf8 26. Nc5
Rf7 27. Re3 b6 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. Nxd7 Rf2 30. Nxb8+ Kc7 31. Na6+ Kb7 32. Nb4 c5
33. Nc2 Kc6 34. Rd2 Rf1+ 35. Rd1 Rf2 36. Rg1 g5 37. h3 h5 38. Ne1 c4 39. Nf3 c3
40. bxc3 Rxa2 41. Kb1 Rf2 42. Nxg5 Kd5 43. g4 h4 44. Rd1+ Kc4 45. Ne4 Rh2 46.
g5 Kb3 47. Rg1 a5 48. g6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nb6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8.
Nf3 e6 9. a3 Ne7 10. Bd3 Bc6 11. O-O Qd7 12. Ne4 Ng6 13. h4 O-O-O 14. g3 Qd5
15. h5 f5 16. exf6 gxf6 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Re1 f5 19. Bg5 Rd7 20. Rc1 Rdh7 21.
Bh4 Ba4 22. Qe2 fxe4 23. Bxe4 Qh5 24. Ng5 Be7 25. Nxh7 Qxh7 26. Bxe7 Qh2+ 27.
Kf1 Bb5 28. Qxb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. g3 c5 5. d5 b5 6. cxb5 a6 7. bxa6 Nf6 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Bf5 10. h3 Nxa6 11. g4 Bxb1 12. Rxb1 Nc7 13. a3 Nfxd5 14. Nh2 e6 15.
g5 Rb8 16. Qd3 f5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. e4 fxe4 19. Qxe4 Qd7 20. Ng4 Ne7 21. Re1 e5
22. b4 d5 23. Nxe5 Qxh3 24. Qg4 Qxg4+ 25. Nxg4 Nc6 26. Bb2 cxb4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7
28. axb4 Rf5 29. b5 Rxg5 30. bxc6 Rxg4+ 31. Kf1 Rc8 32. Rb7+ Kf6 33. Rd7 Rxc6
34. Rxd5 h5 35. Red1 Rcc4 36. R5d3 h4 37. Rf3+ Kg7 38. Re1 Kh6 39. Rd1 Ra4 40.
Re1 Ra5 41. Rd1 Rag5 42. Rd8 Rg1+ 43. Ke2 Ra5 44. Rh8+ Kg5 45. Rd3 Re5+ 46. Kf3
Rf5+ 47. Ke2 Ra1 48. Rd4 Ra2+ 49. Ke3 Raxf2 50. Rdxh4 R5f3+ 51. Ke4 Rf4+ 52.
Rxf4 Rxf4+ 53. Ke3 Kg4 54. Rh1 Rf3+ 55. Ke2 g5 56. Rg1+ Rg3 57. Ra1 Rg2+ 58.
Kf1 Kh3 59. Ra3+ Kh2 60. Ra5 g4 61. Rh5+ Kg3 62. Ra5 Rb2 63. Ra3+ Kh2 64. Ra8
Rb1+ 65. Kf2 g3+ 66. Kf3 g2 67. Rh8+ Kg1 68. Ke2 Rb5 69. Re8 Rh5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14.
Rfe1 Rc8 15. h4 h6 16. Qf4 Qf6 17. Qg3 Na5 18. Bd3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Ne5
Rc7 21. d5 exd5 22. Ng4 Qc3 23. Nxh6+ Kh7 24. Qf4 Re7 25. e5 Bc8 26. Rc1 Qd3
27. Ng4 Qf5 28. Qxf5+ Bxf5 29. Ne3 Be6 30. Red1 Rd8 31. Rd4 Rdd7 32. f4 g6 33.
g4 Rc7 34. Rxc7 Rxc7 35. f5 gxf5 36. gxf5 Bc8 37. Rxd5 Rc3 38. Kf2 Ra3 39. Rd8
Rxa2+ 40. Kf3 Bb7+ 41. Kf4 Ra4+ 42. Kg5 Bf3 43. Rd7 Re4 44. Nd5 Rxe5 45. Nf6+
Kg7 46. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 a5 8. a4
Be7 9. Be3 Na6 10. Bb5 O-O 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 12. Nxa5 d5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5
Rfc8 15. c3 Bh4+ 16. g3 Bd8 17. Nb3 b5 18. O-O bxa4 19. Nd2 Nc5 20. c4 Qb7 21.
Bxc5 Rxc5 22. Rxa4 Rca5 23. Rxa5 Bxa5 24. Qc2 Rb8 25. Ra1 Bb6+ 26. c5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Qb3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Ba3 Be6 12. d5 Bg4 13. Be2 Nd7 14. h3 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 Rab8 16. Bb2 b5 17. Rfd1 c4 18. Qc2 Nc5 19. Ba3 a5 20. Rab1 Rfd8 21.
Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Rdc1 Qa3 23. h4 h5 24. g3 Rdc8 25. g4 hxg4 26. Bxg4 Rd8 27. Bf3
Rb6 28. Kg2 Kf8 29. Kh3 Rc8 30. h5 gxh5 31. Qf5 Rd8 32. Rc2 Rf6 33. Qe4 Qc5 34.
Rd1 Qc8+ 35. Kg2 Rg6+ 36. Kf1 Qd7 37. Ke2 Rg5 38. a4 bxa4 39. Qxc4 Rc8 40. Qd3
a3 41. c4 Qa4 42. Rdd2 Bb2 43. d6 exd6 44. Qxd6+ Kg8 45. Qf4 Rg7 46. Bd5 Rf8
47. c5 Qxf4 48. exf4 a2 49. Bxa2 Bf6 50. c6 Re8+ 51. Kf3 h4 52. c7 Rc8 53. Rd6
Be7 54. Rb6 Kh8 55. Rcc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. Be3 Be7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Nb3 Qxd2+ 13. Rxd2 Nb4 14. Kb1
Nd5 15. Bf2 Bg5 16. Rd3 b6 17. g3 Bb7 18. Be2 Rfd8 19. h4 Bh6 20. c4 Nb4 21.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. c5 Bd5 23. Rd1 Rb8 24. cxb6 axb6 25. Be1 Nxa2 26. Nd4 g6 27. b3
Ra8 28. Bc4 Bxc4 29. bxc4 Rd8 30. Kc2 Bf8 31. Nc6 Rc8 32. Ne5 Nb4+ 33. Bxb4
Bxb4 34. Rd7 Be1 35. Nxf7 Rxc4+ 36. Kd3 Rc3+ 37. Ke2 Bxg3 38. Ng5 Bxh4 39. Nxe6
Rc2+ 40. Kd3 Rc6 41. Nf4 Rf6 42. Ke4 Rf7 43. Rd5 Bg3 44. Ne2 Re7+ 45. Kd3 Bf2
46. f4 Kf7 47. Nc3 Re3+ 48. Kd2 Rf3 49. Rd7+ Ke6 50. Rxh7 Rxf4 51. Rg7 Kf5 52.
Ne2 Rf3 53. Rf7+ Kg4 54. Re7 Bc5 55. Re4+ Kf5 56. Re8 g5 57. Nc1 Kg4 58. Nd3
Rf5 59. Ke2 Kg3 60. Re6 g4 61. Re4 Kh3 62. Nf4+ Kh2 63. Nd3 g3 64. Rh4+ Kg1 65.
Nf4 Re5+ 66. Kd3 Kf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Be7 11. Nc3 Qd6 12. Qb3 O-O 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 14. a3 a6
15. Na4 Nd5 16. Nc5 b6 17. Nb7 Na5 18. Nxa5 bxa5 19. Qa4 Rab8 20. Rd2 Qc7 21.
Rc2 Qb6 22. Qc4 Bg6 23. Rd2 Ra8 24. Rc1 Bd6 25. Qc6 Rdb8 26. Ne5 Qd8 27. Qd7
Nxe3 28. fxe3 Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Rxb2 31. Bf3 Rab8 32. Rc5 R2b5 33.
Rb7 R5xb7 34. Bxb7 Bd3 35. Rc7 g5 36. Kf2 Kg7 37. Kg3 a4 38. h4 gxh4+ 39. Kxh4
Rd8 40. Kg3 Bb5 41. Bf3 Rd3 42. Kf4 Rxa3 43. Bh5 Be8 44. Ra7 Rc3 45. Rxa6 a3
46. e4 Bc6 47. Ra7 Rc4 48. Bxf7 Rxe4+ 49. Kg3 Ra4 50. Rxa4 Bxa4 51. Bxe6 Kf8
52. Ba2 Ke7 53. e6 Kf6 54. Kf4 Bc6 55. g4 h6 56. g5+ hxg5+ 57. Kg4 Bb7 58. e7
Bc8+ 59. Kh5 Bd7 60. Bb1 g4 61. e8=Q Bxe8+ 62. Kxg4 Bg6 63. Ba2 Bf7 64. Bb1 Ke5
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Be6 9. Re1 Nf6 10. cxd5 Bxd5 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bf4 Qd8 14. a3 Nd5
15. Bg3 Bf6 16. Be4 Nce7 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 c6 20. Rad1 Rfe8 21.
Qc2 g6 22. Qb3 b6 23. h3 Qe6 24. Rd2 Rad8 25. Red1 Rd7 26. Qf3 Nf5 27. Bf4 Red8
28. Bg5 Nfe7 29. Bxd5 cxd5 30. Bf6 d4 31. Qe4 d3 32. Rxd3 Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Rxd3
34. Qxd3 Nd5 35. Qd4 h6 36. h4 Kh7 37. g3 Qd7 38. Qc4 Nc7 39. Qc2 h5 40. Qe4
Nd5 41. b4 Qe6 42. Qc4 Kg8 43. Qd4 Nxf6 44. exf6 Kh7 45. a4 Qf5 46. b5 Qb1+ 47.
Kg2 Qf5 48. Qc3 g5 49. hxg5 Qxg5 50. Qd3+ Kh6 51. Qd6 Kg6 52. Qd7 Qe5 53. Qxa7
Qe4+ 54. Kh2 Qd4 55. Kg1 Qd1+ 56. Kg2 Qd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E69"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. h3
c6 9. e4 Re8 10. Rb1 a6 11. a3 Rb8 12. Re1 b5 13. c5 exd4 14. Nxd4 Ne5 15. f4
dxc5 16. fxe5 cxd4 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Bf4 Qb6 19. Na2 Be6 20. Nb4 Rbc8 21. e5
Bg7 22. Rc1 Bd7 23. Qf3 a5 24. Nd3 c5 25. Qb7 Qxb7 26. Bxb7 c4 27. Bxc8 Rxc8
28. Nf2 h6 29. h4 c3 30. Red1 g5 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Bxg5 Bf5 33. g4 Bg6 34. Rxd4
c2 35. Rd5 b4 36. Rxa5 bxa3 37. bxa3 Rb8 38. Kf1 Re8 39. Rc5 Rxe5 40. Rxe5 Bxe5
41. Re1 Bc3 42. Re8+ Kg7 43. Rc8 Bb2 44. a4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be3 Re8 10. Nd2 Bd7 11. a4 Na6 12. Be2 Nb4 13. O-O b6 14. Bf3 Bc8 15.
Nc4 Ba6 16. b3 Nd7 17. Rc1 Ne5 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 a6 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Be2
Bf6 22. f3 Qd7 23. bxa6 b5 24. Bd2 Nxa6 25. Kh1 Nc7 26. Bc3 Bxc3 27. Rxc3 Ra2
28. Rc2 Ra3 29. Rd2 Qe7 30. Qc1 Rxb3 31. Ra2 Qf6 32. Rd1 c4 33. Ra7 Re7 34. Qh6
Rb2 35. Bf1 c3 36. Rc1 Qd4 37. Rca1 Qg7 38. Qf4 Qf8 39. Qxd6 c2 40. Qc6 Ne8 41.
Rxe7 Qxe7 42. Bd3 Nd6 43. Bxc2 Qe5 44. f4 Qxf4 45. Qc3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. Ne2 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 18. O-O Nc7 19. Bc4 e5 20. Nf5 Ba6 21.
Bxa6 N7xa6 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Nc6 Re8 24. b4 Re6 25. bxc5 Rxc6 26. cxb6 axb6 27.
e4 Nc5 28. Rfc1 Rac8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 b6 4. Bg5 Bb7 5. Nbd2 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e4 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. e5 Qe7 10. Be4 d5 11. exd6 cxd6 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. Bxb7 Qxb7 14. O-O Bf6
15. Rfe1 Nd7 16. Ne4 Be7 17. c4 Rc8 18. Rad1 Kg7 19. h4 a6 20. h5 b5 21. cxb5
Qxb5 22. Qxb5 axb5 23. hxg6 Kxg6 24. Nc3 Rb8 25. d5 e5 26. Nd4 b4 27. Na4 Bg5
28. Nc6 Rb7 29. Re4 b3 30. Na5 Ra7 31. Nxb3 Rc8 32. Nc3 Rb7 33. Ra4 f5 34. Ra6
Be7 35. Rc6 Ra8 36. Rd2 Kf7 37. Rc2 Rab8 38. Kf1 h5 39. g3 Bf8 40. Nd1 Nf6 41.
Ne3 Kg6 42. Rc8 Bh6 43. Rxb8 Rxb8 44. Rc6 Bxe3 45. fxe3 Ne4 46. Ke1 Kg5 47. Nd2
Nxd2 48. Kxd2 Rxb2+ 49. Kc3 Rxa2 50. Rxd6 Ra3+ 51. Kd2 Kg4 52. Rg6+ Kf3 53. Rg5
Ke4 54. d6 Rd3+ 55. Ke2 Rxe3+ 56. Kf2 Rd3 57. Rxh5 Rd2+ 58. Ke1 Rxd6 59. Ke2
Rg6 60. Kf2 Ra6 61. Rh4+ Kd3 62. Rh5 Ra2+ 63. Kf1 Ke4 64. Rg5 Rb2 65. Rh5 Rb3
66. Kg2 Rf3 67. Rh1 Ra3 68. Rh5 f4 69. gxf4 exf4 70. Rb5 Ra2+ 71. Kf1 Kf3 72.
Rb3+ Kg4 73. Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8.
Qc2 Bb7 9. Be2 d6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Ne1 c5 12. f3 Nef6 13. b4 Rc8 14. Qb3 cxd4
15. exd4 e5 16. Bb2 Re8 17. Nc2 d5 18. Ne3 exd4 19. Bxd4 dxc4 20. Bxc4 Ne5 21.
Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Bxf7+ Kh8 23. Rfd1 Qe7 24. Nf1 b5 25. Qa2 Re2 26. Rd2 Rxd2 27.
Nxd2 Qe3+ 28. Kh1 Qd3 29. Bb3 Bd5 30. Rg1 h6 31. Bxd5 Nxd5 32. Ne4 Rc2 33. Qa1
Ne3 34. Qe5 Kh7 35. Nc5 Qc3 36. Qe4+ Kh8 37. h3 Rc1 38. Qe8+ Kh7 39. Qe4+ Kh8
40. Nd3 Rxg1+ 41. Kxg1 Qd2 42. f4 Nxg2 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Qe4+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O
Bd6 9. b3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bb2 Re8 13. Rc1 h5 14. Na4 Ng4
15. Bxg4 Bxg4 16. Qd4 Be5 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. f3 Bf5 20. Rc3 Rae8 21.
Rfc1 Qe7 22. Re1 Qb4 23. Qc1 R8e6 24. Nc5 Rg6 25. Kh1 Qh4 26. Qd2 d4 27. Rc4
dxe3 28. Rxe3 Rd6 29. Qc1 Qe7 30. Rxe5 Qxe5 31. Ne4 Rd4 32. Rxd4 Qxd4 33. Ng3
Bg6 34. Ne2 Qe5 35. Nf4 Bh7 36. h3 h4 37. Qd2 g5 38. Nh5 Bg6 39. Qd8+ Kh7 40.
Nf6+ Kg7 41. Ng4 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 b6 10. f3 Bb7 11. a4 Nc6 12. Bg5 Nb4 13. Nb1 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Na3 Qc7 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Nc4 Rfd8 18. a5 bxa5 19. Nbxa5 Nd4 20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21.
Bd3 Bg5 22. Qf2 a5 23. Ra4 Ne6 24. Rfa1 Nc5 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Rxa5 Nxd3 27.
cxd3 d5 28. Rxd5 Rxd5 29. exd5 Qxd5 30. Qe2 Bf6 31. g3 h5 32. Kg2 g6 33. h3 Bg7
34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 f5 36. Kf1 Kf7 37. Qe3 Bf6 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Ke2 Kg6 40.
Kd1 Qa8 41. Ke2 Qd5 42. b4 Kf7 43. Qa7+ Be7 44. Ne3 Qe6 45. b5 e4 46. Qa4 exd3+
47. Kxd3 Qd7+ 48. Ke2 Kg6 49. Qc4 Bd6 50. b6 Qe7 51. Kd3 Bc5 52. Qg8+ Kh5 53.
Qh8+ Kg6 54. Nd5 Qf7 55. Nf4+ Kg5 56. Qd8+ Kh6 57. Nd5 Qg7 58. Qh4+ Kg6 59.
Qg3+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 Rd8 12. Nd2 Qb6 13. c5 Qxc5 14. Nb3 Nb4
15. axb4 Qxb4 16. Rd4 Qb6 17. Nb5 Ne8 18. Nc7 e5 19. Bxe5 Bf5 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21.
Rxd3 Rac8 22. Rc3 Bb4 23. Nxd5 Rxc3 24. Nxc3 Qe6 25. Bg3 Bxc3 26. Qxc3 Qe4+ 27.
Qc2 Qxg2 28. Rd1 Ra8 29. Nc5 Nf6 30. Qf5 h6 31. Nd7 Nxd7 32. Qxd7 Qf3 33. Qd5
Qe2 34. Rc1 Re8 35. h4 h5 36. b3 Qg4 37. Kb2 b6 38. Rc7 Qe2+ 39. Rc2 Qg4 40.
Rc7 Qe2+ 41. Ka3 Qa6+ 42. Kb4 Re6 43. Qf5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5
9. Nf5 h5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Nc6 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Nxd6+ Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Bxg4
15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 16. Rd6 exf4 17. Bxf4 Ne6 18. Be5 Bf3 19. Rg1 Bxe4 20. Bh3 Rd8
21. Rb6 Bc6 22. Rb3 Rg8 23. Re3 g6 24. Bf6 Rd6 25. c4 Kf8 26. Rf1 Bd7 27. b3 g5
28. Be5 Rc6 29. Bg2 g4 30. Rd3 Be8 31. Bd6+ Kg7 32. Rf5 Kg6 33. Ra5 f5 34. Rd2
Ng5 35. Bxc6 Bxc6 36. Bf4 Ne4 37. Rd4 h4 38. b4 g3 39. hxg3 hxg3 40. b5 g2 41.
Be3 axb5 42. cxb5 Be8 43. b6 Bc6 44. Rd1 Rh8 45. Re5 Nc3 46. Rd6+ Kf7 47. Rxf5+
Ke7 48. Rg6 Rh1+ 49. Kd2 Rf1 50. Rh5 Ne4+ 51. Kc2 Nf6 52. Rh4 Kf7 53. Rg5 Nd5
54. Bd4 Nf6 55. Rh6 Be4+ 56. Kd2 Ne8 57. Rg4 Rh1 58. Rf4+ Kg8 59. Re6 Bc6 60.
Rxc6 bxc6 61. Rg4+ Kf7 62. Rxg2 Nd6 63. Kc2 Ke6 64. a4 Kd5 65. Bg1 c5 66. a5
Kc6 67. Rg6 Kb7 68. Rxd6 Rxg1 69. Rd7+ Kc8 70. Rc7+ Kb8 71. a6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. e4 Nb6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. e5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nc4 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Nd6 N6xe5
15. Nxe5 Nxd6 16. Bd2 f6 17. Bb4 Nf5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Nd7 Re8 20. Rac1 Nd5 21.
Nc5 Rb8 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Re7 25. h4 Rbe8 26. Kg2 Kf7 27.
Kf3 Re5 28. Rd7+ R8e7 29. Rxe7+ Rxe7 30. a4 Rd7 31. b4 Ke7 32. Ke4 Kd8 33. Rc4
Re7+ 34. Kd5 Kd7 35. Rc2 Re5+ 36. Kd4 Re1 37. Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Bc4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qf3 Rf8 13. Bb3 Ne5 14. Qe3 Rb8 15.
O-O Qb6 16. Qe2 Rh8 17. Kh1 h5 18. f4 gxf4 19. Bxf4 Bg4 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Rad1
Qa5 22. Qe1 h4 23. h3 Nc4 24. Bc1 Kd7 25. Qf2 Rb7 26. Ne2 Nxb2 27. Bxb2 Bxb2
28. Rb1 Qa3 29. Nf4 Bxb3 30. axb3 Bf6 31. Nd3 Qa5 32. e5 Bxe5 33. Qf5+ Kc7 34.
Ra1 Qd5 35. Nxe5 Qxe5 36. Qxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
g6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 Qg7 12. c5 Ba5 13. Nd6+ Ke7 14. Qb3 Bc7 15.
Rhe1 Bxd6 16. cxd6+ Kxd6 17. Kf1 Kc7 18. Rac1 Nb6 19. Ne5 Bd7 20. Be4 g5 21.
Qg3 Kd8 22. Bf3 Re8 23. a4 a5 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Nxc6+ Bxc6 26. Rxc6 Nd7 27.
Qc7+ Ke7 28. Qd6+ Kd8 29. Rc7 f6 30. Rec1 g4 31. Rb7 Re7 32. Qc6 Qg5 33. Rc7
Nb6 34. Qxb6 Rxc7 35. Rxc7 1-0

[Event "Sofia m 25'"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1998.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1998.05.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8208]} {Kostakiev: Bad opening move done by player with very high ECO
level could be repeated many times in the practice without critical remarks. I
think here we have such an example:} 1. Nf3 {King Donev (deutschsprachige
Kommentare)} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8.
Be2 Nbd7 $5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rc1 c5 12. Qa4 a6 13. dxc5 bxc5 {
Sogenannte hängende Bauern.} 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15. Qb3 Qa7 16. Bg3 Rad8 $2 {This
move is played unpunished very often during the last years.   Actually after
17.Nf3-h4! the Black's position would become very difficult. There is an
unwritten (up to now) thumb rule: When the black B is on b7, look carefully at
the weakened point f5, especialy after e6xd5... (Simillary - for the Bg7 and
square c5; Bg2 and c4, as well as Bb2 and square f4).} (16... Rfd8 17. Ne5 Nb6
18. a4 Bd6 {1-0 Lalic,B-Abramovic,B/Ch Yugoslavia 1989}) (16... Rac8 17. Ne5
Rfd8 18. Bf3 Nb6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Sichev,A-Gefenas,V/corr 1993}) 17. Rd2 $5 $146 {
King: Novelty. However, it seems to me that the rooks are more harmoniously
placed when they are protecting each other on the back rank. In certain
circumstances (which Kasparov engineers) there are tactical drawbacks. This is
said with the benefit of hindsight; but still.} (17. Ne1 $6 d4 $15 {1/2-1/2
Karpov,A-Kasparov,G/Wch31-KK1 Moscow 1984} (17... d4 {King} 18. exd4 cxd4 19.
Na4 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Bc4 Rf8 22. Qd3 Bc6 23. Bb3 Ne4 24. Qxd4 Qb7 25. Bd5
Ndf6 26. Bxc6 Qxc6 27. b3 Re8 28. Qd3 h5 29. Qc4 Qb7 30. Nf3 Rc8 31. Qe2 Ng4
32. Ne5 Nxg3 33. hxg3 Qb5 34. Nc4 Bf6 35. Nab6 Re8 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Kasparov,
G/Wch31-KK1 1984})) (17. Nh4 $142 $1 {[/\ Xf5;Xd6; /\XBf3:Pd5]} Rfe8 (17... c4
$6 18. Qc2 $16) (17... g6 18. Bf3 $16 Nb8 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 $16) 18. Nf5
Bf8 19. Bf3 g6 20. Nd6 $16 Bxd6 21. Bxd6 Ne5 22. Bxe5 $1 (22. Bxc5 $2 Nxf3+ $17
{f.e:} 23. gxf3 Qxc5 24. Qxb7 d4 25. Ne4 Qf5 (25... Nxe4 26. Rxc5 Nxc5 27. Qb6
$18) 26. Ng3 Qg5 27. exd4 Rxd4 28. Qxa6 $16) 22... Rxe5 23. Na4 $18 {i.e:} Nd7
24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Qxd5 Rb8 27. b3 $18) 17... Rfe8 18. Qd1 $6 (18.
Rcd1 $142 $5 Qa8 (18... Nf8 19. Bc7 Rc8 20. Bg3 Rcd8 $11) 19. Nh4 $14) 18...
Bf8 (18... Qb6 19. b3 Qe6 $11) 19. Bh4 (19. Bd3 Qb6 20. Bf5 d4 21. exd4 Bxf3
22. gxf3 cxd4 23. Rxd4 Nc5 (23... Qxb2 $16 24. Bc7 Rc8 25. Bxd7)) 19... Qa8 {
Mit dem letzten Zug hat der Schwarze die Plätze von Qd8 und Ra8 ausgetauscht.
So werden beide Schwerfiguren besser arbeiten - die Dame auf der grossen
Diagonale und der Turm, der auf der d - Linie den Standarddurchbruch d5-d4
unterstützen kann.} 20. Ne1 (20. Bg3 Be7 21. Nh4 Bf8 22. a3 Ne5 23. Nf5 g6 24.
Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Ng3 $14) 20... Be7 {King: In order to protect the knight on f6
in case the other has to move.} 21. Bg3 (21. Bf3 {King} Ne5) 21... Nf8 22. Nf3
(22. Bc7 Rc8 $11) ({King: Topalov still does not have time for} 22. Bf3 {
King as} Ne6 {threatening ...Ng5, among others is strong.}) 22... Ne6 23. Bh4 (
23. Be5 {King} Ng4 24. Bg3 d4 $5 (24... Nf6 $11) 25. exd4 cxd4 26. Nb1 (26.
Nxd4 Bg5 $17) 26... Bb4 27. Rdc2 Bd6 $36) {Das zeitraubende weisse Spiel (
Nf3-e1-f3, Bh4-g3-h4-g3) ermöglicht dem Nachziehenden einen typischen starken
Durchbruch.} 23... d4 {Auf diese Weise hat der Weltmeister die lange Diagonale
für die Artillerie Q+B geöffnet.} 24. exd4 cxd4 25. Na4 (25. Nxd4 {Donev} Nxd4
26. Rxd4 Bxg2 $17) 25... Nf4 26. Nc5 {[#] Ein schlechter Zug in einer
schwierigen Stellung.Es ist offensichtlich , dass der Generalabtausch auf e2
und f3 gut für Schwarz ist.} (26. Bxf6 $142 {Donev} Bxf6 27. Nc5 Rxe2 28. Rxe2
Bxf3 29. gxf3 Qd5 30. Ne4 $17) (26. Nb6 {Donev} Qa7 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Nc4 Rxe2
$1 29. Rxe2 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Qc5 $19 {hätte glatt verloren.}) 26... Bxc5 $6 (26...
Nxe2+ $5 27. Rxe2 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Qxf3 29. Qd3 (29. Nxa6 $2 Ne4 $19 {f.e:} 30.
Bxe7 (30. Bg3 $2 Ng5 31. h4 Nh3+ 32. Kh2 Nf4 33. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 34. Kh1 Qxh4+ $19)
30... Qg4+ 31. Kh1 Rxe7 32. Rec2 Qh4 33. Qf3 d3 $19) 29... Qf4 30. Rc4 $19 (30.
Bg3 Qxc1+)) 27. Bxf6 (27. Rxc5 Ne4 28. Rf5 (28. Bxd8 {Donev} Nxd2 $19 {und Be2
hängt.}) 28... Nxd2 29. Rxf4 Nxf3+ 30. Bxf3 Bxf3 31. gxf3 $19) 27... d3 $6 (
27... Rxe2 $6 28. Rxe2 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Qc6 $17) (27... Bb4 $1 28. Bf1 (28. Bxd8 {
Donev} Bxd2 {wiederum auf e2 das B mit Schach hängt.} 29. Bf1 Bxc1 30. Qxc1
Nxg2 31. Nh4 Qxd8 32. Nxg2 Qd5 $19) 28... Nh3+ 29. gxh3 Bxf3 30. Be2 Rxe2 31.
Rxe2 gxf6 32. Rc7 Kh8 $19) (27... gxf6 28. Rxc5 Rxe2 29. Rf5 (29. Rxe2 Bxf3 30.
gxf3 Qxf3 (30... Qxf3 {Donev} 31. Qf1 (31. Re8+ Rxe8 32. Qxf3 Re1#) 31... Nxe2+
$19)) 29... Rxd2 30. Qxd2 Nh3+ 31. gxh3 Bxf3) 28. Bxd3 (28. Bf1 {Donev} Ne2+
29. Bxe2 dxe2 30. Qxe2 gxf6 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 $19) 28... Bxf3 29. gxf3 {[#]} Rd5 $5
$138 (29... Rxd3 30. Rxd3 Re1+ (30... Qc8 {[%cal Yc8h3] Donev} 31. Rd8 Rxd8 32.
Qxd8+ Qxd8 33. Bxd8 Ne2+ $19) 31. Qxe1 Nxd3 32. Qd1 Nxc1 33. Qxc1 Qd5 $11) 30.
Bh4 {Im Schach gilt: wer den letzten Fehler macht verliert! Ich kann mir die
Fehler in der Schlußphase nur wegen dem Zeitmangel erklären. Es ist
offensichtlich , dass Schnellschachpartien die Qualität im Schach vermindert!}
(30. Be4 $2 Rxd2 $1 31. Qxd2 Rxe4 $3 32. Rxc5 (32. Qd8+ Qxd8 33. Bxd8 Rd4 $19)
(32. fxe4 {Donev} Qxe4 $19) 32... gxf6 $19 33. fxe4 Qxe4 {[#]} 34. Rc8+ $2 Kg7
35. f3 Qxf3 36. h3 Ne2+ 37. Kh2 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qxh3#) ({White could be saved by:
} 30. Bf1 $1 {One more confirmation to the Lasker's middlegame rule that at
doublled Pf3+Pf2 , White is still with good castling if h2-h3 was not played
yet.} Rxd2 31. Qxd2 Qxf3 32. Rc3 $1 Bb4 33. Rxf3 Bxd2 34. Rg3 Nh5 35. Rd3 $15)
(30. Rc4 $142 $5 {Donev}) ({King: However,} 30. Rc4 {King is 'unclear'
according to Kasparov.  A few further thoughts on the matter:} Nh3+ (30... Rxd3
31. Rxf4 Rxd2 32. Qxd2 gxf6 33. Rg4+ Kh7 34. Qd7 (34. Qc2+ Kh8 35. Qxc5 (35.
Qd2 Bf8) 35... Qxf3 $19) 34... Kh8 35. Qxf7 Re1+ 36. Kg2 Qf8 $17) (30... gxf6
31. Rxf4) 31. Kg2 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Nxf2 33. Qc2 Nxd3 (33... Ba7 $2 34. Rdc3) 34.
Qxd3 gxf6 (34... Bf8 35. Bc3 $11) 35. Rxc5 $11) 30... Bb4 31. Rc3 Bxc3 32. bxc3
Red8 0-1

[Event "Sofia m 25'"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1998.05.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1998.05.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6
8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 (10. Qd2 $14 {Dobrev,Iv-Mollov,E/tt ch Bg 1994}) (
{King: The idea of playing the knight in to f5 has been tried before - even a
move earlier - though without success:} 10. Nf5 {King} Bxf5 11. exf5 Qa5 12.
Qd3 Nd7 13. Be2 Nc5 14. Qd2 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16. bxc3 Nf6 17. f3 Rc8 $17 {
King: Florean,A-Istratescu,A/ROM-ch Herculane 1996/0-1 (56). Who cares about
the bishops: White's pawns are just a mess.}) 10... h5 {[#] King: Kasparov has
considerable experience with this variation, though normally from the Black
side. Still, he knows his way around well.   11 Bxg4 and 11 h4 are the main
moves now, but Kasparov tries out a little explored side line:} 11. Nf5 (11.
Bxg4 hxg4 (11... Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6 14. O-O (14. Qd2 Ne5 15. b3 $1 {
Anand-Kasparov/Frankfurt/1998/ CBM 65 [Anand]}) 14... e6 15. Nxc6 (15. Nce2 {
0-1 Shirov,A-Kasparov,G/Ciudad de Linares XIV 1997/CBM 57/[Knaak] (18)}) 15...
Bxc6 16. Qd2 Be5 {1-0 Apicella,M-Zhu Chen/Open, Cappelle la Grande FRA 1998})
12. O-O Bxd4 13. Qxd4 f6 {0-1 Shirov,A-Salov,V/Hoogovens, Wijk aan Zee NED
1998 (16)}) (11. h4 Nc6 12. Nxc6 (12. Nb3 gxh4 13. Rxh4 (13. Bxh4 Be6 (13...
Bxc3+ {Rashkovsky,N - 50/275}) 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. Nd5 (15. Bxg4 $2 {Rashkovsky,N})
15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Nce5 17. Qa5 {0-1 Konguveel Ponnuswamy-Rodriguez Amador/It
(open), Ubeda (Spain) 1997}) 13... Be6 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nce5
17. O-O-O Ng6 {N} 18. Rh3 $140 Bh6 19. f4 Qe3 20. Bxg4 Qxd2+ 21. Nxd2 hxg4 22.
Rh2 $1 $14 {Morozov-.Ninov,N/mem Lascurain cor 1996}) 12... bxc6 13. hxg5 Rb8
14. Qc1 Qa5 15. Kf1 Qb4 $11 {Grodzensky,S-.Ninov,N/mem cor Lascurain 1996 (50)}
) (11. h3 h4 12. hxg4 hxg3 13. Rxh8+ Bxh8 14. fxg3 Nc6 15. Nb3 Be5 16. Qd2 Be6
17. Qc1 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Sadler,M/Oviedo rapid 1992/TD 92\09}) 11... Bxf5 12.
exf5 {King: Kasparov has made a canny choice. It's a dynamic way for White to
play the position and, I would say, perfect for rapid play, especially when
backed up by home preparation. White isn't too worried about his pawn
structure but relies on open lines for his rooks and bishops to exploit the
looseness in Black's position.} Qa5 (12... h4 {King King: is a major
alternative. It is hard to say what is White's best reply:} 13. Bxg4 (13. Bxd6
Nxf2 14. Kxf2 exd6 (14... Qb6+ 15. Kf1 Bxc3 16. bxc3 exd6 17. Rb1 Qc5 18. Bf3
$40) 15. Nd5 Nd7 16. Re1 O-O 17. c3 Nf6 $11) 13... hxg3 14. fxg3 Qa5 (14... Qb6
$5 15. Nd5 Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qe5+ 17. Be2 (17. Kf2 $5 Qd4+ 18. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 19. Ke2)
17... Ra7 18. O-O Nd7 $13) 15. O-O Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Qxb2 17. f6 Qxc3 18. fxg7 Qxg7
19. Rb1 Nc6 20. Rxb7 Ne5 21. Bf5 Rd8 22. h3 Rh6 23. c3 d5 24. Qd4 Rhd6 25. Re1
f6 26. Rc7 Kf8 27. Rb1 Qf7 28. Rbb7 Qe8 29. Kh2 Nc6 30. Qg4 Ne5 31. Qd4 Nc6 32.
Qc5 Ne5 33. g4 Nd7 34. Qa7 Ra8 35. Qd4 Ne5 36. h4 Nc6 37. Qe3 Rad8 38. hxg5
$138 {1-0 Florean,A-Ardeleanu,A/ROM-ch Herculane (6) 1996}) 13. O-O Bxc3 14.
bxc3 {[#]} Qxf5 $6 $146 (14... Nf6 $142 $5 15. Re1 (15. Bf3 $1 d5 (15... h4 $2
16. Bxd6 exd6 17. Bxb7 Ra7 18. Qxd6 Nbd7 19. Rfe1+ Kd8 20. Rad1 $18) (15... Nc6
16. Rb1 (16. Bxd6 $2 O-O-O $19) 16... O-O-O 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qf3 $40) 16. c4
Nbd7 17. Re1 $40) 15... Nc6 16. Bf3 d5 17. c4 (17. Qb1 $5 b5 (17... O-O-O 18.
c4 g4 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 $13) 18. c4 $1 h4 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. cxd5 Rxd6
21. dxc6 g4 22. Be4 g3 23. Bf3 Rd2 24. Kh1 Rxf2 25. Rf1 Rxf1+ 26. Qxf1 gxh2 27.
Kxh2 Qc7+ 28. Kg1 h3 $15) 17... O-O-O 18. cxd5 Nxd5 $15 19. c4 (19. Qe2) 19...
Ndb4 20. Qb3 h4 21. a3 hxg3 22. axb4 gxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxf5 {0-1 Sziebert
Adam-Anka,E/It (open) Balatonbereny (Hungary) 1993} (23... Qxf5 {King} 24. b5
Rd3 25. Qxd3 Qxd3 26. bxc6 Qd4+ 27. Kf1 Qxc4+ 28. Be2 Qf4+ 29. Bf3 g4 30. Re4
Qf6 31. cxb7+ Kb8 {0-1 Sziebert,A-Anka,E/Balatonbereny op 1993})) 15. Rb1 $1
Nd7 (15... Qd7 16. Qd5 Nc6 17. Qxg5 b5 18. c4 Nd4 19. Bd3 $16) 16. Rxb7 Ngf6
17. Re1 Kf8 (17... Kd8 18. Bf3 Rc8 19. Qe2 e5 $132) (17... h4 $2 {King} 18.
Bxd6) (17... O-O $2 {King} 18. Bd3 Qc5 (18... Qd5 19. Rxd7 $18) 19. Rxe7 $18)
18. h3 {King: If Black could coordinate his forces then he would have a fine
game, but he never manages it as Kasparov keeps him busy in defence with his
active rooks and bishops. The opening can be counted as a success for White.}
Re8 (18... g4 19. h4 Qc5 20. Qd4 e5 21. Qc4 $16) 19. Bxa6 h4 20. Bd3 Qd5 21.
Rb5 Nc5 22. Bh2 Rg8 23. Rb4 Nxd3 24. cxd3 Qxa2 25. Rb5 Rg6 (25... g4 26. Bf4
Ra8 27. Bh6+ Ke8 28. Bg5 gxh3 29. Qf3 $16) 26. Rf5 g4 27. hxg4 Nxg4 28. Qf3 {
[#]} (28. Rf4 {King: was also good:} Nxh2 29. Rxh4 Ng4 30. Rxg4 Rxg4 31. Qxg4
Qd2 32. Re3 Qxc3 33. d4) 28... f6 (28... h3 $1 29. Qxh3 Qd2 30. Rb1 Qc2 $11)
29. Rh5 Nxh2 $2 (29... Qd2 $142 30. Rd1 (30. Qe2 Qxe2 31. Rxe2 Rb8 $11) 30...
Nxh2 31. Kxh2 Qxc3 $14) 30. Kxh2 Qd2 31. Re4 $1 $18 Qxc3 32. Rexh4 Rg8 33. Rg4
$1 Qb3 34. Rxg8+ Qxg8 35. Qh3 {[ A la Rety: The Q should be behind the R -
when attaking the oponent's K ]} Qg6 (35... Kg7 36. Rh4 $1 $18) 36. Rh6 Qg5 37.
Rh8+ Kf7 38. Qh7+ Ke6 39. Rxe8 1-0

[Event "Sofia m 25'"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1998.05.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1998.05.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {King Kostakiev,D} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6
7. Bh4 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 (8... Nbd7 $5 {Kostakiev,D} 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O {0-1
Topalov-Kasparov/rapid m (1) Sofia}) 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c5 12.
bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. O-O Nd7 15. Bb5 {[#]} Qc7 (15... Bxb5 {Kostakiev,D 1/
2-1/2 Wehmeier Stefan-Matthias Heiner/It (cat.7), Lippstadt (Germany) 1997 (19)
}) 16. Qd3 Rfc8 (16... Rfd8 {Kostakiev,D 1-0 Vaganian,R-Georgiev,K/President's
Cup, Elista RUS (2.3) 1998 (24)}) 17. h3 {King: Novelty, though this is hardly
going to change the assessment of the opening. Kasparov is no stranger to this
variation. It has been the subject of discussion in several of his world
championship games with Karpov.} (17. Rfc1 {Kostakiev,D: Khalifman,A} Rab8 (
17... Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Qc6) 18. h3 c4 {N} (18... g6 $2 19. Bxc6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Karpov,A/Sevilla (m/18) 1987 (26)} (19. Bxc6 {King} Rxb1 (19... Qxc6 $2 20.
Rxb8 Rxb8 21. dxc5 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 $1 Nxc5 23. Qc2 Rc8 24. Nd4 $18) 20. Qxb1 $1 (
20. Nxb1 $2 Qxc6 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Qa3 Qb7 $1 $10) 20... Qxc6 21. dxc5 Qxc5 (
21... Nxc5 22. Ne2 Qa8 23. Nf4 $16 {>< d5}) 22. Ne2 Qf8 23. h4 $2 (23. Qb7 $2
Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Qa3 $1 $13) (23. Nf4 Nb6 24. h4 $1 h5 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Nxg6 $1
fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Bg7 28. Ng5 Qd7 29. Qxh5 d4 30. exd4 Nd5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qg6
$16) 23... Ne5 $1 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Rd1 (25. h5 $5 Rxc1+ 26. Nxc1 Qb8 $5 27.
Qd3 Qb2 28. Nb3 Qc3 $10) 25... Qc5 26. h5 Qc2 $1 27. Qxc2 Rxc2 28. Rxd5 Rxe2 (
28... Bc7 $6 29. Kf1 Rxa2 30. g3 Ra5 31. Rd7 $14) 29. Rxe5 Rxa2 30. hxg6 fxg6 {
R 7/i} 31. Re7 a5 32. Ra7 a4 33. g3 h5 34. Kg2 a3 35. e4 g5 $1 36. Kf3 g4+ 37.
Ke3 Ra1 38. Kf4 Rf1 39. Kg5 Rxf2 40. Kxh5 Re2 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Karpov,A/
Wch34-KK4 1987})) (18... g6 $2 {D.K. 1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Karpov,A/Wch34-KK4
Sevilla 1987/MAINB}) (18... cxd4 19. Nxd5 (19. Nxd5 Bxb5 20. Rxc7 Bxd3 21. Rxb8
Rxb8 22. Rxd7 dxe3 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. fxe3 Be4 25. Rxa7 $14)) 19. Qc2 (19. Qf5
g6) 19... Bxb5 (19... Ba8 $1 $13) (19... Ba8 $1 $13) 20. Nxb5 Qa5 {1-0
Khalifman,A-Chandler,M/Deutschland 1995/Inf 62/[Khalifman,A]}) (17. Rfd1 {
Kostakiev,D 1/2-1/2 Eingorn,V-Lputian,S/Sochi (Russia) 1985 (24)}) (17. Qf5 {
Kostakiev,D D.K.} g6 $11) 17... cxd4 18. Nxd4 {Kasparov kennt dieser Art
Stellungen sehr gut, weil er in mehrerer seiner Match Partien gegen Karpov
diese Varianten mehrmals gespielt hat. Als Kompensation für den Isolani d5 hat
der Nachziehende das Läuferpaar.} Bb7 19. Rfc1 Nc5 (19... Rab8 {Kostakiev,D}) (
19... Ne5 {Kostakiev,D}) 20. Qd1 (20. Qf5 $5 {Kostakiev,D}) 20... Qe7 21. Qg4
g6 {[#]} 22. Bf1 (22. Nf5 {Kostakiev,D} Qe6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 (23... Kh7 24. Qxe6
Nxe6 25. Nxf7) (23... Kg7 {King} 24. Qxe6 Nxe6 $17)) 22... Bg7 23. Qd1 (23. Rc2
{Kostakiev,D}) 23... Rab8 24. Rc2 (24. Qg4 {Kostakiev,D}) 24... Ba8 25. Rbc1
Rd8 (25... Qf8 {Kostakiev,D} 26. Ncb5 $14) 26. g3 (26. Ncb5 {Kostakiev,D} Rbc8
27. Qg4 h5 28. Qd1 a6 29. Nc3 Bb7 30. Bd3 $14) (26. Nce2 {Kostakiev,D} Ne4 27.
Nf4 (27. Rc7 Rd7 28. R7c2) 27... Rb4) 26... Bxd4 {King: Often the great
advantage of having a bishop is that you can choose the right moment to
exchange it off for a knight. Like here. If you would like another example of
Kasparov using this very exchange then I would refer you to
Magerramov-Kasparov in the database list after this game.  White must
recapture with the pawn:} 27. exd4 (27. Qxd4 $2 {King} Ne6 28. Qd3 d4 {[%cal
Ra8h1]}) 27... Ne6 {King: Although the pawn structures are completely
symmetrical, Black's pieces are the better placed: the knight on e6 attacks
the d4 pawn, and it is about to get some help from the queen once it gets to
f6 and a rook on b4. On the other hand it is difficult for White to build
similar pressure against Black's d-pawn. Black's bishop on a8, although not
the most active piece, is doing a good job defending the d5 pawn.} 28. h4 (28.
Bg2 {Kostakiev,D} Qg5 29. Ne2 Re8 30. Qd3 Bb7 31. f4 Qf6 $14) 28... Qf6 29. Ne2
Rb4 {King: Kasparov likes to go forward, though this entails some risk. It was
possible to proceed more circumspectly, for instance:} (29... Bb7 {King} 30.
Qd3 $5 {preventing Ba6.} (30. Bg2 $2 Ba6 31. Nc3 Bc4 $15) (30. Bh3 $2 Ba6 31.
Bxe6 Qxe6 32. Nf4 Qe4 $36) 30... Rd6 {threatening ...Ba6 again} 31. Qa3 Ra6 32.
Qe3 Kg7 {Black re-coordinates with ...Rb6 and ...Ba6, and he might just have
an edge.}) 30. Rc8 Bb7 31. Rxd8+ Nxd8 (31... Qxd8 $1 {Kostakiev,D} 32. Qd2 Qb6
33. Qxh6 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. Bg2 $14) 32. Qd2 Ra4 33. Qxh6 Rxa2 34. Qe3 {[#]
} (34. Qf4 {Kostakiev,D} Qxf4 35. Nxf4 $14) 34... Ne6 (34... Kg7 $5 {Kostakiev,
D} 35. Nf4 Ra4 36. Rd1 Rb4 37. Bg2 Qf5 38. Qe8) (34... Rb2 {Kostakiev,D D.K.}
35. Nf4 Rb4 36. Rc7 $16) 35. Rb1 (35. Qb3 $5 Rxe2 36. Bxe2 Nxd4 37. Qe3 $16 (
37. Qd3 $16 {Kostakiev,D})) 35... Bc6 36. Qh6 (36. Rc1 {Kostakiev,D} Bd7 37.
Bg2 Ra5 38. Rb1 $14) 36... Qd8 (36... Nf8 {Kostakiev,D D.K.} 37. Qc1 Ra4 38.
Rb8 Kg7 39. h5 Nd7 40. Rc8 Bb7 41. Re8 $16) 37. Qe3 Qf6 38. Qb3 Rd2 {King: The
lad's just a bit too eager. With the time ticking down you just have to keep
going forward, but it gives Topalov a great opportunity.} (38... Ra4 $11 {
Kostakiev,D}) (38... Ra4 {King would have kept the balance.}) 39. Qe3 $2 (39.
Qc3 $1 {[%cal Yc3c6,Yc3d2]} Nxd4 {, but White can win with the
counter-intuitive} 40. Kg2 $1 {(well done Fritz) when White must lose material;
e.g. Weiß kann seine hängenden Figuren nicht ohne Materialverlust retten.} (40.
Rb8+ {Kostakiev,D}) 40... Qf5 (40... Rxe2 41. Bxe2 Kg7 42. h5 $5 $18) 41. Qxd2
Qe4+ 42. f3 $1 Qxf3+ 43. Kg1 $19 (43. Kg1 {King} Nxe2+ 44. Qxe2 Qxg3+ 45. Bg2
d4 46. Ra1 $18)) 39... Nxd4 $1 {[#]} 40. Nf4 (40. Kg2 Nxe2 41. Qxd2 d4+ 42. Kh3
Qf5+ 43. g4 Qf3+ 44. Kh2 Qxf2+ 45. Bg2 Qxg2#) (40. Nxd4 $1 {Kostakiev,D D.K.}
Rxd4 $140 (40... Qxd4 41. Rc1 Ba4 42. Rc7 Qxe3 43. fxe3 a5 44. Rc5 Bc2 45. Rxa5
$11) 41. Qh6 Be8 42. h5 Qf5 43. hxg6 Qxg6 44. Qxg6+ fxg6 45. Rb8 Kf7 46. Rb7+
Kf6 47. Rxa7 $11) 40... Qe5 $1 41. Qa3 (41. Bg2 {Kostakiev,D} Qxe3 42. fxe3 Nf5
) 41... Kg7 (41... Qe4 $1 {Kostakiev,D}) 42. Rc1 Bb5 43. Rc8 {[#]} (43. Bg2
Ne2+ 44. Nxe2 Qxe2 45. Qxa7 d4 46. Rf1 $17) 43... Be8 {King: Too many checks
to calculate and not enough time. Kasparov makes an intuitive decision to cut
out counter-play before resuming the attack.} ({Wahrscheinlich nach} 43... Rd1
$5 {bekommt Schwarz grossen Vorteil:} 44. Rc1 (44. Qf8+ Kf6 (44... Kf6 {
Kostakiev,D} 45. Qd8+ Kf5 46. Qg5+ Ke4 $19 (46... Ke4 {King} 47. Qg4 Nf3+)))
44... Qe1) 44. Qc3 (44. Qxa7 Qe3 $3 45. fxe3 Nf3+ 46. Kh1 Rh2#) (44. Rc1 $15 {
Kostakiev,D}) 44... Bd7 $2 {King: This mistake was less forgiveable, even if
he was very short of time: Der Weltmeister ,,vergisst,, das Gabelmotiv auf f3,
welches ihm eben noch gute Dienste geleistet hat.} ({Das logische Ende war:} 
44... Rc2 $1 45. Rxe8 Rxc3 46. Rxe5 Nf3+ $19 {[%cal Yf3g1,Yf3e5]}) 45. Rd8 Rd1
$4 {Und nun lässt er gar ausser Acht, dass der Springer f4 das Feld e2 deckt!}
(45... Bb5 $1 46. Bxb5 (46. Rxd5 $2 {King} Qe1 $19) (46. Qa3 Rd1 47. Qf8+ Kh7
48. Qxf7+ Qg7 49. Qxg7+ Kxg7 50. Rxd5 Nf3+ (50... Rxf1+ 51. Kg2 Rd1 52. Rxd4)
51. Kg2 Nxh4+ 52. Kh3 Bxf1+ 53. Kxh4 Rxd5 54. Nxd5 a5 (54... Kf7) 55. Kg5 (55.
Nc3 Kf6) 55... a4 56. f4 a3 57. Nc3 Kf7 58. f5 gxf5 59. Kxf5 Ke7 60. Ke5 $11)
46... Qe1+ 47. Kh2 Rxf2+ $19) 46. Rxd7 Qe4 {[#] Der letzte, durchsichtige
Versuch...} 47. Rxd5 $4 {King: Topalov makes the final big blunder so Kasparov
goes out with a bang: Oh weh! So ein Geschenk. In starker Zeitnot macht
Topalov den letzten Fehler. Die schwarze Drohung war auf verschiedene Arten
abzuwehren.} (47. f3 Qxf3 (47... Qb1 {King} 48. Kg2 Qc2+ 49. Qxc2 Nxc2 50. Kf2
$18) 48. Qxf3 Nxf3+ 49. Kf2 $18) (47. Kh2 $1 {Kostakiev,D} Rxf1 48. Qxd4+ Qxd4
49. Ne6+ Kf6 50. Nxd4 $18 Rxf2+ 51. Kh3 a5 52. Rxd5 $18) 47... Rxf1+ $1 {
Hinlenkung nebst Matt auf h1.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia m 25'"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "1998.05.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1998.05.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 ({A Dracon's early b7-b5 for comparaison with the text:} 
2... d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 b5 7. f4 $146 g6 8. e5 Ng8 9.
O-O dxe5 10. fxe5 Bg7 11. Be3 Qc7 $5 12. Ndxb5 $5 $14 {Kostakiev,D-Ivanov,Ivan/
ch Bg cor 1997-1998}) 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 b5 {[#]} 7. O-O (
7. a3 d6 8. f4 Bb7 9. Bf3 Nd7 10. O-O Ngf6 11. Kh1 Be7 12. Qe1 O-O {1/2-1/2
Savova-Dgingarova/ 1995 (19)}) (7. Be3 Bb7 8. a3 (8. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Golod,
V-Miladinovic,I/Lvov-Belgrade 1993/EXP 38 (20)}) (8. f3 {1-0 Sulliman,O-Moraza,
M/Dubai olm 1986/TD 86\02 (17)}) 8... Nf6 {0-1 Vranesic,Z-Ivkov,B/Amsterdam
izt 1964/IZT (18)}) (7. f4 b4 $15) 7... b4 $1 $15 {[#]} (7... Nc6 {1-0
Zagrebelny Sergey-Gokhale C S/It (open), Calcutta (India) 1997 (12)}) (7... Bb7
8. Bf3 (8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nxc6 (9. Bf1 {Oll,L} b4 $6 $146 10. Nd5 $1 Qd8 11. Bf4
Rc8 12. Nxc6 Rxc6 13. Qd2 Nf6 14. Rad1 Bc5 15. Nxb4 Rc8 16. Bg5 a5 {+/- Oll,
L-Movsesian,S/Polanica Zdroj 1996/Inf 67/[Oll,L]} (16... a5 {Oll,L} 17. Nd3 Be7
18. Ne5 $16)) 9... dxc6 10. e5 Ne7 (10... Bb4 $1 {N} 11. Bd2 Rd8 12. a4 Bxc3
13. bxc3 Ne7 14. Bd3 Ng6 15. Qg4 O-O 16. axb5 cxb5 17. c4 h5 18. Qg3 Rd7 {
-/+ Dimitrov,V-Cvitan,O/Haifa 1989/Inf 48}) 11. Bd3 Rd8 (11... O-O-O 12. a4 c5
13. axb5 c4 14. bxa6 Bc6 15. Nb5 Bxb5 16. a7 Kb7 {0-1 Marciano,D-Korneev,O/It 
(open) Ubeda (Spain) 1996}) 12. Qe2 c5 13. Bg5 (13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bg3 Be7 15. a4
{1/2-1/2 Mariotti,S-Cebalo,M/Zt (cat.6) Budva (Yugoslavia) 1981}) 13... h6 14.
Qh5 Rd4 15. Be3 Rd7 16. Bf4 c4 17. Be4 b4 18. Nd1 Nd5 19. Bg3 Bc5 20. c3 O-O {
0-1 Dimitrov,V-Vyzhmanavin,A/Burgas 1993}) 8... Nc6 (8... d6 9. Re1 Nd7 10. a4
bxa4 {0-1 Simeonov,S-Kurtenkov,A/Bankya tt ch Bg 1991 (18)}) 9. Nxc6 (9. a4 b4
10. Nxc6 dxc6 $1 {N} (10... bxc3 {- 44/(202)}) 11. Nb1 Nf6 12. Nd2 a5 $11 {
= Paglietti,N-Gheorghiu,F/Biel (open) 1989/Inf 48}) 9... Bxc6 (9... dxc6 10. a4
(10. e5 Qxe5 11. Re1 Qd6 {1-0 DOBREV,I-SPASOV,L/tt - ch Bg Varna 1995/
[kostakiev,d] (19)}) 10... Nf6 11. Qe2 e5 12. Bg5 {1/2-1/2 Hansen Sune
Berg-Perdomo Carlos Andres/It (open), Ubeda (Spain) 1997}) 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11.
exd5 Rc8 {1-0 Barua Dibyendu-Bischoff Klaus/It (open), Calcutta (India) 1997 
(16)}) 8. Na4 Bb7 9. c3 {[#]} (9. Bf3 $11) 9... Nf6 $6 (9... Bxe4 $5 10. cxb4
$140 Bxb4 11. Be3 Nc6 12. f3 Bd5 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Nb6 Rb8 15. Nc4 d5 $17) 10.
cxb4 Bxb4 (10... e5 $5 11. Nf3 (11. Nf5 Bxe4) 11... Bxb4 $6) 11. Be3 (11. f3 d5
12. Bg5 Bd6 $15) 11... O-O (11... Nxe4 $6 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. Rc4 Be7 14. Nxe6 dxe6
15. Rxe4 Bd6 16. f4 Rd8 $14) (11... Bxe4 $142 $1 12. Rc1 Nc6 $17) 12. Rc1 Nc6
13. Qd3 Qa5 14. Nc5 Ne5 15. Qb1 Bxc5 16. Nb3 {[#]} Qc7 (16... Bxe4 $5 17. Qa1 (
17. Nxa5 $6 Bxb1 18. Rxc5 (18. Bxc5 Rfc8 $15) 18... Bd3 $1 $17) 17... Qc7 $15)
17. Rxc5 Qb8 18. f3 d5 19. Na5 Rc8 (19... Nfd7 20. Rc3 $16) 20. b4 Nc6 $6 (
20... Ned7 $142 21. Rxc8+ (21. Nxb7 Qxb7 $132) 21... Bxc8 (21... Qxc8 22. Rc1
Qb8 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Qe4 N7f6 25. Qd4 $11) 22. Rd1 Bb7 23. Nxb7 $14) 21. Nxb7
Qxb7 22. Rfc1 dxe4 23. fxe4 Nd7 24. R5c3 Nde5 (24... Nce5 25. a3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3
Rd8 27. Qc2 Nf6 28. Bd4 $16) 25. a4 Rd8 26. b5 axb5 27. Qxb5 Qxb5 28. axb5 Nb4
29. Rb1 Ra2 30. Bf1 Rc2 31. Rxc2 Nxc2 32. Bc5 $18 {[^^+ passed Pb5 >>NN]} Nd4 (
32... f5 33. exf5 Rd5 34. Ba7 $18) 33. b6 Ndc6 34. b7 h5 (34... Nd7 35. Bd6
Ndb8 36. Bc7 Rd7 37. Bxb8 Nxb8 38. Rc1 $18) 35. Bb6 Rd2 36. Ba5 Rd4 37. Bc3 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O Bd7 18. Qd3 f5 19. Ra2 g6 20. f3 Bh6 21. Rd1 Qh4
22. Nde3 Rf6 23. Bd5 Rbf8 24. Nf1 Ne7 25. Nce3 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 fxe4 27. Qxe4 Qxe4
28. fxe4 R6f7 29. Rxa5 Bg4 30. Rda1 Be6 31. Nfe3 Bxe3+ 32. Nxe3 Bxb3 33. c4 Rc8
34. Rc1 Rb7 35. Ra6 Rb4 36. Rxd6 Ba4 37. Re6 Rb3 38. Nd5 Bb5 39. Re7 Ba6 40. c5
Rf8 41. c6 Rb2 42. h4 Bd3 43. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c6 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 f6 12. Nf3 f5 13. Ne5 Nb6 14. b3 Bd7 15. Qd3
Nc8 16. Bc1 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Rf7 18. Be3 Bc6 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. a3 a6 21. Bd4 Bf8
22. e3 Be8 23. Qd2 Qd8 24. Bf1 Rc7 25. Qb2 Rc6 26. Na4 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Bc6 28.
Nc5 Qe8 29. a4 a5 30. Qc3 Qf7 31. Bb5 Bxb5 32. axb5 h6 33. Na4 Ba3 34. Qxc8+
Rxc8 35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36. b6 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 O-O 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Kb1 Rfc8 13. g5 Nh5 14. Rg1 Nb6
15. Qf2 Bd8 16. h4 g6 17. Rd2 Qc6 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Qe8 21.
Nd4 Rxc3 22. bxc3 Na4 23. Rg3 Ba5 24. Nxe6 Qxe6 25. Rd4 Nxc3+ 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27.
Bc4 Qe7 28. Qxd6 Re8 29. Qxe7 Rxe7 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Bd5 Be1 32. h5 gxh5 33. Rb8
b5 34. Rb7 Rxb7 35. Bxb7 a5 36. Kc1 h4 37. Kd1 Bg3 38. Ke2 h3 39. Kf3 h2 40.
Kg2 b4 41. Bd5 Be5 42. Bb3 Kg6 43. Kh1 h6 44. gxh6 f6 45. Kg2 Kxh6 46. Ba4 Kg5
47. Bc6 Kg4 48. Ba4 Bg3 49. Bb5 Kf4 50. Bc6 Ke3 51. Kh1 Be5 52. Kg2 Kd2 53. Ba4
Kc3 54. Kh1 Kb2 55. Bb3 Ka3 56. Bd5 Kb2 57. Bb3 Kc3 58. Ba4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Qd3 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Nc5 9. Qd1 Nc6 10. e3 Ne6 11. O-O Qc5 12. Ndb5 a6 13. Na4 Qxc4 14. Nbc3
Rb8 15. Nb6 Qc5 16. Ncd5 O-O 17. b4 Qd6 18. Rb1 Nc7 19. Nc4 Qe6 20. e4 d6 21.
Be3 Qd7 22. Ncb6 Qd8 23. f4 Nxd5 24. exd5 Na7 25. Rc1 Bf5 26. g4 Nc8 27. Nc4
Bd7 28. Qe2 Bb5 29. Qf2 e6 30. Rfd1 e5 31. f5 gxf5 32. gxf5 Qf6 33. a4 Bxc4 34.
Rxc4 Ne7 35. Rf1 Kh8 36. Qg3 b5 37. Rh4 Nxf5 38. Rxh7+ Kxh7 39. Be4 Kg8 40.
Bxf5 e4 41. Qh3 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 Be7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. h4 b4 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxb4 d5 21.
Qb3 Rd8 22. c4 O-O 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. cxd5 Qd6 25. Qc4 e4 26. Qxe4 Rb8 27. Bd3
g6 28. h5 Qf6 29. Rh2 Ba3 30. b3 Rb7 31. Qe3 Re7 32. Be4 Rc7 33. Rc2 g5 34. Qd2
Rxc2 35. Kxc2 Qa1 36. Kd3 Qf1+ 37. Kd4 Qa1+ 38. Kc4 Qf1+ 39. Qd3 Qf2 40. b4
Qxa2+ 41. Qb3 Qxb3+ 42. Kxb3 Bc1 43. Bd3 Bf4 44. Bxa6 Kf8 45. Kc4 Ke7 46. Bc8
Bd6 47. Bf5 Kf8 48. Bh7 Ke7 49. b5 Kd7 50. Bg8 Ke7 51. b6 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qb6 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. e3 Nc6 8. Nf3
O-O 9. O-O Rd8 10. Nc3 Qa6 11. e4 Qxc4 12. Bg5 Be7 13. e5 Ne8 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15.
Ng5 h6 16. Nge4 Nc6 17. Nd6 Qc5 18. Re1 Nxd6 19. exd6 b6 20. Rc1 Qa5 21. b4
Qxb4 22. Re4 Qa5 23. Ra4 Qe5 24. Re4 Qa5 25. Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m playoff"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B89"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Be7 8.
Qe2 a6 9. Bb3 Qc7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Rhg1 Nd7 12. Kb1 Nc5 13. Qh5 Nxb3 14. axb3
Qa5 15. g4 Qxh5 16. gxh5 Re8 17. Bh6 g6 18. Na4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 b5 20. Nb6 Rb8
21. Nxc8 Rexc8 22. Rd3 Rc5 23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Bf4 Rh5 25. Bxd6 Bxd6 26. Rxd6
Rxh2 27. Rf1 Ra8 28. Rb6 Kg7 29. c4 bxc4 30. bxc4 a5 31. Ka2 Rh3 32. f3 g5 33.
Rb5 Kf6 34. b3 a4 35. b4 Rh2+ 36. Ka3 Rc2 37. c5 Rc3+ 38. Kb2 Re3 39. Rf2 Ke5
40. c6+ Kd6 41. Rc5 Rb3+ 42. Ka2 Rxb4 43. Rc3 Kc7 44. Rd2 Rd8 45. Rxd8 Kxd8 46.
Rd3+ Kc7 47. Rd7+ Kxc6 48. Rxf7 g4 49. fxg4 Rxe4 50. Rg7 Re3 51. Rg8 Rg3 52. g5
Kd5 53. g6 Ke5 54. g7 Kf6 55. Ra8 Rxg7 56. Rxa4 Rb7 57. Rf4+ Kg5 58. Rf1 e5 59.
Rg1+ Kf5 60. Rf1+ Ke4 61. Re1+ Kd4 62. Rd1+ Kc3 63. Re1 Re7 64. Rh1 e4 65. Kb1
e3 0-1

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m playoff"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e5 7. d4 Nbd7 8. e4
a6 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Re8 11. Re1 Rb8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Ne5 14. b3 c5 15. Nf3
Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 b5 17. Rad1 bxc4 18. Bf4 Re6 19. bxc4 Rb4 20. e5 Qe8 21. Nd5
Nxd5 22. cxd5 Rxe5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Qf6 Bd7 25. Qf3 h5 26. Qa3 Bb5 27. Kh1 Qd7
28. Rxe5 dxe5 29. Qe3 Qd6 30. Re1 Rb2 31. Qxe5 Qxe5 32. Rxe5 Rxa2 33. d6 Rd2
34. Rxc5 Rxd6 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Rd4 37. g5 Rc4 38. Re5 Rf4 39. Kg1 Kf8 40.
Be4 Bd7 41. f3 Bf5 42. Bb7 Ra4 43. Kf2 Be6 44. Ke3 Ra1 45. Kf4 a5 46. Bc6 Ke7
47. Rb5 Kd6 48. Be8 a4 49. Ra5 a3 50. Ra6+ Ke7 0-1

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m playoff"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Bc4 e6 7. N1e2 Bd6 8.
Nf4 Qh4 9. Ngh5 Bxh5 10. Qxh5 Qxh5 11. Nxh5 g6 12. Nf4 Nf6 13. Nd3 Nbd7 14. O-O
a5 15. a4 Nd5 16. c3 O-O 17. Bh6 Rfe8 18. Rfe1 Nc7 19. g3 b5 20. Bb3 Nb6 21.
Ne5 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Ncd5 23. h4 Reb8 24. Re4 Nxa4 25. Bxa4 bxa4 26. Rexa4 Rxb2
27. Rxa5 Rxa5 28. Rxa5 Rb8 29. c4 Nb6 30. Rc5 Rc8 31. g4 Nd7 32. Ra5 Nb6 33.
Rc5 Nd7 34. Ra5 Nb6 35. Rc5 Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp m playoff"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1998.06.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 18. Qd3 Bd7 19. Ra2 f5 20. f3 Bh6 21. Rd1 Qh4
22. Nce3 Be6 23. Nf1 fxe4 24. Qxe4 Qxe4 25. fxe4 Rf7 26. Rf2 Kg7 27. Rxf7+ Bxf7
28. Kf2 Nd8 29. Ra1 Ne6 30. Rxa5 Nc5 31. Ng3 Nxb3 32. Ra7 Nd2 33. Ba2 Rb2 34.
Ke1 Kf8 35. Nb4 Nb3 36. Nd3 Rxg2 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Bxb3+ Kg7 39. Nf1 Bf4 40.
h3 Bg3+ 41. Kd1 h5 42. Be6 Bf4 43. Ne1 Rf2 44. Bc4 g5 45. Be2 g4 46. Nd3 Rg2
47. hxg4 h4 48. Bf3 h3 49. Ke1 Rc2 50. Nxf4 exf4 51. Nd2 h2 52. Nb1 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Efimov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 g6 {Vor etwa hundert Jahren
war der Standpunkt des ungarischen Großmeisters Maroczy anerkannt, der sagte,
daß ...e6 und ...g6 wegen der schwarzen Felderschwächen nicht zusammenpassen.
Heutzutage ist der Schachstil dynamischer und dies ist eine Hauptvariante des
Paulsen-Systems. Ribli.} 6. c4 (6. O-O Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Nd2 d5
10. Bc5 $5 (10. c3 $6 Nf6 11. Bc5 Nd7 12. Ba3 Bf8 $11) 10... Bxb2 11. c4 $36 {
Weiß hat keine Angst vor 11...Bxa1, denn auf den schwarzen Feldern bekommt er
mehr als Kompensation.}) 6... Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 (7... Ne7 8. Nc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5
10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 (11. Rc1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nbc6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Bc5 Qxd1 15.
Rfxd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Nxd8 17. Nd5 b5 18. Nc7 Rb8 19. Bd5 Bb7 20. b4 Bxd5 21.
Nxd5 Ne6 22. Kf1 Rd8 23. Rd1 f5 24. Bb6 Re8 25. Rc1 Kf7 26. Rc6 Be5 27. Ba5 Ra8
28. g3 g5 29. Kg2 Ra7 30. Nb6 Rc7 {1/2-1/2 Meier,V-Svobodova,M/Pardubice 1996/
CBM 55 ext (30)}) (11. c5 Nbc6 12. Nce2 Be6 13. Qd2 Qd7 14. Rac1 Ne5 15. Rfd1
Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Rfe8 17. b4 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Qb3 h6 20. Bf2 Rad8 21. a4 $14 {
1-0 Nevostrujev,V-Tsebekov,H/Elista 1996/CBM 56 (39)}) 11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7
13. Bg5 Nf6 14. Bb3 h6 15. Bh4 Nf5 16. Nxf5 Bxf5 17. Qf3 Qb6 18. Re7 $14 {
0-1 Kostenko,I-Eljanov,V/Yalta 1996/EXT 98 (37)}) 8. Nxc6 bxc6 $6 {Dieser Zug
ist konsequent, aber die Alternative scheint mir sicherer zu sein.} (8... dxc6
9. Nc3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qe2 e5 13. f3 Be6 14. Qf2 Nd7 15. Rb1 b5
16. b4 Qc7 17. Rfc1 Qb7 {1/2-1/2 Ostermeyer,P-Gerusel,M/Bad Neuenahr 1978/EXT
99 (41)}) 9. c5 $1 {[#]Dynamisch gespielt! Der Bauer und die Qualität zählen
hier wenig, Weiß spielt auf nachhaltigen schwarzfeldrigen Druck.} (9. Nc3 d6 (
9... Rb8 10. Qd2 Nf6 11. O-O Ng4 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Be2 h5
16. Bg3 d6 {1-0 Pokojowczyk,J-Torre,E/Polanica Zdroj 1977/MCD (59)}) 10. Qd2 (
10. O-O c5 11. Qd2 Ne7 12. Bh6 O-O 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. f4 f6 15. Rad1 Nc6 16. e5
{1-0 Ebeling,M-Rantanen,Y/Tampere 1991/EXT 99 (22)}) 10... Qc7 11. O-O Ne7 12.
Rad1 Bb7 13. Bc2 Rd8 14. f4 c5 15. f5 Be5 {0-1 Ulfarsson,M-Iordachescu,V/
Duisburg 1992/TD (57)}) 9... Bxb2 $6 {Mit diesem Zug gewinnt Schwarz Bauern
und Qualität, aber seine Stellung wird schrecklich schlecht auf den schwarzen
Feldern.} (9... d5 $5 10. cxd6 Qxd6 (10... Bxb2 11. Nd2 Qxd6 12. Nc4 $16) 11.
Qc2 $14) (9... Rb8 $6 10. Nd2 $16 {[%cal Rd2c4,Rc4d6]}) 10. Nd2 {[%cal Rd2c4,
Rc4d6]} Bxa1 11. Qxa1 $44 {[%csl Ga1,Yd6,Re8][%cal Ra1h8] [#]} f6 $8 {Die
anderen Züge verlieren sofort.} 12. Nc4 {[%csl Ga1,Gc4,Gc5,Ge3,Re8] Weiß hat
noch keine sofortigen Drohungen, nur positionell großen Druck für das Material.
} a5 {[%cal Gc8a6,Ga6d3]} 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. O-O Ba6 (14... Kg7 15. f4 $44) 15.
Bxa6 Rxa6 16. f4 {[%csl Ga1,Gd6][%cal Gf1f8]} h5 (16... Nh6 17. f5 {[%cal
Gf1f8,Re3h6]} Ng8 (17... Ng4 18. fxe6 Kg7 (18... dxe6 19. h3 Nxe3 20. Rxf6+ $18
) 19. e5 f5 (19... Nxe5 20. Qxe5 fxe5 21. Rf7+ Kg8 22. Bh6 $18 {[%csl Rg8]})
20. exd7 $18) 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kg7 20. e5 $1 fxg5 21. Rf7+ Kh6 22. g4 $18
{[%csl Rh6][%cal Ra1f1,Rf1h3,Ra1c3,Rc3h3,Rh3h6]}) 17. Rf3 {[%csl Gf3][%cal
Gf3h3,Gf3g3,Gg3g6] Weiß aktiviert seinen Turm über die dritte Reihe. Es droht
18.Rg3.} h4 18. Rh3 {[%csl Ra6,Rf8][%cal Re3f2,Rf2h4] Der weiße Plan Bf2 /
Bxh4 scheint langsam, aber es ist schwer für Schwarz seine Stellung zu
verbessern.} a4 19. Bf2 Ra8 $6 (19... Qa5 $5 20. Qc1 $44) 20. Bxh4 {[%cal
Rh4f6]} Kg7 21. f5 {[%csl Rg7]} Qa5 $6 (21... g5 $5 22. Bxg5 Rxh3 23. gxh3 $44
{[%csl Gd6] Weiß hat dank seines starken Springers auf d6 noch immer
Kompensation, aber ohne Türme ist sein Angriff nicht so gefährlich.}) 22. Qc1
Rb8 (22... g5 $5 23. Bxg5 Rxh3 24. Bd2 {[%cal Rd2a5]} Qa6 25. gxh3 Qd3 {
[%csl Gd3]}) 23. Be1 Qa6 24. Rg3 {[%cal Rg3g7]} Qe2 {[%cal Re2a2]} (24... g5
25. e5 $16 {[%csl Rg7]}) 25. Bd2 $1 {Weiß nimmt nicht sofort auf g6 mit Schach,
sondern verbessert seine Läuferstellung.} (25. Rxg6+ Kf8) 25... Ne7 (25... a3
$5) (25... Nh6 $2 26. Rxg6+ $18 {[%csl Rh6]}) 26. h3 {Weiß schafft ein
Luftloch für den König und verteidigt sich gegen ...Qh5.} Rb5 $2 {Schwarz gibt
die Qualität zurück, aber Weiß behält Angriffschancen.} (26... Rh4 $1 $13 {
[%cal Rh4e4]}) 27. Re3 {[%csl Re2]} (27. Nxb5 Qxb5) 27... Qh5 {Die schwarze
Dame muß wegziehen, aber von h5 aus kann sie nichts für die schwarze
Verteidigung tun.} 28. Nxb5 cxb5 29. Rd3 $16 {[%cal Rd3d7]} gxf5 (29... Rd8 30.
fxe6 $18 {[%cal Rd3d8]} (30. Ba5 $18)) 30. Rxd7 {[%cal Rd7g7]} Qe8 (30... Re8
31. c6 $18 {[%csl Gc6,Gd7,Re7,Rg7][%cal Rc6c7,Rc7c8,Rd2b4,Rb4e7,Rd7g7]}) 31. c6
{[%csl Gc6][%cal Rd7g7]} Kg6 32. Bb4 Nc8 33. Qe3 $18 {[%csl Gb4,Gc6,Gd7,Ge3,
Rg6] Weiß hat die überlegene Figurenkoordination.} Rh5 $8 34. Qg3+ Rg5 (34...
Kh6 35. Qg7#) 35. Qc7 {[%csl Rc8,Rg6][%cal Rd7d8]} Qh8 (35... fxe4 36. Rd8 $18
{[%csl Rc8]} (36. Rg7+ Kh6 37. Rh7+ Kg6 38. Qg7+ Kf5 39. g4+ Ke5 40. Bc3+ Kd5
41. Qxf6 $18 {[%csl Rd5]})) 36. Rd8 {[%csl Rc8] Und Schwarz gab auf, denn er
verliert die Figur auf c8.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.02"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rb1
Ne4 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 exd5 12. Bd3 c5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Re1 Qf6
15. dxc5 bxc5 16. e4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Rd8 18. Qa4 Bd7 19. Qc4 Rac8 20. Qxc5 Be6
21. a4 Ne7 22. Qxa7 Nd5 23. Rbd1 Nxc3 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bb7 g5 26. Qa5 g4 27.
Ne5 Rd2 28. Qc5 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nd4 30. Qc1 Qxf2 31. Rf1 Qe2 32. Re1 Rc2 33. Qd1
Qxd1 34. Rxd1 Ra2 35. Nc6 Nb3 36. a5 Nxa5 37. Nxa5 Rxa5 38. g3 Kg7 39. Rf1 h5
40. Kg2 Kg6 41. Rf2 Kg5 42. Rb2 Rc5 43. Be4 f5 44. Bb7 h4 45. Kf2 Rc3 46. Rd2
Bc4 47. Bg2 Bd3 48. Ra2 Bc4 49. Rb2 Rc1 50. Rd2 Ba6 51. Ra2 Bd3 52. Rd2 Bc4 53.
Rb2 f4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Peng, Xiaomin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

{[%mdl 4] This game is a nice model for how to conduct the white attack in the
Spanish main lines when Black has exchanged on d4. Topalov plays in the centre
at first to distract Black from attacking on the Q-side. Then at the
appropriate moment he shifts to a K-side operation.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11.
Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 13. Nf1 c5 14. a3 Nc6 15. Be3 (15. Ng3 c4 16. Bc2 d5 17.
e5 a5 18. Be3 b4 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Nxa8 21. Nh2 b3 22. Bb1 Nc7 23. Qh5 g6
24. Qh6 Re8 25. Ng4 Bxg4 26. hxg4 Bf8 27. Qh3 Ne6 $17 {0-1 Svidler,P-Adams,M/
Groningen 1997/CBM 63 (36)}) (15. d5 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Bd6 18. Qd2 Bd7
19. Rec1 Qe7 20. Qa5 Rfb8 21. Nd2 Be8 22. Bd1 Nd7 $13 {0-1 Shirov,A-Piket,J/
Linares 1997/CBM 57 (40)}) (15. Bc2 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. b3 Be6 18. Bb2 Bf6
19. Bxd4 Be5 20. Nh2 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc7 22. Re2 Qc5 $11 {0-1 Bologan,
V-Zagrebelny,S/Kstovo 1998/EXT 99 (31)}) (15. Bf4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Qxd4
Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Bg3 Nc4 $15 {0-1 Bologan,V-Piket,J/Germany 1997/GER-chT 
(44)}) 15... c4 (15... Na5 16. Bc2 Nbc4 17. Bc1 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Bf6 19. Rb1 d5
20. exd5 Bb7 21. Nf5 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Bxd5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Rab8 25. N1g3 Be6
26. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Karpov,A-Ivkov,B/Bugojno 1980/MCD (58)}) (15... a5 16. Rc1 c4
17. Bc2 d5 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. e5 Na4 21. Rb1 Ra6 22. Ng3 g6 23. Bh6
Re8 24. e6 $40 {1-0 Topalov,V-Piket,J/Monte Carlo 1997/CBM 57 ext (37)}) 16.
Bc2 d5 17. Ne5 $1 {[%mdl 4] Topalov keeps the central tension while building
up against the black K. This way Blacks Q-side play is at least postponed. See
the game 0-1 Svidler,P-Adams,M/Groningen 1997/CBM 63 (36) for an example of
how Black can play when White closes too early with e5.} (17. e5 a5 $132) 17...
Qc7 18. Ng3 g6 19. Qf3 Be6 20. Nxc6 Qxc6 21. Bh6 Rfe8 22. e5 {[%mdl 4] Now the
time is ripe for a pure attack on the black K.} a5 23. Nh5 $1 {This sacrifice
is the key to opening up the black box.} Nd7 (23... gxh5 24. Qg3+ (24. Qxh5 f5
25. Re3 Kh8 26. Bg7+ Kxg7 27. Rg3+ Kh8 28. Qh6 Rg8 29. Bxf5 $18) 24... Bg4 25.
e6 $40) 24. Qg3 b4 25. Ng7 Bf8 $2 (25... Rec8 26. Nf5 (26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. f4 c3
28. b3 Qb6 29. Rad1 bxa3 $132) 26... Bxf5 27. Bxf5 $16) 26. Nxe8 Bxh6 27. Nd6
b3 28. Bf5 $18 Nb6 29. f4 Bxf5 30. Nxf5 Bf8 31. Nh4 Na4 32. f5 $40 (32. Rab1
$18) 32... Nxb2 33. e6 Nd3 (33... Bg7 $5) 34. exf7+ Kxf7 35. Re6 b2 36. Rf1 Qb7
37. Nxg6 $1 Bg7 38. Qe3 Bf6 39. Rxf6+ Kxf6 40. Qe6+ Kg7 41. f6+ Kh6 (41... Kxg6
42. f7+ Kg7 43. Qf6+ Kf8 44. Qd6+ Kg7 45. f8=Q+ Rxf8 46. Qxf8+ Kg6 47. Qf6+ Kh5
48. g4#) 42. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.04"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3 Be7 8. d5
exd5 9. cxd5 Bc5 10. Nd4 $6 {The more I look at this variation, the more I am
convinced that if black is allowed to construct his 'standard' position
without interference he can look forward to a comfortable middle-game.} d6 11.
Be2 a6 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Be3 {This seems a logical attempt to keep this piece
in the centre to contest the key dark squares, but as we shall see this is not
the whole story! The older move was} (13. Bg5 Re8 14. b4 (14. Nb3 Ba7 15. Nd2
h6 16. Bh4 Ne5 17. Nde4 g5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Bg3 Bf5 20. Kh1 Ng6 21. Bg4 Nf4
$1 $15 {Sadler,M-Short,N/ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998.}) 14... Ba7 15. Rc1 h6 16.
Bh4 Nf8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Bg3 {[%cal Yg3d6] It may be that g3, pressuring black's
only really discernable weakness, is after all the best square for this piece.}
Rc8 19. Bf3 Qb6 20. Nb3 Ng6 21. Na5 Ne5 22. Be2 Qd4 23. Qb3 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3
25. Bxd6 Bd4 26. Na2 Qxb3 27. Nxb3 Bb2 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Nc5 Bxa3 $11 {Lautier,
J-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 1997/EXP 57.}) 13... Ne5 14. h3 Re8 15. b4 $6 {[%csl Rc4]
An understandable decision, since if white does not expand on the queen-side
it is hard to suggest a plan. Still, the weakness of c4 is by no means just
theoretical.} Bb6 {The choice of between b6 and a7 is here rather simply
determined. Since there are potential tactics on the e3-a7 diagonal the bishop
is most solidly placed on the square where its defender can stay put for some
time. Since the a8 rook is urgently needed to exploit white's 'looseness' on
the c-file the queen best performs this role, and hence Topalov's move is the
most logical.} 16. Qb3 {Choosing a square for the white queen is more tricky.
The text is suitable for offering support to the weakened c4 square, and for
promoting white's plan of pushing his queenside pawns ( it is difficult indeed
to see another plan! ). On the other hand the d2 square might, as we shall see,
be a more prudent choice for the less ambitious role of keeping white's
centralised pieces well defended.} Bd7 17. a4 Rc8 18. Rac1 Ng6 $1 {I already
prefer black, and it may be that even after a more prudent move such as} 19.
Rfd1 $2 (19. Rfe1 {black can consider the positional sacrifice} Rxe3 $5 20.
fxe3 Qe7 21. Bf1 Qe5 $5 {with great play on the dark squares. However, the
text is clearly a mistake after which black gets decisive tactical threats
instead of mere positional compensation.}) 19... Rxe3 $1 $17 {[%mdl 512] A
beautiful resolution of the tension by which black shows that his superiority
on the dark squares is not so latent after all. The very concrete tactical
follow-up however, puts this more into the category of combination than
intuitive sacrifice.} 20. fxe3 Qe7 (20... Qe8 $5 {[%cal Ge8e3,Gd7a4] is also
possible, eyeing a4 and thus preventing the game defence. However, white can
still struggle with} 21. Kf2 $5 Rxc3 $5 22. Rxc3 Bxa4 23. Rc8 $1 Qxc8 24. Qxa4
Nxd5 25. Bg4 Qd8 $17) 21. Na2 Rxc1 22. Nxc1 Bxa4 $1 23. Qxa4 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Ne4
$6 {Unnecessary sophistication! The simple} (24... Bxd4 $1 {looks very strong.}
) 25. Nf5 (25. Qe8+ $1 Nf8 26. Ne6 {Fritz 5!} fxe6 27. dxe6 Nf2+ 28. Kh2 Qxe6
29. Qxe6+ Nxe6 30. Re1 {is far from clear.}) 25... Nf2+ 26. Kh2 Qe5+ 27. Ng3
Ne4 28. Qb3 Bf2 29. Rd3 h5 $1 $19 30. Bxh5 Nxg3 31. Rxg3 Qxh5 $1 (31... Bxg3+
$2 32. Qxg3 Qxh5 33. Qxd6 $132) 32. Rxg6 {The rook cannot run away, since,
thematically enough, black would then penetrate on the dark squares eg.} (32.
Rf3 Qe5+ 33. g3 Qe1) 32... Qxg6 33. Qf3 Bd4 34. Nd3 Qg5 35. Qe4 Qe3 36. Qxe3
Bxe3 {With a pawn and an excellent minor piece, the technical phase poses no
difficulties.} 37. Kg3 g6 38. Kf3 Bd4 39. Ke2 Kg7 40. Ne1 Kf6 41. Kd3 Bf2 42.
Nf3 Kf5 43. Ke2 Ba7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5
9. Nf5 h5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 g6 12. O-O-O gxf5 13. exf5 Nc6 14. Bc4 Qf6 15.
fxe5 Nxe5 16. g5 Qxf5 17. Bb3 Qf3 18. Qd2 Qc6 19. Rhf1 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21.
Rf6 O-O-O 22. Rxe6 Bg7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.06"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Nbd7 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Qxe4 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Qd5 17. Qe2 Rad8 18. c4 Qd7 19. Qg4 f6 20. Bf4 e5 21.
Qxd7 Rxd7 22. dxe5 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 fxe5 24. Bg3 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26. f3 h5 27.
Kc2 Kf7 28. Kd3 Ke6 29. Ke4 g6 30. Bf2 a6 31. g3 b5 32. b3 Ba5 33. g4 bxc4 34.
bxc4 Bd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.07"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia II"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3
exd5 9. cxd5 h5 10. Bg5 Qb6 11. Qb3 Qc7 12. Be2 a6 13. a4 Nh7 14. Be3 Qe7 15.
O-O Nd7 16. f4 Bd4 17. Bf2 h4 18. Nh1 g5 19. Qd1 Qf6 20. fxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.09"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6 14. Qd2 Qa5 15.
Rd1 Rc8 16. O-O Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Qc5 19. Rf2 Qxd4 20. Rxd4 Be6 21.
Nd5 f6 22. Rfd2 b5 23. a4 h4 24. c3 Kf7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rb4 Rc5 27. Ne3 Ra8
28. Kf2 Ra1 29. Rd1 Ra2 30. Ke1 Ke8 31. g3 hxg3 32. hxg3 Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.10"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. b4 Be7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. O-O a5 14. Nxc6 Rxc6
15. Qd4 axb4 16. axb4 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. h3 Qc7 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. Qf4 Ne4 21.
Nd4 Rb6 22. b5 h6 23. Qe5 Qd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6 25. Rfc1 Rd8 26. f3 Kf8 27. Kf2 Ke7
28. Bd3 Rc8 29. Ke2 Bd7 30. Rxc8 Nxc8 31. Kd2 g6 32. Kc3 Rd6 33. Ne2 Re6 34.
Kd4 Kd6 35. Nc3 Nb6 36. Rc1 Re8 37. e4 Be6 38. e5+ Kd7 39. f4 h5 40. Ra1 Rc8
41. h4 Rc7 42. g3 Rc8 43. Nd1 Nc4 44. Ra2 Kc7 45. Nc3 Rd8 46. Na4 Ra8 47. Nc3
Rd8 48. Rc2 Kb6 49. Rc1 Ka5 50. Ra1+ Kb6 51. Be2 Kc7 52. Rb1 Nd2 53. Rb2 Nc4
54. Rb1 Nd2 55. b6+ Kc6 56. Rb4 Nc4 57. Na4 Ra8 58. Bf3 Nd2 59. Bd1 Nc4 60. Bf3
Nd2 61. Bd1 Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.11"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 {This line is still very popular
these days. Black has got some problems with his development on the >>,
especially with his R, but this is his only weakness.} 12. O-O c5 13. Qh4 (13.
c3 b6 14. Qh4 (14. Re1 {- 13.Re1}) 14... Bb7 15. Be4 Be7 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5
Nf6 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Nf3 {1/2 Andreev-Galkin, Rotterdam 1998}) (13. Re1 b6 14.
c3 Bb7 15. h4 (15. Bd2 {It is not easy to create a target in Black's camp.} Rd8
(15... Re8 $5 16. Rad1 $6 (16. h4 $142) 16... c4 17. Bc2 Bd5 18. Ba4 b5 $1 19.
Bc2 (19. Bxb5 Nf6 20. Qh3 Rb8 $44) 19... g5 $1 {Now Black solves the problem
of his K, and his centralized bishops will decide the game.} 20. Qh3 Kg7 21.
Ne5 $6 {Desperation.} Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23. Qh5 Bf6 $19 {Shankar-Speelman,
Calcutta (op) 1998}) 16. h4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nf6 {White has an isolated P, which
can easily be blockaded by Black.} 18. Qh3 Qd7 19. Rad1 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Be7 21.
Bf4 Qd5 $11 {Nevednichy-Papaionnoa, Elista (ol) 1998}) 15... Re8 {It is hard
to see which is the best place for the R.} (15... Rd8 16. Bd2 Nf6 17. Qh3 Bxf3
18. Qxf3 cxd4 19. cxd4 Qd7 20. a4 Be7 21. Bc3 Qd5 22. Qh3 Bd6 $13 {
Shirov-Karpov, Amber blindfold Monte Carlo 1998}) (15... c4 16. Bc2 b5 17. Bd2
a5 18. h5 Bd5 19. Qh3 Rb8 20. b3 b4 21. bxc4 bxc3 22. Bxc3 Qxc4 23. Nd2 Qc7 24.
Bb3 Nb6 $13 {Anand-Karpov, Amber rapid Monte Carlo 1998}) 16. h5 Bd5 17. Bd2
Rd8 18. Re2 {It is hard to find a clear-cut plan for White.} Kg8 19. Qh3 Qc6
20. Re3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Nf6 22. Qh4 Be7 23. Rh3 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qd6 25. Be3 Kf8 26.
Rc1 Qb4 27. b3 Nd5 28. Qe4 Bf6 29. Bc4 Qd6 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Qxd5 Rxd5 32. Rc7
a5 33. a4 Kg8 $11 {Topalov-Anand, Linares 1998}) 13... b6 14. Be4 Bb7 (14...
Rb8 {See Eismont-Gutov, Russian Cup 1998 CBM 66}) 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. b3 Be7 (
16... Nf6 $6 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bb2 Be7 19. c4 $14 {and Black has problems in
connecting his rooks.}) (16... g6 $6 17. Bb2) (16... Qc6 $5 17. c4 (17. Bb2 Be7
(17... c4 $5) 18. Qg3 Bd6 {/\} 19. Qxg7+ Kxg7 20. d5+ Be5 21. Bxe5+ Nxe5 22.
dxc6 Nxf3+ 23. gxf3 Rac8) 17... Be7 (17... cxd4 {is simply met by} 18. Nxd4)
18. Qg3 Bd6 19. Bf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 $14 {and White will take the d <-> quickly.})
17. Qg3 Bf6 18. Be3 (18. Ba3 g6 19. Rad1 Kg7 20. dxc5 bxc5 $13 {and the B is
misplaced on a3.}) (18. Bb2 g6) 18... g6 19. Rad1 Kg7 20. c4 Rad8 21. d5 (21.
dxc5 Nxc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5 $11) 21... exd5 (21... Nf8 $6 22. Ne5 exd5 23. cxd5 $14
{/\} Rxd5 $4 24. Qf3 $18) 22. Rxd5 (22. cxd5 Rhe8 23. Bf4 b5 $1 $13 {/\ c4})
22... Nf8 23. Rxd8 Bxd8 24. h4 ({More to the point is} 24. Rd1 $142 Ne6 (24...
Bf6 25. Ne5 Qe4 (25... Ne6 $4 {loses to} 26. Rd7 $18) 26. Ng4 $14) 25. h4 ({
Here} 25. Ne5 {is met by} Qe4) 25... h5 (25... Bf6 26. h5) 26. Bg5 $5) 24... h5
25. Rd1 Bf6 26. Bg5 Nh7 $1 {Black is defending himself very carefully.} 27. Rd5
(27. Qf4 Re8) 27... Re8 28. Bf4 Rd8 $1 (28... Kh8 29. Ne5 $1) 29. Bd6 (29. Rxh5
Kh8 30. Rd5 (30. Rh6 $6 Bg7 31. Be5 Kg8 $1 (31... f6 $2 32. Qxg6 $1 Bxh6 33.
Bxf6+ $18) 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. Qf4 Nf6 $17) 30... Rxd5 31. cxd5 Qxd5 32. Bh6 Qd8
33. Qf4 $11) 29... Qc6 30. Kh2 (30. Rd2 $11) 30... Kg8 {[#]} 31. Nd2 $4 {
[%mdl 8192] This is a serious blunder, White is pushing too hard, and forgets
about the possibility of losing the game.} (31. Ne5 $6 Qe8) (31. Rd2 $11) 31...
Bxh4 $1 $19 {A blow from the blue!} 32. Qd3 $2 {losing a piece at the end.} (
32. Qxh4 Rxd6 33. Rxd6 Qxd6+ $19) 32... Nf6 33. Be7 Qc7+ 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.12"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Greece"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GRE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. d5
Nc5 9. Qc2 a5 10. Bg5 h6 11. Be3 b6 12. Nd2 Ng4 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. b3 f5 15. f3
Bh5 16. a3 f4 17. Bf2 Na6 18. Qb2 g5 19. b4 g4 20. fxg4 Bxg4 21. Nf3 Bf6 22.
Kh1 Kh7 23. Rab1 Rg8 24. Bg1 Qd7 25. Qe2 Rg7 26. Qd3 Rag8 27. Rb2 Bh5 28. Ne1
Bh4 29. Nf3 Bf6 30. Ne1 axb4 31. axb4 Bh4 32. Bf2 Bxf2 33. Rfxf2 Qc8 34. Nf3
Qd8 35. Ne2 Nb8 36. g3 Nd7 37. Rg2 Qf6 38. Rb3 Qg6 39. Rb1 Nf6 40. Nc3 Qg4 41.
Rf1 Qh3 42. Ne2 fxg3 43. Nfg1 Bxe2 44. Nxe2 Nh5 45. Qf3 Rg5 46. Qe3 R8g7 47.
Rf5 Rxf5 48. exf5 Qxf5 49. hxg3 Nf6 50. Nc3 Qf1+ 51. Qg1 Qxc4 52. Qb1+ Rg6 53.
Qc2 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 a6 7. Be3 Bd7 8. Qd2
b5 9. g5 Nge7 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qd2 Be7 13. f4 O-O 14. Kb1 Na5
15. Qf2 Rb8 16. h4 b4 17. Ne2 Nc4 18. Nd4 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Qb6 20. Qd2 a5 21. f5
e5 22. Nf3 Rfc8 23. f6 Bf8 24. fxg7 Bxg7 25. Bh3 Bxh3 26. Rxh3 Rc4 27. g6 hxg6
28. h5 Rbc8 29. Rc1 a4 30. hxg6 b3 31. Qd5 R4c7 32. gxf7+ Kf8 33. Nh4 bxc2+ 34.
Ka1 Qg1 35. Qxd6+ Kxf7 36. Qd5+ Ke7 37. Nf5+ Kf8 38. Qd6+ Kf7 39. Qd2 Qd1 40.
Qg5 Bf6 41. Rh7+ Ke6 42. Nd4+ Qxd4 43. Qf5+ Kd6 44. Qxf6+ Kc5 45. Rxc2+ Kb4 46.
a3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3 Be7 8. d5
exd5 9. cxd5 Bc5 10. b4 $5 {I am sure that white has to look here to those
moves which disrupt the smooth flow of black's planned set-up, viz: ...d6, ...
Re8, ...Nbd7, ...a6 etc. Either 10 Na4, or the text therefore look the most
likely to make an impact, and I am not surprised to see Sadler turn to it.} ({
After} 10. Na4 $5 {the reply} b6 {seems to be holding up well eg.} 11. Nec3 $5
{I prefer this to} (11. Nxc5 $6 bxc5 12. Nc3 Re8+ 13. Be2 Ba6 14. O-O Bxe2 15.
Nxe2 Qb6 16. Nc3 d6 17. Rb1 Nbd7 18. Be3 Qa6 {[%cal Yd7e5,Ye5c4]} 19. b4 Qc4
20. Qd2 Rac8 21. bxc5 Nxc5 22. Nb5 Nce4 {when black was very active. Gallego,
V-Lalic,B/Benasque 1996/CBM 53 ext.}) 11... Re8+ 12. Be2 Ba6 13. O-O Bxe2 14.
Nxe2 Na6 15. Nac3 $5 {[%csl Ra6]} Bd6 16. h3 Nc5 17. Be3 Nfe4 18. Rc1 Qf6 19.
b4 Nxc3 20. Nxc3 Ne4 21. Nb5 $5 Qe5 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Qd3 Nf6 24. Rfd1 Rac8 {
with a very slight edge for white at the most.. Yakovich,Y-Alterman,B/Beijing
1997/CBM 61.}) 10... Bd6 {Topalov decides to keep this piece, since white's
arguably loosening 10th move creates fresh opportunities for play on the e5-a1
diagonal. It is also quite possible to play 10...Bb6 and look to rapid
development to compensate for the bishop pair after} (10... Bb6 11. Na4 Re8 $1
12. Nxb6 axb6 13. h3 $5 d6 (13... Re5 $6 {This kind of greed is very often
misguided in these positions} 14. Bb2 Rxd5 15. Qc2 Nc6 16. g4 d6 17. Bg2 Be6
18. O-O Rc8 19. Nf4 Rg5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. f4 $16 {Malaniuk,V-Tunik,G/Yalta op
1996}) 14. Be3 Ne4 $1 {Black's counterchances rest on impeding white's
development and play on the light squares.} 15. Qd4 Nd7 16. g4 f5 $1 17. Bg2
Ne5 18. O-O Ng6 $1 {[%cal Yg6h4]} 19. gxf5 Bxf5 20. Ng3 Nh4 21. Nxf5 Nxf5 22.
Qxb6 Qf6 23. Bf4 Nh4 $44 {Guliev,S-Volzhin,A/Moscow 1994/CBM 45 ext.}) 11. g3 (
11. Bb2 Be5 12. Ng3 a5 13. b5 {[%csl Rc5]} (13. Be2 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1
Na6 {[%csl Rb4]}) 13... d6 14. Be2 Nbd7 (14... Nfd7 15. O-O Nc5 16. f4 Bf6 17.
Nh5 $1 $40) 15. O-O Nc5 (15... Nb6 $5 16. f4 (16. Qd2 Nbxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxb2) (16.
Bf3 $2 Nc4 $132) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Nbxd5 18. Bd4 Re8 19. Qd2 $44 Bg4 $140 $5
20. Bd3 $1 (20. Bxg4 $6 Nxg4 21. Bxg7 Qh4 22. h3 Nge3 23. Rf3 Rac8 24. Re1 Kxg7
25. Rfxe3 Nxe3 26. Rxe3 Kg8 27. Nf5 Qf6 $15)) 16. f4 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 a4 {[%cal
Yc5b3]} 18. f5 Bd7 19. Rb1 Re8 $132 {[%csl Ye3][%cal Yf6e4,Yc5b3,Ye8e3] Knaak,
R-Piket,J/GER-chT 1997. Black has sufficent squares for his knights and rook
to compensate for the bishop pair.}) 11... Re8 12. Bg2 Be5 {[%cal Ye5a1]} 13.
O-O a5 $1 {An important element in black's set-up. He needs either the c5
square, or a weak b4 pawn to attack.} 14. b5 {[%csl Rc5]} (14. Bb2 axb4 15.
axb4 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Na6 $5 (16... d6) 17. f4 $5 (17. b5 Nc5 $132 {[%csl Yc5]})
17... Bxc3 (17... Qb6+ 18. Kh1 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Qxb4 20. d6 $44 {looks quite
reasonable for white since there are still quite a few question marks hanging
over black's development.}) 18. Nxc3 $1 (18. Bxc3 Qe7 $1 $36 {[%csl Re2,Re3]
[%cal Ge7e2]}) 18... Nxb4 (18... d6 19. Qd4 $14) 19. d6 Qb6+ $140 20. Kh1 Re6
21. Na4 Qxd6 22. Qxd6 Rxd6 23. Rc1 $132 {I am not surprised that Sadler
rejected 14 Bb2 since it looks rather speculative, but still I find it
interesting and worth further investigation.}) 14... d6 15. h3 {[%csl Gg4]
[%cal Gg3g4]} (15. f4 Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Bg4 $5 $132 (17... Bf5) (17...
Ng4 $6 18. Ra2 $1 $14)) 15... Nfd7 $5 {[%cal Ge5f6]} 16. f4 Bf6 17. Ra2 $1 {
[%csl Yc1,Re3][%cal Ya2h2] Efficient development. Working along the second
rank the rook can find a role either on the c-file, or supporting the
king-side push. The c1 bishop, on the other hand, is best placed at home,
particularly covering e3.} Nc5 18. g4 g6 $1 19. Rc2 Bg7 {Is this really what
Nimzovitch had in mind?} 20. Ng3 Nbd7 {The position somewhat resembles a
Benoni. Black has a great square on c5, but white has secured the e4 square,
and will challenge this with Ne4 while keeping some hopes on the king-side.}
21. Kh2 $5 {This square turns out to have some drawbacks in the game
continuation, but at the same time there are good reasons to wish to vacate g1
( the desire to threaten d6 among others ). Black's reply also raises
interesting questions. It arguably misplaces his other knight, since that
would ideally reserve the option to jump into c5 after its colleague is
exchanged. On the other hand, the bishop on c8 gets to support f5.} (21. Nce4
Nxe4 22. Nxe4 f5 (22... Nc5 $5) 23. gxf5 gxf5 24. Ng5 Nf6 (24... Nc5 $6 25. Qh5
h6 $140 26. Qf7+ Kh8 27. Bb2) 25. Qd3 $5 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Yg5e6]}) 21... Nb6
22. Nce4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 f5 24. Ng5 (24. gxf5 $2 Bxf5 $17) 24... fxg4 25. hxg4
Bd7 {[%cal Ya8c8]} 26. Ne6 (26. Rh1 $5 {-Fritz 5.}) 26... Qh4+ 27. Kg1 Bxe6 28.
dxe6 Rxe6 29. Rc7 $1 (29. Bxb7 Rae8 $40 {[%cal Ye6e1]}) 29... Re7 (29... Rae8
$2 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qd4+ Kg8 32. Qxb6 Qxg4 (32... Re1 33. Bd5+) 33. Qxb7) (
29... d5 30. Rxb7 Rae8 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Bb2+ Kf7 33. Qd4 $132) 30. Rxb7 Rxb7
31. Bxb7 Qg3+ 32. Kh1 $1 (32. Bg2 Rc8 33. Qxd6 (33. Qf3 Bd4+ 34. Kh1 Qh4+ 35.
Qh3 Qxh3+ 36. Bxh3 Rc3 37. Bg2 Bc5 $132) 33... Rc2 34. Bd2 Qxg4 $13) 32... Qh3+
(32... Re8 33. Qf3 Qh4+ 34. Kg2 $14) 33. Kg1 Qg3+ 34. Kh1 Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nf1 h6 13. d4 cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Bf8 16. b3 Bb7 (16... Nb7 17. Ng3 Nc5 18. Ndf5 Bb7 19. f3 Ncd7 20. Bf4 Ne5
21. Qd2 Rc8 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bb1 d5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Cabrilo,G-Pavlovic,M/
Vrnjacka Banja 1988/EXT 97 (29)}) (16... g6 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Qd2 Bd7 19. Rad1
Rc8 20. f3 $14 {1-0 Emms,J-Hebden,M/London 1993/TD (65)}) 17. Ng3 Nc6 (17...
Rc8 18. Bb2 g6 19. Qd2 h5 20. Nf3 Nc6 21. Rad1 Ne5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Qxd8 {
1/2-1/2 Hazai,L-Pavlovic,M/Copenhagen 1987/EXT 97 (23)}) 18. Bb2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4
(19. Qxd4 $5) 19... Rc8 20. Bd3 d5 $5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Qg4 (22. Nxe4 dxe4 23.
Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qd5 25. Qd3 (25. Qe2 $2 f5 26. Rf4 g5 $19) (25. Re2 Red8 26.
Rd2 Qe4 $44) 25... Bc5 26. Rd1 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Rexd4 Rxe5 $11) 22... Qg5
23. Qxg5 Nxg5 24. Rad1 Ne6 $14 {White has the better P-formation, but Black
has a nice blockading square on e6. At this moment the pressure is on Black to
get some activity before White consolidates by placing a piece on d4.} 25. Bb2
g6 26. Ne2 Bb4 27. Rf1 d4 $5 28. Bb1 (28. Nxd4 $2 Nf4 $36) (28. f4 Bc3 29. Bc1
Nc7 $13) 28... Bc3 29. Bc1 b4 $6 (29... Kh7 30. f4 $40) (29... Kg7 $142 30. f4
b4 31. f5 Nc5 32. fxg6 (32. Nf4 $5) 32... fxg6 33. Nf4 Ne4 $13) 30. Bxh6 a5 31.
Bd3 Nc5 32. Bc4 Rcd8 33. Bg5 Rd7 34. Bf6 $16 Bc6 35. f3 d3 36. Nxc3 $1 bxc3 37.
e6 Nxe6 38. Bxc3 Nf4 39. Bd2 Ne2+ 40. Kf2 Nd4 41. Be3 $6 (41. Rfe1 $18) 41...
Nc2 42. Bc1 Re2+ 43. Kg1 Nd4 44. a4 d2 45. Bb2 Ree7 46. Kf2 Nc2 47. Bf6 {
Resigning a bit too early. Black can still put up a fight.} (47. Bf6 Re8 48.
Bg5 Na3 $1 49. Be2 (49. Rxd2 Nxc4 50. bxc4 Bxa4 51. Ra1 Rxd2+ 52. Bxd2 Bb3 $14)
49... Rb7 50. Rxd2 (50. Bxd2 Rxb3 51. Bxa5 Bxa4 $16) 50... Rxb3 51. Bf6 Bxa4
52. Ra1 $16) 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Nb1 $5 {This somewhat unnatural move
is the product of a colourful development in this sharp line. It doesn't bring
any advantage and will probably be seen less in the future.} (12. Nce2 d5 13.
Bh3 (13. Ng3) (13. Rg1 dxe4 14. g5 hxg5 15. hxg5 exf3 16. gxf6 fxe2 17. Qxe2
gxf6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qg4 Bd5 20. Qg6+ Ke7 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 Qc7 23. Rf2
Rc8 24. Bf4 e5 25. Bg5 Qc6 {0-1 Prie,E-Shneider,A/Corsica rap op/1997/}) (13.
exd5 Nxd5 14. Nf4 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Bc4 O-O-O 17. Nd3 Qc7 $15 {Sax,
Gy-Anand,V Philadelphia 1986}) 13... dxe4 (13... Ne5 14. Nf4 g5 15. hxg5 Nc4
16. Qe2 Qa5 17. Kb1 hxg5 18. Nfxe6 fxe6 19. Bxg5 Be7 20. Nxe6 $16 {De La
Riva-Vera/1993/}) (13... Qa5 14. Kb1 g6 15. g5 Nh5 16. f4 O-O-O 17. f5 gxf5 18.
exf5 e5 19. Ne6 $18 {Magem Badals,J-Brenninkmeier,J/Novi Sad olm/1990/}) 14. g5
hxg5 (14... exf3 15. Nf4 (15. Ng3 Nd5 16. g6 Nc5 17. gxf7+ Kxf7 18. Nxf3 $13 {
Savko-Karklins/URS/1990/}) 15... Ne4 16. Qe1 Qa5 17. g6 O-O-O 18. Nb3 Qxa2 19.
gxf7 Bd6 20. Nxe6 Bc6 21. Rxd6 Nxd6 22. Qxb4 Nxf7 23. Nxd8 Nxd8 24. Bf4 Nb7 25.
Qb6 {1-0 Kalesis,N-Kouvatsou,M/Hania op/1997/}) 15. hxg5 exf3 16. Ng3 (16. Nf4
Ne4 17. Qe1 f2 18. Bxf2 Qxg5 19. Be3 Qh4 20. Ndxe6 $1 Qxe1 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22.
Rhxe1 Rxh3 $1 23. Nxh3 Bxg7 {Anand,V-Beliavsky,A/Groningen/1993/1-0 (38)})
16... Ne4 (16... Ne5 $5 17. gxf6 gxf6 $13 18. Kb1 Qc7 19. Bf4 Bd5 20. Qe3 Be7)
17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bxe6 $1 (18. Bf4 $2 Nc5 19. Qe3 Qa5 20. Kb1 Bd5 21. Nb3 Nxb3
22. axb3 Qc5 $19 {0-1 Ye Jiangchuan-Topalov,V/Moscow olm/1994/}) (18. Nxe6 $6
fxe6 19. Bxe6 Nc5 $1 20. Rxh8 Qxd2+ 21. Bxd2 Nxe6 22. Bxb4 (22. Re1 Bd5 23.
Bxb4 Kd7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Rxf8 Nxf8 {0-1 Cvicela,A-Solodovnichenko,Y/SVK-ch/
1997/ (37)}) 22... Kf7 $19) 18... Rxh1 19. Rxh1 fxe6 20. Nxe6 Qe7 $1 21. Nc7+
Kf7 22. Qd4 Kg6 $1 23. Rh4 Nc5 24. Nxa8 $1 Bxa8 25. Rf4 $1 Qe8 26. Rxf8 Qxf8
27. Qxc5 Qxc5 28. Bxc5 $11 {Zagrebelny,S-Efremov,V/Alushta op/1994/0,5 (37)}) (
12. Na4 d5 13. Bh3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc5 15. g5 Nxa4 16. bxa4 Nd7 17. g6 Nc5 18. gxf7+
Kxf7 19. Nb3 Nxb3+ 20. axb3 $16 {Gunawan,Ru-Paschall,W/New York op (09)/1994/
1-0 (34)}) 12... d5 (12... e5 13. Nf5 d5) 13. Bh3 Ne5 14. g5 Nfd7 15. Qe2 dxe4
(15... Qa5 16. f4 Nc4 17. b3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 dxe4 19. g6 Nc5 20. gxf7+ Kxf7 21.
Rhg1 Rc8 22. Nxe6 (22. Qg3 Bd5 23. Qg6+ Ke7) 22... Nxe6 23. Rd7+ Be7 24. Bxe6+
Kxe6 25. Qh3+ Kf7 26. Rxb7 Qc5 {Ivanchuk,V-Van Wely,L/Wijk/1996/1/2-1/2 (64)} (
26... Rxc2+ 27. Kxc2 Qc5+ 28. Nc3 $1 Qf2+ 29. Ne2 $1)) (15... hxg5 $5 16. hxg5
Rxh3 17. Rxh3 dxe4 $44) 16. f4 Nd3+ $1 {The time factor plays dominant role in
this type of positions and Topalov was obviously well prepared from home.} (
16... Nc6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxe6 $18) (16... Nf3 17. g6 Nxd4 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19.
Rxd4 $40) 17. cxd3 exd3 18. Qxd3 (18. Qh5 $2 g6 19. Qg4 Bxh1 $19) 18... Nc5 (
18... Rc8+ $5 19. Kd2 (19. Nc2 Bxh1 20. Rxh1 hxg5 21. hxg5 Nc5 22. Qxd8+ Rxd8
23. Bxc5 (23. Nxb4 Nd3+ 24. Nxd3 Rxd3 $19) 23... Bxc5 24. Nd2 Bd6 $17) 19...
Nc5 20. Qf1 (20. Qe2 Bxh1 21. Rxh1 Qd5 $17) 20... Bxh1 21. Qxh1 $15) 19. Qc2 (
19. Qf1 $5 Qc8 20. Nd2 $1 (20. Nc2 b3 $1 $19) 20... Ne4+ 21. Qc4 Nxd2 (21...
Bd5 22. Qc2 Nxd2 23. Qxc8+ Rxc8+ 24. Kxd2 Bxh1 25. Rxh1 $14) 22. Qxc8+ Rxc8+
23. Kxd2 Bxh1 24. Rxh1 $14) 19... Be4 (19... Bxh1 $2 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 (20... Qxd1+
21. Qxd1 Nxe6 22. Qxh1 $18) 21. Qa4+ Ke7 22. Qxb4+ Ke8 23. Qa4+ Ke7 24. Rxd8
Rxd8 25. Qxa6 $16) 20. Nxe6 $1 {If anybody worries about chess becoming boring
he should check this entertaining position. There are many pieces attacked,
lines opened and dangers waiting for both sides.} (20. Qe2 Rc8 21. Kd2 Bxh1 22.
Rxh1 Qd5 $17) 20... fxe6 $1 (20... Qa5 21. Nxg7+ Bxg7 22. Bd7+ Kf8 23. Qxc5+
Qxc5+ 24. Bxc5+ $18) 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bxc5 (22. Qh2 Nd3+ 23. Kc2 Nf2+ 24. Kb3
Nxh1 $17) (22. Qc4 Nd3+ 23. Kc2 Nc5+ (23... b3+ 24. Kc3 (24. axb3 $2 Nb4+ 25.
Kc3 Na2#) (24. Kxb3 Bd5 25. Bxe6 Rb8+ 26. Kc2 Bxc4 27. Bxc4) 24... Bb4+ 25.
Kxb3 Bd5 26. Bxe6 Bxc4+ 27. Bxc4 hxg5 $13) 24. Kc1 $11) 22... Bxc2 23. Bxf8
Kxf8 (23... Bxb1 24. Bxg7 Rh7 25. Kxb1 (25. gxh6 Bxa2 26. f5 $13) 25... Rxg7
26. Re1 $14) (23... Rxf8 24. Kxc2 Rxf4 25. Bxe6 $14) 24. Kxc2 hxg5 25. fxg5 (
25. hxg5 Rd4 26. Bg2 Rxh1 27. Bxh1 Rxf4 $13) 25... Rxh4 26. Nd2 {[%mdl 4096]
White must reestablish coordination of his pieces, fortunately for him black
pawns are all potentially weak.} Ke7 27. Nf3 Rc4+ 28. Kb1 (28. Kb3 Re4 $11)
28... Re4 (28... Rf4 29. Ne5 $16) 29. Rc1 Rd3 30. Bg2 Ree3 (30... Re2 $2 31.
Bf1 Rxb2+ 32. Kxb2 Rxf3 33. Bxa6 $18) 31. Nh4 Rd2 32. Bf1 (32. Ng6+ Kf7 33. Nf4
Rf2 34. Rc7+ Ke8 $15) 32... a5 33. Bc4 Kd6 (33... Rd4 34. Ng6+ Kf7 35. Nh8+ Kg8
36. g6 $5 Kxh8 $4 37. Bxe6 $1 Rd8 38. Rh1+) 34. Ng6 Re4 35. Nf8 e5 (35... Rf4
36. Nxe6 Rxc4 37. Rxc4 Kxe6 38. Rc7 $11) 36. Ng6 Rg4 (36... Rg2 37. Nh8 $1) 37.
Nh8 $1 {This fine move keeps the balance, white is playing creatively in the
defense of this endgame position.} e4 (37... Rxg5 $4 38. Nf7+ $18) 38. Nf7+ Ke7
39. Re1 Kf8 (39... Rd4 $2 40. Ne5 $1 $18) 40. Ne5 Rxg5 41. Rf1+ (41. Kc1 $2 Rf2
$17) 41... Ke8 (41... Ke7 42. Rf7+ Kd8 (42... Ke8 43. Bb5+ Kd8 44. Nc6+ Ke8 45.
Ne5+ $11) 43. Nc6+ Ke8 44. Re7+ Kf8 45. Rf7+ $11) 42. Bb5+ Ke7 (42... Kd8 $2
43. Nf7+ $18) 43. Nc4 Rh2 44. Ba4 Rc5 45. Ne3 g6 46. Re1 $15 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. c5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc2 15.
Qxb7 Nxa1 16. Rxa1 Qe8 17. Qa6 f6 18. Ne1 Qc8 19. Qxc8 Bxc8 20. Bf4 Bd8 21. Nc2
Re8 22. Bd3 a5 23. Ne3 Ra7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 a4 26. Kf1 Ba5 27. Rc1 a3 28.
Rc2 g6 29. Bd3 Rb7 30. Bc1 Rb1 31. g3 Reb8 32. Ke2 R1b2 33. Kd2 Kf7 34. Be2 f5
35. Kd3 g5 36. Bd1 Kf6 37. h3 h6 38. Bf3 Kg6 39. g4 Bc7 40. gxf5+ Kf6 41. Re2
Rxe2 42. Bxe2 Bf4 43. Bxa3 Ra8 44. Bb2 Rxa2 45. Kc2 Kxf5 46. Bf3 Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. d5 c5 11. h3 (11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Bd7 13. g3 Ng4 14. Bd2 f5
15. h3 Nf6 16. Nh4 Qe8 17. exf5 gxf5 18. f4 Nh5 $132 {1-0 Brglez,R-Tratar,M/
Ljubljana 1997/CBM 61 ext (46)}) 11... Bd7 12. a3 (12. Bg5 h6 (12... Kh8 13. a3
$6 Qb8 14. Qc2 (14. Bd3 Ng8 15. g4 f6 16. Bd2 Bh6 17. Kh2 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 g5 19.
Ne2 Ne7 20. Ng3 Ng6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sorokin,M-Quinteros,M/Villa Ballester 1997/
EXT 98 (45)}) 14... Ng8 15. Bd3 f6 16. Bh4 $6 Nh6 17. Rf1 Qd8 18. Nd2 Nf7 19.
Bg3 Bh6 $11 {0-1 Miles,A-Cramling,P/Malmo 1996/CBM 54/[Hazai] (69)}) 13. Be3 (
13. Bd2 Ne8 14. g3 f5 15. Nh4 Qf6 16. exf5 gxf5 17. f4 e4 18. Be3 Nac7 19. Rc1
Rb8 20. b4 cxb4 21. Nb5 a6 22. Nd4 a5 23. Qh5 Qf7 24. Be2 Qxh5 25. Bxh5 b5 $132
{1/2-1/2 Oms Pallise,J-Comas Fabrego,L/ESP-chT 1995/CBM 50 ext (49)}) 13... Nh5
(13... Kh7 14. a3 Ng8 15. Rb1 f5 16. b4 f4 17. Bd2 g5 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Be2 Rg8
20. Ng4 Bf8 21. Rb3 Rg7 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bg4 $16 {1-0 Gligoric,S-Reeve,J/
Montreal 1998/EXT 99 (30)}) 14. Qd2 g5 15. Nh2 Nf4 16. a3 h5 17. Be2 Nxe2+ 18.
Qxe2 g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. Nxg4 Qh4 21. f3 f5 22. exf5 Bxf5 23. Ne4 $16 {
1-0 Mitenkov,A-Ziger,S/Katowice 1993/EXT 98 (34)}) (12. g3 Nh5 13. a3 Nc7 14.
b4 b6 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. bxc5 bxc5 17. Qd2 f6 18. Bh6 Qc8 19. Kh2 Bxh6 20. Qxh6
Rb8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Soffer,R-Timoshchenko,G/Berlin 1994/EXT 97 (23)}) (12. Nh2 Nh5
13. g3 Nc7 14. Be2 Rb8 15. a4 a6 16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 18. Bxh5 gxh5 19. g4
Bf6 20. Kh1 Bg5 21. Rg1 Kh8 $132 {0-1 Szymanski,A-Obsivac,J/Frydek-Mistek 1997/
EXT 98 (81)}) 12... Kh8 (12... Ne8 13. Rb1 (13. Nh2 Nac7 14. Be3 b6 15. Qd2 Kh8
16. f4 $14 {Krasenkov-Larsson, Sweden 1989/90}) (13. g3 f5 14. Bg2 f4 15. Bd2
h5 16. gxf4 exf4 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 $36 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Sutovskij,E/
Medellin 1996/Juniors (57)}) 13... f5 14. b4 f4 15. Na4 b6 16. bxc5 dxc5 17.
Bb2 Qe7 18. Bc3 Nd6 19. Nb2 Nc7 20. Nd3 Nf7 21. a4 $16 {1-0 Volke,K-Reschke,S/
BL9293 1993/GER-chT (40)}) 13. b4 Ng8 14. Rb1 Bh6 (14... b6 15. Nb5 Qe7 16. Bg5
f6 17. Bh4 Nh6 18. Bd3 Nf7 19. Nh2 Bh6 20. Nf1 Bg5 {1/2-1/2 Antoniewski,
R-Szelag,M/Augustow 1996/EXT 99 (20)}) 15. Bxh6 (15. Bb2 f6 16. Ba1 Qe7 17. Bd3
Rfc8 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qe2 Bf8 20. Nh2 Nh6 21. Nb5 Nf7 22. Ng4 Bg7 23. Ne3 Bh6
24. Bd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Sokolov,I-Cramling,P/Malmo 1998/CBM 66/[King] (47)}) 15...
Nxh6 16. Qd2 Kg7 17. Rb3 $6 (17. Bd3 {[%cal Gd3c2,Gc2a4]}) 17... b6 18. Bd3 Qe7
19. Bc2 f6 (19... f5 20. exf5 gxf5 (20... Nxf5 21. Ne4 $14) 21. Qg5+ (21. Ne2 {
[%cal Ge2g3,Gg3h5]} Qf6 22. Ng3 Kh8 $132) 21... Qxg5 22. Nxg5 Kg6 23. f4 $36)
20. Rb2 Rac8 {[%cal Yc8c4]} 21. b5 Nc7 22. a4 {[%cal Ga4a5,Ga5b6,Ge1a1,Ga1a7,
Gb2a2]} Nf7 23. a5 Rb8 24. Ra2 Rb7 {[%cal Yb7a7]} 25. axb6 axb6 26. Nh2 Kh8 (
26... f5 27. exf5 gxf5 28. f4 $16) 27. Nf1 Ne8 28. Ra8 Nc7 29. Ra3 Qd8 30. Ng3
Ne8 31. Rea1 Ng7 32. Nce2 (32. Ra7 Qc7) 32... h5 33. Bb1 Kh7 34. Nf1 $6 f5 35.
exf5 Bxf5 {[%cal Yd8h4,Yh4c4]} (35... Nxf5 36. Nfg3 N7h6 37. Ne4 $16 {[%csl
Rd6,Rg5]}) 36. Neg3 (36. Nfg3 Bxb1 37. Rxb1 Qh4 38. Qd3 Ng5 {[%cal Yb7f7,Yf7f2]
}) (36. Bxf5 Nxf5 (36... gxf5 $5) 37. Neg3 Nxg3 (37... Qh4 38. Nxf5 gxf5 39.
Qe2 {[%cal Ga3a7]}) 38. Nxg3 Qh4 39. Qe2 Ng5 40. Ra7 Rff7 $11) 36... Bxb1 37.
Rxb1 Qh4 38. Qd3 (38. Ne3 Ng5 $36 {[%cal Yb7f7]}) 38... Ng5 39. Nd2 {[%cal
Gd2e4]} Rf4 40. Re1 Rbf7 41. Nde4 Nxe4 42. Nxe4 (42. Rxe4 $5 Nf5 43. Rxf4 Qxf4
(43... exf4 44. Nxf5 (44. Ne4 $5 Re7 45. Ra6 $36) 44... Rxf5 45. Ra7+ Kh6 46.
Qc3 Re5 47. Rb7 $36) 44. Ne4 $14 Kg7) 42... Rxe4 $1 43. Rxe4 (43. Qxe4 Qxf2+
44. Kh2 Rf4 45. Qe3 Qb2 (45... Qxe3 46. Rexe3 Rxc4 47. Ra6 Nf5 48. Re1) 46. Ra7
Kh6 {[%cal Yg7f5,Yf5h4,Yf5d4]} 47. Re2 Qb1 48. Rf7 g5 $1 $44 (48... Nf5 49.
Rxf5 Qxf5 50. g3 $18)) 43... Qxf2+ 44. Kh2 Qb2 {[%cal Yf7f2]} 45. Qb3 (45. Re2
Qc1 (45... Qd4 $5) 46. Rc2 Qf4+ (46... Qb1 47. Rca2 Qe1 48. Ra1 Qh4 49. Ra7 $16
) 47. g3 Qd4 $1 $44 48. Qxd4 $140 cxd4) (45. Qc3 Qf2 $44) 45... Qc1 46. Qe3 Qb2
47. Qb3 Qc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8.
Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. c3 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Nc2 Be6
15. g3 O-O 16. Bg2 a5 17. O-O f5 18. Qe2 Rb8 19. Rfd1 Kh8 20. Na3 b4 $2 (20...
Na7 $8 $13) 21. Nb5 $1 $16 {[%csl Gb5,Rc7,Rd6][%cal Gc3c4] /\ Ndc7} bxc3 22.
bxc3 (22. Ndxc3 {[%csl Rc6,Rd6]} e4 $5 (22... Rb6 23. Na4 $1 $16 (23. Rxd6 $2
Nd4 $17)) (22... Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Qxe6 (24. Nb5 Qb6 (24... d3 $6 25. Qxd3
(25. Qxe6 Rxb5 26. Rxd3 Rxb2 27. Rxd6 Qf6 $14) 25... Bxb2 26. Rab1 (26. Nd4 $6
Bd7 27. Rab1 Qf6 $11) 26... Bg7 (26... Qf6 $2 27. Rd2 Be5 28. f4 $16) 27. a4 $1
$16 {[%csl Rd6]} (27. Nxd6 Bxa2 28. Rxb8 Qxb8 29. Nxf5 Qb2 30. Be4 (30. Nxg7
Qxf2+ 31. Kh1 Kxg7 32. Qc3+ (32. Rf1 Qb2 33. Qd7+ Rf7 34. Qg4+ Kh8 $11) 32...
Qf6 33. Qxa5 $14) 30... Be6 31. Rb1 Qf6 32. Rb6 $36)) 25. Qxe6 (25. a4 $6 Bb3
26. Rd2 Bxa4 $11) 25... Qxb5 26. b3 Qb4 $14) 24... dxc3 25. bxc3 Bxc3 26. Rac1
(26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxd6 Bxa1 $14) 26... Be5 {/\ f4} 27. f4 Qb6+ 28. Kh1 Rbe8
29. Qd5 (29. Qb3 Qxb3 30. axb3 Bb2 31. Rb1 Ba3 32. Rd5 Bc5 33. Bh3 Re3 34. Bxf5
Rb8 35. Rd3 Re2 $44 {/\ a4}) 29... Bg7 30. Rc2 $16 {[%csl Rd6,Rf5]} (30. Qxd6
$4 Re1+ $19) (30. Bh3 Re2 $132)) 23. Rxd6 Qc8 24. Rad1 (24. Nd5 $2 Be5) 24...
Ne5 $14) 22... Bg8 $8 (22... Rf7 $2 23. Ne3 $18) (22... Ne7 23. Ndc7 Bg8 24.
Rxd6 $16) 23. Ndc7 (23. Ne3 $142 e4 24. Nxd6 (24. Rxd6 Qb6 (24... Qc8 $14 {
/\ Ne5}) 25. a4 Qc5 26. Rad1 Ne5 $132 27. Qh5 $140 Nd3 28. Rd7 $2 f4 $1) 24...
Nd4 $8 25. cxd4 (25. Rxd4 Bxd4 26. Nexf5 Bxc3 27. Rd1 Qf6 $14) 25... Qxd6 26.
Rac1 $16 {/\ d5} (26. Bh3 Qg6 $132 {/\ f4, /\ Rbd8}) (26. Qh5 Qg6 $132)) 23...
Na7 $8 (23... Rb6 $2 24. Qe3 $1 (24. Rxd6 Nd4 25. cxd4 Rxd6 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27.
Nb5 Qb6 28. dxe5 Re8 $132) 24... Qb8 25. Rxd6 $18) 24. Bd5 $1 (24. Rxd6 Qc8 {
/\ Nb5, Bc4} 25. Bd5 (25. a4 Nxb5 26. Nxb5 Bc4 27. Qd2 Bxb5 28. axb5 Rxb5 $11)
(25. Bf1 Rf7 $1 $132) 25... Nxb5 26. Nxb5 Qc5 27. Bxg8 $8 (27. c4 $2 Rxb5 28.
Rc6 Qd4 $19) 27... Rxb5 (27... Rxg8 $2 28. c4 Rxb5 $2 29. Rd5 $18) 28. Bc4 (28.
Rd5 $2 Qxc3 29. Rad1 (29. Qe1 Qxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Rb6 $19) 29... Rb2 $19) 28... Qxd6
29. Bxb5 e4 30. Rd1 Qe5 31. c4 f4 $132) 24... Nxb5 25. Nxb5 Qb6 $8 {[%csl Rd6,
Rf2][%cal Gf8f6,Gb8f8,Rf5f4,Gb6d6,Rb6f2] /\ Rf6, Raf8, >< d6, f5-f4|^} 26. a4
$6 {/\ Ra2-d2} (26. Nxd6 $6 Qxd6 27. Bxg8 Qc5 28. Bd5 (28. Bc4 Rbc8 29. Be6
Rce8 $11) 28... Qxc3 29. Rac1 Qa3 $11) (26. c4 $5 {[%csl Gd5][%cal Gb5c3,Gc3d5]
} e4 $5 (26... Rf6 27. Rab1 $1 {(Topalov): /\ Nc3} Bxd5 (27... Qc5 28. Nc3 Rxb1
(28... Rb4 $2 29. Bxg8 Kxg8 30. Nd5 $18) 29. Rxb1 Rf8 30. Rb7 (30. Rb5 Qd4 $132
) 30... e4 31. Bxg8 Rxg8 32. Nd5 $16) 28. Rxd5 $16 (28. Nc3 Qa7 (28... Qxb1 29.
Rxb1 Rxb1+ 30. Nxb1 Bc6 31. Nc3 $16) 29. Rxb8+ Qxb8 30. Rxd5 $16 {/\ Nb5})) 27.
Rab1 Be5 28. Bxg8 Rxg8 29. Nc3 (29. Nxd6 $6 Qxb1 (29... Qxd6 $2 30. Rxd6 Rxb1+
31. Rd1 $18) 30. Nf7+ Kg7 31. Nxe5 Qb2 32. Qh5 (32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Qh5 Qxe5 {
- 31.Qh5} (33... Kxe5 $2 34. Rd5+ $18)) 32... Qxe5 33. Rd7+ Kf6 34. Qh4+ (34.
Qf7+ Kg5 35. Qxh7 Qh8 $1 $17) (34. Rxh7 Rg7 35. Qh6+ Kf7 $36) 34... Rg5 35.
Qh6+ Rg6 36. Qh4+ $11) 29... Qc5 30. Nd5 $14) (26. Rab1 $1 Qc5 (26... e4 27.
Bxg8 Kxg8 (27... Rxg8 28. Nxd6 Qxb1 $2 29. Nf7#) 28. Nxd6 Qxb1 29. Rxb1 Rxb1+
30. Kg2 $16) (26... Rf6 27. c4 $1 {- 26.c4}) 27. c4 $16 (27. Bxg8 Rxg8 28. c4
$16)) 26... Rf6 27. Ra2 (27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 f4 $1 (28... Bh6 $2 29. Kf2 f4
30. gxf4 exf4 31. e4 f3 32. Rd3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Re8 34. Nd4 $1 $16) 29. e4 (29.
Bxg8 Rxg8 30. Rxd6 (30. Nxd6 fxg3 31. hxg3 Bh6 32. Ne4 Bxe3+ 33. Kg2 Rf4 $36)
30... fxg3 31. hxg3 Rf3 $11) 29... fxg3 30. hxg3 Bh6 31. Kg2 Rg6 $11 (31... Be3
32. Bxg8 Rxg8 33. Nxd6 Rf2+ 34. Kh3 Rf3 35. Nf5 Bf4 $132)) 27... f4 $1 $132 28.
Rad2 $4 (28. Qe4 fxg3 (28... Rbf8 29. Bxg8 Rxg8 30. Kg2 Bf8 31. Rd3 $14) 29.
hxg3 Rbf8 30. Bxg8 {/\ Qh7} Kxg8 31. Rdd2 Bh6 32. Re2 $11) 28... fxg3 (28...
Bh6 $2 29. Bxg8 fxg3 (29... f3 $2 30. Qe4 {[%csl Rh7]} Rxg8 31. Rxd6 $18) 30.
Rxd6 $1 gxf2+ 31. Kh1 (31. Kf1 $2 Rxg8 $19) 31... Rxd6 32. Nxd6 Qc6+ 33. Bd5
Qxd6 34. Qxf2 $11) 29. hxg3 Bh6 $19 30. Rc2 (30. Rd3 Bxd5 31. Rxd5 Rxf2 $19) (
30. Bxg8 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 Rxg8 32. Kg2 (32. Rd3 Rgf8 $19) 32... Qc6+ 33. Kg1 Rh6
$19) (30. Kg2 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 Bxd5+ 32. Rxd5 Rbf8 $19) 30... Rxf2 31. Qxf2 Be3
32. Kg2 Bxf2 33. Rxf2 Qe3 $1 34. Nxd6 Rb1 $3 (34... Rb1 $3 35. Rxb1 (35. Rdd2
Qh6 $19) (35. Rf8 Rb2+ 36. Kh3 (36. Kf1 Qe2+ $19) 36... Qh6+ $19) (35. Bf3 Rxd1
36. Bxd1 Qd3 $19) 35... Bxd5+ 36. Kg1 Qxg3+ 37. Kf1 Qd3+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 (10... Nbd7 $2 11. Ng6 $1 $16) 11. Bf4 (11. Bd2 {
See Ivanchuk-Bareev, President's Cup 1998 CBM 65}) 11... Qa5+ {This is played
against 0-0-0.} 12. c3 (12. Bd2 Qa6 (12... Bb4 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Bb4 15. a3
Bxd2+ 16. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nbd7 {1/2 Gomez Esteban-Magem Badals, Spain 1998
with an equal _|_.}) 13. c4 (13. Qb3 c5 14. O-O-O Nc6 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. dxc5
Bxc5 17. Bb4 {1/2 Emms-Teschke, BL 1998}) 13... Nbd7 14. O-O Be7 15. Rfe1 Nxe5
16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Ne4 O-O-O 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. exd6 c5 20. Bc3 Nf6 21. Rad1 Qc6
22. Bxf6 $14 {with a strong o^ d6, Rosito-Slipak, ARG-ch Buenos Aires 1998})
12... Qa6 (12... Nbd7 13. O-O Nxe5 (13... Nd5 $6 14. Qf3 $1 Qd8 15. Rfe1 N7f6
16. Nh5 {White has got a dangerous ->.} g6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Re4 Qg7 (18...
Qe7 19. Rae1 $16 {/\ Nxg6!}) 19. c4 Nxf4 20. Rxf4 f5 21. Nxc6 $1 $18 {
Pavlovic-Tukmakov, Biel (op) 1998}) 14. dxe5 Nd5 15. Qf3 Nxf4 16. Qxf4 Rd8 17.
Rfe1 Be7 18. Nh5 Rg8 19. Re3 g5 20. Nf6+ Bxf6 21. Qxf6 Rg6 22. Qh8+ Ke7 23. Qh7
gxh4 24. Rf3 Rf8 25. Rxf7+ Rxf7 26. Qxg6 Qxe5 27. Qxh6 {1/2 Vehi Bach-Magem
Badals, ESP-ch Linares 1998}) 13. Qf3 {Certainly White has to avoid the
exchange of queens, otherwise he has no chances for an ->.} Nbd7 {Now White
cannot castle anywhere.} 14. Nxd7 Kxd7 (14... Nxd7 $2 15. Ne4 $1 $16) 15. Be5
Be7 16. b3 ({Corrupting Black's P structure is a healthy alternative:} 16. Bxf6
gxf6 (16... Bxf6 17. Nh5) 17. Nh5 f5 18. Nf4 $14 {/\ Nd3}) 16... Rhd8 (16...
Rad8 17. c4 Qa5+ 18. Ke2 Kc8 19. Rhd1 $14) 17. c4 Qa5+ 18. Ke2 Ke8 19. Rhe1 Kf8
20. Kf1 Rd7 21. a4 Rad8 22. Rad1 Kg8 23. Rd3 (23. Nh5 $4 Nxh5 24. Qxh5 f6 $19 {
The vertical threats are very dangerous!}) (23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Bf8 $11)
23... Ne8 24. Nh5 Bd6 {[#]} ({The P hunt after} 24... Bxh4 $2 {is punished by}
25. Qg4 Bg5 26. f4 $18) 25. Bxg7 $5 (25. Qg3 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 Qb4 27. Re4 (27. d5
$2 cxd5 28. cxd5 Rxd5 $1 29. Rdxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 exd5) 27... Qe7 $11) (25. Bxd6
Rxd6 (25... Nxd6 $2 {leaves the vital >< g7 unattended:} 26. Re5 Qb4 27. Qg3
$16) 26. Qg4 g6 27. Nf4 Qf5 $11) 25... Nxg7 26. c5 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (26. Nf6+
Kf8 (26... Kh8 $2 27. c5 $1 Bb8 (27... Bf8 28. Qe4 Nf5 29. g4 Rxd4)) 27. Nh7+ (
27. Nxd7+ $6 Rxd7 $15) (27. c5 $6 Be7 $1 (27... Bxc5 $4 28. Nxd7+) 28. Nxd7+
Rxd7 $15) 27... Kg8 28. Nf6+ $11 {with perpetual checks}) 26... Nxh5 $1 (26...
Bxc5 $4 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxd7+ $18) (26... Be7 $2 27. Qg4 Bf8 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29.
Qe4 Nf5 30. g4 Rxd4) (26... Bb8 $2 27. Qg4 f5 28. Qg6 $18) 27. Qxh5 Qa6 $1 $19
{This intermediate move pins the dangerous R with a tempo, after which White's
-> collapses. Leko is very strong in defence and counterattack!} 28. Ree3 Bf4
$1 29. Qg4+ (29. Rf3 Rxd4) 29... Kf8 $1 30. Qxf4 Rxd4 31. Qxh6+ Ke8 32. Kg1
Rxd3 33. Rxe6+ Kd7 34. Rf6 Kc8 35. Rxf7 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Qe2 37. Qf4 R1d7 38. Rxd7
Rxd7 39. Qf8+ Kc7 40. Qf4+ Kc8 41. Qf8+ Rd8 42. Qf5+ Kb8 43. Qf4+ Ka8 44. g4
Qe7 45. g5 Rf8 46. Qe3 Qxe3 47. fxe3 Kb8 48. g6 Kc7 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O Qb6 8. Nf3
Qc7 9. Re1 Bc5 10. e5 f5 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. Ne4 Bxe4 13. Bxe4 Nc6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6
15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Bf4 O-O 17. Bg3 Qb7 18. Qe2 Bb6 19. Kh1 Rac8 20. Rad1 Nd5 21.
c3 Ba7 22. Rd2 a5 23. Qe4 a4 24. a3 Bb8 25. f3 Bxe5 26. Bxe5 Qc6 27. Bd4 Rce8
28. h3 Rf4 29. Qe5 Rf7 30. Qg3 h6 31. Re4 Kh7 32. Rg4 Rg8 33. Qe1 Rf5 34. Qb1
Ne7 35. Re2 Qb7 36. Rf4 Kh8 37. Rh4 Kh7 38. Kg1 Qc7 39. Re5 g6 40. Re2 Rxf3 41.
Qe4 Rf5 42. Rxh6+ Kxh6 43. Qh4+ Rh5 44. Qxe7 Qd8 45. Be3+ g5 46. Qb4 Qe8 47.
Qxb5 d5 48. Qb4 Kh7 49. Bd4 Qd7 50. b3 axb3 51. Qxb3 g4 52. Qb1+ Rf5 53. hxg4
Rxg4 54. Rb2 Qd6 55. Rb7+ Kh6 56. Rb6 Rxg2+ 57. Kxg2 Rg5+ 58. Kf1 Qf4+ 59. Ke1
Qh4+ 60. Kd1 Qh3 61. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 (4. Nc3 $6 d5 {[%csl Rc3]}) 4... Bb4+ (4...
exd4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nf3 Nc6 {Das ist die andere Hauptvariante.
Schwarz hat lebendiges Figurenspiel für seinen isolierten Damenbauern. Ribli.})
5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 d6 {Die Stellung ähnelt der Bogoindischen Verteidigung
nach 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.Bd2. Schwarz tauschte den schwarzfeldrigen
Läufer, hat eine etwas passive, aber feste Stellung.} (6... e4 7. Nc3 d5 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. f3 exf3 10. exf3 O-O 11. Nge2 Nc6 12. O-O h6 $10 {Panno,O-Nikolic,
P/Buenos Aires/1992/}) 7. Nc3 O-O 8. e3 (8. e4 a6 $5 {Das ist ein Abwartezug.
Schwarz wartet auf 9.Nf3, denn er will 9...Bg4 ziehen und den Läufer
abtauschen.} 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. O-O Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nbd7 12. Rfd1 b5 13. cxb5 axb5
14. a3 Qb6 15. b4 $14 {Khalifman,A-Rublevsky,S/Russia (ch) 1996/Inf 68/
[Gurevich,M] (15)}) 8... exd4 {Schwarz gibt das Zentrum freiwillig auf. Es
scheint, der d6-Bauer sei schwach, aber diese einzige Schwäche hat Schwarz im
Griff.} (8... Be6 $5 $146 9. b3 (9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Bd7 11. Nge2 Na6 12. O-O
b5 13. Rfc1 Qb6 14. Nd1 b4 15. b3 Nc5 16. Nb2 a5 17. Nc4 Qa6 18. f4 {1/2-1/2
Foisor,C-Puljek Salai,Z/Medulin 1997/EXT 99 (36)}) 9... exd4 10. exd4 d5 11. c5
Re8 12. Nge2 Qc8 13. O-O Bh3 14. f3 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 b6 16. cxb6 axb6 17. Nf4 Nbd7
$11 {Lobron,E-Huzman,A/Budapest 1996/Inf 68 (17)}) (8... Re8 9. Nge2 e4 10. Rc1
d5 11. b3 Na6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nf4 Nc7 14. O-O Ne6 15. Nxe6 Bxe6 16. Rc2 Qd7
17. Rfc1 Rec8 18. Na4 b6 19. Bf1 Bh3 20. Ba6 Rxc2 21. Rxc2 Qf5 22. Be2 h5 {
0-1 Ruck,R-Beim,V/Oberwart 1997/EXT 99 (39)}) 9. Qxd4 {[%csl Rd6]} Qb6 {
[%cal Rb6b2,Gb6d4]} 10. Qxb6 {Jetzt bekommt Schwarz eine starke Bauernmasse am
Damenflügel, aber seine Bauern auf b6 und d6 bleiben etwas schwach.} (10. O-O-O
$5 Be6 11. Nf3 $14) 10... axb6 11. Nge2 (11. Rd1 Rd8 12. Nge2 Be6 13. b3 Na6
$11) 11... Nbd7 12. Rd1 Ne5 {[%csl Ge5]} 13. b3 (13. Rxd6 $2 Nxc4 $17 {[%cal
Rc4b2,Rc4d6]}) 13... Rd8 14. h3 {Weiß bereitet den Raumgewinnungszug 15.f4 vor.
} (14. f4 Neg4 $132 {[%csl Re3][%cal Rg4e3]}) 14... Kf8 {[%cal Gf8e7] Der
König strebt nach e7, um den Bauern d6 zu verteidigen.} 15. f4 Ng6 16. Kf2 Ke7
17. Rd2 $14 {[%cal Gh1d1] Weiß hat freie Hand, denn er kontrolliert mehr Raum.
Trotzdem kann Schwarz die Stellung gut verteidigen.} Nd7 {[%cal Gd7c5]} 18.
Rhd1 Nc5 {[%csl Gc5] Der schwarze Springer provoziert Weiß zu b3-b4, aber in
diesem Fall bekommt Schwarz Gegenchancen.} 19. g4 {Weiß ist konsequent und
spielt nicht e3-e4. Er hält sich so die Möglichkeit zu Ne4 offen und schließt
sich nicht die Diagonale seines Läufers.} f6 {Ein guter prophylaktischer Zug.
Schwarz verteidigt sich gegen den thematischen Plan g4-g5 / Kf2-g3 / h3-h4.}
20. Ne4 Nxe4+ 21. Bxe4 Nf8 22. Nc3 {[%cal Gc3a4,Ga4b6]} Be6 23. Bf3 g6 (23...
f5 $6 24. g5 $14 {Und Weiß läßt e3-e4 folgen.} (24. Kg3 $14)) 24. h4 {[%cal
Gg4g5] Weiß plant 25.g5. Er gewinnt so weiteren Raum und im Falle von 25...
fxg5?! kann er 26.hxg5 spielen. Der schwarze Bauer h7 wird dann schwach.} h6 (
24... Ra3 $2 25. Ne4 {[%csl Rd6]} d5 26. Nc3 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Gd1d8]}) 25. Kg3
Bf7 26. Bg2 Rd7 27. Bh3 (27. Na4 $5 {[%cal Ra4b6,Rb6d7,Rb6a8]} Rxa4 (27... Ra6
28. Bf1 {[%cal Gf1a6,Rc4c5] Und Weiß droht 29.c5.} c5 29. Nc3 $16) 28. bxa4
Bxc4 29. Rb1 b5 30. axb5 Bxb5 31. Rb4 $14) 27... Ne6 28. Ne4 Rad8 (28... d5 $2
29. Nc3 Nc7 30. g5 f5 31. e4 $16 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Gd1d7,Gh3d7]}) 29. Nc3 {
[%csl Rb6][%cal Rc3a4,Ra4b6] Weiß droht 30.Na4.} Ra8 30. Bg2 (30. Na4 Ra6 31.
Bf1 Nc5 32. Nc3 $14 (32. Nxc5 bxc5 $11)) 30... Nc5 31. Bf3 Rdd8 {Schwarz
spielt seine unbequeme Stellung gut. Er strebt nicht nach z.B. ...g6-g5,
sondern wartet ab.} 32. Ne2 Ra3 {[%cal Gd8a8,Ga8a2]} 33. h5 gxh5 (33... Rda8 $2
34. hxg6 Bxg6 35. Nc3 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rd2h2,Rd1h1,Rh1h6]}) 34. gxh5 f5 35. Kh4
{[%cal Ge2g3] Der weiße König steht auf h4 gut. Er verteidigt den h5-Bauern
und bereitet den Springerzug Ng3 vor.} Ne6 36. Ng3 Ng7 37. Re1 {[%csl Re7]
[%cal Ge1e7]} Kf8 (37... Rda8 38. Ree2) 38. Bg2 Rda8 39. Ree2 (39. Rxd6 Rxa2
40. Bh3 Be6 41. e4 Ke7 $11) 39... Be6 (39... Ke7 $6 40. e4 {[%cal Ge2e7]} fxe4
41. Bxe4 $16) 40. Bh3 Rd8 (40... Kf7 41. e4 fxe4 42. Nxe4 {[%cal Re4d6,Rd6f7]})
41. e4 fxe4 42. Bxe6 Nxe6 43. Nxe4 {[%csl Rd6,Ge4,Rf8][%cal Re4d6]} Ng7 {
[%cal Gg7f5,Gf5d6,Gf5h4]} (43... d5 44. cxd5 Rxd5 45. Rxd5 cxd5 46. Nc3 Nc7 47.
Rd2 $14) 44. Kg4 {Weiß vermeidet Motive mit ...Nf5+.} Ne8 45. c5 $6 {Es ist
interessant, daß Weiß den b6-Bauern tauscht. Meines Erachtens wäre es besser,
den f-Bauern vorzurücken.} (45. f5 $5 Kf7 46. Kf4 $14) 45... bxc5 46. Nxc5 {
[%cal Rc5e6,Re6f8,Re6d8,Rc5b7]} Kf7 $11 47. Kf3 (47. Nxb7 Rd7 {[%csl Rb7]} 48.
Rxe8 (48. Nc5 $2 Nf6+ {[%cal Rf6g4,Gf6d7]} 49. Kf5 dxc5 $19) 48... Kxe8 49.
Nxd6+ Kf8 $11 {Weiß hat zwei Bauern für die Qualität, steht aber nicht besser.}
) 47... Rb8 48. Ne4 Rd8 (48... d5 $5 $11) 49. Nc5 Rb8 50. Nd7 $5 {Weiß weicht
der Stellungswiederholung aus, denn er besitzt die aktivere Stellung.} Rba8 (
50... Rd8 51. Ne5+ Kf8 (51... Kf6 52. Ng4+ {[%cal Rg4f6,Rg4h6]} Kg7 53. Re7+
$16) 52. Ng6+ $16 {[%cal Re2e7,Re7b7]}) 51. Nb6 Rd8 (51... R8a6 $2 52. Nc4 {
[%csl Ra3][%cal Rc4a3]}) 52. Nc4 $14 Raa8 53. Rg2 {[%cal Rg2g6,Rg6h6,Rg6d6]} b5
$8 (53... d5 54. Ne5+ $14 {[%csl Ge5]}) 54. Ne3 Ng7 55. Rg6 (55. Ng4 $5 {
[%cal Rg4h6]} Nf5 (55... Nxh5 56. Nxh6+ Kf6 57. f5 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Rg2g6,
Rg6f6]}) 56. Ke4 Ke6 57. Nxh6 d5+ 58. Kd3 Nxh6 59. Rg6+ Kf5 60. Rxh6 c5 $14)
55... Nxh5 56. Rxh6 (56. Rgxd6 Rxd6 57. Rxd6 Rxa2 $11) 56... Nf6 57. Ng4 {
Weiß strebt ein Turmendspiel an. Ich bin der Meinung, daß es besser wäre, die
Springer auf dem Brett zu behalten.} (57. Nf5 $5 d5 58. Re2 $1 {[%csl Rf7]} (
58. Rg2 Rg8) 58... Rd7 (58... Ne4 59. Rxc6 $16) 59. Rg2 Rg8 60. Rxg8 Nxg8 61.
Rxc6 $16) 57... Nxg4 58. Kxg4 {[%csl Gf4,Rf7,Gg4,Gh6] Das Material ist
reduziert, aber Schwarz muß vorsichtig sein, denn Weiß entfaltet große
Aktivität.} b4 59. f5 (59. Rhxd6 $6 Rxd6 60. Rxd6 Rxa2 61. Rxc6 Rb2 $11 {
[%csl Rb3]}) 59... Rg8+ 60. Kf4 Rg1 $5 {[%csl Gg1] Es geht für Schwarz nicht
darum, seinen d-Bauern zu halten, sondern um aktives Spiel.} 61. Rdxd6 $16 (61.
Rhxd6 Rf1+ 62. Ke4 Re8+ 63. Kd4 Rxf5 $14) 61... Rf1+ 62. Ke4 (62. Ke5 Ra5+ {
[%csl Rf5]}) 62... Rxa2 63. Rd7+ (63. Rxc6 Re2+ 64. Kd3 Re8) 63... Kg8 64. Rxc6
Re2+ 65. Kd3 Re8 {Schwarz muß die Grundreihe verteidigen.} 66. Rg6+ Kf8 {
Weiß scheint gute Gewinnchancen zu besitzen, aber in Turmendspielen ist die
Remisbreite immer groß.} 67. Rf6+ Kg8 68. Rff7 (68. Kc4 Rf4+ 69. Kd5 $5 $16)
68... Rg1 69. f6 Rc8 $1 {[%csl Gb4,Gc8,Rd3,Gg1]} 70. Rh7 (70. Rc7 Rg3+ $11 71.
Kc4 $2 Rc3+ {[%cal Rc3c7]}) 70... Rd1+ 71. Ke2 (71. Ke4 Re1+ 72. Kf3 Rf1+ 73.
Ke2 Rxf6 74. Rdg7+ Kf8 75. Rb7 {[%cal Rh7h8]} Kg8 $11) 71... Rxd7 72. Rxd7 Rc3
{[%cal Rc3b3] Theoretisch steht Weiß noch immer besser, denn er hat einen
Mehrbauern, aber Schwarz kann jetzt Remis halten.} 73. Rd3 Rc2+ (73... Kf7 $2
74. Rxc3 bxc3 75. Kd3 Kxf6 76. Kxc3 Ke5 77. Kc4 $18) 74. Kd1 (74. Ke3 Kf7 $11 {
[%csl Rf6]}) 74... Rf2 75. Rd4 Kf7 $5 (75... Rxf6 76. Rxb4 Rf2 $11) 76. Rxb4
Kxf6 77. Re4 {[%cal Ge4e8]} Kf5 {Und in dieser theoretische Remisstellung
wurde Remis gegeben.  Die Beweglichkeit des weißen Königs ist beschränkt und
der schwarze König steht gut in der f-Linie.  Der Franzose Chéron analysierte
ein ähnliches Endspiel l955 (Weiß: Ka1, Rf1 und Pb3; Schwarz: Kg7, Rh2). Der
König war also noch eine Linie weiter abgeschnitten, aber das Ergebnis der
Studie war auch Remis.} (77... Kf5 78. Re8 (78. Re2 Rxe2 79. Kxe2 Ke4 80. Kd2
Kd4 $11) 78... Rb2 79. Re3 (79. Rb8 Ke5 $11) 79... Kf4 80. Kc1 $1 Rh2 (80...
Kxe3 $2 81. Kxb2 Kd4 82. Ka3 Kc5 83. Ka4 Kb6 84. Kb4 $18) 81. Re8 Kf5 $11 {
Und die Stellung ist theoretisch remis.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.04"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 $6 {
After this move,white has a very small advantage in the endgame.} (7. Qb3 $5 {
-is the main line.See comments to Dreev,A-Bareev,E/Elista,1998/CBM65(0-1);
[Golod,V];(32)}) 7... exf5 8. Bf4 $5 ({Other alternatives are:} 8. Bd2 $5) ({
and} 8. a3 $5 {-also see comments to Dreev,A-Bareev,E/Elista,1998/CBM65(0-1);
[Golod,V];(32)}) 8... Be6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] is the best move.} ({Worse is:} 
8... c6 {[%csl Rd6] (weakness:d6)} 9. a3 Be7 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Nd2 Nb6 12. Nc4
O-O 13. h3 Be6 14. Na5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Jacimovic,D-Cao Sang/Erevan 1996/EXT 97 
(58)}) ({Senseless:} 8... Nd5 {because of:} 9. Bd2 $14) 9. a3 $5 (9. Bxc7 $2 {
this move is refuted by:} Nd5 $1 (9... Nc6 $2 {[%cal Gf6d5]} 10. Bf4 Ne4 11.
Bd2 Nxd2 12. Kxd2 {+/=/+/-}) 10. Bxb8 $8 Rxb8 $1 (10... Nxc3 $2 11. a3 Ba5 12.
Bd6 $16) 11. Rc1 (11. a3 $5 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxc3 {=/=/+}) 11... Rc8 12. Kd2 $2 (
12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Nxc3 {=/=/+}) 12... O-O $1 13. e3 $140 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rxc3
$1 15. Rxc3 Rc8 16. Bc4 Rxc4 17. Rhc1 Rxc3 18. Rxc3 Bxa2 $17) 9... Bd6 $1 ({
Badly:} 9... Ba5 {in view of:} 10. b4 Bb6 11. Na4 {and white has a positional
advantage in the endgame.}) 10. Bxd6 cxd6 {+/=/=} 11. e3 ({Senseless:} 11. Nb5
{because of:} Kd7 12. Rc1 Nc6 $11 {[%cal Gh8c8]}) 11... Nbd7 $5 {Black's plan:
Ke7,Rac8,Nb6(><d5;c4)} 12. Rc1 ({Dubious:} 12. Nb5 Ke7 $140 13. Nc7 Rac8 14.
Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bd3 $11) 12... Ke7 13. Bd3 Rac8 14. Ke2 $5 {White's plan:Nd2,Rc2,
Rac1} Nb6 15. Nd2 a6 $5 {(><b5;/\Rc7,Rac8,Nbd5)} ({Now badly:} 15... Rc7 {
in view of:} 16. Nb5 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Gc1c7]} Rc8 $14) 16. Rc2
Rc7 17. Rhc1 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Gc3d5]} Rhc8 18. h3 $5 {/\f3;g4or e4} h5 $5 {
[%cal Yh5g4]} ({Worse is:} 18... Kd8 {(/\Nbd5 or Nc4)} 19. f3 h5 20. e4 fxe4
21. fxe4 {+/=/=}) 19. h4 (19. f3 $142 $5 Nfd5 ({Loses:} 19... Nc4 $2 {because
of:} 20. Nd1 $1 {[%csl Rc4,Rc7]} b5 21. b3 $18) (19... d5 $6 20. Nb3 Nbd7 (
20... Nfd7 $143 21. Na5 $1 {+/=/+/-}) 21. Na5 $14) 20. Nxd5+ Nxd5 21. Rxc7+
Rxc7 22. Rxc7+ Nxc7 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 {+/=/=}) 19... Kd8 $5 {[%cal Yd8c7,
Gb6d5,Gb6c4]} 20. Kf3 $5 {with the idea after 20...Nc4? 21.Nxc4 Bxc4 22.Bxf5+-}
g6 {[%cal Yg6f5]} 21. Kg3 Kd7 $11 ({Is the better move,than:} 21... Nbd5 22.
Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Rxc7 Kxc7 {+/=/=_|_}) 22. Ne2 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rxc2
24. Bxc2 {[%mdl 4096]} Ke7 $5 {קf7 and /\Bd7-c6(diagonal a8-h1)} 25. Nf4 Bd7
26. f3 Bc6 27. Kf2 ({Dubious:} 27. e4 {in view of:} fxe4 28. fxe4 Na4 $1 {
and already black has a slight advantage in the endgame.}) 27... Nfd5 28. Nxd5+
Bxd5 {/\Nc4} 29. e4 fxe4 30. fxe4 Be6 {[%cal Gb6c4]} 31. Ke3 (31. d5 $2 Bg4 {
[%csl Re5][%cal Gb6d7,Gd7e5]} 32. Nf3 Nd7 33. Ke3 Ne5 $1 $15) 31... Nc4+ 32.
Nxc4 Bxc4 33. Kf4 ({Can be recommended:} 33. b3 Be6 34. b4 {[%csl Ra6,Rb7]})
33... a5 $1 $11 34. Kg5 b6 35. g3 Ke6 36. Kh6 Ke7 37. Kg7 Be6 ({Badly:} 37...
Ke6 38. Kf8 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gf8e8,Ge8d8,Gd8c7]} b5 (38... Kd7 $2 39. b3 $18 {
[%csl Rf7]}) 39. Ke8 a4 40. Kd8 f6 41. Kc7 {+/=/+/-}) 38. b3 b5 $1 {[%cal
Gb5b4] (/\b4;><c4 for bishop)} 39. b4 $8 axb4 40. axb4 Bc4 41. Bd1 Bd3 42. Bf3
Bc4 43. Bg2 Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8200]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 {Eine schlaue
Zugfolge. Weiß spielt nicht Nc3 oder d3, denn er möchte mit sofortigem d2-d4
das Spiel im Zentrum öffnen. Ribli.} Nc6 {Jetzt haben wir eigentlich die
sizilianische Drachenvariante, aber mit Tempoplus für Weiß.} 6. O-O Be7 7. d4
e4 $5 {Schwarz strebt nach zweischneidigem Spiel, aber der Textzug ist auch
logischer als die Alternative 7...exd4, nach der Weiß freie Hand im Zentrum
und die Diagonale für den Läufer g2 bekommt.} (7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4
Nf6 (9... Nb4 10. Qxg7 $5 {[#]} (10. Qe4 c6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Rfd1
Qc7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. a3 Rxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Nd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qa4 {1/2-1/2
Ruck,R-Rogic,D/Porec 1998/EXT 99 (33)}) 10... Bf6 11. Qh6 Nc2 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13.
bxc3 Nxa1 14. Qg7 {1-0 Schwarz,M-Stickler,A/BL9192 1992/GER-chT (14)}) 10. Qa4+
$5 (10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. Nc3 c6 (11... O-O 12. b4 $14) 12. b4 Bd7 (12... O-O 13.
a4 Be6 14. Bb2 a6 15. b5 Ba5 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bc4 19. Rfc1
Bxe2 20. Rc2 Bg4 21. Rxc6 Rfe8 22. f3 Bc8 23. Bc3 $14 {1-0 Lalic,B-Mohr,G/
Zagreb 1993/CBM 37 ext (37)}) 13. Bb2 Be7 14. a3 O-O 15. Rfd1 Rad8 16. Ne4 Nxe4
17. Bxe4 {1/2-1/2 Martin,A-Pritchett,C/England 1998/CBM 64 ext (17)}) 10... c6
(10... Qd7 11. Qc2 c6 12. e4 $6 (12. Rd1 Qe6 13. e4 $14) 12... O-O 13. Nc3 Rd8
$1 {1/2-1/2 Lobron,E-Hertneck,G/Muenchen 1994/Inf 60/[Hertneck,G] (59)}) 11.
Rd1 Qb6 12. Be3 Bc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. b4 Qb6 15. Nc3 O-O 16. Qa5 $14 {Lobron,
E-Kharlov,A/Leeuwarden 1997/Inf 71/18}) 8. Ne5 f5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 {[%csl Rc6,Rg2]
Der weiße g2-Läufer ist eingeschlossen, aber Schwarz hat mit seinen
Doppelbauern in der c-Linie auch Schwächen.} 10. Qa4 (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Qa4 (11.
f3 exf3 12. Bxf3 Be6 13. e3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bd5 15. Qc2 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Qd5 17. Rf2
Rae8 18. c4 Qd7 19. Rb1 Bg5 20. Qc3 Re4 21. Rb7 Rfe8 22. Rf3 f4 23. gxf4 Qg4+
24. Rg3 Qd1+ 25. Kg2 Qe2+ 26. Kg1 Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Qe2+ {1/2-1/2 Spraggett,K-Vehi
Bach,V/Ampuriabrava 1997/CBM 62 (27)}) 11... Qd6 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bf4 Qa6 14.
Qc2 c6 15. Rfc1 Bd7 16. e3 Qb6 17. Bf1 a5 18. Rab1 Ra7 19. Qd1 Re8 20. Kg2 Rb7
21. Be2 Bf8 22. g4 fxg4 23. Bxg4 Qd8 24. Rc2 Bd6 25. Bg3 Rf8 26. Rbc1 Bxg3 27.
hxg3 Kh8 28. Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Qd2 Qg4 30. Rxc6 Rbf7 31. R6c2 h5 $40 {0-1 Bauer,
C-Smejkal,J/Germany 1996/GER-chT (44)}) 10... Qd7 $5 {[#]Mit der
Partiefortsetzung verteidigt Schwarz den Bauern c6 und bereitet gleichzeitig
den Befreiungszug ...c6-c5 vor. Das ist der Unterschied zu 10...Qd6.} (10...
Qd6) 11. Rd1 c5 $5 {Schwarz opfert einen Bauern, aber befreit sich dabei von
seinen Bauernschwächen und bekommt aktives Figurenspiel.} 12. Qxd7+ Bxd7 (12...
Kxd7 $2 13. dxc5 Kc6 14. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Rc6]}) 13. dxc5 Be6 {[%csl Rc5]} (13...
Bc6) 14. Nd2 O-O-O {[%csl Rc5] Schwarz hat eine bequeme Stellung. Der weiße
Mehrbauer auf c5 ist kaum zu halten.} (14... Bxc5 15. Nb3 Bb6 $11) 15. a3 e3 $1
{Schwarz ist nicht zufrieden mit der sofortigen Annahme des c5-Bauern. Zuerst
möchte er die gegnerische Bauernstruktur verschlechtern.} (15... Bxc5 $11) 16.
Nf1 (16. Nb3 Nf4 $1 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. gxf4 Rd1+ 19. Bf1 exf2+ 20. Kxf2 Bxb3
$17 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1]}) 16... exf2+ 17. Kxf2 Bxc5+ $15 {[%csl Rf2] Schwarz hat
lebendiges Figurenspiel und der weiße König steht im Zentrum ein wenig
unsicher.} 18. Ke1 Rhe8 {[%cal Ge8e1]} 19. Bg5 (19. b4 Bb6 20. Bb2 g5 $36)
19... Rd6 (19... Be7 $5) (19... Rd7) 20. Rac1 Bb6 21. Bf3 h6 22. Bf4 Rd7 23.
Be5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Ge5g7]} g5 {Schwarz mobilisiert seine Königsflügelbauern.
Es ist für Weiß schwierig, etwas aktives Gegenspiel zu entfalten.} (23... Bg8
$2 24. Bxg7 Rxg7 25. Bxd5 $16) 24. Bd4 g4 (24... f4) 25. Bh1 Bf7 26. Bxb6 axb6
{Schwarz hat die etwas bessere Bauernstruktur und leichte Initiative, aber im
Lager des Weißen finden sich keine besonderen Schwächen.} 27. Rc6 {[%cal Rc6h6]
} f4 (27... h5) 28. Kf2 (28. Rxh6 $2 f3 {[%csl Re2]}) 28... h5 29. Rd4 fxg3+
30. Nxg3 {[%cal Gg3f5]} (30. hxg3 $5) 30... Re5 31. Rh6 {[%cal Gh6h8,Gh8c8]}
Rd8 32. Ke1 Rd6 33. Rh8+ (33. Rxd6 cxd6 $11) 33... Kd7 34. Rh7 Ke8 35. Ra4 $11
{[%csl Ga4,Gh7][%cal Ga4a8] [#]Beide weißen Türme stehen aktiv und der
strukturelle Vorteil des Schwarzen ist von geringer Bedeutung.} Nf4 $4 {
Ein unglaublicher Fehler in ausgeglichener Stellung!} 36. Rxf4 $18 {Schwarz
muß aufgeben.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Alterman,B} c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7.
Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 a5 9. a4 Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 d6 $5 {After} (11... Nxb3 12.
cxb3 d6 {is supposed to be bad because of:} 13. Nd5 {[%cal Re3b6,Rd5e7]}) 12.
Nd5 (12. O-O Nxb3 13. cxb3 Be6 $132) 12... Re8 13. Rd1 (13. O-O Be6 $132) 13...
Nxb3 14. Bb6 {'!' Alterman,B.} (14. cxb3 {Alterman,B} Ra6 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bh6
Rc6 $11) 14... Qd7 15. cxb3 Ra6 {[%cal Re7e6]} 16. Bd4 Qd8 {The blacksquared B
will soon be exchanged so the black Q has to be in a position to defend these
squares.} 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Ye7e6] Threatening to exchange even
more pieces with e7-e6. After alle black has the slightly better P-structure
so the ending might even be a little bit better for him} 18. Qg3 (18. O-O $6 {
Alterman,B} e6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Ne3 Rc6 $1 21. Nc4 b6 22. Rd4 Ba6 $11) 18...
Be6 {[%cal Ye6d5] in the lines where black plays d7-d6 this bishop is always
well-placed on e6. It attacks the P on b3 and can be exchanged against the
strong N on d5.} 19. O-O Rc6 20. Qe3 Bxd5 (20... f6 $5 {maybe best. The idea
is to follow up with Rc5-c5 and b7-b5} 21. Nf4 Bf7 {This is why f7-f6 maybe
better than 20. - Rc5}) (20... Rc5 {[%cal Yb7b5] Black would like to see what
white will do before he takes on d5} 21. Nf4 $5 $14) 21. exd5 Rc5 22. h4 $1 $14
{'|^' Alterman,B. ()} (22. f4 $5 {[%cal Yf4f5]}) 22... Qd7 (22... e5 $2 23.
dxe6 Rxe6 {would be a good idea if it was not for the tactical trick:} 24. Qxc5
) (22... h5 23. f4 {[%cal Yf4f5]} (23. Rd4 $14 {Alterman,B}) 23... Qb6 24. Kh1
$36) 23. Qd4+ Kg8 24. h5 Qf5 {[%csl Rd5,Re7] Now d5 is just as weak as e7, but
still black has some problems after the opening of the h-<-> to coordinate the
defence of Kg8 and Pe7} 25. hxg6 hxg6 {[%csl Rg8]} 26. Rfe1 b5 (26... e5 {
Alterman,B} 27. dxe6 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Qxe6 29. Qxd6 Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc2
32. Kg3 Rxb2 33. Rb6 $16) 27. Rd3 {[%cal Rd3h3,Rd4h4]} (27. Re3 {[%cal Ye3h3,
Yd4h4] Now the R on the third rank now does not have to cover d5 as in the
game.} b4 (27... f6 $6 28. axb5 Rxb5 29. Qa4 $1 $14) 28. Rh3 Qf6 $1 {This is
the negative side of 27.Te3 - no pressure in the e-<->}) 27... f6 28. axb5 (28.
Rh3 {Alterman,B} g5 29. Qd1 Qxd5 30. Qh5 Kf8 31. Qh6+ Kf7 $11) 28... Rxb5 29.
Rh3 {[%cal Rd4h4]} g5 30. Qc4 Rb4 $6 (30... Rc5 31. Qa4 $14) (30... Qxd5 $1 31.
Qe2 $44 {However this is similar to a postion in the game - only in the game
black does not have an extra P} (31. Qc2 Qf7 $17) (31. Rxe7 {Alterman,B} Rxe7
32. Qc8+ Kf7 33. Rh7+ Kg6 34. Rxe7 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qh5+ $11) 31... Kg7 32. Rh7+ (
32. Qh5 Qg8 33. f4 (33. Rc1 Kf8 $5 (33... Rc5 $11)) 33... Kf8 {Black does not
seem to be in any real danger - white is a P down.}) 32... Kxh7 33. Qh5+ Kg7
34. Qxe8 Rb7 $11) 31. Qe2 Qg6 (31... Qxd5 {Alterman,B} 32. Qh5 Kf8 $1 33. Qh6+
(33. Rhe3 Rh4) 33... Kf7 34. Qh7+ Kf8 $11) 32. Qe6+ Kg7 33. Qd7 Qf7 34. Rhe3
Kf8 {'[]' Alterman,B.} (34... e5 {Alterman,B} 35. dxe6 Qxd7 36. exd7 Rd8 37.
Re7+ Kg6 38. Rd1 $18) 35. Rh3 Kg7 36. Rhe3 (36. Re6 $5 {With the idea 37.Rxd6
exd6 38.Rh7+ seems to put black in a difficult position} Rbb8 37. Qa4 $1 {
[%cal Ra4a5,Ra4e4]}) 36... Kf8 37. Rh3 (37. Qa7 {Alterman,B} Rb5) 37... Kg7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 {Eyeing the K on e8.} Nd5 12. Ne4
Nb4 $146 (12... c5 13. a3 h6 14. c4 Nb6 15. b3 Bf5 16. g4 Be6 17. Kg2 Rd8 18.
Be3 Nd7 19. Rad1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Schmid,L-Bisguier,A/Tel Aviv 1964/EXT 99 (30)})
13. Re2 Bf5 14. Nd4 (14. Bd2 $5 {would have bred more life into the position}
Nxc2 $140 15. Rc1 Nb4 16. Nd6+ $1 cxd6 17. exd6+ Be6 18. Bxb4 Rd8 19. Rd1 $36)
14... Bxe4 15. Rxe4 c5 16. a3 (16. Nb5 Nxc2 17. Nxc7+ Kd7 18. Nxa8 Nxa1 19. Ra4
a6 20. Rf4 Be7 21. Nb6+ Ke6 $15) 16... cxd4 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Rxd4 Be7 {
White has a microscopic advantage, but Black is alright with careful play.} 19.
Be3 a6 20. Rad1 h5 21. c3 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. f4 f5 24. exf6 Bxf6 25. Kf2 g6
26. Kf3 Ke7 27. Bd4 Bxd4 28. Rxd4 a5 29. Rd5 b6 30. Ke4 a4 31. Re5+ Kf6 32. f5
gxf5+ 33. Rxf5+ Kg6 34. Rd5 Rf8 35. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1] My comments to this fantastic game will be limited to some moments
of interest, which I haven't seen highlighted before in the earlier published
sources (Internet, various magazines etc.)} 1. e4 d6 {Topalov is a Sicilian
player, but against Kasparov he prefers to spring a slight surprise on his
well prepared opponent as soon as possible.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 ({Pirc is a
somewhat rare opening in Gary's practice and he often used to react with} 3. f3
$5 {e.g.} e5 4. d5 c6 5. c4 Qb6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Ng3 cxd5 9. Na4 $1
Qc7 10. cxd5 Bd7 11. Be3 Rc8 12. Nc3 Na6 13. Be2 Bd8 14. O-O Qa5 15. Kh1 Nc5
16. Bd2 Ne8 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 Bf6 19. Bg4 Qd8 20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. Qf3 Rc7 22.
Nf5 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Na4 24. Qg3 Nxc3 25. Rae1 f6 26. Bxd6 Nxd6 27. Nxd6 $36 {
Kasparov,G-Wahls,M/GER-Kasparov/1992/ But the Bulgarian was probably well
prepared for a fight in the Saemisch, after all he is King's Indian expert.})
3... g6 4. Be3 Bg7 $6 {A major exponent of the 4.Be3 line GM Vlastimil Jansa
would be dissatisfied with this move, as later Black will have to lose a tempo
capturing on h6.} (4... Ng4 $6 5. Bg5 {is also not ideal, as it rather loses
than gains time.}) (4... c6 $5 {has the best reputation.} 5. h3 $1 {This
useful and flexible move keeps open both possibilities of development for
White, depending on Black's reaction-f4, or Nf3.} ({Less dangerous is} 5. Qd2
$143 Nbd7 6. Bd3 b5 7. Nf3 e5 $5 $132) {Black's most reasonable alternative is}
5... Nbd7 (5... b5 $143 $6 6. e5 $1 dxe5 (6... Nfd7 7. exd6 exd6 8. d5 b4 9.
dxc6 bxc3 10. cxd7+ Nxd7 11. b3 Be7 12. Bh6 Bb7 13. Nf3 Qa5 14. Be2 g5 15. Bg7
Rg8 16. Bd4 h5 17. Qd3 g4 18. hxg4 hxg4 19. Bxc3 Qd5 20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Nd4 Rc8
22. Bb4 Bxg2 23. Rg1 Ba8 24. Rxg4 Rh8 25. O-O-O $18 {Sokolov,A-Zakharevich,I/
Elista/1995/}) 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Rxd1 Nfd7 9. f4 Bg7 10. Nf3 f6 11. e6 Nf8 12.
Nxb5 Nxe6 13. Nxa7 Bb7 14. Bc4 Nc7 15. Kf2 Nd5 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18.
Rxd5 Rxa2 19. Rb5 O-O 20. Rd1 Nc6 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Rc8 23. Rd2 $18 {
Jansa,V-Schlosser,M/Muenster/1992/}) (5... Bg7 $143 $6 6. f4 $1 {[+]()} O-O 7.
Nf3 Nbd7 8. e5 Nh5 9. Ne2 Bh8 10. g4 Ng7 11. Bg2 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nb6 13. Bh6 Be6
14. O-O Qd7 15. Nf4 Bd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qe2 Rad8 18. Rae1 Nc7 19. c3 Nce6 20.
Nd2 Qc7 21. Ne4 a5 22. Rf2 b5 23. Ref1 Qb6 24. Kh1 $40 {Jansa,V-Hoi,C/Gausdal/
1991/}) 6. f4 e5 7. Qf3 $5 {This position is still quite rare in practice.} {
Black's main problem is to break up effectively the strong pawn cahin e4,f5,
so deserving attention is} b5 $142 $5 (7... Qa5 8. Bd3 Bg7 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. f5
b5 (10... gxf5 $6 11. Qxf5 $1 b5 12. Nge2 b4 13. Nb1 Nb6 14. Qf2 Na4 15. O-O
Be6 16. b3 Nb2 17. Ng3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Qb5 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Bg5 $40 {Movsesian,
S-Ftacnik,L/Hamburg op/1997/}) 11. Nge2 $36 (11. g4 $143 $6 b4 12. Nd1 gxf5 $1
13. gxf5 b3+ 14. Nc3 bxc2 15. Nge2 Rb8 16. Bc1 Rg8 17. Bxc2 Bf8 18. b3 Ba6 19.
Bd2 Bb4 20. a3 Nh5 21. Qxh5 Bxe2 22. Nxe2 Bxd2+ $17 {Kharlov,A-Labok,V/Podolsk/
1992/})) 8. O-O-O (8. Bd3 Bb7 $132) 8... b4 9. Nce2 Qe7 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. f5
gxf5 12. Qxf5 (12. exf5 $6 Bb7 13. g4 Nd5 14. Bf2 e4 15. Qg3 e3 16. Be1 Bg7 17.
g5 Be5 18. Qg4 h5 19. Qg2 O-O-O 20. Nf3 Nf4 21. Nxf4 Bxf4 22. Be2 c5 23. h4 Ne5
24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Kb1 Nxf3 {0-1,Wagener,C-Andersen,J/Szeged/1994/}) 12... Qe6
$5 $13 {<=>}) 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 {More consistent and preferred by Jansa is} (6.
Bh6 $5 {as White can sometimes effectively play f4 later on.} Bxh6 7. Qxh6 Qa5
(7... b5 8. e5 $1 b4 9. exf6 bxc3 10. bxc3 exf6 11. Bd3 Qe7+ 12. Ne2 Qf8 13.
Qd2 Qe7 14. O-O O-O 15. Rfe1 f5 16. c4 Nd7 17. Rab1 Nb6 18. Qa5 Be6 19. Nf4 Qf6
20. c5 dxc5 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxc5 $16 {Jansa,V-Gazik,I/CSR-chT/1992/}) 8. Bd3
c5 $5 (8... b5 9. Nf3 b4 10. Ne2 Ba6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Ng3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 Rg8 14.
Qd2 Rb8 15. a3 Qb5 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. Qxb4 Rxb4 18. Rfc1 Nb8 19. Rxa7 Rxb2 20.
e5 $1 $36 {עe8,Van der Wiel,J-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Wijk aan Zee/1993/}) ({
Rather passive is} 8... Nbd7 9. Nf3 e5 10. O-O exd4 11. Nxd4 Qh5 12. Qd2 O-O
13. Be2 Qe5 14. f4 Qe7 15. Bf3 Nb6 16. Rae1 Rd8 17. b3 c5 18. Nde2 Bd7 19. Ng3
Bc6 20. a4 $16 {[%csl Ge4,Gf4] (),[+]Adams,M-Nogueiras,J/Buenos Aires/1991/})
9. Nge2 (9. Nf3 $143 Bg4 $1 $13) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 $5 ({Unplayable is} 
10... Qb6 $2 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 $1 dxe5 14. Ne4 Be6 15. Qg7
O-O-O 16. Nxf6 exf6 17. Qxf6 Rhe8 18. Rhe1 Bg4 19. f3 e4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. Ba6+
Qxa6 22. Rxd8+ Kb7 23. Qxf7+ Kb6 24. fxe4 {1-0,Jansa,V-Hoffmann,H/BL2-O 9697/
1997/}) 11. Nb3 Qb6 12. Nd5 (12. O-O-O Be6 13. f3 O-O-O 14. Rhe1 Kb8 15. Bf1
Rc8 16. Qe3 Qxe3+ 17. Rxe3 g5 18. g3 h5 19. f4 h4 20. Bb5 Ng4 21. Re2 hxg3 22.
hxg3 Rh3 $15 {Kroeze,F-Beim,V/Leeuwarden/1994/}) 12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Nb4 $5
$132 (13... Ne5 14. O-O Bd7 15. Be2 O-O-O 16. a4 Kb8 17. a5 Qc7 18. c4 Bg4 19.
Bxg4 Nxg4 20. Qf4 Ne5 21. Ra4 g5 22. Qd4 h5 23. Rc1 h4 24. Qe3 h3 25. g3 e6 26.
Nd4 Qc5 27. Rc3 Ng4 28. Qd2 e5 29. Nb3 Qc8 30. c5 $40 {Hamdouchi,H-Chabanon,J/
FRA-chT/1998/})) 6... b5 7. Nge2 {White has various possibilities here.} ({
Not too promising is the old line} 7. O-O-O Qa5 8. Kb1 Nbd7 9. Bh6 Bxh6 10.
Qxh6 Nb6 11. Nh3 Bxh3 $1 12. Qxh3 Na4 $1 $15) ({Ultra-sharp is} 7. g4 h5 $5 (
7... Nbd7) 8. g5 Nfd7 9. f4 Nb6 $13) 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 {
Black should strive for immediate counterplay.} (9... e5 $142 $5 10. a3 {
and forcing a central exchange costs Black precious time, e.g.} ({Too soft is} 
10. dxe5 $143 $6 dxe5 11. Nc1 Bb7 12. Nd3 Qe7 13. g3 O-O-O 14. b4 a5 15. a3 Kc7
16. Be2 axb4 17. axb4 Ra8 $11 {Kristensen,B-Hansen,C/Vejle/1994/}) 10... Qa5
11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nc1 Bb7 13. b4 $1 Qb6 14. Nb3 $14) (9... Qa5 10. Nc1 b4 (
10... Qb6 11. Nb3 a5 12. a4 b4 13. Nd1 Ba6 14. Ne3 Bxf1 15. Rxf1 Qa6 (15... c5
$5 16. Nc4 Qa6 17. Nbxa5 cxd4 18. Qd2 $14) 16. Kf2 Rc8 17. Kg1 c5 18. dxc5 Nxc5
19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Nc4 Qa6 21. b3 Ncd7 22. Nb5 Ne5 23. Ne3 Qb6 24. Kh1 Rc5 25.
Rad1 Rg8 26. Rd2 g5 27. Nxd6+ Qxd6 28. Rxd6 Rg6 29. Rxf6 {1-0,Moroz-Janda/
Decin/1998/}) 11. Nb3 Qh5 12. Qxh5 Nxh5 13. Nd1 a5 14. a3 Bb7 15. axb4 axb4 16.
Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Nf2 O-O 18. Nd3 c5 19. dxc5 dxc5 20. Nbxc5 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Rc8 22.
Nd3 Rxc2 23. Kd1 b3 24. Be2 Bb7 25. Re1 f5 26. exf5 gxf5 27. Nb4 $1 $14 {
Rantanen,Y-Jamieson,R/Haifa olm/1976/}) 10. a3 $1 {The right moment for
prophylaxis} (10. O-O-O $143 $6 Qa5 $36) ({Gary tries to achieve a better
version of} 10. Nc1 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nb3 a6 13. O-O-O Qc7 $5 14. Qg7 Rf8 (
14... Rg8 $2 15. Rxd7 $18) 15. g3 O-O-O 16. Bh3 Kb8 17. Bxd7 Nxd7 18. Qxh7 a5
19. Kb1 a4 20. Nc1 a3 21. b3 b4 22. N3e2 c5 23. Qh6 f5 $5 $44 {Moroz,A-Yurasov,
A/Simferopol/1991/}) 10... e5 (10... a5 11. Nd1 b4 12. Ng3 $5 $14 {[%csl Ra5,
Rb4] As Black's K will have to castle <<, he doesn't want to weaken his
position here any further.}) 11. O-O-O Qe7 {Black wants to get his K to safety
as soon as possible.} ({But interesting was} 11... a6 $5 12. Kb1 (12. f4 Ng4
13. Qg7 Qf6 $11 {nikam nevedie a po}) 12... Qc7 {/\ (Covers a5.)} 13. dxe5 dxe5
14. Qg7 Ke7 $5 $132) 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1 $1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 $5 {Topalov
realizes the danger, connected with Na5 followed by a timely d5-> and decides
to open up the position and fight.} (14... c5 $6 15. d5 $16 {[%cal Yb3a5,Yb2b4]
}) 15. Rxd4 (15. Nxd4 c5 16. Nb3 {-15.Rd4}) 15... c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 {[%cal Rd6d5]
/\d5} (16... Ne5 17. Be2 d5 $2 18. f4 {/\e5+/-}) 17. g3 Kb8 (17... d5 $5 18.
Bh3+ (18. Qf4 d4 19. Bh3+ Nfd7 $13) 18... Kb8 19. exd5 (19. Qf4+ Ka7 $1 {/\}
20. Nxc5 $2 Nh5 21. Qe3 d4 $1 $17) 19... Nbxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 (20... Rxd5 21.
Qf4+ $5 Qe5 22. Qxe5+ Rxe5 23. Rd6 $36) 21. Na5 $14) 18. Na5 $6 {Kasparov
already envisages the rich combinational possibilities, but this very natural
move is probably objectively not the best.} (18. Bh3 $142 $5 {/\Rhe1} d5 19.
exd5 {-17...d5!?}) ({Deserving attention is also} 18. Qf4 Ka7 (18... Ka8 19.
Na5 $36) 19. g4 $5 {/\Bb5 and Black can't play} (19. Bxb5 Nh5 20. Qh4 $5 Qxh4
21. gxh4 axb5 22. Nxb5+ Kb8 23. Nxd6 f5 24. Nxc5 Bd5 $5 $13) 19... d5 $2 20.
Nxc5 $1 $16) 18... Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 {Ftacnik: 'Black
has achieved impressive success, but his position is a bit dangerous. Kasparov
unleashes phantastic combination.'} ({Opening the position is suicide, after} 
21... dxe4 22. fxe4 {/\Nd5} Nxe4 (22... Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Nxe4 24. Rd7+ $1 $18)
23. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxe4 25. Re1 Re8 26. Rxe4 $1 Qxe4 27. Qc7+ Ka8 28. Nc6
$18) 22. Nd5 {'!' Ftacnik.} Nbxd5 (22... Nfxd5 $2 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Qxf7+ $18)
23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 $1 {[%mdl 704]} (24. Qxd6 $2 Rxd6 25. b4 cxb4 26. axb4
Nxd5 $17) (24. Nc6+ Bxc6 25. dxc6 Qxf4 26. Re7+ (26. gxf4 Nd5 $5 $15) 26... Kb6
27. gxf4 Nd5 28. Rxf7 Rdf8 $15) 24... cxd4 $2 {Ftacnik: 'It should be noted,
that 24...Kb6! would most certainly save the game for black, but we would be
robbed of some fascinating lines. '} (24... Kb6 $142 $1 $11) (24... Bxd5 $5 25.
Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 (25... Qxf4 26. Rxd8 Qh6 (26... Qc7 27. Rxh8 Qxa5 28. Re7+ $18)
27. Re7+ Kb6 28. b4 $1 $18) 26. Qxf7+ Nc7 27. Re6 Rd7 (27... Qd1+ 28. Ka2 Rd7
29. Re7 $16) 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4 $44) 25. Re7+ $3 {The real
point of the combination.} (25. Qxd4+ $2 Qb6 $1 26. Re7+ Nd7 27. Rxd7+ (27. Qc3
Qg1+) 27... Rxd7 28. Qxh8 Rxd5 $19) 25... Kb6 (25... Qxe7 $2 26. Qxd4+ $18) (
25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 28. c4 $1 $18) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 (26... Qc5
27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Be6 $3 Bxd5 29. b4 $18) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 $5 {This shows
Kasparov's combination was more intuitive, than arithmetically exact. Ftacnik:
'It seems, that white could have won more easily with the help of a fine move
28.Ra7!!'} ({A simpler and even more beautiful win was found by (I think)
Kavalek:} 28. Ra7 $1 {/\} Bb7 (28... Nxd5 {Ftacnik} 29. Rxa6+ $3 Qxa6 30. Qb2
Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 Qe6 33. Bxe6 fxe6 34. Qb3+ $1 Bxb3 35. cxb3#) 29.
Rxb7 Qxd5 (29... Nxd5 30. Bd7 $3 Ra8 (30... Rxd7 31. Qb2 Nc3+ 32. Qxc3 Qd1+ 33.
Kb2 Rd3 34. Ra7 $1 $18) 31. Bxb5+ axb5 32. Ra7+ Qa6 33. Qxd5 Qxa7 34. Qb3#) 30.
Rb6 $1 $18 (30. Rb6 Ra8 (30... a5 31. Ra6 Ra8 32. Qe3 $3 Rxa6 (32... Rhe8 33.
Rxa8 Rxa8 34. Kb2 $18) 33. Kb2 axb4 34. axb4 Kxb4 35. Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3#) 31.
Qxf6 a5 32. Bf1 $18)) 28... Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 $8 30. Rxb7 (30. Qc7 $2 Qd1+ $11)
30... Qc4 (30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 (31. Ra7 $2 Rd6 32. Kb2 Qe5 $19) 31... Ra8 32.
Bf1 $3 $18 {/\Rd6}) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 {Now White wins by force.} (31... Rd1+ $142
32. Kb2 Ra8 (32... Qd4+ 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxf7 Rd6 35. Re7 {/\Be6}) 33. Qb6
Qd4+ (33... a5 34. Bd7 $1 Rd5 35. Qe3 axb4 36. Ra7+ $18) 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7
a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Rxb4 (38... Kb6 39. Rxh7 {and with 3
pawns for the exchange White gradually wins.}) 39. c3 $16 {_|_R}) 32. Qxa6+
Kxb4 33. c3+ $1 Kxc3 (33... Kb3 34. Qa2+ Kxc3 35. Qb2+ Kd3 36. Re7 $1 $18) 34.
Qa1+ Kd2 $8 (34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 (35... Qb3 36. Rxb5+) 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+
$18) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 (35... Ke3 $2 36. Re7+) (35... Ke1 36. Re7+ Kd1 37. Bf1 $1
$18 {is the same as in the game.}) 36. Bf1 $1 Rd2 $8 37. Rd7 $1 {Ftacnik: 'The
final trick, but white is completely right, the game is finally over.'} Rxd7
38. Bxc4 {[%cal Rb2c1]} bxc4 $8 39. Qxh8 Rd3 (39... Rb7+ 40. Ka2 Kc2 41. Qd4
$18) 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 (41... Kd2 42. Qc2+) 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7
1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[Annotator "Van Wely/Cifuentes"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O
14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O e4 17. Nf4 (17. Bc2 $2 {Ftacnik} f4 18. Bxe4
fxe3 19. Qh5 exf2+ 20. Kh1 (20. Rxf2 Rxf2 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Kxf2 Ra7 23. Kg1
Rf7 $17) 20... Rf7 $19 {Bestagno-Kuntz/Cagnes/1989/}) 17... Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19.
Nfd5 {/\f4} (19. Nh3 Kh8 20. f4 (20. Nxf5 Be6 21. Ng3 Bxh3 22. gxh3 d5 $44)
20... Qb6 21. Re1 $2 Bg7 22. Kh1 Ne7 $17 23. g4 $6 d5 $6 (23... b4 $1 24. Nxf5
Nxf5 25. gxf5 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxc3 27. Rxe4 Qc6 28. Ng5 Bd5 29. Qh5 Ra7 $17) 24.
gxf5 b4 25. Ng5 Bg8 26. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 27. fxe6 Qxe6 28. c4 Rxf4 29. cxd5 Qh3 30.
Qe2 Raf8 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Nxg2 Rf2 33. Bxe4 Nc8 $1 $15 {Lutz,C-San Segundo,P/
Pamplona 97-98}) (19. Ned5 Kh8) (19. g3 Bxf4 20. gxf4 Qf6 $11) 19... Qg5 (19...
f4 $2 20. Ng4 (20. Qg4+ {Ftacnik} Bg6 21. Bxe4 fxe3 22. Bxg6 exf2+ (22... hxg6
23. Qxg6+ Bg7 24. fxe3 $13 (24. Qe6+ $13)) 23. Rxf2 hxg6 24. Qxg6+ Bg7 25. Raf1
$13) (20. Nf5 $2 Bg6) 20... Bg6 21. Re1 e3 22. fxe3 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Qg5 24. Nxe5
Nxe5 25. Kh1 $16) 20. f4 exf3 21. Rxf3 $146 {'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The first
independent move in a well known line of Sveshnikov Sicilian. White sacrifices
an exchange in order to get active chances.'} (21. Qxf3 Bh5 22. Qf2 (22. Qh3 {
Ftacnik} f4 23. Nc7 $1 (23. Qd7 Ra7 24. Qxc6 fxe3 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Qb6 Bxh2+
27. Kxh2 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 23... fxe3 24. Nxa8 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 $16) 22...
f4 23. h4 $6 (23. Nc7 $5) 23... Qd8 24. Nf5 Bg6 25. Nd4 Nxd4 (25... Bxc2 {
Ftacnik} 26. Nxc2 Ne7 27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $13 28. Nd4) 26. cxd4 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (26.
Bxg6 {Ftacnik} Ne6 (26... Nf5 27. Bxf5 Rxf5 $14) 27. Be4 $14) 26... Bxc2 27.
dxe5 dxe5 28. Qc5 Rf7 $15 {1/2-1/2, Anand,V-Kramnik,V/ Linares 1998 Ftacnik:
'1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Linares/1998 (28)'}) 21... Bh5 (21... f4 $2 22. h4
$1 Qd8 23. Nxf4 $1 (23. Ng4 Be6) 23... Qxh4 24. Rh3 $1 Qxf4 25. Bxh7+ Kg7 26.
Nf5+ Kf6 27. Rh4 $1 $18) 22. Nc7 (22. Nxf5 $5 Kh8 23. Qd3 (23. h4 $5) 23...
Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Ra7 $13) 22... Bf4 $1 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'In effect this
move gives up the active dark squared bishop and black position will become
very vulnerable.'} (22... Rac8 23. Ne6 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Qh6 25. Nxf8 (25. g3 {
Ftacnik} Rf6 (25... Qxe6 $2 26. Bb3 $18) 26. Nxf5 Qd2 27. Bb3 Kh8 28. Rf1 Qxb2
29. Ng5 $13) 25... Bxh2+ 26. Kf1 Rxf8 27. Nxf5 Qf4 28. Qxf4 Bxf4 29. a4 $14) (
22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Rac8 24. Bb3+ Kh8 25. Ne6 Qh6 26. Nxf8 Bxh2+ 27. Kf1 Rxf8)
23. Qd5+ Kh8 (23... Bf7 24. Qxc6 Bxe3+ 25. Kh1 $18) 24. Rxf4 (24. Qxc6 Bxe3+
25. Kh1 Rac8 26. Rg3 Qh6 $36) (24. Nf1 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Ne5 26. Qh3 Qe7 $1 27.
Nxa8 Qa7+ 28. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 24... Qxf4 25. Re1 $2 (25. Nxf5 $1 Ne7 26. Qd4+ (26.
Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Nxd6 Ra7 (27... Rad8 $2 28. Ne6) 28. Ne6 Rf6 $11) 26... Qxd4+ 27.
Nxd4 Ra7 28. Nce6 Rf6 (28... Rb8 $13) 29. a4 $1 $13) (25. Qd2 Rae8 26. Nxe8
Rxe8 27. Re1 Ne5 28. Bxf5 Rg8 $40 (28... Nf3+ 29. gxf3 Rg8+ 30. Bg4 Bxg4 31.
fxg4 Rxg4+ 32. Kh1 Qe4+ 33. Ng2 Rxg2 34. Rxe4 Rxd2 $11) (28... Nc4)) 25... Rac8
$2 (25... Ne5 $1 26. Nxa8 Rg8 $3 27. g3 (27. Qxg8+ $8 Kxg8 28. Bxf5 (28. Nc7
Ng4 $17) 28... Qh4 (28... Bg6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 $15) 29. Rf1 Qg5 30. Nd5 Bf3 31.
Be6+ Kg7 32. g3 Qd2 33. Rf2 Qc1+ 34. Rf1 Qxb2 35. Rf2 Qb1+ 36. Rf1 Qxa2 37. Rf2
Qa1+ 38. Rf1 Qa3 $19) 27... Rxg3+ 28. hxg3 Qxg3+ 29. Kf1 (29. Ng2 Bf3) 29...
Qf4+ 30. Kg1 Nf3+ $19) 26. Ne6 Qh4 27. g3 {Ftacnik: 'Black pieces have lost
coordination and the pawn structure is rather weak.'} Rg8 28. Nxf5 Qc4 {
Ftacnik: 'The queen has no luck with a search for a proper square on the board.
'} 29. Qxd6 $18 Rg6 30. Ne7 {Ftacnik: 'This small combination begins a mating
attack.'} Nxe7 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Bxg6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Bg5 Nh5 10. Ne1 Nf4 11. Nd3 Nxe2+ 12. Qxe2 h6 13. Bd2 f5 14. f4 exf4 (
14... fxe4 15. Nxe4 Nf5 16. Bc3 Nd4 17. Qd2 Qh4 18. Ng3 Bf5 19. fxe5 dxe5 20.
Rae1 Rae8 21. Nxf5 Rxf5 22. Rxf5 Nxf5 23. Nf4 Nd6 24. Ne6 $16 {time. 1-0
Savchenko,S-Degerman,L/Gausdal 1993/TD 93\09 (39)}) 15. Nxf4 g5 16. Ne6 Bxe6
17. dxe6 f4 18. g3 fxg3 $2 (18... Ng6 19. gxf4 (19. Nd5 c6 20. e7 Nxe7 21.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. gxf4 Bxb2 $17) 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 gxf4 21. Kh1 (21. Rab1 b6 22.
Rb5 c5) 21... Qf6 22. Rg1 Kh7 23. Qg4 Rae8 24. Rab1 b6 25. Rbe1 Qxe6 $19 {
0-1 Blees,A-Klarenbeek,H/Heraklio 1993/TD 93\09 (29)}) 19. hxg3 Ng6 (19... Qc8
20. Rxf8+ (20. Nd5 $2 Qxe6 21. Nxc7 Qh3 $17) 20... Qxf8 21. Rf1 Qc8 22. Nd5 $16
) 20. Nd5 c6 (20... Bxb2 21. Rxf8+ Qxf8 22. Rf1 Bd4+ 23. Kg2 Qg7 24. Rf7 $16)
21. Qh5 $1 (21. Rxf8+ Bxf8 (21... Qxf8 22. Rf1 Qd8 23. Qh5 Kh7 24. e7 Nxe7 25.
Nf6+ Kh8 26. Bxg5 $40) 22. Qh5 (22. Ne3 Qf6 $17) 22... Ne5 23. Ne3 (23. e7 Bxe7
24. Nxe7+ Qxe7 25. Qxh6 Nf3+ $19) 23... Qe8 $17) 21... cxd5 (21... Kh7 22. Rxf8
Bxf8 23. e7 $1 Bxe7 (23... Nxe7 24. Qf7+ $18) 24. Rf1 $18) 22. Qxg6 Qb6+ (22...
dxe4 23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. Rf1 $18) 23. Kh1 Qxb2 24. e7 $1 (24. cxd5 Rf6 $1 25.
Qh5 Raf8 26. Rfe1 Qe5 $40 {[%csl Rh1]}) 24... Rfe8 25. Bxg5 $1 hxg5 26. Qf7+
Kh8 27. Rae1 $1 (27. Qh5+ Kg8 28. Qf7+ $11) 27... dxc4 (27... Qc3 28. Re2 {
[%cal Ge2h2]} Qxg3 29. Rh2+ Qxh2+ 30. Kxh2 $18) 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. Re2 Qxe2 30.
Qxe2 Rxe7 31. Qxc4+ $16 Kh7 32. Qd5 Rae8 33. Rf7 $1 Rxf7 $2 (33... Kg6 $1 34.
Rxe7 (34. Qf5+ Kh6) (34. Rf5 Be5) 34... Rxe7 35. Qxd6+ Bf6 $14 {+/-}) 34. Qxf7
Re5 35. Qxb7 Ra5 36. Qb3 Be5 (36... Re5 $142 37. Qd3 (37. Qa3 Rxe4 38. Qxa7 $16
) 37... Bf8 38. Kg2 a5 39. Kf3 Be7 $16) 37. g4 Bf4 38. a4 $1 $18 {[%csl Ra7]
[%cal Gb3b4]} Kg6 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qd8 $1 Rc5 (40... Ra6 41. a5 {[%csl Ra6]}
Bd2 $140 42. Qf6+ Kh7 43. Qb2 $18) 41. Qf6+ Kh7 42. Qf7+ Kh6 43. Qxa7 Kg6 44.
a5 Kf6 45. a6 Rc1+ 46. Kg2 Rc2+ 47. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bd3 d6 8. f4
e5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qd2 Ng4 11. f5 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Kh1 Bd7
15. Rad1 a5 16. Bc4 a4 17. Rd3 Bc8 18. Qe2 Kh8 19. Nd1 g6 20. Ne3 Bg5 21. Rfd1
Qb6 22. b3 Ra7 23. f6 axb3 24. cxb3 Bxf6 25. Rxd6 Bg5 26. Nd5 Qc5 27. Nf6 Qa3
28. h3 Kg7 29. Qf3 Qxa2 30. Rxc6 Qb2 31. Rf1 Qd4 32. Rd1 Ra1 33. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 34.
Kh2 Bf4+ 35. g3 Qb2+ 36. Qg2 Qxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Bg5 38. Nd5 Be6 39. h4 Bd2 40. Kf3
Rb8 41. Ke2 Bb4 42. Nxb4 Rxb4 43. Kd2 Bxc4 44. bxc4 f5 45. exf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Be3 Nc5 15.
Rab1 e6 $6 (15... h5 16. Rfe1 Kh7 17. Bd1 e6 18. Bc2 Qe7 19. a3 Rfc8 20. Bf4
Nd7 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 e5 23. Qe2 Qf8 24. Be3 Bh6 25. Bf2 Kg8 26. g4 hxg4
27. fxg4 Bf4 28. a4 Qe7 29. Kg2 {2.26-2.15 0-1 Diaz,J-Garcia,G/Capablanca
mem-B 1993/EXP 35 (49)}) 16. Rfd1 (16. Bh6 $6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 e5 $5 $13) (16. Nd1
f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Nf2 Qe7 19. Rbd1 Rfd8 20. Bg5 Bf6 21. Nh3 e5 22. f4 Qg7
23. Bf3 e4 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Be2 Ne6 26. Qe3 {1/2-1/2 Adamski,J-Nielsen,P/Open,
Roskilde DEN 1998}) (16. Bd1 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Ne2 {+/- Tringov,G-Haik,A/
Vrnjacka Banja 1986/Inf 41}) (16. Rfc1 b6 17. Rc2 Qe7 18. Bf1 Rfd8 19. Rd1 Ra7
20. Bg5 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qe3 Rb7 23. Rcd2 e5 24. g3 Kg7 25. Bh3 Qe7 26. f4
Rbb8 27. f5 g5 28. Bg4 f6 29. h4 h6 30. Bh5 {1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A-Olafsson,H/
St.Martin op 1993/TD 93\03 (39)}) 16... Be5 17. Bd4 (17. g3 Qe7 (17... Qf6 18.
Bg5 $5) 18. Nb5 b6 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh6 Rfd8 21. f4 Bxe4 22. Rbc1 g5 23. fxe5
dxe5 24. Qe3 Kf7 25. Nc3 Bf5 26. g4 Bg6 27. Rf1 Kg8 28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Rcd1 {
1-0 Korneev,O-Cebalo,M/Porto San Giorgio op 1997/EXP 59 (31)}) (17. Bf4 Qe7 18.
Qe3 Rad8 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh4 b6 21. a3 d5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5
Rxd5 25. Bc4 Ne6 26. Bxd5 Kg7 27. Rd1 Qd6 28. Bg3 Rd8 29. Rc1 Bd4 30. Qxd4 Nxd4
31. Bxd6 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Nxc1 33. Bc7 {1/2-1/2 Fishbein,A-Sorensen,J/Copenhagen
PC 1991/EXT 91op}) (17. Bf1 $6 Qh4 18. h3 Qg3 $36) (17. Nb5 Qh4 $5 18. g3 Bxg3
$5 $13) 17... Qe7 18. Bf1 (18. Qe3 Rad8 19. Rd2 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 f5 21. exf5 gxf5
22. f4 e5 23. Qe3 Qg7 24. Nd5 Ne6 25. Bf3 Kh8 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Re1 e4 28. Bd1
Qe5 29. Bc2 Bxd5 30. cxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Qxd5 32. Rd1 Qc6 33. b4 Qxc2 {0-1
Kristiansen,J-Sorensen,J/Obro-A Copenhagen 1990/EXT 90}) 18... Rfd8 19. Qe3 (
19. Bf2) 19... Bxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rd2 Ne6 22. Rbd1 Kg7 23. g3 h6 24. h4 g5 (
24... Kh7 25. Bh3 Nd4 26. Ne2 Ne6 27. Kh2 $16) 25. h5 g4 $5 (25... Kh8 26. Bh3
Ng7 27. Bg4 $16) 26. fxg4 Ng5 27. Rf2 Qc7 28. Rf5 f6 29. Be2 Rf8 30. Kh2 Rad8
31. Rff1 Bd7 (31... Kh8 32. Rd2 $16) 32. Nd5 Qc5 33. Qd3 Be6 34. Ne3 Rf7 35.
Rd2 Qc6 36. Bf3 Qc5 37. Bg2 Qc8 38. Qe2 Qc5 39. Rfd1 b6 40. Qf2 Kf8 41. Rd5 $1
{This is the point. Black can't take the rook because the knight from e3 will
go to d5 or f5. But on the other way the rook will continue to b5 and the pawn
on b6 is very difficult to defend.} Qc7 (41... Bxd5 42. Rxd5 Qc7 43. Rb5 $16)
42. Rb5 Rb8 43. Rd3 Kg7 44. a4 Kf8 45. b4 {Finally white opens the position on
the Qeen side and black has no defense against this attack because the Ng5 is
so far.} axb4 46. Rxb4 Ra8 47. Rdb3 Ra6 48. Nf5 Bxf5 49. Qxf5 Qd7 50. Qg6 Qxg4
51. Rxb6 Rxb6 52. Rxb6 Qd7 53. Rb8+ Ke7 54. a5 Qa7 55. Qg8 Ke6 56. Bh3+ f5 (
56... Nxh3 57. Re8+) 57. exf5+ Kf6 58. Qg6+ Ke7 59. f6+ 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. g3
d6 9. Bg2 Nbd7 10. Rb1 $5 {An interesting new idea. White removes his R from
the long diagonal as soon as possible to play b3 and consolidate his <<. Black
still hasn't found a setup, whic guarantees active counterplay. The heavily
played} (10. O-O Nb6 $1 {doesn't allow Rb1 anymore, theory and practice show
Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 10... O-O (10... Nb6 11. b3 (
11. O-O $6 Bc4 $36 {wins the pawn back advantageously.}) 11... O-O (11... Bb7
12. Nh4 Ra5 13. O-O Qa8 14. Bd2 O-O 15. a4 Ra6 16. e4 e6 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Re1
Nbd7 19. b4 cxb4 20. Rxb4 Nc5 21. e5 dxe5 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Rxe5 $16 {Manor,
I-Hansen,L/EU-chJ Groningen/1986/}) 12. O-O {-10...0-0}) (10... Qa5 $6 11. O-O
(11. Bd2 Nb6 12. O-O O-O 13. a4 Nfd7 14. Qc2 Nc4 15. Be1 Qc7 16. Nd2 Ncb6 17.
Nde4 c4 18. a5 Nc8 19. Nd1 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Bd2 Rb8 22. Ne3 Na7 23. Rfc1
Rfc8 24. h4 $14 {Ilincic,Z-Marinkovic,I/Kladovo/1994/}) 11... O-O 12. Qc2 Nb6
13. Rd1 Bb7 14. e4 Nfd7 15. a3 $1 Nc4 16. b4 cxb4 17. axb4 Qb6 18. Qb3 Rfc8 19.
Ne2 Qa6 20. Ned4 Qa2 21. Qxa2 Rxa2 22. Bh3 Ncb6 23. Be3 Re8 24. Nc6 Kf8 25.
Rdc1 $18 {Baburin,A-Fedorowicz,J/San Francisco/1997/}) 11. O-O Nb6 (11... Qc7
12. b3 Rfb8 13. h3 (13. Re1 Ra7 14. Bd2 Rab7 15. Rc1 Ng4 16. h3 Nge5 17. Nxe5
Bxe5 18. Nb1 Qb6 19. Na3 Ra7 20. Nb1 Bb5 21. Rc2 Rba8 22. a3 Ba6 23. b4 Bb5 24.
Qc1 Ba4 25. Rc4 Qa6 $36 {Heim,S-Plachetka,J/Thessaloniki olm/1984/}) 13... Qa5
14. Bd2 Nb6 15. Qc2 Qa3 16. Bc1 Qa5 17. Rd1 Bb7 18. Nh2 Ng4 19. Nxg4 Qxc3 20.
Qe4 e5 $2 21. Nh6+ Kf8 22. Bd2 Qd4 23. Qc2 $1 e4 24. Ng4 h5 25. Be1 $18 {
Sulava,N-Bauer,R/Berlin op/1990/}) 12. b3 (12. Nh4 Qc7 13. b3 Rae8 $5 14. Bb2
e6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Qd2 d5 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. Qc2 e5 $44 19. Nf3 Qe7 20. Nxe5
Qxe5 21. Nxd5 Qxe2 22. Qxe2 Bxe2 23. Bxf6 Nxd5 24. Bxg7 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Ne3 $1
$17 {Kiss,A-Paehtz,T/Leipzig/1988/}) (12. a3 Nfd7 13. Nd2 Ra7 14. Qc2 e6 15.
dxe6 fxe6 16. Nf3 d5 17. h4 Ne5 (17... Nf6 $5 $132) 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bh6 Re8
20. Rfd1 Rf7 21. Ne4 Bd4 22. e3 dxe4 23. Bxe4 Qf6 24. exd4 cxd4 25. Bg5 $16 {
Lazarev,V-Verdier,P/FRA-chT/1998/}) (12. Re1 $2 Bc4) 12... Ra7 (12... Ne8 13.
Bb2 Nc7 14. Nh4 Qd7 15. Qd2 Ra7 16. Rfe1 Nb5 17. Nxb5 Qxb5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. a4
Qe8 20. e4 f6 21. f4 e5 22. dxe6 Qxe6 23. a5 Nc8 24. b4 $16 {Pytel,K-Bielczyk,
J/Augustow/1975/}) (12... Qc7 $5 13. Re1 Qb7 ({The abovementioned plan of
central counterplay is now ineffective:} 13... Rae8 14. e4 e6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16.
Bf4) 14. e4 Ng4 15. Qc2 Nd7 16. Rd1 Rfb8 17. h3 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. a4 Qc8
20. Bd2 Ra7 21. Bf1 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Nf6 23. Kg2 Ne8 24. Nb5 Rab7 25. f4 Bg7 26.
Ba5 Ra8 27. Bc3 Bxc3 28. Qxc3 Nc7 29. Na3 Rb4 30. Nc4 Qb7 $132 {/\Raa4,f5<=>,
Skomorokhin,R-Mayr,K/Berlin op/ 1994/}) 13. a4 (13. Re1 Qa8 (13... Bb7 $5 14.
e4 Ng4 $132) 14. e4 Ng4 (14... Rb8 $142 {/\Ne8-c7}) 15. Bb2 Nd7 16. a4 Rb8 17.
Bf1 $1 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 Nge5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Nb5 Rab7 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. h4 $16 {
Antic,D-Perunovic,M/Nis/1995/}) 13... Qa8 14. Nh4 Rb8 15. Bb2 (15. Re1 $5 $14 {
/\} c4 $2 16. b4 Bb7 17. Be3) 15... Nbd7 $146 ({The thematic move, but also
very committal move is} 15... c4 $5 16. b4 Bb7 17. a5 Nbxd5 18. Nb5 Ne3 19. Qd4
Bxg2 $1 (19... Nxf1 $6 20. Qxa7 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Qxa7 22. Nxa7 Nd2 23. Nc6 Nd7 24.
Nxb8 Nxb8 25. Rd1 c3 26. Bc1 $18 {Baburin,A-Riemersma,L/Cappelle la Grande op/
1996/}) 20. Qxa7 Bxf1 21. Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Nc7 $5 ({Piket had most probably
analysed this position and found something more convincing than} 22. fxe3 Bxe2
23. Nc7 Rc8 $13) 22... Ra7 $142 ({Baburin's suggestion} 22... Rc8 23. b5 {
[%csl Ga5,Gb5] is dangerous, the pawns are very strong.}) 23. Bd4 $5 Rxc7 24.
b5 c3 25. b6 c2 26. Rc1 $36 {If the complications don't work for Black,
Topalov's move deserves attention.}) 16. Ba1 Ne5 (16... Rb4 $5 {/\c4} 17. Na2
Rb8 18. Re1 $14) 17. Qc2 Rab7 18. Rfd1 {[%mdl 32] From now on for a couple of
moves Black has the possibility to play c4, but it never fully solves his
problems. Finally after Black misses all the chances, Piket takes a firm
control of c4 and his well thought out strategy triumphs.} Qa7 (18... c4 19.
bxc4 Bxc4 (19... Nxc4 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Ne4 $36) 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Nb5 $5 $36 {
/\} Bxb5 22. axb5 Rxb5 $6 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. d6 $40) 19. Bf1 Ne8 $6 ({This was
probably the best moment, as after} 19... c4 $5 20. bxc4 Bxc4 {the threat is
Bb3 and it's not so easy to retain the extra pawn.} (20... Nxc4 21. Rxb7 Rxb7
22. Nb5 $16) 21. Rxb7 Rxb7) 20. Ne4 $1 Rb6 (20... c4 21. Bd4 (21. bxc4 Rxb1 (
21... Nxc4 22. Rxb7 Rxb7 23. Bxg7 Nxg7 24. e3 $16) (21... Bxc4 $2 22. Bxe5 Rxb1
23. Rxb1 Rxb1 24. Bxg7 $16) 22. Rxb1 Rxb1 23. Qxb1 Bxc4 $132) 21... Qa8 22.
bxc4 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 Rxb1 24. Qxb1 Bxc4 25. Nc3 $36 {[%csl Ga4] o^a}) 21. Nd2 $1
Nd7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nhf3 Nef6 24. e4 {[%csl Gc4,Gd5,Ge4] [+],><c4} Rb4 25.
Bxa6 Qxa6 26. Nc4 Nb6 27. Nfd2 Nfd7 (27... Nxc4 28. Nxc4 Nd7 29. a5 $5 $36 {
A very similar position could arise later in the game.}) 28. Na3 $1 Nf6 29. Qc3
Nbd7 (29... Kg8 $2 30. Nc2 Rxe4 31. Nxe4 Nxe4 32. Qf3 $16) 30. Nc2 R4b7 31. Nc4
Kg8 32. f3 Ra8 (32... Nb6 33. Na5 $1 Nxa4 (33... Rd7 34. Nc6 $18) 34. Qe1 Rb6
35. Nc6 $16) 33. Rb2 Nb6 34. N2e3 Nxc4 (34... Nfd7 $5) 35. Nxc4 Rb4 $6 {
A mistake in the looming time-trouble, which finally allows White a switch
from prophylactic to active strategy. (a strong central break.)} (35... Nd7
$142 36. a5 $14 {/+/- White is undoubtedly better, but he still must crack
Black's position.}) 36. e5 $1 dxe5 (36... Nd7 37. f4 $5 $40) 37. Qxe5 Qb7 38.
d6 Qxf3 $6 $138 (38... Nd7 $142 39. Qe4 $5 $16 (39. Qxe7 Rxb3 40. Re2 Rxf3 41.
Ne5 Qb3 $132)) 39. Rf1 Qe4 (39... Qd5 40. dxe7 {-39...Qe4}) 40. dxe7 Qxe5 41.
Nxe5 $18 Re4 42. Rd2 Re8 (42... Rxe5 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rxa8 Rxe7 45. a5 $18) 43.
Nc4 Re6 (43... Kg7 44. Nd6 $18) 44. Rxf6 $1 (44. Rxf6 Rxf6 45. Rd8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. a3 Rc8 11. Nd1 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. c3 Na5 14. Qc2 Nc6 15. Qd3
g5 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Nf2 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 Rxb6 20. Nd3 gxf4 21. O-O
Rg8 22. Rf2 Rg5 23. h4 Rg3 24. Bf3 Rc6 25. Rc1 Ke7 26. Kh2 Rg8 27. Rcf1 Rc4 28.
Bh5 f6 29. exf6+ Nxf6 30. Bd1 f3 31. Bxf3 Rxh4+ 32. Kg1 Kd6 33. Bd1 Ne4 34. Rf8
Ng3 35. Rxg8 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 Rxf1+ 37. Ke3 Nf5+ 38. Kd2 Rg1 39. Bf3 Nh4 40. Rd8+
Kc7 41. Rh8 Nxf3+ 42. gxf3 Rh1 43. Ke3 a5 44. f4 Bc6 45. Ne5 b4 46. axb4 axb4
47. cxb4 Ba4 48. Ra8 Bc2 49. Ra6 Bf5 50. b5 Rc1 51. Nf3 Rd1 52. Rc6+ Kb7 53.
Ne5 d4+ 54. Ke2 Rh1 55. b4 h5 56. Nc4 d3+ 57. Kf3 Kb8 58. Nd6 d2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Qd3 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. Nd4 a6 13. f4 b5 14. e5 dxe5
15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qg3 g6 18. Bg5 Bxg5+ 19. Qxg5 b4 20. Ne2 Rc8 21.
Nd4 Qc4 22. Kb1 O-O 23. h4 f6 24. exf6 e5 25. Nf3 Nxf6 26. Rc1 e4 27. Nd2 Qe6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 a5 11. Re1 Bb4 $146 {[%mdl 8] An obvious
improvement on 11. - Ne7 and the reason why 11.Re1 does not promise White much.
} (11... Ne7 $6 12. Ne4 Ng6 13. Nd4 a4 14. Bd2 h6 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. c4 $16 {
1-0 Nisipeanu,L-Kosashvili,Y/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (66)}) 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Rad1
Rd8 14. a3 Bxc3 {Playing with opposite coloured B:s is one of Black's main
strategical ideas in this line.} 15. Bxc3 Rxd1 16. Rxd1 Bd5 17. Nd4 (17. Bxa5
b6 18. Bc3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Ke7 $44 {The N is better than the B here.}) 17... Nxd4
18. Rxd4 b6 19. f4 f5 20. exf6 gxf6 21. f5 Rg8 22. g4 h5 23. Kf2 hxg4 24. hxg4
Kf7 25. Bd2 Re8 26. Bf4 Re4 $11 27. Rxe4 Bxe4 28. Bxc7 (28. Bxc7 Bxc2 29. Bxb6
a4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.31"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 b5 {
'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Black is trying to take advantage of the fact, that 6.
f3 in order to avoid 6.Be3 Ng4 is a bit commiting.'} 7. a4 $5 {The principal
continuation.} b4 8. Nd5 $1 (8. Na2 {yields Black a good counterplay:} a5 9. c3
e5 10. Nb5 bxc3 11. Naxc3 Bb7 12. Be3 Be7 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Rd1 Ne8 15. Nd5 Bxd5
16. Qxd5 Na6 17. Rc1 Nb4 18. Qd2 d5 {1/2-1/2 Huberty,M-Alho,D/Singapore 1990/
EXT 97 (18) The text move is an important improvement over the passive 8.Na2.})
8... Nxd5 (8... e6 $5 {was an interesting option here.} {If} 9. Nxb4 (9. Nxf6+
Qxf6 10. Be3 Be7) {then} 9... d5 10. Nbc6 Nxc6 11. Nxc6 Qb6 12. exd5 Nxd5 {
followed by 13...Bb4+}) 9. exd5 g6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Bc4 Qc7 12. Bb3 (12. Qe2 {
Ftacnik} Nd7 13. a5 Bg7 $13) 12... Nd7 13. Qd2 Nf6 (13... Nc5 {, leading to
interesting tactical comlications, is insufficient for Black:} 14. Qxb4 Nxb3
15. Qxb3 Qa5+ 16. Kf2 Bxd5 17. c4 Bg7 $1 18. Rad1 Be6 19. Qb7 O-O 20. Nxe6 fxe6
21. Qxe7) 14. Ne2 (14. Qxb4 $6 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 {'=/+' Ftacnik. is clearly
in Black's favor.}) 14... a5 15. O-O-O Rc8 16. Nd4 $1 Bg7 (16... Nxd5 $5 {
could lead to a sharp play:} 17. Nb5 (17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nb5 Qc4)) (16... Bxd5
17. Nb5 (17. Bxd5 $2 Nxd5 18. Nb5 Qxc2+ 19. Qxc2 Rxc2+ 20. Kxc2 Nxe3+ $19)
17... Bxb3 18. Nxc7+ Rxc7) 17. Nb5 Qd8 18. g4 Nd7 19. Kb1 Nc5 20. h4 h5 {
'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Important idea to slow down white attack on the
kingside. Topalov takes advantage from the fact, that his king is still
sitting in the center.'} 21. Bd4 Kf8 22. Rhg1 Qd7 23. Bxg7+ Kxg7 24. Nd4 Nxb3
25. cxb3 Kf8 (25... Bxd5 $2 {fails to} 26. Nf5+ gxf5 27. Qg5+ Kf8 28. gxf5 e5 (
28... Ke8 $4 29. Qg8+ Rxg8 30. Rxg8#) 29. Rxd5 $16 (29. f6 Qe6 $132)) 26. Nc2 {
'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Anand understands perfectly, that his knight needs a
good square. From e3 he will protect both d5 and g4, while the loss of an h4
pawn is rather less important.'} (26. Qg5 {is strongly met by} Rc5) 26... hxg4
27. fxg4 Rxh4 28. Ne3 e5 29. Qf2 Qe7 30. Rh1 ({This move could lead to draw if
Black would not blunder.} 30. Nc4 $5 {threatening both 31.Na5 and 31.Nd6, was
a plausible alternative to the text move and would allow White to keep winning
chances.}) 30... Rxh1 31. Rxh1 Qg5 ({White's attacking chances should not be
underestimated:} 31... Kg7 $2 {is elegantly refuted by} 32. Qh2 Qg5 33. Qh7+
Kf8 34. Rf1 Rc7 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qg8 f6 37. Rh1 {, winning.}) 32. Rh7 Rc7 (
32... Qf4 {Ftacnik} 33. Qh4 Qxe3 34. Rh8+ (34. Qf6 $2 Rc1+ 35. Ka2 Qxb3+ $3 36.
Kxb3 Bxd5#) 34... Kg7 35. Rh7+ $11) 33. Ka2 Ba6 (33... Kg8 {Ftacnik} 34. Rh1 (
34. Qh2 $2 Qxe3 35. Rh8+ Kg7 36. Rh7+ Kf8 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Qh4+ g5 39. Qh6
Qxb3+ $1 $19) 34... Rc8 35. Qf3 $13) 34. Qh2 Bd3 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} ({A blunder
caused presumsbly by a time-trouble. Obviously,} 34... Qxe3 {is bad in view of}
35. Rh8+ Ke7 36. Qh4+ g5 37. Qh6 Rc8 38. Rh7 $18) ({However, after} 34... Ke7
$1 {White has nothing better than forcing a draw by perpetual:} 35. Rxf7+ Kxf7
36. Qh7+ Ke8 (36... Kf6 37. Qxc7 Qxe3 38. Qxd6+) 37. Qg8+ Kd7 38. Qe6+ Kd8 39.
Qg8+) 35. Rh8+ {It is amaizing, but starting from this move, White's attack
develops without any obstacle.} Ke7 36. Ra8 Qf6 (36... Qxe3 {loses after} 37.
Qh8 {/\Qd8#} Rd7 38. Re8#) 37. g5 $1 Qg7 ({If} 37... Qxg5 {then} 38. Qh8 {
, with inevtiable mate.}) 38. Qd2 (38. Ng4 $2 {would be a terrible mistake, as
after} Rc1 {Black always has a draw by perpetual.}) 38... e4 ({After} 38... Bf5
{the white knight chooses a queenside direction:} 39. Nc4 {, and Black is
defenceless against 40.Na5, threatening 41.Nc6+ and 41.Qb4.}) {But now the
white knight turns to the right, penetrating into the f6-square via g4.} 39.
Ng4 Rd7 40. Nf6 {Capitalizing upon the tragicomical position of the black king
and queen, entirely locked by the white knight.} Rd8 {There was no other
meaningful way to prevent mate on e8.} 41. Qc1 $1 {[%csl Re7][%cal Gc1c7,Gc7d6,
Gc7e7,Gf6e8,Gf6g8]} ({The final strike! Anand crowns the game with the
impressive mate final:} 41. Qc1 Rxa8 42. Qc7+ Kf8 43. Qxd6#) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qh4 Rc8 12. Rac1 a6 13. b3 Rc7 14. Bh6 Qa8 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21.
Rb1 Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Nxa4 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 d5 26. Nf3 d4 27. b4 Nd5
28. Rb2 f6 29. h4 Kf7 30. Rd2 Nxb4 31. Nxd4 Nc5 32. Nb5 Ke7 33. Nd6 Rc6 34.
Nxc5 Rxc5 35. Ne4 Rc4 36. f3 Nc6 37. Ra2 f5 38. Ng5 h6 39. Nh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 e5 7. h3 Nc6 8. Be3
a6 9. O-O exd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 11. Re1 Re8 12. Kh2 Ne5 13. f4 Nc4 14. Bc1 c5 15.
Nde2 Bc6 16. Qd3 Nb6 17. Be3 c4 18. Qd4 Ng4+ 19. hxg4 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Bd7 21. g5
Bg4 22. a4 Rc8 23. Bf2 Nd7 24. Nd5 f6 25. Be3 fxg5 26. fxg5 Rc5 27. Bf4 Rxd5
28. exd5 Ne5 29. Re4 Qb6 30. Rae1 Bd7 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. Rxe5 dxe5 33. Nf3 Qxb2
34. Nxe5 Bf5 35. Nxc4 Qc3 36. Re8+ Kg7 37. Nd6 Bxc2 38. Re7+ Kg8 39. Ne8 Kf8
40. d6 Bxa4 41. Nf6 Qc5 42. Nxh7+ Kg8 43. Bd5+ Kh8 44. Nf6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Rc1
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e5 10. d5 f5 11. b4 a5 12. a3 Na6 13. Qb3 Qh4 14. c5 Nf6 15. h3 f4
16. Bd2 g5 17. Ke2 Qh6 18. Nb5 Qg6 19. Qd3 h5 20. cxd6 cxd6 21. Nxd6 g4 22.
hxg4 hxg4 23. Nf5 Rfe8 24. b5 Nb8 25. d6 Qf7 26. Kf1 Nbd7 27. Bd1 a4 28. Rc7
Qa2 29. Rh4 Qa1 30. Rc1 Qa2 31. Bxg4 Qb3 32. Be2 Kf7 33. Qxb3+ axb3 34. Bc4+
Kg6 35. Ne7+ Kg5 36. Rh3 Nxe4 37. Bb4 b2 38. Rb1 Nb6 39. Bf7 Rh8 40. Rxb2 Rxh3
41. gxh3 f3 42. Rb3 Rd8 43. Rxf3 Nxd6 44. Bb3 Bf6 45. Rg3+ Kf4 46. Rg4+ Kf3 47.
Bd1# 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D59"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Be2 Rd8 13. Qc2 Qb4+ 14. Qd2
Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 c5 16. Rhd1 cxd4 17. exd4 Bxa2 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Rc7 f6 20. Ng6
Be4 21. Nf4 Bf5 22. g4 Rxd4+ 23. Ke3 Re4+ 24. Kf3 e5 25. Nh5 Na6 26. Bxa6 Rxg4
27. Bc4+ Kh8 28. Ng3 Rf4+ 29. Ke3 Bg4 30. Rd6 Rf3+ 31. Ke4 Rxf2 32. b3 Re8 33.
Ke3 Rf3+ 34. Kd2 h5 35. Rxa7 h4 36. Ne2 Rf2 37. Ke3 Rxh2 38. Rxb6 Rh3+ 39. Kf2
Rf3+ 40. Kg1 Rd8 41. Rbb7 Rd1+ 42. Kg2 h3+ 43. Kh2 Rf2+ 44. Kg3 Rg2+ 45. Kh4
g5# 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qh4 Rc8 12. Bh3 Bxf3 13. exf3 Ne5 14. Kg2 Rxc4
15. Rd4 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Qa8 17. Kf1 Nxf3 18. Bg2 Nxh4 19. Bxa8 Nf5 20. Bb7 Nxd4
21. cxd4 Rb8 22. Ba6 Nd5 23. Rc1 h5 24. Ke2 e6 25. a3 b5 26. Rc8+ Rxc8 27. Bxc8
Nxe3 28. fxe3 d5 29. Ba6 Bf8 30. Bxb5 Bxa3 31. h3 f5 32. Ba6 g5 33. Kf3 g4+ 34.
hxg4 hxg4+ 35. Kf2 Kf7 36. Ke2 Bd6 37. Kf2 Bb4 38. Kf1 Bd2 39. Ke2 Bb4 40. Kf1
Ke7 41. Kf2 Ba5 42. Kf1 Bb6 43. Kf2 Kf6 44. Ke2 e5 45. dxe5+ Kxe5 46. Kd3 Bc7
47. Ke2 Kf6 48. Kf2 Be5 49. Kg2 d4 50. exd4 Bxd4 51. Kf1 Kg5 52. Kg2 f4 53.
gxf4+ Kxf4 54. Kf1 Ke3 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 b6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 a6 6. Bd3 d6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. a3 g6
9. b4 Bg7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Rc8 13. Rac1 Re8 14. Bb1 cxd4 15.
Rxd4 d5 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Rd3 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Be4 19. Rdd1 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxc3 21.
Qb7 Rc7 22. Qxa6 Qe7 23. Bd3 Rb8 24. Bb5 Nf6 25. g3 Be5 26. Be2 Ra7 27. Qd3 h5
28. Qb3 Rc7 29. Bf3 Kg7 30. a4 h4 31. Kg2 hxg3 32. hxg3 Rbc8 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34.
a5 bxa5 35. bxa5 Rc3 36. Qb6 Qc5 37. Rd8 g5 38. g4 Rc2 39. Qb1 Rb2 40. Qh1 Nh7
41. Be4 Nf8 42. Qe1 Ng6 43. Bxg6 Kxg6 44. Qd1 Qxe3 45. Qd3+ Qxd3 46. Rxd3 Ra2
0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 e5 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 Nd7 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Bb4 Ra8 13. a4 Bh6 14. a5 f5 15. Nd2
Nf6 16. c5 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 fxe4 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Rfe1 Nf5 20. Nb5 e3 21. fxe3
Ne4 22. Qd3 Qh4 {...} 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. c3 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Be2 b6 7. Bg5 c5 8. O-O
Bb7 9. d5 h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. a4 e6 14. Bg3 Nxe4 15.
Qxe4 exd5 16. Qc2 dxc4 17. Bxc4 Be4 18. Qb3 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. f4 Bg7 21.
Rae1 Bf5 22. Bd5 Rad8 23. Bh4 Rb8 24. h3 h5 25. Qb5 Kf8 26. Qc4 Rxe1 27. Rxe1
Re8 28. Rxe8+ Kxe8 29. Qe2+ Kf8 30. g4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Bc8 32. Kf2 Bb7 33. Qe4
Bxd5 34. Qxd5 Kg8 35. f5 gxf5 36. gxf5 Qd7 37. f6 Qg4 38. Qg5 Qxg5 39. Bxg5 Bh8
40. Kf3 Kh7 41. Ke4 Kg6 42. Bf4 Kxf6 43. Bxd6 Ke6 44. Bb8 f5+ 45. Kd3 a6 46.
Ba7 Kd5 47. Bxb6 c4+ 48. Ke3 Bg7 49. Kf4 Ke6 50. Kg5 Bf6+ 51. Kf4 Bg7 52. Kg5
Bf8 53. Bd4 Bd6 54. Be3 Bg3 55. Bd4 Be1 56. Kf4 Bd2+ 57. Kf3 Bc1 58. Ke2 Bxb2
59. Kd2 Ba3 60. Ke3 Kd5 61. Kf4 Ke6 62. Kf3 Bd6 63. Ke3 Kd5 64. Kf3 Ke6 65. Ke3
Bh2 66. Kf3 Kd5 67. Bg7 Be5 68. Bh6 Bxc3 69. Bc1 Be5 70. Ba3 c3 71. Bc1 Kc4 72.
Ba3 c2 73. Bc1 Kd3 74. Ba3 f4 75. Bc1 Bd6 76. Bb2 Kd2 77. Ke4 Bc5 78. Kxf4 Bd4
79. Ba3 Kd1 80. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Rc1
a6 9. d5 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 b5 11. Be2 b4 12. Na4 c5 13. h4 Nb6 14. Nxb6 Qxb6 15.
Qd2 Nd7 16. h5 Rae8 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Bg4 Nf6 19. Be6+ Rf7 20. f3 Ref8 21. Ke2
Ne8 22. Rh3 Nc7 23. Rch1 h5 24. g4 hxg4 25. Bxg4 b3 26. a3 Qb8 27. Bh6 Bd4 28.
Qg5 Qe8 29. Qxg6+ Rg7 30. Qxe8 Rxe8 31. Bxg7 Bxg7 32. Bh5 Rf8 33. Rg1 Kh7 34.
Bf7+ Bh6 35. Rg6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C09"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Nge7 8.
exd5 exd5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Be3 Bc7 12. h3 h6 13. c3 Re8 14. Qc2 Qd6
15. Rad1 Qf6 16. Nbd4 Bd7 17. Qd2 Ng6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bd4 Qd6 20. b4 a5 21.
a3 axb4 22. axb4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Qe3 Bd7 26. Bf1 f6 27.
g3 Kf7 28. Bg2 Ne5 29. Nd2 Bf5 30. Nb3 Nc4 31. Qc1 Qe7 32. Bc5 Qd7 33. h4 Be4
34. Nd4 Bxg2 35. Kxg2 Be5 36. Nf3 Qg4 37. Qd1 Qe4 38. Bd4 g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40.
Kg1 Bd6 41. Nd2 Nxd2 42. Qxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. b3 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Bb2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Nd7 12. b4 Bd6 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. e3 Rab8
15. a4 c5 16. b5 a5 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Nh4 Qe6 19. Rad1 c4 20. Qc2 Nf6 21. f3
Bb4 22. Bf1 Rbd8 23. Ng2 Qd6 24. Rb1 Re7 25. Qd2 Bxc3 26. Qxc3 Rde8 27. Rb2 Bc8
28. Nf4 g5 29. Ng2 g4 30. Be2 gxf3 31. Bxf3 Bg4 32. Rf2 Ne4 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34.
Ref1 Bh5 35. Rf6 R8e6 36. Rxe6 fxe6 37. Qe1 e5 38. Qf2 exd4 39. exd4 Re8 40.
Nh4 Bg6 41. Qf3 Rf8 42. Qxf8+ Qxf8 43. Rxf8+ Kxf8 44. Nxg6+ hxg6 45. Kf2 Kf7
46. g4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 d6 7. Bb2 Qe8 8. Nbd2
Nc6 9. Re1 e5 10. e4 f4 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nc4 Bg4 13. a4 Rd8 14. Qe2 Nd4 15.
Bxd4 exd4 16. Rad1 c5 17. Qd3 Kh8 18. Rd2 Bh6 19. Rde2 Qe7 20. h3 Bxf3 21. Bxf3
fxg3 22. fxg3 Nh5 23. Bxh5 gxh5 24. e5 h4 25. g4 Bf4 26. Rf2 Bg3 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8
28. Rf1 Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Bxe5 30. Qe4 Qf7+ 31. Qf5 Qxf5+ 32. gxf5 Bd6 33. Ke2 Bc7
34. Kf3 Kg7 35. Ke4 Kf6 36. Nb2 b6 37. Nd3 a6 38. a5 Kg5 39. axb6 c4 40. bxc4
Bxb6 41. Nb2 a5 42. Na4 Kf6 43. c5 Bc7 44. c6 h5 45. Nb2 Kg5 46. Na4 Kf6 47.
Nc5 Bd6 48. Na6 a4 49. c7 Bxc7 50. Nxc7 a3 51. Nd5+ Kf7 52. Nb4 Kf6 53. Na2 Kg5
54. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C63"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. exf5 Bc5 6. O-O O-O 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8.
Nxe5 Bxf5 9. d3 Qe8 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. f4 Nd7 12. Nc4 Qg6 13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bd2
Nf6 15. Rae1 d5 16. Qf2 b6 17. Ne2 c5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. f5 Qf7 20. Qf3 h6 21. h3
Rfe8 22. Bf4 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 24. Be5 d4 25. b3 Nd5 26. Nh5 Nb4 27. Nxg7 Rxe5
28. Rxe5 Kxg7 29. Qg3+ Kh7 30. Re2 Bxf5 31. Qd6 Nd5 32. Re5 Bxh3 33. Qxd5 Qxd5
34. Rxd5 Bg4 35. Kf2 Kg6 36. Rd6+ Kg5 37. b4 cxb4 38. Rxd4 Bd1 39. Rxb4 Bxc2
40. Ke3 h5 41. Rc4 Bb1 42. a3 Ba2 43. Rc7 a5 44. Rb7 1-0

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Ndb4 8. e3
cxd4 9. exd4 Nxd4 10. O-O Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. a3 O-O 14. Bf4 Nc6
15. b4 Qf5 16. b5 Na5 17. Bc7 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Nb3 19. Rab1 Nc5 20. a4 a5 21. b6
f6 22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Rxd6 e5 24. Bd5+ Kh8 25. Rb5 Nd3 26. Be4 Nb4 27. Nd5 Nc6
28. Nc7 Rb8 29. Kg2 f5 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Rxe5 f4 32. gxf4 Rxb6 33. Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. a3 d6 13. Ba2 Nb8 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qf3
c6 16. b4 Nbd7 17. Nb3 Rc8 18. Nf5 Ba8 19. Be3 Kh7 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Bxc5 g6 22.
Ng3 Bxc5 23. bxc5 Kg7 24. d4 Qc7 25. Re3 exd4 26. cxd4 Nxe4 27. Nxe4 Rxe4 28.
Rxe4 dxe4 29. Qxe4 Bb7 30. Re1 Rd8 31. Qf3 Bc8 32. Qc3 f6 33. Re3 h5 34. Bb1
Qf7 35. h4 Re8 36. Be4 Bd7 37. Qd3 f5 38. Bf3 Qf6 39. Rxe8 Bxe8 40. g3 f4 41.
Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Nb1 d5 13. Bh3 g5 14. hxg5 hxg5 15.
exd5 Nxd5 16. Bxg5 Qa5 17. Bg2 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Qxa2 19. Rh8 Rc8 20. Nf5 Nc5 21.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 22. Bh6+ Ke8 23. Nd6+ Kd7 24. Nxc8 Kxc8 25. Qd4 Qa5 26. Bf8 Nd7 27.
Bd6 Bc6 28. Bf1 Kb7 29. Nd2 Qa1+ 30. Nb1 Qa5 31. Bd3 Qd8 32. Nd2 e5 33. Qc4 Qb6
34. Kb1 a5 35. Ne4 Nf4 36. Nc5+ Nxc5 37. Bxc5 Bd5 38. Bxb6 Bxc4 39. Bxc4 Kxb6
40. Bxf7 Nh3 41. c3 Ng5 42. Bd5 bxc3 43. bxc3 Kc5 44. Bb7 Kd6 45. Kb2 Ne6 46.
Ka3 Nc5 47. Be4 Ke7 48. g5 Ne6 49. g6 Nc5 50. Bd5 Kf6 51. Bf7 Kg7 52. Kb2 Kf6
53. Kc2 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Nb3 b6 14. Qd2 Rab8 15.
Bf2 Bc8 16. Bg3 Nd7 17. e5 (17. Rae1 b5 (17... Bb7 18. e5 Rbd8 19. Qf2 Rf8 20.
Be4 dxe5 21. fxe5 Nc5 22. Nxc5 bxc5 23. Bf4 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Kasparov,G/
Moscow 1985/MainBase (23)}) 18. axb5 axb5 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Ncxe5 21. Qe2 f6
22. Nd4 Qc4 23. Qxc4 bxc4 24. Nxe6 Nxf3 25. gxf3 Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Asrian,K-Akopian,
V/Erevan 1995/ (46)}) 17... dxe5 (17... d5 18. f5 Ndxe5 19. fxe6 Bxe6 20. Nxd5
Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rbc8 22. Nd4 Red8 23. Qxc6 Qxc6 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Bg4 {1-0
Emunds,H-Schuetz,T/NRW-I 1987/ (75)}) 18. Rae1 Bb7 (18... Bb4 19. fxe5 Ncxe5
20. Bh5 g6 21. Rxe5 Nxe5 22. Qe2 f5 23. Bxe5 Bd6 24. Nd5 exd5 25. Bxd6 Qc6 26.
Nd4 Qd7 27. Bxb8 Rxe2 28. Bxe2 {1-0 Asrian,K-Xu Jun/Linares 1998/ (47)}) 19.
fxe5 Ncxe5 (19... Rf8 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. Nxc5 bxc5 22. Be4 Nd4 {1/2-1/2 Cuijpers,
F-Vanheste,J/Hilversum 1989/ (47)}) 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Qe2 f6 22. Qxa6 Bb4 23.
Nb5 {White must believe, that the queenside majority will be weightier than
the black's pawn mass in the center.} (23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. Qb5 Qe7 25. Re3 Rc8
26. Nd4 Bxc3 27. Rxc3 Rxc3 28. bxc3 h6 {1/2-1/2 Poulsen,A-Jansa,V/Copenhagen
1987/ (53)}) 23... Qc8 24. c3 Bf8 25. N5d4 Nb8 26. Qb5 Nf7 (26... Nc4 $2 27.
Bxb8 Rxb8 28. Nxe6 $1 (28. Nc6 $2 Nd6 $19) 28... Nxb2 29. Nbd4 $16) 27. Nd2 e5
28. Nf5 (28. Ne4 Rd8 (28... exd4 $2 29. Nxf6+ gxf6 30. Rxe8 $18) 29. Nf5 Qe6)
28... Rd8 29. Ne4 Qe6 30. Bh4 (30. b3 $14) 30... Qc6 (30... g6 $2 31. Nd4 $18)
31. b3 Qxb5 (31... Nd6 $5 32. Qxc6 Nxc6 33. Nfxd6 Bxd6 34. Rd1 Be7 35. Rxd8+
Nxd8 36. g4 Ne6 $11) 32. axb5 h6 33. g4 (33. Ra1 Ng5 34. Bxg5 hxg5 $11) 33...
Ng5 34. Bxg5 {Anand sidesteps the chance to eat many pawns for the single
sacrificed piece.} (34. Nxh6+ $5 gxh6 35. Nxf6+ Kh8 36. Bxg5 hxg5 37. Rxe5 Nd7
38. Rd5 Be7 39. Ne4 Re8 $13) 34... hxg5 35. Ra1 Rbd7 36. Ne3 Rd3 37. Nc4 Nd7
38. b4 (38. Rfd1 Nc5 39. Rxd3 Rxd3 40. Nxc5 Bxc5 41. b4 Be3 42. Re1 Bf2 43. Re2
Rxc3 44. Nxe5 fxe5 45. Rxf2 $15) 38... Rc8 39. Ncd2 Be7 (39... Rc7 40. Ra8 Kh7
41. Kg2 Kg6 $13) 40. Ra7 Kf8 41. Kg2 Ke8 42. Kf2 (42. Rf3 Rxf3 (42... Rd5 43.
Nf1 Rxb5 44. Rd3 $16) 43. Kxf3 g6 $132) 42... g6 43. Ke2 Rh3 44. Nc4 $6 Rxh2+ (
44... Rxc4 45. Ra8+ Nb8 $1 (45... Bd8 46. Nd6+ Ke7 47. Nxc4 $16) (45... Kf7 46.
Nxg5+ Kg7 47. Nxh3 Rxc3 48. Nf2 $16) 46. Rxb8+ Kd7 47. Nxf6+ Bxf6 48. Rxf6
Rcxc3 49. Rb7+ Kc8 50. Rbxb6 $11) 45. Kd3 Rd8 $1 {[%mdl 256] Topalov has
defended accurately and it looks like white has tried for too much with his
smart tactics.} 46. Ncd6+ (46. Ke3 Rh3+ 47. Ke2 Rh4 48. Ne3 f5 $17) 46... Bxd6
47. Nxd6+ Ke7 48. Ne4 f5 $6 (48... Ke6 $1 49. Ke3 Rdh8 50. c4 R8h3+ 51. Rf3
Rxf3+ 52. Kxf3 Rb2 $17) 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Rxf5 Ke6 51. Rf2 (51. Rxg5 Nc5+ 52.
Kc4 (52. Ke3 $2 Rd3#) 52... Nxe4 $19) 51... Nf6+ 52. Ke2 $8 (52. Kc4 Rc8+ 53.
Kb3 Rxc3+ $1 54. Nxc3 Rxf2 $19) (52. Ke3 $2 Ng4+ $19) 52... Rxf2+ 53. Nxf2 g4
54. Rg7 $6 (54. Rb7 $1 Nd5 55. Nxg4 Nxc3+ 56. Ke1 $15) 54... Kf5 55. c4 Rd4 56.
Nd1 $2 (56. c5 Rxb4 57. cxb6 Rxb5 58. b7 Rb2+ $17) 56... Re4+ $2 {Black
overlooks the chance to punish his great opponent for many inaccuracies.} (
56... Nh5 $1 57. Ne3+ (57. Rf7+ Kg6 58. Rb7 Nf4+ 59. Ke1 g3 60. Ne3 Rd3 $19)
57... Ke4 58. Rxg4+ Nf4+ 59. Kf2 Rd2+ $19) 57. Ne3+ Kf4 (57... Ke6 58. Rb7 $11)
58. Rf7 $1 Rxe3+ 59. Kd2 Ke4 60. Rxf6 Rd3+ 61. Ke2 (61. Kc2 Rd4 62. Kc3 g3 63.
Rxb6 g2 64. Rg6 Kf3 65. b6 Rd6 66. Rg8 Rxb6 $11) 61... Rd4 62. c5 Rxb4 63. Rxb6
g3 64. Rg6 Rb2+ 65. Kf1 Kd4 (65... Kf3 66. Rf6+ Ke3 67. c6) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Rae8 12. c3 d5 13. Ba2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh5 15.
Nb3 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Nf6 17. Re1 Nb8 18. Nxe5 Bd6 19. Nd3 Bxe4 20. Nbc5 Bd5 21.
Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Kf1 f6 24. a4 Kf7 25. Bd2 g5 26. a5 Ne7 27. Rc1
Nec6 28. c4 b4 29. Ra1 Bxc5 30. Nxc5 Re5 31. Nb3 Nd7 32. Be3 Ke7 33. g3 Re4 34.
Nd2 Re5 35. Nb3 Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. Ne2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 c5 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. exd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 Rac8 14. O-O Ba6
15. Qa4 Bxc4 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. Bxb5 h6 18. Bf4 Nb8 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. Qb4 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Rd8 22. Qa4 Nd5 23. Bg3 Qg5 24. Rc2 a5 25. Qc4 Qe7 26. Re2 Qf8 27. Rc2 Nd7
28. Qc6 N7f6 29. f3 Qe7 30. Ba6 Nh5 31. Bf2 Nhf4 32. Kh1 Qg5 33. Bf1 Qf5 34.
Rd2 Ng6 35. Qc1 Nge7 36. Rc2 Qg5 37. g3 Qf6 38. Kg2 Nf5 39. Qd2 Qg5 40. f4 Qe7
41. Kg1 Nf6 42. d5 Ne4 43. Qd3 Nxf2 44. Rxf2 Qf6 45. dxe6 fxe6 46. Bh3 Rc8 47.
Bxf5 Qxf5 48. Qxd6 Rc1+ 49. Kg2 Qe4+ 50. Kh3 Rg1 51. Rd2 Qf5+ 52. Kh4 Qf6+ 53.
Kg4 Qf5+ 54. Kf3 Qh5+ 55. Ke3 Qh3 56. Qxb6 Re1+ 57. Re2 Rxe2+ 58. Kxe2 Qxh2+
59. Kf3 Qh1+ 60. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 {Hecht} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 $5
{Topalov obviously wants to play the English attack, this time for the white
side. (see his game with Leko from round 3)} ({His move order aims to avoid
the complications of} 6. Be3 Ng4 $5 {which already gave Gary a full point in
round 2.} 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 (10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 Nge5 12.
f3 b5 13. Bf2 Rb8 14. Nd4 b4 15. Nd1 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 d5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. c3 O-O
19. Be2 Rd8 20. Qe3 Bb7 21. Nf2 bxc3 22. Bxc3 Qe6 23. Kf1 Bd5 24. b3 Rbc8 25.
Rd1 Rxc3 26. Qxc3 Ng4 27. Qa5 Ne3+ 28. Kg1 Rc8 29. Qxa6 Nxd1 30. Qxe6 Bxe6 31.
Bxd1 Rc1 {0-1,Ivanchuk,V-Kasparov,G/Linares/1999/}) 10... h5 11. Bxg4 hxg4 12.
O-O (12. Nd5 $5 Nc6 (12... e6 $142 $5 13. Ne3 Qb6 $13) 13. Nf5 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Be5
$2 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Nfxe7 $1 Be6 17. Rxb7 Nxe7 18. Rxe7+ Kf8 19. Rb7 Rc8 20.
O-O Rc4 21. Nc7 Qe7 22. Nxe6+ Qxe6 23. Qd8+ Kg7 24. Qxg5+ Qg6 25. Qxe5+ Qf6 26.
Qxf6+ Kxf6 27. Rb6+ Ke5 28. Rxa6 Rxc2 29. Re1 $18 {Borriss,M-Stangl,M/BL 9899/
1999/}) 12... e6 $5 {Kasparov's novelty from Wijk 99, but there have already
been dangerous attempts to improve Shirov's play:} 13. Re1 $5 (13. Nb3 Bxc3 $1
14. bxc3 e5 $13) (13. Qd2 $6 Nd7 $1 14. Bxd6 Ne5 15. Ncb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 f6 17.
Rfd1 Kf7 18. Qe2 Bd7 19. Bxe5 fxe5 20. Nd6+ Kg6 21. Rd3 Qf6 22. Qxg4 Qf4 23. h3
Qxg4 24. hxg4 Bc6 25. c4 Rhd8 26. f3 Bf8 27. c5 b6 28. b4 bxc5 29. bxc5 Ra5 $17
{Shirov,A-Kasparov,G/Wijk aan Zee/1999/}) 13... Be5 (13... Nd7 $6 14. Bxd6 Be5
(14... Ne5 15. Ndb5 $1 $40 {In this line Black doesn't have a Nc4 fork at his
disposal.}) 15. Nf5 $1 exf5 16. exf5 f6 17. Nd5 Kf7 18. Nc7 Nb6 19. Bxe5 $5 (
19. Rxe5 $143 fxe5 20. Nxa8 Rh6 21. Nxb6 Rxd6 22. Qxg4 Rxb6 23. Rd1 Qh8 24.
Qxg5 Rf6 25. g4 Qh6 26. Qxh6 Rxh6 27. Kg2 $16 {Vallejo Pons,F-Ortega,L/Valle
d'Aosta/1999/}) 19... fxe5 20. Nxa8 $18) 14. Re3 Nd7 15. Nb3 Bxg3 16. Rxg3 Ne5
17. Qd4 f6 18. Rd1 Ke7 19. Nc1 Qc7 20. Nd3 Bd7 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Qb4+ Kf7 23.
Rxg4 Bc6 24. Rg3 $14 {Jenni,F-Naumann,A/Mitropa Cup Baden/1999/}) 6... e6 {
Kasparov takes up the gauntlet and shows a piece of his famed preparation.} ({
Not in the champion's style is defending a somewhat unpleasant endgame after} 
6... Nc6 7. Be3 d5 $5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. c3 $1 e5 11. Nb3 Qxd1+ 12.
Rxd1 Be6 13. Bb6 Be7 14. Bd3 Rc8 15. O-O Nb8 16. Rfe1 Nd7 17. Bf2 f6 18. f4 Kf7
19. f5 Bxb3 20. axb3 Rhd8 21. b4 $36 {Fedorov,A-Wojtkiewicz,A/Calcutta op/1999/
}) 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 h6 {Just as in the Keres attack here also slowing down
White's >> expansion is more important than a possible weakening of the >>.} 9.
Qd2 ({Attempts do delay castling have brought White only trouble, e.g.} 9. h4
b4 10. Nce2 e5 $1 11. Nb3 Be6 12. Ng3 d5 13. Bd3 Nbd7 14. Qe2 a5 15. Rg1 a4 16.
Nd2 Qc7 17. g5 hxg5 18. hxg5 dxe4 $1 19. gxf6 $6 exd3 20. fxg7 Bxg7 21. Qxd3 a3
22. b3 e4 23. Qxe4 Ra5 24. Rd1 Bc3 $44 {->,Anand,V-Gelfand,B/Linares/1994/})
9... Nbd7 10. O-O-O ({Premature is} 10. h4 $6 b4 11. Nce2 d5 $15) 10... Bb7 11.
h4 {After some 10-15 years of practice this has become the main line.} ({
The older move} 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 b4 $132 {or even} (12... Nfd7 $5 $13 {
promises Black sufficient counterplay.})) 11... b4 12. Na4 {Kasparov
practically archives this move.} ({Another try is} 12. Nb1 d5 13. Bh3 Ne5 $5 (
13... g5 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bxg5 Qb6 $5 (16... Qa5 17. Bg2 Rxh1
18. Rxh1 Qxa2 19. Rh8 Rc8 20. Nf5 Nc5 21. Rxf8+ Kxf8 22. Bh6+ Ke8 23. Nd6+ Kd7
24. Nxc8 Kxc8 25. Qd4 Qa5 26. Bf8 Nd7 27. Bd6 $16 {^^,Leko,P-Topalov,V/Linares/
1999/}) 17. Bg2 Rxh1 18. Bxh1 Rc8 19. Re1 Qa5 20. f4 Qxa2 21. f5 Nc5 22. fxe6
Bg7 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24. Qf2+ (24. Bxd5+ Qxd5 25. Re7+ Kg8 26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 $17 {
Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Linares/1999/}) 24... Kg8 25. Qf5 $1 $11) 14. g5 Nfd7 15.
Qe2 dxe4 (15... Qa5 $5 16. f4 Nc4 17. b3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 dxe4 19. g6 Nc5 20.
gxf7+ Kxf7 21. Rhg1 Rc8 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Rd7+ Be7 24. Bxe6+ Kxe6 25. Qh3+ Kf7
26. Rxb7 Qc5 $15 {Ivanchuk,V-Van Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 16. f4 Nd3+ $1 17.
cxd3 exd3 18. Qxd3 Rc8+ $5 (18... Nc5 19. Qc2 (19. Qf1 Rc8 $5 $36) 19... Be4
20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bxc5 Bxc2 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Kxc2 hxg5 25. fxg5
Rxh4 26. Nd2 Ke7 27. Nf3 Rc4+ 28. Kb1 Re4 $15 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Tilburg/1998/}
) 19. Nc2 Bxh1 20. Rxh1 hxg5 21. hxg5 Nc5 $40) ({The once popular} 12. Nce2 d5
13. Bh3 {lost it's sting already 5 years ago:} (13. Ng3 dxe4 14. g5 hxg5 15.
hxg5 Rxh1 16. Nxh1 Nd5 17. g6 Qf6 $1 18. fxe4 Nxe3 19. gxf7+ Qxf7 20. Qxe3
O-O-O 21. Bh3 Bc5 22. Qg3 Nf8 23. Rf1 Qe7 24. Nb3 Bxe4 25. Nf2 Bd6 26. Qe3 Bd5
27. Ne4 Bc7 $13 {Arnold,L-Stohl,I/BL 9697/1997/}) 13... dxe4 14. g5 hxg5 15.
hxg5 exf3 16. Nf4 Ne4 17. Qe1 Rxh3 $1 18. Nxh3 e5 19. Nb3 a5 20. Nd2 Qc7 21.
Bb6 Nxb6 22. Nxe4 Rc8 23. Rh2 Qc6 24. Ng3 Qe6 25. Kb1 Nc4 $17 {Anand,
V-Ljubojevic,L/Buenos Aires/1994/}) 12... Qa5 (12... d5 $6 {is not so
effective now, as Black doesn't have a possible exf3 follow-up, attacking
White's N.} 13. Bh3 $1 Qa5 (13... dxe4 14. g5 hxg5 15. hxg5 Nd5 16. g6 $16 {->}
) 14. b3 g5 $142 $5 (14... e5 15. g5 $1 exd4 16. Bxd4 $44 {->}) (14... Nc5 15.
g5 Nxa4 16. bxa4 hxg5 (16... Nd7 17. g6 Nc5 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Nb3 $1 Nxb3+ 20.
axb3 Qc7 21. Qg2 $16 {Gunawan,R-Paschall,W/New York/1994/}) 17. hxg5 Rxh3 18.
Rxh3 Nd7 19. g6 Qxa4 20. gxf7+ Kxf7 21. Kb1 e5 22. Nb3 Rc8 23. Rh5 d4 24. Rf5+
Ke8 25. Qh2 Qc6 26. Na5 Qe6 27. Bxd4 g6 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Nxb7 exd4 30. Qh8+ {
1-0,Tiviakov,S-Rashkovsky,N/Linares op/1999/}) 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. e5 (16. Bxg5
dxe4 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. g5 exf3 $5 $13) 16... Nxe5 17. Bxg5 Be7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6
19. g5 Bg7 20. f4 Nc6 21. Nf3 Ne7 22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. fxe5 Bc6 24. Qf2 Rc8 $132 {
Korneev,O-Van Wely,L/Villarrobledo act/1998/}) 13. b3 Nc5 $1 {Consistent.} (
13... d5 $143 $2 14. e5 $1 (14. Bh3 {-12...d5?!}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe6 $1 $16 {
[%cal Re3b6] /\Bb6}) (13... Be7 14. Kb1 $1 {doesn't solve Black's main
problem-his K.} (14. Bh3 $143 $6 g5 $1 $13) (14. Bd3 Nc5 15. g5 Nfd7 16. g6 Ne5
17. gxf7+ Kxf7 18. Be2 Nxa4 19. bxa4 Rac8 20. Rhg1 Bf6 21. f4 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4
23. e5 dxe5 24. Nb3 Qd5 25. Qf2 Qe4 26. Nc5 Rxc2+ 27. Qxc2 Qxe3+ 28. Kb1 Bd5
$44 {Korneev,O-Galkin,A/Novgorod/1997/}) 14... Nc5 $142 $5 (14... d5 15. e5 $1
$16 (15. Bh3 $5 dxe4 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Nd5 18. g6 O-O-O 19. fxe4 Nc3+ 20.
Nxc3 bxc3 21. Qe2 Nc5 22. gxf7 Rxh3 23. Rxh3 Bxe4 24. Bc1 e5 25. Ne6 Rxd1 26.
Rh8+ Kd7 27. f8=N+ {1-0,Korneev,O-Herrera,I/Malaga op/1999/})) 15. Nxc5 (15. a3
$6 Nxa4 16. axb4 Qc7 17. bxa4 d5 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 Nb6 20. a5 Na4 $1 $36) 15...
dxc5 16. Ne2 Rd8 17. Qe1 $14 {[%csl Rh8] צh8}) 14. a3 $8 (14. Nxc5 $2 dxc5 $17
{/\Qa2}) (14. Bh3 $143 $6 Nxa4 15. bxa4 Qxa4 16. g5 Nd7 $1 17. g6 Nc5 18. gxf7+
Kxf7 19. Kb1 Qa3 20. Nc6 Na4 21. Bxe6+ Ke8 22. Bf7+ Kd7 23. Ne5+ Kc7 24. Bd4 {
0-1,Blodstein,A-Har Zvi,R/Tel Aviv act/1996/}) 14... Nxa4 15. axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4
d5 (16... Nd7 17. Nb3 $5 Be7 (17... d5 18. Na5 $36) 18. Bd4 O-O 19. g5 h5 20.
Bd3 Rfc8 21. f4 g6 22. Rhg1 Bc6 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 Bb7 25. Qf2 $14 {Murawski,
G-Stypka,M/Lubniewice/1994/}) 17. e5 Nd7 (17... Qxe5 $2 18. Bf4 $18) 18. f4 (
18. Bf4 Nxe5 19. Re1 Bd6 $17 {/\Nd3}) 18... Nb6 $146 {[%mdl 8] After a series
of forced moves the first novelty. However, Kasparov's move is natural and
Topalov also analyzed it at home.} ({Also possible is} 18... a5 19. Nb5 Qc8 20.
Bd4 (20. bxa5 $2 d4 21. Nxd4 Bxh1 22. Bb5 Bd5 23. Nb3 Ba3+ 24. Kb1 O-O $19 {
Paragua,M-Leroy,A/Linares op/1995/}) 20... axb4 21. Nd6+ Bxd6 22. exd6 $13) 19.
a5 Nc4 (19... Na4 20. c4 $5 {[]} dxc4 (20... Rc8 $6 21. Qc2 Qd7 22. f5 $1 $40)
21. Qc2 $142 $1 (21. Bg2 c3 (21... Rc8 $5) 22. Qc2 Bxg2 23. Qxa4+ (23. Qxg2 $6
Rc8 24. Qa2 Nb2 25. Nxe6 Qb7 $5 26. Nxf8 c2 $40) 23... Qd7 24. Nxe6 Bc6 25.
Rxd7 $1 (25. Nxf8 $2 Qd2+ $3 26. Bxd2 cxd2+ 27. Rxd2 Bxa4 $19 {פf8}) 25...
Bxa4 26. Nxf8 Bxd7 27. Nxd7 Kxd7 $15) 21... Bxh1 (21... Nc3 22. Nxe6 $1 fxe6
23. Qg6+ Ke7 24. Bc5+ Qxc5 25. bxc5 $32 {[%cal Rf1c4] /\Bc4->}) 22. Qxa4+ Qd7 (
22... Ke7 $2 23. Nf5+ $1 exf5 24. Bc5+ $18) 23. Qxd7+ (23. Nxe6 $6 Bc6 $1 $15)
23... Kxd7 24. Nxe6+ $1 (24. Bxc4 Bd5 $15) 24... Kxe6 25. Bxc4+ Ke7 26. Rxh1
Ke8 27. Kc2 $5 Bxb4 28. Rb1 $44 {[%csl Re8] White has a strong and dangerous
initiative, we must realize Black can't castle anymore.}) 20. Qc3 $8 (20. Bxc4
$6 dxc4 $40 (20... Qxc4 $5 $17)) 20... Qe7 $1 {This is the finesse White
missed, now his << falls apart.} (20... Rc8 $6 21. Bd2 $5 Qe7 (21... Nxd2 22.
Qxd2 Qe7 23. Rh3 $1 $16 {keeps his << intact.}) 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Qb2 $14) 21.
Bxc4 dxc4 (21... Rc8 $2 22. Bb5+ $16) 22. Bd2 $5 {Kasparov praised this
decision, but playing on with equal material after} (22. Rh3 Qxb4 23. Qxb4 Bxb4
24. Bd2 Bc5 $15 {^^,/-/+ certainly also deserved attention. Black is surely
better, but is his advantage larger, than in the game?}) (22. b5 $2 Bxh1 23.
Rxh1 axb5 24. Nxb5 Qb7 $19) 22... Bxh1 23. Rxh1 Qb7 24. Rd1 (24. Re1 Rb8 $17)
24... Be7 (24... Rb8 25. Qxc4 {/\} Bxb4 $2 26. Bxb4 Qxb4 27. Qxb4 Rxb4 28. Nc6
$18) (24... Qd5 $5) 25. Qf3 $1 {Overcoming the disappointment of his failed
preparation, Topalov concentrates fully and realizes his chances lie in
simplification.} (25. Qxc4 $143 Rc8 {[%csl Rc1] /\0-0->,עc1}) 25... O-O-O (
25... Qxf3 $142 $5 26. Nxf3 Rb8 $5 (26... c3 $2 27. Bxc3 Rc8 28. Bd2 Rc4 29.
Kb2 $1 Bxb4 30. Kb3) (26... O-O-O 27. Re1 {and although there remain more
pieces on the board, Black has due to the existence of White's N problems with
his ><c4.}) (26... Rc8 $5 27. c3 Rd8) 27. c3 Rd8 {/\Rd3} 28. Be3 $8 Rxd1+ 29.
Kxd1 Kd7 30. h5 g6 $17 {It seems Black has more chances to win this _|_, than
he will have later on.}) 26. Qc6+ $5 (26. Qxb7+ $6 Kxb7 {gives Black some
extra tempi.}) (26. Nc6 $2 Rd5 $17 (26... Kc7 $5 27. b5 Qxb5 28. Nxd8 Rxd8 $17
{->})) 26... Qxc6 ({The last try to avoid the _|_ certainly deserved attention-
} 26... Kb8 $5 27. Qxc4 Rc8 28. Qb3 Rhd8 $36 (28... Bxh4 $5 $15)) 27. Nxc6 Rd7
28. Nxe7+ Rxe7 29. Re1 {Hecht: '[#] A) TLB vs TT bei weitgehend geschlossener
Position.'} h5 $6 {Now White sets up a strong fortress.} ({More flexible was
the immediate.} 29... Kb7) (29... Kb7 {Hecht}) 30. g5 Kb7 31. Be3 Rd7 $8 (31...
Kc6 $6 32. Bd4 {/\c3 gives Black no chances to break through.}) 32. Bc5 Kc6 33.
Bd6 f6 34. gxf6 $6 {This probably doesn't lose, but it's definitely a step in
the wrong direction. White opens the g-file and although he manages to occupy
it with his R, Black has 2 major pieces and with Topalov's help gets the file
back. '?' Hecht.} ({Sounder was to keep the position closed with} 34. g6 $1 Rh6
35. Rg1 $11 {Hecht: 'Festung?'} {as the winning attempt is very double-edged:}
c3 $6 36. Rg3 Kd5 37. Rxc3 Rxg6 38. Rc5+ Ke4 39. Rc6 $36) 34... gxf6 35. Rg1 f5
(35... fxe5 $6 36. Bxe5 $11 {White has an active B and Black too many ק.}) 36.
Kd2 Kd5 37. Ke3 ({Also possible was the more active} 37. Kc3 $5 Rhh7 ({Too
impatient is} 37... Ke4 38. Rg6 $1 Re8 39. Kxc4 Kxf4 40. Kd4 $36 {[%csl Gc2]
o^c}) 38. Bf8 (38. Rd1+ $6 Kc6 39. Rd4 Rhg7 40. Rxc4+ Kb7 $17 {><h4}) 38... Ke4
39. Rg6 {[%csl Rc4,Re6] and Black probably can't strengthen his position.})
37... Rhh7 38. Bf8 $1 ({White avoids the game position} 38. c3 $2 Rhg7 39. Rg5
Rdf7 $19) 38... Rhf7 39. Bh6 Rh7 $138 40. Rg6 $2 {[%mdl 4160] The decisive
mistake, now Black wins the _|_ in great tactical style. White shouldn't avoid
repetition.} (40. Bf8 $142 Rhf7 (40... Rdf7 $2 41. Rd1+ Kc6 42. Rd6+ Kc7 43.
Rxa6 $1 $18) 41. Bh6 Kc6 42. Rg6 Rfe7 ({Black's pieces are too passive after} 
42... Rde7 43. Kd4 $1 Kb5 44. Kc3 $44) 43. Bf8 $132 (43. Bg5 Re8 44. Rh6 Rb7
45. Rxh5 Rxb4 46. Kd4 {[%csl Gh4] o^h also isn't too promising for Black.})) ({
Better than the text was even the tactical} 40. Rg8 $6 Rb7 $1 (40... Rxh6 $4
41. Rc8 $18) 41. Rc8 (41. c3 $2 Rxh6 42. Rc8 Rb5 $19) 41... Rhc7 42. Ra8 Rxb4
43. Rxa6 Rd7 $15) 40... Rb7 $1 41. Bf8 $8 (41. c3 Rb8 $1 {[%csl Rd3,Rh6][%cal
Yb8e8,Yh7d7,Yd5c6] /\Re8,Rd7,Kc6 traps White's Bh6.}) 41... Rhf7 42. Bd6 (42.
Rf6 $6 Rbd7 $1 43. c3 Rxf6 44. exf6 e5 45. Be7 exf4+ 46. Kxf4 Ke6 $19 {only
hastens the end.}) 42... Rg7 43. Rg5 Rbf7 $1 {/\Rg5,o^f} 44. c3 {A necessary
concession. Hecht: '[#]'} (44. Rxh5 $2 Rg3+ $19 {->}) (44. Kf3 Kd4 45. Rxh5 Rh7
$5 $19) (44. Bc5 Rxg5 45. hxg5 h4 $19) 44... Kc6 45. Kf3 Kb5 46. Bc5 {
Returning the B to the defence.} ({Equalizing material with} 46. Rxh5 {doesn't
help:} Rh7 (46... Rg1 47. Bc5 $1 $15) 47. Rxh7 (47. Rg5 Rxh4 $19 {->}) 47...
Rxh7 48. Kg3 {Even simpler is} Ka4 (48... Rg7+ 49. Kh2 $5 (49. Kh3 Rg1 50. Bc5
Rc1 51. Bd4 Rd1 52. h5 Rxd4 $1 $19) (49. Kf3 Rg1 50. Bc5 Rd1 51. Bd4 Rd3+ {
/\Rh3-+}) 49... Ka4 $1 (49... Rg4 $2 50. Be7 Rxf4 51. h5 $36 {[%csl Gh5] o^h})
50. Bc5 Kb3 51. b5 (51. Bd4 Rg4 $1 (51... Rd7 $2 {/\Rd4} 52. b5 $1 axb5 53. a6
b4 54. a7 Rd8 55. cxb4 Kxb4 56. h5 c3 57. h6 c2 58. Be3 Kb5 59. Kg3 $1 $11 Rd3
$2 60. a8=Q Rxe3+ 61. Kf2 c1=Q 62. Qb7+ $18) 52. Kh3 Rxf4 53. b5 axb5 54. a6
Rg4 55. a7 Rg8 56. h5 b4 $19) 51... axb5 52. Bb4 Kc2 53. Kh3 Kd3 $22 54. a6 (
54. h5 Ke4 55. h6 Rg8 $1 56. Be7 Rh8 57. Bg5 b4 $19) 54... Ra7 55. h5 Rxa6 56.
Kh4 Ra1 $19) 49. Bc5 Kb3 50. Bd4 Rh8 $1 {(.)} 51. Kh3 (51. b5 axb5 52. a6 Ra8
53. h5 (53. a7 b4 54. cxb4 c3 55. b5 c2 56. Be3 Rxa7 $19) 53... Rxa6 54. h6 Kc2
55. Kh4 Ra1 56. Kg5 Rh1 57. Kg6 Kd3 {[%cal Rb5b4] /\b4-+}) 51... Rd8 52. h5 (
52. b5 axb5 53. a6 b4 $19) 52... Rxd4 $1 53. cxd4 c3 54. h6 c2 55. h7 c1=Q 56.
h8=Q Qh1+ $19) 46... Ka4 47. Bd4 (47. Rxh5 Rh7 $19 {-46.Rh5}) 47... Rd7 $1 {
Prepares the removal of White's key defensive piece.} 48. Ke3 (48. Rxh5 Rxd4 $1
49. cxd4 c3 50. Ke2 (50. Rh8 Rc7) 50... c2 51. Kd2 Kb3 52. Rg5 Rxg5 53. fxg5
Kb2 $19) (48. Ke2 Kb3 49. Ke3 Kb2 $5 {only delays the prepared breakthrough.})
48... Kb3 49. Ke2 Rxg5 {'!' Hecht. Preparations are over, Black can't improve
his position any more.} (49... Kc2 $6 50. Ke3 Rxg5 (50... Kd1 $5 {Hecht}) 51.
fxg5 f4+ 52. Ke4 $1 $11 (52. Kxf4 $2 Rxd4+ 53. cxd4 Kd3 54. g6 c3 55. g7 c2 56.
g8=Q (56. Kg5 c1=Q+ 57. Kf6 Qc8 58. Kf7 Kxd4 59. g8=Q Qxg8+ 60. Kxg8 Kxe5 61.
b5 Kd6 62. bxa6 Kc7 $19) 56... c1=Q+ 57. Kf3 Qf1+ $19 (57... Qf1+ {Hecht} 58.
Kg3 Qg1+ $19))) (49... Rxd4 $5 50. cxd4 (50. Rxg7 Kxc3 $19) 50... Rc7 {was
also probably sufficient.}) 50. fxg5 (50. hxg5 $6 h4 51. Kf3 h3 52. g6 (52. Kg3
Rxd4 $1 $19) 52... Rg7 53. Kg3 Rxg6+ 54. Kxh3 Kc2 {loses even faster.}) 50...
Rxd4 $5 {Black wins the arising Q_|_ in a study-like manner.} ({Kasparov
allegedly wanted to avoid complications after} 50... f4 51. b5 $5 (51. Kf2 $6
Rxd4 $1 52. cxd4 c3 53. g6 c2 54. g7 c1=Q 55. g8=Q Qe3+ 56. Kf1 f3 57. Qg3 (57.
Qxe6+ Kb2 58. Qc4 Qd2 $1 $19) 57... Qe2+ 58. Kg1 Kxb4 $19 {leads to an even
worse version of the Q_|_.}) 51... axb5 52. a6 {But White's <=> is seemingly
insufficient:} b4 53. a7 Rd8 54. cxb4 Kxb4 (54... c3 $2 55. Bxc3 Kxc3 56. b5
$18) 55. Bb6 (55. Kf3 c3 56. Bb6 c2 $1 57. Bxd8 c1=Q 58. a8=Q Qh1+ $19) (55. g6
c3 56. Kf3 Kc4 $1 57. Bxc3 Kxc3 58. Kxf4 Kd4 59. g7 Rg8 $22) 55... Ra8 56. Kf3
(56. Kd2 Kb3 57. g6 c3+ 58. Kc1 c2 59. g7 f3 {/\Rd8-+}) 56... c3 57. Kxf4 c2
58. Be3 Rxa7 59. g6 Kc4 60. Kg5 Ra3 61. Bf4 Rf3 62. Bc1 (62. g7 Rxf4 $1 $19)
62... Rf1 63. Be3 Kd3 $19) 51. cxd4 {Hecht: '[#] B) Bauernendspiel'} c3 {
Hecht: 'einziges Thema:einfaches Bauernrennen '} 52. g6 c2 53. g7 c1=Q 54. g8=Q
{Hecht: '[#] C) Damenendspiel mit aktiven schwarzen und schlecht postierten
weißen Figuren.'} Qc4+ 55. Ke3 $8 (55. Kf3 $143 $2 Qd3+) (55. Ke1 $143 $2 Qxb4+
) 55... Kc3 $1 $19 {A beautiful example proving positional factors and piece
coordination can outweigh material even in a Q_|_.} 56. Qd8 {White's Q is
misplaced.} (56. Kf3 Qd5+ $5 (56... Kxd4 57. Qd8+ Qd5+ $2 58. Qxd5+ Kxd5 59.
Kf4 $16 {/\b5,Kg5}) 57. Kg3 Kxd4 $19) (56. b5 $5 Qxd4+ (56... axb5 $5) 57. Kf3
Qd5+ 58. Kf2 axb5 59. Qc8+ {was probably the last desperate chance to create
some confusion.}) 56... Qd3+ 57. Kf4 (57. Kf2 $142 f4 $1 58. Qg5 Qxd4+ 59. Ke2
Qd2+ 60. Kf1 Qe3 $22 {-+}) 57... Qd2+ (57... Kd2 58. Kg5 f4 $1 $19 {[%csl Gf4]
o^f is even more convincing.}) 58. Kf3 Qd1+ 59. Ke3 $6 {'?' Hecht. Enables the
final mating attack.} (59. Kf2 f4 $1 60. Qc8+ (60. Qg5 Qxd4+ {-57.Kf2}) 60...
Kd2 61. Qxa6 (61. Qxe6 Qe2+ 62. Kg1 f3 63. Qa2+ Ke3 64. Qb3+ Kxd4 $19) 61...
Qe1+ 62. Kg2 Qg3+ 63. Kh1 f3 64. Qf1 Qxh4+ 65. Kg1 Qg3+ 66. Kh1 Qe1 $1 67. Kg1
h4 {'-+!' Hecht.} 68. a6 f2+ 69. Kg2 h3+ $19) 59... Qg1+ 60. Ke2 (60. Kf3 Qf1+
61. Ke3 f4+ 62. Ke4 Kd2 $1 {[%cal Rf1d3,Rd3e3] /\Qd3-e3#}) 60... Qg2+ 61. Ke3 {
Hecht: '[#]'} (61. Ke1 Kd3) 61... f4+ $1 {'!!' Hecht. Hecht: 'und wegen 62.
Kxf4 Kd3 nebst 63...Dg4 matt bzw. 63...Df2 matt nach 63.Dg5.'} (61... f4+ 62.
Kxf4 Kd3 {/\Qg4#} 63. Qg5 Qf2#) 0-1

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 $5 {Obwohl diese Opfer vieleicht nicht
hundertprozentig korrekt ist, kann man Topalov's Mut nur loben. Im heutigen
Spitzenschach mit sehr exzessiven Hausvorbereitungen spielt das
Überraschungsmoment eine immer grössere Rolle. Mir persönlich ist diese Art
von "wirklichem" spielerischen Schach viel sympathischer als die Wiederholung
von langen häuslichen Analysen. Psychologisch gesehen hat Weiss durch diese
"Provokation" im 4. Zug einen kleinen Vorteil (und das sogar gegen Kramnik,
den wahrscheinlich besten Kenner von Russisch!).} Kxf7 5. Nc3 {Ein Blick in
die Datenbank zeigt, dass ein paar schlechtere Züge Schwarz sehr schnell eine
Katastrophe bringen können, auch nach "originellen" Fortsetzung von "Erfinder"
Cochrane:} (5. Bc4+ Ke8 (5... Be6 6. Bxe6+ Kxe6 7. d4 Kf7 8. Qf3 Nc6 9. c3 Be7
10. Bf4 Re8 11. Nd2 Kg8 {Schwarz hat zwar hier die Entwicklung des
"Problemturms h8" optimal gelöst und seinen König in relative Sicherheit durch
die künstliche Rochade gebracht, aber im weiteren Verlauf nutzt Weiss sein
starkes Bauernzentrum und einige gegnerische Fehler zur langsamen "Erstickung"
der schwarzen Stellung.} 12. O-O-O Nd7 $6 (12... a5 $5) (12... Qd7 {/\b5}) 13.
h4 $1 Nf8 14. Qg3 Ng6 $2 (14... Ne6 $142) 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. f4 d5 $6 (16... Nh8
$5 {[%cal Gh8f7,Ge7f8]}) 17. f5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Nf8 19. e5 h6 20. Qf4 Nd8 21. g4
Qa4 22. Kb1 c5 23. g5 hxg5 $6 24. hxg5 $18 {Majdanics,I-Duzs,J/Aggtelek 1993/
EXT 97 und Weiss gewann einige Zuege spaeter.}) 6. O-O Nc6 (6... c5 7. h3 Qc7
$6 (7... Nc6) 8. f4 Nc6 9. Nc3 a6 10. a4 Qe7 $6 11. Nd5 $5 Qd8 $2 (11... Nxd5
$142 12. exd5 $140 Qf7 $1) 12. d4 $6 {Damalige Befehl lautete: Zeit ist
wichtiger als Material...} cxd4 (12... Nxd4 $142) 13. e5 $6 Nxd5 (13... dxe5
14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 16. fxe5 Nxe5 {gefolgt von Kc7, Ld6 und Ld7 sollte
Schwarzen zum Gewinn reichen.}) 14. Bxd5 dxe5 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Qh5+ Kd7 17.
fxe5 Kc7 18. Rf7+ Kb8 19. e6 Bd6 20. Bg5 Qb6 21. a5 Qc5 $4 (21... Qb5 $1) 22.
b4 $4 (22. Bf4 $3 Qb4 23. c3 $1 dxc3 24. bxc3 $18) 22... Qe5 $4 (22... Qc3 $1
$19) 23. Bf4 $1 Qxe6 $4 (23... Qxf4 $8 24. Rxf4 Bxf4 25. Re1 {und wegen der
schlecht koordinierten schwarzen Figuren behaelt Weiss einige Gewinnchancen.})
24. Qc5 $1 {Endlich ist diese Komödie der Irrtümer zu Ende!} Qxf7 25. Bxd6+ {
1-0 Cochrane,J-Mohishunder/Calcutta 1848/EXT 99 (25)}) 7. d4 Bg4 8. f3 Bh5 9.
Bg5 Be7 10. Re1 Bf7 11. Qd3 Na5 $6 (11... Bxc4 12. Qxc4 d5 $17) 12. Bb3 $6 (12.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. b4 Nc6 14. b5 $44) 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 h6 (13... c6) 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Qb5+ Kf8 $6 (16... Qd7 $17) 17. dxe5 Bh4 18. g3 Qd4+ $6
19. Kg2 Be7 20. Nc3 Bc5 (20... Qb4) 21. Re2 Kg8 $2 22. Qxb7 Kh7 23. Rd1 $16 {
Hornetz,B-Eske,A/Polch 1993/GER, nach beideseitigen Fehlern Remis im 34. Zug.})
5... c5 {Ein prophylaktischer Zug, Kramnik versucht den Aufbau eines starken
weissen Bauernzentrums zu verhindern. Die Alternativen geben ihm Recht:} (5...
Be7 6. Bc4+ Be6 7. Bxe6+ Kxe6 8. f4 Nc6 (8... Re8 $5 9. d4 Kf7 10. e5 $140 dxe5
11. fxe5 Kg8 $1 12. O-O $1 (12. exf6 Bb4+ 13. Kf2 Qxf6+ $40) 12... Nd5 13. Ne4
$44 (13. Qg4 Nxc3 14. bxc3 (14. Bh6 $4 Qxd4+ $19) 14... Qd5 $15)) 9. d4 d5 $6
10. f5+ Kd7 $2 (10... Kf7 11. e5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Be3 $44) 11. e5 Bb4 12.
O-O $1 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Qg4 $1 Kc8 (14... h5 15. Qxg7+ Kc8 16. f6 $18) 15.
f6+ Qd7 $2 (15... Kb8 16. Qxg7 b5 (16... Rg8 17. Qxg8 $1 Qxg8 18. f7 Qf8 19.
Bh6 $18) 17. f7 Kb7 18. Ba3 $18) 16. fxg7 $18 {Montavon,G-Pichl,U/Leipzig 1998/
EXT 99}) (5... c6 6. d4 Be7 7. Bc4+ Be6 (7... d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. Nxd5 Be6 10.
Ne3 Bxc4 11. Nxc4 Nc6 12. c3 $13) 8. Bxe6+ Kxe6 9. O-O Kd7 $6 (9... Rf8 $142 {
[%cal Ge6f7,Gf7g8]}) 10. e5 Ne8 11. Bf4 Kc7 12. Ne4 (12. d5 $1 $44) 12... Qd7 (
12... d5 $1) 13. exd6+ Bxd6 14. Nxd6 Nxd6 15. d5 c5 $6 (15... Rf8 16. Bg3 $44)
16. Re1 Re8 $6 17. Qd2 $36 Na6 $4 18. Qa5+ $18 {Jepson,C-Muller,P/Hallsberg
1991/EXT 97}) 6. Bc4+ Be6 {Fast erzwungen,} ({nach} 6... Ke8 $6 {ist die
weitere schwarze Entwicklung sehr erschwert und der König bleibt im Zentrum,
was ziemlich gefährlich sein kann.}) 7. Bxe6+ Kxe6 8. d4 Kf7 $5 (8... cxd4 9.
Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qc4+ $44) 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Qe2 $5 (10. cxd6 Bxd6 {gefolgt von Te8
und Schwarz hat seine Figuren schneller mobilisiert als Weiss.}) 10... Qd7 11.
Be3 {Meiner Meinung nach ist hier der Bauer wichtiger als eine Tempo, also} (
11. cxd6 $142 Bxd6 12. Qc4+ $13) 11... dxc5 12. f4 Re8 13. e5 Ng4 14. Rd1 Qf5
15. O-O h5 $1 ({Interessant, aber auch ein bißchen riskant war} 15... Nb4 16.
Bc1 $1 Be7 (16... Nxc2 $2 17. Ne4 $1 ({Staerker als} 17. h3 h5) 17... Nd4 18.
Qc4+ Kg6 (18... Ne6 19. Ng3 $18) 19. Ng3 b5 $8 20. Qd5 Nf6 $8 21. Qb7 (21. Qxd4
cxd4 22. Nxf5 Kxf5 23. exf6 gxf6 $11) 21... Re7 (21... Qd7 $4 22. f5+ $18) 22.
Qa8 Qg4 (22... Re8 23. Qxa7 Re7 24. Qxc5 $18) 23. f5+ Kf7 24. exf6 gxf6 25.
Qd5+ $18) 17. Ne4 h5 18. h3 Nh6 19. a3 Na6 (19... Nc6 20. Qc4+ Kg6 (20... Qe6
$4 21. Ng5+ Bxg5 22. fxg5+ $18) 21. Ng3 Qf7 (21... Qc8 22. f5+ Kh7 23. Bxh6 $18
) 22. e6 Qf6 (22... Qf8 23. Qe4+ Nf5 24. Rd5 Ncd4 25. Nxf5 Nxf5 26. g4 $18) 23.
Qe4+ Nf5 24. Rd5 Ncd4 25. Nxf5 Nxf5 26. g4 hxg4 27. hxg4 Rh4 28. Qxf5+ Qxf5 29.
gxf5+ Kh6 (29... Kf6 $2 30. b4 $18) 30. Rd7 $18 {_|_}) 20. Qc4+ Kf8 21. Ng3 Qg6
22. Rd3 {mit unangenehmen Drohung f5.}) ({Auch} 15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qxc2 {
geht nicht} (16... Nd4 17. Ne4 Kg8 18. c3 $16) {wegen} 17. Rd7+ (17. Ne4 Rd8)
17... Re7 (17... Kg8 18. f5 $3 Nxe5 (18... Rxe5 19. Qf4 $1 {[%csl Rc2,Rf7]
[%cal Gf5f6]} Be7 20. Rd2 $18) 19. Rd5 $16) 18. f5 $3 Qxb2 (18... Rxd7 19. e6+
Ke7 20. exd7+ Kxd7 21. Rf2 $18) 19. Rd2 Qa3 (19... Qb6 $2 20. e6+ Kg8 (20...
Ke8 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. f6 $18) 21. Nd5 Qa5 22. f6 $18) (19... Qb4 20. e6+ Kg8 (
20... Ke8 21. Nd5 Qg4 22. f6 $18)) 20. f6 gxf6 (20... Re6 21. Qh3 $1 Nd4 22.
Rxd4 cxd4 23. fxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qxe6 $18) 21. Qg5 $1 Nxe5 22. Qxf6+ Ke8 23. Qxh8
Ng6 24. Qf6 Bh6 (24... Bg7 25. Qd6 $18) 25. Qf5 $1 {mit entscheidendem
Mattangriff.}) 16. Bc1 Nd4 17. Qc4+ Kg6 (17... Qe6 $5 18. Qa4 (18. Qd3 Be7 19.
Ne4 Rd8 $17) 18... Kg8 19. h3 Nh6 (19... b5 20. Nxb5 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Ng3+ 22. Kg1
Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Rb8 (23... Ng3+ $11) 24. Rf3 $13) 20. Qxa7 b5 21. a4 $13 (21. Rd2
Nhf5)) 18. h3 Nh6 19. Nb5 a6 (19... Qxc2 $4 20. Rxd4) (19... Nxc2 $5 20. Nxa7 (
20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6+ Kh7 22. Qxc5 Qe4 $17) 20... Be7 21. Nb5 $15) 20. Nxd4
cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc8 $6 (21... Qxc2 $142 22. Rf2 (22. Qb6+ Qc6) 22... Qc6 (22...
Qf5 23. Be3 $15) 23. Qd3+ (23. f5+ Nxf5 24. Qf4 Nh6 $17) 23... Nf5 24. Be3 h4
$17 {_|_}) 22. Qb6+ Kh7 23. Qxb7 Rxc2 24. Be3 (24. Qxa6 $2 Bc5+ $1 (24... Qe4
25. Qd3 Rxg2+ 26. Kh1 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Re2 28. Rd2 (28. Bd2 Nf5 {[%csl Rg3][%cal
Gh5h4,Gh4g3,Gf5g3]}) 28... Re3 $13) 25. Kh2 Qe4 26. Rd2 (26. Qd3 $4 Rxg2+ 27.
Kh1 Rg1+ 28. Kh2 Qxd3 $19) (26. Bd2 Rd8 $19) 26... Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxf4+ 28. Kh1
Qxd2 29. Rxc5 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Rd8 $1 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gh6g4,Gd8d1,Ge1h4]} 31. Qa4
Rd2 $19) 24... Qg6 (24... Re2 $5 25. Bd4 Qe4 (25... Re4 26. Qxa6 Rxf4 $13) 26.
Qxe4+ Rxe4 $15) 25. Rc1 $1 Rxc1 (25... Nf5 $5 26. Bf2 $1 (26. Rxc2 Nxe3) 26...
Rxc1 {-- Partie}) 26. Rxc1 Nf5 27. Bf2 h4 28. Rc7 (28. Rc6 Qh5 $132) 28... Ng3
29. Kh2 Nf1+ 30. Kg1 Qb1 31. Bxh4 Bc5+ $1 (31... Bc5+ 32. Rxc5 Ng3+ 33. Kh2 (
33. Kf2 $4 Ne4+ $19) 33... Nf1+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6 14. Qd2 Qa5 15.
O-O-O Rc8 16. Kb1 Be6 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bd4 f6 19. b3 g4 20. Rhe1 c5 21. Bf2
Bh6 22. Be3 Bg7 23. Bf2 Bh6 24. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
d6 9. Bxc6 (9. a4 a5 10. Re1 {is main line.}) 9... bxc6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qa4 {
This is hardly dangerous for Black. The Q is better on c2.} (11. Nbd2 {is the
main alternative} Re8 12. Qc2 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. c4 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Qe7 16. Nb3
Bc5 17. Qc3 Rb8 18. a3 Bg4 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. b4 $14 {1-0 Almasi,Z-Gulko,B/
Pamplona 1996/CBM 57 (95)}) 11... Qd6 12. Rd1 (12. Na3 Qe6 (12... Nd7 13. Nc4
Qe6 14. Nxb6 cxb6 $10 {0-1 Rachels,S-Torre,E/Manila 1990/CBM 19/[Ernst] (60)})
13. Rfd1 Nd7 14. Qc4 Nc5 15. Qxe6 Bxe6 16. Nxe5 g5 17. Bg3 Nxe4 $132 {0-1
Petrushin,A-Gulko,B/Tallinn 1983/MCL (35)}) 12... Qe6 13. Nbd2 Nd7 14. b4 a5
15. Qb3 Re8 (15... Qe8 16. Qc4 Nb8 17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. Qd3 g5 19. Bg3 f6 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Ilincic,Z-Basagic,Z/JUG-chT 1989/TD (74)}) 16. Qxe6 Rxe6 17. Nc4 f6 18.
a3 Ba6 19. Nfd2 axb4 20. axb4 Ree8 21. Nxb6 Nxb6 22. f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1] The previous day, I had lost a drawn ending against Kasparov in an
incredibly embarrassing way, but on the bright side, it was impossible to
imagine doing anything worse than that.} 1. e4 {Lukacs} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5
4. Nc3 {4.Nf3 has been the main line for some time now, but Black has been
doing OK there. Inevitably, White players were going to return to 4.Nc3. 
Shirov played 4.Nc3 to great effect in his match against Hracek, though
funnily enough, he combined it with 4.Nf3 instead of with the usual g4.} e6 {
Hracek preferred 4...Qb6, but Shirov showed that 4.Nf3 was quite effective
against this.} 5. g4 {Obviously, 4.Nf3 would be off the mark here.} Bg6 6. Nge2
Ne7 {The old move 6...c5 has been superseded recently by this move.} 7. Nf4 (7.
h4 $6 {Lukacs} h5 8. Nf4 hxg4 {see Sveshnikov-Dreev, Alushta 1994 CBM 42}) 7...
c5 {Lukacs: 'This is a really sharp line in the 3.e5 system. Black has to
react immediately in the [+] against White's agression on the >>.'} (7... h5 $2
{Lukacs: was beautifully crushed in the following game:} 8. Nxg6 Nxg6 9. gxh5
Nh4 10. Qg4 Nf5 11. Bd3 Nh6 12. Bxh6 Rxh6 13. f4 Qb6 14. O-O-O Qxd4 15. Bg6 $1
Qe3+ 16. Kb1 {/\ Qxe6} Ke7 17. Rhe1 Qb6 18. f5 $1 {White has an irresistable
-> against the K in the middle.} fxg6 19. hxg6 Na6 20. fxe6 {lines has to be
opened against the K.} Ke8 21. Qf5 Qc7 22. Rxd5 $3 {pretty, isn't it?} cxd5 23.
Nxd5 $18 {Czebe-Nguyen Thi, Budapest 1998}) (7... Nd7 {Lukacs: allows White to
push his opponent to the wall on the >>.} 8. h4 h6 9. Nxg6 Nxg6 10. h5 Ne7 11.
Ne2 {in order to answer} c5 {by} 12. c3 {holding the [+].} Nc6 13. f4 Qb6 14.
a3 Na5 15. b4 cxb4 16. axb4 Nc4 17. Qa4 Be7 18. f5 Bg5 19. Nf4 $16 {
Kotronias-Papaioannou, GRE-ch Athens 1996}) 8. h4 cxd4 {'!' Lukacs. Lukacs:
'Black is playing in the [+] balancing White's >> threats.'} 9. Nb5 Nec6 10. h5
{Lukacs: 'White has to continue his strategy.'} (10. Nxd4 $6 {Lukacs leads
nowhere after} Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qa4 a6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Bxe7
Qxe7 $15 {Neukirch-Fette, BL 1998}) 10... Be4 11. f3 {All this is well known
theory. Black used to play 11...Bxf3 and get a whole mass of pawns for the
piece. However, White got a strong attack with g5 and h6 and we wondered if
Black could get these moves in himself.} a6 $1 {Lukacs: 'If your strong piece
is attacked, try to attack your opponent's threatening piece!'} (11... Bxf3 {
Lukacs} 12. Qxf3 Nxe5 {gets a lot of pawns for the piece, but White's attack
can be continued.} 13. Qg3 Nbc6 14. Nd3 f6 (14... Nxd3+ 15. Bxd3 e5 16. O-O Bc5
17. h6 (17. Rf5 $5 {comes into consideration.}) 17... g6 18. Qf2 Qd7 19. Kh1 a6
20. Nc3 Rf8 21. Na4 Ba7 $13 {Lautier-Karpov, Amber rapid 1997}) 15. Nf4 Kf7 16.
g5 $1 {This is the strong improvement on} (16. c3 dxc3 17. bxc3 d4 {see
Fedorov-Asrian, RUS Cup Chigorin mem 1998 CBM 62} (17... Rc8 $6 {allows
White's dangerous -> after} 18. Bh3 Qa5 19. g5 $1 Nd8 20. Nxe6 $1 Nxe6 21.
Bxe6+ Kxe6 22. Qh3+ f5 23. Nd4+ $16 {Sutovsky-Podgaets, Cafe op Koszalin 1998})
) 16... Qd7 17. Bh3 Re8 18. g6+ Kg8 19. c3 dxc3 20. Nxc3 Bb4 21. Bd2 d4 22.
O-O-O $1 $16 {R.Leyva-Llaudy, Holguin 1998}) 12. Nd6+ (12. Nxd4 $2 {Lukacs: 
loses to} Nxd4 13. fxe4 dxe4 $19) (12. fxe4 $2 {Lukacs: is also dubious
because of} axb5 13. exd5 exd5 14. Bg2 ({both} 14. e6 $2 Bb4+ {/\ 0-0}) ({and} 
14. Kf2 $2 {are inferior:} Be7 15. Bxb5 O-O 16. Qe2 Nd7 17. h6 (17. Nxd5 Ndxe5)
17... g6 18. Nxd5 Bh4+ 19. Kg2 Ndxe5 20. Nf4 Bg5 21. Bd2 Qd6 $19 {Ady-Ashley,
Manhattan 1999}) 14... Bb4+ 15. Kf2 (15. Bd2 Bxd2+ 16. Qxd2 O-O) 15... O-O {
and the white K is all but safe.}) 12... Bxd6 13. exd6 g5 $1 {This allows
Black to set up a strong pawn front on the kingside and also misplaces the
knight. Lukacs: 'This is Anand's novelty, another intermediate move attacking
the opponent's piece!'} (13... e5 14. Ng2 $1 (14. fxe4 {Lukacs} exf4 15. exd5
Qa5+ 16. Kf2 Qxd5 17. Bg2 Qxd6 18. Re1+ Kf8 (18... Ne7 19. Qf3 $44) 19. Qf3 $44
) 14... Qxd6 15. fxe4 dxe4 16. Ne3 {Here the knight is very much in the game
and Black doesn't have enough ~/= for the piece.}) ({Other tries fail to
equalize:} 13... Qxd6 {Lukacs} 14. fxe4 dxe4 15. Bg2 f5 16. O-O) 14. Nh3 {
Obviously with the pawn on g5, Ng2 makes no sense.} (14. hxg6 {Lukacs} Bxg6 {
and the B is out of danger} 15. Nxg6 fxg6 16. Bd3 O-O) (14. fxe4 $2 {Lukacs}
gxf4 15. exd5 Qa5+ $1 (15... exd5 16. Bxf4) 16. Kf2 Qxd5 $19 {winning all the
pawns.}) 14... h6 15. fxe4 dxe4 16. Bg2 f5 {Lukacs: 'Black has an admirable
phalanx.'} 17. O-O O-O $1 (17... Rf8 {It looks safer not to castle "into" it,
but after...} 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Rxf8+ Kxf8 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Qg4
{White's attack looks quite dangerous. By castling, Black is able to recapture
on f8 with his rook.}) 18. c3 $2 (18. gxf5 {White may need to take drastic
measures and force a draw already, since the game continuation looks quite
convincing for black.} exf5 19. Bxe4 (19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. Bxe4 Qxd6 $1) 19...
fxe4 20. Bxg5 $1 (20. Rxf8+ Qxf8 $1) 20... Rxf1+ (20... hxg5 21. Qg4 $40) 21.
Qxf1 hxg5 22. Qf5 Qd7 (22... Qf8 $11) 23. Qxe4 (23. Qg6+ Qg7 24. Qe8+ Qf8 $11)
23... Qxh3 24. Qg6+ Kh8 $11) 18... Qxd6 {'!' Lukacs.} (18... d3 $6 {Lukacs can
be punished in a nice tactical way:} 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Qb3+ Kh8 21. Bxe4 $1
fxe4 22. Bxg5 $1 hxg5 23. Qe6 $16) 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Qb3+ (20. Be3 Nd7 $1 21.
cxd4 Nb6 $17) 20... Kh8 21. Bxe4 {White finally sacrifices the piece, but here
it isn't sufficient. Lukacs: 'White cannot bear Black's mighty [+].'} (21. Qxb7
Nd7 22. Qb3 Nde5 $17) (21. cxd4 Nxd4 22. Qc3 Nbc6 $17) (21. Qa3 $5 {Lukacs})
21... fxe4 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Qe6 $1 {Despite his two pawn advantage - Black
still has to find a way to develop his queenside. White just threatens Bxg5
and Rf1} Nd7 $1 {Funnily enough - Black just has to toss the piece that he
recovered. Honestly speaking, this was a fairly intuitive sacrifice, but I
felt that Black was better and didn't see any other way to get more than a
draw. Lukacs: 'Development first!'} (23... e3 $2 24. cxd4 (24. Bxe3 $1 {
Lukacs Development first!} dxe3 25. Rf1 $18) 24... Nxd4 25. Qe5+ Qg7 26. Qe8+
Qg8 $11 (26... Kh7 27. Bxe3 $1 Nf3+ 28. Kh1 $16)) 24. Qxd7 {'[]' Lukacs.} (24.
Bxg5 hxg5 25. Qxd7 (25. Rf1 {Lukacs} Qg7 26. Rf7 Nc5 $1 27. Qf5 Ne7 $19) 25...
Rd8 $1 26. Qe6 Re8 27. Qg6 Ne5 $19) 24... Rd8 (24... Qf3 $5 {Lukacs}) 25. Qg4 (
25. Qxb7 $2 {In a practical game, it is difficult for a player to enter a line
like this where Black has a sure draw and a chance to try for more.} Qd6 {
I noticed this and when I realized that Black had at least a forced draw with
25...Qf3, I decided to play 23...Nd7.} (25... Qf3 26. Nxg5 hxg5 27. Qxc6 Qg4+
28. Kh2 Qxh5+ 29. Kg2 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 (31. Kg2 Rf8 $1 $19) 31... Rf8
(31... Qg3+ 32. Kh1 Qh3+ 33. Kg1 Rf8 34. Bd2 $1 e3 35. Qe4 Qg3+ 36. Kh1) 32.
Bd2 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 e3 35. Qe4 $1 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Rf6 $1 (36... exd2 37.
Qxd4+ Kh7 38. Qd7+ (38. Qxd2 Rh8 $1 $19) 38... Kg6 39. Qe6+ Kg7 40. Qd7+ Rf7)
37. Qxd4 (37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. Qd7+ Kh6 39. Qxd4 Qf3+ 40. Kh2 exd2 $1) 37... Qf3+
38. Kh2 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 exd2 40. Qxf2 Rxf2 41. Kg1 $1 $11) 26. Kg2 e3 $1 27. cxd4
(27. Qxa6 g4 $1) 27... g4 $1 (27... Qd5+ 28. Kh2 Qf3 $5 29. Qc7 $1 (29. Bxe3
Rb8 30. Qxa6 Qxe3 (30... g4 $1)) 29... Rxd4 30. Qc8+ Rd8 31. Qe6 Qe2+ 32. Kg3
Qe1+ $11) 28. Ng5 $1 (28. Bxe3 gxh3+ {Seems to just lose on the spot. e.g} 29.
Kxh3 Qe6+ 30. Kh2 Qxe3 31. Qxc6 Qf4+ 32. Kh1 Rg8) 28... hxg5 29. Bxe3 Qd5+ (
29... Rb8 30. Qf7 Rxb2+ 31. Kf1 g3) 30. Kg1 Qf3 31. Re1 (31. Bxg5 Nxd4 $1 $19)
31... Qg3+ 32. Kf1 Qh3+ 33. Ke2 (33. Kg1 g3 $1 $19) 33... Qf3+ $1 34. Kd2 Nxd4
$19) 25... e3 {'!' Lukacs.} 26. b3 {'?!' Lukacs. Lukacs: 'This is a serious
mistake.'} (26. cxd4 Rxd4 ({and not} 26... Nxd4 27. Bxe3 Nc2 28. Bxg5) 27. Qe2
{'!' Lukacs.} (27. Qe6 $1 {Lukacs} Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Nd4 (28... Re1 29. Kg3) 29.
Qe5+ Kg8 30. Qd5+ Qf7 31. Qxf7+ Kxf7 32. Bxe3 $1 Rxa1 33. Bxd4 Rxa2 {and White
has reasonable chances of survival.}) 27... Qf5 (27... Rh4 28. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 (
28... Nd4 29. Qxe3 hxg5 30. Kg2 Qf5 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qg6+ Qxg6 33. hxg6+ Kxg6
$17) 29. Bxe3 {Not completely clear.}) (27... Rh4 $5) 28. Qxe3 {A tough nut to
crack.} (28. Bxe3 Rg4+ 29. Kh2 (29. Kh1 Rh4) 29... Qe5+ 30. Kh1 Rg3 $1 {
'-+' Lukacs.} (30... Rh4 $19) 31. Qf1 Qe6 $3 {Fritz} (31... Rxe3 32. Qf8+ Kh7
33. Qf7+ Qg7 34. Qf5+ Kh8 $17) 32. Ng1 Rxe3 $19) 28... Rg4+ (28... Rd1+ 29. Kg2
(29. Kh2 Ne5 $1 $19) 29... Qd5+ 30. Qf3 $1 (30. Kf2 Ne5 31. Qc3 Rd3 32. Qc8+
Kg7 33. Qc7+ Kf6 $1 34. Qb6+ Kf5) 30... g4 31. Qxd5 gxh3+ 32. Kxh3 Rxd5 33. Bf4
) (28... Re4 29. Qc3+ (29. Qf2 Qg4+ 30. Qg2 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Re2 32. Nf2 Qh4+ $19)
29... Nd4 $1 30. Nf2 $8 Re1+ $1 31. Qxe1 (31. Kg2 Qd5+ 32. Kh3) 31... Nf3+ 32.
Kf1 Nxe1 33. Kxe1 g4 $1) 29. Kh2 Ne5 {I turned on Fritz to see whether it
could defend.} (29... Re4 30. Qf2 Qe5+ 31. Kh1) 30. Qb6 $1 (30. Ng1 Re4 $1 31.
Qc3 Rh4+ 32. Kg2 Rg4+ 33. Kh1 Qe4+ $19) 30... Nf3+ 31. Kh1 Qd5 $1 {The key -
Black sets up a mating battery.} 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ Kf8 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35.
Qh8+ Kd7 36. Qh7+ Kc8 37. Qc2+ Kb8 38. Qb3 Rc4 $1 39. Bf4+ gxf4 40. Nxf4 Qe4
$19) 26... Ne5 27. Qe4 Qf6 $1 28. Kg2 {I was a bit confused when I saw this
move, but then I saw what to do.} (28. cxd4 {Lukacs} Rxd4 $1) (28. Ba3 {Lukacs}
dxc3 $5 29. Rf1 (29. Qxe3 Rd3 30. Qc5 Rg3+ 31. Kh2 Rxh3+ $1) 29... Qe6 30. Rf5
(30. Bb4 c2 31. Bc3 Rd1 32. Bxe5+ Kg8) 30... Rd5 {/\ Nf3}) 28... e2 $1 29. Bxg5
$1 {The best chance.} (29. Qxe2 d3 $1 (29... Qc6+ {Lukacs} 30. Kg1 Nf3+) 30.
Qf2 Qc6+ {Lukacs: 'This is a really nasty check!'} 31. Kg3 (31. Kg1 d2 $19) (
31. Kf1 Ng4) 31... Qe6 $1 32. Ng1 Qg4+ 33. Kh2 Qxh5+ 34. Kg2 Ng4 $1) (29. Bd2
Rf8 $1 (29... d3 30. c4 Nf3 31. Qxf3 Qxa1 32. Nf2) 30. Qxd4 (30. cxd4 Qf1+ 31.
Kh2 Nf3+ 32. Kg3 Qxa1 $19) (30. Qxe2 Qc6+ $19) 30... Rd8 $1 31. Qe3 Rxd2 $1 $19
) (29. Bb2 {Lukacs} Rf8 30. Qxe2 Qc6+ {again this check on the long /^
finishes the game.} 31. Kg1 Nf3+ 32. Kh1 dxc3 33. Ba3 Re8 34. Qg2 Re4 $1 35.
Qg3 (35. Rd1 Nh4 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Rd7+ Qxd7 38. Qxe4 Qxh3+ $19) 35... Nd4 36.
Qg2 Nc2 $1 $19) 29... hxg5 30. cxd4 Qc6 {'-+' Lukacs. Lukacs: 'liquidating for
a winning _|_.'} 31. d5 (31. Qxc6 {Lukacs} Nxc6 32. Re1 (32. Nxg5 $2 Rg8) 32...
Nxd4) 31... Qxd5 (31... Rxd5 32. Re1 {Doesn't lead anywhere.}) 32. Qxd5 Rxd5
33. Re1 Rd2 34. Kf2 $1 Rxa2 35. Rxe2 $2 (35. Ke3 $1 Nf7 36. Rxe2 (36. Nf2 Kg7
37. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 38. Kxe2 Kh6 $17) 36... Rxe2+ 37. Kxe2 Kg7 38. Kf3 Kh6 39. Kg4
a5 40. Nf2 b5 41. Ne4 a4 42. bxa4 bxa4 43. Nc3 a3 $17) 35... Nd3+ 36. Ke3 Rxe2+
37. Kxe2 g4 $1 {A nice intermezzo} (37... Nf4+ $4 38. Nxf4 gxf4 39. Kf3 $11)
38. Ng5 Nc1+ 39. Ke3 Nxb3 40. h6 a5 41. Kf4 (41. Ke4 g3 $1) 41... Nd4 $1 {
Taking away the f5 square.} 42. Kxg4 a4 43. Kh5 (43. Ne4 a3 44. Nc3 b5 $19)
43... Nc6 {It's still not too late to be careless.} (43... Nc6 44. Kg6 Ne5+ 45.
Kf5 a3 $1 46. Kxe5 a2 $19) (43... a3 $4 44. Kg6 $1 $18) 0-1

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 a5 9. O-O (9. h4 a4 10. Bd5 a3 11. b3 Ng4 12. Bxc6 dxc6 13. Nde2 Nxe3 14.
fxe3 Qa5 $19) (9. h3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Nb4 12. Nde2 Bf5 13. Rc1 Rc8 14.
O-O b5 15. Nd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Bxc2 18. Bh6 e5 19. Qxe5 f6 20. Qd4
$44 {1/2-1/2 Romero Holmes,A-Frois,A/La Coruna TH op 1995 (29)}) 9... a4 (9...
Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 Nxb3 12. axb3 Ra6 13. Bh6 Re6 $11 {1-0 Luecke,
N-Heinatz,T/BL 1993 (41)}) 10. Nxa4 (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Nxa4 Nxe4 12. f3 Nf6 13.
Bb6 Qe8 14. Re1 d6 15. Bf2 c5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. a4 Bb7 18. c3 Qd8 19. a5 Bc6 20.
Qe2 Re8 21. Ra3 e5 22. Ba4 Bxa4 23. Rxa4 e4 24. fxe4 d5 25. Qd1 d4 26. e5 Nd7
27. cxd4 Nxb6 28. axb6 Rd7 29. Ra7 cxd4 30. Rxd7 Qxd7 31. Qxd4 {1-0
Shchekachev,A-Pigusov,E/Open, Bourbon Lancy FRA 1997 (58)}) (10. Bxa4 Nxe4 11.
Nxe4 Rxa4 12. c3 Ra8 (12... Ra5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qb3 Rb5 15. Qc2 d5 $15 {
1/2-1/2 Gallinnis,N-Guempges,x/corr 1981 (53)}) 13. Ng3 d5 14. f4 e6 15. Re1 f6
16. Nf3 e5 17. Qb3 Na5 18. Qb5 Nc4 19. Bc5 Ra5 20. Qb4 Rf7 21. Rad1 Qc7 22.
Rxd5 Be6 23. Bb6 Bf8 24. Bxc7 Bxb4 25. Rd8+ {1-0 Baranyai,A-Toth,S/Providencia
Open, Debrecen HUN 1997}) 10... Nxe4 11. Nb5 (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nb6 (12. Bb6
Qe8 13. f3 Ng5 (13... Nf6 14. Bf2 Ba6 15. Re1 d6 16. c4 c5 17. Nc3 Qd8 18. Qe2
Ra7 19. a4 Qb8 20. Nb5 Rd7 21. Rad1 Rc8 22. Kh1 Nh5 23. Bc2 Nf4 24. Qd2 Ne6 25.
Be4 Nd4 26. b4 e5 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. b5 Bb7 29. a5 $16 {1-0 David,A-Abolianin,A/
Lost Boys Open, Antwerp BEL 1998 (39)}) 14. c3 d6 15. Be3 Ne6 16. Nb6 Rb8 17.
a4 Nc7 18. a5 Be6 19. Ba4 Na8 20. Re1 Nxb6 21. Bxb6 Rxb6 22. axb6 Qb8 23. Kh1
Qxb6 24. Qd2 $14 {1-0 David,A-Taleb,M/Montpellier 1998 (35)}) 12... Rb8 13.
Nxc8 Qxc8 14. f3 (14. c3 d5 15. f3 Nd6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Ba7 Rb7 18. Bc5 Rd7 19.
a4 Qb8 20. a5 Qb5 21. Bf2 Ra8 22. Ba4 Qa6 23. Bc2 Qb7 24. Ra2 e5 25. Bd3 Nb5
26. Qa1 Rdd8 27. a6 Qd7 28. Bxb5 cxb5 29. a7 d4 30. Rd1 Qc6 31. Ra6 Qc4 32.
cxd4 $13 {0-1 Nykopp,J-Keskisarja,T/FIN-chT 1994/EXT 97 (39)}) 14... Nf6 15.
Re1 (15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 d6 18. Kh1 e5 19. Bg5 d5 20. Qf2 Nd7
21. c3 f5 22. Bc1 Kh8 23. Qh4 Nc5 24. Bc2 Ne6 25. g4 Qf7 26. gxf5 gxf5 27. Rg1
Rg8 28. Qh3 Rbf8 29. a4 e4 30. fxe4 fxe4 31. Rdf1 $14 {1-0 Mokry,K-Antunes,A/
EUCup Gr2 Strasbourg 1994/EXP 43 (44)}) 15... d6 16. a4 c5 17. a5 c4 18. Ba4
Qa6 19. Bb6 Rxb6 20. axb6 Qxb6+ 21. Kh1 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qa3 23. Bb5 d5 24. Qd4 Qd6
25. Rbd1 Rb8 26. Rb1 Ne4 27. Qa7 Nc3 28. Rxe7 Nxb5 29. Qe3 Bf8 30. Re5 Na3 31.
Rxb8 Qxb8 32. Rxd5 $17 {0-1 Garcia,G-Turner,M/Lloyds Bank op 1994/EXP 43 (47)})
11... Ra6 (11... d6 12. Qe2 (12. Bb6 Qd7 13. Nc7 Rb8 14. Re1 Nf6 15. Qd2 Ne8
16. Nd5 e6 17. Ne3 d5 18. Rad1 Nc7 19. Nc5 Qd6 20. Ne4 Qf4 21. Nc5 Na8 22. Nd3
Qh6 23. Bc5 Rd8 24. c3 b6 25. Bb4 $17 {Voicu,C-Andreeva,N/EU-chJW U16 Rimavska
Sobota 1996/EXT 96ch2/0-1 (53)}) 12... Nf6 13. Rad1 Bf5 14. c4 Ng4 15. Bc1 Qb8
16. h3 Nf6 17. Be3 Nd7 18. f4 Na5 19. g4 Nxb3 20. axb3 Be4 21. Ba7 Rxa7 22.
Qxe4 Ra6 23. Qxe7 Nc5 24. Nxc5 dxc5 25. Qxc5 Bxb2 26. Rd2 Bg7 27. Rd7 Ra2 28.
Qd5 Qe8 29. Qd3 Re2 30. Nc7 $16 {1-0 Theissen,H-Fabisch,C/Dortmund op-A 1993/
TD 93\06 (58)}) (11... Rxa4 12. Bxa4 Bxb2 13. Rb1 Bg7 14. f3 Qa5 15. Bb3 Nc3
16. Nxc3 Qxc3 17. Qe1 d6 18. Qxc3 Bxc3 19. Rfd1 Bd7 20. Ba4 Ra8 21. Rxb7 Rxa4
22. Rxd7 Rxa2 23. Rc7 Ra6 24. Rb1 Bf6 25. Bh6 $16 {1-0 Bologan,V-Katz,F/
Corsican Open, Bastia FRA 1998 (42)}) 12. Qe2 (12. Re1 d6 $11) (12. Qd3 d5 13.
f3 Nf6 14. Nc5 Ra8 15. Rfd1 e6 $11) 12... d6 13. c4 (13. Rad1 Bd7 $132) 13...
Nf6 $1 (13... f5 $2 $16 14. Bb6 $1 Qd7 (14... Rxb6 $2 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. c5+ $18
) 15. f3 (15. c5+ Kh8 16. Rad1 $16) (15. Rad1 Na5 16. Bc2 $14) 15... Nf6 $2 (
15... Ng5 16. Rad1 Ne6 $1 17. c5 Kh8 18. cxd6 exd6 19. Rf2 d5 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21.
Bxc5 Re8 22. Qf1 Ne7 23. Rc2 $16) 16. Rad1 $22 $18 {1-0 Rogic,D-Sale,S/
CRO-ch06 Pula 1998/CBM 64/[Tsesarsky] (20)}) 14. Rfd1 (14. Rad1 Bg4 15. f3 Bd7
16. c5 Na5 17. Bc2 d5 $11) 14... Bd7 15. Nac3 Qb8 16. h3 {Position not so easy
to play for black.Topalov first of all need to find some plan to open the
center , but in such position it's very difficalt.} Rc8 17. a3 Ne5 18. Rac1
Bxb5 {Probably black should to exchange some peaces because space problem, but
now white has two bishops and clear plan to attack on the Qeen side.} 19. cxb5
(19. Nxb5 $14) 19... Ra8 20. b6 (20. Bd4 e6 21. a4 Ned7 $14) 20... Rc6 21. Nb5
Qd8 22. Nc7 Rb8 23. Qb5 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 $6 (24. Bxc1 $1 Qd7 25. Qxd7 Nfxd7 26.
Be3 {Still better for white}) 24... e6 $1 25. a4 d5 26. a5 Ne4 $1 {[%mdl 2048]
Finally black gets strong contrplay.} 27. Rd1 (27. Bc2 Nd6 28. Qc5 Ndc4 $36)
27... Nd6 28. Qc5 Nf5 29. Bc1 Bf8 30. Qc2 Nc6 (30... Qh4 $1 31. Qe2 Nc6 32. Bd2
Bc5 $17 {[%cal Rc5f2,Gf5d4,Gc6d4,Gc6a5]}) 31. Bd2 Bd6 32. Ba4 Nb4 33. Qb3 Nd4
34. Qe3 Nf5 35. Qb3 Qh4 36. Rc1 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} (36. Re1 Bc5 $17) 36... Nd4
0-1

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6.
Nc3 $6 {Surprisingly after this natural move Black has only few problems and
achieves equality rather easily.} (6. Bd2 $142 Qb6 7. Nb3 Ne5 8. Qc2 (8. Bxb4
Qxb4+ 9. Qd2 Qxc4 10. Bg2 Ne7 11. Na3 Qa6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rac1 d5 14. Rfd1 Qb6
15. Nc5 Nc4 16. Nxc4 Qxc5 17. Ne5 Qb6 18. Qc2 f6 19. Nd3 Bd7 20. Nc5 Rad8 21.
Rd3 Bc8 22. Rb3 Qc6 23. Qd2 b6 24. Na6 Qd6 25. Nc7 Bd7 26. Nb5 Bxb5 27. Rxb5
Rc8 $17 {Langeweg,K-Wedberg,T/Buenos Aires olm/1978/}) 8... a5 (8... d6 9. Bg2
Bd7 10. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. N1xd2 Bc6 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. c5 d5 15. Na5
Ne7 16. b4 Kd7 17. f4 N5g6 18. e4 h5 19. Kf2 h4 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. a3 Rh6 22.
Nf3 Rah8 23. Rhd1 hxg3+ 24. hxg3 Kc7 25. Rac1 Nge7 26. Nc4 Rh3 27. Nd6 f6 28.
b5 $36 {Tiller,B-Wedberg,T/Randers zt/1982/}) 9. Bg2 a4 10. Nc1 Nf6 11. O-O
Bxd2 12. Nxd2 O-O 13. c5 Qb5 14. Qc3 d6 15. cxd6 Ra6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3
Rxd6 18. Nd3 Bd7 19. Qc7 Qb6 20. Rac1 Bb5 21. Qxb6 Rxb6 22. Ne5 Nd7 23. Nxd7
Bxd7 24. Rfd1 Bc6 25. Bxc6 bxc6 26. Rc2 Rfb8 27. a3 Kf8 $11 {Polugaevsky,
L-Ornstein,A/Buenos Aires olm/ 1978/}) 6... Qa5 $1 ({With the interpolated
moves} 6... Nf6 7. Bg2 Qa5 $6 {is very dubious due to} 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 O-O
(9... Qxc3 10. Nxc6 $1 dxc6 (10... Qxa1 11. Qd6 $18) 11. Qd6 Bd7 12. Rb1 {
1-0,Meins,G-Schumacher,O/Bremen GER-ch/1998/}) 10. Qb3 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Be3
Ne5 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14. a4 Rac8 15. Qb4 Qa6 16. Nb5 $36 {Taimanov,M-Zakharov/
URS-ch/1965/}) 7. Ndb5 (7. Nxc6 dxc6 (7... bxc6 8. Bd2 Qc7 9. Bg2 Rb8 10. O-O
Nf6 11. Nb5 Qa5 12. Bxb4 Qxb4 13. a3 Qc5 14. b4 Qe5 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. c5 Ba6 17.
Qa4 Bxe2 18. Rfe1 $40 {King,D-Arnason,J/Reykjavik/1984/}) 8. Bd2 Qc7 9. Ne4 Qa5
10. Bg2 e5 11. Bc3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nf6 $132 {1/2,Adorjan,A-Wedberg,T/Oslo/1984/}
) 7... d5 {'!' Ftacnik.} (7... a6 $6 8. Nd6+ Ke7 (8... Kf8 9. Bg2 $1 $44) 9.
Nxc8+ Rxc8 10. Bd2 Nf6 11. Bg2 Rhd8 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qg5 14. O-O d5 15. Qb3
$16 {[%csl Gc3,Re7,Gg2] ^^,עe7,Mlynek,P-Novak,J/Brno/1996/}) (7... Nf6 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Nd6 Qc7 11. Nce4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 f5 13. a3 Be7 14. Nc3 Bf6 15.
Bf4 Ne5 16. Rc1 d6 17. b3 Bd7 18. Qd2 Rad8 19. e4 g6 20. Rfd1 Bc8 21. exf5 gxf5
22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5+ Qg7 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. f4 Nf7 26. Na4 $36 {Horvath,
J-Schlosser,P/Budapest/1991/}) 8. a3 (8. Bd2 a6 $142 $1 (8... dxc4 9. a3 Bxc3
10. Nd6+ $1 Kf8 11. Bxc3 Qc5 12. Rc1 Nge7 13. Nxc4 Qd5 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Bg2
Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Bd7 17. O-O Ke7 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. Ne5 Rac8 20. Rfc1 Rhd8 21.
Nxc6+ bxc6 22. Rxc6 Rd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rxc6 24. Rd2 a5 25. Kg2 $14 {Jansson,
B-Wedberg,T/SWE-ch/1977/}) 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Na3 Bxa3 (10... Nf6 11. Nc2 Bf5
$132) 11. bxa3 d4 12. Ne4 Qxa3 $13) ({More promising is} 8. Bf4 $142 $5 e5 (
8... d4 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 $16) 9. Bd2 dxc4 (9... d4 10. Nd5 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2
Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rb8 13. Bg2 $36 (13. Bg2 {Ftacnik} Nge7 $14)) 10. a3 Bxc3 11.
Nd6+ Kf8 12. Bxc3 Qc5 13. Bg2 $44) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 $146 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (9.
Nxc3 d4 $5 (9... dxc4 {is also quite playable.}) (9... dxc4 $5 $10 {Ftacnik})
10. b4 Nxb4 11. axb4 (11. Bd2 $2 Nd3+ $1 $17 (11... Nd3+ $1 {Ftacnik} 12. exd3
dxc3 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Bg2 Ne7 $15) (11... Nc6 12. Nb5 Qd8 13. c5 $36)) 11...
Qxa1 12. Nb5 Nf6 $5 (12... Kf8 $5 {Ftacnik} 13. Bg2 Bd7 14. O-O $13) 13. Nc7+
Ke7 14. Nxa8 Bd7 15. Bg2 (15. Nc7 Ba4 16. Qd2 Rc8 $40 {'-/+' Ftacnik.}) 15...
Rxa8 16. O-O Qc3 {'?' Ftacnik.} (16... Rc8 $5 $15 {Ftacnik}) 17. b5 {'?'
Ftacnik.} (17. Bxb7 $1 {Ftacnik} Rb8 18. Ba6 $1 Rb6 19. Bd2 Qa3 20. b5 Ne4 21.
Qa1 $16) 17... Qxc4 18. Ba3+ Ke8 19. Bxb7 Rb8 20. Bc6 Nd5 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. Qa4
Rxb5 23. Qxa7 f6 24. Rc1 Rb7 25. Qa8+ Kf7 26. f3 Kg6 $17 {Lerner,K-Huzman,A/
Kujbyshev/1986/}) 9... Nf6 10. Bg2 (10. Bf4 $6 e5 11. Bg5 (11. Bd2 {Ftacnik}
dxc4 $17) 11... Ne4 $40) (10. Nd6+ {Ftacnik} Ke7 11. Nxc8+ Raxc8 12. Bd2 dxc4
$17) 10... O-O 11. Qb3 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Topalov had no idea, how
dangerous is his position with unfinished development and exposed knight b5.'}
(11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Qb3 a6 13. e4 $5 $15) (11. O-O dxc4 $17) 11... dxc4 12. Qxc4
e5 $32 {'!' Ftacnik.} 13. Nd6 $8 (13. O-O Be6 14. Qd3 Rad8 15. Qb1 Bc4 $17) (
13. Bg5 $2 {Ftacnik} Be6 14. Qd3 Rfd8 15. Qb1 a6 $19) 13... Be6 14. Qd3 (14.
Nxb7 {Ftacnik} Bxc4 15. Nxa5 Nxa5 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 $17) 14... e4 $1 {[%csl Re1]
[%mdl 512] Black starts of a series of sacrifices to keep White's K in the [+].
Ftacnik: 'The key move of black's attack, for white an unpleasant wake up call.
All black reserves will be called to service in a very short time.'} (14...
Rad8 $2 15. Nxb7 $16) (14... Qc7 15. Nb5 Qe7 16. Qd6 $132 {'=' Ftacnik.}) 15.
Nxe4 (15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Rad8 $17 (16... Rad8 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe3 Nd4 $19))
15... Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rad8 17. Qc2 (17. Qe3 Rfe8 {/\Bd5-/+} (17... Rfe8 $1 {
Ftacnik} 18. f3 f5 19. Bxc6 bxc6 $19)) 17... Nd4 18. Qb2 $8 (18. Qb1 Qxc3+ 19.
Bd2 (19. Kf1 Bh3+ 20. Bg2 Nxe2 21. Bxh3 Qf3 $19) 19... Nc2+ 20. Bxc2 Qxd2+ 21.
Kf1 Bh3+ 22. Kg1 Qxe2 $19) 18... Nxe2 $1 {[%mdl 640] Black must prevent
castling at any cost. Now White's K gets caught in a crossfire. Ftacnik:
'Spectacular but also the best move, black needs to stop white king in the
center at all cost.'} 19. Kxe2 (19. Qxe2 Qxc3+ $19) 19... Rfe8 $40 20. Qb4 (20.
f3 f5 21. Bxb7 Bc4+ 22. Kf2 Qc5+ 23. Kg2 Re2+ $19) (20. Be3 Bg4+ 21. f3 (21.
Bf3 Qa6+ $19) 21... Rxe4 22. fxg4 Qc5 23. Qc1 Rde8 $19) 20... Qh5+ 21. f3 f5 {
'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'It is a harvest time for black. All his investment can
be recouped, with white king still sitting in the center.'} 22. g4 $8 (22. Qxb7
fxe4 $19) (22. Bxb7 $2 Bc4+ 23. Kf2 Re2+ 24. Kg1 Rd1#) 22... Qh3 23. gxf5 (23.
Kf2 fxe4 24. Qxe4 Bd5 25. Qf4 Rf8 $19) 23... Bxf5 24. Qc4+ (24. Kf2 Bxe4 25.
fxe4 Rf8+ 26. Ke1 (26. Ke2 Qg2+) 26... Qh4+ {/\Qh4#}) 24... Kh8 25. Re1 Rxe4+
$1 (25... Rxe4+ 26. fxe4 Bg4+ 27. Kf2 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1 (28. Ke3 Qg3#) 28... Bh3#)
0-1

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d4 Nbd7 8. h3
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. e4 a6 11. Re1 (11. Bg5 $5) 11... Rb8 12. a4 {Topalov's
choice couldn't have been too much of a surprise for Kasparov, as they played
the same line already last year:} (12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Ne5 14. b3 c5 15. Nf3
Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 b5 17. Rad1 bxc4 18. Bf4 Re6 19. bxc4 Rb4 20. e5 Qe8 21. Nd5
Nxd5 22. cxd5 Rxe5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 $44 {Kasparov,G-Topalov,V/Leon m/1998/}) 12...
c6 $146 {[%mdl 8] This typical move hasn't been played earlier.} ({Somewhat
passive is} 12... a5 13. Ndb5 Nc5 14. Bf4 $5 (14. Be3 b6 $5 (14... Bd7 15. Qc2
b6 16. Rad1 Qc8 17. g4 Qd8 18. f3 Rc8 19. Bc1 Qe7 20. f4 Qf8 21. Bf3 h6 22. Be3
Be6 23. b3 Nh7 24. h4 g5 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. f5 Bd7 27. Kg2 Be5 28. Rh1 c6 29.
Nd4 f6 30. Rh5 Re7 31. Rdh1 $36 {Bareev,E-Khalifman,A/Pardubice/1994/}) 15. Qc2
Bb7 16. Bd4 Ne6 17. Be3 Nc5 18. Bd2 $6 c6 19. Nd4 Nfd7 20. Be3 Ne5 21. b3 Ned3
22. Re2 Nb4 23. Qd1 d5 $15 {Vukic,M-Itkis,B/Cetinje YUG-chT/1993/}) 14... Ne6
15. Be3 Bf8 16. Nd5 (16. f4 $5 c6 17. Nd4 Nc5 18. Qc2 $14 {()[+]}) 16... Nd7
17. Nf4 Ndc5 18. Qc2 c6 19. Nc3 Qb6 20. Rad1 Qb4 21. Nfd5 cxd5 22. Nxd5 Qxa4
23. Qxa4 Nxa4 24. Nf6+ Kh8 25. Nxe8 Nxb2 26. Rb1 Nxc4 $44 {|^,Baburin,A-Van
Wely,L/Skei/1993/}) (12... Nc5 13. b4 (13. a5 $6 Nfd7 14. Be3 Ne5 15. Bf1 Nc6
$1 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qc2 Nb3 18. Rad1 c5 19. Nd5 Nxa5 20. Qa4 c6 21. Nf4 Rb4
22. Qc2 Rxb2 23. Qd3 Nb3 24. Qxd6 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Nd4 $17 {Rustemov,A-Golubev,M/
Minsk/1993/}) 13... Ne6 14. Be3 c5 15. bxc5 dxc5 16. Nde2 (16. Nxe6 $5 Bxe6 17.
Qb3 $36) 16... Nd7 17. Qd6 (17. Rc1 $5 {/\Nd5}) 17... Qb6 18. Qd2 Qa5 19. Bh6
Bh8 20. Rac1 Ne5 21. Qd6 Nc6 22. Qd2 Ncd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. e5 Bxh3 25. Qf4
Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Re6 27. Nd5 Rbe8 28. g4 Qxa4 29. Rb1 Qxc4 30. Nc7 b5 $17 {
Arnett,D-Brenninkmeijer,J/New York/1993/}) (12... Ne5 13. b3 c5 (13... Bd7 14.
Ra2 Qc8 15. Kh2 h5 16. Bg5 Nh7 17. Be3 h4 18. gxh4 Qd8 19. f4 Qxh4 20. fxe5
Bxe5+ 21. Kg1 Qg3 22. Nd5 c6 23. Nb6 Bxh3 24. Kf1 Nf6 25. Qf3 Bxg2+ 26. Rxg2
Qh4 27. Bg5 Qh8 28. Nf5 Rbd8 29. Nh6+ Kg7 30. Rf2 Re6 31. Nd5 {1-0,Bischoff,
K-Knaak,R/BL9192/1992/}) 14. Nc2 (14. Nde2 $5 Bxh3 15. Bxh3 Nf3+ 16. Kg2 Nxe1+
17. Qxe1 Nxe4 18. Be3 Bd4 19. Nxd4 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Nxg3 21. Qd2 Nh5 22. Bg4 Qh4
23. Bxh5 Qxh5 24. Qf4 g5 25. Nd5 $1 $18 {Cosma,I-Nisipeanu,L/ROM-ch/1992/})
14... Be6 15. Rb1 (15. Bb2 Qd7 16. Kh2 h5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qf5 19. Bxe5
Rxe5 20. Rxe5 Qxe5 21. Qd3 h4 $36 {Danilov,V-Nisipeanu,L/ROM-chT/1992/}) 15...
h5 16. f4 Nc6 17. Nd5 Nh7 18. h4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. cxb5 Rxb5 21. Qd3 Qb8 22.
Nc7 Rxb3 23. Rxb3 Qxc7 24. Rb1 Ba2 25. Rb5 Na7 26. Rb2 Bxb2 27. Bxb2 Qb6 28.
Qc3 f6 29. e5 $1 $40 {Kirov,N-Bauer,C/Besancon/1998/}) 13. Nc2 (13. a5 Ne5 14.
Bf1 $5 (14. b3 c5 {[%csl Ra5] /\Nc6,><a5}) 14... c5 15. Nb3 Be6 16. f4 Nc6 17.
Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Nb4 $132) ({More logical seems} 13. Be3 $5 {with chances for
an advantage.}) 13... Ne5 14. Ne3 Be6 15. b3 Nfd7 16. Bd2 (16. Bb2 $6 Nc5 $36)
(16. Qxd6 $2 Nxc4 $17) 16... Nc5 17. Rf1 Ned3 {White played the opening rather
tamely and perhaps it was time for a more active approach:} (17... b5 $5 18.
axb5 axb5 19. f4 (19. b4 Nxc4 (19... Ncd3 20. cxb5 cxb5 21. Ncd5 $14) 20. bxc5
Nxe3 21. fxe3 b4 22. Na4 Bxa1 23. Qxa1 dxc5 $17) 19... Ned3 (19... b4 $5 $132)
20. f5 Bc8 $132 (20... gxf5 21. exf5 Bd7 $13)) 18. Rb1 a5 19. f4 f5 20. exf5
gxf5 (20... Bxf5 $142 $5 21. Kh2 $13 (21. Nxf5 gxf5 22. Kh2 Qf6 $36 {[%cal
Ge8e1] <->e})) 21. Kh2 Bd7 22. Nc2 $1 Ne6 23. Na2 Ndc5 24. Bc3 $14 {[%csl Rd6,
Rg8] ׻,d6 White has chased away the annoying N and is slightly better.} Bxc3
25. Nxc3 Qf6 26. Qd2 Ra8 27. Rfe1 Nc7 (27... Ng7 $5 28. Rxe8+ Bxe8 $14) 28.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. b4 {White is tied down to defending Pb3, but after this move
his Pa4,c4 will still be weak.} (29. Nd1 $5 Ra8 (29... b6 30. Nc3 {[%csl Rb6,
Rc6] /\b4,><b6,c6}) 30. Nde3 $14) 29... axb4 30. Nxb4 Rd8 (30... Ra8 $5 31. Nc2
Bc8 32. a5 $1 $14) 31. Nc2 Be6 32. Ne3 Bf7 (32... Bc8 $5 $14) 33. g4 Bg6 (33...
fxg4 $142 $5 34. Nxg4 Qh4 $14) 34. g5 (34. Rg1 $36) 34... Qg7 35. Ne2 (35. h4
$5 N7e6 36. h5 Nxf4 $5 37. hxg6 hxg6 $13) 35... N7e6 36. a5 Qc7 37. Rd1 Ra8 38.
Ng3 (38. Qxd6 Qxd6 39. Rxd6 Rxa5 $132) 38... Qxa5 (38... Nxf4 39. Nexf5 $40)
39. Qf2 Ng7 {[%csl Gf5] The Pf5 pawn is very important for the safety of
Black's K. We will see later in the game how much trouble Black will get into
after it's loss.} 40. Rxd6 Re8 41. h4 Re6 $6 (41... Qc7 $5 42. Nexf5 Nxf5 43.
Nxf5 Ne4 $1 44. Bxe4 (44. Nh6+ Kf8 45. Bxe4 Qxd6 $15) 44... Bxf5 45. Rxc6 bxc6
46. Bxf5 Qe7 $132) (41... Nce6 {/\Qc7} 42. Rd7 Nc5 $11) 42. Rd1 $16 {[%csl Rf5]
[%cal Yg2f3,Yh4h5,Yg2h3] ->><f5,/\Bf3,h5,Bh3} Qc7 (42... Qa3 $5 43. Rd8+ Kf7
44. Nc2 Qa5 45. Qd4 $16) 43. Nexf5 Nxf5 44. Qxc5 b6 $1 {[]} (44... Qxf4 $2 45.
Rd8+ $18) (44... Nxg3 $2 45. Kxg3 $18) (44... Nxh4 $2 45. Bd5 $1 $18) 45. Qf2
Nxh4 46. Bh3 Rd6 47. Rxd6 Qxd6 48. Bg4 (48. f5 $143 Bh5 $5 49. Bg2 Nxg2 50.
Kxg2 Bf7 $132) 48... Bd3 49. f5 (49. Nh5 $5 Ng6 $8 (49... Nf5 50. Qxb6 $18) 50.
Qb2 Qe7 (50... Kf8 51. Qg7+ Ke8 52. Qxh7 $18 {/\} Nxf4 53. Nf6+ $1 Kd8 (53...
Qxf6 54. Qd7+ $18) 54. Qg8+ Kc7 (54... Ke7 55. Qe8#) 55. Qc8#) 51. Qd4 $40 (51.
Qxb6 $16)) 49... h6 (49... h5 50. Kh3 $1 hxg4+ 51. Kxh4 $16 {/+-}) 50. g6 $6 (
50. Qa2 $142 $1 hxg5 (50... Qd4 51. f6 $1 Qxg4 52. Qa8+ $18) 51. c5+ Qd5 52.
Qxd5+ cxd5 53. cxb6 Ba6 54. Kh3 Kf7 55. Be2 Bc8 56. Kg4 Kf6 57. Bd3 Ke5 (57...
d4 58. Be4) 58. Kxg5 Nf3+ 59. Kh6 $5 $18) 50... h5 51. c5 (51. Bxh5 $2 Nxf5 $15
) 51... bxc5 52. Qa2+ c4 (52... Qd5 $2 53. Qa8+ Kg7 54. Nxh5+ Kh6 55. Qf8+ Kg5
56. Qe7+ Kh6 (56... Kxg4 57. Nf6+) 57. Qxh4 $18) 53. Qa8+ Qf8 54. Qa7 Nxg6 $1
55. fxg6 Bxg6 $11 56. Be6+ Bf7 57. Bf5 (57. Bxf7+ Qxf7 58. Qa8+ Kg7 59. Qxc6 h4
$11) 57... Qd6 58. Kh3 Bg6 59. Qa8+ Kg7 60. Qb7+ Kg8 61. Qc8+ Kg7 62. Qb7+ (62.
Be6 c3 $5 $11 {<=>}) (62. Bxg6 Qxg6 63. Nf5+ Kf6 64. Qf8+ Ke5 $11) 62... Kg8
63. Qa8+ Kg7 64. Qa5 Qf4 65. Qa7+ Kh6 66. Qc5 Bxf5+ 67. Nxf5+ Kg6 68. Nh4+ Kf7
$1 {Black's K finally escapes from the danger zone.} (68... Kf7 69. Qxh5+ Ke6
70. Qe8+ Kd5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. Qb3 a5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. Rb1 Nd7
15. O-O Be7 16. a4 Bd6 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Bc7 19. Rfe1 Nf6 20. Bd3 c5 21.
dxc5 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Rxc5 24. g3 Qf6 25. Kg2 Rc3 26. Qd1 Qc6 27.
Qe2 Rc2 28. Qe3 Rc3 29. Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Rxe4 13. Ng5 Rb4 14. Qf3 Bf5
15. g4 Bf6 16. gxf5 Bxg5 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bxg5 Nd7 20. Rfe1 Rd4
21. Re7 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Be3 a5 24. Rc1 a4 25. Re4 Ra5 26. Re8+ Kg7 27.
Rd8 Kf6 28. h4 Ke7 29. Rc8 Rb5 30. Re1 Kf6 31. Rc7 Rxb2 32. Bf4 Rxa2 33. Re3
Kf5 34. Bg3 f6 35. Kg2 Ne5 36. Bxe5 fxe5 37. Rc6 Rd4 38. Rxc5 Rg4+ 39. Kf3 Rf4+
40. Kg3 Rg4+ 41. Kf3 Rxh4 42. Rcxe5+ Kf6 43. Re6+ Kg5 44. R3e5+ Kh6 45. Ra5
Ra3+ 46. Kg2 Rg4+ 47. Kf1 Ra1+ 48. Ke2 Rf4 49. Raa6 Ra2+ 50. Ke3 Rg4 51. f3
Ra3+ 52. Kf2 Ra2+ 53. Ke3 Rg1 54. Kf4 Rh2 55. Re4 Rh4+ 56. Ke5 Rxe4+ 57. Kxe4
Ra1 58. Kf4 a3 59. Kg3 Kg5 60. Kg2 Kf5 61. Kg3 Ke5 62. Kg2 g5 63. Ra5+ Kf4 64.
Ra4+ Ke3 65. Ra5 Kd3 66. Rxg5 Kc3 67. Rg8 Rb1 68. Rc8+ Kb2 69. Rb8+ Ka1 70. Ra8
a2 71. Kg3 Kb2 72. Kf4 a1=Q 73. Rxa1 Rxa1 74. Ke5 Re1+ 75. Kd5 Rf1 76. Ke4 Kc3
77. f4 Kc4 78. Ke5 Kc5 79. f5 Re1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. e5 dxe5 8. dxe5
Nd5 9. O-O Ncb4 10. Be4 c6 11. Qe1 Qb6+ 12. Kh1 Bg4 13. Na4 Qa6 14. b3 b5 15.
Nb2 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 f5 17. exf6 exf6 18. f5 Rae8 19. Bxd5+ Nxd5 20. Qf2 Qb6 21.
Nd3 Qxf2 22. Rxf2 Nb4 23. Ba3 Nxd3 24. cxd3 Rf7 25. g3 Re5 26. Rc1 Rxf5 27.
Rxf5 gxf5 28. Rxc6 Rd7 29. Bd6 Kf7 30. Kg2 Ke6 31. Bb8+ Kf7 32. Bd6 Ke6 33.
Bc5+ Ke5 34. d4+ Ke4 35. Re6+ Kd3 36. Kf3 a5 37. Re3+ Kc2 38. Re7 Rxe7 39. Bxe7
Bh6 40. d5 Bd2 41. Bc5 a4 42. bxa4 bxa4 43. Bb6 Bb4 44. Bc7 Bc3 45. d6 Be5 46.
Bb8 Bd4 47. d7 Bb6 48. Bd6 Bd8 49. Kf4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Nc4 Qb5 14. Bd6 Be7
15. O-O Nb6 16. Qxb5 cxb5 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. a3 Rhd8 20. c3 h5 21.
f3 g6 22. Rae1 Rd5 23. Kf2 Kf8 24. Ne4 Kg7 25. Re2 Ng8 26. Rfe1 Ne7 27. Ng5 Nf5
28. g3 Ne7 29. Nh3 Nc6 30. Nf4 Rd6 31. g4 hxg4 32. fxg4 Rad8 33. Kg3 Rh8 34.
Rf1 Rd7 35. h5 g5 36. Nd3 Re8 37. Ne5 Nxe5 38. Rxe5 f6 39. Rxb5 Rd6 40. Re1 Kf7
41. a4 Ra8 42. Ra1 Kg7 43. Ra3 Kh6 44. Rab3 Ra6 45. R3b4 f5 46. Rc4 Ra8 47.
Rcb4 Ra6 48. Re5 Ra8 49. gxf5 exf5 50. Rxf5 Kxh5 51. Rbb5 Rg8 52. Rf7 Re6 53.
Rh7+ Kg6 54. Rxb7 Re3+ 55. Kg4 Re4+ 56. Kf3 Rf4+ 57. Kg3 Rgf8 58. R5xb6+ Kf5
59. Re7 Rg4+ 60. Kf3 Rf4+ 61. Ke2 Kg4 62. a5 Kg3 63. a6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Nxd5 exd5 9. Qxd5 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qe7 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Qe4 f5 13. Qb1 O-O 14. e3
Rad8 15. Be2 Ne5 16. Qc2 Bc4 17. Bxc4+ Nxc4 18. Qb3 b5 19. Rd1 Kh8 20. Bc1
Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Rd8 22. Qb3 f4 23. O-O fxe3 24. fxe3 a6 25. e4 h6 26. Qc2 Qc5+
27. Kh1 Rf8 28. Rxf8+ Qxf8 29. Qe2 Bxc3 30. bxc3 Qf6 31. Qe1 Qe5 32. h3 Nd6 33.
Qd1 Nxe4 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Qd3 Kg8 36. Qd8+ Kf7 37. Qd7+ Kf6 38. Qd8+ Ke6 39.
Qe8+ Kd5 40. Qg8+ Kc6 41. Qc8+ Kd5 42. Qg8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A64"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. a5 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Nb6 Ned7 15.
Nc4 Ne5 16. Nb6 Ned7 17. Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. b3 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. e4 Rfd8
15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Nc4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Qf3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Nd5 20. Rfd1
Nb4 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Re1 Bf8 23. a3 Nc6 24. Re2 f6 25. Rd2 Rb8 26. Rd3 Kf7
27. g4 Ke6 28. h4 g6 29. Re3+ Kd5 30. Bxf6 Rb7 31. g5 Bg7 32. Bxg7 Rxg7 33. Kg4
Rb7 34. f4 Re7 35. Rxe7 Nxe7 36. h5 Kd4 37. Nd6 Kc3 38. f5 gxf5+ 39. Nxf5 Ng8
40. Kf4 Kxb3 41. Ke5 Kxa3 42. Ke6 a5 43. Kf7 a4 44. Kxg8 Kb2 45. g6 h6 46. g7
a3 47. Kh7 a2 48. g8=Q a1=Q 49. Qg7+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. b4 Nxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Qb3 a5 12. Be5 Nd7 13. Rc1 f6 14. Bg3 Nc5 15.
Qc2 Ne4 16. Qb2 e5 17. Ke2 Nxc3+ 18. Rxc3 Bg4 19. h3 Bh5 20. Rd3 Qc8 21. Qa2
dxc4 22. e4 Bf7 23. Re3 c3 24. Qc2 a4 25. Nxe5 fxe5 26. Bxe5 Bc4+ 27. Ke1 Bb3
28. Rg3 g6 29. Qc1 c2+ 30. Ke2 Qc4+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 a5 5. g3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 b6 8. Bg2
Bb7 9. O-O d6 10. d3 Ne7 11. Bg5 a4 12. Qb5+ Nd7 13. Nd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Ra5 15.
Bxe7 Qa8+ 16. Qc6 Kxe7 17. Qxa8 Raxa8 18. Nc6+ Ke8 19. d4 f5 20. f3 Nf6 21.
Rab1 Kd7 22. Nb4 h5 23. h4 Rag8 24. Nd3 g5 25. hxg5 Rxg5 26. Kf2 h4 27. gxh4
Rxh4 28. Rh1 Rgh5 29. Rxh4 Rxh4 30. Rg1 Nh5 31. Ke3 Rh2 32. Kd2 c5 33. Rg8 Nf6
34. Rg7+ Kd8 35. Ra7 Rh1 36. Nf4 e5 37. Ne6+ Kc8 38. dxe5 dxe5 39. Rc7+ Kb8 40.
Rf7 Rh6 41. Ng7 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qb3 c6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rfe1 Re8 14. Bf1 Nf8
15. Rad1 Ne6 16. g3 c5 17. Bg2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qd6 19. h4 a6 20. Re2 b5 21. Red2
b4 22. Ne2 a5 23. Nh2 Bd8 24. Ng4 Bb6 25. Qf3 Rad8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 d5 6. Bg2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 e5 11. Nb5 Nc6 12. O-O Be6 13. Bc1 a6 14. c4 Nb6
15. Nd6 Qc7 16. c5 Nc4 17. Rb1 Rab8 18. Qa4 Nd4 19. Nxc4 Nxe2+ 20. Kh1 Nc3 21.
Qb4 Nxb1 22. Nb6 a5 23. Qxb1 Qxc5 24. a4 Rfd8 25. Be3 Qb4 26. Qa1 f6 27. Rb1
Qg4 28. h3 Qh5 29. Kh2 Rd3 30. Rc1 Rbd8 31. Qb2 g5 32. Qc2 Kh8 33. Rh1 Bxh3 34.
Bxh3 g4 35. Kg2 Rd1 36. Rxd1 gxh3+ 37. Kh2 Qxd1 38. Qf5 Kg7 39. Bh6+ Kxh6 40.
Qxf6+ Kh5 41. Nc4 Rd4 42. Nxe5 Qf1 43. g4+ Rxg4 44. Qf5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qb6 5. dxc5 Qxc5 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bg4 9. b4 Qb6 10. Be3 Qd8 11. Ra2 Nf6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rd2 Nd7 14. Qb3 a5 15. h3
Bxf3 16. Bxf3 axb4 17. axb4 b6 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. Be2 Qc7 20. Nb5 Qb7 21. f4 Ra1
22. e5 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Nxb4 24. Bf3 Qb8 25. Qa4 dxe5 26. Rxd7 exf4 27. Bf2 e5
28. Nd6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. h4 e5
9. Nf5 g6 10. Nxh6 Bxh6 11. Bxh6 Bxg4 12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. Bg5 Qb6 14. Rg1 Rc8 15.
Rg3 Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qa3 17. Bxf6 Rxc3 18. Rxc3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Bg2 Qa5+ 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8.
Nb3 Qd8 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Ndb4 11. Nxc6 Nxc6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxd4 Qxd4
14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nc6 Kd7 16. Ne5+ Ke6 17. Nd3 Bd6 18. Be3 c4 19. Nc5+ Bxc5 20.
Bxc5 Rd8 21. Bb4 Bb7 22. Bc3 f6 23. Rfd1 Bc6 24. Ba5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rc8 26. f3
Ba4 27. Rd4 Rc5 28. Bb4 Rc7 29. Kf2 Bb5 30. Rd6+ Kf7 31. Rd5 a6 32. h4 Rb7 33.
a3 Rb8 34. g4 h6 35. Rc5 Rd8 36. Rc7+ Rd7 37. Rc8 Kg6 38. Rh8 f5 39. h5+ Kg5
40. Kg3 fxg4 41. fxg4 Kf6 42. Rf8+ Ke6 43. Bc3 Re7 44. Rg8 Kd5 45. Rxg7 Rxe2
46. Rg6 Re6 47. Rxe6 Kxe6 48. Bd2 Ba4 49. Bxh6 Bd1 50. Bg7 Be2 51. Bc3 Bd1 52.
Kh4 Bf3 53. Kg5 Kf7 54. Kh4 Ke6 55. g5 Kf5 56. g6 Bd5 57. Kg3 Kg5 58. g7 Kh6
59. Kf4 Kh7 60. h6 Kxh6 61. Ke5 Bf7 62. Kd6 Kh7 63. Kc5 Be6 64. Kb6 Bc8 65. Kc6
Kg8 66. Kd5 Bd7 67. Kxc4 Kf7 68. Kb4 Be6 69. Ka5 Bc4 70. a4 Bb3 71. Kxa6 Bxa4
72. b4 Bc2 73. b5 Bd3 74. Kb6 Be2 75. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Nh6 12. h3 Nf7 13. Rb1 Nc7 14. b4 Ne6 15. d5
Nd4 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Qxd4 g5 18. Bg3 f5 19. Qd2 f4 20. Bh2 Ne5 21. dxc6 bxc6
22. b5 f3 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Bxf3 Bxh3 25. Re3 Be6 26. bxc6 g4 27. Bd1 Rc8 28.
Rb7 Rxc6 29. Nd5 Kh8 30. Reb3 g3 31. Qh6 gxf2+ 32. Kf1 Bg8 33. Rxh7+ Bxh7 34.
Rb7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2571"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 a6 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Rad1 Na5 13. Qc2 Nc4 14. Ne5 Nd6 15.
Bg5 Nfe4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. e3 Rad8 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rc1 c5 20. dxc5 Qxe5 21.
cxd6 Rxd6 22. Qc7 Qd5 23. Bh3 f5 24. b3 Rf7 25. Qc3 Rfd7 26. Rfe1 h5 27. Bf1
Kh7 28. Bc4 Qd2 29. Qe5 g6 30. a4 Qb4 31. Be6 Rg7 32. Red1 Rxd1+ 33. Rxd1 b5
34. axb5 axb5 35. Rd8 Qa5 36. Bg8+ Kh8 37. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 Qc7 8. Nc3
a6 9. Bb3 Bd6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. h3 O-O 12. Rd1 Ne5 13. e4 Ng6 14. Be3 Nf4 15.
Qd2 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 e5 17. Rac1 Qe7 18. Nd5 N6xd5 19. exd5 Qf6 20. Kh2 Re8 21. d6
Bd7 22. Rc7 Rad8 23. Rxb7 e4 24. Ne1 h5 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Ba4 Red8 27. Bxd7
Rxd7 28. Qxe4 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. g3 Ne6 31. Nf3 g6 32. Kg2 Qb6 33. b4 Qb5
34. a3 Kh7 35. h4 Kg8 36. Ne5 Nf8 37. Nc6 Nh7 38. Qe8+ Kg7 39. Qe5+ Qxe5 40.
Nxe5 Nf8 41. Kf3 Kf6 42. Ke4 Ke6 43. Nd3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 10. b4 Ba7 11. c5 h6 12. Be2 Bb8 13. O-O e5 14. Bg3 Be6 15. Bh4
g5 16. Nxg5 hxg5 17. Bxg5 Kg7 18. f4 exf4 19. exf4 d4 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxd8
Rxd8 22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Qe1 Rh8 24. Qg3+ Kf8 25. Rce1 Ne7 26. Qf2 Bc7 27. Qxd4 Rh6
28. Bc4 Rd8 29. Qc3 Ned5 30. Qc1 b5 31. Bxd5 Bxd5 32. Rd1 Re8 33. Rfe1 Rxe1+
34. Rxe1 Bc6 35. g3 Ne4 36. Qd1 Re6 37. Qh5 Ke7 38. Qh8 Nxc5 39. Qh4+ Ke8 40.
Rxe6+ Nxe6 41. f5 Nf8 42. Qf6 Bb7 43. Qh8 Ke7 44. f6+ Ke8 45. g4 Bf4 46. h4 Bc1
47. Qh5 Ne6 48. Qh8+ Nf8 49. g5 Bxa3 50. g6 fxg6 51. Qg7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. cxd5 g5 13. Bf2 Nxd5 14. Qd2 Nc6
15. Ne2 Ne5 16. Nc3 c4 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. e4 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Rfd8+ 20. Kc3 Nd3
21. Be3 Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 Rd8 12. Nd2 e5 13. Bg3 Be6 14. Be2 Rac8
15. Rhe1 g6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. c5 Qc7 18. Ka1 b6 19. Nd4 bxc5 20. Nxc6 Qxc6 21.
Bxe5 Nd7 22. Bg3 Nb6 23. Ba6 Ra8 24. Nb5 Bf5 25. Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 Bb4 6. Qb3 a5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3
a4 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. O-O Qa5 14. Ne5 Nd7 15.
Nf3 Nf6 16. Rfc1 Bd7 17. Ne5 Rfc8 18. Qxa5 Rxa5 19. f3 Be8 20. Kf2 Kf8 21. h4
Rd8 22. Nd3 Nd7 23. cxd5 exd5 24. h5 Ra7 25. Rc3 Nb6 26. g4 Bd7 27. Nc5 Bc8 28.
Rg1 Nd7 29. Nd3 Nf6 30. Bd1 Nd7 31. Bc2 Nb6 32. Nc5 Nc4 33. Nxa4 b5 34. Nc5
Nxb2 35. Rb1 Nc4 36. a4 Nd6 37. Rb4 Kg8 38. Nd3 bxa4 39. Ra3 Ba6 40. Rbxa4 Bxd3
41. Bxd3 Rxa4 42. Rxa4 Rc8 43. Ra7 Kf8 44. e4 dxe4 45. fxe4 Rb8 46. Rd7 Rb3 47.
Ke2 Nb5 48. Bxb5 Rxb5 49. Ke3 Rb3+ 50. Kf4 Rb1 51. Rc7 Rc1 52. Ke5 Rg1 53. Kd6
g5 54. hxg6 Rxg4 55. Rxf7+ Kg8 56. Re7 h5 57. Kxc6 h4 58. Kd5 Rxg6 59. Ra7 h3
60. Ra2 Rh6 61. Rh2 Kf7 62. e5 Rh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Rxd3 Qa5 13. Bd2 c5 14. Be1 cxd4
15. Rxd4 e5 16. Rdd1 a6 17. Ne4 Bxe1 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Qxe1 Qxe1+ 20. Rxe1 e4
21. Nd4 Rfc8 22. Rec1 g6 23. Nb3 b6 24. h3 Nd7 25. Nd4 Ne5 26. b4 h5 27. b5
Rxc1+ 28. Rxc1 axb5 29. axb5 h4 30. Kh2 Kg7 31. Rc2 Nd3 32. g3 hxg3+ 33. Kxg3
Nc5 34. h4 Ra1 35. Ne2 Kf6 36. Rd2 Ke5 37. Nf4 Nd3 38. Nxd3+ exd3 39. Rxd3 Rg1+
40. Kf3 Rb1 41. Kg4 Rxb5 42. f4+ Ke6 43. e4 Rb1 44. Kf3 Rh1 45. Kg3 Rg1+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3
e6 9. Qb3 Ra7 10. Ne5 Be7 {Nach dem Textzug kommt Schwarz in Schwierigkeiten.
Solider ist} (10... Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Nd7 12. Bg3 Be7 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O $14 {
1-0 Cifuentes Parada,R-Bravo,N/Terrasa 1995/EXT 98 (34)}) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Be2
Nd7 13. O-O c5 14. Qa4 Qb6 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. b4 Qxb4 (16... Be7 17. Be5 {
ist nicht besser.}) 17. Qxb4 Bxb4 18. Nxd5 Bc5 19. Nc7+ ({Die Fortsetzung} 19.
Bd6 exd5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Rxc5 Be6 22. Rd1 {bot möglicherweise bessere
Gewinnaussichten.}) 19... Ke7 20. Nxa6 Ba3 21. Rc3 Bb2 22. Rb3 Be5 23. Nb4 Rc8
24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. f4 Nd7 26. Bf3 Kf8 27. e4 Bg6 28. Rd1 f6 29. a3 Rac7 30. Rbd3
Nc5 31. Re3 Na4 32. e5 Nb2 33. Ra1 Rc1+ 34. Re1 Rxa1 35. Rxa1 fxe5 36. fxe5 Rc5
37. a4 Rc4 38. a5 Rxb4 39. a6 Ra4 40. Rxa4 Nxa4 41. a7 Nb6 42. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Qc2 Na6 (5... Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7.
Bg5 Be6 8. e3 a6 9. a3 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Ne7 13. Rac1 c6 14.
Na4 Qd6 15. Nc5 Bc8 16. Rfe1 b6 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Qf4 19. Bc4 Ra7 20. Re3
Rc7 21. Ba2 Rd7 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rce1 Nf5 24. Re8 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qh7 Be6 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qb8 Rd2 30. Qxb6 Qxb2 31. Qc5+ Kd7 32.
Bxe6+ fxe6 33. Qa7+ Kd6 34. h3 Qd4 35. Qb8+ Ke7 36. Qc7+ Kf6 37. Qg3 Rd3 38.
Qb8 Rd1 39. Qf8+ Kg6 40. Qe8+ Kh7 41. Qxe6 Rxe1+ 42. Qxe1 Qd3 43. Qc1 Qb5 44.
Qc2+ Kh8 45. Qe4 c5 46. a4 Qb4 47. Qa8+ Kh7 48. Qxa6 c4 49. a5 Qb1+ 50. Kh2 c3
51. Qc4 {1/2-1/2 Miles,A-Barua,D/New York 1987/CBM 02 (51)}) 6. a3 (6. Bg5 Nb4
7. Qb1 c5 8. dxc5 d4 9. a3 Nc6 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qxe4 Qxc5 13. e3
dxe3 14. fxe3 O-O 15. b4 Qe7 16. Be2 f5 17. Qc2 e5 18. O-O e4 19. Nd2 Be6 20.
Qc3 Qc7 21. Rac1 Rad8 22. Nb3 Qe5 23. b5 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 Ne5 25. Nd4 Bc8 26. c5
g5 27. c6 f4 28. Rc5 Rfe8 29. cxb7 Bxb7 30. Nc6 f3 31. Nxd8 fxe2 32. Nxb7
exf1=Q+ 33. Kxf1 h6 34. Nd6 Re6 35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rc7+ Kg8 37. Nxe4 Ng4 38. Nc5
Nxe3+ 39. Ke2 Re8 40. Rxa7 Nxg2+ 41. Kf2 Nh4 42. b6 Rf8+ 43. Ke2 Re8+ 44. Kd1 {
1-0 Ivanov,S-Bezgodov,A/Elista 1997/CBM 59 (44)}) 6... c5 7. e3 cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nc7 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Yc7d5] Der schlecht am Rand stehende
Springer strebt zum wichtigen Zentralfeld d5.} 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 {Das
einzige Problem des Nachziehenden ist, die Entwicklung des Läufers c8. Karpov
findet ganz einfach die Lösung, die zum Ausgleich genügend.} b6 12. Ne5 Bb7 13.
Rd3 $5 {[%cal Yd3h3,Yc1g5,Yg5f6,Yc2d3] Der junge bulgarische Supergroßmeister
zeigt seine Ambitionen die Partie mittels Angriff am Königsflügel zu gewinnen.
Sein Plan ist Bg5, Rh3 nebst Bxf6 und damit starke Drohungen gegen den
schwarzen Monarchen.} (13. Ba2 Ncd5 14. Qd3 Rc8 15. Qh3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 b5 17. a4
bxa4 18. Bd2 Bd5 19. c4 Be4 20. Bf4 Qa5 21. Bg5 Rfd8 22. d5 Bf5 23. Qh4 h6 24.
Bd2 Qc7 25. Nc6 Nxd5 26. Nxe7+ Nxe7 27. Bf4 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29. Rc1 Qd7 30.
Qh5 Ng6 31. Be3 Ne5 32. h3 Nd3 33. Rd1 Qc7 34. c5 Rc8 35. Qh4 Qa5 36. Qe7 Nb4
37. Rd7 Rf8 38. Bd2 Qb5 39. Rb7 Qe2 40. Bxb4 a5 41. Ba3 Qxa2 42. c6 Qa1+ 43.
Kh2 Qe5+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+ {1/2-1/2 Wallace,J-Saw,G/Gold Coast 1999/CBM 69 ext (44)}
) 13... b5 {Karpov sucht Gegenspiel am Damenflügel.} 14. Ba2 a5 15. Bg5 b4 {
Raumgewinn} 16. Rh3 {[%cal Yh3h7,Yc2h7]} Nce8 17. Nb5 (17. Ng4 g6 (17... h6 18.
Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Bb1 Re8 20. Ne2) 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ne2 $15) 17...
Rc8 18. Qe2 (18. Qa4 $5) 18... Ne4 (18... Nd6 $5 {bedarf näherer Analyse}) 19.
Bxe7 Qxe7 {Nach jedem Abtausch werden die weissen Angriffschancen vermindert.
Dies würde im Endspiel zu einer besseren Stellung des Nachziehenden führen.
Jetzt schon steht die weisse Stellung schlechter (Schauen sie wie die Figuren
vereinzelt stehen Ra1, Rh3, Nb5, Ba2...). Es ist keine Überraschung, dass
Topalov sofort mit folgender Zugwiederholung Remis erzwingt.} 20. Na7 Rc7 (
20... Ra8 $2 21. Nac6 Bxc6 22. Nxc6 Qd6 23. Qxe4 $18) 21. Nb5 Rc8 22. Na7 Rc7
23. Nb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bd3 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3
d6 9. O-O Nf6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qh4 Nbd7 12. f5 b5 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Ng4 15.
Qh4 Nde5 16. Ng5 h6 17. Nf3 e6 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Nd4 Rde8 21.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 22. a4 b4 23. Na2 a5 24. Nc1 Ke7 25. Ncb3 Ra8 26. h3 Nf6 27. Re1
Nfd7 28. Bb5 Nb6 29. Nd2 Rc8 30. Re2 Ba8 31. Kf2 Nbc4 32. Nxc4 Nxc4 33. b3 Ne5
34. Ba6 Rf8+ 35. Ke3 Rf1 36. Bc8 Rf6 37. c3 bxc3 38. Rc2 Rf1 39. Nf3 Nxf3 40.
gxf3 d5 41. Rxc3 dxe4 42. fxe4 Re1+ 43. Kd3 Rxe4 44. Rc5 Rh4 45. Rxa5 Rxh3+ 46.
Kd2 Bd5 47. b4 Ra3 48. Ra7+ Kd6 49. b5 Kc5 50. Ra6 g5 51. b6 Rb3 52. a5 g4 53.
b7 Bxb7 54. Bxb7 Rxb7 55. Rxe6 g3 56. Rg6 Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 a6 $1 {I has
found this idea during my preparation to the match against Psakhis.It worked
very well and after several moves White had to be careful to equalize(The game
you can find below).} ({After natural} 6... Bg7 {black has to solve serious
problems.For example:} 7. e4 $1 O-O 8. e5 $1 Ng4 9. d4 {[%csl Rg4] and black
has to choose between} Nc6 {tried in the game Ivanchuk-Shirov,Rubinstein mem
1998} ({and} 9... Be6 10. d5 Bf5 11. Bf4 {[%cal Gh2h3]} Nd7 12. Qe2 {[%csl Rf5,
Rg4][%cal Gh2h3]} f6 {Otherwise black pieces feel very uncomfortable on the
kingside.} 13. e6 Nde5 14. Rd1 $1 $146 ({In the origin game black has got good
counterchances after} 14. Bxe5 fxe5 15. h3 Nf6 16. Rd1 e4 17. Ne5 c6 $1 18.
dxc6 Qc7 19. cxb7 Rad8 $1 $36 {0-1 Goldin,A-Mikhalevski,V/Rishon Le Zion 1997/
CBM 62 ext (30);71/12}) 14... c6 $2 (14... Nxf3+ $5) (14... Qd6 $5) 15. Nd4 Bd3
16. Rxd3 Nxd3+ 17. Qxd3 cxd5 18. Be2 Ne5 19. Qb5 g5 20. Be3 f5 21. Bxg5 f4 22.
O-O Ng6 23. Rd1 {1-0 Rustemov,A-Zezulkin,J/Swidnica POL 1999 (23)My analysis
of this game you can find in CBM 71.}) {but after} 10. Bf4 Na5 11. Qe2 $1 $14 {
White is better in view of unfortunate position of black knights.}) 7. g3 {
Strange enough that Topalov chooses this inoffensive move.} (7. d4 {Looks more
logical and puts much more problems.} b5 8. Qb3 Nc6 9. Bf4 Bg7 10. e3 O-O 11.
Be2 Be6 12. Qd1 Nb4 $6 (12... Nd5 $5) 13. e4 $1 Bc4 14. a3 Nc6 15. Bxc4 bxc4
16. O-O Rb8 17. d5 Nh5 18. Be3 Na5 19. Qa4 c6 20. dxc6 e6 21. e5 Qc7 22. g4 $18
{1-0 Lautier,J-Bacrot,E/Enghien-les-Bains FRA 1999 (30).See my comments in
CBM70.}) 7... Nc6 {Another surprise.} ({Why not} 7... b5 8. Qb3 c5 9. d3 Nc6
10. Bg2 Rc8 {solving all opening problems easily?} 11. Qd1 Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13.
Be3 Nb4 14. h3 Nfd5 15. Bd2 Nb6 16. Qc1 c4 17. dxc4 Rxc4 18. Bh6 N4d5 19. Bxg7
Kxg7 20. Ne5 Rc5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Rd1 Qc6 24. Rxd5 Rxd5 25. Nxd5
Qxd5 {1/2-1/2 Psakhis,L-Mikhalevski,V/Ramat Aviv 1998/CBM 68 (25)}) 8. Bg2 Bg7
9. O-O e5 10. d3 h6 {Similar position with White's queen on d1 can be reached
by 1.c4 Nf62.Nc3 d5 3.cd N:d5 4.g3g6 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Bg7 and so on.The
position of queen on c4 is in the Black's favour as he can win few tempos by
the means of Be6 and then Nd5 and Nb6.} 11. Rd1 Be6 12. Qa4 O-O 13. Be3 Nd5 14.
Bc5 Nb6 (14... Re8 $5 {leaving the idea of Nb6 for later use.} 15. d4 Nxc3 (
15... exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxc3 (17... Bxd4 18. Bxd5 $1) 18. Bxc3 {
with some pressure.}) 16. bxc3 e4 (16... exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 $14 (18.
cxd4 Bd5)) 17. Ne5 (17. Ne1 f5 18. d5 $140 $2 Bxd5 19. c4 b5 $1) 17... Bd5 (
17... Nxe5 $5 18. dxe5 Qg5) 18. c4 (18. Qc2 $5 {[%cal Gd1d8,Gc3c4]}) 18... b5 {
and Black is OK.}) 15. Qa3 Re8 16. Rac1 Nd4 {[%cal Gd4b5] White's queen life
doesn't promise to be very quite in this game.} 17. Nd2 Nb5 18. Qb4 (18. Qa5
$143 Nd5 $1 {[%cal Gb7b6]} (18... Nd7 19. Nxb5 b6 20. Qa3 $1) 19. Nxb5 $140 $2
b6 $1 20. Qa3 (20. Bxd5 $142) 20... axb5) 18... c6 {[%cal Ga6a5]} 19. Qa5 Nd7
20. Qxd8 {A big relief for White.His main problem has finally gone.} Raxd8 $11
21. Bb4 Nf6 ({Of course not} 21... Nxc3 22. bxc3 Bxa2 $4 23. c4 {and Black has
to look for an escape by} a5) (21... c5 $2 22. Nxb5 cxb4 (22... axb5 23. Bxc5)
23. Nc7 (23. Nd6 $5)) (21... Nd4 $5 {in order to meet Ba5 with b6.} 22. e3 Nf5)
22. Ba5 Rb8 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb7b6] Creating a threat of b6 catching White's
bishop.} 23. Nc4 Nd5 {[%cal Gb5c3,Gd5c3][%mdl 2048] Look at this knight.That's
its second loop.} 24. Nxd5 {This knight should be killed.} cxd5 25. Nb6 {
[%csl Rd5]} e4 $5 {An interesting decision.Black chooses immediate
counterattack.} (25... Rbd8 26. Na4 $1 {[%cal Ga4c5]}) (25... Nd4 $5 26. Kf1
Nc6 27. Bc3 Rbd8 $11) 26. e3 {[%csl Gd4] restricting Black's knight.} ({After} 
26. dxe4 dxe4 {Black's bishops are too active.}) 26... Bxb2 27. Rc2 Bg7 28. a4
exd3 (28... Na3 $6 {is dangerous in view of} 29. Ra2 Bf8 30. Rda1 exd3 31. Rxa3
Bxa3 32. Rxa3) 29. Rcc1 (29. Rxd3 $2 Bf5) 29... Na7 {[%cal Ga7c6]} (29... Nd6 {
[%cal Gd6c4]} 30. Nxd5 {[%cal Ga5c7,Gd5c7]} b6 31. Bb4 $1 $14 {[%cal Gd5c7]} (
31. Bxb6 $2 Bxd5) (31. Nxb6 Bf5 $13)) 30. Rxd3 Nc6 31. Bc3 Ne5 {This knight
has worked not worse than its colleague and also is killed on its second loop.}
32. Bxe5 Bxe5 33. Bxd5 Rbd8 ({After} 33... Bxd5 34. Rxd5 {White is slightly
better.}) 34. e4 Re7 {[%cal Ge5c7]} 35. Kg2 Bc7 36. Rb1 Kg7 {[%cal Gc7b6]
Preparing series of exchanges.} (36... Bxd5 $2 37. Nxd5 Rxe4 $140 $2 38. Nf6+
Kg7 39. Rxd8 $18) 37. Nc4 Bd7 38. Rxb7 (38. a5 Bb5) (38. Rxb7 {Here are the
variations which show possible developing of the play:} Bxa4 (38... Bc6 $143
39. Ra7 Bxa4 (39... Rxe4 40. Bxc6 Rxc4 41. Rxd8 Bxd8 42. Rxa6 $14 (42. Bd5 $5
Rc7 43. Rxa6 $14)) 40. Rxa6 Bb5 (40... Bc2 41. Re3) 41. Ra7 Bxc4 (41... Rxd5 $2
42. Rxd5 Bxc4 43. Rc5 Bd6 44. Rxe7 Bxc5 45. Rc7) 42. Bxc4 Rxd3 (42... Rxe4 $2
43. Rxd8 (43. Rxc7 $2 Rxc4 $1 44. Rxf7+ Kxf7 45. Rxd8 $11) 43... Bxd8 44. Rxf7+
Kh8 45. Bd3 $18) 43. Bxd3 $14) 39. Nb6 (39. Rc3 Be8) 39... Bb5 (39... Bc6 $6
40. Bxc6 $1 Rxd3 41. Nc8 $1 Red7 (41... Re6 $2 42. Bd5 $1) 42. Bxd7 (42. e5 a5
$3 43. Bxd7 Rxd7 {see 42.B:d7}) 42... Rxd7 43. e5 $1 {[%cal Gc8b6,Gb6d5]} (43.
Nb6 Rd6) 43... a5 $1 44. Nd6 (44. Nb6 Re7 45. Nd5 Rxe5 46. Nxc7 Re7 47. Ra7 a4
$1 $11) (44. Na7 {[%cal Ga7b5]} Re7 45. Nc6 Rd7 $1 (45... Rxe5 $5 46. Nxe5 (46.
Rxc7 Rc5 $11) 46... Bxe5 $14) 46. Nxa5 Rd5 47. Rxc7 Rxa5 48. e6 Kf6 49. exf7
Kg7 $11 {[%cal Gh6h5]}) (44. Ra7 $5 {[%cal Gc8b6,Gb6d5]} a4 $1 45. Nb6 (45. Nd6
Re7 $1) 45... Re7 46. Nxa4 $14) 44... Rxd6 (44... Re7 $2 45. Rxc7 $18) 45. exd6
Bxd6 $14) 40. Rc3 Bd6 41. Rxe7 Bxe7 42. Rc7 Kf8 $11 {[%cal Gb5e8]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 b6 10. a4 Bb7 11. f3 Nc6 12. Nd5 (12. Bg5 Nb4 13. Nb1 h6 (13... Rc8
14. Na3 h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bf2 d5 17. c3 Nc6 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb5
axb5 21. Nca5 Nxa5 22. Nxa5 Ba8 23. Bxb5 {1-0 Palac,M-Boric,M/Pula/1999/ (28)})
14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Na3 Qc7 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Nc4 Rfd8 18. a5 bxa5 19. Nbxa5 Nd4
20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. Bd3 Bg5 22. Qf2 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo/1998/ 
(59)}) 12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Nb4 14. c4 a5 $1 15. Bd2 Na6 16. Bc3 {Black's set
up on the queenside is not nice, but it certainly slows down white's build up
with his pawn majority.} (16. f4 Bf6 17. Bc3 exf4 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qd2 Rae8
20. Bd3 Qe5 21. Rae1 Qg5 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Rxf4 Nc5 24. Nxc5 bxc5 25. Kg1 g6
26. g3 Qe7 27. Re4 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-King,D/England/1998/ (27)}) 16... Bg5 $5
17. Bd3 (17. g3 Bc8 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Bf6 20. Nd4 $13) 17... Bc8 18. Qc2 g6
19. g3 Bh3 $1 (19... f5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 Bf6 22. Nd4 Nb4 23. Bxb4 Bxd4 24.
Bc3 $11) 20. Rf2 Nb4 21. Qe2 (21. Bxb4 $5 axb4 22. Nd2 f5 23. Bf1 Bxf1 24. Nxf1
Qc7 $11) 21... Qd7 (21... Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc8 $11) 22. Nd2 f5 23. Bxb4 axb4 24.
b3 Qc7 25. Qe1 e4 $5 {The pawn sacrifice is very profound and depends on the
activity of all black pieces.} (25... Qc5 26. Bf1 $11) 26. fxe4 Qg7 $1 27. e5 (
27. exf5 Rae8 28. Qg1 (28. Qb1 Qd4 $17) (28. Re2 $2 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Bxd2 $19)
28... Be3 $17) (27. Ra2 Qc3 $1 (27... Rae8 28. Nf3 Bf6 (28... fxe4 29. Bxe4 (
29. Nxg5 exd3 $17) 29... Bh6 30. Ng1 $16) 29. Rae2 Bc3 30. Qc1 $14) 28. Bf1 (
28. Nf3 Qxe1+ 29. Nxe1 fxe4 $19) 28... Bxf1 29. Rxf1 Bxd2 30. Qxd2 fxe4 $15)
27... dxe5 28. Bf1 Bg4 (28... Bxf1 29. Nxf1 e4 $15) 29. Be2 h5 $1 30. Bxg4 hxg4
31. c5 (31. Rd1 Be7 $15 (31... e4 32. Nb1 $1 {xb4})) 31... bxc5 32. Nc4 e4 33.
Rd1 Bf6 {The result of the whole operation is rather gloomy for white. He can
claim only one asset in pawn d5, but black controls the whole board and can
roll over his enemy with pawns.} (33... Qc3 34. Qxc3 (34. d6 Qxb3 35. Qf1 e3
36. Rb2 Qxa4 37. Qd3 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 $17) 34... bxc3 35. Ne5 Rfb8 36. Nxg6 Rxb3
$19) 34. d6 Bd4 35. Ra2 Rae8 36. a5 e3 $1 37. Qf1 g5 (37... f4 $5 38. gxf4 Rxf4
39. Qg2 (39. Qxf4 e2 40. Rxe2 (40. Re1 Qb7+) 40... Rxe2 41. a6 Qa7 $19) 39...
Rf2 $17) 38. Qg2 f4 39. Qd5+ Kh8 (39... Rf7 $2 40. d7 Rd8 41. a6 Rdxd7 42. a7
$3 $16) 40. gxf4 gxf4 41. d7 Rd8 {The pawn mass e3-f4-g4 is much more
dangerous than the lonely hero on d7.} 42. Rxd4 (42. Qh5+ Qh7 43. Qxg4 f3 44.
Rxd4 Qb1+ 45. Qg1 Qxg1+ 46. Kxg1 cxd4 $19) 42... cxd4 43. Qh5+ Kg8 44. Rg2 (44.
Qd5+ Kh7 45. Qh5+ Qh6 $19) 44... g3 45. Qd5+ (45. hxg3 f3 $19) 45... Kh7 46.
Qh5+ Qh6 47. Qd5 Qg6 48. a6 f3 $1 (48... e2 49. Rxe2 Qb1+ 50. Kg2 f3+ 51. Kh3
fxe2 52. Qh5+ Kg7 $19) (48... f3 $1 49. Rxg3 Qb1+ 50. Rg1 Qxg1+ $1 51. Kxg1 f2+
$19) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d6 8. a4
Bg4 9. b4 Bb6 10. h3 Bd7 $146 {Retreating the other way takes away the danger
of ending up with the B on g6 after a later g4 from White. On the other hand
it also releases the pressure against Nf3, giving White more possibilities for
central play with d4.} (10... Bh5 {--> Illescas Cordoba,M-Adams,M/Dos Hermanas
1999}) 11. d3 {Solid but a bit placid, White could have tried for sharper
things.} (11. Na3 $5 {If White can lure the N away from c6 then d4 becomes a
possibility.} O-O 12. Bb2 (12. Rb1 $5 {threatening to take on b5} bxa4 (12...
Ne7 13. d4 $36) 13. Re1 Ne7 (13... a5 14. b5 Ne7 15. d4 $36) 14. Bxa4 Bxa4 15.
Qxa4 $14) 12... Qe7 13. Re1 $14) 11... h6 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Na3
Qa6 15. Bb2 (15. Nxb5 Qxb5 16. Ba4 Qa6 17. b5 Qb7 $11) 15... O-O 16. Qd2 Ne7
17. d4 Ng6 (17... Bc6 $5 18. dxe5 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. exd6 cxd6 21. Re1 d5
$11) 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. c4 $1 $36 bxc4 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Be6 $1 (21... Qxa3
$4 22. Ra1 $18) (21... Bxh3 $2 22. Bxf6 gxf6 (22... Qxa3 23. Bc3 $18) 23. Nb1
$40 (23. Qxh6 $40)) 22. Qc3 $1 (22. Bxf6 Qxa3 23. Ra1 Qg3 $8 {The saving
square.} 24. Bd4 Qd6 $11) 22... Ra8 $1 {[%mdl 256] Nice active defense.} (22...
Ne8 23. Rd1 $16) 23. Nb1 (23. Bxf6 gxf6 (23... Qxa3 24. Bxg7 Qxc3 25. Bxc3 Ra2
26. Rc1 $14) 24. Ra1 (24. Nb1 Qa1 $13) 24... Qa7 $132) 23... Ne8 24. Rd1 Qb5
25. Qb2 c5 (25... c5 26. bxc5 Qxb2 27. Bxb2 Bxc5 28. Nc3 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B26"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Be3 {In letzter Zeit
spielt der talentierte englische Großmeister gerne den Geschlossenen
Sizilianer mit früher Entwicklung des Damenläufers.} Nf6 7. h3 e5 8. Nge2 O-O (
8... Be6 9. f4 Nh5 10. f5 Bd7 11. O-O gxf5 12. exf5 Nf6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. N2c3
Nb4 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. a3 Nc6 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Qh5 h6 19. b4 Nd4 20. Rf2 Bc6 21.
Rb1 Rb8 22. b5 Bd7 23. a4 a6 24. bxa6 Nc6 25. axb7 Na5 26. Bd2 Be7 27. Nxe7
Kxe7 28. Bd5 Rh7 29. Bg5+ {1-0 Werner,M-Haist,W/Herrenberg 1986/GER (29)}) (
8... Nd4 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. b4 Ne8 14. Qd2 Nc7 15.
f5 gxf5 16. bxc5 dxc5 17. exf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nxf5 19. Bxc5 Nd6 20. Kh2 f5 21.
Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Nxb5 Nxb5 23. Rxb5 Qxa3 24. Rb7 Qa6 25. Qb4 Rac8 26. Ra1 Qh6 27.
Raxa7 Bf6 28. Qb3+ Kh8 29. Rxh7+ Qxh7 30. Rxh7+ Kxh7 31. Kg2 Kg6 32. h4 Rc6 33.
Kh3 Rfc8 34. c3 f4 35. gxf4 Rh8 36. fxe5 Bxh4 37. Qd5 Rb6 38. Nf4+ Kf5 39. Qe4+
Kg5 40. Ne6+ Rxe6 41. Qg4+ {1-0 Chachibaia-Votava,J/Mlada Boleslav 1993/EXT 97
(41)}) 9. O-O b5 10. Nxb5 Rb8 11. Nec3 $146 {[%mdl 8] Wahrscheinlich hat Adams
nach seiner Niederlage gegen Kasparov diese Stellung gut analysiert und
versucht jetzt das weiße Spiel zu verbessern.} (11. a4 a6 12. Na3 Rxb2 13. Nc4
Rb8 14. f4 exf4 15. Nxf4 Na5 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. Ra2 Bc6 18. Nf3 Ba8 19. c4 Nd7 20.
Raf2 Nb3 21. h4 Nd4 22. Bh3 Nxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Ne5 24. Qd1 Qe7 25. h5 Rb4 26. h6
Bh8 27. Ne6 Rfb8 28. Ng5 Rb2 29. Bf4 Bf6 30. Nf3 Bc6 31. Nxe5 Bxe5 32. Qf3 f5
33. Bxe5 Qxe5 34. g4 Rxf2 35. Rxf2 Rb1+ 36. Bf1 Rb2 37. Rxb2 Qxb2 38. gxf5 Qd4+
39. Kh1 Bxa4 40. fxg6 hxg6 41. e5 Qxe5 42. Qb7 Be8 43. Bg2 Qh5+ 44. Kg1 Qxh6
45. Qe7 Qc1+ 46. Bf1 Bf7 47. Qxd6 Qe3+ 48. Kh1 a5 49. Qd8+ Be8 50. Bg2 Qe1+ 51.
Kh2 Qe5+ 52. Kh3 Kg7 53. Bd5 a4 54. Qb6 Bd7+ 55. Kg2 Qe2+ 56. Kg1 a3 57. Qxc5
Qe1+ 58. Kg2 a2 59. Qd4+ Kh7 {0-1 Adams,M-Kasparov,G/Linares 1999/CBM 70 (59)})
11... a6 12. Na3 Rxb2 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. Bg5 $5 {Um die Kontrolle über das
wichtige Zentralfeld d5 zu befestigen ist Adams bereit, seinen Läufer für den
Verteidiger zu tauschen.} h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 {Die weißen Springer
dominieren schon im Zentrum. Für Weiß wäre es ein Traum, wenn er den
weißfarbigen Läufer abtauschen könnte.} Bg7 17. Rb1 Rxb1 18. Qxb1 Na5 19. Qb6 {
Auf diese Weise erzwingt Weiß den Übergang in ein Endspiel, das einen
minimalen aber dauerhaften Vorteil sichert.} Nxc4 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. dxc4 Rd7 {
[%cal Yd7b7,Yb7b2] Selbstverständlich ist das Ziel dieses Zug die einzige
offene Linie zu beherrschen. Falls der Anziehende die Türme abtauscht (nach 22.
Rb1 Rb7!) entsteht einfach eine Remisstellung.} 22. Nb6 Rc7 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24.
Rb1 $14 {Die Eröffnung und das Mittelspiel sind schnell vorbei. Weiß kann
zufrieden mit seiner Stellung sein, er hat einen kleinen aber dauerhaften
Vorteil. Zur obrigen Bewertung trägt der Tb1 bei, der die einzige offene Linie
beherrscht. Wenn der bulgarische Großmeister die Türme tauschen könnte, wäre
die Stellung 100% remis. Aber jetzt muß Schwarz sich genau verteidigen.} Rc7 {
Vermeidet Rb7.} (24... Bf8 $5) 25. h4 {[%cal Yg2h3,Yh3c8] Bereitet die
Aktivierung des weißen Läufers auf die Diagonale h3-c8 vor.} (25. Rb6 $5 $14 {
[%cal Yb6a6,Yb6d6] Weiß gewinnt der Bauer d6 oder a6!}) 25... Ra7 26. Bh3 Kf8
27. a4 a5 28. Bc8 Bf6 29. Rb8 Kg7 30. Bb7 Be7 31. Kg2 Bf6 32. Kh3 Be7 33. Bd5
Bf6 34. Kg4 Be7 35. h5 g5 {Schwächt das Feld f5 ab.} (35... Bg5 $5 36. Rb6 Be7)
36. Kf5 {Aktiver König im Endspiel ist wichtig!} Bf6 37. Rb5 Bd8 38. Bb7 Be7
39. Rb2 Bd8 40. Rb1 Bf6 41. Bd5 Bd8 42. Rb3 Re7 43. Rb1 Bc7 44. Rb7 Bd8 45. Rb8
Bc7 46. Ra8 Bb6 47. f3 Bc7 48. Ra6 Re8 49. Rc6 Re7 50. f4 gxf4 51. gxf4 exf4
52. Kxf4 Bd8 53. Rc8 Bc7 54. Ra8 Bb6 55. Ra6 Bc7 56. Rc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 a6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. a3 Nc6
9. Be2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5 11. Na4 Qa5+ 12. c3 Bxd4 13. Bxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 b6 15.
Bd1 Qb5 16. b4 a5 17. Nb2 Qc6 18. Bf3 axb4 19. cxb4 b5 20. Kf2 Qb6 21. Ke3 Qb8
22. Rhc1 O-O 23. Rc6 Qb7 24. Rd6 Ra6 25. Rxa6 Qxa6 26. Nd3 Nb6 27. Nc5 Qa8 28.
Kf2 Qc6 29. Kg1 Bb7 30. Rc1 Qc7 31. Rc3 Qe7 32. g3 Ba8 33. h4 Nc4 34. Kh2 Rc8
35. Kh3 Bc6 36. g4 Qc7 37. Na6 Qb7 38. Nc5 Qc7 39. g5 Ra8 40. h5 Rxa3 41. Rxa3
Nxa3 42. g6 hxg6 43. hxg6 Nc4 44. Bg4 Bd7 45. gxf7+ Kxf7 46. Qd3 g6 47. Bh5
Nxe5 48. fxe5 gxh5 49. Qh7+ Ke8 50. Qxh5+ Kd8 51. Qh8+ Ke7 52. Qg7+ Ke8 53. Kg4
Qc6 54. Qg8+ Ke7 55. Qg5+ Ke8 56. Kh5 d4 57. Kh6 Qf3 58. Qg8+ Ke7 59. Qg5+ Ke8
60. Qg8+ Ke7 61. Qg7+ Qf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 (4... Qa5+ 5. Nc3 d6 6. d5 $5 Bxc3+ 7.
bxc3 Nf6 8. Qc2 Nxe4 9. Bd3 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 Kg7 12. Rae1 Qd8 13. Re3
$146 Nbd7 14. Rfe1 Re8 15. h3 Ng8 16. Bh4 Ndf6 17. Ng5 Bd7 18. Rg3 Rf8 19. Nxh7
$1 Kxh7 20. Bxg6+ Kh8 21. Bd3 Nh5 22. Rg5 Ng7 23. Qd1 f6 24. Rh5+ {1-0,Pigusov,
E-Ivanov,A/St.Petersburg/1999/}) 5. Be2 {Kramnik, maybe surprised by his
opponent's opening choice, plays a relatively harmless move.} ({More ambitious
is} 5. Nc3 $142 Nc6 6. Be3 {-A42}) 5... Nc6 6. d5 $8 (6. Be3 $2 Bg4 $1 $36 {
[%csl Rd4] ><d4}) (6. dxc5 $6 dxc5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $11 {/=/+}) 6... Nd4 7. Nxd4
cxd4 ({Also quite playable is} 7... Bxd4 $5 8. O-O Nf6 (8... e6 9. Nd2 exd5 10.
Nf3 Bg7 11. Qxd5 Nf6 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Nd2 Nd7 15. Rab1 Bxb2 16. Rxb2
Qf6 17. Bxd6 Qxb2 18. Nf3 Qf6 19. Rd1 Qe6 20. Ng5 Qf6 21. Nf3 Qg7 22. h4 f6 23.
h5 Qf7 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. e5 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 fxe5 27. Bxc5 b6 $17 {Lau,
D-Chochulski,A/OLNW/1992/}) 9. Nd2 Nd7 10. Kh1 O-O 11. f4 b5 $5 12. cxb5 a6 13.
Rf3 axb5 14. Bxb5 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rh3 Qc7 17. Nf3 Bg7 18. Qe1 Rfa8 19. a3
Qb7 20. Qh4 Nf6 21. e5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Ra4 23. Qf2 Ng4 24. Qxc5 Rc8 25. Qg1 Qxd5
$44 {|^, Kaiszauri,K-Svensson,G/SWE-ch/1977/}) 8. O-O (8. Na3 $5 Qa5+ (8... Qb6
9. Nc2 Nf6 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd5 12. Nb5 Nb4 13. Nc7+ Kd8 14. Nxa8 Nc2+
15. Kd1 Nxa1 16. Be3 b6 17. Kc1 Bb7 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. f3 Kc7 20. Kb1 Nb3 21.
axb3 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Bd3 $14 {Jansson,B-Svensson,G/SWE-ch/1977/}) 9. Bd2
Qb6 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. b4 a6 13. h3 Nd7 14. f4 Qd8 15. Nc2 e5 16. f5
b6 17. Qg4 a5 18. a3 Ra7 $13 19. Bg5 Bf6 20. Bh6 Bg7 21. Bg5 Bf6 22. Bh6 Bg7
23. Bg5 {1/2,Trifunovic,P-Forintos,G/EU-chT Hamburg/ 1965/}) 8... Qb6 (8... e6
$6 {Prematurely opening the position, when Black is still undeveloped.} 9. Na3
Ne7 10. Nb5 exd5 11. cxd5 f5 12. Nxd4 fxe4 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Ne6+ Bxe6 15. dxe6
Qb6 16. Bd7 h5 17. Be3 Qxb2 18. Qxd6 Be5 19. Qc5 b6 20. Qc4 Bf6 21. Rab1 Qa3
22. Bd4 Kg7 23. Bxf6+ Kxf6 24. Qd4+ Kg5 25. Rb3 Qxa2 26. Rg3+ Kh6 27. Qf6 {
1-0,Chernin,A-Shirazi,K/New York/1989/}) (8... e5 9. dxe6 $5 fxe6 10. Qa4+ Qd7
11. Qb3 Ne7 12. Na3 O-O 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Ng6 16. Nb5 Nf4 17. Bxf4
Rxf4 18. g3 Rf8 19. Rad1 a6 20. Nxd4 Kh8 21. Nc2 Qc7 22. Qb4 Be5 23. Ne3 Qc5
24. Qd2 Bd7 25. Ng4 Bc6 26. b4 Qa7 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. Qd6 Rf6 29. Qxe5 {1-0,
Sofieva,A-Mukhim,G/Leningrad/1990/}) 9. Nd2 Nf6 {Black's N belongs on f6, on
e7 it's misplaced.} 10. Rb1 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4|^<<} a5 $1 11. b3 O-O 12. a3 $1
$146 {Certainly more logical, than} (12. Bb2 $143 $6 e5 13. Ba3 Bh6 $1 $36 14.
c5 dxc5 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. d6 Qc6 17. Nxe5 Qxd6 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. Bf3 Be6 20. e5 Nd7
21. Re1 Bg7 22. Rc1 Rab8 23. Bg4 Bxg4 24. Qxg4 b5 25. e6 Nf6 26. exf7+ Qxf7 {
0-1,Hartoch,R-Tal,M/Wijk aan Zee/1973/}) 12... e5 13. b4 (13. dxe6 fxe6 14. b4
axb4 15. axb4 e5 $15 {[%csl Gd4,Ge5] (),[+]}) 13... axb4 14. axb4 Bd7 15. Bd3 (
15. c5 $6 dxc5 16. bxc5 Qxc5 17. Rxb7 Ba4 18. Qe1 Bc2 $36) 15... Qc7 16. Nb3 b6
$11 {/=/+ Black has stabilized his central and << position (by preventing c5)
and now can turn his sights to active play on the >>. His position is more
pleasant, although one can't speak aboout some sizeable advantage.} 17. Bd2 Nh5
18. Rc1 (18. Qc2 $5 $11 {[%cal Rc4c5] /\c5}) 18... Ra3 $1 19. Ra1 (19. c5 dxc5
20. bxc5 Ba4 $17) 19... Rxa1 20. Nxa1 (20. Qxa1 f5 $5 $36) 20... Nf4 ({
Overoptimistic is} 20... f5 $2 21. exf5 Nf6 22. fxg6 e4 23. gxh7+ Kh8 24. Bc2
Qxc4 25. Bb3 $16) (20... b5 $6 21. cxb5 Qb6 22. Qe2 Rb8 23. Nb3 Bxb5 24. Bxb5
Qxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Ra1 $36 {[%csl Gb4] o^b}) 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nc2 Ba4 $5 (
22... Ra8 23. Qd2 Be5 24. Ra1 Rxa1+ 25. Nxa1 Qa7 26. Qb2 $132 {[%csl Rd4] /
\Nc2,><d4}) 23. Qd2 Bxc2 24. Qxc2 Ra8 25. Qb2 Qa7 26. Rd1 Be5 $15 {[%csl Rd3,
Ge5][%cal Ga8a1] ^-,<->a Black has a slight edge, but it's somewhat academical,
as he has no realistic chances of preparing an effective pawn break.} (26... f3
$5 27. gxf3 Qe7 28. Ra1 {<=>} Qg5+ 29. Kf1 $11) (26... Qa3 27. Qxa3 Rxa3 28.
Kf1 Rb3 29. b5 $11 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Yf1e2,Yd1a1,Ya1a6] /\Ke2,Ra1-a6}) 27. f3
Qa4 28. Rd2 Ra7 29. Rc2 h5 30. Kf1 Qe8 (30... g5 31. h3 $11) 31. c5 $5 $132 {
White doesn't want to sit and wait.} (31. Rc1 {[%cal Rc1a1] /\Ra1=} Qa8 $15)
31... bxc5 32. bxc5 dxc5 33. Rxc5 Qa8 34. Rc1 Ra2 35. Qb3 Kg7 (35... Rd2 36.
Rd1 $11) 36. Rd1 Qa5 37. Qb5 Qa3 38. d6 $5 {[%mdl 256] Again active defence by
White.} (38. Qe8 $2 Qb2 39. Qxe5+ Kh7 $19) (38. Kg1 $5 {/\} Rd2 39. Rxd2 Qc1+
40. Bf1 Qxd2 41. Qd3 $11) 38... Bxd6 (38... Qxd6 $142 39. Bc4 Ra7 $15 {/=
gives Black more chances.}) 39. e5 Bb4 40. e6 $1 $11 Ra1 (40... fxe6 $2 41.
Qe5+ Kf7 42. Bc4 $40 {suddenly turns the tables, Black's pieces have wandered
too far from his K.}) 41. Qe5+ f6 42. Qc7+ Be7 (42... Kh6 43. Qxf4+ Kh7 44.
Qc7+ $11) 43. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 44. Ke2 Qa2+ (44... Qa3 45. Qxf4 $11) 45. Kf1 Qxe6 46.
Qxf4 Bd6 (46... Qd5 47. Qe4 $11) 47. Qxd4 Bxh2 48. Qe4 Qf7 49. g4 (49. Bc4 $6
Qa7 $36) (49. g4 h4 50. f4 Bg3 51. Kg2 {/\Kh3=,><g6 and Black has no way of
improving his position, as Q exchanges lead to a dead draw.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Ne5 Nbd7 6. Nxc4 b5 7. Ne3 Bb7 8.
g3 c5 9. Bg2 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 Qb6 $11 (10... b4 11. Na4 e6 12. Be3 $6 c4 $15 {
1-0 Sadler,M-Iruzubieta,J/Oviedo 1992/TD (37)}) 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Be3 e6 13.
O-O (13. b4 $2 {ist nicht profitabel für Weiß.} Qc6) 13... Qb7 14. Rc1 Ncd7 $6
{Der Rückzug erscheint mir unnötig.} (14... a6 $5 {kam in Betracht, um a2-a4
mit b5-b4 beantworten zu können.}) 15. a4 a6 16. axb5 axb5 {Jetzt hat Schwarz
einige kleine Sorgen mit der Schwäche seines b-Bauern.} 17. Qd3 Rb8 18. Rfd1
Be7 19. Ra1 Qc6 20. Bf4 e5 21. Bg5 O-O 22. Ne3 Bc5 23. Rac1 $6 (23. Ned5 {
sieht konsequenter aus; Weiß hat beachtlichen Druck. Nach dem Textzug kommt
Schwarz mit Hilfe des folgenden Bauernopfers zu Gegenspiel.}) 23... e4 24. Nxe4
Nxe4 25. Qxd7 Qxd7 26. Rxd7 Rbc8 27. Bf4 g5 28. Bc7 Bxe3 (28... Nf6 29. Rxc5
Nxd7 30. Rxg5+ Kh8 31. Bd6 {ist ungünstig für Schwarz.}) 29. fxe3 Rfe8 (29...
f5 $5) 30. Rf1 f6 31. Rf5 Ra8 32. Rxb5 Ra1+ 33. Kg2 Re1 34. Kf3 ({Die Folge} 
34. g4 Rxe2+ 35. Kf1 Rc2 {verspricht dem Weißen ebenfalls keine
Gewinnaussichten.}) 34... Rf1+ 35. Kg4 ({Die Fortsetzung} 35. Kg2 Rf2+ 36. Kg1
Rxe2 {ergibt eine ungefähr ausgeglichene Stellung.}) 35... f5+ 36. Rxf5 $2 (36.
Kh3 Rf2 ({Mit} 36... g4+ 37. Kg2 Rf2+ 38. Kg1 Ra8 39. Rd1 {kann Schwarz nichts
erreichen; die Schwäche des Bauern auf f5 ist lästig.}) 37. g4 {Jetzt ist der
Bauer auf h2 gedeckt, so daß die Anzahl der Mattbilder beträchtlich reduziert
ist.} fxg4+ 38. Kxg4 h5+ (38... Nf6+ 39. Kg3 Ne4+ 40. Kh3 {ist nicht besser
für Schwarz.}) 39. Kh3 Rxe2 $11 {führte zum Remis.}) 36... h5+ 37. Kxh5 Rxf5
0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4112]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {In Superturnieren ist das
eine sehr populäre Variante. Weiß spielt nicht d2-d4, wonach Schwarz gute
Kontrolle über das Feld e4 hätte, sondern kämpft mit kleinen Zügen im Zentrum.
Ribli.} O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 {Weiß besitzt das Läuferpaar, aber Schwarz
hat eine feste Stellung ohne Schwächen und ist gut entwickelt. Weiß strebt
natürlich nach Aktivität für seine schwarzfeldrigen Läufer.} 7. g3 Bb7 (7... d5
8. b4 (8. Bg2 c5 9. b4 (9. O-O dxc4 $5 10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Qxc4 (11. Qc2 Bb7 $1 12.
Nxc4 Nc6 $11) 11... Ba6 12. Qe4 f5 $5 13. Qf3 Qd6 $13) (9. d3 Nc6 10. O-O Bb7
11. Bg5 d4 12. Qc2 h6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. b4 Qc7 15. Rab1 e5 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. Bb4
e4 18. Ne1 exd3 19. Nxd3 Nxb4 20. axb4 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Ne4 {0-1 Llanos,
G-Zarnicki,P/Buenos Aires 1992/EXT 97 (38)}) 9... Nbd7 10. O-O Bb7 11. d3 Qe7
12. Bb2 a5 13. b5 {Stean,M-Matanovic,A/Vrsac 1979/Inf 28 (13)}) 8... c5 9. bxc5
Ne4 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Bg2 Nxc5 12. d4 (12. Bb2 d4 13. O-O Nc6 14. d3 e5 15. Nd2
Qe7 16. Nb3 Nd8 17. Nxc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxc5 19. Bc1 f5 20. Rb1 Nf7 21. Bd2 Qd7
22. Rb3 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Velikov,P-Arnason,J/Dubai 1986/TD (44)}) 12... Ne4 13. O-O
Nc6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf4 Rc8 16. Qd3 Na5 17. Rfc1 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qe6 19. Bf3 Nc4
20. Qd1 g5 21. Nxc4 gxf4 22. Ne5 {1-0 Rotstein,A-Kurajica,B/Bled 1997/CBM 57
ext (29)}) 8. b4 $5 {Weiß muß so spielen, denn 8.Bg2 d5 9.b4 d4! bietet
Schwarz aktive Gegenchancen.} (8. Bg2 d5 9. b4 $5 $146 d4 $1 10. Qb2 e5 11. O-O
Nbd7 12. d3 Re8 (12... Qc8 $5) 13. e4 (13. Re1 Qc8) 13... dxe3 14. Bxe3 Qc8 $1
15. Bg5 e4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qb7 18. Qc3 h6 {Gabriel,C-Dautov,R/Bad
Woerishofen 1997/Inf 70/[Dautov,R] (18)}) 8... d5 (8... Ne4 9. Qb3 d5 10. Bg2
Qf6 11. Bb2 dxc4 12. Qc2 c3 13. dxc3 Qf5 14. Qb3 Nd7 15. c4 e5 16. O-O h6 17.
Rad1 {1/2-1/2 Relange,E-Rozentalis,E/Belfort 1997/CBM 62 (31)}) 9. Bb2 {
[%cal Gb2g7]} dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bxf3 {Schwarz gibt freiwillig seinen Läufer auf
und schwächt die weiße Bauernstruktur.} 11. exf3 Qd5 {Auf den ersten Blick
scheint für Schwarz alles in Ordnung, denn im Endspiel hat Weiß
Bauernschwächen. In Wirklichkeit entfaltet Weiß aber dauerhaft Initiative.} 12.
Qxd5 (12. Bxf6 Qxf3 (12... gxf6 13. Qg4+ Kh8 14. Rc1 $14) 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Rg1
c6 15. Bg2 $14) 12... Nxd5 13. Rc1 $14 {[%csl Gb2,Gc1,Gf1] Weiß hat zwar
einige Bauernschwächen, wegen seiner aktiven Figurenstellung besitzt er aber
dennoch die besseren Aussichten.} c6 14. Bc4 Rd8 (14... Nd7 15. Bxd5 cxd5 16.
Rc7 Rfd8 17. Ke2 $14 {[%csl Gb2][%cal Gh1c1]}) 15. h4 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6,
Gb2g7] Weiß plant 16.h5, 17.h6 mit Aktivität am Königsflügel.} Ne7 16. h5 Nf5 {
[%csl Yd4,Gf5] Der schwarze Springer verhindert den Zug 17.h6 und kontrolliert
das Feld d4.} 17. Ke2 a5 (17... Nd4+ 18. Bxd4 Rxd4 19. h6 a5 $5) 18. b5 c5 (
18... cxb5 19. Bxb5 $14 {[%csl Gb5,Rb8]}) 19. f4 Nd4+ $11 {[%csl Gd4] Der
schwarze Springer steht gut auf d4 und die Stellung ist geschlossen. Daher
spielt das weiße Läuferpaar keine aktive Rolle.} 20. Kf1 Rd6 (20... Nd7) 21.
Kg2 Nd7 22. a4 Rd8 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Gd8d2] Schwarz hat keine Schwächen und
entfaltet positionellen Druck in der d-Linie.} 23. Rce1 Kf8 24. Bc3 Nf6 25. d3
h6 {Schwarz verhindert die Möglichkeit h5-h6.} 26. Rd1 Nc2 27. Kf3 R6d7 (27...
Nd4+ $5 $11) 28. Bb2 Nd5 {[%csl Yb4,Yd4,Gd5][%cal Gd5b4] Der Springer d5
strebt nach b4.} 29. Rd2 Ndb4 30. g4 $1 {[%cal Gg4g5]} Re8 31. Kg3 f6 $6 {
Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht. Schwarz schwächt freiwillig seine Königsstellung.
} (31... Nd4 $5) 32. Re2 {[%csl Ge2,Re6] Jetzt hängt e6 und Weiß aktiviert so
seinen passiven Turm.} Nd4 33. Re3 e5 $6 {Dieser Zug ist nicht logisch. Weiß
kann jetzt seinen Doppelbauern loswerden.} (33... Nbc2 34. Re4 $11) (33... Nd5)
34. fxe5 Rxe5 (34... fxe5 35. Re4 $14 (35. Rhe1 Nbc2 36. Rf1 Nxe3 $2 37. fxe3+
$16 {[%cal Rf1f8,Re3d4]})) 35. Rxe5 fxe5 36. Re1 Re7 37. Bxd4 $1 {Ein sehr
guter Zug. Weiß gibt das Läuferpaar auf und erreicht ein besseres Endspiel.}
exd4 (37... cxd4 38. Re4 $14 {[%cal Gf2f4]}) 38. Rxe7 Kxe7 39. Kf4 $14 {
Weiß hat eigentlich einen Bauern mehr, denn er hat drei bewegliche Bauern
gegen zwei am Königsflügel, während die schwarze Bauernmehrheit am Damenflügel
auf c4 gut blockiert ist.} Nc2 (39... Kf6 40. Ke4 Kg5 41. Be6 $14) 40. Ke5 {
[%csl Ge5]} Na3 {[%cal Ra3c4]} 41. Bb3 {Weiß darf nicht 41...Nxc4 zulassen.}
Nb1 42. f4 {[%csl Gb3,Ge5,Gf4,Gg4,Gh5]} Nd2 43. Bd5 {[%csl Gd5] Der weiße
Läufer ist wertvoller als der schwarze Springer. Das liegt vor allem daran,
daß in diesem Endspiel Bauern auf beiden Flügeln sind. Der Läufer kann dann
gleichzeitig eigene Bauern unterstützen und gegnerische bekämpfen.} Nf1 44. g5
Ng3 {[%cal Rg3h5]} 45. Bf3 Nf1 46. gxh6 gxh6 47. f5 {[%csl Gf5]} Ne3 48. f6+
$16 {Weiß hat einen starken Freibauern und sein König steht viel aktiver als
sein Gegenüber.} Kf7 49. Be2 $1 {[%csl Ge2,Re3] 49...c4 geht nicht und der
schwarze Springer hat keine guten Züge.} Ng2 50. Bg4 Ne3 51. Be6+ Kf8 52. Bb3 {
[%csl Gb3,Re3,Rf8] Jetzt steht der schwarze König besonders passiv.} Ng4+ (
52... c4 53. dxc4 d3 54. c5 bxc5 55. b6 $18) (52... Ke8 53. Kd6 $18) 53. Kf5
Nf2 54. Bc4 {[%csl Rf2,Rf8]} Nd1 {[%cal Gd1b2,Gb2c4,Gb2d3]} (54... Ke8 55. Kg6
$18) 55. Bb3 (55. Kg6 Nb2) 55... Nf2 (55... Nb2 56. Ke4 $16 {[%csl Rb2]}) 56.
Bc2 Kf7 57. Bb1 $22 {Der König steht gut auf f7 und der Springer kontrolliert
den Bauern d3, aber wegen Zugzwangs muß Schwarz seine Stellung verschlechtern.}
Kf8 58. Kg6 $18 {[%csl Rh6] Das Eindringen des weißen Königs entscheidet die
Partie.} Ng4 59. Ba2 $22 {[%csl Rf8,Rg4]} Ne5+ (59... Ke8 60. Kg7 $18 {[%csl
Gf6]}) 60. Kxh6 Nxd3 61. Kg5 {[%cal Rh5h6,Rh6h7,Rh7h8] Und Schwarz gab auf. Er
hat keine Verteidigung gegen die Umwandlung des h-Bauern.} 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. e3 d6 {Is the main line.} 9. b3 Ne4 (9... Nbd7 $5 {
-is the main line.See comments to Timman,J-Karpov,A/FIDE-ch,NLD/INA,1993/CBM
36(1/2-1/2)(Ftacnik)(19)}) ({Slightly worse is:} 9... a5) 10. Qc2 f5 ({In my
opinion better is:} 10... Nd7 $5) 11. Bb2 (11. Be2 Nd7 (11... Ng5 $5) 12. O-O
Ng5 13. Nxg5 Qxg5 14. d5 Qg6 15. Bb2 a5 16. Rad1 e5 17. f4 $14 {1-0 Kozul,
Z-Grosar,A/Nova Gorica 1997/CBM 56 ext (58)}) 11... Ng5 $6 $146 {[%mdl 8]
Ftacnik: 'Black wants to benefit from pressure along a8-h1 diagonal, but the
idea is tactically unsound.'} (11... Nd7 $142 12. Bd3 $5 {-transfers to 9...
Nbd7} (12. Be2 $5 {/\0-0,Ne1,f3}) (12. Rd1 $5)) 12. d5 $1 {-is the best
reaction to-11...Ng5} ({Senseless:} 12. Be2 $6 {in view of} Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 $11)
12... exd5 $140 ({Dubious:} 12... Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 exd5 14. Rg1 $40) ({After:} 
12... e5 $6 13. Be2 {white has a big positional advantage.}) 13. O-O-O c5 $2 ({
Can be recommended for black:} 13... dxc4 14. Bxc4+ Kh8 (14... d5 $2 15. Nxg5
Qxg5 16. Rxd5 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rg8]} Kh8 17. h4 Qh5 (17... Qxg2 $2 18. Rdd1 $1 {
[%csl Rg7][%cal Gh1g1]} Qxh1 19. Rxh1 Bxh1 20. Qc3 Rf6 $8 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22.
Bxf6#) (17... Qg6 $2 18. h5 $18) 18. Rh3 $1 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Gh3g3]} Bxd5 19.
Rg3 $1 $18) 15. Qc3 $1 (15. Nxg5 $6 Qxg5 16. h4 Qh6 $13 {[%cal Gb8d7,Gd7e5,
Gd7f6]}) 15... Qe7 $8 16. Qxg7+ Qxg7 17. Bxg7+ Kxg7 18. Nxg5 $14 Kg6 $140 19.
Ne6 Rc8 20. Nf4+ Kf6 21. Nd5+ {with a positional advantage in the endgame.})
14. cxd5 Ba6 ({After:} 14... Nd7 15. Bd3 {[%csl Rf5] white has a strong
initiative.}) ({Dubious:} 14... Ne4 {in view of:} 15. g4 $40) 15. h4 $1 Nxf3 (
15... Ne4 $5 16. g4 $1 {[%csl Re4,Yf5][%cal Gg4f5] (Huzman,A)} Nxf2 17. Qxf2
fxg4 (17... Bxf1 $4 18. Rhxf1 fxg4 19. Qg3 $18 {[%csl Rg7]}) 18. Bxa6 Rxf3 ({
Identically-} 18... Nxa6 19. Qe2 Rxf3 20. Qxa6) 19. Qe2 Nxa6 20. Qxa6 {+/=/+/-}
) 16. gxf3 Bxf1 17. Rdxf1 $16 {with the idea Rfg1,Rg5,Rhg1->} Nd7 18. Rfg1 {
Ftacnik: 'From higher point of view black is quite lost. White will increase
pressure along a1-h8 diagonal and g file. In proper moment the h file can be
open with the march of h pawn.'} Rf7 (18... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 19. f4 Ng4 20. f3 Nf6
21. Qxf5 $18) 19. Rg5 c4 (19... g6 $143 20. Rhg1 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Gh4h5]}) (
19... Qf8 $143 20. Rhg1 Ne5 21. f4 Ng4 22. e4 $1) 20. bxc4 Rc8 21. Rxf5 $1 (21.
Rhg1 $6 Ne5 22. Kb1 $14) 21... Rxc4 $6 ({Slightly better is:} 21... Rxf5 22.
Qxf5 Rxc4+ 23. Kb1 $16) 22. Qxc4 Rxf5 23. Bxg7 $1 {[%mdl 64] After this move
white has a forcing win! Ftacnik: 'Beautiful idea opens access to black king.'}
Kxg7 $8 24. Qg4+ Kf6 $8 25. e4 Re5 (25... Qc7+ $144 {-see 26...Qc7+}) 26. f4
Qc7+ (26... Rxe4 $2 27. Qg5+ {[%csl Rd8]}) ({Also loses:} 26... Re7 27. Rg1 {
[%csl Rf6][%cal Gg4f5]} Kf7 28. Qh5+ $1 Kf8 $8 29. Qh6+ Kf7 30. Rg7+ Ke8 31.
Rg8+ $18) ({Slightly better:} 26... Re8 27. Rg1 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gg4g7,Gg4f5]}
Qc7+ 28. Kb1 Ke7 29. Qg5+ Nf6 $8 30. e5 $18) 27. Kb1 Qc3 {Ftacnik: 'An act of
desperation, since the retreat of the rook will cost the life of her royal
master.'} (27... Rxe4 28. Rg1 {[%cal Gg4g7]} Re7 29. Qg5+ Kf7 30. Qh5+ {
and mate in 8}) (27... Re7 28. Rg1 {and mate in 5}) (27... Re8 $142 28. Rg1 Ke7
29. Qg5+ Nf6 30. e5 $18) 28. fxe5+ Nxe5 29. Qe6+ Kg7 30. Rg1+ Ng6 31. Qe7+ Kg8
32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Qe7+ $138 Kg8 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Qb5 $1 $18 {[%csl Rc3,Rg7]
[%cal Gb5b2]} Kf7 36. h5 Ne5 37. Qb2 Qf3 (37... Qd3+ 38. Qc2 Qxa3 39. Qc7+ {
[%csl Rf7]}) 38. Qc2 Kf6 39. Ka2 b5 40. Rg3 Qf4 41. Qe2 {[%cal Ge2e3]} Qc1 42.
f4 $1 Qxf4 43. Rg2 {[%csl Rf4,Rf6][%cal Gg2f2]} 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. Bf4 Na6 8.
e4 c5 9. dxc5 Be6 10. Qb5 Bd7 11. Qxb7 Nxc5 12. Qb4 Ne6 13. Be5 a5 14. Qa3 Qb6
(14... Bc6 15. Bc4 Qc8 (15... Nxe4 16. Bxe6 fxe6 (16... Bxe5 17. Nxe4 Qb8 $1
$13 {Kengis,E-Certek,P/Bratislava/1990/ (17)}) 17. Nxe4 (17. Bxg7 Rxf3 $1 $13)
17... Bxe4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Ng5 Qd5 20. Qe3 $14) 16. O-O Bxe4 17. Bxe6 Qxe6
18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rae1 Qd5 21. Qxe7 Rfe8 22. Qa3 Rad8 {1/2-1/2
Piket,J-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee/1989/ (35)}) 15. Bc4 (15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Ng5
(16... Nf4 $5 17. Bxf4 Bxb2 18. Rb1 Bc3+ 19. Qxc3 Qxb1+ 20. Qc1 Qxa2 21. Bc4
Qa4 {/\ Rfc8 ~/=}) 17. Bxg7 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Kxg7 19. Qc3+ Kg8 20. Bc4 Bb5 21. b3
$8 Rfc8 22. O-O Bxc4 (22... a4 23. Qd3 Bxc4 24. bxc4) 23. bxc4 Rc5 {1-0
Yakovich,Y-Henao,R/Bayamo/1990/ (42)}) (15. h3 Bc6 (15... Nxe4 $2 16. Nxe4 Bxe5
17. Nxe5 Qd4 18. Nxd7 Qxe4+ 19. Be2 $18)) 15... Rfc8 {Kasparov is very strict
in opening preparation, he has to know secrets to many important lines. His
move improves on the older idea of 15...Rac8.} (15... Rac8 16. Bxe6 (16. Qb3
Qb4 17. Ba6 Ra8 18. Be2 Bc6 19. Bc4 Nc5 20. Qxb4 axb4 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5
Rfd8 23. Rd1 Nfd7 24. Bd4 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Nb6 26. O-O Nxc4 27. Rxc4 Rxd5 28. Rxb4
Rxa2 29. Rb1 {1-0 Mohr,S-Smejkal,J/BL8990/1990/ (39)}) 16... Bxe6 17. O-O Qb4
18. Rfd1 Qxa3 19. bxa3 Rc5 20. Rab1 Ng4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nd5 Rc2 23. Rd2 Rxd2
24. Nxd2 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Eingorn,V-Lalic,B/Palma de Mallorca/ 1989/ (24)}) 16.
Bxf6 (16. Bd5 $5 Ng4 $1 17. Bg3 Rab8 18. Nd1 (18. h3 Qxb2 19. Qxb2 Rxb2 20.
hxg4 Bxc3+ 21. Kf1 Nc5 $17) 18... Bxb2 19. Nxb2 Qxb2 20. Qxb2 Rxb2 $15) 16...
Bxf6 17. Nd5 (17. Bd5 Rab8 18. e5 Bg7 $11) 17... Qb8 18. Nxf6+ (18. Nxe7+ $2
Bxe7 19. Qxe7 Rxc4 20. Qxd7 Rxe4+ 21. Kf1 Qxb2 $19) (18. e5 Rxc4 19. exf6 Re4+
20. Kd2 (20. Kd1 Ba4+ 21. b3 Qd8 $19) 20... Qa7 $1 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 $13) 18...
exf6 19. Bxe6 $6 {Topalov shows enormous respect for his opponent, against
other mortals he would certainly have tried 19.Bd5!?} (19. Bd5 $5 Ra7 (19...
Bc6 20. O-O Qb4 (20... Bxd5 21. exd5 Nf4 22. d6 Rc2 23. d7 Qxb2 24. Qe7 $18)
21. Qxb4 axb4 22. Rfc1 $16) 20. O-O Nf4 21. Rfd1 $16) 19... Bxe6 20. O-O Qb4
21. Qxb4 axb4 (21... axb4 22. a3 bxa3 23. bxa3 Rc3 24. a4 Rc4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d3 Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. Nge2 d4 8. Ne4
Nxe4 9. dxe4 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nf4 Bg5 12. c3 Bxf4 13. Bxf4 Be6 14. Qh5 b6
15. e5 Bd5 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bf6 Kh8 18. Bh3 Be6 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21.
Qf6+ Kg8 22. Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 {After
my second round game against Kasparov I wasn't very convinced about} (7. Bg5)
7... Nf6 8. Be2 e5 9. Nb3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Be3 {I used to employ} (11. Kh1 {
but now decided to go for the line that Svidler and Short like among others.})
11... Be6 12. Nd5 Nbd7 13. Qd3 {The idea is to make quick threats against the
d6 pawn (by exchanging on e7 and putting the rook on d1). Black's reply is now
forced.} Bxd5 14. exd5 Nc5 15. Qd2 Nfe4 16. Qb4 b6 $5 $146 {A new and
interesting continuation.} (16... a5 {was known but it weakens the White
squares on the queenside.}) 17. f3 $5 {Here I thought for some forty minutes.
Nothing really attracted me, for example} (17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. a4 a5 $5 19. Qb5
Bg5 $5 20. Bxg5 Qxg5 21. Qxb6 Qe7 $44) 17... Nf6 18. Qd2 Qd7 $5 {Now I can
repeat the queen's trip to b4 but already attacking the b6 pawn. An
alternative would be} (18... Nh5 $5) 19. f4 $1 Nfe4 20. Qb4 Rfb8 $1 21. Nxc5 $6
{Losing the touch. I should play} (21. Bf3 $5 {with a very unclear position.})
21... Nxc5 22. fxe5 $6 dxe5 23. Rad1 Bd6 $1 24. Qh4 Rf8 $1 $15 {Here I
realised that besides not having any advantage I was also running the risk to
get an inferior position. Now Black wants to play f5 which immediately was not
good:} (24... f5 25. b4 Na4 26. Rxf5 $1 Qxf5 27. Bd3 {and Black is under fire.}
) 25. g4 $1 Qa4 $1 26. c4 $1 {Forced.} (26. c3 $2 f5 $1 27. b4 Ne4 $17 {
is curtains.}) 26... Qc2 $6 {By not taking the pawn Black also gives White the
initiative. It would be extremely difficult to prove White's compensation after
} (26... Qxa2 $1 {but having analysed a great deal I think I managed it:} 27.
Rf3 $1 (27. Rd2 $2 Rae8 $17) 27... Qxb2 28. Rh3 h6 $1 (28... Qc2 $6 29. Rd3 $1
(29. Rf1 $2 f6) 29... Qb1+ (29... h6 30. Bxh6 Qxe2 $2 31. Bxg7 $18) 30. Bf1 h6
31. Bxh6 Nxd3 32. Be3 $40) 29. g5 $1 (29. Bxh6 $2 Qxe2) 29... f6 (29... Be7 30.
Qg4 $44) 30. Bg4 $1 (30. g6 $2 f5) (30. gxh6 $2 Qxe2 31. Re1 (31. Rd2 g5 32.
Bxg5 Qf1+ $3 33. Kxf1 fxg5+ 34. Qf2 Ne4 $19) 31... g5 $1 32. Bxg5 Qxe1+ 33.
Qxe1 fxg5 $17) 30... fxg5 31. Bxg5 Qc2 $1 (31... Ra7 $2 32. Bxh6 gxh6 33. Qxh6
Qf2+ 34. Kh1 Qf6 35. Qh5 Rff7 36. Rg1 Kf8 37. Rf3 Qg7 38. Bf5 Qf6 39. Rg6 $18)
32. Bxh6 Qh7 33. Be3 Qxh4 34. Rxh4 {[#] Black is still pawn up and he has also
exchanged queens but I think that White holds enough fighting resources not to
lose the game. I think the assessment of this position is critical for the
overall evaluation of the 26...Qxa2 line.}) 27. Rd2 Qe4 28. Qh3 $1 $14 a5 29.
b3 {White's pieces are now better consolidated so he is not in hurry.} Qg6 30.
Kh1 Qe4+ 31. Kg1 Qg6 32. g5 $1 {Probably the best way to keep fighting for the
advantage.} Ne4 33. Bd3 {The temptation to win his queen was extremely high,
so I didn't realise that} (33. Bh5 $142 $1 {(which I saw, of course, as well)}
Nxg5 34. Qg4 Nh3+ 35. Kh1 Qxg4 36. Bxg4 Nf4 37. Bxb6 f5 38. Bd1 $14 {would be
a better option.}) 33... Nxg5 $8 34. Bxg5 e4 $1 (34... Qxg5+ $4 35. Rg2 $18)
35. Rg2 exd3 36. Bf6 $1 (36. Be7 Bxe7 37. Rxg6 hxg6 38. Qxd3 Bc5+ 39. Kg2 Rae8
$132) 36... gxf6 37. Qxd3 $14 Rae8 38. Rxf6 Bc5+ $1 39. Kh1 (39. Kf1 $4 Re1+
40. Kxe1 Qxg2 $19) 39... Re3 40. Qd1 (40. Qd2 $5 Rfe8 41. Rf1) 40... Rfe8 $1
41. Rgxg6+ $1 {Good that the time-trouble ended right before this move.
Otherwise I might have gone for the line} (41. Rf1 Qxg2+ $1 42. Kxg2 Re2+ 43.
Kh1 Bd6 {and the immediate draw is the most likely outcome, for instance} 44.
Qd4 Rxh2+ 45. Kg1 Ree2 (45... Bc5 $5 46. Qxc5 bxc5 47. Kxh2 $13) 46. Qg4+ Kf8
47. Qc8+ Kg7 48. Qg4+ $11) 41... hxg6 42. Rf1 {So, I gained an important tempo
comparing to the last variation but I also improved his pawn structure. Black
can probably hold this position but I still hoped for practical chances. And
my hopes weren't in vain.} R8e7 43. Qg4 Kg7 44. Qh4 f5 $6 ({The day after
Topalov suggested} 44... Kg8 $1 45. Qf6 Rd3 $44) 45. Rd1 $1 {It's extremely
important to take the d3 square from Black's rook. Now his king is more
exposed than before, so his chances are mainly in activity. White is required
a high level of precision in his calculations.} R3e4 (45... R7e4 $142 46. Qd8
f4 47. Qc7+ $1 $14 Kh6 $140 48. Qf7) 46. Qg3 Kf7 47. Qb8 $1 Re8 48. Qc7+ R4e7
49. Qg3 (49. Qc6 $5 Rd8 $140 50. a3 $1 (50. d6 $2 Red7) 50... Rd6 51. Qa4 $16)
49... Re3 50. Qh4 $1 R3e4 51. Qh7+ Kf6 52. Qc7 $1 $16 g5 (52... Re1+ 53. Rxe1
Rxe1+ 54. Kg2 g5 55. Qc6+ $1 Kf7 (55... Ke7 56. Qg6 $1 g4 57. Kg3 $16) 56. d6
$16) 53. Qc6+ Kg7 54. d6 {Finally this pawn moves forward. If the tricks don't
work, the game should be over for Black.} g4 55. Rf1 $1 Rf4 (55... Re1 56. Qd7+
$18) 56. Rg1 Bxg1 57. Qxe8 Bd4 58. Qe2 $1 {In the second time-trouble I nearly
overlooked} (58. Kg2 $2 Rf2+ 59. Kg3 Rf3+ 60. Kh4 $4 (60. Kg2 $11) 60... Bf6+
61. Kh5 Rh3#) 58... Re4 59. Qd2 Kf7 60. d7 Ke7 61. Qg5+ Kxd7 (61... Ke6 62.
d8=N+ $1 $18 {looked amusing to me.}) 62. Qxf5+ Re6 63. Qxg4 $18 {The active
pawns are finally taken and the rest is just technic.} Bc5 64. h4 Ke7 65. Qg7+
Ke8 66. h5 Bf8 67. Qb7 Rf6 68. Kg2 Be7 69. Kg3 Kf8 70. Kg4 Rh6 71. Qa8+ Kf7 72.
Qd5+ Kf8 73. Qd2 Rd6 74. Qe3 Kf7 75. c5 bxc5 76. Qxc5 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Be6 5. a4 Nf6 6. Nc3 h6 {Dies ist ein
neuer, solider Versuch. In der Vorgängerpartie erhielt Weiß einigen Vorteil
nach} (6... Bd5 7. Ne5 e6 8. f3 c5 9. e4 cxd4 10. exd5 dxc3 11. Bxc4 Bd6 12.
dxe6 fxe6 13. Qe2 O-O 14. O-O Qc7 15. f4 Kh8 16. bxc3 {0-1 Haimovich,
T-Bykhovsky,A/Herzliya 1998/EXT 99 (75)}) 7. Ne5 Nbd7 8. Nxc4 Bf5 9. Qb3 $6 (9.
f3 $5 {gefällt mir besser.}) 9... Qc7 10. f3 e5 {Damit erreicht Schwarz eine
ausgeglichene Stellung.} 11. dxe5 ({Die Folge} 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Be6 {
führt zum Vorteil für Schwarz.}) 11... Nc5 12. Qa2 Nd5 13. Nxd5 (13. e4 Nb4 14.
Qb1 Be6 {ist für Weiß natürlich nicht empfehlenswert.}) 13... cxd5 14. Nd6+
Bxd6 15. exd6 Qxd6 16. Bb5+ Bd7 17. b4 Ne6 18. Bxd7+ Qxd7 19. O-O O-O 20. Rd1
Rfd8 21. Bb2 Rac8 22. Rac1 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 d4 24. Bxd4 Nxd4 25. exd4 Qxd4+ 26.
Qf2 Qxb4 27. Qxa7 Rd2 28. Kh1 Ra2 29. Qb8+ Kh7 30. Qe5 Rxg2 31. Kxg2 Qd2+ 32.
Kg3 Qxc1 33. Qe4+ g6 34. Qxb7 Qg1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1 b5 7. g4 Bb7 8. Bg2
e6 9. a3 Nfd7 10. g5 g6 11. f4 e5 12. Nde2 Nb6 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.
Be3 N8d7 16. O-O-O Ke8 17. Bh3 h6 18. Bxd7+ Nxd7 19. Nd5 Rc8 20. h4 hxg5 21.
hxg5 Rh2 22. Rd2 Rh3 23. Rg3 Rh4 24. Nec3 Bc5 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. b4 Bxd5 27.
Rxd5 Ne6 28. Rxe5 Rh2 29. Rd5 Nf4 30. Rd2 Rh3 31. Rxh3 Nxh3 {[#] Weiß hält
gegen einen unangenehmen f-Freibauern mittels Figurenopfer und Etablierung
eines eigenen Freibauern remis.} 32. Kb2 Nxg5 33. Rd5 f6 34. Rd1 Rc6 35. Kb3
Ke7 36. Rg1 Kf7 37. Rd1 Ke6 38. Rd8 Ke5 39. Rg8 Kd4 40. Nd1 Nxe4 41. Rxg6 Rd6
42. Rg8 f5 43. a4 f4 44. axb5 axb5 45. Rf8 f3 46. Kb2 Rf6 47. Rd8+ Ke5 48. Ne3
Rd6 49. Rf8 Nf6 50. c4 Rd3 {[#] Ist Weiß verloren? Nein!} 51. cxb5 $1 Rxe3 52.
b6 Re2+ 53. Kc3 Nd5+ 54. Kd3 Nf4+ 55. Kc3 Re3+ 56. Kc2 Nd5 57. b7 Nxb4+ 58. Kd2
Rd3+ 59. Ke1 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. h4 Nxd4 (11... Bxd4 12. Bxd4 b5) 12. Bxd4 b5
13. h5 b4 (13... Qb6 14. g4 (14. h6 $5 g6 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Qe3 Rac8 $11 17. Rd2
Rc7 18. Kb1 Bxd4 {1/2-1/2 Sobura,H-Rosiak,A/Jachranka POL tt 1987}) 14... Bxd4
15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. Rxd4 $14 h6 (16... f6 $5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Bh3 Ra7 19. Kd2
Raf7 20. Re1 $14) 17. a4 $5 bxa4 18. Nxa4 $14 {1-0 Sutovskij,E-Dizdar,G/
EU-chTM 1997 (37)}) (13... Qe7 14. h6 g6 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Bd3 Bb7 $6 (16...
Nxd3+ 17. cxd3 $14) (16... b4 17. Ne2 a5 {/\ Ba6}) 17. Ne2 Rfc8 18. Kb1 Rc7 19.
Nd4 Rac8 20. g4 Na4 $6 21. Rhe1 $36 {Metz,H-Leander,K/corr 1991 (44)}) 14. Ne2
(14. Na4 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Qa5 (15... a5 16. Bb5 $1 {/\ 16... Ba6 17. Bd7 Qd7 18.
Nb6+-} (16. Kb1 Ba6 17. Bd3 (17. Bxa6 $5 Rxa6 18. g4 Qc7 19. h6 g5 $1 $13)
17... Qc7 18. Rc1 $6 Rfc8 19. Qe3 Qc6 $11 {Michalek,J-Glek,I/Katowice op 1992 
(24)}) 16... Rb8 17. Bd3 Bb7 {/\ Bc6} 18. h6 $2 (18. f5 $1 exf5 19. h6 g6 $13 {
- 18. h6}) 18... g6 19. f5 $5 Bc6 $2 20. fxe6 (20. fxg6 $2 hxg6 $17) (20. Nc5
Qb6 $1 $17) 20... Qg5+ (20... fxe6 $2 21. Nc5 $16) 21. Kb1 Qxe5 22. Qxe5 Nxe5
23. Nc5 $14 {Nunn,J-Lputian,S/Manila (ol) 1992 (45)}) 16. b3 Bb7 {/\ Bc6} 17.
f5 (17. Rh3 Bc6 18. Nb2 $13 Qxa2 $6 (18... Rfc8 $1 19. f5 Qc7 $1 20. Qxb4 Nxe5
$10 {Tischbierek,R-Knaak,R/BL 9293/}) 19. f5 a5 20. Rg3 $40) 17... Bc6 18. Rh3
$5 Bxa4 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. bxa4 Qc7 $1 21. Re1 Rac8 22. Bd3 Nc5 $15 {De la Riva,
O-Campos,L/Barcelona UGA 1993 (38)}) 14... a5 15. Qe3 (15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Qe3
Qc7 (16... Qb6 $5 17. f5 $5 a4 18. Kb1 b3 19. cxb3 axb3 20. a3 exf5 21. Rxd5
Ra5 22. Nf4 h6 $2 23. Bd3 Be6 24. Rd6 Qb7 25. Rc1 Rc8 $2 (25... Nxd3 26. Rxd3
Qe4 $13) 26. Qd4 $16 {Smirin,I-Lputian,S/Rostov 1993 (30)}) 17. Kb1 (17. Nd4 $5
$13) 17... a4 18. Ng3 a3 19. b3 Ba6 20. Rd4 $14 {Rivera,D-Jurkovic,A/La Coruna
op 1993 (30)}) (15. f5 $6 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 Nxe5 17. h6 g6 18. fxg6 fxg6 19. Bb5
Qd6 $17 {Zakic,S-Dizdar,G/JUG-chT Cetinje 1990/0-1 (55)}) 15... Qc7 $1 {
Important improvment:queen is much better placed on c7} 16. Kb1 (16. g4 $5 {
[%cal Ge2g3,Gf4f5]}) 16... Ba6 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. Ng3 {[%csl Re4] Covering
square e4.} (18. Nd4 a4 19. Bxa6 (19. Bd3 b3 $1 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. cxb3 axb3 22.
Nxb3 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Rb8 $40 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Gc7a7]}) 19... Rxa6 20. f5 Ne4 21.
Qf4 a3 $40) 18... Rfc8 19. Rc1 a4 20. Bxa6 ({Also after} 20. f5 $6 {[%csl Re5]}
a3 21. b3 exf5 22. Nxf5 Ne4 $17 {black has much better chanses.}) 20... Rxa6
21. Rhd1 a3 22. b3 Rc6 $36 {[%csl Rc2,Rc3]} 23. Qd4 (23. f5 Nd7 $1 $17 {
[%csl Re5]}) (23. h6 $5) 23... Na6 24. Rd2 Qe7 $1 {[%cal Ge7h4]} 25. Qd3 $6 ({
Much better was} 25. Rh1 $1 h6 (25... Nc7 26. Ne2 Nb5 27. Qd3 $13) 26. Ne2 Nc7
27. Qd3 $132 {[%cal Gg3g5,Gg2g5] with counterplay.}) 25... Qh4 $15 26. Qf3 Rc3
27. Rd3 h6 $1 28. f5 $6 {The final mistake.} (28. Rh1 $2 Rxc2 $1 $19 29. Rxh4
Rc1#) (28. Qe3 $5 R8c6 29. f5) 28... Qg5 $1 $19 29. Qf1 (29. Nf1 Rxd3 30. Qxd3
Nc5 31. Qe3 Qxf5 $19) 29... Rxd3 30. Qxd3 Nc5 31. Qf3 Nd7 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. d4 Bb7 8. e3
d6 9. b4 a5 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Be2 Ne4 12. Qb3 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1 Ng5
15. d5 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 e5 17. e4 Qg5 18. O-O Ra8 19. g3 Bc8 20. h4 Qg6 21. Re1
h6 22. Bb2 f5 23. exf5 Qxf5 24. Be4 Qg4 25. Bf3 Qf5 26. Be4 Qg4 27. Bg2 Nf6 28.
c5 Kh7 29. cxd6 cxd6 30. b5 Bf5 31. Ba3 Ne8 32. Bb4 Rc8 33. Bd2 Qc4 34. Qxc4
Rxc4 35. f4 e4 36. g4 Bxg4 37. Rxe4 Rxe4 38. Bxe4+ Kg8 39. Be3 Nf6 40. Bg2 Nd7
41. Kf2 Kf7 42. Bd4 Bf5 43. Ke3 h5 44. Bf3 g6 45. Bg2 Ke7 46. Bf3 Kd8 47. Bg2
Kc7 48. Bf3 Nc5 49. Bg2 Nd3 50. Bc3 Nc5 51. Bd4 Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Kaspi,A"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Tyomkin,D That is a rapid chess game, and as it usually happens in this
kind of chess, players make mistakes much more often. But sometimes those
games are much more spectacular, because of the same reason - even top guys
make mistakes quite often and the evaluations vary each few moves.} d6 2. d4
Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. a4 Nbd7 8. a5 Qc7 $146 (8...
e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. b3 (10. a6 Qc7 (10... b6 11. Qd6 Nc5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nxe5
Nfxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxe5 15. Nxc5 bxc5 16. Ra5 $1) 11. axb7 Bxb7 12. Be3 Ng4 13. Bg5
Nc5 14. Bc4 h6 15. b4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 hxg5 17. Nfxg5 Nh6 18. Qd6 $16 {1/2-1/2
Loginov,V-Lukin,A/St.Petersburg 1996/CBM 56 ext (91)}) 10... Re8 11. Bc4 h6 12.
Qe2 Qc7 13. Rd1 Bf8 14. Nh4 {[%cal Rh4g6]} Kg7 15. Bxh6+ $1 Kxh6 16. Bxf7 Bb4
17. Bxg6 $16 {1-0 Sutovskij,E-Delemarre,J/Bratislava 1993/TD (40)}) 9. Be3 e5
10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 Rd8 12. Qb1 {Such an interesting monouvre of queen.White
tranfers the queen to line "a",changing the defender of a5-pawn.} Nf8 13. Qa2
Be6 14. Qa3 h6 15. Rfd1 N8d7 16. Nd2 (16. Qa4 $142 Bf8 17. Bc4 b5 18. axb6 axb6
19. Qb3 $11) 16... Bf8 17. b4 (17. Qa4 Nc5 {forcing favourable exchnge of Be3.}
) 17... c5 18. b5 c4 19. Qb2 b6 20. axb6 axb6 21. Nf3 (21. Ndb1 $5 Rxa1 22.
Qxa1 {[%cal Gc3d5,Yb1c3]}) 21... Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Rc8 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Ne4
$15 {coming to the block on d6.} 25. Nd2 Nd6 {[%csl Rb5,Rd5,Gd6]} 26. g4 $6 {
It weekens the kingside and creates an attacking targets for black.} (26. Qa6
f5 27. f3 Re8 {[%cal Ge5e4]}) 26... Bg7 27. Qb1 f5 {[%cal Rf5f4]} 28. Nf3 f4
29. Bc1 g5 {The main problem of white that he can not block e4-square.} 30. Ba3
Nc5 31. Nd2 (31. Bb2 $2 Nce4 $17) 31... c3 32. Nc4 e4 33. Nxd6 Qxd6 34. Bxc5
bxc5 $1 (34... Qxc5 $2 35. d6 f3 36. Bxf3 $1 exf3 37. Qb3+ Kh7 38. Rd5 Qc4 39.
Qxc4 Rxc4 40. d7 Bf6 41. Rf5 (41. d8=Q Bxd8 42. Rd7+ Kg6 43. Rxd8 Rb4 $132)
41... Rd4 42. Rxf6 Rxd7 43. Rxf3 Rd5 $16) 35. f3 $2 (35. Qa2 $1 {[%cal Ya2g8,
Ga2a6]} f3 36. Bf1 Rf8 (36... Qf4 $2 37. d6+ Kh8 38. Qe6 $18) (36... Bd4 37.
Qa6 Bxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Qh2+ 39. Ke3 Qf4+ 40. Kf2 $11) 37. Qa6 Qf4 38. Qe6+ Kh8 39.
d6 Qd2 $132) 35... Rb8 36. Qb3 (36. fxe4 $2 f3 37. Bxf3 Qg3+ 38. Bg2 Be5 39.
Rd3 Qh2+ 40. Kf1 Bd4 $19) 36... Bd4+ 37. Kg2 Kg7 38. Qc4 Qe5 39. d6 $138 (39.
Ra1 exf3+ (39... Re8 40. Ra7+ Kh8 41. Kh1 $1 $14 {[%csl Rd3,Rh7][%cal Gd3h7]})
40. Bxf3 Qe3 41. Qe2 Rxb5 42. Ra7+ $11 {[%cal Ga7a8,Ya8a7]}) 39... Qxd6 40. Ra1
Qe7 41. Qd5 exf3+ 42. Qxf3 Re8 43. Bd3 Qc7 44. b6 (44. Ra6 {[%cal Ga6g6]} Re3
45. Rg6+ Kf8 46. Qa8+ Ke7 47. b6 f3+ (47... Qe5 48. Qb7+ Kf8 49. Qc8+ Ke7 50.
Qb7+ $11) 48. Qxf3 Qb8 49. Rg7+ Kd6 50. Qf7 Bxg7 51. Qxg7 $17) 44... Qxb6 45.
Qd5 Qc7 46. Rb1 Re7 47. Qf5 f3+ $1 48. Qxf3 c4 49. Be4 Qe5 50. Re1 (50. Bf5
Qe2+ (50... Bc5 $2 51. Rb7 $11) 51. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 52. Kf3 Re3+ 53. Kg2 Be5 $17 {
[%cal Ge3g3]}) 50... Rf7 51. Qe2 Rf2+ 52. Qxf2 Bxf2 53. Kxf2 Qd4+ 54. Kf1 Qd2
55. Re2 Qf4+ 56. Kg2 Qc1 57. Bf3 Kf6 58. Rf2 $2 {White missed a wat to create
simple fortress:} (58. Bd5 $11 {[%cal Rd5c4,Rc4d3]}) 58... Ke5 $19 {[%csl Rc2]
[%cal Ge5d4,Gd4c5,Gc5a3,Ga3c1] Now black king has an entry through the
queenside.} 59. Re2+ Kd4 60. Re4+ Kc5 61. Re2 Kb4 62. Rf2 Ka3 63. Be4 Kb2 64.
Bf5 {White cannot keep the bishop on big diagonal, because of sacrifice on-c2.}
Qe3 {The next step of blacks plan is to capture big diagonal a8-h1 by queen
and then to insert the king. But the win of black is still a big question.} 65.
Bg6 Qe5 66. Bf5 Qd5+ 67. Kg1 Kc1 68. Rf1+ Kd2 69. Rf2+ Ke3 70. Rf1 Qd2 71. Kh1
Qe2 72. Ra1 $2 (72. Kg1 $142) 72... Kf4 73. Rg1 h5 74. Bc8 h4 $2 (74... Qxc2
$19) 75. Bf5 Kf3 76. Bc8 $6 (76. Bh7 Ke3 77. Rg2 (77. Bf5 Qf3+ 78. Kh2 Kf2 {
[%cal Rf3g3]}) 77... Qf1+ 78. Kh2 Kf3 79. Rg1 Qf2+ 80. Kh1 Qa7 81. Bf5 Ke2 $19)
76... Qxc2 77. Bb7+ Kf4 78. Bc6 Ke5 79. Bg2 Qd2 80. Rf1 c2 81. Ra1 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 a5 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Nc4 d6 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Nd5 Re8 14. Be3 Bf8 15. Nd2
Nd7 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 Bxb3 18. Nxb3 Nf6 19. Nd4 Ne5 20. Nf3 c5 21. Bf2 g6
22. b3 Bg7 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Bg3 Qd7 25. Qf3 Rae8 26. h3 R5e7 27. Rad1 Qb7 28.
Rf1 d5 29. exd5 Re3 30. Qf2 Nxd5 31. Nxd5 Qxd5 32. Kh2 Rxg3 33. Qxg3 Be5 34.
Rf4 g5 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comp Fritz 6"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 10. b4 Be7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Be2 Bf5 13. O-O a5 14. b5 Bxa3 15.
bxc6 bxc6 16. Nd4 Bxc1 17. Qxc1 Bd7 18. Qa3 Re8 19. Na4 Ne4 20. Rc1 Qh4 21. Bg3
Qe7 22. Qxe7 Rxe7 23. Bd3 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Be8 25. Ra1 f6 26. Nc5 Rea7 27. Bc2 Rb8
28. Ba4 Rb4 29. Rc1 Rc4 30. Rxc4 dxc4 31. Kf1 Re7 32. Nf3 c3 33. Ke2 Bg6 34.
Nd4 Re5 35. Nd7 Rh5 36. g4 Rh1 37. Nc5 h5 38. gxh5 Rxh5 39. Bb3+ Kh7 40. Nde6
Bf5 41. g4 Bxg4+ 42. Kd3 Bxe6 43. Nxe6 Rh2 44. f4 Rh3 45. f5 Kh6 46. Ba4 Rh4
47. Bc2 a4 48. Kxc3 a3 49. Kb3 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Bd3 Rc8 12. Kb1 Ne5 13. Rhe1 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4 15.
Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 b4 17. Nd5 g5 18. Nf5 Rg8 19. Qa7 Nc5 20. Bxa6 Bxa6 21. e5
dxe5 22. Nde7 Qxe7 23. Nxe7 Bxe7 24. Rxe5 gxf4 25. Rxc5 Bxc5 26. Qxa6 Ke7 27.
Qb7+ Kf6 28. Rd7 Rcf8 29. h3 h5 30. Qc7 Be3 31. Qd6 hxg4 32. hxg4 Rh8 33. Qe7+
Kg6 34. a4 bxa3 35. g5 Kf5 36. Qf6+ Kg4 37. Rd1 Rhg8 38. Qh6 Rb8 39. b3 Rxg5
40. Qh1 Rbg8 41. Ka2 Kf5 42. Rd7 Kg6 43. Qe4+ Kf6 44. Qb4 Rg2 45. Qe7+ Ke5 46.
Rc7 f5 47. Rc6 R8g6 48. Kxa3 f3 49. Qc7+ Kf6 50. Qd8+ Ke5 51. Qh8+ Kf4 52. Qh4+
R2g4 53. Rc4+ Ke5 54. Qh8+ Rg7 55. Rxg4 fxg4 56. Qxg7+ Kf4 57. Qf6+ Kg3 58.
Qxe6 Bc5+ 59. b4 f2 60. Qf5 Bd6 61. Kb3 Bf4 62. Qd3+ Kg2 63. Qe2 g3 64. b5 Kg1
65. Qg4 f1=Q 66. c4 Qd3+ 67. Kb4 Bd2+ 68. Kc5 g2 69. b6 Be3+ 70. Kc6 Bxb6 71.
Kxb6 Kf2 72. Qf4+ Qf3 73. Qd4+ Qe3 74. Qxe3+ Kxe3 75. c5 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 Nh5 11. c5 Nf4 12. b5 $1 {[%cal Gb5b6] /\b6} b6 (12... Bg4
13. Nd2 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 dxc5 15. Bxc5 b6 16. Ba3 Re8 17. Nc4 Nc8 18. Qd3 $14 {
0-1 Piket,J-Nunn,J/Amsterdam 1995/CBM 49 (40) Nunn,J: /\ Rac1} (18. Rc1 Bh6 (
18... Na7 19. Rb1 $16) 19. Rc2 Na7 20. Qb1 $16)) 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Rc1 (14. Nd2
$5 f5 15. Nc4 Rf6 16. Rc1 $36 (16. Nxe5 $2 Rf8 $17 {0-1 Iskusnyh,S-Ulko,J/
Moscow 1999/CBM 70_07 (28)})) 14... Bh6 (14... f5 15. Re1 Bb7 16. Nd2 $14) 15.
Nd2 f5 16. Re1 Bb7 17. Bf1 $16 {[%cal Gg2g3,Gd2c4,Gc4d6,Ga3d6]} Rc8 18. Nc4 Rf6
19. Rc2 Rc7 $2 (19... Bg7 $142 20. Bc1 $1 (20. g3 Nh3+ $1 21. Kg2 Ng5 $132) (
20. Na4 fxe4 21. Naxb6 Rb8 22. Rd2 Bh6 $132) 20... Rf8 21. g3 Nh5 (21... Nh3+
22. Kg2 $18) 22. Be3 $1 (22. Ba3 $5 Rf6 23. exf5 Nxf5 24. Ne4 Nd4 $1 25. Nxf6+
Qxf6 26. Bg2 $1 Nxc2 27. Qxc2 $16) 22... fxe4 23. Bxb6 $18) 20. Nxe5 $1 Nexd5 (
20... dxe5 21. d6 Rd7 (21... Rxc3 22. dxe7 Qxd1 23. Rxd1 $18) 22. dxe7 Rxd1 23.
Rxd1 Qe8 24. Rd8 Kf7 25. Bc4+ Ne6 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Bxe6 Rxe6 28. Nd5 $18) 21.
Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 (21... Bxd5 22. exd5 dxe5 23. Rxe5 $18) 22. Nc6 $1 $18 Bxc6 23.
bxc6 Nb4 24. Bxb4 axb4 25. e5 $1 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. Qd2 h6 6. Bh4 g5 (6... Nbd7 7. f4 (
7. O-O-O g5 8. Bg3 Nh5 9. Nge2 c5 10. f3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 a6 12. f4 Qa5 13. Kb1 g4
14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Ne3 Nf6 16. Nc3 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Nh5 18. e5 Nxg3 19. Rg1 Be6 $17 {
0-1 Tiviakov,S-Gurevich,D/Las Vegas USA 1999 (33)}) 7... c5 8. d5 Qa5 (8... a6
9. Nf3 g5 $5 10. fxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 b5 12. a3 b4 13. axb4 cxb4 14. Bxf6 Nxf6
15. Na4 Nxe4 16. Qxb4 Bf5 $44 {0-1 Gofshtein,L-Chernin,A/Corsican Open, Bastia
FRA 1998 (24)}) (8... Qb6 9. Rb1 Nh5 10. Nge2 O-O 11. g4 g5 12. fxg5 Ne5 13.
Bg2 hxg5 14. Qxg5 Bxg4 15. h3 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Nf6 17. O-O $36 {0-1 Onischuk,
A-Ponomariov,R/Zone 1998 (39)}) 9. Nf3 Qb4 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 Qxb2 12. O-O Ng4
13. Nd4 Qb6 14. Rfd1 Ngf6 15. Rab1 Qa5 16. Bf3 O-O 17. Re1 Qc7 18. Ncb5 c3 19.
Qd3 Qc5 20. Bf2 $16 {1/2-1/2 Shabalov,A-Smirin,I/Philadelphia 1997/CBM 60 ext 
(52)}) 7. Bg3 Nh5 8. O-O-O (8. Nge2 Nc6 9. O-O-O a6 10. Nd5 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5
12. h4 g4 13. Ndf4 Nxf4 14. Bxf4 Qd7 15. Be3 O-O-O 16. Ng3 Bg6 17. h5 Bh7 18.
Be2 Rdg8 19. Kb1 Kb8 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 e6 22. Ne2 Nb4 23. Qb3 Nd5 $11 {
1-0 Van den Doel,E-Van der Hoeven,G/Haarlem NED 1999 (53)}) 8... Nc6 9. Qe3 (9.
Bb5 Bd7 10. Nge2 a6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. f4 Rb8 13. Bf2 Qc8 14. f5 Qb7 15. b3 Qb4
16. g4 Nf6 17. h3 O-O 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Qa3+ 20. Kb1 cxd5 21. h4 $40 {
1-0 Zelcic,R-Praznik,A/10th Open, Ljubljana SLO 1999 (33)}) (9. d5 Nd4 10. Nb1
c6 11. Na3 Bd7 12. Qe3 Nb5 13. Nc4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Nc7 15. f4 gxf4 16. gxf4 cxd5
17. exd5 Kf8 18. Nf3 b5 19. Nce5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Be8 21. d6 exd6 22. exd6 Ne6 23.
d7 Bxd7 24. Ne5 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Chernin,A/Paris 1995/CBM 49 ext (39)}) 9...
Bd7 10. Nge2 e6 11. h4 Qe7 12. Bh2 gxh4 $6 $146 (12... a6 13. g4 Nf6 14. f3
O-O-O 15. Kb1 Kb8 16. Bg1 Bc8 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. Rxh8 Rxh8 19. Ng3 d5 20. exd5
Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxe7 Nxe7 23. Be3 Nc6 24. c3 Bf6 25. Bd3 Rh3 26. Bf2 Be7
27. Rh1 Rxh1+ 28. Nxh1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Beliavsky,A/Ubeda 1997/CBM 58 (45)})
13. Bg1 O-O-O 14. g4 Nf6 15. f3 (15. Rxh4 $2 Nxe4) 15... Nh7 16. Bf2 e5 (16...
Bf6 $2 17. d5 {[%csl Ga7]} exd5 18. Nxd5 Qe5 19. Nxf6 Nxf6 20. Bxh4 $16) 17. d5
Nd4 18. Nxd4 $1 exd4 19. Rxd4 {Topalov seems to attract various rook
sacrifises on the d4 square in 99 ( although this time it's just an exchange
as opposed to Kasparov-Topalov/Wijk/99 where Kasparov sacked a whole rook on
d4)} Bxd4 20. Qxd4 b6 {Not quite black's dream but there's nothing better} (
20... c5 21. dxc6 Bxc6 22. Qxa7 $40) 21. Nb5 $1 {[%cal Yd4c3,Yb5d4]} Kb7 (21...
Bxb5 {is unthinkable, the white squares will become deadly.} 22. Bxb5 {[%cal
Gb5c6,Gd4c4,Gc4a6]}) 22. Qc3 Rc8 (22... Bc8 23. Nd4 Bd7 24. Qd3 $16) 23. Nd4
Qf6 (23... c5 24. dxc6+ Bxc6 25. Nxc6 Qd7 (25... Rxc6 26. Qxh8) 26. Ba6+ Kxa6
27. Qa3+ Kb7 28. Qxa7+ Kxc6 29. Qxb6#) 24. Qd3 {[%cal Gd3a6]} Ka8 25. Bxh4 Qf4+
26. Kb1 Nf8 (26... c5 27. dxc6 Bxc6 28. Nxc6 Rxc6 29. Qd5 $18) 27. Qc3 Ng6 (
27... Kb8 28. Ba6 (28. Nc6+ $2 Bxc6 29. Qxc6 Qxf3 $19)) 28. Ba6 Nxh4 (28... Rb8
29. Qxc7 $18) 29. Bxc8 Rxc8 30. Rxh4 $18 {Not only white has an extra pawn, he
has also a positionally winning position.} Kb7 31. a3 Rg8 32. Ne2 Qg5 33. Rh5
Qe7 34. Rxh6 f5 35. gxf5 Bxf5 36. Nd4 Bd7 37. Ne6 Bc8 38. f4 Rg4 39. Qc6+ Kb8
40. Rh8 {[%cal Gh8c8,Gc6a8,Ge6f8]} 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1 b5 7. g4 Bb7 8. Bg2
Nfd7 9. Be3 e6 10. f4 Be7 11. g5 Nb6 12. b3 N8d7 13. Qd2 b4 14. Nce2 Nc5 15.
Ng3 d5 16. e5 g6 17. h4 Qc7 18. Rc1 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. c4 Nd7 21. Nc2 Nc5
22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rh1 e3 24. Qe2 O-O-O 25. Rh3 Rd2 26. Bxb7+ Qxb7 27. Qf3 Rhd8
28. Qxb7+ Kxb7 29. Nxe3 R8d3 30. Ng4 Rxh3 31. Kxd2 Rg3 32. Nh6 Be3+ 33. Kc2
Bxc1 34. Kxc1 Rf3 35. Nxf7 Rxf4 36. Nd8+ Kc8 37. Nxe6 Rxh4 38. Kd2 Re4 39. Nf8
Rxe5 40. Nxh7 a5 41. Kd3 Kb7 42. Kd4 Rf5 43. Ke3 Kc6 44. Ke2 Kd6 45. Nf6 Ke5
46. c5 Rxg5 47. Nd7+ Kd5 48. Kf3 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2
Nc6 9. h3 Bd7 10. f4 Rc8 11. O-O Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bc6 13. Qf3 Qa5 14. Qf2 e5 15.
Bb6 Qb4 16. Rab1 Nd7 17. Be3 exf4 18. Bxf4 Be7 19. Bd2 Qc5 20. Be3 Qc4 21. Ne2
O-O 22. Nd4 Bf6 23. b3 Qb4 24. Nf5 Rce8 25. Rbd1 Rxe4 26. Nxd6 Re6 27. Bxc6
bxc6 28. Nf5 Qb7 29. c4 c5 30. Rd5 Be5 31. Rfd1 Nf6 32. Rd8 Ree8 33. R8d3 Ne4
34. Qg2 Qc7 35. Rd7 Rd8 36. Rxd8 Rxd8 37. Rxd8+ Qxd8 38. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8.
Rg1 b5 9. g4 Bb7 10. f3 g6 11. Be3 Nbd7 12. g5 Nh5 13. Bh3 h6 14. gxh6 e5 15.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Nb3 Be7 17. Qd2 Bh4+ 18. Bf2 Bxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Nf4 20. O-O-O Rc8
21. Qb6 Qc7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. Na5 b4 24. Rxd6 bxc3 25. Rg5 cxb2+ 26. Kxb2 Rxh6
27. Rxe5+ Ne6 28. f4 Rxh2 29. f5 gxf5 30. exf5 Rhxc2+ 31. Ka3 R2c5 32. Rxc5
Nxc5 33. Kb4 Ke7 34. Nxb7 a5+ 35. Kb5 Nxb7 36. Rd5 Rd7 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Comp Fritz 6"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Be7 12. Rd1 O-O 13. Nd2 Nxd4 14. Bxd4
Rfd8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Qe5 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qe4 Qe7 19. Rd4 g6 20. Rad1
b6 21. c4 h5 22. b3 Rac8 23. R1d3 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Qa3 25. Qd7 Rf8 26. Rd2 Qc1+
27. Rd1 Qa3 28. Qd2 Rc8 29. Qe2 Qe7 30. Qd3 Qa3 31. Rd2 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qa3 33.
Qd7 Qc5 34. Qxa7 h4 35. Qb7 Qe5+ 36. g3 Rb8 37. Qf3 Rc8 38. a4 hxg3+ 39. fxg3
Qc7 40. Qf6 Re8 41. Rd4 Qe7 42. Qxe7 Rxe7 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rb8 Rd7 45. Rxb6
Rd2+ 46. Kg1 Kf6 47. a5 Ke5 48. Kf1 Ra2 49. b4 Kd4 50. c5 e5 51. a6 Ke3 52. h4
f5 53. Rxg6 Kf3 54. Ke1 e4 55. Rf6 Ra1+ 56. Kd2 e3+ 57. Kd3 Rd1+ 58. Kc4 e2 59.
Rxf5+ Ke4 60. Rf8 Rd4+ 61. Kb5 Rxb4+ 62. Kc6 Kd3 63. a7 e1=Q 64. Rd8+ Kc4 65.
a8=Q Qe4+ 66. Kc7 Qe7+ 67. Rd7 Qe5+ 68. Rd6 Qe7+ 69. Kc8 Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8.
Ne2 Bg4 9. f3 O-O-O 10. Nxd4 Nf6 11. Qa4 Qg5 12. Nxc6 Qxe3+ 13. Be2 Rhe8 14.
Ne5 Bf5 15. Rd1 Rxd1+ 16. Qxd1 Rxe5 17. Bd4 Qf4 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. O-O Qxb2 20.
Bc4 Be6 21. Qd3 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qe6 24. Qb4 Qd6 25. Qxd6 cxd6 26.
Kg1 Kd7 27. Kf2 Nd5 28. Ke2 Nf4+ 29. Kf2 b5 30. g3 Nd5 31. Ke2 a5 32. Kd2 a4
33. a3 Nb6 34. Kc3 Kc6 35. Kb4 Nd5+ 36. Ka5 Ne3 37. Rc1+ Nc4+ 38. Kb4 d5 39.
Rd1 Ne3 40. Rc1+ Nc4 41. f4 d4 42. Rxc4+ bxc4 43. Kxc4 d3 44. Kxd3 Kd5 45. Kc3
Kc5 46. g4 f6 47. f5 h5 48. gxh5 Kd5 49. Kb4 Ke5 50. Kxa4 Kxf5 51. Kb4 Kg4 52.
Kc3 f5 53. Kd2 f4 54. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1 b5 7. g4 Bb7 8. Bg2
Nfd7 9. a4 bxa4 10. Rxa4 Nb6 11. Rb4 e6 12. Be3 N8d7 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bxb6
Nxb6 15. Qd4 Nd7 16. Rxb7 Nc5 17. Rb4 Qg5 18. Qd2 Qxg4 19. Na4 Qh5 20. Nxc5
dxc5 21. Rb6 Rd8 22. Qe2 Qxh2 23. Kf1 Qh6 24. Bf3 Be7 25. Bh5+ g6 26. Bg4 O-O
27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Bd5 Qh3+ 29. Ke1 Rxf2 30. Qxf2 Bh4 31. Rf6 Rb8 32. b3 Bxf2+
33. Rxf2 Qh6 34. Ke2 Rf8 35. Rxf8+ Qxf8 36. Rf1 Qd6 37. Rf7 h5 38. Ra7 g5 39.
Bc4 Qh2+ 40. Kd3 Qg3+ 41. Ke2 h4 42. Ra8+ Kg7 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. Rxa6+ Ke5 45.
Re6+ Kd4 46. c3+ Qxc3 47. Rd6+ Kxe4 48. Re6+ Kf4 49. Bd3 Qb2+ 50. Ke1 g4 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5
h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. Qd3 Bd7 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Bc4 exd4 12. cxd4 g5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14.
Bxg5 Kg7 15. Nb3 Ne7 16. Rae1 Nh7 17. Bh4 f6 18. Re3 Ng6 19. Bg3 f5 20. exf5
Bxf5 21. Qd2 Nf6 22. Rfe1 Nh5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Be4 Qd7 25. Bxf5 Qxf5 26. f3 Nxg3
27. hxg3 Rf7 28. Qc3 Rh8 29. Nc5 Bxc5 30. dxc5+ Qf6 31. Qb4 Ne5 32. cxd6 cxd6
33. Re4 Rh6 34. Rd1 Kg8 35. Qb3 Rg6 36. g4 Rh6 37. Qe3 Qh4 38. Re1 Nxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 hxg4 12. Nd5 Nc6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Bxb2
15. Rb1 Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Bd4 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. Nc7+ Kd7 19. Nxa8 Rxa8 20. Kd1 Bc3
21. h4 gxh3 22. Rxh3 Rc8 23. f4 gxf4 24. Bxf4 b5 25. Rf3 Rc4 26. Bd2 Bxd2 27.
Kxd2 Ra4 28. Ra1 f6 29. g3 Nc4+ 30. Ke2 d5 31. c3 Kd6 32. Rd3 Ra3 33. Rf3 a5
34. Rd3 Kc5 35. g4 Ra4 36. Rg3 Nd6 37. a3 Ne4 38. Re3 Rc4 39. Kf3 Kd6 40. Rae1
Ra4 41. Ra1 Rc4 42. Rae1 Kd7 43. R1e2 Kc6 44. Re1 Kd6 45. R1e2 Nxc3 46. Re6+
Kc5 47. Re1 Ra4 48. Rxe7 Ne4 49. Rc1+ Kd4 50. Rd1+ Kc5 51. Rc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 $5 {An old line, mentioned
already in 15-th century manuscripts, which has become currently very popular.}
5. c3 {The most principled continuation.} ({The more direct} 5. Nxe5 Nxe4 {
promises less:} {The more solid} 6. Qe2 ({Extremely risky is} 6. Nxf7 $6 Kxf7 (
6... Nxf2 $2 7. Qe2+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ $18) 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qd5+ Kg7 9. Qxe4 d5 10.
Qa4 Rf8 $5 $44 {P.Keres} (10... Nd4 11. c3 Nxb5 12. Qxb5 Bd6 13. d3 Rf8 14. Be3
Qh4 15. Bd4+ Kh6 16. g3 Qh5 17. Nd2 a6 18. Qb3 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Qf5 20. c4 Bf4 21.
Qc3 g5 22. Bg7+ Kg6 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Nf3 $16 {Ulibin,M-Vasiukov,E/RUS-ch
Elista/1996/}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qxc6 Bxf2+ $1 (12... Qe7 $143 13. d4 Bxd4 14.
Bd2 $1 {[%cal Rd2c3] /\Bc3+/-}) 13. Rxf2 Rxf2 14. Kxf2 Qh4+ $40 {Black has a
dangerous attack with a draw always guranteed.}) 6... Nxe5 7. Qxe4 (7. d4 Be7
8. dxe5 Nc5 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Nc3 c6 11. Bd3 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 f6 $132 13. Qg3 {
1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Leko,P/Linares/1999/}) 7... Qe7 8. d4 Nc6 9. Qxe7+ (9. Qg4 h5 $1
10. Qxg7 Bxd4 11. Qg3 h4 12. Qd3 Qf6 13. Qe2+ Kf8 14. c3 Bb6 15. Be3 d6 16. Nd2
Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Ne5 19. Qe2 Re8 20. Bxb6 axb6 21. Rae1 Qf4 22. Qe3
Qxe3 23. Rxe3 Ra8 $11 {Renet,O-Akintola,F/Novi Sad olm/1990/}) 9... Bxe7 10. c3
a6 11. Bd3 O-O {leads to an endgame, in which careful play should enable Black
to neutralize White's slight initiative.} 12. Bf4 d6 13. Nd2 Bd7 14. Rfe1 Rfe8
15. d5 Na7 16. Re2 Bf8 17. Rae1 Rxe2 18. Rxe2 Nc8 19. c4 Nb6 20. b3 g6 21. f3
Re8 22. Kf1 Rxe2 23. Kxe2 Be7 24. Ne4 h5 25. a4 Bf5 26. a5 Nd7 27. Ke3 Kf8 28.
Bg3 Ke8 $11 {Huebner,R-Gulko,B/Biel/1987/}) (5. d3 $6 d6 {can't threaten
Black's setup, d3 systems in the Ruy Lopez can give White something only if
Black's B is shut in on e7 by d6.}) 5... O-O (5... Nxe4 $6 6. Qe2 $16 {is too
risky.}) (5... Bb6 6. d4 O-O {-5...0-0 only transposes.} (6... Nxe4 $143 $6 7.
Qe2 f5 8. dxe5 O-O 9. Nbd2 $36)) 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] [+] White
must keep the tension in the [+], if he wants to retain an advantage.
Therefore premature are moves like} (7. dxe5 Nxe4 8. Qd5 Nc5 9. Bg5 Ne7 $5 10.
Qd1 Ne4 $11 {[%cal Yd7d5] /\d5}) (7. d5 Ne7 8. Nxe5 Nxe4 $11 (8... d6 $5 9. Nc4
Nxe4 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. Be2 Nf6 12. c4 b5 $1 $132 {Jackson,S-Garcia,N/Dubai olw/
1986/})) ({Another topical line is} 7. Re1 d6 8. h3 Qe7 (8... Bd7 9. Bg5 h6 10.
Bh4 Nxd4 $6 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Bxd7 dxc3 13. Nxc3 Qxd7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qe6
16. Qf3 c6 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 18. Nh5+ Kh7 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Ng3 Rfe8 21. b3 Bc5 22.
Nh5 Rf8 23. g4 Qe5 24. Kg2 Kh8 25. Ng3 Rde8 26. Nf5 Re6 27. h4 $40 {Movsesian,
S-Leko,P/Las Vegas k.o./1999/}) 9. Na3 Bd7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nc4
Rad8 13. a4 exd4 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. cxd4 Nb4 16. Qd2 c5 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. a5 $6
(18. d5 Ra8 $132) 18... bxa5 19. dxc5 Rfd8 $1 $15 (19... Nc6 $2 20. e5 Qf5 21.
cxd6 Re8 22. Qc3 f6 23. exf6 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Rxd6 25. Qe8+ Kh7 26. fxg7 Kxg7 27.
Re1 Qf6 28. Re4 {1-0,Polgar,J-Svidler,P/Frankfurt act/1999/})) 7... h6 8. Bh4 (
{Black would welcome the impatient} 8. Bxf6 $6 Qxf6 9. Bxc6 Qxc6 10. Nxe5 Qxe4
11. Nd2 Qf5 12. Nec4 d5 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Re1 Qg6 $11 15. Re5 $6 Bd7 16. Nf1
Rfe8 17. Ne3 c6 18. a3 Qd6 19. Qh5 Rxe5 20. dxe5 Qe7 21. Nf5 Qg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5
23. Nd6 Kf8 24. c4 Ke7 $17 {Rozentalis,E-Beliavsky,A/Groningen/1992/}) 8... d6
(8... g5 $143 $2 {fails to the standard} 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 {[%cal Rb5c6,
Rd4e5] /\Bc6,de5} Qe7 11. Qf3 Kg7 12. Qg3 $1 $40 Nxe4 13. Bxe7+ Nxg3 14. Bxf8+
Kxf8 15. hxg3 $16) 9. Qd3 {The most usual on the highest level.} (9. Bxc6 bxc6
10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qa4 Qd6 12. Rd1 Qe6 13. Nbd2 Nd7 14. b4 a5 15. Qb3 Re8 16.
Qxe6 Rxe6 17. Nc4 f6 18. a3 Ba6 19. Nfd2 axb4 20. axb4 Ree8 21. Nxb6 Nxb6 22.
f3 $11 {[%csl Ga6,Gh4] ^-,1/2,Topalov,V-Leko,P/Linares/1999/}) (9. a4 a5 10.
Re1 exd4 $1 (10... Bg4 $143 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. Nxe5
g5 15. Bg3 h5 16. Nxc6 Rde8 17. Nd2 $1 Bd7 18. e5 Nd5 19. c4 Bxc6 20. cxd5 Bxd5
21. h4 $16 {Gonzalez,R-De la Paz,F/Santa Clara/1996/}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxd4
Re8 13. Nd2 c5 $5 (13... g5 14. Bg3 c5 15. Nb5 Bb7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nc4 Qd5 18.
Qxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxe5 Bc6 20. f3 f6 21. Bg3 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {Polgar,
J-Spasskij,B/Prague Polka/1995/}) 14. Nc2 Bb7 15. f4 c4+ 16. Nd4 Rb8 17. Re3
Ba8 18. Qc2 Nd5 $5 19. Bxd8 Nxe3 20. Qb1 Rbxd8 21. h3 f5 22. Qa2 Bxe4 23. Nxc4
Bd5 24. b3 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Nxg2 $40 {Bologan,V-Piket,J/Biel/1999/}) 9... Bd7 ({
Very few have mustered the courage to play} 9... g5 $6 {although the immediate
sacrifice is far from clear:} 10. Bg3 $142 (10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 $13 12.
Bxc6 (12. f4 exd4 13. Kh1 Rh8 14. Bxc6 Ng4 $1 15. h3 f6 $19) 12... bxc6 13. f4
exd4 14. cxd4 Qd7 15. f5 $44) 10... exd4 11. Nxd4 $1 $36 {[%csl Rg5,Rg8] ע} (
11. cxd4 $6 Nh5 $13)) ({Therefore possibly playable is} 9... exd4 $5 10. cxd4
g5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Kg7 14. a4 a5 15. Ra3 Qd7 16. e5 Nh7
17. Qd2 Rg8 18. Re1 dxe5 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Rxe5 f6 21. Bxf6+ Nxf6 22. Qf4 Nh7 23.
Rh5 Rxg3 24. hxg3 Qg7 25. Rxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh4+ Kg8 {0-1,Renet,O-Ninov,K/Ostend/
1989/}) ({A more sedate alternative is} 9... Qe7 10. Nbd2 Nb8 $5 (10... Nd8 11.
Nc4 c6 12. Ba4 Bc7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Ne3 g5 15. Bg3 Nh5 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. Qd1 Ng7
18. Nxg7 Kxg7 19. Nd4 Ne6 20. Nf5+ Kh7 21. Qh5 Ng7 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Rad1 Be6
24. Bb3 Rad8 $11 {1/2,Adorjan,A-Sydor,A/EU-chT Bath/1973/}) 11. Rfe1 c6 12. Ba4
Nbd7 13. Nc4 Re8 14. Bb3 Bc7 15. Ne3 Qf8 16. Nf1 Nh5 17. Rad1 Ndf6 18. dxe5
dxe5 19. Ne3 Be6 20. Bxe6 $11 {1/2,Luther,T-Maric,A/Hastings/1994/}) 10. Nbd2
a6 11. Bc4 (11. Ba4 Nb4 $5 $132) 11... exd4 $5 {We have already mentioned a
similar operation a few times. Black gives up his central outpost on e5 in
exchange for active piece play.} ({After} 11... Qe7 12. Rfe1 Kh8 13. Bd5 $5 g5
14. Bg3 $36 {he has problems holding e5 anyway and would have to concede the 
[+] in less favourable circumstances.}) 12. cxd4 (12. Nxd4 $6 Ne5 $15) 12... g5
13. Nxg5 $5 {[%mdl 512] 'N!?' Wedberg. A positional piece sacrifice is
nowadays a recurrent topic in high-level chess. Here White will have 2 pawns
for his N and Black's K will be permanently under pressure. What Topalov
probably underestimted is the fact White must be very accurate to preserve his
initiative. Wedberg: 'This sacrifice had to be tried. Two P:s and an open K is
a lot of compensation for a mere N.'} ({White was also motivated to sacrifice
by the fact} 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. e5 {[%cal Rd3g6] /\Qg6} Kg7 15. exd6 Nxg3 16. dxc7
(16. hxg3 cxd6 $11) 16... Qxc7 17. fxg3 {'~~' Wedberg. Wedberg: '1-0 Svidler,
P-Leko,P/Linares 1999/CBM 70/[Wedberg] (40)'} (17. hxg3 g4 18. Ne5 (18. Nh4
Nxd4 $36) 18... Nxd4 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 $11 {[+]<=>}) 17... g4 18. Nh4 {[%cal Rf1f7]
/\Rf7!} Ne5 $1 19. Nf5+ Bxf5 20. Qxf5 {Svidler,P-Leko,P/Linares/1999/} Rad8 $1
21. Kh1 Rxd4 22. Qf6+ Kh7 (22... Kg8 23. Rf5 Nxc4 24. Rg5+ $11) 23. Qf5+ $11
Kg8 $2 24. Ne4 $1 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Nxc4 26. Rac1 $18 {leads only to a draw. As
Leko willingly repeats the line, he certanly wasn't afraid of 13.Bg3.}) (13. e5
d5 $1 $132) 13... hxg5 14. Bxg5 Kg7 $8 (14... Bxd4 $2 15. e5 $1 Bxe5 16. Qg6+
Kh8 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Ne4 {'+-' Wedberg.} Nxe4 19. Bxd8 Raxd8 20. Qg6+ $18) (
14... Nxd4 $2 15. e5 Bf5 16. Qg3 Nh5 17. Qh4 $16 {->} (17. Qh4 {Wedberg} Qd7
18. Qxh5 $18)) 15. Nb3 {'!?' Wedberg. Not a very aesthetic move, the N will be
off-side later on. But this moment is still far away and the alternatives
promise less: Wedberg: 'The positional method. White just wants to guard his
centre and then advance on the K-side.'} ({Komplikovanejsie je to po} 15. e5
dxe5 16. Ne4 (16. Qg3 Nh5 17. Qh4 f6 {odrazi cierny hladko.}) 16... Bf5 $1 17.
dxe5 (17. Bxf6+ $2 Qxf6) 17... Nxe4 {'!!' Wedberg.} 18. Bxd8 Raxd8 19. Qf3 Bg6
{Formalne ma biely dokonca materialnu prevahu, ale lahke figury cierneho su
vyborne zohrate a pesiaci e5 a f2 vazne ohrozeni. Po dalsej serii logickych
tahov '~~' Wedberg.} 20. Rae1 Nxe5 (20... Nd2 21. Qf6+ Kh7 22. e6 {alebo}) (
20... Rd4 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22. Qf6+ {s dalsim Sd5, ci Sd3 je slabsie.}) 21. Qf4
Nxc4 22. Rxe4 Bxe4 (22... Nd2 $6 23. Qe5+ f6 24. Qe7+) 23. Qxe4 Rd4 24. Qxb7 a5
$5 {dojde k dalsej metamorfoze materialu. Sance bieleho na uspesny utok sa
rovnaju nule a musi bojovat o remizu.}) (15. Qg3 $2 Bxd4 $142 $1 (15... Nxd4 $6
16. Bh4+ Kh7 17. e5 $16) (15... Nh5 16. Qh4 (16. Qe3 Bxd4 $1 $17) 16... f6 $17)
16. e5 (16. Nf3 Nxe4 $19) 16... Bxe5 17. Bxf6+ Kxf6 18. Ne4+ Ke7 $17 {and
Black's K escapes.}) (15. Nf3 {stops the f-pawn and blocks the Q's road to the
>>.} Ne7 $5 (15... Qe8 16. Qe3 Ng4 17. Bf6+ $1 Nxf6 18. Qg5+ Kh7 19. Qxf6 $40)
(15... Re8 16. Rae1 {[%cal Re4e5] /\e5->}) 16. e5 Nh7 {gives Black good
chances to beat off the attack, e.g.} 17. Bf6+ Nxf6 18. exf6+ Kxf6 19. Qh7 Bf5
20. Qh6+ Bg6 21. Ng5 Nf5 $1 22. Nh7+ Ke7 $17) 15... Ne7 {A logical move, Leko
brings another piece closer to the >>. But playable was also} (15... Qe8 $5 16.
Rae1 (16. Bxf6+ Kxf6 17. Qf3+ Ke7 {only chases the K to safety.}) 16... Nh7 $13
{/=/+}) 16. Bxf6+ $1 $146 {Only this move is new. A few days ago in Frankfurt
the Topalov against the same opponent played Wedberg: 'Drawing the K out, but
keeping the B was a serious alternative.'} (16. Rae1 $6 Nh7 17. Bh4 f6 18. Re3
(18. e5 $5 {Wedberg}) 18... Ng6 19. Bg3 (19. Rg3 Ng5) 19... f5 $1 20. exf5 Bxf5
21. Qd2 Nf6 {Wedberg: 'White had little to show for his investment. 0-1
Topalov,V-Leko,P/Frankfurt 1999 (38)'} 22. Rfe1 Nh5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Be4 Qd7 25.
Bxf5 Qxf5 $17 {Topalov,V-Leko,P/Frankfurt act/1999/}) (16. Qg3 $2 Nxe4 {
loses immediately.}) ({An interesting try would be} 16. e5 $5 {[%cal Yg5d8]
Wedberg The idea is to pressure Black on the diagonal g5-d8.} Nh7 (16... dxe5
$2 {Opening the d-file is very dangerous for Black.} 17. dxe5 Nh7 (17... Ng4
18. Qg3 $40) 18. Bf6+ $1 Nxf6 19. exf6+ Kxf6 20. Rad1 Nc6 21. Rfe1 $40) 17. Bh4
f6 (17... d5 18. Bxd5) (17... dxe5 18. Rfe1 $1 {Ra1 will go to d1.} f6 19. dxe5
Ng6 20. Qg3 $40 {[%cal Ya1d1,Ye5e6,Ye5f6]}) (17... Bb5 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Bf6+
Nxf6 20. exf6 Ng6 21. Qg5 $18) (17... Be6 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Bf6+ Nxf6 20. exf6
Nf5 21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Qg4+ Kh8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. Bd3 $18) 18. Rfe1 (
18. Rae1 {is also possible, but the R:s are at their best on e1 and d1 in this
position, since f4 is less likely to be of value.}) (18. e6 $6 d5 $1 $17) 18...
Ng6 (18... Be8 19. Qg3+ Bg6 20. exf6+ Nxf6 21. Bd3 $18) (18... Nf5 19. e6 Bxe6
(19... Nxh4 20. Qg3+ Ng6 21. e7 Qc8 22. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 23. h4 $40) 20. Bxe6 Nxh4
21. g3 Ng6 22. Bf5 $16) (18... d5 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. Bd3 $40) 19. e6 Be8 20. d5
$44) 16... Kxf6 {[%csl Rf6] An interesting position. Although White has
exchanged another pair of minor pieces, Black's K is seriously exposed and
consolidation will cost him a lot of time and possibly material.} 17. f4 $2 {
Very logical, but not best.} (17. Qg3 $142 $1 {[%cal Re4e5] /\e5} Ng6 $142 (
17... Nc6 18. Rfe1 {retains the dangerous threat e5, e.g.} (18. e5+ dxe5 19.
dxe5+ Nxe5 20. Qf4+ Bf5 21. Rad1 Qc8 $17) (18. Rad1 $5 $44) 18... Ke7 19. e5
dxe5 20. d5 $1 Rg8 21. Qf3 $16 {[%cal Rd5d6] /\d6}) 18. f4 (18. h4 $5 $44)
18... Kg7 $5 ({Now analogy with the game is insufficient:} 18... Be6 $6 19.
Bxe6 fxe6 20. f5 exf5 21. exf5 $1 (21. Rxf5+ $2 Kg7 22. Raf1 Qh4 $19) 21... Nh8
(21... Ne5 22. Kh1 $18) 22. Rae1 $40 {with a tremendous attack.}) (18... Ba4 $2
19. f5 $16 {->}) (18... Rg8 $5 19. Kh1 $44) (18... Ke7 19. Kh1 $1 (19. f5 $143
$6 Ne5 $17) 19... Ke8 20. f5 Ne7 21. f6 Nf5 $5 (21... Nc6 $2 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7
23. Qg7+ Ke6 24. Qg4+ Kf7 25. Qh5+ $18) (21... Ng6 22. e5 $40 {[%cal Re5e6] /
\e6}) 22. exf5 (22. Qg5 Nxd4 23. Bxf7+ Rxf7 24. Qg8+ Rf8 $11) 22... Qxf6 23.
Rae1+ $14 {/+/-}) 19. f5 Qh4 20. Qxh4 (20. fxg6 Qxg3 21. hxg3 fxg6 $11) 20...
Nxh4 21. Rf4 Ng6 $5 (21... Rh8 $143 22. g3 Ba4 23. Rd1 $36 {White will regain
his piece under better circumstances.}) 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Raf1 Ba4 $132 {
and Black has every chance to save the game.}) (17. e5+ {Wedberg} Kg7 (17...
dxe5 18. dxe5+ Kg7 19. Rad1 Ng6 20. Qc3 $44) 18. Qg3+ Ng6 19. f4 Bf5 $17) 17...
Be6 $1 {[%mdl 256] Very cool! From now on Leko demonstrates superlative
defence.} (17... Kg7 $2 18. f5 $1 $40 (18. Qg3+ Ng6 19. f5 Qh4 $132 {-17.Qg3
Kg7!?})) 18. Kh1 $6 {Loses a tempo and enables Black to evacuate his K.} (18.
Bxe6 fxe6 (18... Kxe6 {Wedberg} 19. Qh3+ f5 20. g4 fxe4 21. f5+ Kd7 (21... Kd5)
22. f6 Rh8 23. fxe7 Qxe7 $17) 19. e5+ (19. Qg3 Rh8 {[%cal Rd8g8] /\Qg8-/+}) (
19. g4 Rh8 20. g5+ $40) 19... Kg7 20. Rf3 Nf5 $17) (18. f5 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nc6 {
/\Ke7-/+ also doesn't further White's attack.} (19... Rh8 {Wedberg} 20. Kh1 Nc6
21. Rae1 $17 {this might possibly give chances for a svindle with e5+ at some
point. But no doubt Black is better.})) ({Necessary was the immediate} 18. Rf3
$142 Bxc4 (18... d5 $2 19. f5 $1 dxe4 (19... dxc4 20. e5+ Kg7 21. f6+ Kh8 22.
Qe3 $1 $18) 20. Qxe4 Nxf5 21. Raf1 $18) 19. Qxc4 Ng6 (19... d5 20. e5+ Ke6 21.
Qd3 $132) 20. Kh1 $15 {White's strong and elastic [+] still gives him
practical chances.}) (18. e5+ {Wedberg} dxe5 19. fxe5+ Kg7 20. Qg3+ Ng6 $19)
18... Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Kg7 {Wedberg: 'The black K glides back. White´s
compensation is beginning to look thin.'} 20. f5 (20. Rf3 d5 $5 (20... Rg8 $5
$17) (20... Rh8 $17) 21. Rg3+ Ng6 22. Qc3 f5 23. e5 Qh4 24. Nc5 Rae8 $17) 20...
f6 21. Rf3 Rh8 {Modesty is still necessary-} (21... d5 $2 22. Qe2 $36 {[%cal
Rf3g3,Re4e5] /\Rg3,e5}) 22. Rg3+ Kf8 {/\d5} 23. Qe6 Ng8 {'-/+' Wedberg.
Wedberg: 'White´s attack is stopped.'} 24. Re1 Qe8 $17 {Now it's already clear
Black will gradually push off White's pieces and consolidate his position.
Wedberg: 'White has to retreat hoping for tactics or play a difficult ending.'}
25. Qc4 (25. Qd5 $6 Ne7 $1 (25... Qc6 26. Qe6 Re8 $2 27. Rxg8+ $1 $18) 26. Qxb7
(26. Qe6 Qf7 $19) 26... Nxf5 $40 {only helps Black.}) 25... Qf7 26. Qc3 Re8 27.
Rg4 $6 {Not a very good move, but even the alternatives enable Black to
activate his pieces.} (27. Nd2 Qd5 $1 {[%cal Rd5d4,Rd5f5] /\Qd4,Qf5}) (27. a4
Rh4 28. Rge3 (28. a5 Rhxe4 $1 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. axb6 Qxb3 31. Rxg8+ Qxg8 32.
bxc7 Ke7 $19) 28... Qh7 $17 {|^}) 27... Qh5 28. Qg3 Ne7 29. h3 (29. Rf1 d5 $19)
29... Nxf5 $1 $19 {'-+' Wedberg.} 30. Qf4 (30. Qf3 Rh6) (30. exf5 $2 Rxe1+ 31.
Qxe1 Qxg4 $19) 30... Rg8 ({Black had also other moves:} 30... Rh6 $5 $19) 31.
Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Rf1 Ng7 33. Qxf6 Rxe4 34. Kh2 {Topalov is a piece down and his
N is misplaced, but he continues to resist hopelessly.} (34. Qf8+ Kh7 35. Rf7
Re1+ 36. Kh2 Bxd4 $1 37. Nxd4 Qe5+ 38. Rf4 Re4 $19 {is even worse.}) 34... Qe8
35. Qg5 c6 36. Qg3 Qe6 37. Nd2 (37. Qd3 Re3 $19 {is very passive.}) 37... Rxd4
38. Nf3 Rd5 39. Re1 (39. Ng5 Qe5) 39... Qf7 40. Qg4 Bd8 (40... Rf5 $19 {/\} 41.
Ng5 Qg6) 41. Qc8 Qc7 42. Qxc7 (42. Qg4 Rf5 $19) 42... Bxc7 43. Re7 Bb6 44. g4 (
44. Rxb7 Rb5 45. Rb8+ Kf7 46. Rc8 Rxb2 47. Rxc6 Nf5 $19) 44... Rb5 45. b3 Kf8
46. Rd7 (46. Rxb7 $2 Bg1+ $19) 46... Ne6 47. Nh4 Ke8 48. Rh7 Nf8 (48... Nf8 49.
Rh6 Be3 $1 50. Rh8 Bd4 51. Rh6 Bg7 $19 {forces further exchanges.}) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 c5 4. c3 Qa5 5. d5 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Na3 Nbd7 10. h3 b5 11. e4 a6 12. Nc2 Bb7 13. Bf4 h6 14. h4 e5 15. Bd2 c4
16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Qc7 18. Nh2 Nc5 19. Rb1 a5 20. b4 axb4 21. cxb4 Ncxe4 22.
Rxe4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 f5 24. Bg2 Qf7 25. Bc1 e4 26. Bb2 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 Qxd5 28.
Qxd5+ Bxd5 29. Nf1 h5 30. Nfe3 Bc4 31. Bf1 d5 32. Kg2 Reb8 33. Nd4 Rb6 34. Rd2
Kf7 35. Ndc2 Ra2 36. Bxc4 dxc4 37. Rd5 Rb2 38. Kf1 Ra6 39. Rxb5 Raa2 40. Rb7+
Kg8 41. Rc7 Rxc2 42. Nxc2 Rxc2 43. b5 Rb2 44. Rxc4 Rxb5 45. Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. e3 Nge7 8.
Be2 O-O 9. Rc1 Bd6 10. Bg3 a6 11. O-O Nc8 12. Qb3 Nb6 13. Nd2 Re8 14. Bf3 Bxg3
15. hxg3 Ne7 16. Be2 Nec8 17. Bf3 c6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Ndxe4 Be6 20. Qc2 Nd6 21.
Nc5 Bf5 22. Qb3 Rb8 23. d5 Nbc4 24. g4 Bg6 25. Rfe1 Nd2 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Qd1
Nxf3+ 28. Qxf3 Rc8 29. Qf4 Qf8 30. Re1 Qd8 31. dxc6 Rxc6 32. Nd5 Kh8 33. b4 b6
34. Ne7 Rc7 35. Nf5 bxc5 36. Nxd6 Re7 37. Rxe7 Qxe7 38. bxc5 Qc7 39. Qe5 f6 40.
Qd5 h6 41. c6 Bc2 42. Ne8 Qe7 43. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bf5 6. Bf4 Nbd7 7. e3 e6 8. Be2
Be7 9. Nd2 (9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. h3 Re8 12. Bh2 Bd8 13. Rfd1 h6 14. Rac1
Bc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Na4 Re7 17. Qb4 Rae8 18. Nb6 e5 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. dxe5
Nxe5 21. Nd4 Be4 $11 {geschah in der Partie Yudasin,L-Magem Badals,J/Pamplona
1995/CBM 46 (51). Der Textzug leitet eine wesentlich wirksamere Idee ein: nach
Abtausch der schwarzfeldrigen Läufer verhindert Weiß den Vorstoß e6-e5 mit
f2-f4.}) 9... Bg6 10. b4 Qc8 11. O-O Bd8 12. Rc1 {Dieser Zug sieht überflüssig
aus.} (12. a4 $5) 12... Bc7 $6 {Meines Erachtens ist es genauer, mit} (12...
O-O {fortzufahren, um im folgenden Tf8-e8 und e6-e5 zu spielen; nur auf diese
Weise kann die Schattenseite des Zuges Sf3-d2, die in der Minderung der
Kontrolle des Feldes e5 besteht, bloßgelegt werden.}) 13. Bxc7 Qxc7 14. f4 Ng8
{Schwarz gestattet den Vorstoß e3-e4, doch sind andere Fortsetzungen nicht
angenehmer:} (14... Ne4 15. Ncxe4 Bxe4 (15... dxe4 16. Nc4 {ist ebenfalls
nicht erfreulich für Schwarz.}) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. f5 {mit erklecklichem
Vorteil für Weiß.}) (14... O-O 15. g4 h6 16. f5 exf5 17. gxf5 Bh7 18. Bd3 {
nebst Dd1-f3 gefolgt von Druck auf der g-Linie; der Läufer auf h7 bleibt
begraben.}) 15. e4 Ne7 16. f5 $1 {Nur mit der Durchführung dieses Konzeptes
kann Weiß auf Vorteil hoffen: Er verschafft sich die Bauernmehrheit am
Damenflügel, und der Bauer des Schwarzen auf d5 wird verteidigungsbedürftig.
Der Läufer auf g6 bleibt außer Spiel. Der Mehrbauer des Schwarzen ist
bedeutungslos, denn er kann die Bauernmehrheit am Königsflügel nicht wirksam
einsetzen. Dennoch ist Schwarz natürlich keineswegs verloren; es gibt aber für
Weiß keine andere Art, dem Spiel Würze zu verleihen. Nach} (16. e5 $2 Nf5 {
muß Weiß Material abgeben.}) 16... exf5 17. exd5 cxd5 ({Die Fortsetzung} 17...
Nxd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bd3 {überläßt dem Weißen ohne weiteres deutlichen
Vorteil.}) 18. b5 O-O 19. b6 Qd8 $6 {Stärker ist} (19... Qc8 {, welcher Zug
das wichtige Blockadefeld c6 im Auge behält (D. Poldauf nach V. Topalov,
"Schach" 8/1999, S.36):} 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5 Nc6 {usw.}) 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5
Rb8 {Dies entzieht dem Bauern auf a6 die Deckung.} (21... Qd7 {gefällt mir
besser:} 22. Qa4 (22. a4 Nc6 23. Nxc6 Qxc6 24. Na2 (24. a5 Rfe8 25. Na2 Qe6 {
verspricht dem Schwarzen ebenfalls reichliches Gegenspiel.}) 24... a5 25. Bb5
Qe6 {mit unklarem Spiel.}) 22... Nc6 23. Nxc6 bxc6 {Die Lage ist mir nicht
deulich.}) 22. a4 Ne4 23. Na2 f6 $2 {Jetzt strebt Schwarz danach, das Feld c6
in die Hand zu bekommen, aber dazu ist es zu spät. Zu recht schlägt D. Poldauf
in "Schach" 8/1999, S.36,} (23... f4 {vor:} 24. Rxf4 Nf5 25. Nxb7 ({Nach} 25.
Qd3 Qg5 26. Rcf1 Rfe8 {hindern die Gegendrohungen des Schwarzen den Weißen
daran, seine Initiative am Damenflügel kräftig zu verfolgen.}) 25... Qg5 ({Nach
} 25... Rxb7 26. Bxa6 Rb8 27. a5 Qg5 28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 Nxd4 30. c6 {
hat Weiß eine Gewinnstellung.}) 26. Rxe4 dxe4 27. Bxa6 Bh5 28. Qf1 Nxd4 {
Schwarz hat ausreichendes Gegenspiel.}) 24. Nb4 Be8 25. Qc2 g6 26. Rb1 Rf7 27.
Nxb7 Rxb7 28. a5 Nc6 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Bxa6 Rb8 31. Bb5 Qc8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33.
a6 Kg7 34. Rb4 Nd6 35. Qa4 Qxa4 36. Rxa4 Nc8 37. Rb4 Na7 38. bxa7 Ra8 39. c6
Raxa7 40. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5
9. Nf5 h5 10. Qd2 Nxg4 11. O-O-O g6 12. Nd5 Nxe3 13. Nfxe3 Bh6 14. Kb1 Nc6 15.
Qc3 O-O 16. f5 Kh7 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Ndb6 Nd4 19. Bh3 g5 20. Qd3 g4 21. Bg2 Bd7
22. c3 Nb5 23. h3 g3 24. Qxg3 Bc6 25. Bf3 Rg8 26. Qf2 Qg5 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. Rxd5
Rbd8 29. Qe2 Nc7 30. Rdd1 Qf6 31. h4 Rg3 32. Nb6 d5 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. exd5 b5
35. a3 a5 36. Qe4 Bf8 37. Rhg1 Rxg1 38. Rxg1 b4 39. cxb4 axb4 40. a4 b3 41. Be2
Rb8 42. Bb5 Kh8 43. Rg3 Bh6 44. Rxb3 Rg8 45. Be2 Bf4 46. Bxh5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bg2 Be4 8. Qd1
Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 O-O 10. O-O a5 11. b3 a4 12. Ba3 d6 13. Rfd1 Nbd7 14. Bf1 Re8 15.
Nh4 Bb7 16. f3 d5 17. Qc2 c5 18. Bb2 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc7 20. Rac1 e5 21. Bf2 axb3
22. axb3 d4 23. Qb2 Nc5 24. e3 dxe3 25. Bxe3 e4 26. Bf4 Qc8 27. fxe4 Nfxe4 28.
Be5 f6 29. Bd4 Ng5 30. b4 Nce4 31. Bg2 Qg4 32. Qb3 Kh8 33. Bxb6 Nh3+ 34. Bxh3
Qxh3 35. c5 g5 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rxc6 gxh4 38. Bd4 hxg3 39. hxg3 Rg8 40. Rd3 Rg6
41. Rxf6 Nxf6 42. Rf3 Rf8 43. b5 Rh6 44. Qc3 Kg7 45. Be5 Qh2+ 46. Kf1 Qh1+ 47.
Kf2 Rh2+ 48. Ke3 Qg1+ 49. Kf4 Qb1 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4128]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Bc4 $5 {Quite a rare move in this position,
which is getting increasingly popular in the modern practice.} Nc6 (10... Ne5
11. Bb3 Nbc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. h4 g4 14. h5 Qa5 15. Qd2 Be6 16. Na4 Qxd2+ 17.
Kxd2 Rb8 18. Rad1 Rb4 19. Rhe1 Bf6 20. Kc1 O-O 21. Bf4 Kh7 22. Bd2 Bg5 23. Nc3
{1/2-1/2 Heiduczek,J-Kargoll,B/Passau 1998/EXT 99 (61)}) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. h4 (
{Other options are:} 12. Qf3 Rf8 13. Bb3 Ne5 14. Qe3 Rb8 15. O-O Qb6 16. Qe2
Rh8 17. Kh1 h5 18. f4 gxf4 19. Bxf4 Bg4 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Rad1 Qa5 22. Qe1 h4 23.
h3 Nc4 24. Bc1 Kd7 25. Qf2 Rb7 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM
63 ext (36)}) ({and} 12. Qd2 Qa5 13. Bb3 Be6 14. Nd1 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 d5 16. f3
Nf6 17. Nf2 Nh5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Nd3 Nxg3 20. hxg3 O-O-O 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22.
Rae1 e6 23. Kc1 Kc7 24. g4 Kd6 25. Re4 Rd4 26. Rxd4+ Bxd4 27. Kd2 f5 28. gxf5
exf5 {1/2-1/2 Turzo,A-Avrukh,B/Szeged 1994/TD (42)}) 12... Qa5 $5 ({In his
game with Anand in Linares 1998, Topalov opted for} 12... Qb6 {, but after} 13.
Bb3 Bd7 14. hxg5 O-O-O 15. Qd2 hxg5 16. Rxh8 Rxh8 17. O-O-O Ne5 18. f3 Qa5 19.
Kb1 Bf6 20. Qe3 Kb7 21. Bf2 Rb8 22. g3 Kc8 23. Qe2 Ng6 24. Be1 Qb6 25. Na4 Qb5
26. c4 Qb7 27. Ba5 {Anand got an advantage in the middlegame.}) {The text move
yields Black good counterchances.} 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. hxg5 (15. Qxg4
{allowed Balck to force draw after} Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qxc3+ 17. Ke2 Qc4+ 18. Kd2
Qd4+ $11) 15... hxg5 (15... Rb8 $5 {would more suit Topalov's style.} {Now} 16.
O-O-O $5 {leads to interesting complications:} (16. gxh6 $6 {yiedls Black
excellent play after} Rxh6 ({Premature} 16... Rxb2 {loses to} 17. hxg7 Rxh1+
18. Kd2 Rxa1 (18... Qg5+ 19. Bf4) 19. g8=Q+ Kd7 20. Qfxg4 $18) 17. Rxh6 Nxh6
18. e5 Rxb2 19. Qxc6+ Kf7 20. O-O-O Qa3 $36) 16... Rxb2 $5 (16... hxg5 $2 17.
Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Qxg4 Bxc3 (18... Rxb2 19. Qh5+ (19. Kxb2 $4 Bxc3+ $19) 19... Kd7
20. Rxd6+ exd6 21. Qh7+) 19. bxc3 $18) (16... Qb4 17. Kd2 Qxb2 18. Rb1 Bxc3+
19. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 20. Kxc3 Rxb1 21. Rxb1 Kf7 22. gxh6 Rxh6 23. Rb6) 17. e5 $1 Nxe5
18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Qxc6+ Kf7 20. Rd3 $40) 16. Rxh8+ Bxh8 17. Kf1 $1 {The
strongest response. On the kingside White's king is placed most safely.} Ne5
18. Qe2 Kd7 19. Nd1 {White is planning to bring his currently passive knight
into play via e3 and restrict activity of the opponent's bishop by c2-c3.} Rb8
20. c3 Qa4 $6 ({After} 20... Qb5 21. b3 {White keeps a minimal advantage.}) 21.
Bxe5 Bxe5 22. g3 Bf6 $6 {After this passive reply White gets a durable
advantage.} ({After the appealing move} 22... Qb5 $1 {it is unclear, whether
White has anything better than trading quens, as other continuations are quite
risky for him, e.g.:} 23. c4 (23. Rc1 $2 Rh8 $1 24. c4 $2 Qa5 25. a3 Rh1+ 26.
Kg2 Qe1 $1 $17) (23. b3 Rh8 $1 24. c4 Qa5 $17) 23... Qa4 24. Kg2 (24. b3 Rxb3)
24... Rb4 {><c4, ><b2.}) 23. Kg2 a5 24. f3 {[%cal Gd1e3,Ge3g4] White hss a
slight but durable advantage due to the superirority of his knight over the
black bishop and good pawn structure.} c5 25. Ne3 Kc7 26. Qd2 Qb5 27. b3 a4 28.
Rb1 axb3 (28... Qa5 {is met by} 29. b4) 29. Rxb3 Qa4 30. Rxb8 Kxb8 31. Ng4 Kc7
32. e5 $1 {The strongest continuation. The pawn sacrifice augments White's
advantage and complicates Black's defensive task.} Bxe5 33. Nxe5 dxe5 34. Qe2
Kd6 35. c4 e4 $1 {Correct decision. Advancing his tripled e5-pawn in the
appropriate moment, Black forces its exchange for the much more valuable
a2-pawn, as 36.fe4 falls short after 36...Ke5.} 36. Qxe4 Qxa2+ 37. Kh3 Qb2 38.
Kg4 Qf2 $4 (38... Qf6 $1 {was the only defence.} 39. Kh5 Qf5 $1 {, and if} 40.
g4 {then} Qf7+ 41. Kxg5 Qf6+ 42. Kh5 Qh8+ $11) (38... Qd4 $2 {loses to} 39.
Kxg5 Qxe4 40. fxe4 Ke5 41. g4 Kxe4 42. Kh6 $18) (38... Qd2 $2 {fails to} 39. f4
) 39. f4 $1 $18 {[%cal Gf4g5,Gg5g8] After this decisive pawn advancement Black
is defenseless, as} Kd7 (39... gxf4 {39...gf4 leads to the entirely los for
Blak pawn ending.} 40. Qxf4+ Qxf4+ 41. Kxf4) 40. fxg5 Qb2 41. g6 Qf6 42. Qb7+
Kd6 43. Qb8+ Kd7 44. Kh5 e5 45. Qb7+ Kd8 46. Qd5+ Ke8 47. Qg8+ Kd7 48. Qf7 Qh8+
49. Kg4 Qh1 50. g7 Qe4+ 51. Kg5 Qe3+ 52. Kh4 Qe4+ 53. g4 {[%mdl 8192]} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8.
Nbc3 (8. f3 Bf5 9. Nbc3 e6 10. Be3 (10. O-O Qd7 11. Be3 Nb4 12. Ne4 N4d5 13.
Bf2 Be7 14. Rc1 O-O 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qd2 $14 {0-1 Kisseleva,N-Semenova,L/
Kishinev 1995/EXT 95 (60)}) 10... Qd7 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nf4 O-O-O 13. h4 Nxd4 14.
h5 Nxb3 15. Qxb3 Qc6 16. hxg6 Qxf3 17. Rh3 Qxg4 18. gxf7 Nd5 19. Ncxd5 exd5 20.
Qd1 $18 {1-0 Schroll,G-Volkmann,F/Aschach 1992/TD 92\04 (38)}) 8... e6 9. O-O (
9. a3 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Qd7 11. Be3 Na5 12. Ba2 Nac4 13. Qc2 Qb5 14. Rb1 c5 15. O-O
Rc8 16. Qe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Be7 18. Nc3 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc5 $11 {1-0 Litinskaya,
M-Nutu Gajic,D/ROM-chT 1994/EXT 94ch (69)}) (9. Be3 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Bb4+ 11. Nc3
Nd5 12. Rc1 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qh4+ 14. Ke2 O-O 15. g3 Qe7 16. Ne4 $14 {0-1
Oosterom,E-Duyn,R/NLD-chT9495 1994/EXT 97 (30)}) 9... Qd7 (9... Nb4 10. h3 Bh5
11. f4 Bg6 12. d5 Qd7 13. dxe6 Bc5+ 14. Kh2 fxe6 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. Rd1+ N4d5
17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. b4 Bxb4 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5+ Kc6 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Bb2 Rad8
23. Bd4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Adianto,U-Barua,D/Dubai 1992/EXP 32 (62)}) (9... Bf5 10.
a3 Qd7 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. f4 Ned5 14. Qf3 c6 15. Bf2 Be7 16. Nge4 O-O
17. g4 $36 {1-0 Mohr,S-Osmanovic,K/Zuerich 1987/EXT 87op (34)}) (9... Be7 10.
f3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. f4 Na5 13. f5 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 exf5 15. gxf5 Bh5 16. Ng3
Qxd4+ 17. Kg2 Qh4 18. f6 gxf6 19. exf6 Bg4 20. Qb5+ $16 {1-0 Matveeva,S-Nutu
Gajic,D/Subotica 1991/TD 93\02 (28)}) 10. h3 (10. Be3 O-O-O (10... Be7 11. a3
Rd8 (11... O-O 12. Ba2 Bh5 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. f3 Bg6 15. Qe1 Bf8 16. Rd1 Ne7 17.
Bg5 Re8 18. Bxe7 Bxe7 19. Nf4 c6 20. Ne4 {1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Yakovich,Y/
Kujbyshev 1986/MCL 05 (20)}) 12. f3 Bf5 13. Qc1 Na5 14. Ba2 Bd3 15. Bf2 Qc6 16.
b4 Nac4 17. Rd1 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 a5 19. Rb1 axb4 20. axb4 Qb5 21. Nc3 Qa6 22. b5
$16 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Brady,S/Erevan 1996/EXT 96ch2 (60)}) 11. f3 Bf5 12. Bf2
Be7 13. Rc1 Kb8 14. Na4 Nb4 15. Nc5 Qe8 16. Ng3 Bxc5 17. Nxf5 Bf8 18. Ng3 N4d5
19. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Giorgadze,G-Gonzalez Garcia,J/Ubeda 1997/EXP 56 (47)}) 10...
Bxe2 $6 (10... Bf5) (10... Bh5) 11. Nxe2 Be7 12. Be3 Nb4 13. Ng3 $1 {[%cal
Gg3e4,Ge4c5]} O-O-O (13... O-O 14. Qg4 $40 {[%cal Gg3h5]}) 14. Qe2 N4d5 15. Ne4
Kb8 16. Rad1 (16. Rac1 $5) 16... h5 (16... f5 $140 17. Nc5 $16) 17. a3 Qe8 18.
Bd2 a6 (18... f6 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. dxc5 Nd7 22. c6 Nc5 23. Qb5
Qxc6 24. Qxc6 bxc6 25. Bc2 $16) 19. Rc1 Qg8 20. f4 $1 f5 21. exf6 $1 (21. Nc5
Qf7) 21... gxf6 (21... Bxf6 22. Nxf6 gxf6 23. f5 $16) 22. f5 $1 $16 Rh7 (22...
exf5 23. Rxf5 Qg6 24. Qf3 $16) 23. Nc5 Bd6 $2 (23... exf5 24. Ne6 Rd7 25. Rxf5
$16) 24. Nxe6 Qg3 25. Qf3 $1 $18 Qxf3 (25... Qh2+ 26. Kf2 Rg8 27. Bxd5 Nxd5 28.
Qxd5 $18) 26. Rxf3 Re8 27. Re1 h4 28. Re4 Bg3 29. Kf1 c6 30. Rg4 Kc8 31. a4 $1
Nc7 32. Nxc7 Bxc7 (32... Kxc7 33. Ba5 Rhe7 34. Be6 $18) 33. Be1 $1 Nd5 34. Bxd5
cxd5 35. Bxh4 Rhe7 36. Rc3 Kb8 37. Bxf6 Rf7 38. Rg6 Ref8 39. Rxc7 $1 Kxc7 (
39... Rxc7 40. Be5 Rxf5+ 41. Ke1 Rxe5+ 42. dxe5 Rc2 43. h4 Rxb2 44. h5 $18) 40.
Be5+ Kd7 41. g4 Rc8 42. Rb6 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Ke8 44. h4 Rc6 45. Rxc6 bxc6 46. h5
Rb7 47. h6 Rxb2+ 48. Kg3 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.06"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. b3 Rc7 (13... Re8 14.
Bh3 Qc7 (14... Rb8 15. Nd5 h5 16. Ng5 Ba8 17. Bd4 b5 18. e4 bxc4 19. bxc4 e5
20. Be3 Nxd5 21. cxd5 Bf6 22. g4 $1 $40 {1-0 Delchev,A-Kutuzovic,B/Nova Gorica
1997/CBM 56 ext (29)}) (14... Rc7 {-13...Rc7}) 15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Bxf3 17.
exf3 Qb7 18. Rd4 Rc5 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Rh4 Rh5 21. Rxh5 Nxh5 22. Nd5 b5 23. Re1
bxc4 24. bxc4 e6 25. Qxh5 exd5 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Qxd5 $14 {Fancsy,I-Dudas,J/
Budapest/1994/}) 14. Bh3 $1 $146 {[%cal Yd8a8,Ga8h1,Rh3d7][%mdl 8] This new
move creates fresh problems for Black in a position, which was until now
considered completely equal. White sidesteps his B, thus avoiding it's
possible exchange and the pressure on the long /^ after Qa8. On h3 the B
creates threats of it's own.} ({A less enterprising alternative is} 14. Bh6 Qa8
15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 b5 $1 (16... Rfc8 $143 $6 17. Qe3 Re8 18. Bh3 b5 19. cxb5
Bxf3 20. exf3 axb5 21. Nxb5 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Nd5 23. Qd4+ N7f6 24. a4 h5 25. f4 e5
26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qa7 $18 {Kolbus,D-Vadasz,L/Budapest/1996/}) 17. cxb5 axb5 18.
Nxb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21. Rb1 Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24.
Nxa4 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 d5 26. Nf3 d4 27. b4 Nd5 28. Rb2 f6 29. h4 Kf7 30. Rd2 Nxb4
$6 31. Nxd4 $1 $11 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999/}) ({Even less
promising is} 14. g4 h6 $1 15. h3 g5 16. Qg3 b5 17. h4 bxc4 18. hxg5 hxg5 19.
b4 Qa8 20. Bxg5 Re8 21. Be3 Nf8 22. a4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bd4 Bxf3 25. Bxf3
Qb8 26. Bd5 Qxb4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qf4 e6 29. Be4 c3 30. Qxd6 Rc4 31. f3 Qxd6
32. Rxd6 a5 33. Bd3 {1/2,Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/Dos Hermanas/1999/}) 14... Qb8 $6 {
Although Black gets in the typical hedgehog b6-b5 break, this causes him more
pain than joy.} (14... Re8 {This position arose with 13...Re8, so technically
13.Bh3! is a novelty.} 15. Bh6 (15. Ng5 $6 h6 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 g5 18.
Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 Nf8 20. Bf5 Rc5 21. g4 Bc8 22. b4 Rxf5 23. gxf5 Bxf5 $17 {
Milocco,F-Adler,J/Bled/1992/}) 15... Rc5 $5 ({A very similar type of position 
(compared to our game) arises after} 15... Bxf3 16. exf3 Rc5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18.
Qd4 h5 19. Na4 Ne5 20. Bg2 Ra5 21. f4 Ned7 22. Nc3 Rc5 23. b4 Rc7 24. Nd5 e5
25. Qb2 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Qf6 27. Qd2 $16 {Wojtkiewicz,A-Palkovi,J/Stara Zagora zt/
1990/}) (15... Bh8 16. Ng5 Nf8 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 b5 19. Qf4 Rxc1 (19... Bg7
$5 {leads to a similar position as in Arsovic-Almasi.}) 20. Qxc1 Qa5 21. Qc2
Qb4 22. Nf3 Qc5 23. Qd3 b4 24. Be3 Qb5 25. Ne1 Rb8 26. Bg2 a5 27. Qxb5 Rxb5 28.
h3 Bg7 29. Nc2 Rb7 30. Nd4 $16 {Serebro,A-Izhnin,A/Kherson/1990/}) 16. Ng5 b5
17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Nf8 21. b4 Qb6 22. Rd1 a5
$132 {Arsovic,Z-Almasi,Z/Budapest/1991/}) (14... Qa8 $2 15. Bxd7 Rxd7 16. Na4
$18) 15. Bh6 $1 (15. Bxd7 $2 Rxd7 16. Bxb6 $2 Bxf3 $19) 15... Bxf3 (15... Bxh6
16. Qxh6 Bxf3 17. exf3 Rc5 18. Qe3 $14 (18. Bxd7 $5 $36 {[%cal Rc3d5] /\Nd5}))
16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. exf3 Ne5 (17... b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Qb4 $16) 18. Bg2 b5 (
18... Qb7 19. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 20. f4 $1 $16) 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Qb4 $1 $36 {[%csl
Rb5][%mdl 16] ><b5} Rfc8 ({Black's best chance was} 20... Qa8 $142 21. Qxb5 $5
(21. f4 Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Ng4 23. Rf1 Ngxh2 24. Nxb5 Rcc8 $5 $15) (21. Nxb5 $2 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Nd3 $19) 21... Nxf3+ 22. Kh1 Rfc8 (22... Ng4 $2 23. Qe2 $16) 23. Qe2
Rxc3 24. Bxf3 Qa7 $14 {<=>[+]}) 21. f4 Ned7 22. Ne2 Rc2 (22... Rxc1 $143 23.
Rxc1 Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Qb6 25. Bf1 $16) 23. Rxc2 Rxc2 24. Rd2 Rc5 (24... Rxd2 25.
Qxd2 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Yd2b4,Ye2c3] /\Qb4,Nc3} b4 $6 26. Nd4 Qb6 27. Nc6 $16)
25. Bf3 Qb6 (25... Qc7 26. Nd4 $16) 26. a3 Nb8 27. Qd4 {/\b4} Qc7 (27... Nc6
$142 $5 28. Qe3 b4 29. a4 $36) 28. Qb2 $1 $16 {/\b4,Nd4,Be2} b4 $2 {This loses
outright, although Black's position was already unpleasant.} (28... Kg8 29. b4
Rc4 30. Nd4 $16) (28... Nbd7 $2 29. b4 Rc4 30. Bd5 $18) 29. axb4 Rb5 30. Nc3
$18 Rxb4 31. Nd5 Qa5 32. Re2 $5 (32. Nxb4 Qxb4 33. Rd4 $18 {would also suffice,
but Topalov's move is even more incisive.}) 32... Rb5 (32... e5 33. Nxb4 Qxb4
34. fxe5 $18) 33. b4 Qd8 34. Nxe7 d5 (34... Nbd7 35. Bc6 Rh5 36. g4 $18) 35.
Re5 Nbd7 ({Somewhat better was} 35... Kf8 $5 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5 Rxd5 38.
Bxd5 Qxd5 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qxb8 Qd1+ 41. Kg2 Qd5+ 42. f3 Qa2+ 43. Kh3 Qe6+ 44.
g4 $18) 36. Rxd5 Rb6 37. Rxd7 $1 $18 {The decisive simplification.} Qxd7 38.
Nd5 Qd8 (38... Rd6 39. Nxf6 Rxf6 40. g4 $18 {and the pin will cost Black a
whole R.}) 39. Nxb6 (39. g4 $6 Kg8) 39... Qxb6 40. b5 Kg8 41. Bc6 (41. Bc6 Ng4
(41... Nh5 42. Qe5 {/\Qe3+-}) 42. h3 Nh6 43. Bd7 $1 $18 {פh6,/\Qe5-e3}) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.07"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2581"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 b6 10. a4 Bb7 11. f3 Nc6 12. Bg5 Nb4 13. Nb1 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Na3 Qc7 16. c3 Nc6 17. Nc4 Rad8 18. Qd3 Bg5 19. Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.09"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Nc3 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Rd8 16. Ba3 Bf6 17. Re3 Qc6 18. Be7 Re8 19. Rae1 Bxe7 20. Rxe7 Bd7 21.
h3 f6 22. Qa3 a6 23. Nd2 Rxe7 24. Rxe7 Re8 25. Nf1 Rxe7 26. Qxe7 Qe6 27. Qd8+
Qe8 28. Qb6 Bc6 29. Ne3 h5 30. Qc7 Qe4 31. g3 Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Bb5 33. Qc8+ Kh7 34.
Qf5+ Qxf5 35. Nxf5 g6 36. Ne3 g5 37. h4 Kg6 38. f3 Bc6 39. Kf2 Kf7 40. a3 Ke6
41. Ke2 Bb5+ 42. Kd2 Bc6 43. Kc2 Ba4+ 44. Kb2 Bb5 45. Kc2 Be2 46. f4 gxh4 47.
gxh4 Bb5 48. Kb3 Bd3 49. Kb4 b6 50. Kb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.10"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Rd1
b5 9. d5 exd5 (9... Nxd5 10. e4 bxc4 11. exd5 Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc5 (
13... Bb7 14. Nc3 Bb4 (14... Bc5 15. Rxc4 $16) 15. Qxc4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 $1 (16.
Qa4+ Qd7 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 18. dxe6+ Kxe6 19. bxc3 $16) 16... exd5 17. Ba3 $1 $40
{/+-}) 14. Rxc4 Qxd5 (14... Bb6 15. Rg4 Qxd5 16. Nc3 $16) 15. Nc3 Qf5 16. g4
$18) 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. e4 Bd6 (11... Qe7 $5 12. Rxd5 Be6 (12... Bg4) 13. Rd1
Bg4 $132) (11... Bg4 12. exd5+ (12. Rxd5 Qf6) 12... Qe7 13. Qc2 (13. Qxe7+ Nxe7
14. a4 b4 $1 $132 (14... Rd8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nc3 b4 17. Nb5 $16)) 13... Bxf3
(13... Ne5 14. d6 Qe6 15. d7+ $1 Kd8 16. Ng5 $40) 14. gxf3 Ne5 (14... Nd4 15.
Rxd4 cxd4 16. Qc6+ $18) 15. Qe4 Rd8 16. a4 $36) 12. exd5+ Ne7 13. a4 $1 b4 14.
Nbd2 O-O 15. Nc4 Re8 16. Bg5 (16. Ng5 $5 h6 17. Ne4 (17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Ne4 Nxd5
$1) 17... Nf5) 16... a5 17. Re1 Ba6 18. Qe4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qc7 20. Bxe7 (20. Re4
Ng6 21. Rae1 Rxe4 22. Rxe4 (22. Qxe4 h6 23. Be3 c4 $132) 22... Ne5 23. Nxe5
Bxe5 $11) 20... Bxe7 21. b3 Bf6 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rd1 Rd8 $11 24. g3 g6 25.
Kg2 Qd6 26. Qe4 Bc3 {Preventing White`s Knight from moving to c4 Black
completely equalize the game} 27. Rd3 Kg7 28. h4 h5 29. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/15+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.05"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nbd2 Ke7 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. b3 b6 12. Ne1 Ne5 13. Bb2 Rd8 14. Rd1
Bd6 15. Nef3 Nc6 16. Nc4 Bc5 17. Rxd8 Nxd8 18. Nfe5 Bb7 19. Nd3 Nc6 20. Rc1 Nd7
21. Nxc5 bxc5 22. Rd1 Rb8 23. Bxg7 Rg8 24. Bb2 Nb4 25. f3 Nxa2 26. e4 Nb4 27.
Kf2 Bc6 28. Ne5 Rb8 29. Bc3 f6 30. Nxd7 Bxd7 31. Bxf6+ Kxf6 32. Rxd7 Nc6 33.
Rxh7 Rxb3 34. Bxa6 Nd4 35. Rc7 Rc3 36. h4 e5 37. Kg3 Rc2 38. Rc8 Ne6 39. Rc6
Ke7 40. h5 Nf4 41. Kg4 Rxg2+ 42. Kf5 Nxh5 43. Rh6 Nf4 44. Kxe5 Ng6+ 45. Kf5 Kf7
46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. Rh1 Kg7 48. f4 Ne7+ 49. Ke6 Nc6 50. f5 Nd4+ 51. Ke5 Nf3+ 52.
Kf4 Nd4 53. Bc4 Rc2 54. Bd5 Rf2+ 55. Ke5 Nf3+ 56. Kd6 Nd4 57. Rh5 Kf6 58. e5+
Kg7 59. f6+ Kg6 60. Rh1 Nf5+ 61. Ke6 Nd4+ 62. Ke7 Nf5+ 63. Kd7 Rd2 64. Rg1+ Kh7
65. f7 Rxd5+ 66. Ke6 Rd8 67. Kxf5 c4 68. Ke4 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/15+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.05"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Qxf3 g6 9. c3 Bg7 10. Qd1 e6 11. d3 Nge7 12. Nd2 b5 13. Nf3 Qb6 14. Be3 O-O 15.
Qd2 d5 16. Bf4 d4 17. e5 dxc3 18. bxc3 b4 19. cxb4 cxb4 20. Be3 Qb7 21. Bc5
Rfd8 22. d4 Rd7 23. Qf4 Rad8 24. Rad1 Nf5 25. g4 Bh6 26. Qe4 Nfe7 27. h4 Nd5
28. g5 Bf8 29. Bxf8 Rxf8 30. Rd2 Nc3 31. Qf4 Rfd8 32. Re3 Ne7 33. Red3 a5 34.
Nh2 Qe4 35. Qxe4 Nxe4 36. Rc2 Nc3 37. Ng4 Rxd4 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. Rh3 Nc6 40. h5
Nxe5 41. hxg6 Kxg6 42. Nxh7 Rh8 43. f4 Rxh7 44. Rxh7 Kxh7 45. fxe5 Rg4+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.05"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 Nf6 7. Re1 b5 8. Bc2
Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. d3 Bg7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. Nf3 b4 15.
Ba4 Qc7 16. Bd2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rab8 18. Rab1 e6 19. g3 Nb6 20. Bc2 Nd7 21. a4
Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Rb8 23. Qd1 Rb6 24. Kf1 Qb7 25. Ke2 h5 26. Rxb6 Qxb6 27. Qb1 Qxb1
28. Bxb1 Nb6 29. Bc2 Kf8 30. Ng5 Ke7 31. f4 Bh8 32. Nf3 Bg7 33. g4 hxg4 34.
hxg4 Bh8 35. Be1 Bf6 36. Kd2 Kd7 37. Bf2 Bg7 38. d4 cxd4 39. cxd4 d5 40. e5 Bh6
41. Bg3 Nc4+ 42. Kc3 Ne3 43. Bd3 Nxg4 44. Bxa6 Ne3 45. Bb5 Nf5 46. Bh2 Kc7 47.
Bd3 Bf8 48. Bg1 Bb4+ 49. Kb3 Ba5 50. Bxf5 gxf5 51. Be3 Kd7 52. Kc2 Ke7 53. Bd2
Bb6 54. Kd3 f6 55. exf6+ Kxf6 56. Bc3 Ke7 57. Nd2 Bc7 58. Ke3 Kd7 59. Nb3 Bd6
60. Bd2 Kc7 61. Nc1 Be7 62. Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.05"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. Bg2 Qb6 7. Nc2 d5 8. O-O
Be7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne3 Nxe3 11. Bxe3 Qxb2 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Bd4 Qb7 14. Bxg7
Rg8 15. Bc3 c5 16. Qc2 Rg6 17. Nd2 Qc6 18. Nc4 Bb7 19. f3 f6 20. Na5 Qc7 21.
Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Qa4+ Kf7 23. Rad1 a6 24. Rd2 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Bxd8 26. Rd1 Be7 27.
Qc4 Rg5 28. a4 Rd5 29. Ra1 h5 30. Kf2 Rd7 31. e4 Qc6 32. f4 Bf8 33. Rb1 Qd6 34.
Ke3 Bh6 35. a5 Kg6 36. Ke2 h4 37. Rf1 f5 38. Rb1 Kh5 39. Rg1 Bg7 40. gxh4 Bh6
41. e5 Qd5 42. Qxd5 Rxd5 43. Bd2 Rd4 44. Be3 Ra4 45. Kf3 Rxa5 46. Rd1 Kg6 47.
Rd6 Kf7 48. h5 Rb5 49. Rd7+ Kg8 50. Rd6 Kf7 51. Rxa6 Bf8 52. Ra7+ Kg8 53. Rc7
Rb3 54. h4 Rb5 55. Ke2 Rb2+ 56. Kd3 Rb3+ 57. Kd2 Rb2+ 58. Kc3 Rh2 59. Bxc5 Bxc5
60. Rxc5 Rxh4 61. Rc8+ Kg7 62. Kd4 Rxf4+ 63. Kc5 Ra4 64. Rc6 Kh6 65. Kd6 Kxh5
66. Kxe6 Kg4 67. Kf6 f4 68. e6 f3 69. e7 f2 70. Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hansen,Cu} d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7.
Qe2 a6 8. a3 cxd4 (8... b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b4 Bb6 (11... Be7 12.
Bb2 O-O 13. Nbd2 Qb6 14. Nb3 Rfd8 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Nc5 $14 {1-0 Eliskases,
E-Muffang,A/Warsaw 1935/HCL 36 (25)}) 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. Nbd2 Rfd8 15.
Rac1 Rd7 16. Bb1 Rad8 17. Nb3 $11 {1-0 Pirc,V-Spielmann,R/Maribor 1934/HCL 32 
(30)}) (8... Be7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b4 Bd6 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Nc3 b6 14.
Rac1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Qe7 16. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Stahlberg,G-Skalicka,C/Podebrady 1936/
EXT 97 (43)}) (8... Qc7 9. Nc3 cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. Bg5 Ng4 12. Qd2 h6 13. Bf4
Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Ne4 Qd8 16. Qf4 $16 {1-0 Ragozin,V-Flohr,S/Moscow 1944/
URS-ch (49)}) 9. Rd1 b5 10. Ba2 d3 (10... Bb7 11. Nc3 b4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Rxd4
Qc7 14. Bb3 Be7 15. Ba4+ Kf8 16. Bd2 $16 {1-0 Barus,C-Mahmud,S/Jakarta 1996/
CBM 57 (30)}) 11. Rxd3 Qc7 12. e4 $1 Ng4 (12... Bc5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Be3 $14) (
12... Bd6 13. Rxd6 Qxd6 14. e5 $16) 13. h3 Nge5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 (14... Nxe5 15.
Rc3 $1 (15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Rc3 Qe7) 15... Qd8 16. Be3 $14 {/+/-}) 15. Be3 $1 Bb7 (
15... Qxe4 16. Nc3 Qg6 (16... Qf5 17. Nd5 (17. Rad1 Be7 18. Bb1 Qf6 19. Ne4 Qh4
20. Nd6+ $44) 17... exd5 18. Bxd5 Ne5 19. Bd4 $1 (19. Rad1 Be7 20. Bxa8 Nxd3
21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Bxd7+ Qxd7 23. Rxd3 Qe6 $11) 19... Qxd3 20. Qxe5+ Be6 21. Bc6+
Kd8 22. Bxa8 $18) (16... Qe5 17. Rad1 Be7 18. Qf3 Qc7 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. Nd5 $1
exd5 21. Bxd5 Bb7 (21... O-O 22. Bxc6 Ra7 23. Rc1 $18 {[%cal Gf4e3,Ge3a7]}) 22.
Bxf7+ $1 (22. Bc7 Ne5 $8 (22... Qxc7 23. Qxf7+ Kd8 24. Be6+ $18) 23. Bxe5 Bxd5
24. Rxd5 O-O 25. Rd7 $36) 22... Kf8 (22... Kxf7 23. Bc7+ $18) 23. Bd5 $18 Ke8
$140 24. Bc7 $18) 17. Nd5 (17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Nd5) (17. Qf3 Bb7 18. Rad1 Na5 19.
Qg4 Qxg4 20. hxg4 Bc6) 17... exd5 18. Bxd5 Be7 19. Bc5 O-O 20. Bxe7 Re8 21. Re3
$14 {/+/-}) 16. Nc3 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Bc5 17. Rad1 O-O 18. f4 (18. Rd7 $5 Rab8 19.
f4 Bxe3+ 20. Qxe3 $16 {/+-}) 18... Bxe3+ 19. Qxe3 Qb8 20. Rd7 $16 Bc8 21. R7d6
Ne7 22. Kh1 Qc7 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. h4 Ng8 25. Bb1 Bb7 26. Rd7 Qc6 27. e5 Qc8 28.
f5 (28. Qd3 f5 (28... g6 29. Qd6 Qc6 30. Be4 $1 Qxd6 31. R1xd6 Bxe4 32. Nxe4
$16) 29. Qg3 $1 g6 30. h5 $18) 28... exf5 29. Bxf5 Qb8 30. Be4 Bxe4 31. Nxe4
Qe8 (31... Ra7 32. Ng5 Rxd7 33. Rxd7 Qe8 34. Qd3 $16) 32. R1d6 (32. Nc5 Ne7 33.
h5 $16) 32... Ne7 {[%csl Re5][%cal Ye7g6,Yg6e5,Ye8e5]} 33. Nf6 Nf5 $1 (33...
gxf6 34. Rxe7 Qxe7 35. exf6 Rg8 36. Qxg8+ Rxg8 37. fxe7 $18) 34. Qf4 gxf6 35.
Qxf5 Qxe5 36. Qxf6+ Qxf6 37. Rxf6 $14 Kg7 38. Rf5 h6 39. Kh2 Rad8 40. Rfxf7+
Rxf7 41. Rxd8 Re7 $1 (41... Rf2 42. Rd7+ Kg6 (42... Kf8 43. b4 Ra2 44. Rd6 $18)
43. Rd6+ Kf5 44. b3 $16) 42. Rd6 Re3 $1 43. Rxa6 Rb3 44. Rb6 Rxb2 $11 45. a4 b4
46. Kg3 b3 47. Kf4 Ra2 48. Kf5 Rxa4 49. Rb7+ Kg8 50. g4 {Hansen,Cu: 'This
postion should be a simple draw. This easiest way to achieve that result would
be:'} Ra6 {'?!' Hansen,Cu.} (50... h5 $1 {Hansen,Cu} 51. g5 Rxh4 52. Kg6 (52.
Rxb3 Rc4 53. Kg6 Rc8 $11) 52... Rf4 53. Rxb3 Rf8 {this postion is draw even
without P-h5. Black just moves his rook back and forth and the back rank.}) 51.
Rxb3 Kg7 (51... Ra5+ {Hansen,Cu} 52. Kg6 Ra6+ 53. Kh5 Kg7 54. Rb7+ Kg8 $11) 52.
Rb7+ Kg8 53. Re7 $1 Ra5+ 54. Re5 Ra4 55. Re4 Ra7 (55... Ra6 $2 {Hansen,Cu} 56.
Re6 $18) (55... Ra5+ {Hansen,Cu} 56. Kg6 Ra6+ 57. Kh5 Kg7 $11) 56. Kf6 Rg7 {
'?' Hansen,Cu.} (56... Ra6+ {Hansen,Cu} 57. Re6 Ra4 $11) 57. Re8+ Kh7 58. Re7
Rxe7 59. Kxe7 Kg7 60. h5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. Nc3 a6 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. Qd3 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rd8 14. Rac1
Nh5 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. Ne4 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bf4 e5 19. Be3 Be6 20. b3 h6 21.
a4 b6 22. Rc2 Be7 23. Bd5 Qd7 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. f3 b5 26. cxb5 axb5 27. a5 d5
28. Bb6 e4 29. Qxb5 Rd6 30. fxe4 Bd8 31. exd5 Bxb6+ 32. axb6 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Rf6+
34. Ke1 Rfxb6 35. Qc5 Qe4 36. Kf2 Rxb3 37. d6 R8b5 38. Rc4 Rf3+ 39. Kg1 Qxe2
40. Qd4 Rb2 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Breda Panfox"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Be2 Qc7 13. Rc1 a5 14. a4 Nd7 15.
Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 O-O 17. Qb5 Bh4+ 18. g3 Be7 19. O-O f5 20. f4 Kh7 21. Nd2 e4
22. Nc4 Bd8 23. Kh1 Rf7 24. c3 Rc8 25. b3 g6 26. Rfd1 Nc5 27. Bxc5 Qxc5 28.
Qxc5 Rxc5 29. Na3 Rd7 30. Nb5 Bb6 31. Kg2 Rc8 32. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Golod, Vitali"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2568"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Beer-Sheva Chess Club"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. d4 {Alterman} Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Qd3 $6 {This move is
worse than:} (5. Bh4 $5 {Is the main line.}) ({and} 5. Bf4 $5) (5. Nbd2 $2 {
Alterman} Nxg5 6. Nxg5 e6 7. Ndf3 Be7 8. Ne4 Bb7 9. e3 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Qa5 11.
Bxb5 Bf6 12. Qd3 Bxc3+ (12... Qb4 $6 13. O-O Bxf3 (13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 $132 {
1-0 Palat,A-Hobuss,W/Open, Geneva SUI 1997 (38)}) 14. gxf3 a6 {-+}) 13. bxc3
Bxf3 14. gxf3 a6 15. Bc4 d5 {-+}) 5... Nxg5 6. Nxg5 g6 {N '=!?' Alterman.} ({
Good enough:} 6... e6 $5 7. h4 (7. Nf3 $2 c4 8. Qd1 Qb6 9. e3 Bb7 {=+ Garcia
Paolicchi,R-Fernandes,A/Linares, 1995(0-1)(46)} (9... Bb7 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Be2
Be7 12. O-O O-O {=+ 0-1 Garcia Paolicchi,R-Fernandes,A/Linares zt 1995 (46)}))
(7. Nxf7 Kxf7 (7... Qf6 8. Nxh8 (8. dxe6 Qxb2 9. exd7+ Bxd7 (9... Nxd7 10. Nxh8
Qxa1) 10. Nxh8 Qxa1) 8... Qxb2 9. dxe6 Qxa1 10. exd7+ (10. c3 g6 11. exd7+ Bxd7
$132) 10... Bxd7 11. c4 g6 12. Nxg6 {~=}) 8. dxe6+ Ke7 (8... Ke8 9. exd7+ Bxd7
10. Qe4+ {+-}) 9. exd7 Bb7 10. Qxb5 Qb6 {-/+}) 7... c4 (7... Qf6 $143 8. Nc3 (
8. c3 $5) 8... c4 9. Qd2 Bb4 10. Rh3 O-O $132 {0-1 Arkell,K-Steinbacher,M/
Copenhagen op(2) 1994 (33)}) 8. Qf3 (8. Qe3 $143 Bb7 (8... Qf6 9. Nc3 Bb4 (9...
b4 10. Nge4 Qe5 11. f4 Qh5 12. Nb5 Na6 13. O-O-O {+/-}) 10. O-O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3
O-O 12. Qe4 $1 (12. Rh3 $6 exd5 (12... Bb7 13. Rf3 Qh6 14. dxe6 dxe6 15. Rxf7
$1 {+- 1-0 Hermlin,A-Nokka,R/Viikonlopputurnaus Helsinki 1992 (21)}) 13. Rxd5
h6 14. Ne4 Qb6 $132) 12... Qg6 13. dxe6 Qxe4 14. exf7+ Rxf7 15. Nxe4 Nc6 16. g3
{+/-}) 9. Nc3 h6 10. dxe6 (10. Nge4 Qa5 11. dxe6 dxe6 12. Nc5 Bc6 {=+}) 10...
fxe6 (10... dxe6 $5) (10... dxe6 11. Nf3 a6 {=+}) 11. Nge4 Bb4 {'=/+!?'
Alterman.} (11... Qa5 $5 {=+}) 12. Qf3 $6 (12. O-O-O $5 {~}) (12. O-O-O $5 $132
) 12... Bxe4 13. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qf6 {=+ Martin,B-Sarfati,J/NZD-ch,1990(1/
2-1/2)(46)}) 8... Qf6 9. Nc3 Bb7 $5 (9... Bb4 10. O-O-O Qxf3 11. gxf3 {Alterman
} h6 12. Nge4 f5 13. a3 Be7 14. Ng3 a6 $132 {1-0 Karner,H-Katalymov Boris N/
olm URS Moscow RUS 1972 (41)}) 10. O-O-O Qxf3 11. Nxf3 a6 {= Marantz,M-Pasman,
M/ISR-ch,1984 (1/2-1/2) (31)} (11... a6 12. e3 Bb4 13. dxe6 dxe6 14. a4 Nd7 {
=+ 1/2-1/2 Marantz,M-Pasman,M/ISR 1984 (31)})) ({Dubious:} 6... h6 $6 {in view
of:} 7. Nh7 Qa5+ (7... c4 8. Qe4 {+=} (8. Qe4 Bb7 9. Nxf8 Kxf8 10. Qd4 Qc7 11.
e4 {+= 0-1 Senkiewicz,M-Vucic,M/New York MCC 1991 (55)})) 8. c3 d6 9. Nxf8 Kxf8
10. e4 {+= Wells,P-Buckmire,R/Oakham,1986(1-0)(26)} (10. e4 {Alterman} a6 11.
Nd2 {+= 1-0 Wells,P-Buckmire,R/Oakham YM 1986 (26)})) 7. e4 $2 {Strategical
blunder. Besides,white has two principales moves: '!?' Alterman.} (7. Qc3 $5 {
(Vaganian,R)} f6 8. Nf3 {/\e4+/=/=} (8. Ne4 {Alterman} d6 9. e3 a6 $132)) ({and
} 7. Qf3 $5 f6 $140 (7... f5 $2 8. Qc3 Rg8 9. Qxc5 e6 10. Qe3 {+/=/+/-}) 8. Ne6
$1 Qa5+ (8... dxe6 $2 9. dxe6 Qb6 (9... Bh6 $2 10. Qxa8 $140 Bc1 $2 11. Qxb8
Bxb2 12. Qxb5+ {+-}) 10. Qxa8 Nc6 11. Nc3 {+/-}) 9. c3 Bb7 (9... Bh6 $2 10. d6
{+/-}) (9... Na6 10. d6 Rb8 11. Nxf8 Rxf8 12. dxe7 Kxe7 13. Nd2 {+=}) 10. Nxf8
Kxf8 11. e4 {+=}) ({Also badly:} 7. Qxb5 $2 e6 $140 (7... Na6 {Alterman} 8. Qc4
Bh6 (8... h6 9. Qc3 Rg8 10. Ne4 Bg7 11. Qa3 {+=}) 9. h4 (9. Ne4 Rb8 10. b3 Bg7
11. c3 (11. Nec3 Nb4 12. Kd1 Bd4 $1 {-+}) 11... Nb4 12. cxb4 Bxa1 13. Nxc5 d6
14. Nd3 Qb6 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. Qc1 Bg7 17. Nc4 $132) (9. Nf3 Bg7 10. c3 (10. Nc3
Rb8 11. Rb1 Qa5 12. Kd2 $8 Nc7 (12... Rb4 13. Qd3 Rd4 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15. Qc4 Bb7
16. e3 dxc3+ 17. bxc3 {+-}) 13. a3 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Rxb2 {-/+}) 10... Rb8 11. Nbd2
(11. b3 Nb4 12. Kd1 (12. cxb4 Bxa1 {-/+}) 12... Qc7 13. e3 Ba6 14. Qh4 Bxf1 15.
Rxf1 Nxd5 {-/+}) 11... Rxb2 12. e4 Qa5 {-/+}) 9... Rb8 10. b3 Bg7 11. c3 h6 (
11... Nb4 12. Qf4 O-O 13. Qxb8 Nc2+ 14. Kd1 Nxa1 15. Qxa7 {+/-}) 12. Ne4 (12.
Nf3 Nb4 {-/+}) 12... Nb4 13. cxb4 Bxa1 14. Nxc5 d6 15. Nd3 Qb6 16. Nd2 Ba6 17.
Qc1 Bg7 18. Nc4 $132) (7... Bg7 8. c3 Na6 9. Qa4 (9. e4 Rb8 10. Qa4 Qb6 11. b3
Nb4 12. Kd1 c4 13. Nf3 (13. Bxc4 Qxf2 {-/+}) 13... Qxf2 {-/+}) 9... Rb8 10. Qc2
Qb6 11. b3 Nb4 12. Qd2 Bb7 13. e4 O-O {~=}) 8. Ne4 exd5 9. Nxc5 {in view of:}
a6 10. Qb4 $8 Nc6 11. Qa3 d4 $36 (11... Qb6 $2 12. Qe3+ Be7 13. Nd3 Qxe3 (13...
d4 $5) 14. fxe3 {+=})) 7... Bg7 8. c3 ({Very dangerously:} 8. Qxb5 {because of:
} e6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. exd5 O-O $36) 8... O-O 9. Be2 {'=/+?!' Alterman.} ({
Again badly:} 9. Qxb5 {because of:} e6 $36 (9... e6 {Alterman} 10. Nf3 exd5 11.
exd5 Re8+ 12. Kd1 {~=} (12. Be2 Ba6 {-+})) (9... Na6 10. Qa4 Nc7 (10... Qb6 11.
Nd2 Rb8 12. Nc4 {+/-}) 11. Nf3 d6 12. Nbd2 e6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Bd3 d5 15. O-O
{+=})) 9... e6 10. Nf3 exd5 (10... c4 {=+ Alterman}) 11. Qxd5 (11. exd5 b4 {=+}
(11... Re8 {Alterman} 12. O-O d6 {=+} 13. Qxb5 Ba6 {-+})) 11... Qb6 $1 {=+} 12.
Nbd2 (12. Qxa8 $2 {Alterman} Bb7 13. Qxb7 Qxb7 {-/+}) (12. O-O {Alterman} Bb7
13. Qd3 c4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Nfd2 d5 16. a4 a6 17. axb5 (17. Bf3 d4 (17... dxe4
18. Bxe4 Nc6 {=+}) 18. cxd4 Qxd4 19. axb5 Qxb2 (19... axb5 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21.
Nc3 b4 {=+} (21... b4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 (22... c3 23. Nc7 $132) 23. exd5 Rc8 {=+}))
20. Qxb2 Bxb2 21. Ra2 c3 22. e5 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 a5 {-/+}) 17... axb5 18. Rxa8
Bxa8 19. Bf3 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nd7 {=+}) 12... Bb7 13. Qb3 c4 $1 14. Qd1 ({
Differently after:} 14. Qc2 $2 Re8 {'=/ +' Alterman.} 15. O-O $140 d5 {black
has a material and positional advantage.}) (14. Qc2 {=+ Alterman}) 14... d6 $1
{'!?' Alterman. Alterman: 'Black do not change a pawn d on e calculating
hereafter to attack it.'} (14... Re8 {=+ Alterman}) (14... d5 {Alterman} 15.
exd5 Bxd5 16. O-O Nc6 {=+}) 15. a4 ({Also after:} 15. O-O Nd7 {with the idea
Nc5,Rfe8 black has a big positional advantage.}) 15... a6 16. axb5 axb5 17.
Rxa8 Bxa8 18. O-O Nd7 19. Re1 ({Badly:} 19. b3 {in view of:} Bxc3 20. bxc4 $140
b4 {-/+}) ({Apparently better is:} 19. Qb1 {/\Bd1-c2(><Pe4)}) 19... Nc5 20. Bf1
Re8 21. Qc2 $6 ({Slightly better is:} 21. Qb1) 21... h6 {'-/+' Alterman.} ({
In my opinion slightly better is:} 21... h5) 22. g3 (22. Nd4 $2 d5) (22. Re3 {
Alterman} d5 23. exd5 Rxe3 24. fxe3 Bxd5 25. Nd4 Qb7 {-/+}) 22... Bb7 23. Qb1 (
23. Bg2 {Alterman} Nd3 24. Re2 f5 {-/+}) 23... h5 {-/+} 24. h4 (24. Bg2 {
Alterman} Nd3 25. Re2 d5 {-/+}) 24... Qc6 25. Bg2 Nd3 (25... Nxe4 $2 {is
refuted by:} 26. Ng5 d5 27. Ndxe4 dxe4 28. Bxe4 Qd7 29. Bxb7 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1
Qxb7 31. Qe8+ Bf8 {=}) 26. Rf1 $6 ({It is necessary:} 26. Re2 b4 {-/+} (26...
f5 $6 27. Ng5 {=+})) (26. Re3 {Alterman} Bh6 27. Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qxd3 {-/+})
26... d5 27. b3 {'-+?' Alterman. Alterman: 'After this move the game is over.'}
({Worse is:} 27. exd5 Qxd5 28. Ne1 $140 {?} Rxe1 29. Bxd5 Rxb1 30. Rxb1 Bxd5 {
-+}) ({White had good chance to try to salvage the game:} 27. Ne1 $1 {Alterman}
dxe4 (27... Nc5 28. exd5 Qd6 29. Ne4 Nxe4 30. Bxe4 Bxd5 31. Bxd5 Qxd5 32. Ng2 {
=+}) (27... Ne5 28. exd5 Qd7 29. Nef3 {=+}) (27... Nxe1 28. exd5 (28. Rxe1 d4 {
-/+}) 28... Qd7 29. Rxe1 {=}) 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 (28... b4 29. Nxd3 cxd3 30. cxb4
Rxe4 31. Qxd3 Bxb2 32. Bxe4 Qxe4 33. Qxe4 Bxe4 {=}) 29. Nxd3 cxd3 30. Qxd3 Qe8
31. Bxe4 Bxe4 32. Re1 Bxd3 33. Rxe8+ Kh7 {-/+ To realize an advantage is
difficult (if at all possible).}) 27... Qc5 $5 ({Also good enough:} 27... dxe4
$5 28. bxc4 $140 {?} (28. Ng5 Bxc3 {-/+}) 28... Bxc3 $1 (28... bxc4 $5 {-/+}) (
28... exf3 $2 29. Bxf3 Qd7 30. Bxb7 Nc5 31. Bd5 bxc4 32. Bxc4 Qxd2 33. Qxg6 Ne6
34. Qxh5 Qxc3 {=/+/-/+}) 29. Qc2 Qf6 30. Ng5 Bxd2 31. Qxd2 bxc4 {-+}) 28. exd5
Bxd5 $1 {-+ Full domination.} (28... Re2 $2 29. bxc4 Rxf2 (29... Nxf2 $2 30.
Qxb5 {+/-}) 30. Rxf2 $1 (30. Ne4 $2 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qe3 {~}) 30... Qxf2+ (30...
Nxf2 $2 31. Qxb5 {+/-}) 31. Kh1 Qe3 {~=}) 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. Ng5 ({Also loses:} 
30. Nd4 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Bxd4 32. cxd4 Qxd4 {-+}) 30... Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Qd5+ $1 32.
Ngf3 ({After:} 32. Kh2 {strongly:} Bxc3 33. Qc2 $140 Re2 $1 34. Qxc3 Nxf2 {-+})
32... Bxc3 33. Qc2 Bxd2 34. Qxd2 Re5 $1 35. Ra1 (35. Rb1 $144 Rf5 36. Rb8+ Kh7
37. Qe3 Ne5 {-+}) 35... Rf5 36. Qe3 Ne5 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. O-O-O Qa5 15.
Nb3 Qc7 16. a3 Bxb3 17. cxb3 Na5 18. Qc2 Ng6 19. Kb1 b5 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. b4 Nc4
22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Qd2 O-O 24. Nd5 Rfc8 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. Ne3 Rc7 27. h4 e6 28.
hxg5 hxg5 29. Ng4 Qc6 30. Bd4 Bxd4 31. Qxd4 Qc2+ 32. Ka1 Qxg2 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34.
Qxd6+ Re7 35. Qd1 Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kf8 37. Ka2 g4 38. fxg4 Qf2 39. Qd8+ Re8 40.
Qd6+ Re7 41. Rc1 Kg8 42. Rc8+ Kh7 43. g5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.11.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rozentalis, Eduardas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Rozentalis,E"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Lithuania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LTU"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 Ne4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
interesting novelty. White prepares attack on king side in case of short
castle and also prevents Ne4-g5.} Nxc3 ({After the game Topalov suggested:} 
6... Nc6 $142 7. d4 f6 8. Bd3 $14) 7. dxc3 dxc4 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Qg4
Bxf3 11. gxf3 (11. Qxf3 Qd5 {and black is only slightly worse in the endgame.})
11... Bf8 $4 {Decisive mistake: black looses too much time. Correct was:} (
11... g6 12. h5 Qd5 $1 {and "Black is OK"}) 12. f4 Nd7 13. Be3 c6 14. O-O-O {
Due to the mistake on the 11th move, white has now big development advantage.}
Qa5 (14... h5 15. Qh3 g6 (15... Qc7 16. f5 $36) 16. Bc4 $1 {following with the
sacrifice on e6.}) 15. f5 $3 (15. Kb1 O-O-O $11) 15... Qxa2 (15... Nxe5 16. Qe4
exf5 17. Qxf5 $40) 16. fxe6 Qxe6 (16... Nxe5 17. exf7+ Qxf7 18. Qe4) 17. Qf4 $1
$18 Rd8 {Black was loosing also after:} (17... Qxe5 18. Bh3) (17... Nxe5 18.
Bh3 Qf6 19. Rhe1) 18. Bc4 Qe7 19. Rhe1 h5 (19... Nxe5 20. Bd4 $18) 20. Qg3 (20.
e6 fxe6 21. Bxe6 $18) 20... Nxe5 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Bf4 (22. Bg5 $2 f6 23. Rxe5
Qd6 $13) 22... Nxc4 23. Rxe7 Kxe7 (23... Bxe7 24. Qd3+) 24. Qd3 $1 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.11.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Switzerland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. Be2 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. Bd3 b6 10. a3 cxd4 11. axb4 dxc3 12. bxc3 Bb7 13. Bb2 Qc7 14. Qe2 Ng4
15. e4 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 Nde5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. f3 a5 19. bxa5 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 bxa5
21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Slovenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SLO"]

{[%mdl 1] An excellent game by Topalov against one of the most renowned
experts of the black side of the Ruy Lopez.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 d6 9. a4 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2
c5 (11... O-O 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 d5 14. Nxe5 dxe4 15. d4 c5 16. Ng3 cxd4 17.
cxd4 Bd5 18. Nf5 Re8 19. Bg5 $36 {1-0 Dvoirys,S-Polovodin,I/St. Petersburg
1998/CBM 67 ext (61)}) 12. Ng3 O-O (12... Bc8 13. Nh4 O-O 14. Ngf5 (14. Nhf5)
14... Ne8 15. Bd5 Rb8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Qh5 Be6 18. Nf5 Qd7 19. Bg5 f6 20.
Bxe6+ Qxe6 $11 {1-0 Jedryczka,K-Nurkiewicz,M/Czestochowa 1998/EXT 2000 (38)})
13. Bd2 {This is quite an important move in this line. The idea is to always
be ready for Bxa5 when Black tries b3.} Rb8 14. Nf5 Bc8 15. N3h4 Be6 16. Qf3
Ne8 17. Nxe7+ (17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qh3 Nc6 20. c3 bxc3 21. bxc3
Rb2 $11 {1-0 Galdunts,S-Michalczak,T/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1995/CBM 45 ext (25)})
17... Qxe7 18. Nf5 Qd7 19. Qg4 Kh8 (19... b3 20. Bxa5 bxa2 21. b3 $16) 20. f4
$40 {[%mdl 4] Topalovs handling of this position is a nice model for the White
side in this anti-arkhangel. Seemingly without effort he gets a strong attack
on the K-side.} Nc6 (20... g6 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Nh4 $16) 21. fxe5 Nxe5 22. Qg3
Bxa2 23. Rxa2 b3 {Black finally manages to get b3 in, but it turns out to be a
hollow victory, since White gets a new strong post for his B on c3.} 24. cxb3
Rxb3 25. Bc3 $16 f6 26. Raa1 Nc7 27. d4 $1 cxd4 28. Nxd4 Rbb8 29. Nf5 g6 {
Weakening everything, but the N was difficult to stand on f5, attacking both
d6 and g7.} 30. Ne3 Rf7 31. Rad1 Qc6 32. h3 Re8 33. Qh4 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re6 35. Nd5
$1 Qxa4 36. Nf4 Re8 37. Rxd6 Qc4 38. Nh5+ $1 {The brilliant point of the
sequence leading up to this position.} gxh5 39. Rfxf6 $18 Nb5 (39... Kg8 40.
Bxe5 $18) 40. Qg5+ Kf8 41. Qh6+ Kg8 42. Bxe5 (42. Bxe5 Rxe5 43. Rd8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.02"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 10. g5 b4 11. Ne2 Nh5 12. Qd2 Be7 13. Ng3 Nf4 14. h4 h6 15. Bxf4
exf4 16. Nh5 Bxb3 17. axb3 g6 18. Nxf4 hxg5 19. Nd5 Ne5 20. Be2 g4 21. f4 Bxh4+
22. Kf1 Nf3 23. Qxb4 Bf6 24. Bxf3 gxf3 25. Kf2 a5 26. Qb7 O-O 27. Kxf3 Kg7 28.
f5 Rb8 29. Qa7 Ra8 30. Qe3 Rh8 31. Kg2 Rh5 32. Rxh5 gxh5 33. Qg3+ Kh6 34. Qe3+
Bg5 35. Qf3 Bc1 36. f6 Qg8+ 37. Kf2 Qg5 38. Ne3 Qh4+ 39. Kf1 Bxe3 40. Qxe3+ Kh7
41. Ke2 Rg8 42. Rf1 Rg2+ 43. Kd3 Qg4 44. Rf3 h4 45. Qf4 Kg6 46. Qxg4+ Rxg4 47.
Kd4 Rg3 48. Rf1 h3 49. e5 dxe5+ 50. Kxe5 h2 51. Rh1 Rg2 52. c4 Re2+ 53. Kf4
Rxb2 54. Kg3 Rxb3+ 55. Kxh2 Rb4 56. Ra1 a4 57. c5 Kxf6 58. c6 Ke7 59. Rd1 Rc4
60. Rd7+ Ke6 61. Ra7 f5 62. c7 Kd7 63. Kg3 Kc8 64. Kf3 Re4 65. Kg3 Rc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 Nf6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. h3
Nf8 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Bh2 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O-O O-O 13. g4 Re8 14. Nge2 Bd7
15. Ng3 Rxe3 16. fxe3 Qxg3 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Be6 20. Kb1 Rd8
21. Qc5 Qe3 22. Bf5 a6 23. Qb6 Rd7 24. Rhe1 Qf3 25. d5 cxd5 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27.
Qxe6+ Qf7 28. Rd4 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Ne7 30. Rf4 g6 31. Rff6 Kg7 32. Rd6 Rc7 33. Rf2
Nc6 34. Rxd5 Re7 35. a3 h6 36. Rd6 Ne5 37. Re2 Kf7 38. Rb6 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.04"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 e6 7. Nf3 exd5 8. exd5
O-O 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nbd7 12. Qd1 Ne8 13. Be3 a6 14. Qd2 Qa5 15.
Ne4 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 f5 17. Ng5 Nc7 18. Rae1 Ne5 19. Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Be3
Qe7 9. d5 c5 10. Bg5 $1 {[%mdl 44] It is a typical strategical method.White
make the Black to move h6 after which prevent counterplay of the Black on the
King side by g3and Nh4.} (10. dxc6 bxc6 11. b4 Bb7 12. Nd2 d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14.
exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Nb3 Qe6 $11 {0-1 Andonovski,L-Sofrevski,J/Struga
1993/EXT 99 (31)}) (10. Nd2 h5 11. a3 Nh7 12. b4 b6 13. Nb3 f5 14. f3 Ndf6 15.
bxc5 dxc5 16. a4 Bd7 17. a5 h4 $132 {time. 0-1 Ioseliani,N-Movsesian,S/CZE
1998/EXT 2000 (38)}) (10. Qd2 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Nh6 13. Ng5 Nb8 14. Rad1
Nf7 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qxe6 17. Nd5 Na6 18. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 19. Bg4 $16 {
1-0 Lambert,G-Shephard,C/Brighton 1977/EXT 99 (33)}) 10... h6 11. Bd2 Ne8 (
11... Nh5 12. g3 f5 $140 $2 13. Nh4 $18) 12. g3 $1 Ndf6 (12... f5 13. Nh4 Qf6
14. exf5 gxf5 15. f4 $16) 13. Nh4 Bh3 14. Re1 Kh7 15. Rb1 b6 16. a3 Bd7 (16...
Ng8 17. Bd3 f5 $140 18. Nxg6 $1 Kxg6 19. exf5+ Bxf5 20. Qg4+ $18) 17. b4 $16
Qd8 18. Bd3 Ng8 19. Qc2 Rc8 20. bxc5 (20. a4 cxb4 21. Rxb4 Nc7 {[%cal Yc7a6,
Ya6c5]}) 20... dxc5 (20... Rxc5 21. Be3 Rc8 22. a4 $36 {<<}) 21. f4 Nd6 (21...
exf4 $6 22. e5 fxg3 23. hxg3 $40 {[%cal Ge5e6]}) 22. a4 (22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Nf3
f6 (23... Bd4+ 24. Kg2 $16)) (22. Nf3 exf4 (22... f6 23. f5 $5 $16) 23. e5 $36)
22... Ne7 23. Nb5 (23. Nf3 $5) 23... Bxb5 24. axb5 Qd7 25. fxe5 Bxe5 26. Nf3 f6
27. Nxe5 fxe5 28. Bc3 Nf7 29. Rf1 Rce8 30. Kh1 (30. Qf2 Nc8 {[%cal Yc8d6]}) (
30. Rf6 $5 Ng5 31. Rbf1 Rxf6 (31... Nh3+ 32. Kh1 Rxf6 33. Rxf6 Nc8 34. Bf1 Qg7
35. Rc6 $1 Ng5 36. h4 Nf7 37. Bh3 $16) 32. Rxf6 Qg4 $132) 30... g5 31. Rf6 Ng6
32. Rbf1 Nd6 33. Rxf8 Nxf8 34. Be2 $1 Kg7 (34... Ng6 35. Qd3 $1 $16 (35. Bh5
Nxc4 36. Qe2 (36. Rf6 Rg8 37. Qf2 Nd6 38. Re6 Qf7) 36... Nd6 37. Rf6 Rg8 38.
Qf3 $16) (35. Rf6 $6 Qe7 (35... Qd8))) 35. Bh5 Re7 36. Qe2 Nh7 $1 37. Bg4 Qe8
38. Bf5 Nf6 39. Kg2 Qg8 40. h4 $1 g4 $1 {Black are defending excelently and
create maximal defeculties for the White.} 41. Bxg4 Nfxe4 (41... Ndxe4 42. Bb2
Kh8 43. Bxe5 $1 Rxe5 44. Rxf6 Qg7 45. Rf4 Nd6 46. Rf8+ $18) 42. Be1 (42. Be6 $5
Rxe6 43. dxe6 Qxe6 44. Ba1 $16 {/~~}) (42. Bb2 Kh7 $1 $132 {[%csl Rg3]} (42...
Kh8 43. Rf3 $1 {[%cal Gf3e3]} (43. Rf4 h5 44. Rxe4 Nxe4 45. d6 $1 Nxd6 (45...
Re6 46. Qxe4 Qxg4 47. Qxg4 hxg4 48. d7 $18) 46. Bxe5+ Kh7 47. Qd3+ Qg6 48.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 49. Bxd6 Re4 50. Bd7) 43... Nxc4 44. Qxe4 Nxb2 45. d6 $18) 43. Qf3
Nd2 (43... Rf7 44. Be6 Rxf3 45. Bxg8+ Kxg8 46. Rxf3 Nxc4 47. Bc1 $16) 44. Bf5+
Nxf5 (44... Kg7 45. Qg4+ Kh8 46. Qf4 $1 Nxf5 47. Bxe5+ $16) 45. Qxf5+ Qg6 46.
d6 Qxf5 47. Rxf5 Rd7 48. Rxe5 Kg8 $1 {[%csl Rc4,Rd6]} 49. Re7 Rxe7 50. dxe7 Kf7
51. Bc1 Nxc4 52. Bxh6 Kxe7 $13) 42... Qh7 43. Kh3 (43. Be6 Qg6 44. Rf3 {
[%cal Gf3e3,Gh4h5]} h5 (44... Rxe6 45. dxe6 Qxe6 46. Re3 Qg6 47. g4 $16) 45.
Bc3 Rxe6 46. dxe6 Qxe6 47. Bb2 Kg6 $13 (47... Qxc4 48. Bxe5+ Kg6 $13)) 43...
Rf7 $6 (43... Nf6 $1 44. Qf3 Nxg4 45. Qf8+ (45. Bd2 Qe4 $1 46. Qf8+ Kg6 47.
Qxe7 Nf2+ $1 48. Kh2 (48. Rxf2 Qh1+ 49. Rh2 Qf1+ 50. Rg2 Qh1+ 51. Kg4 Qd1+ $11)
48... Ng4+ 49. Kg1 Qd4+ 50. Kh1 Qe4+ $11) 45... Kg6 46. Kxg4 h5+ 47. Kh3 Qg7
$11) 44. Rxf7+ Nxf7 45. Be6 Ned6 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Yh7e4]} (45... Qg6 46. g4
Ned6 47. Bg3 $16) 46. Bxf7 Nxf7 (46... Qf5+ $2 47. g4 Qxf7 48. Qxe5+ Qf6 49.
Bc3 $18) 47. Qf3 $1 (47. Bc3 Qf5+ 48. g4 (48. Qg4+ Kf6 {[%cal Yf7d6]}) 48...
Qf4 $132) 47... Qg6 (47... Qc2 $5 48. Bc3 Kg8 (48... Kf8 49. d6 (49. Bxe5 Qxc4
50. Bf4 h5 $5 $132) 49... Qg6 50. Qa8+ Kg7 51. Qd5 Kf8 52. d7 Qf5+ 53. Kg2 Ke7
54. Bxe5 (54. d8=Q+ Nxd8 55. Bxe5 (55. Qxe5+ Qxe5 56. Bxe5 Nb7 $132) 55... Nf7
56. Qb7+ Ke6 57. Qd5+ $11) 54... Qc2+ 55. Kf3 Nxe5+ (55... Qf5+ 56. Bf4 Qxd5+
57. cxd5 Kxd7 58. g4 $18) 56. Qxe5+ Kxd7 57. Qd5+ Kc7 (57... Ke7 58. Qe4+ Qxe4+
59. Kxe4 $18) 58. Qc6+ Kb8 59. Qxh6 $16) 49. d6 $5 Nxd6 50. Qa8+ Kf7 (50... Kh7
51. Qxa7+ Kg8 52. Qb8+ Kf7 53. Qxd6 Qxc3 54. Qxh6 $16) 51. Qd5+ Ke7 52. Qxe5+
Kd7 $132) 48. Bc3 Qf6 49. Qg4+ Kh7 50. Kg2 $16 Qg6 (50... Nd6 51. h5 $5 Kh8 52.
Qf3 Kg7 53. Qe2 Nf7 54. Qg4+ Kf8 55. Bd2 $16) 51. Qxg6+ Kxg6 52. g4 {[%mdl
4096] In this endgame the game will be on the different sides and in such
cases bishop is stronger than knight.} Kf6 (52... Nd6 53. Bxe5 Nxc4 54. Bf4 $16
) 53. Kf3 Nd6 54. Bd2 Kg7 (54... e4+ 55. Kf2 (55. Kg3 Nxc4 56. Bxh6 Ke5 57.
Bg7+ $1 (57. Bf4+ Kxd5 58. h5 Ke6 59. g5 Kf5 60. g6 Kf6 61. Kg4 e3 62. Kf3 Kg7
63. Ke2 Na3 64. Be5+ Kh6 65. Kxe3 Nxb5 66. Kf4 Nd4) 57... Kxd5 58. h5 Ke6 59.
Ba1 $18) (55. Kf4 $2 Nxc4 56. Bc3+ Kf7 57. Kxe4 Nd6+ 58. Kf4 Nxb5 59. Be5) (55.
Ke2 $1 Nxc4 (55... Kg7 56. Bf4 Nxc4 57. h5 $1 Na3 58. d6 Kf7 59. g5 hxg5 60. d7
Ke7 61. Bxg5+ Kxd7 62. h6 $18) (55... Ke5 56. Bxh6) 56. Bxh6 Ke5 (56... Nd6 57.
Bf4 (57. g5+ Kf5 58. h5) (57. h5 Nxb5 58. g5+ Kf5) 57... Nxb5 58. Ke3) 57. h5
Kxd5 58. Bf8 Ne5 59. h6 Kc4 60. h7 Ng6 61. Ke3 Kxb5 62. Kxe4 $18) 55... Nxc4 (
55... Ke5 56. Bxh6 Nxc4 57. Bg7+ Kxd5 58. h5 Ne5 (58... Ke6 59. Ba1 Nd6 (59...
Ne5 60. Bxe5 Kxe5 61. h6 Kf6 62. Ke3 Kg6 63. g5 Kh7 64. Kxe4 Kg6 65. Kf4 Kh7
66. Kf5 $18) (59... Kf7 60. g5 $18) 60. h6 $18)) (55... Kg7 56. Bf4 $1 Nxc4 57.
h5 $1 Na3 58. d6 Kf7 59. g5 hxg5 60. Bxg5 Ke6 61. h6 $18) 56. Bxh6 Nd6 (56...
Ke5 57. Bg7+ Kxd5 58. h5 $18) 57. h5 Nxb5 58. g5+ Kf5 59. g6 Kf6 60. Bg5+ $1
Kg7 61. Bf4 $18) 55. Bc1 Kg6 $6 (55... Nxc4 56. Ke4 Kf6 (56... Kg6 57. h5+ Kf6
(57... Kg7 58. Kf5 $18) 58. Bxh6 Nd6+ 59. Ke3 Nxb5 60. g5+ Kf5 61. g6 Kf6 62.
Bg5+ Kg7 63. Ke4 $18) 57. Bxh6 (57. g5+ hxg5 58. Bxg5+ Kf7 59. h5 Nd6+ 60. Kxe5
Nc4+ 61. Ke4 Nd6+ 62. Kf4 Nxb5 63. Ke5 a5 64. d6 Nxd6 65. Kxd6 a4 $11) 57...
Nd6+ 58. Ke3 Nxb5 59. h5 $1 (59. Bg5+ Kf7 60. Ke4 a5 $132) 59... Nd6 (59... a5
60. g5+ Kf5 61. g6 Kf6 (61... Nc3 62. d6 Nd5+ 63. Kd2 Ke6 64. Bg5 $1 $18) 62.
Bg5+ Kg7 63. Be7 $18) 60. g5+ Ke7 61. Bg7 $1 $16 Nf5+ $140 62. Kd2 Nxg7 63. h6
Kf7 64. h7 $18) 56. h5+ Kg7 57. Ke3 $1 Nf7 (57... Nxc4+ 58. Ke4 $16) 58. Kd3
Kf6 59. Bd2 Kg7 60. Be1 $1 Nd6 61. Bg3 Kf6 62. Bh4+ Kf7 63. g5 $18 e4+ 64. Kc3
Nf5 65. g6+ Kg7 66. Bd8 e3 67. Kd3 Kf8 68. Bc7 Ng7 69. Kxe3 Ke7 70. Be5 (70.
Be5 Ne8 71. d6+ Kd7 72. g7 $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. g4
Nc6 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Be3 b5 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Kb1 Nd7 13. Qf2 Bb7 14. g5 Rc8 15.
Rg1 O-O 16. h4 b4 17. Na4 Nce5 18. Nb6 Nxb6 19. Bxb6 Qb8 20. Bh3 Nc4 21. Ba7
Qc7 22. h5 a5 23. g6 Bf6 24. Bd4 e5 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Bxc8 Rxc8 27. Ba7 a4 28.
Nc1 d5 29. Nd3 d4 30. Bc5 Ne3 31. Bxb4 Qb6 32. Rc1 Ba6 33. Qd2 Qb5 34. a3 Kg8
35. Nf2 h6 36. Rg6 Qe2 37. Ng4 Nxg4 38. Rxg4 Qxf3 39. Rcg1 Kf7 40. Qe1 Be2 41.
R4g2 d3 42. cxd3 Bxd3+ 43. Ka1 Rc2 44. Rxc2 Bxc2 45. Qd2 Qxe4 46. Qd7+ Kg8 47.
Be7 Qe3 48. Qc8+ Kf7 49. Bc5 Qd3 50. Rc1 Bb3 51. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Israel"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg2 c5 4. c4 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nf6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 Rc8 11. b3 a6 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bh6 b5 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Bb7 10. g4 h6 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 Rc8 13. Kb1 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4
15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. f5 e5 17. Nf3 Qa8 18. b3 Rxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Ng1 Be7 21.
Bf2 O-O 22. Qe3 Nf6 23. Bh4 Qc6 24. Re2 Rc8 25. Kb2 d5 26. Bxf6 Bxf6 27. c3 Bg5
28. Qg3 d4 29. cxd4 exd4 30. Rde1 d3 31. Rxe4 Bc1+ 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hernandez Guerrero, Gilberto Eduardo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2568"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nf4 12. Rfd1 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2
Bxd4+ 15. Rxd4 Qf6 16. Qd2 Be6 17. Rc1 Rac8 18. Nd5 Qg7 19. c5 dxc5 20. Rxc5 c6
21. Nf4 Qf6 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Ra5 a6 24. Ra3 Re7 25. Rd6 Qe5 26. Rad3 Rce8 27.
R3d4 a5 28. a3 Qb5 29. Rd7 Rxd7 30. Rxd7 Qc5+ 31. Kh1 b5 32. h3 a4 33. Qf4 Re7
34. Rd6 Re6 35. Rd7 Re7 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Qb8 Qc1+ 38. Kh2 Qxb2 39. Rg8+ Kf6 40.
Qd6+ Re6 41. Qf4+ Ke7 42. Qc7+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ Re7 44. f4 Qf2 45. Qd6+ Re6 46.
Qd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Movsziszian, Karen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2501"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 c5 2. Bg2 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. d3 Nc6 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. Nc3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nd2 exf4 10. gxf4 Be6 11. Nf3 Qd7 12. Be3 Bg4 13. Qd2 Rac8 14. Nd1 b6
15. c4 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Nd4 17. Rg3 f5 18. Nc3 b5 19. Bh3 bxc4 20. dxc4 Qb7 21.
Nb5 Nxb5 22. cxb5 Qxe4 23. Re1 Qd5 24. Bg2 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 Kf7 26. Ra3 Bd4+ 27.
Be3 Bxe3+ 28. Raxe3 Rc7 29. a4 Rb8 30. Kf2 Rb6 31. Bf1 d5 32. a5 Rd6 33. Bg2 c4
34. Re5 Rdd7 35. b6 axb6 36. axb6 Rc5 37. Ra1 Nc6 38. Re2 Rb5 39. Ra6 Rb7 40.
h4 Nb4 41. Ra8 R7xb6 42. Rae8 Rb7 43. h5 Nd3+ 44. Kg3 gxh5 45. Bf3 h4+ 46. Kxh4
Nxf4 47. Re1 Rb3 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Bb7 9. c4 Nb4 10. c5 Qb8 11. f4 Ba6 12. a3 Bxf1 13. Rxf1 Nd5 14. Qd4 Be7
15. f5 exf5 16. Rxf5 O-O 17. Bd2 f6 18. O-O-O fxe5 19. Rxe5 Qb3 20. Bg5 Rae8
21. Bxe7 Ne3 22. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Spraggett, Kevin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. h3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. Bc2 e5 7. d3 O-O 8. O-O Nc6
9. a3 a5 10. a4 d5 11. Na3 h6 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Re1 b6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Bc4 Qc7
16. Bd2 Rad8 17. Qb3 f5 18. Re2 Kh8 19. Rae1 g5 20. Qc2 Bf7 21. Qb3 Bf6 22. Nb5
Qb8 23. g4 Qc8 24. Nh2 h5 25. Bc1 Qd7 26. f3 Kg7 27. Na3 hxg4 28. hxg4 f4 29.
Nf1 Rh8 30. Rh2 Rxh2 31. Nxh2 Rh8 32. Re2 Nce7 33. Bb5 Qd8 34. Qd1 Rh3 35. Qf1
Rg3+ 36. Rg2 Ng6 37. Qe1 Nc7 38. Bc4 Bxc4 39. Nxc4 Qxd3 40. Nd2 Rxg2+ 41. Kxg2
Qc2 42. Nhf1 e4 43. Qxe4 Qxc1 44. Qc6 Be5 45. Qxb6 Qc2 46. Kg1 Qxa4 47. Qxc5
Qb5 48. Ne4 Qxb2 49. Qxa5 Nb5 50. Qb6 Kh6 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. e4 Nbd7
9. Be2 O-O 10. h3 Nxb6 11. Bf4 Ne8 12. Qd2 Nc7 13. Bh6 f5 14. h4 fxe4 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. Ng5 e3 17. fxe3 h6 18. Nf3 e6 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. e4 Qe7 21. O-O-O Rad8
22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Nc2 Be6 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Nc2 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comas Fabrego, Luis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Ne5 9. h3 Bc5 10. Kh1 d6 11. f4 Ng6 12. f5 Ne5 13. Nce2 Nxd3 14. cxd3 e5
15. Nc2 d5 16. Rc1 Qb6 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. d4 Qe7 19. exd5 O-O 20. Nc3 b5 21. Qe1
e4 22. d6 Qxd6 23. Nxe4 Qb6 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Qe4 Ra7 26. Nb4 Rd7 27. Nc6 Bb7
28. d5 h6 29. b3 Kh7 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 Rc8 32. Rc5 Rxd5 33. Qxd5 Bxc6 34.
Qc4 Bxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Qg5+ 36. Kf3 Qh5+ 37. Kf2 Rxc5 38. Qxc5 Qxh3 39. Qe5 Qh4+
40. Kf3 Qxa4 41. Qe4 Qb3+ 42. Kg2 Qb2+ 43. Rf2 Qf6 44. Kh3 a5 45. Rf3 Qa1 46.
Rg3 Qd1 47. Kh2 Qd6 48. Kg2 Qd2+ 49. Kh3 Qd1 50. Kh4 Qd6 51. Rg2 Qf6+ 52. Kh3
Qc3+ 53. Rg3 Qf6 54. Qd5 Qa1 55. Qe4 Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Corral Blanco, Juan Antonio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2459"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nd7 9. g3 Nxc3 10. Nxc3 e5 11. Bg2 exd4 12. exd4 Bf6 13. Be3 Nb6 14. O-O c6
15. Rad1 Bg4 16. f3 Be6 17. Ne4 Re8 18. Bf2 Bd5 19. Rfe1 Be7 20. Rd2 Bf8 21.
Rde2 Re6 22. Nc5 Rxe2 23. Qxe2 Qc7 24. g4 f6 25. Bg3 Qf7 26. h4 Rd8 27. Bh3 g6
28. Bf4 Bc4 29. Qe4 Bg7 30. Bg3 Nc8 31. Kg2 Bf8 32. Qe3 Nd6 33. Ne4 Ne8 34. Bf2
Nc7 35. Bg3 Nd5 36. Qd2 b6 37. Kh2 Ba6 38. Qc2 Bb7 39. Bf1 h6 40. Bc4 f5 41.
gxf5 Qxf5 42. Be5 Bg7 43. Nf6+ Bxf6 44. Qxf5 gxf5 45. Bxf6 Rf8 46. Rg1+ Kf7 47.
Bg7 Rg8 48. Bxh6 Rxg1 49. Kxg1 Kg6 50. Bg5 Bc8 51. Kf2 Be6 52. Bd3 b5 53. Ke2
Nb6 54. Kd2 Nd5 55. Bc2 Nb6 56. Bd1 Bf7 57. b3 Nd5 58. f4 Ne7 59. Kc3 Nd5+ 60.
Kd3 Kh7 61. Bf3 Kg6 62. a4 a6 63. a5 Kg7 64. h5 Kh7 65. h6 Bg6 66. Bxd5 cxd5
67. Kc3 Bh5 68. Kb4 Bf3 69. Kc5 b4 70. Kc6 Kg6 71. Be7 Kxh6 72. Bxb4 Bd1 73.
Bf8+ Kg6 74. b4 Bb3 75. Kd6 Bc4 76. Ke6 Bd3 77. Bd6 Bc4 78. Bc5 Bd3 79. Kxd5
Kf7 80. Ke5 Ke8 81. b5 Bxb5 82. Kxf5 Kd7 83. Ke5 Kc6 84. d5+ Kxc5 85. f5 Bc4
86. d6 Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giorgadze, Giorgi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8.
Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 h6 10. Bh4 c4 11. Bh7+ Kh8 12. Bf5 Nb6 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. O-O Be7
15. a4 a5 16. Ne5 Nfd7 17. Bg3 Kg8 18. Nb5 Bb4 19. f3 Qe7 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. e4
Rc6 22. e5 Na8 23. Bh4 Nc7 24. Nc3 Be7 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Rae1 Re6 27. Qd2 f5
28. exf6 Rfxf6 29. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 {The typical
Najdorf move.} (6... e6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5 g6 9. g5 gxf5 10. exf5 d5 11. gxf6 d4
12. Bc4 Qc7 13. Qd3 dxe3 14. O-O-O exf2 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Qd5+ Kxf6 17. Ne4+
Ke7 18. Nd6 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Kf6 20. Rhf1 $5 Rf8 $1 21. Rxf2 Nc6 22. Qc4 Kg7 $5 (
22... Bf4 $2 23. Rxf4 exf4 24. Qc3+ Kg5 25. Rg1+ Kh4 26. Qf3 {1-0,Shirov,A-Van
Wely,L/Amber rapid/2000/}) 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Rfg2 Bxf5 25. Nxf5 b5 26. Qe6 Nd4
27. Nxd4 Be3 28. Rg8+ Rxg8 29. Qf6+ Rg7 30. Ne6 Qf7 31. Qxg7+ Qxg7 32. Rxg7 Re8
33. Rg3 Bf4 $1 $19) 7. Nb3 (7. Nf3 {is a more quiet retreat, which is rarely
played. White's plan in this line is a >> pawn storm and therefore the N
usually goes to b3.} Be7 (7... Qc7 8. a4 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. Bg5 Nbd7
12. Nh4 g6 13. g3 Bb7 14. Ng2 Rfe8 15. Bf3 Rac8 16. Ne3 Qb8 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18.
Re1 Rc5 19. Qd3 Rec8 20. Rad1 Bf8 21. h4 h5 22. Bg2 Qc7 23. Re2 Qd7 24. Red2
R8c7 25. Ra1 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Rdd1 Qe8 $11 {1/2,Adams,M-Svidler,P/Dortmund/
1998/}) 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Qd3 b5 $1 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Ng5 Qc8 13. f4 h6
14. Nh3 Nbd7 15. f5 Nc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Kh1 b4 18. Ne2 exf5 19. Rxf5 Rac8
20. Rc1 Qc4 $36 {Xie Jun-Van Wely,L/Pamplona/1999/}) 7... Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 ({
But Black has had success with the prophylactic} 8... h5 $5 {Later he either
castles >>, or even plays Kf8,g6,Kg7. In practice it has been difficult to
prove Black's >> is seriously weak, while White's play is considerably slowed
down.} 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O b5 11. Kb1 Be7 12. g3 $6 Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. Nd5
Bxd5 15. exd5 a5 16. Qd3 Rb8 17. Bh3 a4 18. Nd2 Qc5 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Bg5
21. Rhf1 b4 22. Qa6 O-O 23. Qc6 Qe3 24. Qxd6 b3 25. cxb3 axb3 26. Rxf7 Qe2 $1
$19 {->,Xie Jun-Zhang Zhong/Shanghai/2000/}) ({The otherwise strategically
desirable} 8... d5 {here leads after} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 (10... Bxd5
11. c4 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 {[%cal Yb3a5] _|_,׫}) 11. Qxd5 Bxd5 12. O-O-O $36 {
to an unpleasant _|_.}) 9. g4 {White avoids transposition into the
above-mentioned positions with} (9. Qd2 h5 $5) 9... Nb6 {A rare move. Black
sidesteps the more usual continuations.} (9... b5 10. g5 Nh5 ({The reputation
of} 10... b4 {has been damaged by Adams's} 11. Ne2 $1 Nh5 12. Qd2 Be7 13. Ng3
Nf4 14. h4 h6 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Nh5 Bxb3 17. axb3 g6 18. Nxf4 hxg5 19. Nd5 Ne5
20. Be2 g4 21. f4 Bxh4+ 22. Kf1 Nf3 23. Qxb4 Bf6 24. Bxf3 gxf3 25. Kf2 $16 {
Fedorov,A-Topalov,V/EU-chT Batumi/1999/}) 11. Qd2 Nb6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bd7
14. Na5 Rc8 15. O-O-O Be7 16. Kb1 O-O 17. c4 Nf4 18. h4 Re8 19. Bxf4 exf4 20.
Nc6 Qb6 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Qxf4 Bxc6 23. dxc6 Rxc6 24. Bd3 $16 {[%csl Gd3,Re7]
^-->,Adams,M-Svidler,P/Tilburg/1998/}) (9... h6 {is the most played
alternative. Even here it makes sense to slow down White's >> expansion.} 10.
Qd2 b5 11. O-O-O Nb6 12. Qf2 Nc4 13. Bxc4 bxc4 14. Nc5 Qc7 15. N5a4 $5 Rb8 16.
h4 Qc6 17. g5 Nd7 18. a3 h5 $1 19. f4 (19. g6 $5 $44) 19... exf4 20. Bxf4 Be7
21. Qg3 Ne5 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Qxe5 O-O 24. Rd4 Rfe8 25. Rhd1 $13 {Movsesian,
S-Womacka,M/Bundesliga 9798/1998/ Although White went on to win a nice game,
this position certainly is not so clear. Although White's K is well protected
and he is a pawn up, his N are out of play and Black has an active ^^.}) 10.
Qd2 {Logical, weaker is the impatient} (10. g5 Nfd7 11. Qd2 h6 $5 {[%csl Rg5,
Rh2] and Black breaks up White's >>}) 10... d5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] With this
interesting novelty Black returns to the idea of the central break. As the
rather scarce practical material shows, he is well advised to act:} (10... Rc8
11. O-O-O Be7 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. h4 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Qxc4 15. g5 Nd7 16. Rh2 $5 b5 17.
Na5 Qc7 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nb8 20. f4 $40 {Jedryczka,K-Hunt,A/EU-chU20
Patras/1999/}) 11. O-O-O $5 {[%mdl 512] Topalov aggressively reacts with a
piece sacrifice. Of course in a rapid blindfold game the degree of risk one
can indulge in is considerably higher. But Topalov played 4.Nxf7 in the
Petroff against Kramnik even in a tournament game!} (11. g5 $143 d4 $142 (11...
Nh5 $6 12. Bxb6 Qxb6 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 $16 (14. Qxd5 $2 Qe3+ 15. Be2 Nf4
$40 {/\} 16. Qxe5+ $2 Be7 17. Nc1 Rc8 18. c3 Qxe2+ $1 $19)) 12. gxf6 (12. Nxd4
exd4 13. Bxd4 Nh5 $17 {is an undesirable version of the game idea.}) 12... dxe3
13. Qxe3 gxf6 (13... g6 $5 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Rxd5 Qxf6 $132) 14. Rd1
Qc7 $13 {[%csl Rf1] /=/+,ץf1 and White is starting to miss his strong
dark-squared B.}) (11. Bxb6 Qxb6 12. Nxd5 (12. exd5 $143 $2 Rd8 13. Na4 Qc7 14.
c4 b5 $1 $17 {and White's [+] falls apart.}) {Also possible is} 12... Bxd5 (
12... Nxd5 13. exd5 O-O-O (13... Rd8 $6 14. Bc4 Qc7 15. dxe6 $1 Rxd2 16. exf7+
Ke7 17. Nxd2 $16) 14. Bc4 (14. Qc3+ Kb8 15. Qxe5+ Bd6 $44 {[%cal Re6d5] /\Bd5})
14... Qc7 15. Na5 Bc5 16. O-O-O Bd4 $1 $11 {Black regains his P and has at
least equality.}) 13. exd5 Rd8 14. Bc4 Qc7 $11 {/\} 15. Na5 Qb6 $1 16. Nb3 Qc7)
11... d4 12. Nxd4 $8 ({There is no way back now.} 12. Bf2 $2 Be7 13. Qe1 (13.
Ne2 $2 Nxe4 $1 14. fxe4 Bg5 $19) 13... Qc7 $17) 12... exd4 13. Bxd4 Be7 {
The crisis is approaching fast. Black logically tries to finish his
development, but interesting and perhaps even more promising was} (13... Qc7 $5
14. Qe3 Nbd7 {[%cal Re8c8] /\0-0-0 White must act} 15. Nd5 $5 Bxd5 $5 (15...
Qc6 16. g5 Nxd5 (16... Nh5 $5) 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Bxg7 Qxd1+ 19. Kxd1 Bxg7 20.
Bc4 $14) 16. exd5+ Kd8 $13 {/=/+ Black's K is relatively safe in the [+] and
Black has good chances to coordiante his forces and gradually consolidate his
position.}) 14. Qe3 (14. h3 $143 $6 O-O (14... Qc7 15. Qe3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4
17. f4 $44 {->>>}) 15. Qe3 Nfd7 $1 (15... Nbd7 $2 16. f4 $40 {is dangerous.})
16. f4 f6 $5 $15 {/-/+ Black has escaped with his minor pieces from the scope
of White's pawns.}) 14... Nbd7 15. h3 $1 $44 {[%csl Ge4,Re6,Gf3,Rf6,Gg4,Gh3]
Modest, but nevertheless the best move. White's compensation consists of his
threatening >> pawn phalanx, with Black's misplaced minor pieces in the way.} (
15. g5 Nh5 {/\} 16. f4 $2 Nxf4 $19) (15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 O-O $17) 15... Qa5 {
Black logically seeks active <=>.} (15... O-O 16. f4 $36) 16. f4 (16. Kb1 Rc8
$5 {[%cal Rc8c3] /\Rc3->} (16... O-O-O 17. f4 $44) (16... g5 17. h4 $1 Rg8 $13)
) 16... Bxa2 $1 {Consistent. The P is not as important as the counterattack.}
17. g5 Nh5 18. h4 (18. Be2 $2 Nxf4 $19) (18. Nxa2 Qxa2 19. Be2 Nxf4 $1 20. Qxf4
Qa1+ 21. Kd2 Qa5+ 22. Bc3 Bxg5 $17) 18... Rg8 $2 {[%mdl 8192] An atrocious
move, this R will stay out off play till the end of the game. Perhaps Ivanchuk
wanted to castle and made a mouse-slip (this is a blindfold game), putting his
R on g8 insted of the K?} (18... O-O $142 $1 19. Be2 g6 20. Bg4 Nc5 (20... Rfd8
$2 21. Bxd7 Rxd7 22. Bb6 $16) {The most sensible is} 21. Nxa2 (21. Bxh5 $2 gxh5
22. Nxa2 (22. Bf6 Rfe8 $1 $17) 22... Qxa2 23. Bxc5 Qa1+ 24. Kd2 Rfd8+ 25. Ke2
Qxb2 $17 {->}) (21. f5 $6 Rfd8 $15) 21... Qxa2 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 (22... Rad8 23.
Qa3 $14) 23. Qxc5 Nxf4 (23... Ng3 24. Rhe1 Qa1+ 25. Kd2 Qxb2 26. Ke3 $1 $16 {
/\Rb1}) 24. Qa3 $11) (18... O-O-O 19. Be2 $16 {/\} (19. Bh3 $6 Be6 20. f5 Bc4
$13) 19... g6 $2 20. Bxh8 Rxh8 21. Rxd7 $1 Kxd7 22. Qd4+ $18) 19. Bh3 Nc5 $6 (
19... Be6 $142 $5 20. f5 Bc4 21. Kb1 $142 $1 $36 (21. Bg4 Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Qxb2 23.
Rb1 Qa3 24. Bxh5 (24. Rxb7 $6 O-O-O $1 25. Rhb1 Bc5 {[%csl Rd2] עd2} 26. Bxh5
(26. f6 Be6) 26... Bxd4 27. Rc7+ (27. Qxd4 Nb6 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Qa5+ $1
$19 {[%cal Rc8b7] /\Kb7}) 27... Kxc7 28. Nd5+ Bxd5 29. Qxa3 Bc4 $17 {/-+})
24... O-O-O $13) 21... O-O-O (21... Ne5 22. b3 (22. Bb6 $5 Qb4 23. Qd4 $44)
22... Bd6 23. Nd5 $1 $40) (21... Rd8 22. Bg4 g6 23. b3 Bb5 24. Qf3 $40) 22. Bg4
g6 23. b3 {White gets his piece back, as the B can't retreat:} Bb5 $2 24. fxg6
hxg6 25. Bb6 Qb4 26. Rd4 Qa3 27. Nxb5 axb5 28. Ra4 $1 bxa4 29. Qc3+ $18) (19...
O-O-O $2 20. Bb6 Bc5 $8 21. Qxc5+ Qxc5 22. Bxd7+ Rxd7 23. Bxc5 $18) 20. Bg4 ({
Also playable was} 20. Nxa2 Qxa2 21. Bxc5 Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Rd8+ 23. Ke2 Qxb2 24.
Rxd8+ (24. Bxe7 $2 Qxc2+ $19 {as d1 is unprotected.}) 24... Bxd8 25. Qd2 $1
Qb5+ 26. Kf3 $18 {[%cal Rh1d1] /\Rd1-> Black's K doesn't have g7 at his
disposal, so the Bc5 is taboo.}) 20... g6 (20... Be6 {loses a piece:} 21. f5 $1
Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Qxb2 (22... Nb3+ 23. cxb3 Qxb2+ 24. Ke1 $18) 23. fxe6 Nxe6 24. Rb1
$1 Qa3 25. Bxh5 $18) 21. Nxa2 Qxa2 22. Bxc5 Qa1+ 23. Kd2 Rd8+ (23... Qxb2 $2
24. Bxe7 Kxe7 25. Qc5+ Ke8 26. Rb1 Rd8+ 27. Ke3 $18) (23... Qa5+ $142 24. b4
Rd8+ (24... Bxc5 25. bxa5 Bxe3+ 26. Kxe3 $18 {[%csl Rb7,Gg4,Rg8,Rh5] _|_}) 25.
Ke2 Qb5+ 26. Kf2 {Here White is also winning, but not by force.}) 24. Ke2 Qxb2
25. Kf3 $6 {An inaccuracy, which doesn't change the result.} (25. Bxe7 $1 Qxc2+
(25... Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Qxc2+ 27. Ke1 Kxe7 28. Qa3+ {leads to mate.}) 26. Ke1
Rxd1+ (26... Kxe7 27. Qa3+) 27. Bxd1 Qg2 28. Rg1 Nxf4 29. Bc5 $18) 25... Qxc2
26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 (26... Kxd8 $2 27. Qd4+) 27. Rc1 (27. Qd4 $2 Qb3+ $13) 27... Qh2
28. Rg1 $1 $18 {[%csl Re8] This calm move decides the game for good. White
stops Black's threats and starts the decisive attack on Black's K, trapped in
the [+].} (28. Bd7+ $2 Kxd7 29. Qd4+ Ke8 30. Qe5+ Kd7 $11) 28... Ba5 (28... Bc7
29. e5 {/\Qd4} Qc2 30. e6 f5 31. Bxh5 gxh5 32. Rc1 (32. Qd4 $2 Qb3+ 33. Kf2
Qa2+ $1 {/\Qe6}) 32... Qh2 33. Bd4 Qh3+ 34. Ke2 Qg2+ (34... Qxe3+ 35. Kxe3 Bd8
36. Bf6 $1 $18) 35. Kd3 Bd8 36. Rc8 $18 {->}) (28... Qc2 29. Qd4 Qb3+ 30. Kf2 {
The g3-square is already covered and White's K will hide on h1.} Qc2+ 31. Kf1
Qc1+ 32. Kg2) 29. Bd6 {Protects Pf4 and frees the Q for the mating attack.} Qd2
(29... Bd2 $2 30. Qc5) (29... Qb2 30. Rc1 Qh2 31. Rc8+ Bd8 32. Rxd8+ Kxd8 33.
Qb6+ Ke8 34. Bd7+ $1 Kxd7 35. Qc7+ Ke6 36. Qe7#) 30. Qxd2 Bxd2 31. Rd1 Ba5 32.
Rb1 b5 (32... b6 33. Rc1 b5 34. Ra1 {is the same.} (34. Rc8+ $5 $18)) 33. Ra1 {
Black will lose both his << P and still remain with an inactive R and K under
attack.} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. h3 g6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4
Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qb7 20. d6
Bf8 21. Qd3 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 {Current opening theory has more and
more forced lines, which after forced play lead directly into an _|_. This
variation is one of them, there is no middlegame.} Qd7 $5 {After quite a few
people suffered in the 2R:Q _|_ finally someone at last repeats Leko's idea.
But Piket shows the road to the draw is not so simple.} (23... Rcxd6 24. Qxd6
Rxd6 25. Rxd6 {[%mdl 4096]} c4 26. Rd2 ({White can't avoid the exchange of one
pair of P on the <<:} 26. Rdd1 Qb4 27. Rdc1 Qa4 $5 28. a3 Qb3 29. Rc3 Qa2 30.
Rbc1 Qxb2 31. a4 $14) 26... c3 27. Rc2 Qe4 28. Rbc1 cxb2 29. Rxb2 {Black's
task is not so simple, although with accurate play he should be able to save
the game. He should pin White's R to the defence of the a-pawn or >>, not
allowing them to coordinate and attack Black's >>P, as in Babula-Velicka.} h5 (
29... a5 30. Rbc2 Qa4 $5 (30... h5 31. Rc4 Qd5 32. a4 $16 {Karpov,A-Polgar,J/
Budapest rapid m/1998/}) 31. Rd2 h5 $14) 30. Rbc2 (30. Rcc2 Qa4 31. Rd2 Qa5 {
1/2,Gomez Esteban,J-Martin Gonzalez,A/Salamanca/1998/}) 30... h4 (30... Qa4 $6
31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. R1c2 Qe4 33. R8c4 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qd1 35. h4 Qd6+ 36. g3 Qa3 37.
R4c3 Qa4 38. Rc4 Qa3 39. R4c3 Qa4 40. a3 a6 41. Re2 Qd7 42. Re4 Qd2 43. Rf3 Qd5
44. Ref4 $16 {Babula,V-Velicka,P/CZE-cht 9900/2000/}) 31. Rc4 Qe7 32. a4 Qg5
33. Re1 Qd8 34. Rec1 Qd2 35. R4c2 Qb4 36. Rc4 Qd2 37. Rc5 Kg7 38. a5 a6 39. Rf1
Kh6 40. Rc4 Kh5 41. Rfc1 f5 42. Rc5 Kg5 $132 {Karpov,A-Van Wely,L/Amber rapid/
1999/}) 24. Qa3 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 (25. Rdc1 Qf5 $11) 25... Qxd6 26. Qxa7 Re8 $1 (
26... Qd4 27. a4 Rd5 $2 28. Qb8+ Kg7 29. Qb3 f6 30. Re1 Rd7 31. a5 Qd2 32. Ra1
c4 33. Qc3 $18 {Breier,A-Kleeschaetzky,R/2BLN-9900/2000/}) (26... Qe5 $6 27.
Qa5 Rb8 28. b3 Rb4 29. Rc1 Re4 30. Qc3 Qxc3 31. Rxc3 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Re2 33. a4
Rb2 34. a5 Kf8 35. h4 h5 36. f3 $16 {Campos Moreno,J-Outerelo,M/Burgas/1999/})
27. Qa3 $5 (27. Qa4 Re2 28. Qc4 Qe5 29. a3 $5 Rxf2 30. Kxf2 Qf5+ 31. Ke3 Qxb1
32. b4 $11 {/+/= keeps some tension in the position, but the _|_ should be a
draw anyway.}) 27... Re2 28. Qc3 Qb6 29. a4 c4 30. Rf1 Qb3 31. Rc1 $146 {
[%mdl 8]} (31. Qxb3 cxb3 32. Rb1 Re4 33. Ra1 Re2 34. Rb1 {1/2,Komarov,D-Leko,P/
Ulcinj YUG Cup /1997/}) 31... Qxa4 $2 (31... Qb6 $2 32. Qf3 Qxb2 33. Rxc4 $16)
({Safer was} 31... Rxb2 $5 32. Qxc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 Ra2 $14 {[%mdl 4096] /= This
_|_ is theoretically drawn, but who wants to fight a pawn down?}) 32. Qd4 $1 (
32. Qxc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 Rxb2 $11) 32... Qa6 {[%csl Rg8] Black is in trouble, as
his >> is shaky and the K will be exposed.} ({A possible example is} 32... Rc2
33. Re1 Qb5 (33... Qa8 34. Qd7 Kg7 35. Qd1 $1 Qa5 36. Qd4+ Kh6 37. Re4 $18 {->}
) (33... Qc6 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Re8 Qc5 36. Rg8+ Kh6 37. Qh4+ Qh5 38. Qf4+ Qg5
39. Qxf7 $18) 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Re8 $40 {/\} Rxb2 36. Rg8+ Kh6 37. Qf8+ Kg5 38.
Qe7+ Kh6 39. g4 $1 $18) 33. Rxc4 (33. Qf4 $2 Kg7 $1 34. Rxc4 Qa1+ 35. Kh2 Qxb2
$11) 33... Rxb2 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Rc8 $36 {White has again doubled his major
pieces on the 8-th rank as above.} Rb1+ 36. Kh2 Qe6 (36... Qb6 37. Qh8+ Kh6 38.
Qf8+ $18 {/\Qf7}) 37. Qd4+ $2 (37. Qf8+ Kf6 38. Qh8+ Kg5 (38... Kf5 39. Rc5+
Ke4 40. f3+ Ke3 41. Re5+ $18) 39. Rc5+ f5 (39... Kh6 40. Qf8#) 40. Qd8+ Kh6 (
40... Kh5 41. g4+) 41. Qh4+ Kg7 42. Rc7+ $18) 37... Kh6 $8 (37... f6 $2 38.
Rc7+ $18) (37... Qf6 $2 38. Rg8+) 38. Rg8 Qe7 39. h4 $2 {After this mistake
White's advantage evaporates.} (39. Qg7+ Kg5 40. g3 $40 (40. Qxh7 Qf6 41. h4+
Kg4 42. f3+ Kf5 $11)) 39... f6 40. Qd2+ g5 41. f4 $6 (41. hxg5+ fxg5 42. f4 Qc7
$1 {/\} 43. Rxg5 Rh1+ $1 44. Kg3 (44. Kxh1 Qc1+ 45. Qxc1 $11) 44... Rh3+ 45.
Kg4 Rh4+ 46. Kxh4 Qxf4+ $1 47. Qxf4 $11) 41... gxh4 42. f5+ Kh5 $11 43. g4+
hxg3+ 44. Rxg3 Qe5 45. Qd7 Qe2+ (45... Qb2+ 46. Rg2 Qb7 47. Qe8+ Kh4 48. Qd8
Qb8+ 49. Qxb8 Rxb8 50. Rg7 $11) 46. Rg2 Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 Na6 10. Nc3 d5 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Ne5 Rfd8
15. cxd5 exd5 16. a3 Bf8 17. e4 c6 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Rd3 Qf5 20. Qb2 f6 21. Rf3
Qe6 22. Nd3 Nc7 23. Re3 Qd6 24. Nf4 Re8 25. Bh3 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Re8 27. Kf2 Bc8
28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Qb1 Qd7 30. Kg2 f5 31. Qd3 Re8 32. Ra2 Qf7 33. h4 Bd6 34. Rf2
Bxa3 35. h5 Bb4 36. Ng6 Qe6 37. Ne5 Rf8 38. Ne2 Bd6 39. Nf4 Qc8 40. Nfg6 Rf6
41. g4 f4 42. exf4 Ne6 43. f5 Nf8 44. Qb5 Kh7 45. Qxd5 Bb8 46. Nxf8+ Rxf8 47.
Qe4 Bxe5 48. dxe5 Kh8 49. e6 Qc5 50. g5 Qe7 51. f6 gxf6 52. gxf6 Rg8+ 53. Kh2
Qc5 54. Qf5 Qc1 55. Qf4 Qg1+ 56. Kh3 Rg5 57. Qf3 Qe1 58. Re2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4100]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 Qc7 13. f5 (
13. Bh5 Qc5 14. Qxc5 dxc5 15. f5 {[#]} b4 16. Ne2 (16. Na4 Rb8 17. Rhf1 (17.
Rhe1 Rg8 $11 (17... O-O 18. b3 Rb7 19. Bf3 Bd7 20. Nb2 Rc7 21. g4 $14 {0-1
Kroeger,F-Van Laatum,G/Hastings ENG 2000/The Week in Chess 273 (39)})) 17...
Rg8 $11) 16... e5 (16... exf5 17. Bf3 $1 $44) 17. Ng3 (17. b3 Bb7 18. Ng3 c4
19. bxc4 Bc6 $11) 17... c4 $1 18. Be2 c3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Lautier,J-Pelletier,Y/
Biel 1997/CBM 60/(41)}) (13. Bf3 Bb7 14. f5 (14. Kb1 Qc5 15. Qd2 O-O-O 16. Rhe1
Kb8 $11 {Brodsky,M-Poluljahov,A/MK Cafe Koszalin/1997}) 14... h5 15. Kb1 Qc5
16. Qd2 O-O-O 17. a3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Frankfurt 1996/EXT 98 (36)})
13... Qc5 14. Qxc5 (14. Qd3 Ra7 15. Bh5 {1/2-1/2 Hracek,Z-Epishin,V/Erevan (06)
1996}) (14. fxe6 Qg5+ $5) 14... dxc5 15. Rhf1 $146 {The idea of this novelty
is to not hasten with fxe6} ({Main line is} 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Bh5+ Kf8 17. e5 (
17. Rhf1 $6 Ra7 (17... Kg7 18. Rd3 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,A-Blehm,P/Oropesa
del Mar ESP 1998 (79)}) 18. e5 f5 19. g4 Kg7 20. gxf5 (20. Rd3 $6 c4 21. Rh3
Rf8 22. gxf5 Rxf5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Tseitlin,M-Epishin,V/St.Petersburg 1997/CBM 59 
(65)}) 20... exf5 21. Nd5 Bg5+ 22. Kb1 $11) 17... f5 18. g4 {but after strong}
Ra7 $1 {Black equalize} (18... b4 19. Ne2 Bg5+ (19... Ra7 20. gxf5 exf5 21. Nf4
$16 {Palac-Smirin,euch-tm 1997}) 20. Kb1 Ke7 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Rhg1 Bh6 $132 {
Perunovic,Milos-Izoria,Zviad/Moscow (6) 1998 (48)}) 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Nd5 Bg5+
21. Kb1 Be6 22. Rhg1 Rd7 $5 (22... Rg8 23. Nf4 $1 $16 Bxf4 (23... Bf7 24. Bxf7
Kxf7 (24... Rxf7 $2 25. Ne6+) 25. Rd7+ $1 Rxd7 26. e6+ Kf6 (26... Ke7 27. exd7
Kxd7 28. h4) 27. exd7 Rd8 28. Rxg5 $1 Kxg5 29. Ne6+ $18) (23... Bc4 24. e6 Rag7
25. Bf7 Bxf4 26. Bxg8 Rxg1 27. Rxg1 Bxh2 28. Rg2 Bd6 29. b3 $16) 24. Rd8+ Ke7
25. Rdxg8 Bxg8 26. Rg7+ $16 {Short-Yermolinsky 1997}) 23. Rxg5 Rxd5 24. Rxf5+ (
24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxf5+ Ke7 $132) 24... Ke7 25. Rg5 (25. Rxd5 Bxd5 26. Rf6 Rg8
$132) 25... Rg8 26. Rxg8 Rxd1+ 27. Bxd1 Bxg8 28. Bg4 Be6 $44 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,
A-Grosar,A/Batumi 1999/CBM 74/(48)}) 15... Ra7 {Natural continuation in this
variation} (15... b4 16. Na4 $14) 16. a4 $5 ({Now} 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Bh5+ Kf8
18. e5 f5 19. g4 Bg5+ 20. Kb1 Kg7 $11 {leads to wellknown position}) (16. g3
Rd7 $132) 16... b4 17. Nb1 {[%cal Gb1d2,Gd2c4]} Rd7 (17... Rg8 18. g3 $14) 18.
Rxd7 Kxd7 19. Nd2 (19. Bh5 Rf8 20. Nd2 Bd6 21. g3 Ke7 22. Nc4 Bc7 $11) 19... h5
$1 {[%csl Rh5] Seems unnecessary, but this move is quite good.} ({After} 19...
Rd8 {[%cal Gd7e8]} 20. Bh5 {White have a little advantage} (20. g3 Ke8 21. Nc4
Bb7 22. Bd3 Rd4 $11) 20... Ke8 (20... exf5 21. exf5 Ke8 22. Be2 Bd6 23. g3 $14)
21. fxe6 Bxe6 22. Be2 Bc8 23. g3 $14 {[%csl Rf6,Rf7]}) 20. Nc4 Kc7 {Good place
for K} 21. b3 exf5 {Kramnik decided to open position for his par BB, but
remains with weaknesses in the kingside} (21... Bb7 22. Bf3 h4 $11) 22. exf5 {
[%csl Rf6,Rf7,Rh5]} Bd6 $6 $14 ({More accurately was} 22... h4 23. Ne3 Bd6 24.
Nd5+ Kb8 25. h3 (25. Nxf6 Bxh2 26. Bc4 Bg3 27. Ne4 Bb7 28. Nxc5 Bxg2 29. Nxa6+
Ka8 30. Rg1 h3 $19) 25... Bb7 26. Bf3 Be5 $11) 23. Nxd6 Kxd6 24. Rf4 (24. Bc4
$5 Ke5 25. g3 (25. Bxf7 Bxf5 26. Re1+ Be4 $11) 25... Bxf5 (25... a5 26. Rd1 {
[%cal Gd1d5]} Bb7 27. Rd7 $16) 26. Bxa6 $14) 24... a5 (24... h4 $6 25. Kd2 Bb7
26. Bf3 (26. c3 bxc3+ 27. Kxc3 h3 (27... Bxg2 28. Bxa6 Ke5 29. Rf2 Be4 30. Re2
Kxf5 31. Kc4 Rb8 32. Bb5 Ke5 33. Kxc5 $16) 28. g3 $16)) (24... Ke5 25. Rc4 $1)
25. g3 Ke5 26. Rh4 $2 $11 (26. Bd3 $1 {Was keep advantage} Rg8 (26... h4 $2 27.
Re4+ $1 Kd6 28. Rxh4 Rxh4 29. gxh4 Ke7 (29... Ke5 30. h5 Bxf5 31. h6 $18) 30.
Kd2 Kf8 31. Ke3 Kg7 32. Kf4 Kh6 33. Bc4 Kh5 34. Ke4 Kxh4 35. Kd5 Bxf5 36. Kxc5
Bxc2 37. Kb6 $18) 27. Re4+ Kd6 28. Rh4 (28. Re2 Rg4 29. Re8 Bb7 30. Rd8+ $14)
28... Rg5 29. Be2 Bxf5 30. Rxh5 Bg6 31. Rh8 $14) (26. Rc4 $2 Ba6 $1 27. Rxc5+
Kd4 $17) 26... Bxf5 27. Rxh5 (27. Bxh5 Bg6 28. Be2 Rxh4 29. gxh4 Be4 30. h5 f5
31. Kd2 (31. h6 f4 32. Bd3 Bxd3 33. cxd3 Kf6 34. Kd2 Kg6 35. Ke2 Kxh6 36. Kf3
Kg5 $19) 31... f4 32. h6 (32. Bd3 f5 33. h4 Kf6 34. Bb5 Kg7 35. c3 (35. Be8 f3
$17) 35... Kh6 $17) 32... Kf6 (32... Bg6 33. Bc4 Kf6 34. h4 Be4 35. Bd3 Bxd3
36. Kxd3 Kg6 37. Ke4 Kxh6 38. Kxf4 Kh5 39. Kg3 Kh6 40. Kg4 Kg6 41. Kf4 (41. h5+
$2 Kh6 42. Kf5 Kxh5 43. Kf6 Kg4 $19) 41... Kh5 42. Kg3 Kh6 $11) 33. Bd3 Bxd3
34. Kxd3 Kg6 35. Ke4 Kxh6 36. Kxf4 Kg6 37. h3 (37. Ke5 Kg5 38. h3 Kh4 39. Kf6
Kxh3 40. Kxf7 Kg4 41. Ke6 Kf4 42. Kd5 Ke3 43. Kxc5 Kd2 44. Kb5 Kxc2 45. Kxa5
Kxb3 $19) 37... Kh5 38. Kf5 Kh4 39. Kf6 Kxh3 40. Kxf7 Kg4 41. Ke6 Kf4 42. Kd5
Ke3 43. Kxc5 Kd2 44. Kb5 Kxc2 45. Kxa5 Kxb3 46. Kb6 Kc4 47. a5 b3 48. a6 b2 49.
a7 b1=Q+ 50. Kc7 Qh7+ $19) 27... Rxh5 28. Bxh5 {[%csl Ye5]} Bg6 29. Be2 (29.
Bxg6 fxg6 30. Kd2 Kd4 31. h4 f5 32. Ke2 Kc3 33. Kd1 c4 34. bxc4 Kxc4 35. Kd2
Kd4 $19) 29... f5 (29... Be4 30. Kd2 f5 31. Ke3 $1 (31. h4 f4 32. gxf4+ Kxf4
33. h5 Kg5 34. c3 f5 35. cxb4 cxb4 36. Bd1 f4 $17 {[%csl Rb3,Rh5]}) 31... Bxc2
32. Bc4 Kf6 33. Kf4 $44) 30. Kd2 f4 $1 {Just in time.} 31. g4 (31. gxf4+ Kxf4
32. h4 Be4 33. c3 f5 $17) 31... Ke4 ({After} 31... f5 $5 {Topalov should find
the only move} 32. Bd3 $1 {[%cal Gd3g6]} (32. gxf5 $2 Bxf5 33. Bd3 Bg4 34. h4
Kd4 35. Bg6 f3 36. Bd3 f2 (36... Bh3 37. h5 $16) 37. Bf1 Ke4 38. Bg2+ Kf4 39.
Bf1 Kg3 40. Ke3 Bf3 41. Bc4 Bh5 42. Bf1 Bg6 $19) (32. g5 $2 f3 33. Bxf3 Kf4 34.
Bd5 Kxg5 35. c3 Kf4 $17) 32... c4 (32... Kf6 33. gxf5 Bxf5 34. Bxf5 Kxf5 35.
Ke2 (35. Kd3 Kg5 36. Ke2 Kg4 37. Kf2 Kh3 38. Kf3 (38. Kg1 Kh4 39. Kg2 Kg4 $11)
38... Kxh2 39. Kxf4 Kg2 40. Ke3 Kf1 41. Kd2 Kf2 42. c3 Kf1 43. cxb4 cxb4 44.
Kd1 $11 (44. Kd3 Ke1 45. Kc4 Kd2 46. Kb5 Kc3 47. Kxa5 Kxb3 48. Kb5 Kc3 49. a5
b3 50. a6 b2 51. a7 b1=Q+ $19)) 35... Kg4 36. Kf2 Kh3 37. Kf3 Kxh2 38. Kxf4 Kg2
39. Ke4 Kf2 40. c4 Ke2 41. Kd5 Kd3 42. Kxc5 Kc3 43. Kb5 Kxb3 44. c5 Ka3 45. c6
b3 46. c7 b2 47. c8=Q b1=Q+ $11) 33. bxc4 (33. Bxc4 fxg4 $17) 33... Be8 34.
Bxf5 Bxa4 35. h4 Kf6 (35... Be8 36. h5 Bxh5 37. gxh5 Kxf5 38. h6 Kg6 39. c5 a4
40. c6 a3 41. c7 a2 42. c8=Q a1=Q 43. Qg4+ Kxh6 44. Qxf4+ Kg6 45. Qxb4 $16) 36.
Bd3 Be8 37. g5+ Kg7 38. c5 a4 39. c6 Bxc6 40. h5 a3 41. h6+ Kg8 42. Bc4+ Kh7
43. Bd3+ Kh8 44. Bc4 $11) 32. h4 f3 33. Bd3+ Kf4 34. Bxg6 fxg6 35. h5 Kg3 (
35... gxh5 36. gxh5 Kg3 37. h6 f2 38. h7 f1=Q 39. h8=Q $11) 36. hxg6 f2 37. g7
f1=Q 38. g8=Q Qf4+ 39. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Nd2 f5 13. Nb5 e5 14. dxe5 Nc5
15. Nd4 Qc8 16. Qh5 Kh7 17. f3 exf3 18. N2xf3 g6 19. Qh3 Ne4 20. Rad1 c5 21.
Nb5 g5 22. Qh5 Kg7 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. exd6 Nxg3 25. hxg3 Qe6 26. Rf2 Rad8 27.
Rfd2 Rd7 28. Kh1 Qxe3 29. Rd3 Qe8 30. Qh2 Qe6 31. Re1 Qf6 32. Red1 Rfd8 33. g4
f4 34. Qg1 Be4 35. R3d2 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Rxd6 37. Rxd6 Qxd6 38. Qe1 Qd3 39. b3 Qb1
40. Qxb1 Bxb1 41. a3 Kf6 42. Kg1 Bc2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. d3 O-O 8. Bd2
b6 9. a3 d5 10. Rb1 a5 11. b3 d4 12. Nb5 e5 13. b4 a4 14. Qc1 f6 15. Bh6 Bxh6
16. Qxh6 Be6 17. Qc1 Qd7 18. Qc2 Kg7 19. Rb2 g5 20. Rfb1 h6 21. bxc5 bxc5 22.
Nd2 f5 23. Nc7 Qxc7 24. Rb7 Qd6 25. Bxc6 Kg6 26. Bg2 Ra6 27. g4 Ng8 28. gxf5+
Bxf5 29. Ne4 Bxe4 30. Bxe4+ Kh5 31. e3 Qe6 32. Kh1 Nf6 33. Qe2+ Kh4 34. Rg1
Nxe4 35. dxe4 d3 36. Qe1 Rf3 37. Rg3 Qf6 38. Qf1 g4 39. Qg2 h5 40. Rh7 Kg5 41.
Qh3 Qh6 42. Rxh6 Rxh6 43. Qf1 Rd6 44. Rxf3 gxf3 45. h4+ Kh6 46. Qd1 d2 47. Kh2
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb5 Nb6
15. c4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 Qd7 18. a4 g6 19. Bd2 c3 20. Qxc3 Rac8 21.
Qb3 Bb8 22. Bd1 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qg7 24. Bg4 Rc7 25. Rd1 Re8 26. a5 Rc3 27. Qb4 Nc4
28. Bh6 Qf6 29. Rxb7 Qe5 30. f4 Qe3+ 31. Kh1 Bd6 32. Qb5 Bf8 33. Rb8 Nd6 34.
Rxe8 Nxe8 35. Bxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E69"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. e4 e5
9. h3 Nbd7 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. Bf1 Re8 13. Be3 c5 14. Nf3 Nxf3+ 15.
Qxf3 Be6 16. Bf4 Nd7 17. Bxd6 Ne5 18. Qe3 Rad8 19. Rad1 b6 20. a3 Nxc4 21. Bxc4
Bxc4 22. e5 Qa6 23. Qf4 Bb3 24. Rd2 Qc8 25. Kh2 f6 26. Rde2 fxe5 27. Bxe5 Rf8
28. Qe4 Bxe5 29. Qxe5 Bc4 30. Re4 Rxf2+ 31. Kg1 Rf5 32. Qe7 Bb3 33. g4 Rf7 34.
Qh4 Rdf8 35. Re7 Qd8 36. Qg5 Qd4+ 37. R7e3 Qd2 38. Ne4 Qxb2 39. Rf3 Rxf3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 d5 13. Bh3 g5 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. e5
Nxe5 16. Bxg5 Nc4 17. Qe2 Rg8 18. Bh4 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Qe7 20. Rhe1 Be3 21. Bf2
Bxf2 22. Qxf2 O-O-O 23. b3 Na3+ 24. Kb2 Kb8 25. Bf1 Rc8 26. Qh2+ Ka7 27. Rc1
Nd7 28. c3 bxc3+ 29. Nxc3 Qb4 30. Qd2 Ka8 31. Nb1 Nc4+ 32. Bxc4 Rxc4 33. Rxc4
Qxd2+ 34. Nxd2 dxc4 35. Nxc4 Bd5 36. Rd1 Bxc4 37. bxc4 Ne5 38. c5 Rc8 39. Nb3
Nxf3 40. Rd6 Ne5 41. Kc3 Nxg4 42. Rxa6+ Kb7 43. Rd6 Ne5 44. Na5+ Kc7 45. Ra6
Kd7 46. Kd4 Nc6+ 47. Nxc6 Rxc6 48. Ra8 f5 49. a4 f4 50. Kc4 Rc8 51. Rxc8 Kxc8
52. a5 Kb7 53. Kd4 e5+ 54. Ke4 Kc7 55. a6 Kc6 56. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 a6 8. a4 Bg4
9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nf6 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. O-O O-O 13. a5 Nbd7 14. Bf4 Rab8 15.
Qc2 Ne8 16. Rfe1 Nc7 17. Be2 b5 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Bd2 Bd4 21. Nd1
Qf6 22. Kh1 h5 23. f4 Qe7 24. Nc3 Nf6 25. Bf3 Qd7 26. Re2 Ng4 27. Bc1 Qd8 28.
g3 Nf6 29. Kg2 Nd7 30. e5 dxe5 31. f5 Qf6 32. fxg6 Qxg6 33. Be4 Qg7 34. Bf3 h4
35. Re4 f5 36. Rxh4 e4 37. Be2 Ne5 38. Rh5 Rf8 39. Bf4 Ng6 40. Bxc7 Qxc7 41.
Bc4 Kg7 42. Ne2 Qe5 43. b3 Qf6 44. Nf4 Nxf4+ 45. gxf4 Rh8 46. Rg5+ Kf8 47. Kh1
Be3 48. Rg2 Bxf4 49. Qf2 Bd6 50. Qg1 Qe5 51. Rg6 e3 52. Re6 Qd4 53. Rg2 Bxh2
54. Rxh2 Rxe6 55. dxe6 Qe4+ 56. Qg2 Rxh2+ 57. Kxh2 Qh4+ 58. Kg1 Qe1+ 59. Kh2
Qh4+ 60. Kg1 Qe1+ 61. Bf1 Ke7 62. Qe2 Qg3+ 63. Qg2 Qe1 64. Qe2 Qg3+ 65. Qg2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 c5 12. Rfd1 c4 13. Qc2 a6 14. a4 Nb8 15.
b3 cxb3 16. Qxb3 Nc6 17. Ne5 Nb4 18. Rac1 Rc8 19. Bh3 Rc7 20. Ng4 Rc6 21. Ne3
Bc8 22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. Be5 a5 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Nexd5 Nxd5 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27.
Nxd5 Rxc1 28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Rxc1 Kg7 30. Kg2 Rd8 31. Kf3 Rxd4 32. Rc6 Rxa4 33.
Rxb6 Ra1 34. Ra6 a4 35. Kg4 Ra2 36. Kf3 Ra1 37. h4 h5 38. Kf4 Ra2 39. f3 Rxe2
40. Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qb3
b6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 Ba6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Nb5 Ne4 14. Bc7 Qe8
15. Bf4 Qd8 16. Rc7 Ba6 17. Qa4 Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Ndf6 19. Qa4 a6 20. Qc6 Bd6 21.
Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Rc1 Nb5 23. Rb7 Nd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Qc8 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nbd2 c6 14. dxc6 Qxc6 15.
Nf1 Rfe8 16. Ng3 Rac8 17. a4 Nc4 18. Qe2 Bd8 19. Rd1 Nb6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bd3
Na4 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rd2 Nc5 25. Bc2 Be6 26. Rad1 Rcd8 27. Qe3 Nb3
28. Bxb3 Bxb3 29. Re1 Be6 30. Nh5 Be7 31. Ng3 Bf6 32. Nh5 Be7 33. Ng3 Rb8 34.
Nf5 Bxf5 35. exf5 b4 36. Rc1 e4 37. Nd4 Qd7 38. Qxe4 Bg5 39. Qd3 bxc3 40. bxc3
Rbc8 41. g3 Bxd2 42. Qxd2 Qe7 43. h4 Rc5 44. Qd3 Qe4 45. Qd2 Kh7 46. Kh2 Ra5
47. Rf1 Qd5 48. Kg1 Ra2 49. Qd3 Rb2 50. Ra1 Kg8 51. Rb1 Ree2 52. Nxe2 Qxd3 53.
Rxb2 Qxf5 54. Rd2 Qe4 55. Kf1 Qb1+ 56. Kg2 Qe1 57. Ra2 d5 58. Ra8+ Kh7 59. Re8
Qd2 60. Re3 g6 61. Nd4 Kg7 62. Ne2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 {Nikolic's favourite line against the Benoni requires
subtle play from Black.} Na6 $5 (10... a6 $143 11. a4 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Rxe4 13. Nd2
Rb4 14. Ra2 $1 Qe7 15. b3 g5 16. Be3 Bd4 17. Bxd4 Rxd4 18. e3 Rb4 19. Nc4 Nd7
20. f4 Rb8 21. Qd3 g4 22. Rd1 Nf8 23. Qc3 $16 {Nikolic,P-Hracek,Z/EU-chT
Batumi/1999/}) ({A playable alternative is} 10... Qb6 11. Rc1 Nh5 12. Bd2 Bg4
13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nf6 15. g4 h6 16. Rb1 Nbd7 17. Bg2 a6 18. b4 cxb4 19. Na4
Qc7 20. Bxb4 b5 21. Nc3 Qb6 22. e3 a5 23. Ba3 b4 $15 {Vaulin,A-Tunik,G/
Naberezhnie Chelni/ 1988/}) 11. Nd2 {After this typical Benoni move White's B
lands on the uncomfortable square e3.} (11. Nb5 Bf8 12. Re1 Nc7 13. Nxc7 Qxc7
14. Rc1 a5 15. b3 Bd7 16. Nd2 Nh5 $1 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Rxc5 Qd8 19. Rc4 Nxf4 20.
gxf4 b5 21. Rd4 Bg7 22. Ng3 Bc2 23. Qxc2 Bxd4 24. Qd3 Qb6 $15 {Kaidanov,
G-Romanishin,O/Groningen PCA/1993/}) ({White's main move is} 11. Re1 {[%cal
Ye2e4] /\e4} Nc7 (11... Bg4 12. Nd2 (12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qd7 14. e4 Rad8 15.
Kg2 c4 16. e5 (16. Be3 Nb4 17. Bxa7 Nd3 18. Re2 b5 19. Bd4 h5 20. a4 Nh7 21.
Nxb5 Ng5 22. Re3 Qxh3+ 23. Kg1 Nxf2 $1 24. Kxf2 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 Bxd4 $40 {Adorjan,
A-Romanishin,O/Debrecen/1990/}) 16... dxe5 17. Rxe5 Nb4 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Qd2
Nd3 20. a4 h5 21. Be3 a6 22. a5 h4 23. g4 Qc7 24. Ra4 Nd7 $36 {Cech,P-Stocek,J/
CZE-chT/1999/}) 12... Nh5 13. Be3 Qd7 14. a4 Bh3 15. Bf3 Bg4 16. Bg2 Bh3 17.
Nc4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nc7 19. Qd3 f5 20. Bd2 Rf8 21. f3 $14 {Sorokin,M-Robledo,N/
Buenos Aires/1997/}) (11... Ne4 12. Nxe4 Rxe4 13. Nd2 Rd4 14. a3 Rxf4 15. gxf4
Bxb2 16. Ra2 Bg7 17. e4 b5 18. e5 Bf5 19. Nf3 Nc7 20. exd6 Ne8 21. d7 Nd6 22.
Ne5 $13 {1/2,Gleizerov,E-Moskalenko,V/Alushta/1993/}) (11... Nh5 12. Bg5 Qd7
13. e4 b5 14. Bf1 Nc7 15. e5 dxe5 16. d6 b4 17. Na4 Ne6 18. Bc4 Nd4 19. Nxc5
Qxd6 20. Nxd4 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Qf8 22. Bd5 Rb8 23. Rc7 Qd6 24. Nb5 $1 {1-0
Scheeren,P-Ligterink,G/Hilversum/1984/}) 12. e4 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Qd7
15. a4 h6 16. Bg2 Nh5 17. Be3 b5 18. axb5 Nxb5 19. Qa4 a6 20. g4 Nf6 21. Nxb5
Qxb5 $11 {1/2,Barbero,G-Frias,V/Wijk aan Zee-B/1991/}) 11... Nh5 12. Be3 {
[%csl Re3]} Nc7 13. a4 b6 14. Bf3 $146 (14. Nc4 Ba6 15. Na3 (15. Qb3 Qd7 16.
Ne4 $2 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Bxb2 18. Rab1 Bg7 19. Rb3 Nf6 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Bf3 Rab8
22. Rfb1 Rb7 23. h4 Reb8 24. Bg4 Qd8 25. Bd2 Bd4 26. e3 Be5 27. f4 Bg7 28. e4
Bd4+ 29. Kg2 Qe8 30. Bf3 a6 31. Ba5 b5 $19 {Kapelan,M-Davies,N/Vrsac/1989/})
15... Nf6 (15... Rxe3 $5 16. fxe3 Qe7 $44) 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bf4 Ng4 18. Re1 Ne5
19. Qc2 Qd7 (19... Bc8 $5 $13) 20. h3 b5 $6 21. axb5 Bxb5 22. Bd2 Ba6 23. b3
Qe7 24. f4 Nd7 25. e4 Rab8 26. Nc4 $36 {Rossetto,H-Ocampo,R/Mar del Plata/1972/
}) 14... Ba6 15. Re1 Rxe3 $5 {[%mdl 512]} (15... Qe7 $132 {was certainly also
playable, but in a rapid game Topalov wants to unbalance the position as soon
as possible.}) 16. fxe3 (16. Bxh5 $4 Rxc3 $19) 16... Nf6 $44 {[%csl Rd5,Re2,
Re3] White's problem is that he has active possibilities with his crippled P.
And without open files for the R an extra exchange has little significance.}
17. Qc2 Qe7 18. e4 (18. Nf1 h5 {is very similar.}) 18... h5 19. e3 (19. b3 Nd7
20. Nc4 h4 $36) 19... Bh6 20. Nd1 Re8 21. Nf2 Nd7 22. b4 (22. Nc4 $142 $5 Bxc4
23. Qxc4 Ne5 24. Qe2 a6 $44) 22... Ne5 23. b5 $6 (23. bxc5 bxc5 $44 (23... dxc5
$5 $13 {[%cal Ye8f8,Yc7e8,Ye8d6] /\Rf8,Ne8-d6})) 23... Bc8 24. Bg2 h4 $36 {
[%mdl 2048] Closing the << robs White of any possible <=> on this side of the
board. White doesn't find any targets for the rest of the game and Black's
minor pieces just take his position apart in the end.} 25. Ra2 (25. Nc4 hxg3
26. hxg3 Bg7 $15 {[%csl Rg3] ><g3}) 25... hxg3 26. hxg3 Qg5 27. Nf1 Bg7 28. Qe2
a6 $5 29. Rb1 (29. bxa6 $2 Bxa6 30. Nh3 $8 Qe7 31. Qd2 Bc4 $17) 29... Qd8 30.
Bh3 Bb7 31. Nd3 (31. Nd2 Qg5 32. Kg2 Ra8 $36) 31... f5 $1 {|^[+]} 32. Nxe5 Bxe5
33. exf5 (33. Bg2 $5 Qg5 34. exf5 gxf5 $13) 33... Qg5 34. Rd2 axb5 35. axb5
gxf5 36. Qf3 Rf8 {[%csl Rb5,Rd5,Re3,Rg3] ><b5,d5,e3,g3} 37. Bg2 (37. e4 $5 {/\}
fxe4 38. Qxe4 Rxf1+ 39. Rxf1 Qxd2 40. Qg6+ Bg7 41. Be6+ Nxe6 42. Qxe6+ $11)
37... Kg7 38. Rc1 Rf7 $1 $17 39. Rc4 (39. Rb1 c4 $17) 39... Nxb5 40. Rh4 Nc3
41. Bh3 (41. Rh5 Qg6 $19 {[%csl Gb6,Gc5] o^b,c}) 41... Ne4 $19 42. Rg2 Qg6 43.
g4 (43. Qd1 Nc3 44. Qh5 Qxh5 45. Rxh5 Bxd5 $19) 43... Ng5 44. Qxf5 $6 (44. Qd1
f4 45. Kh1 Qe4 $19 {->}) 44... Nf3+ (44... Rxf5 45. gxf5 Nf3+ 46. Kf2 Qxg2+ $19
) 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Bb7 6. Qd3 f5 $146
7. Nbd2 c4 8. Qd4 Na6 9. c3 {Kramnik doesn't like position after} (9. Nxe4 fxe4
10. Qxe4 Nb4 11. Rd1 Nxd5 $1 12. c3 (12. Rxd5 Qa5+ 13. c3 Qxa2 $5 {With
unclear game.} (13... e6 $4 14. Qf4 $18 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gf3e5]}))) 9... Nxd2
10. Qxd2 Qb6 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Re4][%cal Ga6c7,Ga6c5]} 11. O-O-O (11. g4 $6 fxg4
12. Ne5 Qd6) 11... g6 12. Qd4 (12. Bg3 Bg7 $15 {[%cal Gb5b4,Gg7b2]}) 12... Rg8
(12... Qxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc7) 13. e4 Bg7 $5 {[%mdl 2048] Sharp, temping, but
probably not the best. After} (13... Bh6+ 14. Bg5 Qxd4 15. Rxd4 Bxg5+ (15...
fxe4 16. Bxh6 exf3 17. gxf3 $13) 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Nh3 fxe4 18. b3 $13 {the
position is unclear.}) 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Re1 Nc5 {[%mdl 128]} 17.
Rxe7+ Kf8 18. Nd4 (18. Ne5 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Rg7 20. Rxg7 Bxg7 21. f4 Bxd5 $17)
18... Rxa2 19. Nxf5 $6 {[%mdl 64] Too active. Better was} (19. Kb1 $1 Ra5 (
19... Ra8 $1) 20. Nxf5 Nb3 {And now!} 21. Be2 $3 Ra1+ 22. Kc2 Rxh1 23. Re8+ $3
Kxe8 24. Bh5+ Kf8 25. Be7#) 19... Bxd5 20. Nd6 (20. Kb1 $1 Ra8 21. Nd6 Nb3 22.
Kc2 Be6 23. f4 $36) 20... Ra1+ 21. Kc2 Bh6 22. Re8+ Kg7 23. Rxg8+ (23. Nf5+ Kg6
24. Rxg8+ Bxg8 25. Ne7+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ $11) 23... Bxg8 24. Nf5+ Kg6 25. Nxh6 $4 {
[%mdl 8192] Last mistake. Perpetual check was possible after} (25. Ne7+ $11)
25... Nb3 $1 {[%mdl 64]} 26. Bxc4 Bxc4 27. Rxa1 Nxa1+ 28. Kb1 Nb3 29. Ng4 Kh5
$1 {[%cal Rh5g4,Rh5h4]} 30. Nf6+ Kxh4 31. Nxh7 Bd3+ 32. Ka2 Nc1+ 33. Ka3 Bxh7
0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15.
axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. f4 Nb6 19. f5 Nxa4 20. fxe6 O-O-O $6 {
[%mdl 4] Dubious novelty, that sets high stakes on the effects of the
counterplay against white king. Unfortunatelly white's central pawns will be
too strong.} (20... Nc3 21. exf7+ Kxf7 22. Bd3 Bxb4 23. Rdf1+ Kg8 24. Qf2 Re8
25. e6 Rf8 26. Qf7+ Rxf7 27. exf7+ Qxf7 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Rf1+ Ke7 30. Nf5+ Kd8
31. Nxg7 {1-0 Selin,O-Rogovoi,M/St Petersburg/2000/ (60)}) 21. exf7 Nc3 (21...
Qxf7 22. Bd3 Qe7 23. Bf5+ Kb8 24. Ne6 Qxb4 25. Qxb4 Bxb4 26. Rd4 Bc5 27. Nxd8
Bxd4 28. Bxd4 Rxd8 29. e6 $18) 22. e6 Bxb4 23. Qd3 Na2+ (23... Qa5 24. Kd2 $1
Ne4+ 25. Ke2 Ng3+ 26. Kf3 Nxh1 27. Bg2 $16) (23... Ba3+ 24. Kd2 Ne4+ 25. Ke2
Ng3+ 26. Kf3 Nxh1 27. Qxa3 Qg3+ 28. Ke2 $18) 24. Kb2 $1 Bc3+ 25. Kb1 {White's
excellent defensive triangel with the king has showed the limits of black's
attack.} (25. Kxa2 $2 Qa5+ $19) 25... Nb4 (25... Qb6+ 26. Nb5 Qxb5+ (26... d4
27. Qc4+ Kb8 28. Bf4+ Ka8 29. Qxa2 Bxh1 30. e7 $18) 27. Qxb5 axb5 28. e7 d4 29.
exd8=Q+ (29. Bxb5 Bxh1 30. Rxh1 dxe3 31. Kxa2 e2 32. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 33. Bxe2 $18)
29... Rxd8 30. Rh2 Rf8 31. Bxd4 $18) 26. Bf4 $1 (26. Qf5 g6 $19) 26... Qc5 (
26... Qxf4 27. Qxc3+ $18) (26... Nxd3 27. Bxc7 Kxc7 28. Rxd3 Bb4 29. Re3 $18)
27. Qf5 {Black king could be mated too so Topalov's strategy triumphs.} g6 (
27... Bxd4 28. e7+ Rd7 29. e8=Q+ Rxe8 30. fxe8=Q#) 28. Qe5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6
8. h4 O-O (8... h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qd2 $14 {Die eingeschobenen Züge h4 und h6
begünstigen Weiß, denn im Falle der kurzen schwarzen Rochade gibt es mit
g2-g4-g5 einen klaren und starken Plan.}) 9. Bxf6 {Possible continuation,
however promising nothing to white.The main line is considered to be 9.Qd2.} (
9. Qd2 Qe7 (9... e5 10. Bxf6 $1 (10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Qxd8 Nxf3+ $10) 10... Qxf6
11. O-O-O exd4 (11... e4 12. Ng5 $16 {>< Pe4}) 12. Qxd4 Qxd4 13. Rxd4 {Weiß
hat nur einen winzigen Vorteil, aber die einzigen Partien mit diesem Endspiel
endeten beide 1-0.} Nf6 (13... Re8 14. Bc4 Nb6 15. Re1 Bd7 16. Bb3 Rxe1+ 17.
Nxe1 Kf8 18. Nd3 $14 {Brodsky,M-Doroshkievich,V/Rostov op 1993}) 14. Bc4 a6 15.
Re1 b5 16. Bd5 $14 {Morovic Fernandez,I-Nogueiras,J/Capablanca mem-A 1996}) 10.
O-O-O Rd8 11. Qe3 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Ne5 Rac8 14. Kb1 h6 15. f4 $36 {Weinzettl,
E-Rohler,S/Graz op 1994}) (9. Bd3 c5 10. c3 cxd4 11. cxd4 e5 $1 12. Qc2 $2 h6
13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Ng5 exd4 $17 {Pinkas,K-Schmidt,W/POL-ch 1993}) 9... Qxf6 10.
Qe2 $5 {Preventing e5,but closing to the bishop the way out.} (10. Qd2 e5 (
10... c5 11. O-O-O cxd4 12. Nxd4 e5 13. Nf3 $14) 11. O-O-O exd4 12. Qxd4 Qxd4
13. Nxd4 Nf6 14. Be2 Bg4 $11) 10... b6 11. Qe4 Rb8 12. Bd3 g6 13. Ne5 (13. Qc6
$6 Qd8 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Bb7 16. Qc3 Bxg2 17. Rg1 Bf3 $17) 13... c5 14. Bb5
{Making black to take on e5.Doesn't work} (14. h5 $2 cxd4 15. Ng4 Qg5 16. hxg6
hxg6 17. Nh6+ Kg7 18. Qxd4+ Nf6 $19 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Gf8h8] and white knight
is trapped on h6.}) 14... Nxe5 15. Qxe5 (15. dxe5 Bb7 16. Qe2 (16. Qe3 Qf5)
16... Qf4 17. g3 Qf3 $15) 15... Qxe5+ 16. dxe5 Bb7 $11 {At this stage a draw
agreement could come,but we must not forget that we are talking about not
'conventional' chess...} 17. O-O Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Kf8 19. f3 ({After} 19. f4 $5
$11 {the game would end up quicker.}) 19... Ke7 20. Kf2 Rd5 21. c4 $5 Rxe5 (
21... Rdd8 $11) 22. Rd7+ Kf6 23. Rad1 a6 24. Rc7 $5 (24. Ba4) 24... axb5 (24...
Bxf3 $5 25. Rdd7 Rf8 26. gxf3 axb5 27. cxb5 Rh5 28. Kg3 (28. Rb7 Rxh4 29. Rxb6
Ra8 $1 $17) 28... g5 29. hxg5+ Rxg5+ 30. Kh2 h5 31. Rb7 Ke5 $13) 25. Rdd7 {
[%csl Rb7,Rf7] Winning back the bishop.} Rf8 26. Rxb7 bxc4 27. Rxb6 Rh5 28. g3
g5 29. hxg5+ Rxg5 30. a4 Ra8 31. Rbb7 Rg7 32. Rdc7 Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. a5 Qb7 15.
Bc4 Rc8 16. Qd3 Rxc4 17. Qxc4 Nxd5 18. Qe2 Be7 19. O-O-O Nf4 20. Qd2 O-O 21. g3
Ne6 22. f4 Rc8 23. Kb1 g6 24. Rhe1 exf4 25. gxf4 Bh4 26. Rf1 Ng7 27. f5 Qc7 28.
fxg6 hxg6 29. Ka2 Ne8 30. Qd4 Bg5 31. Rf2 Bh6 32. Rdf1 f5 33. Rg1 Qf7 34. Qd3
Bg7 35. Qxa6 Rc7 36. Qb5 Nf6 37. Rfg2 Ng4 38. h3 Ne5 39. Qxb4 Kh7 40. Qh4+ Bh6
41. Rd1 Nc4 42. Re2 Nxa5 43. Rxd6 Nxb3 44. cxb3 Ra7+ 45. Kb1 Qc7 46. Rd1 Qf4
47. Re7+ Rxe7 48. Qxe7+ Bg7 49. Rd7 Qf1+ 50. Ka2 Qa6+ 51. Kb1 Qf1+ 52. Kc2 Qg2+
53. Kd3 Qf3+ 54. Kc4 Qc6+ 55. Kd3 Qf3+ 56. Kc2 Qg2+ 57. Rd2 Qc6+ 58. Kb1 Qh1+
59. Ka2 Qa8+ 60. Qa3 Qe4 61. Rd7 Qe5 62. Re7 Qf6 63. Re3 f4 64. Rf3 g5 65. b4
Bf8 66. Qd3+ Kh6 67. Qc4 Qe5 68. b5 Bc5 69. Rb3 Qd6 70. b6 Bxb6 71. Qa6 Bc5 72.
Qxd6+ Bxd6 73. Rb6 Kh5 74. Rxd6 Kh4 75. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 axb4 14. axb4 Qb7 15.
Qc2 Rfc8 16. Rfb1 Bd8 17. Nd2 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Qa2 Qxa2 21.
Nxa2 Ne8 22. Nb3 Nc7 23. cxb6 Nxb6 24. Na5 Nb5 25. Nxc6 Bf6 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Ke2
Ke8 28. Kd3 Kd7 29. Na5 Be7 30. f3 Nc8 31. Kc2 h5 32. Kb3 Bd6 33. Bxd6 Ncxd6
34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 f5 36. Kc2 fxg4 37. fxg4 Ne4 38. Nb3 Nf6 39. Nc5+ Kd6 40.
g5 Nh7 41. g6 Nf8 42. Kb3 Nxg6 43. Ka4 Na7 44. b5 Nc8 45. Ka5 e5 46. b6 Nxb6
47. Kxb6 exd4 48. exd4 Nh4 49. Nc3 Nf3 50. Nb5+ Ke7 51. Nd3 g5 52. Kc5 Ke6 53.
Nc3 Kf5 54. Nf2 g4 55. Nh1 Kf4 56. Ne2+ Ke3 57. Nhg3 Kd3 58. Nf4+ Ke3 59. Nfe2
Kd3 60. Kxd5 Nxd4 61. Nxd4 Kc3 62. Kc5 Kd3 63. Nde2 Kd2 64. Kc4 Kc2 65. Nd4+
Kb2 66. Kb4 Ka2 67. Ndf5 Kb2 68. Ne3 Ka2 69. Nc4 Kb1 70. Kc3 Kc1 71. Nb2 Kb1
72. Nd3 Ka1 73. Kb3 Kb1 74. Ne2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 b6 11. bxa5 Nh5 12. Nb5 Rxa5 13. Bb4 Ra6 (13... Ra8 14.
Qb3 Nf4 15. Bd1 f5 16. Bc2 g5 17. Nd2 Ne2+ 18. Kh1 f4 19. Rfe1 Nd4 20. Nxd4
exd4 {[#]} 21. e5 Bxe5 22. Rxe5 dxe5 23. Re1 Re8 $13 {1-0 Krasenkow,M-Zaitsev,
I/Koszalin 1997/CBM 59 ext/[Krasenkow] (58)}) 14. Nd2 Nf4 15. Re1 Nxe2+ 16.
Qxe2 f5 17. a4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nf5 19. Qd1 $5 $146 {The idea of this move is to
defend b3 square.This will make easier for the White to realise their plan.} (
19. Qd3 Nd4 20. Bc3 Nb3 21. Ra3 Na5 22. Bd2 Bf5 23. Qe2 Nb7 24. Bg5 Qd7 25. f3
Raa8 26. Be3 Qe7 27. g4 Bxe4 28. fxe4 Bf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Smirin,I/
Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (97)}) 19... Rf7 $6 (19... Nd4 20. a5 $5 (20. Bc3 {
[%cal Gd1b3]} Nxb5 21. cxb5 (21. axb5 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Bf5 $11) 21... Ra7 22. a5
bxa5 23. Rxa5 Rxa5 24. Bxa5 Bf5 (24... Bb7 25. Qd3 Rf7 26. Rc1 Bh6 27. Rc2))
20... bxa5 21. Bxa5 Nxb5 22. cxb5 Ra7 23. Qc2 $14) 20. a5 bxa5 21. Rxa5 (21.
Bxa5 $2 Rxa5 22. Rxa5 c6) 21... h6 (21... Rxa5 22. Bxa5 Ba6 23. Qa4 $14 (23.
Qb3 Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4) 23... Qd7 $140 24. Ng5 $16) 22. Qa1 Rxa5 (22... Rb6 23.
Ra8 Qd7 24. Qa3 $36) 23. Qxa5 Bf8 (23... Qd7 24. Qa8 Nd4 25. Na7 Rf8 26. Nxc8
$14) 24. Qa8 Nd4 (24... Qd7 25. Ba5 Nd4 26. Nxc7 $16) 25. Na7 Nc2 26. Qxc8 Qxc8
27. Nxc8 Nxb4 28. Rb1 Nd3 29. Rb7 $16 {The Bf8 is very passive.Soon the Nd3
also will be in danger.} h5 30. g3 $1 Bh6 31. Kf1 h4 32. Rb3 $1 Nc1 (32... Rf3
33. Na7 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc7]}) 33. Ra3 $18 {[%csl Rc1]} hxg3 34. hxg3 g5 35. g4
$1 Bf8 36. Ke1 c6 37. Ncxd6 (37. Kd1 cxd5 38. cxd5 Rc7 39. Ncxd6 $18) 37...
cxd5 38. cxd5 Rf4 39. Ra8 Nd3+ 40. Ke2 Nb4 41. f3 $1 Nxd5 42. Nf5 Nc7 43. Rd8 (
43. Ra5 $1 Ne6 44. Rxe5 Kf7 45. Ke3 $18) 43... Ne6 44. Rd7 Bg7 $2 (44... Nd4+
45. Nxd4 exd4 46. Nxg5 $18) (44... Bc5 $1 45. Nf6+ (45. Rb7 Kf8 46. Rb5 $16)
45... Kf8 46. Nh7+ Ke8 (46... Kg8 47. Nh6+ Kh8 48. Nf7+ Kg8 49. Nhxg5)) 45.
Nxg5 Nd4+ 46. Nxd4 Rxd4 47. Rxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 128]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 (
6... h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. e4 Nd7 9. Nc3 a5 10. Be2 Qd8 11. O-O Be7 12. Rad1 $14 {
1-0 Krasenkow,M-Volkov,S/Polish TV KO, Swidnica POL 1997 (49)}) (6... b5 7. Qc2
Bb7 (7... Be7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 $14) 8. Bxf6 (8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. e3 Rc8 10. a4 a6
11. Be2 c5 12. axb5 axb5 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxb5 Qb6 15. Ba4 $14 {1-0 Ibragimov,
I-Zhu Chen/Pulvermuele GER 2000/The Week in Chess 272 (51)}) (8. e4 Nbd7 9.
Nbd2 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. e5 Qd8 12. Bd3 Qb6 13. a4 a6 14. O-O Be7 15. Be4 $14
{1-0 Grooten,H-Van der Werf,M/Rotterdam NED 2000/The Week in Chess 278 (63)})
8... gxf6 (8... Qxf6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. e3 a6 11. a4 Bb4 12. Bd3 $14) 9. e3 (9. e4
$5 Rg8 10. Nc3 $14) 9... Nd7 10. Nbd2 $14) (6... Qb6 7. Nbd2 $1 Qxb2 8. Rb1 Qa3
9. e4 b6 (9... Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Nc4 $16) 10. Qc2 Ba6 (10... Bb4 11. Bd3 $36)
11. Bc4 $1 $14 {1-0 Sakaev,K-Tregubov,P/ch-RUS, St Petersburg RUS 1998 (29).})
7. Nbd2 (7. e3 O-O (7... b6 8. Nc3 (8. Qc2 Bb7 9. Nc3 (9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. Nc3 h6
11. Bh4 O-O 12. O-O-O $132 {0-1 Prudnikova,S-Stepovaia Dianchenko,T/Belgrade
YUG 2000 (28)}) 9... Nbd7 10. Rd1 Rc8 11. Be2 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 $14 {1/2-1/2
Shchekachev,A-Poluljahov,A/Moscow RUS 1999 (46)}) 8... Ba6 9. Qa4 Bxf1 10. Rxf1
O-O 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Ke2 (12. O-O-O b5 13. Qc2 Na6 14. Kb1 Nb4 15. Qe2 Qa5 16.
Nd2 Be7 17. f4 Nd5 18. Rc1 $132 {1/2-1/2 Poluljahov,A-Beshukov,S/Krasnodar RUS
1999 (39)}) 12... c5 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. Ne4 e5 15. exd4 exd4 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.
Qxd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Atalik,S-Krasenkow,M/Elista RUS 1998 (19)}) (7... Nbd7 8. Bd3
Qa5+ 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. O-O e5 11. Nb3 Qc7 12. Qc2 h6 13. Bh4 exd4 14. Nbxd4 Nd5
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. b4 Nf6 $132 {1-0 Campos Moreno,J-Trabert,B/Paretana ESP 2000
(41)}) 8. Be2 (8. Bd3 h6 (8... Na6 9. O-O c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12.
Bc2 f5 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Nc3 a5 15. e4 fxe4 16. Nxe4 b5 17. Qe2 $16 {[%csl Rg8]
1-0 Khenkin,I-Tregubov,P/Koszalin POL 1999 (34)}) (8... Nbd7 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4
$14) 9. Bxf6 (9. Bh4 $5 $14) 9... Bxf6 10. Nc3 Nd7 11. Rd1 Qe7 (11... Qa5 12.
O-O Rd8 13. b4 Qh5 14. Ne4 Be7 $14) 12. Bb1 e5 (12... g6 13. O-O Bg7 $11) 13.
O-O (13. d5 $5) 13... exd4 14. exd4 Nb6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Rfe1 Qb4 17. Qd2 Bg7 (
17... Nc4 $4 18. Qxh6 Nxb2 (18... Bg7 19. Qh4 Nxb2 20. Ng5 Rd8 21. Nxf7 $1 $18)
19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Ng5 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Lautier,J/Tilburg NED 1998 (24)} (20.
Qxg6+ $2 Bg7 21. Ng5 Bf5 $19)) 18. a3 (18. Ne5 $5) 18... Qd6 19. Ne4 Qc7 $132)
8... Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. O-O e5 11. Ne4 exd4 12. Qxd4 Qb6 $11 {1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V/Las Palmas 1996/CBM 57/ (29)}) (7. Nc3 O-O 8. e4 h6 9. Bh4
Qb6 10. Rb1 $14) 7... b6 8. e4 $14 Ba6 9. Qc2 Bxf1 10. Rxf1 $6 $11 {This move
is connected with plan 0-0-0 and than activity on the K side} ({After} 10. Nxf1
{Black can't equalize this position} O-O 11. Ng3 (11. Rd1 $14) (11. N1d2 $5 $14
) 11... c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. O-O {[%csl Rc5]} Nfd7 (13... Nc6 14. Rfd1 Nd7 15.
Bf4 $14) 14. Bxe7 (14. Bf4 Nc6 15. Rfd1 $14) 14... Qxe7 15. e5 $14 {1/2-1/2
Delchev,A-Pavasovic,D/Batumi 1999/CBM 74/(59) (20)}) 10... h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12.
O-O-O O-O 13. Kb1 Qc8 (13... Qc7 {[%cal Gc7h2]} 14. e5 Be7 15. Ne4 Na6 $11 {
[%cal Gc6c5]}) 14. e5 Be7 15. Ne4 Na6 16. Qd2 Rd8 $4 $18 ({Right was only} 
16... c5 $1 {with equal chances, for example:} 17. g4 $1 (17. d5 $2 exd5 18.
Qxd5 Qg4 $1 19. Ng3 (19. h3 Qg6 $17 {[%csl Rd5,Re4,Rg2][%cal Gg6b1,Ga6b4]} (
19... Qxg2 $2 20. Nfg5 $1 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Ge4f6,Gd5g2]} Qxf1 21. Rxf1 $16))
19... Nb4 20. Qe4 Qe6 21. a3 Qa2+ 22. Kc1 Rac8 (22... Qa1+ 23. Qb1 Qxb1+ 24.
Kxb1 Nc6 25. Rd7 $14) 23. Nf5 Rfe8 24. Rd7 Nc6 25. Qg4 Bg5+ 26. Nxg5 Nxe5 (
26... Qa1+ 27. Kc2 Nd4+ 28. Kc3 Nb5+ 29. Kb3 $1 $18) 27. Qe4 hxg5 $19) (17.
dxc5 $5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 (18. Nd6 Qc6 19. Qf4 (19. Rc1 Bxd6 20. exd6 Rfd8 21. Rfd1
Qe4+ 22. Ka1 Nb7 $17) 19... f6 20. Rd2 fxe5 21. Qxe5 Rad8 22. Rfd1 Qa4 {
[%csl Rd1][%cal Ge7d6,Ga4d1]} 23. Qe1 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Qg4 $132)
18... Qxc5 19. Rc1 Qb5 20. Rfd1 Rac8 $11) 17... cxd4 (17... Qc6 18. Qe2 Qa4 19.
g5 hxg5 20. Nfxg5 g6 21. Rg1 cxd4 22. Nxe6 $1 $16) 18. g5 Qc6 19. Qe2 Nc5 20.
Rxd4 (20. Nf6+ gxf6 21. gxf6 Bxf6 (21... Bd8 22. Rg1+ Kh8 (22... Kh7 23. Ng5+
$18) 23. Qd2 Qe4+ 24. Ka1 Qh7 25. Rg7 $18) 22. exf6 Qe4+ 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Rg1+
Kh8 25. Rxd4 Nxf6 $15) 20... Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. Rg1 Rac8 24.
Reg4 g6 25. Rxg5 Qc4 $11) 17. g4 $1 c5 {Too late!} 18. g5 h5 (18... hxg5 19.
Nfxg5 Rxd4 20. Qe2 Bxg5 21. Nxg5 {[%cal Ge2h5]} g6 22. h4 $1 (22. Qf3 Qf8 $44)
22... Rxh4 (22... Nb4 23. h5 Qc6 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. a3 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Nd5 27.
Qe4 Qe8 28. Qh4 $18) 23. Qf3 Qf8 24. Nxf7 Rb8 25. Rd7 $18) 19. Nf6+ $1 Kf8 (
19... Kh8 20. g6 (20. Nxh5 $6 $16) 20... Bxf6 (20... fxg6 21. Qg5 Bxf6 (21...
Qb7 22. Qxg6 Bxf6 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Qxf6+ Qg7 25. Qxe6 Nc7 26. Qe5 $18) 22.
exf6 Qb7 23. Qxg6 gxf6 24. Qxf6+ Qg7 25. Qxe6 $18) 21. exf6 $18 {[%csl Rh8]}) (
19... gxf6 20. gxf6 Kf8 (20... Bxf6 21. exf6 $18) 21. Qh6+ Ke8 22. fxe7 Kxe7
23. Qf6+ Ke8 24. Rg1 $18) 20. g6 $1 {It is impossible to defend position of
Black...} fxg6 (20... Qc6 21. Qf4 gxf6 (21... fxg6 22. d5 exd5 23. Nxd5+ Ke8
24. Nxe7 Kxe7 (24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Kxe7 26. Rd6 $18) 25. Rd6 $18) 22. exf6
Bxf6 23. Ne5 $1 $18) 21. Qf4 gxf6 22. exf6 Bd6 (22... Rd5 23. Qh6+ Ke8 24.
Qxg6+ Kd8 25. Qf7 $18) 23. Qh6+ Ke8 24. Ne5 Rd7 (24... Bxe5 25. dxe5 $18) 25.
dxc5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Bd2 (11. a3) (11. Rd1) 11... a6 12. Ne4 Nxe4
13. Qxe4 Rb8 (13... Qb6 14. Bd3 g6 15. Qh4 Qd8 16. Qh6 Be7 17. Rfd1 c5 18. dxc5
Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bg5 20. Qh3 Nxc5 21. Bb4 Qb6 22. Bc3 Nxd3 23. Rxd3 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+
Rxd8 25. Qg3 Be7 26. Qe5 f6 27. Qe4 Kf7 28. Rc1 Rc8 29. Kg2 Rc4 30. Bd4 Qc7 31.
Rxc4 Qxc4 32. Qb7 b4 {1/2-1/2 Stangl,M-Dreev,A/Arnhem 1989/TD (32)}) 14. Qg4
$146 (14. Qh4 Qxh4 15. Nxh4 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Portisch,L-Ivanchuk,V/Linares 1989/
CBM 11 (15)}) 14... Qe7 15. Rfd1 c5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Bc3 f6 18. Bb4 Rbc8 19.
Nd4 f5 20. Qh3 Rf6 21. g3 Rh6 22. Qf1 Rf8 $2 {Angesichts seiner drohenden
Läufer dachte Topalov anscheinend, dass die Zeit reif sei, alle Kräfte auf den
weißen König zu stürzen. Aber nach wenigen Zügen wird klar, dass Schwarz sich
verrannt hat und seine Figuren (insbesondere der Rh6) falsch stehen. Dabei
hatte Topalov durchaus eine Möglichkeit, am Königsflügel aktiv zu werden.} (
22... Qh4 $5 23. Qg2 (23. gxh4 Rg6+ 24. Qg2 Rxg2+ 25. Kf1 Rxh2 $17) 23... Bxg2
24. gxh4 Bh3 25. Nf3 (25. h5 e5) 25... Be7 26. Rac1 Rg6+ 27. Ng5 Bxg5 28. hxg5
Rxg5+ 29. Kh1 Bg2+ 30. Kg1 Bh3+ (30... Bb7+ 31. Kf1 Nd7 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Rc1
Bb7 34. f4 Rg2 35. Rc7 $18) 31. Kh1 Bg2+ $11) 23. Bf3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 {Ohne den
drohenden Läufer auf der langen Diagonale ist die schwarze Initiative nicht
viel wert.} Ne4 $2 {Damit überspannt Schwarz den Bogen.} (24... e5 $5 25. Rd5
e4 26. Nd4 Nb7 $11) 25. Bxd6 Nxd6 26. Ne5 Ne4 27. Rac1 $16 {Was macht der
schwarze Turm auf h6 ??} Qb4 28. Qe2 Qa5 29. a3 b4 30. Nc6 Qb6 31. Nxb4 e5 32.
Nd5 Qe6 33. Rc6 $1 Qf7 34. Rxh6 gxh6 35. Qxa6 $18 Kg7 36. Qe2 Rc8 37. Nb4 Qb7
38. Qf3 Qf7 39. g4 Ng5 40. Qxf5 Qxf5 41. gxf5 Nf3+ 42. Kg2 Nh4+ 43. Kf1 Kf6 44.
Nd5+ Kg5 45. f6 e4 46. Nc3 Kxf6 47. Nxe4+ Ke5 48. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 a6 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d3 d5 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. g3 O-O
9. e5 Nd7 10. Bg2 b5 11. O-O c4 12. Kh1 cxd3 13. cxd3 a5 14. Qe2 a4 15. Rfc1
Qb6 16. a3 b4 17. axb4 Ba6 18. bxa4 Nxb4 19. Bd4 Bc5 20. Qe3 Nxd3 21. Rcb1 Qc7
22. Bf1 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 N3c5 24. Bb5 g6 25. a5 Rfb8 26. Bxd7 Rxb1+ 27. Rxb1 Qxd7
28. Kg1 Rc8 29. Rc1 Nd3 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. N2f3 Qc3 32. h4 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Qxa5
34. h5 Qa2+ 35. Kh3 Qb1 36. Qg1 Qb2 37. Kh4 Nc5 38. hxg6 hxg6 39. Qh2 Qa1 40.
Kg4 Ne4 41. Qg1 Qb2 42. Qh2 Qc1 43. Qg1 Bf1 44. Kh4 Qd1 45. g4 Kh8 46. Qh2 Qc1
47. g5 Kg8 48. Kg4 Bd3 49. Qg1 Qb2 50. Qh2 Qa3 51. Kh4 Nc5 52. Qg1 Be4 53. Nh2
Bf5 54. Nxf5 exf5 55. Qg2 Ne4 56. Qf3 Qc1 57. Nf1 d4 58. Kh3 d3 59. e6 fxe6 60.
Ng3 Qe1 61. Nxe4 fxe4 62. Qg2 Qe2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 b6 8.
g3 Bb7 9. Bg2 Qc8 10. f4 O-O 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Qg2 Nxd4 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Bxb7 Qd7 16. Nf3 Rab8 17. c3 Rxb7 18. Nxd4 Qd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 192]} 1. e4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6.
Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nf3 a6 (7... Nd7 8. Qd2 $6 f5 9. Ng3 h5 $5 10. h4 Bd6 11. Rh3 c6
12. Ng5 Nf6 13. Bc4 Nd5 $15 {Euwe,M-Balla,Z/Bad Pistyan 1922/1/2-1/2 (50)}) (
7... c6 $6 8. Qd2 f5 9. Ng3 b6 10. Bc4 Nd7 11. O-O-O Bb7 12. Rhe1 Nf6 13. Kb1
Qc7 14. Ne5 $16 {Kozma,J-Fichtl,J/CSR-ch Prague 1953 (37)}) (7... Qd5 $6 8. Bd3
Nd7 9. O-O Nf8 10. c4 Qh5 11. Qd2 Rg8 12. Ng3 Qg4 13. Rfe1 Bd7 14. Be4 $36 {
Aronson,L-Khanov,K/URS-ch sf 1957/1-0 (49)}) 8. c4 {This move deserves very
serious attention.} (8. Bd3 b5 (8... Nd7 9. Qe2 c5 (9... f5 10. Ng3 Nf6 11.
O-O-O Qd5 12. Kb1 f4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Qd6 15. Ne5 $14 {Toth,A-Dobos,J/
Szekszard op 1995}) 10. dxc5 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Nfxd2 Nxc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5
$11 {Cohn,E-Swiderski,R/Wien 1908}) 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. O-O-O Bd5 11. Kb1 c6 12. Nc3
Nd7 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Nh4 Nb6 $13 {Stjazhkina,O-Grabuzova,T/49th
ch-RUS (women) 1999}) (8. g3 b5 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Bd5 11. Nc3 c6 12. Nxd5 (12.
O-O-O Nd7 13. Kb1 Nb6 14. Rhe1 Qc7 15. Nh4 h5 16. f4 f5 17. Nf3 O-O-O 18. Ne5
$14 {Leko,P-Morozevich,A/Frankfurt-West Masters 1999}) 12... cxd5 13. c3 Nc6
14. a4 O-O 15. O-O Qb6 16. b4 Rfc8 17. Rfd1 $14 {Lutz,C-Morozevich,A/
Frankfurt-West Masters 1999}) (8. Qd2 b5 9. Qh6 $6 Bb7 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. Ng3 f5
12. Nh5 Bf8 13. Qe3 Nf6 $15 {Sutovskij,E-Morozevich,A/Torneo de Pamplona 9th
1998}) 8... f5 9. Nc3 Bf6 (9... c5 10. d5 Bf6 11. Qc2 e5 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Nd2
Bg7 14. f3 {[%cal Gf1d3]} ({It was possible to play} 14. Bd3 $5 {Finkel,A} e4
15. Be2 b5 16. g4 fxg4 17. Ndxe4 Bf5 18. f3 gxf3 19. Bxf3 Nd7 20. Rhg1 $14 {
with better prospects.}) 14... Qf6 15. Bd3 b5 $132 {Wang Zili-Dreev,A/Tan Chin
Nam Cup 5th 1999}) 10. Qd2 c5 11. d5 O-O 12. O-O-O e5 (12... exd5 $6 {Ftacnik}
13. Nxd5 $16) 13. h4 $5 {[%cal Gf3g5] A new attitude to the position! In the
following game we see Shirov at his best: original ideas, fantastic
determination, accurate calculations... Ftacnik: 'An excellent move preparing
a kingside attack and securing the g5 square for white pieces.'} b5 (13... e4
14. Ng5 b5 (14... Qd6 {Ftacnik} 15. f3 $16) 15. f3 $5 (15. d6 $5 Bd4 $5 16. Qf4
$2 Qf6 17. Rh3 $1 Be5 (17... Rd8 $2 18. Rg3 Kh8 19. Rxd4 cxd4 20. Nxf7+ $18)
18. Qd2 $14)) 14. d6 {'!' Ftacnik.} (14. Qh6 {Ftacnik} Bg7 15. Qh5 Qd6 $14) (
14. cxb5 $5 {Ftacnik} axb5 15. Bxb5 e4 16. Ng5 Qd6 17. Bc4 $14) 14... Nc6 $2 (
14... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 15. Nd5 $16) (14... Bb7 {Ftacnik} 15. Qh6 Bg7 16. Qh5 Qd7
17. cxb5 $16) 15. d7 $1 {Cutting black position on two halfs and penetrating
via d6 and d5.} Bb7 (15... e4 {Ftacnik} 16. dxc8=Q Qxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Rfxc8 18. Nd5
$18) 16. Qd6 $1 {Ftacnik: 'Shirov strives to prove, that there is lot of
potential in passed d pawn. Black has two unconnected halves of the board and
his queen fullfils the sorry task of blockading d7 pawn.'} e4 (16... Be7 17.
Qh6 {[%cal Gf3g5]} f6 18. Rh3 (18. cxb5 $5 {[%cal Gf1c4]} axb5 19. Bxb5 Nd4 20.
Rh3 $40) 18... Rf7 19. Rg3+ Kh8 20. Qh5 Rf8 21. Qxf5 $18) (16... Qe7 17. Qc7 $1
{[%csl Rb7]} Rab8 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Qd6 Bg7 20. Rh3 $36) 17. Nd5 $1 Bg7 (17...
Bxb2+ {Ftacnik} 18. Kxb2 exf3 19. gxf3 bxc4 20. Bxc4 $18) 18. Ng5 Nd4 $6 (18...
h6 {Ftacnik} 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Nd4 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Qg6 $3 fxg6 23. Nxg6+
Kg8 24. Bc4+ $18) 19. Ne7+ $1 {Every move of white deserves an exclamation
mark because of the depth of Shirov's plan.} Kh8 20. Rh3 $1 (20. b4 {Ftacnik}
f6 21. Ne6 (21. bxc5 Qa5 22. Qxd4 (22. Nf7+ Rxf7 23. Rxd4 Bh6+ 24. Kb2 (24. Kd1
Qa4+ 25. Ke1 Qa5+ $11) 24... Qb4+ $11) 22... fxg5 23. Qd2 Bc3 $16) 21... Nxe6
22. Qxe6 $16) 20... f4 (20... h6 {Ftacnik} 21. b4 f6 22. Ne6 Nxe6 23. Qxe6 $18)
(20... Qa5 {Ftacnik} 21. Qxc5 Qxa2 22. Rxd4 Qa1+ 23. Kc2 Qxf1 24. Qxf5 $18) 21.
Kb1 b4 (21... f6 {Ftacnik} 22. Ne6 Nxe6 23. Qxe6 Rb8 24. Nf5 $18) (21... h6 {
Ftacnik} 22. b4 e3 23. bxc5 e2 24. Bxe2 Nxe2 25. c6 $18) 22. Be2 $1 $18 {
[%csl Rf7][%cal Ge2h5] Threatening to come to h5. '!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Beautifull trick of calling in last reserves via the square, that seemed to
have been unaccesible. Topalov's king on h8 has very feeble defense.'} f3 (
22... Nxe2 23. Qxc5 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Gc5f5]} Nd4 (23... f5 24. Ne6 Qb8 25. Nxg7
Nc3+ 26. Ka1 Kxg7 (26... Nxd1 27. Ne8 $18) 27. Nxf5+ Rxf5 28. Qe7+ $18) 24.
Rxd4 Bxd4 25. Qf5 Kg7 26. Ng8 $3 $18) (22... e3 {Ftacnik} 23. Bh5 f6 24. Ne6
Nxe6 25. Qxe6 exf2 26. Bf3 Rb8 27. Bxb7 Rxb7 28. Rf3 $18) (22... h6 {Ftacnik}
23. Bh5 hxg5 24. hxg5 $18) 23. gxf3 Nxe2 24. Qxc5 {[%csl Rh7,Rh8][%cal Gc5f5]}
Nf4 25. Qf5 Ng6 26. h5 $1 Qxe7 27. hxg6 (27. hxg6 Qf6 (27... h6 28. gxf7 $18 {
[%csl Rh7]}) 28. Rxh7+ Kg8 29. gxf7+ Rxf7 30. d8=Q+ Rxd8 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.
Qxf7#) 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a4 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. e6 fxe6 13. e5 Ndxe5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5
15. Qh5 Bd6 16. Ne4 Rf5 17. Qe8+ Rf8 18. Qh5 Rf5 19. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d5 7. Bf4 e5 8.
cxd5 exf4 9. dxc6 bxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Rd1+ Bd7 12. Nd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Rb8
14. b3 Rb4 15. g3 Ke7 16. Rd2 h5 17. Bg2 h4 18. O-O hxg3 19. fxg3 fxg3 20. hxg3
Rh5 21. Rf3 Re5 22. Nd1 c5 23. Re3 Rxe3 24. Nxe3 Be6 25. Kf2 a5 26. Nd5+ Nxd5
27. Bxd5 g6 28. Bxe6 Kxe6 29. Ke3 a4 30. Rd3 f5 31. Kf2 Ke5 32. Re3+ Kd5 33.
Rd3+ Kc6 34. Ke1 axb3 35. axb3 Rg4 36. Kd2 Kb5 37. Rf3 Rd4+ 38. Rd3 Re4 39. Rd8
Rg4 40. Rd3 Kb4 41. Rf3 Rd4+ 42. Kc2 Re4 43. Rf4 Rxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "168"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 h6 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. Be3 Qe7 (13... c6 14. c5
Qe7 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. Qa4 $5 Qc7 17. Rfd1 Rb8 18. Qc2 Be6 19. Rd6 Ne8 20. Rad1
$36 {Gurevich,M-Hjartarson,J/Munchen/1993/1-0 (36)}) 14. a3 c6 15. b4 Nh5 16.
Re1 Nf4 (16... Rd8 17. Qc1 Kh7 18. Ra2 Nc7 19. Rd2 Re8 20. Bf1 Ne6 21. Qd1 Ng5
22. Nxg5+ hxg5 23. Be2 Nf4 24. Bg4 Ne6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Iskusnyh,S-Svidler,P/
Maikop 1998/CBM 66 (31)}) (16... Qf6 17. c5 Nc7 18. Ra2 Be6 19. Rd2 Nf4 20. Bf1
a5 21. b5 cxb5 22. Nxb5 Nxb5 23. Bxb5 Rfd8 $11 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/Monte
Carlo 1997/CBM 57 ext (58)}) 17. Bf1 Qf6 (17... Rd8 18. Qc2 Qf6 19. Nd2 Nc7 20.
Nb3 Nce6 21. Rad1 Nd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. e5 Nxh3+ 24. gxh3 Qg5+ 25. Kh1 dxc3 $15
{1/2-1/2 Bersoult,F-San Marco,B/FRA-chT 1993/TD (41)}) (17... Ne6 18. Ra2 f5
19. Bc1 f4 20. Rd2 Nac7 21. Nd5 Qf7 22. Nxc7 Qxc7 23. c5 Re8 24. Rd6 Nf8 25.
Bb2 $16 {1-0 van Wely,L-Kindermann,S/BL 99/00 Porz-Plauen sp 99/11 1999 (32)})
18. Ra2 Re8 19. Rd2 Nc7 (19... Bf8 20. Nh2 h5 21. Qf3 Nc7 22. Ne2 Nce6 23. Nxf4
Nxf4 24. Kh1 Be7 25. Qd1 a5 26. c5 axb4 27. axb4 Be6 $15 {0-1 Vukanovic,
S-Pavlovic,N/Ulcinj 1998/EXT 99 (39)}) 20. Kh2 $146 (20. Rd6 Nfe6 21. Qc1 g5
22. Red1 Bf8 23. c5 Qg7 24. Ne2 Nf4 25. Ng3 Be6 26. R6d2 g4 27. Nh4 gxh3 28.
Ngf5 Bxf5 29. Nxf5 Qg6 $13 {1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,G-Movsziszian,K/Cala Galdana ESP
1999 (41)}) 20... g5 21. g3 Ng6 22. c5 Ne6 (22... Be6 23. Qe2 (23. Be2 Nf4 (
23... Red8 24. Qc2 Rxd2 25. Nxd2 Nf4 26. Bf1 $14 {[%cal Gd2c4,Gc4d6]}) 24. Bf1
Ng6) 23... Red8 24. Red1 $14) 23. Na4 $1 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Nb2 Be6 26. Nd2
$14 {/+/-} Bf8 27. Ndc4 Bxc4 28. Nxc4 Ne6 29. Qg4 $16 {[%csl Rf5]} Rd8 30. Qf5
Kg7 31. Qxf6+ Kxf6 32. Be2 $1 Nd4 33. Rd1 Be7 34. Bg4 $1 {[%csl Rb7,Rc6][%cal
Gg4c8,Gc4a5,Ga5b7,Ga5c6]} Nb5 (34... Ne6 35. Na5 $1 Rxd1 36. Bxd1 Nd8 37. Bg4
$16) (34... Nc2 35. Na5 Rxd1 36. Bxd1 Nxe3 37. fxe3 b6 38. cxb6 (38. Nxc6 bxc5
39. Nxe7 Kxe7 40. bxc5 Nf8) 38... axb6 39. Nxc6 $16 {+-}) 35. Rxd8 Bxd8 36. Bc8
Ne7 (36... b6 37. cxb6 axb6 38. a4 Nd4 39. a5 $18) 37. Bxb7 $18 Ke6 38. f3 f5
39. exf5+ $6 (39. a4 Nd4 40. Kg2 f4 41. gxf4 gxf4 42. Bf2 $18) 39... Kd5 $1 40.
Nd6 $2 (40. f6 Kxc4 41. fxe7 Bxe7 42. Ba6 Kd5 43. Bc1 $16) (40. Na5 Bxa5 41. f6
Bd8 42. fxe7 Bxe7 43. Bc1 Nd4 44. Kg2 a5 $132) 40... Nxd6 41. cxd6 Nxf5 42.
Bxa7 Nxd6 43. Ba6 Nb5 $1 44. Bc5 (44. Bxb5 cxb5 45. Kg2 e4 $132 {[%csl Ra3,Rb4]
[%cal Yd8f6,Yf6b2]}) 44... Nxa3 $14 45. Bd3 (45. g4 Bc7 46. Bf8 (46. Kg2 Bd6 (
46... Nc2 47. Bf8 Bd6 48. Bxh6 Nxb4 49. Bc8 Be7 $11) 47. Bxd6 Kxd6 48. Bd3 Nb5
$15)) 45... h5 46. Kg2 (46. Bg6 Kc4 47. Bxh5 Nc2 48. Be8 Nxb4 49. Bxb4 Kxb4 50.
Bxc6 Kc5 $11) 46... Ke6 47. Be4 Kd7 48. Bf5+ Kc7 49. Kf2 Nc4 50. Bf8 Bf6 51.
Be6 Nd6 52. Ke3 h4 53. g4 Nb5 54. Bc4 Nd6 55. Bd3 Kd7 56. Be4 Kc7 57. Kd3 Kd7
58. Kc3 Kc7 59. Kd2 Kd7 60. Bf5+ Kc7 61. Kd3 Nb7 62. Kc2 Nd6 63. Bd3 $2 (63.
Kb3 $2 Nxf5 64. gxf5 e4 65. fxe4 g4 66. Bh6 Kd6 67. hxg4 h3 68. Be3 Ke5 $19)
63... Kd7 64. Kb3 Be7 65. Bg7 (65. Bxe7 Kxe7 66. Be4 Kd7) 65... Ke6 66. Bh7 Ne8
67. Bf5+ Kd6 68. Bh8 Nc7 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Yc7d5,Yd5f4,Yf4h3]} (68... Bf6 69.
Bg6 Bxh8 70. Bxe8 $11) 69. Kc4 Nd5 70. Bg7 $2 (70. Kd3 $142 Bf6 71. Bxf6 Nxf6
72. Kc4 Nd5 73. Bd3 Nf4 74. Bf1 Nd5 75. Be2 Nb6+ (75... Ne3+ 76. Kd3) 76. Kd3)
70... Nf4 71. Bh8 Nxh3 72. Kd3 Nf4+ $2 (72... Nf2+ $1 73. Ke3 Nh1 74. Ke2 Ng3+
75. Kf2 Kd5 $19) 73. Ke4 Bf6 $2 (73... Kc7 $1 74. Ke3 (74. Bxe5+ Bd6 75. Bd4 h3
76. Bg1 Ne2 $19) 74... Nd5+ 75. Kf2 Bf6 $19) 74. Bxf6 h3 75. Bxg5 h2 $2 (75...
Nd5 $1 76. f4 h2 77. fxe5+ Kc7 $19) 76. Bf6 Nd3 $6 (76... h1=Q 77. Bxe5+ Ke7
78. Kxf4 (78. Bxf4 Qb1+ 79. Ke3 Qxb4 $17) 78... Qc1+ 79. Ke4 Qe1+ $17) 77. Kxd3
h1=Q 78. Be4 Ke6 79. Bg5 Qa1 80. Bd2 Qa6+ 81. Kc2 Qc4+ 82. Kb2 Kd6 83. g5 $132
Qe2 84. Kc3 c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2594"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Wells} d6 {Eine Überraschung für Weiß. Nach 2.c4 möchte Schwarz
wahrscheinlich 2...e5 spielen. Die prinzipielle Fortsetzung wäre 2.e4, aber
der junge französische Spieler hat Eröffnungen mit 1.e4 nicht in seinem
Repertoire.} 2. Nf3 g6 (2... Bg4 {Wells} 3. c4 Nd7 4. e4 Bxf3 $5 5. Qxf3 g6 6.
Nc3 Bg7 7. Qd1 c5 8. d5 Bxc3+ $5 9. bxc3 Ngf6 10. f3 Qa5 11. Qb3 O-O-O 12. Be2
Rdg8 $132 {0-1 Topalov,V-Adams,M/Dortmund 1996/CBM 54 (59)}) 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3
c5 5. dxc5 {Diese genügsame Fortsetzug ist ungefährlich für Schwarz.} (5. d5
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 f5 {Eine ähnliche Stellung entsteht aus der Zugfolge 1.d4 g6 2.
c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5. Unsere Partie unterscheidet sich hiervon
durch die Züge d6-Nf3.} (6... Qa5 7. Qb3 Nf6 8. Nd2 Nbd7 9. e4 Rb8 10. a4 a6
11. Qc2 e5 12. Be2 O-O 13. Ra3 Ne8 14. Nf1 f5 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Ng3
{1-0 Hansen,S-Worsfold,O/Aarhus 1990/EXT 2000 (24)}) 7. h4 Nf6 (7... Qa5 8. Bd2
Nf6 9. h5 Nxh5 10. Rxh5 gxh5 11. e4 Nd7 12. exf5 Nf6 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Ng5 Rg8
15. Nxh7 O-O-O {0-1 Almeida,O-Fierro Baquero,M/Havana 1999/CBM 70 ext (47)}) 8.
Bh6 Rg8 9. e3 Qa5 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. Nd2 Na4 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. O-O Ng4
15. Bf4 O-O-O 16. f3 Ne5 17. Be2 Nf7 18. Bg3 e5 19. dxe6 Bxe6 {0-1 Turkova,
O-Loktionova,N/Kolontaevo 1998/EXT 2000 (31)}) (5. e4 $5) 5... Bxc3+ $5 {
[%mdl 4] Wells: 'One of an number of increasingly fashionable variations in
which black gives this bishop to create structural counterplay. I suspect that
Mickey Adams' liberated treatment of the bishop pair in the encounter quoted
above may have made a deep impression on his opponent.' Schwarz gibt das
Läuferpaar auf, verschlechtert dadurch aber die weiße Bauernstruktur.} (5...
dxc5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd2 (7. Bf4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc6 9. g3 Be6 10. Bg2 Na5 11.
Rd1+ Ke8 12. Bc7 b6 13. Ng5 Rc8 14. Be5 Nf6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxh8 Nd6 {1/2-1/2
Donk,M-Van Laatum,G/Groningen 1994/EXT 97 (41)}) 7... Bd7 8. g3 Nc6 9. Bg2 Rc8
10. O-O b6 11. Rfd1 Ke8 12. Rac1 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nd5 e6 15. Nb4 Ne7 16.
b3 {1/2-1/2 Szymczak,Z-Vokac,M/Marianske Lazne 1989/EXT 97 (57)}) 6. bxc3 dxc5
7. Qxd8+ {Wells: 'To suppose that black would feel the absence of his bishop
defending the dark squares more in a middle-game than an endgame context is a
pretty fair instinct. '} (7. Qc2 Nc6 8. h3 e5 9. e4 Qe7 10. Be3 b6 11. Be2 Bb7
12. Rd1 Nf6 13. Bg5 Na5 14. O-O h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bg3 Bxe4 17. Qc1 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 e4 19. Rfe1 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Tregubov,P-Garcia Palermo,C/Buenos Aires 1998/
CBM 67 ext (41)}) ({However a move such as} 7. Qc2 {[%cal Gb8c6,Ge7e5,Gf7f6,
Gg8e7] Wells does involve a certain loss of time. Black can aim for the set-up
...Nc6; ...e5 and maybe ...f6 which minimises the dark-square damage.}) 7...
Kxd8 8. Ne5 Be6 9. g3 Nd7 (9... f6 $2 10. Bg2 Kc7 (10... Kc8 11. Rb1 $16) 11.
Rb1 $16) 10. Nxd7 (10. Bf4 $6 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 f6 $15) 10... Kxd7 11. Bg2 Nf6 $5 {
Eine sehr riskante Fortsetzung - Schwarz opfert den Pb7. Die Annahme des Pc4
scheint mir einfacher.} (11... Bxc4 $11) 12. Rb1 $6 {Wells: 'White might feel
fairly confident here that his strategy of speedy mobilisation has rendered
black's b7 pawn as vulnerable as his own weaknesses, and that his pieces will
crash actively into black's position.'} (12. Bxb7 $5 Rab8 (12... Bxc4 $2 13.
Bxa8 Rxa8 $16) 13. Ba6 Ne4 $44 {[%cal Ge4d6,Gd6c4,Ge4c3]}) {[#]} 12... b6 $1 {
[%mdl 512] Wells: 'A rude awakening! At the cost of the exchange, the rook on
b1 is rendered impotent, white's best piece will be exchanged, and black's
light-squared bishop will be the unchallenged master of the board.' Das war
die Pointe der schwarzen Spielweise! Er opfert die Qualität, bekommt dafür
aber mehr als ausreichende Kompensation.} (12... Rab8 {Wells} 13. Bf4 $16) 13.
Bxa8 Rxa8 $44 {Petrosian (der neunte Weltmeister, der sehr gerne die Qualität
opferte) wäre sehr zufrieden! Schwarz gewinnt den Pc4, und es gibt keine
Schwächen in seiner Stellung.} 14. f3 Ne8 {[%cal Ge8d6]} 15. Bf4 Bxc4 {[%csl
Gc4] Wells: 'Take an admiring look at this piece - its influence pervades the
rest of the play. The real point is that white's rooks have no files, no
weaknesses to attack, no play.'} 16. Rb2 Kc6 {[%csl Gc4,Gc6]} 17. Rd2 (17. Kf2
Nd6 $44) 17... Nd6 18. Bxd6 $6 {Dieser Tausch gefällt mir nicht, denn er
stärkt nur die schwarze Bauernstellung. Es wäre besser, den Läufer auf dem
Brett zu belassen.} (18. Kf2 $142 $5) 18... exd6 19. Kf2 (19. e4 f5 20. exf5
gxf5 $44) 19... d5 20. e4 dxe4 21. fxe4 Re8 22. Re1 Be6 {'!' Wells.} 23. Kf3 (
23. Rb2 Rd8 24. Ree2 $5) (23. Rb1 Bg4 24. Re1 Kb5) (23. Rb1 $5 {[%csl Re4]
Wells}) 23... Kb5 $1 $15 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Gb5c4] Der schwarze König strebt
nach c4. Es ist nicht leicht für Weiß, hier Gegenspiel zu finden. Schwarz hat
einen Mehrbauern und eine gesunde Bauernstruktur für die Qualität, die weiße
Bauernstruktur weist hingegen viele Schwächen auf.} 24. Kf4 {Weiß möchte
entweder mit dem König am Königsflügel eindrignen oder Bauernschwächen
provozieren.} Kc4 25. Re3 a5 $1 {Schwarz ignoriert das Eindringen des
gegnerischen Königs am Königsflügel.} (25... f6 26. Red3 (26. e5 $2 g5+ 27. Kf3
fxe5 $17) 26... g5+ 27. Kf3 f5 $44) 26. Kg5 b5 27. Kh6 b4 28. cxb4 axb4 {
[%csl Gb4,Gc4,Gc5] Die schwarzen Bauern sind - dank Unterstützung durch König
und Läufer - sehr gefährlich für Weiß.} 29. Kxh7 {Weiß hat nun zwar eine ganze
Qualität mehr, aber sein König befindet sich weit ab vom Hauptkriegsschauplatz.
} Ra8 $17 30. Kg7 Kb5 31. h4 (31. Ree2 c4 32. Kf6 c3 33. Rc2 Rxa2 34. Rxa2 Bxa2
35. Rxa2 b3 $19) 31... c4 {[%csl Gb4,Gc4]} 32. g4 c3 $19 33. Rg2 Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Re4 g5 16. Qf3 Bf5 17. Bc2 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Qe6 19. Bxg5 f5 20. Bxd5 $6 {White
wrongly gives up his bishop and his compensation for the exchanges diminishes.
The experiences white players have made with 20.Bd3 are rather encouraging.} (
20. Bd3 h6 $1 21. Bd2 Ra7 {~/= /\ Rg7, f4 Nunn}) 20... cxd5 21. Nd2 f4 22. Bxf4
(22. gxf4 h6 23. Bh4 Rxf4 $15) 22... Bxf4 23. gxf4 Ra7 24. Kh1 Re7 $1 (24...
Rg7 25. Rg1 Rxg1+ 26. Kxg1 $13) (24... Raf7 $6 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Qe3 $14) 25.
Rg1+ (25. Nb3 Kh8 26. Nc5 Qe2 27. Qxd5 Rg8 $1 $19) 25... Kh8 26. Nf1 Qe4 {
[%mdl 4096] The endgame is better for Adams, the rook is much stronger than
the knight and three rather scathered pawns.} 27. Kg2 (27. Qxe4 Rxe4 28. Rg4
Re2 29. b4 Rxf2 30. Ne3 R8xf4 (30... Re8 31. Nxd5 Re1+ 32. Rg1 Ree2 33. Rg3
Rxa2 $17) 31. Rxf4 Rxf4 32. Kg2 Re4 33. Nxd5 Re2+ 34. Kg3 Rxa2 $17) 27... Qxf3+
28. Kxf3 Re1 29. Rh1 (29. Kg2 Rb1 30. b4 Rc1 31. Kf3 Rc8 $17) 29... Re4 30. Nd2
(30. Ne3 Rexf4+ 31. Kg3 Rxf2 32. Nxd5 R8f3+ 33. Kg4 h5+ 34. Kh4 Rxb2 $19) 30...
Rexf4+ 31. Ke3 Rxf2 32. a4 Rg2 $1 {White has lost two pawns, but his problems
are far from over.} (32... bxa4 33. Ra1 Rxh2 34. Rxa4 Rf6 35. Ra5 $17) 33. axb5
axb5 34. b3 (34. h4 h5 $19) 34... Rff2 35. Nf3 Rb2 36. b4 Rgc2 37. Kd3 Rf2 38.
Ke3 Rbe2+ 39. Kd3 Ra2 40. Ke3 Rae2+ 41. Kd3 Re4 42. Ne5 Rfe2 $1 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 e5 4. Bg2 f5 5. d4 {Ein vorübergehendes Bauernopfer.
Oft wird der ruhigeren Alternative der Vorzug gegeben.} (5. e3 {/\ 6.Nge2})
5... exd4 (5... e4 6. g4 $5 (6. f3) 6... Nc6 7. gxf5 gxf5 8. Nh3 Bxd4 9. Nd5 d6
10. Bg5 Qd7 11. e3 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14. f3 Nce7 15. fxe4 Nxd5 16.
cxd5 Bc3+ 17. Ke2 Qf7 18. Qxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rhc1 Ba5 20. Rb5 Bb6 21. Rxb6 axb6 22.
Rxc7+ Ke8 23. Bf3 h5 24. Nf4 Bd7 25. Bxh5+ Rxh5 26. Nxh5 Kf7 27. exf5 {1-0
Miles,A-King,D/Moscow 1990/TD (27)}) 6. Nb5 {Weiß gewinnt das Material zurück.
Es entsteht eine Stellung, die eigentlich für die Holländische Verteidigung
typisch ist. Wichtiger aber ist, dass Weiß wegen der Rückeroberung des Bauern
durch Nb5-Nxd4 (oder Qxd4) Zeit verliert .} Nc6 (6... c5 7. Nd6+ Kf8 8. Nxb7) (
6... Na6 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Nh3 O-O 9. Nf4 Nc5 10. h4 Ne6 11. Nb5 d6 12. O-O Nxf4
13. Bxf4 Ne4 14. Bxe4 fxe4 15. Qd5+ Kh8 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Qxe4 Bxb2 {1/2-1/2
Ubilava,E-Pariente Lopez,F/Linares 1994/TD (47)}) 7. Nf3 Nf6 (7... Nh6 $2 8.
Bg5 Ne7 9. Bf4 d6 10. c5 $1 a6 11. Nxc7+ Qxc7 12. cxd6 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qb6 14.
dxe7 Qxb2 15. O-O $16 {1-0 Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996/EXT 98 (33)}) 8. Bf4 (
8. O-O Ne4 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 (9... O-O 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Qa4 $14) 10. Nxd4 O-O 11.
Nb3 d6 12. Qc2 (12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Qd5+ Kh8 14. Qxe4 Bh3 15. Re1 Qf6 $44) 12...
a5 13. Rb1 a4 14. Nd2 Nc5 15. b4 axb3 16. axb3 f4 17. Bb2 {1/2-1/2 Benko,
P-Petrosian,T/Curacao 1962/Candidates/[ChessBase] (67)}) (8. Nbxd4 O-O 9. O-O
Ne4 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Qa4 Rb8 12. c5 Nxc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxa7 Na6 15. b3 Qa3
16. Bd4 Rb7 17. Qa8 Bxd4 18. Nxd4 Rb6 {0-1 Ubilava,E-Komljenovic,D/San
Sebastian 1993/TD (37)}) (8. Nfxd4 Ne5 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bg5 Nf6 11. Qb3 a6 12.
Qe3 d6 13. f4 O-O 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qxe5 axb5 16. Nxb5 h6 17. Rd1 Qe8 18. Qxe8
Nxe8 19. Be7 Rf7 20. Ba3 Be6 21. Bxb7 Rb8 22. Bf3 Bxc4 {1/2-1/2 Schwartzman,
G-Grigore,G/Bucharest 1994/EXT 97 (39)}) 8... d6 9. Nfxd4 (9. c5 Ne4 10. cxd6
cxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nbxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qb6 14. Nb3 Be6 15. Be3 Qa6 16. Bd4
Bh6 17. e3 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996/EXT 98 (35)}) 9... Nxd4
(9... Bd7) 10. Qxd4 (10. Nxd4 O-O 11. O-O Ne4 $11) 10... O-O 11. c5 $13 {
Diese Spielweise ist zweischneidig, aber auf anderem Wege kommt Weiß nicht zu
Eröffnungsvorteil.} Ne4 12. Qc4+ (12. Qd5+ $2 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Rc7c6,Rc6b5,
Rc6d5]} Kh8 $15) 12... d5 13. Qb4 (13. Qc2 g5 $1 14. Nxc7 (14. Bxc7 Qd7 $17)
14... gxf4 15. Nxa8 Qa5+ $17) 13... a5 14. Qa3 Rf7 {[%csl Ra3,Ge4][%cal Gg7a1]
Schwarz kann mit dem Verlauf der Eröffnung zufrieden sein: Der Ne4 steht
ausgezeichnet, der Bg7 ist stark und Weiß kann seine Stellung am Damenflügel
nicht verbessern.} 15. Rd1 g5 16. Be3 Qe8 {[%cal Ge8e1,Re8b5]} 17. Nc3 $2 {
[%mdl 16384] Es ist verständlich, dass Weiß den starken Ne4 abtauschen möchte,
aber in dieser konkreten Stellung wäre der andere Springerzug besser.} (17. Nd4
f4 18. gxf4 gxf4 19. Bc1 $13) 17... Nxc3 18. bxc3 f4 $36 {Dieser Zug ist gut,
zugleich aber auch erzwungen, es hängen die Pd5 und Pg5.} 19. gxf4 gxf4 20. Bd4
Bg4 {Schwarz übt spürbar Druck aus - der weiße König steht schlecht in der
Mitte.} (20... f3 $5 21. Bf1 fxe2 22. Bxe2 Bg4 23. Be3 (23. Rd2 Qe4 $19 (23...
Bh6)) 23... Qe4 24. Rf1 Raf8 $40) {[#]} 21. O-O (21. f3 Bd7 $36 {[%csl Rg2]
[%cal Gd7b5,Gb5e2]}) 21... Ra6 $1 {[%cal Ga6g6,Gg6g1][%mdl 128]} 22. f3 {
Dieser Zug sieht nicht schön aus, aber es ist die einzige Möglichkeit für Weiß.
} (22. Bxd5 $2 Rg6 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $19 {[%csl Rg1]}) 22... Bf5 {[%csl Rg2]} 23.
Rf2 (23. Rd2 Rg6 $17) 23... Rg6 $17 {[%cal Gg6g1] Schwarz hat gute
Figurenkoordination und starke Drohungen am Königsflügel. Weiß hingegen
besitzt kein Gegenspiel.} 24. Kf1 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 (25. cxd4 Rfg7 $19 (25... Qe3
$2 26. Qxa5 $15 (26. Qxe3 fxe3 $19))) 25... Rfg7 {[%csl Rf1][%cal Rg7g2]} 26.
Rxd5 (26. Qb3 Rxg2 27. Rxg2 Bh3 $19) 26... Bh3 27. Qb3 {[%cal Gb3g8]} Kh8 28.
Qd1 {[%cal Rd1d8,Rd8h8]} Bxg2+ 29. Ke1 Bh3 $19 {Schwarz hat eine Mehrfigur und
einen starken Angriff - Weiß bleibt ohne Kompensation.} 30. Qd4 {[%cal Gd4h8]}
Rg1+ 31. Kd2 Qe3+ {Diese Vereinfachung gewinnt - nach dem Damentausch ist die
weiße Stellung hoffnungslos..} 32. Qxe3 fxe3+ 33. Kxe3 Be6 34. Rd4 R7g5 {
[%cal Rg5c5]} 35. Re4 Bg8 36. f4 Rxc5 37. f5 Kg7 38. f6+ Kg6 {Der weiße
f-Bauer ist nur scheinbar gefährlich - Schwarz steht auf Gewinn.} (38... Kf8
$19) 39. Re7 Bf7 40. Kd4 Rc4+ (40... b6 $19) 41. Kd3 Rc6 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. Qc2 axb5 (6... Nxd5 7. Qxc5
Bb7 8. Qd4 Nf6 9. bxa6 Rxa6 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Qd1 Nb4 12. Bd2 Bg7 13. a3 Nbd5 14.
e3 Rb6 15. Na4 Rd6 16. Nc5 Bc6 17. Rc1 Ng4 18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. exd4 h5 20. Be2 Qa8
21. O-O $14 {Kozak,M-Petrtyl,J/CZE-chT2/1997/}) 7. e4 {In this unexplored
sideline it still remains unclear what's Black's best even after the greedy
and risky} (7. Qxc5 Na6 $5 (7... d6 8. Qxb5+ Nbd7 9. Nc3 Bg7 10. g3 O-O 11. Bg2
Nc5 12. O-O Nfd7 13. Qb4 Nb6 14. Qh4 h5 15. Nd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Nb3 17. axb3 Rxa1
18. Bh6 Rxf1+ 19. Bxf1 f6 20. Bxf8 {1-0,Tukmakov,V-Djukic,Z/Bor/1983/}) (7...
Bg7 8. Nc3 Na6 9. Qxb5 Rb8 10. Qa4 O-O 11. e4 Nc5 12. Qa7 Rb6 13. Be3 d6 14.
Bxc5 dxc5 15. Bc4 Rxb2 16. O-O Ne8 (16... Bg4 17. Ne5 Qd6 18. Nd3 Nd7 19. Nxb2
Bxc3 20. Rab1 Qf4 21. Qa3 Be5 22. g3 Qxe4 {Anapolsky,S-Moraru,M/ROM-chT/1994/}
23. Rfe1 $16) 17. Rac1 Bg4 18. Qxc5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qb8 (19... Be5 $142 $1 $44)
20. d6 Nxd6 21. Bb3 Bh6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Qc3 Bg7 24. Qc7 $16 {Najer,E-Lempert,I/
Moscow op/1996/}) 8. Qd4 Bg7 9. e4 Bb7 10. Bxb5 (10. Nc3 b4 $5 11. Bxa6 Bxa6
12. Qxb4 $14) 10... Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Nb4 12. O-O Nc2 13. Qd3 Nxa1 14. Bg5 O-O 15.
Rxa1 Ba6 16. e5 Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Rfb8 18. Nc3 Ng4 19. Bxe7 Rxb2 20. Rf1 Nxe5 $17 {
Vegh,E-Adrian,C/Hampstead/1998/}) 7... Qa5+ (7... Bg7 8. Bxb5 (8. Nc3 b4 9. Nb5
O-O 10. Be2 b3 11. Qxb3 Nxe4 12. O-O d6 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. Bf3 Na6 15. Nc4 Rb8 16.
Bd2 Nb4 17. a4 Nfxd5 18. Ncxd6 Be6 19. Bxb4 Nxb4 20. Nc4 Qd3 $17 {Klebel,
M-Jukic,B/Vienna/1991/}) 8... O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. h3 Ne8
13. Bd2 Nc7 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 $14 {1/2,Bagirov,V-Grigorian,K/Yerevan/1982/}) (7...
Ba6 $5 8. Qxc5 (8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Qxc5 O-O 10. Bd3 e6 11. O-O d6 12. Qb4 exd5 13.
exd5 Nxd5 14. Qb3 Nf4 15. Bxb5 Qa5 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. g3 Ne2+ 18. Kg2 Nc6 19.
Qc4 Rfb8 20. Re1 Ned4 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 22. Qxa6 Rxa6 23. Rd1 Rc8 24. Rb1 Rxa2 25.
Nf3 Nb5 {1/2,Epishin,V-Bareev,E/RUS-ch St Petersburg/1998/}) 8... Nxe4 9. Qd4
Nf6 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Bxb5 Bxb5 13. Nxb5 Ne8 14. Qc4 Bxb2 15. Rb1 Bg7
16. O-O Na6 17. Rfc1 Nf6 18. d6 exd6 19. Nxd6 Qe7 20. Rb6 Qe6 21. Qf1 Nb8 22.
Nc4 Nc6 23. a3 Ne4 24. Be3 Rfb8 25. a4 d5 $11 {Kortschnoj,V-Cramling,P/
Roquebrune/1998/}) 8. Bd2 Qa4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Black doesn't allow White to
stabilize the position on the <<.} (8... b4 $143 9. Na3 d6 10. Nc4 Qd8 11. Be2
Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfd1 (13. a3 $5) 13... Na6 14. a4 Rb8 15. b3 Bb7 16. Bg5 h6
17. Bh4 g5 18. Bg3 Nh5 19. Rac1 Nc7 20. Ne3 Nxg3 21. hxg3 e6 22. dxe6 fxe6 23.
Nc4 d5 24. Nce5 $16 {Huzman,A-Kogan,A/ISR-chT/1999/}) 9. Qxa4 (9. Qxc5 Qxe4+
10. Be3 Na6 $36) 9... bxa4 (9... Rxa4 $2 10. Nc3 $16) 10. Nc3 Bg7 (10... d6 11.
e5 $5 dxe5 (11... Nfd7 12. Bb5 $14) 12. Nxe5 $14) 11. e5 (11. Bb5 $6 a3 $15) (
11. a3 d6 12. Bd3 Nbd7 13. Bb5 O-O $132) 11... Ng4 12. Bf4 f6 $8 13. exf6 Nxf6
14. a3 O-O 15. O-O-O (15. d6 exd6 16. Bxd6 Re8+ $40) 15... d6 16. Re1 (16. Bb5
Bd7 $15 {[%cal Gg7a1,Gf8f2,Gb8b2] If Black is allowed to consolidate, he has
promising play on the <-> b and f, also on the /^a1-h8.}) 16... Ra7 $1 (16...
Re8 17. h3 $14 {is too passive, Topalov prefers to sacrifice a pawn.}) 17. Bb5
Ba6 18. Bxa4 Bc4 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5} 19. Bg5 (19. Bb5 Bxd5 (19... Bxb5 20. Nxb5
Ra4 21. Bg5 Nxd5 22. Bxe7 Nxe7 23. Rxe7 Rg4 24. Ne1 Rxf2 25. Re8+ Rf8 26. Nxd6
$14) (19... Ng4 $5 20. Bxd6 Bxc3 21. Rxe7 Bxb2+ 22. Kxb2 Rxe7 23. Bxe7 Bxb5 24.
Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Kc3 $5 $14) 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Bc4 Rxf4 22. Bxd5+ Kf8 (22... Kh8
23. Kc2 $14) 23. Ng5 Rf5 $13) 19... Nxd5 20. Bb5 $8 (20. Nxd5 $2 Bxd5 21. Bd1
Nc6 $17) 20... Bxb5 21. Nxd5 Bc4 (21... e5 $143 22. Be7 $14) (21... Nc6 $142 $5
22. Nxe7+ Kh8 $44) 22. Rxe7 (22. Nxe7+ Kh8 23. Nd2 Bd3 24. f3 Rb7 $36) 22...
Ra6 (22... Rxe7 23. Nxe7+ Kf7 (23... Kh8 24. Rd1 $16) 24. Nd2 $16) 23. Rd1 Nc6
24. Rb7 {Otherwise Black plays Rb8.} Na5 25. Rb6 Nb3+ 26. Kc2 {Now Black gets
enough play.} ({More ambitious was} 26. Kb1 $142 $1 Nd4 27. Rxa6 Bxa6 28. Nxd4
(28. Be7 Re8 (28... Rf5 29. Ne3 $16) 29. Nxd4 Bxd4 30. Bxd6 Re2 $132) 28...
Bxd4 29. f3 $14) 26... Nd4+ 27. Nxd4 Rxf2+ 28. Rd2 Rxd2+ 29. Kxd2 Bxd4 30. Rb8+
Kf7 31. Rb7+ Kg8 32. Rb8+ Kf7 33. Rb7+ Kg8 34. Nf6+ $5 {The last attempt. But
with ^- the extra pawn will be insufficient.} (34. Rb8+ $11) 34... Bxf6 35.
Bxf6 h5 36. Rg7+ ({More testing was} 36. Kc3 $5 Bf1 (36... Bd5 37. Rg7+ Kf8 38.
Rxg6 Kf7 39. Rh6 Bxg2 40. Bg5 $14) 37. Rg7+ (37. g3 d5 38. Be7 Rc6 $11) 37...
Kf8 38. Rxg6 d5 39. Bg7+ Kf7 $11) 36... Kf8 37. Rxg6 Kf7 38. Rh6 d5 $11 39. Bg5
Rxh6 40. Bxh6 Bf1 41. g3 d4 42. a4 Ke6 43. Ke1 Bd3 44. Kf2 Kd5 45. Kf3 c4 46.
Bd2 c3 $1 (46... c3 47. Bxc3 (47. bxc3 dxc3 48. Bxc3 Kc6 $11 {Black puts his K
on a8 and sacrifices his B for the o^ on the >>, with his "false" B White
can't queen his last remaining P.}) 47... dxc3 48. bxc3 Kc4 49. Kf4 Kxc3 50.
Kg5 Be2 51. a5 Kd4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2637"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 c6 8.
Qc2 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. h3 Nb6 11. O-O-O g6 12. g4 Ng7 13. Ne5 f6 14. Nd3 Be6
15. Re1 O-O-O 16. Na4 Nxa4 17. Qxa4 Kb8 18. Be2 Bf7 19. Qb4 Qxb4 20. Nxb4 h5
21. Nd3 hxg4 22. hxg4 g5 23. f4 gxf4 24. Nxf4 Rdg8 25. Nh5 Ne8 26. Rhf1 Be6 27.
Nxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 Qa5 6. d5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6 8. Nd2
Qxc3 9. Rb1 Nxe4 10. Bb2 Qxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Nxd2 12. Bxh8 Nxb1 13. Bd3 f6 14. Bxb1
Kf7 15. Kd2 Bf5 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Re1 Nd7 0-1

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2662"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 c5 4. c4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bg2 Qa5+ 8.
Qxa5 Nxa5 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Ne4 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Nec6 12. O-O Bxd2 13. Nfxd2 Ke7 14.
Rfc1 Bd7 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Rxc4 Rac8 17. Rd1 Ne5 18. Rcd4 Bc6 19. Nd6 Rcd8 20.
Bxc6 Nxc6 21. R4d2 b6 22. f4 g6 23. Kf2 e5 24. e3 f6 25. a3 Ke6 26. b4 Rd7 27.
Ne4 Rxd2+ 28. Rxd2 Rd8 29. Rc2 Rc8 30. g4 exf4 31. exf4 Ne7 32. Re2 Nd5 33.
Nc3+ Kd6 34. Nb5+ Kd7 35. Rd2 Ke6 36. Re2+ Kd7 37. Rd2 Ke6 38. Re2+ Kd7 39. Rd2
Rc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. d3
Bd7 9. Rb1 Rb8 10. b4 b6 11. b5 Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Na2 h5 14. Nb4 h4 15. Qa4
hxg3 16. hxg3 Ra8 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Bxc6 Qc7 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Kg2 Re8 21. f3
Qb7 22. Qc2 Ng4 23. Rh1 f5 24. Kg1 Nf6 25. Qd2 e5 26. Qg5 Qf7 27. Qh4 f4 28.
Bd2 Nh5 29. g4 Bf6 30. Qh3 Ng3 31. Rh2 Qg7 32. a4 Bg5 33. a5 Kf7 34. axb6 axb6
35. Ra1 Kf6 36. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8.
Bd3 Re8 9. Qc2 Nf8 10. h3 Be6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Rc8 13. b4 N6d7 14. Bf4 Ng6 15.
Bg3 Ndf8 16. Na4 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Nc5 Rc7 19. Rac1 Bc8 20. Rfe1 Qf6 21.
Qd1 Ne6 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. b5 Rec8 24. bxc6 Rxc6 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Qb3 b6 27.
Qa4 Rc7 28. Qe8+ Nf8 29. Bxh7+ Kxh7 30. Qxf8 Bf5 31. Qb8 Rc2 32. h4 Bc8 33.
Qxa7 Qf5 34. Qxb6 f6 35. Qb1 Ba6 36. e4 Qc8 37. e5 Bd3 38. exf6 gxf6 39. Qb6
Qf5 40. Qb7+ Kh6 41. Qb8 Be4 42. Qh8+ Kg6 43. h5+ Kf7 44. h6 Qg6 45. Nh4 Qg5
46. Qg7+ Qxg7 47. hxg7 Kxg7 48. f3 Bd3 49. Ra1 Rd2 50. a4 Kh6 51. Kh2 Kg5 52.
Kg3 f5 53. f4+ Kf6 54. Nf3 Rb2 55. a5 Bb5 56. Rc1 Bc4 57. Ne5 Rb3+ 58. Kh4 Bb5
59. Rc5 Rb1 60. a6 Be2 61. a7 Ra1 62. Rc6+ Ke7 63. Rc7+ Kd6 64. Rg7 Bb5 65. Kg5
Ke6 66. Rg6+ Ke7 67. Kxf5 Ra2 68. g4 Ba4 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. d5 Nd4 7. Nxd4 cxd4 8. Nb5
Qb6 9. c5 dxc5 10. Bf4 Kf8 11. Rc1 a6 12. Bc7 Qf6 13. Na3 b5 14. Rxc5 d3 15.
Bxd3 Qxb2 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 Bd4 18. b4 f5 19. f3 Nf6 20. Nc2 Bxc5 21. bxc5
e6 22. d6 Nd7 23. c6 Ne5 24. d7 Nxd3+ 25. Ke2 Bxd7 26. cxd7 Ke7 27. Kxd3 Kxd7
28. Ba5 Rhc8 29. h4 Rc5 30. Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 d6 10. Nc3 Nbd7 11. Rfe1 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qb2 a4 14. Bf1 c5 15.
Nd2 Bb7 16. b4 a3 17. Qb3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 e5 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Rac1 Qc6 21. f3 Qa4
22. Qb1 d5 23. Bf2 e4 24. Bd4 Rfe8 25. cxd5 Bxd5 26. f4 e3 27. Nc4 Be4 28. Qa1
Qxb4 29. Nxe3 b5 30. Bh3 Rad8 31. Red1 Ba8 32. Rb1 Qa4 33. Qc3 Nf8 34. Be5
Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Nd5 36. Rxd5 Bxd5 37. Bxg7 Rxe3 38. Qxe3 Qd1+ 39. Kf2 Kxg7 40.
Qe5+ f6 41. Qe7+ Bf7 42. Qxa3 Qd4+ 43. Qe3 Qxe3+ 44. Kxe3 Bxa2 45. Kd4 Bc4 46.
e3 Ne6+ 47. Kc3 Nc5 48. Bf5 h6 49. h4 Be6 50. Bc2 Na6 51. Bd3 b4+ 52. Kd4 Nc7
53. e4 b3 54. Kc3 Kf8 55. Be2 Ke7 56. g4 Kd6 57. g5 hxg5 58. fxg5 fxg5 59. hxg5
Kc5 60. Kb2 Kb4 61. g6 Nb5 62. g7 Nc3 63. Bg4 Na4+ 64. Kb1 Bg8 65. e5 Bh7+ 0-1

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Rabiega, Robert"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3 c5 5. Nf3 c4 6. Be2 dxe4 7. Ne5 Nbd7 8.
Nxc4 Be7 9. O-O b6 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nc5 12. Nxe7 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Kxe7 14. Bf4
Ba6 15. Bd6+ Ke8 16. Be5 Ke7 17. Bd6+ Ke8 18. Be5 Ke7 19. a4 Ke8 20. Bd6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5
g6 9. g5 gxf5 10. exf5 d5 11. gxf6 d4 12. Bc4 Qc7 13. Qd3 dxe3 14. O-O-O exf2
15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Qd5+ Kxf6 17. Ne4+ Ke7 18. Nd6 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Kf6 20. Rhf1 Rf8
21. Rxf2 Nc6 22. Qc4 Kg7 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Rfg2 Bg7 25. Rxg7 Qxg7 26. Rxg7 Kxg7
27. Qg4+ Kh8 28. Qg5 Be6 29. b3 Rad8 30. Qh6 Bxf5 31. Nxb7 Rc8 32. Nd6 Bg6 33.
Nxc8 Rxc8 34. Kb2 Nd4 35. c4 Nf5 36. Qg5 Kg7 37. h4 h5 38. Qg2 Re8 39. Qe4 Nh6
40. Qb7+ Nf7 41. c5 e4 42. Qd7 Re5 43. c6 Bf5 44. Qd1 e3 45. Qg1+ Kf6 46. c7 e2
47. Qe1 Bg4 48. b4 Re7 49. Qc3+ Ne5 50. Kb3 Rxc7 51. Qe3 Re7 52. Qxe5+ Kxe5 0-1

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2662"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. c4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nb6 8.
Bb3 Bd7 9. O-O Bc6 10. Re1 Bb4 11. a3 Bxd2 12. Bxd2 Bd5 13. Bc2 Nc6 14. Be3 Qe7
15. Ng5 O-O-O 16. Qh5 Rdf8 17. Ne4 Kb8 18. Nc3 Qd7 19. Rad1 Ne7 20. Nxd5 Nbxd5
21. Qg4 Nf5 22. Bc1 Rfg8 23. Qf3 g5 24. Qh5 h6 25. Be4 Ng7 26. Qf3 Nf5 27. Qh5
Ng7 28. Qf3 Rf8 29. Bd2 f5 30. exf6 Rxf6 31. Qb3 Nf5 32. Be3 Rhf8 33. Rc1 Qf7
34. f3 Nd6 35. Bd3 g4 36. fxg4 Nxe3 37. Rxe3 Rf2 38. Qxe6 Qf4 39. Qe5 Qxg4 40.
Rg3 Qf4 41. Qxf4 R8xf4 42. Rf1 Rxf1+ 43. Bxf1 Rxd4 44. Rh3 Rd2 45. b4 Nf5 46.
g4 Nd4 47. Rxh6 Nf3+ 48. Kh1 b5 49. Rh3 Ng5 50. Re3 Rf2 51. Bg2 c5 52. bxc5 Rc2
53. h4 Nf7 54. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Rg8 12. Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Nd7 14. Bg3 Qb6 15.
O-O a6 16. d5 O-O-O 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Bg4 c5 19. e5 Be7 20. Qh7 Rge8 21. Qf7
Qc6 22. Bf3 Qc7 23. Qxe6 Bf6 24. Rxd7 Rxe6 25. Rxc7+ Kxc7 26. exf6+ Kb6 27.
Bxb7 Kxb7 28. f3 Rxf6 29. Ne4 Rc6 30. Kf2 Kb6 31. Rc1 Rd5 32. Ke2 Re6 33. h3
Kc6 34. Bf2 Ree5 35. g4 Kb6 36. Be3 Re6 37. Rh1 b4 38. h4 a5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40.
Rh5 a4 41. Nxg5 a3 42. bxa3 b3 43. axb3 cxb3 44. Nxe6 Rxh5 45. Nxc5 Rh2+ 46.
Kd3 b2 47. Na4+ Kc6 48. Nc3 Kd6 49. Bf4+ 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O
Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Ba7 12. Rc1 Bg4 13. Nd4 Bxd4 14. Bxg4 Be5
15. Bf3 Qd6 16. g3 Rad8 17. Bg2 Rfe8 18. Re1 h5 19. Qd2 h4 20. f4 Bxc3 21. Qxc3
hxg3 22. hxg3 Qe6 23. e4 dxe4 24. Rxe4 Qf5 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27.
Qxc6 Re6 28. Qa8+ Re8 29. Qf3 Ng4 30. Bd4 Qh5 31. Qh1 Qa5 32. Qc6 Re1+ 33. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe2+ 35. Kh3 Nh6 36. a4 Qf1+ 37. Qg2 Qd1 38. Qa8+ Kh7 39. Qe4+ f5
40. Qd5 Qf1+ 41. Kh4 Qd1 42. Kh3 Kg6 43. Qc6+ Kh7 44. Qd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a3
d6 9. c3 Be6 10. d4 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Re8 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. d5 Ne7 15.
Nf1 h6 16. b3 c6 17. c4 Rac8 18. Qd1 cxd5 19. cxd5 Nh7 20. a4 f5 21. Ng3 Nf6
22. axb5 fxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Qxb5 25. Rg4 Kh7 26. Bd2 Qxd5 27. Qb1+ Kh8
28. Rxa6 Nc6 29. Raa4 Rb8 30. h3 Qxb3 31. Qxb3 Rxb3 32. Ra6 Nb8 33. Ra7 Re7 34.
Ra8 Kh7 35. Nh4 Rf7 36. Ng6 Rbb7 37. Nxf8+ Rxf8 38. Rb4 Nc6 39. Rxf8 Nxb4 40.
Rd8 d5 41. Bxb4 Rxb4 42. Rxd5 Rb1+ 43. Kh2 Re1 44. Rd6 Kg8 45. Rd7 Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Nf6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qf3 Qc7 11. e5 dxe5 12. Rxe5 e6 13. Re1 Bd6 14. g3
O-O 15. Nd2 Nd7 16. Qe2 Nb6 17. b3 a5 18. Bb2 a4 19. Qg4 e5 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21.
Qxc4 Rfb8 22. Bc3 Qb6 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 Qa6 25. Qxa6 Rxa6 26. Rd1 g6 27.
Rd6 axb3 28. axb3 Kf8 29. Kg2 h5 30. h3 Re8 31. Rc5 Rc8 32. Rd4 Ke7 33. b4 Rd8
34. Re4+ Kf6 35. Rec4 Rd6 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Re6 38. Kg3 Ra3+ 39. f3 Ra6 40.
Kf4 Kg7 41. c3 Kf6 42. Re4 Rd6 43. Ke3 Ra1 44. Rec4 Re1+ 45. Kf4 Ree6 46. Re4
Rxe4+ 47. Kxe4 Ke6 48. Rc4 Ke7 49. Ke3 Kf8 50. Rd4 Rf6 51. f4 Re6+ 52. Kd3 Re1
53. g5 Rf1 54. Rc4 Ke7 55. Rxc6 Rxf4 56. Rc5 Kd6 57. Ra5 Rg4 58. Kc2 Kc6 59.
Kb3 Rg3 60. Rc5+ Kb6 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Masters"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rabiega, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2477"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. e3 Nge7 7. Rc1 O-O 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxh7+ Kh8 10. Bb1 Nd5 11. Bg3 Nce7 12. O-O c6 13. Qc2 Bf5 14. e4 Bg6
15. Ne5 Bh7 16. Nxc4 Nf6 17. Qb3 a5 18. a3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21.
Nd6 Bg6 22. Qxb7 Rb8 23. Nxf7+ 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2526"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. c5
Nh5 9. Be5 f5 10. b4 a6 11. h3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 f4 13. e4 a5 14. a3 g6 15. O-O b6
16. Na4 axb4 17. axb4 bxc5 18. Nxc5 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Qb6 20. Qd4 Qb8 21. Rc1 Rd8
22. Qc3 Ng7 23. Bc2 Bd7 24. Qd4 Be8 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Qxf4 Qb6 27. Bd3 Ra8 28.
g4 Bb5 29. Kg2 Rb8 30. Nd4 Bxd3 31. Nxd3 Bg5 32. Qxg5 Qxd4 33. Qe3 Qe4+ 34. Kg3
h5 35. Qxe4 dxe4 36. Nf4 hxg4 37. hxg4 g5 38. Nh3 Rxb4 39. Nxg5 Rb8 40. Nxe4
1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d5 e6 6. h3 exd5 7. cxd5 Ne7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bf4 h6 10. g4 g5 11. Be3 Ng6 12. h4 Bxg4 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Be2 Bxf3 15.
Bxf3 Nd7 16. Bg4 Nde5 17. Bf5 Re8 18. Qh5 Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Ngf4 20. Qg4 Qf6 21.
Bxf4 Nxf4 22. Rag1 Qd4+ 23. Kc2 Qxf2+ 24. Kb1 Bf6 25. Rh6 Nd3 26. Ne2 Ne5 27.
Qh5 Qf3 28. Rxg5+ Kf8 29. Rxf6 Qd3+ 30. Kc1 Ke7 31. Rg3 Rh8 32. Re6+ 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Corral Blanco, Juan Antonio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B60"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2464"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Qa5 7. Bb5 Bd7 8.
Nb3 Qd8 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Qh5 Rg8 11. g3 Rg5 12. Qe2 a6 13. Bd3 e6 14. f4 Rg7
15. Qh5 Qb6 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. Kb1 Kb8 18. Qh4 Be8 19. Qxf6 Rg4 20. Qh8 Bg7
21. Qxh7 Bxc3 22. bxc3 a5 23. Be2 Rg6 24. f5 Rg5 25. Qh6 Rg8 26. fxe6 Rg6 27.
exf7 Rxh6 28. f8=Q Re6 29. Qf5 Re5 30. Qf6 a4 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qxd6+ Ka7 33.
Bd3 Bf7 34. Kb2 Ra5 35. Rf1 Bg8 36. h4 axb3 37. axb3 Qe3 38. Qf4 Qc5 39. Qf2
Qxf2 40. Rxf2 Be6 41. Be2 Re5 42. Rf4 Bg8 43. Bg4 Re7 44. Bf5 Ne5 45. g4 b5 46.
h5 Nf7 47. g5 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rodriguez Cespedes, Amador"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 c6 5. a4 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Be3 b6 8. Be2 Qc7
9. O-O Nbd7 10. Re1 Rd8 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. Bh6 a6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Qe3 e5 15. Bf1
b5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. b3 h6 18. g3 Nf8 19. Nb1 Ne6 20. c3 Bc8 21. Nbd2 Bd7 22.
Ra2 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qc2 Bd6 12. c5 Bc7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Rd8 15.
Rfe1 Nf6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. b4 Bd7 18. a3 Be8 19. Qc3 a5 20. g3 b6 21. Re3 Ra7
22. h4 axb4 23. axb4 Rda8 24. Bc2 g6 25. Kg2 Ra2 26. Rd1 bxc5 27. bxc5 Rb8 28.
Bb1 Rab2 29. Be4 Qd8 30. Ra1 R8b4 31. Bc2 Rb5 32. Kg1 Qd5 33. Ra8 Rb8 34. Be4
Qd8 35. Qxb2 Rxa8 36. Rb3 Rb8 37. Kg2 Kf8 38. Rxb8 Qxb8 39. Qd2 Kg7 40. Qc3 Kf8
41. Qe3 Kg7 42. Qc3 Kf8 43. Ne5 Qb5 44. Qe3 Bxe5 45. dxe5 h5 46. Qd4 Qb7 47.
Qd6+ Kg7 48. Qd8 Qd7 49. Qxd7 Bxd7 50. Kf3 f6 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. f3 Kg7 53. g4
hxg4 54. fxg4 f5 55. Bd3 fxg4 56. Kxg4 Kh6 57. Ba6 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 b6 4. Bg5 Bb7 5. Nbd2 e6 6. e4 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Bd3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Nc6 10. e5 Qd8 11. a3 Ne7 12. Qe2 Nd5 13. g3 Be7 14. h4 Rc8 15. h5
Qc7 16. O-O O-O 17. Rae1 f5 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Ne5 Qd6 20. Ng6 Rfe8 21. Qe5 Qd5
22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxd5 Bxd5 24. Bg6 d6 25. Rc1 Rec7 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. f3 b5
28. Ne4 Rc6 29. Nc3 Bc4 30. Rc1 Kf8 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Ke3 Rb6 33. g4 a5 34. Bd3
Kd7 35. b3 Bxd3 36. Kxd3 Rb8 37. b4 a4 38. Rg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Narciso Dublan, Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D25"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2507"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. a4 b4 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. O-O e6 10. Qe2 c5 11. e4 cxd4 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nb3 Nc5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15.
Nfxd4 h6 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. a5 Ba7 20. Rac1 O-O 21. Qe4
f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rc4 Ke8 25. Nd4 g5 26. Qxe7+ Kxe7 27. Rfc1
Raf8 28. Be3 Nxe3 29. fxe3 Rb8 30. Rxb4 Bd5 31. Rxb8 Bxb8 32. Rc8 Bd6 33. Bxa6
e5 34. Nc2 Be4 35. Be2 Rf8 36. Rxf8 Kxf8 37. Na3 Ke7 38. Kf2 Bc5 39. a6 Kd7 40.
Nc4 Kc7 41. Nxe5 Bc2 42. b4 Ba7 43. b5 Bc5 44. Nf7 Kb6 45. Nxh6 Bg6 46. g4 Bd6
47. h3 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Dominguez, JC."]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
e3 e4 9. Nd4 Nxd4 10. exd4 d5 11. Qb3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Be6 13. c5 Qc7 14. Rb1 Rab8
15. Be2 b6 16. c6 Qxc6 17. O-O Bg4 18. Ba6 Qd6 19. a4 b5 20. axb5 Be2 21. Rfe1
Ng4 22. g3 Bc4 23. Qd1 Qg6 24. f3 Nf6 25. Bf4 Rb6 26. Rb4 Re8 27. Re3 Rbe6 28.
Bb7 exf3 29. Qxf3 Rxe3 30. Bxe3 Qd3 31. Rxc4 dxc4 32. Bf2 Ne4 33. Bxe4 Qxe4 34.
Qxe4 Rxe4 35. d5 Re7 36. d6 Rb7 37. Bc5 f5 38. Kf2 Kf7 39. Ke3 Ke6 40. Kd4 Rxb5
41. Kxc4 Rb7 42. Kd4 a5 43. c4 a4 44. Kc3 Rb3+ 45. Kc2 g5 46. Kd2 a3 47. Kc2 a2
48. Bd4 Rb1 49. Be5 Kxe5 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gonzalez, Argentino Jorge"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2150"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8.
Nge2 Nbd7 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O-O Nf8 11. h3 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14.
g4 f5 15. Rdg1 Be6 16. gxf5 Bxf5 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. h4 h6 19. Nge2 Bh5 20. Nf4 Bf3
21. Rh3 Qd7 22. Rhg3 Re7 23. Nb1 Qe8 24. Nd2 Qf7 25. Kb1 Qf6 26. Nxf3 exf3 27.
Nh5 Qxh4 28. Nxg7 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Danailov, Silvio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Nbd2 Bc5 7. e4 Ne5 8.
Qe2 O-O 9. Nb3 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. Re1 c6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. exd5
cxd5 15. Rad1 Nc5 16. Bc1 Nxb3 17. axb3 Bg5 18. d4 Bxc1 19. Rxc1 Qf6 20. Qe3
Rac8 21. h4 h5 22. c3 a6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Roa Alonso, Santiago"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A75"]
[WhiteElo "2358"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 a6 8. a4 Bg4
9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 Qe7 13. Qb3 Nbd7 14. a5 Rab8 15.
Na4 h5 16. Nb6 Ne8 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Rfe1 Nc7 19. Be2 Rfe8 20. Bc4 Nb5 21. Bxb5
axb5 22. Qg3 Ra8 23. Re2 b4 24. h3 Ra6 25. Rae1 c4 26. Kh2 Rxa5 27. Bc1 c3 28.
f4 Ra1 29. e5 dxe5 30. fxe5 cxb2 31. e6 fxe6 32. dxe6 Rxe6 33. Bxb2 Rxe1 34.
Rxe1 Bxb2 35. Qb3 Qd6+ 36. Kh1 Be5 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. Rc1 Re8 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. Qc2 Rac8
15. Qf5 Nce4 16. Qxd7 Nxd7 17. Bh3 Nef6 18. Ncb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Bc5 20. b4 Bxd4
21. Nxd4 Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. a4 Bb7 24. f3 g6 25. Nb5 Bc6 26. Nxa7 Bxa4 27.
Be3 Kf8 28. Kf2 Ke8 29. Nc8 b5 30. Na7 Ne5 31. Bd4 Nfd7 32. f4 Nc4 33. Bg2 Ndb6
34. Nc6 Kd7 35. Ne5+ Nxe5 36. fxe5 Nc4 37. Bxd5 Ke7 38. Bc5+ Ke8 39. e6 fxe6
40. Bxe6 Bb3 41. Bd5 Kd7 42. Bg8 Nd2 43. Bxh7 Ne4+ 44. Ke3 Nxc5 45. bxc5 Bf7
46. Kd4 b4 47. e4 b3 48. Kc3 Kc6 49. e5 Kxc5 50. e6 Bxe6 51. Bxg6 Kd6 52. Bh5
Ke5 53. Bd1 Bh3 54. Bxb3 Ke4 55. Bd1 Ke3 56. Bh5 Kf2 57. g4 Bxg4 58. Bxg4 Ke3
59. h4 Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hoffman, Alejandro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2491"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 g6 4. c3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. e4
d6 9. Re1 Qc7 10. h3 Nbd7 11. d5 Rfe8 12. a4 e6 13. c4 Re7 14. Rb1 Rae8 15. b3
Nb8 16. Bb2 Na6 17. Rc1 Nb4 18. Bb1 e5 19. Nf1 Nh5 20. g3 Bc8 21. Kg2 Rf8 22.
Ng1 Qd7 23. Bc3 Qe8 24. Nh2 f5 25. Nhf3 Bh6 26. Bd2 Bxd2 27. Qxd2 Kh8 28. exf5
gxf5 29. Nh4 Rg7 30. Kh2 f4 31. Rc3 Qe7 32. Ng2 Rfg8 33. g4 Bxg4 34. hxg4 Rxg4
35. Be4 Qg7 36. Qd1 Rxg2+ 37. Kh1 Nf6 38. Nh3 Nxe4 39. Qd2 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Komljenovic, Davorin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2514"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Bg7 12. Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qa5 14. O-O O-O 15.
f4 Nh7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. e5 c5 19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5
Rad8 22. Rd6 Rxd6 23. exd6 Qb6 24. Qc3+ Kg8 25. Qe5 Rd8 26. Bh5 f6 27. Rxf6
Nxf6 28. Qxg5+ Kh7 29. Qg6+ Kh8 30. Qxf6+ Kh7 31. Bg6+ Kh6 32. Bf5+ Kh5 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 18th"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2000.08.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hamdouchi, Hicham"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2541"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2000.08.19"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Bd7 5. Qc2 Qc7 6. O-O g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. c4 Ng4 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. Nb5 Qa5 13. N1c3 Nc6 14. Nd5 Rfc8
15. Bd2 Qd8 16. Bc3 a6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qc3+ e5 19. Na3 Nd4 20. Kh1 b5 21. b3
Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Albacete m"]
[Site "Albacete"]
[Date "2000.09.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Herraiz Hidalgo, Herminio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2000.09.05"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8.
Kf1 Ne6 9. h4 Nc6 10. Ng5 Nxg5 11. hxg5 g6 12. d3 Bg7 13. Be3 Bd4 14. Qd2 Be6
15. Bb5 Rc8 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. Rc1 c4 18. Nd5 cxd3 19. Rc4 Qg7 20. Rc3 a6 21.
Bxd3 Qd4 22. Rc4 Qe5 23. Qc3 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 Kf8 25. a3 Kg7 26. Nf4 Nd4 27. Rxc8
Rxc8 28. Ne2 b5 29. Ke1 Bc4 30. Rh3 Ne6 31. f4 Bxd3 32. Rxd3 Rc2 33. Rd2 Rc4
34. Kf2 Rxe4 35. g3 Rc4 36. Ke3 Nc5 37. Nc3 b4 38. axb4 Rxb4 39. Rd5 Nb7 40.
Rd2 Nd6 41. Kf3 a5 42. Re2 e6 43. Rc2 Rb3 44. Kf2 h6 45. gxh6+ Kxh6 46. Re2 Nc4
47. Nd1 Rd3 0-1

[Event "Albacete m"]
[Site "Albacete"]
[Date "2000.09.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Herraiz Hidalgo, Herminio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[Annotator "Cifuentes Parada,L"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2000.09.05"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 (11. Nd2) 11... h6 (11... f6 12. Bd2 (12.
hxg4 $6 fxg5 13. Nxg5 Qe7 $44) 12... Nh6 13. c5 $5 c6 14. Bxa6 $1 bxa6 15. Bxh6
Bxh6 16. Qa4 Rf7 17. Rfd1 (17. Rad1 $5 Bf8 18. b4 Rb8 19. a3 Qe6 20. Rd3 Rd7
21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. Nd2 a5 24. Nc4 axb4 25. axb4 $14) 17... Bf8 18.
Qa5 (18. b4 {see plan 17.Rad1}) 18... Qe7 19. Rd8 Qc7 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Rad1
Kf7 22. Na4 Be7 23. R8d3 Be6 24. b3 Rcc8 25. Kf1 Rd8 26. Ke2 Rxd3 27. Rxd3 Rd8
28. Rc3 Bc8 29. Nb2 a5 30. Nd2 Ba6+ 31. Kd1 Rd4 32. Kc2 Ke6 33. Nbc4 a4 34.
bxa4 Bxc4 35. Rxc4 Rxc4+ 36. Nxc4 Bxc5 37. f3 Kd7 38. Kd3 Bf2 39. Na5 Bb6 40.
Nb3 Kd6 41. Kc4 Bf2 42. Nc1 Be3 43. Nd3 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Comas Fabrego,L/
Escaldes 1998/CBM 68 (43)}) (11... Nf6 12. Be3) 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. Be3 Qe7 (13...
Nd7 14. a3 f5 $6 15. b4 f4 16. Bc1 c6 17. c5 Kh7 18. Bb2 $5 Nc7 19. Nb1 Qe7 20.
Nbd2 Rd8 21. Qc2 Ne6 22. Rfd1 Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Nf3 Ne5 25. Nxd4 $16 Qg5
26. Kf1 Bxh3 27. gxh3 Qh4 28. Qb3 f3 29. Bxf3 Rf8 30. Kg1 Rad8 31. Bg2 Rxf2 32.
Rf1 Rxb2 33. Qxb2 Rxd4 34. Qf2 Qd8 35. Qe2 Rd2 36. Rad1 Qd4+ 37. Kh1 Rxe2 38.
Rxd4 Ra2 39. Rd8 Rxa3 40. Rb8 a5 41. b5 cxb5 42. Rxb7 b4 43. c6 Rc3 44. c7 b3
45. Rf8 b2 46. c8=Q Rxc8 47. Rxc8 Nd3 48. Rcc7 Nb4 49. Rxg7+ Kh8 50. Rgf7 {
1-0 Van Wely,L-Sepp,O/Manila 1992/TD (50)}) (13... Nh5 14. Re1 $5 (14. c5 Nf4
15. Bb5 Qe6 16. Re1 Kh8 $1 17. Bf1 g5 $1 18. a3 Qg6 19. Kh2 h5 $36 {
Dokhoian-Kovalev/Neu Isenburg/1992/}) 14... Nf4 (14... Be6 15. a3 c6 16. b4 f6
$6 17. Qc1 $1 Kh7 18. Nh4 Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Bd3 Rd8 21. Qc2 $14 Qf7 22. c5
Nb8 23. Ne2 Nd7 24. Nxf4 Bb3 25. Qb1 Ne5 26. Nhxg6 $1 Nxg6 27. e5 Rxd3 28. e6
Bxe6 29. Qxd3 Bc8 30. Re7 $1 Qxe7 31. Nxg6 Rd8 32. Nxe7+ Rxd3 33. Nxc8 f5 34.
Re1 Bd4 35. Nd6 f4 36. Nxb7 Rxa3 37. Nd8 Ra2 38. Rf1 Ra6 39. Rd1 Bc3 40. b5
cxb5 41. c6 Ra4 42. Rd7+ Kg6 43. c7 Rc4 44. Rd6+ {1-0 Van Wely,L-Morozevich,A/
Hyeres 1992/TD (44)}) 15. Bf1 Ne6 (15... c6 16. Qc1 $1 g5 17. a3 $16) 16. Qd2
Kh7 17. Rad1 b6 18. a3 Bb7 19. b4 Rd8 20. Qc2 c5 21. Nd5 Nd4 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23.
Bd2 Rc8 24. Qb3 Qd7 25. Qg3 f6 26. f4 Nc7 27. Bd3 Ne8 28. Rf1 Nd6 29. fxe5 fxe5
30. c5 Bxd5 31. exd5 e4 32. Rxf8 Bxf8 33. cxd6 exd3 34. Qxd3 Bg7 35. Bf4 Qf7
36. Qe4 Re8 37. Qf3 Rf8 38. Rf1 Qd7 39. Qe4 Re8 40. Qd3 Rf8 41. Bg3 Re8 42. Rf3
h5 43. Qc4 Rc8 44. Qf1 Kg8 45. Qe2 h4 46. Bxh4 Qxd6 47. Qe6+ Qxe6 48. dxe6 Rc6
49. e7 Re6 50. b5 Bh6 51. Kf1 d3 52. Rxd3 Kf7 53. Rf3+ Ke8 54. Rf6 Re4 55. g4 {
1-0 Van Wely,L-Cramling,P/Horgen 1995/CBM 50 (55)}) (13... c6 14. c5 (14. Qd6
$5 Qd7 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c5 Qe7 17. b4 Nc7 18. Qb2 Nh5 19. Rfe1 Nf4 20. Bf1 Be6
21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Kh2 $14) 14... Nh5 15. Re1 Nf4 16. Bf1 Be6 17. Qa4 Nc7 18.
Rad1 $14 {Halasz,T-Nielsen,P/Aarhuis 1990}) 14. Nd5 (14. a3 $5 c6 15. b4 Nh5
16. Re1 Nf4 (16... Rd8 17. Qc1 Kh7 18. Ra2 Nc7 19. Rd2 Re8 20. Bf1 Ne6 21. Qd1
Ng5 22. Nxg5+ hxg5 23. Be2 Nf4 24. Bg4 Ne6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Iskusnyh,S-Svidler,P/
Maikop 1998/CBM 66 (31)}) 17. Bf1 (17. Bxf4 exf4 18. e5 Bf5 19. c5 Nc7 20. Bc4
Rad8 21. Qc1 Ne6 22. Ne4 (22. Bxe6 Qxe6 (22... fxe6 23. Qxf4 Bxh3 24. Qg3 Bf5
25. Rad1) 23. Qxf4 f6 24. exf6 Qxf6 25. Re3 Rd3 26. Rxd3 Bxd3 27. Qxf6 Bxf6 28.
Rd1 $14) 22... Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Ng5 24. Nxg5 Qxg5 25. Qe1 Rfe8 26. e6 Kh7 27. Rd1
Rxd1 28. Qxd1 fxe6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Bxe6 Qe5 31. Bc8 b6 32. cxb6 axb6 33. Qc1
{1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Gallagher,J/Biel SUI 2000}) 17... Qf6 18. Ra2 $1 Re8 19.
Rd2 Nc7 20. Kh2 $1 (20. Rd6 Nfe6 21. Qc1 g5 22. Red1 Bf8 23. c5 Qg7 24. Ne2 Nf4
25. Ng3 Be6 26. R6d2 g4 27. Nh4 gxh3 28. Ngf5 Bxf5 29. Nxf5 Qg6 $13 30. g3 Nce6
31. f3 Ng5 32. Rf2 Rad8 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Bxf4 exf4 35. Qxf4 b6 36. cxb6 axb6
37. Kh2 Ra8 38. Qe3 c5 39. Qb3 cxb4 40. axb4 b5 41. Qe3 {1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,
G-Movsziszian,K/Cala Galdana ESP 1999 (41)}) 20... g5 21. g3 Ng6 22. c5 $14 {
Topalov,V-Movsesian,S/Sarajevo 2000}) 14... Qd8 (14... Nxd5 $6 15. cxd5 $14 {
x c7}) 15. Qc2 $1 c6 (15... Nd7) 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. c5 (17. Rfd1 $5) 17... Nc7
18. Rad1 Be6 19. Qc1 $1 (19. Rd6 $5 Rfd8 (19... Ne8 20. Rd2) 20. Rfd1 Ne8 21.
R6d2 Kh7 $14 (21... Rxd2 22. Qxd2 $1 Bxa2 $6 (22... Kh7 23. Ng5+ $1) 23. Bxh6
$16)) 19... g5 $8 (19... Kh7 20. Ng5+ $1) 20. Bc4 Qg6 (20... Bxh3 $6 21. Nxg5
Bxg2 22. Rd6 $1 (22. Kxg2 hxg5 23. Rd7 Ne6 24. Rxb7 Qg6 25. f3 g4 $132) 22...
Bxf1 23. Rxf6 Bxc4 24. Rd6 Bxa2 25. Nf3 Ne8 26. Rxh6 $1 (26. Bxh6 Nxd6 27. Bxg7
Kxg7 28. Qg5+ Kh7 29. Qh5+ Kg7 30. cxd6 $13) 26... Bxh6 27. Bxh6 f6 28. Bxf8
Kxf8 29. b3 Bxb3 30. Qb1 Be6 31. Qxb7 $16) 21. Bxe6 Nxe6 22. Qc4 Rfd8 23. Rd6
$6 (23. Rfe1 $142 $1 $14 {Topalov,V}) 23... Rxd6 24. cxd6 Rd8 25. Bxa7 (25. Rd1
Nd4 $1) (25. Qb4 b6) 25... Rxd6 26. a4 (26. Bb8 Rd8 27. Bxe5 Bxe5 28. Nxe5 Qg7
$1 29. Qc3 Rd4 30. Ng4 h5 31. Ne3 Rxe4 32. Qa3 Qf8 $11) 26... Nd4 $2 (26... g4
$1 27. hxg4 (27. Nh4 Qg5 28. Nf5 gxh3 29. g3 Qh5 $1) 27... Qxg4 28. Nh2 Qg6 29.
Be3 Nd4 30. f3 b5 31. axb5 cxb5 $36) 27. Bxd4 $1 exd4 28. Qd3 Qe6 29. Nd2 Rd8
30. a5 Re8 31. Ra1 Qe5 32. g3 Qb5 33. Nc4 Rf8 34. Ra3 Qb4 35. Kg2 $14 Re8 36.
Rb3 Qe7 37. Rb6 Ra8 38. Kg1 Qc7 39. Qb3 Ra7 40. Kg2 Qe7 41. Qf3 Qe6 42. Qd3 Qe7
43. b4 Qd7 44. Ne3 Be5 45. Ng4 (45. Nf5 Bc7 46. Nxh6+ Kh7 47. Ng4 Kg7) 45...
Bg7 46. b5 cxb5 47. Rxh6 $2 (47. Qxb5 $1 Qxb5 (47... Qe7 $2 48. Nxh6+ $1 Bxh6
49. Rxh6 Qxe4+ 50. Kh2 $18) 48. Rxb5 Kh7 (48... Kf8 49. Kf3 Ke7 50. Ke2 Kd6 51.
Kd3 Kc6 52. Kc4 Ra6 53. Rf5 $16) 49. f4 gxf4 50. gxf4 d3 51. Rd5 d2 52. Rxd2
Rxa5 53. Rd7 $14) 47... Rxa5 48. e5 $2 (48. Rb6) (48. Rb6 $8 Qc7 49. Rxb5 Rxb5
50. Qxb5 Qc6 51. Qxc6 (51. Qxg5 Qxe4+ 52. Kh2 Qc6) 51... bxc6 52. e5 c5 53. Kf3
c4 54. Ke4 c3 55. Kd3 Kh7 56. f4 Kg6 57. Nf2 gxf4 58. gxf4 Kf5 59. Kxd4 Kxf4
$11) 48... Qd5+ (48... Qd5+ 49. Kh2 Ra1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Albacete m"]
[Site "Albacete"]
[Date "2000.09.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Herraiz Hidalgo, Herminio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.09.05"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nc3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. b3 a6 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Ne1 Ne4 13. Qe3 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Bxg2 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Kxg2 Nf6 17. Nd3 Qc7 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. f3 Qb7 20. Qd4 Rac8 21. e4
b5 22. Rd2 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rb8 24. Rb2 Qc6 25. Rb3 Kg8 26. Kf2 Nd7 27. Rc2 e6 28.
Ke2 Rbc8 29. Ra3 Nc5 30. Rd2 e5 31. Qd5 Ne6 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. c5 Nd4+ 34. Kf2
f6 35. cxd6 Nb5 36. Nb4 Rc4 37. Rb3 Nd4 38. Rbb2 Rxd6 39. Nc2 h5 40. Nxd4 Rdxd4
41. Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Albacete m"]
[Site "Albacete"]
[Date "2000.09.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Herraiz Hidalgo, Herminio"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2000.09.05"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 Nh6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Rb1 c6 13. b4 Nf7 14. b5 Qxd1 15.
Bxd1 cxb5 16. cxb5 Nc7 17. Bb3 Be6 18. b6 axb6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rxb6 Nc5 21.
Rb5 Na4 22. Nxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.10.31"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Lesiege, Alexandre"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2584"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Canada"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nb3 d4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. N1d2 O-O 11. Rc1 a5 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nc5 Bg5 14. Nce4 Bh6
15. c5 Be6 16. Nd6 f5 17. f4 e4 18. Nxb7 Qd7 19. Nd6 g6 20. N2xe4 fxe4 21. Bxe4
Rab8 22. Qa4 Nb4 23. Qxd7 Bxd7 24. a3 Nc6 25. Bd5+ Kg7 26. Nc4 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dutreeuw, Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2402"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Belgium"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BEL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Bf3 f6 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15.
Bxe4 fxe5 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5+ Qxd5 18. Rxe5 Qf7 19. Be3 Bd6 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8
21. Qa4 a5 22. b3 Re4 23. Qb5 Rh4 24. g3 Rh5 25. Qc6 h6 26. Qe4 Qd7 27. h4 Qf7
28. Kg2 Rf5 29. Re1 Kh8 30. Re2 Kg8 31. Bd2 Rd5 32. a4 Rf5 33. Bc1 Rd5 34. Re3
Rf5 35. Rf3 Rxf3 36. Qxf3 {[#] Thema: Der "gute" weiße Läufer. Spielidee:
Lavieren unter Verbesserung der Figurenpositionen} Qe6 37. Bd2 Qg6 38. h5 Qc2
39. Qd5+ Kf8 40. Be3 Qd3 41. Qe6 Qe2 42. Qf5+ Kg8 43. Qg6 Kh8 44. g4 Qd1 45.
Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qe6 Kh8 47. d5 Kh7 (47... Qd3 48. Qc8+ Kh7 49. Qf5+ Qxf5 50. gxf5
$18) 48. Qe4+ Kh8 49. Bd4 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Re4e8,Re8g6]} Bf8 50. Be5 Bd6 51.
Bb2 Bf8 (51... Kg8 52. Qe6+ Kf8 53. Qc8+ Ke7 54. Qf5 Qxb3 55. Bxg7 $18) 52. Qf3
$1 {Nach dem Damentausch ist das Läuferendspiel kinderleicht gewonnen.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.02"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. a4 b4 5. Bg5 ({Another interesting possibility
is} 5. c4 $5) 5... Ne4 (5... d6 6. e3 (6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Nbd2 (7. e4 g6 8. Nbd2
Bg7 9. Bb5+ Nd7 10. Nc4 Qe7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Ne5 13. Nfxe5 fxe5 14. c3 $132
{1-0 Leyva,H-Farrand,T/Istanbul TUR 2000 (44)}) 7... Be7 8. Nc4 f5 9. g3 O-O
10. Bg2 Ba6 11. Nfd2 Bf6 12. O-O Re8 13. Re1 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Na6 $11 {0-1 Van
der Erf,R-Markus,J/Hoogeveen NED 1999/ (60)}) 6... g6 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. Bb5+ {
see comments to the game 1/2-1/2 Nikolic,P-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee 1997/CBM 57 
(51) [Stohl,I]}) (5... g6 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Bd3 f5 10. exf5
Re8+ 11. Kf1 Bxb2 $15 {0-1 Porper,E-Alterman,B/Shitomir 1986/ (41)}) (5... Qb6
6. a5 Qb7 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. g3 d6 9. Bg2 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nc4 Qc7
13. Nfd2 Ba6 14. e4 Nd7 15. f4 Rfe8 $132 {0-1 Ostergaard,J-Brynell,S/Hillerod
Politiken 1995/ (59)}) (5... e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. e4 Be7 8. Nbd2 d5 9. Bb5+ Bd7
10. Ne5 Bxb5 11. axb5 Qc7 12. f4 O-O 13. O-O c4 $132 {1-0 Auciello,S-German,G/
Najdorf Open, Buenos Aires ARG 1997/ (40)}) 6. g3 $6 $15 {This move is
mistake! Much better are Bg5 retreats:} (6. Bf4 Bb7 7. e3 g6 8. Be5 f6 9. Bf4
Bg7 10. Bc4 O-O 11. h4 d6 12. Qd3 f5 13. Qb3 $132 {1-0 Minogina,T-Fatalibekova,
E/Moscow ch wmn 1981 (33)}) ({or} 6. Bh4 g6 7. Nbd2 (7. Qd3 Nd6 8. c4 Bg7 9.
Ra2 b3 10. Qxb3 Na6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Qd1 Bxb2 $15 {1-0 Tratar,M-Escobar Forero,
A/Paranana Wtt-26 ,EXT 1993/(60)}) 7... Nxd2 8. Qxd2 d6 9. e4 Bg7 10. Bb5+ Nd7
11. c3 a6 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O a5 $132 {1-0 Sultanov,A-Grechihin,V/Samara RUS
2000/The Week in Chess 294 (25)}) 6... g6 7. Bg2 d6 (7... Bg7 8. Bc1 $15) ({
Quite good also} 7... Nxg5 8. Nxg5 d6 $15 (8... Bg7 9. d6 Nc6 10. c3 O-O $132))
8. Bc1 Bg7 9. Nfd2 (9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Nd7 12. c4 bxc3 13. bxc3
Rb8 $15) 9... Nxd2 10. Nxd2 ({It is very difficult to decide certainly, but
maybe better is} 10. Qxd2 {[%cal Gc2c4]} Nd7 11. c4 Qa5 12. Ra2 b3 13. Ra3 (13.
Qxa5 bxa2 $19) 13... Qa6 14. Qf4 Ne5 15. Nd2 Rb8 16. O-O Rb4 17. Rxb3 Rxb3 18.
Nxb3 Nxc4 $15) 10... Nd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 ({Interesting also} 12. e4 a5 13.
f4 Ba6 14. Rf3 e6 15. Nb3 exd5 $15) 12... a5 13. e4 (13. Nc4 Ba6 $15 {[%csl
Ra1,Rc4][%cal Gb2b3,Gg7a1]}) 13... Nb6 14. Ra2 e6 15. b3 $2 $17 (15. Nf1 Re8
16. dxe6 {this move permits to White to get rid of d5 weakness} (16. b3 $2 exd5
17. exd5 Rxe1 18. Qxe1 Bb7 $1 {like in this game - White remains with "bad"
Ra2 and Pd5 weakness.} (18... Ba6 $2 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Rxb2 c4 21. Rb1 c3 (21...
Rc8 22. c3 $132) 22. Qe4 Rc8 23. Ne3 Rc5 24. Qd4 $11) 19. Ne3 Qe7 {[%csl Rd5]
[%cal Ge7e1]} 20. Qd2 Re8 21. Bb2 Bh6 $1 $17) 16... Bxe6 17. b3 d5 $15) ({
The only chance not to worsen position was} 15. dxe6 $5 {-like in previous
variation} Bxe6 $1 (15... fxe6 16. e5 d5 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. Be3 (18. Bf4 Bd7 $15 {
[%csl Ra4]}) 18... d4 19. Bd2 Ra7 20. f4 Bd7 {[%csl Ra4]} 21. Qg4 {[%csl Re6]}
Re8 (21... Rf5 22. Be4) 22. Rea1 Bc6 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Be1 Nc4 25. Bf2 $132)
16. b3 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 Nc3 19. Nxc3 Bxc3 $15) 15... exd5 16. exd5 Bb7
{[%csl Ra2,Rd5] White remains with "bad" Ra2 and Pd5 weakness - as noted in
one of commented variations on previous move.} 17. Nf1 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.
h4 ({Or} 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Rxb2 Qe5 $17 {[%csl Rb2,Rd5]}) 19... f5 20. Bf4 Be5
21. Ne3 (21. Qd2 Bxf4 $17 {[%csl Rd5,Rf4][%cal Gg3f4]}) 21... Bxf4 22. gxf4 {
[%csl Rd5,Rf4]} Qe7 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Ge7h4]} 23. h5 Qh4 {[%csl Rf4]} 24. hxg6
hxg6 25. Qf3 Qf6 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Gf6a1]} ({Strong also} 25... Re8 26. Ra1 Re4
$17 {[%csl Rd5,Rf4]}) 26. c4 $2 $19 {This R releaze desperate attempt makes
position of White hopeless.} (26. Bf1 $142 $17 {[%csl Ra2,Rd5][%cal Gf1b5]})
26... bxc3 27. Re2 (27. Rc2 Qd4 28. Qg3 Kf7 $19) 27... Ba6 $1 28. Nc4 Nxc4 ({Or
} 28... Bxc4 29. bxc4 Nxc4 $19) 29. bxc4 Rb8 30. Re6 (30. Qd3 Qd4 $19) {
[%tqu "En","Black here can to win immediately.How?","","","f6e6","",10]} 30...
Qxe6 $1 (30... Qg7 $2 31. Qd3 $17) 31. dxe6 c2 32. Qe3 Rb1+ 33. Kh2 c1=Q 34.
Qg3 (34. e7 Qxe3 35. Bd5+ Kg7 36. fxe3 Rb8 $19) 34... Kg7 $1 35. Qh4 Qg1+ 36.
Kh3 (36. Kh3 Qh1+ $1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[PlyCount "188"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 a5 12. bxa5 c5 13. a4 Rxa5 14. Ra3 Ra6 15.
Nb5 Bd7 16. Kh1 h6 17. Nd2 Qc8 18. g3 Nh5 19. Bb2 Nf6 20. f4 Ng4 21. Qe2 h5 22.
h3 Nh6 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Kh2 f6 25. Nb3 Nf7 26. Qf2 b6 27. a5 f5 28. axb6 Bxb5
29. cxb5 Rxb6 30. Qxc5 Qd8 31. Nd2 Nd6 32. exf5 Nexf5 33. Nf3 h4 34. gxh4 Nxh4
35. Nxe5 Rxf1 36. Rxf1 Rxb5 37. Qf2 Rxb2 38. Qxb2 Nc4 39. Nf7 Qc7+ 40. d6 Nxd6
41. Qc1 Qxc1 42. Rxc1 Nxf7 43. Rc8+ Kh7 44. Ra7 Nd6 45. Rcc7 Ndf5 46. Rxg7+
Nxg7 47. Kg3 Nhf5+ 48. Kg4 Kh6 49. h4 Nh5 50. Ra6 Ne3+ 51. Kf3 Nd5 52. Kg4
Nhf6+ 53. Kh3 Ne4 54. Kg4 Nef6+ 55. Kh3 Nh5 56. Kg4 Ne3+ 57. Kf3 Nc4 58. Kg4
Ne5+ 59. Kh3 Kg7 60. Rb6 Kf7 61. Ra6 Ng7 62. Rxg6 Kxg6 63. h5+ Kh6 64. Kg3 Nf7
65. Kf4 Ng5 66. Ke5 Nh7 67. Kf4 Ne6+ 68. Kf5 Neg5 69. Kf4 Kg7 70. Kf5 Kf7 71.
h6 Ke7 72. Ke5 Nf7+ 73. Kd5 Kd7 74. Kd4 Kd6 75. Kc4 Nxh6 76. Kd4 Nf6 77. Kc4
Nf5 78. Kd3 Kd5 79. Kc3 Nh5 80. Kd3 Nf4+ 81. Kc3 Kc5 82. Kb3 Nd5 83. Kc2 Kd4
84. Kb2 Kd3 85. Kb3 Nd4+ 86. Kb2 Nb6 87. Kb1 Nc4 88. Ka2 Kc3 89. Ka1 Nd2 90.
Ka2 Nb5 91. Ka1 Kc2 92. Ka2 Nb1 93. Ka1 Nd4 94. Ka2 Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.05"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. h4 $6 $146 {In my opinion, this
novelty don't change position evaluation, but bring new colours to this quite
complicated position.} ({mainlines are:} 5. Bf4) (5. Bh4) (5. Qd3 {-see
comments to the game 0-1 Reinderman,D-Sambuev,B/Marbella 1999/CBM 73 (36) 
[Avrukh,B, Alterman,B]}) 5... g6 (5... Bb7 6. Qd3 Nxg5 7. hxg5 c4 $13) 6. Nbd2
Nxg5 7. hxg5 {White implemented the main idea of 5.h4, but pressure on h-file
is not serious. Pair of BB maybe already permits to say: Black equalized.} Bg7
8. e4 Na6 $5 (8... Bxb2 $6 9. Rb1 Bg7 10. Bxb5 Qa5 11. e5 $14 {Black has
certain difficulties with queenside pieces development.}) ({In my opinion,
quite good is} 8... a6 $132) 9. a4 ({After} 9. Bxb5 $5 {also Black neutralizes
White little advantage:} Rb8 (9... Nc7 10. Ba4 Bxb2 11. Rb1 Bg7 12. c4 $14 {
[%cal Ga4e8,Gd7d6]}) (9... Bxb2 10. Rb1 Bc3 11. Rb3 Qa5 12. O-O {[%cal Gd2c4]}
Bg7 13. Nc4 $14) 10. a4 Bxb2 11. Rb1 Bg7 12. d6 $5 (12. e5 $6 Nc7 $132 {
[%cal Gc7b5,Gd7d6]}) 12... exd6 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Qxd6 (14. Nxd6 Nc7 15. Rb3 Nxb5
16. axb5 a6 $132) 14... Re8 $132) 9... Bxb2 10. axb5 (10. Rb1 Bg7 $132) 10...
Nc7 11. Ra2 (11. Ra4 Bg7 12. c4 d6 13. Bd3 (13. e5 $132)) 11... Bg7 12. c4 d6
13. Qb3 $6 $15 ({Necessary was} 13. e5 $1 Bf5 (13... dxe5 14. Ne4 Bf5 15. Nxc5
Qd6 16. Na6 e4 $132) 14. Qa4 O-O $132) 13... e6 $1 {Black must attack strong
White center and to open the game for another B - c8.} 14. Bd3 Kf8 $1 {Black
doesn't need castle! Rh8 will be released after h7-h6.} 15. Ra3 exd5 16. exd5 (
16. cxd5 Bd7 $1 {[%csl Rb5]} 17. O-O h6 $15) 16... a6 17. O-O (17. b6 $2 Rb8
18. O-O (18. bxc7 Qe7+ $1 $19 {[%csl Rb3]}) 18... Na8 $17 {[%csl Rb6]}) 17...
Rb8 (17... axb5 18. Rxa8 Nxa8 19. Qxb5 Nc7 20. Qc6 h6 $15) 18. Re1 h6 19. gxh6
Rxh6 20. Ne4 (20. Rb1 Rb6 $17) 20... Rb6 21. Qa2 (21. Nc3 Bg4 $17) 21... Bg4
22. Neg5 (22. Re3 axb5 23. cxb5 Rh5 $17 {[%csl Rd5]}) 22... Bf6 23. Qd2 (23.
Nh2 Bc8 24. Ne4 axb5 25. cxb5 (25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. cxb5 Qh4 $19) 25... Bg7 $17)
23... Rh5 {[%csl Rg5]} 24. Qa5 {Here Black had to decide, what to do. One of
two alternatives is to send Nc7 to offside but to remain Qd8 on attack
position.} Na8 ({The second alternative is to keep harmony and to play} 24...
Qb8 25. Ne4 Bg7 26. Nh2 Bc8 27. bxa6 Rxa6 28. Rb3 $3 Qa7 $15) 25. Ne4 $4 $19 ({
The only chance was} 25. Re4 $1 {and after expected} Bf5 (25... Qd7 26. Ne6+
fxe6 27. Rxg4 Qh7 (27... exd5 28. Rxg6 $14) 28. Kf1 exd5 29. Bxg6 Rh1+ 30. Ke2
$14) 26. g4 $1 {this material sacrifice would permit to White to continue
resistance:} Bxe4 27. Nxe4 (27. gxh5 Bxd3 28. Nh7+ Kg7 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 30. Rxd3
gxh5 31. Nd2 h4 $15) 27... Rh8 28. bxa6 Bg7 $15) 25... Bxf3 26. gxf3 Bd4 {
Position of White is hopeless.} 27. Kf1 ({Or} 27. Ra2 Qh4 28. Kf1 Qf4 29. Ng3
Rh3 {[%csl Rf2,Rg3][%cal Gd4f2]} 30. Be4 f5 31. Rae2 Qh4 $19 {[%csl Rf1][%cal
Gh3h1,Gd4f2]}) 27... Rh2 28. Ke2 f5 29. Nd2 Bxf2 30. Rea1 Be3+ 31. Kxe3 Qg5+ (
31... Qg5+ 32. f4 Qg3+ 33. Nf3 Qf2#) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qe5 Rab8 17. a5 Rfd8 18. Be2 f6 19. Qxd5 cxd5 20. Nd2
Rdc8+ 21. Kb3 {In der Partie Bareev-Ribli, Neum 2000, geschah} (21. Kb1 {
Der Textzug ist meines Erachtens stärker.}) 21... Kf7 22. Rhc1 Ke7 23. Ka3 Nc5
24. b4 Nd7 25. Nb3 {Schwarz hat keinerlei Gegenspiel; die Stellung des Weißen
ist recht gewinnträchtig.} g6 (25... Ne5 $5) 26. a6 bxa6 {Schwarz muß schlagen,
denn nach} (26... b6 {erreicht Weiß mit} 27. Nd4 Ne5 28. Nb5 {eine
Gewinnstellung.}) 27. Nd4 Kd6 (27... Ne5 28. Bxa6 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 {ist nicht
günstiger für Schwarz; nach} Kd7 30. Kb3 g5 31. Ra1 {wird der a-Bauer fallen.})
28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Kb3 Nb6 30. Bxa6 Rb8 31. Nb5+ Kd7 32. Nxa7 $18 e5 33. Bb5+
Kd6 34. Rc1 e4 35. Rc6+ Ke5 36. Rc7 Kf4 37. Rxh7 Ke3 38. Nc6 Rc8 39. Rh6 Rg8
40. Ne7 Rg7 41. Nxg6 d4 42. Rh3+ (42. Nh4 Rg5 43. Bc6 {ist vielleicht noch
einfacher.}) 42... Kd2 43. Nf4 Rg5 44. Ba6 Rf5 45. Ne6 Rd5 46. Bb7 Rd6 47. Bxe4
Rxe6 48. Rd3+ Ke2 49. Rxd4 Ke3 50. Bf5 Re5 51. Rd6 Nd5 52. g4 Kd4 53. Be6 Re3+
54. Ka4 Ke5 55. Rxd5+ Kxe6 56. Rh5 Kd6 57. Rh6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.07"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A63"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 {Bangiev} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 a6
{One of the best ways to avoid the unpleasant A70 line} (7... Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9.
Bd3) 8. a4 Qe7 {Bangiev: 'Eine interessante Idee mit dem Ziel den Vorstoss 9.
e4 und damit die ganze Variante zu vermeinden.'} (8... Bg7 {Bangiev} 9. e4 {
In dieser Variante hat Weiss in der letzten Zeit gute Ergebnisse erreicht.}) 9.
g3 ({The most often played alternative is} 9. Bg5 {but even here White finds
it difficult to get a tangible edge after} Bg7 10. e3 h6 11. Bh4 O-O 12. Nd2
Nbd7 13. Be2 Ne5 14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Bf5 16. a5 Rae8 17. Ra4 Nfd7 18. e4 Bg6 19.
Re1 Qd8 20. Nf1 c4 $1 21. Ne3 Nc5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxc4 Bxc3 24. Rxc3 Nxe4 25.
Rb3 Re7 $132 {Danailov,S-Marin,M/Benasque op/2000/}) 9... Bg7 10. Bg2 O-O (
10... Ne4 $5 11. Nxe4 Qxe4 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Nc4 Nd7 15. Bf4 Ne5 16.
Nb6 Rb8 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. a5 Bd7 19. Rac1 Bb5 20. Rfe1 Nd7 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Bh6
Bxh6 23. Qxh6 f5 24. e4 Rbe8 25. exf5 Qxf5 26. Qd2 Qd3 {1/2,Atalik,S-Ionescu,C/
Balkaniad Mangalia/1992/}) 11. O-O (11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Nc4 Ne5 13. Nb6 Rb8 14.
O-O Nfd7 15. Nxc8 Rfxc8 16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 18. Ra4 Nf8 19. f4 Ned7 20. Qd3
Rb4 21. Rxb4 cxb4 $13 {Lipinsky,F-Cebalo,M/Bled op/1997/}) 11... Nbd7 12. Bf4 {
More active than} (12. Nd2 Nh5 $5 13. Kh2 f5 14. f4 $6 Ndf6 15. Nc4 Bd7 16. Nb6
Rae8 17. e3 Qd8 18. a5 Bb5 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. g4 $2 Nxg4+ 21. hxg4 Qh4+ 22. Kg1
fxg4 23. Bd2 g3 24. Rf3 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 Nxf4 26. exf4 Bd4 27. Be3 Bxe3 {0-1,
Arbakov,V-Milov,V/Bad Ragaz op/1994/}) 12... Rb8 (12... h6 13. e4 $5 g5 14. Be3
Rb8 (14... Nxe4 $142 15. Nxe4 Qxe4 16. Nxg5 Qg6 $13) 15. a5 b5 16. axb6 Rxb6
17. Qc2 Ne8 18. Nd2 Rb4 19. Nb3 Ne5 20. Na5 Bd7 21. f4 Nc4 22. Nxc4 Rxc4 23.
Rxa6 $16 {Alburt,L-Fedorov,V/New York/1992/}) 13. Rb1 {Bangiev: '/\b4'} Ne8 $5
$146 {[%mdl 8] A typical Benoni move, the N is better placed here, than on h5.
Bangiev: 'Ein neuer Plan an dieser Stelle, der allerdings für vielen Abspiele
der Benoni-Verteidigung typisch ist.'} (13... Nh5 14. Bg5 Bf6 (14... f6 15. Bd2
f5 16. Qc1 $14) 15. Bxf6 Nhxf6 16. Qd2 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. b4 Ba6 19. Qa2 Rb6
20. Rfc1 Ne4 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Ng5 Qe5 23. Ne4 Rc8 24. Qa5 c4 25. Qa1 f5 26.
Qxe5 dxe5 27. Nc3 e4 28. Ra1 Nf6 29. f3 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5] ><b5,Ba6,Shipov,
S-Rustemov,A/Orel/1997/}) (13... h6 14. Qc1 (14. b4 {Bangiev} Nh5 15. Qc1 Nxf4
16. gxf4 $36) 14... g5 15. Bd2 Nb6 16. h4 g4 17. Nh2 Kh7 18. b4 $1 (18. Qc2+
Kh8 19. b3 Nbd7 20. Qc1 Kh7 21. Qc2+ {1/2,Itkis,B-Marin,M/Bucharest/1999/})
18... c4 19. b5 $36) 14. Qd2 {Bangiev: 'Weiss strebt danach, den Bg7
abzutauschen.'} ({Perhaps more testing was} 14. Bg5 $5 f6 15. Bf4 f5 (15... b5
16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 $16) 16. Qc1 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 $13) 14... Nb6 (14... Nc7 {
Bangiev} 15. Qe3 Qxe3 16. fxe3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxd5 18. Bxd6 Nxc3 19. Rb3 Ne4 20.
Bxb8 Nxb8 21. Rc1 Nc6 $13 {1-0 Najer,E-Khomyakov,V/Moscow 1994/(58)}) 15. Bh6 (
15. e4 Bd7 (15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nxa4 17. e5 $40) 16. Qc2 Nc4 {[%cal Yb7b5] /
\b5<=>} (16... f5 17. Rfe1 $36 {[%cal Ge1e8] <->e})) 15... Nc4 16. Qc1 Bxh6 17.
Qxh6 Ne5 {Bangiev: 'Schwarz versucht durch den angebotenen Abtausch von
Springer, die schwarzen Felder zu stärken.'} (17... b5 $142 18. axb5 axb5 19.
b4 Nf6 $5 $132) 18. b4 (18. Nxe5 dxe5 $5 {[%cal Re8d6] /\Nd6=} (18... Qxe5 19.
Qd2 {/\b4|^})) 18... Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Bf5 20. e4 $2 {Very natural, but now a
clever tactical blow gives Black an advantage. Topalov exploits the
unprotected white minor pieces to win material.} (20. Rb2 cxb4 (20... Qe5 21.
Rc1 Rc8 (21... cxb4 {Bangiev} 22. Rxb4 Nf6 23. Bg2 Rfc8 24. Qd2 Bd7 $14) 22. b5
$14) 21. Rxb4 Rc8 22. Rc1 Rc5 23. g4 (23. e4 Bxh3 $1 24. Qxh3 Qf6 25. Kg2 Rxc3
26. Rxc3 Qxc3 27. Rxb7 Nf6 $11) 23... Bc8 24. Ne4 $14) (20. Rb3 $5) 20... cxb4
21. Rxb4 Bxh3 $1 {[%mdl 64]} 22. Qxh3 Qf6 $15 23. Kg2 Qxc3 24. Rfb1 Nf6 25. Qh4
$5 (25. Rxb7 Rxb7 26. Rxb7 Qd4 27. Qh4 Rc8 $17) 25... Nd7 26. Be2 (26. Rxb7
Rxb7 27. Rxb7 Nc5 28. Rb1 (28. Re7 Nd3 $40) 28... Re8 $5 $15) 26... Rfe8 $6 (
26... Nc5 $142 27. Rh1 Qg7 28. Rb6 Rfe8 $15) 27. Rxb7 Rxb7 28. Rxb7 Nc5 29. Re7
$1 Rxe7 (29... Rb8 $2 30. Qf4 $16) 30. Qxe7 Qe5 (30... Qc2 31. Qxd6 Qxe2 32.
Qxc5 Qxe4+ 33. Kg1 Qxa4 34. d6 {and it's Black who must try to scrape a draw
by giving a perpetual.}) 31. Qxe5 dxe5 32. a5 $8 Kf8 33. f4 f6 34. Kf3 Ke7 35.
Ke3 Kd6 36. Bf1 Kc7 37. Kf3 Kd6 {Black can't improve his position.} (37... Kb7
{[%cal Rc5b3] /\Nb3} 38. Bc4 Ka7 {/\Nb7} 39. d6 Kb7 40. Bg8 h6 41. Bf7 $132)
38. Bc4 Nb7 39. Bxa6 Nxa5 40. Bc8 Nb3 41. Ke3 Nc5 42. Bh3 Kc7 43. Be6 Kd6 (
43... Kd6 44. Bg8 h6 45. Bf7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.08"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Bb7 6. Qd3 f5 7. Nbd2 Na6 8. c3
c4 9. Qd4 Nxd2 10. Nxd2 Qb6 11. Qe5 Nc5 12. Qxf5 Qg6 13. Qxg6+ hxg6 14. Bg5
Bxd5 15. f3 e5 16. e4 Bc6 17. Be2 Be7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.09"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "174"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Hungary"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 (14... Bg6 {is another option which Leko played before.}) 15. Bd3 f5 16.
O-O Ra7 17. a4 {This pawn advance played first in 1998 by GM Mikhail Golubev
became the most serious attempt to play for advantage.} (17. Qh5 Raf7 18. g4 e4
19. Bc2 Ne5 (19... fxg4 {0,5 Svidler-Kramnik/Linares 1998 (30)}) 20. Nf4 Bd7
21. Bb3 fxg4 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 Qf6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. h3 Qe6 26. hxg4 Rf6
27. Kg2 Nd3 28. Qh4 Nf4+ 29. Kg1 h5 30. g5 Nh3+ 31. Kh1 Rf3 32. Qxh5 Nxf2+ 33.
Kg2 Rh3 34. Qe2 Qe5 35. Rg1 Rh2+ 36. Kf1 Nh3 37. Qg4 Nxg1 38. Kxg1 Rxb2 $19 {
0-1 Svidler,P-Kasparov,G/ICC m1 1998}) 17... Ne7 (17... bxa4 18. Rxa4 a5 $14) (
17... b4 18. Qh5 (18. cxb4 $5) 18... e4 19. Nf4 Bf7 20. Bc4 $14 {Golubev -
Nechaev, Donetzk (zt.) 98}) 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 (18... Qxe7 $2 19. axb5 axb5 20.
Rxa7 Qxa7 21. Bxb5 Qc5 22. Ba4 d5 (22... f4 23. Bb3 $1 $16) 23. b4 Qd6 24. Bb3
$16) 19. axb5 axb5 {This is one of the main positions in Sveshnikov Sicilian
these days. White tried different ways here, but it is rather unclear which
one is the best, because altogether the practical results for Black were good.
Topalov tries a new plan and gets a slight edge, but I wouldn't say that Leko
had real problems in holding the position.} 20. Bc2 (20. Bxb5 d5 $44 21. Ra6 $5
) (20. Bxf5 $5) (20. Ra6 $5) 20... d5 21. Bb3 $146 {[%mdl 8] This is the new
move. Probably Topalov analyzed the Queen sacrifice and came to the conclusion
that White has no risks at all. The question remains how big the winning
chances are?} (21. Qh5 Qe8 22. Qxe8 Rexe8 23. Rfd1 d4 {1/2-1/2 Golubev,
M-Wiersma,E/Dieren 1999}) 21... f4 (21... d4 22. Bxe6+ Rxe6 23. Qb3 $14) 22.
Nxd5 Rd7 23. Nb4 Rxd1 24. Bxe6+ Kh8 25. Raxd1 $14 {White has enough material
compensation for the Queen. Also he has a better control over the white
squares and the pawn b5 is a potential target. He would be much better if the
Bishop would stay on e4, blockading black center. But Black has time to
advance his pawn to e3 and open the position, which is very important for the
side having the Queen.} Qe7 26. Bd5 e4 $1 27. Rfe1 e3 {Even if Black is going
to lose that pawn, more important is to activate the pieces and get
counterplay.} 28. Bf3 Be5 29. Nc6 Qf6 30. Nxe5 Qxe5 {In the next part White
tries to convert his slight material advantage, but black Queen is strong
enough to keep the balance. Maybe White's play can be improved a bit, but I
think Black is out of real danger anyway.} 31. fxe3 fxe3 32. Rd4 Re8 33. Re4
Qb8 34. R1xe3 Rxe4 35. Bxe4 Qf4 36. Re2 Qc1+ 37. Kf2 b4 38. cxb4 Qf4+ 39. Bf3
Qxh2 40. Re4 Qc7 41. Ke3 Qc1+ 42. Kd4 Qxb2+ 43. Kc4 Qa2+ 44. Kb5 Qd5+ 45. Kb6
Qd8+ 46. Kc6 Qa8+ 47. Kc5 Qa7+ 48. Kb5 Qb7+ 49. Kc4 Qc6+ 50. Kb3 Qb5 51. Rd4
Kg7 52. Rd5 Qb6 53. b5 Kf6 54. Kc4 Ke7 55. Rd3 Qa7 56. Kb4 Qf2 57. Rd1 h5 58.
Bc6 Qb6 59. Rd7+ Ke6 60. Rh7 Kd6 61. Bf3 Qd4+ 62. Ka5 h4 63. Bc6 Qf2 64. Ka6
Kc5 65. Kb7 Qf6 66. Rd7 Qh6 67. Rd5+ Kb4 68. b6 h3 69. gxh3 Qxh3 70. Ka7 Qa3+
71. Kb7 Qh3 72. Rb5+ Kc4 73. Ka6 Qa3+ 74. Ra5 Qd6 75. Bd5+ Kb4 76. Rb5+ Kc3 77.
Ba2 Qc6 78. Bd5 Qd6 79. Bf3 Qf6 80. Ka5 Qf8 81. b7 Qa3+ 82. Kb6 Qd6+ 83. Bc6
Qd4+ 84. Kc7 (84. Rc5+ Kb4 85. b8=Q Qxc5+ 86. Kc7+ Kc3) 84... Qf4+ 85. Kd7 Qf7+
86. Kd6 Qf6+ 87. Kc7 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.10"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. b3 b6 10. Nc3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.12"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hansen, Curt"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Denmark"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "DEN"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be7 8. d4
O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 Qd7 ({Mainlines are:} 11... f6) (11...
Qb6) 12. Ne1 ({Interesting also} 12. Rc1 Bb6 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. e3 Bf5 15. Bc3 Be4
16. Qa4 Rac8 17. Rcd1 $14 {[%csl Gd4] 1-0 Miles,A-Podlesnik,B/Nova Gorica 1999/
CBM 68 ext (51)}) 12... d4 13. Nd3 Bb6 14. a4 (14. Bf3 {see comments to the
game 1/2-1/2 Kalinin,A-Atalik,S/Wijk aan Zee 1997/CBM 57 (39)[Atalik,S,
Tsesarsky,I]}) (14. Bd2 Qe7 15. Nf4 Be6 16. Qa4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/
Monte Carlo 1995/CBM 46 ext (51)}) 14... Qf5 15. Bd2 Bd7 16. b4 a6 17. Nf4 {
[%cal Gg2h3] Threatening Bh3} (17. Rb1 $14 {[%cal Gb4b5]}) (17. Rc1 $14 {
[%cal Gd3c5]}) 17... Qe5 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Bf4 Qe6 20. Re1 {[%csl Ge2] Good
preventive move} Qg6 21. b5 axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Ne7 24. Qxd4 Bxb5 25.
Nxe7+ Bxe7 26. Qe5 $2 $11 {[%csl Rb5,Re7] Dropping an advantage - based on
tactical blunder.} ({Simply to take P by} 26. Bxb7 $16 {was much better -
White has serious chances to win.}) 26... Bb4 $8 27. Be4 Re8 $1 {This very
strong unexpected move was probably missed by Topalov.} (27... Qb6 28. Bxh7+ $1
$18) (27... Bc3 28. Bxg6 Bxe5 29. Bxf7+ $16) 28. Qxb5 (28. Bxg6 Rxe5 29. Bxe5
Bxe1 30. Be4 Bxe2 31. Bxb7 $11) (28. Qxe8+ Bxe8 29. Bxg6 Bxe1 $11) 28... Qxe4
29. f3 Qe7 30. Rc1 {[%csl Rb4,Rb7,Re8][%cal Gc1c7]} h6 $5 (30... Ba3 31. Rc7
$16 {[%csl Rb7]}) ({Equal position after} 30... b6 $1 31. Qxb6 (31. Rc7 Bc5+
32. Kh1 Qe6 33. e4 $132) 31... g5 32. Rc7 Qxe2 {[%csl Rg1]} 33. Qxb4 Qxf3 (
33... gxf4 34. Qxf4 $16) 34. Re7 $11 (34. Bxg5 Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Re2+ 36. Kh3 Qf1+
37. Kg4 h5+ 38. Kxh5 Rxh2+ $19)) 31. Kf1 (31. Rc7 Qxe2 32. Qxe2 ({It is very
dangerous to take a piece:} 32. Qxb4 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Re2+ 34. Kh3 Qf1+ 35. Kg4 h5+
$1 36. Kh4 $8 (36. Kg5 Qxf3 $19 {[%csl Rg5]}) 36... Rxh2+ 37. Kg5 Qxf3 38. Rc8+
$8 Kh7 39. Qb1+ $8 g6 40. Re8 (40. Kf6 Qd5 41. Re8 Ra2 42. Qb4 Ra6+ 43. Ke7 Kg7
$1 $19 {[%csl Re7]}) 40... Re2 41. Rxe2 Qxe2 42. Qb6 Qg4+ 43. Kf6 Qf5+ 44. Ke7
h4 45. Qxb7 g5 $1 $17) 32... Rxe2 33. Rxb7 Bc5+ 34. Kh1 g5 35. Bb8 $11) 31...
g5 32. Bc7 Qe3 33. Rc2 Bf8 34. Kg2 (34. Qxb7 $2 Bc5 $1) 34... Bg7 (34... Re6 $2
35. Qxb7 Bc5 36. Kh3 Qg1 37. Qd5 Qf1+ 38. Kg4 Be3 39. Be5 $1 $16) 35. Bb6 Qe6
36. Bf2 Rc8 37. Rd2 Qc6 38. Qf5 Re8 ({After} 38... b5 {also Black equalize:}
39. Rd7 Bf6 $1 40. Bd4 Rd8 $1 41. Rxd8+ Bxd8 42. Qe5 Kf8 $11) 39. e4 b5 40. Rd7
Qe6 $2 $16 ({Why not} 40... Bf6 $1 $11) 41. Qxb5 g4 42. Qd5 Qxd5 (42... gxf3+
43. Kxf3 $16) 43. Rxd5 Re6 44. Be3 Kh7 45. h3 gxf3+ 46. Kxf3 Kg6 47. h4 $1 Bf6
$2 $18 {Positional mistake. Now White wins by force.} ({Necessary was} 47... h5
$1 48. Rg5+ Kh6 49. g4 (49. Re5+ $6 Kg6 50. Rxe6+ fxe6 51. g4 hxg4+ $1 ({After
} 51... Bf6 52. g5 $1 {seems position of Black is hopeless:} Bc3 53. Bf4 Kf7
54. Ke2 Bd4 55. Bg3 Bb6 56. Kd3 Bg1 57. Kc4 Be3 58. Kb5 {White's plan is to
bring K to d7, to play g5-g6 and to take Pe6, then to push forward Pe4.} Bd4
59. Kc6 Be3 60. Kd7 Bd4 61. g6+ Kxg6 62. Kxe6 Bc3 63. e5 $18) 52. Kxg4 Bb2 53.
h5+ Kf6 54. Bf4 Kg7 {and Black survives}) 49... hxg4+ 50. Rxg4+ Kh7 51. Rg5 $16
{This position much better for Black than position from the game after 59 move.
}) 48. h5+ Kg7 49. Bf4 Be7 50. Rb5 Bd8 51. e5 Be7 52. Kg4 Bd8 53. Kf5 Be7 54.
Rb7 Bd8 55. Rb8 Ba5 56. Ra8 Bc3 57. Rd8 Bb4 58. g4 Bc5 59. g5 hxg5 60. Bxg5 {
Threatening Bf6+} Be7 61. h6+ Kh7 62. Bxe7 Rxe7 63. Rf8 Kxh6 (63... Ra7 64. Kf6
Ra1 65. Kxf7 Kxh6 66. e6 $18) 64. Kf6 Re6+ 65. Kxf7 $1 Rxe5 66. Kf6 {
instructive endgame!} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.11.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc8
8. Qf3 Nbd7 9. Nc4 e6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. d3 O-O 12. Bf4 Nb6 13. Nd6 Bxd6 14. Bxd6
Re8 15. Bg3 a6 16. Rad1 Nbd7 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. dxe4 b5 19. Rd6 Qb7 20. Qe3 Rac8
21. Rfd1 Nf8 22. f3 h6 23. Qa3 b4 24. Qxa6 Qe7 25. a4 bxa3 26. Qxa3 Ng6 27. Qe3
Qf6 28. b3 Qb2 29. Qc1 Qf6 30. Qa1 Qg5 31. Qc1 Qf6 32. Qd2 Ra8 33. h3 Rec8 34.
Kh1 c4 35. b4 c3 36. Qd3 Qg5 37. Kh2 h5 38. h4 Nxh4 39. Ra6 Nxg2 40. Rxa8 Rxa8
41. Kxg2 h4 42. f4 Qxg3+ 43. Qxg3 hxg3 44. Rd3 Ra4 45. Rxc3 Rxb4 46. Re3 Rc4
47. c3 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.01"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 (2... Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 c6 7. O-O
dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Nd5 13. Qf3 Nxc3
14. bxc3 Qc7 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. c4 Ba4 17. Re1 Rfd8 18. d5 exd5 19. cxd5 Bf6 20.
Qf5 Kf8 21. Ba3+ {1-0 Coret,J-Benavent,V/Valencia 1991 (21)}) 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3
Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 cxd4 8. Rd1 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11.
exd4 Qe8 (11... Qa5 12. Bf4 Bb4 (12... Qh5 13. f3 g5 14. Bg3 g4 15. f4 Bd7 16.
Rac1 Bc6 17. Rf1 Rad8 18. f5 Rxd4 19. fxe6 Bc5 20. exf7+ Kg7 21. Kh1 Ne4 22.
Nxe4 Rxe4 23. Qd3 Re3 24. Qf5 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Rxg3+ 26. Kxg3 Bd6+ {0-1 Lujambio,
A-Roman/CADAP zt8 sf corr 1982/Corr 2000 (26)}) 13. Be5 Nd7 14. Rd3 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Bd7 17. Rh3 Bc6 18. Bd3 h6 19. Rg3 Rfd8 20. f4 Qc5+ 21. Kh1
Rd4 22. Qg4 Qf8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Freeman,M-Rocha,A/Lugano 1968/MCD (44)}) (11...
Nd5 12. Qf3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 (13... Bd7 14. d5 Ba4 15. Bb3 Bxb3 16. axb3 exd5
17. Rxd5 Qc8 18. c4 Bf6 19. Ra2 Rd8 20. Rad2 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Cvitan,
O-Raetsky,A/Biel SUI 2000/ (47)}) 14. Bb3 Bd6 15. c4 Bxh2+ (15... Qe7 16. c5
Bc7 17. Ba3 Rb8 18. Rac1 Re8 19. g3 Qg5 20. c6 Qa5 21. Bb2 Qb6 22. d5 exd5 23.
Bd4 Qa5 24. Bxd5 Be6 25. Bxe6 {1-0 Mikhalevski,V-Peng Zhaoqin/Hoogeveen NED
2000/The Week in Chess 310 (25)}) 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. c5 Be7 18. Bf4 Qc6 19. Qxc6
bxc6 20. Ba4 Bd7 21. Rab1 Rfd8 22. Rb7 $16 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Adianto,U/Cap d'Agde
1998/EXT 99 (36)}) 12. Nb5 Qd8 13. Nc3 Qe8 14. Nb5 Qd8 15. Bf4 Bd7 (15... a6 $2
16. Nc7 Ra7 17. d5 $16) 16. Nc7 $1 {[%mdl 4]} Rc8 17. d5 $1 Rxc7 $2 (17... exd5
$8 18. Nxd5 Re8 (18... Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qe8 20. Re5 Bg4 21. Qe4 $18) 19. Qd3 (19.
Ne3 Qa5 20. Rac1 Ba4 21. b3 Bc6 $11) (19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 (19... Qxe7 20. Qxe7 Rxe7
21. Rac1 Re4 22. Bb3 $14) 20. Qd3 (20. Be3 Ng4 $11) 20... Re4 21. Bb5 $11)
19... Ba4 20. b3 (20. Rd2 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bb4 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Qf5+ Qf6 24.
Qxf6+ gxf6 25. Rd4 Bc5 26. Rxa4 Re2 $15) 20... Bc6 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Rac1 $14
(22. Bd6 Qe4 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Bb4 $14)) 18. d6 Rc6 19. dxe7 Qxe7 {[%tqu "En",
"Calculate t winning line till the end.","","","c4b5","",10]} 20. Bb5 $1 Rb6
21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Qd2 $1 {[%cal Gd1d7,Gf4d6,Gd6f8][%mdl 64]} e5 (22... Nf6 $142
23. Bd6 Qd8 24. Bxf8 Qxd2 25. Rxd2 Kxf8 26. Rc1 Nd5 $16 {was best practical
chance}) 23. Be3 Nc5 24. b4 Ne4 25. Qc2 Rxb4 26. a3 $18 Rd4 27. Bxd4 (27. Re1
$1 f5 28. Bxd4 exd4 29. f3 d3 30. Qc4+ $18) 27... exd4 28. Re1 d3 29. Qc4 (29.
Qxd3 Re8 30. Re2 $18) 29... Nd6 30. Qxd3 Qf6 31. Rad1 Nf5 32. Qd7 g6 33. Qxb7
a6 34. Rc1 Nd4 35. Rc8 Rxc8 36. Qxc8+ Kg7 37. Qc5 Nc6 38. h3 h5 39. Rd1 Ne5 40.
Rd5 Nc6 41. Rd6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Nb3 b6 14. g4 Bc8 15. g5
Nd7 16. Bg2 Bf8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh3 Nb4 19. Bg1 Nc5 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. Rf2 d5 22.
Raf1 Rb8 23. Rd2 Bg7 24. e5 Qa5 25. Nd1 Nc6 26. c3 Ne7 27. Ne3 Bb7 28. Ra1 Bc6
29. Bf3 Rb3 30. Qg2 Reb8 31. Nc4 dxc4 32. Bxc6 Nxc6 33. Qxc6 Bf8 34. Ra2 Rd8
35. Rd7 Rxd7 36. Qxd7 Rb8 37. Kg2 Rd8 38. Qb7 Rd1 39. Qb8 Rd8 40. Qb7 Rd2+ 41.
Bf2 Qd8 42. Ra1 Qd3 43. a5 Qf5 44. Qf3 Qc2 45. Rf1 Qxb2 46. Kg1 Rd5 47. Be1 Qb1
48. Bf2 Qc2 49. Be1 h5 50. Rf2 Qc1 51. Qe4 Rd3 52. Re2 Rxc3 53. Kg2 Rd3 54. Bf2
Qd1 55. h3 c3 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
c6 9. d5 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 {This variation gives to White space
advantage +/=.} 12. Ne1 (12. Nd2 {-another mainline}) 12... h5 (12... Nh6 13.
Nd3 Qe8 (13... Nf7 14. Bg4 h5 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. f4 $14 {1-0 Ostenstad,
B-Kozakov,M/Arnold mem, Gausdal NOR 1997 (41)}) 14. f3 {-see commented game
1-0 Gelfand,B-Sutovskij,E/Tilburg 1996/CBM 56 (61)[Gelfand,B]}) 13. h3 (13. a3
Qe7 14. Rb1 b6 15. b4 {-see commented game 1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Topalov,V/
Dortmund 1997/CBM 60 (43)[Huzman,A]}) (13. Nd3 Nh6 (13... Bd7 14. h3 Nh6 15. a3
Nf7 (15... g5 16. Bg3 g4 17. hxg4 Nxg4 18. Bh4 $14 {1-0 Antic,D-Arsovic,Z/It,
Jagodina YUG 1998(41)}) 16. Rb1 b6 17. b4 $14 {1-0 Ostojic,N-Arsovic,Z/It,
Jagodina YUG 1998 (60)}) 14. h3 (14. f3 Nf7 15. a3 Bd7 16. b4 b6 $14 {1-0
Vujic Katanic,B-Todorovic,V/Kragujevac YUG 2000/The Week in Chess 320 (69)} (
16... cxb4 $6 17. axb4 Nxb4 18. Nxb4 Qb6+ 19. Bf2 Qxb4 20. Qc2 $18 {[%csl Rb4]}
)) 14... Qe7 15. f4 g5 16. fxg5 fxg5 17. Rxf8+ Bxf8 18. Be1 $14 {1-0 Hillarp
Persson,T-Bekker Jensen,D/Politiken Cup, Copenhagen DEN 1998 (69)}) 13... Nh6
14. a3 Nf7 (14... Bd7 15. Nd3 Rc8 16. Bg3 Nf7 17. f4 exf4 18. Nxf4 Ne5 (18...
Kh7 19. Nxg6 $1 $16 {1-0 Maksimenko,A-Kozakov,M/Werther GER 1999 (43)}) 19. Nb5
$14) 15. Nd3 Bh6 {[%cal Gh6c1] Good place for dark-colour B, but c1-h6
diagonal is empty.} (15... Bd7 16. b4 b6 17. Rb1 Qe7 18. Qc2 Bh6 19. Rbe1 Rac8
20. b5 $14 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Piket,J/FIDE WCh KO, Groningen NED (3.4) 1997 (52)})
16. b4 (16. Bg3 Qe7 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. Nxf4 Ne5 20. Qe1 $14 {
0-1 Antic,D-Popovic,P/Vrnjacka Banja YUG 1999 (58)}) 16... Kg7 17. Qc2 Qe7 18.
Qb2 ({Or} 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxc5 dxc5 20. Bg3 Nd6 $14) 18... Bf4 19. Bg3 $5 (
19. Nxf4 $6 exf4 20. f3 Ne5 21. Bf2 g5 $132 {[%cal Gg5g4] With blockade on
black squares.}) 19... Bxg3 20. fxg3 {[%csl Rg2,Rg3][%cal Gf1f6]} Rb8 21. bxc5
Nxc5 22. Nxc5 dxc5 23. Bd3 $6 $11 {Too passive! Now Black has enough time to
build unapproachable fortress.} ({Right was} 23. a4 $1 b6 (23... a5 24. Qb6 $16
) 24. a5 $14 {without Black counterplay.}) 23... b6 24. a4 {Too late!} a5 $1 {
Of course. Pb6 weakness can't be attacked by White B or N.} 25. Ra3 {[%cal
Ga3b3]} Rd8 {[%cal Gd8d6]} 26. Rb3 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gb2b6]} Rd6 {[%cal Gd6b6]}
27. Qb1 (27. Nb5 Rd8 $11) 27... Ba6 28. Rf2 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gf2b2]} Qd8 {
[%csl Gb6]} 29. Rfb2 Kf8 30. Be2 {[%cal Gg3g4]} Nh6 31. Kh2 Kg7 32. Bd3 Nf7 {
Black waiting for White activity, but White can't do nothing.} 33. Be2 Nh6 34.
Bd3 Kh7 35. Kg1 Kg7 36. Kh2 Nf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. b3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. Bb2 e6 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. Qc2 Qc7 10. O-O Bh5 11. h3 O-O $6 (11... Bg6 {gefällt mir besser.}) 12.
c5 Be7 13. Ne5 Kh8 (13... Bg6 {scheint mir auch jetzt noch vorzuziehen zu sein,
obwohl Weiß nach} 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. f4 {erklecklichen Vorteil hat.}) 14. f4
Nxe5 {Schwarz hat kaum noch eine vernünftige andere Wahl.} 15. fxe5 Nd7 16.
Bxh7 g6 17. g4 f5 $2 ({Mit} 17... Bxg4 18. Bxg6 Bxh3 ({Nach} 18... fxg6 19.
hxg4 {hat Weiß gewaltigen Vorteil.}) 19. Rxf7 ({Die Fortsetzung} 19. Rf3 fxg6
20. Rxh3+ Kg7 {birgt für Schwarz auch keine unmittelbaren Gefahren.}) 19...
Rxf7 20. Bxf7 Bg5 {hätte Schwarz überleben können.}) 18. gxh5 Kxh7 19. hxg6+
Kg7 ({Wahrscheinlich bot} 19... Kxg6 {bessere Aussichten auf Widerstand. Nach}
20. Kh2 Kh6 {Auf andere Züge folgt e3-e4 mit gewaltiger Kraft.} 21. Rg1 Nf6 22.
Qd1 Rg8 23. Qf3 Ne4 24. Nxe4 dxe4 {hat Weiß einen Plusbauern, aber mehr nicht.}
) 20. Kh2 Nf6 21. Rf4 Ne4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Rg1 Rh8 {Dies verliert sofort,
aber auch nach} (23... Rad8 24. Qf2 Qd7 (24... Rh8 25. Rxe4) 25. Bc3 {ist die
Stellung auf die Dauer nicht zu halten.}) 24. Qc4 Qa5 ({Auf} 24... Qd7 {folgt}
25. Rxf5) 25. Rf2 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.07"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. Ne5 $5 {Dieser Zug ist Topalovs Spezialität. Allerdings ist
Khalifmans 10.h4 populärer.} Bg7 (10... Nbd7 11. Qc2 (11. h4 Nxe5 12. hxg5 Nfd7
13. dxe5 Qxg5 14. Kf1 h5 15. Rh3 h4 16. f4 Qxg3 17. Rxg3 hxg3 18. Bh5 O-O-O $13
{1/2-1/2 Dimitrov,V-Yevseev,D/Koszalin 1999/EXT 2000 (53)}) (11. O-O b4 12.
Nxd7 Kxd7 $6 13. e5 bxc3 14. exf6 cxb2 15. Rb1 Ba3 16. Qa4 Qf8 17. Bxc4 Kc8 18.
Ba6 {1-0 Sasikiran,K-Hatanbaatar,B/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (18)}) 11... Bg7 (
11... Rg8 12. Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Nd7 14. Bg3 Qb6 15. O-O a6 16. d5 O-O-O 17.
dxe6 fxe6 18. Bg4 c5 19. e5 Be7 20. Qh7 Rge8 21. Qf7 Qc6 22. Bf3 Qc7 23. Qxe6
$36 {1-0 Topalov,V-Bareev,E/Frankfurt 2000/CBM 76 ext (49)}) (11... Nxe5 12.
Bxe5 Be7 13. O-O Qb6 14. Rad1 Rg8 15. b3 cxb3 16. axb3 a6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e5
Be7 19. Qh7 Rf8 20. Bh5 Qc7 21. Ne4 c5 22. dxc5 Qxe5 23. Rfe1 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qf6
25. Re3 Rd8 26. Rde1 $36 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Dreev,A/Neum 2000/EXT 2001 (36)}) 12.
Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qa5 14. O-O O-O 15. f4 Nh7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. e5
c5 19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rad8 22. Rd6 Rxd6 23. exd6 Qb6 24. Qc3+
Kg8 25. Qe5 Rd8 26. Bh5 $18 {1-0 Topalov,V-Komljenovic,D/Villarrobledo 2000/
EXT 2001 (32)}) (10... Bb4 11. O-O Nbd7 12. f4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe5 14. fxg5 Nfd7
15. dxe5 Qxg5 16. Rxf7 O-O-O 17. Bg4 Qg6 18. Bh5 Qxe4 19. Qd6 Qd5 20. Rd1 Qc5+
21. Bf2 Qxd6 22. exd6 c5 23. Bg4 Bd5 24. Bxc5 Rhg8 25. Bh3 a6 26. Bf2 $16 {
1-0 Sasikiran,K-Ramesh,R/Udaipur 2000/EXT 2001 (32)}) 11. h4 Nbd7 (11... Nfd7
$6 12. Ng4 $1 Qa5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Rxh8+ Bxh8 15. Kf1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63/[Lutz] (42)}) 12. Qc2 c5 13. hxg5 cxd4 $6 {
Schwarz beschwört Komplikationen herauf, die letztlich aber den Weißen in
Vorteil bringen.} (13... hxg5 $5 {sieht wie ein offensichtlicher
Verbesserungsversuch aus.}) 14. Nxb5 Nxe4 (14... Qa5+ $5 {ist interessant:} 15.
Kf1 Nxe4 (15... d3 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Nxb7 $18) (15... Qxb5 16. gxf6 Nxf6 17.
Nxc4 $16) 16. Nxc4 Qxb5 17. Nd6+ Nxd6 18. Bxb5 Nxb5 19. a4 Rc8 20. Qd2 Nc7 21.
gxh6 Bf6 {Ich denke, dass Weiß hier besser steht.}) 15. Nxc4 Nxg3 16. Nbd6+ Kf8
17. Nxb7 Qc7 18. fxg3 {Der vertrippelte weiße g-Bauer sieht nicht
beeindruckend aus, aber viel wichtiger ist, dass nun eiene Angriffslinie gegen
den Pf7 geöffnet ist.} Qxb7 (18... Qxg3+ 19. Kf1 hxg5 20. Rxh8+ Bxh8 21. Qd3
$16) 19. O-O $16 {Es erscheint mir, dass Dreev diese Stellung nicht richtig
bei seinen Vorausberechnungen eingeschätzt hat.} d3 {Um die Diagonalen b6-g1
und g7-a1 zu öffnen.} 20. Qxd3 Ne5 (20... Qd5 $5 21. g6 $16) 21. Nxe5 $18 {
Weiß steht auf Gewinn, da Schwarz an der offenen f-Linie zugrunde geht.} Qb6+ (
21... Bxe5 22. Bh5 {, und der Pf7 kann nicht mehr richtig gedeckt werden:} f6 (
22... f5 23. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 24. Qxf5+ $18) (22... Qb6+ 23. Kh1 $1 f5 (23... f6
24. Qd7 Qc7 25. Rxf6+ $18) 24. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 25. Qxf5+ Bf6 26. Qd7 Rh7 27. Qxh7
$18) 23. gxf6 $18) 22. Rf2 (22. Kh1 $4 {geht jetzt nicht.} hxg5+ $19) 22...
Bxe5 23. Qf3 {Der Rf2 ist nun gefesselt, aber jetzt schlägt das Unheil von der
anderen Seite zu: Der Pf7 und der Ra8 hängen.} f5 (23... Ke7 24. Qxf7+ Kd8 (
24... Kd6 25. Rd1+ $18) 25. g6 $18) 24. Qxa8+ Ke7 25. Qf3 {Mit dem Mehrturm
steht Weiß natürlich auf Gewinn, obwohl er wegen der Fesselung auf der
Diagonalen b6-g1 noch etwas Sorgfalt walten lassen muss.} hxg5 26. Rd1 Kf6 27.
Bc4 g4 28. Qd3 Kg5 29. Re1 Qc5 30. b4 Qd4 31. Rxe5 Qa1+ 32. Rf1 Qxe5 33. Qd2+
Kg6 34. Re1 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 Be7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Kb1 {
[%mdl 8]} (14. Qf3 {Topalov-Dreev, FIDE-Wch k.o. 2000 CBM 81}) 14... c5 {
Black has to find counterplay in the [+] and the <<, otherwise White's
attacking chances on the >> become real.} (14... Qc7 15. Qf3) 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16.
Qf3 {White has to keep the queens for the ->.} Qc7 17. Bc3 Rac8 18. Bd4 Rfd8 ({
missing the "petite combination"} 18... Nce4 $1 19. c3 Nxg3 20. Qxg3 Rfd8 21.
Qf3 b5 $132) 19. c3 Na4 {Black has also attacking prospects on the <<.} (19...
b5 $5 20. Ne2 {/\ g4-g5} Nce4 (20... h5 21. g4 hxg4 22. Nxg4 $14 {opens up the
g <->.}) 21. g4 b4 22. g5 bxc3 23. Bxc3 (23. Nxc3 Nxc3+ 24. Bxc3 Nd5) 23...
Nxc3+ 24. Nxc3 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Rb8 26. Qf3 {and White comes first in the race
of attack.}) 20. Ne2 (20. f5 $6 {is not that threatening.} Bc5 $1 {Black has
to eliminate White's menacing centralized B.} (20... Bd6 21. Rhe1 b5 (21... Qa5
$5 22. Ng4 $1 {Attacking the K is more to the point than hunting pawns on the
other flank.} (22. fxe6 fxe6 23. Qxb7 Rb8 24. Qf7+ Kh7 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Nc4
Nxc3+ 27. Bxc3 Qxc3 28. Ne4 Qxc4 29. Nxf6+ Kf8 30. Nh7+ Kg8 31. Nf6+ $11 {
with only perpetual checks.}) 22... Nxg4 23. Qxg4 $16) 22. Nh5 (22. fxe6 fxe6)
22... Nxh5 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Qxh5 b4 25. c4 $14 {avoiding the opening of the
lines on the <<.}) 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $17 {and White's -> is beaten
back.}) 20... Qa5 $1 (20... b5 $6 {is again slower, for example:} 21. g4 $1 b4
22. c4 (22. g5 $143 bxc3) 22... Nd7 (22... Bd6 23. b3 $1 (23. g5 $2 {is
premature in view of} Bxe5 24. Bxe5 (24. fxe5 Qxc4 25. gxf6 Qc2+ 26. Ka1 Rc3 $1
$19) 24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qxc4 26. Ka1 Qe4 27. Qxe4 Nxe4 $15) 23... Nc5 (23...
Nc3+ 24. Nxc3 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Nd5 26. Bb2 $16) 24. g5 $40) 23. b3 Nac5 24. g5 $16
{and White's -> becomes rather dangerous, while Black cannot show anything on
the other flank.}) 21. b3 $1 Nc5 22. g4 $1 Ncd7 (22... Nfd7 $6 23. g5 $16) 23.
g5 Nxe5 (23... hxg5 24. hxg5 $16) 24. fxe5 Qd5 $1 {Black's defence is on the
top.} (24... Nd7 25. gxh6 Nxe5 26. Qxb7 $18) 25. Qd3 $5 {White wants to
continue his -> on the >>.} (25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. gxh6 gxh6 $14 {is only a little
better _|_ for White.}) 25... Ng4 $1 (25... Nd7 26. Nf4 Qc6 27. gxh6 Nxe5 28.
Qg3 $18) 26. Nf4 Qc6 27. Qe2 Ba3 $1 {Again Black finds the best chance for a
counterplay.} (27... hxg5 {opens up the h <-> against his own K.} 28. hxg5 Bxg5
29. Ng6 $1 (29. Nh3 {is strongly met by} Be3 $1 30. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 31. cxd4 Qc2+
32. Ka1 Qc3+ $11 {and draw by perpetual.}) 29... Nh6 30. Rhg1 fxg6 31. Rxg5 Nf5
32. Rxg6 Nxd4 33. cxd4 Rc7 34. Rg4 $14 {with still some pressure on the >>.}) (
27... Bc5 $2 {simply loses to} 28. Bxc5 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qxc5 30. Qxg4 Qxc3 31.
Qe2 $18) 28. Rh3 (28. Rde1 $2 Rxd4 29. cxd4 Ne3 30. gxh6 Qc3 $1 $19 {/\ Nc2}) (
28. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 29. gxh6 Qe4+ 30. Ka1 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Qxe5 $11) (28. Rhg1 $6
Rxd4 29. cxd4 Ne3 $1 30. Nd3 Nd5 $15) 28... Bc5 $1 (28... Rxd4 29. Rxd4 $1 (29.
cxd4 $4 Qc1+)) 29. Rhd3 {[#]} (29. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 30. gxh6 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 gxh6
32. Qg4+ Kh8 33. Qh5 Qe4+ 34. Nd3 Bf8 35. Qxf7 Bg7) (29. Rg3 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Rxd4
$1 31. Rxg4 h5 32. Nxh5 Rxg4 33. Qxg4 Qc2+ 34. Ka1 Qc3+ $11) 29... Bxd4 $2 {
[%mdl 8192] The B was more important than the R in this special position.} ({
missing the forceful} 29... Rxd4 $3 30. Qxg4 $1 (30. Rxd4 $2 Bxd4 31. cxd4 (31.
Rxd4 Qxc3 $19) 31... Ne3 $19) (30. cxd4 $2 Ba3 {with nasty mating threats on
the c <->.} 31. Qd2 Nf2 $17) 30... Rxd3 31. Nxd3 $1 (31. Rxd3 Qh1+ 32. Kb2 Qh2+
33. Ng2 h5 34. Qe4 b5 $15) 31... Be3 32. c4 b5 33. Nb4 Qc5 34. Nd3 $11 {
with an equal position.}) 30. cxd4 $18 {Now the N on g4 is trapped.} Qa6 31.
Qxg4 Rc2 32. a4 {This is the cold-blooded answer!} h5 33. Nxh5 Rdc8 34. Nf6+ $1
Kf8 35. Nd7+ Ke7 36. Nc5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3
exd5 9. cxd5 h5 10. Be2 (10. Bg5 $5) 10... Nh7 (10... h4 11. Nf1 Nh5 $6 12. g4
$1 Nf6 13. Bg5 h3 14. Qd2 Nbd7 15. Ng3 Re8 16. O-O Ne5 17. Kh1 Qa5 18. Bh6 Bh8
19. Rg1 Qb4 20. Rad1 b5 21. g5 Nfd7 22. Nxb5 Ba6 23. Qxb4 cxb4 24. Nxd6 Bxe2
25. Nxe2 Nxf3 26. Rgf1 $18 {Razuvaev,Y-Agrest,E/St Petersburg/1992/}) (10... a6
11. a4 Nbd7 12. Bg5 $1 Rb8 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. Bh6 c4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. a5 h4 17.
Nf1 Nc5 18. Bxc4 Ncxe4 19. fxe4 Qxc4 20. Ne3 Qc5 {Korchnoi,V-Xie Jun/Arnhem/
1999/} 21. O-O $1 Ng4 22. Ncd1 $36) 11. Be3 a6 12. a4 h4 13. Nf1 f5 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 72] After winning with White the first playoff game Topalov even in the
second one goes for immense tactical complications. Reckless, but very
courageous! Objectively however he should have probably preferred the solid} (
13... Nd7 {first ending his development:} 14. Nd2 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 ({
Here} 16. Bf4 $6 Ne5 {makes no sense.}) 16... Ndf6 (16... h3 $5 17. O-O hxg2
18. Rf2 Re8 19. Nc4 Nb6 20. Qd2 Nxc4 21. Bxc4 Nf6 22. h3 Ne4 $132 {Cebalo,
M-Mortensen,E/Leningrad/1984/}) (16... Qe7 17. Nc4 Nhf6 18. O-O $14 {/~~}) 17.
h3 Qe7 18. Kf2 {Kortschnoj,V-Xie Jun/Roquebrune/1998/} Bd7 $5 19. a5 Rae8 20.
Nc4 Bb5 $13) 14. exf5 gxf5 15. Bf4 $5 {[%cal Yf1e3,Ye3c4]} Nd7 {[%mdl 512]
Consistent, otherwise White plays Ne3-c4 and gets control of the posiiton.} (
15... Qe7 16. Ne3 Nd7 17. Nc4 Ne5 18. Nb6 $14) 16. Bxd6 Re8 17. Qd2 (17. Qb3
Ne5 18. Bxe5 (18. Bxc5 $2 Nd3+ $19) 18... Bxe5 $44 {/\Qg5,Qd6}) 17... Ne5 $1
18. Bxc5 (18. Bxe5 Bxe5 $13) 18... h3 19. Kf2 $8 (19. Rg1 hxg2 20. Ne3 f4 21.
Rxg2 Bh3 $40) 19... hxg2 20. Kxg2 f4 $5 {[%mdl 512] Black is generous,
otherwise the attack can't succeed.} (20... Ng6 21. Rg1 $1 {[%cal Rg2h1] /\Kh1
and White's K will be safe.}) 21. Qxf4 {Rather greedy, now the K is again
chased into the [+].} (21. Rg1 $142 $5 Ng5 22. Kh1 $16 {/\} Nexf3 23. Bxf3 Nxf3
24. Rxg7+ Kxg7 25. Qg2+ Ng5) 21... Ng6 22. Qg3 $8 (22. Qd2 $2 Bxc3 23. bxc3
Rxe2+ $1 24. Qxe2 Nf4+ $19) (22. Qc4 b5 $1 $40) 22... Nh4+ 23. Kf2 Nf5 24. Qf4
$6 (24. Qg6 $142 $1 Nf8 (24... Bd7 25. Ng3 $16) 25. Qb6 Qh4+ 26. Ng3 Nd4 (26...
Nd7 27. Qg6) 27. Nce4 $16) 24... b6 $1 25. Ba3 {[%csl Ra3] ץ} Be5 26. Qc4 Ng5
$40 27. h4 (27. Rd1 Nh3+ 28. Ke1 Nf4 $36) 27... Bd4+ 28. Ke1 Nxf3+ 29. Kd1 Ne5
30. Qb3 Kh8 31. Kc2 $2 (31. Rh2 $142 $5 $13 {[%cal Ye2h5,Yh2d2] /\Bh5,Rd2})
31... Bc5 (31... Bxc3 $1 32. bxc3 (32. Qxc3 Qxd5 33. Rh2 Nd4+ $19 {->}) (32.
Kxc3 Bb7 $19 {->}) 32... Nc6 $1 {[%cal Rc6d4,Re8e2] /\Re2,Ncd4-+} 33. Kc1 Rxe2
34. dxc6 Qd3 {[%cal Rf5d4,Rc8e6] /\Nd4,Be6-+}) (31... Bf2 32. Rd1 Nd4+ 33. Rxd4
{-31...Bc5}) 32. Rd1 Nd4+ 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Kb1 Bf5+ 35. Ka1 $36 {[%csl Ga1,
Rh8] The tables have turned, White's K is finally in relative safety and now
the Kh8 is exposed.} Qf6 (35... Bxc3 36. Ng3 $1 (36. Qxc3 Qxd5 $15) (36. bxc3
Be4 $13) 36... Bh7 37. bxc3 $16) 36. Ng3 Bh7 37. Nce4 Bxe4 $6 {Without the B
Black's position will collapse surprisingly fast.} (37... Qf4 38. Rf1 Qe3 39.
Qxe3 Bxe3 40. Nf6 $16) (37... Qg7 38. Ng5 $1 $40 (38. Nd6 Rf8 39. Rd1 $16)) 38.
Nxe4 Qf4 39. Ng5 (39. Nd6 {/\Rf1} Rg8 40. Rf1 Rg1 $16) 39... Qd2 (39... Rec8
40. Qb4 $5 {[%cal Rb4d6] /\Qd6+-} Qe3 (40... Rc1+ 41. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 42. Ka2 Bc5
43. Qe4 $18) 41. Qd6 Ng6 42. Kb1 $18 (42. Qxg6 $4 Qxa3+)) 40. Rd1 (40. Qd1
Qxd1+ 41. Rxd1 Bc5 $16 {probably also wins, but playing for the -> is more
attractive.}) 40... Qxe2 41. Rxd4 Rac8 (41... b5 42. d6 bxa4 43. Qd5 $40) 42.
Ka2 b5 43. d6 bxa4 44. Qxa4 Qc2 (44... Rb8 45. d7 Red8 46. Re4 $18) 45. Qxc2
Rxc2 46. Re4 $1 (46. Re4 Kg8 (46... Rd2 47. Rxe5 Rxe5 48. Nf7+ $18) 47. Nf3 $18
) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 Be7 13. O-O-O O-O {This
variation is very popular these days, although White's space advantage looks
rather frightening at first sight. However after a quick c6-c5 Black can blow
up White's [+].} 14. Qf3 (14. Ne2 {/\ g4 is a consistant try, but Black comes
first.} c5 $1 {This is the key move here.} {/\} 15. g4 $6 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Nxg4
17. Qf3 h5 $17 {and the N on g4 is well-protected.}) (14. Qe2 c5 15. f5 {
- Glek-Dautov, Julian Borowski-A Essen 2000 CBM 77} (15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. f5 (16.
Bc3 Qc7 17. f5 Nd5 $1 18. Bd4 Rad8 $132 {Vuckovic-Prelevic, YUG 2000}) 16...
Qb6 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Qc4 Qc7 19. Bf4 Nd5 {White's time-consuming manoeuvres
are not impressive at all.} 20. Ng6 Nxf4 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 ({or} 21... Kh7 $5 {/\}
22. Kb1 $2 b5 $1 $19) 22. Kb1 b5 $1 23. Rxd8 $1 Rxd8 (23... bxc4 $2 24. Rxf8+
Kh7 25. Rxf7 $16) 24. Qf1 {(Sherzer-Al Vajda, Budapest FS GM 2001)} Nfd3 $1 25.
cxd3 (25. fxe6 Qxe7 26. cxd3 Qxe6 $17) 25... Qxe7 $17)) (14. Rhe1 c5 $1 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 cxd4 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Qb3 Nd5 19. Re4 Bc5 20. Rg4 Kh8 21. Nh5
Qf7 $1 $15 {and it is not easy for White to get back the sacrificed P,
Feygin-Dautov, Gersenkirchen BL 2000/2001}) 14... Qc7 15. c4 (15. Rhe1 {
- Hracek-Dautov, Lippstadt 2000 CBM 78}) (15. Kb1 c5 {This looks more
straightforward, there is no need for preparation.} (15... Rad8 16. Ne2 h5 $1 {
This is the typical defensive reaction in this variation, otherwise 17.g4
comes.} 17. Bc3 g6 18. Rhg1 Qd6 19. g4 hxg4 20. Qd3 Qd5 21. Ng3 Kg7 22. h5 (22.
Ne2 Rh8) 22... Nxe5 (22... gxh5 23. Nxh5+ Nxh5 24. Rxg4+ Kh8 25. Qh3 $16) (
22... Nxh5 $2 23. Nxh5+ gxh5 24. Nxg4 $1 hxg4 25. Rxg4+ Kf6 26. Rg5 $18) 23.
h6+ (23. fxe5 Nxh5 24. Ne4 Qb5 25. Qe3) 23... Kh7 24. fxe5 Ng8 25. Ne4 $14 {
Luther-Neulinger, AUT-chT 2000}) 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bc3 Qe7 19.
Rhe1 Rfd8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxb7 Qf2 24. Qf3 Qxh4 25.
b3 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Rxd8+ Qxd8 28. Qe3 $14 {with only slightly better
_|_ for White, Fercer-Neulinger, Finkenstein op 2000.}) 15... a5 ({Now} 15...
c5 {is already strongly met by the standard} 16. d5 $1 Rae8 (16... exd5 17. Nf5
$1 $16) (16... Nxe5 $2 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bf4 $18) 17. Rhe1 exd5 18. cxd5 (18.
Nf5 $5 {deserves attention as well.} dxc4 19. Bc3 $16) 18... Bd6 19. Bc3 Nxe5
$2 (19... Nb6 20. Nf5 $16) 20. fxe5 $18 Rxe5 (20... Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Rxe5 22. d6
$18) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Nf5 Rd8 (22... Re8 23. Kb1 c4 24. d6) 23. d6 $1 Bxd6 24.
Rxd6 $1 {1:0 Movsesian-Iordachescu, FIDE Wch KO New Delhi 2000}) 16. Kb1 (16.
Ne2 $5 h5 $1 {This is the correct reaction again!} (16... a4 {gives White free
hand on the >> after} 17. g4 $16) (16... c5 $5 17. g4 $1 {The race begins!}
cxd4 18. g5 $1 Nxe5 $1 (18... hxg5 $6 {opens up the position against his own K.
} 19. hxg5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Qxc4+ 21. Kb1 Qd5 (21... d3 22. gxf6 $18) 22. Qh3 Qe4+
23. Ka1 Nh7 24. g6 $1 Qxg6 25. Rdg1 Qe4 26. Qh6 $18) 19. fxe5 Nd7 $1 (19...
Qxc4+ 20. Kb1 d3 21. exf6 Qc2+ 22. Ka1 dxe2 23. Qxe2 $16) 20. gxh6 $1 (20. Bf4
Nxe5 $1 (20... Qxc4+ 21. Kb1 $44) 21. Bxe5 (21. Qg3 $2 Qxc4+) 21... Qxe5 22.
gxh6 Qf6 $15) 20... Nxe5 21. Qg3 (21. Qg2 $6 Qxc4+ 22. Bc3 (22. Kb1 g6) 22...
Bf6 23. hxg7 (23. Nxd4 Nd3+ $17) 23... Rfc8 $17) 21... g6 $1 {Black has to
avoid the opening of the lines on the >>.} (21... Qxc4+ 22. Bc3 $1 {This is
the surprise move!} (22. Kb1 Qd3+) 22... Bf6 (22... Ng6 23. hxg7 Rfc8 24. Nxd4)
23. Nxd4 Rfc8 24. Kb1 b5 25. Rhf1 $16 {with good attacking chances for White.})
22. Nxd4 (22. h5 $2 Qxc4+) 22... Qxc4+ 23. Bc3 $44) 17. Ng3 g6 18. Rhe1 Rad8
19. f5 $5 (19. Kb1 {- 16.Kb1 Rad8 17.Ne2 h5}) 19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 Ng4 21. Nxh5
$1 {This is the precise move order.} ({In case of} 21. f6 Bc5 22. Nxh5 $1 Nxe5
$1 {will come.}) 21... gxh5 22. f6 Rd4 $1 (22... Bc5 $2 23. Qf4 $18) 23. fxe7
Rxc4+ 24. Kb1 Qxe7 25. Bg5 Qb4 $13) 16... Rad8 17. Bc1 (17. Bc3 Bb4 {exchanges
the dangerous B.}) (17. Ne2 $5 {deserved attention here as well.} h5 $1 {
is the cold-blooded answer again.} (17... c5 $5 {is again met by the aggressive
} 18. g4 $1 cxd4 19. g5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Nd7 $1 21. gxh6 $1 (21. Bf4 $6 Nxe5 22.
Qg3 Qxc4 23. gxh6 (23. Bxe5 Qxe2 24. gxh6 g6) 23... g6 (23... Ng6 $2 24. hxg7
Rfe8 25. h5 Qxe2 26. hxg6 Qe4+ 27. Ka1 fxg6 28. Be5 $18) 24. h5 Kh7 $1 {
- 21.gxh6} (24... Qxe2 25. h7+ Kxh7 26. hxg6+ Kg8 27. Rh8+ Kxh8 28. Qh3+ Bh4
29. Qxh4+ Kg7 30. Qh6+ Kf6 31. Qg5+ Kg7 $11)) (21. Qg3 $2 h5 $17) 21... Nxe5
22. Qg3 g6 23. h5 Kh7 24. hxg6+ $1 (24. Bf4 Qxc4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26. Bxe5 Rxd1+
27. Rxd1 Qe4+ 28. Ka1 g5 $19) 24... fxg6 25. Nf4 $1 (25. Bf4 Qxc4) 25... Qxc4
26. Rhe1 $44) 18. Ng3 g6 19. Rhe1 (19. Bc3 Nxe5 20. fxe5 (20. dxe5 Ng4) 20...
Ng4 $13) 19... Nxe5 (19... c5 20. d5) 20. fxe5 Ng4 21. Bg5 $1 $14) 17... Rfe8
18. Ne2 c5 $5 (18... h5 $1 {looks attractive again, for example:} 19. Ng3 g6
20. Rhe1 c5 21. d5 exd5 22. cxd5 Nb6 23. f5 Bd6 $1 24. fxg6 Bxe5 25. Nxh5 Nxh5
26. Qxh5 f6 $1 $13) 19. g4 $1 cxd4 20. g5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Nh7 (21... Nd7 22. gxh6
Nxe5 23. Qg3 Bf6 $13) 22. gxh6 Qxe5 (22... Qxc4 $2 23. Rhf1 $1 f5 (23... Rf8
24. hxg7) 24. Rg1 $18) 23. hxg7 f5 $5 (23... Bf6 {is the other defensive
option.} 24. h5 Bxg7 25. Rhg1 Kf8 26. Rdf1 Nf6 27. Qa3+ (27. Rxg7 $6 Kxg7 28.
h6+ Kh8 29. Qxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rxf6 d3) 27... Qd6 28. Qf3 Qe5 $11) 24. Ng3 (24. h5
$1 {was required, for example:} Qf6 $1 (24... Kxg7 25. h6+ Kh8 26. Nf4 Qf6 (
26... Nf8 27. Rde1 Qf6 28. h7 $1 $18) 27. Nh5 Qg6 28. Bf4 $16) 25. h6 e5 26.
Ng3 f4 27. Ne4 Qe6 28. Rh5 (28. Qd3 Rc8 29. b3 a4) 28... Rc8 29. b3 a4 30. Rg1
axb3 31. axb3 Ra8 $14) 24... Qc7 25. Qe2 Bc5 (25... Bf6 $6 {runs into} 26. Nh5
e5 27. Ng3 {attacking >< f5} Qc8 28. Qh5 f4 {Now the light squares are
weakened.} 29. Nf5 $16) 26. Nh5 e5 27. Ng3 Qf7 (27... f4 $6 {weakens the
important light squares.} 28. Nf5 $16) 28. Qf1 (28. h5 Kxg7 29. Rdf1 f4 30. Ne4
Be7 $13) 28... f4 29. Ne4 {The N is an excellent blockading piece on e4 now.}
Qf5 30. Qd3 Be7 31. Rdg1 Rd6 32. c5 Re6 (32... Rg6 33. Rxg6 Qxg6 34. h5 Qxg7
35. Qb3+ Kh8 36. Qxb7 Nf6 $13 {exchanging the strong N on e4.}) 33. h5 Bg5 (
33... Ng5 $5 34. h6 Qh7 {deserved serious attention.}) 34. Ka1 Bh6 (34... Nf6 {
is again logical eliminating the blockading N on e4.} 35. Rxg5 Qxe4 36. Qh3 Rc6
37. h6 Kh7 $13) 35. Qf3 Ng5 (35... R6e7 $2 36. Nd6 $18) 36. Nxg5 Bxg5 37. Qd5 (
37. Qxb7 e4 $132) 37... Bh6 38. Rg6 (38. Qxb7 {allows the push} e4 $132) 38...
Qf7 39. Qe4 Rc8 40. Rhg1 Rxc5 41. Bd2 Rec6 (41... Rxg6 42. Rxg6 Rc6 43. Qxe5
Rxg6 44. hxg6 Qxg6 $11) 42. a3 Rc8 $4 {[%mdl 8192] The is a terrible blunder,
probably in time trouble.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 42... Rxg6 43. Rxg6
Rc6 44. Qxe5 Rxg6 45. hxg6 Qxg6 46. Qxd4 Qxg7 $11) 43. Rxh6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3
exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 h5 11. Bg5 Qc7 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Be2 Nh7 14. Bh6 Bd4 15.
Be3 Bh8 16. O-O Nd7 17. f4 Ndf6 18. e5 h4 19. Nge4 dxe5 20. d6 Qa5 21. Nxf6+
Nxf6 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Bf4 Re8 24. Bc4 Qb4 25. b3 Be6 26. Qd3 Bf5 27. Qf3 Bg4
28. Qd3 Bf5 29. Qf3 Bg4 30. Nd5 Bxf3 31. Nxb4 Be2 32. Nd3 Ne4 33. d7 Red8 34.
Ne5 Bxe5 35. Bxe5 Bxf1 36. Rxf1 Rxd7 37. h3 Nd2 38. Rf4 Nxc4 39. bxc4 Re8 40.
Bc3 Re3 41. Bf6 Re6 42. a5 b6 43. Bc3 Rd3 44. Bb2 Rb3 45. Bf6 bxa5 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.09"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. a3
b5 9. Qd2 Bb7 10. f3 Nbd7 11. O-O-O d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Kb1 Nf6
15. g4 Bc4 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. Be5 Nd5 18. Rhe1 O-O-O 19. Bd3 Bc5 20. Nb3 Bf2 21.
Rf1 Bxd3 22. cxd3 Be3 23. Qc2+ Kb7 24. d4 f6 25. Bg3 Ka7 26. Rfe1 g6 27. Qd3
Bh6 28. Re2 Rhe8 29. Rc2 Rc8 30. Re1 Rxc2 31. Qxc2 Bf8 32. Rc1 Bd6 33. Qc6 Rd8
34. Bxd6 Rxd6 35. Qe8 Qd8 36. Qxd8 Rxd8 37. Rc6 Nf4 38. Nc5 Rxd4 39. Rxa6+ Kb8
40. Nxe6 Nxe6 41. Rxe6 Rf4 42. Rb6+ Ka7 43. Rxb5 Rxf3 44. Rc5 Kb6 45. Rc3 Rf4
46. h3 f5 47. gxf5 Rxf5 48. Ka2 Kb5 49. Rb3+ Ka5 50. Rb4 Rf3 51. h4 h5 52. Re4
Rg3 53. Re5+ Kb6 54. a4 Rh3 55. Re4 Ka5 56. b3 Rh1 57. Kb2 Rg1 58. Re5+ Kb6 59.
Ka3 Rg4 60. Re6+ Kc5 61. Rf6 Rxh4 62. Rxg6 Rh1 63. Rg5+ Kb6 64. a5+ Kc6 65. Ka4
h4 66. Rg6+ Kc7 67. Rh6 h3 68. Kb5 h2 69. b4 Kd7 70. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.10"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bd6
15. Ng5 Qd7 16. Qf3 Rae8 17. Rxe8 Rxe8 18. Bd2 Nd8 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 f5 21.
c4 Be7 22. Nf3 Bf6 23. Rb1 b6 24. c5 Qd5 25. cxb6 cxb6 26. Rb5 Qe4 27. Qc4+ Kh8
28. h3 h6 29. Rb3 Qc6 30. Qd3 Qd5 31. Qb5 Qxb5 32. Rxb5 Ne6 33. Rd5 Kg8 34. Rd7
Rd8 35. Rxa7 Nxd4 36. Nxd4 Bxd4 37. Kf1 Bxf2 38. Bxh6 Bd4 39. Bd2 Re8 40. Rd7
Re4 41. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5
g6 9. g5 gxf5 10. exf5 d5 11. Qf3 d4 12. O-O-O Nbd7 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. gxf6 dxc3
15. Bxc3 Qc6 16. Qg3 Bh6+ 17. Kb1 Bf4 18. Qd3 Rg8 19. Bh3 {Shirov is obviously
enjoying this unclear position with the piece sacrifice. He keeps repeating
this variation with enviable courage.} Kd8 $2 (19... Qxf6 20. Bb4 Qb6 21. Qc4
$13) 20. Bb4 Qxf6 (20... Kc7 21. Bd6+ Kd8 (21... Kb6 22. Qb3+ Ka7 23. Qxf7) 22.
Rhg1 Rg5 (22... Re8 23. Qa3 $2) 23. Rxg5 Bxg5 24. Qg3 h6 25. Bxe5 Ke8 26. Bd6
$18) 21. Qc4 Rg5 $2 (21... b5 22. Ba5+ (22. Qe4 Ra7) 22... Ke8 23. Qc7 Rg5 24.
Rd6 e4 25. Qxd7+ Bxd7 26. Rxf6 Rh5 (26... Be5 27. Rh6 Bxf5 28. Bd2 $16) 27. Bg2
Rxf5 (27... Ke7 28. Bxe4 Kxf6 29. Bc3+ $14) 28. Rb6 Bc7 29. Bxe4 Bxb6 30. Bxb6
Rc8 $14) (21... Qc6 $2 22. Qxf7 $18) (21... a5 22. Rd6 Qg5 23. f6 axb4 24. Rhd1
Qg1 25. Qd5 Qxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Kc7 27. Rxd7+ Bxd7 28. Qxd7+ Kb6 29. c3 $14) 22. Rd6
$1 {[%mdl 128] One mistake was sufficient for the abrupt end of the game.
Black king is feeling himself very insecurely on the square d8.} Qg7 (22... Qe7
23. f6 $18) 23. f6 Rg1+ (23... Qg6 24. Rhd1 $1 (24. Ba5+ b6 25. Bxb6+ Ke8 26.
Qc7 $18) 24... Rg1 25. Rxd7+ Bxd7 26. Be7+ Ke8 27. Bxd7#) 24. Bf1 $1 (24. Bf1
$1 Qg2 (24... Qg4 25. Ba5+ Ke8 26. Qc7) 25. Rxg1 Qxg1 26. Ba5+ b6 (26... Ke8
27. Re6+ $1 fxe6 (27... Kf8 28. Bb4+ Kg8 29. Re8+ $18) 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Bb4+
Nc5 30. Bxc5#) 27. Bxb6+ Ke8 28. Re6+ fxe6 29. Qxe6+ Kf8 30. Bc5+ Nxc5 31. Qe7+
Kg8 32. Qe8#) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Rabinovich,Al"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 (5... b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2
Bb4+ 8. Bd2 a5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Be7 11. Nc3 Bc6 12. Qc2 {[%cal Ge2e4]} d5 13.
Ne5 Bb7 14. Na4 {[%cal Ga4c5]} Nfd7 15. Nd3 Bc6 16. Nac5 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Ra7 18.
Rfc1 Bb5 19. e3 Nd7 20. a4 Be2 21. Bxa5 $16 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Nisipeanu,L/
Naujac-sur-Mer FRA 2000/The Week in Chess 303 (28)}) (5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7.
Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7
14. Nfg5 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Qc7 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Qf3 $11 {1/2-1/2
Gyimesi,Z-Almasi,Z/Budapest HUN 2000/The Week in Chess 310 (37)}) 6. Bg2 Bb4+
7. Bd2 a5 (7... c5 8. Bxb4 cxb4 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 d6 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. e4 e5
13. d5 Nb8 14. a3 bxa3 15. b4 a5 16. c5 $36 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Baklan,V/Neum
BIH 2000/The Week in Chess 308 (43)}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 d6 10. Bc3 d5 {[%mdl 8]
A new idea played by black.The popular continuation here is 11...Nbd7 12.a3
Bc3 with interesting continuations.White mostly pushes e4,trying to gain some
space advantage in the center,while black has a solid and hard to break
position,playing on queenside.The move played in the game doesn't let white to
play e4,but now the pawn on c7 will be in ganger after c-file will be opened.}
11. a3 Bd6 (11... Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Nbd7 $14 {With small but a long range
advantage.White can prepare by 13.Rfc1 pressure on c7 pawn or to exchange on
d5 and to play b4,both cases white has a slightly better position.}) 12. Bb2
Nbd7 13. Nc3 {[%csl Rc7,Rd6][%cal Gc3b5]} Re8 (13... dxc4 14. bxc4 e5 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Kxg2 $16) (13... c5 $5 {It should be one
of the ideas in this position,why not to play it now?After white will place
the R on d1 it will be tough to play c5.Here can arise position with two
hanging pawns and black will get good counterplay.} 14. Nb5 Be7 15. dxc5 dxc4
16. bxc4 Nxc5 17. Rad1 $11) 14. Rfd1 {Playing against both c5 and e5.Good
profilactic move.} Qb8 (14... c6 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Nf6 18. Qe3
$14) 15. Nb5 $14 {Now white gets a better position.Black can't avoid
exchanging his dark square B .Black sacrafises a pawn,trying to find some
fortune on the queenside.} a4 (15... Bf8 {Trying to save the B,can be
dangerous,because of 16.Bc1. B goes to f4 from where he will attack
already"feeling scared" c7 pawn.} 16. cxd5 (16. Bc1 $5 $14 {[%cal Gc1f4,Gf4c7]}
) 16... exd5 $11 {[%cal Ge8e2,Gc7c6]}) 16. bxa4 dxc4 17. Nd2 (17. Qxc4 Bd5 18.
Qc2 Be4 19. Qd2 Rxa4 20. Nxd6 cxd6 {Black is fine.}) 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qb7+
19. f3 {[%cal Gd2c4,Ge2e4] White is better.In addition to extra pawn,white
knights are taking good places and sometime white will also like to advance
the e4.} Rec8 20. Nxc4 Bf8 21. Rac1 $1 {e4 can wait,important to bring the
second R in the game.} Qa6 {[%csl Ra4] It will be hard for black to win the a4
pawn,since white always will play Ncd6 and win the c7 pawn.} 22. e4 c6 $6 {
May be it was better just to play 22...Be7 not to rush.After the move in the
game,black prepared to sacrafise an exchange ,but he doesn't get enough
compensation for the sacrafised material.} (22... Be7 $5 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. dxe5
Ne8 25. Rd7 Bc5 {White has to do a lot of work to prove that this extra pawn
is enough for win.}) 23. Ncd6 cxb5 $6 {Of course 23...Bd6 was better,but black
already prepared the sacrafise....} (23... Bxd6 24. Nxd6 Rd8 25. Rd2 $16 (25.
Qxc6 $2 Qe2+)) 24. Nxc8 b4 (24... bxa4 {[%cal Ga8c8,Ga6e2]} 25. Rd2 $18) 25.
Qc4 (25. axb4 {Could give black some surviving chances.} Rxc8 26. Qxc8 Qe2+ 27.
Kh3 Qxb2 (27... Qxf3 $1 28. Qc2 Nxe4 29. Rf1 Ng5+ 30. Kh4 Qe3 {[%cal Gg5f3,
Gf8e7]} 31. Qf2 $6 Nf3+ $3 32. Qxf3 (32. Kh3 Ng5+ 33. Kh4 $11) 32... Qh6+ 33.
Kg4 f5+ $19) 28. e5 $18) 25... bxa3 (25... Qxa4 26. axb4 $18) 26. Qxa6 {
Without the queens it easier to bring the N in the game.} Rxa6 27. Ba1 Rxa4 28.
d5 {[%cal Gd5d6] White must promote the d-pawn as much as possible,so black
pieces won't be able to concentrate on pushing the pawns on queenside.} Bc5 29.
dxe6 (29. Bxf6 $1 {Was winning immideatly.} Nxf6 (29... gxf6 30. dxe6 fxe6 31.
Rxd7 a2 32. Ra1 b5 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nc6 b4 35. Rb7 $18) 30. Nxb6 Ra5 31. e5 $18
) 29... fxe6 30. Nd6 {White has brought his N to the game,but the position is
not simple .Black has stronge pawn on a2 and white must pay attantion not to
let black to push the b-pawn.} h5 31. Nb7 Ra7 32. Nd8 $6 (32. Nxc5 Nxc5 {
[%cal Gf6d7]} 33. Bxf6 gxf6 34. Rc3 {[%cal Gd1a1] Winning the a-pawn.}) 32...
Nf8 33. Nc6 Rb7 (33... Rc7 34. Nd4 $16 {[%cal Gd4b5,Ge4e5]}) 34. Rd3 N6d7 35.
Rb3 Rc7 36. Nb4 {[%cal Gb4c2,Gb4a6]} Ra7 37. Nc2 e5 (37... a2 38. Bb2 {[%cal
Gc1a1,Gb2a3,Ga1a2]}) 38. Bc3 $1 {[%cal Gc1a1] Finally white is winning the
a-pawn,after what the way to win is easier.} Ne6 39. Ra1 Nd4 40. Bxd4 exd4 41.
Nxa3 Ne5 42. f4 Nc4 43. Nc2 {[%cal Ge4e6,Gf4f5] White's position is won.The
plan is to bring the king to the center,activate the rooks and watch the black
d-pawn and be aware of any tricks.} Rd7 {[%cal Gd4d3]} 44. Rd1 Ra7 {[%cal
Ga7a2]} 45. Kh3 {[%cal Gc2d4]} Nd6 46. e5 Ne4 47. Rxd4 {White transfers the
ending to one without any counter chances for black.Pawn on b6 won't influence
anything.White king will enter the center and e and f pawns will win the game.}
Nf2+ (47... Bxd4 48. Nxd4 $18 {[%cal Gb3b6,Gh3h4]}) 48. Kg2 Bxd4 49. Nxd4 Ra2
50. Kf3 Ng4 51. h3 Nh2+ {Black is looking for tricks,but white carefully rids
of any complications and brings the K to the center.The rest is simple,black
doesn't want to put passivly the R on a6 to protect the b-pawn,trying to
attack white pawns on kingside.White R+Kplaced good enough to protect the
pawns and game ends in few moves.} 52. Ke4 Nf1 53. Kf5 Rg2 54. g4 hxg4 55. hxg4
g6+ 56. Kxg6 Rxg4+ 57. Kf5 Rg7 {The last trick.} 58. e6 (58. Rxb6 $4 Ng3+ $11
59. Kf6 (59. Ke6 $4 Rg6+ $19) 59... Nh5+ 60. Kf5 Ng3+) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Bb7 (5... Qb6 {-see commented
game 0-1 Nogueiras,J-Arencibia,W/Capablanca mem-A 1996/CBM 54 (33)[Kantsler,B]}
) (5... g6 6. Nbd2 Nxd2 (6... Qa5 7. c3 Nxd2 8. Qxd2 d6 9. e4 Bg7 10. Bd3 (10.
Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Bb7 12. a4 $14 {0-1 Stefanova-Peptan/Moscow olw 1994 (36)})
10... b4 (10... Bb7 {-position exactly from our game!}) 11. c4 $14 {1/2-1/2
Maherramzade,J-Perez Candelario,M/Linares ESP 2000/The Week in Chess 271 (46)})
7. Qxd2 Qb6 8. e4 Bg7 9. c3 Bb7 10. Bd3 (10. O-O-O $5 $14) 10... e6 (10... d6 {
-again position almost from our game!}) 11. dxe6 fxe6 $132 {1-0 Kharitonov,
A-Markus,J/Hoogeveen NED 2000/The Week in Chess 310 (36)}) (5... d6 6. Nbd2 Qa5
7. c3 Nxd2 8. Nxd2 g6 9. e4 Bg7 10. a4 (10. Bd3 $14 {[%cal Gd2f3,Gc8b7] we can
see this position again in various moves order.}) 10... b4 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Nc4
Qc7 13. cxb4 cxb4 14. Rc1 $14 {1-0 Razuvaev,Y-Horvath/Keszthely 1981 (26)}) 6.
e3 (6. Qd3 f5 7. Nbd2 c4 {-see commented game 0-1 Kramnik,V-Topalov,V/Monaco
2000/CBM 75 (33) [Alterman,B] (14)}) (6. a4 Qa5+ $5 (6... a6 7. Qd3 (7. c3 Qb6
8. Na3 Qd6 9. e3 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 Bxd5 11. axb5 axb5 12. Bxb5 $132 {1-0 Prakken,
G-Sermek,D/Pardubice CZE 2000/The Week in Chess 298 (34)}) 7... Qa5+ 8. c3 f5
9. Nbd2 e6 10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Qxe4 Bxd5 $132 {1-0 Burmakin,V-Avrukh,B/Ubeda ESP
2001/The Week in Chess 325 (34)}) 7. c3 e6 (7... b4 8. Qd3 bxc3 9. bxc3 f5 10.
g4 Qb6 11. Nbd2 $132 {0-1 Goczo,M-Gara,A/Budapest HUN 2000/The Week in Chess
299 (51)}) 8. dxe6 fxe6 $132 {1-0 Moreno,W-Fuentes,M/Lima PER 1999(38)}) 6...
g6 7. c3 Qa5 (7... Qb6 8. a4 b4 9. a5 Qd6 10. c4 e6 11. a6 Bxa6 12. Nbd2 Nxd2
13. Nxd2 Bg7 14. Ne4 Qe5 15. Bd3 O-O 16. Nxc5 Bc8 17. O-O $132 {1-0 Gausel,
E-Svedenborg,P/Oslo NOR 2000/The Week in Chess 291 (38)}) 8. Nbd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2
Bg7 10. e4 $14 {White leaves with space advantge, but position is too
complicated for exact evaluation.} d6 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. O-O a6 {Here White must
choose plan, what to do.} 13. Rfc1 {I should admit, I have not understood of
this move idea...} ({Most of chessplayers would prefer standard} 13. Rfe1 $14 {
[%cal Gh4e7,Ge4e5,Ga2a4]}) 13... Rc8 (13... c4 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Nd4 $14) 14. h3
(14. b3 Qa3 15. Rab1 $14) 14... Qb6 15. Bf1 (15. a4 $14) 15... Nf6 16. Re1 {
R turned back...} O-O 17. a4 Rfe8 (17... c4 18. Bg5 $14) 18. a5 $5 {Good
decision! White wants to close queenside and to concentrate Attack in kingside.
} ({After} 18. axb5 axb5 {[%cal Gc8a8] Black will try to exchange RR via
opened a-line.}) 18... Qc7 19. c4 b4 (19... bxc4 $144 20. Bxc4 $14 {[%cal
Gb2b4,Ga1a3,Ga3b3]}) 20. e5 $1 dxe5 $5 {Black wants to play more complicated
position.} ({More reliable is} 20... Nd7 21. exd6 ({or} 21. e6 fxe6 22. Rxe6 (
22. Ng5 exd5 23. Ne6 Qc6 (23... Qb8 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. cxd5 $14 {[%csl Re7,Rg7]}
) 24. cxd5 Qxd5 25. Qxd5 Bxd5 26. Nxg7 Kxg7 27. Bxa6 $14 (27. Bxe7 $2 Rc6 $17))
22... Nf8 23. Re3 e6 $14) 21... exd6 22. Bg3 $14) 21. Nxe5 Nh5 {[%csl Re5]} 22.
Ng4 $5 Bd4 $5 ({Worth of attention} 22... Qf4 23. Qxf4 Nxf4 24. Bg5 Nh5 25.
Rab1 (25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Bxe7 Bxb2 27. Re1 f5 $132) 25... Kf8 $14) 23. Rad1 $6
$132 {Too passive!} ({Right was} 23. Be2 $142 $1 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gg4h6,Ge2h5]}
Qf4 24. Rad1 Qxd2 25. Rxd2 Ng7 26. Nh6+ Kf8 27. Bg4 f5 28. Bd1 $14) 23... e6 {
Next move of White leads to very complicated position} 24. Re4 $6 $15 {
threatening Rxd4! but but overlooking the nxt complications:} (24. Be2 exd5 25.
Nh6+ Kg7 26. Bxh5 dxc4 27. Bg4 c3 28. Qg5 f6 $8 29. Nf5+ Kg8 30. Nh6+ Kg7 (
30... Kf8 31. Qc1 cxb2 32. Qc4 $16) 31. Nf5+ $11) 24... f5 $1 {[%csl Re4,Rg4]
Very strong move - refutation of White stratagy. Topalov calculated next
complication exactly!} (24... exd5 $2 {of course, would meet by} 25. Rxd4 $1
cxd4 26. Qxd4 $16 {[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Gd4h8]}) ({or} 24... Bg7 25. d6
$16 ({Or} 25. Nh6+ Bxh6 (25... Kh8 26. d6 $16) 26. Qxh6 exd5 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.
cxd5 $16)) 25. Nh6+ Kg7 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Gg7h6]} ({Not} 25... Kf8 $2 26. Rxe6
Rxe6 27. dxe6 $16) 26. Rxe6 $2 $17 (26. Rxd4 $142 cxd4 27. Bg5 exd5 (27... e5
28. Qxb4 $13) 28. Qxd4+ Qe5 29. cxd5 Qxd4 30. Rxd4 Re4 31. Rxe4 fxe4 32. d6 Nf6
33. Ng4 Nd7 $15) 26... Rxe6 27. dxe6 Nf4 $1 {[%csl Rh6] Black obstructs c1-h6
diagonal and catches Nh6.} ({Here} 27... Qf4 {is badly:} 28. Bg5 ({or} 28. Qxf4
Nxf4 29. Nf7 $14) 28... Qxd2 29. Rxd2 Re8 30. Nf7 $14) 28. Re1 $6 $19 ({or} 28.
Bg3 Nxh3+ $1 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Gd4g1]} 29. Kh2 f4 $1 30. Kxh3 (30. gxh3 fxg3+
31. fxg3 Qc6 32. Bg2 Qxg2+ 33. Qxg2 Bxg2 34. Kxg2 Kxh6 $19) 30... fxg3 $17) (
28. Nxf5+ gxf5 29. Bg3 Nxh3+ 30. Kh2 f4 31. Bh4 Re8 32. Kxh3 Rxe6 $17 {[%csl
Rh3]}) 28... Kxh6 $8 29. Bg3 $8 g5 $8 30. h4 Re8 ({Black wins after} 30... Be4
$1 31. hxg5+ Kxg5 {and here:} 32. Bh2 (32. Kh1 Re8 33. f3 Bb7 34. Bh2 Be5 $19)
32... Re8 33. g3 Kf6 $19) 31. e7 Be4 32. hxg5+ Kxg5 33. Kh1 Rxe7 $2 $132 ({
Right was} 33... Be5 34. f3 Bb7 35. Qf2 Rxe7 36. Bh4+ Kg6 37. Bxe7 Qxe7 $19)
34. f3 {[%cal Ge1e7]} Re6 35. Bh2 Rh6 (35... Bd3 $2 36. Rxe6 Bxf1 37. b3 $1 $16
) 36. fxe4 Kg6 $2 $16 {Terrible move probably under sharp time pressure...} ({
Right was} 36... Rxh2+ 37. Kxh2 Qg7 38. Re3 Kf6 39. e5+ Ke7 40. Rf3 Ne6 $44 {
[%csl Gd4,Re5,Rh2] With at least sufficient compensation}) ({Interesting also} 
36... Bf2 $5 37. Re3 (37. Qxf2 Rxh2+ 38. Kxh2 Nd3+ 39. Qg3+ Qxg3+ 40. Kxg3 f4+
41. Kf3 Nxe1+ 42. Kf2 Nc2 $17) 37... Bxe3 (37... Rxh2+ 38. Kxh2 Bxe3 39. Qxe3
Kf6 40. g3 Ng6 41. exf5 Kxf5 $132) 38. Qxe3 Qe5 39. g3 Qxe4+ 40. Qxe4 fxe4 41.
gxf4+ Kg4 42. Kg2 Rd6 43. Be2+ Kf5 44. Kg3 b3 $44) 37. g3 Nh5 $2 $18 {the last
mistake...} ({Much better was} 37... Nh3 38. exf5+ Kf7 $1 39. Re2 $16 (39. Qxh6
$4 Nf2+ 40. Kg1 (40. Kg2 Qb7+ $19) 40... Ng4+ $19)) 38. exf5+ {[%csl Rh6]} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Der holländische GM spielt gerne
diese Variante - und zwar mit beiden Farben.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4
8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ {Das ist die prinzipielle Fortsetzung, aber 8...Qa5 ist auch
spielbar.} 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ {Es gibt so viele Partien in dieser Variante,
doch es scheint, dass dieses Läuferschach die beste Fortsetzung für Weiß
darstellt. Die Alternativen 10.Bxf6 und 10.Nb5 werden seltener gespielt.} Nbd7
(10... Bd7) 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 {[%cal Gh1h3,Gh3a3] Das ist
noch eine bekannte theoretische Stellung. Weiß bringt seinen Turm über h3 ins
Spiel.} a6 14. Rh3 Qa5 (14... Qb4) 15. Be2 Nc5 (15... O-O 16. Rc1) (15... Ke7
16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Qc1 Rd8 18. Rd3 Nf8 19. Qa3+ Ke8 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Na5 $40 {
Hier bekommt Weiß mehr als ausreichende Kompensation für den Bauern.}) 16. Nb3
{Weiß tauscht den guten schwarzen Springer ab. Die zugrundeliegende
positionelle Regel ist auch in dieser konkreten Stellung gültig .} Nxb3 17.
Qxb3 (17. Rxb3 Ke7 18. Qc1 Rd8 19. Rab1 Qd2 20. Qc7+ Rd7 21. Qg3 b5 22. Qg7 Rc7
23. Rd3 Rc1+ 24. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 25. Rd1 Qc5 26. Qxh7 Bb7 27. f3 Qe5 {1/2-1/2
Pogorelov,R-Kolev,A/Villarrobledo 2000/EXT 2001 (57)}) 17... b6 $1 {Das ist
bei weitem die beste Verteidigung für Schwarz. Anschließend kann er mit dem
Entwicklungszug Bb7 den Pe4attackieren.} (17... Qc7 18. Rd1 Bd7 19. Qb2 $1
O-O-O $8 20. Rc1 Bc6 21. Bxa6 $1 {1-0 Akopian,V-Horvath,C/Niksic 1991/Inf 51/
[Akopian,V] (34)}) (17... e5 18. Rf3 Qd8 19. Rc1 $1 $16 {1-0 Kramnik,
V-Kaidanov,G/Groningen 1993/Inf 59/[Kramnik,V] (31)}) 18. Rd1 (18. Rb1 Bb7 19.
Qxb6 Qxb6 20. Rxb6 Bxe4 21. Bxa6 f5 22. Rc3 Ke7 23. f3 Bd5 24. Rc7+ Kf6 25. a4
Rhb8 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Movsesian,S/Polanica Zdroj 2000/CBM 79
no vc (46)}) (18. Rc1 $6 Bb7 19. Qb2 (19. Rc7 Bxe4 20. Re3 Bd5 21. Qb2 b5 22.
Rec3 Rd8 23. Rc1 e5 24. a3 O-O 25. R7c3 Kh8 26. Rg3 Rg8 27. Rcc3 Rxg3 28. Rxg3
Be6 {0-1 Schmidt,W-Khenkin,I/Lubniewice 1998/EXT 2000 (28)}) 19... Qe5 20. Qxb6
Bxe4 21. Rg3 f5 22. Rd1 Rb8 23. Qa7 Rb7 24. Qxa6 Ke7 25. Qa3+ Kf6 26. Qc1 h6
27. Bd3 Rc7 28. Qa1 Qxa1 29. Rxa1 f4 {0-1 Nielsen,P-Khenkin,I/Germany 1999/EXT
2000 (57)}) 18... Bb7 19. Qb2 (19. Rf3 O-O (19... Qe5 $5) 20. Rg3+ Kh8 21. Qe3
Rg8 22. Qh6 Rxg3 23. Qxf6+ Rg7 24. Rd8+ {1/2-1/2 Solozhenkin,E-Khenkin,I/
Reggio Emilia 2000}) (19. Rd6) 19... Qe5 (19... Rg8 $5) 20. Qxb6 Bxe4 {Dieser
Tausch ist nicht schlecht für Schwarz - er bekommt den Zentrumsbauern auf e4
für den schwachen Pb6.} 21. Rg3 (21. Re3 $2 O-O 22. f3 Rfb8 $17) 21... f5 22.
Kg1 $146 {Das ist die - natürlich vorbereitete - Neuerung. Die Idee des Zugs
ist, dass Weiß seinen Rg3 befreit, denn in vielen Varianten besteht das
schwarze Gegenspiel - nach einem Turmzug - im Eindrignen der Dame nach h2. Das
früher gespielte 22.Bxa6 verschafft Weiß keinen Eröffnungsvorteil. Insgesamt
jedoch bleibt die Stellung - wie die ganze Variante - unklar, mit vielen
taktischen Möglichkeiten.} (22. Bxa6 Ke7 $1 23. Qb4+ Kf6 24. Qd2 f4 $1 (24...
h6 $2 25. f4 Qc5 $6 26. Qb2+ Ke7 27. Rg6 $3 {1-0 Dautov,R-Schlosser,P/
Lippstadt 2000/CBM 78/[Dautov] (43)}) 25. Rg4 Rxa6 26. Rxf4+ Bf5 27. g4 Rg8 28.
gxf5 Qb5+ 29. Qd3 Qxd3+ 30. Rxd3 e5 31. Rff3 Rg4 $15 {Dautov}) 22... h6 {
[%mdl 256] Ein prophylaktischer Zug - Schwarz verteidigt das Feld g5, um nach
f5-f4 nicht mit Rg5 rechnen zu müssen.} (22... Ke7 23. Qb4+ Kf6 24. Rd7 Rae8
25. Bxa6) 23. Qb4 {[%cal Gb4f8]} (23. Bxa6 Ke7 $13) 23... f4 $13 {Der Rg3 muss
sich entscheiden - entweder für die g-Linie oder für die 3.Reihe. Schwarz hat
einen Mehrbauern, aber sein König steht unsicher in der Mitte.} 24. Rg4 Rb8 25.
Qa3 (25. Qa4+ Ke7 $13) 25... a5 {[%cal Gb8b4] Schwarz bereitet 27...Rb4 vor,
er möchte seinen König endlich in Sicherheit bringen.} 26. Bf3 Rb4 $5 $15 {
[%mdl 2048]} (26... Bxf3 27. Qxf3 Rb4 28. Qc6+ Ke7 29. Rd7+ Kf6 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7
31. Qd7+ Kf8 32. Qd8+ Kf7 $11) 27. Qc1 Ke7 28. Rxf4 Bxf3 29. Rxf3 (29. Rxb4 $2
axb4 30. gxf3 Rg8+ $19) 29... Rxh4 {Schwarz hat einen Mehrbauern, aber die
Realisierung des Materialvorteils ist keineswegs leicht, da Schwarz
prinzipiell Probleme bei der Platzierung seines Königs behält.} 30. g3 Re4 31.
Rc3 $44 {[%csl Re7][%cal Gc1c7,Gd1d7]} Rg8 {Schwarz kümmert sich nicht um die
Verteidigung des Ph6, sondern aktiviert den Turm.} 32. Rc7+ Kf6 33. Qxh6+ Rg6
$11 {Nach großen Komplikationen haben wir nun eine ausgeglichene Stellung
erreicht. Die weiße Stellung scheint minimal aktiver, Schwarz kann sich leicht
verteidigen.} 34. Qh8+ Rg7 35. Rcc1 (35. Qh6+ Rg6 $11) 35... Kg6 36. Kg2 Rh7
37. Qg8+ (37. Qxe5 Rxe5 $11) 37... Rg7 38. Qd8 (38. Qh8 $11) 38... Re2 39. Rc4
$1 {[%cal Rc4g4,Rg4g6]} f5 (39... Rxa2 $2 40. Rg4+ Kf5 41. Rxg7 Qxg7 42. Rd4
$18 {[%csl Rf5]}) (39... Re4 40. Qd3 f5 41. Rxe4 Qxe4+ 42. Qxe4 fxe4 43. Rd4 (
43. Rd6 Kf6 44. Ra6 Rg5 $11) 43... Kf5 44. Ra4 Ra7 45. Kf1 $16 {[%csl Re4]})
40. Rh4 {[%csl Gh4] Der Turm steht gut auf h4, er verteidigt die weiße
Königsstellung gegen Qe4+ und droht auf der h-Linie.} Qb2 (40... Qe3) 41. Kg1
Qc3 42. a4 Qf3 (42... Re1+ 43. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 44. Kg2 Qc3 45. Qe8+ $18) 43. Rf4 Qc6
44. Qd3 {[%cal Gf4g4,Gg4g6]} (44. Rh4 Qf3 $11) 44... Rh7 45. Rg4+ Kf7 46. Qd7+
{Weiß hat nichts besseres als den Damentausch. Nun ist die Stellung sofort
remis.} (46. Rh4 Rxh4 47. gxh4 Re4 $17) 46... Qxd7 47. Rxd7+ Kf6 48. Rxh7 fxg4
49. Ra7 (49. Ra7 Re5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. h3 Ne5 7. a4 Nxf3+ 8.
Qxf3 a6 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 10. b3 g6 11. Bb2 e5 12. Qd3 Be7 13. Nc3 O-O 14. a5 Nf6
15. Rf1 Rc8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qc7 18. f4 Bf6 19. d3 Kg7 20. Qc4 Qd8 21. f5
Bg5 22. Rf3 Bd2 23. Bc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Tiviakov,S"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 Ne4 8.
Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bb7 10. d4 (10. e4) 10... Be4 $1 11. Nh4 (11. d5 exd5 (11...
Bf6 12. Nd2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 d6 14. Ne4 Nd7 15. Qc2 Nc5 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. dxe6 {
1/2-1/2 Portisch,L-Karpov,A/Milan 1975/MCL (17)}) 12. cxd5 Bf6 (12... c5 13.
Bf4 d6 14. Rc1 Nd7 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Nc6 Qe8 17. Kxg2 Nb8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Rc3
Nd7 20. Re3 Qf6 21. Qa4 Rfd8 22. Rc3 Qe7 23. Re3 Qf6 24. Rc3 Qe7 25. Qa6 Nf8
26. Rd1 Ng6 27. Bc1 Rab8 28. a4 Qb7 29. Qc4 a6 30. b4 b5 31. axb5 axb5 32. Qb3
c4 33. Qc2 Re8 34. Bb2 Re7 35. Ra3 Rbe8 36. Rd2 Qd7 37. f3 Qb7 38. Ba1 Ra8 39.
Qc3 f6 40. Kf1 Qc8 41. Rda2 Qh3+ 42. Kg1 Rae8 43. Qe1 h5 44. Ra8 Qf5 45. Qd1 h4
46. R2a3 hxg3 47. hxg3 Qh3 48. Qe1 Kf7 49. Rxe8 Rxe8 50. Qf2 Qf5 51. Ra7+ Kg8
52. e4 Qg5 53. Kh2 Qh6+ 54. Kg2 Qg5 55. Kh2 Qh6+ 56. Kg2 Qg5 {1/2-1/2 Csom,
I-Spassov,L/Hamburg 1977/MCL (56)}) 13. Nd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Re8 15. Rb1 (15. e4 {
17/37}) (15. Qc2 {17/37}) 15... Na6 16. f3 c6 $1 17. dxc6 (17. Ne4 $6 Rxe4 $1
18. fxe4 Qe7 19. Qd3 Nc5 20. Qf3 Nxe4 $15 {17/37}) 17... dxc6 18. Ne4 Be7 19.
Qa4 Nb4 20. a3 b5 21. Qb3 Qd5 {1/2-1/2 Petrosian,T-Portisch,L/Palma de
Mallorca 1974/Candidates/Inf 17/37}) (11. Bh3 c5 12. d5 exd5 13. Nd2 Bf6 14.
Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bf5 Re8 16. Rb1 Qe7 17. Bf4 Nc6 18. Qxd7 Nd4 19. Qxe7 Rxe7 20.
Bg4 g6 21. Bd6 {1/2-1/2 Kogan,A-Ikonnikov,V/Paris 1998/EXT 2000 (21)}) (11. Bf1
$6 c5 12. Nd2 Bc6 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. b3 a5 15. Bb2 a4 16. e4 Na6 17. Qg4 f6 18.
Qd1 Nb4 19. a3 Na6 20. Bc3 axb3 21. Qxb3 Nc7 22. Qa2 e5 23. Bg2 Ne6 24. Nf1 Bd6
25. Ne3 Bc7 26. Rf1 Ba5 27. Bb2 Nd4 28. Rad1 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nc3 30. Bxc3 Bxc3 31.
Rd3 Bd4 32. Qe2 Ra4 33. f4 Qe8 34. Nf5 g6 35. Ne3 exf4 36. Rxf4 Qe6 37. h4 Be5
38. Rg4 Rb8 39. Qd1 Rb2 40. Qc1 Rxg2 41. Kxg2 f5 {0-1 Sokolin,L-Tiviakov,S/New
York 1998/CBM 64 (41)}) (11. Bf4 Bf6 12. Qd2 d6 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Qe3 d5 15. b4
c6 16. Rc1 b5 17. cxb5 cxb5 18. Bc7 Qe8 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nb6 21. Bxb6 axb6
22. Nc6 Rc8 23. Ne5 Qe7 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rc1 Rxc1 26. Qxc1 Qxb4 27. Qc8+ {
1/2-1/2 Hjartarson,J-Stefansson,H/Reykjavik 1995/CBM 51 (27)}) 11... Bxg2 12.
Nxg2 d5 (12... d6 13. e4 $14 {()} Nd7 14. d5 Bf6 15. Nf4 Qe7 16. a4 a5 17. Nh5
Rfe8 18. Ra3 Qf8 19. f4 Bd8 20. g4 g6 21. Ng3 Bf6 22. Rf3 Bg7 23. b3 Qe7 24. g5
Nc5 25. Kg2 Qd7 26. Bd2 Re7 27. dxe6 Rxe6 28. f5 Ree8 29. Bf4 Qc6 30. Rfe3 Be5
31. Qd5 Qb7 32. Qxb7 Nxb7 33. Ne2 Nc5 34. Kf3 Re7 35. h4 Rae8 36. f6 Re6 37.
Bxe5 Rxe5 38. Nd4 h6 39. Nc6 hxg5 40. Nxe5 Rxe5 41. hxg5 Rxg5 42. e5 Rf5+ 43.
Kg4 dxe5 44. Rf3 Rh5 45. Rh3 Rf5 46. Rf3 Rh5 47. Rd1 Ne6 48. Rff1 e4 49. Kg3
Rg5+ 50. Kf2 Rh5 51. Ke3 Rh3+ 52. Kxe4 Rxb3 53. Kd5 Rc3 54. Rd2 c6+ 55. Kd6
Rxc4 56. Rh2 Nf4 57. Rh4 g5 58. Rg1 Rd4+ 59. Kxc6 Rc4+ 60. Kb7 {1-0 Vaganian,
R-Dokhoian,Y/Tilburg 1994/CBM 44 (60)}) 13. cxd5 $146 (13. Qa4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 c5
15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Be3 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Tiviakov,S/Jakarta 1997/CBM 58
ext (16)}) 13... Qxd5 14. e4 (14. Nf4 Qd7 $11) 14... Qd7 15. Nf4 (15. Bf4 $5 {
/\Rc1}) 15... Rd8 $1 16. Be3 Nc6 17. Ne2 (17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Nb4 $11) 17...
Bf6 $1 18. e5 Be7 {[/\Nc6-b4, ><d5]} 19. a3 Bf8 20. Qc2 (20. Rc1 Ne7 $11) 20...
Ne7 21. Bg5 Rdc8 $5 22. Bxe7 Bxe7 23. Rad1 c5 24. Qb3 (24. dxc5 Qe8 $11) 24...
cxd4 25. Rxd4 (25. Nxd4 Qe8 $5 {/\Rc5}) 25... Qc7 26. Nf4 $11 {[26...Qc2=]}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15. axb4
Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. f4 Nb6 19. Rh3 {Is is a bit special, that both
players have caused the explosive popularity of this position on the highest
level, even though then they have played with reverse colours! Kasparov goes
for the much lesser analysed move than the main line 19.f5.} (19. f5 $5) 19...
Nc4 20. Qc3 Rc8 (20... Qe7 21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. Bd2 $16) 21. Bd2 Be7 (21... Nxd2
$5 22. Qxd2 Be7 23. a5 $14) 22. Be1 Rb8 (22... Qb8 23. Qb3 h5 24. g5 g6 25. Rc3
$16) (22... O-O 23. g5 $40) 23. f5 $1 (23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Qe3 Bg2 $5 25. Rh2 Bc6
$11) 23... Bc8 24. Bxc4 dxc4 (24... Bxb4 $2 25. Bb5+ Kd8 26. Nc6+ $18) (24...
Qxc4 $2 25. Qxc4 dxc4 26. Nc6 $16) 25. Qf3 Bd7 (25... Bxb4 $2 26. Bxb4 (26.
Qc6+ $6 Qd7 (26... Qxc6 $2 27. Nxc6 $18) 27. Qxc4 Bxe1 28. Rxe1 O-O $14) 26...
Rxb4 27. Nc6 $1 Rxa4 (27... Bb7 28. Qa3 $18) 28. Rd8+ Qxd8 29. Nxd8 Kxd8 30.
Qc6 $18) 26. fxe6 fxe6 (26... Bxe6 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. c3 $16) 27. g5 $1 {
[%mdl 128] In is quite possible that white's preparation was reaching all the
way to this position. Both kings are not especially safe, but black's seems
more exposed.} (27. Qe4 $2 O-O) (27. c3 Bxa4 28. Nxe6 Qxe5 29. Bg3 Qxe6 30.
Bxb8 Bxd1 31. Kxd1 $13) 27... hxg5 (27... Bxb4 28. Qh5+ $1 Ke7 29. Qg6 Qxe5 30.
Rf3 Rhf8 31. Bg3 c3 32. Rxc3 $1 (32. Bxe5 $2 Ba3#) 32... Rf4 33. Rf3 $16) 28.
hxg5 Rxh3 (28... Bxg5+ $5 29. Kb1 Rxh3 30. Qxh3 Bh6 31. Qh5+ Kf8 32. Bc3 Kg8
33. Rg1 Bf4 34. Ne2 $16) 29. Qxh3 Qxe5 (29... Bxg5+ 30. Kb1 Ke7 $5 (30... Qxe5
31. Nf3 Qf6 32. Qh8+ $18) (30... Bh6 31. Nxe6 (31. Qh5+) 31... Qxe5 32. Nxg7+
$1 Qxg7 33. Qh5+ Kf8 (33... Kd8 34. Bh4+ Kc7 35. Qc5+ Kb7 36. Rd6 $16) 34. Rxd7
Qxd7 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Bc3 $16) 31. Qh7 Qxe5 32. Bc3 (32. Nf3 Qf6 33. Nxg5 Qxg5
34. Bh4 Rxb4+ 35. Ka2 Rxa4+ 36. Kb1 (36. Kb2 $2 c3+ $19) 36... Rb4+ $11) 32...
Bf6 33. Nc6+ Bxc6 34. Bxe5 Rxb4+ 35. Kc1 Bxe5 $13) 30. Qh5+ $1 Kf8 (30... Kd8
$2 31. Nc6+ $18) (30... g6 31. Qxg6+ Kf8 32. Bd2 Qg7 33. Qxe6 $1 $18) 31. Nf3
$1 {White enjoys excellent piece coordination.} (31. Bd2 Qxd4 (31... Kg8 $5)
32. Rf1+ Bf6 33. c3 Qd3 34. Rf3 Qd5 35. Qh8+ Kf7 36. Rxf6+ gxf6 37. Qh7+ Ke8 (
37... Kf8 38. gxf6 $18) 38. Qh8+ Kf7 39. Qxf6+ Ke8 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Qxb8 Qh1+
42. Kb2 Qd1 43. Qf4 Qb3+ 44. Kc1 Bxa4 $11) 31... Qe3+ (31... Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Rd8 (
32... Bxb4+ 33. Ke2 Qxa4 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qxg7+ $18) (32... Qb2 33. Ke3 $1 Rd8
34. c3 $18) 33. Qh8+ (33. Ke3 $1 Bc5+ (33... Qxd1 34. Qh8+ Kf7 35. Ne5#) 34.
bxc5 Qxd1 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qxg7+ Ke8 37. g6 $18) 33... Kf7 34. g6+ $1 Kxg6 (
34... Kf6 35. Qh4+ Kxg6 36. Qg4+ Kf7 37. Rxa1 $18) 35. Qxd8 Qxd1+ 36. Kxd1 Bxd8
37. Ne5+ Kf5 38. Nxd7 $18) 32. Kb2 $1 (32. Bd2 Qa3+ 33. Kb1 Rxb4+ $1 (33... Bd6
34. Qh8+ Kf7 (34... Ke7 35. Qxg7+ Ke8 36. Ne5 $18) 35. g6+ Kf6 36. Qh4+ Kxg6
37. Rg1+ Kf7 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Rxg7+ Kxg7 40. Bh6+ $18) 34. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 35. Kc1
Qa3+ 36. Kd2 Qb2 37. Qh8+ Kf7 38. Qh4 $14) (32. Kb1 Be8 33. Qh8+ Kf7 $13) 32...
Be8 $2 (32... Rb7 33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Bc3 Qxf3 35. g6+ Kxg6 36. Qxg7+ Kf5 37. Qf7+
Kg4 38. Rd4+ Kg3 39. Be1+ $18) (32... Bxb4 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Qxb8 $18) (32...
Bxa4 $1 33. Bc3 (33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Qxb8 Qxf3 35. Rd4 (35. Ra1 $2 Bxc2 $1 36.
Kxc2 Qb3+ $19) 35... Bxg5 $14) 33... Rxb4+ $1 (33... Bxb4 $2 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35.
Qxg7+ Ke8 36. Qg6+ Ke7 (36... Kf8 37. Rd8+ $1 Rxd8 38. Bxb4+ $18) 37. Qh7+ Ke8
38. Qh5+ Ke7 39. Bf6+ Kf8 40. Qh8+ Kf7 41. g6+ Kxg6 42. Qg7+ Kf5 43. Nh4+ Ke4
44. Qg4+ Qf4 45. Qxe6+ Qe5+ 46. Qxe5#) 34. Bxb4 Bxb4 35. Qh8+ Kf7 36. g6+ Kf6 (
36... Kxg6 $2 37. Rg1+ Kf5 38. Qh7+ Kf4 39. Qh4+ Kf5 40. Qg4+ Kf6 41. Qxg7+ Kf5
42. Qg6+ Kf4 43. Qg4#) 37. Qh4+ Kxg6 38. Rg1+ Kf7 39. Qxc4 Qb6 $13) 33. Qh8+
Kf7 34. Bc3 (34. Bc3 Rxb4+ 35. Bxb4 Qxf3 (35... Bxb4 36. g6+ Kf6 37. Qxe8 $18)
36. g6+ Kxg6 37. Rg1+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 $5 8. d4
dxe4 9. Nbd2 $146 {[%mdl 8] A surprising move - it certainly smells like
preparation.} (9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 (12... Rb8
13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Bg5+ Ke6 15. Bh4 Nxe5 16. Bd5+ Kf5 17. Nd2 Bb7 18. Ne4 Bb6 19.
Ng3+ Kg6 20. Bb3 f6 $13 {1-0 Shirov,A-Ivanchuk,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext 
(57)}) 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 Bb6 15. Bxa8 Nd3+ (15... Be6 16. Rd4 $1 $18 {
1-0 Lutz,C-Onischuk,A/Germany 1996/GER-chT (44)}) 16. Kf1 Nxc1 17. Na3 Be6 18.
Rxc1 Rxa8 19. Rd3 Bf5 20. Rdd1 Bg4 21. Rd3 Bf5 22. Rdd1 Bg4 {1/2-1/2 Mariano,
N-Onischuk,A/Jakarta 1997/CBM 58 ext (22)}) (9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Bxd1 exf3 11.
Bxf3 Bb7 12. b4 (12. a4 b4 $5 $132 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Benjamin,J/Salt Lake
City 1999/CBM 73/[Wedberg] (29)}) 12... e4 (12... a5 13. Na3 $36) 13. Be2 O-O
14. a4 bxa4 15. Rd1 Ne5 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. c4 Re7 18. Nc3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Rowson,
J-Benjamin,J/Edmondton 2000/EXT 2001 (54)}) 9... exf3 (9... exd4 10. Nxe4 $36)
10. Qxf3 Be7 11. Qxc6+ Bd7 12. Qf3 exd4 13. cxd4 O-O {Black has defused
White's opening initaitive.} 14. Ne4 Be6 15. Nxf6+ $6 (15. Rd1 $5) 15... Bxf6
16. Be4 Bxd4 $1 {[%mdl 512] A beautiful exchange sacrifice. Black can never be
worse after this. His pressure against White's queen-side and the strong B on
d4 assures that.} (16... Rb8 17. d5 $36) 17. Rd1 (17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Qxa8 Rxa8
19. Bf4 c5 $44) 17... c5 18. Bxa8 Qxa8 19. Be3 $5 (19. Qxa8 Rxa8 20. Be3 Bxb2
21. Rab1 Bf6 $17) 19... Qxf3 20. gxf3 Bxb2 21. Bxc5 Rc8 {It's important for
Black to keep his R. With R and the pair of Bs he can play against the white K.
} 22. Rab1 h6 23. Bb4 (23. Rxb2 Rxc5 $15 {Black has an easier game. White has
to guard all his weaknesses, including the K.}) 23... Be5 24. a3 Rc6 25. Rbc1
Bc4 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Re1 Bc7 28. Rd7 (28. Rc8 $4 Bxh2+ $19) 28... Be6 29. Rd3
Bf5 30. Rd5 Bh3 31. Kh1 Rf6 32. Rd3 Be6 (32... Bb6 $6 33. Rd6 $1 Rxd6 34. Bxd6
Bxf2 35. Re8 {Should be OK for White. The R is the dominating piece.}) 33. Bc3
Rf5 34. Rxe6 $1 (34. Rxe6 fxe6 35. Rd7 Be5 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Ra7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E31"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3
e5 9. Bd3 e4 10. Bc2 Nbd7 11. f4 Nb6 12. Qe2 Bg4 13. Qf1 g5 14. fxg5 Nh5 15. a4
hxg5 16. Bf2 Nf6 17. Bg3 Qe7 18. h3 Bh5 19. a5 Nbd7 20. Ne2 Bg6 21. Bh2 Ne5 22.
Ba4+ Kd8 23. Bxe5 Qxe5 24. Kd2 Kc7 25. Qf2 Qe7 26. Raf1 Nd7 27. Bxd7 Qxd7 28.
Qf6 Rae8 29. Ra1 Qe7 30. Rhf1 Kd7 31. Ng3 Qxf6 32. Rxf6 Ke7 33. Rf2 f6 34. Ke1
Rh7 35. Rb1 Rb8 36. Rfb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 g6 14. Rc1 Be7
15. O-O Bf6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 Qxb2 18. Qa4 Qb6 19. Bd6 Be7 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21.
Nd7 Bxd7 22. Qxd7 Qb3 23. Qxe7 Qxd3 24. Rfd1 Qb3 25. Rb1 Qa4 26. Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 ({In my
opinion, more problems to Black makes the move} 7. f3 $5) 7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7
9. O-O O-O 10. Qe3 ({More logical seems} 10. Bg5 $5 {and then Q can retreat to
d2 or e3- mainline.}) 10... Be6 ({Worth of attention also} 10... Nd7 {[%cal
Gd7c5] in some games played in 1967-1969 years Black reached good position:}
11. Bd2 (11. Kh1 Nc5 12. f4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 f5 $132 {[%csl Rc3,Rc4] 1/2-1/2
Smyslov,V-Furman,S/URS 1967/MCD (47)}) 11... Nc5 (11... a5 12. Rad1 Nc5 13. b3
Bd7 14. Nd5 e6 15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Be1 $132 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Pigusov,E/
Sverdlovsk 1987/TD (40)}) 12. Rac1 (12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Be1 (13. b4 Na4 $11 (13...
Ne6 14. Nd5 Nd4 15. Bc3 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Rc8 18. Nd5 $11 {1-0
Gheorghiu,F-Martin Gonzalez,A/Torremolinos 1974/EXT 99 (20)})) 13... b6 14. f4
Na4 15. b3 Nxc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qc7 18. Qg3 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 Bc6 $11 {
0-1 Geller,E-Ostojic,P/Belgrade 1969/MCD (28)}) 12... Bd7 (12... a5 13. b3 Bd7
14. Bd1 Bc6 15. Bc2 e5 (15... e6 $132) 16. Rcd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Matulovic,M-Parma,
B/Sarajevo 1969/MCL (41)}) 13. Rfd1 Bc6 14. f3 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Qb6 17.
b3 Ne4 $11 {0-1 Adamski,J-Furman,S/Polanica Zdroj 1967/MCD (40)}) ({Good also} 
10... Bd7 11. Bd2 Bc6 {-see commented game 1/2-1/2 Beshukov,S-Vokarev,S/Elista
1996/CBM 56/[Tsesarsky] (30)} (11... a6 $5 $132)) 11. Bd2 Qb6 {In commented
game 1-0 Petrosian,T-Browne,W/Nice 1974/EXT 2000/[Razuvaev/Geller] (41) the
last move is evaluated '+/=' by Razuvaev/Geller. I can't agree with this
opinion.} ({Interesting also} 11... a6 $5) ({but not} 11... Nd7 $143 $6 $14 {
[%cal Gd7c5,Gd7e5]}) ({or} 11... Ng4 $143 $6 $14 {[%cal Gg4e5]}) 12. Qxb6 (12.
b3 Qxe3 13. Bxe3 Rfc8 (13... Bd7 14. Rac1 Rfc8 15. Rfd1 Bc6 16. f3 a5 (16...
Kf8 17. Kf2 b6 $5 (17... a5 18. c5 dxc5 19. Bxc5 Bh6 20. Be3 Bxe3+ 21. Kxe3 e5
22. Na4 Bxa4 23. bxa4 Ke7 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rb1 $14 {1-0 Totsky,L-Isupov,V/
Orel 1992/EXT 97 (37)})) 17. Kf2 Nd7 18. Rc2 Rc7 19. Rdd2 Rac8 20. Kf1 Kf8 (
20... b5 21. cxb5 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 Bxb5 23. Rxc7 Bxe2+ 24. Kxe2 Rxc7 25. Kd1 $14)
21. Ke1 Be5 $1 (21... b5 $2 22. Nd5 $1 (22. cxb5 Bxb5) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 $14
{1-0 Petrosian,T-Browne,W/Nice 1974/EXT 2000/ (41)}) 22. g3 Nc5 $132) (13...
Nd7 14. Rac1 Nc5 15. f4 a5 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. Bf1 {1/2-1/2 Ivkov,B-Jansa,V/La
Valetta 1980/EXT 2000 (17)}) 14. Rac1 Nd7 (14... a6 15. f3 (15. Na4 Rc6 16. Nb6
Re8 17. f3 Nd7 18. Nd5 Nc5 19. Rfd1 Kf8 20. Kf2 h6 21. h4 Rec8 22. Nb4 R6c7 23.
Nd5 Rc6 24. g3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Bach,E-Schmenger,F/Germany 1998/GER-chT2 (34)})
15... Nd7 16. f4 f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bf3 Rc7 19. Rfe1 $16 {1-0 Keres,P-Hug,W/
Petropolis 1973/IZT (39)}) (14... Kf8 15. f3 Nd7 16. Nb5 a5 17. Nd4 {1/2-1/2
Balashov,Y-Vokarev,S/Omsk/Perm 1998/EXT 2000 (17)}) 15. Nd5 Kf8 16. Nf4 Nc5 17.
Nxe6+ fxe6 18. f3 a5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Savon,V-Tukmakov,V/Moscow 1973/URS-ch (41)})
(12. Rab1 Rfc8 13. b3 Qxe3 14. Bxe3 a6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 Bd7 $11 {1/2-1/2
Sherzer,A-Brendel,O/Eger 1988/EXT 2000 (24)}) 12... axb6 13. a4 {This move
seems the best in this position. Another continuations lead to good
counterplay of Black:} (13. Rfc1 Rfc8 14. b3 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Bobotsov,
M-Damjanovic,M/Reggio Emilia 1966/EXT 2000 (14)}) (13. f3 Nd7 14. b3 Ra3 $1 $15
{[%csl Ra1][%cal Gf8a8,Gg7a1]} (14... Rfc8 $6 15. a4 Nc5 (15... Bd4+ 16. Kh1
Nc5 17. Rab1 $14) 16. Rab1 Kf8 17. g3 Ke8 18. Kg2 h5 19. Bd1 Kd7 20. Bc2 $14 {
1-0 Boensch,U-Schwartz,B/Stralsund 1975/EXT 2000 (40)}) (14... b5 $5 15. cxb5
Rfc8 16. Rfc1 Bxb3 17. axb3 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Rxc3 20. Ra7 Rc7 21.
Bc4 e6 $15)) (13. f4 Rfc8 14. b3 b5 15. cxb5 (15. f5 Bd7 $132 {0-1 Nilsson,
N-Schmied,A/Copenhagen 1997/EXT 2000 (30)}) 15... Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bd4+ 17. Kh1
Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Rc2 19. a4 Bf5 20. Bd3 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 (21. Bxc2 Bxc2 22. a5 Bxb3
$44) 21... Rxd2 22. Bxb7 Ra5 $44 (22... Rb8 23. Bc6 $16 {1-0 Hausner,I-Tichy,V/
Marianske Lazne 1978/MCD (28)})) (13. Be3 $6 Rfc8 14. b3 Nd7 15. Rfc1 b5 $1 $17
{0-1 Dragomarezkij,E-Neverov,V/Moscow 1990/EXT 2000 (31)}) 13... Nd7 {After
this move White have to sacrifice P:} ({Black here was able to equalize after} 
13... Rfc8 $5 14. b3 $1 (14. Nd5 $2 Nxd5 $1 (14... Bxd5 15. exd5 Ne4 $132) 15.
exd5 (15. cxd5 Bd7 16. Be3 Rxa4 17. Rxa4 Bxa4 $17) 15... Bd7 16. Ra2 Rxa4 $15)
14... b5 $1 15. e5 $1 dxe5 16. Nxb5 Ne4 17. Bb4 Nc5 $132) 14. Ra3 (14. Ra3 Nc5
15. Rfa1 ({Or} 15. f3 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Nxa4 17. Bd4 Nc5 18. Rfa1 Rxa3 19. Rxa3 Rc8
20. Ra7 $44) 15... Bxc3 $1 (15... Rfc8 $6 16. f3 $14) 16. Bxc3 Nxe4 17. Bd4 $44
Rfc8 (17... Nc5 18. a5 Rxa5 (18... bxa5 19. b4 Na6 20. Rxa5 Rac8 21. b5 Nb4 22.
Rc1 Ra8 23. Rca1 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 Rc8 25. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Rb4]}) 19. b4 Rxa3 20.
Rxa3 Nd7 21. Ra7 Rc8 22. Rxb7 Bxc4 23. Rxd7 Bxe2 24. f3 $44) 18. Re3 Bxc4 19.
Rxe4 Bxe2 20. Bc3 {Opponent colours BB is decisive factor of this position
evaluation: White has sufficient compensation for material lack} Bb5 21. Rxe7
Bxa4 22. Rxb7 Bc6 23. Rba7 Rxa7 24. Rxa7 g5 25. f3 h6 26. Kf2 b5 $44) 14... Nc5
15. Rfa1 ({Or} 15. f3 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Nxa4 17. Bd4 Nc5 18. Rfa1 Rxa3 19. Rxa3 Rc8
20. Ra7 $44) 15... Bxc3 $1 (15... Rfc8 $6 16. f3 $14) 16. Bxc3 Nxe4 17. Bd4 $44
Rfc8 (17... Nc5 18. a5 Rxa5 (18... bxa5 19. b4 Na6 20. Rxa5 Rac8 21. b5 Nb4 22.
Rc1 Ra8 23. Rca1 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 Rc8 25. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Rb4]}) 19. b4 Rxa3 20.
Rxa3 Nd7 21. Ra7 Rc8 22. Rxb7 Bxc4 23. Rxd7 Bxe2 24. f3 $44) 18. Re3 Bxc4 19.
Rxe4 Bxe2 20. Bc3 {Opponent colours BB is decisive factor of this position
evaluation: White has sufficient compensation for material lack} Bb5 21. Rxe7
Bxa4 22. Rxb7 Bc6 23. Rba7 Rxa7 24. Rxa7 g5 25. f3 h6 26. Kf2 b5 $44 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B74"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 O-O 8.
Nb3 d6 9. f4 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qd2 Qc8 12. Kh1 Ba6 13. Rad1 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Qg4
15. Qe1 Rac8 16. h3 Qe6 17. Bg1 Rfe8 18. a3 Nd7 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21.
Rxd4 Rc5 22. Rf2 Rec8 23. Rdd2 Rc4 24. Rfe2 R4c5 25. Nd5 Nf6 26. c3 Rc4 27. b3
R4c5 28. a4 b5 29. axb5 Rxb5 30. b4 a5 31. bxa5 Rxa5 32. Kh2 Rac5 33. Rd4 Kg7
34. Re3 Nxd5 35. exd5 Qf6 36. Rxe7 Rxc3 37. Qe6 R3c7 38. Qxf6+ Kxf6 39. Rxc7
Rxc7 40. g4 Rc2+ 41. Kg3 Rc3+ 42. Kg2 h5 43. Rd2 h4 44. Rd4 Ra3 45. Kh2 Rg3 46.
Rd2 Rf3 47. Rd4 g5 48. fxg5+ Kxg5 49. Kg2 Rf4 50. Rd2 f5 51. gxf5 Kxf5 52. Re2
Re4 53. Ra2 Ke5 54. Kf3 Rf4+ 55. Ke3 Rb4 56. Kf3 Kxd5 57. Ra8 Kd4 58. Rh8 Kd3
59. Rd8 Rd4 60. Rd7 d5 61. Rd8 Kc3 62. Rd7 Kc4 63. Rc7+ Kb5 64. Ke3 Rc4 65. Rh7
Kc6 66. Kd3 Ra4 67. Rh8 Kc5 68. Rc8+ Kd6 69. Rh8 Rb4 70. Rh7 Rb3+ 71. Kd4 Ke6
72. Rh6+ Kf5 73. Rh5+ Kg6 74. Rxd5 Rxh3 75. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5
b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 10. h4 Nb6 11. h5 c5 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. dxc5 Be6 14. Qc2 Bf5 15.
Qb3 Be6 16. Qa3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. Bh6 Bxh6 19. Rd1 (19. Rxh6 Nc6 20. Rd1
Qb8 $16) 19... Qc7 20. Rxh6 Nc6 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Rfd8 23. Ng5 {White is
forcing a draw, since he does not believe in the chances to gain real
advantage.} (23. Qb3 e6 $2 (23... Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Rd8 25. Qe4 Qd7 26. Kf1 Qd1+
27. Ne1 Qd5 $11) 24. Rd6 Kg7 25. Ng5 Qa5+ 26. Kf1 Rxd6 27. Rh7+ Kg8 28. Rh8+
Kg7 29. Rh7+ Kg8 30. exd6 Qd2 31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. Rh7+ {1/2-1/2 Babula,V-Ftacnik,
L/CZE/1999/ (32)}) 23... Rxd5 24. Rh8+ (24. Qh3 Qxe5+ $19) 24... Kg7 (24...
Kxh8 25. Qh3+ Kg7 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qxf7# (27. Qh8#)) 25. Rh7+ Kg8 26. Rh8+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15.
Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3 f5 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. b3 fxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxd5
22. Nxf6 Qxf6 23. Bd2 Rxe1+ 24. Bxe1 Qe6 25. Re3 Qg8 26. Ng4 Nc6 27. Rg3 Qe6
28. Bc3 Be4 29. Bxe4 Qxe4 30. Nxh6 Nd4 31. Bxd4 cxd4 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Qh5 Rc8
34. Rf3 Qh7 35. Qd5 Qb1+ 36. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. h4 h5 11. Qe2 Na5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. g4 Nxb3+ 14. axb3 hxg4
15. h5 gxf3 16. Nxf3 Rxc3 17. bxc3 Qa5 18. Bd4 e5 19. Bf2 Qa1+ 20. Kd2 Bh6+ 21.
Kd3 Qa6+ 22. c4 Nxe4 23. hxg6 Nxf2+ 24. Qxf2 e4+ 25. Kxe4 Bg7 26. Qh2 d5+ 27.
Rxd5 Qxg6+ 28. Ke3 Re8+ 29. Kd2 Qf6 30. Rxd7 Qc3+ 31. Kc1 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Qc3+ 33.
Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bg3 dxe3 17. Rae1 Be6 18. fxe3 Rad8 19. Nd6 Ne5 20. Bxh7+ Qxh7
21. Qxh7+ Kxh7 22. Bxe5 f6 23. e4 Nb6 24. Bg3 Na4 25. e5 f5 26. Bh4 Rd7 27. Re3
f4 28. Ref3 Bd5 29. Rh3 Be6 30. Be7+ Bxh3 31. Bxf8 Be6 32. Ne4 Kg8 33. Ng5 Kxf8
34. Nxe6+ Ke7 35. Nxf4 Rd2 36. Rf3 Nc5 37. h4 Ne6 38. Kh2 Ra2 39. Nxe6 Kxe6 40.
Rg3 Kf7 41. e6+ Kxe6 42. Rxg7 Rxa3 43. Rxb7 Kf5 44. Rb5+ Kg4 45. Rb4+ Kh5 46.
g3 Ra1 47. Kh3 a5 48. g4+ Kh6 49. Rb6+ Kg7 50. h5 a4 51. Ra6 a3 52. Kh4 a2 53.
Kg5 Kh7 54. Ra7+ Kg8 55. Kg6 Kf8 56. g5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Qb3
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rd1 Re8 12. a3 c6 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. O-O g6 15.
Rfe1 Nf8 16. Bb1 Bg7 17. Ba2 Ne6 18. h3 Qd6 19. e4 Rad8 20. exd5 cxd5 21. Re3
a6 22. Rde1 b5 23. Bb1 Re7 24. Qd1 Rde8 25. Ba2 h5 26. g3 h4 27. gxh4 Nf4 28.
Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Rxe7 Qxe7 30. Qd2 Bh6 31. Kf1 Bc8 32. Nxd5 Bxh3+ 33. Kg1 Qe6 34.
Ne5 Bf5 35. Kh2 Kg7 36. Nxf4 Qxa2 37. Nf3 f6 38. Kg3 Qf7 39. d5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6
8. h4 c5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. O-O-O h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Be2 e5 14. Nb5
Qb6 15. Qe3 Qxe3+ 16. fxe3 Ng4 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 18. Rd5 a6 19. Nd6 Rfd8 20. c4 b6
21. b3 Rd7 22. Ne4 Rxd5 23. cxd5 f5 24. Nf2 Bh5 25. e4 fxe4 26. Nxe4 Rd8 27.
Nc3 Kf7 28. Re1 Kf6 29. Ne4+ Kf5 30. Ng3+ Kg4 31. Nxh5 Kxh5 32. Rxe5+ Kxh4 33.
Kd2 Kg3 34. Ke3 Kxg2 35. Kf4 Kf2 36. Rh5 g5+ 37. Ke5 g4 38. Rxh6 Rf8 39. d6 g3
40. d7 g2 41. Rg6 g1=Q 42. Rxg1 Kxg1 43. Ke6 Rh8 44. Ke7 Rh7+ 45. Kd6 Rh8 46.
Kc7 Kf2 47. d8=Q Rxd8 48. Kxd8 Ke3 49. Kc7 b5 50. Kb6 Kd4 51. Kxa6 Kc5 52. Ka5
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d5 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 a6 8. Bf4 b5
9. h3 Nf6 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Re1 Ra7 13. a3 Rae7 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. b4
Nbd7 16. Rac1 Bb7 17. Bh2 c4 18. Bc2 Ne5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Qe3 Qxe3 21. fxe3
Rb8 22. a4 Bc8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra1 Ne8 25. Ra5 Reb7 26. Bg3 f6 27. Rb1 Bf8
28. Be1 Be7 29. Nd1 Bd8 30. Ra3 Bb6 31. Bc3 Re7 32. Rba1 Bb7 33. Kf2 Nd6 34.
Ke2 f5 35. Be1 fxe4 36. Nc3 Bd4 37. exd4 exd4 38. Bg3 d3+ 39. Ke1 Rd7 40. Bd1
Re8 41. Bxd6 Rxd6 42. Ra7 Bxd5 43. Nxb5 Rdd8 44. Nc7 Re5 45. Nxd5 Rexd5 46. Re7
Rg5 47. g4 Rb5 48. Raa7 Rxb4 49. Rg7+ Kf8 50. Rxh7 Kg8 51. Rag7+ Kf8 52. Rc7
Kg8 53. Rhe7 Rb2 54. Rxc4 Rh2 55. Rcxe4 d2+ 56. Kf1 Rh1+ 57. Ke2 Re1+ 58. Kf2
Rxd1 59. Re8+ Rxe8 60. Rxe8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. d4 Bb7 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. d5 Nb8 15.
Nf1 Nbd7 16. N3h2 Nc5 17. Bc2 c6 18. b4 Ncd7 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Bg5 h6 21. Bxf6
Nxf6 22. Ng4 Nxg4 23. Qxg4 Rc8 24. Bb3 Bd7 25. Qf3 Be6 26. Rac1 Be7 27. Rc2 a5
28. Qd3 Bxb3 29. axb3 axb4 30. Ne3 bxc3 31. Rxc3 Rxc3 32. Qxc3 Bg5 33. Nd5 Qd7
34. Qd3 Qc6 35. g3 Ra8 36. Kg2 Kf8 37. h4 Bd8 38. Qd2 Qb7 39. Qe2 Qc6 40. Qd2
Qb7 41. Qe2 Qc6 42. Qd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d5 Nd4 7. Nxd4 cxd4 8. O-O
Qb6 9. Qb3 Nf6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. Nb3 Nc5 14. Nxc5 bxc5
15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Bg5 Bf6 17. Bxf6 exf6 18. Rdb1 b6 19. a3 Rfb8 20. b4 Kf8 21. f4
Rc8 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Rb7 Ke8 24. Kf2 Kd8 25. Ke2 Rcb8 26. Rxb8+ Rxb8 27. Bc2
Rb2 28. Kd1 d3 29. Bxd3 Rxg2 30. Rb1 Kc7 31. h4 Rg4 32. Kd2 Rxf4 33. a4 Rxh4
34. a5 Rh2+ 35. Kc3 Ra2 36. Rf1 Rxa5 37. Rxf6 Be8 38. e5 dxe5 39. Be4 h5 40.
Kb3 Ra1 41. d6+ Kd7 42. Bd5 h4 43. Bxf7 Bxf7 44. Rxf7+ Kxd6 45. Rf6+ Ke7 46.
Rxg6 h3 47. Rh6 Rh1 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. g3 b6 8.
Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rd1 Qc8 12. c4 Re8 13. b3 a5 14. Bh3 Nd7 15.
Qd3 Qd8 16. Bg2 Nf6 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 a4 19. Bf4 Ra6 20. Nc6 Qa8 21. Qf3
axb3 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxa8+ Rxa8 24. axb3 Rd8 25. Ra7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4
Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Bg5 h6
15. Bh4 Re8 16. Re1 g5 17. Bg3 Ba5 18. Nc3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rxe4 20. Bc2 Rxe1+ 21.
Qxe1 Qe7 22. h4 Qxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Nd5 24. Ra3 Be2 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Nd3 Kg7 27.
Nc1 Bc4 28. Ra4 Rb2 29. Be4 Bb5 30. Ra2 Rxa2 31. Nxa2 Nce7 32. f4 Bc4 33. Bxd5
Nxd5 34. Nb4 Nxc3 35. Kf2 Ne2 36. d5 gxf4 37. Bh4 f6 38. Kf3 Kg6 39. Ke4 Bb5
40. Bf2 Kg5 41. Kf3 Nc3 42. Bd4 Nxd5 43. Nxd5 Bc6 44. Ba7 Bxd5+ 45. Kf2 c5 46.
Bb8 c4 47. Bxd6 c3 48. Bb4 c2 49. Bd2 Kg4 50. Bc1 f5 51. Bd2 f3 52. gxf3+ Bxf3
53. Bc1 f4 54. Bd2 Be4 55. Bc1 Kf5 56. Ke2 Ke5 57. Ke1 f3 58. Be3 Kd5 59. Kd2
Kc4 60. Bf2 Kb3 61. Bd4 Bc6 62. Kc1 Kc4 63. Bb6 Kd3 64. Bc5 Be4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bg2 Be4 8. Qb3
Bxd2+ 9. Bxd2 O-O 10. O-O d6 11. Rac1 Nbd7 12. Rfd1 Qe7 13. Qa3 a5 14. Bh3 h6
15. Ne5 Rfe8 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. f3 Bb7 18. e4 e5 19. Be3 exd4 20. Bxd4 Nc5 21.
Re1 f6 22. Qc3 Qf7 23. b3 Re7 24. Bf5 h5 25. a3 a4 26. b4 Nb3 27. Bf2 Nxc1 28.
Rxc1 Bc8 29. Bxc8 Rxc8 30. Qc2 Ra8 31. h3 Qe6 32. g4 hxg4 33. hxg4 Kf7 34. Kg2
Ree8 35. Rd1 Rh8 36. Bg3 Rhe8 37. Rd5 Red8 38. Rd1 Rh8 39. Rd5 Rhd8 40. Rd1 Re8
41. Rd5 Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. Be2 Ne7 14. Ncb4 a5
15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nd5 Qb7 17. Qd3 Rb8 18. O-O Be6 19. Rfd1 Rfc8 20. a3 h6 21.
g3 Bd8 22. Rd2 Qa7 23. Kg2 Rc5 24. Ne3 Bg5 25. h4 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Qc7 27. Rad1
Rc6 28. Kh2 Bb3 29. Rg1 Bc4 30. Rgd1 Bxe2 31. Qxe2 b4 32. axb4 axb4 33. Rd3
bxc3 34. bxc3 Rb3 35. Qd2 Qb6 36. Kg2 Rb2 37. Qe3 Qxe3 38. Rxe3 Kf8 39. Red3
Ke7 40. Re3 Rc2 41. Rdd3 h5 42. Kf3 g6 43. Kg2 Ke6 44. Kf1 Rc4 45. Ke1 f5 46.
f3 Rg2 47. exf5+ gxf5 48. f4 e4 49. Rd2 Rg1+ 50. Kf2 Rc1 51. Ra2 R4xc3 52. Rxc3
Rxc3 53. Ra8 d5 54. Re8+ Kd6 55. Re5 d4 56. Rxf5 Rc2+ 57. Ke1 e3 58. Re5 Rg2
59. Kf1 Rxg3 60. Ke2 Rg2+ 61. Kf3 Rd2 62. Re8 Kd5 63. Re5+ Kc4 64. f5 Rf2+ 65.
Kg3 Kd3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 8. d4
dxe4 9. dxe5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxf2+ 11. Kf1 exf3 12. exf6 Bh4 13. fxg7 fxg2+ 14.
Kxg2 Rg8 15. Bh6 Bg5 16. Re1+ Be6 17. Bxg5 Rxg7 18. h4 h6 19. Be4 Kd7 20. Rd1+
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 Nd7 13. Kh1 b6 14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Ne3
f5 16. f4 Nf7 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bd3 Nh6 19. Qc2 Qf6 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rf3 Kh8 22.
Raf1 Re7 23. Rh3 Qf7 24. Nc4 Qg6 25. Rg3 Ng4 26. h3 h5 27. Ne3 Nxe3 28. Rxg6
Nxc2 29. Bxc2 Ne8 30. Rg5 Nf6 31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Rae8 33. Kh2 Kh7 34. Kg3
a6 35. Kh4 Kg6 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 b5 38. axb5 axb5 39. Rg5+ Kf7 40. Nxb5 Rh8+
41. Rh5 Nxh5 42. Nxd6+ Kf8 43. gxh5 Bf6+ 44. Kg4 Rg7+ 45. Kf5 Bxb2 46. Rh1 Rd7
47. Ke6 Re7+ 48. Kf5 Rd7 49. Be3 Bd4 50. Bxd4 cxd4 51. Ke5 d3 52. Nf5 d2 53. h6
Kf7 54. Rd1 Re8+ 55. Kd4 Re2 56. h7 Rd8 57. Ng3 Rf2 58. Ne4 Rxf4 59. Rxd2 Rh4
60. Rf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Re8 11. Nc3 Bg4 12. c5 Bc7 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Bxe4 Bxf3 15.
Bxf3 Qxd4 16. Be3 Rxe3 17. fxe3 Qxe3+ 18. Qf2 Qxf2+ 19. Rxf2 Nxc5 20. Rd1 a5
21. g3 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Kf1 a4 24. Rc2 Bb6 25. Bd1 Kf8 26. Rc4 Ba7 27.
Rh4 Bb8 28. Rxh7 Be5 29. Rh8+ Ke7 30. Ra8 b5 31. Bf3 Kd7 32. Ra7+ Kd6 33. Ra8
Kc7 34. Ra7+ Kb6 35. Ra8 Nb7 36. Bd1 Bxb2 37. Bxa4 bxa4 38. Rxa4 c5 39. Ke2 Nd6
40. h4 f5 41. Ra8 Be5 42. Kf3 c4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8
15. Be2 Bg6 16. Ra2 h6 17. Rd2 Be4 18. Qa1 Qe7 19. Rfd1 Rac8 20. Ne1 g5 21. Bg3
Ne5 22. Bb5 Nc6 23. Ba4 a5 24. Bb3 axb4 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 bxa3 27. Rd7 Qe4
28. Qxa3 Rcd8 29. Qb3 Qe6 30. Qxe6 Rxe6 31. Nf3 Rxd7 32. Rxd7 Re7 33. Rd5 Bc7
34. Bxc7 Rxc7 35. g4 f6 36. Nd2 Kf7 37. Ne4 Ne7 38. Rb5 Nc8 39. Kg2 b6 40. Kf3
Rc6 41. Rd5 Ke7 42. h4 Nd6 43. hxg5 hxg5 44. Nxd6 Rxd6 45. Rb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 a6 11. Rfd1 Rb8 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Re8 14. Bh6 Bh8 15.
Bh3 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Qb4 Bxf3 18. exf3 Ne5 19. Bg2 Nc6 20. Qh4 Qa5 21. Bd2
Qa6 22. Bf1 Ne5 23. Qf4 Qa8 24. Be2 Rec8 25. Kg2 Bg7 26. Qe3 Rc5 27. Kg1 Rbc8
28. h3 b4 29. Na4 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 31. Bxc1 Nd5 32. Qd2 Qc8 33. Bb2 e6 34.
f4 Nd7 35. Bxg7 Kxg7 36. Bf3 N7f6 37. Kg2 Qc7 38. g4 Nc3 39. Qd4 e5 40. fxe5
dxe5 41. Qxb4 Nfd5 42. Bxd5 Nxd5 43. Qc5 Qb7 44. Kg3 f6 45. f3 h5 46. Qd6 Nf4
47. Nc5 h4+ 48. Kxh4 Qxf3 49. Qe7+ Kh6 50. g5+ fxg5+ 51. Qxg5+ Kh7 52. Qe7+ Kh6
53. Qf8+ Kh7 54. Qe7+ Kh6 55. Qg5+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 O-O 11. b4 Bf5 12. Bb2 Re8 13. Rd1 b6 14. e3 bxc5
15. Bb5 Qb6 16. Qa4 Rac8 17. Rxd5 Be6 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxc6 Rxc6 20. Re5 Bd7
21. bxc5 Rxc5 22. Rxc5 Nxc5 23. O-O Nd3 24. Bd4 a6 25. Rb1 f6 26. Ba7 Bb5 27.
Nd4 Rc8 28. g4 Rc3 29. Ra1 Bd7 30. h3 h5 31. gxh5 Bxh3 32. Kh2 Bd7 33. Kg3 Be8
34. h6 gxh6 35. Nf5 Bd7 36. Ne7+ Kf7 37. Nd5 Rc2 38. f3 Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qc2
d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2 c5 11. O-O Nd7 12. Rfd1 Rc8 13. Qb2 Bb7 14. e4 N5f6 15.
d5 exd5 16. exd5 Bd6 17. Bh3 h6 18. Nb5 Bb8 19. Bc3 a6 20. Na3 b5 21. Nc2 Re8
22. Ne3 b4 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Rac1 Ne4 25. Bxc8 Bxc8 26. Rc4 Bd6 27. Qc2 Ng5 28.
Nxg5 Qxg5 29. Re4 Rd8 30. Nc4 Bf8 31. Re5 Qf6 32. Qe2 g6 33. d6 Bb7 34. Qe3 g5
35. f4 g4 36. Qxc5 Bf3 37. Rd2 Qg6 38. Re1 Bg7 39. Qc7 Bf6 40. Ne5 Qh5 41. d7
Kg7 42. Qc2 Ba8 43. Qd1 Bf3 44. Qc2 Ba8 45. Qc4 a5 46. Nc6 Qg6 47. Rd6 Bxc6 48.
Qxc6 Bd4+ 49. Kg2 Qd3 50. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. Bd3 Be6 13. Qh5 O-O 14. O-O f4
15. Rad1 Kh8 16. g3 Rg8 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Be2 Rg5 19. Qf3 f5 20. gxf4 exf4 21.
Nxf4 Bxa2 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Qe4 Rf7 24. Bh5 Rf6 25. c4 Ne5 26. c5 Rc8 27. cxd6
Bxd6 28. Be2 Qf8 29. Nh5 Rxf2 30. Nc2 Nd3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qc2 Bg6 11. c5 Bc7 12. Nc3 f5 13. Ne2 Nd7 14. Bf4 Bh5 15.
Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Nd2 Rae8 17. f3 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 f4 19. Nc3 g5 20. g4 Bg6 21. Bxg6
hxg6 22. Re2 Rxe2 23. Qxe2 Nf6 24. Qd3 Qg7 25. Re1 Re8 26. Re2 Kf7 27. Qd2 Qh8
28. Rxe8 Nxe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Be2 dxc4 10. O-O a6 11. Bxc4 Nbd7 12. a4 c5 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. exd4 Re8
15. Rfe1 Nf8 16. Rcd1 Ng6 17. Bg3 Bb4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5
21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rf1 Qd7 23. Qc2 d4 24. Qb3 Bc5 25. Rd3 b5 26. axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {Dieser
Zug wird auf Großmeisterebene nur selten gespielt. Weiß möchte in der Folge
mit 0-0-0 und eventuellem f3, g4 eine starke Angriffsstellung aufbauen.} b5 8.
O-O-O (8. Bf4 e5 (8... Ne5 9. Ndxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Qb8 11. Qc3 f6 12. O-O-O Nd3+
13. Bxd3 Qxf4+ 14. Kb1 Kf7 15. Rhf1 Ne7 {0-1 Doncheva,M-Velcheva,M/Plovdiv BUL
2001/(52)}) 9. Nd5 Qb8 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. O-O-O cxd5 12. Qxd5 f6 13. Be3 Qb7 14.
Qd8+ Kf7 15. f3 Be6 {0-1 Bhattacharyya,P-Mishra,N/Calcutta 1994/CBM 39 ext (26)
}) 8... Nf6 (8... Bb7 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Nf6 12. d6 Qc6 13. Be2
Qxg2 14. f3 Nd5 15. Rdg1 Qh3 16. Rg3 Qh4 17. Rg4 Qd8 18. Bc5 Rc8 19. b4 h5 20.
Rd4 Nf6 21. a4 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Movsesian,S/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72 (54)}) 9. Bf4
{Das ist eine neue und interessante Idee. Ich glaube, dass wir in nächster
Zeit weitere Partien zu diesem Thema sehen werden.} (9. Nxc6 dxc6 (9... Qxc6
10. f3 Bb7 11. g4 (11. Kb1 Rc8 12. Bd4 Bc5 13. g4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qc5 15. Qd2 b4
16. Na4 Qc6 17. b3 O-O 18. g5 Nh5 {1/2-1/2 Kobalija,M-Oral,T/Varadero 2000/CBM
77 (34)}) 11... b4 12. Ne2 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. Bd4 a5 15. Kb1 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5
17. f4 O-O 18. Nd4 {1/2-1/2 Kobalija,M-Stefansson,H/Varadero 2000/CBM 77 (41)})
10. f3 Be7 11. g4 e5 12. h4 Be6 13. Bh3 Rd8 14. Qh2 Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 O-O 16. g5
Nh5 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qh3 Qc8 19. Ne2 g6 {1/2-1/2 Motylev,A-Fominyh,A/Ubeda
ESP 2001/(41)}) (9. f3 Bb7 10. Nb3 (10. Kb1 b4 11. Na4 d5 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Nb6
Rd8 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bd3 Be7 $11) 10... d6 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Qf2
Nfd7 13. Kb1 Rb8 14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Ba7 Rc8 {0-1 Tirard,H-Gustafsson,J/Hamburg
1996/CBM 55 ext (44)}) 9... Ne5 (9... Qb6 10. e5 $36) (9... e5 10. Nxc6 exf4 (
10... dxc6 11. Bxe5 $18) 11. e5 Ng4 12. Nd4 $40) 10. Nf3 Nfg4 (10... Nxf3 $5
11. gxf3 Qa5 12. Kb1 (12. e5 b4 $132) 12... b4 13. Ne2 d5 $13) 11. Bg3 (11. h3
Nxf3 12. Bxc7 Nxd2 13. Rxd2 Nf6 14. e5 b4 {b5-b4auf e4-e5 ist ein für diese
Stellungen typischer Gegenangriff von Schwarz.}) 11... f6 (11... b4 $2 12. Nd5
exd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Qxd5 $16 {[%csl Re5][%cal Rd5a8]}) (11... Bb4 $2 12. Qg5
$16) (11... d6 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. f4 $40) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 (12... fxe5 $2 13. Qg5
$16) 13. f4 {Weiß hat Entwicklungsvorsprung und gute Angriffschancen. Der
schwarze König steht unsicher in der Mitte. Dennoch hat Schwarz einige
Gegenchancen am Damenflügel.} Nc4 (13... b4 $2 14. Nd5 $16) (13... Nf7 $5) 14.
Bxc4 Qxc4 15. f5 $36 {[%csl Re8]} Kf7 $6 (15... Bb4 16. fxe6 Qxe6 17. Qd5 Qc6 (
17... Qxd5 $2 18. Nxd5 Ba5 19. Bc7 $18) 18. Qh5+ g6 19. Qh6 Bf8 (19... Bxc3 $2
20. Qg7 $18) 20. Qh4 $40) (15... e5 $5 {Dieser Zug schwächt zwar das Feld d5,
aber die schwarze Stellung scheint mir verteidigungsfähig.}) (15... b4 $5 16.
fxe6 bxc3 17. exd7+ Kf7 $13) 16. e5 $1 {[%mdl 128]} b4 (16... Bb4 17. Rhf1 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Qxa2 19. Qe2 $44 (19. Qd6 $44)) 17. Nb1 exf5 (17... Qxa2 18. Rhf1 $36
{[%cal Gf1f7]}) 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Bd6 $1 {[%csl Gd6]} (19. Rhf1 d5 $1 (19...
Kg6 20. Bd6 $40) 20. b3 Qc6 21. Qxd5+ Qxd5 22. Rxd5 Be6 $11) 19... Bxd6 (19...
Qxa2 20. Qxb4 Bh6+ 21. Bf4 $36) 20. Qxd6 Re8 21. b3 (21. Rhe1 Re6) 21... Qb5 (
21... Qe4 22. Nd2 Qe5 (22... Qxg2 23. Rhg1 Qc6 24. Qg3 $16 {[%cal Rg1g7,Rg7f7]}
) 23. Qxb4 Qa1+ 24. Nb1 $36) 22. Rhe1 (22. a4 $5) 22... Bb7 (22... Re6 23. Rxe6
dxe6 24. Qc7+ Kg6 25. Rd8 $18) (22... Re5 23. Nd2 Bb7 (23... Qc5 24. Qxc5 Rxc5
25. Nc4 $36) 24. Rxe5 fxe5 25. Nc4 $16) 23. a4 (23. Qxd7+ Kg6 24. Qd6) 23...
Qc6 (23... bxa3 24. Nxa3 Qc6 25. Qxd7+ Kg6 26. Qd3 Rxe1 27. Qg3+ Kf7 28. Qxe1
Re8 29. Qh4 $40) 24. Qxb4 {Endlich hat Weiß das materielle Gleichgewicht
widerhergestellt. Die schwarze Königsstellung ist - die ganze Partie über -
schwach, doch Weiß hat noch keine konkreten Drohungen.} Rxe1 (24... Rac8 25.
Na3 $16 {[%cal Ga3c4,Gc4d6]}) (24... Re6 $5) 25. Qxe1 (25. Rxe1 Rc8 (25... Qxg2
26. Qe7+ Kg6 27. Qxd7 Be4 28. Nd2 $14) 26. Na3) 25... Rc8 26. Na3 d5 27. Qh4 {
[%csl Gh4]} Kg8 28. Rd3 {[%cal Gd3h3,Gg3g8]} Qe6 29. Qg3+ Kf7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
Das ist ein Fehler, der Weiß tödliche Drohungen ermöglicht.} (29... Kh8 $1 30.
Re3 Qd7 31. Qh4 Qg7 $14) 30. Re3 $1 $16 Qb6 (30... Qd7) 31. Qh3 {[%csl Rf7]
[%cal Rh3h7,Rh7f7]} Qc5 32. Qxh7+ Kf8 33. Rg3 $18 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Atalik, Suat"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D29"]
[WhiteElo "2537"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 {Too tame.} ({Usual is} 5. e4
Bb4 6. Bg5) 5... a6 6. Bxc4 (6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10.
Rd1 e5 {transposes to some equal variation of queen's gambit accepted.} 11.
exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 $11) 6... b5 7. Bb3
Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Qb8 11. d5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5
14. Rxd5 Qb7 15. e4 Be7 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rad1 {This is all theory.} Nb6 18. Bf4
O-O (18... Nxd5 $6 {is risky.} 19. exd5 O-O 20. d6 Bd8 21. d7 Bc7 22. Qe6+ Kh8
(22... Rf7 23. b4 cxb4 (23... c4 24. Be3 c3 25. Bc5 $18) 24. Rc1) 23. Be3 Qb6
$140 $2 24. Qxb6 Bxb6 25. b4 $18) 19. R5d2 Rfe8 $1 {Black builds up his play
around whites post on e4.} 20. e5 Bf8 21. Qd3 Nc4 $1 22. Re2 {I have thought
that blacks last is impossible.} (22. exf6 $2 Nxd2 23. f7+ Qxf7 24. Ng5 Nf3+ $1
{The move which I have later seen.} 25. Qxf3 (25. gxf3 Qg6 $19 {and the knight
is pinned.}) 25... Qxa2 $8 $19) 22... fxe5 23. Bxe5 $6 {Like it was mentioned
in the previous notes,white is not doing so fine.} (23. Nxe5 Bd6 24. Rde1 Bxe5
25. Bxe5 Rad8 26. Qg3 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 Rxe5 28. Qxe5 Qd5 29. Qe7 Rf8 30. b3 c4 31.
bxc4 bxc4 32. Qe6+ Qxe6 33. Rxe6 Rc8 34. Re2 Kf7 35. Kf1 Kf6 36. Ke1 $11) 23...
Nxe5 24. Nxe5 c4 25. Qf5 Qe7 $1 26. Re3 Rad8 {After this white can force a
pawns ending.However during the game I have thought that this ending is losing
by force.} 27. Rde1 $2 {Despite everything white has to go to the pawns ending.
} (27. Rd7 $1 Rxd7 (27... g6 $2 28. Qg4 Qf6 29. Qd1 $1 $18) 28. Nxd7 Qf7 29.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxe8 Kxe8 31. Nxf8 Kxf8 32. f4 $1 {This is the first critical
move.White is threatening to occupyone of the central squares with his king.} (
{This one is clearly losing.} 32. a3 $2 a5 33. Kf1 b4 34. Ke2 (34. axb4 c3 $1
35. bxc3 a4 $19) 34... c3 $19) (32. Kf1 $2 Ke7 33. Ke2 Kd6 34. Ke3 Kd5 35. h4 (
35. f4 h5 $1 (35... b4 36. g4 $1 $11) 36. g3 a5 37. h3 b4 38. a4 Kc5 $1 39. g4
hxg4 40. hxg4 Kd5 $19) (35. g4 g5 36. f4 gxf4+ 37. Kxf4 Kd4 $19) 35... h5 $1
36. f3 (36. a3 a5 $1 (36... c3 $2 37. bxc3 Kc4 38. f4 Kxc3 39. g4 hxg4 (39...
a5 40. gxh5 b4 41. axb4 axb4 42. f5 b3 43. f6 gxf6 44. h6 b2 45. h7 b1=Q 46.
h8=Q $11) 40. f5 a5 41. f6 gxf6 42. h5 b4 43. axb4 axb4 44. h6 b3 45. h7 b2 46.
h8=Q b1=Q 47. Qxf6+ $11) 37. f3 c3 $1 38. bxc3 Kc4 39. Kd2 Kb3 40. g4 Kxa3 41.
gxh5 b4 $19) 36... a5 37. g4 b4 (37... g6 $2 38. a3 b4 (38... Ke5 39. f4+ Kf6
40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Kd4 Kf5 42. Kc5 Kxf4 43. Kxb5 Kg4 44. Kxc4 Kxh4 45. b4 axb4
46. a4 $18) 39. axb4 axb4 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. f4 b3 42. Kd2 Ke4 43. Kc3 Kxf4 44.
Kxc4 Kg4 45. Kxb3 Kxh4 46. Kc4 Kg3 $11) 38. gxh5 (38. a4 hxg4 39. fxg4 Ke5 40.
h5 b3 41. Kd2 Kf4 42. Kc3 Kxg4 43. Kxc4 Kxh5 44. Kxb3 g5 45. Kc4 g4 $19) 38...
a4 39. Kd2 Kd4 40. a3 b3 41. h6 gxh6 42. h5 (42. f4 Ke4 43. Kc3 Kxf4 44. Kxc4
Ke3 45. Kb5 Kd2 $19) 42... c3+ $1 {Now black is winning due to the fact that
white's passer's are two files apart.} 43. bxc3+ Kc4 44. f4 Kd5 45. Kd3 Ke6 46.
c4 Kf5 47. c5 Ke6 $19) 32... Ke7 (32... h5 33. Kf2 Ke7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Ke4 $11)
(32... a5 33. Kf2 a4 34. Ke3 b4 35. Kd2 Ke7 36. a3 c3+ 37. bxc3 b3 38. g4 Kd6
39. Kd3 g6 40. c4 Ke6 41. Kc3 $11) 33. Kf2 {The move order does not matter
white has to throw his king on the third rank and then should play g4 or the
other way around.} (33. g4) 33... Kd6 34. Ke3 Kd5 35. g4 $1 b4 (35... a5 $5 36.
h4 $5 (36. a3 a4 37. Kd2 Ke4 (37... Kd4 38. f5 h6 39. Kc2 c3 40. bxc3+ Ke4 41.
h3 Kf4 42. Kd3 Kg3 43. Ke4 Kxh3 44. Kf3 $11) 38. Kc3 $1 (38. f5 $2 Kf4 39. Kc3
Kxg4 40. Kb4 Kh3 41. Kxb5 Kxh2 42. Kxa4 Kg3 43. Kb5 h5 $19) 38... Kxf4 39. Kb4
Kxg4 40. Kxb5 Kh3 41. Kxa4 Kxh2 42. b4 cxb3 43. Kxb3 g5 44. a4 $11) 36... a4
37. a3 b4 $1 (37... g6 $2 {This move surprisingly loses the game.} 38. g5 $3 (
38. h5 $2 gxh5 39. gxh5 h6 40. Kd2 Ke4 41. Kc3 Kxf4 42. Kb4 Kg5 43. Kxb5 Kxh5
44. Kxa4 Kg4 $19) 38... Ke6 (38... b4 $2 39. axb4 c3 40. Kd3 cxb2 41. Kc2 a3
42. b5 Kc5 43. h5 gxh5 44. f5 h4 45. f6) 39. Kd4 Kd6 (39... Kf5 40. Kc5 Kxf4
41. Kxb5 Kg4 42. Kxc4 Kxh4 43. b4 axb3 44. Kxb3 Kxg5 45. a4 $18) 40. Kc3 Kd5
41. Kb4 Kc6 42. f5 gxf5 43. h5 f4 44. g6 (44. Kc3 $2 f3 45. Kd2 b4 $19) 44...
hxg6 45. hxg6 f3 46. g7 f2 47. g8=Q f1=Q 48. Qa8+ Kc7 49. Qa5+ Kd6 50. Qb6+ Ke7
51. Qxb5 Qe2 52. Qc5+ Kd7 53. Qd4+ Ke7 54. Kxa4 $18) (37... h6 38. h5 $1 b4 39.
axb4 c3 40. Kd3 cxb2 41. Kc2 a3 42. g5 $18) 38. axb4 c3 39. Kd3 cxb2 40. Kc2
Kc4 (40... a3 $2 41. f5 $18) 41. f5 Kxb4 42. Kxb2 (42. g5 $2 Ka3 $19) 42... Kc5
43. h5 Kd6 44. g5 Ke7 45. Ka3 h6 46. gxh6 gxh6 47. Kxa4 Kf6 48. Kb3 Kxf5 49.
Kc2 $11) (35... g6 36. a3 h6 37. h3 a5 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Ke5 40. f6 Kxf6 41.
Kd4 Kg5 42. Kc5 Kh4 43. Kxb5 Kxh3 44. Kxc4 h5 45. b4 axb4 46. axb4 h4 47. b5
Kg2 48. b6 $11) 36. a4 $3 {This is the most important move.} a5 37. h4 (37. f5
$2 h6) 37... b3 (37... g6 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Ke5 40. f6 Kxf6 41. Kd4 c3 42.
bxc3 b3 (42... bxc3 43. Kxc3 h5 (43... Kf5 $2 44. Kc4 Kg4 (44... Ke5 45. Kb5
Kd6 46. Kxa5 Kc5 47. h5 h6 48. Ka6 Kc6 49. a5 Kc7 50. Kb5 Kb7 51. Kc5 $18) 45.
Kb5 h5 46. Kxa5 Kxh4 47. Kb5 Kg3 48. a5 $18) 44. Kc4 Ke6 45. Kb5 Kd5 46. Kxa5
Kc5 $11) 43. Kd3 Ke5 44. Kd2 Kd5 45. Kc1 Kc4 46. Kb2 h5 47. Ka3 Kxc3 $11) 38.
Kd2 Ke4 39. Kc3 Kxf4 40. Kxc4 Kxg4 41. Kxb3 Kxh4 42. Kc4 g5 43. b4 axb4 44. a5
g4 45. a6 g3 46. a7 g2 47. a8=Q g1=Q 48. Kxb4 $11) 27... Qe6 $1 {Black
sacrifices a pawn for initiative.Actually it is not even a sacrifice since
black will win it back almost immediately.} 28. Qxe6+ Rxe6 29. Nxc4 Rc6 30. Ne5
Rc2 31. Rb3 $4 {Unbelievable!After this howler of course white will lose in
2two moves.} (31. Kf1 $1 Rxb2 (31... Bb4 32. Rb1 Rdd2 (32... Bc5 33. Re2 Rdd2
34. Rxd2 Rxd2 35. Rc1 Rxf2+ 36. Ke1 Be3 37. Rc8+ Rf8 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $15) 33.
Nd3 Ba5 34. Rf3 $11) 32. R3e2 Rxe2 33. Kxe2 Bb4 34. Rd1 Rxd1 35. Kxd1 $15)
31... Rdd2 $19 32. g3 {Nothing works!} (32. Nd3 a5 33. h3 a4 34. Rxb5 Rxd3 $19)
(32. Ng4 Bc5 $19) 32... Rxf2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 c5 12. Be3 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qa4 14. Qf3 Ngf6
15. Qxb7 Rb8 16. Qc7 cxd4 17. b3 Qa6 18. Qc6 Rb6 19. Qa8+ Rb8 20. Qc6 Rb6 21.
Qa8+ Rb8 22. Qc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. f4
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. a5 Bd7 14. Qe1 Nxd3 15.
cxd3 Bc6 16. Qg3 Nd7 17. f5 Bf6 18. Nde2 Be5 19. Qh3 exf5 20. Qxf5 Bf6 21. d4
Nf8 22. Qf3 Ng6 23. Ng3 Qd7 24. Rad1 Bd8 25. b4 Rc8 26. Rc1 Rc7 27. Nf5 Nh4 28.
Nxh4 Bxh4 29. d5 Bb5 30. Nxb5 Rxc1 31. Bxc1 axb5 32. Bb2 Bg5 33. h3 f6 34. Bc1
h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dizdarevic, Emir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2501"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. Ngf3 Nd7 6. h3 e6 7. Bd3 Ne7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 c5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Ne4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Bf1 h6 14. Bd2 Qb6
15. Nb3 Qc7 16. Qc1 f5 17. Nec5 b6 18. Na6 Bxa6 19. Bxa6 g5 20. Nd4 Qf7 21. f4
gxf4 22. Bxf4 Nxf4 23. Qxf4 Ng6 24. Qd6 Rad8 25. Qxe6 Bxd4+ 26. cxd4 Rxd4 27.
Rac1 Kh7 28. Qxf7+ Rxf7 29. Rc2 h5 30. Bc4 Rf6 31. Bb5 Kh6 32. Re8 Rfd6 33. Rf2
Rd2 34. Rxf5 Rxb2 35. Be2 h4 36. a4 Rb4 37. Rg8 Nf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. Nbd2 Bd7 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Bd2 Nc6 13. Bc3 Rhg8 14.
Rfd1 Rac8 15. Ng5 Rgd8 16. Bf3 Be8 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. Rc1 h6 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20.
Bxe4 f6 21. g4 h5 22. h3 hxg4 23. hxg4 Bd7 24. Kg2 Rh8 25. Kg3 Bc7+ 26. f4 Bb6
27. Bd2 Kd6 28. Rd1 Ke7 29. Rc1 Kd6 30. Bg2 Rc8 31. a3 Rd8 32. Nd4 Bxd4 33.
exd4 Be8 34. Bc3 Bg6 35. Kf2 Bd3 36. Ke3 Bg6 37. Be1 Bf7 38. Rc5 Kd7 39. b4 Rc8
40. b5 axb5 41. Rxb5 Kc7 42. f5 Ra8 43. Bg3+ e5 44. dxe5 Rxa3+ 45. Kf2 fxe5 46.
Bxe5+ Nxe5 47. Rxe5 Kd6 48. Rb5 Rb3 49. Rxb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kurajica, Bojan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B28"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8.
Nc3 Qd6 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bf3 Be7 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. O-O Nd5 14. Be5
O-O 15. Na4 Qa7 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Be4 Be8 18. Re1 f6 19. Bxd5 fxe5 20. Bxc6 Rd8
21. Bxe8 Rxd4 22. Qb3 Rxe8 23. Rxe5 Kh8 24. Rxe6 Rf8 25. Qe3 Bh4 26. g3 Qd7 27.
Nc5 Qd8 28. gxh4 Rg4+ 29. Kf1 Rgf4 30. Ne4 Qxh4 31. h3 h6 32. Rc3 Qh5 33. Rc5
Qf7 34. Rce5 Rf3 35. Qc5 Kh7 36. Kg2 Qb7 37. Rxh6+ Kg8 38. Qc4+ R3f7 39. Rc6
Qxb2 40. Rf5 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. e3 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Nxf4 11. exf4 b6 12. cxb6 Qxb6 13. Na4 Qa7 ({Die
Fortsetzung} 13... Qc7 {sieht natürlicher aus:} 14. f5 e5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Ng5
Qd6 17. Qg4 Nf6 18. Qh4 Rb8 {mit etwa gleichem Spiel: Pritchett,C-Engqvist,T/
Gausdal 1993/TD (0-1,41). (41)}) 14. Rc1 Bxd4 {Nach anderen Fortsetzungen wäre
sofort deutlich, daß 13...Da7 nicht die richtige Wahl war.} 15. Bxg6 Bxf2+ ({
Nach} 15... Bg7 16. Bb1 {würde sich Weiß bald über den geschwächten
Königsflügel des Schwarzen hermachen. Auch nach dem Textzug bleibt die
Königsstellung des Schwarzen unbefriedigend geschützt.}) 16. Rxf2 hxg6 17. Nd4
Bb7 18. f5 Qb8 $6 {Schwarz möchte die Dame zur Verteidigung des Königsflügels
heranziehen. Dieser Plan ist jedoch zu zeitraubend; auf der Diagonale a7-g1
übte sie zudem eine gute Wirkung aus. Es gab bessere Pläne:} (18... e6 19. fxg6
(19. Qd2 exf5 {ist nicht gewinnträchtig für Weiß.}) 19... fxg6 20. Qg4 (20.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Qg4 Rf6 {braucht Schwarz ebenfalls nicht zu fürchten.}) 20...
Rxf2 21. Kxf2 e5 {Weiß hat nicht mehr als remis.}) (18... c5 19. fxg6 fxg6 20.
Qg4 cxd4 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Qxd7 Rxf2 ({Nicht besser
ist} 24... d3 {wegen der Möglichkeit} 25. Rc5) 25. Kxf2 Rf8+ {mit unklaren
Verwicklungen.}) 19. fxg6 fxg6 20. Qg4 Rxf2 ({Die Fortsetzung} 20... Qd6 21.
Nf5 Rxf5 22. Rxf5 Ne5 23. Qg3 Nd3 24. Qxd3 gxf5 25. Qxf5 {führt zu einer
positionell hoffnungslosen Stellung für Schwarz.}) (20... Qe8 21. Qe6+ Kh7 ({
Nicht ratsam für Schwarz ist} 21... Kh8 22. Rxf8+ Nxf8 23. Qe5+ Kg8 24. Nc5) (
21... Kg7 22. Rxf8 Nxf8 23. Qe5+ {kommt auf das Gleiche hinaus.}) 22. Re1 Rxf2
23. Kxf2 {ist ebenfalls äußerst unbequem für Schwarz.}) 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Qh6+
Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kh8 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qg5+ Kf7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Qg4+ Kf7 28. Kxf2
Qd6 29. Nf5 Qg6 ({Nach} 29... Qf6 {kann Weiß mit} 30. Qh5+ Qg6 31. Qxg6+ {
in die Partiefolge einlenken, aber auch nach anderen Möglichkeiten Ausschau
halten.}) 30. Qxg6+ Kxg6 31. g4 (31. Nxe7+ Kf6 32. Nxc6 Rc8 33. Nc3 Rxc6 34.
Nxd5+ Ke5 {bietet dem Weißen natürlich keine Gewinnaussichten.}) 31... Kf6 $6 (
31... Rf8 {machte das Feld a8 für den Läufer frei und bot gute
Ausgleichsaussichten:} 32. Re1 (32. Kg3 e6 33. Nd6 Ba8 {ist auch nicht klar.})
32... e5 33. Kg3 c5 {mit zweischneidigem Spiel.}) 32. Kg3 a5 33. h4 e6 34. Nd6
Ba6 35. Rxc6 Ne5 ({Vielleicht bot die Fortsetzung} 35... Ke7 36. Nb6 Nxb6 37.
Rxb6 Be2 {bessere Verteidigungsaussichten.}) 36. Rb6 $6 {Einen recht
aussichtsreichen Gewinnversuch konnte Weiß mit} (36. Ne8+ $5 {unternehmen:}
Rxe8 ({Auch nach} 36... Kf7 37. Rxe6 Kxe6 38. Nc7+ Kd6 39. Nxa8 {kann Weiß um
den vollen Punkt kämpfen.}) 37. Rxa6 Rc8 38. Nc3 Rc5 39. Ra8 {usw.}) 36... Nd7
37. Rc6 (37. Rb3 Ke7 38. Nb7 {war auch durchaus eines Versuches wert.
Vielleicht befand sich Weiß in Zeitnot.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 Bg4 11. d5 Rd8 12. Qb2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nd4 14. Bxd4
cxd4 15. Qb5+ Qxb5 16. Bxb5+ Kf8 17. cxd4 Bxd4 18. Rc7 Be5 19. Rxb7 Rb8 20.
Rxb8+ Bxb8 21. O-O Bf4 22. Re1 Kg7 23. e5 Rc8 24. Bc6 e6 25. Re4 g5 26. h4 h6
27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Kg2 exd5 29. Bxd5 Re8 30. e6 fxe6 31. Bxe6 Kf6 32. Bb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2001.06.08"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2001.06.08"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6
8. h4 c5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. O-O-O h6 (11... a6 12. g4 Qb6 13. Bg2 Rd8
14. Qe3 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nf5 $1 $14 {Krakops,M-Gavrilov,A/Riga 1995/EXT 97}
) (11... Qb6 12. Bc4 (12. g4 Rd8 13. Bg2 e5 14. Nf5 Nf8 15. Qe3 Bxg5 16. hxg5
Bxf5 17. gxf5 $14 {Rytshagov,M-Lamprecht,F/Groningen 1997/CBM 62}) 12... h6 13.
Be3 Ne5 14. Bb3 Ng4 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 a5 $132 {Chandler,M-Nogueiras,J/
Moscow 1990/TD}) (11... Nb6 12. Nf3 Qxd2+ 13. Rxd2 Bd7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Be2
Rfc8 16. Rhd1 Rc7 17. b3 Kf8 18. c4 $14 {Cabrilo,G-Drasko,M/Subotica 1992/EXT
2000}) 12. Nf3 $1 {For some reason this logical move was never played befor,
although the idea itself is hundreds years old! Shirov didn't manage to find
satisfactory defense during the game and very soon found himself in troubles} (
12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Qe3 Qa5 14. Kb1 Bd7 15. f3 Rad8 16. Bd3 Nd5 $13 {Teran
Alvarez,I-Sieiro Gonzalez,L/Santa Clara 1998/EXT 99}) (12. Be3 Nb6 13. Kb1 (13.
Nb5 Bd7 14. Bc5 $6 Bxb2+ $1 15. Kb1 Bf6 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. Qd6 Bxb5 18. Qxf8+
Kxf8 19. Bxb5 Nd5 $17 {Leyva,R-Luther,T/Cienfuegos 1997/CBM 58}) 13... Nd5 14.
Bc4 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. c3 Bd7 $11 {Leyva,R-Sieiro Gonzalez,L/Santa Clara
1998/EXT 99}) 12... Qb6 (12... hxg5 $2 13. hxg5 Be7 14. Qf4 {[%cal Gf4h4]} f5
15. Bc4 $1 (15. g6 Bf6 16. Rh8+ Kxh8 17. Qh2+ Bh4 18. Rd4 $1 (18. Nxh4 Qg5+ $19
{[%cal Gg5h6]}) 18... f4 19. Nxh4 Kg8 20. Nf3 Rf6 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Qh8+ Ke7 23.
Qxg7+ Ke8 24. Qh8+ Rf8 25. g7 $18) 15... Qb6 16. g6 $18 {[%cal Gh1h8,Gf4h2]})
13. c3 $1 e5 (13... hxg5 14. hxg5 Be7 15. Qf4 $40) 14. Be3 Qa5 15. g4 $1 e4 (
15... Qxa2 $5 16. Bd3 (16. g5 Qa1+ 17. Kc2 Qa4+ 18. Kb1 Qe4+ 19. Bd3 Qxf3 20.
gxf6 Nxf6 $13) 16... Qa1+ 17. Bb1 Nb6 18. Qc2 g6 19. Bxh6 Re8 20. h5 $1 $40 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Gh5g6]}) 16. g5 $1 Be7 (16... exf3 17. gxf6 Nxf6 18. Bxh6 gxh6
19. Qxh6 Ng4 20. Rg1 Rd8 21. Bd3 $18) 17. gxh6 $1 Qxa2 {?} (17... exf3 18. hxg7
Rd8 (18... Kxg7 19. Rg1+ Kh7 20. Qd4 $5 {[%csl Gg7]} Ne5 21. Qf4 {[%cal Gf4h6]}
Ng6 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Rxg6+ fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Bd4+ $18) 19. Bd4 $1 {
[%cal Gd2h6]} Qxa2 (19... Nf6 $145 $1) 20. Qh6 f6 21. Rg1 Kf7 22. Qh5+ Ke6 23.
Bh3+ $18) 18. Qd4 $1 {Each move of white deservs an exclaimation mark!
topalov's play is extremly energetic and strong.} Nf6 $8 19. hxg7 Re8 (19...
Kxg7 20. Rg1+ Kh8 21. Bg5 Qe6 22. Bc4 Qa6 23. Qe5 $1 $18) 20. Bc4 Qa1+ 21. Kc2
Qa4+ 22. Bb3 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 $18 {Back found a way not to lose immedeatly, but
there is no question about the outcome of the game.} Kxg7 (23... Bg4 24. Rdg1
Kxg7 25. Nf5+ Kh7 26. Nxe7 Rxe7 27. Bg5 $18) 24. Rdg1+ Kh7 25. Bxf7 Rf8 26.
Bg6+ Kh8 27. Nf5 Bxf5 28. Bxf5 Nd5 29. Bxe4 Nxe3+ 30. fxe3 {The rest is a
matter of technique, that's why Shirov resigns after a couple of moves.} Rf2+
31. Kb1 Bc5 32. Rg5 $1 Bxe3 33. Rh5+ Kg7 34. Re1 Bb6 (34... Bh6 35. Rg1+) 35.
Rg5+ 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2001.06.08"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2001.06.08"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Winants} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 {Winants: '[#]'} 11. Bxb5 {'!?'
Winants. Winants: 'Cet audacieux sacrifice avait été imaginé au milieu des
années septante, mais les premiers succès enregistrés avaient rapidement fait
place а de nombreuses et cinglantes défaites. La réfutation paraissait
convaincante. Ceci jusqu'à l'année dernière, quand Shirov parvint а se défaire
de Lautier en une vingtaine de coups seulement. D'autres grands maîtres ont
depuis tenté l'aventure. Maintenant que Topalov ne réussit pas а repousser
l'offensive avec l'aide d'une banque de données et d'un module d'analyse, on
peut se demander s'il ne faudrait pas reprendre l'étude de toute la variante
depuis le début.'} axb5 12. Nxb5 {This position seems to suit Shirov perfectly.
The second time he plays it and achieves a very nice win again.} Ra4 {Winants:
'La réplique consacrée :'} ({Après} 12... Rb8 $2 {Winants} 13. Nbc7+ Kd7 14.
Qh5 {L'attaque des Blancs deviendrait très rapidement irrésistible.}) 13. b4 {
Winants: 'L'idée ne consiste pas seulement а intercepter l'action de la Tour
sur la quatrième traverse, mais aussi а dégager une colonne ouverte vers b6.'}
({Les ouvrages théoriques envisagent aussi le petit roque et} 13. c4 {Winants})
13... Rxb4 {Winants: 'La Tour continue son chemin, pour distraire le Cavalier
avancé (d5). Cependant les Blancs restent imperturbables.'} (13... Qh4 $5 {
Nobody yet repeated the novelty made by McShane.} 14. O-O (14. Nbc7+ Kd8) 14...
Rg8 15. c3 f4 16. Qxa4 Rxg2+ 17. Kxg2 Qg4+ {1/2-1/2 Luther,T-McShane,L/
Lippstadt 2000}) 14. Nbc7+ Kd7 15. O-O {Winants: 'Les Noirs ont pris une pièce,
mais leur Roi est entouré de fantômes qui hurlent autour de lui.'} Qxc7 {
Amazing: for the centralized knight on d5 Black is ready to give the queen!
Shirov's answer is even more amusing - who cares about the queen? Winants:
'Rend du matériel, la Dame contre trois pièces mineures, pour freiner l'élan
offensif et réduire le nombre des assaillants.  D'autres possibilités :'} (
15... Qg5 {In my opinion the critical move.} 16. Nxb4 (16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 Rg8
18. Qf1 Kd8 19. Nxb4 Nxb4 20. Rb1 Kxc7 21. Rxb4 d5 22. Rb3 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Ba6 24.
Rd3 fxe4 25. Rxf7+ Kc8 $2 (25... Be7) 26. Ra3 $3 {1-0 Wege,J-Pluemer,D/Aschach
2000}) 16... Nxb4 17. c3 (17. Qb1 Rg8 $13 {0-1 Vitolinsh,A-Cherniaev,A/Kherson
1990/ (43)}) 17... Kxc7 (17... Nc6 18. Nd5 fxe4 19. Qa4 $16) 18. cxb4 fxe4 19.
Qa4 $36 {1-0 Luther,T-Reinderman,D/Venlo 2000 (30)}) (15... Rb7 $2 16. Qh5 Ne7
17. Qxf7 {Winants: '(Menace 18.Ne6)'} Kc6 ({Si} 17... Rxc7 {Winants} 18. Nb6+
Kc6 19. Rab1 Ba6 20. Qb3 $1 {Et l'attaque perce.}) 18. Rab1 $18 {1-0 Shirov,
A-Lautier,J/Monte Carlo 2000 (26)} fxe4 ({Si} 18... Nxd5 {Winants} 19. exd5+
Kc5 20. Rxb7 Bxb7 21. Ne6+ {Et prend la Dame}) ({ou} 18... Rxc7 {Winants} 19.
Rb6+ Kc5 20. Rfb1 {etc.}) 19. Rxb7 Kxb7 (19... Bxb7 {Winants} 20. Rb1) 20. Rb1+
Kc6 21. Rb6+ Kc5 22. Rb3 {Vers c3 pour asséner le mat du Cavalier sur b5} Kc6
23. Rc3+ Kb7 24. Nxe7 Bxe7 25. Qd5+ Ka7 26. Qa8+ {abandon, Shirov-Lautier,
Monaco 2000.}) 16. c3 $5 {'!!' Winants. Incredible! It is remarcable how far
the opening preparation can go nowardays. Winants: 'Je suppose que Shirov
appartient а une tout autre dimension, certainement chaotique, fort éloignée
des conceptions de Newton, des pommes qui tombent ou des pièces en équilibre...
J'imagine aussi l'air stupéfait de son adversaire de voir sa Dame rester sur
l'échiquier, mais concevoir le talent, la volonté et la capacité de travail,
qu'un tel coup nécessite - Il a été joué sans la moindre hésitation- me laisse,
tout simplement, sans réponse.'} ({White was doing fine in the practice after
the pragmatical 16.Nxc7 as well:} 16. Nxc7 Kxc7 17. Qh5 Rxe4 18. Qxf7+ Be7 19.
Rfb1 (19. Rfe1 {1-0 Vorobiov,E-Bogachkov,I/St Petersburg 2000 (56)}) ({ou} 19.
a4 {Winants} Rf8 20. Qb3 Rb4 {Baljon-Dolmatov, Amsterdam 1979}) 19... Rf8 20.
Qb3 Rb4 21. Qd5 Rxb1+ 22. Rxb1 Bd7 23. a4 Ra8 24. Qc4 h5 25. g3 Ra5 26. Rb5 d5
27. Rxd5 Be6 28. Qxc6+ Kxc6 29. Rxa5 Bc5 30. Ra6+ Kd5 31. c4+ {1-0 Rytshagov,
M-Ripari,M/Saint Vincent 2001. I must add that M. Rytshagov is Shirov's second.
}) 16... Rxe4 (16... Qb7 17. cxb4 fxe4 18. Rc1 (18. Qa4 Ke6) (18. Qh5 Ke6)
18... f5 (18... Bh6 19. Qh5 Bxc1 20. Qxf7+ Kd8 21. Qf6+ Kd7 22. Qg7+ Ke6 23.
Nc7+ Kf5 24. Rxc1 $18) 19. Qa4 $40) ({Supposons} 16... Qa5 {Winants autrement
les pions liés, appuyés par une Tour en c1, ne tarderaient pas а avancer.} 17.
cxb4 Nxb4 18. Qd2 Nc6 19. Qg5 {Le loup entre dans la bergerie.}) 17. Qh5 $1 Kd8
{Of course not easy to advise best way for Black. Let's not forget that this
is advanced chess and even with the help of a computer Black's position could
not be saved, which says quite a lot about the evaluation of the entire line.
Winants: 'Un choix raisonnable'} ({Après} 17... Qa5 {Winants} 18. Qxf5+ Kd8 19.
Qxe4 Ne7 {Les Noirs obtiennent deux pièces mineures contre Tour et pion, mais
les chances respectives restent très difficiles а évaluer.}) 18. Nxc7 Kxc7 19.
Qxf7+ Be7 20. Rab1 {Winants: 'La position ressemble а celles que nous avions
aperçues dans le commentaire du 16e coup. Pourtant le Pc3 remplit un rôle très
important, puisqu'il empêche le retour de la Re4 sur b4.'} Ba6 21. Rfd1 {
Now it is most certain that White has an advantage. All his pieces are very
active.} Rf8 {Winants: 'Pour défendre f5.'} (21... Rb8 $2 22. Rxb8 Kxb8 23.
Qxf5 $18) 22. Qb3 $1 {Winants: 'Après dix bonnes minutes de réflexion !'} (22.
Qxh7 Rh4 23. Qg6 Rg4 24. Qh6 Be2 $1 $13 25. Rdc1 Rxg2+ 26. Kxg2 Rg8+ 27. Kh3
Bg4+ 28. Kg2 Be2+ $11) 22... Rb8 {Winants: 'Evite l'invasion de b6.'} 23. Qe6
Rxb1 24. Rxb1 {Black played very precise and the position is far from clear.
From practical point of view it is easier to play with White for the simple
reason that having just 2 pieces one has less possibilities and must not spend
a lot of time finding the right move...} Bd3 {Winants: 'Pour chasser la Tour
de la colonne ouverte.'} (24... Bc4 $5 25. Qxf5 Bd3 26. Rf1 $8 (26. Rd1 $4 Re1+
$19) 26... d5 27. Qxh7 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 $14) 25. Rd1 f4 {'?' Winants. Winants:
'La faute décisive : elle permet l'intervention du pion passé.'} ({Il fallait
donc jouer} 25... Bc2 {Winants} 26. Rc1 Bd3 {et garder ainsi le contrôle du
point a4.}) 26. Qd5 {'!' Winants.} Bc2 27. Rc1 {Winants: 'Menace 28. Kf1 ! :
Les Noirs n'ont d'autres ressources que de disperser leurs forces.'} Re2 28. a4
$1 {Thanks to the a-pawn White achieves decissive advantage. Winants: 'Le
reste n'est que technique : Rien ne peut plus empêcher ce pion d'aller plus
loin.'} e4 {Looking for counterplay, but White is quicker.} (28... Bxa4 29. Qc4
{Winants: '-attaque double-'} Rc2 30. Rb1 $18 (30. Ra1 {Winants Et le Fou est
pris au piège.})) 29. a5 Bd3 {Winants: 'Surveille a6, mais en vain.'} 30. Ra1 {
Winants: 'Selon le principe qui préconise de poster les Tours derrière les
pions passés.'} Rb2 (30... Ba6 31. Qb3 $18) (30... Bh4 31. g3 fxg3 32. hxg3 $18
) 31. c4 {Winants: 'Ferme la porte !'} (31. a6 Bxa6 32. Qxe4 $16) 31... Rb7 ({
Ou plus joli :} 31... Rb4 {Winants} 32. a6 Bxc4 (32... Na7 {Winants} 33. Qa8)
33. Qxc6+ $3 Kxc6 34. a7 {Et le pion fait Dame.}) 32. a6 Ra7 33. f3 $18 {
Now is over. Black has no coordination at all. Winants: 'Tout s'écroule...'}
Ne5 34. fxe4 Bxc4 35. Rc1 Rxa6 36. Rxc4+ Nxc4 37. Qxc4+ Rc6 38. Qf7 {Winants:
'Les pions isolés ne permettent aucune résistance.'} Kd8 39. Qg8+ Kd7 40. Qxh7
Rc5 41. Qf7 Rc1+ 42. Kf2 Rc8 43. Qf5+ Kc7 44. Qe6 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2001.06.08"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2001.06.08"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 a6 11. c3 c5 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. Qa4+ Ke7 14. O-O
Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. Rae1 Qc7 17. Qh4+ g5 18. Qh5 Bd7 19. f4 c4 20. fxg5 Qc5+
21. Kh1 cxd3 22. Rxf7+ Kd8 23. Qg6 Qd6 24. Rd1 Kc8 25. Rxd3 Qe5 26. h3 Be8 27.
Qg7 Qxg7 28. Rxg7 hxg5 29. Rd6 Bc6 30. Kg1 Re8 31. Kf2 e5 32. g4 e4 33. Rf6 e3+
34. Ke2 Bb5+ 35. Ke1 Kb8 36. b3 Ka7 37. Rd6 Rh8 38. c4 Be8 39. Ke2 Rxh3 40.
Rxg5 Bc6 41. Re5 Bf3+ 42. Kxe3 Bxg4+ 43. Kd4 Rh2 44. Rg6 Bd1 45. Ra5 Rd8+ 46.
Kc3 Rdd2 47. Rg1 Bf3 48. a4 Rc2+ 49. Kd4 Rh4+ 0-1

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2001.06.08"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2001.06.08"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. Qd2
b5 9. a3 Be7 10. g4 Bb7 11. f3 O-O 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. g5 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Nd7 15.
h4 Rac8 16. h5 e5 17. Qd2 Nb6 18. g6 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. gxh7+
Kxh7 22. Qxg5 Qe6 23. Rhg1 Rg8 24. Kb1 Rcd8 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Rc8 27. Rgd1
Rc6 28. f4 exf4 29. Qxf4 Rd8 30. Rg5 Rg8 31. Rgd5 Rd8 32. Rg5 Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Das ist interessant - bis jetzt spielte
Kramnik diese Variante auch mit Weiß.} 4. Qb3 (4. g3) (4. Qc2) 4... c5 5. g3
Nc6 6. a3 Ba5 {Schwarz schlägt (noch) nicht auf c3. In der Folge muss Weiß
aber immer mit Bxc3 rechnen.} (6... Bxc3 7. Qxc3) 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O d5 (8...
Qe7 9. d3 h6 10. e3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 e5 12. b4 d6 13. Bb2 Re8 14. b5 Nb8 15. d4 e4
16. Nd2 Bf5 17. f3 cxd4 18. exd4 e3 19. Rae1 Nbd7 20. Ne4 d5 {1/2-1/2 Votava,
J-Berzinsh,R/Olomouc 1997/CBM 61 (34)}) (8... d6 9. d3 Qe7 10. Bd2 Rd8 11. Qa4
Bd7 12. Rab1 Be8 13. Rfc1 h6 14. Qd1 Rac8 15. Qe1 b6 16. e4 Ng4 17. Qd1 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Nf6 19. Qe2 $14 {Dzindzichasvili,R-Salov,V Manila izt 1990 CBM/19 49/
17}) 9. d3 h6 {Schwarz verhindert das mögliche Bg5.} 10. Bf4 (10. Na4 Qe7 (
10... b6 11. Bf4 Bd7 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 d4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5
Ng4 (16... Rc8 $5) 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1 f5 20. f3 {1-0 Ehlvest,
J-Romanishin,O/Terrassa 1991/CBM 24/[Ribli] (30)}) 11. Qc2 d4 12. Rb1 (12. e3
e5 13. exd4 exd4 14. Bd2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 (15. Qxd2 $5) 15... Bd7 16. Rfe1 Qd6 17.
b3 Rae8 {0-1 Nikolac,J-Kurajica,B/Cro Cup 2001/[1/2] (31)}) 12... Rd8 13. e3 e5
14. exd4 exd4 15. Bd2 Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Rb8 17. Qf4 b5 18. Rfe1 Qf8 19. Nd2 bxa4
20. Bxc6 {1-0 Milos,G-Van Riemsdijk,H/Buenos Aires 1990/CBM 20 ext (53)}) (10.
e3 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne2 Qe7 14. Qa4 a6 15. b4 cxb4 16. Ned4
Rfc8 17. Bb2 bxa3 18. Bxa3 Qd7 19. Bb2 b5 20. Qb3 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 $44 {1-0
Ivanov,I-Lobo,R/USA 1990/EXT 2000 (43)}) 10... Re8 11. Na4 (11. Ne5 Nxe5 (11...
Nd4) 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... Ng4) 13. Bd6 d4 14. Na4 Bb6 15. Qc2 e5 16. b4 cxb4 17.
axb4 Bc7 18. c5 a6 19. f4 Rb8 20. Qa2 Bxd6 21. cxd6 Nf6 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Nc5
Qxd6 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,V-Kiriakov,P/Krasnoiarsk 1998/EXT 2000 (23)}) 11... b6 {
Dieser natürliche Zug führt zu Ausgleich.} (11... e5 12. cxd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4
14. Bc1 Bg4 $13) (11... dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. Be3 e4 $13 (13... Nd4)) 12. Ne5
Bd7 (12... Bb7 $2 13. Nxc5 $16) 13. e3 $6 (13. Nc3 $5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 (14. Qxc3
d4 15. Qc2 Rc8 $11 (15... Nxe5 $6 16. Bxe5 Ng4 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1
f5 $44)) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bc6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19.
Qxd5 Rad8 $11) 13... g5 $1 {Ein ausgezeichneter Zug! Schwarz schwächt - von
sich aus - seine Königsstellung, aber das hat keine Bedeutung. Wichtiger ist,
dass Weiß den Ne5 abtauschen muss. Danach bekommt Schwarz gutes Figurenspiel
und der weiße Bf4 Probleme.} (13... Rc8 $11) 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Be5 Ng4 $15 {
[%csl Re5]} 16. Bc3 (16. cxd5 Bxd5 (16... Bxa4 $6 17. Qxa4 Nxe5 18. dxe6 $13 {
[%cal Rb2b4,Rb4a5]}) 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Rad8 $15
) 16... Bxc3 17. Nxc3 dxc4 18. dxc4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qe7 {[%cal Ge7b7,Gb7g2][%mdl
32] Auf den ersten Blick wirkt die Stellung ausgeglichen. Zwar ist die
Bauernstruktur in der Tat symmetrisch, aber Schwarz kann sich am Königsflügel
etwas Initiative verschaffen.} 20. Ne4 (20. Qc2 f5 21. Qe2 (21. e4 $6 f4 $36)
21... Qb7+ 22. f3 Ne5 $15 {[%cal Gg5g4]}) (20. Ne2 Qb7+ 21. f3 f5 22. h3 Nf6
$15) 20... f5 21. h3 Ne5 22. Qc3 Nd7 23. Nd2 Rad8 24. Rad1 Nf6 (24... e5 25. e4
$1 (25. Nf3 $6 e4 $15) 25... f4 26. Nf3 $11 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) 25. Nf3 (25. Qe5
Rd6 26. Nf3 Red8 27. Rxd6 Rxd6 $15 {Schwarz kontrolliert die d-Linie. In der
Folge kann er Nd7 und e6-e5 ziehen.}) 25... Rxd1 26. Rxd1 e5 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5,
Gg5]} 27. Qc2 (27. Qd2 Qb7 $15 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) (27. Ng1 Qb7+ 28. Kh2 Kf7 $15) (
27. Ne1) 27... e4 28. Ng1 {[%cal Gg1e2,Ge2c3]} Rd8 29. Ne2 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 Qd7
31. Qxd7 {Weiß muss die Damen tauschen.} Nxd7 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat
Raumvorteil, und sein Springer bekommt einen ausgezeichneten Posten auf e5.
Ich muss hier anmerken, dass der weiße P auf a3 nicht glücklich steht - eine
Bauernstruktur a2-b2-c4 wäre besser.} 32. b3 {Früher oder später muss Weiß so
spielen, aber seine Bauern am Damenflügel sind schwach.} Ne5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Ge5d3]} 33. Nc3 Kf7 34. g4 $6 {Weiß möchte sich vom positionellen Druck am
Königsflügel befreien. Seine Stellung ist schwer zu halten, aber anstelle der
Partiefortsetzung hätte eine passive Verteidigung vielleicht bessere
Rettungschancen versprochen.} (34. Nb5 a5 $5 (34... Nc6 35. g4 fxg4 36. hxg4
Ke6 37. f4 exf3+ 38. Kxf3 Ke5 $15) 35. a4 (35. Nd6+ $2 Ke6 36. Nc8 a4 $19)
35... Nf3 36. g4 (36. Nd6+ Ke6 37. Nc8 Nd2 38. Nxb6 Nxb3 39. Kf1 Nd2+ 40. Ke2
Nf3 {[%cal Rf3g1,Rg1h3]} 41. Kf1 Ne5 $17 {Anschließend kann Schwarz Kd6-Kc6
ziehen, und Weiß verliert Material.}) 36... Nd2 37. Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxf5 Nxb3 39.
Nxh6 Nd2 40. Nf5 Nxc4 $17) 34... fxg4 35. hxg4 Nxg4 36. Nxe4 (36. Nb5 a5 37.
Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxe4 Ne5 39. Nc3 Nd3 40. Nd5 Nc1 41. Nxb6 Nxb3 $17) 36... Ke6 37.
Nc3 Ne5 38. f4 (38. Nb5 $142 Nc6 39. Kg3 h5 40. f4 gxf4+ 41. Kxf4 h4 42. Kg4
Ke5 43. Kxh4 Ke4 $17) 38... gxf4 39. exf4 Nc6 40. Nb5 h5 $1 $17 {Der entfernte
schwarze Freibauer entscheidet die Partie.} (40... a5 41. Kf3 h5 (41... Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 $11) 42. Ke4 h4 43. Nc7+ $17) 41. Kg3 (41. Kf3 $2 Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 h4 $19) 41... a5 42. Nc7+ Kf5 43. Nd5 Nd4 44. Kh4 (44.
b4 cxb4 45. axb4 a4 46. Nc3 a3 $19) (44. Nxb6 Nxb3 45. Nd7 (45. Nd5 Nd2 46.
Ne3+ (46. Nb6 h4+ 47. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 46... Ke4 47. f5 Kxe3 48. f6 Ne4+ $19 {
[%cal Re4f6,Re4g3]}) 45... h4+ 46. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 44... Nxb3 45. Kxh5 Nd2 46.
Nxb6 Kxf4 47. Na4 (47. Kg6 Ke5 $19) 47... Ne4 $1 $19 (47... Nb3) (47... Ne4 $1
48. Kg6 Ke5 49. Kf7 Kd4 50. Ke6 Kxc4 51. Ke5 Kb3 52. Nb6 Nd2 $19 {[%cal Rc5c4]}
) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. h3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
c3 c5 9. Bc2 Nc6 10. d4 Be6 11. Re1 h6 $1 {Topalov correctly sensed the
importance of the g5 square control, even though weakened diagonal b1-h7 could
have seemed dangerous.} 12. Be3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 (13... Nd5 14. Nf1 Nxe3 15.
Nxe3 $14) 14. Ne4 Nd5 (14... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 d5 16. Bc2 $14) (14... Bd5 15. Nxf6+
Qxf6 16. dxc5 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 dxc5 19. Be4 $14) 15. dxc5 (15. Bc1
Bf5 16. Qd3 Qd7 $13) 15... Nxe3 16. Rxe3 dxc5 17. Qe2 Qc7 (17... Qb6 18. Re1
Qxb2 $2 19. Nf6+ gxf6 20. Bh7+ $18) 18. Re1 (18. Nfg5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 (19. Qh5
Bf5 20. Nf6+ gxf6 21. Bxf5 Bg7 $19) 19... g6 20. Nxe6 (20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Nxe6
Qf7 $15) 20... Rxe6 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Qf7 $15) 18... Rad8 19. Neg5 Rd6 $1
{[%mdl 256] Excellent defensive move played in cool blood, Morozevich will
have a hard time intensifying his attack.} (19... Bd7 $2 20. Qd3 $18) (19...
hxg5 $6 20. Nxg5 g6 (20... Bd6 21. Qh5) 21. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 22. Nxe6 $16) 20. Ne4
(20. Nxe6 $5 Rexe6 (20... Rdxe6 $2 21. Qd3 $18) 21. Bb3 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 $14)
20... Rdd8 21. Nfg5 $1 Bd5 $1 22. Qh5 $2 {White got carried away with the
prospects of triumphal attack, this impatient move loses.} (22. Nh7 $1 Bxe4 (
22... Kxh7 $2 23. Nf6+ Kh8 24. Rxe8 $18) (22... Be7 23. Nxc5 $1 Bxa2 24. Nf6+
gxf6 25. Qg4+ Kf8 (25... Kh8 26. Qf5 $18) 26. Bh7 $18) 23. Rxe4 Re7 24. Nxf8
Kxf8 $14) 22... Re5 $1 23. f4 Rf5 24. g3 (24. Ng3 g6 25. Qe2 Rxf4 $19) 24... g6
25. Qh4 c4 $1 (25... hxg5 26. Nxg5 Rxg5 27. Qxg5 c4 $17) 26. Kh2 (26. Nf3 Be7
27. Qxh6 (27. Qg4 h5 $19) 27... Bxe4 $1 (27... Rh5 $2 28. Nf6+ $1 Bxf6 29. Re8+
$18) 28. Bxe4 Rh5 $19) 26... Kg7 27. Qg4 (27. R1e2 Be7 $17) 27... hxg5 28. Nxg5
Rxg5 29. Qxg5 Qb6 30. f5 Be7 $1 {For the change black is now prepared to play
aggressively, opponent's concept was fully refuted.} 31. Qf4 (31. Rxe7 Qf2#)
31... Qxb2 32. Rxe7 (32. R1e2 Qc1 $19) 32... Qxc2+ 33. R1e2 Qxf5 34. Qxf5 gxf5
35. Re8 (35. Rxb7 Nd4 $19) 35... Rd7 $1 36. Rd2 Kf6 37. Kg1 Ne5 38. Kf2 Nd3+
39. Ke3 Bc6 40. Rb8 Re7+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 (5... Be7 6.
Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Qe2 c5 10. O-O-O Qb6 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. dxc5
$14 {Magem Badals,J-Dizdar,G/Erevan olm 1996}) 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ (7. Bxf6 Nxf6
8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O Nxe4 10. Bxe4 O-O 11. c3 Qd6 12. Re1 c5 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. cxd4
Bf6 15. Rad1 Rb8 16. Ne5 $14 {Gligoric,S-Akopian,V Erevan 1989/}) 7... Nxf6 8.
Bxf6 (8. Bh4 c5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Qe2 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. dxc5
Qc6 $1 14. Kb1 Rfd8 $10 {Anand,V-Ivanchuk V Linares m/2 1992 Inf 55/283/}) 8...
Qxf6 9. Bb5+ (9. g3 Bd6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O e5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14.
c3 c6 15. Re1 Qc7 16. Qa4 Be6 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. h4 a5 19. b3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8
21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F-Illescas Cordoba,M/Torneo de Pamplona
9th 1998}) (9. Bd3 a6 (9... Bd6 10. Qe2 Bd7 11. Be4 O-O-O 12. O-O Rhe8 13. c4
c6 14. Rad1 e5 15. c5 Bc7 16. d5 cxd5 17. Rxd5 $14 {Kovalev,A-Dolmatov,S/
BL9293 1993}) 10. Qe2 c5 11. O-O-O cxd4 12. Kb1 Bd6 13. h4 Bd7 14. Be4 Bb5 $15
{Maier,C-Legky,N/ch-FRA (team) 1999}) 9... c6 10. Bd3 a6 $5 {Shirov used this
continuation against Topalov in advanced chess in Lion and won, so Anand
decides to check it out wether Topalov has come to Dortmund with an
improvement!} (10... Bd6 11. O-O (11. c3 O-O 12. Qe2 Rd8 13. O-O c5 14. Rad1
cxd4 15. cxd4 $14) 11... Bd7 (11... O-O 12. Qe2 c5 13. c3 Rb8 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
dxe5 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. Be4 $14 {Morovic Fernandez,
I-Hergott,D/North Bay op 1996}) 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Ne5 Rfd8 14. Qe4 g6 $13 {
Kovalevskaya,E-Edzgveradze,N/Moscow-W 1996}) (10... g6 11. c3 (11. Qe2 Bg7 12.
h4 O-O 13. h5 g5 14. c3 Qe7 15. Qe4 Rd8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Ne5 $40 {Kreiman,
B-Zifroni,D/Graz op 1997}) 11... Bg7 12. Qe2 O-O 13. O-O (13. O-O-O $5 {
/\Kb1,h4,h5/}) 13... Rd8 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4 $16 {Smyslov,
V-Dolmatov,S/Rostov 1993}) 11. c3 c5 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. Qe2 $146 {Here comes
Topalov's novelty. In the game with Shirov he played Ftacnik: 'Anand has
chosen Shirov's play as an inspiration in this line, white sensibly admitts
the importance to support the most valuable piece in the center.'} (13. Qa4+
Ke7 14. O-O Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. Rae1 Qc7 17. Qh4+ g5 18. Qh5 Bd7 {Black
managed to survive white's attack and to convert his material advantage into a
point after very sharp battle.} (18... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 19. f4 c4 20. fxg5 Qc5+
21. Kh1 cxd3 22. Rxf7+ Kd8 {0-1 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Leon/2001/ (49)})) 13...
cxd4 14. cxd4 Bd7 ({After} 14... Bb4+ 15. Kf1 {White loses a castling option
but his rook can be brought into play over the h-file.} O-O 16. Qe4 Rd8 17. h4
{[%csl Rf7,Rg8][%cal Gh1h3,Gh3f3] with initiative. '|^' Ftacnik.}) 15. O-O ({
After a tempting} 15. Qe4 $5 {black can hold by} Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qf5 $1 {with
slightly worse position.} (16... Qf5 $1 {Ftacnik} 17. Rc1 $14)) 15... Qf4 ({
In case of} 15... Rd8 16. f4 {Black's position is too passive.}) 16. g3 {
'!' Ftacnik.} (16. Rfd1 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Bc6 18. Rac1 Bd5 $1 (18... O-O $2 19. Rc4
Qg5 20. Rg4 Qe7 21. Qe3 Kh8 22. Qg3 $40 (22. Qg3 {Ftacnik} f5 23. Rd4 (23. exf6
Qxf6 24. Rg6 Qxb2 $13) 23... Bd5 24. b3 $14)) 19. Rc7 O-O $14 {'~~' Ftacnik.})
16... Qxd4 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Qf3 $36 {[%csl Rb7,Rf7] White is regaining a pawn.
Due to unsecure position of the black king Topalov's position is better.} Ke7 {
Ftacnik: 'Black has to be very careful in the defense, despite compact
position the centralized king can easily become indifensible.'} (18... Kc8 {
Ftacnik} 19. Be4 Kb8 20. Rfd1 Qb6 21. Qxf7 $16) 19. Qxb7+ Kf6 20. Rad1 Qa7 (
20... Qg4 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxa6 Rhb8 22. Qc6 Be5 23. b3 $16) 21. Qf3+ Ke7 22. Qg4
g5 (22... Be5 {Ftacnik} 23. Rd2 $14) 23. Bc4 Qb6 24. Rd3 $1 {An excellent
maneuver. This rook has a lot to do on the third rank.} Rad8 (24... Qxb2 25.
Re1 {[%csl Re6]} Qf6 26. Rf3 Qg6 27. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7 28. Rxe6+ Kf8 29. Rxd6 $18)
25. Rf3 $1 {Veselin is aiming at the black king.} ({Not so promising was} 25.
Rb3 Qc6 (25... Qc5 {Ftacnik} 26. Qe2 a5 $14) 26. Qe2 a5) 25... Be5 (25... Qxb2
$4 26. Rxf7+ $1 {with the checkmate in two.}) 26. Re1 f6 ({Extremely risky is} 
26... Rd4 $6 27. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qf5+ Ke7 (28... Bf6 29. Rxe6) 29. Qxe5 Rf8
30. Bxe6 Qd6 $1 31. Qg7+ Kd8 32. Qxh6 $18 {and white is winning '+/-' Ftacnik.}
) 27. Qh5 {[%csl Re7][%cal Ge1e5,Gh5f7] White is threatening with 28.Rxe5.
Black has to defend against tacktical blows on every move.} (27. Qe4 $5 {
Ftacnik} Rd4 28. Qg6 $40) 27... Qb4 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Black's position
is not bad, but white's attack can not be underestimated.'} (27... Qxb2 28. Rb3
{[%cal Gb3b7]} Qd2 29. Rb7+ Rd7 30. Reb1 Rxb7 {'!?' Ftacnik.} (30... Rc8 $5 {
Ftacnik} 31. Rxd7+ (31. Qxh6 Rxc4 32. Qg7+ Ke8 $11) 31... Qxd7 32. Bxa6 $14)
31. Rxb7+ Kd6 32. Qf7 $1 {[%csl Re6]} Qe1+ 33. Bf1 Bd4 34. Rd7+ Ke5 35. Rxd4
Kxd4 36. Qg7 $3 $40 {'!!' Ftacnik.} (36. Qg7 $3 Ra8 37. Qd7+ Ke5 38. Qc7+ Kf5
39. Qc2+ Ke5 (39... Kg4 40. h3+ Kh5 41. g4+ Kh4 42. Qg6 $18) 40. Qc5+ Ke4 41.
Qc6+ $18)) 28. Rxe5 {'!' Ftacnik.} ({A similar position emerges after} 28. Re4
$5 Qd2 $1 (28... Qxb2 {Ftacnik} 29. Rb3 Qc1+ 30. Kg2 $18) 29. Rxe5 Qc1+ 30. Kg2
Qxc4) 28... Qxc4 29. Re1 ({On} 29. Rc3 {black would have sacrificed the queen}
Qxc3 $1 (29... Qxa2 $2 30. Rc7+ Kd6 31. Rec5 $18) 30. bxc3 fxe5 31. Qe2 Rd6 32.
Qxe5 Rh7 {with good drawing chances. '+/=' Ftacnik.}) 29... Qxa2 {With every
pawn capture Vishy is getting closer to desired draw.} 30. Qg6 Rhf8 31. Qxh6
Qxb2 ({In case} 31... e5 {white could conduct the following combination} 32.
Qg7+ Rf7 33. Rxe5+ $1 fxe5 34. Qxg5+ Ke6 ({after} 34... Ke8 35. Qxe5+ Kd7 {
White closes out the game with an incredible} 36. Rc3 $3 {(total domination!)}
Qb1+ 37. Kg2 Rxf2+ {(there is no other choice)} 38. Kxf2 Qxb2+ 39. Ke3 $3 {
Black is forced to trade the queens '!' Ftacnik.} Qb6+ 40. Qd4+ Qxd4+ 41. Kxd4
{the emerged endgame is hopeless for Black '+-' Ftacnik.}) 35. Rxf7 Rd1+ 36.
Kg2 Kxf7 (36... Qd5+ 37. Rf3) 37. Qh5+ Ke6 38. Qxd1 Qxb2 {with big advantage
in the queen ending. After the move which was played in the game the same
tactical idea works.} (38... Qxb2 {Ftacnik} 39. h4 $16)) 32. Qg7+ Rf7 33. Rxe6+
$1 $16 {'!' Ftacnik.} Kxe6 34. Re3+ Qe5 35. Rxe5+ fxe5 36. Qxg5 Rdf8 37. Qg4+
Kd5 38. Qd1+ Kc5 39. Qc2+ Kb4 $2 {Very stupid mistake Ftacnik: 'Anand is
probably playing serious innaccuracy in the time trouble, chances for
successful defense were promised after the correct 39...Kb6.'} ({After} 39...
Kb6 $1 40. Qb2+ (40. h4 Rxf2 41. Qxf2+ Rxf2 42. Kxf2 a5 $11 (42... a5 43. h5 a4
$11)) 40... Kc6 41. Qa2 (41. Qxe5 {Ftacnik} Rxf2 42. Qe6+ Kb7 (42... Kb5 43.
Qd5+ Kb6 44. Qd4+ Kb5 45. Qxf2 Rxf2 46. Kxf2 $18) 43. h4 R2f6 $14) 41... Rxf2
42. Qxa6+ Kd5 $14 {White can't exchange his queen for two black rooks to his
advantage,which means that black is very close to a draw here!} (42... Kd5 43.
Qb7+ (43. Qd3+ Kc6 44. Qc4+ Kd6 $11) 43... Kd4 $1 44. Qb6+ Kd3 45. Qxf2 Rxf2
46. Kxf2 Kd2 47. Kf3 Kd3 $11)) 40. Qb2+ $18 Kc5 (40... Kc4 41. Qe2+ Kd5 42.
Qd3+ $1 Kc5 43. Qxa6 $18 {[%csl Gf2][%cal Ga6a7,Ga7f2]}) (40... Ka4 41. Qa1+ $1
Kb4 42. Qxa6 $18 {[%cal Ga6b6,Gb6f2]}) 41. Qxe5+ Kb6 42. h4 a5 43. h5 Rd7 44.
Qe6+ Kc7 45. h6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. h3 Bd7 12. Re1 Bb6 13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. d4
c5 16. Be3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Ba5 18. Re2 Bb4 19. a5 Bc6 20. Bd2 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 b4
22. Ree1 Qc7 23. h4 Rfd8 24. Rac1 Qb7 25. h5 Nf4 26. dxe5 dxe5 27. Qe3 Ng4 28.
Qc5 Be8 29. Bc4 Rdc8 30. Qd6 Qa7 31. Qd2 Rd8 32. Bd5 Nxd5 33. exd5 Rxd5 34.
Qxd5 Qxf2+ 35. Kh1 Qxg3 36. Rc2 Bb5 37. Kg1 h6 38. Rec1 Re8 39. Rc8 Qf2+ 40.
Kh1 Qxb2 41. Rxe8+ Bxe8 42. Rc8 Qa1+ 43. Ng1 Nf6 44. Qc6 b3 45. Rxe8+ Nxe8 46.
Qxe8+ Kh7 47. Qxf7 Qb1 48. Kh2 b2 49. Ne2 Qd3 50. Nc3 Qxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Rc8 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Rfd1 c5 13. Nb5 Bxb5 14. cxb5 Nh5
15. Bd2 Nhf6 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd7 18. f4 c4 19. bxc4 Rxc4 20. Rac1 Nc5 21.
Qb1 Ra4 22. Be3 a6 23. bxa6 Rxa6 24. Bd4 Qa8 25. Rd2 Ne4 26. Bxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 {
The Classical line is not played too often nowadays, with aggressive lines
like f4 and Bb5+ or h3 and Bd3 being more popular.} O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6
11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 Nd7 13. Kh1 b6 {Topalov has this year in a rapid game
against Kramnik revived this line, in which the relevant games were played
about 20 years ago.} 14. Ra3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This otherwise typical
manoeuvre for the Classical line is here a novelty. Later on however the R
will find no scope on the 3-rd rank.} (14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Ne3 f5 (15... Rb8 16.
Qc2 $14) 16. f4 Nf7 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bd3 Nh6 19. Ne2 $5 (19. Qc2 Qf6 $5 (19...
Rf8 20. Bd2 a6 21. Rf3 Rb8 22. Rg3 Qh4 23. Rg5 Ng4 24. Nxg4 fxg4 25. Ne4 Ne8
26. g3 Qh6 27. f5 Bb7 28. Rf1 $40 {Dydyshko,V-Lukov,V/Polanica Zdroj/1983/})
20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rf3 Kh8 22. Raf1 Re7 23. Rh3 Qf7 24. Nc4 Qg6 (24... Nxd5 $5 25.
Nxd6 Qe6 $13 {Kramnik}) 25. Rg3 Ng4 26. h3 h5 $1 27. Ne3 Nxe3 28. Rxg6 Nxc2 29.
Bxc2 Ne8 30. Rg5 Nf6 31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Rae8 $44 {Kramnik,V-Topalov,V/
Monaco act/2001/}) (19. Qh5 Rf8 (19... Qf6 20. Nb5 Re7 $13 {Kramnik}) 20. Bd2
Qf6 21. Rf3 Qg6 22. Qh4 Qf6 23. Qh3 Ba6 24. Bc2 Kh8 25. Rg3 Rae8 26. Rg1 Bc8
27. Ncd1 Qf7 28. Rg5 $1 $40 {Rytov,B-Beliavsky,A/Vitebsk/1970/}) 19... Qh4 20.
Ng3 Rf8 (20... Ng4 $142 $5 21. Nxg4 Qxg4 $132) 21. Qc2 Ng4 22. Nxg4 Qxg4 23.
Ra3 Kh8 24. Be2 Qh4 25. Nh5 Bd4 26. Be3 Nxd5 27. Bxd4+ cxd4 28. Qd2 Bb7 29. Bf3
{1-0,Taimanov,M-Ree,H/Wijk aan Zee/1970/}) 14... Qe7 (14... Ne5 15. f4 Nd7 16.
Nc4 {/\} Nf6 17. e5 $1 dxe5 18. d6 $36) 15. Nb5 (15. Nc4 Ne5 (15... Ba6 16. Bf4
Bxc4 17. Bxc4 $14) 16. Ne3 {also was interesting, as here after} f5 (16... a6
$5) 17. f4 Nf7 18. exf5 $14 {the R can be useful on a3.}) 15... Nxb5 16. Bxb5 (
16. axb5 f5 $13 {and the weakness on a7 is rather abstract, while Black has
concrete [+]<=>.}) 16... Rd8 (16... a6 17. Bc6 Rb8 18. Rb3 $1 Rf8 19. Nc4 Ne5
20. Nxb6 Qc7 21. a5 Nxc6 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. Nd5 $16) 17. a5 (17. Nc4 Ne5 18.
Nxe5 Bxe5 $132) 17... a6 $5 18. Bc6 (18. Bxd7 Bxd7 19. axb6 (19. Nc4 b5 20. Nb6
Ra7 $11 {/=/+}) 19... Bb5 20. Re1 Rab8 $132) (18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Bc6 Bb7 (19...
Rb8 $143 {-18.Bc6}) 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qc2 (21. f4 f5 $13) 21... Rf8 $5 $132)
18... Rb8 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. b3 $1 ({Aggressive, but double-edged was} 20. f4
Nd7 (20... Bb7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. f5 $36) 21. Qc2 Rb4 $132) 20... Be5 $5 {
[%cal Re7h4] /\Qh4 A provocative move, Black lures White's f-pawn forward.} (
20... f5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Re1 $14 {[%cal Ge1e8] <->e}) (20... Bb7 21. Bxb7
Qxb7 22. Nc4 $14) (20... Nd7 21. Nc4 Ne5 22. Bf4 $14) 21. f4 (21. Nc4 Nxc4 22.
bxc4 Rb1 $11) 21... Bg7 (21... Bd4 $142 $5 22. f5 Nd7) 22. f5 Nd7 23. Bxd7 $1 (
23. Nc4 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Qf3 Qh4 $5 (25... Qf6 26. fxg6 $14) 26. g3 Qf6
$132) 23... Bxd7 24. Qf3 Bd4 25. f6 Qf8 26. Nc4 (26. g4 $6 Qh6 27. Nc4 Qh4 {
[%csl Rh1] ׻}) 26... Bb5 27. Be3 Bxe3 28. Qxe3 h5 $1 {Black must first free
his K from back-rank mates, then he can open the position.} 29. h4 (29. h3 $5
$14 {was possibly stronger, as later on in some lines the pawn will be en
prise on h4.}) 29... Kh7 30. Rfa1 (30. e5 dxe5 31. Qxe5 Re8 32. Qf4 Re2 33. Rd1
Rbe8 $13) 30... Bxc4 (30... Re8 31. Rxa6 $1 Bxa6 32. Rxa6 Rbd8 33. Qf4 $16) 31.
bxc4 Rb4 32. Rc3 (32. Qe2 Qh6 {[%cal Rh6f4] /\Qf4} 33. g3 Rdb8 $132 {and White
must beware of surprises on the 2-nd rank.}) (32. Ra4 $5 Rdb8 33. Rxb4 cxb4 $1
(33... Rxb4 34. Rxa6 Rxc4 35. Ra7 $36) 34. Rxa6 b3 35. Rb6 b2 (35... Qd8 36.
Rxb3 Rxb3 37. Qxb3 Qxf6 38. Qg3 Qf1+ $11) 36. Qb3 Rxb6 37. Qxb6 Qc8 38. Qxb2
Qxc4 $11) (32. Rxa6 Rxc4 $132) 32... Re8 $1 33. Rxa6 Rb1+ 34. Kh2 Rf1 $11 35.
Rca3 {White already had no suitable way to protect his Pf6, so Kramnik decides
to force a draw.} (35. Qg3 $2 Rxe4 $36) 35... Rxf6 36. e5 Rf5 $1 {The most
accurate.} (36... Rxe5 $143 37. Qxe5 dxe5 38. Rxf6 e4 39. g3 Qe7 40. Rf2) 37.
e6 $8 (37. Rxd6 $2 Rexe5 38. Qxc5 $8 Qe7 39. Rh3 Re1 $19 {->}) 37... fxe6 38.
Ra7+ Kg8 39. Qg3 Qf6 (39... g5 40. dxe6 Rxe6 41. hxg5 $14) 40. Ra8 Rxa8 41.
Rxa8+ Kg7 (41... Kf7 42. Ra7+ Ke8 43. Qb3 Qxh4+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+ 45. Kh2 $11) 42.
Ra7+ Kg8 (42... Kh6 43. Qe3+ g5 44. dxe6 Qe5+ $11) (42... Kg8 43. Ra8+) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. a3 Be7 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. Bd6 Ng4 10. Bg3 (10. Qxg4 Bxd6 11. Bd3 Ne5 $11) 10... Nge5 11. f4
Qe3+ (11... Ng6 12. Qd2 d6 13. O-O-O $14) 12. Be2 Ng6 (12... Nc4 $2 13. Bf2 $18
) (12... Ng4 13. Nd2 f5 14. Nc4 Qd4 15. Bxg4 Qxc4 16. Be2 $14) 13. Qd3 $1 {
The original opening is followed by the first surprise in the form of transfer
to the endgame. The knight on g6 is not a great asset and Morozevich has to
find a way to complete his development.} Qxd3 14. Bxd3 a6 15. O-O-O f6 $6 (
15... d6 $5) 16. Ne2 b5 17. Bf2 Rb8 18. g3 $1 Nh8 $1 (18... d6 19. Ned4 $14)
19. Rd2 Nf7 20. Rhd1 Re8 (20... d6 21. Ned4 $14) 21. c3 e5 22. c4 $1 {For
Topalov it is not enough to suitably place the pieces, in order to get
advantage he needs the help of his pawns.} b4 (22... bxc4 23. Bxc4 Rb7 24. Bd5
$14) 23. a4 Bf8 (23... d6 24. c5 (24. f5 Bb7 25. Kb1 Ng5) 24... Be6 25. Bc2
Rbd8 $11) 24. c5 $1 exf4 25. gxf4 d6 26. Kb1 h5 $2 {The defender became very
active in the moment, when 26...Ng4!? would probably have solved most problems.
} (26... Bg4 $5 27. Rc1 Rbd8 28. cxd6 Rxd6 29. Bc4 Ncd8 $13) (26... dxc5 27.
Nxc5 $14) 27. Rc1 Bb7 28. Bc4 (28. Ng3 h4 29. Nf5 $16) 28... Rxe4 29. Bd5 Ne7
$1 (29... Ree8 30. cxd6 Ncd8 31. d7 $16) 30. Bxf7+ $6 (30. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 31. Ka1
$16) 30... Kxf7 31. cxd6 Nd5 32. Nc5 Nc3+ $2 {[%mdl 8192] Mere mortals are not
able to understand the irrational moves of this kind, Morozevich must have
made a terrible mistake in his calculations.} (32... Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Bxd6 34. Rd1
$14) 33. bxc3 bxc3 34. Rxc3 Rb4+ (34... Bxd6 35. Nxe4 Bxe4+ 36. Ka2 $18) 35.
Ka2 Be4 36. Ka3 (36. Nxe4 Rxa4+ 37. Ra3 Rxe4 38. Bc5 $18) 36... a5 (36... Bc6
37. Nd4 $18) 37. Nd7 $1 R8b7 38. Nxf8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "168"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. d3
e6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 $6 {Topalov hopes to avoid the move Nh4 from the variations
after 9...Be7, but he diminishes control of the center and neglects
development of the pieces.} 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. d4 $1 cxd4 (12... Be7 13.
d5 $1 exd5 14. exd5 Nce5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 (15... Nxe5 $2 16. f4 Nd3 17. f5 $1) 16.
f4 $1 $40) 13. cxd4 e5 14. d5 (14. Nc4 b5 15. Ne3 Bxe4) 14... Ncb8 15. b4 $1 {
Thanks to the closed character of the struggle black was able to avoid huge
problems, but Anand enjoys pleasant initiative.} h5 16. g5 (16. Nc4 hxg4 17.
hxg4 Nf6 18. Ng5 b5 19. Na5 Qd7 20. f3 Be7 $15) 16... a5 (16... h4 17. Nc4 b6
18. Bd3 $14) 17. bxa5 Be7 (17... Rxa5 18. a4 Nc5 $6 19. Nb3 $16) 18. Nb3 O-O (
18... Na6 19. Bb5 O-O 20. Nh4 Ndc5 (20... Bxg5 21. Nxg6 fxg6 22. Bxd7 $18) 21.
Nxg6 fxg6 22. h4 $16) 19. Qd2 $6 (19. Bd2 Na6 20. Rc1 Nac5 21. Rc4 f6 22. Nxc5
Nxc5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Qe2 $16) 19... Na6 20. Nh4 Nac5 $1 21. Bg2 b6 22. Nf5 (
22. Nxg6 fxg6 $132) 22... f6 $1 (22... Bxf5 23. exf5 Nxb3 (23... bxa5 24. Nxc5
Nxc5 25. Qe3) 24. axb3 Rxa5 25. Rxa5 bxa5 26. Qe3 $14) 23. Nh4 Qe8 24. Nxc5 (
24. Qc3 $5 fxg5 25. Nxg6 Qxg6 26. axb6 $15) 24... Nxc5 25. axb6 fxg5 26. Nxg6
Qxg6 27. Qe2 Rfb8 28. Rb1 Bd8 $1 {Topalov plys very well in the defense and
white has to start worrying about liquidation of the tension into complete
equality.} 29. Be3 (29. Bf3 g4 $1 30. hxg4 hxg4 31. Bxg4 Rxa2 32. Qxa2 Qxg4+
33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 (34. Ke2 $4 Qd3#) 34... Qg4+ $11) 29... Bxb6 30. Rec1 g4
31. hxg4 hxg4 32. Rb4 Ba5 (32... Ba7 $5) 33. Rxb8+ Rxb8 34. Bxc5 dxc5 35. d6 (
35. Rxc5 Rb1+ 36. Bf1 g3 $1 37. Rxa5 g2 $19) 35... Qxd6 36. Qc4+ $2 (36. Qxg4
$1 Bd2 37. Rd1 $13) 36... Kh8 37. Qxc5 Qh6 $1 (37... Qxc5 38. Rxc5 Bb6 39. Rxe5
g3 40. Kf1 Bxf2 $11) 38. Rd1 $2 (38. Qe3 Qxe3 39. fxe3 Bd2 40. Rc2 Bxe3+ 41.
Kf1 $17) 38... Bb6 $1 (38... g3 $5 39. Qxa5 Qh2+ 40. Kf1 gxf2 41. Rd8+ Kh7 $1
42. Rxb8 (42. Kxf2 Qh4+ 43. Ke2 Rxd8 44. Qxe5 $15) 42... Qg1+ 43. Ke2 Qxg2 44.
Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. Qh4+ Kg6 47. Qxf2 Qxe4+ $17) 39. Qxe5 Rf8 40. Rf1
(40. Qh2 Rxf2 41. Qxh6+ gxh6 $17) 40... Qh4 $2 {This move is yet another
tragic prove how difficult it is to manage problems with the time trouble.
With a bit more time in his pocket black would surely have found tyhe winning
move 40...Rf4!} (40... Rf4 $1 41. Qc3 Qh4 $19) 41. Qh2 Bxf2+ 42. Kh1 Qxh2+ (
42... g5 43. Qxh4+ gxh4 44. a4 $1 h3 45. Bxh3 gxh3 46. a5 $11) 43. Kxh2 g5 (
43... Rf6 44. Bh1) 44. Bh1 $1 g3+ 45. Kg2 g4 46. Rd1 Kg7 47. Kf1 Bd4+ 48. Ke2 (
48. Kg2 Be5 49. Rd2 Rf3) 48... Be5 (48... Rf2+ 49. Kd3 Be5 50. Rd2) 49. Rd2 Ra8
50. Bg2 Kf6 51. Kd3 Kg5 52. Ke2 (52. Kc4 $5 Kf4 53. Re2 $15) 52... Kf4 53. Rc2
Ra3 54. Rd2 Re3+ 55. Kd1 Ra3 56. Re2 Ra7 57. Rc2 Rb7 58. Re2 Rb1+ 59. Kc2 Rg1
60. Kd3 $1 Rc1 (60... Rxg2 61. Rxg2 Kf3 62. Rg1 g2 63. a4 Kf2 64. Rxg2+ Kxg2
65. a5 Bb8 66. a6 g3 67. e5 $11) 61. Rd2 Rc3+ 62. Ke2 Rf3 $1 63. Kd1 (63. Bxf3
gxf3+ 64. Kf1 Ke3 65. Rc2 Kd3 $1 $19) (63. Rc2 Rf2+ 64. Kd3 Rxc2 $1 65. Kxc2
Ke3 66. a4 Kf2 67. a5 Kxg2 68. a6 Bb8 69. e5 Kf3 70. e6 g2 71. e7 g1=Q $19)
63... Bc3 64. Re2 Ke5 65. Kc2 Bd4 66. Kd1 Rf8 67. Rd2 Rb8 68. Ke2 Bc3 69. Rd5+
(69. Rc2 Kd4 70. Kd1 Rb1+ 71. Rc1 (71. Ke2 Re1#) 71... Rxc1+ 72. Kxc1 Ke3 73.
Kc2 Be5 74. a4 Kf2 75. a5 Kxg2 76. a6 Kf3 77. a7 g2 78. a8=Q g1=Q $19) 69...
Ke6 70. Kd3 Be5 (70... Rb2 71. Kxc3 Rxg2 72. Rg5 Rxa2 73. Rxg4 Ke5 74. Kd3 $11)
71. Rc5 Rb1 72. Rc6+ Kd7 73. Rc2 Rg1 74. a4 {In a nasty ending Anand is
fighting like a lion and enjoys good chances for a draw.} Ra1 75. Kc4 Ke6 (
75... Rxa4+ 76. Kd5 $11) 76. Kb3 Bd4 77. Ra2 Rg1 78. a5 Bf2 79. a6 Ke5 (79...
Rxg2 80. a7 Bxa7 81. Rxg2 Bf2 82. Kc3 Ke5 83. Kd3 Kf4 84. Ke2 Kxe4 (84... Bd4
85. Kf1 Kf3 86. Ra2 Bf2 87. Ra3+ $11) 85. Rxf2 gxf2 86. Kxf2 $11) 80. Ra5+ Kf6
(80... Kf4 81. Kc4 Rxg2 $2 82. Kd3 Bc5 83. Rxc5 Kf3 84. Rf5#) 81. e5+ $6 (81.
Ra2 Kg5 82. Kc4 Rxg2 (82... Kf4 83. Ra5 $1) 83. a7 Bxa7 84. Rxg2 Kf4 85. e5 $1
$11) 81... Ke6 82. Bd5+ (82. Bb7 g2 83. Bxg2 Rxg2 84. a7 Bxa7 85. Rxa7 Kxe5 $19
) 82... Kxe5 83. Bb7+ Kf6 (83... Kd6 84. Ra2 (84. a7 Bxa7 85. Rxa7 g2 86. Bxg2
Rxg2 87. Ra5 (87. Kc3 Ke5 88. Rf7 Ke4 $19) 87... Ke6 88. Kc3 Kf6 89. Kd3 Rf2
90. Ke3 g3 $19) 84... g2 85. Ka4 $1 g3 86. Bxg2 Rxg2 87. a7 Bxa7 88. Rxg2 $11)
84. Ra4 $4 {Horrible blunder after a long tirering fight, in Dortmund Anand
was clearly out of form.} (84. Ra2) 84... g2 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. h3 a6 7. Bf1 e6 8. c3
Be7 9. Na3 O-O 10. Nc2 Ne5 11. d3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Ba4 13. Qe2 Bc6 14. g3 d5 15.
e5 Nd7 16. h4 Qb6 17. Bg2 Rae8 18. Rb1 Bd8 19. b4 Qc7 20. Bf4 Be7 21. Ne3 cxb4
22. cxb4 Qb6 23. Ng4 Rc8 24. Be3 d4 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Bg5 Bxg5 27. hxg5 Rfc8
28. Qe4 Rc2 29. a4 a5 30. bxa5 Qxa5 31. Qxd4 Qc7 32. Rb5 Rd8 33. Qd6 Qxd6 34.
exd6 b6 35. d4 Rc6 36. d5 Rxd6 37. dxe6 fxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Nc3 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Rd8 16. Ba3 Bf6 17. Re3 Qc7 18. Qxd5 Be6 19. Qb5 h6 20. h3 Rac8 21.
Qb2 b6 22. Rae1 Qc4 23. R1e2 Qa4 24. Kh2 Rd5 25. Bb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Pierrot, Juan Facundo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2427"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. h3 e6 7. c3 a6 8. Bf1
Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 Rc8 14. Qb3 b5 15.
Rac1 O-O 16. Qe3 Qb6 17. Bd3 f5 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qxe3 21.
Rxe3 Rxc1+ 22. Bxc1 Rc8 23. Bd2 Bd8 24. Re1 Bb6 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Be8 27.
Kf2 Bg6 28. Bxg6 hxg6 29. e4 Kf7 30. Ke3 dxe4 31. Re2 g5 32. Kxe4 a5 33. Rd2 {
[#] Thema: Aufbau und Ausnutzen einer allgemeinen horizontalen Sperre gegen
den weißen König.} Rc4+ 34. Ke3 g4 35. Rd4 Rc2 36. Rf4+ Kg8 37. Rf2 Rc5 38. Kd4
Rc4+ 39. Kd3 gxh3 40. gxh3 Rh4 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Gh4a4]} 41. Rf3 Kh7 42. Rg3 Kh6
43. b3 a4 44. Re3 axb3 45. axb3 Rb4 46. Kc3 Rf4 47. Kd3 g5 48. Rg3 Kg6 49. Re3
Kf5 50. Kc3 Rh4 51. Kd3 Kf4 52. Kd4 Rh8 53. Re4+ Kf5 54. Re3 Rd8+ 55. Kc5 Rd5+
56. Kb4 Kf4 57. Re1 Rd3 58. Rh1 Kxe5 59. h4 gxh4 60. Rb1 (60. Rxh4 Rd4+ 61.
Rxd4 Kxd4 62. Kxb5 e5 $19) 60... h3 61. Kxb5 h2 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.28"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pierrot, Juan Facundo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2427"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 cxd4 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.
Nxd4 Rc8 9. O-O e6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Nb3 Qc7 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bg5 Be6
15. Qa4 O-O 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nc5 Qe7 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Qxa7 e4
21. Nd5 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Be5 23. Qxb7 Rc2 24. Qb4 Rxe2 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nc6 Re8
27. Qb5 Rxa2 28. Nd8 Qe7 29. Qd5 Rf8 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15.
Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3 f5 (17... c4 {is the safest for Black, but it
doesn´t give many winning chances.}) 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Rg3 Qe7 {This move gave
Bacrot a nice victory last year.} 20. Nhf3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] More logical than
Grischuks choice. Toplalov just builds his attack, following the standard
approach of not counting P:s with White in this line.} (20. Rf3 Bxd5 21. Rxf5
Bf7 22. Ndf3 Be6 23. g4 Bxf5 24. gxf5 Qb7 $13 {0-1 Grischuk,A-Bacrot,E/Enghien
les Bains 2001/CBM 83/[Ftacnik] (56)}) 20... fxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxd5 $5 {Black
needs the P to justify giving White such a nice attacking position.} 22. Nxf6+
Qxf6 23. Bd2 $1 $40 {[%mdl 128] White is a P down, but he has a very nice game
with easy to find attacking moves in the pipeline. The most prominent threat
is Bxb4.} Bf7 $6 (23... Qxb2 $5 24. Bxb4 (24. Bxh6 $2 Bb3 $1) 24... Bxf3 25.
Qd3 $5 {looks very strong, but it´s not so easy to prove a win for White.}
Rxe1+ (25... Bh5 26. Rxe8 (26. Qh7+ Kf7 27. Qf5+ Kg8 28. Qh7+ $11) 26... Rxe8
27. Bc3 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qf4 $1 $13) 26. Bxe1 Bc6 27. Bc3 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qf4 29. Bxg7
Bxg7 30. Qh7+ Kf7 31. Qxg7+ Ke6 32. axb5 axb5 33. Bh7 $13) (23... Bxf3 24. Rxf3
Qxb2 $2 25. Bc3 $16) 24. Bc3 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Qe6 26. Ne5 $1 {An excellent
attacking move simply threatening to win with Qe4.} Nd5 (26... d5 27. Rf3 Be8 (
27... Ra7 28. Nxf7 Qxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Rxf7 30. Bh7+ $18) (27... d4 28. Bxb4 cxb4
29. Qe4 $18) 28. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 29. Rxf8 Bc6 30. Qb1+ g6 31. Nxg6 Qe4 32. Qxe4
dxe4 33. Rf6 $18) (26... dxe5 $2 27. Qe4 $18) 27. Qe4 $18 {All white pieces
are taking part in the onslaught. Black is defenceless.} Nf6 28. Qxa8 dxe5 29.
axb5 axb5 30. Qb8 Qd6 31. Qxb5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. O-O Nc5 8.
Be2 d5 9. d4 Nce4 10. c4 Be7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxd5 14. Qb3
Bf6 15. c4 Ne7 16. Bb2 Ng6 17. Rfd1 b6 18. Bf1 Bf5 19. Ne5 Re8 20. a4 Qc8 21.
Nc6 Ne7 22. d5 Nxc6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. dxc6 Qe6 25. Qg3+ Bg6 26. Qxc7 Rec8 27.
Qf4 Rxc6 28. a5 Qe5 29. Qf3 Rac8 30. axb6 axb6 31. Qa3 Qc5 32. Qg3 Qg5 33. Qb3
Be4 34. Rd4 Qe5 35. Rad1 Kg7 36. Qb4 Re6 37. Qa3 Ra8 38. Qb3 Rae8 39. Qb4 Qc5
40. Qd2 Qg5 41. Qb2 h5 42. Qa3 Qc5 43. Qc3 Qa5 44. Qb2 Qe5 45. Re1 Qc5 46. Re3
Bg6 47. Rd5 Qc7 48. Rxe6 Rxe6 49. Qd2 Re5 50. Rd4 Qc5 51. Rd8 Qe7 52. Rd7 Qc5
53. Rd8 Qe7 54. Rb8 Re1 55. Rxb6 Qe5 56. Ra6 Qe4 57. Qc3 Qe5 58. Qxe5 fxe5 59.
Ra3 Rc1 60. f4 exf4 61. Rf3 Be4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. d3
Nd7 9. Nbd2 e6 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 e5 14. d5 Ncb8 15. b3
h5 16. g5 Be7 17. Ba3 b5 18. Qe2 O-O 19. Qe3 h4 20. Bd3 Bh5 21. Kh1 g6 22. Rg1
Qa5 23. Bb2 Bd8 24. Nxh4 Bb6 25. Qe1 Bc5 26. a4 Qb6 27. Rf1 Bb4 28. axb5 Nc5
29. Bc4 Nbd7 30. bxa6 Nxa6 31. Qc1 Nac5 32. Bc3 Rfc8 33. Rxa8 Rxa8 34. Qc2 Qa5
35. Ra1 Qxa1+ 36. Bxa1 Rxa1+ 37. Kg2 f6 38. gxf6 Nxf6 39. f3 Kh7 40. Bf1 g5 41.
Nf5 Bxd2 42. Qxd2 Bxf3+ 43. Kg1 Ncxe4 44. Qd3 g4 45. hxg4 Ng5 46. Ng3+ Nfe4 47.
Qc2 Kg6 48. Kh2 Bd1 49. Qb2 Nf3+ 50. Kg2 Ne1+ 51. Kh2 Nf3+ 52. Kh3 Nfg5+ 53.
Kg2 Bf3+ 54. Kg1 Rd1 55. Nxe4 Nxe4 56. Qh2 Kg5 57. Qh5+ Kf4 58. Qh6+ Kxg4 59.
Qh3+ Kf4 60. Qh6+ Kf5 61. Qh7+ Kg5 62. Qg7+ Kf4 63. Qh6+ Ng5 64. Kf2 Rd2+ 65.
Ke1 Rd1+ 66. Kf2 Rd2+ 67. Ke1 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.02"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2657"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. O-O (13. Na5 Qc7 14.
c4 O-O (14... Bh4+ 15. g3 Bf6 16. Rc1 b6 17. Nc6 a5 18. O-O Bh3 19. Rfe1 g6 20.
b3 Bg7 21. a3 O-O 22. b4 {1-0 Wang Yu-Zhao Xue/HeiBei 2001/ (44)}) 15. O-O Bf6
16. Rac1 b6 17. Nc6 Nb8 18. Nxb8 Raxb8 19. b4 Qd7 20. c5 bxc5 21. bxc5 dxc5 22.
Rxc5 Be7 {0-1 David,A-Dinstuhl,V/Germany 2000/ (39)}) (13. c4 b6 14. O-O Nf6
15. Nc1 a5 16. b3 h4 17. a3 Nh5 18. Bd3 Bd7 19. Ne2 f5 20. f4 e4 21. Bc2 Bf6
22. Nd4 Qc7 23. Rac1 g6 24. Bb1 Kf7 25. Nb5 {1-0 Kraemer,M-Becker,M/Willingen/
2001/ (50)}) 13... Qc7 (13... O-O 14. c4 Bh7 15. Na5 Qc8 16. b4 Bd8 17. Nb3 b6
18. Rac1 Qb8 19. f4 h4 20. f5 {1-0 Conquest,S-Gofshtein,L/Fuerth 1999/ (37)}) (
13... a5 14. f4 a4 15. fxe5 axb3 16. Rxf5 bxa2 17. e6 Nf6 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19.
Bd4 Qc8 20. Bd3 Rf8 21. Qe2 Rh8 22. b3 Qd7 23. c3 Ra3 24. Rxa2 Rha8 25. Qxh5+
Kg8 26. Rxf6 {1-0 Galliamova,A-Hunt,H/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (26)}) 14. c4 b6
15. f4 g6 16. Rad1 (16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Nc1 a5 18. a3 Nc5 19. b3 h4 20. Ra2 O-O
21. Qe1 Kg7 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4 Rxa2 24. Nxa2 Nd3 25. Qc3 Ra8 {1/2-1/2
Ponomariov,R-Cvitan,O/Neum 2000/ 2001 (39)}) 16... a5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 (17... dxe5
18. d6 $18) 18. Rxf5 $5 {[%mdl 4] Topalov is trying to refute black's concept
with the position exchange sacrifice, even though he could have played more
positionally.} (18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Nf3 $1 Nxf3+ 20. Rxf3 $16) 18... gxf5 19. Nd4
Ng4 $6 (19... Rg8 20. Nxf5 (20. b3 h4 21. Nxf5 Bf6 $13) 20... Nxc4 21. Bxc4 (
21. Rc1 b5 22. b3 Qd7 23. bxc4 Qxf5 24. cxb5 Rb8 $13) 21... Qxc4 22. Re1 Kd7
$13) 20. Nc6 (20. Bxg4 hxg4 (20... fxg4 21. Nc6 f6 (21... Bf6 22. Qf2 $16) 22.
Re1 Rh7 23. Qc2 $18) 21. Nxf5 Bf6 22. Qe2 $14) 20... Rg8 (20... Nxe3 21. Qxe3
Kf8 22. Qc3 Rh6 23. Rf1 Bf6 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Rxf5 h4 26. Bd3 $14) 21. Rf1 Ne5 {
The knight rushes back proving, that the move 19..Ng4?! was a dubious concept.}
(21... Nxe3 22. Qxe3 h4 23. Rxf5 $16) (21... h4 22. Rxf5 h3 23. g3 $16) 22.
Rxf5 Nxc6 (22... h4 23. Bh5 $1 h3 24. g3 Rg7 (24... Rf8 25. Qf2 $18) 25. Bd4
$18) 23. dxc6 O-O-O (23... Qxc6 24. Bf3 Qc8 (24... Qd7 25. Qd5 Bd8 26. Bxh5 Rg7
27. Bh6 Rh7 28. Qe4+ Qe7 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Qc6+ Qd7 31. Bxf7+ $18) 25. Qd5 Rb8
26. Qxf7+ Kd7 27. Rf6 Rf8 28. Rxd6+ $1 Kxd6 29. Bf4+ Kd7 30. Qd5+ $18) 24. Qd5
Rde8 (24... Rdf8 25. Bxh5 $18) 25. Rxf7 Kb8 (25... Ref8 26. Qe6+ Kd8 27. Rxe7
Qxc6 28. Bf3 Rxf3 29. Qxg8+ Kxe7 30. Bg5+ Rf6 31. Qg7+ $18) 26. Bf4 Ka7 (26...
Rgf8 27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Bxd6 Rd8 29. Bxc7+ Kxc7 30. Qf5 Rxe2 31. Qf7+ Kd6 32.
Qf4+ Kc5 33. Qg5+ $18) 27. c5 $1 {Fine attacking idea, that opens access to
black's king.} bxc5 28. Bxd6 Bxd6 29. Rxc7+ Bxc7 30. Qb3 (30. Qb3 Rb8 (30...
Bb6 31. Qf7+) 31. Qc4 Rxb2 32. Qxg8 Rxe2 33. Qb3 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.03"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O
Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 c5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. d5 Bc8 14. a3
Na6 15. Qc2 $1 $146 f6 16. Ng4 Bd6 (16... Qd6 17. f3 f5 18. Nf2 Bf6 19. fxe4
Be5 20. h3 Bd4 21. e5 Qxe5 22. Kh1 Bd7 23. Nd3 Ba4 24. Qxa4 Qxe2 25. Rf3 $1 $16
{1-0 Anand,V-Shirov,A/Moscow RUS 2001/(44)}) 17. f4 $1 {[%mdl 32]} exf3 (17...
Bxg4 $142 18. Bxg4 f5 19. Be2 $14) (17... f5 18. Ne3 $36 {[%cal Gg2g4]}) 18.
Bxf3 {White have clear advantage due to Na6,passed pawn d5 and space advantage.
} Qc7 19. g3 Bd7 $6 (19... f5 $5 20. Nf2 f4 $132 21. g4 Be5 22. Bd2 Bd7 23. Bc3
$14) 20. Nf2 b5 {Probably better was to refrain from this move.After few moves
pawn c5 would became weak.} 21. b3 Rae8 22. Kg2 Be5 23. Rb1 Bd4 24. Bd2 b4 {
Black decide to close Q's side because there were possibilities to play there
only for White.} 25. a4 Qc8 26. Rbe1 Bf5 27. Be4 Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Bh3+ 29. Kh1
Bxf1 30. Rxf1 Qg4 31. Nd6 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rb4,Rc5] Exchanges didn't help Black.
Their weaknesses became obvious now.} Rd8 32. Qf5 h5 33. Qxg4 hxg4 34. Nb5 $1
Rd7 35. Bf4 (35. Rf4 Be5 36. Rxg4 Nb8 37. Be3 a6 38. Bxc5 axb5 39. axb5 $16 {
Three passed pawns should decide the game.}) 35... Re7 $1 {Shirov prepares a
counterplay.} 36. Nxd4 (36. Rd1 Kf7 37. Nxd4 cxd4 38. Rxd4 Nc5 $44) 36... cxd4
37. c5 g5 38. Bd6 (38. d6 Re8 (38... Rf7 39. c6 $1 gxf4 40. Rxf4 $18) 39. d7
Rd8 40. Bd6 Rxd7 41. Rd1 d3 42. Kg2 Rd8 $1 (42... f5 43. Kf2 f4 44. gxf4 gxf4
45. Rg1 Rg7 46. c6 $16) 43. Kf2 Rc8 $17) 38... Re3 39. c6 (39. Rxf6 d3 40. Rf2
Re2 41. Kg2 d2 $19) 39... Kf7 40. Bb8 $2 (40. Kg1 Kg6 41. Rd1 $16) 40... Nxb8
41. c7 Re8 42. cxb8=Q (42. Rc1 d3 43. cxb8=Q Rxb8 44. Rd1 Rc8 45. Rxd3 Rc3 $19)
42... Rxb8 43. Rd1 f5 44. Rxd4 Kf6 $17 {Endgame of this very interesting game
was played in mutual timetrouble and Shirov missed his winning chances.} 45.
Rc4 Ke5 46. Rc7 Kxd5 47. Rxa7 Rc8 48. Rd7+ Ke4 49. Rd1 Rc3 50. a5 Rxb3 51. a6
Ra3 52. Rb1 f4 53. Rxb4+ Ke3 {Hecht: '[#] Läßt Weiß hier das Remis aus und
anschließend Schwarz den Gewinn? Es geht allein um Zug 54! '} 54. Rb1 {'?'
Hecht.} (54. gxf4 $1 {Hecht} gxf4 55. Rb1) 54... Rxa6 (54... f3 $1 {Hecht} 55.
Kg1 Rxa6 56. Rb3+ Ke2 57. Rb2+ Kd3 58. Rb4 Ra1+ 59. Kf2 Ra2+ 60. Kg1 Rg2+ 61.
Kh1 Rd2 62. Kg1 Ke3 63. Rb1 Ke2 64. Ra1 Rd1+ 65. Rxd1 Kxd1 66. Kf1 Kd2 67. Kf2
Kd3 68. Kf1 (68. h3 {Hecht} gxh3 69. Kxf3 g4+ $19) 68... Ke3 69. Ke1 f2+ 70.
Kf1 Kf3 $19) 55. Rb3+ Ke2 56. Rb2+ Kd3 57. gxf4 gxf4 58. Rb4 Ra1+ 59. Kg2 f3+
60. Kf2 Ra2+ 61. Kg1 Rg2+ 62. Kh1 Rd2 63. Kg1 Ke3 64. Rb3+ Rd3 65. Rb1 Rd4 66.
Rb3+ Kf4 67. Rb8 Rd1+ 68. Kf2 Rd2+ 69. Kg1 Rg2+ 70. Kh1 Re2 71. Kg1 Ke3 72.
Re8+ Kd2 73. Ra8 Rg2+ 74. Kh1 Ke3 75. Ra3+ Kf4 76. Ra4+ Kg5 77. Ra8 g3 78. hxg3
Kg4 79. Rg8+ Kh3 80. Rh8+ Kxg3 81. Rg8+ Kf2 82. Ra8 Rg7 83. Ra2+ Kg3 84. Kg1 $1
Rb7 85. Rg2+ $1 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {. Recently, in the last open Wch, the chess grands Shirov and Topalov
have discussed many times the position after the move 13th.} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.
Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 (9. cxd5
$11) 9... Be6 (9... O-O) 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 (11. Ne5 $5 c5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13.
d5 Bc8 14. a3 {1-0 Anand,V-Shirov,A/Moscow RUS 2001 (44)}) 11... Bf5 12. Qb3 {
Introduced by Khalifman 1985, this move has its partisans as well as critics.
The statistic is more favorable for Black. 'Schussler: 'The main alternative
is 12.Rc1.''} (12. Ne1 dxc4 {1-0 Polovnikova,E-Gorshkova,I/WchJW U20 1997/EXP
59 (46)}) (12. Ne5 f6 13. Nd3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd3 {1/2-1/2 Popovic,
P-Mikhalchishin,A/JUG-chT (Cetinje) 1993 (16)}) (12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c6 14.
Ne5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Re1 {Timman,J-Bareev,E/Linares 1993/0-1 (52)} (16.
Qf3 Be6 {Huebner,R-Timman,J/Sarajevo cdt 8f 1991/1/2-1/2 (60)})) 12... c6 (
12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 a5 14. a3 (14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. a3 a4 16. Qd1 {0-1
Voitsekhovsky,S-Kolesar,M/Pardubice /1995 (37)}) 14... Nxc3 {1-0 Zagrebelny,
S-Pavasovic,D/Ljubljana op 1994 (29)}) 13. cxd5 {''!?' Blatny,P. '} (13. Rac1 {
'!?' Blatny,P.} dxc4 14. Bxc4 b5 {'?!' Schussler.} (14... a5 15. a3 Nxc3 16.
axb4 {1-0 Adams,M-Christiansen,L/Cannes team60 1992/CBM 28/[Schussler] (51)})
15. Bxf7+ (15. Be2 Be6 $17) 15... Rxf7 16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxc6 Qe8 {
0-1 Khalifman,A-Arkhipov,S/Moscow 1985/MCL (57)}) (13. c5 $5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 (14.
Qxc3 Nc2) 14... Nc2 15. Rad1 (15. Rac1 {1-0 Kloppenburg,M-Pinkerneil,R/6/7
ICCF Cup sf 1991 (41)}) 15... Nxe3 16. fxe3 Rb8 17. c4 Be6 {0-1 De Firmian,
N-Schwartzman,G/Chandler 1997/CBM 61 (48)}) ({Topalov himself against Shirov
prefered 13 g4 and::} 13. Ne5 a5 14. g4 Be6 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. a3 f6 17. axb4
fxe5 18. d5 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Moscow RUS 2001/The Week in Chess 370 
(31)}) (13. g4 Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nc7 (16... Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc7
18. Rab1 Nb5 {0-1 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Moscow RUS 2001/The Week in Chess 370 (53)
}) 17. Ne5 Bxe2 18. Nxc6 Qd7 19. Nxe2 Ra6 {1-0 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Moscow RUS
2001/The Week in Chess 370 (42)}) 13... cxd5 ({The latest deviation from the
followed path was in another Shirov's game:} 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qxb7
{1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/Leon ESP 2001/The Week in Chess 366 (28)}) 14. Rac1
(14. Rfc1 Rc8 15. Ne5 f6 16. Nf3 Qd7 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne1 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,
N-Kaidanov,G/New York op 1994/EXP 40}) 14... a5 15. Na4 Rb8 {[#]} 16. Nc5 $146
(16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. a3 {0-1 Plaskett,J-Fridman,D/Port Erin 1998/CBM
67 ext (64)}) ({Fritz 7:} 16. a3 Na6 17. Ne5 $14) 16... Bd6 $14 (16... b6 17.
Na4 Qd6 $14) (16... Qd6 17. a3 $14) 17. Rfd1 (17. a3 $142 $14) 17... b6 $11 18.
Nxe4 (18. Nd3) 18... dxe4 19. Ne5 {[#]} Qe8 (19... Qh4 $5) 20. Nc4 $14 Bc7 (
20... Qe7 $6 21. Nxd6 $140 (21. Bd2 Rbc8 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxb4 axb4 24. Rc4
Rfd8 25. Qxb4 Qxb4 26. Rxb4 Rc2 27. Re1 Kf8 28. f3 Re8 29. Bd1 Rc1 30. Kf2 e3+
31. Ke2 Bc2 32. g3 (32. Rxb6 Bxd1+ 33. Rxd1 Rc2+ 34. Kd3 Rxg2 35. a4 Rxh2 36.
b4 Rf2 37. a5 Rxf3 38. Re1 e2+ 39. Kd2 Ra3 $11)) 21... Qxd6 22. d5 Rfd8 23. f3
Qe5 24. Bd4 Qf4 25. g3 Qd6 26. Be3 Rbc8 27. Bf4 $14 {^^}) 21. Na3 {[#]} Rb7 (
21... Qd7 $5 22. Nb5 Bd6 23. Nxd6 (23. d5) 23... Qxd6 24. a3 (24. f3 Nd5) 24...
Be6 25. Qa4 Bd7 26. Bb5 Bxb5 27. Qxb5 Nd5 $15) 22. Nb5 $14 Bb8 23. d5 Bd7 (
23... Qe5 24. d6 Nd3 25. Bxd3 exd3 26. Bd4 Qf4 27. Qd5 Be4 28. Qe5 Qxe5 29.
Bxe5 f6 30. f3 Bg6 31. Bf4 $14) 24. a4 (24. Nc3 $14) 24... Be5 25. d6 Qb8 26.
Rc7 Rd8 27. Qc4 Na6 28. Rc1 $2 (28. Rxb7 $1 Qxb7 29. Qd5 Qxd5 30. Rxd5 Re8 31.
Bxb6 Nb4 32. Rd2 $16) 28... Nxc7 29. dxc7 Rxc7 30. Nxc7 Rc8 31. Qd5 (31. Qxe4
Bxc7 32. Qh4 Bf5 33. Bf3 Be5 $11) 31... Rxc7 32. Rd1 $14 Qe8 $6 (32... Ra7 $6
33. Kh1 g6 (33... Bxh2 34. g3 Bxg3 35. fxg3 Qxg3 36. Qd6 $14) 34. Qxe4 Bf5 35.
Qc6 Re7 36. Bxb6 Re6 37. Qxe6 Bxe6 38. Rd8+ Qxd8 39. Bxd8 Bd7 40. Bxa5 $16) (
32... Rb7 $1 33. Kh1 g6) 33. Bxb6 Bxa4 34. Qxe5 $2 (34. Bxc7 $18 Bxc7 (34...
Bxd1 35. Bb5 Bb3 (35... Qe7 36. Bxe5 $18) 36. Qxb3) 35. Rc1 Bb8 36. Bg4 $18)
34... Qxe5 $11 35. Rd8+ Be8 36. Bxc7 Qe7 37. Bxa5 (37. Bb5 Qxd8 38. Bxd8 Bxb5
$11) 37... h6 38. Bb5 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. Ne5 a5 14. g4 Be6 15.
Nxe4 dxe4 16. a3 f6 17. axb4 fxe5 18. d5 cxd5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Bc4 Bxc4 21.
Qxc4+ Kh8 22. bxa5 Rxa5 23. Qxe4 Rb5 24. Rfd1 Qe8 25. h3 Rxb2 26. Qxe5 Rb5 27.
Qe6 Bg5 28. Qxe8 Rxe8 29. Bxg5 Rxg5 30. Ra7 h5 31. Rxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. h4 a5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6
15. Nb6 Ra6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Qc7 18. Ra4 Rb8 19. Kf2 h5 20. Re1 Ne8 21.
Bxg7 Nxg7 22. g4 Qd8 23. Kg2 Ra7 24. Qe3 Rab7 25. Re4 Rb4 26. Qg5 Rxe4 27. Rxe4
Rb4 28. Rxb4 axb4 29. Qe3 Qc7 30. Qd4 Qa5 31. Qe3 Qc7 32. Qd4 Qa5 33. Qe3
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Rc8 11. O-O-O Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5
Bxd4 15. Qxd4 a5 16. a3 b4 17. a4 Qe8 18. h4 Bxa4 19. Kb1 Bxb3 20. cxb3 a4 21.
h5 f6 22. hxg6 Qxg6+ 23. Qd3 axb3 24. Rh4 Qxd3+ 25. Rxd3 Rb8 26. Rxb3 Rb5 27.
Rd4 Rfb8 28. Kc2 Kf7 29. g4 f5 30. gxf5 Kf6 31. Re3 b3+ 32. Kd3 R8b7 33. Re6+
Kxf5 34. Rh6 Rb4 35. Re4 R4b5 36. Ke3 Kg5 37. Reh4 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. g4 $5 {[%mdl 4] A double
edged novelty tries to solve the riddle of the position with extreme meassures.
} (13. Rac1 dxc4 14. Bxc4 b5 (14... a5 15. a3 Nxc3 16. axb4 Nb5 17. bxa5 Rxa5
18. d5 Be4 19. dxc6 Bxf3 20. Bxb5 bxc6 21. Bxc6 Bxc6 22. Rxc6 {1-0 Adams,
M-Christiansen,L/Cannes 1992/ (52)}) 15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Nxe4 Bxe4
18. Rxc6 Qe8 19. Rcc1 Bd6 20. Nxf7 Qxf7 21. Rc6 Rd8 {0-1 Khalifman,A-Arkhipov,
S/Moscow/1985/ (57)}) (13. cxd5 cxd5 (13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qxb7 Nxc3
16. Bc4 Rb8 17. Qxc6 Be4 18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19. Qxc3 Bb4 20. Qc4 Bd5 21. Qd3 Rxf3
22. gxf3 Qd7 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/Leon 2001/ (28)}) 14. Rfc1 Rc8 15. Ne5
f6 16. Nf3 Qd7 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne1 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Kaidanov,G/New York/
1994/ (18)}) (13. c5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc2 15. Qxb7 Nxa1 16. Rxa1 Bf6 (16... Qe8
17. Qa6 f6 18. Ne1 Qc8 19. Qxc8 Bxc8 20. Bf4 Bd8 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/
Tilburg/1998/ (46)}) 17. Qxc6 Re8 18. Qa4 h5 19. Bb5 Re4 20. Nd2 Re6 21. Bc6
Rb8 22. Nf1 Bd3 {0-1 Benjamin,J-Christiansen,L/San Francisco 1998/ (39)}) 13...
Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nc7 (16... Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc7 18. Rab1 Nb5
19. Ne5 Bxe2 20. Nxc6 Qe8 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Rfe1 Rb8 23. Qxd5 Qxe7 24. Bd2 Nc7
{0-1 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Moscow/2001/ (53)}) 17. Ne5 Bxe2 (17... Rb8 18. Nxc6
Rxb7 19. Nxd8 Rxd8 (19... Bxe2 20. Nxb7 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 $16) 20. Bxg4 Nf6 (20...
Rxb2 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Rfb1 $16) 21. Bf5 $14) 18. Nxc6 $1 Qd7 (18... Rb8 19.
Nxd8 Rxb7 20. Nxb7 $16) 19. Nxe2 Ra6 (19... Bf6 20. Ng3 (20. f3 Ng5 21. Bxg5
Bxg5 22. f4 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 Qxe2 24. Rae1 Qa6 25. Qxc7 $16) 20... Rfe8 21. Bf4 $16
) 20. Ne5 $1 {White keeps an excellent centralized piece that indirectly
defends his own exposed king.} (20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bf4 Ng5 22. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 23.
Ng3 Qf4 24. Rae1 Rh6 $132) 20... Qd8 21. Ng3 Bf6 (21... Nxg3 22. fxg3 $16) 22.
Nxe4 dxe4 (22... Bxe5 23. dxe5 dxe4 24. Qxe4 $18) 23. Qxe4 Re6 24. c6 (24. f4
Rfe8 25. Rac1 $18) 24... Bxe5 (24... Nd5 25. Rac1 (25. f4 $6 Bxe5 26. fxe5 Rxc6
$14) 25... Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nxe3 27. fxe3 $1 (27. Qxe3 Qd5 28. f3 Rxc6 29. Rxc6
Qxc6 $14) 27... Qg5+ 28. Kh1 Rxe5 29. Qf4 Qe7 30. c7 $18) 25. dxe5 f5 26. Qc4 (
26. Qf3 f4 27. Bc5 Rfe8 28. Bd6 Nb5 29. Qxf4 Nxd6 30. exd6 Rxd6 31. Qc4+ Kh8
32. Rae1 $18) 26... f4 (26... Qd5 27. Rfc1 Qxe5 28. Bf4 (28. Bd4 Qd5 29. Qxd5
Nxd5 30. Rc5 Nf4 31. Kf1 $18) 28... Qd5 29. b3 (29. Bxc7 Re1+ $1 30. Rxe1 Qxc4
31. Rac1 $11) 29... Rg6+ 30. Kf1 $18) 27. Bb6 Qd5 (27... Rf7 28. Bxc7 Rg6+ 29.
Kh1 Qxc7 30. Rac1 $18) 28. Qxd5 Nxd5 29. Bxa5 f3 (29... Rxc6 30. Rfd1 $18) 30.
c7 $5 {The pawn on seventh rank has enormous power.} (30. Rfd1 Rxe5 31. b4 Rfe8
32. a4 Nc3 33. Rd8 Rxd8 34. Bxd8 Nxa4 35. h3 $18) 30... Nf4 31. Rac1 (31. Rfd1
Nh3+ 32. Kf1 Rg6 33. Ke1 Rg1+ 34. Kd2 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Nxf2 36. Rf1 $18) 31...
Ne2+ (31... Rc8 32. Rcd1 Rxe5 33. Rd8+ Re8 34. Rfd1 $18) 32. Kh1 Nxc1 33. Rxc1
Rc8 34. Rd1 Kf7 (34... Rxe5 35. Rd8+ Re8 36. b4 Kf7 37. h3 Ke7 38. b5 $18) 35.
Rd8 Rc6 (35... Re8 36. h3 $18) 36. h3 (36. Rxc8 $4 Rc1+ $19) 36... R8xc7 37.
Bxc7 Rxc7 38. Rd3 $1 Rc2 39. Rxf3+ Ke6 40. b4 Kxe5 41. Kg2 Rb2 42. Rf7 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. g4 Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3
Na6 16. Qxb7 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc7 18. Rab1 Nb5 19. Ne5 Bxe2 20. Nxc6 Qe8 21. Nxe7+
Kh8 22. Rfe1 Rb8 23. Qxd5 Qxe7 24. Bd2 Nc7 25. Qd6 Qxd6 26. cxd6 Rxb1 27. Rxb1
Nb5 28. d7 Nxa3 29. Rb7 h6 30. Bf4 Bg4 31. Bd6 Rd8 32. Bxa3 Rxd7 33. Rb8+ Kh7
34. Ra8 Rd5 35. Kg2 Be2 36. f3 Rf5 37. f4 Bc4 38. Kg3 Rb5 39. Bc5 Rb3 40. Rxa5
Rxc3+ 41. Kf2 Rc2+ 42. Ke3 Re2+ 43. Kf3 Rxh2 44. Bd6 Rd2 45. Ke3 Rd3+ 46. Ke4
Rd1 47. Rc5 Re1+ 48. Kf3 Bd3 49. d5 Be4+ 50. Kf2 Rd1 51. Ke3 Bxd5 52. Ke2 Bf3+
53. Kxf3 Rxd6 0-1

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 {If Black doesn't fancy the
solid classical 5...Be7, he can strive for a more active development of his
Bf8. This plan is very popular nowadays and has its adherents at the highest
level.} ({Also playable is the immediate} 5... Bc5 {but this gives White's B a
choice after} 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 $142 $5 (7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {can after} Rb8 {
lead to the game position.}) 7... d6 ({Central action leads to an unpleasant
position almost by force:} 7... d5 8. d4 dxe4 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1 11.
Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 Bb6 15. Bg5+ $1 f6 16. exf6+ gxf6
17. Bh4 Ng4+ 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. Nd2 Be6 20. Rh5 Kf7 21. h3 Ne5 22. Rh6 $1 Ng6 23.
Rf1 f5 24. Bg5 $36 {Svidler,P-Grischuk,A/Biel/2001/}) 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 10.
axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. h3 Bh5 13. d5 Na7 14. Bg5 Nd7 15. Na3 O-O 16. Qe2
Rb8 17. Rd1 Qb7 18. b4 c5 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Qd3 Bc7 21. g4 Bg6 22. Nh4 $16 {
(),Hracek,Z-Slobodjan,R/Lippstadt/2000/}) 6. Bb3 Bc5 {The Arkhangelsk line was
once connected mainly with} (6... Bb7 {but the B can often be effectively used
on the /^ c8-h3.}) 7. a4 {The popularity of 6...Bc5 stems also from the fact,
that White doesn't get any advantage after the seemingly tempting} (7. Nxe5
Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 {e.g.,} 10. f4 Nc6 (10... c5 $5 11. Qd1 Ng6 12. Bd5
Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Rb8 14. Qh5 Bb7 15. Nc3 b4 16. f5 bxc3 17. fxg6 fxg6 18. Qh3 Qe7
19. e5 Rf8 20. Rxf8+ $11 {1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V/Riga Tal mem/1995/}) 11. Qc3
Bb7 12. e5 Ne4 13. Qe3 Na5 14. Nd2 Nxb3 15. cxb3 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 O-O 17. Bc3 Qh4
18. Rae1 Rfe8 19. Qf2 Qxf2+ 20. Rxf2 dxe5 $11 {1/2,Anand,V-Topalov,V/Linares/
1997/}) 7... Rb8 {In the spirit of the note to move 6, but the traditional} (
7... Bb7 {is playable as well:} 8. d3 O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3
axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5 dxe4 $5 (14... Be7 $44) 15. dxe4 Qxd1
16. Rxd1 b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. bxc3 gxf6 19. Nd7 Bd6 20. Nxf8 Kxf8 21. f3 h5 22.
h4 Ke7 23. Kf2 Bb7 24. c4 Be5 25. Rd2 Bc8 26. Rd5 Be6 27. Ra5 c5 $1 $11 {
Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/WCh London/2000/}) 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11.
Na3 {Nowadays the main continuation, which causes Black most problems.} ({
An earlier attempt was} 11. h3 O-O 12. Re1 Bb7 ({Food for thought is also} 
12... Re8 $5 13. Na3 b4 14. Nc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. Nxb6 Rxb6 17. cxd4 Nxe4
18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Rxe4 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Nxe4 Bf5 22. Ng5 Ne7 23. g4 Bg6
24. Ne6 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Wijk aan Zee/1998/} Qb8 $1 $132 {/\} 25. d5 Bf7 26.
Nxg7 $2 Kxg7 27. Qd4+ Kf8 28. Bh6+ Ke8 29. Re1 Rb1 $19) 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4
Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 {when later games showed} cxd4 $1
{is playable:} (18... b3 $6 19. Bxb3 g5 $2 20. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 21. Bxg5 cxd4 22.
Ra3 $1 $40 Nc6 23. Ba2 Ne5 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. f4 Ned7 26. e5 $18 {Hracek,Z-Shirov,
A/Bundesliga 9798/1997/}) 19. Qd3 Re8 20. Nbd2 Nc6 21. Nc4 Bc7 $5 22. Nxd4 Nxd4
23. Qxd4 d5 $132) 11... O-O {Black is practically forced to sacrifice a P.} (
11... b4 $6 12. Nc4 O-O 13. Ba4 $16) (11... Ba6 12. Re1 h6 (12... O-O $6 13.
Bg5 $40) 13. Nc2 Bb7 14. Ne3 $36) 12. Nxb5 Bg4 $5 ({The alternative is the
immediate} 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 {Black has strong pressure against White's 
[+] and the exposed minor pieces on the b-file give him various tactical
chances, for example:} {The most problems are however caused by Anand's recent
idea} 14. Ra3 $5 (14. Re1 Nxd4 (14... d5 $5 $44) 15. Nbxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7
17. Qxd4 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qd7 $44) 14... Re8 (14... d5 $5 15. e5 Ne4 16. Qd3 $14 (
16. Be3 $2 Nxe5 $1 $15)) 15. Re1 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Be3 Ba5 (17... Nxe5 18. dxe5
Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Rxb5 20. Ba4 $16) 18. Na7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 $1 (19. Qxf3 Nxd4 20.
Bxd4 Bxe1 21. Nc6 Qd7 22. Nxb8 Rxb8 23. Ra7 Bb4 24. Ba4 Qe7 25. Qe3 h6 26. Bc6
Bc5 $14 {Galkin,A-Prokopchuk,E/Moscow Aeroflot/2002/}) 19... Bxe1 20. fxe4 Nxa7
21. Rxa7 dxe4 22. Ba4 Bxf2+ $5 23. Bxf2 Qg5+ 24. Bg3 Red8 25. Rxc7 Qe3+ 26. Kh1
Rxd4 27. Qb3 $1 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Rdd8 29. Qxf3 exf3 30. b3 $16 {Anand,V-Tkachiev,V/
FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} (30. Rc2 $5 $16)) 13. Bc2 ({But the blockade deserves
closer attention:} 13. d5 $5 Ne7 (13... Nxe4 14. dxc6 Nxf2 15. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 16.
Kxf2 Rxb5 17. Bd5 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $1 Qh4+ 19. Kg2 $16 {Acs,P-Blehm,P/Budapest zt/
2000/}) 14. Bc2 (14. Qd3 Nd7 15. Bd1 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qc4 Nf6 18. Bg5 h6
19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Nd2 Qe8 21. Be2 Qf7 22. Bf3 Ng6 23. Kh1 Bd7 24. Na3 Rf8 $44 {
|^,Fressinet,L-De Vreugt,D/Zug/2001/}) 14... Bxf2+ (14... Ng6 15. h3 Bh5 16.
Qd3 $1 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nbd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Rxb2 20. Nc6 Qd7 21. f3 $16 {
[%csl Rh5] ץh5,Acs,P-Estrada Nieto,J/HUN-chT/2000/}) 15. Rxf2 Rxb5 16. b4 $14
{|^<<}) ({After} 13. Be3 {tactics work for Black:} exd4 14. cxd4 Nxe4 $1 15.
Bd5 Qe8 $132 {/\} 16. Qc2 $6 Bxf3 $1 (16... Nb4 $2 17. Qxe4 Qxb5 18. Qxg4 {
a Sh6} Nxd5 19. Bh6 $16) 17. Bxc6 (17. gxf3 Nb4 18. Nxc7 Nxc2 19. Nxe8 Nd2 $1
$17) 17... Qe6 18. gxf3 Qg6+ $17 19. Kh1 $2 Ng3+) 13... h6 $6 $146 {[%mdl 8]
To waste a tempo on prophylaxis in such a sharp position seems suspect.} (13...
Bxf3 14. Qxf3 (14. gxf3 $5 {is the principled alternative.}) 14... exd4 15. Bg5
h6 16. Bh4 dxc3 17. bxc3 Ne5 18. Qe2 Ng6 19. Bg3 Re8 20. Rad1 Qd7 21. Nd4 Qg4
22. f3 Qg5 23. f4 Qh5 24. Rf3 Nh4 25. Bxh4 $11 {1/2,Polgar,J-Shirov,A/Linares/
1997/}) (13... d5 14. exd5 (14. Bg5 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxe4 (16...
Bxd4 $5 17. exd5 Qxd5 $11) 17. Bxe4 Nxd4 $11) (14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 exd4 16.
Bg5 Bc5 (16... dxc3 17. bxc3 $14) 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Nxc7 Rxb2 20.
Ba4 dxc3 $5 21. Nxd5 (21. Bxc6 Rc8 22. Nxd5 Rxc6 $11) (21. Na6 $5) 21... Ne5
22. Nxc3 Nd3 $44) 14... Qxd5 15. dxe5 Qxb5 16. Ba4 $1 (16. exf6 Rbd8 $13) 16...
Bxf3 17. Qxf3 $1 Nxe5 18. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb5 21. Ra7 $14 {
White gets a somewhat better _|_ practically by force, even later in the game
we will see such positions don't suit Morozevich too well.}) 14. dxe5 $6 {
This isn't an ideal solution, as it activates Black's forces.} ({On the
following day Morozevich dared to repeat the line, but the first to improve
was his opponent:} 14. d5 $142 $5 Ne7 15. h3 Bh5 16. Kh1 Nxe4 $6 (16... Bxf2
17. Nxd6 $16) 17. Bxe4 f5 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Ba4 e4 20. Nxc7 Qf7 21. Ne6 exf3 22.
gxf3 Qf6 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24. Bb5 Qh4 25. Kg2 g5 26. Ra4 f4 27. Bd7 Ng6 28. Re4
Ne5 29. Rxe5 dxe5 30. Qd3 Kg7 31. Qe4 Bc7 32. Bf5 $18 {Leko,P-Morozevich,A/NAO
Cannes/2002/}) (14. Be3 d5 $132 {[+]} (14... Bxd4 $2 15. cxd4 Rxb5 16. Ba4 $18)
) (14. Re1 $5 {also seems better than the text move.}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nbd4 d5 {
White is close to consolidation, so Black must act.} ({Perhaps it was here
Morozevich wanted to improve with} 15... c5 $1 16. Nb3 $5 (16. h3 cxd4 17. hxg4
dxc3 18. g5 cxb2 19. Bxb2 Nfg4 $1 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. gxh6 Bxf2+ $11) (16. Nf5
Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bxf5 18. exf5 d5 $44 {|^[+]}) (16. Nb5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qd7 $1 18.
f4 $8 (18. Nxd6 $2 Qh3 19. Bf4 Nxf3+ 20. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 18... Qxb5 19. fxe5 dxe5
20. Qf3 Ra8 $5 $11) 16... Nh7 $1 $44 {/\Ng5,Qf6 and the nagging pin gives
Black compensation.}) ({Simplistic is} 15... Bxd4 $2 16. cxd4 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3
Bh3 18. Re1 $16 {and White has both a positional and material advantage.}) 16.
exd5 (16. h3 $142 $5 dxe4 (16... Bh5 17. g4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 (18. Nxf3 $143 Bg6
$13) 18... dxe4 (18... Bg6 $2 19. Nc6 $16) 19. Qg2 $1 Bxd4 20. gxh5 $18 {
/\Bh6->}) (16... Nxf3+ 17. Nxf3 $16 {leads nowhere.}) 17. hxg4 exf3 18. g5 $1
hxg5 (18... fxg2 19. Re1 $1 Nfd7 (19... Nfg4 $6 20. Kxg2 {[%cal Rf2f3] /\f3})
20. gxh6 Qh4 21. Kxg2 $5 Ng4 22. h7+ Kh8 23. Qf3 $16) 19. Nxf3 Qxd1 20. Rxd1
Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 $14 {|^_|_ gives White a slightly better version of the game
position-his Pb2 is not under direct pressure and he can preserve his strong
^^.}) 16... Qxd5 $8 (16... Bxd4 $6 17. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 Bxf3 19. c4 $16) 17.
h3 (17. Bf4 Bxd4 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 $11 (18... Qxe5 $5 19. cxd4 Qh5 $44)) 17... Bh5
{[%cal Rc7c5,Rb6d4] /\c5,Bd4} 18. g4 $1 {[%mdl 64] White has to get rid of the
pin, so he initiates a tactical sequence, which transposes the game into an
_|_.} (18. Bf4 $6 Bxd4 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. Nxe5 Rxb2 $15) 18...
Nfxg4 {After 16.h3!? Black didn't have this option.} 19. Nxe5 (19. hxg4 $2 Bxg4
20. Nxe5 Bxd1 21. Ndc6 (21. Nec6 Rbe8 22. Rxd1 Qh5 $40) 21... Qxe5 (21... Qc5
$5 22. Bxd1 Rbe8 $15) 22. Nxe5 Bxc2 23. Nd7 Ra8 24. Be3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Rd8 26.
Nxb6 cxb6 27. Bxb6 Rb8 $15 {_|_}) 19... Nxe5 (19... Ne3 $5 20. Bxe3 Bxd1 21.
Nec6 Bc5 (21... Qh5 $5) 22. Rfxd1 (22. Bxd1 Rxb2 23. Bf3 Qc4 $15) 22... Rxb2
23. Rd2 $13) 20. Qxh5 Bxd4 21. Qf5 Nf3+ (21... g6 $6 22. Qe4 $16 {[%csl Rh6]
><h6}) 22. Kh1 Qxf5 23. Bxf5 $36 {[%csl Gc1,Gf5] /+/=} Bf6 {[%csl Rc1] Pins
the B to c1.} (23... Bb6 $143 24. Be4 Nh4 25. Bf4 $36) 24. Ra7 (24. Be4 Ne5 {
would probably only transpose.} (24... Ng5 25. Bg2 $14)) 24... c5 (24... Rfd8
25. Bg4 $5 (25. Rxc7 Nh2 $1 26. Re1 Nf3 $11 {is an attractive repetition.})
25... Nd2 26. Rd1 Ne4 27. Kg2 $14) 25. Be4 Ne5 26. Rd1 $1 {[%cal Ye4d5] /\Bd5}
(26. Bd5 Nd3 $11) 26... Nc4 27. Bb7 Bg5 (27... Rfd8 28. Rxd8+ (28. Bd5 $6 Kh8
$1 $132) 28... Rxd8 29. Ra8 $14 (29. Kg2 $5 $14)) 28. Bxg5 (28. f4 {maintains
the ^^, but compromises the Bc1} Bf6 $13 {[%csl Rc1]}) 28... hxg5 29. b3 Ne5 $2
{[%mdl 8192] This costs Black a pawn and prepares the final tactical oversight.
} (29... Nb6 $8 30. Bf3 (30. Kg2 Nc8 $11) 30... Rfd8 $14 {/= is passive, but
gives Black reasonable drawing chances.}) 30. Rd5 Rfe8 31. Rxc5 Re7 {Black
continues down the lethal path.} (31... Nd3 $142 32. Rc7 (32. Rxg5 Nxf2+ 33.
Kg2 Nd1 34. c4 $16) 32... Nxf2+ 33. Kh2 Nd3 34. Bg2 $5 $16) 32. Rb5 $18 {
White can get out of the pin with Ra8, or by advancing his Pc3, but he has
even a direct threat.} Nd3 $2 33. Be4 $1 (33. Be4 Rxe4 (33... Nxf2+ 34. Kg2
Ree8 35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. Kxf2 $18) 34. Rxb8+ Kh7 35. Rxf7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Bb7 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3
cxd4 9. exd4 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 11. Qa4+ (11. O-O O-O 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. a4 (13.
Ne4 Bxe4 14. Bxe4 Rc8 15. Bd3 Qc7 16. Bg3 Rfe8 $14 {1-0 Vokac,M-Tibensky,R/CZE
1998/EXT 99 (48)}) 13... Qc7 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bg3 Qc6 16. Bf1 Nf8 17. a5 Ng6
$14 {0-1 Pinter,J-Ambroz,J/Baile Herculane 1982/MCD (54)}) 11... Nbd7 (11...
Qd7 12. Qc2 (12. Qxd7+ Nbxd7 13. Nd2 g5 14. Bg3 $15) 12... g5 13. Bg3 O-O 14.
O-O $14) 12. Qb4 $6 (12. O-O $14) (12. Nd2 O-O (12... Bxg2 13. Rg1 $16) 13. O-O
$14) 12... Qc7 $132 13. Bg3 (13. O-O $142) 13... e5 14. Nh4 Be4 15. Bxe4 Nxe4
16. Nf5 g6 17. Ne3 O-O (17... Rc8 $5) 18. Nd5 $11 Qd8 19. O-O Re8 20. Rad1 (20.
Rfe1 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Nf6 $11) 20... exd4 21. Bxd6 (21. cxd4 Ndf6 $11) 21... Nxc3
(21... Ndf6 $5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd4 $11) 22. Nxc3 $132 dxc3 23. Qxc3 Qf6 24.
Qh3 Ne5 25. c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Nbd2 Bf6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. N1h2 exd4 14. cxd4 Na5
15. Bc2 c5 16. Ng4 Bxg4 17. hxg4 cxd4 18. g5 Be5 19. Nxd4 g6 20. Nf3 Bg7 21.
Rb1 Rc8 22. b3 d5 23. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nataf, Igor Alexandre"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 {This move was mostly made in order to prevent a well-known
theoretical line} (9... O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3) 10.
c5 a5 (10... Nc6 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. Ne5 Bb5 14. Re1 O-O 15. f3 Ng5
16. Nc3 $36 {1-0 Tredinnick,A-Evans,R/ENG-ch corr8990 1989/CR97-89 (38)}) (
10... O-O 11. Qb3 a5 12. a3 Na6 13. Qxb7 Naxc5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Qc6 d4 16. Bf4
Ra7 $13 {1-0 Pane,A-Venni,A/4 CIM 1988 (39)}) 11. Ne5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 44]} (11.
Bf4 O-O 12. Nc3 g5 13. Bd2 Nc6 14. Bc1 f5 15. Ne1 b6 16. cxb6 cxb6 17. Nb5 Bf6
18. Nc2 Rc8 19. Re1 Qd7 {1/2-1/2 Socko,B-Motylev,A/2 IECC, Ohrid 2001 (19)}) (
11. a3 Nc6 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne5 Bf6 15. Bf4 Bd7 16. f3 Ng5 17. Nc3
Rb8 18. Rf2 Ne6 19. Bg3 Re8 20. f4 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Qg5 22. Kh1 Rb7 23. Rd2 {
1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Ye Rongguang/Antwerp 1997/CBM 61 (23)}) 11... f6 (11... O-O
12. f3 Nf6 13. Nc3 $16) 12. Nd3 O-O (12... Nc6 13. Nf4 Bf7 14. Bg4 $16) 13. Nf4
$1 (13. f3 Ng5 14. f4 Ne4 15. f5 Bf7 16. Nf4 Qd7 17. Nc3 Rfe8 18. Bg4 b6 $132)
13... Bf7 14. Bg4 $1 g6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. Bxe6+ Kg7 17. a3 (17. f3 Ra6 $1) 17...
Nc6 18. Nc3 Re8 (18... f5 19. Nxd5 Bg5 20. Bf4 $1 Bxf4 21. Nxf4 Qxd4 22. Qxd4+
Nxd4 23. Rad1 Rad8 24. Bd5 $16) 19. Nxd5 (19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. d5 Bxc5 21. dxc6
Qxd1 22. Rxd1 Rxe6 23. cxb7 Rb8 24. b4 Be7 25. bxa5 Rxb7 26. Be3 $11) 19...
Bxc5 (19... Bf8 20. Bf4 $1 Rxe6 21. Nxc7 Re7 22. Nxa8 Qxa8 23. d5 $16) 20. dxc5
Rxe6 21. Bf4 Ne5 22. Rc1 $16 c6 23. Nb6 Qxd1 24. Rfxd1 Rae8 25. Bxe5 $6 (25. f3
Ng5 26. Bxe5 $1 (26. Bd2 Nexf3+ $1 27. gxf3 Nxf3+ 28. Kf2 Nxh2 29. Kg3 Re2 30.
Nc4 h5 $44 (30... g5 31. Rh1 h5 32. Rxh2 h4+ 33. Kh3 g4+ 34. Kxh4 Rxh2+ 35.
Kxg4 $14)) 26... fxe5 (26... Rxe5 27. f4 Re2 28. fxg5 Rxb2 29. Rd7+ Kg8 30. Nc4
Ra2 31. gxf6 Ree2 32. Ne3 $1 Rxe3 33. f7+ Kf8 34. Rf1 $18) 27. Nc4 e4 (27... a4
28. Nd6 R8e7 (28... Rb8 29. Rc4 $18) 29. Rc4 $18) 28. Nd6 R8e7 29. h4 $16)
25... Rxe5 26. Nc4 (26. f3 Nxc5 27. f4 Rf5 (27... Re2 28. Rxc5 Rxb2 29. Nc4 Ra2
30. Rd2 Re1+ 31. Kf2 Rea1 32. Ke2 a4 33. g4 $16) 28. g4 Rxf4 29. Rxc5 Rxg4+ $44
) 26... Rxc5 27. f3 Ng5 28. h4 (28. Rd7+ Kh6 29. Rxb7 Ne6 $11) 28... Ne6 29.
Rd7+ Kf8 (29... Kh6 30. Rxb7 Nd4 (30... Nf4 31. Rc2 $11) 31. Kf2 $11) 30. b4 (
30. Rxh7 Re7 31. Rxe7 Kxe7 $15) (30. Rxb7 Nf4 31. Kf1 Re2 $11) 30... axb4 31.
axb4 Rd5 32. Rxb7 Nf4 33. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. Qe2 c5 12. Qe4 Rb8 13. Ne5 Bd6 14. f4
cxd4 15. O-O Bxe5 16. fxe5 Qg5 17. Qxd4 Bc6 18. Be4 O-O 19. Bxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. d5 (4. e4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 {-B38}) 4...
d6 5. e4 e6 $5 {A rare, but clever move order, often used by Topalov (albeit
mostly in rapid games). Black leaves the deployment of his Ng8 still undefined.
} 6. h3 (6. Nc3 exd5 ({An interesting alternative is also to keep the tension
with} 6... Ne7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O e5 $5 9. a3 f5 10. Ne1 Nd7 11. f3 $6 f4 12.
Nd3 h5 13. b4 b6 14. a4 $6 a5 15. bxa5 bxa5 16. Nb5 Nb8 $1 17. Kh1 g5 18. Ba3
Na6 $17 {Pelletier,Y-Minasian,A/Istanbul olm/2000/}) 7. cxd5 (7. exd5 Ne7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bf5 $5 $11) 7... a6 {transposes into the Benoni (A70), an
integral part of Black's repertoire.} 8. a4 (8. Bf4 b5 9. h3 Nf6 10. Bd3 O-O
11. O-O Re8 12. Re1 Ra7 13. a3 Rae7 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. b4 Nbd7 16. Rac1 Bb7 17.
Bh2 c4 18. Bc2 Ne5 $1 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Qe3 $6 (20. Kh1 {/\Bg1,f3+/=}) 20...
Qxe3 21. fxe3 Rb8 22. a4 Bc8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra1 Ne8 25. Ra5 Reb7 26. Bg3 f6
27. Rb1 Bf8 28. Be1 Be7 29. Nd1 Bd8 $15 {Gelfand,B-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo blind/
2001/}) 8... Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nf6 (10... Nd7 11. O-O Ne7 $5 12. a5 O-O
13. g3 h6 14. Bg2 Kh7 15. Bd2 f5 16. f3 b6 17. axb6 Qxb6 18. Qc2 fxe4 19. fxe4
Ne5 20. h3 Ng8 $15 {Danilov,N-Kiik,K/Tallinn/2001/}) 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. O-O O-O
13. a5 (13. Bf4 $142 $1 $36) 13... Nbd7 14. Bf4 Rab8 15. Qc2 Ne8 (15... h5 $5 {
[%cal Yf6h7,Yh7g5,Yf6g4] /\Ng4,Nh7-g5<=>}) 16. Rfe1 Nc7 17. Be2 b5 18. axb6
Rxb6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Bd2 Bd4 21. Nd1 Qf6 22. Kh1 $14 {Lautier,J-Topalov,V/
Monte Carlo blind/2000/}) (6. Bd3 exd5 7. cxd5 a6 8. a4 Bg4 9. Nbd2 $5 Nd7 10.
Qb3 Qc7 11. O-O Ne7 (11... Ngf6 $142 $13) 12. Ne1 Ne5 13. h3 Nxd3 14. Nxd3 Be2
15. Re1 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 O-O 17. a5 Nc8 18. Nc4 b5 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. Na5 f5 21.
Nc6 $14 {Krivoshey,S-Priehoda,V/Komarno op/1997/}) 6... exd5 7. exd5 ({More
ambitious, but allowing transposition into playable Benoni lines is} 7. cxd5
Ne7 {This is risky, but also interesting and unclear} (7... Nf6 8. Nc3 O-O 9.
Bd3 b5 $1 {-A70}) 8. Nc3 O-O (8... f5 9. Qa4+ $5 Bd7 10. Qb3 $14) 9. Bf4 (9.
Bd3 $142) 9... h6 10. g4 $5 g5 $1 11. Be3 Ng6 12. h4 Bxg4 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Be2
Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd7 16. Bg4 Nde5 17. Bf5 Re8 18. Qh5 Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Ngf4 20. Qg4
Qf6 $13 {Vallejo Pons,F-Topalov,V/ESP-chT Barcelona/2000/}) 7... Nh6 $5 (7...
Ne7 8. g4 $5 h5 (8... O-O $142 $13) 9. Rg1 hxg4 10. hxg4 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nf6 12.
Ng5 Rh4 13. f3 Kf8 14. Kf2 a6 15. a4 b6 16. Be2 Ra7 17. Rh1 Rxh1 18. Qxh1 Bd7
19. Bf4 Be8 20. Bd3 $16 {->,Mikhalevski,A-Malisov,B/ISR-ch/1996/}) 8. Qe2+ (8.
g4 O-O 9. Nc3 f5 10. g5 Nf7 $132) 8... Kf8 (8... Qe7 9. Nc3 Qxe2+ (9... Nf5 10.
g4 Nd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Ne4 O-O 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4 $16) 10. Bxe2 $14 {[%csl
Rd6] _|_><d6}) (8... Kd7 $5 9. Qd3 (9. Qc2 Re8+ 10. Be2 Qe7 11. Nc3 Nf5 $132)
9... Re8+ (9... Kc7 10. Be2 Bf5 11. Qb3 $14) 10. Be2 Qe7 11. Nc3 Nf5 12. Bg5
Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 f6 $13) 9. Bg5 (9. Bf4 f5 10. Ng5 Nf7 11. Qd2 (11. Ne6+ Bxe6 12.
dxe6 Ne5 (12... Qe7 13. Nc3 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 g5 15. Bh2 Nd8 16. O-O-O f4 17. h4
$40) 13. Nc3 Nbc6 14. Be3 Nd4 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. Nd5 Qh4 $132) 11... Qe7+ 12.
Be2 Ne5 13. O-O h6 14. Ne6+ Bxe6 15. dxe6 Nbc6 16. Nc3 Qxe6 17. Nd5 Rd8 18. Be3
Kg8 19. Rae1 Kh7 20. b4 cxb4 21. f4 Nd7 22. Bf3 Qf7 23. Nxb4 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Nc5
25. Bd5 Qc7 26. Bxc5 $11 {Kramnik,V-Topalov,V/Monaco/2002/}) 9... f6 10. Bf4
Nf7 11. Nc3 g5 $5 (11... f5 12. Qd2 Bf6 13. Bd3 $14) 12. Bd2 (12. Be3 f5 $13)
12... h6 13. g3 (13. O-O-O $5 Na6 14. Re1 $14) 13... Na6 14. Bg2 Bf5 $1 {
Black first finishes the development of his << pieces. Although his position
seems weakened, there is no straightforward way for White to exploit this.} (
14... f5 15. O-O Bf6 16. Ne1 $5 $14 {[%cal Ye1d3,Yf2f4] /\Nd3,f4}) 15. O-O Qd7
16. Kh2 (16. Rfe1 Nb4 17. g4 Bd3 18. Qe6 Qxe6 19. dxe6 Ne5 20. Nxe5 fxe5 $132)
16... Re8 17. Qd1 (17. Be3 $142 Kg8 (17... Nb4 18. Ne1 $14) 18. a3 Kh7 19. Nb5
$14) 17... Bd3 18. Re1 Bxc4 19. b3 Bd3 (19... Bb5 20. Nxb5 $5 (20. a4 Bd3 21.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Bxg5 fxg5 23. Qxd3 Nb4 $36) 20... Qxb5 21. Qc2 $44 {[%cal Rb1h7]
גb1-h7}) 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Bxg5 Be2 $1 (21... fxg5 22. Qxd3 Nb4 23. Qd2 Bxc3
24. Qxc3 Qe2 25. Re1 (25. Nd4 Qe5 26. Ne6+ Ke7 $11) 25... Qd3 26. Qf6 Nxd5 27.
Qe6 $40) (21... hxg5 22. Qxd3 $36 {[%csl Rf5] ><f5}) 22. Nxe2 (22. Qxe2 $6 Qxe2
23. Nxe2 fxg5 $15) 22... hxg5 (22... fxg5 23. Rc1 Bf6 24. Nd2 $13 {/+/=}) 23.
Qd2 f5 24. Re1 Qd8 25. Kg1 Nc7 (25... Bf6 26. h4 $1 gxh4 27. Nf4 Kg8 28. Ne6
$40) 26. h4 Bh6 27. hxg5 (27. Qc2 g4 28. Nh2 Qf6 $11) 27... Nxg5 28. Qd3 Nxf3+
29. Qxf3 Qf6 30. g4 (30. Bh3 $2 Bd2 $15) (30. Nf4 $5 Bxf4 31. Qxf4 $14 {
[%csl Rf8] עf8}) 30... Bd2 31. Rd1 Bg5 32. Ng3 (32. gxf5 Ke7 $44) (32. Qxf5
Qxf5 33. gxf5 Rh4 $11) 32... fxg4 (32... f4 33. Ne4 (33. Nf5 Ne8 34. Re1 Ng7
$11) 33... Qh6 34. b4 $5 {/\} cxb4 35. Nxg5 Qxg5 36. Rd4 $16) 33. Qxg4 Bf4 34.
Re1 Be5 35. Re3 Rh4 36. Qc8+ Ne8 37. Ne4 (37. Qxb7 Bxg3 38. Rxg3 Qa1+ 39. Bf1
Qd1 40. Kg2 (40. Qxa7 Qh5 41. Bg2 Qd1+ $11) 40... Rf4 $44 41. Rh3 Qd4 42. Rf3
Qe4 43. Be2 Rf6 $1 44. Qb5 Qxd5 $11) 37... Qg6 38. Kf1 (38. Qxb7 $5 Rg4 (38...
Bh2+ 39. Kf1 Bf4 40. Re1 Rh2 41. Bf3 $16) 39. Ng3 Nf6 (39... Qb1+ 40. Bf1 {/\}
Qxa2 41. Rf3+ Rf4 (41... Nf6 42. Rxf6+ Bxf6 43. Qc8+ $18) 42. Nf5 $1 $18) 40.
Qa8+ Kg7 41. Qxa7+ Kh6 $132) 38... Bf4 $11 39. Rh3 Rxh3 40. Qxh3 Be5 41. Bf3 (
41. Bf3 b5 42. Qc8 Qh7 43. Ke2 (43. Ng5 Qb1+ 44. Kg2 Qg6 45. Qg4 Nf6 $11) 43...
Qc7 44. Qf5+ Qf7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. b3 e5 (13... cxd4
14. Qxd4 Ne5 $5 {- Leko-Karpov, Linares Super GM 2001 CBM 82}) 14. dxc5 (14. c3
$5 {- Leko-Timman, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2002 CBM 87}) 14... Nxc5 15. Bf5 {
White's only advantage is the inferior position of the black K, and if Black
accomplishes his development the game is completely even.} h5 (15... Ne6 16.
Bb2 h5 17. Qh4 f6 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19. c4 Bg4 20. h3 Bf5 $13 {Stellwagen-Nep,
Corus Wijk aan Zee 2002}) (15... Bxf5 16. Qxf5 e4 17. Nh4 Kg8) (15... e4 16.
Bb2 Rg8 17. Nd4) 16. Qh3 Ne6 17. Rd1 $5 $146 {This is the first new move, and
now Black is at the crossroad.} (17. Qh4 Be7 18. Qg3 {The Q has also problems
in this line.} Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Qh3 {White wants to get exactly this
position by playing 17.Rfd1, but with an extra Rfd1!} g6 (20... Bf6 $5) 21.
Bxc8 Rxc8 22. c4 {The P structure is better for White, he has to improve his
Q's position.} Kg7 23. Nd4 Rhd8 $11 (23... Bf6 24. Nb5 (24. Rad1 Rcd8) 24...
Qc5 $11 {Gelfand-Speelman, Munich 1992})) 17... Be7 (17... g6 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19.
Qh4 Be7 (19... Kg7 20. Bg5 $16 {/\ Bf6 is annoying}) 20. Qe4 Bg4 21. Bb2 $14 {
and >< e5 is severly attacked.}) (17... Kg8 18. Qh4 $5 {may again lead to
similar consequences after} (18. Ng5 $143 Nd4 $142 {is the strong centralizing
reply.} (18... Nf8 19. Bxc8 (19. Qf3 e4 $5) 19... Rxc8 20. Qf5 $14) 19. Bxc8
Qxc8 20. c4 Qxh3 21. Nxh3 Rd8 $11) 18... Be7 19. Qg3 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Qh3)
18. Qg3 $1 ({The hyper-aggressive} 18. Rd5 $6 g6 19. Nxe5 $5 {founders on} Bf6
$1 (19... gxf5 $2 20. Qxf5) 20. Nxg6+ (20. Bb2 $2 Nf4 $1) 20... fxg6 21. Bxe6
Bxa1 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 23. Rd7 Qc6 $1 $19 {Speelman}) 18... Nf4 $1 (18... Bd6 {
seems to be a loss of a tempo, White has improved his Q's position.} 19. c4 Bd7
20. Bxe6 (20. Bb2 {allows} Nf4 $1) 20... Bxe6 21. Bb2 f6 22. Qg6 $14 {with
some pressure on the weakened light squares.}) (18... Bf6 19. Ba3+ $1 {
penetrating on >< d6} Kg8 20. Bd6 (20. Bxe6 Bxe6 21. Bd6 Qxc2 22. Bxe5) 20...
Nf4 21. Kh1 $5 (21. Bxc7 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nxg3+ 23. hxg3 Bxf5 24. Bxe5 $14) 21...
h4 (21... Bxf5 $2 22. Bxc7 Ne2 23. Qxe5 $1 $18) 22. Qg4 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Qc8 24.
Qe4 $1 {and Black hasn't finished his development yet, Speelman.}) 19. Bxf4
exf4 20. Qh3 Bf6 (20... g6 21. Bxc8 (21. Bd7 $5 Bf6 22. Rac1 Kg7) 21... Rxc8 {
is almost the same position as in Gelfand-Speelman, but with an extra Rfd1,
which helps for White.} 22. Rd7 $1 {This is the big difference!} (22. c4 Rd8 $1
(22... Bf6 23. Rac1 Kg7 24. Rd7) 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $11) 22... Qxc2 23. Re1 {
Now White's heavy artillery is in action.} Bb4 (23... Bf6 24. Rxb7 $16) 24.
Red1 Kg7 25. Ng5 (25. Ne5 Be7 $1) 25... Be7 26. Ne6+ $1 Kh7 27. Qf3 $16) 21.
Rac1 g6 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 $6 (22... Rxc8 {is more natural, of course.} 23. Rd7 Qc6
24. c4 Kg7 25. Nd4 $14 {was the lesser evil.}) 23. Qxc8+ {The _|_ is certainly
better for White because of the virtual P majority on the << and the
possession of the d <->.} (23. Rd7 $5 {looks also tempting penetrating on the
7-th rank.} Kg7 (23... Qc6 24. c4) 24. Qe6 Rf8 (24... Qe8 25. Qd5) 25. c4 $16)
23... Rxc8 24. Rd7 Rb8 $14 {Black can still hold his weaknesses on the 7-th
rank, more penetrations cannot be seen yet.} (24... Bb2 25. Rcd1 Rxc2 26. Rxb7
$16 {and soon both rooks will penetrate on the 7-th rank.}) 25. c4 Kg7 26. Kf1
g5 27. Rcd1 (27. Nd4 Kg6) (27. c5 Rhd8) 27... Rhe8 28. R1d5 Kg6 (28... g4 29.
Ng5 Re7 30. Rxe7 Bxe7 31. Ne4 Kg6 $14) 29. h3 a6 (29... g4 $14) 30. R5d6 (30.
c5 $5 $14) 30... Re6 31. Rxe6 fxe6 {Now Black's P structure has been improved
a bit.} 32. Nd2 (32. Ke2 $5 {/\ Nd2 avoiding the exchange of his active R was
worthy of consideration.}) 32... g4 $2 (32... Rd8 33. Rxd8 Bxd8 34. Ne4 Be7 35.
Ke2 $14 {looks a bit better for White, but it is far from clear.}) 33. Ne4 {
Now White's pieces dominate the board, the N is much better than the passive B.
} b6 34. f3 $1 {clarifying the situation on the >> fixing the P on the colour
of the B.} gxf3 35. gxf3 Bb2 36. Re7 Kf5 37. Ra7 a5 {another weakness has been
created.} 38. c5 $1 {Now White is simply winning a P.} bxc5 39. Rxa5 Bd4 40.
Nxc5 $18 Rc8 41. b4 (41. Ne4+ Kg6 42. Ke2 $18) 41... e5 (41... Bxc5 $2 42.
Rxc5+ Rxc5 43. bxc5) 42. Ne4 Ke6 43. Ke2 Rc2+ 44. Kd3 Rh2 45. Ra6+ Kd7 {
Black's last hopes are based on a remote o^ on the h <->.} 46. Ng5 Rg2 47. h4
Rh2 48. Ne6 Bf2 49. Nf8+ Kc7 50. Ng6 Be1 (50... Bxh4 51. Nxh4 Rxh4 52. Ke4 $18)
51. b5 {White connected passed pawns look decisive.} Rb2 52. a4 Rb3+ {Now the
target is >< f3.} 53. Ke4 Re3+ 54. Kf5 Rxf3 55. Nxe5 Rb3 56. Kxf4 $6 {It was
absolutely not necessary giving away the h P.} (56. Rc6+ Kd8 57. Kg5 $1 f3 58.
Rf6 f2 59. Kxh5 $18 {was the winning plan.}) 56... Bxh4 57. Ke4 {Now White has
some technical difficulties.} Bg3 58. Rc6+ Kd8 59. Nd3 h4 60. Rh6 (60. Nc5 Rb4+
61. Kd5 Rb1) 60... Ra3 61. Nc5 Bf2 62. Kd5 Bxc5 63. Kxc5 Rxa4 64. Kc6 {The R
_|_ is winning, because the black K cannot reach b8.} Rc4+ 65. Kb7 Kd7 66. b6
Rb4 67. Ka7 Ra4+ 68. Kb8 Rb4 69. b7 Ra4 70. Rh7+ Kd8 (70... Kd6 71. Kc8 Rc4+
72. Kd8 Rb4 73. Rh6+ Ke5 74. Kc7 $18) (70... Ke6 71. Kc7 Rc4+ 72. Kb6 Kf6 73.
Kb5 $18) 71. Rh8+ Kd7 72. Rh6 $22 {White has deliberately lost a tempo in
order to create zugzwang.} Kd8 73. Rh7 $22 {This already the last zugzwang.}
Rb4 74. Ka7 Ra4+ 75. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 {GM Topalov spielt gerne die Benoni-Verteidigung
- die könnte hier nach 4.d5 entstehen.} 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 (5... Bb4) 6.
a3 {Die Hauptidee des Zugs besteht darin, die Fesselung des Nc3 durch Bb4 zu
umgehen. Der Alternativen gibt es viele: 6.g3, 6.Bg5, 6.Bf4, 6.Nbd5.} Nxd4 (
6... Be7) (6... Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7) (6... d5) 7. Qxd4 b6 {Schwarz beabsichtigt Bc5
zu spielen und den weißfeldrigen Läufer nach b7 zu entwickeln.} 8. Qf4 (8. e4
Bc5) (8. Bf4) 8... Bb7 (8... Be7 9. e4 d6 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bd2 Nf6
13. Bh6 Ne8 14. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Nogueiras,J-Hansen,C/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (14)})
9. e4 d6 10. Bd3 {Jetzt haben wir eine Igelstellung auf dem Brett. Weiß
kontrolliert mehr Raum, aber die schwarze Stellung ist solide.} (10. Be2 Be7
11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Qb8 13. b3 Rd8 14. Bb2 Bc6 15. Qg3 Bf8 16. Bf3 Nd7 17. Rab1
a6 18. a4 Nc5 19. Ba1 Qc7 20. Re1 Rac8 21. h4 {1-0 Gorbatow,A-Lengyel,L/
Budapest 1997/CBM 61 ext (30)}) (10. Be3 Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Qg3
Ne5 $11) 10... Nd7 $5 $146 {[%cal Gd7e5,Gd7c5][%mdl 4] Der Springer strebt
nach e5 oder c5. Der natürliche Entwicklungszug 10...Be7 eröffnet Weiß
hingegen Angriffschancen.} (10... Be7 11. Qg3 $1 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Bd2 Rc8
14. O-O Bf6 15. Rac1 g6 16. b3 a6 17. Qe3 $6 (17. Rfd1 $142 Bg7 18. Bg5) 17...
Bg7 {2.23/2.19. 1-0 Kortschnoj,V-Sax,G/Wijk aan Zee 1991/Candidates/
[Kortschnoj] (45)}) (10... Rc8 11. O-O Ba6 12. b3 g6 13. Bb2 Bg7 14. Rad1 O-O
15. Be2 Nd7 16. Na4 {1-0 Speelman,J-Kinsman,A/Hove 1997/EXT 99 (28)}) 11. Qg3 {
Mit diesem Zug unterbindet Weiß die Entwicklung des Bf8 nach e7.} (11. O-O Be7
(11... Rc8) 12. Qg3 O-O 13. Bh6 Bf6) 11... a6 {Wer "den Igel" spielt, kommt um
diesen Zug nicht herum. Anschließend kann Schwarz Qc7 spielen.} (11... Be7 12.
Bf4 O-O 13. Rd1 (13. Bxd6 Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Nc5 $44) 13... Bh4 14. Qh3 $6 (14. Qe3
e5 15. Bg3 f5 16. Bxh4 Qxh4 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. Nxd6 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Bxe4 20. Nxe4
fxe4 21. Rd5 $14) 14... Ne5 $13) 12. O-O g6 {Schwarz muss so spielen, wenn er
den Bf8 entwickeln möchte.} (12... Rc8 13. f4 $14) 13. Bf4 {[%cal Gg3d6] Weiß
greift den Pd6 an, aber hier wie in ähnlichen Stellungen kann Schwarz diese
Schwäche leicht verteidigen.} (13. Rd1) 13... Qc7 {Weiß hat großen
Entwicklungsvorsprung, aber die schwarze Stellung ist elastisch.} (13... h5 $5
14. Rfd1 h4 $13) 14. Bc2 (14. Rad1 $5) 14... h5 $5 {[%cal Gh5h4,Gh4g3] Ein
origineller Spielplan - Schwarz beabsichtigt, die Qg3 mit 15...h4 zu verjagen.
Danach wäre Ne5 oder Be7 möglich} (14... Qxc4 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. Qxd6 $14) (
14... e5 15. Be3 Qxc4 16. Rac1 Be7 17. Rfd1 $36) 15. Ba4 {[%cal Ga4e8]} (15.
Rfd1 h4 16. Bxd6 hxg3 17. Bxc7 gxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rc8 $11) 15... Bc6 (15... h4 $6)
16. Bxc6 Qxc6 $11 {Der Pd6 ist verteidigt, und die Dame steht aktiv auf c6.
Wie soll Weiß seinen Entwicklungsvorsprung nun auszunutzen versuchen?} 17. h4
$6 {Damit legt Weiß die Bauern am Königsflügel fest, aber in der Folge wird
der Ph4 schwach.} (17. b3) (17. Rad1 h4 $11) (17. Rfd1 $5) 17... Be7 (17...
Qxc4 $6 18. Rfd1 $1 (18. Bxd6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Qc5 20. Qg3 O-O 21. Rfe1 $14) 18...
Bg7 19. Rxd6 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxe4 21. Rad1 $18) 18. Rad1 (18. Rfd1 $1) 18... Ne5
(18... Qxc4 $2 19. Bxd6 $16) 19. Bxe5 $6 {Weiß ist optimistisch und erobert
vorübergehend einen Bauern.} (19. b3 O-O 20. a4 Bf6 21. Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 $11)
19... dxe5 20. Qxe5 O-O $44 {[%csl Rc4,Gc6,Ge7,Rh4] Schwarz hat einen Bauern
weniger, konnte aber endlich die Entwicklung beenden. Momentan hängen sowohl
der Pc4 als auch der Ph4.} 21. Qf4 $6 (21. g3 $142 Qxc4 (21... Rad8 $6 22. Rxd8
Rxd8 23. Nd5 Bxh4 (23... exd5 $2 24. Qxe7 $18) 24. gxh4 (24. Nb4 Qc5 (24...
Qxc4 25. gxh4 a5 26. b3 $18) 25. Qxc5 bxc5 26. Nxa6 Be7 27. b4 $16) 24... exd5
25. cxd5 $16) 22. Rd7 Rfe8 $11) (21. Rd4 Bxh4 $15) 21... Qxc4 $15 22. Rd7 (22.
Rc1 $5) 22... Bxa3 $1 {Damit gewinnt Schwarz einen Bauern.} 23. bxa3 Qxc3 24.
Qd6 (24. Rb1 b5 25. Qd6 Qf6 $15) 24... b5 25. Rd1 {[%cal Gd1d7] Weiß hat
starke Kontrolle über die d-Linie, die Realisierung des Materialvorteils ist
daher keine leichte Sache für Schwarz.} Qf6 26. g3 (26. Qg3 $142 Rac8 27. e5
Qf5 $15) 26... Rfc8 {[%cal Gc8c2]} 27. Kg2 (27. e5 Qf5 $15) 27... Rc2 28. Qb6
$6 (28. Qd4 $1 Qxd4 29. R1xd4 $15 {In diesem Turmendspiel hat Weiß bessere
Remischancen als in der Partie.}) 28... Rac8 {[%cal Gc8c1] Schwarz
kontrolliert die c-Linie.} 29. R1d3 (29. R1d2 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 Rc3 $1 31. Qxa6
Qf3+ 32. Kh2 Rc1 $19) 29... R8c3 $17 30. Qe3 Rxd3 31. Rxd3 Qe5 {[%csl Gc2,Ge5]
[%cal Gc2c4,Gc4e4][%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat nicht nur einen Mehrbauern, sondern
auch die aktiveren Figuren.} 32. Qf3 Rc4 33. Re3 $6 (33. Rd7 Qxe4 34. Rxf7
Qxf3+ 35. Rxf3 Ra4 $17) 33... Kg7 $1 {Schwarz muss sich nicht beeilen - sein
Gegenüber ist machtlos und zum Abwarten verurteilt.} 34. Qe2 Qd4 {[%csl Gc4,
Gd4,Re2,Re3]} 35. e5 (35. Qe1 e5 36. Qb1 Rc3 37. Rxc3 Qxc3 $19) 35... Rc3 $1
36. Qb2 (36. Rxc3 Qxc3 $19 {[%csl Ra3,Re5]}) 36... Qd5+ 37. Kh2 Rxe3 38. fxe3 {
Weiß hat einen Bauern weniger und eine sehr schlechte Bauernstruktur.} Qc5 $19
{[%csl Re3,Re5] Mit diesem Zug gewinnt Schwarz einen weiteren Bauern und die
Partie.} 39. e4 Qe3 {[%csl Ge3]} 40. Qb4 Qf2+ 41. Kh3 Qg1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal
Rg1h1,Rh1h3]} (41... Qg1 42. Qb2 Qh1+ 43. Qh2 Qxh2+ 44. Kxh2 a5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. e4 Ne7 16. Bb5 Bc6 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Ne2 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rac8
21. Kd2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Rac1 Rd8+ 24. Ke3 Rdc8 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Rd1 Kf8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. d4 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. Qe3 Nb4 13. O-O Nc2 14. Qg5
Bxg2 15. Nb3 Qa4 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. Kxg2 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 bxc5 19. Rc1 d6 20. Nd2
O-O-O 21. Ne4 Qc6 22. f3 f5 23. Nf6 Qc7 24. Qxc7+ Kxc7 25. Nxh7 Rg8 26. h4 Rb8
27. b3 a5 28. Ng5 Kd7 29. Rc3 a4 30. f4 axb3 31. axb3 Rb6 32. Re3 Re8 33. Kf2
e5 34. fxe5 dxe5 35. Rf3 Rf8 36. Ne4 Rc6 37. g4 f4 38. h5 Ke6 39. Rd3 Rg8 40.
Kf3 Rb8 41. e3 Rf8 42. Rd5 Rb8 43. Rxc5 Rcb6 44. Ng5+ Kf6 45. exf4 Rxb3+ 46.
Ke4 exf4 47. Kxf4 R3b6 48. Rc7 R8b7 49. Ne4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bg4 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11. Rxe4 f5 12. Re1 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qh4 14. g3 Qxd4
15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Be3 Qxb3 17. axb3 Na6 18. Nc3 Bc5 19. Rad1 Rfe8 20. Bxc5 Rxe1+
21. Rxe1 Nxc5 22. b4 Nd3 23. Re7 Rb8 24. b3 Nxb4 25. Ne2 Na6 26. Nd4 Kf8 27.
Rd7 Nc5 28. Rc7 Rd8 29. Nxf5 g6 30. Ne3 a5 31. Rxh7 Rd3 32. Rh8+ Ke7 33. Ra8
Nxb3 34. h4 b5 35. g4 Rxe3 36. fxe3 bxc4 37. Rc8 c5 38. Kf2 c3 39. Ke2 c2 40.
Rxc5 Nxc5 41. Kd2 Nd3 42. Kxc2 Ne5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe3 Be6 11. Bd2 Qb6 12. b3 Qxe3 13. Bxe3 Rfc8 14. Rac1
Kf8 15. f4 Bd7 16. Bf3 Bc6 17. e5 Ne8 18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. exd6 Nxd6 20. Rfd1 a6
21. Nd5 Rd8 22. Nb4 Rcc8 23. Bb6 Re8 24. Nd5 Rc6 25. Be3 h5 26. c5 Nf5 27. Bf2
Bh6 28. g3 e5 29. b4 exf4 30. gxf4 g5 31. fxg5 Bxg5 32. Rc3 Re2 33. a4 Rb2 34.
Rf3 Nh4 35. Rh3 Nf5 36. Rxh5 Rg6 37. Kf1 Ne7 38. Rh8+ Ng8 39. c6 Rxc6 40. Bc5+
Rxc5 41. bxc5 Rb3 42. Kg2 Rb2+ 43. Kh1 Kg7 44. Rxg8+ Kxg8 45. Rg1 f6 46. h4 Kf7
47. hxg5 fxg5 48. Rxg5 Rc2 49. Nb6 Ke6 50. Kg1 Re2 51. Rg7 Rc2 52. Rc7 Kf5 53.
Nc8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. Nd2 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. e4 e5 11. Qa4 O-O 12. Be2 Qe8 13. g4 Nh7 14. O-O-O a6
15. Nf1 b5 16. Qc2 Nb6 17. Ne3 bxc4 18. Nxc4 Bc6 19. Nxb6 cxb6 20. Qb2 d5 21.
dxe5 Qxe5 22. Bg3 Qe6 23. e5 Bb5 24. f4 Bxe2 25. Qxe2 Rfc8 26. Kb2 Rc4 27. Qf3
Rac8 28. f5 Qe8 29. Qxd5 Ng5 30. Qd7 Qxd7 31. Rxd7 Rxg4 32. Rd4 Re4 33. Rhd1
Re2+ 34. R1d2 Rxd2+ 35. Rxd2 Ne4 36. Rd4 Nxc3 37. Be1 Nb5 38. Re4 Re8 39. Bf2
g6 40. fxg6 fxg6 41. Kc2 Re6 42. a4 Nc7 43. Kd3 Rc6 44. Rd4 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nce3 Bg6 20. Bd3 Bf7 21.
Be4 Bg8 22. Ra3 Na7 23. Qd3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Nb5 25. Ra4 Nc7 26. Nxc7 Qxc7 27. c4
Rb6 28. Bc2 d5 29. Rxa5 dxc4 30. bxc4 Rc6 31. Qxe5 Rxc4 32. Qxc7 Rxc7 33. Be4
h6 34. f3 Bh7 35. Ra8 Rxa8 36. Bxa8 Rc8 37. Ra1 Rd8 38. Kf2 Bg6 39. Be4 Bxe4
40. fxe4 Rd2+ 41. Kf3 Kg8 42. h4 Kf7 43. h5 Rb2 44. Ra6 Rb1 45. g4 Rf1+ 46. Ke3
Rg1 47. Kf4 Rb1 48. Ra7+ Kf8 49. e5 Rb6 50. Kf5 Rc6 51. Rd7 Ra6 52. g5 hxg5 53.
e6 g4 54. h6 gxh6 55. Kf6 Kg8 56. Rg7+ Kh8 57. Rxg4 Kh7 58. Rg7+ Kh8 59. Rd7
Kg8 60. Rd8+ Kh7 61. Kf7 Ra7+ 62. e7 h5 63. Kf6 Rxe7 64. Kxe7 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 Ne7 6. Qe2 Ng6 7. h4 h5 8. e5
f6 9. Qe4 Kf7 10. Na3 d5 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Nc4 Qd5 13. Ne3 Qxe4 14. dxe4 e5 15.
g3 Be6 16. Nd2 Ne7 17. b3 Nc8 18. Bb2 Nd6 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 g6 21. O-O-O Bh6
22. Rhf1 Rhe8 23. e5 fxe5 24. Bxe5 Rad8 25. Nf3 Nf5 26. Nxf5 Bxf5 27. Rxd8 Rxd8
28. Re1 Bg4 29. Ng5+ Bxg5 30. fxg5 Bf5 31. Bf6 Re8 32. Rxe8 Kxe8 33. c4 Kd7 34.
Kb2 a6 35. Bg7 Kc7 36. Bf8 Kb6 37. Be7 Be4 38. Bd8+ Kb7 39. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Be7 4. Bb2 Bf6 5. Nc3 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Ne7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 Bxd4 11. exd4 Bf5 12. Be2 Nbc6 13. O-O Re8 14. Qd2
Qd6 15. Nb5 Qd7 16. Ba3 Be6 17. Qf4 Ng6 18. Qg3 Red8 19. Rfd1 Nce7 20. Rac1 Nf5
21. Qc7 a6 22. Qxd7 Bxd7 23. Nc3 Nf4 24. Bf1 Bc6 25. Bc5 Ne6 26. Bb6 Rd7 27. g3
Nd6 28. Bg2 Nb5 29. Na4 Nbc7 30. Nb2 a5 31. Nd3 f6 32. Re1 Kf7 33. Bh3 Re7 34.
Nc5 Nxc5 35. Rxe7+ Kxe7 36. Bxc5+ Kf7 37. Re1 Na6 38. Re7+ Kg6 39. Bf1 Nxc5 40.
dxc5 f5 41. f4 Kf6 42. Re5 b6 43. cxb6 Rb8 44. Bg2 Rxb6 45. Bxd5 Bxd5 46. Rxd5
a4 47. Rd3 axb3 48. axb3 h6 49. Kf2 g5 50. Ke3 Rb4 51. fxg5+ hxg5 52. Kd2 f4
53. Kc3 Rb8 54. b4 Kf5 55. gxf4 gxf4 56. Kc4 Rc8+ 57. Kd4 Rd8+ 58. Kc3 Rh8 59.
Kd2 Rxh2+ 60. Ke1 Rb2 61. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qb3 c6 6. Bf4 Be7 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bg2 Nxf4 10. gxf4 O-O 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rfd1 Qb8 14. e3 c5
15. d5 e5 16. d6 Bxd6 17. Nb5 c4 18. Qc2 e4 19. Ng5 Be7 20. Rxd7 Bxg5 21. fxg5
Bc6 22. Rd4 Bxb5 23. Bxe4 g6 24. a4 Ba6 25. Bxa8 Qxa8 26. Qe4 Bb7 27. Qf4 Bd5
28. Rcd1 Be6 29. e4 Qc8 30. Qf6 Bh3 31. f3 Qc5 32. Kh1 c3 33. bxc3 Qxc3 34. Rd8
Qxf3+ 35. Qxf3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Qb7 13. Qc2 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 h6 15. Nd2
Rfc8 16. Rfc1 Bd8 17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. Qc2 bxc5 21.
bxc5 e5 22. Rb4 exd4 23. exd4 Nf8 24. Rcb1 Ne6 25. Nf3 Qf4 26. Ne2 Qe4 27. Qxe4
Nxe4 28. Ng3 Nc3 29. R1b3 Nb5 30. Nf5 Rc7 31. Nd6 Nxd6 32. cxd6 Rd7 33. Rb8+
Rxb8 34. Rxb8+ Rd8 35. Rxd8+ Nxd8 36. Ne5 f6 37. Nd3 Kf7 38. Nc5 Ke8 39. f4 g6
40. Kf2 Nf7 41. d7+ Ke7 42. g4 g5 43. Ke3 Nd6 44. f5 Nc4+ 45. Kd3 Nb6 46. Kc3
Nxd7 47. Ne6 Nf8 48. Nc5 Nd7 49. Ne6 Kd6 50. Kb4 Nb6 51. Nd8 Nc4 52. Nf7+ Ke7
53. Nxh6 Kf8 54. Kc5 Kg7 55. Kxc6 Ne3 56. Kd6 Kxh6 57. Ke7 Kg7 58. Ke6 Nc2 59.
Kxd5 Kf7 60. Kc5 Ke7 61. Kd5 Kd7 62. Ke4 Kd6 63. Kd3 Ne1+ 64. Ke2 Ng2 65. Kf3
Nh4+ 66. Ke4 Kc6 67. Kd3 Kd5 68. Ke3 Ng2+ 69. Kf3 Ne1+ 70. Kg3 Kxd4 71. h4
gxh4+ 72. Kxh4 Nf3+ 73. Kh5 Ke5 74. Kg6 Ng5 75. Kg7 Ne4 76. Kg6 Kf4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nf3 e5 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. d5 a5 7. Be2 Na6 8. O-O
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Kf8 10. a3 h5 11. Rb1 Bh6 12. b4 Nf6 13. Bxh6+ Rxh6 14. Na4 axb4
15. axb4 Kg7 16. c5 Rh8 17. c6 bxc6 18. dxc6 Qe7 19. b5 Nc5 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21.
Qc2 Rhd8 22. Rfc1 Rd6 23. h4 Ra3 24. Rb3 Rxb3 25. Qxb3 Rd4 26. b6 Rb4 27. bxc7
Qxc7 28. Qc3 Nxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxe4 30. Qxc5 Rxh4 31. Rd1 Ra4 32. g3 Ra5 33. Qc4
Ra7 34. Rd7 Qxd7 35. cxd7 Rxd7 36. Qc5 f6 37. Qc6 Ra7 38. Qe6 Rf7 39. f4 exf4
40. gxf4 Ra7 41. f5 gxf5 42. Qxf5 Re7 43. Qxh5 Re5 44. Qh4 Rg5+ 45. Kf2 Re5 46.
Kf3 Rf5+ 47. Ke4 Re5+ 48. Kf4 Rg5 49. Qh3 Re5 50. Qc8 Rg5 51. Qd7+ Kg6 52. Qe8+
Kg7 53. Qe7+ Kg6 54. Qf8 Rf5+ 55. Ke4 Re5+ 56. Kd4 Rg5 57. Qg8+ Kh6 58. Qf7 Rf5
59. Ke4 Re5+ 60. Kd4 Rf5 61. Qf8+ Kg6 62. Qg8+ Kh6 63. Qf7 Rf4+ 64. Kd5 Rf5+
65. Kd6 Rg5 66. Qg7+ Rxg7 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. Rc1 Qd7 11. d3 Rad8 12. Ne4 f6 13. Qc2 Kh8 14. a3 a5 15.
Rfd1 Qe6 16. Re1 Qf7 17. Nfd2 Nd7 18. Qc4 Be6 19. Qb5 f5 20. Qxb7 fxe4 21. Qxc6
Bd5 22. Qxc7 Bg5 23. Nxe4 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Nc5 27.
Bxe5 Nxe4 28. dxe4 Rfe8 29. Rf1 Qxe2 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d5 e6 6. h3 exd5 7. exd5 Nh6 8. Qe2+
Kf8 9. Bf4 f5 10. Ng5 Nf7 11. Qd2 Qe7+ 12. Be2 Ne5 13. O-O h6 14. Ne6+ Bxe6 15.
dxe6 Nbc6 16. Nc3 Qxe6 17. Nd5 Rd8 18. Be3 Kg8 19. Rae1 Kh7 20. b4 cxb4 21. f4
Nd7 22. Bf3 Qf7 23. Nxb4 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Nc5 25. Bd5 Qc7 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Qxb7
Qxb7 28. Bxb7 Rhe8 29. Bd5 Bc3 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Rb1 Re1+ 32. Rxe1 Bxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 d5 7. exd6 Qxd6 8.
O-O Be6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Na3 dxc3 11. Nb5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Rc8 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14.
bxc3 Nc4 15. Rb1 e5 16. Re1 b6 17. Re4 Nd6 18. Ra4 Nxb5 19. Rxb5 Rd8 20. Bd2 e6
21. Kf1 Bc5 22. Ke2 Rf8 23. Be3 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Ke7 25. Rg4 g6 26. Rh4 h5 27. Re4
Rc8 28. c4 Kd6 29. h3 Rf6 30. c5+ bxc5 31. Rc4 Rb8 32. Rbxc5 Rb2+ 33. Nd2 Nb4
34. a3 Rf2+ 35. Kxf2 Nd3+ 36. Kf3 Nxc5 37. Ne4+ Nxe4 38. Rxe4 Kd5 39. Ra4 e4+
40. Kg3 e5 41. Rxa7 Re2 42. a4 Rxe3+ 43. Kf2 Ra3 44. a5 e3+ 45. Kf3 e4+ 46. Ke2
Kd4 47. Rd7+ Ke5 48. Re7+ Kf4 49. Rf7+ Kg5 50. Ra7 Kh4 51. Rg7 g5 52. g3+ Kxg3
53. Rxg5+ Kf4 54. Rxh5 Ra2+ 55. Ke1 Ra1+ 56. Ke2 Ra2+ 57. Ke1 Ra1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Re8 11. Re1 Nxc3 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. bxc3 Bg4 14. Rb1
Qe7 15. h3 Bh5 16. Rb5 Qd7 17. c4 dxc4 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg6 20. Qc2+ f5
21. Qxc4 Nc6 22. g4 Nxd4 23. gxh5+ Kxh5 24. Rd5 Rc8 25. Qxd4 Rxc1+ 26. Kg2 Kxg5
27. Rxd6 Qe7 28. Rd7 Qe4+ 29. Qxe4 fxe4 30. Rxg7+ Kf6 31. Rxb7 Rc2 32. Rxa7 e3
33. Ra3 Rxf2+ 34. Kg3 Kf5 35. Rxe3 Rxa2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe1 Ra7 13. Bd3 Qb6 14. Kb1
h5 15. Qh4 Rh6 16. f5 Qc5 17. Rhe1 e5 18. Be2 Rc7 19. Rd2 b4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21.
exd5 a5 22. Bf1 Rh7 23. Qe4 Bh6 24. Rd4 Rg7 25. Rc4 Qb6 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Be2
Qc5 28. Bxh5 a4 29. Bf3 Ke7 30. Qd3 Rg8 31. Qa6 a3 32. Qb7+ Kf8 33. Bh5 Rg7 34.
Rd1 axb2 35. g3 Be3 36. Rd3 Rh7 37. g4 Bf4 38. Rd1 Qe3 39. Kxb2 e4 40. Qxb4
Be5+ 41. Kb1 Kg7 42. Re1 Qa7 43. Rxe4 Rh8 44. Kc1 Rb8 45. Qc4 Rb1+ 46. Kd2 Qg1
47. Qe2 Qc1+ 48. Kd3 Qa3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 Nc6 5. Be2 d5 6. exd5 exd5 7. d4 Be6 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ Nxd7 14.
Bxg7 Rg8 15. Bd4 O-O-O 16. Rac1 Bh3 17. Bf3 Rxg2+ 18. Kh1 Rg5 19. Rfe1 Bc5 20.
Ne4 Rf5 21. Rxc4 Rxf3 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Ng5 Rf5 24. Nxh3 Kb8 25. Rh4 Nd3 26.
Re2 h5 27. b3 Rg8 28. Rd4 Rf3 29. Rh4 Rf5 30. Rhe4 a5 31. R4e3 Rd5 32. Rg3 Rc8
33. Kg2 f6 34. Ree3 Nb4 35. a4 Rd4 36. Ref3 h4 37. Rg7 Nd5 38. Rh7 Rc1 39. Rg7
Rb1 40. Rg8+ Ka7 41. Rg7 Ka6 42. Rg8 Kb6 43. Rg7 Kc6 44. Rg8 Kc5 45. Rf5 Kb4
46. Rb8 b6 47. Rxd5 Rxd5 48. Rxb6+ Ka3 49. Rxf6 Rxb3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Bg5 Bxf3
15. gxf3 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Qxd4 Qd7 19. Ra3 Nh5 20. Rfa1 h6
21. Bd2 Kh7 22. e5 dxe5 23. Qxd7 Rxd7 24. Bc3 Rb5 25. h4 Nf4 26. Ra5 Ne2+ 27.
Kg2 Rdd5 28. Rxb5 Rxb5 29. Re1 Nxc3 30. bxc3 Rc5 31. h5 Kg8 32. Re4 Kf7 33. c4
g6 34. f4 exf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Bc4 c6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Bb3
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. c3 Nd7 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Nbd2 e6 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 a5 15.
Bg5 Qc7 16. a4 Rfe8 17. Bh4 N7f6 18. Bg3 Qe7 19. Ne5 Nh5 20. Bh2 Bh6 21. Qf3
Qf6 22. Qxf6 Nhxf6 23. Nd3 Bf8 24. g4 Red8 25. Kg2 Bd6 26. Bxd6 Rxd6 27. f3
Rdd8 28. Kg3 Kg7 29. h4 Rac8 30. Rad1 Rc7 31. Nc5 b6 32. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
e4 Nxc3 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nxc3 Bc5 11. h4 Ke7 12. Rh3 Nb4 13. Rb1 Rd8 14. Bc4
a6 15. a3 Nc6 16. Bg5+ f6 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 b5 19. Bd5 Bb7 20. Bxc6 Bxc6
21. Rd1 a5 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Nb1 b4 24. axb4 axb4 25. Nd2 Bb5 26. Rb3 Rd4 27.
Re3 e5 28. h5 Be8 29. g4 Ba4 30. Rg3 Bc2 31. Re3 Kd6 32. Ke2 Ba4 33. Rg3 h6 34.
Re3 Kc5 35. Ke1 Rd8 36. Rg3 Bc2 37. Ke2 Ra8 38. Nb3+ Bxb3 39. Rxb3 Ra2 40. Kd2
Kc4 41. Kc2 Ra1 42. Re3 Rg1 43. f3 b3+ 44. Kd2 Rb1 45. Rc3+ Kb4 46. Rc7 Rxb2+
47. Kc1 Rf2 48. Rb7+ Kc3 49. Rc7+ Kd3 50. Rxg7 Rxf3 51. Kb2 Kxe4 52. Rg6 f5 53.
gxf5 Rxf5 54. Rxh6 Kf3 55. Kxb3 e4 56. Kc4 e3 57. Re6 Rxh5 58. Kd4 e2 59. Rf6+
Kg2 60. Rg6+ Kf2 61. Rf6+ Ke1 62. Kc3 Rc5+ 63. Kd4 Rc8 64. Ra6 Kd2 65. Ra2+ Rc2
0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. Nde2 Nf6 10. f3 O-O 11. O-O e6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Rfd8 14. f4 a6
15. a4 Qc7 16. Kh1 Qa5 17. b3 Rac8 18. Qe1 Re8 19. Rb1 Nd7 20. Qg3 Nd4 21. Nxd4
Bxd4 22. Ne2 Bg7 23. Qf3 b5 24. Be1 Qc7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Nc3 bxc4 27. Nb5 Qb6
28. bxc4 Qa6 29. Bb4 Bf8 30. Rfc1 Rc6 31. h3 Rec8 32. Rd1 Rxc4 33. Bxd6 Nf6 34.
Bxf8 Rxf8 35. Nd6 Rc2 36. Qd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. Nbd2 Bd7 11. a3 Ba7 12. b3 Rd8 13. Bb2 Bc6 14. Rfc1
Nbd7 15. a4 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Bc5 18. Be2 Rac8 19. Nd4 Bd6 20. Bf3
Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 Rb8 22. Kf1 g6 23. Be2 Ne4 24. Bd1 Nec5 25. Ke2 e5 26. Nf3 e4
27. Ne1 b5 28. axb5 Rxb5 29. Bd4 f5 30. Ra1 a5 31. f4 Nf6 32. h3 Nd5 33. g4 Ne6
34. Bb2 Bb4 35. Ng2 Nc3+ 36. Bxc3 Bxc3 37. Rc1 Rc5 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Kf1 Bf6
40. Rb1 Rb5 41. Be2 Rb4 42. Ne1 a4 43. Bc4 a3 44. Nc2 a2 45. Ra1 Rxc4 46. bxc4
Bxa1 47. Nxa1 Kd6 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. Qe2 c5 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Be4 Kb8 14.
Ne5 cxd4 15. Bxb7 Qf4+ 16. Kb1 Kxb7 17. g3 Qf5 18. Rxd4 Bc5 19. Rf4 Qg5 20. h4
1-0

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. O-O e6 8.
Bg5 (8. dxc5 Nxc5 9. Bg5 Qc7 10. Re1 f6 11. Bh4 Be7 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Qg4 $14 {
1-0 Rublevsky,S-Jobava,B/EUR-ch Ohrid 2001/The Week in Chess 344 (42)}) 8...
Qc7 9. d5 $5 {A good positional move. White closes the game in the center and
black's pair of bishops can't find good jobs up to the end of the game.} e5 10.
a4 h6 ({Karjakin had already negative expierence in this line before -} 10...
b6 11. Nd2 h6 12. Be3 Be7 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Nc4 Bd6
17. Qh5 O-O 18. Rf3 Rb8 19. Raf1 $36 {1-0 Vescovi,G-Karjakin,S/Moscow Aeroflot
op 2002/ (53)}) (10... g6 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nc4 Nb6 13. Nxb6 (13. Na3 $5) 13...
Qxb6 14. a5 Qc7 15. Qd2 O-O 16. Na4 $14 {1-0 Glek,I-Belichev,N/Cappelle la
Grande 1998 (37)}) 11. Bh4 g6 12. Nd2 Bg7 13. Nc4 Nb6 14. Ne3 $146 ({Black had
many troubles also after} 14. Na3 O-O 15. a5 Nd7 16. Be7 Qxa5 17. Nc4 Qc7 18.
Nxd6 Rd8 19. Ncb5 {1-0 Kornev,A-Vorobiov,E/Tula Suetin mem 2002/The Week in
Chess 386 (19)}) 14... O-O 15. a5 Nd7 16. Qd3 b5 17. axb6 Nxb6 18. g4 $1 {
Nice move. Topalov stops a possible black counterplay, who should have stuck
to a passive defense.} a5 19. Nb5 Qd7 20. c4 a4 21. b3 axb3 22. Rxa8 Nxa8 23.
Ra1 Bb7 (23... Nc7 24. Ra7) 24. Qxb3 Rb8 25. Nc3 (25. Na7 $5 Nc7 26. Nc6 {
[%csl Gc6]} Ra8 27. Rxa8+ Nxa8 28. Qb5 $16) 25... Nc7 26. Qb6 Ra8 (26... Ne8 {
[%cal Gg7f6]} 27. Nb5 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ga1a7]}) 27. Rxa8+ Nxa8 28. Qd8+ $1 Qxd8
29. Bxd8 {[%csl Ra8,Rb7,Rg7][%mdl 4096] Black knight come out of action up to
the end of the game.} Bf8 30. h4 Kg7 {[%cal Gf7f6,Gg7f7,Gf8e7]} 31. Nb5 Bc8 32.
f3 f6 33. h5 $1 g5 $2 {[%csl Gf5] Topalos has now all the trumbs in his hand.
All black pieces are passive, square f5 is very weak, and white just need to
bring king into action.} ({Perhaps Black should have considered} 33... Kf7 $5)
34. Kf2 Kf7 35. Ke2 Be7 36. Ba5 $1 Ke8 37. Na7 $1 {Topalov shoes technique
without rebuke.} Bd7 38. Nc6 Bc8 (38... Bxc6 39. dxc6 Bd8 40. Bxd8 Kxd8 41. Nf5
$18) 39. Kd3 Bf8 40. Kc3 Kd7 41. Nb8+ (41. Nf5 $5) 41... Ke8 42. Kb3 Be7 43.
Nc6 Bf8 44. Ka4 Ba6 $8 45. Nb8 Bb7 46. Kb5 $18 Ke7 47. Nc6+ Ke8 48. Nd8 $1 Bc8
49. Nf5 Be7 (49... Bxf5 50. exf5 Be7 51. Nc6 {[%csl Ra8][%cal Gb5a6,Ga6b7]})
50. Ne6 Bd7+ 51. Ka6 Bxe6 52. Ng7+ (52. dxe6 Bd8 53. Nxd6+ Ke7 54. Nf5+ Ke8 55.
Nxh6 $18) 52... Kd7 53. Nxe6 Kc8 54. Ka7 {Hunt for the knight is over and
Black correctly resign. great positional game} 1-0

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.03"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Qd2 h6 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg3 Rc8 14. Kb1 b5
15. Qe2 b4 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Nd2 Qc7 19. Rc1 Bf5 20. Ka1 Qa5 21. f4
Qxd5 22. Nf1 Be6 23. Qa6 exf4 24. Bxf4 Bf6 25. Red1 Qe4 26. Bxd6 Rxc2 27. Rb1
Qxg2 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Nxd2 Qxd2 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. Qxa7 g5 32. a3 Kg7 33. Qa5
Ba2 0-1

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.04"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 c5 6. dxc5 d4 7.
Nb5 e5 8. Nxe5 a6 9. Na3 (9. Nd6+ $2 Bxd6 10. cxd6 Qa5+ $19) 9... O-O $146 {
Eine interessante Neuerung, die zu einem komlizierten Spiel führt. Schwarz
gewinnt einen Bauern zurück und bekommt Kompensation für den zweiten. Die
Heimanalyse zahlt sich bald aus, Weiß verliert bald den Faden.} (9... Bxc5 10.
Nd3 Bxa3 11. bxa3 O-O 12. g3 Re8 13. Bg2 Bg4 14. O-O Bxe2 15. Re1 Bxd3 16.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Qxd3 Qe1+ $2 18. Qf1 Qc3 19. Rb1 $16 {Dreev,A-Vaganian,R/
Budapest 1996}) 10. g3 (10. Nd3 $5 Bf5 $44 {/\Nbd7}) 10... Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxc5
12. Nd3 {Der Verzicht auf das Rochaderecht ist hier besonders riskant, da die
lange Rochade sehr gefährlich erscheint.} ({Sicherer war} 12. Nf3 Bf5 13. Qb3
Nc6 14. Bg2 Ne4 15. O-O Rac8 $44 {, wonach Schwarz "nur" über eine
ausreichende Kompensation verfügt.}) 12... Qc6 13. Rg1 (13. f3 $6 Bxa3 14. bxa3
Re8 $36) 13... Bf5 14. Bg2 Qc8 15. c5 $2 {Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht, der
Pc5 wird gleich zum Angriffsobjekt.} (15. Qb3 Nc6 $44 {/\} 16. O-O-O $6 b5 $1)
15... Nbd7 16. c6 (16. b4 a5 $36) 16... Bxa3 17. bxa3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxc2 19.
cxb7 Qe6 20. bxa8=Q Rxa8 21. Bxa8 Qxe5 {Materialmäßig kann Weiß nicht klagen,
aber sein König ist gefährdet.} 22. Bf4 $2 (22. Rc1 d3 23. e3 Ne4 $40) ({
Notwendig war} 22. f4 $1 {/\Bf3,Kf2}) 22... Qa5+ 23. Kf1 $2 (23. Bd2 Qxa3 $17)
23... g5 $19 24. Bc1 (24. Bb8 Qd8 $19) (24. Rc1 d3 $19) 24... Qc3 25. Kg2 Qc8 (
25... Qxa1 26. Bxg5 $17) 26. Bxg5 (26. Bf3 g4 $19) 26... Qxa8+ 27. f3 Qe8 28.
Rge1 Nd5 29. Rac1 Qa4 30. Kg1 f6 31. Bd2 Kf7 32. Kg2 Nb6 0-1

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A55"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Meulders,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Nbd7 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 c6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O a6 8. Qc2
O-O 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Bg5 Re8 (10... b5 11. cxb5 cxb5 12. Rac1 Re8 13. a4 b4 14.
Nd5 Qxc2 15. Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. Rxc2 $14 {Poluljahov,A-Shuraev,A URS-sf Voronez
1991 EXP/22} Bb7 17. Rc7 $14 {Polujahov-Shuraev/USSR ch1/2/1991}) (10... h6 11.
Bh4 Re8 (11... b5 12. cxb5 (12. a3 Bb7 (12... Re8 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. dxe5 dxe5
15. b4 Rad8 16. Qb3 Qb8 17. Bg3 Nh5 18. a4 $14 {Khalifman-Ubilava/USSR ch1l/
1986}) 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Qb1 (14. dxe5 dxe5 15. b4 $5) 14... Qb8 $10 {
Balashov-Chekhov/USSR ch/1984}) 12... cxb5 13. Rac1 $14) 12. h3 (12. b4 Nf8 13.
Bg3 Nh5 14. dxe5 Nxg3 15. hxg3 dxe5 16. c5 $10 {Litvinov-Malaniuk/Minsk/1985})
12... b6 $6 (12... Nf8 13. Bg3) 13. Bg3 Bb7 14. c5 $1 $16 {Yusupov-Vaganian/
Montpellier ct/1985}) 11. Rac1 {Die Aufstellung der Türme dürfte das
schwierigste Thema im Mittelspiel sein. Ich kenne keine einzige Monografie
darüber. Eine Idee vielleicht? Der Textzug ist 'logisch', weil er die Dame
deckt und den Druck entlang der c-Linie verstärkt, aber} (11. Rd2 $5 {mit der
Idee Rad1 und Druck auf der d-Linie dürfte stärker sein.} h6 12. Bh4 Nf8 13. c5
exd4 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15. Bxf6 dxc3 16. Bxc3 Bf4 (16... Ng6 $5) 17. Rdd1 Bg4 18.
g3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Be5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Rd2 $14 {Kozul,Z-Lobron,E Vidmar-mem
1989 CBM/14}) (11. h3 $5 {ist auch eine gute Möglichkeit die in indischen
Stellungen oft auftaucht. Der Zug hat mehrere Zwecke: Luft für den weißen
König, aber noch wichtiger: das Feld g4 wird Schwarz genommen.} b5 (11... Nf8
12. c5 $13 dxc5 13. dxe5 N6d7 14. Bf4 Ng6 {Polujahov-Emoldi/Kobanya/1992}) 12.
dxe5 dxe5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Rac1 Bb7 15. a4 $1 $14 {Misuckov-Kuksov URS 1988
46/(94)}) 11... Nf8 (11... h6) 12. h3 $1 {[%csl Rg4]} Ng6 13. a3 $6 {Ich
glaube dies ist zu langsam} (13. b4 $5 Nh5 14. Be3 $1 (14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bxe7
Qxe7 16. c5 Nhf4 $11) 14... Nhf4 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. c5 Be6 17. Na4 Rad8 18. Nb6
$14) 13... Nh5 14. Be3 $1 {[%csl Rf4] Der schwarze Be7 ist schlecht und Weiß
möchte selbstverständlich die Kontrolle über die schwarzen Feldern um seinen
König nicht aufgeben, ergo ist es normal den Läufer zu behalten.} Nhf4 15. Bf1
h6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Na4 {[%csl Rb6]} Be6 {Rechtzeitig macht der B Platz für
Ra-d8 nach z.B. Nb6.} 18. Kh2 Rac8 (18... Rad8 $4 19. Bb6 $18) 19. g3 Nh5 20.
Nc5 {[%cal Gc5e6]} Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Rcd8 $1 {Jetzt muss Schwarz natürlich die
d-Linie besetzen.} 22. Qb3 {/\Bb6+-} b5 23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Rd1 Qc8 25. Qe3 (25.
Qc2 $5) (25. Qc3 Nf6 26. Qc2) 25... bxc4 (25... Rd8) 26. Nd2 Rd8 27. Rc1 Qb8 {
So behält Schwarz den Mehrbauern, aber im Endspiel wiegt das weiße Läuferpaar
diesen Nachteil auf.} 28. Nxc4 Bxc4 29. Bxc4 Qxb2 30. Qc3 $1 Qxc3 (30... Qb7 $5
31. Qa5 Ra8 32. Rd1 Nf6 $15) 31. Rxc3 $44 Nf6 32. Bd3 $1 (32. f3 $17 {[%csl
Ra2,Rb2,Rc2,Rd2,Re2,Rf2,Rg2,Rh2]}) 32... Rb8 33. Bb4 Rd8 34. Kg2 {[%csl Ra6]
[%cal Gg2f3,Gf3e3]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.05"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Bb7 $5 (8... Qc7 $5 {It's main line.}) 9. Be2 c5 10. O-O Qc7 11. Nd6+ ({
After:} 11. f4 $6 {black has two equal options: 11...c4 or 11... f5}) 11...
Bxd6 12. exd6 {[%csl Yd1,Rd6][%cal Gc2c4,Gc4d5]} Qc6 13. f3 c4 {/\Rc8 and Qxd6.
} 14. Qd4 O-O 15. Bxc4 Qxd6 ({Also were checked in the preceding games:} 15...
Rfc8 16. b3 $5 {See comments to Kasparov,G-Grischuk,A/Cannes,2001/CBM 82(1/2-1/
2)(Golod,V)(48)} (16. Bxd5 $5 {See comments to Kasparov,G-Grischuk,A/Linares,
2001/CBM 82(1-0)(Golod,V)(45)})) 16. Rf2 $5 $146 {[%csl Yf2,Rg1][%cal Yf2c2]
[%mdl 8] Veselin Topalov don't want to exchange the queens and to receive only
minimal advantage in the middlegame.} ({After:} 16. Bb3 Qb6 {[%csl Gb6,Rd4,Rg1]
Black has a little worse middlegame: Kasparov,G-Leko,P/Linares,1999/CBM 70(1/
2-1/2)(Golod,V)(48)}) ({Also deserves attention:} 16. Rd1 $5 {You can see
comments to games: Svidler,P-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas,1999/CBM 71(1/2-1/
2)(Golod,V)(26) and Anand,V-Leko,P/Dortmund,1999/CBM 72(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(29)})
16... Qb6 $5 ({From my point of view,a little dubiously:} 16... e5 17. Qh4 Rac8
18. Bd2 $14 Qb6 $140 19. Bd3 f5 20. c4 $1 e4 {[%csl Rd2,Rd3,Rf2][%cal Ge4d3,
Ge4e3]} 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Bxe4 {[%csl Rh7]} Qxf2+ 23. Qxf2 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 Rxc4
25. Re1 $14 {_|_}) 17. Qh4 Rac8 18. b3 {[%cal Gc1b2]} Ne3 $6 {[%csl Rc4] The
rather unsuccessful decision.} ({Can be recommended:} 18... Nb4 $5 {[%csl Rc2,
Gc8][%cal Gd7d5]}) 19. Bd3 Nf5 {It is necessary to come back by the knight.} ({
Badly:} 19... f5 {in view of:} 20. Bb2 {[%csl Rb6,Re3][%cal Gb2d4]} Nxc2 $140
$2 21. Bxc2 $1 Rxc2 22. Bd4 Qc7 23. Rxc2 Qxc2 24. Qe7 Rf7 25. Qd8+ Rf8 26. Qxd7
{[%csl Rb7,Rg7]} e5 (26... Rf7 $143 27. Qe8+ Rf8 28. Qxe6+ Rf7 (28... Kh8 $2
29. Qe7 {[%csl Rb7,Rg7]}) 29. Qe8+ Rf8 30. Qe5 $1 Rf7 31. Bc5 $18 {[%csl Rf7,
Rg8][%cal Ge5e8,Ge5b8]}) 27. Qe6+ Kh8 (27... Rf7 $143 28. Qe8+ Rf8 29. Qxe5 Rf7
30. Bc5 {[%csl Rf7,Rg8][%cal Ge5e8,Ge5b8]}) 28. Qxe5 Rg8 29. Bxa7 $18) 20. Qf4
{[%csl Rf5] This move is much better,than:} (20. Bxf5 exf5 21. Bb2 Rxc2 (21...
Rfe8 $5) 22. Bd4 Qc7 23. Qg5 f6 24. Qxf5 Rxf2 25. Bxf2 Re8 $14) 20... Qd4 21.
Qxd4 $1 {Now Veselin Topalov exchange the queens in more favourable situation.}
Nxd4 22. Be3 Nc6 ({Senselessly:} 22... e5 {in view of:} 23. Rd1 {[%csl Rd4]})
23. Bc5 $1 {[%mdl 32] ><d6} Rfe8 24. Bd6 {+/=/+/-} Ne7 {[%cal Gc8c6]} 25. Rd2 {
[%csl Yd2,Gd6][%cal Yd2d6]} Nf5 {Hardly it is possible to offer something
another.} 26. Bxf5 exf5 27. c4 a6 28. Kf2 g5 29. h4 $1 {White want to weaken
pawns structure of the contender on the king side.} f6 30. Bb4 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6]
[%cal Gd2d6]} Bc6 31. Rd6 Re6 32. Rxe6 $1 {[%csl Ga2,Gb3,Gc4][%mdl 32] Now it
will be easier to move PP of the queen side.} dxe6 33. hxg5 fxg5 34. Be7 h6 (
34... g4 $143 35. fxg4 fxg4 36. Rd1 {<->d} (36. b4 {[%csl Ga2,Gb4,Gc4][%cal
Ga2a4]})) 35. Rd1 {<->d} Kf7 36. Bd8 $1 Ke8 $140 (36... e5 $6 37. Rd6 {[%csl
Rh6]} Ke8 38. Bf6 e4 39. fxe4 fxe4 (39... Bxe4 $2 40. Rxa6) 40. Ke3 $16) 37.
Ba5 {[%csl Ya5][%cal Ya5d8]} Ke7 38. Rh1 {[%csl Rh6]} Rh8 39. Bb4+ Kf6 40. Rd1
Rc8 41. Ba5 f4 42. Bc3+ Kf7 43. Rh1 Kg6 44. Re1 Bd7 45. Re5 h5 46. Ra5 Rc6 47.
Bb4 Kf6 48. Bc3+ Kg6 49. Be5 $16 {[%csl Ga5,Ge5] At last, white pieces have
occupied ideal positions.} Bc8 50. c5 {The progress of the pawns should decide
outcome of game.} Kf5 51. Bd6 Bb7 52. b4 {[%cal Ga2a4,Gb4b5]} e5 53. a4 Rc8 {
[%tqu "En","?White can win some material after one good move.","It is
necessary to use a weakness of the black king!","","d6e5","",10]} 54. Bxe5 $1 (
54. b5 $143 Ke6 $1 {[%csl Rd6]}) 54... Bd5 $6 ({Leads to hopeless RR endgame:} 
54... Kxe5 55. c6+ Kd6 56. cxb7 Rc2+ 57. Kg1 Kc7 58. Rxg5 Kxb7 59. Re5 $1 $18 {
[%cal Ge5e4]} (59. Rxh5 $2 Rc4 60. Re5 $140 Rxb4 61. Re4 a5 {[%csl Ya5][%cal
Ya5b4,Gb7c6,Gc6d5]})) ({More stubborn resistance after:} 54... Bxf3 $1) 55. Bd6
g4 56. c6 {[%csl Rd5]} Ke6 57. Bxf4 gxf3 $2 (57... Rxc6 $142 58. Kg3 gxf3 59.
gxf3 h4+ 60. Kg4 h3 61. Bg3 {[%cal Gf3f4] +/-/+-}) 58. c7 $1 fxg2 59. Rxa6+ Kf5
60. Bh2 $18 {The rest is a matter of technics.} Kg4 {[%cal Gc8f8]} 61. Rf6 {
[%csl Yf6]} Kh3 62. Bd6 Rg8 63. Rg6 $1 {[%csl Gc7][%cal Gc7c8]} Re8 (63... Rxg6
$2 64. c8=Q+ Be6 65. Qc3+ {and mate in 4 moves.}) 64. Rg3+ {Black resigns
after this move,because of next variants:} (64. Rg3+ Kh4 (64... Kh2 $2 65. Rc3+
Kh1 66. Rh3#) 65. Rxg2 ({Much worse is:} 65. c8=Q {because of:} g1=Q+ (65...
Rxc8 $4 66. Be7#) 66. Rxg1 Rxc8 67. Be7+ Kh3 68. Rg3+ Kh2 69. Bd6 Rc2+ 70. Ke1
{+/-/+-}) 65... Bxg2 66. Kxg2 {[%cal Gb4b5,Gb5b6,Gb6b7]}) 1-0

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.05"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Ne5 c5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. d5 Bc8 14. a3 Na6 15.
f3 $146 {[%mdl 12]} Bd6 (15... f6 $5 16. Ng4 f5 17. Nf2 Bd6 $132) 16. f4 f6 17.
Ng4 f5 18. Ne5 $1 (18. Nf2 Nc7 (18... Nb8 19. Be3 Nd7) 19. Be3 Ne8) 18... Nb8 (
18... Qe7 19. Be3 Bxe5 20. fxe5 Qxe5 21. Qd2 $44) 19. b4 $1 Nd7 (19... cxb4 20.
Qd4 $1 (20. axb4 Bxb4 21. Be3 b6 (21... Na6 22. Rxa6 bxa6 23. c5 $18) 22. Qb3 (
22. d6 Be6) (22. c5 Bxc5 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. d6 Be6 25. Bc4 Bxc4 26. Nxc4 Nd7 27.
Qd5+ Kh8 28. Ne5 $44) 22... Qd6 $13) 20... Na6 (20... Qb6 21. Be3 Qxd4 22. Bxd4
b6 23. axb4 $16) 21. axb4 Nxb4 (21... Bxb4 22. Rxa6 (22. Ba3 Bxa3 (22... b6 23.
Nc6 Bxa3 24. Rxa3 Qd6 25. Rfa1 Nc5 26. Rxa7 $16) 23. Rxa3 Qd6 24. Rfa1 $44 {
/\25.Ra6}) 22... bxa6 23. c5 $44)) 20. bxc5 Bxc5+ (20... Nxc5 21. Bb2 (21. Be3
Qc7 $13 22. Qd4) 21... Bd7 22. Rb1 Qe7 $14) 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Bb2 Re8 23. Rb1 $1
Qe7 (23... Nxe5 24. fxe5 Bxe5 25. c5 $1 $44 (25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Qd4 $44 {
[%cal Gc4c5]})) 24. Qb3 b6 (24... Nxe5 25. fxe5 Bxe5 26. Bxe5 Qxe5 27. c5 $44)
25. Bh5 $1 Rf8 26. Qg3 $36 {[%csl Ge5]} Bb7 27. a4 $1 {[%cal Ga4a5]} Rac8 28.
a5 Nf6 29. Be2 (29. Bd1 $5) 29... Bc5 30. Qg5 $1 Rce8 31. Bd1 $1 {[%cal Gd1a4]}
e3 (31... b5 32. cxb5 Nxd5 (32... Bxd5 33. Qxf5 e3 34. Qd3 $16) 33. Bb3 Qxg5
34. fxg5 $16 {[%cal Gb3g8]}) 32. Bf3 Ne4 33. Qxe7 Rxe7 34. Bxe4 fxe4 35. g3 $16
b5 $2 (35... Bb4 36. axb6 axb6 37. Rfc1 e2 38. Kg2 (38. Bc3 Bxc3 39. Rxc3 Rxe5
$19) 38... Rc8 39. Kf2 e1=Q+ 40. Rxe1 Bxe1+ 41. Kxe1 $44 {/+/-}) (35... g5 $2
36. Ng4 $18) 36. cxb5 Bxd5 37. Rfc1 Bd6 (37... Rc7 $142 38. Nc6 $1 (38. Bd4
Rfc8 39. Bxc5 Rxc5 40. Rxc5 Rxc5 41. Kg1 Rc2 42. b6 axb6 43. axb6 Bb7 $132)
38... Bd6 39. Bd4 a6 40. Bb6 Rcc8 41. Bxe3 axb5 42. Rxb5 Bxc6 43. Rb6 $16) 38.
Rd1 $1 Bxe5 39. Rxd5 $18 Bxb2 40. Rxb2 Rc8 41. Kg2 Rec7 42. Kf1 Rc2 43. Rxc2
Rxc2 44. Rd8+ Kf7 45. Rd7+ Ke6 46. Rxa7 Kf5 {[%cal Yf5g4,Yg4f3]} 47. h3 $1 e2+
48. Ke1 1-0

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.05"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. h4 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5
15. Rg1 g6 16. Kb1 Bg7 17. h5 g5 18. Nf5 Be5 19. Be2 Qc7 20. Nd4 O-O 21. Rgf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.05"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Bb4+ 12. c3 Be7 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Kb1 O-O
15. Ne5 Qa5 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Ne4 Qf5 18. Bc1 Rad8 19. g4 Qh7 20. Rhg1 f5 21.
gxf5 Rxf5 22. Rg6 Ne5 23. Qg3 Rxh5 24. Rxe6 Qxe4+ 25. Ka1 Qh4 26. Qe3 Qg4 27.
f3 Qxe6 0-1

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.07"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c5 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. O-O Nd7
15. Bb5 Qc7 16. Qc2 Rab8 17. dxc5 Bxc3 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxc3 Qxc5 20. Qxc5
Nxc5 21. Nd4 Rfc8 22. Rfc1 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 Ne6 24. Nf5 Rc2 25. a3 Ra2 26. Ne7+
Kh7 27. Nxd5 Rxa3 28. h4 Ra5 29. e4 f5 30. exf5 Nd4 31. Ne3 Nxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.07"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qb3 c6 ({other moves are:} 5... Bb7
6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Qc2 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxh1 9. f3 c5 10. Nb3 d5 11. Bg5 Be7 12. O-O-O
O-O {1/2-1/2 Shtyrenkov,V-Shipov,S/Orel 1997/EXT 99 (12)}) ({and:} 5... c5) 6.
Bf4 (6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Rc1 Bb7 11. Bg2 O-O 12.
O-O Nc6 13. Qd1 Be7 14. a3 Na5 15. Ne5 Rc8 16. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 Halkias,
S-Nikolaidis,I/Poros 1998/EXT 99 (42)}) 6... d5 (6... Be7 7. Nc3 d5 (7... O-O
8. e4 d5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. Rc1 Rc8 14.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 15. Bg2 Be6 16. Ne5 $14 {1-0 Goldin,A-Yudasin,L/Chicago USA 2002/
The Week in Chess 397 (39)}) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bg2 Nxf4 10. gxf4 O-O 11. Rc1 Bb7
12. O-O Nd7 13. Rfd1 Qb8 14. e3 c5 15. d5 $1 e5 16. d6 $1 $16 {1-0 Topalov,
V-Ljubojevic,L/Monaco MNC 2002/The Week in Chess 385 (35). (34)}) 7. cxd5 Nxd5
8. Bg5 {Here, as opposed to Topalov-Ljuboevich, white is adle to avoid the
capture on f4.} Be7 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. e4 ({after the "natural"} 11.
Bg2 {white would have trouble castling due to the weakness on e2. Thus he
agrees to an artificial castle.}) 11... Nf6 ({worse is:} 11... Bxf1 12. Kxf1
Nf6 13. Kg2 {and white is able to finish the development much faster than in
the game.}) 12. Rc1 Rc8 {black is in no hurry to take on f1.} 13. e5 {With
this white is gaining space but compromises his pawn structure. Now, after
black's thematic c2-c5, e5 pawn will be weak.} (13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. O-O c5 {
with an equality}) 13... Nd5 14. Ne4 Bxf1 $1 {Only now, when there are no more
useful moves!} 15. Kxf1 Nd7 {[%cal Gc6c5]} 16. Nd6 Rc7 17. Kg2 c5 {Step one
completed. Black was able to play c5, now, white's knight on d6 becomes
vulnerable.} 18. Qa4 a6 ({bad is:} 18... cxd4 $2 19. Rxc7 Nxc7 20. Qc6 Nc5 21.
Nxd4 {with a very strong pressure}) 19. dxc5 (19. Nb5 Rcc8 20. Nd6 $11) 19...
Nxc5 20. Qd4 Nb7 $1 {exchanging the only piece that stands between black and
equality} 21. Nf5 {only move to keep trying} (21. Nxb7 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Qxb7 $11)
(21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 $11) 21... exf5 22. Qxd5 Rd8 23. Qb3 {[%csl Rb6]
[%cal Gb3b6]} (23. Rxc7 $6 Qxc7 24. Qb3 Nc5 25. Qc2 Qd7 $15) 23... b5 24. Rhd1
Rxd1 25. Rxd1 g6 {Now, the only thing left is to transfer the knight to e6.}
26. Qd5 Kg7 (26... Nc5 $2 27. Qa8+ Kg7 28. Rd8 $16) 27. h4 Nc5 28. Rc1 (28. Qa8
Rd7 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 $11) 28... Ne6 29. Rxc7 Qxc7 30. Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.07"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 Bb7 5. b3 e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. cxb5 Be7 8. e3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Bf6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Nbd2 a6 12. a4 axb5 13. Bxb5 Na6 14. Nxe4 Bxb2
15. Neg5 Rxf3 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17. h4 Rf5 18. Rd1 Bd5 19. e4 Bc3+ 20. Ke2 Nc7 21.
exf5 Nxb5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. axb5 Ra2+ 24. Kf3 Qf6 25. Rd1 Bd4 26. Re1 Be5 27.
b6 Rb2 28. b7 Rxb3+ 29. Kg4 Rxb7 30. f4 Rb4 31. g3 1-0

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.07"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. b3 e5 14. dxc5 Nxc5
15. Bf5 h5 16. Qh3 e4 $5 {[%mdl 8] Karpov continues the theoretical dispute in
his pet-line.} (16... Ne6 {- Topalov-Karpov, Cannes NAO Masters 2002 CBM 88})
17. Nd4 $5 {This idea is connected with a nice positional exchange sacrifice.}
(17. Bxc8 exf3 18. Bf5 (18. b4 $6 Qxc8) 18... g6 19. Bb2 fxg2 20. Rfe1 (20.
Rfd1 Be5 $1 $17) 20... Rh7 21. Bd3 Nxd3 22. cxd3 Qc2 23. Bf6 Qc6 $13 {and
Black is OK.}) 17... Bxf5 (17... Be5 18. Bb2 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 Kg8 (19... Bxh2+ 20.
Kh1 Kg8 21. g3 $16 {and although Black can get a lot of pawns for the B,
White's active pieces will outweight them.}) 20. Kh1 $14) 18. Nxf5 Be5 19. Ba3
g6 ({accepting the exchange sacrifice} 19... Bxa1 20. Rxa1 Qe5 {is answered by}
21. Rd1 $44 {and it is hard to make a connection between the rooks.}) 20. Ne3 (
20. Rad1 $5 {is a very exciting positional piece sacrifice:} gxf5 21. Qxf5 Kg8
22. Qg5+ Kh7 (22... Kf8 23. Rd5 {with double ->}) 23. Rd5 $1 Bxh2+ 24. Kh1 Ne6
25. Qh4 $1 (25. Qf6 Kg8 26. Rg5+ Nxg5 27. Qxg5+ Kh7 28. Qxh5+ Kg8 29. Qg4+ Kh7
$11) 25... Ng7 (25... Nf4 26. Rf5 $14) 26. Qxh2 $14 {and the _|_ is better
because of White's << P majority, and the better B and R.}) 20... Kg7 (20...
Bxa1 21. Rxa1 $44) 21. Rae1 (21. Rad1 $14 {was still possible}) 21... Ne6 22.
Nc4 Ng5 (22... Nf4 23. Qh4 $14) 23. Qe3 $2 {This is a serious blunder.} ({
There was nothing wrong with the simple} 23. Qh4 Bf6 24. Bd6 $14) 23... Bxh2+
24. Kh1 Bf4 $17 {and Black is a healthy P up with a better position.} 25. Qc3+
f6 26. Bb2 Qc6 27. Rd1 Rhd8 28. Qa5 b6 29. Rxd8 bxa5 0-1

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.08"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 {Dieser Zug ist heutzutage wirklich
sehr beliebt, Schwarz verfügt aber auch über eine Reihe von Alternativen: 4...
Bb4, 4...Nd4 und 4...Bc5.} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. a3 {
Das ist die moderne Spielweise - Weiß kann anschließend mit b2-b4 fortsetzen.}
Be6 (9... Re8 10. b4 Bf8) 10. b4 f6 (10... a5 11. b5 Nd4) (10... Nd4) 11. Bb2
a5 12. b5 Nd4 (12... Na7 $5 13. Nd2 Rb8 14. Rb1 (14. Nb3 $1 $14) 14... Qd7 15.
a4 c6 16. bxc6 Nxc6 17. Nb5 Bb4 $1 $10 {0-1 Lobron,E-Bareev,E/Munich 1993/CBM
36/[Ribli] (40)}) 13. Nd2 c6 $146 {[%mdl 4] Interessanterweise wurde dieser
logische Zug früher nie gespielt. Mit dem Textzug befreit Schwarz seinen
Damenflügel.} (13... a4 14. Bxb7 Ra5 15. e3 (15. Bg2 Qd7 16. Qc1 Rxb5 17. e3
Nb3 18. Nxb3 Rxb3 19. Rd1 Rb8 20. Bf1 Nd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. Rd2 c5 {0-1 De
Jager,J-Gurevich,M/NED 2000/CBM 74 ext (39)}) 15... Nxb5 16. Qc2 c5 $6 (16...
Qd7 $1 17. Nxb5 Rxb5 18. Bc6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Qd6 20. Ne4 Qxa3 $1 21. Rxa3 Bxa3
$132) 17. Nxb5 Rxb5 18. Bc6 Ra5 19. Rfd1 Qc7 20. Be4 $5 Rc8 21. Bc3 Ra7 22. Nc4
$1 $14 {Gurevich,M-Janssen,R/Haarlem 76/26 1999/[Gurevich,M] (22)}) (13... Qd7
14. Bxb7 Rab8 15. Bg2 Nxb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Qc2 c5 18. Rfb1 Qa6 19. Bc3 $14 {
1-0 Beliavsky,A-Cvitan,O/Bled 1998/EXT 2000 (33)}) 14. bxc6 (14. a4 cxb5 15.
Nxb5 (15. axb5 Qd7 $15 {[%csl Rb5]}) 15... Nxb5 16. axb5 Qd7 $15 {[%csl Rb5]})
14... Nxc6 $13 {In dieser Stellung haben beide Seiten ihre Chancen. Weiß hat
seine Läufer auf den großen Diagonalen platziert, aber der Bb2 ist weniger
aktiv als der Bg2, der das weiße Spiel am Damenflügel unterstützt. - Schwarz
kontrolliert das Feld d4, dafür steht sein Nb6 jetzt weniger gut.} (14... bxc6
$2 15. e3 $16) 15. Nb5 $6 {Dieser Springerzug ist nur scheinbar aktiv, in
Wirklichkeit findet der Nb5 keine Unterstützung.} (15. Rb1 $13) (15. Na4 $5 $13
) 15... a4 $1 {[%csl Yb3,Rb5][%cal Ra8a5,Ra5b5] Ein starker Zug - Schwarz
verhindert das mögliche a3-a4 und beabsichtigt, den Nb5 mit Ra5 zu verjagen.}
16. Rc1 (16. Rb1 Qd7 $15 (16... Ra5 $6 17. Bc3 $13)) 16... Ra5 $15 {Schwarz
verjagt den Nb5, nimmt das Feld c5 in Beschlag und verhindert, dass Weiß
später Ne4 - Nc5 spielen kann.} 17. Nc3 Rf7 {Ein prophylaktischer Zug - in der
Folge möchte Schwarz 18...Bf8 ziehen und den Rf7 nach d7 platzieren.} 18. f4 {
Weiß sucht Aktivität zu finden, aber der Textzug schwächt den eigenen
Königsflügel.} (18. Qc2 Nd4 19. Qb1 Nd5 $15) 18... exf4 19. Rxf4 $6 (19. gxf4
Nd5 $15) 19... f5 $1 {[%cal Ge7g5,Gg5c1] Schwarz bereitet die Aktivierung des
schwarzfeldrigen Läufers (Bf6 oder Bg5) vor.} 20. Kh1 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Das ist
ein sehr schlechter Zug, der Materialverlust bedeutet. Vergessen wir aber
nicht, dass dies eine Schnellpartie war...} (20. Rf1 Bg5 (20... Bc5+ 21. Kh1
Qd6 $15) 21. Rb1 Be3+ 22. Kh1 $15) 20... Bg5 $17 21. Rf1 (21. Rf2 Be3 22. Rf3
Bxd2 23. Qxd2 Nc4 24. Qc2 Nd4 $19) 21... Bxd2 22. Qxd2 Nc4 {[%cal Gd8d2] Mit
dieser kleinen Kombination gewinnt Schwarz Material.} 23. Qc2 (23. Qe1 Nxb2 24.
Rb1 Nxd3 25. exd3 Re5 26. Qd2 Bb3) 23... Ne3 {[%cal Re3c2,Re3f1]} 24. Qd2 Nxf1
25. Rxf1 {Weiß hat keine Kompensation für die Qualität.} h6 26. Rf4 Bb3 {
[%csl Gb3]} 27. Qe1 Ne7 {[%cal Ge7d5] Schwarz verbessert die Stellung seines
Springers und strebt Vereinfachungen an.} 28. Qf2 Nd5 29. Qd4 Qd7 {Nun, da die
schwarze Dame verteidigt ist, kann schon 30...Nxc3 kommen.} 30. Nxd5 Bxd5 31.
e4 (31. Bxd5 Qxd5+ (31... Rxd5 32. Qxa4 Qxa4 33. Rxa4 Re7 $19) 32. Qxd5 Rxd5
33. Rxa4 Re7 $19) 31... Bc6 32. Qc3 Rb5 $19 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Rb5b3,Rb3d3]} 0-1

[Event "FIDE GP+"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2002.04.08"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2002.04.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. e3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bf5 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 e6 12. Qb3 f6 13. Bg3 b5 14. a4 bxa4 15.
Qxa4+ Qd7 16. Ra1 Qxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Milov, Vadim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 {
Quiet rare continuation,nevertheless not without poison.More popular moves in
this position are 7.Bd3 and 7.Bg5.} c5 8. Ne5 {On my opinion this move is the
most dangerous one for black.} (8. Be3 $5 Qc7 (8... cxd4 9. Bxd4 Be7 10. Ne5 (
10. Bd3 O-O 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. O-O Rd8 13. Rad1 Bd7 14. Ne5 Be8 15. Ng4 Nxg4 16.
Qxg4 g6 $11 {Sadvakasov,D-Mirzoev,A/Dubai 1999}) 10... O-O 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. O-O
Rd8 13. Qf3 $14) 9. Ne5 a6 (9... Bd6 $6 10. Bb5+ Ke7 11. Nc4 $1 Bd7 12. Bxd7
Nxd7 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. dxc5 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 $14 {Zakharov,A-Dokuchaev,A/
RUS-Cup9 Novgorod (6) 1997 (37)}) 10. Qa4+ Nd7 11. O-O-O $36 {Dvoirys,
S-Zakharevich,I/Novgorod 1997}) (8. Bg5 Be7 9. Bxf6 $6 gxf6 $6 10. Qa4+ Bd7 11.
Bb5 a6 12. Bxd7+ Qxd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. O-O-O cxd4 15. Nxd4 Kc7 $11 {Van den
Berg,A-Bohm,H/NLD-chT 1995 (28)}) (8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Be3 cxd4 11.
Bxd4 Be7 12. O-O (12. Ne5 Qd5 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 Qd6 15. Nf3 Rfd8 16. Qe2 Qf4
$11 {Stojanovic,D-Boskovic,D/Subotica 2000}) 12... O-O 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Rad1
Rfd8 $11 {Dvoirys,S-Zakharevich,I/1/2 final Russia Cup, Perm RUS 1997 (21)}) (
8. Bd3 b6 $6 9. Ne5 Bd6 10. Qf3 Bd7 11. Be4 Rc8 12. Bb7 Rc7 13. Nc4 Be7 14. Bf4
$16 {Abuin Boullon,M-Perez,S/Lalin 2000}) 8... Qc7 $5 $146 (8... Qa5 9. Bf4
cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bc5 11. Nc4 Bxd4 12. Nxa5 Nd5 $13 {Levy,D-Miyasaki,Y/Skopje 1972}
) (8... Nd7 $2 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Qg4 $1 $36 {Kasparov-Ponomariov, Linares 2002}) (
8... a6 $5 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Qxd7+ Nxd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Be2 Rd8
$14 {Kasimdzhanov-Dorfman, Luebeck, 2002}) 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Be3
O-O-O 12. O-O Nf6 (12... Bd6 $5 13. g3 h5 14. Qf3 Nf6) 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. g3 Kb8
15. Rfd1 Nd5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 (16... Nxe3 $2 17. cxd6 Qc5 18. fxe3 Qxb5 19. Qxf7
$18) 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. Bf1 $1 {[%cal Gf1g2] in this kind of positions bishops
is much stronger piece than the knight.} Qc7 19. c4 Nf6 20. Bg2 h5 21. c5 $5 {
[%cal Gb2b5,Gc5c6]} Nd5 (21... h4 22. b4 hxg3 23. hxg3 Nd5 24. a3 Rh6 25. Rac1
Rdh8 26. b5 $14) 22. Rac1 h4 23. a3 hxg3 24. hxg3 g5 25. Qb3 (25. b4 $5 f5 {
[%cal Gc7h7]} 26. b5 Qh7 27. c6 $16) 25... Ne7 26. Qc3 Nf5 (26... Nd5 27. Bxd5
exd5 28. Rxd5 $16 {[%csl Rh8]}) 27. c6 $1 bxc6 28. Qf6 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rc8 (
29... Rg8 30. Rc1 $16) 30. Qxg5 Ne7 31. b4 Nd5 {Hoping to hold on, but Topalov
finds very good plan putting a pressure on f7} 32. Rc1 Qe7 33. Qe5+ Qc7 34. Qh5
Qd7 35. Qe5+ Qc7 36. Qd4 Qd7 37. Bf3 Rc7 38. Qh8+ Rc8 39. Qe5+ Qc7 40. Qd4 Qd7
41. Kg2 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gc1h1,Gh1h7]} Rc7 42. Rh1 Rc8 43. Rh7 Re8 $2 {
The only chance to hold on would be} (43... Rf8 $8 {defending the pawn on f7.})
44. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 45. Qf4+ Qc7 46. Qxf7 Qxf7 47. Rxf7 e5 (47... Rd8 48. Kf3 d4
49. Ke2 d3+ 50. Kd2 e5 51. Re7 Rf8 52. Rxe5 Rxf2+ 53. Kxd3 Rf3+ 54. Re3 $18)
48. Rd7 $1 {White king with some help from the rook easily stops black pawns.}
d4 49. Kf3 e4+ 50. Ke2 d3+ 51. Ke3 a6 52. f3 Kc8 53. Rd4 exf3+ 54. Kxf3 Rf8+
55. Kg2 Kc7 56. Rxd3 Rg8 57. Rd5 Kc6 58. Ra5 Kb6 59. Rf5 Rd8 60. g4 Rd3 61. Rf3
Kb5 62. g5 1-0

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Milov, Vadim"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Milov,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Qe2
Be7 9. Rd1 O-O 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. d5 (11. h3) 11... exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
Bf6 (13... Bg4 14. h3 Bh5 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. Bc3 $14) (13... Nb4 $5) 14. h3 (14.
e4 $6 Bg4 $11) 14... Nb4 15. e4 Nxd5 16. exd5 Qd6 $6 $146 (16... Bf5 17. Be3 (
17. Qc4 $2 b5) 17... c4 18. d6 (18. Rac1 b5 19. b3 $6 c3) 18... Qd7 (18... Qc6
19. Nd4 Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Bd3 21. Qd2 b5 $11) 19. Qxc4 Bxb2 20. Ra2 Be6 21. Qc2 Bf6
(21... Bxa2 $6 22. Qxb2 Be6 23. a5 $44) 22. Ra3 Rac8 23. Qd2 Bf5 $11) 17. a5 $1
$14 Bd7 (17... Bf5 18. Be3 (18. Qc4 Rfe8 19. Bf4 Qd7 20. Qxc5 Bxb2 21. Ra2 Rac8
22. Qb6 Bf6 23. d6 Be4 $13) 18... Rac8 (18... Rfe8 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Bxc5 $3 (
20. Nd2 $5 Bd4 (20... Qxd5 $2 21. Nc4 Bd4 22. Nb6 $16) 21. Qf3 (21. Nc4 Qg6)
21... Qg6 22. Bxd4 cxd4 $11) 20... Rxe2 21. Bxd6 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rxb2 23. Be5
Bxe5 24. Nxe5 f6 25. Nc4 $14) 19. Rac1 Rfd8 20. Rc4 $1 $14 {/\21.Bf4}) 18. Be3
b5 $6 (18... Rfe8 19. Qd2 $14 {/\20.Bf4} (19. Qc2 Rac8 20. Rac1 c4 $13)) 19.
axb6 Qxb6 20. Rd2 Bb5 21. Qd1 Qd6 22. Qc2 Rac8 (22... c4 23. Bg5 $36 (23. Bd4))
23. Rc1 $1 c4 {><Bb5} 24. Bd4 Rcd8 (24... Rfe8 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Nh2 $1 $36 {
/\Nh2-g4-e3}) 25. Rcd1 $16 Rfe8 26. Qc3 $6 (26. Bxf6 $5 Qxf6 27. Nh2 Qd6 28.
Ng4 $16 {/\29.Ne3}) 26... Ba4 (26... Bxd4 27. Rxd4 $36 {><Bb5} (27. Nxd4 Qe5))
27. Ra1 Bb5 28. Bxf6 $2 (28. Qc2 $142 Rd7 29. Rad1 $36 {/\30.Bf6 Qf6 31.Nh2})
28... Qxf6 29. Qxf6 gxf6 30. g4 (30. Nh4 Re5 31. d6 Kf8 32. g4 {-30.g4 Kf8})
30... Kf8 (30... f5 $5 31. Kg2 (31. gxf5 Kg7) 31... fxg4 32. hxg4 Rd6 33. Nh4
Bd7 $1 (33... Red8 $2 34. Nf5) 34. Kg3 Be6 35. Ng2 (35. Ra5 Red8) 35... Rxd5
$11) 31. Nh4 Re5 32. d6 h5 33. Nf5 (33. Kg2 hxg4 34. hxg4 Ke8 $11 (34... Bd7
35. Kg3 $16)) 33... hxg4 34. hxg4 Bd7 $2 (34... Ke8 35. Kg2 Kd7 $11) 35. Rxa6
$1 $16 (35. Ne3 Bb5) 35... Bxf5 36. gxf5 Rxf5 (36... Rc5 $142 {/\37...c3} 37.
Kg2 c3 38. bxc3 Rxc3 39. Rd5 $16) 37. Rc6 $18 Rf4 38. Kg2 Re4 39. Kf3 Re6 (
39... f5 40. Rc5 Re6 41. Rxc4 Rexd6 42. Rxd6 Rxd6 43. Ke3 Ke7 44. Rd4 $18) 40.
Rxc4 Rexd6 41. Rxd6 Rxd6 42. Ke3 Rd1 (42... Ke7 43. Rd4) 43. b4 f5 (43... Ke7
44. Re4+ Kf8 45. Rd4) (43... Rb1 44. Kd4) 44. Rd4 Rb1 (44... Rc1 45. Kd3 (45.
Kf4) 45... Ke7 46. b5 Ke6 47. Rb4 $18) 45. Kd3 Kg7 46. Kc4 Kg6 47. f4 Kh5 48.
b5 Kg4 49. Kc5 1-0

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Milov, Vadim"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6 d6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. e4 Bg7
9. a4 Qxb6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Be2 Rb8 12. O-O Qa7 13. Nc4 Nb6 14. Na5 Bd7 15. Qc2
Qc7 16. Bd2 e6 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. b3 d5 19. exd5 Nfxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Rac1
Bd4 22. Nc4 Nf4 23. Bxf4 Qxf4 24. Bd3 Kg7 25. Rce1 Qf6 26. Be4 h5 27. Kh1 Rb4
28. f4 Bxc4 29. bxc4 Re8 30. f5 g5 31. Bd5 Rxe1 32. Rxe1 Rb2 33. Qe4 Rf2 34.
Qd3 Rxf5 35. Qd1 g4 36. g3 Rf2 37. Be4 Bc3 38. Rg1 Bd4 39. Re1 Qg5 40. Rf1 Qd2
41. Qxd2 Rxf1+ 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Milov, Vadim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 h6 12. Bd2 Nf6 13. Be3 Nh5 14. c5 Nf4 15.
Bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxf4 (16. Qd2 Rb8 17. Rad1 g5 18. Rfe1 Qe6 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Nd4
{-see comments to the game 1-0 Tukmakov,V-Landenbergue,C/Geneve 1997/CBM 57
[Dautov,R] (33)}) (16. Nd5 {-see CBM 31-7...Na6 8.Be3... 9...Qe8/Opening 1992/
CBM 31[Knaak,R] (24)}) 16... exf4 {[%csl Ra6,Ra7,Gc8,Rf4,Rf7,Gg7] Black has a
pair of BB, but his PP chain is damaged: pair of doubled PP. This position,
however, is better for White.} 17. Nd5 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Gd5c7]} (17. Qd2 g5 18.
Nd5 (18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Rac1 {-see comments to the game 1/2-1/2 Tisdall,
J-Cramling,P/Reykjavik 1995/CBM 47[Hansen,Cu] (32)}) 18... Qxe4 19. Rae1 Qc4
20. Nxc7 Rb8 21. Qd6 Qxa2 22. Ne8 $16 {1-0 Szuk,B-Senff,M/Budapest 1997/CBM 58
ext (27)}) 17... Rb8 18. Re1 c6 19. Nxf4 Rxb2 20. e5 {White has strong
initiative in the centre.} Rb7 21. Rb1 (21. Qa4 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Ga4a6]} Re7 {
[%csl Re5][%cal Ge8e5,Gg7e5]} 22. Qd4 Bf5 23. Re2 Qc8 24. Rae1 Rd8 25. Qa4 $16)
21... Rxb1 22. Qxb1 {[%csl Ra6,Ra7,Rc6][%cal Ge5e6]} Qe7 23. e6 $2 {Premature
break.} (23. Qb4 $142 Rd8 24. Qc4 $16) 23... g5 $2 $16 (23... Qxc5 $1 24. exf7+
Rxf7 25. Re8+ (25. Nxg6 Bf5 26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Nge5 Re7 28. g4 Bc2 $132) 25...
Rf8 26. Ne6 (26. Rxf8+ Qxf8 27. Nxg6 Qd6 28. Qe4 Be6 $132)) 24. exf7+ Qxf7 25.
Ng6 Re8 26. Nge5 (26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Nge5 (27. Qb8 Qxg6 (27... Bd7 28. Qd6 $18
{[%cal Gg6e5,Gf3e5]}) 28. Qxc8+ Bf8 29. Nd4 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qxa2 31. f3 Qd5 32.
Ne6 Kf7 (32... Qe5+ $2 33. f4 Qf6 34. Qxc6 Bxc5 35. Qd5 Be3 36. Nxg5+ Kh8 37.
Qa8+ Kg7 38. Qb7+ Kg8 39. Qb3+ Kh8 40. Qxe3 hxg5 41. fxg5 Qd6+ 42. g3 a5 43. h4
a4 44. h5 a3 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. g6 Qd2+ 48. Kh3 Qh6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50.
Kh4 $18) 33. Qxf8+ Kxe6 34. Qxh6+ Kf7 35. Qh7+ Kf6 36. Qh8+ Kf5 37. Qf8+ Ke5
$11) 27... Bxe5 28. Qe1 Bh2+ 29. Kxh2 Qxe1 30. Nxe1 Be6 31. Nd3 $16) 26... Qd5
27. Rd1 (27. Qg6 Kf8 28. Qxc6 Qxc6 29. Nxc6 Rxe1+ 30. Nxe1 Bb7 31. Nxa7 (31.
Nb4 Ke7 32. c6 Bc8 33. Nec2 Kd6 34. Ne3 Be6 $44) 31... Be5 32. c6 Ba8 33. Nd3
Bb8 34. Nc5 Ke7 35. a4 a5 36. Nb5 Bxc6 37. Nd4 Bd5) 27... Qxc5 28. Qg6 Qe7 29.
Ng4 (29. Qxc6 Bxe5 30. Re1 Bd7 31. Qd5+ Qe6 32. Qxe6+ Bxe6 33. Rxe5 Kf7 34. Ra5
Bc8 35. Rc5 $14) 29... Bxg4 30. hxg4 Qf7 $6 (30... Qe6 31. Qc2 $11) 31. Qxc6
Re6 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Qc2+ (33. Qd5 Re7 34. Qd6 $14) 33... Qg6 34. Qc4 Qb1+ (
34... Qe4) 35. Kh2 Qe4 36. Qxe4+ Rxe4 37. Kh3 Ra4 38. Rd7 (38. Rd2 $11) 38...
Rxa2 39. Nd4 $4 $19 (39. Kg3 a5 40. Rxa7 a4 41. Nd4 Kg6 42. Ra6+ Bf6 43. Kf3
$11) 39... Kg6 $4 {Both sides were, probably, in serious time trouble...} (
39... Rd2 $19) 40. Nf5 Bf6 41. f3 h5 42. g3 Ra4 43. Rxa7 $6 (43. Ne3 $11) 43...
hxg4+ 44. fxg4 {[%csl Rg3,Rg4]} Ra1 45. Nd6 $6 ({It was possible to force draw
by} 45. Ne7+ Bxe7 46. Rxe7 $11) 45... Bd4 46. Rb7 Ra2 $2 $17 {[%cal Gd4g1]} (
46... a5 47. Nf5 Bf6 48. Ne7+ Bxe7 (48... Kf7 49. Nd5+ $11 {[%csl Rf6][%cal
Gd5f6]}) 49. Rxe7 $11) 47. Nf5 $4 (47. Rb1 a5 $17) 47... Bg1 {[%csl Rh3]} 48.
Nh4+ gxh4 49. gxh4 Ra3+ 50. Kg2 Bd4 51. Rd7 Be5 52. Rd5 Kf6 53. h5 Ke6 54. Rc5
Rg3+ $2 (54... Kd6 $6 55. Rc8 a5 (55... Rg3+ 56. Kf2 Rxg4 57. Ra8 Ra4 58. h6
$17) 56. Ra8 a4 57. g5 Kc5 58. Ra5+ Kd4 59. h6 Rg3+ 60. Kf2 Rxg5 61. Rxa4+ $17)
({Wins immediate P promotion:} 54... a5 $1 55. g5 a4 56. Ra5 (56. h6 Rg3+ $19 {
[%csl Rg5]}) (56. g6 Rg3+ 57. Kf2 Rg5 $19) 56... Bc3 57. Ra6+ Kf5 58. g6 Kg4 $1
{[%csl Rg2]} 59. g7 Ra2+ 60. Kh1 (60. Kf1 Kf3 $19 {[%csl Rf1]}) (60. Kg1 Kf3
$19 {[%csl Rg1]}) 60... Bxg7 61. Rg6+ Kh3 62. Kg1 Bd4+ 63. Kf1 a3 $19) 55. Kf1
Bd6 (55... Rc3 $6 56. Rxc3 (56. Ra5 $2 Rc6 $1 (56... Rc1+ 57. Ke2 Ra1 58. Rxa1
Bxa1 59. Kd3 Kf6 60. Kc4 a5 (60... Kg5 61. Kb4 $11) 61. Kb5 Bc3 62. h6 Kg6 63.
g5 $11) 57. g5 Bc3 58. Ra2 Kf5 $19) 56... Bxc3 57. Ke2 Kf6 58. Kd3 Ba5 59. Kd4
Kg5 60. Kc5 Bc7 61. Kb4 Bb6 62. Ka4 $11) 56. Ra5 Ra3 $2 $11 ({After} 56... Rxg4
57. Rxa6 $17 {Black has good chances to win this endgame, especially in time
trouble.}) 57. Rg5 $2 $17 ({After} 57. Rxa3 Bxa3 58. Ke2 {this position is
dead-drawn.} Kf6 59. Kd3 Bc1 (59... Kg5 60. Kc2 Bf8 (60... Bb4 61. Kb3 Be1 62.
Kc4 Bd2 63. Kc5 $11) 61. Kb3 Kxg4 62. Ka4 $11) 60. Kc2 (60. Kc4 $11 {[%cal
Gc4c5]}) 60... Bf4 61. Kb3 Kg5 62. Kb4 (62. Ka4 $2 Bd2 $19) 62... Bd2+ 63. Ka4
$11) 57... a5 58. h6 Be5 59. Rg6+ Kd5 (59... Kf7 60. Ra6 Kg8 61. Ra7 Bd4 62.
Rd7 Bb2 63. Ra7 Ra1+ 64. Ke2 a4 65. g5 Bd4 66. Rd7 $44) 60. g5 Rh3 $2 $44 ({
In spirit of the position was} 60... Ke4 $1 {[%csl Rf1][%cal Ge4f3] with
decisive Attack:} 61. Rb6 Kf3 62. Rb1 Bf4 63. h7 Be5 64. g6 Ra1 65. Rxa1 Bxa1
66. Ke1 Kf4 67. Kd2 Kf5 68. Kc2 Kxg6 69. Kb3 Kxh7 $19) 61. Ra6 Bc3 62. Kg2 (62.
g6 $2 Rxh6 63. g7 Bxg7 64. Rxa5+ $17) 62... Rh4 63. Kg3 Be1+ 64. Kf3 Kc5 65. g6
Rxh6 66. g7 Rh3+ 67. Ke2 Rg3 68. Kxe1 Kb5 69. Ra7 Rg2 70. Kd1 Kb4 71. Kc1 a4
72. Kb1 Ka3 73. Rb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "188"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4 Bxe4 8.
Re1 Nf6 9. Bg5 Bd5 10. Nbd2 e6 11. c4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 cxd4 13. Qxb7 Be7 14. Qc6+
Nd7 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Nf3 Qb6 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 18. b3 Rhc8 19. Nxd4 d5 20. cxd5
Nxd5 21. Nf5+ Kf6 22. Ne3 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Rc2 24. b4 Rd8 25. g3 g5 26. h3 Rdd2
27. Rf3+ Kg6 28. a3 h5 29. Re1 Rd4 30. Rfe3 Ra2 31. R1e2 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Raa1 33.
g4 Rh1 34. f3 h4 35. Rb3 Rag1+ 36. Kf2 Rg3 37. a4 Rh2+ 38. Kf1 Rhxh3 39. Rf2
Rh1+ 40. Ke2 h3 41. b5 axb5 42. axb5 h2 43. b6 Re1+ 44. Kxe1 h1=Q+ 45. Rf1 Rg1
46. Rxg1 Qxg1+ 47. Kd2 Qh2+ 48. Kc1 Qf4+ 49. Kc2 Qb8 50. b7 Kf6 51. Kd3 Ke5 52.
Ke3 Kd5 53. Rb1 Kc6 54. Rc1+ Kd7 55. Rb1 Kc7 56. Rc1+ Kd6 57. Rd1+ Ke7 58. Rb1
f5 59. gxf5 exf5 60. Ke2 Kd6 61. Rd1+ Ke5 62. Rb1 Kf4 63. Rb3 Kg3 64. Kf1 f4
65. Ke2 g4 66. fxg4+ Kxg4 67. Rb6 Qe5+ 68. Kf1 Qb8 69. Rb3 f3 70. Rb6 Kg3 71.
Rg6+ Kf4 72. Rb6 Ke4 73. Rb4+ Ke3 74. Rb3+ Ke4 75. Rb4+ Kd5 76. Rb3 Kc4 77.
Rxf3 Qxb7 78. Kf2 Kd4 79. Re3 Qf7+ 80. Rf3 Qa2+ 81. Kg3 Ke4 82. Rf4+ Ke5 83.
Rf3 Qe2 84. Rf2 Qh5 85. Rf3 Qg5+ 86. Kh2 Ke4 87. Rg3 Qh4+ 88. Kg2 Qh5 89. Rg8
Ke3 90. Rg3+ Kf4 91. Rg7 Qd5+ 92. Kh2 Kf3 93. Rg2 Qh5+ 94. Kg1 Qh4 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. d4 c6 6. Be2 d5 7. e5 Ne4 8. O-O
Nxc3 9. bxc3 b6 10. a4 Ba6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bb5 Qc8 13. Ba3 Qb7 14. e6 Nc6 15.
exf7+ Rxf7 16. Qe2 Bxb5 17. axb5 Na5 18. Ng5 Rf6 19. Qxe7 Qxe7 20. Bxe7 Rf5 21.
Nf3 Nc4 22. Ra2 Rf7 23. Bb4 Rc7 24. h4 Bf8 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26. Ng5 Re8 27. Rfa1
Ree7 28. Nh3 Red7 29. Nf4 Kf7 30. Re2 Rd6 31. Rae1 Na3 32. Ne6 Rxe6 33. Rxe6
Nxb5 34. g4 Nxc3 35. g5 Ne4 36. Re5 Rd7 37. Kg2 b5 38. R1xe4 dxe4 39. Rxb5 Ke6
40. Kg3 Rxd4 41. Ra5 Rd7 42. Kf4 Kd6 43. Kxe4 Kc6 44. f4 Re7+ 45. Kf3 Kb6 46.
Ra1 a5 47. f5 gxf5 48. h5 Re4 49. Rg1 a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.05.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 h6 12. Re1 Be6 13. Nd4 Bd5 14. Nf5
Nxe5 15. Bf4 Nd7 16. Nc3 g6 17. Nd4 Bb4 18. Nxd5 Bxe1 19. Bxc7+ Kc8 20. Rxe1
cxd5 21. Bd6 a5 22. Re7 Ra6 23. Nb5 a4 24. Ba3 f6 25. Nc3 Ne5 26. Nxd5 Rd8 27.
Ne3 Rc6 28. b3 axb3 29. axb3 Rd7 30. Re8+ Rd8 31. Re7 Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.05.01"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2704"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. c3 Nf6 7. h3 Bh5 8.
Re1 e6 9. d3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. Nf1 O-O 12. g4 Bg6 13. Ng3 d5 14. c4 Bd6 15.
Qe2 a5 16. Kg2 a4 17. Bg5 f6 18. exd5 Bxg3 19. fxg3 cxd5 20. Bd2 e5 21. Nh4 Bf7
22. Nf5 Rb8 23. Rab1 Kh8 24. Kh2 Bg8 25. b3 axb3 26. axb3 Re8 27. Qg2 Nf8 28.
b4 dxc4 29. dxc4 Bxc4 30. bxc5 Rxb1 31. Rxb1 Qd3 32. Rb6 Rd8 33. Rd6 Rxd6 34.
cxd6 Bd5 35. Qf2 Qe4 36. Qf1 Bc4 37. Qg2 Qxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Kg8 39. Kf2 Kf7 $4 {
A terrible blunder ruthlessly punished by Shirov After 40...Nd7 or 40...Be6
Black has a good position.} {[%tqu "En","Black's last move looks most natural
but in fact it's a very bad slip. How to punish Black for the untimely king
centralization?","Use a shaky position of the black bishop.","Try to vacate
the d6-square for your knight!","d6d7","Of course! This is very simple and
very neat.",4]} 40. d7 $1 {[%csl Rc4,Rf7][%cal Gf5d6,Gd6f7,Gd6c4] This
efficient pawn thrust yields White a decisive advantage.} Nxd7 41. Nd6+ Kg6 42.
Nxc4 h5 43. gxh5+ Kxh5 44. Nd6 Kg6 45. g4 Nb6 46. Kf3 Nd5 47. Ke4 Nc7 48. Nf5
Kf7 49. h4 g6 50. Nh6+ Ke6 51. h5 gxh5 52. gxh5 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {Der
bulgarische Großmeister spielt diese Variante gern mit Weiß.} Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4
9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Das ist die Abweichung von der Partie Leko-Lutz/
Essen 2002. Weiß droht jetzt 12.Nxb5 zu spielen. Mit dem Textzug gibt Topalov
zu erkennen, dass er den Abtausch auf c3 immer noch nicht fürchtet. Die
psychologische Erklärung des Zuges - Weiß möchte nicht auf die sehr
wahrscheinliche schwarze Verbesserung zur Partie Leko-Lutz warten.} (11. Bd4
Be7 12. Kb1 d6 13. Qf2 O-O 14. g4 b4 15. Na4 Bb7 16. Rg1 Nfd7 17. Nb6 Rab8 18.
g5 {1-0 Leko,P-Lutz,C/Essen 2002/CBM 90_01 (62)}) 11... Nc4 {Dieser Zug
scheint mir zu früh zu kommen - ich glaube, es wäre besser entweder mit 11...
Be7 das Motiv 12.Nxb5 zu vermeiden oder mit 11...Bxc3 fortzusetzen.} (11... Be7
12. Qf2 d6 13. g4 Nfd7 14. g5 Bb7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rg1 Rfc8 17. h4 Nc4 18. Bxc4
bxc4 19. Nc1 Rab8 {1/2-1/2 Nevednichy,V-Delchev,A/Creon 2001/EXT 2002 (19)}) (
11... Bxc3 12. Qxc3 $5 (12. bxc3 Nc4 13. Bxc4 bxc4 (13... Qxc4 14. Qd6) 14. Nc5
d5 $13)) 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nc1 {[%cal Gc1e2]} (13. Nd4) 13... Qb7 14. N1e2 Rb8
$6 {Dieser Zug ist zu direkt und gefällt mir nicht - der große Nachteil des
Zuges ist, dass Weiß nun mit Bf4 den Turm angreifen kann.} (14... O-O $142 $1
15. Qd4 (15. Bf4 d5) 15... Rb8 16. Qxc4 d5 $13) 15. b3 $14 (15. Bd4 $6 e5 16.
Bxe5 $2 Bd6 $19 {[%cal Rd6e5,Rb8b2]}) 15... O-O 16. Bf4 $1 Ra8 17. Bd6 {
[%csl Gd6] Der Läufer steht ausgezeichnet auf d6 - sehr wichtig ist, dass der
schwarze d-Bauer blockiert ist.} Bxd6 (17... a5 {Dieser Zug ist sehr
interessant - Schwarz opfert die Qualität und möchte mit a5-a4 angreifen. Das
einzige Problem ist, dass das Opfer nicht völlig korrekt ist.} 18. Bxf8 Kxf8
19. e5 Nd5 (19... Ne8 20. Qd4 cxb3 21. cxb3 a4 22. Ne4 $16) 20. Qd4 cxb3 (20...
a4 21. Qxc4 axb3 22. cxb3 Ne3 {[%cal Re3d1,Re3c4]} 23. Qh4 $1 $18 {[%cal Rh4d8,
Rd8f8,Rh4h7]}) 21. cxb3 Nxc3+ 22. Nxc3 a4 23. Ne4 axb3 24. axb3 Be7 25. Qc3 Kg8
(25... Qa7 26. Rd2 $16) 26. Rd4 Rb8 27. Rd3 $16) 18. Qxd6 cxb3 $6 {Es wäre
besser die Spannung in der Stellung zu halten und sofort 18...a5 zu ziehen.} (
18... a5 $5) 19. axb3 a5 20. Rd4 $1 {[%cal Gd4a4]} Ra6 21. Qa3 d5 $1 {Das ist
die einzige Gegenchance für Schwarz.} 22. exd5 exd5 $6 (22... Nxd5 $142 23.
Nxd5 exd5 24. Nf4 Be6 25. Rhd1 Rd8 $14) 23. Nf4 {[%csl Rd5]} Be6 24. Rhd1 h6 (
24... Rd8 25. Ne4 $1 Nxe4 26. fxe4 a4 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Rxa4 $16 (28. Rxd5 Rxd5
29. Rxd5 h6 $132)) (24... Qc7 25. Ncxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 a4 (27...
Qxh2 $2 28. Rd8 $18) 28. Rd7 $14) 25. Ncxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 $16 {Weiß hat einen
klaren Bauern mehr - das schwarze Gegenspiel am Damenflügel ist zu wenig.} Rb8
$2 (26... a4 {Mit diesem Zug konnte Schwarz eventuell im Trüben fischen.} 27.
Nf6+ $1 (27. Rb4 axb3 28. Rxb7 bxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Rxa3 $11) 27... gxf6 28. Rd8 Rxd8
29. Rxd8+ Kh7 30. Qf8 Kg6 31. g4 f5 32. Qg8+ Kf6 33. Qh8+ Kg5 (33... Ke7 34.
Qf8+ Kf6 35. Qxh6+ Ke7 36. Qf8+ Kf6 37. g5+ Ke5 38. Qg7+ Kf4 39. Qd4+ Kxf3 40.
Qc3+ Kf4 41. Qg3+ Ke4 42. Qg2+ $18 {[%cal Rg2b7]}) 34. Qg7+ $18) (26... Bxd5 $5
27. Rxd5 a4) {[#]} 27. Nf6+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} gxf6 28. Rd8+ Rxd8 29. Rxd8+ Kh7
30. Qf8 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Rf8g8,Rg8h7][%mdl 128] Der schwarze König befindet
sich in Mattnetz - es droht 31.Qg8#.} Kg6 (30... h5 31. g4 (31. Qh8+ Kg6 32.
Rg8+ Kf5 33. Qxh5+ Kf4 34. Rd8 $18) 31... hxg4 32. fxg4 Kg6 33. Qg8+ Kh6 34.
Qh8+ Kg5 35. Qg7+ Kf4 36. Qxf6+ $18) 31. Qg8+ Kh5 (31... Kf5 32. Qg4+ Ke5 33.
f4+ Ke4 34. Qf3+ $18 {[%cal Rf3b7]}) 32. Qg7 $1 (32. Rd4 Qb5 33. g3 Qg5 34.
Rh4+ Qxh4 35. gxh4 $18) 32... f5 33. Rd4 $1 {Droht 34.Rh4+ Kxh4 35.Qxh6#.} Bc8
34. g3 (34. g3 Qe7 (34... Rg6 35. Rh4+ Kg5 36. f4#) 35. Rh4+ Qxh4 36. Qxf7+ $18
) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7
(8... Nc6 9. Nxg6 fxg6 10. Ne2 Qb6 (10... cxd4 {- Grischuk-Ehlvest, FIDE-Wch k.
o. 2000 CBM 81}) 11. Nf4 cxd4 12. Bd3 (12. Nxg6 {- Morozevich-Bareev, Bosna
Super GM Sarajevo 2000 CBM 77}) 12... Nxe5 13. Nxg6 Nxg6 14. Bxg6+ Kd7 15. gxh5
Bb4+ $1 $17 {- Zhang Pengxiang-Khalifman, CHN-RUS Summit Men 2001 CBM 85}) 9.
Nxh5 (9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Nxh5 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Nge7 {- 9.Nh5}) (9. g5 {- Arizmendi
Martinez-Piankov, Ciudad de Ubeda op 2000 CBM 75}) 9... Nc6 (9... cxd4 {
- Grischuk-Seirawan, FIDE GP Moscow rapid 2002 CBM 90}) 10. dxc5 (10. Bb5 cxd4
11. Qxd4 Nge7 12. Bh6 (12. Bg5 {All this looks extremely frightening for Black,
but White cannot make use of the pins.} a6 ({Even} 12... Bxc2 13. Rc1 Qd7 $1 {
is possible according to GM Kallai.}) 13. Bxc6+ Nxc6 $1 14. Qa4 (14. Qd2 Qc7
$15) (14. Qf4 Qc7 15. O-O Bg6 16. Rfe1 Bxh5 17. gxh5 Rxh5 $17 {Holmsten-Hansen,
Rilton Cup Stockholm 1998}) 14... b5 15. Qf4 Qc7 16. O-O (16. O-O-O $2 b4 {
- Ehlvest-Bareev, FIDE-ch k.o. 2001 CBM 86}) 16... Bg6 17. Ng3 Qxe5 {and
White's psition is falling apart.} 18. Qd2 Bc5 $15 {Orso-Kallai, ch-HUN k.o.
Budapest 2000}) 12... Rg8 $1 {Black needs good nerves playing this variation!}
13. O-O-O a6 14. Bxc6+ Nxc6 15. Qf4 (15. Qe3 Qa5) 15... Qa5 16. Qa4 $1 (16.
Rhe1 {allows the quick counterattack after} Nb4 $1 17. a3 Rc8 $1 18. axb4 Qa1+
19. Kd2 Qxb2 $19 {Chapman-Rogers, Australien Open 1999}) (16. Kb1 {is also met
by the same tactics:} Nb4 $1 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. a3 Nxc2 19. Rxc2 Rxc3 $1 $19 {
A.David-Kallai, France 1999}) 16... Qxa4 17. Nxa4 gxh6 18. Nf6+ Ke7 19. Nxh7
Nxe5 $5 (19... Rxg4 20. Nb6 Rd8 21. Nf6 Rf4 22. Ng8+ Ke8 23. Nf6+ $11 {is a
nice draw by perpetual checks.}) 20. g5 Ng4 {/\ Rh8 Kallai}) 10... Bxc5 $1 11.
Bb5 {[%mdl 8]} (11. Bd3 $2 {is feeble due to} Bxd3 12. Qxd3 (12. cxd3 {McShane}
) 12... g6 $1 $15 {Nataf-N.P.Nielsen, North Sea Cup Esbjerg 2001 CBM 85}) (11.
Nxg7+ Kf8 12. Nh5 Qb6 (12... d4 {McShane} 13. Na4 Be7 14. Bf4 b5 $1 15. Bxb5
Qd5 $1) 13. Rh2 Nxe5 14. f4 $13) (11. Bg2 {- Grischuk-Bareev, FIDE GP Moscow
rapid 2002 CBM 90}) 11... Qc7 (11... Qb6 12. Bxc6+ (12. Qe2 a6 (12... Kf8 $2
13. Na4 $16) 13. Bxc6+ Qxc6 14. f3 Kf8 $13 {and Black has some compensation
for the P, his ^^ is very strong, and White's P structure is weakened.}) 12...
bxc6 (12... Qxc6 {- 11...Qc7}) 13. Qd2 (13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. Nh5 Bxf2+ $13) 13...
Bf8 14. Ng3 $14) (11... Kf8 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Na4 Be7 (13... Be4 14. Rh3) 14.
Be3 {with some blockading ideas on >< c5.} Bg6 15. Nf4 Be4 16. f3 (16. Rh3 Qa5+
17. c3 Rxh4 18. Rxh4 Bxh4 19. Nc5 $14) 16... Qa5+ 17. c3 Rxh4 18. Rxh4 Bxh4+
19. Bf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Bh7 21. b4 Qb5 22. Nc5 $14 {and the strong blockading N
has arrived.}) 12. Bxc6+ (12. Qe2 Kf8 $13) 12... Qxc6 (12... bxc6 {gives White
time to consolidate his position.} 13. f4 (13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. Nh5 Qxe5+ 15. Kf1
$14) 13... Kf8 14. Ng3 $14) 13. Qf3 (13. Qe2 $4 d4 $19) (13. Rh2 d4 14. Ne2
O-O-O $1 $13) 13... O-O-O {Black puts his cards on the advance of his d P.} (
13... Kf8 {was also possible passively defending the P.} 14. Be3 $5 (14. Bd2
Bxc2 15. Rc1 Bh7) 14... Bb4 (14... d4 $6 {Now this push is out of order.} 15.
Qxc6 bxc6 16. Na4 Be4 17. Rh3 $16) 15. O-O Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxc2 (16... Qxc3 17.
Nxg7 Qc6 18. Nh5) 17. Qf4 (17. Bc1 Ne7 $13) 17... Ne7 18. Qb4 a5 19. Qa3 Qc7
$13) 14. Nxg7 (14. Bg5 $5 {is met by the aggressive} f6 $1 15. exf6 gxf6 16.
Bxf6 $1 (16. Nxf6 Rf8 17. O-O-O Bb4 $13) 16... Rf8 (16... Nxf6 17. Nxf6 Bxc2
18. Rc1 Bg6 19. h5 Be8 20. g5) 17. g5 Bg6 18. Nf4 (18. Ng3 Nxf6 19. gxf6 Bd4
$17) 18... Nxf6 19. Nxg6 Ne4 $1 $13) 14... d4 $5 ({Inserting} 14... Bb4 15. Rh3
{and then} d4 {was the alternative.} 16. a3 (16. Qxc6+ bxc6 17. a3 Bf8 $1)
16... Bxc3+ (16... Bf8 17. Qxf7 $1) 17. bxc3 Qc7 18. Bf4 (18. Qf4 d3 $1) (18.
Bg5 d3 $13) 18... d3 $1 (18... Ne7 19. Rd1) 19. Rd1 dxc2 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $13)
15. Qxc6+ bxc6 16. Na4 (16. Bg5 $6 {is inferior because of} dxc3 17. Bxd8 cxb2
18. Rb1 Bd4 $1 $17) 16... Bf8 17. Nh5 Bxc2 18. b3 {Both white knights are on
the edge of the board, and the o^ on d4 is strong. However White has a very
strong P majority on the >>, which will be important in the _|_.} Rd5 19. Bf4 (
19. f4 Be7 (19... Be4 20. Rh3 Bg6 21. Nf6 $1 (21. Ng3 f6 $1 $132) 21... Nxf6
22. exf6 $16) 20. Bb2 Nh6 21. g5 Be4 22. Rh3 Nf5 23. Nf6 Bxf6 24. gxf6 $14)
19... Bb4+ 20. Ke2 (20. Kf1 d3 $13) 20... d3+ 21. Kf3 d2 22. Rad1 {White has
to neutralize the strong o^ at any cost.} (22. Ke2 Rd4) 22... Ne7 (22... Bxd1+
23. Rxd1 Be7 24. Kg3 $44) 23. Nf6 Rd3+ (23... Bxd1+ 24. Rxd1 $14) 24. Ke2 Nd5 (
24... Ng6 25. Bg3 Bxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd4 27. h5 $16) 25. Bg5 (25. Bg3 Nxf6 26. exf6
Rd4 27. f3 Bxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $13) (25. Nxd5 Rxd5 (25... Bxd1+ $2 26. Kxd3) 26.
Rxd2 Bxd2 27. Bxd2 Rhd8 28. Bg5 (28. Be3 Bd1+) 28... Rxe5+ 29. Be3 Red5 $13)
25... Bxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rh3 27. h5 Be7 $2 {This is the big mistake.} (27... Nxf6
28. Bxf6 Rg8 29. f3 Rh2+ 30. Kd3 Rh3 31. Ke4 Rh2 32. Nb2 $14 {was certainly
better for White, but the text loses.}) 28. Rxd2 {eliminating Black's only
pride.} Bxf6 29. Bxf6 Nf4+ 30. Kd1 Rg8 31. Nc5 $1 $18 {and suddenly the black
K is in clear and present danger.} (31. f3 Rxf3 32. h6 Rh3 33. g5 Nd5 34. Bg7
Rd8 $13) 31... Rxg4 32. Rd8+ Kc7 33. Rd7+ Kb6 (33... Kc8 34. Rxf7 $18) 34. Be7
$1 Nd5 35. Rb7+ Ka5 36. Rxa7+ Kb5 37. Rb7+ Nb6 38. a4+ Ka5 39. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Nowadays nobody can deny the importance of theoretical knowledge. The present
game is a prove that even on the highest level one must keep one's knowledge
and analysis up-to-date.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6
6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. Bd3 Ne7
13. Nxe7 Qxe7 14. c4 f5 15. O-O O-O 16. Qf3 bxc4 17. Nxc4 d5 18. exd5 e4 19.
Qe3 Bb7 20. d6 Qf6 21. Bc2 f4 22. Qh3 Rac8 23. b3 Qg5 24. Rad1 f5 25. d7 Rcd8
26. Nd6 Ba8 $1 {For more information about the subtleties of the present line
look in CBM 89, game Morovic Fernandez-Nataf.} 27. f3 {Apparently Alexey
didn't know the above mentioned game (which, by the way, was played two months
before the present one) and as a consequence gets in trouble very quickly.} (
27. b4 {is the right move, although Black seems to have no particular problems
here, according to the following game:} Kh8 (27... Rxd7 {fails into} 28. Bb3+
Kh8 29. Nxe4 $1) 28. Bb3 e3 $1 29. fxe3 fxe3 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 31. Nxf5 e2 32. Re1
Bxg2 33. Qxg2 Qxf5 34. Qxe2 Qxd7 35. Qe4 Qd4+ {with a soon draw,
Kulaots-Yakovich, Bergen 2002.}) 27... Rxd7 28. fxe4 f3 $1 {Nataf's brilliant
idea.} 29. Qg3 {In fact only this move is a novelty and I can hardly believe
it was Shirov's home preparation, because Black is obviously doing fine. One
must pay credit to Alexey Shirov, who in spite of the "hole" in the opening
preparation found the safest way and saved half a point.} (29. Rxf3 Rxd6 $1 30.
Rxd6 Qc1+) (29. Qxf3 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 fxe4 {threatening ...Qc5+}) (29. Nxf5 Rxd1 {
was winning for Black in Morovic Fernandez-Nataf, Havana 2002.}) 29... Qe3+ 30.
Qf2 {Rightly realising the change of the situation, White is looking for
escape in endgame.} (30. Kh1 fxe4 $17) 30... Qxf2+ 31. Kxf2 fxg2 (31... fxe4 $5
) 32. Kxg2 Rfd8 33. Nc4 $1 {Takes important square d2 under control and allows
White to avoid the trade of his rook.} (33. Nxf5 Bxe4+ ({After} 33... Rxd1 {
White has the intermezzo} 34. Ne7+ $1) 34. Bxe4 Rxd1 $17) 33... Bxe4+ 34. Bxe4
Rxd1 35. Rxf5 Re1 {A pawn for the exchange and active pieces secure White a
draw. Probably Black could still play on for a while without much risk. All
the more that Veselin might have made only 2-3 moves on the board on his own.
In the end I would like to point out several things, some of them mentioned
above: 1. the modern opening theory can be very deep and one must accept it no
matter if one likes it or not; 2. the memory plays a higher role than, say
10-15 years ago. It is not enough to see variations, one must be able to
remember them and in critical moments to reproduce them; 3. Alexey Shirov
proved again to be an excellent player (did I say something new?). Even with a
careless opening preparation he succeeded to save half a point from an
inferior position against one of the toughest players in the world.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15.
Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 Rac8 18. Bd3 Qb8 19. Qe2 Nb4 20. Bb1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Nf1 Bd7 24. Qd2 exd4 25. Nxd4 Nc6 26. Ng3 Nxd4 27. Bxd4
Ne8 28. a3 Bf6 29. Nf5 Bxd4 30. Nxd4 Qb6 31. Qe3 Qc5 32. Bd3 Nc7 33. Kf1 Ne6
34. Nxe6 fxe6 35. e5 h6 36. Ke2 b4 37. Qxc5 dxc5 38. Ba6 Bc6 39. f3 Kf7 40. Kd3
Bd5 41. Bb5 Kg6 42. Ke3 Bb3 43. Be8+ Kg5 44. g3 h5 45. f4+ Kh6 46. Kd2 h4 47.
gxh4 g6 48. Kc1 Kh5 49. Bf7 Kxh4 50. Bxg6 Kg3 51. f5 exf5 52. Bxf5 bxa3 53.
bxa3 Kf4 54. Bc2 Be6 55. h4 Kg4 56. Bxa4 Kxh4 57. Kc2 Kg5 58. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8.
Nd6+ Bxd6 9. Qxd6 Qb4 10. Qxb4 Nxb4 11. Rb1 d5 12. Bg2 dxc4 13. b3 cxb3 14.
Rxb3 Nc2+ 15. Kf1 Nd4 16. Rb4 Nc6 17. Rb1 O-O 18. Be3 e5 19. Na4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nge4 b6 14.
Rfd1 Ke7 15. Kh2 g5 16. Ne2 Be6 17. g4 Nh4 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Ng3 Rhe8 20. Rd3 Kf8
21. Re1 Rad8 22. Red1 c5 23. Ne6+ Rxe6 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Rxd7 Rxe5 26. Rxc7 Re1
27. Rxa7 Rc1 28. Ra8+ Ke7 29. Ra7+ Ke6 30. Ra6 Rxc2 31. Rxb6+ Ke5 32. Kg1 Rc1+
33. Kh2 Nf3+ 34. Kg2 Nh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1 playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2002.07.12"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Qc2
g6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 Qe7 12. c5 O-O 13. a3 Ba5 14. Ne5 Rd8 15.
f4 Nf6 16. Rd1 Nd5 17. g3 Bc7 18. Bg2 Bd7 19. Rhe1 b6 20. Kf2 Rab8 21. b4 Be8
22. Nc4 b5 23. Ne5 a5 24. Nc3 Bxe5 25. fxe5 axb4 26. Nxd5 exd5 27. axb4 Bd7 28.
Ra1 Ra8 29. Kg1 Qg5 30. Qc3 h5 31. h4 Qg4 32. Qe3 Ra4 33. Rxa4 bxa4 34. Bf1 Rb8
35. Be2 Qh3 36. Bf1 Qg4 37. Be2 Qh3 38. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1 playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2002.07.12"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.
Bxe2 g6 9. Be3 Bg7 10. h3 O-O 11. O-O-O Re8 12. Rhe1 a6 13. g4 h6 14. Nd2 Nc6
15. Bf3 Bd7 16. Nde4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rac8 18. Nd5 Nb8 19. f4 Bc6 20. h4 Nd7 21.
g5 hxg5 22. hxg5 Nc5 23. Bf3 Ne6 24. c3 Bxd5 25. Bxd5 c6 26. Bf3 Re7 27. Re2
Rce8 28. Rde1 d5 29. Bc5 Nxc5 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Bf8 32. Re8 Nxd3+ 33. Kc2
Nxf4 34. Bg4 Ne6 35. Bxe6 fxe6 36. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A67"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Kapengut"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. a4 O-O 10. Nf3 Na6 11. O-O Nb4 {Since Alexander Zaitzev had
begun to play 9.a4, black tried to put knight on b4, but it is usual remained
outside of the game. In this game Topalov has proved a converse.} 12. h3 (12.
Bd2) (12. f5) (12. Kh1) (12. Be3) (12. Re1 $5) 12... a6 13. Bc4 {[#]} (13. Be2
Re8 14. Re1 $6 (14. Be3 Nf6 {*} 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxc5 Nfxd5 $1 $15) 14... f5 $1
15. exf5 gxf5 16. Bc4 Nb6 (16... Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Qf6 19. Bd2 Nb6
$15) 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bf1 Bd7 19. a5 Nc8 20. Bd2 b5 21. Qb3 h6 22. Na2 Nxa2
23. Qxa2 Ne7 24. Bc3 Qf7 25. Rd1 Re8 26. Kh2 Bc6 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. b4 Bxd5 $17
{Hort,V-Panno,O/Madrid 1973}) 13... f5 $1 $146 {[%csl Re4,Re6][%cal Gd7b6,
Gc8f5,Gf3g5,Gg5e6,Ge4e5] Important novelty in a well-known position. This is
one of the main ideas solving the central problems in the Benoni. I think,
this move will have a bright future.} (13... Nf6 $6 14. Re1 $5 (14. Be3 $6 {*}
Nxe4 $5 (14... Re8 $6 15. e5 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gc4g8,Gf1f7]} Nd7 16. Ng5 h6
17. Ne6 $1 fxe6 18. dxe6 Kh7 19. exd6 $1 Bd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Ne4 b5 22. f5 $1
{1-0 Van der Peut,A-Houtman,A/cr NLD/M73 1979}) 15. Nxe4 Re8 16. Ne5 $1 dxe5 $5
(16... b6 $6 17. Ng5 dxe5 (17... f6 $5 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 d5 20. Nc6 $1 {
[%csl Rd5]} Nxc6 21. Bxd5 $1 Qc7 22. f5 $16) 18. fxe5 Bh6 {Soos,B-Povah,N/
Birmingham 1977/Inf 23/136} 19. e6 $1 $18) 17. Bxc5 exf4 18. Rxf4 (18. Nd6 $140
$6 Bf8 $1) 18... g5 $5 (18... Be5 $6 19. Rf2 Bf5 20. Bxb4 Bxe4 21. d6 $1 Kh8
22. Bxf7 $18 {De Grott,A-Gouma,R/NLD-ch H corr 1987}) 19. Nd6 gxf4 20. Nxe8
Qxe8 21. Qe1 $5 Qxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Bd7 23. Bxb4 Bxa4 24. d6 Re8 $15) 14... Nd7 (
14... b6 $6 15. e5 Ne8 16. Be3 Ra7 17. Bf2 Bh6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6 (19. Ne4
Bxf4 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 $5 22. exf6 Rf7 $14 {[%csl Re6][%cal Ge1e8]})
19... Nxf6 20. Ne4 Bg7 21. Ne5 $5 (21. Ra3 h6 22. g4 Raf7 23. Ne5 dxe5 24. fxe5
g5 25. exf6 gxh4 26. fxg7 Rxg7 27. Rae3 h5 28. g5 b5 $132 {[%csl Rg5,Rh3][%cal
Gg7g2] Santolini,L-Rupeni,F/corr 1993}) 21... Qc7 (21... dxe5 $140 $6 22. fxe5
$18) 22. Nc6 $1 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 $16) 15. Be3 Qc7 (15... Rb8 16. Qd2 Nb6 17. Bf1
Re8 18. a5 $5 (18. Rad1 $6 Bd7 19. Ra1 Qc7 20. e5 $6 Bf5 21. g4 Bc2 22. e6 Bb3
$1 23. a5 N6xd5 24. exf7+ Qxf7 25. Ng5 Qd7 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Bg2 Bxg2 28. Kxg2
Qc6+ $17 {[%cal Gd6d5,Gb8d8] Tuzan,O-Doghri,N/Moscow 1990}) 18... Na8 19. e5 $1
Nc7 20. Ne4 dxe5 21. d6 $16) 16. Bf2 Nb6 (16... Rb8 17. Rc1 Bh6 18. Bg3 Qa5 19.
Ra1 Nb6 20. Bf1 c4 21. f5 $5 Qc5+ 22. Qd4 $1 Qxd4+ 23. Nxd4 Bg7 24. Nf3 Nc2 25.
Bxd6 $16 {Profit,B-Zendrowski,J/ 1993}) 17. Bf1 Re8 18. Qd2 Rb8 19. Rac1 Bd7
20. b3 Nc8 21. e5 $5 b5 $5 22. axb5 Qb7 23. bxa6 Nxa6 24. Ne4 Bf5 25. Nf6+ (25.
Neg5 Ra8) 25... Bxf6 26. exf6 Nb6 27. g4 Be4 28. f5 $1 Nd7 29. Bh4 Kh8 30. Qh6
Rg8 31. Bxa6 Qxd5 32. Ng5 Nxf6 33. Bc4 {1-0 Oei,I-Michaud,P/Avoine 1992}) (
13... Qa5 {[%cal Gb7b5] /\b5} 14. Ra3 (14. Bd2 $5 Nb6 $5 15. b3 Re8 $132 16.
Re1 $140 $6 Nxc4 17. bxc4 Nd3 $17 {[%csl Rc3,Re1,Re4][%cal Gg7a1]}) 14... Qc7
15. Re1 Rb8 16. e5 $5 Nb6 17. b3 (17. Bf1 $6 Bf5 $132 {[%cal Gb4c2]}) 17... Bf5
18. Ne4 dxe5 (18... Bxe4 $5 {[%csl Rd5]} 19. Rxe4 dxe5 20. fxe5 N6xd5 $5 21.
Bxd5 $140 Rbd8 $36) 19. fxe5 Rbd8 20. d6 Qc6 21. Ng3 Bc2 22. Qe2 h6 (22... Nxc4
23. Qxc4 Bd3 24. Qg4 Nc2 25. Rd1 c4 $1 $17 {[%csl Ra3][%cal Gc6c5,Gc5g1,Gc5a3]}
) 23. Bd2 Nxc4 24. Qxc4 Qd5 25. Qh4 Nd3 $36 {[%csl Re1,Re5] Borik,O-Lobron,E/
Randers 1982}) (13... Rb8 14. Be3 {*} Re8 (14... b5 $5) 15. Bf2 b5 (15... Nb6
16. Be2 Na8 $16) 16. axb5 Nb6 17. Be2 axb5 18. Bh4 Bf6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Bxb5
Bd7 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Qd2 $1 (22. Ra7) 22... c4 23. e5 $1 $16 {Zaitsev,
A-Gufeld,E/Debrecen 1970/Inf 10/137}) (13... Re8 14. Re1 Rb8 (14... Nb6 15. Bf1
a5 $5 $132 {[%csl Gb4,Rd5][%cal Gc5c4]}) (14... Bd4+ $6 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Na2
Nxa2 17. Rxa2 Qh4 18. b3 f5 19. e5 $1 $16 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8] Meyer,H-Einarsson,H/
Reykjavik 1984}) (14... b6 $6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Bf2 Rb8 17. Bg3 b5 $6 18. axb5
Nb6 19. Bf1 c4 20. Bf2 Nd7 21. Qa4 Nd3 22. Bxd3 cxd3 {Gravel,S-Hua,L/Quebec
1999} 23. bxa6 Rxb2 24. Nb5 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 $18) (14... Nf8 $6 {
[%csl Rf8]} 15. Be3 Rb8 16. e5 $1 Bf5 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. a5 (18. g4 $5 {[%csl Rf5]
} b5 19. Be2 Bxg4 $5 20. hxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Kf2 dxe5 22. Nxe5 Qh4+ 23. Kg2 Rxe5 $5
24. fxe5 (24. Rh1 $140 $6 Qxh1+ $1 $36) 24... Bxe5 25. Bf3 Qg3+ 26. Kf1 Nd3 $5
$44 {[%csl Rc1,Re1,Rf1,Rf3]}) 18... Rbc8 19. Bf2 (19. g4 $5 {[%csl Rf5]} Bxg4
20. hxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Kf2 dxe5 22. Rg1 Qh3 23. Rg3 $16) 19... Qd8 20. g4 Bd7 21.
Ne4 dxe5 22. fxe5 Qxa5 23. Nd6 $18 {Rodriguez,O-Rohde,M/Alicante 1978}) 15. Be3
b5 (15... b6 16. Bf2 Bb7 17. Qd2 Ba8 18. Re2 f6 19. Rae1 h6 20. g4 g5 21. Bg3
Nf8 22. e5 $5 $36 {[%csl Ge4,Rg8][%cal Gc4g8,Gd2h6] Kordts,W-Weinmann,S/Bayern
2000}) 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bf1 c4 18. Bf2 Na6 19. Nd4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Nac5 {
A complicated tactical position arise after} 21. e5 $5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Nb3 {
[%csl Ra1,Rd4]} 23. e6 $5 fxe6 24. dxe6 Nf6 $5 (24... Nf8 $6 25. Ba7 Bxe6 $5
26. Bxb8 Qb6+ 27. Kh1 Nxa1 28. Nd5 $1 {[%csl Re8][%cal Gd5f6,Gd5b6]} Qxb8 29.
Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nxe8 Qxe8 31. Qf3+ Kg7 32. Rxa1 $16 {Cebalo,M-Godena,M/Caorle 1984
}) 25. Nxb5 $5 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gb3g8]} (25. Ba7 $140 $6 Bxe6 26. Bxb8 Qb6+ 27.
Kh1 Rxb8 $44) 25... Rxb5 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. Bxc4 Nd4 $5 (27... Nxa1 $140 $2 28.
Bxb5 Rd8 29. Qxd8+ $1 Qxd8 30. e7 Qb6+ 31. Kh1 Qxb5 32. e8=Q+ Qxe8 33. Rxe8+
Kg7 34. Rxc8 $18) 28. Re4 Bxe6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Ra8+ Kg7 31. Bxe6 Nxe6 32.
Qd7+ Kh6 33. Qxb5 Nc7 34. Qa5 Nxa8 35. Qxa8 Qxb2 $11) 14. Ng5 ({It is the most
basic typical central breakthrough here!} 14. e5 $5 dxe5 $1 (14... Nb6 $6 15.
b3 $16) 15. d6+ Kh8 16. Ng5 (16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Bd4+ 19. Kh1
Qxd6 $1 $44) 16... e4 17. Ne6 Qf6 18. Nxf8 Nxf8 $44 {[%csl Rb2,Rd6][%cal Gf6d4]
}) 14... Nb6 15. Bb3 (15. Be2 a5 $5 {[%csl Gb4][%cal Gc5c4]} (15... h6 $140 $6
16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 fxe4 18. a5 $1 $16 {[%csl Rb6,Ge6][%cal Ge2c4,Ga2g8]}))
15... a5 $1 {Black strengthen the square b4. This is the ideal set-up of the
knights, but it is nonstandart way for Modern Benoni.} 16. Be3 (16. Ne6 $140 $2
Bxe6 17. dxe6 c4 18. Bc2 d5 $5 $15 {[%csl Re6]}) 16... fxe4 $5 (16... c4 $5 {
[%csl Gd3]} 17. Bc2 Re8 18. Re1 Bd7 $132) 17. Kh1 (17. Qd2 $140 $6 c4 {[%csl
Gd3,Rd5]} 18. Bc2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Nxc2 20. Qxc2 Nxd5 21. Qxe4 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Bf5
$15 {[%cal Gf5d3]}) (17. Qe2 $140 $6 c4 $1 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Nc2 $17 {
[%csl Ra1,Re3]}) (17. Ncxe4 $5 c4 $1 (17... Bxb2 $140 $6 18. Nxc5 $1 dxc5 19.
Bxc5 $36 {[%cal Gc5f8,Gc5b6,Gd5d6,Gb3g8]})) 17... Nd3 $1 {[%csl Rb2]} 18. Qd2
Re8 19. Rab1 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (19. Ngxe4 $140 $6 Nxb2 $17) (19. Ncxe4 $5 Nxb2
20. Rac1 N6xa4 (20... Bf5 $140 $6 21. Nxc5 $1 dxc5 22. Bxc5 $36 {[%csl Gf7]
[%cal Gd5d6,Gb3g8,Gg5f7]}) (20... N2xa4 {Ftacnik} 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22. dxe6 d5 $17)
21. Ne6 Qb6 $13) 19... Bf5 20. g4 h6 $1 21. gxf5 (21. Ne6 $140 $2 Bxe6 22. dxe6
d5 23. f5 Qh4 24. Qg2 d4 $17 {[%csl Gc5,Gd4,Ge4,Rh1][%cal Ga8d8]}) (21. Ngxe4
$140 $2 Bxe4+ 22. Nxe4 Qe7 23. Qxd3 Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4 Rxe4 $17 {[%csl Ra4,Rd5,Re3,
Rf4]}) 21... hxg5 22. fxg5 gxf5 $36 23. Rxf5 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Very
tempting move destroying black's pawn structure, but attacking concept
starting with 23.Qe2! seems much more promising.'} (23. Qe2 $1 {Ftacnik} Qd7
24. Qh5 Rf8 (24... Rac8 $2 {Ftacnik} 25. g6 Bd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. Nb5 Nc5 28.
Nxd6 $1 Nxb3 29. g7 Qxd6 30. Rxf5 $18) 25. g6 Be5 26. Bh6 c4 27. Bc2 $13) 23...
Qd7 24. Rbf1 Re5 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Gd7h3]} 25. Rf7 (25. Nxe4 Rxf5 26. Qxd3
$140 $2 c4 $1 $19 {[%csl Re3,Rh3]}) 25... Qxh3+ 26. Qh2 (26. Kg1 $140 $2 Rxg5+
$1 27. Bxg5 Bd4+ $19) 26... Qxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Rf8 $1 $15 28. Rxf8+ Bxf8 29. Rf6 $5
c4 (29... Nxb2 $140 $6 30. Bf4 (30. Bxc5 $6 dxc5 31. Rxb6 e3 $1 $19) 30... Re8
31. Bxd6 Bg7 32. Re6 $1 $13) 30. Bd1 (30. Ba2 $5 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ga2g8]} Nd7
31. Re6 $5 Nxb2 (31... Rxe6 $6 32. dxe6 N7e5 {/\Ng4} 33. Kg3 Be7 34. Nxe4 Nxb2
35. Nf6+ Kf8 36. Nd7+ Ke8 37. Nxe5 dxe5 38. Kg4 $14) 32. Bd4 e3 $1 (32... Rxg5
$6 33. Nxe4 Rxd5 34. Bxb2 $1 Kf7 35. Bxc4 Kxe6 36. Nc3 $1 (36. Ng5+ $6 Kf5 37.
Bxd5 Kxg5 38. Bxb7 $15) 36... Nb6 37. Bb3 $16 Bh6 $140 $6 38. Kg3 Bd2 39. Nxd5
Nxd5 40. Kf3 $18) 33. Bxe5 Nxe5 34. Kg3 e2 35. Nxe2 (35. Kf2 $140 $2 Nd1+ $19)
35... Nxa4 36. Re8 b5 37. Ra8 b4 38. Rxa5 Nc5 $44 {[%csl Ra2,Gb4,Gc4,Gc5,Ge5,
Gf8]}) 30... Nd7 31. Rg6+ (31. Re6 N7c5 32. Rxe5 dxe5 33. Bg4 Nxb2 34. Bxc5
Bxc5 35. Nxe4 Bb4 36. Be6+ (36. d6 $6 Nxa4 37. d7 Be7 38. Be6+ Kg7 39. Bxc4 Nb2
$17) 36... Kf8 37. d6 Nxa4 38. Bxc4 Nc5 $1 $17) 31... Kh7 32. Re6 N7c5 33. Rf6
$6 $17 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The final mistake, as all white's pawns are
weak and counterplay remains a distant dream.'} (33. Rxe5 $5 dxe5 (33... Nxe5
$2 {Ftacnik} 34. Bxc5 dxc5 35. Nxe4 $16) 34. Kg3 (34. Bh5 Nxb2 35. Be8 $1 $15)
34... Nxb2 (34... Kg6 35. Kh4 Nxb2 36. Bh5+ Kg7 37. Be8 $44) 35. Bc2 Ncd3 36.
Nxe4 Nb4 37. Bc1 N2d3 38. Bxd3 Nxd3 39. Bd2 $44 {[%csl Ra5,Gd5,Gg5]}) 33... Kg8
$6 (33... Be7 $1 34. Rh6+ Kg8 35. g6 Bg5 $19) 34. Bh5 Be7 35. Rh6 Kf8 36. Rh8+
(36. Bd4 $5 Bxg5 $1 (36... Rxg5 $140 $6 37. Rh8+ Rg8 38. Rh7 $11) 37. Rh8+ (37.
Bxe5 Bxh6 38. Bxd6+ Kg7 {/\Bc1} 39. Be2 Bd2 $1 $19 {[%csl Ra4]}) 37... Kg7 38.
Bxe5+ Nxe5 39. Re8 Bc1 40. Nb5 Ned3 $1 41. Kg1 (41. Nxd6 $140 $4 Bf4+ $19)
41... Bf4 $19 {[%csl Rb2,Ge4]}) 36... Kg7 37. Re8 Bxg5 $1 $19 38. Rxe5 Bxe3 $1
39. Re7+ Kf6 40. Rf7+ Kg5 41. Bd1 Bd4 42. Kg2 Nxb2 43. Nb5 Be5 44. Bc2 Nbd3 45.
Kf1 Nb4 46. Bb1 Nxd5 0-1

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3
Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O
14. Ne5 Qa5 (14... c5 $6 {is premeture in view of} 15. Qb5 $1 Qc8 16. Nxd7 Nxd7
17. d5 exd5 18. Nf5 Bf6 19. Rxd5 $16 {Trupan-Pashkov, Krasnodar op 1997}) (
14... Rc8 {/\ c5, or sometimes b5 when >< c6 is defended.} 15. Qe2 (15. Qf3 Qa5
16. c4 Rfd8 17. Rd3 Qa6 $1 {- Glek-Bareev, RUS-ch51 St.Petersburg 1998 CBM 67})
(15. c4 c5) (15. Ne4 {The passive g3 N causes a lot of trouble for White, it's
natural place is on e4. On the other hand White has to avoid the mass
exchanges in the [+].} Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17. Qe2 Qb6 18. Rh3 {The R is
excellent on the third rank.} c5 19. Rg3 Kh7 20. Rb3 Qa6 21. c4 Rcd8 22. dxc5
Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Bxc5 24. Qf3 $16 {Moreno Carnero-Rasnussen, Anibal Open Linares
2002}) 15... b5 {Black wants to blockade the light squares, especially d5.} 16.
Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Be5 Rfd8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Qe7 $13 {Macieja-Rasmussen, EU-ch
1st Saint Vincent 2000}) (14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Ng4 16. Qe2 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qc7 18.
f4 Rfd8 19. Ne4 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 {White still retains the somewhat better
chances in the _|_ due to his superior N and better P structure. However Black
can make a draw with precise technical play.} Rd8 {+/=/= Arnold-Groszpeter,
Paks Cup GM 2000}) 15. Ne4 (15. Ne2 {White avoids the exchanges in the [+] and
prepares the push g4-g5.} Rad8 16. Qb3 Qa6 17. Qf3 Nd5 18. Bc1 Nxe5 19. dxe5
Nb6 20. Qg4 Kh8 21. Qe4 {White's Q manoeuvres fail to impress.} Rd5 22. Nc3 Ra5
23. Rh3 Nd5 $11 {Jonkman-Gyimesi, Andorra op 2001}) (15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Ne4 Qf5
17. Qf3 Nf6 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. g4 Qd5 20. Rh3 {This type of _|_ cannot be bad
for Black.} Rad8 21. Bxh6 Qxf3 22. Rxf3 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 24. Bc1 f5 $11 {
Emms-Lars Bo Hansen, Politiken Cup 1996}) 15... Nxe4 (15... Rad8 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6
17. Qg3 Kh8 18. Rd3 c5 19. Qf3 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 cxd4 21. Qxb7 Nd5 {Black has an
active counterplay, winning b7 is rarely good.} 22. Bg3 Qa4 23. Qb3 Qa6 24. Qd3
Qa4 $13 {Adams-Bareev, Sparkassen Gp 2 Dortmund 2002}) 16. Qxe4 Rad8 17. c4
Nxe5 18. Bxe5 $6 {White wants to complicate matters, butin his P structure ><
d4 remains a target.} (18. dxe5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 {leads to an only slightly
better _|_ for White.}) 18... Bd6 $1 19. f3 (19. Bxd6 Rxd6 20. Qe5 Qd8 $15 {
and Black will triple his heavy artillery on the d <->.}) (19. g4 $5 Be7 (19...
Rd7 20. g5 $1) 20. Rd3 Rd7 21. Rhd1 Rfd8 $15 {and White has no real chances on
the >>, therefore he has to defend >< d4.}) 19... Rd7 20. Bxd6 Rxd6 21. Qe5 Qd8
22. Rd3 {'?!' Ftacnik.} b5 $1 {[%mdl 32] This is the typical method worsening
White's P structure.} 23. b3 $6 (23. c5 {creates a weak backward P on d4} Rd5
$15) (23. cxb5 Rd5 24. Qe4 cxb5 $17 {is even worse, the isolated P is a real
target in R endgames.}) 23... bxc4 24. bxc4 Qe7 {White has to keep an eye on
his K because of the opened b <->.} (24... f6 25. Qc5 Qb6+ $15) 25. Kc2 (25.
Rb3 Qd7 $15) 25... Rfd8 26. Qc5 R8d7 27. Rhd1 Qh4 28. g4 f6 29. Qb4 (29. R1d2
Qg3 $15) 29... f5 $5 {Black wants to ruin White's P chain on the >> widening
the battlefront.} 30. Qb8+ (30. gxf5 exf5 31. Qb8+ Kh7 32. Qe8 Qf6 $17) 30...
Kh7 31. Qe8 Qf6 32. c5 Rd5 33. Re1 Re7 $1 {Black gives the weak c6 P, but
penetrates into White's position and the K in the middle becomes more
vulnerable.} (33... Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Rxd4 35. Qg6+ Qxg6 36. hxg6+ Kxg6 37. Rxe6+
Kg5 $17) 34. Qxc6 (34. Qg6+ Qxg6 35. hxg6+ Kxg6 36. Rde3 Kf6 $19 {and the R
_|_ is lost because of the many additional weaknesses besides the loss of the
P.}) 34... fxg4 35. fxg4 Qf2+ 36. Kd1 Rxd4 $19 37. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 38. Kc2 Qc4+ 39.
Kd2 Qxa2+ {With a K like that it is very difficult to save the _|_.} 40. Ke3
Qb3+ 41. Ke2 Qc2+ 42. Ke3 Qc3+ 43. Ke2 Qe5+ 44. Kd2 Qd4+ 45. Kc2 Qc4+ 46. Kd2
Qb4+ 47. Ke2 Qb2+ 48. Ke3 Qc3+ 49. Ke2 Qe5+ 50. Kd2 Qd4+ 51. Kc2 Qc4+ 52. Kd2
Qb4+ 53. Ke2 Rf7 $1 {and finally the R joins the ->.} 54. Qxe6 Rf6 55. Qd5
Qxg4+ 56. Kd3 Rf5 57. Re5 Qg3+ 58. Kd4 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 c6 13. Kh1 h6 (13... Kh8 14. b5 c5
15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Ne8 17. Nd5 Ng8 18. exf5 gxf5 19. g4 fxg4 20. fxg4 e4 21.
Rb1 Qh4 22. Bf4 {1-0 Bacrot,E-Motylev,A/Linares 2001/ (39)}) (13... Nh5 14. b5
h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 f4 17. bxc6 Nxc6 18. Nd5 Re8 19. e7 Nxe7 20. Nxe7+
Qxe7 21. Qd5+ Kh8 22. Ba3 Red8 {0-1 Estremera Panos,S-Avrukh,B/Andorra 2001/ 
(48)}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Ne8 (15... Qc7) 16. Qb3 (16. b5 c5 17. Nd5 Nc7 18.
Nxc7 Qxc7 19. exf5 gxf5 20. g4 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rf6 22. gxf5 Nxf5 23. Bd3 {1-0 Lima,
D-Romero Holmes,A/Leon/1996/ (37)}) 16... Nc7 17. c5 $146 {[%mdl 4] Bareev is
developing his pieces to best squares, but black's magnificient pawn center
promises serious counterchances.} (17. Be3 Kh7 18. c5 d5 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Rad1
d4 21. Nb5 Ncd5 22. Bg1 a5 23. a3 axb4 24. axb4 Nc6 25. Bc4 Ndxb4 26. Nxd4 exd4
27. e7 Nxe7 28. Qxb4 Qc7 {1/2-1/2 Degraeve,J-Howell,J/Groningen 1995/ (42)})
17... d5 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Bb2 $1 (19. b5 e4 $1) 19... Qe8 (19... d4 20. Nb5 $1
b6 21. Rac1 bxc5 22. Rxc5 $13) (19... e4 20. Rad1 Qe8 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Nxd5
Ncxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 $14) 20. Rad1 (20. Nxd5 $5 Ncxd5 (
20... Nexd5 21. Bc4 Qxe6 22. Rad1 Rad8 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. f4 $16) 21. Rad1 Qc6 (
21... Rd8 22. Bc4 Nf4 23. Rd7 Kh8 24. Rxb7 Nc6 25. e7 Nxe7 26. Rxe5 $1 $18) 22.
Bc4 Rad8 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 Nf6 $15) 20... Rd8 (20... d4 21. b5 dxc3 22.
Bxc3 a6 23. a4 axb5 24. axb5 Qb8 25. Bc4 b6 26. Rd7 $13) 21. a4 a6 22. b5 $1 {
White has to push hard for queenside activity, otherwise black's forces will
become too coordinated.} Kh7 (22... e4 $5 $13) 23. Ba3 Nxe6 (23... e4 24. fxe4
fxe4 25. Bg4 $13) 24. bxa6 Nd4 (24... bxa6 25. Bxa6 (25. Nxd5 Nxd5 (25... Nd4
26. Rxd4 exd4 27. Nc7 Qc6 28. Ne6 $11) 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. Qxd5 Qxa4 28. Qxe6
Qxa3 $15) 25... Nd4 26. Qa2 $11) 25. Qxb7 (25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Bb5 (26. axb7 dxc3
27. Bb5 Qf7 28. c6 Rfe8 $17) (26. Nd1 bxa6 27. Bxa6 Qf7 $17) 26... Qf7 27. Ne2
bxa6 28. Bxa6 Nc6 $17) 25... Rb8 26. Qc7 Nc2 $1 (26... Rc8 27. Qb6 Rb8 28. a7
Rxb6 29. cxb6 $36) 27. Nb5 (27. Bb5 $6 Qf7 28. Re2 Nxa3 29. Nxd5 Nxd5 30. Qxf7
Rxf7 31. Rxd5 Nxb5 32. axb5 Rxb5 $19) 27... Qd8 (27... Rc8 28. Qb6 Rb8 29. Qa5
Nc6 30. Qd2 Nxe1 31. Qxe1 Qd7 $15) (27... Nxe1 28. Rxe1 Rc8 29. Qb6 (29. Qb7)
29... Rc6 30. a7 Rxb6 31. cxb6 Qc6 32. Bxe7 Qxb6 33. Bxf8 Qa5 34. Bc5 $3 Qxe1+
35. Bg1 Qa5 36. Nc7 $18) 28. Qxd8 Rfxd8 29. c6 Nxc6 30. Rc1 Nxe1 (30... Nxa3 $2
31. Rxc6 $16) 31. Rxc6 d4 (31... Rbc8 $5 {Black might have missed the chance
to fight for an advantage in a very messy position.} 32. Rxc8 (32. Rc7 Nc2)
32... Rxc8 33. a7 Nc2 34. Bd6 Nd4 35. g3 (35. g4 Nxe2 36. Bb8 Rc1+ 37. Kg2 Nf4+
38. Kf2 Bf8 $19) 35... Nc6 36. Bb8 Rxb8 37. axb8=Q Nxb8 $17) 32. a7 $1 Rb7 33.
Bc5 d3 34. Bd1 e4 $1 35. Bb6 (35. fxe4 fxe4 36. Rc7 Rxc7 37. Nxc7 Nc2 38. a8=Q
Rxa8 39. Nxa8 e3 $19) 35... Rxb6 (35... Ra8 36. Bf2 Re7 37. Bxe1 e3 38. Kg1 d2
39. Kf1 Be5 $17) 36. Rxb6 e3 37. Re6 Nc2 (37... f4 $5 38. Nc7 Nc2 39. a8=Q Rxa8
40. Nxa8 Nd4 41. Re7 e2 42. Bxe2 Nxe2 (42... dxe2 43. Nc7 $18) 43. Rd7 Nd4 44.
Rb7 d2 45. Rb1 Nc2 46. a5 Ne3 47. a6 Bd4 48. Nc7 d1=Q+ 49. Rxd1 Nxd1 50. Nb5
$11) 38. g3 $5 (38. Nc7 f4 $11) 38... e2 $2 {No wonder that players in time
trouble make mistakes in a very complex situations, Topalov could have made a
draw with 38..Ra8!} (38... g5) (38... Ra8 $1 39. f4 Bf8 40. Bf3 (40. Kg2 Bc5)
40... e2 41. Bxe2 dxe2 42. Rxe2 Na3 43. Ra2 Nxb5 (43... Nc4 44. Rc2 Nd6 45.
Rc7+ Kg8 $11) 44. axb5 Bc5 45. Rc2 Bd4 (45... Bxa7 46. Ra2 $1) 46. Rd2 Be3 47.
Re2 $11) 39. Bxe2 dxe2 40. Rxe2 Nd4 (40... Nb4 41. Nc7 $18) 41. Nxd4 Bxd4 42.
Rd2 $1 Ra8 43. Rxd4 Rxa7 44. Kg2 g5 (44... Rc7 45. Rd2 $1) (44... Kg7 45. Kf2
Kf6 46. f4 $1) 45. Kf2 Kg6 46. Ke2 Re7+ 47. Kd2 Re5 48. Rd3 $1 f4 49. g4 $1 (
49. Rd6+ Kg7 50. gxf4 gxf4 51. Rd4 Rh5 52. Rxf4 Rxh2+ $132) 49... Kf7 $1 50.
Ra3 Ra5 51. Kc3 Ke6 52. Kb4 Ra8 53. Kc5 (53. a5 $5 Kd6 (53... Kd5 54. a6 Kc6
55. Ka5 $1 Re8 56. Rc3+ $18) 54. a6 Kc7 55. Ka5 Re8 56. Rc3+ $1 (56. Rb3 Re2)
56... Kb8 57. Kb6 Ka8 $1 (57... Re6+ 58. Rc6 $18) 58. Rc6 Rb8+ 59. Kc5 Rb3 60.
Rxh6 Rxf3 61. Rg6 Rh3 62. Rxg5 Rxh2 63. Rf5 Rf2 64. Kd4 $18) 53... Kd7 54. a5
Kc7 55. a6 Re8 $1 56. Ra2 (56. a7 Kb7 57. a8=Q+ Rxa8 58. Rxa8 Kxa8 59. Kd5 Kb7
60. Ke6 Kc6 61. Kf5 Kd5 62. Kg6 Kd4 63. Kxh6 Ke3 64. Kxg5 Kxf3 65. h4 Kg3 66.
h5 $11) (56. Rb3 $5 Rb8 57. Rxb8 Kxb8 58. Kd5 $14) 56... Kb8 $2 {Decisive
mistake as black will not get enough counterplay with his king on a8.} (56...
Re5+ $5 57. Kd4 Re8 58. a7 (58. Rb2 Re6 $1) (58. Kd5 Kb6 59. Rc2 Re3 60. Rc6+
Ka7) 58... Kb7 59. a8=Q+ Rxa8 60. Rxa8 Kxa8 61. Ke5 Kb7 62. Kf6 Kc6 63. Kg6 Kd5
64. Kxh6 Kd4 65. Kxg5 Ke3 66. h4 Kxf3 $14) 57. Rb2+ $1 Ka8 (57... Ka7 58. Rb7+
Kxa6 59. Rb6+ Ka7 60. Rxh6 Re3 61. Rh5 Rxf3 62. Rxg5 Rh3 63. Rf5 $18) 58. Rb6
h5 (58... Re3 59. Rxh6 Rxf3 60. Rg6 Rh3 61. Rxg5 Rxh2 62. Rf5 Rf2 63. Kd4 $18)
59. gxh5 Re3 60. h6 Rxf3 61. h4 $1 (61. h4 $1 gxh4 62. h7 Rc3+ 63. Kb5 Rc8 64.
Rg6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 Ne7 7. f4 c5
$5 {[%mdl 8]} (7... Na6 8. Ng3 Nb4 9. f5 exf5 10. a3 f4 11. axb4 fxg3 12. hxg3
a6 (12... Nc8 13. b5 $1 $14 {- Sutovsky-Dautov, Julian Borowski-A 3rd Essen
2001 CBM 83}) 13. Bg5 b5 $1 {- Bruzon Bautista-Gonzales, CUB-ch Holguin City
2002 CBM 89} (13... Qb8 14. Bd3 Qa7 {This is a rather sophysticated Q
manoeuvre.} 15. Ne2 b5 16. c3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Ng6 18. Nf4 Nxf4 19. gxf4 {and
White's P chain can easily be mobilized.} h6 20. f5 $16 {Svidler-Galkin,
RUS-chT Tomsk 2001})) (7... h5 8. f5 $1 exf5 9. g5 {- Nataf-Grabarczyk,
Hasselbacken 2001 CBM 85}) 8. h4 $6 {The is too much of P moves on the >>.} (8.
dxc5 $142 {is the natural reaction in the [+].} Nec6 9. Be3 (9. f5 $6 {is
again self-destructive.} exf5 10. Qxd5 Na6 $5 (10... fxg4 {comes also into
consideration, White's P majority on the << is counterbalanced on the other
flank.} 11. Qxd8+ (11. Bf4 Bxc2 (11... Nd7 12. O-O-O Nxc5 {looks also playable.
}) 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rc1 Bg6 14. Bg2 Nd7 $15 {and White has to show something
for the P.}) 11... Kxd8 12. Be3 Nxe5 13. O-O-O+ Kc8 14. Bg2 Na6 15. Rd5 f6 $1 {
strengthening the strong N in the [+].} (15... Nd7 16. Rhd1 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 Ndxc5
18. Nb5 $1 $14) 16. Rhd1 Be7 $13) 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 $13) 9... Nd7 10. Ng3 (10. f5
$6 {is again dubious in view of} exf5 11. gxf5 Bxf5 12. Nxd5 Bxc5) 10... Ndxe5
$1 {This was the idea, but} (10... d4 11. Bxd4 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 Nxd4 13. Qa4 Bxc5
14. O-O-O $14 {and White has the better development.}) (10... Bxc5 $6 11. Bxc5
Nxc5 12. f5 $16) 11. Nb5 $1 {is the real answer!} (11. fxe5 d4 $13) 11... a6 (
11... d4 12. Bd2 $1 Bxc5 (12... a6 13. Nd6+ $16) 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Qe2 f6 15.
Ne4 $14) 12. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. cxd6 Nc4 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. O-O $14) 8... h5 $1 9. f5
$1 {otherwise the whole >> collapses.} exf5 10. g5 {This old blockading idea
is not so effective, because the [+] is not closed.} Nec6 11. Bg2 cxd4 12. Nxd5
(12. Nxd4 Bb4 $15) 12... Nd7 13. Nxd4 Ndxe5 14. Nb5 {'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'White has to play creatively, since with completed development second player
might be very satisfied with his prospects.'} (14. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Bd6 15. Qd2
O-O $11) 14... Rc8 (14... Bd6 $5 {Ftacnik} 15. Nf6+ Ke7 16. Nd5+ Kf8 17. Nxd6
Qxd6 18. Bf4 Qc5 $13) 15. Qe2 {'!' Ftacnik.} Bd6 (15... Bc5 $5 16. Bf4 (16. b4
$1 {Ftacnik} Bd6 17. Bf4 $16) 16... O-O 17. O-O-O Qa5 18. Rhe1 Rfe8 19. Kb1 $13
) (15... f6 {Ftacnik} 16. Bf4 $40) 16. Nxd6+ (16. Bf4 $5 {Ftacnik} Bb8 17.
O-O-O Kf8 18. Rh3 $16) 16... Qxd6 17. Bf4 O-O 18. O-O-O {White still blockades
the vital f4 square, but the fight arises now on the other side of the board.}
Qc5 {'?!' Ftacnik. leaving the pins with ease! Ftacnik: 'White's bishops pair
is very dangerous, so it was important for the defender to play accurately.'} (
18... Qe6 {Ftacnik} 19. Rh3 Ng4 20. Qb5 $14) 19. Rh3 {'!' Ftacnik.} (19. b4 $6
{is again a suicide move:} Nxb4 20. Nxb4 Nc4 $1 $44) 19... Rfe8 (19... Nc4 $5 {
grabbing the |^ on the << was worthy of consideration:} 20. Rc3 (20. c3 Rfe8)
20... Nb4 21. Kb1 Qb5 22. Ne7+ Kh7 23. Bf1 $1 (23. Nxc8 Na3+ $19) 23... Rfe8
$17) 20. Rc3 Qa5 21. Ra3 (21. Re3 $2 Qxa2 $1 22. Bxe5 Na5 $1 23. Ra3 Nb3+ 24.
Rxb3 Qxb3 $17) 21... Qc5 22. Re3 (22. Rc3 $11) 22... Nd4 $2 {Black has lost
the thread.} (22... Re6 $1 {was required with a complicated struggle.} 23. Bxe5
(23. Rc3 Qa5 $13) (23. Kb1 Kh8 $13) 23... Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Nxe5 25. c3 Nc6 $13)
23. Rxd4 $1 Qxd4 24. Rxe5 {Now White gets the material advantage and an active
^^ in an opened position.} (24. Bxe5 Qxh4 (24... Qg4 {Ftacnik} 25. Qxg4 fxg4
26. c3 $16) 25. Bf4 Rxe3 26. Qxe3 Kh7 27. Kb1 $14) 24... Kh7 (24... Rxe5 25.
Bxe5 Qg1+ 26. Qf1 $14 {and the _|_ is clearly better for White because of his
chances on the <<.}) (24... Qg1+ 25. Qf1 $14) 25. Qd1 {'?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Not the best way to realize solid advantage, Topalov hopes to eliminate even
a traces of counterplay. '} (25. Qe3 Qxe3+ (25... Qc4 26. Nc3 $14) 26. Rxe3 $14
) (25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Qf1 $14) 25... Qf2 {'!' Ftacnik. Black wants to
complicate matters, therefore avoids the exchange of queens.} (25... Qxd1+ 26.
Kxd1 $14) 26. Bf3 Rxe5 27. Bxe5 f4 $2 {'!' Ftacnik. Black finally wants to
free his entombbed B, but this was not the right place.} (27... Qxh4 28. Bf4
Rd8 (28... Qf2 29. Bxh5 $16) 29. Qd2 Re8 30. Kd1 $14) 28. Bc3 $1 Rd8 {'?'
Ftacnik.} (28... Qxh4 29. Qd4 Rxc3 30. Nxc3 Qxg5 {gave at least a lot of pawns
for Black...} 31. Nd5 $16 (31. Qxa7 $16 {Ftacnik})) 29. b3 (29. Bxh5 $18 {
was simpler}) 29... Kh8 30. Be1 {leaving the long /^ can only be explained by
the usual lack of time.} (30. Bd4 $18 Qxh4 (30... Qh2 {Ftacnik} 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7
32. Qd4+ Kh7 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Nxh5+ Kf8 35. Qxd8#) 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qd4+ Kh7
33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Nxh5+) 30... Qc5 31. Kb2 Bf5 (31... Bxc2 {Ftacnik} 32. Qxc2
Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 34. Qc4 Qg2+ 35. Ka3 $18) 32. c4 b5 33. Bb4 Qf2+ 34. Qe2
Qxe2+ (34... Qg1 35. Bxh5 $16 (35. Bc3 {Ftacnik})) 35. Bxe2 bxc4 36. bxc4 {
and the _|_ is simply winning again.} Bg4 37. Bd3 f3 38. Kc3 Be6 39. Ne3 Bh3
40. Nd1 $138 (40. Nd1 Bf5 $1 41. Nf2 Bxd3 42. Nxd3 Re8 43. Bc5 a6 44. Bd4 Kh7
45. c5 $16 {Black lost on time in a position, that still offered some chances
for resistance.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates sf2 playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2002.07.17"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nd2 c6 13. Bb2 $146 Rf7 {Very
flexible set up with pieces, the rook plans to join the fight along the 7th
rank.} 14. e3 Nf5 15. Qc2 (15. Nb3 $5 Nd7 16. Qc2 Nd6 $13) 15... Bf8 16. Rfd1
Nd5 17. Nc4 b5 $1 18. Na5 (18. Ne4 $5 Rc7 19. Na5 Nfxe3 20. fxe3 Nxe3 $11)
18... Ndxe3 $1 19. fxe3 Nxe3 20. Qf2 Nxg2 $1 {[%mdl 32] Excellent idea, black
is destroying the last defender of white's king so the counterplay will be
very unpleasant.} (20... Nxd1 21. Rxd1 Rc8 22. Nxc6 Qd7 23. Na5 $16) 21. Qxg2
Rc8 22. d4 $1 (22. Ne4 c5 $1 23. Qd2 cxb4 24. axb4 Rd7 $11) 22... Qb6 (22...
exd4 $2 23. Nxc6 Qb6 24. Nxd4 $18) 23. Ne2 Rd7 24. Rbc1 (24. Qf2 exd4 (24...
Bg4 25. Nb3 Re8 26. Nc5 $16)) 24... c5 $1 {The key move in the quest for
counterplay, shaky location of the Na5 enables black to step on the
"forbidden" square.} 25. dxc5 Bxc5+ 26. bxc5 Rxc5 27. Nd4 $1 (27. Qf2 Rxd1+ 28.
Rxd1 Rc2 $1 29. Bc3 Rxe2 30. Qxb6 axb6 31. Nb7 Bh3 $14) 27... exd4 28. Rxc5
Qxc5 29. Qc6 Qe5 30. Qc1 (30. Bxd4 Qe2 31. Qc1 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Bh3 33. Rd2 Qe3+
34. Kh1 Qe4+ 35. Kg1 Qe3+ $11) 30... Qe4 31. Re1 $1 Qd5 32. Qc6 d3 33. Qxd5
Bxd5 34. Rd1 Be6 35. Kf2 Kf7 36. Ke3 Bf5 37. Kd2 Re7 38. Re1 Rxe1 39. Kxe1 Ke6
40. Nc6 $14 {Black has three pawns for the piece and excellent chances to
eliminate the tension into a drawish position.} (40. Kd2 Kd5 41. Nb3 Kc4 42.
Nd4 Bd7 $14) 40... Kd5 41. Ne7+ Ke4 42. Nxf5 (42. Kd2 Bd7 $11) 42... Kxf5 43.
Kf2 Kg4 44. Bd4 a6 45. Bb6 Kh3 46. Ke3 Kxh2 47. Bc7 Kg2 48. Kxd3 h5 49. Ke4 g6
50. Kf4 g5+ 51. Kf5 h4 52. gxh4 gxh4 53. Kxf6 h3 54. Ke6 a5 55. Kd5 b4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates sf2 playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2002.07.17"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 {Rabinovich,Al. Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5.
Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Be7 (6... h6 $5 {Rabinovich,Al} 7. Bh4 (7. Nxf6+ {Rabinovich,
Al} Nxf6 8. Be3 (8. Bxf6 {Rabinovich,Al} Qxf6 9. Bb5+ $5 c6 10. Bd3 $14 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Bareev,E/Monaco MNC 2002/The Week in Chess 386 (20)}) 8... a6 9.
Bd3 b5 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. a4 b4 12. Ne5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Anand,V/Monte Carlo
2001/CBM 81 ext (26)} Bb7 13. Bb5+) 7... Be7 8. Nxf6+ Bxf6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Bd3
O-O 11. Qe2 c5 12. O-O-O {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 81 ext 
(33) =/+/=}) 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. h4 (8. Bxf6 {Rabinovich,Al} Qxf6 9. Qe2 $6 O-O
10. Qe3 Rd8 11. Bd3 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Shirov,A/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 81
ext (19)}) 8... c5 (8... O-O $142 $5 {Rabinovich,Al} 9. Bd3 c5 10. Qe2 cxd4 11.
Qe4 g6 12. O-O-O e5 13. Bxf6 (13. Qd5 {Rabinovich,Al} Re8 14. Rhe1 Re6 (14...
Qe7 {Rabinovich,Al} 15. Bb5 Nb6 16. Qxe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxg5+ 18. hxg5 Rd8 19.
Nc4 Be6 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. a4 Rac8 $11 {[%cal Gc8c5,Gd8c8,Gc5c2,Gc5g5] 1/2-1/2
De Vreugt,D-Gurevich,M/Valle d'Aosta ITA 2002/The Week in Chess 379 (47)}) 15.
Bb5 Qa5 16. Bc4 Qc7 17. Bb3 Nc5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Glek,I-Gurevich,M/Zwolle NED
2002/The Week in Chess 384 (56)}) 13... Qxf6 14. Bb5 Rd8 15. Rhe1 Qb6 16. Bc4
Nc5 17. Qxe5 Be6 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 $132 {[%cal Ga8c8,Gd4d3] 1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Anand,V/Kopavogur 2000/EXT 2001 (28)}) 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 {This variation
is not a new one for Topalov who won a very nice game against Shirov one year
ago.} h6 {Bareev decides that the castle is too risky, however his king
struggles to find a safe shelter.} (10... O-O 11. O-O-O h6 {'!?' Rabinovich,Al.
} (11... a6 {Rabinovich,Al} 12. g4 Qb6 13. Bg2 Rd8 14. Qe3 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16.
Nf5 $16 {1-0 Krakops,M-Gavrilov,A/Riga 1995/EXT 97 (38)}) 12. Nf3 $1 $40 {
Topalov-Shirov, Leon, 2001}) 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 (11... Qxf6 $5 {Rabinovich,Al}) 12.
Qb4 $5 {[%csl Re8] Keeping black king in the center. Black got very nice
position in the game of two unknown players after} (12. O-O-O O-O 13. f4 (13.
Be2 {Rabinovich,Al} e5 $11 {1-0 Topalov,V-Van Wely,L/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 81
ext (52)}) 13... Qd5 14. c4 Qc5 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Qe2 b5 $36) 12... Nd5 ({
Nothing changed} 12... Qe7 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. O-O-O Nd5 16. Qa3
$36 {and black still didn't mange to solve opening problems.}) (12... a5 $142
$1 {[%csl Rb4,Rd4] Rabinovich,Al} 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Qa3 Qe7 $11) 13. Qa3 Qe7 14.
Bb5+ Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 {Brave decision, but very risky one.  Ftacnik: 'Bareev
believes, that he can solve all his problems with artificial castling idea.'} (
15... Qxd7 16. O-O-O) 16. Qa4+ Kc7 17. Rh3 $1 {[%cal Gh3b3] White rook joins
the party via h3.} a6 18. Rb3 $5 ({Very promising looked} 18. O-O-O $5 $36)
18... Qc5 19. O-O-O b5 $2 {[%csl Rb5] After this move black is in serious
troubles. Deserved attention Ftacnik: 'This unfortunate weakening move will
lead to a swift catastrophy, while the correct 19...Nb6! would justify black's
concept.'} (19... Nb6 $1 20. Nxe6+ (20. Qb4 {Ftacnik} Qxb4 21. Rxb4 Rad8 $11)
20... fxe6 21. Qf4+ e5 22. Qe4 ({No good is} 22. Qf7+ Kb8 23. Qxg7 Ka7 $17 {
and black king escapes}) 22... Kb8 23. Rd7 Ra7 24. Rxg7 $36 {and despite of
the fact that white's initiative is extremly strong black may still defend.}
Qxf2 25. Qxe5+ Ka8 26. Re7 Rc8 $15) 20. Qa5+ Qb6 21. Qe1 $1 Kb7 22. Qe2 {
Now the pawn on b5 becomes a target for the white pieces.} Ka7 (22... Nc7 23.
a4 $18) 23. Nxb5+ $1 {Decisive blow!} axb5 24. Rxb5 {[%csl Ra7]} Qc6 (24... Qa6
25. Rdxd5 exd5 26. Qe7+) 25. Rdxd5 $1 exd5 26. Qe7+ Ka6 27. Rb3 1-0

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2002.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7.
e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Bb7 $5 {For the first time 8...Bb7 has entered in practice by
Leko in his game against Garry Kasparov in Linares 1999.} 9. Be2 ({Is a
possible continuation of the play:} 9. c4 {See comments to Movsesian,S-Gavric,
M/Neum,2002/CBM 90(1-0)(Golod,V)(32)}) 9... c5 10. O-O Qc7 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12.
exd6 Qc6 13. f3 c4 14. Qd4 O-O 15. Bxc4 Rfc8 {This move twice applied Grischuk
in games against Garry Kasparov.} ({This position, with change of colours,
already was met in a game by the same contender:} 15... Qxd6 16. Rf2 Qb6 17.
Qh4 Rac8 18. b3 Ne3 19. Bd3 Nf5 20. Qf4 Qd4 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Be3 Nc6 23. Bc5
Rfe8 24. Bd6 $14 {Topalov,V-Leko,P/Dubai,2002(1-0)(64)}) 16. b3 Qxd6 17. Rf2 ({
Comments to:} 17. Bb2 {and also 20.c3 you cand find in annotations to games:
Kasparov,G-Grischuk,A/Cannes,2001/CBM 82(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(48)}) 17... Qb6 18.
Bb2 {[%csl Gb2,Gd4,Rg8]} Qxd4 19. Bxd4 Nb4 {[%csl Gd7,Ge6][%cal Gd7d5] Black
wants to start to move the central pawns.} 20. c3 d5 ({It deserves attention:} 
20... Nc6 $5 21. Be3 d5 22. Bf1 Ne7 {[%cal Ge7f5] +/=/=}) 21. Bf1 ({Leads to
minimal advantage of white:} 21. Bb5 Nc6 22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. Re1 f6 24. f4 Ba6
25. Rd2) 21... Nc6 22. Be3 Ne7 $6 $146 ({From my point of view it is more
logically at first:} 22... a5 {[%cal Ga5a4]} 23. a4 $140 {(now for white it
will be very difficult to advance the PP on the queen side) and only now:} Ne7
{You can see comments to Kasparov,G-Grischuk,A/Cannes,2001/CBM 82(1/2-1/2)
(Golod,V)(48)}) 23. Rc1 a5 (23... f6 $5 {[%cal Gg8f7]}) 24. Rfc2 e5 ({Now
senseless:} 24... a4 $6 {in view of:} 25. b4 {[%csl Rc5,Re7][%cal Ge3c5] /\Bc5
and c4}) 25. c4 f6 {'?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'This solid defensive move is not
good enough to equalize for black against white's queenside pawn majority and
bishop's pair. Much more promising seems 25...d4!? with better chances to keep
balance.'} ({It was necessary to decide on a more risky continuation:} 25... d4
26. Bf2 {[%cal Ga2a3,Gb3b4] but,keeping thus determined counterplay} Rd8 {
[%csl Gd4,Ge5][%cal Gf7f5]} (26... f6 $13 {Ftacnik})) 26. cxd5 Rxc2 27. Rxc2
Nxd5 28. Bd2 $14 {[%csl Ya2,Ra5,Yb3,Gd2,Gf1][%mdl 4096]} a4 (28... Nb4 {Ftacnik
} 29. Rc5 Rd8 30. Be1 Nxa2 31. Bc4+ Kh8 32. Rc7 Bc8 33. Bxa5 $16) 29. bxa4 Rxa4
{Now white pawn "a2" can become a determinative factor for a victory.} 30. Bb5
Ra8 ({Black can not keep the pawn in point "a2":} 30... Ra3 31. Bc4 {/\Bc1 ,
Bb3 and so on.} Ra8 32. Rb2 Ra4 33. Bb5 Ra3 34. Bd7 $16) 31. a4 Kf8 ({Can be
recommended:} 31... Ba6 32. Bc6 Rd8 $14 {[%cal Yg8f7,Yf7e6]}) 32. a5 Ba6 ({
After:} 32... Ke7 33. Bd3 {[%csl Rh7] white begins pressure on weak king side
of contender.}) 33. Ba4 (33. Rc5 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 34. Rxb5 Nc7 35. Rc5 Ne6 $14)
33... Rb8 (33... Ke7 {Ftacnik} 34. Rc5 Bb7 35. Bc1 $14) 34. Kf2 Rb1 {[%csl Rf2]
[%cal Gd5f4]} 35. Rc1 Rb2 $5 {Without a rooks black will be completely
deprived a counterplay!} (35... Rxc1 {Ftacnik} 36. Bxc1 Ke7 $14) 36. Rc2 {
Sometimes it is desirable to repeat the moves.} Rb1 (36... Rxc2 $6 {Ftacnik}
37. Bxc2 g6 38. Be4 $16) 37. Kg3 {[%csl Rf4,Yg3][%cal Yg3f4]} Ne7 ({Weakly:} 
37... g5 $2 38. Rc6 {[%csl Rf6]} Bb7 39. Rd6 {[%cal Ga5a6]} Ke7 40. Rd7+ Ke6
41. Rxh7 $16) ({and also} 37... Nf4 $2 38. Rc6 Bf1 39. Bc2 Ra1 40. Bxh7 $16 {
[%csl Rf8]}) (37... Ke7 {Ftacnik} 38. Rc5 $16) 38. Bd7 Kf7 39. Rc7 Rb2 40. Bc3
Ra2 $6 ({Can it was necessary to decide on exchange of rooks:} 40... Nd5 $5 41.
Bxb2 Nxc7 $14) 41. Bh3 {[%cal Gc3b4] '!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Excellent move
combining defense of the g2 pawn with aggressive ideas of Bb4.'} Ra4 (41... h5
{Ftacnik} 42. Bb4 (42. Ra7 {Ftacnik} g5 43. Rxa6 f5 44. Bxf5 Nxf5+ 45. Kh3 Ra4
$14) 42... h4+ 43. Kxh4 Ra4 44. Rxe7+ Kg6 45. Be6 Rxb4+ 46. g4 Ra4 47. Ra7 $1
Bd3 48. Kg3 Ra3 49. Bd5 $18) 42. Ra7 Bb5 43. Bf5 h5 44. h4 ({Conducts to more
concrete game:} 44. Bc2 h4+ 45. Kh3 Rf4 46. Bb3+ (46. Be4 $143 g5 {[%csl Re4]
[%cal Gg5g4]} 47. Bb4 g4+ 48. fxg4 Rxe4 49. Bxe7 Be2 $16) 46... Ke8 (46... Bc4
$2 47. g3) 47. Be6 $16) 44... Kf8 ({Much worse is:} 44... Rc4 45. Bb2 {[%csl
Re7][%cal Gb2a3]} Rf4 46. Be4 Ke6 47. Rb7 $18) 45. Ra8+ Kf7 46. Bc2 $1 {
Now rook is not kept in <->a.} Rf4 (46... Ra3 $2 47. Bb4 $18 {[%csl Re7][%cal
Ga8a7]}) 47. a6 $16 Bc6 48. Rd8 ({Also good enough:} 48. Rb8 $5 {[%cal Ga6a7]}
Nd5 49. Ba5 Ne3 $140 50. Rb7+ $1 {[%csl Ga6]} Ke6 51. Bb3+ Kf5 52. Rc7 Ba8 53.
Rc8 $18) 48... Nf5+ {'?' Ftacnik.} ({It was better:} 48... Rc4 $5 49. Bb3 Nf5+
50. Kh3 Ke7 {'!' Ftacnik.} 51. Bxc4 Kxd8 52. Ba5+ Kd7 53. Bb6 $16) 49. Bxf5
Rxf5 50. Rc8 $1 {An important intermediate move!} (50. a7 $143 e4 $1 51. Rc8 (
51. f4 $6 Rd5 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Gd5d3]}) (51. a8=Q $6 Bxa8 52. Rxa8 exf3 53.
gxf3 g5 {+/=/+/-}) 51... exf3 52. Rxc6 f2 53. a8=Q f1=Q 54. Rc7+ Kg6 55. Qe8+
Kh7 56. Qe4 $16) 50... Bd5 51. a7 Rf4 ({Now impossibly:} 51... e4 $2 {because
of:} 52. Rc5 {[%csl Ga7,Yd5][%cal Gc5d5]} exf3 53. Rxd5 $18) 52. a8=Q Bxa8 53.
Rxa8 {+/-/+- The win of white does not cause doubts.} Rc4 54. Bd2 {Ftacnik:
'White's position is technically winning, but Leko plays cautiosly not to
spoil the deserved point.'} Kg6 (54... Rc7 {Ftacnik} 55. Be3 Rd7 56. Ra7 $18)
55. Ra7 Rd4 56. Be3 Rc4 57. Rb7 Rc3 58. Bd2 Rc2 59. Ba5 Ra2 60. Bd8 Ra8 61. Bb6
Rc8 62. Rc7 Rb8 63. Bc5 Re8 64. Kf2 Rh8 65. Ke3 {[%cal Ge3e4,Ge4d5,Gd5e6] The
white king prepares for translation in camp of black.} Ra8 66. Kd3 Ra4 ({
Also there is no rescue,after:} 66... Ra5 67. Bf8 {[%csl Rg7]} (67. g4 $143
hxg4 68. fxg4 Ra4 69. Bf8 Rxg4 70. Rxg7+ Kh5 71. Rh7+ Kg6 72. Rh6+ $16) 67...
Ra8 68. Bxg7 $1 (68. Rxg7+ $143 Kh6 69. Rg3+ $1 (69. Rg8+ Kh7 70. Rg7+ Kh6 71.
Rf7+ Kg6 $11) 69... Rxf8 70. Ke4 $16 {[%csl Re5,Rf6][%cal Ge4f5,Gg3g6]}) 68...
Rd8+ (68... Rg8 69. Ke4 Rxg7 70. Rxg7+ Kxg7 71. Kf5 Kf7 72. g3 $1 Kg7 $140 73.
g4 hxg4 74. Kxg4 $1 Kg6 75. h5+ Kh6 76. Kf5 $18) 69. Ke3 $1 Rg8 70. Ke4 Rxg7 (
70... Ra8 71. Bxf6 Kxf6 72. Rc6+ Kg7 73. Kxe5 $18) 71. Rxg7+ Kxg7 72. Kf5 Kf7
73. g3 {-see 68...Rg8}) 67. g3 (67. Bf8 $143 Rxh4 68. Rxg7+ Kf5 $16) 67... Ra8
({Also loses:} 67... Ra1 68. Ke4 Rc1 (68... Re1+ 69. Kd5 Rf1 70. Ke6 Rxf3 71.
Bf8 {[%csl Rg7]}) 69. Bd6 Rd1 70. Bf8 Rd8 71. Rxg7+ $1 (71. Bxg7 $5 Rg8 $140
72. g4) 71... Kh6 72. Kf5 Rxf8 73. Rg6+ Kh7 74. Rxf6 Rg8 75. Rf7+ Kh8 (75...
Kh6 76. g4 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Gg4g5]}) 76. g4 e4 77. g5 $1 exf3 78. g6 Rg7 79.
Rf8+ Rg8 80. Rf6 {[%cal Gf5g5,Gg5h6]} Re8 81. Kg5 $18 {[%csl Rf3,Gg6,Rh5][%cal
Gg5h5,Gh5h6]}) 68. Ke4 Rh8 69. Kd5 (69. f4 $1 $18 {Ftacnik}) 69... Rd8+ 70. Ke6
{White has achieved the purpose! The rest is a matter of technics.} Ra8 71. Bd6
Re8+ 72. Be7 Ra8 73. Rb7 Ra6+ 74. Bd6 Ra8 75. f4 $1 exf4 76. gxf4 Ra6 (76...
Ra5 77. f5+ Kh7 78. Bf8 Re5+ 79. Kf7 Rd5 80. Re7 $1 $18 {[%cal Gf8g7]} (80.
Bxg7 $4 Rd7+ 81. Rxd7 $11)) 77. Rd7 Ra8 78. f5+ Kh7 79. Kf7 Ra4 80. Bf8 Rg4 81.
Bxg7 $1 {Final chord. Good achievement of GM Peter Leko.} (81. Bxg7 Rxg7+ 82.
Ke6 Rxd7 83. Kxd7 Kg8 84. Ke7 Kg7 85. Ke6 {[%csl Rf6]}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2002.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7
14. c3 Bg7 15. Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 O-O 17. Rae1 Qc8 18. Kh1 Rb8 $1 {Lately Black
was facing problems in this line and Leko's novelty might change its
evaluation. Black goes for a quick ...b4.} 19. g4 {Ftacnik: 'Topalov is brave
in his desire to refute Leko's successfull idea from his match game against
Shirov.'} (19. f3 {is another principled move, played by Shirov:} b4 20. Nb1
bxc3 21. bxc3 Bxc3 22. Nxc3 Qxc3 23. fxe4 f4 (23... Qxc2 24. exf5 $40) 24. Bb3
Ng6 {Usually if Black can achieve such a domination on the dark squares, he
has no opening problems, to say the least.} 25. Rc1 Qf6 26. Qf5 Qe7 27. Rc4 a5
28. h3 Rb4 29. Rxb4 axb4 30. Bd1 Ra8 31. Rf2 Qa7 32. Rc2 Kg7 33. Kh2 Qe3 $17 {
0-1 Shirov,A-Leko,P/Dortmund 2002 (47)}) 19... b4 20. cxb4 Nxd5 {I have no
doubts both sides analyzed this position very well, Leko having the advantage
of doing it before the tournament though, in opposite to Topalov, who must
have analyzed it only after the game Shirov-Leko, played a few days before the
present game.} (20... Bxb2 $2 21. gxf5 Bxa3 $2 22. Rg1+ Kh8 23. Rxe4 $18 {
is a demonstration of White's potential. Black's main task is to defend
kingside, because usually he has enough possibilities to create counterplay on
the queenside later on.}) 21. gxf5 Kh8 22. Rg1 (22. Bxe4 Nf6 23. Qf3 Rxb4 24.
b3 Rxe4 $5 25. Rxe4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Qc5 27. b4 Qc3 28. Nb1 Qb2 $44) 22... Bxb2 {
White's problem is that he cannot open the diagonal b1-h7 for his bishop.} 23.
Qh6 (23. Bxe4 Nf6 24. Qh6 Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Qxf5 $15) 23... Qc3 $1 {White must
play carefully, since at one moment Black might just take the piece on a3.} 24.
Rxe4 Qf6 {Ftacnik: 'Black is applying the same sound strategy of domination on
the dark squares, white Na3 makes a sorry picture.'} 25. Qh3 Rg8 $1 26. Rf1 {
After this move is clear that Black won the theoretical battle. Topalov was in
a must-win situation and it influenced him from taking objective decisions.} (
26. Qb3 Rxg1+ 27. Kxg1 Bxa3 28. Qxd5 (28. Qxa3 Qa1+ 29. Kg2 Rg8+ 30. Kf3 Qh1+
31. Ke2 Rc8 32. Qb2+ Nc3+ 33. Kd2 Qxh2 {is just bad for White}) 28... Bxb4 {
with a high probability of draw was the logical outcome.}) 26... Bxa3 27. Qxa3
Rbc8 {Now Black is better in spite of being a pawn down. All his pieces are
active, while White has no co-ordination at all.} 28. Bd1 Nc3 29. Re3 d5 {
Black has a strong initiative.} 30. Rg3 d4 31. Bf3 d3 32. Qb2 Qd4 33. Rd1 $6 (
33. Qd2 $15) 33... Rxg3 34. hxg3 Rc4 {'!' Ftacnik.} 35. Rf1 d2 36. f6 $5 {
'?' Ftacnik. An interesting practical chance, which almost worked out.} (36.
Qb3 {Ftacnik} Kg7 $1 37. a3 Ne4 $17) 36... Qxf6 (36... Ne4 {is a simple win
for Black:} 37. Qxd4 Rxd4 38. Kg2 Nc3 39. Bd1 Rxb4 $19 40. Kf3 Rb1 41. Ke3 Rxd1
42. Rxd1 Nxd1+ 43. Kxd2 Nxf2) 37. Kg2 Qd4 38. Qc2 {Now Topalov is back in the
game. As it often happens, the pawn on f5 only disturbed white pieces from
creating threats against black king.} Rc7 {'!' Ftacnik.} 39. Qf5 f6 40. Rh1
d1=Q 41. Bxd1 Nxd1 {Black won a piece, but amazingly White has good chances to
escape, since for the moment the knight on d1 is out of play and black king
needs permanent protection (weaknesses on h7 and f6, easy to attack).} 42. Rh4
Qd8 43. Rh6 Rf7 44. Qe6 Rf8 45. Qe4 (45. Qf5 Qe7 (45... Rf7 46. Qe6 Qf8 47. Rh4
$44) 46. Qd3 Qb7+ 47. f3 (47. Kh2 Nxf2 $19) (47. Kg1 Nb2 48. Qc2 $140 Rd8 $19)
47... Nb2 48. Qc2 Qg7 49. Rh1 Rg8 50. g4 f5 51. Qxf5 Nc4 52. Rxh7+ Qxh7 53.
Qf6+ {is an amazing drawish line.}) 45... Qd7 46. Qf3 Kg7 47. Rh5 Nb2 (47...
Rd8 $1 {Ftacnik} 48. Qe4 h6 $17) 48. Rd5 Qe6 49. Rd4 $1 {[%csl Rb2]} Rc8 50.
Re4 Qc6 51. Kh2 Kf8 52. Qf4 {'!' Ftacnik.} Kf7 53. Qf5 Rg8 54. Qxh7+ Rg7 55.
Qh5+ Kf8 56. Qf5 $2 {Overestimating the position. After a skillful play from
Topalov, who being a piece down succeeded to keep the knight out of play and
even win pawn h7, he finally collapses. Probably inspired by the last part of
the game, he decides to continue, missing that Black's extra piece will come
back and only Black has winning chances after that.} (56. Qh8+ Kf7 57. Qh5+ {
would have forced a draw.}) 56... Nc4 $17 {/-+} 57. Re2 (57. Re6 Rh7+ {maybe
being tired Veselin missed this move, which is the only one, but enough for a
win.} 58. Qxh7 Qxe6 $19) 57... Rg5 58. Qh7 Ne5 59. Qh6+ Kg8 {The game is over.
White cannot defend against Black's threats.} 60. Qxg5+ fxg5 61. Rxe5 Qf6 62.
Re2 Qf3 63. Rd2 Kf7 64. a4 Qb3 65. Rd6 Qxa4 66. Rb6 Qa2 0-1

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2002.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. O-O d6 8. c4
b6 9. Nc3 Bf6 {Topalov strives to steer the game away from the book
continuation.} (9... Bb7 10. Qe2 (10. f4 Nd7 11. Be3 Ngf6 12. Qf3 g6 13. Rad1
Qc7 14. Qh3 h5 15. f5 gxf5 16. exf5 e5 17. Be2 Rg8 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Rb8
20. Nd2 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Nde4 {1-0 Shirov,A-Agrest,E/Leon 2001/ (44)})
10... Nf6 (10... Nd7 11. a4 (11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Kh1 Re8 14. Nd4 Qc7
15. Rac1 Rac8 16. b4 Qb8 17. Nb3 g6 18. a4 Qa8 19. a5 d5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. e5
Bxb4 {0-1 Hunt,H-Ciuksyte,D/Varna 2002/ (31)}) 11... Ngf6 12. a5 Nc5 13. Bc2
Nxb3 14. Bxb3 bxa5 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Ba4+ Bc6 17. Bf4 Bxa4 18. Rxa4 Nd7 19. Rda1
Bf6 20. Rxa5 {1-0 Lindberg,B-Agrest,E/SWE 2002/ (87)}) 11. Bf4 Nbd7 12. Rfd1
Qc7 13. Bg3 O-O 14. a4 Nc5 15. Bc2 Nxb3 16. Bxb3 Rac8 17. Rac1 g6 18. f3 Nd7
19. Ba2 Rfe8 20. Qd2 Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Barria,D-Vehi Bach,V/Barbera/2000/ (31)}) 10.
Qc2 Ne7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Rfd1 Nd7 13. Qd2 (13. a4 Rb8 14. a5 bxa5 15. Nxa5 Nc5
$11) 13... Bb7 14. Be2 Be5 (14... Rd8 15. Qxd6 Qxd6 16. Rxd6 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nc8
18. Rd2 Bxe4 19. c5 $1 $16) 15. Bd4 Rd8 16. Rac1 (16. f4 Bxd4+ 17. Qxd4 Nf6 $11
) 16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Nf6 18. Na4 Nc8 (18... Bxe4 $6 19. Qxb6 Qxb6 20. Nxb6 Rb8
21. Na4 (21. Rxd6 $2 Nf5) 21... Rb4 22. Nc3 $16) 19. e5 $5 {Excellent idea to
start active operations before black gets a chance to complete his development.
} (19. f3 O-O 20. Qe3 Nd7 $11) 19... dxe5 20. Qxd8+ Qxd8 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. c5
b5 (22... Nd5 23. cxb6 Ncxb6 24. Nxb6 Nxb6 25. Nc5 $14) 23. c6 Ba8 (23... Bxc6
24. Rxc6 bxa4 25. Nc5 a3 26. b3 $11) 24. Nac5 Kc7 (24... Bxc6 25. Nxe6+ Kd7 26.
Nec5+ Kd6 27. Nxa6 $11) 25. Nxa6+ Kb6 26. Bxb5 (26. Nb4 Na7 27. Rc5 Rc8 28.
Rxe5 Bxc6 29. Nxc6 Rxc6 $11) 26... Nd6 {Topalov was forced to play for win at
all costs, so the equalizing variation with 26...Kxb5 was rejected.} (26...
Kxb5 27. Nc7+ Kb6 28. Nxa8+ Ka7 29. Nc7 Kb6 $11) 27. Be2 (27. a4 Nxb5 28. axb5
Kxb5 29. Nc7+ Kb6 30. Nxa8+ Rxa8 31. Nd2 e4 $11) 27... Bxc6 28. Nb4 (28. Nac5
Ra8 29. a3 Nf5 $36) 28... Bd5 29. Nd2 (29. Nxd5+ $2 exd5 $17) 29... Nf5 30.
Nc4+ Bxc4 31. Rxc4 (31. Bxc4 Rc8 32. Nd3 e4 33. Ne5 Nd6 34. b3 Rc5 $15) 31...
Nd4 32. Bf1 (32. Kf1 Ne4 33. Ke1 Ra8 34. a3 Nd6 35. Rc1 g5 $36) 32... Rd8 33.
Nd3 Nc6 {White's pawn majority on the queenside is blocked by the black king
and second player can dream about stirring some trouble on the kingside.} 34.
a4 (34. f3 Ra8 35. a3 Nd5 $13) 34... e4 35. Nc5 Na5 36. Rb4+ (36. Rc2 Rd4 37.
h3 Nd5 $36) 36... Kxc5 37. Rb5+ Kc6 (37... Kd4 38. Rxa5 Rb8 39. Ra7 Rxb2 40.
Rxf7 $11) 38. Rxa5 Nd5 39. Rb5 (39. Ra6+ Kb7 40. a5 Rb8 $13) (39. Ra7 $2 Nc7 $1
40. Ra5 Rb8 $17) 39... Nf4 40. Rb4 f5 41. Rc4+ (41. f3 Nd3 (41... e3 $2 42.
Rxf4 Rd1 43. Rc4+ Kb6 44. Rc2 $18) 42. Rc4+ Kd5 43. b3 Rb8 $15) 41... Kb7 42.
g3 (42. f3 $2 e3 $1 43. Rxf4 Rd1 44. Rb4+ Ka7 $19) 42... Nd3 43. a5 g5 44. Be2
Rd5 45. b4 Ne5 46. a6+ Kb8 (46... Kxa6 47. Rxe4+ Kb6 48. Re3 $11) 47. Rc2 g4
48. Rc5 (48. b5 Nd3 $15) 48... Nf3+ 49. Kf1 $2 {[%mdl 4096] A rare ocassion,
when Leko is showing normal weakness of human chessplayer. Draw was still
available, but white had to find courage for transfer into an original pawn
edngame.} (49. Bxf3 $1 gxf3 (49... Rxc5 $2 50. bxc5 gxf3 (50... exf3 51. c6 $18
) 51. c6 e5 52. Kf1 f4 53. g4 e3 54. g5 $18) 50. Rxd5 exd5 51. b5 Ka7 52. Kf1
d4 53. Ke1 e3 54. fxe3 dxe3 55. h3 h5 56. h4 $11) 49... Nxh2+ 50. Ke1 (50. Kg2
Nf3 $17) 50... Nf3+ 51. Bxf3 (51. Kf1 Rxc5 52. bxc5 Ka7 53. Bb5 Nd2+ 54. Ke1
Nb3 55. c6 Kb6 56. Bc4 Nd4 $19) 51... exf3 (51... Rxc5 52. bxc5 gxf3 53. c6 e5
54. Kd2 h6 55. Ke3 h5 56. Kd2 f4 57. Ke1 e3 58. Kf1 e2+ 59. Ke1 e4 60. Kd2 e3+
$19) 52. Rc6 Re5+ 53. Kd1 (53. Kf1 Ka7 (53... Rb5 54. Rxe6 Rxb4) 54. Rd6 Rb5
55. Rxe6 Rxb4 56. Kg1 Rb1+ 57. Kh2 f4 58. gxf4 Rf1 59. f5 Rxf2+ 60. Kg1 Rc2 $19
) 53... h5 (53... Re2 $2 54. b5 Rxf2 55. b6 $16) 54. b5 Rxb5 55. Rxe6 Rb2 56.
Ke1 (56. Rf6 Rxf2 57. Rxf5 h4 $1 $19) 56... Rb1+ 57. Kd2 Rf1 58. Re5 (58. Ke3
$2 Re1+ $19) 58... f4 59. gxf4 Rxf2+ 60. Ke3 (60. Ke1 g3 61. Re3 h4 $19) 60...
Re2+ 61. Kd3 Ra2 (61... Ra2 62. Rxh5 f2 63. Rh1 g3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E27"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Milov,V"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2002.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 O-O 5. a3 (5. e4 d5 6.
e5 Nfd7 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 dxc4 9. Nh3 $44 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxe5) 9... c5 10. Ng5
cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Kf2 (12. Bd2 $5 c3 13. Be3 $44) 12... Rd8 13. Qc2 Nf8
14. Be3 b5 15. Qe4 (15. Ne4 Nc6 16. Nd6 $44) 15... Bd7 16. Qf4 Be8 17. Ne4 Nc6
18. h4 $13 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Timoshenko,G/Kherson 1991/CBM 21 ext/[Milov,V] 
(32)}) 5... Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 {now the game is transposed into the Saemisch
variation.} Ne8 {Black avoids an unpleasant pin which could arise after Bc1-g5
and is preparing for a possible Ne8-d6 attacking the c4-pawn in the future.} (
6... d6 7. e4 e5 8. Bd3 c5 (8... Nc6 9. Be3 (9. Ne2 Ne8 10. O-O (10. g4 $6 Qh4+
) (10. Be3 f5 $13) (10. d5 Na5 11. g4 b6 12. Ng3 Ba6 $15) 10... f5 11. exf5
Bxf5 12. Bxf5 Rxf5 13. Rb1 Rb8 $11) 9... Re8 (9... Ne8 10. g4 $14) (9... b6 10.
Ne2) 10. Ne2 b6 11. g4 Na5 12. Ng3 Ba6 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. h4 Nf8 15. Nf5 (15. f4
exf4 16. Bxf4 Qd7 17. O-O (17. a4 Qc6 18. d5 Qd7) 17... Qa4 18. Nf5 Bxc4 $13 {
1-0 Mikenas,V-Zinner,E/Brno 1931/EXT 99 (32)}) 15... Qd7 16. a4 $36 {/\17.h5})
9. Ne2 Nc6 10. O-O {White is not in a hurry with d4-d5 and keeps the tension
in the centre} (10. d5 $5 Ne7 (10... Na5 11. Ng3 b6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 {
and the knight on a5 is out of play}) 11. g4 $36) 10... b6 (10... Ne8 11. Be3
b6 12. f4 {here, in comparison with the position with white pawn on d5 where
White mostly plays g2-g4, White can play f3-f4} Qe7 13. d5 Na5 14. Ng3 Kh8 15.
Ra2 g6 16. Raf2 f6 17. h4 Rg8 18. Qe2 Nb7 19. f5 Nd8 20. fxg6 Rxg6 21. Nf5 Bxf5
22. Rxf5 Nf7 23. Qf3 Nh6 24. Bxh6 Rxh6 25. h5 $16 {1-0 Geller,E-Arlamowski,E/
Szcawno Zdroj 1950/MCD (33)}) (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Nxd4 (11... exd4 12. Bg5 $36
) 12. Nxd4 Qb6 13. Be3 exd4 14. Bf2 $14 {/\ 15.Be2 and 16.Bd4}) 11. Bg5 $1 Ba6
$2 (11... h6 {was obligatory} 12. Bh4 (12. Be3 Ba6) 12... g5 $5 13. Bf2 Nh5 14.
Re1 $14) 12. f4 $1 $16 {now white initiative becomes very dangerous} cxd4 13.
cxd4 exd4 (13... Nxd4 {Milov,V;ChessBase} 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. e5 $18) 14. Ng3 {
[%cal Rg3h5] 1-0 Gligoric,S-Plater,K/Warsaw 1947/MCL/[Milov,V;ChessBase] (30)})
7. e4 b6 8. Bd3 (8. Nh3 $5 Ba6 9. Bg5 (9. e5 Nc6 10. Bg5 f6 11. exf6 Nxf6 12.
Bd3 e5 13. O-O h6 14. Bh4 exd4 15. cxd4 Nxd4 16. Be4 Ne6 (16... Nc6 17. Bd5+
Kh8 18. Nf4 $18) 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bxf6 Rxf6 19. Qxd7 Bxc4 20. Rfe1 Rf7 21. Qd2
c5 $14) 9... f6 10. Be3 (10. Bh4 Nc6 11. e5 Na5 12. Qa4 d6 13. Nf2 d5 14. cxd5
Bxf1 15. Rxf1 Qxd5 $15 {0-1 Kantsler,B-Tiviakov,S/Frunze 1989/TD (32)}) 10...
Nc6 11. Bd3 Na5 12. c5 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 d5 14. cxd6 (14. O-O c6 15. Rfe1 Qd7 16.
Re2 Nc7 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Rae1 b5 19. axb5 Nxb5 20. Bf2 Nc4 $11 {0-1 Byrne,R-De
Firmian,N/Philadelphia 1989/EXT 97 (44)}) 14... Nxd6 15. Nf4 Qd7 16. d5 exd5
17. Qxd5+ Qf7 18. Kf2 Qxd5 19. exd5 c6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Volkov,S-Timoshenko,G/
Tusnad 2000/EXT 2001 (33)}) 8... Ba6 9. Nh3 (9. f4 $5 Nc6 10. a4 f5 11. e5 d5
12. Ba3 dxc4 13. Bc2 Rf7 14. Nf3 Qd5 15. O-O Bb7 16. Qe1 Na5 17. Qh4 $36 {
1-0 Vladimirov,B-Ruban,E/USSR 1968/Inf 06 (31)}) 9... Nc6 (9... c5 10. O-O Nc6
11. e5 $5 $14 (11. Be3 Na5 12. Qe2 Rc8 13. e5 cxd4 14. Bg5 f6 15. Qe4 g6 16.
exf6 Nxf6 $17 {1-0 Toth,B-Flesch,J/Budapest 1971/MCD (29)})) 10. e5 Na5 {
The plans for both sides are becoming clear: White has to try to develop an
initiative on the kingside, even if it`s going to cost the c4-pawn, Black
wants to try to win a pawn on c4 and to block white`s play on the kingside.}
11. Qe2 f6 12. O-O $146 {This position isn`t research at all and this simple
move appears to be a novelty.} (12. Rb1 {was played in the earlier game and
certainly deserves attention:} d5 (12... c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. O-O
$14) 13. Nf4 Qd7 14. cxd5 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 exd5 16. O-O $14 {1/2-1/2 Najdorf,
M-Beni,A/Dubrovnik 1950/MCD/[Milov,V] (52)}) 12... c5 13. Be3 Rc8 14. Rac1 {
the c4-pawn needs protection} d5 $1 (14... d6 15. f4 {would favour White.}) (
14... cxd4 {Ftacnik} 15. cxd4 d5 16. exd6 Nxd6 17. Nf4 Qd7 18. c5 $14) 15. Nf4
(15. cxd5 {would allow Black to take control over the light squares:} Bxd3 16.
Qxd3 Qxd5 17. Nf4 Qc4 $15) 15... Nc7 (15... dxc4 {Ftacnik} 16. Bxh7+ $5 (16.
Be4 {Ftacnik} Qe7 17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Qe6 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Qc2
h6 $15) 16... Kxh7 17. Nxe6 Qe7 18. Nxf8+ Qxf8 19. Rfe1 $13) 16. exf6 (16. cxd5
Bxd3 17. Qxd3 exd5 $11) 16... Qxf6 (16... dxc4 {Ftacnik} 17. fxg7 $5 (17. Be4 {
Ftacnik} Qxf6 18. Qc2 g6 19. dxc5 Nb3 20. Rcd1 Nxc5 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Ne2 $11)
17... Rxf4 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Bxf4 cxd4 20. Qe4+ Kxg7 21. Be5+ Kf8 22. Bxd4 $13
) 17. cxd5 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 cxd4 19. cxd4 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 exd5 $11 {After more or
less forced simplifications we reach about equal position. Ftacnik: 'The
position is quite equal as black can organize his defence along the white
squares.'} 21. Bf2 Nc4 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Bg3 Qg6 24. Qb3 {White has to avoid
the queen swap as the black pawns on the queenside with a knight support would
become very dangerous.} h6 (24... a6 $5) 25. Qb5 Qf7 26. a4 Kh7 27. h3 Ra8 28.
Be5 a6 29. Qb3 Qg6 30. f4 {behind his well-positioned bishop White will now
try to coordinate his pieces and create some pressure on the kingside. Black
has enough defensive resources, of course.} Rf8 31. Rc3 Ra7 32. Rg3 Qf5 33. Kh2
(33. Qf3 {Ftacnik} Rd7 34. Rc1 $11) 33... Raf7 34. Rg4 Rd7 35. Rc1 Rff7 36. Rc3
Rb7 37. Qd1 (37. Rcg3 {Ftacnik} Qe4 38. Rg6 Rfe7 $11) 37... Qe4 38. Rgg3 Qf5
39. Rb3 b5 {'!' Ftacnik. reminding White that the "b" pawn is also not without
importance. Ftacnik: 'Even the defender can show some teeth and start his
counterplay with passed b pawn.'} (39... Rfe7 $11 {Ftacnik}) 40. axb5 Rxb5 41.
Rxb5 axb5 42. Rb3 Rb7 43. Qe1 Qe4 $15 44. Qxe4+ $2 {The endgame unexpectedly
is going to be very difficult for White. It was better to avoid the exchange.}
(44. Qf2 b4 $17) (44. Qc3 $142) (44. Qb4 {Ftacnik} Ne3 45. Rb2 Rb6 $1 $15)
44... dxe4 45. d5 g5 (45... b4 46. d6 (46. g4 $2 Nd2 47. Rb2 e3 $17) 46... e3 (
46... Nd2 $4 47. Rxb4) 47. Kg1 Kg6 48. Bd4 Nxd6 49. Bxe3 $11) (45... e3 $5 {
Ftacnik} 46. Kg1 g5 47. d6 Kg6 $15) 46. g4 (46. Kg3 Kg6 $17) 46... e3 (46...
Rf7 47. Rxb5 gxf4 48. Bd4 e3 49. Rb8 Re7 50. Kg2 Nd2 51. d6 Rd7 52. Rf8 f3+ (
52... e2 53. Bf2 f3+ 54. Rxf3 $11) 53. Rxf3 $11) 47. Kg3 e2 $2 {missing the
win.} (47... Re7 $1 48. Rb1 e2 49. Re1 (49. Kf2 gxf4 50. Bxf4 Nb2 $1 51. Bd2
Nd3+ 52. Kg3 e1=Q+ 53. Bxe1 Re3+ $19) 49... Nxe5 50. fxe5 Rxe5 51. d6 Kg7 52.
d7 Rd5 53. Rxe2 Rxd7 $19) 48. Kf2 Re7 49. Ke1 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'An
elegant way to neutralize black's e2 pawn, Topalov still keeps a pull in the
endgame.'} (49. Rxb5 $2 {Ftacnik} e1=Q+ 50. Kxe1 gxf4 $19) 49... Nxe5 50. d6
Re6 51. fxe5 Rxe5 52. Rb2 Re8 53. Rxb5 Kg7 54. Rb6 Re3 55. d7 Rd3 56. Rb7 Kf8
57. Kxe2 Rd6 58. Ke3 Ke7 59. Ke4 Re6+ 60. Kf3 Rd6 61. Ke4 Re6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Qe2 Bg6 20. Bd3 Be8 21. Ra3
Ne7 22. Be4 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Qb6 24. b4 axb4 25. Nxb4 Qc5 26. Qa2 Bb5 27. c4 Bxc4
28. Bxc4 Rxb4 29. Ra8 Rbb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Bd5 g6 32. g3 Kg7 33. Kg2 Qd4 34.
Bc6 Qc5 35. Bf3 Re8 36. Rb1 e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O
Be7 8. c4 Nf6 9. h3 Nb4 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. Nc3 c6 13. Re1 Nbd5 14.
Qb3 Nb6 15. Bd3 Be6 (15... Nfd5 16. a3 h6 17. Ne5 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Nf3 Qd8
20. Re5 Be6 21. Qc2 Nd7 22. Ree1 N7f6 $11 {0-1 St Amand,P-Barbeau,S/Quebec
1982/EXT 99 (50)}) (15... Qd6 16. Bg5 Be6 17. Qc2 h6 18. Bh4 Nbd5 19. Bg3 Qd8
20. a3 Re8 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Heifez,E-Kranz,A/
Oberpullendorf 2002/CBM 89 ext (28)}) 16. Qc2 h6 (16... Bd5 17. Ne5 h6 18. Bf4
Re8 19. Re2 Be6 20. Qd2 Bf8 21. Rae1 Nbd5 22. Bg3 Rc8 23. Bh4 g5 24. Bg3 Nh5
25. Nxd5 Nxg3 26. fxg3 cxd5 27. Bb1 Qf6 28. Ng4 Qg7 29. Bf5 $16 {1-0
Ponomariov,R-Karpov,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2003/The Week in Chess 429 (76)}) 17.
Rxe6 $146 {'!?' Ftacnik. After this typical exchange sacrifice White has full
compensation. But Black has enough resources for the defence. Ftacnik: 'In the
well known position Topalov chooses the method of a great shock with the help
of the exchange sacrifice. Anand himself has done the same in the game with
Jussupow, but under more favourable conditions.'} (17. Ne5 Re8 18. Bf4 Nbd5 19.
Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bh7+ Kf8 21. Bd2 Bd6 22. Re2 Qf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 McDonald,N-Halasz,
T/Aarhus 1990/EXT 98 (32)}) (17. Bd2 Nbd5 18. a3 Rc8 (18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 c5
20. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 21. Re1 Qd6 22. Bc4 Nd5 23. Qe4 Rad8 24. dxc5 Qxc5 25. Bxh6
Rxf3 (25... gxh6 $2 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Qxh6+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Re5 $18) 26.
gxf3 gxh6 27. Qxe6+ Kf8 28. Re5 Rd6 29. Qxe7+ Nxe7 30. Rxc5 $16 {1/2-1/2 Anand,
V-Jussupow,A/Dortmund 1998/CBM 66/[ChessBase] (64)}) 19. Rad1 (19. Na4 Rc7 20.
Re2 (20. Nc5 Bc8 21. Rac1 Bd6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. b4 Rce7 24. Qb2 Nc7 25. a4 Ne6
26. Nxe6 Bxe6 27. Rcd1 Bd5 28. Bc3 Qc7 29. Bb1 Nd7 30. Qc2 Nf8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Lutz,C-Fridman,D/Essen 2002/CBM 90 (33)}) 20... Bd6 21. Rae1 Nh5 22. Bh7+ Kh8
23. Bf5 Nhf4 24. Bxf4 Nxf4 25. Re3 Nd5 26. R3e2 Nf4 27. Re3 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,
B-Jussupow,A/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (27)}) 19... Re8 20. Na4 Rc7 21. Ne5 Bf8
22. Ba5 b6 23. Bd2 Qc8 24. Re2 Rd8 25. b4 c5 26. bxc5 bxc5 27. Ba5 $16 {
1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Jussupow,A/Frankfurt 2000/CBM 76 ext (48)}) (17. a3 Nbd5 18. Na4
Nd7 19. Bd2 Re8 20. Rad1 Bf6 21. Ne5 Qc7 22. f4 Nf8 23. Nc5 Rad8 24. Bc1 Bc8
25. Qf2 Ne6 26. Ne4 Be7 27. Bc4 Nf8 28. f5 Nh7 29. Bf4 Qb6 30. Bxh6 $16 {
1-0 Bologan,V-Kasimdzhanov,R/Pamplona 2002/CBM 93_01 (41)}) 17... fxe6 18. Qe2
Qd7 (18... Qd6 $5 19. Bd2 (19. Ne4 Qd5 $13) 19... Nbd5 20. Re1 $44) 19. Bd2 (
19. Ne5 Qxd4 20. Ng6 Rf7 21. Ne5 Rd8 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 $17) 19... Bd6 20. Ne4 Nbd5
(20... Nxe4 {Ftacnik} 21. Qxe4 Rf5 22. Nh4 $40) 21. Nxd6 (21. Ne5 Qc7 22. Nxd6
Qxd6 23. Re1 $44) 21... Qxd6 22. Re1 Rad8 $1 {By this move Anand prepares
counterplay connected with move c5.} (22... Nf4 $2 {Ftacnik} 23. Bxf4 Qxf4 24.
Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Ne5 $18) 23. a3 (23. Qxe6+ Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Rfe8 $17) 23... Rfe8 24.
Bb1 c5 $1 (24... Nf4 {Ftacnik} 25. Qe3 g5 26. Qb3 Qd5 27. Qc2 $15) 25. Ne5 (25.
dxc5 Qxc5 26. Ne5 Qd4 $17) 25... cxd4 26. Qd3 Ne3 $6 {Ftacnik: 'White has
managed to organize some threats and Anand's reaction is not exact. With the
best play white could have been forced into suffering through difficult
endgame.'} (26... Ne7 $5 27. Ba2 Qb6 28. Nf3 Ned5 $17) (26... Qb6 {Ftacnik} 27.
Bxh6 $1 Qxb2 28. Bxg7 Qc3 $1 (28... Nf4 {Ftacnik} 29. Qf3 Ne2+ 30. Kh2 Kxg7 31.
Qd3 Nf4 32. Qg3+ Kf8 33. Qxf4 $16) 29. Bxf6 Qxd3 30. Bxd3 Nxf6 $17) 27. Nf3 (
27. Ng6 Nf5 28. g4 Ne3 $17 (28... Ne7 29. Bb4 Qc7 30. Bxe7 Rxe7 31. Nxe7+ Qxe7
32. Ba2 $44)) (27. fxe3 {Ftacnik} Qxe5 $19) 27... Ned5 (27... Nf5 {Ftacnik} 28.
Ba2 Nd5 29. Nxd4 Nxd4 30. Qxd4 a6 $17) 28. Bxh6 $1 (28. Ne5 $5 Qb6) 28... Nf4
$1 (28... gxh6 $2 {Ftacnik} 29. Qg6+ Kf8 30. Qxh6+ Kg8 31. Re5 $18) 29. Bxf4
Qxf4 30. Ba2 (30. Qb3 $1 Qd6 (30... b6 31. Bg6 Re7 32. Rxe6 $36) 31. Qxb7 (31.
Bd3 Nd7 (31... b6 32. Bc4 $44) 32. Ng5 $44) 31... Rd7 32. Qb3 (32. Qb5 {Ftacnik
} d3 $15) 32... d3 33. Rd1 Rb8 34. Qc3 $44) 30... Rd6 31. h4 {[%cal Gf3g5]} Qh6
(31... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 32. Qg6 Qf7 33. Qg3 $15) 32. Bc4 (32. Qf5 $5 Qh5 (32...
Kh8 33. Qc5 Rdd8 34. Ng5 $132) (32... d3 33. Bxe6+ Kf8 34. Qc5 Red8 35. Bb3 $13
) 33. Ng5 d3 34. Rxe6 Rexe6 35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Qc5 Ne8 37. Qf5+ $11) 32... Qh7
33. Qb3 d3 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (33... Rb6 $5 34. Qa4 (34. Qa2 {Ftacnik} d3 $15)
34... a6 35. Nxd4 Qxh4 36. Nxe6 Kh8 $17) 34. Rd1 $2 {Ftacnik: 'It is quite
remarkable, that two phenomenal tacticians have neglected th possibility of 34.
Rxe6! with a huge chances for a draw. Most likely explanation lays in the
territory of time trouble before the time control.'} (34. Rxe6 Rexe6 (34...
Rdxe6 {Ftacnik} 35. Bxe6+ Kh8 36. Ne5 Qh5 37. Nf7+ Qxf7 38. Bxf7 Re1+ 39. Kh2
d2 40. Qxb7 d1=Q 41. Qc8+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ $11) 35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Qb4 Ke7 (36...
Ne8 {Ftacnik} 37. Ng5 $14) 37. Qxb7+ Nd7 38. Bxd7 Rxd7 39. Qb4+ $11) 34... d2
$1 35. Qb4 (35. Rxd2 Rxd2 36. Nxd2 Qxh4 $17 37. Bxe6+ Kh8 38. Nf3 Qh6 $17) (35.
Qxb7 Qc2 36. Bb3 Qd3 37. Rxd2 (37. Ng5 Qe2 $17) 37... Qb1+ 38. Kh2 Rb6 $19)
35... Red8 $17 36. Ng5 Qc2 37. Bb3 (37. Qb3 {Ftacnik} Qxb3 38. Bxb3 Rc8 39. Kf1
Rcc6 40. Ke2 Rb6 $19) 37... Qc6 38. g3 (38. Qa5 {Ftacnik} Ra8 39. Nxe6 Rxe6 40.
Rxd2 Kh8 41. Bxe6 Qxe6 $17) (38. Kf1 {Ftacnik} Rc8 39. a4 Qa6+ 40. Qb5 Qxb5+
41. axb5 Rc1 $17) 38... Qb6 $1 $19 39. Nxe6 (39. Qc4 Rc6 $19) (39. Qa4 $142 Nh7
40. Nxh7 Kxh7 41. Qe4+ Kg8 42. Bc2 Qxb2 $19) (39. Qxb6 {Ftacnik} Rxb6 40. Nxe6
Rdd6 41. Nd4+ Kf8 42. Rxd2 Rxd4 43. Rxd4 Rxb3 $19) 39... Qxb4 40. axb4 Rc8 {
Ftacnik: 'Black has finally managed to defend himself and the pawn on d2 is
for Topalov a very unpleasant nut to crack.'} 41. Kf1 (41. Ng5+ Kf8 42. Ne6+
Kf7 43. Ng5+ Kg6 $19) 41... Kh8 42. Ng5 Rd4 43. Nf7+ Kh7 44. Ng5+ Kh6 45. Nf7+
Kg6 (45... Kh5 $5 {Ftacnik} 46. Ne5 Ne4 47. Ke2 Kh6 $19) 46. Ne5+ Kh7 47. Nf3
Rxb4 48. Nxd2 Rd8 49. Bc2+ (49. Ke2 {Ftacnik} Rxd2+ 50. Kxd2 Rxb3 $17) 49...
Kh8 50. b3 Rbd4 51. Ke1 b5 {Ftacnik: 'The defender has very bad cards with
passive pieces, but also after entangling white will not cope with the
queenside pawn majority.'} 52. Nb1 $6 (52. Nf3 Rxd1+ 53. Bxd1 a5 $19) 52...
Re8+ 53. Kf1 Rxd1+ 54. Bxd1 Ne4 55. Bc2 a5 56. Na3 (56. g4 b4 $19 {[%cal Ye4c3]
}) 56... Nd2+ 57. Kg2 Rb8 58. g4 b4 59. Nb1 Nxb1 60. Bxb1 Rc8 61. Bf5 Rc3 (
61... Rc3 62. Be6 a4 63. bxa4 b3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Dieses Läuferschach ist
sehr populär in der letzten Zeit - Schwarz möchte die geschlossene Variante
spielen und verhindert die normale Entwicklung des weißen Läufers nach b2.} 5.
Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 9. Bf4 {Wäre der Läufer auf c1, könnte
Weiß b3 und Bb2 spielen.} Ba6 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rac1 Nh5 $11 {
Schwarz hat eine bequeme Stellung.} 13. e4 $6 {Ftacnik: 'Combination of giving
up the bishop on f4 for the knight a activity with e4 is very unfortunate, the
square f4 will be very weak.' Weiß geht nicht zurück - er hat keine Angst vor
der Schwächung seiner Bauernstellung.} (13. Be3 f5 14. Qa4 Nb8 15. Ne5 f4 16.
gxf4 Nxf4) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 Nf6 $5 {[%cal Gf6h5,Gh5f4]} (14... dxe4 15. Nxe4
Qc7 $11) 15. Ne5 (15. e5 Nh5 16. f5 Nf4 $36) 15... Nh5 $1 {Schwarz beschäftigt
sich nicht mit dem Damenflügel, er möchte am Königsflügel angreifen.} (15...
Bb7 16. f5 $13) 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 (17. Ndxc4 b5 18. Qa6 bxc4 19. Nxc6 Rxc6
20. Qxc6 Nxf4 {Mit Zugumstellung erhalten wir die Partiefortsetzung.}) 17... b5
18. Qa6 {[#]} Rxc6 $1 {[%mdl 512] Ftacnik: 'Topalov has a clearly defined
atitude towards material on the board, initiative and positional compensation
have a distinct preference with him.'  Ein positionelles Qualitätsopfer a la
Petrosian. Nachfolgend erhält Schwarz dafür eine dauerhafte Initiative.} (18...
Qd6 19. exd5 $13 (19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Nxc4 Nxf4 $19)) 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 {[%csl Gf4]
[%cal Gf4e2,Ge2g1,Ge2c1] Der Springer steht ausgezeichnet auf f4.} 20. Nxc4
bxc4 $1 $44 (20... Ne2+ 21. Kf1 Nxc1 22. exd5 Nxa2 23. Qxb5 Nb4 $13) 21. exd5
exd5 22. Rc3 (22. Bf3 Bh4 23. Rc2 Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Qf5 $36) 22... Bh4 $1 {[%cal
Gd8g5] Mit diesem Zug bereitet Schwarz 23...Qg5 vor.} 23. Rg3 (23. Kf1 Nxg2 24.
Kxg2 Qg5+ 25. Rg3 (25. Kf1 Qf4 $19) 25... Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qg4 $17) (23. Rf3 Qg5
24. Rxf4 Qxf4 25. Rf1 $17) 23... Re8 $5 {Ftacnik: 'There are very few mere
mortals, that would be able to resist the temptation to take back the exchange
and play without any risk. Obviously, Topalov is from a different sort... ' 
Interessant - Schwarz möchte die Qualität nicht nehmen.} (23... Bxg3 24. hxg3
Nxg2 25. Kxg2 Re8 $17) 24. Rg4 Re6 25. Qc5 Nxg2 26. Rxg2 a6 $15 {[%csl Rd4,Rg2,
Gh4][%mdl 1024] Schwarz hat nur einen Bauern für die Qualität, aber dafür
völlig ausreichendes Gegenspiel - der Pd4 ist angreifbar und der Rg2 steht
passiv. Schwarz kann seine Stellung stufenweise verbessern, weil Weiß kein
Gegenspiel hat.} 27. Qa3 g6 {Schwarz verbessert mit kleinen Zügen seine
Stellung, bevor er eine entscheidende Aktion einleitet.} 28. Qc3 Qe7 {[%cal
Ge7e2]} 29. b3 Qa3 (29... cxb3) 30. Qc2 Qe7 {Schwarz wiederholt die Züge in
besserer Stellung - auf diese Weise kann er Bedenkzeit gewinnen.} 31. Kf1 (31.
Qc3 cxb3 32. Qxb3 (32. axb3) 32... Qd6 $15) 31... cxb3 32. Qxb3 (32. axb3 $15)
32... Qd6 33. Qd3 (33. Qf3 Re4 $15) 33... Qf4 {[%csl Ge6,Rf1,Gf4,Rg2,Gh4]
Ftacnik: 'White is lacking counterplay and squares for pieces, on the other
hand he can not complain about the lack of weaknesses.'} 34. Qd2 Qf5 35. Qd3
Re4 $1 (35... Qf4) 36. Qb3 Kg7 37. Qd3 h5 38. Qb3 Bf6 39. Rg3 (39. Qc3 Qf4 $15
(39... h4 $15)) 39... Rf4 $1 {Schwarz kann auch sofort den d-Bauern nehmen,
aber zuerst erhöht er lieber den positionellen Druck.} (39... Bxd4 $17) (39...
Rxd4 $17) 40. Qe3 h4 {[%csl Gh4] Der schwarze h-Bauern kommt sehr stark ins
Spiel.} 41. Rg2 Rf3 42. Qe2 a5 43. Kg1 Rf4 44. Kh1 Re4 45. Qf1 a4 (45... Rxd4
46. Rxd4 Bxd4 $17) 46. Rd2 Bxd4 $17 {Endlich Schwarz nimmt den d4-Bauern.} 47.
Qd1 Be5 {[%cal Ge4b4,Gb4b1,Gb1h1]} 48. f3 (48. Rxd5 h3 49. Rg1 Qf4 50. Rg3 Qxf2
$19) 48... Rb4 {[%cal Rb4b1,Rb1h1] Ftacnik: 'Black has two pawn for the
exchange and also control over the most squares on the board. In connection
with mating attack it makes him the obvious winner of the game.'} 49. Rd3 h3
50. Re2 d4 51. Rf2 Bf4 52. Qe2 Rb1+ 53. Rd1 d3 $19 {[%csl Gd3,Gf4] Der d-Bauer
entscheidet die Partie.} 54. Qf1 Rxd1 55. Qxd1 d2 56. Re2 Qd3 57. Rf2 (57. Re4
Qc3 $19) 57... Be3 58. Rf1 Bd4 59. a3 Kg8 $22 {Nach diesem Zug befindet sich
Weiß in Zugzwang.} 60. f4 Qe4+ 61. Rf3 Bf2 $1 {Diese Partie war die beste in
der 3. Runde.} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 {[%mdl 4] This move was popular in the 1930s ,but in the last years
Evgenij Bareev,already third time uses him.} (8. Bxc3 $5 {It's main line.See
comments to Stohl,I-Suba,M/Halkidiki,2002/CBM 92(1-0)(Golod,V)(54)}) 8... b6 $5
{Besides,black has two principales moves:} (8... O-O 9. Nf3 b6 10. c4 Qh5 11.
Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rfd1 Rfe8 14. Bc3 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. a4 $14 {
Bareev,E-Huzman,A/Panormo,2001(1/2-1/2)(54)}) ({and} 8... Nc6) 9. Nf3 Nbd7 ({
Also met in this tournament:} 9... Bb7 10. Be2 (10. Ne5 $6 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Qxd7
12. f3 O-O 13. Be2 Rac8 14. Qb2 Rfd8 15. Rd1 Bc6 $11 {Kjeldsen,J-Christensen,T/
DEN,1996(1/2-1/2)(20)}) 10... Nbd7 11. O-O Rc8 12. c4 Qe4 (12... Qd6 $5) 13.
Bd3 Qg4 14. d5 $1 exd5 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. e4 $36 {Bareev,E-Ivanchuk,V/Wijk aan
Zee,2003(1-0)(34)}) 10. c4 Qd6 11. Be2 Bb7 12. Rd1 $146 ({A little prematurely:
} 12. O-O {in view of:} Ng4 $1 (12... O-O $143 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Qe5 $6 (
14... Rfd8 $5) 15. a4 Rac8 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Rfd1 $14 {Frydman,P-Regedzinski,T/
Lodz,1938(1-0)(38)}) 13. g3 Ngf6 $11 {[%cal Rb7h1]}) 12... Rc8 {I think,that
it was better to unload a situation at the centre:} (12... cxd4 13. exd4 $140
Ne4 14. O-O (14. Be3 $143 Qb4+ {[%csl Re1]}) 14... Nxd2 15. Rxd2 Rc8 $11) 13.
O-O Qc7 ({Now pretty dubiously:} 13... Ng4 {in view of:} 14. d5 {[%cal Ge3e4]}
exd5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 (15... Bxd5 $2 16. Bc3 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge3e4]}) 16. Bc3 {
[%csl Rg7]} Qh5 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gb7f3]} 17. e4 $14) 14. dxc5 $5 {White want
to receive a point "d4" for translation of the his knight on queen side.} Nxc5
15. Nd4 O-O 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Be1 {/\Bg3 /^h2-b8 or Bh4/^h4-d8} ({Senselessly:} 
17. Nb5 {because of:} Qb8 18. Bc3 a6) 17... Qe7 18. Bh4 Bc6 {[%csl Rc2,Rd1]
[%cal Gc6a4]} ({It deserves attention:} 18... e5 $5 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8
21. Rd1 {[%csl Rg8]} Rd7 $11) 19. Nb5 ({Leads to equality:} 19. Nxc6 Rxc6 20.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Rd1 Rd6 22. Rxd6 Qxd6 {[%csl Yc5,Ge2,Yf6,Gh4]}) 19... h6 20.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 21. e4 ({Pa7 is inviolable:} 21. Bxf6 $2 Qxf6 22. Nxa7 Ba4 23.
Qc1 Ra8 24. Nb5 Bxb5 25. cxb5 Rxa2 $15) 21... Bxb5 {Differently,after:} (21...
e5 {White can translate the knight on the following route:} 22. Nc3 {[%csl Rd5]
[%cal Gc3d5]}) 22. cxb5 e5 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gc5e6,Ge6d4]} 23. Rd1 Ne6 24. Rxd8+
Qxd8 25. Qc1 Qd6 26. Bf2 {[%csl Rd4,Ge2,Gf2] The weakness of a point "d4" is
compensated by advantage BB.} Nd7 {[%cal Yd7c5,Ye6d4]} (26... Nd4 $143 27. Qc8+
Kh7 28. Bf1 Qa3 29. Qc4 $14) 27. Bc4 Nd4 28. h3 Nc5 29. Kh2 g5 {Veselin
Topalov places all pieces on black fields.} 30. Qa3 Qd7 31. Bg3 Qe7 32. Qb4 h5
33. Kh1 Qf6 34. Qa3 Kg7 {The concrete game begins!} 35. Qxa7 h4 36. Bxe5 {
Practically leads to a drawn game.} (36. Bh2 $143 Nxf3 37. Bxf7 (37. gxf3 $2
Qxf3+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+ {[%csl Rc4][%cal Ge3e4,Ge4c4,Ge3c1]}) 37... Nxh2 38. Bd5+
Kh6 39. Kxh2 Qf4+ $11) (36. Bf2 $2 Nxe4 {[%csl Rf2]} 37. Bxd4 Ng3+ 38. Kg1 exd4
$17 {[%csl Gd4,Rg1]}) ({Can it was necessary to risk?} 36. Be1 Nxf3 37. gxf3
Qxf3+ 38. Kg1 Nxe4 (38... g4 $6 39. Qe7 $16) 39. Qxb6 Qxh3 {[%cal Gh3g4]} 40.
Bf1 Qg4+ 41. Kh1 Qf4 $44) 36... Qxe5 37. Qxf7+ Kh6 38. Qf8+ Qg7 $8 (38... Kg6
$4 39. Bf7+ Kf6 (39... Kh7 40. Qg8+ Kh6 41. Qg6#) 40. Bg8+ Kg6 41. Qf7+ Kh6 42.
Qh7#) (38... Kh7 $4 39. Bg8+ Kh8 (39... Kg6 40. Qf7+ Kh6 41. Qh7#) 40. Bf7+ Kh7
41. Qg8+ Kh6 42. Qg6#) 39. Qd6+ Kh7 ({It was a very interestingly:} 39... Kh5
40. Qxb6 $140 Nxf3 {[%csl Rh1][%cal Gg7a1]} 41. e5 {[%csl Rc5,Rh5][%cal Gc4e2,
Gc4f7]} (41. gxf3 $2 Qa1+ 42. Kg2 Qb2+ $17 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Gb2c1,Gb2d4]})
41... Qh7 $1 {[%csl Rh1][%cal Gh7b1]} 42. Bf7+ $8 (42. gxf3 $2 Qb1+ $17 {
[%csl Rc4][%cal Gb1c2,Gc2c4]}) 42... Qxf7 43. Qxc5 Nd2 44. Qc1 Qf2 45. b6 Nf1
46. b7 Ng3+ 47. Kh2 Nf1+ 48. Qxf1 Qxf1 49. b8=Q Qf4+ 50. Kg1 Qc1+ 51. Kf2 Qd2+
52. Kf3 Qd3+ $11) 40. Qxb6 (40. e5 $143 Nf5 41. Qxb6 Qxe5) 40... Nxf3 $1 (40...
Na4 $2 41. Qd6 {[%csl Gb5,Yd6,Rh7][%cal Gb5b6]}) 41. gxf3 Qa1+ 42. Kg2 Qb2+ 43.
Kf1 Qc1+ 44. Kf2 {After this move Veselin Topalov is agreed for draw, because
of next variants:} (44. Kf2 Qxc4 45. Qc7+ Kg6 46. Qc6+ {[%cal Gc6e8]} Kf7 47.
Qc7+ Ke6 48. Qc8+ (48. Qc6+ $2 Ke5 49. Qc7+ Kd4) 48... Ke7 (48... Ke5 $2 49.
Qh8+ Kd6 $8 50. Qd8+ Nd7 (50... Ke6 $4 51. Qg8+) (50... Ke5 51. Qxg5+ Kd4 52.
Qf6+ $16) 51. e5+ Kxe5 52. Qxd7 Qxa2+ 53. Ke3 $14) 49. Qc7+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
exf4 9. Bxf4 Na5 10. Qd2 Nxc4 11. dxc4 Bg4 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Qf2 Qb6 14. b3 Bh5
15. Rae1 Qc6 16. h3 Rad8 17. Nh4 Bg6 18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Qf3 h6 20. Nd5 Kh7 21.
Bd2 Qd7 22. Nf4 g5 23. Ne2 Rf8 24. Qd3 g6 25. Nc3 Qe6 26. Nd5 Nd7 27. Nc7 Qg8
28. Bc3 Bf6 29. Bxf6 Rxf6 30. Qd5 b6 31. Qb7 Qg7 32. Qxa7 Rdf8 33. Nb5 R8f7 34.
Qc7 g4 35. hxg4 Ne5 36. Qxb6 Nxg4 37. e5 Rxf1+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2594"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Mueller,Karsten} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6
Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Kb1 h6 12. Bh4 Qa5 13.
Qd2 Qh5 14. h3 g5 15. Bg3 e5 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. Nd2 d5 18. Bxe5 dxe4 19. Qe3 Nd5
20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Bd4 f5 22. f3 Rfd8 23. c3 Rxd4 24. cxd4 f4 25. Qb3+ Bd5 26.
Qc2 e3 27. Ne4 Qf7 28. Nc3 Be6 29. d5 Bf5 30. Ne4 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Qxd5 32. Rd1
Qe6 33. Ka1 h5 34. a3 Kf7 35. Qa4 Bxe4 36. fxe4 Bf6 37. Qc2 Qc6 38. Kb1 g4 39.
hxg4 hxg4 40. Qd3 Qe6 41. g3 f3 42. Qxe3 Be5 43. Qg5 Bxg3 44. Qh5+ Kg7 45. Qg5+
Kf7 46. Qh5+ Kg7 47. Ka1 f2 48. Qg5+ Kf7 49. Qh5+ Kg7 50. Rh1 $6 {Too risky.
Draw by perpetual was the best option for White.} Be5 $1 51. Qh7+ Kf8 52. Qxb7
g3 53. Rc1 {'?' Mueller,Karsten.} (53. Rd1 $142 {Mueller,Karsten}) {[%tqu "En",
"Black's passed pawn are very dangerous, but White is threatening 54.Rc8+. Can
you find Topalov's brilliant winning move?","Exploit the power of Black's
passed f-pawn.","Sacrifice your queen to deflect the white rook.","e6c4",
"That's it. A remarkable queen sacrifice wins immediately.",6]} 53... Qc4 $3 {
[%csl Ra1,Rc1][%cal Gf2f1] The winning move.} 54. Qa8+ (54. Rxc4 {The queen is
invulnerable:} f1=Q+ 55. Ka2 Qxc4+ {, and Black wins.}) 54... Ke7 55. Qxa7+ Bc7
$1 {[%csl Gf2,Gg3][%cal Gg3g2,Gf2f1]} (55... Bc7 $1 {The shortest way to the
victory. After} 56. Qxc7+ (56. Rxc4 f1=Q+ 57. Ka2 Qxc4+) 56... Qxc7 57. Rxc7+
Kd6 58. Rc1 (58. Rf7 g2 59. Rxf2 g1=Q+) 58... g2 {Black's pawns are
unstoppable.}) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Qa5 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. a3 Bxc3+ 14.
Qxc3 Qa6 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Qxc6 bxc6 17. Kd2 Bd7 18. Rc3 Rfb8 19. b3 f6 20. Rd1
Rb7 21. Kc2 a6 22. Bc5 Re8 23. e3 Bg4 24. Rd4 Re4 25. Rd2 Kf7 26. Bd4 Re6 27.
a4 Rb8 28. Rc5 Ke7 29. Ra5 Ra8 30. Kb2 Kd7 31. Ka3 Ree8 32. Rc5 Rab8 33. Rdc2
Rec8 34. Rc1 h5 35. Ra5 Ra8 36. Rc2 Re8 37. h4 Bf3 38. Rac5 Rec8 39. Rd2 Kd6
40. Kb4 Rcb8+ 41. Kc3 Rc8 42. b4 Kd7 43. Ra5 Re8 44. Kb2 Kc7 45. Rc5 Kd7 46.
Bc3 Kd6 47. Ra5 Kc7 48. Kc1 Re4 49. Bd4 Ree8 50. Rc5 Kd7 51. Rdc2 Rec8 52. Kd2
Rab8 53. Bc3 Re8 54. Ke1 Ra8 55. Ra5 Kd6 56. Rd2 Kc7 57. Rd3 Re4 58. Bd4 Ree8
59. Kd2 Bg4 60. Rc5 Kd7 61. Rdc3 Rec8 62. Ra5 Bf3 63. Bb6 Rcb8 64. Bc5 Re8 65.
Rd3 Kc7 66. Bd4 Kd7 67. Bc3 Kc7 68. Bb2 Re4 69. Bd4 Ree8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Bxc6+ {Quite popular line, ten year ago} (4.
O-O Bd7 5. Re1 {was the main hit}) 4... bxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 (7. c3
e6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Qa4 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Qc7 12. Rfe1 Rfb8 13. Re2 e5
14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Rb4 16. Qa3 Rab8 $13 {1/2-1/2 Rublevsky,S-Tiviakov,S/
Russia (ch) 1996/ (39)}) (7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. h3 Bh5 9. c3 e6 10. Qa4 Qc7 11. Re1
Be7 12. d4 O-O 13. c4 Bf6 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Qa3 a5 16. e5 Be7 17. exd6 Bxd6 18.
Qc3 Rfd8 $14 {0-1 Skripchenko,A-Babula,V/Valle d'Aosta op 2002/ (27)}) 7... Nd7
$146 {Deviating from the theory at very early stage} (7... e5 8. Nbd2 Be7 9.
Nc4 O-O 10. Ne3 Be6 11. c3 h6 12. Bh4 g6 13. Qc2 g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Rfd1 f6 16.
d4 cxd4 17. cxd4 $14 {Maiko,J-Chistiakov,A/Kiev op 1998/1-0 (51)}) 8. Nbd2 f6
$5 {Interesting and brave idea} 9. Bh4 (9. Be3 $5 {[%cal Gc2c3,Gd3d4]}) 9... e5
{[%csl Rh4]} 10. Nc4 Be7 (10... h5 $5 11. h3 Be6 12. Bg3 g5 $132) 11. Ne3 Be6
12. c3 (12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. exf5 O-O $15) 12... Rb8 13. b3 d5 {[%csl Gc5,Gd5,Ge5]
Even from the first look it is easy to see that Black solved all opening
problems - he has couple of bishops and strong pawn center.} 14. Nd2 (14. Nf5
$5) 14... g6 {Taking f5 square under the control} 15. Bg3 (15. Rc1 $5) 15... d4
16. Nc2 (16. Nec4 $5 dxc3 $140 17. Nb1) 16... g5 {Topalov is getting more amd
more space.} 17. f3 Nf8 {[%cal Gf8g6,Gg6f4]} 18. Be1 Ng6 19. Nc4 Qd7 (19... Nf4
$5) 20. Nb2 $5 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gb2a4] Bringing knight on a4 and at least
organizing some preassure on c5 pawn.} O-O 21. Na3 {[%cal Ga3c4,Gb2a4]} (21.
Na4 $5) 21... f5 22. Nac4 g4 (22... f4 {[%cal Gh7h5,Gg5g4] also worth
considering}) 23. cxd4 cxd4 24. exf5 Rxf5 25. Bg3 (25. fxg4 $143 $6 Rxf1+ 26.
Kxf1 Bxg4 $17) 25... Rbf8 26. Qe2 {[%csl Re5]} gxf3 27. Rxf3 Rxf3 28. gxf3 Bd5
29. Nd2 $1 {[%cal Gd2e4] Knight on e4 will be good defender.} (29. Nxe5 Nxe5
30. Bxe5 Bxf3 $36) 29... Qf5 (29... Bg5 $5 30. Nbc4 Qf5 $36) 30. Nbc4 Bb4 31.
Rf1 h5 $5 32. h4 $8 Kh7 (32... Nf4 33. Bxf4 Qxf4 34. Ne4 Bxc4 35. bxc4 Qxh4 $15
) 33. Ne4 Be7 34. Qh2 Nf4 (34... Bxc4 35. dxc4 $5) 35. Bxf4 exf4 (35... Qxf4
36. Qxf4 exf4 37. Rf2 $13) 36. Rf2 $1 a5 {Topalov played all game in very
active style!} (36... Rg8+ 37. Rg2) 37. Kf1 (37. Rg2 $5) 37... a4 38. bxa4 Bxc4
$2 {Terrible mistake!} ({After} 38... Bxe4 $1 39. dxe4 (39. fxe4 Qg4 {[%csl
Ge7,Rf1,Gg4]}) 39... Qe6 $19 {Topalov will be very close to victory which he
surely deserves.}) 39. dxc4 Qa5 40. Rb2 Qxa4 41. Qe2 Qa3 42. Rb7 (42. Rb7 Kh6
$1 43. Ng5 Bxg5 44. hxg5+ Kxg5 45. Qe5+ Rf5 46. Rg7+ Kh6 47. Rh7+ $1 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Be7 {The latest twist in the Berlin defence is to play
for exchanges with Nh4. Results are mixed so far. Gary Kasparov took a heavy
beating by Judit Polgar in this line (with h3 and h6 in), but that was only a
rapid game.} 10. Rd1+ (10. Bg5 Bxg5 $1 (10... h5 11. Rad1+ Ke8 12. Ne2 Be6 13.
Nf4 c5 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Ng5 Bc4 16. Rfe1 Nd4 17. e6 $1 $16 {time. 1-0 Schmid,
L-Toran Albero,R/Munich 1958/MCD (36) time. 1-0 Schmid,L-Toran Albero,R/Munich
1958/MCD (36)}) (10... Be6 11. g4 Nh6 12. h3 Ng8 13. Bxe7+ Nxe7 14. Ng5 h5 15.
Nxe6+ fxe6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Astengo,C-Capata,I/Bratto 2001/EXT 2002 (47) 1/2-1/2
Astengo,C-Capata,I/Bratto 2001/EXT 2002 (47)}) 11. Nxg5 Ke7 12. Rad1 h6 13.
Nge4 b6 14. h3 Ba6 15. Rfe1 Rad8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Tot,B/Ljubljana 1947/
EXT 99 (30) 1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Tot,B/Ljubljana 1947/EXT 99 (30)}) (10. b3 $5 {
In general the b3-setup is not so popular any more due to the manouvre Bb4,
Bb2 Bxc3 =. Here Black has already played Be7 which makes it a little bit more
attractive to play b3.} Ke8 (10... Be6 11. Bb2 Kc8 12. Rad1 Rd8 13. h3 g5 14.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. g4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Letelier Martner,R-Donoso Velasco,P/La Serena
1972/EXT 99 (37) 1/2-1/2 Letelier Martner,R-Donoso Velasco,P/La Serena 1972/
EXT 99 (37)}) ({Perhaps} 10... a5 {planning Bb4.}) 11. Bb2 Be6 (11... h5 {
giving away g5 is risky.} 12. Rad1 a5 13. a4 Be6 14. Ne2 Rd8 15. Bc3 Bb4 16.
Bxb4 axb4 17. Nf4 c5 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Ng5 $14 {1-0 Mikhalchishin,A-Salov,V/
Lvov 1984/URS-ch (44) 1-0 Mikhalchishin,A-Salov,V/Lvov 1984/URS-ch (44)}) 12.
Ne2 Bd5 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bc5 15. Nf5 g6 $6 16. e6 $1 $16 {1-0 Sumets,
A-Fingerov,D/Odessa 2001/EXT 2002 (66) 1-0 Sumets,A-Fingerov,D/Odessa 2001/EXT
2002 (66)}) (10. Ne2 Be6 11. b3 Ke8 12. Bg5 $6 Bd5 $1 13. Bxe7 Bxf3 14. gxf3
Kxe7 $15 {1/2-1/2 Kapengut,A-Lazarev,E/Riga 1968/MCD (41) 1/2-1/2 Kapengut,
A-Lazarev,E/Riga 1968/MCD (41)}) 10... Ke8 (10... Bd7 $6 11. Ng5 $1 $36) 11. g3
$5 {[%mdl 8] A new idea. Topalov decides to rule out Nh4 completely. So far
White has always accepted the exchange on h4 since it costs Black some time.
The g3 move looks a bit "ugly" but it´s not clear how Black can profit from
this defect. White can always cover the white squares with Kg2 or later expand
with h3 and g4.} h6 12. b3 Be6 (12... a5 {is another try} 13. Bb2 Bb4 14. Ne4
Be6 15. a3 Bf8 $5 $132 (15... Be7 16. g4 Nh4 17. Nxh4 Bxh4 18. Nc5 Be7 19. Nxe6
fxe6 $13)) 13. Bb2 Rd8 {I don´t like this move much since it takes away the
option to play for a5-a4.} (13... a5) 14. h3 g5 $14 {[%csl Rf6] Weakening f6 -
Black is really on the defensive now.} 15. g4 Ng7 16. Ne4 Bd5 (16... h5 $2 17.
Nf6+ $18) 17. Nf6+ Bxf6 18. exf6 {The P on f6 is very strong making operations
against the Black K a real possibility.} Ne6 19. Ne5 Nf4 20. Re1 Be6 21. Bc1
Nd5 (21... Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Nf4+ 23. Bxf4 gxf4 24. Re2 $14 {[%csl Rf4,Rh6][%cal
Yg2f3,Yf3f4,Ya1h1] White is better due to more options for active play.}) 22.
Nd3 b6 23. c4 $1 Nxf6 24. Nb4 c5 {Ponomariov goes for a defence an exchange
down.} (24... Kf8 25. Nxc6 Rd3 26. Bb2 Kg7 27. Rad1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 $16) 25. Bb2
cxb4 26. Bxf6 Rf8 27. Bxd8 Kxd8 {White´s advantage cannot be in doubt. The win
is not certain yet though.} 28. c5 {This eventually helps Black create
counterplay on the Q-side.} (28. Kg2 $16 {[%cal Yg2g3,Yf2f4,Ya1d1]}) 28... Kd7
29. Rac1 Kc6 30. Re5 (30. cxb6+ Kxb6 31. Re5 $5 (31. f4 gxf4 32. Re4 a5 33.
Rxf4 Rd8 $132 {[%cal Yd8d3,Yd3d2]}) 31... Rd8 32. Rec5 $14) 30... b5 31. Rd1 a5
32. Rd4 Ra8 33. f4 gxf4 34. Rxf4 a4 $1 35. Rxb4 $2 (35. Rf6 $1 axb3 36. axb3
Ra3 37. Rxh6 Rxb3 38. g5 {[%cal Yg5g6]} Kd7 39. Kf2 $16 {[%cal Yg5g6]}) 35...
axb3 36. axb3 Ra3 37. h4 Bxb3 38. h5 Bc4 39. Kf2 Ra1 40. Rb2 f6 $1 {Black is
fighting well.} 41. Re7 (41. Rf5 Rf1+ 42. Ke3 Rxf5 43. gxf5 Kxc5 $13) 41... f5
42. Rh7 (42. gxf5 Rf1+ 43. Kg3 Rxf5 44. Kg4 $14) 42... fxg4 43. Rxh6+ Kxc5 44.
Rg6 Rh1 45. Rg5+ Kb6 (45... Kd4 $1 $11) 46. Kg3 c6 47. Rxg4 $1 {[%cal Yg4c4]}
Bd3 48. Rh2 Rxh2 49. Kxh2 c5 50. Rg6+ Ka5 51. Rc6 c4 52. h6 Kb4 53. Kg3 Kc3 54.
Kf4 b4 55. Rc7 b3 56. h7 Bxh7 57. Rxh7 Kc2 58. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2 Ne8 14. Rfe1 {
White wants to make as many useful moves as possible before changing the
structure on the << and thus limits Black's <=>.} (14. a4 $5 Qc7 (14... c4 15.
Nb5 Qb6 16. Be3 Nc5 17. Qxc4 Bxb5 18. axb5 Qxb5 19. Qxb5 Rxb5 20. Nd4 Rb7 21.
b4 Na4 22. Rb3 $16 {Gustafsson,J-Szieberth,A/Budapest/2001/}) (14... Qb6 15. b3
Nc7 16. Rfd1 $14) 15. b3 Ra7 16. Rfe1 Nef6 17. h3 Rab7 18. e4 Ne8 19. Bf1 (19.
Na2 $5 $14 {[%cal Yd2c3] /+/-,/\Bc3}) 19... Bxf1 20. Kxf1 Qc8 21. Kg2 c4 22.
Nb5 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Nc7 24. Qc2 Nxb5 25. Qxc8+ Rxc8 26. Rxb5 Rxb5 27. axb5 Rb8
28. Rb1 Nc5 $132 {Drasko,M-Cmiel,T/Porz/1991/}) (14. b3 Qa3 $142 $1 (14... Nc7
15. a4 Qb6 16. Rfd1 (16. Rfe1 {-14.Rfe1}) 16... Qa7 (16... Bb7 17. e4 Na6 18.
Na2 Rc8 19. Be3 Nb4 20. Nxb4 Qxb4 21. Bh3 Rd8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Be3 Qa5 24. Bd2
Qa7 25. Be3 Qa5 26. Bd2 Qa7 27. Bc3 Bxc3 28. Qxc3 Nf6 29. Qe3 $14 {Shaidullina,
S-Pogonina,N/RUS-chW Elista/2002/}) 17. e4 Rb6 18. Bg5 Re8 19. Na2 e6 20. Nc3
$6 (20. dxe6 $5 Nxe6 21. Be3 $16) 20... exd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Re2 $44 {
Gustafsson,J-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2001/}) 15. Bc1 Qa5 16. Bb2 (16. Bd2 $11)
16... c4 17. Rfd1 Nc5 18. Ba1 Rb4 19. Nd2 cxb3 20. axb3 Nc7 21. Bf1 Bc8 22. e4
Qa7 $44 23. Na4 Nxa4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. bxa4 Rxa4 26. Qc3+ Kg8 27. Rdc1 Ne8 28.
Nc4 Ra2 29. Nb6 Rb8 $11 {Epishin,V-Krivoshey,S/Graz op/2001/}) 14... Nc7 {
[%cal Yc7b5] /\Nb5} 15. a4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Doesn't allow Black to exchange
the important Nc3, which cements the <<.} (15. e4 Nb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Bf1 (
17. Bc3 Qd3 18. Rbc1 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Bc4 21. Ra1 Bd3 $15 {Varga,
Z-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2000/}) 17... Qb7 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. a3 Qa4 $44 20. b3 $6
Qxa3 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. Qxc3 Qb4 23. Qe3 f6 $15 {Krstev,R-Jacimovic,D/Skopje op/
1998/}) 15... Qb6 16. b3 {The pawn sacrifice is the point of the previous move.
} (16. e4 $6 Qb3 $1 $44) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Nxd5 18. Ne5 $1 {Connects
strategy with tactics. White gets a better P-structure.} Nxe5 $8 {Otherwise
Black loses material, or heavily compromises his position.} (18... N7f6 19. Nc4
(19. Bxd5 $16) 19... Qa7 20. Bxf6 $16) (18... dxe5 19. Bxd5 $16) 19. Bxd5 Bb7 {
A difficult choice-give your opponent a permanent advantage, or a dangerous
attack?} (19... Nc6 20. Qe4 Bb7 21. Qf4 Nd8 22. a5 $40) 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxe5
dxe5 22. Rec1 $14 {/+/-} f6 23. Qe4 (23. Qxc5 $2 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxa4 $11) 23...
Kg7 24. Rc3 Rab8 25. Qc2 Qe6 (25... Rc7 $2 26. b4 $18 {[%csl Ga4,Gb4] o^a,b})
26. a5 Kf7 (26... Rb5 $5 27. Rxc5 (27. Ra1 Qd6 28. a6 Ra8 $14) 27... Rxb3 28.
Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxb3 Rxb3 30. Rc7 $14 {/+/-}) 27. Ra1 Rxb3 28. Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxc5
Qb2 30. Qc4+ Kg7 31. Qa2 $5 {White decides to go for further simplification,
but even a major piece _|_ was promising.} (31. Ra2 Qd4 $16 (31... Qb1+ 32. Kg2
Qb7+ 33. f3 $16)) 31... Qxa2 32. Rxa2 $16 {[%mdl 4352] White has transposed
into an ideal R_|_, he supports his o^ from behind. But despite this it's not
easy to demonstrate a forced win, Topalov continues to defend tenaciously.} Ra8
33. a6 Ra7 34. Kg2 Kf7 (34... e4 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke1 (36. Ra4 $5) 36... Ke6 37.
Kd2 $16) 35. Kf3 Ke6 36. g4 Kd6 (36... Kd5 37. h4 Kc6 38. Ke4 $16) 37. h4 h6
38. g5 ({Even after} 38. h5 {Black retains drawing chances:} gxh5 $142 (38...
g5 $6 {loses time and keeps more vulnerable P on the board:} 39. Ke4 e6 40. Ra3
Kd7 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Kc4 Kb6 43. e4 Kc6 (43... Rc7+ 44. Kb4 Ka7 45. Rf3 Rf7 46.
Kc5 $18) 44. Rf3 Rf7 45. a7 Rxa7 (45... Kb7 46. Kc5 Kxa7 47. Kd6 $18) 46. Rxf6
Kd6 47. Rxh6 Rf7 48. Rg6 $18) 39. gxh5 e6 (39... f5 40. e4 e6 41. Ra5 $16 {/+-}
) 40. Ke4 Kc6 41. Ra3 (41. Kd3 Kb5 $1 $11) 41... Kb6 (41... Kd6 $5) 42. Rf3 Rf7
43. Rg3 Kxa6 44. Rg6 Kb5 45. Rxh6 Kc6 46. Rg6 Kd6 $14 {[%cal Yf6f5] /=,/\f5})
38... hxg5 39. hxg5 f5 (39... Kc6 40. Ke4 Kb6 41. gxf6 exf6 42. Kd5 {[%cal
Rd5e6] /\Ke6+-}) 40. e4 (40. Ke3 e6 41. Ra5 Kc7 42. f3 Kb8 $14) 40... e6 41.
Ra5 Kc7 42. Ke3 Kb8 43. Rxe5 {This seems to be premature.} (43. f3 $5 {keeps
the tension, White's K strives to enter via c5, e.g.} f4+ (43... Kc7 44. Kd3
Kb6 45. Rxe5 Rd7+ 46. Kc4 Rd6 47. Rb5+ Kxa6 48. Kc5 $1 Rd3 49. Rb6+ Ka7 50.
Rxe6 Rxf3 51. e5 $18 {[%csl Ge5,Gg5] o^e,g}) 44. Kd3 (44. Ke2 $5 $16) 44...
Rd7+ (44... Kc7 45. Kc4 Kb6 46. Kb4 $22 $18) 45. Kc4 (45. Kc3 Rd6 46. Ra3 Rc6+
47. Kb4 Ka7 48. Kb5 Rc8 49. Rd3 Rd8 $5 50. Rc3 Rb8+ 51. Ka5 Rc8 $1 $14) 45...
Rd4+ (45... Rd6 $6 46. Ra3 Ka7 47. Kc5 Rd1 48. Kc6 {[%cal Ra3a5] /\Ra5} Rg1 49.
Kd7 Rxg5 50. Kxe6 $18) 46. Kc5 (46. Kc3 Rd6 {-45.Kc3}) 46... Rd3 47. Rb5+ Ka7
48. Rb7+ Kxa6 49. Rg7 Rxf3 50. Rxg6 $14 {/+/-}) 43... Rxa6 44. Rc5 (44. exf5
exf5 45. Re7 Kc8 46. Kf4 (46. Rf7 Re6+ 47. Kf3 Kd8 $11) 46... Kd8 47. Rf7 Re6
48. Rf6 Ke7 49. Rxe6+ Kxe6 50. Ke3 Kd5 51. Kd3 Ke5 52. Ke3 f4+ 53. Kd3 Kf5 54.
f3 Kxg5 55. Ke4 $11) 44... Kb7 45. Kf4 Kb6 46. Rc8 fxe4 47. Kxe4 (47. Rg8 Kc6
48. Rxg6 Kd7 $5 $14 (48... Kd5 49. Rg8 $1 Ra2 50. Rd8+ Kc6 51. Kg3 Ra7 52. Kg4
Ra2 53. Rf8 $16)) 47... Kb7 48. Rg8 (48. Rc3 Ra5 (48... Ra4+ 49. Ke5 Ra5+ 50.
Kf6 Rf5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxf2 52. Re3 $18) 49. f4 Rb5 50. Rh3 Kc7 51. Rh6 Kd6 52. Rxg6
Rb4+ 53. Kf3 Ke7 {leads only to the game position anyway.}) 48... Kc6 49. Rxg6
Kd6 50. f4 (50. Rg7 Ra4+ 51. Ke3 e5 52. Rg6+ Ke7 $14) 50... Ra4+ 51. Kf3 Ke7
52. Rg7+ Kf8 53. Rb7 Rc4 $2 {Only this can be identified as the losing mistake.
} ({After} 53... Ra1 $1 {Black's position is holding:} 54. Kg4 (54. g6 $2 Rg1)
(54. Ke4 Re1+) 54... Rg1+ 55. Kh5 Rf1 56. Kh6 (56. Rb8+ Kg7 $11) (56. Rb4 Kg7
$11) 56... Rxf4 57. Rb8+ Ke7 58. g6 Rh4+ 59. Kg5 (59. Kg7 e5 $132) 59... Rh1
60. g7 Rg1+ 61. Kh6 Rh1+ 62. Kg6 Rg1+ 63. Kh7 Rh1+ 64. Kg8 e5 65. Rb5 Rh5 66.
Ra5 Ke8 $11 {and because the Pe5 shields Black's K from frontal checks, White
has no way to extricate his K from g8.}) 54. g6 $1 $18 Rc1 (54... Rc5 55. Rf7+
{[%cal Rf3g4] /\Kg4+-} (55. Kg4 $143 Rf5)) 55. Kg4 Rc5 (55... Rg1+ 56. Kh5 Rg2
(56... Kg8 57. Re7 $18) 57. Kh6 Rh2+ 58. Kg5 Rf2 59. f5 $1 (59. Rf7+ Ke8 (59...
Kg8 60. Re7 $18) 60. Kh6 Rh2+ 61. Kg7 $18) 59... Rxf5+ (59... exf5 60. g7+ Kg8
61. Kf6 $18) 60. Kh6 Rf6 61. Kh7 $18) 56. Rf7+ Ke8 (56... Kg8 57. Rf6 Rc6 58.
Kg5 $18 {[%cal Rf4f5,Yg5h6,Yg6g7] /\,f5,Kh6,g7}) 57. f5 $1 (57. f5 exf5+ 58.
Rxf5 Rc1 (58... Rxf5 59. Kxf5 Ke7 60. Ke5 Ke8 61. Ke6 Kf8 62. Kf6 $18) 59. Kg5
Rh1 (59... Ke7 60. g7 $18) 60. g7 Ke7 61. Kg6 Rg1+ 62. Kh7 Rh1+ 63. Kg8 $18 {
and White has reached a simple Lucena position.}) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nf3 Be6 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. b3 g5 16. Ne4 Bd5 17. Nf6+ Ke7 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Be6 20. Ra4
a6 21. f4 Rd2 22. Rf2 Rhd8 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Ne4 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 Bf5 26. Nxg5
Rd2+ 27. Kf3 Bxc2 28. g4 Rd5 29. Kf4 c5 30. h4 Kf8 31. h5 Kg7 32. e6 f6 33. Ne4
Re5 34. g5 Rxe6 35. Nxf6 b5 36. Ra5 Rc6 37. h6+ Kg6 38. Nd7 Rd6 39. Nxc5 Rd4+
40. Ke5 Rd2 41. Rxa6+ Kxg5 42. Ne6+ Kxh6 43. Nxc7+ Kg7 44. Nxb5 Kf7 45. Nd4 Bd3
46. Ra7+ Ke8 47. a4 Kd8 48. b4 Kc8 49. b5 Rh2 50. Kd6 Rh6+ 51. Kc5 Be4 52. Re7
Bg2 53. a5 Bb7 54. Ne6 Kb8 55. a6 Bc8 56. Nd4 Bxa6 57. Nc6+ Kc8 58. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. Be3 Nc6 8. dxc5
h5 9. Nf4 d4 10. Nxg6 fxg6 11. Qd3 Kf7 12. O-O-O dxc3 13. Qxc3 Qc7 14. Bc4 Qxe5
15. Bd4 Qf4+ 16. Kb1 Re8 17. g5 Qxg5 18. Rhg1 Qh4 19. Rge1 Nf6 20. Qb3 Nd8 21.
Be5 Kg8 22. Bg3 Qg5 23. Re5 Qh6 24. h4 Kh7 25. Rg5 e5 26. Bd3 Ne6 27. Rxg6 Qxg6
28. Bxg6+ Kxg6 29. Bxe5 Nxc5 30. Qg3+ Kf7 31. b4 Nce4 32. Qb3+ Kg6 33. Bxf6
Nxf6 34. Rg1+ Kh7 35. Qd3+ Kg8 36. Qc4+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. a4 O-O
15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Nce3 Nd4 18. Nc7 Qa2 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. Bd3 Qxb2
21. O-O Nc5 22. Bf5 e4 23. Nd5 Re8 24. Qg4 Kf8 25. Bxh7 Re5 26. Qc8+ Re8 27.
Qc6 Be5 28. g3 Qd2 29. Bf5 Rd8 30. Bg4 Bxc3 31. Rd1 Qg5 32. Qb6 Bf6 33. Be2 Kg7
34. h4 Qe5 35. Bxb5 Ne6 36. Bc4 Qb2 37. Qxb2 Bxb2 38. Ne3 Be5 39. Bd5 Nc5 40.
Rb1 Kg6 41. g4 Bf4 42. Kg2 Rh8 43. Nf5 Kf6 44. Rb6 Rg8 45. f3 e3 46. Bc4 Rd8
47. Kf1 Ne6 48. Bxe6 fxe6 49. Rb4 d5 50. Ke2 exf5 51. Rxf4 d4 52. Rxf5+ Kg7 53.
Re5 d3+ 54. Kd1 e2+ 55. Kd2 Kf6 56. Re4 Rd6 57. f4 Kg6 58. h5+ Kh6 59. Re7 Rd4
60. Re6+ Kh7 61. g5 Rxf4 62. Kxd3 Rf5 63. Rh6+ Kg7 64. Rg6+ Kh7 65. Kxe2 Ra5
66. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik Edda rapid"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.03.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bjornsson, Gunnar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2003.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Qc2 g6 5. Bf4 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nc3 dxc4 8. Bxc4
b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rfd1 Nh5 12. Bg5 Rc8 13. b4 Re8 14. Rac1 Qb6 15.
Ne4 Nhf6 16. Nfd2 a5 17. a3 axb4 18. axb4 Ra8 19. Bf3 Ra4 20. Nc4 Rxb4 21. Na5
Qa7 22. Nxc6 Bxc6 23. Qxc6 Rb8 24. Bf4 Rf8 25. Nxf6+ Nxf6 26. h3 Qa4 27. Ra1
Qb3 28. Qb7 Qe6 29. Ra7 Nh5 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxe7 Qb3 32. Rf1 Rc4 33. Bg3 Bf6
34. Be5 Bxe5 35. Qxe5 Rc6 36. Qxh5 b4 37. Rb7 Qc3 38. Qb5 Rc4 39. Qg5+ Kh8 40.
Qf6+ Kg8 41. Rb5 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Edda rapid"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.03.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Olafsson, Helgi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2003.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. dxc5 Qxc5 7. Na3 a6 8.
Be3 Qc7 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Nb5 Qc8 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. O-O-O Nxe3 13. fxe3 Nc6 14.
Nxd7 axb5 15. Qb3 Qc7 16. Bxb5 e6 17. Rd3 Bd6 18. Rhd1 Bxh2 19. a4 h5 20. Kb1
h4 21. Qc4 O-O-O 22. Qc5 g6 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Nb6+ Kc7 25. Qe7+ Kxb6 26. Rxd8
Qe4+ 27. R1d3 Be5 28. Kc1 h3 29. a5+ Kb5 30. Qd7+ Kxa5 31. Rxh8 hxg2 32. Ra8+
Kb6 33. Qd8+ Bc7 34. Rd6+ Kb5 35. Qd7+ Qc6 36. Rxc6 g1=Q+ 37. Kc2 Qg2+ 38. Kb3
Qxc6 39. c4+ Kb6 40. Qxf7 Qd6 41. Qxg6 Qe5 42. Qd3 Kc6 43. Re8 Bd6 44. Qd4 Qf5
45. Rd8 Bc5 46. Qd7+ Kb6 47. Qb5+ 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Edda rapid"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.03.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2537"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2003.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bb7 8.
Nd2 d6 9. f3 Nc6 10. e4 Qe7 11. c5 bxc5 12. Rb1 g5 13. Bf2 Ba6 14. Be2 Bc8 15.
Bb5 Bd7 16. Qa4 Nd8 17. dxc5 O-O 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. O-O Bxb5 20. Rxb5 Nc6 21.
Rfb1 Rfc8 22. Rb7 Qd8 23. Qa3 Rc7 24. h4 Ne8 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. c4
Rb8 28. Rb5 f6 29. Qb3 a6 30. Rxb8 Nxb8 31. Bb6 Qc8 32. c5 Nc6 33. cxd6 Nxd6
34. Bc5 Ne8 35. Nf1 Kf7 36. Bd4 Nb8 37. Qb4 Nd7 38. a4 g4 39. Ne3 gxf3 40. gxf3
Nd6 41. Ng4 Nb7 42. Kf2 Kg7 43. Kf1 Kf7 44. Kf2 Nbc5 45. Ke3 Qc6 46. Kd2 Nxa4
47. Qb3 Kg7 48. Bf2 e5 49. Be3 Nac5 50. Bh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik Edda rapid"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.03.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2003.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. d3
Nd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Qd1 b5 13. Nf3 O-O 14. d4 b4 15. Bg5
bxc3 16. bxc3 Re8 17. Qa4 Qc7 18. Rac1 e6 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Rxe1 21. Rxe1
Nce5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Qc6 Qxc6 24. dxc6 Nf8 25. Bc4 h6 26. Bxh6 Rc8 27. f4 Bf6
28. Bd5 Bxc3 29. Re2 Ne6 30. Rxe6 fxe6 31. Bxe6+ Kh7 32. Bxc8 Kxh6 33. Bxa6 d5
34. h4 c4 35. g4 Kg7 36. Kf2 Kf6 37. Kf3 Ba5 38. Bb5 Ke7 39. g5 Kd6 40. Ba4 d4
41. Ke4 Be1 42. h5 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Edda rapid"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2003.03.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Macieja, Bartlomiej"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2629"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.03.03"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. c5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc2 15.
Qxb7 Nxa1 16. Rxa1 Qd7 17. Qxd7 Bxd7 18. Ne5 Rfd8 19. Nxd7 Rxd7 20. Rb1 Bd8 21.
Ba6 Bc7 22. Kf1 Re7 23. Rb7 Rb8 24. Rxa7 Bd8 25. Rxe7 Bxe7 26. a4 Kf8 27. Bf4
Rb1+ 28. Ke2 Ke8 29. Be3 Ra1 30. c4 dxc4 31. Bxc4 Rxa4 32. Kd3 Ra3+ 33. Kc2 h6
34. Kb2 Ra5 35. Kb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
f5 9. exf5 Bxf5 10. Nc2 Nf6 11. Ne3 Be6 12. g3 Qd7 13. Bg2 Bd8 14. O-O Bb6 15.
Ned5 Bd4 16. Be3 Bxc3 17. Nb6 Qd8 18. bxc3 Rb8 19. Rb1 O-O 20. Nd5 Kh8 21. Rb2
Nd7 22. Be4 Na5 23. Qh5 Bg8 24. Bg5 Qe8 25. Qh4 Nc5 26. Bb1 e4 27. Nf6 Rxf6 28.
Bxf6 Bxc4 29. Re1 gxf6 30. Qxf6+ Kg8 31. Qxd6 Qf8 32. Qc7 Nc6 33. Bxe4 Nxe4 34.
Rxe4 Qf3 35. Rxc4 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 Qd5+ 37. Kg1 Qxc4 38. Rxb7 Rxb7 39. Qxb7 Qxc3
40. Qxa6 Nd4 41. Qa8+ Kf7 42. Qd5+ Kf6 43. Kg2 Kg7 44. a4 Nc6 45. h4 Na5 46. g4
Nc6 47. h5 Ne7 48. Qe6 Kf8 49. Qe4 h6 50. Qf3+ Qxf3+ 51. Kxf3 Nc6 52. Ke4 Ke7
53. Kd5 Nb4+ 54. Kc4 Nc6 55. Kb5 Ne5 56. a5 Kd7 57. g5 hxg5 58. h6 Kc7 59. h7
Ng6 60. Kc5 Kb7 61. Kd5 Ka6 62. Ke4 Kxa5 63. Kf5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 a6 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Nb3 Rc8 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. g4 Bc6 14. g5 Nd7 15.
Qf2 g6 16. Rhf1 Bg7 17. f5 Ne5 18. Bb6 Qd7 19. Be2 Qb7 20. Na5 Qb8 21. f6 Bf8
22. a3 Nxc2 23. Kxc2 Bxe4+ 24. Kb3 Ba8 25. Ba7 Qc7 26. Qb6 Qxb6 27. Bxb6 h6 28.
Nxb5 Kd7 29. Bd4 Bd5+ 30. Ka4 axb5+ 31. Bxb5+ Bc6 32. Bxe5 Bxb5+ 33. Kxb5 Rc5+
34. Kb6 Rxe5 35. Rc1 Rxa5 36. Rc7+ Kd8 37. Rfc1 Rc5 38. R1xc5 dxc5 39. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.
Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Nxc5 Nxc5 12. dxc5 Qd5 13. Kb1 Qxc5 14. h4
b6 15. Ng5 h6 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Be4 Rb8 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Qe4 Bxg5
21. Qxb7 Bf6 22. Qf3 Rc8 23. c3 b5 24. Rc1 a5 25. g4 Kg8 26. Qe4 Qc4 27. Rce1
a4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. g5 hxg5 30. hxg5 Bxg5 31. Re5 Bh4 32. Rxb5 g5 33. f3 Rf4
34. Rh3 f5 35. Kc2 Kf7 36. Kd3 Kf6 37. Rb4 Ke5 38. a3 Bf2 39. Ke2 Bc5 40. Rxf4
Kxf4 41. Rh6 e5 42. Rc6 Bg1 43. Rc4+ Kg3 44. Rxa4 Kg2 45. Ra8 g4 46. fxg4 f4
47. Rf8 Bh2 48. g5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Kh1 O-O 11. a4 Re8 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Nb3 b6 14. g4 Bc8 15.
g5 Nd7 16. Bg2 Bf8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh4 Nb4 19. Rac1 Bg7 20. Rf3 Bb7 21. Rh3 Nf8
22. Qf2 Nd7 23. Qh4 Nf8 24. Qf2 Nd7 25. Rf1 Rac8 26. Bd4 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 Qc5 28.
f5 exf5 29. exf5 Bxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Nf8 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. Qf7+ Kh8 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34.
Qf7+ Kh8 35. Nf5 Qe5 36. Re3 Qxf5 37. Rxf5 Rxe3 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Qf7+ Kh8 40.
Rf2 Re5 41. h4 Nc6 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qxd6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Kh8 17. Qh5 Bf7 18. Qh3 e4 19. Bc2 Ne5 20. Rfd1 Bxd5 21.
Rxd5 Qf6 22. Rad1 Rad8 23. f4 exf3 24. Nxf5 fxg2 25. Qxg2 Rg8 26. Kh1 Bf8 27.
Qh3 Ng6 28. Nd4 Re8 29. Rh5 Rg7 30. Rg1 Qf7 31. Qf5 Qb7+ 32. Qf3 Qxf3+ 33. Nxf3
Re6 34. Nd4 Rf6 35. Nf5 Rc7 36. Ne3 Nf4 37. Rh4 Rcf7 38. Bb3 Rg7 39. Rhg4 Rxg4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 cxd4 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.
Nxd4 Rc8 9. Nc3 e6 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4 Bc6 13. Rd1 Qb6 14. Bxc6+
Rxc6 15. Bh6 Bf8 16. Rd3 e5 17. Be3 Qa5 18. Bg5 Be7 19. Rad1 O-O 20. Bxf6 Bxf6
21. Qe4 Rb6 22. b3 Rb4 23. Qf5 Qa6 24. Nd5 Rd4 25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.
Qxf6 gxf6 28. Rxd4 Rc8 29. Rc4 Rd8 30. e3 Rd2 31. a4 Ra2 32. Rc7 b6 33. Rxa7
Rb2 34. Ra6 Rxb3 35. a5 bxa5 36. Rxf6 a4 37. Ra6 Ra3 38. Kg2 Ra1 39. g4 a3 40.
h4 a2 41. h5 h6 42. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3
O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 Re8 11. O-O Nh5 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Be3 Nd7 14. g4 Ng7 15. g5
Be7 16. Be2 f6 17. gxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd2 Bd4 19. Nc4 Ne5 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Qxd4
Qg5+ 22. Kh2 Qf4+ 23. Kg2 Qg5+ 24. Kh2 Qf4+ 25. Kg2 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Re5 27. Rh1
Bd7 28. Rh2 Nh5 29. Bxh5 Rxh5 30. Qd3 Rf8 31. Rf1 Bg4 32. f3 Bxf3+ 33. Rxf3
Rg5+ 34. Kh1 Qxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bf4 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Bd6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Ng5 Bg6 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. h4 Qe7 20. Qg4 h6 21.
Nh3 Qe4 22. Qg3 Rc8 23. Bf1 Ne7 24. Qxd6 Nf5 25. Qb4 Nxh4 26. d5 Bf5 27. Qxe4
Bxe4 28. c4 Nf5 29. f3 Bc2 30. Rc1 Ba4 31. Kf2 b6 32. Bd3 Nd6 33. Ke3 Bb3 34.
Kd4 Nb5+ 35. Ke3 Nd6 36. Kd4 Nb5+ 37. Ke3 Nd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4
Bxe4 9. Bg5 Bd5 10. c4 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 cxd4 12. Qxb7 Qc8 13. Qf3 e5 14. Nd2 Nd7
15. Nb3 f6 16. Bd2 Be7 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rac1 Ra7 19. f4 O-O 20. c5 dxc5 21. fxe5
fxe5 22. Qxe5 Qf5 23. Nxc5 Qf2+ 24. Kh1 Qxd2 25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Qxb6 Bxc5 27.
Qxc5 Raf7 28. h3 Qxb2 29. Rcd1 Qxa2 30. Qxd4 Qb3 31. Qd5 Rf1+ 32. Rxf1 Rxf1+
33. Kh2 Qb8+ 34. Qd6 Rf8 35. Qxb8 Rxb8 36. Ra1 Ra8 37. Ra5 Kg8 38. Kg3 Kf7 39.
Kf4 Ke6 40. Ke4 Kd6 41. h4 Ra7 42. g4 Kc6 43. Kd4 Kb6 44. Rg5 a5 45. Kc3 a4 46.
Kb2 Kc6 47. Rh5 g6 48. Rg5 Rb7+ 49. Ka3 Rb5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Bg4 8. h3
Bh5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. d4 Nd7 11. g4 Bg6 12. Qa4 h5 13. Qxc6 hxg4 14. hxg4 Kf8
15. Nbd2 Rb8 16. Nf1 Rb6 17. Qc4 exd4 18. Qxd4 Bf6 19. Qe3 Ne5 20. N3h2 d5 21.
g5 Nc4 22. Qg3 Be5 23. f4 Bd6 24. b3 Bc5+ 25. Kg2 Bxe4+ 26. Rxe4 dxe4 27. bxc4
Qd1 28. Qg4 Qc2+ 29. Bd2 Re6 30. Qf5 Be3 31. Rc1 Qxa2 32. Rd1 Qxc4 33. Bxe3
Qe2+ 34. Bf2 Qxd1 35. Qc5+ Qd6 36. Qa7 Kg8 37. Be3 Re8 38. Qb7 Qd3 39. Qc6 Re6
40. Qc5 Qe2+ 41. Kg1 Rb6 42. Qxc7 Rxh2 43. Qc8+ Kh7 44. Qf5+ Rg6 45. Nxh2 Qxe3+
46. Kg2 f6 47. Ng4 Qf3+ 48. Kg1 fxg5 49. Ne5 Qg3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O Bd7 12. a4 f5 13. c5 Bxb5 14. axb5 e4
15. c6 Nd7 16. Be2 Ne5 17. f4 exf3 18. gxf3 Bf6 19. Kh1 b6 20. Ra2 Qc7 21. f4
Ng6 22. b3 Ne7 23. Bc4 Rae8 24. Re1 Nc8 25. Rae2 Rxe2 26. Rxe2 Qf7 27. Re6 Re8
28. Qe2 Kf8 29. Ba3 Rxe6 30. dxe6 Qe7 31. Bd5 g6 32. Qc2 Qc7 33. Bb2 Qg7 34.
Bxf6 Qxf6 35. c7 Qd4 36. Bb7 Qxf4 37. Qc4 Qf2 38. Bxc8 Qe1+ 39. Kg2 Qd2+ 40.
Kf3 d5 41. Qf4 Qc3+ 42. Kg2 Qc2+ 43. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. b3 e5 14. c3 b6 15.
Re1 Bb7 16. Qh3 Rd8 17. Bb2 g6 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. c4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Rh7 21. Be4
f5 22. Bd5 Nd3 23. Qh4 g5 24. Qh3 Bxh2+ 25. Qxh2 Qxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Nxb2 27. Re5
Nd3 28. Rxf5+ Ke7 29. Kg3 Nf4 30. Kg4 Rd7 31. Re1+ Kd8 32. Rf8+ Kc7 33. Be4 h5+
34. Kf5 Rhg7 35. Rf6 Ng2 36. Rc6+ Kd8 37. Rh1 h4 38. Rh6 Nf4 39. Re1 Rdf7+ 40.
Kg4 Kc7 41. Bf5 Rf8 42. Re5 Rd8 43. Be4 Rd1 44. Re8 Rd8 45. Re5 Rd6 46. Rh8 Rd8
47. Rh6 Rd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 b6 8.
Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Qa6 11. Bg5 Ne4 12. d5 d6 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Bf4 Nd7
15. dxe6 Rxe6 16. Bh3 Re7 17. Nh4 Bc6 18. Nf5 Ree8 19. f3 Nef6 20. Nxd6 Rxe2
21. Rf2 Rxf2 22. Kxf2 Nf8 23. Bg5 Ne8 24. Nf5 Ng6 25. Re1 h6 26. Bc1 Rd8 27.
Bf1 Qb7 28. Rd1 Rd7 29. Be2 Ne5 30. Qc2 Nf6 31. Bf4 Ng6 32. Bc1 Ne5 33. Rxd7
Qxd7 34. Bf4 Qe6 35. g4 Nxc4 36. Qd1 Bd5 37. Qa4 g6 38. Nxh6+ Kg7 39. Qxa7 Ne4+
40. fxe4 Qxe4 41. Qc7 Qg2+ 42. Ke1 Qh1+ 43. Kf2 Qg2+ 44. Ke1 Qh1+ 45. Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. b3
c5 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. g5 Nh5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. cxd5 exd5
15. Qd3 d4 16. Qe4+ Kf8 17. exd4 Qc7 18. Qc2 Re8+ 19. Kd1 Bd6 20. Qxc7 Bxc7 21.
Ba3+ Kg8 22. Rc1 Bb8 23. Re1 Rxe1+ 24. Nxe1 Nf4 25. Rc8+ Kh7 26. Rxh8+ Kxh8 27.
h4 Ba7 28. Ndf3 f6 29. Kd2 Kg8 30. Bd6 Nd5 31. Nd3 Kf7 32. Nc5 Bxc5 33. dxc5
Nb4 34. a3 Nc6 35. Kd3 Ke6 36. Nd4+ Kd5 37. Nxc6 Kxc6 38. Kc4 a5 39. f4 fxg5
40. hxg5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15.
Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3 c4 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nd4 Ne5 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Nxb5
Qa1 22. Na3 Ba6 23. Nc2 Nxc2 24. Bxc2 Rc8 25. Nb1 g6 26. Bd2 Qxb2 27. Bc3 Qb6
28. Bd4 Qa5 29. Nc3 Bg7 30. Qd2 Nd3 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32. Rb1 Rc7 33. h4 h5 34. g3
Qc5 35. Ra1 Bc8 36. Nd1 Ne5 37. Qe3 Qxe3 38. Nxe3 c3 39. f4 Nf3+ 40. Kf2 Nd4
41. Ra4 Nxc2 42. Nxc2 Bd7 43. Ra5 Rc4 44. Ke3 f5 45. e5 dxe5 46. Ra7 exf4+ 47.
gxf4 Re4+ 48. Kd3 Re7 49. Kxc3 Rf7 50. Kd4 g5 51. fxg5 f4 52. Ne1 Bc8 53. Rxf7+
Kxf7 54. Nd3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c4 e4
15. Be2 Bg7 16. Rb1 O-O 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Bxb2 19. Nc4 Bg7 20. a4 Qc7 21.
Qd2 Rxa4 22. Bxa4 Qxc4 23. Bc6 Qd4 24. Qg5 Qf6 25. Qxf6 Bxf6 26. Rb7 Rd8 27.
Rfb1 Kg7 28. g3 Ng6 29. Bd7 Ne7 30. Bc6 Ng6 31. Rb8 Rxb8 32. Rxb8 Bd4 33. Rb7
Bc5 34. Kg2 f4 35. f3 exf3+ 36. Kxf3 fxg3 37. hxg3 Ne5+ 38. Kf4 Kf6 39. Bd7
Ng6+ 40. Ke4 Ne5 41. Bh3 Bf2 42. Kf4 Ng6+ 43. Kf3 Bc5 44. Ke4 Bf2 45. Rb3 Ne5
46. Kf4 h5 47. Bf5 h4 48. gxh4 Bxh4 49. Rb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. a3 cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Be7 10. Nf4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bd6 12. Nh5 Nxh5 13. Qxh5 Qa5 14. Qxa5
Nxa5 15. Ba2 b6 16. b4 Nc6 17. d5 Ne7 18. dxe6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Ke2 Be5
21. Rac1 Rfc8 22. Nb5 a6 23. Nd4 Kf7 24. Nf3 Bb2 25. Ng5+ Kg6 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27.
Nxe6 Nd5 28. Nf4+ Nxf4+ 29. Bxf4 Rc2+ 30. Bd2 Bc3 31. Rd1 Ra2 32. Kd3 Bf6 33.
Ke4 Rxa3 34. f4 a5 35. f5+ Kh5 36. bxa5 bxa5 37. h3 a4 38. Bf4 Ra1 39. Rd7 a3
40. Ra7 a2 41. Be3 h6 42. Bf2 Kg5 43. Be3+ Kh4 44. Bf2+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Ne5 8.
O-O-O Nf6 9. f4 Nc4 10. Bxc4 Qxc4 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Kb1 b5 14. Qf2
Bb7 15. Nf3 Qc6 16. Rd3 b4 17. Rhd1 Bc8 18. f5 Be7 19. f6 gxf6 20. exf6 Bxf6
21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 f5 23. Qd4 Rf8 24. Qg7 Rf7 25. Qg8+ Rf8 26. Qxh7 Rf7 27.
Qg8+ Rf8 28. Qg6+ Rf7 29. Rd6 Qe4 30. Rxe6+ Qxe6 31. Qxe6+ dxe6 32. Rd8# 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 Qb6 6. Nb3 e6 7. Bg2 Ne5 8.
Qc2 Qa6 9. c5 d5 10. cxd6 Bxd6 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. Bg5 Rc8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. O-O
Bc6 15. Bxc6+ Qxc6 16. Nd4 Qa6 17. Rfd1 O-O 18. Qc1 Ng6 19. Qe3 Rfd8 20. Ndb5
Bb8 21. Rd4 Be5 22. Ra4 Qb6 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. f4 Bxc3 25. Nxc3 Ne7 26. Kf2 Nd5
27. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Qb6 6. c3 d6 7. Be3 Qc7 8. c4
Nf6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Rc1 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. f4 Bf8 13. Qf3 Nc6 14. Kh1 Nd7 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. e5 Bb7 17. Ne4 c5 18. Qh3 g6 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21. Qg3 Ke7
22. Bxg6 Kd8 23. Rcd1 Qc6 24. Bxe8 Kxe8 25. f5 exf5 26. e6 Ne5 27. Rxf5 Qe4 28.
Rdf1 Ke7 29. h3 Nxc4 30. Bc1 Rb8 31. Qg8 Qxg2+ 32. Qxg2 Bxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Ne5 34.
b3 a5 35. Ba3 Rc8 36. h4 h5 37. Rf6 a4 38. bxa4 Bg7 39. Rf7+ Nxf7 40. Rxf7+
Kxe6 41. Rxg7 Ra8 42. Rg6+ Kd7 43. Bc1 Rxa4 44. Bg5 Rxa2+ 45. Kf3 Ra1 46. Rh6
c4 47. Bf4 Rd1 48. Ke2 Rd5 49. Bd2 Kc6 50. Bb4 Kb5 51. Bxd6 c3 52. Bf4 c2 53.
Rh8 Kc4 54. Rc8+ Kb3 55. Bg5 Rd1 56. Kf3 Re1 57. Kf2 Re4 58. Kg3 Kb2 59. Bf6+
Kb1 60. Rb8+ Kc1 61. Kf3 Kd1 62. Rd8+ Ke1 63. Rc8 Re2 64. Bg5 Kd1 65. Rd8+ Ke1
66. Ra8 Rf2+ 67. Ke4 Rf8 68. Rxf8 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 Bg6 5. Nh3 e6 6. Nf4 Be4 7. f3 Qh4+ 8. Ke2
Bg6 9. Be3 Nd7 10. c3 Qd8 11. h4 Bxb1 12. Rxb1 c5 13. Kf2 cxd4 14. cxd4 Ne7 15.
Qb3 Rb8 16. Qa4 a6 17. Rc1 Nc6 18. g5 Be7 19. Bd3 Nb6 20. Qd1 Nb4 21. Nh5 Kf8
22. Nf6 h5 23. Rg1 Nxa2 24. Rc2 Nb4 25. Re2 g6 26. Bb1 Nc4 27. Bc1 Nc6 28. f4
Rc8 29. b3 Na3 30. Be3 Nb5 31. Rd2 Bb4 32. Rd3 Kg7 33. Qf3 Ne7 34. Rdd1 Rc3 35.
f5 exf5 36. Bd3 Nc7 37. Be2 Ne6 38. Rd3 Rxd3 39. Bxd3 Bc3 40. Rd1 Nxd4 41. Qg3
Ne6 42. Bc4 Qc7 43. Bxd5 Bxe5 44. Qf3 Nxd5 45. Rxd5 Bxf6 46. gxf6+ Kxf6 47. Bd2
Rc8 48. Kf1 Kg7 49. Qe3 Qc6 50. Qe5+ Kg8 51. Bh6 f4 52. b4 Qc1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 Bxe3 7. fxe3 Qe7
8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. O-O a5 11. d4 c5 12. c3 b6 13. Qf2 Ba6 14. Rfe1 Rae8
15. Qg3 Kh8 16. Rad1 g6 17. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.06"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2556"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bf4 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Bd6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Ng5 Bg6 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Qg4 $146 h6 20. Nf3
Qe4 21. Qg3 Qc2 22. Nh4 Be4 23. Re1 d5 24. Bf1 Qd2 (24... Qb2 25. a4 (25. Rxe4
$5 dxe4 26. Nf5 g6 27. Nxh6+ Kg7 28. Nf5+ Kg8 29. d5 Nd8 $13) 25... Rd8 26. h3
Qa3 27. Re3 Qd6 28. Qg4 Qf6 29. Nf3 Ne7 $11 {1-0 Karjakin,S-Topalov,V/Leon
2003/CBM96_01 (85)}) 25. Re3 Rc8 (25... Qc1 $5 26. Qc7 Rb8 27. Qf4 Qxa3 28. Rg3
$44) 26. h3 ({White should have exploited his attacking potential instead:} 26.
Qf4 $1 Qd1 (26... g5 27. Qg4 Ne7 28. Nf3 Qc1 29. Qd7 $16) (26... Qc2 27. Rg3
$36) 27. Nf5 Bxf5 28. Qxf5 Rd8 29. Rf3 f6 30. Rg3 $40) 26... Qc1 27. Qg4 (27.
Rxe4 dxe4 28. Nf5 Qg5 29. Qxg5 hxg5 30. d5 Kf8 31. dxc6 Rxc6 32. c4 Ra6 $15)
27... Rd8 28. a4 Ne7 $11 29. c4 Ng6 $2 (29... Qa1 $1 30. cxd5 (30. Qf4 Qxd4 31.
Qc7 Nc6 32. cxd5 Qxd5 33. Qxb7 Rb8 34. Qa6 Rb1 $36) 30... f5 $1 31. Nxf5 (31.
Qe2 Nxd5 32. Rb3 Nb6 $17) 31... Bxf5 32. Qf3 Kf8 (32... Nxd5 33. Re5 Qxd4 34.
Qxf5 $36) 33. g4 Qxd4 34. gxf5 Rxd5 $13) 30. cxd5 Bxd5 31. Nxg6 fxg6 32. Qxg6
Bf7 33. Qe4 Qa1 34. Re1 (34. Qe7 Rxd4 35. Qxb7 Rxa4 $11) 34... Qxd4 35. Qxb7
Rf8 (35... Qxa4 36. Re7 Qf4 37. Qxa7 Rd1 $44) 36. Qe4 Qxe4 37. Rxe4 $16 Re8 38.
f3 $6 (38. Rxe8+ $5 Bxe8 39. a5 Kf7 40. f4 Ke7 41. Kf2 Kd6 42. Ke3 Kc5 43. g4
$16) 38... Rxe4 39. fxe4 Bg6 40. Bc4+ Kf8 41. e5 Bf7 42. e6 (42. Bd3 Ke7 43.
Kf2 Bb3 44. a5 Ke6 $11) (42. Bb5 Ke7 43. Kf2 Bd5 $11) 42... Be8 43. a5 Ke7 44.
Kf2 Kd6 45. Ke3 Bc6 46. g3 g5 47. Kd4 Bb7 48. h4 gxh4 49. gxh4 Bc6 50. Bd5 $4 {
[%mdl 8192]} Bxd5 51. e7 Bc6 0-1

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.06"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2556"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 Qb6 6. Nb5 $5 (6. Nc2 e6 7.
Bg2 d5 8. O-O $5 dxc4 9. Nba3 $44) ({and} 6. Nb3 {are the usual moves, the
text is a very rare alternative. White manoeuvres his N to the natural square
c3-but this is where the Nb1 belongs! Therefore Black should be able to
equalize, but the practical material is still rather meagre.}) 6... a6 (6...
Ne5 $5 7. b3 a6 (7... d5 8. Be3 Qd8 9. Bf4 a6 10. Bxe5 axb5 11. cxd5 $36) 8.
N5c3 (8. Nd4 d5 $15) 8... Neg4 9. e3 Qc6 10. f3 Ne5 11. e4 $13) 7. N5c3 (7. Qa4
$6 Rb8 $6 (7... Ne5 $36 {[%cal Re5c4,Rb6c6] Nc4,Qc6}) (7... Ng4 $5) 8. N5c3 e6
9. Bg2 Bc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd2 d6 (11... Qc7 $142) 12. Nde4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Qb4
14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. Qxb4 cxb4 16. Rd1 e5 17. Be3 Be6 18. Bd5 Rfd8 19. Bb6 Re8 20.
Rac1 $16 {Cleven,M-Fuchs,A/Krefeld/2001/}) (7. Be3 Qa5+ 8. N5c3 (8. Bd2 Qb6 $1
(8... Qd8 9. N5c3 e6 (9... d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bg2 $14) (9... b6 $5 $132) 10.
Bg2 Be7 11. e4 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Be3 d6 14. f4 Rb8 15. Qe2 Bd7 16. Nd2 Rfc8
17. Rac1 $14 {Andreeva,N-Ovod,E/Moscow/1999/}) 9. Be3 Qa5+ $11) 8... Ng4 9. Qd2
e6 10. Bg2 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Bc5 12. Qd2 b5 13. Ne4 Qxd2+ 14. Nbxd2 Bd4 15. O-O-O
f5 16. e3 fxe4 17. exd4 d5 {Miles,A-Schmittdiel,E/Ostend/1993/} 18. cxd5 exd5
19. f3 O-O $1 $11) 7... g6 $146 {[%mdl 8] Karjakin lets White finish his >>
development undisturbed and goes for a Maroczy-like position.} (7... e6 8. Bg2
Ne5 9. Qb3 (9. b3 {is a more logical move, with chances for an opening
advantage.}) 9... Qb4 10. Nd2 Rb8 11. O-O Be7 12. Qc2 O-O 13. a3 Qc5 14. Rd1
Qc7 15. b3 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Bb2 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 $11 {Miles,A-Gligoric,S/
Bugojno/1984/}) 8. Bg2 d6 9. O-O Bg7 10. b3 (10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne5 $11 {
releases the tension and favours Black.}) 10... O-O 11. Bb2 Qa5 12. Nd2 (12. e4
Rb8 {[%cal Yb7b5] /\b5<=>}) 12... Qh5 $5 (12... Bd7 13. h3 b5 14. a3 $5 {
[%cal Rb3b4] /\b4+/=}) 13. e4 (13. Re1 Bh3 14. Bh1 Ng4 $132) 13... Qxd1 {
Black's move is logical, but also playable was} (13... Bg4 14. f3 Bh3 15. Bxh3
Qxh3 16. Rb1 Nd7 17. Nd5 e6 $13) 14. Rfxd1 Nd7 15. Rab1 Nc5 16. Nd5 Be6 17.
Bxg7 (17. b4 Nd7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f4 a5 $132) 17... Kxg7 18. Nf1 b5 {Natural
<=>, although it softens Black's <<.} (18... a5 19. Nfe3 $14) 19. b4 $1 (19.
Nfe3 b4 $11) 19... Nd7 $6 {A passive follow-up.} (19... Na4 $142 20. Nfe3 Ne5
$132 {/\} (20... Bxd5 21. cxd5 Ne5 22. f4 Nc4 23. Nxc4 bxc4 24. Rdc1 $14) 21.
Nc7 $6 Nc3 $36) 20. Nfe3 bxc4 $6 (20... Nde5 $142 21. c5 $5 $14) 21. Nxc4 Rab8
22. a3 Rfc8 23. Nce3 Nb6 24. Bf1 $1 $36 {[%csl Ra6] ><a6} Bxd5 25. exd5 (25.
Nxd5 $5 $16) 25... Ne5 26. Rbc1 $5 {Topalov has outplayed his opponent and
doesn't want to squander any of his advantage by giving Black activity.
Especially in a rapid game this seems a sensible decision.} (26. Bxa6 Rc3 27.
Ra1 Ra8 28. b5 Nd3 $14 {<=>}) 26... Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Ra8 28. Rc7 Kf8 {[%mdl 4128]
For the time being Black has defended his ><a6 and it's becoming clear White
can't win the endgame on the << alone. Therefore he must open a second front
and create another wekaness or target on the >>. Topalov realizes this plan in
a model way from move 37 onwards.} 29. Rb7 (29. Kg2 $36 {would have saved
tempi.}) (29. f4 $5 $16) 29... Na4 30. Kg2 $6 (30. f4 Nf3+ 31. Kg2 Nd4 $14)
30... Ke8 31. f4 Nd7 {[%cal Re8c8] /\Kd8-c8} 32. Rc7 Kd8 33. Rc2 a5 $5 {
Black wisely decides he can't defend the ><a6 forever. Although now the passed
o^b5 will be seemingly firmly blockaded, it nevertheless requires attention
and enables White to concentrate his forces on the opposite flank (the 2
weaknesses principle).} 34. b5 Nab6 35. Kf2 (35. Kf3 Nf6 $132) 35... Nc5 36.
Kf3 Kc7 (36... h5 $142 $5 37. h3 Kc7 38. g4 hxg4+ 39. hxg4 Rh8 {and Black is
close to equality.}) 37. g4 $1 $36 {[%cal Rg4g5,Rh2h5] /\g5,h4-h5->,()>>} e6
38. dxe6 fxe6 39. Bg2 Rf8 40. Kg3 Kd7 ({Black finds it difficult to activate
his [+] pawns, e.g.,} 40... Nbd7 41. h4 d5 42. f5 $1 $36) 41. h4 (41. Bf3 {
was perhaps somewhat more accurate.}) 41... Rg8 (41... Rc8 42. Bc6+ (42. Bf3 $5
) 42... Kc7 (42... Ke7 43. Re2 $14) 43. Rh2 {/\h5+/=}) (41... h5 $5 {/\} 42.
gxh5 gxh5 43. Bf3 Rg8+ 44. Kh2 Rf8 $132) 42. Bf3 (42. g5 $5 $36) 42... Rg7 $2 (
42... h5 $142 $132) 43. g5 $1 Rf7 44. h5 Ke7 45. hxg6 hxg6 46. Nc4 $1 {[%csl
Gb5] Again the principle of 2 weaknesses-once Black's K has moved in the
direction of the >>, possibly to protect the ><g6, White shifts his sights to
the long dormant o^b5.} Nxc4 $8 47. Rxc4 Kd7 $6 (47... Rf8 $142 48. Rc2 (48.
Be4 $5 Nxe4+ 49. Rxe4 Rb8 50. a4 Rc8 $132) 48... Rh8 49. Rb2 $36) 48. Rc2 Rh7
49. Bc6+ Kc7 (49... Ke7 50. b6 Rh8 51. Rh2 $5 Rxh2 52. Kxh2 Kd8 53. Kg3 $16)
50. Be8 $1 {[%csl Rg6] Now g6 is again a target, this time it can;t be
defended anymore.} Rg7 (50... Rh1 51. Bxg6 Ra1 52. Rc3 (52. Bf7 Rxa3+ 53. Kg4
$16) 52... Kb6 53. Kg2 $1 {[%csl Gg5][%cal Rc3g3,Rg6h7] o^g5,/\Rg3,Bh7+-}) 51.
Rh2 Rg8 52. Rh7+ Kb6 53. Bf7 $18 Rb8 54. Bxg6 Kxb5 55. Bf7 Ka4 56. g6 Ne4+ 57.
Kf3 Nf6 58. Bxe6 $1 d5 (58... Nxh7 59. gxh7 {[%cal Re6g8] /\Bg8} Rh8 $8 60. Bg8
Kb5 61. f5 Kc6 62. f6 Kd7 63. Ke4 Ke8 64. Kd5 Kd7 65. a4 $22 $18) (58... Kxa3
59. Rf7 Nh5 60. Kg4 $18) 59. Rf7 Rb3+ 60. Ke2 Ne4 61. g7 Rg3 62. Bxd5 Nc3+ (
62... Nd6 63. Ra7 $18) 63. Kf2 Rxg7 64. Rxg7 (64. Bc6+ $142 Kxa3 65. Rxg7)
64... Nxd5 65. Kf3 Kxa3 66. Rg5 Nxf4 67. Kxf4 a4 (67... Kb4 68. Ke3 a4 69. Kd2
$18) 68. Ke3 (68. Rb5 Ka2 69. Ke3 $18) 68... Kb2 69. Kd2 a3 70. Rb5+ Ka1 71.
Kc3 Ka2 (71... a2 72. Kb3 Kb1 73. Ka3+ Ka1 74. Rg5 $18) 72. Rb3 1-0

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.06"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2556"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bf4 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Bd6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Ng5 Bg6 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Qg4 h6 20. Nf3 Qe4
21. Qg3 Qc2 22. Nh4 Be4 23. Re1 d5 24. Bf1 Qb2 25. a4 Rd8 26. h3 Qa3 27. Re3
Qd6 28. Qg4 Qf6 29. Nf3 Ne7 30. Nd2 Bg6 31. Qe2 Nc6 32. Nb3 b6 33. Nc1 Kf8 34.
Nd3 Be4 35. Qg4 g6 36. Nf4 h5 37. Qg3 Ne7 38. Re1 Nf5 39. Qh2 Rc8 40. f3 Rxc3
41. Ne2 Bd3 42. Nxc3 Qxd4+ 43. Kh1 Qxc3 44. Rd1 Bxf1 45. Rxf1 h4 46. Qb8+ Kg7
47. Rd1 Ne3 48. Rg1 Nf5 49. Rb1 Qc2 50. Re1 Qf2 51. Qe5+ Kg8 52. Kh2 Ng3 53.
Qa1 d4 54. Qc1 Kg7 55. Rd1 a6 56. Qc4 Nf5 57. Qxa6 Ne3 58. Rg1 Qc2 59. Qxb6
Qxa4 60. Qd6 Qc4 61. Qe5+ Kh7 62. Qf4 Nf5 63. Re1 Qc2 64. Re8 Qf2 65. Qe5 Qg3+
66. Kg1 Qxe5 67. Rxe5 Kg7 68. Kf2 Kf6 69. Re4 Kg7 70. Ke1 Kf6 71. Kd2 Kg7 72.
Kd3 Kf6 73. Re8 Kg5 74. Re4 Kf6 75. f4 Kg7 76. Re5 f6 77. Ra5 Kf7 78. Ke4 Ke6
79. Ra6+ Ke7 80. Kd5 Ne3+ 81. Kxd4 Nxg2 82. Ke4 g5 83. fxg5 fxg5 84. Kf5 Nf4
85. Ra3 1-0

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.06"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2556"]
[PlyCount "224"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Nd4 5. Bg2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bb4 7. Qb3 Qe7 8.
O-O O-O 9. d3 c6 10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 d6 12. b4 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. b5 c5 15.
Bg2 Qe7 16. e3 Bg4 17. f4 f5 18. Rae1 g5 19. e4 gxf4 20. gxf4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Qg5
22. Qd2 Rae8 23. Ref1 fxe4 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Qxg5+ hxg5 26. Bxe4 Rxf1+ 27.
Kxf1 b6 28. Kf2 Kg7 29. Ke3 Be6 30. Bf3 Kf6 31. Ke4 Bf5+ 32. Ke3 Ke5 33. Bd5
Bd7 34. Bf7 Bc8 35. Bd5 Bh3 36. a3 Bd7 37. Bf7 Bc8 38. Bd5 Bh3 39. Bf3 Be6 40.
Be2 d5 41. Bf1 Bg4 42. Bg2 Be6 43. Bf1 Bf7 44. Be2 Be6 45. Bf1 Bg4 46. Bg2 d4+
47. Kf2 Bf5 48. Bf1 Kf4 49. Be2 Bg6 50. Bf1 Bh7 51. Be2 Bf5 52. Bf1 Bc8 53. Bg2
a6 54. bxa6 Bxa6 55. Bc6 Bc8 56. Be4 Bg4 57. Bh7 Bh5 58. Be4 Bd1 59. Bh7 Kg4
60. Be4 Bb3 61. Bc6 Kf4 62. Bf3 Ba4 63. Be4 Bd7 64. Bd5 Bf5 65. Ke2 Kg4 66. Bg2
Kh4 67. Kd2 Kg4 68. Ke2 Kf4 69. Bc6 Ke5 70. Bf3 Kd6 71. Kd2 Kc7 72. Bg2 Kb8 73.
Bc6 Ka7 74. Be8 Ka6 75. Ke2 Ka5 76. Bc6 Bg6 77. Bd7 Bh7 78. Be8 Bf5 79. Bc6 Ka6
80. Be8 Kb7 81. Bb5 Kc7 82. Be8 Kd6 83. Bh5 Ke5 84. Bf3 Kf4 85. Bc6 Kg4 86. Bg2
Kh4 87. Kd2 Bg4 88. Ke1 Bf5 89. Kd2 Bh3 90. Be4 g4 91. Ke2 g3 92. hxg3+ Kxg3
93. Kd2 Kf4 94. Bc6 Ke5 95. Be8 Kd6 96. Bb5 Kc7 97. Ke2 Bg4+ 98. Kd2 Bd7 99.
Kc2 Bxb5 100. cxb5 Kd6 101. a4 Kd5 102. Kd2 c4 103. dxc4+ Kxc4 104. a5 Kxb5
105. axb6 Kxb6 106. Kd3 Kc5 107. Kd2 Kc4 108. Kc2 d3+ 109. Kd2 Kd4 110. Kd1 Ke3
111. Ke1 d2+ 112. Kd1 Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.08"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Ne4 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bd5 14. Qc2 a5
15. Be3 axb4 16. axb4 c6 17. b5 Ra2 18. Qc1 Na4 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21.
Qxa1 Qa5 22. Bd2 Qa8 23. Rb1 Nc5 24. Bb4 Qxa1 25. Rxa1 Nb3 26. Bxe7 Nxa1 27.
Bxf8 Kxf8 28. Bg2 Nb3 29. Nc3 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 Ke7 31. Kf1 Ke6 32. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.08"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Kb1 Rc8 11. h4 h6 12. Be3 h5 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Ne2 d5
15. e5 Nd7 16. f4 Bb5 17. g3 g6 18. Bg2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qc7 20. Rd3 Nc5 21. Rc3
Qd7 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rd1 b5 24. Bf1 Ke7 25. Rcd3 Bb6 26. Qd2 Kf8 27. Rb3 Bc5
28. c4 bxc4 29. Bxc4 Qa7 30. Be2 Kg7 31. Qd3 a5 32. Qa6 Qxa6 33. Bxa6 Rb8 34.
Bb7 Bb4 35. Bc6 Rhc8 36. Rc1 Rb6 37. Ba4 Rxc1+ 38. Kxc1 Bc5 39. Rf3 Rb4 40. Bc2
a4 41. b3 axb3 42. axb3 Rb7 43. Kd1 Ra7 44. Ke2 Bb4 45. Rf2 Rc7 46. Bd3 Rc3 47.
Rf1 Rxb3 48. Rb1 Rxb1 49. Bxb1 Kf8 50. Bc2 Ke7 51. Ba4 d4 52. Bb5 Ba5 53. Bd3
Kd8 54. Bb5 Bb4 55. Bd3 Kc7 56. Bb5 Kd8 57. Bd3 Ba5 58. Bb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.08"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 {Hecht} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3
Ne7 7. Qg4 Qa5 8. Bd2 O-O 9. Bd3 Nbc6 10. Nf3 f5 11. exf6 Rxf6 12. Qh5 Nf5 13.
Ne5 $5 $146 (13. O-O {White failed to get any advantage after} c4 14. Bxf5 (14.
Be2 Nd6 15. Qg5 Ne4 16. Qe3 Ne7 17. Bd1 Qb6 18. Bc1 Ng6 19. Ng5 Nxg5 20. Qxg5
Bd7 21. Qg3 Ne7 22. Qe5 Ng6 {1/2-1/2 Bucher,D-Romon Poves,R/EU-ch B20 Aviles
2000/ (22)}) 14... Rxf5 15. Qg4 Bd7 16. Qg3 Raf8 17. Bh6 R8f7 18. Nh4 Rh5 19.
Bf4 Rxh4 20. Qxh4 Qxc3 21. Be3 Qxc2 22. a4 b6 23. Qg3 Qe4 24. Rad1 h6 25. Rfe1
Qh7 26. Bf4 Kh8 27. Be5 Qc2 {Sibarevic-Sevo/YUG t-ch2 2000/0-1 (38)}) ({or} 13.
dxc5 Qxc5 (13... e5 $6 14. Nxe5 $1 Qxc5 15. O-O Nxe5 16. Qe8+ Rf8 17. Qxe5 $16)
14. g4 Nh6 15. g5 g6 16. Qh3 e5 17. Qg2 Rxf3 $5 (17... Rd6 $5) 18. Qxf3 e4 19.
Qe3 Qxe3+ 20. Bxe3 exd3 21. gxh6 dxc2 22. Kd2 Bf5 $15 {1-0 Korneev,O-Rodriguez
Gerrero,E/Sevilla op 2002 (34)}) (13. c4 $5) (13. g4 $5 c4 $132) 13... c4 ({
Worth considering} 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 Rf7 (14... Rf8 15. g4 c4 (15... g6) 16.
gxf5 cxd3 17. f6 $18) 15. c4 (15. g4 g6 16. Qg5 Ne7 17. h4 $5 c4 18. Be2 Qa4
$132) (15. O-O $5) 15... Qc7 16. f4 d4 $13) (13... Qa4 $5) 14. Bxf5 Rxf5 ({
Weaker was} 14... exf5 $6 {after} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 (15... Rxc6 $4 16. Qe8#) 16.
Qe8+ Rf8 17. Qxc6 Rb8 18. O-O {white's advantage is obvious}) 15. Qe8+ Rf8 16.
Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qxc6 {'las blancas han ganado un peón'} Rb8 {'pero las negras
parecen tener compensación  ¿será suficiente? Fritz considera que el blanco
está un poco mejor. '} 18. O-O {Thanks to the new interesting opening idea
White has won a pawn. Of course Black has some compensation, but is is clear
that he can fight just for draw.} Rb2 {'a pesar de haberse enfrentado a una
novedad Ponomariov tiene más tiempo que su rival casi 18 mn. contra 13'} 19.
Bf4 $5 {'el blanco devuelve el peón para tomar la iniciativa por las casillas
negras con Bd6 o e5 en caso de ataque al rey los alfiles de distinto color son
un arma terrible.'} ({I am quite sure, that moves like} 19. Rfc1 {Topalov even
didn't start to consider.}) 19... Qxc3 {Only move, otherwise Black lose
without struggle, for example:} ({No es posible} 19... Rxc2 $4 {por} 20. Bd6
$18 {[%csl Rf8] or}) (19... Rxf4 $2 20. Qxc8+ Rf8 21. Qxe6+) 20. Bd6 Rb6 {
'esta intermedia es la clave del juego negro'} ({Black could try also} 20...
Rd8 {with possible continuation} 21. Qc7 Re8 22. Be5 Rb7 23. Qc6 Rf8 {just
with small advantage of white}) 21. Qc7 Rb7 (21... Rxd6 $143 22. Qxd6 Qxc2 23.
Rab1 $16 {[%cal Gb1b8]}) 22. Qc5 Re8 23. Qc6 {'Topalov tiene 8 minutos;
Ponomariov 14'} Rd8 24. Rab1 $5 {[%mdl 2560] Topalov would like to exploite
more active positions of his pieces, especially clear difference in bishops
activity, and he is ready to sacrifice pawn for exchange rook b7 - main
defender of Black king.} Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Qxc2 26. Rf1 {'Fritz que es un gran
comedor de peones considera la posición igualada, lo que hace pensar que la
actividad del blanco es lo bastante fuerte para, por lo menos, compensar el
peón sacrificado'} Qg6 {Black is a pawn up but his bishop c8 is so weak, that,
I think, any case he can just dream about equalization of chances.} 27. Qc7 Qe8
(27... Re8 28. Qxa7 $16) 28. Be5 Qd7 29. Qc5 Qb7 30. h3 {White don't need to
be in hurry/} Re8 ({Unfortunately, Black bishop still can't move -} 30... Bd7
$4 31. Qe7 $18) 31. Re1 {'la torre estaría estupendamente colocada en la
tercera fila'} Bd7 32. Qa5 $1 {Avoiding simple trap} ({Tras} 32. Re3 $2 Qb6 $15
{y las negras fuerzan el cambio de damas}) 32... Rc8 33. Re3 Be8 34. Rg3 Bg6 {
Too dangerous was to play} (34... g6) 35. h4 {Simple and strong move} Qb6 {
'según Illescas "una cagada"'} (35... h5 $5 36. Rxg6 $140 $2 Qb1+ $19) 36. Qa4
$1 {'[#] amenaza entrar en d7'} ({Obviously White has to keep the queens on
the board} 36. Qxb6 $2 axb6 37. h5 Bf5 38. Rxg7+ Kf8 $15 {y el peón c es muy
fuerte}) 36... Qb7 ({o bien la mas sutil pero no necesariamente mejor} 36...
Qb1+ $5 37. Kh2 Qb7 38. h5 Be8 $1 39. Qb4 $142 Qxb4 40. Rxg7+ Kf8 41. axb4 Bxh5
$1 42. Rxh7 Bf7 $15) 37. h5 Be8 (37... c3 $5 38. hxg6 c2 39. Bf4 c1=Q+ 40. Bxc1
Rxc1+ 41. Kh2 Rc6 $13) 38. Qd1 {White protect important h5 pawn} ({But he
could play} 38. Qc2 Bxh5 39. Rxg7+ Qxg7 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 {y el peón c debe dar
contrajuego para tablas.} 41. Qb2 $1 {with some chances.}) 38... g6 {'Topalov
tiene poco más de un minuto'} 39. Qg4 Qb1+ (39... Qe7 40. Qf4 $5) 40. Kh2 Qf5
41. Qh4 c3 $5 {Passed pawn has to go forward!} 42. Rg5 (42. Qe7 Qf7 43. Qh4 Qf5
$11) 42... Qe4 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Terrible mistake!} ({Good or bad, Ponomariov
had to play} 42... Qf8 {and White has just draw, for example:} 43. hxg6 Bxg6 {
y no se ve remate para las blancas} 44. Rxg6+ hxg6 45. Qh8+ Kf7 46. Qf6+ Ke8
47. Qxe6+ Kd8 48. Qxd5+ Ke8 49. Qe6+ Kd8 $11) (42... Qf7 $4 43. hxg6 hxg6 44.
Qh8#) {[#]} 43. Rg4 $4 {Missing ( first but not lat time! ) easy victory} ({
Gana} 43. Rxg6+ Bxg6 (43... hxg6 44. Qf6 $18) 44. Qf6 Qxe5+ 45. dxe5 $18 {
wins immediately}) 43... Qf5 44. Rg5 Qe4 $4 45. Qh3 $4 ({de nuevo deja pasar} 
45. Rxg6+) 45... Rc6 46. hxg6 Bxg6 47. Qh6 Kf7 48. f3 (48. Qg7+ $5 Ke8 49. Qb7
Qh4+ ({After} 49... Rc4 $2 {white wins immediately} 50. Qb8+ Kd7 51. Qd6+ Kc8
52. Qxe6+ Kb7 53. a4 $1 a5 (53... c2 54. Qd7+ Ka8 55. Qd8+ Kb7 56. Qb8+ Ka6 57.
Qb5#) 54. Qd7+ Ka8 55. Qb5 $18) 50. Kg1 Qxg5 51. Qxc6+ Kf7 52. Qxc3 {with some
advantage in ending}) 48... Qe1 {I afraid that both players we in severe time
trouble.} ({Era imprescindible dejar defendido el alfil} 48... Qb1 $1 {leads
to force draw -} 49. Qg7+ Ke8 50. Bc7 $1 (50. Bf6 Qb8+ 51. Re5 Qc7 $17) 50...
Rxc7 (50... c2 51. Qg8+ Ke7 52. Qd8+ Kf7 53. Qd7+ Kf8 54. Bd6+ Rxd6 55. Qxd6+
Kf7 $11) 51. Qxc7 c2 52. Qc8+ $11) 49. Rxg6 $1 {Finally removing the only
defender standing between White's attacking pieces and Black's king 'por fin,
con segundos en el reloj Topalov encuentra el remate'} Qxe5+ $8 ({Contra} 49...
hxg6 {Fritz anuncia mate} 50. Qg7+ Ke8 51. Bf6 {with mate in few moves.}) 50.
dxe5 hxg6 51. Qh7+ Kf8 (51... Ke8 {Hecht} 52. Qxg6+ Kd7 53. Qc2 Kc7 54. Kg3 $1
d4 55. Kf2 d3 56. Qc1 $1 d2 57. Qc2 Rc5 58. f4 Rd5 59. Ke2 Rc5 60. g4 Kd8 61.
Kd1 Rc7 62. Qd3+ Ke8 63. f5 exf5 64. gxf5 $18) 52. Qd7 Rc4 {'[#]'} 53. Qd8+ $2
{Difficult to believe, but this natural move is mistake.Topalov could win by
force atter  Hecht: 'D. Barlov schreibt in der ROCHADE8: "Es ist unglaublich,
was Topalov hier in Zeitnot macht! Ganz einfach und schnell gewinnt 53.Dxe6 ...
..". Da der Bulgare aber nur wenige Züge später auf Zeit verliert, hat er hier
angesichts horrender Zeitnot den Versuch unternommen, mittels Dauerschach
wenigstens einen halben Punkt zu retten. Die wenig komplizierte Gewinnführung
in der Variante hätte Topalov zeitlich ohnehin nicht überlebt. Das ist meine
Meinung aus der Ferne. '} ({Hecht: Es gewinnt} 53. Qxe6 $1 c2 54. Qf6+ Ke8 (
54... Kg8 55. Qxg6+ Kh8 56. Qh6+ Kg8 57. Qc1 d4 58. Qg5+ {Hecht: 'mit
Turmgewinn; z.B.'} Kh7 59. Qe7+ Kh8 60. Qf8+ Kh7 61. Qf7+ {[%cal Rf7c4] '+-'
Hecht. winning rook c4}) 55. e6 $1 Rc7 $8 56. e7 Rxe7 (56... c1=Q {Hecht} 57.
Qf8+ Kd7 58. e8=Q#) 57. Qxg6+ {'+-' Hecht. y gana el peón de c2} Kd7 58. Qxc2
$18) 53... Kg7 54. Qf6+ Kh7 55. Qf7+ Kh6 56. Qf8+ Kh7 57. Qe7+ Kh8 $11 58. Qf6+
$138 {And in this moment White lost on time. Sad end of very interesting game.
Hecht: 'ZÜ' 'Y Topalov pierde por tiempo una partida que ha tenido ganada
varias veces. un desenlace increible que recuerda como Ponomariov ganó el
match contra Ivanchuk que le proclamó campeón del mundo.'} 0-1

[Event "Leon 16th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2003.06.08"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2003.06.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O Na6
9. dxe6 Bxe6 $16 {The idea of this variation is to recieve good piece play for
weak Pd6. However, in my opinion, White has steady advantage in this variation.
I woudn't recommend to play it vs R. Ponomarev.} 10. Bf4 {[%csl Rd6]} ({
Interesting is} 10. Bg5 $1 Qb6 11. Qd2 Rfe8 12. Ne1 (12. Rfd1 $14) 12... Nb4
13. f4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxc4 15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. Bxc4 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 d5 18. Be2 $16 {
1/2-1/2 Vaisser,A-Lechtynsky,J/Vrnjacka Banja 1984/MCD (41)}) 10... Qa5 ({
The most popular move is} 10... Qb6 11. Rb1 (11. Qb3 Qxb3 12. axb3 Rfd8 13.
Rfd1 Ne8 14. Rd2 Rd7 15. Rad1 Rad8 16. Nb5 b6 (16... h6 17. Nxa7 $16 (17. Nxd6
Nxd6 18. Bxd6 Bg4 19. Bf4 $16)) 17. Ng5 Nb8 (17... Nb4 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Bg5
Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Rxd6 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 Rxd6 23. Nxd6 $16) 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19.
Bg5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Rxd6 Nxe4 22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Rxd7 Nxd7 24. Nxa7 Nd6
25. Nc6 $16 {1-0 Hort,V-Cifuentes,A/Havana 1967/EXT 2001 (54)}) (11. Qd2 Rad8 (
11... Rfd8 12. Ng5 (12. h3 Qb4 13. a3 Qb3 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. Rab1 Ne5 16. Bxe5
dxe5 17. Nd5 Qxd3 18. Bxd3 Kf8 19. Rfd1 h6 20. Ne1 Rac8 21. Nc2 Bxd5 22. cxd5
c4 23. Be2 Nc5 $17 {0-1 Krush,I-Rogers,I/Hawaii 1998/EXT 99 (30)}) 12... Bd7
13. Rae1 Bc6 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 h6 16. Nh3 Re8 17. Bd3 $14) (11... Rfe8 12.
Ne1 Rad8 13. Rd1 Nb4 14. Bg5 Rd7 15. Qf4 Qd8 16. Qh4 b5 17. e5 $1 (17. a3 $2 {
0-1 Caoili,A-Calotescu,A/Oropesa del Mar 2001/EXT 2002 (48)}) 17... dxe5 18.
Rxd7 Bxd7 19. Ne4 Re6 20. Nxc5 $18) 12. Rad1 (12. Rfe1 Nb4 13. h3 Nc6 14. b3
Rfe8 15. Rac1 Nd4 16. Bg5 Rc8 17. Nh2 Qc6 18. Bd3 $14 {0-1 Jurek,J-Petrov,M/
Pardubice 2001/CBM 83 ext (39)}) 12... Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nc7 15. Bxd6
Nce8 16. e5 Nxd6 17. exd6 Ne8 18. Na4 Qxd6 19. Qa5 Bd4 20. Qxa7 Nf6 21. Nc3 (
21. Qxb7 Qf4 22. Qb3 $16) 21... Qe6 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Qf5 24. Qb6 $16 {
0-1 Browne,W-Wilder,M/Lone Pine 1980/MCD (38)}) (11. a3 Rfd8 12. Qc2 Nc7 13.
Rfd1 a6 14. Rd2 h6 15. Rad1 Nce8 16. h3 g5 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nh2 b6 19. f4 gxf4
20. Bxf4 $16 {1/2-1/2 Goehler,A-Muresan,M/Dresden 1990/TD (64)}) ({Premature is
} 11. Bxd6 $2 Rfd8 12. e5 Ne8 13. Nb5 Nb4 14. a3 Nc6 15. b4 Nxd6 16. exd6 Bxa1
17. Qxa1 cxb4 18. Nc7 Rac8 $17 {1/2-1/2 Mellano,S-Giaccio,A/Buenos Aires 1991/
EXT 2002 (50)}) 11... Rad8 12. h3 Rfe8 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Qc6 15. Nd2 Bc8 16.
a3 Nc7 17. b4 $14 {-see commented game  1-0 Kortschnoj,V-Plachetka,J/Ostrava
1994/CBM 42 [Ftacnik,L](38)}) 11. Re1 ({Possibly also} 11. Qd2 Rad8 12. a3 Rd7
13. h3 Rc8 14. Rad1 Qb6 15. Qc2 Nb8 16. Rd2 a6 17. Rfd1 Rcd8 18. g4 $16 {
0-1 Baragar,F-Gruenfeld,Y/Zagreb 1987/CBM 04 (65)}) 11... Rfe8 12. Bf1 (12. Qb3
Rad8 13. Rad1 {[%csl Rd6]} Bc8 {[%csl Re4]} 14. Bf1 Qb4 15. Qc2 {[%csl Rd6,Ge4]
} (15. Bxd6 Qxb3 16. axb3 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxd1 18. Nxd1 Kxf8 19. Nc3 Bg4 20. Nd2
$16) 15... Qb6 16. Nb5 Bf8 17. Bg5 Bg7 18. Qd2 $16) 12... Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 Nb4 {[%cal Gb4c2]} 15. Rac1 Nd7 16. Bxd6 ({Or} 16. a3 Nc6 17. Bxd6 Re6 18.
Bf4 (18. Qf4 Nde5 19. Red1 Nd4 20. b4 $18) 18... Rae8 19. Qd3 Bd4 20. Re2 $16)
16... Nxa2 17. Ra1 $2 $132 {Serious mistake.} ({Very strong was} 17. Nxa2 Qxa2
18. e5 $1 {This strong promotion was overlooked probably by both sides...} Qa6
(18... Nxe5 19. Qxb7 $22 $18 {[%csl Ra2,Ra8,Rc5,Re8]}) (18... Bxe5 19. Bxe5
Nxe5 20. Qc3 $18 {[%csl Ra2,Re5]}) 19. Qd5 Qb6 20. f4 $16) 17... Qb6 {[%csl
Rd6]} 18. Nb5 Nb4 19. Bc7 Qc6 20. Rad1 Nc2 21. Re2 a6 22. Rxc2 axb5 23. Bf4 b4
24. Rd6 Qxe4 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 26. Rxd7 $6 {Gives to the opponent strong
initiative.} ({Why not} 26. Be3 Nf8 27. Bxc5 (27. g3 Ra1 28. Kg2 Bd4 29. Bxd4
Rxd4 30. Rxd4 cxd4 31. Rd2 Ne6 $17) 27... b3 28. Rc1 Ra2 29. Rb1 Ne6 30. Be3
Bxb2 31. Rb6 $1 {and White equalizes:} (31. Rd3 $6 Rxe3 $1 (31... Bd4 32. Rbxb3
$11) 32. Rxe3 Nc5 33. g3 Bd4 34. Re2 Rxe2 35. Bxe2 b2 36. Kg2 Ne4 37. Bd3 Nxf2
38. Bc2 f5 39. Rf1 Ne4 40. Rd1 $15) 31... Bd4 32. Rxb7 Rxe3 33. fxe3 Bxe3+ 34.
Kh1 Nc5 35. R7xb3 $11) 26... Rxf4 27. g3 Rd4 28. Rxb7 Rd1 {[%cal Ga8a1]
Threatening Ra8-a1} 29. Kg2 Rb1 {[%csl Rb2]} 30. Bd3 Re8 (30... Rxb2 31. Rxb2
Bxb2 32. Be4 Ra2 (32... Bd4 33. Rxb4 cxb4 (33... Re8 34. Bc6 cxb4 35. Bxe8 b3
36. Ba4 b2 37. Bc2 $11) 34. Bxa8 b3 35. Be4 $11) 33. Bd5 Bd4 34. Rxf7 Kh8 35.
h4 b3 36. g4 h5 37. Rf8+ Kh7 38. Rf7+ Bg7 39. Rb7 b2 40. gxh5 gxh5 $11) 31. Re2
$2 $17 {Mistake!} ({Why not} 31. Rc7 $1 Bd4 32. Rd2 Rbe1 33. Ra7 $11) 31...
Rxe2 32. Rb8+ Bf8 33. Bxe2 Rxb2 34. Bf3 Kg7 35. Bd5 f5 36. g4 ({Or} 36. Kf1 h5
37. h4 Ra2 38. Rb6 Ra7 39. Ke2 (39. f4 Be7 40. Ke2 Bf6 {[%cal Gf6d4]} 41. Rb7+
Rxb7 42. Bxb7 b3 43. Kd1 Bd4 44. Kc1 Bf2 $19) 39... Be7 40. Kf3 Bf6 41. Kf4 Ra2
42. f3 Re2 43. g4 $17) 36... Re2 $2 $44 ({In case of} 36... Bd6 $2 37. Rb7+ $4
({White equalizes:} 37. Rd8 $1 Be5 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Ge5d4]} (37... Bf4 38. Kf3
Be5 39. g5 h6 40. Rd7+ Kh8 41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. Rd7+ Bg7 43. h4 Rc2 44. Rb7 $44)
38. g5 h6 39. Rd7+ Kh8 40. Rd8+ (40. gxh6 b3 $17) 40... Kh7 41. Rd7+ Bg7 42. h4
b3 43. Rb7 Rb1 44. Bf7 Rb2 (44... b2 45. Rb6 $16) (44... hxg5 45. hxg5 Rb2 46.
Bd5 $11) 45. Rb6 Bd4 46. Bxg6+ Kg7 47. gxh6+ Kxh6 48. Bxf5+ $11) 37... Kf6 38.
Rxh7 fxg4 39. hxg4 Be5 40. Kf3 Bd4 41. Rf7+ Kg5 42. Kg3 Rb3+ 43. f3 Be5+ 44.
Kf2 Rb1 $19) ({Worth of attention} 36... fxg4 $1 37. hxg4 Bd6 38. Rd8 Be7 (
38... Bf4 39. Kf3 g5 40. Rc8 Be5 41. Rxc5 Rxf2+ 42. Kxf2 Bd4+ 43. Kf3 Bxc5 44.
Be4 Kf6 {[%cal Gf6c3]} 45. Bxh7 Ke5 46. Ke2 Kd4 47. Kd2 b3 48. Kc1 $11 {
[%cal Gh7f5,Gc1b1]}) 39. Rd7 Kf8 40. Rc7 h6 $17 {With stable initiative.}) 37.
Kf3 Re1 38. g5 $1 {[%csl Rg7] Now Black pieces will remain on passive
positions.} Re7 39. h4 Rc7 40. Ke2 Ra7 41. Kd3 Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Qa4+ Nbd7 8.
Bf4 a6 9. e4 Rb8 10. h3 b5 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. O-O-O Bg7 13. Re1 O-O 14. g4 Nb6 15.
Bg2 b4 16. Nd1 a5 17. Ne3 Nfd7 18. Bg5 f6 19. Bf4 Ne5 20. Nd2 Ba6 21. Bf1 c4
22. Bxe5 fxe5 23. Bxc4 Rbc8 24. Rhf1 Bh6 25. b3 Nxc4 26. Ndxc4 Bxc4 27. bxc4
Qa7 28. Kd2 Qd4+ 29. Ke2 Bxe3 30. fxe3 Rxc4 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Rf1+ Ke7 33. Qa4
Qb2+ 34. Kf3 Qh2 35. Rf2 Qxh3+ 36. Ke2 Qxg4+ 37. Kd2 Qh4 38. Rf1 Qxe4 0-1

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. d5 Nce5 15.
a4 Bb7 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Nd7 18. Nf3 Re8 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Ra2 g6 21. Kh2 Bg7
22. b3 Qc7 23. Bd3 c4 24. bxc4 Nc5 25. Bc2 bxc4 26. Ra3 a5 27. Bc3 Ba6 28. Bxg7
Kxg7 29. Nd4 Nd3 30. Bxd3 cxd3 31. Nc6 Kg8 32. Qd2 Rac8 33. Rb3 f5 34. exf5 Qf7
35. Re6 Bc4 36. Rxd3 Bxd3 37. Qxd3 gxf5 38. Nd4 Rf8 39. Nb5 Rcd8 40. Nxd6 Qc7
41. Qg3+ Qg7 42. Qe3 Kh8 43. Ne8 Qb2 44. d6 Rg8 45. Qe5+ Qxe5 46. fxe5 Rgxe8
47. Rxe8+ Rxe8 48. d7 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qe2 h6 12. a3 Nbd7 13. Nh4 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Rfd1 Qc7 16. Qf3 Kh7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Nf6 20. Rd2 Re6 21. g4
Qb7 22. Ng3 Rc8 23. h4 g6 24. g5 Ne8 25. h5 Ng7 26. hxg6+ fxg6 27. gxh6 Nh5 28.
Nxh5 gxh5 29. Qf5+ Rg6+ 30. Kh1 Qe7 31. f3 Qf6 32. Qxh5 Rg3 33. Rf2 d5 34. Rg1
Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 d4 36. Bg5 Qg6 37. Qxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rg2 Kh7 39. Bf6 Bd6 40. Bg7 a5
41. Kf1 a4 42. Ke1 Rb8 43. Kd1 b4 44. axb4 Rxb4 45. Kc1 Rb7 46. Rg5 a3 47. bxa3
Bxa3+ 48. Kd2 Bb2 49. Rxe5 d3 50. Rg5 dxc2 51. Kxc2 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. g3 d5 7. e5 (7. exd5
Nxd5 8. Bd2 (8. Bb5+ c6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qxd5 Bd7 11. Qf3 cxb5 12. Qxa8 Bc6 $19
) 8... Nb4 (8... O-O $5 9. Bg2 Nb6 10. Bf4 Bd6 $11 (10... Bf6 $5 11. Ndb5 Re8+
12. Kf1 (12. Ne2 Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Na6 $11) 12... Na6 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Nxc7 Nxc7
15. Bxc7 Rd2 $44)) 9. Be3 Nd5 (9... N8c6 10. a3 Bf6 (10... Nxd4 11. axb4 Bf6
12. Ne4 Be5 13. Bg2 $16 {[%cal Gc2c3]}) 11. Ndb5 $1 (11. axb4 Bxd4 12. Bg2 Bxe3
(12... Nxb4 13. Bxd4 Qxd4 14. Qe2+ Kf8 15. O-O $44) 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Qxd8+
Kxd8 15. fxe3 $14) 11... Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 $16) 10. Qd3 O-O 11. O-O-O Nxe3 (11...
Na6 $5) 12. Qxe3 $32 Bc5 13. Qf4 Bd6 14. Qd2 {[%cal Gd4b5]} Bb4 15. Bc4 $1 $36
Nd7 16. a3 Ba5 $6 (16... Nb6 $142 17. Ba2 Bc5 18. Ndb5 $14) 17. Rhe1 Nb6 18.
Ba2 c5 19. Ndb5 $16 Qf6 (19... Qxd2+ 20. Rxd2 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gb5d6,Ge1e7,
Yd6f7,Ye7f7,Ya2f7]}) (19... Bg4 20. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 21. Qf4+ $18) 20. Nc7 Bg4 21.
Nxa8 Na4 22. Nc7 $1 (22. Qd6 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Qxc3 $44) 22... Nxc3 23. bxc3 Bxc7
24. f3 $1 Bc8 (24... Bxf3 25. Rf1 Qc6 (25... Rd8 26. Qe3 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 $16)
26. Bd5 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 $16) 25. Qe3 Ba5 26. Qxc5 Bb6 27. Qe7 $18 Qxf3 (27...
Qxc3 28. Qxf7+ Rxf7 29. Re8#) 28. Bd5 Qh5 29. Re5 Qh6+ 30. Kb1 g6 31. Rf1 Bf5
32. g4 Bd8 33. Qd6 Qh3 34. Rf3 Qxg4 35. Rexf5 {1-0 McShane,L-Bacrot,E/Lausanne
2003/CBM 98 (35)}) 7... Ng4 8. Bf4 (8. Nf3 $6 Nc6 $1 9. Qxd5 Bf5 $1 10. Bc4
Qxd5 11. Nxd5 Ngxe5 $1 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe7 Kxe7 $17 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,
A-Fressinet,L/Enghien les Bains 2001/CBM 83/[Huzman] (13)}) (8. e6 Nf6 9. exf7+
(9. Bh3 O-O (9... Nc6 10. exf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxc8 Qxc8 12. Nf3 Qd7 13. O-O Rhe8 14.
Qd3 Rad8 15. Bf4 Bb4 16. Nb5 Ba5 17. c3 Kg8 18. Bg5 $14 {1-0 Speelman,
J-Giorgadze,T/Hastings 1979/MCD (41)}) 10. O-O Nc6 11. exf7+ Kxf7 12. Bg2 Nxd4
13. Qxd4 c6 14. Qd3 Kg8 {1/2-1/2 Kotronias,V-Kuzmin,G/Agios Nikolaos 1995/EXT
98 (14)}) 9... Kxf7 10. Bg2 c6 11. O-O Nbd7 (11... Re8 12. Nce2 (12. b3 Na6 13.
Bb2 Nc5 14. Re1 Bg4 15. Qd2 Qd7 16. f3 Bh5 17. Nce2 Bd6 18. Nf4 Bxf4 19. Qxf4
Bg6 20. Ba3 $14 {1-0 Tal,M-Antoshin,V/Moscow 1972/EXT 2001 (30)}) (12. Bf4 Na6
13. Re1 Bg4 14. Qd2 Qd7 15. Nf3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Ne4 (18. a3
) 18... Nxe4 19. Bxe4 $11 {0-1 Rainfray,A-Nisipeanu,L/Paris 2002/CBM 89 ext 
(50)}) 12... Nbd7 13. b3 Ne5 14. Bb2 Bc5 15. h3 Qb6 16. Nf4 Kg8 17. c3 Bd7 $11
{1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Kuzmin,G/Lvov 1990/CBM 18 (25)}) (11... Na6 12. h3 Nc5 13.
Re1 Re8 14. b4 Ne6 15. a3 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Bf5 17. Re2 a5 18. bxa5 Qxa5 19. Bb2
Bd6 $17 {0-1 Kobese,W-Hamdouchi,H/Cairo 2001/CBM 84 ext (47)}) 12. Re1 Nc5 13.
b4 Ne6 14. b5 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Re8 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Rb1 Bf5 18. Rb7 Qc8 19. Rxa7
Rxa7 20. Qxa7 Bxc2 $11 {1/2-1/2 Geller,E-Giorgadze,T/Minsk 1979/URS-ch (52)}) (
8. Bg2 c5 (8... Nxe5 {Bangiev} 9. Nxd5 (9. Qe2 Nec6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nxd5 Nxd4
12. Bxd4 Bg5 13. f4 c6 14. O-O cxd5 15. fxg5 Nc6 16. Bc5 Re8 17. Qf2 $14 {
1-0 Vesselovsky,S-Novak,I/Tatranska Lomnica 1997/EXT 99 (56)}) 9... Bg4 10. Qd2
c5 $5 11. Nb5 $1 $13) 9. Ndb5 a6 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. exd6 d4 12. Qe2+ Kf8 13. Nd5
(13. Ne4 $5) 13... Nc6 14. O-O Nf6 15. Qc4 Qxd6 16. Bf4 $18 {1-0 Smagin,
S-Antoshin,V/Moscow 1982/MCD (41)}) (8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 d4 10. Ne2 f5 11. h3 Nh6
12. Bg2 O-O 13. O-O Nc6 14. b3 Be6 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. Qd2 Rad8 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. c4
$11 {1/2-1/2 Spassky,B-Fressinet,L/Paris FRA 2001/ (25)} (18. c4 a6 $5 (18...
d3 $2 19. Nc1) 19. Qc1 Rc8 20. Nd2 b5 21. a3 {/\Qc2} (21. Qc2 Nb4) 21... Na5
22. Qc2 Rfd8 23. Nc1 Rb8 24. Nd3 Nf7 25. Rb1 bxc4 {1/2-1/2 Spassky,B-Fressinet,
L/Paris 2001/CBM 83/[Bangiev] (25)}) (18. c3 d3 $1 19. Nc1 b5 20. Nxd3 c4 21.
Nd4 Nxd4 22. cxd4 cxd3 $17)) 8... g5 {Black has to go for the text though it
leaves White with a whole score of well-grounded attacking possibilities} (8...
O-O 9. h3 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Re8 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Bf4 c5 13. Ndb5 d4 14. O-O (14. Nc7
$5) 14... Bxh3 15. Na4 Nc6 16. Nd6 Rxe2 $2 17. Qxe2 c4 18. Qh5 Bxf1 19. Qxf7+
Kh8 20. Nxb7 {1-0 Smirin,I-Kuzmin,G/Lvov 1990/CBM 18 (20)}) 9. h3 ({Judging by
the following examples} 9. e6 $5 {is much more dangerous for black.} Nxf2 (9...
h5 10. h3 fxe6 (10... Nxf2 $5 11. Qf3 {[%mdl 8]} (11. Kxf2 gxf4 12. Be2 Bf6 (
12... c5 13. Nf5 Bxe6 14. Ng7+ Kf8 15. Nxe6+ fxe6 16. Bxh5 Bh4 17. Bg4 Bxg3+
18. Kg2 Kf7 $17 {1/2-1/2 Delabaca,R-Seel,C/Cannes 2001/EXT 2003 (26)}) 13. gxf4
fxe6 14. Bxh5+ Kf8 15. Bg4 Qd6 16. Kg2 Rh6 17. Qd2 Bxd4 18. Nb5 Qe7 19. Nxd4 c5
20. f5 Qh7 21. Nxe6+ Bxe6 22. fxe6 Qe4+ 23. Kg1 Rf6 24. Re1 {1-0 Yurtaev,
L-Okhotnik,V/Lyngby 1990/EXT 97 (24)}) (11. exf7+ $1 Kxf7 (11... Kf8 12. Kxf2
gxf4 13. gxf4 $13) 12. Qf3 gxf4 13. Qxf4+ Kg7 14. Qxf2 Rf8 15. Qe2 $13) 11...
gxf4 12. Qxf2 (12. exf7+ $1 Kxf7 $5 13. Qxf2 (13. Qxf4+ Kg7 14. Qxf2 Rf8) 13...
Bf6 14. Qxf4 Kg7 $13) 12... fxe6 13. O-O-O fxg3 14. Qxg3 Qd6 15. Qg7 Qf4+ 16.
Kb1 Qf6 17. Qg3 Bd6 $17 {0-1 Lupulescu,C-Nevednichy,V/Targoviste 2001/CBM 87/
[Huzman] (62)}) 11. hxg4 gxf4 12. Qd3 fxg3 13. Qg6+ Kf8 14. fxg3 Qe8 15. Nxe6+
Bxe6 16. Qxe6 Bd6 17. Qxe8+ Kxe8 18. O-O-O (18. Ne2 $5 Nd7 19. gxh5 Nf6 $44)
18... Bxg3 19. Nxd5 h4 20. Rd3 $1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Palkovi,J-Stangl,M/
Balatonbereny 1996/CBM 55 (50)}) 10. Qh5 O-O 11. Kxf2 fxe6 12. Bd3 Rf7 13. Nf3
gxf4 14. gxf4 Nc6 (14... Rg7 $5) 15. Rhg1+ Kf8 16. Qh6+ Ke8 17. Rg8+ Bf8 18.
Qh5 $40 {1-0 Gasanov,E-Ivanov,A/Kharkov 2001/EXT 2002 (29)}) 9... Nxf2 10. Kxf2
gxf4 11. Qh5 (11. gxf4 Bc5 12. Na4 Qh4+ 13. Ke3 (13. Ke2 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Nc6 15.
Qf2 Qe7 16. Qc5 Bf5 $15) 13... Bxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Rg8 $40) 11... Bc5 (11... c6 $5
12. e6 Rf8 13. gxf4 Qb6 14. Rd1 Bf6 15. exf7+ Rxf7 16. Re1+ Be7 $17) 12. Rd1
fxg3+ (12... c6 $1 13. gxf4 Qb6 14. Nce2 Qxb2 15. Rg1 (15. Bg2 Qxc2) 15... Qxc2
16. Rg7 Rf8 $17) 13. Kg2 Bxd4 (13... c6 $5 14. e6 Rf8 (14... Qf6 15. Ne4 $1
dxe4 16. exf7+ Qxf7 (16... Kf8 17. Qxc5+ Kg7 18. Kxg3 $13) 17. Qe5+ Be6 18.
Qxe6+ (18. Qxh8+ Ke7 19. Rd2 Nd7 $1 20. Qxa8 Bxd4 $19) 18... Qxe6 19. Nxe6 Bb6
20. Bc4 Ke7 21. Rhe1 e3 22. Nd4 $16) 15. Ne4 Bxd4 (15... dxe4 16. exf7+ Rxf7
17. Bc4 Qc7 18. Rhf1 $18) 16. exf7+ Rxf7 (16... Kd7 $5 17. Rxd4 Qe7 18. c4 Qxf7
19. Qxf7+ Rxf7 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rxd5+ Kc7 22. Bc4 $11) 17. Ng5 Qf6 18. Qxf7+
Qxf7 19. Nxf7 Bxb2 20. Nd6+ Kd7 21. Nxc8 Kxc8 22. Kxg3 Nd7 $15) 14. Rxd4 Be6 (
14... c6 15. Ne4 $40) 15. Ne4 Nd7 16. Bb5 $1 {Topalov's inventiveness allows
him to keep the initiative but Bacrot uses an insecure position of White's
king to the fullest and forces the encounter into an equal rook endgame.} dxe4
17. Bxd7+ Bxd7 18. Rhd1 Rf8 (18... Bxh3+ 19. Qxh3 Qe7 20. Rd7 Qc5 21. Rxf7 Kxf7
(21... Qxc2+ 22. Kxg3 Rg8+ 23. Kh4 Qc6 24. Rf6 $18) 22. Rd7+ Qe7 23. Qf5+ Ke8
$11) 19. e6 Qf6 20. exd7+ Kd8 21. Qe2 Qf2+ $1 (21... c6 22. Rxe4 Kc7 23. Qe3
$16) 22. Qxf2 gxf2 23. Rxe4 a5 $1 {[%mdl 256]} 24. Kxf2 (24. Kxf2 Ra6 $11 {
[%cal Ya6e6]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. a5 Qb7 15.
Bc4 g6 16. Ra4 Rb8 17. Nc1 h5 18. Na2 Bh6 19. Qe2 O-O 20. Nxb4 e4 21. O-O Qd7
22. Nc6 Rxb2 23. fxe4 Ng4 24. Ra3 Re8 25. Bxa6 f5 26. e5 Nxe5 27. Nxe5 Rxe5 28.
Qc4 Qa7+ 29. Kh1 Kh7 30. Qc6 Re7 31. Rb3 Rc7 32. Qxd6 Rbxc2 33. Qb6 Qa8 34. Bb7
Qe8 35. d6 Rd7 36. a6 Qe2 37. Qb5 Qxb5 38. Rxb5 Be3 39. Rd5 Kg7 40. g3 Kf6 41.
Re1 Ba7 42. Re8 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 g5 44. Rf8+ Ke6 45. Rdxf5 Rc2+ 46. Kf1 Kxd6 47.
Rd5+ Ke6 48. Rxd7 Kxd7 49. Rf5 Rxh2 50. Bg2 Ke6 51. Rf2 Ke5 52. Rf7 Bd4 53. a7
Bxa7 54. Rxa7 h4 55. Ra5+ Kd4 56. Ra4+ Ke5 57. g4 h3 58. Ba8 Rb2 59. Kg1 Re2
60. Bb7 Rb2 61. Re4+ Kd6 62. Bc8 Kd5 63. Re3 h2+ 64. Kh1 Kd4 65. Re7 Rc2 66.
Bf5 Rb2 67. Re4+ Kd5 68. Re3 Kd4 69. Re7 Ra2 70. Bc8 Rb2 71. Bb7 Rf2 72. Bg2
Rf4 73. Bh3 Rf2 74. Rg7 Ke3 75. Rxg5 Ra2 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. g3 dxc4 {Black
wants to take control over the vital blockading square >< d5 even at an
expence of a tempo.} (7... Nh6 8. Bg5 $5 {This is a critical idea, White wants
to exchange his bad B for his counterpart.} (8. Bxh6 $5) 8... dxc4 (8... Bxg5
9. hxg5 Qxg5 10. Rxh5 Qe7 11. cxd5 (11. g4 Bg6 (11... Bxg4 $2 12. Rxh6 $1 $18)
12. Rh3 O-O) 11... exd5 $13 {Minasian-Savchenko, Elista ol (Men) 1998 CBM 66
ext} (11... exd5 12. f4 Bg6 (12... O-O $2 {runs into a devastating -> on the
>> after} 13. Be2 Qd7 14. Rh4 $16 {/\ g4}) 13. Rh3 Nd7 14. Bd3 (14. g4 {
can be met by the brave} O-O-O $1 (14... f5 15. g5 Nf7 16. Rxh8+ Nxh8 17. Qe2
$1 Nf8 18. O-O-O Ne6 (18... O-O-O 19. Bh3 Ne6 20. Qe3 Nf7 21. Nge2 $16) 19. Qf3
O-O-O (19... Qf7 {/\ Bh5} 20. Be2) 20. Nge2 $14 {with space advantage and a
bad black B.}) 15. f5 Nxf5 $1 16. gxf5 Bxf5 17. Rxh8 Rxh8 18. Nf3 Bg4 $44 {
/\ f6}) 14... O-O-O $5 {- Minasian-Savchenko, Elista 1998 CBM 66} (14... Bxd3
15. Qxd3 Nf6 $5 (15... O-O-O 16. O-O-O Qe6) 16. O-O-O Nfg4 17. Rd2 O-O-O 18.
Nf3 Qd7 {with good chances for a successful blockade on the important /^ h3-c8.
})) (11... Bg4 $4 12. Rxh6 $1 $18 {is similar to the previous note.}) (11...
cxd5 12. Bb5+ ({The tempting} 12. Nb5 $6 {allows Black to equalize in the _|_
after} Qb4+ 13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Nc6 15. Nd6+ Ke7 $11) 12... Nc6 13. f3 O-O
14. Nge2 $36)) 9. Bxe7 (9. Bxc4 Bxg5 10. hxg5 Qxg5 11. Rxh5 Qg6 12. Be2 Nd7 13.
Nh3 $14) 9... Qxe7 10. Qxh5 {It is hard to get back the c4 P after that...} (
10. Bxc4 {looks more natural.} Nd7 $13) 10... Qb4 $5 (10... Na6 11. a3 O-O-O
12. Qg5 f6 $13) 11. Qe2 (11. O-O-O $6 {White is pushing too hard, this idea of
the exchange sacrifice cannot be correct.} Bg4 12. Qg5 Bxd1 13. Qxg7 Qf8 (13...
Rg8 14. Qxh6 Bg4 15. Qd2 $14) 14. Qxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxd1 c5 $1 $15 {Black has to
open up the position for his rooks, Ponomariov-Bareev, Wijk aan Zee 2003 CBM 93
} (15... b5 16. Bg2 Nf5 (16... a5 17. Ne3 $14) 17. Ne2 $44 {and the rooks have
no open lines.})) 11... Nd7 (11... Bd3 12. Qd2 Bxf1 13. Kxf1 Nf5 (13... c5 14.
a3 Qb6 15. dxc5 Qxc5 $11 {Ftacnik}) 14. Nf3) 12. Qd2 (12. O-O-O Bd3) 12...
O-O-O 13. Ne4 Qxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nb6 15. Ngf3 Bg4 $13) (7... Nd7 8. cxd5 cxd5 (8...
exd5 {Now Black has to blockade both >< f5 and >< e6!} 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 {
Now it is not so easy for Black to blockade the >>.} Nf8 (10... Nh6 11. Nge2
Nf8 12. Nf4 g6 13. e6 $1 {This breakthrough is White's main threat.} Qd6 14.
exf7+ Nxf7 15. b4 Bf6 16. b5 c5 17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. Bd2 Ne5 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20.
Ncxd5 Nf3+ 21. Ke2 Nxd2 22. Nxf6+ Kf7 23. N6d5 Ne4 24. Rhc1 $18 {
Minasian-Barash, World Open Tournament of Champions Philadelphia 1999}) 11.
Nge2 Qd7 12. Be3 Nh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. O-O-O $16 {Kosanovic-Tadic, Novi Sad op
1989}) 9. Bd3 $14) 8. Bxc4 Nd7 9. Be2 {attacking >< h5 and leaving the
vulnerable c4 square.} (9. Nf3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nh6 $13 {The exchange
of the light-squared B is strategically important for Black.}) 9... c5 {
Surprisingly Black opens up the position, which usually favours for the better
developed party.} (9... Qb6 10. Nf3 O-O-O 11. O-O f6 $132) (9... Nb6 10. Bxh5
$16) 10. Nf3 (10. Be3 Qb6 11. Bb5 O-O-O $132) 10... Nh6 11. d5 exd5 12. Bxh6 {
It is questionable whether in an open position White has to give up the ^^.} (
12. Nxd5 Ng4 13. Qb3 {looked logical.}) 12... Rxh6 13. Qxd5 (13. Nxd5 Be4 14.
O-O Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nxe5 16. Be4 $14 {and the black K is vulnerable in the [+].})
13... Qc7 (13... Qb6 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Qe4 O-O-O 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 $14 {
with better centralized pieces for White.}) 14. Ng5 (14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Qd2 $14)
14... Be6 (14... O-O-O $2 15. Qxf7 Qxe5 16. f4 $18) 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Qe4 Nxe5
(16... O-O-O 17. O-O-O Kb8 (17... Qxe5 $4 18. Rxd7 $1 $18) (17... Nxe5 18.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. Nb5 $18) 18. f4 $16 {and White has a big advantage in the [+],
and even the ^- help him.}) 17. O-O-O ({Inserting} 17. Nb5 Qb8 (17... Qa5+ 18.
b4 $18) {and only then} 18. O-O-O {looked also promising.} a6 19. Nc3 Qc7 20.
f4 $16) 17... Kf8 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. f4 Nc6 $2 {This allows the penetration of
the white R on the 7-th rank.} ({It was high time for} 19... a6 {driving back
the active N.} 20. Nc3 (20. fxe5 axb5 21. Rhf1+ Kg8 22. Rd7 Rxa2 23. Rxe7 Ra1+
24. Kc2 Rxf1 25. Bxf1 Qf8 26. Rxb7 Qxf1 27. Rb8+ Kf7 $11) 20... Nf7 $14 (20...
Nc6 21. Rd7 Ra7 22. Rf1 Nd4 23. f5 $1 $40)) 20. Rd7 Qe8 21. Rxb7 Nd4 22. Nxd4
cxd4 23. Bd3 {The positions with ^- are not drawish at all, when heavy pieces
are also on the board.} a5 24. Kb1 Rc8 25. Rc1 Rxc1+ 26. Kxc1 e5 (26... Qc8+
27. Kd1 (27. Kb1 Rg6 28. Rxe7 Rxg3 $44) 27... Rg6 28. Rxe7 Rxg3 29. Ra7 $18)
27. fxe5 Qc6+ 28. Kd1 Qxe4 29. Bxe4 $18 {The _|_ ^- with rooks gives excellent
winning chances, while the _|_ ^- is very drawish, and also the R _|_ is very
difficult.} g5 30. Rb8+ Kg7 31. hxg5 Bxg5 32. Bd5 Rg6 33. Rb7+ Kf8 (33... Kh6
$2 34. Be4 $18 {wins outright}) 34. Bf7 (34. Rf7+ Ke8 35. Rh7 Rh6 36. Rg7 Be7
37. Kc2 $18 {was simple and effective.}) 34... Rg7 35. e6 h4 36. gxh4 Bxh4 37.
Rb8+ Ke7 38. Rb5 d3 39. Kd2 Rg3 40. Rxa5 Kd6 (40... Bg5+ 41. Rxg5 Rxg5 42. Kxd3
$18) 41. b4 Bg5+ 42. Rxg5 Rxg5 43. Kxd3 Rg3+ 44. Kc2 $2 (44. Kc4 $1 {was still
winning.} Ra3 45. Kb5 Rxa2 46. e7 $18) 44... Ra3 45. Kb2 Re3 {and the white K
is cut off the third rank.} 46. a4 Kc7 47. Kc2 Kd6 48. a5 Rg3 49. Kb2 (49. b5
Ra3 50. a6 Ra5 51. Kb3 Rxb5+ 52. Ka4 Rb1 53. Ka5 Ra1+ 54. Kb6 Rb1+ 55. Ka7 Rb4
56. Ka8 Rb5 $11) 49... Re3 50. a6 Kc7 51. b5 Kb6 52. Kc2 Re5 53. Kd3 Rxb5 54.
Kd4 Kxa6 55. e7 Rb8 56. Kc5 Rc8+ 57. Kd6 Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 Bh5 11. h3 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15.
bxc3 Na5 16. Bc2 Nc4 17. g4 Bg6 18. Bf5 a5 19. Nd2 Nxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A playoff"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2003.10.26"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Na6 8. O-O
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nd2 f6 {The best choice.} ({After} 11... Nf6
12. Nd5 {white keeps a minimal advantage.}) 12. Bh4 h5 13. h3 (13. a3 Be6 14.
h3 Nh6 15. b4 Rd8 16. Bg3 Nb8 {[%cal Gb8c6,Gc6d4]} 17. Qc2 Nc6 18. Nb3 f5 19.
Nd5 Qf7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Comas Fabrego,L/Mondariz 2000/CBM 79 (91)})
13... Nh6 14. Re1 $6 {I do not like this strange theoretical continuation,as
in my opinion it's simply waste of time.} (14. a3 $142 Be6 15. b4 {with
complicated play}) 14... c6 15. a3 Be6 16. b4 Rd8 $1 $146 {Slightly improving
on black's previous play.Perhaps already white should fight for the equality.}
(16... Nc7 17. c5 Qf7 18. Bg3 Rad8 19. Qc2 f5 20. Bh4 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Nc4
Nf7 {and black has easily solved his opening problems .1/2-1/2 Iskusnyh,
S-Chuprov,D/Smolensk 2000/CBM 77 (85)}) 17. Qc2 (17. c5 $142 Nc7 (17... g5 18.
Bg3 g4 19. h4 $1 f5 $140 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Bxa6 $1 Nxg3 (21... bxa6 22. Bxe5
$16) 22. fxg3 bxa6 23. Nce4 $14) 18. Qc2 g5 19. Bg3 h4 (19... Qg6 20. Nf3) (
19... Qf7 $5 {[%csl Gc4]}) 20. Bh2 g4 21. hxg4 Nxg4 22. Nf3 Qh5 23. Rad1 h3 24.
Bg3 $1 hxg2 25. Kxg2 Qh3+ $3 26. Kxh3 (26. Kg1 $2 Ne3 $1 $19) 26... Ne3+ 27.
Kh2 Nxc2 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rc1 Nd4 (29... Nxa3 30. Ra1) 30. Nxd4 Rxd4 {[%csl
Gg3]} 31. Rd1 {and white should hold the endgame}) 17... g5 18. Bg3 Qg6 ({
Even stronger was immediate} 18... h4 19. Bh2 g4 $1 20. hxg4 Nxg4 21. Nf3 Qh5
22. Rad1 h3 23. Bg3 $140 hxg2 24. Kxg2 Qh3+ $3 25. Kxh3 Ne3+ 26. Kh2 Nxc2 $17 {
[%csl Ga3]}) 19. c5 $2 {Ignoring black's plans on the kingside.} (19. Nf3 $142
$1 Qf7 (19... g4 $140 20. hxg4 hxg4 21. Nh4 Qf7 22. Nd1 $13 {[%cal Gd1e3]}) 20.
Nd1 $1 $11 {[%cal Gd1e3]}) 19... h4 20. Bh2 g4 $1 {By this breakthrough black
obtains a very dangerous initiative.} 21. hxg4 Nxg4 22. Bxg4 $2 {probably
missing white's 23move} (22. Rad1 h3 23. Bg3 Ne3 $1 $19) (22. Bc4 $142 Nc7 23.
Rad1 h3 24. Bg3 Bh6 25. Qa2 Bxd2 26. Bxe6+ Nxe6 27. Rxd2 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 Nd4 $17)
22... Bxg4 23. f3 (23. Kh1 Bh6 24. Nc4 h3 $1 25. f3 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rd2 $1 27.
Rg1 Qg2+ $19) ({Doesn't help} 23. Nc4 h3 $1 (23... Bf3 $143 24. Bg3 hxg3 25.
gxf3 $13) 24. Bg3 hxg2 25. Kxg2 Qh5 26. Re3 $8 {[%cal Ga1h1]} Bh3+ 27. Kg1 f5
$1 28. exf5 Bh6 29. Rd3 (29. Rxe5 Qf3 30. Qe4 Qxc3 $19) 29... Bxf5 30. Qd1 Bg4
{[%cal Gg4f3] and black wins}) 23... Bh6 $1 {[%csl Gd2] nice tactical blow,
afer which white loses material.} 24. Rad1 Bxd2 25. Rxd2 Bxf3 $17 {[%csl Gh2]}
26. Re3 Bg4 27. Red3 ({Maybe more stubborn was:} 27. Rd6 $142 Rxd6 (27... Nc7
$2 28. Bxe5) 28. cxd6 Nb8 {[%cal Gb8d7] still with clear advantage}) 27... Rxd3
28. Rxd3 Nc7 {[%cal Gc7e6,Ge6f4]} 29. Qf2 Qg5 30. Qd2 Ne6 31. Qxg5+ Nxg5 32. b5
$6 (32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Ke3 Ke7 $17 {[%cal Gf8h8,Gh4h3] and black should easily
convert his extra pawn}) 32... cxb5 33. Nxb5 Nxe4 34. Nxa7 Nxc5 $19 {The rest
doesn't require any commets,black is completely winning.} 35. Rc3 Ne4 36. Rc4
Bf5 37. Kh1 Rd8 38. Bg1 Rd1 39. Kh2 Rd2 {[%cal Gh4h3]} 40. Nc8 Kf8 41. Be3 (41.
Kh1 h3 42. gxh3 Ng3#) 41... Re2 42. Bc5+ Kf7 43. Nd6+ Nxd6 44. Bxd6 h3 {
[%csl Gg2]} 0-1

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A playoff"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "177"]
[EventDate "2003.10.26"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Qc2
g6 9. cxd5 {Weiß strebt eine Karlsbader Bauernstruktur an. Natürlich kann Weiß
so spielen, aber Vorteil hat er dadurch nicht.} exd5 10. Bd3 Bg7 (10... Bd6 $5
{ist ebenfalls möglich.} 11. O-O Qg7 $5 12. Rab1 a5 13. a3 O-O 14. Na4 Re8 15.
Rfe1 Qf8 16. Nd2 f5 17. f4 Nf6 18. Nf3 Be6 19. Ne5 Bf7 20. Nb6 Rad8 21. Qc3 Bc7
22. Qxa5 $5 Ra8 23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. dxc5 Ra5 $13 {0-1 Straeter,T-Knaak,R/Germany
2001/CBM 82/[Lutz] (42)}) 11. O-O O-O 12. b4 a6 $5 {Meines Erachtens ist ...
a7-a6 etwas riskant für Schwarz, da die Flexibilität der Bauern am Damenflügel
verloren geht.} (12... Qd6 $5 13. Rab1 Nb6 (13... a6 $5 14. Rfc1 b5 15. Ne2 Bb7
16. h4 h5 17. Nf4 Bh6 18. g3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Vallejo Pons,F/Paris 2002/
CBM 90/[Lutz] (30)}) 14. a4 (14. b5 c5 $11) 14... Be6 15. a5 Nd7 {mit einer
ausgeglichenen Stellung. Schwarz hält seine Bauern flexibel und spielt ggf. ...
b7-b6, so dass auch ...c6-c5 einmal möglich ist.}) 13. a4 Qd6 14. Rab1 Nb6 15.
h3 Be6 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17. Ne2 (17. b5 $2 axb5 18. axb5 c5) 17... Nc4 $2 (17...
Nd7 $5 {mit einer normalen Stellung.}) 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. a5 {Der Pc4 ist nun
dem Untergang geweiht.} g5 20. Nd2 $16 f5 21. Nxc4 Qe7 22. Ne5 Qe8 23. Re1 Rc7
24. b5 axb5 25. Rxb5 Re7 26. Rc5 Bc8 27. f4 Bf6 28. a6 bxa6 29. Rxc6 Bb7 30.
Rb6 Be4 31. Qb3+ Kh7 32. Ng3 $18 {Weiß steht nun natürlich auf Gewinn, aber
bei beiderseitiger Zeitknappheit lässt sich Topalov noch die Butter vom Brot
nehmen.} gxf4 33. exf4 Ba8 34. Nxf5 Rc7 35. Qd3 Kh8 36. Nd6 {Hier und in der
Folge geht Topalov an einigen überdeutlichen Gewinnfortsetzungen vorbei.} (36.
Re6 $1 $18 {/\ Ng6}) 36... Qa4 37. Rxa6 Qc2 38. Qxc2 (38. Ndf7+ $18) 38... Rxc2
39. Ng6+ $2 (39. Ne4 $18) 39... Kg7 40. Rxa8 (40. Ne5 $5) 40... Bxd4+ 41. Kh2
Rxa8 42. Nf5+ Kxg6 43. Nxd4 Rb2 $11 44. Re6+ Kf7 45. Re3 Ra4 46. Nf5 h5 47. Rf3
Kf6 48. Nh4 Rc2 49. Kg3 Rcc4 50. Rf2 Rc3+ 51. Kh2 Rb4 52. Rf1 Rb2 53. Re1 Rf2
54. Re4 Ra2 55. Re1 Rc4 56. Kg3 Ra3+ 57. Nf3 Raa4 58. Re5 Kg6 59. Rg5+ Kh6 60.
Rf5 Rc2 61. Rf6+ Kg7 62. Rf5 Kg6 63. Rg5+ Kh6 64. Nh4 Ra3+ 65. Kh2 Rf2 66. Nf5+
Kh7 67. Rxh5+ Kg6 68. Rg5+ Kf6 69. Ng3 Rxf4 70. Rg8 Kf7 71. Rb8 Ra2 72. Rb1
Rff2 73. Rg1 Kg6 74. Ne4 Rfe2 75. Ng3 Reb2 76. Ne4 Kf5 77. Ng3+ Kf4 78. Nh5+
Ke3 79. Ng3 Rb8 80. Re1+ Kd3 81. Rd1+ Kc4 82. Rc1+ Kd5 83. Rd1+ Ke5 84. Re1+
Kf6 85. Rf1+ Kg6 86. Re1 Rbb2 87. Rg1 Rc2 88. Nh1 Kg5 89. Ng3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.28"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Qh5 O-O 14. O-O f4
15. Rad1 (15. Rfd1) (15. Nc2) 15... Ra7 $5 {Controlling the seventh rank is
important for two main reasons:  1.The rook can be quicker transferred to the
kingside (usually to f7, but sometimes to g7 as well). 2.Often after the
opening of the b1-h7 diagonal the pawn on h7 needs protection. For instance
now Black is ready for f7-f5, which wasn't very good right away.} (15... f5 16.
exf5 (16. Bc2 Bxd5 $5 17. Rxd5 Ne7 18. Rd2 d5 19. exd5 Qd6 $44) 16... Bxd5 17.
f6 {[%cal Gd3h7]} Rxf6 18. Bxh7+ Kf8 19. Rxd5 Ne7 20. Qf3 (20. Be4 $5) 20...
Nxd5 21. Qxd5 $44) (15... Kh8 {was considered good enough for Black, but
Svidler might have had an improvement in mind over one of Anand's games.} 16.
g3 Rg8 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Be2 Rg5 19. Qf3 f5 20. gxf4 exf4 21. Nxf4 Bxa2 22. c4 (
22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Qe4 Rf7 24. Bh5 Rf6 25. c4 Ne5 26. c5 $2 Rc8 $1 $132 {
0-1 Anand,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 2001 (30)}) 22... fxe4 (22... Qf6 23. exf5
Rc8 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. bxc3 Ne5 26. Ne6 Rxf5 27. Nxf8 Rfxf8 28. Rxd6 {1/2-1/2
Maletin,P-Yudin,S/Essentuki 2003 (29)}) 23. Qxe4 Qe8 24. Bf3 Qxe4 25. Bxe4 Rc8
26. Ne6 Re5 27. Bxc6 Rxc6 28. Nxf8 b4 29. Nc2 Bxc4 $11 {was approximately
equal in Anand,V-Hernandez,G/Merida 2001, although White succeeded to win
later on.}) 16. Nc2 ({After} 16. g3 {Black can try} f5 17. Bb1 (17. exf5 $2 {
This doesn't work now because the rook protects pawn h7:} Bxd5 18. f6 {[%csl
Rh7][%cal Gd3h7]} Bxf6 {[%csl Gh7][%cal Ga7h7]}) (17. Bc2 $5) 17... Bxd5 18.
Rxd5 fxg3 19. fxg3 f4 $13 {[%cal Ga7f7]} 20. gxf4 $6 exf4 {and Black is fine -
open diagonal for the bishop and a good square e5. Once again the rook from a7
plays an important role after 21.e5? Bxe5 the pawn on h7 is protected.}) 16...
Kh8 17. Ncb4 $146 (17. g3 Rg8 18. Rfe1 $6 (18. Kh1 $142 Bf8 19. Be2) 18... Bf8
19. Qe2 Qh4 $40 {0-1 Jedlicka,L-Cichy,M/Svetla 1994 (41)}) 17... Nxb4 18. Nxb4
Qd7 (18... Qc8 $5 {keeping the seventh rank free for an eventual transfer of
the rook from a7 deserved attention.}) 19. Be2 (19. h3 Rg8 20. Nd5 f5 $13)
19... f5 {[%cal Gf8f6,Gf6h6]} 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Qh4 (21. Qf3 d5 $36 22. Nxd5 $2
e4 $17) 21... Bf6 22. Qh6 Bg7 23. Qh4 Bf6 24. Qh6 Bg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.28"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. a4
O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. c3 b4 11. Nbd2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Kh8 14. d4 exd4 15.
cxd4 Nf6 16. Ng3 Bd6 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Qxd1 19. Bxd1 Nd5 20. f4 f5 21. Bd2
Nd4 22. Ne2 Ne6 23. Rc1 a5 24. Bb3 Rad8 25. Kf2 c5 26. Be3 Nxe3 27. Kxe3 Bd5
28. Bxd5 Rxd5 29. Red1 Rfd8 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. h4 h5 32. Ng3 g6 33. Nf1 Rd4 34.
g3 c4 35. Ke2 Re4+ 36. Ne3 c3 37. bxc3 b3 38. c4 Nc5 39. Rd1 Nxa4 40. Rd8+ Kg7
41. Kd2 Nc5 42. Rc8 Rd4+ 43. Kc1 Nd3+ 44. Kb1 Re4 45. Rc7+ Kf8 46. Rc8+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.01"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
Qe8 ({Of course black has other possibilities in this position:} 8... exd4) ({
and} 8... c6) 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. d5 Nb4 {With typical idea in 8 Re1 -line to take
on f3 and white cannot take with queen because of Nc2.} 11. Be2 ({Still very
interesting:} 11. a3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Na6 13. b4 {with double-edged play}) 11...
a5 12. h3 (12. Be3 Na6 13. a3 (13. Nd2 $5) 13... Bd7 14. Nd2 h5 (14... a4 $142)
15. h3 Nh7 16. b4 $5 (16. b3 $5 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gb3b4]}) 16... axb4 17. axb4 Nxb4
18. Qb3 c5 19. dxc6 Nxc6 20. Qxb7 $14 {1-0 Fridman,D-Papa,S/Bad Wiessee GER
2003/The Week in Chess 471 (35)}) 12... Bd7 13. Nh2 {Preventing black's
typical idea Nh5 with next Nf4,or f5.} Kh8 {[%cal Gf6g8,Gf7f5]} 14. Be3 $146 (
14. Nf1 Ng8 15. Ng3 Na6 (15... f5 $140 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nh5 Bh6 18. f4 $14)
16. Rb1 Nc5 17. Qc2 Qe7 $13 {0-1 Rezan,S-Stevic,H/Pula 2000/CBM 75 (42)}) 14...
Na6 (14... Ng8 {Allows white to play} 15. c5 f5 16. a3 Na6 17. cxd6 cxd6 18.
Qb3 {getting some targets on the queenside,though the position remains unclear}
) 15. b3 Ng8 {[%cal Gf7f5]} 16. Qd2 Nc5 {First black improves the position of
his knight.} 17. Kh1 {White prepares himself to meet f5-advance with ef-gf and
f4 and starts to regroup his piecies on the kingnside.} b6 {The last useful
move before f7-f5 -advance.} 18. Rf1 f5 19. exf5 gxf5 20. f4 Nf6 (20... e4 {
strategically not so good decision,as now white has a very clear plan:to
transfer his knight to e3,putting bishop on d4 and to provoke g2-g4 advance,
for example:} 21. Bd4 Nf6 22. Rg1 Qg6 23. Nf1 {[%cal Gf1e3,Ga1f1,Gg2g4] and
white has much better prospects}) 21. Bf3 Nh5 ({Not so good:} 21... e4 22. Be2
Nh5 23. Qe1 $1 {[%csl Gg3]} Qg6 24. g4 $1 $36) (21... Nfe4 $6 22. Bxe4 Nxe4 23.
Nxe4 fxe4 24. Rae1 Qg6 25. fxe5 Bxe5 26. Bd4 $14) (21... Rd8 $142 {with next
Nh5 deserved serious attention}) 22. Bxh5 Qxh5 23. fxe5 dxe5 (23... Bxe5 $2 24.
Bd4 $16 {[%cal Gh2f3]}) 24. d6 $1 {Otherwise white is simply worse} cxd6 (24...
c6 $2 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Na4 $16 {[%csl Rc5]}) 25. Qxd6 {[%csl Gb6]} ({A very
serious alternative to the text was:} 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Qxd6 {winning the pawn,
but after correct} Bc8 $1 (26... Rad8 $143 27. Qxc5 e4 28. Rad1 $1 Bxc3 $140
29. Rxd7 $16) (26... Rfd8 $143 27. Rad1 (27. Qxc5) 27... e4 28. Nd5 $16 {
[%cal Gd5f6]}) 27. Qxc5 Bb7 28. Nd5 a4 {[%csl Gb7,Rg7] black has some
compensation with two bishops}) 25... Rf6 26. Qd1 (26. Qxe5 $140 $2 Rg6 27. Qd5
Bc6 $19) (26. Qd2 Bc6 27. Bxc5 (27. Nd5 $2 Ne4 $1 28. Nxf6 Bxf6 $40) 27... bxc5
28. Nd5 Rd6 $11) 26... Qf7 $6 ({A very clear way for the equality was:} 26...
Qxd1 $142 27. Raxd1 Bc6 28. Nf3 (28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Ne4 {[%cal Ge4g3]} 30.
Re1 Re8 $11) 28... Re8 29. Nd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Ne4 31. Re1 Rfe6 32. Ng5 (32. Rb5
$143 f4 $1 33. Bg1 Ng3+ 34. Kh2 e4 35. Rxb6 e3 $17 {[%csl Gg1]}) 32... Nxg5 33.
Bxg5 Bf8 $11) 27. Nd5 Rg6 28. Qc2 $1 {[%csl Gf5] Very good positional move,
which prevents both Bc6 and Ne4.} (28. Nxb6 Rxb6 29. Bxc5 Rg6 {[%cal Gd7c6]}
30. Qd5 Qe8 $44 {[%cal Gd7c6]}) 28... f4 $1 (28... Rc8 $143 29. Rad1 f4 30.
Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Nf3 Bc6 32. Nc3 $1 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] winning a battle for
the important e4-square}) 29. Bxc5 (29. Nxb6 $2 Bf5 30. Qd1 Qb7 31. Qd5 Qxd5
32. Nxd5 Be4 $19) 29... bxc5 30. Rae1 Bf5 (30... Bc6 $143 31. Nf3 Bxd5 32. cxd5
Qxd5 33. Re4 $44 {and despite extra pawn black should defend clearly inferior
position,due to the difference between black's dark bishop and white's knight.}
) 31. Qe2 (31. Qd2 Re6 32. Nf3 h6 $1 $13) 31... Rg8 (31... Rg3 $143 $6 32. Rf3
$1 Rg5 33. Rf2 $1 {[%cal Gh2f3]} Rg3 34. Nf1 $16 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Gf1d2]}) 32.
Nf3 {allows black to create a serious counterplay against white's king.} (32.
Qh5 Be6 $1 {the only continuation,which keeps balance} (32... Bd3 33. Rf3 $1) (
32... Qd7 $140 33. Ne7 $1 Qxe7 34. Qxf5 $16) 33. Nf3 (33. Rxe5 $143 Bxe5 34.
Qxe5+ Qg7 35. Qxg7+ R6xg7 36. Nxf4 Bf5 $13) 33... Bxd5 34. cxd5 Qxd5 35. Ng5
Bh6 36. Rxe5 (36. Nf3 Bg7 $11) 36... Qd7 $1 $11 (36... Qd3 37. Nf7+ Kg7 38.
Rfe1 $36 {[%csl Rg7]})) 32... e4 33. Nh4 f3 $1 {Opening up the position around
white's monarch.} 34. Nxf3 $4 ({After the best:} 34. Nxg6+ $142 {the game
could have finished draw after a brilliant variation:} Qxg6 35. gxf3 Bxh3 36.
Nf4 (36. Rg1 $2 Qh5) 36... Qh6 37. Nxh3 Be5 $3 38. f4 Rg3 $1 39. Rf2 $8 e3 40.
Rg1 (40. Rg2 Rxh3+ 41. Rh2 Bc3 $3 {and e3-pawn decides}) 40... Rxh3+ (40...
Rxg1+ 41. Kxg1 exf2+ 42. Kxf2 $11) 41. Rh2 Rxh2+ 42. Qxh2 Qc6+ 43. Rg2 Qf3 44.
fxe5 Qd1+ {with perpetual}) 34... exf3 35. Qxf3 Rg5 $4 {an incredible oversight
} (35... Rf8 $1 36. g4 (36. Ne7 Re6 $1) 36... Be6 $19) 36. g4 $1 Rf8 37. gxf5
Bd4 (37... Rxf5 38. Qxf5 Qxf5 39. Rxf5 Rxf5 40. Re8+ Bf8 41. Ra8 $18 {[%csl
Ga5]}) 38. f6 $18 Rfg8 {[%cal Gg5g3]} 39. Ne7 $1 Rg3 40. Qf5 R3g5 (40... R8g5
41. Qc8+ $18) 41. Qe6 Rg1+ 42. Rxg1 Rxg1+ 43. Kh2 Qxe6 44. Rxe6 {Without
queens white doesn't has any difficulties to convert his material advantage.}
Rf1 45. Nd5 Kg8 46. Kg3 h5 47. Ra6 Kf7 48. Rxa5 Kg6 49. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.01"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. O-O d6 8. Qg4
g6 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. Nc3 b6 11. Bd2 Bb7 12. Rae1 Ngf6 13. Bh6 Bf8 14. Bxf8 Kxf8
15. f4 e5 16. Nd2 Kg7 17. Nc4 b5 18. Ne3 b4 19. Nb1 Bxe4 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe4
Nxe4 22. Rf4 Ng5 23. Rxb4 Re8 24. Nc3 a5 25. Rb5 h5 26. h3 Qd7 27. Qf1 f5 28.
Ncd5 f4 29. Qxf4 Nef3+ 30. Kh1 Rf8 31. Qc4 Nxe1 32. Nb6 Qe6 33. Qc3+ Kh6 34.
Qxe1 Rae8 35. Nbd5 Nxh3 36. Qd2 Nf2+ 37. Kg1 Kh7 38. Rb7+ Kg8 39. Qc3 Qe5 40.
Qxe5 dxe5 41. Ne7+ Kh7 42. N7f5+ Kh8 43. Ne7 Kg7 44. N7f5+ Kf6 45. Nd6 Re6 46.
Nd5+ Kg5 47. Nf7+ Rxf7 48. Rxf7 Ng4 49. c4 e4 50. Kf1 Ne5 51. Rc7 Nd3 52. b3 e3
53. Re7 e2+ 0-1

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Gurevich,M"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Bd3 (9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. Qe2 c5 12. Qe4 (12. O-O-O O-O-O
13. Be4 Kb8 14. Ne5 cxd4 (14... Bd6 15. Nxd7+ Rxd7 16. dxc5 Qg5+ 17. Kb1 Qxc5
18. Rd3 Rhd8 19. Rhd1 Qb5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Magem Badals,J-Gurevich,M/France 2002/
CBM 88 ext (27)}) 15. Bxb7 Qf4+ 16. Kb1 Kxb7 17. g3 Qf5 18. Rxd4 Bc5 19. Rf4
Qg5 20. h4 {1-0 Topalov,V-Bareev,E/Monaco 2002/CBM 87 ext (20)}) 12... Rb8 13.
Ne5 Bd6 14. Nxd7 Kxd7 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O Kc7 {1/2-1/2 Kulaots,K-Speelman,J/
Plovdiv BUL 2003/The Week in Chess 466 (16)}) 9... Bd7 10. Qe2 c5 11. Ne5 {TN}
O-O-O (11... Bd6 12. Bb5 Bxe5 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7 14. dxe5 Qe7 15. O-O-O+ $36) 12.
c3 cxd4 13. cxd4 (13. Rc1 $5 Kb8 14. O-O $44) 13... Bb4+ 14. Kf1 Kb8 $5 {
[/\15...Bc8;Xd4]} 15. h4 Bc8 16. Qe4 Rd6 $1 {[/\17...Rhd8]} 17. Nf3 Ba5 18. h5
Bb6 19. Rh4 Rhd8 (19... Bd7 20. Rf4 Bc6 21. Qe3 Qe7 22. Ne5 $13) 20. Rf4 Qe7
21. Bc4 (21. Rc1 f6 22. Be2 Bd7 $14) 21... Qc7 22. b3 (22. Rc1 Bxd4 23. Nxd4
Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 b5 26. Kg1 Ba6 $19) 22... f6 (22... Bxd4 $5 23.
Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 b5 $1 26. Be2 $8 Qh2 27. Ke1 Qh1+ 28. Bf1 Bb7
29. f3 Qxh5 $15) 23. Re1 a6 24. Kg1 Ba5 25. Rb1 b5 26. Be2 Bb7 27. Qe3 Rc6 $15
28. Rg4 Bb6 $5 (28... Rc3 $1 29. Bd3 (29. Qxe6 Bc8 30. Qe4 f5) 29... f5 (29...
e5 30. Qe2 exd4 31. a4 $132) 30. Rh4 (30. Rg6 f4 31. Qe2 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Rxd4 $17
) 30... f4 31. Qe2 (31. Rxf4 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qxf4) 31... Bxf3 $17) 29. Qd3 e5 30.
Qh7 Rc1+ 31. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 32. Bf1 e4 33. Rxg7 Bd5 34. Nh4 Bxd4 (34... e3 $1 $40)
35. Nf5 Bb6 $6 $138 36. Qg6 Qf4 37. Qg3 Qxg3 38. Rxg3 Be6 39. Nxh6 Rd1 (39...
Rd2 $19) 40. Ng4 Bc7 $2 (40... Bxg4 41. Rxg4 e3 42. fxe3 Bxe3+ 43. Kh2 Rxf1 $19
) 41. Ne3 $16 Rd8 42. Rg6 Bf7 43. Rxf6 Bxh5 44. Rxa6 b4 45. Rh6 Bf7 46. g3 Rd2
47. Rh7 Be6 48. Re7 Bg8 49. Bg2 Rd8 50. Bxe4 Bd6 51. Rb7+ Kc8 52. Ra7 Bc5 53.
Ra8+ Kc7 54. Rxd8 Kxd8 55. Kf1 Kc7 56. Ke2 Kd6 57. f4 Bf7 58. Nc4+ Ke7 59. Kf3
Bd4 60. g4 Be8 61. Ne5 Kd6 62. Nd3 Bc3 63. g5 Bh5+ 64. Kg3 Bd2 65. Bf3 Bg6 66.
Ne5 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 b6 6. e4 e6 7. Nge2 Nge7 8. d3 d6
9. Rb1 O-O 10. b4 Bb7 11. O-O Qd7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bd2 Kh7 14. f4 f5 15. Be3 Nd4
16. Qd2 Nec6 17. h3 Rae8 18. Kh2 Nxe2 19. Nxe2 Nd4 20. bxc5 Nxe2 21. Qxe2 dxc5
22. e5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qa4 24. Qd1 Qc6+ 25. Qf3 Qa4 26. Qd1 Qc6+ 27. Kf2 Rf7 28.
Rb3 Rd7 29. Qf3 Qa4 30. Rc3 Red8 31. Qd1 Qc6 32. Qb3 g5 33. Rg1 h5 34. Qd1 g4
35. Qe2 Kg6 36. h4 Bf8 37. Rb1 Be7 38. Rbb3 Qh1 39. Qe1 Qc6 40. Kg1 Kf7 41. Qe2
Ke8 42. Qg2 Qa4 43. Kf2 Kf7 44. Ke2 Ke8 45. Qh1 Kf7 46. Kd2 Rxd3+ 47. Rxd3 Qxb3
48. Rxd8 Bxd8 49. Qb7+ Be7 50. Qxa7 Qb2+ 51. Kd3 Qb3+ 52. Kd2 Qb2+ 53. Kd3 Qb3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. c3 Nc6 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4
cxd4 16. Nb3 Be6 17. Nbxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxa2 19. Rxa2 Rc8 20. Nf5 g6 21. Nxe7+
Qxe7 22. b3 Qe6 23. Rae2 Nd7 24. Bb2 Rc6 25. f4 Rfc8 26. Re3 Rc2 27. Ba1 Ra2
28. R1e2 Rxa3 29. Bb2 Ra2 30. f5 Qe7 31. Bf6 Rxe2 32. Bxe7 Rxe3 33. Qxd6 Nc5
34. Qd2 Rd3 35. Qh6 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 d5 7. exd6 Qxd6 8.
O-O Be6 9. Na3 Bxb3 10. axb3 Qd3 11. Re1 e6 12. Re3 Qd7 13. Nc4 Nxc4 14. bxc4
Rd8 15. b3 Be7 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Qc2 Qc7 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 Bf6 20. Rd1 Ne7 21.
Qe2 b5 22. Ba3 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rfe8 24. d5 Nf5 25. Re4 Nd6 26. Bxd6 Rxd6 27. Re1
h6 28. g3 a5 29. Qa2 Re7 30. dxe6 Rexe6 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 fxe6 33. Qa4 Qb6
34. h4 Kf8 35. Qd7 Qc5 36. Qxe6 a4 37. g4 a3 38. Qa6 Bb2 39. Kg2 Qc7 40. g5 Qf4
41. Qc8+ Ke7 42. c5 h5 43. Qb7+ Ke6 44. Qb3+ Kd7 45. Qd5+ Kc7 46. g6 a2 47.
Qf7+ Kc8 48. Qxf4 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Bxd5
Rc8 15. O-O-O Qb6 16. h4 h6 17. h5 g5 18. f4 f6 19. fxg5 fxg5 20. Rdf1 b4 21.
e5 dxe5 22. Bb3 Qd4 23. Qe2 Rf6 24. Rxf6 exf6 25. Rd1 Bg4 26. Rxd4 Bxe2 27.
Rd7+ Kh8 28. Bf7 Bg4 29. Rxa7 e4 30. Kd2 f5 31. Bg6 Rd8+ 32. Ke3 Rc8 33. Kd2
Rd8+ 34. Ke3 Rc8 35. Kd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nbd2 Qd7 14. c3 b4 15.
Nc4 Ra8 16. Qb3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rfb8 18. Qc2 Nd8 19. Ra2 Rxa2 20. Qxa2 Nf7 21.
Qa6 h6 22. Ra1 c5 23. g3 Kh7 24. Kg2 Rb3 25. Bd2 Bd8 26. Qa4 Qb7 27. Qa8 Be7
28. Ra7 Qxa8 29. Rxa8 Rb7 30. Kf1 Nd7 31. Ra6 Kg8 32. Ke2 g6 33. Kd1 Kg7 34.
Kc2 Nb8 35. Ra8 Nd7 36. Na5 Rc7 37. Ra6 Nb8 38. Rb6 Nd7 39. Rb7 Rxb7 40. Nxb7
d5 41. Be3 Kf8 42. c4 dxe4 43. dxe4 Ke8 44. Kb3 Nf6 45. Nd2 Nd7 46. Ka4 h5 47.
Kb5 h4 48. gxh4 Bxh4 49. Nxc5 Ke7 50. Nb7 Nd6+ 51. Nxd6 Kxd6 52. c5+ Kc7 53.
Nc4 Nf6 54. f3 Bg3 55. c6 Ne8 56. Bd2 Kc8 57. Bc3 Nc7+ 58. Ka5 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 Bf5 11. b4 d4 12. g4 Bg6 13. Qc4 d3 14. Be3 Qf6
15. Rd1 Rd8 16. g5 Qf5 17. Bg2 d2+ 18. Nxd2 Nxd2 19. Bxd2 O-O 20. Qf4 Qe6 21.
Bxc6 bxc6 22. Rc1 f6 23. Rg1 fxg5 24. Qc4 Rd5 25. Rxg5 Re8 26. Be3 Be4 27. Rxd5
Bxd5 28. Qd4 h6 29. Rc3 Qg6 30. f3 Qh5 31. h4 Re6 32. Kf2 Kh7 33. a4 a6 34. Qf4
Rf6 35. Qg3 Rg6 36. Qf4 Rf6 37. Qg3 Rg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. a5 Qb7 15.
Bc4 g6 16. Ra4 Rb8 17. Nc1 h5 18. Na2 Bh6 19. Qe2 (19. Qd3 O-O 20. Kd1 (20.
Bxa6 Qa7 21. Bb5 e4 22. fxe4 Ng4 23. Rf1 Ne5 24. Qe2 b3 25. cxb3 Rxb5 26. Qxb5
Rb8 27. Qe2 Rxb3 {1/2-1/2 Gongora,M-Herrera,I/Holguin City 2002/ (66)}) 20...
Qa7 21. h3 Qf2 22. Rxb4 e4 23. fxe4 Nxe4 24. Re1 Nc5 25. Qc3 Qxg2 26. Qd4 Rbe8
{0-1 Iordachescu,V-Navrotescu,C/Bucharest 2001/ (26)}) (19. Qxb4 Qa7 20. Qc3
O-O 21. Nb4 Rfc8 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. dxc6 Rc8 24. Qd3 d5 25. Bxa6 Rxc6 26. Bb5 Re6
27. Kd1 {1-0 Muhren,B-Papadopoulou,V/Chalkidiki 2001/ (50)}) 19... Qd7 $146 {
[%mdl 8] This move can prove to be an important novelty in the line, where
black is more or less positionaly lost on the queenside and has to look for
compensation of the opposite flank.} (19... O-O 20. Nxb4 e4 21. O-O (21. f4
Bxf4 22. O-O Bg5 23. Bxa6 Qd7 24. b3 Ng4 25. Nc6 Rbe8 26. Rb4 Ne3 27. Rb7 Qg4
28. Qxg4 hxg4 29. Bc4 f5 {0-1 Miroshnichenko,E-Kovchan,A/St Petersburg 2002/ 
(56)}) 21... exf3 (21... Qd7 22. Nc6 Rxb2 23. fxe4 Ng4 24. Ra3 Re8 25. Bxa6 f5
26. e5 Nxe5 27. Nxe5 Rxe5 28. Qc4 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Topalov,V/Cap d'Agde 2003/ 
(75)}) 22. gxf3 (22. Qxf3 Ng4 23. Nc6 Qxb2 24. Nxb8 Qxb8 25. Bd3 Qe8 26. Re4
Qd8 27. Qg3 Qxa5 28. Qxd6 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 2001/ (32)})
22... Rfe8 23. Qg2 Qd7 24. b3 Re5 25. Kh1 Rbe8 26. Raa1 h4 (26... Bf4 27. Nd3
Rg5 28. Qf2 Be3 29. Qh4 Qf5 30. Rae1 Rg4 {0-1 Djukic,N-Popovic,D/Obrenovac
2002/ (37)}) 27. Rad1 Rg5 28. Qf2 {1-0 Anand,V-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 2001/ (42)
}) 20. b3 (20. Rxb4 Rxb4 21. Nxb4 Qa4 22. Nc6 Qa1+ 23. Qd1 Qxb2 24. Ke2 O-O $13
) 20... O-O 21. O-O (21. Nxb4 e4 22. O-O exf3 23. Qxf3 Ng4 24. Nxa6 $14) 21...
e4 22. fxe4 (22. Nxb4 $5) 22... Ng4 23. Nxb4 (23. Rxb4 Qe7 24. h3 Be3+ 25. Kh1
Qh4 26. Rf3 $14) 23... f5 $1 {Opening the access to the white's king, but 24.
e5!? is not so clear for the defender.} 24. Nc6 (24. Nxa6 Qa7+ 25. Kh1 fxe4 26.
Nxb8 (26. h3 Rxf1+ 27. Qxf1 Nf2+ 28. Kh2 Qe3 29. g3 h4 $19) 26... Rxf1+ 27.
Qxf1 Nf2+ $11) (24. exf5 $2 Rbe8 25. Qd1 Rxf5 $1 (25... Qa7+ 26. Kh1 Nf2+ 27.
Rxf2 Qxf2 28. Nd3 Qxf5 29. Ra1 $13) 26. Rxf5 (26. Kh1 Ne3 27. Qa1 Nxf1 28. Bxf1
Qe7 $19) 26... Qxf5 $19) (24. e5 $5 dxe5 (24... Nxe5 25. Bxa6 Qc7 (25... Qa7+
26. Kh1 Rbe8 27. Bb5 Re7 28. Qd1 Ng4) 26. Kh1 $16) 25. Nxa6 Rbc8 26. Nb4 e4 27.
Nc6 $16) 24... fxe4 25. Nxb8 (25. h3 $2 Rxf1+ 26. Qxf1 Rf8 27. Qe1 Be3+ 28. Kh1
Nf2+ 29. Kh2 Rf3 $3 30. Bf1 Qf7 31. gxf3 Qf4+ 32. Kg2 Qg5+ 33. Kh2 Bf4#) 25...
Qa7+ 26. Kh1 Rxf1+ 27. Qxf1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Nh3+ 29. Kh1 Nf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Rg1 g6 14. Kb1 O-O 15.
h4 Qc7 16. Qf2 Bd8 17. Nc1 f6 18. gxf6 Rxf6 19. Rh1 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 21. Nd3
Qf7 22. Ne1 Ba5 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Bxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxf3 26. Qd2 Rc6 27. Rxd6
Rxd6 28. Qxd6 Rxe3 29. Qb8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Na5 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Qxc3 12. bxc3 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. f4 b5
15. Nb3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Nc5 Rb8 18. Kd2 Rb5 19. Nxd7 Bxd7 20. a4 Rb8 21.
Rb1 O-O 22. a5 Rb5 23. Rxb5 Bxb5 24. Bd4 f5 25. exf6 gxf6 26. g4 Kf7 27. h4 h5
28. g5 fxg5 29. fxg5 Kg6 30. Bf6 Re8 31. Re1 e5 32. Bxe5 Kf5 33. Bg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C79"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Bd7 7. O-O g6 8. Re1
Bg7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Bxe5 dxe5
15. Qxh5 Qxd3 16. Na3 Qd6 17. Nc4 Qe6 18. Ne3 O-O-O 19. Nf5 Bf6 20. g3 Rd7 21.
Re2 Rhd8 22. Kg2 a5 23. b3 Kb8 24. Rae1 c6 25. Re3 Rh8 26. R1e2 Bd8 27. Rf3 Bb6
28. Ne3 Bxe3 29. Rexe3 f6 30. Qg6 Rd6 31. Rf5 h5 32. h3 h4 33. Ref3 hxg3 34.
fxg3 Rd2+ 35. Rf2 Rxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rxh3 37. Kg2 g4 38. Qxf6 Qxf6 39. Rxf6 Rh7 40.
Rg6 Rd7 41. Rxg4 Rd2+ 42. Kh3 Rxa2 43. Rg5 Rb2 44. Rxe5 b5 45. Re8+ Kc7 46. e5
Rxb3 47. Re7+ Kb6 48. Kg4 Rxc3 49. e6 Re3 50. Kf4 Re1 51. Kf5 a4 52. Re8 a3 53.
Ra8 b4 54. g4 Kc7 55. g5 b3 56. Ra7+ Kd6 57. Rxa3 b2 58. Rd3+ Ke7 59. Rd7+ Ke8
60. Rb7 b1=Q+ 61. Rxb1 Rxb1 0-1

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 07th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2003.11.03"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2003.11.01"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 dxe5 5. Nxe5 a6 6. a4 g6 7. Bc4 e6 8. O-O
Bg7 9. d3 O-O 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. Bf4 Qa5 13. h4 Nb6 14. Bd2 Nxc4 15.
Nxc4 Qd8 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Be5 Qxh4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Qxd5 Be6 21.
Qxc5 Rac8 22. Qe5+ Kg8 23. Re4 Qh6 24. Rae1 Rfd8 25. b3 Rd5 26. Qf4 Qg7 27. Nb6
Rf5 28. Qd2 Rc6 29. Nc4 h5 30. Qe3 Qc3 31. Re2 b5 32. Ne5 Rd6 33. Nxg6 1-0

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2662"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. a3 h6 14. Bc1
Rd8 15. Rfe1 Be7 16. Ne4 Be6 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. f4 Nh4 20. Kf2 h5
21. g3 Nf5 22. Nf3 c5 23. Rd1 Ke8 24. Nc3 Nd4 25. Nd5 Bd8 26. Nxd4 cxd4 27.
Rxd4 Bxh3 28. Ne3 Bd7 29. Ng2 Rh6 30. Be3 Rc6 31. c3 a5 32. Nh4 Bxh4 33. gxh4
Rg6 34. f5 Bxf5 35. Bg5 Bd7 36. b4 axb4 37. axb4 Re6 38. Rd5 b6 39. b5 c6 40.
bxc6 Rxc6 41. Rd6 Rxd6 42. exd6 f6 43. Be3 b5 44. Kg3 Kf7 45. Kf4 Ke6 46. Bc5
Kd5 47. Bb4 Kc4 48. Ba5 Kc5 49. Bb4+ Kd5 50. Ba3 Kc4 51. Bb4 Kd3 52. Ba5 Be6
53. Bb4 Bc8 54. Ba5 Bg4 55. Bb4 Bh3 56. Ba5 Bd7 57. Bb4 Ke2 58. Bc5 Kf1 59. Kg3
Ke1 60. Kf4 Kf1 61. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Ne5 Nbd7 6. Nxc4 b5 7.
Ne3 Bb7 8. g3 c5 9. d5 a6 10. Bg2 g6 11. O-O Bg7 12. a4 (12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rd1
Rc8 14. b3 Nb6 15. a4 b4 16. a5 Nfd7 17. axb6 Bxc3 18. Bb2 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxb6
20. Ng4 h5 21. Ne5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Sulava,N-Kuporosov,V/Budapest 1990 (28)}) 12...
b4 13. Nb1 a5 ({Nach} 13... Nb6 {folgt} 14. a5 Nbxd5 15. Qa4+ Qd7 (15... Kf8
16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Rd1 f5 18. Nd2 {sieht auch nicht attraktiv für Schwarz aus.})
16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Rd1 (17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rd1 Kc6 {ist falsch.}) 17... e6 18.
Nc4 Ke7 19. e4 Nc7 20. Be3 {mit entscheidendem Angriff.}) 14. Qc2 O-O {Genauer
spielte Schwarz in der Vorgängerpartie:} (14... Nb6 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Nd2 Ne8 17.
Nb3 ({Zu gleichem Spiel führt die Fortsetzung} 17. Ndc4 Nd6 18. Rb1 Ndxc4 19.
Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 Ba6 $11 {Nach dem Textzug gewinnt Weiß zwar zunächst einen
Bauern, leidet aber an der unharmonischen Aufstellung seiner Figuren und kommt
nicht dazu, seine Entwicklung zu vollenden.}) 17... Nd6 18. Qxc5 (18. Nxc5 Rc8
19. Nxb7 Nxb7 20. Qd3 Nc5 21. Qb5 Nb3 22. Rb1 Rc5 {ist offenbar ungünstig für
Weiß.}) 18... Nd7 19. Qc2 Rc8 $17 {0-1 Romanishin,O-Morozevich,A/Elista 1998/
CBM 66 ext/[Huebner,R] (60). (60)}) 15. Nd2 Ne8 {Ftacnik: 'Topalov has a very
good feeling for the positions of the Benoni type, the strength of the Bg7
should not be underestimated.'} 16. Nec4 Nd6 17. e4 Ba6 18. Rd1 Rc8 19. f4 $6 {
Ftacnik: 'Mamedyarov was probably not suspecting, that with this pseudoactive
move he have put his own king in danger. ' Weiß ist nicht genügend entwickelt,
um eine Expansion im Zentrum mit Erfolg durchführen zu können; er schwächt nur
seine Stellung.} (19. Rb1 {zur Vorbereitung von b2-b3 hommt in Betracht.}) (19.
Bf1 {zur Festigung des Punktes c4 sieht ebenfalls solider aus.} Bxc4 {Ftacnik}
20. Nxc4 Nxc4 21. Bxc4 Ne5 $11) (19. Bh3 {Ftacnik} f5 $5 20. Nxd6 $140 exd6 21.
exf5 Ne5 $1 22. fxg6 Bd3 23. Qb3 c4 24. Qa2 Qb6 $17) 19... Nb6 20. Bf1 $2 ({Auf
} 20. Nxa5 {folgt} Nxd5 21. Nac4 ({Verfehlt ist} 21. Ndb3 c4 22. Rxd5 e6 23.
Rd1 cxb3 24. Qf2 Rc2 25. Qe3 Qxa5 26. Rxd6 Re2 {, und Schwarz gewinnt.}) (21.
Ndc4 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Nf6 23. Nxd6 (23. h3 b3 24. Qxb3 Nfxe4 {sieht auch gut für
Schwarz aus.}) 23... exd6 24. Nb3 Ng4 25. Nxd4 cxd4 {überläßt dem Schwarzen
eine starke Initiative.}) 21... Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Nf6 {mit scharfem Spiel; die
Stellung des Weißen sieht nicht harmonisch aus.}) (20. Nxd6 exd6 21. Nb3 {
bietet die besten Aussichten auf Widerstand.}) 20... Bd4+ 21. Kg2 Ndxc4 22.
Nxc4 (22. Bxc4 Nxc4 23. Nxc4 f5 {ist nicht angenehmer für Weiß.}) 22... Nxd5
$19 23. Be2 Nf6 24. Bf3 Qc7 25. Bd2 Bxc4 26. Qxc4 Bxb2 27. Rab1 Bd4 28. Rbc1
Nd7 29. Bxb4 axb4 30. Rxd4 Qa7 31. Rd2 Nb6 32. Qb5 Nxa4 33. Ra1 Nc3 34. Qf1 Qc7
35. e5 c4 36. Ra6 Qc5 37. e6 f5 38. h4 Ne4 39. Rd7 c3 40. Raa7 c2 0-1

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nc5 12. Nd2 Be6 13. Be2 O-O-O 14. O-O h5 15.
h4 Bh6 16. Ra3 g4 17. Bd3 Kb8 18. Re1 Bf4 19. Nf1 d5 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. Ne3 Bc6 23. b4 Nxd3 24. cxd3 Qd6 25. Qb1 Rhe8 26. Kh2 Bxe3 27. fxe3 f5
28. Rf1 Rf8 29. Qc1 Qxb4 30. Bxe5+ Ka8 31. Bg3 Qe7 32. Rc3 Qe6 33. a5 Qd5 34.
Rf2 Rf6 35. Qa3 Re8 36. Rc5 Qd7 37. e4 Ref8 38. Rcxf5 Rxf5 39. Qxf8+ Rxf8 40.
Rxf8+ Qe8 41. Rxe8+ Bxe8 42. Bc7 b5 43. axb6 Kb7 44. Kg3 a5 45. Kf4 a4 46. Bd6
Kxb6 47. g3 Kc6 48. Ba3 Bf7 49. Kg5 Kd7 50. Kf6 Bb3 51. d4 Bc2 52. Ke5 Kc6 53.
d5+ Kd7 54. Kd4 1-0

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hillarp Persson, Tiger"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2512"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Nc7 10. Qd4 f6 11. Qb4 Nc6 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Rb1 e5 14. f4 exf4
15. Bxf4 Ne6 16. Bd6 Bd7 17. Nf3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Nxc5 19. Nb5 Nxe4 20. Bb4 Nc6 21.
Bd3 a6 22. Bxe4 axb5 23. O-O Nxb4 24. cxb4 Bc6 25. Bf5 Rd8 26. Rbe1+ Kf8 27.
Rf2 g6 28. Bb1 Rd6 29. Ba2 h5 30. h4 Rh7 31. Bb1 f5 32. Kh2 Rhd7 33. Kg3 Kg7
34. Rfe2 Rd4 35. Kh3 Rc4 36. Re3 Rd2 37. Re7+ Kf8 38. R7e2 Rc3+ 39. Kh2 Rd4 40.
g3 Rxa3 41. Rf2 Rxb4 42. Bxf5 gxf5 43. Rxf5+ Kg7 44. g4 Rb2+ 45. Kg1 Rg3+ 46.
Kf1 Bg2+ 0-1

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. d5 b5 10. cxb5 a6 11. bxa6 ({Deserve attention} 11. a4 axb5 12. axb5 Nb6
13. O-O Bxf3 14. gxf3 N8d7 15. f4 Ra5 16. Kh1 $14 {1-0 Izoria,Z-Romero Holmes,
A/France 2003/EXT 2004 (38)}) 11... Nxa6 12. O-O Qa5 13. Nd2 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Rfb8
$1 $146 {This standard move in fact appears to be a serious improvement,Black
builds up the pressure on queenside and he can comfortably to defend his
e7-pawn with Kf8.} (14... Nc7 15. Bg5 $1 {[%csl Ge7]} Rfe8 16. f4 e6 17. dxe6
Nxe6 18. Nc4 Qa6 19. Nd5 Qxa2 20. Be7 Nd4 21. Qd3 $16 {[%csl Gd6] 1-0 Graf,
A-Romero Holmes,A/Istanbul 2003/CBM 96 (30)}) 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. a3 {A
questionable choice,allowing Black to get a very comfortable square for his
queen.} ({Strangely enough, but i didn't manage to find a decent way for White
to fight for advantage.Black keeps good counterplay in all lines.} 16. Bd2 Ne5
(16... Nb6 17. Nd1 Qa4 $1 {also not bad} (17... Qb5 $143 18. b3 $1 $14)) 17.
Nd1 (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. b3 Qa3 $44) 17... Qa4 $1 (17... Qb5 18. b3 $1) 18. Bg5
Nxc4 19. Rxc4 Qxa2 20. Bxe7 Rb6 $44) (16. f4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Rxb6 {[%csl Gb2,Ge4]}
) (16. Rc2 Ne5 17. Nd2 Qb7 {[%cal Ga6b4]} 18. a3 Nc7 $132 {[%cal Gc7b5]}) 16...
Qb3 17. Rc2 {[%cal Gc4a5]} (17. f4 {was critical} {but after forced} Nc7 (17...
Nb6 $2 18. Na5 {[%csl Gb3]}) 18. e5 Nb6 (18... Nb5 $2 19. Ne4 $16) 19. exd6
exd6 20. Nxd6 Nbxd5 21. Bxc5 Qxb2 22. Rc2 Nxc3 23. Rxb2 Nxe2+ 24. Rxe2 Bf8 $1
$11 {White is unable to hold his extra pawn}) 17... Nc7 18. Bg5 Kf8 $1 (18...
Nb6 $143 19. Ne3 $1 (19. Nxb6 Rxb6 20. Bxe7 f6 {[%csl Ge7]} 21. e5 $8 fxe5 22.
Ne4 Nb5 $44) 19... Nc8 20. Ng4 $1 {with good attacking prospects}) 19. f4 {
White has to hurry up in order not to get into the worse position.} h6 20. Bh4
Nb6 {Just in time!} 21. Nxb6 (21. Ne3 Na4 $1 22. Nxa4 Rxa4 {and Black is fine}
23. Nc4 $140 Nb5 24. Bf2 Nc3 $1 {[%csl Gc4]}) 21... Rxb6 22. e5 (22. Rf3 Nb5 {
[%cal Gb5d4]} 23. Nxb5 Qxb5 24. e5 Qxe2 25. Rxe2 Rab8 $44) 22... Nxd5 23. Nxd5
Qxd5 24. Rd2 Qe6 25. Qf3 Rab8 26. Re1 dxe5 ({After} 26... dxe5 27. fxe5 c4 $1 {
[%csl Ga3,Gb2,Ge5] Black even slightly better,due to White's weak pawns.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Graf, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. Ng3 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O c6 11. b4 a6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. Qc2 b5 14. Bd3 Nb6 15. e4
dxe4 16. Ncxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Be6 18. Bxh7+ Kh8 19. Be4 Rc8 20. Nf5 Bd5 21. Rae1
Bf8 22. Qd3 g6 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Qh3+ Kg8 25. Nh6+ Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Qf6 27. Re5
Qf4 28. Qh3 f6 29. Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Qd7 Re2 31. Qxc6 Qe4 32. Bc1 Re1 33. Qc8+ Kf7
34. Qb7+ Kg8 35. Qa8+ Kf7 36. Qb7+ Kg8 37. Qa8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 a6 11. Rac1 Rb8 $5 {A playable alternative to the more
usual and satisfactory main line} (11... Rc8 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 $5 $11) 12.
b3 O-O 13. Qh4 b5 $6 {Black in fact plays 11...Rb8!? to get in this advance in
due time, but at this moment it's premature and loses a P.} ({Better is the
patient} 13... Re8 $142 {Black keeps the b5-advance in reserve after White
will not be able to directly attack the Pb5.} {Possibly somewhat stronger is}
14. Ne1 $5 (14. Bh6 b5 (14... Bh8 $5 15. Bh3 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Qb4 Bxf3 18.
exf3 Ne5 19. Bg2 Nc6 20. Qh4 Qa5 21. Bd2 Qa6 22. Bf1 Ne5 23. Qf4 Qa8 24. Be2
Rec8 25. Kg2 Bg7 26. Qe3 Rc5 27. Kg1 Rbc8 28. h3 b4 $36 {Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/
Monte Carlo act/2001/}) 15. Bxg7 $142 (15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Bxh6 (16... Qb6
17. Nd5 Qb7 18. e4 Rbc8 $132 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Rxc8 $6 Qxc8 21. Rd3 Qb7 22. Rf3
Bh8 $15 23. g4 $4 Nxe4 24. Nxe7+ Rxe7 25. Nxf7 Bf6 26. Nd8 Qa8 {0-1,Gurevich,
D-Milov,V/New York op/1998/}) 17. Qxh6 bxc4 18. Rd4 cxb3 19. Rh4 Nf8 20. Nce4
b2 21. Nxf6+ exf6 22. Nxh7 {Vassallo Barroche,M-Estremera Panos,S/ESP-chT
Lanzarote/2003/} Rb4 $1 {/\} 23. Rh3 bxc1=Q 24. Ng5 Qa8+ $19) 15... Kxg7 16.
cxb5 axb5 17. Qb4 $14 (17. Nd4 $6 b4 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Nc6 Qb6 $36)) 14... Bxg2
15. Nxg2 Qc7 16. Nf4 Qb7 17. Nfd5 Rbc8 18. Bg5 {Illescas Cordoba,M (2600)
-Gelfand,B (2713) Ciudad de Pamplona 1999 (3) 1/2 Notice we have achieved the
position from the game Illescas-Gelfand, but it's Black's move instead of
White's!} (18. a4 $142 $5) 18... b5 $1 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bxf6 $6
{1/2,Tadic,B-Marinkovic,S/Herceg Novi/2001/} (21. Qb4 Rc5 22. Be3 Nd5 $11)
21... Bxf6 $15) 14. cxb5 axb5 {[%csl Rb5] ><b5} 15. Nd4 $6 {Topalov,V (2690)
-Psakhis,L (2581) FIDE-Wch k.o. 1999 (3.1) 1-0 Now Black could have retained
his ><b5. Topalov had already in his practice applied a plan of gradual
pressure against the b5-P in} ({but better was to win it outright with} 15. Qb4
$142 $1 {although Black still retained some chances to complicate matters after
} Re8 (15... Bc6 16. Nd4 $14) 16. Ne1 h5 17. Nxb5 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 d5 19. a4 e5
20. Qd6 d4 21. Bg5 Re6 22. Qc7 Qe8 23. Qc2 Reb6 $14 {/+/-,Jackelen,T-Epishin,V/
Bundesliga 0203/2003/}) 15... b4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Such things happen in rapid
chess-now Black loses his b-P after all.} (15... Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb6 (16... Qa5
$5 17. Nc6 Qa8 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Rfe8 $13) 17. Kg1 (17. Ndxb5 $6 Qc6+ 18.
Kg1 Rxb5 19. Qa4 Rb6 20. Qxc6 Rxc6 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Rxc6 Ne5 $17) 17... Qa6
$132) 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 (16... bxc3 $2 17. Nc6 $18) 17. Nc6 Qe8 (17... Qa8 18.
Nxe7+ (18. Nxb4 $5 $16) 18... Kh8 19. Na4 $5 $16 (19. Ncd5 $5 Qxa2 20. Qc4 Ne5
$14)) 18. Nxb4 Qa8 (18... Ne5 19. Nbd5 $16) 19. Nc6 Nb8 (19... Re8 20. Qa4 $16
(20. b4 $5 Nb8 21. Na5 $16)) 20. Nxb8 Rfxb8 {Now White forces the Q off the
board and achieves a technically won _|_.} (20... Qxb8 $142 21. Bd4 $16) 21.
Qa4 $16 {[%mdl 4096] /+- White's o^ on the << will decide the game in the long
run. In the end Topalov finishes Black off elegantly.} h5 22. f3 {White has
time, so he first stops Ng4.} Nd7 23. Qxa8 Rxa8 24. Na4 $1 (24. Bd4 $143 $2
Bxd4+ 25. Rxd4 Rc7 {[%cal Gc8c1] and the pin on the <->c is unpleasant.}) 24...
Bf8 25. Rc2 e6 26. Rdc1 Rbb8 27. Rc7 Nf6 28. Ba7 Rb4 29. Bf2 (29. e4 $5 {
stops Nd5 and further limit Black.} Ne8 30. Rc8 Rxa7 31. Rxe8 $18) 29... Nd5
30. Rc8 Rbb8 (30... Rxc8 $6 31. Rxc8 Kg7 32. e4 $18) 31. Rxb8 Rxb8 32. Kf1 (32.
e4 Nb4 33. a3 Nd3 $14 {/+/- gives Black more <=>, than in the game.}) 32... f5
33. Rc4 Bh6 (33... Rb4 34. Nb2 $1 {[%cal Rb2d3] /\Nd3+-} (34. Rxb4 Nxb4 35. Nc3
Bg7 $14)) 34. Nc3 Ne3+ 35. Bxe3 Bxe3 36. Rc6 Bc5 37. Na4 Ba3 (37... Bb4 38. Rb6
Rxb6 39. Nxb6 d5 40. e4 $5 fxe4 41. fxe4 dxe4 42. Nc4 $18) 38. Nb6 Kf7 39. Rc7+
(39. Nc4 Ra8 $1 $16) 39... Kg8 40. Nd7 Rb5 (40... Ra8 41. e4 Ra5 42. Ke2 $18 {
[%csl Rg8] leaves Black hopelessly pinned on the 8-th rank, a B move allows a4.
White will simply march his K over to the <<.}) 41. h4 Kf7 {Now White finds a
pretty forced win.} 42. Ra7 $1 {Discovered checks only help Black.} Bc1 (42...
Ke7 43. Nc5+ Kf6 44. Nxe6 $1 Kxe6 45. Rxa3 $18) (42... Bb2 43. Nb6+ Kf6 44. Nc4
Be5 (44... Bd4 45. Nxd6 $18) 45. f4 Bd4 46. Nxd6 Bxa7 $8 47. Nxb5 $18) 43. a4
$1 {Traps Black's R.} Rb4 (43... Be3 44. axb5 Bxa7 45. b6 $18) (43... Rxb3 $2
44. Nc5+ $18) 44. Ne5+ Kf6 45. Nd3 Rxb3 (45... Be3 46. Nxb4 Bxa7 47. Nc6 Be3
48. a5 $18 {[%csl Ga5,Gb3] o^a,b}) 46. Nxc1 Rb1 47. Rc7 Ra1 48. Rc4 d5 49. Rc6
Ke7 (49... Rxa4 50. Nd3 $18) 50. f4 Kd7 51. Rc2 {[%cal Yf1f2,Yc1e5] /\Kf2,
Nd3-e5} 1-0

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. e4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be6 13. Kc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C15"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nge2 dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. N2g3 Nbd7 8.
Bd3 b6 9. Qf3 Rb8 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Bb7 12. Qe2 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Bxe4 14. Nxe4
Nf6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Rad1 Qd7 17. c3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benidorm Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm"]
[Date "2003.11.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "2003.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Be7 10. Qb5 Qd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfc1 a6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia TV m"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2004.01.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2004.01.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Na5 10. Nb3 d5 11. Kb1 Nxb3 12. axb3 dxe4 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. Nc7+
Qxc7 15. Qxb4 Nd5 16. Qxe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Bd7 18. Qd4 e5 19. Qb4 O-O-O 20. Bd3
Be6 21. Rhe1 f6 22. Bc4 Bf5 23. g4 Bg6 24. h4 h5 25. Be6+ Kb8 26. Bf5 Bf7 27.
Be4 hxg4 28. fxg4 Be6 29. Bf3 a5 30. Qe4 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Rxh4 32. Rd8+ Bc8 33.
Rd3 Rh8 34. b4 a4 35. Qe3 Rd8 36. Rc3 Qd6 37. Qe4 Qb6 38. Rc4 Be6 39. Rc5 Rd4
40. Qe3 Rxb4 41. Qc3 Rb5 42. Rxb5 Qg1+ 0-1

[Event "Sofia TV m"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2004.01.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2004.01.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O (16. Qh5 e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Rd1 Kh8 (18... b4 {is
nowadays considered the simplest way to equality.}) 19. O-O Rc8 {is a
different line, which transposes to the game (it's the same position as in the
game after move 19).}) 16... Kh8 {A move with very good result for Black,
which was played for the first time by Sulava, but became popular after the
game J.Polgar-Illescas, 1999.} (16... Ra7 {has been the main move lately and
nowadays is analyzed often until forced draw.}) 17. Qh5 (17. Bc2 Ra7 18. Qh5
Raf7 19. Rad1 Ne7 20. f4 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 e4 22. Kh1 a5 23. a3 Qa8 24. Ne3 Qc6 $15
{1/2-1/2 Timoscenko,G-Sulava,N/Oberwart 1995 (32)}) 17... e4 (17... Bf7 18. Qh3
e4 19. Bc2 Ne5 20. Rfd1 (20. f3 $2 exf3 21. gxf3 Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Qg5+ 23. Kh1 Qd2
$15 {0-1 Polgar,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1999 (61)}) 20... Bxd5 21.
Rxd5 Qf6 22. Rad1 Rad8 23. f4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Leko,P/Monte Carlo 2003 
(39)}) 18. Bc2 Ne7 19. Rad1 Rc8 20. f3 Bf7 (20... Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5
Qb6+ (22... Be5 23. f4 $1 (23. fxe4 $2 f4 24. Bb3 Rc7 $44)) 23. Kh1 Qe3 24. f4
Rc5 25. Rxd6 b4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Schmaltz,R-Chuchelov,V/France 2003 (41)}) 21. Qh3
Nxd5 22. Nxd5 b4 (22... Be5 $5 23. fxe4 f4 24. Nxf4 Qg5 25. Nd5 Bh5 $44) 23.
fxe4 (23. Nxb4 a5 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Qb6+ 26. Kh1 Qxb2 $15) (23. Qxf5 {
is critical. For instance:} bxc3 24. bxc3 Bg8 (24... Bg6 25. Qh3 Bxc3 26. Bxe4
Bxe4 27. fxe4 Rxf1+ 28. Rxf1 $16) 25. Qxe4 {and there is no clear compensation.
}) 23... bxc3 24. bxc3 Bxd5 25. exd5 (25. Rxd5 $2 Rxc3 26. Bd3 fxe4 $19) 25...
Rxc3 26. Bd3 Bd4+ 27. Kh1 Qg5 28. Rxf5 (28. g3 Rf6 $1 (28... h6 29. Bxf5 (29.
Rxf5 Rxf5 30. Bxf5 Rc1 $11) 29... Be5 {Here White can claim a slight advantage.
}) 29. Bxf5 (29. Rxf5 $4 Rxd3 $1) 29... Rh6 $132) 28... Rxf5 29. Qxf5 Qxf5 30.
Bxf5 Be3 31. g3 Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Qd7 11. c3 Rfe8 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. d4
Bf8 16. d5 c4 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nd2 Bc8 19. h3 Bd7 20. Qf3 Be7 21. Ra2 Reb8 22.
axb5 axb5 23. Rea1 Qd8 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Nb7 26. Ba7 Rc8 27. Ne4 Nxe4 28.
Bxe4 Nc5 29. Bxc5 Rxa2 30. Rxa2 Rxc5 31. Qd1 Rc8 32. Qa1 h5 33. Bf3 h4 34. Ra7
Rc7 35. Bh5 Rxa7 36. Qxa7 Qe8 37. Qc7 Bf8 38. Kf1 Qe7 39. Qxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bg4 6. Ne5 Bh5 7. Qb3 Ra7 8. e4 $1
{Dies ist ein neuer, aggressiver Versuch. Meines Erachtens ist es für Schwarz
nun nicht leicht, Ausgleich zu erzielen; in der Partie gelingt ihm dies nicht.
Ich zitiere nur einen Vorgänger (nicht Vorkämpfer):} (8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. f4 h6 10.
Bxf6 gxf6 (10... exf6 $11) 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. e3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Radjabov,
T-Kasparov,G/Moscow 2002/CBM 90 (45). (44)}) 8... e6 ({Die Fortsetzung} 8...
dxe4 9. Be2 e6 10. Bxh5 Nxh5 11. Nc4 Nf6 12. Bg5 {könnte Schwarz ebenfalls vor
unangenehme Probleme stellen.}) 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Nxe5 {
Vielleicht sollte Schwarz diesen Tausch hinausschieben, um das Feld b6 nicht
ungedeckt zu lassen:} (11... Be7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfe1 Re8 {usw.}) 12. Bxe5 Be7
13. O-O O-O 14. Rfe1 Bg6 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Re2 Ng4 (16... Nd7 17. Bc7 Qxc7 18.
Rxe7 Qd8 19. Rae1 {ist ebenfalls unerfreulich für Schwarz.}) 17. Qb6 Qa8 ({
Die Fortsetzung} 17... Qxb6 18. cxb6 Raa8 19. Bxg7 Rfe8 20. Rae1 Kxg7 21. Rxe7
{sieht hoffnungslos für Schwarz aus.}) 18. Bc7 Bf6 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Na4 Nh6 ({
Auf} 20... Bxd4 {folgt} 21. Qb4 Bxf2+ 22. Rxf2 Nxf2 23. Nb6 {, und Weiß
gewinnt die Dame.}) 21. Qa5 Qc8 22. h3 $2 (22. Rae1 {sieht viel kräftiger aus.}
Qg4 {wird mit} 23. Qb6 {widerlegt:} Raa8 (23... Rda8 24. Bb8 {usw.}) 24. Qxb7 {
mit der Drohung Sa4-b6. Weiß spart ein wertvolles Tempo im Vergleich zur
Partiefortsetzung.}) 22... Qf5 23. Rae1 Qd3 24. Re8+ (24. Qb6 {bietet
ebenfalls Gewinnaussichten, ist aber nicht vollkommen klar:} Raa8 25. Qxb7 Nf5
26. Qxc6 Nxd4 27. Re8+ Kh7 (27... Rxe8 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qxe8+ Kh7 30. Nc3 Nf5
{ist auch nicht vollkommen deutlich.}) 28. Qxa8 Rxa8 29. Rxa8 Ne2+ 30. Kh2 Qd2
31. Rf1 Nd4 32. Nb6 Qe2 33. Kg1 Bh4 {usw.}) 24... Rxe8 25. Rxe8+ Kh7 26. Be5 $2
(26. Qc7 {verspricht nicht mehr. Nach} g5 (26... Qd1+ 27. Kh2 Qxa4 28. Qb8 g5
29. Qxa7 Qxd4 (29... Qb5 30. Qb6 Bxd4 31. Qxb5 axb5 32. Rb8 {Schwarz dürfte
nicht überleben können.}) 30. Qxb7 Qxf2 31. Bg3 (31. Qxa6 Ng4+ 32. Kh1 Ne5 $11)
31... Qxc5 32. Qxa6 Bxb2 33. Qd3+ {bietet dem Weißen einige geringe
Erfolgsaussichten.}) 27. Qb8 Bxd4 28. Nc3 Nf5 {ist keineswegs klar, wer besser
steht.}) (26. Nb6 {bietet jedoch Erfolgsaussichten, zum Beispiel:} Nf5 (26...
Bxd4 27. Bb8 Nf5 28. Qe1 {kommt auf dasselbe hinaus.}) 27. Bb8 Bxd4 28. Qe1 (
28. Bxa7 Qg3 29. Qe1 Nh4 30. Kf1 Qxg2+ 31. Ke2 Nf3 {führt zum Remis.}) 28...
Bxc5 29. Bxa7 Qd4 (29... Qg3 {scheitert an} 30. Bb8) 30. Rb8 Bxb6 31. Bxb6 Qxb6
32. Qe8 Kh6 33. Qe5 Kh7 34. g4 Nh4 35. Qe7 g5 36. Qxf7 Ng6 37. Re8 Qxb2 38.
Qg8+ Kh6 39. Re6 {und Weiß gewinnt.}) 26... Bxe5 27. dxe5 Qb1+ 28. Kh2 Qe4 $11
29. g3 Qc2 30. Kg2 Nf5 31. Qd8 Ne3+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Nf1+ 34. Kg2 Ne3+ 35.
fxe3 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be2
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Nc5 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8
15. f3 c4 16. Kf2 Kf8 17. Na4 Nd7 18. Rfd1 Rc6 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.
Ra4 Ne8 22. Nd5 Nd6 23. Bd2 Ke8 24. Bb4 Nb5 25. Bd2 Nd6 26. Bc3 f6 27. Bb4 Nb5
28. Bd2 Nd6 29. Bb4 Nb5 30. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 32]} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7.
Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1
O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 (17. Be3 $143 {cannot be
recommended, the B is too passive here.} Rfd8 (17... Nxh5 $6 18. g4 $40) (17...
Ng4 18. Bc1) 18. Ne5 c5 19. f3 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Qa5 21. Rhe1 Qc7 22. g4 Bc5 23.
Bxc5 Qxc5 $11 {Gershenzon-Kruppa, Dnepropetrovsk 1993}) (17. Be5 b5 18. Rd3 {
avoids the exchange of Q, but unfortunately this was White's main threat
getting a slightly better _|_.} Rfd8 19. Rg1 Ng4 20. Bc7 Rdc8 21. Bf4 c5 22.
Ne5 Nf6 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Rg3 Kf8 25. Rf3 Rd8 26. g4 Rd5 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. g5
hxg5 29. Bxg5 $13 {Firman-Ekstroem, Lausanne 2001}) 17... Qe4 18. Qxe4 (18. Qd2
$6 {is completely illogical.} Nd5 19. Bg3 Rfd8 20. Rde1 Qf5 21. Nd3 Rac8 22.
Be5 c5 23. dxc5 f6 24. g4 Qf3 25. Bd4 Qxg4 26. Be3 Qf5 $17 {Kupreichik-Lobron,
Ljubljana/Portoroz 1989}) 18... Nxe4 19. Rhe1 $1 {In general White is happy to
get a slightly better _|_ right after the opening. However with precise play
Black can neutralize the pressure, just without any winning chances.} (19. Rhf1
Bg5 {1/2:1/2 A.Sokolov-Dautov, Bled ol 2002}) (19. Be3 Rfd8 20. c4 Rac8 (20...
Kf8 21. g4 Nf6 22. f3 Nd7 23. f4 a6 24. Kc2 Nxe5 25. dxe5 $14 {Stefansson-S.
Kasparov, Tanta City 2001}) 21. g4 Nf6 22. f3 $14) 19... Nf6 (19... Nxf2 $2 20.
Rd2 Bh4 21. Ree2 $1 $16 {and the N is trapped.}) 20. g4 Rfd8 (20... c5 {
is the other main alternative here.} 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Nd7 $5 {penetrating on
the 7-th rank deserves attention.} (22. Be3 {White is certainly slightly
better because of the << P majority, the pressure on the d <-> and the strong
centralized N, but if Black defends himself carefully he can consolidate his
position.} Rfc8 (22... Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Rfd8 24. Red3 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Kf8 26. c4 Ke7
{neutralizing White's pressure on the d <->.}) 23. c4 Kf8 24. Bxc5+ Rxc5 25. f4
Rc7 26. Rd4 Ke7 27. Red1 Re8 28. b3 {1/2:1/2 V.Gurevich-Khlian, Azov 1995}) (
22. f3 Rfd8 {- 20....Rfd8}) 22... Nxd7 23. Rxd7 Bxf2 24. Rf1 Bc5 25. Rxb7 $14)
21. f3 (21. c4 c5 $1 22. Be3 (22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. f3 {- 21.f3}) 22... Bd6 (22...
cxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Bxd4 {and the white B is finally on the right /^.}) 23.
f3 Rac8 24. b3 a6 ({There is no need to hurry with} 24... cxd4 $143 25. Bxd4
Bb4 26. Rf1 a6 27. Kb2) 25. Bf2 cxd4 26. Bxd4 Bb4 27. Rg1 (27. Rf1 Rxd4 (27...
b5 $5) 28. Rxd4 Bc3 29. Rfd1 {- 27.Rg1}) 27... Rxd4 $5 (27... b5) 28. Rxd4 Bc3
29. Rgd1 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 $14 {and White has a P majority on the <<, plus the
better placed pieces, Areshchenko-Grant, Istanbul 2003 CBM 96.}) (21. Be3 {
Kasparov-Anand, Linares 2003 CBM 94}) (21. c3 {/\ Kc2} c5 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. f3
Rxd1+ (23... Nd5 24. Bd2 Bd6 25. Nd3 Rac8 26. Re2 Kf8 27. Rh1 Rc4 28. Kc2 Rdc8
29. Re4 Nb4+ 30. Nxb4 Rxb4 31. Bf4 Rb6 32. Be3 Bc5 33. Bf4 Bd6 34. Bd2 {
White certainly wants to avoid the repetition of moves.} Rbc6 35. a4 $14 {
Kalezic-Mateuta, Bucharest Blue Autumn 2002}) (23... Rac8 24. Bc1 Bf2 25. Rf1
Bb6 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Kc2 {It is advisable for White to exchange one pair of
rooks and keep the other.} Kf8 28. Re1 Bc7 29. Nd3 Bb6 30. a4 $14 {
Guseinov-Mchedlishvili, EU-chT 2003}) 24. Rxd1 Nd5 25. Nd3 Be7 26. Bc1 Rd8 27.
Kc2 f6 28. Nf4 Kf7 29. a3 b5 {blockading the light squares.} 30. Nxd5 Rxd5 31.
Rxd5 {1/2:1/2 Lutz-Dorfman, Bled ol 2002}) (21. Rd3 c5 22. Red1 cxd4 23. Rxd4
Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {Without rooks White's advantage is only
microscopical.} 26. c4 Bc7 27. f3 Nh7 28. b4 f6 {attacking soon >< f3} 29. Nd3
Bxf4 30. Nxf4 Ng5 $11 {Thorteins-Lobron, Reykjavik op 1984}) 21... Rac8 (21...
c5 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. c4 {/\ Kc2} Bf2 (23... Kf8 24. Kc2 Ke7 25. Rd3 Rac8 26.
Red1 Rxd3 27. Nxd3 Bd4 28. Kb3 Nd7 29. Bd2 e5 $11 {and Black gets reasonable
counterchances on the >>, Andreev-Bets, Alushta Golden Autumn 2001.}) (23...
Rac8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Kc2 Kf8 26. a3 {/\ b4 and a quick advance of pawns on
the << is White's main threat.} Ke8 27. b4 Bd6 28. Rd1 Bc7 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30.
Be3 a6 31. Bd4 $14 {Kovalev-Kruppa, Berliner Summer 1993}) 24. Rf1 Bd4 25. Rd3
Bxe5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Bxe5 Nh7 28. b3 f6 29. Bf4 f5 30. Re1 fxg4 31. fxg4 Nf6
{and again Black has ample play against the weakened pawns on the >>.} 32. Rxe6
Kf7 33. Re5 Nxg4 $11 {Lutz-Khenkin, Bundesliga 2002}) (21... Nd7 22. Nc4 Nf8
23. Na5 Rd7 24. c3 Rc8 25. Kc2 Bd8 26. Nc4 Bc7 27. Bc1 f6 28. b3 b5 29. Nb2 Kf7
30. Nd3 $14 {Ginzburg-Bykhovsky, Israel Int op 2003}) 22. c3 c5 (22... Kf8 23.
Kc2 Nd5 24. Bc1 c5 {Soon or later Black has to play this freeing move.} 25.
dxc5 Rxc5 26. f4 b5 27. a3 Kg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. fxg5 $14 {Shirov-Kramnik,
RUS-The World rapid 2002}) 23. dxc5 Bxc5 (23... Nd5 24. Bc1) 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.
c4 $14 {White's hopes are based on the advance of his << P majority.} Kf8 26.
Kc2 Ke8 27. Nd3 Bd4 28. b3 Rc8 29. a4 a6 30. a5 {White has to gain space on
the <<.} Nd7 (30... Nd5 31. Bd2 $14 {- 30...Nd7}) 31. Re4 Ba1 32. Bd6 Nf6 33.
Re1 Bd4 34. Bb4 Nd5 35. Bd2 Nf6 36. Bc3 {The exchange of the bishops was
inevitable for a winning attempt.} Bxc3 37. Kxc3 {Now a typical _|_ has arisen,
compare to the game Areshchenko-Grant, Istanbul 2003 CBM 96.} Ke7 {On any
other attempt b4 may come soon.} (37... Nd5+ 38. Kd4 Ne7 39. b4 $14) (37... Nd7
38. b4 $14) 38. b4 Nd7 39. Re2 Rf8 $6 {Black wants to create some active
counterplay on the other flank. However this allows a quick advance on the <<.}
(39... Rc7 {was the passive defence.} 40. c5 (40. f4 $143 {It is better for
White to keep quiet on the >> and concentrate to the other flank.} Nf6 41. f5
$5 (41. Rg2 Rd7 $1 42. Nc5 Rd1 $132 (42... Rc7 43. Kd4)) 41... Nxg4 42. fxe6
fxe6 43. Nc5 Kf6 44. Nxe6 Re7 45. Re4 Rxe6 46. Rxg4 Kf7 $14) (40. Kd4 Rc6 $14)
40... Nf6 41. Ne5 Nd5+ 42. Kc4 $14) 40. b5 $1 g5 (40... Ra8 41. Kb4 $16) 41.
Rb2 {/\ bxa6 and Rb7.} Kd6 (41... f5 {was consequent, but then comes the
penetration on the seventh rank.} 42. bxa6 bxa6 43. Rb7 fxg4 44. fxg4 Kd6 45.
Ra7 $16) 42. bxa6 bxa6 43. Rb7 $1 Ra8 {The R has to defend the a P passively.}
44. Nb4 $1 {Now the black K cannot come for a defence to the <<.} (44. Kd4 {
allows} Kc6 (44... e5+ $2 {founders on} 45. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 46. c5+ $18) 45. Rb1
f6 46. c5 Rd8 $14) 44... f5 $2 {Black still organizes his counterblow on the
other flank, but in the P race White comes first.} (44... Ne5 {defending
against the push c5-c6 was more stubborn.} 45. Rb6+ (45. Nd3 Nd7) 45... Ke7 46.
Rxa6 Rxa6 47. Nxa6 Nc6 48. Nb4 Nxa5 49. c5 Kd7 $14) 45. gxf5 exf5 46. Kd4 g4
47. fxg4 fxg4 48. c5+ $1 {and there is no defence against the winning march of
the o^.} Ke6 49. c6 $18 Nf6 50. c7 Rc8 51. Nxa6 (51. Rb6+ Kf5 52. Nxa6 g3 53.
Ke3 $18 {was an easy win as well.}) 51... g3 (51... Nxh5 52. Rb6+ Kd7 53. Rxh6
Nf4 54. Ke5 $18) 52. Rb3 (52. Rb6+ $1 {was again more precise.} Ke7 (52... Kf5
53. Ke3) 53. Ke3 $18) 52... Nxh5 53. Kc5 $1 (53. Rb6+ Kf5 54. Ke3 g2 55. Rb5+
Kf6 (55... Kg4 56. Kf2) 56. Rb1 Ke5 {was not so effective.}) 53... g2 (53...
Kd7 54. Kb6 $18) 54. Rb1 Nf4 55. Kc6 {The active white K decides the battle.}
h5 56. Kb7 Rg8 57. Nc5+ Kd5 (57... Kd6 58. Ne4+ Ke5 59. Nf2 Kd4 60. a6 Ke3 61.
Ng4+ $1 $18) 58. Nd7 Ke6 59. c8=Q 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 (6... h6 $5 {
It's main line.See comments to Popov,V-Loginov,V/St.Petersburg,2003/CBM 95(1-0)
(Golod,V)(25)}) 7. a3 $5 {Rare move.Besides White has two alternatives:} (7.
Nf3 {You can see my annotations to game: Zhu Chen-Short,N/Dubai,2002/CBM 89
(0-1)(25)}) ({and} 7. dxc5 $5 {You can see comments to Alterman,B-Kortschnoj,V/
Groningen,1993/CBM 39(1/2-1/2)(Chekhov,V)(40)}) 7... Bxc3+ ({Also twice were
checked up in previous games:} 7... cxd4) 8. Qxc3 $5 ({On:} 8. bxc3 {you can
find five games in Mega DataBase 2004.}) 8... cxd4 $5 $146 {This continuation
is the next attempt to bring in a "new word " in theory of this variation.} ({
The games which have reached this position were continued as follows:} 8... c4
$5 {In this position I have found three games in Mega DataBase 2004.For an
example we shall consider latest of them:} 9. g3 Be6 10. Nh3 $5 Nbd7 11. Nf4
Qb6 12. Bg2 O-O 13. O-O h6 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. e3 Rad8 $11 {Arlandi,E-Sokolov,A/
Geneve,2001(1/2-1/2)(30)}) 9. Qxd4 ({It was very badly:} 9. Bxf6 $2 {because
of:} dxc3 10. Bxd8 $140 cxb2 11. Rb1 Kxd8 12. Rxb2 Kc7 {=/+/-/+}) 9... Nc6 10.
Qf4 ({Again impossibly:} 10. Bxf6 $4 {in view of:} Nxd4 11. Bxd8 Nc2+ 12. Kd1
Nxa1 $19 {[%csl Ya1,Rd8][%cal Ya1b3]}) 10... d4 $1 {[%csl Ra1,Re1,Yf4][%cal
Gd8a5] The correct decision! There is no sense to spend a tempo for the
following move:} (10... h6 $143 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13. Rd1 $14) 11.
Bxf6 {Differently, Black receive a excellent pieces game:} (11. Nf3 Qa5+ 12.
Qd2 (12. Nd2 $6 Nd5 13. Qe4+ Be6 $15) 12... Qf5 {[%csl Rd2,Rg5][%cal Gf6e4]}
13. Bxf6 (13. Qd3 $143 Ne4 14. Bh4 Nc5 $36) 13... Qxf6 14. e3 (14. Rd1 $2 Bg4
$1 $15 {[%cal Ga8d8]} 15. Nxd4 $140 $4 O-O-O $19 {[%csl Rd2,Rd4]}) 14... dxe3
15. Qxe3+ Kf8 16. Be2 Qxb2 17. O-O $44) 11... gxf6 $6 {A strange decision.
From my point of view, it was a much better:} (11... Qxf6 $5 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13.
g3 (13. Rd1 $5 Bf5 14. Nf3 O-O-O $11 {[%csl Re1][%cal Gh8e8]}) (13. e3 {
[%cal Gg1e2]} Bf5 $5 $11) 13... Bf5 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. Nf3 (15. Kd2 $143 Na5 {
[%csl Rb3][%cal Ga5b3]} 16. Rc1+ Kb8 $36) 15... Rhe8 $11) 12. Nf3 $6 ({Can be
recommended:} 12. b4 $5 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Ya1d1,Yg1f3] (against Qa5+)} Be6 13.
Nf3 {with obvious advantage of White.}) 12... Qa5+ $1 13. Qd2 {White had no
other worthy alternative:} (13. b4 $4 Nxb4 {[%csl Ra1,Re1]}) (13. Nd2 Qe5 $11 {
[%cal Yc8e6]}) 13... Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 {+/=/= After queens was exchanged White
can hope only for the minimal advantage.} (14. Nxd2 $143 Be6 15. g3 Bd5 16. Rg1
Ke7 17. Bg2 Bxg2 18. Rxg2 Rac8 $11 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gh8d8]}) 14... Bf5 ({
Pretty dubiously:} 14... Bg4 $6 15. g3 {[%cal Gf1g2]} (15. h3 $5) 15... Bxf3
16. exf3 O-O-O 17. Rc1 $14 {[%cal Gf3f4,Yf1d3]}) 15. b4 {Probably it was
possible to continue the game without this move:} (15. Rc1 $5 Na5 {[%csl Rc1,
Rd2][%cal Ga5b3]} (15... Be4 16. e3 $14) 16. Nxd4 $140 Rd8 {[%csl Rc1,Rd2,Rd4]
[%cal Ga5b3]} 17. e3 $1 (17. Ke1 $143 Rxd4 $140 18. Rc5 {[%csl Ra5,Rf5][%cal
Ge2e3]} Nb3 19. Rxf5 Rd2 $132 {[%csl Rb2,Re1][%cal Gd2b2]}) (17. Ke3 $2 Rxd4 $1
18. Kxd4 Nb3+ {[%csl Rc1,Rd4]} 19. Kc3 Nxc1 20. e4 {[%csl Rc1,Gh1][%cal Gf1b5]}
Bxe4 (20... Na2+ $2 21. Kb3 Be6+ 22. Bc4 $16 {[%csl Ra2]}) 21. Bc4 Bxg2 22.
Rxc1 {=/=/+}) 17... Nb3+ 18. Kc3 Nxc1 (18... Nxd4 $2 19. exd4 Rc8+ 20. Kd2 $16)
19. Nxf5 {[%csl Rc1]} a6 $1 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Gb7b5,Gb5c4]} (19... Rc8+ $2 20.
Bc4 {[%csl Rc1,Rc8,Re8][%cal Gf5d6]} Rc5 {[%csl Rf5]} 21. Nd6+ Ke7 22. b4 $1 {
[%csl Rb7]} Rc7 23. Nf5+ Ke8 (23... Kf8 $143 24. Rd1 $1 {[%csl Rf8]}) 24. Kd4 {
[%csl Rc1]} (24. Rxc1 $2 b5 $1 25. Nd6+ $140 Ke7 26. Nxb5 Rxc4+ 27. Kxc4 Rc8+
28. Kd3 Rxc1 29. Nxa7 Ra1 $1 $14 {[%csl Ra3,Rf2,Rg2,Rh2][%cal Ga1a2]}) 24...
Rg8 (24... Rd7+ $143 25. Ke4) 25. Rxc1 Rxg2 26. h4 Rxf2 27. e4 {+/-/+-}) 20.
Bc4 b5 21. Bxb5+ axb5 22. Rxc1 Rc8+ 23. Kd2 Rxc1 24. Kxc1 $14) 15... O-O-O 16.
Rc1 {[%csl Rc6,Rc8][%cal Gb4b5]} Kb8 {Here Black's king is located in complete
safety.} 17. g3 a5 $1 {[%csl Ra3,Rb4] Differently White will finish
development: Bg2, Rhd1 or Rc5,Rhc1 and their position will be better.} 18. Bg2
({Leads to unnecessary complications:} 18. b5 Ne5 19. Bg2 Ng4 {[%csl Rf2]} (
19... Be6 $2 20. Nxe5 fxe5 21. Rc5 f6 22. b6 {[%csl Ra5]} Rd6 23. Rb1 {[%csl
Ra5][%cal Yb1b6,Gc5a5]}) 20. Rc5 (20. Rhf1 $6 d3 21. e3 Be4 $132 {[%csl Rg2]})
20... Be4 (20... Bg6 $5) 21. h3 Ne5 (21... Nxf2 $4 22. Rf1 {[%csl Rf2]} b6 23.
Rcc1 $18) 22. Rhc1 (22. Ne1 $6 b6 23. Rc1 f5 {[%csl Rd2][%cal Gd4d3]}) 22... d3
$1 23. Nxe5 dxe2+ 24. Kxe2 Bxg2 25. Ng4 (25. Nxf7 $4 Rhe8+ {[%csl Re2]}) 25...
Rhe8+ 26. Ne3 Bxh3 $11) 18... Be4 {[%csl Rg2] /^a8-h1} ({After:} 18... axb4 $2
{White have time to include the bishop in game:} 19. Nh4 {[%csl Gg2]} Bd7 (
19... Be6 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. axb4 Kb7 22. Rc5 $14) 20. axb4 Nxb4 21. Rc4 {
[%csl Rb4,Rd4]} (21. Bxb7 $5 Kxb7 22. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Gb1,Rb4,Rb7]}) 21... Nc6
22. Rb1 {[%csl Rb8][%cal Gg2c6,Gc4c6]} Kc7 23. Bxc6 Bxc6 (23... bxc6 24. Rbc1
$1 $14 {[%csl Rc6,Rd4]}) 24. Nf5 $14 {[%csl Rd4]}) 19. Nh4 {This move does not
put the large problems for Black.} ({Leads to more interesting game:} 19. b5 $5
Na7 $140 (19... Ne7 $143 20. Rc4 $14) (19... Ne5 $2 20. Nxe5 Bxg2 21. Nxf7 Bxh1
22. Rxh1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rd8,Rh8]}) 20. b6 $1 (20. Rc5 $143 b6 21. Rh5 Bg6 $13 {
[%csl Rb5]}) (20. a4 Nc8 $13 {[%csl Ra4][%cal Gc8b6]}) 20... Nc8 21. Rc5 Nxb6
22. Rhc1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Yc1c4,Yc5a5]} Rc8 23. Nh4 $44) 19... Bxg2 20. Nxg2
axb4 21. axb4 Nxb4 22. Rc4 $44 Nc6 {[%csl Yc6][%cal Yc6d4]} 23. Rb1 ({Hardly
it was better:} 23. Nf4 $5 Rd6 24. Rb1 Re8 {[%csl Ye8][%cal Ye8e5]}) 23... Ne5
24. Rcb4 Rd7 25. Nf4 Rc8 {<->c; ><c4 The game of Black corresponds to the
requirements of a position.} 26. Ra4 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gb1b4]} Nc4+ (26... Rcd8
$6 {[%cal Gd4d3]} 27. Nd3 {[%cal Gb1b5]} Rc7 28. Rbb4 Nc6 29. Rb5 $14) (26...
Nc4+ {After this move the contenders is agreed for draw, because of next
variations:} 27. Kd3 (27. Ke1 Ne5 {[%cal Gd4d3,Gc8c2]} 28. Kd2 $11) 27... Ne5+
28. Kd2 (28. Ke4 $2 Re8 {[%csl Re4]} 29. Kf5 Ng6 $1 $15 {[%csl Re2,Rf5][%cal
Gd7d6,Ge8e5]}) 28... Nc4+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Bd2 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 Bf6 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bh6 Re8 16. f4 Nc5 17. Qf3 Nxb3 18. cxb3 Qd7 19. Rf1 c5 20. Rf2 Bh8 21. f5 d5
22. Qg4 Bc6 23. Raf1 dxe4 24. Nxe4 c4 25. Nc5 Qc8 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Qg3 Bd5 28.
b4 Qc6 29. Bg5 cxd3 30. Bf6 d2 31. Bxh8 Kxh8 32. Rxd2 Bc4 33. Rc1 Qf6 34. Qf2
Qxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Re3 36. a5 Rae8 37. Rcd1 Re2+ 38. Kg1 Bd5 39. Nxa6 Bxg2 40. Nc7
R8e5 41. Rxe2 Rxe2 42. Nxb5 Rxb2 43. Rxd4 Kg7 44. a6 Bf3 45. Nc3 Rg2+ 46. Kf1
Rxh2 47. b5 Rb2 48. a7 Bb7 49. Rd7 Ba8 50. Rd8 Bb7 51. Rb8 Bf3 52. b6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Rg1 Rc8 14. Qf2 Rxc3 $5
$146 {[%mdl 8] Topalov comes up with a very important novelty in a popular
variation. With exchange sacrifice black wants to grab the initiative.} (14...
Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 (15... Bxc4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 f5 18. gxf6 Nxf6 19. Rdd1
Rf7 20. Qe2 Qc7 21. Rd3 Qc4 22. Qd1 {1/2-1/2 Hracek,Z-Ftacnik,L/Germany 2003/ 
(22)}) 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 f5 18. gxf6 Rxf6 19. Qe2 Rc8 20. Kb1 Qd7 21. Rdd1
Qh3 22. Nd2 {Shirov,A-Sutovsky,E/Reykjavik 2003/1-0 (35)}) 15. Bxb6 (15. bxc3
Na4 16. Rd3 Qc7 $44) 15... Bxg5+ 16. Kb1 (16. Nd2 Bh4 17. Rg3 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Rc7
$15) 16... Bh4 $1 17. Rg3 (17. Bxd8 Bxf2 18. Rg2 Rxf3 19. Be2 Nf4 20. Bxf3 Nxg2
21. Be7 (21. Bxg2 Rxd8 $19) 21... Re8 22. Bxd6 Ne3 23. Rd2 Bg1 24. h4 (24. Bxe5
$2 Nc4 $19) 24... Nc4 $19) 17... Bxg3 18. hxg3 Rc7 19. Nc5 (19. Bxc7 Qxc7 $17)
19... Qe7 (19... Bc8 20. Qh2 Nf6 21. Qd2 Ne8 22. Nd3 Qf6 23. Bxc7 Nxc7 24. f4
b5 $15) 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Bxc7 Qxc7 22. Bh3 {White can not be satisfied with
the outcome of the opening. He can claim obly very meagre compensation for the
pawn.} Re8 (22... Kf7 23. f4 exf4 24. gxf4 Nf6 25. Bg2 e5 $15) 23. Rd3 Nf6 24.
Qa7 (24. Qd2 d5 $17) 24... Kf7 (24... d5 25. Rb3 Re7 26. a3 $15) 25. Rc3 Qd7
26. Qb6 Re7 (26... Rc8 $2 27. Rxc8 Qxc8 28. Qxd6 $14) 27. Rd3 d5 (27... Ne8 28.
Qb3 $13) 28. exd5 Nxd5 29. Qc5 Qb5 (29... Qc6 30. Qxc6 bxc6 31. Bf1 $11) 30.
Qd6 (30. Qxb5 axb5 31. Bf1 b4 32. Rd2 h5 $15) 30... Nb4 ({Much more compact
was to idea to support the king with the other jump} 30... Nf6 $5 31. Bf1 Rd7
32. Qb8 e4 $1 33. fxe4 Qb4 34. Rxd7+ Nxd7 35. Qf4+ Nf6 $17) 31. Rd2 Qc4 32. b3
Qc3 33. f4 (33. Bg4 Nc6 34. Rh2 Qe1+ 35. Kb2 Qxg3 $15) 33... Qxg3 $2 {Black is
getting nervous, this move throws out the advantage.} (33... e4 $1 34. Re2 a5
35. Qe5 Qxe5 36. fxe5 Rc7 37. Bg2 Nd5 38. Kb2 Nc3 39. Re1 Kg6 40. Bxe4+ Nxe4
41. Rxe4 Kf5 $17) 34. Qxb4 Qxh3 35. fxe5 Qe3 36. Qd6 h5 $6 (36... b5 37. Rd1
Qe2 38. Rd4 $11) 37. Rd1 Qf2 (37... Qe2 38. Rg1 Qf2 39. Qd1 Kg8 40. Rh1 g6 $11)
38. Qd3 Qg2 39. Rf1+ Kg8 $2 {A losing retreat, Topalov did not manage to
adjust his ambitions to survival.} (39... Ke8 $5 40. Qc4 Qc6 41. Qh4 Rd7 42.
Qxh5+ Kd8 43. Rf4 $14) 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Rf8 Qg1+ 42. Kb2 Qg5 (42... Qc5 43.
Rh8+ Kg6 44. Qd3+ Kg5 45. Qg3+ Kf5 46. Rxh5+ $18) 43. Qd3+ $1 {Very fine move,
that decides the game. Black is forced to open up access to his king.} g6 (
43... Qg6 44. Rh8+ $18) 44. Qd6 Kg7 45. Qb8 Qh6 46. Qd8 $1 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb5 Nb6
15. c4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 Qd7 18. a4 g6 19. Be3 (19. Bd2 c3 $1 {
see Kasparov-Shirov/Linares 2000/CBM76}) 19... Rac8 20. Rfb1 (20. Bh6 Rfe8 21.
Bf5 gxf5 22. Qg4+ fxg4 23. Rg5+ Kh8 {1/2-1/2 Zaw,W-Paciencia,E/Surabaya 2002/
CBM 89 ext (23)}) 20... c3 21. a5 (21. h4 $5 Nc4 22. Rxb7 Rc7 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 24.
h5 (24. Qf6 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Re8 26. h5 Bd8 27. Qf4 Bc7 $11 {1-0 Kuczynski,
R-Rozentalis,E/Warsaw 1999/EXT 2002 (33)}) 24... Nxe3 25. fxe3 Re8 $11 {
, Kuczynski- Rozentalis Warszawa 1999}) (21. d5 Rfe8 22. Bd4 Qe7 23. Bxc3 Qc7
24. R5b3 Nxa4 $19 {0-1 Martin,B-Dutreeuw,M/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (69)}) 21...
Nc4 22. Rxb7 (22. Bh6 Rfe8 23. Rxb7 (23. Qf6 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Rxb7 Qc6 26.
Qxc6 {1/2-1/2 Froeyman,H-Dutreeuw,M/Belgium 2000/CBM 81 ext (26)}) 23... Qe6
24. Qxc3 Na3 25. d5 Qe5 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Rd7 Nxb1 28. Rxd6 Nc3 $17 {1/2-1/2
Solodovnichenko,Y-Maly,A/Kharkov 2002/CBM 86 ext (49)}) 22... Qe6 (22... Rc7
23. Bh6 Re8 24. Rxc7 Qxc7 25. Qxc3 Na3 $2 26. Re1 $1 Rb8 27. Qxc7 Bxc7 28. Re7
$1 $18 {1-0 Motylev,A-Ristic,N/Jugoslavija 79/282 2000/[Motylev,A] (47)}) 23.
Ra1 (23. Rc1 $2 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Rc7 25. Bb3 Qe7 26. a6 Kg7 27. Rxc7 Qxc7 28. Qb7
Rc8 $11 {Kazhgaleyev,M-Arencibia,W/Elista ol (Men) 1998/CBM 66 ext/1/2-1/2 (44)
}) (23. Rxa7 Nd2 $17) (23. Bb3 $5 $146 Qf5 $1 (23... Bb8 24. Bh6 c2 25. Bxc2 (
25. Rc1 $1 $16) 25... Nxa5 26. Bxf8 Nxb7 27. Bb3 Qd7 28. Bh6 Nd6 29. Bf4 Qf5
30. Ba2 Nb5 {1/2-1/2 Nijboer,F-Piket,J/Nederland (ch) 78/(328) 2000/[RR] (30)})
24. Ra1 (24. Qxf5 gxf5 25. Ra1 $1 f4 (25... Nxe3 $5 26. fxe3 Rc7 27. a6 Re8 28.
Kf2 (28. Rf1 Rxe3 29. Rxf5 Ree7 $1) 28... f4 29. exf4 Bxf4 $14) 26. Bc1 Rfe8 $2
(26... Nd2 $1 $11) 27. f3 $1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Shirov,A/New Delhi/Theran
2000/CBM 80/[Ftacnik] (35)}) 24... Nd2 (24... Qxf3 25. gxf3 Nxe3 26. fxe3 Rc7
27. a6 Re8 28. Kf2 Ree7 $11 {0-1 Marechal,A-Kund,W/IECG 2001/Telechess CBM 91 
(39)}) 25. Qxf5 gxf5 26. g3 Rb8 (26... Nxb3 27. Rxb3 c2 28. Rc1 Rc4 29. Kf1
Rfc8 30. Ke2 a6 {1/2-1/2 Petran,P-Galyas,M/Budapest 2001/CBM 82 ext (30)}) 27.
Rxb8 Rxb8 {1/2-1/2 Anisimov,P-Egin,V/St Petersburg 2002/EXT 2003 (27)}) 23...
Rc7 (23... Bb8 $6 24. Bb3 $1 $16 {0-1 Anand,V-Shirov,A/Linares 78/328 2000/
[Shirov,A] (41)}) (23... Nd2 24. Qd1 Rc7 25. Rxc7 {1/2-1/2 Herrera,I-Zarnicki,
P/Havana 2002/CBM 88 ext (25)}) (23... Rfe8 24. Bb3 Re7 25. a6 Kg7 26. g4 Rcc7
27. Rc1 Nd2 28. Bxd2 cxd2 29. Rcxc7 Qe1+ 30. Kg2 Bxc7 31. g5 h6 32. gxh6+ Kh7
33. h4 Rd7 {1-0 Dobrowolski,A-Karpov,A/Pardubice 2002/EXT 2003 (33)}) 24. a6 $6
(24. Rxc7 $1 Bxc7 25. Bh6 Re8 (25... Rc8 $5 26. Qxc3 Qd6 (26... Qf6 27. g3 Nd6
28. Be3 $16) 27. g3 $16) 26. Qxc3 Bxa5 27. Qd3 Bc7 (27... Bb6 28. Bb3 Nb2 29.
Qc3 Qe2 30. Be3 $18) 28. Bb3 Qd6 29. g3 Ne5 30. Qb5 (30. Qe3 Qxd4 31. Rxa7 $36)
30... Nf3+ 31. Kg2 Rb8 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Qc4+ Kf6 34. Kxf3 $16) 24... Nxe3 25.
fxe3 Kg7 26. e4 f6 27. Qxc3 Rff7 28. Qb3 (28. Qb2 Qc4 29. Bb1 (29. Bb3 Rxb7 30.
axb7 Qb4 $11) 29... Bf4 30. Kf2 Rfd7 31. g3 Bc1 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. Rxb4 Bd2 $11 {
[%cal Yd2c3]}) (28. Qb3 Qxb3 29. Bxb3 Rxb7 30. axb7 Rxb7 $11) (28. Rxc7 Rxc7
29. Qb2 Qc4 30. Bd1 Qd3 $40) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2639"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. d3
e6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be7 14. d5 Nce5 15.
Nxe5 dxe5 16. Nf3 Rc8 17. b3 exd5 18. Qxd5 f6 19. Nh4 Nc5 20. Qxd8+ Rxd8 21.
Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Nd3 23. Bxd3 Rxd3 24. Be3 Ba3 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Ke7 27.
f4 exf4 28. Bxf4 Rc8 29. Rd2 Rc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4 (7. Qg4 $1)
7... Qc7 8. Nf3 h6 $5 {This is a good way for Black to avoid complexities of
the} (8... b6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bd3 $13) 9. Bd3 (9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. Bxa6
Nxa6 12. Qe2 Nb8 13. a5 bxa5 14. Qb5+ (14. dxc5 Nd7 15. Nd4 O-O 16. f4 Nxc5 17.
Qb5 Ne4 18. Qxa5 Qxa5 19. Rxa5 Nxc3 20. Ba3 Rfe8 21. Ra1 Rac8 22. Rxa7 Nc6 $17
{Tan,K-L'Ami,E/NED-ch B20 Schagen 2003/EXT 2004/0-1 (49)}) 14... Nd7 15. Qxa5
Qxa5 16. Rxa5 cxd4 (16... a6 $5) 17. cxd4 Nc6 18. Ra1 Nb6 19. Ba3 Nc4 20. Rfb1
Nxa3 21. Rxa3 O-O $11 {1/2-1/2 Serper,G-Yermolinsky,A/USA-ch Seattle 2000/ (22)
}) 9... b6 10. a5 (10. O-O Ba6 11. Nh4 (11. Re1 Bxd3 12. cxd3 Nd7 13. Ba3 O-O
14. Rc1 Rac8 15. Nh4 Rfe8 16. f4 Ng6 17. Nxg6 fxg6 18. c4 Qc6 19. dxc5 bxc5 20.
Qb3 d4 21. Qb5 Qc7 $11 {1/2-1/2 De Vreugt,D-L'Ami,E/Dieren op 2003 (24)}) 11...
Bxd3 12. cxd3 O-O 13. Qg4 Kh7 14. dxc5 Qxe5 15. cxb6 axb6 16. Rb1 Nd7 17. Nf3
Qf5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Borriss-Kindermann,S/BL 0102 2002 (40)}) 10... bxa5 11. O-O c4
$5 $146 ({Black experiences much more difficulties after} 11... Ba6 12. Ba3
Bxd3 13. cxd3 Nd7 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. c4 $1 dxc4 16. Rc1 Nb7 17. Rxc4 Qd7 18. Qc2
$36 {1-0 McDonald,N-Shaked,T/London GM 1997 (47)}) 12. Be2 O-O $13 13. Re1 Nbc6
14. Bf1 (14. Ba3 f6 15. Bd6 Qd7 $132) 14... f6 $1 {In my opinion Black has
solved his openings problems.} 15. Ba3 (15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Ba3 Bd7 {[%cal Ga8f8]
}) 15... fxe5 16. Bxe7 (16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Rf7 $11) 16... Qxe7 17. Nxe5
Nxe5 18. Rxe5 {[%csl Ra5]} Qc7 19. g3 (19. Be2 $5 {[%cal Ge2g4]}) 19... Bd7 {
[%cal Ga5a4]} 20. Bh3 Rf6 $15 21. Qc1 (21. Qe1 Qb6 22. Rb1 Qc6 {[%cal Ga5a4]})
21... a4 {Thanks to this small weak pawn Bareev keeps a clear advantage.} 22.
Qa3 Rb8 $1 {[%cal Gb8b6]} 23. f4 Rb6 24. Kf2 Qb8 25. Rae1 Qf8 $1 (25... g5) 26.
Qxf8+ (26. Qc1 a3 (26... g5 $5)) 26... Kxf8 {[%mdl 4096] The arisen endgame is
not safe for White.} 27. Ke3 g5 $1 (27... Ke7 28. Kd2 Kd6 29. Bg4 {[%cal Gh2h4]
} g5 $5) 28. Bg4 (28. fxg5 $5 hxg5 29. Bg4 Rb2) 28... gxf4+ 29. gxf4 Rb2 30. f5
$5 (30. Kd2 Rxf4 31. Bxe6 Bxe6 32. Rxe6 Rf2+ 33. R1e2 Rxe2+ 34. Rxe2 a3 35. Re6
a5 $1 $19) 30... exf5 31. Bf3 (31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Rf1 Rxc2 33. Rfxf5 Rxc3+ $19)
31... Rxc2 32. Kf4 Rxc3 33. Bh5 $6 ({Possibly White should have preferred} 33.
Bxd5 $5 Rd3 34. R5e3 Rb6 $5 {[%csl Ga4]} (34... Rxd4+ 35. Ke5 f4 36. Rc3))
33... Rh3 $1 34. Rxd5 (34. Be8 Rh4+ 35. Kg3 Rg4+ 36. Kf3 Bxe8 37. Rxe8+ Kg7 $19
) 34... Rh4+ 35. Kg3 Rxh5 36. Rxd7 f4+ $19 37. Kg4 (37. Kf3 Rxh2) 37... Rg5+ (
37... Rxh2 $5) 38. Kf3 Rf7 (38... Rb5 39. Rxa7 Rb3+ 40. Kg4 Re3 $19) 39. Rd8+ (
39. Rxf7+ Kxf7 40. Kxf4 a3 $19) 39... Kg7 40. Rc8 Rb5 41. Rxc4 Rb3+ 42. Kf2 a3
{[%csl Ga3,Gf4]} 43. Ra4 f3 44. Ra1 Rb2+ 45. Kg1 (45. Kf1 Rxh2) 45... Rg2+ 46.
Kh1 a2 47. Rg1 Kf8 48. Rxg2 f2 $1 (48... fxg2+ $2 49. Kxg2 $11) 49. Rg1 (49.
Rxf2 Rxf2 {[%cal Re2b2,Rf2b2]}) 49... f1=Q 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.23"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f4 b5 11. Bf3 Na5 12. Nxa5 Qxa5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 exf4
15. Bxf4 Bf5 16. Bg4 Bxg4 17. Qxg4 Qd8 18. c3 Bf6 19. a4 Qc7 20. Bg3 Be5 21.
Bxe5 dxe5 22. Qe2 Rab8 23. axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4
Nfd7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Nxa4 Nxa4 12. Rxa4 Be7 13. g5 $146 {Topalov
doesn't move his bishop from f1, since he hopes to win a6 pawn or use the
piece on c8-h3 diagonal.} (13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Bb7 15. Rfa1 Nd7 16. Nb3 Rb8 17.
Ba7 Rc8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bxa6 Ne5 20. Be2 f5 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Nc4 Qe8 {1/2-1/2
Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Kopavogur 2000/ (41)}) 13... O-O 14. h4 Bd7 $5 ({It seems
more natural to develop the bishop to b7, but the pawn e6 could have become
vulnerable.} 14... Bb7 15. h5 Nd7 16. g6 Nc5 17. Rb4 $5 a5 18. Rxb7 $1 Nxb7 19.
gxf7+ $44) 15. Ra1 Nc6 16. Rxa6 Qc7 $6 {It seems, that this move is inferior
to the direct} (16... Rxa6 17. Bxa6 Qa8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Be2 d5 $5 20. exd5
Bxd5 21. Kf2 (21. O-O $6 Qb8) 21... Rd8 22. Qc1 Qb7 $44 {Anand was not sure,
if the compensation would be sufficient.}) 17. Kf2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 e5 (18... Rxa6
19. Bxa6 Ra8 20. Bd3 e5 21. Be3 Be6 22. h5 $14) 19. Be3 Rxa6 20. Bxa6 f5 21.
gxf6 Bxf6 (21... gxf6 $6 22. Rg1+ Kf7 23. Ke1 $16) 22. Qd5+ Kh8 23. Bc4 (23.
Be2 $5 Qxc2 24. Qxd6 Rd8 25. Qb4 Be6 {when black pieces are very active.})
23... Be8 24. Be2 Bf7 25. Qd2 Bh5 (25... Qc6 $5 26. c4 Bxc4 $1 27. Qc3 (27. Rc1
Bxh4+ 28. Kg2 d5 $1 $17) 27... d5 28. exd5 Bxd5 29. Qxc6 Bxc6 30. b4 $14) 26.
b3 Qe7 27. Kg2 Qf7 (27... Bxh4 $4 28. Rxh4 $1 Qxh4 29. Bg5 $18) 28. Rh3 (28.
Qxd6 Be7 29. Qd1 Qg6+ 30. Kh3 (30. Kf2 $6 Qxe4) 30... Qf6 31. Bg5 Qe6+ 32. Kh2
h6 33. Be3 Qf6 $132) 28... Be7 29. b4 {It will not be easy to get far with the
b pawn, since it can not easily be supported by white pieces.} h6 30. b5 (30.
c4 Qf6 31. b5 Bf7 32. Rg3 $14) 30... Qg6+ 31. Kh2 Qe6 32. Qd3 (32. b6 Be8 33.
Qd5 $14) 32... Be8 $1 33. Qb3 Qc8 (33... Qxb3 $5 34. cxb3 Bd7 35. Rg3 Bxh4 36.
Rg1 Rb8 37. Ba7 Rb7 38. b6 Bf2 39. Ba6 Bxg1+ 40. Kxg1 Bc6 41. Bxb7 Bxb7 42. Bb8
d5 43. exd5 Bxd5 44. Kf2 e4 $11) 34. b6 Bf7 35. Qb1 $2 (35. Qb2 $1) 35... Qc3
$2 {[%mdl 64] Paying back with the faulty move himself, Anand misses ingenious
shot.} (35... Be6 $1 36. b7 Qc3 $3 37. Ba7 (37. b8=Q Qxe3 $1 $15) 37... Qd2 38.
Qd1 Qb4 $11) 36. Bd3 $1 Rb8 (36... d5 37. b7 Bd6 38. Qb6 Qa3 39. Bc1 Qc5 40.
Qxc5 Bxc5 41. exd5 Rb8 42. c4 Rxb7 43. f4 $16) 37. Qg1 $1 {Topalov has managed
to consolidate his position and now is ready to attack on the kingside.} Bc4 $6
38. Qg6 $1 Bxd3 39. Rg3 $1 Bf6 (39... Qxc2+ 40. Rg2 Qxg2+ 41. Kxg2 $18) 40.
cxd3 Rxb6 {Desperation, but the threat of 41.Bxh6 was otherwise unstoppable.} (
40... Qe1 41. Bxh6 Qf2+ 42. Kh3 Qf1+ 43. Kg4 Qf2 44. Bg5 Rf8 45. Kh3 Bxg5 46.
Qxg5 $18) 41. Bxb6 Qb2+ 42. Rg2 Qxb6 43. Rc2 Bd8 (43... Qd8 44. Qf5 $18) 44. h5
1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. d5 (5. Nc3 {/\} Bg4 (5...
Nf6 6. Be2 {-E91}) 6. d5 $14 (6. dxc5 dxc5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Be3 Bxc3+ (8...
Bxf3 9. gxf3 Bd4 10. O-O-O e5 11. Nb5 Kd7 12. f4 $36) 9. bxc3 b6 10. Ne5 Be6
11. O-O-O+ Ke8 12. Bd3 f6 13. Nf3 Nc6 14. e5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Rhe1 Nf6
17. Bg5 Kf7 18. Rxe5 Rhd8 19. h3 Rd6 20. Rde1 {Browne,W-Forintos,G/Wijk aan
Zee/1974/} Rxd3 21. Rxe6 Rd7 $14 {/~~})) 5... e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. exd5 {Timman
after a long tournament, which has not gone well for him, strives for simpler
play.} (7. cxd5 $142 {is the only principled continuation, transposing into
Benoni positions.} Nf6 {-A70} (7... Bg4 {-A43})) 7... Bg4 8. Be2 Ne7 $1 $13 {
One of the points of delaying the development of the Ng8. Now Black's N gets a
chance to get to f5 and potentially d4. After} (8... Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Bxf3
11. Bxf3 $14 {-E91 White transposes into a pleasant King's Indian line, the ^^
gives him a long-lasting pull.}) 9. O-O (9. Qb3 b6 (9... Nd7 $2 10. Qxb7 O-O
11. O-O Nf5 12. Bg5 Qb8 13. Qxd7 Qxb2 14. Nd2 Bxc3 15. Bxg4 Bxd2 16. Bxd2 Qxd2
17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Qxd6 $18 {Finegold,B-Ivanov,A/New York/1992/}) 10. Qa4+ (10.
O-O O-O {-9.0-0}) (10. Ne4 O-O {/\} 11. Bg5 f5 $1 $32 {|^}) 10... Nd7 11. O-O
O-O 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Ne5 $13 (13... Nf5 14. Bg4 Bxc3 $5 15. bxc3 Ne5 16.
Bxf5 gxf5 $13)) 9... O-O (9... Nd7 10. Nb5 (10. Ne4 Nf5 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3
O-O 13. Bg4 Nd4 $1 $13 {/\} 14. Nxd6 $2 f5 15. Bf3 Ne5 $17) 10... Nb6 11. Bf4
Nbc8 12. Qd2 O-O 13. a4 (13. Bh6) 13... Nf5 14. Ra3 a6 15. Nc3 Nb6 16. Qd3 Re8
17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd7 (18... Nd4 $142 $1 $15) 19. Bg4 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21.
Bxf5 gxf5 (21... Rxf5 22. f4 {[%csl Rf5] צf5}) 22. Ne2 Qf6 23. f4 Re4 24. Ng3
Qd4+ 25. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 26. Kh2 Ree8 27. Nxf5 Rad8 28. Rb3 {Ward,C-Ivanov,A/London/
1989/}) 10. Qb3 $146 {This Q sortie achieves no immediate and concrete
advantage and seems rather artificial.} (10. Bf4 Nf5 (10... Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nf5
12. Ne4 $14) 11. Ng5 $5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 h6 (12... Nd7 $142 $132) 13. Nge4 g5 14.
Qg4 $1 Ne7 15. Bxd6 f5 16. Qh3 fxe4 17. Nxe4 $44 {Elschner,A-Zielinska,M/
Bundesliga-W/2001/}) (10. Re1 Nf5 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Rb1 h6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. Qa4
Qd8 15. Qd1 Re8 16. b3 {Szeberenyi,A-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2004/} Bxf3 17. Bxf3
Nd4 $11) 10... b6 11. Ng5 (11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nf5 13. Ne2 $11) 11... Bxe2 12.
Nxe2 Nd7 13. Qh3 {Consistent with White's 10-th move, but the Q will find
nothing to do here, more to the point seems} (13. Ne4 $11) 13... Nf6 14. Bd2 $6
{Now Black wins tempi and starts fighting for the initiative.} (14. Nc3 $142 h6
(14... Re8 15. Nce4 Nexd5 16. cxd5 Nxe4 17. Qxh7+ Kf8 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Bh6
Bxh6 20. Rae1 $1 $36) 15. Nge4 $11) 14... h6 15. Nf3 g5 $1 16. Ne1 $8 (16. g4
Qd7 $17) 16... Ne4 (16... b5 17. cxb5 Nexd5 (17... Qd7 $5) 18. Nc3 $13) (16...
Re8 17. Qd3 {/\Bc3=}) 17. Bc1 (17. Rd1 $142 $5 $132) 17... f5 $32 {|^} 18. Qd3
Qd7 $15 {[%mdl 32] Topalov has achieved a promising position, which he
systematically improves after further inaccuracies from White.} 19. Rb1 (19. f3
Nf6 20. Nc2 f4 $15 (20... b5 $5 $36)) 19... Rae8 20. b3 Ng6 21. Bb2 $2 {
Natural, but allows Black to strengthen his grip on the position.} (21. f3 $142
Ne5 (21... Nf6 22. Bb2 $132) 22. Qc2 Nf6 23. Nd3 (23. Ng3 f4 24. Nf5 Nxd5 $1
25. Nxg7 Nb4 $17) (23. Bb2 f4 $15) 23... f4 $15) 21... Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Qg7 23.
Rc2 f4 {[%cal Rg5g4,Rf4f3] ()>>,/\g4,f3->} 24. Nc3 {Now Black takes full
control of the open <->e and increases his advantage in the _|_.} ({However,
White's position is already very unpleasant even after} 24. f3 Nf6 25. Qd1 Nh4
26. Rd2 Nf5 $17 {[%csl Re3][%cal Ge8e1] ><e3,<->e}) 24... Nxc3 25. Qxc3 $8 (25.
Rxc3 f3 $1 $40 {/\} 26. Nxf3 Nf4 27. Qd2 Qxc3 $19) 25... Qxc3 26. Rxc3 Re2 $17
{[%cal Ge8e1][%mdl 4096] <->e} 27. a3 Rfe8 28. Nd3 Rd2 (28... Kf7 {[%cal Ye2d2,
Ye8e4,Yf7f6,Yg6e5] /\Rd2,Kf6,Re4,Ne5 keeps both R on the board and was
possibly even better, White can hardly move.} 29. f3 $6 {[%cal Yf1f2] /\Rf2
runs into} Ra2 30. b4 Ree2 $19) (28... Ra2 29. b4 {/\} Ree2 $4 30. Nc1 $16) 29.
Re1 {Now White exchanges a pair of R, as now Black doesn't have Rd3. The _|_
however remains very difficult.} Rxe1+ 30. Nxe1 Ne5 31. h3 Kg7 32. Kf1 (32. Nf3
Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Nd3 $19) 32... Kf6 33. g4 (33. Nf3 Ra2 $17) 33... fxg3 $1 {
Black has to open the position to make progress.} 34. Rxg3 (34. fxg3 Rh2 35.
Nf3 Nxf3 $5 (35... Rxh3 36. Kg2 {[%csl Rh3] צh3}) 36. Rxf3+ Ke5 37. Re3+ Kd4
38. Re6 Rb2 $17) 34... Kf5 35. Re3 h5 36. a4 (36. Nf3 Rd3 $1 37. Rxd3 (37. Ke2
Rxe3+ 38. Kxe3 Nxf3 39. Kxf3 h4 $1 40. Ke3 (40. Ke2 Ke4 41. f3+ Kf4 42. Kf2 a6
43. b4 cxb4 44. axb4 Ke5 45. Ke3 a5 $19) 40... g4 (40... Ke5 $19) 41. hxg4+
Kxg4 42. Ke2 Kf4 $19) 37... Nxd3 38. Kg2 Kf4 $17 {/-+}) 36... Rb2 37. Ng2 (37.
Nf3 Ng6 $1 {[%cal Rg6f4] /\Nf4-/+}) 37... h4 $1 {[%csl Rh3] ><h3} 38. Rc3 (38.
Ne1 Ng6 (38... g4 $5 39. hxg4+ Kxg4 $19 {[%csl Gh4] o^h4}) 39. Ng2 Nf4 40. Nxf4
gxf4 41. Re6 Rxb3 42. Rxd6 Rb4 $19) 38... Ke4 39. Re3+ Kf5 40. Rc3 Rb1+ 41. Ke2
Rh1 42. Re3 a5 $22 (42... Ng6 $2 43. Re6 $1 $132 {[%cal Rg2e3] /\Ne3}) 43. Rc3
(43. Ne1 Ng6 44. Nd3 Nf4+ 45. Nxf4 gxf4 46. Re6 (46. Rc3 Ke4 {-see game}) 46...
Rxh3 47. Rxd6 Rxb3 $19) 43... Ng6 $1 44. Rf3+ Nf4+ 45. Nxf4 gxf4 $19 {_|_R,()}
46. Rc3 (46. Kd3 Rc1 47. Kd2 Ke4 $1 48. Rxf4+ (48. Rd3 Rd1+ $19) 48... Kxf4 49.
Kxc1 Kf3 $19) 46... Ke4 47. Kd2 Rb1 $22 48. f3+ (48. Kc2 Rf1 $19) (48. Rd3 Rd1+
$19) (48. Ke2 f3+ $1 49. Kd2 (49. Rxf3 Rb2+ $19) 49... Rf1 50. Re3+ Kf4 51. Re6
Rxf2+ 52. Kd3 (52. Ke1 Re2+ $1 $19) 52... Rb2 $19) 48... Kf5 {Now the Ph3 is
defenceless and the game is decided.} 49. Rc1 Rxb3 50. Re1 (50. Ke2 Rb2+ 51.
Kf1 Rb4 $19) 50... Rxf3 51. Re6 Rxh3 52. Rxd6 Re3 {Cuts off White's K, the
o^f4 will run.} 53. Rxb6 Re4 54. Kc3 (54. Kd3 Rd4+ 55. Ke2 (55. Kc3 f3 $19)
55... Rxc4 $19) 54... f3 55. Rb8 h3 56. Rf8+ Kg4 57. Kd3 (57. d6 Rd4 58. Rg8+
Kh4 59. Rh8+ Kg3 60. Rg8+ Kf2 $19) 57... Re1 (57... Re1 58. Rg8+ Kh4 59. Rh8+
Kg3 60. Rg8+ Kh2 61. Rf8 Kg2 62. Rg8+ Kh1 63. Rf8 h2 64. Rxf3 Kg2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Qc2
Qd8 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 b6 12. Rac1 Bb7 13. Rfd1 Bd6 14. Qe2 Qe7 15.
cxd5 exd5 16. Ba6 Nf6 17. Rc2 Rab8 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. g3 Rfe8 20. Qd3 Red8 21.
Kg2 Bf8 22. Qf5 c5 23. h4 Rd6 24. Ne5 Re6 25. Ne2 Bd6 26. Nd3 g6 27. Qf3 c4 28.
Ndf4 Bxf4 29. Nxf4 Rd6 30. b3 b5 31. Rb1 Qc8 32. Nd3 Rbb6 33. Nc5 Qe8 34. Qf4
h5 35. f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qb3
b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Rac1 Nc6 13. Nb5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7
15. Qe3 Nc5 16. Bb4 a5 17. Ba3 Qd7 18. Nd4 Rac8 19. f4 b5 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21. f5
Rxc1 22. Qxc1 exf5 23. Nxf5 g6 24. Nd4 Qd8 25. h4 b4 26. Qf4 f6 27. Bh3 fxe5
28. Qxe5 Bf6 29. Qe6+ Kh8 30. e3 Bg7 31. Rxf8+ Qxf8 32. Qd7 Bh6 33. Ne6 Qc8 34.
Qe7 d4 35. e4 Bxe4 36. Nc5 Qxh3 37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. Qe7+ Kg8 39. Qe8+ Bf8 40. Nxe4
Qf5 41. b3 d3 42. Qc6 Kh8 43. Kg2 h6 44. Qc4 Qd7 45. Nf6 Qg7 46. Ne4 Qb2+ 47.
Kf3 Qe2+ 48. Kf4 Bg7 49. Qc8+ Kh7 50. Qd7 Qf1+ 51. Ke3 Qe2+ 52. Kf4 Qf1+ 53.
Ke3 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Qf3 d5 16. cxd5 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Rb8 18. Rfd1 (18. Rad1 Rb6 19. Qd3 Qd7 20. g3
f5 21. Bg2 Rh6 22. f4 exf4 23. gxf4 Bxb2 24. Nc2 Bg7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Leko,
P-Radjabov,T/Linares 2004 (27)}) 18... Qh4 ({Later in the same tournament
Radjabov played differently:} 18... Qd7 19. d6 Rb6 20. Qd3 Rd8 21. Rac1 Bf8 22.
Qg3+ Bg7 $13 {0-1 Vallejo Pons,F-Radjabov,T/Linares 2004 (62)}) 19. g3 Qg5 20.
Qb3 Bg4 21. Bf3 f5 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23. d6+ Kh8 24. Qd5 {The queen is very strong
in the center. Black's only hope to create any real counterplay is connected
with the poor position of the knight on a3.} f4 (24... e4 25. Rd2 Rbd8 26. Rc1
{[%cal Gc1c7]} Qh3 27. Rc7 $16 f4 28. Qg5) 25. Nc2 Qg6 $6 26. Nb4 $16 Qg4 27.
Nc6 (27. Qe4 $1 {This seems most precise, not allowing ...f3 yet.} Qh3 28. Qg2
$16) (27. Nxa6 f3 28. Nxb8 Qh3 29. Qxf3 Rxf3 30. d7 Bf6 31. d8=Q+ Bxd8 32.
Rxd8+ Kg7 33. Rd7+ Rf7 $11) 27... f3 28. Nxe5 Qh5 29. Nxf3 $2 (29. Re1 Rbd8 30.
d7 Bxe5 {Black has chances to escape in the rook endgame, but White is clearly
better.}) 29... Qxf3 30. Qxf3 Rxf3 31. d7 Rd8 32. Rd2 (32. Rac1 Bxb2 33. Rc8
Rff8 34. Rc6 $11) 32... Kg8 33. Kg2 Rf5 34. Rc1 Kf7 35. f4 b4 (35... Rf6 36.
Kf3 Ke7 37. Rcd1 Rc6 38. Re2+ Re6 39. Red2 {and Black cannot improve.}) 36. Rc4
Rb5 37. Kf3 b3 38. Ra4 bxa2 39. Rxa6 Rxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Rg1 Rc8 14. Kb1 Qc7 15.
Qf2 Bd8 16. h4 g6 17. Qd2 Be7 18. Qh2 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Na4 b5 21. Nb6 Rb8
22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Qe2 fxg5 25. hxg5 Rf7 26. Nd2 Nf4 27. Bxf4 Rxf4
28. Rg3 Rh4 29. Qg2 Rh5 30. f4 exf4 31. Rc3 Qd7 32. a3 Rc8 33. Rcd3 Qe6 34. Nf3
Qxe4 35. R5d4 Qf5 36. Rd1 Bf8 37. Qd2 Rc4 38. Re1 Rh3 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Nd4 Qd5
41. Qxf4 Rh1 42. Rxh1 Qxh1+ 43. Ka2 Qd5 44. c3 Be7 45. Nf3 Qe6 46. Qd4 d5 47.
Qa7 Qd6 48. Qb7 a5 49. Qb5 Bd8 50. Qb7 Be7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2831"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bd2
Nhf6 (8... Qc7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Ndf6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne5 Rd8 13. Be3 g6 14.
Qf3 Nd5 15. Bc4 Nhf6 16. O-O Bg7 17. Rac1 O-O $11 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Magem
Badals,J/Pamplona 2000/CBM 75 (42). (42)}) 9. Qc2 Qc7 {Dies ist ein neuer Zug.
Die Vorgängerpartie ist nicht besonders representativ:} (9... g6 10. g4 Qc7 11.
g5 Nh5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 hxg5 14. Nexg5 Ng7 15. Bc4 e6 16. O-O-O Be7 17.
Bxe6 Nxe6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qxg6+ Kd8 20. Ng5 Nf8 21. Nf7+ Kd7 22. Qe4 {
1/2-1/2 Lisko,F-Maros,M/SVK 2001/EXT 2002 (22).}) 10. e4 dxe4 (10... e5 {
kommt auch in Betracht:} 11. exd5 cxd5 12. b4 e4 13. Ng1 Nb8 {mit unklarer
Lage. Der Textzug ist einfacher und sicherer.}) 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nf6 13.
Qc2 Be6 14. Bd3 Nd7 (14... Bd5 {sieht gut genug aus.}) 15. O-O Bd5 16. Rfe1 e6
17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Be7 $11 19. Rac1 O-O 20. Qa4 f5 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Qg4 Be5
(22... Bxb2 23. Qg6 Rf6 (23... Bxc1 24. Qh7+ Kf7 25. Bg6+ Kf6 26. Bc3+ e5 27.
Bh5 Bf7 28. Qe4 {sieht für Schwarz nicht gut aus.}) 24. Qh7+ Kf7 25. Be2 Rg8
26. Bh5+ Kf8 27. Rc2 {führt zu einer recht unklaren Lage.}) 23. h3 (23. Bxh6
Bxh2+ 24. Kf1 Qg3 25. Qxg3 Bxg3 26. Be3 Bxa2 27. Bc4 {führt zu ähnlichen
Stellungsbildern wie in der Partie, nur daß beiderseits die h-Bauern vom Brett
verschwunden sind. Einen großen Unterschied dürfte dies nicht bedeuten.}) 23...
Bh2+ 24. Kf1 Qg3 {Jetzt muß Schwarz die Damen tauschen, denn sonst bekommt
Weiß Angriff.} 25. Qxg3 Bxg3 26. Re2 Bxa2 27. Bc4 Bxc4 28. Rxc4 Rad8 29. Be1
Rf6 30. Rce4 Rd5 (30... Kf7 31. R2e3 Bb8 32. Rb3 Rd7 33. Reb4 {ist nicht
erstrebenswert für Schwarz.}) 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 Be5 33. Re7 Rxc5 34. Rxb7
Rc1 35. Rb6 a5 36. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. O-O-O h5 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 g6 (12... Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6
14. Na5 (14. Kb1 g6 15. Bd3 Bh6 16. Qe1 (16. Qe2 O-O 17. h4 b4 18. g4 Be3 19.
Nd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 Nxd5 21. Ka1 Qe3 22. Be4 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Ne3 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 25.
Re1 {1-0 Seps,M-Kradolfer,C/Scuol 2001/ (45)}) 16... O-O 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Rhe1
a5 19. a3 Rfb8 20. Nd2 Bxd2 21. Rxd2 Qc5 22. Qf2 Qxf2 23. Rxf2 Ra7 24. Rd2 Rc7
25. Be2 Nd7 26. Bd1 Nc5 27. b3 f5 {0-1 Sanchez,J-Chiong,L/Quezon City 1999/ 
(67)}) 14... Rc8 15. Kb1 Rc5 16. c4 bxc4 17. Nxc4 Qb7 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Ne3 g6
20. Rc1 Nd7 {1-0 Leyva,R-Quesada,R/Holguin 1999/ (39)}) 13. Kb1 Nb6 $6 {
Topalov will learn to regret this standard move, since Kramnik comes out with
a strong new idea.} (13... Bg7 14. Na5 Qc7 15. Nc6 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Bd3
Rc8 18. Be4 $14) 14. Qc3 $1 Be7 (14... Rc8 15. Bxb6 $18) (14... Nbxd5 15. Rxd5
$1 Rc8 16. Qd2 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Bh6 18. Bxh6 Rxh6 19. Bd3 $16) 15. Qc6+ Nbd7 16.
Bb6 $3 {[%mdl 64] The situation is geting more serious, since tactics works
miraculously for white.} Qxb6 (16... Qc8 17. Bc7 Ra7 (17... O-O 18. Bxd6 Bxd6
19. Qxd6 Rd8 20. Na5 $16) 18. Bxd6 Qxc6 19. dxc6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Ke7 21. Rxd7+
Nxd7 22. cxd7 Rxd7 23. Be2 $16) 17. Qxa8+ Nb8 (17... Bd8 18. Qc6 $18) 18. Na5
$1 Nfd7 (18... O-O 19. Nc6 Nxd5 20. Nxb8 Nc7 21. Qc6 $16) 19. Nc6 Bg5 20. Qa7
Nxc6 (20... Qxa7 21. Nxa7 Nb6 22. Nc6 $16) 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. dxc6 Ke7 23. Rd3
Rc8 $2 {Serious innacuracy drags black into difficult position, much stronger
move 23...Nc4! promised chances for survival.} (23... d5 24. Ra3 Ra8 25. c7 $1
Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 Rxa6 27. Bxb5+ Kxc7 28. Bxa6 $18) (23... Nc4 $1 24. g3 Rc8 25.
f4 exf4 26. Bg2 Ne5 27. Re1 h4 $14) 24. Ra3 Na4 (24... Rxc6 25. Rxa6 $18) (
24... Ra8 25. c7 Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 $18) 25. c4 $1 Rxc6 26. Be2 (26. cxb5 $4 Rc1#)
26... Rb6 27. cxb5 axb5 28. Bxb5 $1 {Kramnik is ruthless in the endgame and
black notices with horror that knight on b2 would be trapped.} Rxb5 (28... Nxb2
$2 29. Rb3 $1 $18) 29. Rxa4 f5 30. Rd1 Be3 (30... d5 31. Ra7+ Ke6 32. Ra6+ Kf7
33. a4 $18) 31. a3 d5 (31... Bd4 32. b4 g5 33. Ra8 $18) 32. b4 d4 33. Ra5 $1
Rxa5 34. bxa5 Kd6 35. Kc2 e4 (35... Kc5 36. Rb1 e4 37. a6 d3+ 38. Kd1 Kc6 39.
Rb7 $18) 36. fxe4 fxe4 37. Re1 $1 {There is no defense against transfer into
pawn ending.} (37. Re1 $1 Kc5 38. Rxe3 dxe3 39. Kd1 Kb5 40. Ke2 Kxa5 41. Kxe3
$18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Cifuentes Parada,L"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. Bxb5
Bd7 15. exf5 O-O 16. Qg4 $5 (16. O-O Re8 17. Qf3 e4 18. Qg3 Kh8 19. Qxd6 Be5
20. Qh6 Bxf5 21. Nf4 Bd7 22. Rad1 Rc8 23. Rd5 Qc7 24. g3 Rg8 25. Rfd1 Bg4 26.
Be2 Bf5 27. Rc5 f6 28. Bb5 Qb6 29. b4 e3 30. fxe3 Be4 31. Nd5 Qb8 32. Nxf6 Bxg3
33. Nxe4 Bf4+ 34. Ng5 Bxg5 35. Qe6 Bxe3+ 36. Kh1 Bxc5 37. Bxc6 Rg6 38. Qf7
Rcxc6 39. bxc5 Rcf6 40. Qd5 Qc7 {0-1 Karjakin,S-McShane,L/Pamplona 2003}) 16...
Nb8 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16... Kh8 17. Qe4 Rb8 18. a4 f6 (18... Ne7 $2 19. f6 $1
) 19. O-O Ne7 20. Nxe7 (20. Bxd7 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Qxd7 22. b4 Rfc8 23. Qd3 d5 24.
Rfd1 Bf8 25. Qxd5 Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Rxc3 27. b5 Bc5 $15) 20... Qxe7 21. c4 Rfc8 (
21... d5 $5 22. Qxd5 Bxf5 23. c5 Be6 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. cxd6 Rfd8 26. Rfd1 Bf8
27. d7 Kg7 $17) 22. Rfd1 Be8 23. b3 Bf7 24. Rd3 Bf8 25. a5 $2 d5 $1 $19 26.
Rxd5 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 Rd8 28. Qe6 Kg7 29. a6 Qa7 30. Bc6 Rd6 {0-1 Gómez Esteban,
M-Cifuentes,R/Durango activo (20 min.) 2004}) (16... Ne7 $2 17. Nf6+ $18) 17.
O-O h5 (17... Bxb5 $4 18. f6 $18) 18. Qf3 Qg5 (18... Bxb5 $5 19. f6 Kh7 $8 {'!'
} (19... Bh6 20. Ne7+ Kh7 21. Qf5+ (21. Qxa8) 21... Kh8 22. Qxh5 Kh7 23. Rfd1
Ra6 (23... Nd7 $2 24. Rxd6) 24. g4 Be2 (24... Rg8 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Ng6+ Rxg6
27. Qxg6 Qf8 28. g5 $16) 25. Rd3 $1 Bxg4 (25... Bxd3 26. g5 $18) 26. Qxg4 Rg8
27. Nxg8 Qxg8 28. Qxg8+ Kxg8 29. a4 $16) (19... Bxf1 20. Qg3 $18) (19... Bxf6
20. Nxf6+ Kg7 21. Nxh5+ Kh6 22. Qxa8 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Kxh5 24. Rd1 $16) 20. Qf5+ (
20. Qxh5+ Bh6 21. Qf5+ Kh8 (21... Kg8 22. Ne7+ Kh8 23. Qh5 Kh7)) 20... Kh6 21.
g4 (21. h4 Rg8) 21... Bxf6 $1 (21... hxg4 $2 22. fxg7 Kxg7 23. Qxg4+ Kh6 24.
Qh3+ Kg6 (24... Kg7 25. Kh1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Qg5 27. Rg1 Qxg1+ 28. Kxg1 $18) 25.
Kh1 $1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 $18) 22. Nxf6 Rh8 23. Qxh5+ Kg7 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Nh7+ Ke8
26. Nf6+ Kf8 27. Nh7+ $11) 19. a4 (19. Bd3 Ra5 $1 20. f6 Rxd5 21. Qxd5 Bc6 22.
f4 Qxf6 $13) 19... Ra7 $6 (19... Bxb5 $142 20. axb5 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Nd7 22. Qg3
Qxg3 23. hxg3 Rb8 24. Ra6 Rxb5 25. Rxd6 Rb7 26. b4 e4 $132) 20. Qe3 $1 Qxe3 21.
fxe3 Bh6 22. e4 Bg5 23. b4 Bxb5 24. axb5 Rb7 25. f6 (25. Rf3 $5 Kh7 (25... Rxb5
$2 26. Rg3 $18) 26. c4 Rc8 27. Rc3 Nd7 28. Kf2 (28. Ra6 Nf6 29. Nxf6+ Bxf6 30.
Rxd6 Be7 31. Rc6 Bxb4 32. Rxc8 Bxc3 $11) 28... Nf6 29. Nxf6+ Bxf6 30. Raa3 {
/\Ke2-d3} Be7 $1 (30... d5 $6 31. exd5 e4 32. c5 $1 (32. Rc2 Rxb5) 32... Bxc3
33. Rxc3 Rxb5 34. d6 Rxb4 35. d7 Rd8 36. c6 Rd4 37. Ke3 R4xd7 38. cxd7 Rxd7 39.
Kxe4 $16) 31. Ke2 d5 $1) 25... Kh7 26. Ra5 (26. Rf5 Kh6 27. h4 Bxh4 28. g4 Bg5
$1 (28... hxg4 $2 29. Kg2 $1 Kg6 30. Rh1 Bg5 31. Kg3 $1 Re8 32. Kxg4 Bh6 33.
Kf3 Bd2 34. Rh2 Bc1 35. Rg2+ Kh6 36. Rg7 $1 Nd7 37. Rg1 Bf4 38. Ne7 $18)) 26...
Nd7 27. Ra6 Nb6 $5 28. Rd1 (28. Rxb6 Rxb6 29. Rf5 $5 Bd2 30. Rxh5+ Kg6 31. Rf5
Rb7 32. Ne7+ Rxe7 (32... Kh6 $2 33. g4 $1) 33. fxe7 Re8 34. Rf3 Bg5 $1) 28...
Nc4 29. Rc6 Ne3 30. Rd3 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Ra8 32. Ra6 (32. Rcxd6 Kg6 33. Rc6 Ra2
$132) 32... Rc8 33. Rc6 Ra8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 $5 {This natural advance is rather
unusual. The reason for this is probably the highly acclaimed notion that
White should keep the pressure against e5 in the Closed Ruy Lopez - waiting to
see if dxe5, d5 or just waiting yet another move is the best continuation. The
strategy of keeping all options in the centre has the disadvantage that it
gives Black quite a few choices as well, like taking on d4.} Nc4 {The most
popular move at this point. Black avoids the a5-b7-d8-f7 route for his N.} 13.
b3 Nb6 14. a4 Bd7 15. a5 Nc8 16. c4 {[%mdl 8] Remarkably a novelty. Garry the
great has played b4 at this point. I guess one reason for prefering b4 over c4
is to protect a5, thereby freeing Ra1 for action on the K-side. c4 on the
other hand gives added support to d5 - which can be useful later on if Black
tries to free himself with f7-f5 at some point.} (16. b4 c4 17. Nbd2 Bd8 (17...
g6 18. Nf1 Nh5 19. Bh6 Re8 (19... Ng7 20. Ng3 Bd8 21. Qd2 Kh8 22. Rad1 f6 23.
Nh2 Ne7 {1/2-1/2 Reutsky,S-Farakhov,R/Fakel Jamala, Noyabrsk RUS 2003 (23)})
20. Qd2 Bf8 21. Ng3 $5 Nxg3 22. fxg3 Ne7 23. Rf1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Ivanchuk,V/Prague 2002/CBM 89/[Wedberg] (45)}) 18. Nf1 Ne8 19. g4 Ne7 20. Ng3
Kh8 21. Kh2 Ng8 22. Rg1 g6 23. Be3 Ng7 24. Nd2 Bf6 25. Qf3 {1/2-1/2 Fressinet,
L-Sokolov,I/Selfoss 2003/CBM 98 no vc (25)}) 16... g6 {Open b-file with bxc4
or closed Q-side with b4? Black decides to wait with that decision.} 17. Nc3
Nh5 18. Ne2 Re8 (18... f5 {Logical from a structural point of view, but
Black´s pieces are badly placed to support this type of aggression. Still as a
bid for more space it could be the best option in a cramped situation.} 19. Bh6
Ng7 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Ng5 $36) 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. g4 $1 {White gains even more
space and prepares to go for the black K.} Ng7 21. Ng3 f6 22. Nh2 $1 {[%csl
Rc8,Rg7][%cal Yf2f4] This is a nice idea. White sees that f4 might be a good
option since both Black´s N:s are light years away from e5.} Re7 23. h4 Rf7 24.
f4 {[%cal Yf4f5,Yg4g5,Yh4h5] Threatening to overwhelm Black with f5, g5 and h5.
} exf4 25. Bxf4 Qd8 26. Rf1 Qe7 27. h5 Ne8 28. Bd3 $1 {[%cal Ya2f2] White
finds simple moves to increase the pressure, while Black struggles to find any
squares at all for his pieces.} Bg7 29. Kg2 Qf8 30. Qc1 bxc4 {Black hopes to
create some counterplay on the Q-side, but again he has no pieces to attack
with.} 31. bxc4 Rb8 32. Raf2 Rb3 33. Rf3 Ne7 34. Bd2 Bc8 35. Qc2 Rb8 {End of
counterplay.} 36. Kh1 gxh5 {This looks really ugly. But waiting to see how
White was going to open the black position wasn´t very nice either.} (36... Bh6
37. Bc3 Rb7 38. e5 $1 $16) 37. Nxh5 Ng6 {One more move (Ne5) and Black would
have something resembling a position.} 38. e5 $3 {[%mdl 144] This line opening
move cuts through Black´s plans.} dxe5 (38... Nxe5 39. Bxh7+ Kh8 40. Rh3 $18)
39. Bxg6 hxg6 40. Qxg6 e4 41. Rh3 Rfb7 (41... f5 42. Nxg7 Rxg7 43. Qh5 Nf6 44.
Qh8+ Kf7 45. Qxf8+ Kxf8 46. Bh6 $18) 42. Nf4 Rb1 43. Qh7+ Kf7 44. Qh5+ Kg8 45.
Ng6 (45. Ng6 Qd6 46. Bf4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O b5 {Dieser direkte
Zug ist ein seltener Gast in der Großmeisterpraxis. Gewöhnlich spielt Schwarz
6...Nc6.} 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. e4 (8. a4 Bb7 9. e4 Nf6 {Das ist nur Zugumstellung zur
Partiefortsetzung.}) 8... Nf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nc3 c6
13. Bf4 {[%mdl 4] Dieser Läuferzug wird relativ selten gespielt. Die
Alternativen - 13.Bg5 und besonders 13.d5!? - kommen auch in Betracht.} (13.
Bg5 Be7 14. Qa1 Bb7 15. Qa7 Qc8 16. d5 O-O 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Bh3 $44) (13. d5
$5 Be7 (13... cxd5 14. Nxb5 Qa5 15. Nc3 Bb4 16. exd5 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Bxd5 18.
Bxd5 exd5 19. Nxc4 $1 Qxc3 20. Nd6+ $40) 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Qe2 O-O 16. Bh3 $44)
13... Be7 14. Qa1 $44 {[%csl Ga1][%cal Ga1a7] Weiß hat einen Bauern weniger,
aber sein Bauernzentrum ist stark und Schwarz hat einige Entwicklungsprobleme.
Der Damezug ist ein typisches Motiv in dieser Variante - Weiß besetzt die
a-Linie und im Falle von Bb7 muss Schwarz immer mit Qa7 rechnen.} Nbd7 (14...
Bb7 $2 15. Qa7 Qc8 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Bxb8 $14) 15. d5 {[%mdl 512] Weiß opfert
einen weiteren Bauern. Dieser Zentrumsdurchbruch ist typisch in dieser
Variante - Weiß hat Entwicklungsvorteil und er öffnet die Stellung.} (15. Qa7
O-O 16. Ra1 $44) 15... Nxe5 (15... exd5 16. Nxc6 (16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. exd5 cxd5
18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 O-O 20. Rd1 $44) 16... Bxc6 17. exd5 Bb7 18. d6 Bxg2 19.
Kxg2 O-O 20. dxe7 Qxe7 21. Nxb5 $11) 16. Bxe5 cxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 (17... Nxd5
18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. Bd4 $44) 18. Bxf6 (18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Re1+ Kf8
21. Bxd5 g6 $11) 18... Bxf6 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Re1+ {[%csl Re8][%cal Re1e8]
Weiß hat schon zwei Bauern weniger, aber der gegnerische König steht schlecht
in der Mitte.} Kf8 21. Qa3+ (21. Nxd5 g6 (21... Qxd5 $4 22. Qa3+ $18) 22. Qa6
Kg7 (22... Qxd5 23. Qxf6 Rg8 24. Re7 Qd1+ (24... b4 $2 25. Rc7 $16) 25. Kg2
Qd5+ 26. Kg1 Qd1+ $11) 23. Qxb5 Qb8 24. Qxc4 Qxb2 $11) 21... Be7 (21... Kg8 $2
22. Nxd5 h6 23. Qc5 Kh7 24. Qxb5 $16) 22. Qa7 {[%csl Ga7,Gc3,Ge1] Alle weißen
Figuren stehen aktiv, was ausreichende Kompensation für das geopferte Material
bedeutet.} g6 {[%cal Ge7f6,Gf8g7] Schwarz muss die Entwicklung beenden.} (22...
d4 23. Nd5 Bd6 (23... Qxd5 $4 24. Qxe7+ $18) 24. Qxd4 $36) 23. Nxb5 $11 (23.
Nxd5 Qxd5 24. Qxe7+ (24. Rxe7 Kg7 25. Rd7 Qe6 26. Qd4+ Qf6 27. Qxf6+ Kxf6 28.
Rb7 $11) 24... Kg7 $17) 23... d4 {Schwarz gibt den Plusbauern zurück, wonach
die Stellung gleich wird.} (23... d4 24. Qxd4 (24. Nxd4 Bf6 $15) 24... Qxd4 25.
Nxd4 Bf6 26. Re4 Kg7 27. Nc6 Bxb2 28. Rxc4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.03"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 h6 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Be6 14. Rae1 Kh7
15. Kh1 Nh5 16. Bg3 Bh4 17. Rg1 Nxg3+ 18. hxg3 Bf6 19. Kg2 Qa5 20. Re2 Bxc3 21.
Qxc3 Qxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.04"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2831"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. c3 Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 15.
d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Nf1 Bf6 18. d5 Ncb8 19. h4 Nc5 20. Ng3 Bc8 21. Ng5 h6
22. Nh5 Be7 23. Nh3 Qa2 24. Re3 g6 25. Rg3 Nbd7 26. Bxh6 Bxh4 27. Rg4 Be7 28.
Bg5 Bxg5 29. Nxg5 f5 30. exf5 gxh5 31. Rg3 Nf6 32. Ne6+ (32. Ne4+ Ng4 (32...
Kf7 33. Nxf6 Kxf6 34. Qxh5 e4 35. f4 Qxd5 (35... Qxc2 36. Rg6+ Ke7 37. Rg7+ Kd8
38. Qg5+ $18) 36. Rg6+ Ke7 37. Rg7+ $18) 33. Rxg4+ hxg4 34. Qxg4+ Kf7 35. Qg6+
Ke7 36. Qg7+ Ke8 37. f6 Rf7 38. Qg8+ Rf8 39. Nxd6+ cxd6 40. Bg6+ $18) 32... Kf7
33. Rg7+ Ke8 34. Nxc7+ Kd8 35. Ne6+ Ke8 36. Nc7+ Kd8 37. Ne6+ Ke8 38. Nc7+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.05"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 h6 14. gxh5 hxg5 15.
Bxg5 Qxh3 16. Qg2 Qxg2+ 17. Kxg2 Nxc2 18. Rac1 Nd4 19. h6 Rae8 20. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A67"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+
Nfd7 9. Bd3 Qh4+ 10. g3 Qe7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O Nb6 13. Kg2 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3+
15. Qxf3 N8d7 16. Be3 c4 17. Bc2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Nc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. e5 f5 21.
e6 Nc8 22. g4 Qh4 23. gxf5 gxf5 24. Kh2 Ne7 25. Rg1 Kh8 26. Ne2 Bh6 27. b4 cxb3
28. Bxb3 Ng6 29. Qg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kxg3 b5 31. Rc1 Rfc8 32. Rxc5 Rxc5 33. Kf3 Kg7
34. h4 Kf6 35. h5 Nxf4 36. Nxf4 Rc3+ 37. Kf2 Bxf4 38. Rg8 Rc7 39. a4 b4 40. a5
Bg5 41. Rb8 Ke5 42. Rxb4 Bd2 43. Rb5 a6 44. Rb6 Bxa5 45. Rxa6 Bd2 46. Ra8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Na5 10. Nb3 d5 11. Bf4 Nxb3+ 12. cxb3 Qa5 13. e5 Nd7 14. a3 Be7
15. Kb1 b5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Ne2 Nb6 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. b3 O-O 20. Ka2 Qb8 21. Rc1
Qa7 22. Be3 Rac8 23. Bd3 Qb8 24. f4 Rfd8 25. Qf2 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Rc8 27. Rxc8+
Nxc8 28. Qc2 h6 29. Nc6 Qb7 30. Nxe7+ Nxe7 31. Qc5 Nf5 32. Bd4 Qc6 33. Kb2 Qxc5
34. Bxc5 Bc6 35. a4 h5 36. g3 f6 37. exf6 gxf6 38. Bxf5 exf5 39. a5 Kf7 40. Kc3
Ke6 41. Kd4 Be8 42. Ke3 Kf7 43. Bb6 Ke6 44. Kd4 Kd6 45. Bd8 Ke6 46. Kc5 Bd7 47.
Bb6 Be8 48. Ba7 d4 49. Kxd4 Kd6 50. Bc5+ Kc6 51. Be7 Bf7 52. Bxf6 Kd6 53. Be5+
Kc6 54. Bg7 Bxb3 55. Ke5 Bc2 56. Kf6 Kd7 57. Kg5 Bd1 58. Kxf5 Bg4+ 59. Kg5 Ke6
60. f5+ Kf7 61. Bd4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Bf5 9. Qe1 Bb4 10. Qe3 O-O 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Re8 13. Bxf5 Rxe3 14.
fxe3 Ne7 15. Bd3 f6 16. e4 Kh8 17. e5 c5 18. exf6 gxf6 19. a3 Ba5 20. dxc5 Bc7
21. b4 Nc6 22. Bb2 Ne5 23. Be4 Nxf3+ 24. Bxf3 Rb8 25. Bxb7 Bxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Qc7+
27. Kg1 Qxb7 28. Rxf6 Kg8 29. Raf1 Rd8 30. R1f3 Qc7 31. R6f4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11. Nge2 Bf5 12. Be5 O-O 13. Nd4 Re8 14. Bxb8 Bg6
15. Bc7 Qxc7 16. Bd3 Bxc5 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. O-O-O Rac8 19. Kb1 Red8 20. Nb3 Be7
21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. h3 Bf6 23. Ne2 Qb6 24. Rd1 Rd3 25. Nec1 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 h5 27.
Ne2 Qb5 28. Ned4 Qc4 29. Qe2 Qxe2 30. Nxe2 h4 31. Kc2 Bf5 32. Nd2 Kg7 33. Nc3
Be5 34. Ncxe4 Kg6 35. f3 b6 36. b3 Bc8 37. Nf2 Bg3 38. Nd3 f5 39. e4 Bh2 40.
exf5+ Kxf5 41. Ne4 Bb7 42. Nc3 Bb8 43. Nb5 a6 44. Nd4+ Kf6 45. Nf2 Ke5 46. Kd3
Kf6 47. Ng4+ Kg6 48. a4 Bd5 49. Ne3 Bg8 50. Ke4 Bd6 51. Nef5 Ba3 52. Ne3 Bc5
53. Nd5 a5 54. Ke5 Bxd4+ 55. Kxd4 Be6 56. Ke5 Bf7 57. f4 gxf4 58. Nxf4+ Kg5 59.
Ne6+ Kg6 60. Nd4 Kg5 61. Ke4 Bg8 62. Ke5 Bf7 63. Ne6+ Kg6 64. Nf4+ Kg5 65. Nd5
Bg8 66. Kd6 Bf7 67. Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. d3 Be7 8. a3
O-O 9. Nbd2 a5 10. b3 Be6 11. Qc2 f6 12. Ne4 Qd7 13. Be3 Nd5 14. Bc5 b6 15.
Bxe7 Ndxe7 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. Ned2 Bd5 18. e3 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 Kh8 20. Qb2 Be6 21.
Bf1 Bg4 22. Re1 Qf5 23. Nh4 Qd7 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Nd5 26. b5 Na5 27. Nhf3
Qe7 28. Rb1 c5 29. bxc6 Nxc6 30. Rec1 Ndb4 31. Ne1 Bf5 32. Rc3 Nd5 33. Rb3 Na5
34. Ra3 Be6 35. e4 Nc7 36. Rc3 Rb8 37. Rcc1 Bg8 38. Nef3 Ne6 39. Qb4 Nc5 40.
Qb5 Bf7 41. Rc3 Be8 42. Qb4 Nc6 43. Qa3 Ra8 44. Qc1 Rab8 45. h3 Qd6 46. Nc4 Qc7
47. Nxb6 Nxe4 48. dxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Qe2 d6 7. Be3 Nf6 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. O-O-O Re8 10. f3 Ne5 11. Qd2 Be6 12. Be2 Bc4 13. g4 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 c6
15. g5 Nh5 16. f4 Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Nc4 18. Qf3 g6 19. Ng3 Ng7 20. h4 a5 21. h5 Qb6
22. Qc3 Qb4 23. Rd3 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 d5 25. Nd4 Ne6 26. exd5 cxd5 27. Nge2 Nxd4
28. Nxd4 Re4 29. Nb5 Rxf4 30. Nc7 Rd8 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. Rch3 Kf8 33. Ne6+ fxe6
34. Rh8+ Ke7 35. R1h7+ Kd6 36. Rxd8+ Ke5 37. Rh1 Ne3 38. Re1 Ke4 39. Rd6 e5 40.
Rxg6 Rf2 41. c3 Rc2+ 42. Kb1 Rg2 43. Rg8 Kd3 44. g6 d4 45. cxd4 exd4 46. g7 Kd2
47. Rc1 d3 48. Rf8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1
c6 9. e4 d5 10. Bd3 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bc3 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Qe2 Bb7 16. O-O h6 17. b4 Be7 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Be4 Bxe4 21.
Qxe4 a5 22. b5 Qc5 23. Nd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Ra7 25. Rcd1 Rc7 26. Rd8 Rc8 27. Rxf8+
Rxf8 28. Rd7 g6 29. Kg2 h5 30. h4 Rc8 31. Qb7 Qxc4 32. Rxf7 Qd5+ 33. Qxd5 exd5
34. Rf6 Kg7 35. Rc6 Re8 36. Rxb6 Re2 37. Rb7+ Kh6 38. a3 Ra2 39. Rd7 Rxa3 40.
Rxd5 Rb3 41. f3 a4 42. Rd4 a3 43. Ra4 Rb2+ 44. Kh3 Rxb5 45. Rxa3 Rb2 46. Ra7
Rf2 47. Rf7 Ra2 48. g4 hxg4+ 49. fxg4 Ra3+ 50. Kg2 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Ne7 11. Ne4 b6 12. b3 Bd7 13. Bb2 c5 14. Ng3 Be6
15. Nh5 g5 16. Nd2 Ng6 17. c4 Kd7 18. Ne4 Kc6 19. g4 a6 20. a4 Rd8 21. Rfd1 Be7
22. f3 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 b5 24. axb5+ axb5 25. Ng7 bxc4 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. bxc4 Rb8
28. Bc3 Nf4 29. Kf2 Nxh3+ 30. Ke3 Nf4 31. Rh1 Bf8 32. Ra1 Rd8 33. Nf2 Bg7 34.
Ra6+ Kb7 35. Ra5 Kb6 36. Ra2 Ng2+ 37. Ke2 Rf8 38. Ne4 Nh4 39. Rb2+ Kc6 40. Ra2
Kb6 41. Rb2+ Kc6 42. Ra2 Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nd5 8.
g3 e5 9. Bg2 exd4 10. Qxd4 Qf6 11. Qxf6 N7xf6 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Ne3 Bb4+ 14.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Be4 16. Bf3 O-O-O 17. Rhd1 d4 18. Ng4 Bxf3 19. exf3 Nd7 20.
f4 f6 21. f3 Kb8 22. Nf2 Rhe8 23. Re1 Nc5 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Ra3 Re3 26. Nd3 Na6
27. a5 Kc7 28. Ra1 Kd6 29. Rc1 Rxf3 30. Rc8 Kd5 31. b4 b6 32. Ra8 Kc4 33. Ne1
Rf2+ 34. Kd1 Nxb4 35. Rxa7 bxa5 36. Rxa5 d3 37. Ra7 Nd5 38. Ra4+ Kb3 39. Rd4
Nc3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Bb6 11. h3 Ne7 12. Re1 Ng6 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ng3 Re8 15. d4
Bb7 16. Bc2 d5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qxh6
Rxe5 22. Be3 Qf6 23. Bxb6 Qxb6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Qf4 Rbe8 26. Re3 Kg7 27. Rd1
Bd5 28. h4 b4 29. Rde1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.04.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bg2 d5 10. Ne5 Na6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O c5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd3 Qd7 15.
Na4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Ne4 17. Nf4 Bf8 18. Nc3 Rad8 19. e3 Nb4 20. Bh3 Qe7 21. Nb5
Nc6 22. Bb2 d4 23. Nxd4 Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Qxe3 25. Bg2 Nxd4 26. Bxb7 Bc5 27. b4
Ne2+ 28. Qxe2 Qxf2+ 29. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rd2+ 31. Kf3 Rxb2 32. Bd5 Kf8 33.
Bb3 Rxh2 34. Nd5 Rh5 35. g4 Rh3+ 36. Kg2 Rd3 37. Rc7 Rd8 38. Nf4 R3d7 39. Rc6
Rd6 40. Rc7 R6d7 41. Rc6 Rd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Qh5 O-O 14. O-O f4
15. Rfd1 Rb8 16. Nc2 Qd7 17. Qh4 f5 18. Ncb4 Nxb4 19. Nxb4 Bf6 20. Qh5 a5 21.
exf5 Bf7 22. Qh6 Bg7 23. Qh4 axb4 24. f6 Bg6 25. fxg7 Kxg7 26. cxb4 Rbc8 27.
Qg5 Qe6 28. Be4 Rf6 29. Bd5 Qd7 30. Rac1 h6 31. Qh4 Bc2 32. Re1 Bd3 33. h3 Rxc1
34. Rxc1 e4 35. b3 Qf5 36. Rc7+ Kf8 37. a4 e3 38. fxe3 fxe3 39. Bf3 e2 40. Rc1
bxa4 41. bxa4 Qf4 42. Qxf4 Rxf4 43. b5 Rxa4 44. b6 Rc4 45. Ra1 Ra4 46. Re1 Rb4
47. Bxe2 Bxe2 48. Rxe2 Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 f5
15. Qf3 d5 16. cxd5 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Qd7 18. d6 Rb8 19. Rad1 Rb6 20. Qc3 Rxd6 21.
Bf5 Rxd1 22. Bxd7 Rxd7 23. Nc2 Rfd8 24. Ne3 Rd2 25. h4 Be6 26. a3 f5 27. Qc6
R2d6 28. Qc2 Rd2 29. Rd1 Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 Bf6 31. g3 Rc8 32. Qd2 Rd8 33. Qe2 Bc4
34. Qc2 f4 35. Nc3 Bd3 36. Qd1 fxg3 37. fxg3 e4 38. Qg4+ Kh8 39. Qe6 Bd4+ 40.
Kh2 Rf8 41. Nxe4 Bxe4 42. Qxe4 Bxb2 43. Qb4 Bg7 44. g4 h6 45. Qe4 a5 46. g5 b4
47. axb4 axb4 48. Qxb4 Kh7 49. Qe4+ Kh8 50. Kg3 Rd8 51. Qe6 hxg5 52. hxg5 Rd4
53. Kf3 Kh7 54. Qf5+ Kh8 55. Kg3 Kg8 56. Kf2 Kh8 57. Ke2 Kg8 58. Qg6 Kh8 59.
Qf7 Kh7 60. Kf3 Kh8 61. Qe7 Kh7 62. Qe6 Kh8 63. Qc6 Kh7 64. Qb6 Rd3+ 65. Kg4
Rc3 66. Qe6 Rc7 67. g6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. Be3 e5 8. Bb5+
Bd7 9. Nb3 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 d5 11. exd5 a6 12. Nc3 Bb4 13. d6 Qxd6 14. Qxd6 Bxd6
15. O-O-O Be7 16. h3 Nbd7 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 O-O 19. Na5 Bb4 20. Nxb7 Bxc3
21. bxc3 Rfc8 22. Rd3 Rc4 23. Bh2 Nc5 24. Nxc5 Rxc5 25. Re1 h5 26. gxh5 Rxh5
27. Re5 Rh4 28. Ra5 Ne4 29. c4 Rc8 30. c5 Rxc5 31. Rxa6 Nf2 32. Rf3 Nxh3 33.
Ra8+ Kh7 34. Rxf7 Rhc4 35. Kb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 b6 11. h4 Bb7 12. c3 c5 13. Neg5 h6 14. Bh7+ Kh8
15. Bc2 Qc7 16. Qd3 Nf6 17. Ne5 Bd6 18. Rde1 cxd4 19. Ng4 Ba6 20. Qxa6 Nxg4 21.
Qd3 Bf4+ 22. Kb1 g6 23. g3 Be5 24. h5 Nxf2 25. Qf3 Nxh1 26. hxg6 fxg6 27. Qxh1
Bg7 28. Nxe6 Qd6 29. Qb7 Rg8 30. Nf4 Rae8 31. Rxe8 Rxe8 32. a3 g5 33. Ng6+ Kg8
34. Qa6 Qd5 35. c4 Qh1+ 36. Ka2 d3 37. Bxd3 Qc6 38. c5 Qxc5 39. Qa4 Rd8 40.
Qb3+ Kh7 41. Ne7+ Kh8 42. Ng6+ Kh7 43. Bb1 Qd4 44. Ne5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 a6 8. a4 Qe7
9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bh2 f5 11. e3 f4 12. Bd3 Bh6 13. O-O O-O 14. exf4 Nxf4 15. Re1
Qd8 16. Bc4 b6 17. Bg3 Ra7 18. Ne4 Rg7 19. Ra3 g5 20. Nh2 Rg6 21. Rae3 Bg7 22.
Nc3 Nd7 23. Ng4 Nf6 24. Re6 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Kh8 26. Bxf4 gxf4 27. Rxg6 hxg6 28.
Qf3 Qh4 29. Qh3 Qxh3 30. gxh3 Be5 31. f3 Kg7 32. Ne4 Bd7 33. Ng5 b5 34. axb5
axb5 35. Bf1 Ra8 36. b3 Ra3 37. Rb1 Bd4+ 38. Kh1 Kf6 39. Ne6 Bf2 40. Nxf4 g5
41. Ne6 Be8 42. Nc7 Bg6 43. Nxb5 Ra2 44. Rd1 Bg3 45. Bd3 Be5 46. Bxg6 Kxg6 47.
Rd3 Ra5 48. Nc7 Ra7 49. Nb5 Ra5 50. Nc7 Ra3 51. Nb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. h3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Qc7 7. Qd2 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Bg7 10. Ne2 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Ng3 O-O 13. c4 a6 14. Rfd1 Rfd8 15.
Qc2 Ne8 16. b4 Nb6 17. c5 Nd7 18. a4 Nf8 19. Nd2 Rd7 20. Nb3 Rad8 21. axb5 axb5
22. Be2 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Bc8 25. Qd2 Be6 26. Na5 Nd7 27. Bg4 Bxg4
28. hxg4 Bf8 29. g5 Ng7 30. Nf1 Ne6 31. Nh2 Be7 32. g3 Bd8 33. Nb3 Nb8 34. Nf3
Be7 35. Nc1 Nd7 36. Nd3 Bf8 37. Qa2 Bg7 38. Qa8+ Ndf8 39. Kg2 f6 40. gxf6 Bxf6
41. Bh6 Kf7 42. Bxf8 Nxf8 43. Qxc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d5 e6 6. h3 Ne7 7. Nc3 h6 8. Bd3 g5 9.
O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 e5 11. h4 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. hxg5 Ng6 14. g3 Qe7 15. gxh6
O-O-O 16. Nh4 Bxe2 17. Nxg6 fxg6 18. Qxe2 g5 19. Qg4 Rdg8 20. Kg2 Rxh6 21. Be3
Kc7 22. Rh1 Rhg6 23. Rh2 Nb6 24. Rah1 Nxc4 25. Bc1 R6g7 26. Rh8 Qd7 27. Qxd7+
Kxd7 28. R1h7 Rxh7 29. Rxg8 g4 30. Rxg4 b5 31. Rg8 Kc7 32. g4 Rd7 33. g5 Rd8
34. Rg6 a5 35. Rf6 b4 36. cxb4 cxb4 37. g6 Rg8 38. Bh6 Nb6 39. g7 Nd7 40. Rf3
a4 41. Kf1 Kb6 42. Ke2 a3 43. Kd1 Kb5 44. Kc2 Rc8+ 45. Kb1 Ka4 46. Rf8 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 d5 16. Qf3 dxe4 17. dxe4 c5 18. c4 Qb6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 b4 21. Ba4
Red8 22. Bg5 f6 23. Be3 Qe6 24. g5 Nb6 25. Bb3 a5 26. axb4 axb4 27. Qg4 fxg5
28. Bxg5 Qg6 29. Nh4 Qf7 30. Bxd8 Rxd8 31. Nf5 g6 32. Rad1 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 Qf6
34. Ne3 h5 35. Qf3 Qxf3 36. gxf3 Kf7 37. Ra1 Nc8 38. Ba4 Nd6 39. Bd7 Ke7 40.
Bh3 Kd8 41. Be6 Kc7 42. Bd5 Bh6 43. Bxb7 Bxe3 44. fxe3 Kxb7 45. b3 g5 46. Kg2
g4 47. Rh1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
b5 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. f4 Be7 11. Kb1 Rc8 12. f5 Bc4 13. g4 Nxg4 14. Rg1 Nxe3 15.
Qxe3 g6 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. Qh3 Qd7 19. Nf1 gxf5 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21.
Ncd5 Nf2 22. Qh5 Nxd1 23. Rxd1 Rc5 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Nxf5 e4 26. Ng7+ Kf8 27.
Qh6 Qe5 28. Nf5+ Ke8 29. Nxd6+ Ke7 30. Nf5+ Ke8 31. Qg5 Qc7 32. Ng7+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. axb5 Nxd5 19. Bc4 Nf4 20. Bxe6+ Nxe6
21. Qd5 Qe8 22. Rxa6 Raf7 23. Qc4 f4 24. Nd5 e4 25. Rxd6 Ng5 26. h4 Qe5 27. Rc6
Ne6 28. b6 Kh8 29. Rc8 Rxc8 30. Qxc8+ Rf8 31. b7 Qxd5 32. b8=Q Rxc8 33. Qxc8+
Bf8 34. Re1 Kg8 35. c4 Qe5 36. Qa8 e3 37. fxe3 fxe3 38. Qf3 Bc5 39. Kh1 Qxb2
40. Rf1 Qg7 41. Qa8+ Bf8 42. Qe4 Qh6 43. g3 Bc5 44. Qa8+ Bf8 45. Qf3 Kh8 46.
Qe4 Bd6 47. Rf3 Bc5 48. Qe5+ Qg7 49. Qxe6 Qb7 50. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.04.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Ba4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 f6 17. Qc2 Nb4 18. Qb3 Ba5 19. Nd2 c6 20. Na7 Bf5 21. Nxe4
Bxe4 22. f3 Bg6 23. Qa3 fxe5 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Bxc6 Bb4 26. Qa7 e4 27. Qa2 Kh8
28. Qxd5 Qc7 29. fxe4 Bf7 30. Qd7 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.19"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Abulhul, Tarik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2076"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. g3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3 7. Qxc3 b6 8. Bg2
Bb7 9. b4 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. d3 Rc8 {Wahrscheinlich war Herr Abulhul sehr
zufrieden hier. Gegen den Weltranglistenfunften vor den Augen des
Revolutionsfuhrers ist er nicht uberrannt worden, sondern dem Ausgleich nahe.}
12. e4 Qc7 13. b5 Rfe8 (13... d5 14. exd5 exd5 15. Bf4 $14 d4 $2 16. Nxd4 cxd4
17. Qd2 $16) 14. Re1 h6 15. Bh3 Rcd8 16. Ra2 Bc8 17. a4 e5 18. a5 Nf8 19. Bxc8
Rxc8 20. Bb2 Qd7 21. axb6 axb6 22. Nh4 Qh3 23. f3 Ne6 24. Qd2 Nh5 25. Nf5 Ng5
26. Qe3 Re6 27. Rf1 Kh7 28. Bc1 Rg6 29. Qf2 Re8 30. Qg2 Qxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Ne6 32.
Kf2 Ng5 33. Bxg5 {Der er erste Zug des Lc1 beendet das schwarze Gegenspiel.}
hxg5 34. Ra7 Rf6 35. Ne3 Rb8 36. Rfa1 Kg6 37. Rd7 Re6 38. Raa7 Rf8 39. Rdb7 Nf6
40. Rxb6 Rh8 41. Kg2 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.20"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Abulhul, Tarik"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2076"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O e6 6. e4 Nge7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. Rb1 a6 10. a3 Rb8 11. Bd2 b5 12. b3 h6 13. Qc1 Kh7 14. Ne2 e5 15. Nh4 b4
16. a4 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Bg4 20. Nf3 Qd7 21. Kh1 Rbe8 22. Be3
f5 23. Ng3 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Nd4 25. Bxd4 Bxd4 26. Ne2 Nc6 27. Bh3 Qb7 28. Ng3 Bg7
29. Qg1 Nd4 30. Rf2 Bf6 31. Bg2 Qd7 32. exf5 gxf5 33. Bd5 Bh4 34. Qd1 Re3 35.
Rg2 Qe8 36. Qf1 Bxg3 37. Rxg3 Rxg3 38. hxg3 Qh5+ 39. Kg2 Re8 40. Rb2 a5 41. Qf2
Qd1 42. Bf3 Qxd3 43. Rd2 Qe3 44. Bd1 Kg6 45. Rb2 Qe4+ 46. Kh2 Qe1 47. Qxe1 Rxe1
48. Rd2 Re3 49. Kg2 Kf6 50. Kf2 Rc3 51. Kg2 Ke7 52. g4 fxg4 53. Bxg4 Rxb3 54.
Kf1 Rc3 55. Ke1 Rc1+ 56. Kf2 b3 57. Kg3 Rxc4 58. f5 Kf6 59. Rh2 Ke5 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.21"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2602"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. cxd5 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be4 h6 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Bc2 Bd6 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Bxd6
Qxd6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Qd2 Kg7 17. Nf4 Bd7 18. Rfe1 Rad8 19. Bb3 Qf6 20. Red1 Ne7
21. Rac1 Bc6 22. Bc2 Nc8 23. b3 Nd6 24. f3 Nb5 25. Ne2 Re7 26. Re1 Rde8 27. Kf1
Re3 28. a4 Nc7 29. Qa5 Ne6 30. Qxa7 Qh4 31. Qa5 Qxh2 32. Qd2 Ng5 33. Ng1 Rxf3+
34. Nxf3 Nxf3 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Re1
O-O 9. a3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ba2 d6 13. c3 Nb8 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qf3
c6 16. Nf5 Nbd7 17. g4 Nh7 18. Qg3 Nc5 19. h4 a5 20. Bd2 a4 21. Rad1 Nb3 22.
Bxb3 axb3 23. Nh2 c5 24. Nf3 Qf6 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Nxe5 Rad8 27. c4 bxc4 28.
Ba5 Ra8 29. Bc3 Qa6 30. Nd7 Be6 31. Nxf8 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Großmeister Topalov spielte diese
Fortsetzung schon zwei Jahre vorher gegen Großmeister Lutz (Topalov, V - Lutz,
Ch Dortmund 2002). Die Idee des Königszuges ist, dass 12.Nxb5 droht und später
- wie in der Partie Topalov - Lutz - nach 11...Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 13.Nc1 das
c1-Feld frei ist.} (11. Bd4 Be7 12. Qf2 d6 13. g4 (13. Kb1 Bb7 14. Bd3 O-O 15.
g4 Nfd7 16. f4 b4 17. Ne2 Nxd3 18. cxd3 e5 19. Be3 d5 {0-1 Libiszewski,
F-Laznicka,V/Zemplinska Sirava SVK 2004/(48)}) 13... O-O 14. h4 Nfd7 15. g5 b4
16. Ne2 Bb7 17. Kb1 a5 18. Ng3 a4 $40 {0-1 Acher,M-Lazarev,V/Nice FRA 2003/(30)
}) 11... Be7 (11... O-O $2 12. Nxb5 Bxd2 13. Nxc7 Bxe3 14. Nxa8 $18) 12. Qf2 d6
13. Bb6 $1 {[%mdl 4] Weiß verjagt die Dame und es scheint, als ob alle
möglichen Damezüge ihren Nachteil haben.} Qb8 (13... Qb7 14. Na5 $36) 14. Bd4
$14 Nc6 (14... Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Na5 $16 {[%cal Ra5c4,Ga5c6,Gc6b8,Gc6e7]
Diese Variante zeigt, dass die Dame nicht so gut auf b8 steht wie auf c7.}) (
14... O-O 15. g4 $36) 15. Be3 Nd7 16. g4 O-O 17. g5 {Gewöhnlich spielt man
hauptsächtlich einen Bauernangriff am gegnerischen Königsflügel, wenn die
Könige an verschieden Flügeln rochiert haben. Hier ist der weiße Angriff
schneller und gefährlicher.} b4 18. Na4 {[%csl Ga4] Der Springer blockiert die
schwarzen Angriffsmöglichkeiten und kontrolliert das b6-Feld.} (18. Ne2 $6 a5
$132) 18... Nce5 19. Rg1 {[%cal Gf3f4] Mit diesem prophylaktischen Zug
bereitet Weiß 20.f4 vor und verteidigt sich gegen 20...Ng4.} Bb7 20. Na5 (20.
f4 Bc6 21. fxe5 Bxa4 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. h4 Qc7 $132) 20... Rc8 21. b3 $1 {
Mit diesem prophylaktischem Zug bereitet Weiß 22.Nxb7 Qxb7 23.f4 vor und in
diesem Fall kann Schwarz nicht 23...Nc4 ziehen.} (21. f4 $2 Bxe4 22. fxe5 Bxc2+
23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Kxc2 Qc7+ $19) (21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. f4 Nc4 $132) 21... Bc6 (
21... Qc7 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. f4 Nc6 24. f5 $14) 22. Nxc6 Nxc6 23. f4 {Weiß hat
das Läuferpaar und sein Angriff ist "ante Portas" - f4-f5 kommt schnell.
Andererseits ist es schwer für Schwarz Gegenspiel zu finden.} Nc5 24. Nxc5 dxc5
25. f5 Ne5 26. Bh3 $16 {[%cal Gh3c8]} (26. fxe6 fxe6 27. Bh3 Qb6 $14) 26...
exf5 (26... Qb6 27. Qg3 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 27. exf5 Re8 28. Bf4 {[%csl Rb8,Gf4,
Gh3][%cal Gf4b8]} (28. f6 $40) 28... Bd6 {[#]} 29. g6 $1 {[%mdl 128] Ein
typisches und sehr effektives Bauernopfer, was kaum anzunehmen ist. Weiß
möchte Linien in der gegnerischen Königsstellung öffnen.} hxg6 30. fxg6 Ra7 (
30... fxg6 31. Bg2 $18 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Rg2d5,Rd5g8]}) 31. Qg2 {[%cal Gg2d5,
Gd5g8,Gd1d6]} Nc4 32. Rxd6 $1 (32. Bxd6 Nxd6 33. Rdf1 $16) 32... Nxd6 33. Qd5
$18 {[%csl Rd6,Rf7,Rg8][%cal Rd5g8]} Rd8 34. gxf7+ Rxf7 (34... Nxf7 35. Bxb8
Rxd5 36. Bxa7 $18) 35. Be6 Qb7 36. Qg5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.24"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Ba7 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Bg5 dxe4 12. dxe4 Bxb3 13. axb3 Qd6 14. Ng3 Qe6
15. b4 Ne8 16. O-O f6 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Nd6 19. Rf2 a5 20. bxa5 Nxa5 21.
Nh4 g6 22. Raf1 Nb3 23. Qc2 Ra1 24. Nf3 Rxf1+ 25. Nxf1 Nc5 26. N3d2 b5 27. Kh2
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.26"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Dieses Läuferschach ist sehr populär
in der Großmeisterpraxis - Schwarz möchte die natürliche weiße
Figurenentwicklung stören.} 5. Nbd2 {Dieser Zug wird selten gespielt. Nach 5.
Bd2 spielt Schwarz 5...Be7 und in der geschlossene Variante (wenn Schwarz
nicht auf c4 nimmt) mit d2B kann Weiß nicht b3-Bb2 spielen.} dxc4 {Das ist die
konsequente Fortsetzung - Schwarz nimmt den Bauern.} 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O O-O 8. a4
c6 9. e4 {Weiß hat ein starkes Bauernzentrum, das ist seine Kompensation für
den Bauern.} (9. Qc2 Bb7 (9... a5 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 bxa4 12. Rxa4 Ba6 13.
Bg5 Bb5 14. Ra2 h6 {1/2-1/2 Raetsky,A-Gipslis,A/Senden 1998/CBM 67 ext (28)})
10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. e4 Re8 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 Bf8 14. h4 Nb4 15. Qe2 Nd3 {0-1
Koerholz,L-Hracek,Z/Rethymnon 2003/CBM 98 (27)}) 9... c3 10. Nb3 (10. bxc3 Bxc3
11. Rb1 b4 $15) 10... Ba6 {[%cal Ga6f1]} (10... cxb2 11. Bxb2 Ba6 (11... Nxe4
$2 12. axb5 cxb5 $2 13. Nfd2 $18) 12. a5 Nxe4 13. Qc2 {Auf diese Weise
bekommen wir unsere Partiefortsetzung mit Zugumstellung - siehe 13.Bxb2.}) 11.
a5 $8 {Weiß muss die a-Linie schließen, sonst verliert er Material.} (11. axb5
$2 Bxb5 12. Re1 cxb2 $19) 11... Nxe4 12. Qc2 cxb2 13. Bxb2 Nf6 14. Ne5 $15 {
Schwarz hat zwar zwei Bauern mehr, aber Weiß hat zwei starke Läufer auf den
großen Diagonalen und er kontrolliert die wichtigsten Punkte. Andererseits
sind zwei Bauern zu viel und ich glaube, die weiße Kompensation ist nicht
ausreichend.} Nd5 15. Rfc1 (15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Qxc6 Qd6 17. Qxd6 (17. Rfc1 Rfd8)
17... Bxd6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 (18... Bc8 $15) 19. dxc5 Bb7 $15) 15... Bb7 16. Nc5
Bxc5 17. dxc5 {[%csl Gb2][%cal Gb2g7] Auf diese Weise öffnet Weiß die
Diagonale des b2-Läufers.} (17. Qxc5 Na6 $17) 17... f6 {Schwarz verjagt den
Springer von e5 und beschränkt die Aktivität des b2-Läufers.} (17... Nd7 $2 18.
a6 $16) 18. Nd3 (18. a6 $2 Bc8 $17) 18... Na6 (18... e5 $6 19. f4 $132) 19. Re1
Bc8 $1 {Schwarz muss seine Läuferstellung verbessern.} (19... e5 $6 20. f4 $132
) 20. Be4 (20. f4 $5 $15) 20... h6 (20... e5 $5 21. f4 Be6 $17) 21. Rad1 (21.
f4 $5) 21... Qc7 22. Qe2 e5 23. f4 Be6 (23... exf4 24. gxf4 Be6 $17) 24. fxe5
f5 $1 {[%mdl 256] Schwarz hat nur noch einen Bauern mehr, aber die Stellung
hat einen geschlossenen Charakter und die weißen Läufer sind weniger wert.} 25.
Bxd5 cxd5 (25... Bxd5 26. Nf4 $132) 26. Nf4 Qc6 (26... Nxc5 $2 27. Rc1 $18) 27.
Qh5 (27. Qf3 Rad8 $15) 27... Nc7 {Endlich kommt der schwarze Springer auch ins
Spiel.} 28. Qg6 Qe8 29. Ba3 (29. Qxe8 Rfxe8 $15) 29... Rb8 {[%cal Gb5b4]
Schwarz bereitet 30...b4 vor.} (29... Bf7 $2 30. Qxf5 Ne6 31. c6 $16) (29...
Qxg6 30. Nxg6 Rfe8 31. c6 Kf7 32. Nf4 g5 $15) 30. Rd4 Bf7 31. Qd6 (31. Qxf5 Ne6
{Jetzt können wir die Idee des Zuges 29...Rb8 sehen - wegen der Drohung 30...
b4 spielte Weiß 30.Rd4 und jetzt hängt der Turm auf d4.} 32. Nxe6 Bxe6 33. Qd3
Qc6 $15 {Die Stellung ist materiell gleich, aber Schwarz steht etwas aktiver.})
31... Ne6 {[%csl Ge6]} 32. Nxe6 (32. Rb4 Ng5 $15 {[%cal Gg5e4]}) 32... Bxe6 33.
c6 Rf7 34. Rc1 Rc8 35. Rxd5 f4 $1 $17 {Schwarz beschäftigt sich nicht mit der
Qualität, er strebt zum Angriff am Königsflügel.} (35... Bxd5 $6 36. Qxd5 $44 {
[%cal Ga3d6,Ge5e6]}) 36. Rxb5 (36. gxf4 Rxf4 $17 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Re8g6,Rg6g1]}
) 36... fxg3 37. hxg3 Rd8 38. Qb4 (38. Qc5 Rd3 $17) 38... Rf3 $1 39. c7 (39.
Kg2 Rxg3+ $1 40. Kxg3 Rd3+ 41. Kf2 Qf7+ $19) (39. Qe7 Rxg3+ 40. Kf2 Rxa3 41.
Qxa3 Qf7+ $19) 39... Rxg3+ $1 $19 {[%csl Rg1] Dieser Zug führt forciert zum
Matt.} 40. Kf2 Qf7+ {[%mdl 128]} 41. Kxg3 Rd3+ 42. Kg2 Qf3+ (42... Qf3+ 43. Kh2
(43. Kg1 Qe3+ 44. Kg2 (44. Kh1 Qh3+ $19) 44... Bh3+ $19) 43... Qf2+ 44. Kh1
Rh3#) 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.27"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Kb1 O-O 11. h4 Qb8 12. g4 Rc8 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bd3 b5
15. Ne2 b4 16. Nd4 Be8 17. h5 a5 18. Be3 Nd7 19. Bb5 Ne5 20. Bxe8 Rxe8 21. b3
Qb7 22. g5 a4 23. Qg2 Rec8 24. g6 axb3 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. cxb3 Rc3 27. Rhg1 Bf8
28. Bd2 Rd3 29. Bc1 Qa7 30. Rxd3 Nxd3 31. Be3 Qa6 32. Rd1 Nc5 33. Qe2 Qxe2 34.
Nxe2 Nd7 35. Rc1 Nf6 36. Rc7+ Kg8 37. Nf4 e5 38. Ne6 Nxh5 39. Bd2 Rb8 40. Rc4
Be7 41. Rxb4 Re8 42. Rb7 Bh4 43. Nc7 Rf8 44. a4 Rxf3 45. a5 Bf2 46. a6 Nf6 47.
Ne6 Nxe4 48. Be1 h5 49. Bxf2 Rxf2 50. a7 Nc3+ 51. Kc1 Ra2 52. Rxg7+ Kh8 53. Rc7
h4 54. Rc8+ Kh7 55. a8=Q Rxa8 56. Rxa8 Ne4 57. b4 Kg6 58. b5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.28"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 exd4 6. Nxd4 Ne7 7. Bxc4 Nbc6
8. Be3 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 $146 (9. Bxd4 O-O 10. a3 (10. O-O Nc6 (10... c6 11. a3 Ba5
12. Bc5 Qxd1 13. Raxd1 Re8 14. f4 Ng6 15. b4 Bb6 16. h3 Nf8 17. Bxb6 axb6 18.
a4 Be6 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Rd3 f6 21. Rfd1 $16 {1-0 Georgiev,K-Schulz,K/
Rethymnon GRE 2003(53)}) 11. Be3 Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Be6 $11 {0-1 Van
Wely,L-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Ohrid 2001/CBM 84/[Huzman] (63)}) 10... Ba5 11. O-O
Bb6 (11... Ng6 12. Bc5 Re8 13. Qa4 Bh3 14. Qxa5 Qg5 (14... b6 $5) 15. g3 b6 16.
Bxb6 Qf6 17. Rfd1 Qf3 18. Bf1 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Ne5 20. Bxc7 Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qf3+ 22.
Kf1 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Qf3+ 24. Ke1 $1 $18 {1-0 Gruenberg,H-Penrose,J/corr 1988 (42)}
) 12. Bxb6 axb6 13. f4 $16 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Romanishin,O/Moscow RUS 2004/(60)})
9... Qxd4 10. Bxd4 O-O (10... Nc6 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rxg2 13. e5 Be6 14. Bd3
$36 {[%csl Ra8]}) 11. a3 Bxc3+ (11... Nc6 $5 12. Bxg7 (12. Be3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3
Be6 $11) 12... Kxg7 13. axb4 Nxb4 $13) 12. Bxc3 Be6 13. Be2 $14 {White has a
small advantage due to his pair of bishops and the pawn majority on the king's
side.} Bb3 (13... f5 14. exf5 Nxf5 15. O-O-O $14) 14. h4 $1 Rfe8 (14... f5 $5
15. Rh3 Be6 16. exf5 (16. Rg3 Rf7 17. Bh5 g6 18. Bf3 Re8 $132) 16... Nxf5 17.
O-O-O Rae8 18. Bf3 c6 19. Rhh1 $14) 15. Rh3 Ng6 16. Bd2 Ba4 (16... Be6 17. Rc3
Nxh4 18. g3 $16) 17. h5 Nf8 18. b3 Bc6 19. f3 Ne6 20. Rg3 f5 $5 (20... Nd4 21.
Bc3 Rad8 22. Rd1 $16) (20... Rad8 21. Bc3 $16) 21. Bc3 fxe4 22. fxe4 Rad8 (
22... Bxe4 23. Bc4 g6 24. O-O-O $18 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gd1d7]}) 23. Bc4 $1 {
[%mdl 32]} Bxe4 (23... Rd7 24. Rd1 $16) 24. Bxg7 (24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 25. Rxg7+ Kf8
26. Rxc7 Rd3 (26... Bxg2+ 27. Kf2 Bc6 28. Bb4+ Ke8 29. Rxh7 Rd3 $132 {/+/-})
27. Kf2 Rc6 $1 28. Rxc6 Bxc6 29. Rc1 Kf7 $14) (24. Rxg7+ Kf8 $14) 24... Kf7 25.
Bc3 Bd5 $1 26. Kf2 (26. O-O-O Bxc4 27. Rf3+ Kg8 28. bxc4 Rxd1+ 29. Kxd1 $14)
26... Rg8 (26... Bxc4 $5 27. bxc4 Nd4 $132) 27. Rxg8 Kxg8 28. Rd1 Bxc4 (28...
c6 $5 29. Ke3 b5 30. Bxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 cxd5 32. g4 Kf7 $11) 29. Rxd8+ Nxd8 30.
bxc4 {White still has an advantage because in following the game on two sides
Bc3 is stronger than Nd8.} a6 (30... Kf7 31. Ke3 Ke6 32. g4 Nf7 33. Kf4 $16) (
30... Nf7 31. Ke3 Nd6 32. Kd3 $16 {[%cal Gc3e5]}) 31. Ke3 Kf7 32. g4 Ne6 33.
Ke4 $16 Nc5+ 34. Kd5 Nd7 35. g5 Nb6+ 36. Kd4 Na4 37. Ba1 Nb6 38. c5 Nc8 39. Ke4
c6 $2 (39... b6 $1 40. Bd4 $1 (40. c6 Ne7) 40... bxc5 (40... Ke6 41. g6 $18)
41. Bxc5 Ke6 (41... Nb6 42. Bxb6 cxb6 43. Kd5 $18) 42. h6 (42. Kf4 Nb6 $14)
42... Kf7 43. Kd5 Kg6 44. Kc6 Nd6 45. Kxc7 Ne4 46. Be3 Nxg5 $14) 40. Bf6 b5 (
40... b6 41. Kd4 Ke6 42. Bd8 $18 bxc5+ 43. Kxc5 Nd6 44. Kxc6 Nf7 45. Bf6 h6 (
45... Kf5 46. Kb6 $18) 46. g6 Kxf6 47. gxf7 Kxf7 48. Kb6 $18) 41. Bd8 Ke6 42.
h6 Kf7 43. Kf5 $22 {[%mdl 4096]} a5 (43... Na7 44. g6+ Kg8 45. Kf6 $18) 44.
Bxa5 (44. Bxa5 Ne7+ 45. Ke5 Nc8 46. Bd8 Kg6 47. Ke6 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.29"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O d6 6. a4 O-O 7. Re1 Nbd7 (7...
Qc7 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. Nf1 (9. Ba2 d5 10. exd5 cxd5 11. c4 $13) 9... d5 $1 {
This is Black's main idea here.} 10. exd5 (10. Bb3 $2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 {
and the B cannot be saved.}) ({Also on} 10. Ba2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 {comes into
consideration.}) 10... cxd5 11. Ba2 e4 $1 {Now Black grabs the |^ in the [+].}
12. dxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 (13. Nd4 Nc5 14. Ng3 (14. Nb5 Qe5) 14... Rd8 {with a
nasty pin on the d <->.} ({and certainly not} 14... Nxa4 $6 {in view of} 15.
Bxf7+)) 13... Nc5 14. Be3 ({White has to play carefully. In case of} 14. Ng3 $2
Bg4 {Black has a good game.}) 14... h6 $1 {This is a nice temporary P
sacrifice in order to activate the pieces and get the ^^.} 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 Bf5 {In an opened position the ^^ is very dangerous.} 18.
Re1 (18. Re2 $4 {loses to} Bg4) 18... Qb6 $1 $44 {Kudrin-I.Sokolov, Las Vegas
1999 CBM 72} (18... Qf4 19. Ne3) (18... Rad8 19. Qe2)) 8. Nc3 (8. Nbd2 Qc7 {
- 7...Qc7}) 8... Nc5 (8... a5 9. d4 Qc7 {leads to the Philidor with an extra
tempo for Black.} 10. Ba2 $13) 9. d4 (9. a5 {avoiding ...a7-a5} d5 (9... Ne6)
10. exd5 cxd5 11. Ba2 {and Black has problems with holding his P [+].} d4 12.
Nb1 $14) 9... exd4 10. Nxd4 {Now we reach a Philidor type of position with an
extra tempo for Black.} a5 {Black wants to secure his c5 N's position and gain
some control over the dark squares.} (10... Re8 11. Qf3 $14 (11. Bf4 Bf8 12. e5
{White's pieces are not active enough for this opening of the position.} (12.
f3 d5 $1 13. exd5 Rxe1+ 14. Qxe1 cxd5 15. Bf1 Ne6 16. Be3 Bc5 17. Nce2 Qb6 $132
) 12... dxe5 13. Rxe5 Bg4 14. f3 Bh5 15. Rxe8 Nxe8 16. a5 Bg6 17. Be3 Nc7 18.
Qe2 a6 19. Qf2 Qe7 20. Nce2 Re8 21. Bd2 N5e6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. c3 Qc5 24. Qxc5
Bxc5+ 25. Kf1 Rd8 26. Be1 h6 27. b4 Be7 28. Bf2 Bf6 $11 {Heinemann-Enders,
Germany 2000 CBM 74 ext})) 11. Bf4 Ng4 12. Be2 (12. Nf5 $5 {deserves attention.
} Ne5 (12... Bxf5 13. exf5 Ne5 (13... Nf6 $2 {The "natural" retreat loses to}
14. Rxe7 $1 $18) 14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Rxe5 (15. Qxd8 Raxd8 16. Rxe5 Rfe8 17. Rae1
Kf8) 15... Bd6 16. Re3 Bf4 (16... Bxh2+ $2 17. Kxh2 Qh4+ 18. Rh3 Qxc4 19. Qh5
$16) 17. Rf3 $14 {with an extra P and the ^- helps also for White.}) 13. Nxe7+
(13. Bf1 Bxf5 14. exf5 Bf6) 13... Qxe7 14. Bf1 $14 {White has the ^^ and >< d6
may become weak.}) 12... Nf6 13. Bf3 (13. Bc4 Ng4 $11 {is only a repetition of
moves.}) 13... Re8 14. Qd2 g6 (14... Ng4 $5 15. Bxg4 (15. Rad1 Bh4 16. Rf1 Ne5
17. Be2 Ng6 18. Nf3 Bf6 $132) 15... Bxg4 16. f3 {If Black cannot play the
freeing move d6-d5, the position remains a bit better due to the >< d6.} (16.
h3 Bd7 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. b3 Qb4 $132) 16... Bd7 17. Rad1 {+/=/=}) 15. h3 {
This allows the following regrouping of pieces.} (15. Rad1 $142 Ng4 16. Qe2 $14
) 15... Nfd7 16. Rad1 Bf8 (16... Qc7 17. g4 $5 {/\ Bg2, Bg3, f4 but needs a
lot of time.} Ne5 (17... Bf8 18. b3 $14) 18. Bg2 Nc4 19. Qc1 Ne6 20. Nxe6 Bxe6
21. b3 Ne5 22. Be3 $14) 17. g4 $5 Qb6 {Now White has the natural retreat to g2,
because >< c4 can be defended in time.} (17... Ne5 $142 18. Be2 {White has to
keep an eye on >< c4.} (18. Bg2 Bg7 $13 19. b3 $140 Ned3 $1 $15) 18... Bg7 19.
Be3 Ned7 20. f3 Qh4 $132) 18. Bg2 (18. b3 Ne5 19. Bg2 {- 18.Bg2}) 18... Ne5 19.
b3 Qb4 20. Nde2 $14 {White has consolidated his position and the weakness of
d6 begins to tell.} (20. Be3 Bg7 21. Nde2 $14) 20... f6 {This is another small
concession closing the /^ for the fianchettoed B.} (20... f5 $6 {founders on
the energetic} 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Qg5+ Bg7 24. Qd8+ Kf7 25. Qxd6
$16) 21. Be3 h5 $2 {Black wants to fish in troubled waters.} (21... Nf7 22. f4
$14 {and White has the ideal set-up of his pieces.}) 22. f4 Nxg4 (22... hxg4
23. fxe5 gxh3 24. Bf3 dxe5 25. Kh2 $16 {was not correct either.}) 23. hxg4 Bxg4
24. Qc1 $16 {Black has no adequate compensation, but from practical point of
view the idea may work well...} f5 25. Rd4 Qb6 26. Qd2 Qc7 27. Bf2 Re6 28. Rc4
(28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Kh7) 28... Rae8 29. Nd4 Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxe4 fxe4
32. Rc3 d5 {Black has already sacrificed a R for three pawns in order to keep
the position complicated.} 33. Rg3 Bd6 34. Be3 Qd7 35. c3 Rf8 36. Rf1 b6 37.
Rf2 c5 38. Nb5 Bb8 39. Rfg2 (39. Kf1 $1 g5 40. Rg1 $18 {would have won easily.}
) 39... g5 $1 {Now (probably in time trouble) Black gets real counterchances.}
40. Rf2 (40. Rxg4 hxg4 41. fxg5 Rf3 $44) 40... Kg7 41. Qc1 (41. Rgg2 Rf5 42.
fxg5 Rxf2 43. Qxf2 Bf3 44. Qh4 Bxg2 45. Kxg2 Kg6 $44) 41... Kg6 42. Qf1 Rf5 43.
Rgg2 Qf7 44. fxg5 Bf3 45. Rh2 Bxh2+ 46. Rxh2 {[#]} Rf4 $1 {Black is not greedy
at all in this game, he has sacrificed a piece a rook and an exchange...} 47.
Bxf4 Qxf4 48. Rg2 $2 {This is the final mistake.} (48. Qe1 {was still enough
for a draw, for example:} Qxg5+ 49. Kf1 (49. Kf2 Qf4) 49... Qf4 50. Qh4 Qc1+
51. Qe1 Qf4 $11) 48... h4 $1 $19 {Now White is a R up, but he is completely
helpless against the advance of the pawns.} 49. Qe1 e3 (49... Bxg2 50. Kxg2
Kxg5 $19) 50. Rh2 Qxg5+ 51. Kf1 h3 $1 52. Qb1+ (52. Nd6 Bg2+ 53. Ke2 Qg4+ 54.
Kxe3 Qe6+ 55. Kf2 Qxd6 $19) 52... Be4 53. Qb2 Bd3+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.01"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 14. Qxd6
Bxd6 15. Rxd4 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.02"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. a3 b6 8. Be3
Bb7 9. f3 d6 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Rfd1 Qb8
15. Bf1 Rfe8 16. Kh1 Bd8 17. Bg1 h5 18. Qf2 Ne5 19. b3 Ng6 20. b4 h4 21. Nb3 h3
22. g3 Ne5 23. Rd4 Nc6 24. Rdd1 Ne5 25. Rd4 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.03"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. c3 e6 8.
d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ng8 11. Rd1 Nge7 12. Nc3 Nc8 13. Be3 Nb6 14. b3 Rc8
15. Qb2 Be7 16. Ne2 O-O 17. Nf4 Rc7 18. Qe2 Rfc8 19. Ne1 Qd8 20. Qg4 Nd7 21.
Ned3 Nf8 22. g3 Ba3 23. Nh5 Ng6 24. h4 Qf8 25. Bg5 h6 26. Be3 Kh8 27. Qh3 Nb4
28. Nxb4 Bxb4 29. Rd3 Rc2 30. a4 R8c3 31. Rad1 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Ne7 33. g4 Ba3 34.
Kg2 Nc6 35. Qf3 Be7 36. g5 g6 37. Nf6 h5 38. Bd2 Bxf6 39. gxf6 Nb4 40. Qd1 Rc8
41. Rg3 Nc6 42. Be3 b6 43. Rg5 Qg8 44. Qd2 Rc7 45. Rg3 Kh7 46. Rg5 Kh8 47. Kh2
Rc8 48. Rg1 Kh7 49. Rg5 Kh8 50. Rg1 Kh7 51. Kh3 a5 52. Rc1 g5 53. Qc2+ Qg6 54.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 55. Bxg5 Kf5 56. Be3 Ke4 57. Kh2 Rc7 58. Kg3 Rc8 59. Kh2 Rc7 60. Kg2
Rc8 61. Kh3 Rc7 62. Kg2 Rc8 63. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.04"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Bxd2 Ne4 7. e3 b6 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O Nxd2 10. Nxd2 f5 11. Qe2 Nc6 {The position is very solid for
black, but white has small advantage and activity on the queenside.} (11... Qf6
12. b4 Nc6 13. f4 a5 14. b5 Ne7 15. Nf3 Ng6 16. Rac1 d6 17. c5 bxc5 18. dxc5
Bxf3 19. Rxf3 d5 20. Bb1 Rfb8 21. a4 {1-0 Meister,T-Oravecz,I/Bayern 1997/ (42)
}) 12. Rac1 Qf6 (12... a5 13. b3 Qf6 14. c5 $14) 13. c5 Rae8 (13... a5 14. cxb6
cxb6 15. Nc4 Qd8 16. d5 $14) 14. b4 Kh8 (14... bxc5 15. Rxc5 Rc8 16. Rfc1 $16)
15. f4 g5 (15... Rc8 16. Nf3 bxc5 17. Rxc5 $14) 16. b5 $1 Na5 {Kasimdzhanov
was surely dreaming about better future for this knight, but at least black is
not losing a pawn.} (16... Ne7 17. cxb6 cxb6 18. Rc7 Bd5 19. Rxd7 gxf4 20. Rxf4
$16) 17. fxg5 Qxg5 18. Nf3 Qg7 (18... Bxf3 19. Rxf3 bxc5 20. Rxc5 $16) 19. cxb6
cxb6 20. Rc7 Rc8 21. Rfc1 (21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Qb2 Nc4 $14) 21... Rxc7 22. Rxc7
Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. e4 $1 Bb7 (24... fxe4 25. Bxe4 Bb7 26. Bxb7 Nxb7 27. Qc2
$16) 25. h3 (25. exf5 Bxf3 26. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 27. Kh1 Qa1+ 28. Bf1 Kg7 29. Qd3 exf5
30. Qxd7+ Kg6 31. Qe6+ $14) 25... d6 26. Qc2 (26. exf5 Bxf3 27. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 28.
Kh1 Qa1+ 29. Kh2 Qe5+ 30. g3 Qb2+ $14) 26... Qf6 27. Kf2 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Bxe4 29.
Qxe4 {[%mdl 4096] Topalov was very carefully avoiding endgames, that were
better but may be not sufficiently so. Black is suffering due to his
misserable knight on a5.} Kg7 (29... Qe7 30. g4 $14) 30. Qc2 Qf7 31. Ke2 h6 (
31... e5 32. dxe5 dxe5 33. Qd3 Nc4 34. Ng5 Qh5+ 35. g4 Qxg5 36. Qxc4 $14) 32.
a4 Qb7 33. g4 (33. Ke1 Qe7 34. Qc3 Nb7 35. g4 $14) 33... Qf7 34. Qc3 Kh7 (34...
Qb7 35. h4 Qf7 (35... Qe4+ 36. Kf2 Qxg4 37. Qc7+ Kg6 38. Qxd6) 36. g5 $16) 35.
h4 Kg7 36. h5 (36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 Qb7 38. Ke3 Qf7 39. Qd3 $14) 36... Kg8 37.
Qc1 e5 $6 {The defender is opting for the desperate trick in a difficult
position.} (37... Kh7 38. g5 Qxh5 39. Qc7+ Kg6 40. gxh6 Kxh6 41. Qxd6 $16) 38.
Qxh6 (38. dxe5 dxe5 39. Nxe5 Qa2+ 40. Ke3 Qb3+ 41. Kf2 $18) 38... e4 39. Ng5 $2
{Topalov is missing a chance to keep the lid on a5 knight a winning with his
strong g and h pawns.} (39. Nd2 $1 d5 40. Ke1 Qe7 41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. g5 $18)
39... Qa2+ 40. Ke3 (40. Kf1 Qc4+ 41. Kf2 Qxd4+ 42. Kg3 Qe3+ 43. Kh4 Qf2+ $11)
40... Nc4+ 41. Kxe4 (41. Kf4 Qf2+ 42. Kxe4 Qg2+) 41... Qg2+ 42. Kf4 (42. Kd3
Nb2+ 43. Kc3 Nd1+ 44. Kb4 Qd2+ 45. Kc4 Qa2+ $11) (42. Nf3 $5 Qxg4+ (42... Qe2+
43. Kd5 Ne3+ 44. Kxd6 Qxf3 45. Qe6+ Kh7 46. Qg6+ Kh8 47. g5 $16) 43. Kd5 Qxf3+
44. Kxc4 d5+ 45. Kb4 Qg4 $14) 42... Qf2+ 43. Ke4 (43. Nf3 $4 Qe3+ $19) 43...
Qg2+ 44. Kf4 Qf2+ 45. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.05"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d5 Bb4 8. O-O
Na6 9. Nd4 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Nc5 (10... exd5 11. Nf5 Re8 12. cxd5 Ne4 13. Bxe4 Rxe4
14. f3 Re5 15. e4 Qf6 16. g4 Nc5 17. Qd4 d6 18. Bf4 Rae8 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Qe3
Ba6 {0-1 Summerscale,A-Motwani,P/Edinburgh 2003/ (39)}) 11. Nb3 {Topalov
insists on improving his pawn structure, black can not consent since he lacks
bishop pair.} (11. Ba3 Rb8 (11... exd5 12. Nb3 dxc4 13. Bxb7 Nxb7 14. Nd2 Re8
15. Nxc4 d5 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qd3 Qh3 18. f3 Qe6 19. Bc1 Nd6 20. Re1 a5 {0-1
Grunberg,S-Itkis,B/Predeal 1997/ (30)}) 12. Nb5 a6 13. Bxc5 bxc5 14. Na3 Re8
15. Re1 exd5 16. cxd5 d6 17. Nc4 Nd7 18. e4 Nb6 19. Na5 Qf6 20. Qc2 Qg6 21. Bf1
Bxd5 22. Bd3 c4 {0-1 Marusak,P-Chernyshov,K/Martin 1996/ (29)}) 11... Nce4 12.
f3 (12. Qd3 exd5 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. c4 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 bxc5 $15)
12... Nxc3 (12... Nd6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Ba3 Qb8 15. e4 e5 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Qd3
$11) 13. Qc2 (13. Qd2 Na4 14. Qb4 b5 15. Qxb5 Nb6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. c5 Bc6 18.
Qa5 $14) 13... Na4 14. e4 d6 15. Nd4 (15. Na5 $5 Nc5 16. Nxb7 Nxb7 17. f4 $44)
15... Nc5 16. Bb2 Qd7 (16... Re8 17. Rae1 a6 18. f4 Rb8 $15) 17. Bh3 Rfe8 18.
a4 (18. Nb3 Qa4 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Qc3 Kg7 21. Nxc5 bxc5 22. Rab1 Ba6 $15) 18...
a5 19. Rfe1 Qe7 (19... Re7 20. Nb5 Rae8 21. Rad1 Qc8 22. e5 $44) 20. e5 $1 {
White is right in opening the position for his far reaching bishops, but
Kasimdzhanov is well prepared.} dxe5 21. Rxe5 Ncd7 (21... Qd6 22. Nb5 Qd7 23.
Ba3 $11) 22. Re3 Qc5 23. Rae1 e5 24. Nb3 (24. Ba3 Qxd4 25. Bb2 Qc5 26. Ba3 $11)
24... Qd6 25. Bxd7 (25. Qd2 c6 26. f4 exf4 $17) 25... Nxd7 (25... Qxd7 $2 26.
Bxe5 Qxa4 27. Qc3 Ba6 28. Nd2 $14) 26. f4 f6 27. Nd2 Qf8 (27... Rad8 28. Ne4
Qe7 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Ba3 Qf7 31. Ng5 $13) 28. fxe5 Nxe5 (28... fxe5 $5 29.
Bxe5 (29. Nf3 c6 30. Ng5 g6 31. Ne6 Qd6 32. Ba3 c5 33. Bb2 Rxe6 34. dxe6 Qxe6
$15) 29... c6 30. Bd4 (30. Qb3 Nxe5 31. Rxe5 Qc5+ 32. Kg2 Rxe5 33. Rxe5 cxd5
34. cxd5 Rd8 $19) 30... Rxe3 31. Rxe3 cxd5 32. Qb2 $15) 29. Bxe5 Rxe5 30. Rxe5
fxe5 31. Rxe5 Qc5+ (31... c6 32. Ne4 Qa3 33. Qc3 Qxa4 34. Re7 Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Qe2+
36. Kg1 Qd1+ $11) 32. Kg2 Rf8 33. Nf3 {Bulgarian grandmaster was probably
unhappy about his limited success in this position and next phase he plays
beyond his capabilities.} (33. Ne4 $1 Qa3 34. Ng5 g6 35. Re6 Qa1 36. Qe2 $14)
33... h6 34. Qd3 (34. Nh4 c6 35. Nf5 cxd5 36. Ne7+ Kh8 37. Ng6+ Kg8 38. Ne7+ (
38. Nxf8 $2 dxc4+ 39. Kf1 Qxe5 $19) 38... Kh8 $11) 34... Ba6 35. Re4 (35. Rf5
$5 Rxf5 (35... Qxc4 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Qf5+ $11) 36. Qxf5 Qxc4 37. Qe6+ $11)
35... Qb4 36. Ne5 (36. Qc2 Bc8 37. Nd4 Bd7 $15) 36... Qxa4 37. h4 $2 {
Important tempo as black will now fully take over the initiative.} (37. Nc6 $1
Kh8 38. Ne5 Rf6 $15) 37... Qa2+ 38. Re2 Qa1 39. Kh2 (39. Re4 Qb2+ 40. Re2 Qc1
$17) 39... Qf1 40. Qe3 Bc8 41. g4 (41. Ng6 $2 Qh3+ 42. Kg1 Rf1#) 41... Re8 42.
Kg3 (42. Re1 Qf6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5 Qd6 45. Qf4 $17) 42... h5 43. Re1 (43.
gxh5 Qh3+ 44. Kf2 Qxh4+ 45. Qg3 Qxh5 $19) 43... Qf6 44. gxh5 (44. g5 Qf5 45.
Kg2 a4 $19) 44... Qf5 45. Kh2 Qxh5 46. Qg3 a4 $1 {Excellent move, that
underlines the pain of the missing vital a pawn, Topalov is completely lost.}
47. Ng4 (47. Qg5 Qxg5 48. hxg5 a3 $19) 47... Bxg4 (47... Rxe1 $4 48. Nf6+ $18)
48. Rxe8+ Qxe8 49. Qxg4 Qe5+ 50. Kg2 a3 51. Qc8+ (51. d6 Qxd6 52. Qe2 Qg6+ $19)
51... Kh7 52. Qa6 Qb2+ 53. Kf3 a2 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.07.05"]
[Round "6.6"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 b6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb7 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. Be3 {Black
should have no special problems with equalizing after such modest white's play.
} (7. c3 Ne7 8. O-O Nbc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Nd2 Bxd4 11. cxd4 Nb4 12. Qe2 d5 13. e5
Nxd3 14. Qxd3 a5 15. Rfc1 Ba6 {0-1 Pedzich,D-Landa,K/Ubeda 1999/ (64)}) (7. Bb2
Qf6 8. c3 Qg6 (8... Nc6 9. Bc2 e5 10. Nf3 g5 11. b4 g4 12. bxc5 gxf3 13. Qxf3
Qxf3 14. gxf3 bxc5 15. Bd3 Nge7 16. Nd2 {1-0 Fuller,M-Watson,J/London 1979/ 
(79)}) 9. Qf3 Nf6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. O-O Qg5 12. Qe2 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. b4 Bd6
15. g3 e5 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Ba6 b5 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19. Qxb5 Qh5 20. f3 {
Hamdouchi,H-Small,V/Manila olm/1992/}) 7... Qf6 (7... Nf6 8. Nd2 O-O (8... e5
9. Nf5 O-O 10. Bxc5 bxc5 11. Nd6 $14) 9. Qf3 Qc7 $11) 8. c3 Nc6 9. Bc2 (9. Nb5
$6 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Ke7 11. Nd2 a6 12. Nd4 Ne5 $15) 9... Nxd4 10. cxd4 (10. Bxd4
Bxd4 11. cxd4 Qg6 12. Qf3 d5 $15) 10... Bb4+ 11. Kf1 Rc8 12. a3 Be7 13. h4 e5 (
13... Bf8 14. h5 d6 15. Nd2 $14) 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Bd4 Qc7 (15... Qb5+ 16. Kg1
(16. Bd3 $2 Rc1 $1 17. Qxc1 Qxd3+ 18. Ke1 Qxd4 $19) 16... Bf6 17. Ra2 d6 $11)
16. Nc3 {Topalov was hoping to stirr some problems for white with original
play in the opening. The results are not very encouraging, white has some
advantage.} (16. Bxg7 Qxc2 17. Nc3 Rxc3 18. Qxc2 Rxc2 19. Bxh8 Bc5 $19) 16...
Nf6 (16... Bf6 17. Rh3 Qc6 18. Rg3 $14) 17. Rh3 O-O (17... Qf4 18. Qd3 Bc5 19.
Rd1 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 $14) 18. e5 Nd5 (18... Ne8 19. Kg1 f6 20. Qh5 h6 21. Rg3 $14)
19. Qg4 g6 20. h5 f5 (20... Qc6 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. Bxg6 Qxg2+ 24.
Qxg2 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 hxg6 26. b4 $16) 21. Bxf5 $1 {[%mdl 128] Kasimdzhanov
attacks with great energy, black is in deep trouble.} Nf4 (21... Rxf5 22. hxg6
Rf4 (22... Rg5 23. gxh7+ Kf7 24. Rf3+ Kg7 25. e6+ Kxh7 26. Rf7+ $18) 23. gxh7+
Kh8 24. Qxf4 $1 Qxc3 (24... Nxf4 25. e6+ $18) 25. e6+ $18) 22. Rg3 Rxf5 (22...
Bxg2+ 23. Rxg2 Nxg2 24. Nd5 Qd8 25. hxg6 h6 26. Bxd7 $18) 23. hxg6 (23. Qxf5
Rf8 24. Qg4 Bc5 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27. Re1 $18) 23... h5 (23... Rg5
24. gxh7+ Kxh7 25. Qxf4 Rxg3 26. Qxg3 $18) 24. Qxf5 Rf8 25. Qc2 Ba6+ (25... Bh4
26. g7 Rf7 $140 27. Qh7+ $1 $18) 26. Ke1 (26. Kg1 Ne2+ 27. Qxe2 Bxe2 28. Nxe2
$16) 26... h4 27. g7 (27. Rg4 Qc6 28. g7 Nd3+ 29. Kd1 Rf7 30. b4 $18) 27... Rc8
(27... hxg3 28. gxf8=Q+ Bxf8 29. fxg3 Nd3+ 30. Kd1 $18) 28. Qe4 (28. Rf3 Nxg2+
29. Kd1 Qc6 30. Qf5 $18) 28... hxg3 29. Qxf4 Qc6 (29... gxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Bc5 31.
Nd5 Qc6 32. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 33. Ne3 $18) 30. Qxg3 Qh6 31. Qh3 {White has skillfully
managed to survive with a king on e1, solid material plus gives him easy win
in most endgames.} Qg6 (31... Qxh3 32. gxh3 Bc5 33. Bxc5 Rxc5 34. Kd2 Rxe5 35.
Rg1 $18) 32. Qxd7 Rxc3 (32... Qxg2 33. Qe6+ Kh7 34. g8=Q+ Rxg8 35. Qxe7+ $18)
33. Qd5+ $1 Kxg7 34. Bxc3 Qc2 (34... Qg4 35. Ra2 $18) 35. Qd2 {The game is
over as white has tons of spare material.} (35. Qf3 Kg8 36. e6 $18) 35... Qh7
36. e6+ Kg8 37. Qe3 Qh1+ (37... Bc8 38. Qg3+ Kf8 39. Qf4+ $18) 38. Kd2 Qh4 39.
Qg3+ Bg5+ 40. Kd1 Qh5+ (40... Qxg3 41. fxg3 Bc8 42. Kc2 Bxe6 43. Re1 $18) 41.
f3 Qg6 42. Qb8+ 1-0

[Event "Bilbao Human-Comp"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Comp Junior"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2004.10.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8.
Kf1 d5 9. e5 Ne4 10. a3 Be7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Be3 f5 13. Nc3 Kh8 14. Ne2 g5 15.
h3 f4 16. Bd2 Bf5 17. Qd1 a6 18. Ba4 Qd7 19. Rc1 Kg7 20. Be1 h5 21. Nh2 h4 22.
Kg1 b5 23. Bc2 Nd8 24. Bb4 Bxb4 25. axb4 c6 26. Nf3 Qe7 27. Qe1 Ne6 28. Bd1
Rac8 29. Ra1 Qa7 30. Bc2 Rf7 31. Ra3 Rg8 32. Qa1 Ra8 33. Bd3 Kg8 34. Qb1 Raf8
35. Qc2 Qb6 36. Ra1 Rg7 37. Rc1 Rc8 38. Rd1 Rf8 39. Kf1 Rgf7 40. Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bilbao Human-Comp"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comp Hydra"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "176"]
[EventDate "2004.10.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Bg3 O-O 6. Nd2 b6 7. Ngf3 c5 8. Ne5
a5 9. Bh4 Be7 10. Bd3 Nfd7 11. Bg3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Ba6 13. Bc2 Ra7 14. Qg4 d4 15.
h4 d3 16. Bb3 Qc7 17. a4 Qc8 18. Bc4 Rd8 19. Bxa6 Qxa6 20. Qc4 Qc8 21. O-O-O
Qc6 22. f3 Qa8 23. Nb1 Rad7 24. Rd2 Nc6 25. Na3 Rd5 26. f4 R5d7 27. Kb1 Na7 28.
e4 Qc6 29. Rhd1 Rb7 30. Nb5 Nxb5 31. axb5 Qc8 32. Bf2 h5 33. Rxd3 Rbd7 34. Rxd7
Rxd7 35. Rxd7 Qxd7 36. Kc2 Kf8 37. Qe2 g6 38. c4 Qd8 39. g3 Ke8 40. Qf3 Bf8 41.
Qe3 Qc7 42. Be1 Qd7 43. Bd2 Bh6 44. Kd1 Kf8 45. Ke2 Qd8 46. Bc3 Qd7 47. Qf3 Ke8
48. g4 hxg4 49. Qxg4 Qc7 50. Kf3 Qd8 51. Ke3 Qe7 52. h5 gxh5 53. Qxh5 Qf8 54.
Kf3 Qg7 55. Qg4 Qh7 56. f5 Kd7 57. Qh5 Qg7 58. b3 Bc1 59. Be1 Bb2 60. Bg3 Bc3
61. Bf4 Bd4 62. Bh2 Qg8 63. Qh6 Bc3 64. Bg3 Kc7 65. Qf6 Kd7 66. Bf4 Qh8 67. Kg4
Qg8+ 68. Bg5 Bd2 69. Qh6 Bc3 70. Qf6 Bd2 71. Kh5 Bxg5 72. fxe6+ fxe6 73. Qxg5
Qh8+ 74. Kg4 Qh7 75. Qf4 Ke8 76. Kg5 Qg7+ 77. Kh5 Qh8+ 78. Kg4 Qh7 79. Qf6
Qxe4+ 80. Kg5 Qg2+ 81. Kh6 Qh1+ 82. Kg7 Qb7+ 83. Kg8 Qg2+ 84. Qg7 Qf3 85. Qg6+
Ke7 86. Qg7+ Ke8 87. Qg6+ Ke7 88. Qg7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bilbao Human-Comp"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Comp Fritz"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2004.10.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. O-O
g5 9. Bb1 g4 10. Ne1 h5 11. Nb3 a5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nd3 Ba7 15.
Qa4 Bd7 16. Qf4 Bb8 17. Rd1 f5 18. c4 d4 19. Re1 Qe7 20. Bc2 h4 21. Bd2 Bc7 22.
Bd1 Rg8 23. a3 a4 24. f3 gxf3 25. Bxf3 Ba5 26. Bxa5 Rxa5 27. Qd2 Qg5 28. Qf2
Rg7 29. c5 Kf8 30. Rac1 Kg8 31. Kh1 Ra8 32. Rc4 Be8 33. Bd1 Qh6 34. Nf4 Rd8 35.
Rxa4 d3 36. Bb3 Bf7 37. Qe3 Qg5 38. Rd1 Kh7 39. Rd2 Qh6 40. Kg1 Qg5 41. Bc4 Be8
42. Bxe6 Re7 43. Rxd3 Rxd3 44. Qxd3 Nxe5 45. Qxf5+ Qxf5 46. Bxf5+ Kh6 47. Nd5
1-0

[Event "Bilbao Human-Comp"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Comp Junior"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2004.10.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 e6 8. g4
h6 9. Qd2 a6 10. O-O-O b5 11. h4 b4 12. Nce2 Qa5 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Rg1 Ne5 15.
Nc1 g6 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Nh5 18. a3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Na2 Rc8 21. Nxb4
Qa4 22. Ka2 Qa5 23. Qd3 Ng7 24. c3 e5 25. Nb3 Qb5 26. Nd5 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Bb5 28.
Rd2 Rh3 29. Rf2 Bd7 30. Na5 Be6 31. c4 Nh5 32. b3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Ng3 34. Nc6 Kd7
35. b4 Nf5 36. Bd2 Ne7 37. Na5 Nf5 38. Re1 Bg7 39. Nc6 Nd4 40. Nxd4 exd4 41.
Kb3 d3 42. Re4 Rh1 43. Rf4 Be5 44. Rxf7+ Ke8 45. Rb7 Rb1+ 46. Ka4 Rb2 47. Rh7
Bf4 48. Bxf4 Rxf2 49. Rh8+ Kd7 50. Rh7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zabala Memorial op"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Boudre, Jean Pierre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2341"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2004.10.12"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Bg4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bb2 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. a3 a5 12. Re1 h6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Qc2 Bg6 15.
Bc3 Qe7 16. Qb2 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Qxe5 Rxe5 20. b4 axb4 21.
axb4 Ree8 22. Nb3 Nd7 23. d4 Nf6 24. Rec1 Ne4 25. h4 Nd6 26. Ra5 Rxa5 27. bxa5
Rb8 28. g4 f6 29. f3 Kf8 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. h5 Be8 32. Bd3 Bd7 33. Kg3 Ra8 34. Kf4
Be6 35. Rb1 Bf7 36. Bf5 Nc4 37. Bd3 Nd6 38. Ra1 Kd8 39. Rc1 Kc7 40. Bg6 Be6 41.
Ra1 Nc4 42. Bd3 Nd6 43. Ra4 Ra7 44. Nc5 Bc8 45. e4 Nf7 46. exd5 cxd5 47. Bf5
Bxf5 48. Kxf5 Nd6+ 49. Kg6 Kc6 50. a6 b6 51. Ne6 b5 52. Ra1 b4 53. Nc5 Nb5 54.
Nb3 Kb6 55. Ra4 Nc7 56. Rxb4+ Kc6 57. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Zabala Memorial op"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Strikovic, Aleksa"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.10.12"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Nc2 Bb6 8.
Be2 O-O 9. O-O Ng6 10. g3 d6 11. f4 Bh3 12. Rf2 Rae8 13. Nd2 Qd8 14. Bxb6 axb6
15. Ne3 Kh8 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Bd3 f6 18. a4 Bg8 19. b4 d5 20. Nxd5 f5 21. b5 fxe4
22. Bxe4 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Qxd5 24. bxc6 Qxc6 25. Qf3 Ne5 26. Qxc6 Nxc6 27. Nf3 Re4
28. Rd2 h6 29. Nd4 Rd8 30. Rad1 Nxd4 31. Rxd4 Rdxd4 32. cxd4 Re2 33. Rc1 c6 34.
Rb1 Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zabala Memorial op"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Li, Shilong"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2526"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2004.10.12"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Qg4 g6 8. Nc3
d6 9. Be3 b5 10. O-O-O Nd7 11. f4 Ngf6 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. a3 Bb7 14. Kb1 O-O 15.
f5 Rfe8 16. h4 Ne5 17. h5 Nxd3 18. cxd3 gxf5 19. exf5 e5 20. g4 Bxh1 21. Rxh1
Qb7 22. Rg1 Nd5 23. g5 Nxc3+ 24. bxc3 Qd5 25. Kb2 Rac8 26. f6 Bd8 27. g6 Bxf6
28. Rf1 Re6 29. gxf7+ Kxf7 30. Nd2 Qc6 31. Ne4 d5 32. Ng5+ Ke7 33. Nxe6 Qxe6
34. Qf2 Rc6 35. Bc5+ Kd7 36. Bb4 Qh3 37. Qa7+ Rc7 38. Qf2 Bg5 39. Rd1 Bf4 40.
Qb6 Qe6 41. Qb8 Qg4 42. Re1 Qg2+ 43. Kb3 Qf2 44. Ba5 e4 45. Qf8 Qxe1 46. Qf5+
Kc6 47. Qe6+ Bd6 0-1

[Event "Zabala Memorial op"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bauer, Christian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[PlyCount "206"]
[EventDate "2004.10.12"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Qd2 Qc7 8. f3
Bb4 9. Nb3 Nf6 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12. bxc3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bd4 Nc6
15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Bd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Ne3 18. Kf2 Nxf1 19. Rhxf1 Rc8 20. Rfc1 Rc3
21. Nd2 Ke7 22. Rab1 b5 23. a4 Rd8 24. Rb4 Rdc8 25. Rb2 Bd5 26. axb5 axb5 27.
Nf1 R8c4 28. Ne3 Rxd4 29. Rxb5 Bc6 30. Ra5 Rd2+ 31. Ke1 Rd7 32. Ke2 f5 33. Nd1
Rc4 34. Nb2 Rc3 35. Nd3 Rdxd3 36. cxd3 Rxc1 37. g4 Rc2+ 38. Ke3 fxg4 39. fxg4
Rxh2 40. d4 Rg2 41. Kf4 Kf6 42. Rh5 Rd2 43. Rh6+ Kg7 44. Rxe6 Rxd4+ 45. Ke3 Rc4
46. g5 Bd5 47. Rd6 Bf7 48. Kf3 Rc5 49. Kf4 Rd5 50. Rb6 Rd4+ 51. Ke5 Rg4 52. Kf5
Rg1 53. Rb7 Kf8 54. Rb8+ Be8 55. Ra8 Rf1+ 56. Kg4 Ke7 57. Ra7+ Bd7+ 58. Kg3 Rf5
59. Kh4 Rd5 60. Kh5 Kd6 61. Ra6+ Ke5 62. Kh6 Bf5 63. Rf6 Rd6 64. Kg7 Bg6 65.
Rf1 Rd4 66. Rg1 Kf5 67. Rg2 Rg4 68. Rf2+ Kxg5 69. Rf6 Be4 70. Rh6 Bg6 71. Rh1
h5 72. Ra1 h4 73. Ra3 Bf5 74. Rc3 Rg3 75. Rc1 h3 76. Kf7 Rg2 77. Rh1 h2 78. Ke7
Be4 79. Ke6 Re2 80. Rxh2 Rxh2 81. Ke5 Ba8 82. Kd6 Re2 83. Kc5 Kf5 84. Kb6 Ke5
85. Kc7 Rd2 86. Kb6 Rc2 87. Kb5 Kd5 88. Kb6 Rc5 89. Ka7 Bb7 90. Kxb7 Kd6 91.
Kb6 Rc1 92. Kb5 Rc5+ 93. Kb4 Kd5 94. Kb3 Rc4 95. Ka3 Kc5 96. Kb3 Kb5 97. Ka3
Rb4 98. Ka2 Kc4 99. Ka3 Kc3 100. Ka2 Rb3 101. Ka1 Kc2 102. Ka2 Rc3 103. Ka1
Ra3# 0-1

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.25"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Massoni, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 e5 9. Ndb5 a6 10. Nd6 Ne8 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Nxc8 Qxc8 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Qd3 Nc7
15. Rad1 Nce6 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. b4 Re8 18. h4 Nc7 19. Nb6 Rb8 20. a4 Qe7 21.
Qd2 Qxe2 22. Qxe2 Rxe2 23. Nxd7 Rd8 24. Nc5 b6 25. Nd3 Rde8 26. c5 bxc5 27.
bxc5 Rc2 28. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Ne6 30. c6 Bf8 31. Kf1 Rc3 32. Rd1 Bd6 33. Ke2
Kf8 34. Rb1 Ke7 35. Rb7+ Nc7 36. Ne1 Ke6 37. Kd2 Ra3 38. Nc2 Rxa4 39. Kd3 Ra2
40. Nxd4+ Ke5 41. Nc2 a5 42. Ne3 Ra3+ 43. Kc2 Kd4 44. Kb2 Rd3 45. Ra7 Rd2+ 46.
Nc2+ 1-0

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.25"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sulava, Nenad"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2477"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Na3 a6 4. Nxc4 b5 5. Ne3 Bb7 6. g3 Nd7 7. Bg2 c5 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 e5 11. Nb3 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Ngf6 14. O-O
O-O 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Qd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 a5 18. Ne3 a4 19. Nd2 Rfc8 20. Nf3 Rc7
21. Rad1 Rac8 22. Kg2 Kf8 23. g4 h6 24. h4 Ke8 25. a3 Rc6 26. R6d2 R8c7 27. Nf5
g6 28. Nd6+ Ke7 29. Nxb5 Rb7 30. Nc3 Nxg4 31. Nd5+ Ke8 32. Kg3 f5 33. Nb4 Rc4
34. Rd6 Ngf6 35. Kg2 Rg4+ 36. Kf1 e4 37. Ne5 Rxh4 38. Nxg6 Rh1+ 39. Kg2 Rxd1
40. Rxd1 Kf7 41. Nf4 Ne5 42. Rd6 Nc4 43. Rc6 Nxb2 44. Ne6 Rd7 45. Nf4 Rd1 46.
Rc7+ Rd7 47. Rc2 Nd1 48. e3 Ng4 49. Nfd5 Ke6 50. Rc6+ Ke5 51. Nf4 Ndxe3+ 52.
fxe3 Nxe3+ 53. Kg3 Nf1+ 54. Kf2 Kxf4 55. Kxf1 e3 56. Rxh6 Ke4 57. Re6+ Kf3 58.
Ke1 Rh7 59. Kd1 Rh1+ 60. Kc2 f4 61. Nd3 Ra1 62. Kb2 Rd1 63. Kc3 Ra1 64. Kb4 Rd1
65. Kc3 Ra1 66. Kb2 Rd1 67. Kc2 Ra1 68. Rf6 Rxa3 69. Rxf4+ Ke2 70. Nc1+ Ke1 71.
Kb2 Rb3+ 72. Nxb3 axb3 73. Kxb3 e2 74. Re4 Kd2 75. Rxe2+ Kxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Najer, Evgeniy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Qc2
g6 9. h3 Qc7 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Nf6 13. Qe5 Qxe5+ 14. dxe5 Nd5
15. Bc4 Be6 16. Nd4 Bg7 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. f4 O-O 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. h4 h5 21.
Ke2 Bh6 22. Raf1 Rf5 23. Rf3 Kf7 24. Rhf1 Rd8 25. Rb3 Rd7 26. Rb4 e6 27. Rf3
Bf8 28. Rfb3 b5 29. cxb6 Bxb4 30. Rxb4 Rb7 31. a4 c5 32. Rb3 Ke7 33. a5 Rf8 34.
Rc3 c4 35. Rg3 Kf7 36. Ke3 Rc8 37. Kd4 c3 38. Rxc3 Rxc3 39. Bxc3 Ke8 40. b4 Rf7
41. g3 Kd7 42. b5 axb5 43. Kc5 g5 44. a6 gxf4 45. a7 Rf8 46. b7 1-0

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Najer, Evgeniy"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Nf1
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ng3 h6 11. O-O Re8 12. Re1 Nf6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Na5
15. Bc2 c5 16. Qe2 Qb6 17. Ba4 Re7 18. Rf1 e4 19. dxe4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21.
Bc2 Re7 22. Rad1 Be6 23. b3 Rd8 24. Qf2 Nc6 25. Qh4 Red7 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Qe4
g6 28. Qf4 Kh7 29. h4 Qc7 30. Qf6 Rd6 31. Qf4 Rd7 32. Qf6 Rd6 33. Qf4 Rd7 34.
Qxc7 Rxc7 35. Nd2 Kg7 36. Kf2 Rd7 37. Ne4 b6 38. Ke2 Ne5 39. Nf2 a5 40. Re1 h5
41. Rb1 Rd8 42. Be4 b5 43. Bc2 b4 44. c4 a4 45. Rc1 Kf8 46. Ne4 Rc8 47. Nd6 Rc6
48. Nb5 Ke7 49. Be4 Ra6 50. Nc7 Ra7 51. Nb5 Ra5 52. Rc2 axb3 53. axb3 Ra1 54.
Rb2 Bg4+ 55. Kf2 Be6 56. Ke2 f6 57. Kf2 g5 58. hxg5 fxg5 59. Nc7 h4 60. Bd5
Nd3+ 61. Ke2 Nxb2 62. Nxe6 Ra2 63. Kf3 Nd3 64. Nxg5 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Qc7 9. Qe2 Nf6 10. Bd2 Be7 11. Rae1 O-O 12. Kh1 Bb7 13. f4 Nd7 14. Na4 Rfe8
15. b3 c5 16. c4 d4 17. e5 Bf8 18. Be4 a5 19. Qf3 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Nb6 21. Rb1 Qc6
22. Re3 Qxf3 23. Rxf3 Reb8 24. Rff1 Ra7 25. Nxb6 Rxb6 26. a4 h5 27. g3 g6 28.
Kg2 Be7 29. Rf3 Kg7 30. h3 Rb8 31. g4 hxg4 32. hxg4 Rh8 33. Rh1 Rxh1 34. Kxh1
Bd8 35. Kg2 Bc7 36. g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 b6 6. Bxd5 exd5 7. O-O Ba6 8. d3
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. d4 d6 11. exd6 Bxd6 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. Nbd2 Nc6 14. Qa4 Bd3 15.
dxc5 bxc5 16. Nb3 Rab8 17. Rad1 Bb5 18. Qh4 Rfe8 19. Be3 c4 20. Nbd4 Ba4 21.
Rd2 f6 22. Qh5 Ne5 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Nf3 Bc6 25. Red1 a6 26. h3 Qf7 27. Qg4 Qe6
28. Qh5 h6 29. Re1 Qf6 30. Nh2 Rf8 31. Ng4 Qf7 32. Qh4 Qg6 33. Rde2 h5 34. Nh2
d4 35. Qg5 Rf6 36. Bc1 d3 37. Qxg6 Rxg6 38. Re4 d2 39. Bxd2 Rxb2 40. Nf3 Rxa2
41. Bg5 Bc5 42. Rxe5 Bxf2+ 43. Kf1 Bxf3 44. gxf3 Bxe1 45. Kxe1 Kf7 46. Kf1 Rd6
0-1

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Milov, Vadim"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Nf4 c6 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Bb2 bxc5 12. bxc5 Qc7 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rb1 e5 15. Nd3
exd4 16. exd4 a5 17. Qc2 Re8 18. Bc1 Rxb1 19. Nxb1 Ba6 20. Nc3 Nf8 21. Be3 N6d7
22. Qd2 Bf6 23. Nf4 Bxe2 24. Ncxe2 g6 25. Rb1 h5 26. h3 Bg7 27. Qd3 Ra8 28. Nc3
Nh7 29. Nfe2 Nhf8 30. Bf4 Qa7 31. Na4 Ne6 32. Bd6 Re8 33. Nac3 h4 34. Rb3 Bf6
35. Rb1 Ng7 36. Bf4 Nf5 37. Kf1 Kg7 38. Bh2 Rc8 39. Bf4 Nf8 40. Na4 Ne6 41. Be3
Re8 42. Kg1 Ng5 43. Bf4 Qe7 44. Nac3 Ne4 45. Nxe4 Qxe4 46. Qxe4 Rxe4 47. Kf1
Nxd4 48. Nxd4 Rxd4 49. Be3 Rc4 50. Ke2 d4 51. Bd2 Rxc5 52. Kd3 Bg5 53. Be1 Bf6
54. Rb6 Rc1 55. Bxa5 c5 56. Rc6 Rg1 57. Rxc5 Rxg2 58. Rc2 Rh2 59. a4 Rxh3+ 60.
Kc4 Ra3 61. Kb5 h3 62. Bc7 Rc3 63. Rxc3 dxc3 64. a5 0-1

[Event "Aiaccio Masters"]
[Site "Ajaccio"]
[Date "2004.10.26"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Milov, Vadim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2004.10.25"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bh4 c5 9. Ne5 Qa5+ 10. c3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Nc4 Bxd4 13. Nxa5 Bb6 14.
Nc4 Bc7 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Bg3 Bxg3 17. hxg3 Ke7 18. Bf3 Rac8 19. Ne5 Rc7 20.
O-O-O Rd8 21. Rh4 Be8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 23. Rb4 b6 24. Kc2 Ke7 25. Rd4 Nh7 26. Be4
Ng5 27. Bd3 f6 28. Ng6+ Bxg6 29. Bxg6 f5 30. f3 Rc8 31. f4 Ne4 32. g4 Nd6 33.
gxf5 exf5 34. a4 Ke6 35. Bh5 g5 36. Bf3 gxf4 37. Rxf4 Kf6 38. Rd4 Ke5 39. Rh4
Rh8 40. Kd3 Rd8 41. Rd4 Nf7 42. Rxd8 Nxd8 43. b4 Nf7 44. c4 Ng5 45. Bb7 Ne6 46.
Ke3 h5 47. g3 f4+ 48. gxf4+ Nxf4 49. a5 bxa5 50. bxa5 Ne6 51. Bf3 h4 52. Bg4
Nc5 53. Bh3 Nb3 54. a6 Nc5 55. Bc8 Kd6 56. Kf4 Kc7 57. Bf5 Nxa6 58. Kg4 Kd6 59.
Kxh4 Ke5 60. Bc2 Kf4 61. Ba4 Nc5 62. Bb5 a5 63. Be8 Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 08th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2004.11.02"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Bagheri, Amir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2496"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.10.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bf4 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. h3 Be7 7. Nbd2 cxd4 8. cxd4
O-O 9. a3 d6 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Rc1 b5 13. b4 Nb6 14. Nb3 Qd7 15. Na5
Bd5 16. Nd2 Rac8 17. Bd3 Rxc1 18. Qxc1 Rc8 19. Qa1 Bc4 20. Naxc4 bxc4 21. Be2
d5 22. Rc1 Ra8 23. Rb1 h6 24. Bd1 Ne8 25. a4 Bd6 26. a5 Nc8 27. Ba4 Qd8 28. Bc6
Ra7 29. b5 axb5 30. Rxb5 Bxf4 31. exf4 Ned6 32. Rc5 Ne7 33. Qa4 Ra6 34. Bd7 Nb7
0-1

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 08th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2004.11.02"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bagheri, Amir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2496"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.10.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Bb7 7. e3 d6 8.
Be2 Nbd7 9. b4 a5 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. Rfd1 Ne4 13. Qc2 f5 14. d5 e5 15.
Nd2 Ndf6 16. f3 Ng5 17. Bc3 a4 18. Rf1 b5 19. e4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 f4 21. b5 Nh5
22. Kf2 Rf6 23. Ke2 Rg6 24. Rf2 Nf7 25. Kd3 Nf6 26. Bb4 Nd7 27. Kc3 Nb6 28. Rc1
Qh4 29. Nf1 Rc8 30. g3 fxg3 31. hxg3 Rxg3 32. Nxg3 Qxg3 33. Ba2 Ng5 34. Rcf1
Rf8 35. Kb2 Rxf3 36. Rxf3 Nxf3 37. Rc1 Na8 38. b6 Nd4 39. Qxa4 Qf2+ 40. Kb1
Nxb6 41. Qe8+ Qf8 42. Qxf8+ Kxf8 43. Rxc7 Ba6 44. Bxd6+ Kg8 45. Bxe5 1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 08th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2004.11.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2004.10.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nb6 8. Bd3
dxe5 9. dxe5 Na6 10. Qe2 Nc5 11. Bc2 Nd5 12. O-O Bd7 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Be7
15. Rd1 Rc8 16. Nd4 O-O 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh6 Re8 19. Nf3 Bf8 20. Qh3 Bg7 21. Bh6
Qe7 22. Re1 Qf8 23. Bxg7 Qxg7 24. Rad1 Ba4 25. Bxa4 Nxa4 26. Rd7 Nc5 27. Rd4 b6
28. Qh4 h6 29. h3 Rc7 30. Nh2 h5 31. Nf3 Nd7 32. Qf4 Nb8 33. Ng5 Nc6 34. Rd6
Kh8 35. Red1 Rf8 36. Rd7 Rxd7 37. Rxd7 Nxe5 38. Rxa7 Kg8 39. Nxe6 Nd3 40. Qd2
1-0

[Event "Corsica Masters rap 08th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2004.11.02"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2004.10.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Qc7 9. Re1 Nf6 10. Qf3 Be7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bd2 d4 13. Na4 O-O 14. b3 Be6 15.
c3 c5 16. Rac1 Qb8 17. Qe2 Qb7 18. Nb2 Nd7 19. Bc4 Bxc4 20. Nxc4 Qb5 21. Qd3
Rfd8 22. Qg3 f6 23. f4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Nf8 25. Qg4 Ng6 26. Bg3 Qc6 27. h4 dxc3
28. Rxc3 Ra7 29. h5 Nf8 30. e5 Rd4 31. Qh3 Rad7 32. Kh2 Rd1 33. Rce3 Rxe1 34.
Bxe1 Rd5 35. Bc3 fxe5 36. Bxe5 Bf6 37. Qf3 Nd7 38. Rd3 Nb6 39. Bg3 Qe6 40. Re3
Qf7 41. Nxb6 Rxh5+ 42. Kg1 Bd4 43. Qxf7+ Kxf7 44. Bf2 Bxe3 45. Bxe3 Ke6 46. Kf2
Rf5+ 47. Ke2 h5 48. Kd3 Ke5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Dies ist eine beliebte Fortsetzung von
Topalev. Mit diesem Königszug er hat in einer schönen Partie gegen Lutz
gewonnen (Topalov,V - Lutz,C 2002 Dortmund). Die bekannten Alternativen sind -
11.Qe1 (die moderne Fortsetzung) und 11.Bd4 (der traditionelle Zug). Nach dem
Königszug droht sofort 12.Nxb5.} Nc4 {Das ist die direkte Fortsetzung, jedoch
kommt auch die Alternative in Betracht.} (11... Be7 $5) 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nc1 {
Dies ist die Idee des Zuges 11.Kb1 - der Springer besitzt nun ein Schlupfloch
auf c1.} (13. Nd4 Rb8 14. Ka1 O-O 15. g4 d6 16. a3 Ba5 {1/2-1/2 Sax,
G-Goloshchapov,A/Rethymnon GRE 2003/(16)}) 13... Qb7 $146 {Schwarz möchte die
halboffene b-Linie besetzen. Er besitzt zwar das Läuferpaar, jedoch stehen sie
nicht aktiv (besonders Bc8).} (13... Rb8 14. Bf4 (14. N1e2 O-O (14... Qb7 15.
b3 O-O 16. Bf4 Ra8 17. Bd6 Bxd6 18. Qxd6 cxb3 $6 (18... a5 $5) 19. axb3 a5 20.
Rd4 {1-0 Topalov,V-Lutz,C/Dortmund 2002/CBM 90/[Ribli] (34)'}) 15. Ka1 $6 (15.
Bf4 $5 e5 16. Bg5 Ba3 17. b3 Qb6 18. Be3 $14) 15... d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Bxf6
gxf6 18. Qh6 Qe5 19. f4 Qf5 20. g4 Qg6 21. Qh3 Kh8 22. Rhg1 Bc5 23. f5 Qg7 {
0-1 Korneev,O-Delchev,A/Navalmoral de la Mata 2004/CBM 103 ext (41)}) 14... e5
(14... Bxc3 $2 15. Bxc7 Rxb2+ 16. Ka1 Rxc2+ 17. Qxc3 Rxc3 18. Kb2 Re3 19. Bf4
$18) 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. N1e2 O-O 17. Bxf6 Ba3 18. b3 Qxf6 19. Nd5 $14 {0-1 Zufic,
M-Delchev,A/Zadar 2004 (46)}) (13... O-O 14. Bf4 Bxc3 15. Bxc7 Bxd2 16. Rxd2 c3
17. bxc3 d5 {Grischuk,A-Svidler,P/Cap d'Agde (rapid) 47) 2003/(25)}) 14. N1e2 (
14. Qd4 Rb8 15. Na4 $5) 14... O-O 15. Qd4 {[%csl Rc4,Rc8] Es hängt der Pc4,
aber das größere Problem der schwarzen Stellung besteht in der passiven
Stellung des Bc8.} (15. Bf4 d5) 15... Rb8 16. Bc1 $5 $14 {Weiß steht sicher
und übt positionellen Druck auf die d-Linie aus.} (16. Qxc4 d5 $13) 16... d6 (
16... Ba3 17. b3 Bxc1 18. Rxc1 cxb3 19. cxb3 Rd8 20. e5 Ne8 21. Ne4 $16) (16...
Qc6 17. Bf4 Bc5 18. Qxc4 Rb4 19. Qd3 $14) 17. Qxc4 Bd7 18. b3 Rfc8 {[%csl Gb8,
Gc8][%cal Gb8b1,Gc8c1] Durch den Druck auf der b- und c-Linie besitzt Schwarz
zwar Kompensation für den Minusbauern, jedoch ergeben sich daraus keine
konkrete Drohungen.} 19. Qd3 a5 20. a3 Bc5 (20... Bxc3 21. Nxc3 a4 22. b4 $14)
21. a4 Be8 22. Bb2 Bb4 (22... Nd7) 23. Na2 (23. Nd4 d5) 23... Bc5 {Es droht 24.
..Bxa4.} 24. Bxf6 $1 {Weiß tauscht seinen Läufer, und im weiteren Verlauf wird
der Pf6 nicht zu halten sein.} gxf6 25. Nec3 {[%csl Ga2,Gc3] Die weißen
Springer verteidigen sicher die Königsstellung; es ist somit nicht leicht für
Schwarz, seinen Angriff zu forcieren.} Bc6 26. Rhe1 Qb6 27. f4 Kh8 28. Re2 {
[%mdl 256] Die weiße Stellung steht gegen eventuelle Angriffe von Schwarz
sicher. Natürlich ist es noch nicht leicht, den Mehrbauern zu mobilisieren} Rg8
29. g3 Rbd8 30. Qc4 (30. Red2) 30... Rd7 31. Red2 {[%cal Gd1d8]} Bb7 32. Qe2 {
[%csl Ge2][%cal Ge2h5,Gh5h4,Gh4f6] Die weiße Dame zielt auf den Königsflügel,
um den schwachen f-Bauern anzugreifen.} Qc6 33. Qh5 Qb6 34. Qh4 Qd8 35. f5 $1 {
Weiß verbessert seine Stellung kontinuierlich.} exf5 (35... Qe7) 36. exf5 Rg5
37. Qf4 Re7 38. Nd5 $16 {[%csl Gd5]} Re5 39. g4 Bxd5 40. Rxd5 Rxd5 41. Rxd5 Qe7
{[%csl Ge7,Gg5] Schwarz verfügt über einige Aktivitäten am Königsflügel. Der
Springer auf a2 steht hingegen noch weit vom Hauptkriegschauplatz entfernt.}
42. Qf3 (42. h3 $16) 42... Qe1+ 43. Rd1 Qh4 44. h3 h5 {[%csl Rg4]} 45. Nc3 $1 {
Weiß gibt den Bauern zurück, um seinen Springer zurück ins Spiel zu bringen.} (
45. Rh1 Kg7) 45... hxg4 46. hxg4 Rxg4 (46... Qxg4 47. Rh1+ (47. Qxg4 Rxg4 48.
Nd5 Kg7 49. c3 $16) 47... Kg7 48. Qa8 Rh5 49. Rxh5 Qxh5 50. Qxa5 Qxf5 51. b4
Qf1+ 52. Kb2 Bd4 53. Qc7 $16) 47. Nd5 {[%csl Gd5] Die Stellung ist materiell
ausgeglichen, aber Weiß besitzt die bessere Bauernstruktur.} (47. Ne2 $142 $1
Kg7 48. Rh1 Qg5 49. Qh3 Kf8 50. Qh8+ Ke7 51. Qc8) 47... Kg7 48. Rh1 Rg3 (48...
Qg3 49. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 50. Nxf6+ $18) 49. Qd1 Qd4 50. Qxd4 Bxd4 51. Kc1 {[%mdl
4096]} Rg5 $2 (51... Rf3 $142 52. Rh5 Bc5 53. c3 $16) 52. Rf1 Rg2 53. c3 Be5
54. Rd1 Kf8 55. Rd2 Rg1+ (55... Rxd2 56. Kxd2 $18) 56. Kc2 Ke8 57. b4 $18 {
[%csl Ga4,Gb4,Gd5,Re5] Weiß bekommt am Damenflügel unweigerlich einen
Freibauern, dem Schwarz nichts entgegenzusetzen hat. Der Be5 ist scheinbar
stark, jedoch kann er den Freibauern nicht aufhalten} Kd7 (57... axb4 58. cxb4
$18) 58. bxa5 Kc8 59. Nb4 Rg5 60. Rd5 Rxf5 61. Rb5 $1 {[%csl Gb5,Rc8][%cal
Gb5b8] Dem schwarzen König bleibt der Zugang zur b-Linie verwehrt; es droht
a6-a7.} Rf2+ 62. Kb3 Rf3 63. Nd5 Rd3 64. Kc4 (64. a6 Rxd5 65. Rxd5 Kb8 66. Kc4
$18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
{Lately Black has been trying to do without this prophylactic move,} (8... Nfd7
{was played more often.}) 9. Qd2 b4 $5 {A flank action before finishing
development is always something, which should be considered very carefully and
the reputation of this alternative was not the best. However, modern chess is
a very concrete game, Topalov has a novelty up his sleeve...} (9... Nbd7 10.
O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 {is the older main line, which gradually loses
it's popularity - Black risks more, than White in the arising razor-sharp
positions, for example after} ({The older} 12. Nce2 d5 13. Bh3 dxe4 {is OK for
Black.}) 12... Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15. axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7
18. f4 Nb6 {recent practice favours White due to} 19. Rh3 $5 Nxa4 20. Bf2 Rc8
21. Be1 $14 ({or even} 21. c4 $5 dxc4 22. Qc2 $36)) 10. Na4 {Just as in the
line from the above note, White initially focused his attention on} (10. Nce2 {
However, here the situation is different and this retreat is far from
exhausted - actually it was tested in Wijk a few rounds later.} e5 11. Nb3 $142
({More active, but paradoxically less promising is} 11. Nf5 d5 12. O-O-O (12.
exd5 Qxd5 13. Bg2 Bb7 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Rfd1 g6 16. Nfg3 Bc5 17. Nf1 Qxd2 18.
Rxd2 e4 19. fxe4 Nxg4 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nf4 O-O 22. Nd5 a5 23. a3 b3 24. Rad1
Kg7 $11 {Kovacevic,A-Ilincic,Z/YUG Cup Herceg Novi/2000/}) 12... Qa5 ({Black
should open the [+] himself instead of letting White do it, after} 12... Be6
13. Kb1 Nbd7 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Bg2 Rc8 16. Nc1 Qc7 {Korneev,O-Vera,R/Sevilla
op/2001/} 17. f4 $1 $36 {is pretty annoying.}) 13. Kb1 dxe4 14. fxe4 Be6 15.
Nc1 Nbd7 16. Qg2 Qc7 $13 17. g5 $6 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Qc6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Nd3 Rd8
21. Re1 g6 22. Nxe5 Qc7 23. Ng4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxa2+ $1 $40 {Balogh,C-Antal,G/
HUN-ch U20/2001/}) 11... a5 (11... d5 {is less played, but perhaps also
possible:} {The critical line is} 12. O-O-O $5 (12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bf2 a5 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. Bb5+ Bc6 18. Rhe1 f6 19. Nd4 Bxb5 20. Nxb5
Na6 21. Nf5 g6 22. Nfd6+ (22. Nbd6+ Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Kf7 $5 $13) 22... Bxd6 23.
Rxd6 O-O 24. Bg3 Nh3 25. Rc6 Nb8 26. Rc7 Na6 $11 {Schwartz,Y-Rashkovsky,N/Bern/
2001/}) 12... d4 (12... Be6 13. g5 $1 hxg5 14. Bxg5 d4 15. Bg2 Be7 16. f4 Ng4
17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. fxe5 Nf2 19. Nexd4 Nxd1 20. Rxd1 Ra7 21. Nc5 Rc7 22. Nd3 Rxh2
23. Nf3 Rh6 24. Nxb4 Rd7 25. Nd5 Qc5 26. Nd4 $16 {Colovic,A-Palac,M/
Saint-Vincent/2001/}) 13. Nexd4 $5 exd4 14. Nxd4 $32 {()|^}) 12. Rd1 $142 $1 (
12. Ng3 a4 13. Nc1 {again gives Black a choice:} Qa5 (13... d5 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. g5 (16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nd3 Nc6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Nf4 20.
O-O-O Qxd2+ 21. Rxd2 Ne6 22. Bd6 f6 23. Ne2 Kf7 $11 {Socko,B-Ibrahimov,R/
EU-chT Plovdiv/2003/}) 16... hxg5 17. Bxg5 dxe4 18. Bxf6 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 e3+ (
19... gxf6 20. fxe4 Bh6+ $132) 20. Kxe3 gxf6 21. h4 Ke7 22. Nd3 Nc6 23. f4 a3
24. b3 Rd8 25. h5 {Fedorov,A-Solak,D/EU-ch Istanbul/2003/} Ke6 $13) 14. Bc4 Be6
15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nd3 Nc6 17. O-O Be7 18. Qg2 g5 $5 19. c3 bxc3 20. Rac1 Nb4
21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxc3 d5 23. Qc2 d4 24. Rc4 Qb5 25. Bd2 Kf7 26. Nh1 Nd7 27.
Nf2 Nb6 $132 {Svidler,P-Ilincic,Z/EU-Cup Chalkidiki/2002/}) ({An interesting
idea is blockading the << with} 12. c4 $5 {, but Black should be able to cope
after} a4 (12... Nc6 13. Rd1 Be6 14. Ng3 a4 15. Nc1 g6 16. h4 h5 17. g5 Nd7 18.
Be2 Be7 19. O-O Qa5 20. b3 Nc5 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 axb3 23. axb3 Qa1 24. Nf5
Nxe4 25. Rxe4 gxf5 26. Rf4 Qc3 27. Bf3 $36 {Iordachescu,V-Lutz,C/Calvia olm/
2004/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 (13... Qa5 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bd3 $6 (15. h4 $142) 15... Nbd7
16. O-O Nc5 17. Be2 Be6 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Be7 20. h3 {Nyysti,S-Szabo,K/
Budapest/2004/} Nd7 $1 {/\Bg5=/+}) 14. Ng3 Nd7 15. Nd3 Qa5 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O
Be6 18. Rac1 g6 $13 19. f4 $6 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 exf4 21. Bxf4 Ne5 22. Qd2 Bg7 23.
h3 b3 24. axb3 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 axb3 $36 {Kuznetsov,V-Shtyrenkov,V/Alushta/2004/})
12... a4 (12... Qc7 13. Ng3 g6 14. h4 h5 $6 (14... Be6 $142) 15. Bg5 Nbd7 16.
Bb5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. gxh5 Ke7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. h5 $36 {Nijboer,F-Nielsen,
P/Wijk aan Zee B/2005/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 14. Ng3 Qa5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 d5 $5
17. exd5 O-O-O 18. Bc4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qxc4 21. dxc6 e4 22. Qxb4 Qxc6
23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Rd8+ 26. Ke2 exf3+ 27. Kxf3 a3 $5 $14 {
<=>,Zhigalko,A-Svidler,P/EU-Cup Rethymnon/2003/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... e5 $6 11.
Nf5 $36 {[%csl Rb6] ><b6}) (10... d5 11. e5 Nfd7 12. f4 $14 {is Ilincic's
favourite, but transposing so abruptly into a French P-structure is
discouraging for most Sicilian players. White can activate his Na4 after b3
via b2 and should be better.} Bb7 13. Bd3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc6 15. Qf2 Rb8 16. f5 $1
Ncxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. O-O Bd6 19. Qh4 Nf8 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Bb6 Qxb6+ 22.
Nxb6 Bc5+ 23. Kg2 $40 {Sammalvuo,T-Ilincic,Z/Budapest/2004/}) 11. O-O-O (11.
Qxb4 d5 12. Qd2 dxe4 $15) (11. Nc6 Qc7 12. Nxb4 d5 $5 $36 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4][%cal
Rc7a5] /\Qa5,פ}) 11... Ne5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting and promising
novelty, previous attempts were not too encouraging:} (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5
13. Bc4 Bb7 $6 {[%csl Re6] ><e6} ({Safer was} 13... N7f6 $142) 14. Rhe1 Ne5 15.
Bb3 Qc7 16. Bf2 Be7 17. Kb1 Ng6 18. Bg3 (18. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qd7 20. Qe1
$1 $40 {Z.Almasi}) 18... Qa5 19. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 20. Rxe6 $32 {|^} Rd8 21. Qe1 O-O
22. Rxg6 $16 {Almasi,Z-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) (11... Qa5 12. b3 d5 $2 {
failed tactically to} (12... Nc5 $2 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Bxc5 $16) (12... Bb7 $142
$132) 13. e5 $1 Ng8 (13... Nxe5 14. Nxe6 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Re3b6] /\Bb6+-,
ףa5}) 14. f4 Qc7 15. Kb1 g5 16. f5 Nxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. h4 gxh4 19. g5 hxg5
20. Bxg5 Nf7 21. Bh3 e5 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 d4 24. Rdf1 $18 {->,Leko,
P-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) 12. Qxb4 ({A more recent try of a better
prepared opponent was} 12. b3 $5 {However, this novelty is also far from clear
and the final result of the Anand-Topalov game was only indirectly influenced
by the opening battle.} d5 (12... Bd7 $5 {/\} 13. Nb2 Qa5 (13... d5 $5 $13) 14.
a4 (14. Kb1 $2 Nxf3 $1 15. Nxf3 Nxe4 $17) 14... d5 $13) 13. Bf4 Bd6 (13... Ng6
$5 14. Nc6 Nxe4 $5 (14... Qd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 $36) 15. fxe4 Qf6 16. e5
Qxf4 17. Qxf4 Nxf4 18. Nb6 Bb7 19. Nxa8 Bxa8 20. Nb8 $5 (20. Nd4 Ng6 $44) 20...
a5 $13 {[%csl Re5,Gf4] ><e5}) 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxb4
dxe4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4
a5 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. fxe4 h5 (25... Nxe4 $5 26. Rd4 Nc5 $14 {/<=>}) 26. gxh5 Nxe4
27. Rd4 Nf6 28. Be2 Nxh5 29. Rh4 g6 30. Rg1 Ke7 31. Ra4 Ra8 32. Bf3 Ra7 33. Rg5
$36 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Linares/2005/}) 12... Bd7 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4,Gd7,Re6] פa4,
Qb4 The Bd7 covers the traditionally vulnerable Pe6 and targets the sidelined
Na4.} 13. Nb3 $6 {[%mdl 64] The surprised Kramnik loses control and reacts
badly in a volatile position, full of tactics.} (13. Nc3 $142 {Even the
"silicon friend" indicates this after some thought as the best option, as
Black can't immediately trap White's Q. The annotator had to face this very
move himself only 3 days after Kramnik-Topalov!} Qc7 $5 {[%cal Rd6d5] /\d5-+} (
13... d5 $143 $6 14. Qb7 Rb8 15. Qxa6 Bb4 16. Ndb5 $32 {->}) 14. Bf4 ({
Deserving attention is} 14. Qb3 $5 Rb8 15. Qa3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Nb1 $5 d5
18. Nd2 Qc8 $13 (18... Qc7 $5 $44)) 14... g5 15. Bg3 h5 $1 16. h4 $6 (16. gxh5
$142 Nxh5 17. Be2 Nf4 $44) 16... hxg4 17. Bxa6 $2 (17. fxg4 Nfxg4 $15) 17...
Rxa6 18. hxg5 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Rb6 $1 20. Ndb5 Bxb5 21. Bxe5 (21. Nxb5 $2 Nd3+ 22.
Kb1 Qxc2+ $1 $19) 21... Bd7 22. Qa5 dxe5 23. gxf6 gxf3 $17 {/-+} 24. Nd1 Bc6 $6
25. Nf2 $2 $138 (25. Qc3 $8 $17) 25... Bb4 $1 {Balinov,I-Stohl,I/Betriebsliga
Vienna/2005/ In the end White's Q didn't escape its fate!}) 13... Rb8 $6 {
This is possibly not ideal.} (13... Nxf3 $142 14. Nb6 Rb8 $15) ({or} 13... a5
$5 14. Qa3 Nxf3 $36 {were promising alternatives.}) 14. Qa3 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
After this resigned move White goes under without a trace.} (14. Nb6 Nc6 (14...
Nxf3 $5 {-13...Nf3}) 15. Qa4 Rxb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qxa6 Qe3+ 18. Nd2 Ne5 19.
h4 (19. Qa8+ Ke7 20. h4 g6 {[%cal Rf8g7] /\Bg7->}) 19... Be7 $17) (14. Bb6 $142
Rxb6 (14... Nxf3 15. Qa5 $13) 15. Qxb6 (15. Nxb6 Nc6 $17 {-14.Nb6}) 15... Bxa4
16. Qxa6 Bd7 {Although White's P are in front of his K and Black's minor
pieces should prevail in the long run, the game is far from decided. Black
still hasn't finished developing his >> and White can create complications with
} (16... Bxb3 $6 {is perhaps possible, but quite risky after} 17. Bb5+ $44) 17.
f4 $5 $132 {/=/+}) 14... Nxf3 {[%csl Re4,Rg4] ><g4,e4 White's centre is
falling apart and he also lacks piece coordination.} 15. h3 Nxe4 16. Be2 (16.
Bg2 Ne5 $1 {/\} 17. Bxe4 Nc4 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rhe1 (17. Bxa6 Qc7 {[%cal
Rc7c6,Rd6d5] /\Qc6,d5-+}) 17... Qc7 $19 {[%csl Ra4,Rb3,Ge4,Ge5] פ Black is
already a healthy P up, just compare his N with White's.} 18. Bd4 Nc6 19. Bc3
d5 20. Nbc5 Qa7 (20... Qa7 21. b4 $8 Nxc3 22. Qxc3 Nxb4 {[%cal Rb4a2] /\Na2}
23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. Nxa4 Be7 $1 $19 {[%cal Re7g5] /\Bg5}) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 {That move is a playable alternative to the
solid 3...e5.} 4. Bb5 {Well, white doesn't want to check the opponent's
knowledge in the main lines of Sveshnikov after 4.d4.} Qc7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Re1 a6
7. Bc4 {Topalov tries to improve white's play in Kasparov,G-Leko,P/ Linares
20th 2003} ({According to my database,} 7. Bf1 {is the most popular
continuation nowdays, which however, doesn't promise white an advantage.}) 7...
d6 {Black chooses the most safe continuation.} ({At the same time, black was
doing fine after:} 7... Ng4 {in 0-1 Moradiabadi,E-Eljanov,P/Dubai 2004/CBM 101/
[Postny] (57) Postny: But that looks quite risky, and probably Veselin had an
improvement in this line.}) 8. Nd5 {The only way to fight for the opening
advantage-white is trying to prevent black from completing a comfortable
development and force him to open the central ''e'' file.} (8. h3 e6 9. a3 (9.
a4 Be7 10. d3 O-O 11. Be3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 b6 13. Ba2 Bb7 14. d4 cxd4 15. Bxd4
Bc6 $11 {0-1 Nijboer,F-Van Wely,L/Leeuwarden NED 2004/The Week in Chess 505 
(37)}) 9... Be7 10. d3 O-O 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Ne2 Nxe4 13. Nxd4 Nf6 14. Bb3 Bd7
15. c3 Rae8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Shetty,R-Ni Hua/Calcutta IND 2004 (59)}) 8... Nxd5 9.
exd5 g6 $1 {Black has to take care about quick development of his k-side.} ({
Black faces a serious problems with a development after:} 9... Bg4 $2 10. c3
Nxf3+ 11. gxf3 Bd7 12. d4 b5 13. Bf1 c4 14. b3 Rc8 15. a4 Qb7 16. axb5 axb5 17.
f4 $16 {1-0 Ni Hua-Reefat,S/Calcutta IND 2004 (33)}) 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. d3 h6
12. a4 $5 $146 {White's idea is to fix black's q-side pawns and to get some
space advantage. On the other hand, that plan takes some time and allows a
k-side castle.} (12. b4 {led to more complicated play after:} Bg7 13. Qe2 Bf6
14. Qf3 Kf8 15. Bb2 Qb6 16. a3 h5 17. h3 h4 18. Qf4 Bf5 19. Rab1 Rh5 20. a4 Be5
$132 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Leko,P/Linares 2003/CBM 94 (33)}) 12... Bg7 ({After} 
12... b6 $6 13. b4 Bg7 14. Qe2 Bf6 15. Qf3 Kf8 16. Bb2 $36 {[%csl Rd4] the
difference between Kasparov-Leko is that the Qc7 has no square on b6, so white
can just attack the weak Pd4.}) 13. a5 O-O 14. Bd2 ({Interesting would be also:
} 14. Bf4 $5 e5 15. dxe6 Bxe6 ({after} 15... fxe6 $6 16. Qd2 {[%csl Rc8] white
gets a clear edge, since the Bc8 is very passive.}) 16. Bb3 Rae8 17. Qd2 $14 {
and white's position looks a bit better,although black is still very solid.})
14... Re8 {Black wants to push e7-e5 in order to neutralize white's pressure
on Pe7.} 15. Qf3 $6 {That move is not enough energetical and allows black to
equalize by the thematical advance e7-e5.} (15. c3 $142 {White's chances are
preferable after:} dxc3 16. Bxc3 Bf5 (16... e5 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19.
Qg4 $14 {[%csl Re6,Rg6,Rg8]}) 17. Qd2 $14 {due to a space advantage and some
pressure on Pe7.}) 15... e5 $1 16. dxe6 {That exchange is practically forced,
as the pawn structure is acceptable for black (he may start pushing his kside
pawns by f7-f5 and g6-g5).} ({Black has nothing to worry about also after} 16.
c3 Bf5 17. cxd4 exd4 $11) 16... Bxe6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 {Now white cannot make any
progress without taking on e6.} 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Rc1 {Ofcourse,that ''shy''
move shows that black is O.K.} (19. c4 dxc3 20. bxc3 Rf8 21. Qg3 Qf7 22. Rb1 d5
23. Rb6 Kh7 $11) 19... Qf7 {Here the draw was agreed. An important game from
theoretical point of view-it shows that black has to solve some problems after
7.Bc4.} ({The following variations prove, that the final position is
absolutely equal:} 19... Qf7 20. Qxf7+ (20. Qg3 Rf8 21. Re1 e5 $11) 20... Kxf7
21. c4 dxc3 22. bxc3 Rc8 23. c4 d5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. g4
h6 9. f4 g6 10. f5 {Topalov irritates his opponents with the system featuring
early Nbd7, Adams decides to try punishing him.} Ne5 11. h3 (11. fxe6 fxe6 12.
g5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 {Yakovich,Y-Magerramov,E/URS/URS/1986/}) 11... b5 12. a3 Qe7
$5 {A fine move supporting the center since the bishop would love to operate
from the square b7.} 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. O-O-O Rc8 (15... Nxe4 16.
Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Rhf1 $36) 16. Rhf1 Bg7 17. g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Nf7 (18... Rxc3 $5
19. bxc3 $1 (19. Qxc3 $2 Nxe4 20. Bxe7 Bh6+ $1 21. Kb1 Nxc3+ 22. bxc3 Kxe7 $17)
19... Nxe4 (19... Nf7 $5 20. Be3 Nxe4 $15) 20. Bxe7 Nxd2 21. Bf6 $1 Nxf1 22.
Bxg7 Rh7 23. Nxb5 $1 Rxg7 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. Bxf1 Bf3 26. Rd4 $14) 19. Kb1 Rc5 {
The moment for great tactics was very tempting, but the sharp lines seem to
favour white.} (19... Rxc3 $2 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxc3 $16) (19... Rxh3 $6 20.
Bg4 $1 Rhxc3 21. Nxe6 $1 Bh8 (21... Nxg5 22. Qxg5 $40) (21... Rxc2 22. Nxg7+
Kf8 23. Ne6+ Kg8 24. Rxf6 Rxd2 (24... Qxf6 25. Bxf6 Rxd2 26. Rxd2 $18) 25.
Rxg6+ Kh7 26. Rh1+ Kxg6 27. Bf5#) 22. bxc3 Nxe4 23. Bxe7 Nxd2+ 24. Rxd2 Kxe7
25. Rh2 $16) 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Bg4 Bc8 (21... Ng5 $5 22. Qe3 Rc4 $13) 22. Qg2
Ne5 23. Nce2 g5 24. Ng3 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Bb7 {Can black possibly be worse with a
bishop pair against white knights? Topalov has a loose king and his pieces are
not completely coordinated.} 26. Nh5 Be5 (26... O-O 27. Nxf6+ Rxf6 28. Nb3 $14)
27. Qe2 Rc4 (27... Rf8 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Nf3 $1 Bh8 30. e5 $1 Bxe5 31. Nxe5
Rxe5 32. Qf2+ Kg8 (32... Ke8 33. Qb6 $14) 33. Rf1 $16) 28. Qe3 Rg8 29. Rf2 Rf8
$6 {[%mdl 256] The rook was a good defender and black will soon miss it.} (
29... Kd8 $5 30. b3 Rc7 31. Nf3 $14) 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. b3 $1 (31. Qxg5 $2 Qxg5
(31... Rxd4 $2 32. Rf1+ Ke8 33. Qg8+ Kd7 34. g5 $1 (34. Rf7 $2 Rd1+ 35. Ka2
Bxe4 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37. Nf4 Bxf4 38. Qg7+ $11) 34... Bxe4 (34... b4 35. axb4
Rxb4 36. Rf7 $18) 35. Nf6+ Kc6 36. Nxe4 Rxe4 37. Rf7 $18) 32. Nxe6+ Kf7 33.
Nxg5+ Kg6 34. Nf3 Bxe4 35. Nxe5+ dxe5 $15) 31... Rxd4 (31... Rc5 32. Nf3 $1 (
32. Qxg5 $6 Qxg5 33. Nxe6+ Ke7 34. Nxg5 Bc8 $5 35. Rf1 Bxg4 36. Rf7+ Kd8 37.
Ng7 Kc8 38. Nf5 $16) 32... Bh8 33. e5 $1 Rd5 $5 (33... Bxe5 $2 34. Nxe5 Rxe5
35. Rf1+ $40) 34. Rh1 $1 (34. Rf1 Ke8 35. Qb6 Rxe5 36. Nxe5 Bxe5 37. Qa7 $16)
34... Ke8 (34... Bxe5 35. Nxe5 Rxe5 36. Rf1+ $18) 35. Nf4 $1 $18) 32. Rxd4 Bxd4
33. Qxd4 {White advantage is obvious, aggressive knight cooperates well with
centralized queen.} e5 (33... Kg8 34. e5 dxe5 35. Qxe5 Bg2 36. Qd4 Kh7 37. Nf6+
Kg6 38. Nd7 $36) 34. Qf2+ Ke8 $2 (34... Qf7 35. Qb6 Qd7 36. Ng3 $16) 35. Nf6+
Kd8 36. Qf5 $1 Bc8 37. Qxg5 {Black has lost a pawn and his situation is
suddenly hopeless.} Be6 38. Qh6 Kc7 39. g5 Kc6 40. Qh8 Kb7 41. g6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 h6 11. Bd2 b4 12. c3 a5 13. d4 bxc3 14. Bxc3 exd4 15. Nxd4
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 c5 17. Qd3 d5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Nd5 21. Re5
Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Ra7 23. Rae1 Rd7 24. Qb5 Bf6 25. Rxc5 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Kh2
Qe6 28. Qxa5 Kh7 29. Rf5 Rd2 30. Qb5 Bd4 31. Rf3 Bxf2 32. Qf5+ Qxf5 33. Rxf5
Bd4 34. Nb5 Bxb2 35. a5 f6 36. a6 Be5+ 37. Kg1 Ra2 38. a7 Rxa7 39. Nxa7 Bd4+
40. Kf1 Bxa7 41. h4 Bd4 42. g4 Be5 43. h5 Ba1 44. Ke2 Bb2 45. Kd3 Ba1 46. Ke4
Bb2 47. Rb5 Ba1 48. Kf5 Bd4 49. Ke6 Bc3 50. Kf7 Bd4 51. Rb8 f5 52. gxf5 Be5 53.
Rb6 Bd4 54. Ra6 Bc3 55. Ke6 Bb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. g3 Ne7 14. h4 Bh6
15. Bh3 Bxh3 16. Rxh3 a5 17. Kf1 Rc8 18. Nce3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Qd7 20. g4 Rfd8 21.
h5 Qc6 22. Qf3 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Re1 h6 26. Kg2 Qe6 27. Qf5
Qxf5 28. gxf5 f6 29. Re2 Rc4 30. a3 a4 31. Rhe3 Rf4 32. Rf3 Kf7 33. Kg3 Rc4 34.
Rfe3 Rd1 35. Re4 Rg1+ 36. Kh4 Rg5 37. Rxc4 bxc4 38. Re4 Rxf5 39. Rxc4 Rxf2 40.
Rxa4 Rxb2 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. Rxg7 Rh2+ 43. Kg3 Rxh5 44. Rc7 Rh1 45. a4 Ra1 46.
Rc6+ Kf5 47. Rc4 h5 48. Kf3 Kg5 49. Ke4 h4 50. Rc8 h3 51. Rg8+ Kh4 52. Kf3 Rf1+
53. Ke2 Rf4 54. a5 h2 55. a6 Ra4 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8.
dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. Be3 d5 12. exd6 cxd6 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Bxe7
Rxe7 15. Qa6 Nc5 16. Qe2 Rb7 17. b3 Bg4 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 d5 20. Rad1 Ne6
21. Na4 Qf8 22. h4 h6 23. g3 Qb4 24. Re5 Re7 25. c3 Qd6 26. Qe2 Rae8 27. Re1
Kf8 28. Qg4 g6 29. R5e3 h5 30. Qf3 Ng7 31. Rxe7 Rxe7 32. Rxe7 Qxe7 33. c4 dxc4
34. Qxc6 cxb3 35. axb3 Ne6 36. Kg2 Qb4 37. Qd5 Qd4 38. Qc6 Kg7 39. Qf3 Qf6 40.
Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. c3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. Na3 d6 10. Be3 b6 11. Qd2 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qd7 14. Bg2 f5 15.
exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Rad8 17. Re2 Qe6 18. Qc2 Qg6 19. Kh2 Kh8 20. Qa4 d5 21. fxe5
Bxe5 22. Bf4 Qf6 23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. d4 N5g6 25. dxc5 bxc5 26. Rf1 f4 27. gxf4
Nf5 28. Qxa7 Qh4 29. Qxc5 Nxf4 30. Rd2 Nxh3 31. Qc7 Rd6 32. Nc2 Qg3+ 33. Kh1
Rh6 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Be3 Bf6 (
14... a6 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. c4 Qe4 17. Ra2 Bf6 18. Rd2 Rad8 19. h3 Qe7 20. g4
$16 {[%csl Rf6] 1-0 Rizouk,A-Angulo Martinez,J/Erandio ESP 2004/(33)}) 15. Nd2
Na5 $1 16. cxd5 Qxd5 17. Qa4 ({White is not in time to seize the centre by} 17.
c4 Qd7 18. Nf3 {because Black immediately destroys the pawn pair c4-d4 by} c5
$15) 17... Bd7 18. Qb4 (18. Bf3 Bxa4 19. Bxd5 Rad8 $11) 18... Be7 19. Qb2 Bc6
20. Bf3 Qd7 $11 21. Qa2 Rad8 22. a4 b6 23. h3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Qd5 25. Qxd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1
{Topalov's variation! However this move hasn't brought him any single win yet-
few draws and a loss in this game. 8.e4 is the most popular, but also 8.Qc2
and 8.Bg2 were tried by some strong players.} d5 $146 {Judit invents a novelty,
while it seems like black got a good play in previous games. I am not sure
that Judit prepared this move at her home preparation- she probably more
expected 1.e4 from Topalov in this game.  The strongest looks 8...c6 following
with d5;} (8... c6 $1 9. e4 d5 10. Bd3 dxe4 (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 {
and black look very good here.}) (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 $1 {and black
looks great here.}) 11. Nxe4 Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bc3 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15.
Qe2 Bb7 16. O-O h6 (16... Re8 $5 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 17. b4 e5 18. Ng5 $6 Bd4 19.
Ne4 Rc8 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $15 {0-1 Bologan,V-Tkachiev,V/Belfort 2004/EXT 2005 (35)
}) 17. b4 Be7 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Be4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 a5 $1 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (50)}) (8... Bb7 9. Bg2 d5
10. Ne5 Na6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O c5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd3 Qd7 15. Na4 cxd4 16.
Bxd4 Ne4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (41)}) (8...
Ba3 {Finkel} 9. Rc2 (9. Rb1 d5 10. cxd5 (10. b4 c5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. cxd5 exd5
13. Qa4 cxd4 14. Qxa3 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Ne4 $13) 10... exd5 11. Bg2 c5 12. O-O Nc6
13. Bg5 Re8 $132) 9... Nc6 10. Bc1 Bb4 (10... Bxc1 11. Rxc1 Bb7 12. Bg2 Ne7 13.
O-O d6 14. Qd3 Re8 15. e4 $14) 11. Bg2 (11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. Rxc3 Bb7 13. Bg2 Ne7
14. O-O d6 $13) 11... b5 $5 {Beliavsky is famous for his uncompromising style,
that's why he starts a fight for the initiative from the very first moves.} 12.
cxb5 Bxb5 13. Bd2 (13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Ne4 (14... Rb8 15. Re1 Ne4) 15. Re3 d5
16. a4 Ba6 17. Ba3 $14) 13... Rb8 14. O-O a5 {Black's play on the queenside is
based on the advance of an a-pawn.} 15. Nxb5 Rxb5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Qd2 Nb4 19. Rcc1 c6 20. Rfd1 Qa8 21. e3 (21. e4 d5 22. e5 Be7 23. Rc3 Rb6 24.
Rdc1 $13) 21... Rfb8 22. Ne5 $6 {I don't like the idea to give black a chance
to get rid of the knight.} Bxe5 23. dxe5 R5b7 24. Rc4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Ionov,
S-Beliavsky,A/Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Finkel,A] (81)}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 10.
Bg2 $14) 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 12. Rc2 {This rook will serve to protect
e2- white intends to move the bishop d2 and then to castle if possible... But
this game got completely different scenario!} Bd6 13. Bg5 Bb4+ $1 {This
intermediate check prevents white from castling in this game! Topalov
definitely expected this move.} 14. Kf1 f6 15. Bf4 Nd7 $6 {15...Bd6 looks safe
and logical, while Judit goes for the fast development.} (15... Bd6 16. Ne5 $1
Bb7 17. Nd3 a5 $1 $11 {[%cal Gb8a6,Ga6b4]}) 16. Ne1 $6 {iT seems like 16.a3
leads to white's advantage, while the game move allows black to regroup.} (16.
a3 $5 Bd6 (16... Bxa3 $2 17. Qa1 Qe7 18. Ng1 $1 $16 {[%csl Ya3,Ya6,Rd5][%cal
Rc2a2]}) (16... Bf8 17. Ng1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc7,Rd5]}) 17. Nh4 Bxf4 (17... Bb7
18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Bf3 $16 {[%csl Rd6,Rd7][%cal Gf1g2,Yh4f5]}) 18. Bxd5+ Kh8 19.
gxf4 Rc8 20. Bc6 $16) (16. Bxc7 Rxe2 (16... Bxe2+ 17. Rxe2 Qxc7 18. Ne1 $1 Rxe2
19. Qxe2 (19. Bxd5+ $6 Kf8 20. Qxe2 Re8) 19... Kf8 20. Nd3 Re8 21. Qd1 $14) 17.
Rxe2 Qxc7 18. Kg1 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qc1+ $11) 16... c6 17. Nd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Rc8
19. Bh3 g6 $1 {[%cal Gf6f5,Gd7f6] black intends to block light square bishop
of white with f5.} 20. a3 Bf8 {The swap of a-pawns in 20...Bxa3 line is in
white's favor.} (20... Bxa3 21. Ra2 Bf8 22. Rxa7 f5 23. Kg2 $14) 21. e3 $6 {
Very risky move which locks Bf4. 21.b4 would protect everthing and white would
have time to bring Rh1 into the game.} (21. Kg2 f5 22. g4 $140 g5 {[%cal Gf5f4]
}) (21. b4 $142 f5 22. Kg2 $14 {[%cal Gh1c1,Yg2g1]}) 21... Qe7 (21... g5 $6 22.
Qf5 $1) 22. Bg4 {No way back. after 22.g4 black can safely grab a3 pawn.} (22.
g4 Qxa3) 22... g5 23. Qf5 ({Fritz suggests crazy but worthless} 23. Bb8 Nxb8
24. Bxc8 Rxc8 25. Qf5 Qd7 $1 $17) (23. Bxg5 fxg5 24. h4 gxh4 25. Rxh4 Kh8 $1
$17) 23... gxf4 {It seems like white doesn't get enough compensation in 23...
Red8, while also 23...gxf4 keeps an advantage (only if my analysis of 24.Qxd7
line is accurate!)} (23... Red8 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Qxd5+ Kh8 26. Qxc6 gxf4 27.
gxf4 Nb8 $1 $15) 24. gxf4 $4 {This move actually loses a game. I guess Topalov
didn't see any good for him in 24.Qxd7 line, however this was a best chance
for him. According my analysis of 24.Qxd7 line, the best black can achieve in
it is some slight advantage in the ending.} (24. Qxd7 $1 Qe4 25. Rg1 Qxc2 (
25... fxe3 26. Bf5 Rc7 $1 27. Qxc7 Qxf5 28. Re2 Bxa3 (28... c5 29. Qf4 $1 Qd3
30. fxe3 Re4 31. Qxf6 cxd4 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qg5+ $11) 29. Qf4 Qd3
30. Qxf6 exf2 31. Qg5+ Kh8 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Qg5+ $11) 26. Bf5 Rc7 $1 (26...
Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Qh5 28. Be6+ Kh8 29. Bf7 Re7 (29... Red8 30. Qxc8 Rxc8 31. Bxh5
$11) 30. Qxe7 Bxe7 31. Bxh5 fxe3 32. fxe3 $11) 27. gxf4+ Kh8 28. Qxe8 Qd1+ 29.
Kg2 Rg7+ 30. Kh3 Qxg1 31. Qxf8+ Rg8 32. Qxf6+ Qg7 (32... Rg7 33. Qf8+ $11) 33.
Qxg7+ Rxg7 34. b4 Rc7 {[%cal Gc6c5] black is better here-after c5 break pawn
a3 of white will become a target, but white has good chances to escape!} 35. a4
c5 36. dxc5 bxc5 37. bxc5 Rxc5 38. Kg4 {and i think white can draw it here.})
24... Kh8 $1 $19 {Tough defense- 25.Qxd7 doesn't work anymore!} 25. Rg1 (25.
Qxd7 Qe4 26. Rg1 Qxc2 27. Bf5 Qd1+ 28. Kg2 Qh5 $19) 25... Rc7 26. Bf3 Nb8 $1 {
connecting black major pieces and overprotecting c6. White is down a knight
for only one pawn, despite of that Topalov fought hard for another 27 moves- I
believe many players would resign much earlier.} 27. Rg3 Qd6 28. b4 b5 29. Rc1
a5 {White pieces are far away from the queenside, so Judit opens it there.} 30.
bxa5 Qxa3 31. Rc5 (31. Qxf6+ $4 Bg7 {[%csl Rc1]}) 31... Rg7 (31... Bxc5 $4 32.
Qxf6+) 32. Bh5 Rd8 33. Qxf6 {White have won f6 but black king is safe now- too
many black pieces are around to protect the king.} Qxa5 34. Rc2 b4 35. Ra2 Qc7
36. Be2 {36.Ra7 is more resistant, but white must win there anyhow.} (36. Ra7
$142 Qxa7 37. Rxg7 Qxg7 38. Qxd8 Nd7 (38... Na6 39. Qb6 Qd7 $1 40. Qxa6 Qh3+
41. Ke1 Qxh5 42. Qxc6 Qf5 $19) 39. Be8 Nf6 40. Bxc6 Qe7 $19) 36... Qe7 37. Qf5
Qe4 38. Qxe4 dxe4 39. Ra8 b3 40. Bc4 b2 41. Ba2 c5 $1 42. dxc5 b1=Q+ 43. Bxb1
Rd1+ 44. Kg2 Rxb1 {White has only three pawns for two light pieces of black,
but the fight continues!} 45. Ra4 Re7 {in case of RxR white would get a pawns'
diamond!} (45... Rxg3+ 46. hxg3) 46. Rg5 Nc6 47. Ra6 Re6 48. h4 Be7 49. f5 (49.
Ra8+ Rb8) 49... Rf6 50. Rg4 Rb4 51. Ra8+ Rf8 52. Rxf8+ Bxf8 53. f6 Ne5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O
Ng4 (8... exd5 {is the main line and White has to decide between the Benoni
Penrose Attack, or taking back with the e P.}) 9. Bc2 (9. h3 {helps only for
Black exchanging the important B.} Ne5 10. f4 Nxd3 11. Qxd3 exd5 12. exd5 (12.
Nxd5 Be6 {/\ Nc6 and the dark squares are vulnerable.} 13. f5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Nc6
{1/2-1/2 J.Ivanov-V.Dimitrov, Marin 2001}) 12... Na6 13. a3 Nc7 14. Ng3 f5 $1 {
This is the important defensive method. Now the position becomes fairly closed
and it is far from easy to find a breakthrough for White. His g3 N is pathetic,
too.} 15. Be3 Re8 16. Bf2 a5 17. Rab1 Bd7 18. Nge2 b6 19. Rfe1 Qf6 20. Kh1 $11
{Bonsch-Ionescu, Stara Zagora 1990}) (9. dxe6 {Giving up the [+] cannot yield
anything real for White.} fxe6 10. f4 Nc6 11. h3 Nh6 12. Be3 e5 13. Qd2 exf4
14. Nxf4 Nf7 {fighting for the blockading squares e5 and d4.} 15. Rf2 Nfe5 16.
Raf1 Bd7 17. Nb5 a6 18. Nxd6 b6 19. Be2 Nd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 $15 {Panczyk-Gdanski,
Poland 1992}) (9. f4 exd5 10. Nxd5 {White has a nice [+], but the dark squares
are weakened, especially >< d4.} Be6 (10... Nc6 11. h3 (11. Nec3 {Skembris})
11... Nf6 12. Bd2 $1 ({The aggressive} 12. f5 {gives up the vital e5 square.}
Nxd5 13. cxd5 Ne5 14. g4 b5 $1 $132 {Dumitrache-Nevednichy, La Fere 2002})
12... Re8 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bc3 Bxc3 $142 $1 {Skembris} (14... a6 {/\ b5, but
the plan is a bit slow.} 15. Qd2 Rb8 16. Rad1 b5 17. cxb5 (17. b3 {holding the
[+].} Bxc3 18. Qxc3 bxc4 19. Bxc4 $5 {White sacrifices the e4 P in order to
attack against >< f7.} Rxe4 20. Qf3 $5 (20. Qd3 $6 Re7 $1 $15 {
Skembris-Nevednichy, Saint-Vincent 84/(463) 2002}) (20. f5 {! Skembris} Bxf5 $1
(20... Nd4 $5 21. fxg6 $1 Nxe2+ 22. Bxe2 hxg6 23. Bf3 $1 $40 Re8 24. Bc6 Rf8
25. Qg3 $16) (20... Ne5 21. Ng3 Rxc4 22. Qxe5 $1 $40) 21. Rxf5 $1 {This
positional exchange sacrifice is the logical follow-up, but things are far
from clear.} gxf5 22. Qg3+ Kh8 23. Rxd6 Qe8 24. Rxc6 f4 (24... Rxc4 $1) 25.
Qc3+ $18) 20... Qe8 21. Rxd6 $13) 17... axb5 18. Bb1 $5 $14) 15. Nxc3 Nd4 $13)
11. h3 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nf6 13. f5 Nbd7 14. fxg6 fxg6 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6
17. Qc2 Rae8 18. Kh1 Re3 19. Nf4 Rfe8 20. Bxg6 $13 {Nemet-Gheorghiu, Biel 1992}
) 9... Ne5 (9... Qh4 {looks a bit hazardous.} 10. h3 Ne5 11. f4 (11. dxe6 Bxe6
12. f4 Nxc4 {- 11.f4}) 11... Nxc4 12. dxe6 Bxe6 13. Bb3 $1 $16 {Suba} (13. b3
Nb6 14. f5 Bd7 15. Qxd6 Rc8 16. a4 Bc6 17. f6 Bh6 18. Bf4 Na6 19. Qd2 Bxf4 20.
Rxf4 Qh6 $11 {Knaak-Marin, Dortmund 1988})) 10. b3 exd5 11. exd5 (11. cxd5 {
leads to a Benoni type of position with good counterchances on the << for
Black.} b5 12. Rb1 (12. f4 b4 13. fxe5 Bxe5 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. Nxf4 bxc3 16. Qe1
Ba6 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Nxd3 Nd7 19. Qxc3 Qg5 20. Rae1 Rae8 21. b4 cxb4 22. Nxb4
Nc5 $11 {Grigore-Marin, Bucharest 1994}) 12... b4 13. Na4 Ba6 14. h3 Ned7 {
preparing for f4.} 15. a3 bxa3 16. Bxa3 Nb6 17. Nb2 Re8 18. Re1 N8d7 $132 {
Bruzon Bautista-Nataf, Mallorca 2004}) 11... Re8 (11... b5 $143 $2 {is not a
100% correct P sacrifice.} 12. cxb5 a6 13. Bd2 $1 (13. f4) (13. Bf4) (13. Rb1
axb5 14. b4) 13... Nbd7 $142 {/\ Nb6} (13... Re8 14. Re1 $5 $14 (14. a4 axb5 (
14... Ra7 $2 15. Rb1 $1 axb5 16. Nxb5 Rae7 17. Nec3 $16 {Seirawan-V.Dimitrov,
Moscow (ol) 1994 62/580}) 15. axb5 $1 {firmly holding the important extra P on
b5.} (15. Nxb5 Nf3+ 16. gxf3 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 Rxe2 18. Bh6 f6 19. Be4 Ba6 20. Nc3
Nd7) 15... Rxa1 16. Qxa1 Nf3+ 17. gxf3 Rxe2 18. Qd1 Re8 19. Re1 $14))) (11...
f5 12. f4 Nf7 13. Bd2 $13 {Seirawan}) 12. Bf4 Na6 13. a3 f5 {Black's position
is a tough nut to crack!} 14. Qd2 Bd7 15. Rae1 (15. Rfe1 {looks more flexible.}
Nf7) (15. Bg5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 $11 {and the exchange of the dark-squared B is
not bad for Black.}) 15... Nf7 (15... Qa5) 16. Qc1 (16. Qd1) 16... Nc7 17. a4 (
17. Bd3 Ne5) 17... Na6 {/\ Nb4 exploiting the weakness of b4.} (17... a6 {
is usually met by the standard} 18. a5) 18. Nb5 Be5 19. Bd2 (19. Bxe5 dxe5 20.
f4 e4 $15 {and after blockading >< d6 by the N it is only Black who can play
on.}) 19... Nb4 20. Bxb4 $6 {giving up the important B leads to passivity.} (
20. Bb1 a6 21. Nbc3) 20... cxb4 21. Qd2 a6 22. Nbd4 Qb6 $15 23. Rd1 Re7 24. h4
(24. Nf3 Bf6 25. Ned4 (25. Rfe1 Rae8 $15) 25... Rae8 $15) 24... Rae8 25. Nf4 a5
(25... Bg7 26. Nde6) (25... Bxd4 26. Qxd4 Qxd4 27. Rxd4 a5 $11) 26. g3 Bg7 27.
Kg2 (27. Nfe6 {looks promising, but Black can eliminate the dangerous intruder.
} Bh6 28. Qd3 Nd8) 27... Bh6 28. Rh1 Bg7 29. Bb1 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 31. Rxd4 b6
{The _|_ is a bit better for Black, but a plan for the penetration is hard to
find.} 32. Rdd1 Nd8 33. Nd3 Nb7 34. Rd2 Kg7 35. Bc2 h6 36. Bd1 Re4 37. Nf4 Nc5
38. Bc2 R4e7 39. Nd3 Na6 {Black needs the N for future operations.} 40. Nf4 Kf6
41. Bd1 Re4 42. Bf3 {[#]} Nc5 $5 {[%mdl 512] This is an ecellent positional
exchange sacrifice, after which only Black can win. The position remains
closed, and the white rooks cannot find open lines.} 43. Bxe4 fxe4 44. Rb1 Bg4
45. Ne2 (45. Kf1 {/\ Ng2-e3} e3 46. fxe3 Rxe3 47. Rf2 Bf5) 45... Bf5 46. Rbb2
e3 (46... Nd3 {looks tempting but after} 47. Rb1 Nxf2 48. Nd4 e3 49. Rxf2 exf2
50. Rf1 {White has no problems.}) 47. Rd4 (47. fxe3 Rxe3 $36) 47... exf2 (47...
Nd3 {is again parried by} 48. Rxd3 Bxd3 49. fxe3 Rxe3 50. Kf2) 48. Kxf2 g5 (
48... Nd3+ {is answered by} 49. Rxd3 Bxd3 50. Nd4 $11) 49. Nc1 Ke5 50. Rd1 gxh4
51. gxh4 Rg8 52. Rh1 Ne4+ 53. Ke1 Rg3 {The black pieces dominate the whole
board, the white pieces lack any of harmony.} 54. h5 $6 (54. Ne2) 54... Bg4 55.
Kf1 Rc3 56. Ne2 Re3 ({missing the beautiful} 56... Rf3+ $1 57. Kg1 (57. Ke1 Nf2
$17) 57... Rxb3 58. Rxb3 Bxe2 $36 {Black has sacrificed the second exchange,
but White's << pawns will fall.}) 57. Ng1 (57. Rg1) 57... Nc5 (57... Bd1 $1 {
was required:} 58. Rh3 Rxh3 59. Nxh3 Bxb3 $19) 58. Rh4 Bf5 $2 (58... Bd1 $1 {
was the last chance.}) 59. Kf2 {Now White can push back the enemy K and
activate his own pieces.} Rxb3 60. Rxb3 Nxb3 61. Nf3+ Kf6 62. Ke3 Bd7 63. Rf4+
Kg7 64. Nd4 Nc5 65. Kd2 Kg8 (65... Bxa4 66. Ne6+) 66. Ne6 Nxe6 67. dxe6 Bxe6
68. Rd4 Kf7 69. Rxd6 Bxc4 70. Rxh6 b5 71. axb5 Bxb5 72. Rg6 Be8 73. Rg1 Kf6 74.
h6 Bg6 75. Rf1+ Kg5 76. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2][%evp 0,83,19,19,27,-2,-2,0,26,-27,2,-24,-24,-23,-15,-4,0,-41,-24,-72,
-55,-66,-31,-20,-16,-40,-28,-30,-31,-46,-17,-33,-14,-3,-6,-21,-15,-10,14,-18,
-16,-38,-33,-14,12,16,18,25,19,-27,20,-8,-15,15,13,10,20,12,48,48,52,66,31,31,
31,44,44,29,39,18,74,1,29,-29,-43,-43,-56,-53,-53,-175,28,-22,16,-73,-22,-146]
} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
Nf3 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. e3 Rc8 11. f3 {White tried to play this variation
without a this quiet move:} (11. b4 $5 {For further details you can see my
comments to game: Seirawan,Y-Gelfand,B/Istanbul,2000/CBM 80(1/2-1/2)(67)})
11... c5 12. dxc5 {In my opinion,a little better is:} (12. Be2 $5 {See my
annotations to Mikhalchishin,A-Graf,A/Leipzig,2002/CBM 89(1/2-1/2)(37)}) 12...
Rxc5 {This capture much more logically,than for example:} (12... bxc5 $6 13.
Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Qb6 15. O-O d5 16. Bf2 a5 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Rab1 $14 {Hoang
Thanh Trang-Ghorbani,M/Calcutta,2001(1-0)(68)}) 13. Bh4 d5 {It's necessary to
open a <->c.} ({It deserves serious attention:} 13... Rc8 $5 14. Be2 d5 15. O-O
Ba6 16. a4 Ne4 $1 17. Nxe4 Qxh4 18. Nd6 Rc7 19. b3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Onischuk,
A-Epishin,V/Germany,2000}) 14. b4 Rc8 15. Qb2 {White correctly are afraid to
keep his queen in <->c.} Qc7 $5 ({Also once was checked in the preceding game:
} 15... Re8 16. Be2 Qc7 17. O-O Qe5 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Rfc1 {+/=/= Wang
Lei-Karpov,A/Beijing,1998(1/2-1/2)(34)}) 16. Bg3 ({Is a possible continuation
of the play:} 16. Be2 dxc4 $6 (16... e5 $5) 17. Nxc4 Rfe8 18. O-O Bd5 19. Rac1
$14 {Wiley,T-Vyskocil,N/Brno,2003(1-0)(39)}) 16... e5 17. Bd3 $146 {Probably
Veselin Topalov has prepared this continuation directly for this game.} ({On:} 
17. Be2 {I have found three games in Mega DataBase 2005. For an example we
shall consider most interesting of them:} Nh5 18. Bf2 d4 (18... dxc4 $5) 19.
O-O dxe3 20. Bxe3 Nf4 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nb3 Rfe8 23. Rfd1 Re3 $13 {For further
details you can see annotations to game: Chekhov,V-Onischuk,A/Deutschland,1996/
Inf 66/459(1-0)(Chekhov,V)(39)}) 17... Ba6 {/^a6-f1; קc4} 18. b5 ({After:} 18.
Rc1 $6 dxc4 19. Bxc4 (19. Nxc4 $4 b5 {צc1}) 19... Bxc4 (19... b5 $4 20. Bxf7+
Rxf7 21. Rxc7 Rxc7 22. O-O $18) 20. Rxc4 $8 (20. Nxc4 $4 b5 {צc1}) 20... Qd6 {
Black has more comfortable position.}) 18... Bb7 {Black agree to lose two
tempos behind the control above a point "c5".} 19. O-O {At last,White have
hidden the king and now can quietly begin game on centre and queen side.} Qc5
$5 {Black has selected the most resolute continuation.} 20. Rfe1 $140 (20. Bf2
$143 e4 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Be2 Qg5 {/\Ng4 or Nc5-d3|^}) 20... e4 21. fxe4 dxe4
$132 22. Nb3 {With the help of tempos White improve a position of the pieces.}
({It was dubiously:} 22. Bf1 $6 {in view of:} Nh5 (22... Ng4 $143 23. Qd4) 23.
Bf2 Ne5 {/\Nd3|^}) 22... Qg5 23. Bf4 Qg6 24. Bf1 {All white's pieces are
located ideally. Veselin Topalov plans to begin movement of pawn "a" with
strong pressure on the queen side.Therefore Black are obliged to create
threats to the contender's K.} Rfe8 25. Rad1 Nf8 $1 {Successful regrouping of
forces.From a field "e6" the knight can be included in attacking actions of
his army on the king side.} 26. a4 Ne6 27. Bg3 Nh5 28. Bh4 $6 (28. Be5 $2 Ng5
$1 {/\Nf3 and even after:} 29. Kh1 {all the same very strongly:} Nf3 $1 30.
gxf3 exf3 {[%csl Gb7,Re5,Rh1][%cal Gf3f2]} 31. e4 Bxe4 $19) ({Can be
recommended:} 28. Bf2 $5 Ng5 29. Kh1 Nf6 {/\Ng4} 30. Bg3 $13) 28... Ng5 {
IM Nikolai Vlassov makes the following comments in www.chesstoday.net:
"Black's cavalry is trying to frighten the white king ". Further I shall
designate comments of Nikolai Vlassov- N.V.} 29. Kh1 Nf6 30. a5 $6 ({It
deserves more attention:} 30. Qf2 {with idea to prevent "Nf3".}) 30... Nf3 $1 {
N.V." And it suddenly turns out that those threats were not empty ".} 31. gxf3
{White accept a sacrifice of knight. I do not think that it was much better:} (
31. a6 Nxh4 (31... Ba8 $5) 32. axb7 Rc7 $15) 31... exf3 {[%csl Gb7,Re1,Rh1]
[%cal Gf3f2]} 32. Bf2 (32. Qf2 $4 {is refuted by:} Ng4 33. Qg3 $140 f2+) 32...
Rxc4 $1 33. e4 (33. Bxc4 $4 Qg2#) (33. Nd4 $5 Ne4 $36) 33... Rcxe4 34. Rxe4
Bxe4 {Behind knight Black already has PPP, with continuing attack.} 35. Nd2 (
35. axb6 axb6 36. Nd2 (36. Bxb6 $4 f2+) 36... Bd5 {/\Ng4 or /\Re2->}) 35... Bd5
$1 $40 {[%csl Rh1][%cal Gf6g4,Ge8e2] Peter Leko prepares the following
brilliant move.} ({Leads to favourable simplifications for White:} 35... Ng4 $2
36. Nxe4 Qxe4 37. axb6 axb6 38. h3 Nxf2+ (38... Qa4 39. Rd4 Nxf2+ 40. Qxf2 $16)
39. Qxf2 $16) 36. h3 Re2 $1 $17 ({N.V." It deserves attention:} 36... bxa5 $5 {
- the Pa5 could play an important role,distracting White's forces ".}) 37. Rc1
{[%csl Rg8][%cal Gc1c8]} h5 $5 (37... h6 $142 $1 {With the idea to not occupy
a field h5. This point intended for the knight (/\Nh5-g3->).}) 38. Qd4 $8 {
Immediately loses the following move:} (38. Rc8+ $2 Kh7 39. Qd4 $140 Re1 $1 {
/\Qg2#} 40. Kh2 (40. Bxe1 f2+ 41. Qxd5 Qg1#) 40... Rxf1 41. Bg3 Rh1+ 42. Kxh1
Qxg3 $19) 38... Qg5 ({N.V." Again interesting was:} 38... bxa5 {".}) 39. axb6 {
White had no other worthy alternative:} (39. Rd1 $143 bxa5 $1 {and absolutely
not clearly what to do further?}) (39. Rc2 $2 Re1 $1 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41. Kh2 (41.
Qd3+ Be4 42. Nxf3 Qf5 $19) 41... Rxf1 42. Qd3+ Ne4 43. Qxf1 Qxd2 44. Kg1 Be6
$19) 39... axb6 {Black correctly was afraid to take the knight:} (39... Qxd2 $2
40. Qxd2 Rxd2 41. Be3 Re2 $1 (41... Ra2 $2 42. bxa7 {[%csl Ga7,Gb5]}) 42. Bxe2
fxe2+ 43. Kg1 axb6 44. Kf2 (44. Bxb6 $143 Bc4 45. Bd4 Bxb5 46. Bxf6 gxf6 47.
Kf2 $11) 44... Be6 45. Bxb6 Bd7 $1 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Gf6e4]} 46. Rb1 (46. Kxe2
Bxb5+ 47. Kf3 $11) 46... Ne4+ 47. Ke1 Nc3 48. Rb3 Nxb5 49. Kxe2 $11) (39...
Rxd2 $2 40. Qe3 (40. h4 $2 Qh6 41. Rc8+ (41. Bd3 Rxd3 42. Rc8+ Kh7 43. Qxd3+
Be4 44. Qd8 Qf4 $19) 41... Kh7 42. Bd3+ Rxd3 43. Qxd3+ Be4 $19) 40... Qxe3 (
40... Ne4 $143 41. Qxg5 Nxg5 42. Be3 f2+ 43. Kh2 Nf3+ 44. Kg2 axb6 45. Bxd2
Nxd2+ 46. Kxf2 {and in this endgame only White has some chances of a win.}) 41.
Bxe3 Re2 $1 {transfers to 39...Qxd2}) 40. Rd1 Qg6 ({It deserves serious
attention:} 40... Kh7 $5 41. Qd3+ g6 {/\Ng4}) 41. Kh2 Qg5 42. Kh1 {In the last
round Peter has made a fast draw against Judit Polgar and has occupied in
result a sole first place!!! I join to numerous congratulations to Peter Leko
with a brilliant victory in Wijk aan Zee 2005!  N.V. "The opponents agreed a
draw after this move - the tournament situation dictated caution to Leko.
Meanwhile here Leko had an excellent chance to end the fight for the first
place one day earlier:} (42. Kh1 Kh7 $1 {It's a zugzwang for White - he
doesn't have good moves:} 43. Kh2 {And here almost every road leads to Rome 
(Black's win). From fantastic:} g6 ({to the simple:} 43... Bb3 44. Nxf3 Rxf2+
45. Qxf2 Qf4+ 46. Qg3 Qxg3+ 47. Kxg3 Bxd1 $19) ({or} 43... h4 44. Kh1 Be4 $19)
44. Kh1 Ng4 $1 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Kg1 Rxf2 $1 47. Kxf2 $140 (47. Qxf2 $2 g3 {
[%csl Rf2,Rg1][%cal Gf3f2]}) 47... g3+ 48. Ke1 (48. Kg1 $2 Qh6 {/\Qh2# -+})
48... Qe7+ 49. Ne4 Bxe4 50. Kd2 g2 $1 51. Bc4 Qh4 $19 {and black's pawns will
soon become queens ".}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bf4 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Bd6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Qd2 $146 Qd7 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Re1 (19. Nh4 Na5
20. Nxf5 Nxc4 21. Qg5 f6 22. Qg4 Kh8 23. Re1 g6 $11) 19... Re8 $11 20. Rxe8+
Qxe8 21. Qf4 Qd7 22. Nh4 Bc2 23. Qd2 Bf5 24. Qf4 (24. Qe2 Bg4 25. f3 Bh5 26. g4
Bg6 27. f4 Bb1 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {This game was Veselin's first step to his triumph in Linares 2005- the
best tournament in his life.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 8. e3 (8. cxd5 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Adams,M/Linares 2005/CBM
106_01 (54)}) 8... exd4 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Nf3 Nd6 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. f3 Nc6 13.
Nxc6 Bxc6 14. a4 $146 {A new move but not a new idea. Atalik introduced the
idea to bring the queenside rook to the game in 1992, first playing Be2 and
only then a4. The way of Atalik seems stronger since on 14.a4 black has a
strong reply.} (14. Be2 f5 $6 (14... O-O $14) 15. a4 O-O-O 16. b4 Qe6 17. Ra3
Kb8 18. Rc3 Bd5 19. b5 (19. Rxc7 Bb3 20. Qc3 Rc8 $44) 19... g5 20. O-O g4 21.
e4 (21. fxg4 Be4 22. gxf5 Nxf5 23. Bd3 Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Rg8 25. Rf2 $16) 21...
gxf3 (21... fxe4 22. fxg4 $16 {[%cal Gc1f4]}) 22. exd5 Qxe2 23. Rfxf3 Qxc2 24.
Rxc2 $14 Rhe8 25. Bf4 Re4 26. Bxd6 cxd6 27. Rxf5 Rxa4 28. Kf2 Rd7 29. Rf8+ {
1-0 Atalik,S-Kotronias,V/Mangalia 1992/EXT 97}) 14... Qh5 $1 {This move
refutes Topalov's idea- white can't complete the development without weakening
his kingside pawn chain.} 15. Be2 {15.Bd3 is objectively stronger, but black
can reach a draw there.} (15. Bd3 Qh4+ 16. Qf2 Qb4+ 17. Qd2 Qh4+ {would lead
to a move repetition.}) 15... Qh4+ {White is forced to weaken his kingside
pawn structure with g3 move.} 16. g3 Qh3 17. Kf2 O-O-O {White lags in
development, but has some strategical advantages, like a pair of bishops
advantage as well as a pawn mass in the centre. Black must play aggresively to
exploit his advantage in development.} 18. Ra3 (18. b4 Rhe8 19. b5 Ne4+ (19...
Bd5 20. a5 Ne4+ 21. Kg1 Nxg3 {-see 19...Ne4 line;}) 20. Kg1 (20. fxe4 Bxe4 {
[%csl Rc2,Rh1]}) 20... Bd5 {[%cal Ge4g3]} 21. a5 Nxg3 22. hxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Kf1
Be6 {and black has at least a draw.}) 18... Rhe8 19. Bf1 Qe6 20. Be2 {Here
Veselin was ready for a draw (20...Qh3 would lead to a second repetition),
while Mickey has different plans for this game- black is obviously better and
has an attack on black king.} g5 $1 $17 {White doesn't have a good way to
prevent g5-g4. Veselin's position didn't look very promising at this point.
Hard to believe that white will be winning in seven moves from now without any
big blunders from black.} 21. Rf1 g4 22. fxg4 Qh6 $6 {First inaccuracy by
Mickey.} (22... Qd5 $142 23. Bd3 Kb8 (23... Re6 24. Ke1 $1) (23... Qf3+ 24. Ke1
Qxg4 25. Rc3 {with some counterplay.}) 24. Ke1 (24. Rc3 Ne4+ 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 $17)
24... Ne4 25. b4 Qe6 26. b5 Bd5 {[%cal Gc7c5] with very strong idea c5 to open
the c-file for black's attack in case of en passant.}) (22... Ne4+ 23. Kg1 Ng5
(23... h5 24. Rf4 Ng5 25. Kf1 $1) 24. h4 Ne4 25. Kh2 {and white's position is
defendable.}) 23. Kg1 Qh3 24. Bd3 Ne4 (24... Qxg4 25. Rf4 Qh5 26. Rc3 {
intending RxBc6 with sufficient counterplay.}) 25. Rf4 Nxg3 $1 26. Rc3 $1 {
[%mdl 256] With a big threat RxBc6 then Ba6 and mating attack. Despite of the
upset in the opening, Topalov continues to fight, and does it the toughest way.
} Re6 $2 {This move, which looks so logical (prevents Rxc6 threat of white as
well as white may transfer it to a kingside via 6th rank) actually loses a
game! 26...Rxd3 was the only move to keep an initiative, but white manages to
escape there anyhow.} (26... Rxd3 27. Rxd3 Rg8 {I suppose Mickey overlooked
this winning move in his calculations, but unfortunately for black it doesn't
give him more than a draw if white defends perfectly.} (27... f5 28. Rc3 Be4
29. Qf2 Rd8 30. Bd2 Nh1 31. Qe2 {and black's attack goes to nowhere.}) 28. e4
$1 {the toughest defense.} Bxe4 29. Rxg3 (29. Rxf7 Ne2+ $1 30. Kf2 Qxh2+ 31.
Ke1 {only move} Qh1+ (31... Bxd3 32. Qxd3 Qh4+ 33. Kxe2 Qxg4+ 34. Rf3 {black
has no more than perpetual check.}) 32. Kxe2 (32. Kd2 $2 Qh6+ $1 33. Kxe2 Bxd3+
34. Qxd3 Qe6+ $19) 32... Qg2+ 33. Kd1 (33. Rf2 Qxg4+ 34. Ke1 Qg1+ 35. Rf1 Qg6
36. Bf4 c6 37. Ke2 Rf8 $1 {[%cal Gg6g4]}) 33... Qxg4+ 34. Kd2 Qg5+ 35. Ke1 Qh4+
36. Qf2 Rg1+ 37. Kd2 Qxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Bxd3 39. Kxd3 Rxc1 40. Rf8+ Kd7 41. Rf7+
Kc6 42. Rxh7 Kb6 {but I am not sure that black wins here.}) 29... Qxg3+ 30.
hxg3 Bxc2 31. Rxf7 {and this ending is just a draw;}) 27. e4 $1 $18 {[%mdl 256]
with a big threat Bf1 and RxN then. Now Rc3 and Bc1 join the party, as well as
e3-e4 move restrics Bc6 and Re6 of black. Black is in serious trouble now.} Nh5
{There is simply no good way....} (27... Rxe4 28. Bf1 $1 Re1 29. Rxg3 $18) 28.
Bc4 {One more precise more by Topalov.} Qh4 29. Bxe6+ fxe6 30. gxh5 Qxh5 31.
Rd3 {White is up a rook and black doesn't have forces to attack white king.
The game is actually over.} Rg8+ 32. Rg3 Rd8 33. Be3 e5 34. Rf1 h6 35. b4 {
Veselin was in some time trouble here, but it didn't prevent him from making
good moves.} a6 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Bxb5 38. Rg7 c6 39. Qa2 Ba6 40. Qe6+ Kb8 {
[%tqu "En","Find the fastest way to mate black king!","look for a queen
sacrifice!","Don't give up your queen for nothing!! ;-)","e6d6","Final accord.
Mate in three is unpreventable.",5]} 41. Qd6+ $1 {Final accord. Mate in three
is unpreventable.} 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 b4 10. Na4 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. b3 d5 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15.
Nc6 Qc7 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxb4 dxe4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21.
Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4 a5 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. fxe4 h5 26. gxh5 Nxe4 27.
Rd4 Nf6 28. Be2 Nxh5 29. Rh4 g6 30. Rg1 Ke7 31. Ra4 Ra8 32. Bf3 Ra7 33. Rg5 f5
34. Rxg6 Kf7 35. Rg2 Nf6 36. Re2 Rh3 37. Bh1 Ng4 38. Kb2 Kf6 39. Bg2 Rxh2 40.
Bf3 Rxe2 41. Bxe2 Ne3 42. c4 e5 43. c5 e4 44. b4 Rc7 45. bxa5 Rxc5 46. a6 Nd5
47. a7 Nc7 48. a8=Q Nxa8 49. Rxa8 f4 50. Rf8+ Ke5 51. Bg4 f3 52. Rf5+ Kd4 53.
Rxc5 Kxc5 54. Kc3 Kb5 55. Kd2 f2 56. Be2+ Kb4 57. Kc2 Ka3 58. Kb1 e3 59. Ka1
1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 (16. Ra2 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 {is another version of the
same idea. Thanks to Ponomariov this set-up is considered nowadays one of the
most perspective variations against Sveshnikov Sicilian.}) 16... Kh8 17. Nce3
g6 (17... Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. O-O $14) 18. h4 {There are some subtle
differences with 16.Ra2 (see above), but most likely there will be a
transposition.} Bxh4 (18... Bxe3 19. Nxe3 h5 20. g4) 19. g3 Bg5 (19... Bf6 20.
Ra2 {transposes to the game Ponomariov-Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2005}) 20. f4 {
Technically speaking this is a novelty, but there have been games with this
move when the rook is on a2 and pawn on b2. The real new idea comes later.} (
20. Ra2 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 f5 {Amonatov-Van Wely, Moscow 2005}) 20... exf4 21. gxf4
Bh4+ 22. Kd2 $5 {An interesting new idea to run with the king to the queenside.
Most amazing is that it doesn't change the evaluation of the whole line - in
spite of the fact that the position is extremely sharp with a lot of
possibilities for both sides, the chances are about equal!} (22. Kf1 f5 23. Ra2
fxe4 24. Rah2 g5 25. Ng2 Rb7 26. Nxh4 gxh4 27. Rxh4 Rg7 {was no problem for
Black in Stangl,M-Kindermann,S/Altensteig 1987}) 22... Ne7 {The correct
decision. This is the only way the knight from c6 can help Black to reduce
from White's attacking potential.} (22... Bf6 $6 23. Kc1 (23. Rh2 $5 {[%cal
Gd1h1]}) 23... Bg7 24. Ra2 h6 25. Rah2 $40) (22... f5 {is no longer attractive,
since after} 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Rxf5 25. Kc1 {White's king is safer on c1
than on f1. Black will find himself under attack after Ra2-h2.}) 23. Kc1 Nxd5
24. Nxd5 Be6 {Time to swap the second knight.} (24... f5 $2 25. Rxh4 Qxh4 26.
Qd4+ $18) (24... Bf6 $2 25. Ra2 Bg7 26. Rah2 h6 27. Qg1 Kg8 (27... Be6 28.
Rxh6+ Bxh6 29. Qh2 $18) 28. Rxh6 Bxh6 29. Qh2 $18) 25. Qd4+ (25. Ra2 Bxd5 (
25... Rg8 26. Rah2 g5 27. Qd4+ Rg7 28. Nf6 $36 {[%cal Gf6h5]}) 26. Qxd5 Qf6 27.
Qd2 Bg3 28. Rf1 d5 $1 29. exd5 (29. Bxd5 g5) 29... Rfe8 $13) 25... Kg8 26. Ra2
Bxd5 27. Qxd5 ({After} 27. Bxd5 Bf6 (27... Qf6 $5) 28. Qd3 Qc7 29. Rh3 (29. Bc4
$2 d5 $132) (29. c4 Qb6 $132) 29... Rfc8 {White has no time to transfer his
rook from a2 to the h-file.}) 27... Qf6 (27... Bg3 28. Qd2 Qf6 (28... h5 29. f5
$1 Kg7 30. Qe3 h4 31. Rg2 $40 g5 $4 32. Rxg3 hxg3 33. Qd4+ f6 34. Qa7+ $18) 29.
Rf1 {transposes to the game}) 28. Qd2 Bg3 29. Rf1 h5 {In a position with
opposite coloured bishops and mutual attack the time factor and piece activity
are the most important things. Black could fight for the initiative with a
pawn sacrifice.} (29... d5 $1 {This is designed to either deflect White's
bishop from protecting the rook f1, or close for a while the diagonal a2-g8.}
30. exd5 (30. Bxd5 g5 $1 {[%csl Rf1][%cal Gf6f1]}) 30... Rfe8 {[%cal Ge8e4]} (
30... h5 $5 31. Rxa5 Ra8 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 $44) 31. Rf3 (31. d6 Rbd8 $1) (31. Rxa5
$6 Re1+ $1 32. Rxe1 Bxf4 33. Re3 Qb6 34. Re8+ Rxe8 35. Qxf4 Qxa5 $17) 31... Qh4
32. d6 Re4 33. Ra4 $1 Kg7 $13) (29... Rfe8 30. e5 $5 dxe5 $140 31. fxe5 {
[%csl Rf7]}) 30. Rxa5 Ra8 31. e5 $1 {White overtakes the initiative.} Qf5 $1 (
31... dxe5 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. fxe5 Qe7 34. Rxf7 Ra1+ 35. Kc2 $1 (35. Kb2 $4 Qa3+
) 35... Ra2+ 36. Kb1 $1 Rxd2 37. Rxe7+ Kf8 38. Rf7+ Ke8 39. e6 Bh4 40. b4 $16)
32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Kb2 h4 34. Qxd6 (34. exd6 Rd8 $5 $44) 34... Re8 $2 ({After} 
34... Bxf4 $1 35. Qe7 ({Black holds after} 35. Qd4 g5 36. e6 fxe6 37. Re1 Re8
38. Qd7 Kf8 39. Bxe6 $140 $6 Qf6) 35... h3 36. e6 Kg7 37. exf7 Rf8 {the
position would have been completely unclear}) 35. Bb5 Rf8 36. Bd3 $1 Qe6 37.
Qd4 $16 {With few precise moves the Bulgarian GM succeeded to achieve a big
advantage.} Qe7 38. Bc4 Kh7 39. b4 h3 $2 {This loses, but what to do?} 40. Qd3
{[%csl Rg3,Rh3]} Qh4 41. f5 $1 Bf4 42. e6 $1 fxe6 43. Qd7+ Kh6 44. fxe6 $2 (44.
fxg6 Kxg6 45. Bd3+ Kf6 46. Qd6 $18) 44... Bc1+ {This unexpected check confused
Topalov completely. He goes for a variation and misses something (see the
comments to 47.Ra1). That's a pity, because White played a really great game.}
45. Rxc1 $2 (45. Kxc1 Qxc4 (45... Rxf1+ 46. Bxf1 h2 (46... Qe1+ 47. Kc2 Qxf1
48. e7 $18) 47. Bg2 $18) 46. Rxf8 Qxc3+ 47. Kd1 h2 48. Qd2+ $18 Qxd2+ 49. Kxd2
h1=Q 50. Rh8+) (45. Kb3 {should win as well:} Rxf1 46. Bxf1 Bg5 (46... h2 47.
e7 h1=Q 48. e8=Q {and White's king is safer}) 47. e7 Bxe7 48. Qxh3 $18) 45...
Qxc4 46. e7 Ra8 $1 47. Qxh3+ ({Topalov's intention was} 47. Ra1 {but then} Qe2+
{and it is Black who wins!} (47... Rxa1 $2 48. Qxh3+ $18)) 47... Kg7 48. e8=N+
(48. Rc2 Ra2+ 49. Kc1 Ra1+ 50. Kd2 Qf4+ $11) 48... Kg8 $1 (48... Rxe8 49. Qd7+
Kf8 50. Rd1 $16) 49. Nf6+ Kf7 50. Qd7+ Kxf6 51. Qd4+ (51. Rf1+ Qxf1 52. Qc6+ {
followed by 53.Qxa8 would have offered some winning chances}) 51... Qxd4 52.
cxd4 g5 $11 53. Rc6+ Kf5 54. b5 g4 55. Kb3 g3 56. Rc1 Ke4 57. Rg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
Qe8 {Recently this quiet move has became a very serious alternative to the
well-known 8...c6 mostly thanks to the efforts of Motylev and Kozul.} 9. Bf1
Bg4 10. d5 Nb4 {Typical idea in this line.} 11. Be2 {Unfortunately White has
to make this strange-looking move, since Black was threatening 11...Bxf3 and
White cannot take with his Q due to following Nc2.} a5 12. Rb1 {With the idea
13 a3 followed by 14 b4.} (12. h3 Bd7 13. Rb1 Na6 14. Bg5 Kh8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16.
b3 Nc5 17. a3 Bg7 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 Na4 20. Nxa4 Rxa4 21. c5 Bb5 {1-0  Wang,
R- Areshchenko,A/Dubai 2005/CT-1612 (65)}) 12... Na6 $1 {Certainly Black
doesn't allow White to develop his play on the queenside.} 13. Bg5 (13. Be3 Bd7
14. Nd2 Nc5 15. b3 Qe7 16. a3 Ne8 17. Qc1 f5 18. f3 Nf6 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4
Na4 21. Nb5 c6 22. Nc7 Rac8 23. Ne6 Bxe6 24. dxe6 b5 25. Qa3 Qxe6 26. Qb3 Rb8
27. Red1 $44 {0-1 Kozul,Z-Tratar,M/Charleville 2000/CBM 079 ext (57)}) ({
It would be premature to play} 13. a3 {since it runs into} Nc5 14. Ng5 (14. Nd2
Bxe2 (14... Nd3 $5) 15. Qxe2 a4) 14... Bxe2 15. Qxe2 a4 $1 {fixing White's
Q-side pawns.}) 13... Bd7 14. Nd2 $146 {Strangely enough this logical move
appears to be a novelty and certainly he is much stronger than} (14. Qd2 Kh8
15. h3 Nc5 16. Bf1 Ng8 17. Nh2 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. f4 Qg6 20. Nf3 Rae8 $15 {
0-1 Bilobrk,F-Kozul,Z/Zadar 2003/CBM 097 ext (36)}) 14... Kh8 {[%cal Gf6g8]}
15. Bxf6 $5 {By this typical idea Rustam decides to simplify the game. Telling
the truth, this is not the way White can fight for an advantage.} ({The
alternative} 15. b3 Ng8 16. a3 f5 17. f3 {would have led to a very complex
King's Indian play.}) 15... Bxf6 16. Bg4 Bg5 {Of course Black immediately
activates his dark-squared bishop.} 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 18. Nf3 Bh6 19. a3 {[%cal
Gb2b4]} Nc5 {Obviously Black cannot remain with badly-placed knight on a6.} 20.
b4 axb4 21. axb4 Na4 22. Qd3 {It doesn't look like a mistake, but it
significantly eases Black's play.} ({I would prefer to avoid knights swap with
} 22. Nb5 Ra6 ({Doesn't work} 22... c6 23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Nxe5 Qe8 25. Ng4 $16 {
[%csl Gd6,Gh6]}) 23. Qd3 Rfa8 24. h3 $13) 22... Nxc3 23. Qxc3 f5 24. c5 Qb5 $1
{A very unpleasant 25.c6 was threatening, while Black's queen gets a very nice
square.} 25. h4 $1 {A very good positional move, making an escape hole for his
king White at the same time creates some attacking ideas like h5 or Ng5.} fxe4
(25... Ra2 26. exf5 gxf5 (26... Rxf5 27. Ra1 $1) 27. Ra1 $1 ({Our silicon
friend likes} 27. Ng5 Bxg5 28. hxg5 {as well, but I don't understand it).})
27... Rxa1 (27... Rfa8 $140 28. Rxa2 Rxa2 29. Nxe5 $18) 28. Rxa1 Bg7 29. Ng5 e4
30. Qc1 Bxa1 31. Qxa1+ Kg8 32. Ne6 $18) 26. Rxe4 Ra2 27. Rbe1 Qa4 {It might
seem, that Black has managed to seize the initiative, but White's position
remains very solid and his counterplay shouldn't be underestimated.} 28. cxd6
cxd6 29. Qc7 Qc2 30. Qb6 $1 {It goes without saying, that White should avoid
queens swap, since the endgame clearly favours Black.} Bg7 $1 (30... Rfa8 31.
R4e2 $1 Qxe2 32. Rxe2 Rxe2 33. Ng5 $1 Rf8 34. Qxd6 Rfxf2 35. Qb8+ Bf8 $11 (
35... Rf8 36. Qxb7 Bxg5 37. hxg5 e4 38. Qe7 {[%cal Oe7f8,Gd5d6]})) 31. Qe3 (31.
R4e2 {would have led to balanced position after forced line:} Qxe2 32. Rxe2
Rxe2 33. Qxd6 e4 34. Ng5 Rfxf2 35. Qb8+ Rf8 36. Qc7) 31... b5 (31... Rb2 {
might be interesting .}) 32. Rc1 Qb2 33. Rf1 Ra1 ({Too slow} 33... h6 34. Qb6
Qc2 {[%csl Ge4]} 35. Rfe1 {and White is threatening 36 R4e2}) 34. Rxa1 $2 ({
White should have played} 34. Qd3 $142 $1 Rxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Qc1+ 36. Ne1 Qb2 37.
Nf3 $11) 34... Qxa1+ 35. Kh2 Qb1 $2 ({Black could have won one of the pawns
with} 35... Qa2 $1 {[%csl Gd5]}) 36. Qe2 h6 {[%csl Gg5]} (36... Rc8 $143 37.
Ng5 Rc2 38. Qxb5 Rxf2 39. h5) 37. Rg4 h5 $6 {[%csl Gg5]} ({Much stronger was} 
37... Kh7 {keeping the tension in the position.} {Although after correct} 38.
Nd2 Qc2 39. Qe4 Rc8 $1 40. h5 Qxe4 41. Nxe4 gxh5 42. Rg3 Rc4 43. Nxd6 Rxb4 44.
Rf3 {White easily holds the balance.}) 38. Re4 Bh6 39. Ng5 Bxg5 40. hxg5 Rxf2 (
40... Rxf2 41. Qxf2 Qxe4 42. Qf8+ Kh7 43. Qf7+ {with perpetual}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3
Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5
a4 16. fxe6 axb3 17. exf7+ {The line with rapid advance of blacks pawns on the
queenside has become very popular.} (17. cxb3 fxe6 18. Kb1 Qa5 19. Nc1 Nc7 20.
Bh3 g6 21. Rhf1 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Nc5 {0-1 Ivanovic,B-Djukanovic,S/Bijelo Polje
2004/ (53)}) 17... Rxf7 18. Kb1 bxc2+ 19. Kxc2 (19. Qxc2 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Qxg5 21.
Ng3 Nb6 22. Qb3 d5 23. Qxb4 Qd8 24. Bh3 Rf6 25. exd5 {1-0 Djukic,N-Arsovic,G/
Kopaonik 2005/ (33)}) 19... Nb6 (19... Nc5 20. Ng3 Kh8 21. Bc4 Qc8 22. Kb1 Rf8
23. Rhf1 Nc7 24. Bxc5 Rxf1 25. Rxf1 dxc5 26. Rf7 Bf8 27. Rxc7 Qxc7 28. Qd5 {
1-0 Ivanovic,B-Benderac,S/Bar 2005/ (28)}) 20. Nc1 d5 21. exd5 Nd6 22. Kb1 (22.
h4 Nbc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qe2 Qc8 25. Kb1 Qf5+ 26. Ka1 Qe4 27. Bd2 Qxe2 28.
Nxe2 Rf2 29. Rhe1 b3 {0-1 Gross,D-Babula,V/Austria 2005/ (32)}) 22... Rf3 $6 {
[%mdl 4] Vallejo is stretching his luck too far, white is probably better with
two bishops and a spare pawn.} (22... Nbc4 $5 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qe2 Nxe3 25. g6
hxg6 26. Qxe3 Bd6 27. Rhg1 Qc8 28. Qe4 Qf5 {1/2-1/2 Czarnota,P-Bobras,P/Poznan
2005/ (31)}) 23. h4 Na4 (23... Nbc4 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Qe2 Rxe3 26. Qxc4 Bd6 27.
Qg4 $14) 24. Qe2 Rg3 $2 (24... e4 25. Bd4 Nb6 26. Bg2 Rf4 27. Nb3 $16) (24...
Qf8 25. Ka1 Qf5 26. Re1 e4 27. Bg2 $16) 25. Bf2 Rc3 26. Qxe5 Nxb2 (26... Rf3
27. Bd4 Rf7 28. Bh3 $18) 27. Bd4 $1 {Topalov's control of the position becomes
overwhelming.} (27. Kxb2 Qa5 28. Kb1 Rxc1+ 29. Kxc1 Qxa2 30. Rd2 $18) 27... Bf8
(27... Nf5 28. Kxb2 Nxd4 29. Rxd4 $18) 28. Kxb2 Rf3 (28... Qa5 29. Bxc3 Qa3+
30. Kb1 bxc3 31. Rh2 Rb8+ 32. Ka1 Rb2 33. Bd3 $18) 29. Bd3 Kh8 (29... Qa5 30.
Qe6+ Rf7 (30... Kh8 31. Qh6 $18) 31. Bxh7+ Kxh7 32. g6+ $18) 30. Qe2 Rf4 (30...
Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Qc7 32. h5 $18) 31. Qh5 {White has extra piece and mating attack,
the game is over.} Nf5 32. g6 (32. g6 h6 33. Bxf5 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Qf6 35. Rhd1
Bc5 36. Qg4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6
fxe6 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. a4 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. g4
h6 9. f4 g6 10. h3 b5 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. e5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 b4 14. Nc6 Qc8 15. Nxb4
dxe5 16. Nd3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Bg7 18. Bd6 Bf8 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Rf1 Kg7 21. h4 Rf8
22. g5 hxg5 23. hxg5 Nh7 24. Qe3 Qd8 25. Rg1 Qb6 26. Qg3 Rac8 27. O-O-O Rc4 28.
Rdf1 Qa5 29. Qd6 Qc7 30. Qxc7 Rxc7 31. Ne4 Rc4 32. Rf4 Rd4 33. b3 Rd5 34. Kb2
a5 35. Rg3 Ne5 36. Ndf2 f5 37. gxf6+ Nxf6 38. Ng5 Re8 39. Rg1 Ned7 40. Rf3 e5
41. Rfg3 e4 42. Ngxe4 Nxe4 43. Rxg6+ Kh7 44. Rg7+ Kh8 45. R7g4 Nef6 46. Rh4+
Nh7 47. Nh3 Rg8 48. Nf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O (9. Bd3 Qd7 (9... h6 10. O-O Qd7 11. Rfe1 O-O-O 12. Bb5 Qe8
13. Nd4 Bd7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Bxa7 $16 {1-0 De Loughry,
D-Parniani/Varna 1962/MCD (45)}) 10. a3 (10. Nd4 Ne5 11. Nxe6 Qxe6 12. O-O O-O
13. Bd4 Nxd3 14. cxd3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Garrido,J-Llorente Zaro,A/Toledo 2003/EXT
2004 (40)}) (10. O-O O-O 11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 Ne5 13. Be2 Bc4 14. Rae1 Bxe2
15. Rxe2 Rae8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Tartakower,S-Zuckerbaecker,L/Vienna 1914/EXT 2001 
(26)}) 10... Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. f3 Rd8 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rd1 f5 15. Bf2 Bf6 $11
{1-0 Shiraliyeva,F-Avdeeva,Y/Baku 2001/EXT 2002 (26)}) (9. Nd4 Nxd4 10. cxd4 d5
{1/2-1/2 Ljuboschitz,A-Staller,P/Freudenstadt 2002/EXT 2003 (10)} (10... Qd7
11. d5 Bf5 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Bxf5 Qxf5 14. O-O h6 15. Rae1 {1/2-1/2 Bruun,
J-Sander,R/Gausdal 2000/CBM 77 ext (15)})) (9. Be2 Bf6 10. Ng5 Qd7 11. Nxe6
Qxe6 12. O-O O-O 13. Bf3 Ne5 14. Bd5 Qd7 15. Bd4 c6 16. Be4 Nc4 $2 17. Bxh7+
$16 {1-0 Zier,L-Sandrin,A/Hastings 1982/EXT 2004 (18)}) (9. Ng5 Qd7 10. Nxe6
Qxe6 11. Be2 Ne5 (11... O-O 12. O-O Ne5 13. Rfe1 Bf6 14. Bd4 c5 15. Be3 Rad8
16. Rad1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Qxc4 18. Qd5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Jagodzinska,J-Sosnowska,E/
Poznan 1989/EXT 97 (33)}) 12. O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Qxc4 14. Rfe1 O-O 15. Bd4 Bd8
16. Re2 c5 17. Be3 Bf6 18. Qd3 Qxd3 19. cxd3 Rfe8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Valdes,
M-Fittante,G/Pula 1997/CBM 57 ext (43)}) 9... a6 {Black chooses the plan with
long castle. It prevents the pin of the Nc6 with the last move. But now White
gets advantage because of his bishops pair.} (9... Qd7 10. Kb1 (10. Nd4 Nxd4
11. Bxd4 Qa4 12. a3 Bf5 13. Re1 Kd7 14. Rxe7+ Kxe7 15. Bxg7 $16 {1/2-1/2
Sciortino,M-Bondielli,G/Porto San Giorgio 2001/EXT 2002 (53)}) 10... O-O-O 11.
Nd4 Rhf8 12. Bb5 Bd5 13. f3 a6 14. c4 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 axb5 16. cxb5 $16 {1-0
Ushakova,I-Jousopkanova,S/St Lorenzo 1995/Juniors (46)}) (9... Bf6 10. Kb1 Qd7
11. h3 h6 12. g4 O-O-O 13. Bb5 a6 14. Ba4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Jasny,S-Weissmann,L/
Ostrava 2002/CBM 88 ext (44)}) (9... O-O 10. Bd3 (10. Rg1 Na5 11. b3 c5 12. c4
Qc7 13. Ng5 Rad8 14. Bd3 g6 15. Be4 $14 {1-0 Goebel-Huether,M/Germany 1992/EXT
2002 (25)}) 10... Qe8 11. Kb1 Ne5 12. Nd4 Bf6 13. Rhe1 Bd7 14. Be2 Bc6 15. f4
Nd7 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bf3 $16 {1-0 Kharitonov,S-Medvedkov,A/St Petersburg 1998/
EXT 99 (46)}) 10. Ng5 Bxg5 {Of course, Black exchanges his passive bishop.} 11.
Bxg5 Qd7 (11... f6 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. h4 Ne5 14. b3 O-O-O 15. h5 Rhe8 16. f3 Qc6
17. Qd4 Qc5 18. Qxc5 dxc5 19. h6 Rxd1+ 20. Kxd1 g6 21. Be3 Nd7 $11 {1/2-1/2
Forchert,M-Pautz,P/Enger Spenge 1989/EXT 2002 (64)}) 12. b3 f6 {White's last
move can push Black to the idea of short castle with the plan of attacking the
position of the Kc1 by a5-a4.} (12... O-O $5 13. Bd3 a5 14. a4 Ne5 15. Bb5 c6
16. Be2 d5 17. c4 Qc7 18. c5 $13) 13. Be3 O-O-O 14. h3 Qf7 15. Be2 $14 {
The closest plan for White is to open the position by c4-c5, but at first he
exchanges one pair of rooks on the e-file to prevent Black's counterplay.} h5
16. Rhe1 Rhe8 (16... g5 $5 17. f4 g4 18. Bd3 gxh3 19. f5 Bd5 20. gxh3 Ne5 $11)
17. f3 Qg6 18. Bf1 Bf5 19. Kb2 Re5 20. Bf4 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Re8 22. Rd1 $1 {
[%mdl 36]} Bd7 23. c4 Qf5 $2 {This move is typical for Lasker's style! The Qf5
is now in danger and Black hopes that this will draw away White's attention
from the main plan.} 24. Bd3 Qc5 25. Bg6 Rh8 (25... Re7 26. Qd5 h4 27. Qg8+ Nd8
28. Qf8 $16) 26. Be4 Re8 27. c3 $1 {[%csl Rc5]} g5 28. Be3 Qe5 29. Bf2 $1 (29.
c5 f5 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 31. Bd4 Qe2 $11) 29... f5 30. Bd3 Qg7 {Qg7 is now in the
save place but pawns of the king's side are weakened.} 31. c5 dxc5 (31... d5
32. Bc2 Be6 33. Re1 Qf6 34. h4 $1 g4 35. Qf4 $16 (35. Qg5 $16)) 32. Bxc5 Kb8 $6
(32... Re5 $142 33. Qf2 (33. Bf2 Rd5 $132) 33... Rd5 $14) 33. Bc4 Bc8 $6 (33...
Ne5 34. Bf1 f4 35. Bd4 $14) 34. Bd5 Qe5 $2 (34... Rd8 35. Qe2 Ne5 $14) 35. Bxc6
bxc6 36. Bf2 Qe2 37. Ka3 $16 Qxd2 38. Rxd2 Kb7 39. h4 g4 40. f4 {[%csl Rc8]}
Re7 41. c4 Rd7 42. Re2 $2 (42. Rxd7 $5 {[%mdl 4096] I don't see how Black
could hold the position in the bishops endgame.} Bxd7 43. Bc5 {[%cal Ga3b2,
Gb2e5]} Be6 44. Kb2 Kc8 45. Kc3 Kd7 46. Kd4 Ke8 47. Ke5 Kf7 48. Ba7 $18) 42...
Rd3 $1 43. Kb4 g3 $132 44. Bc5 Rd7 $2 {[%cal Yd7g7,Yg7g4]} (44... Rd1 $1 45.
Re3 Rf1 46. Rxg3 Rxf4 47. Be7 Rg4 $11) 45. Be7 $2 (45. Re3 Rg7 46. Be7 $16)
45... Rd4 $1 46. Bg5 Re4 $1 47. Rd2 Kb6 $11 48. Rd3 c5+ 49. Ka3 Re2 50. Rxg3
Bb7 51. Bf6 Rxg2 52. Rg5 Rxg5 53. fxg5 (53. hxg5 h4 54. g6 h3 55. g7 h2 56.
g8=Q h1=Q 57. Qe6+ Bc6 58. Qxf5 Qc1+ 59. Bb2 Qe1 $11) 53... f4 54. Be5 f3 55.
Bg3 Be4 56. Kb2 Kc6 57. Ka3 Bb1 58. Bf2 Kd6 59. Kb2 Be4 60. Kc1 Bg6 61. Kd2 Bb1
62. a3 Bg6 63. Bg3+ Kd7 64. Ke3 Bc2 65. Kxf3 Ke6 66. Ke3 c6 67. b4 cxb4 68.
axb4 Kf5 69. Kd4 Bd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. f4
O-O 9. g4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. g5 Qb6 13. Nf5 Qa5+ 14. Bd2 Bb4 15.
Ne3 Rd8 16. c3 Be7 17. Qc2 b5 18. a4 Bb7 19. b4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 {Es ist zu vermuten, daß die Anzahl der Anhänger
dieses Zuges bald schnell abnehmen wird, so überzeugend ist Topalovs Sieg
ausgefallen. Eine gute Alternative zum Textzug stellt 10...Be7 dar.} (10... Be7
) 11. cxd5 exd5 (11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 g6 14. Rc1 Be7 15. O-O Bf6
16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 (17. Bd6 $5 $14) 17... Qxb2 18. Qa4 Qb6 19. Bd6 Be7 20.
Bxe7 Nxe7 21. Nd7 (21. Qf4 $5) 21... Bxd7 22. Qxd7 Qb3 $11 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,
V/Wijk aan Zee 2001}) 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5 15. bxc3 Nd5 (15...
dxe3 16. Nxe3 $14) 16. Bg3 dxe3 17. Rae1 Be6 {Bisher hat sich keiner der
Schwarzspieler getraut, den Bauern f2 zu nehmen. Zumindest wüßte Schwarz
danach , wofür er gequält wird, in der Partie muß Rustam dagegen "umsonst"
leiden.} (17... exf2+ $6 18. Rxf2 Be6 19. Nd6 (19. Re4 h6) 19... b6 $44) 18.
fxe3 Nde7 (18... Rad8 19. Nd6 Ne5 $2 (19... b6 20. e4 $14) 20. Bxh7+ Qxh7 21.
Qxh7+ Kxh7 22. Bxe5 f6 23. e4 Nb6 24. Bg3 Na4 25. e5 $16 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/
Monte Carlo 2001}) 19. Nd6 b6 20. Rb1 $1 {Nun spielen alle weißen Figuren mit,
während die schwarzen Türme bis zum Ende der Partie dem Kampf tatenlos zusehen
werden.} f6 $146 {Eine Neuerung, die aus der Not geboren zu sein scheint. Das
bereits gespielte 20...Nd5 sieht auch nicht vertrauenerweckend aus.} (20... Nd5
21. Rb5 (21. Qd2 $5) 21... Qh6 22. Rxd5 $5 Bxd5 23. Nf5 Qg5 24. Bh4 Qh5 25. Rf4
$2 (25. Qa4 $1 $40) 25... f6 26. Ng3 Qe8 27. Bxh7+ Kh8 $17 {Nadanian,
A-Dervishi,E/Panormo 1998}) 21. Rb5 (21. Rf4 $5) 21... Ne5 22. Rf4 N7g6 23. Rd4
Bd7 $2 {Die Läuferschaukel sieht einladend aus, und es ist nicht leicht, den
starken weißen 25. Zug zu sehen. Besser wäre jedoch 23...Rad8, wonach Weiß
eine schöne Stellung, aber keinen direkten Gewinnweg hätte.} (23... Rad8 $5 24.
Be2 Qh6 25. Bf4 Nxf4 26. exf4 Nc6 $14) 24. Rbd5 Be6 25. Be2 $1 $18 {[%mdl 64]}
Qh6 26. Bf4 $1 Nxf4 27. exf4 g6 {Schwarz ist verloren.} (27... Bxd5 $2 28. Nf5
$18) (27... Nc6 28. Rh5 Qg6 29. f5 Nxd4 30. cxd4 $18) (27... Rad8 28. Qd1 Nc6
29. Nf5 Bxf5 30. Rxd8 Nxd8 31. Rxd8 Be6 32. Qd6 Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Bb5 $18)
(27... Kh8 28. Qe4 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Ng6 (29... Nc6 30. Rd3 $1 $18) (29... Qg6 30.
fxe5 Qxe4 31. Nxe4 Rae8 32. Nd6 $18) 30. g3 $1 Nxf4 31. Qxf4 Qxf4 32. gxf4 $18)
28. Qe4 $1 Bxd5 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. Re4 Nd7 31. Nf7+ Rxf7 32. Qxf7 (32. Qxf7 Nc5
33. Re8+ Rxe8 34. Qxe8+ Kg7 35. Qe7+ Kh8 36. Bc4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qc2 ({
The main line is} 7. e3) 7... dxc4 {Deviating from the game
Vallejo-Kasimdzhanov, played few rounds before.} ({Few rounds before Vallejo
won against Kasimdzhanov after} 7... O-O 8. O-O-O c5 9. dxc5 {1-0 Vallejo Pons,
F-Kasimdzhanov,R/Linares 2005/CBM 106 [Postny,E] (60)}) 8. e3 ({Now, long
castling is not recommended for white:} 8. O-O-O $6 a6 9. e4 b5 10. e5 Bg5+ 11.
Kb1 Bb7 12. h4 Be7 $15 {0-1 Bradbury,N-Wells,P/London 1985/MCL (39)}) 8... c5
9. dxc5 Qa5 10. Bxc4 Qxc5 11. Ne4 Qa5+ (11... Qb4+ 12. Nfd2 Nd7 13. Bb3 Be7 14.
O-O O-O 15. Qc7 Bd8 16. Qf4 $14 {1-0 Najer,E-Kruppa,Y/Elista 2000/CBM 079 
[Tsesarsky] (54)}) 12. Ke2 {White does not mind to lose his right to castle.
After the forthcoming exchange of queens, the king will feel pretty
comfortable in the centre.} Be7 13. Qc3 $146 (13. g4 Nd7 14. a3 Nf6 15. Ned2
Bd7 16. Rhg1 Rc8 17. Qb3 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Ne5 Ba4 20. Rac1 Bd6 21. Ndf3
Ke7 $11 {0-1 Bacrot,E-Kortschnoj,V/Albert 1997/CBM 061 [Tsesarsky] (54)}) 13...
Qxc3 14. Nxc3 a6 {The position is equal. White has temporary advantage in
development, but black's position is out of weaknesses. Black's pair of
bishops might become a potential source of worry for white in future.} 15. Rhd1
Nd7 16. Ne4 b5 17. Bb3 Bb7 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Rxd6 {Most of the spectators
expected a draw agreement very soon. Therefore, it's very instructive to watch,
how Topalov gradually outplayed his opponent...} Ke7 20. Rad1 $6 ({Safer would
have been} 20. Rdd1 {followed by 21.Rac1 not allowing black to take control
over the "c" file.}) 20... Rhd8 21. R6d4 $6 {The rook has nothing to do on d4.}
(21. R6d2 Rac8 22. Ne1 {followed by 23.Rc2 equalizing.}) 21... Rac8 22. Ne1 a5
$15 23. f3 (23. R4d2 $6 b4 {[%cal Gb7a6]}) 23... Rc7 24. e4 Rdc8 {Establishing
the control over the "c" file.} 25. a3 g5 {Fixing white's pawns on the
kingside and preparing to establish the knight on e5.} 26. Ke3 Ne5 27. R4d2 Ba6
28. Rd6 $6 {After this "active" move white is in serious trouble.} ({It looks
like white could escape for a draw by} 28. Nd3 $1 Nc4+ 29. Bxc4 bxc4 30. Ne5 c3
31. Rd7+ Kf6 32. Ng4+ Kg7 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. b4 c2 35. Rc1) 28... Ra7 29. R6d2
$6 {Vallejo simply did not find any reasonable plan. But, after this move
white's position is beyond saving already...} ({White's last chance was
probably:} 29. Rb6 b4 $1 30. axb4 a4 31. b5 (31. Ba2 Bc4 $1 32. Rc1 Rac7 33.
Bb1 Nd7 $19 {[%csl Rb6]}) 31... Bb7 32. Ba2 a3 {and black gets a strong
initiative.}) 29... b4 30. axb4 Rb8 $1 31. Ra1 (31. Nc2 a4 $1 32. Ba2 Bc4 33.
Bb1 Bb3 $19) 31... Rxb4 32. Ra3 (32. Ba2 Bc4 33. Bb1 Rb3+ 34. Kf2 Rd7 $1 {
with total domination.}) 32... a4 33. Ba2 Bc4 34. Bb1 Bf1 $6 ({More convincing
seems to be} 34... Rab7 35. Nd3 Bxd3 36. Bxd3 Rxb2 $19) 35. Ba2 $8 Rab7 36. Nc2
$2 {This loses quickly.} ({The only way to resist was} 36. Kf2 Bc4 37. Rc2)
36... Rxb2 37. Rxa4 Rc7 $1 ({But not} 37... Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Nc4+ 39. Kf2 Nxd2 40.
Ne3 {and black will be only a pawn up.}) 38. Kf2 Bb5 {[%csl Ra4,Rc2][%mdl 4096]
Black is winning a full piece. Great technique by Topalov!} 0-1

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] Garry knew that he is a winnner of Linares even he loses (the first
tie-break was more wins with black). As well as, Garry knew that this game is
the last in his professional chess career- Garry announced his retirement from
professional chess right after the end of this game ( this decision was not
any spontaneous,and the loss of this game didn't cause to that).} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 {Garry chooses a solid variation for the last round game.} 4.
Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O {Garry prepared 6.Nd2 line with white for Linares 2005
and was very close to beat Leko in round 8 of the same tournament.} (6. Nd2 {
Roiz in CBM 106} Bg5 7. h4 Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Nf6 {That position was tested many
times on the highest level.} 9. O-O {A latest attempt to fight for the opening
advantage which connected with an idea of f2-f4.} Be6 10. f4 $146 {White
allows black to exchange the bishops,as it will make the Pd6 very vulnerable.}
Bxc4 11. dxc4 h5 $1 {A typical defensive idea in such a positions. Black
exploits a drawback of 7.h4 and gets a nice square for his knight.} 12. f5 Ng4
13. f6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Leko,P/Linares 2005/CBM 106_01/[Roiz] (31) White
chooses a very energetical continuation. He tries to use some vulnerablity of
Ke8.}) 6... Nf6 7. Nh4 {A real surprise! This move has never been tested
before. Out of other seven tries, the 7.Ng5 is a most popular and promises
white a good play. In Dortmund 2004 Vishy tested 7.Bg5, and managed to achieve
some opening advantage, but for some reason this line hasn't gained any
popularity. The main idea of Topalov was to keep Garry out of book and his
analysis, and his strategy worked successfully in this game.} (7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 {After the game Kramnik,V-Grischuk,A/Wijk aaz Zee 2003 [Roiz] that move
became very popular.} 9. Qe1 exf4 {That helps white to complete his
development, but there is nothing better.} 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 h6 $146 {
This is a dubious novelty in my opinion, as after h7-h6 white gets excellent
attacking possibilities, using the open ''g'' file (after an exchange on f3).}
12. Nf3 Bxf3 $5 {Black tries a new concept in this common position. He keeps
his knight in the centre, trying to start a quick counterplay by b7-b5.} (12...
Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Be6 14. Kh1 $36 {[%cal Gf1g1] - Here white's initiative is more
dangerous than in Kramnik-Grischuk, as Qd8-d7 is a quite useful move for black.
At the same time a2-a4 is obviously not white's best attacking continuation.})
13. gxf3 Qd7 14. Be3 b5 {There is no other way of counterplay-otherwise black
is just much worse.} 15. Bxd4 (15. Bd5 $5 Rae8 16. Qg2 Kh8 17. a3 $1 {[%cal
Gd5a2]} Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Nc6 19. Kh1 $14) 15... bxc4 ({The alternative was:} 15...
cxd4 $1 16. Nxb5 d5 17. exd5 Bc5 18. b4 Bb6 19. a4 Nxd5 $14 {and black has
some compensation due to weakness of white's kside, although white's chances
are preferable.}) 16. Bxf6 (16. Be3 $5 cxd3 17. Qxd3 Rfe8 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. b3
$14) 16... Bxf6 17. dxc4 Bd4+ $2 {The idea of getting counterplay by f7-f5 is
right, but black chooses a wrong redaction for that!} ({After the correct:} 
17... Rab8 $1 18. b3 (18. Rab1 $6 Qh3 $1 19. Nd5 $140 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Rxb2 $15 {
[%csl Rf1]}) 18... Qh3 $1 19. Rae1 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 f5 21. exf5 Rxf5 22. Nb5 Rxf3
23. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Be5 $14 {white has only a small
advantage in this endgame.}) 18. Kh1 f5 19. Nd5 $1 $16 {0-1 Grischuk,
A-Cheparinov,I/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104/[Roiz,M] (39) Finally white's knight has
got an ideal spot, while the Bd4 couldn't stay in the centre too long in view
of the following c2-c3.}) (7. Bg5 $5 O-O 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. Nd5 Bg5 10. a3 b6 11.
b4 Bh6 12. c3 Ne7 13. bxc5 bxc5 14. Rb1 $14 {1-0 Anand,V-Leko,P/Dortmund 2004/
CBM 103 (27)}) 7... Nd4 (7... Nxe4 8. dxe4 (8. Nxe4 d5 9. Bxd5 Qxd5 10. Bg5 f6
$1 $15) 8... Bxh4 9. f4 (9. Nd5 O-O 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 Ne5 {and black is
safe.}) 9... O-O 10. f5 $44 {and white has a full compensation.}) 8. g3 Bg4 (
8... Bh3 {only helps white} 9. Ng2) 9. f3 Be6 10. Bg5 Ng8 $1 {getting rid of
the bad bishop.} 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxe6 (13. gxf4 Qd7 {following
with 0-0-0.} 14. f5 Bxc4 15. dxc4 O-O-O {[%cal Gc6e5,Ge7c6,Gg7g6] white
kingside pawns are vulnerable.}) 13... fxe6 14. Rxf4 Kd7 $6 {Very unusual way
to connect black rooks. Both 14...Qb6 and 14...Qd7 followed with 0-0-0 would
give black at least an equal play. I believe, if no pressure of the last round
game (as well as of the last game of Garry's professional career), Garry would
choose one of those moves.} (14... Qb6 {[%cal Ge8c8]}) (14... Qd7 $11) 15. Nf3
$1 {This move wouldn't be possible in case of 14..Qb6 or 14...Qd7 since there
black had Ng6 reply.} Rf8 16. Rxf8 Qxf8 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Ne2 (18. Nb5 $5 Nc6
19. c3 (19. Qh5 Qe7 20. Rf1 (20. Qxh7 Qg5 {with at least a perpetual check.})
20... Rf8 21. Rxf8 Qxf8 22. Qxh7 a6 23. Na3 Ne5 {and black has a nice
compensation for a sacrificed pawn.}) 19... dxc3 20. bxc3 Qf6 21. d4 Rf8 22.
Qd2 Qf3 {and the activity of black pieces compensate the unsafe position of
black king.}) 18... Qf6 (18... Nc6 $143 19. Qd2 $1 $14 {[%cal Gb2b4,Ga1f1]} (
19. c3 Qf3 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qe3+ 22. Kh1 Rf8 {and black is fine.})) 19.
c3 Rf8 (19... dxc3 $6 20. Qa4+ Nc6 21. Rf1 $16) 20. Nxd4 Nc6 {The game move
keeps it equal, while 20...Qf2+ line gives black at least a draw;} (20... Qf2+
21. Kh1 Nc6 (21... Rf6 $5) 22. Qg4 $1 Nxd4 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Qxd4 Qxb2 {
and black is not any worse.}) 21. Qf1 Qxf1+ {I don't put a question mark to
Garry's move since I can't prove that the pawn ending is winning for white.
Although, Garry had two safe ways for a draw: 21...Qd8 and 21...Nf6.} (21...
Qd8 22. Qe2 (22. Nf3 Qb6+ 23. d4 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qxc3 25. Rxb7+ Ke8 (25... Kd8 $5)
(25... Kc8 $2 26. Rb3 $16 {black king is vulnerable on c8;}) 26. Rb3 Qc2 27.
Qe1 $1 {in other cases black is just fine.} Qxa2 28. Qc3 Kf7 $1 29. Rb7+ Kg8
30. Qxc6 Qe2 31. Qc3 Rxf3 32. Qc8+ Rf8 33. Qxe6+ Kh8 34. Qf5 {and here black
must go for perpetual check.}) 22... Nxd4 (22... Qb6 $2 23. Qg4 $1) 23. cxd4
Qb6 24. Qe3 Qxb2 {and this position is equal.}) (21... Nxd4 22. Qxf6 Rxf6 (
22... gxf6 23. cxd4 Rc8 24. Rf1 Ke7 25. Kg2 {[%cal Gg2f3] with winning chances.
}) 23. cxd4 Rf3 24. Rd1 g5 {[%cal Gg5g4] and in view of d3 weakness, white
can't reach any progress in this ending.}) 22. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Nxd4 24.
cxd4 d5 $2 {[%mdl 4096] Garry played this move instantly, however, if black
keeps his pawn on d6, the win of white is very doubtful. This way was
mentioned by GM Shipov, he believes that this pawn ending is winning for white
anyhow, but does not show the way. Same here...} (24... b5 25. Ke2 Ke7 (25...
a5 26. Kd2 Kc6 27. a3 (27. Kc3 b4+ 28. Kc4 d5+ 29. Kb3 Kb5 $11) 27... Kd7 (
27... b4 28. axb4 axb4 29. Ke3 Kb5 30. b3 Kc6 31. Kf4 Kd7 32. d5 $18) 28. Kc3
Kc6 {and I don't see a winning plan for white.}) 26. Kd2 Kd7 27. Kc3 Kc6 28. a4
a5 $1) (24... Ke7 25. Ke2 Kf6 (25... b5 $1) 26. Kd2 {[%cal Gd2c3,Gc3c4,Gd4d5]}
Kg5 27. e5 {! Shipov, source: www.chesspro.ru} d5 {and I don't see any chance
for white here - the white king can't go to the queenside since black's king
is just faster.}) 25. Kf2 Ke7 26. Kf3 Kf6 27. h4 $2 {[%mdl 4096] This move
loses couple of tempis, as well as gives Garry an excellent chance to save the
game!} (27. Kg4 h6 (27... g6 28. h4 $1 {leads to the game line.}) 28. Kh5 {
[%cal Gh2h4,Gg3g4,Gg4g5]} Kf7 29. g4 Kf6 30. h4 Kf7 31. g5 $18) 27... g6 $2 {
[%mdl 4096] Garry returns the favour and misses a chance to draw the game.} (
27... h6 28. Kg4 $1 (28. Kf4 g5+ 29. Kg4 Kg6 30. hxg5 (30. h5+ Kf6) 30... hxg5)
(28. h5 Kg5 29. g4 g6 30. hxg6 Kxg6 31. Kg2 Kg7 32. Kg3 Kf7 (32... Kg6 33. Kh4
$1) 33. Kf4 (33. Kh4 Kg6) 33... Kf6 $11) 28... Kg6 (28... g6 29. Kf4 (29. b4 b5
30. a3 a6 {Same position as in the game with white to move, so white can't win
a tempi!}) (29. Kf3 g5 $1) 29... g5+ 30. Kg4 Kg6 $11) 29. Kf4 Kf6 30. h5) 28.
b4 b5 {28...h6 doesn't help here;} (28... h6 29. b5 g5 30. Kg4 Kg6 31. hxg5
hxg5 32. a3 Kh6 33. exd5 exd5 34. Kf5 $18) 29. Kf4 h6 (29... h5 30. g4 hxg4 31.
Kxg4 {and white king gets in;}) 30. Kg4 (30. Kg4 {Black is in zugzwang and
resigned. I still don't want to accept that Garry will not play in big
tourneys like this one nor in matches for the World Championship title. I grew
up as a chessplayer learning from Kasparov's games. He is my favourite chess
player, and a chess writer (and probably yours too!). I hope he will
reconsider and will come back to Big Chess.... Chess needs you, Garry, and we,
chess fans, don't accept your withdrawal.} Kf7 31. h5 $1 gxh5+ (31... g5 32.
exd5 exd5 33. Kf5 {[%cal Gf5e5]}) (31... Kf6 32. hxg6 Kxg6 33. Kf4 Kf6 34. g4
a6 35. a3 Kg6 36. Ke5 Kg5 37. Kxe6 $18 Kxg4 38. exd5 {and white pawn is faster.
}) 32. Kxh5 Kg7 33. g4 Kh7 34. g5 hxg5 35. Kxg5 Kg7 36. e5 $1 {final zugzwang;}
) 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 h6 8. exf6
hxg5 9. fxg7 Rg8 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qa5 12. dxc5 Nc6 13. Nd2 Qxc5 14. Bxc4
Rxg7 15. O-O Bd7 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Re1 Kf8 18. Qh5 Kg8 19. Re3 g4 20. Rg3 b5 21.
Bb3 Na5 22. Ba2 Bc6 23. Rxg4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qg5 25. Qh3 Rd8 26. Rae1 Rg6 27. Bb1
Qd2 28. Kf1 Rf6 29. Qg3+ Kf8 30. Rh4 Ke7 31. Qc7+ Rd7 32. Qc5+ Qd6 33. Qxb5 Nc6
34. Be4 Ne5 35. Qb4 a5 36. Qxd6+ Rxd6 37. Bc2 Nd7 38. Rc4 Nb6 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40.
Rd1 Nd5 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Rd3 Rh6 43. c4 Ne7 44. Rc7 Rxd3 45. Bxd3 Kf6 46. h3
Rh8 47. Rc5 a4 48. Ke2 e5 49. Bc2 Rb8 50. Rb5 Rc8 51. Rb6+ Kg5 52. Bxa4 Rxc4
53. Bb3 Re4+ 54. Kf1 f5 55. g3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 exf5 8.
a3 Be7 9. Bf4 c6 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Bc4 Nb6 12. Ba2 Nfd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5
cxd5 15. Rc1 f6 16. Kd2 Bd7 17. Rc7 g5 18. Bg3 Bc6 19. Rc1 Kd8 20. R1xc6 bxc6
21. Rxc6 Kd7 22. Ra6 Rhc8 23. Ne1 Rc6 24. Ra5 Bd8 25. Rxd5+ Ke6 26. Rb5 Rb6 27.
Rxb6+ Bxb6 28. Nc2 Rg8 29. f3 f4 30. Bf2 g4 31. exf4 gxf3 32. g3 Kf5 33. Kd3
Kg4 34. Ne3+ Kh3 35. Ke4 Rd8 36. d5 Bxe3 37. Bxe3 Kg2 38. Bxa7 Ra8 39. Bd4 h5
40. d6 f2 41. Bxf2 Kxf2 42. b4 Kg2 43. b5 Kxh2 44. b6 Kxg3 45. b7 Rh8 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Ba2 h6 15.
Nh2 Bc8 16. b4 Ne6 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Ng4 c6 19. Bd2 Kh7 20. Qf3 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Qf6
22. Qh3 Nf4 23. Qh2 g6 24. Ne3 Be6 25. Bb1 d5 26. g3 dxe4 27. dxe4 Rad8 28. Bc3
Qg5 29. f3 Bd6 30. Kh1 c5 31. gxf4 exf4 32. Nf5 Bf8 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Bd2 Qf6 35.
c3 gxf5 36. gxf5 Bc4 37. Bxf4 Qxc3 38. Qg3 (38. Qh5 $1 Qxa1 (38... Be2 39. Bd3
$1) 39. f6 {with the threat Qg4 and Qg8# wins immediately}) 38... Qg7 (38...
Bd6 {should be considered}) 39. Qxg7+ (39. Qh4 Qxa1 (39... Qc3 40. Qh5 $1) 40.
f6 {once again with the deadly threat Qg4 and Qg8#, winning}) 39... Bxg7 40. f6
Bf8 41. e5+ Kh8 42. Bf5 Be6 43. Bxe6 Rxe6 $2 44. Rg4 $2 (44. Ra2 {and there is
no good defence against Ra2 with mate to follow}) 44... cxb4 45. axb4 Rc4 46.
Rd1 Re8 47. Rd7 h5 (47... Rxb4 48. Rxf7 h5 49. Rg6 Rxf4 50. e6 Rxf3 51. e7 {
also wins}) 48. Rg5 Rxf4 49. Rxh5+ Kg8 50. Rd1 Rg4 51. fxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Bd3 e5 11. Bd2 h6 12. Rfe1 Re8 13. h3 Qe7 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15.
Bxe4 Nf6 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Qxe5 Rxe5 20. Bc3 Re8
21. a4 a5 22. Red1 Be6 23. f3 Bb3 24. Rd7 b5 25. axb5 cxb5 26. Rb7 Bc4 27. Rxa5
Rxa5 28. Bxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. b3 Be6 11. Ne2 Bd5 12. Nfd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Bc5 14.
Nf5 Rg8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Ke7 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Rd4 Be6 19. Rfd1 Rxd4 20.
Rxd4 g5 21. f3 a5 22. Kf2 b6 23. g3 f6 24. exf6+ Kxf6 25. h4 c5 26. Re4 Rd8 27.
Ke2 Rd4 28. hxg5+ hxg5 29. a4 Rd8 30. f4 gxf4 31. Rxf4+ Kg5 32. Re4 Kf6 33.
Rf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 d5
9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Bg2 c5 12. Neg5 Nc6 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bc3 Nd4 15.
Bxd4 cxd4 16. O-O O-O 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bd6 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21.
Nhxf7 Qe7 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Rae1 e5 24. Qd3 a5 25. f4 Ng4 26. Qe4 Qd7 27. fxe5
Ne3+ 28. Kg1 Nxf1 29. e6 Qa7 30. e7 d3+ 31. Kh1 Qf2 32. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 33. Qe7+
Kh6 34. Qxh7+ Kxg5 35. Qh4+ Kf5 36. g4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nc4 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Nd7 7. d4 d5 8.
Ne3 Nf6 9. Bd3 c5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Qe2 Bxb5 12. Qxb5+ Qd7 13. a4 a6 14. Qxd7+
Kxd7 15. Rb1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxb5 Kc6 18. Rb1 c4 19. f3 g6 20. Bd2 Bd6 21.
Kf2 Ra2 22. Ra1 Rha8 23. Rxa2 Rxa2 24. g4 Bf4 25. Ke2 Bd6 26. h3 Ne8 27. h4 Ng7
28. h5 gxh5 29. Nf5 Nxf5 30. gxf5 Rxc2 31. Kd1 Ra2 32. Rxh5 Ra1+ 33. Ke2 Ra2
34. Ke3 Kd7 35. Rxh7 Ke7 36. Be1 Rc2 37. f4 Rc1 38. Rh1 Kd7 39. Rf1 Ra1 40. Ke2
Bc7 41. Rf3 Ra2+ 42. Bd2 Ke7 43. Ke3 Kf6 44. Rh3 Kxf5 45. Rh5+ Ke6 46. f5+ Kf6
47. Be1 Rh2 48. Bh4+ Kg7 49. Kf3 f6 50. Kg4 Rg2+ 51. Kf3 Rh2 52. Kg4 Re2 53.
Kf3 Rc2 54. Be1 Ba5 55. Rh4 Bxc3 56. Rg4+ Kf7 57. Bf2 Rd2 58. Rh4 Rd3+ 59. Ke2
Ke7 60. Rg4 Kd6 61. Be3 Bb2 62. Rh4 Kc6 63. Rg4 Kb5 64. Rh4 Ka4 65. Rg4 Kb3 66.
Rh4 Kc2 67. Rg4 Kb3 68. Rh4 Kc3 69. Rg4 Kc2 70. Rh4 Bc3 71. Rg4 Bd2 72. Bf2 c3
73. Rg6 Bg5 74. Rxg5 fxg5 75. f6 Rh3 76. Be3 g4 77. f7 Rf3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 h6 8. Rg1 a6
9. h4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Be2 c5 12. g5 hxg5 13. hxg5 Nd5 14. g6 f6 15. Qe4
N7b6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bd2 Qb6 19. Rc1 Bd7 20. b4 Be7 21. Nd4 Rc8
22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Rh1 Rxh1+ 24. Qxh1 Bf8 25. Qh8 Ne7 26. Bd1 e5 27. Bb3 Nxg6
28. Qh5 exd4 29. Qxg6+ Kd8 30. Qf7 Qd6 31. exd4 g5 32. a3 Qe7+ 33. Qxe7+ Kxe7
34. Be3 Kd6 35. f4 g4 36. Kf2 f5 37. d5 Bg7 38. Bc5+ Kc7 39. a4 Bd7 40. axb5
axb5 41. Bc2 Bc3 42. Ke2 Kb7 43. Bd3 Bf6 44. Ke3 Bd8 45. Bf1 Bf6 46. Bg2 Bb2
47. Kd2 Kc8 48. d6 Bf6 49. Bd5 Bb2 50. Kd3 Kb8 51. Bd4 Bc1 52. Be5 Ka7 53. Ke2
Kb8 54. Kd1 Be3 55. Ke2 Bc1 56. Ke1 Be3 57. Kd1 Kc8 58. Ke2 Bc1 59. Kd3 Kb8 60.
Kc2 Be3 61. Kd3 Bc1 62. Bg2 Kc8 63. Kc2 Be3 64. Kd3 Bc1 65. Kc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. O-O a6 14.
Rb1 Qc7 15. Qd2 h5 16. f4 Rc8 17. Rf3 b5 18. Re1 Nb6 19. Qf2 h4 20. Rh3 Na4 21.
Rxh4 Rg8 22. Rh7 Qxc3 23. e5 f5 24. Nf3 Nc5 25. Rd1 Ne4 26. Qa7 Qc5+ 27. Qxc5
Rxc5 28. h4 Rc2 29. Ng5 b4 30. Rd4 a5 31. Kh2 Nxg5 32. fxg5 Rc6 33. g6 fxg6 34.
Rdd7 Rh8 35. Rhe7+ Kf8 36. Rf7+ Ke8 37. g3 g5 38. Rfe7+ Kf8 39. Rf7+ Ke8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. b3 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Bxf3 17. exf3 b5 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. Rd4 e6 20. Rf4 Nh5 21. Rh4
d5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Ne2 Rc8 24. Rd1 Qe5 25. Nd4 Rdc7 26. Kg2 Rc3 27. Qd2 b4
28. Re1 Qf6 29. Qh6 Qg7 30. Qg5 Qf6 31. Rxh5 Qxd4 32. Rh4 Qg7 33. Qxd5 Qf8 34.
Re2 Rc2 35. Rhe4 Rxe2 36. Rxe2 Qc5 37. Re5 Qxd5 38. Rxd5 f5 39. g4 f4 40. h4 h6
41. Rd6 Kg7 42. Rxa6 g5 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. h5 Rc6 45. Rb7 Ra6 46. Rxb4 Rxa2 47.
Rb7 Ra6 48. Rh7 Ke5 49. Rg7 Rb6 50. Rg6 Rxb3 51. Rxh6 Rb5 52. Rg6 Kd4 53. h6
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c3 g6 6. Nbd2 Bg7 7. Nf1 O-O 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 Ne7 10. Ne3 c6 11. Ba4 Qc7 12. Bb3 a5 13. O-O Bd7 14. d4 exd4 15.
Qxd4 Nh5 16. Qd1 Rae8 17. Nd4 Bf6 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 c5 20. Ne2 Bc6 21. f3
b5 22. a4 c4 23. axb5 Bxb5 24. Bc2 Qb6 25. Nd4 d5 26. exd5 Rd8 27. Be4 Bxd4 28.
Qxd4 Qxd4 29. cxd4 a4 30. f4 Rfe8 31. Rfe1 Kg7 32. Bf3 h5 33. Kf2 Rb8 34. g4
hxg4 35. Bxg4 Red8 36. Bf3 Nc8 37. g4 Nd6 38. g5 Bd7 39. Ra2 Rb3 40. Bd1 Rb4
41. Bc2 Rh8 42. Kg2 Rhb8 43. Nd1 Bg4 44. Bxa4 Nf5 45. Bd7 Bxd1 46. Bxf5 Rxb2+
47. Kg3 Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd2
Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. Rc1 a6 11. Bg2 Nb6 12. b3 dxc4 13. Ne2 cxb3 14. Qxb3 a5 15.
Nf4 Bb4 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Qxb4 Rxa2 18. O-O Ra4 19. Qb3 Ra7 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21.
Rxa1 O-O 22. Rb1 Nfd7 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. h4 Rb8 25. Qb4 Nd5 26. Bxd5 cxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Bf4 Kc8 12. Rad1 b6 (12... Bb4 13. Ne4
Be6 14. g4 Bd5 15. gxf5 Bxe4 16. Nd4 $13 {1-0 Nijboer,F-Narciso Dublan,M/
Mondariz 2000/CBM 079/[Hecht] (58)}) 13. Rd3 Be6 (13... c5 14. Re1 Be6 15. Bh2
c4 16. Rd2 Bb4 17. Red1 g5 {1/2-1/2 Lekic,D-Stojanovic,D/Jahorina 2001/EXT 2002
}) 14. Rfd1 Kb7 15. b3 g5 16. Bc1 c5 17. Nd5 Ne7 18. Nxe7 Bxe7 {This looks
fine for Black. He has good control over the d-file and has completely solved
the problem with the black K.} 19. c4 Rag8 {Black could also try to open the
game on the Q-side. That is in a way a more logical plan since that is where
he has his P majority.} (19... a6 $5 {[%cal Yb6b5]}) 20. Nd2 g4 21. hxg4 Rxg4
22. Nf1 Rhg8 23. Rg3 $1 {This stops Black attempt to get at the white K.} (23.
g3 $2 h5 $40) 23... h5 24. Re1 a6 25. Rxg4 hxg4 26. Rd1 Kc6 27. Bf4 Rd8 $6 {
A mistake I believe. Black needs the R:s on the board. Without them it´s an
endgame where white has better P:s.} 28. Rxd8 Bxd8 29. Ne3 b5 30. Kf1 bxc4 31.
bxc4 Kb6 32. Ke2 Ka5 33. Kd3 c6 34. f3 gxf3 35. gxf3 Ka4 36. Bh6 Ka3 37. f4
Kxa2 38. Kc2 $1 $11 {Black K is pinned to the side of the board and the passed
a-P is blocked.} f5 39. Bf8 Bb6 40. Be7 a5 (40... Ka3 41. Bh4 Ba5 42. Be7 Bb4 {
looks like a draw.}) 41. Bh4 a4 42. Be1 Bd8 43. Nd1 Ka3 44. Nb2 Be7 45. Bc3 Bf8
$4 (45... Ka2 $11) 46. Nd3 {Mate is unstoppable.} 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Ne2 Rc8 12. b4 h6 13. Bh4 d5 14. bxc5 dxc4 15.
Qxc4 bxc5 16. O-O cxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc5 18. Bc4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 Nd5 20. Bf2 Nc3 21.
Rfc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. e3 Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4 Be6 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. Re1 Qb6 14. Qb3 Nd7
15. Ne4 h6 16. Rad1 Bb4 17. Bd2 a5 18. a3 Bxd2 19. Nfxd2 Qc7 20. Nf3 a4 21. Qc2
Bg4 22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Nce5 24. Bg2 f5 25. Nd2 d3 26. Qc3 f4 27. g4 Rae8 28.
Ne4 b6 29. Qd4 Kh8 30. Nd6 Rd8 31. Nb5 Qb8 32. Bd5 Rde8 33. Bh1 Rf6 34. Nc3 Nc5
35. Nd5 Qd6 36. Qc3 Rff8 37. Qb4 Rb8 38. Qc3 Rbe8 39. Qb4 Rb8 40. Qc3 Ned7 41.
Re7 Nf6 42. Rde1 Rbd8 43. Bf3 Rd7 44. Rxd7 Nfxd7 45. Re7 Nf6 46. Qd4 d2 47.
Qxd2 Nxd5 48. Re2 Qf6 49. cxd5 Nb3 50. Qc3 Nd4 51. Rd2 Nb5 52. Qb4 Nd6 53. Re2
Rd8 54. Re6 Qf8 55. Qxb6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Qc2
g6 9. h3 Bg7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. e3 Ne8 12. Be2 Nc7 13. O-O e5 14. dxe5 Ne6 15. b4
a5 16. b5 Ndxc5 17. Bg3 Bd7 18. Rfd1 Rc8 19. bxc6 Bxc6 20. Rac1 Qd7 21. Qb1
Rfd8 22. Bh4 Re8 23. Qb6 Na4 24. Qxa5 Ra8 25. Qb4 Nxc3 26. Qxc3 Rxa2 27. Bc4
Ra4 28. Bb3 Re4 29. Bg3 Bf8 30. Qd2 Bb4 31. Qa2 Rd8 32. Bh4 g5 33. Bxg5 Nxg5
34. Nxg5 Rxe5 35. Nf3 Rf5 36. Rd4 Be7 37. Rg4+ Kh8 38. Bc2 Rh5 39. Qb2+ f6 40.
Rd1 Rg8 41. Rdd4 Qd6 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. Rg4+ Kf7 44. Qb1 Bd7 45. Rf4 Kg7 46.
Qxb7 Qc6 47. Qxc6 Bxc6 48. Nd4 Bd7 49. Bf5 Be8 50. Rg4+ Kh8 51. Be6 Bg6 52. Ne2
Re5 53. Nf4 d4 54. Rxg6 hxg6 55. Nxg6+ Kg7 56. Nxe5 fxe5 57. exd4 exd4 58. Bc4
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 O-O 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Ba4 Bxf3
15. gxf3 d5 16. e5 Nh5 17. Kh1 f6 18. f4 g6 19. Rg1 Ng7 20. Be3 Ne7 21. Nc3 Ba5
22. Bc2 c6 23. Ra2 Kh8 24. Ne2 Bb4 25. Ng3 Qd7 26. Qd3 Qg4 27. Qe2 Qh4 28. Ra7
f5 29. Qf3 Ne6 30. Ne2 Nc8 31. Ra6 Nb6 32. Bd3 Qe7 33. Rc1 Rfc8 34. Raa1 Rc7
35. Rc2 Nc8 36. Rac1 Na7 37. Ng3 Qf8 38. h4 Ba5 39. h5 Rb4 40. Kg2 Rxd4 41.
Bxd4 Nxd4 42. Qe3 Ne6 43. hxg6 hxg6 44. Rh1+ Kg8 45. Ne2 c5 46. Rcc1 Nc6 47.
Rh4 Rg7 48. Rch1 Kf7 49. Rh8 Qe7 50. Bb5 Qb7 51. Bxc6 Qxc6 52. Qf3 Rg8 53. Rxg8
Kxg8 54. Rd1 Nc7 55. Nc3 Bxc3 56. bxc3 c4 57. Kg3 Kg7 58. Qe3 Qa4 59. Rb1 Ne6
60. Rb7+ Kf8 61. Qb6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 Nge7 6. b4 Ng6 7. Bb2 a5 8. b5
Ncxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. e3 Be6 11. Bxd4 Nxc4 12. Qc2 Nd6 13. Bd3 Qg5 14. f4 Qh4+
15. g3 Qh5 16. Nc3 Nf5 17. O-O O-O-O 18. Ba7 Qg4 19. Ne4 Rd7 20. Rfd1 Qf3 21.
Ng5 Nxe3 22. Nxf3 Nxc2 23. Bxc2 b6 24. Ne5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Bxa3 26. f5 Ba2 27.
Ra1 Bc5+ 28. Kf1 Re8 29. Re1 f6 30. Nd3 Rxe1+ 31. Kxe1 Bd6 32. Nc1 Bd5 33. Bb3
Be4 34. Bxb6 cxb6 35. Be6+ Kc7 36. Ke2 Be5 37. Nd3 Kd6 38. Ke3 Bd5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 c5 6. Bg5 Qxd5 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8.
dxc5 Qxc5 9. Rc1 Nc6 10. Nf3 Bd7 11. g3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Rxc3 Ke7 14.
Bg2 Rac8 15. O-O Nb4 16. Rb3 a5 17. a3 Ba4 18. Re3 Nd5 19. Re4 Bc2 20. Rh4 Rhd8
21. Ra1 Bg6 22. Ne1 b5 23. Bf1 Nb6 24. e3 Rd5 25. b4 a4 26. e4 Rd4 27. Bxb5
Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Bxe4 29. Nd3 Bxd3 30. Bxd3 Rc3 31. Bb5 e5 32. Kf1 f5 33. Ke1 e4
34. Be2 Kd6 35. Kd2 Rb3 36. Ra2 h6 37. Bd1 Rd3+ 38. Ke1 Ke5 39. Ke2 Nd5 40. Ra1
Nc3+ 41. Ke1 Nxd1 42. Rxd1 Rxa3 43. b5 Rb3 44. Ra1 a3 45. Kd2 Kd5 46. Kc2 Rf3
47. Rb1 Kc5 48. b6 Rxf2+ 49. Kc3 a2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. e3 h6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Nxd3 Nbd5 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Qxb6 Nxb6 14. f3
Nfd5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. b3 e6 17. Ke2 Bd6 18. Bd2 f5 19. Rac1 Ke7 20. h3 Nd7 21.
Rc2 g5 22. Rhc1 Rhb8 23. h4 gxh4 24. Be1 h3 25. gxh3 Rg8 26. Bh4+ Kf7 27. Kf2
Rab8 28. f4 Kg6 29. Kf3 Kh5 30. Be1 Ra8 31. Ne5 Nf6 32. Nf7 Ba3 33. Ra1 Bb4 34.
Bxb4 axb4 35. Nd6 Rg7 36. Rg2 Rxg2 37. Kxg2 Rg8+ 38. Kh2 Ne4 39. Nxb7 Nd2 40.
a5 Nxb3 41. Rg1 Ra8 42. Rb1 Nxa5 43. Ra1 b3 44. Nxa5 b2 45. Rb1 Rxa5 46. Rxb2
Ra3 47. Re2 Kh4 48. Kg2 Rb3 49. Kf3 Rb1 50. Rg2 Kh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Qa5 9. exf6 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxg5 11. fxg7 Qxg7 12. Qd2 O-O 13. Bxc4 Rd8 14. Qe3
Bd7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Nf3 Ne7 17. Ne5 Bc6 18. Nxc6 Nxc6 19. Bd3 Ne7 20. Be4 Nd5
21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rad1 Qe5 23. Qf3 Rad8 24. Rxd5 Rxd5 25. c4 Rd2 26. a4 Ra2 27.
Qxb7 Rxa4 28. Qb3 Ra1 29. g3 Rxf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 cxd5 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Qa4 O-O 10. Be3 Ne4 11. Rd1 Bf6 12. Qa3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Nd6 14. Bc5 Nb5
15. Qd3 Nc7 16. Ba3 g6 17. Rac1 Bf5 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. e3 Qd7 20. Bb4 Nxb4 21.
Qxb4 Qb5 22. Qxb5 Nxb5 23. Rc5 a6 24. a4 Na7 25. Nd4 Bxd4 26. exd4 Nc6 27. Bxd5
Nxd4 28. Nf1 Ne6 29. Rcc1 Bg4 30. f3 Bh3 31. Ne3 b6 32. Kf2 h5 33. Rc6 Kg7 34.
Nc4 b5 35. Nd6 Re7 36. a5 Rc7 37. Rdc1 Rd7 38. Bxe6 Bxe6 39. Rxa6 Rbd8 40. Rcc6
Bd5 41. Rcb6 b4 42. f4 Kf8 43. f5 gxf5 44. Ke3 Bg2 45. Nxf5 Rd5 46. Kf4 Bh3 47.
Rf6 Bxf5 48. Rxf5 Rxf5+ 49. Kxf5 Rd2 50. b3 Rb2 51. Kf6 Rf2+ 52. Kg5 Rb2 53.
Kf6 Rf2+ 54. Ke5 Rb2 55. Kd4 Rxb3 56. Kc5 Rb1 57. Rb6 b3 58. Rb5 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
9. Qd2 b4 10. Na4 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. b3 Bd7 13. Nb2 d5 14. Bf4 Nxf3 15.
Nxf3 Nxe4 16. Qd4 f6 17. Bd3 Bc5 18. Bxe4 Bxd4 19. Bg6+ Kf8 20. Rxd4 a5 21. Re1
Be8 22. Nh4 e5 23. Rd2 a4 24. bxa4 Kg8 25. Bg3 d4 26. Rd3 h5 27. Bxe8 Qxe8 28.
g5 Rc8 29. g6 Rh6 30. Rxd4 Rxg6 31. Nxg6 Qxg6 32. Rd2 Rc3 33. Red1 Kh7 34. Kb1
Qf5 35. Be1 Ra3 36. Rd6 Rh3 37. a5 Rxh2 38. Rc1 Qe4 39. a6 Qa8 40. Bxb4 h4 41.
Bc5 h3 42. Nd3 Rd2 43. Rb6 h2 44. Nf2 Qd5 45. Be3 Re2 46. Rb3 f5 47. a7 Rxe3
48. Rxe3 Qb7+ 49. Rb3 Qxa7 50. Nh1 f4 51. c4 e4 52. c5 e3 53. c6 e2 54. c7 Qxc7
55. Rxc7 e1=Q+ 56. Rc1 Qe4+ 57. Ka1 Qd4+ 58. Kb1 Qe4+ 59. Ka1 Qd4+ 60. Kb1 Qe4+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 d6 11. Bd2 b4 12. c3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15.
Rxe5 Bf6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. cxb4 Bxb2 18. Ra2 Be5 19. Rc2 Bd6 20. Qf3 Qe5 21.
g3 Rb8 22. Qe4 Qh5 23. Qg4 Qe5 24. Qe4 Qh5 25. Qg4 Qe5 26. Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Rd2 Be6 14.
Rfd1 Be7 15. Be3 a6 16. Ne2 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. b3 Be7 19. c4 h5 20. Nfd4
Bc8 21. f4 h4 22. Nc3 Rh5 23. Ne4 c5 24. Ne2 b6 25. N2c3 Bb7 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27.
cxd5 Nxe5 28. fxe5 Rxe5 29. d6 cxd6 30. Nxd6+ Bxd6 31. Bf4 Ke7 32. Bxe5 Bxe5
33. Rd5 f6 34. Kf1 g5 35. a4 Bd6 36. Ke2 Kd7 37. Ke3 Kc6 38. Ke4 b5 39. axb5+
axb5 40. Rd1 Be5 41. Rd8 c4 42. bxc4 bxc4 43. Rc8+ Kb5 44. Kd5 c3 45. Rc4 Kb6
46. Rc5 Kb7 47. Rc6 Bd4 48. Kd6 Be5+ 49. Kc5 Bf4 50. Kd5 Be5 51. Kc5 Bf4 52.
Kb5 Bd2 53. Rc4 f5 54. Ka4 g4 55. Kb3 gxh3 56. gxh3 f4 57. Rc5 Kb6 58. Rh5 Be1
59. Rf5 Bd2 60. Rh5 Be1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. h4 (10. Kb1 a6 (10... Be6 11. Nd4 Nc4 12. Bxc4 Bxc4
13. h4 Qd7 14. b3 Ba6 15. g4 Rfe8 16. Nf5 Bf6 17. Bd4 Re2 18. Qf4 $36 {1/2-1/2
Tseshkovsky,V-Motylev,A/Moscow RUS 2005/(32)}) 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 13. Qd3
Nxe3 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxe3 e5 16. Bd3 c6 17. h4 Rf6 18. g3 d5 19. Qxe5 Rxf2
20. Rhf1 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo MNC 2005/(52)}) (10. Nd4 c5 11.
Nb5 Be6 (11... Qa5 12. a3 Be6 13. Nxd6 Qb6 14. f4 $1 Ng4 15. f5 Qxd6 16. Qxd6
Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Nxe3 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Bd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/New
York 1995/CBM 047 ext/(66)}) 12. Nxd6 Qb6 13. f4 Ng4 14. f5 Bxa2 15. Bf4 Rfd8
$17 {0-1 Tukhaev,A-Belikov,V/Alushta UKR 2005/(27)}) 10... Bg4 11. Be2 Qc8 12.
b3 (12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Bxg4 Qxg4 14. Qd5 Bd6 $11) (12. Kb1 Re8 13. h5 Bf8 $13)
12... Re8 13. Kb1 Bf8 {Black arrange their pieces very harmonycally.It is very
difficult for White to develop initiative on the king's side.} 14. h5 a6 15.
Rde1 (15. h6 g6 $11) 15... b5 16. Rh4 Be7 17. Rhh1 Bf8 18. Bf4 Nd7 (18... Bxf3
$5 19. gxf3 Qf5 (19... Qb7 20. Rh3 a5 21. Be3 a4 22. f4 Nd7 23. Bf3 c6 24. h6
g6 25. f5 d5 $132) 20. Reg1 a5 21. Rg5 Qf6 $132) 19. Ng5 (19. Nd4 Nf6 (19...
Bxe2 20. Rxe2 Qb7 21. f3 Rxe2 22. Qxe2 Nf6 $11) 20. f3 c5 $1 (20... Bd7 {
[%cal Yc7c5]} 21. h6 g6 22. Bg5 $36) 21. fxg4 Ne4 $1 22. Qd3 cxd4 23. Bf3 Nxc3+
(23... Nf2 24. Qxd4 Nxh1 25. Rxh1 $44) 24. Kb2 d5 25. Qxd4 Qc6 $15 {[%csl Re4]
[%cal Yc3e4]}) 19... Bxe2 20. Rxe2 Nf6 {[%cal Yc8f5]} (20... Rxe2 21. Qxe2 h6
22. Nf3 (22. Ne4 d5 23. Ng3 Nf6 $11) 22... Nf6 $11) 21. Rxe8 Qxe8 $11 22. h6 $6
(22. Re1 Qc6) 22... gxh6 $1 23. Nf3 Ne4 24. Qe3 Bg7 $15 25. Nd4 $8 (25. Be5 Ng5
26. Bxg7 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Kxg7 28. Nd4 Kg6 $17) 25... c5 26. Ne2 Nxc3+ (26... Qe6
27. Bxh6 Nxc3+ 28. Nxc3 Qxe3 29. Bxe3 Bxc3 30. Rd1 Be5 31. f4 Bc3 32. Rxd6 Re8
33. Rd3 b4 34. Kc1 Re4 35. g3 Kg7 36. Bd2 $11) (26... a5 $5 27. Rd1 (27. Bxh6
Nxc3+ 28. Nxc3 Qxe3 29. Bxe3 Bxc3 30. Rd1 Ra6 $15) 27... h5 28. f3 Nxc3+ 29.
Nxc3 Qxe3 30. Bxe3 Bxc3 31. Rxd6 Re8 32. Rd3 b4 $15) 27. Nxc3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 (
28. Bxe3 Bxc3 29. Rd1 Be5 30. f4 Bc3 31. Rxd6 Re8 32. Rd3 b4 $15) 28... Bxc3
29. Bxd6 Rc8 30. Kc1 $1 {White found right plan of defence.Their king will
protect pawns of the king's side,Rh1 and Bd6 will create counterplay.} (30.
Rxh6 $140 $4 Rd8 $19 {[%cal Yc3g7]}) 30... Rc6 31. Bf4 Kg7 32. Kd1 c4 (32...
Rg6 33. g3 $15) 33. Ke2 Bf6 $5 34. Bxh6+ Kg6 35. Kf3 cxb3 36. cxb3 Rc2 37. a4
bxa4 (37... Rc3 38. axb5 axb5 39. b4 Be7 40. Bf4 h5 (40... Bxb4 41. Rh6+ Kg7
42. Rb6 $11 {[%cal Gb6b5,Gf4h6]}) 41. g4 h4 (41... hxg4+ 42. Kxg4 f5+ (42...
Bxb4 43. Rh6+ Kg7 44. Rb6 Rc5 45. Bd6 Rc4+ 46. Bf4 Bc5 47. Rxb5 Bxe3 48. Rg5+
Kf8 49. Rf5 $11) 43. Kf3 Rc4 44. Rh6+ Kf7 45. Rh5 Ke6 46. Rh6+ $11) 42. Ra1
Bxb4 (42... Rc4 43. Ra7 Bxb4 44. Ra6+ f6 45. Rb6 $11) 43. Ra6+ Kh7 44. Rh6+ $11
) 38. bxa4 Ra2 39. Bf8 Bg5 40. Rb1 $132 Rxa4 41. Rb6+ f6 (41... Kh5 42. Rb7 Ra1
43. Bc5 a5 44. Bd4 Rf1+ 45. Ke2 Rf5 46. e4 Rf4 47. Kd3 Kg6 48. Ra7 $11) 42. Rb7
Bh6 (42... h6 43. g4 f5 44. Rb6+ Kf7 45. Bxh6 fxg4+ 46. Kg3 Bd8 47. Rc6 a5 48.
Bf4 $11) (42... h5 43. e4 Bh6 44. Bxh6 Kxh6 45. g3 Ra1 46. Ra7 a5 47. Kf4 Kg6
48. Ra6 $11) 43. Bxh6 Kxh6 44. e4 Kg6 45. g4 Ra1 46. Kf4 a5 47. Rb6 a4 48. e5
a3 (48... Rf1+ 49. Kg3 a3 50. Ra6 a2 51. Rxa2 fxe5 52. Re2 Kf6 53. Rh2 $11) 49.
Rxf6+ Kg7 50. Kg5 a2 (50... h5 51. Rf2 $11) 51. Rf2 $1 Re1 (51... h6+ 52. Kf5
Kf7 53. g5 hxg5 54. Kxg5+ Ke6 55. Kf4 $11) 52. Rxa2 Rxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Eine sehr populäre Variante in
Großmeisterturnieren; Schwarz stört die übliche weiße Entwicklung.} 5. Bd2 Be7
6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Bb7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Bxb8 (11.
Be3 Nf6 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc2 Nb8 15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 Nb8 17. Nb4
Qd6 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Rfc1 Qd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Sargissian,G/
Moscow 2005/(25)}) 11... Qxb8 $5 (11... Rxb8 12. Ne5 a6 $5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14.
Na4 Nf6 15. Qb3 Ba8 16. e3 Nd7 17. Nd3 a5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Roiz,M-Macieja,B/Cesme
92/(470) 2004/Inf 92/[Roiz,M] (25)}) 12. Ne5 Nf6 13. e3 Rd8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
f4 g6 16. g4 Nd7 17. Qe1 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Adams,M/Izmir 2004/CBM 104}) 10.
cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 $5 $146 {[%mdl 4] Eine interessante Neuerung - Schwarz
fürchtet nicht den Bauernverlust.} (11... Qe8 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Qa4 Qxa4 14. Nxa4
Na6 15. a3 Rac8 16. Nc3 Nc7 17. Nd3 Nfe8 18. Rfd1 Nd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,
G-Karpov,A/Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (52)}) (11... Bb7 12. Nb5 a6 (12... Nc6 13. Ne5
Nxe5 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Qxd8 Bxd8 17. Rfd1 a6 18. Nd6 Bd5 19. a3 f6
20. Rc3 b5 21. h4 {1/2-1/2 Sturua,Z-Rodriguez Cespedes,A/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 
(65)}) 13. Nc7 Ra7 14. Qa4 Ne4 15. Nb5 Ra8 16. Nc3 b5 17. Qd1 Nc6 18. Ne5 {
1/2-1/2 Prusikin,M-Gyimesi,Z/Miskolc 2004/(18)}) 12. Nxd5 {Das ist die
konsequente Fortsetzung.} (12. Qa4 Bb7 $11) 12... Qxd5 13. Ne5 {[%cal Rg2a8]}
Nxd4 $8 14. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 $1 {Weiß muss die Dame zurückgeben, sonst
gerät er in eine zu passive Stellung.} (15. Kh1 $6 Nxd5 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Qd7
Rab8 $40) 15... Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 $1 (16... Bxf1 17. Rc7 $1 $16) 17. Rfe1 Bb5
18. Rc2 $1 {[%cal Ge1c1,Gc1c8]} Nd5 $13 {Schwarz hat zwei Bauern für die
Qualität und das Läuferpaar. Anderseits besitzt Weiß seine zwei Türme und wenn
er in die schwarze Stellung eindringen kann, sind seine Gewinnaussichten
besser.} 19. Rec1 Bc5 {[%csl Gc5]} 20. Bd2 f6 $5 {Schwarz spielt auf Gewinn -
im Falle von 20...a5 hätte Schwarz das Remis erreichen können.} (20... a5 21.
Rxc5 bxc5 22. Rxc5 Rb8 23. Bxa5 f6 24. Nf3 Be2 $11) 21. b4 $1 Bf8 (21... Nxb4
22. Bxb4 Bxb4 23. Rc8+ Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Bf8 25. Nc6 Bxc6 (25... a5 26. Nd8 $1)
26. Rxc6 $14) (21... Bxb4 22. Bxb4 fxe5 23. Rc8+ Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Kf7 25. Bd6 e4
26. Be5) 22. Ng4 Rd8 $6 (22... Nxb4 23. Rc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8 Nxa2 25. Nxf6+ gxf6
26. Bh6 $16) (22... Bxb4 23. Bxb4 Nxb4 24. Rc8+ Rxc8 25. Rxc8+ Kf7 26. Rc7+ Kg6
27. Rxa7 $16) (22... Kf7 $142) 23. Rc8 $14 Rd7 24. Nh6+ $1 {[%mdl 64] Ein
wirklich unerwartetes Springeropfer.} gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26. Rd8 {[%csl Rf7,Rf8,
Rg8] Die schwarzen Figuren sind gefesselt.} Ne7 {[%cal Ge7g6]} (26... Ba6 27.
b5 Bb7 (27... Bxb5 28. Rcc8 $18) 28. Rb8 $22) 27. Rc7 {Droht 28.Rxe7 Rxe7 29.
Rxf8#.} Ng6 28. Rcc8 e5 29. f4 $1 {[%cal Rf4f5,Rf5g6]} (29. f3 Bd7 30. Rb8 Bh3
$8 {Sonst kommt Weiß mit 31.h4 und 32.h5.}) 29... Bd7 (29... exf4 30. gxf4 f5
31. Kf2 (31. h4 Be2) 31... Bd7 (31... Ba6 32. Rb8 $18) 32. Rb8 $18 {[%cal
Rh2h4,Rh4h5]}) 30. Ra8 Bh3 {Der Läufer muss den h-Bauern blockieren.} 31. Kf2
b5 (31... Bf5 32. h4 Bg4 33. h5 Bxh5 34. f5 $18) (31... e4 32. a4 $1 f5 33. a5
bxa5 34. bxa5 Bg4 35. a6 $1 Bh3 36. Ke3 Bg4 (36... Bf1 37. h4) 37. Rdb8 Bh3 38.
Rb7 $18 {[%csl Ra7]}) 32. Rdb8 $22 {Schwarz befindet sich in Zugzwang.} exf4
33. gxf4 Bd7 34. h4 {[%csl Rf8][%cal Rh4h5,Rh5g6,Ra8g8]} Bc6 35. h5 Bxa8 36.
hxg6 hxg6 37. Rxa8 $22 $18 {Schwarz hat einen Bauern mehr, aber steht auf
Verlust, ihm bleiben nur einige Bauernzüge.} f5 38. Kg3 a6 39. Kh4 Rg7 40. Kg5
$1 {[%csl Ga8,Rf8,Gg5,Rg7,Rg8,Gh6]} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3
c6 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Neg5 {Vishy used the game
Topalov-Leko for his preparation, and he definitely liked Black there, while
Topalov was ready for this line and had prepared an improvement.} (11. Bg2 c5
12. Neg5 {with the idea Nxf7, but almost any logical move of black prevents
this threat!} (12. Nfg5 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Nc6 $17) 12... Nc6 (12... O-O $142 13.
dxc5 h6 $15) 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bc3 (14. O-O h6 15. Ne4 Qc8 $6 (15... Nb4 16.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb4 cxb4 18. Rad1 Qe7 $15 {^^}) 16. Bc3 Nb4 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.
Qb2 $14 {0-1 Foisor,O-Vilela,J/Polanica Zdroj 1982/MCD (75)}) 14... Nd4 15.
Bxd4 cxd4 16. O-O O-O (16... Nd7 17. Rfe1 $5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Bxg2 19. Qf5 Qf6 20.
Nxe6 Qxf5 21. Nxg7+ Kf8 22. Nxf5 Bh3 23. Nxd4 Kg7 {A draw is the most likely
outcome in this ending.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bd6 $2 {Overlooking simple
tactics:} (18... Qc7 19. Rae1 (19. f4 h6 20. Ngf3 Nd5 $1 $17) ({The same idea
doesn't work here:} 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Nhxf7 Qc6+ $17) 19... h6 20.
Ngf3 Rfd8 {Black is just fine here.}) 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Nhxf7 $16 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Leko,P/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (36)}) 11... c5 {12.Bg2
would transpose to the game Topalov-Leko, but Topalov had prepared something
much more aggresive for this game.} (11... h6 12. Nxf7 (12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bh3
$5 (13. Qg6+ Kd7 14. Bh3 Qe8 $1) 13... O-O $140 14. Bxe6+ Kh8 15. Ne5 $18)
12... Kxf7 13. Ne5+ Kg8 14. Bh3 Bc8 15. O-O {with the same scenario as in the
game - White is a piece down but has long-term compensation.}) (11... O-O 12.
O-O-O (12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nxf7+ Rxf7 15. Ne5 Rf8 16. Ng6+ Kxh7 17.
Nxe7+ Kh8 18. Ng6+ Kg8 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 $17) 12... h6 13. h4 c5 14. d5 {Topalov
definitely looked for such scenario in this game - he is simply better than
anyone in such positions.}) 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 {Fritz would agree with
Vishy here! This move "induces bluff"- the Nxf7 sacrifice, and Vishy believed
in Black's defense. From the other moves, 13...0-0 is probably the strongest,
while White has a nice initiative in all the cases.} (13... Bxd5 14. O-O-O (14.
Bb5+ Kf8 $5 {[%cal Gh7h6]}) 14... h6 15. Bc3 $1 hxg5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Bc4 Bd4
18. Rhe1+ Be6 19. Bxe6 $18) (13... O-O 14. O-O-O (14. Bc3 g6 15. O-O-O Nxd5 16.
h4 $44) 14... g6 (14... h6 15. h4 Bxd5 16. Bc3 $16) 15. h4 {[%cal Gd2c3,Gh4h5]}
) 14. Nxf7 $1 {[%mdl 512] Definitely a home preparation by Topalov. The
exclamation mark is for the bravery, on the other hand Veselin probably
analysed it in depth.} (14. Bb5+ Nbd7 (14... Kf8 15. Nxf7 {leads to the same
as in the game, but with the bishop developed to b5.}) 15. Ne6 fxe6 16. Qg6+
Kf8 17. dxe6 Qe8 $1) 14... Kxf7 15. O-O-O Bd6 $1 {The toughest defense. Other
moves lead to clear advantage for White.} (15... Nbd7 16. Nh4 Nf8 17. d6 Bxh1
18. dxe7 Qxe7 19. f3 {[%cal Gf1c4] The Bh1 is dead, after grabbing the bishop,
White will be down an exchange only but still attacking.}) (15... Bxd5 $2 16.
Bc3 Nbd7 (16... Nc6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Rxd5 $18) 17. Rxd5 Nxd5 18. Qf5+ N7f6 19.
Ne5+ Kf8 20. Ng6+ Kg8 21. Bxf6 $18 {[%cal Gf1c4]}) (15... Kg8 $6 16. Bc3 Nbd7
17. Qf5 Qe8 $8 18. Bc4 $36) 16. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Gf5,Gg6]} Bc8 $1 {The only move
again! Black moves the bishop to the starting position While there are 4 other
pieces still undeveloped! Many humans would fail to find this move, but Vishy
is Vishy!} (16... Bxd5 $2 17. Bc3 Bxh1 18. Bc4+ $18) (16... Re8 17. Qg6+ Kg8
18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Bxh6 Bf8 {and now the fastest way is the one suggested by
Fritz:} 20. Bxg7 $1 Bxg7 21. Bb5 $1 $16 {with BxR and d6 threats - black is
hopeless.}) 17. Re1 $1 {Qg6 check was so tempting....} Na6 {17...Re8 is
possible, but doesn't help much.} (17... Re8 18. Qg6+ Kg8 (18... Kf8 19. Bb5 {
and Bxh6 next;}) 19. Bc4 {with the same Re6 idea as happened in the game.} ({
or and Bc3 then.} 19. Bd3)) 18. Re6 $1 {That's the reason why Topalov needed
the black King on f7 - now BxR loses due to Pxe6 check and then BxN.} Nb4 $6 {
The 18...Nc7 line would lead to very messy position with unbalanced material.
In the 18...Kg8 line I don't see more than a draw for white... In my opinion,
Black's troubles started from this move.} (18... Nc7 19. Qg6+ (19. Bc4 b5 20.
Bc3 Nfe8) 19... Kg8 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Bc4 b5 22. Ne7+ $1 Bxe7 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 $1 (
23... Qf8 24. Rxc7 bxc4 25. bxc4 Ng4 26. Bc3 Rh7 27. Qc6 $16 {[%cal Gd5d6,
Gh1e1,Ge1e7]}) (23... Rh7 24. Bc3 $1 Qf8 $8 25. Rhe1 $16) 24. d6+ bxc4 25. dxe7
Be6 26. bxc4 Bxc4 27. Bf4 Bf7 {Black manages to survive in this line and the
outcome here is unpredictable.}) (18... Kg8 19. Bc3 Nxd5 (19... Bxe6 20. dxe6
Nc7 21. e7 $1 Bxe7 (21... Qxe7 22. Bc4+ {[%cal Gh4f5]}) 22. Bxf6 $16) 20. Qg6
Qg5+ 21. Qxg5 hxg5 22. Rxd6 Nxc3 23. Bc4+ Kh7 24. Bd3+ g6 25. Re1 Bf5 26. Nxf5
gxf5 27. Re7+ Kg8 28. Rg6+ Kf8 29. Rgg7 Nb4 {and I don't see more than
perpetual check.}) 19. Bxb4 (19. Qg6+ Kg8 20. Nf5 Bf8 $17) 19... cxb4 20. Bc4 {
White is bringing his last forces to the attack.} b5 $1 {diverting the bishop
from the attack and gaining a tempo for a pawn. Again, Vishy finds the best
defense!} (20... Kg8 21. Nf5 Bxe6 22. dxe6 Be7 23. Rd1 Qf8 24. Rd7 Re8 25. Rxa7
$16 {An amazing position! Black is a rook up but can't move - almost zugzwang!}
) (20... Kf8 21. Rhe1 b5 22. Bxb5 (22. Qg6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 Qe8 24. Bxb5 Qxg6 25.
Nxg6+ Kg8 26. Nxh8 Kxh8 27. e7 Ne8 $11) 22... Bxe6 23. dxe6 Rc8 24. e7+ $1 Bxe7
25. Bc4 $16) 21. Bxb5 Be7 $4 {A horrible blunder. Even the best of us catch
black-outs from time to time. Tactical blunders is the main reason why
computers beat humans lately (A good example is Adams vs Hydra). After the
only move 21...Kg8, I can't find any clear way for White's advantage.} (21...
Kg8 $1 22. Bc4 (22. Ng6 $5) (22. Rd1 $5) 22... Rb8 (22... Rh7 23. Rhe1 $16) 23.
Nf5 Rb6 24. Rhe1 {with the threat Rxf6} Kf8 $8 {and Black manages to survive.})
(21... Rb8 22. Qg6+ Kg8 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Bc4 Rh7 25. Rhe1 $18) 22. Ng6 $18 Nxd5
(22... Bxe6 23. dxe6+ Kg8 24. Rd1 $18) 23. Rxe7+ $6 {Topalov just missed an
immediate win here.} (23. Re5 $1 $18 {[%cal Re5d5]} Bb7 (23... Be6 24. Nxh8+
Qxh8 25. Rxe6 $1 Kxe6 26. Qc6+ $18 {winning all black pieces.}) 24. Qf5+ Kg8
25. Bc4 $18 {winning a lot of material.}) 23... Nxe7 {The fight is still on.}
24. Bc4+ Kf6 {The rook ending in the 24..Be6 line is just hopeless for Black.}
(24... Be6 25. Bxe6+ Kxe6 26. Re1+ Kf6 27. Nxe7 Rc8 28. Nxc8 Qxc8 29. Re4 Qxc2+
30. Kxc2 a5 31. Rc4 $18) 25. Nxh8 Qd4 $1 {The best chance.} (25... Qxh8 26. Rd1
{Black is still up a piece, but completely hopeless against White's attack.})
26. Rd1 Qa1+ 27. Kd2 Qd4+ 28. Ke1 Qe5+ 29. Qe2 (29. Kf1 $2 Bh3+) 29... Qxe2+
30. Kxe2 Nf5 (30... Bg4+ 31. f3 Rxh8 32. fxg4 Nc8 33. Rd5 $18 {[%cal Gd5b5]})
31. Nf7 a5 (31... Be6 32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Nd8+ $18) 32. g4 Nh4 33. h3 Ra7 34.
Rd6+ Ke7 35. Rb6 Rc7 36. Ne5 {Cutting black's knight off. The white pieces are
dominating.} Ng2 37. Ng6+ Kd8 38. Kf1 {Finally trapping this unlucky knight.}
Bb7 39. Rxb7 Rxb7 40. Kxg2 {The rest wasn't necessary, but Vishy decided to
continue.} Rd7 41. Nf8 Rd2 42. Ne6+ Ke7 43. Nxg7 Rxa2 44. Nf5+ Kf6 45. Nxh6 Rc2
{With a last hope RxB.} 46. Bf7 Rc3 47. f4 a4 48. bxa4 b3 49. g5+ Kg7 50. f5 b2
51. f6+ Kh7 52. Nf5 $1 {Veselin chooses the most elegant way to finish this
game.} (52. Nf5 b1=Q 53. g6+ Kh8 54. g7+ Kh7 55. g8=Q#) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nb3 Nbd7 8. Bg2
b5 9. O-O Be7 10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 12. c3 bxc3 13. Nxc3 Nb6 14. Nb5 O-O 15. Bd2
Nc4 16. Bc3 Be6 17. Re1 Qb8 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. b3 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Nd7 21. Reb1 Nc5
22. Qd1 Ra6 23. b4 axb4 24. Bxb4 Qa8 25. Nc3 Bd8 26. Bf1 Ra7 27. Nb5 Rd7 28.
Nxd6 Rc6 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Bb5 Rdc7 31. a5 g6 32. a6 Bg5 33. h4 Be7 34. Ne8 Ra7
35. Qd2 Rxb5 36. Rxb5 Qxe8 37. Rb7 Bc5 38. Ra5 Qc8 39. Rxa7 Bxa7 40. Kh2 Qc7
41. Kg2 h5 42. Ra1 Qc4 43. Qe1 Qd3 44. Ra5 Bg4 45. Kh2 Kh7 46. Ra2 Bf3 47. Ra5
Qc2 48. Kg1 Kg7 49. Rd5 Bxe4 50. Rd2 Qc4 51. Kh2 Qc3 52. Qe2 Bd4 53. Ra2 Ba8
54. Qd1 Qc4 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {Früher
spielte man die Variante 7.Bd3, heutzutage ist dieser Plan mit 0-0-0 in Mode.}
Nf6 (7... b5 8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. f3 Bb7 10. O-O-O Ne7 $6 11. Kb1 Ng6 12. h4 b4 13.
Ne2 Ne5 14. Nf4 Rc8 15. Bd4 f6 16. Nh5 Qd6 17. Qe1 Qc7 18. Rd2 $14 {0-1
Grischuk,A-Polgar,J/Wijk aan Zee 2003/ (47)}) 8. O-O-O Bb4 (8... b5 9. Bf4 Qb6
10. e5 Nxd4 $2 $146 (10... Qxd4) 11. exf6 $1 Nc6 12. Ne4 d5 13. Nd6+ Kd7 14.
Nxf7 {1-0 Kasimdzhanov,R-Polgar,J/Moscow (m/3-blitz) 2002/[Ribli] (42)}) 9. f3
Ne7 {Dieser Zug wurde von Andersson in die Turnierpraxis eingeführt.} (9... d5
10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 dxe4 12. fxe4 $1 Nxe4 13. Qd3 f5 14. Qc4 e5 15. Nxc6 Qxc6
16. Rd5 Qe6 17. Ra5 Nd6 18. Qc3 $16 {1-0 Polgar,J-Horvath,J/Kallithea 2002/
[Ribli] (24)}) (9... Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 (10... d5 11. Bd4 O-O 12. Kb1 $5 $146 dxe4
13. Qf4 Bd6 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nc6 16. Bc3 Bd7 17. g4 $1 Rfe8 18. Bd3 g6
19. Rhe1 $5 {1/2-1/2 Movsesian,S-Polgar,J/Budapest 2003/ (43)}) 11. Kb1 Nc4 (
11... Be7 12. Qf2 d6 13. Bb6 $1 Qb8 14. Bd4 Nc6 15. Be3 Nd7 16. g4 O-O 17. g5
b4 18. Na4 {[%csl Ga4]} Nce5 19. Rg1 {[%cal Gf3f4]} Bb7 20. Na5 Rc8 21. b3 $1 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Movsesian,S/Tripoli 2004/CBM 102/[Ribli] (36)}) 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13.
Nc1 Qb7 14. N1e2 O-O 15. Qd4 Rb8 16. Bc1 $14 {Topalov,V-Ponomariov,R/Wijk aan
Zee 2005/}) (9... Na5 10. Nb3 d5 11. Bf4 (11. Kb1 Nxb3 12. axb3 dxe4 13. Nb5
Qe7 14. Nc7+ Qxc7 15. Qxb4 Nd5 16. Qxe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Bd7 18. Qd4 e5 19. Qb4
O-O-O {0-1 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Sofia BUL 2004 (42)}) 11... Nxb3+ 12. cxb3 Qa5 13.
e5 Nd7 14. a3 Be7 15. Kb1 b5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Ne2 Nb6 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. b3 O-O 20.
Ka2 Qb8 21. Rc1 Qa7 22. Be3 Rac8 {1-0 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Monte Carlo MNC 2004/ 
(61)}) 10. Nde2 b5 $146 {Das ist die schwarze (vorbereitete) Neuerung. Die
Variante 10...d5 bietet Weiß bessere Chancen.} (10... d5 11. Bg5 (11. a3 Ba5
12. Bg5 dxe4 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh6 f5 15. Qf6 (15. fxe4 Qe5 16. Qh5 Bd7 17. g4
Bxc3 18. Nxc3 Qf4+ 19. Kb1 Qxg4 20. Qh6 O-O-O 21. Bxa6 {1-0 Sandipan,C-Fominyh,
A/Dhaka 2004/ (49)}) 15... Ng6 16. fxe4 f4 17. g3 Bd7 18. gxf4 Bxc3 19. bxc3
Qd8 20. Qxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rg1 Ke7 22. Rg3 Rc8 {1/2-1/2 Korneev,O-Graf,A/Espana
2003/[Ribli] (51)}) 11... dxe4 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qd4 exf3 14. Qxb4 fxe2 15.
Bxe2 f5 16. Rd6 $5 (16. Bb5+ $5 axb5 17. Nxb5 $40) 16... Bd7 17. Rhd1 Bc6 18.
Qd4 O-O (18... Rg8 19. g3 $44) 19. g4 $36 fxg4 20. Qxg4+ Ng6 21. h4 $1 {
1-0 Korneev,O-Horvath,A/Zalaegerszeg 2004/CBM 101/[Ribli] (33)}) 11. Kb1 Ba5 (
11... O-O $2 12. Nxb5) 12. Qd4 Nc6 13. Qc5 Bb4 14. Qg5 O-O 15. Qg3 Ne5 $1 {
[%csl Ge5]} (15... Qxg3 16. hxg3 $14 {[%csl Yd6][%cal Gg3g4] Weiß hat kleine,
aber dauerhafte Positionsvorteile; das Feld d6 ist ein positionelles Loch in
der schwarzen Stellung.}) 16. h4 (16. Bd4 d6 17. f4 Ned7 18. e5 Ne8 19. Qe3 $11
(19. Ne4 dxe5 20. fxe5 Bb7 21. Nd6 Bxd6 22. exd6 Qxd6 23. Qxd6 Nxd6 24. Bc3 Bd5
25. Bb4 Ne4 $1 26. Bxf8 Nf2 $15 {[%cal Rf2d1,Rf2h1]})) 16... Bb7 17. h5 Ne8 $1
$11 {Originell und stark gespielt Schwarz hat eine gut verteidigte Stellung.}
18. a3 Bd6 19. Bf4 f6 $1 20. Na2 {[%cal Ge2c3] Mit diesem Zug befreit Weiß das
Feld c3 für den anderen Springer.} Rc8 21. Nec3 Bc6 (21... Nf7 22. Bxd6 Nexd6
$11) 22. Be2 a5 $132 {Schwarz verfügt über gefährlichen Gegenangriff am
Damenflügel.} 23. h6 g6 24. Rxd6 $5 {[%mdl 512] Weiß opfert die Qualität für
einen Bauern und aktive Stellung.} Qxd6 25. Nxb5 Bxb5 26. Bxb5 Nc7 27. Be2 Rb8
28. a4 Qd4 29. b3 d6 $15 30. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Gf3f4,Gc1b2] Weiß befreit seinen
f-Bauern, da er f3-f4 plant und seinen Läufer auf b2 zu positionieren.} Qxa4
31. Bb2 Qe8 32. f4 Nc6 33. Rd1 a4 $1 34. f5 (34. Rxd6 axb3 35. cxb3 Nb5 36.
Rxe6 $2 Qxe6 37. Bc4 Na3+ $1 38. Bxa3 Qxc4 $19) 34... axb3 35. cxb3 Ne5 36.
Rxd6 Qe7 $138 {In beiderseitiger Zeitnot spielen beide Parteien gut.} 37. fxg6
hxg6 $1 38. Nc1 (38. Bxe5 fxe5 39. Qxg6+ Kh8 $17) 38... Kh7 39. Bxe5 {Endlich
tauscht Weiß den schwarzen Springer.} fxe5 40. Qxe5 Rbd8 41. Rc6 Rf7 42. Nd3 (
42. g4 $5) 42... Rb8 $1 43. Kb2 Qd8 44. b4 (44. g4 Nb5 $1 45. Qxe6 Qd4+ 46. Kc2
Ra7 47. Qxg6+ Kh8 $17 {[%csl Rc2] Weiss hat vier Bauern für die Qualität, aber
sein König steht unsicher.}) 44... Rb7 45. Rc2 Na6 {[%csl Rb4]} 46. Kb3 Rfd7
47. Rc3 Rd6 48. Nc5 Nxc5+ (48... Rxb4+ $6 49. Kc2 Rb2+ $1 50. Kc1 (50. Kxb2
Qb8+ {[%cal Gb8e5,Rb8b2]} 51. Kc1 Rd1+ 52. Bxd1 Qxe5 $19) 50... Rb1+ 51. Kxb1
Qb8+ 52. Rb3 Rd1+ 53. Bxd1 Qxe5 54. Nxa6 Qxe4+ 55. Bc2 Qxg2 $14) 49. Rxc5 Ra7
50. Ra5 Rc7 51. Rc5 Ra7 52. Ra5 Rad7 $1 {Schwarz ist nicht zufrieden mit der
Zugwiederholung.} 53. Rc5 (53. Bc4 $142) 53... Rd2 $1 54. Bc4 Rxg2 55. Bxe6 Re7
56. Qc3 Qa8 $17 {[%csl Ga8,Rb3][%cal Ra8a2,Ra8e4] Die schwarze Dame steht sehr
aktiv auf a8.} 57. Ra5 Qxe4 58. Bd5 Qb1+ 59. Ka3 Rg1 $2 $138 (59... Rf2 $1 $17
{[%csl Ra3]}) 60. Bg8+ $1 {[%mdl 256] Dieses schöne Läuferopfer führt zum
Dauerschach.} Kxg8 61. Ra8+ Kf7 62. Qc4+ $1 $11 (62. Qg7+ $2 Ke6 63. Ra6+ Kf5
64. Qf6+ Kg4 65. Qxg6+ Kh4 66. Qf6+ Kh3 $19) 62... Re6 63. Ra7+ Kf6 64. Qf4+
Qf5 65. Qd4+ Qe5 (65... Re5 $4 66. Qd8+ Ke6 67. Re7+ Kf6 68. Rd7+ $18) 66. Qf2+
Qf5 67. Qd4+ Qe5 68. Qf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {I believe Ponomariov was prepared for 1.e4 - the move which
Topalov used to beat Ruslan in Corus 2005;} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5.
b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O (7... c6 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11.
Neg5 {1-0 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Sofia 2005/CBM 107_01/[Tyomkin,] (52)}) 8. Rc1 {
Topalov's variation again! I must notice that it's his first victory in this
variation!} (8. Bg2 {is a move usually played in this position;}) 8... c6 {
I recommended this move in CBM 105, but missed a strong improvement for White
in this line on move 10... I'm sorry, Ruslan;} (8... Bb7 9. Bg2 d5 10. Ne5 Na6
11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O c5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd3 Qd7 15. Na4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Ne4 $11
{1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (41)}) (8... Ba3 {Finkel}
9. Rc2 (9. Rb1 d5 10. cxd5 (10. b4 c5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Qa4 cxd4
14. Qxa3 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Ne4 $13) 10... exd5 11. Bg2 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bg5 Re8
$132) 9... Nc6 10. Bc1 Bb4 (10... Bxc1 11. Rxc1 Bb7 12. Bg2 Ne7 13. O-O d6 14.
Qd3 Re8 15. e4 $14) 11. Bg2 (11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. Rxc3 Bb7 13. Bg2 Ne7 14. O-O d6
$13) 11... b5 $5 {Beliavsky is famous for his uncompromising style, that's why
he starts a fight for the initiative from the very first moves.} 12. cxb5 {
1/2-1/2 Ionov,S-Beliavsky,A/Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Finkel,A] (81)} Bxb5 13. Bd2 (
13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Ne4 (14... Rb8 15. Re1 Ne4) 15. Re3 d5 16. a4 Ba6 17. Ba3
$14) 13... Rb8 14. O-O a5 {Black's play on the queenside is based on the
advance of the a-pawn.} 15. Nxb5 Rxb5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qd2 Nb4 19.
Rcc1 c6 20. Rfd1 Qa8 21. e3 (21. e4 d5 22. e5 Be7 23. Rc3 Rb6 24. Rdc1 $13)
21... Rfb8 22. Ne5 $6 {I don't like the idea to give Black a chance to get rid
of the knight.} Bxe5 23. dxe5 R5b7 24. Rc4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Ionov,S-Beliavsky,A/
Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Finkel,A] (81)}) (8... d5 {From my annotations in CBM 105:
Judit invents a novelty, while it seems like Black got good play in the
previous games. I am not sure that Judit prepared this move at her home
preparation - she probably more expected 1.e4 from Topalov in this game.  8...
c6 followed by d5 looks like the strongest move;} 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 10.
Bg2 $14) 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 12. Rc2 {This rook will serve to protect e2
- White intends to move the bishop d2 and then to castle if possible... but
this game got a completely different scenario!} Bd6 13. Bg5 Bb4+ $1 {This
intermediate check prevents white from castling in this game! Topalov
definitely expected this move.} 14. Kf1 f6 15. Bf4 Nd7 $6 {0-1 Topalov,
V-Polgar,J/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105_03/[Tyomkin,D] (53) 15...Bd6 looks safe
and logical, while Judit goes for the fast development.} (15... Bd6 16. Ne5 $1
Bb7 17. Nd3 a5 $1 $11 {[%cal Gb8a6,Ga6b4]})) 9. e4 d5 10. e5 $1 {From Sofia
reports: Veselin explained at the press conference in Sofia, he simply forgot
to play 10.e5 first (referring it to his game vs Gelfand), and opted for 10.
Bd3?! unintentionally!} (10. Bd3 dxe4 (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 {'!' and
black look very good here.}) (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 $1 {and black looks
great here.}) 11. Nxe4 Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bc3 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Qe2 Bb7
16. O-O h6 (16... Re8 $5 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 17. b4 e5 18. Ng5 $6 Bd4 19. Ne4 Rc8
20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $15 {0-1 Bologan,V-Tkachiev,V/Belfort 2004/EXT 2005 (35)}) 17.
b4 Be7 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Be4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 a5 $1 $11 {1/2-1/2
Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (50)}) 10... Ne4 {A good
alternative could be 10...Nfd7.} (10... Ne8 11. Bd3 c5 12. dxc5 {with a
similar scenario.}) (10... Nfd7 $5 11. Bd3 $140 (11. Bf4 $5) (11. Be3 $5) 11...
c5 {Black looks OK here;}) 11. Bd3 {Ruslan definitely saw this position for
the first time in his life...} Nxc3 $6 {All of Black's problems started from
this move;} (11... f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Qe2 $14 {following with 0-0. White has
a clear edge here;}) (11... Nxd2 $142 12. Qxd2 f6 13. O-O Nd7 {and here White
must prove that he has something;}) 12. Rxc3 {From Sofia reports: "Both
Kramnik and Anand, absolutely independently from each from other, stated that
the outcome of the Topalov-Ponomariov game was already pre-determined on move
12 - here!"} c5 {Black needs to get any counterplay really fast, otherwise he
will lose on the kingside;} 13. dxc5 bxc5 {Here Ruslan could have received
counterplay by 13...d4;} (13... d4 14. Rc1 Bb7 15. cxb6 Nd7 {Black doesn't
look that bad here!}) 14. h4 {[%mdl 128] With an obvious threat Bxh7 and Ng5
then. I bet, you are familiar with this idea!} h6 $2 {Ruslan should've tried
14...Qc7 which is the best defensive move here;} (14... Re8 15. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7
16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qh5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 Kf8 19. g6 $18 (19. Rf3 $1)) (14... Nc6 15.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qh5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 {with a mate in few;}) (14... d4
15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Rc1 Bb7 17. Bb1 $18) (14... Qc7 $1 {Fritzy recommends 15.0-0
but I doubt that Topalov had this move in mind here;} 15. Kf1 $5 {A
recommendation of GM Shipov;} h6 16. Bb1 Nd7 17. Qc2 f5 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Bxh6
Ne4 {with a big mess on the board;}) 15. Bb1 $16 {Ponomariov said on the press
conference: "I thought that I made all normal moves, but then I found myself
in a bad position". Topalov and his second, young prodigy and a champion of
Bulgaria Ivan Cheparinov analysed this line up to this position!} f5 {
According to Topalov, the only move was 15...Nd7;} (15... Nd7 16. Bxh6 $1 (16.
Qc2 f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Re3 {This line was suggested by Topalov, but it
doesn't look very clear;} Bb7 19. Rxe6 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Bxf3 21. Rd6+ Bd5 22. Rxd8
Raxd8 $17 {and suddenly black is attacking here!}) 16... gxh6 17. Qc2 f5 18.
exf6 Rxf6 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Ng5 $1 $18) (15... d4 16. Qc2 g6 17. Rd3 (17. Bxh6
dxc3 18. h5 Bb7 19. hxg6 f5 $17) 17... h5 18. g4 hxg4 19. h5 {It is hard to
believe that Black can stand this attack.}) 16. exf6 $18 Bxf6 (16... Rxf6 17.
Qc2 $18) 17. Qc2 d4 (17... Bxc3 18. Bxc3 d4 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Qg6+ Ke7 (20...
Kg8 21. Ne5) 21. Nxd4 $1 {with decisive attack;}) {[%tqu "En","Play like
Veselin Topalov!","","","f3g5","This combo will appear in many books! You
don't need to be Topalov to continue the attack here;",10]} 18. Ng5 $1 {
[%mdl 128] This combination will appear in many books! You don't need to be
Topalov to continue the attack here;} hxg5 (18... Bxg5 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Bxg5 $1
hxg5 21. Rf3+ $18) 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4 {Many commentators got excited by Rh8
check in this position. In fact, 20.Bf4 is same good as 20.Rh8, and wins even
faster! But 20.Bf4 move required careful calculation from Veselin, especially
the position after 26.Rh7 where white is down a piece, and black starts
checking white king!} (20. Rh8+ Kf7 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22. gxf6+ gxf6 23. Rh7+ Kd6
24. Bf4+ Kc6 (24... e5 25. Bxe5+ $1) 25. Qe4+ ({or} 25. Be4+ $18 {and Bc7 then;
}) 25... Kb6 26. Bc7+ {seven checks in a row in this line!} Qxc7 27. Rxc7 Kxc7
28. Qxa8 $18) 20... Kf7 (20... Bd4 21. Qg6 $1 {and Rh8 next;}) 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22.
gxf6+ Rxf6 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Bg5+ {Here Veselin was double-checking the
consequences of Bg5+, although White didn't have a good alternative;} Kd6 25.
Qxf7 Qxg5 26. Rh7 {The white king escapes from the checks easily;} Qe5+ (26...
Qc1+ 27. Ke2 Qd2+ 28. Kf3 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 $18) 27. Kf1 Kc6 28. Qe8+ Kb6 29. Qd8+
Kc6 30. Be4+ $1 {Final accord! 30...Qxe4 31. Qc7# Ra8 and Nb8 are still on
starting positions!} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 9. Nce2 e5 10. Nb3 Nc6 $5 $146 {Interesting novelty in the position, that
was giving black decent results so far.} (10... d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. O-O-O Be6
13. Qe1 Qc6 14. Ng3 Nbd7 15. Kb1 Be7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Qe2 a4 18. Bb5 Qc7 19. Nc1
O-O 20. Nd3 b3 {0-1 Bhawoodien,S-Mauba,S/Cape Town 1995/ (27)}) (10... a5 11.
a4 bxa3 12. Rxa3 d5 13. Rxa5 Rxa5 14. Nxa5 (14. Qxa5 Qxa5+ 15. Nxa5 dxe4 16.
Nc4 Nc6 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. g3 Nb4 19. Kd1 f6 20. Bg2 Bf5 {1/2-1/2 Balogh,
C-Cheparinov,I/Warsaw 2005/ (54)}) 14... dxe4 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8 16. Bb6+ Ke8 17.
Nc4 exf3 18. gxf3 Nbd7 19. Bc7 Bb7 20. Nxe5 Nd5 21. Nxd7 Nxc7 22. Ne5 f6 23.
Nd3 Bxf3 {0-1 Daubenfeld,G-Shtyrenkov,V/Pardubice 2004/ (56)}) 11. c4 (11. g4
h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13. h4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. O-O-O Qc7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Nc5 Bxc5
18. Bxc5 O-O-O 19. Nf5 g6 20. Ng7 Kb8 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Be3 {1-0 Naiditsch,
A-Palac,M/Warsaw 2005/ (48)}) 11... Be7 (11... bxc3 $6 12. Nxc3 $14) 12. Ng3 g6
(12... O-O 13. Be2 a5 $13) 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. Rd1 (14. O-O a5 15. Be2 Qc7 $13)
14... O-O 15. Qf2 a5 {Topalov has no need to exchange a pair of knights as it
would make the weakness on d5 more palatable.} (15... Na5 16. Nxa5 Qxa5 17. b3
Nc5 18. O-O $14) 16. O-O (16. c5 dxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5 Nd4 (18... Bxc5
19. Qxc5 Qf6 20. O-O Rd8 21. Bc4 $14) 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 $11) 16... a4 17. Nc1 Nc5 (
17... Bg5 $5 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Nce5 $11) 18. Bb1 Qc7 19. Nce2
(19. Nd3 Be6 $1 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Ra5 23. Qe3 Bxc4 $15)
19... Be6 {A paradoxal jump of black's knight to a5 might have posed some
unpleasant problems for white.} (19... Na5 $5 20. Bh6 Re8 21. Rc1 Ba6 $17) 20.
Bh6 Rfe8 21. Nf5 $1 (21. Rc1 Na5 22. Nf5 Bxc4 23. Ne3 Be6 24. f4 $44) 21...
Bxc4 22. Ne3 $1 Ba6 (22... Be6 23. f4 $1 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. f5 $14) 23. f4
exf4 24. Bxf4 (24. Nxf4 $5 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 Ne5 $17) 24... Ne5 25. Nd5 Qa7 26.
Bxe5 $6 {Kramnik played very creatively, sacrificed the pawn for piece
activity. The exchange of the dark squared bishop can not be good, as taking
the f7 pawn would have given black serious advantage.} (26. Be3 $5 Bd8 $13)
26... dxe5 27. Kh1 (27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Nxe7 Ne6+ 29. Kh1 Rxe7 30. Qf6+ Kg8 $17)
27... Bg5 $1 (27... Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Ne6 $11) 28. Nxb4 Bc4 29. Rfe1 Qb7 30. Nd5 (
30. Qxc5 Rac8 31. Qa5 Ra8 $11) 30... Qxb2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Players were
obviously very tired in the last round of Sofia supertournament. Topalov plays
a horrible blunder, that could have lost a piece.} 31. Nc7 (31. Qxc5 Bxe2 32.
Qf2 $18) 31... Ne6 32. Nxe8 Rxe8 33. Rf1 Rf8 34. Nc1 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Kramnik
pays back with a lemon, that immediately cost him the whole point. It is
really rare to see double blunder in the game of two 2750+ players!} (34. Bd3
Bxd3 (34... Bxa2 35. Ra1 Bb3 $15) 35. Rxd3 f5 36. Rf3 Qxa2 37. Qb6 Bd8 38. Qc6
Ng5 39. Nc3 Qe6 40. Qxe6+ Nxe6 $15) 34... Qxb1 0-1

[Event "Vicente Bonil op 29th"]
[Site "Albox"]
[Date "2005.06.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sanchez Lopez, Sergio"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2005.06.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. b3 e6 5. dxe6 fxe6 6. Nf3 d5 7. e3 bxc4 8. bxc4
Bd6 9. Nc3 Bc7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nc6 12. Ba3 Nb4 13. Nb5 Ba5 14. Ne5 a6 15.
Nc3 Qd6 16. f4 Bb7 17. Qa4 Bb6 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Bf3 Rad8 20. Rf2 a5 21. Rfd2 d4
22. exd4 cxd4 23. Nb5 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 d3+ 25. Kf1 Ng4 26. Re1 Rxf4 27. c5 Qxc5
0-1

[Event "Vicente Bonil op 29th"]
[Site "Albox"]
[Date "2005.06.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Panelo Munoz, Marcelo A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2388"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2005.06.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. a3 Nd7 11. Qc2 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 e5 14. Be2 exd4
15. Nxd4 Ne5 16. Qc5 Qg5 17. g3 Qf6 18. f4 Ng4 19. e4 b6 20. Qc3 c5 21. Nb5 Qc6
22. Qf3 Rd8 23. O-O Ba6 24. a4 Nf6 25. e5 Nd5 26. Bd3 Bxb5 27. axb5 Qe6 28. Bc4
Rd7 29. Rce1 g6 30. g4 Rad8 31. f5 Qe8 32. e6 fxe6 33. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Vicente Bonil op 29th"]
[Site "Albox"]
[Date "2005.06.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Moreno Carnero, Javier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2005.06.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 Nbd4 8.
Nxd4 d5 9. exd6 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd6 11. Qe4+ Qe6 12. Qd4 Bd6 13. Qxg7 Be5 14.
Qg5 f6 15. Qh5+ Qf7 16. Qxf7+ Kxf7 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. Nc4 Bxc2 19. Nxe5+ fxe5 20.
Bd2 Rhd8 21. Bc3 e4 22. a5 c5 23. Rfe1 b5 24. axb6 axb6 25. Rac1 Bd3 26. Re3
Rd7 27. f3 Re8 28. Rce1 Rde7 29. fxe4 Rxe4 30. Rf3+ Kg8 31. Rg3+ Kf8 32. Rf3+
Kg8 33. Rg3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vicente Bonil op 29th"]
[Site "Albox"]
[Date "2005.06.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Krivoshey, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2493"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2005.06.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nh6 6. h4 d6 7. h5 Bg4 8. d3 Qd7
9. Ng5 Bxh5 10. f3 f6 11. Nh3 e5 12. Nf2 f5 13. Bxh6 Bxh6 14. g4 Rg8 15. Nd5
Qf7 16. gxh5 gxh5 17. Bh3 Rg3 18. e3 Kf8 19. Qe2 Re8 20. Kd1 b5 21. Kc2 bxc4
22. dxc4 f4 23. Ne4 fxe3 24. Nxg3 Nd4+ 25. Kd3 Nxe2 26. Kxe2 Qb7 27. b3 Qa6 28.
Ne4 Qa3 29. Rhb1 Rd8 30. Kd3 h4 31. Be6 Re8 32. Bd7 Rd8 33. Ba4 a6 34. Kc2 Rb8
35. Rg1 Rb4 36. Nec3 Bg7 37. Rae1 e4 38. fxe4 e2 39. Rxe2 Bd4 40. Rf1+ Kg7 41.
Rg2+ Kh6 42. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Re1 c6 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. c4 Be8 14. Qh3 (14.
Qh4 dxc4 15. Bxc4+ Bf7 16. Bd3 Bg6 17. Re6 Rae8 18. Rae1 Qa5 $1 $132 {1/2-1/2
Dominguez,L-Gelfand,B/Bermuda BER 2005/(31)}) 14... h6 $6 {Black weakens his
pawn structure on the king's side without a good reason.} (14... dxc4 15. Bxc4+
Bf7 16. Be6 g6 (16... Bxe6 17. Rxe6 Rae8 18. Rae1 Rxe6 19. Rxe6 Qd7 (19... c5
$132 {Huzman}) 20. Qb3 Rf7 21. h4 f4 22. h5 h6 23. Bh4 Kf8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Kveinys,A-Rytshagov,M/Riga LAT 2004/(39)}) 17. Re2 Rfe8 (17... Bxe6 $142 18.
Rxe6 Rae8 $11) 18. Rae1 Bf8 $2 19. Qb3 $1 $16 {1-0 Dominguez,L-Tkachiev,V/
Tripolis Fide-WM (3.1) sp04/8 2004 (34)}) 15. Bd2 (15. c5 $5 Bxh2+ (15... Bxc5
16. dxc5 hxg5 17. Bxf5 g6 18. Be6+ Bf7 19. Qh6 $18) 16. Qxh2 Qxh2+ 17. Kxh2
hxg5 18. Rab1 b5 (18... Rf7 19. Re5 g6 20. g4 fxg4 21. Bxg6 Rxf2+ 22. Kg3 Rf8
23. Bd3 $16 (23. Bxe8 Raxe8 24. Rxg5+ Kf7 25. Rxb7+ Kf6 26. Rbg7 Re4 27. R7g6+
Ke7 28. Rxg4 $16)) 19. cxb6 axb6 20. Rxb6 Rxa2 21. Re7 $44) 15... Qf7 {After
this move White receives a space advantage and full control over the dark
squares.} (15... dxc4 16. Bxc4+ Bf7 17. Bd3 Bg6 18. Re6 Bf7 19. Re2 Bg6 20.
Rae1 $16) 16. c5 $1 Bc7 17. Rab1 Qd7 (17... Rb8 18. Qh4 $1 Bd8 19. Qg3 f4 20.
Bxf4 Qxf4 21. Rxe8 Qxg3 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. hxg3 $16) 18. Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal
Gd2f4][%mdl 32]} Bg6 (18... b6 19. Bf4 $16) 19. h4 (19. Bf4 $5 Ba5 20. Re5 $16)
19... Qf7 20. Bf4 Ba5 21. Rec1 (21. Re5 Bd8 $1 $132 {[%cal Yd8f6,Yf6d4,Yf6h4]})
21... Bh5 22. Qg3 b5 (22... Bc3 $142 23. Ba6 $1 bxa6 (23... Bxd4 24. Bxb7 Rae8
25. Bxc6 Re2 26. Rf1 $16 {[%cal Gb1b7]}) 24. Qxc3 $16) 23. cxb6 Bxb6 (23...
axb6 24. c4 $16 {[%csl Ra5]}) 24. c3 Kh7 25. Be5 Qg6 26. Qf4 Rae8 27. Re1 Kg8
28. f3 {[%cal Gg2g4]} Qf7 29. Bd6 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Re8 (30... Rd8 31. Bb4 Bg6 32.
Re7 Qf6 33. Qe5 (33. h5 $5 Bxh5 34. Qxf5 Qxf5 35. Bxf5 $16 {[%csl Rc6][%cal
Gf5d7]} Be8 36. Rb7 $1 Ra8 37. Be6+ Kh7 38. Bd6 $18) 33... Qxe5 34. Rxe5 $16)
31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Be5 $18 {[%mdl 4]} Bg6 33. Bxf5 Qf7 34. Bc8 $1 Qxf4 35. Bxf4
Ba5 (35... c5 36. Be3 $16) 36. Bb8 $1 a6 (36... Bxc3 37. Bxa7 Bb1 38. a3 $18 {
[%cal Ga7c5]}) (36... Bb6 37. Bd6 $16) 37. Bxa6 Bb1 38. a3 Bxc3 39. Ba7 Bc2 40.
h5 Kf7 41. Kf2 Bb2 (41... Bd2 42. Bc5 (42. Ke2 $6 Bf4 43. Bd3 Bb3 $16 {[%csl
Re2][%cal Yf4c1,Yb3d1]}) 42... Kf6 43. Bc8 $1 Bf4 44. Bd7 Ba4 45. g3 Bd2 46. f4
$18 {[%cal Gg3g4]}) 42. Bc5 Bc1 43. Ke1 Bf4 44. Be2 Bb3 45. g4 Ba4 46. Bd1 Bg3+
47. Ke2 Bb5+ 48. Ke3 Bc7 49. a4 Bc4 50. Bb4 Bh2 51. Kf2 g6 52. hxg6+ Kxg6 53.
Be2 Bg1+ 54. Kxg1 Bxe2 55. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 8. Nxd4
(8. Qa4+ Nc6 $13) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. exf6 Qxg5 11. fxg7 Qxg7 12. Qd2 {
Dieser Damenzug scheint mir logischer, als die Alternative 12.Qf3.} O-O (12...
Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bxc4 Qe5+ 15. Kf1 Bb7 16. Rd1 O-O 17. h4 Rad8 $10 {
Portisch,L-Huebner,R/Skelleftea WCup/1989/0,5/28/}) 13. Bxc4 a6 {Interessant
ist zu bemerken, dass vor ein paar Monaten Topalov mit Schwarz dieselbe
Variante spielte, aber statt dem Bauernzug die Alternative 13...Rd8 wählte.} (
13... Rd8 14. Qe3 Bd7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Nf3 Ne7 17. Ne5 Ng6 (17... Bc6 18. Nxc6
Nxc6 19. Bd3 (19. f4 $5) 19... Ne7 20. Be4 Nd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rad1 Qe5 {
1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo C 2005/(29)}) 18. f4 Rac8 19. Be2 Nxe5
20. fxe5 Bc6 21. Bf3 Bd5 22. Rab1 b6 23. Rb4 $1 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 {
0-1 Dreev,A-Kharlov,A/Novosibirsk 1995/CBM 050/[Belov] (44)}) 14. O-O {Weiß
hat einige Bauernschwächen am Damenflügel, aber Entwicklungsvorteil.} Rd8 $6 (
14... b5 15. Bb3 (15. Be2 Bb7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Nc6 $11) 15... b4 16. Rac1
(16. Rad1 $5 {Das wäre eine mögliche Verbesserung für Weiß.} bxc3 (16... Rd8
17. Qf4 Bb7 (17... bxc3 18. Nxe6 $18) (17... e5 18. Nf5 Rxd1 (18... exf4 19.
Rxd8+ Qf8 20. Ne7+ $18) 19. Nh6+ $18) 18. Nf3 $1 $36) 17. Qxc3 Bb7 (17... Nd7
18. Rd3 Ne5 19. Rg3 Ng6 20. h4 Qh6 21. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rh4h5,Rf3a8]}) 18. Qh3 Kh8
(18... Nc6 19. Nxe6 $1) 19. Ba4 $5 $36) 16... Rd8 17. Qe3 Bb7 18. f3 bxc3 19.
Rfd1 Nc6 20. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Bxc6 22. Rxc3 Bd5 23. Bb3 Bxb3 24. axb3 {
1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Acs,P/Hungary/ 2002 (57)}) 15. Qf4 b5 $6 (15... e5 16. Qh4 $36)
(15... Bd7 $142 16. Rae1 Nc6 17. Re3 Ne7 (17... e5 18. Qh4 exd4 19. Rg3 Bf5 20.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 21. Qg3+) 18. Rg3 Ng6 19. Qg5 $36) 16. Qc7 $1 $36 {[%csl Gc7] Das
Eindringen der Dame in die gegnerische Stellung ist sehr stark; Schwarz hat
große Schwierigkeiten mit der eigenen Figurenentwicklung.} Qf8 (16... Qf6 17.
Bd3 {[%csl Gc7,Gd3][%cal Rd3e4,Re4a8]}) 17. Bd3 Rd7 (17... Qd6 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kg7
(18... Kxh7 19. Qxf7+ Kh8 (19... Kh6 20. Nf3 $1 Qf8 21. Ne5 Qg7 22. Qf4+ Kh7
23. Qh4+ $18) 20. Rad1 Qf8 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Qg5+ $18) 19. Qxd6
Rxd6 20. Be4 Ra7 21. Rad1 $16) 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Rae1 {[%cal Re1e3,Re3g3,Rg3g8]
[%mdl 2048] Weiß bringt den Turm ins Spiel, seine Drohung ist Re3-Rg3.} Qg7 $6
(19... Nc6 20. Re3 Ne7 21. h4 $1 $40) 20. Be4 $16 Kh8 (20... e5 21. Bxb7 f6 (
21... exf4 22. Re8+ $18) 22. Qf3 Rxb7 23. Nf5 Qc7 24. Nh6+ Kg7 25. Qg4+ Kxh6
26. Re3 $18) 21. Re3 Bxe4 (21... e5 22. Bxb7 $1) 22. Qxe4 Rd5 (22... Raa7 23.
Qf4 Rac7 24. Rg3 e5 25. Qf5 exd4 26. Re1 $18) (22... Rda7 23. Rg3 Qf6 24. Nf3
Nd7 25. Ng5 Qg6 (25... Nf8 26. Nxf7+ $1 Rxf7 (26... Qxf7 27. Qe5+ $18) 27. Qxa8
$18) 26. Qd4+ e5 (26... f6 27. Nxh7 $1) 27. Qd5 Nb6 (27... Rf8 28. Nxh7 $18)
28. Qf3 $1 f5 29. Nxh7 $18) {[#]} 23. Nxe6 $3 {[%mdl 512] Mit diesem
Figurenopfer vernichtet Weiß die schwarze Bauerverteidigung und erhält
deutlichen Angriff.} fxe6 24. Qxe6 $18 {[%csl Ge3,Ge6,Rg7,Rh8][%cal Re3g3,
Rg3g7]} Rd7 (24... Rd8 25. Rg3) 25. Rg3 Qf8 26. Re1 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rb8,Ge1,Ge6,
Gg3] Die letzte weiße Figur kommt ins Spiel - Schwarz ist machtlos.} Raa7 (
26... Rg7 27. Rxg7 Kxg7 (27... Qxg7 28. Qc8+ Qg8 29. Re8 $18) 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29.
Qd4+ Kg8 30. Qd5+ $18) 27. Qf6+ $1 (27. Qf6+ Qxf6 28. Re8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Eine sehr populäre Variante in
Großmeisterturnieren. Schwarz stört die weiße Entwicklung.} 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2
O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Bb7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Be3 (11. Bxb8 Qxb8
$5 12. Ne5 Nf6 13. e3 Rd8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. f4 g6 16. g4 Nd7 17. Qe1 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Adams,M/Izmir 2004/CBM 104}) 11... Nf6 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5
14. Rc2 Nb8 15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 Nb8 17. Nb4 Qd6 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20.
Rfc1 Qd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Sargissian,G/Moscow 2005/(25)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5
11. Rc1 Nc6 $6 {Dieser extravagante Springerzug wurde zuerst in der Partie
Ponomariov,R - Topalov,V Sofia 2005 gespielt. Wahrscheinlich bieten die
Alternativen 11...Qe8, oder 11...Bb7!? Schwarz ohne Komplikationen viel
bessere Ausgleichchancen.} (11... Qe8 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Qa4 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Na6 15.
a3 Rac8 16. Nc3 Nc7 17. Nd3 Nfe8 18. Rfd1 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Karpov,A/
Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (52)}) (11... Bb7 $5 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nc7 Ra7 14. Qa4 Ne4
15. Nb5 Ra8 16. Nc3 b5 17. Qd1 Nc6 18. Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Prusikin,M-Gyimesi,Z/
Miskolc 2004/(18)}) 12. Nxd5 {Die konsequente Fortsetzung, um
Eröffnungsvorteil zu erlangen.} (12. Qa4 Bb7 $11) 12... Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14.
Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 (15. Kh1 $6 Nxd5 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Qd7 Rab8 $40) 15... Bxe2
16. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Bis jetzt ist nach 11...Nc6?! alles forciert.} (16... Bxf1 17.
Rc7 $1 $16) 17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 $146 {Diese Neuerung
entspringt wohl der häuslichen Analyse Topalovs.} (19... Bc5 {[%csl Gc5]} 20.
Bd2 f6 $5 (20... a5 $1 21. Rxc5 (21. b3 f6 22. Nc4 a4 23. b4 Bd4 $132) 21...
bxc5 22. Rxc5 Rb8 23. Bxa5 f6 24. Nf3 Be2 $11) 21. b4 $1 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 $6 (
22... Kf7 $142) 23. Rc8 Rd7 {[#]} 24. Nh6+ $1 {Ein wirklich unerwartetes
Springeropfer.} gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26. Rd8 {[%csl Rf7,Rf8,Rg8] Die schwarzen
Figuren sind gefesselt.} Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R-Topalov,V/Sofia 2005/
CBM 107/[Ribli Zoltan] (40)}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 $1 $14 {[%cal Gc4e3,Ge3d5]
[%mdl 32] Weiß verfolgt eine sinnvolle Strategie: er möchte den starken
d5-Springer tauschen.} (21. Nc6 Bd6) 21... Rd8 22. a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 $2 (23...
Bd6 $142 $1 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bf4 (25. Bb4 Bb8) 25... Bxf4 26. gxf4 d4 27. Rc7+
Ke6 $1 28. Rxa7 Be2 $132) 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 $1 Bd8 (25... Bxb4 26. axb4 $16
{[%cal Gc2c7]}) 26. Rc6 $1 {[%cal Gc6d6,Gd6d5,Gd6d8] Um mit 27.Rd6 die Türme
zu tauschen.} Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat nur einen
Bauern für die Qualität und mit guter Spieltechnik kann Weiß seinen Vorteil
verwerten.} Ke8 29. Bb8 $1 {Mit diesem Zug provoziert Weiß die Schwächung des
schwarzen Damenflügels.} a5 30. Bc7 Bf3 31. Rc3 (31. Bxd8 Kxd8 32. Rc3 $16)
31... Bd5 32. f4 Kd7 33. Bxd8 Kxd8 34. Kf2 Kd7 35. Ke3 e5 (35... Kd6 36. Rc8
$16) (35... Bb7 $142) 36. fxe5 fxe5 37. Rc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1f1,Gf1f8]} a4 (37...
g6 38. Rf1 Ke7 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 Bb7 41. Ra1 Kd6 42. Ra7 Kc7 43. h4 Kc8 (
43... Kb8 44. Ra1 Kc7 45. Rf1 $1 $18) 44. b5 Kc7 45. Rxb7+ $1 Kxb7 46. Ke4 $18)
38. Rf1 {[%cal Rf1f5,Rf5h5,Rf5e5]} Ke6 39. Rf8 $18 {[%csl Gf8][%cal Rf8b8,
Rb8b6] Das Eindringen des Turms auf der schwarzen Grundlinie entscheidet die
Partie.} b5 40. Rg8 Kf6 41. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 a6 8. c5
c6 9. Bd3 e5 10. dxe5 Ne8 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qc2 h6 13. e4 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5
15. O-O dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nf6 17. Rfe1 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Qc7 19. Rce1 Be6 20. Qc3 Rad8
21. R1e3 Bf5 22. Re7 Rd7 23. Rg3 g6 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Re3 Bxd3 26. Rxd3 Qe6 27.
a3 Re8 28. g3 h5 29. Qd4 Qh3 30. Rd1 Qf5 31. h4 Qf3 32. Rf1 Re2 33. Qb4 Re7 34.
Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "186"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 e6 {Topalov
is probably the only top player who likes the Benoni type of positions with
black pieces.} 8. Bd3 Na6 {This rare continuation is a pet-line of Armenian GM
Minasian who won quite a few games with this setup. Nevertheless I wouldn't
recommend it for you at least you play against a weaker opponent and want to
surprise him... Perhaps Topalov prepared manouevre of the knight to c7 with
exd5 to follow which would help him to play b5.} (8... exd5 9. cxd5 {leads to
a very popular position in the Benoni.}) 9. O-O (9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 Nc7 11. O-O
$6 (11. Qd2) (11. a4 $5) 11... exd5 12. exd5 b5 $1 13. Qd2 bxc4 14. Bxc4 Kh7
$11 {0-1 Halkias,S-Minasian,A, EU-ch 5th Antalya 2004/CBM101 [Avrukh,B]}) 9...
Nc7 10. dxe6 {[%csl Rd6] Bacrot prefers to concentrate on the weakness on the
d6 which is one of the possible plans in this type of positions.} ({White also
tested many other ideas including two most popular ones} 10. Be3) (10. Rb1) ({
and also} 10. Re1) 10... Nxe6 11. Be3 Nd7 {Black will try to compensate
weakness on d6 by activity of his pieces. In particular the knight from d7
will go to e5 and then possible to c6.} 12. Be2 $1 $146 {A strong novelty. It
turns out that Bacrot is ready to trade the queens, but in case he will trade
his light-squared bishop- a deep positional concept.} ({Earlier White tested} 
12. Qd2 {, which promises no advantage.} Ne5 13. Be2 (13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Nd5 Bd7
15. Rfe1 Bc6 16. Bf1 Qd7 {Kiselev,S-Ulibin,M/Cheliabinsk 1993. is about equal.}
) 13... Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Nd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Bg4 ({or} 16. Nb5 Be5 17. Rad1 Qh4
$1 {with good play for Black.}) 16... Bxg4 17. hxg4 Qh4 18. Qe2 $6 Rae8 {
Gladyszev,O-Chatalbashev,B/France 2004. and Black was better.}) ({and} 12. Re1
Ne5 13. Bf1 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Nd4 15. Qd1 Be6 {Rustemov,A-Saldano Dayer,H/Almeria
2003. and Black is fine again.}) 12... Ne5 13. Nxe5 $1 dxe5 14. Qxd8 $1 Rxd8
15. Bg4 $1 {[%csl Rd5] This is the idea behind 12. Be2! Eventually White wants
to obtain a position with a knight or a "good" bishop vs a "bad" bishop.} h5 ({
Another option is to check White's idea with} 15... Nd4 16. Bxc8 Raxc8 {
and White still has to find a good moment for exchange of the black knight.})
16. Bxe6 Bxe6 17. Nd5 {This is the position White was willing to get. After
almost inevitable exchange on d5 White will have a nice dark-squared bishop vs
a "bad" one on g7, which is restricted by his own pawns.} b6 18. a4 {White
takes control over the light squares on the queenside and maybe even prepares
a5.} f5 19. f3 Bxd5 {Black agrees to a worse endgame.} 20. cxd5 $14 {[%csl Ge3,
Rg7]} Bf8 {Black brings the bishop to a good blockade position on d6.} 21. Rfc1
{Now White's plan includes doubling the rooks along the c-file and then
bringing the king closer to the centre.} Kf7 22. Rc3 Rdc8 23. Rac1 Rc7 24. b4
Rac8 {with the idea c4. That's why} 25. Rc4 Bd6 {Protecting the rook Black
creates a threat of cxb4.} 26. bxc5 ({In case of} 26. b5 {Black would look for
counterplay by means of} a6 27. bxa6 Ra8) 26... Bxc5 27. Kf1 Bd6 {The arising
bishop endagame is better for White but as the game shows it's not easy, if
possible at all, to convert this advantage into a win.} 28. Rxc7+ Rxc7 29.
Rxc7+ Bxc7 30. a5 {An attempt to create a weakness on the queen side.} ({
I also don't see how to make progress after} 30. Ke2 a6 {Then Black simply
waits with the king.}) 30... bxa5 31. Bxa7 Kf6 32. Ke2 Bd6 {[%cal Gf6g5]} 33.
Be3 a4 34. Kd3 Ke7 35. Kc4 Kf6 36. Bd2 fxe4 37. fxe4 Bf8 38. Ba5 (38. Bb4 $5 {
was a serious attempt to fight for a win. Here is a possible follow-up.} a3 39.
Bc3 Kg5 $5 (39... a2 {is dangerous in view of} 40. Kb3 Kg5 $1 41. Bd2+ $1 Kh4
42. Kxa2 Kg3 43. Kb3 Kxg2 44. Bb4 Bh6 45. Be7 $1 Kxh3 46. d6 Be3 47. Kc4 g5 48.
Kb5 g4 49. d7 g3 50. d8=Q g2 51. Qd3 $1 g1=Q 52. Bc5 $18) 40. Bxe5 (40. g3 a2
$1 41. Bxe5 (41. Kb3 h4 $1 42. Bd2+ Kf6 $1 43. Kxa2 hxg3 {with counterplay.})
41... Bd6 $1 42. Bb2 Bxg3 $1 (42... h4 $6 43. e5 Bxe5 44. Bxe5 Kf5 $1 45. Bd4
hxg3 46. d6 g2 47. d7 a1=Q $1 (47... g1=Q 48. d8=Q Qf1+ (48... a1=Q $2 49. Qf6+
Ke4 50. Bxa1) 49. Kc5 {with chances for a win.}) 48. d8=Q Qa2+ $1 49. Kc5 g1=Q
{and Black seems to equalize.})) 40... a2 41. Kd3 $1 (41. Ba1 Kf4 42. e5 Bg7
43. d6 Bxe5 44. d7 Bc7) 41... Bd6 42. Ba1 Kf4 43. h4 $1 Bc7 $1 (43... Be5 $2
44. g3+ $1 $18) 44. g3+ Kxg3 45. e5 Kxh4 46. d6 Bb8 47. Kc4 Kg4 48. Kc5 $1 h4
49. e6 h3 50. e7 Bxd6+ 51. Kxd6 h2 52. e8=Q h1=Q 53. Qxg6+ Kf4 {with a draw.
Of course a mistake is possible in all of this complicated lines, but it's
clear that 38.Bb4 was a good chance for a win.}) 38... Kg5 $2 {This move seems
to lose by force.} (38... Bd6 $5) 39. g3 $2 ({After the correct} 39. Bb4 $1 a3
40. d6 $1 {White wins a pawn, which is enough for winning the game.} Kf6 (40...
a2 41. d7 a1=Q 42. d8=Q+ Kf4 43. Qh4+ $1 Ke3 44. Qg3+ Kxe4 45. Qf3#) 41. d7 Be7
42. Bxa3 Ke6 43. Bxe7 Kxe7 44. Kd5 $18) 39... Kf6 40. Bc7 a3 41. Kb3 Bc5 42.
Bd8+ Kf7 43. Bg5 Bf2 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Ke8 46. Bf6 Bd4 47. Kxa3 {White
succeeded to win the a-pawn. Now the question is whether he can break through
Black's fortress.} Kd7 48. Kb4 Kd6 49. Bg7 Be3 50. Kc4 Bc1 51. Bf8+ Kd7 52. Bc5
Kc7 53. Kd3 Kd7 54. Be3 Ba3 55. Bd2 Bc5 56. Kc4 Bf2 57. Bb4 Be3 58. Bc3 Kd6 59.
Kb5 Bf2 60. Ka6 Bd4 $1 {Black needs his king on d7 to prevent Kc8.} 61. Ba5 Kd7
62. Bb6 Bb2 63. Kb7 Bc3 64. Bc7 Bb2 65. Bb8 Bd4 66. Ka6 Kc8 67. Bd6 Kd7 68. Bf8
Bc3 69. Kb5 Bb2 70. Bc5 Bc1 71. Kc4 Bd2 72. Ba3 Be3 73. Bb4 Bc1 74. d6 Kc6 75.
d7 {White tried everything and it didn't work, so now he is trying his very
last chance.} Kxd7 76. Kd5 Bg5 (76... Bf4 {changes nothing in view of} 77. Bd6)
77. Kxe5 Bh4 78. Kd5 Bg5 79. e5 Bh4 80. Bc5 Bg5 81. Bf2 Ke7 82. e6 Ke8 $11 {
Unfortunately for White this position is also a fortress.} 83. Ke5 Ke7 84. Bc5+
Ke8 85. Ke4 Kd8 86. Bd6 Ke8 87. Bf4 Bf6 88. Be3 Ke7 89. Kd5 Ke8 90. Kd6 Kd8 91.
Bd2 Ke8 92. Bf4 Kd8 93. Be5 Bg5 {Lucky Topalov! The game shows that Bacrot's
opening strategy deserves serious attention. White obtains a slightly better
position without any risk to lose, while Black has to defend passively.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Qc7 9. Re1 Bb7 10. Qf3 Bd6 11. e5 Bf8 12. Ne2 Ne7 13. Nf4 g6 14. c4 Bg7 15.
Qe2 O-O 16. Bd2 dxc4 17. Bxc4 c5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Nd3 Nf5 20. f3 Rd4 21. Bg5
a5 22. Qf2 h5 23. b3 Qb6 24. a4 Rc8 25. Rc3 Bd5 26. Bb5 Qb8 27. Qb2 c4 28. bxc4
Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxc4 30. Qd2 Rb4 31. f4 Bf8 32. Kh1 Qb6 33. Rc1 Nd4 34. Qf2 Qa7
35. Be8 Bc5 36. Rdc3 Nb3 37. Rxc5 Nxc1 38. Bxf7+ Kxf7 39. Rxd5 Qxf2 40. Rd7+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 e5 8. Nf3
Ng4 9. Qd2 Nxe3 10. Qxe3 exf4 11. Qxf4 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Nd5 Be6 14. Kb1
Rc8 15. g4 Bxd5 16. exd5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Qe4 Qd6 19. h4 g6 20. h5 Bg5 21.
Qg2 Rc5 22. Bd3 b5 23. Rdf1 Qxd5 24. Be4 Qd6 25. hxg6 fxg6 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. Qh3
Rf6 28. Qxh7+ Qxh7 29. Rd8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Rxh7 Rc4 32. Bxg6 Rxg4 33.
a3 Be3 34. Bd3 b4 35. axb4 Rxb4 36. c3 Rf4 37. Bc2 e4 38. Rh8+ Ke7 39. Rh7+ Kf6
40. Rh6+ Kf5 41. Rh5+ Kg4 42. Re5 Kf3 43. Bd1+ Kf2 44. Bc2 Kf3 45. Bd1+ Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 f6 {Psakhis,L: 'This
move is very popular at the moment. Another interesting move is the solid} (
6... c4 $5 {which I prefer to play myself.'}) 7. Bd3 (7. b4 c4 (7... fxe5 8. b5
$5 (8. dxc5 {- 44/317} Nf6 9. Bb5 e4) (8. bxc5 e4 9. Ng5 Nf6 $15) 8... Na5 9.
Nxe5 Nf6 10. Bg5 $5 (10. Bd3 c4 $5 (10... Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Qc2 Qe8 $5 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bxh7+ Kg7 15. Bg6 Qe7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bd3 e5 $13)
) 10... Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Nd2 $14) 8. Be2 Qc7 $13) 7... Qc7 (7... fxe5 {
also deserves attention:} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne7 (9... g6 {and it is not
easy for White to get an advantage, for example} 10. O-O Qc7 11. f4 c4 12. Bc2
Bc5+ 13. Kh1 Ne7 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. b4 cxb3 16. Nxb3 Bb5 $13 {0-1 Afek,Y-Hebert,
J/Paris op 1995 (24)}) 10. O-O Qc7 $13) (7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Nh6 9. O-O Nf7 10.
Re1 Be7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Qc2 f5 13. Nxd5 $5 exd5 14. e6 $14) 8. Bf4 (8. O-O
O-O-O (8... c4 9. Bc2 O-O-O (9... fxe5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 O-O-O 12. Qe2 Nh6
13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. Nd2 Bg7 15. Nf3 Rdf8 16. Rae1 Rf7 17. Nd4 Qd8 18. Qh5 Rf4 19.
g3 Rff8 20. Bd1 Re8 21. Bg4 Qb6 22. Re2 Re7 {1-0 Haba,P-Ganaus,H/St Poelten GM
2002/ (32)}) 10. Re1 Nge7 (10... fxe5 11. Nxe5 $5 $146 ({Black has nothing to
worry about after} 11. dxe5 Bc5 12. Nbd2 Nh6 13. b4 Bb6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 Rdf8
16. Kh1 g5 17. a4 a5 $1 18. b5 Ne7 $15 {0-1 Alekseev,E-Ivanov,S/St.
Petersburg-ch 1999 (48) but it is not clear if the move in the game is an
improvement.}) 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bc5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Ne7 15. Nd2 Nc6
$11 16. Nf3 (16. Qg4 Rdg8 17. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Haba,P-Potkin,V/Pardubice Czech
Open 2002/The Week in Chess 403}) 16... Rdf8 17. Qe2 h6 {[%cal Gg7g5]} 18. Nh4
$5 (18. b3 cxb3 19. Bxb3 Na5 {[%csl Rc3]}) 18... Be8 ({Maybe White is slightly
better after} 18... Ne7 19. Ng6 Nxg6 20. Bxg6 $14 {[%cal Ga1d1,Ge2g4]}) 19. Qg4
Qe7 {[%cal Ge7g5]} (19... Qf7 $5) 20. Ng6 Bxg6 21. Bxg6 h5 $1 $11 {1/2-1/2
Haba,P-Ulibin,M/Koszalin-A 1999/CBM 73/[Psakhis,L] (25)}) (10... Nh6 11. Bxh6
gxh6 12. exf6 Qf4 13. Nbd2 Bd6 14. Qe2 Rdf8 15. Rad1 Qxf6 16. Ne5 Rhg8 17. g3
h5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Grosar,A-Furlan,M/SLO-ch 1993 (37)}) (10... h6 11. b3 cxb3 12.
Bxb3 g5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bb2 Bd6 15. c4 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nd5 17. Nbd2 Rhf8 18.
Ne4 g4 $132 {0-1 Arnhold,K-Kiseleva,N/EuropapokalW 1998 (31)}) 11. Nbd2 (11.
Qe2 fxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxe5 Qxe5 14. Rxe5 Nc6 15. Re2 Bd6 16. Bg5 Rde8 17.
Nd2 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Rae1 Nd3 20. Rxe8+ Bxe8 21. Bxd3 cxd3 22. Be3 b6 23.
Rd1 {1/2-1/2 Shavtvaladze,N-Barsov,A/Ikaros op 2001/Ajelibre}) 11... fxe5 12.
dxe5 h6 13. Nf1 g5 14. h3 Bg7 15. Qe2 Rhf8 16. Ng3 Be8 17. Nd4 Bf7 18. Nb5 Qxe5
19. Nxa7+ Nxa7 20. Qxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Nac6 22. Re1 e5 23. Be3 d4 {0-1 Shanava,
K-Gaprindashvili,V/GEO-ch I Liga Tbilisi 2002/EXT 2004 (51)}) 9. Re1 (9. Qe2 h6
10. b4 c4 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nh4 Be8 13. f4 Be7 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. Bxf5+ Kb8 16. Qg4
g5 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Bh5 19. Qg3 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 Nge7 21. Nd2 Rdg8 22. Qe3
Nxf5 23. Rxf5 Qh7 {0-1 Grischuk,A-Short,N/Reykjavik op 2000/The Week in Chess
284 (32)}) 9... fxe5 (9... c4 10. Bf1 Nge7 11. Nbd2 fxe5 12. Ng5 exd4 13. Nf7
dxc3 14. bxc3 Ng6 15. Nxh8 Nxh8 16. Nf3 Nf7 17. g3 Be7 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4
Bf6 20. Bb2 Nd6 {0-1 Genin-Epishin/Leningrad 1980/ChessBase (49)}) (9... h6 10.
b4 c4 11. Bc2 f5 12. h4 Be8 13. Bf4 Bh5 14. Nbd2 g5 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 Qh7
17. Kf1 Nce7 18. Qc1 Bh6 19. Bxh6 Nxh6 20. Ng5 Qg6 21. f4 Rdg8 22. Bd1 Nf7 23.
Ndf3 Bxf3 {0-1 Crut,A-Luther,T/FRA-ch National 1 Lille 2005/ (40)}) 10. dxe5
$146 c4 $5 {Psakhis,L: Black has nothing to worry about after} 11. Bc2 Bc5 12.
Nbd2 (12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Nh6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 g5 16. Nbd2 Rdg8 17. b3 h5
$132) 12... Nh6 {[><f2, e5]} 13. b4 Bb6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 Rdf8 $5 16. Kh1 (16.
b5 Ncxe5 $1) (16. a4 $5 a5 17. b5 Ncxe5 $1 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Bxf2+ 20. Kh1
Bxe1 21. Qxe1 e5 22. b6 $5 (22. Ba3 Rf6 23. Nf3 Bf5 $13 {עc8})) 16... g5 17.
a4 a5 18. b5 Ne7 $15 {0-1 Alekseev,E-Ivanov,S/Saint Petersburg 1999/ (48)
Psakhis,L: 'but it is not clear if move in the game is an improvment.'}) (8.
exf6 gxf6 9. O-O O-O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b4 Bd6 12. h3 Nge7 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14.
cxd4 e5 15. Ra2 Kb8 16. b5 e4 17. Rc2 Qb6 18. Be2 Rhg8 19. Kh1 Nf5 20. Nc3 Qxd4
21. Nxd5 Be6 22. Nf4 Qe5 {1/2-1/2 Andrejchuk,V-Kudin,V/UKR Juniors games boys
Evpatoria 2005 (45)}) 8... O-O-O (8... c4 9. Bc2 O-O-O 10. Nbd2 (10. Qc1 f5 11.
h4 Nh6 12. Nbd2 Be7 13. Nf1 Nf7 14. Ng5 Rdf8 15. Nh2 Nfd8 16. Nf1 g6 17. Nf3
Nf7 18. Ng5 Nfd8 19. Nf3 Nf7 {1/2-1/2 Vatter,H-Barsov,A/Untergrombach op 1995/
ChessBase}) 10... Be8 11. Qb1 Bh5 12. Bg3 Qf7 13. exf6 gxf6 14. O-O Bg6 15. b3
cxb3 16. Qxb3 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Nge7 18. Rab1 Nf5 19. Qa4 Nxg3 20. hxg3 Qd7 21. c4
Kb8 22. cxd5 exd5 {1-0 Giaccio,A-Soln,P/Elista ol 1998/ChessBase (63)}) (8...
Nge7 9. Bg3 Qb6 10. b3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f5 12. Be2 g6 13. Bf4 h6 14. h4 Rc8 15. b4
Nd8 16. O-O Nf7 17. Qd2 Qd8 18. Nc3 g5 19. hxg5 Ng6 20. Nb5 Nxf4 21. Qxf4 hxg5
22. Qg3 g4 {0-1 Thapa,K-Reefat,S/Dhaka GM 2004/ (39)}) 9. O-O c4 (9... g5 $2
10. Bg3 g4 11. exf6 $16) 10. Bc2 Qb6 $146 (10... h6 $5 11. Bg3 (11. h4 Be8 (
11... f5 12. h5 $14) 12. b3 (12. Nbd2 Bh5 13. Qe1 f5 $15) 12... cxb3 13. Bxb3
Bh5 14. Nbd2 (14. Qd3 g5 15. Bg3 (15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bg3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 (17. exf6
Qf7 18. Qxf3 Qh7 $19) 17... Qh7 $19) 15... f5 16. hxg5 Bxf3 $19) 14... fxe5 (
14... g5 $1 15. Bg3 (15. Be3 f5 $17) 15... f5 $17) 15. dxe5 Bc5 16. Qb1 (16.
Qe1 Nge7 17. Be3) 16... Nge7 17. c4 (17. Bh2 Rhf8 18. Bd1 $17) 17... Rhf8 18.
Bh2 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Rxf3 $1 20. gxf3 Nd4 21. Kg2 Nef5 $36 {Adams,M-Epishin,V/
Tel Apel 1992}) (11. b3 g5 12. Be3 fxe5 13. bxc4 dxc4 14. Nbd2 Bg7 15. Rb1 Be8
16. Qe2 Nge7 17. Qxc4 Nd5 18. Ne4 exd4 19. cxd4 g4 {0-1 Valet,R-Pap,G/
Budapest-02 IMA 2005/ (32)}) 11... f5 12. h4 (12. Bf4 Be8 13. Ne1 g5 14. Bc1
Nge7 15. Nd2 Na5 16. Rb1 Nec6 17. b3 cxb3 18. Nxb3 Nxb3 19. Bxb3 Na5 20. a4 Kb8
21. Bd2 f4 22. Bc2 Nc4 23. Bc1 Qa5 {1/2-1/2 Chevaldonnet,F-Barsov,A/FRA t-ch2
0304 2003/ChessBase (46)}) 12... Be8 13. Nbd2 Bh5 14. Qb1 Nge7 15. b3 cxb3 16.
Bxb3 Na5 17. Rc1 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Nc6 19. Rab1 Na5 20. Qa2 Bxf3 21. Nxf3 Nc4 {
0-1 Markgraf,A-Luther,T/Dresden ZMD-op 2003/ChessBase (70)}) 11. b3 cxb3 12.
Bxb3 g5 $1 13. Be3 g4 14. Ne1 {[%cal Ge1d3]} (14. Nfd2 {[%csl Rb1]}) 14... Na5
15. Bc2 f5 16. Nd3 Kb8 17. a4 $5 {[%cal Gb1a3]} (17. Nd2 $5 Rc8 18. Rb1 Qc7 19.
Nb3 {[%cal Gb3c5]}) 17... Rc8 18. Qe2 Qa6 19. Qe1 (19. Na3 $5 Rxc3 $140 $2 (
19... h5 $5) 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Rfb1 $40 {[%csl Ga1,Gb1]}) 19... b6
(19... Nc4 $5 20. a5 $140 Bb5) 20. Na3 Bxa3 $1 (20... Nb3 $6 21. Ra2 (21. Bxb3
$5 Qxd3 22. Nb5) 21... Qxa4 (21... Bxa4 22. Nb1 $18) 22. Nc1 (22. Qb1 Rxc3 23.
Qb2 Qc6 24. Bxb3 Rxd3 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Qc2 Bxa3 27. Rxa3 Bb5 28. Bxd5 $1 exd5
29. Rxd3 Bxd3 30. Qxd3 Ne7 (30... Qd7 31. e6 $1) 31. Bg5 $36) 22... Bxa3 23.
Nxb3 Bb5 24. Qa1 $18) 21. Rxa3 Ne7 22. Nb4 {White has seized space on the
queenside and is ready to play actively there, while Black has to develop his
play on the kingside.} Qb7 23. Bd3 Nc4 24. Bxc4 (24. Ra1 $5) 24... dxc4 25. a5
b5 26. a6 Qa8 {[%csl Ga8] It looks that Topalov has big problems as his queen
will now be temporarily out of play, but I don't see how White can use it to
his favour.} 27. Qe2 Nd5 28. Nxd5 $6 {A dubious decision allows Black to
activate his forces.} (28. Qb2 $140 $1 Nxb4 29. Qxb4 Qd5 (29... Qe4 $2 30. Qd6+
Rc7 31. d5 {/\B:a7}) 30. Qd6+ Qxd6 31. exd6 h5 32. Bf4 $14) 28... Qxd5 $36 {
[%mdl 32]} 29. f4 (29. f3 Rcg8 (29... h5 $5)) 29... h5 $1 {Black prepares his
own offensive on the kingside.} 30. Rb1 h4 31. Kf1 Bc6 $17 {[%csl Ra6,Gc6,Gd5]
[%cal Gh4h3]} 32. Bg1 Ka8 33. Rb4 Rb8 34. Ra2 Rb6 35. Ke1 h3 36. g3 Rc8 37. Be3
Bd7 $5 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Gc8c6,Gd7c8] Topalov has improved the position of all
his pieces and is now ready for more active actions. Unfortunately White must
just sit and wait - he hasn't any counter-play.} 38. Ra5 Qh1+ 39. Kd2 Bc6 40.
Qf2 Bd5 41. Qg1 (41. Rbxb5 Rcb8 42. Rxb6 (42. Rb4 Rxb4 43. cxb4 Rxb4 $19) 42...
Rxb6 {[%cal Rb6b2]}) 41... Qe4 {White's position is hopelessly passive.} 42.
Kc1 (42. Rbxb5 Rcb8 $19) 42... Rcc6 $19 43. Qf2 (43. Raxb5 Rxb5 44. Rxb5 Rxa6
45. Kb2 Bc6 46. Rb4 Ba4 47. Qc1 $8 Bb3 48. Rxb3 cxb3 $19) 43... Rxa6 44. Raxb5
(44. Rbxb5 Rxa5 45. Rxa5 Rb6 46. Ra1 Rb3) 44... Ra1+ 45. Rb1 Rxb1+ 46. Rxb1 Ra6
47. Qd2 Qh1+ {Great positional achievement of Veselin Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "211"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4 Be7 14. a3 ({
S.Karjakin achieved few important wins with} 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Qf3 {[%cal Ga1d1,
Yf1d3,Yd3c2,Yc2b3]}) 14... Be6 {The mnost precise answer, not fearing Ncb4.} (
14... Kh8 15. g3 $14 (15. Bd3 $14) (15. Ncb4 Bb7 $11)) (14... a5 15. Nce3 $14)
15. Ncb4 (15. g3 Qd7 16. Bg2 a5 $11) 15... Nxb4 16. axb4 Ra8 17. g3 (17. Bd3 $6
Bxd5 18. exd5 f5 $15) 17... Qd7 ({Better than} 17... a5 {since White retains
some winning chances in the endgame thanks to the passed b-pawn:} 18. Bxb5 Bxd5
(18... axb4 $2 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nxe7+ $18) 19. Qxd5 axb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21.
Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Kd2 bxc3+ 23. Kxc3 $14) 18. Bg2 ({After} 18. Nb6 $2 Qb7 {White
must return with the knight, since} 19. Nxa8 $2 {loses due to} Qxe4+) 18... Bd8
19. O-O Qc6 ({White is marginally better after} 19... a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Rxa5
Bxa5 22. Qd3 (22. h5 h6) 22... Qb7 23. Rd1 $1 $11 {[%cal Gg2f1] /+/=} (23. Ne3
Bc4 24. Nxc4 bxc4 $11) (23. Ra1 Bb6 $1 (23... Ra8 $2 24. b4 Bd8 25. Rxa8 Qxa8
26. Qxb5 $18) 24. Nb4 (24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 b4 $11) 24... Bc5)) 20. Ne3 a5 ({
Also possible was} 20... Bb6 21. Qd2 (21. Qd3 Bc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Qd2 a5 $11)
21... Rfd8 22. Rfd1 (22. Nf5 $6 Bxf5 23. exf5 d5 24. Rfd1 e4 $132) 22... Bb3
23. Nd5 Ra7 $1 $11) 21. bxa5 Bxa5 22. Nf5 (22. Qd3 Bc4 $11) 22... Qd7 (22...
Bxf5 23. exf5 e4 24. f6 $36) 23. Qd2 Bc7 24. Ne3 (24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Qg5+ Kh8
26. Qf6+ Kg8 $11) 24... Qc6 25. Nf5 Qd7 26. Qg5 f6 27. Qd2 d5 {Black
successfully solved all problems and equalized. Possibly Leko relaxed around
here and Topalov slowly outplayed him. Nevertheless Black still must play
accurately to achieve a draw.} 28. Ne3 d4 29. cxd4 Qxd4 (29... exd4 30. Nd5 $14
) 30. Qc2 Rxa1 (30... Bb6 $2 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Qc6 $18) 31. Rxa1 Bb6 32. Rd1
Qc5 (32... Qb4 33. Nd5 Qa5 $11 {[%cal Gb6d4]}) 33. Qe2 Bb3 34. Rd3 Bc4 {
Leaving on the board opposite-coloured bishops unexpectedly offers White an
easier play on the kingside.} (34... Qc1+ 35. Kh2 (35. Bf1 Be6 (35... Bxe3 36.
Rxb3 $1 $16) 36. Rd1 Qc5 37. h5 (37. Qxb5 Qxb5 38. Bxb5 Bxe3 39. fxe3 Rb8)
37... b4 $11) 35... Bf7 36. Rc3 Qb1 37. Qxb5 Bd4 $11) 35. Nxc4 Qxc4 36. b3 Qb4
(36... Qc7 37. Bh3 Bd4 38. Be6+ Kh8 39. Kg2 Qc6 40. Bd5 Qd6 41. Rd2 b4 42. Ra2
Rd8 43. h5 $14) 37. Bh3 (37. Rd5 Qxb3 38. Rxb5 Qe6 $11) 37... Bd4 (37... Rd8 $2
38. Rxd8+ Bxd8 39. Qd3 Be7 40. Qd5+ Kh8 41. Qf7 $36) 38. Kg2 g6 {Not really
necessary, although White's chances are better anyway.} (38... Qe7 $142 39. Rd2
b4 40. Qc4+ Kh8 41. h5 g6 $14 {[%cal Gf6f5]} (41... Qf7 $2 42. Qxb4)) 39. Be6+
Kh8 40. h5 Qe7 41. Qg4 Re8 42. Bd5 (42. Bd7 $2 f5 $19) 42... f5 (42... Kg7 43.
Rd1 $14 {[%cal Gd1h1]}) 43. Qh3 (43. exf5 gxf5 44. Qxf5 Rf8 $132) 43... fxe4 (
43... Kg7 44. exf5 gxf5 45. Qxf5 Rf8 46. Qg4+ Kh8 47. Rf3 $16) 44. Bxe4 gxh5
45. Qxh5 Rf8 46. Rd2 Qf7 47. Qh6 Qg7 48. Qc6 b4 49. Qd6 Bc3 50. Ra2 Qf6 51. Qc5
Kg7 52. Ra7+ Rf7 53. Bd5 Rxa7 54. Qxa7+ Kf8 $2 ({Correct was} 54... Kh8 55. Be4
Qg7 56. Qb8+ Qg8 57. Qd6 Qg4 {and White cannot create serious threats. For
instance:} 58. Bd5 Kg7 59. Qe7+ Kh6 60. Bf7 (60. Qf6+ Qg6) 60... e4 $1 {
[%cal Gg4f3]}) 55. Qxh7 $16 Bd4 56. Qc2 Bc3 57. Qa2 Qd8 58. Bc4 Ke7 59. Qa7+
Qd7 60. Qa8 Kd6 61. Bd5 Kc5 62. Bf3 Kd6 63. Qb8+ Ke7 64. Qa8 Qd8 65. Qe4 Qd7
66. Qh4+ Kd6 67. Qf6+ Qe6 68. Qd8+ Kc5 69. Qa5+ Kd4 70. Qa7+ Kd3 71. Qa2 Kd4
72. Kf1 e4 73. Qa7+ Ke5 74. Qc7+ Kd4 75. Qa7+ Ke5 76. Qe3 Qxb3 77. Qxe4+ Kf6
78. Kg2 Qe6 79. Qd3 Qe5 80. Bd5 Qf5 81. Be4 Qc5 82. Bd5 Ke5 83. Qe4+ Kd6 84.
Qe6+ Kc7 85. f4 Qd6 86. Qe4 Qd7 87. Kf3 Kd6 88. g4 Qb5 89. Qe6+ Kc5 90. Ke4
Qe2+ 91. Kf5 Qd3+ 92. Be4 Qd8 93. g5 Qf8+ 94. Kg4 Qd6 95. Qxd6+ Kxd6 96. Bc2
Ke7 97. Kh5 Kf7 98. Kh6 Kg8 99. f5 Kh8 100. Kg6 Bd4 101. f6 Be3 102. Kf5 Kg8
103. Bb3+ Kh8 104. g6 Bh6 105. Ke6 Bg7 106. fxg7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 9. Na4 Nbd7 $146 {[%mdl 4] Topalov has prepared a very sharp line at home,
that is very risky.} (9... Bd7 $1 $13) 10. O-O-O (10. Bc4 Qa5 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3
d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. O-O Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qe5 16. Qd2 Qd6 17. f4 bxa3 18. Rad1 Nb6
19. Qa5 Nxc4 20. bxc4 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Bxb4 22. Rb1 O-O-O {0-1 Ewaldt,M-Ftacnik,L/
Hamburg 2005/ (31)}) 10... d5 11. exd5 (11. Bf4 Bb7 12. e5 Nh5 13. b3 Nxf4 14.
Qxf4 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Qd2 Qb6 17. Kb1 a5 18. Bb5+ Kf8 19. Ba4 Rc8 20. f4
Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Bc6 23. Bxc6 Rxc6 24. a3 Rb6 25. axb4 axb4 26. Kb2
Ke7 27. Ra1 Rc8 28. Ra4 Rbc6 29. Rd2 Rb6 30. Ra7+ Kf8 31. g3 Ke8 32. Ra4 Kd7
33. Rd4 {1/2-1/2 Teo Wei Xing-Wee, Singapore 2004}) 11... Nxd5 12. Bc4 N7f6 (
12... Bb7 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bb6 Qxa4 16. Bxd5 Be7 17. Bxb7 Nxb6
18. Rxe6 O-O 19. Rxe7 Qxa2 20. Qd4 Rf6 21. Bxa8 {1-0 Wang Hao-Nava,R/Instanbul
2005/}) 13. Bg5 Qc7 (13... Bb7 14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Nf5 $1 O-O 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nb6 Rad8 19. Nxd5 Rxd5 20. Qxd5 $18) 14. Bxd5 {White could have
contemplated also other dangerous idea 14.Qe2!?} (14. Qe2 $5 Bd6 $1 15. Nxe6 (
15. Nf5 Bf4+ 16. Kb1 Bxg5 17. Bxd5 Rb8) 15... Bxe6 16. Bxf6 (16. Bxd5 $2 Nxd5
17. Rxd5 O-O $19) 16... Nxf6 17. Bxe6 Bf4+ 18. Kb1 fxe6 19. Qxe6+ Kf8 20. g3
Bh6 $13) 14... Nxd5 15. Rhe1 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. Kb1 (17. f4 $1 $40 Nxf4 18.
Qg4 Nd5 19. Nxe6 $18) 17... h6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Qf2 Qc7 20. Nf5 $2 {The opening
experiment by black has failed and white could have capitalized on his
centralized pieces with the winning jump 20.Nb6!} (20. Nb6 $1 $40 Rb8 $8 (20...
Qxb6 21. Nxe6 Qxf2 (21... Qxe6 22. Qa7 $3 $18) 22. Nxg7#) 21. Nf5 Bc6 22. Qd4
Rg8 (22... Ng6 23. Bg3 Qxb6 24. Qxb6 Rxb6 25. Bc7 $18) 23. Nc4 $5 g5 24. Bg3
Rd8 25. Ncd6+ Bxd6 26. Nxd6+ Rxd6 (26... Kf8 27. Bxf4 gxf4 28. Rxe6 $18) 27.
Qxd6 Qxd6 28. Rxd6 $18) 20... g5 $1 21. Bg3 Rc8 22. Qd4 (22. Rd2 Rd8 23. Bxf4
gxf4 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Nc5 Bd5 $14) 22... Rg8 23. c3 $2 {Leko played very
badly in time trouble and transformed the position into difficult ending.} (23.
Qf2 $1) 23... Rd8 24. Qxd8+ (24. Qe3 Bc6 $17) 24... Qxd8 25. Rxd8+ Kxd8 $17 26.
Ne3 Bc6 27. Nb6 bxc3 28. bxc3 Bg7 29. Bxf4 gxf4 30. Nd1 Bb5 31. a4 Bd3+ 32. Kc1
Kc7 33. a5 Bh8 34. Kd2 Bb5 35. Rg1 Bc6 36. Ke2 Be5 37. c4 Bd4 38. Nf2 Bc3 39.
Ne4 Bxa5 40. c5 f5 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "194"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 (7. Nc3 c6
8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Nfg5 c5 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 $13 {
Topalov-Anand, Sofia 2005}) 7... c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2
O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 ({Another popular continuation is 13...b5, but in
the latest game played with this move Black didn't manage to equalize and
suffered a defeat, so Vishy chooses more solid approach.} 13... b5 14. Re1 dxe4
15. Bxe4 bxc4 16. bxc4 (16. Nxc4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Qc2 h6 19. a4 Qc7 20.
Red1 Rfd8 21. Rac1 Qa7 $11 {Anand,V-Adams,M/Linares 2005}) 16... c5 (16... Nb6
$5 17. c5 Nd5 18. Qc2 h6 19. Bg2 Rb8 20. Nf3 Bf6 21. Bd2 Rb7 $11 {Pelletier,
Y-Gelfand,B/Biel 2005}) 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Nb6 19. Ba5 Bf6 20. Rb1 Rb8 21.
Qf3 Qd7 22. Bxb6 axb6 23. Ne4 $14 {Bacrot,E-Adams,M/Dortmund 2005}) 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 $1 {This move is considered to be
the safest path.} 18. Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 {Once again Vishy opts for the
most solid move, even though Black managed to hold also after 19...Bf6 and 19..
.Nd3!?:} (19... Bf6 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Ne5 Rfd8 22. Nd7 $6 Qf5 23. Re5 Qxe5 24.
Nxe5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Kf8 $11 {Epishin,V-Bagaturov,G/Cappelle la Grande 1997}) (
19... Nd3 $5 20. Rxe7 Bxc4 21. Rd7 Nxb2 22. Rxd8 Nxd1 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxd1
Kf8 $11 {Maki Uuro,M-Agopov,M/Helsinki 2002}) 20. Qg4 {[%csl Rc4,Rg7]} Bg5 ({
Of course Black isn't ready to suffer after} 20... Bf6 $6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22.
Qxc4 $16) 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Ba3 {Another possible continuation is} (22. Be5 {
but just a move in the game it's hardly dangerous for black.} Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Bf6
24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Qc2 g6 28. Bb7 b4 29. Qc5 Qxc5 30. Rxc5
Rfe8 31. Kf1 Kf8 $11 {Bacrot,E-Lutz,C/Gothenburg 2005}) 22... Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8
{The opponents played a long theoretical line which is considered harmless for
Black. White has a good compensation for exchange, but that's about it. In
other words draw is the most likely result in this line.} 24. Rxe8+ (24. Be4 $6
g6 25. h4 $6 Bf6 26. Re3 Qd4 27. Qc2 b5 28. Bc5 Qc4 $17 {Sammalvuo,T-Veingold,
A/Finland 1997}) 24... Qxe8 25. Bd5 {[%csl Gc6][%cal Gc4g4,Ga3b2]} h5 {Taking
square g4 under control in order to neutralize White's pressure on g7.} (25...
Be7) 26. Kg2 Be7 27. Bb2 Bf6 28. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1f4] Even disrupting Black's
pawn structure is not a fair price for the bishop exchange. Thanks to the
bishop's pair White can keep pressure on Black's position.} Qe7 29. Be3 ({
In my opinion it was better to force Black to play g5 since after a move in
the game the position remains balanced.} 29. Bf4 $1 g5 (29... Qc5 $2 30. Bxf7+
Kf8 31. Qe6 $18) 30. Be3) 29... Rc7 30. h4 Be5 31. Qd3 Bd6 32. Bg5 Qe8 33. Qf3
b5 $1 {White can't capture on h5 if he's got some aggressive intentions, so
it's just about a time to bring the pawn to b4.} 34. Be3 (34. Qxh5 Rxc6 35.
Bxc6 Qxc6+ 36. Qf3 Qxf3+ 37. Kxf3 a5 38. Ke4 b4 39. Kd5 Bf8 $11) 34... Qe5 35.
Qd1 Qe8 36. Qxh5 Rxc6 37. Bxa7 $5 {Topalov isn't ready to call it a day yet!
After} (37. Bxc6 Qxc6+ 38. Qf3 Qxf3+ 39. Kxf3 a5 40. Ke4 b4 41. Kd5 Be7 42. Bc5
Bd8 {the position should be drawish.}) 37... Ra6 38. Bd4 Bf8 39. Be5 b4 40. Qf5
{White keeps some initiative going, but with a couple of accurate moves Anand
shows that it's not more than illusion.} g6 $1 41. Qf4 Qe7 $1 (41... Bg7 42.
Bxg7 Kxg7 43. Qxb4) 42. Bd4 Ra5 43. Qf3 Bg7 44. Bb6 Rb5 $6 {It was much safer
to put a rook on a6 to keep an eye on g6 just in case.} (44... Ra6) 45. Be3 Bc3
$6 46. Bg5 Qa7 (46... Qf8) 47. Qd3 $1 $14 {Diagram [#]} Rb6 (47... Qa6 $2 48.
Bd8 $1 $18 {Followed by Kh2 and Bc4 winning a rook.}) 48. Be3 Qa6 $6 {I think
Anand overlooked White's 52nd move, otherwise he would've chosen 48...Qb8 with
reasonable chances to survive, even though things are not that simple as it
may look like.} (48... Bg7 $6 49. Qxg6 $1 $16) (48... Qb8 49. Bxb6 Qxb6 50. a4
$1 Bf6 51. Bb3 $14) 49. Bxf7+ $1 {[%csl Rb6]} Kxf7 50. Qd7+ Kf8 (50... Kf6 51.
Qd8+ Kf5 52. Bxb6 Qxa2 53. g4+ Ke5 54. Bc7+ Ke4 55. Qe8+ $18) 51. Qd8+ Kf7 52.
Qc7+ $1 $18 {Winning a pawn on g6 and getting an easily winning endgame.} (52.
Qxb6 Qxa2 $11) 52... Kg8 53. Qxb6 Qxa2 54. Qxg6+ Kh8 (54... Kf8 55. Bc5#) 55.
Qc6 $1 Qf7 56. g4 Bg7 57. h5 ({Another winning line is} 57. g5 b3 58. g6 Qg8
59. h5 b2 60. Qb7 Qe6 61. Bf4 Qf5 62. Bd6 Qg5+ 63. Bg3 Qf5 64. h6 Qxg6 65.
hxg7+ Qxg7 66. Qxg7+ Kxg7 67. Be5+ $18) 57... b3 58. Qe4 b2 59. h6 Bf6 {
Diagram [#]} 60. Bd4 $6 {An inaccuracy after which a win isn't that simple.} (
60. g5 $1 Qe7 61. Qxe7 Bxe7 62. Bd4+ Kh7 63. Bxb2 Bxg5 64. Bg7 $18) 60... Kg8
61. Bxf6 $2 {After a move in the game the position is drawish, so Topalov had
to play} (61. Bxb2 $5 Bxb2 62. g5 Kh8 63. f4 $18) 61... Qxf6 62. Kg3 Qb6 $1 63.
Qc4+ (63. g5 $2 Qb8+ $1 $19) 63... Kh7 64. g5 Qg6 $11 65. Qc7+ Kg8 66. Qb8+ Kf7
$1 (66... Kh7 $2 67. Qb7+ Kg8 68. h7+ Qxh7 69. Qxb2 $18) 67. Qb7+ Kf8 68. Qb8+
Kf7 69. Qb3+ Kf8 70. Qf3+ Ke7 71. Qe3+ Kd7 72. Qd4+ Ke6 (72... Qd6+ 73. Qxd6+
Kxd6 74. h7 b1=Q 75. h8=Q Qg1+ 76. Kf3 Qd1+ $11) 73. Qxb2 Qxg5+ 74. Kf3 Qh5+
75. Ke4 Qf5+ $2 {After the move in the game white is winning...again!} (75...
Qg6+ $11) 76. Ke3 Qg5+ 77. f4 $18 Qg3+ 78. Ke4 Qe1+ 79. Kf3 Qf1+ 80. Kg3 Qg1+
81. Qg2 Qb1 82. Qc6+ Kf7 83. Qd7+ Kf6 84. Qg7+ Ke6 85. Qe5+ (85. f5+ $1 Kd5 (
85... Qxf5 86. h7 Qd3+ 87. Kh4 $18) 86. Kg4 $18) 85... Kf7 86. Qh5+ Kf6 87.
Qg5+ Kf7 88. Qh5+ Kf6 89. Qh4+ Kf7 90. h7 $2 {The last mistake! A well-known
principle of queen endgames says that the party who has some extra material
should keep the queen closer to the center. This approach offers a chance to
avoid the perpetual, whereas at the edge of the board the queen can't help the
king...See the rest of the game!} Qe1+ 91. Kg4 Qd1+ 92. Kg5 Qd8+ 93. Kh5 Qd5+
94. Qg5 Qh1+ 95. Qh4 Qd5+ 96. Kg4 Qd1+ 97. Kg3 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc8
8. Qf3 e6 9. d3 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bf4 Nfd7 12. Nc4 Nc6 13. Rae1 Nd4 14. Qd1
Qc6 15. a4 b6 16. Re3 f6 17. Rh3 Rf7 18. Be3 Rd8 19. Re1 Nf8 20. b3 a6 21. Ne2
b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Nd2 Qc7 24. c4 Nc6 25. cxb5 Nb4 26. Qb1 Nxd3 27. Rd1 Nb4
28. Nc4 Nd5 29. Bd2 Qb8 30. Ba5 Rd7 31. b6 Bd8 32. Rhd3 Nxb6 33. Bxb6 Rxd3 34.
Qxd3 Bxb6 35. Qe3 Bc7 36. g3 Qb5 37. h4 Qc6 38. f4 Rd7 39. Re1 Bd8 40. Nc3 Be7
41. Ne4 Rd4 42. Nf2 Qd5 43. Nb6 Qb7 44. Nc4 f5 45. Kf1 Bf6 46. Ke2 Rd7 47. Qf3
Qb4 48. Rd1 Bd4 49. g4 h6 50. h5 Qb8 51. Rd2 Rf7 52. g5 hxg5 53. fxg5 Qh2 54.
Kd3 Qh4 55. g6 Ra7 56. Nd1 Qg5 57. Nc3 Qg1 58. Rd1 Qh2 59. Nb5 Rd7 60. Nxd4 Qa2
61. Nd2 Qb2 62. Ke2 Qxd4 63. Qe3 Qd6 64. Qf3 Qh2+ 65. Ke1 Rd4 66. Qb7 Rd7 67.
Qf3 Rd5 68. Nf1 Re5+ 69. Ne3 f4 70. Rd3 Qg1+ 71. Kd2 fxe3+ 72. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 73.
Qxe3 Rxe3 74. Kxe3 Nd7 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Ne4 8. d4
$5 {[%mdl 16] Topalov plays a sharp and ambitious move, which occurs only
rarely. White wants to occupy the centre even at the cost of weakening his
P-structure. The most usual continuation is} (8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bb7 10. e4 Nc6
11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 O-O {In this simplified position White has
at most a very slight edge.} 14. b3 (14. Rd1 $5 d6 15. a4 Qc7 16. Ra2 Bc6 $6
17. b3 Rfd8 18. Ba3 Rd7 19. Rad2 Rad8 20. Qe3 Qb7 21. f4 $14 {(), Beliavsky,
A-Lutz,C/Mitropa Leipzig/2002/}) 14... Bc5 $1 15. Qc3 Qe7 16. Re2 a5 17. a4 f5
18. e5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rad8 20. Qf3 d6 21. exd6 Qxd6 22. Bg5 Rd7 23. Rae1 Qd3 24.
Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Rxe6 Rxb3 $11 {Ponomariov,R-Anand,V/Sofia 2005/}) 8... Nxc3 9.
bxc3 Be4 {A natural reaction, known also from various Queen's Indian lines -
Black stops e4 manually. However, he has other less direct alternatives, which
seem playable:} (9... O-O 10. d5 d6 $5 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bh3 e5 13. Be6+ Kh8
14. Bd5 Bxd5 15. cxd5 $6 (15. Qxd5 Nd7 $11 {[%cal Yd7f6] /\Nf6}) 15... e4 16.
Nd2 e3 $1 17. fxe3 Nd7 18. c4 Ne5 19. Qc2 Qe8 20. Bb2 Ng4 $36 {Van Wely,
L-Yermolinsky,A/Merrillville/1997/}) (9... Nc6 10. d5 Na5 11. Nd2 e5 (11... O-O
$13) 12. d6 $5 Bxd6 13. Nb3 Bc7 (13... Bxg2 14. Qxd6 Nxc4 15. Qd3 $16) 14. Nxa5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 bxa5 16. Qd5 d6 17. Rb1 Rb8 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Ke7 20. f4 exf4
21. Qe4+ Kf7 22. Qd5+ Ke7 23. Qe4+ Kf7 {1/2, Greenfeld,A-Bar,R/Israel/2004/})
10. Bf1 {The bishop is better placed here, than on h3 if Black takes on f3.
Nevertheless,} (10. Bh3 {deserves attention:} Bxf3 (10... Nc6 11. Nd2 Bg6 12.
d5 Na5 13. e4 {()}) (10... O-O $5 11. Nd2 Bb7 $132) 11. exf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6
(12... O-O {seems more flexible.}) 13. Be3 Rc8 (13... Na5 $142 14. Rc1 Rc8) 14.
Rc1 (14. d5 $1 $36) 14... Na5 15. Qd3 O-O 16. f4 g6 17. Bg2 Qc7 18. c5 d5 19.
cxd6 Qxd6 20. Qa6 Qd7 21. Bf3 (21. d5 $5 $14) 21... Bf6 22. h4 Rfd8 23. h5 Nc6
24. Qa4 Ne7 25. Qxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxc8+ {1/2, Kramnik,V-Yudasin,L/Yerevan ol/1996/}
) 10... d6 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10... O-O 11. h4 ({Sasikiran tries to follow
Topalov's footsteps, but} 11. Nd2 {[%cal Ye2e4] /\e4 seems better}) 11... Nc6
12. Nd2 Bg6 13. e3 h6 14. h5 Bh7 15. Nb3 d6 16. Bg2 Rc8 17. e4 Nb8 18. Bf1 e5
19. a4 Nd7 20. a5 cxd4 21. cxd4 exd4 22. Nxd4 Ne5 $132 {Sasikiran,
K-Annageldyev,O/Hyderabad/2005/}) ({The main move until now was} 10... Bxf3 11.
exf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 O-O 13. f4 Nc6 14. Be3 (14. d5 Na5 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Bxa5 bxa5
17. Rb1 Bc5 18. Qd3 $11 {^-1/2, Savchenko,S-Gurevich,V/Ubeda 1998/}) 14... Rc8
15. Rc1 Bf6 16. Bg2 g6 17. d5 exd5 18. Qxd5 Ne7 19. Qd3 Nf5 20. Bd2 Re8 21. Bh3
Nd4 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Be3 Ne6 24. f5 Nc5 25. Bxc5 (25. Qd5 $1 $36 {^^}) 25...
Rxc5 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Bxd7 Qe5 28. Bh3 b5 $132 {1/2, Izoria,Z-Mchedlishvili,M/
Tbilisi/2001/}) 11. h4 {[%mdl 32] Original strategy, but the sortie Ng5 leads
nowhere and Topalov will abandon this idea later.} ({The more natural} 11. Nd2
Bb7 12. e4 {now and even one move later deserves attention.}) 11... Nd7 12. d5
(12. Nd2 Bb7 13. e4 $13) 12... O-O 13. a4 (13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Ng5 (14. Bh3 Bf5
$15) 14... Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Nf6 $15 {[%csl Rc3,Rc4]}) (13. Nd2 exd5 14. f3 Bg6 15.
cxd5 Bf6 16. Bb2 b5 $15) 13... h6 (13... Bf6 $5) 14. Bh3 exd5 $1 (14... e5 15.
Nd2 $14 {()}) 15. cxd5 Bf6 16. Ra3 b5 {Adams wants to prevent c4 at all costs,
but he doesn't succeed. Black's centralized pieces make a good impression and
he later suggested the improvement} (16... Ne5 $5 {Adams} 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 (17...
dxe5 18. c4 $14) 18. c4 Qf6 19. Bg2 Qg6 20. Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Qd3 Qg4 $132 {
[%cal Yf7f5,Ya8e8] /\f5, Rae8}) 17. axb5 Nb6 18. c4 $1 {[%csl Gd5][%mdl 16]
The d5-pawn is important, as it cramps Black's position. White is glad to get
rid of his weak c-pawn.} Bxf3 (18... Nxc4 19. Ra4 Bxf3 20. Rxc4 (20. exf3 Nb6 (
20... Nb2 21. Bxb2 Bxb2 22. Rae4 $14 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Yh3f1,Yf1d3,Ge1e8] /
\Bf1-d3,<->e,><a7}) 21. Rae4 (21. Ra6 Bd4 $13) 21... a6 22. bxa6 Rxa6 $132)
20... Bh5 21. Ra4 $5 $14) 19. Rxf3 (19. exf3 Nxc4 20. Ra4 {-18...Nc4}) 19...
Nxc4 20. Qa4 Ne5 (20... Nb6 21. Qg4 Nxd5 22. Bxh6 $36 {>>}) 21. Ra3 Re8 (21...
h5 $142 $1 $13 {/<=>}) 22. h5 $1 $36 {[%csl Gh5][%cal Gb1h7] ()>>,-><->b1-h7}
Re7 (22... Rb8 $5 {Adams} 23. Bf5 (23. f4 $6 {[%csl Rg1] ע} Nd7 24. Qxa7 Nb6
$36) 23... Rb7 24. Bd2 $14) 23. Bf4 Rb8 24. Bf5 Qe8 25. Bc2 (25. Rb1 $5 $14 {
Cheparinov}) 25... Qd7 $2 (25... Qxb5 $2 26. Qe4 $40) (25... Rxb5 $142 $1 26.
Qe4 g6 27. Bxe5 (27. Ba4 Rb4 28. Qc2 Rxa4 29. Rxa4 Nf3+ $17) 27... Bxe5 28.
hxg6 fxg6 29. Qh4 Kh7 30. Ba4 a6 $44) 26. Qe4 Ng6 27. Qd3 c4 $2 (27... Nf8 $142
28. Qf5 Rxb5 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. Bf5 $36) 28. Qxc4 Nxf4 29. Qxf4 Re5 30. Qf3 Qh3
(30... Qxb5 31. Rb1 Qe8 32. Qd3 Rxb1+ 33. Bxb1 Kf8 34. Qh7 Qd7 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36.
Qa8 Qd8 37. Rxa7+ Kf8 38. Qc6 $16 {/+-}) 31. Rxa7 Rxh5 32. e3 Qh2+ 33. Kf1 {
White's K is safe and his extra o^b5 is taboo due to Black's back-rank
weakness. The game is decided.} Qh3+ (33... Qh1+ 34. Qxh1 Rxh1+ 35. Ke2 Rxe1+
36. Kxe1 $18 {_|_}) 34. Ke2 Re5 35. Rc7 {[%cal Re1h1] /\Rh1+-} Rc8 $2 (35...
Qh5 $8 {was the only way to prolong the game, but the _|_ with the extra P is
won for White.}) 36. Bf5 $1 Rxf5 (36... Qxf5 37. Qxf5 Rxc7 38. Qd3 $18 (38. b6
$18)) 37. Rxc8+ Kh7 38. Rh1 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Nbc6 13. Nd5 e6 14. Ne3 (14.
fxe6 fxe6 15. Ne3 O-O (15... Qa5+ 16. c3 Nf3+ $146 17. Qxf3 Bxc3+ 18. Kd1 Bxb2
$13 19. Rc1 Bxc1 20. Nc4 Qxa2 21. Qf6 Qb1 22. Qxe6+ Kf8 23. Qxd6+ Kg7 24. Bd3
Bf4+ 25. Bxb1 Bxd6 26. Nxd6 {1-0 Cheparinov-Ibarra Jerez, Roquetas de Mar 2004}
) 16. Be2 Qe7 17. O-O Rad8 18. Bh5 $1 Kh8 19. Re1 d5 20. a4 Nc4 $2 (20... Nd7
$5 21. Nxd5 $140 Qc5 22. Ne3 Nf6 23. Qe2 Nd4 $1) 21. Nxc4 dxc4 22. Qg4 $16 {
1-0 Kasimdzhanov,R-Anand, FIDE Wch San Luis 2005}) 14... Qa5+ $146 {Topalov
played his combination rather quickly and the whole idea was obviously
prepared at home.} (14... O-O 15. c3 d5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Be2 Qe7 18. O-O Rad8
19. Qe1 Ng6 20. Rd1 Nf4 21. Bd3 Kh8 22. Bb1 {1-0 Bromberger,S-Berczes,D /
Budapest 2004/ (45)}) (14... Qe7 15. Be2 O-O 16. O-O d5 17. c3 Rad8 18. fxe6
Qxe6 19. Nc2 d4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Spasov,V-Elsness,F/
Gothenburg 2005/ (79)}) 15. c3 (15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 h5 $11) 15... Nf3+ $1
16. Qxf3 (16. gxf3 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Qxc3+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ $19) 16... Bxc3+ 17. Kd1
Qa4+ $1 (17... Bxb2 18. fxe6 Qa4+ 19. Kd2 Qb4+ 20. Kd1 fxe6 $13) 18. Nc2 (18.
Kc1 Bxb2+ 19. Kxb2 Qb4+ 20. Kc1 Nd4 $44 21. Qd1 (21. Nc2 Rc8 $40) 21... Qc3+ (
21... Rc8+ 22. Bc4 Qc3+ 23. Kb1 Rxc4 24. Nxc4 Qxc4 25. a3 $16) 22. Kb1 (22. Nc2
Nxc2 23. Qxc2 Qxa1+ $40) 22... Qb4+ $11) 18... Bxb2 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qb3 $1 {
[%mdl 1024] Svidler was well aware of the dangers of playing the middlegame
with his own king loose in the center.} (20. Qg4 Nd4 $1 21. Rc1 Rc8 22. Bd3 Kd7
23. Re1 Qxa2 $17) 20... Qxb3 21. axb3 Bxa1 22. Nxa1 $13 Ke7 23. Bd3 (23. Kd2 $5
Rac8 24. f3) 23... Rac8 (23... Nb4 $5 24. Bb1 $140 a5) 24. Re1 (24. Nc2 Na5 25.
Nd4 e5 26. Nf5+ Kf6 27. b4 Nc4 28. Ke2 d5 $13) 24... Nd4 25. f3 (25. Nc2 Nxb3
26. Bf5 e5 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 $11) 25... Rc3 (25... Rc5 $13) 26. Kd2 Rhc8 {Topalov
had to hurry to bring his pieces into attacking locations, otherwise white
pieces might have become pretty dangeorus.} 27. Rb1 (27. Bc4 $5 R8xc4 (27...
Rxf3 $5 28. gxf3 Nxf3+ 29. Ke3 Nxe1 30. Bxe1 $14) 28. bxc4 Rxc4 $11 (28... Ra3
29. Bh2 Ra2+ 30. Kc3 Nxf3 31. Bxd6+ Kxd6 32. gxf3 Rh2 33. Nb3 $14)) 27... R3c5
$1 28. b4 (28. Bf2 Rd5 29. Rb2 Rf8 $1 30. Nc2 Nxf3+ 31. gxf3 Rxf3 32. Be3 Rxh3
33. Nb4 $14) 28... Rd5 $13 29. Bf2 (29. Be4 $2 Nxf3+ $1 30. Ke2 Rd2+ 31. Kxf3
Rc3+ 32. Kg4 Rd4 33. Re1 Rxb4 $1 $19) 29... Kd7 (29... Nc6 30. Ke2 Ne5 31. Be4
Rb5 32. Nc2 d5 33. Bh7 a5 $13) 30. Be3 (30. Nb3 Nc6 31. Ke2 Nxb4 32. Be4 Re5 (
32... Na2 33. Bxd5 Nc3+ 34. Ke1 Nxb1 35. Bxb7 Rb8 $17) 33. Bg3 Rb5 34. Nd4 Rb6
35. Bf2 d5 $13) 30... Nf5 31. Bf2 Nh4 $5 {The future champion is trying his
luck and undertakes some risk. After 31...Nd4 the game would most likely have
ended in a draw.} (31... Nd4 32. Be3 $11) 32. Bxh4 gxh4 33. Nc2 h5 34. Re1 (34.
b5 $1 $14) 34... Rg8 35. Kc3 $6 {Svidler nerves were already playing games
with him and he overlooks opponent's reaction.} (35. Re2 Rdg5 36. Ne1 $11)
35... a5 $1 (35... Rxg2 36. Ne3 Rxd3+ 37. Kxd3 Rh2 $15) 36. Bc4 $2 {With more
time and calm white would surely have taken on a5 and calculated, that the
long tactical line was still better for him.} (36. Re4 axb4+ 37. Rxb4 Rc5+ 38.
Kb3 Rxg2 39. Rxb7+ Rc7 $15) (36. bxa5 $1 Rxg2 37. Nd4 Rc5+ 38. Kb4 Rb2+ 39. Ka3
Rf2 40. Bb5+ Rxb5 41. Nxb5 Rxf3+ 42. Kb4 Rf4+ (42... Rxh3 43. Rc1 $16) 43. Kc3
Rf3+ 44. Kb2 Rf2+ 45. Ka1 Rf5 46. Rb1 $14) 36... Rc8 $1 37. Ne3 (37. Kb3 a4+
38. Kxa4 Rxc4 39. Ne3 Re5 $19) (37. bxa5 Rdc5 38. Ne3 d5 $19) 37... Rb5 $1 38.
Kd3 (38. bxa5 d5 $19) 38... Rxb4 39. Bxe6+ {Black had too many pawns for the
normal continuations, but the rook endgame will be also hopeless.} Kxe6 40.
Nc2+ Kd5 41. Nxb4+ axb4 42. Re7 b5 43. Rh7 Rc3+ (43... Rc4 $1 $19) 44. Kd2 Rc4
$1 (44... Rc4 $1 45. Rxh5+ Kc6 46. Rh8 b3 47. Re8 Kc5 $19) 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 h6 12. b3 c5 13. Be3 b6 14. Rad1+
Bd7 15. Nc3 Kc8 16. Nd5 Be6 17. c4 Kb7 18. Bc1 a5 19. a4 Rd8 20. g4 h5 21. Ne3
Re8 22. Rfe1 Nf4 23. Ng5 Be7 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. gxh5 Nxh3+ 26. Kf1 Rxh5 27. Ng4
Bg5 28. Bxg5 Rxg5 29. f3 Rf8 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kg3 Rh5 32. Kf2 Ng6 33. Rd7 Rh3
34. Re3 Nh4 35. Rdd3 Kc6 36. Rc3 Rh1 37. Red3 Nf5 38. Ne3 Nd4 39. Nf1 Rh5 40.
Re3 Rf4 41. Rcd3 g5 42. Re4 Kb7 43. Kg3 Rxe4 44. fxe4 Rh4 45. Nd2 Kc8 46. Re3
Kd7 47. Re1 Ke7 48. Nf3 Nxf3 49. Kxf3 Kf7 50. Rd1 Rf4+ 51. Ke3 Kg7 52. Rd7+ Rf7
53. Rd1 Kg6 54. Rd8 g4 55. Rg8+ Kh5 56. Rh8+ Kg5 57. Rg8+ Kh4 58. Rg6 Rf3+ 59.
Ke2 Kg3 60. Rxe6 Kf4 61. Re8 Re3+ 62. Kf2 g3+ 63. Kg2 Kxe4 64. e6 Kd3 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 {The most popular way - Black is developing his pieces
quickly, preparing the thematic c5 advance as soon as possible. At the same
time, Na5 and Bb7 don't look very attractive together, which gives White hopes
to get an advantage.} 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 ({On} 12. Nc3 {Black knows how to
play:} Nc6 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Nh2 Ne8 15. Bd2 Nc7 {And he seems to be OK,
Kasparov-Adams, 1999.}) 12... Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 $1 {This manoeuvre is the basis
for Black's counterplay - the B traverses to e6 in order to restrain the
agressive thoughts of Ba2 and to fight for the d5 square.} 14. c3 (14. Ne3 Be6
15. Bd5 Rc8 16. c3 Bxd5 17. exd5 Nb8 18. a4 Qd7 19. axb5 axb5 20. c4 Rfe8 21.
Nd2 Rc7 22. cxb5 Qxb5 23. Ndc4 $16 {1-0 Sutovsky,E (2674)-Beliavsky,A (2599)/
Gothenburg SWE 2005/The Week in Chess 560 (50)}) ({Anand vs. Kasimdzhanov
opted for} 14. Bg5 Ne8 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Ne3 Nf6 17. c3 Qc7 18. Nh2 Be6 19.
Nhg4 Nd7 {with an unclear position.}) 14... Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. b4 {An
important move with the idea of pressing on the queenside, which would
automatically prevent Black's activities in the center (d5).} ({Less
convincing is} 16. Ng3 {for instance} Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. a4 Rb8
20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2804)-Topalov,V (2757)/Linares
ESP 2005/The Week in Chess 539}) 16... Qd7 $146 {A very interesting novelty!
Black is going to deviate from the usual plan: instead of hopelessly
manouevring on the kingside, he is going to concentrate his power on the
opposite flank. The plan seems to be very logical and adequate.} ({
Kasimdzhanov played this position in 2005 and tried} 16... Nh5 17. N1h2 Nf4 18.
Bxf4 Rxf4 19. Qb3 Qd7 20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4 cxb4 22. cxb4 Rb8 23. Rea1 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Adams,M (2741)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2678)/Linares ESP 2005/The Week in
Chess 539 (62)}) 17. Qb3 Rfb8 {Since Black's center is stable he feels free to
relocate most of his pieces on the Q side.} 18. N1h2 $1 {White's N change it's
path because of the "e6" pawn - it has nothing to do on e3 or g3 now, since
the "d5" and "f5" squares are protected. As a result the N goes to g4 where it
can tease the enemy's king... and to force the N on f6 to exchange on g4. This
idea looks not only good but is perhaps the only possible active plan for
White after Black's novelty.} ({After} 18. Ng5 $6 d5 $1 {Black is by no means
worse.}) 18... a5 19. Bd2 {Intending to reduce Black's activity on the Q side.}
(19. bxc5 $6 a4 20. Qc2 dxc5 $15) 19... h6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 $2 {Quite a serious
positional mistake - Rustam opens the "h" file, which hands White an advantage
virtually out of nowhere and, even more importantly, a simple plan for
attacking the king.} (20... axb4 $142 21. axb4 cxb4 22. cxb4 Nh7 $13 (22... Kf7
$5)) 21. hxg4 $14 axb4 22. axb4 cxb4 23. cxb4 Bf6 24. Rec1 Kf7 $1 {Releasing
the Q from its defensive duties, so it can join the fight for the 'a' file.}
25. g3 {Freeing the first rank for transferring to rooks to the 'h' file.} Qb7
26. Kg2 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Ra8 {Black's position looks very solid - if he exchanges
the rooks it will be almost a draw.} 28. Rh1 $1 {Topalov's taking advantage of
Black's mistakes. The 'h' file is going to cost Black a lot.} Nd4 $6 {
Exchanging White's active piece, and after the exchange getting a nice
forepost on c3 for own pieces. On the other hand, however, Black is creating
himself another weakness (on d4) which turns out to be more important than all
his gains.} (28... Qe7 $142 {Preventing g5, which along with pressing on b4 
(after Ra4) might be disturbing for White.}) 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Bf4 d5 $2 {
Forsake the pawn on d4 - now only the Queen will be able to protect it, but it
will be busy doing other things - is it an appropriate job for Her Majesty?} (
30... Qc6 {[%cal Gc6c3]} 31. Rc1 Qd7) 31. e5 $16 {Of course!} Be7 32. Qd1 $1 {
The Q squints on h5, making g5 a threat.} Bg5 (32... Kg8 33. g5 $1 hxg5 34. Qg4
$1 Qc6 35. Bxg5 $40) (32... Bxb4 $2 33. g5 hxg5 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35. Bxg5 $18) 33.
Bxg5 hxg5 {[%csl Rd4,Rg5] Black's position is a fellowship of weaknesses like
g5 and d4, while his main problem is the K.} 34. Rh5 Qe7 35. Qh1 Rf8 36. Rh7 {
Threatening Qh6.} Ke8 37. Qa1 $6 {Topalov is not in a hurry, waiting for his
opponent to lose the track of the position in time-trouble. His position is
too winning for that.} (37. Qh5+ $142 $1 Kd7 38. Qg6 Rf7 39. f4 $1 $18) 37...
Kf7 38. Qc1 Ke8 39. Qa1 Kf7 40. Qxd4 $2 {This actually throws out a big part
of an advantage. Now black has just enough time to organize counterplay.} (40.
Qh1 {with ideas mentioned in previous annotation.}) 40... Kg8 $1 $14 41. Rh1
Qf7 {Black has managed to get a decent compensation for the pawn.} 42. Qe3 d4
$1 {Tough defense.} 43. Qe2 (43. Qxd4 $2 Qf3+ 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Kh2 Qe2 46. Qb6
Rxf2+ 47. Kh3 Rh2+ $1 48. Rxh2 Qf1+ 49. Rg2 Qh1+ $11) 43... Qb7+ $1 {The Q
exchange takes us into rook endgame, with all its known tendencies.} 44. Qe4
Qxe4+ 45. dxe4 Rc8 {Rook activeness is a key factor for success in R endings.}
46. Rb1 Rc3 $2 ({Better was} 46... Rc2 {imprisoning the white king.} 47. Kf1
Kf7 48. Rb3 {And now the only idea for White is f4, but it's hardly enough:} (
48. Ke1 d3 49. Kf1 Re2 $11) 48... Rd2 $1 49. Ke1 (49. f4 $2 d3 $1 50. fxg5 Kg6
$17) 49... Rc2 $1 50. f4 $140 gxf4 51. gxf4 Rg2 $14) 47. Rb2 $1 {Allowing the
king to join the game.} Kf7 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 49. Ke2 Rc3 50. Ra2 {White cannot
hope for a win having such a passive rook, so it must be activated.} Rb3 51.
Ra7+ Kf8 52. Rb7 Rxb4 53. Kd3 Rb2 54. f4 Rb3+ $2 {It looks like Black has
missed a good chance to draw here:} (54... gxf4 $142 $1 55. gxf4 Rg2 56. f5 $1
(56. g5 Rg4 57. Kxd4 Rxf4 58. Kc5 Rg4 59. Kd6 Rxg5 60. Kxe6 Rg6+ 61. Kf5 Ra6
$11) 56... Rxg4 57. Rxb5 exf5 58. exf5 Rf4 59. e6 $11) 55. Kxd4 Rxg3 (55...
Rb4+ $2 56. Kc5 Rxe4 57. Kd6 gxf4 58. Kxe6 $18) 56. f5 {A pawn on f6 will give
White good winning chances now.} Rxg4 57. f6 Rg1 (57... gxf6 $2 58. exf6 $18)
58. Rxg7 b4 $2 $18 {This allows the white king to come near his black
colleague and personally strangle him.} (58... Rc1 $1 59. Rxg5 Rc4+ 60. Kd3 Rc5
{And the outcome remains unclear.}) 59. Kc5 b3 60. Rb7 Ra1 61. Rxb3 Ra5+ 62.
Kd4 (62. Rb5 $4 Rxb5+ 63. Kxb5 g4 $19) 62... Ra4+ 63. Ke3 Ra5 64. Rb8+ Kf7 65.
Rb7+ Kf8 66. Kd4 Ra4+ 67. Kc5 Ra5+ 68. Kd4 Ra4+ {And now the winning plan is:}
69. Ke3 Ra3+ 70. Kf2 $1 {intending Rd7} Ra5 71. Kg3 Rxe5 72. Kg4 Rxe4+ 73. Kh5
$1 {Without the pawn on g5 it would have been draw, but now it's all over.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 O-O 10. O-O Bb7 {This natural move is considered to be the side-line.
Official theory prefers} (10... Nfd7 {which was tried by Anand in round 2.})
11. Nd2 Na6 {The position of the knight on a6 is quite typical for many
variations of QID. The idea behind a move in the game is to support c5.} 12. e4
Rc8 13. Re1 (13. Bb2 Rc7 14. Rc1 Qa8 15. Re1 Rfc8 16. Qe2 Bf8 17. h3 c5 $11 {
Vaillant,S-Georgiev,K/Metz 1997}) 13... Rc7 $1 {Diagram [#]} ({An excellent
manoeuvre. Black is going to transfer his Q to a8, the R to d8 and to open the
center with c6-c5.} 13... Nd7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 16. Qe2 dxc4 17. Nxc4
c5 18. d5 Bf8 19. Rad1 exd5 20. exd5 Nb4 $13 {Leyva,H-Linford,C/Dos Hermanas
2004}) 14. Nd3 {The knight had nothing much to do on e5, so White retreats
with it to d3 preparing an advance of the e-pawn.} (14. a3 c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16.
exd5 exd5 17. b4 Ne6 18. Bb2 dxc4 19. Bxb7 c3 20. Bxc3 Rxc3 21. Bg2 $14 {
Chernin,A-Georgiev,K/Villarrobledo 1997}) 14... dxe4 {Due to the threat e4-e5
Black couldn't wait any longer with this capture.} 15. Nxe4 c5 16. Nxf6+ {
Topalov doesn't want to take any risks, so he prefers the move in the game. In
case of} (16. dxc5 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 {Black could've tried to play
for a win by} Rd7 {even though it looks like White is doing fine in that case}
(18... Nxc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 $11) 19. Qg4 Bg5 20. Ne5 (20. Rd4 $2 Rxd4 21. Qxd4
Qxd4 22. Bxd4 Rd8 23. cxb6 axb6 24. Bxb6 Rxd3 $17) 20... f5 21. Qh5 fxe4 22.
Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxg5 Nxc5 24. Rf1 $14) 16... Bxf6 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Ne5 Bxe5 ({
The option 18...cxd4 19.Bxd4 is risky from the strategic standpoint. As the
Ne5 is far too annoying, Black has either to trade it or to take precautions
against the possible Nc6. In both cases White keeps slgihtly better chances.} 
18... cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc7 20. Qg4 Nc5 21. Rad1 $14) 19. dxe5 Rd7 {Taking over
control over the d-file.} 20. Qe2 Qc7 21. Rad1 Rfd8 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Qe4 {
Diagram [#]} Nb8 ({In case of} 23... Qd3 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Rc1 {Forcing black
to play 25...Nb4 as White is planning to bring the king to e2.} Nb4 26. Bxb4
cxb4 27. c5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 g5 29. Ra5 $11) (23... Nb4 $5) 24. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3
d6 9. Nbd2 a6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Ba7 12. d4 g4 13. Bh4 gxf3 14. Qxf3 Kg7 15.
Qg3+ Kh7 16. Qf3 Kg7 17. Qg3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O d4 13. e4 Bc7 $146 {Typisch
Morozevich! Er bringt eine Neuerung in einer bekannten theoretischen Stellung,
in der alle Welt 14...Bg4 spielt.} 14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. h3 Qb6 16. b4 Be6 17. Rc1
h6 18. Qd2 $14 {Weiß hat einen langfristigen Vorteil, da die gegnerischen
Figuren an die Schwäche d4 gebunden und dementsprechend passiv sind.} Rfd8 19.
Qf4 Ne7 20. Rc5 (20. e5 $5 $14) 20... Ng6 21. Qg3 $6 ({Besser scheint mir} 21.
Qd2 $1 $14 {zu sein, was den folgenden Vorstoß verhindert hätte.}) 21... a5 $1
{Der richtige Zeitpunkt für das Gegenspiel ist gekommen, Schwarz darf nicht
auf Rfc1 warten.} (21... Rac8 $2 22. Rfc1 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 $16) 22. Rb5 Qc6 23. e5
(23. bxa5 Qc3 24. Rd1 Rxa5 $132) 23... b6 (23... axb4 24. Rxb4 Rxa3 25. Bxg6
fxg6 26. Nxd4 $16) (23... Bf5 $5 24. Rc5 Qd7 25. Bxf5 Qxf5 26. bxa5 Nf4 $44)
24. bxa5 bxa5 25. Rfb1 Nf8 26. Nd2 Bd5 ({Besser war} 26... Qc3 $1 27. Nb3 (27.
Ne4 Qxa3) 27... a4 28. Nc5 Bd5 $13) 27. f4 $5 {Risikofreudig und energisch
gespielt. Für das Traumbauernduo e5, f5 ist Topalov ist gerne bereit, den
Bauern a3 zu opfern und verschmäht den sicheren Weg 27.Nb3.} (27. Nb3 $1 Ne6
28. Rc1 Qd7 29. Nc5 Qe7 30. Nxe6 Bxe6 31. Rc6 $1 $14) 27... Qc3 28. R1b2 (28.
Rxd5 Qxd2 $1 $11) 28... Qc1+ (28... Ng6 29. Rc2 $1 (29. f5 $2 Nf4 30. Qxf4 Qxd3
$15) 29... Qxa3 30. Kh2 a4 31. Rc7 $40) 29. Kh2 Rac8 30. f5 Rc3 $2 {Angesichts
des vermeidlich drohenden f5-f6 ein verständlicher Zug, es ist dennoch ein
Fehler. Besser war das kaltblütige 30...a4!, um für den schwarzen Turm das
Abzugsfeld b3 vorzubereiten.} (30... a4 $1 31. f6 g6 {/\Rc3} 32. Qf4 Kh7 $15)
31. Nb1 $1 Rc5 $6 (31... Rxd3 $5 32. Qxd3 Qf4+ 33. Qg3 Qxf5 $44) 32. Rxc5 Qxc5
33. Rc2 Qb6 34. Nd2 $16 {Der Fehler im 30. Zug kam Schwarz teuer zu stehen -
seine Dame wurde zurückgeworfen, vom Gegenspiel blieb keine Spur.} Re8 35. e6
$1 Nh7 36. Rc7 Rf8 37. Nc4 Bxc4 38. Bxc4 $18 Nf6 39. Qe5 d3 40. exf7+ (40. e7
Re8 41. Bxd3 $18) 40... Kh7 41. Bxd3 Qb3 42. Qd6 Qb8 43. Bc4 Ne4 44. Qe5 Nd2
45. Ba2 Qb6 46. Rc2 $2 {In einer total gewonnnenen Stellung läßt Topalov die
Genauigkeit vermissen.} (46. Qc5 $1 Qb8 47. Qd6 Ne4 48. Qe5 Nd2 49. Re7 $18)
46... Qf2 $1 {Diesen Zug hat er wahrscheinlich übersehen. Weiß muß die
Qualität geben, wonach sein Gewinn in Frage gestellt wird.} 47. Rxd2 Qxd2 48.
Bd5 $16 Qg5 49. Qd6 Qd8 50. Qxd8 Rxd8 51. Bc6 g6 $1 $11 52. Be8 Kg7 53. fxg6 h5
$1 54. a4 h4 55. Kg1 Rd2 56. g3 hxg3 57. h4 Rh2 58. h5 Kf8 $1 (58... Rxh5 $4
59. f8=Q+ Kxf8 60. g7+ $18) 59. Kf1 Kg7 60. Kg1 Kf8 61. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Bf8 13. Nb3 b6 14. e5 dxe5 15.
fxe5 Nd7 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Nd4 Qb7 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh4 Nxe5 20. Ne4 Be7 21. Ng5
{This very sharp line is dangerous for black, but if he survives dangers on
the kingside counterplay along a8-h1 diagonal could become vital.} (21. Qf4 f5
22. Qxe5 Qxe4 23. Qxe4 fxe4 24. Nc6 Bc5 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Kg1 (26. Rad1 e5 {
1/2-1/2 Acs,P-Ribli,Z/Hungary 1999/}) (26. Ne5 Rd8 27. Kg1 Bb7 28. Nc4 a5 {
1/2-1/2 Dolmatov,S-Shipov,S/St Petersburg 1998/}) 26... e5 27. Na5 Rd8 28. Nc4
Be6 29. Nxe5 Rd2 {1/2-1/2 Neelotpal,D-Goloshchapov,A /Dhaka 2003/ (48)}) 21...
Bxg5 22. Bxg5 f5 23. Rae1 Qd5 (23... Nf7 24. Bf6 (24. Rxf5 e5 25. Rf2 Bg4 26.
Qxg4 exd4 27. Ref1 Re4 28. Bf4 {1-0 Zelcic,R-Brkic,A/Bosnjaci 2005/ (44)}) (24.
Nxf5 gxf5 25. Bf6 Nh8 26. Rxf5 Ng6 27. Rg5 Qf7 28. Rxg6+ Qxg6 29. Re3 {1-0
Asrian,K-Kurnosov,I/Moscow 2005/ (48)}) 24... Bd7 25. Rf3 (25. Re3 Bc6 {
1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z-Ribli,Z/Hungary 1999/}) 25... Bc6 26. Rg3 Be4 27. Rf1 Qd7 28.
Qh5 Nh8 29. c4 {1-0 Rajlich,V-Antal,G/Budapest 2002/ (53)}) 24. Ne2 $1 $146 {
Adams comes up with a very interesting novelty, since the spirited 24.c4 could
have been refuted with the help of 21...Qxc4!} (24. Rd1 Bb7 25. Qg3 Nf7 26. Bf6
Rac8 27. c3 Rc4 28. h3 Rxa4 29. Nf3 f4 30. Rxd5 fxg3 31. Rd7 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Rf4
{0-1 Zelcic,R-Vovk,Y/Cappelle la Grande 2005/ (49)}) (24. c4 Qxc4 $1 (24...
Nxc4 $2 25. Nxf5 $1 gxf5 26. Rf3 $1 (26. Bh6 Ne5 27. Qf6 Ra7 $11) 26... Ra7 (
26... Ne5 27. Rxe5 Qxe5 28. Bf6 $18) 27. Bf6 Kf7 28. Rg3 e5 (28... Rg8 29.
Qxh7+ Kxf6 30. Qxg8 Rc7 31. Qg5+ Kf7 32. Qg7+ $18) 29. Rg7+ Ke6 30. Rxa7 Bb7
31. Rxb7 Qxb7 32. Bg5 $16) 25. Bf6 Nd7 26. Rxf5 (26. Nxf5 Qxh4 27. Nxh4 e5 $17)
26... Bb7 27. Rf4 Nxf6 28. Qxf6 Rf8 29. Qxe6+ Qxe6 30. Nxe6 Rxf4 31. Nxf4 Rf8
32. Nd3 Rd8 $17) 24... Nf7 (24... Bb7 $5 25. Nf4 Qd6 26. Rxe5 (26. Bf6 Ng4 (
26... Nd7 27. Nxg6 $1) 27. h3 e5 28. hxg4 exf4 29. gxf5 Qd2 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.
Rf2 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Qc1 33. Qxf4 $11) 26... Qxe5 27. Bf6 Bxg2+ $1 (27... Qd6 28.
Nxg6 $18) (27... Qe4 28. Qh6 $18) 28. Nxg2 Qc5 $13) 25. Nf4 Qc6 26. Nh5 $1 Nxg5
{[%mdl 64] The position is highly charged with tactical possibilities and the
analyses seems to indicate, that Topalov could have survived even after 26...
gxh5.} (26... gxh5 27. Bf6 Qc7 (27... Nh8 28. Bxh8 Kxh8 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. Re3 h4
31. Rxf5 exf5 32. Qxc6 Rxe3 33. Kg1 Bb7 34. Qxb7 Rae8 35. Qxb6 $16) (27... f4
28. Rxf4 Qxc2 29. Qxh5 e5 30. Rf3 Ra7 31. Rg3+ Kf8 32. Bg7+ Ke7 33. Bxe5 $18)
28. Rxf5 Nh8 (28... Bb7 29. Rg5+ Nxg5 30. Qxg5+ Kf8 31. Rf1 $18) 29. Bxh8 Kxh8
30. Qxh5 Bb7 31. Rf7 Bxg2+ $1 32. Kg1 (32. Kxg2 Qxc2+ 33. Re2 Rg8+ 34. Kf2 Qc5+
$11) 32... Qc5+ 33. Qxc5 bxc5 34. Kxg2 Rad8 $11) 27. Nf6+ Kf7 28. Nxe8 Bb7 29.
Nd6+ (29. Qxg5 Rxe8) 29... Qxd6 30. Qxg5 Rc8 (30... Rd8 31. Qh4 h5 (31... Kg7
32. Rxe6 $1 $16) 32. Re2 $14) 31. Rf2 Rc4 32. Qh6 Kg8 33. Rd2 Bd5 $1 {World
champion seems to have obtained the full compensation for the exchange.} (33...
Rd4 34. Red1 Rxd2 (34... e5 35. Rxd4 exd4 36. Qd2 Qc6 37. Qf2 $16) 35. Qxd2
Qxd2 36. Rxd2 Bd5 37. Rd4 b5 38. axb5 axb5 39. Rb4 Bc6 40. c4 $18) 34. b3 Rc3
35. Qh4 Qc5 36. Rxe6 $1 {Adams is chosing a right solution as black will have
to play several only moves to keep the balance under dangerous attack.} Bxe6
37. Qf6 Bd5 $1 38. Qd8+ Kg7 39. Rxd5 Qf2 $1 40. Rd7+ Kh6 41. Qf8+ Kg5 42. Qe7+
Kf4 $1 43. Qd6+ (43. Qb4+ Kg5 44. Qxc3 $2 Qf1#) 43... Kg5 44. Qe7+ Kf4 45. Qd6+
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.11"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{Topalov likes the Anti-Marshall. He even won against Kasparov in this opening!
} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 {Nowadays this seems to be the most dangerous
Anti-Marshal concept.} Qd7 ({Another approach is} 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {
for instance} 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. c3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. b4 cxb4 16. axb4 Nc6
17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Bb2 h6 19. Ra2 Rfb8 20. Rea1 Qc8 21. Nf1 d5 22. Ng3 Kh8 23. Bc1
Bd6 24. Be3 $16 {0-1 Leko,P (2741)-Anand,V (2782)/Dortmund GER 2004 (83)}) ({
Also worth considering is} 10... Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14.
Nh2 d5 15. Qf3 g6 $1 $13 {Ponomariev-Ivanchuk, 2002.}) 11. Nc3 {This is a very
natural line if White doesn't want to take risks (which is obvoiusly the case
here). He will play d4 and get some plus, which is not easy to realize, but
almost impossible to lose.} ({More complicated is} 11. Nbd2 {For example, same
opponents played here:} Rae8 12. c3 d5 13. Ba2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nh5 15. Nb3 Qxd1
16. Rxd1 Nf6 17. Re1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2700)-Svidler,P (2713)/Linares
1999/CBM 070 (35)}) 11... Nd8 {Instead of moving the knight to a5, Black is
looking for a better place for it, but it costs him - White gets an important
tempo - he has no need to withdraw the Bishop to a2 - and he makes use of it.}
({Less convincing is} 11... Rae8 12. a4 $1 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nd8 15.
Bxb7 Nxb7 16. d4 exd4 17. Qxd4 a5 18. Qd5 $14 {1-0 Svidler,P (2689)-De Vreugt,
D (2511)/Esbjerg 2000/CBM 078 (37)}) 12. d4 {Again, White chooses the less
risky way - a tiny advantage and no chance to lose.} (12. Ne2 $5 Ne6 13. Ng3 g6
14. Bh6 (14. c3 c5 15. d4 c4 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Be3 a5 $13 {0-1 Bologan,V (2682)
-Aronian,L (2724)/Stepanakert ARM 2005 (56)}) 14... Rfe8 15. Ng5 Bf8 16. Bxf8
Rxf8 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Qd2 c5 19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4 d5 $15 {0-1 Gelfand,B (2695)
-Shirov,A (2732)/Rethymnon 2003/CBM 098 (39)}) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 {The
statistics approve Topalov's decision - White has never lost a game in this
position, though he rarely won here, but it's not needed here.} Re8 14. Nf5 ({
Svidler himself played this variation on the white side, so he knows well that
Black has no right to err:} 14. Bg5 Nxe4 $4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 Bxg5 17. Qg4
{1-0 Svidler,P (2723)-Almasi,Z (2631)/Germany 2003/EXT 2004}) 14... Ne6 (14...
Nxe4 $2 15. Qg4 g6 16. Nh6+) (14... Bf8 $6 15. Bg5 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. Rxe4
Qxf5 18. Bxf6 Qxe4 19. Bd5 Qf4 20. Bxa8 Qxf6 21. c3 $18 {1-0 Anand,V (2782)
-Shirov,A (2725)/Mainz 2004/CBM 103 (30)}) 15. Nxe7+ (15. Be3 $5 Bf8 16. Qf3 c5
17. Bd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Nc7 19. Ne4 Nxd5 20. Qg4 Kh8 21. Nexd6 Nf6 22. Qf4 Nd5
23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qf4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Sutovsky,E (2665)-Almasi,Z (2628)/Paks HUN
2005/The Week in Chess 553}) 15... Rxe7 16. f3 Rd8 {Black is ready for d5,
which will liquidate all of White's dreams for an advantage- he does not have
many in this games anyway.} 17. Bxe6 (17. Be3 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 {
1/2-1/2 Movsesian,S (2629)-Aronian,L (2675)/Porz GER 2004/The Week in Chess 528
}) 17... fxe6 (17... Rxe6 $6 18. Bg5 $14) 18. e5 {Forcing the draw.} dxe5 19.
Qxd7 Rdxd7 (19... Nxd7 20. Bg5 Nf6 21. Rxe5 {And the position is similar to
the game.}) 20. Rxe5 Rd6 $146 {It is funny, but there is a novelty here! Not
an extremely important, but still...} (20... h6 21. Be3 Nd5 (21... Re8 22. Re1
{1/2-1/2 Efimenko,Z (2601)-Aronian,L (2684)/Moscow RUS 2005/The Week in Chess
538}) 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Bxd5 24. a4 Kf7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra7 c6 27. Rxe7+
{1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2782)-Shirov,A (2725)/Mainz 2004/CBM 103}) 21. Bf4 {In this
game Topaliv showed how to play in case White if wants to ensure he doesn't
lose, while all accusations on Svidler not trying hard enough to win lack
ground.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.13"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Be3 Be7 12. Rad1+ Ke8 13. a3 h5 14.
Rfe1 h4 15. Nd4 a6 16. f4 Rh5 17. Ne4 Bd7 18. c4 a5 19. c5 a4 20. Rc1 f5 21.
exf6 Bxf6 22. f5 Ne7 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Bf4 Kf7 25. Bxc7 Nxf5 26. Rc4 Nxd4 27.
Rxd4 Be6 28. Bd6 Ra5 29. Rde4 Bd5 30. Re7+ Kg6 31. Rxb7 Rb5 32. Rb6 Rg5 33. Re2
Rb3 34. Kh2 Re3 35. Rd2 Reg3 36. Bxg3 hxg3+ 37. Kh1 Rf5 38. Rd1 Rf2 39. Rb8 f5
40. Rd8 Bxg2+ 41. Kg1 Bd5 42. R8xd5 cxd5 43. Rc1 Rxb2 44. c6 Rb8 45. Kg2 f4 46.
Kf3 Kg5 47. h4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.14"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Bb7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Ne5 c5 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Rfd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. d4 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8.
c4 Nb6 (8... Nf6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Rad1 Qd7 12. Ne5 Qe8 13. Qf3 Bd6
14. c5 $14 {Mikhalchishin,A-Ubilava,E/Rostov on Don 1980}) 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4
g5 $2 {Breaking one of the most important principles of opening strategy -
Black starts active operations before taking care of the king. Against a
player of Topalov's caliber one can't afford himself such a luxury!} (10... O-O
11. Rad1 Bf6 12. Ne4 Rc8 $6 13. Nfg5 Bxg5 14. Nxg5 g6 15. d5 exd5 16. cxd5 Nb4
17. Qh3 $16 {Skrjabin,I-Parkkinen,J/Kajaani 1999}) 11. Bg3 g4 12. Ne5 Nxd4 {
Black wins a pawn, but his king won't be safe till the end of the game...} ({
No better was} 12... Qxd4 13. Qe2 Qc5 14. Ne4 Qb4 15. b3 h5 16. Rfd1 $36 {
[%csl Rb4,Re8,Rh8]}) 13. c5 $1 {The most accurate way to meet Black's
advanturous play.} ({Another promising alternative was} 13. Rad1 $5 c5 14. Ne2
h5 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. c5 $1 $16 {[%cal Gd3b5]}) 13... Bxc5 14. Rad1 {[%csl Rd4]
[%cal Gd1d8]} O-O (14... f6 15. Nxg4 Nd7 16. Nb5 $1 $16) 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxg4
$1 $16 {Intending to decide the game by a direct attack on Black's king.} (16.
Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 c5 18. Rdd1 f5 19. Nd7 fxe4 20. Nxf8 Rxf8 21. Rfe1 $16)
16... c5 (16... Nf5 17. Qc3 Nd5 18. Rxd5 exd5 19. Nef6+ Kh8 20. Be5 $18) (16...
f5 17. Nh6+ Kg7 18. Be5+ Kxh6 19. Qh3+ Kg6 20. Bxd4 Nd5 21. Nc3 $16 {[%csl Re6,
Rg6][%cal Gd1d3,Gd3g3]}) 17. b4 $6 {It takes Fritz a second to find a forced
win!} (17. Be5 $1 {[%cal Gg4h6]} f6 18. Ng5 Nf5 (18... fxg5 19. Nh6#) 19. Nh6+
$18) 17... Nd5 18. bxc5 $6 {He misses the same forced win again!} (18. Be5 $1
Nf5 19. Nh6+ Nxh6 20. Qg3+ $18) 18... Nf5 19. Qf3 {[%cal Gd1d5,Gg3d6]
Unfortunately for Kamsky his position remains hopeless.} Rc8 20. Bd6 Nxd6 (
20... Bxd6 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Nef6+ Kg7 23. Qxf5 $18) (20... Rc6 21. Rxd5 exd5
22. Qxf5 dxe4 23. Nh6+ Kg7 24. Qe5+ Bf6 25. Qh5 $16) 21. cxd6 Bh4 22. d7 Rc6 (
22... Rc7 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. Nef6+ Bxf6 25. Nxf6+ Kg7 26. Ne8+ Rxe8 27. dxe8=Q
Qxe8 28. Qg3+ $18) 23. Ne5 Rc7 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Nd6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 {One of very often played basic position
of Scheveningen Sicilian defense. Black has to play exactly and the first
player can choose from many concepts trying for the advantage.} 12. Bf3 Bf8 13.
Qd2 (13. Nb3 b6 14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Nd4 Qb7 18. Qh5 g6
19. Qh4 Nxe5 20. Ne4 Be7 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 f5 23. Rae1 Qd5 {1/2-1/2 Adams,
M (2719)-Topalov,V (2788)/San Luis 2005/ (45)}) 13... Na5 (13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4
e5 15. Be3 exf4 16. Bd4 $1 Be7 $14) 14. b3 (14. Qf2 Nc4 15. Bc1 e5 16. Nde2 d5
$1 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Bf4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxc2 $11 {Sutovsky,E-Kasparov,G/Tel
Aviv/1998/}) 14... Rb8 (14... d5 15. e5 Nd7 (15... Bb4 16. Ncb5 $1 Bxd2 17.
Nxc7 Bxe3 18. exf6 Bxd4 19. Nxe8 Bxa1 20. Rxa1 gxf6 21. g4 $16) 16. Nce2 f6 $2
17. Nxe6 $1 Rxe6 18. Bxd5 Nc5 19. f5 Qxe5 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. fxe6 Nc6 22. e7+
Be6 23. Bxc6 $18 {Navara,D-Pedersen, Morso 2002}) 15. Rad1 (15. Nde2 b6 16. Qe1
Nc6 17. Qf2 Nb4 18. Na2 Nxa2 19. Rxa2 Nd7 20. Bd4 Bb7 {Dolmatov - Kurnosov,
Istanbul 2003}) 15... Nc6 $146 {The first independent move in the game, after
15...b6 white can immediately strike in the center.} (15... b6 16. e5 dxe5 17.
fxe5 Nd7 18. Bf4 Nxe5 19. Qe3 f6 20. Ne4 {Jansa,V-Stohl,I/Koeln/2002/}) 16. Bf2
(16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. e5 Nd5 18. Bd4 $14) (16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. fxe5 Nd5
19. Bd4 Bb4 (19... Rd8 20. Ne4 c5 21. Ba1 c4 22. bxc4 Qxc4 23. Ng5 $16) 20. Qd3
Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Bb7 (21... Nxc3 22. Qxc3 c5 23. Rd6) 22. Be4 h6 23. Bd2 c5 24.
Qg3 $40) 16... Nd7 (16... Bd7 17. Nde2) (16... Nxd4 17. Qxd4 e5 18. Qd2 exf4
19. Bd4 $14) (16... e5 17. Nde2 Nb4 18. Bh4 Be7 19. f5 b6 $13) 17. Bg3 Nxd4 18.
Qxd4 b5 $6 {Topalov is an active player and thus he would love to complicate
white's plan with e4-e5 advance by generating counterplay on the queenside.} (
18... b6 19. f5 $14) 19. axb5 axb5 20. b4 $1 {Excellent solution by Adams is
fixating the pawn b5 as a target, teh defender will have more difficulties
bringing pieces into counterplay.} g6 $6 (20... Qc4 21. Be2 (21. Qxc4 bxc4 22.
b5) 21... Qc6 (21... Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Ba6) 22. e5) (20... e5 21. Qd2) (20... Ba6
$5 21. Ra1 Rec8 22. Ra3 Rb6 $14) 21. e5 d5 (21... Bg7 22. Ne4 d5 23. Nf6+ $16)
22. f5 $3 {[%mdl 128] Brilliant attacking move suggests, that the defense with
the idea 20...g6?! has missed the desired goals.} gxf5 (22... Qc4 23. fxe6 fxe6
24. Nxd5 $1 Qxd4 25. Rxd4 exd5 26. Bxd5+ Kh8 27. Bc6 $18) (22... Qb6 23. fxe6
fxe6 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bxd5+ Kh8 26. Qh4 Be7 27. Qh6 Bf8 28. Rxf8+ Nxf8 (28...
Rxf8 29. e6 $18) 29. e6 $1 Rb7 30. Be5+ Kg8 31. e7+ Ne6 32. Qg7#) (22... Bb7
23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bxd5+ Bxd5 26. Qxd5+ Kh8 27. e6 $18) 23. Nxd5
$1 Qc4 (23... exd5 $2 24. e6 Qb6 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Bh5+ $18) 24. Qd2 $1 (24.
Nf6+ Nxf6 25. exf6 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 e5 $1 (26... Rb6 27. Be5) 27. Re1 Bb7 28. Bxe5
Ra8 $1 29. Bxb7 Rxe5 30. Rg1 $16) 24... h6 (24... exd5 25. Qg5+ $1 (25. Bxd5
Qg4 (25... Qxb4 26. Qg5+ Bg7 27. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qxf5+ Kg8 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30.
Qxe8+ Nf8 31. e6 $18)) 25... Bg7 (25... Kh8 26. Bxd5 Qg4 27. Qxg4 fxg4 28. Bxf7
Re7 29. e6 $18) 26. Bxd5 Qxc2 (26... Qg4 27. Qxg4 fxg4 28. Bxf7+ Kf8 29. Bh5+)
27. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qh5+ Kg8 (28... Kf8 29. Rxf5+) (28... Ke7 29. e6) 29. Rc1
$1 (29. Qxe8+ Nf8 30. Rc1 Qe2 31. e6 $18) 29... Qe4 30. Qxe8+ Nf8 31. Rc7 $18)
(24... Kh8 25. c3 $1 $16) 25. h3 $1 {The englishman was in a great form.
Surprizing quiet pawn move suggests, that Topalov is suffering due to
desperate lack of useful moves.} exd5 (25... Bg7 26. Nf6+) (25... Bb7 26. Ne3)
(25... Kh7 26. c3 $1) 26. Bxd5 Qxb4 27. c3 Qc5 $6 {Very few players are
excelling in the defensive tasks, the world champion has missed the last
chance for a stubborn resistance with the tough move 27...Qe7!} (27... Qa3 28.
Rxf5 Re7 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. e6 $18) (27... Qe7 $1 28. Rxf5 Nxe5 29. Rxe5 Be6 30.
Rxe6 fxe6 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 32. Qf4 $16) 28. Rxf5 Re6 (28... Re7 29. e6 $18) (28...
Nxe5 29. Rxe5 Rxe5 30. Bxe5 Rb6 31. Qf4 Qe7 32. Rf1 $18) 29. Rxf7 $1 Nb6 (29...
Kxf7 30. Qf4+ Ke8 (30... Ke7 31. Bh4+ $18) 31. Bxe6 Nxe5 32. Rd5 $18) 30. Rdf1
{Slightly more exact and punchy impression made a continuation of the attack
with 30.Qf4!, but even the doubling of rooks is tragic for opponent.} (30. Qf4
$1 Bg7 (30... Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Qa3 32. Rd8 (32. Qf5)) 31. Rf1 Nxd5 32. Qg4 $1 $18)
30... Nxd5 (30... Bg7 31. Qf4 Nxd5 32. Qg4 $18) 31. Rxf8+ Qxf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8
33. Qxd5 Ke8 34. Bh4 Bd7 35. Bf6 b4 36. Qe4 {Adams is not a calculating type,
but the more exact queen move 36.Qd3! was simple and would force immediate
capitulation.} (36. Qd3 $1 Rxf6 (36... Bc8 37. Qd8+ Kf7 38. Qc7+) (36... Bc6
37. Qg6+ Kd7 38. Qf7+) 37. exf6 $18) 36... Bc8 37. cxb4 Rb7 38. Qg6+ Kd7 39.
Qxh6 Kc7 40. Qf4 Kb8 41. h4 Rc7 42. h5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. h4 Bf6 (10... Bg4 11. h5 (11. Be2 Re8 12. Nd4 Bxe2
13. Qxe2 Qd7 14. Be3 Ne4 $11 {1-0 Jackova,J-Gara,A/Germany 2003/EXT 2004 (30)})
(11. Re1 Re8 (11... Ne6 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. Qxh6 Bf6 16.
Bd3 Re8 17. Re3 Be5 18. Rhh3 {1-0 Fontaine,R-Skoberne,J/Portoroz op 2004 (18)})
(11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ne6 13. Bg3 Re8 $14 {0-1 Cinar Corlulu,N-Hernandez,Y/
Gothenburg SWE 2005/(42)}) 12. Nd4 Ne6 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. Bd3 Qd7 15. f3 a5 16.
Kb1 b5 $132 {0-1 Bologan,V-Motylev,A/chessassistantclub.com INT 2004/(48)})
11... Re8 (11... h6 12. Be2 Bf6 13. Nd4 Ne4 14. Qe3 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Re8 16. Qf3
Bg5 $11 {1-0 Galego,L-Camejo Almeida,R/Portugal 1993/TD (49)}) (11... Qd7 12.
Re1 Bf6 13. Nd4 Rfe8 14. Rxe8+ Rxe8 15. f3 Qa4 16. Kb1 Bd7 17. b3 Qa5 18. h6
Ne6 19. Be3 g6 $11 {1-0 Manik,M-Novak,P/Litomysl CZE 2005/(43)}) 12. Bc4 c6 13.
Bxd6 Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Bxf3 16. gxf3 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Carlsen,M/Leon
ESP 2005/(30)}) (10... c6 11. Bxd6 (11. Bg5 d5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd4 Ne4 14.
Qe1 Qf6 15. f3 Nd6 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. Qg5 Qxg5+ 18. hxg5 {1/2-1/2 Rozentalis,
E-Arencibia,W/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (18)}) 11... Qxd6 12. Qxd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6
Ne4 14. Rd4 Nxf2 15. Rg1 Ng4 16. Bc4 Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. cxd3 Nf6 19. Re1 (19.
Kd2 Rfd8 20. a4 Ne8 21. Re1 Rxd4 22. Nxd4 Kf8 23. a5 Nc7 24. b4 Rd8 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Cheparinov,I-Dominguez,L/Cuernavaca MEX 2006/(54)}) 19... Rfe8 20.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. a4 Ke7 $14 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2006/(72)}) (10... b5 11. Bxb5 Rb8 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. Bxc6
$16 {0-1 Yakivchik-Goreskul/Lvov 1999 (32)}) (10... Re8 11. Kb1 (11. Bc4 Be6
12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. Qd3 Qc6 15. Rde1 Nc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Re3 Bf6
$11 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z-Fridman,D/Neukoelln GER 2005/(20)}) (11. Be3 Ne4 12. Qe1
Bg4 13. Bd3 Bf6 $15 {0-1 Van Oosterom,C-Skatchkov,P/Groningen NED 2005/(25)})
11... Ne4 12. Qe1 Bf6 13. Be3 c5 14. Bd3 Qa5 15. Bxe4 Rxe4 $11 {0-1 Bologan,
V-Rabiega,R/playchess.com INT 2004/EXT 2005 (28)}) (10... Be6 11. Ng5 Qd7 12.
Be3 b6 13. a3 a5 14. f3 $36 {1-0 Atlas,V-Nemet,I/Schweizer Liga Luzern-Riehen
sp05/12 2005/Inf 005 (30)}) 11. Ng5 h6 (11... Qd7 12. Kb1 h6 13. Bc4 Qf5 14. f3
hxg5 15. hxg5 Be5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Rh4 $40 {0-1 Narings,N-Monteban,M/
Amsterdam NED 2005/(35)}) 12. Bd3 (12. Bc4 $5 Bf5 13. f3 $36) 12... Nxd3+ 13.
Qxd3 (13. cxd3 $5 b5 $5 (13... hxg5 14. hxg5 Be7 15. Qe3 Bf5 16. Rh2 (16. Rde1
Re8 17. Qf3 Bf8 $13) 16... f6 17. g4 $40) 14. Ne4 Re8 (14... Bb7 15. g4 $36)
15. f3 Be6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. g4 $13) 13... g6 14. Nf3 {White is trying to
take advantage of the opponent's weakened kingside.} (14. Ne4 Bg7 15. h5 g5 16.
Be3 Bf5 17. Bd4 d5 18. Nf6+ Qxf6 19. Bxf6 Bxd3 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rxd3 c6 $11
22. c4 dxc4 23. Rd7 b5 24. Rhd1 Rfe8 25. R1d6 Re1+ 26. Kd2 Rae8 $132) 14... h5
(14... Bg7 $5 15. Qd2 (15. h5 g5 16. Be3 Qf6 17. Bd4 Qf5 $11) 15... Kh7) 15.
Rde1 Bf5 16. Qd2 Re8 17. Bg5 $14 {White is still threatening with a kingside
offensive - and that allows him to keep a slight advantage.} Bxg5 18. Nxg5 (18.
hxg5 Be4 19. Qf4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qd7 $11) 18... Qf6 19. f3 {[%cal Gg2g4]} Re5 $1
{Black's counter play along the "e"- file forces White to swap pieces thus
reducing his own attacking potential.} 20. Rxe5 (20. g4 hxg4 21. fxg4 Bxg4 22.
Ref1 Rf5 23. Qg2 Re8 $17) 20... dxe5 (20... Qxe5 21. Re1 $16) 21. Rd1 Qc6 $11
22. b3 Re8 {[%cal Ye5e4]} 23. Kb2 e4 24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Qf4 Bf5 26. Rd2 (26. Nf3
Qe4 $11) 26... Qc5 27. Nf3 Bg4 28. a4 Bxf3 $2 {Black swaps one piece too many
and lets White back into the driving seat.} (28... Kg7 $11) 29. Qxf3 $14 c6 30.
Rd7 Re7 31. Qd3 $1 {It's not easy to defend Black's queenside pawns -
especially while in a time-trouble.} Rxd7 $2 (31... a6 32. Rc7 $5 (32. b4 Qe5
$11) 32... Rxc7 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qxc7 b5 35. Qa5 (35. a5 b4 36. cxb4 Qd4+ 37.
Ka2 Qe4 $11) 35... Qa7 36. axb5 cxb5 37. Qd8 $14) 32. Qxd7 Qb6 33. b4 $1 c5 $2
(33... a5 34. Kb3 Kf8 35. Qd4 $36) 34. a5 Qc6 $4 (34... Qf6 35. Qc8+ Kh7 36.
Qxc5 Qxh4 37. Qxa7 Qe4 38. Qa8 Qe7 39. b5 $18) 35. Qxc6 bxc6 36. Kb3 $18 Kf8
37. Kc4 cxb4 38. cxb4 Ke7 39. Kc5 Kd7 40. c4 f6 41. b5 g5 42. b6 axb6+ 43. Kxb6
Kc8 44. Kxc6 gxh4 45. c5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {Huebner,R} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 {The Slav
with a6 remains very popular at all levels, White is still unable to get a
workable advantage in the critical lines.} (5. e3 b5 (5... e6 {is also
playable, but not too consistent - if Black wants to play like this, the
normal Meran is more promising. White can now avoid it with} 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2
Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bd6 10. Qc2 h6 11. Ne2 $5 Re8 12. Ng3 e5 13. cxd5 Nxd5
14. Rad1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nb4 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Qb1 Nd5 18. Bf5 Qc7 19. Rfe1 N7f6
20. e4 Ne7 21. Bxc8 Raxc8 22. Qc1 c5 23. Nf3 Ng4 24. Ba5 $1 Qxa5 25. Rxd6 $40 {
Gelfand,B-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee/2006/}) 6. c5 $5 Nbd7 (6... g6 {also has a
good reputation.}) 7. b4 (7. Bd3 e5 $5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. f4 Bxc5 11.
Qf3 Qb6 12. Ke2 Nh6 13. h3 {Gelfand,B-Sokolov,I/Merida/2005/} O-O $132 {Hübner}
(13... Be7 $5 $13 {Gelfand})) 7... a5 8. bxa5 Qxa5 9. Bd2 b4 10. Nb1 Ne4 11. a3
({After} 11. Be2 e5 12. O-O {Black doesn't have to hurry with the exchange on
d2 and can play} Be7 $5 {first, keeping the option Nc3:} 13. Ne1 Nc3 14. Bxc3
bxc3 15. a4 Nf6 16. f3 Bf5 17. Bd3 Be6 18. Ra3 Nd7 19. Kh1 Bf6 20. Nc2 O-O 21.
f4 exf4 22. exf4 Nxc5 $5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 $44 {Krasenkow,M-Kritz,L/Mainz rpd op/
2005/}) 11... Rb8 $1 12. Ra2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Ra8 14. Be2 e5 15. O-O Be7 16. Rb2
bxa3 17. Qxa5 Rxa5 18. Ra2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rxa3 $11 {1/2,Aronian,
L-Sokolov,I/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 5... e6 {The main alternative. It's only
seemingly passive, as moving the Bc8 enhances the strength of the Qb3 sortie.
Now we have a Semi-Slav position with the extra a4 and a6, both sides are
trying to prove that their move is the more useful one. This is a difficult
task, especially for White.} 6. Bg5 {This active move is the most popular
choice - White plays it more often than all the other options together.} (6. a5
{tries to use the merits of 5.a4. However, this is too slow and Black has} c5
$1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Rb8c6] /\Nc6,><a5} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
e3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 c5 12. Qd1 Be7 $11 13. e4 $6 Nb4 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Be2 Ra7 16.
Be3 Rd7 17. Qb1 Nc6 18. Qa2 Nd4 19. Bd1 Rb7 20. O-O Bd7 21. f3 Rb4 $36 {
Azmaiparashvili,Z-Epishin,V/Elenite/1994/}) ({The "meran"} 6. e3 {is passive
and rather harmless, Black now even has a choice:} c5 $5 (6... a5 {[%cal Yb8a6,
Ya6b4] /\Na6-b4<=>}) 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 $11 (8... Bd6 $5 {In any case he
can easily develop his forces and the weakness on b4 gives him sufficient <=>.}
)) (6. g3 {is more justified, as due to 5.a4 Black usually can't hold the pawn
after playing dxc4. However, in a solid Catalan White's minimal edge can
quickly evaporate:} dxc4 (6... a5 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nd2 $1 {already
isn't quite ideal, after} Na6 10. e4 Nb4 11. e5 Nd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Ndb1 Nb8
14. Na3 N8c6 15. Be3 b6 16. Re1 Ba6 17. Nab5 Na7 18. Qd2 Nxb5 19. axb5 Bc8 20.
h4 $14 {()->>>,Najer,E-Malakhov,V/Moscow/2003/ White has good attacking
chances.}) 7. Bg2 (7. Ne5 c5 $11) (7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Bg2 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a5
Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. Qa4 Qe7 13. Rfd1 Rb8 14. Qa2 c5 15. d5 $5 exd5 16. Nxd5
Qxe2 17. Nxb4 cxb4 18. Rd2 Qe7 19. Qxc4 Nf6 (19... b6 $5 $11) 20. Rd4 b5 21.
Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxb4 Bb7 $11 {Ponomariov,R-Bacrot,E/Biel/2004/}) 7... c5 8. dxc5
(8. O-O Nc6 9. Ne5 Na5 $5 $11) 8... Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Nc6 (9... Bxc5 {is similar
and also playable.}) 10. Be3 (10. Ne3 $142 {is played more often and seems
more promising after} Bxc5 11. Nxc4 Ke7 12. O-O Bd7 13. b3 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 10...
Nd5 11. O-O Nxe3 ({Black can postpone this capture, more flexible is} 11... Bd7
$1 12. Nd2 Rd8 {/\} 13. Nxc4 Nxe3 14. Ndxe3 Bxc5 $11) 12. Nxe3 Bxc5 13. Nxc4
Ke7 14. Rac1 Bd7 ({Still quite solid is} 14... Rd8 $5 15. Nce5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5
Bd6 17. Nc4 Bc7 {[%cal Ya8b8] /\Rb8=}) 15. Nfe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bd6 17. Nxd7 Kxd7
18. Bxb7 Ra7 19. Bc6+ Ke7 20. b3 Rb8 21. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Rc6,Gd6] /=^-,Aronian,
L-Bacrot,E/Khanty Mansyisk/2005/ This _|_ is drawish, but the exhausted Bacrot
did lose it in the end.}) 6... h6 {The prologue to an enterprising idea,
obviously prepared by Topalov at home (as he has never played the a6 Slav
previously).} ({Black plays} 6... Nbd7 {more often, but this doesn't fit the
active style of the current World Champion, moreover Van Wely has had previous
experience with} 7. cxd5 (7. a5 {can be a.o. met by the interesting} Bb4 $5 8.
Qa4 Be7 9. e3 O-O {[%cal Yb7b5,Yc6c5] /\c5,b5<=> In an Orthodox QG White has
some extra tempi, but he spent them to play a4-a5 and Qa4, so Black should be
able to equalize with a timely central break.}) (7. e3 Qa5 {leads to a
modified Cambridge Springs, in which Black solved his opening problems after}
8. Nd2 Bb4 9. Qc2 c5 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. dxc5 O-O $1 12. Bd3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc5 14.
Bd3 Bd6 15. Rc1 b6 $11 {Mamedyarov,S-Dautov,R/EU-chT Plovdiv/2003/}) 7... exd5
({Black can probably equalize even with the simple} 7... cxd5 $5 8. e3 h6 9.
Bh4 Bd6 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Rc1 (12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rac1 Qb8 14. Bg3 Bxg3
15. hxg3 Qd6 16. Rc2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Qb4 18. Nd2 g6 19. b3 Kg7 20. Qd1 e5 21. Na2
Qd6 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8 Bxc8 $15 {Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/BL 0405/
2005/}) 12... O-O 13. Re1 Qb8 14. Bg3 Bxg3 15. hxg3 Qd6 16. Qb3 Rfc8 17. Rc2
Rc7 18. Rec1 Rac8 19. Ne2 Rxc2 20. Rxc2 Rxc2 21. Qxc2 $11 {1/2,Pelletier,
Y-Karjakin,S/Merida/2005/}) 8. e3 a5 {Otherwise Black must already seriously
reckon with a5.} 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Re8 {In this Carlsbad
structure position due to a4 White can't play for the << minority attack with
b4 anymore, but he has an extra tempo and can turn his attention to the other
flank:} 12. Rae1 Nf8 13. Ne5 Ng4 14. Bxe7 Rxe7 15. f4 f6 16. Nxg4 Bxg4 17. f5
Bh5 18. Kh1 Qb6 (18... Qd6 $142 $5) 19. Rg1 Bf7 20. g4 c5 $6 {[%csl Rd5] This
weakens d5 and seems too committal.} 21. Qf2 cxd4 22. exd4 Rae8 23. Rd1 Re3 24.
Bb5 R8e7 25. Rg3 Rxg3 26. Qxg3 Qd8 27. h4 Be8 28. g5 $36 {Van Wely,L-Sedlak,N/
BL 0405/2004/}) ({Another solid alternative is} 6... a5 7. e3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9.
O-O Na6 10. Qb3 Nb4 11. Rac1 b6 ({Malakhov twice held the balnace even with
the somewhat provocative} 11... Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Na2 Nxa2 14. Qxa2 Nf6 $11
{/+/=}) 12. Na2 (12. cxd5 Nfxd5 13. Bf4 $5 (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Ne5 Bb7 15. Nxd5
exd5 16. Nd3 Rfc8 17. Nxb4 axb4 $11 {1/2,Stohl,I-Kindermann,S/BL 0304/2004/})
13... Nxf4 14. exf4 Bd6 15. g3 Ba6 $11 {<=>} (15... Bb7 16. Bc4 c5 $6 17. d5
Bxf4 18. Rcd1 b5 19. axb5 Bd6 20. Rd2 a4 21. Qd1 e5 22. Re1 $14 {Nielsen,
P-Bacrot,E/Dortmund/2005/})) 12... Nxa2 13. Qxa2 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne5 Bb7
16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Qa3 Qxa3 18. bxa3 Rfc8 19. Nd7 Nc3 20. Bb5 Rc7 21. Nxb6 Ra7
22. h3 Ba6 $11 {Sokolov,I-Stefanova,A/Hoogeveen/2005/}) 7. Bh4 ({After} 7. Bxf6
Qxf6 {probably the best chance to fight for a slight edge is} 8. Qb3 $5 {
, when White can in some lines profit from the vulnerability of the b6-square.
However, Van Wely wants more and avoids the exchange...} (8. g3 {can lead to
Ponomariov-Bacrot from the above notes, while in the line}) (8. e3 Nd7 9. Bd3
g6 {the moves a4 and a6 are more to Black's favour.})) 7... dxc4 $5 {The most
principled continuation, despite a4 Black unambiguously indicates he wants to
hold on to the Pc4.  Huebner,R: Dies ist ein völlig neues, höchst originelles,
großartiges Konzept. Über den Wert der Fortsetzung kann verständlicherweise
hier kein endgültiges Urteil gefällt werden.} (7... Nbd7 {is already less
accurate, as after the insertion of h6 and Bh4 White's B is less exposed.}) 8.
e3 $6 {This is somewhat inconsistent and causes White problems. The most
radical continuation is definitely} (8. e4 $5 g5 ({After} 8... Bb4 {White has
the simple} 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bxc4 $14 {, but interesting is}) (8... b5 $5 {
This vesrion of the Botvinnik may be fully playable for Black, in some of the
main lines White's N misses the important a4-square.} 9. axb5 (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10.
axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 $6 axb5 $1 12. Rxa8 Bb7 $36) (9. e5 $13) 9... cxb5 10. e5 g5
11. exf6 gxh4 12. Ne5 Qxf6 13. Nxb5 Bb4+ (13... axb5 $5 14. Rxa8 Bb4+ 15. Ke2
Bd6 $44) 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bxc4 Bb7 16. O-O Rd8 17. Re1 Qg7 18. g3 Nc6 19. Nxf7
$1 $40 {Vallejo Pons,F-Magem Badals,J/ESP-chT Cala Galdana/1999/}) 9. Bg3 Bb4
10. Bxc4 (10. Qc2 $5 $44) 10... Nxe4 11. O-O Nxg3 12. fxg3 $1 $13 {White's
compensation can't be underestimated.}) 8... b5 $1 {[%mdl 512] Black already
can't stop halfway and must sacrifice the exchange. This is the right
move-order, as} (8... g5 $6 9. Bg3 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bb4+
13. Nd2 $5 $16 {is dubious, the Nb8 is attacked.}) 9. axb5 cxb5 10. Bxf6 (10.
Nxb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 (12. Bxf6 {-10.Bf6}) 12... Bb4+ 13. Ke2 $8 (13.
Nd2 $2 g5 14. Bg3 Ne4 $19) 13... O-O $44 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Nc6 $13)) 10... gxf6
11. Nxb5 {This is also forced, otherwise Black has a healthy extra P after Bb7.
} axb5 12. Rxa8 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] White comes up with a novelty,
but presumably it wasn't prepared beforehand.} ({The seemingly more solid
alternative} 13. Nd2 Bb7 {is in fact no less dangerous:} 14. Ra7 $142 $5 (14.
Ra1 e5 $1 $32 {Van der Wiel} (14... Rg8 $143 {allows} 15. Be2 $1 Rxg2 16. Kf1
Bxd2 17. Qxd2 {Marovic,D-Pomar,A/Olot/1969/} Qd6 $5 18. Ra7 Rxh2 19. Rg1 $1
Bg2+ 20. Ke1 $13 {/+/=}) (14... f5 {Huebner,R} 15. f4 (15. f3 {wird mit} f4 {
beantwortet.}) 15... Nd7 {hat Schwarz vorzügliche Kompensation für die
geopferte Qualität.})) 14... Qb6 15. Ra1 {is better, as it deflects the Q from
the <->d. However, even here Black has} e5 $1 16. Be2 (16. dxe5 Ke7 $1 17. Qh5
{is too computer-like:} Rd8 18. Rd1 Nd7 $32 {->}) 16... exd4 17. O-O Rg8 $1 18.
e4 (18. Bf3 $2 Bxd2 19. exd4 Bb4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 $17 {/-+,Van den Doel,E-Van der
Wiel,J/NED-ch Rotterdam/1999/}) 18... Nd7 $15 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4] and his [+]P
give him an advantage.} (18... f5 $5 $36)) 13... Bb7 14. Ra1 f5 $5 {Black has
visible compensation and many tempting ways to increse the pressure, but not
all of them are effective:} (14... Nc6 $6 {allows} 15. g3 {[%cal Yf1g2] /\Bg2})
(14... Qd5 15. Ne1 $5 {/\f3,Kf2+/=}) ({Black could have avoided the following
active sortie with} 14... Rg8 $44 {or}) (14... Nd7 $44 {/\} 15. b3 $6 Bd5 $40)
15. Ne5 (15. b3 {(Huebner,R) kommt in Betracht, um dem Springer zunächst das
Feld d3 freizukämpfen. Nach} Bd5 16. Ne5 cxb3 17. f3 {ist die Lage nicht
deutlich.}) 15... Rg8 16. f4 $5 {[%cal Ye2f2] White needs f2 for his K and} (
16. f3 $2 {fails to} f6 $19 {[%csl Re5]}) 16... Nc6 (16... Nd7 $5 {[%cal Yd7f6,
Yf6e4] /\} 17. Nf3 (17. Ra7 Nxe5 18. Rxb7 Qa8 $1 $36 {regains the exchange and
retains the pressure.}) (17. Nxd7 Qh4 $1 18. Nf6+ (18. g3 Rxg3 $1 19. hxg3 Qxh1
20. Nf6+ Ke7 21. d5 Kxf6 22. Qd4+ Kg6 $19) 18... Qxf6 19. Kf2 Qh4+ 20. Kg1 e5 {
leads to a position, similar to the following note. Now White ha a better
chance to avoid it.}) 17... Nf6 $36) 17. Nf3 $1 {White wants to consolidate
his set-up, too passive is} (17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Kf2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 e5 $1 {We'll
see this break in an even more impressive version in the game.} (19... Qh3 20.
Qe2 h5 21. Qf2 h4 {allows White to play} 22. g3 $1 hxg3 23. Bxh3 gxf2+ 24. Kxf2
Bxh1 25. Rxh1 $11) 20. fxe5 $140 $2 (20. Qe2 {Huebner,R} exf4 21. exf4+ Kf8 22.
Qf2 (22. Ra6 Bb7 23. Ra7 Qxf4 {ist ungesund für Weiß.}) 22... Qxf2+ 23. Kxf2
Rg4 {ist ebenfalls unbequem für Weiß, obwohl er nicht ohne Rettungsaussichten
verbleibt.}) 20... Qe4 21. Qe2 f4 $19 {->}) (17. Kf2 $2 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Qg5 $19)
17... Na5 $6 (17... Ne7 $5 18. Kf2 Nd5 $36 {/\} 19. Be2 $2 Rxg2+ $19) 18. Kf2
Nb3 19. Ra7 Be4 20. Ra2 $2 {Topalov beautifully refutes this.} (20. g3 $142 $1
$13 {[%cal Yf1g2,Rf3e5] /\Bg2,Ne5!<=> leaves the result quite open.}) (20. h4 {
(Huebner,R) kommt in Betracht, obwohl es der Bauernstruktur des Weißen nicht
gut tut. Die Möglichkeit zu Dd8-h4+ wird dem Weißen genommen und Th1-h3
vorbereitet.}) 20... e5 $3 {[%mdl 512] This powerful break blows up White's
central defensive bastions.} 21. fxe5 {The only way to take the P.} (21. Nxe5
$2 {loses by force:} Qh4+ 22. g3 (22. Kg1 Be1 23. Qe2 Nc1 $1 $19) 22... Rxg3
23. hxg3 Qxh1 24. Nf3 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Be1+ 26. Ke2 Nc1+ $19) (21. Be2 exd4 22.
exd4 Nd2 $5 $17 {->} (22... Nxd4 {Huebner,R} 23. Qxd4 (23. g3 Bc5 24. Kg2 Rg6 {
hält Weiß nicht lange aus.}) 23... Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Bc5 26. Bf3 Bxf3
27. Nxf3 Rf2+ 28. Ke1 Rxf3 {führt zu einer freudlosen Stellung für Weiß.}))
21... f4 22. Be2 (22. exf4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 (23. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 24. Qe3 Qd5 {[%cal
Rb4c5] /\Bc5-+}) 23... Bd2 $19 {->} 24. Bh3 {Huebner,R} Bxf4 {dürfte Weiß kaum
überleben können.}) 22... fxe3+ 23. Kxe3 Qd5 {'!' Huebner,R.} ({Nach} 23...
Bd2+ {Huebner,R} 24. Kf2 Bxf3 25. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 26. Kf1 {ist die Lage nicht klar.
Wenn Schwarz darauf verzichtet, mit} Qd3+ 27. Be2 Qf5+ 28. Bf3 Qd3+ {
Dauerschach zu geben, kommt Weiß zu g2-g3 nebst Kf1-g2.}) 24. g3 {'?' Huebner,
R. The motif from the game works even after other moves, e.g.,  Huebner,R:
'Jetzt hängt in vielen der taktischen Abwicklungen der Turm auf h1, und
Schwarz erzielt den Gewinn. Versucht werden mußte'} (24. Rg1 Nxd4 $1 (24...
Bd2+ {Huebner,R} 25. Kf2 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 27. Kf1 {gibt dem Schwarzen auch
hier keine Gewinnaussichten.}) 25. Nxd4 {Huebner,R: 'Andere Züge sind
hoffnungslos:'} (25. Ra8+ {Huebner,R} Qxa8 26. Qxd4 Bxf3 27. Bxf3 Qc8 {, und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) (25. Qxd4 {Huebner,R} Bc5 26. Ra8+ Ke7 27. Ra7+ (27. Rxg8
Bxf3 28. Qxc5+ Qxc5+ 29. Kxf3 Qxg1 {überläßt dem Schwarzen eine Gewinnstellung.
}) 27... Ke8 28. Ra8+ Ke7 (28... Kd7 29. Rxg8 Bxd4+ (29... Bxf3 30. Rd1 {
ist hier ungesund für Schwarz.}) 30. Nxd4 Qxe5 31. Nf3 Bxf3+ 32. Kxf3 Qf5+ 33.
Kg3 Qe5+ {mit Remisschluß.}) 29. Ra7+ {Nun hat Schwarz drei Königszüge zur
Auswahl, wenn er auf Gewinn spielen will:} Kd8 {ist richtig:} (29... Ke6 30.
Rc7 (30. Ra6+ {ist gut genug fürs Remis.}) 30... Bxd4+ 31. Nxd4+ Kxe5 32. Re7+
Kd6 33. Rxe4 f5 34. Rf4 Qe5+ 35. Kf3 {verschafft dem Schwarzen ebenfalls keine
Freude.}) (29... Kf8 30. Ra8+ Kg7 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 33. Kxe4 Qb4
34. Rb1 Qb3 35. Nd4 Qa2 36. Rc1 Qxb2 37. Rc2 Qb1 38. Kd5 {birgt für Schwarz
nur Gefahren.}) 30. Rd1 Bd3 31. Bxd3 Bxd4+ 32. Nxd4 cxd3 33. Rxd3 Qxe5+ 34. Kf3
(34. Kf2 Qe4 35. Nc6+ Kc8 36. g3 Re8 (36... Qxd3 37. Ne7+ Kd8 38. Nc6+ Ke8 39.
Re7+ Kf8 40. Rxf7+ Kxf7 41. Ne5+ Ke6 42. Nxd3 Kd5 {sollte auch zum Gewinn
führen.}) 37. Rxf7 b4 38. Na7+ Kb8 39. Kg1 Qc4 {, und Weiß wird schließlich
mattgesetzt werden.}) 34... Qd5+ 35. Ke3 Qg5+ 36. Ke4 Qxg2+ {, und Schwarz
wird schließlich gewinnen.}) 25... Bc5 $1 {Ftacnik} (25... Qxe5 26. Nf3 Bc5+ (
26... Bxf3+ {Huebner,R} 27. Kxf3 Qf5+ 28. Ke3 Bc5+ 29. Kd2 Ke7 30. Re1 Rxg2 31.
Ra3 Bxa3 32. bxa3 Qd3+ 33. Kc1 Qxa3+ 34. Kb1 Qb4+ 35. Kc1 Qc3+ 36. Kb1 Kf8 37.
Rg1 {überläßt dem Weißen Rettungsaussichten.}) 27. Kd2 c3+ $1 (27... Qf4+ {
Huebner,R} 28. Ke1 Bxg1 29. Nxg1 Qe3 (29... Qh4+ 30. g3 Qxh2 31. Qd4 Qxg3+ 32.
Kd2 {dürfte nicht zum Gewinn genügen.}) 30. Qd6 Qxg1+ 31. Kd2 Qxg2 32. Qb8+ Ke7
33. Ra7+ Ke6 34. Ra6+ Kf5 35. Qxb5+ Bd5 36. Rxh6 {, und Weiß sollte überleben.}
) 28. bxc3 Qd5+ {[%cal Rd5a2] /\Qa2 with equal material and a continuing ->.})
26. Bf3 Rg5 $1 27. Bxe4 (27. Re1 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Rg2 29. f4 Rxh2 $19) 27... Rxe5
28. Qc2 f5 $19) 24... Nxd4 25. Nxd4 (25. Qxd4 Bc5 26. Ra8+ Kd7 $19 {Huebner,R:
'ist hier ganz hoffnungslos für Weiß.'}) 25... Bxh1 26. Bf3 Qxe5+ 27. Kf2 Bc5 {
Huebner,R: 'In der vorliegenden Stellung begünstigt der Umstand, daß ungleiche
Läufer entstehen, den Angreifer. Weiß geht an der Schwäche seines Bauern auf
b2 zugrunde.'} 28. Bxh1 Bxd4+ 29. Kf1 Rg5 $19 {[%mdl 128] The storm has calmed
down for a while, but Black is already a P up and his attack continues to the
very end.} 30. Bf3 Kf8 31. Kg2 Qe3 32. Kh3 Kg7 33. b3 cxb3 34. Ra3 b4 35. Rxb3
Bc3 {Cuts off the Rb3.} 36. Qe2 Qc5 37. Qd3 Qc8+ 38. Kg2 Ra5 39. Qc2 Qe6 40.
Qb1 $6 (40. h4 $142 $5 {is more resilient, although after} Ra1 {White's
position is untenable in the long run.}) 40... Ra1 (40... Ra3 {Huebner,R} 41.
Rxa3 bxa3 {sorgt sofort für eine neue Dame; aber der Textzug genügt.}) 41. Qc2
Bd4 42. Bd1 ({It's too late for} 42. h4 Rh1 $1 43. Kxh1 Qh3+ 44. Qh2 Qf1+)
42... Qe1 43. Bf3 ({Auf} 43. Rd3 {(Huebner,R) folgt} b3 (43... Qg1+ 44. Kf3 Ra6
{genügt natürlich auch zum Gewinn.}) 44. Qxb3 Qf2+ 45. Kh3 Qf1+ 46. Kg4 h5+ 47.
Kxh5 (47. Kg5 Bf6+ 48. Kxh5 Qh3#) 47... Qf5+ 48. Kh4 Bf6#) 43... Qf1# {A
fitting end to a great attacking display.  Huebner,R: 'Eine weitere
Glanzpartie von Topalov!'} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 {Very solid line,
which is often used by Adams.} 7. c3 Bg4 8. d3 Nd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Be3 h6 11. g4
$5 $146 {Until this game White was playing 11.Nbd2 automatically, but after 11.
..Bg5 Black seems to be able to solve the opening problems without too many
worries.The idea behind Topalov's novelty is to capture on g5 with the knight
followed by d4.} (11. Nbd2 Bg5 12. Bxc6 (12. Nf1 Bxe3 13. fxe3 O-O 14. Ng3 Bg6
15. d4 Nf6 16. Bc2 Re8 17. Qd2 Nh5 18. Qf2 Nxg3 19. Qxg3 Bh7 20. Re2 Qe7 21.
Rf1 Rf8 $11 {Ponomariov,R-Adams,M/Bled 2002}) (12. Qe2 Bxe3 13. Qxe3 b5 (13...
O-O 14. b4 (14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. b4 a5 16. Nc4 axb4 17. cxb4 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 c5 $11
{Anand,V-Adams,M/Bastia 2005}) 14... Re8 15. a3 Nb6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nb3 d5
18. Nc5 $14 {Leko,P-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee 2005}) 14. Bc2 O-O 15. Nf1 Re8 16. Ng3
Bg6 17. Rad1 Nb6 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Qc3 dxe4 22. Bxe4
Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Qd7 24. a3 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Adams,M/Moscow 2004}) 12... bxc6 13.
Qa4 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 c5 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 O-O 17. Qc2 Re8 18. Rae1 $14 {
Morozevich,A-Najer,E/Zagan 1997}) 11... Bg6 12. Nbd2 h5 $5 {Very logical way
to test the quality of Topalov's novelty. White is forced to play g5, so Black
gets good counterchanes on the kingside.} (12... Bg5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Kg2 $14)
13. g5 Nb6 14. Bb3 h4 $5 {[%cal Gg6h5] Intending to disturb White by Bh5 in
the nearest future.} 15. a4 ({After} 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 $1 $15 {Black
would've taken control over the light squares in the center.}) 15... d5 $1 {
An excellent move.} (15... a5) 16. a5 ({The continuation} 16. Bxb6 dxe4 17.
Bxc7 Qxc7 18. dxe4 O-O-O $44 {is too risky even for Topalov!}) 16... d4 17.
cxd4 {White doesn't really have a choice as after} (17. Bxd4 exd4 18. axb6 cxb6
19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxd4 21. Nf3 Qd6 $15 {[%csl Rd3,Rg1,Rg5] Black gets a
very comfortable position.}) 17... exd4 18. Bf4 Nd7 19. Rc1 $5 {The positional
exchange sacrifice has become Topalov's favorite during the last couple of
years!} Nc5 20. Rxc5 Bxc5 21. Ba4 Kf8 $6 {I don't really like this move, but I
can understand Mamedyarov for not opting for} (21... Bd6 $1 22. e5 (22. Bxd6
cxd6 23. Qc1 Rc8 24. Nc4 O-O 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Qf4 d5 27. exd5 Rc5 $17) 22...
Be7 23. e6 (23. Nb3 $6 O-O 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Nbxd4 Qd5 $15) 23... O-O 24. Bxc6
bxc6 25. Ne5 Qd5 26. Qg4 Rae8 $132 {with a very complex struggle, even though
Black should have at least equal chances in this line.}) 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qa4
Kg8 $6 ({This time ...Bd6 was called for.} 23... Bd6 24. Bxd6+ Qxd6 25. Nc4 Qe6
26. Kh2 $13) 24. Qxc6 Bb4 25. Rc1 $1 $14 {[%csl Rc7,Rd4,Rg6] The simplest way
to advantage.} ({Another promising move was} 25. Ra1 $5 {keeping a pawn on a5.}
) 25... Bxa5 26. Nc4 Bb6 27. Nxb6 ({Less convincing looked} 27. Nfe5 Bh5 28.
Nd7 Kh7 29. Ndxb6 cxb6 30. Nxb6 Rb8 $132 {and things are not perfectly clear.})
27... cxb6 28. Bc7 Qc8 29. Kg2 b5 30. Nxd4 Qe8 31. Qxe8+ $6 {There was no need
to hurry with this move.} (31. f4 Qxc6 32. Nxc6 Kh7 33. f5 Bh5 34. Kf2 $16 {
[%csl Rh5][%cal Gd3d7,Gf2e3]}) 31... Rxe8 32. Ra1 $6 {Topalov obviously wanted
to deprive Black any counterplay by eliminating queenside pawns (which wasn't
very dangerous to put it mild), but by doing so he allowed Black real
counterchances after penetrating with the rook to the first rank.} (32. f4 $142
Rc8 33. Kf3 b4 34. f5 Bh5+ 35. Ke3 Kh7 36. Rc4 $16) 32... Rc8 33. Bd6 Kh7 34.
Rxa6 Rc1 35. Nxb5 Rd1 36. Ra3 Rc8 {[%cal Gc8c1,Gg6h5,Gd1g1]} 37. Bf4 {[%csl
Gc1] Otherwise White's king could've been in danger after Rcc1 and Bh5.} Rc2
38. Rb3 ({Also after b4 Black could save himself implementing an idea which
has been used in the game.} 38. b4 Rb2 39. Nd4 Rxd3 $1 (39... Rxb4 $6 40. Nf3
Rb7 41. Nxh4 Rd7 42. Nxg6 Kxg6 43. Ra6+ Kh7 44. h4 R1xd3 45. h5 $14) 40. Rxd3
Bxe4+ 41. Rf3 Rxb4 42. Be3 Kg6 $11) 38... Rxd3 $1 $11 {The saving sacrifice.
White can't get rid of the pin without giving up a piece, so it turns out to
be a draw.} 39. Rxd3 Bxe4+ 40. Rf3 Rxb2 41. Nd6 Bd5 42. Nf5 Rb4 $1 {[%csl Gh4]
The last touch. Black can't afford himslef to give up the pawn on h4 as White
would be able to play Kg3 afterwards.} 43. Bd6 (43. Be3 Ba8) 43... Ra4 44. Be7
Kg6 45. Nxh4+ Rxh4 46. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2669"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Tiviakov} c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4
Nb6 8. Bb5 d5 (8... dxe5 $142 {Tiviakov}) 9. O-O (9. Nc3 $142 $14 {Tiviakov}
Bg4 $140 10. h3 Bxf3 (10... Bh5 $6 11. g4 Bg6 12. e6 $16) 11. Qxf3 $14) 9...
Bg4 10. Be3 ({In my opinion more perspective is} 10. h3 {'>=' Tiviakov.} Bxf3 (
10... Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. e6 {'+/=' Tiviakov. Tiviakov: '|^'} fxe6 13. Ne5 $44)
11. Qxf3 {'+/=' Tiviakov.} e6 12. Be3 Be7 13. Qg4 $1 $14 {[%csl Rg7]}) 10... e6
11. Nbd2 ({Now after} 11. h3 {'!?' Tiviakov. Black can retreat the bishop:} Bh5
({or even} 11... Bf5) 12. Nbd2 {Tiviakov}) 11... Be7 12. Qe2 (12. Rc1 {Tiviakov
} Rc8 13. h3 Bh5 14. a3 $5) 12... Rc8 (12... a6 {Tiviakov} 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14.
Rfc1 Qd7 $14 {><c6}) 13. Rfc1 O-O 14. a3 {'!?' Tiviakov.} Qd7 ({Another plan is
} 14... Nd7 15. Rc3 (15. b4 a5 $11) 15... f6 $13) 15. h3 Bf5 {'?!' Tiviakov.} (
15... Bh5 $11 {'>==' Tiviakov.} 16. Nb3 $140 {Tiviakov} Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Nxe5 $1)
16. Nb3 Nc4 {In order to have the initiative Topalov sacrifices a pawn. In
return exchanges White's important light squared bishop and gets square d5 for
his pieces.} ({Another possibility was} 16... a6 17. Nc5 Qe8 $5 (17... Bxc5 18.
Bxc6 {'!' Tiviakov.} (18. dxc5 axb5 19. cxb6 d4) 18... Rxc6 (18... Qxc6 19.
dxc5 {'+/=' Tiviakov. Tiviakov: '/\Nd4'} (19. Rxc5 Qd7 $11) 19... Nc4 20. Nd4
$14) 19. dxc5 Nc4 20. Nd4 {'?!' Tiviakov.} (20. b3 {Tiviakov} Na5 21. Nd4 $14)
20... Nxe5 {'©' Tiviakov.} 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 $44) 18. Bxc6 (18. Bd3 {Tiviakov} Bxd3
19. Qxd3 Nc4 20. b3 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Rc7 $11) 18... Qxc6 (18... Rxc6 {Tiviakov}
19. Nxb7 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Qc6 21. Na5 $14) 19. Nxa6 Nc4 $44 20. Nc5 $14 {Tiviakov
}) 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rxc4 b6 (18... Be4 19. Nc5 (19. Nbd2 {Tiviakov} Bd5 20.
Rc3 $14) 19... Bxc5 20. Rxc5 $14 Bxf3 {Tiviakov} 21. Qxf3 Nxd4 (21... b6 22.
Rc3 Ne7 $14 (22... Nxd4 $6 23. Qd1 Rcd8 24. Bg5 f6 25. exf6 $16)) 22. Bxd4 Qxd4
23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Qxb7 $14) 19. Nbd2 (19. Rac1 Be4 $44 20. Nbd2 {Tiviakov} Bd5
21. R4c3 $14 (21. R4c2 $14)) (19. Bg5 $6 {Tiviakov} Bxg5 20. Nxg5 b5 21. Rc3
Nxd4) (19. Nfd2 $5 $14 {Tiviakov}) 19... b5 20. Rcc1 (20. Rc3 $5 {Tiviakov})
20... Qd5 (20... a6 {Tiviakov} 21. Nb3) 21. Qd1 (21. Nb1 $2 {with the idea 22.
Nc3 does not work because of tactical reasons:} Nxd4 $1 22. Nxd4 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1
Qxd4 $17) (21. a4 $5 $14 {Tiviakov}) 21... a5 ({After a move like} 21... a6 {
White could already transfer the knight to c3:} 22. Nb1 $1 $14) 22. Qb3 (22.
Nb1 b4 $44) 22... Be4 23. Qxd5 (23. a4 $5 $36 {(Tiviakov) <<}) 23... Bxd5 {
Both sides achieved their goals - White exchanged queens and keps the extra
pawn, while Black transferred the bishop to d5. Black's positional
compensation is obvious, nevertheless it is not simple for Black to find
targets for attack. The position is balanced.} 24. Ne1 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Ge1d3,
Gd3c5,Gd3f4]} f5 (24... f6 {Tiviakov} 25. Nd3 $14) 25. Nd3 (25. exf6 {Tiviakov}
Bxf6 $132 {><d4}) (25. f4 $5 {(Tiviakov) ()}) 25... g5 26. f3 h5 27. Nc5 {
'?!' Tiviakov. Tiviakov: '(/\Nd7-b6, /\Nb7-d6)'} (27. Rc3 $5 {Tiviakov}) (27.
a4 {Tiviakov}) (27. Bf2 {(Tiviakov) /\Nf1-e3}) (27. Rc2 $5 {(Tiviakov) (/\Rac1,
|^<->c)} Nxe5 $5 (27... f4 28. Bf2 Nxe5 29. Rxc8 Nxd3 $44) 28. Rxc8 Nxd3 29.
Rxf8+ (29. Rc2 f4 30. Bf2 Nxf2 31. Kxf2 Bf6 $44 {><d4}) 29... Kxf8 30. a4 b4
31. b3 f4 32. Bf2 Bf6 $44) 27... Rc7 (27... Rfd8 {Tiviakov} 28. Rc2 $1 {
/\Rac1, |^<->c}) 28. Rc2 (28. Nce4 $5 {Tiviakov} fxe4 29. fxe4 Bc4 30. b3 Rd7 (
30... Bd3 31. d5 $18) 31. bxc4 Nxd4 $13) 28... Rfc8 29. Rac1 Nb8 {Again both
sides can be happy. Now it is more difficult to find clear plans of improving
the position. With his advanced pawns on the fifth rank I would say that from
the practical point of view it is easier to play it with black pieces.} 30. b4
{An understandabke desire to blockade the queenside. But now Black has a
target on b4 and takes control over the a-file.} (30. Nb1 {Tiviakov} b4 31.
axb4 axb4 32. Nd2 Nd7 $11) 30... axb4 31. axb4 Nc6 32. Rb2 Ra7 33. Bf2 Kf7 34.
Nf1 Rca8 ({Another attractive continuation is} 34... f4 35. Nd2 g4 {with
obvious initiative}) (34... Ra2 $5 {Tiviakov} 35. Rxa2 (35. Rcb1 Rxb2 36. Rxb2
Bxc5 37. bxc5 (37. dxc5 Nxe5 $11) 37... b4 $44 {o^b4}) 35... Bxa2 36. Nb7 Ke8
37. Na5 Kd7 38. Nxc6 Rxc6 39. Ra1 Bc4 (39... Bd5 40. Ne3 $14) 40. Be1 $14) 35.
Ne3 Ra1 36. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 37. Kh2 Ra2 $1 {White loses back the pawn and it is
clear that something went wrong for him. However, with precise play Tiviakov
succeeds to escape.} 38. Rxa2 Bxa2 39. Nc2 Bb1 40. d5 $1 (40. Na3 Bxc5 41. dxc5
(41. Nxb1 Bxb4 $19) 41... Bd3 $17 {[%csl Ra3]} 42. Be1 {Tiviakov} Nxe5 {פa3})
40... exd5 41. Nd4 Nxe5 (41... Nxb4 42. Nxb5 {should also lead to a draw}) (
41... Nxd4 {Tiviakov} 42. Bxd4 f4 $11) 42. Nxb5 Nd3 43. Nc3 (43. Nxd3 $2 Bxd3
44. Nc3 Bc4 $17) 43... Nxf2 (43... Bc2 44. Nxd3 Bxd3 45. Nxd5) 44. Nxb1 Bxc5 (
44... f4 $5 $15 {Tiviakov}) 45. bxc5 Ke6 46. Nd2 f4 (46... h4 $5) (46... Kd7 {
Tiviakov} 47. Nb3 $11 (47. Kg3) (47. h4)) 47. h4 gxh4 (47... g4 48. g3 $11) 48.
Nb3 Kd7 49. Nd4 {'=' Tiviakov.} Kc7 50. Ne6+ Kc6 51. Nxf4 d4 52. g4 hxg3+ (
52... hxg4 53. fxg4 $11) 53. Kxg3 Nd1 54. Kh4 Nb2 55. Kxh5 Na4 56. Kg4 Nxc5 57.
Kg3 Kb5 58. Kf2 Kc4 59. Ke2 Kc3 60. Kd1 d3 61. Nxd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. dxe5 {This move is starting to come into
fashion.} ({A fresh game of a young FIDE candidate saw} 11. Re1 d6 12. Be3 (12.
Bg5 $5) 12... Bg4 13. Na3 ({White could also try, which however doesn't seen
to promise an advantage.} 13. d5 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Ne7 15. h3 $13) 13... exd4 (
13... b4 $1 14. Nb5 (14. Nc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 $1 17. Bxd4 Bxf3
$1 $17) 14... Na5 $1 $15) 14. cxd4 Re8 15. Nxb5 Nxe4 16. Nc3 $11 {1/2-1/2
Carlsen,M-Nielsen,P/Aalborg DEN 2006 (38)}) ({The main line} 11. Na3 d6 12.
Nxb5 Bg4 {Dominguez,L-Rodriguez,A/ CBM109[Erenburg]. leads to an interesting
position with compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 11... Ng4 12. Na3 $146 {
This novelty is an attempt to revive the line with 11.dxe5, but as it was
proven by Anand(see below) Black develops very dangerous initiative after 12...
Ncxe5!} ({In two recent games} 12. Bf4 {proved to be not sufficient for
advantage.} Qe8 (12... Qe7 $5 13. Qd5 Bb7 14. Qxb5 Ba8 15. Qc4 Ncxe5 16. Bxe5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Nd2 Kh8 19. Nf3 Qf4 20. Rae1 Rbe8 {1/2-1/2 Smirin,
I-Kamsky,G/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005/The Week in Chess 578}) 13. Nd4 Ngxe5 14.
Nxb5 d6 15. Ba4 Bg4 16. Qc2 f5 17. Nd2 Qg6 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Khalifman,A/
Moscow RUS 2005/ (41) and Black obtained a dangerous initiative.}) 12... Qe8 $6
{When we know Anand's idea any alternative looks dubious, however this time
this is the objective evaluation of the move.} ({Only few days later Vishy put
White's idea under a big question with} 12... Ncxe5 $1 13. h3 d6 $1 {The
brilliant piece sacrifice was probably missed by Topalov in his home
preparation and so he decided to decline it with} 14. Qe2 {and after series of
exchanges an equal position arose.} Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qg3 Be6 17. Bxe6
fxe6 18. Nxb5 Rxf2 19. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Qxf2 Rxb5 21. Qe2 Rb8 22. Bf4 Qf6 23. Rf1
$11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006.}) 13. Nd4 $1 Ngxe5 ({
Probably Black had to play more agressively} 13... Ncxe5 14. Naxb5 d6 {leaving
the knight on g4.}) 14. Naxb5 d6 15. Ba4 $1 {The reason to capture with the
queen knight on e5.} Bd7 16. b3 $1 {White has stabilized position on the
queenside and if Black shows no counterplay in the nearest future White's
extra pawn will play its role.} Ne7 {Sokolov is trying to avoid exchanges and
thus to exploit "stuck" White's pieces on the queenside.} ({In case of} 16...
Qe7 {[%cal Ge7h4] White prevents Black's counterplay by means of} 17. Qd2 $1
Qh4 18. Qf4) 17. Kh1 d5 {Black opens the centre to exploit his better placed
pieces, but...} (17... f5 {is not better in view of} 18. exf5 Nxf5 19. Nxf5
Rxf5 20. Nd4 Rf8 21. f4 Ng4 22. Qf3 $16) 18. f4 Ng4 ({In case of} 18... N5c6
19. f5 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf5f6] is very unpleasant.}) 19. e5 $1 {White keeps the
position close.} f6 20. h3 $1 Nxe5 $6 {A desperate attempt to obtain
counterplay, which is however objectively unsound. Topalov proves it without
big efforts.} ({After} 20... fxe5 21. hxg4 exd4 22. Nxd4 Bxa4 23. Rxa4 Qf7 24.
f5 $16 {Black has no compensation for a pawn. Still it was objectively better
than the game.}) 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Nf3 e4 24. Ne5 $18 Bxh3 {
The very last try to complicate matters.} 25. gxh3 Qf5 {[%csl Rh3]} 26. Ng4 h5
27. Nh2 {White keeps his extra pieces.} Qxh3 28. Bg5 $1 {Topalov defends his
king with the most natural moves.} Nf5 {[%cal Gf5g3]} 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. Bf4 $1
{[%csl Rg3] Covering the g3-square.} Bf2 $5 {[%cal Gf5g3,Gf2g3] Despite his
inventive play Sokolov can't save the game.} ({Doesn't help} 30... h4 31. Qxe4
Ng3+ 32. Bxg3 hxg3 33. Qg2 Qh4 34. Nd4 $1 Rf8 35. Rg1 $1 $18) 31. Ra2 $1 {
[%csl Re2,Rh2] Veselin is precise to the end.} Bg3 ({or} 31... Ng3+ 32. Bxg3
Bxg3 {[%cal Gg3h2]} 33. Qf7 $1 $18 {[%csl Rf1]}) 32. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 33. Kg1 {
Now the e2-squared is covered. So} Rf8 {[%cal Gg3f1] It seems that Black
achieved something, but White is just in time to parry Black's threats.} 34.
Nd4 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Ga4d7] Eventually White brings his sleeping extra
pieces from the queenside and decides the game in his favour.} c5 ({or} 34...
Nf1 35. Bd7 $1 $18 {and white king finds a safe place on h1.}) ({Black could
win a queen with} 34... Rf1+ 35. Nxf1 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 e3+ 37. Nxe3 Ne4+ {, but
after} 38. Qxe4 Qxe4 39. Bc6 $18 {White obtains too many pieces for it.}) 35.
Bd7 $1 Qh4 ({Black could win a queen once again with} 35... Rf1+ $1 36. Nxf1
Qh1+ 37. Kf2 e3+ $1 38. Nxe3 Ne4+ $1 39. Qxe4 $1 Qxe4 40. Nf3 $18 {But at the
end White is completely winning.}) 36. Ne6 $1 Rf1+ $1 {The very last practical
chance.} 37. Kg2 $1 {Avoiding unnecessary complications. Black's attack has
come to its logical end and so Sokolov resigned. Bravo Topalov!} (37. Nxf1 $2 {
would allow some counterplay, although after} Qh1+ 38. Kf2 Qf3+ 39. Ke1 Qxf1+
40. Kd2 Qe2+ 41. Kc1 Qxa2 42. Qxc5 Qa1+ 43. Kd2 Qb2+ 44. Ke3 Qe2+ 45. Kf4 Qf3+
46. Ke5 {White escapes the checks and eventually win anyway.}) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. h4 c6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Qxd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Ne4 14.
Rd4 Nxf2 15. Rg1 Ng4 16. Bc4 Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. cxd3 Nf6 19. Re1 Rfe8 20.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. a4 Ke7 23. b4 Rc8 24. b5 c5 25. Rf4 Ne8 26. Re4+ Kf8
27. Ne5 Rd8 28. Rf4 Nd6 29. c4 Ke7 30. Ng4 h5 31. Ne3 Ke6 32. a5 f6 33. Kc3 g5
34. Rf1 gxh4 35. Re1 Nf5 36. Nd5+ Kf7 37. Rf1 Kg6 38. Nf4+ Kf7 39. Nxh5 Kg6 40.
Nf4+ Kf7 41. Nd5 Kg6 42. Re1 Kf7 43. Re2 Rd7 44. Re4 Rd8 45. Rf4 Kg6 46. Rf2
Re8 47. Kd2 Kg5 48. Re2 Rxe2+ 49. Kxe2 Nd4+ 50. Kf2 Kf5 51. Ne7+ Ke6 52. Ng6
Nb3 53. a6 bxa6 54. bxa6 Nd4 55. Nxh4 Nc2 56. Nf3 Nb4 57. Ke3 Nxa6 58. Nd2 Nb8
59. Kf4 Nd7 60. Nb3 a6 61. g3 Kd6 62. Kf5 Ke7 63. g4 Kd6 64. Na5 Ne5 65. Nb3
Nd7 66. Ke4 Ke6 67. Na5 Kd6 68. Kf4 Ne5 69. Kf5 Nd7 70. Ke4 Nf8 71. Kf5 Nd7 72.
Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4
14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 (16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 ({Here after} 17...
Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. O-O f5 (19... Bb7 20. Qc2 $5 $14) 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nxf5
Bxf5 22. Qd5 {White keeps an edge}) 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 $13) 16... Kh8 17. Nce3
Bxe3 {The simplest way to equalize.} (17... g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 {leads to a
much more complicated play. It is important for White here that he can play
b2-b4 (in opposite to a similar position after 16.b3, see above).}) 18. Nxe3
Ne7 19. b3 $5 $146 {Interesting novelty, which, however, can hardly change
much. White's edge is insignificant.} (19. O-O f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nd5 (21.
Nxf5 Bxf5 $11) (21. Bd5 Qc7 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Qd2 Rb5 24. Re1 Rfb8 25. h3 a4
26. g4 Bd7 27. c4 Rb4 28. Re3 Bc6 29. Rc3 Qc8 {1/2-1/2 Heyn,U-Fritsche,F (1975)
/DESC email 2001}) 21... Ne7 $11) 19... f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nd5 Bb7 ({The
idea of 19.b3 is that Black cannot exchange the knights at once:} 21... Ne7 {
in view of} 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Rxa5 {winning a pawn.}) 22. O-O Rc8 {A good idea,
keeping the pressure. The rook can often go to a good square c5.} 23. Qd3 Nh4
24. Rd1 h6 {Time to evaluate the position. Thanks to the tricky 19.b3 White
succeeded to avoid a quick simplification of the position. On the other hand
Black has little to complain about - his pieces are active, which should be
enough to compensate a slightly inferior pawn structure.} (24... Qg5 {brings
nothing in view of} 25. Qg3) 25. Qg3 (25. Rad2 {allows} a4 $1 {with the idea}
26. bxa4 Qg5 {and Black takes over the initiative. 27.Qg3 is not possible
because the queen must protect the bishop on c4.}) 25... Nf5 26. Qg4 Rc5 27.
Rad2 {White also nicely centralized his pieces, but on the other hand now he
will have to keep bishop c4 under queen protection in order to prevent ...a4.}
Bc8 28. Qe4 (28. Qe2 Qg5 $36) 28... Bb7 ({After} 28... Qg5 {White has} 29. f4
$1 exf4 30. Rf2 $1 {and the position opens in White's favour} (30. Nxf4 $2 Re5)
) 29. h3 $6 (29. Qg4 $142 $11) 29... Nh4 30. Bd3 $6 {White overestimates his
position. Black is not worse and attempts to play for a win are not justified.
Karjakin should have tried to wait and hold the balance.} Rf5 $1 31. Bb1 $2 {
This is already a blunder.} (31. Bc4 $142) (31. c4 Bxd5 32. cxd5 Kg8 $15) 31...
Rxc3 $1 32. Qg4 h5 33. Qe2 (33. Qa4 $8 Bc6 (33... Qg5 $2 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Bxf5+
$18) 34. Nxc3 Bxa4 35. Bxf5 Nxf5 36. bxa4 $17) 33... Qg5 $19 34. f4 (34. Be4
Rcf3 $1 35. Bxf3 Rxf3 36. g3 Rxb3 $19) 34... Rxf4 35. Kh1 Nxg2 36. Qxg2 ({After
} 36. Nxc3 {many moves win. The strongest is} Qh4 37. Kh2 Ne3 38. Qxe3 Rf3 39.
Qxf3 Bxf3 $19) 36... Rg3 ({Again} 36... Qh4 {is the quickest win.}) 37. Nxf4
Bxg2+ (37... exf4 $4 38. Qxb7 Rxh3+ 39. Rh2 $18) 38. Nxg2 Rxh3+ 39. Kg1 Rg3 40.
Rf2 Kg8 41. Rxd6 ({After} 41. Kh2 {Black has the interesting possibility} Rh3+
42. Kxh3 Qg4+ 43. Kh2 Qxd1 44. Be4 Qxb3 {and with so many pawns the position
should be winning rather easy.}) 41... h4 {White is helpless against the
further advance of the h-pawn.} 42. Rc6 Qg4 {Accuracy is required, of course.}
(42... h3 $4 43. Rc8+ $18) 43. Bf5 (43. Rd6 e4 44. Rd4 h3 45. Bxe4 Qg5 46. Rd5
Qe7 47. Re2 Qa7+ 48. Kh2 hxg2 49. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 50. Kxg2 Qe3 $19) 43... Rxg2+ $1
44. Rxg2 Qxf5 45. Rcg6 Qf7 46. R6g4 Qf6 47. Kh2 Kf7 48. Kh3 e4 49. Rg5 e3 50.
Kxh4 g6 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2
c6 8. Bc3 (8. Nc3 {is gaining some popularity in recent years, mainly due to
the fact that main lines (one of which we will see here) don't seem to promise
White much. Well, Topalov's defenitely intending to change that.}) 8... d5 9.
Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Nf6 ({In a recent world
championships (San Luis 2005), Anand continued} 12... Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 {- it's all theory so far -} 18. Bxb2
Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4 Bg5 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Ba3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 {actually, it
is still theory} Re8 24. Rxe8+ {and only this was Topalov's novelty.} Qxe8 25.
Bd5 {with definitely sufficient compensation, but perhaps not more.}) 13. e4 b5
{One of the most critical positions in the Queen's Indian, and about one year
ago it was considered to give Black a rock solid equality.} 14. exd5 (14. Re1 {
used to be almost automatic for many years, but Black learned to equalize:}
dxe4 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Rad1 Nd5 $1 {and now accepting the sac gives Black a
strong initiative on the queenside.} 17. cxd5 cxd5 {with a very impressive
pawn mass in the center - Black has nothing to worry about.}) 14... exd5 {
This move got many headlines after Anand beat Adams with it, utilizing a...
strong positional exchange sacrifice:} (14... cxd5 15. c5 $1 b4 16. Bxb4 Bxf1
17. Bxf1 e5 18. Bc3 a5 19. a3 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. b4 {1-0 Anand,V (2786)
-Adams,M (2741)/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105/ [Tyomkin,D]}) 15. Re1 Rb8 16. c5 ({
in Bologan - Sadvakasov, Pojkovsky 2005 White continued} 16. a3 {but after} Re8
17. c5 Bc8 18. b4 Qc7 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nb3 Bf5 {he had no advantage.
}) 16... Bc8 {The bishop has no longer anything to do on the queenside.} 17.
Nf3 Ne4 18. Rxe4 $1 {Out of the blue... Actually, Levon was an innocent victim
of a bomb designed for somebody else. Topalov later admitted this idea to be
prepared for San Luis. But note an interesting tendency: all the noisy
novelties lately are somehow connected with exchange sacrifices, maybe we
should re-evaluate the relative strengths of knight/bishop and a rook?} ({
Until now White played} 18. Ne5 $5 {and this looks like a gun shot towards a
bunker} Nxc3 19. Qd3 Qc7 20. Qxc3 Re8 21. a4 b4 22. Qf3 Bf8 {and White failed
to get anything in the two encounters between Kramnik (White) and Leko in
Dortmund 2004.}) 18... dxe4 19. Ne5 {White's idea is very logical (like all
strong ideas, once executed - they all look so natural and easy).. The pawn on
d5 was a key defender of the h1-a8 diagonal, and now all Black's queenside is
compromised, along with the center, of course.} Qd5 $1 {A good reaction by
Aronian, especially given that he had to face a strong novelty over the board.}
({A passive defence, like} 19... Qc7 {will not do it:} 20. Bxe4 b4 21. Bd2 Bd7
(21... Bxc5 22. Nxc6) (21... f5 22. Bg2 Bb7 23. Qe2 Bf6 24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Bf4 {
is bad for Black.}) 22. Bf4 Qb7 23. Qd3 {it's hard to see why the rook on b8
is stronger than a knight on e5, but even if one manages to see the 'why', he
can win the exchange back with Nxd7.}) 20. Qe1 $1 {Continuing the analysis.} ({
Bad is} 20. Qc2 {as now,} f5 {cannot be met with} 21. f3 $2 {due to} Bxc5 $1
22. dxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 b4 {and Black even wins because of the unfortunate
position of White's queen.}) 20... Bf5 ({But now} 20... f5 21. f3 {is already
very strong - Black's light bishop will have to protect c6 for the rest of the
game.}) 21. g4 $1 {A strong idea, which was suggested by Cheparinov (according
to Topalov, at least).} Bg6 22. f3 {Here Topalov was still within his home
preparation whereas Aronian had to carefully weigh each move.} ({it's still
too early to snatch material:} 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Bxe4 b4 25. Bb2
Rfc8 {followed by Bf6, with a good position for Black, perhaps even better.})
22... b4 $2 {A mistake, allowing White to control the center, which will in
the end decide the game.} (22... Bxc5 $1 23. dxc5 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 b4 25. Bb2 Qc2
26. Qc1 Qe2 {was better, as the white king's is in a somewhat exposed position
which promises Black counterplay.}) 23. fxe4 Qe6 24. Bb2 Bf6 ({Perhaps Aronian
was planning on} 24... f6 {but after} 25. Nxg6 hxg6 26. Qg3 {with a lethal
Bf1-c4 reansfer, Black has every reason to get depressed.}) 25. Nxc6 $1 {
Another great move by Topalov, giving him two strong passered in the center.} (
{a slighly worse version (with a 180 degree difference in the eventual
evaluation) arises after:} 25. d5 Qe8 26. Nxg6 Bxb2 27. Nxf8 Bxa1 28. Qxa1 cxd5
29. exd5 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Kxf8 $19 {and Black's threats to white king will be much
stronger than the white runners.}) 25... Qxc6 26. e5 Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8 {
Intenting to invade along the e-file, and get counterplay on the 2nd rank.} ({
After} 27... Qxf6 28. Qf2 $1 Qg5 29. d5 Qxg4 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Bxd4 {Black's
position is totally hopeless.}) 28. Qf1 $1 {Another strong move, depriving
Black of any counterplay.} ({If white snoozes with} 28. Qf2 Re2 29. Qg3 Rbe8
30. Bf1 Qc8 31. Bxe2 Rxe2 {,he suddenly finds himself in danger of losing.}) (
28. Qg3 Qxf6) 28... Qe2 $1 29. Qf2 $1 {We're used to see kings performing all
kinds of gracious triangles, but queens?! In any case, the World Champion's
last maneuver didn't allow Black to enter the second rank, and with this all
hopes for counterplay are gone.} (29. Qxe2 Rxe2 30. Bc1 Re1+ 31. Kf2 Rbe8 $132)
29... Qxg4 ({After} 29... Qd3 30. Bf1 Qe4 31. h3 {Black will have another
headache on a kingside.}) 30. h3 $1 {When you know what you want, everything
is so clear... even simple.} Qg5 (30... Qh5 31. Re1 {That's it. Preparational
moves are over, and once White starts moving his pawns - it's won't be a nice
sight.}) 31. Bc1 $1 {Transfrering the bishop to a better position, after which
it will be virtually imposible for Black to cope with White's passed pawns.} (
31. d5 {would have been too early due to} Be4) 31... Qh5 ({Perhaps} 31... Qxf6
{was better:} 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33. Bf4 Rbc8 34. Bb7 Rcd8 35. d5 Be4 36. Re1 {
and Black is still holding on, although it should be for long.}) 32. Bf4 Rbd8 (
32... Re2 33. Qg3 {Followed by Bf3.}) 33. c6 {Now it's showtime.} Be4 (33...
Re2 34. c7 Rc8 35. Qf3 Qxf3 36. Bxf3 Rc2 {Black loses because of the 8th rank
weakness.} 37. Re1 gxf6 38. Re7 {with a triumphant d-pawn march.}) 34. c7 Rc8
35. Re1 Qg6 {#} (35... Bxg2 {loses nicely to} 36. Rxe8+ Rxe8 37. Qxg2 Qd1+ 38.
Kh2 g6 39. Qe4 $1 {(Black doesn't even have a check)} Rc8 40. d5 {and Black
can resign.}) 36. Rxe4 $1 {Another exchange sacrifice, and again on e4. Two
white pawns are worth two black rooks.} Rxe4 37. d5 Rce8 38. d6 Re1+ 39. Kh2 {
Black could have resigned already now.} Qf5 40. Qg3 g6 41. Qg5 {The most
precise. Without the queens Black is hopeless.} Qxg5 42. Bxg5 Rd1 43. Bc6 Re2+
(43... Rc8 44. Bf4) 44. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Gavrikov,V"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d5 8. Qb3
({Usually White prefers} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3) 8... Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 ({The
continuation} 9. bxc3 e5 10. Nb5 dxc4 11. Qa3 $5 (11. Qxc4 a6 12. Nc7 Ra7 13.
Nd5 b5 14. Qc5 Rd7 $132 {0-1 Gorelov,S-Petrosian,A/Telavi 1982/MCD (54)}) {
gives White sufficient compensation for the pawn but perhaps only enough for
an equal game,e.g.} 11... Nc6 12. Be3 Be6 13. Rd1 Qc8 $5 (13... Nd7 $143 $6 {
1/2-1/2 Kappler,J-Andruet,G/Ales 1984/EXT 2004 (17)} 14. O-O a6 15. Nd6 Qc7 16.
f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 $14) (13... Qb8 14. O-O Rd8 15. Qc5 Rxd1 16. Rxd1 a6 17. Nd6
Nd7 18. Qa3 Qc7 19. Qa4 Na5 20. Nxb7 $1 Nxb7 21. Qc6 Qxc6 22. Bxc6 Rb8 23. Bxd7
Rd8 24. Ba4 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Kf8 $11 {1-0 Giorgadze,T-Polugaevsky,L/Moscow 1983/
EXT 2002 (59)}) 14. Nd6 (14. O-O Rd8) 14... Qc7 15. Nb5 Qc8 16. Nd6 Qc7 17. Nb5
Qc8 {1/2-1/2 Zilberstein,V-Kharitonov,A/Irkutsk 1983/MCD (17)}) 9... e5 10. Nb3
Nc6 $5 ({To an unclear position leads} 10... d4 11. Qa5 Qe8 $5 (11... Qe7 12.
O-O Nc6 13. Qc5 Qc7 14. f4 $36) 12. O-O (12. Bg5 Nc6 13. Qc7 Qd7 $1 14. Qxd7
Nxd7 15. Rc1 a5 $1 16. O-O a4 17. Na1 h6 18. Bd2 Nf6 $11 {0-1 Kamsky,
G-Christiansen,L/Long Beach 1993/CBM 039/(98)}) 12... Nc6 13. Qc7 Qe6 14. Nc5
Qxc4 15. Nxb7 Bxb7 16. Qxb7 e4 17. Bg5 Rab8 18. Qc7 {1-0 Starcic,T-Zeljko,T/
Bled 1998/EXT 2000 (58)} Qe6 19. Bxf6 gxf6) 11. Bg5 ({In case of} 11. cxd5 Nxd5
12. Qc5 Be6 13. Bd2 {deserves attention} Nde7 $5 14. Bc3 b6 15. Qa3 Qe8 16. Rd1
Rd8 17. Rxd8 Qxd8 18. O-O Qb8 {0-1 Gaprindashvili,N-Portisch,L/Reggio Emilia
1992/EXT 2000 (43)}) 11... d4 ({Difficult to say what has Ivanchuk prepared
after} 11... dxc4 {which is probably Black´s simplest way to solve opening
problems,e.g.} 12. Qxc4 Be6 13. Qh4 Bxb3 $1 14. axb3 Nd4 15. O-O Nxe2+ 16. Kh1
Nd4 17. Bxb7 (17. f4 $143 h6) 17... Rb8 18. Be4 h6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6
21. Rxa7 Rxb3 22. Rb1 Rd8 23. Rb7 Rxb7 24. Bxb7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Grigore,
G-Anapolsky,S/Bucharest 1994/EXT 97 (48)}) 12. Qf3 Be6 ({Also playable is} 
12... a5 13. Nd2 Bg4 14. Qxg4 Nxg4 15. Bxd8 Rfxd8 16. h3 Nf6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18.
Bxe4 Ne7 19. g4 Rac8 20. b3 b6 21. Kd2 f6 {followed by g6 and f5, 1/2-1/2 Ward,
C-Emms,J/Dundee 1993/TD (38)}) 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. O-O b6 15. Nd2 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6
17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Ne4 f5 $146 {This natural move is a novelty.} ({
Unsatisfactory is} 18... Na5 $6 19. b3 f5 20. Nd6 Rc7 21. Nb5 Re7 22. c5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Zhukova,N-Goloshchapov,A/Moscow 2005/EXT 2006 (38)}) 19. Nd6 Rc7 20.
Nb5 Rcc8 21. Nd6 Rc7 22. Nb5 Rcc8 23. b3 {White has decided to continue the
game although Black has sufficient counterplay for maintain the balance.} e4
24. f3 $6 {A risky move.} ({More reasonable was} 24. Rfd1 Rfd8 25. e3 (25. c5
$2 bxc5 26. Rxc5 a6 27. Na3 Nb4 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Rxd4 Nxa2 $17) 25... d3 (
25... dxe3 26. fxe3 $13) 26. f3 a6 27. Nc3 b5 $5 28. fxe4 (28. cxb5 $2 Nb4 {
/\ d2}) 28... bxc4 29. exf5 (29. bxc4 fxe4 30. Nxe4 Ne5 $132) 29... d2 30. Rc2
cxb3 31. Rcxd2 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 bxa2 33. Nxa2 Bxf5 34. Rd6 Ne5 35. Rxa6 Be6 $11 {
/\ Rc2}) 24... a6 25. Nd6 Rcd8 26. c5 e3 27. f4 Nb4 28. Nb7 Rb8 29. c6 $5 {
Best practical chance.} ({If} 29. cxb6 $6 {then} Nxa2 30. Rc7 Nc3 31. Re1 Bxb3
32. Nc5 $140 Rxb6 33. Nd7 Rb4 34. Nxf8 Kxf8 35. Ra7 Bc4 36. Bf3 Ra4 $17) 29...
Nxa2 30. Bf3 $5 {By protecting the pawn on e2 White prepares Rcd1.} Nxc1 ({
Stronger was} 30... Bxb3 $1) 31. Rxc1 Bxb3 {Allows White to win back the
exchange.} (31... Rbe8 $142 $5 32. c7 $140 Re7 33. Nd6 Bc8) 32. c7 Rbe8 33. Nd6
Be6 34. Bb7 Bc8 35. Nxc8 Rxc8 36. Bxa6 Rfe8 37. Bxc8 Rxc8 38. Kg2 $11 b5 (38...
Kf8 39. Rc4 Ke7 40. Rxd4 Rxc7 41. Rb4 Rc6 42. Rb5 Kf6 43. Kf3 Re6 $11) 39. Kf3
b4 40. Rc4 b3 41. Rxd4 Rxc7 42. Rb4 Rc3 43. Rb5 Kf8 44. Rxf5 Ke7 45. g4 Kd6 46.
Rb5 ({Of course not} 46. Rxf7 $4 Kc6 47. Rf8 Kb7 48. Rf5 Rc6 $19) 46... Kc6 47.
Rb8 Kd5 48. h4 f6 49. h5 Kd4 50. Rb4+ Kc5 51. Rb7 Kd5 52. g5 fxg5 53. fxg5 hxg5
54. Rb8 Rc4 55. Rxb3 Ke5 56. Rxe3+ Kf5 57. Kg2 Rg4+ 58. Rg3 Re4 59. Kf2 Rh4 60.
Rf3+ Ke4 61. Re3+ Kf5 62. Rf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.28"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Na3 ({A game between Svidler 
(White) and Khalifman, which took place in the Russian superfinal less than a
month ago continued:} 12. Bf4 Qe8 $1 13. Nd4 Ngxe5 14. Nxb5 d6 15. Ba4 Bg4 16.
Qc2 f5 $1 17. Nd2 Qg6 {and White failed to equalize. Black has a very strong
attack here.}) 12... Ncxe5 {A strong novelty from Anand's lab. The point will
be seen on the next move.} ({In a previous game in the very same event,
Sokolov tried to copy Khalif's idea with:} 12... Qe8 13. Nd4 Ngxe5 14. Naxb5 d6
15. Ba4 {and here a slight difference in the knight's position (d4 vs d2)
became evident - Black cannot play f5. After} Bd7 16. b3 Ne7 17. Kh1 d5 18. f4
$1 Ng4 19. e5 f6 20. h3 Nxe5 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Nf3 {Topalov
cashed in on the advantage with ease. 1-0 Topalov,V (2801)-Sokolov,I (2689)/
Wijk aan Zee NED 2006 (37)}) 13. h3 d6 $1 {This is already becoming a
tradition - it crucial games, when he has to beat Topalov, Anand just
sacrifices pieces. The previous time, in San Luis, it ended in a perpetual,
and here the World Champion doesn't even accept the 'gift'.} 14. Qe2 $1 {
A very good practical decision. White of course, doesn't want to repeat Adams'
'achievement' from the game in San Luis, and check the quality of Anand's home
prep. Now the game ends up in a draw fairly easily.} ({After} 14. hxg4 Bxg4 {
the arisen position is dangerous for White only. Here are a few lines to
emphasize the dangers: My good old buddy - fritzie - and me, managed to
reproduce Anand's analysis, and it looks like that (ours, not his):} 15. Nc2 (
15. Bf4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qh4 17. Bxe5 dxe5 {Threatening Rd8-d6-g6.} 18. Qd7 Qg3+
19. Kh1 Qxf3+ 20. Kh2 Qf4+ 21. Kh1 Qxe4+ 22. Kh2 Qf4+ {etc.}) 15... Bxf3 16.
gxf3 Qf6 ({But not} 16... Qh4 $2 17. Kg2) 17. Ne1 (17. Kg2 Qg6+ {And Black has
at least a draw.}) 17... Qg6+ {Here the silicone comes up with a brilliant:}
18. Kh2 $1 Qh5+ 19. Kg2 $1 Qg6+ 20. Kh3 Qh5+ 21. Kg3 Qg6+ 22. Kh4 $3 {A brief
glance will be enough for a human to never even consider to go into such a
position, especially not against an opponent that prepared the whole line at
home, and whose name is Anand. Black, by the way, has no direct win here (we
didn't find any in any case), but Black can simply improve his position, and a
king on h4 is more than sufficient compensation for a piece. The game could
have gone like this:} Rbe8 23. Bf4 Kh8 $1 24. Bc2 Re6 {and White is going to
pay for his excessive apetite.}) 14... Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qg3 {Using the
strong sacrifice Black managed to solve all his positional problems, making it
virtually impossible to refrain from using the cliche: "Tactics on a service
of strategy"} Be6 {Now massive piece exchanges follow, resulting in a quick
draw.} 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxb5 Rxf2 19. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Qxf2 Rxb5 21. Qe2 Rb8 22.
Bf4 Qf6 23. Rf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. a5 Qc7 12. Re1 Rfc8 13. h3 h6 14. Be3 b5 15.
axb6 Nxb6 16. Na5 Nc4 17. Nxc4 Bxc4 18. Na4 Rab8 19. b3 Bb5 20. c4 Bxa4 21.
Rxa4 Qb7 22. Qa1 Qxb3 23. Rc1 Rc6 24. c5 Nd7 25. Rxa6 Rxa6 26. Qxa6 Nxc5 27.
Bxc5 dxc5 28. Bf1 h5 29. h4 Qf3 30. Qe2 Qxe2 31. Bxe2 g6 32. Bc4 Rb2 33. Ra1
Rc2 34. Bb3 Rc3 35. Bd5 c4 36. Ra7 Kf8 37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. Ra7 Kf8 39. Ra8+ Kg7
40. Ra7 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7.
dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ {This check does not
allow black to hide his king on the queenside. The black king is forced to
stay in the centre where it might be vulnerable.} Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 {Topalov
already played this position also as white.} (12... Be6 13. Nd4 Bc4 14. Rfe1
Bb4 15. Nf5 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Rg8 17. a3 h6 18. Bc1 Be6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P (2741)
-Kramnik,V (2770)/Dortmund 2004/CBM 103 (34)}) 13. Nd4 (13. Rd2 Be6 14. Rfd1
Be7 15. Ne2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg5 17. f4 Be7 18. Nd4 Bc5 19. Kh2 Bxd4 20. Rxd4 f6
$15 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2727)-Kramnik,V (2770)/Dortmund 2004/CBM 103 (25)}) (
13. a3 h6 14. Bc1 Rd8 15. Rfe1 Be7 16. Ne4 Be6 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Nd4 Bd7 19.
f4 Nh4 20. Kf2 h5 21. g3 Nf5 22. Nf3 c5 23. Rd1 Ke8 24. Nc3 Nd4 25. Nd5 Bd8 26.
Nxd4 cxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxh3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2735)-Vallejo Pons,F (2662)/
Benidorm 2003/CBM 99 (61)}) 13... h6 14. Be3 h5 $146 {Black is fighting
against white's pawns offensive on the kingside. Also, after the forthcoming
h5-h4 black's rook gets a chance to join the battle via h5.} ({The plan
adopted by Almasi is probably safer:} 14... Bb4 15. f4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 c5 17. Ne2
b6 18. Ng3 h5 19. f5 Nxe5 20. Bf4 f6 21. Rfe1 Ba4 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A (2715)
-Almasi,Z (2644)/Monaco 2002/CBM 087 ext (21)}) 15. f4 h4 16. f5 $3 {[%mdl 512]
A very deep and sound pawn sacrifice based mainly on intuition. At the price
of a pawn Svidler seizes the initiative.} (16. Rd3 Bc5 17. Rfd1 Bxd4 18. Rxd4
Bf5 $11) 16... Nxe5 17. f6 $1 {[%mdl 32] It's very important to prevent from
black to play f7-f6, so that the knight won't have a stronghold on e5.} Rh5 18.
Ne4 g6 (18... Nc4 19. Bf4 Nxb2 20. Rb1 {is bad for black.}) 19. Bf4 c5 (19...
Bd6 $2 20. g4 $1 hxg3 21. Nxg3 Rxh3 22. Rde1 Kf8 23. Rxe5 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 $16)
20. Nf3 Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 {Black's main problem is his king which is highly
vulnerable in the centre and disconnected rooks. In my opinion, the position
remains playable for black, but from psychological point of view it's much
easier to be on the offensive side.} Be6 (21... Rf5 $6 22. Re3 $1 Be6 ({
A spectacular mate is after} 22... Rxf4 23. Nd6+ Kd8 24. Re8+ $1 Bxe8 25. Nxf7+
Kc8 26. Rd8#) 23. Bxc7 c4 24. Re2 $1 Rc8 25. Red2 Rd5 26. Rxd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5
Rxc7 28. Kf2 {[%csl Rh4] with a good winning chances for white.}) 22. Rfd3 ({
After} 22. Ng5 $6 Rd8 23. Re1 c4 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rxe6+ Kf7 {[%cal Gd8d1,
Gf8c5] white loses all his trumps.}) 22... c4 23. R3d2 c6 24. Ng5 Bc5+ 25. Kh2
Bd5 $6 {This moment was rather critical.} (25... c3 $1 26. bxc3 Bxa2 {Looks
rather risky for black, but some concrete variations does not confirm that
white has more than equality here. For instanse:} 27. Rd7 ({Not dangerous for
black:} 27. Ne4 Bf8) ({Or:} 27. Re1+ Kf8 28. Rd7 Bf2) 27... b6 28. Rb7 (28. Ne4
$2 Be6 29. Nxc5 $2 (29. Rc7 Rd5 30. Nxc5 bxc5 31. Re7+ Kf8 $15) 29... Bxd7 30.
Nxd7 Rf5 $1 31. Bc7 Rd5 {and after the exchange of rooks black is simply
winning.}) 28... Bd5 29. Re1+ (29. c4 $5 Bxc4 30. Rdd7 (30. Ne4 Rd5 31. Re1 Kf8
32. Nxc5 bxc5 33. Ree7 Rf5 34. Rxa7 Rxa7 35. Bh6+ Kg8 36. Re8+ Kh7 37. Bg7 Rxf6
$8 38. Bxf6 g5 {black saves his king and even gets some winning chances.})
30... Rxg5 31. Bxg5 a5 32. Be3 Bxe3 33. Re7+ Kf8 34. Rxe3 b5 $132 {[%csl Ga5]})
29... Kf8 30. c4 Bxc4 31. Ree7 a5 (31... Bxe7 $2 32. fxe7+ Kg7 (32... Ke8 33.
Ne4 {mating.}) 33. Be5+ $1 Kh6 34. Bb8 $18) 32. Rxf7+ Bxf7 33. Rxf7+ Ke8 (33...
Kg8 $2 34. Rg7+ Kf8 35. Ne6+ Ke8 36. f7+ $18) 34. Rg7 (34. Rb7 $2 Rxg5 $1 35.
Bxg5 Kf8 36. Rh7 Kg8 37. Rg7+ Kh8 $17 {[%csl Ga5]} (37... Kf8 $4 38. Bh6 $18))
34... a4 35. f7+ Ke7 36. f8=Q+ Kxf8 37. Ne6+ Ke8 38. Nc7+ Kf8 39. Ne6+ Ke8 $11)
26. Re2+ Kf8 27. Rde1 b5 ({Here} 27... c3 {was not so sound due to simple} 28.
b3 {and the Pc3 will be a target.}) 28. c3 a5 29. a3 Rc8 30. g4 {The only way
to make progress.} hxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Be6 $6 ({The bold} 31... Ra8 $1 {would have
been patient. Ok, white has the initiative, but I don't see a clear plan of
improvement.}) 32. h4 $1 (32. Nxe6+ fxe6 33. Rxe6 Kf7 34. Bd6 (34. Kg4 Rf5 $11)
34... Rg5+ $1 35. Kf3 Rf5+ 36. Kg4 Bxd6 37. Rxd6 Rc7 $11) 32... Kg8 $2 {
Topalov is really eager too change the course of the game, but after the move
in the text his position is beyond saving.} ({It was necessary to come back
with the bishop:} 32... Bd5) 33. Re5 $1 (33. Nxe6 fxe6 34. Rxe6 Rf5 {with good
drawish chances.}) 33... Bf8 (33... Bd6 34. Rxe6 $1 Bxf4+ 35. Kxf4 fxe6 36. Kg4
{followed by 37.Rxe6. Despite being an exchange down, white has a winning
position. Black's rooks are actually out of play.}) 34. Nxe6 {Now it's the
right time for this capture, since black's Rh5 won't come out.} fxe6 35. Rd1 $1
{It's very important to control the "d" file.} Rh7 (35... Kf7 36. Bg5 {[%csl
Yh5] locking the rook.}) 36. Rxe6 Rb7 37. Re4 {Preventing black's possible
counterplay with b5-b4.} Kf7 38. Bg5 Re8 39. Rxe8 Kxe8 40. Kg4 Rh7 (40... Rd7
$2 41. f7+ $1 Rxf7 42. Rd8#) (40... a4 {might be an improvement, but from
psychological point of view it was obviously hard for Topalov to make such a
move which deprives of any counterplay.}) 41. Re1+ Kd7 42. a4 $1 {Breaking
black's pawns chain, Svidler gets additional targets for his rook.} bxa4 43.
Re5 c5 44. Bf4 Rh8 45. Bg3 $1 {Black is actually in zugzwang.} Bh6 46. Re7+ Kc6
47. Bf4 Bxf4 48. Kxf4 Rh5 (48... Rxh4+ 49. Kg5 $18) 49. Re5 Rxh4+ 50. Kg5 $1
Rh5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxe5 52. f7 {Black can't stop the pawn, but white still has to
be precise in the forthcoming queen vs rook endgame.} Re6+ 53. Kg5 Re5+ 54. Kg4
Re4+ 55. Kg3 Re3+ 56. Kf2 a3 $1 57. f8=Q axb2 (57... a2 58. Qc8+ $1 (58. Qh6+
$2 {might still spoil it:} Kb5 59. Qh1 Rh3 $1 60. Qa1 a4 61. Qxa2 Rh1 $1 {
locking the queen. White can't win this position!}) 58... Kb5 (58... Kb6 59.
Qd8+ Ka6 60. Qd6+ Kb7 61. Qd7+ Kb6 62. Qa4 $18 {just like after 58...Kb5.}) 59.
Qd7+ Kb6 60. Qa4 Rh3 61. Qxa2 Kb5 62. Qb1 $18) 58. Qc8+ Kb5 $1 {The last
chance is stalemate!} 59. Qb7+ Ka4 60. Kxe3 (60. Qxb2 $4 Rf3+ $11) 60... Ka3
61. Qb5 a4 62. Qxc5+ Kb3 63. Qb4+ Kc2 64. Qxa4+ Kxc3 65. Qa5+ Kc2 66. Qf5+ Kc1
67. Qf1+ {[%mdl 4096] Perfect endgame technique by Svidler!} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Ng5 g6 14. Qh3
h5 15. Qg3 Qf6 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Nh3 Rae8 18. Qf4 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Kg7 20. Qg3
Qf5 21. Nf4 b5 22. h4 Rd8 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24. hxg5 b4 25. cxb4 Nxb4 26. c3 Nxa2
27. Nxd5 Rb8 28. Re2 Nc1 29. Re7 a5 30. Ra7 Rc8 31. Rxa5 Ne2+ 32. Kh2 Nxc3 33.
Nf6 Rb8 34. d5 Nb5 35. Ra4 Nc7 36. Ne4 Ne8 37. Ra7 Rd8 38. f3 Kf8 39. g4 hxg4
40. fxg4 Rb8 41. Kg3 Rb3+ 42. Kf4 Rb4 43. Ke3 Rb3+ 44. Kd4 Rb4+ 45. Kd3 Rb3+
46. Kc4 Rf3 47. Rd7 Rf4 48. Kd3 f6 49. Nxf6 Nxf6 50. gxf6 Rxg4 51. Rxd6 Kf7 52.
Re6 Ra4 53. Re4 Rxe4 54. Kxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "246"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. a3 cxd4 10. axb4 dxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Be2 Nd5 13. Bd3 Qxc3 14. Ra3 Qf6
15. Qc2 h6 16. b5 Nb4 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Qb1 a5 19. Be4 Nc5 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Bxb4
axb4 22. Qxb4 Rxa3 {#One important facet of Topalov's style of play is the
ease with which he can sacrifice the exchange, for the most varied purposes,
be them of defensive or aggressive nature. He did that quite frequently in San
Luis and none less than twice in his previous game against Aronian in Wijk aan
Zee earlier this year. In this game we shall see the players changing parts:
it will be Aronian who will give up both his rooks for Topalov's minor pieces.
Besides the natural desire to take a bit of revenge on this territory, this
might look like a tribute payed to the greatest expert of exchange sacrifice
from chess history, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian, who was Armenian, too.
Aronian's decision in the diagrammed position must have been dictated by the
unwillingness of leaving Black with a strong knight on c5, but is not likely
to offer an objective advantage.} 23. Qxc5 Rfa8 24. Ne5 (24. Bxb7 {would have
ed to more interesting play. After the game continuation it will be only Black
who can play for an advantage.}) 24... b6 ({Obviously playing for a win. Black
would have no chances of breaking White's fortress after} 24... Bxb5 25. Qxb5
R3a5 26. Nxf7+ Qxf7 27. Qxb7) 25. Qc7 Bxb5 {Topalov needed only three moves to
get the score even. White has to capture the a8-rook, of course.} 26. Bxa8 Rxa8
27. Rd1 {This was not a good moment for leaving the rook en prise, since this
would have weakened the back rank in a decisive way. Aronian will have to wait
for 10 more moves until he will be given an opportunity to trade his rook for
Black's remaining minor piece. Otherwise, Black is much better now. White's
king is relatively unsafe, while his pieces lack stability. The extra-pawn is
more or less doomed, but the time spent by White on eliminating itwill allow
Black start a dangerous attack.} Ba4 28. Rd4 Be8 29. g3 ({White needs to keep
his rook on an active square, in order to threaten the f7-pawn. In case of} 29.
Rd1 {Black could consolidate his pawn already with} b5) 29... Kh7 30. Kg2 ({
The point behind Black's previous move is that after} 30. Rf4 Qd8 31. Qxd8 Rxd8
{White captures on f7 without check,} 32. Nxf7 {allowing} Rd1+ 33. Kg2 g5 34.
Rf6 Kg7 {trapping the knight.}) 30... Ra5 31. Nc4 Ra2 32. Rf4 Qc3 33. Qxb6 Ra1
34. Qb7 Qc1 35. Kh3 {#} f6 $2 ({The correct idea carried out in a bad form.
Topalov prepares the activation of his bishop through g6, in order to give
even more force to his attack. In doing so, he might have missed White's next
move (since 37.Rxg6 should be just too natural for him). Before weakening the
seventh rank, he should have played} 35... Rb1 {when the queen would have been
forced to abandon the seventh rank, in order to maintain the g2-square under
observation. After that, Black could have safely played 36...f6, or, in some
cases, even 36...f5 as, for instance, after} 36. Qe4+ {, in order to play ...
g5 next. Lowering of concentration in practically won positions tend to occur
from times to times in Topalov's practice, especially when the opponent puts
up resistance in slightly irrational positions. Two recent examples are
Topalov-Leko Linares 2005 and Topalov-Anand San Luis 2005. The main difference
is that in the previous games he never got into danger of losing, which cannot
be said about the present game.}) 36. Rg4 Bg6 37. Rxg6 $1 {The score stands
2-1 for Aronian now and, what is even more important, the black king starts
feeling very unsafe.} Kxg6 38. Qe4+ Kf7 39. Nd6+ Ke7 40. Nf5+ Kd7 ({This is
not playing for a win already. In case of} 40... Kf7 $2 {, apart from giving
perpetual check, White can mate with} 41. Qb7+) 41. Nxg7 Qf1+ 42. Kh4 Qxf2 43.
Qxe6+ Kc7 44. Qc4+ Kb7 {Sad necessity. The king has to exile himself far from
his few remaining pawns, since crossing the d-file back would lose the rook to
Qd4.} 45. Qe4+ Kb8 46. Qf4+ Qxf4+ 47. exf4 {The endgame looks very dangerous
for Black, whose king is quite far from the main theatre of events.} Ra2 48. h3
Kc8 49. Kh5 Ra3 50. Nf5 Kd7 51. Kxh6 Ke6 52. Kg6 Ra5 53. Ng7+ Ke7 54. h4 Ra6
55. Nh5 ({White does not find the best regroupment.} 55. Nf5+ Kf8 56. g4 {
would have posed more problems, for instance} Ra4 ({passive strategy would
fail after} 56... Rb6 57. Ng3 Ra6 58. Nh5 Ke7 59. f5 {followed by Kg7 and g5.})
57. Ng7 f5 $5 {Same trick as in the game, but in a worse situation.} 58. Ne6+
Ke7 59. gxf5 {and White might be winning already.}) 55... Ra8 56. Ng7 Ra6 57.
g4 {#} f5+ $3 {The saving move. Black needs open ranks in order to harrass the
enemy king. White will soon have to give up one of his pawns, leading to a
drawn position according to the Nalimov Tablebases. Topalov defended
accurately for more than 60 moves, even though in some cases he had to play
only moves.} 58. Kxf5 Kf7 59. Nh5 Ra5+ 60. Ke4 Ra3 61. g5 Rh3 62. Kf5 Rxh4 63.
g6+ Kg8 64. Kg5 Rh1 65. Nf6+ Kf8 66. Nh5 Rg1+ 67. Kh6 Rh1 68. f5 Kg8 69. Kg5
Rg1+ 70. Kf6 Rg4 71. Ng7 Ra4 72. Ne6 Ra5 73. Nc7 Kf8 74. Ke6 Ra7 75. Nb5 Re7+
76. Kf6 Rd7 77. Nc3 Rd6+ 78. Kg5 Kg7 79. Nb5 Rd5 80. Nc7 Re5 81. Ne6+ Kg8 82.
Kf6 Ra5 83. Nc7 Rc5 84. Ne8 Rc1 85. Nd6 Kf8 86. Ne4 Rc6+ 87. Kg5 Rc4 88. Ng3
Rc3 89. Ne4 Rc4 90. Nf6 Rc1 91. Nd7+ Kg8 92. f6 {#} Rf1 $1 {Once the pawns
have advanced to the sixth rank, this is the correct defensive method: the
rook has to watch the events "from behind".} 93. Ne5 Rg1+ 94. Kf5 Rf1+ 95. Ke6
Re1 96. Kd6 Re2 97. Nc6 Rg2 98. Ke6 Re2+ 99. Kd7 Kf8 100. Kd6 Rg2 101. Ne5 Rd2+
102. Ke6 Re2 103. Kf5 Rf2+ 104. Kg5 Rg2+ 105. Kh4 Rf2 106. Ng4 Rg2 107. Ne5 Rf2
108. Kg5 Rg2+ 109. Kf4 Rf2+ 110. Nf3 Rf1 111. Ke3 Kg8 112. Kf4 Kf8 113. Ke4 Kg8
114. Ke3 Ra1 115. Kf4 Rf1 116. Kg4 Rf2 117. Kg3 Rf1 118. Kf4 Rf2 119. Ke4 Rf1
120. Ke3 Ra1 121. Kd4 Rf1 122. Ke4 Rf2 123. g7 Rg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5
e6 8. h3 exd5 9. exd5 (9. cxd5 {leads to the Benoni.}) 9... Nfd7 {Black is
threatening with Ne5 and opens the /^ for the Q and the B. Besides he can
always play f7-f5.} 10. f4 {This is against the centralization of the N.} f5 (
10... Qh4+ {provoking some weaknesses on the >>.} 11. g3 Qe7 (11... Bxc3+ {
is met by the unexpected} 12. Kf2 $1 (12. bxc3 {corrupts the P structure and
the dark-squared B cannot find a good /^ for himself.} Qe7 13. Kf2 (13. Qc2 Re8
14. Bd2 Nf6 15. O-O-O Ne4 16. Be1 a6 17. g4 b5 $132 {Bravo-Giaccio, Mar del
Plata 1994}) 13... f5 {Ruining all the hopes for a quick f4-f5 activating the
bad B.} 14. Re1 Nf6 {In a closed position like that the N is better than the B.
} 15. Nd4 Ne4+ 16. Bxe4 fxe4 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. Rxe4 Bg4 19. Qe1 Qd7 20. Re7 Bxh3
$1 {This is the point! The positional Q sacrifice is completely correct.} 21.
Rxd7 Nxd7 $44 {Rejfir-Haag, Oberhausen 1961}) 12... Bxb2 13. Bxb2 $1 $44 {
Instead of taking the Q White brings his B to the long /^, where he is very
strong. The damaging piece P c3 has gone!} (13. gxh4 Bxa1 {is less clear.}))
12. O-O (12. Qc2 Na6 13. a3 Nc7 14. Bd2 b5 $1 {This is the way for the
counterplay. The target is >< d5.} 15. cxb5 Nb6 16. O-O-O Bb7 17. Rhe1 Qd7 18.
g4 Ncxd5 {and White's [+] has been collapsed.} 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 $15 {
Lapienis-Zakharov, Novosibirsk 1962}) 12... Re8 13. Kh2 f5 {Black has to close
the position.} 14. Bd2 (14. Rf3 Qf6 $11) 14... Na6 15. a3 Nc7 (15... Nf6 $11)
16. Qc2 (16. b4 cxb4 17. axb4 {is met by the standard} b5 $1 18. cxb5 Nb6)
16... Nf6 $11 {Fercec-Krstic, Pula 2000 CBM 075}) (10... Re8 11. O-O {is the
safe continuation.} (11. g4 $6 {This is too ambitious.} Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qh4+ 13.
Kf1 b5 $1 {Black wants to blow up White's [+] from the <<. If >< d5 falls, the
white K will find himself in a delicate situation.} 14. Kg2 Nb6 15. Ng3 bxc4
16. Be4 Bb7 17. a4 N8d7 18. a5 Rxe4 $1 {Black wants to open the long /^
against the K.} 19. Nxe4 Nxd5 20. Qf3 Re8 21. Kh2 Rxe4 $1 {The second exchange
sacrifice on the same place! Eliminating the last defender Black's -> is
unstoppable.} 22. Qxe4 N5f6 $1 $19 {Dokuchaev-Karpeshov, St Petersburg 1994}))
11. O-O (11. g4 $6 {looks a bit light-hearted.} Qh4+ (11... Na6 $5) 12. Kd2 Nf6
(12... Na6 $5) 13. g5 Ne4+ $1 {This positional P sacrifice is the main idea of
Black.} (13... Ne8 $2 {is simply too passive:} 14. Qg1 $14 {Ftacnik-Voronova,
Lubniewice 1994}) 14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. Bxe4 b5 $1 {Black has to continue his ->
energetically.} 16. Qe1 (16. cxb5 $2 {founders on} Rxf4 $1 17. Nxf4 Qxf4+ 18.
Kd3 c4+ $17) 16... Qxe1+ 17. Rxe1 bxc4 $36) 11... Na6 {Black has a rock-solid
position, it is far from easy for White to advance.} 12. Be3 Nc7 (12... Nb4 $6
13. Bb1 Nb6 {puts the knights on the wrong places.} 14. b3 $14) (12... Re8 13.
Bf2 Nf6 14. a3 {/\ Rb1, b4}) (12... Nf6 13. Bf2 Bd7 (13... Nc7 $5 14. a3 a5 {
fighting against b4.}) (13... Re8 {- 12...Re8}) 14. a3 {/\ Rb1, b4} Nc7 15. Rb1
a5 $5 {fighting against b2-b4.} (15... Re8 {probably it was time for the
advance on the << by} 16. b4 $5 (16. Kh1 {doesn't look very important.} a5 $5 {
deserved attention again.} (16... Kh8 {is also not the most important plan.}
17. b4 b6 {Now White has got some space advantage on the <<.} 18. Qc2 Qe7 19.
Bh4 Qf7 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Ng1 Re7 22. Nf3 h6 23. Rfe1 $14 {B.Kovacevic-Brkic,
Neum 2002})))) 13. Qd2 Re8 (13... b5 $5 {Radjabov} 14. Nxb5 (14. cxb5 Nb6 15.
b3 Bb7 {This Benko type of positional P sacrifice gives a good counterplay
against >< d5.} 16. Bc4 a6 17. bxa6 (17. a4 $6 axb5 18. axb5 {is strongly met
by} Ncxd5 $1 19. Nxd5 Nxc4 $1) 17... Nxc4 18. bxc4 Bxa6 19. Qd3 Rb8 20. Rab1
Na8 $5 21. Nb5 Nb6 $44) 14... Nxb5 15. cxb5 Bb7 $1 16. Nc3 Qa5 $44 {/\ a6 with
a strong pressure on the <<.}) 14. Bf2 Nf6 (14... b5 $5 {deserved attention
again.} 15. cxb5 Bb7 16. Bc4 Nb6 17. b3 a6 $44) 15. a3 a5 $1 (15... b5 $6 {
is already late:} 16. cxb5 Bb7 17. Bc4) (15... Ne4 16. Bxe4 fxe4 {This change
in the P structure helps for White.} 17. b4 $1 b6 18. Rfe1 Ba6 19. b5 Bc8 20.
a4 $14) 16. Bh4 Bd7 (16... Qe7 {/\ Qf7}) 17. Kh1 {/\ Ng1-f3} (17. Rae1 Qe7 18.
Ng3 Qf7 $11) (17. g4 $5 {looks interesting, bit Black has enough counterplay
after} Qe7 (17... fxg4 18. f5 $40) 18. gxf5 Qe3+ 19. Qxe3 Rxe3 20. Rad1 Rxh3
21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Kg2 Re3 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Bxg6 Bg4 {Black's ^^ is very
active.} 25. Kf2 Rf3+ 26. Ke1 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Rf8 $44) 17... Qe7 18. Rae1 Qf7
19. a4 {White closes completely the <<.} (19. Ng1 {/\ Nf3 looks more natural.}
Rxe1 20. Rxe1 Re8 21. Nf3 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Qe8 23. Qxe8+ Nfxe8 {White's space
advantage is not enough for an advantage.} 24. Kg1 Bf6 25. Bxf6 Nxf6 $11) 19...
Na6 {/\ Nb4} 20. g4 {White pushes it too hard.} (20. Bb1 {was the quiet plan,
but there is no breakthrough.} Nb4 21. Ng1 h6 22. Nf3 Kh7 23. Kh2 Rxe1 24. Rxe1
Re8 $11) 20... Nb4 21. Bb1 fxg4 $1 {Black has to take up the gauntlet.} 22. f5
Bxf5 (22... gxf5 $2 {gives White good attacking chances after} 23. Ng3 $40) 23.
Bxf5 gxf5 24. Rxf5 (24. Ng3 Rxe1 25. Qxe1 f4 $1) 24... Qg6 (24... Ne4 25. Qf4
Qg6 26. Rg1 Nxc3 27. Nxc3 Re5 28. Rxe5 Nd3 29. Qxg4 Nxe5 $13) 25. Ref1 $2 {
White oversteps the border.} (25. Ng3 $1 Bh6 $1 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Qd1 $3 $13)
25... Rf8 $1 26. Ng3 (26. Qf4 Nd7 27. Qxg4 Qxg4 28. hxg4 Ne5 29. b3 Nxg4 30.
Ne4 $44) 26... Nh5 $3 {Tactically solving the problems.} 27. Nce4 (27. Rxf8+
Rxf8 28. Rxf8+ Bxf8 29. Nxh5 Qxh5 30. Qe1 $1 gxh3 31. Qe6+ Qf7 32. Ne4 (32.
Qxh3 $15) 32... Qxe6 33. dxe6 d5 34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. Nxd5 Bd6 $15 {with a bit
better _|_ for Black.}) 27... Nxg3+ 28. Nxg3 gxh3 29. b3 Rae8 30. Kh2 Rxf5 (
30... h6 $5 {was a very subtle prophylactical move.}) 31. Rxf5 (31. Nxf5 Be5+
32. Kxh3 Kh8 33. Qg5 $1) 31... Re5 (31... h6 $1 {was again a very wise
decision.} 32. Kxh3 Re4 33. Qd1 Re3 34. Rf3 Re5 $17) 32. Qg5 $1 Qxg5 33. Bxg5
$6 (33. Rxg5 $1 {was the best practical chance.} Rxg5 34. Bxg5 Be5 35. Kxh3
Bxg3 (35... Nd3 36. Ne4) 36. Kxg3 Kf7 37. Bd8 Nd3 38. Bxa5 Nc1 39. b4 Nb3 40.
Bc7) 33... Nc2 $1 34. Bd8 $2 {This loses outright.} (34. Bf4 Nd4 $1 35. Bxe5
Nxf5 36. Bxg7 (36. Nxf5 Bxe5+ 37. Kxh3 Kf7 38. Kg4 Kf6 39. Nh4 Bb2 40. Nf3 Bc1
$19) 36... Nxg7 (36... Nxg3 37. Bc3) 37. Kxh3 Kf7 38. Kg4 Kg6 39. Ne4) 34...
Nd4 $1 $19 35. Rf4 Re3 36. Rg4 Kf7 37. Re4 Rxb3 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {The Slav is a rare guest in Topalov's
games with Black. However, he seems to have included it recently into his
basic repertoire; in Wijk aan Zee 2006 he used it successful against Van Wely.}
5. cxd5 {The exchange variation is by no means peaceful. White aims to limit
Black's counterplay to the minimum, but keep for himself chances for an
advantage. Ivanchuk obtained a nice technical victory in this symmetrical
structure against Leko, (Istanbul, ol 2000), although the opening was
different (the fianchetto Grünfeld).} cxd5 {#} 6. Qb3 $5 (6. Bf4 {would have d
to a "genuine" position of the exchange variation. After Ivanchuk's move, we
find ourselves on the independent territory of the a6-Slav.}) 6... Nc6 7. Bg5
e6 8. e3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 {White enjoys a
better development, but this is not too relevant if he does not find a way to
open the position. In the long run, the pair of bishops is likely to offer
Black an advantage.} b5 13. Bb1 Bd7 14. Qc2 g6 15. Qd2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Rc7 17.
Qe1 b4 18. Ne2 a5 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Ne1 a4 21. Nd3 Na5 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Rc1 Nc4
24. Qe1 Qd8 25. g3 Bb5 {#Black's advantage is obvious now.} 26. h4 $6 {This
move unnecessarily weakens the king side.} g5 $1 ({Black could have won a pawn
with} 26... Nxb2 27. Nxb2 Bxe2 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Qxe2 Qc1+ 30. Qd1 Qxb2 {
but it is far from clear whether this would have ensured him a win after} 31.
Qc2 Qa3 32. h5 {With his last move, Topalov not only forces the opening of the
h-file, but also retstricts the activity of the white knights even more.}) 27.
hxg5 hxg5 28. Kg2 Qc8 29. Ng1 f6 30. Qd1 Be8 31. Nf3 Bh5 32. Rc2 Bg6 33. Re2 g4
34. Nh4 Be4+ 35. Kh2 f5 36. Ne1 {#} Nxe3 $1 {Now that his domination reached
an apogeum, Topalov finally recurs to tactical methods.} 37. Rxe3 Rc1 38. Qd2
Rxb1 39. Rxe4 dxe4 40. Qg5+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5 $5 $146 {Dieser Zug ist neu, bislang wurde
fast ausschließlich 11...Bg7 gespielt.} (11... Bg7 12. Nxd7 $5 {Dies sieht wie
die kritische Fortsetzung aus.} Nxd7 13. Bd6 e5 $5 (13... Bf8 $5 14. Bxf8 Kxf8
15. e5 Qb6 16. f4 Rd8 17. Bh5 $40 {1/2-1/2 Pantsulaia,L-Karjakin,S/Gothenburg
2005/CBM 109/[Lutz] (24)}) 14. d5 Nb6 15. dxc6 Bxc6 16. a4 $1 bxa4 (16... a6
17. b3 $40) 17. Nxa4 $1 $40 {1-0 Radjabov,T-Dreev,A/Sant Lluis 2005/CBM 109/
[Lutz] (65)}) 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Rh6 14. f3 {Eine Runde früher hatte
Radjabov hier 14.f4 gespielt. Topalovs Idee ist anders: Er will den Pe4
festigen und so die schwarzen Figuren einschränken.} (14. f4 {1/2-1/2 Radjabov,
T-Vallejo Pons,F/Morelia/Linares 2006/CBM 112/[Lutz] (51)}) 14... Qe7 (14... h4
$5 {wird von Vallejo in seinen Analysen in NEW IN CHESS 3/2006 erwähnt. Weiß
kann dann mit 15.f4!? oder 15.b3!? fortsetzen.}) 15. a4 (15. f4 $5 {(Vallejo)
ist nun eine Idee, obwohl die Dame auf e7 wohl eher besser steht als auf d7.})
15... a6 16. Qc2 (16. axb5 cxb5 (16... axb5 $2 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Qa1 $36 {
Vallejo}) 17. Nxb5 axb5 18. Bxc4 Qb4 {(Vallejo) ist gut für Schwarz.}) 16...
Rd8 17. Rad1 Nd7 18. Bc7 (18. f4 $5 $13) 18... Rc8 19. Bg3 e5 20. d5 {So kann
Weiß das Feld d5 für seinen Springer gewinnen, aber der Bg3 kommt nicht so
richtig ins Spiel.} (20. dxe5 $5 Nxe5 21. axb5 axb5 22. f4 $13) 20... b4 (20...
Qf6 $5 {Vallejo}) 21. dxc6 Rhxc6 22. Nd5 Qe6 23. Qd2 $6 {Danach kann Schwarz
seinen h-Bauern in Bewegung setzen.} (23. h4 $5 $13 {wird von Vallejo als
besser angegeben.}) 23... h4 24. Bf2 c3 25. bxc3 (25. Qxg5 $5 {Vallejo}) 25...
bxc3 26. Qxg5 c2 27. Rc1 h3 $1 $17 {Schwarz bringt seine Bauern sehr schön zur
Geltung.} 28. g3 Qh6 $1 {So kann Schwarz den c-Bauern weiter unterstützen.} 29.
Qf5 Qd2 30. Rfe1 Ba3 $19 {Weiß verliert Material, daher muss er am
Königsflügel im Trüben fischen.} 31. f4 Bxc1 32. Bh5 Rg6 33. Bxg6 Bxd5 34. exd5
Qxe1+ 35. Bxe1 Be3+ 36. Kf1 c1=Q 37. Qxf7+ Kd8 38. Ke2 Bb6 39. Bd2 Qc4+ $6 (
39... Qh1 $19 {Vallejo}) 40. Kf3 e4+ 41. Kg4 Kc7 $6 (41... e3 $19 {Vallejo})
42. a5 Bd4 43. Bf5 Rg8+ 44. Kh4 Rh8+ 45. Kg5 Qb5 46. Be6 e3 47. Be1 e2 48. g4
Rf8 49. Qh7 Be3 50. Kh4 Bxf4 51. g5 Qa4 52. Kh5 Bxh2 53. Bxh3 Be5 54. Qd3 Rh8+
55. Kg6 Nf8+ 56. Kf7 Kd8 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Bc4
Nc6 9. Qd2 Na5 10. Bb3 Be7 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. Rhe1 b4 14. Nce2 g6 15.
Nc1 e5 16. Nde2 Nxb3 17. Nxb3 a5 18. Bg5 a4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nbc1 Rb8 21. Qxd6
Rb6 22. Qc5 Qb8 23. Nd3 Rb5 24. Qf2 Be6 25. f4 O-O 26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. Nxe5 Qxe5
28. Nd4 Rc5 29. Qg3 Qxg3 30. hxg3 Bg4 31. Rd3 Re8 32. Rde3 f6 33. a3 bxa3 34.
bxa3 Bc8 35. Kc1 Bb7 36. Nf3 Rec8 37. R1e2 Rc4 38. Kb2 Rb8 39. Kc1 Rbc8 40. Kb2
Rb8 41. Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rc1 e5 $6 {A dubious idea. Black
doesn't obtain a sufficient compensation for the pawn.} 13. dxc5 (13. d5 {
is harmless, of course:} c4 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Rb1 Nb7 16. Ba4 Bxa4 17. Qxa4 Nd6
18. f3 f5 19. Qc2 fxe4 20. fxe4 Qh4 21. Ng3 Bh6 22. Qd2 Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 Rf4 24.
Rfe1 Raf8 $17 {0-1 Seifert,V-Zezulkin,J/Bayern 1999/EXT 2001 (37)}) 13... Be6 (
13... Qc7 14. cxb6 axb6 15. c4 Nb7 16. Nc3 $16) 14. c4 $1 {[%mdl 32] With two
ideas: 1) cxb6 axb6 c5!; 2) Ne2-c3-d5.} bxc5 15. Bxc5 Re8 16. Be3 Re7 17. Qc2
Rd7 18. Rfd1 Nc6 (18... Rb8 19. c5) 19. a3 {[%cal Cd8a5,Ca5a3,Ye2c3,Yc3d5]
White has consolidated his position keeping a healthy extra pawn...} Qa5 20.
Nc3 $1 Qxa3 21. Nd5 {...and the extra pawn has immediately gone! Not in vain -
the knight is already on d5! A typical example of transformation of an
advantage.} Rc8 22. Ra1 Qf8 23. Ra6 Nb4 (23... Bxd5 $6 24. exd5 Nb4 25. Qa4 $1
$16) 24. Nxb4 Qxb4 25. Rb1 Qf8 26. c5 Bh6 {Getting rid of the "bad" bishop but
the strong passed pawn guarantees White a big advantage anyway.} 27. Bxh6 Qxh6
28. c6 Rdc7 (28... Qf8 $5 {is probably more stubborn} 29. Rb5 $140 Qd8 $1) 29.
Rb5 {White plans to provoke the weakening ...f7-f6 then trade the bishops, put
his rook on d5 and eventually (after, say, Qa4 or Qd3) invade to d7. Of course,
in the meantime he must secure his king (and Black must try some kingside
counterplay).} Rd8 $6 {GM Petr Svidler doesn't want to wait passively but this
move simplifies White's task.} 30. Rb7 $1 Rxd3 {That was the idea but White
converts his extra exchange pretty easily.} 31. Qxd3 Qc1+ 32. Qf1 Rxc6 33. Ra1
Qf4 34. Qe1 Rc4 35. Rb4 Rc2 36. Rbb1 Bg4 37. h3 Be2 38. Ra3 a6 39. Re3 Bb5 40.
Rc1 Ra2 {Of course, after the rook exchange Black's position is hopeless but
now the white rooks start a killing counterattack.} 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Rc7 Be8
43. Rf3 Qg5 (43... Qd2 44. Qxd2 Rxd2 45. Re7 $18) 44. Qc3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Rc3c4] This has been my last game annotated for the Gruenfeld section of the
ChessBase Magazine. I would like to thank all our readers for 7 years we spent
together. From the next issue CBM changes its format. I hope for our new
meetings within a new formula!} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 {Topalov obtained his only win in
Morelia with the 4...a6-Slav, which can be a partial explanation for his
opening choice in this game.} 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. b3 c5 $5 {
The fashion of pushing the pawn to c5 in two moves was initiated by Morezevich
and is a proof of the flexibility of Black's position in the Slav. With 4...a6
Black has induced the white queen's knight to develop to d2, overdefending the
c4-square for the eventuality of a further ...b5. This resulted in a lack of
pressure against the d5-pawn, which justifies Black'a last move. To a certain
extent this is similar with some Queen's Indian variations, where Black
willingly loses a tempo with his queen's bishop : 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 later
followed by ...d5.} 9. cxd5 ({This looks like a significant concession.
White's previous play does will hardly be justified in the symmetrical
position with open centre that will arise now. More consistent would have been
} 9. Bb2 {aiming for a position with hanging pawns, when White's extra-tempi
in development (consequence of ...c6-c5 and ...a6) might have made themselves
felt. If Black would ignore the tension in the centre and develop normally,
with} Be7 10. Qc2 O-O {White could already start active operations in the
centre with} 11. Ne5) 9... Nxd5 $1 {Underlining the drawbacks of White's plan:
the relative weakness of the c3-square, the exposed position of the d3-bishop
and the difficulty of finding a good square for the queen.} 10. Bb2 Be7 11. Qb1
{The queen avoids the unpleasant pin along the d1-h5 diagonal and the fork on
b4 at the same time, but with such unnatural development White can hardly
claim an advantage.} cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bf6 {The exchange of the dark-squared
bishops makes part of Black's general plan. He releases the pressure against
his king side while accentuating the weakness of the c3-square, which will
require permanent surveillance from White.} 13. Rc1 ({The h7-pawn is posisoned:
} 13. Bxh7 Bxd4 14. exd4 (14. Nxd4 {is even worse in view of} Qh4) 14... f5 15.
Bg6+ Kf8 {and the bishop is trapped.}) 13... Bh5 ({In this phase of the game,
the absence of concrete threats gives play a rather abstract character. With
his last move, White retreats the bishop to a less exposed square and prepares
an eventual interference of the b1-h7 diagonal with ...Bg6 in order to enable
castling short. In case of the immediate} 13... Qe7 {White could face his
opponent with a difficult choice with} 14. Bxf6 {when 14...Qxf6 looks like a
mere loss of tempo, while} N7xf6 {is strongly met by} 15. Ne5 {with certain
initiative.}) ({The exchange on d4 looks slightly premature, too. After} 13...
Bxd4 14. Nxd4 N7f6 15. Ne4 O-O 16. Ng3 {Black had to resort to extreme
measures in order to save his bishop in Tregubov-Morozevich, Sochi 2005}) 14.
Rc4 Qe7 15. h3 ({It is not easy for White to make use of his minimal advance
in development, but his last move does not seem to be useful in any way at
this stage of the game. More to the point seems tobe} 15. a4 {followed by a5,
winning space on the queen side and indirectly developing the a1-rook without
moving it.}) 15... Rd8 {Probably feeling White's indecision, Black makes his
last useful, half-waiting move.} 16. Be4 $6 {Finally, White loses patience and
decides to threaten something concrete. However, his last move only helps
Black complete his development.} Bxd4 17. Nxd4 N7f6 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qb2 O-O
20. Rac1 Bg6 {Black's position already looks more pleasant. His bishop is
quite strong, while the enemy knights are somewhat restricted in their actions.
However, White's authoritary control of the c-file should enable him to
maintain the balance even.} 21. N4f3 f6 $1 {Continuing to restrict the white
knights.} 22. g3 $6 ({White takes the f4-square under control in order to
prepare the advance of the e-pawn. In doing so, he probably wanted to reduce
the activity of the black minor pieces, thus answering with the same method as
that employed by his opponent. However, the last move has the serious drawback
of weakening the light squares around the own king. Instead of this, he could
have continued his "own play" with} 22. a4 {, winning space on the wing where
he has concentrated such important forces as the major pieces.}) 22... e5 23.
a3 ({The necessity of this additional prophylactic move speaks about the
eroneous character of White's plan. The immediate} 23. e4 {would be strongly
answered by} b5 $1 24. Rc6 Nb4 25. Rc7 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Rc3 Nd3 28. Qc2
Rd8 {with active play for Black.}) 23... Qe6 {A multi-purpose move. White
takes under observation the weak h3- and b3-pawns while clearing the e7-square
for the knight in view of its further transfer to c6.} 24. e4 Ne7 25. Rc7 Rd7
26. h4 Rfd8 27. b4 h6 {Clearing the safe h7-square for the king.} 28. Rxd7 Rxd7
{Black's advantage is obvious. All his pieces are more active than White's.
The enemy knights have little chance to get active, mainly because of the
weakness of the e4-pawn.} 29. b5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Nc6 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33.
Rxc4 Rd3 {Simplifications did not bring White any relief. His knights are
still hopelessly passive.} 34. a4 (34. Ra4 {would leave the rook out of play
after} b5 35. Ra6 {allowing} Nd4 36. Nxd4 exd4 {with a more or less decisive
advantage for Black.}) 34... Ra3 {Black threatens to win the a4-pawn with ...
Bf7. White's attempts to prevent this simple plan will only shorten his
suffering.} 35. Nb1 Ra2 36. Nc3 Rc2 37. Rc5 {Defending ag ainst the threat ...
Bxe4+, but allowing Black to set a stronger one.} Nb4 {Threatening ...Nd3 or ..
.Na2. White cannot avoid important material losses.} 38. Ne1 Rc1 {The apparent
simplicity of this game is induced by the fact that Topalov won mainly by
parrying White's one- or two- move threats. The difficult (and instructive)
part consisted of combining this prophylactic play with the permanent
improvement of his own position.} 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Gavrikov,V"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {Black has a few reliable
possibilities to equalize in this line.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O ({The main
alternative to the text is} 6... Ne4) 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 ({
Some players prefer the position after} 9... Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Qa5) 10.
Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bh3 12. Rc1 ({This continuation is not so investigated as} 
12. g4 {after which Black´s simplest way to equality is} Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 {
[%cal Gd5d4]} 14. Rg1 Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16. bxc3 f5 17. Rd1 (17. f3 fxg4 18.
fxg4 a6 19. Kd2 Rae8 20. Rg3 Bf1 $11) 17... Bxg4 18. Rxd5 Rae8 {1/2-1/2 Bezold,
M-Horvath,C/Budapest 1994/CBM 045 ext (23)}) 12... Nc6 $146 ({Previous
practice has seen} 12... Rd8 13. a3 Ba5 14. Qxb6 Bxb6 15. Rg1 (15. Na4 Bxd4 16.
Bxd4 Nc6 17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Nc3 f6 $11) 15... h5 16. Rd1 Nc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Atalik,
S-Pieniazek,A/Cappelle la Grande 1995/EXT 97 (30)}) 13. Nxc6 ({Favourable for
Black is} 13. Qxd5 $6 Bc5 $1 14. Nc2 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Qxb2) 13... Qxc6 14. f3 Qc4
$6 ({More logical was to keep queens and choose} 14... Rfe8 15. Qxb4 (15. Kf2
Rxe3 $1 16. Kxe3 $140 $2 Qh6+ 17. f4 (17. Kd3 Bf5+ 18. e4 dxe4+ 19. fxe4 Bxc3
20. Qxc3 Rd8+ 21. Ke2 Bxe4 $40) 17... Re8+ 18. Kd2 Qb6 19. Rc2 d4 $17) 15...
Rxe3 16. Kf2 Rae8 17. Rhe1 R3e5 {when Black´s activity compensates the
weakness on d5.}) 15. Kf2 Be6 16. Qxc4 dxc4 17. Rhd1 {[%cal Gc3d5]} Bxc3 ({
White also maintains initiative after} 17... Ba5 18. Nb5 a6 19. Nd4 b5 20. Nxe6
fxe6 21. Rd6 Rfe8 22. Rcd1 Bc7 23. Rc6 Be5 24. Bc1) 18. bxc3 b6 19. Rd4 {
In this situation White´s pawn majority on the kingside is more important than
Black´s on the queenside.} Rfd8 20. g4 Rd5 $6 {An inaccuracy.} ({Better looks} 
20... f6 {followed by Kf7}) 21. g5 $1 {[%mdl 4096]} Rad8 22. h4 Kf8 23. Rb1 Ke7
24. Rb2 R8d6 25. Rxd5 ({After} 25. Rxc4 $6 Ra5 26. Re4 Rc6 27. a4 Rc4 {Black
restores the material balance.}) 25... Rxd5 26. Bd4 f6 27. e4 Ra5 28. f4 Bd7
29. Ke3 {White needs to open a file on the kingside for activate his rook.} Rb5
30. Rg2 Kf7 31. h5 $1 {[%cal Gg5f6,Gh5h6]} fxg5 32. fxg5 g6 ({Bad is} 32... Kg8
$2 {because of} 33. h6 $1 g6 34. Rf2 $1 Be8 35. Bg7 Bf7 36. e5 {[%csl Rg8]
[%cal Ge5e6]}) 33. Rf2+ Ke8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Bf6 Rb1 36. Kd4 Rd1+ ({Another
defensive idea was} 36... Re1 37. Kd5 (37. Rh2 Bc6) 37... Re3 38. Rh2 $140 Rh3)
37. Kxc4 Be6+ 38. Kb5 Ra1 39. Rh2 Rxa2 40. Rh7 $1 {[%csl Re8] Finally the rook
penetrates in Black´s camp.} (40. Rh8+ $143 Kd7 41. Rh7+ Kd6) 40... Bd7+ 41.
Kc4 Rd2 $2 {This seems to be a decisive mistake.} ({Necessary was} 41... Be6+
$1 42. Kd3 (42. Kd4 $140 Rd2+ 43. Ke5 Rd7 $1 44. Rh8+ Kf7) 42... Kf8 43. Re7
Bg4 44. Rg7 Bh5 45. e5 $140 Bg4) 42. Bd4 {Threatening Kd5-d6.} Be6+ 43. Kb5 {
[%cal Gb5c6]} Bd7+ 44. Ka6 Bc6 ({Or} 44... Ra2+ 45. Kb7 Bb5 46. Kc7 Bc4 47. Kd6
{and e-pawn becomes very dangerous.}) 45. Kxa7 Bxe4 46. Kxb6 {The resulted
position should be lost for Black.} Rb2+ 47. Kc5 Rb7 48. Rh4 Rc7+ 49. Kb4 Rb7+
50. Kc4 Bf5 (50... Rc7+ $142 51. Bc5 Bf5 52. Kd5 Kd7) 51. Kc5 Rc7+ $6 ({
More tenacious was again} 51... Kd7) 52. Kd6 Rd7+ 53. Kc6 Re7 54. Bf6 Re4 55.
Rh8+ Kf7 56. Rh7+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ Kf8 58. Kb5 {Preparing the advance of c-pawn.}
Re8 (58... Re1 59. c4 Rb1+ 60. Kc5 Rc1 61. Rc7 Be6 62. Kd4 $18) 59. c4 Rb8+ 60.
Ka5 Ra8+ 61. Kb4 Rb8+ 62. Kc3 Rc8 63. Ra7 $1 {Planning Be7+ and c5.} Be6 64.
Be7+ Kg8 65. c5 Bd5 66. Kd4 Bg2 67. Ke5 Ra8 68. Rc7 ({Also wins} 68. Rxa8+ Bxa8
69. Kf6 Be4 (69... Kh7 70. Ke6 Kg7 71. Bf6+ Kf8 72. Kd7) 70. Bd6 Kh7 71. Ke7
Kg8 72. Bf4 Bg2 73. Kd7 Bh3+ 74. Kc7 Kf7 75. c6 Ke8 76. Kb8) 68... Ra1 69. Kf6
Be4 70. Rc8+ Kh7 71. Rd8 {[%cal Gf6f7]} Ra6+ (71... Rf1+ 72. Ke6 $18) 72. Kf7
Bf5 (72... Bf3 73. Rd4 Bh5 74. Rh4 Rc6 75. Bd6 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5]}) 73. Rd4 Be6+
74. Kf8 Ra8+ 75. Bd8 Bg4 76. c6 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Topalov seems to have not been put off by the
defeat in the first round of the Morelia half and manifests his intention to
play the Berlin variation again.} 4. d3 {But Radjabov does not seem to be
prepared for a theoretical dispute.} Bc5 ({Topalov has played this already
against Anand in San Luis. Another common reaction is} 4... d6) 5. Bxc6 $5 {
Radjabov chooses a quiet plan. After this exchange, White will be left with
the more flexible pawn structure, without any danger of losing. Could he have
hoped that Topalov will be overdoing it in the attempt of complicating the
fight, just as he did in the first game of their mini-match?} dxc6 6. Qe2 Bg4
7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Nxf3 Qe7 10. c3 O-O 11. O-O Rfe8 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Bd2
Nf8 14. Rad1 Bb6 15. Be3 {#} c5 {A slightly paradoxical but entirely adequate
decision. Black prevents the thematic oepning of the centre by means of d4,
which would leave White with an extra-pawn on the king side.} 16. a3 Rd7 17. b4
f6 18. Qc2 Ne6 {Consolidating the control of the d4-square.} 19. Qb3 Qf7 20.
Qc4 Red8 21. Rd2 cxb4 22. axb4 h6 23. Kf1 c6 24. Red1 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Re8 26. Kg1
{White's only constructive plan would be to play d4, but this would seriously
weaken the e4-pawn. Therefore, the decision whether to offer a draw does not
really seem premature.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 {#} Nb8 ({This knight retreat, which gives the position
certain resemblance with the Breyer Variation, seems to have never been played
before. Topalov's previous game in this line went} 10... h6 11. Bd2 b4 12. c3
a5 13. d4 bxc3 14. Bxc3 $5 {(An interesting concept. For the sake of rapid
piece development, White gives up his central chain of pawns.)} exd4 15. Nxd4
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 {with a promissing position for White, Topalov-Grischuk, Wijk
aan Zee 2005}) ({The main variation is considered to be} 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {
but we shall see that Ivanchuk has entirely different plans regarding the
d5-square.}) 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 c6 {Not only defending the
b5-pawn, but also covering the d5-square. The passivity of the light-squared
bishp is of temporary nature.} 14. c4 $5 {To a certain extent, this is similar
to 14.Bxc3 from the previous note: White "sacrifices" the integrity of his
pawn structure for the sake of piece activity.} bxc4 15. Nxc4 Nbd7 16. Bd2 Re8
17. Qc2 Bf8 18. Ba2 Qb8 19. Bc3 h6 20. Ne3 Bb7 21. b4 d5 {After a laborious
manoeuvring phase, we finally have some tension in the centre.} 22. Ng4 Bd6 23.
Qb2 Nxg4 24. hxg4 c5 {#The situation becomes tenser and tenser. With his next
move, Topalov puts pressure against a far from obvious black weakness, the
f7-pawn.} 25. g5 hxg5 26. Nxg5 Qd8 27. bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bd2 f6 29. Be3 fxg5 {
The simplest way to equality, implying a pawn sacrifice.} 30. Bxc5 Bxc5 31.
Qxb7 Rf8 32. Qxd5+ Qxd5 33. Bxd5+ Kh7 34. Re2 g4 35. g3 Kh6 36. Kg2 Kg5 37. Rc2
{#White can hardly do anyhing more than move his rook along the second rank.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the last but one round. To keep any chance of getting
the first place, Veselin Topalov has to win this game, whereas the leader for
that moment, Peter Leko, needed only a draw. Since this game generated a lot
of interest, but was commented not only once, so in my comments, I will use
some comments of IM Maxim Notkin's (M.N.) "www.chesspro.ru", GM Mihail Marin 
(M.M.) "www.chessbase.com" and GM Konstantin Sakaev (K.S.) "www.e3e5.com".} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. Nf3
d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 {This exchange is usually effectuated after
the inclusion of the moves 11.e3 Re8.} exd5 12. e3 Re8 13. Be2 $146 ({The
apparently more ambitious} 13. Bb5 $5 {has been tried at the highest possible
level:} c6 14. Be2 Qe7 15. b4 h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Kf2 Qd6 18. Nf1 a5 19. Ng3
Ba6 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. Rhc1 b5 22. bxa5 Rea8 23. Nf5 Qe6 24. g4 $14 {Kasparov,
G-Karpov,A/Frankfurt,1999/(1/2-1/2)(49)}) 13... Rc8 14. O-O ({M.N. "This
deserved attention:} 14. Bh4 $5 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gh4f2,Gf2e3]} Ne4 15. Bxd8
Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rcxd8 17. Kf2 c5 18. a4 $14 {with a small advantage for White".})
14... Qe7 {[%csl Re3][%cal Ge8e3,Gh7h6] Black uses the fact that the white
bishop is on "g5", and not on "h4" (what could have been after "h6" and "Bh4")
to pressure on "e3".} 15. Bb5 {The weakness on "e3" forces White to part with
one of his bishops. M.M. "Now that White has castled, the transfer of the
bishop to a4 looks entirely possible. Topalov seems not to be put off by
having to lose a tempo in order to carry out his plans".} c6 16. Ba4 h6 17.
Bxf6 Nxf6 $11 {White didn't get any advantage out of the opening, but got good
space advantage and the weakness of the "c6" pawn allows White to play this
position without any risks. On the other hand, Black has a reliable position,
and a player on Leko's level should easily be able to make a draw here.} 18.
Rfe1 b5 $6 {[%csl Rb5,Rc6,Rd5] Unnecessarily weakening the pawn structure of
the queen side.} (18... Nd7 $5) 19. Bc2 c5 {Black gets rid of one weakness
while gaining another.} 20. Bf5 {Very resourceful bishop :)} Rc7 ({Another
option is:} 20... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc7 22. Bd3 $14) 21. dxc5 Rxc5 {M.M. "Leko
understood that in this case the exchange of the queens with:} (21... Qxc5 22.
Qxc5 Rxc5 {would not bring him any closer to draw. White would transfer his
knight to d4 with:} 23. Nb3 Rc7 24. Nd4 {with a clear positional advantage. If
Black could retreat his b-pawn to b6, his position would most likely be
defensible, but the way it is he risks getting into a typical ending with a
bad bishop".}) 22. Qd4 $6 {It's generally known that the queen is not too well
suited for the purpose of the blockade.} ({It deserves more attention:} 22. Qb4
$5 {/\Nb3-d4 +/=}) 22... a6 23. a4 {M.M & K.S. "Another dubious decision.
Topalov opens the a-file for his rook, but in doing so he helps Black to get
rid of one of his pawns placed on the same colour as the bishops, thus
bringing him some positional relief. More naturally seems the game over the
dark squares.} (23. b4 $5 Rc7 24. Bd3 {[%cal Gd2b3,Yb3c5,Yb3d4] with
positional domination".}) 23... bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rc6 25. b4 Qe5 {M.M.&K.S. "A
strong defensive move, underlining White's lack of stability on d4. If White
could play now 26.Nb3, he would preserve his positional advantage intact, but,
unfortunately the bishop is hanging".} (25... Qc7 $143 26. Bd3 Nd7 27. Nb3 Ne5
28. Nc5 Nxd3 29. Qxd3 Rg6 30. Qd4 $14) 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rb6 {M.M. "The
relative weakness of the b4-pawn partly compensates for the weak a6-pawn".} ({
K.S. "} 27... Re7 $5 28. Kf2 Nd7 {/\Ne5 ".}) 28. Kf2 ({M.N. "} 28. Nb3 $143 Bc6
29. Rxa6 Rxb4 {and Black should be able to maintain this position".}) 28... Bc8
{[%cal Gc8d7,Gd7a4]} (28... Bc6 $2 29. Rxa6 $18) 29. Rb1 {Defending the "b4"
pawn.} Bf5 {M.M. "By exchanging his "bad" bishop, Black makes further progress
in his way to equalize, although White still maintains some advantage because
of the active placement of his pieces and the better pawn structure".} 30. Bxf5
(30. Ke2 $5) 30... Rxf5 31. Ra5 {White uses Black's awkward rook position.} g6
(31... Re5 $2 32. Nc4 $18) ({K.S. "Doesn't solve all the problems:} 31... Rh5
32. h3 Rh4 33. f4 g5 $6 34. Nf3 Rh5 35. g4 Rxh3 36. Kg2 $16 {".}) 32. Ke2 {
M.M. "By unpinning the f-pawn, White intends to win space with g4,harassing
the enemy rook at the same time".} h5 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yh5g4]} ({M.N. "} 32...
Nd7 $5 {".}) 33. g3 Kg7 34. h3 Nd7 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 ({K.S. "} 36. fxg4 $143
Re5 37. Nf3 Re4 38. Rxd5 Nf6 39. Rd4 Rxd4 40. Nxd4 Nd5 $11 {".}) 36... Re5 37.
Kf2 ({This didn't give anything:} 37. f4 Ree6 38. Rxd5 Nf6 39. Rg5 Ne4 40. Nxe4
Rxe4 41. Ra5 Rbxb4 42. Rxb4 Rxb4 43. Rxa6 g5 44. Kf3 gxf4 45. exf4 Rb3+ $11)
37... Rc6 38. Rb3 Rb6 (38... Rc2 $143 39. Ke2 Nb6 40. Kd3 Rxd2+ 41. Kxd2 Nc4+
42. Kd3 Nxa5 43. bxa5 d4 44. exd4 Rxa5 45. Kc4 $14 {Material wise the position
is equal, however, the "d" pawn gives White some chances for a win.} Kf6) 39.
f4 Ree6 40. g5 {M.M. "Winning even more space and threatening to capture the
d5-pawn. The immediate:} (40. Rxd5 {would have led nowhere because of} Nf6 {
[%csl Rd5,Rg4][%cal Gf6d5,Gf6g4] ".}) 40... Red6 41. e4 Rb5 ({K.S. "} 41... f6
$6 42. exd5 (42. gxf6+ $143 Rxf6 43. Rxd5 Rxf4+ 44. Ke3 Rf7 45. Nc4 $14) 42...
Rb5 43. Rxb5 axb5 44. Rd3 Nb6 45. gxf6+ Kf7 (45... Kxf6 $2 46. Ne4+ $18) (45...
Rxf6 46. Ke3 $18 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Ge3d4,Gd4c5,Gc5b5]}) 46. Ne4 Rxd5 47. Ra3 $18
{".}) (41... dxe4 $2 42. Nc4 $18) 42. Rxb5 axb5 43. Rd3 (43. e5 $6 Rc6 $13 {
/\ Nf8-e6, >< Pf4}) 43... Nb6 44. Nb1 {/\ Nc3 >< Pb5, Pd5} Rc6 45. exd5 ({
K.S. "} 45. Rc3 Rxc3 (45... Rc4 $6 46. Rxc4 bxc4 47. Ke3 $16) 46. Nxc3 dxe4 47.
Ke3 f5 48. gxf6+ (48. Kd4 Kf7 49. Nxb5 Ke7 $11) 48... Kxf6 49. Kxe4 (49. Nxe4+
Kf5 $11) (49. Nxb5 Nd5+ $11) 49... g5 $11 {".}) 45... Rc4 46. Kf3 Rxb4 47. Nd2
f6 48. Ne4 $1 {White's last hope is to concentrate his efforts to ensure the
advance of the d-pawn.} ({After:} 48. gxf6+ Kxf6 49. Ne4+ Kf5 50. Ng3+ Kf6 51.
d6 g5 52. fxg5+ Kxg5 53. d7 Nxd7 54. Rxd7 {This is a well known theoretical
position, and Black can easily make a draw here.}) 48... fxg5 49. Nxg5 Kf6 50.
Kg4 Nc4 51. Ne4+ (51. d6 $4 Ne5+ $19) 51... Ke7 ({M.N. "This also lead to a
draw:} 51... Kf7 $5 52. d6 (52. Kg5 $143 Nb6) 52... Ne5+ 53. fxe5 Rxe4+ 54. Kf3
Rh4 55. Rd5 (55. d7 Rh3+ 56. Ke4 Rxd3 57. Kxd3 Ke7 58. e6 g5 59. Ke4 b4 60. Kd5
b3 61. Kc6 b2 62. Kc7 b1=Q 63. d8=Q+ Kxe6 64. Qxg5 $11) 55... Rh8 56. Rxb5 Ke6
{it is unclear how white can improve his position".}) 52. d6+ Kd8 53. Kg5 Nb2
54. Re3 Rd4 $4 ({This lead to a draw:} 54... Kd7 $5 55. Kxg6 Nc4 56. Rf3 (56.
Rd3 Nxd6 $1 57. Rxd6+ (57. Nxd6 Rxf4 $11) 57... Ke7 58. Rb6 Rxe4 59. Rb7+ Kd6
60. f5 Kc5 $11) 56... Nxd6 57. Nxd6 Kxd6 $11 {Black sacrifices the rook for
the "f" pawn and compel of White to sacrifice his rook for the "b" pawn.}) {
[%tqu "En","Please find the move, which brings White a decisive advantage!","",
"","e4f6","",10]} 55. Nf6 $1 Rxd6 $140 56. Re8+ Kc7 57. Re2 $18 {[%csl Rb2,Rc7,
Rd6][%cal Gf6e8,Ge8c7,Ge8d6,Ge2b2] Now Black loses material.} Rd1 58. Rxb2 Rg1+
59. Kh6 {M.M. "White's task consists of capturing the g6-pawn without losing
his last pawn and prevent the b-pawn from becoming dangerous at the same time.
In fact, Topalov will simplify the problem. He will keep the b-pawn under
control by the permanent threat of sacrificing the knight for it, once the
capture of the g6-pawn will be ensured".} Kc6 60. Ne4 Kd5 61. Rb4 Kc6 62. Rd4
Rg4 63. Nf2 Kc5 64. Rd1 $1 Rg2 (64... Rxf4 $4 65. Nd3+) 65. Nd3+ Kc4 66. Ne5+
Kc3 67. Rc1+ Kb2 68. Rc6 Kb3 69. Rxg6 Rf2 70. Rg3+ Kc2 71. Nd3 {The further
resistance is senseless.} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 {Topalov faces Vallejo with
one of his own weapons. In doing so, he might have counted on a certain
psychologic effect.} 6. Bg5 c5 ({Of course, it would have made little sense to
allow Vallejo make use of Ivanchuk's "lesson" in the variation starting with} 
6... b5) 7. Bxc4 ({Vallejo refrains from the main theoretical dispute, arising
after} 7. e5 {and which had brought him a win over Topalov last year in Monte
Carlo. After the game move, Black is supposed to be OK at the present stage of
theory.}) 7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12.
Qb3 O-O 13. O-O Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Nc6 15. c4 Rad8 {#Something must have gone wrong
with Topalov's preparation. White can force a draw by perpetual whenever he
wants, something the World Champion had no special reasons to be interested in,
given the acute tournament situation.} 16. Qg3+ Kh8 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Qg3+ Kh8
19. Qh4 Kg7 20. f4 Qd2 21. e5 fxe5 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25.
Qf6+ Kg8 26. Rf3 ({Technically speaking, this is a novelty, but it hardly
changes anything. Previously,} 26. Rae1 {had been played, invariably resulting
into a draw.}) 26... Rd3 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qf6+ Kg8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 dxc4 8. e4 g5
9. Bg3 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 Nc6 14. Ne5 Na5 15.
Rb8 Nxe4 16. f3 Nd6 17. h4 f6 18. hxg5 Nf5 19. Be1 Bxe1 20. Qxe1 fxe5 21. Rxc8
Qxc8 22. Qxa5 O-O 23. Rxh6 Qd7 24. Rh3 exd4 25. Kd2 Ne3 26. Be2 Nxg2 27. Qa3
Qg7 28. Rg3 Nf4 29. Bd1 c3+ 30. Kc1 b4 31. Qa5 d3 32. Qxb4 c2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c6 5. O-O Bg4 6. Ne5 h5 7. h3 Be6 8. d3 Nh6
9. Qe1 Nd7 10. Nf3 Qb6+ 11. Kh1 d4 12. Nbd2 Nf5 13. Ne4 Bd5 14. c4 dxc3 15.
bxc3 Nc5 16. Nh4 Nxh4 17. gxh4 Nxe4 18. dxe4 Bc4 19. Ba3 Qa5 20. Bb4 Qc7 21.
Bc5 b6 22. Be3 c5 23. a4 O-O 24. Rg1 e6 25. Bf3 Bh6 26. Qf2 Kh7 27. f5 exf5 28.
Bxh6 Kxh6 29. exf5 Qf4 30. Raf1 Rae8 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. Qg2 Qd6 33. Bxh5 Rxf1
34. Rxf1 Re5 35. Qg3 Bd5+ 36. Kg1 Be4 37. Rf7 Qd1+ 38. Kf2 Rf5+ 39. Rxf5 Bxf5
40. Qg5+ Kh7 41. Qe7+ Kh6 42. Bg4 Qd2 43. Qe5 Qd8 44. Qf4+ Kh7 45. Bxf5 gxf5
46. Qxf5+ Kh6 47. Qg5+ Qxg5 48. hxg5+ Kxg5 49. Kf3 Kf5 50. h4 c4 51. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 g6 7. d3 Bg7 8. Bd2
O-O 9. Qc1 b6 10. h4 h5 11. Bh6 Bb7 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. O-O Rc8 14. Ng5 e6 15.
Re1 Re8 16. Nge4 Nf6 17. Ng5 Qe7 18. b3 Nd4 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qb2 e5 21. Rac1
Red8 22. a3 Nd5 23. e3 Nc6 24. Nce4 Qe7 25. Nf3 Nf6 26. Red1 Nxe4 27. dxe4 Qe6
28. b4 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qg4 30. Kg2 Qxe4 31. bxc5 bxc5 32. Qb7 Rb8 33. Qc7 g5 34.
hxg5 h4 35. Rh1 Rh8 36. Rh3 hxg3 37. g6 Rxh3 38. Qxf7+ Kh6 39. Qh7# 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rc1 Re8 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bf3 Bf5
15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Qd3 c5 18. Qxa6 Be5 19. Qd3 Qb6 20. Rcd1 Qb8 21.
Nf5 Bxb2 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Qxd5 Be6 24. Qf3 Be5 25. h3 c4 26. Nd4 Bxd4 27. Rxd4
cxb3 28. axb3 Qxb3 29. Rfd1 h6 30. Qf4 Rc4 31. Qd6 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Rc8 33. Rb4
Rc1+ 34. Kh2 Qc2 35. Qf4 Rf1 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Rb2 Qc1 38. Qe5 Rh1+ 39. Kg3 Qg1
40. Qe4+ g6 41. Kf3 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O b5 10. f4 Rc8 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. h3 h5 13. Bd3 h4 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
exd5 e4 16. Rhe1 Be7 17. Be2 Nb6 18. Bg4 Nc4 19. Qf2 Nxg4 20. hxg4 h3 21. Bd4
h2 22. c3 Qb7 23. Qe2 Kf8 24. g5 a5 25. Qxe4 a4 26. Nc1 Bxg5 27. g3 Bf6 28.
Bxf6 gxf6 29. Nd3 Qd7 30. Qg2 Qh3 31. Qxh3 Rxh3 32. Rh1 Re8 33. Nf2 Rxg3 34.
Rxh2 Re2 35. Ng4 Rxh2 36. Nxh2 Rg2 37. Nf3 Rxb2+ 38. Ka1 a3 39. Nd4 Ne3 40. Rb1
Rf2 41. Rxb5 Rxf4 42. Rb1 Rf2 43. Rc1 f5 44. Nb5 Nc4 45. Nd4 f4 46. Nf5 Ne3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. a4 Rc8 11. a5 Rxc3 12. Qxc3 d5 13. O-O-O Be7 14. exd5 Nxd5
15. Rxd5 Bxd5 16. Bc4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Bg5 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 O-O 20. Rd1 Qc8
21. Qd4 Nc5 22. Nxc5 Bxf4+ 23. Kb1 Bxh2 24. Qd5 Qg4 25. Rh1 Bc7 26. Qxh5 Qxh5
27. Rxh5 Bxa5 28. Nxa6 Bd8 29. Nc5 b6 30. Nd7 Re8 31. Re5 Rxe5 32. Nxe5 f5 33.
c3 Bc7 34. Nf3 Kf7 35. Kc2 Kf6 36. Kd3 g5 37. b4 g4 38. Nd4 Bd6 39. Nb5 Be7 40.
Nd4 Bf8 41. Nc6 Ke6 42. Nd4+ Ke5 43. Nc6+ Kf4 44. Nd4 Bd6 45. Ne2+ Ke5 46. Nd4
f4 47. Nc6+ Kd5 48. Nd4 Bf8 49. c4+ Ke5 50. Nc6+ Kd6 51. Nd4 Ke5 52. Nc6+ Kd6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe2 Bf5 8.
Rd1 Qe7 9. dxe5 Rd8 10. Rd4 Bg6 11. c3 Rxd4 12. cxd4 Qb4 13. Qe3 Be7 14. b3 Qa5
15. Nfd2 Qd5 16. Ba3 Bg5 17. Qe1 Qxd4 18. Nxe4 Qxa1 19. e6 fxe6 20. Nec3 Bxb1
21. h4 Bf6 22. Nxb1 Kf7 23. g3 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2721"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. d4 Bb7 4. c4 e6 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3
Re8 9. Rc1 d6 10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. Rxc3 Nbd7 12. Re1 h6 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 Qc7 15.
Bb2 a4 16. bxa4 Ra6 17. d5 exd5 18. cxd5 Rea8 19. Nh4 Rxa4 20. a3 b5 21. Nf5 b4
22. axb4 Rxb4 23. Rb3 Qb6 24. Rxb4 Qxb4 25. Qb1 Rb8 26. Ba1 Ba8 27. Qc1 c4 28.
Bc3 Qb3 29. Qa1 Kh7 30. Nd4 Qb6 31. Nc6 Re8 32. Rb1 Qc7 33. Qa6 Ne5 34. Nxe5
dxe5 35. e4 Rb8 36. Rxb8 Qxb8 37. Qxc4 Qb1+ 38. Qf1 Qc2 39. Qe1 Nd7 40. h4 Bb7
41. Qd2 Qb1+ 42. Kh2 Ba6 43. Qb2 Qxb2 44. Bxb2 f6 45. Ba3 g5 46. Bh3 Bb5 47. h5
Kg7 48. f3 Nb6 49. Kg1 Be8 50. Bg4 Bd7 51. Bxd7 Nxd7 52. Kf2 Kf7 53. Ke2 Ke8
54. Kd3 Kd8 55. Kc4 Ke8 56. Kb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Ng4 11. h3 Qb6 12. hxg4 Qxd4 13. g5 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Nc5
15. f3 Be5 16. Be3 a5 17. Rd2 a4 18. Rc1 a3 19. b4 Na4 20. Nd1 Be6 21. Bd4 Bf4
22. Be3 Be5 23. Bd4 Rfd8 24. Kf2 c5 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Ke1 cxb4
28. Rb1 Nc3 29. Nxc3 bxc3 30. Rd1 Rd4 31. Be2 Kf8 32. Rc1 Rd2 33. Rxc3 Rxa2 34.
Rb3 Rxe2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qc2 h6 11. Rd1 Bd6 12. Be4 Nce7 13. Qb3 Nf6 14. Bf3 a6
15. Bf4 Bxf4 16. Nxf4 Qd6 17. Nh5 Nxh5 18. Bxh5 Bd7 19. Qxb7 Rab8 20. Qa7 Rxb2
21. Ne4 Nc8 22. Nxd6 Nxa7 23. Rdc1 Bc6 24. Nc4 Rbb8 25. Ne5 Be8 26. a4 Nc8 27.
Be2 a5 28. Rc5 Nb6 29. Rb1 Bxa4 30. Rxa5 Nc4 31. Rxb8 Nxa5 32. Rb4 Bc2 33. Bf3
Rc8 34. h4 f6 35. Nd7 Nc6 36. Rc4 Ne7 37. Rxc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a4 h6 11. c3 Bc5 12. Nbd2 Bb6 13. Ba2 Rf8 14. Nf1 d6 15. Ng3
Ne7 16. Nh4 Kh7 17. Qf3 bxa4 18. Bb1 Bc6 19. Bc2 a5 20. Rd1 Qe8 21. Nhf5 Nfg8
22. d4 Nxf5 23. Qxf5+ g6 24. Qg4 Bd7 25. Qf3 Bc6 26. h4 f5 27. h5 fxe4 28. Qg4
d5 29. Be3 g5 30. c4 exd4 31. Rxd4 Nf6 32. Qe2 Bxd4 33. Bxd4 Rb8 34. Re1 Rb4
35. Bxf6 Rxf6 36. cxd5 Bxd5 37. Bxe4+ Bxe4 38. Nxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. Ba2 Qd7 13. Nf1 h6 14. Nh4 Ne7 15. h3
d5 16. Qf3 Kh7 17. Ng3 c5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8
Rxa8 22. Rxe5 Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Nc6 24. Re1 Nd5 25. Ne4 b4 26. g4 Ra2 27. Kf1 f6
28. h4 Kg6 29. c4 Nc7 30. Be3 Ne6 31. h5+ Kf7 32. Re2 b3 33. Nc3 Nb4 34. Ne1
Bd6 35. Ne4 Be7 36. f4 Ra1 37. Kg2 f5 38. gxf5 Nd4 39. Bxd4 cxd4 40. Nd2 Nc2
41. Nef3 Ne3+ 42. Kf2 Bf6 43. Nxb3 Rf1+ 44. Kg3 Nxf5+ 45. Kg2 Rd1 46. Nc5 Ne3+
47. Kg3 Nf5+ 48. Kf2 Rb1 49. Ne4 Bd8 50. Ne5+ Kg8 51. Nc6 Bc7 52. b4 Bxf4 53.
b5 Be3+ 54. Kf3 Kf7 55. Ng3 Nd6 56. Ne5+ Kg8 57. Ng4 Rb3 58. Ne5 Rb1 59. Ra2
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg2 e5 4. c4 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Nf6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Qe3+ Qe7 10. Qxe7+ Kxe7 11. Bg5 Na5 12. Nd2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Ke6 14. Rac1
h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bxb2 17. Nxc7+ Kd6 18. Nxa8 Bxc1 19. c5+ Ke7 20. Rxc1
Rxa8 21. cxb6 axb6 22. Rc3 Nc6 23. a3 b5 24. Re3+ Kf8 25. Rb3 Nd4 26. Rd3 Nxe2
27. Kf3 Nc1 28. Rc3 Na2 29. Rb3 Ra4 30. Ne4 b4 31. axb4 Rxb4 32. Ra3 Nc1 33.
Nf6 Rb3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. e3 Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4 Be6 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Nbd2 O-O 14. Ne5 Rac8
15. Ndf3 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Nh5 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bd2 Rc7 19. Rfe1 Rd8 20. b3 h6 21.
a4 Bc5 22. Nd3 Rdc8 23. a5 Nf6 24. b4 Bd6 25. axb6 Rxc4 26. Bxb7 Rb8 27. Ra8
Nd7 28. Rxb8+ Bxb8 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. bxc5 Rxc5 31. Ra1 Rc2 32. Bf4 Bxf4 33. Ra8+
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. a4 Bb4 7. g3 c5 8. dxc5
Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Nbd7 10. Bg2 Nxc5 11. Nd2 Bd7 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Bxa4 14. Ra1
O-O 15. Be3 Nfd7 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 17. Rxa4 Nd6 18. Rb1 a6 19. Nxc4 Nb5 20. Rb3
Rfc8 21. Kf1 Rab8 22. Ke1 Rc6 23. Nb6 Rbxb6 24. Bxb6 Rxb6 25. Rab4 Rc6 26. c4
Nd6 27. c5 Rxc5 28. Rd4 Rc1+ 29. Kd2 Rc6 30. Rbd3 Nc5 31. Ra3 Kf8 32. Rh4 g5
33. Rb4 a5 34. Rb8+ Kg7 35. Ra1 a4 36. Ke1 Nb3 37. Rd1 Nc4 38. f3 Rb6 39. Rc8
Rb4 40. Ra8 a3 41. Ra7 Nba5 42. Ra1 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. Na5 b6 13. Nc6 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Nf6
15. Qc4 b5 16. Qb3 Qxc6 17. a4 b4 18. O-O-O d5 19. Bg5 Rd8 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21.
Bd3 Qb6 22. Kb1 Bc5 23. Rhe1 Kf8 24. Re2 Bd4 25. Ka2 h4 26. Red2 Be3 27. Re2
Bf4 28. c3 a5 29. cxb4 axb4 30. Bb5 Qd6 31. Rc2 d4 32. Rc6 Qe7 33. g3 Be3 34.
a5 Kg7 35. Qc4 Rd7 36. a6 f5 37. Rc5 Ra7 38. f4 f6 39. fxe5 fxe5 40. Qd5 Rc7
41. Qxe5+ Qxe5 42. Rxe5 Kf6 43. Rd5 hxg3 44. hxg3 Ke6 45. R5xd4 Bxd4 46. Rxd4
Rh3 47. g4 b3+ 48. Ka3 Ke5 49. Ra4 Ra7 50. gxf5 Kxf5 51. Bc6 Ke5 52. Bb7 Kd6
53. Rc4 Rg3 54. Kb4 Rg5 55. Rc6+ Kd7 56. Rc3 Kd6 57. Rxb3 Rxb7+ 58. axb7 Kc7
59. Ka4 Kb8 60. Rb5 Rg6 61. Ka5 Rh6 62. b3 Rg6 63. b4 Rh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 a6 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bh6 Rd8 16. Ng5 Nf8 17. a4 Rc5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. b4 Rc7 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. cxd5
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 h6 23. Nf3 Nxd5 24. Nd4 Re8 25. Nc6 Qc7 26. Bg2 Nf6 27. Qc4 Qc8
28. e3 N8d7 29. Bf1 b5 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qxb5 Qc7 32. Qa4 e6 33. b5 Rc8 34. Qd4
d5 35. Ra1 Qd6 36. Ra6 e5 37. Qa1 Re8 38. Qc3 Ne4 39. Qb2 Nef6 40. Nb4 Qc5 41.
Rc6 Qa7 42. Na6 Qb7 43. h3 h5 44. Nc7 Rb8 45. Qa2 d4 46. Bg2 dxe3 47. Rxf6
exf2+ 48. Rxf2 Qxc7 49. Qxf7+ Kh6 50. Bc6 Rd8 51. Qe7 Qb6 52. Kg2 e4 53. h4 e3
54. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Rc1
g6 9. h3 Qc7 10. g3 e5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bf4 Nfd7 13. e4 g5 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15.
exd5 Bg7 16. Qe2+ Kf8 17. d6 Qa5 18. Be3 b6 19. Bg2 bxc5 20. Bxc6 Rb8 21. dxc5
Nge5 22. Be4 Nxc5 23. O-O Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxh3 25. Rc5 Qa4 26. Bg5 Bxf1 27. Kxf1
Nd7 28. Be7+ Kg8 29. Rg5 h5 30. Nf6+ Nxf6 31. Bxf6 Rh7 32. d7 Qxd7 33. Bxg7
Rxg7 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7 35. Qe5+ Kg6 36. Qxb8 Qd1+ 37. Kg2 Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qxa2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Ng5 h6 6. e4 Bg4 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Be2
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e5 10. d5 Nd4 11. Be3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Nd7 13. O-O Bg7 14. b4 f5 15.
exf5 O-O 16. Qg3 gxf5 17. Bxh6 Rf7 18. Bg5 Qe8 19. Rac1 a5 20. Nb5 Nb6 21. bxa5
Rxa5 22. Qb3 Nxc4 23. a4 c6 24. Nc3 Rc5 25. Rfd1 e4 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. Ne2 d5
28. Nf4 Na5 29. Qg3 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Qe5 31. h4 Nc4 32. h5 e3 33. fxe3 Nd2 34. h6
Ne4 35. h7+ Kxh7 36. Qh4+ Kg8 37. Rxc6 Qa1+ 38. Kh2 Qxa4 39. Rg6 Qd7 40. Ne6
Qd6+ 41. Bf4 Qe7 42. Qh5 Nf2 43. Ng5 Ng4+ 44. Kh3 Rf6 45. Qh7+ Kf8 46. Rxf6+
Qxf6 47. Qh5 Ke7 48. Nf3 Qf7 49. Qg5+ Qf6 50. Nd4 Nf2+ 51. Kh4 Qxg5+ 52. Kxg5
Bxd4 53. exd4 Ke6 54. Be3 Ne4+ 55. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. f4 exf4 10. Bxf4 Ne5 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5
Qc8 15. h3 Qxf5 16. g4 Qg6 17. Bg2 h6 18. Rhe1 Rab8 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Rxe5 Rfd8
21. Qe2 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Rd8 23. Qf3 Bd6 24. Rf5 b5 25. a3 Re8 26. Kb1 Nd7 27.
Qc6 Re7 28. Qxa6 b4 29. axb4 Bxb4 30. Qc8+ Kh7 31. Nd5 Re1+ 32. Ka2 Qe6 33. Qc4
Bd6 34. Rf1 Re5 35. Rd1 g6 36. Kb1 Re1 37. Qd3 Nc5 38. Qd4 Qe5 39. Ka2 Qxd4 40.
Rxd4 Kg7 41. Nc3 Be5 42. Rc4 Ne6 43. Nd5 Rg1 44. Be4 Rg3 45. b4 Rxh3 46. b5 h5
47. gxh5 Rxh5 48. b6 Rh4 49. b7 f5 50. Bd3 Rxc4 51. Bxc4 Nc5 52. Ka3 Nxb7 53.
Kb4 g5 54. Bd3 f4 55. Be2 Kg6 56. Bg4 Nd6 57. Ne7+ Kf7 58. Nf5 Ne4 59. Bf3 Bc3+
60. Kb5 Nd2 61. Bg4 Kf6 62. Nd6 Be5 63. Nc4 Ne4 64. Kc6 Nf2 65. Be2 g4 66. Kd5
Bc3 67. Nd6 f3 68. Bxf3 gxf3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. h4 c6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Qxd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Ne4 14.
Rd4 Nxf2 15. Rg1 Ng4 16. a4 Re8 17. Bd3 h6 18. a5 Be6 19. Re1 Nf6 20. Ne5 Bd5
21. a6 b6 22. Re2 Bxg2 23. Rf4 Kf8 24. b4 Rad8 25. Ng6+ fxg6 26. Rxg2 Re5 27.
Rxg6 Rd6 28. Rf1 Rh5 29. Rfg1 Rd7 30. Rh1 Re7 31. Kb2 Rhe5 32. Rf1 Rh5 33. Rg4
Rhe5 34. Rc4 R7e6 35. Bg6 Rd6 36. Kb3 Ke7 37. Rcf4 Re3 38. Bd3 Rg3 39. R4f2 Re6
40. Kb2 Re5 41. Bf5 Ree3 42. c4 Re5 43. Rd2 c5 44. b5 Rge3 45. Rg2 Kf8 46. Rff2
Re1 47. Bg6 Rh1 48. Rf4 Re3 49. Rd2 Ke7 50. h5 Rg1 51. Rd3 Re2 52. Rff3 Rg5 53.
Rd1 Rgg2 54. Kb3 Rgf2 55. Rfd3 Re5 56. Rd8 Re1 57. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 15th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2006.03.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2006.03.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 8.
d4 Bb6 9. O-O dxe4 10. Nxc6 Qd6 11. Ne5 Ba6 12. Re1 c5 13. Na3 cxd4 14. Nac4
Qe6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16. cxd4 Nd5 17. f3 exf3 18. Nxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {This move has been efectuated by the President of Romania, Traian
Basescu, who mentioned in his characteristic cheerful manner that he had
received very clear indications to advance the king's pawn with two squares.
Later, reporter Florin Orban from Radio Romania International speculated about
the matter about who would the President receive "indications" from.} e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {
By refraining from his beloved Najdorf Sicilian and choosing the rock-solid
Berlin variation, Topalov gave the sensation that he aimed to take some
preliminary contact with a player whom he had only faced some 15 years ago in
a youth event, which also took place in Romania. However, this might be pure
speculation, since the Berlin variation occurs with increasing frequency in
the FIDE World Champion's games.} 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Ne4 h6 11. Nd4 $5 ({
Surprising ly, this active move has never been played before. The knight
enjoys only temporary stability in the centre, because after taking the
b5-square under control Black will be able to drive it away with ...c5. The
outcome of the battle greatly depends on White's possibility of provoking some
damage to the enemy position with the help of this knight, before it gets
attacked. The more common continuation is} 11. h3 Ng6 12. Re1) ({I have found
a game where, in spite of a different move order, White managed to obtain an
improved version of White's position after 14 moves. However, this was only as
a consequence of Black's careless play at some moment.} 11. Bf4 Ng6 12. Bg3 Be7
$6 ({Black should have prepared the transfer of the king to the queen side with
} 12... Bd7 $1) 13. Rad1+ Ke8 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. Rfe1 {Now, all White's pieces
are optimally placed, while the black king feels quite uncomfortable.} c5 16.
Nb3 b6 17. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 18. exf6 {with better chances for White, Dervishi-Zaja,
Austria 2003}) 11... b6 12. Rd1 ({This is a small concession White has to make
in order to prevent the enemy king from reaching absolute safety on the queen
side. Of course, he would prefer to place his rooks on the central files (d1
and e1), but} 12. Bf4 {(preparing the same setup as in the aforementioned game)
could be met by} c5 13. Nb5 Be6 14. Rad1+ Kc8 {and Black has little to
complain about.}) 12... Ke8 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bg3 ({White could threaten win a
pawn and threaten mate in one with} 14. Nxc6 $2 {just to resign one move later
after} Bb7 {when all his minor pieces would be handing.}) 14... Bb7 {White's
advantage of space and activity look impressive, but this is usually a
delusive sensation in the Berlin variation.} 15. f4 ({Nisipeanu decides to
include more forces into the attack. The tempting} 15. e6 {would have been
also double edged, because it would give up the advantage of space and would
help Black develop his king. For instance} a6 ({Threatening ... c5, with
simultaneous attack on both knights. If played immediately,} 15... c5 $2 {
would lead to disaster after} 16. Nb5 Bxe4 17. Nxc7+ Ke7 18. Rd7+ Kf6 19. Rxf7+
Kg5 20. Nxa8 {with some material advantage and, more important, a crushing
domination for White.}) 16. f3 $5 {(This move was suggested by Topalov
immediately after the game. White intends to maintain some stability in the
centre.)} c5 17. exf7+ Kxf7 18. Nf5 Ke6 19. Ne3 Rc8 ({The more radical} 19...
Bxe4 20. fxe4 c6 {is also entirely playable for Black. His king would feel
very comfortable under the shelter offered by the enemy e-pawn, while his
compact queen side mass of pawns could become dangerous if advanced gradually.}
) 20. Rd2 Be7 {and Black has a comfortable position because of his active pair
of bishops and the centralised king.}) 15... a6 16. f5 $5 ({White decides to
start concrete action, hoping to take advantage of his advance in development.
In the press centre,} 16. Re1 Rd8 17. Nf5 {was considered to be a better
alternative, but Nisipeanu indicated that Black can evacuate the dangerous
zone with} Kd7 {when the concentration of white forces on the king side has a
rather sterile character.}) 16... c5 {Once the long diagonal has been opened
for the bishop, Black can hope for adequate counterplay.} 17. fxg6 cxd4 18.
Rxd4 ({The only way to maintain the initiative.} 18. gxf7+ {would have the
drawback of allowing the enemy king to be activated with} Kxf7 {. The position
would suddenly become double-edged, for instance} 19. e6+ $5 ({An interesting
resource, suggested by IM Mircea Pavlov. After} 19. Rxd4 $6 Ke6 {Black is
definitely not worse in spite of his small material deficit. His king enjoys
safe centralisation, while his pair of bishops is more active than White's
minor's pieces. As for the e5-pawn, it will most likely be lost after the
previsible exchange of all rooks.}) 19... Kg6 $1 (19... Kxe6 $6 {looks
slightly risky. After} 20. Rxd4 {the king feels slightly uncomfortable in the
absence of the e-pawn. The attempt to win material with} c5 $6 {would only
weaken Black's sixth rank when after} 21. Rd2 Bxe4 22. Re1 {White would
recuperate the piece maintaining the more active position.}) {and now, in view
of the threat ...Re8, it would be time for White to think about equalitywith}
20. Rxd4 c5 21. Rd2 Bxe4 22. Re2 Bf5 23. e7 {when the prese nce of opposite
coloured bishops in a symmetrical position would make a draw the most probable
result.}) 18... fxg6 {With his poor development, Black cannot afford to
maintain the tension in this area.} 19. e6 ({White opens the diagonal for his
bishop, putting the whole black queen side under some danger. He would have no
winning chances after} 19. Rad1 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Bc5+ 21. Kf1 Rf8+ 22. Ke2 Rd8 {
either. His central pawn can be easily blocked and does not present any danger
even in the case of exchanging all rooks.}) 19... Rd8 $1 ({Black defends his
c7-pawn by indirect means and forces the exchange of one pair of rooks, which
reduces White's attacking potential. The other possible way to simplify the
position wouldbe} 19... Bxe4 $6 20. Rxe4 Bc5+ {(driving the king further from
the centre)} 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Bxd6 cxd6 {but after} 23. e7 Ra7 24. Rae1 {
Black would have big problems with the activation of his king's rook. White
would most likely find a favourable way to exchange his e-pawn for any Black
pawn from the sixth rank in order to obtain a better single-rook endgame.}) 20.
Rad1 Rxd4 21. Rxd4 Bxe4 {Now, this e xchange is well timed for reasons that
will be highlighted in the next comment.} 22. Rxe4 Bc5+ 23. Kf1 ({The king has
to get out of his castle because after} 23. Kh1 {Black would win a tempo with}
Rf8 {anyway in view of the weakness of the first rank, not protected by
White's other rook any more.}) 23... Rf8+ 24. Ke1 (24. Ke2 {looks more active,
but would hardly chance anything if Black plays in the same way as in the game.
Instead of that,} Ke7 $2 {would be bad because after} 25. Bxc7 Rf2+ 26. Kd3
Rxg2 27. b4 {the bishop have to leave his king alone against the concentrated
action of White's pieces, for instance} Bg1 28. Bd6+ $1 Kd8 29. Rf4 Rf2 {
and now, apart from the fact that the bishop ending is easily winning for
White, the forced sequence} 30. Rf8+ Rxf8 31. e7+ $1 {queens immediately.})
24... Bd6 25. Bxd6 cxd6 {In spite of the mass simplifications, White seems to
maintain some initiative.} 26. Rc4 ({White has no better way to attack the
enemy queen side.} 26. Rb4 {(suggested by IM Vlad Barnaure) can be met by} b5
27. a4 ({In case of} 27. c4 $6 Rf4 28. b3 d5 {White can get the worse position
already.}) 27... Rf5 {and White cannot make any progress.}) 26... Rf5 $1 {
This simple move solves all Black's problems.} 27. Rc8+ ({White's intended} 27.
Rc6 {can be adequately met by} Rc5 {with general exchanges and an obvious draw.
}) 27... Ke7 28. Rc7+ Kxe6 29. Rxg7 Re5+ {Remarkably, the black rook is
supported by the own pawns along the whole fifth rank. In order to escape from
checks, the king has to hide passively behind his pawns, which would hardly
look like a winning attempt. I am not sure whether a draw was agreed here or
after some more checks, because after Black's 25th move the electronic
transmission of the moves was broken.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 {Nisipeanu refrains from his main weapon against
3.Nf3, the Queen's Indian, probably finding himself under the impression of
Topalov's brilliant achievements in this opening during the past years.} 4. Nc3
Be7 {But only this was meant to be the real surprise for Topalov. Prior to
this game, Nisipeanu had played the Orthodox Queen's Gambit only once in his
life, at the youth Balkaniad back in 1993. As a coincidence, his opponent in
that game was also Bulgarian: Vladimir Georgiev. Topalov might have expected
the Vienna variation (4...dxc4) or the Semi-Slav (4...c6), which occured
occasionally in the European Champion's games along the past years. For
instance, he defeated Topalov's second, Silvio Danailov, in the Meran in the
B-group of the Wijk aan Zee festival in 2000.} 5. Bf4 ({From strict strategic
point of view, the classical} 5. Bg5 {might seem sounder, because it increases
the pressure over the d5-square. By choosing 5.Bf4, White usually gives up any
ambitions regarding the influence over the centre and aims for animated minor
piece play instead. We can draw a similar parallel in the open games, between
the Ruy Lopez and the Italian Game. The modern history of 5.Bf4 started in
1978, when Kortschnoj repeatedly employed it during his World Championship
match against Karpov. In spite of the fact that Karpov generally managed to
hold his own, it could be felt that there was a lot of potential behind
White's setup.}) 5... c5 ({The counter-attack in the centre based on the
advance of the c-pawn is a logical consequence of the lack of pressure against
the d5-pawn. However, Black usually inserts the moves} 5... O-O 6. e3 {and
only now plays} c5 {. Topalov had some recent experience against it:} 7. dxc5
Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. cxd5 $5 ({He also used the classical move} 9. Qc2 {,
Kortschnoj's favourite, but after} Qa5 {he chose the modern} 10. Nd2 {instead
of the more established 10.Rd1. The game soon took a very interesting course:}
Bb4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bg3 dxe3
17. Rae1 Be6 18. fxe3 Nde7 19. Nd6 b6 20. Rb1 {and White's numerous pawn
weaknesses were compensated by his hyper-activity in Topalov-Kasimdzhanov,
Linares 2005. Black's queen soon got into big trouble, causing him decisive
material losses.}) 9... Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O d4 13. e4 Bc7
14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. h3 Qb6 16. b4 Be6 17. Rc1 h6 18. Qd2 {with a more pleasant
position for White in Topalov-Morozevich, San Luis 2005. The early attack of
the centre by means of 5...c5 chosen by Nisipeanu has never made part of the
main stream of theory, but suddenly became popular in 2005. The European
Champion might have relied on the fact that his mighty opponent had awarded
this variation less time during his home preparation than to the main lines.})
6. dxc5 Na6 {Black intends to capture the c-pawn without the loss of tempo
implied by Be7xc5.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. e4 $5 ({It appears that it is
not so easy to surprise the World Champion in the opening! Topalov played this
new move relatively quickly, leaving little doubt about the fact that he had
prepared it at home. Previously,} 9. e3 {had been played, when after} Nxc5 10.
Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. O-O O-O {White retains the more pleasant but not
necessarily better position.}) 9... O-O {However, Nisipeanu had done his
homework properly, too, since he played this move rather quickly. We could
hardly dream for a more promising start of the game.} 10. exd5 Bxc5 {This
looks like a deviation from Black's initial intentions, but, given the new
circumstances, the capture with the knight might have put less pressure on
White, allowing him to keep his strong central pawn without having to make any
major concessions. After the text move, the white king is vulnerable along the
e-file and the e1-a5 diagonal. White has to act carefully.} 11. Be2 ({Played
solidly. The attempt to accelerate the rhythm of his development with} 11. Bxa6
$6 {would be a typical mistake, allowing} Qa5+ $1 12. Nd2 Qxa6 {when White
would have serious problems getting castled, while his d5-pawn would lack
satisfactory defence. In caseof} 13. Qe2 {, Black could maintain the tension
with} b6 $5) ({The consolidation of the d5-pawn by means of} 11. Bc4 {would
have allowed Black deprive his opponent from the right to castle in more
economic way than in the game with} Re8+ {. After the apparently modest
development of the bishop to e2, it is obvious that Black has compensation for
the pawn in view of his slight lead in development. However, finding the right
path through the jungle of variations is far from easy for both sides.}) 11...
Bb4+ ({Instead of trying to win his pawn back, Nisipeanu forces White to give
up the idea of castling, hoping that this would ensure him long term
compensation. Black had several ways of striving for material equality, but
apparently only one of them would have been satisfactory. In case of} 11... Nc7
$6 {White could safely give up his active bishop with} 12. Bxc7 (12. d6 {
would not save the pawn after} Ne6 13. Bg3 Qa5+ 14. Nd2 Qb4 {eventually
followed by ...Rd8 if for any reasons ...Bxd6 would not work.}) 12... Bb4+ 13.
Nd2 Qxc7 14. O-O {and although Black can hope to hold on because of his firm
blockade on d6, this looks like a rather one-sided affair.}) ({Going for the
b2-pawn with} 11... Qb6 $6 12. O-O Qxb2 {looks pretty risky in view of} 13. Be5
{when the black king side starts looking vulnerable, while the d5-pawn
considerably restricts Black's activity.}) ({The attempt to improve upon this
last line with} 11... Qa5+ $6 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. O-O Qxb2 {would be refuted by}
14. Rc1 {followed by Bc3, with similar consequences.}) ({However, the simple} 
11... Nb4 12. d6 Be6 {suggested by IM Mircea Pavlov looks a satisfactory way
of solving the opening problems. Black threatens ...Nd5 followed by the
capture on d6. It is not very clear whether White could retain even some
symbolic advantage in the symmetrical ensuing position. IM Francisc Nemeth
suggested} 13. Ng5 {as a possible refutation of Black's plan, but after} Qf6 {
White risks losing stability. In a brief statement for the Radio made after
the game, Nisipeanu mentioned that at some moment he deviated from his initial
analysis because he thought that there would be a better possibility for him.
Judging from the fact that he invested some time in taking the decision of
giving check, we could assume that this was the moment he referred to.}) 12.
Kf1 Bd6 {This pawn has to be safely blocked. Besides, the bishop was obviously
misplaced on b4. White needs three whole tempi in order to get castled in
artificial way, for instance h4, Kg1-h2. This strongly suggests that Black has
at least adequate compensation for the sacrificed pawn. However, things are
not that simple. First of all, White can do perfectly well without connecting
his rooks yet, since he has the plan based on the advance of the h-pawn at his
disposal. This could lead to the activation of the rook either directly (after
h4-h5 and Rh4) or indirectly (in case of Black's ...h6, there would always be
a possibility of a knight jump to g5 sustained by the h4-pawn, when the
opening of the h-file would be dangerous for Black. Besides, Black's
development is not that impressive yet, while his king's position is quite
vulnerable. All these aspects make the position quite difficult to evaluate
and, more important, to play over-the-board.} 13. Bg5 $5 ({White cannot afford
to allow Black to develop naturally. With his last move, Topalov underlines
the fact that the enemy queen has problems finding adequate squares. The
neutral retreat} 13. Be3 {would have offered Black a good position after} Bf5 {
followed by ...Rac8.}) 13... Qa5 ({Only ulterior analysis will reveal the
objective merits of this move, but my personal feeling in this moment is that
it is one of the main reasons for Black's ulterior problems. The queen will be
very exposed on the queen side, allowing White the radical activation of his
forces without loss of time. We can see a similar picture after} 13... Qb6 14.
Nd2 Qxb2 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. Rc1 {eventually followed by Bd3 and Bd2-c3, when the
black king would start feeling unsafe, while some of the other pieces are
hanging.}) (13... f6 $6 {is hardly a solution either. The weakness of the
e6-square would leave White with a permanent advantage in case of returning
the pawn by means of Nd4-e6, followed by g3 and Kg2.}) ({However, the
awkwardly looking} 13... Qd7 $5 {deserves serious attention. Black plans to
concentrate his forces against the d5-pawn with ...b6, ...Bb7, ...Nc7 and, if
allowed, ...Rad8. This looks like a rather slow course of events, but we
should not forget that White is also several tempi away from completing his
development.}) 14. a3 Nc7 ({With the queen on a5, this move has obvious
drawbacks, by cutting HerMajesty's retreat. In the press centre the normal
developing move} 14... Bd7 {suggested b y IM Andrei Cioara was considered to
be a satisfactory continuation, and if} 15. b4 {then} Qa4 {followed by the
occupation of the c-file. Abstractly speaking, this looks very logical. Indeed,
Black intends to take advantage by the passivity of the h1-rook by initiating
active operation on the opposite wing. However, after} 16. Nd2 {followed by
Nc4 or Ne4 Black would face concrete problems because of his lack of stability
on d6.}) 15. Bc4 b5 16. b4 Qb6 17. Bb3 {Generally speaking, Black should be
content with the fact that White has made absolutely no progress with the
development of his king side yet. However, the quality of development of all
his other pieces is better than Black's. For instance, the g5-bishop denies
the rooks access to d8, while his colleague exterts some potential pressure
along the a2-g8 diagonal, which could count in certain tactical lines.
Comparing with the similar position that could have arisen after 13...Qd7,
Black's position looks less harmonious. His queen is vulnerable and actually
not so active on the left wing.} a5 {A logical move, activating the a8-rook.}
18. Be3 ({Now that there is a point of tension on b4, White decides to
transfer his bishop to the queen side. In the press centre, the main worries
were connected with} 18. Rc1 {when after} Bb7 19. Be3 Qa6 20. Ng5 {the threat
Qd3 with a strong attack would be very unpleasant. In case of} h6 {, besides
jumping with the knight to e4, White could renew his initial threat with} 21.
h4 {when Black's position looks critical. In certain cases, the intrusion of
the rook to c6 would reveal the hidden force of the b3-bishop.}) 18... Qb7 19.
Bc5 ({Topalov chooses a safe continuation, increasing his domination in the
centre. The alternative would have been} 19. Ng5 {with the threat Qd3, when
after} Bf5 20. g4 Bg6 21. h4 {Black could survive with} Rfe8 22. h5 Be4 {
although after} 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 {White should be better. The only trap he has to
avoid is} 24. Qf3 $2 Nxd5 25. Qxe4 Nxe3+ {winning tones of material for Black.}
) 19... Bxc5 $3 ({Nisipeanu pl ayed this completely unexpected move after long
thinking. The objective merits of the exchange on c5 are hard to judge without
thorough analysis, but the double exclaim mark attached to the move refers to
Black's courage of changing the generally unfavourable course of events by
radical and apparently highly risky means. Consolidating the d6-square would
leave White free hands on the opposite wing, for instance} 19... Rd8 20. Ng5
Bf5 21. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 22. Qf3 g6 23. g4 {and Black is in dire straits. The
careless} Bxc5 $2 {only makes things worse because of the discovered check} 24.
d6+ {, winning the queen.}) ({Or, similarly,} 19... Ra6 20. Qd3 h6 21. h4 axb4
22. Ng5 f5 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. d6+ Kh8 25. d7 Bxd7 26. Qxd7 {and now, in view of
the threat Nf7+ followed by Qxf5+, Black has to play} Qc8 {defending the
f5-square and hoping for survival, although his position still looks
precarious because of the weakness of the light squares around his king.}) 20.
bxc5 a4 21. Ba2 b4 22. axb4 Qxb4 {This is the position Nisipeanu was aiming
for. White's pawns look impressive, but because of his delay in development
they could become vulnerable, too. In the following phase of the game, the
World Champion proved his ability of adapting himself to the new circumstances
by returning one of the pawns at the right moment in order to complete his
development and maintain an edge.} 23. Qd4 Na6 24. c6 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Nb4 26. Ke2
$3 ({Even though we cannot draw any definitive conclusion about the concrete
position on the board, I believe that it is safe to consider this to be the
key move of the game. The d5-pawn will be lost, but for the first time in the
game it will be White who will enjoy the better development, because of his
more active king. Finding himself in slight time trouble already, Nisipeanu
will fail to find satisfactory ways in what could be a defensible position.
One of the merits of White's last move is that it refrains from "winning" a
piece with} 26. d6 Rd8 27. d7 {. Indeed, after} Bxd7 28. cxd7 Rxd7 29. Nf3 Nxa2
30. Rxa2 Rd1+ 31. Ne1 Re8 32. Re2 Ra8 {White's devel oping problems would
persist and Black would have little trouble forcing a draw, for instance} 33.
f3 Ra1 34. Kf2 a3 35. Rf1 a2 36. Nc2 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 a1=Q+ {with complete
equality.}) 26... Nxa2 27. Rxa2 Ba6+ 28. Kd2 Bc4 29. Ra3 Bxd5 30. c7 $1 {
White needs to keep the d8-square under control, preventing Rfd8 in order to
ensure the knight's stability in the centre. Besides, this pawn will be a
permanent threat for Black. If White will manage to install his knight on d6,
Black would be completely paralysed.} Be6 ({The regrouping initiated by this
move fails to solve all Black's problems. Capturing the g2 pawn with} 30...
Bxg2 {would have made some sense. Black would probably not be able to
sacrifice the exchange for the c-pawn, but in certain cases giving up his
bishop and starting a king side counter-attack might be just sufficient for a
draw. The presence of the a-pawn would also cause White some loss of time
during the process of defending his other wing. However, from a practical
point of view it is rather difficult to take such a decision.}) 31. Nb5 Bd7 ({
This move does not really cross White's plans. More stubborn seems to have been
} 31... Ra5 32. Rb1 Bd7 33. Nd6 Ra6 {when the white king would be too far from
the centre yet to ensure the stability of his knight.}) 32. Nd6 g6 ({Black
deci des to activate his king and avoid any back rank problems at the same
time. The counterplay initiated by} 32... Ra6 33. Rd3 a3 {would fail to the
simple} 34. Nc4 Be6 35. Nxa3) 33. Rc1 Kg7 34. Rc4 $5 ({White intends to keep
both wings under control. Just as after the opening, Black has to permanently
watch the possibility of possible rapid king side attacks. However, the
immediate activation of the white king was also possible, for instance} 34. Ke3
{(Avoiding the d-file in order to prevent ...Ra6, which could be answered now
by the simple c8=Q)} Kf6 35. Kd4 Ke7 36. Kc5 Ra6 {and now the simple} 37. Re1+
{reduces Black's previous efforts of centralisation to nothing.}) 34... Ra6 35.
Rd4 $5 ({Another interesting moment. Topalov probably rejected} 35. c8=N {
because of} Rd8 {when Black could hope to give up one of his rooks for the
enemy knights at the right moment and then defend his a4-pawn by placing his
bishop on b3, which would lead to a draw.}) 35... Ra7 36. Ne8+ $1 {A simple
tactical operation, leading to a very promising double-rook ending.} Rxe8 37.
Rxd7 {With the simple threat of Rd8} Raa8 ({The most stubborn answer. In case
of} 37... Rc8 {White would launch an irresistible attack with} 38. Rf3 a3 39.
Rdxf7+ Kh6 (39... Kg8 {allows} 40. Rf8+ {when the c-pawn would promote.}) 40.
Rh3+ Kg5 {and now} 41. f4+ Kg4 42. Rg3+ {followed by Rxh7 leads to mate.}) 38.
Kc3 {The decisive centralisation.} Kf6 39. Kb4 Ke6 40. Rd4 ({From practical
point of view, this looks like the safest method. White threatens Re3+,
followed by the exchange on e8 and Rd8, ensuring the promotion of the pawn.
However, the apparently double edged} 40. Rad3 {would have been sufficient for
a win, too after} a3 41. Rd8 a2 42. Rxe8+ Rxe8 43. Re3+ Kf6 44. Rxe8 a1=Q 45.
c8=Q {and the white king will hide from checks on the eighth or seventh rank
of the queen side.}) 40... Ke5 $6 ({This last mov e in time trouble makes
things easier for White. At some moment, it was considered to be the decisive
mistake in a difficult position, but apparently other moves did not save the
game either.} 40... Rec8 {would have given White the possibility of displaying
impressive rook activity with} 41. Re3+ Kf6 42. Rf4+ Kg7 43. Re7 a3 ({or} 43...
Rf8 44. Ka3 {followed by Rxa4, with a winning rook ending. Black's king would
be just one step too far.}) 44. Rfxf7+ Kg8 (44... Kh6 {leads to a curious
mating attack after} 45. Rxh7+ Kg5 46. h4+ Kg4 47. Re4+ Kf5 48. Rhe7 $3 {
threatening g4 followed by R4e6 mate.}) 45. Rg7+ Kf8 46. Rxh7 Kg8 47. Reg7+ Kf8
48. Rd7 Kg8 49. Rhe7 a2 50. Re1 {when the least White will obtain would be a
winning rook ending with two extra pawns.}) ({Or if} 40... f5 {, clearing the
f7-square for the king, then} 41. Re3+ Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kf8 43. Rxe8+ Kxe8 44. Rxh7
{again with an obvious win.}) 41. Rc4 Rec8 ({IM Mircea Pavlov suggested} 41...
Ke6 42. Kc5 Kd7 43. Kb6 Kc8 {in order to block the pawn with the king, as
generally recommended in the endgame. However, this method would not have
saved the game here because of Black's complete passivity. After} 44. Re3 $1 {
suggested by IM Nemeth, Black cannot avoid mate on the eighth rank (either on
e8 or d8). Remarkably, Black would have maintained chances to save the game in
case of the absence of his a-pawn, which would have allowed starting efficient
counterplay based on ...Ra1.}) 42. Kb5 Kd5 43. Rc2 {being reduced to complete
passivity, Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Nbd7 8.
Ng3 g6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Qd3 Nc5 11. Qc4 Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Rc8 14. b4 Ncd7
15. Qxc7 Rxc7 16. c4 h5 17. f3 a5 18. bxa5 Bh6 19. Bb6 Nxb6 20. axb6 Rc5 21.
Bd3 Be3 22. a5 Bd4 23. Ra3 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 Bc3+ 25. Ke2 Bxa5 26. Rb1 Nd7 27. Ne4
Ke7 28. c5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 dxc5 30. Ra1 Bxb6 31. Rb1 Bc7 32. Rxb7 Kd6 33. Ra7 Rb8
34. Bc4 f5 35. Kd3 Rb4 36. Ra6+ Bb6 37. Kc3 e4 38. fxe4 fxe4 39. Ra8 Kd7 40.
Rg8 Ba5 41. Rg7+ Kc8 42. Rg8+ Kc7 43. Ra8 Ra4+ 44. Kb3 Rb4+ 45. Kc3 Ra4+ 46.
Kb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O (8... Qb6 {Sehr interessante Varianten entstehen nach} 9. Be3 $5 (9.
f3 {sichert den stabilen Vorteil} Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Rxd4 a6 $14 {->7....
Qb6}) (9. Nb3 O-O 10. f3 Rd8 11. Nb5 Rd7 12. Qe1 a6 13. N5d4 $14) 9... Ng4 $8 {
Mit einer Folge von einigen Zügen kann sich Schwarz ins Remis retten:} 10. Nxc6
(10. Ndb5 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 12. fxe3 O-O 13. Nxd6 Rd8 $44) 10... Nxe3 (10...
Qxc6 $4 11. Bb5 $18) 11. Nxe7 Nxd1 12. Na4 (12. Bb5+ $2 Kxe7 13. Qg5+ Kf8 14.
Rxd1 a6 $17) 12... Qxf2 (12... Qc7 13. Nxc8 Rxc8 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. Rxd1 $18) 13.
Qxd6 Bd7 $1 (13... Ne3 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Kf8 16. Ng6+ Kg8 17. Qf8+ Rxf8
18. Ne7#) 14. Nc5 Ne3 $1 15. Qxd7+ (15. Bd3 Qxg2 16. Qxd7+ Kf8 {->15.Qd7})
15... Kf8 16. Bd3 Qxg2 17. Re1 (17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18. Re1 Qg5 $15) 17... Qf2 (
17... Qg5 $2 18. Qxb7 Rd8 19. Nc6 Ng2+ 20. Kb1 Nxe1 21. Nd7+ Kg8 (21... Ke8 22.
Nde5 Qf6 23. Nxd8 $18) 22. h4 $3 Qxh4 23. Nde5 $18) 18. Rd1 (18. Rh1 Qg2 $11)
18... Nxd1 19. Qd6 Qe3+ 20. Kxd1 Qg1+ 21. Ke2 (21. Kd2 Qg5+ 22. Kd1 Qxe7 $19)
21... Qg2+ 22. Ke1 Qg1+ $11) 9. f4 (9. f3 a6 10. h4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b5 12. Kb1
$132 {Ist die andere Hauptvariante, die zu kompliziertem Spiel, ähnlich dem
Englischen Angriff im Najdorf, führt.}) 9... Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. h4 $5 {
Ein sehr seltener Zug, der anscheinend die Wirkung eines Überraschungseffektes
hatte - nach wenigen Zügen stand Weiß fast schon auf Gewinn.} (11. Bc4 {
ist die uralte klassische Variante.} Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 (13. Qxe5 Qb6 14.
Qe2 Bc6 $132) 13... Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 $14 {
Die Stellung ist sehr kompliziert und wurde schon tausend Mal gespielt,
allerdings hat Weiß hier etwas bessere Chancen.}) 11... e5 (11... h6 {Stellt
keine konkrete Drohung auf, da das Nehmen auf g5 sehr gefährlich ist.} 12. Kb1
Rd8 13. Be2 (13. g4 $5) 13... a6 14. Bf3 b5 15. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 16. e5 dxe5 17.
Qc5 Rb8 18. Ne4 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bxh4 20. Nd6 $1 Qb6 (20... Bd7 21. Nb7 $18) 21.
Qxb6 Rxb6 22. Nxc8 Rb8 23. Na7 exf4 24. Rd6 $16 {Dvoyris - Aseev (UDSR, 1990)})
12. Qe3 exf4 $6 {Das sofortige Nehmen ist zweifelhaft. 12....Be6 kommt in
Betracht.} (12... Be6 $5 13. f5 $5 (13. a3 exf4 14. Bxf4 {Hier entsteht die
Stellung wie in der Partie, nur dass Weiß statt den d6 Bauer zu gewinnen, a3
gezogen hat. Was natürlich vorteilhaft für Schwarz ist.}) (13. Bxf6 $2 exf4 14.
Qxf4 Bxf6 $17) 13... Bxa2 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. g4 $44) (12... h6 $2 13. Nd5 $1 (
13. Bxf6 $2 exf4 $1 (13... Bxf6 14. f5 $16) 14. Qxf4 Bxf6 15. Rd5 Qc7 16. Qxd6
Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Be6 $44) 13... Nxd5 $8 14. Rxd5 Bxg5 (14... Qc7 15.
Qg3 $1 $16) 15. hxg5 Qxa2 16. gxh6 Qa1+ 17. Kd2 Bg4 18. Qg3 $1 Qd1+ 19. Ke3
Qc1+ 20. Rd2 exf4+ 21. Qxf4 Qe1+ 22. Kd3 f5 23. Kd4 $3 {/\Bc4} Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4
fxe4 25. Bc4+ Kh7 26. Ke3 $16) 13. Bxf4 Be6 (13... Rd8 14. h5 h6 (14... Bg4 15.
Be2 $16) 15. Bc4 Bg4 16. Rdf1 Rac8 17. Bb3 $14 {Die weißen Figuren schauen
alle in Richtung des schwarzen Königs, was ja sowieso sehr unangenehm ist. Und
wenn man dann noch gegen Topalov spielt, dann sollte man solche Stellungen
überhaupt vermeiden.}) 14. Bxd6 {Eiskalt!} Bxd6 (14... Ng4 15. Qf4 Bxd6 16.
Rxd6 Rac8 17. Rxe6 Rxc3 (17... fxe6 18. Qxg4 $18) 18. bxc3 fxe6 19. Qxg4 Qxa2
20. Kd2 Rd8+ 21. Bd3 $18) 15. Rxd6 Rac8 ({Nach} 15... Bxa2 {war wohl} 16. Rxf6
$3 {geplant} gxf6 17. Rh3 Kh8 18. Qh6 Rg8 (18... Qe5 19. Nxa2 $18) 19. Qxf6+
Rg7 20. Rg3 Rag8 21. Rg5 $1 Qc7 22. Nxa2 $18) 16. a3 Rc6 {Der Turm auf d6
stört zwar sehr, aber wenn man ihn auf diese Art los wird, bleibt man einfach
mit einem Minusbauern ohne kompensierendes Gegenspiel. Allerdings ist es auch
nicht einfach, etwas anderes zu finden.} (16... Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Be2 $16
) (16... Rfe8 17. Be2 Bf5 18. Rd4 (18. Rxf6 $5 gxf6 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. exf5 Rxc3
21. Qxc3 Qxc3 22. bxc3 Rxe2 23. Rd1 Rxg2 24. Rd7 $14) 18... Qb6 19. Bf3 $16) (
16... Qe5 $5 17. Rd2 (17. Qd4 Qf4+ 18. Qd2 Qe5 19. Rd4 b5 $5 $13) 17... Rc5 18.
Be2 $14) 17. Rxc6 bxc6 18. Be2 $16 {Schwarz hat zwar noch ein kleines
Gegenspiel gegen den Bauern e4 und evtl. auf der b-Linie, das reicht aber
nicht aus, um den weißen Mehrbauern vollständig zu kompensieren.} Nd7 19. Rd1
Qc7 20. g3 Rb8 21. Qd4 Qxg3 22. Qxa7 Nf6 23. Kb1 h5 24. a4 Bg4 25. Bxg4 hxg4
26. Qd4 Qxh4 27. e5 Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Rg1 Qh2 30. Rxg4 Rc8 31. Rxg7+ Kh8
32. Rg4 Rc4 33. Qd1 Rxg4 34. Qxg4 Qxe5 35. c3 Kh7 36. Qd4 Qe6 37. a5 f5 38. b4
Qe2 39. Qxd5 Kg6 40. Qd6+ Kg5 41. a6 f4 42. Qc5+ Kg4 43. a7 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {Topalov insists on using his own pet line with active play before the
pieces have been developed. White feels some discomfort since his pieces will
have to be regrouped.} 9. Nce2 e5 10. Nb3 Nc6 11. Ng3 {The knight eyes the
perfect square f5, but two other concepts have been tried against this set up.
Both begin with pawn advances, but one is aimed at queenside 11.c4 and the
other one at the kingside 11.g4.} (11. c4 Be6 (11... Be7 12. Ng3 g6 13. Bd3 Nd7
14. Rd1 O-O 15. Qf2 a5 16. O-O a4 17. Nc1 Nc5 18. Bb1 Qc7 $11 {0-1 Kramnik,V 
(2753)-Topalov,V (2778)/Sofia 2005/ (34)}) 12. Ng3 Be7 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 a5
15. Rd1 Rc8 16. Bd3 a4 17. Nc1 d5 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Ba6 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 $16 {
1/2 Varga,Z (2525)-Papp,G (2474)/Austria 2005/ (53)}) (11. g4 h6 12. Ng3 Be6
13. h4 (13. Rd1 g6 14. Qf2 Qc7 15. h4 h5 16. g5 Nd7 17. Bd3 Be7 18. Nd2 $15 {
1/2 Papp,G (2474)-Valeanu,E (2398)/Belfort 2005/}) (13. O-O-O Qc7 14. Kb1 a5
15. h4 a4 16. Nc1 d5 17. Bb5 d4 18. Bf2 Qb6 19. Qe2 Ra5 20. Bc4 $11 {1/2
Sakelsek,T (2418)-Kurnosov,I (2517)/Cappelle la Grande 2006/ (58)}) 13... d5
14. exd5 Nxd5 15. O-O-O Qc7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 O-O-O 19. Nf5 g6
20. Ng7 $14 {1-0 Naiditsch,A (2626)-Palac,M (2574)/Warsaw 2005/ (48)}) 11...
Be6 12. O-O-O Qc7 (12... Be7 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 d5 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. h4 d4 17.
Bxf6 Bxf6 18. g4 e4 19. Qf4 O-O 20. g5 Be5 21. Qxe4 $16 {1/2 Morozevich,A 
(2721)-Grischuk,A (2717)/Monte Carlo 2006/ (37)}) 13. f4 $146 {Svidler is
often inspired at the board, White certainly understands the need to act
quickly before Black manages to finish his kingside development.} (13. Kb1 a5
14. Bb5 a4 15. Nc1 Qb7 16. Bxc6+ Qxc6 17. Nd3 Rb8 18. b3 Qb5 19. f4 Be7 20.
fxe5 dxe5 $15 {1-0 Borisek,J (2509)-Gallagher,J (2544)/Gothenburg 2005/ (35)})
13... h5 $1 14. h4 a5 15. f5 $6 {Dubious decision, since the structure in the
center will now favour Black. White has no way of quickly benefitting from the
weakness of the d5 square.} (15. fxe5 $5 dxe5 16. Bb5 Be7 (16... a4 17. Na5 Bd7
18. Nc4 $14) 17. Nc5 Bg4 $11) 15... Bd7 16. Kb1 Rb8 17. Be2 Na7 (17... Be7 18.
Qd3 a4 19. Nd2) (17... a4 18. Nc1 Be7 19. Bf3 a3 $13) 18. Bxa7 $5 {Both
players might have regretted their last moves to some degree. Topalov has won
the bishops pair, but White will now act a bit on white squares.} Qxa7 19. Qd3
Bb5 20. Qf3 (20. Qxb5+ Rxb5 21. Bxb5+ Ke7 $17) 20... Bc6 $1 21. Nd2 Qc5 22. Nb3
Qb6 23. Nd2 Be7 $1 24. Nc4 Qc5 25. Ne3 a4 26. Bc4 Bd8 (26... Ng4 27. Nxg4 hxg4
28. Qe2 $13) 27. b3 $6 {Svidler is too willing to fix his structure, it seems
better to wait for a3 with 27.Rd3 keeping the queenside bit more closed.} (27.
Rd3 a3 28. b3 Rc8 $15) 27... Bb6 28. Rd3 axb3 29. cxb3 (29. axb3 $2 Ra8 $17) (
29. Bxb3 Bb5 $17) 29... Ra8 30. Rc1 Qa5 31. Rc2 Ke7 $5 {Topalov certainly
knows no fear when going for win, the king in the center is less safe than it
may seem.} 32. Nd5+ $2 {Svidler has missed his chance to force equality with
the better version of the same idea.} (32. Bd5 $1 Bb5 (32... Bxd5 $2 33. Nxd5+
Nxd5 34. Rxd5 Qa7 35. f6+ $1 $18) 33. Bxa8 Bxd3 34. Nd5+ Nxd5 35. f6+ $1 (35.
Qxd3 Nc3+ 36. Rxc3 bxc3 $19) 35... gxf6 (35... Nxf6 36. Nf5+ Kf8 37. Qxd3 Bc7 (
37... Bc5 38. Nxd6 g6 39. Bc6 $16) 38. Nxd6 Kg8 39. Bb7 Bxd6 40. Qxd6 Kh7 $11)
36. Nf5+ Kf8 37. Qxd3 Nc3+ 38. Rxc3 (38. Ka1 Bd4 39. Nxd4 exd4 40. Bd5 Qc5 $17)
38... bxc3 39. Qxd6+ Kg8 40. Qxf6 c2+ 41. Kxc2 Qxa2+ 42. Kc1 Qa3+ 43. Kc2 Qa2+
$11) 32... Bxd5 (32... Nxd5 $2 33. Bxd5 Bxd5 34. f6+ $1 $18) 33. Bxd5 Rac8 34.
Rxc8 (34. Bc4 Bd4 35. Rcd2 Rxc4 36. bxc4 b3 37. Re2 bxa2+ 38. Rxa2 Rb8+ 39. Rb3
Rxb3+ 40. Qxb3 Qe1+ 41. Kc2 Qf2+ 42. Kb1 Qg1+ 43. Kc2 Qxg2+ 44. Kd1 $11) 34...
Rxc8 35. Bc4 Rh8 $1 (35... Qc5 36. Nxh5 Qg1+ 37. Rd1 (37. Kc2 Nxh5 38. Qxh5
Qxg2+ 39. Kd1 Rxc4 40. bxc4 Qxe4 $17) 37... Nxe4 $1 38. Rxg1 Nd2+ 39. Kc2 Nxf3
$15) 36. Rd2 Qc5 37. Qd1 $2 {The time trouble takes it´s toll, the defender
has missed the best chance for showing true resistance.} (37. Rc2 Qg1+ 38. Rc1
Qe3 39. Be2 Qxf3 40. Bxf3 Bf2 41. Nf1 Kd7 $15) 37... Ba7 $6 (37... Qe3 $1 38.
Rd3 (38. Rxd6 Bd4 $19) 38... Qf2 39. Qc2 (39. Rxd6 Bd4 40. Rxd4 Qxd4 41. Qxd4
exd4 $17) 39... Rc8 40. Qxf2 Bxf2 $17) 38. Rc2 Qe3 39. Bd3 $1 Bc5 40. Qf3 Rd8
41. Be2 Qf4 (41... Qxf3 42. Bxf3 g6 43. fxg6 fxg6 44. Ne2 $15) 42. Nxh5 (42.
Qxf4 exf4 43. Nxh5 Nxe4 44. Nxf4 Nc3+ 45. Rxc3 bxc3 46. Nd5+ Kf8 47. Bb5 (47.
Nxc3 Re8 $15) 47... g6 $13) 42... Qxh4 (42... Qxe4 43. Nxf6 Qxf3 44. Ng8+ $1
Rxg8 45. Bxf3 Kf6 46. Be4 Rh8 47. g3 $15) 43. Nxf6 gxf6 $1 {Topalov has great
phantasy in playing for win, opposite coloured bishops can be very unpleasant
for the white king.} 44. g3 Qg5 45. Qg4 Rh8 $1 (45... Qxg4 46. Bxg4 Rg8 47. Be2
Rxg3 48. Bc4 $11) 46. Qxg5 fxg5 47. Bg4 $1 {Fortunatelly for white this
defensive set up is very difficult for breaking up.} Kf6 48. Rc1 Rh2 49. Rc2
Rh6 (49... Rxc2 50. Kxc2 Bf2 51. Kd3 Bxg3 52. Kc4 $11) 50. Rc1 Bf2 51. Rd1 $1
Kg7 (51... Ke7 52. Rd3 Rh2 53. f6+ Kxf6 54. Rxd6+ Kg7 55. Rd2 Rh1+ 56. Rd1 Rh8
57. Rd3 Be1 $17) 52. Rd3 Bd4 (52... Rh1+ 53. Rd1) 53. Kc2 Kf6 54. Rd2 Rh1 55.
Rd1 Rh8 56. Kd3 $1 {Finally the worst is over for Svidler and the rest is not
so difficult for him.} Rc8 57. Ke2 Rc3 58. Rd3 Rc5 59. Bf3 $15 Ke7 60. Rd2 Rc3
61. Rd3 Rc8 62. Rd2 Rh8 63. Kf1 Rc8 64. Ke2 Rg8 65. Kf1 Rh8 66. Rc2 Bc5 67. Kg2
Kf6 68. Be2 Rh7 69. Rc1 Rh8 70. Rc2 Rh7 71. Rc1 Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. c3 h6 11. Nbd2 (11. a4 {would transpose to our game from
Monaco, but it isn´t necessary to commit the a-pawn yet.}) 11... Bf8 12. a3 d6
13. Ba2 Nb8 14. b4 (14. Nh4 {was Topalov´s choice against Adams, but 7 years
later (!) he tries another approach}) 14... c5 15. Nb3 Nc6 16. Rb1 {Trying to
create some veiled threats on the b-line.} (16. Be3 a5 $1 17. bxc5 a4 {This
looks fine for Black}) 16... Bc8 $1 {The standard manouver in the
Anti-Marshall. The bishop has done its duty on b7 and can now neutralize Ba2.}
17. Be3 Be6 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Qb2 c4 (19... Nd7 {seems like a reasonable
alternative}) 20. dxc4 Bxc4 {Sane and solid.} (20... Nxe4 $5 {The computers go
for this of course} 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Bxh6 $5 Nxc3 $1 23. Qxc3 gxh6 {But the
comps have a point. The pair of bishops and the centrepawns should be more
relevant than some imaginary white kingside attack.}) 21. Nbd2 Bxa2 22. Qxa2 d5
23. Rbd1 d4 24. cxd4 exd4 25. Nb3 $6 (25. Bf4 $5 {Seems a much better chance,
especially as white can even fight for the initiative if Black plays the
principled:} Qd7 (25... a5 26. bxa5 Qxa5 {When} (26... Nxa5 27. Qb2) 27. e5 $1
{Followed by e6 annoys in time, before a3 starts dropping.}) (25... Re6 26. Qb1
) 26. Qb1 Rcd8 {leads to a complex position}) (25. Nxd4 Nxd4 26. Nb3 {leads to
equality.}) 25... Nxe4 26. Bxd4 $2 {This is the real mistake. with 26 Qb2!
white could still certainly keep the damage within limits.} Nxd4 27. Rxd4 Ng5
$1 28. Ne5 (28. Rxd8 Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 Rxe1+ 30. Kg2 Rxd8 $19) (28. Rxe8 Nxf3+ 29.
gxf3 Qxe8 $17) 28... Nxh3+ 29. gxh3 Qg5+ 30. Kh2 Qf5 $3 {However some exact
calculation finishes the game much more efficiently.} (30... Rxe5 31. f4 Qg6
32. Rxe5 Rc2+ 33. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 34. Nd2 {Leaves Black with a technical task.}) 31.
Rde4 (31. Qe2 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 Qxf2+ 33. Kh1 Rc3 $1 34. Rh4 Bd6 $1 $19) 31... Rxe5
$1 32. Rxe5 Bd6 33. Nc5 Bxe5+ 34. Kg2 Rc6 35. Qb3 Rg6+ 36. Kf1 Bg3 {36...Rg3!?
is maybe flashier, but this certainly is good enough. White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The clash between Topalov and Ponomariov is usually highly interesting: they
always succeed to complicate things no matter of the situation on the board.
In this game too, both opponents were playing for a win an interesting
position, which nevertheless was all the way balanced and about equal.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 a6 {The move orders in modern chess
become more and more flexible. The present game seemed to start with either
Nimzo or Queen's Indian, then Queen's Gambit, transposing into Semi-Slav and
finally we have a popular nowadays mix of Meran with Chebanenko Slav. Notice
that a top GM should be well prepared against all these systems. For instance
in our case before reaching the position after 5th move, Ponomariov had to be
prepared to play against Queen's Indian, Queen's Gambit and Meran, while
Topalov had to be ready against White's possible choices of Nimzo Indian,
Catalan and the sharp 5.Bg5 in the Semi-Slav. Each of these openings contains
a huge amount of theoretical variations...} 6. c5 {Just like in the Chebanenko
Slav, this advance (played first by Euwe in the World Championship Match 1935
versus Alekhine) represents the most ambitious continuation, being the most
commiting move at the same time. It must be mentioned though, that the
inclusion of moves e3/e6 is crucial and the arising positions here are
completely different than those after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5.}
(6. b3) ({and} 6. Qc2 {are the main alternatives, which also have their
drawbacks.}) 6... b6 {In my opinion this is the strongest continuation, which
underlines the main difference from the Chebanenko Slav: here the inclusion of
moves e3/e6 enables Black to fight against White's queenside space advantage 
(thanks to the open diagonal of the Bf8).} (6... Nbd7 7. b4 {secures White a
slight, but rather stable advantage.}) 7. cxb6 (7. b4 $2 a5 $17) 7... Nbd7 {
Black's main strategical goal in this structure is to advance ...c5.} ({
A reasonable alternative looks} 7... Qxb6 8. Na4 Qa7 9. Bd3 Nbd7 $5 {which
wasn't tested in practice yet}) 8. Na4 (8. Bd3 c5 $11) 8... Nxb6 9. Bd2 (9. Bd3
Nxa4 ({not} 9... Bd7 10. Nc5 $1) 10. Qxa4 Bd7 11. Qc2 ({or} 11. Ne5 c5 12. Nxd7
Qxd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7) 11... Qb6 12. Ne5 c5 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 {must be about equal.})
(9. Nc5 Bxc5 10. dxc5 Nbd7 $132) 9... Nxa4 10. Qxa4 Bd7 {This move was
mentioned in the World Championship 1935 matchbook as yielding White the
bishop pair and for that reason the entire variation was considered
insufficient for Black. In fact the strongest move 10...Bd7 offers Black very
good chances to equalize.} (10... Qb6 $6 {is inferior due to} 11. Rc1 Bd7 12.
Ne5 Qxb2 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bd3 Rb8 15. Ke2 {and White had a big advantage in
1-0 Euwe,M-Alekhine,A/Netherlands 1935/ (69).}) 11. Ne5 ({After} 11. Qc2 {
Black has a rather pleasant choice between} Qb6 ({or} 11... Ne4 12. Bd3 Nxd2
13. Nxd2 Bd6 14. Nb3 a5 15. O-O h6 16. Rac1 O-O 17. Nc5 Bc8 18. Be2 Qc7 19. g3
Bxc5 20. Qxc5 Ba6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P (2626)-Krivoshey,S (2495)/Germany
2003 (33)}) 12. Rc1 Rb8 $11 13. Ne5 (13. b3 Ba3 14. Rd1 Ne4 $15) 13... Ne4 14.
Nc4 (14. Nxd7 Kxd7 $36) 14... Qb7 15. Bd3 Nxd2 16. Nxd2 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18.
O-O Bd6 $15 {1-0 Vennemann,H-Wellenreiter,H (2480)/ICCF corr 1998 (38)}) 11...
Ne4 $146 {Typicaly, when given an opportunity Veselin finds a way to
complicate matters. Topalov's move has the idea to send White's bishop to a5
and eventually provoke f2-f3. However, White can try to take advantage from
all this as well.} ({White is only marginally better after} 11... c5 12. Nxd7
Qxd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 {In spite of White's bishops pair, Black has easy
development and will create pressure on the b-file.}) 12. Ba5 c5 $8 (12... Qc8
$2 13. Rc1 c5 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. f3 Nf6 17. dxc5 $18) (12... Qb8
$2 13. b4 $16) 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. f3 Nf6 16. Rc1 {Ruslan is
correctly trying to use the position of the bishop on a5 in his favour.} (16.
dxc5 {justifies Topalov's play. After} Bxc5 {[%csl Re3] Black benefits from
the weaknesses created by 15.f3.}) 16... c4 $5 (16... cxd4 {temporarily
handles over the initiative to White. Nevertheless it seems that Black can
neutralize it:} 17. Rc7+ (17. exd4 Bd6 $11) 17... Kd6 ({Even} 17... Ke8 {
might be playable:} 18. exd4 Bd6 19. Rb7 Nd7 20. Kf2 Ke7 {[%cal Gh8b8]}) 18.
exd4 (18. Rxf7 dxe3 $13) 18... Be7 19. Rc2 (19. Kd2 Bd8 20. Rc5 Bxa5+ 21. Rxa5
Rhb8 22. b3 Ng8 $5 $132 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gg8e7,Ge7c6]}) (19. Rc5 Kd7 20. Rc2
Rhb8 $11 {[%cal Ge7b4]}) 19... Rhc8 {and White is just marginally better.}) 17.
b3 Rb8 $5 {Initiative at all costs. Topalov sacrifices a pawn for that purpose.
} ({Again a quieter continuation was a reasonable alternative, although
White's chances are slightly preferable after} 17... cxb3 18. Rc7+ Kd6 19. axb3
Be7 {[%cal Ge7d8]} 20. Rc1 $1 (20. Rb7 Nd7 21. Bd3 (21. Bb4+ $2 Kc6) 21... Rhc8
{[%csl Rb7][%cal Gd6c6]} 22. Kd2 Kc6 23. Rc7+ Rxc7 24. Rc1+ Nc5 $11)) ({
Another possibility to sacrifice a pawn was} 17... Ba3 18. Rc3 Rhb8 19. bxc4
Rb1+ 20. Kd2 Bb2 21. Rc2 dxc4 22. Rxc4 Ra1 $44) 18. bxc4 Bb4+ 19. Bxb4 Rxb4 20.
c5 {One should not ask Ponomariov twice: he immediately uses the opportunity
to create such a long-term advantage as the protected passed pawn.} (20. Bd3
dxc4 21. Rxc4 Rxc4 22. Bxc4 Rc8 23. Bb3 Rc1+ 24. Bd1 Ra1 25. a4 Nd5 26. e4 Nc3
({or} 26... Ne3) 27. Kd2 {leads to a draw}) ({Deserved attention} 20. Kd2 Rb2+
21. Rc2 Rb1 22. c5 h5 $5 (22... Rhb8 23. g4 {[%cal Gf1g2]}) 23. g3 {and
although the control of the b-file secures Black compensation, it is unclear
if it is enough to hold the balance.}) 20... Rb2 ({Bad is} 20... a5 $2 21. a4
$1 $16) ({but} 20... Rhb8 21. Bxa6 Ra4 (21... Rb2 $2 22. O-O Rxa2 23. Ra1 $16)
22. Be2 Rxa2 23. Kf2 Rbb2 24. Rhe1 Kc7 (24... h5 $2 25. Rb1 $16) 25. Rb1 Rc2 {
was an interesting alternative, since it is difficult for White to make
progress.}) 21. a4 Ra8 22. Be2 (22. Bd3 Ra2 (22... Rxg2 $6 23. Be2 Rb8 24. Kf1
$16) 23. Bc2 (23. O-O $5) 23... Rb8 24. Kd2 Rb4 (24... Rbb2 25. Kc3 $16) 25.
Rb1 (25. Kc3 Rc4+ 26. Kb3) 25... Rc4 (25... Rbxa4 26. Rb7+ Ke8 27. Rhb1 $132)
26. Rhc1 Kc7 $44) (22. Ra1 Kc6 $5 (22... Kc7 23. Be2 e5 24. Kf2 exd4 25. exd4
Re8 26. Rhe1 a5 27. Kf1 Rd2 28. Bb5 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Kd8 30. c6 $36) 23. Be2 e5
24. Kf2 Rab8 25. Rhe1 exd4 26. exd4 Ne8 $44 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Ge8c7]}) 22... Kc7
(22... Ra2 23. Kf2 Rxa4 24. Ra1 (24. Rb1 Kc7 25. Rb2 Nd7 26. Rhb1 Rb8 $11)
24... Rxa1 25. Rxa1 a5 26. Bb5+ Kc7 27. Ke2 $14) 23. Rf1 (23. Kf2 {doesn't
work:} Rab8 24. Ra1 a5 25. Rhe1 R8b3 {and White is paralyzed.}) 23... Rab8 24.
Rf2 R8b3 $132 {[%csl Re3]} 25. Bxa6 Rxe3+ 26. Kf1 Rb4 27. Ra2 Reb3 $1 {Topalov
rightly keeps control over the b-file.} (27... Rxd4 {allows} 28. Rb1 $132) 28.
Rd1 Ng8 $1 {The knight goes to e7 and then inevitably comes either to c6 or f5,
attacking pawn d4.} 29. a5 (29. Bb5 Ne7 30. Be8 $5 Nf5 31. Kg1 f6 32. Rad2 {
is too passive. Black has the advantage after} Rb2) 29... Ne7 30. Be2 Nc6 ({
Another equal variation could be} 30... Nf5 31. a6 Kb8 $1 ({No time for} 31...
Ne3+ 32. Kg1 Nxd1 33. a7 $18) 32. Rc1 (32. a7+ Ka8 33. Rc1 Nxd4 34. c6 Rb1 $17)
32... Rb1 (32... Nxd4 $2 33. c6 Rb1 34. c7+ Kc8 35. a7 Rxc1+ 36. Bd1 $18) (
32... Ka7 $5) 33. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 34. Kf2 Nxd4 35. Bd3 Rb3 (35... Rc1 $2 36. Rb2+
$16) 36. Bxh7 Ka7 37. Bg8 f6 38. Rd2 Rb4 39. Ke3 Nf5+ 40. Kf2 Nd4 41. Ke3 $11)
31. a6 Kb8 $1 32. Rad2 Ra3 33. Kf2 g5 {Topalov is playing for a win and I
suspect that Ponomariov was happy with such a decision.} (33... Raa4 34. Ke3
Ra3+ 35. Kf2 $11) 34. h4 $1 gxh4 (34... h6 35. hxg5 hxg5 36. Rh1 $132) 35. Rh1
Rxd4 (35... Nxd4 $6 36. Rxh4 e5 37. Rxh7 $16) 36. Rb2+ (36. Rb1+ {Interesting
was trying to keep the rook on the second rank, for instance:} Kc7 (36... Rb4
37. Rxb4+ Nxb4 38. Rb2 Ra4 $13 39. Bd1 $140 $2 Ra2) (36... Kc8 $5) 37. Rb7+ Kc8
38. Rdb2 $16 {and Black cannot create counterplay. However, in this case White
had to reckon with 36...Rb4~~.}) 36... Kc7 (36... Rb4 $2 37. Rxb4+ Nxb4 38. Rb1
Ra4 39. Bd1 Ra2+ 40. Kf1 $18) 37. Rhb1 (37. Rb7+ Kc8 38. Rhb1 Rd2 $132) 37...
Ne5 (37... Nd8 $6 38. c6 $5 $36) 38. Rb8 Kc6 $1 39. Rc8+ Kd7 40. Rg8 {Time for
Ponomariov to show his aggressive intentions.} (40. Rcb8 {threatens mate in
two and forces a draw by repetition:} Kc6 41. Rc8+ Kd7 42. Rcb8 $11) 40... Ke7
({Still} 40... Kc6 {would have probably lead to repetition and an immediate
draw.}) 41. Rb7+ Kf6 42. a7 {White wins the knight by force, but even this is
doesn't break the balance.} Rda4 43. c6 $1 Nxc6 44. Bb5 Ra2+ 45. Kg1 Rxa7 46.
Bxc6 Rxb7 47. Bxb7 {Finally the position is clarified: White cannot convert
his extra bishop: black king protects well the pawns, while the king from g1
is unable to enter actively into play. The position is a draw.} h5 $1 {[%csl
Rg4] An important resource. Without this pawn White would have won easily 
(either the rook comes to g4, or the king to h3).} 48. Kh2 (48. Rh8 Kg5 49. Rh7
Kg6 $11) 48... Ra1 {Now the move Kh3 is not possible due to mate on h1.} 49.
Bc6 Rc1 {The simplest method - the bishop does not have a stable central
square and therefore White cannot create any activity.} 50. Bb5 Rb1 51. Be2 Re1
52. Ba6 Ra1 53. Bd3 Rd1 54. Bh7 {Finally the bishop found a shelter. However,
there is no clear plan how to improve further anyway.} d4 {Now the pawns can
become a target for attack, but thanks to the fact that White cannot include
the king into play, Black easily protects them.} 55. Rb8 Kg7 56. Rb1 Rd2 ({
There is no need to even calculate} 56... Rxb1 $2 {which allows White to free
the king.}) 57. Be4 f5 58. Bb7 e5 59. Rb5 ({After} 59. Kh3 d3 {White's king
still cannot join the action.}) 59... Kf6 60. f4 (60. Kh3 d3 61. Kxh4 Rxg2 $11)
(60. Bc8 Rc2 61. Bd7 d3 62. f4 e4 63. Rxf5+ Kg7 $11) 60... e4 61. Bc8 d3 62.
Rxf5+ Kg7 63. Rg5+ ({After} 63. Re5 Rc2 {again it is vital that the bishop
cannot use square g4. An amazing variation is} 64. Bf5 d2 65. Rd5 e3 66. Bxc2
e2 67. Rg5+ Kf6 68. Rf5+ Kg7 69. Rg5+ $11) 63... Kf6 64. Rf5+ Kg7 65. Rg5+ Kf6
66. Rf5+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {An interesting psychological
moment. Both players are specialists of this system with White. See for
instance their interesting games against Aronian played at Linares in 2006.}
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 {A relatively rare variation, brought into the attention of
theoreticians by Viktor Kortschnoj.} 7. Bd2 ({The most common answer. Caught
by surprise, Polugajevsky did not react too accurately with} 7. Qd3 {and
allowed his opponent obtain a nice position after} Ne4 8. Bd2 f5 9. Bg2 Nc6 10.
d5 Nd8 11. O-O Nf7 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. a4 d6 {, Polugaevsky-Kortschnoj, Linares
1985}) ({The newest try consists of ignoring the threat with} 7. Bg2 {. In the
only game where this was played so far, Black declined the sacrifice, but
failed to equalize completely:} cxd4 (7... Qxc3+ 8. Bd2 Qxc4 9. dxc5 {offers
White obvious compensation, but has to be checked concretely.}) 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9.
Qd3 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O O-O 12. c4 Qa6 13. Bb2 Qxc4 14. Qxc4 dxc4 15. Rfc1
Re8 16. e3 Be6 17. Nd2 Nb4 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nxc4 Rac8 20. Nd6 {with a small
but persistent advantage for White in Moiseenko-Epishin, Albox 2005.}) 7... O-O
({Topalov deviates from} 7... b6 {where both players had some experience with
White.} 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O O-O 10. d5 ({The most active continuation. Black had
no problems after} 10. Qb3 Qa6 11. Bg5 Ne4 12. d5 d6 13. Rad1 Re8 {
Topalov-Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2003}) 10... Qa6 11. Re1 $5 Ne4 12. Qc2 f5 13. Ng5
exd5 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 fxe4 17. Qxe4 Nc6 18. Qd5+ Rf7 19.
Bf4 Re8 20. e4 Na5 {and the control of the c4-square counter-balanced White's
superiority on the other wing in Bacrot-Ponomariov, Cap d'Agde 2003.}) 8. Bg2
Nc6 9. O-O Qa6 10. Ne5 d5 $5 {An interesting moment. In the Nimzo Indian, the
control of the c4-square is more important than the weak pawn itself. This
explains why Topalov willingly allows his opponent get rid of the doubled
pawns.} 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Bf4 cxd4 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. cxd4 b6 ({Same policy.
Black prepares to increase the pressure against the c4-square by means of ...
Ba6, thus completing his development at the same time.} 14... Qxc4 $6 {would
have left Black behind in development after} 15. Qxc4 dxc4 16. Rfc1) 15. Rfc1
Ba6 16. cxd5 Qxc2 17. Rxc2 Nxd5 18. Bd6 Rac8 19. Rac1 Rxc2 20. Rxc2 Rd8 21. Ba3
f5 22. e3 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Bxd5 $6 ({Quite surprising. White had no need
to force a draw so soon. He could have parried the threat ...Nc3xa2 with} 24.
Bd6 {and then centralise his king and prepare the pawn break h3 and g4. In
spite of Black's stability in the centre and of his queen side majority,
White's pair of bishops would have offered him the better chances.}) 24... exd5
25. Bd6 Kf7 26. Bb8 a6 27. Bc7 b5 28. a3 g5 29. f4 g4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Marin} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {Marin: Given the fact that
Topalov himself included the a6-Slav in his repertoire recently, Kamsky's
opening choice can be regarded as double-edged. From psychological point of
view, Topalov could possibly face slight problems playing "against himself",
but on the other hand, one would expect that he is well-versed in all the
subtleties of this variation.} 5. c5 {Marin: This is one of the most ambitious
continuations. White not only prevents in radical way Black's plan to win
space on the queen side by means of ...b5, but also takes under control the
b6-square, which has just been weakened on the previous move. We can see a
similar way to meet ...a6 in other closed variations. For instance, in the
Swiss Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, characterized by the moves 1.
d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 a6!?, one of
White's main options is 8.c5. After 5.c5 from the Slav Opening, the queen side
position usually remains blocked for a long while. The pawn break ...b6 would
leave the c5-square weak (here we can notice the small damaged caused by the
advance of the a-pawn: Black cannot meet cxb6 with ...axb6 any more) while
White's plan based on b4, a4, b5 is too time consuming for the moment. These
aspects transform the centre into the main theatre of operations, with the
pawn breaks e4 and ...e5 as the main topic.} Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 {Marin: 'Black
does not tolerate the bishop on this active square. One of the ideas behind
playing ...Nbd7 at such an early stage is to take the e5-square under control
in order to prevent (or, better said,discourage) Be5, which would caused Black
some lack of coordination if he had played ...g6 instead.'} 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Rc1
{A rare move, prepared by Topalov especially for the tournament in Sofia. That
was a very inspired decision, as it brought Topalov two very important
victories.  The idea of 8.Rc1 is that in some concrete variations the rook on
c1 is more useful than the queen on c2.} ({For instance, after the common
continuation} 8. Qc2 {Black can play} g6 9. h3 (9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11.
Qxe4 Nf6 $11) 9... Qc7 (9... Bg7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. e3 Ne4 {is a reasonable
alternative} (11... Ne8 $14)) 10. g3 e5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 {and Black often can
develop the B on f5 with tempo:} 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Bf5 $5 13. Qb3 Nd7 $13)
12... Bf5 13. Qd2 Nfd7 $13) 8... g6 ({Several days later Bacrot played} 8... e5
{but didn't solve the problems and quickly got an worse position:} 9. Nxe5 Nxe5
10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Na4 Nxe5 12. Bc3 f6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 Qd7 16.
h4 $1 $36 {1-0 Topalov,V (2804)-Bacrot,E (2708)/Sofia BUL 2006/D-TWIC 477-603 
(42)}) (8... Qc7 9. g3 $5 e5 (9... g6 $6 10. Bf4 $14 {/+/-}) 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11.
Bf4 {leads to unexplored complications.}) 9. h3 {Marin: 'Aiming to ensure
stability to the bishop on the h2-b9 diagonal.'} Qc7 {Recommended by Korchnoi
and played by Topalov recently, 9...Qc7 has some certain drawbacks, though. It
is designed to prevent opponent's dark-squared bishop from occupying the
diagonal b8-h2. A common reaction from White is 10.g3 and then in order to
justify his play Black must continue 10...e5, but as we'll see in that case
with the rook on c1 (instead of the queen on c2) concrete variations favour
White. Another approach after 10.g3 is to allow White Bf4, like Kamsky did in
the present game. However, losing time in order to provoke g2-g3 doesn't look
particularly attractive and therefore 9...Qc7 can hardly be the optimal choice.
} ({An important alternative is} 9... Bg7 10. Bf4 Ne4 (10... O-O 11. e3 Ne4 ({
Insufficient is} 11... Ne8 12. Be2 (12. Bd3 f6 $1 {leads to the game
Kasparov-Genius 3, Cologne 1995, where the opening result favoured Black. That
game pointed out the drawbacks of developing the bishop on d3.} 13. e4 {Marin}
e5 {The position becomes very sharp now. During the next sequence of moves,
one of the greatest players of the history was completely outplayed by a
machine.} 14. dxe5 Nxc5 15. exd5 fxe5 16. Be3 Nxd3+ 17. Qxd3 e4 18. Qxe4 Nf6
19. Qc4 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Be6 21. O-O Bxd5 {with a huge advantage for Black, who,
nevertheless went on losing as a consequence of exagerated greediness in
Kasparov-Comp Chess Genius 3.0, Cologne 1995.}) 12... Nc7 13. O-O Re8 14. Bg5
$1 $14) 12. Be2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 b6 14. cxb6 Qxb6 15. O-O $14 {1-0 Graf,A (2646)
-Kuraszkiewicz,M (2304)/Germany 2003 (46)}) 11. e3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 (12. Rxc3 O-O
13. Be2 Re8 14. O-O e5 15. Bh2 exd4 16. exd4 {1/2-1/2 Golod,V (2571)-Kritz,L 
(2578)/Las Vegas 2006}) 12... Qa5 13. Be2 e5 $5 $13 {0-1 Roussel Roozmon,T 
(2419)-Kritz,L (2578)/Las Vegas 2006 (78)}) 10. g3 {Marin: 'White insists with
the idea of developing the bishop on f4, which Black cannot prevent actually.'}
Bg7 {Looks like the best continuation under the circumstances.} (10... e5 {
played by Topalov two months prior to the present game is much too risky:} 11.
Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Na4 $1 $13) 12... Nfd7 13. e4 $5 ({
More ambitious than} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg2 Bg7 15. O-O O-O 16. e4 $14) 13... g5
(13... Bxc5 14. dxc5 O-O 15. Bg2 Nxc5 16. O-O $44) 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. exd5 Bg7
16. Qe2+ (16. Bg2 O-O 17. O-O $36) 16... Kf8 17. d6 Qa5 18. Be3 b6 19. Bg2 $13
{1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2650)-Topalov,V (2801)/Monte Carlo MNC 2006 (38)} (19.
Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf1c4]})) (10... Nh5 $6 11. Bg2 e5 $2 12. dxe5 $16 (12. Nxe5
Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 Nikolov,S (2407)-Rusev,K (2412)/Velingrad 2004} 14.
g4 Ng7 15. b4 Bxb4 16. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qxe5 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nc4 $16) 12...
Nxe5 $140 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bc3 $18) 11. Bf4 Qd8 {Marin: 'It
might seem that Black has just lost two tempi. However, precisely these two
moves (g3 and h3) cause some slight contradiction: The bishop's development on
f4 has been enabled, but its stability on the h2-b8 diagonal is not too
reliable.'} (11... Qa5 12. Qd2 Nh5 13. Bg5 Nhf6 14. Bg2 h6 15. Be3 $16 {
1-0 Filip,L (2385)-Nevednichy,B (2302)/Timisoara 2005 (33)}) 12. Bg2 ({The
alternative} 12. g4 Ne4 {is less problematic for Black.}) 12... Nh5 (12... O-O
{Maybe Black should have castled first in order to prevent a quick e2-e4.}) 13.
Bg5 h6 14. Bd2 O-O 15. e4 $1 $14 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nhf6 ({Kamsky suggested} 16...
Ndf6 17. Nc3 Nd5 {as a possible alternative. However, White's chances are
preferable after} 18. O-O Nhf6 19. Re1 $14) 17. Nc3 Re8 {Kamsky's idea is to
clear square f8 in order to transfer the knight from d7 to d5. This is
somewhat slow and leaves White with more space.} ({The principled continuation
is} 17... e5 18. dxe5 Re8 19. O-O (19. Be3 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Rxe5
22. Rd8+ Re8 {looks acceptable for Black}) 19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 {and after
the strongest} 21. Na4 {Black must choose between a slightly inferior position
after} (21. Bf4 Qxd1 22. Rfxd1 Re8 $11) 21... Nd5 ({the positional exchange
sacrifice} 21... Rd5 $5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 {The players had different opinions
about it: Topalov thought that Black has sufficient compensation, while Kamsky
preferred White here.}) ({or the sharp complications:} 21... Bxh3 22. Bxh3 Rd5
23. Rc2 Ne4 24. Nb6 Nxd2 {although here too, after} 25. Re1 {White's chances
are preferable}) 22. Bc3 Re8 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 $14) 18. O-O Nf8 ({After} 18... e5 {
White can choose between} 19. Be3 {(which was Topalov's intention)} ({or} 19.
dxe5 {leading to variations from 17...e5, see the previous annotation.})) 19.
Qb3 $1 {Pointing out Black's problems with his queenside.} Ne6 20. Be3 Nc7 $1
21. Ne5 Nfd5 22. Nxd5 (22. Bd2 Be6 $1 {and White cannot take on b7:} 23. Qxb7
$2 Bxe5 24. Nxd5 (24. dxe5 Rb8 25. Qxc6 (25. Qa7 Qc8 $19) 25... Bd7 $19) 24...
Rb8 25. Qxc6 Bd7 $17) (22. Rfd1 $5) 22... Nxd5 23. Bd2 {Marin: 'In spite of
Black's control of the d5-square, White has strong pressure. For Black it will
be not easy to develop his queen side.' Kamsky succeeded to exchange a pair of
knights and decrease from White's advantage, nevertheless Black still has
problems to develop his queenside.} Bxe5 {This radical solution would have
been acceptable in case of a quick ...Be6, but Black does not have time for
that.} ({Variations like} 23... Qc7 24. Rfe1 Be6 (24... Rd8 25. Nc4 $16) 25.
Nxg6 Qc8 {can hardly work. White has few attractive possibilities:} 26. Ne5 ({
Good is also} 26. Rxe6 $5 Qxe6 27. Ne5 $44) 26... Nf4 (26... Bxh3 27. Bxd5 cxd5
28. Qxd5 $16) 27. d5 $1 Nxd5 (27... Bxd5 28. Bxd5 Nxd5 29. Rc4 $40) 28. Nc4 $14
) (23... Be6 $2 24. Qxb7 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Rb8 26. Qxc6 $18) 24. dxe5 h5 {
Unfortunately, before playing ...Be6 Black must spend time for a lot of other
moves.} 25. Rfe1 Qc7 {Protecting b7 and finally being ready for ...Be6.} 26. e6
$1 {Opening the position.} Bxe6 27. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 28. Re1 $16 {Two strong
bishops and a lot of weaknesses in Black's position (especially around his
king) secure White a wonderful compensation for the exchange).} Qd7 ({In
Shipov's opinion, best chances to defend would have offered the move} 28... e5
{and then} 29. Bc3 ({Weaker is} 29. Bxd5+ cxd5 30. Qxd5+ e6 31. Qe4 Qf7 32. Bc3
Rad8 33. Qxe5 Kh7 $13) 29... e6 30. Bxe5 Qf7 31. Be4 $44) 29. Qd3 Kh7 (29...
Kg7 30. Bc3+ $16) 30. Re5 {White's attack goes very smoothly.} Nf6 31. Qe3 Kg7
32. Be4 $1 Kf7 (32... Nxe4 33. Rxe4 $18) 33. Bc2 Rad8 $6 ({More stubborn is} 
33... Rg8 34. Qh6 Raf8 35. Bc3 $16) 34. Qh6 Rg8 (34... Qxd2 35. Bxg6+ Kg8 36.
Rg5 $18) 35. Ba5 Qd4 $2 {Loses at once.} ({Relatively best was} 35... Rg7 {
although after the simple} 36. Bxd8 Qxd8 37. Bb3 Nd5 38. Rxe6 $16 {White has a
huge advantage.}) (35... Rdf8 36. Rg5 $18) 36. Bc3 $18 Qc4 37. Bb3 Qd3 38.
Bxe6+ Ke8 39. Kg2 Rf8 40. Qg7 Rd5 41. Bf5 Rf7 42. Rxe7+ (42. Rxe7+ Rxe7 (42...
Kxe7 43. Bxf6+ Ke8 44. Qg8+ Rf8 45. Qe6#) 43. Qh8+ Kf7 44. Qxf6+ Ke8 45. Qh8+
Kf7 46. Qg7+ Ke8 47. Qg8#) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {In spite of the small disaster from Morelia and
Linares, Svidler remains faithfull to his beloved Gruenfeld. His persistence
will be fully rewarded.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 ({Black chooses one of the oldest systems of
development, employed by such players like Botvinnik and Fischer. Of course,
the forced variations arising after} 10... Bg4 11. f3 Na5 {would entirely suit
Topalov's style of play (and home preparation).}) ({In Linares, Svidler tried} 
10... Na5 {against the same opponent, but failed to solve the opening problems.
}) 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Bf4 ({This move started becoming very popular in the late
eighties. Previously,} 12. Qd2 {was considered to be the main move. The
greatest specialist of the past with this system, Boris Spassky, always played
f4 in this variation, immediately or after such preparatory moves as 12.h3 or
12.Qe1. Quite successfully, I must say, since he twice inflicted two painfull
defeats to his successor to the champion's throne: Robert Fischer.}) 12... Qd7
13. d5 Na5 14. Bd3 {The black knight certainly looks awkward on a5, but Black
plans to make the d6-square available for it, by either ...e5 or ...e6 and ...
exd5.} b5 15. Rb1 a6 16. c4 ({A novelty by Topalov and, possibly, not a very
adequate one! The knight is allowed to get into play without having to spend
additional time. The main continuation is} 16. Qc1 {, removing the queen from
the d-file and taking two important dark diagonals under observation (in view
of the possible threats Bh6 and Qa3).}) 16... e6 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Qd2 (18. cxb5
exd5 {would allow Black obtain strong counterplay in the centre.}) 18... Nxc4
19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. d6 {If White will manage to consolidate this pawn, his
chances would be obviously better, but this will not happen.} Bb7 21. Qe3 f6
22. Bh4 g5 23. Bg3 f5 {This is the kind of positions where we can see why one
likes to play the Gruenfeld. The position is very hard to control by White.}
24. Qxg5 Bxe4 25. Rb6 Qd8 $1 ({By exchanging the queens, Black avoids any
dangers regarding the slightly exposed position of his king.} 25... Bd3 {
would be less clear after, say,} 26. Re1 e5 27. Nc3 {followed by Nd5.}) 26.
Qxd8 Raxd8 27. Rd1 Rd7 {It becomes clear now that Black has a big advantage.
His powerfull pair of bishops control the numerous weak square available in
White's camp, while the c-pawns are not easy to block.} 28. f3 Bc2 29. Re1 Bd3
30. Rxa6 c3 31. Ra3 Bxe2 32. Rxe2 Rb8 33. Rb3 Rxb3 34. axb3 Kf7 35. Kf1 Rb7 36.
Ra2 Bf6 37. Ke2 c4 $1 {Ths simplest. Black wins material now.} 38. b4 Rxb4 39.
Ra7+ Kg6 40. Rc7 c2 41. Kd2 f4 42. Be1 Rb1 43. Rxc4 Rd1+ 44. Kxc2 Rxe1 45. Rxf4
Re2+ 46. Kd3 Re5 47. Rg4+ Kf7 48. Ra4 Rd5+ 49. Ke3 Rxd6 50. Ra7+ Kg6 {This
ending is not easy to win yet. With his next move, Topalov simplifies his
opponent's technical task.} 51. Kf4 $2 {He should have removed the rook from
the exposed a7-square.} Rd4+ 52. Kg3 ({After} 52. Ke3 Rh4 {(threatening ...
Bd4+)} 53. Ra6 Rxh2 54. Rxe6 Rxg2 {the presence of rooks on board ensures a
win, in spite of the fact that the promoting h1-square is not controlled by
the bishop.}) 52... Bh4+ 53. Kh3 Bf2 {With the brutal threat of mate in onw.}
54. g3 Rh4+ $1 {After the exchange of rooks, Black wins easily.} 55. Kxh4 Bxa7
56. Kh3 Kf5 57. Kg2 Be3 58. Kh3 Ke5 59. Kg4 Bg1 60. h4 Bf2 61. h5 h6 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {Topalov is showing remarkable skill at using provocative moves in sharp
Sicilian lines. Black has only one piece firmly developed, but he is the first
to start active operations.} 9. Na4 Nbd7 10. c4 {Facing Topalov´s invention
Anand is using a novelty enhancing the control of the center.} (10. O-O-O Qa5 (
10... d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 Bb7 (12... N7f6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15.
Rhe1 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. Kb1 h6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Qf2 Qc7 20. Nf5 $16 {0-1 Leko,
P (2763)-Topalov,V (2788)/San Luis 2005 (40)}) 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15.
Bb6 Qxa4 16. Bxd5 Be7 17. Bxb7 Nxb6 18. Rxe6 O-O 19. Rxe7 Qxa2 20. Qd4 Rf6 21.
Bxa8 {1-0 Wang Hao (2519)-Nava,R (2317)/Instanbul 2005}) 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3 (12.
g4 Nc5 13. a3 Nxa4 14. axb4 Qc7 15. bxa4 Nd7 16. Nb3 d5 17. Na5 Rc8 18. c4 Ba8
19. c5 Nxc5 20. bxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Qb6 22. Nc4 Qxc5 23. Qd4 Ke7 24. Qxc5+ Rxc5
25. Be2 dxc4 $17 {0-1 Andreev,E (2470)-Sasikiran,K (2670)/Cappelle la Grande
2006 (47)}) 12... Qc7 13. axb4 d5 14. c4 dxe4 15. f4 (15. Kb2 Be7 16. Be2 O-O
17. Bf4 e5 18. Bg3 g6 19. Nc2 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Bc6 $11 {1-0 Motylev,A (2638)
-Cheparinov,I (2625)/Wijk aan Zee 2006 (42)}) 15... Nd5 16. Nc2 Nxe3 17. Qxe3
Be7 18. Rxd7 Qxd7 19. Nb6 Qc7 20. Nxa8 Bxa8 21. Be2 O-O $17 {1-0 Ponomariov,R 
(2738)-Grischuk,A (2719)/Sochi 2006 (32)}) (10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. b3 Bd7
13. Nb2 Qa5 14. a4 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. f4 Nxg4 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. f5 Ngxe3 19.
fxe6 Nxd1 20. exd7+ Qxd7 $19 {1-0 Fierro Baquero,M (2273)-Choisy,M (2152)/
Guingamp 2006 (29)}) (10. Bc4 Qa5 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. O-O
Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qe5 16. Qd2 Qd6 17. f4 bxa3 18. Rad1 Nb6 19. Qa5 Nxc4 20. bxc4
Qb4 21. Qxb4 Bxb4 $17 {0-1 Ewaldt,M (2099)-Ftacnik,L (2612)/Hamburg 2005 (31)})
10... bxc3 11. Nxc3 (11. Qxc3 Bb7 12. Rc1 (12. Nc6 $6 Nxe4 $1 13. fxe4 (13.
Nxd8 Nxc3 14. Nxb7 Nxa4 15. b3 Nc3 16. Bd2 Nd5 17. Rc1 $13) 13... Qh4+ 14. Kd1
Rc8 $17) 12... Rc8 13. Qb3 Rxc1+ 14. Bxc1 Qb8 $11) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 (12. Bc4
d5 $5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bb3 Nfxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 $11) 12... d5 $6 {The annotator
is probably crossing the silver line of praising the winner, but in my opinion
immediate opening of the center is too risky for Black. The lesser moratls
than Topalov would have preferred 12...Be7 finishing the development with
equal chances.} (12... Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rac1 (14. b4 d5 15. exd5 Bxb4 16.
dxe6 Nd5 17. e7 Nxe7 18. Rab1 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 Nd5 20. Qa3 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Re8 $11)
14... Ne5 $11) 13. exd5 Nxd5 (13... Bxd5 14. O-O Bb7 15. Rac1 $14) 14. Nxd5
Bxd5 15. O-O (15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Nf5 Be5 17. O-O O-O 18. f4 Bf6 19. Rfd1 $14)
15... Qb8 $1 {In the post mortem Topalov was praising this move, that prepares
Bd6 and prevents b2-b4.} (15... Be7 16. Nf5 $5) 16. Nf5 $1 (16. f4 Bb4 17. Qc2
O-O 18. Rac1 Bc5 $11) 16... Qe5 17. Ng3 Bb4 $1 (17... Qxe3+ $6 18. Qxe3 Bc5 19.
Qxc5 Nxc5 20. Rfc1 Nb7 (20... Nd7 21. Bxa6 $1 $16) 21. Nh5 O-O 22. Nf4 $16) 18.
Qxb4 $6 {The first dubious decision by the great Indian player. It was much
better and safer to centralize the pieces, since Black still had to finish his
development.} (18. Qd4 $5 O-O 19. Ne4 Rfb8 20. Rfd1 $14) 18... Qxe3+ 19. Kh1
Rb8 $5 {[%mdl 4] Topalov deserves great praise for playing actively and
striving for win, the much more modest 19...Qb6 was good only for equality.} (
19... Qb6 20. Qa3 f5 (20... a5 21. Nh5 Qb4 22. Nxg7+ Kf8 23. Nh5 $14) 21. Nh5
Kf7 $11) 20. Qd6 (20. Qa4 $5 Rxb2 (20... h5 21. Rfe1 Qf2 22. Nf5 h4 23. h3 g6
$15) 21. Rac1 Ke7 $15) 20... Rb6 (20... Rxb2 $2 21. Rac1 $14 (21. Rfc1)) (20...
Qb6 21. Qxb6 Rxb6 22. Rac1 Ke7 $11) 21. Qc7 (21. Nf5 Qg5 $1 22. Rac1 $1 (22.
Qc7 exf5 $19) 22... Bb7 (22... Rxd6 23. Rc8+ Qd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Nxd6 Ke7
26. Nc4 Rc8 $15) 23. Qc7 exf5 24. Rcd1 (24. Rfe1 O-O 25. Qxd7 Rxb2 26. Rb1 Bc8
$17) 24... O-O 25. Rxd7 Rxb2 26. Qe5 $1 Qf6 27. Qxf6 gxf6 $17) 21... Rc6 (21...
Qc5 22. Qxc5 Nxc5 23. Rac1 Nb7 24. b3 $14) 22. Qb7 Rc2 $5 {Daring and
courageous it is Black who plays for a win out of the opening!} (22... Qb6 $11)
23. Qxa6 O-O 24. b3 $2 {It is hard to believe, that Anand has missed the
spirited move 24.Qa4! with an unclear position.} (24. Qa4 $1 Rc7 (24... Rxe2 $2
25. Nxe2 Nc5 26. Qd4 $16) (24... Rd2 $2 25. Qxd7 $18) 25. Bb5 Nf6 $13) (24. Qd3
$6 Qxd3 25. Bxd3 Rxb2 26. a4 Nc5 $15) 24... Ne5 (24... Ra8 25. Qd6 (25. Qd3
Qxd3 26. Bxd3 Rcxa2 27. Rxa2 Rxa2 $15) 25... Nf6 $5 $17) 25. Rae1 (25. f4 $2
Ng4 $1 (25... Nd3 26. Bf3 Nf2+ 27. Rxf2 Qxf2 $19) 26. Bf3 Nxh2 $19) 25... Qd2 (
25... Qf4 $5) (25... Ra8 $2 26. Bd1 $1 Qc5 (26... Qxe1 27. Qxa8+ Bxa8 28. Rxe1
Rc1 29. Rf1 $14) 27. Qxa8+ Bxa8 28. Bxc2 $16 Nxf3 $2 29. Rc1 $1 $18) 26. Rd1
Qf4 {Black is now exercising so much pressure, that the missing pawn does not
even deserve to be mentioned.} 27. Bb5 (27. Qa7 g6 $5 $44 (27... h5 28. Nxh5 $5
$13) (27... Nc6 $5) 28. Rd4 Qe3 $17) 27... h5 (27... Rxg2 $2 28. Rxd5 $1 (28.
Kxg2 $2 Bxf3+ 29. Kg1 Qe3+ 30. Rf2 Bxd1 $19) 28... Rxg3 29. hxg3 Qxg3 30. Rd2
Nxf3 31. Qd6 $16) 28. Ne2 (28. Nxh5 $6 Qh4 $1 29. Rxd5 (29. Ng3 $2 Ng4 $19)
29... exd5 30. Ng3 Qf4 $17) 28... Qe3 29. a4 (29. Nd4 Rxg2 $5 (29... Rd2 30.
Rxd2 Qxd2 31. Nc6 Ng6 $5 $44) 30. Kxg2 Ra8 31. Qd6 Rxa2+ 32. Kh3 $13) 29... Rb2
(29... h4 30. h3) (29... Nxf3 $2 30. Rxd5 $1 Nxh2 31. Kxh2 exd5 32. Rf5 $13)
30. Qd6 (30. Ng1 $2 Ng4 $1 31. Nh3 (31. Rxd5 Nf2+ 32. Rxf2 Qxf2 33. Rg5 Rb1 $19
) 31... Qe5 $1 $19) 30... Rc8 31. Rde1 Nxf3 $5 32. gxf3 {Anand must have been
a bit tired of the need to defend very carefuly against myriad of dangers, so
he missed possibly better defense with 32.Rxf3!?} (32. Qg3 $2 Nxe1 $1 33. Qxe3
Nxg2 34. Qg3 $8 Nf4+ 35. Kg1 Nxe2+ 36. Bxe2 Rxe2 37. Re1 Rb2 $19) (32. Rxf3 $5
Bxf3 33. Qg3 Bxg2+ 34. Kxg2 (34. Qxg2 Qxb3 $17) 34... Qe4+ 35. Qf3 (35. Kg1 h4
36. Qf4 Qg6+ 37. Kh1 h3 $17) 35... Qxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Rxb3+ 37. Kf2 g5 $15) 32...
Bxf3+ 33. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kf1 Qf3+ (35... Rc5 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Bd3+
$1 (37. Qd3+ $4 Rf5+ $19) 37... f5 38. Qh4 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 Re5 40. Rf1 $11) 36.
Kg1 Qxb3 37. Qe5 Rd8 38. Qc3 Qxc3 39. Nxc3 h4 40. Re4 Rb3 {White pieces are
pretty loose and there is no counterplay.} 41. Ne2 (41. Rc4 Rd2 $17) 41... g5
42. Re5 Rd5 43. Rxd5 exd5 44. Bc6 Ra3 45. Nd4 (45. Bxd5 Rxa4 $17) 45... Kg7 46.
Bxd5 Rd3 47. Nf5+ Kf6 48. Be4 Rd1+ 49. Kg2 Rd2+ 50. Kf3 (50. Kg1 Ke5 $19) 50...
Rxh2 51. Ne3 Ra2 52. Bc6 Ra3 {Black now has too many passed pawns and White is
still unable to fully coordinate his pieces.} 53. Kf2 Ra1 54. Bd7 Ke5 55. Kf3
Ra3 56. Kf2 Ke4 57. Bc6+ (57. Ng2 h3 58. Bc6+ Kd4 $19) 57... Kf4 58. Ng2+ Ke5
59. Ne3 Ra2+ 60. Kf3 f5 61. Bd7 h3 (61... h3 62. Nxf5 h2 63. Ng3 Ra3+ 64. Kg2
Rxg3+ 65. Kxh2 Kf4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Na5 {Topalov had already some previous experience with
this position. Although played quite differently in those games, White
employed the same queen side plan as in the present game.} (10... h6 11. Bd2 b4
12. c3 a5 13. d4 bxc3 14. Bxc3 $1 {Instead of maintaining the flexibility of
his structure, White aims for rapid activation of pieces.} exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4
16. Qxd4 $14 {Topalov,V (2757)-Grischuk,A (2710)/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105}) (
10... Nb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 c6 14. c4 {Once again ruining
his pawn structure, followed by the transfer of the bishop to c3.} bxc4 15.
Nxc4 Nbd7 16. Bd2 Re8 17. Qc2 Bf8 18. Ba2 Qb8 19. Bc3 {Topalov,V (2801)
-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Morelia/Linares 2006 with complicated, balanced, fight.})
11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nd7 $146 (12... Bc8 {was tried in Anand,V (2803)-Svidler,P
(2743)/Sofia 2006}) ({Soon after the M-Tel tournament, the following game was
played, in which Black delayed for one move the trabsfer of the bishop to e6,
possibly waiting for White to define his intentions:} 12... Qc7 13. Nf1 Bc8 14.
Bd2 ({More to the point seem to be} 14. Ne3 $5) ({or} 14. Bg5 $5 {fighting for
the d5-square.}) 14... b4 15. c3 bxc3 16. Bxc3 Nc6 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. Nh2 Be6 19.
Nhg4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Bg5 $15 {Amonatov,F (2569)-Beliavsky,A (2622)/Turin Ol 2006}
) 13. Nf1 Nb6 14. Bd2 b4 15. c3 bxc3 16. Bxc3 {Same pattern again. In the long
run, Topalov intends to concentrate his pieces against the enemy king.} Nc6 {
In the next phase of the game, both sides will manoeuvre with their pieces in
such a way that they take under control the numerous important squares made
available after the structural modifications. Besides, White will aim to open
the long dark diagonal by means of f4.} 17. a5 Nc8 18. Ne3 N8a7 19. Nf5 {
This is a highly commital move, revealing Topalov's intentions to play
everything on one single cart: a king side attack. However, after this knight
jump, White's position loses part of its harmony.} ({More natural looks to be} 
19. Nd2 Nb5 20. Ndc4 Rb8 21. Nb6 {taking the numerous weak squares under
control. True, the weaknesses from the own camp are also under black control,
which causes the position to be more or less equal.}) 19... Bc8 20. Nd2 Rb8 21.
f4 Bxf5 22. exf5 exf4 23. Qg4 Nd4 24. Ne4 Nab5 25. Bd2 {Of course, Topalov is
not the kind of player to be afraid of "losing" an exchange after the fork on
c2. According to the terminology instituted by Rudolf Spielmann (the last of
the romantic platers, as he was frequently named) this is a passive sacrifice.
White does not force, but allows his opponent to win the exchange. Although
his compensation will prove to be insufficient, the position will be rather
difficult to handle over-the-board, which will cause Ponomariov to lose
control.} Nc2 26. Bxf4 Kh8 27. Qh5 Nxe1 (27... Nxa1 28. Rxa1 Nd4) 28. Rxe1 Qxa5
29. Ra1 {The only way to defend both attacked pieces, which, if underestimated,
could become a very dangerous attacking move at the same time.} Rbd8 $2 (29...
f6 {looks like a relatively safe way to parry White's incipient threats.} 30.
Kh2 $145 {/\ 31.Bg8!} d5 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 $19 {(Poldauf/Schach 7-2006)}) 30. f6 $2
(30. Kh2 $145 $1 {(Poldauf)} Qc7 (30... d5 31. Bxd5 $1 Qxa1 32. f6 gxf6 (32...
Qf1 33. fxg7+ Kxg7 34. Bh6+ Kh8 35. Qe5+ $18) 33. Ng5 fxg5 34. Be5+ f6 35. Be4
$18) (30... Nd4 $2 31. Bxf7 $1 Qxa1 32. Bg6 h6 33. Bxh6 $18) 31. Bxf7 Rxf7 32.
Qxf7 Rf8 33. Qd5 $16 {(Poldauf)}) 30... gxf6 {This is the correct way to
capture.} (30... Bxf6 $2 31. Nxf6 gxf6 32. Qh6 Qb4 (32... Rg8 33. Qxf6+ Rg7 34.
Bh6 Rdg8 35. Bxf7 $18) 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 {and now,} 34. Bc4 $1 $18 {[%csl Gd4]
[%cal Yf4h6] prevents ...Qd4 and threatens Bh6 followed by mate.}) 31. Kh2 $1 {
Removing the king from the exposed g1-square, White threatens 32.Bxf7 Qxa1 32.
Bg6.} d5 $2 {This natural move is the decisive mistake in fact. Black had
several reasonable continuations at his disposal.} (31... Nd4 32. Bxf7 Qxa1 33.
Bg6 Rf7 34. Bxf7 Qf1 35. Bg6 (35. Be3 Qf5) 35... Qxf4+ 36. g3 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Ne1+
38. Kh2 $11) (31... Qc7 32. Bxf7 f5 33. Rxa6 Rxf7 (33... fxe4 34. Be5+ dxe5 35.
Rh6 $18) 34. Qxf7 Rf8 35. Nxd6 Bxd6 (35... Nxd6 $2 36. Be5+) 36. Qxf8+ Bxf8 37.
Bxc7 Nxc7 38. Rf6 $13) ({Possibly best would have ben} 31... Rg8 $5 {when it
is hard to suggest an efficient way of continuing the attack for White.}) 32.
Nxf6 Bxf6 33. d4 $3 {A brilliant move, turning the tables to White's favour.
The threat Bb1 can be parried only by sacrificing the queen.} Qxa2 34. Rxa2
Nxd4 {Black has some hopes to build up a fortress, but White's energetic play
demolishes his plan little by little.} 35. b4 $1 Ne6 (35... cxb4 {loses
material to} 36. Be5) 36. Be5 Bg7 37. bxc5 Rc8 38. Bd6 Rfd8 39. Ra5 Kg8 40.
Rxa6 Rd7 41. Qxd5 Bf8 42. Qf3 Bxd6+ 43. cxd6 Rcd8 44. Qd5 Ng7 45. Ra8 Ne6 46.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 47. g4 {Black's fortress cannot last for tyoo long, because his
king's position is too weak.} h6 48. h4 Rb8 49. Kg3 Re8 50. Kf3 Nf8 51. Qd2 Kg7
52. Qd4+ Kg8 53. Qf6 Re6 54. Qe7 Kg7 55. Qc7 Kg8 56. d7 Nxd7 57. Qxd7 Kg7 58.
Qd4+ Kg8 59. Kf4 Rg6 60. Kf5 Re6 61. Qd7 {Threatening Qxe6, which would
transpose to a winning pawn ending.} Rg6 62. h5 Rg5+ 63. Kf6 Kh8 64. Qe8+ Rg8
65. Kxf7 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Qb6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bd3 b5 12. Rhe1 {Kamsky just
loves this line and the recent games present him as a successful promoter of 8.
Nb3.} Bb7 (12... b4 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Ned4 (14. Kb1 h6 15. Bh4 a5 16. Ned4 a4 17.
Nb5 Qb8 18. N3d4 Nc5 19. g4 b3 20. c4 bxa2+ 21. Kxa2 O-O $13 {1-0 Kamsky,G 
(2690)-Sakaev,K (2668)/Khanty Mansyisk 2005 (37)}) 14... Nc5 15. Kb1 O-O (15...
h6 16. Bh4 O-O-O 17. Qf1 Rhe8 18. Nxc5 dxc5 19. Nf3 a5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Ba6
$14 {1-0 Kamsky,G (2686)-Novikov,I (2575)/San Diego 2006 (92)}) 16. g4 Rac8 17.
Qh3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 a5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. g5 Be7 21. Qe3 Ba6 22. Rc1 $14 {0-1
Kamsky,G (2690)-Vallejo Pons,F (2674)/Khanty Mansyisk 2005 (62)}) 13. Qh3 $6 {
White have confessed, that he forgot the best moveorder. There are many moves
that might be better than the text.} (13. Nd4) (13. a3) (13. Qg3) (13. Kb1)
13... b4 14. Nb1 (14. Ne2 e5 (14... Nc5 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 16. Nd4 Kf8 17. Nb3 Qc7
18. e5 Nd5 19. Bxe7+ Qxe7 20. f5 dxe5 21. Rxe5 $16 {1-0 Gonda,G-Pineau,J (2280)
/Tokyo 1990 (38)}) (14... Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Qh4+ Ndf6 (16... Nef6 17. Ned4
g6 18. g4 $40) 17. Ng3 (17. g4 h6 $1 $17) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 a5 19. Nd4 Qc5
$15) 15. Ng3 g6 16. f5 O-O-O 17. Kb1 a5 18. Bb5 Kb8 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. fxg6 fxg6
21. Bxf6 $2 (21. Nxa5 Ba8 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qe6 $16) 21... Bxf6 22. Nxa5 {
1/2 Momo,S-Gudmundsson,A/Leipzig 1960 (62)} Rc8 $5 $11) 14... e5 $1 $146 {
Topalov has found this good move at the board, it makes lot of sense to
prevent the centralization of the knight via d4 square.} (14... Rc8 15. N1d2 e5
16. g4 a5 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. g5 Nd7 19. g6 a4 20. Qxh7 Rxh7 21. gxh7 axb3 22.
h8=Q+ Bf8 23. axb3 $16 {1-0 Danes,J (2074)-Vachal,J (2170)/Czechia 2001 (34)})
(14... a5 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. Nd2 Rc8 18. e5 dxe5 19. fxe5 Nfe4 20.
Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe7+ Qxe7 22. Kb1 h5 23. Be2 Qg5 24. Bf3 $14 {0-1 Kamsky,G 
(2690)-Smirin,I (2673)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005 (49)}) 15. N1d2 a5 16. Kb1 $6 (16.
Nc4 $5 a4 17. Nbd2 O-O $15) 16... a4 17. Nc1 O-O {Black has finished his
development in excellent form and White can only dream about the same level of
attack on the kingside.} (17... a3 18. b3 Qc3 $2 19. Nc4 $18) 18. Ne2 $2 (18.
g4 Nc5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. g5 Be7 21. Bc4 exf4 22. Qg4 Rfc8 23. h4 Ba6 24. Qf5 (
24. Qxf4 Bxc4 25. Nxc4 Ne6 $19) (24. Nd3 b3 $1) 24... Ne6 25. b3 axb3 26. cxb3
g6 $17) 18... Rfc8 19. Ng3 g6 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Kamsky has misplaced both queen
and knight for the unreal dream of queenside attack. Both pieces will now be
sorely missed in the defense of the burning queenside.} (19... a3 20. Nf5 Bf8
$15) 20. Nc4 (20. Rc1 a3 21. c4 (21. b3 Qc3 22. Nc4 Rxc4 $19) 21... Nc5 $19)
20... Ba6 (20... b3 $5) 21. b3 axb3 22. cxb3 Nc5 {The disaster becomes visible
with naked eyes, on top of all troubles Black can penetrate via the a file.}
23. Ne2 (23. Bf1 Qa7 24. Rd2 Nxb3 $1 25. axb3 Bb7 26. Kc2 Qa2+ 27. Kd1 Qxb3+
28. Ke2 Qxc4+ 29. Kf2 Qc5+ $19) 23... Nfxe4 (23... Qa7 24. Nc1 Bxc4 25. Bxc4
Ncxe4 $19) 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26. Nb6 Qa7 $1 {The cool move perfectly
epitomises the different fate of white and black pieces.} 27. Nxa8 (27. Nxc8
Bd3+ $1 28. Qxd3 Qxa2+ 29. Kc1 Qa1+ 30. Kc2 Ra2#) 27... Rxa8 28. a4 Bxe2 29.
Rc1 Qf2 {White has remained sitting on h3 with no perspective.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This victory from the last round helped Topalov to become the sole winner of
Mtel Masters for the second time.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5
Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Rc1 {Topalov's specialty in Sofia. Neither
Kamsky, nor Bacrot could solve opening problems after this move.} (8. Qc2) 8...
e5 $146 {This natural move is a novelty. Bacrot tries to improve on Kamsky's
play from round five, but he underestimated White's resources. The game shows
that 8...e5 is inferior to 8...g6.} (8... g6 9. h3 Qc7 ({Possibly the best
chances to equalize offers} 9... Bg7 10. Bf4 Ne4) 10. g3 Bg7 (10... e5 11. Nxe5
Nxe5 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Na4 $1 $13) 12... Nfd7 13. e4 $5 ({More
ambitious than} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg2 Bg7 15. O-O O-O 16. e4 $14) 13... g5 (
13... Bxc5 14. dxc5 O-O 15. Bg2 Nxc5 16. O-O $44) 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. exd5 Bg7 16.
Qe2+ (16. Bg2 O-O 17. O-O $36) 16... Kf8 17. d6 Qa5 18. Be3 b6 19. Bg2 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2650)-Topalov,V (2801)/Monte Carlo MNC 2006 (38)} (19.
Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf1c4]})) 11. Bf4 Qd8 $146 (11... Qa5 12. Qd2 Nh5 13. Bg5
Nhf6 14. Bg2 h6 15. Be3 $16 {1-0 Filip,L (2385)-Nevednichy,B (2302)/Timisoara
2005 (33)}) 12. Bg2 Nh5 (12... O-O $5) 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bd2 O-O 15. e4 $14 {
1-0 Topalov,V (2804)-Kamsky,G (2671)/Sofia 2006 (42)}) (8... Qc7 9. g3 $14) 9.
Nxe5 ({After} 9. dxe5 {White must reckon with} Ne4 $13) 9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4
({Now after} 10... Ne4 {White keeps advantage with} 11. Nxe4 (11. Na4 Qc7 $11)
11... dxe4 12. g3 {since both 12...Qd5 and 12...Qd4 run into 13.Ba5+/-.}) 11.
Na4 {The knight is only temporary on a4. In fact Topalov's last move besides
protecting pawn c5, also cleverly exploits the weakness on b6.} Nxe5 (11... Bf5
12. Bc3 Qe7 13. Qd4 $16) 12. Bc3 ({Stronger than} 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Bf4 Qf6 (
13... f6 14. Qd4 $14) 14. e3 (14. Qd2 Be6 15. Qe3 {unexpectedly favours Black:}
Ng4 16. Qg3 Qxb2 17. h3 Ne5 18. Na4 Qb4+ 19. Nc3 d4 20. Bxe5 Rd8 $132) 14... g5
15. Bg3 {when White is just marginally better}) 12... f6 {An ugly move,
especially given the fact that White can exchange opponent's light-squared
bishop. On the other hand Bacrot didn't have a choice - it is difficult for
Black to deal with White's pressure on the long diagonal.} (12... Nd7 13. Bd4
Nf6) 13. Nb6 $1 {White plays very simple: the bishop pair secures a stable
advantage. In the game Topalov convincingly converted it into a full point.} ({
Weaker is} 13. e3 Bf5 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O O-O {1-0 Javakhishvili,L (2410)
-Milliet,S (2330)/Turin 2006 (51) and Black has no problems.}) 13... Rb8 14.
Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 $1 {As it often happens, a pawn move that closes one diagonal
weakens another one. After the move 12...f6 Black has problems with the
diagonal c8-h3.} Qd7 16. h4 $1 {In spite of his novelty, the opening outcome
is not satisfactory for Bacrot - Black must suffer with basically no
perspectives for any activity. Besides, White has a clear and easy play.} Qf7
17. Bh3 Nd7 ({Nothing changes} 17... Rd8 18. f4 {and the jump on c4 is hardly
better than the retreat on d7:} Nc4 (18... Nd7 19. b4 {leads to the game}) 19.
Bd4 ({or} 19. Qd4 Qe7 20. b3 Na3 21. Ba5 Ra8 22. Kf2 $16) 19... Be7 20. h5 O-O
(20... g6 21. Qb3 Rb8 22. e4 $16) 21. Bf5 $16 {However, the move 17...Rd8 is
more logical, since in the game White could play 19.h5 instead of 19.f4.}) 18.
b4 Rd8 19. f4 (19. h5 {at once was strong as well, but possibly Topalov didn't
want to deviate from his initial intentions (Black could achieve this position,
had he started with 17...Rd8). I wouldn't be surprised if all this is still
home preparation...}) 19... Be7 20. h5 $1 {A powerful play. The World Champion
increases the space advantage and creates targets for his bishops. Black
completely lacks coordination due to the fact that his pieces have no good
squares.} g6 $6 {It must be very painful to produce such a move, especially
for a high-class player like Bacrot. The Frenchman tries to prevent White from
switching the bishop to b1-h7 diagonal, but it offers White a lot of other
possibilities. His plan to continue ...Rg8, ...f5 and then ...Nd7-f6 is too
slow.} ({Probably White's task would have been more difficult after} 20... O-O
21. Bf5 Rfe8 {[%cal Gd7f8] with a passive, but relatively solid position.}) 21.
Qb3 {Pointing out light-squared weaknesses in Black's position. The idea is to
play quickly e2-e4 and then penetrate with the bishop on e6.} (21. hxg6 hxg6 {,
} 22. Bxd7+ $2 Kxd7 {and the rook on h8 is protected}) 21... Rg8 22. e4 $1 gxh5
{Bacrot tries to create some counterplay, hoping to complicate opponent's task.
} ({Another option was to stick to the initial plan and try to defend the
position after} 22... f5 23. exd5 Qxd5 (23... cxd5 24. Bg2 Nf6 25. Bxf6 Bxf6
26. Rd1 $16 {/+-}) 24. Qxd5 cxd5 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Bg2 Nf6 $16) 23. exd5 cxd5 (
23... Qxd5 24. Qxd5 cxd5 25. Kf2 $16) 24. Kf2 (24. Bd4 f5 ({As indicated by S.
Shipov, the endgame after} 24... Qg6 25. Kd2 Qxg3 26. Rcg1 Qxb3 27. Rxg8+ Kf7
28. axb3 Kxg8 29. Be6+ {is difficult for Black}) 25. Qd3 h4 26. gxh4 $1 {
would have kept a larger advantage.}) 24... h4 $1 (24... f5 25. Bg2 Nf6 26.
Bxf6 Bxf6 27. Rcd1 $16) 25. Bxd7+ $1 {A good practical decision, confirming
the well-known saying about the bishops pair. Topalov doesn't wish to allow
any activity for his opponent.} (25. gxh4 f5 $132 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Gd7f6]}) ({
Preventing the advance ...f5 by means of} 25. Bf5 {allows activity anyway:}
Rxg3 (25... hxg3+ 26. Kg2 $16) 26. Rxh4 Qg7 $1 {and somehow Black is able to
create threats with little forces.}) (25. g4 Kf8 $13) 25... Rxd7 26. Rxh4 d4 {
The arising endgame is difficult for Black, although the desire to exchange
queens is understandable.} ({Chances for counterplay offers} 26... f5 27. Rh3 (
{Better is} 27. Rhh1) 27... Bf6 {with the idea} 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Re1+ Kd8 30.
Re5 Re8 31. Rxd5 Qc6 $132) 27. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Bd2 Rg7 29. Rh5 $1 {Preventing ..
.f6-f5.} Bf8 ({More stubborn is} 29... d3 {and White's plan from the game
doesn't work:} 30. c6 $2 (30. Kf3 $16) 30... bxc6 31. Rxc6 Bxb4 $1 32. Bxb4 d2
33. Rh6 Rg6 34. Rxh7+ Rg7 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Bxd2 Rxd2+ 37. Ke3 Rxa2 $11) 30.
c6 $1 bxc6 31. Rxc6 {The rest is a matter of technique, since Black is unable
to avoid the loss of at least a pawn.} d3 (31... Rd6 32. Rxd6 Bxd6 33. Ra5 $18)
32. Rxa6 Kg8 (32... Bxb4 33. Bxb4 d2 34. Rh6 $1 $18 {winning the second pawn
after} Rg6 (34... d1=Q 35. Raxf6+ Ke8 36. Rf8#) (34... d1=N+ 35. Ke2 Rxg3 36.
Rxh7+ Rg7 37. Rxg7+ Kxg7 38. a4 $18) 35. Rxh7+ Rg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. Bxd2
Rxd2+ 38. Ke3 $18) 33. Rh1 (33. Rxf6 $2 Rge7 $132) 33... Rde7 34. Kf3 Re2 35.
Rd1 {Black's activity is a temporary factor.} h5 (35... f5 36. Be3 Bxb4 37.
Rxd3 Re1 38. Rd8+ Kf7 39. Rd5 $18) 36. Rxf6 h4 37. gxh4 {It turns out that
Black does not have any dangerous threats.} Rgg2 38. Be3 Be7 39. Ra6 Rxa2 40.
b5 Rab2 41. Rxd3 Bxh4 42. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.10"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Bb4+ 12. c3 Be7 13. Ne4 Ngf6 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6
15. Ne5 Qa5 16. Qg3 Rg8 17. Qh3 Qa6 18. Qf3 Rd8 19. b4 Nd7 20. Nd3 Qc4 21. Kd2
Qd5 22. Ke2 Nf6 23. Qxd5 cxd5 24. f3 Bd6 25. a4 Ke7 26. Bd2 b6 27. g4 a5 28.
Rhb1 Rd7 29. bxa5 bxa5 30. Rb5 Ra8 31. Nc1 Rda7 32. Rab1 Ne8 33. Nd3 Kd7 34.
Be3 Kc8 35. R1b3 Rb8 36. Rxb8+ Bxb8 37. Ne5 Bxe5 38. dxe5 Rb7 39. Rxb7 Kxb7 40.
Bc5 f6 41. f4 Kc6 42. Bf8 fxe5 43. fxe5 Kd7 44. Kd3 Kc7 45. Ke3 Kc6 46. Kf4 Kd7
47. g5 Kd8 48. Bxg7 hxg5+ 49. Kxg5 Nxg7 50. h6 Ke7 51. h7 1-0

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.10"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 {una variante que se
está viendo últimamente Shirov la empleó en la olimpiada de Turín justo antes
de este torneo.} e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Bg4 $5 ({también se encuentra
frecuentemente} 9... Nbd7 10. a4 b6 11. Nd2 Qc7 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Nc4 Bc6 14. Ne3
Nc5 15. Nf5 Rfe8 16. Rd1 Rad8 17. Bg5 Ne6 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxa6
Nd4 21. Qd3 Qh6 22. Ne2 d5 23. Nxd4 dxe4 24. Nf5 Qf6 25. Qc4 {1-0 Adams,M-Nunn,
J/playchess.com 2003}) 10. Bf3 (10. Qd3 Nbd7 11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 Rc8 13. Kh1
Be6 14. Qg3 b5 15. Nd4 Bc4 16. Rg1 b4 17. Nd1 g6 18. b3 Bb5 19. Bb2 Re8 20. c4
Bc6 21. Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Ne3 Rc8 23. e5 Nh5 24. Qf3 dxe5 25. fxe5 Bc5 26. Rad1
Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Qc7 28. Bd5 Nhf6 29. e6 Nxd5 30. exf7+ Kxf7 31. Qf3+ Nf4 32. Rg4
g5 33. Rxg5 Rf8 34. Rg7+ {1-0 Smirin,I-Palac,M/Rabac 2004}) 10... Be6 {las
negras van a la casilla natural tras haber descolocado algo el alfil blanco} (
10... Bh3 11. Re1) 11. a4 Nbd7 12. Re1 Nb6 13. Nd2 {Vallejo 17:58 Topalov 15:38
} Rc8 14. Nf1 Rc5 ({era muy interesante la ruptura temática} 14... d5 $5 15.
exd5 (15. a5 d4) 15... Nfxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Rxe5 Nb4 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 {y si}
19. c3 Nc2 20. Rb1 Bf6 {pero tras} 21. Rxe6 $1 (21. Re2 Ba2 {con ventaja negra}
) 21... fxe6 22. Bd2 {son las negras las que tienen problemas}) 15. Be3 Rc8 16.
Bg5 ({con} 16. Bc1 {se repite la posición, pero no parece una buena opción con
desventaja en el marcador}) 16... Nc4 17. b3 Nb6 {Vallejo: 10:08 topalov: 13:38
} 18. Re3 Nbd7 $6 ({Fritz propone el golpe} 18... Nfd5 $1 {una continuación
posible podría ser} 19. exd5 Bxg5 20. Rd3 Bh3 21. a5 Nd7 22. Ne4 f5 23. Nxg5
Qxg5 24. Bg2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 f4 {con fuerte iniciativa del negro}) 19. Rd3 Nc5 $2
{#} ({mucho más sólida es} 19... Rc6) 20. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 21. Rxd6 Qe8 22. Nd5 Bd8
(22... Be7 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7) 23. b4 $4 {una jugada difícil de explicar} ({
la alternativa evidente es} 23. Nfe3 {que perece dar ventaja a las blancas})
23... Nxa4 {Algo se le ha escapado a Vallejo que ahora piensa largamente} 24.
Nfe3 Bg5 $1 {Ahora las blancas están peor Vallejo 4:38 Topalov 10:10} 25. Bg4
Bxe3 26. Nxe3 Nb2 $5 (26... Nc3 27. Qd3 Bxg4 28. Nxg4 f5 29. exf5 e4 30. Qd2
Rxf5 {es la alternativa propuesta por fritz que otroga ligera ventaja a las
blancas, aunque} 31. Ne3 Rf8 32. Ra5 {la posición dista de ser clara}) 27. Qe2
Bxg4 28. Qxg4 Nc4 29. Nf5 g6 30. Rf6 {Vallejo 1:22 Topalov 6:56} Qd8 31. Qg5 ({
No soluciona los problemas} 31. Nh6+ Kg7 32. Rxf7+ Rxf7 33. Nxf7 Kxf7 34. Rd1
Nd2 35. Rxd2 Qxd2 36. Qxc8 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 Qxe4+ $17) 31... Nd2 ({es mejor} 31...
Rc7) 32. Nh6+ $4 ({Salvaba la partida} 32. Ne7+ $1 Kh8 (32... Qxe7 33. Rxg6+)
33. Qxe5 Qc7 34. Rd6+ f6 35. Qe6 Nf3+ 36. Kg2 Ng5 37. Qd7) 32... Kg7 33. Nf5+
Kh8 $19 34. Qh4 {Y Vallejo abandona sin esperar a Nf3 Topalov está a un paso
de la final del domingo} 0-1

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.10"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Nxd4 Qc7 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. e4 b6 14. Be3 Bb7
15. Bd3 Bc5 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. b4 Bxb4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Rxc6 Nxe3 20. Rxb6 Nxd1
21. Rxb7 Nc3 22. Qf3 Bf8 23. g3 Nxa4 24. e5 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 Nc5 26. Qf3 Nxb7 27.
Qxb7 Rd8 28. Qxa6 g5 29. Qe2 Rd5 30. Qe3 h6 31. Kg2 Bc5 32. Qe2 Bb4 33. h4 Bc3
34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Qe3 Bxe5 36. Qxg5+ Kf8 37. Qe3 Bd4 38. Qe4 Ke7 39. g4 Bc5 40.
Qc4 Kd6 41. f4 Ke7 42. f5 Bd4 43. Kf3 Bf6 44. Qc7+ Ke8 45. Qc6+ Ke7 46. Qc7+
Ke8 47. Qc6+ Ke7 48. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.10"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {Variante Paulsen} 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 $5
Ne7 ({la elección de Kasparov fue} 6... b5 7. a3 h6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Nd7 10.
f4 Rc8 11. Be3 g5 12. Qe2 gxf4 13. Rxf4 e5 14. Rf5 exd4 15. Bxd4 Ne5 16. Nd5
Bg7 17. Raf1 Rh7 18. Kh1 Bh8 19. c3 Ne7 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Qf3 Nxf5 22. Qxf5 Rg7
23. Nf6+ Kf8 24. Nd7+ Kg8 25. Nf6+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Short,N-Kasparov,G Amsterdam
1994}) 7. a3 {una sorprendente jugada profiláctica, que sin embargo sería
normal después de b5 que el negro debe jugar de todos modos} Nbc6 8. Nb3 b5 9.
h4 Bb7 10. Bf4 Ne5 $6 (10... Nc8 $5 11. Qd2 Nb6 12. O-O-O Nc4 {también parece
satisfactorio para las negras}) {#} 11. Bxe5 $1 dxe5 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 $2 ({
Es mejor} 12... Kxd8 13. O-O-O+ Kc8 14. Nc5 {y las blancas parecen estar
todavía un poco mejor}) 13. Nc5 Rb8 ({una posición con muchas trampas para el
negro. Si} 13... Bc8 $2 14. Nxb5 axb5 15. Bxb5+ Rd7 16. Rd1 Nc6 17. Nxd7 Bxd7
18. Rh3 {con posición ganadora}) ({y ante la sorprendente} 13... Nc6 $6 14.
Nxb7 Rd7 {las negras se encuentran con el golpe} 15. Na5 $1 Nxa5 16. Nxb5 $1
axb5 17. Bxb5 Bd6 18. b4 Nb7 19. c4 {con una avalancha arrolladora}) 14. Nxb7
Nc6 15. a4 b4 $2 ({Era más resistente} 15... Nd4 16. axb5 Nxc2+ 17. Kd1 Nxa1
18. bxa6) 16. Bxa6 bxc3 17. Bb5 $1 {con ventaja decisiva según fritz} Kd7 18.
Na5 cxb2 19. Rd1+ Kc7 20. Nxc6 {Y las negras abandonan. Buena victoria de
Vallejo, aunque con ello sólo consiga mejorar un tanteo ya imposible de
remontar. Topalov 2,5 Vallejo 1,5} 1-0

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 7. dxc5 e6 8.
Nc3 Nbd7 9. Be3 Rc8 10. Bg2 Bxc5 11. Bxc5 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Rxc5 13. Qb3 b6 14. O-O
O-O 15. Rfd1 Qb8 16. Ne4 Rc7 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Kg2 h6 19. Qa4 Rd8 20. Qf4 Rc2
21. b3 Rdc8 22. Qxb8 Rxb8 23. a4 g5 24. Rac1 Rb2 25. Rc7 g4 26. Bc6 Rc2 27. Rd4
a5 28. e4 Ne8 29. Rb7 Rxb7 30. Bxb7 Kf8 31. e5 Rc5 32. Rxg4 Rxe5 33. Rh4 Kg7
34. Rd4 Rc5 35. b4 Rc7 36. Bf3 e5 37. Rg4+ Kf8 38. Re4 Nd6 39. Rxe5 axb4 40.
Re2 Rc4 41. Rd2 Ke7 42. Bd5 Rc5 43. Rd4 Ra5 44. Bb3 b5 45. Rxb4 bxa4 46. Bxa4
Rc5 47. Bb3 Rb5 48. Rxb5 Nxb5 49. f4 f6 50. Kh3 Kf8 51. Kg4 Nd6 52. Kf3 Ke7 53.
g4 Ne8 54. Ke3 Nd6 55. Kd4 Ne8 56. h4 Nd6 57. Kd5 Ne8 58. Kc6 Nd6 59. Bd5 Ne8
60. Kc5 Nd6 61. Bc6 Nf7 62. Be4 Nd6 63. Bd3 Nf7 64. Kd5 Nd6 65. h5 Nf7 66. Bg6
Nd6 67. Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.11"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {. Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6
7. dxe5 Nf5 {La Variante Berlinesa, que tras un sueño de más de medio siglo,
resucito de la mano de Kramnik que la convirtió en su arma principal en el
match que le enfrentó a Kasparov en Londres en 2000.} 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8
({el principal experto de esta variante se enfrentó a ella con blancas en
Turín:} 9... Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 Be7 12. b3 h5 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Nd4 Bd7 15.
Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5+ Ke8 17. e6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 $16 {Kramnik,V-Aleksandrov,A Turin
(ol) 2006}) 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 ({Esta variante está en el repertorio de
Topalov con ambos colores:} 11... Nd5 12. Ne4 Nb4 13. Re2 Bf5 14. Nd4 Bxe4 15.
Rxe4 c5 16. a3 cxd4 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Rxd4 Be7 19. Be3 a6 20. Rad1 h5 21. c3
Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. f4 f5 24. exf6 Bxf6 25. Kf2 g6 26. Kf3 Ke7 27. Bd4 Bxd4
28. Rxd4 a5 29. Rd5 b6 30. Ke4 a4 31. Re5+ Kf6 32. f5 gxf5+ 33. Rxf5+ Kg6 34.
Rd5 Rf8 35. Ke3 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 1999}) 12. Bd2 Be7
$146 13. Rad1 Nf8 14. Nd4 Bc5 15. Nb3 Bb6 16. Be3 h5 {Una medida típica para
frenar la expansión de la mayoría de peones blanca, o, cuando menos para
lograr si se produce las máximas simplificaciones posibles.} 17. Rd2 Ne6 18.
Ne4 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 {Las blancas han coseguido el cambio de la pareja de alfiles,
algo que en principio les beneficia.} b6 20. Nd4 {Anand: 15:40 Topalov: 10:55}
Nxd4 21. Rxd4 {Las blancas simplifican en busca de un final con un peón más en
el flanco de rey} c5 22. Rd2 Bf5 23. Ng5 (23. Ng3 Be6 24. f4 h4 25. f5 Bc8 $1 {
y las negras están mejor} ({pero no} 25... hxg3 26. fxe6 fxe6 27. Rxg3 $17))
23... Ke7 24. Rf3 Be6 25. Nxe6 Kxe6 26. Rfd3 Kxe5 27. Re3+ ({otra posibilidad
tal vez menos precisa es} 27. Re2+ Kf6 28. Rf3+ Kg6 29. Re7 Rhe8 30. Rfxf7 Rxe7
31. Rxe7 Rd8) 27... Kf6 28. Rd7 Rhf8 29. Rxc7 g5 30. Kf1 h4 {[#]} 31. a4 $1 ({
la más directa} 31. Ra3 Rfd8 32. Rf3+ Kg6 33. Rfxf7 Rd2 {permite mucho
contrajuego a las negras}) 31... Kg6 32. Ree7 {Anand 10:00 Topalov 2:50} Rad8
33. Ke2 $1 {[#] limitando el contrajuego negro} a5 {una jugada que parece
desesperada, pero las negras tienen problemas en todos los casos} (33... Rfe8
34. Rxa7 f5) 34. Rc6+ f6 35. Rxb6 Rd4 36. b3 c4 (36... Rfd8 37. Ree6 Rd2+ 38.
Ke3 Rxc2 39. Rxf6+) 37. Ree6 cxb3 38. cxb3 Kf5 39. Re3 Rc8 40. Rf3+ Ke4 (40...
Ke5 41. Rb5+ Ke6 (41... Ke4 $2 42. Re3+ Kf4 43. g3+) 42. Re3+ Kd6 43. Rxa5 Rc2+
44. Kf1 Rd1+ 45. Re1 Rdd2 46. Rf5 {y las blancas deben ganar}) 41. Re6+ Kd5 42.
Rfxf6 Rc2+ 43. Kf1 (43. Kf3 Rf4+ 44. Rxf4 Kxe6 45. Rc4 Rb2) 43... Rd1+ 44. Re1
Rdd2 45. Kg1 Rb2 46. Rf5+ Kd4 47. Rxg5 Rxf2 48. Rg4+ Kd3 49. Re5 Rfc2 50. Rxa5
{Y Topalov abandona, una gran demostración técnica de Anand} 1-0

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.11"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. Nc3 d6 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bd2 Bd7
15. Ra7 Ra8 16. Qa1 Qb8 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Qa5 Qxa5 19. Bxa5 Rc8 20. Ra1 Ra8 21.
Kf1 Kf8 22. Ra2 Ra7 23. Ke2 f5 24. f4 Bf6 25. Kd1 h6 26. g3 g5 27. Bd2 Rxa2 28.
Bxa2 gxf4 29. gxf4 Be8 30. Ba5 Bd8 31. c4 dxc3 32. Bxc3 Bf7 33. d4 c6 34. Bb1
Bxd5 35. Bxf5 Bf6 36. Kd2 c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 19th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2006.06.11"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 {Anand elige una
variante sólida en vista de la situación del marcador} ({es la variante más
utilizada por el GM indio} 6. Be3) 6... Nbd7 {una línea poco habitual} (6... e5
{jugó Anand en la primera partida de su match con Bruzón en este torneo}) 7.
O-O g6 8. Be3 b6 {novedad} (8... Bg7 {se ha jugado en varias partidas}) 9. Nd5
Bb7 10. c4 e5 $6 {una posición inédita en la que aparecen a la vez jugadas que
pertenecen aparentemente a diferentes esquemas} ({no es recomendable} 10...
Nxe4 11. Bf3) ({la continuación más sana es} 10... Bg7) 11. Nc2 Bxd5 12. exd5
Bg7 13. Nb4 O-O 14. Nc6 Qc7 15. b4 {[#] Anand ha jugado con increible rapidez
el raro esquema elegido por el negro y además parece haber conseguido una
posición ventajosa.} h5 16. a4 a5 17. bxa5 bxa5 18. Rb1 Ne4 19. Qc2 f5 20. Rb5
{Fritz da gran ventaja a las blancas, sin duda el campeón mundial ha
arriesgado quizás en demasía acuciado por la necesidad de ganar.} Kh7 21. Rfb1
Nec5 22. Bd2 e4 23. Bxa5 Qc8 24. Bb4 {Anand 18:20 Topalov: 13:40} Qe8 25. a5 f4
26. Re1 Qf7 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 {[#]} 28. Rxc5 {Anand sacrifica la calidad por el
peón de e4 y consigue una posición con gran ventaja y sin apenas riesgo.} dxc5
29. Qxe4 Rfe8 30. Qf3 Qf6 31. Rd1 Qd6 32. Rb1 Qc7 33. Bd3 Kh6 34. h4 {las
blancas amenazan Rb6 con ataque de mate} Bf8 {[#]} 35. g4 $1 {la forma más
rápida de precipitar los acontecimientos} fxg3 ({pierde} 35... hxg4 36. Qxg4
Qg7 37. Qg5+ Kh7 38. h5) 36. Qf6 gxf2+ 37. Kg2 (37. Kf1 Qg7 38. Qg5+ Kh7 39.
Qxh5+ Kg8) 37... Qg7 38. Qg5+ Kh7 39. Qxh5+ Kg8 40. Qxg6 Qxg6+ 41. Bxg6 Re1 42.
Kxf2 Rxb1 43. Bxb1 {La posición es muy favorable a las blancas que tienen tres
peones por la calidad, pero la realización técnica de esta ventaja no es nada
fácil. Anand puede jugar con las tablas y el torneo en la mano....} Bd6 44. Ke3
Kg7 45. h5 Bc7 46. Be4 Kh6 47. Bg6 Kg5 48. Ke4 Ra6 {Anand: 10:50 Topalov 4:04}
49. Be8 Ra8 50. Bg6 Bd6 51. Ke3 Bf4+ 52. Kf3 Bh2 53. Ke3 Bd6 54. Ke4 Bc7 55.
Ke3 Kf6 56. Ke4 Bg3 57. Kf3 Bd6 58. Ke3 Ra6 59. Ke4 Bc7 60. Be8 Ra8 61. Bg6 Kg5
{Y se acuerdan tablas} (61... Kg5 {[#] en este momento Fritz indica que las
blancas ganan con} 62. Ne5 $1 Ra6 (62... Bxa5 63. d6 Kf6 64. Kd5) (62... Rxa5
63. d6 Bxd6 64. Nf7+) 63. Be8 Kf6 64. Nd7+ Ke7 65. Nxc5 Rxa5 66. Ne6 Kxe8 67.
Nxc7+ Kd7 68. Ne6 Ra1 69. c5 {ganando}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The match had a promising start: 75 moves of uncompromising battle, abrupt
changes in the course of the game and... a decisive result. It could have all
ended in an "interesting draw" right after the first time control if Black had
been any other player than Topalov. For Kramnik, the general pattern must be
quite familiar. Two years ago in Brissago, he also won the first game of his
match with Leko after his opponent overstepped the limit of admissible risk.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {This line is
rarely seen in normal tournaments, but has been submitted to some intense
theoretical discussion in recent high level events. What makes Topalov's
choice more interesting is that Kramnik had employed this line with Black, too.
} 7. Qc2 ({The other popular continuation is} 7. O-O O-O {is better.} ({
Now, it is premature to defend the c4-pawn before it is attacked:} 7... b5 $2
8. a4 $1 Bxd2 (8... c6 9. axb5 {[%csl Yb4][%cal Ra1a8] /\Bxb4} Bxd2 10. Nfxd2
$1 {[%cal Rg2a8]}) 9. Nfxd2 Ra7 10. axb5 Qxd4 11. Na3 Bb7 12. Bxb7 Rxb7 13.
Ndxc4 $16 {1-0 Genov,P-Kuzev,J/BUL-ch 1995/EXT 97 (29)}) 8. Nc3 (8. Qc2 {
1/2-1/2 Karpov,A (2710)-Piket,J (2615)/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 070/[Piket] (43)})
8... Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd5 11. Bd2 b5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Qc2 Ne7
15. Rad1 $44 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E (2709)-Kramnik,V (2754)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM
105 ext (36) White has adequate compensation for the exchange due to his
strong pawn centre and pair of bishops. However, Black's position is quite
solid.}) (7. Na3 {looks like a tempting alternative. 'Ribli'} Bxa3 8. bxa3 O-O
(8... a4 $1 {as suggested by Psakhis would have allowed Black to consolidate
his queenside by a further ...b5, without fearing the undermining of the
b5-pawn.}) 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 (10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Rb1 c6 12. O-O $44) 10... c6 11.
Rb1 Ba6 12. a3 $1 $44 (12. Ne5 b4 $132) 12... Nbd7 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15.
e4 h6 (15... Rfe8 16. e5 Nd5 17. Ng5 $44) 16. Bc3 (16. Bf4 b4 $1) 16... Qc7 17.
axb5 cxb5 18. d5 {/\Nd4} e5 19. Nh4 Kh7 20. Qd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Marin,M-Psakhis,L/
rpd. 25', WorldChessNetwork.com 2005 (32)}) 7... Bxd2+ {Facing White with the
task of taking an early decision.} (7... Nc6 {leads to a position that is
usually achieved from the Bogo-Indian defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.
Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.Qc2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Qd5 9.Qd3.}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {This move
is in slight contradiction with the general rules of development: White moves
for the second time in a row with an already developed piece. Even more
paradoxical is the justification of such a decision: White intends to
effectuate a new series of 3 consecutive moves with the queen in order to win
the pawn back! In fact, moving around with the queen before the development of
the other pieces has been completed is quite typical for the Catalan, the most
recent example in Kramnik's practice being his game against Naiditsch from
Dortmund 2006. The explanation why such radical deviations from the normal
course of the game are viable is probably connected with what I would call
"The quality of development". Indeed, the Catalan bishop is sometimes so
strong that it can compensate for a delay in the mobilization of the other
forces.} ({The more natural} 8. Nbxd2 {allows Black maintain his extra pawn
with} b5 {and although White certainly gets compensation for it, for instance}
9. a4 c6 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 O-O 12. O-O Ba6 13. Nc5 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Avrukh,B (2614)-Eljanov,P (2629)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (23). it was
just sufficient for a draw.}) 8... c6 ({Black cannot achieve complete equality
by means of such neutral moves as} 8... b6 9. Ne5 Ra7 10. Na3 Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7
12. Naxc4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 14. Rfd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Gulko,B 
(2585)/San Diego 2006/CBM 112 (31). with better development and an advantage
of space in the centre for White.}) 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {We can see
a similar sortie by the queen in the Queen's Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 b5 6.cxb5 Bxb5 7.Bg2 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 a5 9.Bxb4 axb4 10.Qd2 Nc6 and
now, precisely on the same 11th move, 11.Qg5, hitting g7 and b7, just like in
our game.} O-O {From structural point of view, both attacked pawns were quite
important, because the elimination of any of them would be equivalent to a
chronic weakening of the structure on that side.} ({Although for the purpose
of ensuring the safety of the king, the g7-pawn is of crucial importance,} 
11... b4 {is not completely out of place. Black's aim would be to maintain a
strong queen side majority.} 12. Ne5 (12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qh6 Bb7 {leaves Black
with viable play in a rather unbalanced position.}) 12... Ra7 13. Nxc4 Qxd4 $5
14. Nd6+ $5 Qxd6 15. Qxg7 Rg8 16. Qxf6 Nd7 17. Qh4 Qe5 $13 {with a fairly
unbalanced position.}) 12. Qxb5 {From the static point of view, White has a
great position. His structure is more compact and his queen's knight has a
perfect blocking square on c3. Black's chances consist mainly of dynamic play.}
Ba6 $146 {This novelty could hardly have come as a surprise to Kramnik, since
it is Fritz' first option. Black intends to win some time for his development
by chasing the enemy queen.} (12... Na6 $6 {fails to question the viability of
the enemy queen's incursion.} 13. Qxc4 Nb4 14. Qb3 e5 15. Nxe5 Rb8 16. O-O Qxd4
17. Rxa5 Be6 18. Qc3 Qd8 19. Rc5 $16 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2719)-Moiseenko,A (2662)/
Sochi 2006/CBM 111 ext (102)}) 13. Qa4 {With his development as yet incomplete,
White does not feel ready to embark in forced tactical battles.} ({However,
since after the game continuation he will not manage to obtain an advantage,} 
13. Qxa5 {deserves to be taken into consideration.} Bb7 14. Qxd8 Rxa1 $1 15.
Qxf8+ {White has to return the material, otherwise he would end up under very
dangerous attack.} (15. Qb6 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 c3+ $1 $17 {and a fork on d5 will
soon win the queen.}) (15. Qc7 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 Rxb2+ 17. Kc1 c3 18. Qxc3 Rxe2
$17 {with very strong threats in conditions of approximate material equality.})
15... Kxf8 16. O-O {This is the most natural move, but removing the king from
the centre is a far from one-sided decision from the perspective of the
approaching endgame.} ({An interesting alternative would be} 16. Kd2 Ra2 17.
Rc1 {in order to maintain the e2-pawn defended with the king. However, this
would leave the g2-bishop undefended, which would restrict White's active
possibilities.}) 16... Ra2 {Black will most likely win his pawn back, but
White can count on a small achievement, too: he has almost completed his
development and maintained the control of the c3-square at the same time.} 17.
Ne5 (17. Nbd2 {is met by} Bxf3 $1 {when each way to re-capture has its
drawbacks. In principle, it would be desirable to maintain the c4-pawn under
pressure, but} 18. Bxf3 {allows} c3 $1 19. Nc4 cxb2 20. Kg2 Ra4 $11 {with
complete simplifications and a draw.}) (17. Rc1 Rxb2 18. e3 {leaves the
f2-square vulnerable, for instance} Nbd7 19. Nbd2 Ng4 $1 {and White cannot
free himself easily.}) 17... Ba6 (17... Bd5 18. Nc3 Rxb2 19. e4 $14) 18. Nc3
Rxb2 19. Rb1 {It is important to exchange or at least drive back the active
black rook.} Rxb1+ (19... Rb3 20. Rc1 Nfd7 21. f4 $14 {followed by the
centralisation of the king.}) 20. Nxb1 Nd5 21. Bxd5 (21. e4 $2 c3 $1 $19) 21...
exd5 22. Nc3 $14 {White has a minimal but stable advantage. The main
achievement of the early queen's manoeuvre, namely the control of the
c3-square, has been preserved until very deep in the endgame. However, it is
not easy to evaluate whether he has real chances for a win. Black has a passed
pawn after all, which considerably restricts White's active possibilities.})
13... Qb6 14. O-O ({The immediate} 14. Nbd2 {deserves to be mentioned.} Bb5 $1
(14... Qxb2 $2 15. Rb1 Qc3 16. O-O $18 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Gf1c1]}) (14... Nc6 $6
15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rfc8 17. O-O Ne7 18. Qa2 Rc2 19. Qa3 Ned5 (19... Ra7 $6
20. b4 $1 a4 21. Rfc1 Rxe2 $6 22. Bf1 Re4 23. Bd3 Rg4 24. h3 $16 {traps the
rook.}) 20. Rfc1 Rxe2 21. Qxa5 Qxa5 22. Rxa5 Rd8 23. Rb5 Ne4 24. Ne5 $14 {
Black does not seem to have enough for the pawn.}) 15. Qa2 (15. Qa3 Nc6 16. Rc1
Rad8 17. e3 Qa6 {In this line, we can notice the main drawback of the
development of the knight to d2: the c3-square is not blocked, which makes
castling slightly problematic.}) 15... Nc6 16. Nxc4 Qd8 $11 17. Rd1 $2 Nb4 18.
Qb3 Nfd5 $1 {/\a4} 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Nfd2 Nb6 $17) 14... Qxb2 15. Nbd2 Bb5 16.
Nxc4 {A forced move, but I cannot help thinking that after capturing this pawn,
White will not anjoy stability on c3 for his knights any more.} Bxa4 17. Nxb2
Bb5 {Finally, the piece in which White has invested 5 tempi of development has
been exchanged. White has a nice pawn structure and, after the next move,
strong pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. However, Black's a-pawn should not
be underestimated. In order to block it or simply capture it, White will need
to concentrate a considerable amount of resources on the queenside, leaving
the other wing slightly weakened. Compared with the final position of the
variation given in the notes to White's 13th move, the relation between the
black bishop and the white queen's knight is reversed. Here, the bishop is
dominating the knight.} 18. Ne5 Ra7 19. Bf3 Nbd7 20. Nec4 {One important
aspect is that all the outposts for the minor pieces offered by the central
chain of pawns are a bit too far from the passed pawn. The knight only enjoys
relative stability on c4.} (20. Nxd7 Nxd7 (20... Bxd7 21. Ra3 $14 {[%csl Ga5]
[%cal Yf1a1,Yb2d3,Yd3c5]}) 21. Rfb1 $5 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Yb2d1,Yd1c3]} Rc8 {
Apparently, the only way to maintain the balance even. The bishop needs
support along the c-file.} (21... a4 22. Nd1 Bc4 23. Ne3 $16 Bb3 $2 24. Rxb3
$18) (21... Rb8 22. Nd1 Rb6 23. Ra3 $14) (21... e5 22. Nd1 e4 23. Rxb5 exf3 24.
exf3 Rfa8 25. Nc3 Kf8 26. Ra4 Ke7 27. Kf1 $16) 22. Nd1 Bc6 (22... Bc4 23. Ne3
$16 {/\Rb7}) 23. Rc1 Rac7 (23... Bb7 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc3 Nf6 26. Kf1 Bd7 27.
Ke1 Kf8 28. Kd2 Ke7 29. e4 Bc6 30. Kd3 $14 a4 $6 31. Ra3 Rb7 32. Bd1 $16 Rb2
$140 33. Ke3) 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 $11 {Now, the position has been
simplified even further and White's advantage in space becomes less relevant.
Black should not face too big a problem.} 26. Rxa5 $2 Rc1 27. Ra8+ Nf8 $19)
20... Rb8 {Defending the a5-pawn by indirect means.} ({As pointed out by GM
Lupulescu, this is an attempt to take over the initiative already. Black could
have forced a draw with} 20... Rc7 {for instance} 21. Ne3 (21. Nxa5 Bxe2 22.
Bxe2 Rc2 $15 {leaves White with a weak pawn on d4, while his piece activity is
of temporary nature.}) 21... e5 $1 22. Rxa5 exd4 23. Nf5 Rc5 24. Nxd4 Bxe2 $1
25. Rxc5 Bxf1 $11 {Lupulescu}) 21. Rfb1 ({Kramnik could hardly have considered
the possibility of starting the (probably successful) fight for a draw with} 
21. Rxa5 {at such an early stage of the game and match.} Rxa5 22. Nxa5 Bxe2 $15
) 21... g5 $5 {A multi-purpose move. Black avoids any back rank problems,
opens a path for the king's activation and questions White's stability on the
kingisde. In the long run, the operation initiated by the advance of this pawn
will put White under serious pressure.} 22. e3 ({White could have prevented
the further advance of the g-pawn by means of} 22. h3 h5 23. Ne3 {. However,
it is not clear how he would have continued if Black had just gradually
improved his position by means of} a4 (23... e5 {is premature because of} 24.
dxe5 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Bg2 Nxe5 27. Nbc4 $14 {when Black will most likely
lose his a-pawn.}) 24. Ra3 Kg7 $13) 22... g4 23. Bd1 {The most consequent
continuation. White intends to prove that placing the bishop on f3 was just an
intermediate phase in the process of its further activation. Among others, the
a4-square is taken under control. The main drawback of the bishop retreat
consists of the fact that it leaves the long diagonal undefended.} ({However,
in the case of} 23. Bg2 {followed by an eventual move with the c4-knight,
Black could play ...Be2 followed by ...Bf3, with a similar situation as in the
game.}) 23... Bc6 24. Rc1 ({Again, the pawn is taboo.} 24. Nxa5 $2 Be4 $17)
24... Be4 25. Na4 {Finally, White has reached some queenside stability.
However, after placing the knight on a4 the pressure against the a5-knight is
released, allowing Black more freedom of action.} Rb4 26. Nd6 Bf3 $5 {This
certainly looks like a double-edged decision: will the pawn be a strength or a
weakness? The further course of the game offers us partial answers in both
ways. The pawn kept White passive for a long time but then perished without
glory after Black's first slip. However, further analysis proved that with
correct play Topalov's decision was entirely viable.} 27. Bxf3 gxf3 {For the
time being, we can notice that the pawn is not easy to attack and that it
causes White some back rank problems. Besides, if the d6-knight moves away,
the wonderful e4-square would become available to the black knights.} 28. Nc8 {
The adherents of the Catalan Opening like very much to place knights on the
c6-square, especially if they cannot be driven away easily. In this concrete
case, however, it is not clear yet whether this yields White any concrete
advantage, because the knight is too far from such important squares as e4 or
f3. Kramnik probably intended to put the a5-pawn under pressure in order to
eliminate it at any cost and reach absolute safety.} (28. e4 $5 {[%csl Gf3]
[%cal Ya1a3] Korotylev}) (28. Nc3 $5 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d2,Ra5a4] Korotylev,
Notkin} Ra6 29. Nde4 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 a4 $132) 28... Ra8 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Nc6 Rb3
31. Nc5 {The other knight jumps forward, taking over the duties of his
colleague regarding the control of the e4-square.} Rb5 32. h3 $6 {This
over-cautious move could have led White to troubles.} ({As known, the best
form of defence is attack!} 32. Ra4 $5 Nxc5 33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Rac4 $1 $13 {
[%csl Rf3][%cal Yc6d4,Rc5c6] leaves White with active possibilities, although
the a-pawn remains quite dangerous.}) 32... Nxc5 33. Rxc5 (33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Ra4
(34. Nd4 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 Nxc5 36. Nxf3 a4 $17) 34... Nxc5 35. Rg4+ Kf8 36. Nd4 {
and now Black can save his hanging pieces with} Nd3 37. Rd1 Nb2 $15) 33... Rb2
{Suddenly, White has problems. The threat ...Ne4 is very strong.} 34. Rg5+ {
An apparently inoffensive intermediate check that faces Black with a far from
easy choice.} Kh6 $6 {The concrete reasons why this move reduces Black's
chances for success are not obvious yet.} ({However, intuitively} 34... Kf8 {
deserves to be preferred. The king has little chance of getting active
possibilities on the kingside, where it is restricted by the barrier created
by the g3- and h3-pawns and should rather aim to travel around the whole board
like Columbus, up to e2. Here is a possible continuation that illustrates
Black's chances:} 35. Rgxa5 (35. Raxa5 $2 Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 $19) 35... Rxa5 36.
Nxa5 (36. Rxa5 $2 Ne4 $19) 36... Ne4 37. Rf1 f6 38. Nc4 ({The main difference
compared to the game is that} 38. Nc6 {fails to restrict Black's activity, for
instance} Ke8 39. d5 e5 40. g4 Kd7 41. Na5 Rc2 42. Nc6 Kd6 $17) 38... Ra2 39.
Nb6 Ke7 40. Nc4 Kd7 41. Nb6+ Kc7 42. Nc4 Kc6 43. Rc1 {What else? The knight
was in danger already.} Kb5 $1 (43... Rxf2 $2 44. Nd2+ Kd5 45. Rc5+ Nxc5 46.
Kxf2 Ne4+ 47. Nxe4 Kxe4 48. g4 $11) 44. Rc2 Ra1+ 45. Kh2 Rf1 46. g4 Kb4 {
/\Kb3 and White is in big trouble. When moving his king to h6, Topalov might
have intended to restrict White's choice by attacking his rook. However, we
have seen from the previous lines that after ...Kf8 White could hardly have
deviated from the main course. Another possibility is that the FIDE World
Champion had not decided yet to play on in spite of being a pawn down 
(although knowing Topalov's reputation, I can hardly believe that!)}) 35. Rgxa5
Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 37. Rf1 Nd2 {I suspect that most of the spectators and
commentators were expecting a draw by repetition to follow soon. At least,
this was what I initially thought.} 38. Rc1 Ne4 39. Rf1 f6 {An important move,
preventing the enemy knight's transfer to e5, when the f3-pawn would be in
danger.} 40. Nc6 Nd2 41. Rd1 Ne4 42. Rf1 Kg6 {At this moment I understood that
we were going to have a long game. With such perfect coordination of his
pieces (R + N + P), Topalov correctly assumes that he can play for a win
without too much risk. He might have also thought that even if White would
hold a draw, it would useful to take the psychological initiative from the
very first game of the match.} 43. Nd8 {[%csl Re6,Rf7] When playing his 34th
move, Topalov must have underestimated the strength of the enemy knight, which,
in spite of being cut off his colleagues, is able to restrict Black's activity
by attacking the enemy pawns from behind, preventing the activation of the
king via f7 at the same time!} Rb6 {By employing the rook for the purpose of
defending the e6-pawn, Black allows the partial activation of the enemy rook.}
(43... e5 $5 {deserved serious attention. Even though the eventual exchange of
one pair of pawns would increase the "risk" of a draw in certain cases, White
would face serious problems saving his poorly coordinated army.} 44. Nc6 {
(Exchanging on e5 would not only open the king's access to the other wing via
f6, but also deprive the white knight of the c5-square.)} Kf5 45. Nd8 {
Continuing to cut the king's access off.} h5 {Playing for zugzwang.} ({Black
should not release the tension in the centre either.} 45... exd4 46. exd4 Rd2
47. Nc6 Ke6 48. Re1 Re2 49. Rf1 Kd5 50. Ne7+ Kxd4 51. Nf5+ Ke5 52. Ne3 {
would most probably lead to a draw.}) (45... Rc2 {is less accurate because it
allows} 46. Nb7 Ke6 47. Nc5+ Nxc5 48. dxc5 {when Black would retain just a
more pleasant position with} e4 $15 {but probably not more than that.}) 46. Nc6
({White should refrain from such moves as} 46. h4 {[%csl Gg4]}) 46... Ke6 47.
Nd8+ Ke7 48. Nc6+ Kd6 49. Na5 Kd5 {/\...Rb5. In order to save his knight,
White has to release the tension already.} 50. dxe5 fxe5 51. Rd1+ Ke6 52. Rf1
Rc2 53. Nb3 Kd5 $17 {and White is in serious trouble.}) 44. Rc1 h5 45. Ra1 h4 {
Apparently, Topalov was convinced that the shorter way to the enemy king is
the best.} ({He could have probably transposed to the previous variations with
} 45... e5 {still, initiating the long trip of the king.}) ({Re-directing the
king without the pawn exchange in the centre, starting with} 45... Kg7 {
would have been less promising if faced with adequate white defence.} 46. Rc1
Kf8 47. d5 $1 (47. Nc6 {would more or less transpose to the variation from the
comments on White's 34th move:} Ke8 48. Na5 Rb2 49. Nc4 Ra2 50. Rf1 Kd7 {
and so on.}) 47... exd5 (47... e5 48. Ne6+ Ke7 49. Ng7 {allows White to
eliminate the h5-pawn and get his knight on to a reasonable square at the same
time. It should be mentioned that if White had initiated the whole plan
without advancing the h-pawn, then Rc7+ followed by Rxh7 would have been
possible, while with the pawn on h6, White could play g4 and Nf5 in the
current position. Besides that, in all cases Nc5 would have been an
alternative, exchanging knights and retaining a cramped but defensible
position.}) 48. Nc6 Ng5 {Black has to react quickly in order to prevent Nd4.}
49. Kh2 Rb2 50. Rf1 Ne6 51. Kg1 Ke8 52. h4 $1 (52. Rd1 $2 Ng5 $1 $19) 52... Kd7
53. Rc1 {and White seems to be out of danger. Next, he could play Nd4, when
after ..Nxd4 exd4 the f3-pawn would be just as weak as the d4-pawn.}) 46. gxh4
Kh5 47. Ra2 Kxh4 48. Kh2 Kh5 49. Rc2 Kh6 {The rather tortuous path chosen by
Topalov for his king was dictated by the aim of putting White in zugzwang.
More about it later.} 50. Ra2 Kg6 51. Rc2 ({Actually, White could have
maintained his rook on the more active a2-square by playing} 51. Kg1 {when}
Rb1+ 52. Kh2 Rf1 $6 {does not work because of} 53. Nxe6) 51... Kf5 {Topalov
managed to play this move in a moment when the check on the fifth rank is not
available. However, it will be not easy to build on this partial success.} 52.
Ra2 {White can do very little apart from sit and wait.} Rb5 {Protecting the
king but releasing the knight from its cage.} 53. Nc6 Rb7 54. Ra5+ Kg6 55. Ra2
Kh5 $6 {After long manoeuvres, Black has managed to create the deadly threat ..
.Rg7-g2. However, White's (possibly) unexpected answer will mark the turning
point in the game.} ({A safer way to clear the g-file consisted of} 55... Kh6 {
Shipov, Sakaev and Yemelin found the following path to safety for White:} 56.
d5 $1 Rg7 $1 (56... exd5 57. Nd4) 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Kg7 $1 (58... Nxf2+ $6
59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7) 59. Ra7+ Kg6 60. Ne7+ Kh6 61. Ra2 Nxf2+ (61... Ng3+ 62.
fxg3 Rxa2 63. Kg1) 62. Rxf2 Rxf2 63. Nf5+ Kg6 64. Nd6 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Ge6e7]} Rf1+ 65. Kh2 f2 66. e7 Rh1+ $1 67. Kg3 (67. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 68. Kh2 {
is also a draw}) 67... f1=Q 68. e8=Q+ Kh7 {with perpetual.}) 56. d5 $1 e5 ({
For the time being, Topalov reacts correctly.} 56... exd5 {loses the pride of
Black's position after} 57. Nd4) (56... Rg7 {also seems to keep Black in the
game after} 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Nxf2+ 59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7 Rf1+ 61. Kh2 Rf2+
62. Kg3 Rg2+ 63. Kxf3 Rg8 {Black has managed to stop the pawn with a supreme
effort, but his position remains optically difficult. However, it is possible
to save the game with a certain degree of accuracy.} 64. Nd4 (64. Ke4 Kg6 65.
Kd5 Kf7 66. Kd6 {looks very promising for White, but Black has at his disposal
the only saving move} Rg3 {which enables him to control the e7-pawn from
behind.}) 64... Kg6 65. e4 Kf7 66. Nf5 Rg1 67. h4 Rh1 68. Ke3 Rd1 69. h5 Rh1
70. h6 Rh2 71. Kd4 Ke8 $1 72. Kd5 Kd7 {and White cannot make progress.}) 57.
Ra4 {Now, Black loses stability in the centre and has to prove certain
inventivity in order to save the game.} f5 $2 {A tragic moment.} ({Probably
surprised by the unexpected course of events, Topalov fails to find his last
saving possibility, consisting of} 57... Nxf2 58. Kg3 e4 {and if} 59. Kxf2 {
then} Rb2+ {with perpetual. The over-ambitious} 60. Kg3 $2 {would even lose to}
Rg2+ 61. Kf4 f2 62. Ra1 Rg1) 58. Nxe5 Rb2 59. Nd3 Rb7 ({At the press
conference, Topalov confessed that he overlooked Rd4. He probably had in mind
the variation} 59... Rd2 60. Rd4 $18 ({Indeed, other moves fail to offer White
winning chances, for instance} 60. Ra3 Kh4 $1 {restricting the enemy king
before capturing on f2.})) 60. Rd4 Rb6 {Still hoping to maintain some sort of
blockade...} 61. d6 {The most convincing winning method. Finally, Black has to
free the enemy king.} Nxd6 62. Kg3 Ne4+ 63. Kxf3 Kg5 64. h4+ $5 {Stein used to
joke: "In such kind of positions I am especially strong!" With two extra-pawns,
White can allow himself display certain fireworks that would make the final
part of the game more enjoyable.} Kf6 (64... Kxh4 65. Nc5 $18) 65. Rd5 Nc3 66.
Rd8 Rb1 67. Rf8+ Ke6 68. Nf4+ Ke5 69. Re8+ Kf6 70. Nh5+ Kg6 71. Ng3 Rb2 72. h5+
Kf7 73. Re5 Nd1 74. Ne2 Kf6 75. Rd5 (75. Rd5 Rb1 (75... Rxe2 76. Rd6+ {or
simply 76.Rxd1}) 76. h6 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Another highly dramatic game. Topalov built up an irresistible king side
attack but then missed a simple win and started playing less confidently.
Kramnik's main merit consists of finding ways to face his opponent with
difficult psychological problems. The score is 2-0 now for Kramnik, but given
the elevated tension of the fight this could be of little relevance from the
point of view of the final result.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5.
a4 Bf5 {Kramnik has not played this line since 1999 and probably intended it
to be a small surprise.} 6. e3 ({Also slightly unexpected. Topalov usually
plays the more straightforward} 6. Ne5) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2
Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 {[%cal Ye6e5]} 12. e5 ({From the point of view of
the general laws of development,} 12. Bf4 {looks slightly more consistent and
only if} Re8 {[%cal Ye6e5] , then} 13. e5 {. However, after} Nd5 14. Nxd5 {
Black can try} exd5 $5 {[%cal Yd7f8,Yf8e6] already, with interesting play.})
12... Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 {This can be considered a classical line
already. Black has a solid position, but White's advantage in space offers him
chances for a king side attack, be it of strategic or tactical nature.
Recently, Black's earlier deviations such as 9...Bg4, 9...Ne4 and 11...h6 have
become increasingly popular. Actually, 9...Ne4 can hardly be called a new move;
it has just been well forgotten for a long while, but it was employed during
the Alekhine-Euwe matches. Kramnik himself faced 9...Bg4 against Bacrot in the
Olympiad and failed to demonstrate a convincing antidote.} Bg6 15. Ng5 Re8 16.
f4 Bxd3 $146 {In spite of the fact that the previous games played from this
position did not justify any special worries for Black, Kramnik decides to
restrict White's attacking chances to the minimum.} (16... Nf8 17. g4 Bxd3 18.
Qxd3 Qc7 19. f5 Qc4 20. Qd1 f6 21. Nf3 Rac8 $44 {1/2-1/2 Donner,J-Teschner,R/
Bamberg 1968/MCD (33)}) (16... Rc8 17. g4 f6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Qd3
Nf8 21. f5 gxf5 (21... Qc2 $1 $132 {Deviatkin}) 22. gxf5 fxe5 23. Nxe5 exf5 24.
Qxf5 Bd6 25. Nf7 Re7 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxc8 Qg6+ 28. Bg5 Qxg5+ 29. Kh1 {
1-0 Pelletier,Y (2624)-Deviatkin,A (2487)/Moscow RUS 2003}) 17. Qxd3 f5 {
Starting from this moment, I expected that Topalov would sacrifice the knight
on e6 in one way or another. However, Topalov had other plans. By gradually
concentrating all his forces on the king side, he will aim to create very
dangerous threats. This was to a certain extent in accordance with his general
match strategy. Instead of rushing in, he mostly preferred to take his chances
in long battles.} 18. Be3 ({Taking into account Black's possible improvements
on the 19th move,} 18. g4 {deserves serious attention.} h6 $8 (18... g6 $6 19.
gxf5 gxf5 (19... exf5 20. Qb5 $18 {[%csl Yb4,Yd5]}) 20. Qg3 $18 {for instance}
Qe7 21. Nxe6+ Kh8 22. Ng5 h6 23. Qh3 $1 {and White avoids any inconveniences
along the g-file.}) 19. Nxe6 $1 (19. gxf5 hxg5 20. fxe6 Rxe6 21. f5 Nxe5 $1 $15
) 19... Rxe6 20. gxf5 Re7 21. Kh1 $44 {[%cal Yf1g1,Yc1e3,Yg1g6,Ya1g1]}) 18...
Nf8 19. Kh1 ({Now, it is too late for} 19. g4 {already because of} Qd7 20. Kh1
Be7 21. Nxe6 (21. gxf5 exf5 {[%csl Ge6][%cal Ye7g5,Yf8e6]}) 21... Nxe6 22. gxf5
Nc7 23. Rg1 Kh8 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Ye8f8] and White's attacking chances are
questionable.}) 19... Rc8 $6 {Black systematically prepares his queenside
counterplay, but tolerates the knight on g5 for too long.} ({True,} 19... h6 $6
{[%csl Gg6] would have been risky by weakening the g6-square unnecessarily.}
20. Nxe6 $5 (20. Nf3 Rc8 21. Rg1 {[%cal Yg2g4]}) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 $44 {
[%csl Gg6]}) ({However,} 19... Be7 $1 {[%cal Ye7g5] as recommended by several
commentators was better.} 20. Nxe6 $6 (20. Nf3 {is safer, but then White
should abandon his attacking ideas, since} Rc8 21. Rg1 Qc7 22. g4 $6 {is met by
} fxg4 23. Rxg4 Qc2 $15) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 Qd7 $1 (21... Nf8 22. Qg4 Qd7 23.
f5 $40) (21... Qb6 22. a5 Qa6 23. Qg4 $40) 22. Qh5 (22. Qg4 $6 Nc5 $1) (22. Qh3
Rf8 23. Rf3 Rac8 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Yc8c4]} 24. f5 Ng5) 22... g6 23. Qh3 Rf8 24.
Rf3 (24. g4 Ng7 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Yh7h5]}) 24... Rac8 25. g4 Rc4 $17 {
and Black's counterplay is faster than White's attack.}) 20. g4 Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7
22. Nf3 {Shattering my last illusions about a possible Nxe6. True, I felt
fully rewarded for it by the spectacular sequence starting with the 28th move.}
({However,} 22. Nxe6 $5 {might have been a more dangerous continuation of the
attack.} Qxe6 (22... Nxe6 23. gxf5 $16 Nc7 24. f6 $40) 23. gxf5 Qa6 (23... Qf7
24. Rg4 Rc6 (24... Rc4 25. Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Rxg6+ $18) (24... Kh8 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. f5 $18 gxf5 $6 28. Qxf5 $1 {[%csl Yg7,Yg8,Gh6]}) 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 (26... Rxg6 27. f5 Rxg4 28. Rxg4+ Kh8 29. Bh6 $18) 27. f5
Rec8 28. Bh6 $40) 24. Qxa6 $5 {The following lines are suggestive of the
dangers facing Black even in the endgame.} ({However, the simple} 24. Qd2 $40 {
[%cal Yd2g2] might be just better.}) 24... bxa6 25. f6 Bxf6 26. exf6 Rxe3 (
26... g6 27. Ra3 {[%cal Yf4f5]} Kf7 28. Rg5 Red8 29. Re5 $14 {[%cal Yf4f5,
Ye3f2,Yf2h4,Ya3b3,Yb3b7]}) 27. Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Rag1 Ne6 29. R7g4 {[%cal Yf6f7,
Yg4g8]} h5 (29... Rb3 30. f5 Nc7 31. Rg7 $16 {[%csl Gc7]} Rbb8 $6 32. R1g4 $18
{[%cal Yg4h4,Yh4h7]}) 30. Rh4 $1 Rc7 31. Rxh5+ Rh7 32. Rxh7+ Kxh7 33. f5 Nf8
34. Rg7+ Kh8 $8 (34... Kh6 35. Rg8 Re8 36. f7 Rb8 37. a5 Kh7 38. Kg2 $18) 35.
Rxa7 Re4 (35... Rf3 36. Rxa6 Rxf5 37. b4 Kh7 38. b5 Kg6 39. a5 $18) 36. Rxa6
Rxd4 37. a5 Rb4 38. Rd6 Rxb2 39. Rxd5 Ra2 $11) 22... Rc4 23. Rg2 fxg4 24. Rxg4
Rxa4 25. Rag1 g6 26. h4 {Dark clouds have gathered around the black king.
Without calculating too much, it is obvious that the position becomes very
dangerous and that Black needs to play very accurately in order to avoid
disaster.} Rb4 $1 {[%cal Yd7b5] The only way to stay alive is to question the
stability of the white queen along the b1-h7 diagonal.} 27. h5 Qb5 28. Qc2 $3 (
{The only way to keep the attack going.} 28. hxg6 $2 {was premature because
after} Qxd3 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rg7+ Kh6 31. f5+ {the bishop is hanging.}) 28...
Rxb2 $1 {For the time being, Kramnik finds the only path through the jungle of
variations, most possible by intuition.} (28... Rb3 $6 {[%cal Yb5d3] has been
unanimously recommended as a safer defence, but it allows White to retain an
advantage.} 29. hxg6 h5 (29... Qd3 $2 30. gxh7+ Kh8 31. Rg8+ Kxh7 32. Qh2+ $18)
30. R4g3 $1 (30. g7 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 32. Qh7 Qd3 $11 {and White has not
more than perpetual, as pointed out by Svidler.}) 30... Qd3 (30... h4 31. g7
hxg3 32. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Qg6 Qd3 34. f5 $1 {[%cal Ye3h6]} Qxe3 35. Rxg3 $18)
31. g7 $3 {Quite similar to the game continuation.} Nh7 (31... Qxc2 $2 32.
gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Rg8+ Kf7 34. R1g7#) 32. Qc7 {[%csl Ge6,Ge7,Ge8][%cal Yc7d7]
White's army is much better coordinated. Several of Black's pieces are passive
or even vulnerable.} ({If White fears the queenside passed pawns from the main
line, he can also choose the safer} 32. Qxd3 Rxd3 33. Bd2 {[%csl Ye6,Yh7][%cal
Rg3h3,Rg1g6]}) 32... Qc4 (32... Qb5 33. Nd2 $16) 33. Qxc4 dxc4 34. Nd2 Rxb2 35.
Nxc4 Rc2 36. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Ge7,Ge8,Gg8,Gh7][%cal Yd2e4,Yg3g6,Rd4d5,Rd2f3,
Rf3d4] and White's kingside pressure is hardly bearable. With four rooks on
the board, Black's queen side pawns are much less dangerous than in the game.
Still, the position would remain complicated and difficult to handle in an
over-the-board game.}) 29. hxg6 $1 {Now, capture of the queen leads to mate,
so Black has to keep the g-file closed, at least for a while.} h5 $8 (29...
Rxc2 $2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh6 32. f5+ Kh5 33. f6 $18 {[%csl Gg5]}) 30. g7
$1 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Bxf8 $2 {This move should have led to an abrupt end.} ({
Both players started missing things by this moment. This is easy to spot when
assisted by Fritz, but in conditions of over-the-board play things are
different. About the previous day's game it has been said that 57...f5 was a
terrible blunder and that 57...Nxf2 would have drawn easily. I do not feel
that this is really so obvious without an engine by one's side. Anyway, I
suppose that Kramnik considered the line} 31... Kxf8 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 {
as completely hopeless for him, overlooking the unexpected resource} Bg5 $1 {
when White has to insert} 34. Re1 {before he captures the bishop.} Qc2 35. Qxg5
(35. fxg5 Kg7 36. Rc1 Rh8+ 37. Kg1 Rb1 38. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 39. Kf2 Rf8 $13 {[%cal
Ya7a5,Yb7b5] Svidler} 40. Bd2 Qe4 41. Qh3 Qxd4+ 42. Kg3 Rxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Qxd2 44.
Qh6+ Kg8 45. Qxe6+ Kf8 46. Qf6+ Kg8 $11) 35... Re7 36. Rc1 Rh7+ 37. Kg1 Rg7 38.
Rxc2 Rxc2 $13 {Svidler}) 32. Qg6+ $2 ({Both players must have had their eyes
focused on the king side, which made them overlook that after} 32. Rxg4+ Bg7 {
White can attack the g7-bishop from the other side with} 33. Qc7 {preventing ..
.Re7 (which could follow after 33.Qg6) and leaving Black with the possibility
of giving just one last check with} Qf1+ {when} 34. Ng1 {ends the day.
Although Topalov's move does not let the win slip away yet, it surely marks
the start of his gradual decline, after a brilliantly conducted first part of
the game. This seems to be a hidden weakness of the FIDE World Champion.
Sometimes, if the opponent gets some symbolic counterplay in a basically lost
position, Topalov starts becoming less confident. (To a certain extent, this
was also typical for Fischer, with whom Topalov has been frequently been
compared for his uncompromising style). In Topalov-Leko Linares 2005 and
Topalov-Anand San Luis 2005 he just missed relatively simple wins but in
Aronian-Topalov Morelia 2006 he even came close to losing at a certain moment.
This game continues this unfortunate tendency: he will eventually lose the
full point...}) 32... Bg7 33. f5 $1 Re7 (33... exf5 $2 34. Ng5 $1 (34. Bh6 Qd7
35. Ng5 Rb6 $13) 34... Qc6 (34... Re7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qxf5+ Kg8 37. Rc1 $18)
35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. e6 $18 {[%cal Yg1c1,Yc6b5,Ge6e7,Rf7h5,Rh5h7]}) 34. f6 Qe2 35.
Qxg4 Rf7 36. Rc1 $2 (36. Bh6 Rb3 37. Rg3 Rb1+ 38. Ng1 $6 (38. Rg1 $11) 38...
Qxg4 39. Rxg4 a5 $132) ({Computers suggest} 36. Qh5 $1 {as stronger and they
seem to be just right, but this is pretty hard to spot during the game by a
mere mortal, be he even a World Champion. Topalov's choice is perfectly
understandable, humanly speaking, but from objective point of view it should
have led to a draw.} a5 (36... Qxe3 37. Ng5 $18) (36... Rb3 37. Rxg7+ Rxg7 38.
fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 Kxg7 40. Qg5+ Kh7 41. Qe7+ Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qxe6+ Kg7 44.
Qf6+ Kg8 45. e6 $18) 37. Rg3 Qxe3 (37... a4 38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 $18 {Lui})
38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2+ 40. Kh3 Rxg7 41. Ng5 Qf4 (41... Rxg5 42. Qe8+ Kh7
43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Rxe3 $18 {Lui}) 42. Qe8+ Qf8 43. Qxf8+ Kxf8 44. Nxe6+ $18)
36... Rc2 37. Rxc2 Qd1+ $2 {Kindly returning the favour. Black should not help
the enemy king get centralized.} ({Kramnik was probably afraid that after} 
37... Qxc2 {White would get a decisive tempo with} 38. Ng5 {In fact, now that
the king's defence has been somewhat weakened, the checks would have allowed
him save the game.} Qb1+ 39. Kg2 Qc2+ {and White should probably accept a draw
by perpetual check or repetition somewhere.} 40. Kh3 $5 (40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kf4
Qf1+ 42. Qf3 Qxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Bxf6 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. exf6 Kxf6 $11 {see the
notes to White's 41st move}) 40... Qd3 (40... Bxf6 41. exf6 Qf5 42. Qxf5 exf5
43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. Bg5 a5 45. Kg3 a4 46. Bc1 Kxf6 47. Kf4 $18 {see the notes to
White's 42nd move}) 41. Qf3 Bh6 42. Nxf7 Qxe3 43. Qxe3 Bxe3 44. Nd8 b5 $1 (
44... a5 45. Kg4 $1 a4 46. Nxe6 a3 47. Kf5 $1 {[%cal Yf5g6,Yf6f7,Yf7f8]} Kh7 $8
{The difference compared to 44...b5 is that with the b-pawn on the third rank
Black would win with 47...b2 now, because he would promote with check.} 48.
Nf8+ Kh8 49. e6 a2 50. e7 a1=Q 51. e8=Q Qb1+ 52. Ke6 Qe4+ 53. Kf7 Qxe8+ 54.
Kxe8 $18 {[%cal Yf8e6,Yf6f8]}) 45. Nxe6 b4 {and White is in trouble.}) 38. Kg2
Qxc2+ 39. Kg3 {[%cal Yg4e6]} Qe4 {A culminating moment. Black desperately
tries to simplify the position, even if this would imply making some
positional or material concessions on the kingside since his apparently
inoffensive queenside pawns will be a terrible weapon in the ending. White
faces now a very difficult choice right before the control.} (39... Qf5 40.
Qxf5 exf5 41. Ng5 Rc7 (41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44. Kf4 {
transposes below to a subline from the comment to White's 42nd move.}) 42. Kf4
$18) 40. Bf4 $2 ({It required a lot of analytical effort to prove which
exactly is the move that turns a better (or winning) position into a worse (or
losing) one, but it is obvious that we are getting close by now.} 40. Qxe4 dxe4
41. Ng5 {would have lead to relatively similar positions as in the game, with
the difference that White could put his pawns into motion more quickly. For
instance} Bf8 ({White wins after} 41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44.
Kf4 {although some elementary technique is still needed.} a5 45. Bd2 b6 46.
Kxe4 Ke7 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bc1 (48. Bh6 Ke7) 48... b5 49. Bd2 b4 50. Bg5 a4 51.
Bd2 b3 (51... a3 52. Bxb4 a2 53. Bc3 Ke7 54. Ke4 $18 {[%cal Ye4c2,Yc2a2]}) 52.
Bc1 Ke7 53. Bb2 Kd7 54. Ba3 $22 $18 {[%csl Ge6]}) (41... Bh6 42. Nxf7 Bxe3 43.
Nd8 a5 (43... Bxd4 $2 44. f7+ Kf8 45. Nxe6+ Kxf7 46. Nxd4 a5 47. Kf4 a4 48. Nb5
$18) 44. d5 $1 $18) 42. Nxe6 a5 43. Ng5 Bh6 ({The pawn race favours White after
} 43... a4 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. d5 a3 46. Bd4 {followed by e6+}) 44. d5 {when the
white pawns look pretty awesome.}) 40... Qf5 41. Qxf5 (41. Ng5 $5 Qxg4+ $1 (
41... Rc7 $2 42. Qxf5 (42. Nxe6 $6 Rc3+ 43. Kh4 Qh7+ 44. Kg5 Bh6+ 45. Kh5+ Bg7+
46. Kg5 $11 {Svidler}) 42... exf5 43. Ne6 $18 {transposes below.}) 42. Kxg4
Bxf6 $1 43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. exf6 Kxf6 45. Bd6 Kf7 46. Kf4 Ke8 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bb4
b6 $11 {For once, this type of ending is drawn, as pointed out by Luiza Marin.
The importance of the d5-pawn (compared to the note to White's 40th move)
becomes clear after} 49. Bd2 a5 50. Be1 a4 51. Bb4 $2 (51. Bc3 $142 a3 52. Kf6
a2 53. Ke5 b5 54. Kf6 b4 55. Ba1 Kd6 $11) 51... Kc6 $1 52. Kxe6 Kb5 $19 {
when White has no time to unblock his own d-pawn.}) 41... exf5 42. Bg5 $2 ({
Topalov likes to do things in a systematic way, approach with the king,
maintain the chain of pawns intact, and so on, but there is simply not enough
time for it! There are two enemy passed pawns on the other wing! Capturing the
bishop with} 42. fxg7 Rxg7+ 43. Kf2 $13) ({or} 42. Ng5 $1 {would have been
better.} Rc7 (42... Bf8 43. Kh4 $1 a5 44. Kh5 a4 45. Kg6 a3 46. Nxf7 a2 47. e6
a1=Q 48. e7 Qg1+ 49. Bg5 $18 {Deviatkin}) (42... Rxf6 43. exf6 Bxf6 {With
chances for a draw according to Deviatkin, but White seems to be just in time
to eliminate the central pawns and block the queenside pawns, for instance:}
44. Be3 a5 (44... Bxg5 45. Bxg5 {transposes below}) 45. Kf4 a4 46. Nf3 a3 47.
Bd2 b5 (47... Kf7 48. Kxf5 b5 49. Ne5+ $18) 48. Kxf5 Be7 49. Ke6 Kf8 50. Kxd5
b4 51. Bh6+ Ke8 52. Nd2 $18) 43. Ne6 Rc3+ 44. Kh4 Bxf6+ 45. exf6 Kf7 46. Nc7
Rxc7 (46... Rb3 47. Kg5 a5 48. Kxf5 a4 49. Ne6 $18 Rb6 50. Ng5+ Kg8 51. Bc1 Rb3
52. f7+ Kg7 53. Bf4 Rb6 54. Be5+ Kf8 55. Bf6 $18 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Yf5g6,Gg5h7]}
) 47. Bxc7 Kxf6 48. Bf4 a5 49. Bd2 b6 50. Kg3 Kg6 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Bc3 Ke6 53.
Kg5 Kd6 54. Kxf5 Kc6 55. Ke6 a4 56. Bb2 Kb5 57. Kxd5 Kb4 58. Kc6 Kb3 59. Kb5
$18) 42... a5 $17 43. Kf4 (43. fxg7 $5) 43... a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1 (45. Nd2
Rc7 46. Nb3 a2 47. e6 Bxf6 48. Kxf6 Kf8 49. Ke5 Rh7 50. Bd2 Rh3 $19) 45... Bf8
46. e6 (46. Bxa3 Bxa3 47. Ke6 b5 48. Kxd5 b4 49. Nd2 Rd7+ 50. Kc4 Kf7 $19)
46... Rc7 47. Bxa3 Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5 Rf1 ({Allowing the transposition
to a problematic ending.} 49... Rg1 $5 {would have probably been simpler.}) 50.
e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Kd6 {Humanly speaking, this position
looks close to a draw. White's forces are perfectly coordinated and the
elimination of the b-pawn should not be a problem. Dr. John Nunn and the
tablebases seem to have a different opinion, though...} Re1 ({When Nunn
announced that} 53... Re3 {is here the only winning move, I could not spot the
reasons behind that immediately. Apparently, it has something to do with the
restriction of the knight, but the real explanation will be revealed slightly
later. Here follow Nunn's analysis and comments: "} 54. d5 Kf8 55. Kd7 b5 56.
Ne6+ Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 {the rook controls b3 and is therefore ready to
support the b-pawn without wasting a tempo. Then the continuation} Kf7 59. Kc6
Rc3 60. Kb5 b3 61. Na4 Rc2 62. d7 Ke7 {leads to a ar win. It is interesting to
note that all Black's moves from move 53 to move 62 are unique winning moves 
(apart from a possible repetition at one point). Of course this would be tough
to find in a game. I think the hardest part is the manoeuvre ...Kg8-f8-g8-f7,
which looks quite paradoxical. (Nunn)"}) 54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ ({But now,} 55.
Kd7 {, preventing the approach of the enemy king, looks better for human
standards and it is the only saving move according to the tablebases, too. So,
humans and computers can have common views sometimes...} b5 56. Ne6+ Kf7 (56...
Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 $11) 57. Nd8+ Kf6 58. Nc6 Rb1 59. Kd6 $1 b4 60. Kc5 $1
$11) 55... Ke8 56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 {Now that Black has managed to
regroup, it is all over.} 58. Ke7 Rh1 $1 {Probably missed by Topalov.} (58...
b5 $2 59. d6 Rd1 60. Nc5 b4 61. d7+ Kc7 62. Na6+ {or 62.Ne6+, with a draw.})
59. Ng5 $6 (59. Kd6 {would be more stubborn.}) 59... b5 60. d6 Rd1 61. Ne6 b4
62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{By the very high standards of this match, the third game can be called... a
short uneventful draw. Compared with other matches or top tournaments, it
looks more like a very interesting game, though. Topalov did not seem to be
too affected by the unfavourable course of events so far and managed to obtain
counterchances in what looked like an unpleasant position for him, possibly
helped by Kramnik's excessive caution.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {
In previous matches for the World Title, the Catalan Opening has usually been
a sign that White finds himself in a peaceful mood. However, it seems that
Kramnik intends it as more than just a one-game surprise-weapon.} dxc4 5. Bg2
Nc6 ({Deviating from} 5... Bb4+ {which had been played in the first game.
According to old advice regarding general match strategy, one should not
repeat a variation that led to defeat, even if the result of the opening had
been satisfactory. The main point is to avoid having bad memories during the
new game. On the other hand, Topalov's apparently multilateral preparation
against the Catalan makes one think that he did not discard such an opening
choice of Kramnik during his pre-match preparation.}) 6. Qa4 {Here we go again.
I have already mentioned in the notes to the first game White's tendency to
spend a lot of time on early queen moves in the Catalan.} Bd7 {This line is
supposed to lead to slightly worse play for Black. Since Topalov got into
trouble soon, one could wonder what could his preparation have consisted of.
Possibly, the unpleasant psychological situation caused by the disastruous
beginning of the match explains the precarious nature of this opening
experiment.} 7. Qxc4 Na5 8. Qd3 c5 {Curiously, the game Kramnik-Naiditsch,
Dortmund 2006 reached a similar position with the only difference that the
f6-knight had been transferred to b6 already. This had been made possible by a
rather tortuous trajectory of the white queen (c4-b5-b3-d3) as an answer to
Black's 6...Nd5. Dr. Tarrasch used to evaluate an opening position by counting
the tempi needed by the pieces of each side to occupy their actual squares.
According to his method, Naiditsch was two whole tempi up (or better) than
Topalov, but in fact it seems that the knight is better placed on f6 than on
b6! In that game Kramnik captured on c5 and after ...Bxc5 played Qc3,
attacking on c5 and g7 at the same time. This should have brought him an
advantage but he later avoided the most ambitious continuation and the game
ended in a draw after interesting but balanced fight. See the annotations in
CBM 114.} 9. O-O Bc6 {Black has managed to neutralize the Catalan bishop at
the cost of several tempi and the awkward placement of his queen's knight.
This compensates entirely for the loss of time provoked by the white queen.}
10. Nc3 ({This is more natural than} 10. Rd1 {, although it could simply lead
to transposition. Here is a game with some independent value:} c4 11. Qc2 (11.
Qc3 b5 $1 $132) 11... Be4 12. Qa4+ Bc6 13. Qc2 Be4 14. Qd2 (14. Qa4+) 14... h6
$1 15. Qe1 Nc6 16. Qf1 $5 Bd5 17. Nc3 Bb4 18. Nxd5 (18. Ne5 Bxc3 19. Nxc6 Qb6
$5) 18... exd5 19. Ne5 O-O $1 {0-1 Lautier,J-Karpov,A/Ubeda (m/5) 1994/[Karpov,
An] (58)}) 10... cxd4 {It might seem as if Topalov wanted to exchange pieces
as soon as possible in order to make a draw and prepare for his come-back in
the match. Not something very typical for him, I agree. However, the
alternatives are not that appealing.} (10... Rc8 11. Rd1 cxd4 (11... c4 $5 12.
Qc2 Bb4 13. d5 $1 exd5 $8 14. e4 Bxc3 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. bxc3 O-O 17. Ng5 g6 18.
Ne4 Qe7 19. Bg5 $36 {0-1 Ftacnik,L-Lechtynsky,J/Czekhoslovakia 1979}) 12. Nxd4
Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Bc5 14. Qb5+ Qd7 15. Be3 Qxb5 16. Ndxb5 a6 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. b4
Rc6 19. bxa5 axb5 20. Nxb5 $16 {1-0 Dizdarevic,E (2475)-Vukovic,Z (2425)/
Cetinje 1990/EXT 97 (63)}) (10... Be7 11. Rd1 O-O 12. e4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z 
(2603)-Pelletier,Y (2589)/Germany 2005/CBM 106/[Ribli] (45). leaves the
c6-bishop and the a5-knight rather passive.}) (10... c4 $6 11. Qc2 Bb4 12. Bg5
O-O (12... h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. e4 O-O 15. Rad1 Rac8 16. Ne5 Rfd8 17. f4 Be8
18. d5 $36 {1-0 Donaldson,J-Shapiro,D/Framingham USA 2001/(38)}) 13. Rad1 h6
14. d5 exd5 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Nc6 18. Rb1 $14 {1-0 Nielsen,
P-Hjartarson,J/Copenhagen 1996/CBM 54 (64)}) 11. Nxd4 Bc5 ({In practice, the
more straightforward} 11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Nc6 {has been successful so far} 13.
Qb5 $6 ({The developing sequence} 13. Be3 $1 Be7 14. Rfd1 $14 {looks like a
better way to maintain White's initiative.}) 13... a6 (13... Qd7 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Qa6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Roiz,M (2507)-Plachetka,J (2422)/Saint Vincent 2002/CBM
086 ext (41)}) 14. Nxc6 Qc7 15. Qc4 (15. Qb3 Qxc6+ 16. f3 Be7 17. Be3 O-O 18.
Rac1) 15... Rc8 16. Bf4 Qxc6+ 17. Qxc6+ Rxc6 18. Rac1 Be7 19. Na4 Nd5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Antic,D-Lazarevic,S/JUG-sf Niska Banja 1996 (31)}) 12. Rd1 (12. Be3 {
deserves being mentioned, too. White has chances to retain a tiny edge.} Bxg2 (
12... Bxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nc6 15. Qb5 {just transposes}) 13. Qb5+ $1
Nc6 14. Kxg2 Bxd4 15. Bxd4 a6 ({After} 15... Qxd4 16. Qxb7 O-O 17. Qxc6 $14 {
White can maintain his extra pawn in spite of Black's superior activity.}) 16.
Bxf6 axb5 17. Bxd8 Rxd8 18. Nxb5 Rd2 19. b3 $14 {and again, Black's activity
does not seem to fully compensate for the minimal material defficit. True,
White needs a lot of technical effort (and maybe some help from the opponent...
) in order to make progress.} Rxe2 {is answered by} 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Nxb7 {
with similar evaluation.}) 12... Bxg2 $6 {Possibly overlooking White's next
move.} ({The correct move order to simplify the position consists of} 12...
Qxd4 13. Qxd4 Bxd4 14. Rxd4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nc6 {although after} 16. Rd1 {
Black cannot claim complete equality yet.} Rd8 (16... Ke7 $6 17. b3 $1 $36 {
[%cal Yc1a3]}) 17. Bg5 Ke7 18. Ne4 $14 {How real is White's advantage here?
This is a typical question for many "almost symmetrical" endings arising from
the Catalan, right after the opening. It all depends on the personality of the
players. Black is not in danger of losing unless he feels uncomfortable in
this position and (very important!) his opponent has very good endgame
technique. It is the kind of ending that allowed Vladimirs Petrovs and Zoltan
Ribli to defeat such outstanding World Champions as Alexander Alekhine and
Anatoly Karpov, respectively.}) 13. Qb5+ $1 {An important intermediate check
that finally forces Black remove his king's knight from its optimal square.}
Nd7 14. Kxg2 a6 15. Qd3 {It might look that White just lost two additional
moves, but in fact Black now faces problems castling because of the threat
Nc2! attacking the d7-knight and enabling the fork on b4. (Nxe6 would be worse
because it would open the f-file for the enemy rook).} Rc8 $146 {Not a very
inspired novelty and we can only guess whether during his home preparation
Topalov missed 16.Bg5 or 17.Ne4 or did not prepare at all.} (15... Be7 {
covers the g5-square but leaves Black with the problem of his hanging
d7-knight, which prevents him from castling.} 16. Bf4 Rc8 17. Nf3 Nc4 18. Na4
b5 19. b3 Ncb6 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Qxd8+ Bxd8 22. e4 $14 f6 $2 23. Rd6 $16 {
1-0 Tkachiev,V (2670)-Solozhenkin,E (2528)/France 2000/EXT 2001 (33)}) ({
It could be that the safest continuation consisted of the return of the knight
with} 15... Nf6 16. Bg5 ({The immediate} 16. Qf3 {is insufficient for an
advantage because of} Bxd4 17. e3 O-O 18. exd4 Nd5 $11) 16... Bxd4 ({But in
the case of the careless} 16... O-O $6 {White could play} 17. Qf3 {already,
because after} Bxd4 18. e3 $36 {[%cal Ye3d4,Yd4d5] /\exd4, d5, Black cannot
unpin the knight and maintain the control of the d5-square at the same time,
for instance} Qd7 $2 19. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 20. Rxd4 $16 {and the presence of queens
makes the weakness of the black kingside quite relevant.}) 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18.
Rxd4 Nc6 19. Rd2 Ke7 20. Rad1 Rhd8 21. Ne4 $14 {with a familiar ending.}) 16.
Bg5 $1 {A nice way to connect rooks with gain of time. Each player with long
experience in the Catalan has probably played such a move at least once.} Be7 (
{The bishop is taboo.} 16... Qxg5 17. Nxe6 {would lead to a very strong white
attack.} Qe7 ({The relatively better} 17... Ne5 {just loses a pawn after} 18.
Nxg5 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 $16) 18. Nxg7+ Kd8 (18... Kf8 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Qxd7 $18) 19.
Nd5 $18) ({Now it is too late for} 16... Nf6 {because after} 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 $6
18. Ne4 ({Fritz prefers} 18. Nb3 Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 $18 {but I have kept the "human
line" as the main variation.}) 18... Qxd4 {(Otherwise, White's advantage in
development is crushing.)} 19. Qxd4 Bxd4 20. Nd6+ $18 {winning an exchange and
the game.}) ({Or if} 16... Qc7 {then} 17. Ne4 $1 $16 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Gg7][%cal
Ra1c1,Rd3c3] , clearing the c3-square for the queen (in case of ...Ne5),
putting the enemy bishop under pressure and threatening Rac1.}) 17. Bxe7 $6 {
This can be regarded as a premature release of the tension, diminishing
White's advantage.} (17. Ne4 $1 {was much stronger.} Nc4 (17... Ne5 18. Bxe7
Qxe7 19. Nf5 Nxd3 20. Ned6+ Kd7 21. Nxe7 Rc2 22. Ndc8 $18) (17... Bxg5 $2 18.
Nd6+ Kf8 19. Nxc8 Qxc8 20. Qa3+ Qc5 21. Qxc5+ Nxc5 22. b4 $18) 18. Rac1 Nde5 (
18... Bxg5 19. Rxc4 Be7 20. Nf3 Rxc4 21. Qxc4 O-O 22. Qa4 $16) {In a practical
game, many players would content themselves with} 19. Qb3 ({although} 19. Qb1 {
does not seem bad either:} Bxg5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. b3 Na3 {
. Forced. Otherwise, White would play Nd6+.} 23. Qb2 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 $16 {
and Black's poor coordination will cause him the loss of several pawns.}) 19...
Bxg5 (19... Qd5 20. Bxe7 Qxe4+ 21. f3 Qd5 22. Ba3 $18) 20. Nxe6 Qe7 21. N6xg5
$16) 17... Qxe7 18. Rac1 {White has completed his development, while Black
still needs to find a way to remove his king from the centre. For the first
time in the match, the outcome of the opening looks very promising for Kramnik,
in spite of his previous inaccuracy.} Nc4 19. Na4 b5 {Black could have
inserted a knight jump to e5 somewhere, but Topalov seems to prefer simpler
ways today.} (19... Nde5 20. Qe4 O-O 21. b3 f5 22. Qh4 (22. Qf4 $2 g5 $19 {
[%csl Gf4] traps the queen.}) 22... Qe8 23. Qf4 $14 {Korotylev}) 20. b3 O-O 21.
bxc4 bxa4 $14 {For practical reasons, White is a pawn up, which ensures him a
long term (though minimal) advantage.} 22. Nc6 {Probably the only way to fight
for an advantage. If Black was allowed to get his knight to c5, he would
hardly faced any problems. In this case, the double pawns would have been
quite useful. The a6-pawn would have denied the enemy knight's access to b5-d6
while his colleague would have prevented the exchange of the own knight by
means of Nb3.} (22. Nxe6 $4 Ne5 $1 $19) 22... Rxc6 23. Qxd7 Qc5 $5 ({It is
hard to say whether White's winning chances in the ending arising after} 23...
Qxd7 24. Rxd7 {would be realistic. However, it is clear that Black would have
had to endure long suffering.} Rfc8 (24... Rb8 25. Rb1 $1 $16) (24... Rc5 25.
Rb7 a5 26. Rb5 $16) 25. Rb7 g5 26. Rb4 a3 27. Kf3 Kg7 28. Ke3 a5 29. Ra4 Rc5
30. Kd3 Rd8+ 31. Kc3 g4 32. Rxa3 Kf6 {. Topalov's move shows that he does not
wish to give away the psychological initiative in the match completely. By
keeping queens on board, he preserves his own chances for active play.}) 24.
Rc3 g6 25. Rb1 h5 ({The attempt to obtain counterplay with} 25... Qf5 {is
easily parried with} 26. Qd3 $1 ({Shipov and Korotylev analyze only} 26. Qxc6 {
until a draw. White's main problem in their lines is that his pieces remain
uncoordinated.}) 26... Qc5 (26... Qxd3 27. exd3 {leads to an improved version
of the previously mentioned ending, because the c4-pawn is safely defended.})
27. Qf3 $14 {White has regrouped his pieces in optimal way, ensuring his
kingside against enemy aggressions and maintaining his advantage intact.}) ({
Taking into account White's possible improvement on the 27th move,} 25... a3
26. Rb7 e5 {as suggested by Parligras comes into consideration.}) 26. Rb7 e5 {
Black has to clear the a2-g8 diagonal in order to prevent Rf3.} (26... h4 $6
27. Rf3 $40) 27. e4 {It is difficult to give a straightforward evaluation of
this move. It probably suits Kramnik's style, by ensuring White stability in
the centre and offering to his pieces an excellent outpost on d5. On the other
hand, the king's position is somewhat weakened now.} (27. Rf3 $2 Qxc4 $1 {
[%cal Yc4f7]}) ({Korotylev recommended} 27. a3 {, threatening Rb4 among others.
The move looks logical, but I suspect that Kramnik was not sure about the
final consequences of the following line:} Qd4 $5 {(Not mentioned by Korotylev)
} 28. Qxc6 (28. Qxd4 {is hardly sufficient for a win.} exd4 29. Rc2 Rd8 30. Rb4
Kg7 {. Necessary prophylaxis in order to avoid ...d3 being answered by Rd2!}
31. Rxa4 d3 32. exd3 Rxd3 $14 {With such active rooks, Black should be able to
hold a draw.}) 28... Qxc3 29. Qxa4 h4 {. It is not easy to stabilize the
position with White, especially that his pieces are far away from the own king.
}) 27... Rf6 ({The point behind Kramnik's previous move can be seen after} 
27... Qd4 $2 28. Qxc6 $1 Qxc3 29. Qd5 $18 {[%csl Ya2,Gd5,Yf7][%cal Yc4c5]
followed by the advance of the c-pawn. Black would remain a mere spectator of
his own defeat, because the white a-pawn would be safely defended and the
queen very stable on d5. For instance} h4 30. c5 Qc2 {(/\...h3)} 31. gxh4 Qc1 {
/\ ...Qf4} 32. Qxe5) 28. Rc2 Qa3 $6 {Black's offensive initiated by this move
will have a volatile character.} (28... h4 {was a better chance for
counterplay.} 29. Qd5 (29. gxh4 Rf4 30. h5 gxh5 $13 {Korotylev}) 29... Qa3 $132
{Korotylev}) 29. Qd1 Rd6 30. Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rd5 ({This is much stronger than} 31.
Rb8 {, which would lead after} Rxd2 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ Kg7 34. Qd2 {
to a better, but possibly not won queen ending.}) 31... Rxd5 32. cxd5 $2 ({
A critical moment. Optically speaking, the position is just asking for} 32.
exd5 {when, for the second time in a row in this match, Kramnik would have
obtained two connected passed pawns, quite advanced this time. He probably
feared that his far from optimal coordination would not allow him defend them
properly, especially in view of the outside passed a-pawn (after an eventual ..
.Qxa2) as well as of intermediate moves cush as ...e4. However, finding a
specific line of resistance or counterplay for Black that could have inhibited
Kramnik from this natural move was far from easy. Finally, I came up with} Rc8
$5 (32... Qxa2 33. Qd3 $16) (32... e4 33. Qe2 $16) 33. d6 (33. Qd2 {might be
insufficient for a win, indeed, after} e4 34. Qf4 Qf3+ 35. Qxf3 exf3+ 36. Kxf3
Rxc4 37. d6 Rd4 38. d7 Kg7 39. Ke3 Rd1 40. h4 Kf6 41. Ra7 Ke7 42. Rxa6 Kxd7 43.
Rxa4 Ra1 44. Rd4+ Ke6 45. Rd2 Kf5 $132 {[%csl Gh4][%cal Yf7f6,Yg6g5]}) 33...
Qc5 34. Qd5 $1 {This move is easy to underestimate when making the choice
between cxd5 and exd5.} (34. d7 Rd8 35. Qxa4 h4 $132) 34... Qxd5+ 35. cxd5 Rd8
36. Rb6 a5 37. Kf3 f5 38. Ke3 Kf7 39. f4 e4 40. Kd4 $18 {and Black cannot
resist for too long.}) 32... Qxa2 33. Qf3 Rf8 34. Qd3 ({Another tempting
alternative was} 34. Qf6 {. Indeed, White's coordination looks perfect, but
after} Qa1 $132 {the weakness of the king makes itself felt.} 35. d6 $2 {
can even lead to trouble after} Qd4 $1 $17) 34... a3 35. Rb3 {Apparently,
Black has no way to avoid the loss of both his a-pawns now.} f5 $1 {Now that
the white pieces have retreated, this move does not present any risk for the
black king. In fact, the pressure against the f2-pawn forces White to take a
draw by perpetual.} 36. Qxa6 Qxb3 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik seems to gradually be stabilising the situation in the match. In
spite of Topalov's efforts to unbalance the position in the fourth game 
(including two early pawn sacrifices, of which only the second one was
accepted), he never managed to confront Black with serious problems. The game
was drawn in the best tradition of the Sofia rule, by the almost complete
exhaustion of material.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 {After four games,
we can notice a certain pattern in the players' match strategy. Kramnik sticks
to the openings that enabled him take up the lead (the Catalan with the black
pieces and the Slav with Black), while Topalov deviates at a very early stage.
Their attitude must have some psychological implications, because logically it
is only Topalov who can be content about the outcome of the opening in the
first two games.} e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. a3 ({
In the main lines starting with} 9. O-O) ({or} 9. e4 {White has generally
faced problems proving an advantage. By choosing a relatively unexplored line,
Topalov shows that he does not intend to question Kramnik's famously accurate
preparation and that he prefers to move the the fight to the middle game. This
might be a reason why in the second game he refrained from his habitual 6.Ne5.}
) 9... b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 ({Another point behind
Topalov's choice is that Kramnik had previously played} 12... axb2 13. Bxb2 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2695)-Kramnik,V (2725)/New York 1994/CBM 041 ext (25).
Although the game ended in a draw, accepting the pawn sacrifice at the cost of
improving White's development looks quite risky and Topalov probably found an
improvement somewhere. However, Kramnik does not seem to be that easy to trap:
what is an acceptable choice for a rapid game does not necessarily suit a
World Championship match.}) 13. b3 ({Much more ambitious than the immediate
capture on a3. White intends to develop his bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal in
order to control the important c5-square. Another interesting move here is} 13.
b4 {as played in a couple of games.}) 13... Nf6 14. Nd2 {Typical for modern
chess: even in rare lines, novelties occur at a relatively advanced stage of
the game... Topalov rightly estimates that he does not need to retreat with
the bishop, since the capture on e4 would lead Black with problems completing
his development.} Qc7 ({For instance, if} 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2
Qh4+ 17. Kg1 Qxe4 {then} 18. f3 {followed by Bxa3 and Black cannot castle
short any more.}) 15. Bf3 $5 ({Having failed to convince his opponent to win a
pawn on the queenside, White repeats the invitation on the opposite wing. The
main alternatives are} 15. Bxa3) ({and} 15. h3 {. By retreating the bishop to
f3 (instead of d3 one move earlier) Topalov intends to keep the enemy queen
side under pressure, in order to cause problems with carrying out the freeing
move ...c5.}) 15... Bxh2+ ({As GM Lupulescu remarked, rejecting the pawn
sacrifice with} 15... O-O {would have led to the same position as after
White's 21st move in the game, with the significant difference that... there
would be a pawn on h2 after} 16. Nc4 Be7 17. Bxa3 Rfd8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ra5 {
The evaluation "+-" would not be entirely out of place, I would add.}) 16. Kh1
Bd6 17. Nc4 Be7 {Kramnik's moving around with the bishop bears some similarity
with the early queen excursions from his games with White. Black's position is
quite solid and the extra pawn offers compensation for the slight delay in
development.} 18. Bxa3 O-O 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 {Black's extra-pawn does not make
itself felt yet and White's supremacy in the centre certainly offers him
adequate play.} 20. Ra5 {In the previous games of the match, Topalov's play
had generally focused towards the enemy king's castled position. It happened
in equal, in better and in worse positions and it proved quite effective up to
a certain point. In the present game, the regroupment of the minor pieces
suggested that he will mainly play on the queenside, but the last move is a
clear hint that opposite wings communicate and that the queenside diversion
could be just a prelude to a kingside attack.} Rfd8 21. Kg1 {The abstract idea
behind this move is clear: before starting concrete action, White removes the
king from a relatively exposed square. It is also some sort of way of proving
that White is confident in his positional domination and that he does not need
to rush into things in spite of being a pawn down. In his peak years, Kasparov
won a couple of attacking games where the prophylactic king move to h2
deprived Black from counterplay along the back rank. Here, the main danger
consists of the open h-file, of course.} ({A more concrete illustration of the
necessity of improving the king's position is revaled by the variation} 21. Qc2
Rd5 $5 {(Topalov must not have had problems finding this resource, being such
an outstanding exchange sacrifice specialist.)} 22. Bxd5 Ng4 $1 23. g3 cxd5 24.
Nd2 (24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. dxe5 d4+ 26. e4 f5 27. exf6 Qxf6 $44) 24... e5 $1 $44 (
24... Qf6 $2 25. Qc7 $1 Qh6+ 26. Kg2 $18) 25. Qf5 $140 $2 Bc8 $1 $40) 21... c5
$5 {Kramnik probably had enough of being submitted to long term pressure by
his opponent in the first games of the match and uses the first given
opportunity to free his position by returning the extra pawn.} (21... h6 22.
Qc2 $44) 22. Rxc5 {We can see here another point behind leaving the queen on
d1 for one more tempo (instead of the natural 21.Qc2). The bishop is protected
and White does not need to capture on b7 himself. The structure resulting from
the mutual pawn sacrifices is rather unusual. I do not remember any similar
case in World Championship matches; at least. White's superiority in the
centre is likely to leave him the upper hand in the long run, while the
absence of the h-pawn is not too relevant yet.} Ne4 {For Black, it is not easy
to deal with the tension created by the opposition of the bishops along the
long diagonal. We can see a similar situation in certain lines of the
fianchetto Queen's Indian, where the higher stability of the bishop (which is
defended by the K) ensures White chances for an advantage. Kramnik decided to
maintain his bishop in order to avoid problems connected with the weakness of
the c6-square, but he will achieve that only partly, because even after the
following exchange his bishop will not enjoy stability on the long diagonal
either.} (22... Bd5 {does not solve Black'sproblems because of} 23. Qe2 $14 {
[%cal Ye3e4] /\e4}) (22... Be4 23. Qe2 Rac8 (23... Qb7 24. Na5 Bxf3 25. Qxf3
Qxf3 26. gxf3 $16) (23... Rab8 24. Na5 $14 {[%csl Yc6]}) 24. Ra5 $5 $14 (24. b4
Qb7 $1 {[%csl Gb4]})) 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Qg4 Bd3 ({It would seem more logical
to block the d4-pawn and place the bishop on a less vulnerable square with} 
24... Bd5 {but Kramnik might have disliked} 25. e4 $5 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 Rac8 (26...
Rab8 27. Qf3 $14) 27. Rd1 $14 {[%cal Yd4d5]}) 25. Ra1 Rac8 (25... Rab8 26. Ne5
{[%csl Yc6,Yd3]} Bb5 $8 27. Rac1 Rb7 28. R1c3 $14) 26. Raa5 (26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27.
d5 {looks tempting.} {During the press conference, Topalov declared that he
refrained from this line because of} h5 {and he seems to be right.} ({The
counterplay initiated by} 27... f5 $6 {is of a temporary character only:} 28.
Qd4 (28. d6 fxg4 29. dxe7 Bxc4 30. bxc4 Kf7 $11) 28... Be4 29. dxe6 Qg5 30. f3
Bxf3 31. Ra2 $16 {[%csl Yg2,Yg7] and the weakness of the g7-square is more
relevant than that of the g2-square, mainly because of White's strong
centralization.}) 28. Qxh5 Bxc4 29. bxc4 Rxc4 30. Qe5 Qc7 31. d6 Qd7 {[%csl
Gd6][%cal Yc4c8,Yc8d8,Ya7a5,Ya5a4,Ya4a3] , as given by Innarkiev, leaves White
with a rather symbolic advantage. By advancing the a-pawn, Black will soon
provoke its exchange for the d6-pawn.}) 26... Rb8 {Now that the first rank has
been weakened, Kramnik changes plans. This slightly speculative approach will
eventually work out well because White's domination has not a very stable
character yet} (26... Rxc5 27. Rxc5 {[%csl Gd3][%cal Yc4a5,Ya5c6] /\Na5-c6, /
\ץd3} Bxc4 $6 28. bxc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Yc4,Yd4]}) 27. Qd1 {Topalov declares his
intentions to outplay his opponent in a long battle, refraining from forcing
the issue now. I believe that this position is quite characteristic of the
first part of the match. Topalov has managed to outplay his opponent from the
opening and seems to be so close to achieving something concrete. And yet,
this has generally proven to be an illusion (with the exception of the missed
mate in three from the second game, of course). In spite of evidence, Black is
holding his own by balancing on a very narrow edge. Here are the possible
consequences of a more direct approach on White's part:} (27. Ne5 {[%csl Yd3]
[%cal Ge5c6]} Rxb3 (27... Bf5 28. Qf4 Rxb3 29. Nc6 Rb1+ 30. Kh2 Qf6 {[%csl Gh2]
[%cal Yg7g5,Yf6h6,Yh6h4] /\g5, Qh6} 31. Rxf5 $1 exf5 32. Nxd8 {+/- Lupulescu}
Qxd8 33. Rxf5 $16 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Yd4d5,Ye3e4]}) 28. Nc6 Qd6 ({This is
probably more accurate than} 28... Rb1+ {, which is in fact playable, too.} 29.
Kh2 Qd6+ 30. Qg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kxg3 {Lupulescu evaluates this position as "+/-",
mentioning that Black cannot prevent White from doubling rooks on the seventh
rank. In fact, he can do that with} Ra8 32. Ne5 Bg6 33. Rxa7 Rbb8 $1 {when
White's advantage is more of an optical nature.}) 29. Rc1 Ra8 30. Qf3 Qf8 31.
Ne5 {(+/- Lupulescu)} Bg6 {and Black is out of any danger.}) (27. Qg3 {[%cal
Yc5c7]} {The simple} Rb7 {keeps Black in the game.} (27... Rxb3 $2 {is too
risky.} 28. Rc7 Qb4 (28... Rb1+ 29. Kh2 Qf6 30. Ne5 $16 {[%csl Gf7] Lupulescu}
Bg6 $140 $2 31. Ng4 $18) (28... Rd7 $2 29. Raxa7 Rxc7 30. Ra8+ $1 $18) 29. Rxf7
Kxf7 30. Rxa7+ Ke8 31. Qc7 Bg6 32. d5 $3 {[%csl Ge7][%cal Yd5d6]} exd5 33. Qe5+
$1 $18 {[%cal Ye5g7,Yg7g8]}) 28. Ne5 Be4 {[%csl Gc6]} 29. f3 (29. Qf4 Bd5 30.
e4 Qf6 $1 $11) 29... Bd5 30. e4 $36 {[%csl Yc6,Gd5]} Bxb3 31. Nc6 Qd6 $1 {
[%csl Gg3]} (31... Qd7 32. Nxd8 Qxd4+ 33. Kh2 Qxd8 34. Rcb5 $36 {[%csl Gb3]})
32. e5 {[%csl Gd5]} Qd7 33. Nxd8 Qxd4+ 34. Kh2 Qxd8 $44 {[%cal Yb3d5]}) 27...
Be4 28. Qa1 Rb7 29. Nd2 Bg6 30. Qc3 h6 31. Ra6 Kh7 32. Nc4 Be4 33. f3 Bd5 34.
Nd2 Rdb8 35. Qd3+ f5 {Finally, White has managed to induce a small weakness in
the enemy structure, but this is a price Black is ready to pay for the
stability of his centralized bishop.} 36. Rc3 {White will now try to occupy
the centre with e4, which would offer him an advantage, but Black will defend
very accurately.} (36. e4 Rxb3 (36... fxe4 37. fxe4 Bxb3 38. Qg3 $44) 37. Nxb3
Rxb3 38. Rc3 (38. Qc2 {[%csl Ge4]} Qh4 {[%csl Gg1][%cal Yh4e1,Ye1h4]} 39. Ra1
Ra3 $1 $11) 38... fxe4 39. fxe4 Rxc3 40. Qxc3 Bxe4 $44 {[%csl Gg2][%cal Ye4d5]}
) 36... Qh4 37. Ra1 Qg3 38. Qc2 Rf7 39. Rf1 Qg6 40. Qd3 Qg3 41. Rfc1 Rfb7 42.
Qc2 Qg5 43. Ra1 ({One of the hidden lines from this phase is} 43. e4 $2 Bxb3 $1
{when the c1-rook would be hanging.}) 43... Qf6 44. Qd3 Rd7 45. Ra4 Rbd8 46.
Rc5 Kg8 47. Nc4 Bxc4 $6 {Finally, Kramnik loses patience.} (47... Qh4) 48.
Raxc4 $6 (48. Qxc4 $1 {[%cal Gc5e5,Ga4a6]} f4 49. Re5 $1 $14 {would have most
probably led to a double rook ending with a passed extra pawn on the b- or
c-file.}) 48... f4 {White cannot avoid complete the complete simplification of
the position now.} 49. Rc6 fxe3 50. Qxe3 Rxd4 51. Rxe6 Qh4 52. Rxd4 Qxd4 53.
Re8+ Kh7 54. Qxd4 {Even according to the Sofia rule the position should be
considered a dead draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{forfait}  0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After several days of intense off-the-board turbulence, we saw a quiet game
today. Kramnik employed a rare and peaceful variation against Topalov's
aggressive setup and then gradually neutralized White's (possibly only
apparent) advantage by cold-blooded defence.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4.
Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {After having employed positional systems of
development in the first two games where he had White, Topalov switches back
to his trusted weapon against the Slav, probably hoping for a sharp fight. If
that is true, Kramnik's choice must have come as a disapointment.} e6 7. f3 c5
$5 ({Not the most topical continuation. For decades, there have been intense
theoretical disputes in the line starting with} 7... Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 {. Both
players had good score with it when playing with White.}) 8. e4 Bg6 ({But this
is really a rare move. The history behind it is rather surprising. The modest
bishop retreat (which had only occasionally been seen before) was popularized
in the late '90s by a player approaching his 80th birthday: Vassily
Vassilyevich Smyslov. The former World Champion had played the sharper} 8...
cxd4 {in the eighties, when he was (remarkably) still participating in top
class events, such as the Candidates' Matches. It should be mentioned that
both World Title contenders from the Elista match had had this position with
White:} 9. exf5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Bxc4 (12. Qe2 dxc3 13.
Qxe6+ Qe7 14. Bxc4 {1-0 Topalov,V (2700)-Gelfand,B (2700)/Dos Hermanas 1996/
CBM 053/[Huebner,R] (41)}) 12... dxc3 13. Qxd8+ (13. bxc3 Nd5 14. Qd4 Qf6 15.
Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bd2 Rb8 17. Ke2 Bd6 18. g3 Rb2 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Rhb1 Rxb1 21.
Rxb1 Kd8 {[%cal Yh8e8,Ye8e7] 1/2-1/2 Huebner,R (2625)-Smyslov,V (2595)/Velden
1983/Candidates (62). and Black managed to keep White's advantage within
bearable limits.}) 13... Rxd8 14. bxc3 Nd5 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. O-O-O Kd7 17. Kc2 h5
18. h4 Kc7 19. Rde1 $14 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2775)-Piket,J (2570)/Monte Carlo 1996/
CBM 052 ext (62)}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 ({Keeping queens on board will enable
Black carry out the strategically desirable exchange of the dark-squared
bishops without problems.} 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxc4 Qa5 {[%cal
Yf8c5,Ya8d8]} 13. Qe2 {1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y (2525)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Zuerich
1998/EXT 99}) 10... Qxd4 11. Bxd4 {White is better developed and enjoys a
considerable advantage in space. Besides, the g6-bishop is cut off from the
play for a long time. However, Black has some trumps of his own, too. First of
all, his position is quite solid and has no weaknesses at all, which is likely
to make White's advance in development less relevant. Besides, the b4- and
d4-squares have been weakened by the advance of White's pawns, which gives
Black some chances in the long-term fight.} Nfd7 $1 ({Now,} 11... Nc6 {1-0
Cramling,P (2505)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Roquebrune 1998/CBM 067/[Huebner,R] (70).
seems to be inferior.}) 12. Nxd7 {By accepting the exchange, White drives the
enemy knight away from the d4-square.} (12. Nxc4 Nc6 13. Be3 Bc5 {and Black's
control over the dark squares promises him a comfortable game.}) 12... Nxd7 13.
Bxc4 a6 $146 {Strictly speaking, this is a novelty, but Black's truly new
concept will be revealed later.} (13... Rc8 14. Ba2 a6 15. Ke2 Nb8 {Black
re-directs the knight towards c6, in order to keep the important b4- and
d4-squares under observation and drive the enemy bishop away from the centre
in order to enable the development of his own bishop. The main drawback of the
manoeuvre consists of the fact that the b6-square will remain undefended.} ({
Here, too, Kramnik's plan} 15... Rg8 16. Rhd1 Bc5 {might have been more
appropriate.}) 16. Rhd1 Nc6 17. Bb6 Bb4 18. Rd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 Nb8 {There was no
other way to free Black's position, but now, with a couple of energetic moves,
White will take over the initiative.} 20. Bf2 $5 f6 (20... Rhd8 $2 21. Bh4+ f6
22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Bxe6 $16) 21. Bg3 Be8 (21... Rhd8 $4 {[%csl
Gb8]}) 22. Rd4 a5 {A necessary weakening move.} (22... Nc6 $2 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24.
Bd6+ $18) 23. Bd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxd6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Cramling,P (2504)-Smyslov,V 
(2485)/Marbella 1999/CBM 074 (60)}) 14. Ke2 Rg8 {This is Kramnik's new concept.
Black spends one more tempo in order to enable the development of his
dark-squared bishop. I would like to comment here on Kramnik's strategic
vision that enabled him to understand that Black can afford to play like this
and stay alive. To a certain extent, the situation is similar to the Berlin
Ruy Lopez (one of Kramnik's specialties, too) where Black's development looks
terrible according to the classic canons, but White has problems proving an
advantage.} 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 {White needs to convert his better
development into something more concrete. The weakness of the b6-square can be
such an element.} Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 19. Nb6 {By exchanging knights, White gives
up any chance to benefit from his spatial advantage.} ({More consistent would
be} 19. Nb2 {[%cal Yb2d3] , although it would most likely lead to
simplification, too, for instance:} e5 (19... Bd6 $5 {[%csl Gh2]}) 20. Nd3 Bxa5
$1) 19... Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 {Black only needs to neutralize White's pressure
along the d-file by means of ...Rc6-d6 and the position would become plain
equal.} 21. Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 {As mentioned above, in order to take
advantage of such an impressive advantage of space, White would have needed a
knight. With just bishops on board, Black is quite safe.} Bc5 {Finally
exchanging White's most active piece.} 24. Rad1 Bxb6 ({This well calculated
move will lead by force to mass simplifications. The careless} 24... Be8 $6 {
would have allowed White maintain his pressure with the slightly unexpected}
25. Bd8+) 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. axb6 Rxb6 27. R1d6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 {[%cal Yd6b6]} Rc6
$1 {Exchanging White's most active piece.} 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. b4 (30. Bxe6 Ke7
31. Bc4 a5 $11) 30... e5 31. Bxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov could not get any significant advantage from his (practically) third
game with White in a row. His only chance for attack consisted of a more
resolute advance of the g-pawn on the 25th move. Later, he sacrificed two
pawns in order to get some activity, but his initiative was just sufficient to
maintain the balance even.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 {Both players
remain true to their match strategy displayed so far. Kramnik sticks to the
same openings (well, the fifth game was an exception; we can hardly call it "a
Catalan") while Topalov tries to find the Achilles heel in the opponent's
preparation by permanently changing the systems of development.} e6 5. Bd3 dxc4
6. Bxc4 c5 {But this is a deviation from the mentioned pattern already:
although the game started as a Slav, it transposed now to a genuine... Queen's
Gambit Accepted! I suppose that Kramnik did not play 2...dxc4 in order to
avoid the sharp lines based on 3.e4, consequent to his policy of playing solid,
though sometimes passive positions with Black.} 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3 cxd4 9. exd4
Nc6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Re1 O-O {Kramnik has considerable (and rather successful)
experience with this position as... White! It might seem as if Topalov
intended to confront his opponent with the difficult psychological situation
of playing "against himself", but the next move clearly contradicts this
hypothesis.} 12. a4 {A practically unexplored move. White usually develops his
queen's bishop to f4 or g5. The position bears some similarity with those
arising after the 6.a4 system, but I feel that the small differences tend to
favour Black. After 6.a4 (well, it would actually be 7.a4 with the move order
from this game), the bishop would be placed on c4, allowing the transfer of
the a1-rook to the king side in certain cases. Besides, the queen would stand
on e2 and the king's rook on d1, creating the permanent threat of opening the
centre with d5. On the other hand, after 6.a4 Black is not forced to capture
on d4 and open the c1-h6 diagonal. The plan based on ...Qc7 and ...Bd6 is
considered to be more solid. Be that as it may, Topalov's last move suggests
that he is not necesarily aiming for an advantage from the opening, but hopes
to outplay his opponent in a complicated middlegame.} Bd7 13. Ne5 Be8 {By this
temporary retreat, Black puts the d4-pawn under pressure, preventing the early
development of the c1-bishop on an active square such as g5.} ({Kramnik might
have refrained from the immediate} 13... Rc8 {because of something like} 14.
Bf4 Be8 (14... Nb4 15. Re3 {[%cal Ye3g3]} Nbd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18.
Qb3 $36 {[%csl Gb7,Gd5][%cal Ya1e1]}) 15. d5 {where White is slightly more
active in a symmetrical position. He might have been worried by the fact that
Topalov could have analyzed such a possibility.}) 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Rc1 Nb4 {
Now that the queen side development has been completed, Black releases the
pressure against d4. If White plays Bg5, he will lose a tempo just as Black
will do by playing ...Bd7-e8-c6.} 16. Qf3 Bc6 17. Qh3 Bd5 {Forcing the
exchange of one pair of minor pieces, which is always advantageous for the
side playing against the isolani.} (17... Nbd5 18. Bg5 $14) 18. Nxd5 Nbxd5 {
The strong light-squared bishop has been neutralized temporarily. Black's
position in the centre is solid but slightly immobile. If the d5-knight moves
away, White will get tactical chances along the a2-g8 diagonal.} 19. Rcd1 ({
Generally, the exchange of major pieces is supposed to favour the player with
an isolani, but here the fact that the c-file is open would leave the back
rank vulnerable after} 19. Rxc8) 19... Rc7 20. Bg5 Qc8 (20... Qd6 21. f4 $5)
21. Qf3 (21. Rd3 {[%cal Yh3h4,Yd3g3]} Bb4 $1 (21... Rd8 22. Qh4 $1 $40 h6 $2
23. Bxh6 $1 $18) 22. Rf1 (22. Re2 {would make a further Rg3 impossible because
of ...Rc1+.}) 22... Ne4 $1 $132) (21. f4 $5) 21... Rd8 {Black has completed
his regroupment and has a very solid position. White's chances for a kingside
attack are rather vague as yet.} 22. h4 h6 $6 {This move might not threaten to
capture the bishop in view of the weakness of the f7-square, but it certainly
prevents a further advance of the White h-pawn, when ...h6 could be answered
by Bh4 already. However, giving White such a mark for a kingside attack is at
least risky.} 23. Bc1 $6 {This looks too passive.} (23. Bd2 $14 {[%csl Gb4]
[%cal Yg2g4,Yd2a5]} Bb4 $6 {This attempt to simplify the position leaves the
light diagonal vulnerable for just an instant.} ({If} 23... Bd6 {then} 24. g4 {
would be more dangerous as it could have been in the game, because the white
king's rook and, even more important, his queen's bishop are more actively
placed. For instance} Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nh7 26. Ba5 b6 27. Bxd5 $16) 24. Bxb4 Nxb4
25. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 (25... Kxf7 26. Bxe6+ Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Kxe6 28. g4 $36) 26. Bxe6
Qc7 27. d5 $16 {It is important to prevent the blockade on d5.} Kf8 (27... Kh8
28. d6 $1 $18) 28. Qb3 Qc5 (28... Qd6 29. Bxf7 Kxf7 30. Re6 Qf4 31. d6 $16) (
28... a5 29. d6 $1 $18) (28... Nbxd5 $16) 29. d6 $16) 23... Bb4 24. Rf1 Bd6 (
24... Nc3 $5 {would have been an attempt to underline the vulnerability of
White's bishops. Kramnik might have feared} 25. Bxh6 $5 (25. bxc3 Rxc3 {
[%csl Gb3,Gc1]}) 25... Nxd1 26. Rxd1 Nd5 27. Qg3 Bf8 28. h5 $44 {when Black
cannot free his position easily, because the c-file is well defended by the
bishops.}) 25. g3 ({Actually, I was expecting} 25. g4 {with some attacking
chances for White. True, such a resolute advance of the g-pawn involves a
certain amount of strategic risk, but after Topalov's over-cautious move,
White will not get even close to such a possibility.} Nh7 $5 26. g5 hxg5 27.
hxg5 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Nf8 {Svidler.}) 25... b6 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Rfe1 Bxe5 28. dxe5
Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nfd5 {The material situation (and, to a certain extent, the
structure) is similar to that from the dramatic 5th game of the match
Karpov-Kortschnoj, Baguio 1978. In that game, Kortschnoj had an advantage with
White and eventually missed a simple mate just before the second time control.
The main difference here consists of Black's firm control of the c-file. Under
these circumstances, his knights, enjoying stable squares in the centre, are a
worthy match for the white pair of bishops. White's main problem is that he
cannot build up a mating battery along the b1-h7 diagonal.} 30. Bd2 Rc5 31. Qg4
Nf5 32. Qe4 b5 33. h5 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Rb5 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Bc2 Nb6 37. Qg4 Rxb2
38. Be4 Qd7 39. Be1 {In order to get some acttivity, Topalov sacrificed the
relatively insignifiant b2-pawn. However, he is far from creating dangerous
threats yet.} Nd5 40. Bd3 Nb4 41. Bf1 Nd3 42. Qd1 Nxe5 43. Qxd7 Nxd7 {Black
has won a second pawn but his initiative has been completely extinguished. It
will be White who will do the attacking now, but this will only compensate for
the considerable material deficit.} 44. Rc8+ Kh7 45. Rc7 Rb1 46. Rxd7 Rxe1 47.
Rxf7 {In view of the activity of his rook and of the weak position of the
black king, White is no longer in danger of losing, in spite of Black's extra
pawn.} a5 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. Ra7 Re5 50. g4 Nd6 51. Bd3 Kf8 52. Bg6 Rd5 53. f3 e5
54. Kf2 Rd2+ 55. Ke1 Rd5 56. Ke2 Rb5 57. Rd7 Rd5 58. Ra7 Rb5 59. Bd3 Rd5 60.
Bg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik's solid play with Black has been quite impressive over the past three
games, but today he offered a rather feeble resistence when finally getting
the white pieces. Confroned with an unexpected opening, a rare sub-variation
and a relatively early novelty, Kramnik soon landed in an unpleasant ending.
By carelessly advancing his kingside pawns, he only made things worse for
himself, by providing Topalov with targets for attack. The game ended four
moves away from mate.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Apparently, during the last three
games Kramnik has managed to convince his opponent that the Slav is not such a
bad opening after all.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 {But this must have been the real
surprise for Kramnik! Topalov usually employs the ...a6 systems and has only
occasionally played the Semi-Slav throughout his carrier. If his intention was
to confront Kramnik with the unpleasant psychological situation of fighting
against his own weapons, we can safely state that the experiment has been
crowned with success.} 5. e3 Nbd7 ({Even here, Topalov preferred} 5... a6 {
in his game against Ponomariov, played at Sofia 2006.}) 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Be2 {Kramnik is consequent with his policy of avoiding sharp opening lines.
The modest bishop retreat to e2 is supposed to offer White little chances for
a palpable advantage, but even less danger of getting into trouble.} Bb7 9. O-O
b4 {Topalov's desire to take his oppponent out of the well-known paths as soon
as possible becomes obvious. Black usually plays 9...Be7 here or, even more
frequently, 8...a6.} 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ {This move and the
whole sequence that follows looks hard to resist, but shows some slight
illogicality. The natural question is whether White should aim for sharp play
once he has chosen a basically quiet variation in the first line. Further
practice is needed to give a definitive answer, but the following 2 games seem
to be more in the spirit of the 8.Be2 system, by aiming for a tiny advantage
in a symmetrical position.} (12. Bd2 Ncd7 13. Nd4 Bd6 14. Nb5 Be7 15. Qe1 a6
16. Nd4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. a3 bxa3 19. Ba5 Qa7 20. Bb4 $1 Nd5 $6 (20... axb2
21. Bb5+ Kf8 22. Bxe7+ Kg8 $8 23. Rb1 $36 {[%csl Yg8]}) 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxa3
$16 {1-0 Lputian,S (2607)-Grabarczyk,M (2506)/Ohrid 2001/CBM 084 (41)}) (12. a3
Ncd7 13. Qd4 bxa3 14. b4 Be7 15. Bxa3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Nb6 17. Nc5 $14 {1-0
Aleksandrov,A (2535)-Filippov,V (2530)/Moscow 1996/EXT 2000 (80)}) 12... Ncd7
13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Bd2 {Looking at this position, I have the feeling
as if players had changed roles with each other. It is Kramnik who has a
slight advance in development, while Topalov mainly relies on the solid
character of his position. Quite the opposite to what we have seen during the
last few days.} Qa5 $146 {And now, Topalov moves for the second time with his
already developed queen, something that Kramnik did frequently in the first
part of the match. The move is a novelty, which is quite curious because it is
the computer's first suggestion. We can suppose that Kramnik had looked at it
at home (even though not especially for this game or match) and the time spent
on the next moves was destined to let him remember the old analysis.} (15... a6
$2 {is an obvious loss of time, weakening the b6-square at the same time.} 16.
Rfc1 Qa5 17. Bc6 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Kxd8 20. a3 $16 {1/2-1/2
Cvetkovic,S-Bagirov,V/Vrnjacka Banja 1974/EXT 99 (42)}) 16. Bc6 Be7 (16... Bxc6
17. Nxc6 Qxa4 18. Nxd8 Kxd8 {is too risky for Black, although White can easily
go astray, too.} 19. Qc4 $1 {[%csl Ya4][%cal Ya1c1,Yf1d1,Yc4c8]} (19. Rfc1 $6
Qb5 $1) (19. a3 Qa5 20. axb4 Qb6 $13) 19... Ne5 (19... Qa5 20. Rfc1 Bc5 21. a3
$1 $16) (19... Bc5 20. a3 $16) 20. Qf4 (20. Qd4+ Ned7 $11) 20... Qb5 21. Rfd1
Kc8 22. Rac1+ Kb7 23. a3 $36) 17. Rfc1 {This looks like the more logical way
of maintaining the advance in development.} (17. Bxb7 $2 Nxe5 $19) ({Knowing
the further course of the game it is easy to recommend} 17. b3 O-O 18. Bxd7
Nxd7 19. Nxd7 Bc6 $11 {and White cannot save all his pieces placed along the
d-file.}) 17... Bxc6 {Without fearing any ghosts, Topalov embarks the sharp
forced line.} 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 (19. b3 Qb5 (19... Qa6 20. Bxb4 $44 {
Korotylev}) 20. Qxa7 {Korotylev} Qb6 $1 21. Qa4 Nd5 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 23. e4 Nc3
$15 {Svidler}) 19... Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 {At first glance
it might look that White is doing just great. His material deficit is almost
insignificant, while his rooks are ready to invade the enemy queen side.
However, there is a certain detail that favours Black: the centralized
position of his king. Since the white king would need a considerable amount of
time to get into play, we can state that for practical purposes Black is a
whole... king up! From this point of view, Kramnik's 20th move is slightly
questionable. In order to prove 17.Rfc1 to be playable, White needs to
exchange queens only after Black gets castled. The only open question remains
whether this can be achieved in practice.} f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1
Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ke8 {Black's last three moves can be considered some
sort of artificial (but huge) castling.} (27... g5 {Svidler: "trying to gain
some space on the K-side, also made sense - but by allowing White to play
h2-h4 Black succeeded in opening the h-file for his rook, so perhaps it was a
conscious decision on Veselin's part."}) 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 (29... Nd5
30. Rc6 a5 {is a more accurate move order, according to Svidler.}) 30. Rc6 (30.
Rcc7 $1 {Svidler}) 30... Nd5 {Both sides have completed the first phase of
piece mobilisation. The placement of the white rooks creates a strong optical
impression, but they fail to create any serious threats. With the e6-pawn and
the d7-knight safely defended by the king, Black has no problems keeping
things under control. At the same time, the transfer of the white king to the
queen side is highly problematic, because of the numerous possible forks. We
can safely state that Black is better, although it is not entirely clear yet
how much better precisely. One important element of his general plan of
converting his minimal advantage is to avoid the exchange of one pair of rooks,
which would make his coordination more difficult.} 31. h4 $6 {"Do not move
pawns on the wing where you are weaker" they say. It is remarkable how much
quicker Black will make progress on this wing after White's unnecesary pawn
move.} ({Here is a variation illustrating White's difficulties in obtaining
counterplay:} 31. Kf1 g5 32. Ke2 g4 33. a3 {(Necessary, in order to enable the
further advance of the king without fearing the fork on b4.)} a4 34. Kd3 h5 35.
Kc4 h4 36. Kb5 N5f6 {[%cal Yf6e4] Black's advantage of space on both wings
leaves him with the better chances in case of the pawn race that is likely to
arise after} 37. Ra6 Rxa6 38. Kxa6 Ne4) 31... h6 ({Black could have also played
} 31... g6 {, but this does not seem to be necessary as can be seen from the
next comment.}) 32. a4 (32. h5 {[%csl Yh5]} a4 (32... N5f6 $6 33. Rcc7 {
[%csl Gd7][%cal Yb7a7]}) 33. Kf1 Ra5 34. Ke2 N5f6 35. Rcc7 Kd6 36. Ra7 Rb5 37.
Rc2 (37. Rcb7 Nb6 $17) 37... Rb4 38. Rd2+ Nd5 $17 {In order to avoid the loss
of the h5-pawn, White has been forced to allow the radical activation of
Black's forces.}) 32... g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 g4 {Now, White has to
permanently count with the enemy rook's penetration through the h-file or the
pawn break ...g3.} 35. Ke2 N5f6 {The start of a highly original manoeuvre.} 36.
b3 ({Korotylev gives a long analysis intended to prove that White would have
held a draw with} 36. Rcc7 {. In my opinion, Black retains his advantage with}
Kd6 {(Not considered by Korotylev)} 37. Ra7 Rb8 38. Rc2 (38. Rcb7 {does not
work because after} Rxb7 39. Rxb7 Nc5 {White loses a pawn:} 40. Ra7 Nxa4 41. b3
Nc5 $17 {It is early to talk about Black's win yet here, but it is even more
out of place to claim equality for White.}) 38... g3 $1 39. fxg3 Rb3 40. Rxa5
Nd5 {and Black's activity has taken dangerous forms.}) 36... Ne8 $1 ({Black
intends to drive the enemy rook away from the b-file by means of ...Nd6. The
seemingly more active} 36... Ne4 {, bearing the same idea, would have been
less accurate in view of} 37. Rcc7) 37. f3 $6 {Even though this move is bad,
it is hard to apply to it the same kind of criticism as to White's 31st move.
Kramnik must have felt that he is rapidly losing ground and aimed to exchange
as many pawns as possible.} g3 $1 {Rejected.} 38. Rc1 Nef6 {Now that White has
weakened his king side, the knight changes plans.} 39. f4 {But this looks like
suicide already. White weakens his structure even more, in order to get the
possibility to attack the g3-pawn, without noticing that it is posioned.} Kd6
40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Kxg3 $2 {White offers to his opponent the only thing that he
was missing yet: an open file for the attack.} Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44.
Kf3 Ne4 {Black has a decisive attack already.} 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ 47.
Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 ({Allowing
mate in 5. However,} 52. Rg8 {would have failed to safely defend the g2-square
because of} Kf7) 52... Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 ({This is the first time Kramnik has
deviated from the course of an earlier game of the match. In the seventh game
he transposed to the Queen's Gambit Accepted with} 4... e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4
c5) 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3 $5 {Almost never played before.
Topalov usually plays ...a6 as Black in the Slav Defence and now he gives it a
try from the other side of the board. I would allow myself a small divagation.
Three quarters of century ago, the somewhat mysterious Indian player Sultan
Khan (not the most erudite theoretician of his time, for sure) frequently
employed the modest advance of the a-pawn with both colours and irrspective of
the opening. Among others, he beat the great Capablanca in what is called
today the Petrosian-Kasparov system and accidentally "invented" the Chebanenko
- Slav much before the birth of the Moldavian trainer. Returning to our game,
the point behind Topalov's last move will become clear soon.} Nbd7 9. g3 Be7
10. f4 {After having eliminated the black light-squared bishop, White has
arranged several of his pawns on dark squares. This is aimed at ensuring the
free circulation of his own bishop, which became the unchallenged master of
the light squares. However, combining a3 with f4 also pursues a more concrete
aim. White threatens to block the position with c5, when the thematic central
break ...e5 would be impossible. At the same time, the attempt to undermine
the powerful chain of pawns from the other side with ...b6 is safely answered
by b4, because ...a5 is inoffensive since the b4-pawn has been defended in
advance. This would leave White with considerable advantage in space, without
any possibility of counterplay for Black.} dxc4 ({Giving up the centre so
easily is a risky decision.} 10... a5 {deserves attention, with the idea of
answering 11.c5 with 11...b6.} {If} 11. Rb1 {then} dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. e4 b5
{[%csl Ge4] is different already.} 14. Bd3 $8 b4 15. Na4 c5 $132) 11. Bxc4 O-O
(11... Qc7 $5 12. e4 Rd8 $5 {[%cal Yc6c5] Shipov}) 12. e4 {Looking at this
position, I cannot stop asking myself: what does it mean to play a hypermodern
opening? 1...d5 is supposed to be a classical way of starting the game, but
isn't here White's advantage in the centre just as big or maybe even bigger
than, say, in the Gruenfeld? One of the reasons why the Slav is so popular
nowadays is that it allows Black choose any type of structure he wishes,
according to the style of play or, why not, the mood in that specific moment.
It can lead to more or less symmetrical positions or to very unbalanced
situations. As a compensation for White's advantage in space and powerful pair
of bishops in the current position, Black is few tempi ahead in development.
It remains an open question whether this is enough. Kramnik's play in the next
phase of the game does not really sustain this hypothesis, but objectively
speaking Black should be OK.} (12. Be2 c5 $1 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Rc8 $1 {
[%cal Yc5c4,Yd7c5]} 15. O-O c4 16. Bf3 Nc5 {[%csl Yd3]}) 12... b5 13. Be2 {
We can see here a further merit of a3: in order to undermine the e4-pawn,
Black needs to spend an extra tempo, allowing White to transfer the bishop on
to the optimal square.} b4 ({This logical move implies a big strategic risk,
because it leaves Black's structure in ruins and it opens new horizons for the
f3-bishop, by weakening the c4-square. If the piece pressure fails to yield
the expected effect, Black will find himself in a hopeless situation.} 13...
Qb6 {was a more restrained continuation, although it could lead to animated
play, too.} 14. Be3 Rad8 15. O-O c5 16. e5 cxd4 17. exf6 (17. Bxd4 $2 Bc5 18.
Bxc5 Nxc5 $19 {[%cal Yb6g1,Yd8d1]}) 17... Nxf6 18. Bf2 dxc3 $1 19. Bxb6 Rxd1
20. Raxd1 axb6 21. bxc3 Nd5 $132) 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bf3 Qb6 $6 {Kramnik lost
this game mainly because he did not try to get rid of his backward c-pawn in
any way. The plan of breaking the enemy centre with ...e5 has not sufficient
strategic basis.} ({This was probably the last moment when Black could obtain
adequate play by means of} 15... c5 16. e5 (16. Be3 Nb6 $132 {Golubev}) (16.
Kf1 $5 $14 {[%cal Yf1g2] Golubev}) 16... Nd5 ({For some reasons, only the
intermediate exchange} 16... cxd4 $6 {has been analyzed so far. Black simply
loses a pawn after} 17. Qxd4 Nd5 18. Bxd5 Bc5 19. Qd3 exd5 20. Qxd5 $14 {
[%csl Gc5,Gd7][%cal Ye1f1,Yf1g2] . The fact that the black minor pieces are
hanging prevent Black from starting a rapid counter-attack, thus allowing
White complete his development with Kf1-g2.}) 17. Bd2 (17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Be3
Nb6 19. dxc5 (19. Qe2 Nc4 20. Bf2 Rb8 21. O-O Bxc3 22. bxc3 Rb2 $132) 19... Nc4
20. Bd4 Nxb2 21. Qc2 (21. Qe2 Nc4 22. O-O Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qd7 $11) 21... Nc4 22.
O-O a5 $132) 17... Bxc3 (17... N7b6 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Qd3 Qc7 21.
O-O $14) 18. bxc3 ({In fact,} 18. Bxc3 $5 {might be simpler. Capturing the
bishop would lead to the loss of the a7-pawn, while the threat Bxd5 is
stronger now that the white queen side has not been weakened.} Qb6 19. Qa4 Rfd8
20. O-O $14) 18... cxd4 19. Bxd5 (19. c4 N5b6 {[%cal Yd7c5]} 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21.
O-O Nxc4 22. Bc1 Rd8 $44 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Ra8h1,Rd8d1]}) 19... exd5 20. cxd4
Qb6 {We have reached a position typical for the Sämisch variation of the Nimzo
Indian Defence. White's advantage in the centre is compensated by Black's
counterplay along the c-file.} 21. Ba5 Qe6 22. O-O Rfc8 23. g4 Rc4 24. Ra2 Rac8
25. f5 gxf5 26. gxf5 Qh6 $13) 16. O-O e5 {This was the counterplay Black was
relying on. However, White has sufficient resources to avoid any structural
damage in the centre.} 17. Be3 Rad8 {Apparently, a logical move. The d4-pawn
is pinned along the g1-a7 diagonal and, indirectly, along the d-file. However,
these minor problems are rather easy to solve.} 18. Na4 {Black has to release
the first pin now.} Qb8 ({This slightly mysterious move was probably connected
with a concrete detail mentioned below. However, the more active} 18... Qb5 {
might have been better and if} 19. Qc2 {then} exd4 20. Bxd4 c5 {followed by ...
Nb6, with certain counterplay.}) 19. Qc2 exf4 20. Bxf4 ({Kramnik's idea is
revealed after} 20. gxf4 {when} Rfe8 {creates the threat ...Nxe4 and the
generally desirable Bf2 loses the f4-pawn. However, White's last move
maintains the advantage in the centre intact.}) 20... Qb7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 {
Both sides have completed their development and time has come to make a first
evaluation. Optically speaking, White's advantage is overwhelming. He has
maintained his control in the centre, has placed his bishops actively and has
the more compact structure of pawns. However, converting this advantage into
something more concrete is likely to be a laborious process. It might look
tempting to start advancing the central pawns, but this would just provide the
black knights with stable squares in the centre. At least for a while, it is
much wiser to create simple threats (be they real or imaginary) on the wings,
maintaining the centre intact. This would most probably cause Black to
gradually lose his coordination and then the pawns could advance unhindered.}
22. Bg5 Be7 23. Kh1 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. Bg1 {Of course, exchanging pieces
would somewhat relieve Black's position.} Nhf8 26. h4 {Not only restricting
the enemy bishop, but creating the potential threat of an attack by means of
h5.} Be7 27. e5 {Now that the knights do not have access to d5, this move is
well-timed. In order to defend his c6-pawn, Black is forced to retreat even
more.} Nb8 28. Nc3 Bb4 29. Qg2 {Now, such threats as d5 or h5 start to look
feasible. Black's main problem is that he cannot easily guess what are White's
intentions and each minor slip could be decisive. At the same time, White can
allow himself to miss one or two promising continuations, because they would
be there few moves later, too.} Qc8 30. Rc1 {Enabling the knight's jump to d5,
eventually followed by Nf4, in order to take under observation one of Black's
last remaining outposts, the e6-square.} Bxc3 $2 {Black finally cracks under
the pressure. This exchange is equivalent to an unconditional strategic
surrender.} ({He could have stayed in the game with} 30... Qb7 {, avoiding the
knight jump and preventing the central break d5 at the same time.}) 31. bxc3 {
Nothing can stop White's pawns now. However Topalov will employ the same
method as in the previous phase of the game, maintaining the threat of
advancing the centre in reserve. This could have slightly complicated matters
as we shall see.} Ne6 32. Bg4 $6 {Putting pressure on the generally well
defended e6-knight but allowing the other knight join the battle by releasing
the pressure against the c6-pawn.} ({The simpler} 32. Rcd1 Qc7 33. c4 $18 {
looks crushing.}) 32... Qc7 33. Rcd1 Nd7 34. Qa2 {We can feel here the effects
of the huge advantage in space: White's pieces can easily be transferred from
one wing to the other. It might look that White is planning to put the a7-pawn
under pressure, but we shall soon see that his target is much more important.}
Nb6 {However, the reserve knight has reached a stable square, too. Black is
much worse, but still breathing for the moment.} 35. Rf3 {Slightly careless.
Topalov probably thought that his strong centre allows him to manoeuvre his
pieces without any restrictions.} (35. Ra1 $5 {Would have more or less forced
Black to interrupt his queen's access to f7 in order to defend a7} Rd7 (35...
Re7 36. Rxf7 $16) (35... c5 36. Qxa7 cxd4 37. cxd4 $16 Qxa7 38. Rxa7 Nxd4 39.
Rfxf7 $18) {thus allowing} 36. Rxf7 $1 Rxf7 (36... Kxf7 37. Rf1+ Kg8 38. Bxe6+
Kh8 39. Bxd7 Qxd7 40. Rf7 Qh3+ 41. Qh2 $18) 37. Bxe6 Nd5 $16 {Black's control
over the light squares offers him chances to resist in spite of the material
disadvantage.}) 35... Nf8 $2 {This voluntary knight retreat is hard to
understand.} ({"Any unpromoted pawn majority risks becoming a weakness". This
old statement by Nimzowitsch applies here perfectly. Taking advantage of the
temporary lack of coordination between White's major pieces, Black could have
attaked the enemy centre by means of} 35... c5 36. d5 (36. Rdf1 cxd4 37. cxd4
Qc6 38. Kh2 Rd7 {and Black has achieved stability in the centre.}) 36... Nf8 {
[%csl Ge5]} 37. d6 Qb7 {[%cal Yb7h1]} 38. Rdf1 Rxe5 39. Qxf7+ Qxf7 40. Rxf7 Nd5
{[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Gg4][%cal Yd5f6] White's still has an advantage thanks to his
powerful pair of bishops, but play becomes more concrete now and requires
certain accuracy.}) 36. Rdf1 Re7 37. Be3 $18 {White's last piece joins the
attack, threatening Bg5. Suddenly, Black is just lost.} Nh7 38. Rxf7 $1 Nd5 39.
R7f3 {Or anything else.} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov chose a solid variation but then went for a slightly risky experiment.
Kramnik managed to find the weak spot in Black's whole concept and obtained a
very pleasant position. After Topalov's blunder on the 24th move the game was
practically over, re-establishing equality in the match.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Being ahead on the scoreboard for the first time since the
beginning of the match, Topalov refrains from capturing on c4 already. Instead,
he adopts a hybrid between the Bogo-Indian and the Catalan, supposed to offer
Black a solid position. Maybe not the best psychological approach...} 5. Bd2
Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 ({Here are two previous games played by our
heroes that bear some relation with further situations from the present game.} 
8. Qc2 Nbd7 (8... b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. Nbd2 $6 {[%csl Yf4]} (10. b3) 10... Nbd7
11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rac1 Nh5 13. e4 (13. Be3 $5) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 {[%csl Yf4]}
Nf6 15. Ne5 Nh5 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 b5 18. Qa6 Rxc6 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 20. Nxc4
bxc4 21. exd5 exd5 22. Rc3 Bh4 {0-1 Radjabov,T (2624)-Topalov,V (2743)/Wijk
aan Zee 2003/CBM 093 [Ribli] (61). and Black's authoritarian control of the
dark squares eventually yielded him a win.}) 9. Rd1 b6 10. b3 Ba6 11. a4 Rc8
12. a5 b5 13. c5 Ne4 14. Be1 (14. Nc3 $5 f5 15. Na2) 14... f5 {Black has
almost blocked the position but he has left several squares available for the
enemy minor pieces.} 15. Nc3 Qc7 16. Na2 Rce8 17. Nb4 Bc8 18. a6 Bf6 19. Nd3 {
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2807)-Leko,P (2736)/Monte Carlo 2003/CBM 093 ext (36).
White's advantage is of symbolic nature.}) 8... Nbd7 ({Last year, Topalov
experimented twice with another move order, but without too much success:} 8...
b6 9. Nc3 ({The more restrained} 9. Qc2 {could eventually transpose to the
note from Black's 9th move.}) 9... Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 (11... Nbd7
12. Qa4) 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8
17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 ({An attempt to improve over} 19... Bc5
20. Bd2 f6 21. b4 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 23. Rc8 Rd7 24. Nh6+ gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26.
Rd8 Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2695)-Topalov,V (2778)/Sofia 2005/CBM 107 
[Ribli] (40). and Black was completely paralyzed.}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 Rd8 22.
a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 Bd8 26. Rc6 Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2744)-Topalov,V (2788)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108 [Ribli] (41). and
Black could not hold this ending.}) 9. Qc2 a5 {This move refrains from
weakening the c6-square yet, but does not really contribute to the development
in any way.} ({The main variation is supposed to be} 9... b6 10. Rd1 Ba6 11. b3
{. By refraining from such a course of events, Topalov might have taken into
account the fact that Kramnik likes to transpose to this position from the
main variation of the Queen's Indian. (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.0-0 d5 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Bf4)} Rc8 12. Nc3 dxc4 (12... c5
13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Be5 Qd7 18. Bd4 $14 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2758)-Adams,M (2715)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075 (49)}) 13. Nd2 c5
14. dxc5 Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2743)/Budapest 2001/CBM 081 
(28)}) 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 ({Each of these last moves is typical of this
variation, but only if taken separately. Removing the knight from the centre
and advancing the queen side pawns at the same time certainly looks risky.
When preparing for the game, Topalov might have overlooked White's logical
reaction. It should be said that} 11... Nhf6 12. Nbd2 b5 $5 {does not offer
Black an easy game in view of} 13. c5 Qe8 14. e4 $14 {Marin-Pogorelov,
Barcelona 1994, an old game I like to speak about.}) 12. cxd5 $5 $146 ({
White's standard reaction to ...b5 is} 12. c5 {. However, in this concrete
position Black could take advantage of the insertion of ...Nh5 by playing} f5 {
as in the only game where this risky plan was seen so far, Rahman-Ghaem, Doha
2003. Optically, White enjoys a more flexible structure but it is not too
clear how and where will he be able to open the position. Kramnik was
perfectly aware of these aspects from his aforementioned game against Leko,
from Monte Carlo 2003 (see the note to White's 8th move).}) 12... cxd5 13. e4
$1 {The only logical continuation after the exchange on d5. Otherwise, Black
would have a very comfortable position, because of the relative passivity of
his Catalan bishop, severely restricted by the black chain of pawns.} dxe4 ({
Black would have faced a difficult defence after the more solid} 13... Nhf6 {
, too.} 14. Ng5 ({Catalan players are circumspect when it comes to block the
position with} 14. e5 {, because their pet bishop could well remain passive
for a long time. Here is a line where White could solve this problem by
tactical means:} Ne4 15. Ne1 f5 16. f3 Ng5 17. Bxg5 Bxg5 18. f4 Be7 19. Nc3 Rb8
20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxd5+ $44 {and White's central pawns look threatening.})
14... h6 (14... dxe4 15. Nxh7 $5 Nxh7 16. Bxe4 $14) (14... Bb7 15. e5 $16 {
wins a pawn.}) 15. exd5 exd5 (15... hxg5 16. d6 $16) 16. Nf3 ({We can suppose
that after having lost with a rook for two knights just two games earlier,
Kramnik would not have embarked on the sharp line} 16. Bxd5 Ra7 17. Bxf7+ {
where Black is probably out of trouble anyway.}) 16... Ba6 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Qf5
$14) 14. Qxe4 $14 {Once the position has been opened, Black's delay in
development starts making itself felt. Apart from having provoked considerable
loss of time, the advance of the queen side pawns has left Black with several
weaknesses.} Rb8 ({The only way to justify the move ...a5 would be the
slightly more active development of the rook to a6, but after} 14... Ra6 15.
Qe2 {the queen would target the h5-knight and the b5-pawn at the same time.})
15. Qe2 Nhf6 {Black's main trump consists of the control of the d5-square,
which makes this willing knight retreat perfectly understandable.} ({The
natural} 15... Bb7 {can be met by the brutal} 16. Nc3 $5 b4 17. d5 $1 {for
instance} exd5 (17... bxc3 18. dxe6 $16) 18. Nxd5 Re8 19. Qd3 Nhf6 (19... Ndf6
20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Be3 $14 {[%csl Yh5]}) (19... Nc5 20. Qc4 $14 {[%csl Yc5,Yd8,
Yf7][%cal Gc4f7,Gd1d8]}) 20. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Yf7,Yh7]} Nf8 21. Qb3 $36 Bxd5 (
21... Nxd5 22. Nxf7 $1 $16) 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Nxf7 $16) 16. Bf4 Rb6 17. Ne5 (
17. Nc3 $6 Ba6) 17... Nd5 (17... Bb7 {loses a pawn to} 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Nc6
Qe8 20. Nxa5 $16) (17... Nb8 18. Nc3 Ba6 19. d5 ({Maybe now that the enemy
knight has retreated to such passive square, White could choose a quiet path,} 
19. Ne4 $5 {[%csl Yc5] where his advance in development would leave him on the
top irrespective of the control of the d5-square.}) 19... b4 20. dxe6 Bxe2 21.
Rxd8 Bxd8 22. exf7+ Rxf7 23. Nxe2 Re7 (23... Rf8 24. Nc4 Rb5 25. Nd4) 24. Rc1
$44) ({For} 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd5 {see 19...Nxe5.}) 18. Bxd5 $1 {A brave
decision. Black would need just one tempo to consolidate with ...N7f6 in order
to get a perfectly viable position. It frequently happens in the Catalan that
White has to give up the pride of his position in order to maintain the
initiative.} ({He could have offered the other bishop for exchange by means of
} 18. Nc3 Nxf4 19. gxf4 {, when White has considerable advantage of
development to compensate for the structural defects. However, Kramnik might
have remembered Topalov's win against Radjabov, when the FIDE World Champion
exploited the weakness of the f4-square in very efficient way. Besides, Black
could have refrained from capturing on f4, by consolidating his central knight
with 18...N7f6.}) 18... exd5 19. Nc3 Nf6 (19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 d4 (20... Be6 21.
Qd3 d4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 $14 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d6,Rc3d5,Ya1d1] Black's pair
of bishops is kept under control by White's centralized pieces.}) 21. Be3 dxe3
22. Rxd8 exf2+ {Zagrebelnyi} 23. Qxf2 Bxd8 24. Nd5 Re6 25. Qd4 {The position
of the white king is wide open, but once again, White's centralization seems
to prevent the enemy bishops from becoming too active. However, the position
would remain sharp.}) 20. Nxb5 Ba6 21. a4 {White has not only won a pawn, but
also completed his development in the meanwhile. It is likely that Black will
manage to re-establish the material equality by means of an exchange on b5 in
the near future, but this would make the weakness of the white king side less
relevant, leaving White with the more pleasant play in an almost symmetrical
position.} Ne4 22. Rdc1 Qe8 {[%csl Yb5]} 23. Rc7 {This tempting move might be
not the best. In the case of accurate black defence, the lack of communication
between the white rooks would make itself felt.} (23. Rc2 {would be more
flexible. With this modest looking rook lift, White defends in advance the
b2-pawn and the queen and enables either the autoritarian occupation of the
c-file by means of Rac1 or the transfer of the queen's rook to e1, in order to
harass the e8-queen (or, as we shall see, any other piece occupying that
square).} Bd8 {[%csl Gc7] (/\Bxb5)} ({The immediate capture on b5 would
re-establish material equality only temporarily:} 23... Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25.
Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Nc6 Bd8 (26... Bb4 27. f3 Nf6 28. Bc7 $16 {[%csl Ya5]}) 27. Nxd8
Rxd8 28. f3 Nf6 29. Bd2 $16 {White cannot save his a5-pawn because of the
weakness of the back rank.}) ({If Black plays the prophylactic} 23... h6 {
(<->8, /\Bxb5), the importance of the fact that the queen is defended is
revealed in the line} 24. Nc7 $5 Bxe2 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxe2 $14 {which allows
favourable simplifications. Converting the extra-pawn is not easy here, though,
because of the lack of flexibility of the queenside structure.}) 24. Re1 $5 $14
{indirectly defends on b5:} Bxb5 $2 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Nd7 Re8 28.
f3 Nd6 29. Rxe8+ Nxe8 30. Rc8 $18) 23... Bd8 24. Ra7 f6 $4 {A terrible move
that loses outright.} ({It is understandable that Topalov was not too
enthusiastic about the position arising after} 24... Bxb5 25. axb5 Qxb5 26.
Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Ra2 {when White's position looks quite active. However, White's
rooks are not too efficient, being cut off the a5-pawn, safely defended by the
bishop.} f6 ({The extravagant} 27... g5 $5 {is also playable:} 28. Be3 f5 29.
Nd3 Bb6 30. Rd7 Rf7 $11 {and Black cannot complain about his position.}) 28.
Nc6 Bb6 29. Rb7 Rf7 30. Rb8+ Rf8 31. Ne7+ {. The only way to avoid the
exchange of the rook, which would leave Black with a comfortable position.} Kf7
32. Nc8 Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Bxd4 34. Rc2 Nc5 $44 {It is not easy to formulate an
active plan for White. Besides, the exchange sacrifice would suit Topalov's
taste pretty well.}) 25. Nd7 $1 ({Even if Topalov had missed this move, it is
not very clear what he had in mind against} 25. Qg4 $5 {which also looks very
promising for White.}) 25... Rf7 26. Nxb6 Rxa7 27. Nxd5 {White has won a
second pawn and threatens to consolidate by retreating the d5-knight to c3 and
eventually close the long diagonal with d5 if Black tries to start an attack
with ...Bb7. From this point of view, Topalov's next moves are easy to
understand, but in fact they just shorten his suffering.} Rd7 28. Ndc3 Rxd4 (
28... Re7 29. Qd3 $18) 29. Re1 ({There seem to be nothing wrong with} 29. f3 {
, when Black simply loses the knight because after} Nd6 30. Qxe8+ Nxe8 {
the b5-knight would be not pinned anymore, which enables} 31. Nxd4 $18 {
. However, it is easy to understand Kramnik for avoiding such a "weakening"
move as f3 after having lost two games in a row. Just remember the
consequences of this same move in the seventh game...}) 29... f5 {More or less
forced, but now the a2-g8 diagonal becomes very weak.} 30. Qc2 {Simple chess.
White is a pawn up, has the better piece coordination and the safer king's
position. In other words, "+-" already.} Rb4 31. Nd5 Rxb5 {Topalov carries out
his "trademark" exchange sacrifice, which has brought him so many successes
over the past years. However, it can hardly change the course of this specific
game.} 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Nc7 Qc4 34. Qd1 {There was nothing wrong with
exchanging queens at once, of course. By playing such an unexpected move (to a
certain extent similar to the earlier Qc2) , Kramnik might have intended to
get some sort of psychological initiative for the remaining two games of the
match.} Bxc7 35. Qd7 h6 36. Qxc7 Qb4 37. Qb8+ Qxb8 38. Bxb8 {The rest is easy.}
Nd2 39. Ra1 g5 40. f4 Nb3 41. Ra3 Bc4 42. Bc7 g4 43. Bxa5 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {
From the point of view of general match strategy, a courageous decision.
Kramnik has nothing against repeating the opening variation that had led him
to a rather convincing defeat in the 9th game.} 8. Rb1 $5 $146 ({Another
opening surprise prepared by Topalov. The idea behind his last move is similar
to that of} 8. a3 {, as played in the 9th game, namely to prepare c4-c5.}) 8...
Nbd7 9. c5 ({This might look a bit too straightforward to offer White an
advantage, but is not without venom. The pair of bishops and the considerable
advantage of space on the queen side offer White interesting possibilities. If
compared with the previous game where this variation was played, White cannot
prevent the central break ...e5 by playing f4 before c5 because Black would
take over the control of the e4-square by means of ...Bb4 (even if with loss
of time after 9.g3 Be7 10.f4). From this point of view,} 9. a3 {deserves some
attention and if} a5 {then} 10. f4 {but apparently Topalov intended to give
the game an independent course in order to avoid the opponent's preparation.})
9... a5 $1 ({A well timed move. Before starting his counterplay in the centre,
Black makes sure the a-file will be open for his rook. In case of} 9... e5 10.
b4 {it would be too late for} a5 {already, because of} 11. b5 {with a
promising queenside position for White.}) 10. a3 {Practically forced in view
of the threat ...b6.} e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 13. f4 {Probably still
following the plan prepared at home. White prevents Black's counterplay from
taking threatening forms and forces him take a decision at once.} exf4 ({
In the case of} 13... e4 {[%cal Yb4b5,Yf1e2,Yg2g4] White could gradually start
active operations on both wings. The advance of the b7-pawn to b5 is not a
reliable solution against White's intended queen side attack because of the
permanent danger of a piece sacrifice for two pawns on b5.}) 14. exf4 Be7 ({
Topalov probably relied on the fact that the weakness of the e4-square is not
so easy to take advantage of. If} 14... Ne4 $6 {(now or on the next few moves),
then simply} 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. d5 $16 {with initiative in the centre. However,
Kramnik's accurate regroupment will eventually enable the generally desirable
knight jump.}) ({The somewhat simplistic aim to stabilize the queen side with} 
14... b5 {achieves the opposite after} 15. Nxb5 cxb5 16. Bxb5 Be7 17. O-O O-O
18. Bd3 $44 {[%cal Yc1e3,Yd1f3,Yf4f5,Yb4b5]}) 15. Be2 (15. Bd3 $5 Nf8 16. Qf3
Ne6 {(Topalov)} 17. Ne2 {(+/= Belov)} b5 $5 {Now that the sacrifice on b5 is
not possible anymore, this ensures Black against a queenside attack.}) 15...
Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 ({White has to be careful. He has no time for} 17. Qd3 {
because of} g5 {, solving all Black's problems.}) 17... Qd7 18. Qd3 Ne4 {
It's now or never. White threatened to consolidate his advantage in space by
means of Be3 and Bf3, when Black would have been reduced to passivity.} 19.
Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 {In spite of simplifications,
White retained his advantage in space and the pair of bishops. However, the
rook's activity along the a-file and his lack of weaknesses offer Black
reasonable counter-chances.} O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1 Rd8 ({This is one of the
moments when Black has to refrain from taking immediate advantage of the
active placement of the rook on a4.} 24... Bxc5 $2 25. Be3 $1 Ne6 26. Bb3 $1
Rxb4 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxf7+ $18) 25. Be3 (25. Rd3 Kf8 (25... Bxc5 26. Bxf7+
Kxf7 27. bxc5 $16 {Golubev}) 26. Bd2 Bf6 27. Bc3 Ne6 $1 (27... Ra3 $2 28. Rbd1
$1 (28. Ra1 $2 Rxc3 $1 $11)) 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Rxd8+ Nxd8 $11) 25... Bf6 (25...
Bxc5 $2 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. bxc5 $16 {[%csl Gb7,Gd4]}) 26. g4 ({A questionable
move. By weakening the f4-square without previous preparation, White
practically commits himself to the further advance of pawns, which will offer
Black stable squares for his minor pieces and excellent prospects for
counterplay. A more restrained alternative was} 26. h4 {, leaving Black with
long-term problems regarding the defence of the f7- or (if ...f6 is played)
the g6-pawn.}) 26... Kf8 27. Bf2 {Enabling the threat g5, without allowing the
intermediate ...Nf5.} ({However,} 27. g5 $5 {deserves to be investigated.} Nf5
28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Bf2 {/\Kf3, h4, Rb3, Bd3-e4, b5} {Black should probably
remove the f-pawn from the exposed square by means of} f6 $5 (29... Bc7 30. Kf3
Ra3+ 31. Rb3 Ra4 (31... Ra2 32. Rd3 Rc2 33. Bxf7 $1 $16) (31... Rxb3+ 32. Bxb3
$16 {After the exchange of rooks, Black is left completely without counterplay.
}) 32. h4 Ke7 33. Bd3 {[%cal Yd3e4,Yb4b5]} Ra2 34. b5 Ra4 35. Be4 $36) 30. h4 (
30. gxf6 Bxf6 $5) 30... Bc7 {with excellent chances for equality:} 31. Kf3 Ra3+
32. Rb3 Ra2 33. Rd3 (33. h5 {is interesting but insufficient, because it
diminishes the number of remaining pawns even more.}) 33... Rb2 34. Rd7 Rxb4
35. Rxc7 Rxc4 36. Rxb7 $11) 27... Ne6 28. Rxd8+ {Under certain circumstances,
g5 would have consolidated White's advantage in space. This would be
impossible here because of ...Nxf4 and ...Bxg5, which reveals one of the
positive aspects of the recommended 26.h4.} Bxd8 29. f5 ({With so many pawns
placed on dark squares, White's advantage after} 29. Bxe6 fxe6 {would probably
have a purely symbolic character.} 30. Rb3 (30. h4 Bc7 31. Kf3 e5 32. f5 Ra3+
33. Ke4 gxf5+ 34. gxf5 Rc3 $11) 30... Bc7 31. Bg3 (31. Kf3 g5 $1) 31... Kf7 32.
Kf3 $14 {White has managed to stabilize the position, but it is far from clear
how he will make further progress.}) 29... gxf5 30. gxf5 Nf4+ 31. Kf3 Nh5 32.
Rb3 Bc7 33. h4 Nf6 {Black has regrouped in an optimal way. The f5-pawn is
safely blocked, preventing an eventual attack of the b7-pawn by means of Bc8,
while the white king's activity is restricted by a barrier along the fourth
rank. We can also notice that the advantage of space has a relative character
already. Since the white pieces cannot easily sustain the pawn's offensive,
the whole space left behind can be used mainly by Black for counterplay. If we
compare with the positions examined in the notes to the 27th move, the knight
is much more stable on f6 than it was on f5.} 34. Bd3 {The pressure against
the f7-square did not promise White much and Topalov decides to remove the
bishop from the active but slightly exposed position in order to enable b5.}
Nd7 35. Be4 $6 ({But this looks over-ambitious already. The immediate} 35. Bb1
{, preventing the enemy rook's activation aong the second rank, looks like a
safer decision. White might have been still OK in this case.}) 35... Ne5+ 36.
Kg2 Ra2 37. Bb1 Rd2 38. Kf1 Ng4 39. Bg1 {The white pieces have been pushed
even further back from their own pawns, which leaves the whole kingside in
some danger.} Bh2 $1 $17 {Intending the elimination of the main defender of
the dark squares.} 40. Ke1 Rd5 $6 {Now, Black's advantage remains within
bearable limits, because the game will soon transpose to a rook and opposite
bishops ending.} ({Black should have insisted on exchanging his own bishop for
the enemy one by means of} 40... Rg2 41. Bd4 Be5 $17) 41. Bf2 Ke7 42. h5 Nxf2
43. Kxf2 Kf6 44. Kf3 Rd4 45. b5 {Finally, White has managed to carry out this
thematic advance, undermining the c6-square and opening new perspectives for
his bishop. In spite of the inevitable loss of the h5-pawn, this will more or
less guarantee a draw.} Rc4 46. bxc6 bxc6 47. Rb6 Rxc5 48. Be4 Kg5 49. Rxc6 Ra5
50. Rb6 Ra3+ 51. Kg2 Bc7 52. Rb7 Rc3 53. Kf2 Kxh5 54. Bd5 f6 55. Ke2 Kg4 56.
Be4 {Black has managed to maintain his minimal material advantage and avoid
the exchange of rooks at the same time. However, his extra pawn is hardly
relevant and his last remaining chance consists of creating some threats
against the enemy king, possibly combined with the relative lack of stability
of the enemy bishop along the b1-e4 diagonal. We can see that White's
advantage in space finally does him a good service. If we lift the whole king
side structure with, say, 2 ranks, Black would get reasonable winning chances,
one of the possible ideas being the exchange sacrifice in order to remove
White's last pawn.} Kf4 57. Bd3 Rc5 58. Rb4+ Kg3 59. Rc4 Re5+ 60. Re4 Ra5 (
60... Rxf5 61. Re3+ Kg4 62. Bxf5+ Kxf5 63. Re7 $11) 61. Re3+ Kg2 62. Be4+ Kh2
63. Rb3 Ra2+ 64. Kd3 {In order to avoid Black's playing on in the conditions
of limited time, the white king has to attack the g7-pawn, when a draw would
become obvious. However, the shorter path could prove dangerous here. Once the
king reached h5, there would be such a mating construction available: ...Rg5+
Kh4 Bg3 (or e1) mate.} Bf4 ({Black could have maintained a symbolic advantage
with} 64... Kg3 65. Rb7 Be5 {when White could not keep his bishop along the
optimal diagonal anymore.} 66. Bd5 (66. Rxg7+ Kf4 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Yf4f5]})
66... Kf4 67. Be6 Ra3+ 68. Ke2 Rg3 69. Rb4+ Kg5 {followed by ...g6.}) 65. Kc4
Re2 66. Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 {With the exception of the first game of the match, Topalov faced
serious opening problems in the Catalan. It is little wonder that for the
decisive game he chose the rock-solid Slav.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5.
Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {On the day I connected with some delay to the
playchess.com server. When I saw the current position my first thought was
that I had clicked on an earlier game in which Topalov had White. Indeed, this
is the first time in the match when the players have repeated a previously
tested variation with reversed colours.} 8. g3 {Kramnik had occasionally
played this variation with White, but only in rapid events. Unlike Topalov, he
does not seem inclined to make experiments, preferring to follow the well
known paths.} Nbd7 9. Bd2 ({Kramnik had also played} 9. Bg2 {which leads to a
position typical for the Catalan gambits after} dxc4 {when Black can defend
his extra pawn with a further ...Nb6.}) 9... Bb4 $146 {Topalov is consequent
with his handling of this position with White. We can understand now that one
of the purposes of his 8.a3 had been to prevent ...Bb4, which he apparently
considers the most efficient way to counter White's strategy, based on placing
several pawns on dark squares. Previously, Black developed the bishop mainly
to e7. Although White generally maintained a tiny plus, he did not achieve any
special successes in practice.} (9... Be7 10. b3 $5 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gf1g2]} ({
Topalov himself also aimed to give the position a Catalan - Gambit character
with} 10. Rc1 a6 11. Bg2 Nb6 12. b3 dxc4 13. Ne2 cxb3 14. Qxb3 a5 15. Nf4 Bb4
16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Qxb4 Rxa2 18. O-O Ra4 19. Qb3 Ra7 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 O-O
22. Rb1 Nfd7 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. h4 Rb8 25. Qb4 Nd5 26. Bxd5 cxd5 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V (2757)-Vallejo Pons,F (2686)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext}) 10... O-O (10...
e5 11. cxd5 exd4 12. exd4 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Bg2 Nf6 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1
Re8 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Qd3 Bb4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Be5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Sasikiran,K 
(2652)-Malakhatko,V (2556)/Vlissingen 2005/CBM 107 ext (58)}) 11. Bg2 dxc4 ({
One of the few White wins in this line was caused by a gross blunder after} 
11... Ne8 12. O-O f5 13. f4 $14 g5 $4 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Nxd5 $1 $18 {1-0
Malakhov,V (2670)-Nikolic,P (2584)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/CBM 111 (28)}) 12. bxc4
e5 13. Qb3 (13. Rb1 $5) 13... Rb8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. O-O Rfd8 16. Bc1 Nf8 17. Bb2
$14 {[%csl Yb2,Yg2] 1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2754)-Gelfand,B (2696)/Monte Carlo 2005/
CBM 105 ext (26)}) 10. Qb3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bg2 (12. Qxb7 $2 Rb8 13. Qxa7
(13. Qxc6 Rxb2 $1 $40) 13... Qf6 14. f4 Nxg3 $132) 12... Nxc3 13. Qxc3 {
Topalov probably assumed that all these exchanges will offer Black an easy
game. However, White's supremacy in the centre, his authoritarian control over
the dark squares and his slightly better development leave him able to count
on some advantage.} f5 $5 {By switching to the Dutch Stonewall structure,
Black not only restricts the enemy bishop even more, but also creates himself
chances for a king side attack.} ({The opening of the centre by means of
"purely" Slav methods by means of} 13... Qe7 14. O-O dxc4 (14... O-O {might be
safer.}) 15. Qxc4 e5 {does not offer complete equality:} 16. Rad1 (16. d5 Nb6
$11) (16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd4 O-O {[%csl Ge5][%cal Yg6g5,Yg5g4]}) 16... Nb6 17.
Qc2 (17. Qb3 e4 $5 {[%csl Gd5]}) 17... O-O 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Rd4 Rad8 20. Rfd1
Rxd4 21. Rxd4 $14 {The structure is similar with that from the second play-off
game. Compared to that position, the previous exchange of the dark-squared
bishops favours Black, but the control of the d-file is a more significant
element.}) 14. O-O Qe7 $6 {By delaying castling, Black keeps his opponent
under some psychological pressure regarding the possibility of a brutal attack
along the h-file.} ({However, defining the queen's position so soon was not
necessary. Since after ...f5 Black would hardly play ...e5 anymore, he should
have first played} 14... Nf6 {, which is more or less "forced" given the
current pawn structure. The knight stands best on e4 or, possibly, on d6. If
White plays in the same way as in the game, namely} 15. cxd5 exd5 16. b4 {
play can continue} O-O (16... Ne4 17. Qd3 Nd6 {fails to prevent b4-b5.} 18. a4
a6 19. b5 $1 axb5 20. axb5 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Nxb5 22. Bxd5 $3 $16) 17. a4 ({
The immediate} 17. b5 cxb5 18. Qb3 Qd7 {leaves Black with a whole extra tempo
compared to the variation given in the notes to the 17th move.}) (17. Rab1 Ne4
18. Qd3 a6 19. a4 {is best met by} Nd6 $1 $11 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gb7b5]} 20. b5
$6 axb5 21. axb5 Nxb5 22. Rxb5 cxb5 23. Qxb5 Ra5 $1) 17... Ne4 18. Qd3 Qd7 19.
b5 g5 {with similar play as in the game, where the move a4 is not necessarily
useful.}) 15. cxd5 {We can feel that Kramnik's treatment of the position
differs from that of his opponent in a radical way. In the previous game
Topalov blocked the queenside by means of c5, while two games earlier his
whole opening play prepared this move, eventually causing Black to give up the
centre with ...dxc4. It is remarkable that Kramnik refrained from blocking the
queen side in the last 10th game, even though that is the almost authomatic
reaction to Black's ...b5 in the Catalan. There, too, he exchanged on d5, in
order to retain some initiative in an half-open position.} exd5 16. b4 {
The minority attack remains a simple and dangerous plan in spite of
simplifications. Black cannot avoid the weakening of his queen side.} Nf6 17.
Rfc1 ({The immediate} 17. b5 $5 {offered better chances of developing the
initiative:} O-O (17... cxb5 18. Qb3 $36 {[%cal Yf1b1,Ya2a4]} Qd7 19. Rfb1 Rc8
20. a4 Ne4 21. Qxb5 Rc6 22. Rb2 $14 {Korotylev}) (17... Rc8 18. Qa5 b6 19. Qa6
O-O 20. bxc6 Rxc6 21. Rfc1 $14 {[%cal Yc1c8] Notkin} Rfc8 22. Qxc8+ $1) 18.
bxc6 Rac8 19. Rfc1 (19. c7 Qxc7 20. Qb3 Qd7 21. Rfc1 g5 {Compared to Notkin's
line, both sides have equal rights over the open c-file here.}) 19... bxc6 20.
Rc2 Ne4 21. Qd3 g5 22. Rac1 Qd7 23. Qa6 Rf6 24. f3 $16 {[%csl Gc6]}) 17... Ne4
18. Qb2 O-O 19. b5 Rac8 20. bxc6 bxc6 {White can count on a small but stable
advantage because of his more compact structure.} 21. Qe2 {White's general
plan consists of pressure along the c- and b-files, but he should not neglect
prophylactic measures on the other wing. By placing the queen on e2 he inhibit
to a certain extent the attack based on ...g5 and ...f4 (when the queen would
place the knight under unpleasant pressure and keep the weakened g4-square
under control). Besides, the last move is useful for active purposes, too, by
enabling the transfer of the queen to a6 in the most rapid way.} g5 22. Rab1 ({
The continuation of the same policy. Before choosing the concrete plan,
Kramnik improves the position of his pieces. After taking the b-file under
control, the threat Qa6 becomes unpleasant. The more straightforward} 22. Rc2 {
would have allowed Black continue his king side play with} Rf6) 22... Qd7 {
A multi-purpose move. Black avoids the pin along the e-file (enabling ...f4 in
certain cases) and over-defends the c8-rook and the c6-pawn in order to enable
...Rf6 without fearing Qa6. However, the removal of the black queen from the
e7-square is a small success for White, who will not have to worry about a
possible sacrifice on g3 in the case of a later f3.} 23. Rc2 ({White
overdefends the second rank (the f2-square in first line) and prepares to
doublie rooks along the c- or b-file. Abstractly speaking,} 23. Rb2 {looks
less adequate because it would leave the rook overloaded by the control of the
second rank and the b-file, although from a practical point of view it would
have probably made little difference.}) 23... Rf6 24. Rbc1 ({In the case of} 
24. Qa6 f4 25. Rb7 Qf5 {Black attack could become dangerous.}) 24... g4 ({
Black decides to eliminate the possibility of White's f3.} 24... Rh6 {was
possible, too, when after} 25. Qa6 {(threatening to win a pawn with f3 already)
he would have had a choice between transposing to the game with 25...g4 or play
} c5) 25. Rb2 $6 ({For the same aforementioned reasons,} 25. Rb1 {, might have
been more accurate. The difference will become clear at a later stage of the
game.}) 25... Rh6 {A logical but very commital plan. If the attack along the
h-file fails, the rook will be left out of play, leaving White a free hand on
the opposite wing.} 26. Qa6 Rc7 ({Now,} 26... c5 $6 {would be strongly met by}
27. Rb7 $1 {when the weakness of Black's central pawns would make itself felt.}
) 27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Qa3 {We can notice now another effect of the move Qe7-d7.
This important diagonal became available to the white queen. Suddenly, the
threat Qf8 puts the black king in some danger.} Rb7 29. Qf8 $6 ({After this
move the game will soon enter drawish paths. White's last chance for an
advantage consisted of} 29. Ra8 {, when exchanging queens on e7 or d6 would
not absolve Black from all his strategic problems. The safest continuation
would probably be} Rf6 {, covering all the squares for infiltration, as
suggested by Golubev.}) 29... Rxb8 30. Qxb8 Qf7 31. Qc8 Qh5 32. Kf1 Nd2+ ({
With the rook on c2, this check would not have been possible. Besides, against
} 32... Qg6 {(which would have been a worthy alternative in the game), White
could have continued his invasion along the b-file with 33.Rb2. In the game,}
33. Rb1 $4 {is impossible because of the fork on d2.}) 33. Ke1 Nc4 {Covering
the weakness of the c6-pawn.} 34. Bf1 {Well, at least temporarily...} Rf6 35.
Bxc4 dxc4 36. Rxc4 {White has managed to fragment Black's structure even more,
but now the light squares around his king are weak, allowing Black to display
strong counterplay.} Qxh2 37. Ke2 Qh1 38. Rc5 Qb1 39. Qa6 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qb1+ 41.
Ke2 Qb2+ 42. Kf1 Rh6 43. Qd3 {After the return of the queen to the centre, the
white king is out of danger.} g6 (43... Qa1+ 44. Ke2 Qxa2+ 45. Kf1 g6 {would
win a pawn, but after} 46. Qc4 {he would have to give perpetual anyway. The
rook ending would be microscopically worse in view of White's better structure
and the inevitable loss of the a7-pawn.}) 44. Qb3 Rh1+ 45. Kg2 Rh2+ ({Another
way of reaching a draw would be} 45... Qa1 46. Qf7+ Kh6 47. Qf8+ Kh7 $11) 46.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 {
Topalov switches back to the classical main line of the Slav, which brought
him close to what could have easily been his best achievement in the whole
match (see the tragically ended second game).} Re8 15. Ne1 $5 (15. Bd2 Bxd2 16.
Nxd2 Rc8 17. a5 Nb8 18. Bb5 Rf8 19. Nb3 Qe7 20. Nc5 Bg6 21. Rfc1 $14 {1-0
Berkes,F (2578)-Portisch,L (2583)/Heviz 2003/CBM 096 (47)}) (15. Ng5 Nf8 (15...
Bg6 {would just transpose to the second game.}) (15... h6 $2 16. Qh3 $1 $18)
16. Nxh7 Nxh7 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh3 g6 19. g4 Rh8 20. gxh5 Kg7 21. h6+ Kh7 22.
Kh1 Rc8 23. f4 Rc2 24. f5 exf5 25. Rxf5 Qd7 {1/2-1/2 Santoro,G-Sommovigo,A/
corr 1970/Corr 2000 (35). and Black managed to repel the attack.}) 15... Rc8 (
15... Bg6 {allows White keep his knight with} 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Nd3 Be7 18. Bd2
{1/2-1/2 Banusz,T (2389)-Erdos,V (2454)/Budapest 2004/CBM 102 ext (26)
although this did not offer him much.}) 16. f4 Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2
19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Re2 Rcc8 ({The hidden strength of the pair of
bishops can be seen in the variation} 21... Rc3 $2 22. Bd2 $1 Rxe3 23. Bxa5
Rxe2 24. Bxd8 $18 {[%csl Yd7,Ye2]}) 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Rf2 a6 24. Bf1 Rc6 {
Each player has his own trumps. White has the pair of bishops and an advantage
of space, while Black controls the only open file and has a fantastic bishop.}
25. b4 Rc2 26. b5 a5 27. Bc3 Rxf2 28. Qxf2 Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Rc1 Nb6 31. Bb2
Nxa4 32. Ba3 h6 33. h3 Be4 34. Kh2 Nb6 35. Bc5 a4 36. Ra1 Nc4 $5 {The start of
an interesting tactical phase, leading to complete simplification and an
inevitable draw.} 37. Bxc4 b6 38. Qe3 Rc8 39. Bf1 bxc5 40. dxc5 Qxc5 41. Qxc5
Rxc5 42. b6 Rc6 43. b7 Rb6 44. Ba6 d4 45. Rxa4 Bxb7 46. Bxb7 Rxb7 47. Rxd4
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 {This looks
like Kramnik's little surprise weapon for rapid events. He has never played
this system of development in normal games, but used it twice during his blitz
match against Kasparov, back in 1998, obtaining 1.5 points with it.} O-O 8. Be2
b6 ({White has generally failed to prove an advantage after} 8... a6 9. O-O e5
10. cxd5 cxd5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 {but playing with an isolani is not to everybody's
taste.}) 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 $5 ({A rare move,
pursuing certain concrete aims, but placing the rook on not a very favourable
square. After} 12... Rad8 {we would reach one of the main tabyias of the whole
variation.} 13. Bd3 {seems to be the latest trend in this line. The critical
continuation is probably} (13. e4 {did not offer White anything special in the
games played so far, but both players might have had a different opinion about
it.} Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Nf6 (16... f5 17. Qc2 Bd6 18. c5
$5 bxc5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bc4 Kh8 21. Rde1 Nf8 22. Re2 $44 {1/2-1/2 Rustemov,A
(2607)-Gurevich,M (2633)/Copenhagen 2001/CBM 083 ext (34)}) 17. Qh4 Ba3 18. Ba1
c5 $132 {0-1 Bluvshtein,M (2453)-Asrian,K (2599)/Moscow 2004/CBM 100 (70)})
13... e5 (13... h6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 Nf6 17. Re2 Qf8 18. Ne5
c5 19. Red2 $14 {1-0 Neverov,V (2541)-Gagarin,V (2397)/Minsk 2000/EXT 2001 (30)
}) (13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf5 Nf8 16. Ne2 Ne4 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ng3 Ng5
19. Bg4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Ne4 21. Nd2 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 Qg5 23. Bf3 Ne6 24. Qa5 Rd7 25.
Ba3 Qd8 26. Qxd8 Rexd8 27. Bg4 Rc7 28. Rc1 Rdc8 29. Bb2 g6 30. Be5 Rc6 31. Red1
Rd8 32. Bf6 $14 {0-1 Zhao Xue (2470)-Karjakin,S (2645)/Tiayuan 2005/CBM 108/
[Lutz] (60)}) 14. cxd5 cxd5 (14... e4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. dxc6 Rc8 17. Bxe4 $1
$18) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nd4 {, with a typical isolani position, which has never
been seen in practice so far.}) 13. Bd3 $5 {Moving for the second time with
the bishop along the f1-d3 diagonal looks like a loss of time, but it will be
compensated for by the fact that Black's queen's rook will soon have to be
transferred to d8 anyway.} ({One of the ideas behind Black's last move could
be to meet} 13. e4 {with} e5 (13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 {is less
favourable for Black now, because he will be one tempo slower in the fight for
the d-file.}) {although White can transpose to the game with} 14. Bd3) 13... e5
(13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bf5) 14. e4 $1 ({Now that the
c6-pawn is safely defended,} 14. cxd5 $2 {is impossible because of} e4 $1 $19)
14... dxc4 (14... dxe4 $6 {is completely pointless here:} 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16.
Bxe4 $16) (14... exd4 15. exd5 Bxh2+ $8 16. Kh1 (16. Kxh2 Qd6+ 17. Kg1 dxc3 $11
) (16. Kf1 $5) 16... Be5 17. Nxd4 $14) 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 {White's
development is more harmonious than in certain lines of the system 6.Qc2
followed by 7.Be2, which enables him to count on maintaining his advantage in
the centre for a long time. For the moment, neither side should release the
tension in the centre, because this would allow the activation of the enemy
pieces.} g6 $6 {Topalov defends in advance the f5-square, but weakens the dark
squares prematurely.} ({Correcting the placement of the rook with} 16... Rcd8 {
was probably more appropriate, since after} 17. dxe5 $6 Nxe5 18. Nd4 {he could
defend the f5-square with} Bc8) 17. Qd2 $5 {Immediately taking advantage of
the newly created weaknesses by transferring the queen to the kingside.} Rcd8
18. Qg5 a6 19. h3 {For both sides, it is harder and harder to find useful
moves in order to delay the moment of releasing the tension in the centre.}
exd4 (19... Bc7 $5 20. a4 $5 {[%csl Gb5]}) 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 22. Nc2
$14 {[%cal Yf2f4] White's pawn advantage in the centre offers him the better
chances. In the next phase of the game Black will try to obtain active play,
while White will simply regroup in accordance with the newly created
weaknesses from the enemy camp.} (22. f4 $6 Bc5 $1) 22... g5 23. Bc1 h6 24. Be3
c5 (24... b4 $2 25. Na4 $16 Nxe4 $2 26. Bb6 $18) 25. f3 {[%csl Ge4]} Bf8 26.
Bf2 {[%csl Yf1,Yf2][%cal Rf2c5,Rf1a6,Ga2a4,Gc2e3,Ge3d5]} Bc8 27. Ne3 {[%csl
Yd5,Yf5]} Be6 28. Ned5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ned7 $6 ({This voluntary retreat from the
centre is hard to understand.} 29... Bd6 {, blocking the dangerous pawn was
better, with reasonable chances to defend.}) 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. a4 b4 $2 ({
But this is equivalent to complete strategic surrender. Black should have
fought against the blockade on the dark squares with} 31... c4) 32. Ne4 $16 {
/+-} Nxe4 33. fxe4 Nf6 (33... a5 34. Bb5 Rd8 35. Bg3 Nf6 36. Bc7 Rc8 37. d6 $18
) (33... Rxe4 34. Bxa6 {[%cal Ya6b7,Ya4a8]}) 34. d6 Nxe4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Bxa6 f5
37. a5 Bg7 38. Bc4+ Kf8 39. a6 Nxf2 40. Kxf2 Bd4+ {Allowing an elegant finish.}
41. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 42. a7 Ke7 43. Bd5 Kxd7 44. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 {Topalov
deviates from his queenside plans and continues developing normally. Since he
does not intend to put his rook on b1, the exchange on g6 is not necessary yet
and would just expose his own h2-pawn.} Nbd7 8. O-O {A relatively unexplored
move.} ({Over the past few years, there has been a theoretical discussion in
the line} 8. Bd2 Bd6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Qc2 {followed by 0-0-0.}) 8... Bd6 9. g3
(9. h3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qe7 13. Bd2 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15.
Rfd1 Rac8 16. Be2 Rfd8 17. Be1 {1-0 Malakhov,V (2695)-Haznedaroglu,K (2395)/
Tripoli 2004/CBM 102 (55). and White managed to impose his pair of bishops in
a long ending.}) 9... dxc4 $146 {We are familiar with Kramnik's handling of
this structure from the 9th game. Giving up the centre so easily will not be
any more successful in this game.} (9... Qe7 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Bd2 Ne4 12. Nxe4
Bxe4 13. f3 Bg6 14. Rae1 dxc4 15. Qxc4 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. b4 Bb6 18. a4 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Vladimirov,B-Nei,I/Moscow 1963/EXT 2003 (56)}) (9... O-O 10. Bd2 (10.
Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 10... Re8 11. Rc1 a6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. f3 (
13. Qc2 $5 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 13... e5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qb3 exd4 16. exd4 {
1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V (2578)-Khalifman,A (2688)/Tallinn 2002/CBM 087}) 10. Bxc4
Nb6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 e5 14. f4 {Topalov has played this move
quite frequently in this match. In the second match game and in the first
play-off game it was aimed to create chances for a kingside attack, while in
the 9th, 11th and in the present game it served him for maintaining a firm
control over the centre.} exd4 15. Qxd4 {A typical structure for the Slav
Defence. White has the pair of bishops and a strong kingside majority. Black's
main hopes for maintaining the balance are connected with the counterplay
along the d-file and the relative weakness of the dark squares in White's camp.
From the matches for the World title, the situation is similar to that from
the 12th game of the first match between Botvinik and Smyslov. The former
carried out a systematic and very dangerous attack based on the masive advance
of the pawns and eventually won. To a certain extent, the present game had a
similar course.} Qe7 {For the time being, White has to be careful. He still
needs a couple of moves to get fully mobilized and will have to spend some
time to bring his queen into safety.} 16. Kg2 ({For the mere sake of
development,} 16. Be3 {would have been more appropriate. For instance,} Rad8
17. e5 Rfe8 18. Bf2 $14 {[%csl Ya7,Yb6,Yc5] . Quite possibly, even at this
early stage of the game, Topalov intended to maintain his dark-squared bishop
on the c1-h6 diagonal in order to put the enemy kingside under pressure.})
16... Bc5 (16... Rad8 {would have been more restrictive. The threat ...Bxf4
would have prevented the enemy queen from retreating to c2.} 17. Qe3 (17. e5 $6
Bc5 18. exf6 $8 Qxe2+ $1) 17... Bc5 18. Qf3 Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 {. The position
would be very much similar to that which arose in the game, with the
significant difference that the g6-pawn would not be hanging, enabling Black
break the enemy centre by means of a well-timed ...f6.o.}) 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Qc2
({Here White had a choice between this move and} 18. Qf3 {, which would
transpose to the previous note.}) 18... Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 20. Rf3 {[%csl Ge3]
Xe3. White's development does not look too natural but his strong chain of
pawns prevent him from getting into trouble. One of the negative aspects
connected with Black's kingside structure is that he cannot open the position
by means of ...f6 too easily because of the weakness of the g6-pawn.} Nxc3 {
This looks like a premature release of the tension and will lead to loss of
time.} ({This would have been a good moment to get rid of the pawn weakness
with} 20... g5 $5) 21. bxc3 Bc5 22. Bd2 {Topalov's handling of the pair of
bishops in ths game deserves special attention. Although he will generally
keep them on apparently modest and vulnerable squares, they will keep the
enemy kingside under permanent pressure and defend the d-file in an entirely
adequate way.} Rd7 ({It was probably not too late for playing} 22... g5) 23.
Re1 Rfd8 24. Bd3 {Not fearing any ghosts, White willingly enters the pin.} (24.
Bc1 {would have allowed the generally favourable for Black exchange of the
dark-squared bishop with} Ba3 {because such tricks as} 25. e6 $2 {do not work
in view of} Qxe6 26. Bxa3 $2 Rd2 $17 {. We can see here that the absence of
the bishop from the c1-h6 diagonal (be it of temporary nature) can have
unpleasant effects.}) 24... Qe6 ({The queen is not too well suited for
blockading purposes but Black simply did not have other ways of preventing e6.
} 24... Nc4 25. Bc1 Qe6 26. Qe2 b5 27. f5 $16) 25. Bc1 (25. f5 {would have
been premature:} gxf5 26. Bg5 Rxd3 (26... Be7 $5 27. Bxf5 Bxg5 28. Bxe6 Rd2+
29. Re2 fxe6 30. Qg6 Rxe2+ 31. Kh3 Rxe5 32. Qf7+ $11) 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28. Qxd3
Qxa2+ $44) 25... f5 {[%csl Yf4,Gg6,Gg7] This is the only way to prevent the
advance of the white f-pawn and restrict the white light-squared bishop at the
same time. However, it will only slow down White's attack and not really parry
it. Besides, from the structural point of view it is much less favourable than
an earlier ...g5, because it leaves the doubled pawns hopelessly weak.} 26. Qe2
{The start of a new regroupment in view of launching the next wave of attack.}
Kf8 {The king quits the weak light-squared diagonal and intends to take an
active part in the blockade of the e-pawn. However, with so many pieces on the
board this is not without risk.} 27. Rd1 Qe7 28. h4 {Underlining the chronic
weakness and lack of mobility of Black's structure.} Rd5 29. Qc2 {The
hesitations from the next phase of the game are typical of the rapid rate of
play.} Nc4 30. Rh1 Na3 (30... Be3 $2 31. Bxc4 $1 Rd2+ 32. Bxd2 Rxd2+ 33. Qxd2
Bxd2 34. Rd1 {[%csl Gd2,Gf8]} Qc5 $8 35. Bb3 Be3 36. Rd3 Bg1 37. Rf1 Be3 38.
Rd8+ Ke7 39. Rfd1 $18) 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rd1 b5 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rg3 Ke7 (34...
Nb1 $5 {Golubev} 35. e6 Qe7 {[%csl Gf7]} (35... Qd6 36. Qxg4 Nxc3 37. Qxg6 $18)
36. Bb2 Na3 37. Rxg4 $40) (34... Nc4 35. e6 Qe7 (35... Qd6 36. Qxg4) 36. Re1
Qxh4 37. Rxg4 Qe7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rxg6 $40) 35. f5 $1 gxf5 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37.
e6 ({Obviously, "winning" the exchange with} 37. Bxd8 {does not suit Topalov's
style. Here, Black would retain more than sufficient compensation.}) 37... Qd6
$6 (37... Qc7 38. Rxg4 $3 fxg4 (38... Be7 39. Bxf5 $3 Rxf5 40. Rgd4 $1 Bxg5 41.
Rd7 $1 $18 {Golubev}) 39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. Rxd5 cxd5 (40... Rxd5 41. e7+ $1 Bxe7
42. Qe6 $1 $18 {Golubev}) 41. Qxg4 Qe5 42. Qf3+ $18 {Golubev}) 38. Bxf5 $1 Rxd1
39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. e7+ Qxe7 41. Bxe7+ Bxe7 42. Bd3 Ra1 43. Qb2 Rd1 44. Qe2 Ra1
45. Qxg4 $18 Rxa2+ 46. Kh3 Bf6 47. Qe6 Rd2 48. Bg6 R2d7 49. Rf3 b4 50. h5 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {If I remember correctly, this is the only classic World Title match
where all the games started with the same move. There has only been one match 
(Botvinnik-Petrosian 1963) when 1.e4 has not been played at all, but White
occasionally deviated with 1.c4.} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 ({The experimental} 9... b4 {
worked out well in the 8th game, but Topalov apparently decided not to push
his luck too much.}) 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 {This line is supposed to
lead to a very tiny edge for White and the most frequent result is a draw.}
Bxf6 (12... Nxf6 {is a safe alternative:} 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Rb1 Qc7 (14... Qc8
15. Qb3 Ba6 {is also playable}) 15. Bf4 Qxf4 16. Rxb7 {and White's initiative
is not easy to convert into something more concrete. On the other hand,
Black's position might not be to everybody's taste. Here is the most recent
example:} Bd6 17. g3 Qf5 18. Nd2 c5 19. Nc4 Rad8 20. Qb3 Qd5 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22.
Rxa7 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qxd4 24. Rb7 h5 25. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Rasmussen,K (2396)-Korneev,
O (2613)/Malaga 2003/CBM 092 ext}) 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 $5 $146 {
Curiously, this move has never been seen in practice before.} ({Black usually
played} 14... O-O {when White cannot demonstrate a convincing way of
developing his initiative too easily.} 15. Ba3 (15. Be3 Be7 16. Rb1 Qc8 17. Qd3
Rd8 18. Qb5 Rb8 19. Qa5 Bxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Lputian,S (2627)-Ivanchuk,V (2709)/
Bled 2002/EXT 2003 (27)}) 15... Be7 16. Qd4 Qc7 (16... Bd5 17. c4 Bc6 18. Rab1
Rc8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qc7 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Rfd1 Rfc8 23. f3 f6 24. Kf2 Kf7
25. f4 Ke8 26. Rb2 Be4 27. Ke3 f5 28. g3 Bxc5+ 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Rd6 Ke7 31.
Ra6 R5c7 32. Rb5 $14 {1-0 Seirawan,Y (2595)-Petursson,M (2535)/New York 1987/
CBM 002 (61)}) 17. Rab1 (17. c6 Bxa3 18. cxd7 Bc5 19. Qd3 h6 20. Bd1 Bc6 21.
Bc2 g6 22. Rfe1 Qxd7 23. Qxd7 Bxd7 24. Ne5 Rfd8 25. Nxd7 Rxd7 26. Red1 Rad8 $15
{1/2-1/2 Gleizerov,E (2525)-Blagojevic,D (2465)/Skopje 1993/EXT 2005 (29)})
17... Bc6 (17... Bd5 18. c4 Bc6 19. Qe3 Ba4 20. c6 Bxa3 21. cxd7 Bc5 22. Qe4
Bc6 23. Qe5 Bd6 24. Qd4 e5 25. Qh4 Qxd7 $15 {0-1 Volkov,S (2380)-Filipenko,A 
(2420)/Kazan 1995/CBM 049 ext (64)}) 18. Qe3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rab8 20. c6 Bxa3 21.
cxd7 Qxd7 22. c4 Qe7 23. Rb5 Rxb5 24. cxb5 Rd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Qd6 27.
Bf3 Bc5 $15 {0-1 Brynell,S (2496)-Carlsen,M (2570)/Gausdal 2005/CBM 108 ext 
(53)}) 15. Bb5+ $6 {This was probably precisely the move Topalov was counting
for when opting for this interesting opening experiment. What can be more
natural than depriving the opponent of the right to castle, especially in the
conditions of rapid play? Generally speaking, I feel like attaching the same
comment as to 12.Bb5+ from the 8th game. More specifically, the last move
obstructs the b-file for his own rook and places the bishop on a vulnerable
square at the same time.} ({The critical test of Topalov's novelty consists of
} 15. Ba3 $5 {, when Black would face problems completing his development
without making any positional concession:} Qc7 (15... Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Rc8 17.
Rab1 $16 {[%cal Ya3f8]}) (15... Qa5 16. Bb4 Qc7 17. Rb1 $14) (15... Be7 16.
Bb5+ Kf8 17. Ne5 $36) 16. Rb1 Rd8 (16... Rc8 17. Bxc5 Bxf3 18. Bb5+ Bc6 19. Qa4
$16 {[%csl Ga7,Ge8]}) 17. Qc1 O-O 18. Qe3 Bxf3 $8 (18... Be7 $2 19. Bxc5 Bxc5
20. Rxb7 $18) 19. Bxf3 $14 {[%csl Ya3,Yf3] with active play for White.}) 15...
Kf8 {Abstractly speaking, White's advance in development looks like adequate
compensation for Black's better structure, but Black's play seems easier
nonetheless. Unlike the 8th game, where he let his initiative vanish, Kramnik
will eventually manage to convert it in an extra pawn, although not without
the help of his opponent.} 16. Qxd8+ (16. Ba3 Qc7 $1 $13 {Golubev} 17. Rb1 Kg8
18. Qe2 Rc8 19. Qe3 Ne4 $132) 16... Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 (18. Rfd1 {
[%cal Yd1d7]} Kg8 19. Bb4 h5 20. Rac1 Kh7 $11) 18... Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 $6 ({
Black misses the chance to underline the unfortunate placement of White's
pieces by means of} 19... Ne4 $1) 20. Bf1 Na4 (20... Ne4 $5 21. Rab1 Bd5 {
Golubev}) 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 $14 {Finally, White
has managed to stabilize the position in his favour. Black's lack of
coordination starts making itself felt.} Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5
Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 {Planning ...
Re3-c3-c2 or even ...Bb1.} 33. Ra3 $1 {Preventing both threats and stabilizing
the situation in White's favour.} Rc2 (33... Bb1 $2 34. Rb3 $1 Rxb3 35. axb3
$18) (33... Rd2 $6 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Bc2 36. Rc3 $1 $16 Rxa4 $2 37. Rxc2 $18 {
Golubev}) 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3
40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 {White's queenside domination is to a
certain extent similar to that from the 8th game. The significant difference
is that the actively placed rooks enjoy the support of two pawns, which turns
the situation in White's favour.} 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 {White has made obvious
progress over the past 10 moves, but still faces some technical difficulties
converting his advantage into a win.} Rxc5 $4 {The last of a surprisingly long
series of mistakes in this match. As frequently happens, the player who
commits the last-but-one error emerges as the glorious winner.} 45. Rb7+ {
and finally, after 13 long years, the Chess World has one sole Champion.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O h6 15.
Nd2 O-O 16. Ne4 Bd4 17. Nd6 Bc6 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxd4 f6 20. Bd2 Qd7 21. Rac1
a5 22. Qd3+ f5 23. Rc5 Ne7 24. Rfc1 Ra7 25. Be3 Rfa8 26. Qe2 Ra6 27. h4 Qd8 28.
Bg5 hxg5 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Qf7+ Kh7 31. Qh5+ Kg8 32. Qf7+ Kh7 33. hxg5 Ng6 34.
Rxc6 Qxg5 35. Rc8 Nf4 36. g3 Rxc8 37. Rxc8 Qg4 38. Qg8+ Kg6 39. Qe8+ Kh7 40.
Qh8+ Kg6 41. Rc7 Qd1+ 42. Kh2 Qh5+ 43. Qxh5+ Nxh5 44. Re7 Rc6 45. Rxe6+ Kh7 46.
Nf7 Rxe6 47. Ng5+ 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2
g5 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. h3 Nfd7 {Topalov is avoiding natural moves
like 11...Qc7 or Bd7, since he might have been worried about White's idea
connected with Nf3 without f2-f4. The defensive setup is very firm, but not
without weak spots.} (11... Qc7 12. Nf3 $5 (12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 Be7 (13... b5
14. Qf2 Nfd7 15. Kb1 Bb7 16. Rhe1 Be7 17. Nce2 O-O-O 18. Bc1 Nc5 19. Nf4 Ng6
20. Nxg6 fxg6 21. Qf7 $11 {1/2 Shirov,A (2710)-Sax,G (2565)/Germany 1992/ (62)}
) 14. Kb1 Bd7 15. Rhf1 O-O-O 16. Rf2 Kb8 17. Qf1 Be8 18. Nce2 Nfd7 {0-1
Bologan,V (2651)-Timofeev,A (2320)/Moscow 2002/ (49)}) 12... Bd7 (12... Ng6 13.
h4 $1 Nxg4 14. hxg5 Bd7 15. Bd2 O-O-O 16. Nd4 Bg7 17. Qxg4 Bxd4 18. gxh6 Ne5
19. Qe2 Nc4 20. Rh3 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 $16 {1/2 Svidler,P (2660)-Leko,P (2635)/
Tilburg 1997/ (39)}) 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. h4 Rg8 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Qf3 Rg6 $14 {
1/2 Spasov,V (2543)-Kanep,M (2452)/Plovdiv 2003/ (28)}) (11... Bd7 12. f4 (12.
Nf3 Qa5 13. Kb1 Be7 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. h4 Rg8 16. hxg5 hxg5 17. Rh6 Bc6 18. Qf3
Nd7 19. Rh7 Nf6 20. Rh6 Nd7 $11 {1-0 Adams,M (2716)-Sokolov,I (2624)/Sarajevo
1999/ (32)}) 12... gxf4 13. Bxf4 Rc8 14. Rhf1 b5 (14... Be7 15. Nb3 b5 16. a3
Qc7 17. Kb1 Nc4 18. Rd3 a5 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 Ng8 $13 {1-0 Shirov,A (2710)
-Sokolov,A (2623)/Germany 2005/ (40)}) 15. Nf3 Nc4 16. e5 Qa5 $1 17. exf6 $2 (
17. Nd4 $8 $13) 17... Qb4 18. Rd3 Qxb2+ 19. Kd1 Qa1+ 20. Bc1 Nb2+ 21. Kd2 Nc4+
22. Kd1 d5 {0-1 Haznedaroglu,K (2440)-Navara,D (2647)/Warsaw 2005/ (33)}) 12.
f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 b5 (13... Ng6 14. Bg3 h5 15. gxh5 Qg5+ 16. Kb1 Qxg3 $2 (16...
Qxh5) (16... Nge5 $5) 17. hxg6 Qxg6 18. Nf5 $1 $16 {1-0 Joachim,S (2443)
-Boensch,U (2542)/Germany 2002/ (92)}) 14. Rhf1 (14. Nf3 Qc7 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16.
Rd4 Bb7 17. Rhd1 Be7 18. Kb1 Rc8 19. Qf2 Qc5 20. Bf1 Rh7 21. Be3 Qc6 {1/2
Labunskiy,D (2340)-Anikaev,Y (2445)/Vladivostok 1990/ (56)}) (14. Qf2 Bb7 15.
Nce2 Qa5 16. Kb1 O-O-O 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. Bd2 Nb6 19. Ba5 Nec4 20. Rhf1 Rd7 21.
Nf4 $11 {1-0 Dlugosz,J (2177)-Jablonski,W (2042)/Wisla 2000/ (42)}) 14... Bb7 (
14... b4 $5 {The first independ move by the fresh exchampion might be
criticized. Polgar would face bigger questions after the immediate 14...b4!?
since the knight is lacking the square for the natural reatreat.} 15. Nb1 (15.
Nd5 $5 exd5 16. exd5 Qc7 $13) 15... Qa5 16. Qf2 Rh7 (16... Qxa2 $2 17. Bxe5
Nxe5 18. Nc6 $16) 17. a3 bxa3 18. Nxa3 Rb8 19. Bd2 Qa4 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Nb3 Qc6
22. Qd4 $11 {1-0 Charochkina,D (2183)-Voicu,C (2310)/Chisinau 2005/ (41)}) 15.
Qf2 Rc8 16. Nce2 Bg7 (16... h5 $5 17. gxh5 (17. g5 Be7 18. g6 Nxg6 19. Bxd6 O-O
$14) 17... Qc7 (17... Rxh5 $2 18. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 19. Bxe5 Qg5+ 20. Bf4 $16) 18.
Ng3 $14) 17. Ng3 Rh7 18. Nh5 Bh8 19. Kb1 Nc5 $6 (19... Qb6 $5 20. Bg3 Nc4 21.
Bh4 b4 $13) 20. Bg3 $2 {Weak moment for both excellent player as they were
ignoring a great tactical shot for the attacking side.} (20. Nf5 $1 exf5 (20...
Rc6 21. Nfg7+ $1 Bxg7 22. Nxg7+ Rxg7 23. Bxe5 Rh7 24. Qg3 $18) (20... Nc4 21.
Bxd6 exf5 22. Bxc5 Qc7 23. Bd4 $18) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Qxf5 Qg5 23. Qxh7 Qg6 24.
Qxg6 fxg6 25. Nf4 $16) 20... Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Bh4 Qc7 (22... Qa5 $5 23.
Bf6 Bg6 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. Nf5 $14) 23. Bf6 $1 {[%mdl 128] Judit
is trying to win both battles. A strategical one for the f6 square and
consequently a tactical one hunting down the black king.} Bg6 (23... Bb7 24.
Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Ng7+ Kd7 (25... Kd8 26. Ndxe6+ $18) 26. Qxf7+ $1 Nxf7 27. Rxf7+
Kd8 28. Ndxe6#) 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 (24... Bxh5 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Nxe6 Qc6 (26... Qc4
27. Nd4 Bg6 28. Rfe1 Qc7 29. Rd2 $16) 27. Nd4 exd4 28. gxh5 Rg7 29. Rxd4 $18)
25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. h4 Qc5 {It seems that Veselin was not able to stop White's
advance, enemy's pieces would manage to get into his position anyway.} (26...
h5 27. Qd2 $5 (27. gxh5 Bxh5 28. Nxh5 Rxh5 29. Rg1 Rh7 (29... Qe7 30. Nf3 $1 d5
$13) 30. Rg5 Ke7 $14) 27... hxg4 28. Qg5 Bxc2+ 29. Ka1 Nf3 30. Nxf3 Qe7 31. Ne5
Bxd1 32. Nxf7+ Qxf7 33. Nd5+ Ke8 34. Rxf7 $18) 27. h5 Bh7 28. Qh4 $1 Bxc2+ (
28... Kc7 29. Nxh7 Rxh7 30. Rxf7+ $1 Rxf7 31. Nxe6+ $18) 29. Nxc2 $6 {Polgar
must have been very happy about the position, she somewhat loses her
concentration. Much easier was the simple king retreat and Black would have
been doomed.} (29. Ka1 $1 Kc7 (29... Bxd1 30. Nd5+ $18) (29... Qa7 30. Ne4+ Qe7
31. Nxe6+ fxe6 32. Rxd6+ Ke8 (32... Nd7 33. Rf7 Qxh4 34. Rdxd7+ Ke8 35. Nd6#)
33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. Nd5+ $18) 30. Nxc2 Qxc2 31. Rc1 $18) 29... Qxc2+ 30. Ka1 Rc4 (
30... Ke7 31. Nd5+ Kf8 32. Qf6 Rh7 33. Qe7+ Kg7 (33... Kg8 34. Nf6+ Kh8 35.
Nxh7 Kxh7 36. Qxd6 Nc4 37. Qd4 $16) 34. g5 $1 exd5 35. g6 $16) (30... Rc6 31.
Nd5+ Kd7 32. Qe7+ Kc8 33. Nb4 Rc7 34. Qxd6 $16) 31. Ne4+ Kc7 (31... Ke8 32.
Nxd6+ Kf8 33. Nxc4 $18) 32. Nxd6 Rf4 (32... Rc5 33. Qe7+ Kb6 34. Qb7+ Ka5 35.
Qa7 $1 $18) 33. Qe7+ Kb6 34. Qb7+ Ka5 (34... Kc5 35. Qc7+ Nc6 36. Nb7+ $18) 35.
Qa7 $1 {A fine move that aquares the black king on the annatural spot a5.} b4 (
35... Rxf1 36. Nb7+ Kb4 (36... Ka4 37. Qxa6+ Kb4 38. Qa3+ Kc4 39. Nd6#) 37.
Qd4+ Nc4 (37... Qc4 38. Qd6+ $18) 38. Qc5+ Ka4 39. b3+ $18) 36. Rfe1 Nf3 37.
Rc1 (37. Nb7+ Kb5 38. Rd6 $18) 37... Nxe1 38. Rxc2 Nxc2+ 39. Kb1 {A truly
imaginative attack by Judit!} (39. Kb1 Nd4 40. Nb7+ Kb5 41. Qc5+ Ka4 42. Qa5#)
1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Rd1 Qa5 11. e4 Qh5 12. Rd3 e5 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Rxf3 exd4 15.
g4 Qc5 16. Na2 O-O 17. Rf5 Qe7 18. e5 d3 19. Bxd3 Nd5 20. Bg5 Qe6 21. Nxb4 Nxb4
22. Bc4 Nd5 23. Rd1 Rae8 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Qb5 Nxe5 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. Rxd5 f6
28. Be3 b6 29. g5 Kf7 30. gxf6 gxf6 31. Rd6 Re6 32. Rd1 Nc4 33. Rd7+ Re7 34.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 35. Rh5 Rg8+ 36. Kf1 Nxe3+ 37. fxe3 Rg7 38. Kf2 Ke6 39. Kf3 Rc7 40.
h4 f5 41. Rh6+ Ke5 42. h5 Rf7 43. b4 Kd5 44. Kf4 Kc4 45. b5 Kb4 46. Re6 Kxa4
47. Re5 a5 48. bxa6 b5 49. Rxf5 Ra7 50. Rf6 b4 51. e4 b3 52. Rb6 Ka3 53. e5 b2
54. e6 Ka2 55. Ke5 b1=Q 56. Rxb1 Kxb1 57. Kf6 Rxa6 58. Kf7 Ra2 59. e7 Rf2+ 60.
Kg7 Re2 61. Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 {Not
really a fashionable, but nonetheless an interesting line. By refraining from
the traditional transfer of the queen's knight to the kingside, White intends
to submit the opposite wing under pressure.} c6 15. Rb1 $5 $146 {This novelty
bears certain optical similarity with Topalov's 8.Rb1 from the 11th game of
the Elista-match. The essentian difference is that here White does not intend
to sustain the further advance of the b-pawn as it might look at first sight.
He just plays a generally useful move, preparing to exchange on b5 without
having to bother about the tension along the a-file and leaving the b3-square
available to the knight.} ({The usual continuation is} 15. b3 g6 16. Bb2 {
1-0 Morozevich,A (2743)-Sasikiran,K (2666)/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg] (35)} (
16. Bf1 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2722)-Sasikiran,K (2666)/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg]
(62)})) (15. b4 {1-0 Sokolov,A (2554)-Bacrot,E (2645)/Aix les Bains 2003/CBM
097/[Wedberg] (49) is also occasionally played.}) ({Compared to the game
continuation,} 15. Qc2 {is supposed to have the drawback of defining the
queen's position too soon. At some moment, Black could create some latent
pressure by placing a rook on c8, although it is not entirely clear how the
opposition of the rook and bishop along the c-file could be used yet.} Rc8 (
15... Qb6 16. b3 g6 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Nh5 19. Bf1 c5 20. Qb1 Bg7 21. Qa1 {
1/2-1/2 Nunn,J (2620)-Portisch,L (2610)/Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013}) 16. axb5 axb5
17. b4 g6 18. Bb2 Nh5 19. g3 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Bc3 Nb6 22. e5 Rc7 23. Nb3
Bc8 24. Kg2 Ng7 25. Nh2 h5 26. Nc5 Nc4 27. Nf3 Bf5 28. Bxf5 Nxf5 $13 {1/2-1/2
Short,N (2635)-Portisch,L (2605)/Wijk aan Zee 1990/CBM 017 (56)}) 15... Qc7 16.
Qc2 {Abstractly speaking, this move makes more sense now that the enemy queen
has also occupied the c-file.} g6 {The adherents of the Breyer system play
this move almost authomatically. And yet, anticipating a bit the further
course of events, there was no need to weaken the kingside dark squares when
the bishopis in fact needed to defend the a3-f8 diagonal.} ({Black could have
tried to take advantage of the slightly awkward placement of the white pieces
by means of} 16... c5 $5 17. axb5 (17. d5 c4 18. Bf1 Reb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. b3
cxb3 21. Rxb3 Ba6) 17... axb5 18. dxe5 $6 (18. Bxb5 $2 cxd4 $17) (18. dxc5 $142
Qxc5 $13) 18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 (19. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 {[%csl Ge4]} Re5 $44)
19... Rxe5 20. Bxb5 d5 21. f4 Re6 22. e5 c4 23. Nf3 Ne4 $44 {[%csl Gb5,Re4]})
17. axb5 axb5 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nb3 Reb8 20. c4 {After carrying out his plan,
White can count on a stable, though minimal, advantage. The pressure along the
c-file is more important than Black's counterplay along the b-file because the
b2-pawn is safely defended. Besides, the e4-pawn is easier to defend than the
e5-pawn.} bxc4 (20... b4 21. c5 $14 {[%csl Gb3]}) 21. Bxc4 Ba6 22. Nbd2 Nc5 ({
If Black maintains the tension with} 22... Bb5 {, White could do the same with}
23. b3) 23. Bxa6 {After this release of the tension from White's part, Black
will manage to regroup his knights in optimal way.} (23. b4 $5 Bxc4 (23... Ne6
$2 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qc3 $16) (23... Ncd7 24. b5 $1 $16 {[%cal Yf3g5]} Bxb5 $2
25. Rxb5 cxb5 26. Bxf7+ $1 {[%csl Gc7]}) 24. Nxc4 Ncd7 25. Bd2 $14 {[%cal
Yc4a5]}) 23... Rxa6 24. Nc4 Nfd7 25. Rd1 Ne6 {[%csl Gd4]} 26. Be3 Raa8 $6 {
A somewhat mysterious and not very accurate move.} ({This was a good moment to
take full control of the d4-square with} 26... c5 {when} 27. Qd3 {[%csl Ga6,
Gd7] is not dangerous because of} Ra7 $132 {[%cal Ye6d4]}) 27. Qd2 $1 (27. Qc3
Rb5 $5) 27... Rd8 28. Qc3 c5 {Black plays this move under less favourable
circumstances now.} (28... f6 29. b4 $14) 29. Nfxe5 Bg7 30. f4 g5 31. g3 gxf4
32. gxf4 Nxe5 33. Nxe5 Bxe5 34. fxe5 $16 {White's extra-pawn ensures him the
better control over several central squares. Both kings are exposed, but the
bishop is a more dangerous attacking piece than the knight.} Kh8 35. Bf2 Qe7
36. Qf3 Rg8+ 37. Kh1 Rg6 38. Rd5 Rag8 39. Rg1 Rxg1+ 40. Bxg1 Rg6 41. Kh2 Kg7
42. Be3 c4 43. Rd6 Qc7 44. h4 Qa5 45. Rd5 Qe1 46. Kh3 Kf8 $6 (46... Kh8 $16)
47. Rd7 $1 {The exclamation mark is for Topalov's anticipation of the final
combination.} Rg3+ 48. Qxg3 Qh1+ 49. Kg4 Qxe4+ 50. Kh5 $3 (50. Kh5 $3 Ng7+ 51.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 52. Bh6+ Kg8 53. Rd8#) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 {After his spectacular loss against Judit Polgar, Sokolov
does not seem inclined to enter the Nimzo-Indian again, although he generally
has good results against this opening. By delaying the advance of the c-pawn,
he probably wanted to avoid two other occasional weapons of Topalov, the
Benoni and the Volga-Benkö.} c5 {Indeed, Sokolov seems to have felt his
opponent's mood quite well: Topalov desperately needed to win in order to
recover after the catastrophyc start.} 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bb5+ {
The most ambitious move, aiming to provoke some lack of coordination in the
enemy camp.} Nfd7 ({Sokolov only had some old experience with this system,
which rises the question whether his opening choice for this game was really
that inspired.} 6... Nbd7 {0-1 Sokolov,I (2630)-Minasian,A (2565)/Ljubljana
1995/CBM 051/[Stohl] (34)}) 7. a4 Na6 {The most restrictive move order.} ({
If Black delays the transfer of the knight to c7 by castling firts, White is
just in time to regroup perfectly.} 7... O-O 8. O-O Na6 9. Re1 Nc7 10. Bf1 $1 {
In the game, the bishop will not have this square at his disposal.} a6 (10...
Nf6 $6 {loses too much time, since White has used the 2 extra-tempi to regroup
perfectly.} 11. h3 b6 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Qd2 a6 14. Rab1 Qd7 15. b4 $16 {1-0
Lerner,K (2520)-Razuvaev,Y (2525)/Beltsy 1981/EXT 2002 (30)}) 11. Bf4 Rb8 {
[%cal Yb7b5]} 12. a5 $1 (12. e5 $6 {[%csl Gd5] is premature.} dxe5 13. Nxe5
Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Rxe5 b5 16. axb5 axb5 {The e7-pawn is not weaker than
the d5-pawn.} 17. Qd2 (17. Ra7 b4 18. Na4 Qd6 $11 19. Rxe7 $2 {0-1 Mateuta,G 
(2475)-Kovacevic,A (2485)/Bucharest 1997/EXT 2001 (73)} Qxe7 20. d6 Rd8 21.
dxc7 Qxc7 22. Rxc7 Rxd1 $19) 17... b4 18. Na4 Qd6 19. Rae1 Bd7 20. b3 Bxa4 21.
bxa4 e6 22. Qh6 Nxd5 23. Bc4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Kg7 25. Rxc5 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,Z (2545)
-Hartman,B (2400)/North Bay 1995/EXT 2002 (28)} Ng4 $1 26. g3 h6 $1 $19) {
The thematic} 12... Nb5 {fails to generate adequate queen side counterplay and
leaves White with the initiative.} (12... f6 $6 {[%csl Gg7]} 13. Nd2 b5 14.
axb6 Nxb6 15. Nb3 $16 {[%cal Yb3a5,Ya5c6]} Qe8 $2 {[%cal Yc7b5]} 16. Nxc5 $1
$18 {1-0 Iordachescu,V (2500)-Timagin,P/Bad Wiessee 1997/CBM 061 ext (39)}) (
12... b5 13. axb6 Nxb6 {[%cal Rc8g4]} 14. Ra2 {[%csl Gb2]} (14. h3 {1/2-1/2
Kononenko,T (2370)-Calzetta Ruiz,M (2278)/Varna 2002/CBM 088 ext (91)} Nb5 $5
$132) 14... Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 $14 {[%csl Ya6,Rf1,Rf4]}) (12... Nf6 {
Again, this move just wastes time.} 13. h3 b5 14. axb6 (14. e5 $5 Nfe8 15. b4 {
1-0 Miladinovic,I (2555)-Velickovic,S (2400)/Aegina 1995/EXT 97 (60)} Bb7 $5
$132 {[%csl Yd5,Ye5]}) 14... Rxb6 15. Ra2 $14) 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. c3 b4 (14...
c4 15. Nd4 $14) (14... Ra8 15. Bxb5 Rxa5 16. Qe2 $14 {and the queen side pawns
are blocked.}) 15. e5 (15. cxb4 Bxb2 16. bxc5 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 Nxc5 18. Bh6 f6 19.
Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Nd2 b5 $11) 15... dxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 bxc3
19. bxc3 Qd6 20. Qe2 e6 21. Rd1 $1 (21. dxe6 Bxe6 {with a reasonable position
for Black.}) 21... f6 22. Rxe6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 $44) 8. O-O Nc7 9. Re1 {A double
edged decision. White clears the f1-square for the bishop, hoping that the
exchange on b5 would leave him with a favourable queen side configuration.} ({
Curiously, Topalov had had this position only once before, but with the white
pieces.} 9. Bc4 O-O 10. Re1 a6 11. Bf4 Rb8 12. Qd3 Nb6 (12... b5 $6 13. axb5
Nb6 14. bxa6 $1 $16 {1-0 Topalov,V (2455)-Velimirovic,D (2520)/Vrnjacka Banja
1991/CBM 023/[Schussler] (26)}) 13. b3 (13. Bb3 $5 Bg4 14. Nd2 {[%csl Gg4]
[%cal Ya4a5]} Nc8 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 15. a5 Bd7 {[%cal Yc7b5]}) 13... Bg4 14. e5
Bxf3 15. Qxf3 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Rxe5 Nd7 18. Ree1 b5 $132 {1/2-1/2
Eljanov,P (2447)-Brodsky,M (2512)/Polanica Zdroj 1999/EXT 2000 (40)}) 9... Nxb5
10. axb5 O-O 11. Bf4 Nb6 {Immediately taking advantage of two positive effects
of the exchange on b5. The knight is very stable on b6 now, while the
c4-square is vulnerable.} (11... f6 $5 {As we shall see, this is a typical
move under the newly created circumstances. Black prevents the central break
e5 in radical, way, without fearing the weakness of the e6-square once the
enemy light-squared bishop has been removed. The passivity of the g7-bishop is
temporary, because ...f5 is hard to prevent on long term. The only question is
whether ...f6 should be played at such an early stage.} 12. Ra3 Nb6 13. Qa1 Qc7
14. Rxa7 Rxa7 15. Qxa7 Bg4 16. Qa2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Kh8 ({There was no need for
this prophylactic move, since after} 17... f5 $132 {White cannot generate
threats along the a2-g8 diagonal:} 18. e5 Ra8 19. Qb3 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 c4 $1) 18.
Ne2 Ra8 19. Qb3 Qd7 20. Bd2 c4 21. Qe3 Qxb5 22. Nd4 $14 {1-0 Laketic,G (2425)
-Velimirovic,D (2515)/Niksic 1997/CBM 059 ext (49)}) 12. e5 {After installing
the knight on b6, Black is ready to play ...f6, which justifies Sokolov's
resolute actionin the centre.} (12. h3 f6 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. Ra3 Bd7 15. Rea1 f5
$1 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Rg7b2]} 16. Ng5 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 g5 19. Bd2 fxe4
20. Qxe4 d5 $1 21. Qe2 (21. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 22. Qxd5 Rad8 {[%csl Gd2]}) 21... Rf5
22. Rxa7 Raf8 $44 {[%csl Gf2] 0-1 Rajkovic,D (2460)-Velimirovic,D (2525)/
Svetozarevo 1990/EXT 97 (40)}) 12... Bf5 13. h3 {White's advantage of space in
the centre is quite impressive, at least optically speaking. However, it is
not easy to make any concrete progress. Black has a flexible position and a
stable placement of the pieces. Besides, the d5-pawn could become weak in the
long run.} h6 {[%cal Yg6g5,Yf7f6] The start of an ambitious plan. Black will
place his kingside pawns on dark squares, in order to enable higher mobility
to his light-squared bishop and restrict the enemy bishop at the same time.}
14. Qe2 g5 15. Bg3 Qd7 $13 16. h4 $6 {White weakens the g4-square in order to
provoke a move that formed part of Black's plan anyway.} f6 17. e6 Qe8 {
White has won even more space, but his minor pieces are strongly restricted by
the enemy chain of pawns.} 18. Nh2 Bg6 19. f4 Bh5 20. Qd3 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Qg6 $15
{Black's position is easier to play.} 22. Nf1 f5 23. Kh2 Qg4 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25.
Nxg3 Be8 26. Nge2 Kh7 27. Bg3 Nc4 28. b3 Ne3 29. Rac1 Rg8 30. Nd1 Nxd5 31. c4
Nb4 32. Ne3 a6 33. bxa6 Rxa6 34. Nxf5 Bf6 35. Nf4 Ra2 36. Nd5 Nxd5 37. cxd5 Bh5
38. Rf1 Rd2 39. Ne3 Bd4 40. Nc4 Rd3 41. Bf4 Rxb3 42. Nd2 Rb2 43. Rb1 Bg6 44.
Rxb2 Bxb2 45. Rf3 Rf8 46. Nc4 Be4 47. Bxd6 Bxf3 0-1

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8.
e3 c5 9. Be2 cxd4 10. exd4 d5 11. b3 Nbd7 12. O-O dxc4 13. bxc4 Qc7 14. a4 Rac8
15. Re1 Rfe8 16. Bb2 Ng4 17. g3 Ndf6 18. Nd2 h5 19. h3 Nh6 20. Bf3 Red8 21. Re5
Nf5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. d5 h4 24. g4 Ne7 25. Ne4 Ne8 26. Re1 Nxd5 27. Qf3 Rxc4
28. Rg5 Qe7 29. Bxg7 Nxg7 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Nxd5 Qd6 33. Nf6 Ne8
34. Qa8 Qe7 35. g5 Rd4 36. Rc1 Rd8 37. Qf3 Rd5 38. Kf1 Nxf6 39. gxf6 Qd8 40.
Rc4 Rf5 41. Qa3+ Kg8 42. Rg4+ Kh7 43. Rxh4+ Kg6 44. Rg4+ Kxf6 45. Qc3+ Ke7 46.
Rd4 Rd5 47. Rc4 Kd7 48. h4 Qb8 49. Qf6 Rf5 50. Rd4+ Kc6 51. Rc4+ Kb7 52. Qe7+
Ka6 53. Rc7 Qa8 54. Kg1 Rf4 55. f3 Rxf3 56. Qg5 f5 0-1

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Be7 7. g4 h5 8. gxh5
Rxh5 9. h4 Nc6 10. Be2 Re5 11. Nf3 Ra5 12. a3 d5 13. b4 Nxb4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15.
Bd2 dxe4 16. Nb5 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Bc5 18. Ng5 a6 19. Qe5 axb5 20. Qxc5 Ra1+ 21.
Bd1 b6 22. Qxb5+ Bd7 23. Qb2 Qa8 24. O-O b5 25. Bb4 Ra2 26. Qe5 Qc6 27. h5 1-0

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. h4 Bh6 14. g3 Rb8
15. Bh3 Bxh3 16. Rxh3 a5 17. Nce3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. h5 f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21.
Qd5+ Kh8 22. Nxf5 Rxf5 23. h6 Qf6 24. hxg7+ Kxg7 25. O-O-O Rxf2 26. Qxd6 Qg5+
27. Kb1 Qg6+ 28. Qxg6+ hxg6 29. Rd7+ Kf6 30. Rhh7 Re2 31. Rd6+ Kf5 32. a3 g5
33. Ra6 b4 34. axb4 axb4 35. Rf7+ Kg4 36. Ra4 Kxg3 37. Rxb4 Rxb4 38. cxb4 Re4
39. b5 Rb4 40. Rb7 e4 41. b6 g4 42. Kc2 e3 43. Kd3 Rb3+ 44. Ke2 Kh2 45. Rh7+
Kg2 46. b7 g3 47. Rg7 Kh2 48. Rh7+ Kg1 49. Rg7 g2 50. Rh7 Rxb2+ 51. Kxe3 Rb6
52. Kd4 Kf2 53. Rf7+ Ke2 54. Rg7 Rxb7 55. Rxg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. f3 Bb4 8.
Nxc6 Qxc6 9. Qd4 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 f6 11. c4 b5 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Qc5 Qa5+ 14. Kf2
Ne7 15. Be2 Kf7 16. a4 d6 17. Qxd6 bxa4 18. Rhd1 a3 19. Bc5 Re8 20. Bxa3 Ra7
21. Qc5 Qc7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. Bd6 Rc6 24. c5 Rd8 25. Rb8 Ke8 26. Ra1 e5 27. c3
Ng6 28. Bd1 Bd7 29. Rxd8+ Kxd8 30. Ba4 Rc8 31. Bxd7 Kxd7 32. Rxa6 Nf4 33. Ra7+
Kc6 34. g3 Nd3+ 35. Ke3 Nb2 36. Rxg7 Nc4+ 37. Kd3 Nb2+ 38. Kc2 Nc4 39. Rxh7 Ra8
40. Kb3 Nd2+ 41. Kb4 Rc8 42. Rf7 Nxf3 43. Rxf6 Nd2 44. Bxe5+ Kb7 45. Rb6+ Ka7
46. Kb5 1-0

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. c4 a6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Be2 Be7 8. Be3
O-O 9. g4 Nfd7 10. h4 b6 11. g5 Bb7 12. Qd2 Nc6 13. Rg1 Rc8 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15.
h5 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Nxb5 Bxe4 18. Nxd6 Rc2 19. Qd4 Bd5 20. Nf5 exf5 21.
Qxd5 Bc5 22. Rd1 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Qb8 24. Rg2 Ne5 25. Rd2 Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Qxb2 27.
Qd4 Qb8 28. h6 Rd8 29. Qc3 Rc8 30. Qd4 Rd8 31. Qc3 Rc8 32. Qd4 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Be7 9. f4 exf4 10. Bxf4 O-O 11. O-O-O Nh5 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Nd4 Nxd4
15. Bxd4 Nd7 16. Be3 Bf6 17. Nd5 Be5 18. Bc4 b5 19. Bg5 Nf6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Rhe1 Rad8 24. b3 Rd7 25. Qa5 Ra8 26. Rd5 Qe8 27.
Qd2 Rad8 28. Qa5 Ra8 29. g3 g6 30. Qb6 Qe6 31. Rd4 Qh3 32. Rd2 h5 33. Qc6 Rdd8
34. Red1 Qg4 35. e5 d5 36. Rxd5 Qxd1+ 37. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 38. Kb2 Rdd8 39. e6 fxe6
40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Qe7+ Kh6 42. Qe3+ Kg7 43. Qe7+ Kh6 44. Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bilbao blindfold m"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2006.12.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2006.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nec6 7. c3 Be7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. Nd2 d6 10. f4 Nd7 11. Rf3 g6 12. Rg3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 e5 14. Nf3 exd4
15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Nf5 d5 17. Bd4 Bxf5 18. exf5 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 Bf6 20. fxg6 hxg6
21. Qb3 Re8 22. Rad1 b5 23. Qc3 Bxd4+ 24. Qxd4 Re6 25. Qxd5 Qe8 26. Qxa8 Qxa8
27. Rd8+ Qxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Kf2 Re4 30. Kf3 Rc4 31. Rd2 a5 32. Rd5 Ra4 33.
a3 b4 34. Rd3 bxa3 35. bxa3 Rc4 36. g4 Kh6 37. h4 f5 38. Kg3 fxg4 39. Kxg4 a4
40. Rd6 Kg7 41. Ra6 Rd4 42. Ra7+ Kf6 43. Ra5 Kg7 44. Kg5 Kf7 45. Ra7+ Kf8 46.
Kxg6 Rxf4 47. Ra8+ Ke7 48. h5 Rg4+ 49. Kf5 Rc4 50. h6 Rc5+ 51. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Qb3 Qc7 8. Bd2
Ne4 9. Nxg6 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 hxg6 11. Rc1 Qb6 12. c5 Qxb3 13. axb3 Nd7 14. b4 a6
15. Ra1 Rb8 16. Kc2 Be7 17. Be2 f5 18. h3 Kf7 19. f3 e5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. f4
Nd7 22. Bd3 Rbe8 23. Rhf1 Bf6 24. Kd2 Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O b5 10. f3 Be6 11. Nd5 {This move order is making advance of the
black queenside pawns more challenging.} (11. g4 b4 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 a5)
11... Bxd5 12. exd5 Qc7 (12... Nbd7 13. Na5 $1 Qc7 14. Nc6 Bd8 15. Kb1 Nb6 16.
c4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Rc1 Qb7 19. Rhd1 $6 (19. Rxc4 Qb5 20. Rc2 Nxd5 21.
Rd1 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 $14) 19... Qb5 20. Nxd8 Rfxd8 $15 {1/2 Van den Doel,E (2528)
-Neverov,V (2549)/Hoogeveen 1999/ (39)}) 13. g4 Rc8 14. Kb1 b4 15. g5 Nfd7 16.
h4 (16. f4 a5 17. Bh3 a4 18. Nc1 a3 19. b3 Ra5 20. Bf5 g6 21. Be4 Na6 22. Nd3
exf4 23. Bxf4 Nb6 24. Ne1 Bf8 25. h4 Bg7 26. h5 Nc5 27. Bg2 Nca4 28. bxa4 Nxa4
29. Rh3 Nc3+ {0-1 Jakic,I (2246)-Ljubicic,F (2397)/Bibinje 2001/}) 16... a5 17.
Bh3 (17. h5 a4 18. Nc1 Nb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. g6 b3 21. gxf7+ Kxf7 22. cxb3 axb3
23. Nxb3 Qa7 24. a3 Qa4 25. Qd3 Bf6 26. Qb5 Qa7 27. Bh3 {1-0 Zatonskih,A (2320)
-Calotescu,A (2180)/Bucharest 1998/ (52)}) 17... a4 18. Nc1 Na6 $6 {The first
independent move seems to be flawed, as black will find it hard to make
progress with his counterplay.} (18... a3 19. b3 Ra5 20. Rh2 (20. Bf5 $5) 20...
Na6 21. h5 Qc3 22. Qxc3 Rxc3 23. Nd3 (23. Re2 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 Bxg5 25. Re4 Nb6 {
1/2 Mamedov,N (2517)-Maenhout,T (2282)/Instanbul 2005/ (42)}) 23... Ndc5 24.
Bd2 Nxd3 25. Bxc3 Nf4 26. Be1 Nxd5 27. g6 $16 {0-1 Stander,H (2128)-Maenhout,T
(2282)/Instanbul 2005/ (54)}) 19. h5 Rcb8 (19... a3 20. b3 Rf8 21. Nd3 Nb6 22.
Nf2 $16) 20. g6 Bf6 21. gxf7+ (21. gxh7+ $5 Kxh7 22. h6 g6 23. Ne2 $14) 21...
Kxf7 22. Be6+ Kf8 $2 (22... Ke7 $1 23. Nd3 $14) 23. b3 $2 {Fortunatelly for
Topalov the mistakes of both sides are not of the same magnitude. Black's king
retreat could have been punished by the immediate 23.Qd3!} (23. Qd3 $1 Nac5 24.
Qxh7 Ke7 25. Bxd7 Nxd7 26. Bg5 $16) 23... Ndc5 24. Rhg1 Qe7 25. Bf5 Kg8 $2 {
[%mdl 256] The second mistake will not go unnoticed, Van Wely has managed to
enhance white's attack.} (25... axb3 26. cxb3 e4 $1 27. f4 Kg8 $11) 26. Bxc5 $1
Nxc5 27. Qh6 Kf8 28. Qxh7 Qf7 (28... axb3 $4 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30. Bg6#) 29. Nd3
axb3 30. cxb3 Nxd3 (30... Rxa2 31. Qh8+ (31. Kxa2 $2 Qa7+ 32. Kb1 e4 33. Nb2
Bxb2 34. Kxb2 Qa3+ 35. Kb1 Qxb3+ 36. Kc1 Qc3+ 37. Kb1 Qb3+ $11) 31... Ke7 32.
Qxb8 $18) 31. Rxd3 e4 (31... Qg8 32. Qg6 Qf7 33. h6 Qxg6 34. Rxg6 $18) 32. Be6
exd3 (32... Qa7 33. Qg8+ Ke7 34. Qf7+ Kd8 35. Qf8+ Kc7 36. Rc1+ Kb7 37. Qf7+
Ka6 38. Rc6+ Rb6 39. Qxa7+ Kxa7 40. fxe4 $16) 33. Bxf7 Rxa2 {The desperate
final slavo is easy to parry..} 34. Qg8+ (34. Kxa2 $4 Ra8+ 35. Kb1 Ra1#) 34...
Ke7 35. Kxa2 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. h3 b5 13. Bd3 h4 14. f4 Rc8 15.
Rhe1 g6 16. Qf2 Qb7 17. Na5 Qb8 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 Bc4 20. Nxc4 bxc4 21. Be4
Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Nf6 23. Qf3 Qc7 24. Nc3 Rg8 25. Bf2 Rh8 26. Nd5 Nxd5 27. Rxd5 f6
28. Re4 Rb8 29. Rxh4 Rxh4 30. Bxh4 Qb7 31. b3 Kd7 32. Be1 Qc6 33. h4 Rc8 34.
Qd1 Rg8 35. g3 Bf8 36. Bf2 Bh6 37. Bc5 Bf8 38. Bf2 Bh6 39. Rc5 Qg2 40. Be1 cxb3
41. axb3 Bd2 42. Rc4 (42. Qh5 $1 Re8 (42... dxc5 43. Qf7+ Kd6 44. Qxg8 Qf1 (
44... Bxe1 45. Qd8+ Kc6 46. Qa8+) 45. Qd8+ Kc6 46. Qxd2) 43. Qf7+ Re7 44. Rc7+
Kxc7 45. Qxe7+) 42... d5 43. Ra4 Bxe1 44. Qxe1 Rxg3 45. Rxa6 Qg1 46. Qxg1 Rxg1+
47. Kb2 Ke7 48. Re6+ Kf7 49. Rd6 e4 50. Kc3 Rf1 51. Rd7+ Kf8 52. Rd8+ Kf7 53.
Rd7+ Kf8 54. Rd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1
15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bb5 e5 19. Qf2 Re7 20. f4 exf4 21. Qxf4
Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 25. Qd4 {An attempt of
improvement on the game Najer-Krasenkow, analysed in CBM 110.} (25. Nf4 Rf7 26.
Qc3 Qd8 27. Rc1 b5 28. Qg3 Rc8 29. Re1 Re7 30. Rf1 Qd6 31. Bg5 Rf7 32. h4 Nc4
33. Re1 Rcf8 34. Re6 Qa3 35. Qxa3 Nxa3 36. d6 Rd7 37. Nd5 Rf1+ 38. Kh2 Kf7 39.
Nc7 Nc4 40. Re7+ Rxe7 41. dxe7 Nd6 42. Be3 Kxe7 43. Bxa7 Kd7 44. Nd5 Rf5 45.
Nb4 Rf4 46. Nd3 Rxh4+ 47. Kg3 Nf5+ {0-1 Najer,E-Krasenkow,M/Saint Vincent 2005/
CBM 110}) (25. Bd2 {[%cal Rd2c3]} Qf8 26. Qa1 $1 Rxe2 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Bh6 $5
(28. Bxa5 Rxa2 29. Qe1 Rxa5 30. Qe6+ $11) 28... Rf7 29. h3 {deserves attention
although Black should not lose after} Nc4 30. Qd1 Re8 31. Qa4 Nd6 32. Qxa7 Rf5)
25... Rd8 $146 (25... Rc8 $5 {is another important option. Here is a practical
example:} 26. Ng3 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. h3 $36 Rc4 $2 (28... g5 $5 29. Bxg5 Qg6
30. Bh4 {[%cal Yg3e4]}) 29. Qe5 Rc8 30. Ne4 Nc4 31. Nf6+ (31. Qd4 $18) 31...
Kh8 32. Qd4 $18 {-> 1/2-1/2 Del Rio Angelis,S-Konguvel,P/Badalona 2006/CBM 113
ext (46)}) 26. h3 $1 {[%mdl 4]} (26. Ng3 $2 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Qc3 Nc6 29.
h4 Rxd5 30. Ne4 Re5 $19 {0-1 Moskalenko,A-Danin,A/Moscow RUS 2007/The Week in
Chess 639 (70)}) 26... Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Qc3 b6 29. Ng3 $44 Nb7 $2 {
A terrible mistake.} (29... Re8 $1 {to prevent Ne4 was absolutely necessary.
After} 30. Qd4 {[%cal Rg3e4] Black should probably continue} g5 $1 31. Bxg5 Qg6
{with good chances to successfully defend, e.g.} 32. Bf4 Rf8 $1 (32... Qg7 $143
33. Qd1 $1 {[%cal Yg3h5]}) 33. Be5 (33. d6 Nc6 34. Qd5+ Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg6 $11)
33... Rd8 $1 {[%cal Ra5c6]} 34. d6 Qe6 35. Bf4 Nc6 $13) 30. Ne4 Qe7 31. Nf6+
Kf7 32. Nxh7 Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Ng4 $1 {White has recaptured a pawn and his
attack continues.} Kg8 (34... Rxd5 35. Qg7+ Ke6 36. Qxg6+ Kd7 37. Nf6+ $18) 35.
Qd2 Re8 36. Qf4 Qd6 {Black is ready for an endgame a pawn down but White
prefers to attack!} 37. Qf2 $1 Qc5 38. Qg3 (38. Qf1 $5 Qe7 39. Nf6+ Kf7 40.
Nxe8+ Kxe8 41. Qf4 {and White should win.}) 38... Qd4 {Other defences are
equally insatisfactory:} (38... Qe7 39. Qf3 (39. Qf4 Qd6 40. Qf2 Qc5 41. Qf1 {
is possible, too, of course}) 39... Rc8 40. Qf4 Qd6 41. Qd4 Qe7 42. Nf6+ Kf7
43. Ne4 Kg8 44. d6 $18) (38... Qd6 39. Qc3 (39. Qf2) 39... Re7 40. Bg5 Re2 41.
Nf6+ Kf7 42. Ne4 $1 Rxe4 43. Qf3+ $18) 39. Kh2 $1 {[%cal Rg3c7,Rg3h4] A quiet
move with deadly threats.} Nd8 40. Qd6 $1 Ne6 41. Be3 $1 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 Qe7 7. Bxc5 Qxc5
8. Nc3 O-O 9. Qd2 a5 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qg5 Re8 12. a4 h6 13. Qe3 b6 14. b3 Bg4
15. Nd2 Be6 16. h3 Nh5 17. Ne2 Qf6 18. f4 exf4 19. Nxf4 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Qc3 21.
Ra2 Re7 22. Nf3 Rd8 23. Qd2 Qc5+ 24. Qf2 Qxf2+ 25. Kxf2 f5 26. exf5 Bxf5 27.
Raa1 Rde8 28. Rae1 c5 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Nd2 Kf7 31. Nc4 Bc8 32. Ne3 Ke8 33. h4
Bb7 34. g3 Re6 35. Ke2 Rg6 36. g4 Ke7 37. Nf5+ Ke6 38. Rf4 Ke5 39. Ke3 Rf6 40.
h5 Rf7 41. Nh4 Rxf4 42. Ng6+ Ke6 43. Kxf4 Bc6 44. Nh4 Kf6 45. Nf5 Be8 46. Ng3
g5+ 47. hxg6 Bxg6 48. Ne4+ Ke6 49. Nc3 Be8 50. Ne4 Bg6 51. Nc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 {Preparing for
Topalov, we reckoned with a Nimzo-Indian, but paid more attention to the
standard move-order and systems with 4.Qc2. Now White has reached the
Fianchetto Nimzo-Indian in a round-about way.} ({The alternative} 6. Bd2 {
is considered rather tame, a good reaction is} Qb6 $5 $132) 6... Ne4 {Already
when preparing for an earlier game, Navara decided to play this line. The more
popular} (6... O-O 7. Bg2 d5 {is also fully playable, although in Wijk Black
experienced some problems after} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O
Qa5 12. Bd2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. e4 Bc4 16. Qa4 Nb6 17. Qb4 Qh5
18. Bf4 c5 19. Qa5 (19. Qb2 Rfd8 $1 $132) 19... Rfc8 20. h3 f6 21. Be3 e5 22.
Bxc5 Be6 $6 (22... Be2 $1 23. Re1 Nc4 $11) 23. Bxb6 axb6 24. Qxb6 Bxh3 25. Bxh3
Qxh3 26. Qb7 (26. Qb3+ $142 Kh8 27. a4 $16 {Landa}) 26... h5 $5 $44 27. Rd3
Rab8 28. Qd5+ Kh7 29. a4 Rb2 30. a5 h4 31. a6 Rcb8 32. Rad1 Rxf2 $1 33. Kxf2
Qh2+ 34. Kf3 Qxg3+ 35. Ke2 Qg2+ 36. Ke1 Qg1+ 37. Ke2 {1/2,Van Wely,L (2683)
-Karjakin,S (2678)/Wijk aan Zee-A/2007/}) 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ (7... Qa5 8. Nb3 Nxc3 9.
Bd2 Ne4 10. Qxe4 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 Nc6 12. Bg2 O-O 13. Qe3 {/\0-0+/= is another
theoretical line. Here White in my opinion is slightly better despite the
simplification, as Black still has develop his Bc8 effectively to connect his
R. The text move leads to a more complex and unbalanced position.}) 8. bxc3 Nc5
9. Qf3 {[%csl Gc1,Rc3,Rc4,Gf1]} ({The older move} 9. Qe3 {after} b6 10. Bg2 Bb7
11. Bxb7 Nxb7 12. Qf3 Nc6 $1 13. Nxc6 dxc6 14. Qxc6+ Qd7 $44 {gives Black
excellent compensation for the P. White has to seek active play with his ^^ to
outweigh his ruined P-structure, therefore he prevents the fianchetto of the
Bc8.}) 9... d6 10. Bg2 Nbd7 {This is the most often played move.} ({Possibly
the radical} 10... e5 {[%csl Rd5] is playable, but weakening ><d5 didn't
appeal to Navara.} 11. Nb3 Nba6 12. Ba3 Qc7 13. Rd1 Be6 14. Nxc5 (14. Bxc5 Nxc5
15. Nxc5 dxc5 (15... Qxc5 $5 {-14.Nc5}) 16. O-O Rb8 17. Qh5 O-O 18. Bd5 Rfe8
19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Rd5 Re7 21. Rfd1 Rbe8 22. Qg5 b6 23. Rd6 e4 24. R1d5 e3 25.
f3 h6 26. Qg4 Qc8 27. Qxc8 Rxc8 28. g4 f6 29. Kg2 Rce8 30. h4 $36 {_|_,Aronian,
L (2756)-Nielsen,P (2646)/Torino olm/2006/}) 14... Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Qxb7
Rc8 17. O-O Qxc4 18. Rxd6 O-O 19. Qxa7 Qxe2 20. a4 Rxc3 21. a5 Bc4 22. Ra1 Ra3
23. Rdd1 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Qb2 25. Rd1 Be2 26. Re1 Qd2 27. Rb1 Bd3 28. Qd7 Qc3 29.
Rd1 e4 $11 {1/2 Wang Yue (2644)-Meier,G (2484)/Yerevan 2006/CBM 114 ext (36)})
({Also Kramnik's less committal} 10... Bd7 11. O-O Bc6 {deserves attention:} (
11... O-O 12. Ba3 (12. Rb1 Bc6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Qh5
Rac8 17. Rd2 Na5 18. Rd4 g6 19. Qh6 e5 20. Bg5 f6 21. Bd5+ Kh8 22. Qxh7+ $3
Kxh7 23. Rh4+ Kg7 24. Bh6+ Kh8 25. Bg5+ Kg7 26. Bh6+ Kh8 27. Bg5+ Kg7 {1/2,
Nilssen,J (2374)-Berg,K (2420)/Aarhus/2005/}) 12... Bc6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qe3
Na5 (14... Qe7 15. Rfd1 Rfc8 16. Rab1 $36) (14... Rc8 $5 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxc5
Qa5 $44) 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxc5 b6 17. Qb5 a6 $6 (17... Rc8 $142) 18. Qb4 Rc8
19. Rfd1 Qc7 20. Rd6 Rb8 21. Rb1 Qxc4 22. Qxc4 Nxc4 23. Rc6 Rfc8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8
25. Bb7 $16 {Landa,K (2584)-Grooten,H (2362)/Vlissingen op/2006/}) 12. Qg4 (12.
Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Ba3 Ne5 $5 $11) 12... O-O 13. Bh6 Qf6 14. Bg5 Qg6 15. Nxc6 Nxc6
16. Qh4 f6 (16... Qc2 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Be7 Rfe8 19. Bxd6 Na4 $132) (16... Rac8
17. Rfd1 f6 18. Be3 Rfd8 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Be4 Qh6 $14 {/<=>}) 17. Be3 Rfd8 (
17... Na5 $5 $132 {Gavrikov}) 18. Rab1 Qf7 $6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21.
Qe4 e5 22. Rb2 Rab8 23. Rfb1 Rxb2 24. Rxb2 Qd7 25. Kg2 Re8 26. Qe3 Qe7 27. a4
$16 {[%cal Gb2b8] |^<->b,Bacrot,E (2729)-Kramnik,V (2744)/Dortmund/2005/}) 11.
O-O Ne5 {The accurate move-order.} (11... O-O $143 $6 12. Rd1 Ne5 13. Qf4 Bd7
14. Nb3 $1 Ba4 15. Ba3 Bxb3 16. axb3 Qc7 {Wells,P (2525)-Smirnov,P (2624)/
EU-ch Warsaw/2005/} 17. Rab1 $36 {[%csl Ga3,Gg2] ^^}) 12. Qf4 Bd7 (12... O-O $6
13. Rd1 {-11...0-0?!}) ({Even worse is} 12... Nxc4 13. Nb3 Nb6 14. Nxc5 dxc5
15. Qe5 O-O 16. Qxc5 $16 {, opening the position for White's ^^.}) 13. Nb5 (13.
Nb3 Rc8 ({or} 13... Qc7 {also enables Black to hold on to his outpost on c5.
Therefore White seeks other pluses, the text move is the main try, which
strives to undouble the c-pawns.})) 13... Bxb5 (13... Qb6 14. a4 (14. Rd1 $5 {
is maybe more accurate, as it forces Black to exchange on b5.}) 14... Bxb5 (
14... Rc8 $5) 15. cxb5 O-O 16. Be3 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 {is similar to the game.
Reaching this position, I had a feeling White should be able to profit form
his ^^ somehow, but it's very difficult and opening the position led to
simplification after} 18. Qb4 (18. Bd4 $5 {is perhaps more promising.}) 18...
d5 19. Bf4 f6 20. a5 Qd6 21. e4 (21. c4 $5 d4 22. b6 $13 {is more ambitious.})
21... Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Qxb4 23. cxb4 dxe4 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rc1 Rd7
27. Rc5 Kf7 28. Rxe5 Rd5 29. Rxe4 {1/2,Stohl,I (2578)-Hracek,Z (2612)/
Bundesliga 0001/2000/}) 14. cxb5 O-O {Once again White has the ^^, but Black's
N occupy strong central squares and potentially he has play on the <->c.} 15.
Rd1 (15. Be3 {can transpose into the examples with 16.Be3}) 15... Rc8 {[%cal
Gc8c1]} (15... Qc7 16. Qd4 Rfd8 (16... Rac8 {[%cal Gc8c1] transposes into the
game - the <->c is important for Black.}) 17. Bf4 Rd7 (17... Rac8 $142 $132)
18. Rd2 Rad8 19. Rad1 Ng6 20. Be3 Ne7 21. g4 b6 22. Qb4 h6 23. Bf4 e5 24. Bg3
d5 25. e3 a5 26. bxa6 Nxa6 27. Qb5 Nc5 28. h3 f6 29. c4 $14 {Ftacnik,L (2597)
-Gyimesi,Z (2614)/Torino olm/2006/}) 16. Qd4 (16. Be3 Qe7 {[%cal Yf7f6,Yd6d5] /
\f6,d5} 17. Qd4 (17. h3 f6 18. c4 Na4 19. Rdc1 Rc7 20. Qd4 Nc5 21. Rd1 Nf7 22.
Rd2 Rfc8 23. Rad1 b6 24. f4 f5 (24... Nb7 $132) 25. Rc2 Nd7 26. Qd3 Nc5 27.
Bxc5 $1 Rxc5 28. e4 fxe4 29. Qxe4 $14 {Tomashevsky,E (2586)-Maletin,P (2538)/
Cheboksary/2006/}) 17... Rfd8 18. h3 f6 (18... a6 $5 19. f4 Ng6 20. Rab1 e5 21.
fxe5 Nxe5 22. bxa6 bxa6 23. Bf2 Qc7 24. Bd5 {1/2,Barsov,A (2519)-Medvegy,Z 
(2444)/Cairo/2001/} Ne6 $13) 19. f4 Nf7 20. Qb4 Rc7 (20... b6 $142 21. a4 Nb7
$11 {Gavrikov}) 21. a4 a5 22. bxa6 Nxa6 23. Qb3 Rdc8 24. c4 Nd8 25. Bb6 Rd7 26.
a5 $36 {Shishkin,V (2475)-Gyimesi,Z (2531)/Koszalin/1999/}) (16. Qb4 {is
harmless, as it allows Black to expand in the [+] with} d5 17. Bf4 Qf6 18. Be3
b6 19. Bd4 Qf5 20. f3 h5 21. Qb1 Qxb1 22. Raxb1 Nc4 23. Rb4 Na3 24. Rc1 Nb7 25.
e4 dxe4 26. fxe4 Nd6 27. Bf1 Rfd8 28. Bf2 Ndc4 29. Ra4 {Milov,V (2653)-Aronian,
L (2693)/EU-ch Warsaw/2005/} Rc7 $5 $15) 16... Qc7 $146 {This is technically a
novelty, but it doesn't significantly change the character of the position.} (
16... Qa5 17. Qb4 (17. c4 Qa4 $5 (17... Na4 18. Bd2 (18. Bxb7 Nc3 19. Rd2 Rxc4
20. Qxd6 Nxb5 21. Qxe5 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Qxd2 $132) 18... Qc7 19. c5 Nxc5 20. Bc3
Ne4 (20... Na4 21. Bb4) 21. Bxe4 Qxc3 22. Qxd6) 18. Bb2 f6 19. Rdc1 a6 $132)
17... Qb6 (17... Qc7 {is more logical}) 18. a4 a5 19. Qd4 (19. bxa6 $142 {
as in Shishkin-Gyimesi, White is the side, which should try to keep the
position open.}) 19... Qc7 20. Ba3 $6 Nb3 $1 21. Qxd6 Nxa1 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23.
Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Rxa1 b6 25. f4 Nd7 26. Bc6 Nb8 27. Kf2 Nxc6 28. bxc6 Rxc6 $15 {
Flumbort,A (2493)-Almasi,Z (2644)/HUN-ch Budapest/2004/}) (16... f6 $143 $6 17.
Ba3 Qa5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Qd6 $36) 17. f4 (17. Qxd6 $4 Rfd8 $19) 17... Ng4 (
17... Rfd8 18. c4 Ng4 $132 {is similar} (18... Na4 $2 19. c5 $1 Nxc5 20. Bb2
$18)) 18. c4 f5 $5 {[%csl Re4][%cal Ga1h8] When fighting the ^^, the N need
central outposts - Black's N aims for e4. The drawback of this move is it
weakens the /^ a1-h8.} (18... e5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Bf4 $14) 19. h3 (19. Ba3
Rfd8 20. h3 Nf6 21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Qe3 Kf7 $11 {/+/= and although White has a
better minor piece, Black's set-up remains very solid.}) ({However, chasing
the N with the text move doesn't seem too logical, as it aims for f6 anyway.
More promising was} 19. Bb2 $5 Rfd8 20. Rac1 {, although even here after} Nf6
$13 {/+/= Black's position is a tough nut to crack.}) 19... Nf6 20. Bb2 Nce4 {
[%cal Rc7c4,Re4g3] /\Qc4,Ng3} (20... Nfe4 21. Kh2 {is playable as well, but
the forcing text move leads to an immediate crisis and is better.}) 21. Qe3 $1
(21. Qxa7 Nxg3 (21... Qxc4 $5) 22. Qe3 Nge4 $13 {and White's P-structure is
too compromised to give him any advantage.}) 21... Qxc4 22. Bxf6 (22. Rac1 $2
Nd5 $1 $17 (22... Qa4 $15)) 22... gxf6 {This weakens the 7-th rank and creates
some problems for Black in the major piece _|_.} ({Safer was} 22... Rxf6 $142
$5 23. Bxe4 (23. Rac1 Nc3 {Ne2} 24. Rc2 Nxd1 (24... d5 $2 25. Rd3 $18) 25. Rxc4
Nxe3 26. Rxc8+ Rf8 27. Rc7 (27. Bxb7 Rxc8 28. Bxc8 Kf7 29. a4 Nc4 $15) 27...
Nxg2 28. Kxg2 Rf7 29. Rc8+ Rf8 30. Rc7 $11) 23... Qxe4 24. Qxe4 fxe4 25. Rxd6
h5 $5 $11 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Rf6g6,Rc8c3] Rc3,Rg6,<=>g3}) 23. Bxe4 fxe4 (23...
Qxe4 $143 24. Qxe4 fxe4 25. Rxd6 Rc3 26. Kf2 e5 (26... Re8 27. Rd7 $36) 27. f5
$14 {><f6,e4}) 24. Rxd6 Qxb5 (24... Rfd8 25. Rad1 $5 (25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rc1
Qxb5 (26... Qxa2 27. Qxe4 $16) 27. Qxe4 Qd7 $11 {/+/=}) 25... Rxd6 26. Rxd6 f5
27. Kf2 $1 (27. Rd7 Qxb5 28. Qd4 Qc5) 27... Qxb5 28. Rxe6 $14 {[%csl Rg8] |^,
עg8}) ({Risky, but perhaps playable was} 24... f5 $5 $132) 25. Rad1 $5 {
White risks nothing by keeping the tension.} (25. Rxe6 {deserved atttention,
but Black should be able to hold after} Qf5 (25... Qb2 26. Rd1 f5 (26... Rc3
27. Qxe4 (27. Qf2 Qxa2 28. Rxe4 Qb3) 27... Rxg3+ 28. Kf2 (28. Kh2 Qa3 (28...
Qc3 29. e3 Rg7 30. Re8 $40) 29. e3 Rg7 30. Re8 (30. Rd2 $5 {/\Rg2+/=}) 30...
Kh8 $14)) 27. Rd7 Rc1+ 28. Kg2 Re1 29. Rd2 Qc1 30. Red6 Rh1 31. Qb3+ {[%cal
Rd2d1] /\Rd1|^}) ({Just as one move earlier, even now} 25... f5 $5 {is a
viable alternative.}) 26. Rxe4 Qxh3 27. Re7 Kh8 28. Qf3 Rfe8 $132 {/\} 29. Rxb7
Rc2 30. Rd1 Rg8 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rxe2+ 33. Kf3 Rxa2 34. Rdd7 Ra3+ $11)
25... Rc6 26. Kf2 (26. Rxc6 Qxc6 27. Qxa7 Qc2 $11) ({More testing seems to be} 
26. Qxe4 $5 Qc5+ (26... Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Qc5+ 28. Qd4 Qxd4+ 29. Rxd4 $14 {/\} Rf7
$6 30. Rd8+ Rf8 31. Rd6 {nets White a P with winning chances.}) 27. Qd4 (27.
R6d4 e5 28. Qd5+ Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Rc2 $11) 27... Rxd6 (27... Qa3 28. Kf2 Rxd6 29.
Qxd6 Qxa2 30. Qe7 e5 (30... Rf7 31. Rd8+ Kg7 32. Qe8 $40) 31. Qxb7 $36) 28.
Qxc5 Rxd1+ 29. Kf2 Rd7 30. Qxa7 $14 {[%csl Gf2] ק>> With his safer K White
can play this _|_ for a win, although a draw is still a very plausible result.}
) 26... Qb6 {A practical decision. Navara had less time on the clock and
decides to play it safe. Black steers for a formally worse, but prectically
drawish R_|_.} ({The computer fearlessly suggests} 26... a6 $5 27. Rd7 (27. g4
$5) 27... Qb6 28. g4 $44) (26... Rxd6 27. Rxd6 e5 $13 {also deserves attention.
}) 27. Qxb6 axb6 28. Rxc6 (28. Rd7 Rf7 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Rd7+ Kg6 31. Rxb7 h5
$11) 28... bxc6 29. Rd6 Kf7 (29... Ra8 $2 30. Rxe6 Rxa2 31. Rxc6 $16 {[%csl
Rb6,Re4,Rf6] ק}) 30. Rxc6 h5 $1 {[%mdl 4352] The best move, active defence is
currently more important, than clinging on to material equality with} (30...
Ra8 $143 $2 31. Rc7+ (31. Rxb6 Rxa2 32. Rb7+ Kg6 33. Re7 Ra6 $11) 31... Kg6 32.
Re7 $1 Kf5 (32... Rxa2 33. Rxe6 Kf5 34. Rxb6 Ra3 35. Rb5+ $16) 33. Rxh7 Rxa2
34. Rh5+ Kg6 35. Rb5 Ra6 36. g4 $16) 31. Rxb6 (31. Rc7+ Kg6 32. Re7 Kf5 33. Rh7
Kg6 34. Rb7 Ra8 35. Rxb6 Kf7 $11 {-31.Rb6}) (31. g4 hxg4 32. Rc7+ (32. hxg4 Ra8
33. Rc7+ Kf8 $11) 32... Kg6 33. hxg4 Ra8 34. Re7 e5 $1 35. fxe5 f5 $1 36. Re6+
Kg5 37. gxf5 Kxf5 38. Rxb6 Rxa2 $11 (38... Kxe5 39. Rb2 Ra3 $44 {=})) 31... Ra8
32. Rb4 (32. Rb2 f5 $5 (32... Ra3 33. g4 $5 Rxh3 34. gxh5 Rxh5 35. a4 Ra5 36.
Ra2 Kg6 37. e3 Kf5 $11) 33. e3 Ra3 34. Re2 Kf6 35. Ke1 Rd3 $11 {/\ and White
can't make any progress:} 36. a4 Ra3) 32... Rxa2 33. Rxe4 Ra3 $11 {/+/= With 4:
3 on one flank the _|_ should be drawn, but Black must still play carefully.}
34. Re3 Ra4 35. Kf3 f5 $1 {Limits White's chances to advance his P, on the
other hand now Black has to reckon with a R transfer to g5. However, Navara
rightly judges he will be able to prevent this.} 36. Rb3 Kf6 37. Rb8 Ra3+ 38.
e3 Kg7 39. Re8 Ra6 40. Rc8 (40. Re7+ Kg6 41. e4 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Ke1 Kf6
44. Rh7 Kg6 45. Rh8 fxe4 46. Rg8+ Kf6 47. Rg5 h4 48. gxh4 Ra3 $11) 40... Ra4
41. Rc6 Kf6 42. Rb6 Kf7 43. Rb8 Kg7 44. h4 {White's K can now sometimes hide
on h3, but his P lose mobility.} (44. g4 hxg4+ 45. hxg4 fxg4+ 46. Kxg4 e5 $11)
44... Ra3 45. Re8 (45. Rb4 Kf6 46. Rd4 Kg6 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48. Kf1 Ra3 49. Ke2
Ra2+ 50. Rd2 Ra4 $11 {gets White nowhere, his R won't get to g5 and he can't
push e4 either.}) 45... Ra6 46. Re7+ Kg6 (46... Kf6 $143 $2 47. Rh7 Kg6 48. Rh8
{[%cal Rh8g8,Rg8g5] /\Rg8-g5}) 47. e4 (47. Ke2 Ra2+ 48. Kd3 Kf6 49. Rh7 Rg2 50.
Rxh5 Rxg3 51. Kd4 Rg4 (51... Rh3 $5 $11) 52. Rh6+ Kg7 $1 53. Rxe6 Rxh4 54. Ke5
Rh5 $22 55. Re7+ Kg6 56. Rb7 Rh3 57. Rb6+ Kg7 58. Kxf5 Rxe3 59. Rb7+ Kg8 60.
Kf6 Rf3 61. f5 Rf2 62. Rb8+ Kh7 63. Rf8 (63. Ke6 Kg7 $11) 63... Ra2 $11) 47...
Kf6 $1 {The simplest.} (47... Ra3+ $2 {only causes problems after} 48. Kg2 Ra2+
49. Kh3 Kf6 50. Rc7 $1 fxe4 51. Rc5 $16) 48. Rh7 fxe4+ 49. Kxe4 Ra3 50. Rh6+
Kf7 (50... Kg7 $4 51. Rxh5 Rxg3 52. Rg5+ $18) 51. Rxh5 Rxg3 52. Rh6 Rh3 53. h5
Kg7 54. Rg6+ Kf7 55. Rg5 Kf6 56. Rg6+ (56. Ra5 Kf7 $11 {and again White has no
way to achieve progress.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 {Topalov
ocasionally plays the Benoni (in its traditional move order, based on 2...c5)
which means that he is not too worried about KI systems that allow undermining
the centre with a later advance of the c-pawn.} 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. cxd5
Re8 10. Nge2 {The development of the knight to e2 is typical for the Penrose
system, where White does not commit his queen's bishop so soon.} ({For years,
I have tried to find an antidote against} 10. Nf3 {Here is my (generally
unpleasant) experience.} c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Bd7 (12... Na6 13. O-O Nc5 14.
Re1 Qb6 15. Qd2 $14 {Rogozenko,D (2480)-Marin,M (2515)/Bucharest 1993/CBM 034/
[Knaak] (1-0, 39)}) (12... a5 $6 13. Nxb5 $1 Qb6 14. Qd4 $1 Qxb5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6
16. Qxf6 Nd7 17. Qd4 $16 {Chernin,A (2600)-Marin,M (2515)/Budapest 1993/CBM
034/[Hansen,Cu] (1-0, 44)}) (12... a6 13. O-O Nbd7 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Bb7 16.
Rad1 $14 {Despite his advantage of space on the queenside, Black has not
equalised completely. His queen's bishop is passive, while the d4-square will
serve White quite well to increase his pressure.}) 13. O-O a5 14. Nd4 Qb6 (
14... Na6 $2 15. Ndxb5 $16 {Rogozenko,D (2480)-Marin,M (2515)/Odorheiu
Secuiesc 1993/CBM 036/[Knaak] (1-0, 24)}) 15. Be3 (15. Ndxb5 {Belov} Bxb5 16.
Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxb5 Na6 18. a4 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bg7 $15) 15... Qb7 16. Qf3 $1 Na6
17. Bg5 Ng4 18. Nc6 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bf6 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. Nd1 Nc5 $13
{Ziegler,A (2372)-Marin,M (2555)/Gothenburg 2000/CBM 076 (1/2-1/2, 58). This
is the first (and only) game where I obtained a reasonable positoon out of the
opening.}) 10... Nbd7 11. O-O {This position has occurred in practice rather
rarely.} h6 {By refraining from ...a6, Topalov has a concrete ideain his mind,
as we shall see.} ({However,} 11... a6 {seems entirely playable, too.} 12. a4
h6 (12... Qc7 13. Ng3 h6 14. Be3 c4 15. Bc2 h5 $132 {Lee Chee Sing-Hernandez,R/
Siegen 1970/EXT 2002 (0-1, 31)}) 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 c4 15. Bc2 Nc5 16. f3 Nh5
$132 {Atalik,S (2595)-Velimirovic,D (2535)/Ulcinj 1998/EXT 99/[Bulletin] (0-1,
34)}) 12. Be3 Ne5 13. a4 {It appears that White cannot prevent his bishop from
being exchanged without making some other kind of concession.} (13. Bc2 b5 $1
14. Nxb5 Nc4 15. Bc1 Nxe4 $15) (13. Bb5 Bd7 {just helps Black complete his
development, leaving the d3- and c4-square vulnerable.}) 13... Nxd3 14. Qxd3 b6
{After the dissapearence of the white light-squared bishop, such an
arrangement of the queenside pawns is very appropriate. The c5-pawn is
consolidated in order to inhibit a central break with e5, while the weakness
of the light squared induced by the advance of the b-pawn is not too relevant.}
15. Ng3 Nh7 {Here we can see another drawback of the move Bg5. The advance of
the h-pawn by just one square proves useful for Black. With his last move, he
prepares undermining the e4-square with ...h5.} ({The immediate} 15... h5 {
could have been met by} 16. Bg5 $1) 16. f4 h5 17. f5 {Ponomariev considers the
weakness of the e5-square to be not too relevant, since Black is left with
just one knight, which is placed on a different route.} h4 18. fxg6 fxg6 19.
Nge2 g5 $132 {Very entreprising. Black not only continues restricting the
e2-knight, but prepares active kingside operations at the same time.} 20. Rf2
a6 21. Raf1 Ra7 {A typical way of bringing the queen's rook into play. In
positions where the opponent has an advantage of space in the centre, this is
frequently the only method of achieving a reasonable development.} 22. Nb1 {
[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Gg5,Gh4][%cal Yb1d2,Yd2c4,Yd2f3] This manoeuvre is justified
strategically, but too slow fromconcrete point of view.} g4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24.
Nd2 Bxb2 {Well, why not? Black wins a pawn and clears the g7-square for his
rook at the same time.} 25. Nc3 $6 (25. Nc4 $5 Be5 26. Rb1 Nf6 $132) 25... Rg7
26. Nc4 Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Bh5 28. Bf4 $6 Rxe4 29. Ne3 ({Could Ponomariov have
missed that after} 29. Bxd6 Rxc4 {the f8-square is well defended?}) 29... Qf6
$17 {Black has two extra-pawns, a harmonious regrouping of forces and a solid
pawn structure.} 30. Qc2 Bg6 31. Ng4 Qd4 32. Nh6+ Kh8 33. Bc1 Re1 34. Qd2 Rxf1+
35. Kxf1 Bd3+ 36. Kg1 Ng5 37. Kh2 Ne4 38. Rf8+ Kh7 39. Qf4 Nc3 40. Qxd4 cxd4
41. Nf7 Ne4 42. Bb2 Bf1 43. Rh8+ Kg6 44. Rxh4 Kxf7 45. Rf4+ Kg8 46. Rxf1 Rh7+
47. Kg1 d3 48. Rd1 Rh1+ 49. Kxh1 Nf2+ 50. Kg1 Nxd1 51. Bc1 Nb2 52. Kf2 Nxa4 53.
Bf4 Nc3 54. Kf3 a5 55. Bd2 Nb1 56. Bf4 a4 57. Bxd6 d2 58. Ke2 Nc3+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The eagerly awaited game betwwen the two highest raited players in Wijk was,
although theoretically interesting, somewhat an anticlimax with it's abrupt
end.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 {In the past two years especially due
to Topalov's efforts the main line lost some of it's peaceful reputation and
again became a fighting weapon.} Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 ({In 2005
Topalov was successful with} 7. Nc3 {, but since then Black has found suitable
antidotes:} c6 (7... O-O 8. Rc1 $5 d5 (8... c6 $6 9. e4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Bd3
Nxc3 12. Rxc3 $1 {shows one of the ideas behind 8.Rc1!? - the B can stay on
the c1-h6 digonal, targeting the >>.} c5 13. dxc5 (13. h4 $5 $40 {[%cal Rd3h7,
Rf3g5] /\Bh7,Ng5}) 13... bxc5 $6 (13... d4 $142 $5 $132) 14. h4 $1 h6 15. Bb1
$1 f5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qc2 d4 18. Ng5 $1 hxg5 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4 $18 {
->,Topalov,V (2778)-Ponomariov,R (2695)/Sofia/2005/}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2 (10.
Nxd5 $143 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 $1 12. Rc2 c5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Bc3 Rc8 15. Bh3 Rc7
$36 16. Re1 $2 cxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bb4 19. Rf1 Rxc2 20. Qxc2 Bc5 21.
Rd1 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxe2 23. Qc1 Qf6 24. Rf4 Qe7 25. Kg2 Re1 {0-1,Leko,P (2763)
-Adams,M (2737)/Miskolc rpd m/2005/}) 10... Nxc3 (10... Ba3 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. O-O
Nd7 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. b4 $1 a5 15. bxa5 bxa5 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. Bg5 Be4 18. Qxe4
Nxe4 19. Bxd8 Raxd8 20. Rb3 Bd6 21. Rb2 $1 c5 22. Rc2 g6 23. e3 $16 {[%csl Ra5,
Rc5] ><c5,a5,Navara,D (2719)-Goloshchapov,A (2555)/Bundesliga 0607/2007/}) 11.
Bxc3 Bb7 (11... Nd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 Bb7 14. b4 Nf6 15. Qa4 a6 16. Ne5 Bxg2
17. Kxg2 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Red1 Qb6 20. bxc5 Rxc5 21. Bd4 Qb7+ 22. f3 Rxc1
23. Rxc1 $14 {Timman,J (2594)-Wells,P (2480)/London/Crowthorne/2006/}) 12. Qc2
(12. O-O Nd7 13. b4 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 12... Nd7 13. O-O Nf6 14. Bb2 Rc8 15. Rfd1
Qe8 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c5 18. Qd3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Ba3 20. Rc4 Rxc4 21. Nxc4
Be7 22. Qf3 Qc8 23. Rd3 Nd5 24. a3 b5 $11 {Ftacnik,L (2540)-Efimenko,Z (2620)/
EU-ch Warsaw/2005/}) 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 c5 $1 (10... Bb7 11. Neg5 $1
c5 12. d5 $1 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. O-O-O Bd6 16. Nh4 Bc8 17. Re1
Na6 18. Re6 Nb4 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Bc4 $44 {->,Topalov,V (2778)-Anand,V (2785)/
Sofia/2005/}) 11. Bc3 (11. dxc5 $6 Bb7 12. Bd3 Nbd7 $1 $15 {/\} (12... bxc5 13.
Bc3 Qb6 14. O-O-O Nc6 15. Rhe1 Rd8 16. Ne5 $36 {Gelfand,B (2717)-Grischuk,A 
(2720)/W-Cup Khanty Mansiysk/2005/}) 13. cxb6 $2 Nc5 $19) 11... Bb7 12. Bd3
cxd4 13. Nxd4 Na6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Be4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 O-O 17. Rd1 Nc5 18. Qf3
Qc7 19. O-O Qb7 20. Qxb7 Nxb7 $11 {Van Wely,L (2655)-Carlsen,M (2646)/Schagen
m/2006/}) 7... c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 (9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4
dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7 $11 {is rightly considered sterile, White's hopes for an
opening advantage are connected only with the text move.}) 9... Nfd7 10. Nxd7
Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O {The first critical opeing position, in which Black's
choice will influence the further course of the game.} Nf6 ({The other main
move is} 12... Rc8 13. e4 {, here Black has also been experiencing some
problems lately:} c5 (13... b5 14. Re1 dxe4 15. Nxe4 bxc4 16. Qe2 Rb8 17. Nc5
$5 Qc8 $6 ({Black should have probably tried the more principled} 17... Nxc5
$142 $5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Qe5 Qf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6 21. Bxf6 Rfc8 22. Bf1 $44) 18.
bxc4 Bf6 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rac1 Re8 21. Ba1 Qc7 22. Qd2 Bb4 23. Bc3 Ba3 24. Rc2
Bf8 25. d5 $1 $16 {|^[+],Radjabov,T-Karjakin,S/Wijk aan Zee-A/2007/}) 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 (16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Nd7 19. Ne4 Nc5
20. Nxc5 {1/2,Topalov,V-Aronjan,L/Morelia Linares/2007/} Bxc5 21. Rad1 Qb6 $11)
16... cxb3 17. Re1 b2 (17... Bb5 18. axb3 Bxc6 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Rxa7 $14 {/\}
Rxc3 $2 21. Nb1 {gives White a small, but more or less permanent pull.}) 18.
Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 $5 (19. Nb3 {was tested later in Linares/Morelia without much
success:} Nd3 20. Re2 Nxb2 21. Rxb2 Qxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rfd8 23. Rbd2 Rxd2 24. Rxd2
Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26. Nd4 Bc4 27. a4 (27. Bf1 Bd5 28. Bg2 Bc4 {1/2,Carlsen,M 
(2690)-Aronian,L (2744)/Morelia Linares/2007/}) 27... Kf8 28. Nb5 Bxb5 29. axb5
Ke7 30. f4 Bc7 $11 {Topalov,V (2783)-Leko,P (2749)/Morelia Linares/2007/})
19... Bxc4 20. Qg4 Bg5 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Be5 (22. Ba3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 24.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Bd5 h5 26. Kg2 Be7 27. Bb2 Bf6 28. Bc1 $44 {Topalov,V (2788)
-Anand,V (2788)/FIDE WCh San Luis/2005/ gives White compensation for the
exchange, but he can't claim an advantage.}) 22... Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Bf6 24. Bxf6
Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Qc2 b4 {has already been played in the past a
couple of times and Black drew easily, but his task is not so simple after the
refined} 28. Bb7 g6 29. Qc5 Qxc5 30. Rxc5 Kg7 (30... a5 $2 {has to wait,
Black's P will be vulnerable after} 31. Kf1 a4 32. Ke2 {׫}) (30... Rfe8 31.
Kf1 Kf8 32. Bxc8 (32. Ba6 $142 $1 {is similar to Wang Yue's idea.}) 32... Rxc8
33. Ke2 Ke7 34. Kd3 Kd6 35. Kc4 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Kxc7 37. Kxb4 Kb6 $11 {Bacrot,E 
(2729)-Lutz,C (2616)/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 31. Rc6 Rfe8 32. Ba6 $1 {
Once his K can't cross the <->e, White must already prevent a5.} Kf8 33. Rc2 $1
f5 $6 {׻} (33... Kg7 $142 $5) 34. Kg2 Kf7 35. Kf3 Rf8 36. Kf4 Ke6 37. Rc4 Kd6
38. Bxc8 Rxc8 39. Rxb4 Rxc7 40. Ra4 Kc5 41. Kg5 $16 {_|_R,Wang Yue (2626)
-Sokolov,A (2589)/Paris/2006/}) 13. e4 dxe4 {A rare move, but Anand will
perhaps make it fashionable - he used it again in Morelia against the same
opponent.} (13... b5 14. exd5 (14. Re1 dxe4 15. Qc2 Rb8 $1 16. Rad1 Qc8 {
[%cal Yb5c4,Yc6c5] /\bc4,c5<=>=}) 14... exd5 (14... cxd5 15. c5 $1 b4 16. Bxb4
Bxf1 17. Bxf1 $44 {/+/=, Anand,V-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee-A/2005/}) 15. Re1 Rb8 16.
c5 Bc8 17. Nf3 Ne4 {is currently in a crisis due to Topalov's resourceful} 18.
Rxe4 $1 dxe4 19. Ne5 Qd5 20. Qe1 Bf5 21. g4 Bg6 22. f3 b4 $6 (22... Bxc5 $142
$5 23. dxc5 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 b4 25. Bb2 Qc2 $14 {/<=>}) 23. fxe4 Qe6 24. Bb2 Bf6
$6 25. Nxc6 $1 Qxc6 26. e5 Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8 28. Qf1 Qe2 29. Qf2 Qxg4 30. h3
Qg5 31. Bc1 Qh5 32. Bf4 Rbd8 33. c6 Be4 34. c7 Rc8 35. Re1 Qg6 36. Rxe4 $1 Rxe4
37. d5 $18 {[%csl Gc7,Gd5,Gf4,Gg2] ^^,o^,Topalov,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2752)/
Wijk aan Zee-A/2006/}) 14. a4 $5 {An ambitious attempt to stop the <=> with b5.
} (14. Re1 b5 {is a line, acceptable for Black - see the previous note.}) ({
The main alternative to the text move is the simple} 14. Nxe4 b5 {Consistent,
otherwise White has a pleasant () in a typical Catalan position.} (14... Rc8
15. Qc2 b5 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Qe7 18. cxb5 Bxb5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Rfe1 $14 {
Onischuk,A (2655)-Ibragimov,I (2582)/Fort Lauderdale/2004/}) {Here the most
principled and dangerous continuation seems to be} 15. Nc5 $1 (15. Nxf6+ Bxf6
16. Bb4 (16. Bxc6 Rc8 17. cxb5 Bxb5 $11) 16... Bxd4 (16... bxc4 $5 17. Bxf8
Qxf8 18. Qe2 Rd8 $44) 17. Bxf8 Bxa1 18. Qxd8 (18. Qxa1 Qxf8 19. Bxc6 Rb8 $11)
18... Rxd8 19. Be7 Re8 20. Rd1 Bf6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Bxc6 Rb8 23. c5 Rc8 24.
Rd6 b4 {[%cal Ra6d3,Rd3b1] /\Bd3-b1<=>}) (15. Qe2 bxc4 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. Be1 Nb6
18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Nxa6 Qxa6 20. a4 Rab8 21. Bf3 Bf6 22. Rac1 Nd5 23. Qxc4 Qb7 24.
Qxc6 Qxb3 25. Be4 Nb4 26. Qd7 a5 27. Rb1 Qa2 28. Qa7 Qxa4 29. Ra1 Qb5 30. Qxa5
Nd5 $11 {1/2,Topalov,V (2783)-Anand,V (2779)/Morelia Linares/2007/}) 15... Bxc5
16. dxc5 bxc4 17. Qe2 Nd5 (17... Qe7 18. Bd4 $14) 18. Be5 Qg5 $2 19. Bd6 Rfd8
20. bxc4 Rac8 21. Qc2 Nb6 22. cxb6 Rxd6 23. Qa4 Bb7 24. Qxa7 Qe7 25. Qa3 c5 26.
Qa7 Rd7 27. Rad1 {1-0,L'Ami,E (2586)-Iordachescu,V (2603)/Vlissingen op/2006/})
14... Nd5 $5 {A natural try, Black wants to use his currently offside Ba6 to
solve his strategic problems by tactical means.} (14... Rc8 15. Nxe4 {[%csl
Ra6] ץa6,()} Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bf6 17. Qd3 h6 18. Rfd1 Qc7 {Teske,H (2529)-Markos,
J (2467)/Pardubice op/2002/} 19. a5 b5 20. c5 $36) 15. cxd5 $8 (15. Bb2 $2 f5
$17) (15. Nxe4 $6 Nxc3 16. Nxc3 Bf6 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Bxf1 {Anand in his
preparation probably underestimated the resulting position. After the game
Topalov criticized already this natural reaction and recommended the generous}
(15... cxd5 $5 16. Re1 Rc8 $44 {White's extra N doesn't make itself felt, as
his forces lack coordination.}) 16. d6 $1 {This intermediate move is necessary
to disrupt Black's P-chain.} (16. Bxf1 $2 exd5 $17 {[%csl Gc6,Gd5,Ge4] [+]} (
16... cxd5 $5)) 16... Bxg2 17. dxe7 Qxe7 18. Kxg2 f5 (18... Rad8 19. Qe2 (19.
Qe1 $5 f5 20. b4 {is similar to our game and stronger}) 19... f5 20. Nc4 (20.
b4 $1) 20... c5 21. Qe3 cxd4 22. Bxd4 Rd5 23. Ne5 Qd6 24. Nc4 Qd8 $13 {[%cal
Gd8d1] /=/+,Matthiesen,M (2289)-Schandorff,L (2551)/DEN-chT/2002/ With the
open d<-> Black has no problems and already White must take care.}) 19. b4 $1
$146 {[%mdl 8] An important improvement in comparison with the previous
example:} (19. Nc4 Rad8 (19... Rfd8 $5 {/\c5<=>}) 20. Ra2 (20. Qe1 $5 c5 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. b4 $1 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Rb4b5] /\b5o^b}) 20... Rd5 (20... c5 $11)
21. Ne3 Rd7 22. Rd2 f4 23. gxf4 Rxf4 24. Qh5 Rd8 25. Rc2 Rdf8 {[%csl Rg2][%cal
Gf8f1] /=/+,<->f,ע,Sasikiran,K (2670)-Motylev,A (2638)/Moscow Aeroflot op/
2006/ Here Black has managed to open an important file for his R and he has no
problems. Topalov, on th other hand, would like to keep the position more
closed for the time being. He probably realized the strength of the text move
some time ago, without intending to use it in a concrete game against Anand 
(who has never played 13...dxe4 previously). White first of all takes the
sting out of a c5 break, his N is not needed on c4 yet - from d2 it better
supports f3.}) 19... Qd7 $6 {This phase is already decisive for the future
fate of the game, from Anand's lack-lustre play we can see he didn't realize
the importance of the moment. Black starts to make moves out of general
considerations, which however don't counter White's plans. Instead, he should
have energetically sought <=> as soon as possible. Topalov didn't repeat this
line in Morelia - this indicates that he either wanted to avoid the position
after 15...cxd5!?, or found something better for Black at this point. However,
finding concrete improvements is not so easy, as immediate activity can do
more harm, than good:} (19... c5 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. b5 $16) ({Deserving
attention was a try like} 19... Rad8 20. Qe2 Rd5 {[%cal Yf8d8,Yc6c5,Ye6e5] /
\Rfd8,c5,e5} (20... c5 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. b5 Rd3 23. Rc1 $14) (20... a5 21. bxa5
c5 22. Qc4 $16) (20... e5 {is interesting, but at this moment White has the
accurate} 21. Qc4+ $1 (21. dxe5 Rd3 22. Rc1 Qe6 $1 $44 {For the P Black has
activated his major pieces and has undeniable <=>. An important component of
it is the fact that White still can't play} 23. f3 $2 Rfd8 24. fxe4 {due to}
Qa2 $19) 21... Qf7 22. dxe5 Qxc4 23. Nxc4 Rd3 24. Rc1 $16 {and he should be
able to gradually consolidate his position.}) {If White continues as in the
game} 21. f3 (21. Nc4 $5 {seems better.}) 21... exf3+ 22. Nxf3 {Black has} f4
23. g4 h5 {/\} 24. g5 Rxg5+ 25. Nxg5 Qxg5+ $44) 20. Qe2 Qd5 21. f3 exf3+ 22.
Nxf3 {[%mdl 32] White has made the first important step - he exchanged the Pe4,
which limited his forces. Although Black can't complain about the formal
material balance, he has serious problems generating any concrete active play.
His Rs lack open <->, pawn breaks either lose material outright, or only
create new ><. On the other hand, White's position has far more potential for
improvement. In the following moves he plans to dislodge Black's Q from it's 
[+] outpost and proceed to concentrate his forces against the ><e6 and Black's
K. Topalov will patiently implement this strategy.} h6 (22... f4 23. g4 $16 {
[%csl Rf4] doesn't help, the Pf4 can also become vulnerable.}) (22... a5 $5 23.
bxa5 bxa5 $14 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb8b1] ><a5 was possibly better. Although the
Pa5 is weak, at least the <->b is open. Later (see move 30) Black won't get
even this chance.}) 23. Re1 Rfe8 24. Qc2 {White starts regrouping his forces.
He prepares Re5, after ...Qc4 he will have the reply Nd2.} Rad8 {Anand must
have felt the growing pressure, but he still doesn't want to resort to
desperate measures as, e.g.,} (24... g5 {With the text move he intends to meet
Re5 by preparing ...Rd5, as and exchange of R would greatly favour the defence.
However, Topalov doesn't have to hurry with occupying e5.}) 25. Bd2 $1 $16 {
Takes c5 under control and improves the B.} Qd7 26. Kf2 {White has enough time
to take the sting out of ideas as Qb7, followed by c5.} Rc8 27. Bf4 {White
toys with the idea Be5...} Qd5 28. Re5 {In the end Topalov puts his R on e5
after all - with 26...Rc8 Black's R is farther from d5.} Qd7 29. h4 {White
strengthens his position with prophylactic moves, this one is aimed against a
possible g5.} Ra8 30. Bd2 $1 {Again prophylaxis (stopping a5), but also part
of an active plan - the B goes to c3, once the N is free, it can head for f4.
Also 29.h4 comes in handy, White can fix the >>P with h5.} Rac8 {A very
unpleasant situation: Black can't do much more than mark time.} 31. Qc4 {
[%cal Re5f5] /\Rf5} Kh7 32. Bc3 Qd6 33. Ne1 b5 $6 {Anand can't endure the
massage any longer and tries to break free, but this advance only further
weakens his position.} 34. Qc5 Qd8 (34... Qxc5 35. Rxc5 bxa4 36. Ra5 $16 {
/+- and without Q White is free to concentrate all his forces, inclding the K,
against Black's ק.}) 35. Nd3 $1 {[%cal Rd3f4] /\Nf4 Again active prophylaxis,
White stops f4 and his N aims for the dream square. A noteworthy fact is that
from move 20 onwards there was no necessity to give any long and forcing lines.
The games between the world elite are usually far more complex and rarely is
one of the sides completely outplayed without lashing out. Thus, despite the
passivity and the apparent helplessness of Black's position, Anand's
resignation came as a big surprise. Some online commentators even waited 10-15
minutes to confirm that there has been no data transmission error. Although
the Indian GM was understandably disgusted with his position, after all the
material is still equal and converting White's advantage still requires more,
than just simple technique. Topalov immediately after the game said he
considered White's position strategically winning, but he wouldn't have
resigned so early. Subsequently he modified this statement, saying the by
transferring his R to d6 Black could still put up strong resistance. The point
is that to win the game White will once have to at least partially open the
position, something which might give Black some <=> after all.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Rb1 $5 {White intends to start the thematic counterattack based on b4-b5 as
soon as possible.} a5 {A radical way to cross White's plans.} (8... f6 {
overdefends the e5-pawn, preventing b4, but weakens the a2-g8 diagonal, which
makes} 9. d4 $5 {a dangerous break, as in Khalifman,A (2635)-Tiviakov,S (2625)/
Linares 1995/CBM 046/[Ribli] (1-0, 74).}) ({Anothar radical move is} 8... g5 {
, designed by Kortschnoj.}) 9. d3 {White gives up his initial intentions of
giving play a dynamic character. Instead, he aims for a reversed Dragon, where
his extra-tempo (Rb1) might be not too relevant, as the rook usually goes to
c1 anyway. Sometimes, he could still save a tempo by refraining from a3, but
this is a double edged issue as I had the occasion to convince myself (see
below).} (9. b3 {was repeatedly played, but White could not really prove an
advantage.}) 9... Be6 ({If we reverse colours, after} 9... Bg4 10. Be3 O-O 11.
Rc1 f5 12. Na4 Nxa4 13. Qxa4 Bd6 14. Rfe1 Qe7 15. Qb5 $14 {we would get the
position of the game Anand-Topalov Linares 1994, where a genuine Dragon was
played and Topalov eventually won.}) 10. Be3 O-O (10... Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12.
Qa4 O-O 13. Rbc1 (13. Rfc1 $5 Bd6 14. a3) 13... Bd6 14. Rfd1 $2 ({Here,} 14. a3
{would have been necessary, transposing to a genuine reversed Dragon.}) 14...
Nb4 $1 15. Nd2 c6 $15 16. d4 $4 b5 17. Qa3 Nxa2 $19 {Marin,M (2601)-Sarwat,W 
(2356)/Cairo 2001/CBM 082 ext (0-1, 26)}) 11. Bxb6 $5 {In the Dragon, this
exchange is considered to be questionable. Here, White's extra-tempo might
count.} cxb6 12. e3 $146 {White declares his intentions to put his central
pawns into motion as soon as possible.} (12. Qa4 f5 (12... f6 13. Rfd1 Qe8 14.
e3 Qf7 {Here we can see that it has been useful for White to refrain from a3,
because the b3-square is protected.} 15. d4 exd4 16. exd4 Nb4 17. d5 $1 $14 {
Kasparov,G (2830)-Faulks,N (2041)/London simul 2003/EXT 2004 (1-0, 40)}) 13.
Rfd1 Bf6 14. e3 Qe7 15. d4 e4 16. Nd2 Nb4 17. Bf1 {While here, the occupation
of the b4-square by the black knight is not dangerous for White.} Rac8 18. a3
Nd5 19. Rdc1 Rfd8 20. Bc4 Qf7 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. Qb5 Rc6 23. Rc3 $14 {
Stefansson,H (2500)-Bjornsson,T (2290)/Island 1993/TD (1-0, 33)}) (12. Nd2 {
Gabriel,C (2475)-Georgiev,K (2605)/Altensteig 1995/CBM 049/[Ribli] (0-1, 20)})
12... b5 $5 {This seems to be an entirely adequate reaction against Topalov's
novelty. By getting rid of his double pawns, Black gets a comfortable position.
} 13. Nxb5 Bxa2 14. Rc1 a4 15. Nc3 Bb3 16. Qe2 Be6 17. Ra1 a3 18. bxa3 Rxa3 19.
Rxa3 Bxa3 20. Nb5 Be7 21. d4 Bg4 $11 {Soon, the position will simplify to an
obvious draw.} 22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 exd4 24. exd4 Bf6 25. Rd1 Qb6 26. Qc4 Rd8
27. Kg2 Nxd4 28. Nxd4 Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Nbd7 9. Rc1 Qa5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 Qa4 14. Qxc3
a5 15. b5 Nxc5 16. Qxc5 Be6 17. Qc1 Rfc8 18. Qa1 Qc2 19. Be2 Qc1+ 20. Qxc1
Rxc1+ 21. Bd1 Ra1 22. a4 Rc8 23. Nd4 Rc4 24. O-O f6 25. Bf4 Bf7 26. h4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. f3 h5 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. Bd3 b5 13. Bg5 {The first
independent move in the position. Svidler is hoping to exploit the vulnerable
kingside after 10...h5 move.} (13. h3 h4 14. f4 Rc8 15. Rhe1 g6 16. Qf2 Qb7 17.
Na5 Qb8 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 Bc4 20. Nxc4 bxc4 21. Be4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Nf6 23.
Qf3 {1/2 Karjakin,S-Topalov,V/Wijk aan Zee 2007 (54)}) 13... Nb6 14. f4 Rb8 $5
15. Rhe1 Nc4 {Topalov's task is clear; he has to strive for queenside
counterplay and at the same time defend the vulnerable squares d5 and d6 in
his own camp.} (15... O-O 16. f5 Bd7 17. a3 Na4 $13) 16. Bxc4 (16. Qc1 b4 $1
17. Ne2 (17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxg5 19. dxe6 Bxf4 $17) 17... a5 18. f5 Bd7 19.
Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Qe3 $13) 16... bxc4 (16... Bxc4 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Qxd6 $14) 17. Nc1 (17. Bxf6 $5 gxf6 $1 (17... Bxf6 18. f5 cxb3 (18... Bd7 19.
Nd5 Qb7 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qxd6 cxb3 22. axb3 $16) 19. fxe6 bxc2+ 20. Kxc2 O-O
21. Qxd6 Qb7 22. b3 $14)) 17... Qb7 18. b3 exf4 19. Bxf4 (19. Qxf4 $5 O-O 20.
Nd5) 19... O-O 20. Bxd6 Bxd6 {The first indication, that the Bulgarian
grandmaster plays for a win without compromises despite leading the black
pieces.} (20... Rfd8 $5 21. e5 (21. Qf4 $2 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 cxb3 23. cxb3 Qc7 24.
Red1 Ne8 $17) 21... Rbc8 $11) 21. Qxd6 Rfc8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 (22... Bxd5 23. exd5
Rd8 24. Qc6 Nxd5 25. Qxb7 Rxb7 $11) 23. exd5 Bf5 $5 {Black is pretty
consequent in refusal to eliminate the risk with the help of the d5 pawn
elimination.} (23... Rd8 $5 24. Qc6 (24. Rxe6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Rc8 $15) 24... Bxd5
25. Qxb7 Bxb7 26. g3 $11) 24. Rd2 Bg6 25. Re7 Qb5 26. Rc7 $2 {Svidler very
correctly sensed the danger from the opponent's active pieces. The exchange of
the rook via c7 will give Black the chance to gain the critical tempo.} (26.
Qa3 Rb6 27. d6 Rd8 $11) 26... Qa5 $1 27. Rxc8+ Rxc8 28. Re2 (28. Qf4 c3 29. Re2
Qxd5 $17) (28. Qd7 $2 Rd8 29. Qe7 Qxd2 $19) (28. b4 $2 Qa3 $1 29. Re2 Kh7 $1 (
29... c3 $6 {It nearly unbeliavable, that White would probably save the game
after the most tempting advance of the pawn to c3.} 30. Nd3 Bxd3 $140 31. cxd3
c2+ 32. Rxc2 Qxd3 33. Qc6 Rxc6 34. dxc6 Qd1+ 35. Kb2 Qd4+ 36. Kb3 $13) 30. Qe5
Qxb4+ 31. Qb2 Qd6 $19) 28... cxb3 29. axb3 (29. Nxb3 Qc3 30. Na1 Bd3 $19) 29...
Qc3 30. Qg3 Bxc2+ 31. Ka2 Bb1+ $2 {[%mdl 64] Even the best players on this
planet are not able to avoid weaker moments. Topalov was confident, that his
position is winning, but he has overlooked an unusual defence with the
transfer of the white queen to the b4 square.} (31... Qc5 $1 32. d6 Bb1+ $1 33.
Kxb1 Qxc1+ 34. Ka2 Rc5 $1 35. Qe1 Rc2+ $1 36. Rxc2 Qxe1 37. d7 Qa5+ $1 38. Kb1
Kh7 (38... Kf8 39. Rc8+ Ke7 40. d8=Q+ Qxd8 41. Rxd8 Kxd8 $19) 39. Kb2 Qd5 $19)
(31... Qb4 $5 32. Qh3 f5 33. Qe3 Be4 $17) (31... Qxg3 $6 32. hxg3 f5 $15) 32.
Kxb1 Qxc1+ 33. Ka2 Rc5 34. Qb8+ $1 Kh7 35. Qb4 $1 f5 $4 {The enormous
disappointment has manifested itself thourgh the second rate soluction. Black
was still enjoying advantage.} (35... Rxd5 $4 36. Qe4+ $18) (35... Rc2+ 36.
Rxc2 Qxc2+ 37. Ka3 $11) (35... Rb5 $1 36. Qd2 Qc5 $1 37. d6 Qd5 $15) 36. Qd2 $1
Qxd2+ (36... Kg6 37. d6 $1 Qxd2+ 38. Rxd2 Rc8 39. Ka3 $18) (36... Qf1 $5 37. d6
Ra5+ 38. Qxa5 Qxe2+ 39. Ka3 Qe6 $14) 37. Rxd2 {The sudden change of the
perspective was shocking. Suddenly Black has serious problems with the defence
of a very difficult endgame.} Kg6 38. b4 (38. d6 $5 Rc8 39. Ka3 Kf6 40. Kb4 Ke6
41. d7 Rd8 42. Ka5 Rxd7 $140 43. Rxd7 Kxd7 44. Kxa6 f4 45. Kb5 g5 46. Kc4 g4
47. Kd3 $1 (47. Kd4 $4 h4 48. Ke4 f3 49. gxf3 g3 50. hxg3 h3 $19) 47... h4 48.
Ke2 $1 Kd6 49. h3 $1 gxh3 50. gxh3 Kc5 51. Kf3 Kb4 52. Kxf4 Kxb3 53. Kg4 Kc4
54. Kxh4 Kd5 55. Kg5 Ke6 56. Kg6 $18) 38... Rc8 39. Kb3 Kf7 40. Ra2 Ra8 (40...
Rd8 $5 41. Kc4 Rc8+ 42. Kd4 Rb8 43. Kc5 (43. Rxa6 Rxb4+ 44. Ke5 Rb2 $11) 43...
Rb5+ 44. Kc4 Rb6 $14) 41. h4 f4 $6 (41... Ke7 42. Re2+ Kd7 43. Re6 $16) 42. Re2
(42. Kc4 $5) 42... Kf6 $6 {The disappointed Topalov was unable to cope with
the search for the best defence, several of his moves belonged to the second
category.} (42... Re8 43. Rxe8 Kxe8 44. Kc4 f3 45. gxf3 g5 46. hxg5 h4 47. g6
h3 48. g7 Kf7 49. d6 h2 50. g8=Q+ Kxg8 51. d7 h1=Q 52. d8=Q+ $16) (42... Rd8
43. Kc4 Rc8+ 44. Kd4 Rb8 45. Kc5 Rc8+ 46. Kb6 Rb8+ 47. Kc7 Rxb4 48. Rc2 $1 $18)
(42... Rc8 43. Re4 $1 $16) 43. Kc4 Rc8+ 44. Kd4 Rb8 $6 (44... Rc1 45. d6 Rd1+
46. Kc5 $18) 45. d6 $1 Rxb4+ 46. Kc5 Rb1 47. Rd2 Rb8 48. d7 (48. d7 Ke7 49. Kc6
Rf8 50. Kc7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2
Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. h4 Rd8 12. Nd2 (12. g4 {is more popular in
this position.}) 12... dxc4 $5 {The simplest course. Black simplifies the game.
The endgame is slightly inferior for him due to White's space advantage but
quite defendable.} 13. Nxc4 (13. Bxc4 Ne5 14. Nb3 Qc7 15. Rxd8+ Bxd8 16. Rd1
Bd7 $11) 13... Rxd1+ 14. Qxd1 Qd8 15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 {[%mdl 4096]} (15... Bxd8 $5
16. Be2 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Nd6 Bc7 19. Rd1 Bxd6 20. Bxd6 Be6 21. b4 f6 22.
Kb2 Rd8 23. Bc5 b6 24. Bd4 Ne5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Peng,Z-Maric,A/Groningen 1997/CBM
062 ext (48)}) 16. Be2 Bd7 17. e4 {Similar positions, arising from Queen's
Gambit Accepted, were often played by Kramnik as White (e.g. in his match vs.
Kasparov). Here Black has an additional problem - his poorly placed Nd8} Bc6
18. f3 Nh5 19. Bc7 Rc8 20. Be5 (20. Bd6 $142) 20... Bf6 (20... f5 $3 {is a
nice computer suggestion. After} 21. exf5 Nf7 $1 22. fxe6 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bd5 24.
Kb1 Bxe6 {Black gets rid of his passive knight and obtains a good compensation
for the missing pawn, due to his bishop pair.}) 21. Nd6 Ra8 $6 (21... Rc7 {
was quite possible}) 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Rd1 $14 {[%csl Rd8] Black has not
solved his main problem (Nd8), so he is worse.} Kf8 (23... Ne8 $5 24. Nc4 Nc7)
24. Kd2 (24. b4 $142 $1 {|^<<, K.Sakaev}) 24... Ne8 25. Nc4 {Of course, a
knight exchange would make Black's defense easier.} f6 26. Ke3 b6 27. f4 Nf7 {
Uff... But the knight is still quite passive.} 28. g4 h6 29. g5 hxg5 30. hxg5
Ke7 31. gxf6+ Nxf6 {Black's pawn structure is now less compact but the f6
knight is active.} (31... gxf6 $143 32. Rh1) 32. Rg1 Rg8 33. Rg6 Bb7 ({An
immediate} 33... Nh8 {was less accurate due to} 34. Rg5 $1 {(suggested by GM K.
Sakaev)} (34. Rg3 $143 Nf7 {[%cal Yg7g5]}) 34... Nf7 35. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 36. Rxe5 (
36. fxe5 $6) 36... Rh8 37. Rg5 Kf7 38. f5 (38. Bc4 Rh4 $1 39. f5 Nxe4) 38...
exf5 39. Bc4+ Ke8 40. Rxf5 $36 {[%csl Ge4]}) 34. a4 Nh8 35. Rg1 Nf7 36. a5 g5
$1 {Getting rid of his main weakness, Black equalizes the game.} 37. fxg5 Rxg5
38. Rxg5 Nxg5 {[%csl Re4]} 39. e5 Nd7 40. Nd6 Bf3 $1 {The last accuracy.} (
40... Bh1 41. a6 $1 {[%csl Ga6] was dangerous for Black.}) 41. axb6 (41. a6
Bxe2 42. Kxe2 Nc5 $11) (41. Bxf3 Nxf3 42. a6 Nfxe5 43. Nc8+ Kd8 44. Nxa7 Nc5
$11) 41... axb6 42. Bxf3 Nxf3 43. Nc8+ Kd8 44. Kxf3 Nxe5+ 45. Ke4 Nc4 46. Kd4
Nxb2 47. Nxb6 Kc7 48. Nc4 Nxc4 49. Kxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
Nbd7 9. Qc2 a5 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Rb8
15. Qe2 Nhf6 16. Bf4 Rb6 17. Ne5 Nd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Nc3 Nxe5 20. dxe5 d4 21.
Be3 dxe3 22. Qxe3 Bg5 23. Qc5 Be7 24. Qe3 Bg5 25. Qc5 Be7 26. Qe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 {For Topalov, this variation has been a
fertile territory for research and innovating along the past years.} O-O 12.
O-O Nf6 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 b5 15. Qe2 $146 ({This new move leads to an
interesting position. Previously,} 15. Nc5 {had been played, when after} Bxc5
16. dxc5 bxc4 17. Qe2 Nd5 18. Be5 Qg5 19. Bd6 Rfd8 20. bxc4 {White was in
complete control in the game L'Ami-Iordachescu, Vlissingen 2006. 17...Qd3
looks like an improvement for Black.}) 15... bxc4 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. Be1 Nb6 {
A paradoxical situation: For White, it will not be easy to win the pawn back
without making certain strategic concessions, but for Black it will be just as
difficult to give his minimal material advantage a stable character!} 18. Nc5
Qc8 19. Nxa6 Qxa6 20. a4 ({A logical move, which, however, weakens the
queenside dark squares. The simplistic} 20. Bxc6 {would have allowed Black
activate his play with} Rac8) 20... Rab8 21. Bf3 Bf6 22. Rac1 Nd5 23. Qxc4 Qb7
24. Qxc6 Qxb3 25. Be4 Nb4 26. Qd7 a5 27. Rb1 Qa2 28. Qa7 Qxa4 29. Ra1 Qb5 30.
Qxa5 Nd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 ({Although
Topalov has obtained outstanding results with} 6... e6 {over the past years,
the text move is also part of his main repertoire.}) 7. Nf3 $5 ({Nowadays, the
main theoretical discussion is held in the sharp lines starting with} 7. Nb3 {
. The knight retreat to f3, which became popular in the '80s, mainly as a
consequence of the efforts of the leading English Grandmasters, usually leads
to a positional battle. It might seem that the knight is less favourably
placed on f3, by blocking the f-pawn and failing to put pressure on the enemy
queenside, but the situation is not that onesided.}) 7... Be7 ({One of the
most obvious ideas of 7.Nf3 is that it inhibits} 7... Be6 {, which can be met
by} 8. Ng5 {. 7...h6 and 7...Qc7 are the main alternatives to the text move.})
8. Bc4 {Now, we can notice a further difference, if compared to the lines
based on 7.Nb3. If attacked with ...Qc7 or ...b5, the bishop can safely
retreat to b3, in the spirit of the Sozin Attack, but with the significant
difference that the a2-g8 diagonal has been weakened after the early advance
of the black e-pawn.} O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bxe6 $5 ({This apparently simplistic
move has never been played at grandmaster level. Apparently, White is just
helping his opponent to strengthen his centre, but Ivanchuk relied on some
hidden dynamic factors. There have been some recent development after} 10. Bb3
{. The following game, one of Leko's first experiences ever as a Najdorf
player with Black, must have inspired Ivanchuk when choosing the structure in
the centre:} Nc6 ({It should be mentioned that the only game where Topalov
faced 7.Nf3 continued with} 10... b5 {, but Black failed to equalize,
Kramnik-Topalov, Cap d'Agde 2003.}) 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd5 Qd8 14.
c3 Na5 15. Re1 Rc8 16. h3 Nb6 ({Later, Leko took greater care about the
activity of hisknight and gradually equalized after} 16... b5 17. Nh2 Nc4 {
in Svidler-Leko, Morelia/Linares 2006.}) 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Re2
Rc6 20. Qd3 Qc7 21. Rd1 Nc4 22. b3 Nb6 23. c4 Nc8 24. Red2 h6 25. Qe2 Kh7 26.
h4 {White was clearly better and went on winning in Anand-Leko, Wijk aan Zee
2006. We can see that the situation is very similar to that arising after
White's 22nd move in our main game. The d6-pawn is submitted to strong
pressure, the black knight cannot find a good square, while the white h-pawn
keeps Black's eventual kingside counterplay under control.}) 10... fxe6 11. Na4
{White's idea becomes clear now. The weakness of the b6- and e6-squares cause
Black serious problems with finishing his development. The generally desirable
11...Nbd7 is impossible because of 12.Ng5.} Ng4 {This solves the problem only
partially. In fact, it just helps White complete his development.} 12. Qd3 Nxe3
13. Qxe3 {Apart from Nb6, White has a new threat already: Qb3, with attack
against b7 and e6.} b5 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Nd5 Rb7 16. Qd2 {Maintaining the knight
in the centre for as long as possible, in order to prevent the harmonious
development of Black's pieces.} Nc6 17. Rad1 Rd7 18. Qc3 Nb8 19. Nxe7+ {
Now that the enemy knight has retreated to a passive square, this exchange is
entirely justified.} Qxe7 20. Rd3 h6 21. Rfd1 Rfd8 22. h4 {Dr. Tarrasch used
to say: If one piece stands badly, the whole position is bad. This applies
here perfectly. With his knight on a favourable square (such as f7 or f6,
Black would have a dream position, because of his strong control over the
centre. However, it is virtually impossible to activate the knight, which
leaves him struggling.} Kh7 23. R1d2 Qf8 24. Qb3 Qe8 25. a4 Qg6 $5 ({Topalov
decides to give up a pawn in order to finally bring his knight into play. In
case of} 25... bxa4 26. Qxa4 {White would have had several plans at his
disposal, for instance the infiltration through the b-file or the creation of
a passed b-pawn.}) 26. axb5 axb5 27. Re3 Na6 28. Qxb5 Nc5 29. Qc4 Ra7 30. Re1
Qe8 31. b4 Na4 32. Qb3 Nb6 33. Red1 Rad7 34. Qd3 Rc8 35. c3 Ra7 36. Qe3 Ra6 37.
Qe2 Nc4 38. Ra2 Rac6 39. Ra7 R6c7 40. Rda1 {Topalov's plan has succeeded only
partially. His knight has reached a stable square, but White is under no
direct pressure and can hope to gradually convert his extra-pawn into a win.}
Qf7 $4 {A relatively convincing prove that the recent accusations against
Topalov do not have a solid basis.} 41. Qxc4 {. If 41...Rxa7, then 42.Rxa7,
retaining an extra-knight.} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 ({Deviating from the game
Topalov-Anand from the first round, where} 12... Nf6 {was played.}) 13. e4 c5
14. exd5 exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 18. Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nb3 ({
One of Topalov's most memorable games went} 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4 Bg5 21. Qxc4
Nd3 22. Ba3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Bd5 {Topalov-Anand, San Luis
2005. White willingly entered a position where he is an exchange down, without
having any immediate threats. The further course of the game justified
Topalov's opening play, although Anand managed to survive miraculously.}) 19...
Nd3 20. Re2 Nxb2 ({We can suppose that Topalov had found an improvement over} 
20... Bb4 {, which soon led to a draw in Nielsen-Leko, Monte Carlo 2006.}) 21.
Rxb2 Qxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rfd8 ({A logical novelty. Black simplifies his defensive
task by exchanging rooks. Previously} 22... Bf6 {had been played.}) 23. Rbd2
Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {Black is out of danger here. The pair of
bishops keep the white knight and the far advanced pawn under control.} 26. Nd4
Bc4 27. a4 Kf8 28. Nb5 {Practically forcing a draw. White had to hurry with
provoking this exchange, because otherwise the centralisation of the enemy
king would have endangered the c-pawn.} Bxb5 29. axb5 {The rest of the game
was played by inertia, or, to be more precise, according to the Sofia rule.}
Ke7 30. f4 Bc7 31. Kf2 h6 32. h4 f5 33. h5 Kf6 34. Bf1 Bd6 35. Ke3 Bc7 36. Kd4
Bd6 37. Kd5 Bc7 38. Bd3 Bb8 39. Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 a6 7. d4 b5 8.
Qb3 c5 9. dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 O-O 11. Be2 Bc6 12. e5 Nfd7 13. Be3 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. Rd1 ({Topalov deviates from} 15. O-O {as played in the game
Gelfand-Svidler, Moscow 2006, which was eventually won by White.}) 15... Qa5
16. O-O e6 17. f4 Bg7 18. a3 Qc7 19. Qc2 b4 $5 {The only way to prevent b2-b4.}
20. axb4 Qb7 21. Rd6 Qxb4 22. Rfd1 Ra7 23. R1d2 Rd7 24. Rxd7 Nxd7 25. Rd6 Qb7 {
In spite of White's activity, Black can maintain his stability on light
squares without problems.} 26. Qd2 Nf6 27. Bf1 Rb8 28. Rd8+ Bf8 29. Rxb8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 ({For some reasons,
Topalov sticks to this continuation, that had led him to defeat in the second
play-off game against Kramnik. From analytical point of view, the variation
might be OK, but it will again prove as an "unlucky" choice. The main
alternative is} 12... Rad8) 13. e4 (13. Bd3 $5 {Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V 
(2813)/Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 45)}) 13... Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15.
Qxe4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Ba3 $146 ({Previously, Black played this generally desirable
move only after forcing the white queen define its intentions.} 16... Nf6 17.
Qh4 Ba3 18. Ba1 c5 19. Ne5 cxd4 20. Rxd4 Rcd8 21. Rf4 Nd7 22. Qg3 Nxe5 23. Bxe5
f5 24. Bh5 Rf8 $13 {Genov,P (2485)-Rmus,A (2310)/Sutomore 2004/CBM 102 ext 
(0-1, 33)}) 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. Qc2 Nf6 19. c5 $5 {This structure is typical for
the Catalan opening, but with a very significant difference: by immediately
exchanging his passive bishop, Black basically solves his opening problems.}
Ba6 20. Bxa6 Qxa6 21. Ne5 Nd5 {Black's control of this central square entirely
compensates for White's advantage of development.} 22. Nc4 Red8 23. a3 Rc7 24.
Qc1 Ne7 25. Rd2 Nf5 26. Rfd1 b5 27. Ne5 Qc8 28. Rd3 f6 29. Nf3 Rcd7 30. Qf4 Rd5
31. Qe4 Qd7 32. R3d2 {The d4-pawn is not in real danger, but its relative
weakness restricts White's possibilities. If the game was played between less
ambitious opponents, the most probable result would have been a draw.} h5 33.
h4 a5 34. Kf1 Re8 35. Re1 Kf7 36. Red1 Nh6 37. Re1 Re7 38. Qf4 Rf5 39. Qd6 Qc8
({This looks like an attempt to play for a win, but also a bit like playing
with fire.} 39... Qxd6 40. cxd6 Rd7 41. Rc1 Rxd6 42. Rdc2 {would have led to
approximate equality.}) 40. Rde2 $6 ({Carlsen misses the possibility of a
thematic pawn break:} 40. d5 $5 {followed by d4, when Black's army would have
been rather poorly coordinated.} Rxd5 (40... cxd5 41. Nd4 Re5 42. Rxe5 fxe5 43.
Nc6 Rc7 44. Nxe5+ Kg8 45. b4 $16) 41. Rxd5 cxd5 42. Nd4 {Black's whole
queeside is in danger, while the central mass of pawns cannot be advanced
easily. Another source of danger is the strong c-pawn, sustained by
practically all White's pieces.} b4 43. axb4 (43. a4 $16) 43... axb4 44. c6 $16
) 40... Rd5 41. Qf4 Nf5 42. Re4 Rd8 $11 43. g4 $6 {With light-squared bishops
on board, this would have been a decissive attack already, because White's
bishop would have largely contributed to creating decissive threats. The way
it is, Black has reliable stability on light squares, ensuring him against
immediate dangers. In the long run, White faces the risk of getting a ruined
pawn structure, which makes his decision quite questionable.} hxg4 44. Qxg4 Qd7
$5 ({An ambitious approach. Instead of preventing White's planned attack,
Black starts a powerful counterplay on light squares. He could have
immediately taken the h-pawn under control with} 44... Rh8 {and if} 45. h5 {
then} Qd7 (45... Rh6 $2 {unexpectedely offers White a crushing attack after}
46. Qxf5 $1 exf5 47. Rxe7+ Kf8 48. Nh4 $1 $18)) 45. h5 Kg8 ({Here, too,} 45...
Rh8 {could have been played.}) 46. Kg2 Qd5 {The queen's planned incursion to
b3 is very unpleasant for White, who's attack has not really started yet.} 47.
Qg6 Rf8 ({As pointed out by Jacob Aagaard,} 47... Qxb3 {was entirely possible,
not so much for the sake of the pawn, but with the intention of submitting
White's arrierguard to some unpleasant pressure, for instance} 48. h6 (48. Rg4
Kf8 $1 {Aagaard}) 48... Qd3 49. Rg4 $2 Rxd4 $3 $19 {Aagaard. The point is that}
50. Nxd4 {loses the queen to} Nh4+) 48. h6 Qd8 $2 (48... Nxh6 $2 49. Rh4 Nf5 (
49... Kh8 50. Reh1 $18) 50. Rh5 $1 $18 {followed by Rh1.}) (48... Qxb3 $5) 49.
d5 $5 ({Better later than never! White intends to distract the enemy queen
from the defence of the kingside. The immediate} 49. Rg4 $6 {would have been
adequately met by} Qe8) ({At the same time,} 49. Rxe6 $6 Qd5 $1 {would have
left White with problems of coordination because of the threat ...Nh4+.}) 49...
Qxd5 50. Rg4 $40 Qd7 ({This regrouping will fail to absolve Black from
problems, but} 50... Qxb3 {was bad, too.} 51. Rh1 Ref7 ({This move is more or
less necesaary because in case of the more natural} 51... Qd5 $2 {White has a
fantastic combination at his disposal:} 52. Qh7+ $3 Kxh7 53. hxg7+ {followed
by mate.}) 52. Rh5 {White has put up enormous pressure against the enemy
king's position. Black is lost, for instance} Qc2 (52... b4 53. hxg7 Rxg7 54.
Qh7+ Kf7 55. Ne5+ $1 fxe5 56. Rxf5+ $18) 53. hxg7 Ne3+ (53... Rxg7 54. Qh7+ Kf7
55. Rxg7+ Nxg7 56. Qxc2 $18) 54. Kh3 Qxg6 55. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 56. Rxg6 $18) 51.
Rh1 Qe8 52. hxg7 Rxg7 53. Qh7+ Kf7 54. Rxg7+ Nxg7 55. Rh6 ({When attacking,
the natural tendency is to move the pieces "forward". However, chess geometry
is special. Here,} 55. Nd2 {would have been the start of the knights marching
forward to d6. Black would have faced a difficult defensive task.}) 55... Qd8
56. Qg6+ Kg8 57. Qh7+ Kf7 58. Qg6+ Kg8 59. Rh7 Qd7 60. Nd2 {The same comment
as after the 49th move applies here. It seems that the young Norvegian
prodigee is able to learn from his own mistakes at breathtaking speed....} f5
61. Nf3 Rf6 62. Qxf6 Kxh7 63. Ng5+ Kg8 64. Qg6 ({The position looks so joyless
for Black, that Topalov resigned. He probably saw that he has no perpetual
after} 64. Qg6 Qd5+ 65. f3 {but obviously missed that after} e5 {the queen's
access to g8 is opened. After} 66. Qh7+ Kf8 67. Qh8+ Qg8 {White has nothing
better than take a draw by perpetual with} 68. Nh7+) 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8.
O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 {After his game against Anand, Aronian had no
special reasons to refrain from this variation.} Bg6 $5 {Instead of preventing
the advance of the e-pawn, Black takes preventive measures against it.} 11. h3
({The only game where Black retreated the bishop to g6 before 
(Wojtkiewicz-Kalbermatter, Bern 1991) continued with} 11. e4 {. Black reacted
passively, allowing White consolidate his advantage of space. However, after
the more resolute} b5 $5 {followed by ...b4, the white centre would have been
in some danger. Aronian's play in the next phase of the game suggests that he
did not find a viable plan to meet the opening surprize.}) 11... h6 12. Bf4 Nd5
13. Bd2 Nb4 14. Rac1 Nc2 15. Red1 Nb6 16. Qb3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. Bxh6 Qc4
19. Be3 Qxb3 20. axb3 Nd5 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2 ({
A rare move, aimed to consolidate the d4-square at the cost of delaying the
development of the queenside The normal continuation is.} 8. Qd2 {. I would
quote here a recent example form the practice of another great French expert,
which bears some similarity with our main game:} b5 9. a3 g5 $5 {and Black
managed to undermine White's centre, although the position remained
complicated, Jakovenko-Bareev, Sochi 2006.}) 8... Qb6 9. Qc1 g5 $6 {Not only
typical for the French opening, but also for Morozevich' enterprising and
original style of play. However, the tension created by this move has a double
edged character. Black is not allowed to slow down his initiative, because
otherwise several of his minor pieces (the d7-knight, the c8-bishop) would
remain passive.} ({In case of} 9... cxd4 $6 10. Nexd4 Bc5 11. c3 {the fight
for the central dark squares could continue with} f6 $5 12. b4 $1 $36) ({
Maybe Black should not be in a hurry to drive the enemy king away from the
centre. After} 9... f6 $5 10. c3 Be7 11. g3 O-O {the king would actually have
a harder time finding a safe square.} 12. Bh3 (12. Bg2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb4+ 14.
Kf2 Qb5 {[%csl Ge2]} 15. Rf1 Nb6 16. b3 Bd7 $132) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 fxe5 14.
Bxe6+ (14. Nxe5 Ndxe5 15. fxe5 Bb4+ $17) 14... Kh8 $44) 10. c3 (10. fxg5 cxd4
11. Nexd4 Ncxe5 $132) 10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 f6 (12... gxf4 13. Nxf4
$16 {/\Bd3}) 13. g3 (13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Nxg5 Ng4+ 15. Kg1 (15. Kg3 $6 e5 $1 16.
fxe5 Rg8 $36) 15... Be7 {/\e5} 16. Nf3 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Qxb2 $13) 13... Rf8 (13...
gxf4 14. gxf4 fxe5 (14... Nf8 15. exf6) 15. fxe5 Nf8 16. Nf4 $14 {[%csl Gf6]})
14. Kg2 g4 (14... gxf4 15. gxf4 Rg8+ 16. Ng3 fxe5 17. fxe5 Nf8 18. Rg1 Bd7 19.
Kh1 Be7 20. Nh5 Rxg1+ 21. Bxg1 O-O-O 22. Nf6 $14) 15. Nh4 Rg8 ({Optically
speaking,} 15... f5 {looks safer, but in this case Black would have needed
several tempi to complete his development. White could use this time to
"organize" some piece sacrifice for two pawns in order to get a threatening
central avalanche.}) 16. h3 h5 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Nc3 fxe5 19. fxe5 Ncxe5 $6 ({
Another typical sacrifice. Black solves the problems of development in radical
way, putting the enemy king in danger at the same time. Apparently, Morozevich
is delighted with having such positions with either colour. During the World
Championship held in Moscow he managed to repell Gurevich' attack and convert
his extra-piece into a win, which proved decisive for the final result of
their mini-match. In our concrete case, the sacrifice might not be entirely
sound, but is hard to meet over the board. Besides, in case of a neutral
developing move such as} 19... Nf8 {(preparing ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0), White
could consider sacrificing himself with} 20. Nf5 $5) (19... Nxd4 20. Nf5 $5
exf5 21. Nxd5 Qc6 (21... Qa5 22. Bc4 Ne6 23. Rh6 Nxe5 24. Bb6 Qa4 25. Bb3 Qc6
26. Qxc6+ Nxc6 27. Nf6+ $16 {Shipov}) 22. Qxc6 bxc6 23. Nxb4 (23. Nc7+ Kd8 24.
Nxa8 Bb7 $5 $132) 23... c5 24. Kf2 Bb7 (24... Nxe5 $2 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Re1 $18
) 25. Rh6 $16) 20. dxe5 d4 21. Na4 Qa5 22. Qc4 Nxe5 23. Qxd4 {Black has only a
pawn (and rather insufficient compensation) for his piece, but the position is
completely chaotic. Remarkably, White will miss several opportunities to
consolidate his advantage.} Nf3 (23... Bd7 24. Nb6 Bc6+ 25. Kh2 (25. Kg1 $5)
25... Rd8 26. Nc4 $1 (26. Qf4 Rh8 $1 {/\Rxh4}) 26... Nxc4 27. Qxc4 $16) 24.
Nxf3 gxf3+ 25. Kf2 Qxa4 26. Bd3 {White has returned his material advantage for
the sake of rapid development. However, the position of his king remains
relatively exposed.} Qd7 27. Qe4 $2 (27. Rh8 $1 Qxd4 28. Rxg8+ Kf7 29. Bxd4
Kxg8 30. Rh1 $18) 27... Bd6 (27... Qg7 $5 {[%csl Gb2,Gg3]}) 28. Rag1 $6 (28.
Rh7 $1 Qc6 (28... Bxg3+ 29. Kxf3 $18 {/\Rg1}) 29. Qxc6+ bxc6 30. Be4 Bd7 31.
Rg1 $16) 28... Qg7 $132 29. Rh6 Qxb2+ 30. Kxf3 Rf8+ 31. Bf4 Qe5 32. Qg6+ Kd8
33. Kg2 Qb2+ 34. Kh1 Bxf4 35. gxf4 Bd7 36. Be4 Kc7 $2 ({Rather careless.} 36...
Qd4 {, centralising the queen or}) (36... Rh8 {, aiming for simplifications,
were entirely viable.}) 37. Rb1 Qf2 38. Rxb7+ $2 ({This premature check leaves
the win slip away (true, only temporarily). It would have been better to keep
the threat of capturing on b7 in reserve with} 38. Qg7 {, adding a new one:
Rh7. Black would have been without defence.}) 38... Kc8 39. Rb1 Ra7 40. f5 Rc7
$2 ({A fatal mistake, just before the time control. It is not easy to foresee
why this move is losing, but on general ground, centralising the queen with
tempo would have been a wise idea. For instance} 40... Qf4 {and only after} 41.
Re1 {the rook could come into play with} Rc7 {. The main difference is that
after} 42. fxe6 $2 Be8 {the h6-rook is hanging.}) 41. fxe6 Be8 42. Qg5 {
White is a pawn up and his king is in absolute safety. The long diagonal, the
h-file and the back rank are well defended. The black king is under no
immediate threat, but one can smell the danger approcahing.} Qd4 ({It is too
late now for} 42... Qf4 {because of} 43. Qxf4 Rxf4 44. Rh8 Re7 45. Bg6 {
, winning the bishop.}) 43. Bg2 Rf4 44. e7 Rc5 45. Qg3 Rc3 46. Qe1 Re3 47. Qa5
Bb5 48. Rc1+ 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Nc6 ({Topalov deviates from} 9... Be6 {, which led him to defeat in
the second-round game against Ivanchuk.}) 10. Re1 {Curiously, both players had
previous experience with this position, but with... reversed colours!} b5 ({
This and the next move are aimed to prevent an early installation of the enemy
knight on d5.} 10... Na5 {places the knight on an unfavourable square, which
could be felt after} 11. Bf1 Be6 12. Nd5 {(Preventing the activation of the
knight with ...Nc4. The e4-pawn is taboo because of the threat Bb6.)} Bxd5 13.
exd5 b5 14. b3 $1 {and White had the better chances in Topalov-Gelfand,
Linares 1994.}) (10... h6 11. a3 Be6 {is also met by} 12. Nd5 {for instance} b5
13. Ba2 Rc8 14. Nd2 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nb8 16. c4 {and White has the initiative,
while Black still needs some time to reach an active square with his queen's
knight, Short-Anand, Monaco rapid 1993.}) 11. Bf1 ({A safe square for the
bishop. The most recent game in this line went} 11. Bb3 Rb8 12. Bg5 Nd7 13.
Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. c3 Nc5 16. Bc2 a5 {. Black takes full advantage of
the lack of pressure along the f1-b5 diagonal in order to carry out his
standard minority's attack. White tried} 17. b4 {but after} axb4 18. cxb4 Ne6 {
the weakness of the d4-square offered Black good play in Jakovenko-Khairullin,
Moscow 2006.}) 11... Rb8 {The b6-square is well defended now, which enables ...
Nxe4 in case of an early jump of the White knight to d5.} 12. Bg5 Ng4 ({
Black prevents the undesirable exchange Bxf6, which would leave the d5-square
without its natural defender. Another logical possibility was} 12... b4 {and if
} 13. Bxf6 {then} bxc3 14. Bxe7 Nxe7) 13. Bd2 ({A novelty. White avoids the
exchange of the relatively passive e7-bishop. Black had no problems after} 13.
Bxe7 Nxe7 14. a3 Bb7 15. Qd2 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rfd8 17. h3 Nf6 {in Short-Ehlvest,
Horgen 1995.}) 13... Be6 14. Nd5 {Finally, White has installed his knight in
the centre, but Black is well coordinated and is not forced to capture on d5
at once.} h6 15. h3 Nf6 16. c4 Qd7 17. b3 Bd8 $1 {A multi-purpose move. Black
clears the e7-square for his knight and prepares the activation of his bishop
along the g1-a7 diagonal.} 18. Rc1 Bxd5 19. cxd5 Ne7 20. Bd3 Bb6 {Black has
successfully solved all his opening problems. We can conclude that after his
painful defeat against Ivanchuk, Topalov did his homework quite well.} 21. Nh4
g5 22. Nf3 Rfc8 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Nh2 Ng6 25. Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 d6 8. Be3
Nc6 9. f4 Nge7 10. O-O O-O 11. c3 ({Slightly passive.} 11. Nc3 b5 12. a3 {
looks more ambitious.}) 11... b5 12. N1d2 Bxe3+ 13. Qxe3 Rb8 14. Kh1 Qb6 15.
Qe2 a5 {Black takes advantage of the lack of pressure against the b5-pawn in
order to launch the thematic minority's attack.} 16. a3 Bd7 17. Rf3 Ng6 18. g3
Rfd8 19. Rd1 Nce7 20. h4 h6 21. Kh2 Be8 22. Rg1 Nc6 23. h5 Nf8 24. g4 $6 {
With his knights passively placed, White is not prepared for such a resolute
action. Instead of obtaining the desired attacking chances, he will be left
with just weaknesses on dark squares.} e5 $1 {With a knight on c3, such a move
would hardly have been advisable.} 25. g5 hxg5 26. fxg5 Rb7 27. Qf1 Ne6 28. h6
g6 29. Nc1 Qc7 30. Qf2 Qe7 31. Qh4 b4 32. Nc4 bxc3 33. bxc3 d5 34. exd5 Rxd5
35. Re3 Qc5 36. Rf1 Rb2+ 37. Rf2 Rxf2+ 38. Qxf2 Qe7 39. Be4 Rd1 40. Qc2 Rd8 {
White's attack has been extinguished before even starting, while his structure
is in ruins.} 41. Nd3 Nxg5 42. Bxc6 Bxc6 43. Ndxe5 Qf6 44. Nxc6 Qxc6 45. Qe2
Qc7+ 46. Ne5 Rd5 47. Kg2 Ne6 48. Qc4 Qe7 49. Kg3 Qg5+ 50. Ng4 Rc5 51. Qe4 Rf5
52. Rf3 Kh7 53. c4 a4 54. Qe3 Qe7 55. Qc3 Qc7+ 56. Kf2 Rxf3+ 57. Qxf3 Qc5+ 58.
Ne3 f5 59. Qb7+ Kxh6 {The sequence of moves before the first and the second
control has been a complete success for Black. He has converted his positional
advantage into an extra-pawn.} 60. Qd5 Qe7 {Along the next phase of the game,
Ivanchuk will insistently avoid the exchange of queens, probably hoping to
finish the game with a mating attack. Only a thorough analysis will prove
whether his decision was objectively best, but for practical reasons the
knight ending would have been a relatively safe to the desired victory.} 61.
Qe5 Qh4+ 62. Kf1 Ng5 ({For instance,} 62... Qe4 {would have offered Black
little chances for survival.}) 63. Qh8+ Nh7 64. Qe5 Nf6 65. Ke2 Kg5 66. c5 Qh5+
67. Kd3 {Topalov starts playing very resourcefully. He gradually activates his
positin, while Black's pawns are on the same positions as several moves
earlier.} Qf3 68. Kc4 Qb7 69. Qc3 Ne4 70. Qb4 Qa6+ 71. Kd4 Qf6+ 72. Kd5 Kf4 73.
Qd4 Qf7+ 74. Kc6 Qe8+ 75. Kb6 Qb8+ 76. Ka6 Qa8+ ({The decision to give
perpetual looks premature, even with litle time left. A brief glance is
sufficient to reveal that} 76... Qc8+ 77. Kb6 Qxc5+ $1 {would have simplified
to a position where Black can still play for a win without any risk after} 78.
Qxc5 Nxc5 79. Nd5+ Ke4 80. Kxc5 g5 {Apparently,} 81. Nf6+ Kd3 82. Kd5 {would
have still saved the day for White, but this is another question.}) 77. Kb6
Qb8+ {A narrow escape by Topalov.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 {For the
third time in this tournament, Topalov faces this variation.} Qc7 ({Deviating
from} 7... Be7 {, as played in the previous two games.}) 8. a4 Be7 9. a5 O-O
10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O Rc8 $5 ({I do not understand the point behind this novelty.
It does not prevent the knight's jump to d5 and it just misplaces the rook
that is supposed to support the pawn attack on the other wing. However, I am
open to accept that there must be well-hidden point, since Topalov never
treats the opening in superficial way. The normal move is} 11... Nbd7) 12. Nd5
Nxd5 ({One critical test for Topalov's novelty is} 12... Bxd5 13. exd5 Qxc2 {
. After} 14. Rc1 Qf5 15. Qb3 {the entire black queenside is in danger, which
makes the a5-pawn a strong candidate to promotion.}) 13. exd5 Bg4 14. c4 Nd7 (
14... Bxf3 $6 {does not yield anything in view of} 15. Bxf3 {when} Qxc4 $2 {
loses material to} 16. Rc1) 15. Nd2 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 f5 17. f3 Nf6 18. b4 Qd7 19.
Rfd1 Qe8 20. Qd3 Qh5 21. c5 {White's attack looks more threatening than
Black's counterplay on the other wing.} Rd8 {Re-locating the misplaced rook.}
22. Nc4 Rac8 23. Rac1 e4 24. fxe4 $6 ({White should not have concealed the
control of the g4-square so easily.} 24. Qf1 {would have allowed him maintain
his advantage of space intact.}) 24... fxe4 25. Qb3 Ng4 {Black has strong
counterplay now.} 26. h3 Nxe3 27. Nxe3 Bg5 28. c6 Rf8 29. Re1 Qh4 30. Qa2 Bf4
31. Qe2 Qg3 32. Nf1 Qd3 33. Qxd3 exd3 34. Rc4 bxc6 35. dxc6 d5 36. Rd4 Rxc6 37.
Rxd3 Rc4 38. b5 axb5 39. Rxd5 b4 40. a6 Rc6 41. Rb5 Bd6 42. Ra1 Ra8 43. a7 Rb6
44. Rxb6 Bc5+ 45. Kh1 Bxb6 46. Ra4 Bc5 47. Ra5 Bxa7 48. Nd2 Rd8 49. Rxa7 Rxd2
50. Rb7 Rd4 {The complications have resulted into a thematical rook ending.
Theory considers it to be drawn in spite of Black's extra-pawn. The further
course of the game will not manage to shatter this verdict.} 51. Kg1 Rf4 52.
Kh2 h5 53. Kg3 Rc4 54. Kf3 Kh7 55. Rb6 g5 56. Rb7+ Kg6 57. Rb6+ Kf7 58. g4 Rf4+
59. Kg3 h4+ 60. Kg2 Rc4 61. Kf3 Ke7 62. Ke3 Kd7 63. Kd2 Kc7 64. Rb5 Kc6 65.
Rxg5 b3 66. Rg8 Rc2+ 67. Kd1 Kc7 68. Rg7+ Kb6 69. Rg8 Ka7 70. Rg7+ Ka6 71. Rg8
Kb7 72. Rg7+ Kc6 73. Rg8 Rh2 74. Kc1 Rxh3 75. g5 Kd7 76. Rf8 Ke7 77. Rf6 Rg3
78. Rh6 h3 79. Kb2 Kf7 80. Ka3 Kg7 81. Kb2 Kg8 82. Ka3 Kf7 83. Kb2 Kg7 84. Kc1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Mihail Marin} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7.
Nb3 Be6 8. f3 h5 {Mihail Marin: 'A controversial move. Black prevents the
standard advance of the white g-pawn, but ireparably weakens his kingside.'} 9.
Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Be7 11. h3 ({Mihail Marin: An ambitious move, aiming to
start active kingside operations as soon as possible. Earlier this year, a
game between the same opponents continued with} 11. Kb1 Qc7 {Mihail Marin: It
is interesting to quote here the game played by one of Topalov's seconds:} 12.
h3 (12. Bd3 {Mihail Marin} b5 13. Bg5 Nb6 14. f4 Rb8 15. Rhe1 Nc4 {,
Svidler-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2007. Black has a very active position and we
can understand Svidler's desire to deviate in spite of the favourable result.})
12... b5 13. Bd3 h4 14. f4 Rc8 (14... Nb6 {Mihail Marin} 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. Rhe1
O-O {and Black's stability on dark squares offered adequate compensation for
White's strong centralisation, Cheparinov-Borovikov, Pamplona 2003.}) 15. Rhe1
g6 16. Qf2 Qb7 17. Na5 Qb8 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 Bc4 20. Nxc4 bxc4 21. Be4 Nxe4
22. Nxe4 {1/2 Karjakin,S (2678)-Topalov,V (2783)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/ (54)})
11... Qc7 {Topalov has done his homework and found out, that the rook is not
needed on the attractive semiopen c file.} (11... Rc8 12. Be2 (12. f4 b5 13.
Bd3 Bc4 14. Kb1 Qc7 15. Rhf1 h4 16. Rf2 O-O 17. Rg1 b4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5
Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Nf6 21. Rd1 Rfd8 22. Qxa6 {1-0 Thorhallsson,T (2499)-Ashley,M 
(2473)/Bermuda 1999/ (54)}) 12... h4 13. f4 (13. Kb1 b5 14. Rhe1 Nb6 15. Bxb6
Qxb6 16. f4 O-O 17. Bf3 Rc4 18. Qd3 Rfc8 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5
Bd6 22. c3 g6 {0-1 Onischuk,V (2411)-Dydyshko,V (2575)/Minsk 2006/ (27)}) 13...
b5 14. Bf3 b4 15. Ne2 a5 16. Kb1 Qc7 17. Rhe1 a4 18. Nbc1 Qb7 19. Ng1 Nxe4 20.
Bxe4 Qxe4 21. fxe5 b3 {0-1 Mutschnik,I-Shneider,A (2551)/Alushta 2000/}) 12.
Bd3 h4 (12... O-O 13. g4 Nb6 14. Kb1 $14) 13. f4 b5 14. Rhe1 (14. f5 Bc4 15. a3
O-O 16. Qe1 d5 $11) 14... Rb8 $5 {[%mdl 4] Black is supporting the square b6
for the knight route Nb6-c4 as well as for the pawn advance against white king.
} (14... exf4 15. Bxf4 O-O 16. Bg5 Ne5 17. Bxh4 b4 18. Ne2 a5 $13) 15. Kb1 (15.
f5 Bc4 16. Qe2 b4 17. Nb1 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 O-O $15) 15... Nb6 $1 16. Qf2 (16. fxe5
dxe5 17. Qf2 b4 18. Nd5 Nbxd5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Bc5 $13) 16... b4 17. Ne2 (17.
Nd5 Nbxd5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Bc5 Nf4 $5 (20... Nc3+ $6 21. bxc3
Bxb3 22. cxb3 Bxc5 23. Qf5 $16) 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Nc5 $13) 17... Nc4 18. Nd2 (
18. Bc1 a5 19. f5 Bd7 20. Nd2 Nxd2+ 21. Bxd2 a4 $15) 18... Nxe3 {Black's
position is so sound, that he might have contemplated swap of the knights on
d2. Elimination of the darksquared bishop is strategically very useful.} (18...
Nxd2+ 19. Bxd2 a5 $13) 19. Qxe3 a5 20. b3 a4 21. Bc4 (21. f5 Bd7 22. g4 hxg3
23. Qxg3 Rh7 $15) 21... axb3 22. cxb3 (22. axb3 $2 Ra8 $17) 22... Bd7 {
Svidler's strategy of play on the light squares would have been successful
after the exchange of the black's bishop, so the second player prefers to keep
it.} (22... O-O 23. Rc1 Qb7 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Rc2 Nh5 26. fxe5 dxe5 $11) 23.
Nf3 O-O (23... Qb6 $6 24. Qxb6 Rxb6 25. fxe5 Nxe4 26. Rd4 $14) 24. fxe5 dxe5
25. Nxh4 (25. Rc1 Qa5 26. Nxh4 Ra8 27. Rc2 Rfc8 $44) 25... Bc6 (25... Bc5 26.
Qf3 Ra8 27. Nf5 $11) 26. Ng3 (26. Rc1 Nxe4 27. Bd5 Bxh4 28. Rxc6 Qd7 29. Rd1
Nf2 30. Rd2 Qf5+ $15) 26... Nxe4 27. Nxe4 (27. Nhf5 $2 Bg5 $19) 27... Bxh4 28.
g3 {Svidler is facing two bishops with a vulnerable position of his own king.
On the other hand his pieces are so nicely centralized that it gives him
enough play for the full equality.} Be7 (28... Bxe4+ $2 29. Qxe4 Bxg3 30. Rg1
Bf4 31. Qg6 $18) 29. Nf2 Rbd8 30. Rxd8 (30. Qxe5 $2 Rxd1+ 31. Nxd1 Bd6 32. Qf5
Bxg3 $17) (30. Rc1 Qd6 $11) 30... Qxd8 (30... Rxd8 31. Ng4 $36) 31. Rd1 (31.
Qxe5 Bd6 32. Qf5 Bxg3 33. Ng4 Bxe1 34. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 35. Qg6+ Kh8 36. Qxh6+ $11)
31... Qa5 32. Ng4 e4 (32... Ra8 33. Rd2 (33. Bxf7+ $2 Kxf7 34. Nxe5+ Kg8 35.
Nxc6 Qxa2+ 36. Kc1 Bf6 $19) 33... Bc5 34. Qxe5 $11) 33. Nh6+ $1 {Very witty
combination, as wite queen from h6 is attacking also the black bishop on c6.}
gxh6 (33... Kh7 34. Nxf7 Ra8 35. Rd2 Qf5 36. g4 $14) 34. Qxh6 Qf5 (34... Qc5
35. Qg6+ $11) 35. g4 (35. Rf1 Qc5 36. Qg6+ $11) 35... Qc5 (35... Qf6 36. Qxf6
Bxf6 37. Rd6 Kg7 38. Rxc6 Rh8 39. Bf1 Rd8 $11) 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38.
Qg6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. d4 ({
The other possible move order is} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4 {. Topalov probably
wanted to avoid} Nb4 (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. d4 {leads to one of the main
lines of the system based on Re1, which is considered to favour White.}) 10. d4
cxd4 11. Nxd4 N8c6 {with simplifications, as, for instance, in Vallejo Pons,F 
(2674)-Van Wely,L (2648)/Khanty Mansyisk 2005/CBM 111/[Stohl] (1/2-1/2, 25).})
8... dxc4 ({Carlsen has no intention to transpose to the aforementioned line
with} 8... O-O 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. e4) 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qa4+ Nbd7 11. Qxc4 (11.
Ne5 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 O-O $2 (12... a6 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qxc4 O-O $11) 13. Rd1 $1
$16 {Garcia,R (2385)-Ricardi,P (2530)/Buenos Aires 1995/EXT 97 (1/2-1/2, 22)})
11... O-O 12. Rd1 Rc8 {The position is characteristic for the Catalan Defence.
Black has a normal development and has managed to neutralise the g2-bishop,
but White's main hopes are connected with the relative weakness of the
c6-square.} 13. Qh4 {A typical manoeuvre. White puts up some pressure on the
enemy kingside.} Be7 {This might look like a loss of tempo, but in fact it
will force White spend some time regrouping with his queen, too.} ({Besides,
in the Catalan Black usually avoids such pins as} 13... Qe7 14. Bg5 {although
things are not entirelyckear here:} h6 15. Rxd7 $5 (15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Qxh6
Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Qc5 $17 {Shipov}) 15... Qxd7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qxh6 (17. Qxf6
Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Qd4) 17... Qe7 $13 {and White has good compensation for the
exchange, with virtually no risk tolose, but possibly not more than that.}) 14.
Qh3 {This way of transferring the queen to the long diagonal is quite original.
} Qe8 (14... Qc7 15. Bf4 Qc5 (15... e5 16. Bg5 {><d5}) 16. Rd2 $5 (16. Rac1 Qb4
$132) 16... Rfd8 17. Rad1 {maintains some pressure for White.}) (14... Rc5 {
[%cal Yc5h5]} 15. g4 $5) 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Qxg2 Ne5 {A curious alignment of all
knights on the long dark diagonal. From practical point of view, it is more
important that the chances for the occupation of the c6-square are about equal.
} 17. Qb7 {This queen incursion might be just premature.} ({Maybe White should
have just continued his development with} 17. Bf4 {Possibly, Topalov feared
that Black can take advantage of the slightly unnatural placement of the white
queen by attacking the relatively vulnerable queenside with} Nc4 (17... Nfg4 $2
18. h3 $16) (17... Neg4 18. Ndb5 $14 {[%csl Ga7]}) {However, after} 18. b3 Nb2
(18... Ne3 19. Bxe3 Rxc3 {allows White increase his control over the c6-square
with} 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Bxc1 $14) 19. Rdc1 {the b2-knight might get into
trouble.}) 17... Bc5 {Carlsen decides to remove the danger of an invasion to
c6 as in radical way.} 18. Bg5 {Curiously, Topalov refrains from employing one
of his favourite methods of complicating the fight: the exchange sacrifice.} (
18. Qxa7 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Nc6 20. Qxb6 $44) 18... Nfg4 19. h3 Nc6 $1 20. hxg4 ({
In case of} 20. Nxc6 {Black should refrain from delivering check with 20...
Bxf2+, which just loses material to the calm 21.Kg2 and play} Nxf2 $1 {, when
too many of White's pieces are hanging (the c6-knight, the g5-bishop, the
d1-rook).}) 20... Bxd4 21. Nb5 Rb8 22. Qc7 Rc8 ({Black has no time to capture
the b-pawn with} 22... Bxb2 {because of} 23. Nd6 {, trapping the queen.}) 23.
Qb7 ({The main adherent to the Sofia rule cannot do anything against a
peaceful end of the game before the 30th move.} 23. Qd6 {would be bad because,
once the d6-square is occupied, Black could play} Bxb2 {already.}) ({The other
queen retreat,} 23. Qf4 {leaves the bishop trapped after} f6) 23... Rb8 24. Qc7
Rc8 25. Qb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 {Probably the best way to keep all pices on board and
avoid massive theory at the same time.} Nf6 4. Be2 Bd7 5. d3 e6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7.
O-O O-O 8. a3 Bc6 9. Re1 Nbd7 10. Bf1 Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 {For the time being,
the double pawns are not really weak. True, White's structure is more compact,
but Black's pressure against the d3-pawn should offer him adequate counterplay.
It will take a long way and lots of patience from White until the drawbacks of
Black's structure will come to tell.} 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. b4 Rfd8 14. Qb3 b5 15.
Na5 Be8 16. f3 Nd7 17. Be3 Nb6 18. Rec1 Na4 19. Qc2 h6 20. Qf2 Bg5 21. Bxg5
hxg5 {Another pair of double pawns has been created in Black's camp. This time,
the compensation for the formal structural deffect consists of the fact that
the h-pawn has captured towards the centre.} 22. Rc2 Rac8 23. Rac1 Qe7 24. Qe1
Rc7 25. c4 Rdc8 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. bxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxc5 Rxc5 29. Qb4 Bxd3 30. Rxc5
Qxc5+ 31. Qxc5 Nxc5 32. Nc6 {The position is plain equal. Topalov's next move
is an invitation to continue the fight.} Kf8 (32... a6 {would have most
probably led to a draw.}) 33. Nxa7 ({Morozevich gladly picks up the gauntlet.
He could have declined the brave offer by means of} 33. Nxe5) 33... Ke7 34.
Nc6+ Kd6 35. Na5 f6 36. Kf2 Bxf1 37. Kxf1 g4 38. Ke2 gxf3+ 39. Kxf3 $5 {
Black has the more compact structure (one group of pawns against three white)
and better possibilities of centralising the king, but Topalov might have
underestimated the force of the outside passed pawn. Morozevich' last move
looks a bit unnatural, because it weakens the e4-pawn. The justification of
his choice probably lies in the fact that he wanted to keep hypotetic the
possibility of creating another passed pawn on the kingside.} Nd3 40. Nb3 Ne1+
41. Kf2 Nc2 42. a4 Nd4 43. Nc1 Kc5 44. Nd3+ Kc4 45. Ke3 Nc2+ 46. Ke2 Kd4 47.
Nf2 Nb4 48. h4 Nc6 ({The point behind White's 39th move can be seen after} 
48... g6 49. g4 {followed by h5, when Black would have been helpless against
the two pased pawns..}) 49. h5 Na5 {In the previous phase of the game, Black
has moved around with his knight without suceeding in eliminating the a-pawn.
In the meanwhile, White has obtained an advantage of space on he other wing.}
50. Ng4 {Suddenly, the apparently compact black structure reveals its Achile's
heel: the f6-square. Apart from h6, the threat Nxf6 is rather annoying.} Nc4
51. h6 gxh6 52. Nxf6 Kc3 53. Ng4 h5 54. Ne3 Na5 55. Kf3 Nb3 56. Nf1 Kd3 57. Kg3
Kxe4 58. Kh4 Kd3 59. Kxh5 {An important moment. After long positional
manoeuvres and several exchanges, Black is left with just the double pawns.
They are obviously less efficient than the g- and a-pawns, but the game
remains interesting.} e4 $6 ({This is where Black's real troubles seem to
start. After} 59... Ke2 $5 {, White would have faced a hard job finding a good
square for the knight. For instance, after} 60. Nh2 e4 {he cannot advance his
g-pawn and stop the anemy pawn with Ng4xe3 at the same time.}) 60. g4 Nd2 61.
Nxd2 Kxd2 62. a5 e3 63. a6 e2 64. a7 e1=Q 65. a8=Q {The position suffered a
new transformation. The queen ending is quite unpleasant for Black, because
White's pawn is more advanced than his colleague.} Qe5+ 66. g5 Qf5 67. Qd8+ Kc1
68. Qf6 Qd5 69. Kh6 {Now and on the next move, Topalov should have checked the
enemy king until the white queen would have been forced to abandon its optimal
placement.} e5 $2 70. g6 $2 (70. Qf1+ $1) 70... e4 $2 (70... Qh1+ $11) 71. g7 {
Now it is rather late for any kind of counterplay.} e3 72. Qc3+ {He might have
missed that when starting to advance his pawn.} Kb1 73. Qxe3 Qh1+ 74. Kg6 Qg2+
75. Qg5 Qc6+ 76. Kh7 Qb7 77. Qg1+ Ka2 78. Qh2+ Ka1 79. Kh8 Qe4 80. g8=Q {
In case of 80...Qh7+ (?!) only one of the re-captures would lead to a draw by
stalemate. Given such a low probability of a miracle, Topalov resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Nd7 19. Ne4 Nc5 20. Nxc5 {
A surprisingly short draw, if we consider who is playing with the white pieces.
Topalov was probably too dissapointed by his general result to continue the
fight in accordance with the Sofia rule.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia Mtel blindfold"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Brunetti, Alessandro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2007.05.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.07.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.07.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c3 Bf5 4. Qb3 Qc8 5. Bf4 e6 6. e3 Nf6 7. h3 Be7 8. Nbd2
a5 9. a4 O-O 10. Nh4 Be4 11. f3 Bg6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Bd3 Nh5 14. Bh2 Bh4+ 15.
Kd1 Bg3 16. Bg1 Nd7 17. e4 Qc7 18. Be3 Nf4 19. Bf1 e5 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. exd5
cxd5 22. Qxd5 Nb6 23. Qe4 exd4 24. cxd4 Rfe8 25. Qd3 Nd5 26. Nc4 Rad8 27. Be2
Qxc4 28. Qxc4 Ne3+ 29. Kd2 Nxc4+ 30. Kc3 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Nisipeanu,LD"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The first round in such a strong tournament as the MTel Masters, has a
special signifiance for any chessplayer, especially when you have to play the
main favourite for the competition.  Die Auftaktrunde in einem so starken
Turnier wie dem MTel Masters hat eine besondere Bedeutung für jeden
Schachspieler, vor allem, wenn man gegen den Hauptfavoriten der Veranstaltung
spielen muss.} 1. e4 d5 {This was the surprise I have prepared for Vesselin. I
was influenced by Tiviakov's games in Wijk aan Zee 2006 for this choice of
opening.  Dies war die Überraschung, die ich für Vesselin vorbereitet hatte.
Bei dieser Eröffnungswahl wurde ich beeinflusst von Tiviakovs Partien in Wijk
aan Zee 2006.} 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. g3 $5 ({Surprisingly shy. I was
expecting Überraschend schüchtern. Ich erwartete} 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Ne5 {
which is the favourite choice of strong players when they play against this
opening. , was die Lieblingswahl von starken Spielern ist, wenn sie gegen
diese Eröffnung spielen.}) 4... Nf6 5. Bg2 c6 {Probably it was better to play
g6 immediately and choose later if a pawn or a knight belongs on c6 Besser war
wahrscheinlich g6 sofort, um später zu entscheiden, ob ein Bauer oder ein
Springer nach c6 gehört.} 6. d4 g6 (6... Bf5 7. Nge2 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. h3 h5 $5
{was the choice of my 'Apa Nova Bucharest' teammate Ardelean Catalin in his
game against Peptan Corina Bucharest 2006. This option looks more in line with
the c6 move than the choice I've made in the game. war die Wahl meines 'Apa
Nova Bucharest'-Teamkollegen Ardelean Catalin in seiner Partie gegen Peptan
Corina, Bukarest 2006. Diese Möglichkeit scheint mehr mit dem Zug c6 in
Einklang zu stehen als meine Fortsetzung in der Partie.}) 7. Bf4 Qb4 ({I
didn't like the look of Unsympathisch war mir} 7... Qd8 8. Qd2 Bg7 9. O-O-O O-O
10. Bh6 $36) 8. Nge2 Bg7 9. Qc1 {A tricky move, because now, with the b2-pawn
defended, sometimes Bc7 becomes a threat. Ein trickreicher Zug, denn jetzt, wo
der b2-Bauer verteidigt ist, wird manchmal Bc7 eine Drohung.} O-O 10. O-O Bg4 {
The prospects for this bishop weren't too great anyway, so I decided to get
rid of it immediately.  Die Aussichten für diesen Läufer waren sowieso nicht
besonders, daher beschloss ich, ihn sofort loszuwerden.} 11. a3 Qa5 12. h3 Bxe2
13. Nxe2 Nbd7 14. c4 ({After the game Veselin thought that Nach der Partie
hielt Veselin} 14. b4 Qa6 15. Re1 {was more promising, but after für
aussichtsreicher, doch nach} Qc4 $5 (15... Nb6 16. Bf1 Nc4 17. Nc3 $14) 16. c3
a5 17. Rb1 axb4 18. Rxb4 Qa6 19. c4 Nh5 20. Be3 e5 {the position is unclear.
ist die Stellung unklar.}) 14... e5 15. b4 Qc7 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Qc2 $14 {
White has a slight edge because of the bishop pair, but Black's position is
very solid. Aufgrund des Läuferpaars hat Weiß ein leichtes Plus, aber die
schwarze Stellung ist sehr solide.} a5 $1 {The right moment for this move,
because now White cannot play b5.  Der richtige Moment für diesen Zug, denn
jetzt kann Weiß nicht b5 spielen.} 18. Rae1 axb4 19. axb4 Rfe8 20. c5 ({
The more direct Das direktere} 20. Nd4 Rad8 21. Rxe5 Rxe5 22. Nf3 Nh5 23. Nxe5
Bxe5 24. Bg5 Bf6 $11 {would have only helped Black. hätte nur Schwarz geholfen.
}) 20... Nd5 21. Bd2 Nd7 $1 {It looks strange to retreat a knight from the
centre, but this knight belongs on e6.  Es wirkt seltsam, einen Springer vom
Zentrum abzuziehen, aber diese Figur gehört nach e6.} 22. Qc4 $1 {Of course,
Veselin does not give me the chance to execute Nf8-e6. Natürlich lässt mich
Veselin nicht zu Nf8-e6 kommen.} (22. Nf4 Nxf4 23. Bxf4 Be5 24. Bh6 Nf8 $14 {
was another possiblity, but in my opinion White has more chances of success if
he keeps the knights on the board. war eine andere Möglichkeit, aber m.E. hat
Weiß größere Erfolgschancen, wenn er die Springer auf dem Brett behält.}) 22...
N7f6 (22... b5 $6 {is what the computer suggests, but humans know that pawns
don't move backwards. ist der Computervorschlag, aber Menschen wissen, dass
Bauern nicht rückwärts ziehen.}) 23. g4 $5 {I felt happy when I saw this move,
because in the long run the f4 square could become weak. On the other hand
White is gaining space on the kingside and hopes to realize f4-f5 one day. Ich
war froh, als ich diesen Zug sah, denn langfristig könnte das f4-Feld schwach
werden. Andererseits erobert Weiß Raum am Königsflügel und hofft, eines Tages
zu f4-f5 zu kommen.} (23. Nc3 Qd7 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. b5 h5 {is close to
equality. ist nahezu ausgeglichen.}) 23... h5 $1 {This move is aimed at
weakening White's pawns on the kingside.  Dieser Zug soll die weißen Bauern am
Königsflügel schwächen.} 24. Ng3 ({I expected Ich erwartete} 24. g5 Nh7 25. Ng3
Nf8 26. Ne4 Red8 27. Nd6 Rxd6 28. cxd6 Qxd6 {when Black appears to have decent
compensation for the exchange. , wonach Schwarz ordentliche Kompensation für
die Qualität zu haben scheint.}) 24... hxg4 25. hxg4 Qd7 26. g5 Rxe1 27. Rxe1
Ne8 $1 $11 {After this move, which prepares Ne8-c7, I thought that Black has
no problems; a fresh look at it has not changed my evaluation.  Nach diesem
Zug, der Ne8-c7 vorbereitet, dachte ich, dass Schwarz keine Probleme hat; ein
frischer Blick darauf hat meine Einschätzung nicht geändert.} 28. Bf3 ({
After Nach} 28. Ne4 Be5 29. Qb3 Nec7 30. Bh3 Qd8 31. Bf1 Ne6 $15 {the weakness
of the f4 square begins to tell. beginnt sich die Schwäche des f4-Feldes
bemerkbar zu machen.}) 28... Nec7 29. Bg4 Qd8 30. Kg2 Nb5 31. Rd1 Ra1 $5 (31...
Ra3 32. Ne4 Be5 33. Re1 $11) 32. Rxa1 Bxa1 33. Bf3 Be5 34. Ne2 (34. Bxd5 {
was safer, but Veselin was trying to take advantage of my slight timetrouble.
war sicherer, aber Veselin versuchte, meine leichte Zeitnot ausnutzen.}) 34...
Ndc7 35. Be3 Ne6 36. Bg4 Nbc7 37. Qe4 ({After Nach} 37. f4 Nd5 (37... Bg7 $5)
38. Kf2 Nxe3 39. Kxe3 Nxf4 40. Nxf4 Qxg5 41. Qe4 Kg7 42. Kf3 Qf6 {is a draw.
ist es Remis.}) 37... Bg7 38. f4 Qd1 39. Kf2 Bc3 $1 {Now it is clear that
White should start thinking about a draw, but my opponent was still playing
very quickly and was obviosly upset about the course that the game had taken.
Nun ist klar, dass Weiß an ein Remis denken sollte, doch mein Gegner spielte
noch immer sehr schnell und war offensichtlich beunruhigt von dem Verlauf, den
die Partie genommen hatte.} 40. b5 $6 (40. Nxc3 Qxg4 41. Qe5 Qh4+ 42. Kf3 {
was probably good enough for a draw. war wahrscheinlich gut genug für ein
Remis.}) 40... Qe1+ {It is almost impossible to refrain from such a move with
the seconds ticking away. Wenn die Sekunden verrinnen, ist es fast unmöglich,
sich einen solchen Zug zu verkneifen.} ({Also possible was Ebenfalls möglich
war} 40... Nxb5 41. f5 (41. Bxe6 Qe1+ 42. Kg2 Qxe2+ 43. Kg1 Kf8 $1 $19) 41...
gxf5 42. Qxf5 Qh1 43. Nxc3 Nxc3 44. Bf3 Qh2+ $15) 41. Kg2 Nd5 42. bxc6 bxc6 43.
Qd3 $2 ({After the correct Nach dem korrekten} 43. Bc1 Bd2 44. Bxd2 Qxd2 45.
Bxe6 Nxf4+ 46. Qxf4 Qxe2+ 47. Kg3 Qxe6 $15 {it is unlikely that Black can win
this ending. ist es unwahrscheinlich, dass Schwarz dieses Endspiel gewinnen
kann.}) 43... Bd4 $1 {Now it is all over.  Jetzt ist alles vorbei.} 44. Bxe6
Nxe3+ 45. Kh2 Qf2+ 46. Kh3 Qf3+ {I had seen this line long before, and since
it wins a piece, I didn't bother to look for something else. Dieses Abspiel
hatte ich schon lange vorher gesehen, und da es eine Figur gewinnt, machte ich
mir nicht die Mühe, etwas anderes zu suchen.} ({Simpler was Einfacher war} 
46... Qg2+ 47. Kh4 Qh2+ 48. Bh3 Qf2+ 49. Ng3 Qxf4+) 47. Ng3 Qg2+ 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 c5 14. cxd5 exd5
15. e3 Nf6 16. Qb1 Qd7 17. Qb2 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bd3 19. Rac1 h5 20. Nf3 Be4 21.
Ne5 Qe6 22. f3 Bf5 23. b4 Rfe8 24. b5 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bc5 26. Qc3 Bh3 27. Re1 h4
28. Nc6 Nd7 29. Bxg7 hxg3 30. hxg3 Qg6 31. Bxh3 Qxg3+ 32. Bg2 Qxg7 33. Qxg7+
Kxg7 34. Kf2 f5 35. f4 Nf6 36. Bf3 Ne4+ 37. Ke2 Nc3+ 38. Kd3 Nxb5 39. Ne5 Kf6
40. a4 Nc7 41. Rh1 Rxe5 42. fxe5+ Kxe5 43. Rh7 Ne6 44. Rxa7 b5 45. Ra8 bxa4 46.
Rxa4 f4 47. exf4+ Nxf4+ 48. Rxf4 Kxf4 49. Bxd5 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 (6. Bh4 {is now all
the rage, Topalov himself played it with White. However, Mamedyarov has other
ideas and goes for the possibly not so harmless former main line.}) 6... Qxf6
7. Qb3 $5 (7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 $11 {/~~<=> is less promising,
players like Anand, Kramnik and Dreev have repeatedly proven the soundness of
Black's set-up. The text-move is more ambitious, White aims to play e4 in one
go without allowing the disruptive}) (7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Bb4+ $13) 7... Nd7 {
A typical reaction in the spirit of the whole system, which is also Black's
most usual choice.} (7... g6 8. e4 $14 {|^[+] is not quite ideal.}) ({About a
decade ago the main alternative was} 7... a5 {[%cal Ya5a4] /\a4 Black wants to
counter White's [+] plans by again taking b4 under control and preparing a4 as
well. However, although the whole line still can't be considered refuted
outright, ignoring development can be quite risky.} 8. e4 dxe4 (8... a4 $143 $6
9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb4+ 11. Kd1 Qd8 12. c5 O-O 13. a3 Ba5 14. Qxa4 b5 15. Qc2
$5 (15. cxb6 Bb7 16. Nc5 Bxb6 17. Nxb7 Rxa4 18. Nxd8 Rxd8 19. Kc2 Bxd4 20. Kb3
Ra7 21. Nxd4 Rxd4 22. Kc3 Rf4 23. Rd1 $14 {_|_,Ivanchuk,V (2625)-Ribli,Z (2630)
/Reggio Emilia/1988/}) 15... e5 16. Nd6 exd4 17. Qe4 Be6 18. Bd3 g6 19. Qf4 Kg7
20. Nxd4 Qf6 21. Qxf6+ Kxf6 22. Be4 Ra6 23. Kc2 Rd8 24. Nxe6 Kxe6 25. Bd3 $18 {
Uhlmann,W (2505)-Kuczynski,R (2460)/Dresden/1988/}) 9. Nxe4 Bb4+ 10. Kd1 Qf4
11. Bd3 f5 (11... Be7 12. Ne5 h5 13. g3 Qh6 14. Qb6 $1 $36) 12. Nc3 $5 $146 (
12. Ng3 c5 13. a3 a4 14. Qc2 Ba5 15. d5 (15. Ne2 Qd6 $1 (15... Qg4 $2 16. Ne5
Qxg2 17. Rg1 Qxf2 18. Qxa4+ Nd7 19. b4 $1 cxd4 20. Rxg7 Qf1+ 21. Kc2 Qxa1 22.
Nxd7 b5 23. Qxb5 {1-0,Novikov,I (2580)-Strokov,A (2245)/Alicante/1992/}) 16.
Qxa4+ Bd7 17. Qc2 Nc6 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Nc1 Bc7 20. Nb3 Qe7 $44 {[%cal Ye8c8,
Ye8g8,Re6e4] /\0-0,0-0-0, e5-e4[+],Popov,V (2555)-Lastin,A (2580)/RUS Cup f
Elista/2000/}) 15... O-O 16. Qe2 exd5 17. cxd5 Bd7 (17... Qd6 $5) 18. Qe5 Qxe5
$2 (18... Bc7 $1 $13) 19. Nxe5 f4 20. Ne4 Re8 21. Nc4 b6 22. Kc2 Rf8 23. Rad1
Bf5 24. Ned6 $16 {Ivanisevic,I (2588)-Potkin,V (2557)/playchess.com 5'/2006/})
12... c5 13. d5 O-O 14. a3 a4 $6 (14... Bxc3 15. Qxc3 exd5 16. cxd5 Bd7 $132)
15. Nxa4 Ba5 (15... b5 16. Nb6 $16) 16. Nb6 Ra6 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Qxb7 Rd8 19.
Kc2 e5 20. b4 e4 21. bxa5 exd3+ 22. Kxd3 Rg6 23. Qe7 Nc6 24. Qe3 Qc7 25. g3 $16
{Ivanisevic,I (2596)-Korneev,O (2638)/Vrsac/2006/}) ({However, Black can also
play} 7... dxc4 8. Qxc4 Nd7 {Black gives up the [+] immediately, but on the
other hand by doing so before e4 limits White's options - he already won't be
able to take on c4 with his B. Actually this is a position of a similar type
to the ones arising after 7.e3. We'll see the main difference here is that
White can still fianchetto his Bf1. In my opinion Black should be able to
gradually equalize in this line.} 9. Rd1 $5 (9. e4 e5 10. O-O-O (10. d5 Nb6 11.
Qb3 Bc5 $132 ({or even} 11... Bg4 {eases Black's task and straightforward
development gives him excellent piece-play.})) 10... Be7 11. Kb1 O-O 12. Be2
exd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4 Nb6 (14... Ne5 $5) 15. f4 Bb4 16. Kc2 Bd7 17. a3
Bxc3 18. Kxc3 Rfe8 19. Bf3 Rad8 20. Nb3 Na4+ 21. Kc2 Bc8 22. Rd4 Rxd4 23. Nxd4
Nc5 24. Re1 Ne6 $11 {1/2,Alekhine,A-Wurzburger/Paris sim/1931/ is a piece of
chess history.}) (9. g3 e5 10. O-O-O (10. Bg2 exd4 11. Ne4 (11. Nxd4 $142 $5)
11... Qe7 12. Qxd4 Qb4+ 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. O-O-O Be6 15. a3 Qa5 16. Qe5 Qxe5 17.
Nxe5 Rd8 18. Kc2 Bd6 19. Nd3 O-O $15 {Kortschnoj,V (2615)-Kramnik,V (2710)/
Monte Carlo rpd/1994/}) 10... Be7 11. Ne4 Qf5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. h4 exd4 14. Nxd4
Qa5 15. Kb1 Nf6 16. e3 Nd5 17. a3 Bg4 18. Be2 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 Nf6 {Timman,J 
(2590)-Gelfand,B (2685)/Belgrade/1995/} 20. Nd6 $11) 9... g6 {The above
examples show, that White's last move was prophylaxis against} (9... e5 $2 10.
dxe5 Nxe5 11. Qe4 Bd6 12. Rxd6 $18) (9... Qe7 $5 {[%cal Ye7b4] , toying with
the idea Qb4 is a possible alternative.}) 10. g3 (10. e4 e5 11. d5 Nb6 $11 {
seems fully playable for Black even with the extra moves Rd1 and g6 - see
above.}) 10... Bg7 11. Bg2 (11. Bh3 O-O 12. O-O Qe7 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. a3 Re8 15.
b4 a5 16. Nc5 axb4 17. axb4 Ra8 18. Qb3 Rd8 19. Rd2 e5 20. Bxd7 Bxd7 21. dxe5
Bh3 $11 {<=>,Timman,J (2630)-Sokolov,I (2615)/NED-ch Rotterdam/1997/}) 11...
O-O 12. O-O e5 (12... Qe7 13. Ne4 Kh7 $5 {[%cal Yf7f5,Ye6e5] /\f5,e5<=> is a
more patient and possibly plausible alternative.}) 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. d5 cxd5 (
14... Nb6 15. d6 $36) 15. Qxd5 Nb6 16. Qc5 Qxc5 17. Nxc5 {Sherbakov,R (2558)
-Shalimov,V (2406)/Saint Petersburg/2000/} e4 $1 18. Nd4 f5 19. b3 {+/
=Sherbakov} Rf7 $5 {/\} 20. Nb5 (20. Nde6 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 Re8 $11) 20... a6 21.
Nd6 Rc7 22. b4 a5 $132) 8. e4 dxe4 ({Here already} 8... dxc4 $143 9. Bxc4 {
is inconsistent. To realize the liberating e5 advance, Black must weaken his
<< and this gives White the initiative after} b5 10. Bd3 (10. Be2 $5 {/\} e5
11. d5) 10... e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. O-O Bd6 14. f4 Qc5+ 15. Kh1
Be6 16. Qd1 Rd8 17. Rc1 (17. e5 $5 Bc7 18. Qe2 $36) 17... Bxf4 $5 18. Rxf4 Qd6
19. Rf3 Bg4 20. Be2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Qf4 22. Qe1 O-O 23. Rc2 Rd7 24. Qg3 $6 (24.
Ne2 $14) 24... Qxg3 25. hxg3 Rfd8 26. Rc1 Rd2 $44 {Ivkov,B (2510)-Farago,I 
(2500)/EU-chT Moscow/1977/}) 9. Nxe4 Qf4 {Other retreats are more passive.} (
9... Qd8 10. O-O-O $5 (10. Bd3 Qa5+ {-9...Qf5}) 10... Qc7 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Bd3
O-O 13. Rhe1 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Ge4][%cal Gd1d8,Ge1e8] ()[+]} c5 14. d5 exd5 15.
cxd5 Bd6 16. Ka1 Rd8 17. Bb1 Nf8 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Ne5 Bd7 20. f4 Rac8 21. g3
b5 22. Qf3 c4 23. Nc6 $1 $36 {Schmidt,W (2446)-Senff,M (2464)/Barlinek/2002/})
(9... Qf5 10. Bd3 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Bd6 (11... c5 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 $32 {|^}) 12.
O-O O-O 13. c5 {[%cal Yb3c4,Yb2b4] /\Qc4,b4+/=()}) 10. Bd3 $32 {White almost
exclusively plays this natural developing move, other tries are less
consistent.} (10. Qe3 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 Qxe3+ 12. Kxe3 f5 13. Ned2 c5 14. a3 cxd4+
15. Nxd4 Bc5 16. b4 Bxd4+ 17. Kxd4 Ke7 18. Re1 Rd8 19. Kc3 a5 20. c5 axb4+ 21.
axb4 Nf6 22. Bc4 b6 $132 {Dlugy,M (2531)-Kramnik,V (2751)/Internet 5'/1999/})
10... e5 $5 {[%csl Gc8,Gf8] This strategically desirable advance opens the
position for Black's ^^. However, he can profit from this only if he manages
to consolidate his position by finishing his development. This "if" is the big
question, Black's idea is certainly quite risky. A plausible explanation is
that after 0,5/2 in the first rounds, Topalov even with Black felt obliged to
complicate the game and strive for more, than just tedious gradual equality.} (
{Black can't free his position with} 10... Nf6 $143 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 (11... gxf6
{is risky:} 12. O-O Rg8 13. Be2 Bd6 14. g3 h5 15. Kh1 Qg4 16. Qe3 Bd7 17. d5
cxd5 18. cxd5 Qf5 19. Rad1 e5 20. Nd2 Be7 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 Qxd5+ 23. Ne4
Qe5 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25. Re4 Bc6 26. Bb5 Kf8 27. Bxc6 $16 {Kharlov,A (2614)
-Malakhov,V (2664)/Moscow Aeroflot op/2005/}) 12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfe1 O-O 14. c5
Bc7 15. Ne5 {()} b6 $6 {1-0 Czebe,A (2480)-Namyslo,H (2315)/Budapest 2002/CBM
089 ext (23)} 16. Qa4 $1 b5 17. Qc2 $16 {[%csl Rc6] ><c6}) ({The main
alternative is} 10... Be7 11. O-O {but now if Black wants to advance his Pe6,
he should do so immediately. The less committal} O-O ({With} 11... e5 $5 {
we will deal with in the note to Black's 11-th move.}) 12. Rfe1 {already
practically necessitates a change of plan with} c5 $5 (12... e5 $2 {runs into}
13. Ng3 $16 {and passive play with}) (12... Rd8 13. Rad1 Qc7 {gave White a
permanent () and strong pull after} 14. Ng3 Nf8 15. Qc3 a5 16. a3 a4 17. Ne5
Qa5 18. Qc1 Bd7 19. c5 b5 20. Be4 Qc7 21. Qc3 Be8 22. Ne2 Ra6 23. Nc1 Nd7 24.
Nxd7 Rxd7 25. Nd3 Rd8 26. Ne5 $16 {Alekhine,A-Asztalos,L/Kecskemet/1927/}) 13.
d5 exd5 (13... Nb6 14. Rad1 $14) 14. Nc3 Nb6 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 Bd6 17. g3
Qf6 18. Nd2 Bh3 19. Ne4 Qf3 20. Bf1 Qxb3 21. axb3 Bxf1 22. Nxd6 Ba6 23. Re7
Rfd8 24. Nxb7 Bxb7 25. Rxb7 Rxd5 $11 {/+/=,Petrosian,T-Szily,J/Budapest/1952/
Black defended well and in the end White didn't manage to increase his slight
edge.}) 11. O-O (11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. O-O Be7 14. f4 (14. Rae1 O-O
15. Re3 Qa5 16. Bb1 Rd8 17. a3 Rb8 18. Qc2 Bf5 19. b4 Qe5 20. Qe2 Qd4 21. Re1
Bf8 22. c5 Bg6 23. h3 b6 $11 {Keres,P-Mikenas,V/URS-ch Tallinn/1965/}) 14...
Qd4+ (14... Qc7 $2 15. f5 $40) 15. Kh1 f5 (15... g6 16. Rad1 O-O 17. Bb1 Qb6
18. Qc3 Bg4 19. c5 Qc7 {Heuer,T (2305)-Simon,R (2245)/Oberliga Nord/1994/} 20.
Rd6 $36) 16. Rae1 O-O 17. Ng3 Bh4 $5 (17... Bc5 18. Re5 g6 19. Ne2 Qd6 20. Rd1
b6 21. Bxf5 Qf6 22. Bxc8 Raxc8 {Gavrikov,V (2540)-Liiva,R (2435)/EST-chT/1998/}
23. Qc3 $5 $14 {Gavrikov}) 18. Re5 Bf6 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 Rad8 (20... Qxb2
$11) 21. Bb1 Rfe8 $44 {[%cal Yd4f2] /\Qf2,Savchenko,S (2539)-Naumann,A (2480)/
Bad Woerishofen/1999/}) 11... exd4 {Here applies the same that we wrote about
Black's previous move - Topalov plays a very ambitious line.} (11... f5 {
is just as risky, but less in his style - White is now forced to sacrifice a
piece and although the resulting positions are not fully clear, he has a
dangerous long-term initiative and Black must defend with great care:} 12. Ng3
(12. Rfe1 $5 fxe4 13. Rxe4 $13) 12... e4 13. Rfe1 Kd8 $8 (13... Nf6 $2 14. Ne5
$18) 14. Nxe4 (14. Bxe4 fxe4 15. Rxe4 Qf7 16. Qc2 $44 {Kishnev,S (2415)-Simon,
R (2300)/Budapest/1989/}) 14... fxe4 15. Rxe4 Qf7 16. Rae1 $44 {|^}) ({However,
the most solid choice is the developing} 11... Be7 $142 $5 {and it's very
difficult to get any workable edge for White:} 12. Rfe1 exd4 13. Ng3 (13. Nxd4
O-O 14. Bc2 Nf6 ({Equally playable seems} 14... Nc5 15. Qc3 Ne6 16. Rad1 Rd8
17. Ne2 Qc7 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. c5 b6 20. N2g3 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Nh5 Qg5
23. Re8+ {1/2,Vaassen,J (2036)-Bubir,S (2101)/corr/2001/} Bf8 24. Re5 Qc1+ 25.
Re1 Qg5 $11) 15. Rad1 g6 16. Nxf6+ $6 (16. Qc3 $5 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 Qc7 18. Qe3 Bg5
$8 19. f4 Bf6 20. f5 Bg5 21. Qf2 Qb6 $1 $132) 16... Bxf6 17. Re4 Qc7 18. Qe3
Kg7 19. h4 h5 20. Rf4 Re8 $1 21. Qxe8 Qxf4 22. Nf3 Rb8 23. Qe4 Qxe4 24. Bxe4
Bg4 25. Rd2 Re8 26. Bd3 Rd8 $17 {/-+,Euwe,M-Fine,R/AVRO Holland/1938/ Topalov
undoubtedly thought along the lines of this classic game, when he made his
10th, 11th and also some of his following moves - Strategically Black has a
promising position and if White fails to develop his initiative and transform
it into something concrete, he may end up in a disgusting _|_ (as did Euwe).})
13... Nc5 14. Qa3 Qd6 (14... Ne6 $142 $5 15. c5 $44) 15. Bf5 $1 Ne6 16. Qxd6
Bxd6 17. Nxd4 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Ke7 19. Re4 Kf6 20. Bxe6 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22.
Rae1 $14 {/=,Timman,J (2620)-Gelfand,B (2700)/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 12. Nxd4
$146 {[%mdl 8] This natural move is a novelty, but in fact it had already been
recommended by Timman in the notes to Timman-Gelfand above.} (12. Rae1 Be7 13.
Bb1 (13. Nxd4 O-O $11 {/=/+ is pleasant for Black, but}) (13. Ng3 $5 Nc5 14.
Qa3 Ne6 15. c5 O-O 16. b4 $44 {/= is similar to the above note.}) 13... O-O 14.
Ng3 Nc5 15. Qa3 Qc7 16. Nxd4 Rd8 17. Ndf5 {Ivanisevic,I (2588)-Schenk,A (2495)/
FRA-chT Gonfreville/2006/} Bf8 $11 {[%csl Gc8,Gf8] /=/+^^}) 12... Nc5 ({
Black must start getting out his forces, but the natural} 12... Be7 {already
fails to} 13. Nf5 $1 $16) (12... Ne5 13. Bc2 Be7 14. g3 Qg4 15. f4 $32 {->})
13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Rae1+ Kf8 {Black will have to move his K and try to castle
artificially.} ({His choice looks logical, but even the provocative} 14... Kd8
$5 {[%cal Yd8c7,Yc8d7,Yh8e8] /\Kc7,Bd7,Rhe8 gives him chances to unravel his
pieces in the future.}) 15. Re4 Qf6 16. Qc3 a5 $6 {Topalov relies on his ^^
and doesn't want to make any positional concessions. This is an even more
risky decision, than on moves 10 and 11.} ({Objectively Black should have gone
for some modest continuation such as} 16... Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Be6 $14 (17... g6 $2
{[%cal Rf8g7] /\Kg7 runs into} 18. Rd8+ Qxd8 19. Qxh8+ Ke7 20. Qe5+ Be6 21.
Bxg6 $1 $16) (17... c5 18. Rd5 Qxc3 19. bxc3 $14 {/+/- costs Black a P.})) ({or
} 16... Bd7 $5 17. b4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Re8 $14 {He can probably neutralize
White's pressure and gradually achieve equality, but this is obviously
something Topalov was not interested in.}) 17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. R1e3 Bb4 $6 {
It's easy to criticize this move when we know what happened 3 moves later.
However, Black already has a difficult choice:} (18... Re8 $2 19. Rxe8+ Bxe8
20. Ne6+ $1 fxe6 21. Rf3 $18) ({After the immediate} 18... Qd6 19. Rg3 {
White's initiative remains dangerous:} Bb4 20. Ne6+ $1 Bxe6 21. Qxg7+ Ke7 22.
Rge3 Rag8 23. Rxe6+ Qxe6 24. Rxe6+ Kxe6 25. Qd4 $16) ({Perhaps deserving
attention was} 18... h5 $5 19. Rf3 Qd6 {[%csl Gc5] keeping the B on c5 for the
time being.}) 19. Qc2 Qd6 20. Rf3 h5 $6 {[%cal Yh8h6,Yh6f6] This is the last
straw. Black tries to activate his Rh8 via h6, but he won't get enough time to
realize this idea.} (20... Kg8 {gives White a pleasant choice between the
energetic} 21. c5 $5 ({and the simple} 21. a3 Bc5 22. Nb3 $16)) ({However,
more resilient seems to be} 20... Re8 $142 21. Ref4 $5 ({Tempting, but far
from clear is} 21. c5 Bxc5 22. Bc4 Rxe4 23. Rxf7+ (23. Qxe4 $5 f6 24. Nf5 $44)
23... Ke8 24. Qxe4+ Kd8 $132 {/\} 25. Rxd7+ Kxd7 $8 26. Qg4+ Kc7 $1 27. Qxg7+
Kb6 28. Qxh8 Bxd4 {/\Bb2=}) (21. Nf5 {is in all probability only a
transposition into 21.Re8}) (21. Rxe8+ Kxe8 (21... Bxe8 $2 22. Nf5 Qd8 (22...
Qc7 23. c5 Qe5 24. Nh4 $1 $18 {[%cal Rh4g6,Rf3e3] /\Ng6,Re3}) 23. c5 {[%cal
Rf5d6,Rd3c4] /\Nd6,Bc4+-} Qd5 24. Nd6 Qxc5 25. Nxf7 $1 Bxf7 26. Bc4 $18) 22.
Nf5 (22. a3 $5) 22... Bxf5 23. Bxf5 $32 {[%csl Re8,Rh8] -> Black still has
problems with his [+]K and passive Rh8, but he has at least slightly
simplified the position.}) 21... Re1+ 22. Bf1 Kg8 23. a3 $36 {although even
here White has enduring pressure.}) 21. c5 $1 {[%mdl 640] White has activated
his forces and it's time to act. The pawn sacrifice opens new vistas for his
Bd3.} Bxc5 (21... Qxc5 22. Bc4 f6 (22... f5 23. Ne6+ Bxe6 24. Rxe6 $18) 23. a3
b5 $8 24. Nb3 Qa7 (24... Qg5 25. h4 Qh6 26. Be6 $18) (24... Qd6 25. Bf1 $5 (25.
Rd3 Qc7 26. axb4 bxc4 27. Qxc4 $40) 25... a4 26. Rd3 axb3 27. Qd1 $18) 25. axb4
bxc4 26. Qxc4 $40 {+-}) 22. Bc4 f6 $8 (22... Be8 $2 23. Ne6+ Kg8 24. Nxc5 Qxc5
25. Bxf7+ $18) 23. Ne6+ Bxe6 24. Rxe6 $18 {[%csl Ra8,Gc4,Rc5,Rh8] ->^- The
opposite-coloured B enhance the strength of White's ->, as Black's light
squares are extremely weak. Also Topalov can't solve the problem of his
unconnected R.} Qd7 (24... Qd4 25. Rd3 {/\Rd7+-}) 25. Qf5 (25. Qg6 Qd1+ (25...
Bd4 26. Rd6 $1 $18) 26. Bf1 {[%cal Rf3f6] /\Rff6} Bd4 27. Re2 $1 {/\Rg3,Qe4
and Black is helpless against the decisive invasion via the light squares, for
example} Rh6 28. Qe4 Bc5 29. Rd3 Qa1 30. Qc4 Be7 31. Qe6 Re8 32. Rd8 $1 $18 {
However, the text-move is similar and also strong.}) 25... Qd4 26. Re4 (26. Qg6
{can transpose into 25.Qg6.} {/\} Qxc4 27. Rfxf6+ gxf6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Qg6+
Kf8 30. Qf5+ Kg7 31. Rg6+ Kh7 32. Qxh5#) 26... Qd1+ $8 27. Bf1 Bd6 (27... Bb6
28. Qe6 {[%cal Rf3b3,Re6e7,Rf3g3,Rf3f6] /\Rf6,Qe7,Rg3,Rb3} Rh6 29. Qe7+ Kg8 30.
Rg3 Rh7 31. Rd3 Qc2 32. Rd2 $1 Qxd2 (32... Qc1 33. Qe6+ Kf8 34. Rd7 $18) 33.
Bc4+ Qd5 $8 (33... Kh8 34. Qe8+ Rxe8 35. Rxe8#) 34. Qxb7 $18) 28. Rd3 $1 Bxh2+
{Something like the last meal before the execution. The difference in the
scope and activity of the pieces is overwhelmingly in White's favour and he
has a mating ->.} 29. Kxh2 Qxf1 30. Rd7 {[%cal Rf5e6,Rf5g6] /\Qg6,Qe6} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 Nd7 12. h3 $6 {Quite a pretentious way to
avoid the main line} (12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Nf6 14. Nde4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxf5 16.
Bd3 g4 {etc.}) 12... f5 13. exf5 (13. Nd2 {makes little sense now. However,
there has been a practical example:} Nf6 14. Qc2 (14. f3 Nh5) 14... c6 15. a4
cxd5 16. cxd5 fxe4 17. Ndxe4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 (18. Nxe4 Nf5 {[%cal Yf5d4]}) 18...
Qb6 19. O-O Nf5 20. Bd3 Bd7 21. b4 Rac8 22. Ne2 a5 23. bxa5 Qxa5 24. f3 Rf6 {
0-1 Gustafsson,J-Solleveld,M/Enschede 2003/CBM 094 ext (47)}) (13. Bh2 $5 Nc5
14. Nd2 {K.Sakaev} a5 $13) 13... Nc5 (13... Nxf5 {is possible, too:} 14. Ne4
Nc5 $1 (14... h6 $143 15. O-O (15. Bd3 $5) 15... Nf6 16. Nfd2 Nd4 17. Bd3 c6
18. Re1 cxd5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. cxd5 Bd7 21. Rc1 Rac8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Ne4 Qg6
24. f3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,J-Hazai,L/Hungary 2003/EXT 2004 (49)}) 15. Bd3 (15.
Nfxg5 $6 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Bf5 $36) (15. Nxc5 Nxg3 16. fxg3 dxc5 $36) 15... Nxd3+
16. Qxd3 h6 $11 {K.Sakaev}) 14. Nd2 $6 {This is quite illogical as one of the
ideas of 12.h3 is to keep this knight on f3.} (14. b4 $2 {doesn't work due to}
e4 $1) (14. Qd2 {is the most natural move but Black did fine in the following
game:} Nxf5 15. Nxg5 Bh6 16. h4 Nxg3 17. fxg3 a5 (17... Bf5 $5 18. O-O a5 {
I_A.Nataf}) 18. g4 Qe7 19. O-O-O Bd7 $6 (19... Rf7 $1 {[%cal Yf7g7] I_A.Nataf})
20. Rhf1 $1 Rxf1 21. Rxf1 Rf8 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Qe3 Qe7 $44 {[%cal Yd7e8,
Ye8g6] 1/2-1/2 Akesson,R-Nataf,I/Stockholm 84/477 2001/Inf 84/[Nataf,I.-A] (32)
}) 14... Bxf5 (14... Nxf5 {is quite good, too.}) 15. O-O (15. f3 e4 $1 $40 {
I_A.Nataf}) 15... e4 16. Nb3 b6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16... Nxb3 $143 17. Qxb3
Bg6 18. Rae1 Re8 19. Qxb7 Nf5 20. Bg4 Rb8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 (21... Nxg3 $5 22. fxg3
Rxb2 23. Nb5 $13) 22. Bxf5 Bxf5 23. Nd1 Rb6 24. Qxa7 Bd4 25. Ne3 Bd7 26. Qa5
Qf6 27. Rb1 h5 28. Rxb6 Bxb6 29. Qd2 Rf8 $44 {1-0 Onischuk,A-Smirin,I/Russia
87/481 2003/Inf 87/[Onischuk,Al] (41)}) 17. Nd4 Qf6 18. Nc6 a5 (18... Bd7 {
[%cal Yh6f5] was probably even more appropriate. If} 19. f4 $6 (19. Nb5 $6 {
doesn't work in view of} a6 $1 20. Nxc7 (20. Nbd4 Bxc6 21. Nxc6 Qxb2) 20...
Rac8) {then anyway} 19... Nf5 20. fxg5 Qxg5 21. Bf4 Qh4 $17) 19. f4 $6 {
[%csl Ge4] After this "active" move Black's e4 pawn becomes extremely
dangerous.} (19. Nb5 {[%cal Yb5d4] was now the best way to make use of Black's
inaccuracy:} Rac8 (19... Qxb2 $6 20. Nxc7) 20. Nbd4 Bd7 21. Rb1 Nf5 22. Nxf5
Bxf5 23. Qd2 $15) 19... Bd7 $1 20. Nb5 {Better late than never?} (20. fxg5 Qxg5
$17) (20. Qd2 $5 gxf4 (20... Bxc6 21. fxg5 $1 Qd4+ 22. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh2 Nf7
24. dxc6 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Nxg5 $15) 21. Bxf4 Bxc6 22. Be3 $1 (22. dxc6 Qd4+ 23.
Qxd4 Bxd4+ 24. Kh2 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Nf5 $17) 22... Nf5 23. dxc6 Qe5 24. Rad1 $1
$15) 20... Bxc6 21. dxc6 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qxa2 23. Nxc7 (23. Bf2 $5 {(an extremely
difficult move for a human being)} Rac8 $1 (23... Nf5 24. g4 $1) (23... gxf4
24. Nxc7) (23... Rxf4 24. Nxc7 Raf8 $13) 24. fxg5 Nf5 $17) 23... Nf5 $1 24. Bf2
$2 {Now this leads to a lost position. Krishnan Sasikiran has bad luck with
good moves in this game: he makes them too late!} (24. Nxa8 $142 Nxg3 25. Re1 {
, e.g.} Rxa8 26. c7 Nxe2+ 27. Rxe2 Qxc4 28. Rxb6 Na6 $1 29. Rxd6 Nxc7 30. Rc2
Bc3 31. fxg5 (31. Rd8+ $143 Rxd8 32. Qxd8+ Kf7 33. Qd7+ Kf8 34. Qf5+ Ke8) 31...
Rf8 {Black is better, of course, but the position remains extremely tense.})
24... e3 $1 25. Be1 (25. Nxa8 exf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bd4 $19 {[%cal Rc5e4]}) (25. Qd5+
Kh8 26. Bd3 $5 exf2+ 27. Rxf2 Bd4 28. Qxd4+ Nxd4 29. Rxa2 Rac8 30. Nd5 Nxd3 31.
Rd1 Nb3 $1 $19) (25. Bf3 Rac8 ({or} 25... exf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bd4 27. Bd5+ Rf7 $1
28. Bxf7+ Kf8 $1 29. Qxd4 Qxb1+ 30. Rf1 Nxd4 31. Rxb1 Rc8 $1 $19) 26. Nb5 gxf4
$19 27. Be1 $140 e2 $1 28. Bxe2 Ne3) 25... Nd4 $1 26. Nxa8 Nxe2+ 27. Kh2 Nxf4
28. Rxf4 gxf4 29. Rxb6 f3 30. Qd5+ Ne6 $5 31. Qxe6+ Kh8 32. Qg4 Be5+ 33. Kh1 f2
(33... fxg2+ $5 34. Qxg2 Rf1+ 35. Qxf1 Qh2#) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.
Qxd2 c6 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nc3 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. f4 Qe7 13. O-O Rd8 14. Rfd1
O-O 15. Qe3 Rfe8 16. a4 Qb4 17. Na2 Qc5 18. Rd4 f6 19. cxd5 fxe5 20. fxe5 exd5
21. b4 Qe7 22. b5 Bb7 23. bxc6 Bxc6 24. Nb4 Nxe5 25. Rc1 Kh8 26. Nxc6 Nxc6 27.
Qxe7 Nxe7 28. Rc7 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Bxd5 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Kg8 32. a5 bxa5 33.
Rxa5 Rc7 34. e4 Kf7 35. Kg2 Rc2+ 36. Kh3 Rc4 37. Rxa7+ Kf8 38. e5 Rc5 39. e6
Re5 40. Rf7+ Kg8 41. Re7 Kf8 42. Rf7+ Kg8 43. Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. f4
g6 {Nisipeanu has a pet line with the rare move 7.Nde2 which is growing into
an independent system. Topalov must have known he would be facing it, so his
setup is clearly the fruit of home preparation.} 9. h3 h5 $5 {Actually this
idea is the key to the defender's strategy. Restricting the advance g2-g4 may
leave the knight on e2 in a truly awkward situation.} (9... Nc6 10. g4 d5 11.
fxe5 Nxe5 $11) 10. fxe5 (10. Qd3 Nc6 11. O-O-O $13) 10... dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8
12. O-O-O+ Nbd7 13. Ng1 $5 {Nisipeanu has indirectly admitted, that Black has
found a kind of antidote to the ambitions of 7.Nde2 move. Redirecting the
knight from e2 to the more promising square f3 increases the harmony in
White's position.} (13. g3 Kc7 14. Bg2 Bh6 $11) 13... Rc8 14. Bd3 (14. Nf3 Rxc3
$5 15. bxc3 Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Nxe4 17. Rd3 Kc7 $15) (14. Bg5 Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16.
Nf3 Ke7 17. Ng5 h4 $11) 14... Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Nf3 Ke7 17. Ng5 (17. h4
Rhh8 18. Rhe1 Rhd8 $11) 17... h4 {This modest move fixing the pawn structure
on the kingside will prove to be very useful in the long run.} 18. Be2 Rc5 19.
Rhf1 (19. Rd2 Rh8 20. Rhd1 Rhc8 $11) 19... Rh8 20. Rd3 Rhc8 21. Kd2 b5 (21...
Bc4 22. Rdf3 b5 23. a3 $11) 22. a3 a5 $1 23. b4 (23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Nxb5 $2
Rxc2+ 25. Ke1 Rxb2 $19) 23... axb4 24. axb4 R5c6 {Topalov has managed to
provoke the move b2-b4 and White has to fight for equality.} (24... Rc4 25.
Rdf3 Rxb4 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bd3 $15) 25. Rdf3 Bc4 26. Bxc4 (26. Nxb5 $2 Bxb5
27. Bxb5 Rxc2+ 28. Kd1 Rxg2 29. Bxd7 Ra8 $17) 26... Rxc4 27. Ra1 (27. Rb1 Nf8 (
27... Nb6 28. Ra1 Na4 (28... Rd8+ 29. Kc1 Rxb4 30. Ra7+ Rd7 31. Ra6 Rd6 32.
Ra7+ $11) 29. Nxb5 Rxc2+ 30. Ke3 Rxg2 31. Nxf7 Rcc2 32. Rxa4 Rge2+ 33. Kd3
Red2+ $11) 28. Ra1 Ne6 29. Nxe6 Kxe6 $15) 27... Rxb4 28. Nd5+ {[%mdl 4096]
Nisipeanu is pinning his hopes on the active approach with counterplay and
active pieces.} (28. Ra7 $5 Ke8 (28... Rbc4 29. Nd5+ Nxd5 30. Rxf7+ Ke8 31.
exd5 Rxc2+ 32. Kd1 R2c7 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. d6 Rc4 35. Re7+ Kd8 36. Rg7 $11) 29.
Ra5 Rd4+ 30. Ke1 Rdc4 31. Nxb5 Ke7 32. Na3 R4c5 $15) 28... Nxd5 29. Rxf7+ Kd6 (
29... Ke8 30. exd5 Rd4+ 31. Ke1 Rxd5 32. Rg7 Nf8 33. Ne4 Rc6 $11) 30. exd5 Rd4+
31. Kc1 (31. Ke1 $5 {One of the tough decisions for White. The feeling that
his king should protect the pawn c2 is quite understandable.} Ra4 (31... Rxd5
32. Ne4+ Ke6 (32... Kc6 $2 33. Ra6+ Kc7 34. Nf6 Rd6 35. Ra7+ $18) 33. Ng5+ Kd6
$11) 32. Rc1 e4 $17) 31... Nc5 32. Raa7 e4 (32... Kxd5 33. Nf3 Rc4 34. Kd1 Rd8
$17) 33. Ne6 $5 Rc4 (33... Nxe6 $2 34. Rad7+ Ke5 35. dxe6 $11) 34. Nxc5 R8xc5 (
34... Kxc5 35. Rad7 e3 36. Kd1 Kb4 $17) 35. Rad7+ Ke5 36. Rf2 {White has
managed to exchange the knights and he still keeps the material balance.
Unfortunately Topalov's pieces are better coordinated and he can eliminate the
d5 pawn at any moment.} (36. Rde7+ Kxd5 37. Rf2 Kd6 38. Rg7 g5 39. Rg6+ Ke5 40.
Rxg5+ Kd4 $17) 36... b4 (36... Rc7 $1 37. Rd8 Rc8 38. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17) 37. Re7+
Kd6 (37... Kxd5 $2 38. Rd2+ Kc6 39. Kb2 $11) 38. Rb7 (38. Re6+ Kxd5 39. Rxg6 b3
$1 $17) 38... Kxd5 39. Kb2 (39. Re2 e3 40. Rg7 (40. Rxe3 Rxc2+ 41. Kb1 Rc1+ 42.
Kb2 R5c2+ 43. Kb3 Rxg2 44. Rxb4 Rb1+ 45. Ka4 Rxb4+ 46. Kxb4 Rg3 $19) 40... b3
41. Rxe3 Rxc2+ 42. Kb1 Rxg2 $17) 39... e3 40. Re2 Re4 $1 {From this moment
onwards the e3-pawn becomes a superpower in the endgame struggle.} 41. Kb3 (41.
Rd7+ Ke5 (41... Kc4 42. Rd3 Rce5 43. Rb3 Re7 44. Rd3 $13) 42. Rf7 Rd5 43. Rf3
Kd4 $17) 41... Ke5 42. Rf7 (42. Rxb4 Rxb4+ 43. Kxb4 Kd4 $1 44. Rxe3 Rxc2 45.
Rf3 Ke4 46. Rb3 Rxg2 $19) 42... g5 43. Rf8 Rd5 44. c4 Rd7 $5 {A fine move
proving, that coordination is more important than sheer material. Black's king
plans to enter the fight via the d4-square with crushing effect.} (44... bxc3
45. Kxc3 Ra5 46. Rf7 (46. Re8+ Kf4 47. Rf8+ Rf5 $19) 46... Ra3+ 47. Kb2 Rd3 48.
Kc2 $17) 45. Re1 (45. Kxb4 $2 Kd4 $1 46. Rf1 Rb7+ 47. Ka5 Kxc4 $19) 45... Rd2
46. Kxb4 Rxg2 47. Kc3 Rg3 48. Re8+ (48. Kd3 e2+ 49. Kd2 Rxh3 $19) 48... Kf5 (
48... Kf4 $4 49. Rf1+ Rf3 50. Rf8+ $18) 49. Rf1+ Kg6 $1 {It was not too late
to spoil everything with the greedy approach and transfer of the king to the
queenside. Topalov played the endgame with great confidence...} (49... Rf4 50.
Rf8+ Ke5 51. Re8+ Kd6 $2 52. Rd1+ $11) 50. Rxe4 e2+ 51. Rf3 Rxf3+ 52. Kd2 Rxh3
53. c5 (53. Rxe2 Ra3 54. c5 Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Rxe2 $19) 53... Ra3 54. c6 (54. Rxe2
Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Rxe2 56. Kxe2 Kf5 $19) 54... Ra2+ (54... Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Ra6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nge2 Nc6 6. d3 e5 7. a3 Nge7 8. Rb1
Be6 9. b4 Qd7 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. O-O b6 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Nxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxd4 cxd4
15. f4 f6 16. f5 Bf7 17. c3 dxc3 18. Qa4+ Qd7 19. Qxd7+ Kxd7 20. Rb7+ Ke8 21.
Rc7 Rd8 22. Bh3 d5 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Rxc3 gxf5 25. Be3 Be6 26. Bg2 Rd6 27. Rc7
Bd7 28. Rb1 Kf7 29. Rbb7 Rd8 30. d4 Kg6 31. Rxa7 Bh6 32. Bxh6 Kxh6 33. dxe5
fxe5 34. Bf1 f4 35. gxf4 exf4 36. Ra6 Rxa6 37. Bxa6 Bg4 38. Rc2 Rd1+ 39. Kf2
Ra1 40. Be2 Bxe2 41. Rxe2 Rxa3 42. Re8 Kg5 43. Rg8+ Kh4 44. Rf8 Kg4 45. Rg8+
Kh3 46. Rh8 Ra7 47. Rf8 h5 48. Rxf4 Ra2+ 49. Kg1 Ra1+ 50. Rf1 Rxf1+ 51. Kxf1
Kxh2 52. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Re1 Be7 10. Qf3 ({Topalov refrains from the long theoretical
dispute arising after} 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qg4 g6 12. Bh6 Rb8) 10... O-O 11. Bg5 $5
{A virtually uninvestigated move.} ({The usual continuation is} 11. Bf4 {
with the following logical sequence:} g6 12. Na4 Bb7 13. Rad1 Qa5 14. b3 dxe4
$1 {This is a good moment for Black to release the tension in the centre. As a
compensation for the spoiled integrity of his pawn structure he will get the
pair of bishops, while the white knight will need some time to be activated.
Topalov's second's recent experience probably convinced them that White has
little chance for an advantage here.} 15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Rad8 17. Be5 (17.
h3 {was played in Nakamura,H (2660)-Volokitin,A (2671)/Biel 2005/CBM 108/
[Ribli] (1/2-1/2, 41), which also contains a survey of this whole variation.})
17... Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Qd4 Qd5 21. Nc3 Qxd4 22. Bxd4 c5 23.
Be3 Bc6 $15 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Rc6a4,Rc6e4] Black has stabilized the situation
on the queenside and is entitled to hope for an advantage on the other wing,
Cheparinov,I (2621)-Firman,N (2471)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108 (1-0, 65)}) 11... d4
12. Na4 e5 {An important move, consolidating Black-s centre. It should be
noted that with the white bishop on f4 this move is not possible, which
explains why Black does not block the centre with ...d4 in that case.} 13. b3
Nd7 $146 ({The only previous game where 11.Bg5 was played continued with} 13...
Be6 14. Nb2 $6 {White aims for a blockade on light squares, but allows Black
consolidate his advantage of space.} ({I suppose that Topalov intended to play
just as in the game,} 14. c3 {followed by doubling rooks on the c-file.}) 14...
Nd7 15. Bd2 a5 16. a4 Nb6 17. Qe2 Bg5 $15 {Kudinov,I-Taimanov,M/Stockholm 1998/
EXT 99 (0-1, 94)}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 {If we have a closer look at the position, we
can see that it bears certain similarity with a reversed... Exchange variation
of the Grünfeld, where Black attacks the enemy centre with ...e5 rathar than
the more popular ...c5. Although Black has more space in the current position,
White is very flexible and can try to set up pressure against the enemy centre.
} 15. c3 c5 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. Qg3 Bb7 18. Rc2 Rac8 19. Rec1 Qh6 {Both sides
have arranged their pieces in a harmonious way. Topalov's intentions are
easier to understand: increase the pressure along the c-file in order to
provoke some strategic concession (...dxc3 being the most desirable from them,
of course). However, Mamedyarov proves that he knows how to use an advantage
in space. The pressure exerted by his queen and bishop restrict White's active
possibilities.} 20. Nb2 ({White has to release the pressure against the
c5-pawn in order to over-defend the c4-square. In case of a neutral move such
as} 20. h3 $2 {Black disposes over} c4 $1 {If White re-captures with the
bishop, then the e4-pawn would fall. It is easy to understand that such an
exchange largely favours Black. However,} 21. bxc4 {is even worse, because it
occupies the c4-square, enabling} f5 $1 $17 {and if} 22. exf5 $2 {then} e4 {
when the saving Bc4+ is impossible, while} 23. Bf1 {loses material to} d3 $19 {
In this line, the black queen's and bishop's latent force is revealed
completely.}) 20... f5 $5 {A very ambitious continuation.} ({The neutral} 20...
Rfe8 {, over-defending the e5-pawn, is also playable.}) ({Black could have
also prepared the central break with} 20... Kh8 21. h3 $140 $6 f5 $1 $15 {
However, it is not easy to move the king away from the centre in the
perspective of the simplifications along the c-file.}) 21. exf5 e4 22. Bc4+ Kh8
{With such a strong pawn centre, Black can be entirely satisfied with the
result of the opening. However, the position remains very sharp.} 23. cxd4 {
This looks like a concession, but if Topalov aimed for a position that is hard
to understand over the board, then his decision is right.} (23. Be6 $5 d3 $1 (
23... Rcd8 $6 24. cxd4 cxd4 25. Rc7 $16) 24. Nxd3 $1 ({White is not
sufficiently well coordinated to carry out Topalov's trademark exchange
sacrifice with} 24. Bxd7 $6 dxc2 25. Rxc2 {because of} Rcd8 26. Qc7 e3 $1 $17)
24... exd3 25. Qxd3 $44 {[%csl Ge6][%cal Yc2d2,Yc1d1]}) 23... cxd4 24. Bf1 $5 {
A very provocative move.} Qxc1 {This was by no means forced, but it is hard to
refrain from "winning material".} 25. Rxc1 Rxc1 26. Qf4 Rc5 27. g4 Ne5 {
This was the position both sides have been aiming for. Black has a small
material advantage, attacking chances on the kingside, and a strong pased pawn
in the centre. However, White's overall coordination is better, which is
especially important in positions with Q versus 2 Rs.} 28. Nc4 Nf3+ 29. Kg2
Nh4+ $6 {The temptation of the following mini-combination was high, but the
knight stands well on f3 and there is no special need to remove it.} (29... h5
$5) 30. Kh3 Nxf5 31. b4 $1 {Probably missed by Mamedyarov. Now Black has to
fight for a draw.} ({It is easy to see that after} 31. gxf5 $2 Rcxf5 $19 {
the white king and queen are too exposed.}) 31... Rc6 (31... Rb5 32. Na5 $16 {
[%csl Yb5,Yb7]}) 32. gxf5 Rxf5 33. Qb8+ (33. Qxf5 Bc8 34. Qxc8+ Rxc8 35. Kg3 d3
36. Ne3 Rc2 $44 {[%csl Ya2,Yb4]}) 33... Bc8 34. Kg2 Rf8 35. Qe5 Rg6+ 36. Kh1 e3
37. Qe7 Rgf6 (37... Bb7+ 38. Qxb7 exf2 39. Qg2 $14 {In this line, Black cannot
attack the queenside pawns as easily as in the previous comment.}) 38. Ne5 $1 {
[%cal Yf1c4]} exf2 (38... Rxf2 $2 39. Bc4 R2f6 (39... e2 $2 40. Ng6+ $1 $18)
40. Nf7+ $40) 39. h4 Be6 40. Kh2 Bxa2 41. Nd7 R6f7 42. Qc5 Re8 43. Qxd4 Rd8 44.
Qb2 Rfxd7 45. Qxa2 Rd4 46. Kg3 Rxb4 47. Qxf2 {Although White has a material
advantage now, the position is probably drawn. All Black needs is to sacrifice
one of his rooks for the bishop and then setup a reliable fortress with R + 2
P versus Q + P.} a5 48. h5 h6 49. Qf7 a4 50. Bc4 a3 (50... Rxc4 $11) 51. Qe7
Rdb8 52. Qd6 a2 53. Bxa2 R4b6 54. Qd3 Rb2 55. Bc4 R2b4 56. Qd6 R4b6 57. Qd5 Rb4
58. Bd3 Rb3 59. Kf4 Rxd3 60. Qxd3 Rf8+ 61. Ke5 Rf6 62. Qd8+ Kh7 63. Qxf6 gxf6+
64. Kxf6 Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8.
Bd3 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. O-O b5 11. c3 Nc7 12. a4 Ncd5 13. Bh2 a6 14. Qb3 Qb6
15. Ra2 d6 16. Rfa1 Rab8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra6 Qd8 19. Ra7 Nc7 20. Ne1 Nfd5 21.
Nd3 Qd7 22. Nb4 Nxb4 23. Qxb4 Qc6 24. c4 Rfc8 25. cxb5 Qc2 26. Nf1 Nd5 27. Qd2
Qb3 28. Ne3 Bf8 29. Bg3 Nxe3 30. Qxe3 Qxb5 31. Qf3 f6 32. R1a6 Rb6 33. Ra1 Qxb2
34. Bf4 d5 35. Be3 Qc2 36. Kh2 Qg6 37. g3 h5 38. Ra8 Rbc6 39. R1a6 Qf7 40. Bf4
Rc3 41. Qe2 Rc2 42. Qe1 Rxa8 43. Rxa8 Qd7 44. Qb1 Rc8 45. Rxc8 Qxc8 46. Qg6 Qc4
47. Be3 e5 48. dxe5 d4 49. e6 dxe3 50. Qf7+ Kh7 51. Qxh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {Surprise! Surprise! Topalov is great
Queen's Indian specialist, but recently he has not had too many successes with
it. Überraschung! Topalov ist ein großer Damenindisch-Spezialist, aber zuletzt
hatte er da wenig Erfolge zu verzeichnen.} Bb4 4. e3 {This too is unexpected;
up till now the Bulgarian has above all played 4.Qc2. Auch das ist unerwartet,
bisher spielte der Bulgare vor allem 4.Qc2.} b6 {Since up till now Sasikiran
has only played 4...c5, both sides are now out of their specific preparation. 
Da Sasikiran bisher nur 4...c5 spielte, sind nun wohl beide aus der direkten
Vorbereitung.} 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O d5 (7... c5 $5) 8. a3 Bd6 9. cxd5
exd5 10. b4 {Topalov can feel satisfied. The evaluation of this line lies
between n +/= and = and does so for a long time. This is exactly what you want
for a decisive game. Topalov kann zufrieden sein. Die Bewertung dieser
Variante liegt zwischen +/= und = und das auf lange Sicht, für eine
Entscheidungspartie ist das genau richtig.} Nbd7 (10... a6 {is usual, perhaps
for good reason. ist üblich, vielleicht nicht ohne Grund.}) 11. b5 $1 Ne4 12.
Bb2 (12. Qb3 Re8 13. a4 Ndf6 14. Ba3 a5 15. Bxd6 cxd6 {The same structure!
Since both are playing for a win. White could be the one to crack it. Die
gleiche Struktur! Da beide auf Gewinn spielten, konnte sich Weiß durchsetzen.}
16. Ne2 h6 17. Ra2 Qd7 18. Ne1 Re7 19. f3 Ng5 20. Ng3 g6 21. Re2 h5 22. h4 Ne6
23. Qb1 Nf8 24. Kf2 Rae8 25. Bc2 Qd8 26. Nd3 Ne6 27. Bb3 Rc7 28. Rc2 Rxc2+ 29.
Bxc2 Qe7 30. Qc1 Kg7 31. Qd2 Ng8 32. Rh1 Nh6 $14 {/= 1-0 Knaak,R (2565)
-Beliavsky,A (2595)/Novi Sad 1979/EXT 1999 (58)}) 12... Re8 13. a4 Re6 14. Ne2
a5 15. Ba3 Rc8 16. Bxd6 cxd6 {The advantage for Black of these doubled pawns
is clear: control of many central squares. On the other hand, the pawns are
weakened and immobile. White has a long-term advantage, but not a big one. 
Der Pluspunkt für Schwarz bei diesem Doppelbauern ist klar: Beherrschung
vieler Zentrumsfelder. Auf der anderen Seite sind die Bauern geschwächt und
unbeweglich. Weiß hat langfristig Vorteil, aber der ist nicht groß.} 17. Rc1
Ndf6 18. h3 Re7 19. Qb3 h6 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rc1 Rc7 {In my opinion the
exchange of both rooks favours White. Since f3 will have to be played sooner
or later, it would be good for Black to have a rook on the e-file.  Der
Abtausch beider Türme ist m.E. für Weiß günstig. Da früher oder später f2-f3
erfolgen muss, wäre ein schwarzer Turm in der e-Linie gut postiert.} 22. Rxc7
Qxc7 23. Qc2 Qe7 ({The exchange of queens was well worth considering: Der
Damentausch kam durchaus in Frage:} 23... Qxc2 24. Bxc2 {Black would have to
adopt a completely passive setup, e.g. with Be7, Nc7, Nf6 and Pg5. But how
does White then make progress? Schwarz würde sich völlig passiv aufstellen
müssen, z.B. mit Be7, Nc7, Nf6 und Pg5. Aber wie macht Weiß dann Fortschritte?}
) 24. Qc1 g6 25. Nh2 Kg7 26. h4 Ne8 27. f3 N4f6 28. Nf1 (28. g4 $5) 28... h5
29. Nf4 Nd7 30. Qe1 Nf8 31. Qg3 Kh6 (31... Nf6) 32. Nxh5 $5 {Objectively, the
move is not correct, but it is not clear how White could have made something
of his slight advantage by other means. The fact that Sasikiran was problay
short of time will certainly also have played its part. Objektiv ist der Zug
nicht korrekt, aber es ist ja nicht klar, dass Weiß seinen kleinen Vorteil mit
anderen Zügen hätte auch verwerten können. Die vermutlich schon knappe Zeit
bei Sasikiran wird sicher auch eine Rolle gespielt haben.} gxh5 33. Qg8 (33.
Qf4+ Kg7 34. Ng3 Kg8 35. Nxh5 Ng6 36. Qh6 Qxh4 $11) 33... f5 $8 34. Ng3 Ng7 (
34... Qxe3+ {would also be enough for a draw: würde auch zum Remis ausreichen:}
35. Kh2 Qxd3 36. Qh8+ Kg6 37. Qxh5+ Kg7 38. Nxf5+ Kf6 39. Qxe8 Qxf5 40. Qxf8+
Kg6 {and here the exchange of queens would not win, because Bb7-c8-d7xb5 would
happen too quickly for that.. und hier würde Damentausch nicht gewinnen, weil
Bb7-c8-d7xb5 zu schnell käme.}) 35. Bxf5 Ng6 36. Bxg6 Kxg6 37. Nxh5 Qxe3+ 38.
Kh2 Qe7 $2 (38... Qxd4 $11 {would not only take a pawn, but also control
another important square: f4. würde nicht nur einen Bauern nehmen, sondern
sogar ein zusätzliches wichtiges Feld kontrollieren: f4} 39. Kh3 Qe5 40. g4 d4
41. Nxg7 Qxg7 42. h5+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ $11) 39. Nf4+ $1 Kf6 (39... Kf5 40. Qh7+
Kxf4 41. Qh6+ Kf5 42. g4#) 40. g4 Qf7 41. Qd8+ Qe7 42. Qg8 Qf7 43. Qd8+ Qe7 44.
Qxe7+ (44. Qxb6 {was simpler after all, since the white king is never in any
danger. war wohl einfacher, denn der weiße König ist nie gefährdet.}) ({
Also winning is: Es gewinnt auch} 44. g5+ Kf7 45. g6+ Kf6 46. Qg8 Ne6 47. Nh5+
Kf5 48. Kg3 Nf8 49. Nf4 $18) 44... Kxe7 45. Kg3 Ne6 $6 {If you want, the final
error. Wenn man so will, ist das der letzte Fehler,} ({But aber auch} 45... Kf6
46. Ne2 {with the advance of the pawns did not offer Black much of a chance of
survival either. nebst Vormarsch der Bauern bietet Schwarz kaum
Überlebenschancen.}) 46. Nxe6 $1 {An impressive evaluation of the position or
calculation... Das ist eine beeindruckende Einschätzung der Stellung oder
Berechnung...} Kxe6 47. f4 Bc8 48. f5+ Kf7 49. h5 Bd7 {... because on account
of the possibility of Bd7xb5, White's victory hangs on a single, very thin
thread. ...denn wegen der Möglichkeit Bd7xb5 hängt der weiße Sieg an einem
hauchdünnen Faden.} 50. h6 Kg8 (50... Bxb5 51. axb5 a4 52. g5 a3 53. g6+ Kg8 (
53... Ke7 54. h7 a2 55. h8=Q a1=Q 56. Qg7+ Kd8 57. Qf6+ Kc7 58. g7 $18) 54. f6
a2 55. h7+ Kh8 56. f7 $18) 51. Kf4 Be8 (51... Bxb5 52. g5 Bxa4 53. g6 Bc2 54.
Kg5 a4 55. h7+ Kg7 56. f6+ Kh8 57. f7 $18) 52. Kg5 $1 Kf7 53. h7 $1 Kg7 54.
h8=Q+ Kxh8 55. Kf6 Bxb5 (55... Kg8 56. Ke7 Bf7 57. Kd7 $18) 56. Ke7 Bd3 57. f6
Bg6 58. f7 Bxf7 59. Kxf7 1-0

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.07"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 Nc6 7. O-O Nb4 8. Qb3
a5 9. a3 Nc6 10. Bf4 a4 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Qxc4 Nd5 13. Nc3 Nb6 14. Qd3 Bd7 15.
Rad1 Na5 16. h4 Nac4 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Qe8 19. Bc1 Bc6 20. e4 Rd8 21. Rfe1
f6 22. g4 Qf7 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Rd3 f5 25. Rf3 Rxd4 26. gxf5 e5 27. Bg5 Nd7 28.
Bc1 Nf6 29. Rd3 Rfd8 30. Red1 Qe7 31. Nd5 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Nd6 34.
Bh3 Nde4 35. Qe3 Nc5 36. Rd1 Nb3 37. Bg2 c6 38. Qa7 Nxc1 39. d6 Ne2+ 40. Kf1
Qf7 41. Kxe2 Qc4+ 42. Ke1 Qb5 43. Rd2 e4 44. Bf1 Qe5 45. Be2 h6 46. Qxb7 e3 47.
fxe3 Qxe3 48. Qe7 Qg1+ 49. Bf1 Rd7 50. Qe6 Kh7 51. Rd3 Qh2 52. Be2 Qxh4+ 53.
Kd1 Qf4 54. Kc2 c5 55. Rd1 Qf2 56. Rd2 Qf4 57. Bb5 Rd8 58. d7 h5 59. Qe7 Qb8
60. Rg2 Ng4 61. f6 Rg8 62. f7 Rf8 63. Rxg4 Qxb5 64. Qe4+ Kh8 65. Rg5 Qb3+ 66.
Kc1 Qxf7 67. Rf5 Qxf5 68. Qxf5 Rxf5 69. d8=Q+ Kh7 70. Qe8 1-0

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.07"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 h5 12. O-O Nh7 13. Qd2 h4 14. Nh1 f5 15.
Nf2 Bd7 16. Rab1 Qf6 17. f4 Nf7 18. Kh1 Rfe8 19. Nb5 Qd8 20. b4 b6 21. bxc5
bxc5 22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Nc3 Qa5 24. Qc2 Ng4 25. Ncd1 Ba4 26. Qe2 Bxd1 27. Nxd1
Nfh6 28. Bd2 Qxa2 29. Rb7 Qa3 30. e5 dxe5 31. d6 Kh8 32. d7 Re7 33. fxe5 Rxe5
34. Qf3 Rd8 35. Bb5 Qa2 36. Bg5 Bf6 37. Bf4 a6 38. Bc6 g5 39. Bxe5 Nxe5 40. Bd5
Qd2 41. Qb3 Kg7 42. Be6 Qe2 43. Rg1 f4 44. h3 c4 45. Qb6 f3 46. Qf2 Nd3 47.
Qxf3 Qxe6 48. Rf1 Nf4 49. Ne3 c3 50. Rd1 Nf5 51. Re1 Ng3+ 52. Kh2 Be5 53. Ng4
Nfe2 54. Qd3 Bf4 55. Qxc3+ Kf7 56. Qd3 Nf5+ 57. g3 hxg3+ 58. Kg2 Nh4+ 59. Kf1
g2+ 60. Kf2 Bg3+ 61. Qxg3 Nxg3 0-1

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.07"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3
Nbd7 9. g3 Bd6 10. b3 O-O 11. Bg2 b5 12. O-O Rb8 13. c5 Bc7 14. f4 a5 15. b4
Ra8 16. Bd2 Qe7 17. Qe2 Ra7 18. Rab1 Rfa8 19. g4 axb4 20. axb4 Ra3 21. Bf3 Nh7
22. g5 e5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. fxe5 Nxg5 25. h4 Nh3+ 26. Kg2 Qxe5 27. Rh1 d4 28.
exd4 Nf4+ 29. Bxf4 Qxf4 30. Rh3 Rxc3 31. Rf1 Re3 32. Qd1 Rd8 33. d5 Rxd5 0-1

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.07"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Na6 8. O-O
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 f6 12. Bd2 Nh6 13. c5 Nxc5 14. Qc1 Nf7 15.
Nd5 Ne6 16. Nxc7 Nxc7 17. Qxc7 Nd8 18. Qc3 Be6 19. Be3 Rc8 20. Qa3 Nc6 21. Rac1
Rf7 22. Bc4 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Bf8 24. Qa4 a6 25. Bb6 Rd7 26. Rcc1 Qe6 27. a3 Ne7
28. Be3 Rc6 29. Rxc6 Nxc6 30. Rc1 h5 31. b4 Qa2 32. Kh2 Rd3 33. b5 Rxa3 34. Qd1
axb5 35. Nh4 Qf7 36. g4 g5 37. Nf5 b4 38. gxh5 Rc3 39. Ra1 Ra3 40. Rb1 Kh7 41.
h4 Nd4 42. Bxd4 exd4 43. Qxd4 Qc7+ 44. Kg2 Qf4 45. Qd7+ Kh8 46. Qe8 Qf3+ 47.
Kg1 Qg4+ 48. Kf1 Qh3+ 49. Ke1 Qc3+ 50. Kf1 Qh3+ 51. Ke1 Qc3+ 52. Kf1 Qh3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.08"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Rb8 10. d3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Re8 14. a3 h6 15. Ng3
Be6 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Ne2 d3 19. Bxd3 Ne5 20. Ned4 Nxd3 21. Qxd3
Rc8 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. e5 dxe5 24. Qg6 e4 25. Ne5 Bc5 26. Qf7+ Kh7 27. Qg6+ Kg8
28. Bxh6 Re7 29. Rad1 Qe8 30. Bg5 Qxg6 31. Nxg6 Rec7 32. b4 Ba7 33. Rd6 Kh7 34.
Ne5 Rc2 35. Bh4 Rc1 36. Kf1 Nd5 37. Bg5 e3 38. fxe3 Bxe3 39. Nf3 Nf4 40. Bxf4
Bxf4 41. Rdxe6 R8c6 42. Rxc6 Rxc6 43. h4 Bc1 44. g4 Bxa3 45. Re4 g6 46. Ke2 Rc4
47. Ng5+ Kg7 48. Re7+ Kf8 49. Re6 Rxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.08"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. Be2 Nb6 12. O-O d5 13. a5 d4 14. axb6 dxe3 15.
Qxe3 Nd7 16. Na4 Rc8 17. Na5 Bg5 18. Qd3 Rb8 19. Rfd1 O-O 20. Kh1 Qf6 21. c4 h4
22. c5 Qh6 23. c6 bxc6 24. Nxc6 Nf6 25. f4 Bxf4 26. Nxb8 Rxb8 27. Nc5 Ng4 28.
Rf1 Ne3 29. Qd6 Re8 30. Nxe6 Qg6 31. Rf2 h3 32. gxh3 fxe6 33. b7 Qxe4+ 34. Bf3
Qd4 35. b8=Q Rxb8 36. Qxb8+ Kh7 37. Qb7 Nd5 1-0

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.08"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nd8 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nf5 Ne6 15.
Bd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Nc5 17. Qg4 Bf6 18. Bg5 h5 19. Qf4 Be5 20. Qf3 f6 21. Bd2 Qf7
22. Rad1 Nd7 23. Bf4 Bxc3 24. Qxc3 Nb6 25. Qg3 Kh7 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Bxd6 Nxd5
28. Bc5 Re5 29. Nh4 Kg8 30. Nf3 Re8 31. Nd4 Kh7 32. Qd3+ Qg6 33. Qxg6+ Kxg6 34.
f3 Nf4 35. Kf2 Kf7 36. Rd2 Rd8 37. Bb4 Ne6 38. Nxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon 20th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2007.07.08"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2007.07.06"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8.
O-O b5 9. a4 b4 10. Nc6 Qc7 11. Nxb4 d5 12. Nxa6 $5 {[%mdl 4] This
entertaining variation is a bit dubious for White. Despite his huge
development advantage and three pawns for the piece Black probably has better
chances.} Bxa6 13. exd5 Bd6 {A new, but very logical idea of winning a tempo
with the help of an attack against the h2 pawn.} (13... exd5 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15.
Nxd5 (15. Re1 Be7 16. Bg5 Re6 17. Nxd5 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Nxd5 19. c4 Qe5 20. Qa5
Qxg5 21. Qa8+ Bd8 {0-1 Ter Karapetian,A (2103)-Babuiian,L (2413)/Tbilisi 2007})
15... Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bd6 17. Qe4+ Ne5 18. f4 Qc6 19. Qd4 Ng4 20. Qxg7 Nxe3 21.
Qxh8+ Kd7 22. Rf2 Ng4 23. Rd2 Qc5+ 24. Qd4 Kc7 25. Qxc5+ Bxc5+ 26. Kh1 Nf2+ 27.
Rxf2 Bxf2 {0-1 Ljubicic,F (2404)-Rezan,S (2414)/Zadar 2006 (68)}) (13... Be7
14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Qe2 Qc8 17. Nb5 O-O 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bh4 Rf7 20.
c3 Nc5 21. Qc4 Qa8 22. Nc7 Rxa4 23. b4 Qe4 24. Qxe4 Nfxe4 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 {
0-1 Faibisovich,V-Liberzon,V/Grozny 1969 (29)}) 14. h3 exd5 (14... O-O 15. Bxa6
Rxa6 16. Qe2 Qb7 17. dxe6 fxe6 $13) 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bb7 (16... Bxe2 17.
Qxa8+ Qd8 18. Qe4+ Qe7 19. Qxe7+ Bxe7 20. Rfe1 $16) 17. Qc4 Bc6 (17... Qxc4 18.
Bxc4 Rc8 19. Bb5 Bc6 $11) 18. b4 Qb7 $6 {In the rapid game Topalov had little
time to judge the consequence of the principled move 18...Rc8! properly.} (
18... Rc8 $1 19. b5 (19. Qg4 Nf6 20. Qh4 O-O $17) 19... Bh2+ 20. Kh1 Bxg2+ 21.
Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Bf3 (22. Qc6 Rxc6 23. bxc6 Qxc6+ 24. Kxh2 Qd6+ $15) 22... Qxf3+
23. Kxf3 Rxc4 24. a5 Be5 $15) 19. Rad1 Be7 $2 (19... Bxb4 20. Rxd7 $1 Bxd7 (
20... Kxd7 21. Qxf7+ Kc8 22. Bg4+ Bd7 23. Rd1 Bxg4 24. Qc4+ Kb8 25. Qf4+ Kc8
26. Qxg4+ $18) (20... Qxd7 21. Qxb4 Qb7 (21... Qd5 22. Bf3 Qe6 23. Bxc6+ Qxc6
24. Bf4 $18) 22. Bb5 Bxb5 23. axb5 f6 24. Re1 $18) 21. Bf3 Qc8 22. Qe4+ $16) (
19... Ne5 $1 20. Qd4 O-O-O 21. f4 Ng6 22. a5 $13) 20. b5 Bxg2 21. Rxd7 $1 {
Anand is a great tactician and this big shot decides the game in White's
favour.} Kxd7 (21... Qxd7 22. Kxg2 $18) 22. Qg4+ (22. Qd4+ Ke8 23. Qxg7 Bxf1
24. Qxh8+ Bf8 25. Bxf1 Rxa4 26. Bc5 $18) 22... Ke8 23. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rxa4
25. b6 $1 {Black can not really complain in the material sense, but the
coordination of his pieces is pretty miserable. He will get no time to build
up any real defence against the advance of the white b-pawn.} Ra5 (25... Rb4
26. Ra1 Kd7 27. Ra7+ Kd6 28. Rxe7 Kxe7 29. Bc5+ $18) 26. Rd1 Bg5 27. b7 Ke7 28.
Bb6 Re5 29. Bd8+ $1 (29. Bd8+ $1 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Kxd8 31. b8=Q+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sanchez Delgado, Lidia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2053"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e6 7. e3 Nge7 8. d4
O-O 9. d5 exd5 10. cxd5 Nb8 11. h3 a6 12. a4 Nd7 13. e4 Rb8 14. a5 b6 15. axb6
Nxb6 16. Re1 Nc4 17. Qe2 Ne5 18. Nd2 f6 19. f4 Nf7 20. Nc4 Re8 21. Qd3 Qc7 22.
Bd2 Rb3 23. g4 Bd7 24. Rxa6 Bb5 25. Nxb5 Rxb5 26. Bc3 Nc8 27. e5 fxe5 28. fxe5
Rb3 29. e6 Bd4+ 30. Kh1 Ne5 31. Nxe5 dxe5 32. Qc4 Rb6 33. Ba5 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Camarena Gimenez, Rufino"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2332"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 Nfd7 7. Be3 a6 8. Ng1
Bxe2 9. Ngxe2 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qd2 O-O 12. Rfd1 Qa5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rab1
Qb4 15. b3 b5 16. f3 bxc4 17. bxc4 Qxc4 18. Nd5 Rab8 19. Nb6 Qe6 20. Nf4 Qe5
21. Qe2 Bh6 22. Nc4 Qg7 23. Nd5 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Kh8 25. f4 Nd7 26. Ndb6 Nf6 27.
e5 dxe5 28. Nxe5 Nxe5 29. Qxe5 e6 30. Qa5 Ne4 31. Rb3 Rbd8 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Arizmendi Martinez, Julen Luis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2522"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. Be3 Re8 10. a3 Bf8 11. Rc1 Nd4 12. Ne4 c6 13. Bxd4 exd4 14. Qd2 Bg4
15. Rfe1 a5 16. Qf4 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nd5 18. Qd2 Nf6 19. Bg2 Nxe4 20. dxe4 Qb6 21.
Kh1 a4 22. f4 Ra5 23. e5 Rb5 24. Rc2 Rb3 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Bf3 g6 27. Kg2 Qb5 28.
Be4 Be7 29. Qc1 Re3 30. Bd3 Qd5+ 31. Kf2 g5 32. Bc4 Qe4 33. Bd3 Qd5 34. Bc4 Qe4
35. Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. Rc1 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8.
e3 a6 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Bxc6 dxc6 14. Qxd8
Rfxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. Bd2
Bd6 9. Bd3 Qe7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rae1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. Bb3 Nb6 14. Qf5 Qd7
15. Qxd7 Nbxd7 16. g4 exd4 17. exd4 Nb6 18. Bg5 Bb4 19. a3 Bxa3 20. bxa3 Rfe8
21. f3 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Kf2 Rxe1 24. Kxe1 Kf8 25. Kd2 h6 26. Bf4 Ne8 27.
Kd3 Ke7 28. a4 Nd7 29. h4 Nef6 30. h5 Nd5 31. Bd2 Nc7 32. Bc1 b6 33. Ba3+ c5
34. Ke4 Nf6+ 35. Kf5 Nd7 36. Bc1 Nf8 37. dxc5 bxc5 38. Be3 Nfe6 39. Ke5 Kd7 40.
f4 Kc6 41. g5 Kd7 42. gxh6 gxh6 43. f5 Ng7 44. Bxf7 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 12. Be2 Be4 13. O-O Ne6 14. Nd4 Qb6
15. Qd2 Rac8 16. Rac1 h6 17. Bg4 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Nc5 19. Be2 a5 20. f3 Bg6 21. b4
axb4 22. Qxb4 Qxb4 23. axb4 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Bxd3 25. Rc7 Bxb4 26. Rxb7 Bc5 27. Kf2
Re8 28. Nc6 Re6 29. Rc7 Bb6 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. Bd4 Ba6 32. Ra8 Rxc6 33. Rxa6 Rc2+
34. Kg3 Bxd4 35. exd4 Rd2 36. Ra4 g5 37. h4 Kg6 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Kh3 Kf5 40.
Kg3 f6 41. Rb4 Rd3 42. Kf2 Rd2+ 43. Kg3 Rd1 44. Ra4 g4 45. fxg4+ Kg5 46. Kf3
Rf1+ 47. Ke2 Rf4 48. g3 Rxg4 49. Kf3 Re4 50. Rb4 f5 51. Ra4 Re3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 22nd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2007.08.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Evdokimov, Alexander A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. Bg5 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. e4 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Qe7 10. b4 Be6 11. Re1 h6 12. Bh4 Rfd8 13. Qc2 Rd7 14. Bb5 Rad8
15. Nb3 Bxb3 16. axb3 Rd6 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Rxa7 Qxb4 19. cxb4 Rxc2 20. Rxb7
Rd3 21. Bg3 Nd7 22. h3 f6 23. Rb1 Rdc3 24. Kh2 Bf8 25. Rd1 Nb6 26. Rd8 Kf7 27.
Rbb8 Bg7 28. Nd2 Ke7 29. Nf1 Rxb3 30. Ne3 Rxe3 31. fxe3 Rc4 32. b5 Rxe4 33. Be1
h5 34. Rd3 Bh6 35. Rb7 Rc4 36. Ba5 e4 37. Rb3 Nd5 38. b6 Bxe3 39. Rxe3 Nxe3 40.
bxc7 Kd7 41. Rb8 Rxc7 42. Bxc7 Kxc7 43. Re8 Kd6 44. Rxe4 Nf5 45. g3 Kd5 46. Re8
Kd6 47. Kg2 Ne7 48. Kf3 Kd7 49. Rf8 Ke6 50. Ke4 Nf5 51. Kf4 Ne7 52. Rh8 Nd5+
53. Ke4 Nc3+ 54. Kf3 Nd5 55. Rh7 Nc3 56. Rg7 Kf5 57. g4+ hxg4+ 58. hxg4+ Kg5
59. Rc7 Na4 60. Rc6 f5 61. gxf5 gxf5 62. Ke3 Nb2 63. Kd2 Kg4 64. Rc2 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Qc7 8.
Qe2 a5 9. f4 d5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Ne4 Bxf4 12. Bxf4 Qxf4 13. g3 Qe5 14. O-O-O
Ke7 15. Qf3 Nf6 16. Qa3+ c5 17. Nxc5 Nd5 18. Bg2 Nb4 19. Nd3 Qe3+ 20. Kb1 Rb8
21. Rhe1 Qb6 22. c3 Ba6 23. Ne5 Rhd8 24. cxb4 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4
Bb6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Re1 Ng4 12. Nf1 Nxe3 13. Nxe3 Rb8 14. Bd5 Bg4
15. Nxg4 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C09"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. O-O cxd4 8.
Nb3 Nge7 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Bf4 Nf5 12. Qa4 Qb6 13. Rfe1 c5 14.
Rad1 Be6 15. Ng5 Rae8 16. Bxd6 Nxd6 17. Qa5 Nb7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20.
Qe3 a5 21. c4 a4 22. Nd2 Nd6 23. b3 axb3 24. axb3 d4 25. Qg3 e5 26. Rxe5 Nf5
27. Qf4 Qb8 28. Re4 Nd6 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. h3 Re6 31. Qf3 Kh7 32. Qd5 Qc8 33.
Nf3 Ne8 34. Qf5+ Kg8 35. Qd3 Nf6 36. b4 cxb4 37. Qxd4 Ne4 38. Qd8+ Re8 39. Qd5+
Kh7 40. Re1 Nc3 41. Qd3+ Kg8 42. Rxe8+ Qxe8 43. c5 Qe6 44. Qd8+ Kh7 45. Qb6 Qc4
46. c6 Ne2+ 47. Kh2 Qf4+ 48. Kh1 Qc1+ 49. Kh2 Qf4+ 50. Kh1 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. c3 O-O 8. Bb3 b5
9. Re1 a5 10. a3 e5 11. Bg5 a4 12. Ba2 h6 13. Bh4 Qe8 14. Nbd2 Be6 15. Nf1 Bxa2
16. Rxa2 Qe6 17. Ra1 Nd7 18. Ne3 Nb6 19. Rc1 Na5 20. g4 Nb3 21. Rb1 d5 22. Qe2
d4 23. cxd4 cxd4 24. Nc2 Rfc8 25. Nb4 f6 26. Bg3 g5 27. Nd2 Bf8 28. Nf1 Bxb4
29. axb4 Rc6 30. Qf3 Nc8 31. Bh2 Ne7 32. Rbd1 Ng6 33. Ng3 Nh4 34. Qh1 Rac8 35.
Nf5 Nxf5 36. exf5 Qd6 37. h4 Rc2 38. Bg3 Qd7 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. Qh6 Qg7 41. Qh1
Nd2 42. Re2 Nb3 43. Rxc2 Rxc2 44. Qd5+ Qf7 45. Qxb5 Nc5 46. bxc5 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. d4 c5 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d5 Nd4 7. Nxd4 cxd4 8. O-O
e5 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Na3 Qb6 11. Bf4 a6 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. c5 dxc5 14. Nc4 Bxc4
15. Qxc4 Ne7 16. Rac1 Rc8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. Qxc5 Qxc5 19. Rxc5 d3 20. Rc7 h5 21.
Bd7 Nc6 22. Rxb7 Ne5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Rd1 Bxb2 25. Rxd3 Be5 26. Rd5 f6 27. Be6
Rxd5 28. exd5 h4 29. Rf7+ Ke8 30. Ra7 Rf8 31. h3 f5 32. Kf1 Rf6 33. Ke2 g5 34.
Kd3 g4 35. Kc4 gxh3 36. gxh3 Rg6 37. Bf7+ 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Be7 15.
Ng5 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 Bg6 17. Be2 Nb8 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Bd2 Nc6 20. Bc3 Rdc8 21. a5
a6 22. Rfe1 Na7 23. Bb4 Nc6 24. Bc3 Na7 25. h4 Nb5 26. h5 Bc2 27. Bxb5 axb5 28.
Re2 Bf5 29. Re3 Rc4 30. b3 Rc6 31. Bb4 h6 32. f3 Rac8 33. g4 Rc1+ 34. Re1 Rxe1+
35. Rxe1 Bd3 36. Bc5 Ra8 37. Re3 Bb1 38. b4 Rc8 39. Kf2 g6 40. Re1 Bc2 41. Rc1
Bb3 42. Rh1 Kh7 43. Ke3 Bc4 44. f4 Rg8 45. hxg6+ Rxg6 46. g5 Kg8 47. Be7 hxg5
48. fxg5 Rg7 49. Kf4 Rh7 50. Rh6 Bd3 51. Bf6 Bg6 52. Kg3 Kf8 53. Kf4 Ke8 54.
Kg4 Kd7 55. Rxh7 Bxh7 56. Kh5 Ke8 57. Kh6 Bg6 58. Kg7 Bf5 59. Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 O-O 11. Be3 h6 12. Nbd2 Nb4 13. Re1 c5 14. Nf1 Be6 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. Ng3 Qd7 17. c3 Nc6 18. Qd2 Nd8 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 c4 21. d5
exd5 22. e5 0-1

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Bg7 7. d3 O-O 8.
Be3 b6 9. Qd2 e5 10. Bh6 Qd6 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. O-O-O a5 13. g4 a4 14. Ne2 Ra7
15. Ng3 Re7 16. g5 Ne8 17. Qc3 Nc7 18. Rdf1 Nb5 19. Qd2 a3 20. b3 f6 21. c4 Nd4
22. gxf6+ Rxf6 23. Ne1 Nf3 24. Qe3 Nxe1 25. Rxe1 Ref7 26. Rhg1 Rf3 27. Nh5+ Kh8
28. Qh6 Qxd3 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. fxe3 Qc3+ 31. Kd1 Qa1+ 0-1

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. a3 Be7 8. Qa4
O-O 9. Qxc4 e5 10. d5 Na5 11. Qa4 c6 12. b4 Nc4 13. dxc6 Qc7 14. O-O bxc6 15.
Nd2 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 Bd7 17. Qa6 Qb6 18. Qc4 Qd4 19. Qxd4 exd4 20. Na4 Nd5 21.
Rac1 Rfe8 22. Rfd1 Rad8 23. Bf3 Bf6 24. Nc5 Bc8 25. Ne4 Be5 26. Rxc6 h6 27.
Rdc1 Bb7 28. R6c2 Bc8 29. h4 Bd7 30. Rc5 Be6 31. Ra5 Bb8 32. Nc5 Bc8 33. Nd3
Nb6 34. Bf4 Bxf4 35. Nxf4 Re7 36. Nd5 Re5 37. Nxb6 Kf8 1-0

[Event "World Cup blindfold"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2007.10.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bf4 d5 8. Nc3
dxc4 9. Qa4 Nbd7 10. Qxc4 c5 11. Rfd1 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Qe3 Qe8 14. Ne5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rc8 16. Qf3 b5 17. Rac1 b4 18. Nb1 Nd5 19. Nd2 Qa4 20. Nec4 Nxf4+
21. gxf4 Rfd8 22. f5 exf5 23. Qxf5 g6 24. Qf3 Ne6 25. b3 Qb5 26. Ne4 Ng5 27.
Nxg5 Qxg5+ 28. Kf1 Kg7 29. e3 Qb5 30. h3 a5 31. Kg2 a4 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rd1
Rxd1 34. Qxd1 a3 35. Qd4+ Bf6 36. Qe4 Qd7 37. Qf3 Qd3 38. e4 Qd4 39. Qe3 Qd7
40. e5 Be7 41. Qe4 Qd1 42. e6 Qd8 43. exf7 Kxf7 44. Ne5+ Kf8 45. Qc4 Qe8 46.
Qe6 Kg7 47. Nc6 Kf8 48. Ne5 Kg7 49. Nc6 Kf8 50. Ne5 Kg7 51. Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.28"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sulskis, Sarunas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2527"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Lithuania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LTU"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. Bxh7 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Nxh7 13. Ke2 e6 14. Ne4
f5 15. Nd2 Be7 16. h5 O-O-O 17. f4 Rhg8 18. Nb3 g5 19. hxg6 Rxg6 20. Rh2 Nf8
21. Be3 Nd7 22. Rg1 Nb6 23. Bxb6 axb6 24. g3 Bc5 25. Rgg2 Bd4 26. c3 Bc5 27.
Rh3 Be7 28. Rgh2 Bf8 29. Rh1 b5 30. a3 Rd7 31. Rd1 Rdg7 32. Kf3 c5 33. Nc1 c4
34. Ne2 Bc5 35. Rhh1 Rg8 36. Rd2 Kc7 37. Rh3 R8g7 38. Rh5 Kc8 39. Rh1 Rg8 40.
Ra1 h5 41. Rh1 Rh6 42. Nd4 Rd8 43. Rhd1 Rg6 44. Nb3 Rdg8 45. Nxc5 Rxg3+ 46. Kf2
Rg2+ 47. Ke3 R2g3+ 48. Kf2 Rg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. d5 Ne5 13. Bc3 {We examined
this line in several CBM issues (most recently in CBM 098, annotations to
Parker-McShane) but now GM Shakhriar Mamedyarov comes up with an early (and
quite strong) novelty:} Bd7 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (13... O-O 14. Bb3 Qb6 15. f4
Nd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rc1 Rd8 18. Rc4 {[%cal Yd1a1,Ya1c3]} e5 19. Qa1 Re8 $1 (
19... f6 20. Qc3 exf4 21. Nxf4 Ne5 22. Rc7+ Kh8 23. Rf1 Bd7 24. Ne6 $1 Rdc8 25.
Rxf6 $1 Rxc7 26. Rf8+ Rxf8 27. Qxe5+ {1-0 Nielsen,P-McShane,L/Copenhagen 2003/
CBM 95 ext (27).}) 20. Qc3 Kg8 21. f5 gxf5 22. exf5 Nf6 {[%csl Gf6]} 23. Rb4
Qa6 24. Ra4 Qd6 25. O-O Bd7 26. Rh4 Bb5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Parker,J-McShane,L/
Rethymnon 2003/CBM 098/[Krasenkow] (41)}) 14. Bb3 {It turns out that the f2-f4
push is not good now:} (14. f4 Rc8 $1 15. Bb3 Nf3+ 16. gxf3 Bxc3+ 17. Nxc3 Qa5)
14... Rc8 15. Rc1 Qb6 16. Ba4 ({Again} 16. f4 {doesn't work:} Rxc3 $1 17. Rxc3
(17. Nxc3 $4 Qe3+) 17... Ng4 $1 {with trouble for White}) (16. O-O O-O {
is pleasant for Black as f2-f4 is impossible.}) 16... O-O 17. Bxd7 Nxd7 18.
Bxg7 Kxg7 19. O-O Nf6 $11 {The black pieces are placed quite comfortably, he
should be OK.} 20. Qd3 e6 {Probably a bit too early.} ({After} 20... Qa5 {
Black has no problems.}) 21. Rb1 (21. d6 $6 e5 {[%csl Rd6] - a typical motif.})
21... Qa6 (21... Qd6 22. f4 $1 (22. Rxb7 $143 exd5 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. Qxd5 Nxd5
25. Rxa7 Ra8 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Ra1 Ra3) 22... b6 23. Nd4 e5 24. fxe5 Qxe5 25.
Nc6 $14) 22. Qxa6 bxa6 {Double pawns are somewhat disturbing for Black.} 23.
dxe6 Nxe4 {[%cal Re4d2]} 24. Rb4 $1 (24. Rb7 Nc5 25. Rxa7 Nxe6 26. Rxa6 Rfd8 {
[%cal Yd8d2,Yc8c2] and White can't keep his extra pawn.}) 24... Nc5 25. exf7
Rxf7 {[%mdl 4096] So, White has an extra pawn on the kingside. An
insignificant advantage? Not in Topalov's hands!} 26. Rd1 Re7 27. Nf4 Rd8 $1
28. Rbb1 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 g5 30. Nh5+ Kf7 31. f4 gxf4 32. Nxf4 Re4 33. g3 Rc4 34.
Rd5 Rc2 35. Rf5+ Kg8 36. a3 Nd7 $2 {An unnecessary decentralisation.} (36... a5
$142 $1 $132) 37. Rd5 Nf6 38. Rd8+ (38. Rd6 $5 Ng4 39. h3 Ne5 40. Rxa6 Nf3+ 41.
Kf1 {and the famous drawing mechanism doesn't work:} Rd2 42. Ne2 $18) 38... Kf7
39. Ra8 $2 {White's "attacking" rook will be quite passive here.} (39. Rd6 {
was still strong:} Ng4 40. h3 $1 Rc1+ (40... Ne5 41. Rxa6) 41. Kg2 Rc2+ 42. Kf3
Nh2+ 43. Ke4 Rc4+ 44. Kf5 $16) 39... Rc7 40. Kg2 a5 {At last Black starts
moving this pawn.} 41. Rb8 (41. h3 $5) (41. Kh3 $5 {but White can hardly win
anyway.}) 41... Rc3 42. Rb7+ Kg8 43. a4 Rc4 44. Ne6 h6 45. Rxa7 Rxa4 46. Kf3
Re4 (46... Ra1 {was simpler.}) 47. Nc5 Re5 48. Rxa5 Rf5+ 49. Ke2 Re5+ 50. Kf3
Rf5+ 51. Ke3 Kf7 52. Ra7+ Kg6 53. Nd3 Ng4+ 54. Ke4 Nf2+ 55. Nxf2 Rxf2 56. h3
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Djukic, Nikola"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Montenegro"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MNE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Kb1 b5 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. Qa5 Nd7 16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxc4 g6 18. Qxb6 Nxb6 19. Na5 Bh6 20. Rd3 Kd7 21.
Rb3 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 Rab8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Kc2 f5 25. a3 Rc8 26. Kb3 Rc5 27. Rd1
Kc7 28. Rd3 e4 29. fxe4 fxe4 30. Rd1 e3 31. Kc3 Bg7+ 32. Kb3 Rxd5 33. Re1 Rb5+
34. Kc2 d5 35. Rxe3 Bd4 36. Re7+ Kd8 37. Re6 Kd7 38. Rd6+ Kc7 39. b4 g5 40. h3
h4 41. Kd2 Ba1 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.31"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
Nbd7 9. Qc2 a5 10. Rd1 h6 11. Ne1 b6 12. Nd2 Nh5 13. Be5 Ba6 14. Nd3 Rc8 15.
Rac1 Nhf6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e3 Re8 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Qb1 Bd6 20. Bf1 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Qb8 22. Rc2 Rc8 23. Nf3 Bb5 24. Qc1 Rxc2 25. Qxc2 Be8 26. Nde5 Ne4 27. Ba6
f6 28. Nd3 Qa8 29. Bc8 Nc5 30. dxc5 Qxc8 31. Qc3 bxc5 32. Qxa5 e5 33. Nh4 g5
34. Ng2 Be7 35. Nc1 d4 36. Qd2 Bc6 37. Ne1 Qe6 38. Qc2 Kg7 39. e4 c4 40. b3 Bb4
41. Nf3 Qg4 0-1

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 b6 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rd1 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Bc3
Nbd7 15. e4 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 Qb7 17. Re1 Ne8 18. h4 Nd6 19. Rh3 Nb5 20. Rg3 f6 21.
e5 f5 22. Ng5 Rfe8 23. Qe2 Nf8 24. h5 h6 25. Nh3 Nc7 26. Qc4 Nd5 27. Bd2 Kh7
28. b3 Qf7 29. Qe2 Rab8 30. Rc1 Nd7 31. a4 Rb7 32. Nf4 Nxf4 33. Bxf4 Reb8 34.
Rcc3 Rb4 35. Bd2 Rh4 36. Kg1 Rbb4 37. f4 Re4 38. Qf3 Rxh5 39. Re3 Rd4 40. Rd3
Rxd3 41. Qxd3 Nb6 42. Qd6 Nd5 43. Rd3 Nb4 44. Bxb4 cxb4 45. Qxb4 Rh4 46. Rh3
Rg4 47. Qd2 a5 48. Qf2 Qc7 0-1

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Ne4 $5 {Kasimdzhanov is not ready to suffer in the main line after 9.
..Nfd7. The knight jmove to the centre loses time, but Black wants to
eliminate White's dark squared bishop.} (9... Nfd7) 10. O-O Nxc3 11. Nxc3 O-O
12. Rc1 Bb4 13. e3 Qe7 (13... f6 14. Nd3 Bd6 15. cxd5 Ba3 16. Rc2 exd5 17. Re1
$14) 14. Re1 f6 15. Nd3 Ba3 {Black has to be alert to the dangers of his
position, where the knight from b8 is not yet developed.} (15... Bd6 $2 16.
cxd5 exd5 17. Nxd5 $1 $16) 16. Rc2 dxc4 17. bxc4 Bxc4 18. Nb1 Bb5 (18... Bxd3
19. Qxd3 Bd6 20. Rec1 e5 21. Be4 g6 22. Bxc6 Nxc6 23. Rxc6 $14) 19. Nxa3 Qxa3
20. Nf4 {Topalov is not running any risk, as his pieces are better developed
and Black has to take care of several weaknesses.} Re8 (20... Qe7 21. Rc1 e5
22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. Ne6 Ba4 24. Qxa4 Qxe6 25. Qc2 $14) (20... Ba4 21. Qc1 Qxc1 22.
Rcxc1 Kf7 23. d5 e5 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Nd5 $14) 21. Qh5 Nd7 (21... Re7 22. d5 $1
g6 23. Qh3 $16) 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Qxa2 24. Rc7 Re7 (24... Red8 $2 25. Qg4
f5 26. Qg5 $16) 25. Rec1 e5 (25... Rd8 26. Qb5 e5 27. Nd5 Rf7 28. Rc8 $16) 26.
Qf3 Rd8 (26... e4 27. Qg4 Rd8 28. R1c6 Qf7 29. Rxa7 $16) 27. Nd5 $6 {The weak
moment in the game: White believes that keeping the pieces on the board plays
in his favour. Objectively better was to trade the queens and strive for some
advantage in the endgame.} (27. Qd5+ $1 Qxd5 28. Nxd5 Rf7 (28... Re6 29. Rxa7
exd4 30. exd4 Rd6 31. Nb4 $16) 29. Rxa7 exd4 30. exd4 Ne5 31. Ne7+ Kf8 32. Rcc7
Re8 33. Nf5 $16) 27... Rf7 (27... Re6 $2 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Rc8+ Kf7 30. Qh5+
$18) 28. Nc3 Qb3 (28... Qe6 29. d5 Qe8 30. Rxa7 f5) 29. Rb1 Qe6 (29... Qc2 $2
30. Qd5 $1 $16) 30. d5 Qe8 31. Rxa7 f5 {Objectively speaking Black should have
enough counterplay with his compact position. Topalov finds it difficult to
claim any advantage.} 32. Kg2 (32. d6 e4 33. Qd1 Ne5 34. Rxf7 Qxf7 35. Rxb6 h6
$14) 32... Ra8 (32... e4 $5 33. Qd1 Rf6 $11) 33. Rc7 (33. Rba1 Rxa7 34. Rxa7
Nc5 35. Rxf7 Qxf7 $11) 33... Nc5 $2 {[%mdl 256] The balance in chess is often
a very sensitive issue. With one unfortunate move Black loses the foundation
of his defence and immediately faces serous trouble.} (33... e4 34. Qf4 Rd8 $13
) 34. d6 $1 e4 (34... Rxc7 35. dxc7 Rc8 36. Qd5+ Qf7 37. Rxb6 Nd7 38. Re6 Rxc7
39. Nb5 Rc5 40. Re8+ Nf8 41. Rxf8+ Kxf8 42. Qxc5+ $18) 35. Qd1 Nd3 (35... Ra3
36. Rxb6 Rxc3 37. Qd4 Nd7 38. Rxc3 Nxb6 39. Qxb6 $18) (35... Rxc7 $2 36. dxc7
Rc8 37. Qd5+ Kh8 38. Rxb6 Rxc7 39. Nb5 Rc8 40. Nd6 Qd7 41. Rb7 $18) 36. Qb3 $1
{White's queen suddenly has a chance to fullfil her dreams of a great destiny..
.} (36. Rxb6 Kh8 37. Nd5 $16) 36... Rd8 (36... Kf8 37. Nd5 Qe6 38. Qxb6 Qxd5
39. Qb8+ $18) 37. Ra1 (37. Re7 $1 Qf8 38. Qd5 $18) 37... Kf8 38. Rxf7+ (38.
Raa7 Rfd7 39. Nb5 Ne1+ 40. Kf1 Nf3 41. Qd5 $18) 38... Qxf7 39. Qxb6 Rc8 (39...
Qf6 40. Ra6 $18) 40. Ne2 {The defender now plays on with hopless cards, White
has all the trumps in the position.} Qh5 (40... Kg8 41. Nd4 h6 42. Ra7 $18) 41.
Nd4 Nxf2 (41... Qe8 42. d7 Qxd7 43. Ra7 Qe8 44. Qb7 $18) 42. d7 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 $5 {
Nisipeanu may go down in history with his name for this subvariation. White's
knight hopes to get better prospects than on the standard squares b3 or f3,
and the Romanian player is actively developing the line...} Be6 8. f4 Nbd7 9.
f5 Bc4 10. Nc1 d5 (10... Bxf1 11. Rxf1 b5 (11... Rc8 12. Nb3 Be7 13. Qd3 O-O
14. O-O-O Qc7 15. Nd2 Nc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Kb1 Qd4 18. Qf3 Qc5 19. g4 h6 20.
h4 d5 21. g5 {1-0 Van den Doel,E (2587)-Van der Weide,K (2512)/Dieren 2007 (28)
}) (11... d5 12. Nxd5 Nxe4 13. Nb3 Ndf6 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6 15. Qxd8+ Rxd8 16. Bg5
Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. c3 Bg5 19. Nc5 Ke7 20. Ne4 f6 21. Ke2 h5 22. Rad1 h4 23.
Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rd1 Rxd1 25. Kxd1 {1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2695)-Gelfand,B (2727)/Turin
2006 (43)}) 12. Nb3 Rc8 13. a3 Nb6 (13... Be7 14. Qd3 Qc7 15. O-O-O Qc4 16. Bg5
h6 17. Bh4 O-O 18. Qxc4 Rxc4 19. Na5 Rc7 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5
Rfc8 23. c3 {1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2695)-Areshchenko,A (2660)/Foros 2006 (72)}) 14.
Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Qd3 Be7 16. O-O-O b4 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. g4 h6 19. h4 Nxg4 20. Qxa6
Qc4 21. Qxc4 Rxc4 22. Na5 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Ne3 24. h5 {1/2 Andreikin,D (2509)
-Areshchenko,A (2644)/Dresden 2007 (66)}) 11. Bxc4 {[%mdl 4] Indirectly White
admits, that there is no palpable advantage to be had after the natural move
11.exd5.} (11. exd5 Bxf1 12. Rxf1 Nb6 13. Qf3 Nbxd5 14. N1e2 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qc7
(15... Qd6 16. Rd1 Qc5 $13) 16. O-O-O Rc8 17. Kb1 Bc5 18. Qf3 Qc6 19. Ng3 Bd4
20. Qxc6+ Rxc6 21. Nce4 {1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2689)-Kempinski,R (2590)/Dresden
2007 (50)}) 11... dxc4 12. Qf3 b5 (12... Bc5 13. N1e2 Qc7 $11) 13. N1e2 b4 14.
Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nf6 16. O-O-O Bd6 {Topalov is well preapred for the
counterplay on the kingside, but he has to survive the attack on his own king.}
(16... e4 17. Qh3 Qa5 18. Kb1 O-O-O 19. Bg5 Rxd5 20. Ng3 $13) 17. g4 (17. Bg5
e4 (17... O-O 18. Ng3 b3 19. axb3 (19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Ne4 Qh6+ 21. Kb1 bxc2+ 22.
Kxc2 Rab8 23. f6 $14) 19... cxb3 20. Qxb3 Qa5) 18. Qe3 O-O 19. Qd4 Re8 20. Qxc4
Be5 $44) 17... b3 $1 18. cxb3 (18. axb3 cxb3 19. g5 (19. cxb3) 19... bxc2 20.
Kxc2 Nd7 21. Ng3 $13) 18... cxb3 19. Kb1 $6 {White's reaction to Black's
attack is too timid; the second player will experience no problems.} (19. axb3
h6 20. Kb1 Rb8 $132) 19... bxa2+ 20. Ka1 (20. Kxa2 $2 Qa5+ 21. Kb1 Rb8 $17)
20... e4 (20... h6 21. Nc3 Qa5 22. h4 Rb8 23. g5 Qb4 24. Bc1 Nd7 $13) 21. Qg2
Be5 22. Bd4 (22. g5 Nd7 23. Qxe4 O-O $13) 22... Bxd4 23. Nxd4 (23. Rxd4 O-O 24.
g5 Nxd5 25. Qxe4 Re8 26. Qf3 Re3 27. Qg2 Qe8 $13) 23... O-O 24. d6 (24. Nc6 Qd6
25. g5 Nxd5 26. Qxe4 Qxc6 27. Qxd5 $11) 24... Qb6 (24... Qxd6 25. Ne6 Qe5 26.
Nxf8 Rxf8 $44) 25. g5 Nd5 26. g6 $6 {Nisipeanu plays with an honest ambition
to open up the black kingside. Despite everything it seems that the best
solution was to even the scores in the centre...} (26. Qxe4 Rab8 27. Rd2 Qb4
28. Qg2 Qxd6 29. f6 $13) 26... fxg6 (26... hxg6 27. fxg6 Rab8 $1 28. gxf7+ Rxf7
29. Rhe1 Qxd6 30. Rxe4 Nb4 $17) 27. fxg6 (27. Qxe4 Qxd6 28. fxg6 hxg6 29. Ne6 (
29. Qe6+ $6 Qxe6 30. Nxe6 Rf5 31. Rxd5 Rxd5 32. Nc7 Rad8 33. Nxd5 Rxd5 34. Rg1
Kf7 35. Kxa2 g5 $17) 29... Rf5 30. Rhg1 Qe5 31. Qxe5 Rxe5 32. Rxd5 Rxe6 33.
Kxa2 $15) 27... Qxd6 (27... hxg6 28. Qxe4 (28. Qxg6 Rab8 29. Rd2 Nf4 30. Qxe4
Qxd6 31. Rhd1 $15) 28... Qxd6 29. Ne6 $15) 28. gxh7+ Kh8 (28... Kxh7 $2 29.
Rhg1 $1 Qe7 30. Ne6 $18) 29. Rhg1 {The smoke has cleared and chances are even
again.} Qf6 (29... Rf7 30. Qxe4 Rb8 31. Nb3 $11) 30. Qxe4 Rad8 31. Ne6 Rfe8 32.
Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O {For general ideas of this
variation as well as for a small survey see the notes to Cheparinov,I (2670)
-Roiz,M (2630)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin] (1-0, 58)} 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. c4 $146 {
Since both Topalov and his second, Cheparinov, play this line with White, the
last move must be the fruit of their home analysis. The insertion of the moves
Rb1 and ...Rb8 is supposed to favour White, because after the opening of the
centre Black's rook would belong to the central d-file, while the white rook
could still be useful on the b-file.} (13. Qf5 {Gashimov,V (2664)-Dominguez
Perez,L (2683)/Barcelona 2007 (1/2-1/2, 35) is also examined in the notes to
the aforementioned game.}) 13... Bf6 {Before releasing the tension, Black
increases the pressure against the enemy centre. However, opening the e-file
and leaving the a3-f8 diagonal undefended before having completed development
is not without drawbacks as we shall see.} ({One of the differences induced by
the rook moves is that after} 13... dxc4 14. Qxc4 Bd6 {(as played with the
queen rooks on their initial positions)} 15. d5 {the b4-square is not
available (...Nb4 would threaten ...Nxd5!, winning time), while} Na5 $6 {
would be bad because of} 16. Qa4 b6 17. Bd2 $16 {Black has to retreat with his
knight to e7, thus allowing White to look for ways to develop his initiative
in the centre.}) 14. c3 ({Topalov probably considered that White's initiative
after} 14. Ba3 dxc4 15. Qxc4 Re8 {is of a temporary nature. Indeed, having
been developed with gain of time, the a3-bishop might remain out of play. In
the game, it will be developed to f4, keeping the backward c7-pawn under
constant pressure.}) 14... dxc4 {It seems that Black has to release the
tension in the centre already, since the generally useful moves do not work
out properly here. However, by this time it is not entirely clear whether this
really is a concession, because the queen is not especialy well placed on c4,
being exposed to the attack of the enemy knight with ...Na5.} (14... b6 {
[%csl Gc6] leaves the knight undefended, restricting Black's possibilities
after} 15. Ba3 {to} dxc4 16. Qxc4 Na5 17. Qa4 Re8 {, when White can maintain
stable domination with} 18. Bb4 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Nc4 20. Qc6 Nd6 21. a4 $14) (
14... Na5 {loses material to} 15. Ba3 dxc4 16. Qf5 $1 $16 {[%csl Ga5,Gf8]}) 15.
Qxc4 Qd7 16. Bf4 {The pressure against the c7-pawn is aimed to contribute to
the queen's stability on c4.} Rbd8 17. h3 b6 18. Re4 {[%cal Gb1e1]} Na5 $5 {
White threatened to increase his pressure gradually and Black decided that
this was the right moment to free herself by tactical means.} ({The
preliminary exchange of one pair of rooks with} 18... Rfe8 19. Rbe1 Rxe4 20.
Rxe4 {before playing} Na5 {would leave the enemy queen more freedom of action
than in the game:} 21. Qxc7 Qd5 22. Re2 Nc4 23. Qxa7 $16) (18... Ne7 {is safer,
but slightly passive.} 19. Be5 $14 (19. Qxc7 $2 Qf5 {[%cal Ge7d5]})) 19. Qxc7
$1 {This move required some very precise calculation. We have seen Topalov's
queen infiltrating herself to the same dangerous looking area of the board in
the game Topalov,V (2783)-Carlsen,M (2690)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM 117 [Marin]
(1/2-1/2, 25), when the courageous incursion led to a forced draw by
repetition.} Qd5 20. Rbe1 $14 {It would be redundant to attach an exclamation
mark to this natural move, but we shall see that it is absolutely necessary in
order to keep troubles away from the queen.} Nc4 ({Topalov's fine point is that
} 20... Rd7 {fails to trap the queen because of the unexpected} 21. Qc8 $3 $16
{threatening Re8 and preparing the queen evacuation through a6 if necessary.}
Rxc8 $2 {is impossible, of course, because of} 22. Re8+ Rxe8 23. Rxe8#) 21.
Qxa7 $4 $19 {Having won the battle of principle in the phase of transition
from the opening to the middlegame, Topalov lets be himself carried away by
euphoria, caused by the false sensation that the queen is invulnerable.} ({
White had several reasonable moves here, but I would prefer} 21. Bg5 $5 {
, getting rid of the potentially "bad" bishop and weakening the defence of the
enemy kingside.} Bxg5 22. Nxg5 h6 (22... Qxg5 23. Qxc4 $16) (22... Nd6 23. Re5
Qxa2 24. Re7 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rg7,Rh7][%cal Gg5e6]} Qc2 $6 {[%csl Gh7]} 25. Nxf7
$1) 23. Nf3 Nd6 24. R4e3 Qxa2 25. Ne5 $14 {Black has reestablished the
material equality, but White's position remains more active. After a further
knight move to c6, Black will be very passive.}) 21... Ra8 22. Qc7 Bd8 {
What could he have missed when he captured on a7? It is curious that this is
not the first game in which Topalov allowed Judit to trap one of his pieces.
At Wijk aan Zee in 2005, he played a suicidal e2-e3, leaving the f4-bishop
without an escape after ...g6-g5.} 23. Re5 Bxc7 24. Rxd5 Bxf4 {White will get
some vague saving chances if he could manage to drive the enemy bishop to a
passive position and exchange the wonderful c4-knight. However, this will be
tactically impossible, as we shall see.} 25. Re2 (25. g3 Bd2 $1 {forces White
give his knight away for the bishop, leaving the black knight unchallenged
master of the weak queenside squares.}) 25... Ra3 26. Rc2 (26. g3 Rxc3 $1 $19 {
[%csl Gf3]}) 26... Rfa8 27. Kf1 (27. g3 Bxg3 $1 28. fxg3 Ne3 $19 {On three
consecutive moves, the advance of the g-pawn has been impossible for three
different reasons!}) 27... Kf8 28. Ke2 Rxa2 29. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 30. Kd3 Nd2 31. Ne5
Bxe5 32. Rxe5 Nb3 (32... Nf1 $2 33. Re2 $1 {[%csl Rf1]}) 33. c4 Na5 34. c5 Nc6
0-1

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Bg5 Bg4 10. Qxd8 Raxd8 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Bg5 14. Rad1
Nd4 15. Nxc7 Rc8 16. Nb5 Rxc4 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. Rxd4 exd4 19. Be2 d3 20. Bxd3
Rd8 21. Rd1 Rc8 22. g3 Rc1 23. Rxc1 Bxc1 24. b3 a5 25. Kg2 b6 26. f4 g5 27. Kf3
gxf4 28. gxf4 f6 29. Kg4 h6 30. Kf5 Kf7 31. Bc4+ Ke7 32. h4 Bd2 33. h5 Bc1 34.
a4 Bd2 35. e5 fxe5 36. fxe5 Bc1 37. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. Nd2 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 g5 9. Bg3 d6 10. e3 Qe7 11. h4 Rg8 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. Rh6 Nbd7 14. Qa4 Kd8
15. O-O-O Qf8 16. Rh1 Rh8 17. Rxh8 Qxh8 18. f3 Nh5 19. Bf2 g4 20. e4 Ke7 21.
Bh4+ Nhf6 22. Bg5 Rg8 23. Qxa7 Rxg5 24. Qxb7 Qb8 25. Qxb8 Nxb8 26. c5 bxc5 27.
Nb3 gxf3 28. gxf3 Rg3 29. Be2 c4 30. Na5 d5 31. exd5 exd5 32. Re1 Kf8 33. Kd2
Nfd7 34. Rb1 Ke7 35. a4 Rg6 36. Rb5 c6 37. Rb7 c5 38. dxc5 Ra6 39. Nb3 Kd8 40.
Nd4 Kc8 41. Rb5 Nc6 42. Bd1 Kc7 43. Bc2 Na7 44. c6 Nb6 45. a5 Nxb5 46. Nxb5+
Kxc6 47. Nd4+ Kc5 48. axb6 Kxb6 49. Bf5 Kc5 50. Bg4 Ra2+ 51. Ke3 Ra3 52. Kd2
Ra2+ 53. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg3 c5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rc1 Nf6
15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Qe2 Nh5 17. Be5 a5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. a3 Rfd8 20. h3 Nf6 21.
Nd2 a4 22. Bb1 Rac8 23. Nf3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Re1 Bc6 26. Bc3 Qe8 27. Ne5
Bb5 28. Qf3 Qe7 29. Rc1 Nh7 30. h4 Nf6 31. g3 Rc8 32. Re1 Rd8 33. Kg2 Be8 34.
Rc1 Rc8 35. Bd2 Rd8 36. Be3 Bxe3 37. Qxe3 Qb7 38. g4 Qb8 39. Qc3 Qd6 40. f3 Bb5
41. Qc7 Qd2+ 42. Kg3 Be8 43. Qc3 Qd6 44. Qc7 Qd2 45. Qc3 Qd6 46. Qc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. O-O Be6 {This opening
line has returned to top tournaments after a few years of absence.} 7. Bb5 {
[%csl Rd4]} (7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Qb3 Qd7 9. Qxb7 Rb8 10. Qa6 {is another
theoretical line leading to unbalanced positions.}) 7... Bc5 8. b4 {The most
principled continuation. The quiet alternative 8.Nbd2 should not be a source
of worry for Black.} (8. Nbd2 Nge7 (8... Qd6 9. e5 Qd5 10. Ng5 O-O-O 11. Bc4
Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. b4 Nxb4 14. Qb3 Nd5 15. Ne4 Bb6 16. a4 a5 17. Nd6+ Kb8
18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Bd2 cxd6 20. Qxb6 dxe5 21. f4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2812)
-Anand,V (2781)/Linares 1999/CBM 070 (29)}) 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Nbxd4 Bd7 11. Nxc6
Bxc6 12. Qb3 O-O 13. Bg5 Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Qe8 $11 {1-0 Sargissian,G (2602)
-Kaidanov,G (2629)/Moscow 2005/CBM 106 (41)}) 8... Bb6 $8 (8... Bxb4 $2 9. Qa4
{and Black is collapsing.}) 9. a4 a6 (9... a5 10. bxa5 $1 Rxa5 11. Ng5 Qd7 12.
Nd2 Nge7 13. Nxe6 $1 Qxe6 14. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Ushenina,A-Korbut,E/St Petersburg
2004/CBM 101 ext (26)}) 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Bb2 Nf6 12. a5 {This push is useful,
because in some lines the Pa6 will be hanging.} Ba7 13. Nbd2 $146 {[%mdl 8] A
novelty, most probably the fruit of home preparation. White refrains from
capturing the Pd4.} (13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe4 15. Re1 (15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5
Bh3 $6 (16... Bd5 17. Bg3 Qf6 {Krasenkow}) 17. Bg3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qxd1 19. Rxd1
Be6 20. Nc3 Rg4 21. Rab1 Rb8 22. f4 Bf5 23. Rb2 Rxg3 24. Na4 Kf8 25. Nc5 Ra8
26. Kf2 Rc3 27. Rbd2 Rc4 28. Rd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Aronian,L (2759)
-Shirov,A (2699)/Elista 2007/CBM 119 (68)}) 15... Qd5 $6 ({Black can equalise
by} 15... Nf6 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Be5 Nd5 $11 {Probably, this is how Nisipeanu
intended to improve his own play, but Topalov was the first to deviate from
the game Onischuk-Nisipeanu.}) 16. Qd3 c5 17. Rxe4 cxd4 18. Nc3 {The drawback
of 15...Qd5 is clear now.} Qb3 (18... Qf5 19. Qxd4 O-O 20. Rd1 $36) 19. Rxd4
O-O 20. Qd2 c5 21. bxc5 Rab8 22. h3 Qb7 23. Nd5 $16 {1-0 Onischuk,A (2663)
-Nisipeanu,L (2693)/Foros 2007/CBM 119 (58)}) 13... O-O (13... Rb8 14. Qc2 {
if Black captures the Pb4, Ba3 will be very annoying.}) 14. Qc2 Ng4 $2 {
The knight goes the wrong way. Nisipeanu definitely miscalculated something.} (
14... Nh5 {This is the test of Topalov's novelty. The position is quite
doeble-edged. Here are a few possible lines for example:} 15. Qxc6 Nf4 16. Qxa6
Qe7 (16... Qf6 $5) 17. Ba3 (17. Qc6 Qxb4 18. Ba3 Qc3 19. Qxc3 dxc3 20. Bxf8
Kxf8 $15) 17... Qf6 18. b5 Rfb8 19. Qc6 Qg6 20. g3 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Bh3 22. Qxc7
Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Rxb5 24. Ne5 Qe6 25. Nc6 $16) 15. h3 Nf6 {Admitting the mistake.}
(15... Ne3 16. fxe3 dxe3 17. Nb3 e2+ 18. Rf2 $16 {Probably, this move was
overlooked by the Romanian GM.}) 16. Ne5 $1 {White should not be in a hurry to
capture the Pc6.} (16. Qxc6 $6 Nh5 17. Qxa6 Nf4 $44) 16... Bd7 17. Rfe1 $6 {
Logical move, but it was more precise to put the rook on the d-file.} (17. Rfd1
$1 Qe7 18. Ndf3 c5 19. bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Bb5 23.
Rc1 Rac8 24. Nc6 {with a big advantage.}) 17... Qe7 18. Ndf3 (18. Nxc6 $2 Bxc6
19. Qxc6 Qxb4 $15) 18... c5 {The Pb4 is taboo in view of Ba3. Black must get
rid of his weak pawns along the c-file.} 19. bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qd2 Qe7 21. Ba3 (21.
Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 c5 23. Qc3 Bb5 $11) 21... c5 22. Qxd4 {This way Topalov
keeps all his potentially attacking pieces out of the exchange.} Bb5 ({After} 
22... cxd4 $2 23. Bxe7 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6,Rf8] Black loses material.}) 23. Qc3 Rfd8
24. Bb2 {The battery along the diagonal a1-h8 is threatening.} Nh5 $1 25. Nc4
Rab8 ({It was possible to eliminate the potentially dangerous knight:} 25...
Bxc4 26. Qxc4 Nf4 27. Rad1 Qe6 {and Black is only slightly worse.}) 26. Ne3
Qxe4 $2 {This pawn appears to be poisoned.} ({It was necessary to remove the
threats along the long diagonal:} 26... Rd3 $1 27. Nf5 Qe6 28. Qc1 f6 {Some of
Black's pieces are awkwardly placed (Ba7, Nh5), but White can't exploit it so
easily.}) 27. Ng4 {The beginning of the decisive attack.} Qg6 {Other retreats
also lose.} (27... Qd3 28. Qe5 Qd5 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Ng5 $18 {[%csl Rf7]}) (
27... Qf4 28. g3 Qd6 29. Re5 Nf6 30. Rg5 $18) 28. Nh4 Qd3 $8 (28... Qg5 29. Re5
Qxh4 30. Rxh5 $18) 29. Qe5 Qd5 {[%tqu "En","How should White continue his
attack?","","","g4h6","",5]} 30. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 31. Qe7 {[%csl Ra7,Rf7]} (31. N4f5
Qxe5 32. Bxe5 {was also good, but Topalov correctly keeps the queens on the
board.}) 31... Bc4 32. Rad1 (32. Qxa7 $4 Rb7 $19 {[%csl Ra7]}) 32... Qxd1 33.
Rxd1 $1 Rxd1+ 34. Kh2 {Black's pieces are randomly strewn across the board;
his position is lost.} Ra8 {What else?} 35. N4f5 f6 36. f4 (36. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 37.
fxg3 Rf1 38. Qe4 $18) 36... Bd5 37. Nf7+ $2 {Topalov got carried away by his
attack. I suppose that time-trouble was playing a role here.} (37. Qe2 $1 {
prosaically winning material.} Rb1 38. Qxh5 Rxb2 39. Nf7+ Bxf7 (39... Kg8 40.
Ne7+ $18) 40. Qxf7 Rg8 41. Qxa7 $18) 37... Bxf7 38. Qxf7 c4 $1 {Suddenly,
Black's dark-squared bishop is alive!} 39. Qxh5 Bg1+ 40. Kg3 Rd3+ 41. Kg4 Rf8
42. Ne7 $2 {After missing numerous winning continuations Topalov makes another
mistake which spoiles the advantage.} (42. Kh4 $1 {was still winning.} g6 (
42... c3 43. Qe2 Rd5 44. Ba3 $18) 43. Qh6 $18) 42... Bf2 $4 {Nisipeanu missed
his chance.} (42... f5+ $1 {distracting the knight from g6 square.} 43. Nxf5 c3
44. Ne7 {There is nothing better than to give a perpetual check.} (44. Ba3 $4
g6 $19) 44... cxb2 45. Ng6+ Kg8 46. Ne7+ $11) 43. Ng6+ Kg8 44. Ne7+ Kh8 45.
Ng6+ Kg8 46. Nxf8 $1 {This move required some calculation. The position
transforms into a won bishop endgame for White.} Rg3+ 47. Kf5 g6+ 48. Nxg6
hxg6+ 49. Qxg6+ Rxg6 50. Kxg6 Be1 (50... Bh4 51. g4 $18) 51. Bxf6 {Black
resigned.} (51. Bxf6 c3 52. f5 c2 53. Bg5 Bc3 54. f6 Bb2 55. f7+ Kf8 56. Bh6+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. Qb3 cxd4 10. exd4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 b6 12. Ng5 Re8 13. Re1 Nf8 14. f3 Bb7
15. Bf1 Rc8 16. Bb2 Qc7 17. c4 Red8 18. Rac1 Qf4 19. Nh3 Qc7 20. Nf2 Rd7 21.
Ne4 Qd8 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. d5 Qg5 24. Re4 Qd8 25. Qc3 f6 26. dxe6 Re7 27. Rg4
Rxe6 28. Qa3 h5 29. Rd4 Qe7 30. Rcd1 Qxa3 31. Bxa3 Ree8 32. c5 bxc5 33. Rh4 g6
34. Ra4 a6 35. Bc4+ Kg7 36. Rb1 Rc7 37. Bxc5 Rxc5 38. Rxb7+ Kh6 39. h4 a5 40.
Ra7 Re1+ 41. Kh2 Ree5 42. Rf7 Nh7 43. Bb3 Re8 44. Rd4 Rf8 45. Ra7 f5 46. Rd6
Nf6 47. a4 f4 48. Rb6 Rc1 49. Bf7 Kg7 50. Be6+ Kh6 51. Rxa5 Rd8 52. Rb4 Rd6 53.
Bb3 Rb1 54. Rab5 Rd3 55. Bc2 Rxb4 56. Rxb4 Rd2 57. Bb3 Rb2 58. Rb7 g5 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qd2 Be7 12. a4 Nb6 13. a5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15.
Qd3 Qc8 16. Na4 Rxc2 17. Nb6 Qc7 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Qb8 20. f4 O-O 21. f5
Bd7 22. Bg5 Bc6 23. Qe2 Qd8 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rd1 Bg5 26. Nc5 Bf4 27. Nd3 Qg5
28. Nxf4 Qxf4 29. Re1 g6 30. Qd3 gxf5 31. Qxd6 fxe4 32. Nc4 Re8 33. Ne3 Qg5 34.
Qc5 f5 35. Nc4 e3 36. Nxe3 f4 37. Qc4+ Kg7 38. h4 Qg6 39. Nd5 Qe6 40. Nb6 Qg4
41. Nd5 Qxh4 42. Re2 Qg4 43. Rd2 Qe6 44. Qc5 Qd7 45. Rd3 Qf7 46. Qd6 Qg6 47.
Qc7+ Kh6 48. Nxf4 exf4 49. Qxf4+ Kh7 50. Rg3 Rf8 51. Qe5 Rf5 52. Qc7+ Qf7 53.
Qd6 Rd5 54. Qb8 Rxa5 55. Qd8 Rd5 56. Qh4 Rf5 57. Kh2 Qf6 58. Qc4 Rg5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. e3 h6 10. h4 Bg4 11. Rc1 e5 12. dxe5 Qe7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Nb4
15. Qc4 Be6 16. Qxc7 Nd3+ 17. Kd2 Qb4+ 18. Qc3 Qxc3+ 19. Rxc3 Nxf2 20. Nd4 Nxh1
21. Bxh1 Rfd8 22. Rc7 Rac8 23. Rxb7 Bxa2 24. Rxa7 Be6 25. Rb7 Bf5 26. Bf3 Rc2+
27. Ke1 Rc1+ 28. Kf2 Be6 29. g4 Bc8 30. Rb8 Rf8 31. h5 g5 32. Bg3 Ra1 33. Rb6
Re8 34. Be2 Bxe5 35. Bxe5 Rxe5 36. Rxh6 Re4 37. Bf3 Re5 38. Rc6 Be6 39. Nxe6
fxe6 40. Be2 Rb1 41. Rb6 Rd5 42. Bc4 Rd2+ 43. Kf3 Rbxb2 44. Rxe6 Rbc2 45. Rg6+
Kh8 46. Be6 Rc6 47. Ke4 Rd8 48. Kf5 Rc5+ 49. Kf6 Rf8+ 50. Ke7 Rf3 51. Bf5 Re5+
52. Kf7 Rfxf5+ 53. gxf5 Rxf5+ 54. Ke6 Ra5 55. e4 Kh7 56. e5 Ra1 57. Rxg5 Kh6
58. Rg2 Kxh5 59. Kf6 Rf1+ 60. Ke7 Ra1 61. e6 Kh6 62. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 a6
9. a4 Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Be2 Qe7 12. Nd2 Ne8 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. O-O Ne5 15. Nb6
Nd7 16. Nxc8 Rxc8 17. Re1 Nef6 18. Bg5 Rfe8 19. Bf1 h6 20. Bd2 c4 21. a5 Nc5
22. e5 dxe5 23. Bxc4 Red8 24. Rc1 Ne8 25. Bf1 Nd6 26. b4 Nd7 27. b5 axb5 28.
Nxb5 Rxc1 29. Qxc1 Nxb5 30. Bxb5 Nf6 31. Qb2 Nxd5 32. Qb3 Qd6 33. Bc4 Rd7 34.
Bb5 Rd8 35. Bc4 Rd7 36. Bb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. a4
h6 9. a5 Be6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Bg4 12. Ra4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nd7 14. Bd3 g6 15.
Qg3 Nc5 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. f4 exf4 18. Qxf4 Qxf4 19. Rxf4 Bd6 20. Re4+ Kf8 21.
O-O Kg7 22. Rfe1 Rhd8 23. Bc4 Rd7 24. Bb3 Kf8 25. Ba4 Re7 26. Rxe7 Bxe7 27. Re3
c4 28. Rc3 Rc8 29. b3 Rc5 30. Rxc4 Rxa5 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rc7 Bd6 33. Rxb7 Rxd5
34. b4 h5 35. Bb3 Rf5 36. g3 Be5 37. Kg2 Bd4 38. Rd7 Rf2+ 39. Kg1 Bb6 40. Rb7
Rf6+ 41. Kg2 Bd4 42. Rd7 Bc3 43. b5 axb5 44. Rd3 b4 45. Rf3 Rxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. e4 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bd3 a6 8. h3 Ne7
9. O-O h6 10. Re1 O-O 11. a4 g5 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. Nc4 Nf6 14. Bd2 Rb8 15. Bc3 g4
16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Nexd5 19. Bxb8 Qxb8 20. Nce5 Be6 21. Qb3 Ne3
22. Qb6 Ned5 23. Qxc5 Rc8 24. Qd4 Ng4 25. Rad1 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Qe4 Ndf6
28. Qe2 Qb6 29. Bb1 h5 30. Rd2 Re8 31. Qd3 Bh6 32. Qd4 Qb8 33. Rdd1 Bg7 34. Qd2
Qb6 35. Qd4 Qb8 36. Qd2 Qb6 37. Nxg4 hxg4 38. Qd4 Qb8 39. Ng5 Bb3 40. Rc1 Rd8
41. Qe3 Bd5 42. Rcd1 Re8 43. Qd3 Rxe1+ 44. Rxe1 Bc4 45. Qe3 Bh6 46. Qe5 Qxe5
47. Rxe5 g3 48. fxg3 Ng4 49. Rc5 Kg7 50. Be4 Nf6 51. Kh1 Nd7 52. Rf5 Nf6 53.
Bc2 Ng4 54. b3 Ne3 55. Rc5 Be2 56. Nf3 Nf1 57. Nd4 Nxg3+ 58. Kh2 Bf4 59. Nxe2
Nxe2+ 60. Kh3 Nd4 61. Kg4 Bd2 62. Rd5 Be3 63. Be4 Kf6 64. Rh5 Bd2 65. Rd5 Be3
66. Bf5 b4 67. Bd3 Kg7 68. Rd7 Kf8 69. Be4 Ke8 70. Rb7 Bd2 71. Bd5 f6 72. Kh5
Nf5 73. g4 Ne7 74. Be6 Kf8 75. Rb8+ Kg7 76. Re8 Nc6 77. Rg8+ Kh7 78. Rc8 Ne5
79. Rc7+ Kh8 80. Rb7 Be1 81. g5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 cxd6 13. Re3 Qd7 14. h3
Bh5 15. Qd2 Rae8 16. Nh4 Rxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe6 18. Nf5 Rd8 19. Qg5 Bg6 20. Ne3 Be4
21. Re1 h6 22. Qh4 Qg6 23. Be2 Bxc2 24. Bh5 Qe4 25. Qg3 Bd3 26. f3 Qe7 27. Ng4
Qg5 28. f4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. Be2 Qc7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 {Topalov plays
Sicilian positions with great feeling for them and often finds subtle
improvements in different lines. The text move is technically new, but it is
the idea of advancing b5 that counts as a real contribution.} (13... Nb6 14. a5
Nc4 15. Bxc4 Qxc4 16. Na4 Rad8 17. Nb6 Qb5 18. Qd3 Qxd3 19. Rxd3 d5 20. Bc5
dxe4 21. fxe4 Rxd3 22. cxd3 Re8 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Nc5 Rc7 25. b4 {1-0
Rytshagov,M (2533)-Astrom,R (2462)/Gothenburg 1999 (55)}) 14. a5 b5 $5 15. Nd5
{Leko plays very cautious chess, so he had no desire to unleash the black
pieces with a grab of a pawn.} (15. axb6 Nxb6 16. Rxa6 Rxa6 17. Bxa6 d5 $1 18.
Nb5 Qb8 19. Na5 Bd7 (19... dxe4 20. Qxd8+ Bxd8 (20... Qxd8 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.
Nc6 Nbd5 23. Bc5 Bb6 24. Bxb6 Nxb6 25. Nxe5 $16) 21. Nc6 $18) 20. exd5 Nfxd5
$44) 15... Bxd5 (15... Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Rac1 Rdb8 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3
Qc4 $11) 16. exd5 Rac8 17. c3 (17. Rac1 Qb7 18. c3 Re8 $13) 17... Qb7 18. Ra3
g6 19. Na1 {Black decided to part with the e6 bishop, but in consequence left
the c6-square vulnerable. Leko is ready to play a rather unsual manoeuvre with
his miplaced knight to bring it to c6.} Re8 (19... e4 20. f4 Ne5 $5 21. fxe5
dxe5 22. d6 (22. Ra2 Nxd5 $17) 22... Rxd6 23. Qxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Nd5 $13) 20.
Nc2 Bf8 21. Nb4 Bg7 22. Rc1 (22. h3 e4 23. f4 Nc5 24. Bd4 e3 25. Bxe3 Qe7 26.
Nc2 Nfe4 27. Qe1 Bf6 $132) 22... e4 $1 {It was obvious, that Black will try to
capitalize on his pawn majority on the kingside. White must be careful not to
let the enemy pieces intrude on his territory.} 23. f4 (23. fxe4 $6 Nxe4 24.
Qe1 f5 $17) 23... Ng4 24. Bxg4 (24. Bd4 $2 e3 $1 25. Qe1 Nh6 $17) 24... hxg4
25. Qe2 (25. Nc6 Nc5 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Re1 Qd7 $15) 25... Nf6 (25... f5 26. Nc6
Nb8 $13) 26. Rd1 Rc4 27. Qd2 (27. Raa1 Qc8 28. Rd4 Rc7 29. Rdd1 Nh5 $13) 27...
Qc8 28. Raa1 g3 $5 {Topalov is best when playing active aggressive ideas. The
sacrifice of a pawn is unpleasant for White, since it would be painful to
defend the king after grabbing it.} (28... Nh5 29. Qf2 Bf6 $13) 29. h3 (29.
hxg3 Ng4 $1 30. Nc2 Qf5 31. Kf1 Bf6 $15) 29... Nh5 30. Rac1 (30. Nc6 $5 Qd7 31.
Rdc1 Nf6 32. b3 Rxc6 33. dxc6 Qxc6 $13) 30... Bh6 31. b3 {This move deserves
some explanation. Leko was unsure about the consequences of trapping Black's
rook on c4 forcing the exchange sacrifice for the knight c6. He prefers to
kick the rook away and Black will not be forced to take on c6!} (31. Nc6 Ng7 $1
32. b3 Rxc6 33. dxc6 Nf5 $15) 31... Rc7 32. Nc6 Ng7 (32... Qf5 33. Rf1 Rb7 $15)
33. c4 bxc4 34. Rxc4 (34. bxc4 Rb7 35. Rb1 Rxb1 36. Rxb1 Nf5 37. Rb6 Bg7 $15)
34... Qd7 35. Qc2 Rb7 {Topalov was not on his best form in Wijk aan Zee and
thus he avoids the risk connected with the more enterprising idea 35...Nf5!?} (
35... Nf5 $5 36. Bb6 Bxf4 (36... Rb7 37. Rxe4 $16) 37. Ne7+ (37. Rxe4 Be3+ 38.
Bxe3 Nxe3 39. Rxe8+ Qxe8 40. Qe2 f5 41. Rd4 Kf8 42. b4 Nxd5 43. Qxe8+ Kxe8 44.
Rxd5 Rxc6 $15) 37... Nxe7 38. Rxc7 Qf5 $15) 36. b4 (36. Rxe4 Rxe4 37. Qxe4 Rxb3
38. Bb6 Nf5 39. Re1 Kh7 $15) 36... Nf5 37. Bc1 e3 38. Re1 (38. Re4 Rb5 39. Bb2
Bg7 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 $17) 38... Rb5 39. Qd3 f6 {This move was criticized as it
exposes the black king, but no better alternative can be found. Black wants to
gain access to the d5-pawn by moving his queen to f7.} (39... Bg7 40. Re4 Rxe4
41. Qxe4 Bc3 42. Re2 Rxb4 43. Nxb4 Qa4 44. Rc2 Nd4 45. Qd3 Qxb4 46. Rxc3 Qxc3
47. Qxc3 Ne2+ 48. Kf1 Nxc3 49. Bxe3 Nxd5 50. Bd2 $11) (39... Qb7 40. Re4 Rxe4
41. Qxe4 Bg7 42. Bxe3 $14) 40. Re4 (40. Bxe3 Qf7 41. Re4 Rxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxd5 43.
Qxd5+ Rxd5 44. Bc1 Rb5 45. Kf1 $14) 40... Rxe4 41. Qxe4 Qf7 42. Nd4 {This
witty tactical move deserves at least some mild criticism. White would have
kept the better part of equality after 42.Rd1, now he will retain the lesser
part.} (42. Rd1 e2 43. Qxe2 Rxd5 44. Re1 Rb5 45. Bd2 $14) 42... Qxd5 (42...
Rxb4 $4 43. Nxf5 Rxe4 44. Nxh6+ $18) 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Nxf5 (44. Qd7+ Bg7 45.
Nxf5 gxf5 46. Qe8 Rxb4 47. Qh5+ $11) 44... Qxf5 45. Qxe3 Rxb4 46. Qxg3 Re4 {
It takes some courage to criticise the winner, but objectively speaking it
made more sense to advance the d-pawn.} (46... d5 $5 47. Bd2 Rb1 48. Rxb1 Qxb1+
49. Kf2 d4 $15) 47. Rxe4 Qxe4 48. Qe3 f5 49. Qxe4 $2 {[%mdl 16384] Leko must
have badly miscalculated the consequences of this tragic exchange. His king
had hoped to centralise first and level the chances, but it will not be
possible.} (49. Qa7+ $1 Bg7 50. Kh2 Qc2 51. Be3 Qc3 52. Qe7 Qe1 53. Qa7 Qc3 $11
) 49... fxe4 50. Kf2 d5 51. g4 (51. Be3 Bg7 52. Bb6 d4 53. Ke2 Kg8 54. g4 Kf7
$17) (51. Ke3 g5 $1 52. g3 (52. Kd4 gxf4 53. Kxd5 f3) 52... gxf4+ 53. gxf4 Bg7
54. Ba3 Kg6 $19) 51... d4 52. Bb2 Bg7 {It is most doubtful, whether white was
hoping for this prospect. Black's pawns are not accesible and the king marches
to the centre.} 53. Ba3 (53. Ke1 Kg8 $19) 53... Kg8 54. h4 Kf7 55. Bc5 Ke6 56.
h5 (56. Bb6 Bf6 57. h5 (57. Kg3 d3 58. Kf2 Bxh4+ 59. Ke3 Bg3 $19) 57... gxh5
58. gxh5 Kf5 59. Bc7 Bg7 60. Bd6 Kg4 $19) 56... gxh5 57. gxh5 d3 {The material
balance on the board should not fool anybody. Black enjoys the better pawn
structure and the active king.} 58. Ke3 (58. Be3 Kf5 59. Kg3 Bd4 $19) 58... Bh6
59. Bb4 Kd5 (59... Kf5 60. Bd6 Kg4 61. Be5 Bf8 (61... Kxh5 $2 62. Bc3 $11) 62.
Bc3 Kf5 63. Be5 Bc5+ 64. Kd2 Bb4+ 65. Ke3 Bxa5 66. Bd6 Bc3 $19) 60. Bd2 Bf8 61.
Bc1 (61. Kf2 Bc5+ 62. Ke1 e3 $19) 61... Bc5+ 62. Kd2 Kc4 63. h6 Bf2 $1 {
Looking for fine details in similar positions is a joy for stronger side.} (
63... e3+ 64. Kd1 e2+ 65. Ke1 Be7 66. Be3 Kc3 67. h7 Bh4+ 68. Bf2 d2+ 69. Kxe2
Kc2 70. Bxh4 d1=Q+ 71. Kf2 Qh5 $19) 64. Kd1 e3 65. Bxe3 Bxe3 66. h7 Bd4 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Bd2 Nd4 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15.
Ne2 d5 16. Ng3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Bc8 18. c3 Bc5 19. Qf3 Be6 20. Nf5 Rc8 21. Red1
Re8 22. cxd4 Bxd4 23. Be3 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 g6 25. Qf3 Qb6 26. Rd2 Kg7 27. Bxd4
exd4 28. Re1 Qd6 29. g3 Re7 30. Qd3 Rce8 31. Qxd4 Qxd4 32. Rxd4 Nxe4 33. Kg2 f5
34. Rc1 Nf6 35. Rd6 Re2 36. Rc7+ R8e7 37. Rxe7+ Rxe7 38. Be6 Ne4 39. Rc6 a5 40.
h4 Nd2 41. b3 a4 42. bxa4 bxa4 43. Rb6 Ne4 44. f3 Nc5 45. Bc4 Re3 46. Rc6 Nd3
47. Rc7+ Kh8 48. f4 Nb2 49. Bf7 Rxa3 50. h5 gxh5 51. Kh3 Nd3 52. Kh4 Nf2 53.
Be6 Ne4 54. Bxf5 Nxg3 55. Bxh7 Re3 56. Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 g6 12. O-O-O Nb6 {Topalov is convinced,
that the counterplay against the d5-pawn will compensate for the missing light
squared bishop.} (12... Rc8 13. Kb1 Bg7 14. c4 O-O 15. Be2 Re8 16. Rc1 b6 17.
Rhf1 Nc5 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Bg5 Rb8 20. Rc2 e4 21. Qf4 e3 22. g4 a5 23. Rg1 a4
24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. gxh5 Be5 26. Qg5 Qb6 {0-1 Li Wenjun (2342)-Wu Shaobin (2496)/
Shenyang 1999/ (46)}) (12... Bg7 13. Qb4 Qc7 14. Na5 O-O 15. Nc4 Ne8 16. Nb6
Nxb6 17. Bxb6 Qe7 18. Kb1 Nf6 19. c4 Rfc8 20. Bd3 Nd7 21. Be3 {1-0 Dolzhikova,
K (2248)-Batsiashvili,N (2316)/Herceg Novi 2005/ (80)}) 13. Qa5 (13. c4 $6 Rc8
14. Na5 Nfxd5 15. Bg5 Qxg5 16. Qxg5 Bh6 17. Qxh6 Rxh6 18. Nxb7 Kd7 $11) 13...
Bh6 (13... Nfd7 14. Kb1 Bh6 15. Bf2 $16) 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Qb4 $5 {
Anand demonstrates his exceptional feeling for the pieces. The vulnerability
of the h6-rook is helping to lessen the pressure against the d5-pawn.} Kf8 (
16... Nfxd5 17. Rxd5 Nxd5 18. Qd2 Qc7 (18... Nf4 19. g3 Qf6 20. gxf4 Qxf4 21.
Qd5 Rc7 22. Nd2 $14) 19. c4 Nf4 20. g3 b5 21. cxb5 Ne6 22. Be2 Rh8 23. Rc1 $16)
17. c4 Kg7 18. g3 $1 {The fixed queenside has helped the first player to avoid
problems with his king. On the other hand any activity on the kingside is
desirable for White.} Rh8 (18... g5 $6 19. Bd3 g4 20. f4 $16) 19. Rc1 Qc7 20.
Bh3 Rce8 21. Rhd1 (21. Rhe1 Nbd7 22. Re3 Ra8 $13) 21... Re7 {Topalov in the
role of a defender must be very careful about timing of the strategic advance
with his e5 pawn.} (21... e4 $6 22. c5 $1 Nbxd5 (22... dxc5 23. Nxc5 Qd6 24.
fxe4 Rxe4 (24... Nxe4 25. Qd4+ Nf6 26. Nxb7 $18) 25. Qa3 Qe5 26. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 27.
Qd3 $18) 23. Rxd5 Nxd5 24. Qd4+ Nf6 25. cxd6 Qb8 26. Nd2 exf3 27. d7 Re7 28.
Rc8 Rxd7 29. Bxd7 Rxc8 30. Ne4 $16) 22. a3 (22. c5 Nbxd5 23. Rxd5 Nxd5 24. Qd2
Qc6 25. Na5 Qc7 (25... Qb5 $2 26. cxd6 Ree8 27. Bf1 $18) 26. Nb3 $11) 22... Rd8
(22... e4 $6 23. c5 $1 dxc5 (23... Nbxd5 24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Qd4+ $16) 24. Nxc5
Nbxd5 25. Ne6+ fxe6 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Qb3 $16) 23. Nd2 Nbd7 $6 {Innaccuracies
against the world champion can have the impact of real mistakes. Black must
have been very unhappy about the missed opportunity to equalise with a timely
23...e4!} (23... e4 $1 24. Qc3 (24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. fxe4 Rxe4 26. Bg2 $11) (24.
f4 $6 e3 25. Nf3 e2 26. Re1 Rde8 $17) 24... Na4 25. Qc2 (25. Qd4 exf3 26. Rf1
Qc5 $15) 25... Nc5 26. fxe4 Nfxe4 27. Nxe4 Nxe4 $11) 24. Qc3 a5 (24... Nc5 25.
b4 Ncd7 26. g4 $14) 25. Bxd7 (25. g4 $5) 25... Nxd7 (25... Rdxd7 26. Rf1 Qb6
27. Ne4 Nxe4 28. fxe4 Rc7 29. Qf3 $14) 26. f4 Nf6 {[%mdl 256] Topalov has lost
confidence in his position and the next few moves will push him slowly under.
Objectively speaking his chances were still very fair after the correct 26...
Nc5!?} (26... Nc5 $5 27. Re1 f6 $11) 27. Rf1 b6 (27... b5 $5 28. fxe5 Rxe5 (
28... dxe5 29. Qf3 $16) 29. Nf3 Rf5 30. Nh4 (30. Nd4 Rxf1 31. Rxf1 Qxc4 32.
Ne6+ fxe6 33. Qxf6+ Kh6 $11 (33... Kh7 $2 34. Rc1 $16)) 30... Re5 31. cxb5 $14)
28. h3 Qd7 $6 (28... b5 $1) 29. f5 $1 {In the post mortem Anand claimed this
position to be strategically winning. True enough it comes very naturally for
White to enhance the pressure.} (29. fxe5 dxe5 (29... Rxe5 30. Nf3 Rf5 31. g4
$18) 30. Rce1 $16) 29... Rf8 (29... gxf5 $2 30. Qe3 Nh7 31. Nf3 $16) 30. Qe3 e4
(30... a4 31. Ne4 Nxe4 32. Qxe4 f6 33. g4 $16) 31. g4 hxg4 32. hxg4 Re5 (32...
Nxg4 $2 33. Qg5 Nf6 (33... e3 34. f6+ $18) 34. Rh1 Nh5 35. f6+ Kg8 36. Rxh5 $18
) 33. Rf4 $1 {White is already spoiled by the pleasant choice of promising
attacking ideas.} (33. Rh1 Nxg4 34. Qh3 Qxf5 (34... gxf5 35. Qh7+ Kf6 36. Qh4+
Kg6 37. Rcg1) 35. Qh7+ Kf6 36. Rcf1 Nf2 37. Qh4+ $16) 33... Qd8 34. g5 Nh5 (
34... Nd7 35. f6+ Kg8 36. Rh1 $18) 35. f6+ Kg8 36. Rxe4 Rfe8 37. Ka2 $1 {
Black has no squares along the e file so it is not necessary to worry about
the pin.} a4 38. Rc3 (38. Re1 Rxe4 39. Nxe4 Qc7 40. Rc1 $18) 38... Qc7 39. Qd4
Qc5 (39... Rxe4 40. Nxe4 Qd7 41. Nf2 Qf5 42. Re3 $18) 40. Qxc5 {Topalov never
really began believing in his position even though he played many reasonable
moves and kept his chances alive.} (40. Qxc5 bxc5 41. Rce3 Rxe4 42. Rxe4 $18)
1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxf7 $5 $146 {[%mdl 520] With this
sacrifice (apparently prepared long ago) Veselin Topalov opens up a new
chapter in the theory of the Moscow Gambit!} Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 {The position is
extremely complicated and needs detailed analysis. Particularly, I would
consider giving the piece back at once:} (13... Rf8 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Be5 Kg8
16. Qc2 Qe7 17. Rae1 $44) 14. Ne4 Ke7 15. Nd6 Qb6 16. Bg4 $44 {Black is a
clear piece up but his position is not easy to play. His king is in jeopardy
and the white d6 knight is extremely powerful.} Raf8 {Of course, Black has a
lot of defensive ideas which deserve attention, such as, e.g.,} (16... Rhg8 $5
17. Qc2 Nf8) 17. Qc2 Qxd4 $2 {A very unfortunate move clarifying the position
in White's favour.} (17... Rhg8 {is an attempt at improvement, successfully
applied on the next day in the Honorary Group:} 18. a4 $6 (18. Qg6 {leads
nowhere due to} Nc7) ({but something else should be looked for, say,} 18. Rad1
$5) 18... Ba8 (18... Qxd4 {now appears very strong}) 19. Rfe1 Nc7 20. d5 cxd5
21. axb5 a5 22. b3 cxb3 23. Qh7 d4 24. Bh5 Nxb5 25. Nf7 b2 26. Rab1 Nc3 $19 {
0-1 Timman,J-Ljubojevic,L/Corus Honorory, Wijk aan Zee NED 2008 (42)}) 18. Qg6
Qxg4 19. Qxg7+ Kd8 20. Nxb7+ {White has recaptured the piece while keeping up
a strong attack.} Kc8 21. a4 $1 b4 22. Rac1 c3 $6 (22... Rfg8 $5 23. Qf7 Rf8
24. Nd6+ Kc7 25. Qg6 Rhg8 26. Qb1 $14) 23. bxc3 b3 $2 (23... Rfg8) 24. c4 $1
Rfg8 25. Nd6+ Kc7 26. Qf7 Rf8 27. cxd5 $2 (27. h3 $1 Rxf7 28. hxg4 {[%cal
Cd5e3,Ce3f1,Od6f7,Rc4d5] was apparently winning at once.}) 27... Rxf7 28. Rxc6+
Kb8 29. Nxf7 Re8 $2 {It is very difficult to defend such a position. Probably}
(29... Qe2 $1 {was the solution, e.g.} 30. Rc3 $1 (30. Nxh8 $2 Qxf1+ $1 31.
Kxf1 b2) (30. Rb1 $2 Qa2) 30... b2 31. Rb3+ Ka8 32. Nxh8 Nc5 $1 33. Rxb2 (33.
Rb4 a5 34. Rb5 Nxa4) (33. Rb5 Nxa4 34. Rxb2 Qxb2 35. dxe6 Qb6 36. e7 Qe6 $13)
33... Qxb2 {and the fight is in full swing.}) 30. Nd6 Rh8 31. Rc4 $1 {White
now stops the b3-pawn and his own central pawns decide the game.} Qe2 32. dxe6
Nb6 33. Rb4 Ka8 34. e7 Nd5 35. Rxb3 Nxe7 36. Rfb1 Nd5 37. h3 h5 38. Nf7 Rc8 39.
e6 a6 40. Nxg5 h4 41. Bd6 Rg8 42. R3b2 Qd3 43. e7 Nf6 44. Be5 Nd7 45. Ne6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 bxc6 7. Nd2 Qxf3
8. gxf3 d5 9. Rg1 g6 10. Nb3 Bd6 11. h4 dxe4 12. fxe4 Nf6 13. f3 O-O 14. Be3 a5
15. O-O-O Re8 16. Bg5 Nh5 17. a4 Kg7 18. Bd2 Bf4 19. Bd3 f6 20. Nd4 c5 21. Nf5+
Kf8 22. Bb5 Bxf5 23. Bxe8 Bxe4 24. Bb5 Bf5 25. Rge1 Bg3 26. Bh6+ Ng7 27. Rh1
Be6 28. Bd7 Ke7 29. Bc6 Rg8 30. Be3 Bd6 31. Rhe1 Rb8 32. Bd2 Be5 33. Bc3 Rb6
34. Bxe5 Rxc6 35. Bc3 Nf5 36. h5 gxh5 37. Bxa5 h4 38. b3 h3 39. Rd2 Nh4 40. Rf1
h5 41. c4 Ng2 42. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Nd2 Qe8 12. Kh1 Nh7 13. a3 h5 14. f3 Bh6 15. b3 Be3
16. Rb1 f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 Kh8 20. Bd3 Qg6 21. Qe2 Qh6 22.
Rfd1 Rae8 23. Qe1 Rg8 24. Nf1 Bg5 25. Ne2 Rg7 26. Bxg5 Qxg5 27. Qf2 e4 28. f4
Qh6 29. Bc2 h4 30. h3 Nf6 31. Ne3 Nh5 32. Kh2 Ng3 33. Nd4 Reg8 34. Rd2 Qf6 35.
Bd1 Ra8 36. Be2 Kh7 37. Bd1 Rf8 38. Qe1 Rfg8 39. Kg1 Rf7 40. Ndc2 Ba4 41. Nd4
Bd7 42. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Bg4 $5 {Almost never played before.} ({I have
highlighted Black's problems after the theoretical} 10... Na6 11. Re1 {in my
notes to Gleizerov,E (2552)-Marin,M (2551)/Predeal 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M] (1/
2-1/2, 30). I can understand Topalov's desire to open a whole new path in this
variation.}) 11. Nd2 $146 ({In the only game where this position was seen,} 11.
Qb3 {was played.} Na6 $5 {This looks like the best continuation. Black
develops a piece an ignores the threat against the b7-pawn.} (11... b6 $6 {
is too passive.} 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 $14 {Adorjan,A-Perenyi B/Ch Hungary 
(team), Hungary 1987/(1-0, 33)}) 12. h3 (12. Qxb7 $6 Nb4 $1 $132 {[%csl Gb7]})
12... Bf5 13. Nh4 Bc8 $1 {and, with his knight on h4, White has achieved very
little.}) ({In the event of a neutral move such as} 11. Re1 {, Black can
continue his development with} a6 12. a4 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qc7 $11 {[%cal Gb8d7] ,
when his queen's knight would be much better placed than in the variations
given in the notes to my game against Gleizerov.}) 11... Nh5 12. Be3 Nd7 $5 {
A creative way to solve the opening problems. Topalov is ready to sacrifice
material in order to get his knight to e5 and weaken the enemy kingside.} ({
In the event of the more cautious} 12... Na6 {White has an extra tempo
compared to the aforementioned lines by having saved the move Re1. He can use
this tempo by immediately putting the d6-pawn under attack with} 13. Nc4 $1 $14
) ({The thematic} 12... Rxe3 13. fxe3 {looks nice for Black, but, again, he
has the problem of how to develop his queen's knight without leaving the
bishop trapped on g4.} Qe7 14. Nc4 Bxc3 (14... Nd7 15. h3 Ne5 {does not seem
to be sufficient:} 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. hxg4 Qxe3+ 18. Rf2 Bd4 19. gxh5 Qxf2+ 20.
Kh2 $16) 15. bxc3 b5 16. Na3 Qxe3+ 17. Rf2 a6 18. Qd3 {Same situation: Black
has a viable position with just one exception: he has not yet found a way to
complete his queenside development.}) 13. h3 Bxh3 14. Bxh3 Nxg3 15. fxg3 Rxe3 {
This must have been part of Topalov's home preparation. As a compensation for
the minimal material investment, Black has excellent development and strong
control on the dark squares. His kingside attacking chances are not that great,
but apparently Topalov thought that he can afford to play normal moves, as if
nothing had happened. Of course, only further practice will prove whether the
sacrifice is entirely correct. A long time ago, I learned from GM Mihai Suba
that in the Benoni it is not so important how good your position is
objectively; the essential thing is to have "some" play.} 16. Rf3 Bd4 17. Rxe3
Bxe3+ 18. Kh1 Ne5 19. Nf1 Bh6 20. e4 a6 21. a4 Qb6 22. Qe2 c4 {As mentioned
above, Black plays all the normal Benoni moves. Given the unmatched domination
of his bishop on dark squares, Topalov might have considered his queenside
play quite promising.} 23. Nh2 Bg7 24. Rf1 Rf8 (24... Nd3 25. Ng4 Qxb2 {
is strongly met by} 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. Qxb2 Nxb2 28. Rxf6 Rd8 29. e5 dxe5 30.
Rb6 $16) 25. Ng4 {The critical moment of the game.} Nxg4 $6 {After exchanging
this knight, Black will be left without counterplay.} (25... Nd3 {deserved to
be tested, although after} 26. Nf6+ (26. Nd1 Re8 27. Nf6+ $2 Bxf6 28. Rxf6 Qd4
$36 {[%csl Ge4,Gf6]}) 26... Bxf6 27. Rxf6 Nxb2 28. e5 $5 $13 {Black's position
looks very dangerous. On the other hand, he has three pawns for the piece
already and some chances for perpetual check if White loses coordination or
carelessly trades rooks.} (28. Qf2 Qxf2 29. Rxf2 Nd3 {would allow Black to
consolidate.}) 28... Qb3 $5 29. Ne4 (29. Qf1 Qxc3 30. Rxf7 Rxf7 31. Be6 Kh8 $1
32. Qxf7 Qe1+ {leads to a draw.}) 29... dxe5 30. d6 Qd3 $5) 26. Bxg4 $16 Qc5
27. Kg2 Re8 ({Topalov might have overlooked that after} 27... b5 28. axb5 axb5
{White can establish his domination on light squares in a rather original way:}
29. Bd7 b4 30. Na4 Qa7 31. Bc6 {The presence of opposite coloured bishops
clearly favours White here...}) 28. Qf2 Qc7 29. Be2 Re7 30. Rc1 $18 {White is
a piece up. His last move aims to inhibit any further queenside expansion and
to start active operations on that wing himself.} h5 31. Rc2 Re5 32. Bf3 Qe7
33. a5 Bf6 34. Kf1 Kg7 35. Ne2 Rg5 36. Rxc4 Bxb2 37. Nd4 Ba1 38. Ra4 Bc3 39.
Qe3 Bb2 40. Rb4 Ba1 41. Rb1 Bxd4 42. Qxd4+ Re5 43. Kg2 h4 44. Rh1 hxg3 45. Qd2
g5 46. Qc3 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Qe7 13. Na3 Ngxe5 14. Nxe5
Nxe5 15. Nxb5 d6 16. Nd4 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Ng6 18. Bg3 Qxe4 19. Re1 Qb7 20. Re3 Be6
21. d5 Bd7 22. f3 Rfe8 23. Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 {This system was examined in several CBM issues:
108 (several games annotated by GM V.Gavrikov), 115 (Bareev-Nyback), 116 
(Chuchelov-Babula).} e5 ({To} 10... Nbd7 {(previously considered the most
appropriate) White has recently achieved good results by means of} 11. Qg4 {
, e.g.} O-O (11... Qf6 12. Nb5 O-O 13. Bg5 Qg6 14. Qh4 f6 15. Be3 Qc2 16. O-O
Qxe2 17. Rfe1 Qc2 18. Qd4 $16 {1-0 Le Quang Liem-Smirnov,P/Moscow RUS 2008/The
Week in Chess 693 (24)}) 12. Bh6 Qf6 13. Bg5 Qg6 14. Qh4 Nf6 (14... f6 15. Be3
a6 16. O-O Qf7 17. Nb3 Qe7 18. Qd4 Na4 19. Rfd1 Ne5 20. Rab1 Re8 21. Na5 Qc7
22. Nxb7 $16 {1-0 L'Ami,E-Sher,M/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2008/The Week in Chess
694 (53)}) (14... a6 15. O-O Nf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Nb3 Rd8 19.
Nxc5 dxc5 20. Rfd1 Rd7 21. Rxd7 Bxd7 22. Bxb7 Ra7 23. Rb1 $16 {1-0 L'Ami,
E-Gofshtein,L/Hoogeveen 2007/CBM 120 ext (64)}) 15. Nb3 (15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Rd1
Bd7 17. O-O Ba4 18. Rb1 Rac8 19. Nb3 b6 20. Rfd1 e5 21. Rb2 Rfd8 22. Bd5 Bc6
23. Nxc5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Rxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A-Kveinys,A/Cappelle La
Grande FRA 2008/The Week in Chess 693 (29)}) (15. O-O Bd7 16. Nb3 Rac8 17. Rfd1
Bc6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Rd6 Rfd8 22. Rad1 Rxd6 23.
Rxd6 Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Gyimesi,Z/Crete 2007/CBM 121 (39)}) 15... Nce4 16.
Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qd4 e5 (17... Rd8 $5) 18. Qxd6 Bg4 19. Rd1 Rae8 20. Bxb7 Qh5 21.
h3 e4 22. Nd4 $16 {1-0 Delchev,A-Kveinys,A/Crete 2007/CBM 121 (63)}) 11. Qe3 $5
$146 {[%mdl 8] After provoking ...e6-e5 White starts regrouping his pieces to
make use of the hole on d5. Earlier practice had seen:} (11. Nb3 Nba6 12. Ba3
Qc7 13. Rd1 (13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. Qd5 Qxd5 16. Bxd5 Rb8 17. Kd2 Be6
$11 {1/2-1/2 Furman,B-Greet,A/Hastings 2007/CBM 116 ext (48)}) 13... Be6 14.
Nxc5 (14. Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Nxc5 dxc5 (15... Qxc5 $142 $1) 16. O-O Rb8 17. Qh5 O-O
18. Bd5 Rfe8 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Rd5 Re7 21. Rfd1 Rbe8 22. Qg5 b6 23. Rd6 $14 {
1-0 Aronian,L-Nielsen,P/Turin 2006/CBM 113 (66)}) 14... Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16.
Qxb7 Rc8 17. O-O (17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxc4 19. Qxd6 Qxc3+ 20. Kf1 Qc7 21. Kg2
Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Ke7 23. Ra6 Rc7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A-Gyimesi,Z/
Maalot-Tarshiha ISR 2008/The Week in Chess 688 (33)}) 17... Qxc4 18. Rxd6 O-O
19. Qxa7 Qxe2 20. a4 Rxc3 21. a5 Bc4 22. Ra1 Ra3 23. Rdd1 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Qb2 25.
Rd1 Be2 26. Re1 Qd2 27. Rb1 Bd3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Wang Yue-Meier,G/Yerevan 2006/
CBM 114 ext (36)}) (11. Nf5 $5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 (13. exf3 Nba6 14. Ba3
Be6 15. O-O-O O-O-O 16. f4 exf4 17. gxf4 f5 18. h4 Rhe8 19. h5 Kc7 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Asrian,K/Sochi 2007/CBM 118 (62)}) 13... Be6 14. Ba3 Nba6
15. O-O-O Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 g6 21. Kc2
Rhf8 22. Bc6 f5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Bxc5 bxc5 27. Be4
$14 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (29)}) 11... O-O (11...
Nba6 $6 {was a later attempt at an improvement, which was brilliantly refuted:}
12. f4 $1 Qe7 (12... O-O 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Nb3 $16) 13. Nc6 $1 Qd7 14. Nb4 O-O
15. Nxa6 Nxa6 16. fxe5 Re8 17. O-O Rxe5 18. Qd4 Nc5 19. Bd5 Ne6 20. Qf2 Qe7 21.
Rb1 $16 Nd8 22. Bf4 Rxe2 23. Bxd6 Qe8 24. Qxe2 Qxe2 25. Rfe1 Qxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Be6
27. c5 {1-0 Gajewski,G-Macieja,B/Lublin POL 2008/The Week in Chess 694 (41)})
12. Nb3 Qc7 (12... Nba6 13. Ba3 Qc7 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 dxc5 {and White
gets a favorable structure as in Aronian-Nielsen (see above)} ({or} 15... Qxc5
16. Qxc5 dxc5 17. O-O-O)) {However, the text move leads to an even better
situation for White as his bishop pair proves really strong.} 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14.
O-O Nd7 15. f4 $5 {[%mdl 32] Making space for the bishops!} exf4 $6 (15... Re8
$142 16. f5 $5 (16. Bd5 $5 Nf6 17. f5)) 16. Rxf4 {Despite his destroyed pawn
structure, White has a clear advantage. In fact, it is difficult for Black to
develop his pieces without losses!} a5 ({It was relatively better for Black to
give up a pawn but complete his development:} 16... Nb6 17. Ba3 Be6 18. Qxc5
Rfc8 19. Qxc7 Rxc7 20. Bd6 Rxc4 21. Bxb7 Rd8 $16) 17. Qe7 (17. Ba3 $5 Ra6 18.
Bd5) 17... Qe5 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Be3 Nd7 (19... Be6 {hardly helps now:} 20.
Bxc5 Rfd8 21. Rd4 $5) 20. Re4 (20. Rd1 $5 {was perhaps more accurate. If} Re8 {
then} 21. Re4 Kf8 22. Rd5 {etc.}) 20... Ra6 (20... Nf6 $1 21. Re7 Be6 $16 {
was the last chance of consolidation.}) 21. Rb1 Rg6 22. Re7 b6 23. Bf4 h5 24.
Be4 Re6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Bd6 Rf6 27. Rd1 {Total domination!} Kf7 28. Bf4 {
[%cal Rf4g5]} Kg8 29. Bc7 Rf7 $6 {Loses material.} (29... e5 $142) 30. Bg6 {
The rest is clear.} a4 31. Bxh5 Nf6 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Bxb6 Ba6 34. Bxc5 e5 35.
a3 Bxc4 36. Bb4 e4 37. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Nd4 h6 14.
Be3 Be7 15. f4 h5 16. Ne4 h4 17. c4 Rh5 18. Rd2 Nxe5 19. b3 f6 20. Re2 Nf7 21.
Bf2 Kf8 22. Nf3 Re8 23. Nxh4 Rh6 24. Rd1 Bc8 25. Nf3 b6 26. Nd4 Nd8 27. Ng3 Bb4
28. a3 Rxe2 29. Ndxe2 Be7 30. b4 Kf7 31. Nd4 g6 32. f5 Rh8 33. fxg6+ Kxg6 34.
Nge2 Kf7 35. Nf4 Rg8 36. Kf1 Bd6 37. Nd3 Ba6 38. Nf5 Bf8 39. Rc1 Bc8 40. Nd4
Bh6 41. Re1 Bf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 10. g5 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Be7 15.
h4 a5 $146 {Ivanchuk adds a new twist to this well known position. White was
planning long castling so Black's novelty hopes to start activity on the
queenside as soon as possible.} (15... O-O 16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 a4 (17... f5
18. Kb1 (18. gxf6 Nxf6 19. h5 Qc8 20. h6 g6 21. Rhg1 Kh8 22. f4 Ng4 23. fxe5
Nxe5 24. Bd4 Bf6 {1/2 Shirov,A (2726)-Svidler,P (2713)/Wijk aan Zee 1999 (41)})
18... Qc8 (18... Qc7 19. Nc4 a4 20. Rhf1 g6 21. b3 Rfe8 22. f4 Bf8 23. h5 exf4
24. Rxf4 Bg7 {1/2 Anand,V (2803)-Bu Xiangzhi (2640)/Turin 2006 (40)}) 19. f4
Qa6 20. Qxa6 Rxa6 21. Nc4 Rc8 22. b3 Bd8 23. Rhe1 Kf7 24. Bc1 Rxc4 25. bxc4 e4
26. Bb2 Bb6 27. Re2 Bc5 {1/2 Ponomariov,R (2743)-Anand,V (2755)/Mainz 2002 (40)
}) 18. Kb1 f5 19. f4 Qc7 20. Nc4 exf4 21. Bd4 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Rhf1 Rfe8
24. Rxf4 g6 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Rfxd4 h6 27. Rg1 {1/2 Leko,P (2743)-Kasparov,G 
(2838)/Bled 2002 (54)}) 16. a3 a4 (16... Qb8 17. axb4 a4 18. Nd2 Qxb4 19. Qa3
Qb7 $13) (16... O-O 17. axb4 axb4 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. O-O $14) 17. Nd2 Rb8 (17...
bxa3 18. Rxa3 O-O 19. Nc4 f5 $13) 18. axb4 Rxb4 19. Qa3 Qb8 {The defender is
fighting without the help of the best moves. It seems reasonable to believe
that queen had to go to a5, also hitting the vulnerable d5-pawn.} (19... Qa5 $1
20. c3 Rb8 21. Qxa4 Qxd5 22. b3 Rc8 $13) 20. c3 $1 Rxb2 21. Qxa4 Rb7 $6 (21...
h6 22. gxh6 gxh6 23. Nc4 Rb5 24. Ke2 $14) 22. Ke2 $1 Rc7 $2 {The loss of a
tempo is what actually seals Black's fate. The rook is actually not exercising
real pressure along the c-file.} (22... O-O 23. Rhb1 Rc8 (23... Nc5 24. Rxb7
Qxb7 25. Qc6 Qb2 (25... Qxc6 26. dxc6 Rc8 27. Ra7 Bf8 28. Bxc5 dxc5 29. Ra6 $16
) 26. Ra7 Bd8 27. Qxd6 $16) 24. Rxb7 Qxb7 25. Qa7 Rc7 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27. Ra8+
Nf8 28. f4 $16) 23. Rhb1 Qc8 (23... Rb7 $2 24. Qc6 $18) 24. Bb6 $1 Rb7 (24...
Rxc3 25. Ne4 Rc4 (25... Rc2+ 26. Kd3 $18) 26. Rc1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxc1 (27... Qb8
28. Rc7 O-O 29. Qxd7 Qxb6 30. Qxe7 $18) 28. Qa8+ Nb8 29. Qxb8+ Kd7 30. Nc5+
Qxc5 31. Qa7+ $18) 25. Ba7 {Suddenly Ivanchuk is facing the whole white army
without the chance to use the help of the h8-rook.} e4 (25... f6 26. Rxb7 Qxb7
27. Qc6 Qxc6 28. dxc6 Kf7 29. cxd7 $18) 26. fxe4 (26. Rxb7 exf3+ 27. Ke3 Qxb7
28. Qc6 Qxc6 29. dxc6 Ne5 $14) 26... Rxb1 27. Rxb1 O-O 28. Qc6 Ne5 {At least
the second player is not losing outright.} (28... Rd8 $2 29. Rb7 $18) 29. Qxc8
Rxc8 30. Rb8 {Topalov prefers to simplify with a rook exchange in order to
prevent any real counterplay.} (30. Rb7 Kf8 31. Bd4 f6 32. Nf3 $16) 30... Rxb8
31. Bxb8 Kf8 {Unfortunatelly Black is unable to survive with the help of
keeping the knight on e5.} (31... f6 32. gxf6 gxf6 33. Nf3 Kf7 34. Nxe5+ fxe5
35. h5 Kf6 36. c4 Kg5 37. c5 dxc5 38. Bxe5 $18) 32. Nf3 Ng6 (32... Nxf3 33.
Kxf3 Ke8 (33... f6 34. gxf6 gxf6 35. Kf4 $18) 34. e5 $18) 33. c4 Ke8 (33... f6
34. Ke3 Ke8 35. h5 Nf8 36. h6 gxh6 37. gxf6 Nd7 38. fxe7 Nxb8 39. c5 Kxe7 40.
cxd6+ Kxd6 41. Kd4 $18) 34. e5 $1 {The key part of White's plan is to unleash
the power of the c4-d5 pawn pair.} Kd7 (34... dxe5 35. Bxe5 Nxe5 36. Nxe5 f6
37. g6 hxg6 38. Nxg6 $18) (34... Nxe5 35. Nxe5 dxe5 36. Bxe5 f6 37. gxf6 gxf6
38. Bd4 $18) 35. Kd3 h6 (35... Nxe5+ 36. Nxe5+ dxe5 37. Bxe5 $18) 36. exd6 Bxd6
37. Bxd6 Kxd6 38. gxh6 gxh6 39. Kd4 {Knight endgames are often compared to
simple king pawn positions. Black has no compensation for his plight.} f6 40.
c5+ Kd7 41. Ke4 (41. c6+ Kd6 42. Nd2 Kc7 43. Nc4 $18) 41... h5 42. d6 Ke6 43.
Nd4+ Kd7 44. Nf5 {Topalov keeps the h4-pawn on the board, the battle is over.}
(44. Kf5 Nxh4+ 45. Kxf6 Ng2 46. Ke5 $18) 44... Ne5 (44... Ke6 45. c6 Nxh4 46.
c7 $18) 45. Kd5 Nc6 46. Nd4 (46. Nd4 Nb4+ 47. Kc4 Na6 (47... Na2 48. Ne2 $18)
48. Kb5 Nb8 49. Kb6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Bd7 {Instead of the most principled continuation 15...Rb8 Topalov
chooses a rare line advocated by Radjabov.} 16. O-O Ne7 (16... Nd4 17. Ra2 Ne6
18. Qe2 a4 19. Ncb4 Nc5 20. Nd3 Ne6 21. Rfa1 $14 {1-0 Anand,V-Radjabov,T/Monte
Carlo (rapid) 2007 (44)}) (16... Nb4 17. Ra3 (17. Ncxb4 $5 Bxa4 18. Qxa4 axb4
19. Qxb4 $44) 17... Rc8 18. cxb4 axb4 19. Ra6 Rxc4 20. Rxd6 b3 21. Nce3 Rd4 22.
Qxb3 Qc8 23. Qc2 Be6 24. Rc6 Qb8 $14 {/=, 1/2-1/2 Volokitin,A-Radjabov,T/Biel
2006 (28)}) 17. Ra3 {Usually the rook goes to a2 in order to keep the b2-pawn
protected, but Shirov's plan is to advance the b-pawn, justifying the position
of the rook on a3.} (17. Ra2 Rc8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Bd5 Rc5 20. b3 Rxc3 21.
Rxa5 Be6 {gave Black a quick draw in the rapid game Anand,V (2779)-Radjabov,T 
(2728)/Mainz 2006}) 17... Nxd5 $146 (17... Rc8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qd3 Rc5 20.
Rd1 {was marginally better for White in 1/2-1/2 Smeets,J-Khairullin,I/
Hoogeveen 2006 (104)}) 18. Bxd5 Rb8 19. b4 axb4 20. Nxb4 ({In case of} 20. cxb4
{the position is equal: the knight can't come to d5, while the passed b-pawn
will be easily blockaded.}) 20... Qb6 21. Qe2 (21. Ra6 Qc7 22. Rxd6 Kh8 $1 (
22... Qxd6 $4 23. Bxf7+ Rxf7 24. Qxd6 $18) 23. Bb3 Bb5 $44) 21... Bb5 22. Bc4
Rfc8 23. Bxb5 Qxb5 24. Qxb5 ({After} 24. Qg4 {Black continues} Bd8 (24... h6 $2
{is a mistake in view of} 25. Na6 $1 {[%csl Rc8]} Ra8 26. Nc7 $1 $18)) 24...
Rxb5 {The simplifications didn't change much: White keeps a symbolic edge
thanks to the knight which will soon come to d5. On the other hand the only
weakness in Black's position - the pawn on d6 - is compensated for by the
weakness on c3 and normally Black should achieve a draw without major problems.
} 25. Rd1 g6 26. g3 (26. Rxd6 $4 Rxb4 27. cxb4 Rc1+) 26... Kg7 27. Nd5 (27.
Rxd6 Be7 28. Rd5 Bxb4 29. cxb4 Rxb4 30. Rxe5 Kf6 {is an immediate draw}) 27...
Rc4 ({More precise is} 27... Rb2 {after which White should continue} 28. Rd3
$11 {/+/=} (28. Ra6 {leads to a draw:} Bd2 29. Rxd6 Bxc3 30. Rc1 Rb3 (30... Bb4
31. Rxg6+ hxg6 32. Rxc8 Be1 {is a slightly more complicated draw}) 31. Rd7 Rc5
$11 {followed by Bd4.})) (27... Bd8 28. Ra6 $14) 28. Ra7 $1 {The only way to
keep some pressure.} Bd8 ({After} 28... Rxe4 29. Nc7 {White suddenly develops
a strong initiative}) 29. Rd7 Ba5 30. Re1 (30. Rxd6 Rxe4 $11) ({A human with
little time has no chance to find a variation like} 30. Rd3 Rxe4 31. Rf3 Rxd5
32. Rfxf7+ Kh6 (32... Kg8 33. Rg7+ Kf8 34. Rxh7 Kg8 35. Rdg7+ Kf8 36. Ra7 Kg8
37. Rhd7 $18) 33. Kg2 $1 {Objectively it would have offered White certain
winning chances.} (33. h4 $2 Kh5 34. Rxh7+ Kg4 35. Kg2 Rd2 36. Rhg7 Kf5 $19))
30... Bb6 31. Nxb6 $1 (31. Rxd6 $2 Bc5 32. Rf6 (32. Rc6 $4 Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Rxc6
$19) 32... Rb2 33. Kf1 Rd2 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gd2d5]} 34. Rf3 f5 $1 $36) 31...
Rxb6 32. Re3 {It turns out that this endgame is not so trivial. White brings
the rook to f3 and Black must wait in complete passivity.} Rc8 33. Rf3 Rf8 34.
Kf1 {One of the black rooks protects the d6-pawn, the other - the f7-pawn. He
can't do much with the rooks.  The safest way to defend for Black is to
improve the kingside pawn structure (with the move ...h7-h5) and then wait,
eventually trying to prevent the march of the white king to d5. Topalov's
desire to clarify the situation as soon as possible backfired.} g5 {The idea
is to free the g6-square for the king.} (34... h5 35. Ke2 Rc6 {is enough for a
draw and White can't make much progress:} ({or} 35... Rb2+ 36. Kd3 Rb1 37. Kc4
Rc8+ 38. Kd3 Rf8 39. Kc2 Rb6) 36. Rd3 (36. Kd3 Rb6 37. Rc7 Rb2 38. Kc4 Rd2 39.
h4 Kg8 40. Rf6 Kg7 {this is the difference compared to the game: Black can
wait with the king} 41. Rf3 Kg8 $11) 36... Rfc8 37. Kd2 Rb6 38. R7xd6 (38. Rf3
Rf8) 38... Rb2+ 39. Ke3 Rc2 $11) 35. h4 $5 ({Nothing is achieved by} 35. Ke2
Rc6 ({not} 35... Kg6 $2 36. Rd3) 36. Kd3 Kg6) 35... g4 ({More stubborn is} 
35... gxh4 36. gxh4 ({After} 36. g4 Kg6 {(with the idea h5)} 37. Rf5 f6 38. Rh5
h6 39. Rxh4 Rc8 40. Rh3 Rc4 41. Re3 Ra6 {the draw is obvious}) 36... Kg6 {
For instance:} 37. Rd3 Kh5 38. R7xd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Kxh4 40. Rh6+ Kg5 41. Rxh7
Kf4 42. Rh4+ Kf3 $11) 36. Rf5 h6 37. Ke2 {The g6-square is not available for
the black king due to a possible check by h4-h5; so with the last moves Black
has only worsened his situation on the kingside. Now the only chance is to
prevent White from activating his king.} Rc6 38. Kd2 Kg6 39. h5+ Kg7 40. Kd3
Rb6 41. Rc7 $1 (41. Kc4 Rc8+ {and the king can't go to d5 due to the mate on
c5:} 42. Kd5 $4 Rc5#) 41... Rb1 42. Kc4 Rd1 43. Kb5 Kg8 $2 {This only offers
White an additional resource: the f6-square for the rook.} ({In spite of
coming with the king to the queenside, it is not clear if White can win after} 
43... Rc1 44. Kb6 Rb8+ 45. Ka7 Rf8 46. Kb7 Rc2 {For example:} 47. c4 ({or} 47.
Rc4 f6 48. Kc7 Rd2 49. Kd7 Kf7 50. Rc6 Ra8 51. Rc7 Rd3) 47... Rc3 48. Rc6 Re8
49. Kc7 Re6 50. Kd7 Ra3 $1) 44. Rf6 $1 Rd2 (44... Kg7 {loses the pawn g4:} 45.
Rg6+ Kh7 46. Rxg4 $18) 45. Kc6 {Now White should be winning.} Kg7 (45... Rd3
46. c4 Rd4 47. Kd7 Rxe4 48. Kxd6 {and the c-pawn will decide the outcome.}) 46.
Rg6+ Kh7 47. Rxg4 Rxf2 48. Kxd6 $18 Re8 49. c4 Rd2+ 50. Kc6 Rf8 51. c5 Rd4 52.
Rb7 Kh8 53. Kb5 Rd1 54. c6 Rc1 55. Kb6 Rc8 56. c7 Re8 57. Ra7 Rb1+ 58. Kc5 Rc1+
59. Kd5 Rc2 60. Ra6 Kh7 61. Rc6 Rd2+ 62. Kc5 Ra8 63. Rh4 {Via h1 and b1 the
rook goes to b8, so Topalov resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 {Most likely Carlsen's
opening choice came as a surprise to Topalov, although Magnus has already used
this system before.} 6. Bd3 ({The natural looking} 6. c4 {is inaccurate. After}
Nb4 {Black suddenly develops an initiative, threatening to take on d4 followed
by the check on c2. Therefore White must place the knight on a3, after which
Black easily achieves comfortable play:} 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Na3 (8. Nd3 e5 $1 $36)
8... Nd7 $11) ({Besides 6.Bd3, other attempts to fight for the advantage are} 
6. Be2) ({and} 6. Bc4) 6... Nd7 {This is the main idea of Black's setup: to
exchange the exposed knight and achieve a very solid position.} 7. Nxd7 {
In my opinion this is harmless for Black.} ({When he was 13-years old, Carlsen
lost against} 7. O-O {which is actually the strongest continuation:} Nxe5 (7...
g6 {is the alternative}) 8. dxe5 Nb4 (8... g6 $142 $14 {/=}) 9. Be4 Qxd1 10.
Rxd1 f5 11. a3 Na6 12. Bf3 g6 13. Nd2 Be6 14. Be2 Nc7 15. Nf3 Bd5 16. Nd4 Bg7
17. c4 Bf7 18. f4 $14 {Sutovsky,E (2639)-Carlsen,M (2385)/Rethymnon 2003.}) (7.
Nf3 N7f6 8. h3 Nb4 $1 9. Bc4 Bf5 10. Bb3 a5 $1 $11) 7... Bxd7 8. O-O g6 9. Nd2
({Somewhat better is} 9. Re1 Bg7 10. c3 O-O 11. Bg5 {although Black hardly has
any opening problems.}) 9... Bg7 10. Nf3 O-O 11. Re1 ({More cautious is} 11. h3
$11) 11... Bg4 $1 12. c3 c5 $1 {Carlsen's fight for the initiative is
justified: Black leads in development and uses his bishops to create pressure
on White's centre.} 13. Be4 ({Although after} 13. dxc5 {Black has} Nxc3 $1 14.
bxc3 Bxc3 {White is only slightly worse:} 15. Bh6 Bxe1 (15... Re8 $2 16. Re3
$18) (15... Bxa1 $2 16. Qxa1 $18) 16. Qxe1 Qxd3 17. Ne5 (17. Qe5 $2 f6 18. Qxe7
Rf7) 17... Qd4 18. c6 (18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Nxg4 Qxg4 $17) 18... bxc6 19. Nxc6 Qf6
20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Nd5 Qd4 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Ne3 Be6 24. Rd1 $15 {/=}) 13...
cxd4 14. cxd4 e6 {A dream position for Black, who has perfectly placed pieces
against the isolated pawn.} 15. Qb3 $6 ({After} 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qb6 17.
Bxd5 exd5 18. Be3 {White has better chances to achieve a draw. For instance:}
Qxb2 19. Qd3 Qb6 20. Rab1 Qc7 21. Rb5 Rfd8 22. Qb3 {regaining the pawn.}) 15...
Bxf3 $1 {Very concrete. Black wins the central pawn.} 16. Bxf3 Bxd4 17. Bxd5
Qxd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Rd1 Bg7 $17 20. Kf1 (20. Rxd5 {does not restore
material equality:} Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Be3 (22. Kf1 Rd1+ 23. Ke2 Rh1 {
is just bad for White}) 22... b6 23. Rb1 Bxb2 {with a healthy pawn up.}) 20...
Rfd8 21. Bg5 Rd7 22. Rd2 h6 23. Be3 d4 24. Rd3 Rc8 25. Bd2 Rc2 {Black is a
pawn up and has more active pieces. Carlsen converts it convincingly into a
full point.} 26. Rb1 Re7 27. a4 f5 28. b3 Rec7 (28... Kf7 29. Rc1 Rxc1+ 30.
Bxc1 Ke6 $17 {/-+}) 29. Be1 Kf7 30. Rd2 Rc1 31. Rxc1 Rxc1 32. Ke2 Rb1 $1 33.
Rd3 Ke6 34. h4 Kd5 $19 35. Bd2 Ke4 36. Rg3 f4 37. Rd3 Be5 38. f3+ Kd5 39. Be1
Bd6 40. Bd2 g5 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Be1 g4 43. fxg4 Ke4 44. g5 Ke5 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {In their previous encounters Topalov used more
frequently (and successfully) 3.Nf3.} Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 b6 ({In the first
round of the same tournament Aronian played} 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+
8. bxc3 Nc5 {but after} 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 e5 11. Qe3 O-O 12. Nb3 Qc7 13. Nxc5
dxc5 14. O-O Nd7 15. f4 {failed to solve all the problems and lost, 1-0
Topalov,V-Aronian,L/Morelia 2008 (35).}) 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O cxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9.
Qd3 O-O 10. b3 d5 11. cxd5 Ne7 {A small trick. White can't keep the extra pawn
since 12.dxe6 loses the knight to c3 after 12...Qxd3.} 12. Bd2 Rc8 $146 (12...
Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qxd5 14. Qc2 {1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Timman,J/Netherlands 1979 (47).
leaves White with advantage thanks to his bishop pair.}) (12... Bxd5 13. Nxd5
Nexd5 14. Rac1 Bxd2 15. Qxd2 Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Qc2 $14 {
The control over the c-file secures White better prospects.}) 13. e4 {The most
aggressive continuation.} ({In the event of} 13. Rfd1 {Black can already take
on d5 with the bishop} Bxd5 {since} 14. Nxd5 Nexd5 15. Rac1 {brings White
nothing anymore:} Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Nc3 $1 {and Black makes full use of his rook
on c8.}) 13... Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Nxe4 {This small combination is the only way to
solve the problems.} (14... exd5 15. Bxf6 {is of course unacceptable for Black.
White has a clear advantage after} gxf6 16. Nd4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 $16
) 15. Bxg7 {A counter-sacrifice: before dying the bishop takes an important
pawn.} ({Bad for White is} 15. Qxe4 Rxc3 16. Ng5 Ng6 17. Qd4 Rc8 {and the pawn
on d5 is still pinned.}) 15... Kxg7 16. Qxe4 Bxd5 17. Qg4+ Ng6 {After the more
or less forced sequence of moves we reach a position where thanks to his
better pawn structure and a slightly vulnerable king on g7 Topalov has some
objective reasons to fight for the advantage. On the other hand all this
should not be overestimated: Black will place the queen on f6 and his pieces
will control most important files and diagonals. Therefore the position is
very close to equal.} 18. h4 ({The alternative} 18. Rfd1 Qf6 19. h4 Bxf3 20.
Bxf3 Rc3 21. Be2 $1 {looks preferable. If then} (21. Bg2 Rc2) 21... Kh8 {
White continues} 22. Rac1 Rfc8 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. h5 {with initiative}) 18...
Bxf3 {The easiest decision. Anand eliminates a potentially dangerous attacking
piece.} 19. Qxf3 (19. Bxf3 f5 20. Qa4 Ne5 21. Bg2 (21. Qxa7+ $2 Rf7) 21... Rf7
$11) 19... Qf6 20. Qb7 Qe7 {In an endgame the vulnerability of black king is
not a factor anymore and Vishy cleverly exploits this factor.} 21. Qe4 Qc5 22.
Rad1 ({The last real chance to fight for the advantage was} 22. Rac1 {after
which Black should probably continue} Qe5 ({rather than} 22... Qxc1 23. Rxc1
Rxc1+ 24. Kh2 {and the rooks are bad defenders of the black king})) 22... Rfd8
23. Rfe1 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rc7 25. Bf3 Qe5 {The same simple strategy: the exchange
of pieces favours Black, who won't feel any problems with the king after that.}
26. Qb4 Qc3 27. Qg4 f5 28. Qh5 Qf6 29. Bg2 e5 {Considering the fact that
Topalov was short on time Anand makes some attempts to fight for the
initiative.} 30. Bh3 {Veselin immediately notices the newly created weakness -
the f5-pawn.} Rf7 ({After} 30... f4 31. Bg2 Rf7 32. Qg4 fxg3 33. fxg3 Qf2+ 34.
Kh2 {Black's aggressive play could easily backfire: White has a very
unpleasant threat to advance the h-pawn.}) 31. Qe2 $11 e4 (31... f4 32. h5 Ne7
33. Rd7 fxg3 34. fxg3 $14) 32. Rd5 f4 (32... Ne5 33. Kg2 $14) 33. Rf5 (33. Qxe4
$2 fxg3 34. fxg3 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qxg3 $40) 33... Qa1+ 34. Kh2 fxg3+ 35. fxg3 Rxf5
36. Bxf5 Nxh4 $1 37. Bxe4 (37. gxh4 $2 Qe5+ 38. Kg2 Qxf5 $17) 37... Qe5 38.
Qg4+ Ng6 39. Bxg6 hxg6 40. Qd7+ Kh6 41. Qxa7 Qe2+ 42. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {A variation deeply prepared by Topalov for the 2005 World Championship
tournament. Since then it has become highly popular and both players have
contributed a lot to the development of its theory. It must be mentioned that
Veselin had achieved several memorable victories with this variation in the
past two years, including wins against Anand, Kramnik and ... Leko.} 9. Na4
Nbd7 10. c4 {Anand's move, never used by Leko before.} (10. Qxb4 {allows} d5 {
and Black wins back a central pawn.}) ({When faced for the first time with the
this variation, Peter continued} 10. O-O-O {and got a very promising position
after} d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 N7f6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15. Rhe1 {
but misplayed it and lost, Leko,P (2763)-Topalov,V (2788)/San Luis 2005.
However, Black has at his disposal the sharp 10...Qa5 11.b3 Bb7 12.a3 Qc7,
which leads to complications which are favourable for him.}) ({Later Leko
switched to} 10. Bc4 {:} Ne5 11. Bb3 Rb8 12. O-O Bd7 13. a3 a5 14. axb4 axb4
15. f4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Grischuk,A/Moscow 2006 (65)}) 10... bxc3 11. Nxc3
Bb7 12. Be2 Be7 ({In 2006 Topalov won against Anand after} 12... d5 13. exd5
Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. O-O Qb8 16. Nf5 Qe5 17. Ng3 Bb4 $1 {but later
Morozevich discovered that Black faces problems after 15.Rc1!.}) 13. O-O O-O
14. Rac1 Qb8 15. Rfd1 Rd8 {An important move. Although White seems to have
more space and therefore some pressure, Black inevitably advances d5 next and
should have no problems whatsoever.} ({The immediate} 15... d5 {is premature
due to} 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Nc6 $14) 16. Kh1 {This new move
changes little: Black has a comfortable game.} (16. Bf2 {was met once before,
after which Black can continue} d5 17. Bg3 Bd6) 16... d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5
Bxd5 19. Bc4 ({Now} 19. Nc6 {is no longer attractive for White due to} Bxc6 20.
Rxc6 Ne5 {and after the forced} 21. Rb6 Qc8 22. Qc1 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Nc4 24. Bxc4
Qxc4 {it is Black who has some initiative}) (19. a3 Nc5 20. Qc3 (20. b4 $2 Nb3
21. Nxb3 Bxb3 $19) 20... a5 $11) 19... Nf6 20. Qe2 Qb7 21. b3 h6 {The position
is completely equal. In the next part both sides try to improve their pieces.
Black will double on the d-file, White will take control over the c-file.} 22.
Bf2 Rd7 23. Rc2 Bxc4 24. Rxc4 (24. Qxc4 $2 e5 $19) 24... Rad8 25. Rf1 {Placing
the rook on c1 and/or e1 is more natural.} (25. Rdc1 Ba3 26. Re1 $11) (25. Re1
Bb4 26. Rec1 Ba3 27. Re1 $11) 25... Rd6 26. Qc2 Bf8 27. Nc6 Re8 {Possibly Leko
overestimated White's achievements: the knight on c6 is strong indeed, but
Black keeps sufficient activity in the centre.} 28. b4 ({More cautious is} 28.
Re1 Rd5 29. Bd4 $11) 28... e5 29. Na5 Qb5 30. Bc5 Rd5 31. Bxf8 Rxf8 32. Re1 (
32. Nc6 Re8 33. a4 Qb6 34. Re1 $11) 32... Rfd8 33. Nb3 (33. Nc6 Rd1 ({After} 
33... Rd2 34. Qc1 {Black has nothing better than 34...Rd1 anyway.}) 34. Rxd1
Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Qxc4 36. Nxe5 Qxa2 37. Nd3 Nd5 38. Qe1 $11) 33... Rd1 $1 {
An unpleasant surprise for Leko, who suddenly must solve concrete problems and
react very precisely.} 34. Qxd1 $2 {With little time the Hungarian GM got
confused and went for the wrong variation.} ({Correct is} 34. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35.
Qxd1 Qxc4 36. Qc1 $1 ({Not} 36. Qe1 Nd5 $1 37. h3 f6 {and Black wins the pawn
b4}) 36... Qxb4 37. Qc8+ Kh7 (37... Qf8 38. Qxa6) 38. Qf5+ g6 39. Qxe5 {
The e1-square is under control, so White will easily make a draw.}) 34... Rxd1
35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rxd1 e4 {Black builds a direct attack against the king and
White's situation becomes difficult. Each mistake is fatal and loses at once.
That's exactly what happened.} 37. fxe4 $2 ({The only way to put up some
resistance was} 37. Rc3 Qxb4 38. Re3 exf3 39. Rxf3 $17) 37... Ng4 $1 {A
precise move that wins immediately.} ({Much stronger than} 37... Nxe4 38. Rc2)
38. Rc5 ({After} 38. Rc2 {the quickest win is} Qe5) 38... Qb8 $1 (38... Qb8 39.
g3 Nf2+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 ({At some point,} 11... a5 12. b5 Nd4 {
was considered to be more promising, but fashion is an unpredictable lady.})
12. Nd2 c6 13. Nde4 Nd5 $5 {A relatively rare move.} ({The main continuation
is considered to be} 13... Rf7 {(Aiming to activate the rook along the seventh
rank)} 14. e3 Nb5 $1 15. Nxb5 cxb5 {The presence of doubled pawns is
compensated for by the pressure against the white queenside and White's
practical problems with opening play in the centre.} 16. Bb2 Rc8 (16... Na4 $6
{defines the knight's intentions too soon, leaving the c4-square without
sufficient surveillance.} 17. Ba1 Rc8 18. d4 f5 19. Nc5 Nxc5 20. bxc5 Bc4 21.
Bxb7 Rb8 22. Bg2 Bxf1 23. Bxf1 $16 {Bareev,E (2726)-Ponomariov,R (2743)/Moscow
2002/CBM 091 (1/2-1/2, 40). The strong pair of central pawns and the pair of
bishops more than compensate for the sacrificed exchange.}) 17. d4 exd4 18.
Bxd4 Nc4 $1 $132 {Gurevich,M (2634)-Palac,M (2591)/Saint Vincent 2003/CBM 092
ext (1/2-1/2, 37). With such a strong enemy knight on c4, White cannot develop
his initiative easily (although he later did as a result of some carelessness
on Black's part).}) 14. e3 $5 ({White's last word in this line was held to be} 
14. Bb2 Bf7 $6 {This is just a loss of time.} ({After the bishop's development
to b2,} 14... a5 $1 $132 {[%csl Gb4] makes a lot of sense.} 15. Nc5 {can be
answered by} Bg4 $5 {[%csl Ge2]}) 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Qc2 {White's
play is much easier to carry out, although it might be too early to claim an
objective advantage yet.} Re8 18. Nd2 Bf8 19. Rfe1 Kh8 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Qc4
Qd7 22. Nf3 Rad8 23. Kg2 g6 24. Rbc1 f5 25. Qb3 Bg7 26. Rc5 Bf6 27. b5 $14 {
White opened the queenside and soon switched to the opposite wing in
Tomashevsky,E (2594)-Khismatullin,D (2568)/Tomsk 2006/CBM 114 ext (1-0, 42)})
14... Nxc3 15. Nxc3 Nf5 16. Qc2 $146 {The plan initiated by this move leads to
interesting play, but not necessarily to an advantage for White.} ({It is hard
to say why Aronian refrained from the previously played} 16. b5 cxb5 17. Rxb5
Rc8 18. Bd5 Bxd5 19. Nxd5 Kh8 (19... Rf7 20. Qb3 Nd6 21. Ra5 a6 22. Bd2 $14 {
/\Rb1 Marin, Stoica}) 20. Qf3 Nd6 21. Rb1 Re8 (21... b5 22. Bd2 {/\Bb4} Re8 23.
Rfc1 $14 {Marin, Stoica}) 22. a4 Bf8 23. e4 $14 {Heitmann,M-Bradtke,K/corr
1998/Corr 2002 (1-0, 48). White's stability on the light squares offers him
the better chances.}) 16... Rc8 17. Rd1 Qd7 18. d4 $5 {It was not easy to
strengthen the pressure against the enemy queenside and Aronian decides to win
space in the centre, although this will leave him with an isolated pawn.} (18.
Ne4 Bd5 $11) 18... exd4 19. exd4 Bd6 {In view of the possible pin along the
c-file, the threat d5 was not too real yet, but Black has to permanently be
aware of it.} (19... Nxd4 $2 20. Qe4 c5 (20... Rfd8 $2 21. Rxd4 $1 $18) 21.
bxc5 Bxc5 22. Rxb7 $16) (19... Rcd8 $6 20. d5 $36) (19... Rfd8 $5 {maintains
the opposition of the white queen with one of the black rooks, but leaves the
e-file out of control.} 20. Qe2 $5 Bf8 21. d5 cxd5 22. Nxd5 Qf7 23. Qf3 Qg6 {
[%cal Yg6b1]} 24. Ra1 $14 {Although not fully developed yet, White seems to be
doing fine because of his strong knight and the indirect pressure against the
enemy queenside.}) 20. Ne4 {Temporarily abandoning the plan based on d5, for
which White is not well enough prepared.} (20. d5 cxd5 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5
$11) (20. Qb2 $6 Rfe8 (20... Ne7 $11) 21. d5 $2 cxd5 22. Nxd5 Be5 $17) 20...
Rcd8 {Indirectly pinning the d-pawn, in order to discourage a knight move to
c5. But why this rook?} (20... Rfd8 $6 21. Bb2 Qf7 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 $14 {
Now,} Bb3 $2 {is impossible because the intermediate capture} 24. Rxd8+ {
is with check.} Rxd8 25. Qxf5 $18) (20... Ne7 $6 {[%cal Ge7d5]} 21. Nc5 Bxc5
22. dxc5 $1 Bd5 (22... Nd5 23. Be4 $14) 23. Bf4 $14 {[%cal Gf4d6]}) 21. Bb2 Qf7
22. Rd2 {The start of an interesting rook regroupment.} Bd5 (22... Ne7 23. Nxd6
Rxd6 24. Qc5 $14 {[%csl Ga7]}) 23. Re1 Bb8 24. Rde2 b6 {Black has managed to
somewhat stabilize the position, but White keeps some pressure.} 25. Nd2 $5 {
Fighting against the blockade.} (25. Nc5 bxc5 26. Qxf5 Bxg2 (26... cxd4 27. Re7
Qg6 28. Bxd5+ Rxd5 29. Qe6+ Kh8 30. Qxc6 $14) 27. Kxg2 cxd4 28. Rd2 Rd5 29. Qc2
Rfd8 30. Qxc6 d3 $132) 25... Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qd5+ 27. Kg1 b5 $6 {Topalov aims
for a complicated fight, relying on his good control on the light squares.
Hwever, the c6-pawn will remain chronically weak now.} ({Less ambitious but
probably safer would be} 27... Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Qxd4 29. Qxc6 Qd5 {Optically,
White stands better (the position is similar to certain Catalan endings), but
it all depends whether he can improve the position of his knight.
Unfortunately, there is no obvious way to transfer it to c6, which might mean
that the position is equal.}) 28. Nb3 {It looks natural to transfer the knight
to a5 in order to keep the c6-pawn under pressure.} ({However,} 28. Ne4 $5 {
seems to have kept more options for the knight, which is close to the c5- and
d5-squares at the same time.} Rf7 (28... Bd6 29. Nc3 Qf3 30. Ne4 $5 $14 {
[%csl Gc6,Gd5,Gf3] and once the queen has been cut off from the queenside,
Black faces some problems of coordination.}) 29. Rc1 Rc8 30. Qd3 Rd8 (30... Bd6
$2 31. Nc3 $18 {[%csl Gf5]}) 31. Rc5 Qd7 32. Qc2 {After an eventual exchange
of pawns (c6 against d4), the black bishop risks remaining passive.} Bc7 $5 33.
Rxc6 Bb6 34. d5 $1 Qxd5 35. Rd2 Nd4 (35... Bd4 $2 36. Rc5 $18) 36. Bxd4 Bxd4
37. Rc5 Qd7 38. a4 a6 (38... bxa4 39. Rc4 $18) 39. Rc6 $14) 28... Bd6 29. Na5
Rc8 30. Rc1 Rc7 31. Qd3 Rfc8 32. Rec2 g6 {Black is quite stable on the light
squares, because the enemy knight is quite far from the d5-square.} 33. Qf1 $5
{[%csl Rc6,Rd5][%cal Gf1g2]} Kf7 {Anticipating the exchange of queens by
approaching with the king.} 34. Qg2 Ne7 35. Re1 h5 36. h4 f5 $5 {Very
ambitious, again. With the knight far away on the queenside, White's king
starts feeling insecure.} (36... Nf5 $13) 37. Bc1 f4 38. Rxe7+ $5 {A
positional exchange sacrifice in the spirit of Armenia's former World Champion,
Petrosian. It is well-known that Topalov is not indifferent to this method of
changing the course of the game, either.} (38. Bxf4 Bxf4 39. gxf4 Nf5 $44)
38... Bxe7 (38... Rxe7 $2 39. Qxd5+) (38... Kxe7 $2 39. Nxc6+) 39. Bxf4 Qxg2+
$2 {After this premature exchange of queens, Black will lose another pawn and
will be just worse.} ({It is possible that, pressed by time, Topalov did not
notice that} 39... Bd6 {does not lose material.} 40. Bxd6 ({The trick is that
after} 40. Qxd5+ $2 cxd5 $19 {White's pieces are hanging, maintaining the
previous material balance and making further simplifications impossible.})
40... Qxd6 $13 {With the knight on a5, there is not much for the black king to
be worried about and the position would remain uncertain.}) 40. Kxg2 Rd7 41.
Nxc6 $16 {With two pawns for the exchange and excellent centralization, White
has a stable advantage.} Kg7 42. d5 a6 43. Kf3 Bf6 44. Ke4 Re7+ 45. Kd3 Rd7 46.
d6 Re8 47. Nd4 Kf7 48. Nf3 a5 49. Rc5 axb4 50. axb4 Rb7 51. Nd2 Ra8 52. Ne4 Bd8
53. Rd5 Ra3+ 54. Kd4 Rb3 55. Kc5 Ke6 56. Rd2 Rb1 57. Re2 Kd7 58. Kd5 Rd1+ 59.
Rd2 Rxd2+ 60. Bxd2 Ke8 61. Ke6 Rb6 62. Bg5 Rc6 63. Bxd8 Kxd8 64. Ng5 Ke8 65.
Nf7 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C63"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 {Again the Jänisch Attack, quite a surprising
guest in such a high level tournament. I will not insist too much on the
opening part, because as far as I know GM Postny is writing a series of
articles for CBM about this interesting variation.} 4. d3 {A solid answer,
refraining from any attampt to "refute" the slightly exotic black 3rd move and
aiming to retain just a tiny edge.} ({Teimour did not face special problems
after} 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 {Polgar,J (2707)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Wijk aan Zee
2008/CBM 123 (1/2-1/2, 23)}) 4... fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Qd3 (7. Bxc6
bxc6 8. Nxe5 {, as tried earlier in the tournament against Radjabov, did not
prove too effective after} O-O 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Bxf6 Rxf6 $44 {Anand,V (2799)
-Radjabov,T (2735)/Morelia/Linares 2008/CBM 123 (1/2-1/2, 22). And the mighty
pair of bishops offers Black good compensation for the pawn.}) 7... d6 8. Qc4
Qe7 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Nd5 ({He also managed to hold his own after} 10. Bg5 {
in Carlsen,M (2693)-Radjabov,T (2747)/Porto Vecchio 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2-1/2,
77)}) 10... Nxd5 11. exd5 Nd4 12. Bxd7+ Qxd7 13. Nxd4 {The solid continuation.}
({White has won almost all the games after} 13. Nxe5 Qf5 14. Nd3 {, but the
level of players was not too high. Obviously, Radjabov had analysed this.})
13... Bxd4 14. a4 $146 {Paradoxically, though advancing the pawn earlier than
had happened in the previous game where this position was seen, Topalov
intends to keep it in his half of board, in order to avoid weakening it.} (14.
c3 Bb6 15. a4 (15. Be3 {makes little sense, because the bishop is well
defended on b6.} O-O $11) 15... a6 16. a5 ({But now, he could refrain from
this move, when} 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 O-O-O 18. Rf2 Rdf8 19. Raf1 Rxf2 20.
Rxf2 Kb8 21. b3 Qe7 22. Qe4 g6 23. Qf3 Rc8 24. c4 {would transpose to our main
game.}) 16... Ba7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 O-O-O {Ovetchkin,R (2375)-Khachian,M 
(2480)/Pardubice 1996/CBM 055 ext (0-1, 67). The position is similar to the
main game, with the difference that the pawn is more exposed on a5, which
could restrict White's actions.}) 14... a6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 O-O-O {
The position looks almost equal, because White's advantage of space has lost
its relevance after the massive exchange of pieces. However, White will be
able to take over the control of the f-file, which ensures him a long term
advantage.} 17. Rf2 $1 Rdf8 18. Raf1 Rxf2 ({Later in the same tournament,
Radjabov tried to improve with} 18... Qe7 {but after} 19. Qe4 g6 20. Rf3 Kb8
21. b3 Rxf3 22. Qxf3 Qg5 23. h3 Rc8 24. Kh2 {his position was hardly better
than against Topalov. He also drew a rook ending with a pawn down in Carlsen,M
(2733)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Morelia/Linares 2008/CBM 123 (1/2-1/2, 69)}) 19. Rxf2
Kb8 20. b3 Qe7 21. Qe4 g6 (21... h6 {allows White slightly more activity than
in the game after} 22. Qf5 $14) 22. Qf3 $14 {In the long run, Black's position
is dangerous even in the case of an exchange of queens. The irritating thing
is that Black has little chance for any counterplay. With his next moves,
Radjabov tries to solve this problem, but he will weaken his structure and the
king's position at the same time.} Rc8 $5 23. c4 c6 24. dxc6 Rxc6 25. e4 Qg5
26. h3 Qc1+ 27. Kh2 {White has the safer king's position and controls the only
open file. His only problem consists of the weakness of the b3-pawn. We can
see that the presence of the a-pawn on a5 would have endangered it at this
stage of the game, although later it will be useful to advance it anyway.} Qe1
28. Rf1 Qd2 $6 {The queen is not attacking anything from this square, allowing
White to win a tempo for his attack.} (28... Qb4 $5 {[%csl Rb3]} 29. Qd3 Qc5
$14) 29. Qf8+ Rc8 (29... Ka7 30. Qd8 $40 {[%cal Gf1f8]}) 30. Qe7 Qd3 31. Rf3 $1
Qxe4 32. Qxd6+ Ka7 {Black has managed to create himself a passed pawn, but his
forces lack coordination and his seventh rank is weak.} 33. Rf7 (33. Qd7 $5 Qc6
(33... Rh8 34. Rf7 $16 {looks too passive for Black to offer chances to stay
in the game.}) 34. Qxh7 $16 {White has an extra pawn and the safer king. This
should outweigh Black's passed pawn.}) 33... h5 34. a5 g5 35. Qe6 Rg8 36. Rf6
Rh8 {Although White's pieces look more active, Black has managed to create
some threats with his kingside pawns.} 37. Qd5 $5 {A practical decision in the
opponent's time trouble. White exchanges Black's most active piece and
eliminates any possibility of counterplay.} (37. Rf5 g4 $1 38. Qxe5 g3+ $1 39.
Kg1 (39. Kxg3 Rg8+) 39... Re8 40. Qxe4 Rxe4 41. Kf1 h4 $44 {Black's huge
advantage in space on the kingside offers him chances to save the game despite
the missing pawn.}) 37... Qxd5 38. cxd5 $14 {White's advantage in space and
the better chances for centralising his king offer him the better chances in
the endgame.} e4 ({The attempt to free himself with} 38... Rd8 39. d6 b6 {
does not equalize completely after} 40. Rf7+ Kb8 41. Rf5 $14) 39. Re6 Rd8 40.
Re5 e3 41. Kg3 g4 {Black has to reduce the number of pawns at any cost.} 42.
hxg4 hxg4 43. b4 b6 44. axb6+ Kxb6 45. Kxg4 Kb5 46. Re4 e2 47. Rxe2 $6 {
Now Black will manage to draw with relative ease.} ({After} 47. Kf3 $1 e1=Q (
47... Rxd5 48. Kxe2 $18 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Gg2g4,Ge2f3]}) 48. Rxe1 {it appears
that White has improved the position of two of his pieces compared to the line
actually played in the game. The rook is better placed on the first rank
because it can hold the enemy pawn and it will take longer for it to come
under the enemy king's attack, while his own king is one step closer to the
main candidate for promotion, the d5-pawn. For instance:} Kxb4 49. Rd1 a5 50.
Ke4 a4 51. d6 a3 52. Kd5 a2 53. Kc6 $18) 47... Kxb4 48. Rd2 Kc5 49. Kh5 Rxd5+
50. Rxd5+ Kxd5 51. g4 Ke6 52. Kh6 Kf7 53. Kh7 Kf6 54. Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qf3 Qb6 10. Be3 Qb7 11. Qg3 b4 12. Na4 Nbd7 13. f3 O-O 14. Rfd1 Kh8 15.
Kh1 {White should have less reasons to remove the king to the corner, but
praxis is proving good chances for the second player.} (15. Rac1 Ne5 16. Ne2
Rb8 (16... a5 17. c4 bxc3 18. Nexc3 (18. Rxc3 Bd7 19. Nb6 Ra6 20. Nxd7 Nexd7
21. Rdc1 a4 22. Bc2 Ra5 23. b4 axb3 24. Bxb3 Qa6 25. Nd4 {1/2 Zapata,A (2515)
-Morovic Fernandez,I (2580)/Cienfuegos 1997 (48)}) 18... Ra6 19. f4 Ng6 20. Bc4
Rc6 21. Bd3 Qb8 22. Qf3 Bb7 23. h3 d5 24. e5 d4 25. exf6 Rxc3 26. fxg7+ Kxg7
27. Bxd4+ Kg8 {1/2 Zapata,A (2515)-Morovic Fernandez,I (2580)/Yopal 1997 (42)})
17. c4 bxc3 18. Nexc3 Bd7 19. Nb6 Bc6 20. Kh1 Rfd8 21. Rc2 Nfd7 22. Nxd7 Bxd7
23. Rcd2 Be8 24. f4 Nd7 25. f5 $14 {1-0 Comp Fritz 6-Van Wely,L (2643)/
Eindhoven 2000 (36)}) (15. c3 bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nc5 17. Na4 Nxb3 18. Nxb3 a5 19.
Rac1 Bd7 20. Nb6 Ra6 21. Nxd7 Nxd7 22. Bd4 e5 23. Bc3 a4 $11 {0-1 Zorko,J 
(2339)-Lenic,L (2458)/Murska Sobota 2006 (38)}) (15. Ne2 a5 16. c3 Ra6 17. Qf2
Ne5 18. c4 Bd7 19. c5 Bxa4 20. Bxa4 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Neg4 22. Qd4 e5 $19 {1-0
Roskar,R (2284)-Vombek,D (2344)/Murska Sobota 2007 (40)}) 15... Ne5 16. a3 bxa3
{Topalov is rightly mistrustful about the move 16..a5. The semi-open b- and
c-files should be sufficient for getting enough counterplay.} (16... a5 17. Nb6
$1 Ra6 (17... Qxb6 18. Nxe6 Nh5 19. Qe1 Qb8 20. Nxf8 Bxf8 21. axb4 axb4 22.
Rxa8 Qxa8 23. Qxb4 $16) 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. axb4 axb4 20. Qe1 $14) 17. Rxa3 Rb8
18. Nc3 Ned7 19. Ra2 {Interesting tactics would be introduced the the rook
advance to a5, but the evaluation of the position would remain unchanged.} (19.
Ra5 $5 Qc7 (19... Nc5 20. Rxc5 dxc5 21. Nc6 Ra8 (21... c4 22. Qxb8 Qxb8 23.
Nxb8 cxb3 24. cxb3 $14) 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. e5 Nd7 24. Ne4 Bb7 25. Ba4 Rfd8 $13)
20. Ra4 Nc5 $13) 19... Nc5 20. Bc4 Qc7 (20... Qb4 21. Nc6 Qxc4 22. Nxb8 Bb7 23.
Bxc5 Qxc5 24. Nxa6 Qb6 25. Rda1 Bxa6 (25... Ra8 26. Nb4 Rxa2 27. Nbxa2 $18) 26.
Rxa6 Qxb2 27. Qe1 Qxc2 28. Ra7 $16) 21. b3 Bd7 22. Qe1 Rfc8 23. Rda1 Ne8 (23...
Kg8 24. Nde2 $14) 24. Nde2 Bf6 25. Bd4 $6 {With each move Ivanchuk was
masterfully improving the coordination of his pieces, but the last move helps
the defender.} (25. Ra5 $1 Kg8 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Bxa6 $16) 25... Bxd4 26. Nxd4
Qb6 (26... Rb6 27. Qe3 Nf6 28. Nde2 $16) 27. Qe3 Nc7 28. h3 h6 (28... Nb5 $5
29. Nce2 Kg8 $11) 29. Ra5 Kg8 30. R1a2 Qb4 (30... Nb7 31. Rh5 (31. R5a3 Nc5)
31... Nc5 $13) 31. Nce2 Qb6 32. Nc3 Qb4 33. Nce2 Qb6 34. Ng3 d5 $2 {Is Black
wanting to punish White for avoiding the repetition? It was much better to
keep playing with restraint, without disturbing the balance.} (34... Re8 35.
Qc3 (35. Nh5 d5 36. Qc3 dxc4 37. Nc6 (37. Nf5 e5 38. Nfxg7 Nb5 $15) 37... f6
38. Nxf6+ gxf6 39. Qxf6 Qxc6 40. Qg6+ $11) 35... g6 36. f4 e5 37. fxe5 Rxe5 $11
) (34... Nb5 35. Bxb5 axb5 $11) 35. exd5 exd5 36. Ndf5 Re8 (36... dxc4 $2 37.
Ne7+ Kh8 38. Nxc8 Rxc8 39. Qxc5) 37. Qxc5 $2 {[%mdl 128] White spoils his
chance to unleash an extremely unpleasant attack with the wicked queen move to
c3.} (37. Qc3 $1 f6 (37... Bxf5 38. Nxf5 Qg6 (38... f6 39. Bxd5+ Nxd5 40. Qxc5
$16) 39. Rxc5 dxc4 40. Qxc4 $16) (37... N5e6 38. Bxd5 Bb5 39. Be4 Rbd8 40. Qa1
Rd7 41. c4 Red8 42. Qg1 Rd1 43. Nf1 Qxg1+ 44. Kxg1 $16) (37... Qg6 38. Rxc5
dxc4 39. Qxc4 $16) 38. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 (38... Rf8 39. Qd4 dxc4 40. Rxc5 cxb3 41.
cxb3 Qxb3 42. Qxd7 Rf7 43. Qd2 Rxg7 44. Nf5 $18) 39. Nh5+ Kg6 40. Rxc5 dxc4 (
40... Qxc5 41. Qxf6+ Kxh5 42. g4+ Bxg4 43. hxg4#) 41. Rxc7 Re1+ (41... Kxh5 42.
Rxd7 $16) 42. Qxe1 Qxc7 43. Qe7 Qe5 44. Qxd7 Qxh5 45. Rxa6 $18) 37... dxc4 38.
bxc4 Bxf5 (38... Qxc5 39. Rxc5 Ne6 40. Rca5 Nc7 41. Kh2 $16) 39. Nxf5 Re2 40.
Qxb6 Rxb6 41. Kh2 {Ivanchuk has a pleasant advantage, but Black will keep
pestering him with his pieces.} (41. c5 Rb4 42. Nd6 $16) (41. Nd4 Re3 42. Kg1
$16) 41... Rd2 (41... Rg6 42. Ng3 Rf2 43. Re5 $16) 42. h4 (42. Rc5 Ne6 43. Rd5
Re2 44. Ng3 Re1 45. c5 Rc6 46. Ne4 $16) 42... Kh7 43. h5 (43. Rc5 Ne6 44. Rd5
Rf2 45. Rd7 g5 46. Kg1 Re2 47. Ng3 $16) 43... Rf6 44. Re5 Ne6 45. Rxa6 $2 {
The tactics work against White, the whole advantage now goes up in a smoke.} (
45. c5 Nf4 46. Ne3 $14) 45... Nd4 $1 46. Rxf6 Nxf3+ 47. Kh3 Nxe5 48. Rd6 $6 {
Fortunatelly for the Ukrainian player this second mistake will be less costly.}
(48. Ra6 Rxc2 (48... Nxc4 49. Ra7 Kg8 50. Ra8+ Kh7 51. Ra7 Ne5 52. Re7 Rd5 53.
Kg3 $11) 49. Nd6 Nxc4 50. Rc6 Ne3 51. Rxc2 Nxc2 52. Nxf7 $11) 48... Rxc2 49.
Rd5 Nxc4 50. Rc5 Ne3 (50... Rf2 51. Rxc4 Rxf5 52. g4 $15) 51. Rxc2 Nxc2 52. g4
{Topalov will find it impossible too activate his king without exchanging
pawns with a nearly immediate draw.} Ne1 53. Kg3 Nd3 54. Kf3 Kg8 55. Ke4 Nc5+
56. Kd5 Nd7 57. Ke4 Kf8 58. Kf4 Nc5 59. Ke5 Ne6 60. Kd5 Ke8 61. Ke5 Kf8 {
Both super grandmasters have seen the knight sacrifice on g7, Black refused to
try it on the board.} (61... Kd7 62. Nxg7 $1 Nxg7 63. Kf6 Nxh5+ 64. gxh5 Ke8
65. Kg7 f5 66. Kxh6 f4 67. Kg7 f3 68. h6 f2 $11) 62. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1
15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bb5 e5 19. Qf2 Re7 20. Bd3 $5 $146 {
[%cal Yf3f4][%mdl 8] Another new idea of Topalov's team. Recent theoretical
discussions were concentrated on} (20. f4 exf4 21. Qxf4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23.
exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 25. Qd4 {see - Topalov - Shirov in CBM 117, which
Topalov brilliantly won, and Aronian - Shirov (CBM 119), where Alexey
demonstrated a way to equality.}) 20... Rc8 (20... Rc7 $5 21. f4 Qe7 {is
another way of consolidation, which may be tested in future.}) 21. f4 Nc4 22.
fxe5 Nxe5 $6 (22... Rxe5 $1 {looks stronger, e.g.} 23. Qxa7 (23. Bf4 Re7 24.
Qxa7 Ne5) 23... Nd6 24. Bf4 Rxe4 $1 25. Bxd6 Rxe2 26. Bxe2 Qxd6 27. Qxb7 (27.
Bf3 b6 $15) 27... Qc5+ 28. Kh1 Bxd5 $15 {It would be interesting to know what
Topalov had prepared in that case.}) 23. Qxf6 Bxd5 (23... Qb6+ 24. Qxb6 axb6 {
, although not very pleasant, was apparently better than the text, e.g.} 25.
Bg5 Rec7 26. Bb1 Be8 $1 27. Bf4 Bb5 $1 28. Bxe5 Rc5 {regaining the piece with
good drawing chances.}) 24. exd5 Ng4 25. Qf4 Nxh6 26. Qxh6 Qb6+ $2 {[%mdl 8192]
A strange blunder.} (26... Qxd5 {was necessary but with the queens on the
board Black's life is far from easy.}) 27. Kh1 Qe3 28. Qh4 {It looks like
Black overlooked this simple move but the mysterious thing is that even after}
(28. Qxe3 Rxe3 29. Rd1 {I don't see equality for him.}) 28... Re5 $2 {[%mdl
8192] Collapsing immediately.} (28... Rf8 $142 $1 29. Rxf8+ (29. Rg1 $5) 29...
Kxf8 30. Qc4 {and White should gradually win} ({but not} 30. Qf6+ $4 Rf7 31.
Qh8+ Ke7)) 29. Qf6 Ree8 30. Bxg6 hxg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qf6+ Kh7 33. Qf7+ Kh8
34. Nf4 (34. Nf4 Rg8 35. Qh5+ Kg7 36. Qg6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.04"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 $5 {This far from popular move has been a
lucky choice for White at the top level recently.} d5 ({The main idea behind
White's previous move is to answer} 4... Bb4 {with} 5. Bd2 {, preventing the
creation of double pawns as frequently happens after 4.g3 Bb4.}) 5. cxd5 Nxd5
6. e4 Nb6 (6... Nf6 {Morozevich,A (2758)-Grischuk,A (2726)/Mexico City MEX
2007/CBM 120/[Marin] (1-0, 42)}) 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O (8. Be3 {was played in
Spraggett,K (2575)-Lautier,J (2450)/Correze 1989/EXT 97 (0-1, 39) as mentioned
in my notes to the previous game.}) 8... O-O 9. a4 {...a5 is a typical idea in
the Bolseslavsky Sicilian, so why not play a4 here?} Be6 $5 ({Topalov does not
wish to weaken his b5-square. Instead, he ignores the threat of a5, hoping
that the weakness of the b4- and b3-squares will offer him good counterplay.} 
9... a5 {was investigated in the comments to the Morozevich-Grischuk game.})
10. Be3 $146 {technically speaking, this is a novelty, although transpositions
are possible here.} (10. a5 Nd7 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 {Now, 13...
c6 is likely to transpose, but Black carelessly allowed the activation of the
enemy queen with} Bf6 $6 14. Qb4 b6 15. Be3 Be7 16. Qb5 $14 {Topel,Z (2085)
-Vasilieva,M (2124)/Chisinau 2005/CBM 106 ext (1-0, 45)}) 10... Nd7 11. d4 {
With reversed colours, this would have been an entirely satisfactory decision,
equalizing completely. Will White's extra tempo offer any chances for an
advantage here? The further course of the game suggests an affirmative answer.}
({However,} 11. a5 {should also be mentioned, when the structure is likely to
suffer radical modifications, leading to very complicated play which is hard
to evaluate.} Nc5 (11... f5 $6 12. exf5 Rxf5 {Ameri,H-Kichinski,R/Livermore
1989/(0-1, 30)} 13. a6 (13. Nd2 $14) 13... b6 14. Nd2 $14 {[%cal Ge2g4] The
dream position of any Sicilian Najdorf player.}) (11... Bc5 $6 12. a6 b6 13.
Qa4 Nb4 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 $14) 12. b4 $5 Nxb4 (12... Nb3 13. Rb1 Nbd4 14. b5
Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Nd4 16. Bg4 $14 {Despite the black knight's centralisation,
White's stability on the light squares is likely to tell in the long term.})
13. Nxe5 f6 (13... Nb3 14. Rb1 Nxa5 15. d4 $44 {[%csl Ra5,Rb4,Gd4,Ge4]}) 14.
Rb1 fxe5 15. Rxb4 $13 {The structure is highly assymetrical and the position
remains strategically unbalanced.}) 11... exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 c6 14. a5
Nc5 15. Qe5 {Having a strong kingside majority, White rightly avoids the
exchange of queens, retaining chances for an attack.} Nb3 16. Ra4 Bd6 17. Qh5
g6 18. Qh6 {Clouds start gathering around the black king. The strong e5
followed by Rh4 is very strong.} Be5 {[%cal Ge5g7] AIming to expel the enemy
queen as soon as possible from its attacking position.} (18... Nxa5 $2 19. e5
$1 Be7 (19... Bxe5 20. Rh4 $18) 20. Ne4 f6 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Bg5
$18) (18... Qe7 {parries the threat, but does not relieve the pressure.} 19. h4
(19. e5 Bxe5 20. Rh4 f5) 19... Be5 20. h5 Bg7 21. Qf4 $36) 19. Bg5 $6 {In
combination with the next move, this is hard to understand.} (19. h4 Bg7 20.
Qf4 Qb8 {Now, after having provoked the weakening of Black's kingside, White
can exchange queens already, maintaining the initiative.} 21. Qxb8 Raxb8 22. f4
$36 {[%cal Gh4h5,Gf4f5]}) 19... Qc7 20. Be3 $6 (20. Qh4 $5 {[%cal Gg5f6]})
20... Nxa5 {The logical punishment for the loss of two tempi.} 21. f4 Bg7 22.
Qh4 Bb3 (22... b5 $5 23. Rxa5 (23. Rd4 Nc4) 23... Qxa5 24. f5 Bb3 25. f6 Bh8 {
Black has a huge material advantage, but his bishop is captive on h8. However,
it is not clear how he would generate an effective attack.} 26. Qg5 (26. e5 b4
27. Ne4 Qxe5) (26. Rf3 b4 27. Rh3 h5 28. Bxh5 Qxh5 29. Qf4 Qxh3 30. gxh3 bxc3
31. bxc3 a5 $19) 26... Rad8 27. h4 Qc7 28. h5 Rfe8 {and there seems to be no
danger for Black.}) 23. Rd4 $5 {An interesting psychological trick. Knowing
Topalov's habit of sacrificing the exchange himself, Carlsen probably relied
on the fact that his opponent would not capture on d4. After other moves,
White would just be a pawn down.} Rad8 $6 {After this ultra-cautious move,
White will obtain adequate compensation for his minimal material disadvantage,
in view of the fact that two of Black's minorpieces are far from the kingside.}
(23... Bxd4 $5 24. Bxd4 f5 $1 {It is essential to deprive the bishop of the
stable outpost on f6, although opening the position looks a bit dangerous.} (
24... Qd6 25. Bf6 Rfd8 26. Rf3 $40) 25. exf5 Qd8 $1 26. Qf2 Rxf5 27. Bg4 Rf7 $6
{and it is not easy to continue the attack, for instance} 28. Ne4 Rxf4 $1 29.
Nf6+ Qxf6 $1) 24. e5 $1 $44 Rxd4 25. Bxd4 c5 26. Be3 f6 {Black questions
White's advantage in space at once, but this will lead to an additional
weakening of his kingside.} 27. Nb5 Qd8 28. f5 $5 (28. Bxc5 fxe5 $1) (28. e6 $5
Qe7 (28... Bxe6 29. Bxc5 f5 30. Qf2 Rf7 31. Bxa7 $11 Bxb2 $6 32. Bb6 Qd2 33.
Rd1 Qb4 34. Rb1 $36) 29. f5 gxf5 30. Rf3 $44) 28... fxe5 29. Bg5 {Finally,
this bishop has found an useful job in this game.} Qb6 30. f6 c4+ 31. Kh1 Qxb5
32. fxg7 Rxf1+ 33. Bxf1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gg5h6,Gh4e7]} Kxg7 {The safest
continuation, eliminating the dangerous pawn.} (33... Qd5 34. Bh6 Nc6 $8 35.
Be2 Qf7 36. h3 $44 {This looks a bit dangerous for Black, despite his two
extra pawns. In fact, the threat of Bg4 practically forces Black to return one
of the pawns with} c3 37. bxc3 {in order to open the communication between his
own bishop and the kingside, but then White would not risk anything, being
just a pawn down.}) 34. Bd8 Nc6 $4 {An incredible blunder in a position where
it is hard to believe that White should have anything better than a draw by
perpetual.} (34... Qd5 35. Qe7+ Kg8 (35... Kh6 $2 36. Qf8+ Kh5 37. Be2+) 36.
Qe8+ $11) (34... Kg8 35. Qe7 Qd5 $8 $11) 35. Qf6+ Kg8 36. Qe6+ Kf8 37. Bg5 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.06"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. c3 Qd7 $5 {This move is not new, but it
deviates from two recent games played at top level.} (11... Qd6 {Kamsky,G 
(2705)-Bacrot,E (2709)/Elista 2007/CBM 119/[Marin,M] (1-0, 36)}) (11... Bf6 {
Grischuk,A (2726)-Aronian,L (2750)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2,
31)}) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Rad8 14. Qg4 f5 15. Qg3 $5 $146 {[%cal Gc1g5] A
logical novelty. White creates the strategic threat of exchanging the
dark-squared bishops with Bg5, when the weakness of the e5-square would become
quite relevant.} (15. Qh5 Bf6 16. Re1 (16. Rxf5 g6 17. Rxd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5+ Qxd5
19. Bxd5+ Rxd5 20. d4 c5 $17 {Giorgadze}) 16... Kh8 $44 {Zagrebelny,S (2480)
-Giorgadze,G (2580)/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 (0-1, 25)}) (15. Qf3 c5 $1 $36 {
[%csl Gb7][%cal Gb7f3] Giorgadze}) 15... Bf6 (15... c5 16. Bg5 $14 {Now,} f4 {
just loses another pawn with} 17. Bxd5+ (17. Bxf4 $2 c4 $1 $19 18. Bh6 $140 Bf6
) 17... Bxd5 18. Bxf4 {, when Black probably has compensation for one of them,
but not for both!}) 16. Re1 Kh8 $1 17. Nd2 ({After the king's removal from the
dangerous diagonal,} 17. Bg5 $6 {could already be met with} f4 $1 18. Qh4 f3
$36) 17... b4 $1 {The most logical way to set up pressure on White's position.}
({Completing the development with} 17... Rfe8 {would imply moving for the
second time with an already developed piece after} 18. Rxe8+ {, for instance}
Rxe8 19. Nf3 {and White only needs to play Bg5 to get a firm grip on the
position.}) 18. Nf3 {The most principled continuation. White continues the
mobilization of his forces, at the cost of returning the extra pawn.} (18. cxb4
Nxb4 $15 {[%csl Gd3]}) ({Although it looks "ugly",} 18. c4 {[%csl Rb3,Rd4]
deserves being investigated.} Ne7 {[%cal Ge7c6,Ge7g6]} 19. Nf3 f4 $1 (19... Nc6
20. Bg5 $14) (19... Qxd3 20. Bf4 {[%cal Ga1d1]} Bxf3 $8 21. gxf3 Ng6 22. Rad1
Nxf4 $8 23. Rxd3 (23. Qxf4 Rd4 24. Qg3 f4 25. Qg4 Qg6) 23... Nxd3 24. Re6 $14)
20. Qg4 (20. Bxf4 Bxf3 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gf6b2]}) 20... Ng6 21. Bc2 Qxg4 22.
hxg4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Nh4 $15) 18... bxc3 19. d4 f4 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21. hxg4 {
[%cal Gg4g5]} g5 $6 {Leko stabilizes his bishop on f6, but allows White an
essential tempo to consolidate.} ({His only chance to achieve full equality
consisted of} 21... c5 $1 $132 {, opening new perspectives for his bishop.} 22.
bxc3 Nxc3 23. Ba3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Bxd4 $15) 22. Ne5 Kg7 ({It is too late for} 
22... c5 $6 {already:} 23. bxc3 Nxc3 24. Ba3 $16) 23. bxc3 Nxc3 24. Bb2 Nd5 25.
Rac1 Rfe8 26. Ba3 $14 {The position has been stabilized completely, but White
has the more active position (espacially if we refer to the minor pieces). The
c7-pawn is weaker than the d4-pawn and the black king more exposed than its
counterpart.} Re6 27. Rc2 Be7 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Rxc7 Re8 30. Rd7 Bxa2 31. Rc1
Kg8 32. Rcc7 Bf6 33. Nc6 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Be6 35. Rd6 Bg7 36. Ne7+ Kh8 37. Nf5 Bf8
38. Rxa6 Bxf5 39. Bxf8 Rxf8 40. gxf5 Kg8 41. f6 Re4 42. Rg7+ Kh8 43. Re7 Rxe7
44. fxe7 Re8 45. Ra7 Kg7 46. d5 Kf7 47. d6 Rb8 48. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.07"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qd3 Nc6 11. O-O-O Qb6 12. Qxd6 Be7 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5
O-O 15. Qd2 Qxf2 16. Bc4 Qh4 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. a3 Bf6 19. Kb1 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4
21. g3 Qg5 22. Rhf1 Qe3 23. Rf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Ng5 Bxg5 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Bc6 Nb6
15. Rd1 Qd6 16. Bg2 e5 17. Nc3 f5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 Qf6 21.
e3 g6 22. Rad1 Bh6 23. Rd7 Bg7 24. b3 Qc3 25. Qxc3 Bxc3 26. Rxc7 Rbc8 27. Rcd7
Bb4 28. Bb7 Rc2 29. Bxa6 Rxa2 30. Bxb5 Bc3 31. Kg2 Raa8 32. h4 Bf6 33. Bc4+ Kh8
34. b4 Rab8 35. b5 Rfc8 36. Bd3 Rd8 37. Be2 Rxd7 38. Rxd7 Rd8 39. Rf7 Rd6 40.
h5 Bg5 41. f4 Bh6 42. Rc7 Rd2 43. Kf3 Rb2 44. Rc6 Kg7 45. Bd3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Nge2 Ne7 8.
Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Ng3 O-O 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. Qc2 Nf6 12. O-O-O Bd7 13. Kb1 c5 14. dxc5
Qxc5 15. e4 d4 16. Nce2 Qb6 17. Nxd4 Ng4 18. h3 Rac8 19. Qe2 Ne5 20. Bc2 N7g6
21. Bb3 a5 22. Ngf5 a4 23. Bd5 a3 24. b3 Nf4 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qe3 Nxg2 27. Nxc8
Rxc8 28. Qg3 Qc5 29. Qxe5 Qc3 30. Nc6 Qf3 31. Nb4 Nf4 32. Rhg1 f6 33. Qe7 Bg4
34. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Nb3 c5 14. dxc5 Ne4
15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. c6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 Bxc6 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Nd7 Rfe8 20. Nb6 Rc2 21.
Nxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Bf6 23. Rc1 Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Bxb2 25. Bxe4 Bxc1 26. Rd7 Kf8
27. Bc6 Re6 28. Rc7 Bb2 29. e4 g5 30. Kg2 Be5 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Bd5 Re7 33. Ra8
Rc7 34. Rxa6 Rc2 35. Ra3 Bd4 36. Rf3 f6 37. h4 h6 38. Rf5 b4 39. h5 Kf8 40. Kf1
Ke7 41. Bb3 Rc5 42. Rd5 Rxd5 43. exd5 f5 44. Ke2 Kd6 45. f3 Be5 46. g4 fxg4 47.
fxg4 Ke7 48. Kd3 Bd6 49. Kc4 Kf6 50. Kb5 Ke5 51. Kc6 Bf8 52. Kd7 Bd6 53. Ke8
Kf6 54. Bc2 Bc5 55. Bf5 Bd6 56. Kd7 Ke5 57. Be6 Bc5 58. Bg8 Bd6 59. Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. f4 e6 8. Nf3
Nd7 9. h5 Bh7 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Ngf6 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O-O c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Qe2 O-O 16. Ne5 Rac8 17. Kb1 Bd6 18. Bc3 Nb6 19. Bd4 Nbd5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21.
Qxe4 f5 22. Qf3 Qxc2+ 23. Ka1 Qa4 24. Kb1 Qc2+ 25. Ka1 Nb4 26. Bc3 Bxe5 27.
fxe5 Nxa2 28. Rd2 Qa4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Bh5 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. h3 Bd6 14. Bxd6
Qxd6 15. Re3 f6 16. Qd2 Rfe8 17. Nh4 Rxe3 18. Qxe3 Re8 19. Qd2 Nd8 20. Nf5 Qd7
21. Qf4 Bg6 22. h4 Kh8 23. Qg4 Qf7 24. Qf3 b6 25. g3 Nb7 26. Kg2 Bxf5 27. Qxf5
g6 28. Qf3 Nd6 29. h5 g5 30. g4 Qe6 31. h6 Re7 32. Rh1 Kg8 33. Qd1 c6 34. Rh3
Qe1 35. Qf3 Qe6 36. Qd1 Qe1 37. Qf3 Qe6 38. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 e6 6. O-O Bd6 7. c4 Nge7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Re1 f6 10. h3 a6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Na4 g5 14. Nc5 Ng6
15. Qa4 Qb6 16. Bd2 Bf5 17. Rac1 h5 18. Re3 g4 19. Rb3 Qc7 20. hxg4 hxg4 21.
Ne1 Qh7 22. Rg3 Rac8 23. Qxa6 Rf7 24. Ned3 Qh4 25. Re3 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Bxc5 27.
Rxc5 Bxd3+ 28. Rxd3 Re8 29. Be3 Nf4 30. Ke1 Nxg2+ 31. Kd1 Qg1+ 32. Kc2 Ne1+ 33.
Kd2 Nf3+ 34. Kc2 Qf1 35. Ra3 Qxa6 36. Rxa6 g3 37. fxg3 Rxe3 38. Rcxc6 Nxd4+ 39.
Kd2 Rfe7 40. Rxf6 Nf3+ 41. Kd1 d4 42. Rg6+ Kf8 43. Rgf6+ Rf7 44. Rg6 Rc7 45.
Rae6 Re7 46. Ref6+ Ke8 47. Ra6 Rc7 48. Rae6+ Re7 49. Ra6 Rd3+ 50. Kc2 Ne1+ 51.
Kc1 Rc7+ 52. Rac6 Rxc6+ 53. Rxc6 Nf3 54. Re6+ Kd7 55. Re2 Re3 56. Kd1 Rxe2 57.
Kxe2 Ne5 58. a4 Kc6 59. a5 Ng4 60. a6 Ne5 61. b4 Kb6 62. b5 Ka7 63. g4 Nxg4 64.
Kd3 Ne5+ 65. Kxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. a3 Bb7 4. Nc3 f5 5. d5 Nf6 6. Nh3 Bd6 7. g3 Be5 8. Bd2
exd5 9. Bg2 Ne4 10. cxd5 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Na6 13. O-O O-O 14. Nf4
Qf6 15. Qd4 Nc5 16. h4 Rae8 17. Rad1 Ne4 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. Qb4 a5 20. Qxd6 Nxd6
21. c4 Ne4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. c5 b5 24. c6 dxc6 25. dxc6 Bc8 26. Rc5 Rf5 27.
Rxf5 Bxf5 28. Rd1 b4 29. axb4 axb4 30. Rd5 Be6 31. Rb5 b3 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33.
Rxb3 Rxc6 34. Kg2 Kf7 35. Rb4 Re6 36. Rc4 c6 37. g4 Kf6 38. Rc5 Ke7 39. Kg3 Kd6
40. Ra5 Re7 41. Kf4 c5 42. Ke3 Kd5 43. Ra4 Rb7 44. h5 g5 45. hxg6 hxg6 46. Rxe4
Rb3+ 47. Kf4 Rb4 48. Rxb4 cxb4 49. Ke3 Kc4 50. Kd2 Kb3 51. f4 Ka2 52. f5 gxf5
53. gxf5 b3 54. f6 b2 55. f7 b1=Q 56. f8=Q Qb2+ 57. Ke1 Qa1+ 58. Kf2 Qd4+ 59.
Kg2 Qg4+ 60. Kf1 Qh3+ 61. Ke1 Qc3+ 62. Kf2 Qd4+ 63. e3 Qd2+ 64. Kf3 Qd1+ 65.
Kg2 Qg4+ 66. Kf2 Qh4+ 67. Ke2 Qc4+ 68. Kd2 Qd5+ 69. Ke1 Kb3 70. Qf4 Kc3 71. Ke2
Qg2+ 72. Qf2 Qg6 73. Qe1+ Kc4 74. Qh4+ Kd5 75. Qd4+ Kc6 76. Kf3 Qh5+ 77. Kf4
Qh4+ 78. Ke5 Qh8+ 79. Ke6 Qe8+ 80. Kf6 Qh8+ 81. Ke6 Qe8+ 82. Kf5 Qh5+ 83. Ke4
Qh1+ 84. Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qc7 15.
O-O-O Ngf6 16. Rhe1 a5 17. Kb1 O-O 18. Ne5 Rad8 19. Qe2 Bb4 20. f4 Rfe8 21. a3
Bxd2 22. Rxd2 c5 23. Red1 cxd4 24. Rxd4 Nc5 25. Qe3 a4 26. Ne2 Nb3 27. R4d3
Rxd3 28. Rxd3 b5 29. cxb5 Nd5 30. Qf2 Qb7 31. b6 Nxb6 32. Nc3 Rc8 33. f5 Nd5
34. fxe6 fxe6 35. Qe1 Nxc3+ 36. Rxc3 Rd8 37. Rd3 Rxd3 38. Nxd3 Qd5 39. Kc2
Qxg2+ 40. Kc3 Qc6+ 41. Kb4 Nd4 42. Qe5 Qd7 43. Qe4 Nc6+ 44. Kc3 Ne7 45. Nc5
Nd5+ 46. Kd4 Qf7 47. Nxe6 Nb6 48. Kc5 Nd7+ 49. Kb4 Qxh5 50. Kxa4 Qd1+ 51. b3
Qd6 52. b4 Nb6+ 53. Kb5 Nd5 54. Kc4 Nb6+ 55. Kb5 Nd5 56. Kc4 Nb6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. a3 Be7 7. Qd3 c5 8. dxc5
Nbd7 9. cxd5 Nxc5 10. Qd1 exd5 11. Nf3 Nce4 12. O-O Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Nd4
Be4 15. Bh3 Bc5 16. a4 Re8 17. Nb3 Bd6 18. Be3 Bg6 19. Bd4 Ne4 20. Nd2 Qc7 21.
Nxe4 Bxe4 22. a5 Bc5 23. e3 h6 24. Qb3 Re7 25. Rfd1 Qc6 26. c4 dxc4 27. Qxc4
Bxd4 28. Qxd4 Qb5 29. Bg2 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 Qa6 31. Qc5 Rae8 32. Rab1 Re5 33. Rd5
Qe6 34. Rxe5 Qxe5 35. Qxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 d5
9. Bd3 dxc4 10. bxc4 e5 11. Ne2 Nfd7 12. Bc3 O-O 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15.
O-O Nc5 16. Nd4 Nxd3 17. Nxc6 Nxf2 18. Rxf2 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bc5 20. Bd4 Rfc8 21.
Bxc5 Rxc6 22. Ba3 Bxc4 23. Rc2 b5 24. Rd7 a5 25. Bd6 h5 26. Kf2 Bd5 27. Rxc6
Bxc6 28. Rc7 Bxe4 29. e6 f6 30. a3 Bd5 31. e7 Kf7 32. Ke3 Be6 33. Kd4 Bg4 34.
Kc3 g5 35. h4 gxh4 36. gxh4 Rc8 37. Rxc8 Bxc8 38. Bc7 a4 39. Bd6 Bd7 40. Kd4
Be8 41. Kd5 Bd7 42. Bb4 Ke8 43. Kd6 Bg4 44. Kc6 Be2 45. Kd6 Bc4 46. Bc5 Bb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3
Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Kb1 Rd8 13. g4 dxc4 14. Bxc4
Nb6 15. Be2 Nfd5 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. f4 g5 18. h3 Rd6 19. Bc1 Rdh6 20. Bf1 Qd7
21. Qc2 Re6 22. Bd3 Reh6 23. Qg2 Rh4 24. e4 dxe4 25. Bxe4 gxf4 26. Bxf4 Nd5 27.
Bc1 g6 28. Qf3 O-O 29. Rhe1 Bd8 30. Qb3 b5 31. Qf3 Kg7 32. Qg3 Rfh8 33. Bg2 Bc7
34. Qf3 Bd8 35. Rf1 a5 36. Rf2 a4 37. Rdf1 Rf8 38. Qg3 Qe6 39. Qe5+ Qxe5 40.
dxe5 Be7 41. Rc2 Nb4 42. Rc3 c5 43. a3 Na6 44. Rd3 Nb8 45. Be3 Rhh8 46. Rd5 Rc8
47. e6 fxe6 48. Re5 Rhf8 49. Rxe6 Rxf1+ 50. Bxf1 Kf7 51. Rb6 Nd7 52. Rb7 Nf6
53. Bxb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Nb3 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 Nc8 8. O-O
Ncb6 9. a4 Be7 10. a5 Nc4 11. Bd3 Bg4 12. Qe2 b5 13. axb6 axb6 14. Rxa8 Qxa8
15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 b5 18. Qe2 O-O 19. Bd2 Nb6 20. Na5 Rd8 21.
Qe4 Nd5 22. Ra1 Rd7 23. Nb3 Ra7 24. Rxa7 Qxa7 25. Qe1 h5 26. Qa1 Qb7 27. Nc1 c5
28. dxc5 Bxc5 29. Nd3 Bb6 30. Qe1 Qc6 31. c3 Qc4 32. Qe4 Qb3 33. Qe2 Qc2 34.
Kf1 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qc2 36. Kf1 Qb1+ 37. Kg2 Qc2 38. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. bxa5 Rxa5 11. a4 c5 12. Bd2 Ra6 13. Rb1 h6 14. Qc1 Kh7 15. g3
Ne8 16. Nh4 f5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Nxf5 gxf5 19. f3 h5 20. Kh1 Kg8 21. Bg5 Bf6
22. f4 Bxg5 23. fxg5 Ng7 24. g6 Qe7 25. Qh6 Ne8 26. Bxh5 Qg7 27. Qg5 Qf6 28.
Qd2 Qh8 29. Be2 Kg7 30. Qg5 Qh6 31. Qe7+ Kg8 32. g4 f4 33. Bd3 Qg7 34. Qg5 Nf6
35. h3 Qe7 36. Qh6 Qg7 37. g5 Ne8 38. h4 f3 39. Qh5 Qh8 40. Qxh8+ Kxh8 41. Be4
Ng7 42. Rxf3 Rxf3 43. Bxf3 Nf5 44. h5 Kg7 45. Kh2 b6 46. Be4 Kg8 47. h6 Ne3 48.
Re1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qc7 15.
O-O-O Ngf6 16. Qe2 O-O 17. Kb1 Rfe8 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 c5 20. Bf4 Nf6 21.
Qe3 Qb6 22. Be5 Qa6 23. Rc1 Rac8 24. dxc5 Ng4 25. Qd4 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 Bxc5 27.
Qd7 Rf8 28. Rc2 Qd6 29. Qxd6 Bxd6 30. Nd3 Rfd8 31. b3 Ba3 32. Ne5 Rd6 33. Re2
Rcd8 34. Kc2 Bb4 35. Nf3 a5 36. Rh4 Rd1 37. Kb2 Be7 38. Rhe4 Rf1 39. Kc2 Ra1
40. Kb2 Rdd1 41. Re1 Rab1+ 42. Kc2 Rbc1+ 43. Kb2 Bc5 44. R4e2 Rb1+ 45. Kc2
Rbc1+ 46. Kb2 Rb1+ 47. Kc2 Rbc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nf4 12. Rfd1 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 14. Qxd4
Nxe2+ 15. Nxe2 b6 16. Nc3 Bb7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Qg5 19. Rac1 Re7 20. Rc3 f5
21. exf5 Qxf5 22. h3 Rf8 23. b4 Qg5 24. Qg4 Qe5 25. Rc4 Qe3+ 26. Kh2 Qe2 27.
Rdc1 Qxa2 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Rxc7 Qxd5 30. Rxa7 Qe5+ 31. Qg3 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nd5 d3 12. Bxd3 c6 13. Ne7+ Kh8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8
15. Bf1 Nc5 16. Qxd6 Nxe4 17. Qa3 f5 18. h3 Ne5 19. Bf4 Nd7 20. Qxa7 Bxb2 21.
Rab1 Bg7 22. Qxb7 Ndc5 23. Qb6 Rf7 24. Ng5 Rb7 25. Qxb7 Nxb7 26. Rxb7 Kg8 27.
c5 h6 28. Bc4+ Kh8 29. Be5 hxg5 30. Bxg7+ Kh7 31. Bf8+ Kh8 32. Be7 Rb8 33. Rxe4
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Nd2 d5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Ngf3 Nc6 9. O-O d4 10. Nb3 Be7 11. Rd1 e5 12. e3 Bg4 13. exd4 e4 14. Ng5 Bxd1
15. Qxd1 a5 16. a4 Re8 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bf6 19. Bd5 Rc8 20. Bd2 Bxd4 21.
Nxd4 Nxd4 22. Bxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxd4 Re1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 25. Kg2 Qb4 26. Bxf7+ Kh8
27. Bd5 Qxa4 28. Qg4 Rf8 29. Bxb7 Qb4 30. Bf3 Qxb2 31. c5 Qc3 32. c6 g6 33. h4
Qf6 34. h5 gxh5 35. Qxh5 Rf7 36. Qg4 Rf8 37. Qe4 Rf7 38. Qe3 Kg7 39. Be4 Qe5
40. Qe2 Rc7 41. Qg4+ Kf8 42. Qh4 Qd6 43. Qh5 Qf6 44. Qd5 Kg7 45. g4 h6 46. Kg3
Qc3+ 47. Kg2 Qf6 48. Bf3 Rf7 49. Qd3 Qf4 50. Qc3+ Kh7 51. Qd3+ Kg7 52. Qe2 Qf6
53. Bd5 Re7 54. Qc4 Qe5 55. Qd3 Qf6 56. Qg3 Qd4 57. Bf3 Qc5 58. Qb8 Qc3 59. Bd5
Qc5 60. Qg8+ Kf6 61. Qh8+ Kg6 62. Bf3 Qe5 63. Qg8+ Rg7 64. Qh8 Re7 65. Qf8 Rc7
66. Qd8 Qe7 67. Qg8+ Kf6 68. Qd5 Kg7 69. Be4 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 h6 8. Rg1 e5
9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bd2 e4 11. Nb5 Bb8 12. Nh4 a6 13. Nf5 O-O 14. Nbd6 Bxd6 15.
Nxd6 Nb8 16. Qxc8 Qxd6 17. Qf5 g6 18. Qe5 Qb6 19. Qf4 g5 20. Qf5 Qxb2 21. Rd1
Ne8 22. Qxd5 Nc6 23. Bc4 Nf6 24. Qc5 Kg7 25. Bb3 Nd7 26. Qf5 Rad8 27. h4 Ne7
28. Qxe4 Ng6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Qxb7 Nf6 31. Qxa6 Nh4 32. Qa5 Nf3+ 33. Ke2 Nxg1+
34. Rxg1 Nh7 35. Rh1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "203"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Bd2 e6 6. Qc2 Nbd7 7. Nc3 c5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. g3 b5 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O Rc8 12. Qf5 g6 13. Qh3 Bg7 14. Rfd1 O-O 15.
Ne5 Nb6 16. Ne2 Re8 17. Ba5 Qd6 18. dxc5 Rxc5 19. Nd3 Rc4 20. Nd4 h6 21. Bf3
Ne4 22. Qg2 Ng5 23. b3 Bxd4 24. exd4 Rxd4 25. Rac1 Nd7 26. h4 Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3
Rde4 28. Rc7 Ba8 29. Ra7 Nf6 30. Bc7 Qe6 31. Nc5 Re1+ 32. Kg2 Qc6 33. Rxe1 Rxe1
34. Rxa8+ Qxa8 35. Qxf6 d4+ 36. f3 Re2+ 37. Kf1 d3 38. Nxd3 Re3 39. Ne1 Qe8 40.
Ng2 Re6 41. Qf4 Qc6 42. Be5 b4 43. Bd4 Qd6 44. Kf2 a5 45. Ne3 Qxf4 46. gxf4 Rd6
47. Nc2 Rc6 48. Ne1 Rd6 49. Ke3 Rd5 50. Ng2 Kf8 51. Kd3 Ke7 52. Kc4 Rh5 53. Bf2
Kd6 54. Ne1 Kc6 55. Nc2 Kd6 56. Ne1 Kc6 57. Nd3 f6 58. Nc5 Rf5 59. Nd3 Rh5 60.
Bg3 Rf5 61. Be1 Rh5 62. Bf2 Rf5 63. Kd4 Rh5 64. Ke4 Kb5 65. Nb2 Kc6 66. Nc4 Rd5
67. Bd4 f5+ 68. Kd3 Kb5 69. Ne5 Rd6 70. Nf7 Rc6 71. Nxh6 Rc1 72. Nf7 a4 73. Ne5
Rd1+ 74. Ke3 Rg1 75. bxa4+ Kxa4 76. Nd3 Rh1 77. Bc5 b3 78. axb3+ Kxb3 79. Be7
Rg1 80. Kf2 Ra1 81. Ne5 Ra6 82. Kg3 Kc3 83. Bg5 Kd4 84. h5 gxh5 85. Kh4 Ke3 86.
Kxh5 Re6 87. Kh4 Ra6 88. Kg3 Ra1 89. Nc4+ Ke2 90. Kg2 Rf1 91. Nd6 Rf2+ 92. Kg3
Rxf3+ 93. Kh4 Rf1 94. Nxf5 Kf3 95. Kh5 Rb1 96. Nh4+ Ke4 97. f5 Ke5 98. f6 Rb8
99. Kh6 Ke6 100. Kg7 Rb7+ 101. Kg6 Rb8 102. Nf5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5
exd5 9. cxd5 Na6 10. Nh4 d6 11. Nf5 Re8 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. O-O b5 14. Bg5 Nc7
15. Qf5 Qd7 16. Qxd7 Nxd7 17. Ne4 Bxd5 18. Nxd6 Rxe2 19. Nxb5 Nxb5 20. Bxd5 Rb8
21. Rfe1 Nd4 22. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 23. Kf1 Rxb2 24. Re1 h6 25. Bxh6 gxh6 26. Rxe2 Rb1+
27. Re1 Rxe1+ 28. Kxe1 Nb6 29. Bb3 Kf8 30. Kd2 Nc8 31. Kd3 Nd6 32. g4 Kg7 33.
f4 Kg6 34. Bc2 f5 35. h3 Kf6 36. Kc3 Ne4+ 37. Kc4 Nf2 38. Bxf5 Nxh3 39. Bc2
Nxf4 40. Kxc5 Kg5 41. Bd1 Nd3+ 42. Kb5 Nf2 43. Bf3 Kf4 44. Bb7 Nxg4 45. Ka6 Ke5
46. Kxa7 Kd6 47. Kb6 Ne5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 6. Qb3 Qc7 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O
Bd6 9. Re1 Nbd7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Rxe4 c5 14. Rg4
cxd4 15. Rxg7 Be5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Bh6 Qf6 18. Qh3 O-O-O 19. Qh5 Ne5 20. Rg5
Nd3 21. Qh4 Qe7 22. Qg3 Nc5 23. Qa3 b6 24. b4 Ne4 25. Re5 Qb7 26. c5 Nc3 27.
Bd2 Rhg8 28. g3 Nb5 29. Qd3 Kb8 30. a4 Nc7 31. Rc1 f6 32. cxb6 Qxb6 33. Rec5
Rg7 34. Rc6 Qb7 35. b5 axb5 36. Ba5 Nd5 37. Bxd8 Nb4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Be6 7. Nf3 h6 8.
Bxf6 exf6 9. a3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O f5 12. Qc2 Bf6 13. Rad1 g6 14. Rfe1 Kg7
15. b4 a6 16. Bf1 f4 17. h3 dxc4 18. d5 Bf5 19. Qc1 Na7 20. Nd4 Bd7 21. Ne6+
Bxe6 22. dxe6 Qc8 23. Rd7 Kh8 24. Qxf4 Bg7 25. Rxf7 Qc6 26. e7 Rxf7 27. Qxf7
Re8 28. Re6 Qd7 29. Nd5 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.19"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 d5 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. cxd5
g5 9. Bg3 Nxd5 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. exd4 Nc6 12. h4 g4 13. Ne5 f5 14. Bc4 Nxe5 15.
Bxe5 b5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. O-O Bxc3 18. Rxc3 Bb7 19. f3 Rac8 20. Qd2 Kh7 21.
fxg4 Rxc3 22. bxc3 Rg8 23. g5 h5 24. Re1 Qc4 25. d5 Bxd5 26. Qf2 Kg6 27. Bd4
Qxa2 28. Re2 Qb1+ 29. Kh2 Qd1 30. Qe3 Be4 31. Be5 Qd3 32. Qf2 Qd5 33. Bg3 Rd8
34. Qxa7 Rd7 35. Qb8 Rd8 36. Qb6 Rd7 37. Qa6 Qc4 38. Rf2 Rd3 39. Qa7 Qxc3 40.
Qb8 Qg7 41. Be5 Rd8 42. Qxd8 Qxe5+ 43. g3 Bd5 44. Qg8+ Qg7 45. Qe8+ Qf7 46.
Qxb5 Qa7 47. Qb2 Kh7 48. Rc2 Be4 49. Rc8 e5 50. Qe2 Kg7 51. Qd2 Qa4 52. Rd8 Bc6
53. Qe2 Qa1 54. Rd1 Qc3 55. Qf2 Qb4 56. Rc1 Bb7 57. Qa2 Qd6 58. Qb2 Kg6 59. Rc2
f4 60. Qxb7 Qd3 61. Rc6+ Kf5 62. Qh7+ 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.19"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 Na5 13. Bc2 b4 14. d5 bxc3 15.
bxc3 c6 16. c4 Qc7 17. Ra3 Reb8 18. Nh4 Bc8 19. Rg3 Qd8 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. exf5
cxd5 22. cxd5 Rb4 23. Nf3 Rc8 24. Bg5 Nc4 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Ng5 Be7 27. Qh5 h6
28. Ne4 Qh4 29. Qe2 h5 30. f6 Bxf6 31. Qxh5 Be7 32. Qf5 Rcb8 33. Rg4 Qh6 34.
Ng3 g6 35. Qd7 Kf8 36. Qc7 Qd2 37. Re2 Qxd5 38. Be4 Qa5 39. Qxa5 Nxa5 40. Bd5
Rb1+ 41. Kh2 Rd1 42. Bf3 Rc1 43. h4 Nc6 44. h5 gxh5 45. Nxh5 Nd4 46. Rxd4 exd4
47. Nf4 Bg5 48. Kg3 Bxf4+ 49. Kxf4 Rb4 50. Kf5 Rc5+ 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.19"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5
Be7 9. Qc2 Na6 10. Nc3 d5 11. a3 dxc4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Ng5 Bxg5 14. Bxb7 Ra7
15. Bg2 c5 16. d5 Nc7 17. Rad1 exd5 18. Nxd5 b5 19. a4 bxa4 20. Nb6 Qe7 21.
Nxc4 Rb8 22. e3 g6 23. Qxa4 Rb4 24. Qc2 Bf6 25. Bh3 Nb5 26. Rd5 a4 27. Rfd1 Nc3
28. bxc3 Rxc4 29. Rd7 Rxd7 30. Rxd7 Qe8 31. Qa2 Rxc3 32. Qxa4 c4 33. Qc6 Rc1+
34. Kg2 c3 35. Rd6 Qxc6+ 36. Rxc6 Rd1 37. Bg4 Rb1 38. Bf3 Be5 39. Rc5 f5 40. h4
Kg7 41. h5 Kf6 42. hxg6 hxg6 43. Bd5 Rb2 44. Bc4 Rd2 45. Bb3 Rb2 46. Bd1 g5 47.
g4 Rd2 48. Ba4 fxg4 49. Kf1 Ke6 50. Rc4 g3 51. fxg3 Rb2 52. e4 g4 53. Rc6+ Ke7
54. Rc5 Bd4 55. Rc4 Rd2 56. Rc6 Rd3 57. Rc4 Be5 58. Rc5 Bd4 59. Rd5 Rf3+ 60.
Ke2 Re3+ 61. Kd1 Bf6 62. e5 Bxe5 63. Bd7 Rxg3 64. Bxg4 Rg1+ 65. Kc2 Rg2+ 66.
Kb3 Rb2+ 67. Ka4 c2 68. Rxe5+ Kd6 69. Re1 Rb1 70. Bf5 Rxe1 71. Bxc2 Kc5 72. Kb3
Kd4 73. Bg6 Re6 74. Bh7 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.19"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. d4 Qc7 13. d5 Bd7 14. b3 c4 15. b4 Nb7
16. Rb1 a5 17. a3 axb4 18. axb4 Ra2 19. Nf1 Rea8 20. h3 Nd8 21. g4 h5 22. g5
Nh7 23. Kh2 Qc8 24. h4 f6 25. g6 Nf8 26. Ne3 Bg4 27. Rg1 Rxc2 28. Qxc2 Bxf3 29.
Nf5 Nc6 30. dxc6 Bd8 31. Rg3 Bg4 32. Rxg4 hxg4 33. Qd1 Qxc6 34. Qxg4 d5 35. Bh6
Ra2 36. exd5 Qe8 37. Be3 Qxg6 38. Qxg6 Nxg6 39. Rg1 Ne7 40. Rxg7+ Kf8 41. Bc5
1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.20"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
d6 9. Qd3 Bd7 10. Nbd2 g5 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Kg7 14. a4 a5
15. Nc4 Qc8 16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. f4 Nxe4 18. d5 Nc5 19. Qg3 Ne4 20. Bf6+ Kxf6 21.
fxe5+ Ke7 22. Qh4+ f6 23. exf6+ Kd8 24. Qxe4 Bd7 25. Qe7+ Kc7 26. Rf4 Qe8 27.
Re1 Qxe7 28. Rc4+ Kb8 29. Rxe7 Bf5 30. Rcc7 Rxf6 31. Rxb7+ Kc8 32. Rec7+ Kd8
33. Rg7 Kc8 34. Rxb6 Bd7 35. c4 Kc7 36. Rc6+ Kd8 37. Rg8+ Be8 38. c5 Ke7 39.
Rc7+ Kd8 40. Rh7 dxc5 41. d6 Rxd6 42. Rxe8+ Kxe8 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Rxa8 Rd1+ 45.
Kf2 Rd2+ 46. Kf3 Rd3+ 47. Kf4 Rb3 48. Rxa5 Rxb2 49. Kf3 Kd6 50. Ra8 c4 51. Rc8
Kd5 52. h4 Ra2 53. h5 Rxa4 54. h6 Ra7 55. g4 Ke5 56. g5 Kf5 57. Rc5+ Kg6 58.
Kg4 Ra1 59. Rc6+ Kh7 60. Rc7+ Kg8 61. Kh5 c3 62. Rxc3 Ra6 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.20"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8.
O-O O-O 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bf5 11. Nh4 Bd7 12. c4 Re8 13. Rb1 b6 14. Be3 Be7
15. Nf3 Bf6 16. c5 Bf5 17. Rb3 Be4 18. Rc3 Qd5 19. Qb3 Rad8 20. cxb6 cxb6 21.
Qxd5 Bxd5 22. Rd1 h6 23. h4 Ne7 24. Rc7 Nf5 25. Bf4 a5 26. a4 Bb3 27. Rb1 Bxa4
28. Rxb6 Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Bxd4 30. Rbb7 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Be8 32. Rc2 a4 33. Rd2 a3 34.
Rb3 Bf6 35. Rxd8 Bxd8 36. Rxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.20"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
d6 9. Qd3 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bxe5 Re8
15. h3 f6 16. Bh2 Rxe4 17. Nbd2 Re8 18. a4 a5 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. Nxb6 cxb6 21.
Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 b5 23. Nd4 bxa4 24. Nxc6 Bb5 25. Ne7+ Kf7 26. Nf5 Kg6 27.
g4 Ng7 28. Nd6 Bc6 29. Re7 h5 30. c4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Rh8 32. Ne4 Rd8 33. Nd6 Rh8
34. f4 gxf4 35. Bxf4 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 Rb1 37. Re2 Bd7 38. Kg3 Rg1+ 39. Rg2 Rxg2+
40. Kxg2 Bxg4 41. Bd2 Bd7 42. Bxa5 f5 43. Bd2 Bc6+ 44. Kg3 Nh5+ 45. Kf2 Nf6 46.
Ke3 Ne4 47. Nxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "2008.04.20"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2008.04.18"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. h3 d5 8. exd5
Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. Na3 b5 12. Nc2 Qf6 13. Qe2 h6 14. Be3 Bxe3 15.
fxe3 Rad8 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. e4 Be6 18. Qe3 Qg6 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Rfe8 21.
Qc3 Bc8 22. d5 Ne7 23. Ne5 Qd6 24. Nb4 Bb7 25. Rac1 f5 26. Nec6 Nxc6 27. dxc6
Bc8 28. Rcd1 Qxd1 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Kh2 Rd6 31. e5 Rdd8 32. Qc5 Kh7 33. Qa7
Re7 34. Qb8 f4 35. e6 f3 36. gxf3 a5 37. Nd5 Rxd5 38. Qxc8 Rd6 39. Qa6 Rd5 40.
Qxa5 Rxe6 41. Qxc7 Rc5 42. Qd7 Rexc6 43. h4 Rf6 44. Kg3 h5 45. a3 Rg6+ 46. Kf2
Rc2+ 47. Ke3 Rxb2 48. Qf5 Kh6 49. Qf4+ Kh7 50. Qf5 Kh6 51. Kd4 Rb3 52. Kd5 Rxa3
53. Qf8 Rd3+ 54. Ke4 Rgd6 55. Qh8+ Kg6 56. Qe8+ Kf6 57. Qe5+ Kf7 58. Qxh5+ g6
59. Qxb5 Rd1 60. Qb3+ Kf6 61. Qb2+ Kf7 62. Kf4 R1d5 63. Qb7+ Rd7 64. Qb3 Kg7
65. Qc3+ Kh7 66. Kg4 Rf7 67. f4 Rdf5 68. Qd4 Rxf4+ 69. Qxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 ({Remarkably, Aronian refrains from} 4. d5 {
when after} exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O {he had
been successful with white, while Topalov had lost with black in recent games.}
Re8 ({This is considered slightly more accurate than} 9... a6 10. a4 Re8 {
when after} 11. Bf4 {Black is more or less confined to embark the slightly
exotic line} Ne4 $5 {Aronian,L (2759)-Carlsen,M (2693)/Elista 2007/CBM 119/
[Marin] (1-0, 66)}) 10. Bf4 Bg4 $5 {Eljanov,P (2692)-Topalov,V (2780)/Wijk aan
Zee 2008/[Marin] (1-0, 46). Aronian's choice may have been dictated by
practical reasoning: once Topalov is ready to play the Benoni again, he must
have found an improvement somewhere, or, who knows, an entire new plan.}) 4...
cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4+ {An open invitation to the fianchetto Nimzoindian.} 6. Bd2 {
The psychological duel continues and, once again, it seems that Topalov
emerges as a moral winner..} ({With reversed, colours, the position after} 6.
Nc3 {(true, via genuine Nimzo Indian move order) had occurred twice between
the same players and Topalov won each time.} O-O (6... Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3
Nc5 9. Qf3 {Topalov,V (2780)-Aronian,L (2739)/Morelia/Linares 2008 (1-0, 35)})
7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 {Topalov,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2752)/Morelia/
Linares 2006/CBM 112/[Gavrikov] (1-0, 76)}) 6... Be7 {This method is
frequently seen in modern chess, in openings such as the Queen's Indian, the
Catalan and, of course, Bogo Indian. Apparently, Black has lost a tempo, but
White will have difficulties finding a good square for his queen's bishop,
which stands in the way of the own queen.} 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Bc3 {The bishop's
situation is not that bad now, but usually this is the best square for the
knight, keeping the d5-square under severe control.} O-O 9. O-O d5 {The
logical consequence of Black's previous play. With a white knight on c3, this
move would leave Black with a weak pawn on d5 after cxd5.} 10. Nd2 Bd7 {
A simple developing move, inviting White to define his plans.} ({The main
alternative is} 10... Qb6 11. e3 ({Despite his defeat, Gavrikov repeated the
line in a later rapid game. The player with White did not know the theory of
this variation too well and had to improvise, which he did relatively well:} 
11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. N2b3 Bh3 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. Qd3 Bf8
17. Qb5 {After the exchange of queens, the weakness of the g2-square becomes
less relevant and White can enjoy his stability on the dark squares with
chances for a small, but stable plus.} Qxb5 18. Nxb5 a6 19. N5d4 Ne5 20. f3 Bd7
21. Kf2 Nc4 22. e3 b5 23. a3 g6 24. Na5 Bh6 25. Nxc4 dxc4 {Black has improved
his structure, but White maintains his control in the centre.} 26. Rcd1 Bf8 27.
Nc2 Bc6 28. Nb4 Re6 29. Nxc6 Rexc6 30. Rd7 R6c7 31. Red1 Be7 $14 {Marin,
M-Gavrikov,V/WorldChessNetwork.com 2005 (0-1, 75). White's position is more
active, but Black's queenside majority, as well as the fact that White's pawns
on this wing are situated on dark squares offer Black some counterchances.})
11... Bd7 12. a3 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Qa6 14. Qb3 {It is obvious now that the early
development of Black's queen has helped White win time for the coordination of
his forces.} Nd5 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bd4 Rfd8 17. Rfc1 Ba4 18. Qa2 b6 19. b3 Be8
20. Qb2 Bf8 21. e4 Ne7 22. a4 $14 {Jussupow,A (2645)-Gavrikov,V (2550)/Minsk
1987/URS-ch (1-0, 42). with domination for White.}) 11. cxd5 {Finally
releasing the tension.} ({The willing retreat} 11. N4b3 $146 {failed to
impress in Huebner,R (2585)-Oral,T (2521)/Baden 1999/CBM 071/[Ribli] (1/2-1/2,
51) White avoids possible simplifications with ...Nxd4 and ...Bc6. He has the
good Catalan bishop on g2, but has problems with piece coordination on the
queenside. Weiß vermeidet mögliche Vereinfachungen mit ...Nxd4 und ...Bc6. Er
besitzt den guten katalanischen Läufer auf g2, hat aber am Damenflügel
Probleme mit der Figurenkoordination.}) ({However,} 11. Rc1 {, which also
continues the development without discarding White's intentions, deserves
serious attention.} Nb4 {Black is incompletly developed yet, which makes this
knight jump look premature.} ({The neutral} 11... Re8 {failed to equalize
completely after} 12. e4 {. Finally a concrete decision.} dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxd4
14. Qxd4 Bc6 15. Qxd8 Rexd8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Rfd1
$14 {Romero Holmes,A (2550)-Suba,M (2498)/Almeria 2003/CBM 095 ext (1-0, 46).
and White's rather symbolic advantage eventually was converted into a win.}) ({
The drawback of Suba's move is that the rook is not doing much on e8 and it
caused further loss of time. Therefore,} 11... Rc8 $5 {, consolidating the
c6-square in order to avoid the creation of a weakness on that square, may be
Black's best solution.}) 12. Nc2 a5 (12... Nxa2 {looks risky, but leads to
unclear consequences, for instance} 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ra1 Qa5 15. cxd5 exd5 16.
Ne3 Bxb2 17. Qc2 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Nb4 19. Rxa5 Nxc2 20. Nxc2 Rfc8 21. Ra2 Bf5 22.
Nd4 Rc1+ 23. Nf1 $13 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gg1f2,Gf1e3] Black is at least OK from a
material point of view, but his queenside pawns are not dangerous yet. However,
White will need some time to get rid of the back rank pin. Personally, I would
prefer White, but am convinced that the position remains double-edged.}) 13. a3
Nxc2 14. Qxc2 Bc6 15. Rfd1 Qb6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. e4 Ng4 18. Rf1 Bc6 19. h3 Nf6
20. Nc4 Qb5 21. Ne5 $14 {Schlosser,P (2560)-Kosten,A (2540)/Austria 2003/CBM
097 ext (1-0, 46). Again, White's position is more active in the presence of
almost symmetrical structure.}) 11... Nxd5 12. Bxd5 {Catalan opening players
know that sometimes it is essential to part with the pride of their position,
in order to achieve certain strategic aims, or avoid strategic problems. Here,
Black will be left with a well-blocked isolani, while otherwise the exchange
on c3 would cause White problems on the dark squares.} exd5 13. Qb3 {White
immediately puts pressure on the b7- and d5-pawns, aiming to cause some
strategic concession from Black's part.} (13. N2f3 Re8 (13... Bh3 $5 14. Re1
Re8 {looks more restrictive.}) 14. Qb3 Bh3 15. Rfd1 $1 {The rook stands better
here than on e1.} Qd7 16. Rd3 Rad8 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. R1d2 $13 {Seirawan,
Y-Benjamin,J/Philadelphia 1986/Inf 42. The position does not essentially
differ from that arising in our main game.}) 13... Bf6 14. N2f3 Bg4 $5 $146 {
A strong novelty.} ({Previously, the tempting} 14... Bh3 {had been played.
Black wins a tempo for the purpose of defending his attacked pawns, but,
generally speaking, the bishop is not doing much on h3, since the attacking
prospects are not too realistic for Black.} 15. Rfd1 Qd7 $6 (15... Rb8 16. Nb5
$14 {would provoke the favourable exchange of the dark-squared bishops.}) 16.
Nxc6 $1 Bxc3 (16... bxc6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qc3 $16) 17. Nce5 $1 Bxe5 18. Nxe5
Qe6 19. Rxd5 $16 {Morovic Fernandez,I (2535)-Suba,M (2550)/New York 1988/CBM
008 (1-0, 36)}) 15. Rfd1 ({One of the tactical points is that after} 15. Qxb7 {
Black gets his pawn back with} Nxd4 16. Nxd4 (16. Bxd4 Bxf3 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18.
exf3 Qxf3 {and, with an active queen and a strong passed pawn, Black is not
worse.}) 16... Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxe2 $132 {. Both sides have increased their
control on "their" squares (White on dark squares and Black on light squares).
Strategically, White seems to be better, but the vulnerability of his king
invites to caution.}) 15... Rb8 {As frequently happens, the queen is well
developed on the initial square. The f6-bishop is over-protected and the
a5-square is kept under control, enabling an eventual knight move to harrass
the enemy queen. At the same time, the presence of the bishop on g4 is very
useful, because it inhibits the moving away of the other knight. In fact,
Black maintains the dynamic equilibrium by attacking both enemy knights with
his bishops.} 16. Qa4 {Somehow, moving again with the queen does not seem to
be right from an abstract point of view.} ({Now,} 16. Nb5 {is less effective
than in a previous comment, but certain accuracy is required from Black.} Bxc3
$1 (16... Bxf3 $6 17. exf3 $1 d4 (17... Bxc3 18. Rxd5 $1 $16) 18. Kg2 $5 {
It is important to defend the f3-pawn.} (18. Rd2 Qb6 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxb6
Nxf3+ 21. Kg2 axb6 22. Kxf3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 $11) 18... Qd7 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4
Bxd4 21. Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rad1 $16) 17. bxc3 (17. Nxc3 Bxf3 18. exf3 d4 $13) (17.
Rxd5 Qe7 18. Qxc3 Qxe2 19. Rg5 f6 20. Nbd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Qe4 22. Re1 Qxe1+ 23.
Qxe1 fxg5 $13) 17... Qe7 18. Nbd4 Bxf3 $11 {After getting rid of his
potentially "bad" bishop, Black is OK. The weakness of the d5 and c3-pawns 
(and that of the c4 and d4-squares) compensate for eachother.}) ({I would
think that} 16. Rd2 $5 {is the most logical continuation, continuing the
mobilisation of forces and increasing the latent pressure against the central
pawn.} Re8 17. Rad1 Na5 (17... Re4 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bxf6 $1 $14) (17... a6 {
[%cal Gd8d6]} 18. Nc2 $14 Rxe2 19. Rxe2 Bxf3 20. Ba5 $1 $14) 18. Bxa5 Qxa5 19.
Kg2 {[%cal Gh2h3] The position remains interesting. Black's bishops continue
to keep the enemy knights under pressure, but White maintains his overall
stability. It is hard to give a final assesment, but I assume that for a
strategic player White's position would be slightly more appealing.}) 16...
Bxf3 $1 {A good moment to carry out this exchange.} 17. exf3 {An ambitious,
but strategically risky decision.} (17. Nxf3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Re8 19. Rd2 Qf6 20.
Qb3 b6 $132 {[%csl Rc3,Rd5,Re2][%cal Gb8d8,Gc6a5]}) 17... Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Qd7 {
Black has a passed pawn in the centre, but White's king seems to be better
defended than his rival, because of the extra pawn on this wing. Aronian's
main plan is to block the enemey queenside pawns on dark squares and then
simplify to an ending where the bishop could attack them with Bb8. However, if
this plan fails, the future looks promising for Black, who can combine the
threat of advancing the d4-pawn with a kingside attack.} 19. b4 b6 20. Rac1
Rbc8 21. Bb2 Rfd8 22. Rc2 Ne7 23. Rxc8 Nxc8 24. b5 Ne7 25. Qb3 Nf5 {From here,
the knight 1) overprotects the g7-square, 2) sustains the further advance of
the passed pawn, 3) puts the enemy kingside under pressure. Could we ask for
more than that?} 26. a4 h5 27. h3 Qe6 28. Kg2 Qe2 $1 {[%cal Gd5d4] This brave
intrusion of Her majesty puts White into some trouble.} 29. g4 $6 {He should
not have weakened his own king while there are queens on board still.} ({
Accepting that things had gone slightly wrong would have been wiser. White is
worse after} 29. Bd4 Qc4 30. Qd3 Qxd3 31. Rxd3 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 Kf8 $15 {[%cal
Gf8c5,Gf3f4,Gg3g4,Gg2f3] but he could try to generate some counterplay on the
kingside, where he still has an extra-pawn.}) 29... Nh4+ (29... Ne3+ $2 30.
Qxe3 Qxd1 31. Bxg7 $1 $16) 30. Kg3 Ng6 31. gxh5 Ne7 32. Kg2 Nf5 33. Bd4 Qe7 34.
Qd3 Qg5+ 35. Kh2 Re8 36. Bb2 Re3 $5 {This spectacular move is probably not the
best.} (36... Qf4+ $1 37. Kh1 (37. Kg1 $2 Ne3 38. fxe3 Qg3+ 39. Kf1 Qxf3+ 40.
Kg1 Qg3+ 41. Kf1 Rxe3 $19) (37. Kg2 $2 Nh4+ $19) 37... Ne3 38. Qe2 Nxd1 39.
Qxe8+ Kh7 40. Qe2 Nxb2 41. Qxb2 Qxf3+ $17) 37. fxe3 $2 $19 (37. Qxd5 $1 {
[%cal Gd5d8] would have paried the attack, because Black faces problems
avoiding the exchange of queens, while his rook is hanging.} Qf4+ 38. Kg1 Qg5+
(38... Re2 $6 39. Bc1 Qh4 40. Qd8+ $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rb6,Gb8] would lead to the
dream ending for White.}) 39. Kh2 $11) 37... Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qxf3+ 39. Kg1 Nxe3
40. Rd2 Qg3+ 41. Kh1 Qxh3+ 42. Kg1 Qg3+ 43. Kh1 Qe1+ $1 44. Kh2 Qxd2+ 45. Qxd2
Nf1+ 46. Kg2 Nxd2 $19 {After a forced and well-calculated sequence, Black has
obtained decisive material advantage. White's counterplay on the queenside
will temporarily win one of the pawns back, but this will not be enough to
save the game.} 47. Be5 Ne4 48. Kf3 Nc5 49. Ke3 Nxa4 50. Kd4 Nc5 51. Kxd5 a6
52. bxa6 Nxa6 53. Kc6 Nc5 54. Bc7 Kh7 55. Bxb6 Ne4 56. Be3 Nf6 57. Kd6 Nxh5 58.
Ke5 Kg6 59. Bd2 f5 60. Be1 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. a3 {
This is a rare move. Usually White plays 8.Qd2 b5 and here 9.a3. To my mind,
Topalov's choice won't find many followers. After the move in text Black might
save a tempo by refraining from ...b7-b5, at least for a while. It is
interesting that on the next day Topalov employed the same line as Black,
against his second Ivan Cheparinov.} ({Cheparinov didn't follow the main line
either:} 8. Ne2 Be7 9. c3 O-O 10. g3 cxd4 11. Nexd4 Nc5 12. Bg2 Bd7 13. O-O Rc8
$11 {0-1 Cheparinov,I (2696)-Topalov,V (2767)/Sofia BUL 2008/The Week in Chess
705 (38)}) 8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Be2 {Topalov is trying to steal a tempo,
in case that Black will go for a standard overall exchange on d4 followed by
Qd8-b6.} (10. Qd2 Bxd4 11. Bxd4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Qb6 13. Qxb6 Nxb6 {In this
endgame White has a slight edge but, usually Black keeps the balance without
many difficulties.} 14. Bd3 Bd7 15. Ne2 f6 16. Kd2 fxe5 17. fxe5 Ke7 18. Rhf1
Raf8 {+/=/= 1/2-1/2 Psakhis,L (2560)-Drasko,M (2510)/Moscow 1988/CBM 009 (28)})
(10. g3 Qb6 11. Na4 Qa5+ 12. Nc3 Qb6 13. Na4 Qa5+ 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. Nce2 O-O 16.
Bg2 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Nb6 18. b3 f6 $1 19. exf6 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Qxe5 21. Qd2 Rxf6
$36 {0-1 Lalic,B (2548)-Kortschnoj,V (2659)/Calcutta 2000/CBM 074 ext (47)})
10... O-O {Of course, Black is not forced to go for the exchange on d4 so
quickly.} 11. Qd2 Qc7 ({Now the exchange} 11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Qb6
{is a bit worse for Black, since in the forthcoming endgame the king is on an
inferior g8 location, compared to an ideal e7 square.}) 12. Bf3 $6 {Topalov
vacates the e2 square for the knight but, loses control over the f1-a6
diagonal which will be exploited by Ivanchuk a few moves later. It would have
been more natural and preferable to complete his development.} (12. O-O b5 (
12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qb6 14. Rfd1 {+/=/=} Qxb2 $4 15. Rdb1 $18 {[%csl Rb2]}) 13.
Rad1 {White's position is very solid in this case.} ({Worthy of consideration
was} 13. Rf3 $5 Bb7 14. Rg3 {trying to harass the black monarch.})) 12... Nxd4
13. Bxd4 Nb6 14. Ne2 Bxd4 (14... Nc4 $6 {is a punch in the air.} 15. Qc3 {
[%cal Gb2b3]}) 15. Qxd4 Bd7 16. b3 {If it were White's turn, after QQd4-d2
followed by Ne2-d4 White's position would be very good. However, Black is just
in time to prevent this regrouping.} ({The immediate} 16. Qd2 $6 Rac8 17. Nd4
$2 {would fall into} Nc4 18. Qc3 Nxe5 $1 19. Qxc7 Nxf3+ 20. Nxf3 Rxc7 {and
Black is a healthy pawn up.}) 16... Bb5 $1 (16... f6 $6 {is too risky.} 17.
exf6 gxf6 18. O-O e5 19. fxe5 fxe5 20. Qd2 $14 {Black's monarch is vulnerable
and his pawn centre is not so tough.} (20. Bxd5+ $4 Kg7 21. Qd2 Qc5+ $19)) 17.
Nc3 $2 {After this move Black seizes the intiative.} ({By} 17. Qc3 Qxc3+ 18.
Nxc3 Rfc8 19. Kd2 Rc5 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. c3 Rac8 22. Rhc1 $11 {Topalov could
get a much better version of the endgame that arose later in the game.}) 17...
Rfc8 18. Nxb5 axb5 19. Be2 Nd7 20. Ra2 {If White has to make such an awkward
move, this means that something went definitely wrong.} (20. Bd3 Nc5 $17) 20...
Nb8 $1 {Transfering the knight to better pastures.} 21. O-O Nc6 22. Qd2 Qb6+ {
Before proposing the exchange of queens, it is useful to drive away the white
king far from the centre.} 23. Kh1 Qa5 {White is nearly forced to exchange
queens under unfavourable circumstances.} 24. Qxa5 Rxa5 25. Raa1 Rca8 ({
Probably stronger would have been} 25... Nd4 26. Bd3 Rca8 $17 {The knight on
d4 also prevents the counterplay f4-f5 that occurred later in the game.}) 26.
Rad1 Rxa3 27. Bxb5 Nb4 28. c4 {Practically forced.} R8a5 $2 {Wasting time and
weakening the back rank. It should be noted that Ivanchuk was in a severe
time-scramble.} (28... Rxb3 29. cxd5 Nxd5 30. Bc4 Rb4 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. Rxd5
Rxf4 $1 33. Kg1 {White should hold this endgame.}) (28... g6 $5 $15) 29. f5
exf5 {[%tqu "En","White is in trouble. How can he achieve counterplay?","","",
"g2g4","Well played. This move was definitely unpleasant for Ivanchuk,
especially in time-trouble.",10]} 30. g4 $1 {Well played. This move was
definitely unpleasant for Ivanchuk, especially in time-trouble.} Rxb3 (30...
fxg4 31. Bd7 $1 {[%cal Ge5e6]} dxc4 32. e6 Re5 33. exf7+ Kf8 34. Bxg4 Ra8 35.
bxc4 {and White survives.}) 31. gxf5 Re3 $2 (31... Rb2 32. e6 Raa2 33. Rfe1
Rxh2+ 34. Kg1 Rag2+ 35. Kf1 {and Black has no more than a perpetual check.})
32. Rb1 Nd3 33. e6 $2 {Missing the chance.} (33. Ra1 $1 Rxa1 34. Rxa1 g5 35.
cxd5 Nxe5 36. d6 {and Black can't stop the d-pawn and has to give up a knight.}
) 33... d4 {According to the evidence, Ivanchuk had about only 7 seconds for 7
remaining moves until the move 40 (no increment!). So, at this point his prior
task was to be able not to lose on time...} 34. Be8 $2 (34. Bc6 $1 Nc5 35. Bxb7
fxe6 36. fxe6 Nxb7 37. Rxb7 h6 38. e7 Rae5 $11) 34... Nc5 {Finally, the knight
has arrived at a perfect outpost.} 35. Bxf7+ Kf8 36. f6 gxf6 37. Rxf6 Ke7 {
Now Black has perfect harmony between all his pieces.} 38. Rh6 d3 39. Rxh7 d2
40. Rg1 Re1 41. Bh5+ Kxe6 {With some ups and downs, Ivanchuk gloriously
survived the incredible time-scramble. Topalov can resign now, the d-pawn
decides the outcome.} 42. Rhg7 Ne4 43. R7g6+ Ke5 {A dramatic finish of a very
important encounter!} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 {It is
curious that Topalov follows the opening line which he played in previous
round ... as White against Vassily Ivanchuk.} 8. Ne2 {Not a common move. I
guess that Chepatrinov wanted to deviate both from the main line 8.Qd2 and
from the game Topalov-Ivanchuk played in the 2nd round.} (8. a3 cxd4 9. Nxd4
Bc5 10. Be2 O-O 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. Bf3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nb6 14. Ne2 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Bd7
$11 {0-1 Topalov,V (2767)-Ivanchuk,V (2740)/Sofia BUL 2008/The Week in Chess
705 (43)}) ({The main theoretical line is} 8. Qd2 b5 9. a3 {and here Black can
try out Morozevich's idea} g5 $5) 8... Be7 {This move hadn't appeared on the
top level beforehand. Probably Topalov was trying to deviate from the main
lines which were definitely analysed by Cheparinov, especially after the game
Topalov-Morozevich which was played in Morelia/Linares 2007.} (8... Qb6 9. Qc1
g5 $5 (9... f6 $5 {is a serious alternative suggested by Mihail Marin.} 10. c3
Be7 11. g3 O-O $132) 10. c3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 f6 13. g3 Rf8 14. Kg2 g4
15. Nh4 $14 {1-0 Topalov,V (2783)-Morozevich,A (2741)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM
117 (48)}) 9. c3 O-O 10. g3 cxd4 11. Nexd4 (11. cxd4 Nb6 12. b3 Bd7 {and Black
will slowly, but surely develop his play on the queenside. Meanwhile, White's
attacking chances on the kingside are murky.}) 11... Nc5 {The knight is
heading to e4. It can be concluded that Black has solved his opening problems,
the position is equal.} 12. Bg2 Bd7 (12... f6 $6 {would play into White's
hands.} 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. O-O $16 {and after the exchange on c6 followed by
Be3-d4 White will be in possession of an initiative.}) 13. O-O Rc8 14. Kh1 Ne4
({It was possible to go for knight moves on the queenside straight away:} 14...
Na5 {[%cal Ga5c4]} 15. Nd2 Na4 16. Rb1 (16. Qc2 $2 {[%tqu "En","How can Black
win material?","","","e7a3","",10]} Ba3 $1 17. bxa3 Rxc3 $19 {[%csl Rc2,Re3]})
16... Nb6 17. f5 Nac4 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bf4 exf5 20. Bxd5 Rc5 21. Bxb7 Qc7 22.
Bxa6 Nxe5 $44) 15. Nxc6 $1 {Eliminating the knight before it comes via a5 to
c4.} bxc6 16. c4 a5 $6 {I don't like this move, since it takes an important
square from black's queen.} (16... Qa5 17. Qc2 Rb8 {looks more to the point.})
17. Qc2 g6 18. Rad1 Nc5 19. Nd4 {Black's only active piece is driven away from
it's outpost. White is clearly better. His plan is an assault against the
black monarch.} Qc7 {Eyeing the Pe5. However, it does not really prevent from
White his natural attacking plan by f4-f5.} 20. g4 Rfd8 $6 {Topalov does not
sense the danger. Moving away the rook from the f-file makes Black's king more
vulnerable.} (20... f6 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. f5 gxf5 24. gxf5 Kh8 25.
fxe6 Nxe6 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. Bxd5 Qe5 {Black is a pawn down but, after the
forthcoming massive simplifications his chances for a draw are reasonable.
This is because very few pawns are left on the board.}) 21. Qf2 Be8 (21... dxc4
22. f5 exf5 23. gxf5 Qxe5 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Ne6 Nxe6 27. Qxe7 Qxe3
28. Rf7 Kg8 29. Rg7+ Nxg7 30. Qxe3 $16) 22. f5 $1 {Everything is ready for an
assault.} Qxe5 ({White gets a strong attack also after} 22... exf5 23. Nxf5 $1
gxf5 24. gxf5 {[%csl Rc5,Rg8][%cal Gf2g3,Gf5f6]}) 23. fxe6 $2 {It is logical
to open the f-file. However, It would have been far stronger to start with the
tempting move 23.Nf3 followed by 24.fxg6, not allowing Black's knight to join
the defence.} (23. Nf3 $1 Qd6 24. fxg6 {All the variations show that Black
does not have a satisfactory defence.} fxg6 (24... hxg6 25. Ng5 f6 (25... Bxg5
26. Bxg5 $40) 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27. Qxc5 Bxc5 28. Nxe6 $18) 25. Ng5 Nd7 (25... Bxg5
26. Bxc5 Bh4 27. Qg1 Qc7 28. Qe3 Bf7 29. Qh6 g5 30. Qf6 $18 {[%cal Gc5d4,Gc5e7]
}) (25... e5 26. Qh4 Bxg5 27. Bxg5 Rd7 28. Rf6 Ne6 29. c5 $1 $18) 26. Nf7 Bxf7
27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Bf4 e5 29. Bh6 Rg8 30. cxd5 c5 31. Qe6 $18 {[%cal Gf1f7]})
23... Nxe6 24. Nxe6 (24. Rde1 $6 Bd6 25. Nf3 Qg7 {defending successfully.})
24... Qxe6 25. Rde1 $1 {White should not care about such a small detail as Pg4.
} Qxg4 26. Bd4 $2 {This is a typical situation when a player, being on the
offensive, misses a point where it's already necessary to guarantee himself
equality.} (26. Bc5 Bxc5 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qf6+ {with a
perpetual check was the objective result at this point.}) 26... Qh4 27. Rxe7
Qxe7 28. Re1 (28. Bf6 Qf8 {White does not have anything better than to win
back the exchange which will leave him simply two pawns down.}) 28... Qg5 29.
Re5 (29. h4 Qf5 30. Qxf5 gxf5 31. Rg1 Rd6 32. h5 Kf8 33. Bc5 Ke7 34. Re1+ Kd7
35. Bh3 {would have been objectively better but, who wants to go to a worse
endgame in such a position?!}) 29... Qc1+ 30. Re1 Qg5 31. Re5 f5 {Of course,
no repetition. White's attack evaporates, while Black's extra material decides
the outcome.} 32. h4 Qg4 33. Kh2 (33. Bf3 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Bf7 $19) 33... dxc4 34.
Bh3 Qd1 35. Re1 Rxd4 $1 (35... Qxd4 $4 {[%tqu "En","Please enter a move for
White.","","","e1e8","",3]} 36. Rxe8+ $1) 36. Rxd1 Rxd1 {Black has too much
material for the queen.} 37. Bf1 Bf7 38. Be2 {White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a3 Be7 8. Qa4
a6 9. Qxc4 b5 10. Qd3 Bb7 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. b4 a5 13. O-O axb4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15.
Nxb5 c5 16. dxc5 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 Bxc5 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qc3 Qxc3 20. Nxc3 Bxf3
21. Bxf3 Ne5 22. Bb7 Bd4 23. Rc1 Bxc3 24. Rxc3 Rb8 25. Rc8+ Rxc8 26. Bxc8 Nc4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 {This move leads to a
so called Dutch variation of the Slav Defence.} ({The main alternative} 6. Ne5
{leads to sharper lines, which have been played by the Chinese grandmaster for
both colours.}) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Ne4 {This old move which
was played by Capablanca, Alekhine and Euwe, has recently come back again to
high level tournaments.} ({The main line continues with} 9... Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6
11. Bd3 {where White usually gets a very slight edge.}) 10. Ne5 {This move
appeared only a few times beforehand. The main continuations are 10.Nxe4, 10.
Na2 and 10.Bd3.} Nd7 (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3 12. Ra3 Bb4 13. e4 Bg6 (13...
Bxa3 14. Bxa3 Bg6 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Qb2 Nd7 17. Nxg6+ hxg6 18. Qxb7 $14) 14.
Rh3 Nd7 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Bb2 $44 {1-0 Sahl,B (2385)-Parr,E (2229)/Gausdal
2001/CBM 080 ext (42)}) (10... Bxc3 $2 11. bxc3 Nxc3 12. Qb2 $16 {[%csl Rb7,
Rc3]}) 11. Nxd7 ({After} 11. Nxe4 $6 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe4 13. Qg4 Bf5 {Black has
no problems.}) 11... Qxd7 12. Na2 {A typical move in this setup. White saves
his knight from the exchange, and drives the black bishop away. Later on,
White can push b2-b4 seizing some space on the queenside.} Be7 $6 $146 {
Not the best place for the bishop. It has more prospects on c7. Actually, this
is the beginning of Black's troubles in this game.} (12... Ba5 13. b4 Bc7 14.
f3 Nd6 15. Bb3 Bg6 (15... a5 16. e4 $140 Bg6 17. Be3 $2 axb4 18. Nxb4 Nxe4 $1
19. fxe4 Qd6 $17 {[%cal Gd6h2,Gd6b4]}) 16. e4 Rae8 $6 (16... a5 $142) 17. Rd1
f5 18. e5 Nc8 19. b5 Nb6 20. Ba3 Rf7 21. Rac1 $16 {1-0 Van Wely,L (2647)
-Gelfand,B (2723)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext (60)}) 13. f3 Nf6 $6 {This move
is not connected with a concrete plan as well.} (13... Nd6 14. Bb3 Bg6 15. e4
Kh8 $1 16. Be3 f5 17. e5 Ne8 {[%cal Ge8c7,Gc7d5] Black's position is somewhat
cramped but, he has a nice square on d5 as a compensation.}) 14. e4 Bg6 (14...
Qxd4+ $4 15. Be3 $18) 15. Be3 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4]} Qc7 16. Nc1 $1 {Transfering the
knight to an ideal d3 square where it will fight against both c6-c5 and e6-e5.}
a5 (16... c5 {could not solve Black's problems. For instance:} 17. Nb3 cxd4 18.
Bxd4 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 Rac8 20. Rac1 Qb8 21. a5 {[%csl Yg6] White is clearly
better. The main clash is going to be on the queenside, meanwhile, Black's
light-squared bishop is totally out of play.}) 17. Nd3 $16 Nd7 18. Rac1 Rfe8 (
18... e5 19. d5 {is unsatisfactory for Black as well.}) 19. g3 Bd6 20. Nf4 e5
$6 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Gc4g8] It is rather difficult to suggest a reasonable
alternative plan or Black. Still, it would have been better to refrain from
this push, as White's light-squared bishop now becomes exceptionally strong.} (
{Black should adopt a waiting strategy, for example:} 20... Rad8) 21. Nxg6 hxg6
22. f4 exd4 ({After} 22... exf4 23. e5 {the piece sacrifice does not make
Black's life easier:} Nxe5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxf4 Rxe3 26. Rxf7 Rxe2 {[%tqu
"En","Should White capture the queen with check?","","","f7f4","",5,"f7c7","",
0]} 27. Rf4+ $1 (27. Rxc7+ $4 Kh7 $11) 27... Kh7 (27... Qf7 28. Rxf7 $18) 28.
Rh4#) 23. Bxd4 b6 (23... Nf8 24. f5 g5 25. Qh5 Rxe4 26. Bxg7 $1 {with a
crushing attack.}) (23... Bb4 24. f5 g5 25. Qh5 Ne5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. f6 $18)
24. f5 $1 {White's attack is irresistible.} g5 25. Qh5 {[%csl Rf7]} Nf6 (25...
Ne5 26. f6 gxf6 27. Rxf6 $18) 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Qxf6 Be5 29. Qxg5
Qe7 30. f6 Bd4+ 31. Rf2 $1 (31. Rf2 Bxf2+ 32. Kf1 $1 $18 (32. Kxf2 $4 Qc5+))
1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Bb7 11. h3 {A prophylactic move anticipating 11...e5.} (
11. Qc2 {- see Svidler-Karjakin in this issue (Baku section).}) 11... e5 (11...
Qe7 12. Ng5 e5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Nge4 Bb8 15. Bd2 a5 16. Rfe1 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf6
18. dxe5 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxe5 20. f4 Qe7 21. Nc5 Ba7 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. Bxa5 Bxe3+
24. Rxe3 Rxa5 25. Rc1 b4 26. axb4 {1/2-1/2 Ostenstad,B-Stokke,K/Hamar 2007/CBM
119 ext}) (11... Re8 $5 12. e4 (12. Qc2 e5 {- game}) 12... e5 13. Bg5 a6 (13...
h6 14. Bh4 a6 15. Bc2 Rc8 16. Qd2 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Rad1 Qb6 {1/2-1/2 Braun,
A-Ribli,Z/Germany 2007/CBM 118}) 14. Re1 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bc2 Qb6 17. Be3
Rad8 18. Qe2 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qxe3 20. Rxe3 Nb6 21. Bb3 h6 $11 {0-1 Tomic,
I-Pekarik,B/Croatia 2005/EXT 2007 (54)}) 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Ng5 $146 (
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Nf6 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,
S-Trifunovic,P/Bled 1961/MCL}) 14... h6 15. Nge4 Bc7 16. Rfe1 Bb6 17. Ng3 Rad8
18. Rad1 Qf8 19. Nce2 {[%mdl 32] Typical lengthy manoeuvring in a roughly
equal but complex position.} a6 (19... a5 $5) 20. b4 h5 $6 {This pawn will
eventually be weak.} (20... Nd5 {looks more solid.}) 21. Bc3 h4 22. Ne4 Nd5 23.
Nc5 Nxc5 24. dxc5 Bc7 25. Bb2 Bc8 $6 (25... Nf6 $5 {in order to make White's
access to the h4-pawn more difficult.}) 26. Bh7+ Kh8 27. Bf5 Bxf5 28. Qxf5 $14
{The weakness of Black's h4-pawn is now obvious.} Qe7 29. Nc3 Nxc3 30. Bxc3 Kg8
31. Qe4 Qe6 {Giving up the pawn at once for activity.} (31... Qf6 32. Qg4 Qe7
33. e4 {[%cal Rc3d2,Rd2g5]} Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Rd8 35. Rxd8+ Qxd8 36. Be1 {[%cal
Yf2f3]}) 32. Qxh4 ({Paradoxically,} 32. Rxd8 {, giving up the open file, was
probably more accurate:} Rxd8 (32... Bxd8 33. Rd1 Be7 $14 {is probably better})
33. Qxh4 f6 (33... Qb3 $2 34. Bxe5) (33... Rd3 34. Rc1 Qb3 35. Qe7 Qxa3 36. Rb1
$1 Qxc3 37. Qxc7 $16) 34. Qe4 Qb3 35. Ba1 Rd5 36. Qf5 {[%cal Rf5c8]} Rd8 37.
Rf1 Kf7 (37... Qxa3 $2 38. Qe6+) 38. h4 Qxa3 $140 39. Qf3 Rd5 40. Qh5+ Ke7 41.
Qh8 Kf7 42. Qc8 $16) 32... Qb3 $1 33. Rc1 (33. Rxd8 $4 Bxd8 $19) 33... Qxa3 $2
({After} 33... Rd3 $1 {White has nothing better than a lucky perpetual after}
34. Qe4 (34. Ba1 Qxa3 35. Qe4 Rd5) 34... Rxc3 35. Qxc6 Re7 36. Qa8+ Kh7 37.
Qe4+ Kg8 $1) 34. Qe4 {[%cal Re4c6,Re4c2] With an unexpected double threat: to
win the crucial c6 pawn and to trap the black queen.} a5 (34... Rd5 $2 35. Qc2
Qa4 36. Qb2 $18 {[%cal Rc1a1]}) 35. Qxc6 axb4 36. Bxb4 Qxb4 37. Qxc7 {The
white c-pawn is stronger than the black b-pawn.} Rc8 38. Qa7 Re6 39. Red1 Qe4 (
39... Rec6 40. Qe7 R6c7 41. Qxe5 Rxc5 42. Rxc5 Qxc5 43. Rd8+ Kh7 44. Rd5 $18)
40. Qd7 Rec6 41. Qb7 b4 42. Rd7 {White combines the threat of the pawn advance
with the attack on Black's b-pawn and his weakened king.} Qf5 43. Rd5 Rg6 44.
Kf1 b3 45. Qxb3 $18 {Two extra pawns are quite enough to win.} Qg5 46. g3 Qf5
47. Kg2 Rf6 48. Rd2 Qf3+ 49. Kh2 Rd6 $5 50. Qa2 (50. Rxd6 $5 Qxf2+ 51. Kh1 Qf3+
52. Kg1 Qxg3+ 53. Kf1 $18) 50... Rxd2 51. Qxd2 Rc6 52. Kg1 Rh6 53. Qd1 Qc6 54.
h4 Rf6 55. Qg4 g6 56. h5 Kg7 57. e4 Kh6 58. hxg6 fxg6 59. Kg2 Kg7 60. Qe2 Rf7
61. Rc4 g5 62. Qh5 Qf6 63. Rc2 Qd8 64. c6 Qd3 65. Qxg5+ Kf8 66. Qh6+ Kg8 67.
Rd2 Qxe4+ 68. Kh2 Rf8 69. c7 Qf5 70. f3 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1
{An old-fashioned move.} Bd6 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qc2 a6 $6 (11... dxc4 {
is more common:} 12. Bxc4 e5 (12... Nb6 13. Ne4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Bc7 15. Ne5 Rd8
16. f4 f6 17. Nd3 a5 18. Rf2 Bd7 19. Ndc5 b5 20. Qe2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Tomashevsky,
E-Pavasovic,D/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (43)}) (12... b6 13. Ne4 (13. Rfd1 Bb7 14.
Ne4 Bc7 15. Rd2 Rac8 16. a3 Bb8 17. b4 Rfd8 18. Bd3 f5 19. Ng3 c5 $132 {
0-1 Sladek,V-Cech,P/Ostrava 2003/EXT 2006 (65)}) 13... Bc7 14. Bb3 Ba6 $6 (
14... Bb7 $1) 15. Rfd1 Rac8 16. Ba4 f5 17. Ng3 Bb7 18. Qe2 Qd6 19. e4 $14 {
0-1 Sladek,V-Klimsa,J/Ostrava 2003/EXT 2006 (38)}) 13. Ne4 exd4 (13... Bb8 $5
14. Ng3 (14. d5 $5) 14... Nb6 15. Bb3 Re8 16. a4 e4 17. Nd2 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Be6
19. Rf4 Qb4 20. Bxe6 Rxe6 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxa4 23. b3 Nb6 24. Nc5 Nd5
$132 {0-1 Stanojevic,B-Basagic,Z/Skofja Loka 1997/CBM 061 ext (60)}) 14. Nxd6
Qxd6 15. Rfd1 Ne5 (15... Nb6 16. Rxd4 Qe7 17. Bb3 Be6 18. Qe4 Rae8 19. Bc2 f5
20. Qh4 Bxa2 21. Qxe7 Rxe7 22. Ra1 Bd5 23. Rxa7 Nc8 24. Ra8 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2
Hjartarson,J-Thorhallsson,T/Iceland 1993/TD (44)}) 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Rxd4 Bf5
18. Qc3 Rae8 19. Qa3 a6 20. Rcd1 Bc8 21. b4 Qc7 22. Qc3 Re5 23. a3 Rfe8 24. Rf4
Bf5 25. h3 a5 26. g4 axb4 27. axb4 Be6 28. Rfd4 Bc8 29. Rf4 Be6 30. Bxe6 R5xe6
31. Qd4 Re5 {1/2-1/2 Capablanca,J-Levenfish,G/Moscow 1936/HCL}) 12. c5 Bc7 13.
e4 {[%mdl 32] A typical reaction.} dxe4 14. Nxe4 Rd8 $146 {Black decides to
defend passively.} (14... e5 {is quite risky:} 15. Rfe1 exd4 16. Neg5 (16. Nd6
$5 Qd8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Bf5 $36) 16... Qxc5 17. Qb3 Qd5 $2 (17... Qb6 $2 18.
Bh7+ Kh8 19. Nxf7+ Kxh7 20. Qd3+ Kg8 21. Nxh6+ $16) (17... Qd6 $1 18. Nxf7 (18.
Bh7+ Kh8 19. Nxf7+ Rxf7 20. Qxf7 Kxh7 21. Re7 Qg6 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 23. Qxd7 Qd6
24. Qxd6 Bxd6 25. Nxd4 Re8 $15) 18... Rxf7 19. Bc4 Qf8 20. Nh4 $44) 18. Qxd5
cxd5 19. Nh7 $16 {1-0 Kiselev,S-Guliev,S/Azov 1991/CBM 025 (40)}) 15. Rfe1 Nf8
16. Qc3 f6 17. Bb1 Kh8 18. a3 Bd7 19. Nfd2 {[%cal Rd2c4]} f5 $1 {Just in time!}
20. Ng3 Qf6 21. Nf3 Be8 22. Ba2 (22. Ne5 Ng6 $1) 22... b6 (22... a5 $5 {
[%cal Ya5a4]} 23. Ne5 Nd7 $5) 23. Rc2 (23. Ne5 $5 bxc5 (23... Rab8 24. cxb6
Bxb6 25. Ne2) 24. Qxc5 (24. dxc5 f4 25. Nf1 a5 $13) 24... Rab8 {[%cal Rc7b6,
Rb8b2]} 25. Qc3 Rd6 26. Ne2 $14 (26. b4 $143 a5)) 23... bxc5 24. Qxc5 $14 {
Black has a lot of weaknesses but his bishop pair can be potentially strong.}
Rab8 25. Rd2 a5 26. Qc3 Rd6 27. Rde2 (27. Ne5 $5) 27... Bb6 28. Re5 {The rook
is not the best blockader but White can afford this.} Bf7 29. Bb1 Qd8 30. Ba2
Rb7 31. Ne2 Ng6 32. Re3 a4 {Both sides have made a little progress. Black
decides to blockade White's queenside pawns but his own a4-pawn can now be
weak.} 33. Qc2 Rc7 $6 {[%mdl 512] This pawn sac to activate pieces is dubious.}
(33... Ra7 $142) 34. Qxa4 c5 35. dxc5 $6 (35. Rc3 $1 cxd4 (35... Kg8 36. dxc5
Rxc5 37. Ned4 $5) 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. Nexd4 Bxd4 38. Nxd4 Qb6 39. Nxf5 $1 (39.
Nxe6 $143 Qxb2 40. Bb3 Rd3) 39... Rd2 40. Rf1 Rxb2 41. Bc4 {and Black has no
sufficient compensation.}) 35... Rxc5 $44 {[%csl Re3] Now Black is fine.} 36.
Rc3 Ne5 37. Ned4 Ng4 $6 (37... Be8 38. Qb3 Rcd5 $44) (37... Nxf3+ $5 38. Nxf3
Rxc3 39. bxc3 Rd2 $1 40. Nxd2 Qxd2 41. Rf1 Qxa2 42. Qb4 Bc7 43. Qe7 Qc4 44.
Qxf7 Bxh2+ 45. Kxh2 Qxf1 {and the endgame should end in a draw.}) 38. h3 $6 {
This leads to complications, which eventually end in a draw.} (38. Qc2 $1 $14 {
kept the better prospects for White.}) 38... Nxf2 $1 39. Kxf2 Ra5 40. Qc2 Rxd4
41. Kf1 Qd7 42. Rc8+ Kh7 43. Qc6 Qd6 44. Qxd6 Rxd6 45. Rf8 Ra7 46. Ne5 Rd2 47.
Re2 Rd1+ 48. Re1 Rd2 49. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Nb6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8.
Rc1 N8d7 (8... Nc6 $1 9. Bb5 e5 {is definitely more active - see opening
database in CBM 119}) 9. a4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (9. Be2 {is quite harmless:} e5
{Or else:} (9... c5 $6 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 (11... Ne5 12. Ncb5 Bd7 13.
Ba5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Nd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Gurevich,D-Sutovsky,E/Rishon Le
Ziyyon 2006/CBM 114 ext (53)}) 12. Ncb5 a6 13. Rxc5 axb5 14. Rxb5 e5 15. Nf3
$16 Rxa2 {0-1 Gurevich,D-Livshits,G/Rishon Le Ziyyon 2006/CBM 114 ext (48)} 16.
Bb4 $18) (9... c6 $5 10. O-O e5 11. Ne4 (11. b4 Re8 12. a4 e4 13. Ne1 Nf6 14.
b5 Bd7 15. a5 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qb3 Bg4 18. Bxg4 Nxg4 19. h3 Nf6 20. Nc2
Qd7 21. Na3 {1/2-1/2 Burger,K-Byrne,D/New York 1969/MCD}) 11... Qe7 12. dxe5
Nxe5 13. Bc3 Rd8 14. Qc2 Bf5 15. Nd4 Bg4 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Nf3 Bxc3 18. Nxc3
Re8 19. Rfd1 Nf6 $11 {0-1 Goehring,K-Gauglitz,G/Germany 1995/GER-chT2 (45)})
10. O-O (10. d5 e4 11. Nxe4 Nxd5 12. Qb3 c6 13. O-O Re8 14. Nd6 Nc5 15. Rxc5
Qxd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Hottes,D-Fritsch,R/Germany 1989/GER-chT2 (23)}) 10... exd4
11. Nxd4 Ne5 (11... c6 $5 12. b4 Re8 13. a4 Ne5 14. Ne4 Nec4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 (
15... Rxe4 $2 16. Bxf7+ $1 $16 {1-0 Smyslov,V-Stein,L/Moskva 1969/Inf 08 (50)})
16. Rxc4 Rxe4 17. Nxc6 Qd5 18. Rxe4 Qxe4 19. Nd4 Bd7 $44) (11... Nf6 12. b4 c6
13. a4 a6 14. Qb3 Qe7 15. Rfd1 Rd8 16. a5 Nbd5 $11 17. Na4 $6 Ne4 18. Be1 Nf4
19. Bf3 Bxd4 20. exd4 Ng5 $40 {0-1 Kholmov,R-Szabo,L/Budapest 1970/MCD (56)})
12. Ne4 Re8 (12... Nd5 13. Qb3 c6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Ng3 f5 16. a3 Kh8 $13 {
0-1 Reisel,F-Fabian,J/Slovakia 1999/EXT 2001 (46)}) (12... Qh4 13. Nc5 (13. f4
$5) 13... Nd5 14. Nf3 Qe7 15. Qb3 c6 16. e4 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 $14 {0-1 Duer,
A-Naumann,A/Linz 2000/EXT 2001 (53)}) 13. Qc2 (13. Nc5 c6 14. b4 Nd5 15. Ncb3
Qe7 16. b5 cxb5 17. Bxb5 Rd8 18. Qc2 Bg4 19. Rfe1 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Uhlmann,
W/Rovinj/Zagreb 1970/Inf 09}) 13... Nd5 14. Rfd1 c6 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qb3 Ng4 17.
Ng3 Bxd4 18. exd4 Qh4 19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. Re1 Bd7 21. Qd3 Qd8 22. a3 {1/2-1/2
Toran Albero,R-Unzicker,W/Palma de Mallorca 1969/MCD}) (9. e4 c5 $5 10. d5 Ne5
11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Be3 e6 13. Bxc5 exd5 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. exd5 Qb4 16. Bd3 Bg4
17. Qb3 Qf4 $44 {0-1 David,V-Le Roux,J/France 2007/CBM 121 Extra (26)}) 9... a5
10. e4 {This is the point! ...c7-c5 will now weaken the b5 square.} e5 (10...
c5 11. d5 {[%csl Rb5]} f5 $6 {is quite dubious.}) 11. d5 c6 {This move is
necessary sooner or later. Black could also start with} (11... Nf6) 12. Bg5 $5
Bf6 $6 (12... Nf6 $1 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Be3 $1 (15. Nxe5 Re8 16.
Nxc6 Bd7 17. Bb5 Nxe4 $44) 15... Nbd7 (15... Rb8 $2 16. Nxe5) 16. Bc4 $14) (
12... f6 $143 13. Be3 $16) 13. Be3 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6]} (13. h4 $5) 13... Qe7 (
13... cxd5 14. exd5 (14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qxd5 Nb8 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Bb6 Re8 18.
Bb5 $36) 14... e4 15. Nxe4 Bxb2 (15... Re8 16. Nc3 $16) 16. Rc2 Bg7 17. Bb5 $16
) 14. d6 Qe6 15. b3 Bg7 16. h4 {After completely tying up Black's pieces White
starts a decisive attack.} f5 {Desperation.} 17. Ng5 Qf6 18. b4 $1 f4 (18...
axb4 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Qxb4 c5 21. Qb3 {and Black has no moves!}) 19. Bxb6 Nxb6
20. bxa5 Nd7 21. a6 $1 Kh8 (21... bxa6 22. Nd5 Qxd6 23. Rxc6 $1 Qa3 24. h5 $18)
22. Nb1 $6 (22. a5 bxa6 23. Na4 {was more natural.}) 22... Bh6 23. Nf3 bxa6 {
Collapsing at once but Black could hardly organize any defense anyway:} (23...
Re8 24. Be2 Re6 (24... Bf8 25. Ng5) 25. axb7 Bxb7 26. Qb3 Bc8 27. Ng5 $1 $18)
24. Rxc6 Bb7 (24... Rb8 25. Nc3) 25. Rc7 Bxe4 26. Rxd7 Qf5 27. Rc7 Bxb1 28. Ng5
$1 Bg7 29. Bc4 Bc2 30. Qd5 h6 31. Rf7 Qc8 32. Rxg7 (32. Rxg7 Kxg7 33. Qxe5+ Rf6
34. Qe7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 Nbd7 7. Bg2 e6 8.
O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. e4 Bh7 12. Bf4 Rc8 {[%cal Yc6c5] This line
is generally quite harmless. Black's strong light-squared bishop guarantees
him good counterplay. Besides 12...Rc8, he can also play} (12... Qb6 13. Qe2
Bb4 14. Ne5 Nxe5 $1 (14... Rfd8 15. a3 Bf8 16. Be3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Gonda,L-Ruck,T/
Zalakaros 2006/EXT 2007 (41)}) 15. Bxe5 Nd7 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. a3 Bf8 18. e5 (18.
Rad1 $5) 18... Qb3 19. Rac1 Red8 $11 {0-1 Joergens,M-Vengels,J/Ruhrgebiet 1996/
EXT 2002 (67)}) 13. Qe2 (13. a3 a5 14. e5 $6 Nb6 15. Qe2 Nfd5 16. Bd2 Nxc3 17.
bxc3 c5 $15 {0-1 Ippolito,D-Arnett,D/New York 1995/EXT 2002 (45)}) (13. Rad1 b5
14. Qb3 b4 15. e5 bxc3 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. bxc3 Nd5 18. Bd2 c5 $132 {0-1
Carrasco Martinez,J-Mirzoev,A/Zafra 2004/CBM 100 ext (48)}) 13... Re8 (13... c5
14. d5 exd5 15. e5 $1 Ne4 16. Nxd5 $14) 14. Rad1 b5 15. a3 a5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17.
Bxe5 Qb6 18. a4 $6 {It was better to wait:} (18. Bf3 b4 $140 19. Na4) 18... Nd7
(18... b4 19. Nb1 c5 {- game} (19... Nd7 20. Nd2)) 19. Bf4 (19. axb5 Nxe5 20.
dxe5 Bb4 $1 21. bxc6 Qxc6 22. Rc1 Qc7 $11) 19... b4 20. Nb1 Nf6 (20... c5 $5)
21. Be5 (21. Nd2 $5 Qxd4 22. Nc4 Qa7 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. Bxd6 $44) 21... c5 $11
22. Nd2 cxd4 23. Nb3 $6 (23. Nc4 $142 Qc5 (23... Qa6 24. b3) 24. Rxd4 Red8 25.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. b3 Nd7 $11) 23... Qc6 $1 24. Qb5 $6 {A wrong change of the pawn
structure.} (24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nxd4 $11 Qxa4 $140 $6 26. b3 Qd7 27. Nb5 Qb7 28.
e5) 24... Qxb5 25. axb5 a4 {These pawns are more dangerous than White's b5
pawn.} 26. Nxd4 Ng4 $1 27. Bf4 g5 28. Bf3 (28. Bc1 Bc5 29. h3 Red8 30. hxg4
Bxd4) 28... Nxf2 $1 29. Kxf2 gxf4 30. Nc6 fxg3+ (30... Bc5+ $5 31. Kg2 Rc7 {
[%cal Rc7b7]} 32. Rc1 Be3 33. Rc4 a3 $36) 31. Kxg3 Bf8 32. Rd7 Bg6 $2 {Chess
is a tragedy of one tempo.} (32... a3 $1 $36 33. bxa3 $140 bxa3 34. Ra1 (34. e5
Bc5) 34... Ra8 35. b6 $140 Ra6) 33. e5 $14 {[%cal Rb5b6] White's b-pawn now
comes first.} Bc5 $6 (33... a3 $142 34. bxa3 b3 $1 (34... bxa3 35. b6) 35. b6
b2 36. b7 b1=Q (36... Rb8 $2 37. Rc7) 37. Rxb1 Bxb1 38. a4 $1 {no hurry to
recapture the rook!} Bc2 $1 (38... Ba2 39. a5 Bc4 40. Bh5 $1 $18) 39. a5 Ba4 $1
40. Ne7+ $1 Bxe7 41. Rxe7 Bb5 42. bxc8=Q Rxc8 43. Rb7 Rc5 {and Black should
survive.}) 34. Rc1 Be3 35. Rc4 (35. Ne7+ $142 Kh7 $1 (35... Kg7 $2 36. Rxc8
Rxc8 37. Nxc8 a3 38. bxa3 b3 (38... bxa3 39. b6 a2 40. Ra7) 39. Nd6 $1 b2 40.
Ne8+ {that's why 35...Kg7 was wrong!} Kf8 41. Nf6 Bb6 42. Rd1 Bc2 43. Nd7+ Ke8
44. Nxb6 Bxd1 45. Be4 $18) 36. Rxc8 Rxc8 37. Nxc8 a3 38. b6 (38. bxa3 {doesn't
work now}) 38... axb2 (38... a2 39. Ra7 b3 40. Bd1 Bc2 41. Rxf7+ Kg8 42. Ra7
Bxd1 43. Ne7+ Kf8 44. Ra8+ Kxe7 45. b7 $18) 39. Rd1 Bxb6 40. Nxb6 b1=Q 41. Rxb1
Bxb1 {and the question whether White can win remains open (I would vote for
the negative answer).}) 35... a3 36. bxa3 bxa3 37. Ra4 (37. Ne7+ Kg7 38. Nxc8
a2 39. Ra4 Rxc8 40. Rxa2 Rc4 $132) 37... Bc5 38. Ra6 a2 $4 {Just giving up the
pawn, which leads to an absolutely hopeless position.} (38... Rb8 39. Nxb8 Rxb8
{was not bad}) ({but the best possibility for Black was} 38... Kg7 39. b6 Bxb6
40. Rxb6 Ra8 41. Rd1 a2 42. Ra1 Ra3 {and White can hardly win.}) 39. Rxa2 Kg7
40. Ra6 Rb8 {Too late!} 41. Nxb8 Rxb8 42. Bc6 h5 43. Ra8 Rb6 44. Rdd8 h4+ 45.
Kf4 Bh7 46. Be4 Be7 47. Rdb8 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5
Nf6 9. c4 b4 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Nc2 Qg6 12. Ne3 Be7 13. g3 Nd4 14. Bg2 Bb7 15.
Nf5 Qxf5 16. exf5 Bxg2 17. Rg1 Bf3 18. Qd3 d5 19. cxd5 Rc8 20. Be3 Nc2+ 21. Kf1
e4 22. Qxa6 O-O 23. Rb1 Nxe3+ 24. fxe3 Rc2 25. h4 Rd8 26. Qb7 Kf8 27. a4 Rd2
28. Rc1 R2xd5 29. Rc8 Rd1+ 30. Kf2 R1d2+ 31. Ke1 Rd1+ 32. Kf2 R1d2+ 33. Ke1
Rd1+ 34. Kf2 R1d2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Guerra Roig, Joan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2078"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 c6 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nd2 e6 5. Ngf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. e4 Qc7 8. Re1
Rd8 9. e5 Nfd7 10. Nf1 c5 11. h4 Nc6 12. Bf4 h5 13. c3 b6 14. Ne3 Bb7 15. d4
cxd4 16. cxd4 Bb4 17. Re2 Nf8 18. Rc2 Rac8 19. Ng5 g6 20. g4 Qd7 21. Rac1 Ne7
22. gxh5 Nf5 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Nxf5 exf5 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Qb3
1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Garcia Jimenez, Francisco Javier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2297"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Ne5 Nc6 5. d4 e6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. c3 Rc8 12. f4 Ne8 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rf3 f6
15. Nd3 Nd6 16. Rh3 b6 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qe2 a5 19. Re1 Rfe8 20. g4 Ne4 21. Re3
Rc7 22. Nf2 f5 23. g5 Qd6 24. Rf3 Rec8 25. Qe3 Bb5 26. Rh3 Ba6 27. Nf3 b5 28.
Nd3 b4 29. Nc5 bxc3 30. bxc3 Bb5 31. Nxe4 dxe4 32. Ne5 Rxc3 33. Qxc3 Rxc3 34.
Rxc3 Qxd4+ 35. Rce3 Qd2 36. a3 a4 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rivas Pastor, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2508"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. d4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Ne4 8.
Qc2 d5 9. O-O O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Nc3 Qe7 12. Rac1 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 c6 14. Ne5
a5 15. Rfe1 Qb4 16. e4 f6 17. Nd3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 dxe4 19. Bxe4 g6 20. Bf3 Nd7
21. Re7 Rf7 22. Re6 Nf8 23. Rd6 Rc8 24. Rb1 Ba6 25. Nf4 Bb5 26. Nd5 cxd5 27.
Rxb5 Kg7 28. Bxd5 Re7 29. c4 Nd7 30. c5 Nb8 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Palac, Mladen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2587"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Nb3 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 Nc8 8. O-O
Ncb6 9. Ne1 Be7 10. Bd3 Bg6 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. Nd3 Nc4 13. Qe2 Qb6 14. c3 a5 15.
Rd1 Qb5 16. g3 a4 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 c5 19. h4 Rc8 20. Be3 cxd4 21. Bxd4 Nb8
22. Qe3 Nc6 23. Bc5 Bxc5 24. Nxc5 O-O 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 O-O 6. O-O e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Rd1 Qe7 9. b3 c5 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Bg5 Nd4 12. Qd3 Bg4 13. Nd5 Qd6 14. Nxd4 cxd4
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. f3 Bc8 17. c3 dxc3 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qxc3 Be6 20. Rd6 Rfd8
21. Rad1 Rac8 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bxe6 Qb6+ 25. Kf1 Qxe6 26. a4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2689"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 d6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. a4 b6 8. Re1
Bb7 9. Bf1 e6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Bh6 Qe7 13. h3 Qf8 14. Bxg7 Qxg7 15.
Rad1 Rad8 16. e5 Nh5 17. Nh2 Qf8 18. Qe3 Ng7 19. g4 f6 20. exd6 cxd6 21. d5 e5
22. Na2 f5 23. Nb4 Rc8 24. Nxa6 Rxc2 25. Nb4 Rc5 26. Bb5 Qf7 27. Bc6 Bc8 28.
Nd3 Rc4 29. b3 Re4 30. Qd2 Rxe1+ 31. Rxe1 Rf8 32. b4 e4 33. Nf4 Ne5 34. g5 Nh5
35. Rd1 Qe7 36. h4 Nxf4 37. Qxf4 Nd3 38. Qe3 Nxb4 39. Qxb6 Nd3 40. Bb5 Nc5 41.
a5 e3 42. Re1 f4 43. a6 Qe5 44. Nf3 Qe4 45. Be2 Bxa6 46. Nh2 exf2+ 47. Kxf2
Qe3+ 48. Kf1 Qh3+ 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Bd3 Bb4+ 8. Nd2
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. a3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Ba2 e5 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6
15. Qh4 Re8 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. Bd2 exd4 18. exd4 Qe2 19. Bc3 Re4 20. Qg5 Rf4 21.
Rd2 Qe7 22. Qa5 Re8 23. Rf1 Bb8 24. d5 b6 25. Qa6 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 cxd5 27. Rxd5
Re4 28. Qb5 h6 29. Qd7 Be5 30. Bxe5 Rxe5 31. Qxe7 R8xe7 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Rd2
Re2 34. Rfd1 Rxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Paunovic, Dragan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 e4 8. Ne5
f5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Nb3 a5 12. Bd2 a4 13. Na5 Bd7 14. Qxa4 Qe8 15.
Qb3 Kh8 16. Nc4 c5 17. Ne3 Nb6 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Qc2 Bd6 20. Rfe1 Qf7 21. Nd1
Rxa2 22. Rxa2 Qxa2 23. Nc3 Qf7 24. Bf4 Bxf4 25. gxf4 h6 26. e3 Be6 27. Nb5 Bc4
28. Nd4 c5 29. Nc6 Nd7 30. Qc3 Bd3 31. Ra1 Qe6 32. Ne5 Nxe5 33. fxe5 c4 34. Qd4
Re8 35. Ra5 Kh7 36. h3 Be2 37. Rd5 Qe7 38. Kh2 Qh4 39. f4 Bf3 40. Qd2 Ra8 41.
Rd7 Ra6 42. Rd6 Ra2 43. Rd8 Bxg2 44. Kxg2 c3 0-1

[Event "Villarrobledo op 23rd"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "2008.08.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2008.08.02"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 a6 7. d3 Bg7 8.
g3 O-O 9. Bg2 Bc6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bf4 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 c6 13. Qb4 Nb6 14. Qb3 a5
15. Be3 Nfd5 16. Bc5 Nd7 17. Ba3 N5b6 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. Ne4 a4 20. Qc2 Nd5 21.
Rac1 Qb6 22. Nc3 Nb4 23. Qd2 e6 24. d4 Red8 25. e3 Nd5 26. Qc2 Nb4 27. Qe2 Nf6
28. Qc4 Bf8 29. Kg2 Qa5 30. Qe2 Nbd5 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. a3 Kg7 33. Na2 Qb6 34.
Rc2 Qb3 35. Nc1 Qb6 36. Nd3 Ra5 37. Rdc1 Raa8 38. Rc4 Qb5 39. Qc2 Ra7 40. Nc5
Rda8 41. e4 Nb6 42. Rb4 Qa5 43. Qc3 Rc8 44. g4 Nfd7 45. h4 Kg8 46. Qe3 e5 47.
Be2 Rd8 48. Qg5 Re8 49. Qe3 Nf6 50. dxe5 Nbd5 51. exd5 Nxd5 52. Qd4 Nxb4 53.
axb4 Qd8 54. Nd7 b6 55. Rd1 c5 56. bxc5 bxc5 57. Qd6 Kh8 58. Bc4 Re7 59. Nf6
Qf8 60. Kg3 Rab7 61. Rd2 Qb8 62. Qxb8+ Rxb8 63. f4 Reb7 64. h5 Rxb2 65. Rd6
R2b7 66. Ra6 Kg7 67. g5 gxh5 68. Nxh5+ Kf8 69. Nf6 Kg7 70. Kg4 Rb4 71. Bd5 Rd4
72. Ra7 Rbb4 73. Rxf7+ Kg6 74. Rf8 Rxf4+ 75. Kg3 Rfd4 76. e6 Rd3+ 77. Bf3 Rbb3
78. Ng4 Kxg5 79. e7 Rxf3+ 80. Rxf3 Rb8 81. Nf6 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
Nd2 a5 9. c4 Nb6 10. Qe4 d5 11. exd6 cxd6 12. Be2 Qxe4 13. Nxe4 Be6 14. c5 dxc5
15. Be3 Nd5 16. Bxc5 Nf4 17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. g3 Nxe2 19. Kxe2 Re8 20. f3 Bd5 21.
Kf2 Bxe4 22. fxe4 Rxe4 23. Rac1 Ke7 24. Rxc6 Rd8 25. Rc2 Rd5 26. Rhc1 Rf5+ 27.
Kg2 h5 28. Rc7+ Kf6 29. R1c6+ Re6 30. b3 g5 31. Rxe6+ fxe6 32. Rc2 Ke7 33. Rd2
g4 34. h3 gxh3+ 35. Kxh3 Kf6 36. g4 hxg4+ 37. Kxg4 Rb5 38. Kf4 a4 39. bxa4 Ra5
40. Ke3 Rxa4 41. Rb2 Kf5 42. Rf2+ Ke5 43. Kd3 Kd5 44. Rb2 Ra3+ 45. Rb3 Rxb3+
46. axb3 Kc5 47. Ke4 Kb4 48. Ke5 Kxb3 49. Kxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2 Nbd7 11. Bd3 Be7 12. O-O-O a5 13. Kb1 Qa6 14. Ne2 a4
15. Qc2 dxc4 16. Bxc4 b5 17. Bd3 c5 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Nd4 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Rh5 21.
Rc1 Rd5 22. e4 Rd7 23. e5 Rad8 24. Be3 Nd5 25. Nc6 Nb4 26. Nxb4 Bxb4 27. Qe4
Bd2 28. Qh4 Bxe3 29. fxe3 b4 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qxg7 a3 32. Qf6+ Kf8 33. Qh8+ Ke7
34. Qh4+ Ke8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qh4+ Ke8 37. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg3 c5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. e4 (13. Rc1 {
- see Gelashvili-Lputian in CBM 104.}) (13. Qe2) 13... Bb7 14. Rc1 a6 $5 $146 {
[%cal Rb6b5][%mdl 8] Veselin Topalov deviates from his own game against
Kasimdzhanov.} (14... Nf6 {is usually played, with quite a decent position for
Black:} 15. Qe2 (15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Qe2 Nh5 17. Be5 a5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. a3 Rfd8
20. h3 Nf6 21. Nd2 a4 22. Bb1 Rac8 23. Nf3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 {1/2
Kasimdzhanov,R (2690)-Topalov,V (2769)/Vitoria Gasteiz 2007/CBM 121 (46)})
15... Nh5 (15... Rc8 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Rxc5 Bxc5 18. Bh4 Qc7 19. Bxf6 gxf6 $13
{0-1 Simeonidis,I (2261)-Kosintseva,N (2480)/Kusadasi 2006/CBM 111 ext (28)})
16. Rfd1 Nxg3 17. hxg3 cxd4 18. Ba6 Bxa6 19. Qxa6 Rc8 $11 ({but not} 19... e5
$2 20. Nxe5 Bf6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22. e5 $16 {1-0 Danner,G (2408)-Upton,T (2250)/
Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109 (48)})) (14... cxd4 $143 15. Bc7 Qe8 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17.
Bb5 Qc8 18. Be5 f6 19. Bf4 $14 {1-0 Banikas,H (2571)-Tassopoulos,M (2271)/
Kallithea Halkidiki GRE 2008/The Week in Chess 714 (24)}) 15. b4 {Hardly a
successful attempt to refute Black's last move.} (15. Re1 b5 16. d5 exd5 (16...
c4 $5 $13) 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxd5 Nf6 20. Qxd8 Bxd8 21. Rxc5 Bb6
22. Rc6 Nd5 $11) 15... cxb4 16. Bc7 $6 {White's compensation for the pawn will
now be insufficient.} (16. Rc7 $142 Ra7 $1 {[%cal Yd7f6,Yf6e8]} (16... Rb8 $143
17. Qe2 Nf6 18. Rfc1 $44) 17. Bxa6 (17. Qe2 $143 Nf6 18. Be5 Ne8 19. Rc2 Nd6
20. Rfc1 Nb5 $1 $15) 17... Rxa6 18. Rxb7 Rxa2 19. Qb1 Ra8 20. Rc1 $44) 16...
Qe8 17. Qe2 b5 18. Ba5 Rc8 19. Qb2 Nf6 {[%mdl 32] This game perfectly
illustrates the situation when a "strong pawn centre" is rather weak!} 20. Rxc8
Qxc8 21. Nd2 $2 {After this mistake Black keeps his material advantage but
White had no equality after the best} (21. Re1 Qc3 $1 (21... Qa8 $143 22. Nd2)
22. Qxc3 bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rc8 24. Bd2 b4 $15 {[%csl Gb4,Re4]}) 21... Qc3 $1 22.
Qxc3 bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rc8 24. Ba5 (24. Bb2 Bb4 25. Rd1 Bxd2 26. Rxd2 Bxe4 $19) (
24. Rc1 Bb4 25. Nb1 Bxe4 $19) 24... Bd8 $1 25. Bxd8 (25. Bb4 Bb6 {[%csl Rd4]})
25... Rxd8 26. Rd1 Rxd4 {and Black gradually brings home his extra pawn:} 27.
Nb3 Rd8 28. f3 Kf8 29. Kf2 Nd7 30. Be2 Ke7 31. Na5 Ba8 32. Rc1 Kd6 33. Ke3 Nb6
34. f4 Rc8 35. Rxc8 Nxc8 36. Kd4 Ne7 37. Bf3 Kc7 38. Nb3 Kb6 39. Ke5 $6 {
desperation} Ng6+ 40. Kd6 Nxf4 41. Nc5 (41. Ke7 f5 $1 42. exf5 Bxf3 43. gxf3
exf5 $19) 41... b4 42. h4 a5 43. g3 Nh3 44. Nd7+ Ka7 45. Kc5 f5 46. Kb5 fxe4
47. Bh5 e3 48. Kxa5 g6 49. Bg4 h5 50. Be2 Ng1 51. Bf1 e2 52. Bxe2 Nxe2 53. Nf8
Be4 54. Nxe6 Nxg3 55. Nf4 Kb7 56. Kxb4 Kc6 0-1

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 {This pawn
sacrifice appears regularly in top level tournaments. At first sight it does
not look very promising. However, practice shows time after time that Black
can experience difficulties as he is behind in development.} exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5
9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Qc8 {Defending the Bb7. Anand had already played this
position just a few weeks beforehand.} 11. a3 {Covering the b4-square against
a possible knight move. This quiet move is White's last word in this
fashionable variation.} (11. e4 Nc7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. e5 Ne6 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
Rxd5 Nc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2775)-Anand,V (2798)/Mainz GER 2008/The Week
in Chess 717 (33)}) ({Also seen in practice is:} 11. Bg5) (11. Nh4 Bxh4 12.
Rxd5 {but, didn't yield White any advantage.}) 11... Nf6 12. Bg5 $1 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Another fine novelty from the "Topalov team kitchen". White is
intending to exchange on f6 before Black's queenside kinight is developed to
d7.} (12. Nc3 d5 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. e4 d4 15. e5 Nxe5 $1 ({After} 15... dxc3 $2
16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Re1 {Black's king will be stuck in the centre.}) 16. Nxe5
Bxg2 17. Qa4+ Nd7 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. Re1 Nxe5 20. Rxe5+ Kf8 21. Kxg2 dxc3 22.
bxc3 g6 23. Rae1 Kg7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2788)-Leko,P (2741)/Moscow RUS 2008/
The Week in Chess 720 (28). ... and White's compensation was sufficient only
for equality.}) 12... d5 $6 {Taking into account what happened in the game
later, it is easy say that this move is the source for Black's troubles.} (
12... O-O 13. Nc3 h6 14. Bf4 (14. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 15. Nb5 Nc6 16. Nd6 Qc7 {
is not dangerous for Black.}) 14... Nc6 {might be an improvement for Black.
Without any doubt, the theoretical discussion in this line will continue.}) 13.
Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 14. Nc3 Bxc3 (14... d4 $2 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxd4 $1 cxd4 17. Qxc8+
Bxc8 18. Nd2 $18 {[%csl Ra8]}) (14... Qe6 $2 15. Nxd5 $1 Bxd5 16. Ng5 Bb3 17.
Nxe6 Bxc2 18. Rd2 {and White wins material.}) 15. bxc3 Na6 $1 (15... O-O 16.
Ng5 g6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 {with a long-lasting initiative.}) 16. Nh4 g6 (
16... Qe6 $6 17. Nf5 O-O-O (17... O-O 18. c4 $16) 18. Nxg7 Qf6 19. Nf5 Nc7 20.
a4 $16 {[%cal Ga4a5]}) 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 {White has got back the pawn and
has a long-lasting initiative thanks to the activity of this pieces. Another
factor is that Black's king is less protected compared to his counterpart.
Still, Black's position is defendable.} O-O 19. Rad1 Nc7 {Transferring the
knight to e6.} 20. Rd7 Ne6 21. Qe4 (21. Qa4 c4 22. Rxa7 Nc5 23. Rxa8 Nxa4 24.
Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rc1 Ra8 $44) 21... Qe8 $2 {This move is already a critical
mistake. Instead of this, Black had two playable options.} (21... c4 22. Qf3
Qc5 23. Ng2 Rae8 (23... Qxa3 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Qxa8+ Nf8 26. Ne3 Qxc3 27. Qd5 {
Black's queenside pawns would definitely decide the game in the event of an
exchange of queens. Meanwhile, White is in possession of an initiative.}) 24.
Ne3 (24. Rxa7 $4 Ng5 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gg5h3,Gg5f3]} 25. Qg4 (25. Qf6 Re6 $19)
25... h5 $19) 24... Ng5 25. Qd5 Qxd5 26. R1xd5 Ne4 27. Rd4 Nxc3 28. Rxc4 Rc8 {
and Black should hold the endgame.} (28... Nxe2+ $4 29. Kf1 $18 {[%csl Re2]}))
(21... Nd4 22. Qe7 Nc6 23. Qf6 Nd4 24. Re7 Qc6 (24... Nc6 25. Nxg6 $1 hxg6 26.
Re4 {[%cal Ge4h4,Gh4h8]} Qf5 $8 27. Qxc6 $16) 25. Qg5 Ne6 26. Qe5 Rad8 {
and Black is only slightly worse.}) 22. Nf3 c4 (22... Nd4 23. Ne5 Nc6 24. f4
Nxe5 25. fxe5 Qe6 26. R1d6 Qh3 27. Rc7 {[%cal Gd6d7]} Rae8 28. Rxa7 {Black is
pawn down in a worse position. Nevertheless, this was the least of the evils
for him.}) 23. Qh4 $1 {This move is even stronger than the capture of Pc4.
White's attack is very strong.} (23. Qxc4 Nc5 $16) 23... Nc5 (23... Rd8 24. Ne5
{[%cal Ge5g4,Gg4f6]} h5 25. Qf6 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 {with total domination. One of
the threats is 27.Re7 followed by 28.Nxg6+-.}) 24. Re7 Rd8 (24... Qa4 25. Rd6
$1 Qc2 (25... Qxa3 26. Ng5 h5 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Qxc4+ Kh8 29. Rh7#) 26. Ng5
h5 27. Rf6 $18 {[%csl Rf7]}) 25. Rf1 $1 {A crushing defeat for Vishy Anand.} ({
Black resigned in view of the following variation:} 25. Rf1 Qc6 26. Ng5 h5 27.
Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Qxd8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 exf5 8.
a3 Be7 9. Bg5 c6 10. e3 Be6 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Bc4 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Bxd5
cxd5 15. f3 Rhc8 16. Kf2 Rc6 17. a4 Rb6 18. Ra2 a5 19. b3 Rc8 20. Ne2 Nb8 21.
Rc1 Rbc6 22. Rxc6 Rxc6 23. Nb1 Na6 24. Na3 Nb4 25. Rd2 b6 26. Nb5 Bd7 27. h3 h6
28. h4 g6 29. f4 Rc8 30. Nbc3 Kd6 31. Na2 Na6 32. Nec3 Nc7 33. Rc2 Ne8 34. Nb5+
Ke7 35. Rxc8 Bxc8 36. Nbc3 Nf6 37. b4 Ba6 38. b5 Bc8 39. Nc1 h5 40. N1e2 Kd6
41. g3 Ne4+ 42. Ke1 Be6 43. Kf1 Bc8 44. Ke1 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E74"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Be2 {The Averbakh system
is a rare guest in top tournaments nowadays but in this game Black fails to
equalize.} c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 h6 9. Be3 e6 10. Nf3 (10. Qd2 {is another option.
GM Teimour Radjabov faced it in the following game:} exd5 11. exd5 Kh7 12. h3
Re8 13. Bd3 Qa5 $6 (13... Nh5) 14. Nf3 b5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Bxb5 Bd7 17. O-O
Ne4 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Qxa5 Rxa5 20. Bd2 Bxb5 21. Bxa5 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 $16 {
1/2 Grischuk,A (2717)-Radjabov,T (2747)/Odessa 2007/CBM 119 (85)}) 10... exd5
11. cxd5 (11. exd5 Bf5 12. O-O Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ra3 a5 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16.
Rxd3 {1/2 Dorfman,J (2584)-Nataf,I (2588)/Aix-les-Bains 2007/CBM 120}) 11...
Bg4 (11... Ng4 $6 12. Bf4 Qf6 13. Bg3 Nd7 14. O-O Qe7 15. Nd2 Ngf6 16. Qc2 (16.
h3 $1 $16) 16... Ne5 17. f4 $6 Neg4 $132 {1/2 Mont Reynaud,J (2282)-Pavlovic,M
(2481)/Internet ICC 2000/EXT 2001 (60)}) 12. Nd2 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Re8 14. O-O Nbd7
$14 {[%mdl 32] White has a space advantage but how to make use of it? Black
applies tactics which are quite unusual for the Modern Benoni structure: he
just waits! However, that enables White to prepare an attack.} 15. h3 Nh5 16.
a5 Rb8 17. Ra4 Ne5 18. Kh2 Qe7 19. g3 Nd7 20. Kg2 Kh7 21. Qd1 Kg8 22. Qc2 Rbc8
23. Re1 Kh7 24. f4 Qd8 25. Nf3 Rb8 26. g4 Nhf6 27. Bf2 Ng8 28. g5 b5 {Finally
starting counterplay.} 29. axb6 Rxb6 30. Re2 h5 (30... Ne7 $5 {although it
doesn't prevent} 31. gxh6 Bxh6 32. e5 $36) 31. e5 $1 {This break in the centre
is quite common but White should mind the f5 square here.} Ne7 (31... dxe5 32.
f5 $1 $16 {- a typical idea.}) 32. Rae4 (32. e6 $5 fxe6 33. dxe6 Nf8 34. Nh4 {
taking the important point under control}) 32... dxe5 (32... Nf5 33. e6 fxe6
34. dxe6 Nb8 (34... Nf8 35. Nd5 Rxb2 36. Qd3 Rxe2 37. Qxe2) 35. Nd5 Rxb2 36.
Qa4 $16) 33. fxe5 Nf5 34. Na4 {Probably wrong!} (34. Qd2 $142 {keeping all
possibilities (e6, d6, Na4)}) 34... Rb4 35. e6 fxe6 36. dxe6 Nf8 37. Nxc5 (37.
Rxb4 cxb4 38. Qc4 Qd6 39. Nc5 Qc6 {and it is difficult for White to make any
progress.}) 37... Rxb2 38. Qc4 (38. Qa4 Rxe2 39. Rxe2 Qa8 40. Qe4 Qxe4 41. Rxe4
a5 42. Be1 a4 43. Bb4 {is the maximum White can achieve. He has a strong
passed pawn (while Black's passed pawn is stopped); Black's f8-knight is
paralysed. However, what to do next? It the white king goes to e1, Black
replies ...Ng3 and draws.}) 38... Rxe2 (38... Nd6 39. Qd3 Nxe4 40. Qxd8 Rxd8
41. Rxe4 {[%cal Re6e7]}) 39. Rxe2 a5 40. Qb5 Qc8 41. Qxa5 {Practically forcing
a draw. The remaining moves could be spared.} Nxe6 42. Nxe6 Rxe6 43. Rxe6 Qxe6
44. Qc7 Ne7 45. Qb6 Qf5 46. Bg3 Qe4 47. Qa7 Qc2+ 48. Qf2 Qc6 49. Qe2 Nf5 50.
Bf2 Qd5 51. Qd2 Qb7 52. Qd3 Be5 53. Qd2 Bd6 54. Qc1 Be7 55. Qd2 Qc6 56. Qf4 Qd5
57. Qc7 Qe4 58. Qd7 Nd6 59. Qa7 Nf5 60. Qd7 Qe2 61. Qa7 Kg7 62. Qa1+ Kg8 63.
Qa8+ Kf7 64. Qd5+ Kg7 65. Kg1 Bd6 66. Bd4+ Nxd4 67. Qxd4+ Kh7 68. Qxd6 Qxf3 69.
Qe7+ Kg8 70. Qe8+ Kg7 71. Qe7+ Kg8 72. Qe8+ Kg7 73. Qe7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 O-O {This is the
most solid continuation.} ({If Black is in an aggressive mood, he can try} 6...
c5 7. dxc5 d4 {the line that I investigated in CBM 122.}) 7. Nf3 dxc4 8. Qxc4
b6 9. g3 {To my surprise, there are only few games that went this way.
Objectively, this continuation is not that promising for White.} ({More common
continuations are:} 9. Bg5) (9. Bf4) 9... Ba6 (9... Bb7 10. Bg2 Bd5 11. Qc2
Nbd7 12. O-O (12. b4 $5) 12... c5 13. Bg5 Rc8 14. Qa4 Bc6 15. Qc4 h6 16. Bxf6
Qxf6 $11 {1-0 Ivanov,S (2538)-Beliavsky,A (2618)/Vrnjacka Banja 1999/EXT 2000 
(41)}) 10. Qc2 (10. Qa4 Qd5 $6 {Too risky.} (10... Bb7 $142 11. Bg2 Nbd7 {
[%cal Gc7c5]}) 11. Bg2 Bb5 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. Be3 Na5 14. b4 Nc4 15. Nh4 Nxe3 16.
fxe3 $16 {[%csl Ra8][%cal Gg2a8] 1-0 Riazantsev,A (2594)-Berkovich,M (2392)/
Cappelle la Grande 2006/CBM 110 ext (27)}) 10... Nbd7 11. Bg2 c5 12. b4 {
This move restricts Black's knight and prepares the fianchetto of the
dark-squared bishop, according to circumstances.} (12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4 Rc8
$11 {Now 14.Qa4 would be met by 14...Nc5.}) 12... Rc8 {In an interview after
the game Aronian criticized this move and suggested 12...Qc8 as an improvement.
I think that this move is not the reason for Topalov's troubles in this game.}
(12... Qc8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Be3 cxb4 15. Qxc8 Rfxc8 16. Nd4 Nd5 17. Bxd5 exd5
18. axb4 Bc4 19. Kd2 $14) (12... cxd4 $5 {This looks a bit unhuman but, the
following variations confirm that Black's position is perfectly playable.} 13.
Nxd4 Rc8 14. Qa4 (14. Qd1 Nd5 15. Bb2 (15. Bxd5 exd5 16. b5 Bb7 17. O-O Rc4 18.
Bb2 Nc5 $11) 15... Ne5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bxe5 Qg5 18. Qd4 (18. Bb2 $2 Nf4 $1)
18... Rc4 19. Qb2 Rfc8 20. O-O Rc2 $44) 14... Ne5 15. Bb2 Bc4 16. Rd1 (16. Qxa7
$4 Bd5 $19 {[%csl Ra7,Rg2][%cal Rc8a8]}) 16... Qe7 17. O-O Bd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5
$11) 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. dxc5 bxc5 ({It was a bit more precise to include an
intermediate move before recapturing Pc5:} 14... Bc6 15. Qb3 bxc5) 15. O-O a6
$6 {This move is not necessary. It was more useful to develop the queen.} (
15... Qb6 16. Be3 Rfd8 17. Rab1 Bc6 18. b5 Be4 19. Rb2 Qb7 {and Black is not
worse.}) 16. Rd1 Nd5 $6 (16... Nb6 $1 17. Qb3 (17. Rxd8 Nxa4 18. Rxc8 Rxc8 19.
bxc5 Nxc5 $11) 17... Bd5 18. Qd3 cxb4 19. axb4 Bc4 20. Qc2 Nbd5 $1 {This is
tactically justified.} 21. e4 $140 $2 Bb5 $1 22. Qb1 Nc3 $1 23. Rxd8 Rfxd8 24.
Qb3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxc1 26. Qa3 Rd1+ 27. Ng1 Nd3 $1 {with a big storm in White's
camp.}) 17. Bg5 (17. Bb2 $143 Qe7 {[%csl Rb4]}) 17... Qe8 {The alternative 17..
.f6 was a concession that White wanted to provoke.} 18. Bd2 N5b6 (18... Qe7 19.
Rac1 h6 20. e4 N5b6 21. Qa5 Bxe4 22. Qxa6 $14 Ra8 $2 23. Qe2 Bd5 (23... Bb7 24.
bxc5 Nxc5 25. Bb4 $18) 24. bxc5 Nxc5 25. Bb4 Rfc8 26. Qe3 Nc4 27. Rxc4 Bxc4 28.
Nd2 $18 {[%csl Ra8,Rc4,Rc5]}) 19. Qc2 $1 $16 {After numerous inaccuracies
Topalov has landed in a difficult position. At the moment White is threatening
20.Ng5.} Nf6 (19... cxb4 {This tempting move does not help Black.} 20. Qb1 {
[%cal Gf3g5]} Bxf3 21. Bxf3 bxa3 22. Bb4 $16) (19... f5 $5 {is ugly but, at
least it could keep the material balance. After the move in the text Black
loses a pawn.}) 20. bxc5 Be4 21. Qb3 Na4 22. Bb4 a5 (22... Nxc5 23. Qe3 Ng4 24.
Qd4 e5 25. Qc4 {and Black loses material.}) 23. Bxa5 Nxc5 24. Qb2 Na4 25. Qd4
Qb5 26. Bb4 Rfe8 27. Qe5 Qb7 (27... Qxe2 $2 28. Nd4 Qc4 29. Bxe4 Nxe4 30. Qxe4
e5 31. Rac1 Qxc1 32. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kg2 Rc4 34. Qd5 Rxd4 35. Qc6 $18 {[%csl
Ra4,Re8]}) 28. Rac1 {So, Black lost a pawn without any compensation.} h6 29. h3
Bd5 30. Qa1 Ne4 31. Rxc8 {In general, piece exchanges are welcome for the side
that has the material advantage.} Rxc8 32. Rc1 Rxc1+ 33. Qxc1 Qa7 34. Qc8+ Kh7
35. e3 Nxg3 $1 {Good practical chance but insufficient.} 36. Nd4 $1 Ne4 (36...
Bxg2 37. Kxg2 Nf5 (37... Nh5 $2 38. Nb5 Qb6 39. Qc2+ f5 40. Qxa4 Qc6+ 41. Kh2
$18) (37... Ne4 $2 38. Nc6 Qb6 39. Ne7 {[%cal Gc8g8]} Nf6 $8 40. Qc2+ $18 {
[%cal Gc2a4,Gc2h7]}) 38. Nxf5 exf5 39. Qxf5+ g6 40. Qd5 $18) 37. Qc2 f5 38.
Nxe6 Bxe6 39. Bxe4 Qf7 40. Bg2 {After a short tactical melee the position has
become stable again. White's extra pawn should decide the outcome in his
favour. He only has to be a bit careful about his king. The process of
converting the advantage into a full point was performed convincingly by Levon.
} Nb6 41. Qc5 Nd5 42. Qf8 Qh5 43. Qd6 Bf7 44. Qe5 Nf6 45. f3 Qg6 46. a4 f4 47.
exf4 Qb1+ 48. Qe1 Qa2 49. a5 Bg6 50. Bf1 Nd5 51. Bd2 {White's bishops are
excellent.} Qa4 52. a6 Nxf4 53. Bxf4 Qxf4 54. a7 Qa4 55. Qf2 Qa1 56. Kh2 Qa4
57. Bc4 $1 Qa5 58. Qa2 (58. Qa2 Qe5+ 59. Kh1 Qe1+ 60. Kg2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {One of the theoretical
highlights of year 2008 has undoubtedly been the appearance of the Dragon
Sicilian on the highest level. This happened thanks to efforts of Magnus
Carlsen, who starting with the tournament in Baku (April 2008) fearlessly
implemented the Dragon against 1.e4 in almost all his Black games. The
Norwegian found new ideas and came with a fresh look at many Sicilian Dragon
positions. In this extremely important game (a direct fight for the tournament
victory in the Grand Slam Final) Magnus remains true to his style and goes for
the Dragon again.  On the other side Veselin Topalov shouldn't be invited
twice to challenge his opponents in principled opening variations. The
Bulgarian goes for what represents the most critical variation of the Sicilian
Dragon these days.} 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 ({
At this moment "the Chinese Variation" -} 10... Rb8 {is a worthy alternative
to the main 10...Rc8. Its theory's development still has a long way before
coming to sensible conclusions.}) 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 {About ten years ago
this strong waiting move, useful in many further complications, started
quickly to gain popularity and meanwhile became White's main weapon against
the Dragon. Black's problem is that all active moves have certain drawbacks.} (
12. g4 b5 $1 {[%csl Rf3]}) 12... a6 {This is one of Magnus' amazing findings
in the Dragon. The modest advance of the a-pawn used to have a very bad
reputation: those players who tried 12...a6 in the past (also including GMs)
were simply swept away in those games. This is explained by the fact that
White starts a direct attack next and the move 12...a6 usually turns out to be
a loss of tempo. Certainly Carlsen analyzed and tested the position a lot and
must have come to the surprising conclusion that Black has sufficient
potential for defence and counterplay.  We'll see that actually the Norwegian
wonderboy might be right - Black's position has indeed many hidden resources.
But there is still a big problem: now even a small inaccuracy in defence from
Black can easily be fatal. Thus in order to play well the resulting positions
both sides (and especially Black) need the precision of a computer.} ({
Practice has shown that White retains better prospects after the more active
moves:} 12... a5 13. a4) (12... b5 13. Ndxb5) (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. g4
b5 {Comparied to 12.g4 b5, here the f3-pawn is not under attack and White can
take on b5:} 15. b3 $1 Rc8 16. Ndxb5 {Theeory has established that Black has
serious problems here.}) ({In the past decade Black's main reply has become
the defensive waiting move:} 12... Re8) 13. h4 ({In the second round of the
same tournament (a week prior to the present game) Ivanchuk against Carlsen
continued} 13. Rhe1 {Surprisingly, this move required from the Ukrainian
around 40 minutes of thinking over the board.  Then after} b5 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15.
Qxh6 {instead of the typical, but rather questionable exchange sacrifice on c3,
Black had the attractive possibility} a5 (15... Rxc3 16. bxc3 a5 17. f4 Neg4
18. Qh4 a4 19. Bxf7+ {In the game the following wild complications lead to a
draw, but there are possibilities to improve:} Rxf7 20. e5 Nd5 21. e6 Nxc3+ 22.
Kc1 ({White has the advantage after} 22. Ka1 $1 Bxe6 23. Nxe6 Qc8 24. Rd4 Nxa2
25. Qh3 $1 Qxc2 26. Qf3) 22... Bxe6 23. Nxe6 Qa5 24. Qxg4 Nxa2+ 25. Kb2 Qc3+
26. Kxa2 Qxc2+ 27. Ka1 Qc3+ 28. Kb1 Qb3+ 29. Ka1 Qc3+ {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V 
(2781)-Carlsen,M (2775)/Bilbao 2008}) 16. Ndxb5 Bxb5 17. Nxb5 a4 18. Bxa4 (18.
Bd5 Qb6 19. Nd4 Rc5 $40) 18... Qa5 19. b3 Rc5 $44) 13... h5 14. g4 hxg4 15. h5
Nxh5 16. Rdg1 {The most critical position of the line 12.Kb1 these days.} Rc5
$146 {Carlsen doesn't wait for Topalov to demonstrate his preparation and
instead comes up with a good novelty. The queen is kept on d8 for defence.} ({
Previously} 16... Qa5 {was played:} 17. Bh6 Bf6 $5 (17... Rxc3 $2 {turned out
to lose right away in the rapid game Anand-Carlsen, Mainz 2008:} 18. Bxg7 Kxg7
19. Rxh5 $1 $18) (17... Rc5 {is the position which could also arise in the
main game, see 17...Qa5 instead of 17...Kh7.} 18. Rh4 Nxf3 19. Nxf3 Bxc3 20.
bxc3 Qxc3 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. Bxf8 Kxf8) 18. fxg4 Bxg4 {and now instead of
accepting the positional exchange sacrifice White must disturb the stability
of the black pieces on the kingside with the surprising} 19. Bf4 {which leads
to advantage.} (19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Qe3 Rxc3 21. Qxc3 (21. bxc3 $5) 21... Qxc3
22. bxc3 e6 {0-1 Karjakin,S (2727)-Radjabov,T (2744)/Sochi 2008 (52). offered
Black excellent compensation for two exchanges.})) (16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18.
fxg4 Nf6 19. Nf5 $1 $40) 17. Bh6 ({The immediate} 17. f4 $5 {was an
interesting alternative:} Nc4 18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. f5 e5 ({After} 19... Nf6 20.
Bh6 $1 {Black probably must play the dubious position by retreating the bishop
to h8, since} ({Not} 20. fxg6 $2 fxg6 $17) 20... Nxe4 21. Nxe4 {wins for White:
} Rxd4 (21... Bxd4 22. f6 $1 $18) 22. Qh2 $18) (19... Qa5 20. Rxg4 Rxc3 (20...
Rfc8 21. Rxh5 $1 Rxc3 (21... gxh5 22. Rg1 $18) 22. bxc3 {is the same}) 21. bxc3
Rc8 22. Rxh5 Rxc3 $1 (22... gxh5 23. Rg1 $18) (22... Qxc3 23. Rh2 $18) 23. Rh2
Qb6+ 24. Kc1 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Qxd4 $14 (25... Bxd4 26. Qb3 $14)) 20. fxe6 fxe6 21.
Rxg4 Qf6 22. Nde2 $44) 17... Kh7 $1 {Forcing the exchange of bishops on g7
reduces White's attacking potential (apart from gaining more air for the king,
the rook will be able to go to h8 and the pawn on g6 won't be pinned anymore).}
({After other moves Black is in troubles:} 17... Qa5 18. Rh4 $1 Nxf3 19. Nxf3
gxf3 ({Better is to exchange queens with} 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxc3 21. Qxc3
Rxc3 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 {even if after} 23. Ng5 {There is no question about White's
advantage. E.g.} Kg7 24. Bxf7 Kf6 25. e5+ $1 Kxg5 26. e6 Bxe6 27. Bxe6 Nf6 (
27... Kxh4 28. Rxg4+ Kh3 29. Rc4+ $18) 28. Rh2 $16) 20. Rxg6 $18) (17... b5 18.
Nd5 $16 e6 $140 19. fxg4 Nxg4 20. Rxg4 exd5 21. Nf5 $18) ({The positional
exchange sacrifice is not sufficient here:} 17... Bf6 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 (18... Qxf8
19. Nd5 Bg7 20. fxg4 Bxg4 21. Qg5 $40) 19. fxg4 Bxg4 20. Nd5 {An important
resource. With the queen on a5 (as in Karjakin-Radjabov, see 16...Qa5) White
can't play this.} Bg7 21. Ne3 Bd7 22. Nef5 $36) ({Or} 17... Bh8 18. fxg4 Bxg4
19. Bxf8 Qxf8 (19... Kxf8 20. Qf2 $16) 20. Rh4 $36) 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f4 ({
Again White had an interesting alternative:} 19. fxg4 {after which Black needs
to play extremely precisely:} Nxg4 (19... Bxg4 $2 20. Rxh5 gxh5 (20... Bxh5 21.
Nf5+ $18) 21. Nf5+ Kf6 22. Qh6+ Ng6 23. Nh4 $18) 20. Nd5 (20. Nf5+ {looks less
attractive to me} Rxf5 $5 (20... Bxf5 21. exf5 Ngf6 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Qg2 Nf4
24. Qxb7 $13) 21. exf5 Bxf5 $13) 20... Rh8 21. Nf5+ Bxf5 (21... gxf5 $2 22.
Qg5+ $18) 22. exf5 Nhf6 23. Rxh8 Qxh8 24. fxg6 fxg6 {Strangely enough, Black
seems to keep the balance here:} 25. Nf4 ({After} 25. Nxe7 Re5 26. Qxd6 {
a possible variation is} Qf8 27. Be6 Ne4 28. Qd7 Nc5 29. Nxg6+ Kxg6 30. Rxg4+
Kf6 31. Rf4+ Kg5 {with a draw due to the back rank weakness.}) 25... Re5 26.
Ne6+ Kg8 {and the analysis shows that White has little better than repeating
moves. However, for the Black side to evaluate correctly such a position and
find all this over the board is far from easy.} 27. Nf4+ Kg7 28. Ne6+ Kg8 $11)
({With the king on g7 the move} 19. Rh4 $2 {is just bad, since after} Nxf3 ({or
} 19... e6 {[%cal Gd8h4]}) 20. Nxf3 gxf3 {pawn g6 is protected (unlike in the
variation 17...Qa5 18.Rh4).}) 19... Nc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. f5 e5 $1 (21... Rh8 {
offers White nice compensation for the pawn:} 22. Rxg4 e5 (22... Nf6 23. Rgh4
$16) (22... Qb6 23. Nce2 $16) 23. fxe6 Bxe6 (23... fxe6 24. Rhg1 Rh6 25. e5 $1
$18) 24. Nxe6+ fxe6 25. Qg2 (25. Rhg1 Rh6 26. Qg2 Qe8 {and Black holds somehow}
) 25... Rh6 (25... Qf6 $2 26. e5 $18) 26. Ne2 $44) 22. Nde2 ({Black is doing
fine after} 22. fxe6 fxe6 23. Nde2 (23. Rxg4 $2 e5 24. Nf5+ (24. Rxh5 Rf1+ 25.
Nd1 Bxg4 26. Qh6+ Kf7 $19) 24... Bxf5 25. Rxh5 Bxg4 26. Qh6+ Kf7 27. Qh7+ Ke8
28. Qxg6+ Kd7 29. Qxg4+ Kc6 {and the king successfully escapes}) 23... e5 24.
Qxd6 Qe8 {with at least equal play}) 22... Rh8 {Again the only move to keep
the position alive. Black must cover the h6-square in order to retreat the
knight after the coming Rxg4.} 23. b3 {Before taking on g4 White must drive
his opponent's rook away from the fourth rank.} ({After the immediate} 23. Rxg4
{Black exploitss the pin on the e-pawn:} Bxf5) (23. Qxd6 {leads to a good
endgame for Black:} Bc6 24. Qxe5+ Qf6 25. Qxf6+ Nxf6 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. e5 Ne4
$15) 23... Rc6 $2 {Up till now Carlsen has defended very well, but now he
makes a mistake, which is enough to lose such dangerous positions.} ({The only
move was} 23... Rc8 $1 {Protecting once again square h8 was more important
than defending pawn d6.} 24. Rxg4 (24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qxd6 Qe8 $13) 24... Nf6
25. Rgg1 ({After} 25. Rxh8 Qxh8 26. Rg1 {Black can already consider} Rc6 {
since the plan Ng3 and Rh1 is no longer dangerous due to the possibility to
activate the queen:} 27. Ng3 (27. Qe1 Qh5 28. Rh1 Qg5) 27... Qh6 $13) 25... Qe7
{Black rooks are connected and although White has compensation for the pawn
thanks to the pressure on the open files, the position remains balanced:} 26.
Ng3 Rxh1 27. Rxh1 Rh8 $13 {Thus we can conclude that with the correct 23...Rc8
Black would have kept a playable position.}) 24. Rxg4 {White's main idea is to
pin the knight (Rgh4), then continue Nd5, after which Black will find himself
almost in zugzwang. Therefore Black must retreat the knight, but then White
takes control over the h-file...} Nf6 25. Rgg1 $1 $16 {/+- Suddenly it turns
out that Black cannot defend against Ng3, followed by Rxh8 and Rh1, creating a
decisive attack on the h-file.} (25. Rgh4 $4 {runs into} Nxe4 $1 $19 {[%csl
Rh1,Rh4][%cal Gh8h1,Gd8h4]}) 25... Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Ng4 {A nice way to protect
the h6-square, but the knight on g4 is not stable and therefore it does not
solve Black's defensive task.} (26... Nh5 27. Nd5 $18) 27. Ng3 Kg8 28. Nd5 {
Complete domination. Black's position is hopeless.} Rc5 29. Ne3 {Topalov goes
for a simple position, rightly assessing it as clearly better for White.} ({
Variations like} 29. Qg2 Rxd5 30. fxg6 {also favor White, but 29.Ne3 is more
practical.} (30. Qh3 $2 Rd1+ 31. Rxd1 Nf2) ({After} 30. exd5 Bxf5 31. Nxf5 gxf5
{Black keeps possibilities for counterplay})) 29... Nxe3 (29... Qg5 30. Qxd6
$18) 30. Qxe3 Qf6 31. Qh6 Qg7 32. Qg5 f6 33. Qd2 {Black cannot protect his
weaknesses on the entire board.} Rc6 ({After} 33... g5 {White has two good
solutions:} {the simple} 34. Qxd6 ({or} 34. Nh5 Qe7 35. Qh2 {and wins due to
the threat Nf4, coming with the knight either to g6 or e6.}) 34... Rc6 35. Qd5+
$16) 34. Kb2 $6 {Completely unnecessary.} (34. Qa5 {wins at once:} b6 (34...
Rc8 35. Qd5+ Kf8 36. fxg6 $18) 35. Qxa6 Rc8 (35... gxf5 36. Qa8+ Kf7 37. Nxf5
$18) 36. Qb7 gxf5 37. Qd5+ Kf8 38. Qxd6+ $18) 34... gxf5 ({Carlsen misses the
opportunity} 34... Be8 $1 35. fxg6 ({Now after} 35. Qa5 {Black has} Qc7 36.
Qd5+ Bf7) 35... Bxg6 {and White has no direct win.}) 35. Qa5 Qe7 (35... b6 36.
Qd5+ Kf8 37. Nxf5 $16) 36. Qd5+ Be6 37. Qd1 $1 ({Due to the unfortunate
position of the king on b2} 37. Nxf5 {allows Black a counter-sacrifice} Rxc2+
$1 {and White's advantage is questionable after} (37... Bxd5 38. Nxe7+ Kf8 39.
Nxd5 $18) 38. Ka1 (38. Kxc2 $4 Qc7+ 39. Kb2 Bxd5 $19) 38... Qd7 39. Qd3 Bxf5 $1
(39... Rg2 40. Qh3 $18) 40. Qxc2 (40. exf5 Rc7 $1 $11) 40... Bg6 $13) 37... Qg7
38. exf5 Bf7 (38... Qxg3 39. Rg1 $18) 39. Ne4 Kf8 40. Nxd6 Ke7 ({More stubborn
is} 40... Bg8 {although it would have not changed the result.} {After} 41. Ne4
{the black king is too exposed.}) 41. Nxb7 {The rest is simple - White has a
material advantage and a winning attack.} Qg8 42. Qd2 (42. Rh7 $1 Qxh7 $140 43.
Qd8#) 42... Rb6 43. Rd1 Qc8 44. Nd6 {The technical decision.} (44. Nd8 Qc7 45.
Nxf7 Kxf7 46. Qd5+ Kf8 47. Rg1 $18) 44... Qd7 45. Nxf7 Qxd2 46. Rxd2 Kxf7 47.
c4 Ke7 48. Kc3 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Ngf6 8.
O-O e6 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2 Qa5 11. c4 O-O 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. Qc2 Ba3 14. Rfd1 Bxb2
15. Qxb2 Rfe8 16. Qd2 Qxd2 17. Rxd2 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. f3 Kf8
21. Kf2 a5 22. Rad1 Ke7 23. Re2 Rxe2+ 24. Nxe2 Rh8 25. h3 Nd7 26. Nc3 Nc5 27.
f4 Ne6 28. Ke3 g5 29. fxg5 Nxg5 30. Ne2 Ne6 31. Nd4 g6 32. Nxe6 Kxe6 33. Rd4 c5
34. Re4+ Kd6 35. Kf3 a4 36. Re3 axb3 37. axb3 Rh4 38. Rd3+ Ke7 39. Re3+ Kd6 40.
Rd3+ Ke7 41. Re3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 h6 {A rare, rather second-rate move in this
popular position.} (11... a6 {- see Svidler-Karjakin in CBM 124}) 12. e4 (12.
Bd2 {is less energetic:} Qe7 (12... a5 13. Rfd1 (13. h3 Qe7 14. Rfe1 b4 15.
axb4 axb4 16. Na4 e5 17. e4 Nh5 18. g3 Ra5 19. Bf1 Rfa8 20. b3 Qf6 21. dxe5
Nxe5 $13 {1-0 Rausis,I (2521)-Fargere,F (2330)/Basel 2007/CBM 116 ext (51)})
13... Rc8 14. Be2 Qc7 15. Rac1 Rfe8 16. h3 Qb8 17. Qb1 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19.
Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Bf3 $14 c5 $6 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qd3 Qe7 23. Nxb5 $16 {0-1 Wang
Yue (2598)-Zhang Pengxiang (2623)/Wuxi 2006/CBM 113 ext (36)}) 13. b4 a5 14.
bxa5 Bxa3 15. e4 e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Ng4 18. Be2 Nxe5 19. f4 Nd7 20. Kh1
Bb4 21. e5 Rfd8 22. Rfb1 Nf8 23. Nd5 Qc5 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Qxc5 Bxc5 26. Bb4
Bxb4 27. Rxb4 Ne6 $13 {0-1 Kachiani Gersinska,K (2420)-Dreev,A (2645)/Bad
Wiessee 1998/EXT 2001 (39)}) (12. h3 $5 a5 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5
Bxe5 16. Be3 Re8 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Ne2 Rad8 (18... c5 $1 19. Bxb5 Bxe4 20. Qxc5
Qxc5 21. Bxc5 Reb8 22. a4 Bxb2 $13) 19. f4 Bd6 20. Ng3 $16 {1-0 Fressinet,L 
(2640)-Sebag,M (2471)/Cap d'Agde 2006/CBM 115 (33)}) 12... e5 13. dxe5 (13. Rd1
Qe7 14. Nh4 exd4 15. Nf5 Qe6 16. Nxd4 Qe5 17. Nf3 Qe7 18. Nh4 Bc5 19. Nf5 Qe6
20. Bf4 Ne5 21. b4 Bb6 22. Be2 Rfd8 23. Be3 Ng6 {1/2 Mukherjee,A (2514)
-Khromov,S (2481)/RCCA 2004/ICCF CBM 120}) 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. h3 a6 (
15... Nh5 $5 16. f4 $140 Bd4+ 17. Kh2 Qh4) 16. Be3 c5 {It is a logical idea to
open up the way for the b7-bishop by means of this pawn sacrifice. There was
probably no sense in waiting, e.g.} (16... Re8 17. f4 $1 (17. Rad1 $143 Qe7 18.
Ne2 {gives Black an excellent opportunity to play} c5 $1 19. Bxc5 Qc7 $132)
17... Bd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19. Kh2 c5 20. e5 $14) 17. Bxc5 Re8 18. Rad1 Qc7 19.
Nd5 $1 Nxd5 $6 {Black fails to find a difficult defence:} (19... Bxd5 $1 20.
exd5 Rac8 21. b4 (21. Rc1 Nxd5) 21... Bh2+ 22. Kh1 Bd6 23. Bf5 Rcd8 {regaining
the d5-pawn with good drawing chances.}) 20. exd5 Bxb2 {Black has regained the
material in a simpler way but White has obtained a strong passed pawn, which
makes a big difference.} 21. d6 Qc6 22. f3 Rec8 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Be4 Qxc5+ 25.
Qxc5 Rxc5 26. Bxb7 Rd8 27. Rfe1 Be5 $6 (27... Re5 28. Rxe5 Bxe5 29. d7 a5 30.
Rd5 Bc7 31. Kf2 {is probably winning for White but}) ({the prophylactic} 27...
Kh7 $1 {was much stronger:} 28. Bxa6 (28. d7 Rc7 29. Bc8 Rdxc8 30. dxc8=Q Rxc8
{must be a draw}) 28... Rc6 (28... Bxa3 $5 29. d7 Bb4 30. Re8 Ba5 31. Rxd8 Bxd8
32. Rb1 Kg6 33. Bxb5 Kf6) 29. Bxb5 Rcxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31. a4 Kg6 {and White
can hardly win}) 28. d7 a5 29. f4 Bc7 30. Bd5 $1 {The second weakness (f7)
proves decisive.} Kh7 31. Bxf7 Rf5 (31... Bxf4 32. Re6 {[%cal Rf7g6]}) 32. Ba2
Rxf4 33. Bb1+ Kg8 34. Bg6 {With a simple threat: 35.Re8+ Rf8 37.Rf1.} Bb6+ 35.
Kh1 Bc5 (35... Rdf8 36. Re8 Bd8 37. Rc1 $18) 36. Rc1 $6 (36. Re8+ $142 Rf8 37.
Rd3 a4 {(what else?)} (37... b4 $2 38. Rd5) 38. Re5 Bf2 39. Rxb5 $18) 36... Bf8
37. Red1 Bxa3 $2 (37... Rc4 {gave Black some chances to survive.}) 38. Rc8 Rff8
39. Be8 Be7 40. Re1 {"trapping" the black bishop} Bg5 41. g3 a4 42. h4 Bf6 43.
Re6 {[%cal Re6f6]} 1-0

[Event "MNT-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2008.09.13"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Vujisic, Rajko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2008.09.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bg6 5. f4 e6 6. Nf3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Be3 Qb6
9. Bxg6 hxg6 10. Qb3 Qxb3 11. axb3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. Nd2 Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxd4
15. cxd4 Ne7 16. Nf3 Nf5 17. Ke2 Nh4 18. Nxh4 Rxh4 19. g3 Rh3 20. Ke3 Kd7 21.
Kf3 a6 22. Kg2 Rhh8 23. h4 Rac8 24. Rac1 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Rc3 b5 27. Kf3
b4 28. Rxc8 Kxc8 29. Kg4 Kd7 30. Kg5 Ke7 31. g4 Kf8 32. f5 gxf5 33. gxf5 exf5
34. Kxf5 Ke7 35. h5 a5 36. Kg5 Ke6 37. Kg4 Kd7 38. Kf4 Ke6 39. Kg5 Ke7 40. Kg4
Ke6 41. Kf4 Ke7 42. Kf5 Kd7 43. Kf4 Ke6 44. Kg4 Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "MNT-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2008.09.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Ivanovic, Vojislav"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2088"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2008.09.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. e5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nge7 8.
Bd3 Ng6 9. h4 Qb6 10. O-O Be7 11. g3 Bd7 12. Na4 Qa5 13. Bd2 Bb4 14. Nc3 Qb6
15. a3 Be7 16. h5 Nf8 17. Be3 Na5 18. b4 Qc7 19. Nb5 Bxb5 20. Bxb5+ Nc6 21. Rc1
Nd7 22. Qc2 Rc8 23. Bd3 a6 24. Bxh7 Nf8 25. Bd3 Rxh5 26. Qa4 Nd7 27. Rc3 Qd8
28. Rfc1 Ra8 29. Qd1 Rh8 30. Kg2 Kf8 31. Nh2 Bg5 32. Qg4 Bxe3 33. fxe3 Qe7 34.
Nf3 f5 35. Qf4 g6 36. e4 Kg7 37. exd5 exd5 38. Rh1 Rxh1 39. Kxh1 Nf8 40. Ng5
Ne6 41. Nxe6+ Qxe6 42. Be2 Rh8+ 43. Kg2 Rc8 44. Bf3 Ne7 45. Qc1 Rxc3 46. Qxc3
Qc6 47. Qc5 Qxc5 48. bxc5 Kf7 49. Kf2 Ke6 50. Ke3 Nc6 51. Bd1 g5 52. Bh5 f4+
53. gxf4 gxf4+ 54. Kd3 Na5 55. Bg4+ Ke7 56. Bc8 Kd8 57. Be6 Nc4 58. Bxd5 Nxa3
59. Bxb7 Kc7 60. Bxa6 Kc6 61. Ke4 f3 62. Kxf3 Kd5 63. Bb7+ Kxd4 64. c6 Nb5 65.
e6 Ke5 66. e7 Nc7 67. Bc8 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "MNT-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2008.10.04"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Kostic, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[BlackElo "1928"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2008.09.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. a3
Bb7 9. f3 Be7 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 Rc8 13. g4 Nb6 14. Bd3 Qc7 15.
Nce2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. c3 Nd7 18. Ng3 d5 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Nh5 Rfd8 21. Bg5
f6 22. Be3 Qc7 23. Nf4 Nc5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Qf2 Qd7 26. Rd2 Rd8 27. Rfd1 Qc8
28. Nf5 Bf8 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 exd5 31. Qd2 Qe6 32. Bxc5 Bxc5+ 33. Kf1 g6
34. Ng3 Kg7 35. Qe2 Qd6 36. Qd2 Ba7 37. Kg2 Qc5 38. Qe1 Kf7 39. h4 d4 40. Ne4
Qb6 41. g5 f5 42. Nf6 Qd8 43. Qd1 d3 44. Kf1 Qb6 45. Qb3+ Qe6 46. Qxe6+ Kxe6
47. Nxh7 Bc5 48. Ke1 Ke5 49. Kd2 Kf4 50. h5 Ke5 51. hxg6 Ke6 52. Kxd3 Bd6 53.
c4 Be5 54. b3 1-0

[Event "MNT-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2008.10.18"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Savovic, Dragan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[BlackElo "2257"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2008.09.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Be3 d5 10. f4 Be7 11. e5 Nd7 12. Ne2 c5 13. c3 Bb7 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Rc1 h5 16. Qc2 h4 17. Nh1 h3 18. g3 d4 19. cxd4 Qc6 20. Be4 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Bxe4
22. dxc5 Nb8 23. Nf2 Bd5 24. a3 Nc6 25. b4 Kd7 26. Rfd1 Kc7 27. Rd2 Rab8 28.
Nd3 Rb7 29. Kf2 Rhb8 30. Ke2 a5 31. bxa5 Ra8 32. Nf2 Nxa5 33. c6 Nxc6 34. Bc5
Bxc5 35. Rxc5 Bg2 36. Rdc2 Rb1 37. g4 Bf1+ 38. Kf3 Ra1 39. Kg3 R8xa3+ 40. R2c3
Rxc3+ 41. Rxc3 Ra4 42. Nd3 Bxd3 43. Rxd3 Rd4 44. Rf3 Nb4 45. Kxh3 Rd3 46. Kg3
Rxf3+ 47. Kxf3 Kd7 48. h4 Ke7 0-1

[Event "MNT-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2008.11.01"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Krstajic, Nedjeljko"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B46"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.09.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bc4 Be7 7. O-O Nf6 8. h3
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qd3 Bb7 12. Re1 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Bc5 14. Qd3 Bxf2
15. Rf1 Qg3 16. Qe2 Bd4 17. Qd3 Qxd3 18. cxd3 d5 19. exd5 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Bxd5
21. c4 bxc4 22. dxc4 Bc6 23. Bb2 Ne4 24. Rf4 Rfd8 25. Bc1 f5 26. Kh2 g5 27. Rf1
h5 28. Bc2 g4 29. Bxe4 Bxe4 30. h4 Bd3 31. Bg5 Bxf1 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 33. Rxf1 Rc8
34. Rc1 Rc5 35. Kg3 e5 36. Kf2 f4 37. Rb1 Rxc4 38. Rb7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Canda, Danilo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2289"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Nicaragua"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NCA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Bb3 Be7 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. f3 O-O 10. Qe2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bd7 12. f4 e5 13. Bf2 exf4 14. O-O Bc6
15. Bd4 Qh5 16. Qd2 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxf4 d5 19. c3 Qg6 20. Rf2 Bd6 21.
Qh4 Rae8 22. Rd1 Re6 23. Rfd2 Be7 24. Qh3 b6 25. c4 dxc4 26. Bxc4 Rd6 27. Be3
Rxd2 28. Rxd2 h6 29. b3 Kh7 30. Bf1 f5 31. Rd7 f4 32. Rxe7 fxe3 33. Qg3 Qf6 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gundavaa, Bayarsaihan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2458"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Mongolia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "MGL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Qd2
Be6 9. f4 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nc6 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 b5
15. Be2 Qa5 16. Kb1 Rfd8 17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Nxe7+ Kf8 19. Rxd2 Kxe7 20. Rhd1 Ne4
21. Rd4 Nc5 22. b3 f6 23. g4 g5 24. Bg3 Rab8 25. Kb2 Rd7 26. a3 Rbd8 27. Bf1
Rh8 28. a4 Rb8 29. axb5 axb5 30. Bf2 Na6 31. Bg2 Rbd8 32. Ra1 Nc5 33. Ra5 Rb8
34. Ra1 Rc7 35. Rad1 Rb6 36. h3 h6 37. Bf1 b4 38. Bg2 Rc8 39. Ra1 Ned7 40. Ra7
Rcb8 41. Rd1 Kf8 42. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Slovenia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SLO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rb1 cxd4 13. cxd4 e6 14. Qd2 Bb7
15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Rc8 17. Rfd1 Nc6 18. e5 Qe7 19. Be4 Rfd8 20. Ng3 f5 21.
exf6 Qxf6 22. h4 Rf8 23. Rd2 Ba6 24. h5 Ne7 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Re1 Rf7 27. Bf3
Rh7 28. Qe3 Bc4 29. Rc2 Kg7 30. Qe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 Rhh8 32. Bb7 Rb8 33. Rxc4
Rxb7 34. Rxe6 Rd7 35. d5 Nxd5 36. Rd4 Kf7 37. Rc6 Rhd8 38. Ne4 Ne7 39. Ng5+ Ke8
40. Re4 Rd6 41. Rc7 R8d7 42. Rc8+ Rd8 43. Rc7 R8d7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Nisipeanu,LD"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Romania"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 ({Finally I decided
to deviate from our 'private' duel in the line} 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 {in which we
have played 3 games so far with Veselin leading 2-1}) 6... e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 ({
I had expected the main move} 7... b5) 8. Bg5 Qa5 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Be7 {
The first real surprise} ({In all my previous games, in this position the move
} 10... Nd7 {was played.}) 11. f4 Qc5 12. Kh1 b5 {All these moves are logical
and do not require any comments.} 13. a3 ({The critical line} 13. f5 e5 14. Nf3
Bb7 15. Qd3 b4 (15... O-O $5) 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 O-O 19. Nd2
Rac8 20. Rac1 $13 {was also worth considering, but I was sure that my opponent
was prepared for this.}) 13... Bb7 ({I was, rather naively, hoping for} 13...
O-O $2 14. f5 e5 15. Nd5 $1 Ra7 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Ne2 $16) 14. Qd3 ({Bad is
the tempting} 14. Bxe6 $2 fxe6 15. Nxe6 Qc4 16. Nxg7+ Kf7 17. Nf5 Bxe4 $17)
14... g6 $5 {A very ambitious move, typical for Topalov.} (14... O-O 15. Rae1
Rfd8 $13) 15. f5 $5 {A no less ambitious move after which the board is on fire.
} (15. Rae1 O-O-O $13 {was probably the idea of 14...g6}) 15... gxf5 16. Nxf5
$1 {The only way to justify the previous move.} (16. exf5 $2 e5 {is a
positional nightmare for White.}) 16... exf5 17. Rxf5 d5 $1 ({I must admit
that the move} 17... Ng4 $6 {did not cross my mind during the game, but it
seems insufficient in view of} 18. Bxf7+ Kd8 19. Qg3 Ne5 20. Rd1 {with a
strong initiative to White.}) 18. exd5 $5 (18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. exd5
{was suggested by Topalov after the game, but while it is probably sufficient
for maintaining the balance, it still looks quite tame to me.}) 18... Qd6 $1 {
A good, human move.} ({During the game I was calculating mainly} 18... Rg8 19.
Re1 $1 (19. Raf1 Rg6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 O-O-O 22. Rxf7 Bd6 {with unclear
play.}) 19... Kd8 $1 (19... Kf8 20. Qf1 $1 Qb6 (20... Kg7 21. Rxf6 Bxf6 22.
Qxf6+ Kxf6 23. Ne4+ $16) 21. Ne4 $36) 20. Qf1 $1 Qd6 21. Rxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxf6
Qxf6 23. d6+ Qxd6 24. Qxf7+ Kd8 25. Qxg8+ Kc7 26. Qf7+ {with perpetual.}) 19.
Raf1 Ng4 20. Qh3 ({I spent a lot of time calculating} 20. R1f4 Nh6 $1 (20...
Rg8 $2 21. Qe2 {is bad for Black.}) 21. Ne4 Nxf5 22. Nxd6+ Nxd6 23. Qe3 $13 {
it was not clear to me if White has an edge here.}) 20... Rg8 $1 ({Obviously
bad is} 20... h5 21. Ne4 Qh6 22. Rxf7 $16) 21. Ne4 $6 {A move made 'by hand'
which spoils an interesting game.} ({Best was} 21. Rxf7 O-O-O 22. R1f4 h5 23.
Qxh5 Ne5 24. Ne4 Nxf7 25. Nxd6+ Nxd6 $13 {but in timetrouble I would like to
play Black in such a position, alltough the engines give a clear edge to White.
}) 21... Qh6 $1 22. Qxh6 $2 ({Only the line} 22. Re1 $1 Qxh3 23. gxh3 Nh6 24.
Re5 Kd8 25. Rxe7 Kxe7 26. Nc5+ Kf8 27. Nxb7 {would have given some saving
chances to White.}) 22... Nxh6 $17 23. Re5 Kf8 24. h3 $6 ({I did not see} 24.
Rh5 Rg6 25. Rxh6 Rxh6 26. d6 f6 27. dxe7+ Kxe7 {but Black is close to winning
anyway.}) 24... Rg6 25. g4 Re8 26. Re1 Ng8 27. Nc5 Ba8 28. g5 $2 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhao, Zong Yuan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Australia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Re8 9. O-O Nf8 10. b4 Be6 11. b5 Ng6 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. f4 Bg4 14. Bxf6 Qxf6
15. Nxd5 Qd8 16. Ng3 Rc8 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Nc3 Bb4 21.
Ne4 a5 22. Rad1 h6 23. Neg3 Nf8 24. e4 Ne6 25. e5 Qb6 26. Nh5 Red8 27. Kh1 Kf8
28. Nfxg7 Nxg7 29. Nf6 Ke7 30. d5 Rh8 31. Qb3 Rcd8 32. d6+ Kf8 33. f5 Qb5 34.
Qg3 Qe2 35. Qf4 Ne8 36. Ne4 Rg8 37. Qxh6+ Rg7 38. Ng3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2592"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. c5
O-O 9. Na3 Bb7 10. b4 a5 11. Nc4 Nd5 12. Rb1 axb4 13. Nxb6 Nxb6 14. Rxb4 Ra6
15. Qb3 d5 16. Rxb6 Rxb6 17. cxb6 c5 18. O-O c4 19. Qb2 Nc6 20. a4 Qd7 21. a5
Ra8 22. Ra1 f5 23. e3 Bd6 24. h4 Ba6 25. Bc3 h6 26. Bf1 Kf8 27. Be2 Ke7 28. Bd1
Kd8 29. Ba4 Kc8 30. Ne5 Bxe5 31. dxe5 Kb7 32. Qa3 Rc8 33. h5 Rd8 34. Qc5 Qc8
35. Rd1 Rd7 36. f4 Rf7 37. Qd6 Qd7 38. Kf2 Qc8 39. Rxd5 exd5 40. e6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Berg, Emanuel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Nc3 Nc6 8.
Qg4 Nf6 9. Qg3 d6 10. O-O Ne5 11. Be2 O-O {Topalov is the first player on the
world rating list and the level of his theoretical preparation is excellent.
Black have been testing immediate activity with the b7-b5 advance, but the
position was not ripe for it.} (11... b5 12. Bf4 Qe7 (12... b4 13. Rad1 Qe7 14.
Rxd6 Qxd6 15. Bxe5 Qe7 16. Bd6 bxc3 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Qxc3 $18 {1-0 Nisipeanu,
L (2707)-Korneev,O (2601)/Benidorm 2005 (28)}) 13. Rad1 Bb8 14. Qxg7 Rg8 15.
Qh6 b4 16. Na4 Ba7 17. Be3 (17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Nac5 $16) 17... Neg4 18. Bxg4
Nxg4 19. Qxh7 Qf8 20. Bxa7 Rh8 21. Qxh8 Qxh8 22. h3 Rxa7 23. hxg4 {0-1 Belov,V
(2582)-Kobalia,M (2634)/Moscow 2005 (41)}) 12. Bf4 (12. Kh1 b5 13. f4 Nc4 14.
e5 Ne8 15. a4 Bd7 16. axb5 axb5 17. Ne4 Bc6 18. Bd3 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 d5 20. Bd3 f5
21. c3 Nc7 {1/2 Delchev,A (2669)-Korneev,O (2601)/Benidorm 2005}) 12... Bb8 13.
Rad1 Qe7 14. Be3 {Black's setup with the bishop on b8 supporting the diagonal
b8-h2 is very resilient, even though it seems a bit passive. Probably the most
problems for him would result from the modest advance of the white h-pawn.} (
14. Nd4 Ng6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bc1 d5 17. Qd3 Ne5 18. Qg3 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20.
Qe3 f5 $17 {0-1 Jimenez,P (2292)-Diamant,A (2384)/Havana 2007 (36)}) (14. h4 $1
b5 15. h5 b4 16. Bh6 Nfg4 17. Bxg4 bxc3 18. Be2 f5 19. bxc3 $14) (14. Bg5 Ng6
15. f4 h6 16. f5 exf5 17. exf5 hxg5 18. fxg6 d5 19. Qxg5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Bc7 $11)
14... b5 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bxc4 (16. Bd4 e5 (16... Nxb2 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Nd7
19. Rd2 $14) 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Bc5 Ba7 $11) 16... bxc4 17. Nd2 Bb7 (17... d5
18. e5 Nd7 19. b3 $14) 18. e5 (18. b3 cxb3 19. axb3 Rc8 $11) 18... dxe5 19.
fxe5 Nd5 20. Bg5 $6 {Berg has much improved as a chessplayer and he obviously
likes active solutions. The conservative move 20.Bd4 centralised the bishop
with a modest advantage.} (20. Bd4 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 Qg5 22. g3 Bd5 23. Rde1 $14)
20... Qc5+ 21. Kh1 f5 22. Nde4 $5 {White simply has to succeed on the kingside,
where he enjoys the advantage in number of pieces. The investment of the
knight is bringing him closer to the enemy king.} (22. Bh6 Qc7 23. Nxd5 Bxd5
24. Bf4 Ra7 $15) 22... fxe4 23. Nxe4 (23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. Nxe4 Qf5 $19) 23...
Rxf1+ 24. Rxf1 Qc7 (24... Qc6 $2 25. Bh6 Qc7 26. Nd6 $18) 25. Qg4 $2 {[%mdl 64]
Youth loves activity, but this move is pushing things way too far. Topalov's
defensive combination will be quite charming.} (25. Nd6 $1 Qd7 26. Rf7 Qxf7 27.
Nxf7 Kxf7 28. Qf3+ Kg8 29. Qg4 Bc8 30. Qxc4 Bd7 31. Qe4 $11) 25... Qxe5 26. Qh5
h6 (26... g6 27. Qh6 Ba7 $19) 27. Qf7+ Kh7 28. Rf4 (28. Ng3 Ra7 $19) 28... Nxf4
$1 29. Nf6+ (29. Bf6 Qc7 $19) 29... Qxf6 30. Bxf6 Bxg2+ 31. Kg1 Ba7+ {The
final check pointedly elevates the bishop to the role of the hero, as he was
descreetly supporting Black's play for the whole game.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Spain"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7
9. Nxh5 Nc6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg2 Kf8 12. Bf4 Rc8 13. Bg3 Nge7 14. Nf4 Bd4 15.
Qe2 Qb6 16. Nd3 Bxd3 17. cxd3 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qxc3+
21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. Rxb7 g6 23. Kd2 Ra3 24. Rc1 Rxa2+ 25. Ke3 d4+ 26. Kf4 Rh7 27.
Rcc7 Nd5+ 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. f3 a5 30. h5 gxh5 31. g5 Rg2 32. Kf5 Re2 33. Rc8+
Re8 34. Rxe8+ Kxe8 35. Kf6 h4 36. g6 Rh6 37. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. g3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rd1 Rc8
15. Qb3 Qc7 16. Bf1 Be7 17. Bg2 Nc5 18. Qc2 Rfd8 19. Bd2 Nd3 20. Qb3 a6 21. Be1
Nxe1 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxe1 b5 24. Rd1 g5 25. Ne2 Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Nd7 27. Qc1
Qxc1+ 28. Nxc1 Kf8 29. Kf1 Bd6 30. Ke2 Ke7 31. Nd3 Ne5 32. Bb7 Nxd3 33. Kxd3 a5
34. b3 a4 35. Bc6 axb3 36. axb3 b4 37. h3 f5 38. Kc4 Kf6 39. g4 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Be7 15.
Ng5 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 Bg6 17. Be2 Nb8 18. Qe3 Nc6 19. Bd2 Rc8 20. Bc3 Qh4 21. g3
Qe4 22. Rac1 f6 23. Qxe4 Bxe4 24. exf6 gxf6 25. f3 Bg6 26. Rfd1 Rfd8 27. Bf1
Bf5 28. Kf2 e5 29. dxe5 d4 30. Be1 fxe5 31. Bd2 Rf8 32. Re1 Rce8 33. Rc5 Bg6
34. Bc4+ Kh8 35. Bh6 Rf6 36. Bg5 Rf5 37. h4 Ref8 38. f4 exf4 39. Rxf5 fxg3+ 40.
Kxg3 Rxf5 41. b4 Kg7 42. Bf4 a6 43. b5 axb5 44. axb5 Na5 45. Ba2 Rxb5 46. Be5+
Kh6 47. Bf4+ Kg7 48. Be5+ Kh6 49. Bf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 e6 8.
O-O Be7 9. d4 O-O 10. Re1 Bd7 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Bf4 Bf6 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5
Bxb5 15. exf6 Qxf6 16. Qxd5 Bc6 17. Qg5 Qxg5 18. Bxg5 Rfe8 19. Bd2 a6 20. Rxe8+
Rxe8 21. Re1 Rxe1+ 22. Bxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Nf6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. a4 e6 12. Be3 Rc8 13. b3 Qd8 14. Nde2 Nc6 15.
Qd2 Bf8 16. Rfd1 Nd7 17. Rab1 Qa5 18. Bh6 Be7 19. Qb2 Qh5 20. Bf4 Qc5 21. Qd2
Qb4 22. Qb2 Rd8 23. Bd2 Qc5 24. Be3 Qa5 25. Bd2 Qc5 26. Be3 Qa5 27. Bd2 Qc5 28.
Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rb1 Qc7 12. Bd3 (12. Bf4 Qc8 $1) 12... Rfd8
{This line was examined in CBM 108, annotations to Berkes-Sutovsky.} 13. h3 {
A quiet, solid but, of course, harmless move. The other options seen in recent
practice:} (13. Qc1 $5 Rac8 14. Rd1 a6 $6 (14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Qa5 $5) 15. Qa3
Qa5 16. Qxc5 Qxc5 17. dxc5 Be6 18. Rxb7 Bxa2 19. h3 Bc4 20. Nd4 $1 Bxd3 21.
Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Rxd3 $1 $16 {1-0 Berkes,F-Sutovsky,E/Paks 2005/CBM 108/
[Krasenkow] (48)}) (13. Qd2 Be8 14. d5 (14. Rfc1 e6 15. Bh6 Bh8 16. Qg5 Qd6 17.
Rxb7 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Qe7 Bg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Bf1 Qxe4
23. Rxa7 Qf4 $15 {0-1 Sundararajan,K-Sasikiran,K/Kolkata 2008/CBM 123 Extra 
(62)}) 14... Ne5 15. c4 a6 16. Rfc1 e6 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. Nc3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 b5 20.
cxb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Bxb5 22. Qxb5 exd5 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Be3 {
1/2-1/2 Moranda,W-Tomczak,J/Sroda 2008/CBM 122 Extra}) (13. Bf4 e5 14. Bg3 cxd4
15. cxd4 Rac8 16. d5 Na5 17. f3 Nc4 18. Bf2 Bh6 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Rxb7 Ba4 21.
Qe1 Bb5 22. Ng3 Qa4 23. Qd1 Qa6 $13 {0-1 Vitiugov,N-Timofeev,A/Dagomys 2008/
CBM 124 (37)}) (13. f4 e6 14. f5 exf5 15. exf5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Re8 17. Qd2 Ne7
18. Bf4 Qc6 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Rfc1 Qd5 21. Bc4 Qe4 22. Bd3 Qd5 23. Bc4 Qe4 24.
Bd3 Qd5 25. Bc4 Qe4 26. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Grandelius,N-Hermansson,E/Reykjavik 2008/
CBM 123 Extra}) 13... Be8 14. d5 Ne5 15. c4 e6 (15... a6 $5 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 16.
Nf4 Rab8 17. Be2 Rd6 $5 {Quite a rare route to activate this rook, which White
tries to refute in an original way.} 18. Qc2 Ra6 19. Rb5 $5 {[%mdl 512]
White's risk is that Black needn't take this rook at once as it has no real
way back anyway!} Bf8 (19... Bxb5 $143 20. cxb5 Rd6 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Bxc5 Rd7
23. dxe6 (23. Bxa7 Ra8 24. b6 g5 25. dxe6 Rd2 $13) 23... fxe6 24. Nxe6 Re8 (
24... Rd2 25. Bd1) 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Be3 $14) 20. a4 Bxb5 $6 {Here, too, it
was better to wait for a more appropriate moment for this capture:} (20... Rc8
$5 {[%cal Re8b5]} 21. Rc1 Bd7 $13) 21. cxb5 Rd6 22. Qc3 $1 {It is important to
lure the black bishop back to g7.} (22. Qxc5 $143 Qxc5 23. Bxc5 Rdd8 24. Bxa7 (
24. Bxf8 $6 Kxf8 25. dxe6 Rd4) 24... Ra8 25. Bd4 Bg7 $13) 22... Bg7 23. Qxc5
Rc8 (23... Qxc5 $142 24. Bxc5 Rd7 25. dxe6 fxe6 26. Nxe6 $14 {led to a
position similar to the one indicated in annotations to move 19.}) 24. Qxa7 b6
(24... g5 25. Nh5 $16) 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Rd1 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Rd5e6] Black has
now got an additional weakness on b6.} Bf6 $2 {This strange move leads to
severe material losses.} (26... g5 $142 27. Nh5 (27. Nd3 Rc2 $1 28. Kf1 Ra2)
27... h6 $14) 27. dxe6 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 fxe6 29. Bb3 $1 (29. Nxe6 $143 Rc3) ({
After} 29. Bb3 Rc3 (29... Rb7 30. Nxe6 Kh8 31. f4 Nd7 32. Bd5 Ra7 33. e5) 30.
Bxe6+ Kg7 31. Nd5 Ra3 32. Nxb6 Bd8 33. Nd5 Rxa4 34. f3 {White's material
advantage is decisive so Black chose to resign at once.}) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 (10. a3 {- see Topalov-Aronian and Svidler-Karjakin in
CBM 124.}) 10... Bb7 11. e4 e5 12. h3 {A useful waiting move, however, rarely
played.} (12. dxe5 {is the main line.}) 12... Re8 {This leads to the 12.dxe5
line with a transposition of moves. Practice has also seen:} (12... exd4 {
(Black's main option)}) (12... Qb8) (12... h6) (12... a6) 13. dxe5 (13. Be3 $5
exd4 $5 14. Nxd4 (14. Bxd4 b4) 14... Nc5) 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Be3 Qe7
{Alternatives:} (15... a6 16. f4 $1 (16. Ne2 c5 17. Rad1 c4 18. Bxc4 Qc7 19.
Bd3 Qxc2 20. Bxc2 Bxe4 {1/2-1/2 Sargissian,G-Potkin,V/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108}) (
16. Rae1 c5 17. Bxc5 Rc8 18. b4 Nd7 19. Nd5 Nxc5 20. bxc5 Bd4 21. Qb3 Bxc5 22.
a4 {1/2-1/2 Bernard,C-Boudre,J/Massy 1993/EXT 1997}) (16. Rad1 Qc7 (16... Qe7
$5 17. Ne2 Bd6 18. Nd4 g6 19. Nb3 c5 $1 20. Nxc5 Rac8 21. b4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4
23. Qd2 Rcd8 24. Bd4 Be5 $11 {0-1 Akesson,R-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 107
ext (57)}) 17. f4 Bxc3 18. bxc3 c5 19. e5 Nd5 (19... c4 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bg4 Be4
22. Qd2 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Bd3 24. Rf3 Qe7 25. Bd4 b4 26. cxb4 Qd7 27. Bc3 Qxg4 $11
{1-0 Koentges,M-Craciun,G/ICCF WS 2005/ICCF CBM 125 (67)}) 20. Bxh7+ $6 (20.
Bd2 g6 $13) 20... Kh8 21. Rfe1 g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6 Re7 $17 {0-1
Krzyzanowski,P-Feldmann,G/IECG 2002/Telechess CBM 105 (36)}) 16... Bd4 17. Bxd4
Qxd4+ 18. Kh2 g6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Rad1 Qb6 22. Rde1 Rac8 23. Qe2
Rc7 24. f5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Renaze,L-Flear,G/Cap d'Agde 2006/EXT 2007 (42)}) (15...
Bd4 $5 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. Rad1 Qc5 {[%cal Rb5b4]} (17... Qb6 18. Kh2 c5 19. Bxb5
Bxe4 20. Qa4 Re6 21. Rfe1 a6 22. Bd7 Nxd7 23. Nxe4 Nf8 24. Qc2 Rae8 25. Re3 $14
{0-1 Itter,E-Wong,K/IECG 2005/Telechess CBM 119 (42)}) 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Qc1 h6
20. Nd5 $2 (20. Qf4 Re6 $11) 20... Nxe4 21. Ne7+ Kf8 22. Bxe4 Qxc1 23. Ng6+
fxg6 24. Rxc1 Re6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Gutman,G-Shalimov,V/Alushta 1999/EXT 2001 (58)})
16. Rfd1 {Or else:} (16. Rae1 a6 17. Ne2 (17. Nb1 c5 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. b4 Rad8
20. Kh1 Qd7 21. Re3 Bf4 22. Rf3 Nxe4 23. Rxf4 Qxd3 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 $17 {0-1
Jelen,I-Soln,P/Krsko 1997/CBM 061 ext (30)}) (17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Rfe1 c5 $11 {
1-0 Bieker,P-Thier,F/DESC 2004/Telechess CBM 109 (33)}) 17... c5 $1 (17... Bd6
18. Nd4 g6 19. Nb3 Nd7 20. Na5 Ne5 21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Be2 Rac8 23. f4 Nd7 24.
Bg4 Rc7 25. e5 Bb4 26. Rd1 $16 {1-0 Bonin,J-Shabalov,A/New York 1992/EXT 1997 
(40)}) 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. Bd4 Bh2+ 20. Kh1 Nxe4 21. Rc1 Qd6 22. Rfd1 Rac8 23. Nc3
Qb8 $15 {0-1 Sanchez Rodenas,A-Pinho,J/ICCF 2003/CBM 110 (43)}) (16. Ne2 Bc7 $5
(16... Rad8 17. Rad1 Bc7 {1/2-1/2 Trufanov,A-Chubakov,A/Tomsk 2003/CBM 095 ext
(42)} 18. Bc5 $5) 17. Rad1 $5 (17. Ng3 $6 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Nxe4 19. Rf4 Ng5 20.
Re1 g6 21. Rff1 Ne6 22. a3 Red8 23. Kh2 a5 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. a4 Rd5 26. Qc3 b4
27. Qc2 Rxd3 28. Qxd3 Ba6 29. Qf3 Bxf1 30. Rxf1 Qb7 $17 {0-1 Kulczycki,M-Kuhne,
D/LSS 2006/Telechess CBM 123 (45)}) (17. Nd4 Nxe4 18. Rfd1 Qe5 19. Nf3 Qe7 20.
Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Rxe4 22. Rd7 Rc8 23. Bxa7 Re2 $11 {1-0 Kolar,J-Sherwood,R/
IECG 2002/Telechess CBM 95 (40)}) (17. Bc5 Qe5 18. f4 Qxc5+ 19. Qxc5 Bb6 20.
Qxb6 axb6 21. e5 Nd5 22. Ng3 Rad8 23. Be4 f6 $11 {0-1 Likavsky,T-Buhmann,R/
Austria 2005/EXT 2006 (119)}) 17... Bb6 (17... Nxe4 $5) 18. Nd4 Qc7 (18... Nxe4
$2 19. Rfe1 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 f5 (20... c5 21. Bxb5 $1 cxd4 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. f3)
21. f3 c5 22. Bf2 c4 23. Bf1 $18 {1-0 Bonin,J-Alexopoulos,G/New York 1994/EXT
2004 (30)}) 19. Rfe1 Rad8 20. Nf3 c5 21. Bxb5 Bxe4 22. Qe2 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Re7
24. Ng5 Ba8 25. Bf4 {1/2-1/2 Mayer,C-Lifshitz,S/IECC 2005/Telechess CBM 113}) (
16. Rfe1 a6 17. Ne2 Bd6 (17... c5 $1) 18. Nd4 Bb4 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Bd2 c5 $6 21.
Bxb4 cxb4 22. e5 $16 {1-0 Kuzubov,Y-Shalimov,V/Alushta 2002/EXT 2003 (46)}) (
16. a4 $5 {needs more tests} Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe4 18. Rfe1 Qh4 19. axb5 cxb5 20.
Bxb5 Rec8 21. Bd4 Nd6 22. Bf1 $4 (22. Bd3 $14) 22... Qxd4 {0-1 Ivanov,
S-Kounalakis,E/Sunny Beach 2008/CBM 126 Extra (29)}) 16... a6 17. Ne2 c5 $1 {
[%cal Gb7e4] A typical sacrifice in this kind of position, in order to
recapture this pawn on e4.} 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. f3 $1 {White prefers to give up
his b2-pawn while keeping Black's Bb7 and Nf6 restricted.} Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Qxc5+
21. Qd4 Qe7 22. Bc2 Bd5 $2 {A curious idea but White manages to prove the
strength of his d5-pawn.} (22... Rac8 $142 23. Bb3 a5 $14 {/=}) 23. exd5 Qxe2
24. Bb3 (24. Rac1 $5) 24... a5 25. d6 a4 $6 {Now Black's queenside pawns
become weak.} (25... Rad8 $142 26. Rac1 a4 27. Bc2 $16) 26. Bd5 Rac8 $6 (26...
Nxd5 27. d7 $1 Red8 28. Qxd5 $16 {[%csl Gd7]}) 27. Rd2 Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29.
Bb7 $1 Rd8 (29... Rb8 30. d7 Rd8 31. Bc6) 30. Rb1 g6 (30... Re6 31. Bc6 $1
Rdxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Bxb5 a3 34. Rb3) 31. Bc6 Rc5 32. Bxb5 Rb8 33. Rdb2 a3
34. Rb3 Rc2 $6 {After this move White keeps two extra pawns but} (34... Kg7 35.
d7 Rd5 36. Bc4 Rxb3 37. Rxb3 Rxd7 38. Rxa3 {is obviously hopeless.}) 35. Rxa3
Rd2 36. Ra7 Nd5 (36... Rxd6 37. a4 Rd2 38. Rc1 $18 {[%cal Rc1c7]}) 37. d7 Kg7
38. Re1 Ne3 (38... Nf4 39. a4 Nxg2 {- game}) 39. a4 (39. Rxe3 {was good enough:
} Rxb5 40. Re7 Rf5 (40... Rbb2 41. Rxf7+ Kh6 42. Rxh7+ Kg5 43. Ra5+ Kf6 44.
Ra6+ Kf5 45. Rf7+ Kg5 46. Kh1 $18) 41. a4 g5 42. a5 Kg6 43. a6 Ra5 44. Re2 $18)
39... Nxg2 40. Re4 (40. Re7 $142 {[%cal Re7f7]} Rd8 (40... Rf8 41. Re8) 41. Re8
Nh4 42. Bc6 $18) 40... g5 41. Rc7 Nh4 42. Rc3 Rb7 43. Re2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A
sudden blunder in a winning position.} (43. Re7 Rb6 (43... Rb8 44. Re8) 44.
Ree3 $18 {[%cal Rc3d3]}) 43... Rbxd7 $14 {White still keeps winning chances
due to his strong a-pawn.} 44. Kf2 R7d5 45. Rxd2 Rxd2+ {[%mdl 4096]} 46. Ke3
Ra2 47. Kd4 Ng2 48. Kc4 Nf4 49. Kb3 Ra1 50. Kb2 Re1 51. Rc5 Kf6 $6 {It was
more important to bring the knight back:} (51... Ne6 $1) 52. a5 Re5 $4 {
The resulting endgame is lost for Black.} (52... Ne6 {was not so good now due
to} 53. Rc6 {[%cal Yc6b6,Ya5a6]}) (52... Re7 {was probably the most stubborn
defence.}) 53. Rxe5 Kxe5 54. a6 Ne6 55. a7 Nc7 56. Bc6 f5 57. Kb3 Kd6 {White
was threatening to bring his king forward and push the black knight away from
c7 (using zuzgwang if necessary); preventing that, Black allows the white king
to move to the kingside, after which White can already take the black knight
by a7-a8Q.} 58. Bb7 Kc5 59. Kc2 Kd4 60. Kd2 h6 61. Ke2 $22 Ke5 62. Ke3 Kf6 63.
Bc6 Ke7 64. a8=Q Nxa8 65. Bxa8 Kf6 66. Bc6 (66. Kd4 {was already possible} g4
$140 67. f4 $1) 66... Ke5 67. Bb5 Kd5 68. Ba6 Ke5 69. h4 $1 Kd5 (69... gxh4 {
is obviously hopeless.}) 70. hxg5 hxg5 71. Bc8 Ke5 72. Bd7 $22 (72. Bd7 Kf6 73.
Kd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Rad1 O-O 13. Rfe1 a6 {A typical
flexible move keeping a lot of possibilities (...b7-b5, ...c6-c5, ...e6-e5).
The other options seen in practice:} (13... b5) (13... Rd8) (13... b6) (13...
Nb6) 14. a3 (14. e4 b5 {[%cal Yc6c5]}) (14. Ne4 b6 $5 {[%cal Yc8b7,Yc6c5]})
14... b5 15. Ba2 c5 16. d5 c4 $5 $146 (16... Nb6 17. e4 (17. d6 $142 Qf6 18. e4
Bb7 19. e5 $36) 17... Bb7 18. e5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Rad8 21. Ba2 c4
$11 22. h4 $6 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nd7 24. Re1 Nxe5 $17 {0-1 Oms Pallise,J-Perez
Candelario,M/Lorca 2005/CBM 111 (30)}) 17. dxe6 (17. d6 {doesn't work now as
White can´t safely support this pawn:} Qf6 18. e4 Bb7 19. e5 $6 Qf4 $17 {
[%csl Re5]}) 17... Qxe6 18. b3 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. Nd5 cxb3 21. Bxb3 Bb7 $2 {
[%mdl 8192] Is it a blunder or a kind of bewilderment? Did Black simply fail
to find a satisfactory move and decide to give up material? In fact he had a
lot of possibilities, e.g.} (21... Kh7) (21... Rb8) ({and the simplest:} 21...
Be6 22. f4 Qb2 $1 23. Ne7+ Kh7 $1 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. Qxb2 Bxb2 26. Bxe6 Rad8 $1
{White can't save his extra pawn, and after} 27. a4 bxa4 {Black's strong
a-pawn compensates for his inferior pawn structure (indicated by GM K.Maslak).}
) 22. Nb6 {[%cal Rb6a8,Rb6d7] Black loses an exchange but his bishop pair
makes converting this advantage quite difficult.} Be4 23. Qa2 Rae8 24. Nd7 Qg5
$1 25. f4 {[%csl Re3,Ge4]} Qf5 26. Nxf8 Bxf8 27. Bd5 h5 $1 28. Rd4 $6 {White
exchanges a lot of material but perhaps it was better to keep tension by means
of} (28. Bxe4 Rxe4 (28... Qxe4 29. Qb3) 29. Rd5 {[%cal Yf4f5]}) 28... Bc5 29.
Bxe4 Rxe4 30. Rxe4 Qxe4 31. Kh1 Qd3 32. a4 $2 (32. e4 $142 Bxa3 33. e5) 32...
bxa4 $2 (32... Bxe3 $1 33. axb5 Qxb5 $1 ({but not} 33... axb5 $4 34. Qa8+ Kg7
35. Qf3) 34. g3 {otherwise Black wins the f4 pawn with a clear draw} h4 $1 {
and Black's counterplay should save him.}) 33. Qxa4 Qc3 $6 (33... Qd2 34. Qe8+
(34. Qa1 Kh7) 34... Kg7 35. Qe5+ Kh7 36. Rf1 Qd3) 34. Rf1 $6 {Missing} (34.
Qe8+ Kg7 (34... Bf8 35. Rd1) 35. Qe5+ Qxe5 36. fxe5 {with good winning chances
in the endgame.}) 34... Qd3 35. Qa1 Kh7 36. e4 ({After} 36. f5 Bxe3 $1 (36...
gxf5 $143 37. e4 $1 Qxe4 38. Qf6) 37. fxg6+ fxg6 38. Rf7+ Kh6 {, surprisingly,
there is nothing decisive in sight. Naturally, the exchange of queens leads to
a theoretically drawn ending as in the line} 39. Rf3 Qd4 40. Qxd4 $2 Bxd4)
36... Qxe4 37. Qxa6 Be7 {If Black now manages to put his queen to f5, White,
with his unsafe king and weak f4-pawn, will hardly be able to win.} 38. f5 $1 (
38. Qb5 Bd6 $5 39. f5 $140 Qh4 $1 40. fxg6+ Kh6 $1 41. g3 Qe4+ 42. Kg1 Be5 $1)
(38. Qa1 $5 {[%cal Ya1e5]}) 38... gxf5 39. Qc8 Kg6 (39... f4 40. Qc7 f3 41.
gxf3 Qe2 42. Kg1) 40. Qg8+ Kf6 41. Qh7 h4 42. Ra1 $2 {Just one inaccurate move
- and winning chances are gone!} (42. Qh6+ Ke5 43. Ra1 $40 {[%csl Re5]}) 42...
Qf4 {[%cal Re7d6] White can´t now either win a pawn or pose any threats to the
black king, and Black´s counterplay is sufficient for a draw.} 43. Qh8+ Kg6 44.
Qg8+ Kf6 45. Rd1 Bd6 46. Qd8+ Ke6 47. Re1+ Be5 48. Qb6+ Ke7 49. Qg1 {The only
way to protect the h2-pawn but in the long term it will always tie up the
white pieces.} Kf6 50. Rf1 Qe4 51. Qb6+ Kg7 52. Qb3 Kg6 53. Qf3 Bd6 54. Qc3 Be5
55. Qa3 Qe2 56. Qc1 f6 57. Re1 Qf2 58. Qe3 Qc2 59. Qf3 Qd2 60. Rf1 Qc2 61. Re1
Qd2 62. Rd1 Qb4 63. Rf1 Qe4 64. Qb3 Kh6 65. Qd1 Kg6 66. Qd2 Qc4 67. Rc1 Qe4 68.
Re1 Qc4 69. Rc1 Qe4 70. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 {Eine andere Möglichkeit
gegen Paulsen zu spielen ist 5.Nb5.} (5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 b6
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Ne5 11. f3 Be7 12. Be3 O-O $132 {Es entsteht eine
Igelstellung, in der Weiß einige Probleme mit dem Na3 hat. Die Stellung ist
ungefähr ausgeglichen, beide Seiten haben ihre Chancen.}) 5... Nf6 {Schwarz
weicht von dem Paulsen-System ab.} 6. Ndb5 (6. Nxc6 $5 {Das Nehmen auf c6 ist
eine vollwertige Alternative.} bxc6 (6... dxc6 $6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bf4 Bb4 9.
O-O-O+ Ke7 10. f3 Rd8 (10... Bxc3 11. Bd6+ Ke8 12. bxc3 $16) 11. Be2 Bd7 12. a3
Bxc3 13. Bd6+ Ke8 14. bxc3 b6 15. g4 $16 {J.Polgar - Amura (Benidorm, 2002)})
7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 10. c4 $14 {Die Stellung ist sehr kämpferisch,
doch wie die Erfahrungen zeigen, sind die weißen Chancen besser.}) 6... Bb4 $6
{Schwer zu verstehen, warum Ivanchuk diese Variante ausgewählt hat. Es ist
wohl bekannt, dass Weiß einen "kostenlosen" Vorteil bekommt.} (6... d6 7. Bf4
e5 8. Bg5 a6 {führt mit Zugumstellung zur Sveshnikov-Variante.}) 7. a3 (7. Nd6+
$2 {Das Schachgebot gilt seit Ewigkeiten als Fehler: Schwarz tauscht nicht
seinen guten Läufer ab, sondern zieht es vor, mit dem König im Zentrum zu
bleiben.} Ke7 $1 (7... Bxd6 8. Qxd6 Qe7 9. Bf4 $16) 8. Nxc8+ Rxc8 9. Bd3 d5 10.
exd5 Nxd5 $15) 7... Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 $1 {Das ist die alte,
prinzipielle und meiner Meinung nach stärkste Fortsetzung. Das Endspiel, das
nach 9.Bd3 entsteht, kann man auch spielen, doch der Vorteil dort ist eher
minimal:} (9. Bd3 dxe4 (9... d4 $2 {Ein strategischer Fehler. Schwarz wird
nach der späteren Spielöffnung Schwierigkeiten haben, weil er dem weißen
schwarzfeldrigen Läufer nichts entgegenzusetzen hat.} 10. Ne2 e5 11. O-O O-O
12. h3 Re8 13. Ng3 Be6 14. f4 $1 exf4 15. Bxf4 Nd7 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qh6 Qf6 18.
Bg5 Qg7 19. Qh4 Nce5 20. Bh6 Qh8 21. Nf5 $1 $16 {Shirov - Grischuk (Linares,
2001)}) 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Bd7 13. Be3 f5 14. Bf3 e5 15. Kc1
$14 {Weiß verfügt über das Läuferpaar und hat damit einen kleinen Vorteil.
Doch ich denke, dass Schwarz bei richtigem Spiel ausgleichen kann. Das Zentrum
und der schlecht platzierte weiße König sind die Gründe dafür.}) 9... exd5 10.
Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 (11... h6 {Der Versuch, den Bc1 einzugrenzen bringt nichts,
weil der Läufer sowieso rauskommt.} 12. Bf4 d4 13. Ne2 Nd5 14. Bg3 $14) 12. Ne2
Bg4 ({Nach} 12... Re8 {hat Weiß die Wahl, ob er die Entwicklung des Läufers
auf g4 vermeiden sollte oder nicht. Beide Möglichkeiten versprechen ihm gutes
Spiel.} 13. b4 (13. h3 h6 14. b4 a5 15. Rb1 axb4 16. axb4 Nd5 17. Qd2 Qh4 18.
Rb3 Re5 19. b5 Nce7 20. Nxd4 $16 {Berg - Ivanov (Copenhagen, 2007)}) 13... Bg4
14. f3 Bh5 15. Bb2 {Die Schwäche des d4-Bauern erlaubt Schwarz nicht, den
Springer über d5 nach e3 zu führen.} a6 (15... Nd5 16. Qd2 Ne3 17. Rfe1 a6 18.
Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 $1 $18) 16. Rf2 $1 {Nun droht das Nehmen auf d4.} Bg6 (16...
Qb6 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxh7+ $18) (16... Kh8 17. Bc4 $16) 17. Bxg6
hxg6 18. Nxd4 $16 {Vorobiov - Hasangatin (Pardubice, 2007)}) 13. f3 Bh5 14. Nf4
({Eine andere gute Möglichkeit ist} 14. Bg5 Qd6 15. Qd2 Nd5 (15... Rfe8 16.
Rad1 $16) 16. Be4 h6 17. Bf4 Nxf4 18. Nxf4 Bg6 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Qd3 Kh8 21.
Rad1 $16 {Iordachescu - Van Riemsdijk (Vlissingen, 2006)}) 14... Re8 $6 $146 {
Ehrlich gesagt gefällt mir diese Idee gar nicht. Weiß bekommt das Läuferpaar
plus der Bauer d4 ist schwach plus Weiß hat Chancen, auf Angriff zu spielen.
Das traditionelle 14....Bg6 ist jedoch auch nicht viel besser. Wie gesagt, die
gesamte Variante sieht sehr verdächtig aus.} (14... Bg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. f4
$14 {Das Szenario ist ungefähr das gleiche wie in der Partie - Weiß kombiniert
das Spiel gegen die schwarzen Schwächen.}) 15. Nxh5 Nxh5 16. f4 $1 {Dieser Zug
dient zwei Zielen: erstens, der Bauer kann unter Umständen den weißen Angriff
unterstützen; zweitens, er nimmt dem schwarzen Springer das lebenswichtige
Feld e5. Grundsätlich gilt, Weiß darf den weißfeldrigen Läufer nur dann
tauschen, wenn er einen materiellen Nutzen davon zieht.} Nf6 17. Qf3 Nd5 {
Das Feld e3 ist die einzige Hoffnung des Schwarzen.} 18. Qh3 g6 (18... h6 19.
Qf5 g6 (19... Nf6 {Der Springer kam gerade von f6, sicherlich ist es keine
gute Idee, hin und her zu laufen.} 20. b4 $1 $16) 20. Qh3 Ne3 21. Bxe3 dxe3 (
21... Rxe3 22. Qxh6 $18) 22. Rae1 Qb6 23. Qxh6 Rad8 24. f5 e2+ 25. Rf2 Ne5 26.
h3 $1 (26. f6 $4 Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Ng4+ $19) 26... Nxd3 27. cxd3 Rd6 28. fxg6 fxg6
29. Qd2 $16) 19. f5 $1 {Die schwarze Stellung sieht furchtbar aus. Seine
einzige Chance ist es, mit dem Springer auf e3 das Übel zu kompensieren, doch
auch das gelingt nicht ganz.} Ne3 20. Qh6 $1 Qe7 (20... Nxf1 {Das Annehmen des
Opfers bringt die sofortige Katastrophe.} 21. fxg6 (21. Bg5 Qd6 22. Rxf1 Ne5
23. fxg6 fxg6 24. Bf6 Qc7 25. Be4 $44) 21... hxg6 (21... fxg6 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23.
Bg5 Qd6 24. Rxf1 Rf8 25. Bf7 $1 $18) 22. Bg5 (22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Kh8 24.
Bg5 Ne3 25. Bf6+ Qxf6 26. Qxf6+ $14) 22... Qd6 23. Rxf1 Qf8 24. Qh4 $18 {
Es ist keine Kompensationsstellung - Weiß steht auf Gewinn!}) 21. Rf4 gxf5 (
21... Nxf5 {gibt den letzten Vorposten auf e3 auf.} 22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Bd2 Qe6
24. Qh3 Ne7 25. Rxd4 $16) 22. Bd2 $1 {Topalov spielt cool. Die schwarze
Bauernstruktur ist geschwächt, der König völlig kompromittiert. Weiß braucht
sich nicht zu beeilen, es ist offensichtlich, dass seine Läufer die Stellung
auseinander reißen werden.} Rad8 (22... Qe5 23. Re1 Re6 24. Qh4 Rg6 25. Bxe3
dxe3 26. Rxf5 Qg7 (26... Qxb2 27. Rxe3 Qc1+ 28. Re1 Qh6 29. Rh5 $18) 27. Be4
$16) 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. Rxf5 $18 {Schwarz ist chancenlos. Schlechte
Bauernstruktur, schwacher König, Läufer gegen Springer. Es ist ein Wunder,
dass Ivanchuk so lange überstanden hat.} Rd6 25. Qf4 (25. Qh5 $1 Rg6 26. Re1
Qd7 27. Ref1 Nd8 28. g3 $18) 25... Rg6 26. Rf1 Qe2 27. g3 Rf8 (27... Re4 28.
Qc7 $1 {Bevor Weiß den Damentausch anbietet, gewinnt er einen Bauern.} Re7 29.
Qc8+ Re8 (29... Kg7 30. Bg5 Qe6 31. Qa8 Rd7 (31... Re8 32. Rxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7+
Kxf7 34. Qxb7+ Kg8 35. Bf4 $18) 32. Rf6 Qe5 33. Rxg6+ hxg6 34. Bf6+ Qxf6 35.
Rxf6 Kxf6 36. Kf2 $18) 30. Qxb7 Re7 31. Qc8+ {Die weiße Dame arbeitet sich
zurück nach Hause.} Re8 32. Qc7 Re7 33. Qf4 Re4 34. Qf2 $18) 28. Rf2 (28. Rxf7
$2 Qxf1+ 29. Qxf1 Rxf7 $16 {Immernoch steht Weiß mit Vorteil da, doch die
schwarzen Chancen steigen enorm.}) 28... Qe6 29. h4 Ne7 (29... Qd6 {sieht
besser aus, doch es führt sehr schnell zur Niederlage:} 30. h5 $1 Qxf4 (30...
Rxg3+ 31. Kh2 Qxf4 32. R2xf4 Rg7 33. Re4 $1 Rd8 34. Bh6 $18 {Interessantes
Bild - der Turm ist gefangen.}) 31. R2xf4 Rd6 (31... Rxg3+ 32. Kh2 Rg7 33. Re4
$18) 32. Rg4+ Kh8 33. h6 f6 (33... Rg8 34. Bg5 $1 $18) 34. Rg7 $18) 30. Re5 Qd7
31. h5 Rg7 32. Rg5 f5 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qe5+ {Bis jetzt hat Topalov die
stärksten Züge gespielt. An dieser Stelle hätte er das Spiel mit 34.Bb4 sofort
beenden können. Wobei das keine große Rolle spielt, Weiß hat viele
Möglichkeiten zu gewinnen.} (34. Bb4 $1 Rf7 (34... Rf6 35. Re2 Re6 36. Rxe6
Qxe6 37. Qxd4+ Kh6 38. Qf4+ Kg7 39. Bxe7 Qxe7 40. Qxf5 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Qe2+ 42.
Kh3 $18) 35. g4 Kg8 36. gxf5 $18) 34... Kg8 35. Bh6 Nc6 (35... Rf7 36. Qb8+ Nc8
37. Re2 $18 {Schwarz ist fast im Zugzwang!}) 36. Qf4 Rf7 37. g4 $1 d3 (37...
fxg4 38. Qg5+ Kh8 39. Bg7+ Kg8 (39... Rxg7 40. Rf8+ $18) 40. Be5+ Kf8 41. Qg7+
Ke8 42. Qg8+ $18) 38. cxd3 Kh8 39. gxf5 (39. Qc4 $5 {gewinnt noch schneller.}
Ne5 40. Qc3 Qc7 41. Qd4 Kg8 42. gxf5 $18) 39... Qxd3 40. Kg2 Qd5+ 41. Qf3 {
Übergang ins Endspiel ist eine gute Entscheidung - Schwarz hat nicht mal den
Ansatz auf eine Hoffnung.} Ne7 (41... Qxf3+ 42. Rxf3 Ne7 43. f6 Nd5 44. Bg5 $18
) 42. Qxd5 Nxd5 43. Rc2 $1 {Bringt auch die Türme vom Brett.} Rc7 (43... Ne7
44. Rc7 $18) (43... Nc7 44. Rd2 $18) 44. Rxc7 Nxc7 45. Kf3 {Der Rest ist
Technik.} Kg8 46. Ke4 Ne8 47. Ke5 Kf7 48. Bg5 Nc7 49. h6 Nb5 50. Be3 b6 51. a4
Nc7 52. Kd6 Na6 53. Kc6 Nb4+ 54. Kb7 Nd5 55. Bg5 a5 56. Kc6 Nb4+ 57. Kxb6 Nd3
58. b3 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 $1 {Das ist die Fortsetzung,
die zum Ausgleich führt.} 6. Be3 Nd7 (6... cxd4 $5 {Zuletzt hat Schwarz keine
großen Probleme in dieser Variante gehabt.} 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. Bg5 (8. c4 Nbc6 9.
Qa4 a6 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. O-O-O Bd3 12. Bxd3 cxd3 13. Rxd3 Qa5 14. Qb3 Nb4 15.
Rdd1 Ned5 $11 {Efimenko - Macieja (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 8... Qd7 9. Bxe7 Bxe7 10.
Nxf5 exf5 11. Bf3 (11. Nd2 Nc6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. O-O Rad8 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Qd2
Bc5 $132 {Nijboer - Erenburg (Dieren, 2006). Der Bauer e5 ist genauso schwach
wie der Bauer d5.}) 11... Qb5 $1 (11... d4 $6 {Man sollte dem weißen Läufer
nicht so viel Platz machen.} 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qd3 Rb8 15. b3 Rb5
16. Qg3 O-O 17. Nd2 Bb4 18. Nc4 Bc3 19. Rad1 $14 {Volokitin - Bareev (Warsaw,
2002)}) 12. Qxd5 Qxb2 13. O-O Nc6 14. Qb3 (14. Nd2 Rd8 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Nxb3
Kd7 $11 {Mamedov - Rodshtein (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 14... Qxb3 15. axb3 Kd7 16. Nc3
Rhd8 17. Rfd1+ Ke6 $11 {Almasi - Vallejo Pons (Heviz, 2008)}) 7. Nbd2 ({
Als Hauptzug gilt hier} 7. O-O {mit der Idee c4 durchzusetzen.} Ne7 (7... c4 8.
Nc3 $14 {Der Springer auf c3 verhindert ...b5.}) 8. c4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxb1 (9...
Nxe5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Qa4+ Qd7 12. Bb5 N5c6 13. Nc3 $44) 10. Rxb1 Nxe5 (10...
dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ N5c6 13. Rfd1 $18) 11. Qa4+ Nd7 (11... Qd7 12. Nb5
N5c6 13. Rbd1 $44) 12. Bf3 Nc8 13. cxd5 Ncb6 14. Qb3 e5 15. Ne6 $3 Qb8 (15...
fxe6 16. dxe6 Nf6 17. Qb5+ Ke7 18. Qxe5 $18) 16. Rbc1 $18 {Almasi - Berkes 
(Hungary, 2006)}) 7... c4 $5 {Dieser Zug kam in der Praxis nur zwei Mal vor.
Interessant ist der Versuch auf jedem Fall - Schwarz schließt den Damenflügel
und das Zentrum, so dass Weiß wenig Platz zum agieren hat.} 8. a4 $6 {Der
ganze Plan mit der Durchführung von b3 scheint mir verdächtig zu sein. Ich
würde das von Rublevsky gespielte 8.0-0 bevorzugen.} (8. O-O $1 b5 9. Ne1 Bg6
10. g4 Bb4 11. c3 Ba5 12. Ng2 Ne7 13. Nf4 $14 {Rublevsky - Dreev (Sochi, 2005).
Weiß spielt, wo er spielen muss - am Königsflügel. Seine Hauptidee ist es,
später f5 durchzusetzen.}) 8... h6 {In diesen Varianten sichert Schwarz mit
diesem Zug den Läufer f5 ab.} 9. b3 $2 {Wenn man den Plan mit b3 spielen will,
muss man ihn vorbereiten. Die Alternative 9.0-0 ist nicht mehr so gut.} (9. O-O
Ne7 $1 10. Ne1 Bh7 $1 11. g4 $6 {Sonst kommt 11....Nf5.} h5 12. h3 hxg4 13.
hxg4 Nc6 $15 {Die weiße Stellung fällt auseinander.}) (9. c3 $1 Ne7 10. b3 {
Jetzt ist es eine andere Sache - Weiß nimmt mit der Dame auf b3 und entwickelt
eine Initiative.} cxb3 11. Qxb3 Nc6 $5 12. Qxb7 $5 (12. O-O Na5 13. Qb2 Be7 14.
c4 $132) 12... Rb8 13. Qxc6 Rb6 14. Qb5 a6 (14... Rxb5 15. axb5 Qb8 16. O-O $14
) 15. Qxa6 Rxa6 16. Bxa6 Qa5 17. Bb5 Qxc3 18. O-O $132 {Die Stellung ist
ziemlich unklar. Ich denke, dass Weiß zumindest nicht schlechter steht.}) 9...
cxb3 10. Nxb3 (10. cxb3 Bb4 $15 {Und man landet in einer für Schwarz
superguten französischen Stellung.}) (10. c4 $5 {Ein verrückt aussehender
Versuch, doch macht er Sinn.} b2 (10... Bc2 11. Qc1 Bb4 12. O-O Ne7 13. Qb2
dxc4 14. Bxc4 Rc8 15. Rac1 Bxd2 16. Nxd2 O-O 17. Bxb3 Bxb3 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19.
Rc1 Qb8 20. Qxb3 Rc8 21. Nc4 $11) 11. Ra2 Qb6 12. O-O dxc4 13. Bxc4 (13. Nxc4
b1=Q $19) 13... Qb4 14. Qb3 b1=Q 15. Nxb1 Rc8 16. Qxb4 Bxb4 17. Nbd2 Nb6 $11 {
Weiß steht nirgends besser, aber zumindest hat er Ausgleich. In der Partie man
hat das Gefühl, dass das Spiel auf ein Tor verlief.}) 10... Rc8 (10... Bb4+ 11.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Nfxd2 Ne7 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 $11) 11. Ra2 Qc7 12. Bd3 (12. O-O
Bxc2 $19 {Das Problem ist nicht, dass der Bauer c2 hängt - das Problem ist,
dass der Nb3 ebenfalls hängt!}) 12... Bxd3 13. Qxd3 ({Auch} 13. cxd3 {bringt
Weiß in Nachteil.} Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Ne7 16. O-O Qc3 $15) 13... Ne7 {
Schwarz spielt sehr genau. Das Schach auf b4 bietet sich an, um die
Entwicklung schneller zu beenden, doch aus strategischer Sicht ist es richtig,
die schwarzfeldrigen Läufer nicht abzutauschen.} (13... Bb4+ $6 14. Bd2 Bxd2+
15. Nfxd2 Ne7 16. O-O O-O 17. a5 $11) 14. O-O Qc4 15. Rb1 (15. Qd1 Nf5 16. Nfd2
Qc7 17. Nf3 Be7 $15) 15... b6 ({Schlecht ist der Damentausch} 15... Qxd3 16.
cxd3 b6 {,} {denn nach} 17. a5 $132 {bekommt Weiß gutes Spiel gegen die
schwarzen Bauern des Damenflügels.}) 16. Qf1 (16. a5 $5 {Gab Weiß die
Gelegenheit, aktiv zu werden.} b5 17. a6 $8 {Sonst spielt Schwarz selbst a6.}
Nc6 18. Qxc4 dxc4 (18... bxc4 19. Na5 Rb8 20. Rb7 Rxb7 21. axb7 Nd8 22. Nxc4 $3
dxc4 23. Rxa7 Bb4 24. Ra8 $18) 19. Na5 Nb4 (19... Nxa5 20. Rxa5 b4 21. d5 exd5
(21... Bc5 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 25. Rxb4 Nxa6 26. Rxc4 Kd7
27. Ra4 Rb8 28. Kf1 Rb6 29. Nd4 $18) 22. Bxa7 $16) 20. Rab2 Nd5 21. Rxb5 Nc3
22. Nd2 Nxb5 23. Rxb5 Nb8 24. Naxc4 Nxa6 25. Ra5 Rc6 26. c3 Be7 27. Kf1 O-O 28.
Ke2 Rfc8 29. Kd3 $15 {Beide Seiten sind von gegnerischen Figuren gefesselt,
doch Schwarz hat noch Potential mittels R8c7-Nb8-Nd7-Nb6.}) 16... Nc6 17. c3 (
17. Qxc4 dxc4 18. Nbd2 Nb4 19. Ra3 Nd5 $15) 17... Qxc3 $1 {Für den Bauern hat
Weiß keine ausreichende Kompensation. Wenn Schwarz auf c3 nicht nehmen würde,
dann hätte Weiß die Option auf c4 zu nehmen.} (17... Be7 18. Qxc4 dxc4 19. Nbd2
{Jetzt ist dem schwarzen Springer das Feld b4 genommen.} Na5 20. Ne4 $132) 18.
a5 (18. Qd1 Qc4 19. Rc2 Qxa4 20. Nfd2 Be7 $17) 18... Be7 (18... Nb4 {Sieht
sogar stärker aus!} 19. Ra4 (19. Bd2 Qc4 20. Bxb4 Qxf1+ 21. Kxf1 Bxb4 22. axb6
axb6 23. Na1 Bc3 24. Ra7 Ke7 25. Nc2 Ra8 $19) 19... Qc4 20. Qd1 b5 21. Nbd2 (
21. Rc1 bxa4 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Nbd2 Rc2 24. Ne1 Ra2 $17) 21... Qc3 22. Raa1 Qc6
23. Rc1 Qa6 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 $17 {Schwarz behält den Bauern und Weiß den
schlechten Läufer.}) 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qd1 Qc4 (20... O-O {Das Damenopfer
bringt ebenfalls Vorteil.} 21. Rc2 Qb4 22. Nc5 bxc5 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24. Rb2 c4
$15 {Und wenn Weiß jetzt taktische Tricks versucht} 25. Rxb4 Bxb4 26. Qa4 Ra8
27. Qxb4 Ra1+ 28. Ne1 Rb8 29. Qc3 Rbb1 $19 {wird er gnadenlos dafür bestraft.})
21. Nc1 {Üblicherweise ist es ein schlechtes Zeichen, wenn man solche Züge
spielen muss.} Nb4 22. Ra7 (22. Rab2 Nc2 23. Nd3 O-O $19 {Schwarz hat einen
gesunden Mehrbauern.}) 22... Qc2 $1 {Richtige Entscheidung - sind die Damen
vom Brett, ist die Stellung gewonnen.} 23. Qxc2 Nxc2 24. Bd2 Na3 25. Ra1 Nc4
$19 {Weiß ist chancenlos.} 26. Rb7 (26. Nd3 Nb8 27. Rb7 Nc6 $19) 26... Nb8 27.
Ra8 O-O 28. Raxb8 Nxd2 {Auch die Taktik ist auf der Seite von Schwarz!} (28...
Rxb8 $2 29. Rxe7 $132) 29. Rxc8 Nxf3+ 30. gxf3 Rxc8 31. Ne2 (31. Rxe7 Rxc1+ 32.
Kg2 Rc4 33. Rb7 Rxd4 34. Rxb6 g5 $19 {Das Turmendspiel ist absolut gewonnen.})
31... Bd8 32. f4 g6 33. Kg2 Kf8 34. Kf3 Ra8 35. Ke3 Ra3+ 36. Kd2 Bh4 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3
Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. a3 O-O 13. Nd2 Nd7 14. b4 a5 15.
Nb5 Qe7 16. bxa5 Nxa5 17. Qa4 Nc6 18. Na7 Ra8 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Qxc6 Rxa3 21.
Qc7 Ra2 22. Rfd1 Qd8 23. Qxd8 Rxd8 24. Kf1 Bc2 25. Ra1 Rda8 26. Rxa2 Rxa2 27.
Rc1 Kf8 28. Nf3 Ke7 29. Ne1 Ba4 30. Rb1 Kd6 31. Bb5 Bxb5+ 32. Rxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {Kamsky's love affair with the Gruenfeld Defence
dates back a long time. Among his collection of scalps in this opening, we can
find the name of the 12th World Champion, Anatoly Karpov. If we add the fact
that one of Kamsky's seconds, Emil Sutovsky, is an outstanding specialist of
the Gruenfeld, the opening choice hardly was a surprise for Topalov.} 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 ({Some time ago, I extensively analysed
with my trainer and collaborator IM Valentin Stoica the following (then
unplayed) variation:} 7... O-O 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. O-O e5 10. Be3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12.
Qd2 c5 {I did not get a chance to use the fruits of my analysis, but was
surprised to see that this specific position all of a sudden became the
subject of theoretical and practical dispute at a high level.}) 8. Ne2 Nc6 9.
Be3 O-O 10. O-O {The classical line is Topalov's invariable choice against the
Gruenfeld. In the past, this variation has been seen on the occasion of
historic matches between Botvinnik and Smyslov or between Kasparov and Karpov.
Also, it twice led the legendary Fischer to defeat against Spassky, but that
was before their "Match of the Century". The main idea of this system is to
build up a strong centre, which cannot be destroyed easily, but the course of
this game will be rather non-typical for this traditional perception.} Na5 11.
Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 {We have transposed back to "my" line. Kamsky had tried it
last year against Topalov's second, Cheparinov, which makes the game very
intriguing from a psychological point of view.} 13. Bh6 {I must admit that
this was the only move I had failed to analyse.} ({Together with Stoica, we
reached the conclusion that} 13. dxc5 Be6 {offers Black excellent compensation.
The folowing game sustains this point of view.} 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. cxb6 axb6 16.
Bh6 Rfd8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Black has excellent compensation for the pawn in view
of White's queenside weaknesses and badly placed minor pieces.} 18. Qe3 Bxa2 $1
{[%cal Ga1a2,Ga5c4] Ni Hua (2703)-Navara,D (2672)/Dagomys 2008/CBM 124 (0-1,
29). This simple trick retrieves the pawn for Black, leaving him with an
excellent position.}) ({Our main line went} 13. dxe5 Be6 {Kamsky had had this
position prior to the Sofia match.} 14. Rad1 ({After} 14. f4 Nc4 15. Bxc4 Qxd2
16. Bxd2 Bxc4 {White's knight is very passive and the queenside rather weak.})
({According to our analysis, the critical line is} 14. Bg5) 14... Nc4 15. Bxc4
Bxc4 16. f4 Qe7 17. Qc2 Rad8 {Navara,D (2646)-Kamsky,G (2723)/Sochi 2008/CBM
126 (0-1, 40). White's chronic queenside weaknesses and the passivity of his
minor pieces (to be compared with the c4-bishop) offer Black long-term
compensation. White's problem is that he cannot arrange to play f4-f5 easily,
because this would lose the extra pawn and open up the g7-bishop.}) (13. d5 {
releases the tension too early and offers Black good play after} f5 {This is
how the game Nielsen,P (2644)-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext 
(1/2, 53) continued. It was the first game in which this line was played and
the only one previous to my joint analysis with Stoica. To tell the truth, I
had not noticed it, maybe because I was examining another move order in the
opening.}) 13... cxd4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. f4 f6 {The situation has
changed dramatically over the past few moves. There is almost nothing left
from White's centre, but Black is slightly underdeveloped and his king is
vulnerable.} 17. e5 ({This is a novelty over the aforementioned game 
(Cheparinov,I (2687)-Kamsky,G (2723)/Sochi 2008/CBM 126/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 41)),
where} 17. Rac1 {was played. Until this moment, Topalov had spend only three
minutes. As a reaction to the novelty, Kamsky sank into prolonged thought, and
played his move when he had only 50 minutes left on the clock.}) 17... Bd7 $5 (
{What makes the Gruenfeld so easy and difficult at the same time is the
practically unlimited choice on virtually each move. It is clear that Black
has to catch up in development and avoid the excessive weakening of his king's
position at the same time.} 17... Bb7 {looks quite natural, but then} 18. exf6+
{followed by f4-f5 is annoying. 17...f5 is another possibility, but Kamsky may
have feared that any ending may be dangerous for him because of the white
passed pawn. The idea of the text move is to keep the e6- and f5-squares well
defended, while preparing the connection of rooks. Its only obvious drawback
is that it leaves the extra-pawn undefended.}) (17... fxe5 18. fxe5 $32 {
prematurely establishes a contact between the enemy major pieces, at a moment
when Black is underdeveloped yet.}) ({Frits is enthusiastic about} 17... Qd5 {
, which is not easy to refute. I assume it is not easy to decide for such a
move, which offers White the possibility of making a series of attacking moves,
with the increased risk of overlooking something with Black, especially if he
had not studied it at home. Here is a draft variation liquidating to a draw 
(although I do not trust it for Black entirely).} 18. exf6+ Rxf6 19. Ng3 Nc4
20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Rac1 Qd5 22. f5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Rxf5 24. Nxf5+ Qxf5 25. Qxd4+
Kg8 26. Qc4+ Qf7 27. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Rc7+ $11 {The passivity of the a8-rook
compensates for the extra pawn and a draw is the most likely result.}) 18.
exf6+ ({It was Topalov's turn to think for a long time. He decided to put his
money on the attack, probably fearing that} 18. Nxd4 Nc6 {would lead to early
simplifications and a draw.} 19. Be4 (19. Nf3 Bg4 $5) 19... Nxd4 20. Bxa8 (20.
Qxd4 Bb5 $11) 20... Bb5 21. Rf2 Ne2+ 22. Rxe2 Bxe2 $11 {White cannot avoid
complete simplifications. One important point is that the immediate capture on
e2 is impossible} 23. Qxe2 $4 Qd4+ $1 $19 {Topalov's move will eventually lead
to the same result, but, to the public's delight, after a very interesting
fight. We can also infer that Kamsky reacted quite well to the opening
surprise.}) 18... Qxf6 19. Ng3 Kh8 20. f5 gxf5 21. Bxf5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 Qd6 23.
Raf1 Nc6 {After the knight's return into play, White's attacking chances
become questionable.} 24. Ne4 Qe7 25. Qh6 Rxf5 26. Rxf5 Ne5 27. h3 Ng6 28. Rh5
({The apparently dangerous} 28. Ng5 $2 {can be met by} Rc8 $1 {when continuing
with the attacking operations with} 29. Rf7 $2 {would lead to disaster after}
Rc1+ 30. Kh2 Qe5+ {. Topalov's move has the advantage that it keeps the
e5-square under control, restricting Black's counter-attacking chances. Oh,
and it creates the annoying threats of Nf6 or Qxg6!}) 28... Rg8 ({After this
move, the game will enter the drawish zone more or less by force. The more
exotic try} 28... Kg8 $5 {would probably have led to the same result after} 29.
Nf6+ Qxf6 30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Rh6 Rc8 32. Rxg6 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 34. Rg3 Rc3 35.
Qg8+ Ke7 36. h4 {Black's king is too exposed to entitle him aspire to an
advantage.}) 29. Nf6 Rg7 30. Nxh7 $1 {After this exchange operation, perpetual
check becomes the most likely result.} Rxh7 31. Qxg6 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 Qc1+ 33. Kf2
Qd2+ 34. Kg3 Qe3+ 35. Kh2 Qf4+ 36. Kg1 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 {Experience may have taught Topalov that his peak of form usually
arises in the second part of important matches and tournaments. During his
unlucky match against Kramnik, he did not seem to take this detail into
account and went for a sharp and uncompromising fight from the very first game.
As a result, he suffered two defeats instead of what could otherwise have
become two of his best games ever. His opening choice in the second game
against Kamsky looks more cautious. Instead of his beloved Sicilian, he has
chosen the solid Ruy Lopez. Will it be a boring Berlin variation?!} 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 $5 {A big surprise on the 4th move already! Topalov had
developed the bishop to c5 before, but only as an aswer to 4.d3.} 5. Nxe5 ({
Kamsky decides to set up forced play from an early stage of the game, instead
of the strategically more constructive} 5. c3 {followed by d4. Recently,
Topalov had failed to get anything with White in this line, which may explain
his decision to include it in his repertoire with Black.} O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5
h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. Qd3 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. Bxe5 Re8 15. h3 f6 16. Bh2 Rxe4 17. Nbd2 Re8 18. a4 a5 19. Nc4 Ba6 {
Topalov,V (2767)-Vallejo Pons,F (2684)/Dos Hermanas 2008/CBM 123 Extra (1/2,
47)}) ({Kamsky's only (!!) experience against this line so far dates a long
time back and is completely irelevant from the theoretical point of view.} 5.
Nc3 O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 7. Nf3 ({Deviating from one of the most famous games of
chess history, which continued with} 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 9. Be2 Nxe4 10.
Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 $2 Qd3 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Bd7 16. Ra2
$2 Rae8 17. Qa6 Qxf3 $1 $19 {Paulsen,L-Morphy,P/New York 1857/MainBase/
[ChessBase] (0-1, 28)}) 7... Nxe4 8. d4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bf8 $11 {Kamsky,G (2655)
-Winants,L (2505)/Tilburg 1992/CBM 032 (1-0, 42)}) 5... Nxe4 6. Qe2 Nxe5 7. d4
Qe7 {The previous sequence of moves looks completely chaotic, but has been
played before. White will retrieve the temporarily sacrificed piece, but he
aims to do it in the best way. Black's last move proves his intention to avoid
retreating unless this is absolutely necessary.} (7... Be7 8. Qxe4 Ng6 9. f4 c6
10. Bd3 d5 11. Qe2 f5 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Nf3 Nh8 {><e4} 14. Bd2 a5 {Shirov,A 
(2746)-Grischuk,A (2606)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/CBM 080/[Ftacnik] (1-0, 44)}
15. Rae1 $1 Bf6 16. b4 Nf7 17. bxa5 Nd6 18. Ne5 Ne4 19. Bb4 Re8 $14 {Shirov})
8. dxc5 (8. Qxe4 {allows Black to maintain the material equality with} Nc6 {.})
8... Nxc5 9. Nc3 $146 {White has excellent compensation for the sacrificed
pawn. He is far ahead in development and has an active pair of bishops. The
only thing that will not be compensated in any way is the slowness with which
Kamsky effectuated his moves and which inevitably led him to hopeless
time-trouble. Until this moment, Topalov had spent only a minute, but after
White's last move he started thinking longer. I wonder whether he had really
failed to analyse at home Kamsky's logical novelty.} (9. b4 {is not convincing.
} a6 10. bxc5 axb5 11. Re1 Ra6 $1 {An important resource, saving the game for
Black.} (11... f6 $2 12. f4 Qxc5+ 13. Be3 Qc4 14. fxe5 $18 {Gipslis,A (2535)
-Gonsior,E (2385)/Hradec Kralove 1977/EXT 2007 (1-0, 51)}) 12. Qxe5 $2 Re6 13.
Bb2 Kd8 $3 $19) 9... Ng6 10. Qh5 {I am not sure that this is the best move.
White moves for the second time with an already developed piece.} (10. Be3 {
looks more logical, continuing the development of the queenside and
threatening to win a piece with Bxc5.} Ne6 (10... O-O $6 11. Nd5 Qd6 12. Rad1
$16) 11. f4 f5 {I believe that this position is critical for the evaluation of
the whole variation. White is several tempi ahead in development and has an
active pair of bishops, but cracking Black's position is not easy yet. He
probably should keep activating his pieces with Rad1, Rae1 or Nd5, since the
subsequent analysis proves that pawn moves, aiming to make the enemy knights
feel uncomfortable, do not give the desired effect.} 12. h4 (12. g4 $6 O-O 13.
gxf5 Rxf5 14. Bd3 Nh4 15. Bxf5 Nxf5 $44 {[%cal Gb7b6,Gc8b7,Gg7g6,Ga8f8] I
guess Topalov would be just too happy to get such wonderful compensation for
the exchange.}) 12... c6 (12... Qxh4 13. Bf2 $16 {[%cal Ge2e6,Gc3d5]}) (12...
O-O 13. h5 Nh8 14. g4 $36 {Black finds it more difficult to consolidate the
f5-square.}) (12... Nxh4 13. Nd5 Qf7 14. Bf2 $36 {[%cal Gd5c7]}) 13. h5 cxb5
14. Nd5 (14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Nxb5 Qh4 $11 {allows Black force a draw by
perpetual if he so wishes.}) 14... Qd8 (14... Qd6 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. g4 $36) 15.
hxg6 hxg6 16. Bf2 $44 {[%csl Gh4] White's compensation is obvious, but I do
not sense big dangers for Black, either.}) 10... c6 11. Bg5 f6 12. Rae1 Ne6 13.
Bd3 O-O 14. Bd2 {Over the past few moves, White has considerable activated his
pieces. Black mainly relies on his lack of weaknesses, which offers him
chances to resist.} d5 $1 {This is the only move that keeps Black in the game.
Since his main problem is the delay in development, he needs to open the h3-c8
immediately.} ({In the event of} 14... Qf7 {, aiming to meet f2-f4 with f6-f5,
White would consolidate his lead in development with} 15. Ne4 {when the
occupation of the d6-square would leave Black paralyzed after, for instance}
Ne5 ({The exchange of queens with} 15... Ngf4 16. Qxf7+ Rxf7 {would not bring
the desired relief after} 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. Nd6 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Rf8 20. Re7 {
and Black is in trouble.}) 16. Qh3 Nxd3 17. Nd6 $1 {An important intermediate
move.} Nef4 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 19. Qg4 {followed by Qxf4 with a clear advantage for
White.}) 15. f4 {This is the only way to keep fighting for the initiative.} (
15. Re3 $2 d4 16. Rh3 Ng5 $17) (15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6 Bd7 $11) 15... Qc5+ $1 {
This move repells White's attack and leads to the simplification of the
position. At this height of the game, Kamsky had about 8 minuts left on his
clock. Quite a difficult situation...} 16. Kh1 $2 ({After this over-cautious
move White will find himself struggling.} 16. Be3 {was necessary, taking the
d4-square under control, for instance} d4 17. Bxg6 hxg6 ({Black should go for
the opposite coloured bishops. In case of} 17... Qxh5 18. Bxh5 dxe3 19. Rxe3 {
White retains a small edge.}) 18. Qxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxd4 Ne6 {. Black should not
have problems completing his development and gradually equalizing.}) 16... d4
17. Bf5 {With little time on his clock, Kamsky may have overrated the effects
of this move, which threatens to win the queen with Bxe6.} Rf7 $2 ({This move
deserves criticism only because there was an even better one:} 17... Nexf4 $1
18. Rxf4 (18. Bxf4 {allows} Qxf5) 18... dxc3 {Black will emerge a pawn up,
because} 19. Be6+ $2 {does not work in view of} Bxe6 20. Qxc5 cxd2 {with a
decisive material advantage.}) 18. Ne4 Qd5 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Nd6
{It may seem that White is on the top again. After the "obvious" 21...Re7,
defending the knight, White maintains a strong initiative with 22.Bb4.} Rc7 $3
{A fantastic move, starting powerful counterplay.} 22. c4 $2 ({This is
premature panicking with less than 3 minutes left. He should have accepted the
sacrifice with} 22. Nxc8 Raxc8 23. Rxe6 {, although after} Rxc2 {Black has
sufficient material compensation and a strong initiative for the bishop.
Another important aspect is that the black king is safer than its counterpart.
White's position looks dangerous, but he would have remained in the game.})
22... dxc3 23. Bxc3 d4 {Everything is over now. Kamsky is a clear pawn down
and had practically no time left on his clock.} 24. Bb4 Bd7 25. Rf2 a5 26. Ba3
b5 27. b3 b4 28. Bb2 Ra6 29. Ne4 Rac6 30. Kg1 Rc2 31. g3 d3 32. Rd1 f5 {
A tragic game for Kamsky, but quite interesting to follow from the spectators'
point of view.} 0-1

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 {The queen is usually developed on this
square only after 4.Nf3. After the text move, transpositions to the main
system are possible if White plays Ng1-f3 in the near future. Topalov will
choose a rather extravagant approach, leaving the knight on its initial
position until the 22nd move!} dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 ({One of the
points behind this move order is to avoid the possible structural damage after
} 7. Nf3 Nfd7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Qb3 Bg4 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. d5 Ne5 {etc. Still, such
an unnatural way of developing is likely to allow Black the possibility of
obtaining excellent counterplay.}) 7... a6 8. Bf4 ({Another way to delay the
knight's development is} 8. Be3 b5 9. Qb3 {In practice, White has constantly
obtained the slightly more pleasant position.} c5 {I believe that this
untested move is the only way to question the viability of White's plan.} (9...
Bb7 10. f3 Nfd7 11. Nh3 Nc6 12. Rd1 Nb6 13. d5 Na5 14. Qc2 Nac4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4
16. Bc5 Re8 17. O-O $14 {Alekseev,E (2708)-Pelletier,Y (2569)/Biel 2008/CBM
126 (1-0, 43)}) (9... Nc6 10. Rd1 b4 11. Na4 Nxe4 12. Bf3 Bf5 13. g4 Nxd4 14.
Rxd4 Bxd4 15. gxf5 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 $14 {Atalik,S (2599)-Van der Weide,K (2502)/
Augsburg 2008/CBM 122 Extra (1-0, 22). Despite approximate material equality
and an apparent black lead in development, White's chances are superior
because of the numerous weaknesses in Black's camp. In case of simplifications,
White's knights could get on c6 and c5, paralysing Black.}) (9... Ng4 10. Bxg4
Bxg4 11. h3 Bc8 12. Nf3 Nc6 13. Rd1 Na5 14. Qc2 f5 15. O-O Nc4 16. Bc1 fxe4 17.
Qxe4 Bf5 18. Qe2 Qd6 19. Rfe1 $14 {Riazantsev,A (2634)-Safarli,E (2564)/Moscow
2009 (1/2, 32). Black has disrupted the white structure, but his position has
by far more weaknesses.}) 10. dxc5 Be6 11. Qc2 Qa5 $1 {White cannot parry the
threat Nxe4 without making some concession. Had he played the normal 8.Nf3
instead of 8.Be3, both 12.Bd2 and 12.0-0 would have neutralised Black's
initiative. The way it is, the former simply loses a tempo, while the latter
is illegal.}) 8... b5 $5 9. Qxc7 Qxc7 $5 $146 {Black forces the enemy bishop
to occupy a vulnerable square.} (9... b4 $2 {Yakovich,Y (2573)-Kovchan,A (2561)
/Noyabrsk 2003/CBM 099/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 52)}) (9... Qxd4 10. Rd1 Qb4 11. Rd2
Nbd7 12. Be3 Rb8 13. a3 Qb3 14. Nf3 e5 15. O-O Bb7 16. Rfd1 Rfc8 17. Qa5 $14 {
Yakovich,Y (2596)-Shomoev,A (2487)/Sochi 2004/CBM 100 ext (1/2, 33). The
position is almost symmetrical, but White's pieces are more active.}) 10. Bxc7
{A pawn is a pawn, but in this case it costs White a lot of time. Everything
is prepared now for Black to get quickly mobilized.} b4 {Judging from the
relatively high speed with which Kamsky played during this phase of the game,
we may assume that this move was part of his preparation still. There is
another possibility, though. Having lost the previous game because of getting
into desperate time trouble, he may have decided to play quickly at any cost.
In any case, I am sceptical about his last move. Black is insufficiently well
developed for weakening his position in such radical way.} ({I would prefer a
developing course, such as} 10... Bb7 11. f3 (11. e5 Ne8 $1 {[%csl Gc7][%cal
Gb7g2]}) 11... Nc6 $44) 11. Na4 Nc6 12. d5 {This move has the drawback of
opening the long diagonal for the Gruenfeld bishop.} ({Just three (!) days
later, the following game was played:} 12. e5 Nd5 13. Bf3 Be6 14. Ne2 Nxc7 15.
Bxc6 Rad8 16. Nc5 f6 17. f4 fxe5 18. dxe5 g5 19. g3 gxf4 20. gxf4 $14 {Bareev,
E (2645)-Maslak,K (2541)/Moscow Aeroflot 2009 (1-0, 43). The g7-bishop has
remained passive and the black king is somewhat exposed.}) 12... Nd4 13. Bd3
Bd7 {For the first time in the match, Topalov had spent more time than Kamksy
at this height of the game. We may assume that the Bulgarian grandmaster was
taken out of his home preparation rather early, but can only guess until which
point Kamsky was on familiar paths, since he soon started thinking a lot.} 14.
Nb6 Bb5 $1 {A strong move, aimed to eliminate the defender of the e4-pawn and
c2-square.} 15. Be5 (15. Bxb5 axb5 16. Nxa8 {is too risky because of} Nc2+ 17.
Kd1 Nxa1 18. Nb6 Nxe4 {The a1-knight is impossible to trap while White is
underdeveloped still.}) (15. Rd1 $5 {is an interesting way to maintain the
tension, but it does not seem to offer more than just equality.} Ra7 16. Be5
Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Nc2+ 18. Ke2 (18. Kd1 Nxe4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nh3 Rb7 $11 21. Nc4
$6 Rc8 $1 $17) (18. Kd2 $2 Nxe4+ 19. Kxc2 Bxe5 $17) 18... Nxe4 19. Nf3 {
It may seem that the c2-knight is in danger, but the b6-knight is exposed, too.
} Rb7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nc4 Rc8 $11 {If everything else fails, a well-timed
b4-b3 would save the c2-knight from troubles.}) 15... Nxe4 ({This is a rare
case when Kamsky played his move almost instantly. Curiously it was precisely
the moment when he had an alternative worth considering. His move leads to a
position where Black needs to play carefully in order to maintain equality,
while} 15... Bxd3 {would have offered him chances to fight for the initiative,
for instance} 16. Bxd4 Rab8 17. e5 ({The more solid} 17. f3 {fails to
stabilize the position.} Bb5 {Taking the d7-square away from the b6-knight and
threatening to trap it with Ne8 or Nh5.} 18. Rc1 {Preparing the return of the
knight with Nc4.} Nh5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nc4 f5 {Black is two tempi ahead in
development and the white centre is vulnerable.}) 17... Rxb6 18. Bxb6 Nxd5 19.
Bd4 Rc8 {Black has a strong initiative for the sacrificed exchange. I suspect
Topalov would have liked to switch sides, since he is a great specialist in
sacrificing exchanges himself. When choosing the simplifying continuation,
Kamsky may have found himself under the impression of the previous game in
which he failed to convert his advance in development and initiative into
anything concrete. This time, he preferred to play with equal pawns...}) 16.
Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bxe4 Rab8 18. O-O-O Nf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. d6 Rxb6 21. dxe7 Re8 ({
It is difficult to say whether the intermediate} 21... Rc8+ {would have been
better. The pros of this move are that the king is driven away from the centre
and forced to occupy a light square, which may allow an intermediate bishop
check later.}) 22. Nf3 Rxe7 23. Nd4 Bd7 24. Rhe1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 {The position
looks dangerous for Black. If White manages to advance his pawns to f4 and g3
and consolidate his knight with the help of his king, he could blackmail his
opponent with the threat of exchanging queens. In a pure knight versus bishop
ending, all the black pawns would remain vulnerable.} Rh6 $1 (25... Rd6 {
would be premature because of} 26. Rd1 {and White's stability would not be
threatened in any way.}) 26. Re7 ({White is not willing to weaken his
structure with} 26. h3 {Black would continue with} f4 {, leaving the g2-pawn
vulnerable.}) 26... Rd6 $1 {Black has managed to drive the annoying knight
away from the centre, which offers some freedom of action to his king.} 27. Ne2
Kf6 28. Re3 Ba4 29. b3 Bc6 30. Nf4 a5 31. g3 Be4 32. f3 Bc6 33. h4 {Both sides
have achieved almost absolute stability and a draw is the most likely result.}
Rd4 34. Kc2 Bb5 35. Nh5+ Kg6 36. Nf4+ Kf6 37. Nh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O {Topalov chooses a positional variation of the Ruy Lopez, which has not
been part of his main repertoire with Black so far. Despite the favourable
result of the previous games, in which dynamic openings have been played, he
may have felt that the Kamsky had won the theoretical dispute, which is a
possible explanation for this change of scenario.} 9. h3 Bb7 ({The so-called
Zaitsev variation was aimed at being an improved version of the Smyslov system
which is characterized by the move order} 9... h6 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 {
. The attack against the f7-square is not dangerous for Black, as practice has
proved, which allows Black spare the move h7-h6. On the other hand, defining
the light-squared bishop's intentions so soon adds force to White's plan of
blocking the centre with d4-d5.}) 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Ng5 $5 ({Over
the past years,} 12. d5 {has become increasingly popular. The variation played
by Kamsky is less common.}) 12... Re7 13. d5 {This has never been fashionable,
but has occasionally been employed by strong players, probably as a surprise
weapon.} Nb8 {After this time-consuming retreat, White will manage to
establish strong pressure over the black position.} ({The more active} 13...
Na5 {bears the seal of a then reigning World Champion.} 14. Bc2 c6 15. b4 ({
The only possible improvement over this game I can figure out is} 15. dxc6 Bxc6
16. Nf1 {, but objectively Black should be OK.}) 15... Nc4 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17.
dxc6 Bxc6 18. a4 Bb7 19. Nf3 h6 20. Qe2 Qc7 21. Nd2 Rc8 22. Ba3 d5 $15 {
Timman,J (2600)-Karpov,A (2725)/Bugojno 1980/MCD (0-1, 67)}) 14. Nf1 Nbd7 15.
Ng3 g6 16. Bc2 $146 {[%cal Gb2b3,Gc3c4,Ga2a4] An interesting novelty. White
retreats with his bishop to a seemingly more passive square, in order to clear
the path for the b-pawn. The main threat is b2-b3 followed by c3-c4,
consolidating White's advantage of space in the centre.} ({There seems to be
nothing wrong with the previously played} 16. Be3 {, though.} Qc8 (16... h6 17.
Nf3 Nc5 18. Bc2 c6 19. b4 Na4 20. Bxa4 bxa4 21. c4 $14 {[%csl Ga4,Gb7]}) 17.
Rc1 Nc5 18. Bc2 c6 19. b4 Ncd7 20. Bb3 h6 (20... cxd5 {has been recommended,
but does not seem to equalise.} 21. exd5 $14 {[%cal Gc3c4]}) 21. Ne6 $1 cxd5 (
21... fxe6 22. dxe6 Nb8 {Sadly, the only available square.} 23. Qxd6 $16) 22.
Nxf8 Qxf8 23. exd5 $14 {Romanishin,O (2560)-Beliavsky,A (2595)/Minsk 1979/
URS-ch (1-0, 36)}) 16... h6 17. Nf3 Nb6 {The knight incursion to g5 has
finally provoked the weakening of the black kingside with h7-h6, while the
usefulness of the rook on e7 remains questionable. The strategic key to the
evaluation of this position consists of the consequences of the pawn break
c7-c6. This move would revive the b7-bishop but, weaken the d5-square and
Black will obtain adequate play only if he manages to play d6-d5 under
favourable consequences.} 18. h4 $1 {This is a typical attacking move against
the g6- and h6-pawns, but in this case it has a deeper strategic meaning.
After the inevitable c7-c6, the pressure against the g6-pawn will make the
further d6-d5 more difficult to carry out.} Qd7 $1 ({The kingside structure
seems to require the move} 18... h5 {, but this would allow White to complete
his development with gain of time.} 19. Bg5 Bg7 {Apparently, Black is doing
absolutely fine, but White has a strong plan at his disposal.} 20. Nd2 $1 c6
21. Qf3 {White will continue with dxc6, Nf1-e3, Rad1 and Bb3, which would put
strong pressure over the d5-square. At the right moment, a sacrificial attack
based on Nf5 could cause Black certain trouble. It may seem that Topalov's
move is first of all aimed to meet h4-h5 with Qg4, safely defending the
kingside. Actually, there is a lot more to say about this move. Black simply
keeps developing and clears the eighth rank for the a8-rook. Later, the queen
will be able to re-capture on c6 (after c7-c6, dxc6).}) 19. Nh2 Bg7 20. h5 Rf8
$1 {A strong prophylactic move, anticipating White's latent positional threat,
hxg6. With a rook on f8, this exchange would just open the f-file for Black's
counterplay.} 21. Nhf1 $6 ({This move constitutes part of White's general plan,
but he should also think about completing his developing. Kamsky may have
thought that this aspect is less relevant, since the position is almost
blocked. Given the excelent mobilisation of Black's forces, this static way of
thinking is a bit dangerous. A natural reaction to the rook's departure from
a8 would be} 21. a4 {, threatening to open the a-file or drive the b6-knight
away from the control of the d5-square. The main drawback of this move is that
it gives away the pair of bishops after} Nxa4 22. Bxa4 bxa4 23. Rxa4 {,
allowing Black obtain strong counterplay with} c6 24. c4 Nxh5 25. Nxh5 gxh5 26.
Ra3 f5 {when the rook's placement on f8 would be fully justified.}) ({White
could have countered Black's main plan with} 21. Qf3 {(Threatening Bxh6)} Kh7
22. b3 c6 23. Be3 $1 {and Black has to release some of the pressure against
the d5-square.} Qc7 (23... c5 24. b4 $16) (23... Nc8 24. Rad1 $14) 24. Ng4 Nxg4
25. Qxg4 $14 {With the g6-square vulnerable, cxd5 is not a real threat, which
leaves White in control.}) 21... c6 22. dxc6 Qxc6 $5 {It seems more natural to
capture with the bishop, but this move puts some indirect pressure against the
white kingside and allows Black to overprotect the g6-square in the event of a
future d6-d5.} (22... Bxc6 23. Ne3 Kh7 24. b3 $1 $14 {[%cal Gc1a3]} (24. Qf3 d5
$1 $11)) 23. Ne3 {White has completed the first part of his regrouping, but
this has cost him valuable time. Surprisingly, he is three whole tempi behind
in development.} Kh7 ({Topalov's approach in this stage of the game is too
static. By slowly improving the placement of his pieces, he will allow Kamsky
catch up with the development. It looks more logical to open the position at
once with} 23... d5 $11 {.} 24. hxg6 {The move order is quite important.} (24.
exd5 $6 Nfxd5 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 {f5} 26. hxg6 $2 Ne3 $1 27. Be4 Qxe4 28. Nxe4 Nxd1
$17) 24... fxg6 25. exd5 Nfxd5 26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27. Be4 Ref7 28. Be3 h5 $132) 24.
Qf3 Bc8 25. Rd1 Be6 26. b3 $1 {This move marks a radical change of the general
course of the game. At the cost of a pawn, Kamsky restricts two of the pieces
in which Black has invested most time, the e6-bishop and the b6-knight.
Besides, the capture of the pawn will cost Black a few additional tempi.} Qxc3
27. Bd2 Qc7 28. Ba5 Qb8 29. Rd2 Nc8 {This looks too passive.} (29... Rc8 30.
Rad1 Rc6 $13) 30. Rad1 {The situation has changed dramatically over the last
moves. White has achieved a very harmonious development, while Black's
coordination has deteriorated dramatically.} b4 $2 {This move weakens the
b-pawn and the f1-a6 diagonal at the same time. White's task to prove a
concrete attacking plan would have been more difficult if Black had just
played a waiting .move} (30... Rd7 {leaves the e6-bishop trapped, exposing
Black to the permanent dangero f a knight move to f5.}) 31. Qe2 Kh8 32. Bd3 Na7
33. Rc1 Nb5 34. Bxb5 axb5 35. Bxb4 $16 {The material equality has been
restablished and Black's position is in ruins.} Rd7 36. Rc6 Rfd8 37. Qd1 Bf8
38. Qc2 Kh7 39. Ba5 Re8 40. hxg6+ fxg6 41. Bc7 Qb7 42. Bxd6 Bf7 43. Bb4 Bxb4
44. Rxd7 Qxd7 45. Rxf6 Re6 46. Nd5 Bf8 47. Rf3 Kg7 48. Rc3 Ra6 49. Rc7 Qd6 {
White's position is almost perfect, with just one exception: his g3-knight is
passive. There are two possible solutions to this problem. First of all, he
could play Nf1-h2-g4, aiming to provoke h6-h5, in order to retreat to h2-f3.
Kamsky chose a second way, deciding that the knight is useful on g3, by
helping the queen to create threats against the enemy king.} 50. Qe2 {
Threatening Qg4 followed by Nf5 and attacking the b5-pawn at the same time.}
Kg8 51. Qxb5 Rxa2 52. Qb7 Ra1+ 53. Kh2 Bxd5 54. exd5 ({Since he will allow the
exchange of queens anyway,} 54. Qxd5+ {would have been more straightforward.})
54... Qf6 55. Qc8 ({The move suggested by computers,} 55. Kh3 {is not easy to
make in a practical game, with just 8 minutes left on the clock to reach the
60th move control.}) 55... Qh4+ 56. Qh3 Qxh3+ 57. Kxh3 Rd1 58. Ne4 $1 {Black's
position is hopeless. White has two strong passed pawns and a dominating
knight.} Ba3 59. Ra7 Bb4 60. Rb7 Ba3 61. f3 Kf8 62. Rb5 h5 63. Kg3 Rc1 64. Rb8+
Kf7 65. Rb7+ Kf8 66. Kf2 Rc2+ 67. Kf1 Rc1+ 68. Ke2 Rc2+ 69. Kd3 Rxg2 70. Ra7
Be7 71. d6 Bd8 72. Nc5 Ke8 $2 ({The final mistake.} 72... Rg1 {, threatening
Rd1+, would have been more stubborn. White would probably have played} 73. Ke4
Rd1 74. Kxe5 {when Black's position would not have resisted for too long.}) 73.
Rh7 $1 {White threatens to win the bishop with Rh8+ or create a mating net
with Ne6 and d7.} 1-0

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {After getting nowhere against the Grünfeld, Topalov makes a change
already on move 1.} e6 {This is a much bigger surprise, as Kamsky has
previously never played the French Defence.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {Topalov fights
for the opening initiative and is not interested, what Kamsky has up his
sleeve against his usual aggressive choice} (3. Nc3) 3... c5 4. Ngf3 {Although
this is played quite often and can yet transpose into the main lines, the most
principled continuation is still} (4. exd5) 4... cxd4 ({One of Topalov's rare
outings with 3.Nd2 went} 4... Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 (5... Qxd5 $143 $6 6. Bc4 Qd8 7.
dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. O-O $14 Qc7 10. Ne4 Be7 11. b3 Bd7 12. Bb2 O-O-O 13.
Rad1 Qf4 14. Nd6+ $1 Bxd6 15. g3 Qg4 16. Rxd6 h5 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Qxe2 19.
Bxe2 $14 {/+/-, Deviatkin,A (2543)-Pogosian,G (2196)/Sochi/2008/}) 6. Bb5 Bd6
7. O-O cxd4 8. Nb3 Nge7 9. Bxc6+ $5 (9. Nbxd4 {leads to usual theoretical
positions.}) 9... bxc6 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Bf4 Nf5 12. Qa4 Qb6 (12... c5 $5 13.
Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Qa3 Ba6 15. Rfe1 Rac8 $132) 13. Rfe1 (13. Bxd6 $142 Nxd6 14. Ne5
c5 15. Qc6 Qxc6 16. Nxc6 c4 17. Nbd4 Re8 18. Rfe1 Be6 19. Re5 Kf8 20. f3 a6 21.
Kf2 Nb5 22. Nxb5 axb5 23. c3 Ra6 24. Nd4 Rb8 25. Nc2 $36 {Degraeve,J (2523)
-Vaisser,A (2542)/FRA-ch Pau/2008/}) 13... c5 14. Rad1 Be6 15. Ng5 Rae8 16.
Bxd6 Nxd6 17. Qa5 Nb7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 $11 {Topalov,V (2769)
-Harikrishna,P (2668)/Bilbao/2007/ However, this was a rapid blindfold game.})
(4... dxe4 $6 5. Nxe4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 $32 {|^}) ({Topalov himself opted for the
rare} 4... a6 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 (6. Nb3 $142 Ba7 7. exd5 $14 {/<=>}) 6... Nc6
7. O-O Nge7 8. exd5 exd5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Be3 Bc7 12. h3 h6 13. c3
Re8 14. Qc2 Qd6 15. Rad1 Qf6 16. Nbd4 Bd7 17. Qd2 Ng6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bd4 Qd6
20. b4 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {Anand,V (2784)-Topalov,
V (2700)/Wijk aan Zee/1999/ and White's slight edge gradually evaporated.}) ({
Another alternative is} 4... Nf6 5. exd5 (5. e5 Nfd7 6. c3 Nc6 $13 {leads to
different lines - C05-6.}) 5... Nxd5 6. Nb3 cxd4 7. Nbxd4 Be7 8. g3 {This line
could arise also in the game after the possible 5...Nf6 - White has a slight
edge and Black has to defend with care.} (8. Bd3 $5)) 5. Nxd4 {Topalov avoids
a theoretical duel and leads to game to less trodden paths.} ({The more usual} 
5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O {was featured in Game 7.}) 5... Nc6 ({A
different, but viable approach, preferred by French connoisseurs Ni Hua and S.
Ivanov, is} 5... Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 $5 (6... Nxd5 7. N2f3 Be7 $14 {-4...Nf6}) 7.
N2f3 $5 (7. Nb5 Na6 8. c4 (8. Nc3 Qd8 9. a3 Be7 10. Bc4 O-O 11. Qe2 Nc5 12. O-O
a6 13. b4 Ncd7 14. Bb2 a5 (14... Qc7 $5 $132) 15. bxa5 Qxa5 16. Nb5 Nb6 17. Bc3
Qa4 18. Bb3 Qh4 19. Nc7 Rxa3 20. g3 Qg4 21. Qe3 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Nbd7 23. Nxe6 $36
{Timofeev,A (2657)-Ni Hua (2607)/Taiyuan/2006/}) (8. Be2 Qxg2 $5 (8... Bd7 9.
c4 Qxg2 10. Bf3 Qh3 11. Bxb7 Nb4 12. Ne4 Nd3+ 13. Ke2 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nxc1+ 15.
Rxc1 Rb8 16. b3 Bc5 17. Nc7+ Ke7 18. Na6 Rb6 19. Nxc5 Qh5+ 20. f3 Qxc5 21. Qg1
Qe5 22. Qg3 $14 {Ni Hua (2703)-Lysyj,I (2595)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2008/}) 9. Bf3
Qg5 10. a4 Qh4 (10... Bc5 11. Nc4 Qh4 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Ne5 $6 (13. Rg1 $142 $13)
13... Nb4 14. Rg1 Nfd5 15. Bg5 Qxh2 16. Rg3 (16. Rh1 $17) 16... f6 17. c3 fxe5
18. cxb4 Qxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 e4 $19 {Brandenburg,D (2340)-Erdos,V 
(2450)/EU-chJ Iraklion/2004/}) 11. Rg1 Bc5 (11... Qxh2 $5) 12. Qe2 O-O 13. b3
Nb4 14. Nc4 a6 15. Bg5 Qxh2 16. Rh1 Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Qg3 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qxf2
Qxf2+ 20. Kxf2 axb5 21. Rag1+ Kh8 22. Rh4 bxc4 23. Rgh1 {1/2, Yemelin,V (2460)
-Ivanov,S (2515)/St Petersburg/1996/}) 8... Qf5 (8... Qc6 9. a3 Be7 10. b4 O-O
11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Bb2 (12. N2f3 {Avrukh,B (2591)-Zifroni,D (2540)/ISR-chT/2002/}
Rd8 $1 13. Qc2 e5 14. Nb5 e4 $36 {Avrukh}) 12... e5 13. Nc2 $5 Qc7 14. Ne3 Rd8
15. Qc2 Nb8 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Ne4 h6 (17... g6 $142 $132) 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Rd1
Qe7 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Nc6 24. O-O $14 {Evans,G
(2252)-Petrov,M (2114)/corr/2003/}) 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O (10. Nf3 O-O 11. Nd6
Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. Nxc8 Raxc8 14. Qc2 Nb4 15. Qb1 Bc5 16. O-O Nc6 17. Bc3
Rfd8 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qb1 Nc6 20. Qc2 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 $11 {Godena,M (2535)-Ni
Hua (2641)/Reggio Emilia/2008/}) 10... O-O 11. Nd4 Qc5 12. N2b3 Qe5 13. Bf3 Qc7
14. Qe2 Bd7 15. Be3 Rac8 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Rfd1 Nxb3 18. axb3 b6 19. Nb5 Qb8 20.
Bd4 Bc6 21. Ra1 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 a5 23. Qe3 Bc5 $11 {Howell,D (2593)-Ni Hua (2710)
/Dresden olm/2008/}) 7... Nc6 (7... a6 8. Bd3 e5 9. Qe2 Bb4+ 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc4
Qd8 12. Nxe5 Qxd4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qc5 15. Qe3 Qxe3 16. Bxe3 Nbd7 17. Nf3
$5 b5 18. Bb3 Bb7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 Rfc8 21. Rfc1 Bd5 22. Bf1 Rxc1 23. Bxc1
a5 24. a4 $14 {[%csl Gc1,Gf1] _|_^^, Rozentalis,E (2645)-Ivanov,S (2530)/
Krynica/1997/}) (7... Bc5 8. Be2 (8. c4 $5) 8... Nc6 9. c4 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qa5 11.
Nxc6 bxc6 12. a3 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 c5 15. b4 Ke7 16. Ne5 Bb7 17.
Ke3 $14 Bxg2 $6 18. Rhg1 Be4 19. Rxg7 Bg6 20. Rg1 Nd7 21. R1xg6 Nxe5 22. Rh6
$16 {Smagin,S (2575)-Ivanov,S (2550)/RUS-ch St Petersburg/1998/}) 8. Nb5 (8.
Nxc6 $5) 8... Bb4+ 9. c3 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Ba5 11. Nd6+ Ke7 12. Nxc8+ Raxc8 13.
Bd3 Rhd8 14. Ke2 Ng4 15. Rd1 Bb6 16. Bg5+ f6 17. Bh4 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Be4
Nc4 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. b3 Nd6 22. Bd3 g5 23. Bg3 h5 $132 {Yudasin,L (2600)
-Ivanov,S (2515)/St Petersburg/1997/}) 6. Bb5 {This natural move is the best.}
({After} 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 {Black is doing fine. He has a
better version of a similar line from the Pauslen Sicilian and actually if
after} 9. Re1 {Black plays even the senseless} a6 $6 {, he gets a playable
theoretical position - B46.}) 6... Bd7 7. Nxc6 (7. Bxc6 Bxc6 (7... bxc6 $143 8.
O-O Bd6 9. Re1 Qb8 10. exd5 cxd5 11. Nf5 $1 Bxh2+ 12. Kh1 Kf8 13. Nf3 exf5 14.
Nxh2 Nf6 15. Nf3 Be6 16. Kg1 Qb4 17. Nd4 h6 18. b3 Re8 19. Bb2 Ne4 20. Qf3 $40
{Smirin,I (2673)-Dizdar,G (2542)/CRO-chT Sibenik/2005/}) 8. Nxc6 (8. O-O Bc5 $5
9. N2b3 Bd6 $13) 8... bxc6 {-7.Nc6}) 7... Bxc6 ({Here after} 7... bxc6 8. Bd3 {
the situation differs from the 6.Nc6 line, as Black's B is misplaced on d7 and
he has problems developing his N to the natural f6-square. A spectacular crush
was} Qc7 (8... Nf6 $6 9. e5 $16) (8... Bd6 9. Qe2 Ne7 10. e5 $36) (8... Bc8 $5
{, recommended by Gulko, is perhaps the best choice, but it's not easy to make
such a move!}) 9. Qe2 Bd6 (9... Ne7 10. c4 $5 $36 {Yudasin}) 10. Nf3 dxe4 11.
Qxe4 Nf6 12. Qh4 Rb8 (12... Nd5 $142 $1 $14) 13. O-O Nd5 14. Re1 $1 Be7 15. Qg4
g6 16. c4 f5 17. Bxf5 $3 Nf6 18. Qf4 Qxf4 19. Bxf4 Rxb2 20. Bxe6 Bc5 21. Bxd7+
Kxd7 22. Ne5+ Kc8 23. Nd3 {1-0, Yudasin,L (2605)-Gulko,B (2635)/Biel izt/1993/}
) 8. Bxc6+ ({Too soft and sterile is} 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. exd5 Qxd5 11.
Bxc6+ Qxc6 12. Nf3 a6 13. Bg5 Rc8 14. c3 Qe4 15. Rfe1 Qxe2 16. Rxe2 Nd5 17. Rd1
Bxg5 18. Nxg5 O-O $11 {Narciso Dublan,M (2468)-Psakhis,L (2599)/Andorra/2000/})
8... bxc6 9. c4 $1 {White must act immediately, after} (9. O-O Nf6 $11 {
Black equalizes easily.}) 9... Bd6 {Another important moment. Kamsky chooses a
rare, but sound and logical developing move. However, Black has more than one
alternative:} (9... Nf6 10. Qa4 Qd7 $142 (10... Qc7 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O Be7
13. Nf3 (13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nf3 O-O 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. Rac1 Bxb2 17. Rxc6 Qd7 {
1/2, Smirin,I (2649)-Ni Hua (2710)/ECC Kallithea/2008/}) 13... O-O 14. Bg5 Rab8
15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Qc2 h6 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Rfe1 $14 {[%csl Ra7,Rc6] ׫, Zhang
Zhong (2632)-Villamayor,B (2469)/Manila/2008/}) 11. e5 Ng8 $1 12. O-O Ne7 13.
Nf3 c5 (13... dxc4 $5 {/\Nd5<=>}) 14. Qc2 Nc6 15. Rd1 d4 16. Qe4 Rb8 17. h4 Be7
18. h5 h6 19. Qg4 Kf8 20. b3 a5 21. Bf4 a4 22. Nd2 Kg8 23. Ne4 Kh7 24. Rd3 Rhg8
25. Rf3 Ra8 26. Re1 axb3 27. axb3 Qe8 28. Bg3 Ra7 29. Qf4 Rf8 30. Nf6+ gxf6 31.
exf6 Bd8 32. Qe4+ Kh8 33. Qf4 Kh7 34. Qe4+ Kh8 {1/2, Arizmendi Martinez,J 
(2478)-Karpov,A (2692)/Manises/2001/}) (9... Qa5 $5 {aims to prevent Qa4} 10.
Qb3 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. Nc4 Nf6 15.
Ke2 Bc5 16. Rd1+ Nd5 17. Be3 Rhc8 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Ne3 Rac8 $11 {Jurcik,M 
(2378)-Likavsky,T (2485)/Prievidza/2008/}) 10... Rd8 11. O-O Nf6 12. e5 Nd7 13.
Qg3 Qa6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Nb3 g6 16. Bg5 Rc8 17. Rac1 Bg7 18. Qd3 Rc4 19. Rxc4
Qxc4 20. Rc1 Nxe5 21. Qe3 Qa6 22. Qc5 f6 23. Bh6 {1/2, Vachier Lagrave,M (2632)
-Malakhatko,V (2621)/Paris/2008/} Nd7 24. Qe3 O-O 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc7 Rf7 27.
Rxa7 Qd6 $13) (9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 (10. Qa4 f5 $5 (10... Qb6 11. Nxe4 Qb4+ 12.
Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13. Bd2 $14) 11. Qxc6+ (11. f3 Qb6 $1 $17) 11... Kf7 12. O-O Nf6 13.
Nb3 Bd6 14. h3 Rc8 15. Qb7+ Qc7 $36 {1/2, Erenburg,S (2595)-Hug,W (2445)/
Gothenburg/2005/}) 10... Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Nf6 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Be3 Rg8 14. g3
c5 15. Kc2 Kd7 16. Rhd1+ Kc6 17. Rd3 Be7 18. Rad1 Rgd8 $11 {/+/= gives White a
long-term, but only very slight advantage - until now in all games with GM
opposition Black managed to hold the _|_.}) ({Lately Black has experienced
problems after} 9... Bc5 10. Qa4 {, but possibly the matters are not so
serious:} Ne7 11. exd5 exd5 12. Nb3 (12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. O-O O-O $11) 12... Bb6
13. c5 Bc7 14. O-O O-O 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Be5 17. Rae1 Bxb2 $5 (17... Ng6 18.
Bc1 Rc8 19. Qxa7 f5 20. f4 Bf6 21. Re6 Re8 22. Rfe1 Rxe6 23. Rxe6 Nf8 24. Re2
Rc7 25. Qa6 Re7 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Bd2 $36 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2681)-Stellwagen,
D (2616)/Paks/2008/}) 18. Bd6 Rf7 19. Bxe7 (19. Na5 Nf5 $132) 19... Rxe7 20.
Qxc6 Rc7 21. Qe6+ Kh8 22. Re2 Bc3 23. Rd1 d4 24. Qg4 Qd7 25. Qf3 Rac8 26. Re4 {
Krueger,H (2398)-Newman,N/corr/2003/} h6 $11) 10. cxd5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. Qa4
Qd7 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Qxd7+ Kxd7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. O-O Ne7 15. Nf3 Rab8 16. b3
a5 17. Bd2 Bb4 18. Bf4 {Mahjoob,M (2335)-Ghane Gardeh,S (2315)/IRI-ch/2000/}
Rbc8 $11) 10... cxd5 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O (12. Qa4+ Qd7 {could have
transposed into the previous example. Topalov keeps the queens on the board,
which allows White to exert somewhat more pressure.}) 12... Ne7 (12... Nf6 $2 {
is more active, but after} 13. Re1+ {Black will have problems with both his K
and activating his Rh8.}) 13. Nf3 (13. Qa4+ Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. Nf3 {-10.Qa4
}) 13... O-O 14. Qd3 {[%mdl 32] Now playing Qa4 makes little sense and White
prefers to centralize his Q instead. The opening is over and both sides can be
more or less satisfied: Topalov, despite a surprise already on move 1, has
achieved a comfortable position, in which he can without any excessive risk
try to gain something more tangible, than a microscopic edge. On the other
hand, Kamsky has survived the opening without serious damage and with patient
he can hope to neutralize White's slight pull in the long run. The following
phase of the game is characterized by positional manoeuvring, when most of the
strategic battle takes place in the open [+]. While one can suggest
improvements for both sides on more than one moment, objectively the balance
of the position remains almost undisturbed, right up to the fateful mistake on
move 35.} Qd7 ({After} 14... Qb6 {Black has to reckon with} 15. Ng5 {, forcing
>> concessions. Kamsky's move is passive, but safe.}) 15. Rd1 (15. Ng5 $142 Qf5
$11) (15. Re1 $5 {is a plausible alternative - right now the Pd5 is reliably
defended later in the game White's R will occupy the open <-> anyway.} Qf5 16.
Qxf5 Nxf5 17. Bd2 $14 {/=}) 15... Rfd8 16. Be3 a5 {The P leaves a vulnerable
square and makes it more difficult for White to advance his <<P-majority.} (
16... Nf5 17. Bg5 $14 {/\} f6 $2 18. Qxd5+ Kh8 19. Bf4 $16) 17. g3 h6 {Both
sides need a luft for their K.} 18. Bb6 {Why force Black's R to occupy a more
active square?} (18. Bd4 $5) 18... Rdc8 (18... Re8 $5) 19. Bd4 Bc5 {A
debatable decision. Although the Bd4 targets Black's >>, at this moment it
still doesn't present any concrete danger.} (19... a4 {, fixing Pb2, was fully
playable.}) 20. Bc3 Bb4 21. Be5 (21. Rac1 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 a4 $132) 21... Bd6 (
21... Qg4 $5 {[%cal Yg4e4] Shipov, /\Qe4}) 22. Rd2 $5 ({After the natural} 22.
Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Nd4 a4 24. Rd2 Nc6 $5 $11 {/<=> White doesn't achieve much, so
Topalov prefers another central outpost for his N.}) 22... Bxe5 {Consistent.} (
22... Bb4 23. Re2 f6 24. a3 $5 Bc5 25. Bd4 $5 $36 {[%csl Re6] ><e6}) 23. Nxe5
Qd6 (23... Qb7 $5 24. Qf3 Rf8 {[%cal Ya8a6,Ya6e6,Ye6f6] /\Ra6-e6,f6<=>}) 24.
Re1 Rc7 (24... a4 25. Nc4 $5 Qf6 26. Nb6 Qxb6 27. Rxe7 $14) 25. Qf3 Rf8 26. Kg2
(26. h4 $1 {[%cal Yh4h5] /\h5()>>}) 26... Rb7 (26... g6 $5 27. h4 (27. Qf4 Nf5
28. Red1 d4 $13 {/\} 29. g4 Re7 $1 30. gxf5 Rxe5 31. Rxd4 Qc6+ 32. Qf3 Qxf3+
33. Kxf3 Rxf5+ $11) 27... h5 {[%cal Yg8g7,Yd6f6] /\Kg7,Qf6 slightly loosens
the >>, but prevents the cramping advance of the h-pawn. This will be
significant later on.}) 27. h4 $1 Qb4 28. Ree2 Qa4 $1 29. b3 Qb4 {Black has
forced an advance of the Pb2, but why give White a tempo to reposition his N?}
(29... Qb5 $142 $5 $11 {/+/=,/\a4}) 30. Nd3 (30. h5 Rc7 {is similar.}) 30...
Qd6 31. h5 Rc7 32. Nf4 d4 ({Less committal is} 32... Rd8 $5 {and White's edge
remains at best minimal.}) 33. Re4 Nc6 $8 (33... Nf5 $2 34. Ne2 $16) 34. Nd3 {
Solid, White blockades the P and can occupy the neighboring open files.} (34.
Ne2 $2 f5 35. Rf4 Ne5 $17) 34... Rd8 35. Rc2 {Natural, but here the R is
undefended.} (35. Qf4 Qd5 $1 $132 (35... Qxf4 36. Nxf4 $14)) (35. Rde2 $5)
35... Nb4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Otherwise a sound positional move, this is a heavy
tactical mistake, which costs Black the game.} ({Waiting moves like} 35... Kh8
36. Rc4 $14 {allow White to retain his edge.}) (35... Ne5 $2 36. Nxe5 Rxc2 37.
Nxf7 Qd7 38. Nxd8 Qxd8 39. Qd3 $18) ({However, interesting was the concrete} 
35... f5 $5 36. Qxf5 (36. Ree2 Ne5 37. Nxe5 Rxc2 38. Nf7 (38. Rxc2 Qxe5 $11)
38... Qf6 39. Nxd8 (39. Nxh6+ Qxh6 40. Rxc2 d3 41. Rc5 d2 42. Rd5 Qf6 $36 {
[%csl Gd2]}) 39... Rxe2 40. Qxe2 Qxd8 $11) 36... Ne7 37. Re6 $8 Qxg3+ $8 38.
fxg3 Rxc2+ 39. Qf2 Rxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Nd5 41. Re5 Nb4 42. Nxb4 (42. Ke2 Nxa2 43.
Rxa5 Nc3+ $11) 42... axb4 43. Ra5 $1 d3 44. Ke1 d2+ 45. Kd1 Rd3 46. Ra4 (46. g4
Rg3 $11) 46... Rxg3 47. Rxb4 Rg1+ 48. Kxd2 Rg2+ 49. Kc3 Rxa2 $11 {and although
formally White is still better, it's hard to imagine Black can lose such a
simplified R_|_.}) 36. Nxb4 axb4 37. Rxd4 $1 Qf8 $6 (37... Qxd4 38. Rxc7 Qd5 {
was more tenacious, although here after} (38... Rf8 39. Qf5 $16 {/\Qc5 also
forces the Q-swap.}) 39. Rb7 Qxf3+ 40. Kxf3 $16 {/+- White has excellent
winning chances - the Ph5 plays an important positive role.}) (37... Rxc2 $2
38. Rxd6 Rxd6 39. Qa8+ Kh7 40. Qe4+ $18) 38. Rxd8 Qxd8 39. Rxc7 Qxc7 40. Qa8+
Kh7 41. Qe4+ Kg8 42. Qxb4 $18 {Black is 2P down and has no perpetual - the
result is a foregone conclusion.} Qc6+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kh2 Qc2 45. Qe1 (45.
Qb8+ Kh7 46. Qf4 Kg8 47. Qe3 $18 {is similar}) 45... Kf8 (45... Kh7 46. a4 $5
Qxb3 47. Qe4+ Kg8 48. Qa8+ Kh7 49. a5 {[%csl Ga5] and the o^ is unstoppable.})
46. a3 $1 Qb2 (46... Qxb3 47. Qb4+ $18) 47. Qb4+ Kg8 48. Kg2 Qe5 49. Qg4 Qb2 (
49... Qd5+ 50. Qf3 $18) 50. Qc8+ Kh7 51. Qc4 Qxa3 (51... Kg8 52. a4 $18) 52.
Qxf7 Qb4 53. Qc4 Qb7+ 54. Kg1 Qf3 55. g4 {[%cal Rb3b6] /\b4-b5-b6} 1-0

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {Heutzutage ist der Vorstoß 3.e5 auf hohem Niveau
öfters anzutreffen als die alte Hauptvariante 3.Nc3. Das Problem nach 3.Nc3
liegt in der Stellung, die nach den folgenden Zügen aufs Brett kommt:} (3. Nc3
dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3
e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qc7 15. O-O-O Ngf6 $11 {Früher
spielte man diese Stellung mit dem Bauer auf c2 (ohne Bb4-Be7). Der
Unterschied ist, dass Schwarz sehr gutes Gegenspiel mittels b5 bekommt.
Deswegen greift Weiß öfters zu 3.e5.}) 3... Bf5 4. Nf3 {Im Angesicht der
letzten Ereignisse kann ich diesen Zug nicht mehr als Haupvariante bezeichnen.
Noch vor 6 Monaten galten die entstehenden Abspiele als besser für Weiß, doch
seit Schwarz wieder zu 5...c5 greift, hat sich der weiße Vorteil in Luft
aufgelöst.} (4. Nd2 $5 {scheint mir genauer, wobei hier andere Probleme zu
überwinden sind.} e6 5. Nb3 c5 $1 {Der direkteste und stärkste Versuch!} ({Nach
} 5... Nd7 6. Nf3 Ne7 (6... c5 $2 7. dxc5 Nxc5 (7... a6 8. Nbd4 Bg6 9. b4 $16)
8. Nxc5 Bxc5 9. Bb5+ $16) 7. Be2 $14 {hat Weiß sein erstes Ziel erreicht -
Schwarz kann kein c5 spielen, und damit ist dem Weißen ein kleiner Vorteil
sicher.}) 6. dxc5 Bxc5 $1 7. Nxc5 Qa5+ 8. c3 Qxc5 9. Nf3 Ne7 10. Qa4+ Nbc6 11.
Be3 Qa5 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Nd4 a6 14. Nxf5 Nxf5 15. Bf4 Rc8 16. O-O-O Ne7 17. h3
Ng6 18. Bh2 Nc4 19. Re1 O-O $11 {Kosintseva N. - Chiburdanidze (Krasnoturyinsk,
2006). Zwar hat Weiß den Vorteil des Läuferpaares, doch die Stellung ist
ziemlich geschlossen und Schwarz kann sie wohl halten.}) (4. Nc3 $5 {Das ist
eine andere Geschichte im Caro-Kann. Die entstehenden Stellungen sind sehr
scharf und unklar.} e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7 9. Nxh5 cxd4
10. Nb5 Nc6 $132) 4... e6 5. Be2 c5 $1 {Nur so! Alles anderes bringt Schwarz
in Nachteil.} (5... Nd7 6. O-O Ne7 (6... c5 7. c4 Ne7 8. Nc3 $14) 7. Nh4 Bg6 8.
Nd2 c5 9. c3 Nc6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Nf3 $14) (5... h6 6. O-O Ne7 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8.
Nb3 Bh7 9. Bd2 $14 {In allen Varianten, in denen Schwarz es nicht schafft, den
Vorstoß ...c5 durchzuführen, steht Weiß besser.}) 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8.
Nd2 $6 {Diese Nebenvariante wurde von Kamsky sehr wahrscheinlich gewählt, weil
er geglaubt hat, dass in den Hauptvarianten Topalov alles ausanalysiert hat.
Es scheint jedoch, dass auch 8.Nd2 von der schwarzen Seite gut vorbereitet war.
} (8. Bg5 Qd7 $1 9. Bxe7 (9. Nc3 Bg6 10. h4 h6 11. Bf4 Nec6 12. Nb3 Qd8 13. h5
Bh7 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Nd7 16. Qg3 a6 $132 {Charbonneau - Erenburg 
(Baltimore, 2008)}) (9. c4 Nbc6 10. Bxe7 Bxe7 11. Nxf5 exf5 12. cxd5 Nxe5 13.
O-O O-O 14. Nc3 a6 15. Qd4 Bd6 16. a4 Qe7 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 19. Bf1
Qg5 $36 {Shabalov - Kacheishvili (Philadelphia, 2008). Schwarz kann eigentlich
nur besser stehen.}) 9... Bxe7 10. Nxf5 exf5 11. Bf3 (11. Nd2 Nc6 12. Nf3 O-O
13. O-O Rad8 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Qd2 Bc5 $132 {Nijboer - Erenburg (Dieren, 2006)})
11... Qb5 12. Qxd5 Qxb2 13. O-O Nc6 14. Nd2 Rd8 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Nxb3 Kd7 17.
Rfd1+ Kc7 $11 {Mamedov - Rodshtein (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 8... Nbc6 9. N2f3 Bg4 10.
O-O Bxf3 (10... Nxd4 $2 11. Nxd4 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 {Der Abtausch bring Schwarz
keine Erleichterung, im Gegenteil, er gerät in einen Entwicklungsnachteil, der
entscheidend ist.} Nc6 13. c4 $1 Be7 (13... Nxe5 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Rac1 Be7 16.
Rfd1 $16 {/\Nc6/Nb5}) 14. Rfd1 O-O 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Nf5 $16 {Bologan - Bakker
(Gibraltar, 2006)}) 11. Nxf3 g6 $1 $146 {Starke Neuerung! Weiß muss aufpassen,
dass er keine Schwierigkeiten mit dem Bauern e5 bekommt.} (11... Nf5 12. Bf4
Be7 13. Bd3 Nh4 14. Nxh4 Bxh4 15. Qg4 g6 {Kritz - Miton (Lubbock, 2008)} 16.
Rad1 $1 h5 (16... O-O 17. c4 $14) 17. Qe2 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. f4 Qe7 20. c4
$14) 12. c4 $5 {Einerseits ist es die prinzipielle Fortsetzung. Auf der
anderen Seite, es ist vielleicht zu direkt. Weiß hätte in einer so wichtigen
Partie besser die langsamere Strategie wählen sollen:} (12. Bf4 Bg7 13. Re1 O-O
(13... h6 14. h4 (14. Bd3 $6 g5 15. Bg3 Nf5 $1 16. Bxf5 exf5 17. h4 O-O $15 {
Der weiße Läufer wird demnächst aus dem Spiel ausgeschlossen und Schwarz kommt
in Vorteil.}) 14... Nf5 15. g3 $14) 14. Qd2 $14 {Zwar hat Weiß keinen großen
Vorteil, aber eine langfristige Initiative. Wichtig ist vor allem, dass
Schwarz seinerseits nicht viel machen kann, weil f6 zur Spielöffnung führen
würde, die natürlich den weißen Läufern Freiheiten gibt.}) 12... Bg7 13. cxd5
$6 {Schwarz hat von nun an keine Probleme. Es wäre ein Versuch wert, gleich
mit 13.Bc5 fortzufahren.} (13. Bc5 $5 {Ich kann nicht sehen, wie Schwarz hier
genau ausgleichen kann.} O-O ({Ausgesprochen schlecht ist} 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. cxd5 exd5 (15... Nxd5 $4 16. Bb5+ $18) (15... Qxd5 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17.
Qxd5 exd5 18. Rfe1 Bf6 19. Rad1 $44) 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. Re1 Bxh2+ $1 18. Kf1 $3 (
18. Kxh2 Qc7+ 19. Kg1 Qxc5 20. Qe2 Qd6 $1 $17 {xe5} (20... Nc6 21. Bxc6 bxc6
22. Qe5 Kg8 23. Qf6 $16)) 18... Bd6 19. Bd4 Rg8 20. Qd2 g5 21. Bd3 $44 {
Weiß bekommt genau was er haben will.}) 14. cxd5 exd5 (14... Qxd5 15. Qxd5 exd5
16. Bb5 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 $14) 15. Qb3 Re8 (15... Rb8 16. Bd6 $16) (15... Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Qxb7 Bd6 18. Bxa7 Qa5 19. Qb6 $1 Bxh2+ 20. Kxh2 Qxa7 21. Qxa7
Rxa7 22. a4 $14) 16. Rad1 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bb5 Nc6 19. Rxd5 $14) 13...
Nxd5 14. Bc5 Bf8 $1 {In diesen Moment kann man schon sagen, dass die Partie
aus weißer Sicht gelaufen ist. Er muss einen der Läufer tauschen, der schwarze
König evakuiert sich am Königsflügel, der Bauer e5 bleibt schwach, der
Springer d5 dagegen superstark.} 15. Qc1 (15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Bb5 Rc8 17. Rc1 Qb6
18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. Rxc6 Qxc6 20. Qd2 Kg7 $11) (15. Rc1 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 O-O 17. Qd2
Kg7 18. Rfc1 Rc8 $11) 15... Rc8 (15... Bxc5 {würde wohl auch ausgleichen, aber
der Partiezug ist genauer - Schwarz erzwingt das Nehmen auf f8 und bringt
gleichzeitig seinen Turm ins Spiel.} 16. Qxc5 Qe7 17. Rfc1 Rc8 (17... Qxc5 18.
Rxc5 Kd7 19. Bb5 Rhc8 20. Ng5 Ke7 21. Rac1 $14) 18. Bb5 a6 $11) 16. Bxf8 Nd4 $1
(16... Kxf8 $2 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Bc4 Nb6 19. Bb5 $14) 17. Qd1 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2
Kxf8 $11 {Weiß muss nun eher aufpassen, dass er nicht in ein schlechtes
Endspiel kommt. Die Schwäche des Punktes f6 ist nicht bemerkbar, weil der
Springer von d5 das Feld verteidigt.} 19. Rac1 Kg7 20. h4 (20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21.
Nd4 Qc5 22. Rd1 Rd8 $11) 20... Qb6 21. g3 (21. h5 Nf4 22. h6+ $2 Kxh6 23. Qd2
g5 24. g3 Rhd8 $19) 21... h6 {Jetzt hat Schwarz immer g5 als Antwort auf h5.} (
21... h5 $6 {ist zwar nicht besonders schlecht, aber schwächt immerhin das
Feld g5.}) 22. a3 $1 {Weiß muss vorsichtig spielen.} (22. Rc2 Nb4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8
24. a3 Nc2 $1 $15 {xb2}) 22... Rc5 23. Rc2 Rhc8 24. Rfc1 {Ein Gesamttausch hat
sich angedeutet.} a5 25. Qd2 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Rc5 27. Qc1 Rxc2 28. Qxc2 Ne7 29.
Qc3 Nc6 {Der Angriff des Bauern e5 hat auch einen klaren Nachteil - das Feld
f6 wurde außer Kontrolle gelassen. Die Stellung hält sich im absoluten
Gleichgewicht, weder Schwarz, noch Weiß kann einen Vorteil erzielen.} 30. b3
Qd8 31. a4 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 Qe2 33. Qe3 Qd1 (33... Qxe3 34. fxe3 $11 {Der weiße
Doppelbauer spielt keine große Rolle. Eher, um den König schneller ins Zentrum
zu bringen, wird Schwarz ihn mittels f6 abtauschen.}) 34. Nd2 Nb4 35. Nc4 Nc2
36. Qd2 Qb1 37. Qf4 Ne1+ 38. Kh2 Qxb3 39. Qf6+ Kg8 {Weiß ist zur
Zugwiederholung gezwungen.} 40. Qd8+ (40. Nd6 Qf3 41. Kh3 (41. Qxf3 Nxf3+ 42.
Kg2 Nxe5 43. Nxb7 Nc6 $19) 41... Qxf6 42. exf6 Nd3 43. Nxb7 Nxf2+ 44. Kg2 Nd3
45. Nxa5 Nc5 $19) 40... Kh7 41. Qf6 Kg8 42. Qd8+ Kh7 43. Qf6 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 ({Game 5 featured} 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 {
, here Topalov goes for the main alternative.}) 4... Qxd5 {Black doesn't want
to defend an isolated queen's P and strives for free development of his forces.
This line was highly popular in the 1980s, although it lost most of its appeal
towards the end of the 20-th century, when Black mostly turned to 3...Nf6.
Black's choice is still largely a matter of taste, the other main move} (4...
exd5 {is also far from refuted and objectively hardly any worse - Korchnoi
used it successfully in his 1974 match against Karpov.} 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7
7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Nb3 Nce4 11. Nfd4 Qd7 12. Qf3 g6 13.
Bh6 Ng4 14. Bf4 O-O 15. h3 Ngf6 16. c3 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 Bd8 18. Nc2 Bb6 19. Nbd4
Re7 20. Ne3 Rae8 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 Qc8 $11 {1/2 Topalov,V (2455)-Fries
Nielsen,J (2415)/Copenhagen/1991/}) 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O ({A very
ambitious idea is} 7. Qe2 $5 {, after} Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a6 10. O-O-O b5
11. Bd3 Be7 12. Rhe1 Bb7 (12... Bd7 $5) 13. Nfxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qd5 $6 (14...
Nd5 $14) (14... Bd5 $5) 15. Nf5 Qxa2 16. Qe5 $1 Qa1+ 17. Kd2 Qa5+ 18. c3 Ne4+
$2 (18... Kf8 $16) 19. Bxe4 Bxg5+ 20. Ke2 Bxe4 21. Nxg7+ Kf8 22. Qxg5 $18 {
Ganguly,S (2603)-Petrik,T (2487)/Dresden olm/2008/ Black was soon crushed.
However, Topalov is one point up with two games to go and doesn't need
double-edged positions with opposite-side castling.}) 7... Nf6 8. Re1 {This
idea gained it's share of attention after Kasparov used it against Gelfand in
Astana 2001.} ({However, the main line is still} 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.
Nxd4 {and now Moskalenko advocates Petrosian's simple developing move} Be7 $5 {
, which seems quite solid:} (10... a6 {and}) (10... Bd7 {occur far more often,
but are perhaps no better.}) 11. Be3 (11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 Qf4 13. Nf3 b6 14. Be5
Qg4 15. Nd4 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 Bb7 17. Nb5 Bc5 18. Bd6 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Rfc8 20. Rfd1
Kf8 $11 {1/2, Tal,M (2615)-Petrosian,T (2625)/Biel izt plof/1976/}) (11. Nb5
Qc6 (11... Qb8 $5 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Re1 a6 14. Nc3 b5 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qc7 17.
Rad1 Rfd8 $11 {Alonso Fernandez,M (2196)-Gavilan Diaz,M (2081)/Mondariz/2004/})
12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bf4 a6 14. Nd4 Qc5 15. Nb3 Qc6 16. Nd4 Qc5 $11 {1/2,Tal,M 
(2615)-Petrosian,T (2635)/Tbilisi/1976/}) (11. c3 O-O 12. Qf3 (12. Re1 {
can lead to the position from our game.}) 12... Qc7 13. Bb3 (13. Bd3 Bd7 14.
Bg5 Nd5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Rfe1 Rad8 $11 {1/2, Cooper,L (2313)-Lalic,B (2538)/
Bunratty/2009/}) 13... Bd7 14. Bg5 Rad8 (14... Nd5 $5 $11 {Illescas}) 15. Bh4
Bc8 16. Rfe1 a6 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. Bc2 Nd5 19. Bg3 Bd6 20. Bb3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Nf6
22. Nc2 $11 {1/2, Illescas Cordoba,M (2603)-Moskalenko,V (2569)/Barcelona/2008/
}) 11... O-O 12. Qf3 Qc7 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. h3 Rac8 15. Rad1 b5 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17.
Bf4 Qb6 18. a3 b4 19. axb4 Bxb4 20. c3 Be7 21. Be5 a5 22. Ra1 {Onischuk,A 
(2610)-Gulko,B (2585)/New York op/1998/} a4 $11) 8... Be7 {Kamsky played this
quickly, just as in the above note Black strives first of all to safeguard his
K.} (8... Nc6 {is played more often, but it can lead to the same position
after both of White's main reactions:} 9. Nb3 {again gives Black a choice
between transposing to the game with} (9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 Be7 11. Nxd4 ({
Later White tried} 11. Bf4 {, but this is also far from convincing:} Qc5 12.
Bd3 Bf6 13. a3 O-O (13... a5 $5 14. Re1 O-O 15. Nd2 Be7 16. Nc4 Rd8 17. Bc7 Rd7
18. Bb6 Qg5 19. Qe2 a4 20. Rad1 Bf6 21. Qe4 g6 22. Nd2 Bd8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. f4
Qc5 $17 {Marcotulli,G (2484)-Legemaat,G (2381)/corr/2004/}) 14. b4 Qb6 $1 (
14... Qh5 $6 15. b5 Ne7 16. Be5 Nd5 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Nf6 19. Qd2 a6 20.
b6 Qc5 21. Re1 Qxb6 22. Ne5 $40 Nd5 $2 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rh4+ Kg8 25. Qd3 g6
26. Qh3 Qa5 27. Rh8+ Kg7 28. Qh6+ {1-0, Hracek,Z (2584)-Kelly,B (2487)/ECC
Rethymnon/2003/}) 15. Re1 (15. b5 Ne7 16. Nxd4 Nd5 17. Be5 Rd8 $13 {/=/+})
15... Ne7 16. Qe2 Nd5 17. Qe4 g6 18. Be5 Rd8 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Qh4 Kg7 21. Rad1
a5 22. Bf1 axb4 23. axb4 h6 24. Ne5 Ra4 25. Rd3 Qxb4 26. Rf3 Qe7 $15 {
Marcotulli,G-Sandstroem,B/corr/2004/} (26... g5 27. Rg3 Qxe1 28. Rxg5+ hxg5 29.
Qxg5+ Kh7 30. Qh4+ $11)) {The principled continuation is} 11... e5 $142 $1 {
, the forced series of moves} (11... O-O 12. Bf4 Qc5 13. Bd3 $1 $14 {|^,
Kasparov} (13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bd3 b5 15. a4 a6 16. Re3 Bb7 17. Be4 {Kasparov,G 
(2835)-Gelfand,B (2712)/Astana/2001/} Qb6 (17... Qc8 $5 18. Rc3 Bxe4 19. Rxc8
Raxc8 $44) 18. a5 Qa7 $11)) 12. Bf4 (12. Qf3 Nxd4 13. Qxf7+ Kd8 14. Qxg7 Re8
$17) 12... exf4 13. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 bxc6 15. Rde1 Kf8 16. Rxe7 Be6 17.
R1xe6 fxe6 18. Rc7 (18. Rxe6 Re8 19. Rxc6 Re1+ 20. Bf1 Ke7 21. Rc7+ Kf6 22.
Rc6+ Kg5 $17 {Moreno Tejera,E (2360)-Matamoros Franco,C (2472)/Lorca/2003/})
18... h5 $1 {leads to a sharp _|_, in which even Black can have winning
chances, if White overdoes it:} 19. Kf1 Rh6 20. Rxc6 (20. Ke2 Rf6 21. Rxc6 Rd8
22. a4 Ke7 23. Ra6 Rd7 24. Bd3 f3+ 25. gxf3 Rf4 $15 {Efimenko,Z (2590)-Petrik,
T (2393)/Cappelle la Grande/2003/}) 20... Rd8 (20... Re8 21. Rc7 Re7 22. Rc8+
Re8 23. Rc7 Re7 24. Rc8+ {1/2, Kurnosov,I (2549)-Najer,E (2614)/Kazan/2005/})
21. Bd3 Ke7 22. Ra6 Rd7 23. h4 $1 {Oral,T} (23. Ra5 $6 h4 24. h3 g6 {[%cal
Yh6h5] /\Rh5=/+} 25. Ra6 g5 26. Ke2 Kf6 27. b3 Rh8 28. Bc4 Re7 29. Rc6 Rb8 30.
a4 Rb6 31. Rc8 e5 32. Rf8+ Kg6 33. Rg8+ Kf5 34. a5 Rd6 35. Rf8+ Rf6 $17 {
Oral,T (2565)-Wang Hao (2456)/Calvia olm/2004/}) 23... e5 (23... Rf6 24. Ra5 g6
25. Ke2 f3+ 26. gxf3 Rf4 27. Bxg6 Rxh4 28. Rxh5 $11) 24. Ra5 Kd6 25. Ke2 $13)
9... Be7 ({or sharper moves as} 9... Bd7 {or}) (9... a6)) 9. Nb3 {Just as on
move 7, Topalov makes the more restrained move and is simply content with
regaining the P.} (9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 Nc6 {-8...Nc6}) 9... Nc6 10. Nbxd4 Nxd4
(10... O-O 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Ne5 $36) 11. Nxd4 (11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 $11)
11... O-O 12. c3 Bd7 (12... e5 13. Nf3 Qxd1 (13... Qc7 {Ehlvest,J (2589)
-Lobron,E (2517)/Reykjavik/2002/} 14. Nxe5 $1 Bd6 15. Qd4 Bxe5 16. Rxe5 Rd8 17.
Qf4 Rd1+ 18. Bf1 Qc6 (18... Be6 19. Re1 $16) 19. c4 Be6 20. b3 $16) 14. Rxd1
Bg4 15. Re1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Bd6 17. Be3 Rfc8 18. Bb3 a5 19. Rad1 Ra6 20. Kg2 h6
21. Bc2 $14 {[%csl Gc2,Ge3] Hotting,A (2479)-Bendig,F (2373)/corr/2004/ This
endgame is pleasant and riskless for White with his ^^, no wonder Kamsky
avoids it.}) (12... Qc7 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. Bg5 Nd5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qh5 Rae8 17.
Re3 g6 18. Qg5 Kg7 19. Rh3 Ng8 20. Qh4 h6 21. Nc2 e5 22. Rg3 Ne7 23. Ne3 Nf5
$11 {Minhazuddin,A (2339)-Panggabean,H (2254)/Kuala Lumpur/2008/}) 13. Qf3 (13.
Bg5 $2 Qc5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 $17 {Middelhoven,H-Marcus,J (2274)/Haarlem/2001/}) (
13. Bb3 Bc6 14. Bg5 {1/2, Adams,M (2715)-Seirawan,Y (2647)/Bermuda/2000/} Rfd8
$132) (13. Qe2 Rac8 14. Bb3 Qb6 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bg5 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Qb5 18. Qe5
Qxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Rac1 Bc6 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 $11 {Arnason,J (2500)-Eingorn,V 
(2570)/Moscow/1990/}) 13... Qb6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty,
which puts White's << under pressure and gives Black good <=>. Kamsky was
still playing quite fast, indicating that he was still following his
preparation.} (13... Qc7 14. Bd3 (14. Bb3 Bd6 15. h3 e5 16. Nc2 e4 17. Qe2 Qc5
18. Ne3 Rae8 19. Nf1 Qf5 $13 {/=/+,Cioara,A (2422)-Kruppa,Y (2538)/Bucharest/
2006/}) 14... Rfe8 (14... Bd6 15. g3 (15. h3 a6 16. Bg5 Be5 17. Qe3 Bh2+ 18.
Kh1 Nd5 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qe2 Rae8 21. g3 Bxg3 22. fxg3 Qxg3 23. Nf3 Qxh3+ $44 {
Horvath,T (2475)-Almasi,I (2370)/HUN-chT 9394/1994/}) 15... Be5 16. Nb5 Bxb5
17. Bxb5 Rfd8 18. Bf1 Nd5 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Rad1 Qb6 21. Bc1 $14 {Ciornas,V 
(2357)-Saul,A (2100)/corr/2005/}) 15. Bg5 (15. Bf4 $5 Qb6 16. Re2 $14) 15...
Nd5 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 17. Rad1 Ba4 18. Bc2 Bxc2 19. Nxc2 $11 {1/2, Sokolov,A (2595)
-Nogueiras Santiago,J (2560)/Brussels/1988/}) (13... Rac8 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. Bb3
Bc6 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 Rxc6 18. Rad1 Rcc8 19. Rd3 Rfd8 20. Red1 Rxd3 21.
Rxd3 Kf8 22. Kf1 Bc5 23. f3 Ke7 24. Ke2 $14 {Liberzon,V (2480)-Tatai,S (2385)/
EU-chT Haifa/1989/}) 14. Bb3 (14. Bf4 Qxb2 15. Rab1 Qa3 16. Rxb7 {seems
promising for White, but is in fact at best unclear after} Rac8 17. Bb3 Qc5
$132 (17... a5 $5 $11)) 14... a5 ({The text-move is more enterprising, than} 
14... Bc5 15. Bg5 (15. Be3 a5 {-14...a5}) 15... Bxd4 16. cxd4 Bc6 17. Qd3 Bb5 (
17... Nd5 18. Bc2 $36) (17... Qb5 $6 18. Qxb5 Bxb5 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. d5 $36)
18. Qe3 Nd5 $11) 15. Be3 {[%cal Rd4e6]} (15. Nf5 $6 exf5 16. Rxe7 a4 17. Bc4
Rae8 $32 {is risky for White.}) 15... Bc5 16. Rad1 {[%mdl 576] Defensive moves
are fine for Black, therefore Topalov sacrifices a P and heads for immense
complications.} (16. Qe2 a4 17. Bc4 e5 18. Nc2 (18. Nf3 Bg4 $1 $36) 18... Rac8
$11) (16. Re2 $6 e5 (16... a4 17. Bc2 Nd5 18. Rd1 $13) 17. Nf5 e4 18. Qf4 Bxf5
19. Qxf5 Bxe3 20. fxe3 a4 $36) ({However, objectively the text-move is quite
risky and White still had} 16. Bg5 $5 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Bc6 18. Qd3 $11 {, which
is similar to 14...Bc5 and rather sterile.}) 16... a4 17. Bc2 (17. Bc4 $5 {
gives Black a choice:} {Black can also ignore the P, a fighting alternative is}
e5 $5 (17... Qxb2 18. Bh6 $5 Be7 (18... Bc6 19. Qg3 (19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Re2 Qb8
21. Bf4 Qb6 $13 {/=/+}) 19... Nh5 20. Qh4 Ra5 (20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Ra5 22. Bc1
$36) 21. Re5 Qxc3 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Rxh5 Bxf2+ (23... gxh6 24. Bd3 $40) 24.
Kxf2 Rxh5 25. Qxh5 Qxc4 26. Qg5 Qxa2+ 27. Rd2 Qa1 28. Rd8 f5 29. Rd7 Qb2+ 30.
Ke1 Qb1+ 31. Kf2 Qb2+ $11) (18... Bd6 19. Bg5 (19. Rb1 Qa3 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21.
Rxb5 Nd5 $5 $15) 19... Rfc8 20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Bxf6 Rxc4 22. Qxb7 Rac8 23. Qxd7
R4c7 24. Qb5 gxf6 25. Qa6 $1 $11 {/+/=}) 19. Qg3 Nh5 20. Qf3 Nf6 $11 {with
repetition is probably the most prudent option.}) 18. Nf5 Bxf5 (18... e4 19.
Ne7+ Kh8 20. Qg3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Qxb2 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Rac8 $11) 19. Qxf5
Bxe3 20. Rxe3 e4 $13) 17... Qxb2 $1 {Consistently accepting the challenge.} (
17... Nd5 $143 18. Bc1 $14) (17... e5 $6 18. Nf5 Bxf5 (18... Bxe3 19. Qxe3 $36
{/\} Qxb2 $2 20. Rxd7 $1 Qxc2 (20... Nxd7 21. Qg5 g6 22. Qh6 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf6
24. Qg5+ $18) 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Rd2 $18) 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Bxf5 $14 {/=}) 18.
Bg5 Nd5 (18... Bxd4 $143 19. Rxd4 Nd5 (19... Qxc2 $2 20. Bxf6 Bc6 21. Rg4 Qg6 (
21... g6 22. Qe3 Qf5 23. Rf4 Qd5 24. Rf3 $1 $18) 22. Qf4 $1 $16) 20. Rd2 $44)
19. c4 Bxd4 ({Apart from the simple and straightforward text-move Black had
also the alternative} 19... g6 20. cxd5 Bxd4 21. Re2 (21. Rd2 Qc3 (21... Qxa2
22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Qe4 $132) 22. Qf4 Bg7 23. Qd6 Bc8 $5 $15) 21... Qc3 $5 (21...
Qb6 22. Rb1 Qc5 $5 (22... Qa6 23. Bd3 b5 24. Bh6 $13) 23. Bh6 (23. Rxb7 Bb5 $36
) 23... Rfd8 24. Rxb7 (24. Be4 $5) 24... exd5 25. Bxa4 Rab8 $1 $15) 22. dxe6
Bxe6 23. Be4 Ra5 $15) (19... Nb4 $6 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Re2 Nc2 22. Rxc2 $14) (
19... Nb6 20. Re2 Qb4 (20... Bxd4 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Rxb2 Bxb2 23. Be3 $16) 21.
Bf6 $44 (21. Bd3 $5 {/\} Bxd4 22. Qe4 $36)) 20. Qd3 (20. Re2 g6 {transposes
into the 19...g6 lines, as} (20... h6 $5 $15 {also seems playable}) (20... Qb6
21. Qd3 g6 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 Nb6 24. Red2 Bc6 25. Bf6 $44) 21. Bxg6 $2 {
runs into} fxg6 22. Rxb2 Rxf3 23. Rxd4 Rf5 $19) 20... f5 $1 (20... g6 $143 $2
21. Qxd4 Qxd4 (21... Qxc2 22. Bh6 Qc3 23. Bxf8 $16) 22. Rxd4 Nb4 (22... Rfc8
23. Be4 $18) (22... Nb6 23. Rb1 $16) 23. Rxd7 Nxc2 24. Rc1 Nb4 (24... f6 25.
Bd2 $18) 25. Be7 $1 Nxa2 26. Rc2 $16 {traps the N and gives White a clear _|_
advantage due to Black's weak back rank. Shipov gives an unforced, but pretty
continuation} Rfc8 27. Rxa2 Rxc4 28. f3 b5 29. Rb7 Rc1+ 30. Kf2 Rb1 31. Bf6 h6
32. Rxa4 $1 $18) 21. Qxd4 Qxc2 22. cxd5 ({White wants to keep the tension,} 22.
Rd2 Qc3 23. cxd5 Qxd4 24. Rxd4 exd5 $15 {gives Black a healthy extra P and
winning chances.}) 22... Qxa2 {[%csl Ga4] Just as on move 17, Kamsky chooses a
risky, but consistent alternative, now Topalov must reckon with the Pa4. After
other moves White's initiative would fully compensate the missing P, even the
^- giving his attack an extra impulse.} 23. Qb6 (23. Qb4 Rae8 $5 (23... a3 $2
24. Rd2 $18) (23... Qb3 24. Qd6 Bb5 25. Rb1 Qd3 26. Red1 Qe2 27. Re1 $11) 24.
Qxb7 Rf7 $15) 23... a3 $5 (23... exd5 $2 24. Qxb7 $18 {[%csl Rd7] ץd7}) (23...
Qc4 24. Qd6 $132) (23... Rae8 {from the previous note is playable, but the
text-move is even more ambitious.}) 24. Be7 $1 {The best move, White's B joins
the fight against the Pa3.} (24. Qd6 Ba4 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 26. Ra1 Qc4 27. Be7 (27.
Rxa3 $2 Re8) 27... a2 28. d6 Qxe6 (28... Bb5 $15) 29. Rxe6 Bb5 30. Re5 Bc4 31.
d7 Rxe7 32. Rxe7 Kf8 $36 33. d8=Q+ Rxd8 34. Rxb7 Rd2 $36) (24. dxe6 Bc6 $15 (
24... Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Qxe6 26. Rxe6 b5 27. Kf1 b4 28. Re3 {/\Rb3 and the
blockade holds.})) 24... Rfe8 25. Qd6 $6 (25. Qxb7 Ba4 26. Ra1 Qxd5 (26... Qb2
27. Qb4 $15 {is similar}) 27. Qxd5 exd5 28. Bxa3 $15 {leads to an _|_ White
should be able to hold in the long run. Instead Topalov plays vabanque.}) 25...
Ba4 $2 {An important moment. Kamsky, surprised by White's previous move, spent
about 30 minutes. He reacts badly and loses control, moreover getting into
time-trouble (which lead to more mistakes). Black had 2 better moves, which
would have given him an advantage:} (25... Kf7 26. Rxe6 (26. Qxd7 Rxe7 27.
dxe6+ Qxe6 $1 $19) (26. Bg5 Bb5 $17) 26... Qb3 27. Rde1 Qa4 $5 $17 (27... Qb5 {
allows White to bail out with} 28. Bf6 $1 Bxe6 29. dxe6+ Kxf6 (29... Kg6 30.
Qg3+ Kxf6 31. Qc3+ $11) 30. e7+ Kg5 $8 31. h4+ Kxh4 (31... Kh5 $2 32. Qg3 f4
33. Qf3+ $18) 32. Qg3+ Kh5 33. Qh2+ Kg6 34. Qd6+ $11)) (25... Bc8 26. Qc7 $1 (
26. dxe6 $2 Qc4 {is hopeless}) 26... Qb3 (26... Qb2 27. d6 a2 28. Ra1 $15) 27.
d6 a2 28. Ra1 (28. d7 $2 Bxd7 29. Qxd7 Qxd1 $1 $19) (28. Bf6 Bd7 $1 (28... gxf6
$2 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Rxd7 $18) 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qxd7+ Kg8 $17) 28... Qa4 (28...
Ra6 $5 {/\} 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Qxd7 Qa4 $17) 29. Re2 Qd4 30. Qc1 Bd7 31. Rexa2
Rxa2 32. Rxa2 Rc8 33. Qe1 b5 $17) 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Ra1 Qc4 28. Rec1 $6 {
Black was down to 8 minutes and Topalov wants to pursue his own ambitions.
Altough in the end this risky gamble pays off, the prudent choice was} (28.
Rxa3 Bb3 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Qxf5 Qxd5 $11) 28... Bc2 $1 {[%cal Rb7b4] /\b5-b4}
29. Qd7 $2 (29. Qe3 $142 f4 (29... a2 $2 30. d6 $16 {[%cal Rd6d7] /\d7}) 30.
Qc5 Qxc5 31. Bxc5 Be4 (31... a2 32. Rxc2 Re1+ 33. Rxe1 a1=Q 34. Rce2 $44) 32.
d6 (32. Rxa3 Bxd5 $15) 32... a2 33. d7 Red8 34. Bb6 Rxd7 35. Rxa2 Rf8 $15)
29... a2 30. d6 (30. Qxb7 Qe4 31. h4 Bb1 {/\} 32. Bg5 Qe5 33. Raxb1 Rab8 34.
Qxb8 Rxb8 35. Rxb8+ Qxb8 36. d6 h6 37. Bf4 Qb2 38. d7 Qd4 $19) 30... b5 31. Qb7
(31. Qc7 Qxc7 32. dxc7 Bb3 $19) 31... Reb8 $2 ({The wrong move-order, after} 
31... b4 $1 32. d7 Reb8 $19 {Black disarms White's o^ and wins.}) 32. Qc7 Rc8
$2 $138 {[%mdl 8192] The final mistake, which loses material, the game and the
whole match.} (32... Bd3 $1 33. Rxc4 bxc4 34. h4 (34. Qxb8+ Rxb8 35. h4 Rb1+
36. Kh2 Rxa1 37. d7 Rh1+ 38. Kg3 h6 39. d8=Q+ Kh7 40. Bf6 $1 gxf6 41. Qe7+ Kg6
42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qe7+ $11) 34... Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Rxa1 36. d7 Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Rg8 38.
d8=Q a1=Q 39. Qcb8 (39. Qxg8+ Kxg8 40. Qd8+ Kf7 41. Qf8+ Ke6 42. Qc8+ $1 Kxe7
43. Qc7+ Ke6 44. Qc6+ Ke5 45. Qc5+ $11) 39... f4+ $8 40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kxf4 g5+
42. Bxg5 Rxh4+ 43. Bxh4 Qg4+ 44. Ke5 Qe4+ 45. Kd6 Qd4+ $11) 33. Qxc4 Rxc4 34.
d7 Bb1 (34... Rd4 35. d8=Q+ Rdxd8 36. Bxd8 Bb3 37. Be7 $18) ({Kamsky probably
overlooked} 34... b4 $2 35. Rxa2 $1 $18 (35. d8=Q+ $2 Rxd8 36. Bxd8 b3 $17))
35. Rd1 $1 $18 (35. Rxc4 bxc4 36. d8=Q+ Rxd8 37. Bxd8 c3 38. Kf1 c2 39. Bg5 {
also wins in the long run, but the text-move is even more incisive.}) 35... Kg8
36. d8=Q+ Rxd8 37. Bxd8 Bc2 38. Rdc1 b4 (38... Bb3 39. Rxc4 Bxc4 40. Ba5 $18)
39. Rxa2 b3 40. Ra8 Kf7 (40... b2 41. Bf6+ $18) 41. Rb8 Ke6 42. Re1+ Kd5 43.
Be7 Ra4 44. Bf8 Ra7 45. h4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nd7
8. Be3 Nc5 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. Qe2 O-O 11. O-O-O Bd6 12. Rhe1 Qf6 13. Kb1 Be6 14.
Qe3 Rfe8 15. Qg5 Be7 16. Qg3 Bd6 17. Qg5 Be7 18. Qg3 Bd6 19. Qg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8. Bxc6
dxc6 9. a5 Ba7 10. Bg5 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 exd4 13. Rd1 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6
15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. cxd4 Rfd8 17. Ra4 f5 18. exf5 Rd5 19. Nc3 Rxf5 20. g4 Rf6 21.
Rb4 b5 22. axb6 cxb6 23. Ra4 a5 24. Ne4 Rf4 25. Ng3 Rd8 26. Kg2 Rf6 27. Nf5 Bb8
28. Rc1 Kf8 29. Rac4 Rc8 30. b4 axb4 31. Rxb4 Bc7 32. Ra4 Ke8 33. Ra7 Bf4 34.
Rb1 b5 35. d5 cxd5 36. Rxb5 Kf8 37. Rxd5 Re8 38. h4 Kg8 39. h5 Bc1 40. Rb7 Ba3
41. Rbd7 Bf8 42. Rd8 Rfe6 43. Kg3 Re1 44. Ne3 Rxd8 45. Rxd8 Rb1 46. Nf5 Rb6 47.
Rc8 Rb3+ 48. Kh4 Rb6 49. f4 Ra6 50. g5 hxg5+ 51. Kxg5 Re6 52. h6 Rg6+ 53. Kh5
Rf6 54. Ne7+ Kh7 55. Rxf8 Rxf4 56. Kg5 Rf1 57. Nf5 Rg1+ 58. Kf6 Rg6+ 59. Kxf7
Ra6 60. Ke7 Kg6 61. Kd7 Rb6 62. Kc7 Ra6 63. Kb8 Rb6+ 64. Ka7 Re6 65. Kb7 Re1
66. Kc6 Rc1+ 67. Kd6 Rd1+ 68. Ke5 Re1+ 69. Kf4 Rf1+ 70. Kg3 Rh1 71. Kf3 Rh2 72.
Kg4 Rg2+ 73. Kf4 Rg1 74. Rg8+ Kh5 75. h7 Rxg8 76. Ng3+ Kh6 77. hxg8=R 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e3 c6 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. Bd3
g5 9. h3 Bg7 10. e4 e5 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 exd4 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc1 Qd6 15.
Bb1 d3 16. Bxd3 Rd8 17. exd5 Nb6 18. Nc4 Nxc4 19. Rxc4 Qxd5 20. Re8+ Rxe8 21.
Bh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxd5 Be6 23. Qd3+ Kg8 24. Re4 Rad8 25. Qb1 Rd6 26. Re1 Red8 27.
b3 b5 28. Qc2 Bf6 29. Qc5 a6 30. Qc7 Kg7 31. Kh2 R8d7 32. Qc5 Rd5 33. Qc2 Bf5
34. Qc7 Rxc7 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qc2 h6 11. Bh4 c5 12. e4 Bxf1 13. Rxf1 g5 14. Bg3 cxd4
15. Rd1 Qc8 16. Qe2 Qa6 17. Bxb8 Qxe2+ 18. Kxe2 Raxb8 19. Rxd4 Rbc8 20. Rfd1
Rc2+ 21. R1d2 Rfc8 22. Ne5 Rc1 23. Rd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ Kg7 25. Ra8 Rc5 26. Nd3
Rc2+ 27. Kd1 Rc7 28. f3 h5 29. Kd2 Nd7 30. b3 h4 31. g3 hxg3 32. hxg3 Kf6 33.
f4 gxf4 34. gxf4 e5 35. Re8 exf4 36. Nxf4 Rc6 37. b4 Kg7 38. Kd3 Rd6+ 39. Ke3
a6 40. e5 Rh6 41. e6 Ne5 42. e7 Kf6 43. Nd5+ Ke6 44. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Rg1 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bb4 13. Bd2 Nbd7 14. Ke2 dxc4
15. bxc4 e5 16. Bg2 exd4 17. exd4 O-O 18. Rgd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf1 Nb6 20. b3 a5 21.
g5 Nh5 22. c5 Nd7 23. Ne4 Bxd2 24. Rxd2 Nf4 25. Nd6 Reb8 26. Bf3 Ra6 27. Bg4 f5
28. Be2 b5 29. h4 a4 30. Bd1 Rba8 31. bxa4 bxa4 32. Ra3 Nf8 33. Rb2 N8e6 34.
Rb4 Nd5 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Raxa4 Rxa4 37. Bxa4 Rb1+ 38. Ke2 Rb2+ 39. Ke1 Nb4 40.
Kd1 Nf4 41. Bc2 Kf8 42. Rc3 Nfd5 43. Rc4 Nf4 44. Rc3 Nfd5 45. Rc4 Nf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Nf6 15. Qd3 O-O 16. g4 Nxg4 17. Rhg1 f5 18. Qe2 Qd5 19. c4 Qd6 20. Ne5 Qxd4 21.
Nxg4 fxg4 22. Rxg4 Qxf2 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c6 6. O-O b5 7. Ne5 Bb7 8. a4 a6
9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Nxb5 cxb5 13. Bxa8 O-O 14. Bf3 Nd5
15. h4 Qc7 16. Bd2 Bf6 17. e4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ne7 19. Bb4 Nbc6 20. Bd6 Qb6 21. b3
Ra8 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Qc1 Ng6 24. Qxc4 Ncxe5 25. Bxe5 Nxe5 26. Qc3 Qd4 27. Rc1
g5 28. Kg2 Qxc3 29. Rxc3 g4 30. Be2 Kg7 31. f4 gxf3+ 32. Bxf3 Ra2+ 33. Kf1 Ra4
34. Kf2 Kf6 35. Ke3 Nc4+ 36. Kd3 Ne5+ 37. Ke3 Nc4+ 38. Kd3 Ne5+ 39. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. e4 O-O 8. Nc2
b6 9. f4 Bb7 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Qe2 d6 12. O-O Na5 13. Be3 a6 14. Nd4 Qc7 15. Rac1
Qb8 16. b4 Nc6 17. f5 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Ba8 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe5 Qb7
22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 24. Be4 Qc7 25. Nd5 Bd4+ 26. Kh1 Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1
Qxc4 28. Re1 Rf8 29. Nf4 b5 30. h3 Bf2 31. Qe7 Qc8 32. Ne6 Rg8 33. Ng5 Rf8 34.
Ne6 Rg8 35. Ng5 Rf8 36. Rd1 Re8 37. Nf7+ Kg8 38. Nh6+ Kh8 39. Nf7+ Kg8 40. Nd6
Rxe7 41. Nxc8 Re8 42. Bxa8 Rxc8 43. Bd5+ Kh8 44. Bb7 Rb8 45. Bxa6 g6 46. Rd6
Bg3 47. Rd3 Be5 48. g4 Rb6 49. Bc8 Kg7 50. Kg2 Kf6 51. Kf3 Rb8 52. Bd7 Bb2 53.
Ke4 Rd8 54. Rf3+ Ke7 55. Bxb5 Rd4+ 56. Ke3 Rd6 57. Ke2 Rf6 58. Rb3 Bd4 59. Kd3
Rf3+ 60. Kc4 Rxb3 61. Kxb3 Kd6 62. a4 Bf2 63. Kc4 g5 64. Be8 h6 65. Kb5 Be1 66.
Kb6 Bxb4 67. a5 Bc5+ 68. Kb7 Ke7 69. Bh5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. c4
Nbc6 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 dxc4 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Rd1 Bd3 13. Bxd3 cxd3 14. Rxd3
Bc5 15. Ne4 Bxd4 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Rxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Qa5+ 19. Ke2 Ke7 20. Rc1
Rhd8 21. Qh4+ Kf8 22. Nc4 Qc5 23. Qxh7 b5 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Qh4+ Kf8 26. Qh8+
Ke7 27. Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. Nb3 b6 10. Be3 O-O 11. f3 Bb7 12. Rf2 Qc7 13. Bf1 Rac8 14. Qe1 Ne5 15.
Rd2 Nfd7 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Qg3 Nc5 19. Nd4 Qb8 20. Rf2 Ncd7 21. Bc1
Nf6 22. Re2 Ng6 23. Ree1 Be7 24. Qf2 Bd8 25. Nde2 Bc7 26. Qg1 d5 27. exd5 Nxd5
28. Nxd5 Bxd5 29. Nc3 Bb7 30. Be3 Ne5 31. Be2 Bc6 32. Bxa6 Nxf3 33. gxf3 Bxf3+
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Bb3 Qe7 13. Na4 Rd8 14. Qc2 Nf8 15.
Ne5 Bd7 16. Qc5 Qxc5 17. Nxc5 Rab8 18. f4 Be8 19. Rc2 Nh7 20. Rfc1 Nf6 21. a3
Bf8 22. g3 Kg7 23. Kg2 a5 24. Kf3 b6 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Nxc6 a4 27. Nxd8 axb3
28. Rc7+ Kg8 29. Nxe6 g5 30. e4 Bd7 31. Nxf8 Bg4+ 32. Ke3 Re8 33. e5 Nd5+ 34.
Ke4 Nxc7 35. Rxc7 Rxf8 36. d5 Bf5+ 37. Kd4 Bh3 38. fxg5 Rf2 39. e6 Rd2+ 40. Ke5
Rxb2 41. Rb7 Rb1 42. e7 Re1+ 43. Kf6 Rf1+ 44. Ke5 Re1+ 45. Kf6 Rf1+ 46. Ke5
Re1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. Nd5 d6 6. d3 Nf6 7. Ne3 O-O 8. c3
Rb8 9. a4 Ng4 10. O-O Nxe3 11. Bxe3 Kh8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. dxc5 dxc5
15. Qxd8 Rbxd8 16. Bd5 Nb4 17. Bxb7 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rd7 19. Bd5 Nxd5 20. exd5
Rxd5 21. Rfd1 Rfd8 22. Rxd5 Rxd5 23. Ra3 f5 24. Rb3 h6 25. Rb7 Bf6 26. Rxa7
Bxb2 27. a5 Bd4 28. a6 Bxe3 29. fxe3 c4 30. Rc7 Ra5 31. a7 Kh7 32. Kf2 c3 33.
Ke2 Ra2+ 34. Kd3 c2 35. Kd2 Kg6 36. h4 h5 37. e4 fxe4 38. fxe4 Kf6 39. e5+ Kxe5
40. Rxg7 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. O-O Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nc5 8.
f4 g6 9. Be2 Bf5 10. Be3 c6 11. Nd2 Be7 12. Nf3 Ne6 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. cxd3 d4
15. Bd2 Qd5 16. b4 a5 17. bxa5 Bd8 18. Rb1 Bxa5 19. Rxb7 O-O 20. f5 Bxd2 21.
Qxd2 Rxa2 22. Qh6 gxf5 23. Rfb1 c5 24. Rb8 Ra8 25. R8b6 Rfe8 26. h4 c4 27. Rd6
Qc5 28. Ng5 Nxg5 29. Qxg5+ Kf8 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. e6 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 fxe6 33. Qg5+
Kh8 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. Qxe6+ Kh8 36. Qf6+ Kg8 37. Rb7 Qf8 38. Qe6+ Kh8 39. Qe5+
Kg8 40. Qd5+ Kh8 41. Qxd4+ Kg8 42. Qxc4+ Kh8 43. Qd4+ Kg8 44. Qd5+ Kh8 45. Rf7
Ra1+ 46. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bb4 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15.
Ng5 Bg6 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Qh3 Nf8 18. Qb3 Qb6 19. Be3 Be7 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Nh3
Rec8 22. Nf4 g5 23. Nh3 h6 24. f4 gxf4 25. Nxf4 Bg5 26. Ra3 Bxf4 27. Rxf4 Rc2
28. Rf2 Rac8 29. Rb3 Nd7 30. Rb5 h5 31. a5 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 Rc2+ 33. Kf3 Kf7 34.
Bg5 Ke8 35. h3 Rc4 36. Ke3 Rc2 37. g3 Rc7 38. Kd3 Rc8 39. Bd2 Kf7 40. axb6 Rc6
41. Ba5 Kg6 42. Rb3 Kf5 43. Ke2 Ke4 44. g4 hxg4 45. Rg3 gxh3 46. Rxg7 h2 47.
Rg4+ Kf5 48. Rh4 Rc2+ 49. Bd2 Nxb6 50. b3 Rb2 51. Rxh2 Rxb3 52. Rf2+ Kg4 53.
Rf4+ Kg3 54. Rf6 Nc4 55. Be1+ Kg4 56. Rxe6 Re3+ 57. Kf1 Rf3+ 58. Ke2 Re3+ 59.
Kf1 Re4 60. Rg6+ Kh5 61. Rg7 b5 62. Rb7 Kg4 63. Bf2 Nd2+ 64. Kg2 Re2 65. e6
Rxe6 66. Rxb5 Re2 67. Rb8 Ne4 68. Rf8 Rd2 69. Kf1 Ra2 70. Be3 Ng3+ 71. Kg1 Nf5
72. Bf2 Kf4 73. Kg2 Rb2 74. Rf6 Kg5 75. Rf8 Kf4 76. Rf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 h6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nh2 c6 15. dxc6
Bxc6 16. Qf3 Nbd7 17. Ng4 a5 18. Ba2 Qe7 19. Nf1 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Nc5 21. g5 hxg5
22. Bxg5 Qb7 23. Ng3 a4 24. Rad1 Nb3 25. Nf5 Re6 26. Rd3 f6 27. Bc1 Kf7 28.
Qh5+ g6 29. Qh7+ Ke8 30. Qxg6+ Qf7 31. Qg4 Kd7 32. Qd1 Kc7 33. Bxb3 axb3 34.
Qxb3 Ra4 35. f3 Re7 36. Qxf7 Rxf7 37. Bh6 Bxh6 38. Nxh6 Rd7 39. Ng4 Rf7 40.
Red1 Bd7 41. Ne3 Ra6 42. Nd5+ Kd8 43. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 b6 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. Be2 O-O 14. a5 b5 15.
Rdc1 Be7 16. Ne5 Rd8 17. Bf3 Rb8 18. Ne4 Nfd5 19. Nc5 Bf6 20. Bxd5 Rxd5 21.
Bxb4 Bxe5 22. e4 Rd8 23. Rd1 Re8 24. Nd3 Bf6 25. Bd6 Ra8 26. e5 Bd8 27. Nc5 f6
28. b4 fxe5 29. Bxe5 Ra7 30. Rac1 Rf7 31. Rd4 Be7 32. Rcd1 h6 33. f4 Kh7 34. h3
g5 35. fxg5 hxg5 36. Kh2 Kg6 37. R1d2 Rf1 38. Re2 Rc1 39. Nd3 Rc4 40. Ree4 Rxd4
41. Rxd4 Rd8 42. Rxd8 Bxd8 43. g4 Be7 44. Kg3 Bf8 45. Nc5 Be7 46. Kf3 Kf7 47.
Ke3 Kg6 48. Kf3 Bf8 49. Ke3 Be7 50. Kd4 Bf8 51. Ke4 Be7 52. Kd4 Bf8 53. Ke4 Be7
54. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. h3 h6 14. a3 Be6 15. Ne3
Bf8 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 g6 20. Bd2 Bg7 21. Bc3 Nh5
22. Qd2 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Rc8 24. Rad1 Qg5 25. Kh1 Nf4 26. Bd3 d5 27. e5 Nxd3 28.
Qxd3 Qxe5 29. Nxd5 Qxd5 30. Qxd5 Bxd5 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Rxd5 Re4 33. Rd6 Ra4
34. c4 bxc4 35. Rd4 g5 36. h4 Kg7 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. g4 Kf6 39. Re4 Rxa3 40.
Rxc4 Ke5 41. Kg2 Rd3 42. Ra4 Rd6 43. Ra5+ Kf4 44. Rf5+ Kxg4 45. Rxf7 a5 46. f3+
Kh5 47. Ra7 Rd2+ 48. Kg3 Ra2 49. Ra6 Ra1 50. Kh3 Ra3 51. Kg2 a4 52. Kf2 Ra1 53.
Kg3 a3 54. Kh3 a2 55. Kg2 g4 56. Ra5+ Kh4 57. Ra4 Kh5 58. fxg4+ Kh4 59. Kh2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. a4 c5 10. a5 f6 11. Nh4 Rf7 12. Nf5 Nf8 13. Nc4 Ne6 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7
15. Be3 Bd7 16. Qd2 Bb5 17. b3 g5 18. f3 Rd8 19. Bf2 Bxc4 20. bxc4 c6 21. Rab1
h5 22. Be3 h4 23. Rb6 Rd7 24. Rfb1 Rg7 25. Qf2 Kf8 26. Kf1 Ke8 27. Ke2 Kd8 28.
Kd2 Kc8 29. Kc3 Qd6 30. Kb2 Rdf7 31. h3 Rh7 32. Ka2 Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O a6 11. a3 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Bb1 Bb7 14. Ne2 e5 15.
dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Nd4 Qf6 18. Qg4 Rac8 19. Qd7 Rb8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21.
Rxc6 Rfd8 22. Rxf6 Rxd7 23. Rxa6 Bxb2 24. Rd1 d4 25. h4 Rbd8 26. exd4 Rxd4 27.
Rxd4 Bxd4 28. Be4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Nxe5 7. Qxe4 Qe7
8. Nc3 Ng6 9. Qxe7+ Bxe7 10. Nd5 c6 11. Nxe7 Kxe7 12. Re1+ Kd8 13. Bf1 Re8 14.
Re3 d6 15. b3 Bf5 16. Bb2 f6 17. Rxe8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O d6 7. c4 b6 8. Nc3
Bb7 9. a4 Be7 10. a5 bxa5 11. Qa4+ Nbd7 12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nxa5 Qc7 14. f3 Rab8
15. b4 Ba8 16. Kh1 d5 17. c5 Qe5 18. Bd2 Qd4 19. Qc2 Ne5 20. Bxa6 dxe4 21. Ne2
Qd8 22. f4 Nf3 23. Bc3 Ng4 24. c6 Nfxh2 25. Rfd1 Bd6 26. Be1 Qf6 27. Rxd6 Nf3
28. Ng1 Nxe1 29. Qe2 Qxf4 30. g3 Qh6+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Qd7 12. Ne5 Qb7 13. Qc7 Qxc7 14. Rxc7 Bd6
15. Rc2 Nh5 16. Be3 f6 17. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "CRO-chT3"]
[Site "Varazdin"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kovac, Hrvoje"]
[Black "Topalovic, Velimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2009.04.04"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bc4 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8.
Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bb3 Be7 10. Qe2 Ba6 11. Qe3 Qc7 12. h3 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. Qf3 g6
15. Bd2 c5 16. O-O-O Nb6 17. Kb1 Rb8 18. Na4 Nxa4 19. Bxa4+ Bb5 20. Qb3 Qc6 21.
Bxb5 Rxb5 22. Qe3 a5 23. c4 dxc4 24. Qe1 O-O 25. g4 Rfb8 26. Bc1 a4 27. a3 Rb3
28. Ka2 c3 29. bxc3 Qb5 30. Rh2 Rb1 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Carlsen,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. e4 O-O ({Another option is Eine andere
Möglichkeit ist} 11... e5 12. d5 Nb6 {as Karjakin played against me in Nice.
The text usually leads to more complicated play, and therefore it's not
surprising that Topalov chose it. wie Karjakin gegen mich in Nizza spielte.
Der Textzug führt meist zu komplizierterem Spiel, daher ist es nicht
überraschend, dass Topalov ihn wählte.}) 12. e5 Qe7 13. Qe2 b5 {Not the most
usual, Black usually takes a more restrained approach by playing b6 here or on
the next move. The text is probably not bad either however.  Nicht das Übliche,
normalerweise schlägt Schwarz mit b6 hier oder im nächsten Zug eine
zurückhaltendere Gangart ein. Der Text ist aber wahrscheinlich auch nicht
schlecht.} 14. Bd3 Bb7 (14... b4 15. Na4 c5 {was an interesting, but risky
alternative. White should probably continue war eine interessante, aber
riskante Alternative. Weiß sollte darauf wahrscheinlich mit} 16. Rac1 (16. Be4
Rb8 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Rfc1 Qa5 {is absolutely fine for Black.
ist absolut in Ordnung für Schwarz.}) 16... cxd4 17. Qe4 Rb8 (17... Nb6 18.
Nxb6 Bb7 19. Nxa8 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 {must be better for White, as the knight can
escape via c7. muss besser für Weiß sein, denn der Springer kann über c7
entkommen.}) 18. Rc7 {with the initiative. fortsetzen, mit Initiative.}) 15.
Be4 Rfd8 $6 {I don't think he should have commited the rook this early, as it
might be needed on c8 soon. The immediate ...Rab8 was better. Ich glaube nicht,
dass er den Turm so früh hätte festlegen sollen, da dieser bald auf c8
gebraucht werden könnte. Das sofortige ...Rab8 war besser.} 16. Rac1 (16. Nxb5
Nxe5 $11 {is the tactical justification of Black's last move. ist die
taktische Rechtfertigung des letzten schwarzen Zuges.}) 16... Rab8 17. Rfd1 a6
18. h4 (18. Nb1 $5 {with the obvious idea of Nd2-b3 is a common plan in this
structure. There could follow mit der offensichtlichen Idee Nd2-b3 ist ein
geläufiger Plan in dieser Struktur. Es könnte folgen} Rdc8 19. Nbd2 Ba8 20. Qe3
$1 {A great preparatory move, shown by the engines. Ein großartiger
Vorbereitungszug, angezeigt von den Engines.} (20. Nb3 c5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 {
with equality is what discouraged me from playing 18.Nb1. mit Ausgleich ist
das, was mich von 18.Nb1 abhielt.}) 20... c5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Ne4 {and since
22...cxd4 can now be met by Qxd4, White has a clear initative. und da 22...
cxd4 jetzt mit Qxd4 begegnet werden kann, hat Weiß eine klare Initative.})
18... Ba8 19. Rc2 $6 {Probably a little too slow. Vermutlich ein bisschen zu
langsam.} (19. h5 g5 20. Nh2 {with the idea of putting the knight on the
excellent square g4, was more consistent. mit der Idee, den Springer auf das
ausgezeichnete Feld g4 zu stellen, war konsequenter.}) 19... Rdc8 20. Rdc1 Qf8
$1 {A good prophylactic move, which Topalov made immediately. The idea can
clearly be seen in the line Ein guter prophylaktischer Zug, den Topalov sofort
spielte. Die Idee wird deutlich in dem Abspiel} (20... c5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Ne4
{when the pin on the c-file causes Black problems. , wonach die Fesselung auf
der c-Linie Schwarz Probleme bereitet.}) 21. a4 $6 {I was not sure of what to
do here, and decided to try and disturb his queenside play a little. However,
Ich war nicht sicher, was ich hier tun sollte, und beschloss zu versuchen,
sein Spiel am Damenflügel ein bisschen zu stören.} c5 $6 ({after the simple
Doch nach dem einfachen} 21... b4 22. Nb1 c5 23. Bxa8 Rxa8 24. dxc5 Rxc5 (24...
Nxc5 25. Qc4 $1) 25. Nbd2 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Rc8 {Black even has a slight
initiative, thanks to the weaknesses on e5 and a4. It's hard to explain why
both players missed this. hat Schwarz sogar eine leichte Initiative dank der
Schwächen auf e5 und a4. Es ist schwer zu erklären, warum beide Spieler dies
übersahen.}) 22. axb5 {Now White is better again. Jetzt steht Weiß wieder
besser.} cxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxe4 $2 {A huge mistake, probably based on a tactical
oversight. Ein Riesenfehler, vermutlich basierend auf einem taktischen
Versehen.} (23... axb5 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 {would have kept White out of c6 for the
time being, and retained decent chances of counterplay after hätte Weiß
zunächst einmal von c6 ferngehalten und ordentliche Gegenspielchancen gewahrt
nach} 25. f4 Qd8 $1 {with ideas of ...Nxe5 and g5. mit Ideen wie ...Nxe5 und
g5.}) 24. Nxe4 Rxc2 25. Rxc2 axb5 (25... Bxe5 {would be desirable, and was
probably my opponent's intention, but it loses material to wäre wünschenswert
und war vermutlich auch die Absicht meines Gegners, doch dies verliert
Material nach} 26. Nc6 (26. Rd2 {is actually even better. ist sogar noch
besser.}) 26... Rxb5 27. Rd2 Qa8 (27... Qe8 {gives White a choice between
lässt Weiß die Wahl zwischen} 28. Nxe5 (28. f4 Bxf4 29. Rxd7 {and even und
sogar}) (28. Qxb5 axb5 29. Nxe5 {also winning material. , ebenfalls mit
Materialgewinn.}) 28... Rxe5 29. Nf6+)) 26. Nc6 Rb6 (26... Nxe5 27. Nxb8 Qxb8 {
loses in the long run. verliert auf lange Sicht.}) 27. f4 {Now Black can
hardly move. Nun kann Schwarz kaum ziehen.} Qa8 (27... Nb8 28. Na7 $1 {is
aesthetically pleasing and more or less decisive. ist etwas fürs Auge und mehr
oder weniger entscheidend.}) 28. Ne7+ Kh7 29. h5 Ra6 {The only active move
Black has. Der einzige aktive Zug, den Schwarz hat.} 30. hxg6+ fxg6 31. Rc7 $1
{A very pleasing move, after which Black is finished. Ein sehr angenehmer Zug,
nach dem Schwarz erledigt ist.} Ra1+ 32. Kf2 $2 {But now there is some
excitement again. Aber nun gibt es wieder ein bisschen Aufregung.} ({I thought
the most natural Ich dachte, das sehr natürliche} 32. Kh2 {would give Black
some unnecessary counterplay after gäbe Schwarz unnötiges Gegenspiel nach} Nxe5
{, but this fails to the simple , aber dies scheitert an dem einfachen} (32...
Qd8 33. Qd3 Qxe7 34. Nf6+ $1) 33. Nf6+ Bxf6 34. Nd5+ Bg7 35. Qxe5 Qf8 36. Rxg7+
Qxg7 37. Nf6+ {when Black is mated or loses the queen. wonach Schwarz
mattgesetzt wird oder die Dame verliert.}) 32... Qd8 33. Qd3 $1 {This is the
trick. Das ist der Trick.} Qxe7 (33... Qxc7 {The rook is taboo due to Der Turm
ist tabu wegen} 34. Ng5+ hxg5 (34... Kh8 35. Nf7+ Kh7 36. Qxg6#) 35. Qxg6+ Kh8
36. Qh5+ {and mates. und Matt.}) 34. Rxd7 (34. Nf6+ {was easily winning as
well. gewann ebenfalls leicht.}) 34... Qh4+ 35. Kf3 Qh5+ (35... Kh8 36. Rxg7
Kxg7 {Otherwise Rg8+ or Rh7+ might follow. Ansonsten könnte Rg8+ oder Rh7+
folgen.} 37. Nf6 Ra7 38. Qd8 {is also completely over. ist ebenfalls komplett
gelaufen.}) 36. Kg3 {Black has no more checks, and his king has no protection.
A great way to start the tournament! Schwarz hat keine Schachs mehr, und sein
König keinen Schutz. Ein toller Einstieg in das Turnier!} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. dxe5 Nxe4 8.
Qd5 Nc5 9. Na3 Ne7 10. Qd1 Ne4 11. Bd3 d5 12. exd6 Nxd6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Ndf5
15. Bg3 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Nf5 17. Nc4 Qf6 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. Re1 Nd6 20. Ne5 Re8 21.
Nc4 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Bf5 23. Bf1 Re8 24. Qd2 Be6 25. Nxd6 Rd8 26. Qe2 Rxd6 27. a3
Qd8 28. Qf3 c6 29. b4 b5 30. Kh2 Bb3 31. Rb1 Bd5 32. Qf4 Be6 33. Rb2 g5 34. Qe3
Rd1 35. Be2 Ra1 36. Rd2 Qf6 37. Rd6 Re1 38. Rd1 Rxd1 39. Bxd1 Bd5 40. a4 bxa4
41. Bxa4 Qe6 42. Qxe6 Bxe6 43. Kg1 Kg7 44. f4 Kf6 45. Kf2 Bd5 46. Bc2 b6 47.
Bd3 c5 48. bxc5 bxc5 49. fxg5+ hxg5 50. g4 Ke5 51. g3 Be6 52. Kf3 Kd5 53. Be2
Ke5 54. Ke3 Bd7 55. Bf3 Be6 56. Be2 Bd7 57. Bf3 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3
Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a5 11. Qe1 Qc8 12. a4 Nc6 13. g4 Nb4 14. Kb1 d5 15. g5
Ne8 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Rd2 Nc7 18. Qd1 Rd8 19. Na1 Ne8 20. Bb5 Nd6 21. Qe2 Nxb5
22. Qxb5 Ra6 23. Rhd1 Rad6 24. h4 Bd7 25. Qc5 b6 26. Qxc8 Bxc8 27. Nb3 f6 28.
gxf6 gxf6 29. Ne4 Rxd5 30. Bxb6 Rxd2 31. Nbxd2 Rd5 32. Nc3 Rd7 33. Bxa5 Bb7 34.
Rg1+ Kf7 35. Nde4 f5 36. Ng5+ Kg6 37. h5+ Kg7 38. Nb5 h6 39. Ne6+ Kf7 40. Nbc7
Nc6 41. Bb6 Nb4 42. c3 Nd5 43. Rg7+ Kf6 44. Rg6+ Kf7 45. a5 Nxb6 46. axb6 Bxf3
47. b4 f4 48. Rg7+ Kf6 49. Rg6+ Kf7 50. Rg7+ Kf6 51. Rg6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. e4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 (11. exf5 {offers prospects of a slight
advantage (Huebner,R): bietet Aussichten auf einen leichten Vorteil (Huebner,R)
:} Nec4 (11... Ned7) 12. Qb3 Nd6 13. Bd3 g6 14. g4 Bg7 15. Be3 Nd7 16. O-O-O
Qb6 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2770)-Wang Yue (2738)/Leon 2009 (47)}
) 11... Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be6 13. Kc2 f6 (13... Bc4 14. Bxc4 (14. Be3 Bxf1 15.
Rhxf1 $14) 14... Nxc4 15. e6 fxe6 16. b3 Nd6 17. e5 Nf7 18. Re1 $44 {0-1
Berczes,D (2232)-Carlsen,M (2250)/Heraklio 2002 (57)}) 14. Rb1 Nd7 $146 (14...
fxe5 15. b4 Nc4 16. bxa5 (16. Bxc4 Bxc4 17. bxa5 O-O-O 18. Rd1 Rxd1 19. Nxd1 e6
20. Ne3 Ba6 21. Ng4 Bd6 22. Bb2 Rd8 23. Rd1 h5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Bxe5 Rxd1 26.
Kxd1 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2629)-Kasparov,G (2847)/Linares 2003 (41)}
) 16... Nxa5 17. Be3 Bc4 18. Bb6 Bxf1 19. Rhxf1 Nc4 20. Kd3 $14 {1-0 Berkes,F 
(2614)-Kiss,P (2394)/Hungary 2005 (32)}) 15. b4 $1 (15. exf6 $6 exf6 $15) 15...
Nxe5 (15... axb4 16. Rxb4 O-O-O 17. Be3 Nxe5 18. a5 $40 {[%cal Ga5a6,Gf1e2,
Gh1b1]}) 16. bxa5 Bc8 (16... O-O-O $2 17. a6 $18) 17. a6 $1 bxa6 18. a5 {
Black's queenside is very weak, he has problems completing his development and
finding any activity. Therefore White's compensation for the pawn is more than
enough and secures him better prospects.} Nd7 (18... Be6 19. Rb6 Bc4 20. Bf4
Bxf1 21. Rxf1 Nc4 22. Rxc6 Nxa5 23. Rc7 e5 24. Bd2 $16 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gc3d5]}
) 19. Na4 e5 (19... Rb8 20. Rxb8 Nxb8 21. Nb6 Bb7 22. Bc4 e5 23. Be3 $16) 20.
Bc4 Bc5 (20... Bd6 21. Be3 Ke7 22. Rhd1 $44) 21. Rd1 ({A good alternative was} 
21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. Rb6 $44) 21... Bd4 22. Ba3 c5 23. Rb3 h5 24. Rdb1 Ke7 25. Bd5
Ra7 26. Rb6 $1 Rc7 $2 {The decisive mistake.} ({Necessary was} 26... Nxb6 27.
axb6 Rd7 {and White has nothing forced. After} 28. Bxc5+ Bxc5 29. Nxc5 Rxd5 $1
30. exd5 Bf5+ 31. Ne4 Rb8 {Black retains good chances of escaping with a draw.}
) 27. Re6+ Kd8 28. Nb6 $18 Nxb6 (28... Ra7 29. Kd3 $5 Bb7 30. Kc4 $18) 29. axb6
Rb7 30. Rd6+ $1 Ke7 31. Rc6 Rd7 32. Re6+ Kf7 33. b7 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3 Nc5 {Topalov is famous for many
achievements, one of them is undoubtedy his independent approach to many
opening lines. The move with the knight to c5 amounts to a small revolution.
The move of the knight to b6 has a much higher reputation and better results,
as it defends the critical d5-square.} (11... Nb6) 12. Rhe1 (12. f5 Nd5 $5 13.
Bxe7 Nxc3 14. f6 (14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. bxc3 O-O $15) 14... Nxd1 15. Rxd1 gxf6 16.
Bxf6 e5 17. Qg3 Nxd3+ $1 (17... Rf8 18. Bb5+ $1 $18) 18. Rxd3 Rf8 19. Ne2 Be6
$11) 12... Rg8 {Another rather provocative move that opens the conflict on the
kingside and in the centre. Should the developing move 12...Bd7 prove viable
it must be a much safer solution.} (12... Bd7 13. f5 (13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd5
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qg3 O-O 17. Ne4 Rad8 18. Nxc5 (18. Nd6 Nc8 19. Nb3 $14) 18...
Qxc5 19. Qh4 Bb5 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. a3 Rd5 {1/2-1/2 Atakisi,U (2406)-De Firmian,
N (2559)/Kavala 2006 (55)}) 13... O-O-O 14. Bh4 g5 15. fxg6 fxg6 16. e5 dxe5
17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Nxc5 {1/2-1/2 Virzi,E (1952)-Cardani,R (1887)/
Erba 2007}) 13. Bh4 {The game is unbelievably complex and interesting, we have
just passed the first great potential crisis. Meeting the immediate advance in
the centre would be anything but easy for Black.} (13. e5 $5 hxg5 (13... dxe5
14. fxe5 hxg5 15. exf6 Bxf6 (15... gxf6 16. Qh7 (16. Nf5 Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Qf4+
18. Rd2 Qxf5 19. Qxf5 exf5 20. Nd5 Rh8 21. Nc7+ (21. Nxe7 Be6 22. Nxf5 Rd8 $11)
21... Kf8 22. Nxa8 Rxh2 23. Nc7 f4 $1 24. Rde2 Be6 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Rxe6 Bc5
$44) 16... Kf8 17. g3 Nxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Qa5 19. g4 $14) 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nf5 $1 (
17. Bh7 Qxd5 $1 (17... Rh8 $2 18. Nf5 $1 g4 19. Qg3 Kf8 20. Nxf6 {1-0 Planinec,
A (2520)-Najdorf,M (2540)/Wijk aan Zee 1973}) 18. Bxg8 (18. Nxe6 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1
Bxe6 $17) 18... Qxa2 19. Qh5 e5 $13) 17... Kf8 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Qe3 Na4 20. c3
Bd7 21. Bc2 $16 {1-0 Plaskett,J (2467)-Rechel,B (2414)/West Bromwich 2003 (56)}
) 14. exf6 Bxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qh7 (15. Nf5 $1 Kd8 16. Qh7 Re8 17. Nxe7 Qxe7
18. Nd5 $18) 15... Rf8 16. Nf5 Qc6 17. Be4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 d5 19. Nxe7 Kxe7 20.
Nc3 Rd8 21. fxg5 fxg5 22. Qg7 {1-0 Valenti,G-Santolini,L/Tivoli 1973 (27)}) 15.
Nd5 Qd8 16. Bh7 Rh8 17. Nxf6+ (17. Nf5 Bxb2+ 18. Kxb2 Kf8 $17) 17... Qxf6 18.
Nf5 Kf8 19. Nxd6 gxf4 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qa3+ Ke8 22. Bxe4 $14) (13. Bxf6 Bxf6
14. Qe3 Bd7 15. Kb1 O-O-O 16. e5 Be7 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Nxd6+ Bxd6 19. exd6 Qa5
20. Bb5 axb5 21. Qxc5+ {1-0 Videnova,I (2155)-Nikolova,A (2234)/Vratsa 2007 
(52)}) 13... g5 14. e5 $1 {Ivanchuk must force the crisis as a peaceful
continuation is too mellow to promise any advantage.} (14. fxg5 hxg5 15. Bf2
Bd7 $11) 14... dxe5 (14... Nd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Qg3 Kf8 18. fxg5
hxg5 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 $14) ({A very interesting alternative
to the game continaution lay in the elimination of the dark-squared bishop} 
14... gxh4 $5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nb3 (17. Nf5 Kf8 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19.
Qxh4 Qxh4 20. Nxh4 d5 $11) (17. Bh7 Rh8 (17... Rg7 18. Nf5 Rxh7 19. Nxd6+ Kf8
20. Nxf6 Qxf6 21. Qe3 $1 Na4 (21... b6 $2 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 $16) 22. Qa3
Qxb2+ 23. Qxb2 Nxb2 24. Kxb2 Bd7 25. Nf5 exf5 26. Rxd7 Re8 $11) 18. b4 Bxd4 $1
(18... Kf8 19. Nxf6 (19. bxc5 exd5 $1 $17) 19... Qxf6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Qa3
Qxf4+ 22. Kb2 Rxh7 23. Qxc5+ Kg8 $11) (18... Rxh7 $2 19. Qf5 $1 Kf8 20. Qxf6
$18) 19. Rxd4 Kf8 20. bxc5 exd5 21. Bf5 dxc5 22. Rd2 Qf6 23. Rxd5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5
Qxf5 25. Rxf5 Rc8 $11) 17... Nxb3+ 18. axb3 Kf8 (18... Bd7 19. Qf3 (19. f5 $2
Be5 $1 $17) 19... Bc6 20. f5 Rg5 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Rxf5 24.
Qxb7 Rd8 $11) 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 $11) 15. fxg5 $1 {Two of the very best players in
the world are navigating the complexity of the position with confidence. Much
weaker was the other recapture.} (15. fxe5 Nd5 $1 (15... Nh5 16. Bg3 Nxg3 17.
Qxg3 Bd7 18. Rf1 Rf8 19. Kb1 Qa5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 O-O-O 22. Rf3 Ba4 23.
Rfd3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Sylvan,J (2285)-Hunt,H (2315)/Witley 1996 (51)}) 16. Nxd5 (
16. Bf2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Na4 $15) 16... exd5 17. Qg3 Ne6 18. Nf5 Kf8 $1 19. Qe3
gxh4 20. Qxh6+ Ke8 21. Kb1 $15) 15... hxg5 {Topalov prefers small steps,
despite the fact that he had an enviable choice of very complex lines.} ({
The rather simplistic capture on d4 unleashes the might of the white pieces.} 
15... exd4 16. gxf6 Bd6 17. Nd5 Qc6 (17... Qa5 18. Bc4 b5 19. b4 Qa4 20. Rxd4
bxc4 21. bxc5 $16) 18. Ne7 $1 Bxe7 (18... Qxg2 19. Bf1 Qxh3 20. Bxh3 $16) 19.
fxe7 Qxg2 20. Qxg2 Rxg2 21. Rg1 Nxd3+ 22. cxd3 Rg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Rxg5 $16)
(15... Nh5 {Refuting the knight move to h5 is not easy and only the very
Sicilian sacrifice on b5 can put the defender to the real test.} 16. Bb5+ $1 (
16. gxh6 exd4 17. h7 Rh8 18. Bxe7 (18. Nd5 exd5 19. Rxe7+ Qxe7 20. Bxe7 Bxh3
21. Bxc5 Bxg2 22. Bxd4 Ke7 $17) 18... Qxe7 19. Qxh5 dxc3 $17) 16... Kf8 (16...
axb5 17. Ndxb5 Qb6 18. gxh6 Nf4 19. h7 Rh8 20. Qg4 $18) (16... Bd7 $2 17. Nxe6
fxe6 18. Bxd7+ Nxd7 19. Qxe6 O-O-O 20. Nd5 $18) 17. gxh6 Nf4 (17... axb5 18.
Ndxb5 Qb6 19. Bxe7+ Kxe7 20. Qxh5 $18) (17... exd4 $2 18. Bxe7+ (18. h7 $2 Qf4+
19. Kb1 Qxh4 20. Qxh4 Bxh4 21. hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 22. Re5 dxc3 23. Rxc5 axb5 24. Rxh5
Bf6 $17) 18... Qxe7 19. Qxh5 axb5 (19... dxc3 20. h7 cxb2+ 21. Kb1 $18) 20. h7
Rh8 21. Qh6+ Ke8 22. Rxd4 $18) 18. Bxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qe3 {White may be losing
some material, but the black pieces are poorly coordinated.} f6 (19... axb5 20.
h7 Rh8 21. Qxe5 Nfd3+ 22. cxd3 Rxh7 23. Ndxb5 $18) (19... Nxg2 20. Qxe5 Nxe1
21. h7 $1 $18) 20. Bf1 exd4 21. Rxd4 Ng6 (21... Nxg2 22. Bxg2 Rxg2 23. Nd5 Qf7
24. Nb6 $18) 22. Red1 b5 23. Ne4 $18 {White is on the verge of winning the
position.}) ({The most challenging for White would have been the knight move
to the centre, when Black would not suffer from the vulnerability of the steed
on the h-file.} 15... Nd5 $5 16. Bb5+ (16. Nde2 hxg5 17. Bg3 Ne3 18. Rd2 $13) (
16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qg3 Bxg5+ 18. Kb1 f6 19. Qf2 $11 {White has enough
compensation for the mere pawn.}) 16... Kf8 (16... axb5 17. Ndxb5 Qc6 18. gxh6
f6 19. Bg3 $13) 17. gxh6 exd4 $1 (17... Nxc3 18. h7 Nxa2+ 19. Kb1 Rh8 20. Bxe7+
Kxe7 21. Qh4+ f6 (21... Kf8 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23. Nc6+ bxc6 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rd8+
$18) 22. Qh6 Kf7 23. Be2 $1 $18) (17... axb5 18. h7 Rh8 19. Ndxb5 Qc6 20. Bxe7+
Kxe7 21. Rxe5 $18) 18. Rxd4 (18. h7 Qf4+ 19. Kb1 Nxc3+ 20. bxc3 Qxh4 21.
hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 $17) (18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qh5 Bg4 $17) 18... Nf6 (
18... Nxc3 19. h7 Rh8 20. Bxe7+ Kxe7 21. Qh4+ f6 22. Qh6 Kf7 23. Rg4) (18...
axb5 $2 19. h7 Rh8 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qh6+ $18) 19. Qe3 axb5 20.
h7 Nxh7 21. Nd5 Nb3+ 22. Qxb3 exd5 23. Bxe7+ Kg7 24. Qxd5 $11 {The final
position is roughly equal.}) 16. Bg3 Ncd7 {Black must try to hold the center,
otherwise the disparity between White's fully developed forces and Black's
half finished business will become too painful. Unfortunatelly the other
knight's move is simply insufficient.} (16... Nfd7 $2 17. Bf5 $3 (17. Qh7 Rf8 (
17... Nf6 18. Qh6 (18. Bxe5 Nxh7 19. Bxc7 Nxd3+ 20. Rxd3 Bd7 21. Nd5 exd5 22.
Rde3 Be6 23. Nxe6 Kd7 24. Nd4 Bc5 25. Rf3 f6 26. Rh3 Nf8 27. Nb3 $14) 18...
Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Rg6 20. Qh8+ Rg8 21. Qh3 $16) 18. Nf3 Bf6 (18... Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3
f6 20. Qg6+ Rf7 21. Rf1 Nf8 22. Qh5) 19. Qh5 (19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 $16) 19...
Rh8 20. Qg4 $16) 17... Rf8 (17... exf5 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Be6
21. Qh7 Rg6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Rxf5 $18) 18. Bg4 b5 19. Bh5 $16) 17. Nxe6 $5 {
[%mdl 128] The course of this fascinating battle indicates, that Ivanchuk was
really in fighting mood and was willing to go to extremes to win the game. His
sacrifice on e6 is a bit too temperamental.} (17. Kb1 Qb6 (17... Bb4 $5 18. Ne4
(18. Nxe6 $2 Qb6 19. Ng7+ Rxg7 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5+ Kf8 $17) 18... Bxe1 19.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 20. Rxe1 Qa5 (20... Nd7 21. Nxe6 $16) 21. Rxe5 Qd2 22. Re1 Bd7 $14)
(17... b5 18. Ne4 Qb6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Be4 Ra7 21. Nc6 Rc7 {0-1 Dimitrijevic,
A (2369)-Brkic,A (2402)/Subotica 2003 (72)} 22. Rd6 Bb7 23. Qh5 Bxc6 24. Bxc6
Rxc6 25. Rxd7 $16) 18. Nb3 Bb4 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 $14) 17... Qb6 {Black
can play much more safely than accepting the dangerous gift.} (17... fxe6 18.
Qh6 Kd8 $1 19. Bxe5 (19. Bg6 Qc4 20. Rxe5 Ng4 21. Qh7 Ngf6 22. Qf7 Rf8 23. Qxe6
Qxe6 24. Rxe6 $14) 19... Nxe5 20. Bh7+ Ke8 21. Bxg8 Nxg8 22. Qh8 Kf8 23. Rf1+ (
23. Rxe5 Bf6) (23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Nh6 $1 $15) 23... Nf7 24. Ne4 {Black has
three minor pieces for the white rook, but they are not coordinated. Topalov
would have to play very carefully just to survive the onslaught.} Bd7 (24...
Qc4 $2 25. Qh7 e5 26. b3 Qe6 27. Rd6 Bxd6 28. Nxg5 $18) 25. Rxf7+ (25. h4 Be8
26. hxg5 Qb6 27. g6 Qe3+ 28. Kb1 Qh6 $15) 25... Kxf7 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Rf1+ Qf4+
28. Rxf4+ gxf4 29. h4 $1 $16) ({The safest way to limit White's attacking
chances might have been the other queen move.} 17... Qc6 $5 18. Bh7 Qxe6 19.
Qxe6 fxe6 20. Bxg8 Nxg8 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nh6 $15) 18. Bc4 $1 (18. Nxg5
Rxg5 19. Bf5 Qc6 20. Ne4 Rxf5 21. Qxf5 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 f5 24. Rc4
f4 $17) (18. Bh7 Qxe6 (18... Rh8 19. Nxg5 Nxh7 20. Nf3 Qe6 $11 {is very messy
and unlcear.}) 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. Bxg8 Nxg8 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nh6 $15)
18... g4 {The sheer number of very complex and interesting lines after each
move must have seriously tested the players' ability to combine exact
calculation and tactical "feeling" with ticking clocks right next to them.} ({
Accepting the sacrifice at this moment is not a serious attempt to play for a
win with Black.} 18... fxe6 19. Ne4 (19. Bxe6 $2 g4 $19) 19... Qc6 $1 (19...
Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Nf6 21. Bxe5 Nxe4 (21... Bd7 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Rxd7+
Kxd7 25. Qf7+ Be7 26. Bxe6+ $11) 22. Qh5+ Kf8 23. Qh6+ Kf7 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25.
Qh6+ $11) 20. Bd3 g4 (20... Kd8 21. Nxf6 Bxf6 22. Rf1 Rf8 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24.
Rxf8+ Kc7 25. Rf7 Kb8 26. g3 $11) (20... Nd5 21. Qh7 Rf8 22. Qg6+ Kd8 23. Nxg5
$11) 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Qh6 e4 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Qh5+ Kf8 25. Rf1+ Nf6 26. Bd6
Kg7 27. Qg5+ Kf7 28. Qh5+ $11) ({Much more original and dangerous for White is
the fascinating defensive line} 18... Nf8 $1 19. Bxe5 (19. Nd8 Bxd8 20. Rxe5+ (
20. Qh6 Ng4 $17) 20... Be7 21. Rxe7+ (21. Qh6 Be6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 $17) 21... Kxe7
22. Bd6+ Qxd6 23. Qe3+ Ne6 24. Rxd6 Kxd6 $15) 19... Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 (20...
fxe6 21. Bd4 $13) 21. Qf5 Rg6 22. Bd6 Ng8 23. Bg3 Rd8 $15 {Black must have
some chances to survive with extra material.}) 19. Qh6 fxe6 20. Bh4 $1 {
Black has an extra piece that is not taking part in the game and the
centralized king is under maximum fire. White is running a serious risk, but
playing the position is more difficult for the defender.} (20. Ne4 Nxe4 21.
Qh5+ Kf8 22. Qh6+ Rg7 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Rxe4 (24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qe8+ Nf8 26. Rxe4
Qc6 $17) 24... Bg5+ 25. Kb1 Nf6 26. Rf1 Bd7 27. Qxa8 Rg8 28. Qxg8+ (28. Rxe5
Rxa8 29. Rxg5 Rh8 30. Be5 Rh6 31. Rgf5 Ke8 $17) 28... Kxg8 29. Rxe5 Nh7 30. Re4
$15) (20. Bd3 Nd5 21. Bg6+ Kd8 $15) 20... Bf8 $1 {Topalov gets a lot of credit
for this intuitive expulsion of the queen from the active square. Seemingly
compact defence with the rook} (20... Rf8 21. Rf1 (21. Bd3 Kd8 22. Qg7 $13)
21... Rf7 $1 (21... Qc6 $2 22. Bd3 $1 Qb6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Ne4 $1
(25. Rxf6 Rxf6 26. Qg7+ Kd8 27. Qxf6+) 25... Rh8 26. Bh7 $18) {fails to the
quiet retreat of the king from the exposed c1-square} 22. Kb1 $1 (22. Bd3 Kd8
23. Bg6 (23. Ne4 $2 Rh7 $17) 23... Rf8 24. Qg7 Rg8 25. Qf7 Rf8 $11) (22. Ne4
Nxe4 23. Rxf7 Bxh4 24. Qg6 Qe3+ 25. Kb1 Nd2+ 26. Ka1 Kd8 27. Bxe6 $11) 22...
Qc6 23. Bd3 $18) 21. Qd2 Qc6 $6 {A clear proof that Black had to play at least
some moves based on "feeling". The best way to play for advantage was the rook
retreat to the h-file.} (21... Be7 22. Qh6 (22. Rf1 Qc6 23. Bd3 e4 24. Nxe4
Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26. Bxe7 Kxe7 27. Qd6+ Kd8 28. Rf8+ Rxf8 29. Qxf8+ Kc7 30.
Qd6+ $11) 22... Bf8 23. Qd2 $11) (21... Rh8 $1 22. Bg5 Be7 (22... Rxh2 $6 23.
Qd3 $1 $40) 23. Ne4 Qd4 $17) 22. Bd3 b5 $2 {Topalov is openly admitting, that
he badly needs to finish his development. Unfortunately most of the natural
moves simply fail to solve the mounting problems.} (22... Rh8 $2 23. Bxf6 Nxf6
24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Qd8#) (22... Be7 23. Qh6 Qc5 (23... Nd5 24. Qh5+ Kd8 25. Nxd5
exd5 26. Bxe7+ Kxe7 27. Qh7+ $18) (23... Qxg2 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Qh5+ Kd8 26.
Bxe7+ Kxe7 27. Qh7+ $18) (23... Rf8 24. Rf1 $1) 24. Ne4 (24. Bg6+ Kd8 25. Bf7
Kc7 26. Bxg8 Nxg8 27. Qh7) 24... Nxe4 25. Rxe4 $16) (22... Nd5 23. Bh7 Rg7 (
23... Nxc3 $2 24. Bxg8 Nxd1 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Be4 Qc5 25. Qh6 $18) ({The best
idea for Black was to transfer the queen to the d-file with many ideas.} 22...
Qd6 $1 23. Rf1 (23. Qe2 Nd5 24. Ne4 Qc7 $17) 23... e4 24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. Qe3 Be7
(25... e5 26. Bxe4 Bh6 (26... Qh6 27. Rxf8+ Qxf8 28. Kb1 $3 $16 {An
unbelievable position in which White dominates the board despite the fact that
he is missing a whole rook!}) 27. Rxd6 Bxe3+ 28. Kb1 Bg5 (28... Bf4 29. Re6+
Kf7 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. g3 $16) 29. Rg6 Bxh4 30. Rxg8+ Ke7 31. Rg7+ Kd6 32. Rxg4
$16) 26. Bxe4 Qc5 27. Qb3 Qe5 {might be the best defence against manifold
threats.}) 23. Ne4 $2 {Ivanchuk had a golden opportunity to decide the fight
for himself with pressure returning to the f-file.} (23. Rf1 $1 e4 $1 (23...
Bg7 24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Be4 $18) (23... Nd5 24. Bh7 $1 Nf4 (24... Rg7 25. Qh6 $1
$18) 25. Bxg8 Bh6 26. Bh7 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 $18) (23... Be7 24. Qh6 Rf8 25. Bg6+ Kd8
26. Bxf6 Rxf6 27. Rxf6 Bxf6 28. Be4 $18) (23... Bb7 24. Rxf6 $5 (24. Bxf6 Nxf6
25. Rxf6 O-O-O 26. Qe1 Be7 27. Be4 Qc4 28. Bxb7+ Kxb7 29. Rf7 $16) 24... Nxf6
25. Bxf6 Qc7 26. Bh4 $16) 24. Bxf6 exd3 (24... Nxf6 25. Bxb5 $1 axb5 26. Qd8+
Kf7 27. Qxf6+ Ke8 28. Rd8#) 25. Qxd3 e5 $1 (25... Qc5 26. Bh4 Qh5 27. Qe4 Qh6+
28. Kb1 Ra7 29. Qc6 Qxh4 30. Qxe6+ Kd8 31. Qxg8 $18) (25... Bb7 26. Qh7 Nxf6
27. Rxf6 Rg7 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rf1+ Qf3 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ $18) 26. Nd5 Bb7
27. Qf5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Bxd5 29. Bxe5 $16) 23... Nd5 $1 24. Rf1 Bb7 $6 {Once
again a sound idea but not the most exact execution. The best was a retreat of
the queen from the c6-square with tempo.} (24... Qb6 $1 25. Kb1 Bb7 26. Rxf8+
Nxf8 27. Qh6 Kd7 $17) 25. Rxf8+ $1 {Played with a great deal of fantasy,
Ivanchuk prefers a colourful solution to the mundane attack along the f-file.}
(25. Qf2 Nf4 (25... Rg7 $2 26. Nd6+ Bxd6 27. Bg6+ Rxg6 28. Qf7#) (25... Bh6+
26. Kb1 Bf4 27. g3 $14) 26. g3 Nxd3+ 27. Rxd3 Bh6+ 28. Kb1 Rf8 29. Nd6+ Qxd6
30. Rxd6 Rxf2 31. Rxe6+ Kf7 32. Re7+ Kg8 $1 33. Rxf2 Bc6 34. Re6 Be3 35. Rf5
$11) 25... Nxf8 (25... Kxf8 $2 26. Rf1+ Ke8 27. Qh6 $18) (25... Rxf8 26. Qh6
Rf7 27. Ng5 Rf6 28. Qh8+ Nf8 29. Nh7 O-O-O 30. Nxf6 (30. Bxf6 Nxf6 31. Nxf6
Qxg2 $11) 30... Ng6 31. Qh7 Ndf4 $11) 26. Qh6 Rg6 {White is attacking without
a rook, but the danger for Black is very real. Topalov might have proven the
balance even after the 26...Qc7 move, but to calculate the lines properly
would surely require a lot of time or/and a silicon heart!} (26... Kd7 27. Nf6+
Nxf6 28. Bxb5+ Nd5 29. Bxc6+ Kxc6 30. Rxd5 Kxd5 31. Qd2+ Kc6 32. Be7 $18) (
26... Qc7 27. Rf1 $1 Rc8 28. Nf6+ (28. Qh5+ Ng6 29. Nf6+ Nxf6 30. Bxg6+ Kd7 31.
Bxf6 Bd5 $11) 28... Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Qb6 30. Qh5+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Kd6 32. Qxg8 Bf3
33. Kd2 Rxc2+ $3 34. Kxc2 Qc5+ 35. Kd2 Qb4+ $11) 27. Nf6+ {We should be
merciful to the players and not ask for solutions like} (27. Qh5 $5 Qc7 (27...
Kd7 28. b4 Rg7 29. Qxe5 Rf7 30. Bg3 Rd8 31. Nd6 $13) 28. Nf6+ (28. Rf1 Qg7 $1
29. Nd6+ Kd7 30. Nxb7 (30. Rf7+ $2 Kxd6 31. Rxg7 Rxg7 $19) 30... Qh6+ 31. Qxh6
Rxh6 32. Rf7+ Kc6 33. Nd8+ Kd6 34. Nb7+ $11) 28... Nxf6 29. Bxg6+ Nxg6 30.
Qxg6+ Qf7 31. Qxf6 Qxf6 32. Bxf6 Bxg2 $11) 27... Rxf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 $2 {
Topalov is losing his heart and accepts the fact, that the game should end in
a draw. He could still have test his dangerous opponent to the limit with the
much stronger move} (28... Qc7 $1 29. Bg7 O-O-O $1 (29... Qd6 30. Qh5+ Kd8 31.
Bxe5 Qc5 32. Rf1 Kd7 33. Bg3 $11) (29... Qf7 30. Bxf8 Qxf8 31. Qxe6+ Qe7 32.
Qxg4 $44) (29... Ne3 30. Rd2 $1 (30. Bg6+ Nxg6 31. Qxg6+ Qf7 32. Qxf7+ Kxf7 33.
Rd7+ Kg6 34. Rxb7 Rd8 35. b3 Rd1+ 36. Kb2 Rd2 37. Bxe5 Rxc2+ 38. Kb1 Rxg2 $17)
30... e4 $1 (30... O-O-O 31. Bf6 $1 (31. Bxf8 Rxd3 $1 $19) 31... Nd5 (31... Re8
32. Qxe3 $16) 32. Bxd8 Qxd8 33. Qg7 $13) 31. Bxf8 exd3 32. Bb4 Qe5 (32... Nd5
33. Qxe6+ Ne7 34. Bd6 Qd7 35. Qe5 $16) 33. Qf8+ Kd7 34. Rxd3+ Nd5 35. Qe7+ Kc6
(35... Kc8 36. Qe8+ Kc7 37. Ba5+ Kd6 38. Bb4+ $11) 36. Qc5+ Kd7 37. Qe7+ $11)
30. Bxf8 {White would need to rise to the occasion and find} Nf4 31. Qg7 $1 Rd7
(31... Bxg2 32. Qxc7+ Kxc7 33. Bg7 Rd5 34. Re1 Nxd3+ 35. cxd3 Rxd3 36. Bxe5+
Kc6 $15) 32. Qh8 Qd8 (32... Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Nxd3+ 34. Kd2 Nxb2 35. Ba3+ $11) 33.
Bg7 Qxh8 34. Bxh8 e4 35. Bf1 e3 36. Rxd7 Kxd7 37. Be5 $1 Nxg2 (37... e2 38.
Bxe2 Nxe2+ 39. Kd2 Ng1 40. Bd4 $11) 38. Bd4 $11 {saving the draw in a slightly
spectacular way.}) 29. Bg6+ $1 (29. Qxf6 $2 e4 $17) 29... Nxg6 30. Qxg6+ Ke7
31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Qxf6 {Naturally White can already give perpetual check.} (32.
Qg6+ $11) 32... Rc8 $1 33. c3 (33. Qh8+ $11) 33... b4 34. Qg6+ Ke7 (34... Kf8
$2 35. Rf1+ Ke7 36. Qg7+ Kd6 37. Rd1+ Kc5 38. Qxe5+ Kb6 39. Rd6 $18) 35. Qg7+
Ke8 36. Rf1 Qc5 37. Qxb7 $2 {With a few seconds left on the clock Vassily goes
over the top and loses beautifully. He was still better after} (37. Qf7+ Kd8
38. Rd1+ Bd5 39. Qxe6 Qe3+ 40. Kb1 Qe4+ 41. Ka1 (41. Kc1 Qe3+ $11) 41... Kc7
42. Qxd5 Qxd5 43. Rxd5 Rh8 44. cxb4 Rxh2 45. Kb1 Rxg2 46. Rxe5 $11 {but the
game would end in a draw.}) 37... Qe3+ 38. Kc2 (38. Kd1 Rd8+ 39. Kc2 Qe2+ 40.
Kb3 Qxf1 $19) 38... Qe2+ 39. Kb3 Qc4+ 40. Kc2 b3+ $1 {The symbolic 40th move
locks the white king into 2 ranks and forces a winning queen endgame.} 41. Kd2
$8 (41. axb3 Qe2+ 42. Kb1 Qxf1+ 43. Ka2 Rd8 $19) 41... Rd8+ 42. Ke1 Rd1+ $1 43.
Kxd1 Qxf1+ 44. Kd2 Qf4+ 45. Kd1 {It was a bit late to show bravery, but
objectively speaking much more challening for Black would have been the daring
centralization of the king.} (45. Kd3 $5 bxa2 46. Qb8+ Kf7 47. Qa7+ Kg6 48. Qg1
Qf5+ 49. Kd2 Qb1 50. Qb6 Kh5 51. Qb8 Qg6 52. Ke2 Qe4+ 53. Kf2 Qf4+ 54. Ke2 Qc4+
55. Kd2 Qd5+ 56. Ke3 Qc5+ 57. Ke4 a1=Q $19) 45... bxa2 46. Qc8+ (46. Qxa6 a1=Q+
47. Qxa1 Qf1+ $19) 46... Kf7 47. Qd7+ Kf6 48. Qd8+ Kf5 49. Qf8+ Ke4 50. Qa8+
Kd3 51. Qxa6+ {Unfortunatelly for White he can not even give check on d8.} (51.
Qd8+ Qd4 $1 $19) 51... Qc4 52. Qa7 (52. Qd6+ Ke4 53. Qa3 a1=Q+ 54. Qxa1 Qf1+
$19) 52... g3 {Black would like to mate the white king after Qg4+.} (52... Qb3+
53. Ke1 Kc2 $19) 53. h3 (53. hxg3 Qg4+ 54. Kc1 Qg5+ $19) 53... Qb3+ 54. Ke1 Kc2
{One of the most complicated games in recent months with a finish in the style
of ancient greek tragedies. Ivanchuk did not really deserve to lose after his
enterprising play in the whole game.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O e5 14. Bb3 Rd8
15. Re1 exd4 16. exd4 Qd6 17. Rd3 Nf8 18. d5 Bf5 19. Rd2 cxd5 20. Rxd5 Qf6 21.
Qd4 Be6 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23. Rh5 Bxb3 24. axb3 Ng6 25. Rxh6 Rd3 26. h4 Rad8 27.
Rh5 Rxb3 28. Rf5 Kg7 29. h5 Nf8 30. Re4 Nh7 31. Rg4+ Kh6 32. Rc4 Rxb2 33. g4 b5
34. Rd4 Rxd4 35. Nxd4 Rb4 36. Rd5 Ng5 37. Kg2 Ne6 38. Nf5+ Kh7 39. Kg3 Rb3+ 40.
Kh2 Rf3 41. Rd7 Ng5 42. Kg2 Rf4 43. Kg3 Rf3+ 44. Kg2 Rf4 45. Kg3 Rf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15.
O-O b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 exd5 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Re1 (19. Qg4 {- see
Carlsen-Shirov in this issue}) (19. Qd4) (19. Be3) (19. Bf4) (19. h4) 19... d4
$1 {The rest is worse:} (19... Bd6 20. Qd4 $1 Kb8 21. h4 Rhe8 22. Re7 $1 Bxe7
23. fxe7 Rc8 24. Bf4+ $18 {1-0 Magar,T-Ivanov,E/Los Angeles 2003/CBM 095 ext 
(43)}) (19... Nc5 20. Nxc5 (20. Re7 $143 Nb3 $1 (20... Bxe7 21. fxe7 Rdg8 22.
Nxc5 Rxg5 23. Nxb7 Kxb7 24. Qd4 $18 {1-0 Smejkal,J-Sveshnikov,E/Sarajevo 1983/
MCD (26)}) 21. Qg4+ Rd7 22. Re8+ Kc7 23. Ra2 Rd6 24. Re1 Qd7 $13 {1/2-1/2
Savchenko,S-Eriksson,J/Torshavn 2000/CBM 078 ext (36)}) 20... Bxc5 21. Re7 $1
Bxe7 (21... Rd7 22. Qg4 Bxe7 23. fxe7 d4 24. Ra5 $1 Qb6 25. Bh3 Bc6 26. Rd5 $18
{1-0 Gupta,A-Hungaski,R/Yerevan 2006/CBM 114 ext (30)}) 22. fxe7 Rdg8 23. h4
Rxg5 24. hxg5 Re8 25. Qg4+ Qd7 26. Qxd7+ Kxd7 27. Rxa7 Kc8 28. Rxb7 Kxb7 29.
Bxd5+ Kc7 30. Bxf7 Rxe7 31. Bxc4 Re4 32. Bf7 Kd6 33. g6 Ke7 34. b3 $16 {
1-0 Kotanjian,T-Sharma,D/Moscow 2004/EXT 2005 (50)}) (19... Bh6 20. Bxh6 (20.
Bh4 $5) 20... Rxh6 21. Qd4 Rxf6 22. Bh3 $40 Rd6 23. Nc5 Qb6 24. Red1 Kc7 25.
Bxd7 R8xd7 26. Nxd7 Qxd4 27. Rxd4 Kxd7 $14 {1/2-1/2 Stean,M-Rivas Pastor,M/
Marbella 1982/MCD (36)}) 20. Qxd4 (20. Bxb7+ Kxb7 21. Qf3+ Qc6 {leads to a
good position for Black.}) 20... Bxg2 (20... Qxg5 $2 21. Qxc4+ Kb8 22. Bxb7
Kxb7 23. Rac1 $18 {->}) 21. Kxg2 Qxg5 22. Qxc4+ Kb8 23. Rac1 (23. Rad1 Qa5 (
23... Qf5 $132) 24. Rd5 (24. b3 Qf5 $132) 24... Qc7 25. Qd3 {Dolmatov,S-Rivas,
P/Moscow/1982/} Qc6 $1 $13) (23. Red1 Qf5 $1 {[%cal Rf5h3,Rh8h2,Rd8c8]} (23...
Rc8 24. Qxf7 $1 (24. Qa6 $2 Qf5 $1 25. Nb6 Rxh2+ $1 26. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 27. Kh3 Qf5+
28. g4 Qf3+ 29. Kh4 Qf2+ $1 30. Kh3 Qe3+ 31. Kh4 Qh6+ 32. Kg3 Bd6+ $1 {0-1 van
Wely,L-Piket,J/Wijk aan Zee 1994/Inf 59/[Piket,Je]}) 24... Ne5 $1 25. Qd5 $1
Qxf6 26. Qb5+ Kc7 27. Rac1+ Nc6 28. Rc2 (28. Qa5+ Kb8 29. Qb5+ {1/2-1/2
Lazarev,V-Piket,J/Leiden 1995/EXT 2003}) 28... b3 $1 (28... Rh6 29. Qa6 Kb8 30.
Nb6 Rc7 31. Nd7+ Rxd7 32. Rxd7 {1-0 Galliamova_Ivanchuk,A-Buturin,V/Lviv 1995/
Inf 65}) 29. Qxb3 Qf5 30. h4 Rh6 31. Nc3 Nb4 32. Nd5+ Kb8 33. Nxb4 Qe4+ 34. Kh3
Qxb4 35. Qxb4+ Bxb4 36. Rxc8+ Kxc8 37. g4 {1-0 Mayer,E-Marim,M/IECC 2004/
Telechess CBM 107 (42)}) 24. Rd5 $140 Rxh2+ $1 25. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 26. Kh3 (26. Kh1
Qf3+ 27. Kh2 Bd6 $19) 26... Bd6 $1 27. Rb5+ Nb6 $40 {[%cal Rd8h8]}) 23... Bd6
24. Qc6 Qd2 $5 $146 {[%cal Rh8h2][%mdl 8] It was not too difficult to improve
on} (24... Nxf6 $4 25. Nb6 $1 {1-0/Anikaev-Westerinen,H/Moscow/1982/}) (24...
Qxf6 $5 {led to a more complex position}) 25. Kg1 $5 (25. Re2 Qxe2 26. Qxd6+
Ka8 $11) 25... Rxh2 $1 26. Re2 $8 Qd3 $8 ({Of course, not} 26... Qxe2 {now,
due to} 27. Qxd6+ Ka8 28. Qc6+ Kb8 29. Qc7+ $18) 27. Re3 (27. Kxh2 {doesn't
work due to the intermediate} Bxg3+ $1) 27... Qd2 {Both sides must repeat
moves.} (27... Qd4 $4 28. Kxh2) 28. Re2 Qd3 29. Re3 Qd2 30. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. Bg2
Nfd7 {The smart retreat of the knight from the f6-square steals the momentum
from White's kingside set up. Black controls the d8-h4 diagonal, prepares Nc6
and gradual counterplay.} 9. Be3 (9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. f4 (11. a4 Nde5
12. Qe2 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc6 14. Be3 Bd7 15. f4 Rc8 16. Kh1 Qc7 17. g5 Rfe8 18.
Qf2 f6 19. h4 Rf8 $11 {1-0 Hou,Y (2549)-Ding Yixin (2292)/Beijing 2008 (37)})
11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. e5 d5 14. Qd2 b4 15. Ne2 Qc7 16. Rae1 Bb7 17. Ng3
Rac8 18. Rf2 Bh4 19. Kh2 a5 20. g5 Nc5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Miranda Mesa,E (2321)
-Quesada Perez,Y (2402)/Havana 2009 (39)}) 9... Nc6 (9... Ne5 10. b3 Bd7 11.
Qd2 Qa5 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Rad1 Rd8 16. f4 Nec6 17. Ne2
Be8 18. Bb6 Rd7 19. Ng3 $16 {1-0 Walek,M (2315)-Fiala,J (2255)/Prerov 1995 (39)
}) 10. Qd2 {Dominguez feels, that his queen will be more useful controlling
dark squares despite the coming Nde5. Too many of the white pawns and pieces
are already firing away at light squares!} (10. Qe2 Nxd4 (10... O-O 11. O-O-O (
11. O-O Qc7 12. Rfd1 Nce5 13. Bc1 Re8 14. a4 Bf8 15. Qd2 b6 16. b3 Bb7 17. Bb2
Rad8 18. Qf4 Ng6 19. Qg3 Be7 $11 {0-1 Lopez Martinez,J (2505)-Grigoriants,S 
(2539)/Stepanakert 2005 (49)}) 11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. e5 d5 14. f4 Bb7 15.
Qe3 b4 16. Ne2 a5 17. Kb1 a4 18. f5 b3 19. cxb3 axb3 {1/2-1/2 Vuckovic,B (2572)
-Zivkovic,V (2413)/Banja Vrucica 2009 (52)}) (10... Qc7 11. O-O-O Rb8 12. f4
O-O 13. g5 Nxd4 14. Rxd4 b5 15. Kb1 Nb6 16. Rf1 e5 17. Rd3 Be6 18. f5 Bc4 19.
f6 Bd8 20. Qh5 {1-0 Pirttimaki,T (2244)-Mavritchev,J/Helsinki 2002 (27)}) 11.
Bxd4 O-O 12. O-O b5 13. e5 d5 14. a3 Qc7 15. f4 Bc5 16. Qe3 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Bb7
18. Rae1 Rac8 19. Rf2 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Nxb6 $11 {0-1 Hou,Y (2590)-Wang Hao (2696)/
Xinghua Jiangsu 2009 (59)}) (10. Nce2 h5 11. gxh5 Qa5+ 12. c3 Qxh5 13. Qd2 Nde5
14. b3 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 g5 16. Rg1 Bd7 17. f3 b5 18. O-O-O Rc8 19. Kb2 $11 {
1-0 Ljubojevic,L (2615)-Ivanovic,B (2440)/Zagreb 1977 (43)}) 10... Nde5 11. b3
(11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. b3 Ng6 $13) 11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 (12. Qxd4 Nc6 13. Qd2 b5 $13
) 12... O-O 13. O-O-O {White players have lost the feeling of trepidation when
castling long. Despite the somewhat exposed structure with the b2-b3 move, it
fits in perfectly with the main strategy.} (13. f4 Bh4+ $11) 13... b5 (13...
Nc6 14. Be3 b5 15. f4 Bd7 $13) 14. Ne2 Bb7 15. f4 Ng6 {The hard working
Topalov is looking for new ways not only in his home laboratory, but also at
the chessboard. Much more natural would seem to be the retreat 15...Nc6 with a
tempo, but the knight on g6 has a clear mission.} (15... Nc6 16. Bb2 (16. Be3
a5 $132) 16... a5 17. h4 a4 18. h5 Qa5 $11) 16. Rhf1 (16. f5 $2 Nh4 $1 $17)
16... e5 17. Be3 (17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Be3 Qxd2+ 19. Rxd2 Rad8 $11) 17... exf4 {
Veselin is a very active, tactical player, but the risk connected with the
wildly original location of the knight on h4 was too high for his positional
taste.} (17... a5 $5 18. f5 Nh4 19. Bh1 a4 $13) 18. Nxf4 Ne5 (18... Rc8 19. Kb1
Nxf4 20. Bxf4 Qc7 21. Rf2 $14) 19. Kb1 Rc8 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 $6 {Leinier
recaptures with the pawn; in my opinion it can not be praised as a smart
solution. Black would have to work harder to equalise after 21.Qxd5!} (21. Qxd5
$1 Qa5 22. Qd2 (22. Rf2 Bh4 23. Re2 Nc4 24. bxc4 Qb4+ $11) 22... Qc7 23. g5 $14
) 21... Bh4 22. g5 Re8 23. Bf3 (23. Qc1 Ng6 24. Rd4 Re5 25. Re4 Qe7 $15) 23...
g6 (23... Qe7 24. Bf4 Nxf3 25. Rxf3 Qe2 $11) 24. Bg4 $6 (24. Be2 Qe7 25. Bf4
Rc5 $11) 24... Rc7 $2 {The last two moves represent a true mystery in this
game. Both very strong players must have been deluded into judging the last
two moves in a far from objective light. Topalov had to take the brave bishop
on g4 and attack the g5-pawn, rather than sacrifice the exchange for some
nebulous positional compensation.} (24... Nxg4 $1 25. hxg4 Re5 26. Qd4 (26. Bd4
Bxg5 (26... Rxd5 27. Qh2 Bxg5 28. Qg2 $14) 27. Qh2 Re7 (27... Re8 $2 28. Rxf7
$1 $18) 28. Bf6 Bxf6 29. Rxf6 Re5 30. Rdf1 Rc7 $17) 26... Bxg5 27. Bxg5 Qxg5
28. Qa7 Rf8 29. Qxa6 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Qxd5 31. a4 bxa4 32. Qxa4 $15) 25. Bb6 $1
Qb8 26. Bxc7 Qxc7 27. Be2 Qd8 28. Rg1 Qb6 {Black has a perfect, unassailable
knight on e5 and good control of the dark squares. Unfortunately, in return
for the exchange he can not claim even the compensation of a single pawn.} 29.
Qf4 (29. Rg2 Bf2 30. h4 Be3 (30... Bxh4 31. Qf4 $18) 31. Qb4 $16) 29... Bf2 30.
Rg2 Be3 31. Qe4 Re7 (31... Kf8 32. Qb4 Bc5 33. Qe1 Be3 34. h4 $16) 32. Qb4 (32.
h4 Qc5 33. c3 Qxc3 34. Bxb5 axb5 35. Rc2 Nc4 36. Qxc4 Qxc4 37. bxc4 $16) 32...
Rc7 33. h4 $1 {Dominguez needs to open up the file to gain access to the black
king.} Bc5 34. Qe4 (34. Qf4 Be3 (34... Qa5 35. Qf6 Rd7 36. h5 $18) 35. Qe4 (35.
Qf6 Qc5 36. Bd3 Bd4 $14) 35... Qc5 36. a3 $16) 34... Qa5 35. Rg3 $1 (35. Qf4
Bb4 $1 $132) 35... Bf2 36. Rh3 h5 $1 37. gxh6 $2 {White was tempted by the
fact, that in few moves the access to the black king will become open. He
clearly won the important battle, but lost the chance to score the point.} (37.
Rf1 Qd2 38. a3 $1 Bb6 (38... Bc5 39. b4 Bf2 40. Rd1 $18) 39. Rd1 Qa5 40. b4 Qa4
41. Rb3 a5 42. Qf4 $16) 37... f5 38. Qf4 Rxc2 $1 {This standard combination
shows some unusual flair in a very original perpetual check in one of the
lines.} 39. Kxc2 (39. a4 Rxe2 40. h5 Re1 $17) 39... Qxa2+ 40. Kc1 {White has
seen the danger of fooling around with the king and thus robbed the gallery of
the charming finish.} (40. Kc3 a5 $1 (40... Qxe2 $2 41. Qd2 $18) 41. Qxf2 b4+
42. Kd4 Qc2 43. Ke3 Qc5+ 44. Rd4 Qc1+ 45. Rd2 Qc5+ $11) 40... Qa1+ 41. Kc2 Qa2+
42. Kc1 Qa1+ 43. Kc2 Qa2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 {This move is frequently played,
with the aim of avoiding the lines based on ...cxd4. Personally, I feel that
this release of the tension in the centre is premature.} Bd7 {I consider this
natural developing move to be the best.} ({The immediate attempt to improve
the queen's knight position with} 12... Nc4 {succeeds only partially:} 13. b3
Nb6 14. a4 Bd7 15. a5 Nc8 {I do not feel that the knight is much better placed
here than it was on a5. Besides, White has managed to win much space on the
queenside.} 16. Nbd2 g6 17. Nf1 Nh5 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Qd2 Bf6 20. Ng3 Nxg3 21.
fxg3 Bg7 22. Rf1 f6 23. Be3 Ne7 24. g4 Rf8 25. Kh2 Rae8 26. Nh4 Qc8 27. b4 c4
28. Rf3 Rf7 29. Raf1 Ref8 {Black has managed to regroup, but his position
remains passive.} 30. Bh6 $6 ({Shipov reccomends} 30. Nf5 $5 gxf5 31. gxf5 {
[%cal Gg2g4,Gh3h4] with enduring pressure, despite the big material
disadvantage. In this line, the black knight remains passive all the same.})
30... g5 $1 $11 {Bacrot,E (2728)-Svidler,P (2726)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 131 (1/2,
36)}) (12... c4 $6 {is premature because of} 13. b4 $1 {In this line, it is
important that the c3-pawn is defended.}) 13. b3 {This is the most consistent
continuation, aiming to keep the a5-knight out of play.} (13. Nbd2 {is met by}
c4 $132 {[%cal Ga5b7,Gb7c5]} 14. Nf1 (14. b4 $2 cxb3 $1 {[%csl Gc3]}) 14... Nb7
15. g4 (15. N3h2 {Karjakin,S (2645)-Aleksandrov,A (2630)/Saint Vincent 2005/
CBM 110/[Marin,M] (1/2, 31)}) 15... h5 {Sulskis,S (2528)-Efimenko,Z (2620)/
Dresden 2007/CBM 118 [Marin] (0-1, 74)} (15... Ne8 {Harikrishna,P (2673)
-Fressinet,L (2624)/Pamplona 2005/CBM 111/[Marin,M] (1-0, 41)})) 13... c4 $6 {
I find it hard to justify such an early opening of the queenside.} ({When
facing this position, I played} 13... Rab8 {intending to discourage an
eventual break with a4 and waiting for White to develop his knight in order to
continue with ...g6 and Nh5 without fearing Bh6.} 14. Be3 (14. a4 $6 bxa4 15.
bxa4 {>< b3}) (14. Nbd2 g6 15. Nf1 Nh5) 14... g6 ({As we shall find out from a
further line, it is better to transfer the knight to g7 via h5 rather than with
} 14... Ne8) 15. Nbd2 ({I was slightly worried about} 15. Bh6 $5 {but after}
Rfe8 16. Nbd2 Nh5 {Black would have an extra-tempo compared to the line
starting with 13...g6 below.}) 15... Nh5 16. Bh6 Ng7 ({In fact, even here} 
16... Rfe8 $5 17. Nf1 Bf8 {came into consideration.}) 17. Nf1 Nb7 {The knight
initiates its voyage to f7.} 18. g4 Nd8 19. Ng3 f6 20. Nh2 Nf7 21. Be3 Kh8 (
21... a5 $5) 22. Qd2 (22. f4 f5 $5 $132 {/\ Bh4}) 22... Qc8 (22... a5 $5) 23.
f4 exf4 (23... f5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. g5 $1) 24. Bxf4 Ne5 25. Rf1 a5 $11 {
Maze,S (2455)-Marin,M (2540)/Moscow 2005 (1/2, 34)}) 14. Ba3 $146 {[%cal Gf3e5]
An interesting novelty.} ({In fact, there is nothing wrong with the natural} 
14. b4 Nb7 15. Be3 $6 ({White should start fighting for the a-file with} 15. a4
$1 {since} a5 {fails to equalize after} 16. axb5 axb4 17. Rxa8 Rxa8 18. cxb4
Bxb5 19. Na3 $14 {[%csl Gb7]}) 15... a5 16. a3 axb4 $6 {Black should not help
White clear the c3-square for his knight.} ({Once he has avoided queenside
problems, he should have switched to Rubinstein's old plan} 16... Ne8 17. Nbd2
g6 18. Nf1 Ng7 19. g4 f6 20. Ng3 Nd8 21. Qd2 Nf7 $11 {[%cal Ga8a6,Gf8a8]}) 17.
cxb4 $14 {[%cal Gb1c3]} c3 $6 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Re3 $16 {Kasparov,G
(2715)-Comp Meph Experimental/Hamburg 1985/EXT 2002 (1-0, 55)}) 14... Bd8 {
This is the only way to parry the threat.} (14... Rfe8 $2 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16.
Bxe7 Rxe7 17. d6 $18) 15. Nbd2 Ne8 16. Bb4 cxb3 $6 {Opening the a-file leads
to trouble with the a5-knight.} ({Before anything, Black should have continued
his regrouping with} 16... g6 17. Qe2 Ng7) 17. axb3 Nb7 18. Qe2 $1 {White
prepares to put up pressure against the b5-pawn, in order to discourage ...a5.}
Qb8 (18... a5 19. Ba3 Qxc3 20. Bd3 $16 {[%cal Ge1c1,Gd3b5] Black is very
poorly coordinated.}) ({It is too late for} 18... g6 19. c4 a5 20. Ba3 $1 $16 {
[%csl Gc1]} (20. Rec1 Rb8 $1 21. Bc3 b4 22. Bb2 Nc5 $15) 20... Rc8 {[%cal
Gb5b4]} 21. cxb5 $1 Qxc2 22. Rec1 $18) 19. Ba3 $1 {[%csl Gb7][%cal Gb3b4]} (19.
c4 a5 20. Bc3 b4 21. Bb2 Nc5 $15) 19... Bb6 {Black has activated his bishop,
but this is not the highest priority in the Chigorin Ruy Lopez. It is the
knights he should be concerned in the first line. The bishop's activity is
rather sterile, while the knights cause problems of coordination.} (19... Na5
20. b4 $16) 20. b4 Nc7 {This looks ugly, but Black needed to consolidate the
b5-square.} ({It was too late for reaching a harmonious development with} 20...
g6 21. c4 Ng7 22. Bb2 f6 {[%cal Gb7d8,Gd8f7] because of} 23. cxb5 Bxb5 24. Bd3
$16 {and the queenside is vulnerable.}) 21. Bd3 $14 (21. c4 $1 $16 {seems to
pose even bigger problems, because of the permanent threat of c5.}) 21... a5 $1
{Black reduces the damage. He still gets a weak pawn on b5, but at least there
will be no c4-c5 hanging around.} 22. Nf1 axb4 23. cxb4 f6 24. Ne3 g6 25. Bb2
Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd8 27. Nd2 Nf7 {The bad knight has been transferred to a
relatively favourable square, but the other (usually good) knight stands
miserably.} 28. Kh2 Qd8 ({Black cannot regroup with} 28... Ba7 29. Rf1 Ne8 30.
Nb1 Ng7 {because of} 31. Na3 $16 {, winning the weak pawn.}) 29. Rf1 Qe7 30.
Bc1 Ra8 31. Nb1 Bd4 32. Nc2 Bb6 33. Nc3 {The b5-pawn is almost doomed, which
forces Black open the other wing.} f5 34. exf5 gxf5 35. f4 $1 $14 {White has
stabilized the position and remains better coordinated. The problem is that
Black cannot release the tension, because this would give White free hands to
grab the b5-pawn.} Rc8 {A slightly mysterious move.} (35... Qf6 {has been
recommended, but White remains in control after} 36. Be3 e4 37. Bxb5 Nxb5 38.
Nxb5 Bxe3 39. Nxe3 Rb8 40. Na3 Rxb4 41. Nac2 Rb3 42. Ra1 $14 {White has the
safer king and the more active minor pieces.}) 36. Be3 Bxe3 37. Qxe3 (37. Nxe3
$5 $14 {comes into consideration, since} exf4 $6 {can be met by} 38. Nxf5 $1 (
38. Rxf4 $2 Qe5) 38... Qxe2 39. Nxe2 Nxd5 40. Nxf4 $16) 37... Ne8 38. Be2 Qf6
39. Qd2 exf4 $6 {Ivanchuk probably thought that this is a good moment to start
his counterattack, overlooking White's 41st move.} 40. Nd4 Qe5 41. Bxb5 $1 {
It appears that the discovered check is not dangerous for White.} ({Black may
have counted with} 41. Kh1 Nf6 $36) 41... f3+ 42. Kg1 Bxb5 43. Ncxb5 fxg2 44.
Rxf5 $16 {White is more active and will be a pawn up soon.} Qe4 45. Nc3 Qh4 46.
Qxg2+ Kh8 47. Nce2 Nf6 48. Rf4 Qh6 49. Nf5 Qf8 50. Ned4 Ne5 51. b5 Qg8 52. Ne7
Rc1+ 53. Kh2 Qxg2+ 54. Kxg2 Nfd7 55. Ndf5 Nc4 56. Rg4 Nf6 57. Rg3 Rc2+ 58. Kg1
Rc1+ 59. Kh2 Rc2+ 60. Rg2 Rxg2+ 61. Kxg2 Ne4 62. Nc8 Nc3 63. Ncxd6 Nb6 64. Ne3
Kg7 65. Kf3 Kf8 66. Kf4 Ke7 67. Ndc4 Nxc4 68. Nxc4 Nxd5+ 69. Kg5 Kd7 70. h4 Ne7
71. Kf6 Ng6 72. Ne5+ Nxe5 73. Kxe5 Kc7 74. h5 Kb6 75. Kf6 Kxb5 76. Kg7 Ka4 77.
Kxh7 Kb3 78. h6 Ka2 79. Kg6 Kb1 80. h7 Kc2 81. h8=Q 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 O-O 9. Nge2 Qxc5 10. Qb3 Nc6 11. Nb5 Qh5 12. Ng3 Qh4 13. Nc7 e5 {For this
line - see opening survey in CBM 124. However, a number of important games
have been played since then.} 14. Bg5 (14. Bxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxa8 {is another
important option.}) 14... Qxg5 15. h4 (15. Nxa8 e4 16. O-O h5 (16... Qe5 $5 {
[%cal Re5b8]} 17. Be2 Qe7 $6 (17... h5) 18. Qa3 Qe5 19. b4 Bd7 20. b5 Rxa8 21.
bxc6 Bxc6 22. Rfd1 $16 {1-0 Kuzubov,Y-Swinkels,R/Neuhausen 2007/CBM 119 ext 
(58)}) 17. Ne2 (17. Nc7 h4 18. Ne2 Bh3 (18... Ne5 $44) 19. Nf4 Bxg2 20. Nce6
Qg4 21. Nxg2 h3 22. Nef4 Ne5 23. Be2 Nf3+ 24. Kh1 hxg2+ 25. Nxg2 g5 $1 $44 {
[%cal Rg4h3] 1/2-1/2 Bhat,V-Gupta,A/Benasque 2008/CBM 125 Extra (32)}) 17...
Ng4 18. Nf4 Bf5 (18... Be5 $5 19. h3 Nf6 20. Rfd1 Kg7 21. Bf1 Nd4 22. Rxd4 Bxd4
23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Ne6+ fxe6 25. Qxb7+ Kh6 26. Qxc8 Bxe3 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. Qf7+
Kh6 29. Qf8+ {1/2-1/2 Berczes,D-Braun,A/Balatonlelle 2006/CBM 113 ext}) 19. Nc7
(19. Qxb7 Nd4 $132) 19... Nd4 20. exd4 Qxf4 21. Qg3 Qxg3 22. hxg3 Bxd4 23. Be2
e3 $44 {1/2-1/2 Socko,B-Naiditsch,A/Dresden 2008/CBM 128 (51)}) 15... Qg4 16.
Nxa8 Qd7 $146 {[%mdl 8] An attempt to trap the a8 knight after all. The
alternatives seen in practice are:} (16... Na5 17. Qb5 Nxc4 18. Rxc4 Bd7 (18...
e4 $5) 19. Qb4 e4 20. Nc7 $1 (20. Qxb7 Be6 {[%cal Cc4d4,Cb7a7,Re6c4,Re6d5]} 21.
Rd4 Nd7 $1 22. Rxd7 (22. Rxe4 Nc5) 22... Bxd7 23. Nc7 Be5 {[%cal Cg3e4,Re5g3,
Rf8c8]} 24. O-O Qxh4 25. Qxa7 Bxb2 $11 {1-0 Mamedyarov,S-Eljanov,P/Gothenburg
2005/CBM 124/[Krasenkow] (65)}) 20... Bc6 $1 21. Qd6 Nh5 $6 (21... Nd7 $5) 22.
Nxh5 Qxh5 23. Rc5 Qg4 24. Rg5 Qc8 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Qc1+ 27. Rd1 Qxb2 28.
Qd5 $16 {1-0 Blanco Gramajo,C-Tuvshintugs,B/Ledyards 2006/CBM 111 ext (48)}) (
16... e4 17. Nc7 Na5 (17... Ne5 18. Be2 Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 exd3 20. Rc4 (20. Qxd3 $5
) 20... Qd7 21. O-O a6 22. Rd1 b5 23. Rcc1 Rd8 24. e4 Bh6 25. Rc3 d2 26. e5 Ng4
27. e6 $16 {1-0 Van Ketel,R-Zimmerman,L/Leiden 2008/CBM 125 Extra (29)}) 18.
Qb5 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Bd7 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Bxb2 22. Rc2 Bc6 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24.
hxg5 Be5 25. Ne2 Rd8 26. Rd2 Re8 $6 (26... Bc7 $1 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Nd4 Bd5
$13) 27. O-O Kg7 28. Rc1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Wang Yue-Dominguez Perez,L/Sofia BUL
2009/The Week in Chess 758 (64)}) 17. Rd1 Qe7 18. Qa3 Nb4 $5 19. O-O Bg4 $5 20.
f3 (20. Qxa7 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Ng4 $132) 20... Bh6 $5 {[%mdl 512]} 21. fxg4 Nxg4 {
[%cal Rh6e3,Re7h4]} 22. Rxf7 $5 (22. Bxf7+ Kg7 $1) ({The fate of Black's
novelty probably depends on the evaluation of} 22. Rf3 $1 {Here is a possible
line:} Qxh4 (22... e4 23. Rxf7 Rxf7 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qb3+ Kf8 (25... Kg7 26.
Qc3+ {-that's the point!}) 26. Rf1+ Kg7 27. Qc3+ Ne5 28. Qc7 Bxe3+ 29. Kh1 $16)
23. Nf1 $1 (23. Qxb4 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Nxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Bxe3 $132) 23... Nc2 $1 {
[%cal Rc2a3,Rh6e3]} 24. Qxf8+ $1 Bxf8 25. Bxf7+ (25. Rxf7 Ncxe3) 25... Kh8 $1
26. Bb3 Bc5 27. Bxc2 e4 $1 28. Bxe4 Nxe3 29. Nxe3 Qxe4 30. Kf2 b5 $1 31. Rd8+ (
31. Nc7 $2 Bxe3+ 32. Rxe3 Qc2+) (31. b4 Bd4 $5) 31... Kg7 {and Black's
counterplay should be enough for a draw.}) 22... Rxf7 23. Nf1 (23. Bxf7+ Kg7 $1
) 23... Kg7 24. Bxf7 Qxf7 25. Qxb4 {White has nothing better than allowing a
perpetual.} Qf2+ 26. Kh1 Qxh4+ 27. Kg1 Qf2+ 28. Kh1 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Bxe3+ 30. Nxe3
Qf2+ 31. Kh1 Qh4+ 32. Kg1 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. Ne2 Bd7 12. h3 h6 13. Nf4 h5 14. Re1
Rd8 15. e6 Bxe6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bf4 Bf6 18. Rxe6+ Kf7 19. Rae1 Nd4 20. Nxd4
Rxd4 21. Bxc7 Rd7 22. Bd6 Rhd8 23. Ba3 Rd2 24. c3 Rc2 25. R6e3 Rdd2 26. Rf3 b6
27. g4 hxg4 28. hxg4 Kg6 29. Be7 Re2 30. Rxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hug, Werner"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2453"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Bf5 8. Ne1
Be6 9. d5 Bd7 10. h3 cxd5 11. cxd5 Na6 12. Nd3 Qa5 13. a3 Rfc8 14. Kh2 h5 15.
Bd2 Qd8 16. Rc1 Nc5 17. Nxc5 Rxc5 18. Be3 Rc4 19. b3 Rcc8 20. Qd2 Qa5 21. Nb1
Qb5 22. b4 Qa4 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rc1 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Qb3 26. Nd2 Qa4 27. Qc7 Qb5
28. Qb8+ Kh7 29. Qxa7 h4 30. gxh4 Nxd5 31. a4 Be5+ 32. Kg1 Qxe2 33. Bxd5 Bxh3
34. Bg2 Bxg2 35. Kxg2 Qg4+ 36. Kf1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bxg2 9. Kxg2 Qc8 10. Qd3 Nc6 11. b3 Ne5 12. Qe3 Nfg4 13. Qd2 Bb4 14. Bb2 O-O
15. f3 Nf6 16. Nc2 Ba5 17. Qe3 d6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 b5 20. c5 Bc7 21. Bxe5
dxe5 22. Rad1 a5 23. a3 Qa6 24. b4 Rad8 25. bxa5 Qxa5 26. Qb7 Qa4 27. Qxc7 Rxd1
28. Rxd1 Qxc2 29. Re1 e4 30. c6 Qc3 31. Rf1 Qd2 32. fxe4 Qxe2+ 33. Kg1 Qe3+ 34.
Rf2 Qxe4 35. Qd7 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c6 6. Ne5 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qxd4 8.
Bxb4 Qxe5 9. Nd2 b5 10. Bc3 Qc7 11. a4 Bb7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne4 Ke7 14. Qd2
Nd7 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Qb4+ Nc5 17. Ra5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Rab8 19. O-O Kf8 20. Rfa1
Kg7 21. Rxa7 Qe5 22. Bf3 Rhf8 23. Re7 Nb3 24. Raa7 Nd4 25. Kg2 Nxe2 26. Rac7
Nd4 27. Rc5 Nc2 28. Rxe5 Nxb4 29. R5xe6 Nd3 30. Bh5 Nxb2 31. Rc6 Rbc8 32. Rb6
Rb8 33. Rc6 Nd3 34. f4 Nb4 35. Rcc7 Nd5 36. Rxf7+ Rxf7 37. Rxf7+ Kg8 38. Rd7
Nb6 39. Rc7 b4 40. Bf7+ Kh8 41. Bxc4 Nxc4 42. Rxc4 b3 43. Rc1 b2 44. Rb1 Kg7
45. g4 Rb3 46. Kf2 Kg6 47. Ke1 h5 48. gxh5+ Kxh5 49. Kd2 Rh3 50. Rh1 Kg4 51.
Kc2 Kxf4 52. Kxb2 f5 53. Kc2 Ke3 54. Kd1 Kf2 55. Re1 Rd3+ 56. Kc2 Rd5 57. Re8
f4 58. Rh8 f3 59. h4 Kg3 60. h5 f2 61. Rg8+ Kf4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. h3 h6 8. Be3
Bb6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. d4 Qe7 11. Re1 Rb8 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bxb6 cxb6 14. Qd3 Rd8
15. Qe3 Bb7 16. Nh4 Qe6 17. Nf5 Kh7 18. Rad1 c5 19. f3 Bc6 20. a4 Ng8 21. Qe2
g6 22. Ne3 Nf6 23. Nb5 Qe7 24. b3 Kg7 25. Nc3 Rd4 26. Ncd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Rd8
28. c3 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 h5 30. c4 Ne8 31. Re1 Nd6 32. Nd1 Re8 33. Nc3 a5 34. Nb5
Nf5 35. Qe4 f6 36. Qd3 Qd7 37. Qe4 Nd4 38. Qd3 f5 39. Nxd4 exd4 40. Qd2 Re7 41.
Kf2 Qe8 42. Rxe7+ Qxe7 43. Qf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Rd1 Ne4 10. Nc3 f5 11. e3 Qe7 12. Ne2 Nxd2 13. Rxd2 Nf6 14. Rdd1 Bd7
15. Nf4 Be8 16. a3 Ne4 17. Ne5 g5 18. Nfd3 h5 19. b4 Kh8 20. f3 Nf6 21. a4 Bxb4
22. Nxb4 Qxb4 23. Rab1 Qe7 24. a5 Rc8 25. cxd5 Nxd5 26. Qb3 Rc7 27. e4 Nf6 28.
Re1 fxe4 29. fxe4 Nd7 30. Nd3 Bg6 31. Rf1 Rxf1+ 32. Rxf1 Kh7 33. Qc3 c5 34. Nf2
e5 35. d5 c4 36. Rd1 Qc5 37. d6 Rc8 38. Rd5 Qc6 39. Nh3 g4 40. Ng5+ Kg8 41. h4
Bf7 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. Kh2 Ke6 44. Qe3 c3 45. Qg5 Kf7 46. Qxh5+ Kf8 47. Qf5+ Ke8
48. Qe6+ Kf8 49. Rd1 Qc4 50. Qxd7 c2 51. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. h3
exd4 9. Nxd4 Nb6 10. b3 Re8 11. e4 c5 12. Nc2 a6 13. Rb1 Be6 14. Ne3 Nfd7 15.
Ncd5 Bxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qc7 18. Bf4 Re6 19. Rbd1 Ne5 20. h4 Bf8 21.
Kh1 Rb8 22. Rd2 b5 23. Rfd1 bxc4 24. Bxe5 dxe5 25. Qxc4 Rb4 26. Qc2 Qb6 27. Rd7
c4 28. Rd8 Kg7 29. Bh3 Rf6 30. R1d2 cxb3 31. axb3 Rxb3 32. Kg2 Rbf3 33. Rc8 h5
34. Bd7 Bb4 35. Rc6 Bxd2 36. Rxb6 Rxf2+ 37. Kh3 Rxb6 38. Qc5 Be3 39. Qxe5+ Kh7
0-1

[Event "Zuerich Champions sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mohajerin Esfahani, Peyman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2353"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. b4 a5 6. c3 b6 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Bxd7+
Qxd7 9. cxb6 axb4 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne2 Qb5 12. O-O Nd7 13. Nd2 bxc3 14. Nxc3
Qxb6 15. a4 Bg7 16. Nb5 f5 17. Rb1 O-O 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxd7 e3
21. fxe3 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Rxa4 23. Nd6 Rf4 24. Rfe1 Rb4 25. Rbc1 Qd2 26. Rcd1 Qh6
27. h3 Qg6 28. Nc8 Kh8 29. Ne7 Qg5 30. Nc6 Rb2 31. Rg1 Qf4 32. Qe7 Rd2 33. Rxd2
Qxd2 34. Ne5 Qf4 35. Nf3 Kg8 36. Rd1 h6 37. Rd3 Rc8 38. Rd8+ Rxd8 39. Qxd8+ Kh7
40. Qd3+ f5 41. Qd7 e5 42. Qf7 Kh8 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Qf7 Qc1+ 45. Kh2 Qf4+ 46.
Kh1 Qe4 47. h4 Qg4 48. h5 e4 49. Ne5 Qh4+ 50. Kg1 Qf6 51. Qg6+ Qxg6 52. Nxg6
Bd4+ 53. Kf1 Kg7 54. Nf4 Kf6 55. g3 Be5 56. Ne2 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Champions sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rosenthal, Jonathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2262"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 c5 6. Nge2 d6 7. d3 Nc6 8. O-O
Ne8 9. Nd5 Be6 10. a3 Ba5 11. Rb1 Bc7 12. b4 b6 13. f4 f6 14. Qa4 Bd7 15. Qc2
Bb8 16. Be3 Nc7 17. h4 Qe8 18. Kh2 Kh8 19. Bh3 Bxh3 20. Kxh3 Nd4 21. Bxd4 cxd4
22. f5 Rf7 23. g4 b5 24. Ng3 a5 25. Rfc1 Ba7 26. bxa5 Bc5 27. Nxc7 Rxc7 28.
Rxb5 Rca7 29. Qd2 Qd8 30. Rcb1 h6 31. g5 fxg5 32. hxg5 Qxg5 33. Qxg5 hxg5 34.
Rb8+ Rxb8 35. Rxb8+ Kh7 36. Rb5 Bxa3 37. Kg4 Kh6 38. f6 Kg6 39. fxg7 Rxg7 40.
Nf5 Ra7 41. Rb6 Bc5 42. Rc6 Rxa5 43. Nxd6 Bxd6 44. Rxd6+ 1-0

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.09.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Bektesevic, Aljo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 Be7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. c4 Nb6 6. Be3 O-O 7. a3 d5 8. c5
N6d7 9. Nc3 a6 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Qc2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nh7 Nxh7 15.
Bxh7+ Kh8 16. f4 Bf6 17. O-O-O b5 18. Bg6 b4 19. Nb1 bxa3 20. Nxa3 Rb8 21. g4
Nb4 22. Qg2 e5 23. dxe5 Bh4 24. Rhf1 Bb7 25. Bd4 Na2+ 26. Kb1 Nb4 27. Qd2 a5
28. f5 Bg5 29. Qc3 Ba6 30. Rf2 Bh4 31. Rg2 Nc6 32. Nc2 a4 33. e6 Nxd4 34. Nxd4
Bf6 35. Qa5 Bb7 36. Qxa4 Qe7 37. Rc2 Ra8 38. Qd7 Ra5 39. Qxe7 Bxe7 40. b4 Ra4
41. Rb2 Rfa8 42. Kc2 Ra3 43. c6 Bc8 44. Nb5 Rh3 45. Nxc7 Rxh2+ 46. Rd2 Rxd2+
47. Kxd2 Ra1 48. Nxd5 Bg5+ 49. Kd3 Rc1 50. e7 Rd1+ 51. Ke2 1-0

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.09.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Knezevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. e3 b6 6. Be2 Bb7 7. b3 O-O 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Bb2 Ne4 10. Qc2 f5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Rac1 c6 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. Ne2 Qe7
15. Ne1 Rae8 16. g3 g6 17. Ng2 Ndf6 18. f3 Ng5 19. h4 Nf7 20. Nef4 Nd8 21. Rce1
Ne6 22. e4 fxe4 23. fxe4 Nxf4 24. exd5 Nh3+ 25. Kh2 Qd7 26. dxc6 Ng4+ 27. Kh1
Rxe1 28. Bc4+ Kg7 29. d5+ Kg8 30. Nxe1 Qe7 31. Qe2 Qxe2 32. Bxe2 Bc8 33. Rxf8+
Kxf8 34. Kg2 Ne3+ 35. Kh2 Nxd5 36. Bf3 Ne7 37. Bd4 g5 38. Bg2 gxh4 39. Bxh3
Bxg3+ 40. Kg2 Bxh3+ 41. Kxh3 Bxe1 42. c7 Ke8 43. Bf6 Nc8 44. Kg4 Kd7 45. Bd8
h5+ 46. Kh3 Bg3 47. Bxh4 Bxh4 48. Kxh4 Kxc7 49. Kxh5 Kc6 50. Kg6 Nd6 51. Kf6
Ne4+ 52. Ke5 Nc3 53. a3 Nb1 54. a4 Kc5 0-1

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.10.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Krstajic, Nedjeljko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O
8. Nc3 d6 9. Na4 Nd7 10. c3 Bb6 11. Nxb6 Nxb6 12. a4 f5 13. a5 fxe4 14. Bxe4 d5
15. axb6 dxe4 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. bxa7 c5 18. Be3 c4 19. Rfd1 Rd3 20. h3 Bb7 21.
Kf1 Rad8 22. Rdc1 Kf7 23. Ra4 Ke6 24. Rca1 Kd5 25. a8=Q Bxa8 1-0

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.10.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Radojevic, Sasa"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Bb4 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3
d5 9. a3 Qa5 10. Nb3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qd8 12. Bd3 dxe4 13. fxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Qh4+
15. Qf2 Qxe4 16. O-O O-O 17. Bc5 f6 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Qc5+ Kf7 20. Nd4 Qd5 21.
Qb6 e5 22. Nf3 Ke7 23. Rad1 Qa5 24. Qb3 Qc5+ 25. Kh1 Nd8 26. Qg8 Nf7 27. Nxe5
Qxe5 28. Rde1 Be6 29. Qxa8 Qc7 30. Qg8 Qxc3 31. Qxg7 h5 32. Qg3 Qxg3 33. hxg3
Ne5 34. Rb1 b5 35. Rf4 Nc4 36. Ra1 f5 37. a4 b4 38. Re1 Nd6 39. Rxb4 a5 40. Rb6
Ne4 41. Kh2 Bd7 42. Rb7 Ke6 43. Ra7 Bxa4 44. Rxa5 Bxc2 45. Ra6+ Ke5 46. Rh6 Kd4
1-0

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.10.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Black "Radovic, Petar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. c3 e6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Ne4 Bc7 11. Bg5 Qb8 12. O-O-O Bf4+ 13. Kc2 Bxg5 14. Nfxg5
h6 15. Nh3 Qc7 16. Qg3 Qxg3 17. hxg3 Ngf6 18. Nd6+ Ke7 19. Nxb7 Rhb8 20. Na5
Rc8 21. Rhe1 Kf8 22. b4 Rab8 23. Nf4 Rb5 24. Nc4 Ne8 25. a4 Rbb8 26. Ne5 Nef6
27. Nxd7+ Nxd7 28. a5 a6 29. Nd3 Rb5 30. f4 Rd5 31. Ne5 Nb8 32. c4 Rd6 33. Kc3
f6 34. Nd3 Kf7 35. Nc5 Rcd8 36. Nb7 R8d7 37. Nxd6+ Rxd6 38. Rd3 Nd7 39. g4 g6
40. Rh3 e5 41. fxe5 fxe5 42. dxe5 Re6 43. Kd4 g5 44. Rb3 Nb8 45. Rf3+ Ke7 46.
Rf6 Nd7 47. Rxe6+ Kxe6 48. b5 c5+ 49. Kc3 Nb8 50. g3 1-0

[Event "MNE-chT 2nd League"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2009.10.31"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanovic, Vojislav"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2078"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2009.09.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. c3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Ne7 8.
Nf3 Nbc6 9. Bd3 a6 10. O-O Ng6 11. Be4 O-O 12. Qb3 Bd6 13. Bg5 Nxd4 14. Nxd4
Qxg5 15. Nf3 Qe7 16. Rfd1 Rb8 17. g3 Bd7 18. h4 Rfd8 19. h5 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bc5 21.
Nce2 h6 22. Rac1 b6 23. Bb1 Be8 24. f4 Nc6 25. Rc4 Qf6 26. Qe3 Nxd4 27. Nxd4
Bb5 28. Rxc5 bxc5 29. Qe4 Rxd4 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Rc1 Rdd8 32. Qe4 Rd4 33. Qh7
Ke7 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.09.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 a5 11. Nc3 Na6 12. Rac1 Nb4 13. Ne5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nfd5
15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 Bb4 17. Bxb4 Nxb4 18. e4 c6 19. f4 Kh8 20. Rfd1 f6 21.
Nf3 Qd7 22. b3 Rad8 23. Rd2 Rfe8 24. h4 Qf7 25. Re1 Qh5 26. Re3 h6 27. Kh3 Qf7
28. Qc5 Qc7 29. Qh5 Re7 30. Qg4 c5 31. Rc3 Qc6 32. Qg6 Qa6 33. Kg2 b6 34. Rc4
Qc8 35. h5 Rc7 36. Qg4 cxd4 37. Rcxd4 Rc2 38. Rxd8+ Qxd8 39. Rxc2 Nxc2 40. Qxe6
Qd3 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Qg6+ Kh8 43. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.09.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 Na6 7. Be3 {In my
opinion, this move is less accurate than} (7. Bg5) 7... e5 8. d5 c6 9. g4 Nc5
10. Nd2 a5 11. a3 Nfd7 (11... a4 {was possible right now as it was hardly
favourable for White to capture this pawn at the price of exchanging his
dark-squared bishop and weakening the dark squares in his camp (especially
after g2-g4):} 12. Bxc5 dxc5 13. dxc6 $6 (13. Nxa4 $142 Qa5 14. Nc3 Bh6 $44)
13... bxc6 14. Nxa4 Bh6 15. Nc3 Rb8 16. Rb1 Qa5 17. Bd3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Be6 19. Nf3
Bf4 $17 {0-1 Muse,M (2474)-Levacic,P (2336)/Medulin 2002/CBM 090 ext (42)}) 12.
Rg1 {A surprising decision. White allows ...a5-a4.} ({In the event of} 12. b4
axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1 14. Qxa1 Na6 15. Qa3 c5 16. bxc5 Naxc5 {breaking up Black's
queenside defence is not an easy task.}) 12... a4 {White's queenside is now
paralysed but he's got a plan: long castling followed by a kingside pawn
attack.} 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Kb1 cxd5 $2 {What looks like a small
inaccuracy turns out to be a grave positional error.} (15... Rc8 $142) 16. cxd5
(16. exd5 f5 $132) 16... Rc8 17. Bb5 $1 {[%mdl 32] That's the point. White
trades bishops, weakening the light squares in Black's camp and his a4-pawn.}
Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Qd7 19. Nc3 Bf6 (19... Rc7 20. h4 Rfc8 21. h5 {, and Black can't
make further progress.}) 20. g5 Bd8 {This bishop is aiming for a5 but where
can the b6-knight be moved to?} 21. h4 Na8 (21... Nb3 22. Nxb3 axb3 23. Qxb3
Nc4 {(S.Zagrebelny)} 24. Nb5 Nxe3 25. fxe3 {hardly gives Black any real
compensation for the missing pawn.}) 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Qxa4 $16 {/+- White has
won a pawn and his pieces are also better positioned. The rest is a matter of
technique.} Qc8 24. Rc1 Nb6 25. Qd1 Qh3 26. Qf3 Qd7 (26... Qxh4 $4 27. Rg4 $18
{[%cal Rc1h1]}) (26... Qxf3 27. Nxf3 f5 {was relatively better.}) 27. Qd3 Kg7
28. Rc2 f6 {The last attempt to create counterplay.} 29. gxf6+ Rxf6 30. h5 $1 {
White has accurately calculated the consequences of this move.} Rxf2 31. hxg6
h6 (31... hxg6 32. Rxg6+ Kxg6 33. Qg3+ Bg5 34. Qxf2 $18) 32. Nd1 $1 {It is
essential for White to swap his passive c2 rook for Black's most active piece
- the Rf2.} (32. Nf3 $1 {was equally good, with the same idea.}) 32... Rxc2 (
32... Rf8 33. Ne3 $18) (32... Rf6 33. Rxc5 dxc5 34. Ne3 Rxg6 35. Nf5+ Kh7 36.
Rxg6 Kxg6 37. Nf3 $18 {->}) 33. Nxf2 $1 (33. Qxc2 $143 Rh2 34. Ne3 $140 Bg5)
33... Rc8 34. Ng4 Bg5 35. Nf3 Nc4 36. Nxg5 hxg5 37. Ne3 (37. Qh3 $1 {(pointed
out by many commentators) was winning on the spot:} Rh8 38. Qxh8+ Kxh8 39. Rh1+
$18) 37... Nxe3 38. Qxe3 Qa4 39. Qxg5 Qxe4+ 40. Ka1 Re8 (40... Rc7 41. Qd8 $18)
41. Rc1 $1 (41. Rc1 Qf4 42. Rc7+ Kg8 43. Qh5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.09.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 Nf4 12. Ne4 Na5 13. Bxf4 exf4 14. d4 Qd7
15. Ne5 Qf5 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. Nc5 Qxd3 18. Nexd3 Bxc5 19. dxc5 f3 20. gxf3 Bxf3
21. Re7 Rc8 22. Bxf7+ Rxf7 23. Rxf7 Kxf7 24. Ne5+ Kf6 25. Nxf3 Rd8 26. Kg2 Nc6
27. a3 a5 28. Rb1 a4 29. b4 axb3 30. Rxb3 Rb8 31. Rd3 b4 32. axb4 Nxb4 33. Rd7
Na6 34. Nd2 Nxc5 35. Rxc7 Ne6 36. Rc4 Rd8 37. Nf3 g5 38. h4 h6 39. Kg3 Kf5 40.
Ra4 Rd5 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. c4 Nc5 43. Ra8 Ne4+ 44. Kg2 Rd3 45. Rf8+ Nf6 46. c5
g4 47. Ng1 Rd2 48. c6 Rc2 49. Ne2 Rc4 50. Ra8 Ke5 51. Ra6 Nd5 52. Kg3 Kd6 53.
f3 gxf3 54. Kxf3 Rxc6 55. Rxc6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Radjabov,T"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 {
We already had this position in Bilbao, where I didn't obtain any advantage
out of the opening stage. But here in this game I was more successful and got
a plus from the start of the game.} 8. c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 $5 {There are plenty of
lines and possibilities for both sides on each move, I will not dwell too
deeply on the opening phase.} O-O-O 10. b3 g5 11. Bb2 Bg7 12. O-O-O {White's
development looks quite natural, now Black is in trouble. He has to find a
plan, but it's quite hard to find any ideal piece placement!} Nb6 13. h4 $1 g4
(13... h6 14. Qe3 $5 $16) 14. f4 $5 gxf3 {Black has to take, otherwise the
e5-pawn will forever be there as a wall for Black's pieces!} 15. Nxf3 (15. gxf3
{is possible, but here I like it less; h4 is somehow hanging and Black still
does not have so many weaknesses,.After Nxf3 f7 starts to be vulnerable.})
15... c5 {The only way to free pieces for Black!} 16. Qe1 $1 {A strong
regrouping move as now I want to put the bishop on e4 and then press against
f7 and h7 from the centre. In addition, the knight on b6 will be totally out
of play.} Bb7 17. Bd3 h6 18. Qg3 (18. Be4 {would be something, according to
the plan, but Qg3 seemed even more forceful and strong than this.}) 18... Rdg8
(18... f6 19. Rhe1 $18) 19. Rhe1 d5 $2 {Topalov tries to free his pieces, but
this loses immediately!} (19... h5 $5 20. Kb1 $1 Bh6 21. Qf2 {White is much
better here, as Rg4 doesn't work due to e5-e6 and White wins.} Rg4 22. e6 $18)
20. exd6 $1 Bxb2+ 21. Kxb2 Qxd6 (21... Qf6+ $4 22. Qe5 $1 Rxg2+ 23. Ka3 (23.
Kc3 $18) 23... Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Rf2 $8 25. Rf1 $1 $18) (21... Rxg3 22. dxe7 Rxg2+
23. Kc3 $18) 22. Bf5+ $2 {A bad move; somehow I thought it won easily too.} (
22. Re8+ $3 {looks like a transposition simply, but here the Nc8 resource is
not possible and Black loses by force.} Rxe8 23. Bf5+ Kb8 24. Rxd6 Rhg8 $8 25.
Qf4 $1 cxd6 26. Qxd6+ Ka8 27. Bh3 $18 {This position is easily winning because
after} Re2+ 28. Ka3 $1 {A calm reply} Rge8 (28... Nxc4+ 29. bxc4 Rge8 30. Nd2 {
with Nb3 next, finishes the discussion.}) 29. Qxc5 {and Black is not in time
to capture c4.}) 22... Kb8 23. Re8+ Nc8 {Played instantly! Now Black is
defending for a while.} 24. Rxd6 $1 Rxg3 25. Rxh8 cxd6 26. Ne1 $1 Kc7 27. Rh7
Ne7 28. Rxf7 Kd8 29. Rf8+ Kc7 30. Rf7 Kd8 31. Bc2 Re3 32. Nd3 $1 Bxg2 33. Rf6
Kc7 $2 (33... Kd7 34. Rxh6 Re2 {and somehow here due to avoiding checks from
e6, Black's king is placed better, but still after} 35. Nf4 Rf2 36. Nxg2 Rxg2
37. h5 $16 {White has good chances for a win.}) 34. Nf4 $1 Rf3 35. Be4 (35. Ka3
$1 {This is a clear win! Unfortunately I missed it and didn't want to put my
king on a3. But this slightly illogical move is just winning. The idea is that
after Be4 Ne6+ will come and Black is lost.} Rf1 36. Bd3 $18) 35... Rf2+ 36.
Kc3 Bxe4 37. Ne6+ Kd7 38. Nf8+ {All is forced here, Black has study-like way
to keep fighting, but the position is still winning.} Ke8 39. Rxf2 Bf5 40. Rd2
Nc8 41. Rf2 Ne7 42. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 43. Rf6 Kd7 44. Rxh6 Bf5 45. h5 Ng8 46. Rh8 Nf6
47. h6 Ke6 {So here it was the real moment to consider ideas. Azmaiparashvili
thinks the Kb2-a3 maneouvre is winning. And probably he is right.} 48. Ra8 (48.
Kb2 $1 a5 (48... Be4 49. Ka3 Bd3 50. Ka4 Ke5 51. Kb5 Bb1 52. a4 Bc2 53. a5 (53.
Ra8 Ng4 54. Rxa7 Nxh6 55. b4 $14) 53... Bxb3 54. Ra8 Kd4 55. Rxa7 Bxc4+ 56. Ka4
(56. Kc6 Bd5+ 57. Kxd6 c4 58. a6 c3 59. Rc7 $18) 56... Ke5 57. h7 Nxh7 58. Rxh7
Kd5 59. Rc7 Bd3 60. Kb3 Ba6 61. Kc3 Bf1 62. Rc8 Be2 63. Re8 Bf1 64. Rf8 Be2 65.
Rf2 Bb5 66. Ra2 Ba6 67. Rb2 $1 $18) 49. Ka3 Nh7 50. Ka4 $18) 48... Ng4 49. Rxa7
Nxh6 50. a4 {I thought this wins, but it proved to be different unfortunately.
Topalov finds the only piece placement, to hold the position!} Nf7 51. a5 Be4
52. Rc7 Ne5 $1 53. a6 Nd7 {Brilliant, now it seems that White can't make any
progress!} 54. Rc8 Ke7 55. b4 (55. a7 Nb6 56. Rb8 Na8 {and White can't break
through!}) 55... cxb4+ 56. Kxb4 Nb6 57. Rb8 Na8 58. c5 Nc7 59. cxd6+ Kxd6 60.
a7 Na8 61. Kb5 Bd3+ 62. Ka5 Be4 63. Kb5 Bd3+ 64. Ka5 Be4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. h3 Bh5
9. g4 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nfd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Be7 13. Bb2 Nf6 14. O-O-O Nbd7 15.
c5 Qc7 16. h4 a5 17. g5 Nh5 18. Bg4 Nf8 19. Rdg1 O-O-O 20. Ne2 f5 21. gxf6 gxf6
22. Bxh5 gxh5 23. Rg7 Rd7 24. Rhg1 Bd8 25. Rg8 Rdh7 26. Nf4 Qf7 27. R8g2 Bc7
28. Nd3 Nd7 29. a3 Kb7 30. Bc3 Ra8 31. f4 f5 32. Ne5 Qe7 33. Nxd7 Qxd7 34. a4
b4 35. Be1 Rf8 36. Rg6 Bd8 37. Qg2 Bf6 38. Bf2 Qe7 39. Qf3 Rff7 40. Kd2 Rfg7
41. Rxg7 Bxg7 42. Qg3 Bf6 43. Qg8 Rh8 44. Qg6 Rh7 45. Qg8 Rh8 46. Qg6 Rh7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 O-O 8.
Bf4 Na6 9. e4 c5 {This line was examined in CBM 103 (annotations to Cs.Horvath
- Flumbort) and CBM 107 (annotations to Riazantsev - Sutovsky).} 10. e5 Nh5 11.
Be3 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Bc6 13. Be2 Qa5 (13... Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Qxd4 15. Bxd4 Nb4 16.
O-O-O Nf4 17. Kb1 Ne6 18. Be3 Bxe5 19. Rd7 Nc6 20. Rhd1 Rab8 21. Na4 Rfc8 22.
Rc1 Ned4 $11 {1/2 Riazantsev,A (2608)-Sutovsky,E (2665)/Sochi 2005/CBM 107 (32)
}) (13... Qc7 14. Qh4 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. O-O-O Nc7 17. Rhe1 Ne6 18. Bxh5
Qxh5 19. Qxh5 gxh5 20. Nd5 Rfe8 21. Bh6 Kh8 22. Bd2 Rac8 (22... Kg7 $142 $11)
23. Bc3+ Kg8 24. Re5 Bxd5 25. Rexd5 Red8 26. Rxh5 $14 {/=1-0 Grigoriants,S 
(2553)-Esen,B (2287)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108 (62)}) 14. O-O Nb4 $6 $146 {Hardly a
good novelty.} (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bxe5 16. Qd5 Qxd5 17. Nxd5 Rfe8 18. Rac1 e6
19. Nc3 Re7 20. a3 Bf4 21. Bxh5 Bxe3 22. fxe3 gxh5 23. Ne4 $11 {1/2 Sokolov,I 
(2695)-Van Wely,L (2654)/Belgium 2003/CBM 097 ext (37)}) 15. Qh4 (15. Qc5 $5 {
is simple and strong:} Qxc5 16. Bxc5 a5 (16... Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Bxe7 Rfe8
19. Nd5 Bxe5 20. g3 $14) 17. g3 (17. Bxe7 Rfe8 18. Bd6 Nf4 $132) 17... Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Bxe5 19. Bxe7 Rfe8 20. Bg5 $14) 15... Nc2 $6 (15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Bxe5 17.
Qxe7 (17. Bxh5 Bf6 $1 18. Qe4 gxh5 19. Qxb7 Nc2 $132) 17... Nc2 18. Rad1 Nxe3
19. fxe3 Rae8 20. Qxb7 Nf6 $44 {[%csl Re3,Ge5]}) 16. g4 $1 Nxe3 $2 {After this
move White wins a piece without sufficient compensation.} (16... Nxa1 $8 17.
Rxa1 Qb4 $1 18. gxh5 Qxb2 19. Rc1 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Rac8 21. h6 $1 Bxe5 22. Ne2 $14
{White's bishop pair and "nail" on h6 gives him slightly better prospects.})
17. fxe3 Bh6 18. Nd1 Kh8 19. gxh5 Rg8 20. Kf2 Rad8 21. hxg6 $6 (21. Qxe7 {
was much simpler, e.g.} gxh5 22. Rg1 Rxg1 23. Kxg1 Bxf3 24. Qf6+ Bg7 25. Qxf3
Bxe5 26. Kf1 $18) 21... Bxf3 22. Kxf3 (22. gxf7 $2 Rg7 23. Qxe7 Bxe2 24. f8=Q+
Rxf8+ 25. Qxf8+ Rg8 26. Qxh6 Qd2 $11) 22... Rxg6 23. Qe4 (23. Qxe7 $4 Qd5+ 24.
e4 Qd2 $19 {[%cal Rd2f4,Rd8d3]}) 23... f5 $5 24. Qc4 Qd2 25. Rc1 $4 {[%mdl
8192] Just blunders away a rook. In fact, it was not easy for White to parry
Black's threats and consolidate his position:} (25. Qc3 Qd5+ 26. Kf2 Bg5 27.
Ke1 Bh4+ 28. Nf2 Rg2 $44) (25. Rf2 $1 {was probably the most appropriate but
after} Qe1 (25... Rc6 $143 26. Qb3 Rb6 27. Bc4 $1 Qe1 28. Qc3 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Rc6
30. a4 $16) (25... Rg4 26. Bf1 $1 Qa5 27. b4 $1 Qxe5 28. Qc3 $16) 26. Bd3 Rg4
27. Qc2 Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Rg1 29. Qc3 e6 {it is not easy for White to swap off his
pieces.}) 25... Rc6 $19 26. Qh4 Qxc1 27. Qxe7 Rg8 28. e6 Qd2 29. Kf2 f4 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 f5
15. Qh5 Rb8 16. exf5 e4 17. Rae1 Bb7 18. Qg4 Rfe8 19. cxb5 d5 20. bxa6 Bc6 21.
Rc1 {After Shirov's success in this variation versus Carlsen (Sofia 2009),
Topalov decides to try a rare continuation too. But the Norwegian came well
prepared and shows how to neutralize White's last move.} (21. b3 Kh8 $146 22.
Nc2 Be5 23. Be2 d4 24. Bc4 Rg8 25. Qh3 Rg7 26. g3 Rbg8 27. Qh6 Qc7 $2 (27...
Ba8 $44) 28. Nb4 Ba8 29. Nd5 $18 {1-0 Shirov,A (2745)-Carlsen,M (2770)/Sofia
2009 (30)}) 21... exd3 $1 $146 {This novelty practically leads to a draw by
force.} (21... Ba8 $2 {allows} 22. Rc7 {with a large advantage for White in
all variations:} Qe5 (22... Qxc7 $2 23. f6 {with mate}) 23. Bb5 Rf8 (23... Re7
24. f6 Qxf6 25. Rc8+ Rxc8 26. Qxc8+ Bf8 27. Qxa8 Qxb2 28. Qxd5 Qxa3 29. Qg5+
Kh8 30. Rd1 $18) (23... Red8 24. a7 Rb6 25. Rc8 $1 Rbd6 (25... Rxc8 26. f6 Qxf6
27. Qxc8+ Bf8 28. Qxa8 $18) 26. Rfc1 $18) (23... Rec8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. f6 $18
) 24. Rfc1 Qxb2 (24... d4 25. R1c5 Qf6 26. a7 Rbd8 27. Bc6 $18) 25. a7 Rbd8 26.
R7c2 Qf6 27. Bc6 $16 {/+-}) (21... Bd7 22. Be2 Rxb2 23. Rc7 Qd6 {1-0 Koeller,O
(2290)-Schelle,A (2150)/Aschach 1998 (28)} 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Bb5 Rxb5 26. Nxb5
d4 27. Nc7 Rc8 28. Nd5 $18) 22. Rxc6 {[%cal Gf5f6]} Qe2 (22... Kh8 23. Qf3 $5 (
23. b3 $2 Qxa3) 23... Bxb2 24. Nb1 Qe4 (24... Qd7 25. Rc5 Rb5 26. Rxb5 Qxb5 27.
Nd2 $16) (24... Qe2 25. Qxd5 Rbd8 26. Rd6 $18) 25. Qxe4 dxe4 26. Nd2 $16) 23.
h3 (23. f3 $4 d2 $19) (23. Qg3 $4 d2 $19) (23. Qxe2 $2 dxe2 24. Re1 Rxb2 $17)
23... Rxb2 24. f6 Qxg4 25. hxg4 Rxa2 (25... Bf8 26. Nb1 Rxa2 {is the same as
the game}) 26. Nb1 (26. Nb5 $2 d2 $19 {[%cal Ge8e1]}) (26. fxg7 Rxa3 $11) 26...
Bf8 27. Rc3 (27. Rd1 {makes little sense, since White does not threaten to
take the pawn due to the check on e1. Therefore Black can continue with the
simple} h6 {and after for instance} 28. g3 {-} Rc2 $11 {[%cal Gf8c5]}) 27...
Rxa6 ({Also possible is} 27... d2 28. Rd3 Bb4 29. Rxd5 Rxa6 30. Nxd2 Bxd2 31.
Rxd2 Rxf6 $14) 28. Rxd3 Rxf6 {After more or less forced sequence of moves the
players have achieved a position, which with elementary accuracy from Black is
a draw.} 29. Rxd5 ({Or} 29. Nc3 Bc5 $11 {with the idea to take on f2 followed
by a check on e1.}) 29... Bb4 $1 {The most White can achieve now is 4-rooks
endgame 3 versus 2 on the kingside. All Black has to do is to be ready to
exchange the minor pieces as soon as the white knight moves from b1.} 30. g3
Re2 31. Kg2 Be1 32. Rf5 Rxf5 33. gxf5 Bb4 34. Rc1 h5 35. Rc4 ({Also after} 35.
Kf3 Rb2 36. Ke3 Kg7 {Black is completely out of danger.}) 35... Rb2 36. Nc3
Bxc3 37. Rxc3 Rb5 38. Rf3 Kg7 39. Kh3 Kh6 40. Kh4 Rb1 41. Kh3 Rb5 42. Kh4 Rb1
43. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D72"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2 c5 8. d5
e6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbc3 Na6 11. Nf4 e5 12. Nd3 c4 13. Ne1 {For this line - see
CBM 108, annotations to Wojtaszek - Kovchan. However, a lot of games have been
played since then.} Bd7 (13... f5 {was "rehabilitated" in the following game:}
14. Be3 Bd7 15. Qd2 Rc8 $5 16. Rd1 Nc5 17. d6 Qf6 18. Bg5 Qe6 19. exf5 gxf5 20.
Nd5 Kh8 21. Ne7 (21. Be7 $5 e4 $5 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Nf4 Qe5 $44) 21... Rcd8 22.
Nd5 $6 e4 23. Nf4 Qe5 24. Nh5 Qxb2 25. Qe3 Nd3 26. Nxg7 Qxg7 27. Bxd8 Rxd8 $44
{0-1 Akesson,J (2344)-Nyback,T (2565)/Stockholm 2007/CBM 122 Extra (43)}) 14.
Qe2 $146 {[%mdl 8] A committal move. It is unclear yet whether e2 will be the
best square for the white queen. On the other hand, White prevents ...
Nb6-c8-d6.} (14. f4 {(the most active move) was recently met with} Nc5 $1 (
14... exf4 $143 15. Bxf4 Nc5 16. Qd2 Nba4 17. Rc1 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Re8 19. e5 $1
Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Nf3 Re8 22. Qd4 $44 {1-0 Wojtaszek,R (2569)-Kovchan,A 
(2488)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108 (30)}) {and Black obtained a good position:} 15.
fxe5 Bxe5 16. Bh6 (16. Nf3 Bg4) 16... Re8 17. Qd2 Nba4 18. Nxa4 Nxa4 19. Rb1 f6
20. b3 cxb3 21. Rxb3 Nc5 22. Rb1 Rc8 $15 {[%csl Re4,Ge5] 0-1 Ilincic,Z (2542)
-Sedlak,N (2553)/Decs HUN 2008/The Week in Chess 756 (39)}) (14. Be3 {is
probably the best move after all. Black replied} Nc8 {in several recent games
but failed to reach full equality:} (14... Rc8 15. a4 $1 $14) 15. f4 Nd6 16.
Qd2 (16. fxe5 Bxe5 17. Bd4 f6 18. Qd2 Bxd4+ 19. Qxd4 Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Nf3
Rfe8 22. Rae1 Nf7 23. b3 Rac8 24. Rb1 b5 {1/2 Kharitonov,A (2526)-Kempinski,R 
(2595)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 124}) 16... f6 (16... Nb4 17. a3 Nd3 18. Nxd3 cxd3 19.
Qxd3 Rc8 20. Rf2 Re8 21. fxe5 Bxe5 22. Bd4 $14 {1/2 Zhu Chen (2482)-Sutovsky,E
(2624)/Gibraltar 2006/CBM 110 ext (60) - Black does not have full compensation
for the pawn}) 17. fxe5 fxe5 18. Nf3 (18. Rxf8+ Qxf8 19. Nf3 $14) 18... b5 (
18... Qc7 $142 19. Qf2 b6 $11) 19. a3 Qc7 20. Qf2 h6 21. Kh1 Kh7 22. h3 Kg8 23.
g4 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Ra7] 1/2 Sebenik,M (2502)-Kempinski,R (2595)/Plovdiv 2008/
CBM 124 (50)}) 14... Nc5 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3d2]} Qe8 $5 (16... Nba4
{looks normal and will be probably tested in future games.} 17. Qxc4 $140 Nxc3
18. bxc3 Na4 19. Qb4 a5 $1 $132) 17. Nd2 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20.
Qxc4 {White has won a pawn. Black has more active pieces but does it
compensate for his material deficit?} Ne4 $5 (20... b5 21. Qh4 $14) 21. Qb4
Nxc3 22. bxc3 f4 23. Bc5 $2 (23. Bxa7 f3 24. Bh1 {[%csl Rh1]} b5 $5 {was
unclear but the text move is simply bad.}) 23... f3 24. Bxf8 (24. Bh1 Rf4 $1
25. c4 b6 26. Be3 Rfxc4 27. Qa3 e4 $19) 24... Bxf8 25. Qxb7 fxg2 26. Kxg2 {
[%csl Gd7,Gf8,Rg2] White is OK materially but Black's bishop pair should
decide the game, taking into consideration the poor position of the white king.
} Qf7 $1 27. Rab1 (27. Qb3 e4 28. c4 Rxc4 $1 29. Qxc4 $140 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Bh3 $19
) 27... e4 $5 (27... Rxc3 28. Kg1 e4 {is also good.}) 28. f4 (28. Kg1 Bc5 {
[%cal Yc8f8]}) (28. f3 Rxc3 29. fxe4 Rc2+ 30. Kh1 Qh5 $19) 28... Rxc3 29. Rb3
Rd3 (29... Rc7 $1 $19 {was even stronger.}) 30. f5 {Desperation.} Rd2+ 31. Rf2
Rxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Qxf5+ 33. Ke1 Bc5 {White must now choose between a mate and a
hopeless endgame.} 34. Qb8+ Kf7 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. gxf4 Ke7 $19 {[%csl Gc5,Gd7,
Ge4] _|_} 37. Rg3 Kd6 38. Rg7 h5 39. Rg5 e3 40. Ke2 Bb5+ 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. h3 Nh5 11. g3 Na6 12. Nd2 Bf8 13. O-O-O Ng7 14. a3 Ne6
15. Nf3 f6 16. Rxd8 Nxd8 17. b4 b6 18. Kb2 Ne6 19. Rd1 Kf7 20. h4 c5 21. b5
Nac7 22. Nd5 Ne8 23. Bd3 Nd6 24. Bd2 Bb7 25. g4 Bg7 26. Bc3 Bxd5 27. exd5 Nf4
28. Bf1 e4 29. Bd2 g5 30. Ne1 f5+ 31. Kb3 fxg4 32. hxg5 Be5 33. Ng2 Nh3 34. Be3
Nf5 35. Be2 Nd4+ 36. Bxd4 cxd4 37. Rf1 Nxg5 38. Bxg4 Rf8 39. Nh4 Kg8 40. Rg1
Kh8 41. Bf5 Bf6 42. Rh1 Kg7 43. Bg4 Nf7 44. Nf5+ Kg6 45. Ng3 Nd6 46. Re1 e3 47.
fxe3 Bh4 48. Rg1 dxe3 49. Be2 Kh6 50. Rh1 Rf4 51. Bd3 Kg5 52. Ne2 Rg4 53. Rh3
h5 54. Rxe3 Bf2 55. Re5+ Kh4 56. Nc3 Bc5 57. a4 Rg5 58. Rxg5 Kxg5 59. Ne4+ Nxe4
60. Bxe4 Kf4 61. Bh1 h4 62. a5 bxa5 63. Ka4 Bb6 64. c5 Bxc5 65. Kxa5 Ke5 66.
Ka6 h3 67. Bf3 Kd6 68. Be4 Ke5 69. Bf3 Kd6 70. Be4 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "189"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. c5 Nxc5 15. b4
Na6 16. Nd3 Rf7 17. Nb5 b6 {[%mdl 32] A passive move. Black renounces his
attacking chances and hopes that his position, with an extra pawn, will be
solid enough to stand White's pressure.} (17... Bd7 {is the most popular move
in this position.}) (17... h5 {and}) (17... Bf8 {have been seen in practice,
too.}) 18. Be1 (18. Qa4 $6 h5 19. h3 Bh6 20. Rc3 Rg7 21. Rfc1 g4 22. fxg4 f3
23. gxf3 Bxc1 24. Rxc1 Qg5 $36 {0-1 Broniek,M-Tasic,V/LSS 2008/Telechess CBM
125 (49)}) (18. Rc3 $5 Qd7 (18... h5 $6 19. Kh1 Bf6 20. a4 Qd7 21. Qc2 g4 22.
Rc1 Bd8 $2 23. Nxd6 $1 Qxd6 24. Rc6 $18 {1-0 Karner,C (2181)-Sandhoefner,F 
(2233)/Aschach 1999/CBM 073 ext (34)}) 19. a4 Bf6 20. Qc2 Bd8 21. Rc1 Bb7 {
is similar to the game} (21... h5 $2 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Rc6 $18 {1-0 Van Elst,A
(2263)-Zimmerman,Y (2375)/Condom 2005/CBM 107 ext (50)})) 18... Bf6 19. Nf2 h5
20. h3 (20. a3 Qd7 21. Rc3 Bd8 22. Qc2 Nb8 23. a4 a6 24. Na3 Qe8 25. Nc4 Bb7
26. Bd2 Nd7 27. Rc1 Nf6 28. Be1 Rg7 29. h3 Nh8 {1/2 Nielsen,P (2651)-Likavsky,
T (2492)/Germany 2007/CBM 123 (72) - White tried hard but failed to break down
Black's defence.}) 20... Bb7 21. Rc2 Qd7 22. Qd3 Bd8 {This is Black's plan. He
will now just sit and wait.} 23. Bd2 Nb8 24. Rfc1 Ba6 25. Rc3 Rg7 26. Ra3 Ne7
27. Be1 Nc8 28. Rac3 Rh7 29. Nd1 Rg7 30. Bf2 Kh7 31. Nb2 Kh6 32. Kf1 {White
removes his king from the kingside to avoid a possible counter-attack.} Kh7 33.
Ke1 Kh6 34. R3c2 Rf7 35. Nd1 Rg7 36. Bf1 Kh7 37. Rc3 Kg8 38. R1c2 Kh7 39. Kd2
Kg8 40. Kc1 Kh7 41. Kb2 Kg8 42. Rc1 Kh7 43. R3c2 Kg8 44. Ndc3 Qe8 45. Nb1 Bxb5
{Black must now exchange this knight, otherwise after Nb1-a3 and Qd3-d2 he
will have problems protecting his c7-pawn.} 46. Qxb5 Qf8 $5 ({In the event of} 
46... Qxb5 47. Bxb5 Kf8 (47... a5 $143 48. a3 {with the following plan:
Nb1-d2-c4 to force ...a5xb4 and then seize the a-file}) 48. Nd2 a6 {(this will
be forced anyway)} 49. Be2 Kg8 {I would suggest the following plan: Rc3, the
king goes back to the kingside to protect the g2 pawn in case of ...
Nc8-e7-g6-h4 (without queens Black's attack is not dangerous anymore), then
Rc3-a3-a4 and Rc1-c3-a3 attacking the a6 pawn. Alternatively, instead of the
king march, White can transfer his knight to e1. Black probably couldn't find
a good defence over the board and decided to evade the queen exchange. Now any
queenside attack will expose the white king. However, White carries out a
similar plan of attacking the a-pawn.}) 47. Na3 a6 48. Qa4 Ra7 49. Qb3 Ra8 50.
Nb1 Qe8 51. Nc3 Ra7 52. Be2 Kf8 53. Rd1 Qd7 54. Ka1 Qe8 55. Rdc1 Qd7 56. Rb2
Qe8 57. Qd1 Rb7 58. Qf1 b5 {Alas, Black can't keep his pawn structure.} (58...
Ra7 59. Rb3 {[%cal Yb3a3]}) 59. a4 bxa4 60. Bxa6 Nxa6 61. Qxa6 Rb8 62. Nxa4 {
White has recaptured the sacrificed material. He will now use his b-pawn to
undermine Black's pawn chain. GM Teimour Radjabov decides to start counterplay.
} g4 63. hxg4 hxg4 64. Kb1 Qd7 65. Nc3 Ne7 66. b5 Qc8 (66... gxf3 67. gxf3 Qh3
68. b6 cxb6 (68... Qxf3 $2 69. b7) 69. Qd3 {[%cal Yc3b5]}) 67. Qa3 (67. Qxc8
Nxc8 68. Na4 Ra8 69. Rb4 gxf3 70. gxf3 Rg2 $132) 67... Ra8 68. Qb4 Qd7 69. b6
cxb6 70. Nb5 Rg6 {Holding on doggedly.} 71. Be1 Kg8 72. Qb3 Kf8 $6 {
Essentially a loss of time.} (72... Rc8 $142) 73. Qd3 Kg8 74. Bb4 Rc8 (74...
gxf3 75. gxf3 Rc8 76. Rh1 $40 {[%cal Yb2h2]}) 75. Rbc2 {At this moment White
could have simply taken the pawn as Black couldn't recapture it:} (75. fxg4 {
e.g.} Rxc1+ 76. Kxc1 Nc8 77. Qc4 Na7 78. Nxa7 Qxa7 79. Qc8 Qe7 80. Ra2 Kh7 (
80... Qc7+ 81. Rc2 $1) 81. Kb1 Qc7 82. Qf5 $36) 75... Rxc2 76. Rxc2 Nc8 {
[%cal Yc8a7] Black could hardly "stand" as White would invade along the a-file,
e.g.} (76... gxf3 77. gxf3 Rh6 78. Kb2 Rg6 79. Kb3 {[%cal Yc2a2]} Kg7 80. Ra2
$1 Nc8 81. Qc4 Rg3 82. Ra8 Rxf3+ 83. Ka4 $18) 77. Kb2 $6 {After this "soft"
move Black simplifies the position and equalizes.} (77. Rc6 $5 {was a good
chance, e.g.} Na7 78. Nxa7 (78. Rxd6 $143 Rxd6 79. Nxd6 Be7 80. Qa3 Bxd6 81.
Bxd6 Qb5+) 78... Qxa7 79. Bxd6 ({or} 79. Rxd6 Rxd6 80. Bxd6 b5 81. Qd2) 79...
gxf3 80. gxf3 Rg1+ 81. Rc1 Rxc1+ (81... Rg2 82. Qb3) 82. Kxc1 Qa1+ 83. Kc2 Qa2+
84. Kc3 {keeping a strong passed pawn.}) (77. Qc4 $1 {was probably even
stronger} Na7 $140 (77... gxf3 78. gxf3 Ne7 79. Kb2 {[%cal Yb2b3,Yc2a2]}) 78.
Nxd6 $1 (78. Nxa7 $5 Qxa7 79. Qc8 Qe7 80. fxg4) 78... Rxd6 (78... b5 79. Qa2)
79. Bxd6 Qxd6 80. Qa4 Qe7 81. d6 $1 Qxd6 82. Qxa7 $16) 77... gxf3 78. gxf3 Na7
$1 79. Nxa7 Qxa7 80. Qb5 Kf7 81. Rh2 Be7 $11 82. Rc2 $6 (82. Rh7+ Kg8 (82...
Kf6 83. Qe8 Rg2+ 84. Bd2 Rxd2+ 85. Kc1 Qa1+ $11) 83. Rh2 $11) 82... Rg8 $1 {
Black suddenly captures the initiative.} 83. Kb3 Ra8 84. Qc6 b5 $5 85. Qxb5 Rb8
86. Qc6 Qg1 87. Qc3 $2 (87. Rc1 Qf2 88. Qc3 Ra8 89. Ba3 Bd8 90. Rc2 $15) 87...
Qb1+ $2 {Black misses a nice win:} (87... Qd1 $1 {tying up the white pieces}
88. Kb2 Kf6 $1 89. Ka3 (89. Rc1 $2 Qa4) (89. Kb3 Bd8 {[%cal Rd8b6,Rd8a5]})
89... Ra8+ 90. Kb3 Kf7 $22 91. Ba3 (91. Kb2 Qa1+ 92. Kb3 Qa4+ 93. Kb2 Rb8)
91... Rb8+ 92. Bb4 (92. Ka4 Rb7 93. Bb4 Bh4 94. Ka3 Be1 $19) 92... Bd8 $19 {
[%csl Rb3,Rf3] ->}) 88. Rb2 Qd1+ (88... Qa1 89. Rd2) 89. Ka2 {White safely
consolidates his position.} Rh8 90. Ba3 Rh1 91. Qc8 $1 Qa1+ 92. Kb3 Qd1+ 93.
Ka2 Qa1+ 94. Kb3 Qd1+ 95. Ka2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 17th"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2009.10.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.10.22"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. a4 c5 13. Bc2 Re8 14. d5 c4 15. b3
cxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. Bd3 Qxc3 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 Qb4 20. Rb1 Qc3 21. axb5
axb5 22. Bxb5 Nf8 23. Nfd2 Ra2 24. Qf3 Rc2 25. Nf1 Ng6 26. Ng3 Rb2 27. Qd1 Nf4
28. Rxb2 Qxb2 29. Qb1 Qa3 30. Bd2 Bd8 31. Re3 Qa7 32. Nf5 Qb8 33. Na5 g6 34.
Nxb7 gxf5 35. Nxd8 Rxd8 36. exf5 Qb7 37. Qb2 Kf8 38. Rb3 N4xd5 39. Bh6+ Ke7 40.
Ba4 Qa6 41. Rb7+ Nd7 42. Qb3 Qa5 43. Kh2 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 17th"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2009.10.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Georgiev, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2537"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2009.10.22"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Macedonia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O
Ng4 9. Bc2 Ne5 10. b3 exd5 11. cxd5 b5 {For this line - see the extensive
annotations to Bruzon - Nataf by IM L.Hazai in CBM 104.} 12. Rb1 (12. f4 Ng4 $5
(12... b4 13. fxe5 Bxe5 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. Nxf4 bxc3 $13 {1/2 Grigore,G (2440)
-Marin,M (2520)/Bucharest 1994/EXT 1998 (50)}) 13. h3 b4 $132 {L.Hazai}) 12...
b4 (12... a6 $13 {Kapengut} 13. h3 $5 {[%cal Yc1e3,Yd1d2]}) 13. Na4 Ba6 14. f4
(14. h3 Ned7 (14... g5 $5 {L.Hazai}) 15. a3 $5 bxa3 16. Bxa3 Nb6 17. Nb2 $2 (
17. Bb2 $142 {L.Hazai}) (17. b4 $5) 17... Re8 18. Re1 N8d7 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20.
Qxd3 Qh4 21. Ng3 Bd4 $1 $17 {1/2 Bruzon Bautista,L (2637)-Nataf,I (2565)/
Mallorca 2004/CBM 104/[Hazai] (66)}) 14... Ned7 (14... Ng4 {is more logical as
White has not played h2-h3:} 15. h3 (15. Bd3 Re8) 15... Nf6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Ng3
Nbd7 {[%cal Yh7h5,Yd7b6] with good counterplay.}) 15. a3 $1 (15. Bb2 Nb6 16.
Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nb2 N8d7 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 a5 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21. bxc4 a4 $132 {
1/2 Ghitescu,T (2395)-Moldovan,D (2420)/Bucharest 1995/EXT 2002 (45)}) 15...
bxa3 16. Bxa3 Nb6 {[%mdl 32] A typical exchange of the white knight. Black has
not yet created any counterplay along the e-file but White apparently can't
exploit that fact.} 17. Bd3 Re8 18. Nb2 $2 {Repeating Lazaro Bruzon's mistake.
The a3 bishop is now out of play.} (18. Bb2 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 c4 $132) (18. Nac3
Bxd3 19. Qxd3 N8d7 $13) 18... Bxd3 19. Qxd3 a5 $6 (19... Qe7 $1 20. Ng3 N8d7 {
[%cal Yd7f6,Yh7h5] was more to the point, immediately pressing the e4 pawn. A
possible variation:} 21. Nc4 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Nxc4 23. bxc4 Nf6 24. Rbe1 $140 $2
Ng4 $19 {[%cal Rg4h2,Rg4f2]}) 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21. bxc4 {[%csl Ga5]} Na6 {Also
strong but on the queenside White's Ba3 is carrying out a defensive task.} 22.
Qf3 Nb4 $6 {Missing the point of White's last move.} (22... Qe7 $1 23. Nc3 Nb4
$1 $17) 23. f5 $1 Qh4 (23... Qe7 $5 24. f6 Qxe4 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 26. Ng3 Rxc4 27.
fxg7 f5 $1 {and Black is better due to his strong pawns (despite White's extra
piece)}) 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Nf4 Be5 (25... Nc2 $5 26. Ne6 Qe7 27. Bb2 Bxb2 28.
Rxb2 Nd4 29. Nxd4 cxd4 {was hardly enough for a win, due to simplifications.})
26. g3 Qf6 (26... Qe7 $5 27. Ne6 Nc2) 27. Kg2 $2 (27. Qe2 $142 $1 {preventing .
..Nb4-c2.}) 27... Nc2 $6 {Missing an excellent winning chance:} (27... Bxf4 28.
Qxf4 (28. gxf4 Qd4) 28... Qxf4 29. Rxf4 a4 $1 ({or simply} 29... Nd3 30. Rf3
Ne5 31. Rc3 Rab8) 30. Bxb4 $140 Reb8) 28. Rb7 Nxa3 $6 {After this exchange of
a strong knight for a "dead" bishop Black has no real chances anymore.} (28...
Bxf4 29. Bb2 $1 {was probably what Black missed. White's counterplay is
sufficient for a draw:} Be5 30. Qxf6 Bxf6 31. Rxf6 Ne3+ $1 32. Kh3 (32. Kf3 $5
Nxc4 33. Bc3) 32... Rab8 33. Ra7 Rxb2 34. Rff7 Re5 35. g4 $1) (28... Re7 $1 {
was, however, quite playable, keeping a clear plus.}) 29. Qxa3 Rf8 30. Qa4 $1
g5 31. Qd7 $1 Qh6 (31... Rf7 32. Qxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7 Kxf7 34. Nd3+ Ke7 (34...
Bf6 $2 35. e5 dxe5 36. Nxc5) 35. Nxe5 dxe5 36. Ra1 a4 37. Ra3 {leads to a
drawish rook endgame, e.g.} Kd6 38. Kf3 h5 (38... Kc7 $6 39. Kg4 {is risky for
Black, e.g.} Kb6 40. Kxg5 Ka5 41. Kf6 Kb4 42. Ra1 Kxc4 43. d6 a3 44. d7 Kb3 45.
Kxe5 Kb2 46. Re1 c4 47. Kd6 a2 48. e5 a1=Q 49. Rxa1 Rxa1 50. e6 Rd1+ 51. Kc7 c3
52. e7 c2 53. d8=Q c1=Q+ 54. Kb8 {etc.}) 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Kd3 Kb6 41. Kc3 Ka5
42. Ra2 Rf8 (42... Rb8 $2 43. Rb2 $1) 43. Rd2 (43. Rb2 Rf3+ 44. Kc2 a3 45. Rb5+
Ka4 46. Rb8 {is also good}) 43... Rf3+ 44. Rd3 (44. Kc2 $143 Kb4 45. d6 Rf8 46.
d7 Rd8) 44... g4 $1 45. d6 Kb6 46. d7 Rxd3+ 47. Kxd3 Kc7 48. Kc3 $11) 32. Ne6 (
32. Qg4 $5 Kh8 33. Ne6 Rxf1 34. Kxf1 Qxh2 35. Nxg5 Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Qg2+ $11) 32...
Rxf1 33. Kxf1 Qh5 (33... Qxh2 34. Qf7+ Kh8 35. Nxg5 Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Qg2+ 37. Kd1 {
doesn't change much: Black must give a perpetual.}) 34. Kg2 Qe2+ 35. Kh3 Qh5+
36. Kg2 Bf6 $4 {The leader of the world rating list doesn't want to yield a
draw to an "average" GM and commits a decisive error.} (36... Qe2+ $11) 37. Nf4
$1 {[%mdl 64]} Qh6 (37... gxf4 38. Qe6+ $18) 38. Qe6+ Kh8 39. Nh5 $1 Rf8 40.
Rf7 $2 (40. Qxd6 g4 41. Nf4 $18) 40... Bg7 41. Rxg7 $4 {White probably didn't
notice that the time control was already over.} (41. Qxh6 Bxh6 42. Rd7 {
still lead to a winning endgame:} (42. Ra7 $143 g4 $1 43. Rxa5 $140 Be3) 42...
Ra8 43. Rxd6 a4 44. Rc6 $1 a3 45. d6 Bf8 46. d7 Rd8 $8 (46... a2 47. Rc8 a1=Q
48. d8=Q $18) 47. e5 $1 a2 (47... Be7 48. e6 $18) (47... Rxd7 48. Rc8 Rd2+ 49.
Kf3 Kg8 50. e6 Rd3+ 51. Kg4 Re3 52. Kf5 Rf3+ 53. Kxg5 $18) 48. Ra6 Rxd7 49.
Rxa2 {etc.}) 41... Qxh5 42. Rg8+ {White must now give a perpetual.} (42. g4 Qh4
(42... Rf2+ $11) 43. Rg8+) (42. Rg8+ Rxg8 43. Qf6+ Rg7 44. Qf8+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 17th"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2009.10.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2547"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2009.10.22"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia II"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YUG"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Ne2 Bd6 8.
Ng3 Qe7+ 9. Be3 Bg6 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Rfe8 13. f3 Nb6 14. Bf2 Qc7
15. Rxe8+ Rxe8 16. c4 Nd7 17. c5 Bf4 18. Nf1 Qd8 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. d5 cxd5 21.
Qxd5 Qc8 22. Rd1 Nf8 23. b4 a6 24. g3 Bc7 25. Ne3 f5 26. Qc4 f4 27. Nd5 fxg3
28. hxg3 Bd8 29. a4 g5 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31. Bxe1 Qf5 32. Kg2 Nd7 33. Bf2 Ne5 34.
Qe4 Qxe4 35. fxe4 f6 36. Bd4 Nc6 37. Bc3 Na7 38. Kf3 Kf7 39. Ke3 Ke6 40. Kd3 g6
41. g4 f5 42. Ne3 fxg4 43. Nxg4 Bc7 44. Kc4 Bf4 45. b5 axb5+ 46. axb5 Nc8 47.
Ba5 Ne7 48. Bd8 Nc8 49. b6 Kd7 50. Bf6 Ke6 51. e5 Bc1 52. Nf2 Be3 53. Ne4 g4
54. Kd3 Bg1 55. c6 Nxb6 56. cxb7 Nd7 57. Ke2 Ba7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 17th"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2009.10.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.10.22"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Czech Republic"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Nc5 b6 6. Nb3 e6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. g3
Ngf6 9. Bg2 Be4 10. Nbd2 Bg6 11. Nc4 Be4 12. Ncd2 Bg6 13. O-O b5 14. a4 a6 15.
Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd5 17. h4 h5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. c4 bxc4 21.
Nxc4 Be7 22. Bg5 O-O 23. Bxd5 Bxg5 24. Bf3 Rd8 25. Nd6 Be7 26. Bxh5 Bxh5 27.
Qxh5 Bxd6 28. exd6 Rxd6 29. Rc1 Rd5 30. Qf3 c5 31. Kg2 Qb8 32. b3 Rf5 33. Qe3
Qb7+ 34. Kh2 Qd5 35. Rc3 Re5 36. Qf3 Qxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. Bf1 Qb6 18. Bb2 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. exd5 cxd5 21. Rxe8 Rxe8
22. axb5 axb5 23. Qd3 Bc6 24. g3 Nhf6 25. Ne5 Nxe5 26. dxe5 Ne4 27. Nxe4 dxe4
28. Qc3 Bg7 29. Rc1 Bxe5 30. Qxc6 Qxc6 31. Rxc6 Bxb2 32. Bxb5 Re7 33. Rc8+ Kg7
34. Re8 Rxe8 35. Bxe8 Bc3 36. Kf1 f5 37. Ke2 Kf6 38. f3 exf3+ 39. Kxf3 h5 40.
h4 Ba5 41. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. cxd5 {Topalov is very well prepared and this might be true even for
the lesser opening lines. White is swapping the pawns on d5 in the conviction,
that the black knight on d7 is seriously misplaced.} (9. b3 e5 (9... c5 10. Bb2
b6 11. Rfd1 Bb7 12. Rac1 (12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 e6
16. Rd2 Qc7 $11) 12... e6 13. Be2 Qe7 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Ne5 Rac8 (15... Nxe5
16. Bxe5 Rac8) 16. Bf3 (16. Nxd7 Nxd7 (16... Qxd7 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Ba3 $16)
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nf3 $11) 16... Rfd8 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Be5 Qe7 19. Bc3 $6 d4
20. exd4 cxd4 21. Ba5 Re8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. c5 {1-0 Goldin,A (2621)-Mulyar,M 
(2446)/Seattle 2003 (61)}) 10. Nxe5 (10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Ba3 Re8 12. cxd5 cxd5 13.
Bb2 Ndxe5 14. Bd4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Bf5 16. Qc3 Rc8 17. Qb4 Qe7 18. Qxe7 Rxe7 19.
Bxg7 Kxg7 20. h3 Nf6 21. Rfc1 Rec7 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 {1/2-1/2 Barlov,D (2500)
-Simic,R (2495)/Kladovo 1994 (61)}) 10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Nf3 Nxe5 13.
Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb2 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 {1/2-1/2 Kosic,D (2537)-Kobalia,M (2602)/Neum
2002}) 9... cxd5 10. b3 Nb8 (10... Re8 11. Bb2 Nb8 12. Ne5 Nfd7 13. Ndf3 Nxe5
14. Nxe5 f6 15. Nf3 Nc6 16. a3 Bg4 17. Be2 Rc8 18. Qd1 e5 19. h3 Be6 20. Rc1 e4
21. Nd2 f5 22. b4 {1-0 Vavra,P (2192)-Fuksik,J (2211)/Czechia 2004 (73)}) (
10... b6 11. Ba3 Bb7 12. Rac1 Rc8 13. Qb1 Re8 14. h3 Rxc1 15. Rxc1 Qb8 16. Rc2
e6 17. Qf1 Rc8 18. Ne1 Rxc2 19. Nxc2 Qc8 20. f3 h5 21. Bb2 Ne8 {1/2-1/2 Czakon,
J (2416)-Stopa,J (2308)/Legnica 2004 (29)}) 11. Ba3 (11. Ne5 Nfd7) 11... Nc6
12. Rac1 Be6 {Gashimov is doing a great job with improving his pieces. The
bishop on e6 has found a temporary respite in order to bring out the rook to
the c8-square.} (12... Bg4 13. h3 $14) 13. Qb2 Re8 14. h3 Rc8 15. Rc2 Bf5 $5 {
The strategy of exchanging the mighty bishop on d3 comes at a cost. The black
pawn structure will never be perfect again.} 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Ne1 $6 {The
Bulgarian star played very interesting chess in Linares, but it was not always
a smooth performance. The transfer of the knight seems to be highly artificial.
} (17. Rfc1 $5 Nd7 (17... Ne4 18. Ne5 $14) 18. Qc3 e6 19. Qd3 $14) 17... Ne4 {
Gashimov is preparing the counterplay in the centre, but the immediate snub of
White's pawn structure was even stronger.} (17... f4 $1 18. Nd3 (18. exf4 Nh5)
18... Nh5 19. Nf3 fxe3 20. fxe3 Ng3 $11) 18. Nd3 e5 19. Nxe4 dxe4 (19... fxe4
20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Qd2 Qe6 24. Bb2 $14) 20. Nxe5
Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxc2 (21... Bxe5 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Qe2 f4 24. exf4 Bxf4 25. Bb2
Qe6 $11) 22. Qxc2 Qa5 {The position is practically equal, but it does not mean
the players can not try to play on.} (22... Bxe5 23. Rd1 Qc8 24. Qd2 Bf6 $11)
23. Bd6 Bxe5 24. b4 Qd8 (24... Qb5 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Bxe5 Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1 Qxe5 28.
Qd8+ Kg7 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. g3 $14) 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Rc1 Rd5 27. a4 b5 {Black
was not a favourite in this game and even a super grandmaster can become
nervous about proving clear equality.} (27... Kg7 28. Qc7 Qxc7 29. Rxc7 b5 30.
Ra7 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Rb1 32. Rxa6 Rxb4 $11) 28. axb5 Rxb5 (28... axb5 29. Qc6 Kg7
$14) 29. Qa4 Qd6 30. Qa1 $1 {Topalov might not be the perfect player, but he
is definitely a fighter. In a simple position Black suddenly has to worry
about preventing mate.} Qe5 (30... Qe6 31. Rd1 Qb6 32. Qc3 Rxb4 33. Qc8+ Kg7
34. Rd8 (34. Qxf5 Rb1) 34... Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Qe6 36. Rg8+ Kf6 37. Qf8 $16) 31.
Qxa6 Rxb4 32. Qh6 Rb8 33. g3 Qe6 34. Qf4 Rc8 35. Rd1 Rc6 $2 {[%mdl 256] Time
trouble combined with an opponent's pressure have managed to send numerous
games down the drain. Black was wrong to leave the 8th rank unprotected.} (
35... f6 36. Rd6 Qe5 37. Qxe5 fxe5 38. Rf6 Rf8 39. Re6 Kg7 40. Rxe5 Kf6 41. Rd5
$14) 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Kg2 h6 (37... Rb6 38. Qc7 $16) 38. Qb8 Qf6 39. Rd5 $2 {
A serious blot on an interesting game, White misses a simple and convincing
winning pattern.} (39. Rh8 Kg6 40. Qf8 $1 Kg5 41. Rg8+ Kh5 42. Qa8 Ra6 43. Qb8
Rd6 44. Qc7 Qe6 45. Qc2 $18) 39... Re6 40. h4 h5 $2 {Time is the enemy of both
heroes in our game, Gashimov is missing the last chance to limit the damage.} (
40... f4 $5 41. Qxf4 (41. exf4 e3 42. fxe3 Rxe3 43. Qb4 Qa1 $14) 41... Qxf4 42.
gxf4 $16) 41. Rd8 $1 {White is not ready to let the golden chance slip away
for the second time.} Kh7 42. Rg8 f4 (42... Rd6 43. Qf8 Rd7 44. Rg5 $18) 43.
gxf4 (43. Rg5 f3+ 44. Kh3 $18) 43... Qxh4 (43... Rc6 44. Rg5 $18) 44. Rh8+ Kg6
45. Qg8+ Kf6 46. Qd8+ Re7 47. Rh6+ Kf5 (47... Kg7 48. Qh8#) 48. Qd5+ {The sad
finish to the game for Black as the win is now trivial.} (48. Qd5+ Kg4 49. f3+
exf3+ 50. Qxf3+ Kf5 51. Rxh5+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A64"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. h3 Rb8 13. Nc4 Nb6 {Traditionally,
this is considered to be the safest continuation. Although I always have
instinctively preferred the alternative mentioned below, I devoted some
attention to this move, too, but came to the conclusion that Black has
problems getting fully coordinated for launching his queenside attack.
Although there are several debatable decisions from both players in the
present game, I believe that my initial evaluation is more or less confirmed.}
({I find Black's development more harmonious after} 13... Ne5 14. Na3 Nh5 15.
e4 Bd7 {The pieces are all over the board. In fact, we can notice that there
are two groups of four pieces with identical geometry. Theory regards this
line as riskier, probably because sharp tactics may arise, but this should not
be a reason if the position is sound objectively.} 16. a5 {This is the
critical variation.} (16. g4 b5 {Akopian,V (2630)-Marin,M (2520)/Moscow 1994/
CBM 45/[Marin,M] (0-1, 54). gives Black easy play.}) 16... Qxa5 17. g4 Nf6 {
Avrukh,B (2641)-Kamsky,G (2714)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122/[Avrukh,B] (0-1,
53)}) 14. Na3 Bd7 15. e4 {This is the best continuation. White wins space in
the centre without touching the queenside yet.} (15. a5 {contradicts the
principle "do not move pawns on the side where you will be submitted to an
attack!" Concretely, Black gets the possibility of opening the b-file, with
counterplay.} Nc8 16. Nc4 Bb5 17. Qb3 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Nd7 19. Ne4 $5 {It is
interesting to follow the plan initiated by this move, chosen by a Benoni
expert!} ({Theory mainly relies on the older game:} 19. Qd3 Ne5 20. Qc2 Na7 21.
Rd1 Nb5 22. Nxb5 axb5 23. Qb3 Qd7 $132 {Liberzon,V (2460)-Jussupow,A (2575)/
Lone Pine 1981/MCL (0-1, 47)}) 19... Qe7 20. Ra3 Na7 21. Bg5 Qf8 22. Bf4 Nb5
23. Rb3 Ne5 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. e3 {White does not seem to have displayed great
ambitions, but his main plan is to prevent Black from getting any shadow of
activity. Once everything has been stabilised, the space advantage may ensure
some slight, but stable, advantage.} Qe7 26. h4 Qc7 27. Ra1 b6 $6 {White is
perfectly well prepared for the opening of the queenside. Black should have
adopted a neutral policy, because for White it is difficult to make progress
without weakening the dark squares.} (27... h5 $5) 28. axb6 Rxb6 29. Nd2 $1 {
White plans to transfer the knight to c4 (and then a5-c6), putting the whole
black queenside in danger.} Rc8 30. Bh3 f5 31. Bf1 Rcb8 32. Qc1 Bf6 33. Nc4 $18
{Nisipeanu,L (2690)-Cvek,R (2512)/Germany 2006/CBM 118 (1-0, 41). White won a
pawn, retaining a positional advantage.}) 15... Nc8 16. Qd3 {It appears that
the thematic break ...b5 is not that easy to carry out.} Re7 $5 {An original
move, planning two possible regroupings: ...Qe8 preparing ...b5 or ...Be8, ...
Rc7, ...Nd7. This offers Black some flexibility in planning, which is highly
needed when lacking space.} (16... Qc7 17. Be3 {seems to favour White, as can
be inferred from the extensive notes to Mikhalevski,V (2520)-Cvitan,O (2574)/
Biel 2002/EXT 2003/[Mikhalevski,V] (1-0, 51).}) ({If Black does not mind a
short draw,} 16... Nb6 $5 {may come into consideration. The only drawback of
the queen move to d3 was that it left the a4-pawn insufficiently well defended.
The critical answer is} 17. b3 (17. Nc2 Nc8 {[%cal Gb7b5] is a tacit
invitation to a repetition of moves.} 18. Rb1 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. b4 c4 21.
Qd2 Nb6 $132) (17. a5 Nc8 18. Nc4 Bb5) (17. Bf4 $2 {was played in the only
game with this experimental line so far.} Bxa4 18. Nxa4 Nxa4 19. Nc4 Nh5 20.
Bxd6 Nxb2 21. Nxb2 Qxd6 22. Nc4 Qd8 23. Rad1 b5 $15 {0-1 Cernousek,L (2442)
-Lie,K (2539)/ICC INT 2009/CBM 129 Extra (42)}) 17... Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxc3 (18...
Rxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxa1 20. Bg5 f6 21. Rxa1 fxg5 22. a5 Nc8 23. Qc3 $40) 19. Qxc3
Rxe4 20. Bb2 f6 {and Black might hold. The h3- and d5-pawns are hanging and
the a3-knight far from the events still.} 21. a5 Na8 22. Qf3 Re8 23. Bxf6 Rf8
$1) 17. Rb1 $146 {A very direct move, preparing b4 before Black gets to
advance his own b-pawn.} ({Against a neutral developing move like} 17. Be3 {
Black may switch to the other plan:} Qe8 18. a5 (18. Rab1 b5 19. b4 c4 20. Qc2
Nxe4 21. Nxe4 f5 22. Nc3 Rxe3 $17) 18... Bb5 19. Naxb5 axb5 20. Qxb5 Qxb5 21.
Nxb5 Nxe4 $132) ({The only game in which 16...Re7 has been played so far went} 
17. Bf4 Nh5 (17... b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Naxb5 Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Reb7 21. Na3 Rxb2
22. Nc4 R2b3 23. Qd2 Nh5 24. Bg5 $14) 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 f5 20. Bg5 {Bayer,E 
(2355)-Stein,B (2380)/Germany 1989/GER-chT (1-0, 38)} Bf6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22.
exf5 Bxf5 23. Qd2 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ncxb5 Reb7 $132) 17... Be8 {[%cal Ge7c7,
Gf6d7] This is the best way to anticipate b2-b4, clearing the way to the
pieces towards the queenside.} (17... Qe8 $6 18. b4 $16) 18. b4 {This move may
be premature in the way that it was precisely what Black had been regrouping
against.} ({Combining play on both wings may have been trickier:} 18. Be3 Rc7 (
18... Nd7 19. Rfc1 Ne5 20. Qe2 $14) 19. Rfc1 Nd7 {Black is well prepared
against b4, but White can activate his position on the other wing as well:} 20.
f4 $14) 18... cxb4 19. Rxb4 Rc7 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Rc1 Nc5 {This tempting move,
gaining a tempo and activating the knight, leaves the c7-rook and the queen
passive.} ({Several commentators have suggested} 21... Rc5 $5 {opening the
d8-a5 diagonal for the queen and maintaining some pressure along the c-file.}
22. Nc4 ({After a neutral move such as} 22. Kh2 {Black could continue
activating his pieces with} Ncb6 {[%cal Gb8c8]}) (22. Be3 {is the forced line
the commentators have focused on.} Qa5 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. Qb1 Nd3 25. Rxb7 Rxb7
26. Qxd3 Nb6 $44) 22... b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ne3 (24. Na3 Qa5) 24... Ne5 25.
Qe2 Nb6 {[%cal Gb6c4]} 26. Nxb5 $6 Bxb5 27. Rxb5 Rxb5 28. Qxb5 Nbc4 $17) 22.
Qb1 b5 $2 {Giving up a pawn without any compensation.} (22... Na7 $5 {[%cal
Gb7b5]} 23. a5 Rbc8 {White cannot increase his pressure easily, because any
knight move would allow ...Nb5 with counterplay.}) 23. axb5 a5 24. Rb2 Nb6 25.
Ra2 $1 {Freeing the knight from the pin.} a4 26. Ne2 {After due preparation,
the knight may reach c6.} Rcb7 27. Bf4 {Not the only possible move.} (27. Be3
$5 Bxb5 28. Qxb5 Nxd5 29. Qxb7 Rxb7 30. exd5 $16) (27. Bc3 $5) 27... Nc8 (27...
Nb3 28. Rc6 $1 {leads to complete white domination.}) 28. Rxc5 dxc5 29. Bxb8
Rxb8 30. f4 g5 $5 {Desperation. Black has to undermine White's centre somehow.}
31. e5 gxf4 32. gxf4 f6 33. Qe4 $6 ({Aronian seems to have intended to win in
Philidor's style, by advancing his pawns on squares opposite to those
controlled by his own bishop. He might have feared that the blockade reached
after} 33. e6 Nd6 {would make Black's position defensible, but after} 34. Be4
$16 {Black would have to either weaken his kingside or give up his blocking
piece.}) 33... fxe5 34. fxe5 Qg5 35. Nc4 $6 {Missing a series of tactical
finesses.} (35. e6 Nd6 36. Qxa4 $14 {would have retained some chances for
success, although the blockade would have been hard to crack.}) 35... Bxb5 36.
h4 Qg6 37. Qxg6 (37. Rb2 $5 a3 38. Nxa3 Nd6 39. Qxg6 hxg6 40. Nc3 Bxe5 41. Rxb5
Nxb5 42. Naxb5 Kf7 $14) 37... hxg6 38. Rb2 Nd6 $1 {A very elegant move,
leading to drawish simplifications.} 39. Nxd6 a3 40. Ra2 Bxe2 41. Rxe2 Bxe5 42.
Nc4 (42. Rxe5 a2 43. Re1 Rb1) 42... Bb2 43. Nxa3 Bxa3 44. Re6 c4 45. Rxg6+ Kf7
46. Rc6 Rh8 47. Rc7+ Kf8 48. Rxc4 Be7 49. Rc8+ Kg7 50. Rxh8 {This looks like a
premature agreement to a draw, but White's chances to convert his d-pawn into
something more concrete with rooks on the board would have been rather
hypotethical.} Kxh8 51. h5 {Black will give up his bishop for the d-pawn, with
a simple draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 a5 11. Nc3 Na6 12. Ne5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Nd5 14. Rad1 Nab4
15. Bc1 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Nd5 17. Qb3 Nb6 18. Ba3 Bxa3 19. Qxa3 Qd6 20. Ra1 f6 21.
Nd3 Qxa3 22. Rxa3 Nc4 23. Ra2 e5 24. Nc5 b6 25. Ne4 Rad8 26. Nd2 Nxd2 27. Rxd2
Rd6 28. d5 c6 29. c4 cxd5 30. Rxd5 Rc6 31. Rb1 Rxc4 32. Rxb6 Rxa4 33. Rb7 Kh8
34. Ra7 Ra2 35. e3 a4 36. Rda5 h6 37. Rxa4 Rxa4 38. Rxa4 Kh7 39. g4 Rf7 40. Kg3
Rb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. h3
Nc6 9. g4 Qb6 10. Nde2 $146 {The new move in this sharp line represents the
novelty, but it definitely is not the most exciting part of the fascinating
fight. The knight hopes to get more quickly to the kingside from the e2-square.
} (10. Nb3 e6 11. Be3 (11. Bg2 Be7 12. Be3 Qc7 13. g5 Nd7 14. f4 b5 15. Qd2 Bb7
16. O-O-O Nb6 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 18. h4 b4 19. Ne2 a5 20. Nbd4 a4 21. Kb1 Qc5 22. h5
Nxd4 23. Nxd4 a3 $15 {1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A (2689)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009
(47)}) 11... Qc7 12. Qe2 (12. g5 Nd7 13. f4 b5 14. a4 b4 15. Ne2 Bb7 16. Bg2
Na5 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. O-O Be7 19. f5 exf5 20. exf5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rc8 22. Ng3
Ne5 23. f6 gxf6 24. gxf6 Bf8 25. Nf5 $14 {0-1 Pikula,D (2513)-Damljanovic,B 
(2590)/Vrsac 2007 (42)}) (12. f4 b5 13. Bg2 Bb7 14. O-O Be7 15. g5 Nd7 16. Qe1
Nb6 17. Rd1 b4 18. Ne2 Nc4 19. Bc1 e5 20. Kh1 a5 21. fxe5 dxe5 $17 {1-0 Magem
Badals,J (2531)-Fluvia Poyatos,J (2469)/Lleida 2009 (35)}) 12... b5 13. f4 Bb7
14. Bg2 Be7 15. O-O-O Nd7 16. Qf2 Na5 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. Kb1 Rc8 19. Bd4 O-O 20.
e5 Bxg2 21. Qxg2 dxe5 22. fxe5 Nc5 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 $11 {0-1 Dominguez
Perez,L (2719)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009 (44)}) 10... e6 (10... Bxg4 $5 11.
hxg4 Nxg4 12. Nd4 $1 (12. Be3 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qxe3 14. Rh3 $16) 12... Nxd4 13.
Nd5 Qc5 14. c3 Nxf2 15. Kxf2 Ne6+ 16. Be3 $16) 11. Bg2 Be7 12. b3 h6 13. Qd2 {
Topalov playes a clever move avoiding the problems lurking in the knight move
to c4 after the obvious 13.Bb2.} (13. Bb2 Ne5 14. Qd2 Nc4 $1 15. Na4 Qc6 16.
Nd4 Qxa4 17. bxa4 Nxd2 18. Kxd2 Bd7 $11) 13... g5 $5 {Grischuk is a very
gifted man, with a healthy confidence in his own abilities. The radical
prevention of the f2-f4 advance weakens the position forever. The modest
castling seems timid in comparision.} (13... O-O 14. Bb2 Nd7 15. Nf4 $13) 14.
Ba3 Ne5 (14... O-O 15. f4 Nd7 16. O-O-O Qf2 17. Rhg1 gxf4 18. Nxf4 (18. Bxd6
Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Qe3+ 20. Qd2 Qxd2+ 21. Rxd2 e5 22. Rgd1 Nf6 $11) 18... Qxd2+ 19.
Rxd2 Nc5 20. Kb1 $14) 15. O-O-O Qxf2 {At first glance Black's courage is quite
breathtaking. The conflict in the centre starts at the moment, when White is
much better prepared for the complications.} (15... Bd7 16. Bxd6 Bxd6 17. Qxd6
Qxd6 18. Rxd6 h5 19. f3 $14) 16. Bxd6 Bxd6 (16... Qxg2 $2 17. Bxe7 Nfd7 18. Bd6
$18) 17. Qxd6 Nfd7 18. Nd4 Qf6 (18... Qxg2 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 20. Qxe6+ Kd8 21.
Qxe5 Rf8 22. Qg7 Rf2 23. Nd5 Qxe4 24. Qh8+ Qe8 (24... Rf8 25. Qxf8+ Nxf8 26.
Nf6+ $18) 25. Qxe8+ Kxe8 26. Nc7+ Kf7 27. Nxa8 $18) 19. Qa3 {The great
critical moment of the game. Topalov must have realised, that getting serious
advantage is not so easy. Objectively speaking his initiative is good only for
a moderate plus.} (19. Na4 $5 Rb8 (19... Qe7 20. Qc7 Qd8 21. Qc3 O-O 22. Qg3
$16) 20. Rhf1 Qe7 21. Qc7 b5 22. Nf3 Nxf3 23. Rxf3 (23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qxb8 Qd2+
25. Kb2 O-O 26. Bxf3 bxa4 $11) 23... bxa4 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Qxb8 O-O 26. Rd3
Qc6 $14) (19. Rd2 Qe7 20. Qc7 Qd8 $1 21. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $14) (19. Kb2 Qe7 20. Qc7
Qd8 21. Qxd8+ Kxd8 22. a4 Ke7 23. a5 h5 $14) 19... Qe7 20. Qb2 O-O (20... b5
21. Nc6 (21. Nd5 exd5 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. exd5 (23. Rxd5 f6 24. Qc3 Rb8 $13) 23...
Qb6 24. d6 Bb7 $15) (21. Nf3 O-O 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Kb1 f6 $11) 21... Qc5 (21...
Nxc6 22. Nd5 exd5 (22... Qf8 23. Nc7+ Ke7 24. Nxa8 Bb7 25. Rxd7+ Kxd7 26. Rd1+
Kc8 27. Nb6+ $16) 23. Qxh8+ Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. exd5 Nce5 26. d6 Rb8 $11)
22. Nd5 Qxc6 23. Nf6+ Ke7 (23... Nxf6 $2 24. Qxe5 Ke7 25. Rhf1 $18) 24. Nxd7
Bxd7 25. Qxe5 Rac8 26. Rd2 Rhd8 $11) 21. Nf5 $6 {The Bulgarian star must have
prepared for the event psychologically with a goal to play with maximum
sharpness and risk. The knight sacrifice is spirited, but objectively speaking
not good enough.} (21. Nce2 b5 22. Ng3 b4 (22... Bb7 23. Ngf5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Qd8
25. Nxh6+ Kh7 26. Nf5 $40) 23. Ndf5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Qc5 25. h4 Qc3 26. hxg5 Qxb2+
27. Kxb2 Re8 $13) 21... exf5 22. Nd5 Qc5 23. exf5 a5 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Excellent
defence by a Grischuk in splendid form. The rook will help the black king from
the 6th rank.} (23... Re8 24. Kb1 (24. h4 $2 gxh4 25. Rxh4 Nd3+ 26. Rxd3 Re1+
$19) 24... a5 (24... b5 25. h4 Qf2 26. Ne7+ Rxe7 27. Bxa8 $13) (24... f6 25. h4
Kg7 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Rh5 Rh8 28. b4 Qd6 29. Rxh8 Kxh8 30. Nc3 Qf8 31. Nd5 $13)
25. h4 Nxg4 26. hxg5 Nde5 27. Bh3 $1 Bxf5 28. Bxg4 Nxg4 29. gxh6 $13) 24. h4
gxh4 25. Rxh4 Ra6 (25... Qf2 $2 26. Rxh6 Qxg2 27. f6 $18) 26. Kb1 (26. Rdh1 $2
Nd3+ $19) (26. f6 Rxf6 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. Rxh6 Nd3+ (28... Bxg4 29. Qd4 Qa3+
30. Kb1 Bxd1 31. Qxd1 Qe7 32. Qh1 Kg7 $17) 29. Rxd3 Qg5+ 30. Kb1 Qxh6 31. Rd6
Kg7 $17) 26... Qf2 27. Ne7+ {The crisis is reaching its maximum as White is
facing near oblivion with his scattered pieces and only murky attacking
chances.} (27. Rh2 Nxg4 28. Ne7+ Kh7 29. Nxc8 Nc5 30. Rf1 Qd2 31. Rg1 Rxc8 32.
Bxb7 Qxh2 33. Rxg4 Rg8 34. Rxg8 Kxg8 35. Bxa6 Qg1+ 36. Qc1 Qxc1+ 37. Kxc1 Nxa6
$19) 27... Kg7 (27... Kh7 $1 28. Rdh1 Qxg2 29. Qc1 Nxg4 30. Ng6 fxg6 31. Rxg4 (
31. Rxh6+ Kg7 (31... Nxh6 $2 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Qh7#) 32. Qg5 Nxh6 33. Qxg2 Nxf5
$19) 31... Qxh1 32. Qxh1 Rxf5 33. Re4 Ne5 $17) 28. Rh2 f6 $2 $138 {The
following phase of the game is truly imperfect. Grischuk was seriously short
of time and Topalov could not find the patience in his heart..} (28... Qg3 29.
Nxc8 Qxh2 30. Bxb7 Rf6 31. Qc3 Qe2 $19) 29. g5 $2 (29. Qc1 $1 Nxg4 (29... Rh8
30. Nxc8 Qg3 31. Rdh1 $18) 30. Nxc8 Nc5 (30... Nxh2 31. Rxd7+ Rf7 32. Rxf7+
Kxf7 33. Bxb7 Ra7 34. Nxa7 Qxa7 35. Qxh6 $18) 31. Rd2 Qxf5 32. Bh3 Rxc8 33.
Bxg4 Qxg4 34. Rdg2 Qg5 35. Qe1 $16) 29... fxg5 30. Nxc8 Raf6 $1 31. Ne7 (31.
Qc3 Qc5 32. Qxc5 Nxc5 33. Ne7 Ng4 34. Rhh1 Nf2 $17) 31... R8f7 (31... Qg3 $1
32. Rhh1 (32. Rdh1 Ng4 $17) 32... Qxg2 33. Ng6 Re8 $19) 32. Nd5 Nf3 $2 (32...
Ng4 33. Nxf6 Ndxf6 34. Bd5 Qxh2 35. Bxf7 Kxf7 36. Qc3 Qe5 $17) 33. Bxf3 Qxh2
34. Nxf6 (34. Qd4 Qe5 35. Nxf6 Qxf6 $11) 34... Nxf6 35. a4 {The smoke has
nearly cleared and White is back in the game with his potentially strong
bishop.} (35. Qd4 Re7 $15) 35... Qf4 (35... Re7 36. Qd4 Qe5 37. Qb6 Qxf5 38.
Bxb7 h5 $13) 36. Bd5 Rd7 37. Re1 Qxf5 38. Bc4 (38. Be6 Qf2 39. Qe5 Re7 40. Qxa5
g4 41. Qb4 Rc7 $11) 38... Qf2 {The last nervous move shortly before the time
control. The queen should have aimed for the c5 square.} (38... Qc5 $1 39. Qc3
(39. Re6 Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Qd4 41. Re7+ Kh8 42. Qxd4 Rxd4 43. Rxb7 g4 $17) 39... g4
40. Ka2 b6 $15) 39. Qe5 Qd4 40. Qf5 Qg4 41. Qxa5 Rd1+ 42. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 43. Kb2
Qd6 (43... Qd4+ 44. Ka2 g4 45. Qc7+ Qd7 46. Qe5 Qe8 47. Be6 h5 $11) 44. Qa7 $1
{White can claim some small chances with his long range bishop in an exciting
ending.} Qe5+ 45. Ka2 Qe4 (45... Qc7 46. a5 Ne4 47. Qd4+ Nf6 48. b4 g4 $13) 46.
Bd3 Qc6 47. a5 Nd5 48. Qd4+ $1 Nf6 {Unfortunately for the defence the knight
has to retreat.} (48... Kf7 $2 49. Bc4 Ke6 50. c3 Kd6 51. b4 h5 52. Kb3 g4 53.
Qd2 $16) (48... Kf8 49. Qh8+ Ke7 50. Qg7+ Kd8 51. Qf8+ Kc7 52. c4 Nf4 53. Bf5
$16) 49. Qe5 Kf8 (49... Kf7 50. Bc4+ Kg6 51. Qe6 Qc7 $1 (51... Qxe6 52. Bxe6
Ne4 (52... g4 53. Bc8 $18) 53. Bc8 Nd6 54. Bxb7 Nxb7 55. a6 $18) 52. Bd3+ Kg7
53. Qf5 Qf7 54. Qe5 $14) 50. c4 (50. Kb2 g4 51. Bc4 Kg7 52. Qe7+ Kg6 53. Be6
$16) 50... g4 51. Bf5 Kf7 52. Qb8 Ne8 $2 {The permanent struggle is finally
bearing fruits for the inventive Topalov as his opponent is finally showing
signs of wear and tear.} (52... Ke7 $1 53. Bc8 Qc5 54. Qxb7+ Kd8 55. Qa6 (55.
a6 Qxc8 56. Qb6+ Ke7 57. c5 g3 58. Qb7+ Qxb7 59. axb7 g2 60. b8=Q g1=Q $15)
55... Qf2+ 56. Ka3 Qc5+ 57. b4 Qe3+ 58. Ka4 Ne4 $11) 53. Qf4 (53. Qh2 Qc5 54.
Qh5+ Ke7 55. Bxg4 Qxh5 56. Bxh5 Kd8 57. b4 $18) 53... Qc5 $2 {Shocked and in
disbelief Black gives in and loses the unbelievably complex fight.} (53... Nf6
$1 54. Qxh6 Qd6 55. Bxg4 Qe5 56. Qd2 Nxg4 57. a6 bxa6 58. Qd7+ Kf6 59. Qxg4 $16
) 54. Bxg4+ Nf6 55. Qf5 Qd4 56. Bf3 Qf2+ 57. Ka3 Kg7 58. Ka4 {The advance of
the white king represents the proverbial last straw in the position. Black is
helpless.} b6 (58... Qa2+ 59. Kb4 Qf2 60. Kb5 Qe3 61. b4 $18) 59. axb6 Qxb6 60.
c5 Qa7+ 61. Kb5 Qb8+ 62. Kc4 Qg8+ 63. Kc3 Qe8 64. b4 Qe1+ 65. Kc4 Qf1+ 66. Kb3
Qb5 67. Bd1 Qc6 68. Bc2 Kf7 69. Bd3 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. a3 g5 8. d3
g4 9. Nd2 h5 10. b4 h4 11. Bb2 Rh6 12. Nb3 Nd4 13. Nc5 c6 14. e3 Ne6 15. O-O
hxg3 16. fxg3 Nxc5 17. bxc5 Bxc5 18. Qe2 Be7 19. Rad1 f5 20. Qf2 Be6 21. e4 Rh5
22. Ne2 Qc7 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Qe3 Na4 25. Qh6 Kd7 26. Rxf5 Nxb2 27. Rdf1 Bxf5
28. Rxf5 Nxd3 29. h4 Qd6 30. Qg7 Qxa3 31. Kh2 a5 32. Rf7 a4 33. h5 Ne1 34.
Qxg4+ Kc7 35. Qe6 Re8 36. Qxe5+ Kb6 37. Rf5 Qb4 38. Qe3+ Bc5 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} (
38... Kc7 $11) 39. Qxe8 Nxg2 40. Kxg2 a3 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Nxe5 7. Qxe4 Qe7
8. d4 Nc6 9. Qg4 h5 10. Qg3 Bxd4 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Nd5 Qe4 13. Qg5 Qe5 14. c3 Bb6
15. a4 Re8 16. Qxe5 Rxe5 17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. Bf4 Re4 19. Bd6 a6 20. Bd3 Re6 21.
Rfe1 g6 22. Rxe6 dxe6 23. Bc7 e5 24. Bxb6 Be6 25. h4 Rc8 26. a5 Ne7 27. Rd1 f5
28. Re1 Nc6 29. f3 Kf7 30. Kf2 Nb8 31. g3 Nd7 32. Ba7 Bb3 33. Re2 Bc4 34. Ke3
Ke6 35. Re1 Bb3 36. Kd2 Nc5 37. Bb6 Rc6 38. Re3 Nd7 39. Ba7 Rd6 40. Kc1 Rd5 41.
c4 Rxa5 42. Bxf5+ gxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 {Lately Topalov has
preferred either the restrained text-move, or the Meran with 5.e3. His famous
sacrificial idea in the Anti-Moscow gambit} (6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9.
Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Ke7 15.
Nd6 Qb6 16. Bg4 Raf8 17. Qc2 $13 {Topalov,V (2780)-Kramnik,V (2795)/Wijk aan
Zee/2008/ brought him success against his arch-rival, but hasn't found much
followers since.}) 6... Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11.
e4 {In this significant opening position White has tried numerous
continuations, the attention starting shifting towards the text-move after it
was last year successfully employed by Carlsen. Fighting for an advantage
against Black's solid set-up is not easy, other plausible tries are:} (11. Rc1
O-O 12. Bb3 Qe7 13. Na4 {is best met by the active} e5 $5 (13... Rd8 14. Qc2
Nf8 15. Ne5 Bd7 16. Qc5 Qxc5 17. Nxc5 Rab8 18. f4 Be8 19. Rc2 Nh7 20. Rfc1 Nf6
21. a3 Bf8 22. g3 Kg7 23. Kg2 a5 24. Kf3 b6 25. Nxe6+ $1 fxe6 26. Nxc6 $44 {
|^,Topalov,V (2796)-Aronian,L (2750)/Nice blindfold rpd/2009/}) 14. d5 (14. h3
$5 $11) 14... e4 15. Nd4 cxd5 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bh3 $1 19.
Bxe4 Qxe4 20. gxh3 Rad8 21. Qg4 (21. Rc4 Rfe8 22. Qg4 Qd5 23. b3 b5 24. Rc7 Re4
$36 {Svidler,P (2726)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Nalchik/2009/}) 21... Qd5 22. b3 Qa5 23.
Rc2 Bxd4 24. exd4 Rd5 25. Kh1 Rfd8 $44 {[%csl Rf2,Rh2,Rh3] /=/+,׻,
Margvelashvili,G (2491)-Pashikian,A (2655)/Tbilisi/2009/}) (11. b4 O-O 12. Rc1
(12. a4 e5 $5 13. a5 exd4 14. exd4 Rd8 15. Re1 Nf8 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Rad1 Bxc4
18. Qxc4 Ne6 19. Ne5 (19. Ne4 $142 Qf5 20. Nc5 Nf4 $1 $132) 19... Qf5 20. Nxf7
$2 Kxf7 21. Re3 Bxd4 22. Rf3 Qxf3 23. gxf3 Bxc3 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. f4 Rd4 {
0-1,Stefansson,H (2574)-Carlsen,M (2714)/Heraklio/2007/}) 12... Qe7 13. Qb3 b6
14. b5 ({Too soft, more ambitious is} 14. a4 Bb7 15. Rfd1) 14... Bb7 15. bxc6
Bxc6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Qb1 Bb7 18. Bd3 Rac8 19. Be4 Nf6 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Ne2
Ne4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Nd2 Nd6 24. Rc1 {1/2,Ivanchuk,V (2731)-Karjakin,S (2661)/
Foros/2006/} Rxc1+ 25. Nxc1 e5 $11 {/=/+}) 11... e5 $5 {Black's reaction is
equally important, with the text-move he intends to fight for more central
space.} (11... O-O 12. e5 Qe7 {is the main alternative, but here Black faces
some problems after} 13. Qe2 Rd8 (13... b6 14. Rfe1 $1 (14. Ba6 $6 Bxa6 15.
Qxa6 c5 $15) 14... Rd8 15. Rad1 (15. Rac1 Rb8 (15... Bb7 $6 16. Ba6 {is one of
White's main strategic ideas - now Black's << will be vulnerable.} Rab8 17.
Bxb7 Rxb7 18. a3 $5 (18. Qe4 Nb8 19. h4 Rbd7 20. Qf4 Na6 21. a3 Nc7 22. Ne4 Nd5
23. Qg3 Rc7 24. Rc2 c5 25. dxc5 bxc5 {Harikrishna,P (2668)-Zhao Jun (2552)/
Khanty Mansiysk/2007/} 26. Nfd2 $14) 18... c5 19. Qe4 Rbb8 20. Nb5 cxd4 21.
Nbxd4 Qe8 22. b4 $16 {Sadler,M (2650)-Van Wely,L (2605)/Monte Carlo rpd/1998/})
16. Ba6 c5 $5 17. d5 Bxa6 18. Qxa6 exd5 19. Nxd5 Qe6 20. Nf4 Qf5 21. Nd5 Qe6
22. Nf4 Qf5 23. Nd5 Qe6 {1/2,Mikhalevski,V (2531)-Dreev,A (2683)/Moscow op/
2002/}) 15... Rb8 $5 (15... a5 16. Bd3 Bb7 17. Be4 b5 18. h4 Nb6 19. Bb1 c5 20.
Nxb5 Ba6 21. Bd3 $5 (21. h5 g5 22. Nh2 $6 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 $13 {1/2,Kramnik,V 
(2769)-Svidler,P (2735)/WCh Mexico City/2007/}) 21... c4 22. Bxc4 Nxc4 23. Qxc4
Qb7 24. a4 Rd5 25. Rd2 $14 {Bocharov,D (2611)-Yagupov,I (2501)/Miass/2007/})
16. a3 Bb7 17. Ba2 Nf8 18. h4 c5 19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 b5 {
Korotylev,A (2565)-Potkin,V (2540)/RUS-chT Sochi/2004/} 22. b3 $5 a6 23. a4 $14
) (13... b5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Be4 Rfd8 16. Rac1 Rab8 17. Rfd1 a6 18. h4 (18. Nb1
$5 Rdc8 19. Nbd2 Ba8 20. Qe3 $1 c5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Ne4 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Rxc1 24.
Rxc1 $36 Nxe5 $6 25. Nxe5 Rd8 26. Qc3 b4 {Peek,M (2370)-Godena,M (2519)/
EUnion-ch Liverpool/2008/} 27. Nc6 bxc3 28. Nxe7+ Kf8 29. Nxg6+ fxg6 30. bxc3
$16) 18... Ba8 19. Rc2 (19. h5 $142 g5 20. Nh2 $14 {Carlsen,/\Ng4}) 19... Rdc8
20. Rdc1 Qf8 21. a4 c5 (21... b4 $1 22. Nd1 c5 $11) 22. axb5 cxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxe4
$2 (23... axb5 $14) 24. Nxe4 Rxc2 25. Rxc2 axb5 26. Nc6 $16 {Carlsen,M (2770)
-Topalov,V (2812)/Sofia/2009/}) 14. Rfe1 {will probably transpose into one of
the above lines.} (14. Rac1 c5 15. d5 Nxe5 $5 16. Nxe5 exd5 17. Nf3 Qxe2 18.
Bxe2 d4 19. Ne4 d3 20. Bd1 b6 21. b3 Be6 22. Nfd2 Rac8 23. Bf3 Bb2 24. Rb1 Bd4
25. Rfc1 b5 $44 {Bacrot,E (2721)-Cheparinov,I (2678)/Jermuk/2009/})) 12. d5 {
White must retain the [+] tension; resolving it gives Black with his ^^ a
promising position:} (12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 {[%csl Gc8,Gg7]} 14. Kh1 (14.
Qb3 O-O 15. a4 g5 16. Rfd1 Rb8 17. Rd3 b6 18. Rad1 Rb7 19. Rd8 Rc7 20. h3 Qe7
21. Rxf8+ Bxf8 22. Be2 Be6 23. Bc4 Bc8 24. Be2 Bg7 25. Bg4 Bxg4 26. hxg4 Rd7
$15 {Khachiyan,M (2529)-Stripunsky,A (2650)/Reno/2006/}) 14... O-O (14... g5 $5
15. Qd2 O-O 16. f4 gxf4 17. Rxf4 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rf3 Rad8 20. Qf2 b5 21.
Rf1 b4 22. Na4 Qxe4 23. Nc5 Rxf3 24. gxf3 Qf5 $17 {Chiong,L (2390)-Villamayor,
B (2380)/Quezon City/1999/}) 15. f4 Qe7 16. f5 {Shuganov,Y (2216)-Novikov,M 
(2427)/Tula/2001/EXT 2002 (71)} b5 17. Bb3 b4 $13 {/=/+}) 12... Nb6 13. Bb3 (
13. dxc6 Nxc4 $5 14. Nd5 Qd6 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. Qa4+ Qc6 17. Qb4 Bf8 18. Qc3 Bd6
19. Rac1 Rc8 20. b3 Nb6 21. Qb2 Qb5 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Nxe5 Nxd5 24. Nc4 O-O
25. Nxd6 Qd7 26. Nxc8 Nf4 $15) 13... O-O ({Another important crossroads, the
main and more usual continuation is} 13... Bg4 {and now:} {The only way to
fight for an initiative is} 14. Rc1 $5 ({Too soft is} 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxf3
16. gxf3 Ke7 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. Rfc1 Rhd8 19. Na4 (19. Nd1 Rd6 20. Rc3 a5 21.
Ne3 h5 22. Rac1 a4 23. Bd1 Kd7 24. Kf1 Bh6 25. Ke1 Kc7 26. Be2 Kb7 27. R1c2 Ra5
$11 {Khalifman,A (2650)-Akopian,V (2620)/Yerevan/1996/}) 19... Rac8 20. Rc3
Nxa4 21. Bxa4 Rd2 $11 22. b4 Bf6 23. Rc2 Rcd8 24. Rxc6 Bh4 25. Rc7+ Kf6 26. Rf1
Rxa2 27. Bb3 Rb2 28. Bd5 Kg5 29. b5 f5 {1/2,Rychagov,A (2557)-Bareev,E (2653)/
Krasnoyarsk/2007/}) (14. dxc6 bxc6 $132) {However, it would be interesting to
know what Topalov had in his mind against} 14... Rd8 $5 (14... h5 15. Na4 $5 (
15. h3 Bh6 $1 16. Rc2 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 Rc8 19. Rd1 Ke7 20. dxc6 Rxc6
21. Nd5+ Nxd5 22. Rxc6 bxc6 $11 {Anand,V (2783)-Leko,P (2751)/Miskolc rpd m/
2009/}) 15... O-O (15... Rc8 16. Rc3 Nxa4 17. Bxa4 b5 $2 18. Rxc6 Rxc6 19. Bxb5
$18 {Edouard,R (2597)-Fressinet,L (2667)/FRA-ch Nimes/2009/}) 16. dxc6 Rad8 17.
Qe2 bxc6 18. Rc3 Rd4 19. Nc5 $14) ({White retains a nagging plus also after} 
14... O-O 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 Rfd8 18. dxc6 (18. Rfd1 Bf6 19.
dxc6 bxc6 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Nd1 Rd6 22. Rc5 Kf8 23. Kf1 h5 24. Ne3 Ke7 $2 (
24... Bh4 $1 25. Ke2 f6 26. Nc2 Bg5 $11) 25. Ke2 Bg7 26. Nc2 $1 Bh6 27. Ra5 Rd7
28. Rxe5+ Kd6 29. Ra5 $16 {Carlsen,M (2776)-Karjakin,S (2706)/Nice rpd/2009/})
(18. Na4) 18... bxc6 19. Nd1 Rac8 20. Rc5 (20. Ne3 Rd2 21. Rfd1 $14) 20... Bf8
21. Rc2 h5 22. Ne3 Rd4 23. Rfc1 c5 24. Kf1 Rcd8 25. Ke2 Be7 26. Rg1 Kf8 27. Bc4
Rb8 28. Ra1 Rbd8 29. Ke1 Bg5 30. Be2 Be7 31. Rac1 Ra4 32. a3 Rad4 33. Rc3 Kg7
34. Rb3 Rf8 35. Rb5 Rd7 36. Ra5 Rb8 37. Rc2 Rdb7 38. Ba6 Rd7 39. Bb5 Rdb7 40.
a4 $14 Nd7 $6 41. Nc4 $16 {Aronian,L (2768)-Gelfand,B (2755)/Jermuk/2009/}) 15.
h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 cxd5 $1 (17... c5 18. a4 c4 19. a5 cxb3 20. axb6
axb6 {Czebe,A (2485)-Varga,Z (2481)/Budapest/2009/} 21. Na4 $5 $36) 18. Nxd5
Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Rd7 20. a4 Ke7 21. a5 Bf6 22. Rfd1 Rb8 23. Rd3 Kd8 24. Rdc3 Be7
25. Rc4 Bd6 26. Kf1 g5 27. Kg2 Rc7 $11 {Alekseev,E (2714)-Leko,P (2756)/Jermuk/
2009/ Black elegantly solved his problems, but perhaps Aronian strove for a
more complex struggle?}) 14. Rc1 (14. Nd2 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bd7 16. Rfd1 Be8 17. a4
a5 18. Qe3 Nd7 19. Nc4 Bf8 20. Nb6 Nxb6 21. Qxb6 Qe7 22. Qe3 Qg5 (22... Kg7 $5
23. Ba2 Rac8 $13) 23. Qb6 {Haba,P (2475)-Novikov,I (2565)/Ostrava/1994/} Qe7
$11) ({Similar to the game continuation is} 14. h3 Rd8 (14... Bd7 15. Qe2 Kh7
16. Rfd1 Rae8 $6 17. a4 Qe7 18. a5 Nc8 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. Rd2 f5 21. Rad1 Be6
22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Qe3 Rf7 24. Na4 $16 {Benjamin,J (2570)-Blatny,P (2485)/
Chicago/1995/}) 15. Qe2 Bd7 (15... cxd5 16. exd5 $5 Bd7 17. Rad1 Re8 18. Ne4
Qe7 19. d6 Qd8 20. Rd2 Rc8 21. Rfd1 $14 {Anastasian,A (2540)-Wolski,T (2315)/
New York/1998/}) 16. Rfd1 Rac8 (16... c5 $6 17. Nd2 Nc8 18. Ba4 Rb8 19. Bxd7
Rxd7 20. a4 Qa6 21. Nb5 Nd6 22. Nc4 Nxb5 23. axb5 Qxb5 24. Rxa7 $16 {
Anastasian,A (2575)-Pelletier,Y (2470)/EU-chT Pula/1997/}) 17. Rd2 (17. a4 cxd5
18. exd5 $5 $13 {/+/=} (18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Qe6 20. Rd3 f5 21. Nc3 Bc6 22.
a5 $2 Rxd3 23. Qxd3 Qb3 $36 {Shulman,Y (2555)-Ippolito,D (2280)/Linares op/
1997/})) 17... cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bc6 20. Rad1 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rxd5 22.
Rxd5 Qc6 23. Kh2 $11 {1/2,Rychagov,A (2557)-Vitiugov,N (2608)/Krasnoyarsk/2007/
}) 14... Rd8 (14... Bg4 15. h3 $14 {transposes to the line "C2" from the note
to Black's 13-th move}) 15. h3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] Although we will later
transpose to a theoretical position, at this exact point Topalov's move is a
novelty. By finally preventing the Bg4 sortie White indicates his own
ambitions.} ({Aronian had a recent experience with the less testing} 15. Qe2
Bg4 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Nd1 a5 18. Ne3 h5 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 a4
22. Bd1 Rd2 23. Rxc6 Rxb2 24. Bc2 Nd7 25. Bd3 {Bacrot,E (2721)-Aronian,L (2768)
/Jermuk/2009/} Bh6 $5 $15) 15... Bd7 ({Provocative is} 15... Be6 16. Re1 (16.
dxe6 $5 $44) 16... Qf4 (16... a5 17. Nd2 $1 cxd5 18. exd5 $36) 17. Re3 a5 18.
Ne1 $5 $14) 16. Qe2 Be8 (16... cxd5 17. Bxd5 $5 {is probably premature.} (17.
Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Be6 $11) (17. exd5 $5 $14)) ({However, possibly more
accurate was} 16... Rac8 $5 17. Rfd1 (17. Rfe1 $5) 17... cxd5 (17... Bf8 18.
Qe3 Kg7 19. a4 $36) 18. Bxd5 (18. exd5 Qf4 $132) (18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bc6
$11) 18... Rc7 19. Bb3 Qe7 $11) 17. Rfd1 Bf8 (17... Rac8 {again deserved
serious attention.}) 18. dxc6 ({More enterprising than} 18. a3 Kg7 19. Ba2 Rac8
20. Qe3 c5 $6 (20... Qf4 $132) 21. Qe2 c4 22. Nd2 Bc5 23. Rf1 Rc7 24. Nxc4 Nxc4
{Gemäß Ehlvest hat Schwarz Kompensation für den Bauern.} 25. Bxc4 Rdc8 $6 (
25... a6 $14 {Ehlvest,J}) 26. Bb5 $1 Bxb5 27. Qxb5 Qf4 28. Qe2 Bd4 29. Rc2 Rc5
30. Rd1 a6 31. Rd3 h5 32. g3 Qf6 33. h4 Qd6 34. Qf3 R8c7 35. Kg2 $16 {Ehlvest,
J-Kharlov,A/Novosibirsk/1995/}) 18... Bxc6 {Black was facing a dilemma - he
played 16...Be8 only 2 moves ago and the text-move makes this superfluous.} ({
However, splitting the << with} 18... bxc6 {is unnattractive:} 19. Na4 $14 (19.
Qa6 $5)) (18... Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bxc6 20. Nd5 $14) 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 $5 {
The only way to imbalance the position and continue the struggle for the |^ is
to keep both minor pieces.} (20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Bg7 22. Rc7 Rab8 {/\Qd6=})
20... Bd6 (20... Nd7 21. Qe3 $14 {/\Rc7}) 21. Nd2 $1 Qe7 22. Ne4 Kg7 $1 (22...
f5 $2 23. Nc5 $1 {[%cal Rc5e6] /\Ne6->}) 23. Re1 ({After the immediate} 23. h4
{Black can seriously consider} Qxh4 24. Nxd6 Rxd6 25. Qxe5+ Qf6 $11) 23... Re8
(23... Bb4 $5 24. d6 (24. Red1 Bd6 $11 (24... f5 $5 25. a3 Bd6 $11)) 24... Bxd6
25. Nxd6 Rxd6 26. Qxe5+ Qxe5 27. Rxe5 Rad8 $11) 24. h4 Rad8 (24... h5 {means
giving up f5 due to Ng5-e6} 25. g3 $14 (25. Qb5 $5)) 25. h5 f5 $8 (25... g5 $2
26. Ng3 $40) 26. Nxd6 Rxd6 (26... Qxd6 27. hxg6 Re7 (27... Kxg6 28. Bd1 $5 $36)
28. Rc3 $14 {[%csl Rg7] עg7}) 27. Rc5 e4 $5 (27... g5 28. Qc2 Rd7 29. a4 $36)
28. hxg6 f4 $2 {This even more exposes Black's already vulnerable K and should
have lost practically by force.} ({Necessary was} 28... Kxg6 $142 29. Qd2 Qe5
$14 {/<=>}) ({A pretty line is} 28... Rxg6 29. d6 $1 Qxd6 30. Qb5 $36 {/\} (30.
Rxf5 $2 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Qg6+ $15) 30... Rf8 31. Rd1 Qf4 32. Rd7+ $1 Nxd7 33.
Qxd7+ Kf6 (33... Kh8 $2 34. Rc7) 34. Qd4+ Kg5 35. g3 Qd6 36. Rd5 Qb6 37. Qd2+
e3 38. f4+ Kf6 39. Rd6+ Ke7 40. Rxb6 Rxg3+ 41. Kh2 exd2 42. Rxb7+ Kd6 43. Kxg3
$19) 29. Qd2 ({Equally strong was} 29. Qc2 Rd7 (29... e3 30. fxe3 fxe3 31. Qc3+
Qf6 (31... Kxg6 32. Rc7 Qe5 33. Bc2+ Kh5 34. Rg7 $1 Qxc3 35. bxc3 $18 {->}) 32.
Rc7+ Rd7 33. Rxd7+ Nxd7 34. Rxe3 $16 {/+-}) 30. a4 $16) 29... Qe5 (29... e3 30.
fxe3 fxe3 31. Qc3+ {-29.Qc2}) 30. Rc7+ Rd7 (30... Kxg6 $6 31. Rxe4 Qxe4 32. Bc2
$18) 31. Rxd7+ Nxd7 32. Ba4 Rd8 ({After} 32... Re7 33. d6 Re6 34. Qb4 $1 Qxd6
35. Qxb7 Re7 36. Rxe4 Ne5 37. Qc8 Nxg6 (37... Qxg6 38. Rxf4 $18) 38. Qc3+ $18 {
White has healthy extra P and safer K - his win is just a matter of time and
technique.}) (32... e3 33. fxe3 fxe3 34. Qb4 $5 {is not much better:} (34. Qc3
Qxc3 35. bxc3 Rd8 36. Rxe3 $16) 34... a5 (34... Rd8 35. Qxb7 $18) 35. Qc3 $5 (
35. Qxb7 $2 Re7 $11 36. Bxd7 $2 Qd4 $1 $19 {completely turns the tables}) (35.
Qa3 Qd4 (35... Qf4 36. Qc3+ Nf6 37. Rf1 e2 38. Rxf4 e1=Q+ 39. Kh2 Qxc3 40. bxc3
$18) 36. Qc3 {-35.Qc3}) 35... Qxc3 36. bxc3 Rd8 $8 37. Rxe3 Nc5 38. Be8 Rxd5
39. Re7+ Kf6 40. Rf7+ Ke6 41. Bb5 $18 (41. Rxb7 Nxb7 42. Bf7+ $18 {However,
the text-move shouldn't have helped either.})) 33. Qa5 $1 Nb6 34. Bb3 $2 {
Engines show it within seconds - and Topalov had ample time on his clock...} ({
The tactical blow} 34. Rxe4 $1 {[%mdl 64]} Qxe4 35. Qc3+ Kg8 (35... Kxg6 36.
Bc2 Qxc2 37. Qxc2+ Kf6 38. Qc7 Rxd5 39. Qxf4+ $18) 36. Qc7 Qb1+ 37. Kh2 Qxg6
38. Qxd8+ Kg7 39. Bb3 $18 {wins on the spot!} (39. Bd1 $18)) ({Moreover, even
the less incisive} 34. Qxa7 Nxa4 35. Qxb7+ Kxg6 36. Qa6+ Kg5 37. Qxa4 $16 {
/+- should also be sufficient for a win.}) 34... e3 $1 $132 {And suddenly
despite his time-trouble Black is very much alive.} 35. fxe3 fxe3 36. Qb4 (36.
Qc3 Qxc3 37. bxc3 Nxd5 $11) (36. Qc5 Re8 $11) (36. Qxa7 Qxb2 $1 {and it's
already White, who has to seek a draw with} 37. Qa5 $5 $132 (37. Qxb7+ $2 Rd7
$19) (37. Rxe3 $6 Qc1+ 38. Kf2 Qd2+ 39. Re2 Rf8+ $40)) 36... Rd6 (36... e2 37.
Qc3 Qxc3 38. bxc3 Nxd5 39. Rxe2 Nxc3 40. Re7+ Kxg6 41. Rxb7 a5 42. Ra7 a4 {
is probably also a draw, but Black must still prove it.}) 37. Re2 (37. Bc2 e2 (
37... Rxd5 $2 38. Rf1 $40) 38. Qg4 Qxb2 39. Rxe2 Nxd5 40. Qe4 $13 {/+/= was
the last chance to complicate matters. However, Topalov is understandably
frustrated and decides to forego any risk by forcing a drawish R _|_.}) 37...
Rxg6 38. Qc3 (38. Qc5 Re6 $1 $132) 38... Qxc3 39. bxc3 Rg5 40. Rxe3 (40. c4 Re5
41. g3 a5 42. a3 Nc8 43. c5 (43. Kg2 Nd6 $11) 43... Kf6 44. c6 (44. d6 Na7 $1
$15) 44... Nd6 $11) 40... Nxd5 41. Bxd5 Rxd5 42. Re7+ Kf6 43. Rxb7 Ra5 44. Rb2
Ke5 $44 45. Kf2 (45. Kf2 Kd5 (45... Ra3 $11) 46. Ke3 Kc4 47. Kd2 Ra3 48. Rb4+
Kc5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1
Ba3 {The line with the active black bishops is trying to remind the first
player, that he used up too much time in building up his centre.} 9. Rc2 Nc6 (
9... Bb7 10. Bg2 Ne4 11. O-O Nxc3 (11... Nxd2 12. Rxd2 d6 (12... Bb4 13. Qc2 f5
14. d5 Qf6 15. Nd4 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Ndb5 a6 18. Rxd7 axb5 19. Nxb5 Rab8 20.
Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxc6 $14 {1-0 Van Wely,L (2680)-Berg,E (2593)/Kemer 2007 (34)})
13. Qc2 g6 14. e4 Nd7 15. Re2 Bb4 16. Rd1 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qe7 18. h4 Rad8 19. Qe3
e5 20. h5 Rfe8 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Ng5 Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 {1/2-1/2
Gelfand,B (2724)-Ivanchuk,V (2752)/Merida 2005 (31)}) 12. Rxc3 a5 13. Qb1 f5
14. d5 Na6 15. Be3 Qe8 16. Nd4 Qg6 17. Nb5 Bb4 18. Rcc1 e5 19. a3 Bd6 20. b4
axb4 21. axb4 e4 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. b5 Nc5 {0-1 Polak,T (2507)-Vavrak,P (2475)/
Slovakia 2009 (38)}) (9... c5 10. Bc1 Bxc1 11. Rxc1 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc6 13. Qd6
Qb8 14. Rd1 b5 15. cxb5 Bxb5 16. Bg2 Ba6 17. O-O Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Rac8 19. Nd2 {
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B (2733)-Anand,V (2779)/Monte Carlo 2007}) 10. Bg5 {White
needs to address the threat of Nb4, but Grischuk refuses to tackle the oddly
placed bishop on a3 with 10.Bc1.} (10. Bc1 Bb4 (10... Bxc1 11. Rxc1 Bb7 12. Bg2
Ne7 13. O-O d6 14. Qd3 Re8 15. e4 $14) 11. Bg2 (11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. Rxc3 Bb7 13.
Bg2 Ne7 14. O-O d6 $13) 11... b5 $5 (11... Bxc3+ 12. Rxc3 Nb4 13. Ba3 c5 14.
Ne5 Rc8 15. O-O Qc7 16. Bxb4 cxb4 17. Rc2 Bb7 18. f3 a5 19. e4 d6 20. Nd3 d5
21. e5 Nd7 22. Rff2 {1/2-1/2 Ibragimov,I (2602)-Ivanov,A (2565)/Stillwater
2007 (61)}) 12. cxb5 Bxb5 13. Bd2 (13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Ne4 (14... Rb8 15. Re1
Ne4) 15. Re3 d5 16. a4 Ba6 17. Ba3 $14) 13... Rb8 14. O-O a5 15. Nxb5 Rxb5 16.
Bg5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qd2 Nb4 19. Rcc1 c6 20. Rfd1 Qa8 21. e3 (21. e4 d5
22. e5 Be7 23. Rc3 Rb6 24. Rdc1 $13) 21... Rfb8 22. Ne5 $6 {I don't like the
idea to give Black a chance to get rid of the knight.} Bxe5 23. dxe5 R5b7 24.
Rc4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Ionov,S (2538)-Beliavsky,A (2667)/Sochi 2004/ (82)}) (10. Nb5
Bxb5 11. cxb5 Nb4 12. Rc4 Qe7 13. Rxc7 Rac8 14. Rxc8 Rxc8 15. Bh3 Nxa2 16. O-O
Nc3 17. Bxc3 Rxc3 18. Qd2 Rxb3 19. Ra1 Rxb5 20. Qd3 Ra5 21. e4 Bb2 22. Rxa5
bxa5 23. e5 Nd5 24. Qb5 Bc3 25. Qb8+ Qf8 26. Qxa7 Qd8 $15 {1-0 Borovikov,V 
(2595)-Poobesh Anand,S (2372)/Pardubice 2005 (43)}) 10... h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12.
Bg2 d5 13. O-O (13. cxd5 Nb4 14. Rd2 (14. Ne5 Rad8 15. O-O Nxc2 16. Qxc2 exd5
17. Nxd5 Qd6) 14... Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. O-O Rfe8 17. Ne5 Rad8 18. f4 Qd6 19.
Kh1 f6 20. Ng6 Re3 21. f5 Rde8 22. Nf4 c6 {1/2-1/2 Huzman,A (2577)-Azarov,S 
(2582)/Saint Vincent 2005 (28)}) 13... dxc4 14. bxc4 (14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5
Qxe5 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 17. bxc4 Bb7 18. Qd3 Be7 $11) 14... Rad8 (14... Bxc4 $2 15.
Ne4 Qf5 16. Rxc4 Qxe4 17. Nd2 $18) 15. Rd2 {Topalov can claim the two bishops,
but his cluster of minor pieces on the queenside is quite loose.} (15. e3 Bd6 (
15... e5 16. Nb5 (16. Nd5 Qd6 17. Nh4 Bc8 $11) 16... Bd6 17. Nd2 Nb4 18. Ne4
Qe6 19. d5 Qd7 20. Rb2 $14) 16. Nb5 Qe7 $14) 15... Bb4 (15... Bb7 16. e3 (16.
Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qg5 18. f4 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Bxg2+ 20. Kxg2 Rxd2 21. fxg5 (21.
Qxd2 Rd8) 21... Rxd1 22. Rxd1 hxg5 23. Rd7 Rc8 24. Nb5 $11) 16... Qe7 17. Qc2
Na5 $11) (15... Bxc4 $2 16. Qa4 Bb4 17. Qxc6 Bxc3 18. Rc2 $18) 16. Qb3 Bxc3 (
16... Bb7 17. e3 Qe7 18. Rb1 a5 19. Rdd1 $14) 17. Qxc3 Na5 18. c5 $1 {Black
has chosen a very dangerous strategical solution. Without the desired move ...
c7-c5 the pieces on a5 and a6 will feel quite misplaced.} (18. Ne5 c5 19. f4
Rxd4 20. Rxd4 cxd4 21. Qb4 (21. Qxd4 Rd8 $17) 21... Rc8 22. Rd1 Qd8 $17) 18...
Nc4 (18... Qf5 19. Ne5 f6 20. g4 Qg5 21. f4 Qh4 22. Ng6 Qxg4 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24.
Qf3 $16) 19. Rc2 bxc5 (19... Qf5 20. e4 Qh5 21. cxb6 axb6 22. Rfc1 b5 23. a4 c6
$14) 20. Qb3 $1 {This move reportedly sent Topalov into deep thought. A
similar idea hoping to benefit from loose location of the knight on c4 was 20.
Rfc1!?} (20. Rfc1 $5 cxd4 21. Qd3 e5 (21... Rb8 22. Rxc4 c5 23. Qa3 Bxc4 24.
Rxc4 Rb1+ 25. Bf1 Rd8 26. Qd3 $14) 22. Rxc4 Rfe8 23. Nd2 $14) (20. dxc5 Qxc3
21. Rxc3 Nd2 22. Re1 $11) 20... cxd4 (20... Nd6 21. Qa3 Bb7 22. Rxc5 Bxf3 23.
Bxf3 Qxd4 24. Rfc1 $14) (20... Rb8 21. Qa4 Bb5 22. Qxa7 cxd4 23. Nxd4 $16) 21.
Rxc4 Rb8 22. Qc2 (22. Rb4 Rxb4 23. Qxb4 Bxe2 24. Nxd4 Bxf1 25. Bxf1 $13) 22...
Bxc4 23. Qxc4 e5 {[%mdl 1024] Topalov is definitely not very afraid of a
material imbalances, but here the gods are favouring White.} (23... Rfd8 24.
Qxc7 Rbc8 25. Qxa7 Ra8 26. Qc7 Rac8 (26... Rxa2 27. Ne5 $16) 27. Qa5 Rc2 28.
Re1 $16) 24. Qxc7 Rfe8 (24... Rb2 $1 25. Nxe5 Rxe2 26. f4 d3 (26... Rxa2 27.
Bd5 $16) 27. Qc4 (27. Bf3 Rxa2 28. Bd5 Rc2 29. Qxa7 d2 $14) 27... Qb6+ 28. Kh1
Rc2 29. Qxd3 Qb2 $14) 25. Qxa7 Rb2 (25... Ra8 26. Qd7 Red8 27. Qb5 e4 28. Nd2
$16) 26. Re1 {White had another solution for his problem with the hanging
e2-pawn, but did not want to create a passed pawn for the opponent on d3.} (26.
e3 $1 d3 27. Qa3 e4 28. Nd4 Rbb8 29. Qc3 $16) 26... g6 27. a4 Rd8 (27... Qd6
28. Nh4 $16) 28. Qa5 $1 e4 29. Nd2 (29. Qe5 Qxe5 30. Nxe5 d3 31. exd3 (31. Bxe4
Rxe2 32. Nxd3 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Rxd3 $16) 31... exd3 32. Rd1 d2 33. f4 $16) 29...
e3 30. fxe3 d3 $6 {Black is choosing the interesting solution of opening the
files for his rooks, even though it objectively may not be the best line.} (
30... dxe3 31. Ne4 Qd4 32. Qc5 Ra2 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. Nc3 Rc2 35. Nd5 Rxa4 36.
Nxe3 $16) 31. Ne4 Qe7 32. exd3 Rxd3 33. Qa8+ (33. Qc5 $2 Rxg2+ $1 $15) 33...
Kg7 34. Qc6 (34. Bf1 $1 Ra3 35. Qd5 Rxa4 36. Bc4 Rbb4 37. Nd6 $16) 34... f5 $1
{One weaker move by White enables the defender to create some problems again.}
35. Nf2 Rdd2 {We should probably not expect the moves that are the most
logical from Topalov. White would need to play very well to prove his
advantage after the grabbing of the e3-pawn.} (35... Rxe3 36. Rf1 $1 (36. Rd1
Re1+ 37. Bf1 Rxd1 38. Qc3+ Qf6 39. Nxd1 Qxc3 40. Nxc3 $14) 36... Qa7 37. Bd5
Ree2 38. Qc8 Rb8 (38... Rxf2 39. Qg8+ Kf6 40. Qh8+ Qg7 (40... Kg5 41. Qd8+ $18)
41. Qxg7+ Kxg7 42. Rxf2 $18) 39. Qc3+ Kh7 40. a5 Rbb2 41. Qc8 Rb8 42. Bg8+ Kh8
43. Qc3+ Qg7 44. Qxg7+ Kxg7 45. Bc4 $18) 36. Qc3+ Kh7 (36... Qf6 37. Qxf6+ Kxf6
38. Rf1 $18) 37. Rf1 Rbc2 {The last chance for counterplay was hidden in the
pawn attack on the kingside.} (37... h5 $1 38. Bf3 h4 39. gxh4 Qxh4 40. Qc7+
Kh6 41. Qe5 Kh7 42. Qf4 Qxf4 43. exf4 $16) 38. Qb3 Rb2 39. Qc3 Rbc2 40. Qb3 Rb2
41. Qc4 $1 {The first move after the time control is excellent, the queen on
f4 will help White to achieve the consolidation he wants.} h5 (41... Qxe3 42.
Qf7+ Kh8 43. Qf8+ Kh7 44. Bd5 Rxd5 45. Qf7+ Kh8 46. Qxd5 $18) 42. Qf4 Re2 (
42... Qd7 43. Bf3 Ra2 44. Nh3 $16) 43. Bf3 Rec2 (43... Rxe3 44. Nd1 $18) 44.
Nd3 Ra2 45. Nb4 $1 (45. Bd5 Ra3 46. Ne5) 45... Rxa4 46. Nxc2 Rxf4 47. gxf4 {
The fight is definitely over as Grischuk now has too many pieces. Black's g6
pawn is doomed to fall and the rest will be easy.} Kh6 (47... g5 48. fxg5 Qxg5+
49. Bg2 h4 50. Kh1 Qg4 51. Nd4 h3 52. Bd5 $18) 48. Rb1 Qe6 49. Re1 Qa2 50. Nd4
h4 51. Be2 g5 (51... Qa3 52. Kf2 Qb2 53. Rg1 Kh7 54. Nf3 $18) 52. fxg5+ Kxg5
53. Rf1 Kg6 54. Rxf5 {White has too much material for any tactical return of
the queen.} Qb1+ 55. Rf1 Qe4 56. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 ({Die alte klassische
Spielweise nach} 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Bf5 9. Nc3 Nb4 10. Be2
O-O 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 $11 {
führt zu einer Stellung, die mit Hilfe des Computers fast bis zum Ende
ausanalysiert wurde und bei der Ausgleich als Diagnose festgestellt wurde.})
5... Nxc3 (5... d5 $6 {Ein Versuch direkt zu kontern endet mit einem
Misserfolg:} 6. Qe2 Be7 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8. Qxe4 O-O 9. Bc4 Re8 10. Ne5 $1 $18) 6.
dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 (7. Bf4 {ist eine parallele Variante, in der die einfachste
Methode auszugleichen dieselbe ist, wie nach 7.Be3.} Nc6 {Für Schwarz ist der
Plan mit der langen Rochade der sicherste, um Ausgleich zu erzielen.} 8. Qd2
Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 (10. h4 h6 11. g3 Bf6 12. Bg2 O-O-O 13. Kb1 Rhe8 14.
Rhe1 Bg4 15. Qd5 Rxe1 16. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {Efimenko - Zhou Jianchao (Al Ain, 2008)
}) 10... O-O-O $1 {Ich denke, nach allen Experimenten mit 10....a6, die
sofortige Rochade ist der beste Zug. Weiß kann mittels Bb5 nichts rausholen, d.
h. Schwarz braucht keine Zeit zu verlieren.} 11. Bb5 (11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 f6
$11 {Efimenko - Sakaev (Kallithea, 2008)}) 11... a6 12. Ba4 (12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13.
Nd4 $6 Qxg2 14. Rhg1 Qd5 15. Nxe6 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 fxe6 17. Rxg7 Bf6 $15) 12...
Bf6 13. Bg5 (13. Nd4 Bd5 $11) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 b5 15. Bb3 f6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6
17. Qf4 (17. Qxg7 Rdg8 18. Qh6 Rxg2 19. Rhe1 Qf5 $11) 17... h5 18. h3 g5 $11 {
Ivanchuk - Kramnik (Moscow, 2008)}) 7... O-O {Persönlich finde ich diese
Variante nicht folgerichtig. Man spielt Russisch, um auszugleichen, dann muss
man auch konsequent durchhalten und die sicherste Fortsetzung wählen - nämlich
den Plan mit der langen Rochade, wo Weiß schon seit Jahren nichts Neues
erfinden kann.} (7... Nc6 $1 {gleicht problemlos aus.} 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7
10. Kb1 (10. h4 h6 11. Nd4 {Typischerweise vereinfacht sich das Spiel nach dem
Springertausch, so dass Remis ein 99% Ergebnis ist.} (11. Kb1 O-O-O 12. Nd4
Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rhg8 14. h5 c5 15. Be3 Qc6 $11 {Adams - Nielsen (Dortmund, 2005)}
) (11. Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 b5 $5 13. Bb3 Bf6 14. Bd5 O-O-O $1 $11 (14... Rb8 15. Kb1
Bxd5 16. Qxd5 $14 Ne7 17. Qd3 Qf5 $11 {Zawadzka - Socko (Karpacz, 2008)}))
11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 (12. cxd4 d5 $11) 12... Rg8 13. c4 (13. Bd3 c5 14. Be3
O-O-O $11 {Demnächst spielt Schwarz d5.}) 13... O-O-O $11 {Dominguez Perez -
Wang Yue (Linares, 2009)} (13... c5 $6 {In dieser Stellung wäre das ein wenig
zu optimistisch - die weißen Läufer werden viel bessere Positionen einnehmen.}
14. Bc3 O-O-O 15. g3 $1 $14)) (10. Ng5 Bxg5 11. Bxg5 f6 12. Be3 O-O-O $11 {
Der Vorteil des Läuferpaares ist nicht auszunutzen.}) (10. Bb5 a6 11. Ba4 O-O
12. Rhe1 b5 13. Bb3 Na5 $1 (13... Bxb3 14. axb3 a5 15. Qd5 $14 {Karjakin -
Kritz (Gothenburg, 2005)}) 14. Bxe6 fxe6 $132) 10... Bf6 (10... O-O-O $5 11.
Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 Bf6 13. Bd4 Bxd4 14. cxd4 Bd5 $11 {Belov - Belozerov (Tomsk,
2006)}) 11. Be2 (11. Bb5 a6 {Am besten klärt man die weißen Pläne bezüglich
seines weißfeldrigen Läufers.} 12. Ba4 (12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. Bd4 (13. Nd4 Qxg2 $15
) 13... Bxd4 14. cxd4 (14. Nxd4 Qxg2 $15 {Da Schwarz bald lang rochiert, hat
er nichts zu befürchten, es ist eher Weiß, der sich um Ausgleich Gedanken
machen muss.}) 14... Qd5 15. b3 O-O-O $11) 12... O-O 13. Nd4 Bd5 14. f3 b5 15.
Bb3 Bxb3 16. Nxb3 Qf5 $11 {Es ist nichts von einem möglichen weißen Vorteil zu
sehen.}) (11. h4 h6 $11 {Typische Reaktion - man sollte Weiß nicht zu Ng5
lassen, falls er mit dem Bauern nehmen kann.}) 11... O-O-O 12. Nd4 (12. Ng5
Bxg5 13. Bxg5 f6 $11 {Die Stellung wurde schon hundert mal gespielt, Weiß
verfügt über einen symbolischen Vorteil, Schwarz sollte jedoch problemlos
Remis schaffen.}) 12... Bxd4 $1 {Die beste Fortsetzung, hier hat Weiß
überhaupt keinen Vorteil.} (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 c5 15. Qf4 d5 16.
Bf3 $36 {Obwohl die Stellung für Schwarz noch im grünen Bereich liegt, hat
Weiß doch gewissen Druck aufbauen können.}) 13. cxd4 (13. Bxd4 f6 14. Be3 $11 {
Man kommt wieder in diese Stellung rein, die sehr remislich ist.}) 13... d5 $11
{Die weißen Läufer hatten keinen Vorteil über die schwarzen Läufer und
Springer in Dominguez Perez - Wang Yue (Sofia, 2009).}) 8. Qd2 Nd7 ({Nach} 8...
Nc6 9. O-O-O {hat Schwarz eigentlich keine Wahl - er muss Ne5 spielen. Nach
dem Partiezug hat Schwarz unterschiedliche Optionen.}) 9. O-O-O Re8 (9... Ne5 {
Das ist die Hauptvariante, in der Schwarz keine großen Schwierigkeiten hat.}
10. h4 (10. Kb1 Re8 (10... a6 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 13. Qd3 Nxe3 14. Nxe6
fxe6 15. Qxe3 e5 16. Bd3 $16 {Anand - Kramnik (Monte Carlo, 2005)}) 11. Nd4 a6
12. f4 Ng4 13. Bd3 d5 14. Rhe1 Bh4 15. g3 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 Rxe3 17. Qxe3 Bf6 18.
Nf3 Qe7 19. Qxe7 {1/2-1/2 Svidler - Anand (San Luis, 2005)}) 10... Bg4 (10...
Re8 11. h5 Bf6 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nh2 b5 14. Be2 Bb7 $132 {Svidler - Kramnik 
(Moscow, 2005)}) (10... b6 11. Nd4 Bb7 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Qf4 Ng6 14. Qf5 Bxg5+
15. hxg5 Re8 16. Qg4 Nf8 17. Bb5 Re4 18. f4 g6 19. Bd3 Re3 20. f5 $16 {Anand -
Alekseev (Dortmund, 2007)}) 11. Be2 Qc8 12. h5 Re8 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Bxg4 Qxg4
15. Qd5 Qa4 16. Kb1 Bd6 17. c4 b6 $11 {Jakovenko - Shirov (Moscow, 2007)}) (
9... Nc5 {dieser Zug wird gespielt, wenn Weiß den Läufer auf f4 hat.}) 10. h4
c6 {Das sieht komisch aus. Schwarz verliert Zeit während Weiß am Königsflügel
aufrollt. Besonders gegen Topalov ist das eine gefährliche Strategie.} 11. h5 (
11. c4 Nc5 12. Bd3 $2 {Wie kann man nur daran denken, den Läufer zu geben?!}
Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Qa5 14. Bd2 Qf5 15. Bb4 Qxd3 16. cxd3 Bg4 $15 {Korbut - Lahno 
(Kemer, 2007)}) 11... h6 {Schwarz sollte Weiß nicht zu h6 kommen lassen, denn
danach würde sich sein König immer in Gefahr befinden.} (11... Nf6 12. h6 g6
13. Qd4 $5 $14 {und Schwarz kann sich nicht so gut bewegen.}) 12. Kb1 {Ein
gesunder prophylaktischer Zug - der König steht auf b1 immer besser als auf c1.
} Nf6 13. Bd3 {Das Opfer auf h6 hängt in der Luft. Am besten unternimmt
Schwarz dagegen Maßnahmen, bevor da etwas reinfliegt.} Bf8 14. Rdg1 $1 {
Weiß zieht konequent seinen Plan durch: g4-g5-Matt.} Ng4 ({Viel schlechter ist
der andere Versuch, g4 zu verhindern:} 14... Bg4 $2 15. Nh2 Bxh5 16. g4 Bg6 17.
g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 $16 {und der weiße Angriff ist tödlich.}) 15. Bf4 {Der
einzige Zug.} Qf6 16. Nh2 ({Nichts bringt} 16. Bg3 d5 17. Bh4 Qd6 18. Re1 Bd7
$11 {Wenn Weiß keinen Königsangriff organisieren kann, dann bekommt er auch
keinen Vorteil.}) 16... Nxh2 ({Ein interessanter Versuch ist} 16... Ne5 {
Hier kann Weiß sogar seinen Läufer geben, weil sein Angriff schon sehr weit
voran ist.} 17. g4 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Qe7 19. Be3 (19. g5 $2 hxg5 20. Rxg5 Qe2 $17)
19... Be6 20. g5 $40) 17. Rxh2 Bf5 18. Bxf5 {18.g4 verdient ebenfalls
Betrachtung.} (18. g4 Bxd3 19. cxd3 Qe6 20. Be3 d5 21. g5 hxg5 22. Rxg5 $40)
18... Qxf5 19. g4 Qe4 (19... Qd5 {sieht sehr schief aus...} 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21.
f3 $16) 20. g5 $40 {Es ist offensichtlich, dass Weiß aus der Eröffnung sehr
viel erreicht hat.} hxg5 21. Bxg5 (21. Rxg5 $4 Qe1+ $17) 21... Qe2 $2 {Schwarz
verliert eine Qualität, aber es ist schwer, etwas Besseres vorzuschlagen.} (
21... Re6 22. h6 g6 23. Rh4 Qe2 24. Qxe2 Rxe2 25. h7+ Kh8 26. Be3 $18 {Der
Turm ist gefangen genauso wie in der Partie.}) 22. Qxe2 Rxe2 23. Be3 Rxe3 (
23... Re8 {ändert nichts:} 24. Rh3 d5 25. Kc1 $18) 24. fxe3 $18 {Die Stellung
ist total gewonnen für Weiß, es ist schwer vorzustellen, was passieren sollte,
dass sie noch remislich wird!} Re8 25. Rh3 (25. h6 $5 {gewinnt wohl sofort.} g6
(25... Rxe3 26. hxg7 Bxg7 27. Rhg2 $18) 26. h7+ Kh8 27. Rh3 $18 {Schwarz muss
sich nun auch noch um den Bauer h7 kümmern.}) 25... Re6 26. c4 (26. h6 $1 {
führt zu der oben gezeigten Stellung.} g6 27. h7+ Kh8 28. Kc1 $18) 26... Be7
27. Rf3 $2 {"Show time!" Ganz egal, was die Idee dieses Zuges ist, im Endspiel
mit einem Qualität mehr muss man nichts erfinden! Man sollte die
Hauptprinzipen des Endspiels nicht vergessen - der König gehört ins Zentrum!} (
27. Kc1 $1 {Schwarz kann nichts Besseres machen als aufgeben, nicht mal Bf6
funktioniert.} Bf6 28. h6 g6 29. h7+ Kh8 30. Rf1 $18) 27... Re5 28. Rgf1 $2 {
Wozu? Warum tauscht man den h5-Bauern gegen den Bauern f7? Um Schwarz den
freien g-Bauern zu geben?} (28. h6 {ist auch nicht mehr so gut.} g6 29. h7+
Kxh7 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31. Rf3 Kg7) (28. Rh3 {ist vielleicht die beste Wahl, um
alles von vorne anzufangen.}) 28... Rxh5 $1 {Wenn man so eine Chance bekommt,
muss man sie nutzen!} (28... f6 $2 29. Rh3 $18) 29. Rxf7 Re5 $16 {Die Stellung
ist immer noch gewonnen, aber Weiss hat seine Aufgabe wesentlich schwerer
gemacht.} 30. R7f3 (30. R1f3 g5 $1 (30... Rxe3 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rxe3 $18) 31.
R7f5 Re4 32. b3 Kg7 $132 {und es geht los - die schwarzen Chancen sind nicht
schlechter.}) 30... Bf6 31. c3 $2 {Rätselhaftes Spiel. Der Zug macht überhaupt
keinen Sinn, er bringt Weiß dafür konkrete Probleme.} (31. Kc1 Re4 32. b3 $16 {
/\Kd2-Kd3}) 31... Re4 32. Rxf6 $4 {Man kann es nicht glauben, dass ein
Großmeister mit über 2800 so spielt. Topalov geht in ein remisliches
Turmendspiel über, ohne es zu versuchen, seinen materiellen Vorteil "normal"
zu verwerten.} (32. Rd1 $1 {hält den Bauern und erlaubt Schwarz kein
Gegenspiel.} Re6 (32... Be5 $2 33. b3 g5 34. Kc2 Kg7 35. Rdf1 $18) 33. Kc2 g5
34. Kd3 $16 {Die weiße Stellung ist immernoch nahhezu gewonnen.}) 32... gxf6
33. Rxf6 Rxe3 34. Rxd6 {Auf den ersten Blick sieht das Endspiel remislich aus.
Dass Gelfand es verloren hat, liegt wohl an einem taktischen Fehlgriff.} Kf7
35. Kc2 (35. Rd7+ Re7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 $11 {Der weiße Mehrbauer kann nicht
verwertet werden.}) 35... Re2+ 36. Kb3 Ke7 37. Rd4 c5 $1 {Ein Wartezug wäre
ein Fehler:} (37... Rf2 38. c5 Ke6 (38... Rf5 39. Rb4 Rxc5 40. Rxb7+ Kd6 41.
Rxa7 $18) 39. Ra4 a6 40. Rb4 Rf7 41. Rd4 $16 {Weiß hat seine Stellung
wesentlich verbessert.}) 38. Rd3 b6 {Weiß hätte diesen Zug sowieso früher oder
später mittels Rd5 erzwingen können.} 39. Ka3 Rc2 {Der schwarzer König hat
eine ideale Position, er kontrolliert alle Felder - d7 und d8.} 40. Rd5 {
Schwarz befindet sich im Zugzwang.} a5 (40... Rh2 {Ich denke, man konnte das
Remis einfach halten, wenn man an der Stellung nichts ändert.} 41. b4 cxb4+ 42.
cxb4 Rg2 43. Kb3 Rg3+ 44. Ka4 Rg2 45. a3 Rg3 46. c5 bxc5 47. bxc5 Ke6 $11 {
Dieses Endspiel muss Remis sein. Schwarz kann den a-Bauern geben und mit
seinem König zu den weißen Bauern rüberlaufen - damit entsteht eine
theoretische Remisstellung.}) 41. Rd3 Rh2 42. b3 Rc2 43. Ka4 $1 {Die einzige
Chance, die Weiß hat.} Rxa2+ 44. Kb5 Rb2 45. Kxb6 a4 46. Kxc5 Rxb3 $2 ({
Ein einfaches Remis erreichte Schwarz nach} 46... a3 $1 47. Kc6 (47. Rd6 Rxb3
48. Ra6 Rxc3 $11) (47. b4 $4 a2 $19) 47... Rxb3 48. Rd7+ Ke6 $1 {es ist
wichtig, den König im Zentrum zu behalten, um zum a-Bauern laufen zu können.}
49. Ra7 Rxc3 50. c5 Ke5 51. Ra4 Rh3 52. Kb6 Rb3+ 53. Kc7 Kd5 54. c6 Rc3 55.
Ra5+ Kc4 $11) 47. Kc6 a3 48. c5 Ke8 $4 {Nun ist die Stellung forciert verloren!
} (48... a2 49. Rd7+ Ke6 $1 {Ins Zentrum!!} 50. Ra7 Rb2 (50... Rxc3 $4 51. Rxa2
$18 {das ist selbstverständlich verloren.}) 51. Ra4 $1 {Die beste Chance.} (51.
c4 Ke5 52. Kc7 Kd4 53. c6) 51... Rc2 (51... Ke5 $5 52. Kd7 Rh2 53. Kc7 Rh7+ 54.
Kb6 Rh2 55. c6 Kd6 56. Rd4+ Ke5 57. c7 a1=Q 58. c8=Q Qb2+ $11) 52. Kb6 Kd5 $11)
49. Rh3 (49. Rd7 $4 Rxc3 50. Ra7 Kd8 51. Ra8+ Ke7 $11) 49... a2 50. Rh8+ Ke7
51. Ra8 $18 Rb2 52. Kc7 {Schwarz kommt in allen Varianten zu spät.} Rc2 (52...
Ke6 53. c6 Kd5 54. Kd7 $18) 53. c6 Rb2 54. c4 Rc2 55. Ra6 Rb2 56. c5 Ke6 57.
Ra5 Rc2 58. Kb7 Rb2+ 59. Kc8 Ke7 60. c7 Ke8 61. Rxa2 Rxa2 62. Kb7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "L'Ami,E"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The first game is of course always a tense affair. Months of preparations
culminate to this moment. Would Vishy stick to the Grunfeld, which he employed
so regularly over the past year? Or was he just hiding his real intentions?} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {Apearantly not!} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 {Re-opening the discussion which was thought to be closed after the
Kamsky-Topalov match. In that match Veselin switched from 7.Bc4 (game 1) to 4.
Qb3 (game 3) before realizing that 1.e4! (games 5 and 7) refutes Grunfeld
altogether.} c5 8. Ne2 {Protecting the centre from e2 so that Bg4 can be
answered with f2-f3.} Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 ({Two weeks later Vishy opted
for} 10... b6 $5 {but instead of} 11. dxc5 Qc7 {which gives Black normal
compensation, Veselin played the consolidating moves Qd2, Rac1 and Rfd1 and
obtained a pleasant position.}) 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6 cxd4 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 ({We thought this would come as a small suprise
but since Vishy replied more or less instantly this wasn't the case. Against
Kamsky, the game continued} 16. f4 f6 17. e5 Bd7 $5 {and Black was fine because
} 18. Nxd4 Nc6 {offers White no hopes for an advantage. This reveals one of
the points behind White's last move; both ...f6 and ...Bd7 look strange here,
and in the meantime White takes the c-file.}) 16... Qd6 $5 ({A logical novelty,
while preparing moves such as Nc6 and Bd7 the queen also controls the
e5-square.} 16... Bb7 {was played by Carlsen two years ago but it leaves the
Black king a bit vulnerable against the upcoming f4-f5.}) 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5
{Both players were still blitzing their moves! By now the adreneline level
started to rise rapidly within our camp since we had considered Black's last
move to be very risky.} 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nh5+ Kg8 ({A difficult choice!} 20...
Kh8 {clears g8 for the rook but may not be better than the text.} {After} 21.
h4 Rg8 {White can continue his attack with the brutal} 22. Nxf6 $5 (22. Qe1 {
also deserves attention, threatening Nxf6 followed by e5, and if this is not
working than hxg5 followed by Qh4 looks attractive as well.}) 22... Qxf6 23. e5
Qxe5 24. f6 Be6 ({even without queens the black king can be in danger;} 24...
Qe3+ 25. Qxe3 dxe3 26. Rc7 $1) 25. f7 Rgf8 26. Rce1 Qd5 (26... Qd6 27. Rf6 {
wins the piece back with ongoing attack.}) 27. Be4 Nc4 28. Qf2 Rxf7 (28... Qd8
29. Bd5 $3 {is a nice move on the interference-theme; 29...Bxd5 gives up
control over the d4-square while 29...Qxd5 gives up f6.}) 29. Bxd5 Rxf2 30.
Bxa8 Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 $1 (31. Kxf1 Ne3+ 32. Kf2 gxh4 33. Re2 Kg7 34. Rd2 Nf5 {
should be a draw.}) 31... d3 32. Rf8+ Kg7 33. Rd8 {and although this is a very
interesting ending I am sure the editor wont be happy if I continue analysing
it. In any case it's clearly not pleasant for Black.}) 21. h4 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5
23. Rf3 Kf7 $2 ({From various sources I read that Black could have saved his
skin with} 23... Bd7 24. Rg3 Rac8 {however, this runs into the powerfull} 25.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. Re1 $1 {once again preparing e5, while} Rc3 27. Rxg5+ Kf7 28. e5
Rxd3 29. Qf4 $1 {with e6 to follow, is another important point. A better
alternative, now that 23...Bd7 24.Rg3 has been included, is to move the king
to f7. After the more or less forced line 24...Kf7 25.Bc4+ Nxc4 26.Rxc4 Rh8 27.
Rxd4 Be8 28.Rd7+ Kf8 I have been unable to find a win for White but I wouldn't
be suprised if it's there for the taking.}) 24. Nxf6 $1 {We have entered a new
era in chess where it is possible to win a game by doing your homework, and
doing it well. I wonder what thoughts Steinitz and Lasker would have on all of
this?} Kxf6 ({Or} 24... Qxf6 25. Rh3 {and despite having many moves all of
them fall short;} Bd7 (25... Ke8 26. e5 $1) (25... Kg8 26. Rh5 $1) (25... Bb7
26. e5 $1 Qxe5 27. Rh7+ Kf6 28. Re1) 26. Rh7+ Ke8 27. e5 $1) 25. Rh3 Rg8 (25...
Qf4 26. e5+ $1 {clears the road to Black's king} Kxe5 27. Qe2+ Kd5 28. Rf1 {
winning heavy material.}) 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Ke8 28. Rcc7 {A remarkable
picture!} Kd8 29. Bb5 $1 {Finishing the game in style! The bishop cannot be
taken and at the same time Qxc7 is prevented.} Qxe4 (29... a6 30. Rce7 $1 Qc5 {
loses elegantly too -amongst others-} 31. Qxg5 $1) 30. Rxc8+ ({Black resigned,
he is a piece down after} 30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Qc1+ Nc6 32. Bxc6 Qe3+ 33. Qxe3
dxe3 34. Bxa8 {. Obviously, after this first game spirits where high in our
team. What could possibly go wrong?}) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {Anand allows the Queen's Indian - if he played} (3.
g3 {directly, he would have to reckon with a possible transposition to the
Benoni with} c5 {see Aronian-Topalov, Linares 2010 (CBM 135).}) 3... d5 4. g3 {
While closed games did bring Anand success in Bonn 2008 and Topalov certainly
expected 1.d4, the Catalan until now figured only in a few Anand's blitz games.
Running a bit ahead, it seems a psychologically astute choice - Topalov
usually strives for the initiative from the beginning, while in the Catalan
most of Black's ambitious choices are connected with taking a P and holding on
to it, while trying to survive White's initiative. As we saw in numerous games
earlier (For example in Game 1, or Topalov-Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008 to name
a few), Topalov is more comfortable with sacrificing material himself, than
defending. This game offers further proof.} dxc4 {The most solid moves are} (
4... Be7 {and}) (4... Bb4+ {Topalov most often played the latter move and
turned to it in Game 7, albeit even then he connected it with an attractive
sacrificial concept.}) 5. Bg2 a6 {If MegaBase is complete, Topalov previously
played this only once. Possibly he was counting on the effect of surprise and
in a sense this calculation paid off to certain extent - Anand's play in the
transition from the opening to the middlegame wasn't quite ideal (see move 15).
However, the general character of the resulting positions will still fit him
fine enough.} 6. Ne5 ({A more usual continuation is the pawn sacrifice} 6. O-O
$5 b5 ({After} 6... Nc6 {White has recently been successful with} 7. Bg5 $5 Be7
8. e3 Nd5 (8... Bd7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rc1 Rb8 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Ne4 b5 13. b3 $44
Be7 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. Rxc4 Nb4 16. a4 Qe8 17. Nc3 Nc6 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Bd6
20. Qc2 $36 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2733)-Potkin,V (2619)/Villarrobledo rpd/2009/}) 9.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 (9... Qxe7 10. Qc1 Nb6 11. Nfd2 Qb4 12. a3 Qb5 13. Nc3 Qf5 14. Nce4
e5 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 exd4 17. Nd6+ cxd6 18. Bxc6+ Ke7 19. Bd5 Be6 20. Qc7+
Kf6 21. e4 Qh5 22. Qxd6 Rhd8 23. Qf4+ Ke7 24. Qc7+ Kf8 25. Rfd1 Rac8 26. Qxb7
Bxd5 27. Qb4+ Kg8 28. Qxd4 $18 {Landa,K (2655)-Vallejo Pons,F (2696)/Lugo/2009/
}) 10. Ne5 (10. a4 Rb8 $13) 10... b5 11. b3 cxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. Qc2 Bb7 14.
Nd3 Qd6 15. Qb2 Qb6 16. e4 Nf6 17. Nc5 Rfd8 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. b4 Be8 20. e5 Nfd5
21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ra5 $14 {Pelletier,Y (2589)-Fressinet,L (2658)/EU-chT Novi
Sad/2009/}) 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. a4 (8. e4 Nf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8
12. Nc3 c6 13. Bf4 ({More principled is} 13. d5 $5 {recommended also by Avrukh
in his acclaimed repetoire book. His main line runs} Be7 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Qe2
O-O 16. Bh3 Qc8 17. Nf3 Na6 18. Ng5 Nc7 19. Bf4 Nfe8 20. Rd1 $5 $146 Bb7 21.
Qe3 h6 22. Nf3 Na6 23. Ne5 Nec7 24. Ng6 Bc5 25. Qd2 Rf6 26. Ne5 $44) 13... Be7
14. Qa1 Nbd7 15. d5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 cxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Bxd5
exd5 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Qa3+ Be7 22. Qa7 g6 23. Nxb5 d4 {1/2,Radjabov,T (2656)
-Topalov,V (2735)/Linares/2004/ is the game I mentioned above.}) 8... Bb7 9. b3
{Therefore Black tries to keep the position closed with} c3 (9... cxb3 10. Qxb3
$32 ({or} 10. axb5 $5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Qxb3 $44 {is considered risky for
Black due to White's lead in development.})) 10. e4 {and now:} {A better
chance is} b4 $5 ({After} 10... Nf6 {the critical move is} 11. Nxc3 $1 (11.
axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxc3 b4 $132 {and even forcing play doesn't give
White an advantage:} 14. Nb5 c6 15. d5 $5 cxb5 16. dxe6 Qxd1 17. exf7+ Ke7 18.
Rxd1 Bxe4 $1 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Re1 Nc5 21. Ng6+ Kxf7 22. Nxh8+ Kg8 23. Re8 Nbd7
24. Bd2 Kxh8 25. Bxb4 Kg8 $11 {Hera,I (2526)-Pavasovic,D (2601)/Nova Gorica/
2008/}) 11... b4 12. Na2 Nbd7 (12... Bxe4 $2 13. Bxe4 Nxe4 14. Qf3 f5 15. Qh5+
$18) 13. Bf4 $1 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Nxe4 $6 (14... Nd7 $142 15. Bf4 Be7 16. Rc1 c5
17. dxc5 $36) 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Qe1 f5 17. Nxb4 c5 18. Nd3 cxd4 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20.
Bxd4 Qd7 21. Qa1 Bd6 22. Bxg7 Rg8 23. Bh6 Bxg3 24. hxg3 Qxd3 25. Qe5 $16 {
/+-,Inarkiev,E (2676)-Naiditsch,A (2700)/Poikovsky/2009/}) 11. exd5 Bxd5 12.
Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 c6 $5 (13... Bg7 $6 14. Nxc3 $1 bxc3 15. Ba3 Bf8 16. Bxf8 Rxf8
17. Rac1 Ra7 18. Rxc3 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Qxd4 20. Re3 Ke7 21. Qh3 $40 {Buturin,
V-Novikov,I (2500)/USSR/1986/}) {, but even here White is better after} 14. Be3
Bg7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Nxc3 bxc3 17. Rxc3 Qa5 18. Rac1 $14 {Peto,P (2095)-Dutra
Neto,A (1972)/corr/2001/}) 6... c5 ({Black can also deviate with} 6... Bb4+ 7.
Nc3 Nd5 {, but he must reckon with} 8. O-O $5 ({Kramnik's attempt to improve
upon} 8. Bd2 b5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O $13) 8... O-O ({Nobody has yet tried
the risky (or foolhardy?), but perhaps playable} 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1
Qxd4 11. Qa4+ b5 12. Qa3 Qxe5 13. Bf4 Qf6 14. Bxc7 $5 Be5 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16.
Bxa8 Qc7 $13 {/\Qe7,Nd7-c5}) 9. Qc2 b5 {An interesting try is} 10. Be4 $5 (10.
Nxd5 exd5 11. b3 c6 12. e4 f6 13. exd5 $5 fxe5 14. bxc4 exd4 15. dxc6 {leads
to a draw almost by force after} Qd6 $1 (15... Be6 $6 16. cxb5 d3 17. c7 Qd4
18. Qa4 Nd7 19. Be3 Qd6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Kramnik,V (2769)-Morozevich,A (2758)/
WCh Mexico City/2007/} 21. Rac1 $1 $18) 16. c7 d3 17. Qb3 bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Be6
19. Bf4 Bxc4 20. Bxd6 Bxd6 21. Rac1 Ra7 22. cxb8=Q Bxb8 23. Rxc4 Rd7 24. Rd1
Ba7 25. Rd2 Bxf2+ $11 {1/2,Winkler,T (2619)-Nasybullin,V (2605)/corr/2007/})
10... Bb7 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Be4 Qe8 14. Bg2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nd7 16.
Nf3 e5 17. b3 exd4 18. Nxd4 Qe5 {Gelfand,B (2755)-Morozevich,A (2751)/Biel/
2009/ Here Marin recommends} 19. Rd1 $5 Nb6 20. Bb2 $14 {[%csl Gg2,Rh8] White
is somewhat better due to his safer K.}) 7. Na3 $5 {[%mdl 512] With this move
White goes for a gambit after all!} ({The alternative is} 7. Be3 Nd5 8. dxc5 {
Black's best is} Nd7 $1 (8... Nxe3 $6 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. fxe3 Ke8 11. c6 bxc6
12. Nxc4 a5 13. Kf2 Ra6 14. Nbd2 Nd7 15. Rac1 Ke7 16. Rhd1 g6 17. Nb3 $16 {
Wang Yue (2734)-Savchenko,B (2644)/WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 9. Bd4 Nxe5 10.
Bxe5 f6 ({Interesting is also} 10... Bxc5 $5 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bc3 Qc7 13. e4 $2
(13. e3 $11) (13. Bxd5 $5 exd5 14. Qxd5 Be6 15. Qh5 O-O-O 16. Nd2 $13) 13...
Nf4 14. Bf1 b5 15. Nd2 Bxf2+ $1 16. Kxf2 Qc5+ 17. Kf3 e5 18. h3 Nh5 19. g4 f5
$1 $40 20. Qe1 fxg4+ 21. Ke2 g3 22. b4 cxb3 23. Nxb3 Nf4+ {0-1,Erbe,U (2240)
-Makovsky,P (2457)/corr/2005/}) 11. Bd4 Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Qa5+ 13. Nc3 (13. Nd2
Qxc5 14. Rc1 b5 15. b3 Bb7 16. O-O Ne3 $1 17. fxe3 Qxe3+ 18. Rf2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
Rd8 20. Rc2 c3 21. Rf3 Rxd2 22. Rxe3 Rxd1 23. Rexc3 Ke7 24. Rc6 Rd6 25. Rc7+
Rd7 26. R7c6 Rd6 27. Rc7+ {1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Kuporosov,V/USSR/1986}) 13... Nxc3
14. Qd6 Nd5+ $5 (14... Nb5+ 15. Bb4 $44 {/+/=}) 15. Kf1 Kf7 16. Bxd5 exd5 17.
Qxd5+ Be6 18. Qxb7+ Kg6 {1/2,Kund,W (2239)-Overton,D (2288)/corr/2004/ Here
White can give a perpetual, continuing the fight} 19. Qb4 Qc7 $44 {[%csl Rf1]
עf1 is not without risk}) 7... cxd4 8. Naxc4 Bc5 ({Another continuation is
the attempt to quickly develop the Bc8, countering the pressure on the /^h1-a8:
} 8... Ra7 {/\b5} 9. Bd2 (9. a4 b6 $13) 9... b6 10. O-O (10. Qb3 Bb7 11. Bxb7
Rxb7 12. O-O (12. Na5 Ra7 $5 (12... Rc7 13. Qxb6 Bc5 14. Qb3 O-O 15. O-O Qd5 (
15... Ne4 $5 $132) 16. Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Rfc1 Rfc8 18. Nd3 Bb6 19. Rxc7 Rxc7 20.
Rc1 Rxc1+ 21. Nxc1 Kf8 22. Nc4 Ba7 23. Nd3 $14 {Bykhovsky,A (2445)-Kaidanov,G 
(2345)/Irkutsk/1983/}) 13. O-O Ne4 $1 14. Qa4+ b5 15. Qc2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Qd5 17.
Nf3 Bc5 18. Nb3 Bb6 (18... O-O 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. Rfc1 Qd5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22.
Nxd4 Rd7 23. Nb3 Rfd8 24. f3 Kf8 25. Kf2 $14 {Dizdar,G (2545)-Novikov,I (2590)/
Luzern WChT/1997/}) 19. Nfxd4 Rd7 $11) 12... Bc5 13. Bb4 Qe7 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15.
Qf3 Rc7 $5 (15... Re7 16. b4 $1 {/\} Qxb4 17. Nd3 Qxc4 18. Rfc1 Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1
O-O {Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Van Wely,L (2647)/Ledyards/2006/} 20. Ne5 $14) 16.
Rfc1 b5 17. Nd3 Qe7 18. Nce5 O-O 19. Rxc7 Qxc7 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. a3 Nd5 22. Qe4
Rd8 23. h4 h6 $44 {1/2,Pavlovic,M (2520)-Perunovic,M (2579)/Zlatibor/2008/
Here White's pressure compensates for the missing P, but not more than that.})
10... Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7 12. Rc1 Ne4 $5 (12... Bc5 13. b4 Be7 14. Be3 $5 O-O 15.
Bxd4 Bxb4 16. Bxb6 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Nbd7 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. Nd3 Be7 20. Nb6 Rb7 21.
Nc8 Ba3 22. Rc3 Bb2 23. Nxb2 Rxb2 {Van Wely,L (2625)-Robson,R (2455)/Moscow/
2009/} 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Rc8 $14) 13. Qc2 Nxd2 14. Nxd2 Bc5 15. b4 Bd6 16. Qe4
Rc7 17. Ndf3 O-O 18. Nxd4 Bxe5 19. Qxe5 Rd7 $1 20. e3 Rd5 21. Qc7 a5 22. bxa5
Rxa5 23. Qxd8 Rxd8 $11 {Tkachiev,V (2609)-Atalik,S (2560)/Moscow/2005/}) 9. O-O
O-O 10. Bd2 {[%cal Gg2b7,Gc4b6,Ge5c6] White's compensation is based on his
lead in development and << pressure. The text move is his most usual try, but
in Game 6 Anand came up with the almost unexplored} (10. Bg5 $5 h6 ({White's
idea is to prevent Black from closing the /^ h1-a8 with Nd5. Thus also} 10...
Nbd7 $5 {deserves attention, but White retains compensation after} 11. Rc1 $32)
11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Qa4 (13. Na5 Nd7 $11) 13... Nc6 14. Rac1 (14.
Bxc6 $5 bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 e5 17. Nxc8 Rfxc8 18. Qe4 Qe6 19. f4 $14)
14... e5 15. Bxc6 b5 $5 16. Qc2 ({Being a point up, Anand has no reason to go
for} 16. Bxb5 axb5 17. Qxb5 e4 $44) 16... Qxc6 17. Ncxe5 Qe4 18. Qc6 Bb7 19.
Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Rc2 Rfe8 21. Rfc1 f6 22. Nd7 Bf5 23. N7c5 Bb6 (23... Bxc5 $5 24.
Rxc5 Bxd3 25. exd3 Re2 26. R1c2 Rae8 27. Kf1 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Kf7 {/\} 29. Rc5 Re5
30. Rc6 Re6 31. Rc7+ Re7 $11) 24. Nb7 Bd7 25. Nf4 (25. Nd6 Re6 26. Nc8 $5 $14 {
is a typical computer suggestion, Anand makes a more human choice.}) 25... Rab8
26. Nd6 Re5 27. Nc8 Ba5 28. Nd3 Re8 29. Na7 Bb6 30. Nc6 Rb7 31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5
a4 33. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11 {Anand,V (2787)-Topalov,V (2805)/WCh Sofia (6)/2010/}) (
10. Qb3 Nd5 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. Nd3 b6 $5 13. Rac1 Rb8 14. Nxc5 bxc5 15. Qa3 Bb7
16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Ba5 Qg5 18. Bc7 Rb4 19. Bd6 Ra4 20. Qb3 Rb4 21. Qa3 Rc8 $5 22.
Nd2 Ra4 23. Qb3 Rb4 24. Qa3 Ra4 25. Qb3 Ra5 26. Nc4 Rb5 27. Qa3 Qd8 28. e3 {
1/2 Le Roux,J (2485)-Edouard,R (2597)/Nimes 2009/CBM 132 (41)} N5b6 $1 $36)
10... Nd5 ({It's too late for} 10... Ra7 $6 11. Ba5 $1 b6 12. b4 bxa5 13. bxc5
Rc7 14. Rb1 $36) (10... Nbd7 11. Nd3 $44 {/+/= causes Black more problems with
development.}) 11. Rc1 Nd7 (11... Qf6 $143 12. Nd3 Be7 $2 13. e4 $1 Nc7 14. Bf4
Nb5 15. e5 Qf5 16. Nb6 $18 {Gelfand,B (2703)-Aronian,L (2649)/Bastia rpd/ 2003/
}) (11... b5 $6 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 $36) (11... b6 12. Qb3 (12. Nd3 Be7 13. Qb3
Nd7 14. e4 dxe3 15. Nxe3 N7f6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Nf4 Bb7 18. Rfd1 Rc8 $11) (12.
e4 $5 dxe3 13. Bxe3 $44) 12... Nd7 13. Rfd1 a5 14. Qa4 Qc7 15. Bf4 Nxf4 16.
gxf4 Ra6 (16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 f6 $5 18. Nd3 Bb7 $11) 17. Qc6 Qa7 18. Qb5 Nb8
19. Na3 Qe7 20. Nc2 f6 21. Nd3 Bd7 22. Qc4 Ra7 23. Nxd4 $36 {Gustafsson,J 
(2614)-Berkes,F (2619)/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 12. Nd3 Ba7 ({After} 12... b6
{White has more than one way to retain his |^:} 13. Na5 (13. Nxc5 bxc5 14. b4
$5 {/\} Rb8 15. bxc5 Nxc5 16. Na5 Rb5 17. Nc6 Qb6 18. Nxd4 $14) 13... Qf6 (
13... Re8 14. Nc6 (14. Qa4 $5 $36 {/\Nc6}) 14... Qf6 15. b4 Bb7 16. Nxc5 (16.
Na5 $6 bxa5 17. bxc5 Bc6 18. Bxa5 e5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Nb4 Bc6 21. Bc7 a5 22.
Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Bd6 Nf6 {Kiss,P (2435)-Beliavsky,A (2645)/HUN-chT/1999/} 24. Rb1
$132) 16... bxc5 17. Na5 $14) 14. Nb3 $5 (14. b4 Bd6 15. Nc4 Bb8 16. e4 dxe3
17. Nxe3 Bb7 18. Qb3 Ne5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. a4 Rfd8
$17 {Kiss,P (2400)-Istratescu,A (2622)/HUN-chT/2005/}) 14... Rb8 15. Bxd5 exd5
16. Bf4 Rb7 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. Rc2 f6 19. h4 $1 $14 (19. Rfc1 g5 20. Nbxc5 bxc5
21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 Bg4 $132)) (12... Be7 13. Nf4 $1 Nxf4 14. Bxf4 Nb6 15.
Be5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. e3 $5 $32 {|^}) 13. Ba5 (13. Na5 N7f6 14. Qb3 Rb8 15.
Rc2 Bd7 16. Rfc1 Bb5 17. a4 Bxd3 18. exd3 Re8 $11 {/=/+,Vidit,S (2356)
-Venkatesh,M (2462)/Nagpur/2008/ forces White's N to retreat from a5 without
achieving anything concrete.}) (13. Qb3 {[%cal Yc1c2,Yf1c1] /\Rc2, Rfc1<->c}
Nc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Ba5 Qf6 $13) 13... Qe7 14. Qb3 Rb8 (14... h6 $5 {is
maybe more useful, than the text move. However, even here White has undeniable
compensation.}) 15. Qa3 $6 $146 {[%mdl 40] This shocking move initiates a
daring concept and was a product of longer thought. It clearly indicates
Anand's preparation was over and he was out on his own. However, it's hardly
the best choice.} ({As far as I know, this position has occurred only once in
previous practice and White played the straightforward} 15. Nce5 $5 Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 Qf6 (16... h6 $5 17. Nd3 Re8 $13) 17. Nd3 b6 $6 (17... Qf5 $142) 18. Bb4
Rd8 19. Bxd5 (19. Qa3 $5 e5 20. Bxd5 Rxd5 21. Rc7 $36) 19... Rxd5 20. Rc7 Bb7
$6 (20... Rd7 21. Qc2 Qd8 22. Rc1 $36) 21. Be7 Qf5 22. Rxb7 $1 (22. Qc2 $2 e5
23. Rc1 h6 24. Nb4 d3 $1 25. exd3 Rd7 $40 {Gulko,B (2559)-Shulman,Y (2606)/
USA-ch Tulsa/2008/}) 22... Rxb7 23. Qc4 Rc5 (23... Rb8 24. Qc7 $16) 24. Bxc5
bxc5 25. Qxa6 $14 (25. b4 $5 $36 {Grischuk,A (2756)-Khairullin,I (2617)
RUS-chT 17th 2010 (6) 1-0 This position reminds one of a recent game, in which
the blockading Nd3 also played a major and positive role, albeit in a
different Catalan line.})) ({Various annotators suggested alternatives such as
} 15. Rfd1 $44) (15. Rfe1 {[%cal Yg2d5,Yc4b6] /\Bd5,Nb6} b6 (15... b5 16. Nce5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bb7 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. Rxc6 Bb6 20. Bd2 $44) 16. Bb4 Nc5 $132) (15.
Rc2 $5 $44 {has the same idea of protecting e2. Here} b6 $6 16. Bb4 Nc5 {
runs into} (16... Nxb4 17. Qxb4 $5 $14) 17. Bxd5 Qd8 $1 (17... exd5 $2 18. Nxb6
$1 $16) 18. Qa3 Qxd5 19. Nxb6 Bxb6 20. Bxc5 Bb7 21. f3 $36) 15... Qxa3 16. bxa3
(16. Nxa3 $5 {was not Anand's intention, but objectively it's at least no
worse than the text move.}) 16... N7f6 $6 ({Topalov's reaction is not ideal,
after the universally recommended} 16... Nc5 17. Nd6 b6 $15 {it's White, who
is fighting for equality.} (17... Nxd3 18. exd3 b6 19. Nxc8 Rbxc8 20. Bxd5 exd5
21. Bb4 $11 {leads to a drawish _|_, the doubled extra P doesn't play a big
role.})) 17. Nce5 Re8 18. Rc2 b6 {Chases away the nagging Ba5, but restricts
the Ba7.} 19. Bd2 Bb7 20. Rfc1 Rbd8 21. f4 $44 {White controls the <->c and
the [+] and has again reasonable compensation. Objectively the situation is
roughly balanced, but Topalov still feels he should play for more than
equality with his extra P and gradually his position starts to deteriorate. In
the following phase Anand inconspicuously, but completely outplays his
opponent.} (21. a4 $44) 21... Bb8 (21... b5 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Bb6 24. Bf3
$44 {^^}) 22. a4 a5 ({Black still wants more than} 22... Rc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc6 Bc7 (25... Bd6 26. Nxd4 $11 {[%cal Re2e5] /+/=,/\e4-e5}) 26.
Nxd4 Bd7 27. e4 Ne7 28. Nb4 b5 29. axb5 (29. Nxa6 Bb6 $17) 29... Bb6 30. Bc3
Bxb5 $11) 23. Nc6 {Rules out the possibility of Ba6.} Bxc6 24. Rxc6 h5 {
Striving to keep the tension, Black starts to lose thread.} (24... e5 25. fxe5
Bxe5 26. R1c4 Nc3 27. Bxc3 (27. Bf3 Nd7 $15) 27... dxc3 28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Bf3
$11) (24... h6 $5 {was also more solid, than the text-move - here the h-pawn
won't be en prise.}) 25. R1c4 (25. Bf3 $5) 25... Ne3 $6 {Topalov is still
unable to hit the brakes and his position starts sliding downhill - now White
will be already better.} (25... Ng4 $5 26. Bf3 (26. Rxd4 $2 {already allows}
Ba7 $17) 26... e5 $132) ({Engines mostly suggest the ugly} 25... Ba7 $13 {
and this is also better, than the text move. Although it puts the B on a funny
square, it enables Ne7-f5, later Bb8 can follow once again.}) 26. Bxe3 dxe3 27.
Bf3 ({Anand feels his opponent's indecision and refrains from} 27. Rxb6 $5 $14
{/\} Rxd3 $6 28. exd3 e2 29. Rb1 Ba7+ 30. d4 $16) 27... g6 $6 {This rules out
e5.} (27... Rd6 28. Rxd6 Bxd6 29. Rc6 $14) (27... h4 $5 28. Rxb6 hxg3 (28... h3
{strives to create back-rank tactical chances, but after} 29. Rb5 e5 30. fxe5
Rxe5 31. Rc1 $5 $16 {White's << play is more dangerous.}) 29. hxg3 e5 30. fxe5
Nd7 $14 {/<=>}) (27... Nd7 28. Bxh5 g6 29. Bf3 f5 30. Kg2 $14) 28. Rxb6 Ba7 (
28... Re7 $142 $5 $14 {still holds on to the ><a5.}) 29. Rb3 $1 (29. Rb7 Rxd3
30. Rxa7 Rd2 31. Rcc7 Rf8 32. Rxa5 Nd5 $14 {/<=> Anand wants to take the P
under better circumstances.}) 29... Rd4 {Better tries were} (29... h4) ({or} 
29... Re7 $5) 30. Rc7 Bb8 31. Rc5 Bd6 (31... Rxa4 $2 32. Bc6 $18) 32. Rxa5 Rc8
33. Kg2 Rc2 34. a3 Ra2 $6 {This quickly loses by force.} (34... Kg7 35. Ra7 $16
{/+-}) ({The more resilient} 34... Nd5 $5 {was Black's last chance:} 35. Ra8+ (
35. Bxd5 Rxe2+ $1 (35... Rxd5 36. Rxd5 exd5 37. Kf3 Ra2 38. Nb4 $18) 36. Kf3
Rxh2 37. Kxe3 Rxd5 38. Rxd5 exd5 39. a5 Ra2 40. a6 Bxa3 41. a7 Bf8 42. Rb7 Ra4
$14) (35. Kh3 $16) 35... Kg7 36. a5 $16) 35. Nb4 $1 $18 {Now Black must either
take, or leave the <->a. In both cases the game is over.} Bxb4 (35... Ra1 $2
36. Nc2 $18) (35... Rxa3 $2 36. Rxa3 Bxb4 37. Ra8+ $18) (35... Rad2 36. Ra8+
Kg7 37. a5 $18 {is equally hopeless.}) 36. axb4 Nd5 37. b5 Raxa4 38. Rxa4 Rxa4
39. Bxd5 exd5 40. b6 Ra8 41. b7 Rb8 42. Kf3 d4 43. Ke4 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 {After an opening catastrophe in game one, Anand made his choice in
favour of a more solid Slav Defence.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5
6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 ({The main and much sharper line goes as follows:} 7... Bb4
8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+
14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 {and so on. White's king is not safe, but normally the
bishop is slightly superior to black's three extra pawns.}) 8. e4 Bg6 {Anand
is repeating the line that was employed also by Kramnik in the World
championship match in Elista 2006.} ({Another interesting line} 8... cxd4 9.
exf5 Bb4 10. Bxc4 dxc3 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {should be prepared carefully beforehand.
}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 {White has
an advantage in space and normally can torture his opponent for quite some
time in this endgame. Black's main problem is the Bg6 which is out of play.
However, Anand obviously came well prepared, and doesn't mind suffering a bit.
After all, Black doesn't have any weaknesses, but needs to be careful and
patient. The overall statistics reflects the objective evaluation of this
position: few wins for White, most of the games were drawn, zero wins for
Black.} a6 14. Rc1 {Topalov deviates from his game against Kramnik.} (14. Ke2
Rg8 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 19. Nb6 Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 21.
Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 Bc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115 (31)}) 14... Rg8 $1 $146 {A novelty, but the idea itself
isn't new. The rook protects the Pg7, so that the dark-squared bishop will be
developed.} (14... Rc8 15. Ne2 Bb4+ (15... Rg8 16. h4 h6 17. Kf2 Rc6 18. b4 $1
$16 {1-0 Gyimesi,Z (2610)-Bindrich,F (2512)/Germany 2008/CBM 124 (29)}) 16. Kf2
O-O 17. h4 h5 18. Nf4 Kh7 19. Rhd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Mareco,S (2526)-El Debs,F 
(2480)/Campinas BRA 2010/The Week in Chess 794 (26)}) 15. h4 h6 16. Ke2 {
I tend to think that this is not the best square for the king.} (16. Kf2 {
I suggest this as an improvement. This move seems to me more flexible, as in
some variations White can use the e2 square for one of his minor pieces. This
idea can be seen if Black follows the same plan as in the game. For instance:}
Bd6 17. h5 (17. Ne2 Ke7 18. h5 Bh7 19. Ba2 f6 20. Be3 Rgc8 $11) 17... Bh7 18.
a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. Be2 $1 Rgc8 21. Bc3 {Blocking the c-file and preparing
toexert pressure along the d-file.} Bg8 22. Rhd1 $16 Bf7 $140 $2 23. Rxd6 $1
Kxd6 24. Bb4+ Ke5 25. Ke3 $18 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf3f4] Obviously, Black's
defence can be improved along the way, but one thing is clear - this position
is not a piece of cake for the second player.}) 16... Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 $1
{Fixing the queenside, and at the same time provoking Anand to go for the pawn.
} Ke7 {Declining the challenge, just following the general plan of development.
} (18... Bb4 {Now White obviously wouldn't like to play 19.Ra1, but has to be
ready to sacrifice the pawn and play for an initiative. To my mind he has two
interesting options.} 19. Nb5 $5 (19. Na4 Bxa5 20. b4 (20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Bxc5
Bd8 22. Rhd1 {yields White sufficient compensation, but I fail to realse how
he can create any reasonable threat.}) 20... Bd8 21. b5 Bf6 22. Be3 Ke7 23.
Rhd1 Rgd8 24. Bd3 Rdc8 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. bxa6 bxa6 27. Bxa6 Rc2+ $11) 19...
axb5 20. Bxb5 {Here Black must be very careful.} Rxa5 $1 (20... Bxa5 $2 21. Bc5
$1 Rc8 22. Rhd1 Rc6 23. Ba3 $1 Ne5 24. Bd6 $1 f6 25. b4 Bd8 26. Bxe5 fxe5 27.
Bxc6+ bxc6 28. Rxc6 $18) (20... e5 $2 21. Bc5 $1 Bxc5 22. Rxc5 Ke7 23. Rc7 Rgd8
24. Rd1 Rxa5 25. Rdxd7+ Rxd7 26. Rxd7+ Kf6 27. Rxb7 $18) 21. Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.
Rhd1 Rb5 $1 (22... Ke7 $2 23. Rc7+ Ke8 24. Rxb7 Bc5 25. Rc1 Ra7 26. Rxa7 Bxa7
27. Bxa7 $18) 23. Bc5+ (23. Bb6+ $2 Ke7 $1 24. Rc7+ Kf6 25. Rxb7 Bc5 26. Bd8+
Rxd8 27. Rxb5 Bd4 $17) 23... Ke8 24. Bxb4 Rxb4 25. Rc7 Rxb2+ 26. Ke3 g6 27.
Rdd7 gxh5 28. Re7+ Kd8 29. Red7+ $11) 19. Na4 f6 20. b4 $1 Rgc8 (20... Bxb4 $6
{would have been risky as it opens too many lines for White's pieces.} 21. Rb1
Bxa5 22. Rxb7 Rgb8 23. Bc5+ Ke8 24. Rxb8+ Rxb8 25. Bd6 Rc8 26. Bxe6 Rc2+ 27.
Ke3 $14) 21. Bc5 (21. Nc5 Bxc5 (21... Nxc5 $6 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Bxe6 $1 Kxe6
24. Bxc5 {In spite of the opposite coloured bishops, White keeps winning
chances here as soon as rooks are on the board.}) 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. Ba2 Nd7 {
White has a certain compensation for the pawn, but not more than that.}) 21...
Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 {The safest.} (22... Rc6 $6 23. Rhd1 Rac8 (23... Nxc5 24. Bd5
exd5 25. exd5 Nxa4 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. Rxc6 {is bad for Black since his pieces
are discoordinated.}) 24. Rxd7+ $1 Kxd7 25. Nb6+ Rxb6 26. cxb6 Bg8 27. e5 $1
fxe5 28. Rd1+ Ke7 29. Bd3 Rc5 30. Be4 Rxa5 31. Rc1 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Yg8][%cal
Gc1c7]}) 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 (24. Bd5 $5 {is interesting from the aesthetic
point of view, but brings White nothing.} Ne5 (24... Nxc5 $6 25. Bxb7 $1 $14)
25. f4 Nd3 $1 26. Kxd3 exd5 27. f5 dxe4+ 28. Kxe4 Ke8 $1 29. g4 Re7+ 30. Kf4
Rd4+ 31. Kf3 Rd3+ $11) 24... Rdxd7 {Black has solved his problems. All he
needs to do is to bring the dreaming bishop into the game.} 25. Bd3 Bg8 {
Anand just follows his plan.} (25... f5 $1 {was a good alternative.} 26. c6
Rxc6 27. Rxc6 bxc6 28. Rb1 fxe4 29. fxe4 Rd4 30. Rb7+ Kf8 (30... Kf6 $4 31. e5+
Kxe5 32. Bxh7 $18) 31. Ke3 Ra4 32. Rb8+ Kf7 {Now White must give a perpetual
check, as he can't go for the bishop:} 33. Rh8 $2 Rxa5 34. Rxh7 Kg8 $19 {
[%csl Rh7]}) 26. c6 {Trying to get to the Pa6.} Rd6 $1 (26... bxc6 27. Rc5 $14
{[%csl Ra6][%cal Gh1b1,Gb1b6]}) 27. cxb7 Rxb7 28. Rc3 Bf7 29. Ke3 (29. Rhc1 {
was pointed out by some annotators as an improvement, but I doubt whether
White has real winning chances here. For instance:} Bxh5 (29... Be8 30. Rc7+
Rd7 31. Rxb7 Rxb7 32. Bxa6 Ra7 $11) 30. Rc7+ Rxc7 31. Rxc7+ Rd7 32. Rc8 (32.
Rxd7+ Kxd7 33. Bxa6 Kc6 34. Ke3 e5 $11) 32... Ra7 33. Rg8 g5 34. Rb8 Be8 35.
Rb6 Bd7 36. Rxa6 Rxa6 37. Bxa6 Kd6 $11) 29... Be8 30. g4 e5 31. Rhc1 Bd7 32.
Rc5 Bb5 $1 {The most direct way to solve Black's last problem - the Pa6. The
exchange of bishops leads to a drawish double rook ending.} 33. Bxb5 axb5 34.
Rb1 (34. Rc7+ Rd7 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. Kd3 Rd7+ $11) 34... b4 35. Rb3 Ra6 36. Kd3
Rba7 37. Rxb4 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Rxa5 {Since Topalov decided not to offer or accept
draws, the only way is to force the three move repetition. Therefore, the game
continued a bit more.} 39. Rb7+ Kf8 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43.
Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 {[%mdl 256]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ {Topalov wisely deviates
from the variation that had led him to defeat in the previous game with Black.
Eperienced match players from the past took this as a golden rule. Even if the
position itself had been ok, it is better to avoid unpleasant memories. One
famous example about what can happen in the contrary case is the Candidates'
match between Spassky and Geller in 1968. The latter stubbornly played the
same line against the Closed Sicilian and lost the first 3 games with Black.
When he decided to operate a change, it was too late already: the match was
basically lost.} 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 (7. Nc3 $5 O-O 8. a3 (8. Bg5 {Gelfand,B 
(2758)-Kramnik,V (2772)/Moscow 2009/CBM 133/[Marin,M] (1/2, 81)}) 8... Be7 {
0-1 Carlsen,M (2810)-Kramnik,V (2788)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135/[Marin,M] (38)}
) (7. O-O $5 O-O 8. Bg5 {Ivanchuk,V (2740)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Foros 2008/CBM
125/[Marin,M] (1-0, 53)}) 7... Bxd2+ (7... Ra6 $5 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V
(2611)/Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 {Previously to
this game, the text move was considered as a preliminary step to the queen's
activation to g5. As we will see, Anand will go a bit further with the
abstract understanding of this position.} c6 9. a4 b5 10. Na3 $5 $146 ({
Deviating from} 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V (2813)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 75).  ***It appears that Anand considered
8.Qxd2 as the start of a general redistributing of forces. The knight is
employed for putting pressure on b5 and c4, while the queen will set up
pressure along the d-file (after 0-0 and Rfd1), maintaining the threat of Qg5
in reserve. Apart from being objectively strong, his novelty has the practical
advantage of leaving Black with a rather narrow choice, resulting in a
relative ease of predicting the next few moves during home analysis.}) 10...
Bd7 {There is nothing better than this awkward move, which places the bishop
in the way of its colleagues.} (10... Ba6 {leaves the c6-square vulnerable,
allowing} 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. axb5 $16 {White retrieves the pawn,
maintaining the better structure and a strong bishop.}) 11. Ne5 Nd5 {This is a
first critical moment. The knight move looks natural, but causes a big loss of
time, allowing White increase his domination in the centre. Besides, the
kingside defence is weakened, which will prove a decisive factor in the end.
Black had two other ways of removing the pin along the long diagonal.} (11...
Ra7 $6 12. axb5 cxb5 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qg5 {(We can see that White did not
give up the idea of the queen incursion completely; he only kept it in reserve
for a favourable moment!)} O-O 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Rd1 Qg4 {(Sadly, the only
available square for the queen, leaving the left wing vulnerable.)} 17. Nxc4
$16 {Black will lose the a5-pawn, while his poor coordination prevents him
from getting enough counterplay.}) (11... Ra6 12. O-O (12. axb5 cxb5 13. Nxd7
Qxd7 14. Qg5 O-O 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Nxc4 ({With the rook on a6,} 16. Rd1 {
is ineffective because of} Qb6 $1 {with complete simpilifications and a
probable draw after} 17. Qxb6 Rxb6 18. Nxc4 Rb4 19. Nxa5 Rxb2 $11) 16... Ne4 {
[%cal Ge4d6] (Hitting f2 and threatening to exchange the active white knight
with ...Nd6, which would more or less equalise.)} 17. e3 Qc5 18. Qxc5 Nxc5 {
. The a5-pawn is indirectly defended because of ...Nd3+ followed by ...Nxb2,
while otherwise Black seems more or less OK.}) 12... O-O 13. Rfd1 Be8 14. Rac1
$44 {Black is in no immediate danger yet, but it is far from clear, how he
will get to complete his development.}) 12. e4 Nb4 {The evaluation of this
move depends on the depth of the examination. Optically speaking, this looks
like a great square for the knight. Practically, it does not do much, failing
to defend Black's own pawn chain or put pressure on a4, in order to force the
releasing of the tension. Concrete analysis proves that Black could not play
the more desirable moves, though:} (12... Nb6 {attacks a4, more or less forcing
} 13. axb5 {, but this works out well for White because the knight is
vulnerable on b6:} cxb5 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Qg5 Qxd4 (15... O-O {is relatively
better, with just a bad position after} 16. Qxb5 {, when} Qxd4 $2 {drops a
piece to} 17. Rd1 $18) 16. Rd1 Qf6 17. Qxb5+ N8d7 (17... N6d7 {loses a rook to}
18. e5 $18) 18. Nxc4 $18 {and one of the knights will be lost.}) ({***} 12...
Nc7 {would be a good consolidating move if Black could get castled in time, but
} 13. d5 $16 {In case of general exchanges, the f7-square and the a8-rook
would be forked by the queen. After the text move, the possibility of ...Nd3+
forces White to get castled before initiating active operations, but, as
mentioned before, the long term effects of the knight's presence on b4 are
unfavourable for Black.}) 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfd1 {White has completed his
development and all his pieces are placed on optimal squares. One may argue
that the queen's rook and knight could desire a better fate, but their latent
pressure against the b5-pawn and along the a-file is quite useful.
Anticipating a bit, it will not take long before these pieces will emerge into
play very effectively.} Be8 {Black evacuates the d-file anticipating the
central break.} (14... N8a6 $6 15. d5 $16) (14... Qe7 $5 15. Qe3 {renewing the
threat of d5.} Be8 16. d5 f6 (16... Qd6 17. Nxc6 N8xc6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. axb5
$16) 17. dxc6 (17. Nxc6 N8xc6 18. dxc6 bxa4 19. e5 $14) 17... fxe5 18. axb5
Bxc6 19. bxc6 N8xc6 20. Rac1 Nd4 21. Nxc4 $14 {Black's knights stand actively,
but they are not 100% stable, because both the a5 and the e5 pawns are weak.})
15. d5 $1 Qd6 (15... Qb6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Bh3 $44) (15... f6 16. dxc6 (16. Ng4
$36) 16... Qxd2 17. Rxd2 fxe5 18. axb5 Bxc6 19. bxc6 N8xc6 20. Nxc4 $14) 16.
Ng4 {[%cal Ge4e5]} (16. dxc6 $5 {also looks strong:} Qxe5 17. axb5 {Black's
queenside is paralysed and Black has to return the piece, but this will not
even the chances.} Bxc6 18. bxc6 N8xc6 19. Nxc4 Qc5 20. Qc3 {White has the
same kind of domination as at a later stage in the game. The a5-pawn is
vulnerable and the threat of e4-e5 followed by the occupation of the d6-square
quite annoying. In case of} e5 21. Rd7 $16 {, Black cannot fight for the
d-file with the help of the rooks, because this would cost him the a5-pawn.})
16... Qc5 17. Ne3 {The knight has reached a stable square, from where it
consolidates White's control over the d5-square and increases the pressure
against the c4-pawn.} N8a6 {Finally, Black has started developing. However,
this is not done in the optimal way. The knight would be so much more useful
closer to the d4-square, while on the edge of the board it is passive and
causes difficulties with keeping a5 well defended.} 18. dxc6 bxa4 {Black's
extra pawn on the a-file will not be too threatening in the middlegame, but
Topalov probably wanted to shield his other a-pawn with its colleague.} ({After
} 18... Bxc6 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Naxc4 Bxc4 21. Rac1 $16 {The a5-pawn would be
more vulnerable, but Black would have exchanged one pair of minor pieces. All
in all, the objective evaluation of the position would remain the same.}) 19.
Naxc4 Bxc6 20. Rac1 {[%cal Gc4d6,Ge4e5,Ge3g4,Gd2g5]} h6 {[%csl Gg5]} (20... Qe7
{would hardly be a solution because of} 21. Nxa5 $16 {retrieving the pawn and
questioning Black's queenside stability.}) ({***In the event of a neutral move
such as} 20... Rab8 {(it should be mentioned that there are not too many of
this kind available), White could play} 21. Nd6 Qa7 22. Ng4 {threatening Qg5
followed by e5 with attack.} f6 {would weaken the e6-square and can be met with
} 23. Bf1 $16 {followed by Bc4. Play would have acquired different contours
than in the game, but the essence would have remained the same.}) 21. Nd6 Qa7 {
[%csl Ga7,Gg8]} (21... Qh5 22. f4 $16 {[%csl Gh5]}) 22. Ng4 $1 {[%cal Gg4h6]}
Rad8 (22... f6 {[%csl Gg7][%cal Ga7g7]} 23. e5 $1 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 f5 25. Nxh6+ $1
gxh6 26. Qxh6 Qe7 27. Rc4 $40 {With his e6-pawn weak and Rh4 coming, Black is
in deep trouble.}) ({Speelman} 22... Nc5 23. Rc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc5,Rc6][%cal
Ge4e5,Gg4h6]} (23. Nxh6+ $6 gxh6 24. Qxh6 Ncd3 $132)) 23. Nxh6+ $1 $18 gxh6 24.
Qxh6 {[%cal Ge4e5,Gc1c4,Gc4g4]} f6 (24... Qe7 25. e5 Bxg2 26. Rd4 $18) 25. e5
$1 Bxg2 26. exf6 {[%cal Gh6g6,Gf6f7]} Rxd6 (26... Bf3 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. f7 $18)
(26... Qh7 {can be met by} 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Rc4 {threatening Rh4, when} Rg8 29.
Nf7+ $1 {leads to mate.}) 27. Rxd6 Be4 (27... Bd5 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Rc4 Bxc4 30.
Rd4 $18 {In this line, White has preserved precisely the necessary amount of
pieces for a win. Black cannot prevent mate on h7 or g7 at the same time.}) 28.
Rxe6 {[%cal Ge6e7]} Nd3 {[%csl Ga6,Ge4]} 29. Rc2 Qh7 30. f7+ $5 Qxf7 (30...
Rxf7 31. Re8+ {leads to mate.}) 31. Rxe4 {The material balance is more or less
even, but Black's king remains desperately weak and the general coordination
is very poor.} Qf5 (31... Nxf2 32. Rf4 {[%csl Gf2]}) 32. Re7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 {As it seen
many times in previous World Championship matches, the theoretical discussion
continues. Topalov makes a second attempt to crack this line.} a6 14. Rc1 Rg8
15. h4 h5 $5 $146 {Once again Anand makes a new move before Topalov gets a
chance to show what he has prepared against Anand's choice in game three.
Compared to 15...h6, here Black's light-squared has a bit more space as it
won't be driven away by h4-h5. On the other hand, Ph5 might become a target.
My personal feeling is that 15...h6 is more precise.} ({In game three there
followed:} 15... h6 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. b4 Rgc8
21. Bc5 Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 Rdxd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V 
(2805)-Anand,V (2787)/Sofia BUL 2010/The Week in Chess 808 (46)}) 16. Ne2 $1 {
Topalov reacts accordingly. After 15...h5 this manoeuvre makes sense, - the
knight is heading to f4.} (16. O-O Bd6 17. f4 Rc8 18. Ba2 Ke7 19. f5 Bh7 $11) (
{The same plan as in game three won't yield White anything:} 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. a5
Ke7 18. Na4 f6 $11 {and the bishop returns into play via f7. The same would
occur in the event of 16.Kf2.}) 16... Bd6 (16... Bc5 $6 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. Nf4
Rc8 (18... Nxa4 $2 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Bxe6 $18) 19. Ke2 Ke7 20. a5 Kf6 21. Rhd1
$16 {is exactly what White is striving for. Black's bishop is stuck on g6
since it has to protect the Ph5. Meanwhile, White is going to develop his play
on the queenside.}) 17. Be3 {At this point there was an electricity cut in the
playing venue. The game was stopped and resumed in about 15 minutes when the
electricity came back. It seems that this incident didn't affect both players
much.} Ne5 18. Nf4 Rc8 {Black should keep the knight on e5 to protect the Bg6.}
(18... Nxc4 $6 19. Rxc4 b5 20. Rc2 Bxf4 {Otherwise the exchange on g6 will
ruin Black's structure.} 21. Bxf4 bxa4 22. Kf2 f6 23. Bd6 {[%cal Gh1a1,Ga1a4,
Gc2c7] White is clearly better. Black's rooks lack coordination.}) 19. Bb3
Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Ke7 ({Black is not in time to cover the Pe6 and bring his
light-squared bishop into a play:} 20... Kd7 21. Ke2 Re8 22. Rd1 $16 f6 $2 {
[%cal Gg6f7]} 23. Be3 $18 {[%cal Ge3c5]}) 21. Ke2 Rc8 22. Bd2 $2 {A natural
move, but it allows the trick that now follows.} (22. Rd1 $1 Rc6 {[%cal Gc6b6]}
(22... Bb4 23. Be3 $16 {[%cal Ge3d4]}) (22... Bc5 23. Bd2 $16 {[%cal Gd2c3]})
23. Be3 Bc5 24. Bd2 $1 f6 (24... Rb6 25. Bc3 $1 Nxf3 (25... Rxb3 26. Bxe5 Bxe4
27. fxe4 Re3+ 28. Kf1 Rxe4 29. Nd3 $16) (25... Bd6 26. Ba2 $16) 26. Bxe6 $1
Rxe6 27. Nxe6 Ng1+ 28. Kf1 Kxe6 (28... fxe6 29. Bd4 $18 {[%csl Rg1]}) 29. Rd5
Ba7 30. Bd4 $18 {[%csl Rg1]}) 25. Bxe6 $1 Rxe6 26. Nxe6 Kxe6 27. f4 Bxe4 28.
fxe5 Kxe5 29. Be3 {I believe Black can still hold this position with tenacious
defence, but it would be an unpleasant task for Anand.}) {[%tqu "En","How can
Black equalise?","","","f7f6","This strong move solves black's problems. The
Pe6 can't really be captured and Anand is bringing his light-squared bishop
into play.",10]} 22... f6 $1 {This strong move solves Black's problems. The
Pe6 can't really be captured and Anand is bringing his light-squared bishop
into play.} 23. Nxg6+ {White must grab the bishop, otherwise after 23...Bf7 he
can forget about any advantage.} (23. Nxe6 Bf7 24. Nd4 Bxb3 25. Nxb3 Rc2 26. f4
(26. Rb1 Nc4 27. Kd3 Rxb2 $15) 26... Ng4 27. Rb1 Rc4 28. Kf3 Rxa4 {Black is at
least not worse.}) (23. Bxe6 Rc2 24. Rb1 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Bxf4 26. Rd1 Bxd2 (26...
Rxb2 27. Kd3 Rxd2+ 28. Rxd2 Bxd2 29. Kxd2 $11) 27. Bd3 Rxb2 28. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 29.
Kxd2 a5 $11) 23... Nxg6 24. g3 Ne5 (24... Bxg3 $2 25. Rg1 Nf4+ 26. Kf1 Bh2 27.
Rxg7+ Kd6 28. Rxb7 $18) 25. f4 Nc6 $11 26. Bc3 Bb4 {The exchange of bishops
favours Black.} 27. Bxb4+ Nxb4 28. Rd1 Nc6 29. Rd2 g5 (29... Na5 30. Rc2 Rd8 {
[%cal Gd8d4]} 31. Rc7+ Kd6 32. Rc3 Nxb3 33. Rxb3 Kc7 $11) 30. Kf2 (30. hxg5
fxg5 31. e5 {[%csl Re6][%cal Gd2d6]} h4 32. Rd6 hxg3 33. fxg5 (33. Rxe6+ $6 Kd7
34. Rd6+ Kc7 35. fxg5 Re8 36. Kf1 Rxe5 $15) 33... Rf8 34. Rxe6+ Kd7 35. Rd6+
Ke7 (35... Kc7 $2 36. Rf6 $1 $16) 36. Re6+ Kd7 $11) 30... g4 {Not the only
option, but it makes sense to fix the Pg3 as a potential target.} 31. Rc2 Rd8
32. Ke3 Rd6 33. Rc5 Nb4 {Black's tandem of rook + knight creates sufficient
counterthreats, so White doesn't have time to capture the Ph5.} 34. Rc7+ Kd8
35. Rc3 Ke7 36. e5 Rd7 37. exf6+ Kxf6 38. Ke2 Nc6 39. Ke1 {A slightly strange
manoeuvre of the king from e3 to e1, but it doesn't change the estimation of
the position as equal.} Nd4 40. Bd1 a5 41. Rc5 Nf5 42. Rc3 Nd4 43. Rc5 Nf5 44.
Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 {Anand repeats the
line, which brought him success in Game 2. The notes to that game also contain
a more comprehensive coverage of the opening phase.} c5 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Naxc4
Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 $5 {[%mdl 32] The first minor surprise, but on the
whole a part of Anand's strategy - he is the first one to deviate despite the
successful outcome of the previous encounter (this tendency was seen also in
the Slav - games 3,5, and 8). Such an approach makes it more difficult for the
opponent to focus his preparation. The strategic idea behind the text move is
to increase White's << pressure by preventing Nd5.} ({Game 2 went} 10. Bd2 Nd5
11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 Qe7 14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Qa3 $6 Qxa3 16. bxa3 {
Anand,V (2787)-Topalov,V (2805)/WCh Sofia/2010/} Nc5 17. Nd6 b6 $15) 10... h6 {
Topalov didn't think too long about this natural reaction.} (10... Nbd7 11. Rc1
$5 $44 (11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. b4 Ba7 14. Qc1 Qe7 15. Qh6 Rb8 16. Rac1
$13)) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 $146 {[%mdl 8] Played almost immediately by Topalov, but
in fact this natural recapture is a novelty.} (11... gxf6 12. Nd3 Be7 13. Qd2
Kh7 (13... Kg7 {seems more natural, but Black probably didn't want to reckon
with ideas as} 14. Nf4 $5 {/\Nh5}) 14. Rac1 Ra7 15. Qf4 (15. Na5 $5 b6 16. Nb3
e5 17. f4 $44 {|^}) (15. b4 b6 16. a4 $44) 15... Nc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qe4+ f5
{[%csl Re5]} ({><e5} 17... Kg7 $142 18. Qxc6 Rc7 19. Qa4 e5 $5 $132) 18. Qxc6
Rc7 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Na5 Ba8 (20... Be4 $5 $14) 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Rc1 Qd6 23.
Nc6 Bg5 24. f4 Bf6 {Raetsky,A (2399)-Panchanathan,M (2441)/Biel/2004/} 25. Qxa6
Qd5 26. b4 $16 {In our game we will later see a similar distribution of
material and a fight of the ^^ against NN.}) 12. Nd3 Ba7 (12... Be7 $6 13. Nb6
Ra7 {[%csl Ra7] צa7} 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Rc7 $36 (15. f4 $5 Bc6 16. Ne5 $44)) (
12... Qe7 13. Rc1 Ba7 (13... Nc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Na5 $14) 14. Na5 Bb6 15. Qd2
{[%cal Gc1c8] Here it's difficult for Black to unravel his forces, White
intends to double on the <->c. The natural} e5 {invites a tactical solution}
16. Nc4 Bc7 17. Ndxe5 $5 Bxe5 18. Nb6 Nc6 19. Nxa8 Qd8 20. Rc5 Bd6 21. Rd5 Be6
22. Nb6 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 $14 {/<=>}) 13. Qa4 {Anand played this almost instantly
- he proceeds to pile up his pressure.} ({The more straightforward} 13. Na5 {
practically wins the P back immediately, but after} Nd7 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7
Rab8 {[%csl Ga7,Gb7];Beliavsky,A (2619)-Pavasovic,D (2597) HUN-chT 0809 2008 
(2) 1-0 Black eases his task by simplification. While ^- do not always mean
full equality in the Catalan, achieving the model situation as in} {is far
from simple. After} 16. Bg2 (16. Bxa6 $6 e5 {[%cal Rf6a6,Re5e4,Rb8b2] /\e4,
Rb2|^}) 16... Ne5 (16... Rfc8 $143 17. b4 $1 Ne5 18. Qa4 $36) 17. Rb1 a5 $5
$132 {the position is approximately balanced.}) 13... Nc6 {Even now Black
prefers to return material.} (13... b5 $2 {fails tactically to} 14. Qb4 bxc4
15. Qxc4 Nd7 16. Bxa8 Nb6 17. Qc7 $18) (13... Bd7 $6 14. Qb3 Bc6 15. Bxc6 Nxc6
16. Qxb7 e5 17. Nd2 $1 (17. f3 Rfb8 18. Qxa6 $2 Bc5) 17... a5 18. Rac1 $36 {
gives White an ideal position and justifies his opening idea.}) (13... Qe7 {
deserves more attention:} 14. Na5 $5 (14. Rac1 Nd7 $13) (14. Qb4 Nc6 $5 (14...
Qxb4 15. Nxb4 a5 16. Nd3 a4 17. Rac1 $44) 15. Bxc6 Qxb4 16. Nxb4 bxc6 17. Nxc6
f6 $132) 14... Bb6 15. Rac1 $44 {/\} Bd7 $6 16. Qb3 $36) (13... Nd7 14. Qb4 e5
15. Rac1 $44 {and again it's difficult for Black to unravel without
concessions.}) 14. Rac1 {Again in the spirit of the previous move White spurns
material.} ({However,} 14. Bxc6 $5 {is an interesting alternative. Although
after} bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 (16. Rac1 $5 Bb7 17. Qa4 {[%cal Yc4a5,Ya5c6] /
\Na5-c6 is perhaps more promising.}) 16... e5 17. Nxc8 Rfxc8 18. Qe4 Qe6 19. f4
(19. b4 $6 Re8 20. g4 Rbc8 $15) 19... exf4 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. Rxf4 $14 {
Grischuk,A (2756)-Khairullin,I (2617) RUS-chT 17th 2010 (6) 1-0 /<=> White's N
is the better minor piece, it's still a far cry from} (21. gxf4 Rc2 22. Kf2 Kf7
$132)) (14. Rfc1 {is another plausible idea - we will mention this later on.})
14... e5 {Black also insists on freeing himself, other moves seem weaker:} (
14... b5 $6 15. Qa3 $1 bxc4 16. Rxc4 $36 {advantageously regains the piece.}) (
14... Rb8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nce5 $14) (14... Bd7 15. Nd6 Ne5 16. Qa3 Bc6 17.
Nxb7 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 $14 {[%csl Ra7,Gb7] |^ and once again White will remain
with a superior N against ץa7.}) 15. Bxc6 {Here already White has practically
no choice.} b5 $5 {The point of the previous move.} ({After the docile} 15...
bxc6 $6 16. Ncxe5 $14 {/+/- White will soon win another P.}) 16. Qc2 ({Anand
was still playing quite fast and rejects the double-edged} 16. Bxb5 axb5 17.
Qxb5 e4 18. Nf4 d3 $5 (18... Ba6 19. Qd5 g5 20. Nh5 Qg6 21. g4 Qe6 $5 22. Qxe6
fxe6 $44) 19. exd3 Ba6 $44 {Landa}) 16... Qxc6 17. Ncxe5 {[%csl Ga7,Gc8,Gd3,
Ge5] White has regained the P, giving rise to the aforementioned interesting
NN:^^ position. Black is forced to swap Q (otherwise he would have serious ->
chances) and his P (d4,<<) are rather vulnerable. However, White has a
weakness of his own on e2 and while his N are currently very active, the
potential of the ^^ can't be underestimated. All in all, at the very best
White can be only microscopically better.} Qe4 {[%cal Rc8h3] /\Bh3} (17... Qxc2
$143 18. Rxc2 Bf5 {gives White a slightly better version of the game position.
Other Q-retreats also allow Qc6 under more favourable circumstances.}) (17...
Qe6 18. Qc6 $14) (17... Qb7 18. Qc6 Qb8 $6 {is too artificial:} 19. Nd7 $16) (
17... Qd5 18. Qc6 (18. Qc7 $5) (18. Nc6 Re8 19. Nf4 Qd6 $5 $132) 18... Bb7 19.
Qxd5 Bxd5 {is similar to the game.}) 18. Qc6 Bb7 (18... Bf5 19. Qxe4 (19. Rfe1
Rfe8 {is hardly an improvement.}) 19... Bxe4 {-18...Bb7}) 19. Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Rc2
({Rybka here gives the unforced, but pretty line} 20. Nd7 Rfe8 21. Rc7 Bf5 22.
Rfc1 Rxe2 23. Rxa7 $1 Rxa7 24. Rc8+ Kh7 25. Nf8+ Kg8 26. Nd7+ $11 {, but White
prefers to keep the tension. Here it's time to recall 14.Rfc1 - if White's R
would be now on a1 instead of f1, he could consider developing his initiative
with 20.a4!?}) 20... Rfe8 {[%cal Re8e5] /\Re5} ({Black naturally seeks
counterattacking options, as he can't fight for the <->c:} 20... Rac8 21. Rfc1
Bf5 $4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Nc6 Bg4 25. f3 $18) 21. Rfc1 f6 {
Chases away the active Ne5, but slightly weakens Black's position. The text
move was by no means forced, there was a number of plausible alternatives:} (
21... Bf5) (21... a5) (21... Bd5) (21... Bb6 $5 $132 {/\Bd8-f6 All these moves
lead to a balanced position.}) 22. Nd7 {Heads for c5 and starts the N carousel.
} ({More ambitious seems to be} 22. Nc6 Bb6 23. a4 $5 (23. Kf1 a5 24. a4 $6 b4
$36 {[%cal Ye4d5,Yd5b3] Shipov; /\Bd5-b3}) 23... bxa4 (23... Kf7 24. a5 Bc7 25.
Kf1 (25. b4 Bd6 $132) 25... h5 26. Ra1 Rec8 (26... h4 $5 27. Nxd4 Bd6 $44) 27.
f3 Bf5 28. Rac1 $14) 24. Rc4 {[%cal Yc4b4,Yb4a4] /\Ra4, Rb4} a5 25. Rxa4 Bf5 $5
$132 (25... Kh7 26. b4 $5 Rac8 (26... axb4 27. Rxb4 Bxc6 28. Rxc6 Ba5 29. Rb7
Rxe2 30. Rxf6 $14) 27. Nxa5 Rc3 $44)) 22... Bf5 ({Simpler was} 22... Re7 23.
N7c5 (23. Rc7 $2 Kf7 24. N3c5 Bf5 $17 {[%csl Rc5,Rd7]}) 23... Bxc5 24. Rxc5
Rae8 $11 {, but Topalov treasures his ^^ and also wants to keep the game going.
}) 23. N7c5 Bb6 {An ambitious continuation, which however doesn't seriously
disturb the balance.} ({In the spirit of his previous move, Black spurns} 23...
Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Bxd3 25. exd3 Re2 26. R5c2 Rae8 27. Kf1 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Kf7 {
Black is prepared to oppose White's R on all the squares from c5 to c8:} 29.
Rc5 Re5 30. Rc6 Re6 31. Rc7+ Re7 32. Rc8 Re8 $11 {White has no clear way to
improve his position - his K can't pass the <->e and moving the Pf2 weakens e3.
}) 24. Nb7 $5 {[%cal Rb7d6,Yc2c6] /\Nd6,Rc6 White avoids simplification and 
(for the time being) finds a way to continue the fight.} Bd7 (24... Re6 $2 25.
Rc6 $1 Ra7 26. Rxe6 Bxe6 27. Rc6 Rxb7 28. Rxe6 $14 {/+/- and in this _|_ White
can torture his opponent endlessly - Black exchanged the wrong B.}) ({
Interesting was} 24... Bg4 25. f3 Bf5 $5 (25... Bd7 26. Kf2 Re3 27. Nd6 $14)
26. Rc6 (26. Nd6 Bxd3 27. exd3 Re3 28. Rc6 Ba5) 26... Rxe2 27. Nf4 Rxb2 28.
Rxb6 Rb8 29. Nd5 Kh7 30. a4 d3 $44 {<=>}) (24... Rxe2 $2 25. Rxe2 Bxd3 26. Re6
$18) (24... Rac8 25. Nd6 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Bxd3 $8 27. exd3 Re6 28. Rc8+ (28. Rc6
$2 Bd8 29. f4 f5 $1 {[%cal Rg8h7,Rd8e7] /\Kh7,Be7}) 28... Kh7 29. Nf5 g6 30.
Nh4 $14 {|^}) 25. Nf4 {Anand plays it safe.} ({Over the board it's difficult
to decide for the computer-like sortie} 25. Nd6 Re6 26. Nc8 $1 Bd8 27. Rc5 (27.
Kf1 $5 $14 {/\Rc5}) 27... Re8 (27... Kf8 $2 28. Nf4 $1 Re8 29. Nd6 $18 {
[%csl Re8] traps the R.}) (27... Be7 28. Rc7 $16) 28. R1c2 $14 {and the Nc8
cramps Black and limits his options.}) 25... Rab8 ({Chasing away the N without
exchanges, but simpler was} 25... Rac8 $142 $1 {and Black is fine:} 26. Nd6
$142 (26. Nd5 Rxc2 27. Rxc2 d3 (27... Bh3 28. Rd2 (28. Nxb6 $2 d3) 28... Ba7
29. Nf4 Bd7 $13) (27... Ba7 28. Rc7 Bh3 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Ng6+ Kg8 31. Ne7+ $11)
28. exd3 Bh3 29. Ne3 (29. Rc1 Bd4 30. Nf4 Bg4 31. Kg2 g5 $36) 29... Bxe3 30.
fxe3 Rxe3 31. Nc5 Rf3 32. Rf2 Re3 33. Rc2 $11) 26... Rxc2 27. Rxc2 Re5 $132)
26. Nd6 (26. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 (26... Bc8 27. Rd2 Rd8 28. Nfe6 $36) (26... Bf5 27.
Nxa6 $1 Ra8 28. Nc7 Bxc7 29. Rxc7 Re5 (29... Rxa2 30. Nh5 $40) 30. Rd1 $5 $14)
27. Rxc5 g5 28. Nd5 $1 Kf7 29. R1c2 $14 (29. Kf1 Kg6 30. f3 Re5 31. Nb4 $14))
26... Re5 27. Nc8 {There was no need to hurry with this.} (27. h4 g5 28. Nd3
Re6 29. Nf5 Ree8 $5 30. Nd6 Re6 $11) ({Perhaps the most promising was} 27. Nd3
$5 Re6 28. Nc8 Re8 $5 (28... Ba5 29. b4 Bd8 30. Rc5 $14 {[%cal Rc5d5] /\Rd5 is
similar to the 25.Nd6 line above.}) 29. Nxb6 Rxb6 30. Rc7 Rd6 31. R1c2 $14) ({
Landa suggests} 27. h3 {/\} g5 28. Nd3 Re6 29. Nf5 h5 30. g4 {, gaining an
outpost for the N.}) 27... Ba5 $1 (27... Bd8 28. Na7 $1 {[%cal Ga7c6] /\Nc6+/=
simplifies the position in White's favour.}) 28. Nd3 (28. Na7 $2 {is not good
any more due to} Rbe8 $1 $36 {/\} 29. Nc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 Bd2 $1 $17) 28... Re8 {
The Nc8 understandably makes Black nervous.} (28... Re6 $143 29. b4 Bd8 30. Rc5
$14 {-27.Nd3 transposes to a line, pleasant for White.}) 29. Na7 {The N
continues its dance, but after the tex t-move White's slight pressure
dissipates.} ({Shipov recommends the more ambitious} 29. Nd6 Re6 30. Nf5 Bb6
31. h4 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Yh4h5] /\h5,><f5 , but even here after} h5 32. Nf4 Re5
33. Nd6 Bg4 34. Kg2 g5 $13 {Black gets sufficient <=>.}) 29... Bb6 ({Black
could have already played} 29... Ra8 30. Nc6 Bxc6 31. Rxc6 Rxe2 {but with
White's strong Nd3 the extra P isn't worth much. Moreover, White has motifs
with trapping Black's R:} 32. Kf1 (32. Rc8+ Rxc8 33. Rxc8+ Kh7 34. Rc6 Rd2 35.
Rxa6 Bc3 $1 $11) 32... Rd2 33. R1c2 Rxc2 (33... Rxd3 34. Ke2 Rc3 35. bxc3 dxc3
36. Kd1 $14) 34. Rxc2 Kf8 35. Rc6 Ke7 36. Nc5 d3 37. Nxd3 Kd7 $11) 30. Nc6 Rb7
{[%csl Rb6,Gd7] Topalov quickly decided to fight on, preferring to keep the
more valuable Bd7, rather than the ineffective Bb6.} (30... Bxc6 31. Rxc6 Rxe2
32. Rc8+ (32. Kf1 Rd2 33. Rc8+) 32... Rxc8 33. Rxc8+ Kf7 34. Kf1 (34. Ra8 a5
35. Rb8 $44) 34... Rd2 35. Rc6 (35. Ke1 $2 Ba5 $19) 35... Ba5 36. Rxa6 Bc3 $11)
31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5 a4 {Gains more space on the <<, but Black had other
equally satisfactory moves:} (32... Be6 33. N3f4 (33. Nxb6 Rxb6 34. b3 Bg4 $11)
33... Bf5 $132) (32... Bg4 $11) (32... Bf5 $5 $11) 33. Nxb6 {Anand releases
the tension, after this the game inexorably heads towards a peaceful outcome.
However, White can hardly claim an advantage even after more ambitious
continuations:} (33. h4 Be6 (33... Bg4 $5 34. N3f4 Ba7) 34. N3f4 Bf7 35. h5 Kh7
$13) (33. N3f4 Bf5 34. Rc6 Bd8 $132 {/\} 35. Rd1 $6 g5 $1 36. Nxf6+ Bxf6 37.
Rxf6 Rf7 $15) 33... Rxb6 $11 {After 12 N-moves in a row and 13 overall (!) by
this one piece the game settles down.} 34. Nc5 Bf5 35. Rd2 (35. Nd3 $6 Be6 36.
Nb4 Bc4 $15) 35... Rc6 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gc6c1,Ge8e2] Despite the loss of the
^^, Black's ><d4 is compensated for by his pressure on the <->c and e.} 36. b4
axb3 (36... Rc7 37. f3 Rce7 38. Kf2 Bg6 39. Re1 Bf7 {[%cal Yf7c4] /\Bc4<=>})
37. axb3 b4 $1 {[%cal Re8c8] /\Rec8 An accurate move, allowing White to play
b4 would cement his outpost on c5, so that he can turn his attention to the
><d4.} (37... Rc7 38. b4 Rce7 39. Nb3 $1 $14) 38. Rxd4 $8 {The only way to
meet the pin on the <->c, but it results in a liquidation of the <<.} Rxe2 39.
Rxb4 Bh3 $1 {[%cal Rc6c5] /\Rc5} 40. Rbc4 (40. Rb5 Rd6 41. Rb4 $5 Rdd2 42. Rh4
Rc2 $44 43. Rc4 Ra2 44. Rh4 Rec2 45. Nd3 Bf5 46. Rxc2 Rxc2 47. Nb4 Rb2 $11)
40... Rd6 41. Re4 ({Another possible draw results after} 41. Rh4 Rc2 42. Ra1
Ra2 43. Re1 Re2 44. Re4 Rb2 45. b4 (45. Rh4 Re2 $11) 45... Rdd2 46. Rh4 Re2 47.
Nd3 Rxe1+ 48. Nxe1 Bd7 49. f3 Bb5 50. Rd4 Rb1 51. Kf2 Rb2+ 52. Kg1 Rb1 $11)
41... Rb2 42. Ree1 (42. Rh4 Rc2 $11 {-41.Rh4}) 42... Rdd2 43. Ne4 Rd4 (43...
Rd3 44. Rb1 {transposes to the game.} (44. Rc3 $11)) 44. Nc5 Rdd2 (44... f5 $6
45. Ne6 Re4 46. f3 $1 Rxe1+ 47. Rxe1 {/\Nf4} g5 48. f4 gxf4 (48... Rxb3 49.
fxg5 hxg5 50. Nxg5 $14) 49. Nxf4 $14) 45. Ne4 Rd3 46. Rb1 (46. Rc3 Rxc3 47.
Nxc3 Rxb3 48. Nd5 $11) (46. Nc5 $2 Rf3 $19) 46... Rdxb3 47. Nd2 Rb4 48. f3 {
White creates an airhole for his K, avoiding any possible danger. The rest is
not interesting anymore.} g5 49. Rxb2 Rxb2 50. Rd1 (50. Re8+ Kf7 51. Rd8 {
/\Kf2=}) 50... Kf7 51. Kf2 h5 52. Ke3 Rc2 53. Ra1 Kg6 54. Ra6 Bf5 55. Rd6 Rc3+
56. Kf2 Rc2 (56... Rc2 57. Ke3 {repeats the position.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {A small surprize. This is the first
time in the match when Topalov abstains himself from giving up the tension in
the centre. Not for too long, though, as we will see.} 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7.
O-O c6 {A rock solid variation. Did players deviate from their general
strategy of mutual agressiveness, embarking boring play? Not really...} 8. Bf4
{The closed systems of the Catalan opening tend to be transpositional, but
move orders remain important.} ({If White intends to play the Romanischin
system mentioned below, he should move his bishop away from d2 at once. After} 
8. Nc3 $6 dxc4 {it is not easy to retrieve the pawn, since after} 9. Ne5 {
the d4-pawn would be hanging.}) ({The variation mentioned in the notes to
Black's 9th move usually arises in the following move order:} 8. Qc2 b6 9. Rd1
Bb7 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Nd2 Nd5 (12... b5 $2 13. Nxb5 $16) 13. Nxc4
Nxf4 14. gxf4 Rc8 15. e3 Nf6) 8... dxc4 {Played four moves later than in the
previous Catalan games, but with very different plans.} ({In case of the solid
} 8... Nbd7 {, White has a choice between the "normal" 9.Qc2 followed by Rd1
and the following line popularized by Romanischin (among others):} 9. Nc3 b6
10. Qb3 Bb7 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Rac1 {Romanishin,O (2615)-Ribli,Z (2610)/
Polanica Zdroj 1993/CBM 037/[Dautov] (1-0, 27)}) 9. Ne5 b5 $5 {Finally, we can
recognize Topalov's style. The former World Champion sacrifices a clear
exchange for far from obvious compensation. The move is not entirely new,
though.} ({The thematic reaction is} 9... Nd5 10. Nxc4 Nxf4 11. gxf4 {White
has been allowed to consolidate his space advantage, but the kingside
weaknesses as well as Black's bishops' pair make the position double-edged.
The following series of moves has not been met in practice, but is entirely
viable and leads by a transposition to a position mentioned above:} b6 12. Nc3
Bb7 13. e3 Nd7 14. Qc2 Nf6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 {This is an important tabyia, which I
used to consider as favourable for White in my first year with the Catalan.
Practice taught me to think differently.} 16. Rac1 (16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Rac1 {
allows a surprising regrouping:} Bd6 18. Qa4 Bb8 19. a3 Qe7 20. b4 f6 21. Nf3 {
1/2 Marin,M (2561)-Cifuentes Parada,R (2522)/Cala Galdana 2001/CBM 084 ext.
Fearing the threat of ...h6 followed by ...g5, I offered a draw which was
fortunately accepted.}) ({Another version of the same plan is:} 16. a3 Bd6 17.
Nxd6 Qxd6 18. b4 Qe7 19. Rab1 Nd5 20. Ne4 h6 21. Rdc1 g5 22. fxg5 hxg5 23. Nd2
Kg7 $132 {Komljenovic,D (2479)-Pogorelov,R (2439)/Calvia 2004/EXT 2005 (0-1,
48). In both cases, the weakness of the double pawns consists of the fact that
Black can undermine the f4-pawn, which does not have sufficient defenders
around it.}) 16... Nd5 17. Qa4 {This was supposed to weaken the queenside
before the bishops gets to b8.} b5 $1 $11 18. Qxa7 bxc4 19. Qxb7 Nb4 {A draw
by perpetual is inevitable now.} 20. a3 Rb8 21. Qa7 Ra8 22. Qb7 Rb8 23. Qa7 Ra8
24. Qb7 {1/2 Marin,M (2556)-Gurevich,M (2634)/Mondariz 2002/CBM 091 ext}) 10.
Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bd7 $5 $146 ({The first game in which Black embarked this
line went} 11... Ba6 {Although Black eventually got a good position, the
bishop stands worse on a6 than on d7.} 12. Bxa8 ({White does not get much by
refusing the present:} 12. a3 {[%cal Gb1c3]} Rc8 13. Bg2 Qb6 14. Nc3 Rfd8 15.
e3 Bb7 $132) 12... Qxa8 13. Qc2 (13. a3 $5 {may be an improvement of the same
kind as in the main line.} Qc6 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. f3 Rd8 16. Qc2 $14 Rxd4 17. Be3
$1 Rd7 18. Bxa7) 13... Qc6 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. f3 e5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. d5 {Aiming,
at the cost of one pawn, to avoid the opening of the position before the
queenside development gets completed.} Bxd5 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Rad1 Qe6 20. e4 f5
$132 {Gelfand,B (2750)-Ivanchuk,V (2748)/Nice 2010 (1/2, 33)}) 12. Bxa8 Qxa8 {
For the sacrificed exchange, Black has a dangerous bishops' pair, a space
advantage on the queenside and a superior development. White's problems of
coordination is caused by the fact that he has reverted the natural order of
queenside development (he played with the bishop first, putting it on an
exposed square and leaving the knight on its initial position).} 13. f3 {
I do not understand this move. It weakens the king and does not contribute to
the development. Anand is reported to have played it almost instantly, but I
wonder whether this was part of his preparation, or just over the board
inspiration, aiming to confuse his opponent. In my opinion, he should have
looked for a way to complete his queenside development.} (13. Nc3 {leads to
unclear consequences after} b4 14. Na4 Qd5 (14... Qc6 $6 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. dxc5
Qxc5 17. Bd6 $16) 15. a3 Bc6 16. f3 Bxa4 17. Qxa4 Qxd4+ 18. e3 Qxb2 19. axb4
Nd5 $44) ({While analyzing the position far from my laptop, I felt that White
should prepare the knight's developing with} 13. a3 $1 {I am not sure that
Black's compensation would have been entirely adequate in this case. Here is a
possible variation:} Qc6 14. Nc3 a5 15. Bg5 b4 16. axb4 axb4 17. d5 $36 {
When saving the lines in ChessBase, I was very dissapointed to find out that
13.a3 was Rybka's first suggestion, while the whole line (with the exception
of 15.Bg5) gets its absolute blessing. I am not sure what all this means. Do
we human tend to become robotized, or have the engines improved so much as to
generate coherent dynamic-strategic concepts?}) 13... Nd5 14. Bd2 {White's
position looks awkward, but Black has to act with energy in order to avoid
being pushed down with e2-e4.} e5 $1 15. e4 {Who has said "A"...} (15. dxe5 {
would open too many lines and diagonals:} Bh3 {[%cal Gf8d8,Ge7c5]}) 15... Bh3
$1 {Sacrificing even more material in order to maintain the initiative, but,
what is quite remarkable, continuing to play fast, as a clear sign that the
whole plan had been thoroughly been analyzed at home.} 16. exd5 (16. Re1 Nb4 {
[%cal Gb4d3]} 17. Bxb4 Bxb4 18. Nc3 Qd8 $1 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gd8b6]} 19. dxe5
Qb6+ 20. Kh1 Qf2 21. Rg1 Qxb2 $44) (16. Rf2 {[%cal Gc5f2]} Nc7 $5) 16... Bxf1
17. Qxf1 exd4 {White has a piece for a pawn, but his kingside is chronically
weak and the opposite wing quite hard to develop. The position is highly
irrational and almost impossible to evaluate with absolute accuracy.} 18. a4 $1
{The only chance to get some piece activity.} Qxd5 19. axb5 Qxb5 20. Rxa7 ({
Instead of this greedy move, which weakens the back rank, White could have
considered} 20. Qc1 $5 {, defending b2 and planning Na3.}) 20... Re8 $1 {
Defending the bishop and continuing to develop.} 21. Kh1 $5 {This looks a bit
unexpected, because the king does not stand very well on the back rank. Its
practical merits are connected with the fact that it caused Topalov to think
for a relatively long while for the first time in the game.} ({Kasparov
suggested} 21. b3 $5 {forcing Black to leave the e8-rook undefended.} Qxb3 22.
Qe1 h6 {[%csl Gg5,Gh7] ><g5} 23. Rxe7 (23. Na3 c3) 23... Rxe7 24. Qxe7 Qxb1+
25. Qe1 ({After} 25. Kg2 Qb2 $11 {, White is forced to give perpetual check.})
25... Qb2 {Black'߆ advanced pawns may well ensure a draw.} ({It also may be
possible to allow the queen swap with} 25... Qc2 26. Qe8+ Kh7 27. Qe4+ Qxe4 28.
fxe4 Kg6 {but this ending requires many days of analyzis. I cannot help
remembering my ending from the game Shulman,Y (2639)-Marin,M (2556)/Reykjavik
2009/CBM 130/[Marin] (0-1, 55).})) (21. Kg2 {looks more natural than the text
move, but it is hard to say whether it really is an improvement.} Bd6 ({
With the king on g2,} 21... Qxb2 $2 22. Qxc4 Qxb1 $2 {does not check and loses
to} 23. Rxe7 $1 $18) 22. Bc1 ({After} 22. Na3 $6 Bxa3 23. bxa3 d3 $1 {[%cal
Ge8e2,Gh7h6] , the king stands worse on g2.}) 22... Bc5 23. Ra2 h6 $44 {
White remains under the same kind of pressure as in the game.}) 21... Bf8 {
A solid move, which offers White a relatively wide choice, though.} (21... Bd6
{would have been more restrictive, prevening Rc7. White would probably have
chosen from one of the plans mentioned below, when the difference between ...
Bf8 and ...Bd6 dissapears.}) (21... Bc5 {is not too accurate because of} 22.
Ra5 {when the hanging bishop and c4-pawn force Black to release the pressure
against the b2-pawn:} Qc6) ({Black could have transposed back into the
variation starting with 21.b3:} 21... Qxb2 22. Qe1 h6 23. Rxe7 Rxe7 24. Qxe7
Qxb1+) 22. Rc7 {This looks strong, because it forces the d-pawn to advance,
giving up the control of the c3-square. Still, this does not offer an
advantage because of the lack of communication of the rook with the rest of
the pieces.} (22. Na3 $5 Bxa3 23. bxa3 h6 $44 {looks threatening.}) (22. Bc1 $5
Bc5 23. Ra2 {[%cal Gb1d2] may be the critical continuation, inviting Black to
prove his compensation.}) 22... d3 23. Bc3 Bd6 24. Ra7 h6 25. Nd2 Bb4 $1 {
A remarkable decision. Being a piece down, Black aims for piece exchange. The
essence is to question White's stability on dark squares, for which
eliminating the enemy bishop is essential.} 26. Ra1 {Anand feels the danger
and transfers his rook to d1 in order to ensure the knight's relative
stability.} Bxc3 27. bxc3 Re2 28. Rd1 Qa4 29. Ne4 {Only after the d2-square
has been taken under control White decides himself to activate his knight. Had
he done this earlier, ...f5 would have been quite annoying.} Qc2 $6 {Finally
giving White the opportunity to get some symbolic advantage.} (29... f5 $1 30.
Rd2 $8 (30. Nd2 Qa2 31. Nb1 Rf2 32. Qg1 Qe2 $19) (30. Nd6 Qc2 31. Nxc4 Rf2 32.
Qg1 Qe2 33. Rxd3 Rf1 $17) 30... fxe4 31. Rxe2 dxe2 32. Qxe2 Qa1+ 33. Kg2 Qxc3
34. Qxe4 {With the black king exposed, Black should not make himself too many
hopes of advancing his passed pawn, but a draw is guaranteed, of course.}) 30.
Rc1 Rxh2+ 31. Kg1 Rg2+ 32. Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33. Qf1 Qe3+ 34. Qf2 Qc1+ 35. Qf1 Qe3+
36. Kg2 f5 37. Nf2 {White has simplified the position even more and achieved
satisfactory stability. Finally, he can play for 2 results only, which must
have been quite refreshing for Anand after such a turbulent opening. The next
phase of the game is illustrative for the force of the far advanced d-pawn,
which compensates the missing material and entitles Black to count on reaching
a draw.} Kh7 38. Qb1 Qe6 39. Qb5 g5 40. g4 fxg4 41. fxg4 Kg6 42. Qb7 d2 43.
Qb1+ Kg7 44. Kf1 Qe7 45. Kg2 Qe6 46. Qd1 Qe3 47. Qf3 Qe6 48. Qb7+ Kg6 49. Qb1+
Kg7 50. Qd1 Qe3 51. Qc2 Qe2 52. Qa4 Kg8 53. Qd7 Kf8 54. Qd5 Kg7 55. Kg3 Qe3+
56. Qf3 Qe5+ 57. Kg2 Qe6 58. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Two years ago against Kramnik Anand
played 4...e6 and Kramnik opted for Meran with 5.e3. It is very likely that
Topalov would have gone for the sharper 5.Bg5.} dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {Topalov
also plays 6.e3, but undoubtedly 6.Ne5 is more ambitious and offers more
chances to fight for an advantage (although as is usually the case, it is
altogether more risky).} e6 7. f3 c5 {This is Anand's "Black secret weapon"
for the match in Sofia, which worked relatively well in games 3 and 5. However,
the present game ended in a drama and it was the last Slav game of the match.
As the World Champion admitted later, he didn't expect Topalov to be so
consistent and keep playing this variation as White after making previously
two draws. However, the course of the game shows that Black is suffering and
the price for every mistake is too high. In his match strategy Anand obviously
took a lot from Kramnik, who played same openings in 2006 against Topalov. The
motto is: the best result when playing Black is a draw! One must say that such
an approach is indeed very effective in World Championship matches (let's just
remember Kramnik's "discovery" of the Berlin endgame in his match versus
Kasparov), only that it doesn't necessary suit everyone. Later Anand showed
flexibility by changing his openings with both colours.} 8. e4 Bg6 ({The
variation} 8... cxd4 9. exf5 {favours White}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 ({Here is
the reason why taking with the bishop is no better:} 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6
12. Bxc4 Qa5 13. Qe2 {and in Pelletier,Y (2525)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Zuerich 1998
the players agreed to a draw already. After} Bc5 {Black achieves good
counterplay on the dark squares.}) 10... Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13.
Bxc4 {The big question of this endgame is: does White have a real advantage,
or is Black able to slowly equalise? I must admit that in spite of the fact
that the position happened three times in Sofia, there is no clear answer to
this question yet. My feeling can be expressed in the following way: a good
player, who is ready to suffer for a draw with Black, should be able to
achieve it with precise play.} Rc8 {Fearing improvements from Topalov, Anand
is the first one to deviate.} ({Previously in games 3 and 5 Anand played} 13...
a6 {but in spite of achieving two draws must have remained not completely
satisfied with the resulting positions.}) 14. Bb5 {Topalov continues in the
most principled way, taking advantage of the fact that Black doesn't control
the b5-square.} ({In the earlier practice more often White retreated the
bishop to a2} 14. Ba2 {but all (!) those eight games (all played among GMs)
ended in a draw.. Here is a very recent example:} a5 15. h4 h5 16. Ke2 Rg8 17.
Nb5 Bc5 18. Bc3 b6 19. Rhd1 Ke7 20. Rd2 f6 21. Rad1 Rgd8 22. Na7 Rc7 23. Nb5
Rcc8 24. Nd4 Bxd4 25. Bxd4 {White's advantage proved to be only marginal:} Be8
26. Be3 Rc6 27. Bf4 e5 28. Be3 Rdc8 29. Bd5 Rc2 30. b3 Bf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32.
Rxc2 Rxc2+ 33. Rd2 Rc7 34. Rd5 Ke6 35. Kd3 Rc6 36. g4 g6 37. Rb5 Rd6+ 38. Ke2
Rc6 39. Kf2 f5 40. exf5+ gxf5 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Ke2 Rg6 43. Rd5 Ke6 44. Rb5
Kf5 45. Bg5 Rc6 46. Bd8 Kf4 47. Bg5+ Kf5 48. Bd2 Rg6 49. Be3 Rg2+ 50. Bf2 Rg6
51. Rd5 Ke6 52. Rd1 Rg2 53. Kf1 Rg8 54. Rc1 Kd5 55. Rc7 Kd6 56. Rc4 Kd5 57. Rc1
Nc5 58. Rd1+ Ke6 59. Rc1 Kd5 60. Rd1+ {1/2-1/2 Gustafsson,J (2646)
-Mastrovasilis,D (2574)/Rijeka 2010}) 14... a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Ke2 f6 17.
Rhd1 Ke8 (17... Kc7 {looks risky, but has no direct refutation:} 18. e5 (18.
Ba7 Be8 $1 (18... Bd6 19. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Ga1c1,Ga7c5]} (19. Rac1 {
brings nothing yet in view of} Kd7 {[%cal Gd7e7]})) 19. Rac1 Bc6 {now White
can give checks with the knight on b5 or d5, but Black holds somehow.}) ({
The nice-looking sac} 18. Nb5+ {doesn't work:} axb5 19. Rac1+ Kd7 20. Be5+ Bd6
21. Rxd6+ Ke7 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Bg3 $11) 18... Be7 (18... f5 $2 {allows now}
19. Nb5+ $1 axb5 20. Rac1+ Kb8 (20... Kd7 21. Be3+ Bd6 22. Rxd6+ Ke7 23. Bg5+
Kf7 24. Rd7+ $18) 21. Ba7+ $1 Kxa7 22. Rxc8 bxa4 23. Rdd8 $18) 19. Ba7 Be8 20.
Rac1 Bc6 21. a5 fxe5 22. Ne4 $44) (17... Bd6 $2 {loses a pawn:} 18. e5 fxe5 19.
Bxe5 Rc6 20. Bxg7) 18. a5 $146 {It is hard to believe that Anand didn't
analyze at home this obvious move, nevertheless he sank into deep thought
after it.} ({Previously White tried two other moves:} 18. Bb6 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5
{in CBM 119 this variation was evaluated as being equal, which was confirmed
in practice:} 20. Rd6 ({Also after} 20. Rac1 Rc6 {[%cal Ge8e7]} 21. Rd4 Rf8 (
21... Ke7 22. Rb4 Rb8 23. Nd5+ $1 Kd6 24. Rxc6+ Kxc6 25. Rb6+ Kd7 26. Nb4 $16)
22. Rcd1 Rc7 23. Ke3 Ke7 {Black slowly achieves equality.}) 20... Ke7 21. Rad1
Be8 22. R6d3 a5 23. Ke3 Bc6 24. Nb5 Rc8 25. Na7 Rc7 26. Nxc6+ R5xc6 27. R1d2
Rc4 28. b3 Rc3 29. h4 h5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bocharov,D (2614)-Amonatov,F (2574)/
Voronezh 2007 (60)}) (18. Rac1 Rc6 (18... Be7 $5) 19. Na2 Rxc1 20. Nxc1 Be7 21.
Bb6 e5 22. Nd3 Bf7 $2 (22... Kf7 {[%cal Gf7e6]}) (22... Rf8 $5) 23. Rc1 Bd8 24.
a5 $16 Ke7 25. Rc8 Re8 26. Rb8 Bc4 27. Rxb7+ Kf8 28. Ke3 $18 {1-0 Maletin,P 
(2545)-Amonatov,F (2650)/Novokuznetsk 2008 (49)}) 18... Be7 {One of many
possibilities to develop the bishop. Its drawback is that it takes the
e7-square away from the king. Other ways of development are:} (18... Bb4 {
This prepares 19...Ke7 and looks like the best.} 19. Ra4 (19. Na4 Ke7 (19...
Bxa5 $6 {is risky due to} 20. Nc5 $36) ({but} 19... Rc2+ 20. Kf1 Ke7 {is
perfectly playable.}) 20. Rac1 {and now the simplest way to equality is} Be8
21. Bc5+ Kf7 $11) (19. Bb6 Ke7 $11 {[%cal Gg6e8,Ge8b5,Yb4c3]}) (19. Rac1 Bxa5 (
{or} 19... Ke7 20. Na4 {which leads to 19.Na4}) 20. Na4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22.
Bc5+ Kf7 23. Bb6 Bxb6 24. Nxb6 Re8 25. Ke3 $44 {[%csl Rg6]}) 19... Be7 (19...
Bxc3 20. Bxc3 $14) 20. Bb6 Kf8 {[%cal Gg6e8,Yf8f7] The rook on a4 prevents
White from playing 21.Rd7. Next Black plays Be8-c6 and Kf7, solving all his
problems.}) (18... Bc5 $6 {Now compared with the above game Bocharov-Amonatov
this move leads to a position with a tempo down for Black and therefore is
clearly worse than after 18.Bb6:} 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Rac1 {The pawn on a5 is a
clear achievement for White:} Rc6 (20... Rxa5 21. Na4 $36) ({Probably Black
must defend a slightly inferior position after} 20... Rf8 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1
Rf7 $14) 21. Na4 $1) ({And finally} 18... Rc6 $5 {with the idea Bd6 and Ke7
also seems playable. After} 19. Na4 Bd6 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22. Bc5 Be8
23. Bxd6+ Kxd6 24. Nb6 Bb5+ 25. Ke3 e5 {White's plus is insignificant.}) 19.
Bb6 Rf8 $1 {After the previous move this is practically the only way to bring
the king's rook into play. Anand combines two ideas: he either prepares Rf7,
then remove the bishop from e7 and plays Rf7-d7, or Black can also activate
his pieces by advancing the f-pawn.  The evaluation of the position remains
typical for the entire opening variation: White is trying to increase the
pressure and break through; Black is not far away from equality. In fact
Topalov achieved the most White could do in this variation - he prevented
Black from connecting the rooks and bringing the Bg6 into play. In such
positions and especially against White's energetic play Black is practically
walking on the edge and must defend very accurately to avoid a quick disaster.
And Anand typically is using all the defensive resources of Black's position.
However, in the following part of the game both players made some errors and
even bad mistakes. All that should not be regarded as separate episodes, but
rather as a part of a very complex World Championship match. The enormous
tension of such a match is not just an indispensable part of the game; it
often plays the decisive role for the final result. Let's not forget that in
this game both opponents strictly follow their match strategy and try to prove
the correctness of their opening choice. The outcome of such a tough
psychological battle is extremely important and needless to say, it puts an
additional pressure on both opponents.} ({Compared to 18...Bb4, here} 19... Kf8
$2 {is just bad in view of} 20. Rd7 $16) (19... f5 20. e5 Bg5 21. Rd4 $14) 20.
Rac1 (20. Rd2 f5 21. e5 f4 $11 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf8f5]} (21... Bg5 {is
unnecessary:} 22. Rd4)) 20... f5 {With the rook on c1 Black is tempted to
activate the bishop via g5.} (20... Rf7 {works well in the event of} 21. Na4
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bd6 {and Black is close to equality. On the other hand, as
mentioned by GM S.Shipov, after 20...Rf7 Black doesn't want to play 21...Bf8
in view of 22.Na2! Rxc1 23.Rd8+! Ke7 24.Nxc1, with obvious advantage. Thus 21..
.Rf7 can be regarded as a sort of waiting move, after which in some lines the
idea Bf8 and Rd7 might work.}) 21. e5 ({After} 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 fxe4 23.
Rc8+ Kf7 24. Rc7 exf3+ 25. gxf3 Ke8 {[%cal Gg6h5] Black has sufficient for
equality and counterplay and therefore White has little better than to go for
a draw:} (25... Kf6 $5) 26. Rxe7+ ({or} 26. Rc8+ $11) 26... Kxe7 27. Bc5+ Kf7
28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Nc5 Ke7 30. Nxb7 e5 31. Nc5 Be8 $11) 21... Bg5 (21... f4 $2
22. Ne4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxe4 (23... Rf5 24. Rc8+ Kf7 (24... Kd7 25. Rc7+ Ke8 26.
Bd4 $18) 25. Bd4 $18) 24. fxe4 $16) 22. Be3 (22. Ra1 $2 Bf4 $132) 22... f4 $6 {
Possibly Anand simply missed White's reply.} ({After} 22... Bxe3 23. Kxe3 f4+
24. Kd4 Ke7 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Kxe4 {there is still a long way for Black before
securing a draw, nevertheless this was objectively the right way.}) 23. Ne4 $1
(23. Nb5 $1 {is similar. The knight comes with tempo to d6.}) 23... Rxc1 24.
Nd6+ Kd7 $8 (24... Ke7 25. Bxc1 Rb8 (25... Bc2 26. Rd4 Bb3 27. g3 $1 $18) 26.
Rd4 $18) 25. Bxc1 $16 {With the knight on d6, exposed king and pawn weaknesses
on b7 and f4 White's advantage is obvious.} Kc6 26. Bd2 {Now it is Topalov who
starts to play inaccurately.} ({Stronger is} 26. Rd4 Kc5 (26... b5 27. axb6
Kxb6 28. g3 $18) 27. Rc4+ Kd5 28. Bd2 $5 Kxe5 29. Nxb7 Be7 (29... Rb8 $2 30.
Bc3+ {and mate next}) 30. Rc7 Re8 31. b4 $16) 26... Be7 {Anand rightly feels
that opposite-coloured bishops will offer Black good chances to escape.} 27.
Rc1+ (27. Bb4 $142 Rd8 28. Rd4 $1 Bxd6 29. Bxd6 {and with rooks on the board
Black is still struggling.}) 27... Kd7 (27... Kd5 $2 28. Rc7 Bxd6 29. exd6 Kxd6
30. Rxb7 $16) 28. Bc3 ({Again better is} 28. Bb4 {although now Black has real
chances to draw in variations like} Rd8 ({or} 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. Bxd6 Rc8
$11) 29... Rd8) 29. Rd1 (29. Nxb7 Rb8 30. Bxe7 Rxb7 31. Ba3 Rb5 $132) 29...
Bxd6 30. Rxd6+ (30. Bxd6 Rc8 $5 31. Bf8+ Ke8 32. Bxg7 Rc5 33. b4 Rc4 $132)
30... Kc8 31. Rxe6 Bf7 32. Re7 (32. Rb6 Bc4+ 33. Ke1 Rd5 34. Bc3 Rb5 35. Rd6
Rd5) 32... Rd7 {with a draw.}) 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. exd6 Rc8 $11) 29... Bf5
30. h4 (30. Rxd6+ Kc8 {[%cal Gf8d8]} (30... Kc7 31. Bd4 $14)) 30... g6 (30...
Kc7 $142 31. exd6+ (31. Rxd6 Rd8 $11) 31... Kd7 32. Rd4 (32. Bxg7 Rg8) 32...
Rf7 33. Rxf4 Kxd6 $11) 31. Rxd6+ Kc8 32. Bd2 (32. Rd4 h6 33. Bb4 (33. Rxf4 Bd3+
34. Ke3 Rxf4 35. Kxf4 Kd7 $11) 33... Rf7 34. Bd6 (34. Rxf4 Bd3+ 35. Ke3 Rxf4
36. Kxf4 Kd7 37. Bf8 h5 38. Kg5 Ke8 39. Bc5 Kf7 $11) 34... g5 $14) 32... Rd8
33. Bxf4 Rxd6 34. exd6 {Considering the earlier inaccuracies, Topalov has
achieved the most White could: winning the f4-pawn and creating a passer on d6.
The endgame is certainly far from simple, but with accurate defence it's
probably a draw.} Kd7 35. Ke3 Bc2 36. Kd4 Ke8 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Be3 Ba4 39. Kf4
Bb5 40. Bc5 Kf6 41. Bd4+ Kf7 42. Kg5 Bc6 43. Kh6 Kg8 44. h5 {Vishy has
defended accurately and continues to do so, until blundering on move 54. The
endgame was analysed by Karsten Mueller in the online edition of ChessBase
Magazine and the variations below are based on his analysis.} Be8 (44... gxh5
$2 45. Kxh5 e5 (45... Bd7 46. Be5 Bc6 47. Kh6 $18 {and White wins like in the
game: the bishop comes to g7, the g-pawn goes to g6 and the king breaks
through to e7.}) 46. Bxe5 Be8+ 47. Kh6 Bc6 48. g4 Bd7 49. Kh5 Kf7 50. f4 Ke6
51. Kh6 Kf7 52. f5 Kg8 53. Bd4 Bc8 54. Kg5 Kf7 55. Kf4 Bd7 56. Ke5 Ba4 57. g5
Bd7 58. Be3 Bc8 59. f6 Bh3 60. Kd5 Bd7 61. Kc5 Ke6 62. Bf4 Be8 63. Kb6 Bc6 64.
Kc7 $18) 45. Bc5 (45. g4 gxh5 46. gxh5 Bc6 $11) 45... gxh5 46. Kg5 Kg7 $1 47.
Bd4+ Kf7 48. Be5 (48. Kxh5 Bb5 49. Kh6 Bd3 $11) 48... h4 49. Kxh4 Kg6 50. Kg4
Bb5 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. Kg5 Bc6 $4 {Blundering in the moment when the draw was
closer than ever. Obvioulsy it's because of tiredness and tension. The correct
way is to control/blockade with the king pawn d6 (in order to prevent the
white king to come to e7) and protect the pawn h7 with the bishop.} (52... Bd3
53. Kh6 Ke8 54. Kg7 Kd7 55. g4 Bc2 56. f4 Bg6 57. Kf6 Be4 58. f5 exf5 59. gxf5
Bd3 60. Kg5 h6+ $5 61. Kf6 Bc2 62. Bg3 Bd3 63. Ke5 h5 64. Bh4 Bc4 65. Kd4 (65.
f6 Bf7 66. Bg3 Be6 67. b4 Bf7 68. Kf5 h4 69. Bh2 h3 70. Kg5 Ke6 $11) 65... Bf7
66. Kc5 Bg8 67. Bg3 Bh7 68. f6 Bg8 69. Kb6 Bd5 70. f7 Bxf7 71. Kxb7 Bc4 $11)
53. Kh6 Kg8 54. g4 {Realising what he has done Anand resigned. The game shows
clearly the tremendous difficulty of playing long games under constant
pressure.  This game, together with the next one where Anand missed the
victory more than once, were very tough for Anand. Nevertheless he showed a
great capability to control himself and succeeded ing playing very well the
last game, winning the match and keeping the World Champion title.} ({The game
could continue} 54. g4 Be8 55. g5 Bc6 56. Bg7 Be8 57. f4 {and Black is in
zugzwang. The bishop can't control both d7 and g6 any longer:} Bc6 58. g6 hxg6
59. Kxg6 Be8+ 60. Kf6 Bd7 61. Ke7 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The 9th game was one of the tensest of the championship so far, where we
could see that both players get very tired and nervous. Anand desided to stop
the Catalan debate and used his other weapon - the Nimzo with 4.e3. The
champion was also better prepared and quickly got some edge in a complicated
position with two rooks for queen. Later Topalov had some ways to equalize,
but the position was too complicated. Anand also did not play perfectly.
Nevertheless after the second time control he got winning position (for the
second time in the game), but he erred on move 53 and the game was drawn.
Another disappointment for the World Champion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {
Anand refuses the Catalan, which brought him two wins, and opts for another
complicated opening - the Nimzo.} Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O {
A very famous position, which was played in other World Championships as well.
Here some very big theory starts, with thousands of games played.} cxd4 {
One of the main moves.} (7... Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 {and}) (
7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 {are other big main lines.}) 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {
Developing the bishop first, which is much more flexible in this case.} 10. Bg5
Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 {So far everything was simple, both players were
developing, but now Anand has a choice - which he already made at home.} 13.
Bd3 {Not forcing anything yet.} (13. Qb3 {is what Kramnik managed to beat
Kasparov with, in London back then in 2000. However, later Black found a way
to deal with it.} Be7 (13... Bxc3 $1 {is safer}) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 (14... Bxf6 $5)
15. Bxe6 $1 {Is how Kramnik-Kasparov from the other World Championship Match
went.}) 13... Re8 14. Qe2 Bxc3 {Black has already made all useful moves, so
now it is time for this exchange. White get's the bishop pair, but Black is
solid and has an easy development.} 15. bxc3 Qc7 16. Bh4 {Trying to attack the
queen that has just appeared on c7.} (16. c4 {is too early-} h6 $1 {and if} 17.
Bh4 {then} Nh5 $1) 16... Nh5 $1 {Typical way to meet all Bh4's.} 17. Ng5 (17.
Bxh7+ {doesn't work:} Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg6 $1 19. g4 $1 Qf4 $1 20. gxh5+ Kh6 {
and Black will take over.}) 17... g6 18. Nh3 $5 $146 {A new move. It seems a
little bit ugly, but White protects the f4-square, which is more important.} ({
Another possible and more logical way of solving the problem is} 18. Qd2 {
but then Black is still able to go to f4, though this time with his queen.} Qf4
$5) (18. Nxh7 $4 Nf4 $1) 18... e5 {This breakthrough seems very good, but in
fact now this pawn is kind of pinned and the pin is actually pretty anoying
for Black.} (18... Qd6 $5 {first, made sense, avoiding f3.} 19. f3 $2 Rxc3 $1)
19. f3 $1 {protecting e4 and bringing the bishop to f2.} Qd6 (19... exd4 20.
Qxe8+ Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Kg7 22. Bf2 $1) (19... Bd5 $5 20. Qd2 (20. g4 Nhf6 21. Bg3
h5 22. Nf2) 20... Bc4 21. Bb1 Qd6) 20. Bf2 exd4 $6 {Topalov just ignores the
pin and sacrifices his rooks for White's queen. I think it was not needed.} (
20... Nhf6 $1 {Seems much safer and better to me. Now exd4 and also e4 are
threats. I think Black more or less equalizes:} 21. Qb2 exd4 $5 {seems fine
for Black. White knight looks odd on h3, and in case of cxd4 the black knight
will enjoy the d5-square.} (21... e4 $5)) 21. Qxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Nf8 23. cxd4
{White also had an option of taking with the bishop, which was strong, but
Anand decides to go for a safe option.} (23. Bxd4 $1 {Black may try to
transfer one of two knights to e6, but in both cases White will meet it with
Re3 and the bishop will be free to go to e5.} Ng7 (23... Bc6 24. Re3 Ne6 25.
Be5 {And white is better.}) 24. Re3 Nge6 25. Be5 Qc5 26. Rce1 Nd7 27. Bg3 Nf6
28. c4 $1 {and all the threats are neutralized and White's advantage is big
and clear.}) 23... Nf6 24. Ree1 Ne6 25. Bc4 $1 {Very clever. White wants to
play Bg3 without giving up the d4-pawn.} Bd5 26. Bg3 Qb4 $1 {Topalov rightly
decides to enter some complications} (26... Qd7 {was bad due to} 27. Be5 $1)
27. Be5 $1 Nd7 $1 {The point of ...Qb4. Now the position gets complicated, and
it seems that objectively Black is holding, though I may be wrong.} 28. a3 $6 {
Those moves are always nice to make - it seems not to change the position much,
but it offers the opponent a choice and confuses him a bit.} (28. Bxd5 $1 {
however, was objectively stronger.} Nxe5 29. Bxe6 Nd3 $1 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Rd1
fxe6 {Now White has a choice: to grab the pawn, or not to and have a better
piece cooperation. White has winning chances in both cases, but I would prefer
to take the pawn.} 32. Rc7+ (32. Rc2 $5 Kf6 $1 {protecting g5. Now White has
nothing better than exchanging the knights} 33. Nf2 Nxf2 34. Kxf2 {and White
has winning chances, but because Black will have a passed pawn on the
queenside I think he should draw this.}) 32... Kf6 33. Rxa7 Qb2 $1 {Protecting
f2 and keeping and eye on a2.} (33... Qxd4+ $6 34. Kh1 Qb2 $2 35. Rd7 $1) 34.
Rf1 $1 Qxd4+ 35. Nf2 h5 36. Ra3 $1 Nxf2 37. Rxf2 h4 {and here White will
slowly unpin and then be having very fine winning chances.}) 28... Qa4 (28...
Qb2 $1 {was equalizing easier, for example} 29. Bxd5 (29. Rb1 Qc3 $1 30. Bxd5
Nxe5 31. Bxe6 Qxd4+ 32. Nf2 Nd3 33. Rf1 Nxf2 34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Rxf2 h5 $1 36.
Rc1 a5 37. g3 h4 {with equality.}) 29... Nxe5 30. Bxe6 Nd3 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rd1
fxe6 33. Rc7+ Kf6 34. Rxa7 Qxd4+ 35. Kh1 h5 {and the difference between the
knights is the reason, why Black holds this position easily.}) 29. Bxd5 Nxe5
30. Bxe6 Qxd4+ $2 {Topalov probably couldn't calculate all the complications
of ...Nd3! till the end and opted for the "safe" option. In fact now Black's
position becomes critical - he is maybe already lost.} ({However the
complications after} 30... Nd3 $1 {are in his favour. Black seems to be equal
in all lines. For example} 31. Rc4 $5 (31. Bxf7+ Kxf7 32. Ng5+ $2 Kg7 33. Rc7+
Kh6 $1 {and it is not the black king, but White, who will be in trouble.})
31... Qxa3 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Ng5+ Kf6 34. Ne4+ Ke7 35. Rf1 Nf4 36. Rc7+ Kd8
37. Rxh7 Qb2 38. Nf2 Ne2+ 39. Kh1 a5 {with counterplay that is enough for
equality.}) 31. Kh1 fxe6 32. Ng5 $1 {Finally the knight is back!} Qd6 33. Ne4
$2 {Anand decides again not to calculate everything, but to play simple
positional chess.} (33. Rc8+ $1 {was winning immediately!} Kg7 34. Rec1 Kh6 (
34... Qd2 35. R8c7+ Kg8 36. Ne4 {and White wins}) 35. h4 Qd4 (35... Kh5 36. Rh8
h6 37. Re1 $18) 36. g3 $1 Nd7 37. Kg2 $1 {and it is clear that Black is lost.})
33... Qxa3 34. Rc3 Qb2 {Probably not the best square, but without a computer
it is hard to see which square is best and why.} 35. h4 ({The immediate} 35.
Rc8+ $1 {was also possible} Kg7 36. Rc7+ {and Black is losing a pawn - h7 or
a7... or both..}) 35... b5 $2 {I am curious, why Topalov touched this pawn and
not the a-pawn, which fits much more with queen b2.} (35... a5 $5 {was more
logical than pushing the b-pawn, but perhaps it is not quick enough.} 36. Rc8+
Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kg8 38. Rd1 Nd3 $1 39. Rd7 Nc5 40. Ra7 Nd3 41. Kh2 Qe2 42. Rd2 Qe3
43. Nf6+ Kf8 44. Nxh7+ Ke8 45. Nf6+ Kd8 46. Ne4 {and Black's position seems
horrible - but may in fact be holdable..}) ({The clever} 35... Qb4 $5 {is
interesting too}) (35... Nf7 {is safe, but I think Black shouldn't be passive,
and his chance is in pushing the pawn - the a-pawn, not the b one...}) 36. Rc8+
Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kf8 38. Ng5 Ke8 39. Rxh7 {A safe move.} (39. Nxe6 $1 {was winning,
for example} Nxf3 $5 40. Rd1 $1 Nd2 41. Rxa7 $1 Qe5 42. Rxh7 $3 Qxe6 43. Ra1 $1
Qc6 44. Ra8+ $1 {and after playing five moves in a row with an exclamation
mark White wins!}) 39... Qc3 40. Rh8+ $2 {Anand lets the black king escape, on
the famous 40th move. Probably Anand thought, that Black has to repeat the
moves, missing 41...Nd3! after 41.Rd1.} (40. Re2 {was winning for White. Black
has no perpetuals whatsoever, and White will eventually get to Black's king.
For example} b4 41. Nxe6 b3 42. Kh2 $1 a5 43. Rc7 Qa1 44. Rb7 Qc3 45. Rb5 Nc4
46. Rb8+ $1 Ke7 47. Rxb3 $1 Qxb3 48. Nd4+ Qe3 49. Rxe3+ Nxe3 50. Nc6+ {winning.
That was, of course, just one of the possible lines.}) (40. Re4 {would win as
well}) 40... Kd7 41. Rh7+ (41. Rd1+ Nd3 $1 {could be, what Anand missed.})
41... Kc6 42. Re4 {Even though the black king is out of the dangerous zone,
his position is still tricky and difficult to play.} b4 $6 ({The immediate} 
42... Kb6 $1 {is much stronger, e6 is untouchable due to ...Nxf3! while Kb6 is
neccesary in any case.} 43. Re7 Nc6 44. R7xe6 b4 45. Nf7 Ka5 $1 {and it will
eventually finish in a draw.}) 43. Nxe6 Kb6 44. Nf4 Qa1+ (44... Qc1+ $1 {
was drawing in a study like way:} 45. Kh2 Nc6 46. Rh6 b3 47. Rxg6 Qd2 $3 (47...
b2 $2 48. Nd3 b1=Q 49. Nxc1 Qxc1 50. Ree6 $18) 48. Rc4 b2 49. Rgxc6+ Kb7 50.
Rc7+ Kb8 51. Rc8+ Kb7 52. R4c7+ Ka6 $1 {with a draw. Strangely enough White
can't get anything more.}) 45. Kh2 a5 46. h5 gxh5 {Now it's over for Black
again.} (46... g5 $5 {was perhaps stronger, but it is not clear if it was
enough to save the game. However, over the board it is not clear if it is
better than gxh5, so we should forgive Topalov.}) 47. Rxh5 Nc6 48. Nd5+ Kb7 49.
Rh7+ Ka6 50. Re6 Kb5 51. Rh5 Nd4 52. Nb6+ $1 {Nice check, forcing the black
king to stay inside the mate zone. Now White is totally winning, for about the
third time in this game...} Ka6 53. Rd6 Kb7 54. Nc4 $6 {Making things a bit
more complicated, though White is still winning.} (54. Nd5 $1 {centralizing
the knight was much simpler, and Black can resign.}) 54... Nxf3+ 55. gxf3 Qa2+
56. Nd2 Kc7 57. Rhd5 $6 {Again an inaccuracy:} (57. Rhh6 $1 {was stronger.
White will play Kg3 and Ne4 and mate Black.}) 57... b3 58. Rd7+ Kc8 59. Rd8+
Kc7 60. R8d7+ Kc8 61. Rg7 $1 {Here all Anand's fan were relieved again - he
seemed to have found a win. But...} a4 62. Rc5+ $6 {Okay, just repeating the
moves, nothing wrong yet...} (62. Rdd7 a3 63. Kg3 Qa1 64. Rc7+ Kb8 65. Rb7+ Kc8
66. Nxb3 Qg1+ 67. Kf4 Qh2+ 68. Ke3 Qe5+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70. Kf1 Qh3+ 71. Ke2 Qh2+
72. Kd3) 62... Kb8 63. Rd5 Kc8 64. Kg3 $2 {This and the quick next move give
away the win for the last time in this game. But to be honest, it wasn't so
easy anymore, especially for someone, who played for some five to six hours
already. And, well, White had easier wins earlier in this game...} (64. Rdd7 {
was an easy move, but the win wasn't easy to calculate:} a3 65. Kg3 Qa1 66. Ra7
Qg1+ (66... Qe5+ 67. f4 Qe1+ 68. Kf3 Qh1+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70. Ke3 $18) 67. Kh3
Qh1+ 68. Kg4 Qg1+ 69. Kf5 Qc5+ 70. Ke4 Qb4+ 71. Kd3 Qd6+ 72. Kc3 Qe5+ 73. Kxb3
Qb2+ 74. Kc4 Qc2+ 75. Kb5 Qb2+ 76. Kc5 Qe5+ 77. Kb4 Qd6+ 78. Kc3 Qe5+ 79. Kc2
Qc5+ 80. Kd1 {And the king managed to hide. Black had other possibilities of
checks, but White always manages to hide somewhere.}) 64... Qa1 65. Rg4 $2 (65.
Rdd7 {was probably still winning, but Anand played Rg4 almost instantly.} Qe1+
66. Kg4 $1 {and I will just trust my Fritz, who says that White is winning...})
65... b2 {Now it is already over, Black will draw easily.} 66. Rc4+ Kb7 67. Kf2
b1=Q 68. Nxb1 Qxb1 69. Rdd4 {Black doesn't need his pawn to make a draw.} Qa2+
70. Kg3 a3 71. Rc3 Qa1 72. Rb4+ Ka6 73. Ra4+ Kb5 74. Rcxa3 Qg1+ {With rooks on
a3 and a4, it is obvious that there is a perpetual check.} 75. Kf4 Qc1+ 76. Kf5
Qc5+ 77. Ke4 Qc2+ 78. Ke3 Qc1+ 79. Kf2 Qd2+ 80. Kg3 Qe1+ 81. Kf4 Qc1+ 82. Kg3
Qg1+ 83. Kf4 {A very comlicated game, full of fight, but also mistakes.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In tenth game Anand, who played Black, decided that he has suffered enough in
the Slav and went for the Grunfeld, as he did in game one. Topalov again chose
the main line with 7.Bc4, but this time Anand surprised him with the rare 10...
b6!?. The World Champion quickly equalized after mutual inaccuracies, but then
when there was no need, he went into a worse endgame. I couldn't find a win
for Topalov, but it all didn't look not so funny for Anand. At the end Topalov
lost track and it was he who had to make a draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 $1 {Yes! Anand
tried all posibilities in the Slav endgame, where in all games he had to
suffer, but in all games he achieved draws (though one he lost due to blunder).
Now his team apparently managed to recover the sharp and tricky Grunfeld!} 2.
c4 g6 $1 (2... c6 $4 {Luckily 1...Nf6 wasn't a joke from Anand, who here could
have still gone back to Slav!}) 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O {This position was instantly reached
by both players. We saw it in game one, so it was obvious that Anand's
improvements is coming.} b6 $5 {But I couldn't expect the improvement to come
so quickly! Anand, as he did in his other black games, deviates very early - a
very interesting strategy. The move is a very rare one, which is not seen
recently in the top levels of chess. Not suprisingly Topalov was out of his
preparation already here!} (10... Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6) (10... Bg4
11. f3 Na5) 11. Qd2 {Played pretty quickly... I guess Topalov trusted Anand on
the main and in my opinion more critical capture of the pawn and decided to
play solid and positional.} (11. dxc5 {as I said, is in my opinion the
critical continuation. I guess Anand's analysis start with} Qc7 $1) 11... Bb7
12. Rac1 {I think White should try to trade dark squared bishops with Bh6, but
it is not so easy to achieve without the preparatory Rac1 and Rfd1, which lose
some time. This is the advantage of this line compared to Na5, which was
played in game one: now d4 is under pressure.} (12. Rad1 {seems more natural
with the idea Bh6, but in fact White has no time to start any attack:} cxd4 (
12... Rc8 $5) 13. cxd4 Rc8 14. Bh6 Bxh6 (14... Ne5 $5) 15. Qxh6 Nb4 $1 {
covering the d3-square and thus taking over the initiative.}) 12... Rc8 13.
Rfd1 (13. e5 {seemed interesting to me at first, but Black quickly starts his
counterplay with} cxd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bd3 Qd7 {preparing the exchange of
both rooks.}) 13... cxd4 {Anand plays logical and simple chess. His plan is to
develop everything and maybe exchange rooks.} (13... e5 {is interesting, but
not so simple:} 14. d5 (14. dxc5 Qxd2 15. Rxd2 Na5 16. Bd3 bxc5 {should be
slightly better for White, but nothing special.}) 14... Na5 15. Bd3 {and now
Black wants c4 and f5-f4. Then he will regroup his pieces and perhaps even
enjoy some advantage. However he is not in time to achieve everything:} f5 (
15... c4 16. Bc2 f5 17. Bg5 $1 Qd7 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Ng3 $1) 16. Bg5 $1 Qd7 17.
c4 $1) 14. cxd4 {White would like to attack: Bh6, change the bishops and then
try to get to Black's king. However it won't be possible, because Black is
ready to distract him.} Qd6 $5 {Provoking e5, which I at first thought White
wants to play anyway. However, White has no time to start the attack, and then
the disadvantage of the move - the weakness of the d5-square - will tell.} (
14... e6 {seems more logical to me, but Anand (and his seconds!?) thought that
...Qd6 is better.} 15. Bh6 (15. e5 Na5 16. Bd3 Qd7) 15... Na5 (15... Qh4 $5 16.
Bxg7 Kxg7 17. f3 Rfd8) 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. h4) 15. d5 {This move probably took
Anand out of his preparation. White advances in the centre and his plans
depend on where black knight goes.} (15. e5 $5 Qd7 (15... Qb4 {as what I
thought, was Black's idea, but here White has a strong move:} 16. Rc3 $1 {
the idea being that} Nxe5 $2 {doesn't work due to} 17. Bxf7+ $1 Nxf7 18. Rxc8
Qxd2 19. Rxf8+ $1 {The point.}) 16. e6 $5 {has already been played in a game
by two amateurs. I must say I like this move very much, but probably Black is
fine:} (16. Bh6 $2 Nxe5 $1 17. dxe5 Qg4) (16. Bd3 Na5 {is fine for Black})
16... fxe6 17. Nf4 Nd8 $1 (17... Rxf4 {was played in that game, but Black does
not have enough compensation after} 18. Bxf4 Nxd4 19. Bf1 $1) 18. Qe2 {and
White is planning Qg4 and h4-h5. Also d5 may sometimes be an option. I think
Black can deal with those threats by playing} (18. h4 $4 {is logical but fails
to the beautiful tactic} Rxf4 $1 19. Bxf4 Rxc4 $1 20. Rxc4 Qd5 $19) 18... Qd6
19. Qg4 Be4 $1 {and if} 20. h4 {then the non-standard} (20. Bxe6+ Nxe6 21.
Qxe6+ Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Rfe8 $11) (20. a4 {is too slow} Kh8 21. h4 Bf6 22. h5 Bf5
23. Qf3 g5 $1) 20... Bf5 21. Qe2 h5 $1 {and now that e6 and g6 are well
protected, Black is able to get his knight back into play and take over the
initiative.}) (15. Bh6 {is logical. I guess Anand planned} Qb4 $1 {Now White
doesn't have a way to keep his advantage without trading queens, but the
arising ending, should also be good for Black.} 16. Qxb4 (16. Qe3 Na5 17. Bd3
Nc4 {with counterplay}) (16. Rc3 Nxd4 $1 {This trick leads to a draw by force:}
17. Nxd4 Rxc4 18. Rxc4 Qxc4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nf5+ $1 {beautiful, but it only
secures the perpetual} ({Another beautiful line is} 20. Rc1 Qa4 21. Rc7 Rc8 $1
22. Rxb7 Qxa2 $3 23. Nf5+ $1 gxf5 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. h3 {with some advantage for
Black.}) 20... gxf5 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qxe7 Qc8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25.
Qf6+ {with perpetual.}) 16... Nxb4 17. Bg5 $5 Rfe8 18. a3 (18. f3 $5) 18... h6
$1 (18... Nc6 $2 19. d5 Na5 20. Bb5) 19. Bh4 g5 $1) 15... Na5 {This move is
simpler. He now wants to break up the white centre with ...e6 (or ...f5!?) and
White is unable to avoid that.} (15... Ne5 {is possible, but more risky and
complicated} 16. Bb3 Ng4 (16... Ba6 $5) 17. Bf4 Be5 18. g3 $5 {is very
creative and interesting. It almost forces} (18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Ng3) 18... Bxf4
19. gxf4 {with a scary looking pawn mass. The position is unclear, though I
would prefer being White here.}) 16. Bb5 $1 {Clever move, trying to avoid e6.}
(16. Bd3 {is toothless. Black easily gets comfortable play with} e6 17. Bf4 Be5
(17... Qd7 $5 {is also possible} 18. Nc3 Rc5 $1) 18. Bxe5 (18. Bh6 Rxc1 19.
Rxc1 Rc8) 18... Qxe5 19. dxe6 Qxe6) 16... Rxc1 (16... e6 $2 {is bad due to} 17.
dxe6 Qxe6 18. Bd7 Qxe4 19. f3 $1 {winning the exchange.}) 17. Rxc1 Rc8 $2 {
A logical follow-up, but I think it is inaccurate. Black should have played e6
as quickly as possible.} (17... e6 $1 {I don't know how White can get anything
here, for example} 18. Bf4 {is answered with} Be5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Nc3 Rc8 $1
{with the idea} 21. dxe6 (21. d6 Rd8 22. Rd1 Bc6 $11) 21... Qxe6 22. Bd7 Rd8 $1
) (17... f5 $5 {was perhaps also possible, but too tricky.}) 18. h3 $2 {
Forgiving Anand for his inaccurate last move.} (18. Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Nd4 $1 {
as a logical way to prevent ...e6. Now White has a pleasant advantage, though
Black should hold this position.} a6 {is probably the best:} (19... e6 {
is logical, but White is not forced to take on e6 and may get an advantage with
} 20. Qc1 $5 (20. Be2 $5 {is simpler and also nice for White} exd5 21. Nb5 $1)
20... Bd7 21. Nc6 exd5 22. Bf4 $1) (19... Bd7 {I don't like. The arising
endgame is dangerous for Black:} 20. Bxd7 (20. Qd3 $5 {is also possible and
gives White some advantage after} Bxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxb5 22. Qxb5 f6) 20... Qxd7
21. Nc6 $1 Nxc6 22. dxc6 Qxd2 (22... Qxc6 $4 23. Qd8+ Bf8 24. Bh6 $18 {is the
trick.}) 23. Bxd2 Be5 24. f4 Bb8 25. Kf2 Kf8 26. Kf3 Ke8 27. e5 Kd8 28. Ke4 {
and Black needs just one extra tempo to play e6 and Kc7, but he is not in time:
} Kc7 29. Bb4 $1 {and maybe Black holds this, but the ending is not easy for
him, to say the least.}) 20. Be2 e6 $1 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. a4 $1 {fixing the b6-
and a6-pawn and securing slight but pleasant advantage.}) 18... Rxc1+ {Now
Anand is easily equalizing} (18... e6 $2 {immediately blunders a pawn:} 19.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. dxe6 $1 Qxd2 21. exf7+ $1) 19. Qxc1 e6 (19... f5 $5 {is also
possible; now White can transpose to the game or play sharp} 20. Nd4 $5 (20. f3
fxe4 21. fxe4 e6 {transposes to the game}) 20... Bxd4 $1 (20... f4 $2 {looks
clever and smart, but it is in fact bad due to} 21. Bxf4 Qb4 22. Ne6 $1 Qxb5
23. Qc7 {and white is dominating.}) (20... fxe4 21. Nc6 $1 {with advantage})
21. Bxd4 Qb4 {and it is a draw.} 22. Bc3 $5 {setting a small trap:} (22. Qa1
Qxb5 23. Bh8 Kf7 24. a4 Qc5 25. Qg7+ Ke8 26. Qg8+ Kd7 27. Qe6+ Kd8 28. Qg8+ $11
) (22. Qc7 Qxd4 23. Qd8+ Kg7 24. Qxe7+ Kh6 25. Qh4+ Kg7 $11) 22... Qxe4 $1 (
22... Qxb5 $2 23. Qh6 $1 Kf7 24. Qxh7+ Ke8 25. Qxg6+ Kd8 26. Qxf5 $16 {Falling
into a trap is almost never good..}) 23. Bxa5 bxa5 24. Bc6 Qb4 25. Qe3 {
with equal position.}) 20. Nf4 exd5 21. Nxd5 f5 {Nice move. Black is already
doing very fine.} (21... Qe5 {is also possible, with the idea to send the
queen to a1.} 22. Bd3 f5 (22... Qa1 $5) 23. Qc2 $5 (23. Bf4 Qa1 $1 {with a
nice endgame for Black.}) 23... h6 $5 {Now the piece is hanging and Black has
equalized.} 24. f4 Qd6 25. Bf2 Bxd5 26. exd5 Qxf4 (26... Qxd5 27. g4 $1 $11)
27. g4 $5 Bd4 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Qd7+ Kg8 30. Qe8+ Kg7 31. Qe7+ Kg8 {with
perpetual check.}) 22. f3 {I actually thought, that it was a mistake to let
Black exchange f-pawns and give him the nice e5-square. In fact the position
is equal anyway.} (22. Bf4 {is not giving White anything:} Qc5 (22... Be5 23.
Bxe5 Qxe5 24. Qg5 $1 Kg7 {is also equal, but it looks scary for Black after
let's say} 25. Qd8 fxe4 26. Qd7+ Kh8 27. Ne7) 23. Qxc5 bxc5 {with equality.})
22... fxe4 23. fxe4 Qe5 24. Bd3 Nc6 $6 {Allowing a small trick. But I can
understand how much Anand wanted to bring back his knight, which has been on
the edge for such a long time.} (24... Bxd5 $5 {is actually a good move.
Black's idea is not to win the pawn, but to get some blockade on dark squares.}
25. exd5 Bf8 $1 (25... Qxd5 26. Qc8+ $11) 26. Bf1 Nb7 {and it will be White
who will have to beg for the draw.} (26... Kf7 $5)) (24... Qa1 {still remains
my favourite.}) 25. Ba6 $1 {Nice trick, which doesn't give White anything
objectively, but confused Anand.} Nd4 $2 {This move only looks tricky and
entertaining. In fact it only leads to a worse ending. I guess Vishy thought
that the arising endgame is easily drawn, so he didn't bother calculating ...
Bxa6. But in fact the endgame is very difficult for Black, and he has to
suffer.} (25... Bxa6 $1 {leads to a draw and I guess, if Anand would know that
there are some real problems in the ending he got, he could easily calculate
this move until a draw.} 26. Qxc6 Qa1+ 27. Kh2 (27. Bc1 Bb7 $5 28. Qe6+ Kf8 29.
Qe7+ Kg8 $11) 27... Be5+ 28. Bf4 (28. Nf4 Qc3 {and white can give perpetual,
but nothing more.}) 28... Bxf4+ 29. Nxf4 Qe5 30. Qa8+ Kg7 31. Qxa7+ Kg8 32. g3
Qb2+ 33. Ng2 Bf1 {and again White is forced to give perpetual check.}) 26. Qc4
$1 Bxd5 27. Qxd5+ Qxd5 28. exd5 Be5 {Black gets some blockade, but White also
has his own ideas. First he brings his king into the center.} 29. Kf2 Kf7 30.
Bg5 Nf5 31. g4 Nd6 32. Kf3 Ne8 {The beginning of a suspicious plan. Maybe
Black should have kept the knight where it is and also his queenside pawns on
their places. It is not for nothing that they say that knight is the best
blockading piece... But well, to be honest I don't see a clear way for Black
to draw... Neither did Vishy and maybe that's why he decided to do at least
something.} ({One way to play is} 32... Bf6 33. Bf4 Ke7 {and it seems to be
that if White allows Black to play g5 and h6 it will be a fortress. So} 34. g5
$1 Bd4 $5 {setting a trap..} 35. Bd3 $1 (35. h4 {would be giving White a big
advantage, but Black has a strong idea:} b5 $1 36. Kg4 Bc5 37. h5 Bd4 {with
fortress (if I am not mistaken...)}) (35. a4 Nf7 {and Black is holding. The
fact that the pawn is already on a4 is to Black's advantage.}) 35... Nf7 36.
Bc2 {And maybe Black is drawing this, but White still has h4-h5 ideas so the
game is not over.}) 33. Bc1 Nc7 {As I already said, the knight probably
doesn't belong here. But on the other hand if it stays on d6 White will slowly
push the pawns on kingside, and then once a weakness on g6 is created, he can
exchange dark squared bishops.} 34. Bd3 Bd6 35. Ke4 b5 {A weakening move, it
weakens the pawns and the c5-square. But again as I said, waiting moves do not
bring joy either.} 36. Kd4 a6 37. Be2 {Topalov doesn't hurry.} Ke7 38. Bg5+ Kd7
39. Bd2 Bg3 {Trying to avoid h4-h5, but White also has other ideas, like g5,
Bg4-e6(c8)} (39... Na8 $5 {transfering the knight to... somewhere interesting.}
40. h4 Nb6 41. h5 (41. g5 $5 Na4 42. Bg4+ Ke7 43. Bc8 Nc5 {and thanks to the
trick} 44. Bb4 Ne6+ $1 {Black holds.}) 41... Na4 42. g5 Ba3 {and thanks to
some odd tricky checks from c5 or b2 Black holds his g-pawn. But White has a
lot of possibilities here and can try to trick Black.}) 40. g5 $1 Bf2+ 41. Ke5
{Just losing a tempo. But of course it is tempting to play such a move.} (41.
Ke4 $1 {was more precise. But I think with precise play Black is still able to
hold this position.} Bc5 $1 {I think Black should give up his dreams to stop
h4-h5.} (41... Ne8 42. Bg4+ Ke7 43. Bb4+ Nd6+ 44. Kf4 Bg1 {otherwise Be6 is
coming} 45. h4 {and h5 is coming, after which White has a choice to play h6 ,
exchange on g6 or just stay on h5. Black is may be holding, but it is hard to
believe. Actually I think, White should push h5 and then Be6-g8-xh7 should
give him a winning advantage for example:} (45. Be6 Ke8 $1) (45. Bc8 $2 a5 $1
$11) 45... Bf2 46. h5 Bg1 47. Be6 gxh5 48. Bg8 Bh2+ 49. Kf3 Kf8 50. Bxh7 Kg7
51. Bc2 Be5 52. Be1 Kf7 53. Kg2 Ne8 54. Kh3 Ng7 55. Kh4 Bd4 56. Bb4 Bf2+ 57.
Kh3 Bd4 58. Kg3 {and Black eventually cracks.}) 42. h4 b4 $1 {Black's idea now
is Nb5!-c3. Did Anand see it and that's why played Ne8-c5 and b5, a6??} 43. h5
Ke7 44. hxg6 hxg6 45. Bd3 Nb5 $1 46. Kf4 Nc3 {probably is a draw.}) 41... Bg3+
$1 42. Ke4 (42. Kf6 {seems good, but Black draws with} Nxd5+ 43. Kg7 Bf4 $1 44.
Bxf4 Nxf4 45. Bg4+ Kd6 46. Kxh7 Ke5 47. h4 a5 48. Kh6 b4 49. Bd1 (49. Bd7 Ke4)
49... Kf5 50. Kg7 Nh3 51. Kh6 Nf4 $11) 42... Ne8 43. Bg4+ Ke7 44. Be6 {A bad
move, but I don't see any way for White to win anymore.} ({For example} 44. Kf3
Bd6 (44... Nd6 {looks good, but White is not forced to take the bishop and
after} 45. Bb4 $1 {Black is pinned, but maybe... maybe he still holds here as
well! To be honest I am unable to analyze it to the end.}) 45. Ba5 $5 {trying
to be tricky.} (45. Bc8 Nc7 46. Ke4 (46. Ba5 Nxd5 47. Bxa6 Bb4 $1 48. Bxb4+
Nxb4 49. Bxb5 Nxa2 $11) 46... b4 $1 47. Bb7 a5 48. Bc6 Na6 $1 {jumping back
into the game!} 49. Kd4 Nc5 50. Be1 Kf7 {and I don't see how White can make
progress.}) 45... Bc7 $1 (45... Nc7 46. Ke4 $1 {and b4, a5 is not possible.})
46. Bc3 a5 47. Be6 b4 48. Bd4 Nd6 49. Bf6+ (49. Bg8 Kf8 $1 50. Bxh7 Kf7 $11)
49... Kf8 50. Ke3 a4 51. Kd3 b3 52. axb3 axb3 53. Be5 Ne8 54. Bb2 Bf4 55. Kc4
Bxg5 56. Kxb3 Nd6 {with a draw.}) 44... Nd6+ 45. Kf3 Nc4 $1 {Anand uses the
opportunity to suddenly activate his pieces.} (45... Be5 46. Bb4 {was probably,
what Topalov was hoping for, but as I said earlier, even this may be holdable.}
) 46. Bc1 (46. Kxg3 Nxd2 {is of no danger for Black. For example:} 47. Bg8 Kf8
48. Bxh7 Kg7 49. Kf4 Nc4 50. Bxg6 Kxg6 51. h4 b4 52. Ke4 a5 53. Kd4 Nd6 54. Kc5
Ne4+ 55. Kb5 Nc3+ 56. Kxa5 Nxa2 57. d6 b3 58. d7 b2 59. d8=Q b1=Q {and it is
still a draw.}) (46. Bb4+ Bd6 47. Bc3 Be5 $11) 46... Bd6 47. Ke4 a5 48. Bg4 Ba3
49. Bxa3+ (49. Bf4 Bd6 50. Bc1 {is already the best White can do.}) 49... Nxa3
{In this ending it is only White who has to be careful.} 50. Ke5 Nc4+ 51. Kd4
Kd6 52. Be2 Na3 53. h4 Nc2+ 54. Kc3 Nb4 55. Bxb5 (55. Kb3 Kc5 56. d6 {would
lead to a draw as well, but White doesn't have to make it here.}) 55... Nxa2+
56. Kb3 Nb4 57. Be2 $1 Nxd5 58. h5 {White of course makes a draw, but it is
remarkable after seeing the whole game, that it is he who has to go for it.}
Nf4 59. hxg6 $1 hxg6 60. Bc4 {No Sofia rule can forbid players to agree a draw
in this position. Another draw, but this time it was Anand who was a little
bit more lucky.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.09"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In today's game Anand went for the English Opening (1.c4) and managed to get
a slight advantage. But then due to some very slight and unabvious
inaccuracies he was left without any constructive plan. After that Topalov not
only equalized, but also took over the initiative in the endgame. It seemed
that Anand would hold easily, and he indeed did. But then all of a sudden the
World Champion decided to try his luck and gave away a pawn for some activity.
Objectively Anand was in a great danger, but in order to get some real winning
chances Topalov had to find a sequence of abstract computer moves. Not
suprisingly he didn't and the game ended in a draw.} 1. c4 {Anand in his last
white game (of the classical chess part at least) decided not to enter any
main theoretical lines and just get some positional position.} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3.
Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 {One of the main moves.} ({Recently} 4... Nd4 {has become
very, simplifying the position a little.} 5. Bg2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3) (4... Bc5 {and}
) (4... Bb4 {are main alternatives}) 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 {Black has to
remove the knight from the centre to have control over the d4 square and in
order not to give away the e-pawn.} (6... Be7 $2 7. Nxe5 $1) 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 {
White first gets some space advantage on the queenside, and only later decides
to develop. Well, why not?} (8. Rb1 $5 {is even more tricky and clever}) ({
while} 8. d3 {is more consevative.}) 8... O-O {I remember in his game against
Vallejo, Topalov went for ...g5 in a similar position. Now the position is a
little bit different, but also the situation is not the same...} (8... g5 {
here allows} 9. d4 $1) 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 {White can't avoid making this move.}
f6 ({Another main option is} 10... a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Nd2 {and here Black has a
fine position, as long as he doesn't play} Nd5 $4 {which is punished by} 13.
Bxd5 $1 Bxd5 14. e3 Ne6 15. e4 {winning a piece - which is too much for a
World Championship match.}) (10... Nd4 {is also an option.}) 11. Ne4 $5 {
Not the main move, but a very clever one. White is planning Nc5 and remains
flexible with his queenside development.} Qe8 $5 {The queen frees the
d8-square for the rook and herself goes to f7 or h5.} (11... Qd7 {was played
much more often.}) (11... a5 {is also interesting, now after} 12. Nc5 (12. b5
Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4 {should be fine for Black}) 12... Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5 {Black
wants to push his pawn to a4 and get a nice outpost for his pieces on b3.
However a pawn on a4 also has it's disadvantages and the b3 square can be
covered with the knight from d2 if needed.}) 12. Nc5 $146 {A new move, but the
position was played only once, so it is hard not to make a novelty here.} ({
I would actually think that it would be more flexible to play} 12. Rb1) ({or} 
12. Qc2 $5) 12... Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5 14. Bb2 (14. Bd2 {was another option, so
that White has a free b-file, but now the bishop is on the odd diagonal and
will not be supporting d4 later.}) 14... Rd8 15. Qc2 Nde7 $1 {Good regrouping.
Now the bishop can go to d5 and Black has a very solid position while White's
two bishops are not really important yet.} 16. Rab1 (16. d4 {to open the
diagonals for the bishops is not dangerous:} exd4 17. Rfd1 Bd5 {is a safe way
to equalize} ({while} 17... Nf5 {is more adventurous.} 18. g4 $1 Nh6 19. h3 f5
$1 20. g5 Nf7 21. h4 Bd5)) 16... Ba2 $1 {Why not distract a rook of the World
Champion himself?} 17. Rbc1 Qf7 18. Bc3 Rd7 {With idea to give the other rook
some freedom on the 8th rank.} 19. Qb2 Rb8 {I don't like this move. I think
Black will play b6 anyway one day, so why to wait, until White is fully ready
for that?} (19... b6 {is fine and good in my opinion. Black will then double
on d-file, put his bishop on d5 and then think what to do next.}) 20. Rfd1 Be6
(20... Bd5 {is not good due to} 21. e4 $1 Be6 22. d4 $1 {and the position
opens up with an advantage for White.}) 21. Rd2 {White plans Qb1 and Rb2,
which I like. But now the bishop on c3 has no squares to run in case it is
attacked, which I don't like...} (21. e4 $2 {is now too slow because of} Bg4 $1
) ({while} 21. Qb1 $5 {is possible, preparing Rd2, but not allowing Black to
exchange the c3 bishop.}) 21... h6 $6 {To be honest, I don't like this move,
not only because Black can change a knight for the bishop instead, but also
because for me it seems like a weakening move, since I don't think that Black
is planning ...g5 or ...f5.} (21... Nd5 $5 {To exchange a bishop seems logical
to me - I don't see problems for Black after that. Only thing he has to do is
to prepare b6 when b7 will be attacked.}) 22. Qb1 {Anand is patient and
doesn't want to simplify the position, even if it leads to some advantage for
him. He threatens d4, and also Rb2 now becomes and option.} (22. e4 $5 {
with the idea d4 was already possible. I think White would get a slight
advantage after} Bg4 {(what else?)} 23. d4 Bxf3 24. Bxf3 exd4 25. Bxd4 Nxd4 (
25... Rbd8 $6 26. Bc3 Ne5 27. Be2 Rxd2 28. Bxd2 Nd3 $2 {fails to} 29. Qc2 $1
Nxc1 30. Bc4) 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Qxd4 Nc6 28. Qc3 {and the position would be
better for White anyway. But now h6 also proves to be clearly weakening.})
22... Nd5 {Allowing White to regroup nicely. But Black's position remains
solid.} (22... Qh5 $5 {Trying to fight with d4 is better. Now White has a lot
of options:} 23. d4 {is still possible, though now White has to sacrifece a
pawn or exchange one of his two nice bishops.} ({Perhaps better is} 23. Rb2 $5
b6) ({or} 23. a4 $5 Bh3 24. Bh1 {In both cases White must be slightly better
due to the queenside pressure.}) 23... exd4 24. Nxd4 Nxd4 25. Rxd4 $5 (25. Bxd4
Rbd8 26. e3 Bd5 {exchanging the important bishop.}) 25... Rxd4 26. Bxd4 Qxe2
27. Re1 Qc4 28. Be3 {with some compensation.}) (22... b6 {was an option, but
then why is the rook on b8?} 23. cxb6 (23. Rb2 $5 Rbd8 24. Qc2 $5 Bd5 25. Qa4
Kh8 26. Bb4 {with some pressure, but no threat..}) 23... axb6 24. d4 $1 {
is definetely an option and after} Nxd4 25. Nxd4 exd4 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Bxd4 {
White has two bishops and some edge.}) 23. Rb2 $1 (23. Ba1 Nde7 24. d4 Rbd8 $1
{and now d2 is not protected. That was probably the idea of Topalov.}) 23... b6
({After} 23... Nxc3 24. Rxc3 {Black has no comfortable way to protect the b7
soldier.}) 24. cxb6 ({The immediate} 24. Bd2) ({or} 24. Be1 $5 {made sense and
in my opinion were more clever.}) 24... cxb6 {Now Black can forget about the
weakness on c7.} (24... axb6 {was also possible, but after} 25. Be1 (25. Bd2)
25... Nde7 26. Rbc2 (26. a4 $5) 26... Rd6 27. Bb4 Nxb4 28. axb4 c6 {White has
some pleasant pressure on c6 and later on the a-file and the b6-pawn.}) 25. Bd2
{Strange, but I think it is in fact an inaccuracy. Now Black has an
opportunity to get a powerfull construction: rook d6 and queen d7.} (25. Be1 $1
{was more precise the idea being} Rd6 ({best is probably} 25... Nde7 26. Rbc2 (
26. a4 $5 Rc8 27. Rbc2 Rdd8 {and White has some pressure, though Black is
solid and should be fine.}) 26... Rd6 27. Bb4 Nxb4 28. axb4 (28. Qxb4 $5) 28...
Rc8 {and White has a clearly better version than what he got in the game. But
still, Black is very solid.}) (25... Rc7 {is a possibility, but White is
clearly better after} 26. e4 $1 Nde7 27. d4 $1 exd4 28. Nxd4 Bc4 $1 29. Rd2 {
with his two bishops and better pawn structure.}) 26. Nd2 $1 {and the rook
will be kicked out of d6.}) 25... Rd6 26. Rbc2 (26. Be1 {was still interesting,
with the idea of Nd2.}) (26. a4 {is also a possible, keeping in mind some a5
ideas.}) 26... Qd7 {Now Black has a very solid formation, and it is hard for
White to find a plan.} 27. h4 {Maybe a useful move, but maybe waste of time} ({
Something like} 27. Qb2 Rd8 28. Be1 {threatening d4} Nde7 {and now} 29. Bb4 {
is again a better version of the game.} Nxb4 30. axb4 Rc6 31. Rxc6 Nxc6 32. Ng5
$5 hxg5 33. Rxc6 {and after b5 White will enjoy a small but pleasant advantage.
}) 27... Rd8 28. Qb5 (28. Qb2 {immediately makes sense, since I don't think ...
Nde7 is a bad move. However, it allows} Bg4 $5) 28... Nde7 29. Qb2 Bd5 {
Now Black achieves his ideal setup with his light pieces (that he actually
initialy had...)} 30. Bb4 Nxb4 31. axb4 Rc6 $1 32. b5 (32. Rxc6 Bxc6 33. Nd2 {
was an option, but Black has no problems whatsoever.}) 32... Rxc2 33. Rxc2 Be6
34. d4 $5 {White has no advantage anymore, and this interesting move doesn't
change the evaluation, only the position.} e4 (34... exd4 35. Rd2 Nf5 36. e4 $1
{was the point.}) 35. Nd2 Qxd4 36. Nxe4 $6 {The knight is not doing anything
on this central square anyway, and it may in fact be just loss of a tempo.} (
36. Qxd4 Rxd4 37. Bxe4 {would keep the position equal. For example} Kf7 38. e3
Rb4 39. Bd3 Bd7 40. Ne4 Kf8 41. Nc3 Rb3 42. Bc4 Rb4 43. Bd3 Rb3 44. Bc4 Rb4 {
(for Sofia rules, if you want)}) 36... Qxb2 37. Rxb2 Kf7 38. e3 {At first
sight it seems that White should be better, because his b-pawn holds both
Black's queenside pawns. In fact it will be a weakness later, because Black
has better pieces. If White had a knight on d4 than it would be another story..
.} g5 $1 {Exchanging some pawns and threateng g4 later.} 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. f4 {
Otherwise g4 will fix the white pawns.} (40. Nd2 g4 $1) 40... gxf4 41. exf4 (
41. gxf4 {is the move White would like to play, but the problem is that Black
can attack the pawn immideately.} Nf5 42. Kf2 Rd3) 41... Rd4 42. Kf2 Nf5 {
Here it became clear, that it is already Black who may be better.} 43. Bf3 (43.
Nd2 $5 Ra4 {and Black keeps some pressure.}) (43. g4 $5 {was perhaps the most
precise way to equalize:} Nh4 44. Ke3 Ra4 45. f5 Nxg2+ 46. Rxg2 Bd5 47. Nc3 $1
Ra3 48. Rc2 $1 {and the position is drawn.}) 43... Bd5 44. Nd2 Bxf3 45. Nxf3
Ra4 46. g4 $6 {Inaccuracy: White weakens his kingside pawns as well now. But
of course in return he gets some activity...} (46. Rd2 $1 Ke7 47. Kg2 Ra3 $1 (
47... Nd6 48. Nd4)) 46... Nd6 $6 (46... Ne7 $1 {was more precise, winning a
pawn.} 47. Kg3 {Trying to stick to the pawn may end badly:} (47. Rd2 $5 {
is objectively safer. Now Black wins a pawn, but it will still probably end in
a draw.} Rxf4 48. Kg3) (47. g5 Nd5 $1 48. gxf6 Kxf6) 47... Nd5 48. f5 Ne3 $1
49. Nh2 Nc4 50. Rb3 Ra3 $1 51. Rf3 $1 Ra5 $1 {and the pawn is lost, though
this position looks pretty much like, what happened in the game.} 52. Rc3 Nd6
53. Rc7+ Ke8) 47. Kg3 Ne4+ (47... Ra3 $5 {would keep some pressure, but the
position is drawn.}) 48. Kh4 $1 (48. Kg2 $2 Nc5 $1 49. Kg3 Nd3) 48... Nd6 {#}
49. Rd2 $2 {A heart-stopping winning attempt that could have backfired.} (49.
Kg3 {would be a draw. I don't think Topalov would play on with} Ra3 $5 {
although Black has still a more pleasant position.}) 49... Nxb5 50. f5 Re4 {
If Black had a win, then it was very difficult. Topalov plays like a human,
but that's not enough.} (50... a5 {is most straightforward, but White
equalizes after the precise} 51. Rd5 $1 (51. Kh5 $2 Rf4 $1 52. Nh4 Nd4) 51...
Rb4 52. Kh5 Nc3 $1 (52... a4 53. g5) 53. Rd7+ Ke8 54. Rd3 $1 Ne4 55. g5 fxg5 (
55... a4 56. Kg6 $1) 56. Nxg5 Nxg5 57. Kxg5 a4 58. Rh3 $11) (50... Nc3 $5 {
was in my opinion the best chance. Black just brings his knight to the center,
from where it will defend the kingside. I believe White holds after} 51. Kh5 {
Probably the best idea is that after} (51. Rd7+ {actually leads by force to an
interesting ending-} Ke8 52. Rb7 (52. Rd3 $2 Ne4 53. Kh5 Nf2 54. Re3+ Re4 $1
55. Ra3 Nxg4 56. Rxa7 Ne3 57. Kg6 Nd5 $19) 52... Nd5 53. Kh5 Rf4 54. Nh4 a5 55.
g5 fxg5 56. Kxg5 a4 57. Ra7 b5 58. Ra5 Rb4 59. Ng6 (59. f6 $2 Nxf6 60. Kxf6
Rxh4 61. Rxb5 Kd7 $19) 59... Kd7 60. f6 Nxf6 61. Kxf6 {and maybe White can
draw this, but I am not sure.}) 51... Rf4 (51... Ne4 {is probably more
critical, and the position is unclear, with Black having some winning chances
after} 52. Rd7+ Ke8 53. Rc7) 52. Nh4 Ne4 {White sacrifices the knight and
draws in a study like way:} 53. Rd7+ Ke8 54. Rxa7 $1 Ng3+ 55. Kg6 $1 Rxg4+ 56.
Kxf6 Rxh4 57. Ke6 $1 Re4+ 58. Kd5 $1 {and wins the b6-pawn with a draw. It is
however not easy to find, to say the least.}) (50... Rf4 $1 51. Kg3 Rb4 $1 52.
Rd7+ Ke8 53. Rb7 Ra4 $1) 51. Kh5 $1 Re3 52. Nh4 Nc3 53. Rd7+ $1 Re7 54. Rd3 $1
{Winning some tempos for knight g6.} Ne4 55. Ng6 {#} Nc5 $1 (55... Rc7 56. Kh6
{looks a bit scary for Black, but it is still drawn.}) 56. Ra3 $5 {Vishy keeps
on trying. Well, it is his last white game in the classical part of the match,
so why not?} (56. Nxe7 Nxd3 57. Nc8 b5 58. Nd6+ $1 {is an easy draw.}) 56...
Rd7 57. Re3 Kg7 58. g5 b5 59. Nf4 b4 (59... fxg5 60. Kxg5 {is also equal, but
it looks tricky for Black.}) 60. g6 $1 {White is threatening Kg4 and Nh5+} b3
$1 {Closer to promotion, more destruction.} 61. Rc3 {Setting a trap...} Rd4 $1
{Of course not falling in it!} (61... b2 $4 62. Rxc5 $1 b1=Q {and the queen
will not help, when after two moves there will be a mate on board...} 63. Ne6+
Kg8 64. Rc8+) (61... Rc7 {was another drawing line.} 62. Nd3 (62. Nd5 $5 b2 63.
Nxc7 b1=Q 64. Rxc5) 62... Ne6 63. Rxb3 Nd4 64. Ra3 Nxf5 65. Nf4) 62. Rxc5 Rxf4
63. Rc7+ Kg8 64. Rb7 Rf3 ({A blunder like} 64... Rxf5+ $4 65. Kh6 {doesn't
really belong in World Championships.}) 65. Rb8+ ({It is still possible to get
too ambitious:} 65. Kh6 $4 Rh3# {and Black is first to mate. But, as I said,
this is not for World Champions...}) 65... Kg7 {...and in view of perpetual
check the players agreed to a draw. Anand didn't manage to win the last white
game, and Topalov always had a solid position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.11"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In this game Anand chose the solid QGD and after employing a relatively
unknown idea, at least for Topalov, he easily equalized. Topalov, on the other
hand, wanted to finish the match today. He took risks and displayed great
self-confidence. However, with strong strikes 30...e5! and 31...f5! Anand took
the initiative. Then something absolutely unbelievable happened: In less than
five minutes, despite having more than half an hour left on his clock, Topalov
committed suicide with 31.exf5? and 32.fxe4??. Anand obtained a decisive
attack as a result, which he converted with great precision to the end.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 e6 $1 {A Queen's Gambit Declined! And a classic World Championship
opening. Remember the famous Capablanca-Alekhine match? Or Karpov-Kasparov? To
be honest, before the game I tried to guess the opening, and believe it or not,
I actually managed to predict it! After all, which opening could be more solid
or trustworthy than the good ol' Queen's Gambit?} 3. Nf3 ({I had expected} 3.
Nc3 {in Kasparov style.} Nf6 (3... Be7 {is how to avoid it-} 4. cxd5 exd5 5.
Bf4 {and there are plenty of games to study. For example, Kasparov-Karpov 1985
as well as 2009!}) 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 {The point being that later White will
develop his knight to the far more flexible e2, planning f3 and e4.} Be7 6. e3
c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. f3) 3... Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bg5 (5. Bf4 {is another main-line with thousands of games played.}) 5... h6
{It is important to include this little move.} 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 {The
Lasker Defence! The solidest of the solid.} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 {
A new little nuance.} (10. Bd3 {was more popular previously, but here Black
has an interesting idea:} Nxc3 11. Rxc3 Nd7 $5 12. O-O (12. Qc2 $5) 12... e5 $1
) 10... Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 {One of the two main moves.}
({Hundreds of games have been played with} 13... e5 {as well. The position is
always between slightly better to equal.}) 14. Bd3 c5 15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 ({
I thought that} 16. Qa4 $5 {was slightly stronger, but mainly for
psychological reasons.}) 16... Nf6 $1 {An idea from the Polish player,
Grabarczyk, which was probably a surprise for Topalov.} (16... a5 {was used to
be one of the main moves here, as well as ...Bb7 and ...Ba6.}) 17. dxc5 (17.
Bc6 {covers the c6-square, and can thus be answered with} cxd4 18. Nxd4 e5 $1)
17... Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 {So, let's stop and evaluate the position. Black has
a weak pawn on c5 and later possibly on a7 as well. On the other hand, his
bishop, which will be developed to b7 on the next move, will be much better
than the white knight. All in all the position is about equal.} 19. Qc2 {
An ambitious move. Topalov is not satisfied with the very slight advantage he
would obtain after 19.b3.} (19. b3 {was played twice against the inventor of
16...Nf6.} Bb7 20. Qf4 (20. Qe5 Rbc8 (20... Bxf3) 21. Rfc1 Rfd8 22. e4 Qd6 $1
$11) (20. Qh4 $5) 20... Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Rfd8 22. Rfc1 Rd2 23. R1c2 Rbd8 24. g3 {
and White is a little better, but Black should draw this without any real
problems.}) 19... Bb7 20. Nd2 (20. Rxc5 $6 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Rxb2 $1 {is a trick
that you will have to remember, because I don't want to mention it on every
move.}) (20. e4 {can be answered with the sharp} f5 $5 {Now, one of the
possible lines is} 21. Nd2 Rfd8 22. exf5 Bxg2 $1 23. Kxg2 Qg5+ 24. Rg3 Qxd2 25.
Qxc5 exf5 $11) 20... Rfd8 21. f3 {This is slightly weakening, especially
considering that later White would also play g3. However, White has to
restrict Black's bishop, so the move is justified.} (21. Rxc5 $4 Rxd2 $1) 21...
Ba6 $146 {Until now, they were following a German correspondence game from
2000, but now Anand accidentally plays a novelty, and a good one at that.
Since White is blocking the h1-a8 diagonal, why not bring the bishop to
another?} 22. Rf2 {Another fighting move.} (22. Rc1 {seemed more logical to me,
but here Black could immediately draw, among the other possibilities, which
would favor the World Champion.} Qd7 23. Nb3 c4 {and White would to exchange
the annoying c4-pawn for either b2 or a2.} (23... Bd3 $11)) 22... Rd7 {Simply
doubling on the d-file.} (22... Rd5 23. e4 Rd7 {only look clever. White
doesn't mind playing e4 anyway.}) 23. g3 {A committal move, but White needs
space for his king. Here it became clear to me, that it was not Anand, but
Topalov who may be in trouble.} Rbd8 24. Kg2 Bd3 {Anand smartly decides to
avoid making any committal moves, while it is not yet clear. He prefers to
wait for Topalov to do part of the job.} ({More aggressive moves were also
possible. For example,} 24... h5 $5 25. Ne4 (25. h4 e5 26. e4 $6 g5 $1 $19)
25... Bd3 26. Qa4 Bxe4 (26... c4 $5 27. Nd2 e5 28. Nxc4 Qe6 {is unclear}) 27.
Qxe4 Rd2 {with equality}) ({Or} 24... e5 $5 25. e4 h5 26. Nc4 h4 27. Ne3 Qe6 {
and here White can play the non-standard} 28. gxh4 $1 {with an unclear
position.}) 25. Qc1 (25. Qa4 {was dangerous.} Qg5 (25... Bb5 $11) 26. e4 $6 (
26. Ne4 $1 $11) 26... Qe3 27. Qa5 Qe1 28. Qxc5 Be2 $1 29. Nb3 Rd1 30. Kh3 R8d3
{and White is in danger to say the least.}) 25... Ba6 $1 {The c5-pawn was
hanging, and Vishy decides to come back with the bishop and ask Topalov, what
he thinks.} 26. Ra3 {I had no doubts, that Topalov would play on.} Bb7 $1 {
Now that c5 isn't in any danger, Vishy returns the bishop to its rightful spot.
Now the bishop also smiles towards White's king, who will suffer a lot in this
game!} 27. Nb3 (27. e4 {can be answered by} f5 $1 28. Qc2 g5 $1 {and the
bishop smiles again!}) 27... Rc7 28. Na5 Ba8 {Of course!} 29. Nc4 {If any
other move had been played, then 29...g5! was strong.} ({For example} 29. e4 g5
$1 {and now let me demonstrate how White could end up if he calculated badly.}
30. Re3 Rd4 31. h3 h5 $1 32. g4 hxg4 33. hxg4 f5 $1 34. gxf5 g4 $1 {opening
the diagonal for the bishop and winning.}) ({or} 29. Rc3 g5 30. Nb3 g4 31. e4
gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 f5 33. Nxc5 Qg7 $5 {and it is clear, that the white king is not
the happiest piece on board.}) 29... e5 $1 {Played instantly. Anand is playing
it safe. 29...g5 was possible here as well, but it would lead to a
double-edged position.} ({For instance} 29... g5 $5 30. e4 (30. h3 f5 31. Kh2 (
31. g4 h5 $1) 31... h5 {with an unclear position.}) 30... g4 (30... f5 $5) 31.
Qxh6 gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 Rd4 33. Nd2 Rcd7 34. Kg2 Qd8 35. Rf4 $1 Rxd2+ 36. Kh3 Bxe4
$3 37. Rxe4 R2d4 38. Ra4 Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rd4 40. Re5 Rd5 41. Re4 Rd4 {is a truly
beautiful draw.}) 30. e4 {Other moves were possible, but then Black would be
able to play e4-f4 securing the d3 square for a rook, or make some other
useful move.} f5 $1 31. exf5 $2 {Crazy.} (31. Nd2 $1 {was the right move.} fxe4
32. Nxe4 {Now Black can choose between equalizing or keeping his bishop and
the pressure with} Rd4 $5 (32... Bxe4 33. fxe4 Rd4 $11)) 31... e4 $1 32. fxe4
$4 {Even crazier. Without any calculation, it seems pretty obvious, that it is
very dangerous to expose your king this much. So it was even more surprising,
that Topalov played this and the previous move so quickly!} ({Something like} 
32. Re3 {was essential, but it is clear that} exf3+ 33. Kg1 Qg5 {is not really
what White wants. Black is clearly better.}) 32... Qxe4+ {From now on Anand
never let Veselin escape, nor gave him a single reason to hope.} 33. Kh3 Rd4
34. Ne3 Qe8 $3 {THE move, that Vishy had to find. I assume that it was the one
that Topalov had missed.} 35. g4 h5 $1 {It is hopeless for White. All Black's
pieces are ready to meet alone with the white king.} 36. Kh4 g5+ $5 {Vishy
chooses the most elegant way to keep his title.} (36... Qd8+ 37. f6 hxg4 {
was winning as well.}) ({but surprisingly} 36... hxg4 $4 {loses the advantage.}
37. Nxg4 {and White's king doesn't feel so bad anymore with a knight on g4 to
keep him company, and a queen coming to g5.}) 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38. Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.
Kh3 Re7 $1 {Anand again goes for the most beautiful solution.} ({For example} 
39... Kh7 {to avoid checks, was winning too.}) 40. Rf8+ Kg7 41. Nf5+ (41. Rxa8
{Now I can imagine how happy Vishy was while executing his moves.} Rxe3+ $1 42.
Rxe3 Rh4+ $3 43. Kxh4 Qg4# {Ohh, what a picture!}) 41... Kh7 $1 {Naturally not
taking the rook which would turn the tables upside down.} 42. Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.
hxg3 Qg4+ 44. Kh2 Re2+ 45. Kg1 Rg2+ 46. Qxg2 Bxg2 {At this point, some people
got very nervous, screaming that they had found a draw. The calm World
Champion, however, had seen everything in advance.} 47. Kxg2 (47. Rf7+ Kg6 $1
48. Rg7+ Kxf5 49. Rxg4 hxg4 $1 50. Kxg2 Ke4 51. Kf2 Kd3 {and the pawn ending
is hopeless.}) 47... Qe2+ 48. Kh3 c4 $1 {Our human Champion is as precise as
an engine.} 49. a4 a5 50. Rf6 Kg8 $1 {It is zugzwang!} 51. Nh6+ Kg7 52. Rb6 Qe4
(52... Qf3 {would win as well, but Anand decided that today was Zugzwang Day!}
53. Kh4 Qe4+ $1 54. Kxh5 Qd5+ $19) 53. Kh2 Kh7 $1 {Zugzwang again!} 54. Rd6 Qe5
55. Nf7 Qxb2+ 56. Kh3 Qg7 $1 {Great and flawless play by Anand! A perfect game
to defend one's title with.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.22"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Stevic, Hrvoje"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2607"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8.
gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4 10. Nb5 e5 11. Nc7+ Kd7 12. Nxa8 Bb4+ 13. Kd1 Ne7 14. f4
Rxa8 15. fxe5 Rd8 16. Bh3+ Ke8 17. Be3 Nd5 18. Bxd4 Nf4 19. Kc2 Rxd4 20. Bf1
Ne6 21. Rd1 Rf4 22. Kb1 Ke7 23. Bg2 b6 24. Rhf1 Bc5 25. Rd2 h5 26. Bd5 g5 27.
f3 a5 28. Rfd1 Rf5 29. Be4 Rxe5 30. Rd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 f6 32. Kc2 Bd6 33. Rd2
Bf4 34. Rf2 f5 35. Bd5 Nc5 36. Re2+ Kf6 37. Kc3 b5 38. Kd4 Bd6 39. Bg8 g4 40.
fxg4 hxg4 41. Kd5 Ne4 42. a4 bxa4 43. Rxe4 fxe4 44. Kxd6 Kf5 45. Bc4 Kf4 46.
Be2 g3 47. hxg3+ Kxg3 48. Kc5 Kf2 49. Bh5 Ke1 50. Kb5 Kd2 51. Kxa4 Kc2 52. Ka3
e3 53. Be2 a4 54. Ba6 Kc1 55. Ka2 Kc2 56. Bc4 Kc1 57. Bb5 Kd2 58. Kb1 e2 59.
Bxe2 Kxe2 60. Kc2 Ke1 61. Kc3 Kd1 62. Kb4 Kc2 63. Kxa4 Kxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Arias Santana, Mauricio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2345"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Costa Rica"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CRI"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Bc4 c6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Re1
O-O 9. Bb3 Be6 10. c3 Nd7 11. Nd3 Nc7 12. Bg5 Re8 13. Nd2 a5 14. Ne4 h6 15. Bh4
Qc8 16. Nec5 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Bxb3 18. axb3 Nd5 19. Bg3 b6 20. Nd3 Qf5 21. Qe2
Rac8 22. h3 Red8 23. Rad1 Re8 24. Ne5 c5 25. Qb5 Red8 26. dxc5 Rxc5 27. Qa4 Qc8
28. b4 axb4 29. cxb4 Rc2 30. b5 Bxe5 31. Bxe5 Rc4 32. Qa7 e6 33. Bd4 Qb8 34.
Qa3 Rdc8 35. Be5 Qb7 36. Qd3 Qe7 37. b3 Rc2 38. Ba1 Qc5 39. Qg3 Qc7 40. Be5 Qc5
41. Qf3 Qe7 42. Bd4 Qb4 43. Qe4 Qd6 44. g3 R2c5 45. Bxc5 Qxc5 46. Qd3 Qc3 47.
Qe2 Qf6 48. Rc1 Rxc1 49. Rxc1 Qd4 50. Rc4 Qa1+ 51. Kg2 Kg7 52. Qd2 Qa8 53. Qd4+
Kh7 54. Kh2 h5 55. Rc6 Qb7 56. Qe5 Qa8 57. h4 Qb7 58. Rc4 Qa8 59. Ra4 Qc8 60.
Ra7 Kg8 61. Qa1 Qc3 62. Qxc3 Nxc3 63. Rb7 Nd5 64. f3 Kg7 65. g4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lodhi, Mahmood"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2391"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Pakistan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PAK"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bb4 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. g3 a5 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. e4 e5 15. d5
Ne8 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Qg4 Nd6 18. Ba2 Nf6 19. Qxg6 Kh8 20. Qg5 Bxc3 21. bxc3
Ndxe4 22. Qh4+ Kg8 23. Bb1 Nxc3 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Ba3 Qe8 26. Bf5+ Kg8 27. Rd6
Ncd5 28. Rd1 g6 29. Rxf6 Nxf6 30. Qxf6 Rd8 31. Rc1 gxf5 32. Be7 Rd1+ 33. Rxd1
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.25"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Rb8 8. Qe2
b5 9. Bd2 Be7 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Rc1 Nd5 13. Nc3 Ndb4 14. Ne4 O-O 15.
Nc5 Bc8 16. Ne5 Rb6 17. Nxc6 Nxc6 18. Ra2 Bd6 19. Rac2 Qe8 20. Qd3 a5 21. f4 f6
22. Ne4 Bb7 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. Ne4 Bb7 25. Nc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Matamoros Franco, Carlos S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Ecuador"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ECU"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. f3 c5 14. g4 hxg4 15. hxg4
Nf7 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. Rb1 Nc8 18. b4 b6 19. Bc2 Bh6 20. a3 Kg7 21. Ba4 Bxa4 22.
Qxa4 Rh8 23. Ke2 Ne7 24. Bf2 Bf4 25. Nb3 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Qc8 27. Nc1 a6 28. Qb3
Qc7 29. Nd3 Rh8 30. Rxh8 Kxh8 31. a4 cxb4 32. Qxb4 a5 33. Qb5 Nc8 34. Qc6 Qd8
35. Nb5 f5 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. exf5 Bh6 38. Nc7 Kh7 39. Ne6 Qg8 40. Qd7 e4 41.
Ne1 e3 42. Bh4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Bluvshtein, Mark"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Canada"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 Na6 7. Bg5 c6 8. Be2 {
I recommended} (8. Nd2 {in my survey (see CBM 132) but GM Mark Bluvshtein
chooses his own way.}) 8... e5 9. d5 h6 10. Be3 Nh5 {Since White has not
played Nf3-d2, this move is logical.} (10... cxd5 11. cxd5 {is rather
favorable for White as his e2 bishop is now active, and he gets the c4-square
for his knight.}) 11. dxc6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A central action in reply to a
flank attack! Black's d6-pawn now becomes vulnerable. The other options don't
bring White any real advantage:} (11. g3 cxd5 12. cxd5 (12. Nxd5 Nc5) 12... f5
$1 {That's the point!} 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Nd2 (14. Nxe5 f4 $1 (14... Nxg3 $143
15. fxg3 Bxe5 16. Bxh6) 15. gxf4 Nxf4 16. Bxf4 Rxf4 17. Nd3 Rd4 $44) 14... f4
15. Bxh5 fxe3 16. fxe3 e4 $1 17. Ndxe4 Qe7 18. Qe2 Bf5 $44 {0-1 D'Costa,L 
(2456)-Vorobiov,E (2592)/Rethymnon 2010/CBM 137 Extra (24)}) (11. Qd2 Nf4 $1
12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Qxf4 Qb6 14. Qd2 Nc5 15. O-O Re8 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. Nd2 a5 18.
Bf3 a4 $44 {1/2 Corke,A (2237)-Conquest,S (2549)/Hinckley Island 2009/EXT 2010
(44)}) (11. Nd2 Nf4 12. Bf1 f5 13. g3 Ne6 $5 14. exf5 gxf5 (14... Nd4 $1 15.
fxg6 Nb4 16. Rc1 Bf5 17. Nce4 Qa5 $40) 15. dxe6 f4 16. gxf4 (16. Nde4 fxe3 17.
fxe3 Bxe6 18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19. Nxd6 e4 $5 20. Ndxe4 Rae8 $44) 16... exf4 17. Bd4
Bxd4 18. Rg1+ Bg7 19. Qh5 Qe8 20. Qxh6 Qxe6+ 21. Qxe6+ Bxe6 22. Nde4 Nc5 23.
O-O-O Rad8 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Nxd6 Kh8 $44 {1/2 Pliester,L (2367)-Tkachiev,V 
(2672)/Netherlands 2001/EXT 2002 (34)}) 11... bxc6 12. Qd2 Nf4 13. O-O $1 (13.
O-O-O $6 {[%cal Gb8b2]}) 13... f5 (13... Qf6 $5 14. Rfd1 Rd8 15. c5 $5 $36) 14.
Bxf4 exf4 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Rad1 (16. Nd4 $5 Bd7 17. Rfe1) 16... Rb8 17. Nd4
Bd7 (17... Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxb2 19. Bf3 Qf6 20. Bxc6 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 $16 {[%csl
Rd6]}) 18. Bf3 Qb6 19. Nb3 (19. b3 $5 $14) 19... Be5 20. Ne4 Rbd8 21. Qe2 c5 {
After this weakening of the light squares White obtains a small but clear edge.
Alas, otherwise White plays c4-c5 himself:} (21... Bf5 22. c5 $1 dxc5 23. Nexc5
Nxc5 24. Qxe5 Nd3 25. Qc3 $16 {[%csl Rg8]}) (21... Rfe8 22. c5 $1 $16) 22. Rd2
Rfe8 23. Rfd1 Bf5 $4 {[%mdl 8192] This terrible blunder ends the game.} (23...
Ba4 24. h4 $1 $36 {>>}) (23... Be6 24. Nc1 $5 $14 {[%cal Yb2b3,Yc1d3]}) 24.
Nxd6 $1 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 $1 Rxe2 26. Rxd8+ Kf7 27. Bxe2 $18 {with both material
and positional advantage.} Ke7 28. Bg4 {The simplest. The knight endgame is
easily winning for White.} Bxg4 29. hxg4 Qxd8 30. Rxd8 Kxd8 31. Kf1 Ke7 32. Ke2
Kd6 33. a3 Nb8 34. Kf3 Ke5 35. Nxc5 g5 36. Nb3 Nd7 37. Ke2 Kd6 38. f3 Ne5 39.
Na5 Kc5 40. b4+ Kd4 41. c5 Kd5 42. Kd2 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Philippines"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PHI"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qd2 {This move is not too
popular but quite decent.} Ne5 (12... Qa5 {is the main line.}) 13. Bb3 (13. Bd5
e6 14. dxe5 exd5 15. Bg5 Re8 16. exd5 Bxe5 17. f4 (17. Ng3 f5 18. f4 Bd6 $15 {
0-1 Gligoric,S (2565)-Savon,V (2540)/Ljubljana 1977/MCD (42)}) 17... Bg7 18. d6
Qc6 19. Be7 b5 20. f5 Bxf5 21. Rxf5 gxf5 22. Ng3 c4 $13 {0-1 Gligoric,S (2565)
-Tseshkovsky,V (2590)/Ljubljana 1977/MCD (32)}) 13... Ng4 (13... c4 $6 14. Bc2
Ng4 15. Bf4 e5 16. Bg3 Qa5 17. Rfd1 (17. Bh4 $6 Rxd4 $1 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. h3
Ne5 20. f4 Nd3 21. Bxd3 dxc3 22. Qe2 cxd3 23. Qxd3 b5 $44 {0-1 Ftacnik,L (2535)
-Dvoirys,S (2470)/Sochi 1982/MCD (49)}) 17... Bh6 18. f4 exd4 19. cxd4 Qxd2 20.
Rxd2 b5 21. h3 Ne3 22. Bb1 b4 23. a3 a5 24. axb4 axb4 25. Kf2 c3 26. Ra2 $1 $16
{1-0 Kluve,S (2568)-Pfretzschner,R (2506)/corr ICCF 1999/80 telechess (50)})
14. Bf4 e5 15. Bg3 (15. Bg5 $2 exd4 $1 16. g3 d3 $1 17. Bxd8 Qxd8 18. Kg2 Bh6
19. f4 Qc7 20. Ng1 c4 21. Bd1 Qe7 $17 {[%csl Gd3] 1/2 Schrader,A-Kapfenstein,A/
www.desc-online.de 2005/Telechess CBM 113 (33)}) 15... Qe7 (15... Bh6 $2 16.
Bxe5 $1 Qxe5 17. Qxh6 Qxe4 18. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 19. Qxh7+ Kf6 (19... Kf8 20. Qh8+
Ke7 21. Qg7+ Kd6 22. dxc5+ Kc6 23. Nd4+ Rxd4 24. cxd4 Be6 25. Rce1 Qf5 26. f3 {
1-0 Tarjan,J (2525)-Castro Rojas,O (2430)/Bogota 1979/EXT 2003}) 20. Ng3 Qe7
21. Ne4+ $1 Qxe4 22. Rce1 $18 {1-0 Muratov,V-Kremenietsky,A/Soviet Union 1974/
EXT 2010 (27)}) 16. h3 (16. f3 Bh6 17. Qb2 Ne3 18. Rfe1 c4 19. Ba4 f6 20. Rb1
Qd6 21. dxe5 fxe5 22. Bf2 Qf6 23. Ng3 Rd3 $36 {0-1 Petidis,K-Nemeth,L/LSS 2006/
Telechess CBM 127 (38)}) (16. Bd5 Bh6 $1 (16... exd4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Rc7 Rd7
19. Rfc1 $16 {1-0 Spassky,B (2565)-Roos,D (2410)/France 1993/TD (23)}) (16...
Be6 17. dxe5 c4 18. f4 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qc5+ 20. Nd4 Rxd5 21. Qe2 Qc8 22. Rce1 $14
{1/2 Toth,B (2390)-Castro Rojas,O (2420)/Rome 1980/MCD (42)}) 17. f4 exd4 18.
cxd4 Be6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Bh4 Re8 21. Nc3 cxd4 22. Qxd4 Bg7 23. e5 f6 24. Nd5
Rad8 25. Rcd1 Ne3 26. Qxe3 Rxd5 27. Qxa7 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 fxe5 29. fxe5 {1/2
Valeinis,J-Bendig,F/LSS 2007/Telechess CBM 127}) 16... Nf6 (16... Bh6 17. f4
Nf6 {1-0 Jeremic,V-Manescu,T (2070)/Cannes 1997/EXT 2000 (59)} 18. Bh4 $16) 17.
Qe3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (17. f3 Nh5 18. Bf2 cxd4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Be6 $11
{0-1 Vakhidov,J-Faizulaev,A/Tashkent 2007/CBM 119 ext (49)}) 17... exd4 18.
cxd4 cxd4 (18... Qxe4 19. Be5 $1 {and White keeps unpleasant pressure:} cxd4
20. Nxd4 Bf5 (20... Qxe3 21. fxe3 Nd5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. e4 Nf6 24. Rc7 $1 $16)
(20... Bh6 $5 21. Qxh6 Qxe5 22. Nf3 $1 $36) 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rc7
Rf8 24. Rxb7 $14) 19. Nxd4 Ng4 $5 {This tactical trick doesn't solve Black's
problems.} (19... Qxe4 20. Be5 {- see previous annotation.}) 20. hxg4 Bxd4 21.
Qf3 $1 Be6 (21... Bb6 22. g5 {[%cal Yf3f6]} Be6 23. Be5 $1 $36) 22. Rc7 Rd7 23.
Bh4 $1 Qxh4 (23... Qd6 $2 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Rd1 {[%cal Gd1d7]}) 24. Rxd7 Bxd7
25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Qd5 $1 (26. Qxd7 $143 Rd8 $132) 26... Qf6 27. g5 $1 Qg7 (
27... Qe5 28. Qxd7 Qxe4 (28... Rf8 29. Qd5) 29. Rd1 Bg7 30. Bd5 {- White keeps
an extra pawn in a much more favourable version.}) 28. Rd1 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 $16 {
[%csl Ge4,Rh8] The material is equal now but White keeps the better prospects
due to his strong passed pawn and the poor position of the black king.} Rf8+ (
29... Bc6 30. Qd8+ $1 Qf8+ 31. Qf6+ $1 Qxf6+ 32. gxf6 Bxe4 33. g4 $16 {[%csl
Gf6]}) 30. Kg3 $2 {Alas! Deep home preparation (I am 100% sure that this
position had been on Topalov's computer long before the game) has only one but
an essential drawback: it is impossible for a human to remember everything.
The text move lets White's advantage slip.} (30. Kg1 $142 $1 Bc6 31. Qc5 {
avoiding the checks on c7 and e5 and keeping a clear plus, e.g.} Re8 (31...
Bxe4 $4 {loses due to} 32. Rd7 $1 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Re8 34. Qc7) 32. Rf1 {etc.})
30... Bc6 31. Qc5 Re8 32. Rf1 h6 (32... h5 {was even more accurate, e.g.} 33.
Rf6 (33. Rf7 Qe5+) (33. gxh6 Qc7+ $1 34. e5 Qxe5+ 35. Qxe5+ Rxe5 $11) 33...
Qc7+ 34. e5 Qxe5+ 35. Qxe5 Rxe5 36. Rxg6 Re2 $11) 33. Rf7 Qe5+ 34. Qxe5+ Rxe5 {
[%mdl 4096]} 35. gxh6 Rxe4 {Black easily holds his ground in this ending as
the white king is cut off.} 36. Kh3 ({The rook ending after} 36. Bd1 Rd4 37.
Bf3 {is drawn, e.g.} Ra4 38. Bxc6 bxc6 39. Rg7 Rxa2 (39... g5 $5 40. Rxg5 $140
Kh7) 40. Rxg6 c5 41. Kh4 (41. Rc6 Kh7 42. Kh3 Rb2 43. g4 Rb6 $1 $11) 41... Kh7
42. Kh5 c4 43. Rg7+ Kh8 44. g4 Ra5+ 45. g5 Rc5 46. Rxa7 c3 $11) 36... Re5 37.
g3 (37. Bd1 Rf5 $5) 37... Rc5 38. Kg4 a5 39. Rg7 a4 40. Be6 Re5 41. Bc8 (41.
Bf7 Bd7+ 42. Kf4 Rf5+ 43. Ke4 (43. Ke3 Re5+ 44. Kd4 Re7 45. Kc5 Be6 46. Bxe6
Rxe6 47. Kb5 (47. Rxb7 Re2 48. a3 Re3 $11) 47... Re2 $1 48. a3 Rb2+ 49. Kxa4
b5+ 50. Ka5 Rb3 51. Rxg6 Kh7 $11) 43... Rh5 $1 44. Rg8+ Kh7 45. Bxg6+ Kxg8 46.
Bxh5 Kh7 47. a3 Kxh6 48. Be2 (48. Bd1 b5 49. Kd3 b4 50. axb4 a3 51. Kc3 Kg5 $11
52. Kb3 Ba4+ $1) 48... Kg5 $1 (48... b5 $2 49. Kd4 b4 50. axb4 a3 51. Kc3 Kg5
52. Kb3) 49. Kd4 Kf5 50. Kc5 Ke4 51. Bb5 Be6 52. Bxa4 Kf3 53. Bd1+ Kxg3 $11)
41... Bd5 42. a3 b5 43. Ra7 (43. Rxg6 $6 b4) 43... Re8 44. Bb7 Re4+ $1 {
The simplest.} 45. Kg5 Re7 46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Bxd5 Re5+ 48. Kf6 Rxd5 49. g4 Rc5
50. Rb8 Rc6+ 51. Kg5 Rc5+ 52. Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b6 14. Bd3 c5
15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qc2 Rfc8 20. Rc1 Qb7 21.
Rc4 a5 22. Ne5 Kg8 23. dxc5 Rxc5 24. Rxc5 bxc5 25. b3 Rc8 26. Nc4 Qc7 27. Rd1
Ra8 28. g3 Nd5 29. h4 Nb4 30. Qe4 Rd8 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. Qb1 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5
34. a3 Nc6 35. Qc2 Qd5 36. Nb6 Qd6 37. Nc4 Qd5 38. Qc3 g4 39. a4 Nb4 40. Qf6
Nc6 41. Qf4 f5 42. Qc7 Qd1+ 43. Kh2 Qf3 44. Qc8+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ Kf6 46. Kg1 Qd5
47. Qc8 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 49. Qf8+ Kg6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 51. Qh8+ Kg6 52. Qg8+ Kf6
53. Qf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.01"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Movsesian,S"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Slovakia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SVK"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 ({In our previous encounter Topalov opted for} 
3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nf6 9. h3 O-O 10.
O-O a6 11. a4 e6 12. Be3 Rc8 13. b3 Qd8 14. Nde2 Nc6 15. Qd2 Bf8 16. Rfd1 $14 {
Movsesian-Topalov, Nanjing 2008}) 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Bg5
Rc8 8. Nc3 h6 9. Bh4 e5 $5 {Typically for him, Topalov goes for a complicated,
double-edged position.} 10. Qd3 g5 11. Bg3 Nf6 12. h4 ({Also the immediate} 12.
Nd2 $5 {looks quite interesting} b5 13. a4 Qa5 14. O-O bxa4 15. Rfb1 $5 $13 {
Naiditsch-Sanikidze, Rijeka 2010}) 12... g4 $5 $146 {A new approach in this
position.} (12... Rg8 13. hxg5 hxg5 {with a possible} 14. O-O-O Qc7 15. Kb1 b5
16. Rhe1 $13 {Degraeve-Bologan, Comtois 2002}) 13. Nd2 b5 14. a3 Be6 15. O-O
Be7 16. Rfd1 Qb6 17. Nf1 Rc4 18. Nd2 {I have to admit, that I underestimated
Black's last move, so in the event of 18...Rc8 I would consider other moves
than 19.Nf1.} (18. a4 $5 O-O 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ne3 Rd4 21. Qe2 Nxe4 22. Rxd4
Qxd4 23. Nxe4 Qxe4 24. Ra7 Bf6 25. Qxb5 $13) 18... Rd4 $5 19. Qe3 Qc6 20. Re1 {
White has to re-group pieces in order to move the knight from d2.} Bd8 $1 21.
Nb3 Rc4 $6 ({More consistent would be} 21... Bb6 22. Qe2 {and only now} Rc4)
22. Rad1 Bb6 23. Qd3 $1 {This is the difference, the white queen is much
better placed on d3.} Rxc3 24. bxc3 Ke7 25. Qd2 Rg8 $6 {This plan seems to be
too slow.} ({After the calm} 25... Bc7 {White most likely doesn't have much
better options than} 26. Qe3 Bb6 27. Qd2 $11) 26. Kh2 Rg6 27. c4 $5 bxc4 $2 {
Overlooking White's idea.} ({After} 27... Bxc4 28. Na5 Bxa5 29. Qxa5 Nxe4 30.
Rxe4 Qxe4 31. Qc7+ Kf8 32. Rxd6 {the position seems pretty drawish.}) 28. Na5
Qc7 29. Nb7 $1 {This untouchable "Trojan" will be very annoying for Black.} Ne8
(29... Qxb7 30. Qxd6+ Ke8 31. Rb1 Nd7 32. h5 $1 Rg5 33. Bh4 $16) 30. Rb1 a5 ({
After} 30... c3 {White has} 31. Qd3 Qxb7 32. Qe3 $1 $18) 31. h5 Rg5 32. Bh4 f6
33. Bxg5 fxg5 34. c3 $1 $18 Ba7 35. Red1 {With a simple idea: 36.Nxd6.} Bd7 36.
Qd5 g3+ 37. Kxg3 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
$5 {This move has been played only three times!} (8. exd4 {is main, of course.}
) 8... Qxd4 9. Nxd4 a6 10. e4 Bc5 (10... Bb4 {was another possibility (though .
..Bc5 seems more logical) and}) (10... Bd7 $146 {is given by the engine at
huge depth.}) 11. Nb3 Bb4 12. f3 Nc6 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Kf2 Rc8 15. Be2 Na5 16.
Nxa5 Bxa5 17. g4 $14 Bc6 {Here I like two other ideas for White.} 18. Rhd1 (18.
Na2 $1 {followed by b4, b5, with some undiscussable advantage, as} Bxa4 $2 {
loses to} 19. Nc1 $18 {and}) (18. g5 $5 Nd7 19. Nb5 axb5 20. axb5 Bxe4 21. Rxa5
Bd5 22. Ra3 $14) 18... Bc7 $1 19. h4 Be5 20. Rac1 O-O 21. b3 Rfd8 22. Rxd8+
Rxd8 23. Nb1 (23. Na2 $5) 23... Be8 24. Rc2 Nd7 25. Nd2 Bd6 26. f4 e5 27. f5
Kf8 28. g5 f6 29. h5 fxg5 30. Bxg5 Be7 31. Bxe7+ Kxe7 32. Ke3 h6 33. Rc7 Rb8 {
Strangely, it is not easy at all to break Black's defense.} 34. a5 Kd8 35. Rc1
Ke7 36. Rg1 (36. b4 Nf6 {is not so easy either.}) 36... Kf8 37. Nc4 Bf7 38. b4
Rc8 39. Nd6 Rc7 40. Nxf7 (40. Rb1 $5 {could just win one tempo, thought I
didn't manage to refute clearly 40...Bg8. I believe there must be a win for
White in the next lines, which I couldn't find shortly enough:} Bg8 41. b5 axb5
42. Rxb5 Nc5 43. Rb6 Bb3 (43... Ke7 $2 44. f6+ $1 gxf6 45. Nf5+ $18) (43... Bf7
44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. Bc4+ Ke7 46. Bd5 $18) 44. Rb4 $5 (44. Nxb7 $2 Nxb7 $8 45.
Rxb3 Nxa5 46. Rb5 Rc3+ 47. Bd3 Ra3 {is much less precise.}) 44... Ke7 (44...
Bg8 45. Bc4 $18) 45. Nxb7 (45. Nc4 $5 Bxc4 46. Bxc4 Kf6 $8 47. Rb6+ (47. Bd5
Kg5 {maintains some chances.}) 47... Kg5 48. Be2 Kh4 49. Rb1 Nd7 50. Rh1+ Kg5
51. Rg1+ Kf6 52. Bb5 Nf8 53. Kd3 Rc5 54. Rb1 Nh7 {is not easy.}) 45... Nxb7 $8
(45... Rxb7 46. Rxb7+ Nxb7 47. a6 $18) 46. Rxb3 Nxa5 47. Rb5 Rc3+ (47... Nc6
48. Rc5 Kd6 49. Rd5+ Ke7 50. Bb5 $18) 48. Bd3 Nc6 49. Rb7+ Kf8 $8 (49... Kf6
50. Rc7 Rc5 51. Bb1 $1 {followed by Ba2+-.}) 50. Rc7 Rc5 51. Bb1 $1 (51. Kd2
Nd4 52. Rxc5 Nb3+ 53. Kc3 Nxc5 54. Kc4 Nd7 55. Kd5 Ke7 56. Bb5 Nf6+ 57. Kxe5
Nxh5 $11) 51... Rc3+ 52. Kd2 Rb3 53. Rc8+ (53. Bc2 Rb6 54. Bd3 Nb4 55. Bc4 Rc6
56. Rf7+ Ke8 57. Be6 Rc2+ 58. Ke3 Rc3+ 59. Ke2 Rc2+ 60. Kf3 Rc3+ {with the
idea of} 61. Kg4 Nd3 $1 $11) 53... Ke7 54. Rxc6 Rxb1 55. Re6+ Kf7 56. Rxe5 Rb3
{and Black should get a draw.}) 40... Kxf7 41. Rb1 Ke7 42. Rg1 Kf7 43. Rd1 Rc3+
44. Rd3 Rxd3+ 45. Kxd3 Ke7 46. Kc4 Kd6 47. b5 axb5+ 48. Kxb5 Kc7 49. Bf3 Kd6 {
Now, Black holds.} 50. Bd1 Kc7 51. Bc2 Kd6 52. Bb1 Kc7 53. Bc2 Kd6 54. Bb1 Kc7
55. Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 {The text move leads to a
strategically very complicated position with mutual chances.} (4... c5 {
is played a bit more often on the top level, but after a few games, starting
with Kramnik-Anand from Bonn, it's considered to be not so easy for Black.}) 5.
Bg5 h6 (5... Bb7 {is played more often.} 6. Nd2 {was what Bacrot chose
recently against A.Sokolov.} (6. e3)) 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Bb7 {Now we
are transposed into some line from 5...Bb7.} 9. e3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 11. Bd3 f5
12. d5 Na6 {The critical position of this line. White has an extremely poor
pawn structure, but it's balanced by his two bishops and in a way better
development. The question is only if it's balanced or more than balanced.} 13.
Nd4 (13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Qf6 {is known to win a pawn, but to draw the game.}
) 13... Nac5 14. O-O Qe7 $1 {Novelty! I was very much afraid that I would not
be able to find the deep point of the move, but in fact it turned out to be
simple.} ({after the main move} 14... Qf6 {White usually goes} 15. f3 {and now
Black has to take on g3, since taking on d3 is bad - which is not the case
with queen on e7!} Nxg3 (15... Nxd3 $2 16. fxe4 Nc5 17. e5 $1 {and Black will
be crushed.}) 16. hxg3) 15. f3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 (16. fxe4 Nc5 {still looks a bit
dangerous for Black, but I will trust my engine and that of Topalov, which say
that it's fine.}) 16... Nc5 17. Qc2 O-O 18. dxe6 Qh7 $1 {Beautiful defensive
move. Now it's clear that the e6 pawn is in danger, and that means that White
is in strategical danger as well.} 19. e4 $5 f4 $1 {Black doesn't need to
enter any complications yet.} (19... fxe4 20. f4 $1 {is very double edged and
probably around equal.}) 20. Bf2 Rae8 21. a4 {White's problem is that he
doesn't really have a clear plan.} g4 $5 {Good move, in Topalov style. He
doesn't want to play it slow, he just goes for it!} ({I am curious what would
have been played by Bacrot after the automatic} 21... a5 $5 {for example} 22.
Qa2 Qg6 {with advantage for Black}) 22. fxg4 {A mistake, but white is already
under big pressure.} (22. a5 $5 {would be a nice way to show how fearless you
are, but I can imagine that there in China, playing Topalov, you have some
other ideas than that. And well, even objectively it's dangerous -} gxf3 23.
gxf3 Nxe4 $1 {and even though white doesn't have to take the knight, still he
is in danger.}) (22. Nf5 {is also not helping much -} Nxe6 23. fxg4 Ng5 $1 {
with attack.}) 22... Bxe4 23. Qd2 Qg6 24. h3 h5 25. Bh4 Nxe6 $2 {I suppose
Topalov was intending to play the winning line, but then he saw some ghosts
there and he decided to play it safe.} (25... hxg4 $1 {is of course natural
and must have been Topalov's initial thought. I can imagine that with the pawn
on e7 you may see some ghosts there, but the computer tells me that
objectively the position is just winning for Black.} 26. e7 Rf7 27. Rxf4 Rxf4
28. Qxf4 gxh3 29. g4 (29. Qg5 {is best} Qxg5 30. Bxg5 Bxg2 {and the endgame
should be won for Black.}) 29... Nd3 30. Qg3 Ne5 $1 31. Qxh3 c5 {with a
crushing attack.}) 26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. Rxf4 (27. gxh5 $5 {would be more
ambitious, but I can imagine that Etienne was already happy with a draw.})
27... Rxf4 28. Qxf4 hxg4 29. Re1 $5 Qg6 (29... gxh3 $5 30. Re3 {looks a bit
dangerous for Black, but again, with computer play he is easily holding.} Kg7
$1) 30. hxg4 Bc6 31. Rxe8+ Bxe8 32. Bd8 $1 {Now it's clear that Black is
unable to keep his pawns, and so the draw is inevitable.} Qb1+ 33. Qf1 Qxf1+
34. Kxf1 Bxa4 35. Bxc7 Bb3 36. Bxd6 Bxc4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D57"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Our first game since the match, I wasn't sure what he would aim for.}
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 {Continuing
from the 12th game in Sofia.} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 ({In Sofia and also in the
Olympiad, he went for} 9. Rc1) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Rd8 12. c4 {
Ivanchuk beat Jakovenko recently with this move, so I guess its sort of
topical.} Be6 13. c5 b6 14. Rc1 bxc5 15. Qa3 (15. Rxc5 Nd7 16. Rxc7 Rdb8 {
Black has good compensation.}) 15... Nd7 16. Bb5 Bg4 $1 {The point of Black's
play.} 17. Bxd7 (17. Nd2 Qg5 (17... c6 18. Bxc6 Rac8 $1 19. Bxd7 cxd4 20. Rxc8
Rxc8 21. Bxc8 Qxa3 22. Bxg4 dxe3 $17)) 17... Rxd7 {This works tactically.} 18.
Qxc5 (18. Rxc5 Qe4 19. Ke2 Rd6 (19... Re8 20. Rhc1 Rd6 21. h3 Bxf3+ 22. gxf3
Qxd4 $15) 20. h3 Bc8 {harder to find, but either way Black is better} 21. Rhc1
Ba6+ 22. Kd1 Qg6) (18. Ne5 cxd4 19. Qxe7 Rxe7 20. Nc6 (20. Nxg4 h5 {traps the
knight}) 20... Re6 21. h3 Bh5 22. Nxd4 Ra6 23. Rxc7 Rxa2 24. O-O a5) 18... Qe4
19. Rg1 {This move caught me by surprise, however it doesn't really improve
White's position} Re8 {This move implies an exchange sac, but it felt very
promising.} (19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qxf3 21. Qc6 Rb8 $1 22. Qxh6 g6 23. Qf4 (23.
Rg3 Qh1+ 24. Kd2 Rb2+ 25. Rc2 Rxc2+ 26. Kxc2 Rd6 $1 $19) 23... Qxf4 24. exf4 {
The computer really likes Black's position, but I am not sure his edge is so
great.}) (19... f6 20. Qc2 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qxf3 22. Rg3 Qe4 23. Qxe4 dxe4 {
I thought this was too small an edge.} 24. Rg4 Re8 25. Rf4 {and White's rook
escapes to the queenside.}) 20. Qb5 (20. Ne5 Rxe5 21. dxe5 d4 22. h3 (22. Qb4
Qxe5 23. h3 c5 $17 24. Qxc5 d3 $1) 22... dxe3 23. hxg4 (23. Qxe3 Qb4+ 24. Kf1
Qb5+ 25. Ke1 Rd3 26. Qxd3 (26. hxg4 Rxe3+ 27. fxe3 Qa5+ 28. Kf2 Qxa2+ 29. Kf3
Qd5+ 30. Kf2 Qxe5 31. Rc4 Qb2+ 32. Kf3 a5 33. Rgc1 a4 34. R4c2 (34. Rxc7 a3 $19
) 34... Qf6+ 35. Ke2 Qg5 36. Ra2 Qxg4+ 37. Kf2) (26. Qe4 Qb2 $19) 26... Qxd3
27. hxg4 c5) (23. fxe3 Rd3 24. Kf2 Bxh3 $1 {stronger} (24... Rd2+ 25. Kg3 Be6
$15) 25. gxh3 Rd2+ 26. Kg3 h5 $1 {wins}) 23... exf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qf4+ 25. Ke1 Rd4
$1 $19 26. Qc3 Re4+ 27. Kd1 Qf2 $19) (20. Ke2 f5 $1) 20... Rdd8 21. Qe2 Rb8 {
As soon as I made this move, I was annoyed I didnt go for ...c5. However, it
seems that ...Rb8 is by no means worse.} (21... c5 22. h3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Qf5 24.
dxc5 $1 (24. Rxc5 Rb8 $1 25. Rc1 Rec8 $19) 24... d4 25. Rg3 {and it seems that
White is holding} d3 26. Qd2 Re5 27. e4) 22. h3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 (23. Qxf3 Qxd4
$19) 23... Qf5 {The problem for White is that his king still can't get to
safety.} 24. f4 (24. Rg3 Rb1 25. Rxb1 (25. Kd1 Rxc1+ 26. Kxc1 Rb8 27. Qc2 Qe6
$19) 25... Qxb1+ 26. Qd1 Qxa2 27. Kf1 Rb8 28. Kg2 Rb2 29. Qf1 Qc4 $1 {seems to
clinch it} (29... a5 30. Qa6 $1)) 24... Rb1 25. Rxb1 (25. Qd1 Reb8 26. Kd2
R8b2+ 27. Kc3 Rxc1+ 28. Qxc1 Rb6 $1 (28... Rxf2 29. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 30. Qg1+ Kf8
31. Qxf2 Qxh3 32. f5 {this is too messy}) 29. Kd2 Qxh3 {Black can slowly
advance his h-pawn whilst harassing White's king.}) 25... Qxb1+ 26. Qd1 Rb8 27.
Ke2 Qf5 $1 {Not allowing White's king to get to safety.} (27... Rb2+ 28. Kf3
Qxa2 29. Qf1 {Black is still better, but White's king is safe.}) 28. Rh1 Rb2+
29. Kf3 h5 $1 {The key move, now it's over.} 30. a4 (30. Rh2 h4 $1 31. Kg2 Rb1
$19) 30... Qe4+ 31. Kg3 h4+ 32. Kxh4 Rxf2 33. Qg4 (33. Rg1 Qxe3 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7
35. Qg4+ Kf8 36. Qc8+ Qe8 {wins.}) 33... Rg2 (33... Qe7+ 34. Qg5 Qxe3 {wins as
well.}) 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 {Rock solid. Wang Yue plays
the rock solid Slav.} 6. Ne5 {Not a surprise, Topalov chose this main move
from the World Championship match.} Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8. Ne5 a5 {Wang Yue
probably thought that the ending Anand had gone for was too solid for him and
chose one of the other main systems. The third main system was played on the
next table, in Bacrot-Anand.} 9. e3 ({The other critical move,} 9. f3 {was
chosen by Topalov against the same opponent in Sofia last year. He then won a
brilliant game, but this time apparently both players had found an improvement
for Black.}) 9... Nbd7 $5 {This move is becoming popular due to the efforts of
the top Chinese players (all experts on the line) that switched from g6 after
Wang Yue has lost twice to Grischuk.} 10. Bd3 {Topalov tries to get some
advantage with simple play, but Wang Yue showed him that it's not so easy.} (
10. Qb3 $5 {is critical, trying to punish Black for his knight moves back and
forth. But if Topalov didn't choose it, there must be a reason for this. The
following line seems critical and was played in the latest game,
Hammer-Felgaer, from the Olympiad in Khanty.} Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. e4 (12.
Qxb7 $5) 12... Be6 13. Qxb7 Rb8 14. Qa7 Nxe5 15. f4 Nd7 16. f5 Bb3 17. Bf4 Ra8
18. Qb7 e5 $1 19. fxe6 Bxe6 {with unclear play.}) 10... Bxd3 11. Nxd3 Qb6 $1 {
New move. Bu Xiangzhi played 11...Qc7 this year in Aeroflot, got under
pressure, but also drew. The point of the move is that it prevents e4. So it's
not clear for White what he should do now. Topalov finds an interesting
solution...} (11... Qc7 12. Qb3 $5 e6 13. e4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Rodshtein,M (2622)
-Bu Xiangzhi (2673)/Aeroflot 2010}) 12. Ra3 $5 {Creative, but it seems that it
doesn't give White any objective edge.} ({After the standard} 12. O-O e6 {
it's not clear how White should proceed in order to fight for any little
advantage.}) 12... e6 13. Rb3 Bb4 $1 {It seems a little tricky to put the
bishop under the pin, but White doesn't have time to exploit it.} 14. O-O c5 {
An essential move, that had to be played here or after short castle.} 15. dxc5
Nxc5 16. Nxc5 Qxc5 17. Na2 {Now Topalov gets the bishop, but no advantage.
Black is well developed and Wang Yue is in time to change everything.} O-O 18.
Rd3 Rac8 {Black could have played the position differently (for example b5!?),
but Wang Yue wanted to just change everything, to keep it safe.} 19. Nxb4 Qxb4
20. b3 Qc5 21. Bb2 Qc2 $1 {Just in time, otherwise White might have got some
pressure.} 22. Bxf6 Qxd1 23. Rfxd1 gxf6 24. Rd7 b5 $1 {The Chinese super-GM is
defending very energetically and precisely, though for a player of his class
such moves are played automatically.} 25. Ra7 Rc3 $1 26. Rxa5 Rb8 $1 {Very
exact, not giving Topalov any hope to press.} 27. Ra7 Rxb3 28. a5 Ra3 29. g4 b4
30. a6 b3 31. Rb7 Ra8 32. Rdd7 b2 33. Rxb2 R3xa6 34. Rbb7 Rf8 35. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{A fine game in "Magnusian style!" The world number one is not seeking a deep
theoretical surprise, rather he chooses to simply outplay his opponent in a
position in which Topalov is even less experienced than he is!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 {No more Scotch! After a fine and impressive game against Bacrot
one could expect to see another Scotch, however, I believe that Carlsen is
more interested in avoiding any special preparation and wants to bring the
game as quickly as possible to the phase one might call "fight at the board"!}
a6 {The Berlin is what one might have expected from Topalov.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
Be7 6. d3 $5 {The right decision in my opinion. Carlsen tries to pospone d4 in
order to choose his setup according to black's. There aren't many theoretical
surveys in this position, though statistics show us that black may be safe
here.} b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. Nbd2 {An odd though successful
choice first played by Daniel King.} O-O 11. Re1 Bd7 $146 (11... Be6 12. Bxe6
fxe6 13. c3 Qd7 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Ra8 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Nb3 Nd8 {1-0 King,D
(2506) -Krasenkow,M (2643)/Germany 1999/GER-chT (71)}) 12. c3 Ra8 13. Rxa8 Qxa8
14. d4 h6 15. Nf1 Re8 16. Ng3 Qc8 17. Nh4 {Carlsen starts his fight for the
initiative.} Bf8 $6 {An inaccuracy. The bishop on b3 is well-placed and
black's last move offers white the bishop pair with no genuine counter play.} (
17... Na5 18. Bc2 (18. Ba2 Nc4 $5 19. b3 (19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. dxe5 (20. Qe2 exd4
21. cxd4 $2 Nxe4 $1 {and Black would win}) 20... dxe5 21. Nhf5 Bf8 22. Qf3 Qa6)
19... Qa8 20. Qe2 Nb6 (20... Nd5 $2 21. Nhf5 Nxc3 22. Qg4 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Bg5 24.
Bxg5 hxg5 25. Qxg5 g6 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27. Ng4 {would give White a decisive
winning attack.}) 21. Nhf5 Bf8 22. Bb1 {A rich position in which black is not
at all worse.}) 18... g6 $5) 18. Ng6 $1 Na5 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. Bc2 Re8 21. f4 $1
{Of course Magnus does not hesitate and goes straight for the king. Having a
strong pair of bishops and a rock solid center, who could resist the
temptation?} Bg4 22. Qd3 exf4 $2 {Not at any cost! It is understandable that
in a diffiicult position Topalov would seek activity but in my opinion it only
worsens the situation.} (22... Qb8 {was preferable though the position remains
worse.}) 23. Bxf4 Nc4 24. Bc1 $1 {A cool retreat.} c5 {The final mistake in my
opinion, and Black is helpless now.} 25. Rf1 cxd4 26. cxd4 Qd8 27. h3 Be6 28.
b3 Qa5 29. Kh2 {Magnus does not need to complicate things. With his last move
he has prepared the final blow!} Nh7 30. e5 g6 31. d5 Nxe5 32. dxe6 $1 (32.
dxe6 Nxd3 33. exf7+ Kf8 34. Bxh6+ Ke7 35. fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 36. Bxd3 {and not only
does g6 fall, but the knight on h7 is lost as well. Ex:} Qc7 37. Bxg6+ Kd8 38.
Rf7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played under criticial conditions for both sides. Not having
scored a single win in the first part of the tournament both parties were very
eager to draw blood. In the heat of the battle it was Gashimov who let the win
slip away, for the second time in a row, and the game ended in a draw.} 1. e4
c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 $5 {The riskiest move which is in
accordance to Topalov's style. There are safer ways for Black to face the
Panov. Also one should not forget that this move was introduced by legendary
Dutch world champion Max Euwe, in 1932, against Alekhine.} 6. Qb3 e6 $6 {
I was initially going to put a "N" (=novelty) for this move, but then found
out that this dubious move has actually been played a few times before. The
statistics are crushingly in White's favor.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 f6
10. Bd2 Bg7 11. Bd3 O-O {One can see that white has the advantage at this
early stage of the game. In order to realize it one just has to compare the
upcoming position with the "normal" Panov.} 12. O-O Nce7 13. Rfe1 b6 14. Re2
Kh8 15. Rae1 a6 16. h4 $1 {Having finished his development, Gashimov starts
activity against Black's weakened kingside.} Ra7 17. Bb1 Rc7 18. Nxd5 (18. h5 {
was more accurate, because it would force} gxh5 {However, Topalov fails to
take advantage of it.}) 18... Nxd5 19. h5 gxh5 (19... g5 20. Rxe6 Bxe6 21. Rxe6
Nf4 22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. Bf5 {[%csl Ge6,Gf5,Gh5] White dominates on the light
squares, though I don't see any clear plan for white. As usual the silicon
mind remains cool and declares the position 'unclear'!}) 20. Qd3 f5 21. Ng5 Nf6
22. Qg3 $6 (22. Nxe6 {The most direct and principled continuation.} Bxe6 23.
Rxe6 Ne4 24. Bc3 h4 (24... Qh4 25. Qe3 Nxc3 26. bxc3 {Just one look at the
position and it it becomes clear that white has a decisive advantage due to
Black's horrible pawn structure.}) 25. R1xe4 $1 fxe4 26. Qxe4 Bf6 27. Bb4 Rg8
28. Bd6 Rcg7 29. Kf1 $1 h3 30. g3 a5 31. a4 $1 {A fantastic position worthy of
another diagram. Black is in Zugzwang and will lose material. For instance,}
Rf7 $2 {would face} 32. Rxf6 $1 {and if} Qxf6 ({Or} 32... Rxf6 33. Qxh7#) 33.
Be5) 22... Ng4 23. Bf4 Rc4 24. Nf3 $2 {But this is too much and now the game
is unclear. In fact, somehow it is Black who pressures in order to seize the
initiative.} Bb7 $2 {Returning the favor by offering the pawn on e6?} 25. Bg5
$2 Bf6 26. Bxf6+ Rxf6 27. Ng5 Bd5 28. f3 {Now the position is balanced
dynamically.} Qg8 29. Nxe6 Bxe6 30. fxg4 Qxg4 31. Qe5 Kg7 32. Rd2 Bf7 33. Rf1
f4 34. d5 Rc8 35. Rdf2 Re8 36. Qxf6+ Kxf6 37. Rxf4+ Qxf4 38. Rxf4+ Kg7 39. d6
Rd8 40. Rd4 Kf6 41. Rf4+ Kg7 42. Rd4 Kf6 43. Rf4+ Kg7 {In a complicated battle,
both sides lost the thread at crucial moments but we should nevertheless thank
both players for their spectacular game!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qf5 Nf6 12. e4 d6 13. e5 Qd7 14. Qf4 $5 Nh5 15.
Qc4 O-O 16. Nc3 Rae8 17. Be3 (17. g4 $2 Na5 $1) (17. h3 {/\ 18.g4} Nd4 18. Nxd4
cxd4 19. Qxd4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qb7+ 21. Qd5 Qxd5+ 22. Rxd5 dxe5 23. Rxe5 Nf6 $14 {
/=}) (17. exd6 $5) 17... Nb4 18. Rd2 Ba6 (18... d5) (18... Qe6) 19. Qb3 Nd3 20.
Qa3 Qc8 21. exd6 Bxd6 22. Rad1 (22. Bf1 Bf4 23. Bxd3 Bb7 24. Bxf4 Nxf4 25. Ne1
Nh3+ 26. Kf1 Ng5 27. Be2 Qh3+ 28. Kg1 Qh6 $11 {(Gustafsson)}) 22... Be7 23. Nd5
Nb4 24. Ne5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Nf6 26. Bg2 c4 27. Qc3 Bb5 28. h3 Bc5 $2 (28... Qe6
$15) 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 30. Rd5 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Qc7 32. Rxb5 Rc8 33. Nc6 Rfe8 34. Rb4
Re2 35. Bf3 Re6 36. Rxc4 Rce8 37. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
b6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ba6 (10... Bb7 {is also possible - of course.}) 11. cxd5
cxd5 12. Ne5 $5 $146 (12. Nc3 {had been played few times.}) 12... Nxe5 $5 {
I'm near by putting a new "N" after this move, as this is actually the move
showing a new idea!} (12... Rc8 13. Nc6 $1 {has actually already been played
with another move order. White gains the bishop pair, but the practise has
showed no problem at all for Black. So probably some new ideas were coming in
case this position would happen!}) 13. dxe5 Rc8 14. Nc3 Ng4 15. h3 {Maybe this
move can be improved, though I doubt it.} Nxf2 $1 16. Kxf2 Bc5+ 17. Be3 (17.
Ke1 f6 $1 {offers Black big compensations. Somehow, it is better to bring
White's king to e3 for one move and then remove it, rather than hiding it
forever on e1. Here probably Black would even be much better.}) 17... Bxe3+ 18.
Kxe3 b5 ({Another computer line is:} 18... f6 19. Kf2 b5 20. Qd2 b4 21. Nxd5
fxe5+ 22. Ke1 exd5 23. Qxd5+ Qxd5 24. Bxd5+ Kh8 25. Rac1 $14 {and White enjoys
some space advantage.}) 19. Qd3 Rc4 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxd5 Qg5+ $6 {This
simply looks wrong or too optimistic - still, that's why we like Topalov's
games!} (21... Qb6+ 22. Kf3 Rc5 {was probably the best chance, not so far from
equalizing, for instance:} 23. e4 Qc7 24. Qe3 Bc8 $1 25. Qf4 Be6 {with
"drawing counterplay".}) 22. Kf2 Qxe5 $6 {The logical continuation now. But
probably not the best.} 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Qd6 $6 (24. Qd4 $1 {might give White
good winning chances, for instance:} Qe6 $5 (24... Qh5 25. h4 {doesn't help.})
(24... Qf5+ 25. Kg2 Bb7+ (25... Re8 26. Rd2) 26. Kh2 {and White's queen has
control of the f2-square. I believe this kind of position should be
technically winning for White, as his king is not in the drafts anymore.}) 25.
g4 (25. h4 $5) 25... c3 $5 26. bxc3 $1 Qxe2+ 27. Kg3 Bb7 28. Rd2 Qe7 29. c4 $16
{Here some engines give a "+/-" evaluation, some other a decisive advantage. I
believe the reality is inbetween. This should be technically winning but
White's weak king gives Black some chances to draw.}) 24... Qf5+ 25. Ke1 Qxh3
$1 {Now Black draws.} 26. Qxa6 Qxg3+ 27. Kd2 Qf4+ 28. Kc2 Qe4+ 29. Kc1 Qe3+ 30.
Kb1 Qe4+ 31. Kc1 {An exciting game!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8.
O-O b6 9. Rc1 O-O 10. b4 $5 (10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Nc3 Ba6 12. a4 Rc8 13. Nb5 Ne4
14. Qf4 Qe7 15. Rc7 Bxb5 16. axb5 Nd6 17. Qc1 Rxc7 18. Qxc7 Rc8 19. Qxa7 Qd8
20. Qa4 h6 21. Qb4 Qf8 22. b3 Ne4 23. Qxf8+ Kxf8 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26.
dxe5 Rc5 27. Ra8+ Ke7 28. Ra7+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Wang,Y (2732)-Carlsen,M (2826)/
Nanjing/China 2010}) 10... Bb7 11. Qb2 Rb8 $146 12. Nbd2 Qe7 13. e3 Rfc8 14.
Rc2 c5 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. Qa3 Rc6 17. Rac1 Ra6 18. Qd3 h6 19. Qe2 dxc4 20. Qxc4
cxd4 (20... Rc8 $5 {might be a better try to equalize.}) 21. Nxd4 Rb6 22. Bxb7
R8xb7 {Things have been going fine for Topalov who enjoys a small plus. But
suddenly the situation will change hardly!} 23. Kg2 (23. Qf1 $5 {is given best
by several engines, with ideas line:} Rb2 24. Rc8+ Kh7 $2 25. Qd3+ (25. Nc4
Rxa2 26. Rb1 $1 $18) 25... g6 26. Nc6 $18) (23. N2b3 $5 {would also be quite
logical.}) 23... Ne5 24. Qc5 $2 {The real mistake, although White's avdantage
are more or less disappeared with 23.Kg2. It is clear that Topalov is out of
form and is playing much under his real level.} Qxc5 25. Rxc5 Rb2 {Now Black
is better.} 26. R1c2 Nd3 $1 27. Rc8+ Kh7 28. N4f3 a5 {This pawn is supposed to
bring the victory later, so it's quite logical to push it! Still, this doesn't
look like a real winning plan, while it looks like Black had a much stronger
possibility right now.} (28... Ng4 $1 29. Nb3 Rxc2 (29... Rb8 $5 {is a funny
possibility, probably about equivalent to 29...Rxc2, but I quote it simply
because I love this move!}) 30. Rxc2 Rb4 $5 31. h3 Ngxf2 32. Rxf2 Nxf2 33. Kxf2
Ra4 {is another idea - more direct let's say. This should be winning for Black.
Very often, two knights "alone" are a bad sign for the endgame.}) 29. h3 a4 30.
a3 g5 31. Rxb2 $6 ({After} 31. g4 {I feel like Black should be slightly better,
but all engines insist with a 0.00 evaluation. After playing a match against
Rybka and not winning a single game (no, I'm joking, I didn't play but just
guessed the result), I believe White should be able to draw...}) 31... Rxb2 32.
Rc3 $4 {Woah! An hallucination, I guess.} Nxf2 33. Rc7 (33. Kxf2 Ne4+ $19)
33... N2e4 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Qa4+ Qxa4 8.
Nxa4 Bd7 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxd5 Na6 11. f3 Nexc5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4
Kf7 15. Ne2 e6 16. Ndc3 Bh6 17. Bf2 e5 18. Kb1 Rhd8 19. e4 f5 20. Ng3 b6 21.
Be2 f4 22. Nf1 Bf8 23. a3 Ne6 24. Nd2 Nac5 25. Nd5 a5 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 Ba4
28. Rc1 Rb8 29. Rc3 Nd4 30. Bxd4 exd4 31. Ra3 b5 32. bxc5 Bxc5 33. Ra2 d3 34.
Bxd3 bxc4+ 35. Kc1 cxd3 36. Rxa4 Be3 37. Nxe3 fxe3 38. Nc4 Rdc8 39. Rd1 Rb3 40.
Ra7+ Kg8 41. Ra4 Rc3+ 0-1

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.20"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leon Hoyos, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Bg7 9. Nf3 Nfd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. Qc2 N8d7 12. Rd1 O-O 13. Rb1 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Bxe2
15. Bh6 Nf6 16. Rd2 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Re8 18. b3 Nbd7 19. a4 Qa5 20. Qxa5 Rxa5 21.
h3 c4 22. bxc4 Rxa4 23. Rc2 Rc8 24. Rbc1 Ne5 25. Be2 Ne4 26. Kg2 f5 27. Be3 Kf7
28. g4 Nf6 29. f3 Ra3 30. Bh6 Ra7 31. c5 Rxc5 32. Rxc5 dxc5 33. Rxc5 Ra2 34.
Kf1 fxg4 35. hxg4 Ra3 36. Bc1 Rb3 37. d6 Nfd7 38. Rc7 Rb6 39. f4 Rxd6 40. fxe5
Nxe5 41. Bg5 Rd7 42. Rc5 Nd3 43. Rc3 Nb4 44. Kf2 Nd5 45. Bc4 e6 46. Rf3+ Kg7
47. Kg3 Rf7 48. Bh6+ Kg8 49. Rb3 Rc7 50. Bxd5 exd5 51. Rd3 Rd7 52. Kf4 Kf7 53.
Ke5 g5 54. Rf3+ 1-0

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.20"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Leon Hoyos, Manuel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 O-O 8.
Nf3 Nf5 9. d4 d5 10. g3 Bf6 11. c3 Nd6 12. Ne5 Re8 13. Bf4 Bf5 14. Nd2 g5 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Bg6 17. Bh3 Rb8 18. b4 h5 19. Nb3 Nc4 20. Nc5 Qd6 21. Nd7
Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rbd8 23. Nc5 Ra8 24. Bg2 Re7 25. e4 dxe4 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4
Rae8 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Qf3 Bxd4+ 30. Kh1 g4 31. Qd3 Bg7 32. Qc4 Qd2 33. Rf1
Qxc3 34. Qxc6 Qxc6 35. Bxc6 Bd4 36. h3 gxh3 37. Kh2 Kg7 38. Kxh3 Kg6 39. Rf4
Be5 40. Re4 Kg5 41. a4 f6 42. Re3 Re6 43. Be4 Bd6 44. Re2 Bxb4 45. Bf3 Rxe2 46.
Bxe2 a5 47. Kg2 Bd6 48. Kh3 f5 49. Bd1 c5 50. Be2 f4 51. gxf4+ Bxf4 52. Kg2 h4
53. Bb5 Kf5 54. Kf3 Ke5 55. Bd7 c4 56. Ke2 Kd4 57. Kd1 Kc3 58. Bf5 Kb2 0-1

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.20"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leon Hoyos, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. c3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Nh6 8. Nbd2
f6 9. exf6 exf6 10. O-O Bg7 11. h3 Be6 12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nc5 Bc8 14. Re1 b6 15.
Bb5 Qd6 16. Bf4 Qxf4 17. Bxc6 Rb8 18. Bxd5+ Nf7 19. Ne6 Qd6 20. Qb3 Bxe6 21.
Rxe6 Qd7 22. Rae1 Rfd8 23. Bc6 Qc8 24. Re7 1-0

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.20"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Leon Hoyos, Manuel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. Nf1 b5 11. Bc2 d5 12. Qe2 dxe4 13. dxe4 Nh5 14. g3 Nf6 15.
Ne3 Bd6 16. Nh4 g6 17. Bd2 Bb7 18. b4 Nb8 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Nd7 21. Bb3 Nf6
22. Qf3 Kg7 23. Bg5 Qe7 24. Qe3 a5 25. a3 Bc8 26. Qe2 c6 27. Ng2 Be6 28. Bxe6
Qxe6 29. Bxf6+ Qxf6 30. Ne3 Qe6 31. Red1 Bc7 32. c4 Bb6 33. cxb5 axb4 34. axb4
Rxa1 35. Rxa1 Bxe3 36. Qxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.21"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 d6 7. Bb2 Qe8 8. Nbd2
Nc6 9. Re1 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. e4 f4 12. b4 fxg3 13. hxg3 Ng4 14. b5 Nd4 15.
a4 Be6 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Nb3 Rd8 18. Nc5 d3 19. Nxd3 Bxa1 20. Qxa1 Qe7 21. Qc3
Qg7 22. e5 g5 23. Nc5 Bd5 24. Ne4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Rd1+ 26. Bf1 Rxf3 27. Qc4+ Qf7
28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxg4 Rd2 30. Bd3 h6 31. Rc4 Rfxf2 32. Rxc7+ Ke6 33. Rxb7
Rg2+ 34. Kf1 Rh2 35. Kg1 Rdg2+ 36. Kf1 h5 37. b6 h4 38. gxh4 gxh4 39. bxa7 h3
40. Ke1 Rh1+ 41. Bf1 h2 42. Rh7 Rg8 43. Ke2 Rhg1 44. Rxh2 R1g7 45. Ke3 Kxe5 46.
Rh5+ Kd6 47. c4 Ra8 48. c5+ Kc7 49. Bb5 Rxa7 50. Rh6 Rg3+ 51. Kd4 Rg4+ 52. Kc3
Raxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.21"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Ne4 b6 12. b3 Kc8 13. Bb2 c5 14. c4 Kb7
15. Rad1 Be6 16. Nc3 g5 17. Nd5 Ne7 18. Rd3 Ng6 19. Rfd1 Rd8 20. R3d2 Bg7 21.
Kh2 Kc8 22. g4 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Rhe8 24. Re1 Nf4 25. Red1 Rd7 26. d6 Ng6 27. e6
Rxe6 28. Bxg7 cxd6 29. Bxh6 f6 30. Kg3 Kc7 31. Rd5 Kc6 32. Nxg5 fxg5 33. Bxg5
Ne5 34. h4 b5 35. f4 Nf7 36. f5 Re4 37. Bf4 c4 38. bxc4 bxc4 39. g5 c3 40. R5d3
Rc4 41. g6 c2 42. Rc1 Nd8 43. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.21"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. h4 d6 5. h5 Nxh5 6. Rxh5 gxh5 7. e4 Be6 8. Be2
Bf7 9. Bxh5 Bxh5 10. Qxh5+ Kd7 11. Nf3 Qe8 12. Qh3 Bg7 13. exf5 Bf6 14. Bh6 Nc6
15. O-O-O Qf7 16. b3 a5 17. a4 Rag8 18. g4 Kd8 19. Nd5 e6 20. fxe6 Qxe6 21. Re1
Qf7 22. Re4 Nb4 23. Nxb4 axb4 24. Bd2 Qg6 25. Rf4 Be7 26. g5 Rf8 27. Nh4 Qh5
28. Qg3 Rxf4 29. Bxf4 Rf8 30. Nf3 Qf7 31. g6 Qxf4+ 32. Qxf4 Rxf4 0-1

[Event "Mexico City UNAM KO"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2010.11.21"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C33"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2010.11.19"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 d5 4. exd5 Qh4+ 5. Kf1 Bd6 6. Nf3 Qh5 7. Nc3 Ne7 8.
d4 O-O 9. Kf2 Nd7 10. Re1 Nb6 11. Bb3 Nexd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. c4 Ne3 14. Bxe3
fxe3+ 15. Rxe3 Bf5 16. c5 Bf4 17. Re7 Bg4 18. Re4 Qf5 19. Bc2 Bh5 20. Re5 Bxf3
21. Kxf3 Qf6 22. Rf5 Qh6 23. Rxf4 Rae8 24. Qd3 f5 25. h4 Re4 26. Qd2 Re7 27.
Re1 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Rd2 Be7 14.
Rfd1 Be6 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Kh2 h5 17. Ne4 Rad8 18. Nc5 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Bc8 20. b4
h4 21. Rd3 Rd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 23. g4 hxg3+ 24. Kxg3 b6 25. Nd3 Be6 26. a3 Bd5
27. Nd4 Ke7 28. Nf5+ Kf8 29. f4 Be4 30. Kg4 f6 31. exf6 gxf6 32. h4 Nh8 33. Ng3
Bh7 34. f5 Nf7 35. Kf4 Nd6 36. Nf2 Bg8 37. Nfe4 Ne8 38. h5 Kg7 39. Nf2 Ba2 40.
Ng4 Bb1 41. h6+ Kh7 42. c3 Nd6 43. Nxf6+ Kxh6 44. Ng4+ Kg7 45. Ne5 Kf6 46. Nh5+
Ke7 47. Nxc6+ Kf8 48. Ng3 Nb5 49. Ne2 Bd3 50. a4 Bxe2 51. axb5 Bxb5 52. Nxa7
Bd7 53. c4 Ke7 54. Ke5 Be8 55. Nb5 c6 56. f6+ Kd7 57. Nd6 Bg6 58. c5 bxc5 59.
bxc5 Bb1 60. Nc4 Ba2 61. Nb6+ Ke8 62. Kd6 Kf7 63. Kxc6 Kxf6 64. Kd6 Bb1 65. c6
Bd3 66. Nd7+ Kg7 67. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
cxd4 9. exd4 a6 10. a4 Nc6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Be7 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Qe2 Nd5 15.
Bg3 Bb4 16. Rec1 Nde7 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Bc6 19. Bd3 Rc8 20. Rd1 Qa5 21.
Qxa5 Bxa5 22. Bd6 Rfe8 23. b4 Bc7 24. Bc5 Nd5 25. Nxd5 Bxd5 26. a5 Red8 27. g3
Bd6 28. Bb6 Rf8 29. Bc5 Bxc5 30. dxc5 Bf3 31. Re1 Rfd8 32. Be4 Bxe4 33. Rxe4
Kf8 34. Rb1 Ke7 35. Kf1 Rd5 36. h4 Kd7 37. Rf4 f6 38. Re1 Re8 39. Rfe4 g5 40.
hxg5 hxg5 41. g4 e5 42. Ke2 Rh8 43. Rc1 Kc6 44. Rc3 Kb5 45. Rf3 Rh6 46. Rf5 Rd7
47. Rf3 Rd8 48. Rf5 Rd7 49. Rf3 Rd8 50. Rf5 Ka4 51. Rf3 Rd7 52. Rf5 Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 Be7 7. b4 Nxb4 8. Nxe5
O-O 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. a3 Na6 11. f4 c6 12. Rb1 Qe7 13. Ndf3 Ng4 14. Nxd4 Nxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxe5 16. e3 g6 17. Nb3 Bg7 18. d4 Rb8 19. e4 b6 20. Bf4 Rb7 21. e5 Qe8 22.
Nd2 Bf5 23. Qa4 Nb8 24. Rbe1 Qd7 25. d5 cxd5 26. Qxd7 Nxd7 27. Bxd5 Rbb8 28. e6
fxe6 29. Bxe6+ Bxe6 30. Bxb8 Bf5 31. Bd6 Rc8 32. Nf3 Bd3 33. Rf2 Bxc4 34. Rc2
b5 35. Re7 Nc5 36. Rxa7 Ne4 37. Be5 Bf8 38. Bd4 Rd8 39. Rc7 g5 40. g4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Re1 a5 11. Qe2 Bf5 12. Rd1 a4 13. d5 Na5 14. Nd4 Nac4 15.
Nxf5 gxf5 16. Qc2 Nd6 17. Rb1 Ra5 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qc8 20. Bf4 h6 21. Rbc1
Rb5 22. b3 axb3 23. axb3 Qg4 24. Qd3 Rb4 25. Bf3 Qg6 26. Nxd6 cxd6 27. Qxg6
fxg6 28. Bg4 g5 29. Be6+ Kf8 30. Be3 Rxb3 31. h4 Bf6 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Kg2 Rb4
34. Rh1 Kg7 35. Rh5 Rh8 36. Rxh8 Kxh8 37. Rh1+ Kg7 38. Rh5 Nc4 39. Bxg5 Kg6 40.
f4 Kxh5 41. Bf7+ Kg4 42. Be6+ Kh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. gxf6 bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxf6
15. Na5 Rc8 16. Nc6 Qe8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qa5 Rc6 19. Rg1 Rfc8 20. Kb1 d5 21.
Bg5 d4 22. f4 h6 23. Bxh6 Ng4 24. Bxg7 Rxc2 25. Bd3 R2c5 26. Qa3 Kxg7 27. f5
Kf6 28. fxe6 Ne3 29. exf7 Nxd1 30. Rxd1 Kxf7 31. Bxa6 R8c6 32. Qb3+ Kg7 33. Bb5
Rg6 34. a4 Rg2 35. Qa3 Rc7 36. Qxe7+ Rxe7 37. Bc4 Ra7 38. b3 Rxh2 39. Rf1 Rg2
40. Kc1 Ra8 41. Rd1 Kf6 42. Rd2 Rxd2 43. Kxd2 Ke7 44. Bb5 Kd6 45. b4 Kc7 46.
Kc2 Kb7 47. Kb3 Rh8 48. Bd3 Rh3 49. Kc2 Rh2+ 50. Kb3 Rd2 51. Bc4 Rd1 52. Kb2
Kb8 53. a5 d3 54. Kc3 d2 55. Bd3 Rb1 56. Kxd2 Rxb4 57. a6 Ka7 58. Kc3 Rd4 59.
Kc2 Kb6 60. Kd2 Kc6 61. Kc2 Kc5 62. Kc3 Ra4 63. Kb3 Ra1 64. Kb2 Rh1 65. Kc3 Rh3
66. Kc2 Kd4 67. Bb5 Ra3 68. Kb2 Ra5 69. Bf1 Ra1 70. Kxa1 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. g3 Bxf3 6. exf3 e6 7. d5 exd5 8.
cxd5 Ne7 9. Bh3 O-O 10. O-O Nd7 11. Re1 Re8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Ne5 14. Rc1 Nc4
15. Qb3 Ne5 16. Qd1 Nc4 17. b3 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 c6 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. f4 d5 21. Rd3
d4 22. Ne2 Qd6 23. Rc4 Rad8 24. Bf1 c5 25. b4 cxb4 26. Nxd4 Qb6 27. Nf3 a5 28.
Qa4 Kf8 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qc2 Qd6 31. Rc5 a4 32. Ra5 a3 33. Qb3 Rc8 34. Rb5 Rc3
35. Qxb4 Qxb4 36. Rxb4 Nc6 37. Rc4 Rxf3 38. Rxc6 Rc3 39. Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 Nf6 12. f3 c6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Be3 Be6 15.
b3 a5 16. Bf2 c5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Qd2 Nc6 19. Rae1 Ra7 20. Bd1 Re7 21. Kh1 Kh8
22. Bh4 Qe8 23. f4 e4 24. Nf2 Nd4 25. h3 Rd7 26. Na4 Ra7 27. Qe3 Qc6 28. Nc3 d5
29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. cxd5 Bxd5 31. Rg1 Bg8 32. g4 Re7 33. Kh2 Nf3+ 34. Bxf3 exf3
35. Qd2 Rd7 36. Qc2 Qd6 37. Qc1 Qd2 38. Qxd2 Rxd2 39. Ncd1 Bh4 40. Rgf1 Rxa2
41. Re3 c4 42. Rxf3 cxb3 43. Nc3 Rc2 44. Kg1 Bc4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 c5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxb5 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Qxe4
21. Bxe8 Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Qxe8 23. c4 Qe5 24. b3 d5 25. cxd5 Qxd5 26. Qxd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D72"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2 c5 8. d5
O-O 9. O-O e6 10. Nec3 Na6 11. a4 exd5 12. exd5 Nc4 13. Na3 Ne5 14. h3 Nb4 15.
Be3 b6 16. Qe2 Bf5 17. Rfd1 Qd7 18. Kh2 Rae8 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bh6 h4 21. g4 Bxg4
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. hxg4 h3 24. Be4 Nxg4+ 25. Kh1 f5 26. Bf3 Qd6 27. Bxg4 fxg4
28. Rg1 Qf6 29. Rg3 Qxf2 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 31. Rd1 Rf4 32. Nab5 Re7 33. d6 Rd7 34.
Re3 Nc6 35. Nd5 Rf2 36. Rg3 Ne5 37. Ne3 Rf4 38. Rd5 Kf6 39. b3 a6 40. Nc7 Re4
41. a5 bxa5 42. Nxa6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. e3
g5 9. Bg3 c4 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. Ne5 Nc6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxc3 15.
Rxc3 Qxc3 16. Bh5 O-O 17. Qf3 Nd8 18. Qf6 Qc2 19. Ng4 Bxg4 20. Be5 Qh7 21. Bxg4
Ne6 22. f4 Qg7 23. Qe7 Rae8 24. Qd7 Qh7 25. fxg5 f5 26. Qxh7+ Kxh7 27. Bxf5+
Rxf5 28. Rxf5 c3 29. gxh6 b5 30. Bd6 a5 31. Ba3 b4 32. Bc1 a4 33. Rf7+ Kxh6 34.
Rb7 Nf4 35. exf4 Re1+ 36. Kf2 Rxc1 37. Rxb4 Ra1 38. Rb6+ Kg7 39. Rc6 Rxa2+ 40.
Ke3 Rxg2 41. Rxc3 Rxh2 42. Rc6 a3 43. f5 Rh6 44. Rc1 Ra6 45. Kd3 a2 46. Ra1 Kf6
47. Kc3 Kxf5 48. Kb2 Ke4 49. Re1+ Kxd4 50. Ka1 Kc3 51. Rc1+ Kd2 52. Rc2+ Kd3
53. Rc3+ Ke4 54. Rh3 d4 55. Rh4+ Kd3 56. Rh3+ Kc4 57. Rc3+ Kd5 58. Rh3 Rb6 59.
Kxa2 Kc4 60. Rh1 Kc3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "194"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2 d5 7. Qb3 dxc4 8. Qxc4
Bf5 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bf4 Nb6 11. Qb3 Ne4 12. Rfd1 Be6 13. d5 Nxc3 14. dxe6 Nxd1
15. exf7+ Kh8 16. Rxd1 Qc8 17. Ng5 Qf5 18. h4 h6 19. Be4 Qf6 20. Ne6 Rxf7 21.
Rd2 Rg8 22. Ng5 Rff8 23. Ne6 Rf7 24. Kg2 Nd5 25. Bxd5 cxd5 26. Qxd5 Qf5 27. e4
Qxd5 28. exd5 Rc8 29. b3 Kh7 30. g4 Bh8 31. Be3 b6 32. f4 Rc3 33. Kf3 Be5 34.
Ke4 Bd6 35. Rh2 Kg8 36. Rg2 Rh7 37. Kd4 Rc8 38. Kd3 Kf7 39. Bd4 Rc1 40. Rc2
Rxc2 41. Kxc2 Ke8 42. Kd3 Rf7 43. Ke4 Kd7 44. h5 gxh5 45. gxh5 Ba3 46. f5 Bc1
47. a4 Bd2 48. Be5 Kc8 49. Bb2 Kd7 50. Bd4 Kc8 51. Be5 Rh7 52. Bb2 Rf7 53. Ba3
Rh7 54. b4 Rh8 55. d6 Kd7 56. dxe7 Kxe7 57. b5+ Kf7 58. Bd6 Rc8 59. Bc7 Ke7 60.
Kd5 Kd7 61. Be5 Bc3 62. Bf4 Rh8 63. Be3 Bf6 64. Bd2 Bb2 65. Bf4 Bf6 66. Bd6 Re8
67. Bf8 Bg5 68. Bg7 Bc1 69. Be5 Bd2 70. Bd4 Rc8 71. f6 Ke8 72. Be5 Kf7 73. Kd6
Re8 74. Ng7 Bb4+ 75. Kd5 Rc8 76. Nf5 Bf8 77. Nd4 Rc5+ 78. Ke4 Rc4 79. Kf5 Rc1
80. Nc6 Rf1+ 81. Ke4 Ke6 82. Nd4+ Kd7 83. Nc6 Ke6 84. Nd4+ Kd7 85. Nc6 Bd6 86.
Bd4 Rf4+ 87. Ke3 Ke6 88. Nxa7 Kd5 89. Bxb6 Re4+ 90. Kf3 Rxa4 91. Nc8 Rf4+ 92.
Kg2 Rxf6 93. Nxd6 Rxd6 94. Bc7 Rd7 95. b6 Kc6 96. Kg3 Rd5 97. Kg4 Kb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D57"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Re1 (13. dxc5 Qxc5
14. Qb3 Bg4 15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Bc2 b6 17. h3 Bd7 18. Rfc1 Rac8 19. Bd1 Nd3 {
1/2 Hort,V (2600)-Donner,J (2500)/Havana 1971/MCD}) (13. Nd2 Be6 14. Rb1 b6 15.
Qa4 Rfc8 16. Bb5 Na5 17. Nb3 a6 18. Be2 Nc4 19. dxc5 b5 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxb5
Rab8 22. Qa6 Ra8 23. Qb5 Rab8 24. Qa6 Ra8 25. Qb5 {1/2 Dimitrov,R (2365)
-Nikolov,S (2403)/Sunny Beach 2009/CBM 132 Extra}) (13. Rb1 Be6 14. dxc5 Rab8
15. Qa4 Qxc5 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Qg4 Qd6 $11 {1/2
Eingorn,V (2580)-Li Wenliang (2330)/Luzern 1993/CBM 038 (47)}) (13. a4 Bg4 14.
h3 Bh5 15. Re1 Rad8 16. Rb1 c4 17. Bf5 b6 18. e4 Qf6 19. g4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Bg6 {
1/2 Eingorn,V (2600)-Skembris,S (2442)/Bad Woerishofen 2004/CBM 099 ext}) (13.
h3 Be6 14. Re1 Rfd8 15. Rb1 Rac8 16. e4 cxd4 17. exd5 Rxd5 18. Bc4 Rd6 19. cxd4
Qd7 (19... Rcd8 $11 20. d5 Qc7 21. dxe6 Rxd1 22. exf7+ Kf8 23. Rbxd1 Rxd1 24.
Rxd1 Nd8 25. Ne5 Nxf7 $1 26. Ng6+ Kg8 27. Be6 Qc2 28. Rd8+ Kh7 29. Nf8+ Kg8 $11
) 20. Bxe6 fxe6 (20... Rxe6 $1 21. Rxe6 fxe6 $11) 21. Qb3 b6 22. Re4 $14 {
1/2 Uhlmann,W (2535)-Averbakh,Y (2515)/Polanica Zdroj 1975/MCL (41)}) 13... Rd8
{Hardly the best.} (13... Be6 14. Rb1 (14. e4 $142) 14... c4 15. Bc2 Qa3 16.
Qd2 Rab8 17. e4 Ne7 18. Ne5 b5 19. f4 f6 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. Nc6 Rbe8 22. Rxb5
Bf7 $44 {0-1 Hesselberg,L (2131)-Savu,I/ICCF WS 2005/ICCF CBM 125 (44)}) (13...
Qd6 14. Rb1 (14. e4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 Bg4 $5) 14... b6 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Qd2 Rd8
17. Rbc1 Bg4 18. Nd4 Ne5 $11 {1/2 Van Scheltinga,T-Muhring,W/Amsterdam 1950/
EXT 1998 (46)}) 14. e4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 Qf6 16. d5 {[%csl Gd5]} Ne7 (16... Qxc3
17. dxc6 $5 Rxd1 18. Raxd1 Be6 19. cxb7 Rb8 20. Rd6 $44) 17. Ne5 (17. Qb3 $5
Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Qxb7 Qxc3 20. Ne5 Rf8 (20... Nd6 21. Qe7 $14) 21. Rac1
Qb4 22. Qxb4 cxb4 23. Nc6 a5 24. Rc5 $14 Ra6 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Nxa5 Ra8 27. Nc6
Rxa2 28. Nxb4 Rb2 29. Nc6 Rd2 {1/2 Feige,M (2245)-Neidhardt,C (2420)/Germany
2000/CBM 075 ext (58)}) 17... Bf5 18. Bf3 $1 {It is essential for White to
keep this valuable bishop.} Ng6 19. Nxg6 (19. Nc4 $6 Qxc3 20. Rc1 Qd4) 19...
Bxg6 20. Qb3 b6 (20... Re8 $5 21. Qxb7 Qxc3) 21. Re3 Bf5 (21... Re8 22. Rae1
Rxe3 23. Rxe3 a6 {[%cal Yf6d6,Yb6b5]} 24. d6 $1 Rd8 25. Qxb6 Qxd6 26. Qxd6 Rxd6
27. Re8+ Kh7 28. h4 $14) 22. Rae1 Qd6 (22... Bd7 $142 {[%cal Yd8e8]}) 23. h3 {
This enables Black to simplify the position and equalise.} (23. Qa4 $5 Bd7 24.
Qa6 $14) 23... Bd7 {[%cal Yd8e8]} 24. Bg4 Bxg4 25. hxg4 b5 $1 26. Re5 Rab8 27.
R1e3 c4 28. Qc2 b4 29. cxb4 Qxb4 30. g3 Qb1+ 31. Qxb1 Rxb1+ 32. Kg2 Rd1 33.
Re8+ Rxe8 34. Rxe8+ Kh7 35. Rc8 Rxd5 36. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Ne7 7. Nbd2 Nc8 8. Ne1
c5 9. Bd3 Bg6 10. c3 Be7 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. Nd3 c4 13. Nf4 b5 14. Qg4 Ncb6 15.
Nf3 Nf8 16. g3 Qd7 17. h4 Rg8 18. b3 O-O-O 19. Ng5 Qe8 20. bxc4 Nxc4 21. Nd3
Nd7 22. Qf3 Rf8 23. Nh7 Rh8 24. Ng5 Rf8 25. Nh7 Rh8 26. Ng5 Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
g3 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rad1 Rd8 14. Nd4
Bg4 15. h3 Be6 16. Qb3 Rac8 17. e3 Bb6 18. a3 Ba5 19. Nce2 Bb6 20. Nf4 Rd6 21.
Qd3 Rcd8 22. Rfe1 Bd7 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 g6 25. Qc2 Qe5 26. Rd3 d4 27. e4 g5
28. Ne2 Nxe4 29. Nc1 Qc5 30. Qd1 Nf6 31. Bxb7 Qb5 32. Re2 Re8 33. Rxe8+ Qxe8
34. Rd2 d3 35. Nxd3 Kg7 36. Bg2 Ne4 37. Bxe4 Qxe4 38. Ne1 Qf5 39. Qf3 Rf6 40.
Qxf5 Rxf5 41. Kg2 h5 42. Nf3 Kg6 43. b4 Rb5 44. Rd6+ Kg7 45. Nd4 Re5 46. a4 Re4
47. Nf5+ Kh7 48. a5 Bc7 49. Rd7 Be5 50. b5 Rb4 51. Rb7 Rb2 52. a6 g4 53. hxg4
hxg4 54. Rxa7 Rxb5 55. Rb7 Ra5 56. a7 Ra2 57. Rd7 Bf6 58. Ne3 Kg6 59. Nd5 Bd4
60. Nf4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 b4 15. Nb1
Nf6 16. e5 Ne4 17. Bxb4 c5 18. Ba3 cxd4 19. Bf3 Bf8 20. Re1 Bxa3 21. Nxa3 Nc5
22. Nxc4 O-O 23. b4 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Nd7 25. h4 Rc8 26. Qd3 Qc7 27. Rac1 Nb6 28.
Nd6 Qxc1 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kh2 Rc3 31. Qxd4 Nd5 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Qg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. c4 h6 6. Bf4 Nd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. Bg3 g5
9. h3 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O f4 12. Bh2 exd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. exf4 gxf4 15.
Kh1 N7g6 16. Qd2 c6 17. Rad1 Qh4 18. f3 Bd7 19. Rfe1 Rad8 20. Bf1 a6 21. Re4
Kh8 22. b3 Qf6 23. Nde2 d5 24. cxd5 Bf5 25. Nxf4 Bxe4 26. Nxe4 Qf7 27. Nxg6+
Qxg6 28. d6 Rf7 29. Re1 Rfd7 30. Bd3 Nxd3 31. Qxd3 Qf5 32. Rd1 Re8 33. b4 a5
34. a3 axb4 35. axb4 Rdd8 36. Bg3 Be5 37. Qe3 Qg6 38. Bxe5+ Rxe5 39. Qb6 Rd7
40. Qd4 Rg7 41. Qb2 Rd5 42. Rxd5 cxd5 43. d7 Qb6 44. Qf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d3 Re8 6. Bd2 c6 7. Nf3 d5 8. O-O
h6 $6 {A serious mistake which perfectly illustrates the shaky form of Topalov
in the last Amber tournament. Preventing Bg5 makes a lot of sense, but it was
better to exchange pawns on c4 first.} (8... dxc4 9. dxc4 h6 10. Qc2 Bf8 11.
Rad1 Nbd7 12. Bc1 Qc7 13. b3 a5 14. Na4 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Bb2 Bg4 17. Nh4
Rad8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. h3 Be6 20. e3 $11 {0-1 Gashimov,V (2740)-Gelfand,B 
(2750)/Nice 2010 (89)}) (8... d4 9. Na4 (9. Ne4 Bxd2 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Qxd2 a5
12. c5 Be6 13. Qg5 Nd7 14. Qxf6 gxf6 15. Rfc1 a4 16. Nd2 Ra5 17. Ne4 Rea8 18.
f4 Rb5 19. f5 Bd5 20. Nd6 Rxc5 21. Nxb7 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rb8 $15 {
0-1 Paglilla,C (2200)-Szmetan,J (2435)/Buenos Aires 1975 (53)}) 9... Bf8 10. b4
g6 11. Ng5 h6 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Na6 14. a3 Be6 15. Nb2 Qd7 16. Qc1 Kh7 17.
Nd3 f6 18. f4 Bg8 19. fxe5 fxe5 20. Rxf8 Rxf8 21. Bxh6 Rfe8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Anikaev,Y (2455)-Grabczewski,R (2425)/Lublin 1974 (46)}) 9. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 (9...
Bxd2 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Qxd2 $16) 10. cxd5 Bxd2 11. Nxd2 cxd5 12. Qb3 Be6 {
Black decides on one of the ways of parting with the pawn. The alternative
with 12...Nc6!? seems quite attractive in comparison.} (12... Nc6 $5 13. Qxd5
Nd4 14. e3 Qxd5 15. Bxd5 Nc2 16. Rac1 Nb4 17. Bb3 Re7 18. Rc3 Bh3 19. Rd1 Rd8
20. Nc4 $14) 13. Qxb7 Nd7 14. Qa6 (14. Qb3 Rc8 15. Rfc1 Qa5 $14) 14... Nc5 (
14... Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. a3 Rac8 17. Rfc1 $16) 15. Qa3 Qb6 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17.
Rc3 {Gashimov is preparing to parry the pressure along the c-file without
having to compromise his own structure.} d4 (17... Rc7 18. Rac1 Rec8 19. e3 d4
20. exd4 exd4 21. R3c2 Bf5 22. Bf1 $16) 18. Rc2 (18. Nc4 $1 Qb8 19. Rc2 Nd7 20.
Rac1 $16) 18... Na6 19. Rac1 Rxc2 20. Rxc2 Nb4 21. Rc1 Nxa2 $6 {Instead of
suffering without the pawn Black decides to go for broke and part with the
usual standards of parity on the board.} (21... Rb8 22. b3 f6 23. Bf3 $16) 22.
Nc4 Nxc1 (22... Bxc4 $2 23. Rxc4 $18) 23. Nxb6 axb6 24. Qa4 (24. Bc6 Nxe2+ 25.
Kg2 Rc8 26. Qd6 g6 27. Be4 Rc1 28. Qb8+ Kh7 29. Qxe5 Rg1+ 30. Kf3 Re1 31. g4
$18) 24... Rd8 (24... Rc8 25. Bb7 Rc5 26. h4 Nxe2+ 27. Kf1 Nc1 28. Qe8+ Kh7 29.
Be4+ g6 (29... f5 30. Bc6 Bg8 31. Bd7 $18) 30. h5 $18) 25. Bf3 {[%mdl 1024]
Gashimov understands very well that his chances in the game are excellent and
does not want to spoil the advantage. In retrospect both alternatives of
stepping to the f1-square seem somewhat preferable.} (25. Bf1 Nb3 26. Qb5 Rc8
27. f3 $16) (25. Kf1 $1 Nb3 26. Qb5 Rc8 27. Bc6 Bh3+ 28. Ke1 Be6 29. f3 $18)
25... Bh3 26. Bg2 {An early admission of imperfect play is one of the
strengths of a flexible mind.} (26. Kh1 Rc8 (26... g6 27. Qb5 e4 28. Bxe4 Nxe2)
(26... e4 27. Bxe4 Nxe2 28. Bb7 Rb8 29. Qc6 $18) 27. Bb7 Rb8 (27... Rc7 28. Qa7
Rc2 29. Bd5 $18) 28. Qc6 Nxe2 29. Qxb6 e4 30. Qc7 Re8 31. dxe4 d3 32. Qd6 Nc1
33. b4 $18) 26... Nxe2+ 27. Kf1 Bxg2+ 28. Kxg2 (28. Kxe2 Rc8 29. Kd2 $16) 28...
e4 $5 {Topalov remains a true fighter and excellent player even in poor form.
White has to be alert to dangers.} (28... Rc8 29. b4 Nc3 30. Qd7 $18) 29. Qd1 (
29. dxe4 $2 d3 30. Qd1 d2 31. Kf1 Nc1 $11) 29... exd3 30. Kf1 (30. Qxd3 Re8 (
30... Nc1 31. Qc4 d3 32. Qc7 Rd5 33. Qxc1 d2 34. Qd1 $18) 31. Kf1 $16) 30... g5
$2 {Once again the poor form is helping the enemy. The pawn advance to g5 is
far too inflexible; it should have been only to g6.} (30... Rc8 31. Qxd3 Nc1
32. Qxd4 $18) (30... g6 $5 31. Qxd3 Re8 32. f4 $16) 31. Ke1 Nc3 32. Qxd3 (32.
bxc3 $2 dxc3 $19) 32... Re8+ 33. Kf1 (33. Kd2 Ne4+ 34. Kc2 Nxf2 35. Qxd4 Re2+
36. Kb3 Ne4 37. Ka2 $18) 33... Ne2 $6 (33... Ne4 34. Qxd4 Re6 35. f3 Nf6 36. g4
$16) 34. Qxe2 $1 {White is on top of the situation and his basic calculation
is completely right. At a proper moment he will fix the kingside structure
with g3-g4 and still keep two pawn tempi to achieve the win.} Rxe2 35. Kxe2 Kf8
(35... f5 36. Kd3 Kf7 37. Kxd4 Ke6 38. Kc4 Kd6 39. Kb5 Kc7 40. h3 $1 g4 (40...
h5 41. h4 gxh4 42. gxh4 f4 43. f3 Kb7 44. b3 Kc7 45. Ka6 Kc6 46. b4 $18) (40...
f4 41. g4 f3 42. Ka6 Kc6 43. b4 $18) 41. h4 Kb7 (41... h5 42. Ka6 Kc6 43. b4
$18) 42. h5 Kc7 43. Ka6 Kc6 44. b4 $18) 36. Kd3 Ke7 37. Kxd4 Kd6 38. g4 $1 {
White has three pawns on the second rank and thus three reserve moves in the
fight for a zugzwang. Black stands no chance of surviving.} f6 (38... b5 39.
Kc3 Kc5 40. Kb3 f6 41. Kc3 b4+ (41... Kd5 42. Kb4 Kc6 43. Ka5 Kc5 44. b3 $18)
42. Kb3 Kb5 43. h3 Kc5 44. Ka4 Kc4 45. f3 $18) 39. Kc4 Kc6 40. b3 b5+ (40...
Kd6 41. Kb5 Kc7 42. Ka6 Kc6 43. b4 $18) 41. Kb4 Kb6 42. h3 Kc6 43. Ka5 Kc5 44.
b4+ Kc4 45. f3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. a3
Bd6 9. Qe2 c5 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Ba6 Bxa6 13. Qxa6 c4 14. b3 Qc8
15. Qxc8 Rfxc8 16. Bd2 a6 17. a4 Bb4 18. Rdb1 cxb3 19. Rxb3 Rc4 20. Nb1 Bd6 21.
Ne1 Rac8 22. f3 h5 23. h3 h4 24. Kf2 Kf8 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. Nc3 Ke6 27. Rab1 Nh5
28. Kd3 f5 29. Nc2 Nhf6 30. Nb4 Bxb4 31. Rxb4 Rxb4 32. Rxb4 g5 33. Rb1 Rg8 34.
Rc1 Rc8 35. e4 dxe4+ 36. fxe4 Nxe4 37. Nxe4 fxe4+ 38. Kxe4 Nf6+ 39. Kd3 Rxc1
40. Bxc1 Kf5 41. Kc4 g4 42. hxg4+ Kxg4 43. Bd2 Kf5 44. Be1 Kg4 45. d5 b5+ 46.
axb5 axb5+ 47. Kd4 Nxd5 48. Kxd5 h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. O-O a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d3
Bg7 9. Qe1 Qd7 10. a4 f5 11. Nd5 fxe4 12. dxe4 Rb8 13. Ng5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Qf5
15. Ne6 Bf6 16. Qe2 h5 17. Ra3 Nh6 18. Rg3 Kd7 19. Rg5 Bxg5 20. fxg5 Qxd5 21.
Nf4 Qd4+ 22. Be3 Qe4 23. gxh6 Rxh6 24. Nd5 Rhh8 25. Qd2 Rhf8 26. Re1 Rf5 27.
Nb6+ Kc6 28. Bxc5 Rbf8 29. Bd4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Qb6 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 {Apart from this logical exchange
Black can try the firm, but very passive knight retreat.} (11... Ndb8) 12. Bxd4
a6 {Testing the light-squared bishop is not the main line, but it definitely
makes sense if Black wants to complete his piece development.} (12... Bb4 {
White is not able to refute this pesky move, but it dos not mean that the
defender is playing with fire.} 13. O-O (13. Rb3 Qa5 14. a3 Be7 15. f5 exf5 (
15... b6 16. O-O Ba6 17. Bxa6 Qxa6 18. Nb5 O-O-O 19. fxe6 Nc5 20. Rxf7 Nxb3 21.
Qe2 Kb8 22. cxb3 Rhe8 23. a4 Qc8 24. h3 Qxe6 25. Rxg7 Rg8 26. Rxh7 Rc8 27. a5
Rc1+ 28. Kh2 Qg6 29. Rxe7 Qg3# {0-1/Mencinger,V-Rogulj,B/Bled op (7)/1992/})
16. Nxd5 (16. e6 fxe6 17. Bxg7 Rg8 18. Qh6 Kf7 19. Bxd7 Bxd7 20. Be5 d4 21.
Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Bf4 Rxg2 23. Bh6+ Ke8 24. Qh8+ Kf7 25. Qh7+ {Van der Wiel,J-Ree,
H/Nederland/1986/}) 16... Bh4+ (16... Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Bd8 18. Rg3 a6 19. Bxd7+
Bxd7 20. Rxg7 {0.5/De Wit,J-Ree,H/Amsterdam II/1985/} (20. Rxg7 Be6 21. Nf6+
Kf8 $1 $10 {_|_})) 17. Kd1 (17. g3 Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 Bd8 19. Rf1 O-O 20. Bxd7 Bxd7
21. Rxb7 Bc6 22. Ne7+ Bxe7 23. Rxe7 Rfd8 $15) 17... Qd8 $2 (17... Qxd2+ 18.
Kxd2 Bd8) 18. Nf6+ $3 gxf6 (18... Kf8 19. Bc5+ $18) (18... Ke7 19. Qb4+) (18...
Bxf6 19. exf6 O-O (19... gxf6 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Qh6+ $18) 20. Bxd7 (20. fxg7 Re8
21. Rh3 $40) 20... Qxd7 21. Rg3 g6 22. Kc1 f4 23. Qxf4 Kh8 24. Qh6 Rg8 25. Rh3
$18) 19. exf6 O-O (19... Bxf6 20. Re1+ Be7 (20... Kf8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Rg3+)
21. Bxh8 $18) (19... h6 $8 20. Qe3+ Kf8 21. Qe7+ Qxe7 22. fxe7+ Bxe7 23. Bxh8
f6 24. Rg3 $18) 20. Rg3+ $1 Kh8 (20... Bxg3 21. Qg5+) 21. Qh6 Rg8 (21... Bxf6
22. Qg7+ $1 Bxg7 23. Bxg7+ Kg8 24. Bf6#) 22. Rg7 Nf8 {1-0 De Firmian,N (2605)
-Huebner,R (2630)/Polanica Zdroj 1995} (22... Nxf6 23. Rxh7#) (22... Nf8 23.
Rxg8+ Kxg8 24. Qg7#)) (13. f5 exf5 14. O-O (14. Rb3 Qa5 15. a3 Qxb5 16. Nxb5
Bxd2+ 17. Kxd2 O-O 18. Nc7 Rb8 19. Bxa7 Rd8 20. Re1 d4 21. Rb4 {1-0 Garcia,
G-Armas,J/Camaguey-B 1987}) 14... O-O 15. Rf3 Bc5 16. Bxd7 Bxd7 17. Nxd5 Qxa2
18. Rfb3 Bxd4+ 19. Qxd4 Be6 20. Ra1 Qxa1+ $2 (20... Qxc2 $1 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22.
Rg3+ Kh8 23. Qh4 Qc5+ 24. Kh1 Qxe5 $19) 21. Qxa1 Bxd5 {0.5/Nunn,J-Zueger,B/
London/1987/}) 13... O-O (13... a6 14. Rb3 Qa5 15. Rfb1 (15. Bxd7+ $6 Bxd7 16.
Rfb1 Bc5 17. Rxb7 Rc8 18. R1b3 Ba4 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Kh1 Qc4 $1 (20... Bxb3
21. Ne4 Qxc2 22. Nd6+ Kf8 23. Qxc2 $1 Rxc2 24. Rb8+ Ke7 25. Rb7+ $10) 21. Rb1
O-O 22. Nxa4 Qxa4 $15 {Georgiev,Kir-Ehlvest,J/Reggio Emilia/1989/0-1 (61) ><c2,
f4}) 15... Ba3 (15... Be7 $5 16. Bxd7+ Bxd7 17. Kh1 b5 18. f5 $44) (15... Qxb5
16. Rxb4 Qc6 17. f5 h6 18. f6 gxf6 19. exf6 Qd6 20. a4 b5 21. Rxb5 Rg8 (21...
axb5 22. Nxb5 Qc6 23. Qb4 $16) 22. Re1 axb5 23. Nxb5 Qc6 24. Qb4 Nc5 25. Bxc5
Rxa4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Georgiev,K (2605)-Dolmatov,S (2620)/Moscow 1990 (32)}) 16.
Bxd7+ Bxd7 17. Kh1 (17. Rxb7 Rc8 18. Kh1 Bc5 $15) (17. Qe3 Rc8 18. Rxb7 Rc4 19.
f5 Bc8 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Rxg7 Rxd4 22. Qg5 Qxc3 23. Qh5+ Kd8 24. Qg5+ Ke8 25.
Qh5+ {1/2-1/2 Santo Roman,M-Zueger,B/Moscow olm (10) FRA-SUI 1994}) 17... Bc5 (
17... b5 $2 18. Qe3 Rb8 19. Nxd5 $16) 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Rxb7 Rd8 $1 (19... Rc8
$4 20. Ne4 $18) 20. Ne2 Qf2 21. R1b3 {~/= Magem Badals,J-Zueger,B/Horgen II 61/
(284) 1994} (21. Qe1 Qxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Rc8 23. Nd4 Ke7 $1 24. Reb1 Rc4 25. R1b4
Rhc8 $15) (21. R1b3 Qf1+ 22. Ng1 O-O 23. Rb1 Qc4 $10)) 14. Rb3 Qa5 15. Qe3 (15.
Qf2 f5 (15... Nb6 $2 16. a3 Be7 17. Ne4 $1 Nc4 18. Nf6+ $1 Bxf6 19. exf6 Qd2
20. fxg7 $18 {Ziatdinov,R-Zueger,B/Biel op/1994/}) 16. Rfb1 Be7 17. Bxd7 Bxd7
18. Rxb7 Qd8 (18... Rfd8 19. Nb5 Rab8 20. Nd6 Rxb7 21. Rxb7 Qxa2 22. h3 Qa4 23.
Rxa7 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 Luther,T-Zueger,B/Mitropa-Cup (6) SWZ-GER [2] 1991}) 19. Bc5
Bxc5 20. Qxc5 Bc8 21. Rb8 Rxb8 22. Rxb8 d4 23. Ne2 Qd7 24. Nxd4 Rd8 25. Qd6 {
1-0 Kruppa,Y-Kaidanov,G/URS-chT 1988}) 15... Nb6 16. Qg3 Nc4 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,
V (2705)-Dreev,A (2570)/Biel 1993}) 13. Rb3 {Topalov and his team obviously
judge the natural idea of grabbing the b7-pawn to be positionally not sound
enough for a real advantage for White.} (13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3 Qe7 15. Rxb7
Qh4+ (15... Qd8 16. O-O Qc8 17. Rb3 Bc5 18. f5 exf5 19. Nxd5 O-O 20. Nf6+ Kh8
21. Rh3 Bxd4+ 22. Kh1 {1-0 Golubev,M (2570)-Zakharov,V (2355)/Moscow 1995}) 16.
Qf2 (16. Bf2 Qd8 17. O-O Qc8 18. Rb3 Qc4 19. Ne2 Be7 20. Rfb1 O-O 21. Rb7 Qc8
22. Qc3 Bd8 23. Qxc8 Bxc8 24. Rb8 Rxb8 25. Rxb8 Bc7 26. Ra8 Bd7 27. Ra7 Rc8 {
1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S (2776)-Nakamura,H (2774)/Monte Carlo 2011 (124)}) 16... Qd8
17. Bb6 Qc8 18. Rc7 Qd8 (18... Qb8 19. Qd4 Be7 20. Rxd7 Bh4+ 21. g3 Kxd7 22.
Qa4+ Ke7 23. Bc5+ Kd8 24. gxh4 Qc7 25. Qd4 $18 {1-0 Brkic,A (2558)-Bitalzadeh,
A (2370)/Rijeka 2008 (28)}) 19. Rb7 Qc8 20. Rc7 Qd8 21. O-O Rc8 22. Rxc8 Qxc8
23. Qd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z (2707)-Meier,G (2659)/Lubbock 2010 (38)}) 13...
Qe7 14. Ba4 $146 {The first independent move should improve upon the idea that
Cheparinov has already tested - without grabbing the b-pawn.} (14. O-O axb5 15.
Nxb5 Qd8 16. Qc3 Qa5 17. Nc7+ Kd8 18. Nxa8 Qxa8 19. f5 b6 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Qe3
Qc6 $15 {0-1 Cheparinov,I (2696)-Vallejo Pons,F (2664)/Dresden 2008 (50)})
14... b5 15. Bxb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 Qd8 {In the future it may be wise for Black to
open up the a8-h1 diagonal first.} (16... Rxa2 $2 17. Nd6+ Kd8 18. Qc3 $18) (
16... Qh4+ $5 17. g3 Qd8 18. Qc3 Qa5 19. Nc7+ Kd8 20. Nxa8 Qxa8 21. O-O $13)
17. Qc3 Qa5 (17... Nc5 18. Bxc5 Qa5 19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. Bxd6 $16) 18. Nc7+ Kd8
19. Nxa8 Qxa8 20. O-O {[%mdl 4] White has certainly analysed the position in
his extensive opening preparation. White can not claim a direct advantage, but
the position remains dangerous for Black.} Qa4 21. Kh1 (21. f5 Qxd4+ $1 22.
Qxd4 Bc5 23. c3 exf5 24. Rb5 Bxd4+ 25. cxd4 Ke7 $11) 21... Be7 (21... Ba6 22.
Rfb1 Qc4 23. Qa5+ Ke8 24. Rb8+ Nxb8 (24... Bc8 25. Ra8 f6 26. Qb5 Qxc2 27. Be3
$18) 25. Rxb8+ Bc8 26. Qb6 Kd7 27. Qa7+ Qc7 28. Qa4+ Qc6 29. Qxc6+ Kxc6 30.
Rxc8+ $18) (21... Qc4 22. Rfb1 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Be7 24. Rc6 f6 25. Bc3 $14) 22.
Rfb1 f6 {Nakamura suffers, when he can not play at least a bit actively. His
attempt at undermining the cenre will weaken his defence.} (22... h6 23. Rb6
Qa3 24. Rc6 Qxc3 25. Bxc3 Bc5 26. Ba5+ Ke7 27. Rxc5 Nxc5 28. Bb4 $14) 23. exf6
gxf6 $2 (23... Bxf6 24. Bxf6+ Nxf6 25. Rb8 Qc4 $11) 24. Rb6 $1 {A fine move,
that is aiming to punish Black for his undue optimism.} Qxa2 (24... e5 25. fxe5
fxe5 26. Bxe5 Nxb6 27. Qc7+ Ke8 28. Bxh8 $18) 25. Re1 (25. R1b3 Qa8 26. Rxe6
$16) 25... Qc4 26. Rbxe6 Bb4 $2 {Black is just too self confident, he should
learn to experience some fear at the board.} (26... Qxc3 27. Bxc3 Ne5 28. fxe5
Bxe6 29. exf6 Kd7 30. fxe7 $16) 27. Bxf6+ Nxf6 (27... Kc7 28. Qxc4+ dxc4 29.
Bxh8 $18) 28. Qxf6+ Kc7 29. Re7+ $6 {Topalov could not believe his luck and
loses concentration. The same idea from the game would simply win after the
intermediate check on e5.} (29. Qe5+ $1 Kb7 30. Qg7+ Qc7 31. Re7 $18) 29... Bd7
(29... Bxe7 30. Qxe7+ Bd7 31. Qe5+ $18) 30. Qe5+ Kc6 31. Qxh8 Bxe7 (31... Bxe1
$2 32. Qa8+ Kd6 33. Rxe1 $18) 32. Qa8+ Kc7 (32... Kb6 33. Rb1+ Bb5 34. Qb8+ Kc6
35. Qe8+ $18) 33. Qa7+ Kd8 (33... Kc6 34. Rxe7 Qf1+ 35. Qg1 $18) 34. Qb8+ Bc8 (
34... Qc8 35. Qb6+ Ke8 36. Qd6 Qd8 37. Qxd5 $18) 35. Qe5 {White is not able to
win, but defence is still very difficult for the naked king helped by two
bishops.} Bc5 (35... Qc5 36. Qh8+ Bf8 37. Rd1 $16) 36. f5 $1 Qxc2 37. f6 Qf5
38. Qe8+ Kc7 39. Rc1 Kb6 (39... Bd7 40. Rxc5+ Kb7 41. Qe1 $18) 40. f7 {It
becomes clear that Black will not be able to handle all the problems.} d4 41.
Qd8+ Kb5 (41... Kb7 42. h3 Qxf7 43. Rxc5 Qf1+ 44. Kh2 Qf4+ 45. Kg1 $18) 42. Qc7
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Rb1 a5 6. a3 f5 7. b4 axb4 8. axb4
e4 9. Nh3 Nge7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd5 d6 12. d3 exd3 13. exd3 Nxd5 14. Bxd5+ Kh8
15. Ng5 Qf6 16. h4 h6 17. Re1 Nd4 18. Be3 c6 19. Nf3 cxd5 20. Bxd4 Qf7 21. Ra1
Rxa1 22. Qxa1 dxc4 23. dxc4 Kg8 24. Bxg7 Qxg7 25. Qd1 Qf6 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Rd1
f4 28. Qxd6 Qxd6 29. Rxd6 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rxf3 31. Rd8+ Kg7 32. Rxc8 Rxg3+ 33.
Kf2 Rg4 34. b5 b6 35. Rc7+ Kf6 36. Rc6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15.
Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Bb1 h6 19. Nf1 Rfe8 20. d5 Na5 21. b3 Bd8
22. Bd3 Bb6 23. b4 Nc4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. a3 Rac8 26. Bxb6 Qxb6 27. Rc3 Nh5 28.
Ne3 Nf4 29. Qc2 Rc7 30. Rc1 Rec8 31. Qd2 Bb5 32. R1c2 f6 33. Kh2 Nd3 34. Qe2
Qa6 35. g3 g6 36. Nh4 Kh7 37. Ng4 h5 38. Nxf6+ Kg7 39. Nxh5+ gxh5 40. Qxh5 Bd7
41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. Qf7 1-0

[Event "CRO-chT3B Center North"]
[Site "Croatia"]
[Date "2011.03.26"]
[Round "1.15"]
[White "Cavlek, Marko"]
[Black "Topalovic, Velimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "1860"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2011.03.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 Nf6 5. Qa4 Bd7 6. c5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 b5
9. Qc2 g6 10. Bh6 Re8 11. Ne5 Nh5 12. Nd2 Bg5 13. Bxg5 Qxg5 14. g4 Ng7 15. h4
Qe7 16. h5 f6 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. h6 Nf5 19. gxf5 exf5 20. O-O-O a5 21. Rdg1 Kh8
22. Bxf5 Nf8 23. Bd3 a4 24. Nf3 b4 25. Qb1 Qf7 26. Nh4 Ra7 27. Nf5 Qe6 28. Nd6
Rd8 29. Kd2 Rxd6 30. cxd6 Qxd6 31. Qc2 b3 32. axb3 axb3 33. Qxb3 c5 34. dxc5
Qxc5 35. Qc3 Qe7 36. Rc1 Rb7 37. Rc2 Kg8 38. Ra1 1-0

[Event "CRO-chT3B Center North"]
[Site "Croatia"]
[Date "2011.10.22"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Topalovic, Velimir"]
[Black "Hajec, Bozidar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.03.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. a3 Nge7 6. d3 Ng6 7. Bd2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ne2 a6 10. Ng3 d5 11. Ba2 f5 12. Qe2 Bf6 13. c3 f4 14. Nh1 b5 15. Rad1
Bb7 16. Ne1 Nce5 17. d4 f3 18. gxf3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. e5 Bg5 21. Ng3 cxd4
22. cxd4 Qe7 23. Ng2 Rf7 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Qe3 Nf4 26. Kh1 Raf8 27. Ne1 Qh4 28.
Rg1 Nd3 29. Ng2 Qh3 30. f4 Nxf4 31. Nxf4 Rxf4 32. Rd2 Bc6 33. Qe1 Be8 34. Qf1
Qh4 35. Qg2 Bg6 36. h3 Rxd4 37. Rxd4 Qxd4 38. f3 Qxe5 39. Ne2 0-1

[Event "CRO-chT3B Center North"]
[Site "Croatia"]
[Date "2011.10.29"]
[Round "9.14"]
[White "Topalovic, Velimir"]
[Black "Horvat, Zlatko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B20"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "2011.03.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. a3 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Ba2 Nge7 7. Ne2 d5 8. O-O
O-O 9. f3 b6 10. Be3 Ba6 11. Qc2 d4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.05"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 $5 Nc6 {According to
theory, the most flexible move. Once the b4-square has been weakened, it makes
sense to develop the knight to c6. Depending to the system of development
chosen by White, Black can switch to the scheme he considers best, such as the
Dragon (7...g6), the Scheveningen (7...e6) or the Boleslavsky System (7...e5).}
7. a5 $5 $146 {One of the most interesting aspect of this hard-fought match is
the early stage in which novelties have been delivered. Kamsky was the first
to introduce a new continuation on the seventh move of the present game, but
his record will be beaten by Topalov in the fourth game, with a novelty on the
fifth move!! And just as in the fourth game, this is not the last novelty of
the game, due to transposition. With his last move, White takes over the
control of the b6-square and invites Black to delay his development by taking
the supposedly poisoned pawn.} e6 $5 {An inspired decision, aiming to sidestep
what must have been the main core of Kamsky's analysis with his seconds.} (7...
Nxa5 8. Nd5 Nc6 9. Be3 {offers White a strong initiative, although the final
evaluation of this position will be revealed only after some practice. With
the game move, Black defends the d5-square, threatening ...Nxa5 for real. It
should be mentioned that 7...e6 transposes back to a known (although not very
popular) line, 6...e6 7.a5 Nc6.}) 8. Nxc6 $5 {Another small surprise. It is
considered that in most cases this exchange, strengthening Black's centre, is
a concession. Kamsky probably had a very clear plan in mind, based on concrete
threats.} (8. Nb3 {is likely to transpose to a normal Scheveningen:} Be7 9. Be3
O-O 10. Be2 {As a youngster, Kamsky managed to defeat an experienced
grandmaster, but with the passing of the time his taste may have changed:} Nd7
11. O-O b5 12. axb6 Nxb6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Na4 Nd7 15. f3 Qc7 16. c4 {With some
queenside pressure in Kamsky,G (2345)-Ermenkov,E (2500)/Palma de Mallorca 1989/
TD (1-0, 36)}) 8... bxc6 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O {Black's position is not as simple
to play as it looks. His main trump, the strong pawn centre, also implies some
concrete problems. Which would be the optimal configuration? Should he leave
the pawns as they are? If not, which of them should be advanced?} c5 $5 $146 {
With this move, the game finally abandons the known paths. The long term plan
after ...c5 is ...Bb7 followed by ...Kf6-d7-b8-c6, taking the b4- and
d4-squares under control. All this requires a lot of time, though.} ({The plan
based on ...d6-d5 was played in a few not too relevant games. The one that
certainly is interesting was played in a strong ladies' event:} 10... O-O 11.
Qe2 d5 12. Bd2 Bb7 13. e5 Nd7 14. Na4 {The plan to neutralise Black's
queenside initiative with c2-c4 is typical, but with the pawn on a5 the
weaknesses along the b-file will tell.} Qc7 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 16. c4 c5 17. Ra3 {
White places her pieces on attacking squares, but Black has defensive
resources.} g6 18. f4 Bf8 19. Bc2 d4 20. Rg3 Bc6 21. h4 Rab8 {Suddenly, there
are concrete queenside problems, while the attack has not really started yet.}
22. b3 Bxa4 23. bxa4 Bg7 24. h5 Rb2 25. Bd3 Nb8 $15 {[%cal Gb8c6] White soon
had to launch herself into a desperate attack, which surpisingly was
successful in Markovic,M-Zatulovskaya,T/Belgrade 1969/EXT 2001 (1-0, 47)}) 11.
Bf4 Qc7 12. Qe2 {[%cal Ge4e5]} Bb7 $5 {Black decides to ignore the threat,
relying on some hidden tactical nuances.} ({The more solid} 12... Nd7 {was
possible, but the planned ...Nb8-c6 is rather time consuming and gives White
the possibility to build up his attack.}) 13. e5 Qc6 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bd2 c4 $1 {
An important intermediate move, leading to an interesting and unbalanced
structure.} 16. Bxc4 dxe5 17. b3 {It is interesting that in the third game
Kamsky also decided to defend his c4-bishop with b2-b3, although in a
completely different position and under less favourable circumstances.} ({
The main alternative was} 17. Bb3 {[%cal Ge2e5,Gb3a4]} Qc7 18. Ba4+ Kf8 {
White has no obvious way of taking advantage of Black's lost right to castle.
The a4-bishop is out of play and there is no pressure against a6. Black
threatens ...Nf4 followed by ...g6 and ...Kg7.} 19. Rfe1 (19. Rae1 Rd8 {
[%csl Ga5]}) 19... Nf4 $1 20. Qxe5 Bd6 21. Qg5 $8 Bxf3 $1 22. Bxf4 Bxf4 23. Qh4
Bb7 $132 {[%csl Gb7,Gf4]}) 17... Rd8 18. Rad1 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 Nf4 {Possibly
underestimating the consequences of White's answer.} (19... O-O {would have
been safer, for instance} 20. Na4 Qc7 21. Bxa6 $2 Bxa6 22. Qxa6 Qxc2 $17 {
and White's position is hanging.}) 20. Na4 $1 Nxe2 {There is no way back.} (
20... Qc7 {[%csl Ge5]} 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Bxa6 $16) 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxe2 Ke7
23. b4 {The most direct continuation, but one that allows Topalov to carry out
his trademark exchange sacrifice.} (23. Bc3 Bd4 24. Be1 {may seem more passive,
but the advance of the queenside pawns would be ensured in the long term.})
23... Rxd2 $1 (23... Bd4 24. b5 axb5 25. Bxb5 $36) 24. Rxd2 Bxb4 25. Rd3 Bd5 {
Black only needs to bring his rook into play in order to get a perfect
position, but White can maintain the initiative for the time being.} 26. Rb1
Bxa5 27. Ra3 Bd2 $1 {[%cal Ga7e3,Ge3a7]} (27... Bc7 $6 28. c4 Ba8 29. Rxa6 Rc8
30. Rba1 Bb7 31. Ra7 Bc6 32. c5 $16) 28. Rxa6 $6 {Missing his chance.} (28. c4
$1 Bc6 29. Rxa6 Rc8 30. Rbb6 {Suddenly the c6-bishop experiences problems of
stability.} Ba8 $8 (30... Kd7 31. Bd1 $1 {[%cal Gb6c6,Gd1a4]}) (30... Kd6 31.
Rb7 $1 {[%cal Gb7f7]}) ({Nor was resistance possible after} 30... Bd7 31. Rb7
Be3 32. g3 {[%csl Gh1][%cal Ge2d1,Gd1a4]}) (30... Bd5 31. g3 Bxc4 32. Bxc4 Rxc4
33. Rb7+ Kf6 34. Raa7 {[%cal Gb7h7]}) 31. Ra7+ Kf6 {[%cal Gd2e3]} 32. Rb3 $1 e4
{Black has finally cleared some space for his bishops and can hope to defend.})
28... Rc8 $1 $15 {Consolidating his d5-bishop.} 29. Ra7+ Kf6 30. Bd3 Be3 31.
Ra4 (31. Rd7 $6 {would lead to an amusing situation after} Bc6 32. Rd6 Bc5 {
, trapping the rook.}) 31... h5 32. Rab4 Rc3 33. h4 g6 34. Kh2 Kg7 35. Ra4 f5
36. Re1 Bc5 37. Re2 (37. Rxe5 $2 Bd6 $1 38. f4 Bxe5 39. fxe5 g5 $17) 37... Kf6
38. Re1 Bf2 39. Re2 Bc5 40. Re1 Bf2 41. Re2 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.06"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This match between two great players of vastly contrasting styles was highly
anticipated. And they didn't disappoint!} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {
Just like in their last match played two years ago, Kamsky remains faithful to
the Grünfeld. Topalov quickly steers the game into unconventional lines, where
he has a powerful new idea.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8.
Qa3 {White's queen is often the biggest problem in the Qb3 lines of the
Grünfeld. Here it is completely sidelined and in danger of getting trapped in
some variations. On the other hand, if Black isn't able to take advantage of
this factor, then he will simply have a strategically inferior position due to
the strength of White's center. In this game it's clear White didn't justify
the position of his queen on a3: it didn't move for the rest of the game....}
Nc6 {The knight is aiming for the great b4-square after ...a5. Of course,
Black must play as concretely as possible at this stage, and cannot afford
luxuries such as castling.} ({For example, after} 8... O-O 9. e3 (9. e4 {
also deserves attention.}) 9... Nc6 10. Be2 a5 11. O-O Nb4 {White is in time
to play} 12. Rfc1 {, defending against ...Nc2, after which he will slowly
unravel and begin exploiting his strong center.}) 9. O-O-O $1 $146 {A novelty,
and a very interesting one! On the one hand, White is playing for complete
central domination with e4 and d5, but on the other, if he doesn't manage then
his king could end up very exposed on the queenside. The play quickly becomes
sharp and unusual, and the game could steer one way or the other as a result
of mistakes on either side.} ({Previously the obvious} 9. e3 {had been played.
As a matter of fact, Gata himself defended the Black pieces twice here!} a5 10.
Be2 (10. Bb5 O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qc5 Nd5 13. Be5 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Bd5 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 {and Black compensated his bad pawn structure with active piece play in
Eljanov-Kamsky, Ohrid 2009.}) 10... Nb4 11. O-O {and here Ivanchuk-Kamsky,
Jermuk 2009 continued 11...c6, but Black could have ventured} Nc2 12. Qc5 Nxa1
13. Nb5 (13. Bxc7 Nd7 14. Bb5 Kf8 $1 {is a nice variation which ends with an
extra exchange for Black.}) 13... Nd5 14. Bxc7 Qd7 {, with chaotic play where
it's at first sight difficult to understand who is playing for what - but my
computer assures me that Black is doing very well here! I imagine all these
variations were checked deeply by both players and their seconds before the
match, and they came to the conclusion that Black is well off.}) 9... Nd5 {
Not what Black wants, but there was no other defence to the threat of d5.} (
9... a5 $4 10. d5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. e4 {simply wins a piece.}) 10. Bg3
Bh6+ $5 {Although it's probably not enough to equalize, I'm nevertheless
impressed by this unconventional solution to Black's problems. It seems very
strange to "provoke" a natural move like e3, but Gata saw that if he could
prevent White from playing e4 and maintain central stability, then he would
have enough counterplay against White's king. Not only a great concept, it
also seemed to take Topalov out of his preparation, and as we will see he
immediately went astray.} ({The cooperative} 10... Nxc3 $6 {grants White an
advantage:} 11. bxc3 Qd5 12. e3 {, and White will continue to expand with c4
next.}) 11. e3 ({The point is of course that} 11. Kb1 $4 {is met by} Bf5+ 12.
Ka1 Ndb4 {, winning.}) 11... a5 12. h4 $2 {Topalov is too keen on attacking,
when he should have tried to realize his main plan of central expansion. This
very serious conceptual mistake leads to a very pleasant position for Black.} (
12. Kb1 $1 {, preparing e4, would have been a logical continuation of White's
opening strategy:} Ncb4 (12... Bf5+ 13. Bd3 Bxd3+ 14. Rxd3 {gives Black
nothing but trouble, since his counterplay has totally run out.}) 13. e4 $1 {
, and here Black is unable to play 13...Nxc3, but the computer comes up with
the astonishing} c6 $5 {A brilliant way to "defend" the knight on d5.
Unfortunately, it isn't clear what Black's next move will be, so now White can
consider} 14. h4 {, with the dual threats of h5 and Ng5.}) 12... Ncb4 13. h5 {
Consistent. White also had another option.} (13. Ng5 {The bishop on e6 is very
annoying for White, so it makes sense to drive it away. Unfortunately for
White, Black can provoke a crucial weakness with} Bg4 14. f3 ({After} 14. Rd2
f6 15. Nge4 c6 {, the position is pretty complicated, but it doesn't seem like
White has made much progress over the last few moves. Meanwhile, Black's
pressure on the queenside is extremely unpleasant.}) 14... Bc8 $1 {, and I'm
not sure exactly how White can deal with the weakness on e3, especially since
Black is also threatening ...f6. By the way, there is also the option of 14...
Nxe3, which follows a long line leading into an extremely complicated position
which is probably good for Black. But simpler is better!}) 13... c6 {Gata's
play makes good sense to me. He is securing his position and will prepare
counterplay with ...b5. On the other hand, I don't understand what White is
playing for.} 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Rd2 $6 {An awkward move. I imagine Topalov
wanted to prevent ...Nxc3, but Black almost never wants to do that anyway,} ({
After} 15. Ng5 Bg4 16. Rd2 Kf8 {, Black has a good position. He just plans ...
Kg7.} (16... f6 {can be met by the bizarre} 17. e4 $5 Nc7 18. Qb3 fxg5 19. Be5
{, with weird complications. Let's avoid that.}) 17. e4 {is also met by} Kg7) (
{White should have tried} 15. Be2 {I still don't like White's position,
because Black's queenside play is very dangerous, but at least White needs the
option of doubling on the h-file to get some counterplay,} f6 ({I would rather
avoid} 15... b5 $6 16. Ng5 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nxa2+ 18. Kc2 Bd5 19. Qc5 {, when
Black's knight is sadly trapped on a2 and will probably never get out,}) 16.
Ne4 b6 17. Rh2 Kf8 18. Rdh1 Kg7 {, and White has again run out of ideas. Black
can do whatever he wants on the queenside. A main idea would be to prepare ...
c5.}) 15... f6 {Calm positional play is the most unpleasant for White. Since
he could never achieve e4 or bother Black in any way, White is just clearly
worse now! The sad remnants of a strong opening novelty and failed strategy....
} 16. Ne4 (16. Kb1 {is always met by} Bf5+) 16... b6 17. Be2 Qc8 18. Rh4 Kf7 {
Everything according to plan. Black is slowly preparing ...c5. I can't even
criticize the move 18.Rh4, which just made it worse for White, because I can't
find any decent alternatives.} 19. Rd1 g5 {After good preparation all Black's
pieces are perfectly placed for the final breakthrough, which Gata executes in
model style!} 20. Rh2 g4 21. Nfd2 c5 22. dxc5 f5 {Of course, now White's king
will be under the combined attack of Black's entire army.} 23. Rxh6 (23. Nc3
Qxc5 {is obviously hopeless for White.}) 23... Rxh6 24. Ng5+ Kf8 {Now Black is
up material with an attack to boot. One could argue that the computer's
suggestion of 25.Nb3 could have prolonged the game, but it wouldn't have made
a real difference.} 25. Nxe6+ Qxe6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bf4 Rf6 28. e4 Rxc5 29. exd5
Qxd5 30. b3 Qd4 31. Be3 (31. Qb2 Nd3+ {would have been a comical finish for a
queen stuck on a3 the whole game.}) 31... Qc3+ {An interesting game. Topalov
came prepared with a good novelty, but he didn't follow it up correctly. In
fact, it only took one mistake for White's position to go downhill – that's
how it works in these sharp lines. Kamsky, however, really played
fantastically the whole game, reacted calmly to the novelty and controlled the
game without allowing undue counterplay. A very well deserved win for him.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.07"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "7200"]

{Topalov enters this game with a difficult decision. Should he try to hold for
a draw and push for an all-out win with White in the 4th game, or try to risk
potentially losing the match here with Black? These are problems that the
super-GM from Bulgaria must answer even before the players sit down at the
board.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 {Kamsky
repeats his relatively experimental line from game one. Even though Topalov
and his team were probably expecting this, it is very difficult to react in a
mere two days. It's possible that they found no tangible improvement after 6...
Nc6 7. a5!? so Topalov deviates back to the more usual Najdorf approach.} e5 7.
Nf3 Be7 8. Bg5 Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Nd5 Nd7 11. Bc4 Rc8 12. b3 Qa5+ {This
game's novelty. This practically forces White's response, after which it would
only make sense to trade queens. A superficial assessment would be to think
that 'simplifcations lead to draws', when in fact the absence of queens brings
many new strategic ideas to the position.} 13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Bg5 {This is
a good time to get a strong hold of the position. The structure is very
reminiscent of a Sveshnikov Sicilian. To compensate for his backward d6-pawn
and weak d5-square, Black has the pair of bishops and a half open c-file. Of
course, this isn't something that he can take advantage of immediately since
the position is rather closed. But it contains potential! The old masters
believed that obtaining the pair of bishops would eventually grant an
advantage, because ultimately the position was bound to become open after pawn
exchanges. Although chess has evolved greatly, this maxim still holds some
value.} 15. Kd1 $5 {This is an interesting move by the American. The king is
perfectly safe on d1, and it holds the queenside somewhat. There is really no
advantage in sending the king to the kingside, as it would serve no purpose
there. The queenside rook will eventually be lifted via a4 (after a pawn push
to a5) and go to b4, where it would be pressuring the b7-pawn. However, White
is not the only one who can push rook pawns...} h5 $1 {A good strategic move:
Black grabs space on the kingside and prepares a potential rook lift there -
but it's also important to understand the psychological implications of such a
move. Because of the match situation, it is possible that Kamsky wants to play
with as little risk as possible. Clearly he holds no advantage, so he does not
want to commit himself to any weaknesses if he cannot see an immediate return.
It is possible that for this reason he shuns the most natural move 16.h4 and
gives Black a decent amount of space on the kingside. In my opinion,
unnecessarily.} 16. Re1 $6 (16. h4 {is of course the most natural continuation,
but then White has to cope with the fact that h4 will be weak and g5 might be
a possible break in the future. All bishop retreats make some sense at this
point, but the most natural would seem to be...} Bd8 {eyeing that h4-pawn.} 17.
g3 Ba5 {Kamsky might have looked at this position and not liked it. The
computer suggests that terribly inhuman move 18.Rb1, so it's understandable
how he didn't go for this line. However, White's position is solid, even if
rather planless.}) 16... h4 {Black quickly grabs the space he was provided.
White can hardly allow the pawn to go all the way to h3, so he must stop it
now.} 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nxf6+ (18. Nb6 {was a natural alternative. However after}
Rc5 19. a5 Nh5 {Black begins to build up some pressure on the kingside. Maybe
saying that Black is better is not quite true, but it does seem more pleasant
to play with the Black pieces.}) 18... gxf6 $1 $15 {Topalov instantly replied
with this move, and with good reason. The g-file opens with great effect to
exert pressure on the now weak g2-pawn, while his centre will be bolstered
after the trade of bishops on e6. This move might seem strange to some players,
but to a Sveshnikov player, or a super-GM like Topalov, it is the only
conceivable move.} 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Nf3 Rg8 {Kamsky must hurry and prevent
Topalov from expanding in the centre too quickly. He still has some resources
- but haste is mandatory.} 21. c4 f5 22. exf5 exf5 23. Ke2 $1 {A resourceful
move! The king's role in the centre has ended, and there is no more need for
him to defend the c2-square. Additionally, he was starting to become exposed,
so it makes sense to transfer his majesty to f1, where it will guard the g2
pawn.} Be7 24. Kf1 Kf7 25. Rad1 {This is another good moment to analyse what
is going on. Black has achieved many things! He has fixed his structure and
now has a potentially dangerous pawn centre. Unfortunately, there is no clear
way for him to use it immediately. He will never want to advance e4 and give
White the d4-square. So it transpires that a logical plan is to play b5. This
can be done immediately, but Topalov shows his class and first plays an
important move.} Rc5 $1 {This move takes control of the fifth rank, an
important element as the 25...b5 variation shows. White is running out of
useful moves, so he plays his card...} (25... b5 $5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Rd5 $1 {
This cool moves forces off more pawns than Black wants to trade. The following
is only a sample line, but shows the great simplification power White has as
his disposal.} bxc4 28. bxc4 Kf6 29. c5 $1 Ke6 30. cxd6 Kxd5 31. dxe7 Rge8 32.
Nxh4 Ke6 33. f4 Rc5 34. g4 fxg4 35. hxg4 $11 {And with the last pawn gone the
draw is obvious.}) 26. b4 $1 {Maybe forced. White uses tactics to resolve some
of the tension.} (26. Re2 b5 27. cxb5 axb5 28. a5 b4 $15 {is definitely NOT
what White is looking for.}) 26... Rxc4 27. Rxe5 {Black has a few ways of
dealing with this position. He wants to create as much play as possible, but
it seems that White is holding in every line.} dxe5 (27... Kf6 28. Ree1 Rxb4
29. Rd4 Rxd4 30. Nxd4 $11 {and Black has no real hopes of winning as he will
soon lose an important pawn.}) (27... Rxb4 28. Rxf5+ Kg6 29. Ra5 {The awkward
placement of the rook on a5 would seem to give Black a reason to go for this
line, however it is actually difficult to come up with a useful move. The
pawns on d6 and h4 are rather weak, and the king will never find shelter.
Practically, it is difficult to go for this line as your top choice, but it
was definitely worth a try.} Rc8 $5 30. Re1 Rc7 $15) 28. Nxe5+ Ke6 29. Nxc4
Bxb4 30. Rb1 $1 {Fixing the pawns on dark squares is important, as it will
allow White to easily control them, or at least force Black into a major
concession if he tries to advance on the queenside.} a5 31. Rd1 Rc8 32. Rd4 {
The weak pawn on h4, the controlled structure on the queenside and the active
white pieces give Black little hope of a win, so Black sets up one final trap..
.} Bc3 $1 33. Rxh4 Bf6 34. Rf4 Bg5 {White is at a small crossroads. He could
try to gain three (!) passed pawns on the kingside with 35.Rxf5!? or he could
play it safe and take a draw. Topalov has simply given Gata the chance to go
wrong, but he doesn't bite.} 35. Rd4 (35. Rxf5 $5 Kxf5 (35... Rxc4 36. Rxg5
Rxa4 37. Rb5 $14 {Black might have enough to draw this, but no more.}) 36. Nd6+
Ke6 (36... Ke5 $2 37. Nxc8 Kd5 {transposes to Kd5 above.}) 37. Nxc8 {So now
that we reach this position in our minds, we realise that more calculation is
necessary. Black has no successful way of trying to corral the knight on c8,
so he must lunge toward the queenside - and he has two ways to do this.} b5 $1
{Speed is everything. White can't take on b5, but he can clearly catch the
pawn.} (37... Kd5 $2 38. Ke2 {Now Black's king cannot prevent White's from
helping on the queenside, since he cannot afford to lose the b-pawn.} Kc5 (
38... Kc4 $6 39. Nd6+ Kb3 40. Nxb7 Kxa4 41. g3 Kb4 42. Nxa5 $18) 39. Kd3 Kb4
40. Nd6 b6 41. Nb5 Kxa4 42. Kc4 $18 {And the pawns roll by themselves on the
queenside.}) 38. Ke2 bxa4 39. Kd3 Bf6 40. Kc4 a3 41. Kb3 Bd4 42. Kxa3 Kd7 43.
Ka4 {and the position should be drawn. Of course this crazy line requires
quite a bit of calculation, and contains many ways in which one could go wrong.
Gata's choice is safe and sound.}) 35... Bf6 36. Rf4 Bg5 37. Rd4 Bf6 {A
tenacious defence by the American. Topalov tried on every flank but eventually
came up short of victory, setting up a very highly anticipated game for
tomorrow, where Topalov will push with everything he has!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.08"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "7200"]

{The Topalov-Kamsky match has been, without a doubt, the most exciting match
in in the first round of the Candidates. The match started with an interesting
draw when Kamsky introduced a novelty as early as move seven in the Najdorf;
it was followed by an absolutely wild game with kings castled on opposite
sides (or rather, one castled and one non-castled) that ended with Gata taken
the full point with a vicious and perfectly executed attack, and in the third
game we saw Topalov pull out all his strategic tricks to try to take the point
from Kamsky. Of course, these great players would not let us down in the final
game.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qc2 {Topalov reveals a
surprise as early as move five! 5.Qa4+ has been played thousands of times, so
it's interesting that the Bulgarian tries to change the course of the game so
quickly.} Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 {This isn't the only move but I like it as a practical
decision; it allows Black to keep using familiar themes and strategies as
opposed to radically changing the pawn structure and having to come up with
ideas in a less familiar environment.} (6... Nxc3 7. dxc3 {must be the idea of
White's system. This pawn structure is slightly better for White, as Black's
bishop is quite passive (nothing a Grünfeld player wants to hear about...).
The game would've taken a much different direction than normal Grünfeld waters.
Normally White doesn't go for this as the exchange of queens favors Black, who
usually ends up having a little bit less space.}) 7. d4 O-O 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Ne5 {
This is the other point of White's system. With the queen on c2, and out of
harms way, the knight can move to e5 to control the g7 bishop. This doesn't
come for free though, as now White is saddled with an inferior pawn structure
and his development is not looking too advanced.} Bxe5 (9... Be6 {was worth
considering, with the idea of c6 and N8d7 eventually.}) 10. dxe5 Nc6 {Black
tries to immediately take advantage of White's aggression. However, it seems
that Topalov has just enough time to kick back Black's pieces and not only
defend all his weaknesses, but start rolling an initiative of his own with his
central pawn majority.} 11. h3 Be6 12. Rd1 Qc8 13. f4 (13. Be2 $5 Nxe5 14. b3
Rd8 15. O-O {also gives White plenty of compensation. This might be the future
of this variation - the idea of playing f4 in a near future might be very,
very strong. Black's pieces are very controlled and an attack on the queenside
might be strong. Who knows, Topalov's Qc2 might be more poisonous than it
looks.}) 13... Rd8 14. b3 Nb4 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Qb1 {White's space avantage
coupled with his pair of bishops promise him a bright future. Kamsky already
must look for something creative and fast so that he can break through and
disrupt White's coordination.} f5 $5 {Maybe not the strongest move, but Black
had to do something. At least now the position is getting opened while White's
king remains in the centre.} 17. exf6 exf6 18. Be2 Qe7 19. O-O Bf7 20. Bf2 Rd8
21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 {The dust has cleared a little, as White has finished
his development. Black hasn't achieved much of anything tangible, but at least
his position remains solid and he has enough space for all his pieces as he
has managed to take the rooks out of the game.} c5 {Black is trying to grab as
much space as he can. Currently he is trying to obtain control of d4, or at
least use it to trade off some pieces. It's hard to conceive of a plan, so
this at least gives him some direction.} 23. Bf1 Nc6 24. g3 Kg7 25. Bg2 h5 26.
Nb5 Nc8 27. Qd2 {White has slowly built up his forces, without creating any
special threats. However, all his pieces are slightly better placed, which
makes any break all the more dangerous. Black can sit back and wait until
White threatens a breakthrough, which may be now or in twenty moves, but Gata
is just not that type of player.} c4 {Opening the position increases the value
of the pair of bishops, but reducing the pawns favours Black.} 28. bxc4 Bxc4
29. Nd4 Qb4 30. Qc1 $1 {It is important to understand the power of this move.
The queen is the last remaining major piece in the game, and without it White
will not be able to generate a strong enough initiative to overwhelm his
opponent. For this reason he retreats the queen to a place where it cannot be
easily bothered. Also key to note is that the queen is still on a black square,
which potentially allows it to quickly target the weak king on g7.} (30. Qxb4
Nxb4 31. a3 Nd3 $1 {and Black's pieces are just as active as their
counterparts. Black will very likely hold this endgame without any problem.})
30... N8e7 31. a3 Qa4 32. Qb2 {With every move White's position gains more and
more strength.} b6 33. Kh2 $1 {Another important move. This prophylactic move
frees him from the responsibilities of worrying about Qd1+, and secures the
kingside pawn structure.} Kf7 {Not a particularly useful move, but Black is
quickly running out of moves. Now White must find a way to strike.} 34. Qc3 Ba2
35. f5 {And here it is. This move was played, in my opinion, at the exact
right time. With 5 moves to go it is still difficult to make the time control
seeing that Gata only had one minute and thirty seconds at this point, while
Topalov had a full eleven minutes. It is difficult to react to a challenging
move with such a short amount of time.} Qc4 36. Qb2 Ne5 37. Qd2 $1 g5 38. Ne6 {
Topalov has played a flawless game. His knight and queen will create very
deadly threats.} N7c6 $2 (38... Bb3 {defending d1, is an extremely hard move
to find, but might have been the only way to defend.}) 39. Qd6 $1 $18 {The
decisive penetration. Black simply does not have enough glue to keep his
entire position together.} Ke8 40. Nc7+ (40. Bd4 $1 {was the cleanest, with
the idea of Bxe5, while the bishop cannot be taken because of Qd8+ and Qf8#.
However, Topalov had nearly no time by this point, and his move is almost as
strong.}) 40... Kf7 41. Nd5 {...and f6 falls, and with it the game... or so it
seems!} Qe2 $1 {Kamsky does not give up! He sees that his only hope now is the
somewhat weak position of White's bishops, which cannot move because they must
stay to defend the king. Resourceful, but it should be insufficient.} 42. Qxf6+
Ke8 {This is a bizarre position. White is up a pawn, has more checks than he
can count, and is to move. It would seem that there must be something here
that wins. However it is very difficult to find, if it exists at all! White's
king is unfortunately too weak, and Black's pieces are just perfectly placed
to defend against all the threats and create strong ones at the same time.
Truly bizarre.} 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Kg1 $6 {And here Topalov beings to falter!
After spectacularly and masterfully conducting his attack, he is not able to
execute the coup de grâce by adequately removing the counterplay from Black's
position.} (44. Qh6+ Kf7 45. Qf6+ Ke8 46. Qh8+ Kf7 47. Bg1 {and now that the
queen takes h5 with check against most Nf3+ variations, White should be
winning.}) 44... Qd1+ 45. Bf1 $2 {This move now gives Black real chances to
jump back into the game. It almost seems that Black's king is too weak to
really come up with any resources, but the contrary is true!} Bxd5 $1 {
Eliminating the knight is, of course, first on the order of business.} 46. exd5
(46. Qxd5 Qxd5 47. exd5 Ne7 48. Be2 Nxf5 49. Bxh5 Ke7 {is not much better for
White, as Black's knights miraculously control the white bishops. However this
position can be squeezed.}) 46... Nd4 $11 {The position is already drawn.
White does not have enough resources to defend his own position, and he is
just missing one piece in the attack to finish off the black king. Amazing!}
47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Qxg5+ (48. Bxd4 {did not solve White's problems, as too many
simplifications arise and his king is too weak.} Qxd4+ 49. Kh1 Qxd5+ 50. Bg2
Qd1+ 51. Kh2 Nf3+ $1 52. Bxf3 Qxf3 {with a clear draw.}) 48... Kf7 49. Qd8 Qc2
$1 {The key move! The white king is completely controlled, and the threat is
Ndf3+ followed by Ne1+, with a perpetual.} 50. Bg2 Qc1+ 51. Kh2 Qc2 52. Bg1
Ndf3+ 53. Kh1 Ne1 54. Bf2 Qxf2 55. Qc7+ Kf6 56. Qd6+ Kf7 {White is in time to
give a perpetual and not lose, but that is all. A fantastic struggle. It is
easy to blame Topalov for not calculating properly or for breaking down
nervously. It is easy to say this when you have a computer that is throwing
numbers such as +3 and +4 after 42.Qxf6+. However, I challenge the readers to
calculate that position. With or without a computer! It is extremely complex,
Black's resources plentiful and White's continuation unclear. In most cases in
chess, the position is as natural as it seems. Black's weak king, pawn deficit,
etc. seemed to clearly indicate he was easily lost, but that might not have
been the case. Again, a fantastic save by the American grandmaster, but thanks
to both players for providing us with unbelievably exciting chess.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRM-chT2 20th"]
[Site "Andrijevica"]
[Date "2011.09.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Jovancevic, Jovan"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "1928"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2011.09.09"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 O-O 9. Nf3 c5 10. Bd3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qb4+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 b6 14.
Rhc1 Ba6 15. a4 Bxd3 16. Kxd3 Nd7 17. Rc7 Rfd8 18. Ke3 f6 19. a5 b5 20. Rac1
Kf8 21. Rb7 a6 22. Rcc7 Ke8 23. Ra7 Rxa7 24. Rxa7 Rb8 25. Nd2 b4 26. Rxa6 e5
27. dxe5 fxe5 28. Rc6 b3 29. a6 b2 30. a7 Ra8 31. Rc7 Kd8 32. Rb7 Kc8 33. Rxb2
Rxa7 34. Nc4 Rc7 35. Nb6+ Nxb6 36. Rxb6 Kd7 37. Kf3 Ke7 38. Kg3 Kf7 39. f3 Rc2
40. h3 h6 41. h4 h5 42. Rb3 Kf6 43. Kh3 Re2 44. Rb6+ Kf7 45. g4 Re3 46. Kg3
hxg4 47. Kxg4 g6 48. Rb4 Kf6 49. Rb6+ Kf7 50. Rb8 Re1 51. Rh8 Kf6 52. Rh7 Rg1+
53. Kh3 Rh1+ 54. Kg2 Rb1 55. h5 gxh5 56. Rxh5 Rb8 57. Rh6+ Kg5 58. Re6 Kf4 59.
Rf6+ Ke3 60. Kg3 Rg8+ 61. Kh4 Rg1 62. Rf5 Rg8 63. Rg5 Rf8 64. Rf5 Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRM-chT2 20th"]
[Site "Andrijevica"]
[Date "2011.09.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vujisic, Rajko"]
[Black "Topalovic, Vejsel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C04"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2011.09.09"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Nf3 h6 8.
Bb5 Bd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Re1 O-O-O 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Bxd7+ Rxd7 13. Qa4 a6 14. c4
c6 15. b4 g5 16. b5 axb5 17. cxb5 Bb8 18. bxc6 Nxc6 19. Rac1 Rc7 20. Ne5 Qe7
21. Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Rxc6+ bxc6 23. Qxc6+ Qc7 24. Qf3 Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 f5 26. Rc1+
Kd8 27. Qb7 Bc7 28. d5 Rh7 29. Rxc7 Rxc7 30. Bb6 exd5 31. Qxd5+ Ke7 32. Bxc7
Qxc7 33. Qxf5 Qc1+ 34. Ke2 Qb2+ 35. Kf3 Qxa2 36. Qh7+ Qf7+ 37. Qxf7+ Kxf7 38.
g4 Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dublin Clock sim"]
[Site "Dublin"]
[Date "2011.10.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Baburin, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2011.10.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "IRL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 dxc4 6. Na3 c3 7. bxc3 O-O 8. O-O
c5 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. Rd1 Na5 11. Qb2 Qb6 {There are four games with this position
in our database, with two white wins, one loss and a draw.} 12. Qxb6 $146 ({
Relevant:} 12. Ne5 Nd7 13. Nac4 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 Qa6 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. a4 cxd4 17.
cxd4 Bd7 18. a5 Na4 19. Qb4 Qxe2 20. Rxa4 Bxa4 21. Qxa4 Rad8 22. Ba3 Qa2 23.
Bxb7 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Qb1+ 25. Qd1 {1-0 (25) Inarkiev,E (2649)-Kurnosov,I (2668)/
Moscow 2010/CBM 134 Extra}) 12... axb6 13. Ne5 Be6 14. Bb2 Rfc8 15. f4 Bd5 16.
Bh3 Rd8 17. c4 Be4 18. d5 h5 19. Rac1 Ng4 20. Bxg4 hxg4 21. Nb5 Bf5 22. Ba1 f6
23. Nd3 Bd7 24. Nc7 Rac8 25. d6 exd6 26. Nd5 Be6 27. Ne7+ Kf7 28. Nxc8 Rxc8 29.
f5 Bxf5 30. Nf4 Rc6 31. Nd5 {Black has given a rook for bishop and two pawns.
So far he is doing fine, but now inaccuracies start to slip in.} Be4 (31... Bh6
{was the more advantageous choice.}) 32. Rf1 Bxd5 33. cxd5 Rc8 34. Rf4 g5 35.
Re4 b5 36. Re6 ({White is now calling the shots. We would have loved to see
the continuation} 36. Rf1) ({or even the foxy} 36. Rb4) 36... Re8 37. Rxd6 Rxe2
38. Rd7+ Kg6 39. d6 Nc4 40. Re7 Rxe7 $6 {Black should probably not allowed
White the pawn on e7. It plagues Topalov for the rest of the game.} 41. dxe7
Kf7 42. a4 b6 43. axb5 Nd6 44. Re1 Ke8 45. Re6 Nxb5 46. Rxb6 Nd4 47. Bxd4 cxd4
48. Re6 Bh8 49. Kf2 f5 50. Ke2 f4 51. Kd3 Bg7 52. Ke4 d3 53. Kxd3 Bb2 54. Ke4
f3 55. Kd3 Ba3 56. Re4 ({after} 56. Re4 Bxe7 57. Rxg4 Kf7 58. Ke3 {Black has
no defensive resources left.}) 1-0

[Event "Dublin Clock sim"]
[Site "Dublin"]
[Date "2011.10.03"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Collins, Sam E"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2436"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2011.10.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "IRL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Bd7 13. b3 Rfb8 14. Nbd2 Nb7 15. c4
Ne8 16. Nf1 Nd8 17. Ne3 g6 18. Ng4 f6 19. Nh6+ Kh8 20. Nh2 a5 21. cxb5 Bxb5 22.
Bd2 Bd7 23. N2g4 Bf8 24. Rc1 Bc8 25. h4 Nf7 26. Nxf7+ Qxf7 27. Ne3 Be7 28. Nc4
Bd8 29. f4 Qe7 30. Rf1 Ba6 31. h5 a4 32. hxg6 axb3 33. Bxb3 hxg6 34. Rc3 Bxc4
35. Bxc4 Ba5 36. Rh3+ Kg7 37. Bc1 $2 (37. Bxa5 {wins more quickly for White.})
37... exf4 38. Bxf4 Rb2 39. e5 f5 40. Qc1 (40. g4 {would have settled the
matter in White's favour.}) 40... Rab8 41. Bb3 Re2 42. exd6 Qe4 43. Rh2 Bd2 44.
Bxd2 (44. Qb2+ Qd4+ 45. Qxd4+ cxd4 46. d7 Bxf4 47. dxe8=N+ $1 Rbxe8 48. Rxf4 {
White is a piece up and should win the game.}) 44... Qd4+ 45. Kh1 Rxd2 46. Qe1
Nxd6 47. Qe7+ Nf7 48. Qc7 {Now Black is suddenly better, but he decides to
force a draw} Rh8 49. Rxh8 Kxh8 50. Qxf7 {and now Black takes the perpetual:}
Qh4+ 51. Kg1 Qd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dublin Clock sim"]
[Site "Dublin"]
[Date "2011.10.03"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Astaneh Lopez, Alex"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2414"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2011.10.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "IRL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nc3 d6 6. O-O Bd7 7. e3 Nf6 8. d4
O-O 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 Rb8 11. Qe2 cxd4 12. exd4 Bg4 13. Rfd1 Qc8 14. Nd5 Nxd5
15. cxd5 Nb4 16. Qxe7 Nxd5 17. Qg5 Qf5 18. Qxf5 Bxf5 19. Nd2 Nb4 20. Nc4 Rfd8
21. Ne3 Bc8 22. a3 Nc6 23. b4 Be6 24. Rd2 d5 25. Rc1 h5 26. f4 Rbc8 27. Kf2 Ne7
28. Rdc2 Rxc2+ 29. Rxc2 Nc6 30. Rd2 Rd7 31. Bf3 f5 32. Bd1 Kf7 33. Bb3 Bf6 34.
h4 Na7 35. Nc2 Nc8 36. Ne1 Nd6 37. Rc2 Nc4 38. Nf3 b5 39. Bc1 Kg7 40. Ne5 Rb7
41. Bxc4 dxc4 42. Bd2 Bd5 43. Bc3 Be7 44. Ra2 Bd6 45. Ke3 Kf6 46. Ra1 Ke6 47.
Kf2 Be4 48. Nxg6 Kd5 49. Ne5 Bc2 50. Kf3 Be4+ 51. Ke3 Bc2 52. Kf3 Be4+ 53. Ke3
Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dublin Clock sim"]
[Site "Dublin"]
[Date "2011.10.03"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Quinn, Mark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2398"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2011.10.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "IRL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.10.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. a3
d6 9. g4 h6 10. f4 Bd7 $146 ({Relevant:} 10... Be7 11. h4 g6 12. Bf3 Na5 13.
Qe2 Nc4 14. O-O-O Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Nd7 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Rg8 18. Kb1 Nb6 19.
Rh7 Bd7 20. Be2 Qc5 21. Qf3 Rf8 22. Nb3 Qc7 23. Rdh1 O-O-O 24. Rg7 Kb8 25. Rhh7
Be8 26. Nd4 Rd7 27. f5 Qc5 28. Nb3 Qg1+ 29. Ka2 Qxg5 30. Qf2 Nc8 31. Bc4 exf5
32. Bxf7 fxe4 33. Nxe4 Qe5 34. Qg2 Bd8 35. Bxe8 Rxg7 36. Rxg7 Qxg7 37. Qxg6 Qe7
38. Ba4 Nb6 39. Nc3 Rf4 40. Be8 {Jakubowski,K (2500)-Maksimenko,A (2544)/
Germany 2011/CB14_2011/0-1}) 11. h3 Be7 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. O-O-O g6 $6 {Black
should have probably exchanged knight on d4 instead, or even tried 13...d5.}
14. Rhf1 Rh7 15. f5 gxf5 16. gxf5 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 e5 18. Qd3 Bc6 19. Rg1 b5 20.
Kb1 Qb7 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Bd8 23. Qb3 Ke7 24. Bf2 Kd7 ({after} 24... Bb6 {
White has the exchange sacrifice} 25. Bh4 $1 (25. Bxb6 Qxb6 {looks drawish})
25... Bxg1 26. Rxg1 {with good winning chances.}) 25. Rg2 Be7 26. a4 Rb8 27.
axb5 axb5 28. Be1 Rhh8 29. Rg3 h5 30. Qb4 h4 31. Rb3 Bd8 32. Bxb5+ Ke7 33. Qc4
({an interesting alternative was} 33. Bc3 {attacking the two central pawns}
Qxb5 34. Qa3 {and Black must give up his queen, or go for something like} Qe2
35. Re1 Rxb3 36. Qa7+ Nd7 37. Rxe2 Rb8 {and White is completely winnin.}) 33...
Rh5 34. Bc6 Qc8 35. Rxb8 Qxb8 36. Rd3 Rxf5 37. Rb3 Qc8 38. Rb7+ {The pressure
is relentless, White is going to win.} Kf8 39. Bb4 Bc7 40. Qxh4 Rf1+ 41. Ka2
Kg7 42. Qg5+ Kh7 43. Bxd6 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Pelletier,Y"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Switzerland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SUI"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Re1 {Objektiv sicher nur ein "one-time shot"! Aber am Brett ist es
nicht so einfach, den psychologischen Druck eines so gut vorbereiteten und
dynamischen Gegners wie Topalovs zu halten.} O-O 10. h4 c5 ({Zu gefährlich ist
zweifellos} 10... Bxh4 11. Nxh4 Qxh4 12. Re3 $40) 11. Bd3 ({Mit} 11. d5 {
kann Weiss auch nicht um Vorteil kämpfen, auch wenn er nach} exd5 12. Bxd5 Nd7
13. Qc2 Nf6 14. Bc4 {genug Kompensation besitzt.}) 11... Nd7 ({Gut war auch} 
11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 {, aber ich hielt es für sicherer, meinen Springer
Richtung Königsflügel zu führen.}) 12. Ng5 ({Wenn die weisse Partieanlage
bisher zumindest interessant war, geriet das Spiel nun wirklich in die
Spekulation! Schwarz hat zwar auch kein Problem nach} 12. h5 h6 13. Bc2 ({oder
} 13. Bf4 Nf6 14. Ne5 cxd4 15. cxd4 Bd7 $13) 13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Nf6 15. Ne5 (
15. Qd3 Bd7 $13) 15... Bd7 16. Re3 Rc8 17. Rg3 Kh8 $13 {, aber mit seiner
Aktivität am Königsflügel sollte Weiss auch nicht in Gefahr sein.}) 12... Nf6
13. Bf4 cxd4 14. cxd4 (14. Be5 h6) 14... h6 15. Be5 {Zurückzutreten ist nicht
im Stil des Hauses ... Nach einem Springerzug würde einfach 15...Bd7 folgen.}
hxg5 $6 ({Danach sind die Chancen wieder verteilt. Zum Vorteil geführt hätte
der Entwicklungszug} 15... Bd7 $1 16. Re3 Bc6 17. Rg3 {, und nun die wichtige
Ressource} Bd6 $1 {, was ja wirklich hxg5 droht.}) 16. hxg5 g6 ({Zu gefährlich
war} 16... Nh7 $6 17. Bxh7+ (17. Qh5 $6 Nxg5 18. f4 f5 19. fxg5 Bxg5 $15) 17...
Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. f4 $1 {[%cal Ge1e3]} (19. Bxg7 {führt nach} Kxg7 20. Qh6+
Kg8 21. g6 fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kh8 23. Re3 Bh4 {zum Dauerschach}) 19... Bd6 20. Rad1
$1 $40) 17. gxf6 Bxf6 18. Rb1 (18. Re3 $142 Kg7 $13) 18... Kg7 ({In der
Variante} 18... b6 $142 19. Qf3 Bxe5 20. dxe5 {vergass ich, dass} Bb7 $1 $15 {
möglich ist.}) 19. Qf3 Rh8 {Bis zum Ende entfernt sich nun die
Stelungseinschätzung nur wenig vom Gleichgewicht. Weiss ist aktiv genug, um
den Minusbauern zu kompensieren.} 20. g3 (20. Re4 $142 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Rb8 22.
Rf4 Qe7 $13) (20. Bxg6 $142 $5 fxg6 21. Rxb7+ Bxb7 22. Qxb7+ Kh6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6
24. Re3 {[%cal Ge3h3] und Schwarz kann dem Dauerschach nicht entkommen.}) 20...
Bxe5 21. dxe5 Rb8 22. Be4 (22. Qf4 Qe7) 22... Qg5 23. Qa3 (23. Bc6 Qf5 $15) (
23. Qc3 b6 24. Qc7 Ba6 25. Qxa7 Bc4 $15) 23... Bd7 24. Qxa7 Qxe5 $6 ({
Ernsthaft aufpassen müssen hätte Weiss nach} 24... Qh5 $1 25. Bxb7 Rbc8 $1 {
(ich übersah leider diese Ressource)} 26. Qe3 Bc6 27. Bxc6 Rxc6 28. Qe4 Rc2 $36
) 25. Bxb7 Qf6 26. Bg2 Rxb1 27. Rxb1 Rd8 28. a4 {Nun geriet Schwarz leicht in
die Defensive. Aber der folgende Läufertausch sichert den halben Punkt.} e5 29.
a5 Bc6 30. Qb6 (30. Rb6 $2 Rd1+ $19) (30. Bxc6 Qxc6 31. Qe3 Qd5 32. a6 Rh8 33.
f3 Qa5 $11) 30... Rd6 31. Bxc6 Rxc6 32. Qe3 Rc4 (32... Qd6 $142 $11) 33. Rb6
Qf5 34. Kg2 Qe4+ 35. Qxe4 Rxe4 36. a6 Ra4 37. Kf3 Kh6 38. Rb7 (38. Ke3 f5 $11)
38... Ra3+ 39. Ke4 f5+ 40. Kxe5 Rxa6 41. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.04"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 dxc4 8. e3
c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Rd8+ 11. Kc2 Bxc5 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Rd1 g5 14. Bg3 b6
15. h4 g4 16. h5 Bf8 17. Rh4 Bg7 18. Nxg4 Ba6 19. Bc7 Rdc8 20. Bf4 Kh7 21. Be2
Bb7 22. Bf3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Rc5 24. e4 Rac8 25. a3 Ra5 26. Bg3 Rc6 27. Ne3 Ne5
28. f4 Nf3 29. Rhh1 Rxh5 30. Rhf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.05"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. Ng5 h6 8. Nh3 g6
9. Nc3 Bg7 10. Nf4 O-O 11. O-O Nc6 12. Ncxd5 Rb8 13. Rb1 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 d6 15.
b3 a6 16. Bb2 Ne5 17. Qc1 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Qe7 19. Rd1 h5 20. Qc2 Kh7 21. Rd2 b5
22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. a4 Qa7 25. Rdd1 Rb6 26. e3 Kg7 27. axb5 Rxb5
28. Bc4 Rb6 29. Rd2 Ra8 30. Qe4 Qb8 31. Rbd1 Ra7 32. Qd5 Qc7 33. Kg2 Qe7 34. h3
Bc3 35. Rc2 Bf6 36. Rdd2 Qe5 37. Qxe5 Bxe5 38. f4 Bf6 39. Kf3 Be7 40. Ra2 Rbb7
41. Ke4 Bf8 42. Bd5 Re7+ 43. Kf3 Rec7 44. Rdc2 Rxa2 45. Rxa2 Be7 46. Ra8 Bf6
47. Ke2 Re7 48. Kd3 h4 49. g4 g5 50. Ra6 gxf4 51. exf4 Bd4 52. Rxd6 Re3+ 53.
Kc4 Rxh3 54. Rd7 Rc3+ 55. Kb5 h3 56. Rxf7+ Kg6 57. Rd7 h2 58. Kc6 Be3 59. Be4+
Kf6 60. g5+ Ke6 61. f5+ Ke5 62. Re7+ Kf4 63. f6 Bd4 64. Re8 Kxg5 65. f7 Bg7 66.
Rg8 Kf6 67. f8=Q+ Bxf8 68. Rxf8+ Ke5 69. Re8+ Kd4 70. Bd5 Rxb3 71. Re4+ Kd3 72.
Rh4 Rb2 73. Kxc5 Ke3 74. Kd6 Re2 75. Ke5 Kf2+ 76. Kf4 Kg1 77. Rg4+ Kf2 78. Bf3
Rd2 79. Be4 Re2 80. Bh1 Rd2 81. Rg2+ Ke1 82. Rg8 Kf2 83. Be4 Re2 84. Ba8 Rd2
85. Kg4 Ra2 86. Bb7 Rb2 87. Bc6 Rc2 88. Ba8 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a3 h6 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. c3 Bb6 13. Ba2 d6 14. Nf1 d5 15. exd5
Nxd5 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qc2 Qd6 18. b4 Nc6 19. Ng3 Rad8 20. Ne4 Qg6 21. g4 Nf6 22.
Nh4 Qh7 23. Nf5 Qg6 24. Nh4 Qh7 25. Qe2 Ne7 26. Qf3 Nxe4 27. dxe4 g6 28. g5 Rd6
29. gxh6 Nf5 30. Bg5 Nxh4 31. Bxh4 Bc8 32. Red1 Be6 33. Rxd6 cxd6 34. Bg5 Bxa2
35. Rxa2 Rf8 36. a4 f6 37. Be3 Bxe3 38. Qxe3 bxa4 39. Rxa4 Qb7 40. Qd3 Qb5 41.
Qxb5 axb5 42. Ra7 Rc8 43. Rg7+ Kh8 44. Rxg6 Rxc3 45. Rxf6 Rc4 46. f3 d5 47.
exd5 Rxb4 48. Re6 Rd4 49. Rxe5 b4 50. Kf2 b3 51. Re3 Rxd5 52. Rxb3 Kh7 53. Rb6
Rd2+ 54. Kg3 Rd1 55. f4 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.07"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 Bxc3 6. bxc3 c6 7. Rb1 d5 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ne2 Nc6 11. O-O Re8 12. d3 Nb6 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Qc2
Re7 15. Nc1 Be6 16. Rb5 Nd5 17. c4 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rc8 19. Qb2 b6 20. Bxc6 Rxc6
21. Rxe5 f6 22. Re4 Bh3 23. Rff4 f5 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Kf2 Re6 26. Qd2 Qb7 27.
e4 Re8 28. Ne2 fxe4 29. Qe3 Qc6 30. Rxe4 Rf8+ 31. Rf4 Re8 32. Re4 Rf8+ 33. Rf4
Re8 34. Qf3 Qc5+ 35. d4 Qxc4 36. g4 g5 37. Rf6 Qxe2+ 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.08"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Rc1
Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. O-O Nd5 11. Bxc4 Nxf4 12. exf4 Be7 13. Qe2 g6 14. Rfd1 Qa5
15. Bb5 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Rd1 Qe8 20. Rd7 Bc8
21. Rd2 Bb7 22. Ne4 Rd8 23. Ng4 Rxd2 24. Ngf6+ Kh8 25. Qxd2 Qd8 26. Qxd8+ Bxd8
27. Nd7 Be7 28. Ndc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.09"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 Nh6 12. f3 c5 13. Rb1 g5 14. Bf2 f5 15. b4 b6
16. h3 Ng6 17. g4 fxg4 18. hxg4 Nf4 19. Rh2 Qf6 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Bg3 Bd7 22.
Rb7 Bc8 23. Rb3 Bd7 24. Qb1 Nf7 25. Bd1 h5 26. Nf1 h4 27. Bf2 Rfc8 28. Ne3 Qd8
29. Bg1 Rcb8 30. Rhb2 Rxb3 31. Rxb3 Qa5 32. Kf1 Nh3 33. Bh2 Bf6 34. Qb2 a6 35.
Rb7 Bc8 36. Rb6 Bd8 37. Rb3 Ra7 38. Nf5 Kf8 39. a3 Rb7 40. Rxb7 Bxb7 41. Ba4
Bc8 42. Bc6 Qb6 43. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.10"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Godena, Michele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nd7 7. Bxc4 Ngf6
8. O-O O-O 9. f3 Ne5 10. Be2 Qe7 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 c5 13. Nb3 Rd8 14. Qc2
Be6 15. Be3 b6 16. Nd2 Nc6 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. Bf1 h6 19. h3 Rc7 20. a4 Bc8 21.
Nc4 Rcd7 22. Bf4 Nh5 23. Bh2 Ba6 24. e5 Qg5 25. Qe4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 Na5 27. e6
Nf6 28. exf7+ Rxf7 29. Bxf7+ 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Be3 Nc6 {This line was
examined in annotations to Pashikian-Cornette by GM M.Marin - see CBM 142.} (
13... exd5 14. exd5 Na6 {is more passive, Kramnik,V (2791)-Howell,D (2611)/
London 2010/CBM 140/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 42)}) 14. Bd3 (14. h4 exd5 15. exd5 Bg4 (
15... c4 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. Bb3 (18. dxe6 $142 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxc3 20.
Bb3 $44 {M.Marin}) 18... Nxd5 19. Bd4 Nc7 (19... Qa6 $1 $36 {M.Marin}) 20. O-O
Re8 21. Rfe1 Bxb3 22. axb3 a6 $11 {1-0 Gonzalez Garcia,J (2522)-Abreu Delgado,
A (2479)/Barcelona 2011/CBM 143 Extra (65)}) 16. Be2 Bxf3 (16... Ne7 $6 17. c4
Qc7 (17... Qxd2+ 18. Nxd2 $14 {/+/- M.Marin}) 18. Ng5 $5 Bf5 19. Nh3 Nc8 20. g4
Bd7 21. h5 $40 {1-0 Sundararajan,K (2526)-Konguvel,P (2420)/Chennai 2010/CBM
134 Extra (48)}) (16... Qa4 17. Bxc5 $6 (17. Qc2 $14) (17. h5 $5 {M.Marin})
17... Bxf3 18. gxf3 Ne5 19. c4 Rac8 20. Be7 Rd7 21. d6 Re8 22. Qe3 Nf7 23. Qb3
Qxb3 24. axb3 Nxd6 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 $15 {/= 1/2 Arun Prasad,S (2513)-Shivananda,B
(2372)/New Delhi 2011/CBM 140 Extra (32)}) 17. gxf3 c4 $5 $132 {M.Marin} (17...
Ne7 {1/2,Harika,D (2445)-Gupta,A (2565)/Paleohora/2009/} 18. d6 $16)) 14...
exd5 15. exd5 c4 $1 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. dxe6 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxc3 20.
Bb3 $44 {[%csl Ge6]} Qc1+ (20... Qa1+ $6 21. Bd1 $1 Nf5 $6 22. O-O Qc3 (22...
Nxe3 $2 23. e7 $1 $18) 23. Bb3 Kh8 24. Rd7 Re8 (24... Nxe3 $2 25. e7 $1 Qa5 26.
fxe3 $18 {M.Marin}) 25. Bd2 Qb2 26. g4 Ne7 27. Rc1 Nc6 28. Kg2 $18 {1-0
Lupulescu,C (2626)-Bukavshin,I (2501)/Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142 (35)}) 21. Rd1
Qc3+ 22. Rd2 Qc1+ 23. Rd1 Qc3+ 24. Ke2 a5 (24... Qb4 25. Rd3 (25. Rd7 Qb5+ {
M.Marin}) 25... a5 26. Rc1 a4 27. Rc4 Qb5 28. Rc5 Qb4 $11 {1/2 Pashikian,A 
(2642)-Cornette,M (2548)/Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142/[Marin,M] (47)}) 25. Rd7 a4
26. Rc1 Qb2+ $2 {The queen loses its way.} (26... Qb4 $142 27. Bc4 $44 {M.Marin
}) 27. Rc2 {[%csl Rb2]} Qb1 28. Nd2 (28. Rd1 axb3 29. Rxb1 bxc2 30. Rxb7 Nd5
31. Kd2 Nxe3 32. fxe3 Rc8 33. Kc1 Bh6 34. Rb3 $14 {is less convincing.}) 28...
axb3 (28... Qg1 29. Bc4 Re8 30. Rb2 Qxh2 31. Rbxb7 Bf8 32. Ne4 Qh4 33. Kd3 $18
{[%cal Re4d6]}) 29. Nxb1 bxc2 30. Nc3 Nf5 31. Bd2 $16 {White has restored the
material balance keeping a positional advantage (the e6-pawn and better pieces)
.} h5 {Finally Black deviates from the known game Potkin - Svidler, however,
without success. Amazingly, Veselin Topalov was simply unprepared for this
line.} (31... Re8 32. Kd3 (32. Rxb7 $5 Rxe6+ 33. Kd3 $16 {[%csl Ga2] B.Vuckovic
}) 32... b6 33. g4 Nh6 34. h3 Rxe6 35. Kxc2 $14 {1/2 Potkin,V (2646)-Svidler,P
(2722)/Moscow 2010/CBM 140 (44)}) 32. Kd3 b5 33. e7 {[%csl Ge7] This pawn
decides the game.} Re8 34. Nd5 Kf7 35. Kxc2 Rc8+ 36. Nc7 Nxe7 37. Bb4 Bf8 38.
Kb3 Rb8 39. Nd5 Ke6 40. Rd6+ Ke5 (40... Kf7 41. Nxe7 Bxe7 42. Rd7 $18) 41. f4+
1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nxd4 {This kind of exchange is not
too popular in the reversed Dragon English.} (12. Nd2 {is the main line, as,
for instance, Aronian,L (2739)-Topalov,V (2780)/Morelia/Linares 2008/CBM 123/
[Marin,M] (1-0, 65)}) 12... exd4 13. Ne4 {Strategically, White's position
looks very pleasant, but in the presence of queens Black has chances for a
kingside attack.} Bd5 {Black's highest priority is to neutralise the English
bishop.} ({Not even attacking the rook in the hope of forcing it into a worse
position is allowed:} 13... Ba2 14. Nc5 $1 Bxb1 {In for a penny...} 15. Qb3+ {
Black's light squares are very weak now.} Kh8 (15... Rf7 16. Nxb7 Qe8 17. Na5
Bxd3 18. exd3 Rd8 19. Nc6 Rd6 20. b5 Bf8 21. a4 $16 {Miezis,N (2516)-Agopov,M 
(2376)/Oslo 2003/EXT 2004 (1-0, 28). White threatens a4-a5 followed by Bd5.
Besides, the a7-pawn is doomed.}) 16. Ne6 Qd7 17. Nxf8 Rxf8 18. Bxb7 $1 (18.
Qxb1 c6 $14) 18... Qa4 19. Qxb1 c6 20. Qa2 Bxb4 21. Qe6 Bxa3 22. Bxc6 Qb4 23.
Be4 $16 {Thorfinnsson,B (2412)-Motylev,A (2690)/Rogaska Slatina 2011/CBM 145 
(1/2, 48)}) 14. Bb2 (14. e3 $5 {is an interesting attempt to annihilate
Black's space advantage in the centre.} a5 {A principled reaction.} (14... dxe3
{offers White chances to retain some pressure:} 15. Bxe3 f5 16. Nc5 Bxg2 17.
Kxg2 Qd5+ 18. Qf3) 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. exd4 f5 17. Qe1 Ra8 ({Since the rook will
later have to defend the b7-pawn,} 17... Ra7 $5 {deserves attention.}) 18. Nc5
Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qd5+ 20. Kg1 Rfe8 (20... Bxc5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Qe6+ Rf7 23. Re1
$14 {Black has some problems of coordination and the bishop is likely to
become a monster along the long diagonal.}) 21. Qe6+ Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Bd6 23. Nc5
Ra7 24. Rb5 $14 {White has maintained his extra pawn (not a very impressive
one for the time being, but at least it inhibits ...Bxc5) and some pressure.}
g6 25. Be3 $6 {Allowing a simplifying operation.} (25. Kg2 $5 $14 {[%cal Gh2h4,
Gc1b2]}) 25... Nd5 26. Nxb7 Nxe3 27. Nxd6 cxd6 28. Re1 Rxa3 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30.
fxe3 Rxd3 31. Rd5 {1/2 Hracek,Z (2628)-Karjakin,S (2763)/Porto Carras 2011/CBM
146}) 14... f5 15. Nd2 Bxg2 ({In principle, Black should not let his queen be
decoyed to d5, since it will become vulnerable either to the exchange with Qb3
or to rook attacks with Rc1-c5.} 15... Bf6 16. Bxd5+ Qxd5 17. Rc1 Rf7 18. Rc5
$36 {Timman,J (2630)-Bareev,E (2680)/Tilburg 1991/CBM 026/[Ribli] (1-0, 39)})
16. Kxg2 Kh8 (16... Qd5+ 17. Kg1 {is likely to transpose above.}) 17. Nf3 Bf6
18. Qc2 $146 {Navara hopes to improve over a previous game of his.} ({In the
following old game, Black misplayed his attack badly:} 18. Rc1 Qd7 19. Qb3 Rae8
20. Rc2 f4 (20... g5 $5 {Azmaiparashvili}) 21. b5 fxg3 $6 (21... Nd5 $5 {
Azmaiparashvili}) (21... g5 $5) 22. hxg3 $1 {[%csl Gh8][%cal Gf1h1]} Nd5 23.
Rh1 $14 c6 24. bxc6 bxc6 25. Bxd4 Qf7 $6 (25... Nf4+ $5 {Azmaiparashvili}) 26.
Qc4 Re6 27. Bxf6 Qxf6 28. Qh4 $18 {Azmaiparashvili,Z (2575)-Chandler,M (2585)/
London 1989/TD (1-0, 41)}) ({Navara's previous game went:} 18. a4 {Slightly
premature judging from Black's answer.} a5 19. b5 Re8 20. Re1 c5 21. bxc6 bxc6
22. e3 dxe3 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. fxe3 {Black's kingside structure has been
spoiled, but White's central pawns are vulnerable, too.} Nd5 25. Qd2 Nb4 26.
Rbd1 Ra7 27. Nh4 Qd5+ 28. e4 fxe4 29. dxe4 Rxe4 30. Qxd5 cxd5 31. Rxe4 dxe4 32.
Rd4 Rc7 (32... Re7 $2 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Nf5+) 33. Nf5 Rc2+ 34. Kh3 h5 35. Rxe4
Nd3 $11 {Navara,D (2646)-Karjakin,S (2727)/Sochi 2008/CBM 126 (1/2, 44). As we
will see, the game move aims to play a3-a4 at a more favourable moment, when ..
.a5 is not available anymore.}) 18... Qd7 {A logical developing move.} ({
It does not make too much sense to play for keeping ...a5 for an option, since
this may cause Black lose his coordination:} 18... Re8 19. Rfc1 c6 20. Ba1 $1 (
20. a4 a5) 20... g5 (20... Qd7 21. a4 g5 22. e3 $1 {[%csl Gf6] ץf6}) 21. Re1
$5 (21. Qc5 g4 22. Nxd4 Na4 23. Qc4 {and now Black can choose between 23...
Nb6= with perpetual attack against the queen and} b5 $5 24. Nxc6 bxc4 25. Nxd8
c3 $44) 21... g4 22. Nd2 {This offers White some chances for an advantage
since the f6-bishop is hanging after the rook has departed from f8.}) 19. Rfc1
c6 20. a4 {Finally, a good moment to play this, but Black can start his
kingside attack already.} f4 $1 $36 {As the subsequent course of the game
proves, White's innovation has failed to improve over the already known games.}
(20... a5 $6 21. bxa5 Rxa5 $2 22. Ba3 $18) 21. b5 cxb5 22. axb5 Nd5 {Playing
for an outright attack.} (22... Rac8 $5 23. Qb3 Nd5 {is also possible, but the
text may be stronger. In certain lines, the rook belongs on d8, defending the
knight.}) 23. Nxd4 Rae8 ({The more active} 23... Qg4 $5 {offers better chances
for an advantage.} 24. Qb3 (24. Nf3 fxg3 25. hxg3 Nf4+ 26. Kg1 Rae8 $40) 24...
Rad8 25. Nf3 Bxb2 (25... fxg3 26. Rc4 Nf4+ 27. Rxf4 Qxf4 28. hxg3 $44 {Black
is less acdtive here than in the end of the main line.}) 26. Qxb2 fxg3 27. Rc4
(27. hxg3 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 Rd5 $40 {/\...Rh5}) (27. fxg3 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 Nxd3 $15)
27... Nf4+ 28. Rxf4 Rxf4 29. hxg3 Rdf8 $15 {In principle, White has
compensation for the exchange, because of his compact kingside structure.
However, the telling factor remains Black's pressure.}) 24. Nf3 Bxb2 25. Qxb2
Qe6 (25... fxg3 26. hxg3 Qg4 $44) 26. Qd4 (26. Rc2 fxg3 27. hxg3 Qg6) 26...
fxg3 27. hxg3 Qxe2 28. Qxd5 Re3 $1 29. Re1 Qxf3+ 30. Qxf3 Rexf3 31. Rb2 Rxd3 (
31... Rxd3 32. Re7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Be3 c6 7. Bd3 a6 8. a4 a5
9. Qd2 e5 10. Nge2 Na6 11. Rd1 exd4 12. Bxd4 Nc5 13. Bc2 Be6 14. b3 Qb6 15. O-O
Qb4 16. Rb1 Rad8 17. Kh1 Bc8 18. Qc1 Nh5 19. Na2 Qb6 20. Bg1 Qc7 21. Nac3 Qe7
22. Qd2 f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 gxf5 25. g3 Be5 26. Nd4 Rde8 27. Nce2 Qd8 28.
Rbd1 Ng7 29. Qc2 Qc7 30. Nf4 Bxf4 31. gxf4 Rf6 32. Bf2 Qf7 33. Rg1 Rg6 34. Qd2
Qc7 35. Rg3 Nce6 36. Rdg1 Nxd4 37. Bxd4 Ree6 38. Bb2 b6 39. Qd4 Qb7 40. Qd3 Qf7
41. Bxg7 Kxg7 42. Qd4+ Qf6 43. Qxb6 Re2 44. Rg5 c5 45. Qxa5 Qb2 46. Qc7+ Kh8
47. Qd8+ Kg7 48. Rxg6+ hxg6 49. Qh4 Qxb3 50. Qh3 d5 51. Qg3 Re6 52. cxd5 Qxd5
53. Qf2 Qd3 54. Qb2+ Kf7 55. Qb7+ Re7 56. Qc6 Re6 57. Qb7+ Re7 58. Qc6 Re6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Bd2 a5 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Qxe4 c5 16. Qh4 b4 17. e4 Rfe8 18. Bb5 Be7 19. Qf4 Qxf4 20. Bxf4 Red8 21.
d5 exd5 22. exd5 Bf6 23. b3 h6 24. d6 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Nd2 Be5 27. Bxe5
Nxe5 28. Ne4 f5 29. f4 Nd3 30. Nf6+ Kf7 31. Rxd3 Kxf6 32. d7 Rc7 33. Rcd1 Ke7
34. Re1+ Kf7 35. Red1 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 {A common line nowadays.} 6.
e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 {The same position may arise from the Queen's
Gambit Accepted with White's pawn on a2. This "extra" tempo might favour Black
as he can use the b4-square for his knight to establish control over the key
d5-point.} Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe2 ({White's other logical continuation is} 10.
Re1 O-O 11. Bg5 {I have opposed this myself in numerous games as Black with
satisfactory results.}) 10... O-O 11. Rd1 Nb4 12. Bg5 Bd7 {I don't know what's
wrong with 12...h6 13.Bh4 Bd7, which was previously considered as the most
precise order of moves for Black, but Gashimov has another idea in mind.} (
12... h6 13. Bh4 (13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ne5) 13... Bd7 14. Ne5 (14. d5 $6 Nbxd5 15.
Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Bxh4 18. Nxh4 $11) 14... Bc6 15. Bg3 Nbd5 16.
a5 Rc8 17. Bb3 a6 18. Rdc1 Bb4 19. Bh4 Qd6 20. Qd1 Bb5 21. Nxb5 axb5 22. Rxc8
Rxc8 23. Qf3 Qc7 24. h3 Ra8 25. Qd1 Bd6 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2748)-Tkachiev,V 
(2639)/France 2010/CBM 135 Extra}) 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 (14... Nfxd5 $2
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Ne5 Ned5 17. Bxd5 Qe8 18. Bxb7 Rd8 19. Qe4 {and White is a
healthy pawn up.}) 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 {An engine already
gives here a big advantage for White, but theory is still being written.} h6
18. Qd2 {I am quite sure that Gashimov has figured out a way to equality also
after 18.Rad1, but, for the moment it seems to me that White can pose some
problems to the second player.} (18. Rad1 hxg5 (18... Re8 19. Qd2 (19. Ne4 $6
Qe7 20. Rxd7 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Rxe4 22. Rxb7 Rxa4 $11) 19... hxg5 20. Rxd7 Qf6 21.
Rxb7 Rab8 $6 (21... a5 $14) 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 {Compare this position to the
position that arises in our game after the 21st move. Here White has an extra
move Rd1, and it is very apparent.} 23. b4 $16) 19. Rxd7 Qb6 20. g3 Qc6 21. b3
$14 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2729)-Svidler,P (2765)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext 
(46)}) 18... hxg5 19. Rxd7 Qf6 20. Rxb7 Rab8 $146 (20... Rfd8 21. Qa5 (21. Qe3
Re8 22. Qb3 (22. Rxa7 Qxb2 23. Rf1 Rxe3 24. Rxa8+ Kh7 25. fxe3 Qb3 26. a5 Qxe3+
27. Kh1 Qd3 {White can't connect his rooks without losing the Pa5, so it will
be a draw.}) 22... Rad8 23. Rf1 a5 24. Rb6 Qd4 25. Rb5 Qd2 $44 {0-1 Zhou
Jianchao (2636)-Korobov,A (2671)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2011/CBM 145 (38)}) 21... a6
22. h3 Rd6 23. Qb4 Rad8 24. Rb8 Rxb8 25. Qxb8+ Kh7 26. Rb1 Rd2 $11 {1/2-1/2
Rodshtein,M (2645)-Hansen,S (2566)/Porto Carras 2011/EXT 2012 (29)}) 21. Rxb8
Rxb8 22. Rb1 Qe6 $1 23. Qxg5 (23. b4 Qe4 24. Rb2 Qe8 $1 (24... g4 25. g3 a5 26.
bxa5 Rxb2 27. Qxb2 Qe1+ 28. Kg2 Qe4+ 29. Kf1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Qe4+ 31. Kd2 Qd5+ 32.
Kc1 Qh1+ 33. Kc2 Qe4+ 34. Kb3 Qd5+ 35. Ka3 Qc5+ 36. Ka2 Qd5+ 37. Qb3 Qxa5 {
This endgame should end in a draw as well, but, at least White enjoys a passed
pawn.}) 25. b5 Rd8 26. Qc1 Qe4 27. a5 Qa4 28. Rb1 Qxa5 29. Qxg5 a6 30. h4 Rb8
31. b6 Qxg5 32. hxg5 a5 {The a- and b-pawns will be exchanged and the rook
endgame with three pawns vs two on one side is drawish.}) 23... Qa2 24. Rd1 (
24. Rc1 Qxa4 25. Qe5 Rd8 26. h3 Rd1+ 27. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 28. Kh2 Qb3 {basically
leads to the same endgame where White's extra pawn is not enough for winning
purposes.}) 24... Qxa4 25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Kh7 27. Qd3+ g6 28. b3 Qa1+ 29.
Qf1 Qd4 {It seems that Vugar has prepared the whole line until around this
point. Black is a pawn down, but can hold the endgame fairly easily. This is a
part of modern opening preparation. Sometimes, when playing Black, it's
acceptable and even recommended to go a pawn down straight from the opening,
if you know how to make a draw then.} 30. g3 Qd5 31. Qb1 a5 32. h4 Kg8 33. Qc2
Kh7 34. Kh2 Qf3 35. Kg1 Qd5 36. Kf1 Kg8 37. Ke2 Qe5+ 38. Kf3 Qd5+ 39. Ke3 Qe5+
{Preventing from the white king from marching towards the Pa5.} 40. Qe4 Qc3+
41. Qd3 Qe5+ 42. Kf3 Qf6+ 43. Kg2 a4 $1 {Every pawn exchange make Black's
defensive task easier.} 44. bxa4 Qc6+ 45. f3 Qxa4 46. Qe4 Qa2+ 47. Kh3 Qa1 48.
Qc4 Kg7 49. Qd5 Qh1+ 50. Kg4 Qa1 51. Qd6 Qc3 52. Qd5 Qc8+ 53. Kf4 Qc1+ 54. Ke5
Qe1+ 55. Kf4 Qc1+ {A theoretically important game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf6 12. Be2 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Qd6 14. Nf3
Bd7 15. O-O Ba4 16. Qd4 Rac8 17. Qb4 b6 18. Rac1 Bd7 19. Rfd1 Ba4 20. Re1 Bd7
21. Qh4 h6 22. Nd4 a5 23. Red1 Rfe8 24. Qg3 Qf6 25. Qf3 Qe5 26. Qg3 Qf6 27. Qf3
Qe5 28. Qg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Be6 {Dieser Zug wird sehr selten gespielt.} 10. Rd1+ (10.
Ng5 {Hier hat Schwarz etwas Verrücktes vorbereitet:} Ke7 $1 {Solch ein Zug
kommt wirklich unerwartet, doch schlecht ist er nicht!} 11. b3 (11. Nxe6 Kxe6
$1 $132 {Im Endspiel fühlt sich der König im Zentrum sehr wohl.}) 11... h6 12.
Ba3+ Kd7 (12... Ke8 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bxf8 Rxf8 15. Rad1 Ke7 16. Rd3 Rad8 17.
Rfd1 $14 {Grigoryan - Hovhannisyan (Yerevan, 2011)}) 13. Rad1+ Kc8 {Mit seinen
Manövern hat Schwarz einen Tausch erzwungen.} 14. Nxe6 (14. Bxf8 hxg5 15. Ba3
g4 $1 16. Ne4 b6 17. Ng5 c5 $11) 14... Bxa3 15. Nf4 Re8 16. g4 (16. Nd3 a5 17.
Ne2 a4 $132 {Ter Sahakyan - Pashikian (Martuni, 2010)}) 16... Ne7 17. Nb1 Bc5
18. Nd3 Bb6 19. Kg2 a5 $132 {Ramesh - Aleksandrov (Dubai, 2001)}) 10... Ke8 (
10... Kc8 11. Ng5 Bc5 (11... Bc4 12. b3 Bb4 13. bxc4 Bxc3 14. Rb1 Bxe5 15. Nxf7
$14 {Balogh - Buhmann (Remagen, 2010)}) 12. b3 Bd4 $1 13. Bb2 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Bd5
15. Nh3 b6 16. Nf4 Be6 17. f3 a5 18. a4 Ne3 19. Rd2 Rd8 20. Rc1 Kb7 $11 {
Azarov - Babula (Plovdiv, 2010)}) 11. Ng5 Bc8 {Es ist interessant, dass
Ivanchuk zuerst den Läufer dem Tausch entzieht, doch danach trotzdem gezwungen
wird, die Stellung mit dem Bauern auf e6 zu spielen.} (11... Be7 12. Nxe6 fxe6
13. Ne4 c5 14. c3 h5 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Ne7 17. Rd2 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.
Rd1+ Ke8 20. f4 Nc6 21. Kf2 g6 $11 {Georgiadis - Drazic (Kavala, 2007). Diese
Stellung mit dem Springer gegen Läufer ist bekannterweise remis.}) 12. Ne2 a5 (
12... Be7 13. h3 Nh4 14. Nd4 h6 15. Ne4 Ng6 16. f4 h5 17. Rd3 Bd7 18. Bd2 c5
19. Nf3 Bf5 20. Re1 b6 21. c4 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev - Kharlov (Zvenigorod, 2008)})
13. a4 $2 {Weiß spielt mit Schwarz, nicht gegen Schwarz. Die Bauern müssten
nur dann auf die weißen Felder gestellt werden, wenn sie dazu gezwungen sind.
Sonst muss man sich auf sein Spiel am Königsflügel konzentrieren.} b6 14. b3 c5
15. Bb2 Be7 16. Ne4 {Schwarz hat alles erreicht, was er nur erreichen konnte,
und Weiß hat kein Spiel bekommen.} Be6 {16....Bb7 kommt in Frage.} (16... Bb7
$5 17. N2g3 (17. N2c3 Nd4 $15) 17... Nxg3 18. Nxg3 Rd8 $11 19. Nf5 $6 {führt
zu Komplikationen, die besser für Schwarz sind.} Be4 $1 20. Nxg7+ Kf8 21. e6
Bxc2 22. Rd7 Rxd7 23. exd7 f6 24. Ne6+ Kf7 $15) 17. Nf4 h5 {Ivanchuk
entscheidet sich doch für die Stellung mit dem Bauern auf e6.} 18. g3 Rd8 19.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. Rd1+ Kc8 21. Nxe6 {Früher oder später, aber Weiß muss auf e6
nehmen.} fxe6 22. Kf1 Rd8 {Der Koenig am Damenfluegel sieht traurig aus. Der
Turmtausch ist der einzige Weg, ihn ins Spiel zu bringen.} 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {
Das ist eine typische Stellung fuer Berliner Mauer. Weiss kann schwarze
Festung nicht durchbrechen, doch Schwarz muss vorsichtig spielen. Das schlimme
fuer Schwarz ist, dass er sich passiv verteidigen muss.} 24. Ke2 Kd7 25. Kd3
Ne7 {Der Springer will nach d5 und dann weiter nach b4.} 26. f4 (26. c4 Nc6 $11
{Schwarz will, dass Weiss das Feld d4 schwaecht, so dass sein Springer dort
eindringen kann, falls der Laeufer von b2 weg zieht.}) 26... Nd5 27. c3 Be7 28.
Bc1 Bd8 29. Bd2 Kc6 30. c4 Ne7 {Natuerlich nicht Nb4!} (30... Nb4+ 31. Bxb4
cxb4 32. h3 Kd7 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4 g6 35. c5 Be7 36. cxb6 cxb6 37. Kc4 $16)
31. Ng5 Kd7 {Weiss hat einen einzigen Plan - h3-g4-f5.} 32. Ke4 Nf5 33. Nf3 Ke8
34. Be1 {Nun kommt Weiss zu h3.} Kf7 35. h3 Nh6 36. Bf2 Be7 37. Be3 g6 38. Nh2
{Schwarz kann g4 nicht verhindern, aber das muss er auch nicht.} Ke8 39. Nf3 (
39. g4 hxg4 40. hxg4 (40. Nxg4 Nf5 $11) 40... Bh4 $11) 39... Kf7 40. Ng1 Bd8
41. Ne2 Ke8 42. Nc3 Kd7 43. Kf3 {Was Weiss da macht ist nicht ganz klar...} Nf5
44. Ne2 Ne7 45. Ke4 Nf5 46. g4 $1 {Endlich!} hxg4 47. hxg4 Nh6 48. Kf3 Bh4 49.
Nc3 $1 {Weiss muss auch aufpassen, was er da macht.} (49. f5 $2 {Sieht so aus,
als ob Weiss gleich gewinnen wuerde, doch es ist nicht so eindeutig wie es auf
den ersten Blick aussieht.} g5 $1 50. f6 {Gezwungen.} (50. fxe6+ Kxe6 $17)
50... Nf7 51. Ke4 Nh6 52. Kf3 Nf7 $11 {Und Schwarz forciert Remis!}) 49... Be1
50. Ne4 Nf7 {Weiss kann nie zu f5 kommen, das ist das Problem.} 51. Ke2 Bh4 52.
g5 Nd8 53. Nf6+ Ke7 54. Ng4 Nc6 55. Nh2 Kd7 56. Nf3 Bg3 57. Kd3 {Auch den
Laeufer fangen kann Weiss nicht.} (57. Kf1 Ne7 58. Kg2 Nf5 $11) 57... Ne7 58.
Ke4 Nf5 {Keine Chance zum Gewinnen.} 59. Kd3 Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "197"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 {Avoiding the main Sicilian battle.} d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
Bb5+ {The point of inviting the bishop to d7 is to block the d-file for
Black's queen, so that Black won't be able to prepare the advance ...d6-d5 so
easily.} (5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Nge7 {[%cal Gd6d5] is another theoretical
position which Karjakin wanted to avoid in the current game.}) 5... Bd7 6. Bc4
Nc6 7. O-O Na5 {Driving away the bishop from its active outpost. On the other
hand Black's knight also will have to retreat to c6 sooner or later, losing
some time.} (7... Nf6 $6 {is very risky.} {The following encounter is a blitz
game:} 8. e5 $1 Nh5 $6 (8... dxe5 9. fxe5 Ng4 10. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 11. e6+ Ke8 12.
exd7+ Qxd7 13. d3 $14) 9. Ng5 e6 (9... O-O $142 10. e6 $14) 10. d4 O-O 11. d5
Na5 12. Be2 $18 {1-0 Karjakin,S (2763)-Nielsen,P (2693)/Beijing 2011/CB00_2012
(25)}) 8. Be2 {White should preserve the bishop.} (8. d3 $6 Nxc4 9. dxc4 Bxc3
10. bxc3 Bc6 11. e5 Qc7 12. Qd3 f5 13. Ng5 h6 14. Qh3 dxe5 15. Be3 e4 16. Ne6
Qc8 17. Nxc5 Nf6 $15 {0-1 Carlsen,M (2815)-Anand,V (2817)/Monte Carlo 2011/CBM
142 (45)}) 8... Nf6 9. d3 (9. e5 $6 dxe5 10. fxe5 $2 (10. Nxe5 $11) 10... Ng4
11. d4 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc6 $17 {[%csl Re5]}) 9... O-O 10. Qe1 {A typical
manoeuvre. The queen is heading to h4. White, in fact, is playing a sort of
Dutch Defence with reversed colours, where the queen transfer Qd8-e8-h5 is
quite common as well.} Nc6 11. Qh4 Nd4 12. Bd1 {Naturally, White had in mind
the game Gashimov-Cheparinov (see below). Topalov was, obviously, ready to
improve over the game of his second Ivan Cheparinov, but Karjakin was the
first one to deviate. In fact, the move in the text already appeared in
practice.} (12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Nb1 Rc8 (13... Qc8 $1 14. Bd1 Bg4 {Perhaps,
Topalov would unleash this improvement if Karjakin repeated this game. Black
is fine here.}) 14. Bd1 Rc5 15. Nd2 Qc7 16. Nf3 Rxc2 17. Bxc2 Qxc2 18. Ne1 Qd1
19. b3 $14 {1-0 Gashimov,V (2757)-Cheparinov,I (2650)/Porto Carras 2011/EXT
2012 (38)}) 12... Rc8 13. Kh1 (13. Be3 Qb6 14. Rb1 a5 15. h3 e6 16. g4 Bc6 17.
Nxd4 cxd4 18. Bf2 e5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Bonatti,W-Molo,R/Argentina 1996/Corr 2000 
(28)}) 13... b5 $6 {This move seems to me a waste of time.} (13... e6 14. Nxd4
cxd4 15. Nb1 h5 $1 {[%cal Gf6g4] This way Black is going to harass White's
active queen, forcing it either to exchange or to retreat.}) 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15.
Nb1 {This is stronger than 15.Ne2. The knight will come out to d2 and f3 or b3
according to circumstances.} Rc5 $6 {Correct idea but wrong interpretation.} (
15... Rc7 $1 16. Nd2 Qc8 17. Nb3 (17. Nf3 Rxc2 18. Bxc2 Qxc2 {[%csl Rd3]} 19.
Ne1 Qd1 {Without the inclusion of moves Kg1-h1 and b7-b5 the position is
identical to the one that arose in the above-mentioned game
Gashimov-Cheparinov. Here Black is fine as the Rf1 is not protected and White
can't move his knight.} 20. Qf2 (20. b3 $6 Ng4 21. Bb2 $4 Qe2 $19 {[%csl Rb2,
Rf1]}) 20... Ng4 21. Qd2 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 $44) 17... Bg4 18. Nxd4
Bxd1 19. Rxd1 Qg4 $1 {At first sight, it is surprising that Black offers an
exchange of queens after pawn sacrifice, but White has concrete tactical
problems.} 20. Qe1 (20. Qxg4 $2 Nxg4 21. Nxb5 Rb7 $19 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Gg4f2]})
20... Nh5 21. h3 Qg3 22. c3 Bxd4 23. cxd4 Qxe1+ 24. Rxe1 f5 $1 $44) 16. Nd2 Qc7
{Topalov is going for an exchange sacrifice, the same idea as in the
above-mentioned game Gashimov-Cheparinov.} 17. Nb3 Rxc2 {Now it's forced, the
decision had to be made one move earlier.} 18. Bxc2 Qxc2 19. Qg3 Rc8 (19... Nh5
20. Qf3 f5 21. e5 Bc6 22. Nxd4 Bxf3 23. Nxc2 Be2 24. Re1 Bxd3 25. Nd4 $14) 20.
f5 (20. Nxd4 $2 {fails to} Nxe4 $1 21. Qe3 Nf2+ $1 22. Qxf2 Qxf2 23. Rxf2 Bxd4
$15) 20... Qe2 21. Bg5 $2 {This is too ambitious.} ({It was possible to
complete the development without leaving queenside pawns "en prise":} 21. Bd2
Rc2 22. Rae1 Qh5 23. Bc1 $16) 21... Qxb2 22. Rab1 Qxa2 23. Nxd4 Qa4 $1 24. Ne2
Rc2 25. Qf3 gxf5 $5 {Principled, but risky. Quite typical for Topalov's style.}
(25... b4 26. Ra1 (26. Nd4 Ra2 $8 (26... Rc8 $4 27. Ra1 $18 {[%csl Ra4]}) 27.
Rbc1 $44) 26... Ra2 27. Rac1 Rc2 $11) (25... a5 26. Ra1 Qb4 27. Rab1 (27. Rfb1
$2 Ra2 $1 $17 {is a nice trick.}) 27... Qc5 28. Be3 Qc7 29. Nd4 Rc5 $13) 26.
Ng3 fxe4 27. Nxe4 Nxe4 28. dxe4 $2 (28. Qxf7+ $1 Kh8 29. Qxe7 (29. dxe4 $2 Qxe4
30. Rg1 Rxg2 $1 31. Rxg2 Qxb1+ 32. Rg1 Bc6+ $19) 29... Nf2+ 30. Kg1 $1 (30.
Rxf2 $2 Rxf2 31. Qxd7 Qd4 32. Qe8+ Rf8 33. Qxb5 Be5 $17) {[%tqu "En","How
should Black continue?","","","f2h3","",10]} 30... Nh3+ $1 31. gxh3 Qa2 32.
Rf8+ (32. Qd8+ Qg8 33. Qxg8+ Kxg8 34. Bf6 Bc6 $11) 32... Bxf8 33. Qxf8+ Qg8 {
The bishop is pinned and can't deliver mate, so it ends with perpetual check.}
34. Qf6+ Qg7 35. Qd8+ $11 {Not a very long line, but difficult to calculate
for a human player.}) 28... f6 {Now Black's king is safe again.} 29. Ra1 Ra2 $2
(29... Qc4 $1 {This one is obvious, but Black's next punch is easy to overlook.
} 30. Rxa7 Bg4 $1 31. Ra8+ Kf7 32. Qf4 Qe2 33. Rg1 Rc4 $19 {[%csl Re4]}) 30.
Rac1 Rc2 31. Ra1 $2 (31. Rxc2 Qxc2 32. Rc1 Qa2 33. Be3 $44 {[%cal Gc1c7]})
31... Qd4 $2 {Again there was a chance for 31...Qc4! like on move 29.} 32. Be3
Qe5 33. Bf4 Qe6 {Correctly avoiding the repetition.} 34. Qg3 Kf8 $2 {Why give
up a pawn for nothing?} (34... Qxe4 35. Rfe1 Qg6 36. Qxg6 hxg6 37. Rxe7 Bc6 $17
) (34... Rc7 {was also a good option, simply protecting the pawn.} 35. Bh6 Qg4
$17) 35. Rxa7 b4 36. Rb7 Re2 $2 {This is just a nervous slip.} (36... Rc4 37.
Rb8+ Kf7 38. Bh6 Qg4 (38... Bxh6 $4 39. Qg8#) 39. Qxg4 Bxg4 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 41.
Rb1 Rxe4 42. R8xb4 $11) 37. Qf3 Rc2 (37... Rxe4 $4 38. Rxd7 $1 $18 {Perhaps
this was what Topalov blundered in his calculations.}) 38. Rxb4 {Black's
passed pawns belong to history, now he has to fight for a draw.} Qg4 39. Rb7
Qxf3 40. gxf3 Be8 41. Rc1 Rxc1+ 42. Bxc1 {It is difficult to give a clear
verdict on this endgame. Perhaps, Black should hold it with precise play, but
in practice it's not an easy task.} Bg6 43. Bf4 Bf7 44. Kg2 Be6 45. Bd2 Ke8 46.
Rb5 Kf7 47. f4 Bd7 48. Ra5 f5 $1 {Without this move Black will be just
squeezed slowly.} 49. exf5 Bf6 50. Kf3 h5 51. Ke4 Bc6+ 52. Kd3 Bg2 53. Be3 Bf1+
54. Kd2 Bg2 55. Bb6 $1 {Preparing the exchange of dark squared bishops.} Be4
56. Ke3 Bc2 57. Bd4 Bxd4+ 58. Kxd4 Kf6 59. Ra8 Bxf5 60. Rf8+ Ke6 $2 (60... Kg6
$1 {Black must keep the g5-square under control. I don't see a clear winning
plan for White.} {For instance:} 61. Rh8 Be6 62. Ke4 Bf5+ 63. Kf3 Be6 64. Kg3
Bf7 65. Kh4 Kf6 66. Rh6+ Bg6 {and White didn't make any progress.}) 61. Ke3 {
[%csl Gg5][%cal Ge3f3,Gf3g3,Gg3h4,Gh4g5]} Bg6 62. Kf3 Bf7 63. f5+ Kf6 64. Kf4
Kg7 65. Rb8 Kf6 66. Rd8 {Zugzwang!} e5+ (66... Bc4 67. Rh8 Bf7 68. Rh6+ Kg7 69.
Kg5 {followed by f5-f6 achieving a theoretically winning position.}) 67. fxe6
Bxe6 68. Rxd6 {This position is lost and it doesn't matter where Black's
h-pawn stands. Until the end of the game Karjakin never went astray.} h4 69.
Rb6 h3 70. Rc6 Kf7 71. Ke5 Bg4 72. Rc4 Bd7 73. Rc7 Ke8 74. Kd6 Bg4 75. Re7+ Kf8
76. Re4 Bc8 77. Kc7 Ba6 78. Re3 Kg7 79. Rxh3 Kg6 80. Kd6 Kg5 81. Ke5 Be2 82.
Rg3+ Kh6 83. Kf5 Bd1 84. Rh3+ Kg7 85. Kg5 Be2 86. Re3 Bd1 87. Re7+ Kf8 88. Kf6
Kg8 89. Kg6 {If White's pawn were on h5, the position would be drawn, now it's
won.} Bc2+ 90. Kh6 Kf8 91. Rg7 Bd3 92. Rg5 Kf7 93. Rg3 Bc2 94. Rg7+ Kf8 95. Rg2
Be4 96. Rg4 Bc2 97. Rg5 Kf7 98. Kh5 Kf6 (98... Bd1+ 99. Kh4 Kf6 {would be more
stubborn, not allowing the white king to get off the h-file so easily. Here is
the winning path:} 100. Rg2 $1 Kf5 101. Rd2 Ba4 102. Kh5 Be8+ 103. Kh6 Kg4 104.
Rd8 Bb5 105. Kg6 Bf1 106. Rh8 Bh3 107. Kf6 Bf1 108. h4 $18) 99. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 b6 $5 {This actually
transposes to the 5.a3 Queen's Indian.} 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1 (8. e3 Bb7 9. dxc5
bxc5 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. h4 Qb6 12. Ng5 d4 $36 {Williams,S (2504)-Adams,M (2724)
/Bunratty 2012/ (0-1, 24)}) 8... Nc6 $146 (8... Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e3 Nbd7
11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O Re8 {Grandelius,N (2536)-Goloshchapov,A (2580)/Remagen 2012
(1/2, 44)}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. e3 ({Aronian carried out several
positional sacrifices in this tournament, so I assume that he was not afraid of
} 11. e4 Nxf4 12. Rxd8 Rxd8 {with nice control on dark squares.}) 11... Qa5 12.
Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Rd8 14. Bd3 Ba6 15. O-O (15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Rxd3
c4 18. Rd4 Nxe3 $1) 15... Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. Bxc3 Kf8 $11 19.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rc1 g6 21. Kf1 Ke8 22. Ke2 a6 23. g4 Rd6 24. Be5 Rd5 25. f4 f6
26. Bc3 f5 27. h3 Kd7 28. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A23"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 {At the time I wrote the English
1...e5 CD for ChessBase, I was firmly convinced that the Keres system offered
White pleasant play at no risk. I had no occasion to check this while working
on the English books, since the repertoire given there does not include an
early Nb1-c3. Still, one painful loss to Bacrot revealed to me that the
position is not so simple to play over the board with White. Black has several
move orders at his disposal and White's best reactions are not always the same.
So, even memorising the variations is slightly tricky.} Qb6 {Black can also
choose the opposite move order, with ...d5 followed by ...Qb6.} (5... d5 6.
cxd5 Qb6 7. Nb3 {In view of more recent games,} a5 {is probably better. After
beating me, Bacrot confessed that he had prepared this line for his training
match against Korchnoi, but did not get to use it since the living legend
constantly played 2.g3.} (7... cxd5 {There are some classic games starting
with this position, favouring White:} 8. Bg2 Bf5 (8... a5 9. d3 a4 10. Be3 Qb4
11. Nd4 a3 12. Nc2 Qxb2 13. Bd4 Bb4 14. Nxb4 Qxb4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. O-O Be6 17.
Rc1 $16 {Botvinnik,M-Tal,M/Moscow 1961/MainBase (1-0, 73)}) 9. d3 Bb4 10. O-O
Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Rc1 Nc6 14. c4 Rad8 {Reshevsky,S-Keres,P/Los
Angeles 1963/MCL/[Dolmatov] (1-0, 41)}) 8. d3 a4 9. Nd2 ({My choice in that
game was rather poor:} 9. Be3 $6 {I must confess that, having been caught by
surprise, I imagined that we were still following the Botvinnik-Tal game!!!}
Qb4 10. Nd4 Nxd5 11. Qd2 Nxe3 12. fxe3 exd3 13. exd3 g6 14. Bg2 Bh6 $17 {
Marin,M (2533)-Bacrot,E (2709)/Torrelavega 2007/CBM 119 (0-1, 30)}) 9... cxd5
10. dxe4 dxe4 11. Bg2 a3 $6 (11... e3 $5 12. fxe3 Nc6 $44) 12. Qb3 $1 Qxb3 13.
axb3 axb2 14. Bxb2 Rxa1+ 15. Bxa1 e3 16. fxe3 Nc6 17. O-O Bc5 18. Nc4 $14 {
Sorokin,M (2550)-Raetsky,A (2460)/Pardubice 1992/EXT 2000 (1/2, 27)}) 6. Nb3 {
One of the few possible continuations.} (6. e3 {gives the game a slower
character.} d5 7. Qc2 (7. cxd5 $6 {prematurely clears the c6-square.} cxd5 8.
d3 Nc6 $1 9. dxe4 dxe4 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Qa4 Bb4 {Naranja,R (2274)
-Kacheishvili,G (2572)/New York 2008 (0-1, 37)}) 7... Bd7 8. a3 Be7 9. b4 O-O
10. Bb2 Na6 11. c5 Qc7 12. f3 exf3 13. Nxf3 Rae8 14. Bd3 Nb8 15. O-O $14 {
White has managed to outplay his opponent, but there are probably improvements
available for Black along the way.} Bh3 $2 16. Ng5 $1 Bxf1 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18.
Rxf1 Nbd7 19. Ne2 (19. Rf4 $16) (19. Nxd5 $1 {[%cal Gb2f6]} cxd5 20. Qf5 $18)
19... Bd8 (19... Ne5 $16) 20. Qf5 $18 {Najdorf,M-Rossetto,H/Buenos Aires 1968/
MCD (1-0, 23)}) ({It is interesting to mention that} 6. Nc2 {was Bacrot's
choice when playing this line with White!} d5 7. Bg2 (7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Bg2 Be6
9. d3 Nc6 10. O-O Rd8 $11 {Loeffler,S (2305)-Schneider,B (2475) Germany 1989 
(1-0, 41)}) 7... dxc4 8. O-O Be6 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nd7 11. Ne3 Nf6 (11...
Qd4 12. Bf5 Bxf5 13. Nxf5 Qe4 14. Ne3 Bc5 15. b3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nc5 17. bxc4
Qxc4 18. Ba3 $36 {Dorfman,J-Karasev,V Minsk 1976 (1-0, 29)}) 12. Bf5 Bxf5 13.
Nxf5 Qb5 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. Ne3 Re8 16. Re1 Re4 17. b3 Qh5 18. Bb2 $14 {Bacrot,
E (2613)-Svidler,P (2689) New Delhi/Teheran 2000 (0-1, 29)}) 6... a5 7. d3 a4
8. Nd2 {Black has pushed his pawns light-heartidly, but now needs to clear
things up.} exd3 (8... e3 $6 9. fxe3 Ng4 {is refuted in a very original way:}
10. Nde4 Nxe3 11. Qd2 $3 (11. Bxe3 Qxe3 12. Nxa4 d5 13. cxd5 Qd4 14. Nac3 cxd5
$36 {Honfi,K-Barczay,L/Budapest 1964/MCD (0-1, 54)}) 11... Nxf1 {It is quite
frustrating that 1/2 Hofland,L-Sosonko,G (2575)/Leeuwarden 1978/EXT 98 ended
in a draw at the most interesting moment!} 12. Qf4 $1 (12. Rxf1 Be7 13. Qf4 O-O
$14) 12... d6 (12... Be7 13. Qe5 f6 14. Nd6+ Kd8 15. Nxc8 $1 $18) 13. Rxf1 Qc7
14. c5 $16) 9. exd3 $6 {After this careless move Black takes over the
initiative.} ({White should have developed at any cost, ignoring the enemy
pawn.} 9. Bg2 $1 d5 (9... dxe2 $6 10. Qxe2+ Be7 11. O-O $36) 10. O-O Bg4 11. h3
dxe2 12. Nxe2 Be6 13. Nf4 $44 {White has the initiative and can hardly be
worse, which will not be the case in the game.}) 9... Bc5 10. Qe2+ (10. Nce4
Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Bb4+ 12. Nc3 O-O $15 {[%cal Gf8e8]}) 10... Kd8 11. Nde4 Re8 12.
Be3 $146 {A novelty that doesnot change anything.} (12. Bg5 {Barks-Del Pozo
Hernandez, IECC email 2000 (0-1, 18)} a3 $5 13. b3 h6 $15) 12... Bxe3 13. fxe3
a3 14. Rb1 d5 $15 {Both kings are in the centre, but Black has the initiative.
White's central pawns are vulnerable and so is his queenside.} 15. c5 $8 (15.
cxd5 $2 cxd5 16. bxa3 Qc6 $1 $19) (15. bxa3 $2 Qa5 16. cxd5 Nxe4 $19) 15... Qb4
16. Nxf6 gxf6 17. Qd2 axb2 18. Nd1 Qxc5 19. d4 Qd6 20. Rxb2 b5 (20... h5 $5)
21. Bd3 Bh3 22. Nc3 Nd7 23. Kf2 Nb6 24. a4 $5 {A desperate attempt to change
the course of events.} Nxa4 25. Ra1 Re7 $2 {Careless.} (25... Nb6 $17) (25...
Ke7 26. Rba2 Nb6) 26. Rba2 Rea7 27. Qc2 h6 28. Nxa4 bxa4 29. Rxa4 Rxa4 30. Rxa4
Rxa4 31. Qxa4 Ke7 32. Qa7+ Kf8 33. Qc5 Qxc5 34. dxc5 Bg4 35. Bc2 Ke7 36. Ba4
Kd7 37. Ke1 Bf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O e5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6
Qxf6 9. Nf5 g6 10. Ne3 Bc5 11. Nc3 d6 12. Ncd5 Qd8 13. Kh1 Nc6 14. Ng4 O-O 15.
Ngf6+ Kg7 16. c3 Be6 17. f4 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 exf4 19. Rxf4 Qg5 20. Qf1 Ne5 21. Rd1
Rae8 22. Bc2 h5 23. Bb3 Ng4 24. g3 Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Nf2+ 26. Qxf2 Bxf2 27. Kg2 Bc5
28. h4 Qf5 29. Re2 Qg4 30. Rde1 g5 31. Re4 Qf5 32. R1e2 gxh4 33. Nf4 Qg5 34.
Kh1 d5 35. Bxd5 hxg3 36. c4 Qh4+ 37. Kg2 Qh2+ 38. Kf3 Qh1+ 39. Kxg3 h4+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 Qc7 {Not the main
move, but it scores quite well. A lot of games have seen 6... b5 instead.} 7.
O-O e5 {And this is new, Volokitin had tried c4 against a weaker opponent a
few years ago.} 8. d4 b5 9. Bc2 cxd4 {This move requires a little bit of an
explanation. Black doesn't really want to concede the c3 square for White's N,
but at the same time, this move is useful because it takes the sting out of a4,
which would have been the reply to any other logical move. The position
heavily resembles a Ruy Lopez more than a Sicilian, due to the B positioning
on c2 and the pawn structure.} (9... Be7 10. a4 b4 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Nbd2 {
[%cal Rd2c4] eeally emphasizes the weakness left on c4 by pushing the pawn.})
10. cxd4 Be7 11. Nc3 (11. a4 b4 {is nowhere near as threatening now.}) 11...
O-O 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Bb7 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. Bb3 Rfe8 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bg3 Bf8
18. h3 Nb6 {So far both sides have developed in a very logical fashion. Black
should be quite happy with the results of the opening: all his pieces are on
good squares and he has a sound pawn structure. His last move prepares the
very natural ...Nc4, which will block out the strong B on b3, and pressure b2.}
19. Nh4 $5 Nc4 20. Nf5 {And this is where things start to get wild. Magnus'
Nh4 was already an indication that this move will follow, as there was no
satisfactory way to meekly defend the b2 pawn.} Nxb2 21. Bh4 $5 (21. Rc1 Nc4
22. Bh4 g5 $15 {Gives White some compensation but I'm not sure it is enough.
The N on f5 does look powerful, but a pawn is a pawn. It's possible that Black
is just better in this position.}) (21. Nxh6+ $5 gxh6 22. Bh4 Bg7 (22... Qc6
23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Qxb2 $14) 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Rd7 Qxc3 26. Bxf7
Red8 $17 {And here White has a scary looking attack, but it does seem like
Black will survive by all means.}) 21... Nxd1 {Topalov "goes for it" but he
might not have had a choice.} (21... g5 {Seemed like the more prudent way to
play, but that is not quite the case.} 22. Rd6 $3 Bxd6 $8 23. Nxh6+ Kf8 24.
Bxg5 $13 {And despite being up a rook (!) White's threats look extremely
powerful. Specifically, Bxf6 and Qg4 or Nf5 and Bh5+. A crazy position that
should be analyzed in depth.}) 22. Bxf6 Nxc3 (22... gxf6 $2 23. Nxd1 $16 {
gives White way too much compensation for his lost material, as Qh5 is the
next move and the attack is huge.}) (22... Re6 $5 {is a very clever move. If
White takes on e6, then after fxe6 the g7-pawn will be better defended and it
kicks out the N on f5. Again, this position would require lots of analysis,
but let's take a look at the most obvious.} 23. Nxh6+ (23. Bxe6 Nxc3 $5 24.
Nxh6+ Kh7 25. Qh5 g6 $13) 23... Kh7 24. Qh5 g6 $1 25. Qh4 Bxh6 26. Rxd1 g5 $1
27. Bxg5 Rg6 $13) 23. Qg4 Bxe4 {A very logical move. The bishop hurries back
to the defense and attacks the f5-N. It also covers the b1-h7 diagonal which
can be important in many variations.} (23... Re6 {was very interesting but
it's hard to play during a game. Again, this will be analyzed in full.} 24.
Nxh6+ (24. Nxg7 $5 Rxf6 25. Ne8+ Kh8 26. Nxf6 Bg7 27. Qf5 Bxf6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8
29. Qg6+ Kf8 30. Qxh6+ Ke8 {Might just not work for White though.}) 24... Kh7
25. Nxf7 $13) 24. Nxh6+ (24. Nxg7 Kh7 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rd1 $1 {is a very
surprising resource. Here Black is powerless against the threat of Rd7, but he
can still defend once the R penetrates.} Bg6 (26... Nxd1 $4 27. Qxe4+ Kg8 28.
Qg6+) 27. Rd7 Ne2+ 28. Kf1 Ng3+ 29. fxg3 Qc1+ 30. Ke2 {with an incredibly
messy position.}) 24... Kh7 25. Bxf7 {A lot of pieces are swarming around the
black king. It is easy to say this during post mortem analysis: I just don't
see what White is threatening at the moment. However, during the heat of
battle, I can't imagine having a scarier position.} Qxf7 $2 {This is a little
bit of a panic mode.} (25... Bd3 {and I'm not sure what White's followup is.}
26. Qh5 Ne2+ 27. Kh1 Nf4 {and it looks like it's checkmate but it's not, so
Black wins.}) 26. Nxf7 gxf6 {Black still has a considerable material advantage,
but unfortunately for him his K is very exposed. Carlsen must be quick to
exploit this, because as soon as Black gets any kind of coordination he will
be lost.} 27. f4 $8 Bg6 28. Qh4+ Kg7 29. fxe5 Ne4 30. Rxf6 Bc5+ 31. Kh2 Nxf6
32. Qxf6+ Kh7 33. Ng5+ Kh6 {White has sacrificed even more material, but in
compensation Black's K is even more exposed. It is funny how those things work.
In any case, it is clear the Magnus now has a perpetual and I'm sure many GMs
would be willing to finish such an exhausting game, but that's not the
attitude that's made Magnus the #1 player in the world.} 34. Ne6 (34. Nf7+ Kh7
$11) 34... Rxe6 35. Qxe6 Re8 36. Qf6 {To be fair, it doesn't take much to
realize that White still holds a perpetual in his hands whenever he wants it.
He just has to be careful not to overpress.} Be7 $2 {I'm not sure why Topalov
gifted the a6-pawn, but maybe a loss of perspective can explain it. After
defending so much and having such wild material differences, it is sometimes
hard to remember that one pawn can make a big difference.} (36... a5 {was
quite a superior move. Not only does it save the pawn, it keeps the pressure
on e5 which is very important.}) 37. Qxa6 $14 b4 38. Qc4 Bf8 39. g4 Kh7 40. e6
Bd6+ {Move 40 has finally been reached, but sadly for Topalov his position
isn't so good any more. This is mainly due to the fact that the e6-pawn is
very hard to get to, and the two passed pawns on the kingside are very
powerful. On top of that, there is no way to create counterplay. This is a
very tough defense.} 41. Kg2 Be7 42. Qc7 {Black is almost in Zugzwang in this
position, and actually 42...Kg7 is forced.} Kg8 43. Kg3 Kf8 44. Qf4+ $6 {
An innacuracy, a better way to do what Magnus did in the game was by putting
the Q on e5 immediately.} (44. Qe5 $1 {threatening Qh8 mate.} Kg8 45. h4 {
is much more like it, with strong threats.}) 44... Kg7 45. Qd4+ Kg8 46. h4 Rd8
47. Qc4 Bd3 $6 {And with this move Topalov returns the favor, it was
imperative to take this one hope of counterplay and go for it.} (47... Rd3+ $1
48. Kg2 Rd2+ (48... Bxh4 $2 49. e7+ $18) 49. Kf3 Bxh4 {and it seems Black is
safe. Easier said with a lot of time to analyze the position though, as it
looks quite scary.}) 48. Qc6 Bb1 $2 {But this move just loses. It is way too
aggressive, which is unsurprising considering Topalov's usual 'defense'
methods, but it was not what the position required.} (48... Kg7 49. g5 Bg6 {
still gave good drawing chances since the K can't easily cross to the 4th rank
to support the pawn.}) 49. h5 {Winning but not as easily as....} (49. Qb7 $1 {
And now Black has serious problems with the positioning of his pieces.} Kf8 $2
(49... Re8 50. Qd7 Kf8 51. Qd1 {and again Q somewhere in the f-file next move.}
) (49... Bd6+ 50. Kh3 $18 {threatens both Qf7 and e7 and just e7 directly.})
50. Qf3+ Kg8 51. Qf7+) 49... Bxa2 50. Qe4 {Black is simply dominated in this
position, and his K is rapidly being entangled in a mating net.} Kh8 51. h6 Bf6
52. e7 Re8 53. Qf4 Bg7 54. hxg7+ Kxg7 55. g5 Kg8 56. Qf6 {Definitely not
Topalov's most shining moment. It is possible that he was simply winning and
that Carlsen's sacrifices were not much more than a bluff, but the bluff paid
off. Even then, the endgame was quite holdable, but Topalov's over-aggression
prevented him from cooly maintaining a passive defense, and that cost him the
game. Wild and exciting chess!} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.28"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 Bf6 11. Bg5 {A relatively unexplored move.} (
11. h4 {is more common. Amusingly, in the following game both sides kept
moving their rook pawns for another 3 plies!} h6 12. a3 a6 {Leko,P (2739)
-Smeets,J (2657)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135/[Marin,M] (1-0, 45)}) 11... Qe7 12.
Bb5 a6 13. Bxc6+ {Playing for a microscopic, but, as we will see, stable
advantage.} (13. Ba4 b5 14. Bb3 Ne5 15. Bxf6 Nxf3 16. Qe3 Qxf6 17. Bd5 Rb8 18.
Bc6+ Ke7 19. Qa7 Rhc8 20. Bxf3 Rb6 21. Bb7 Re8 22. Rhe1 Kf8 $11 {Black has
managed to survive the forceful atack and has little to worry about.} 23. Bxa6
$6 Qd8 $1 {The bishop is caged suddenly.} 24. a4 (24. Bb7 c6 $1) 24... bxa4 25.
Ka1 Qb8 26. Qxb8 Rexb8 $17 {Ivanchuk,V (2779)-Gashimov,V (2746)/Monte Carlo
2011/CBM 142 (0-1, 28)}) 13... bxc6 14. Qf4 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 O-O 16. Rde1 {
For some hidden reasons, Topalov decides that the king's rook may still be
useful on the h-file.} ({After} 16. Rhe1 Qd7 17. f3 h6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qg4
Rf5 20. Re2 {White would be a tempo up if compared to the game, but this line
is not forced, of course.}) 16... Qd7 17. f3 h6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qg4 Rf5 20.
Re2 e5 21. Rd1 {There nothing exciting in this position, for sure, but White's
play is easier. Black has no obvious way to set his central pawns in motion,
while White can increase his pressure systematically.} Qf7 22. Qb4 Qd7 23. Qa4
Kh8 24. c4 Qe8 25. Rd3 Rf4 26. Qa5 Qe7 27. c5 Rf6 28. Qc3 Qe8 29. b3 Rb8 30. a4
$14 {White has consolidated his domination and has an obvious advantage.} Ra8
31. Re4 Qc8 32. Qd2 Qf8 33. Qa5 Qe7 34. Rde3 Qd7 35. Re1 Rf5 36. Qc3 Rd8 37. g3
Rf7 38. cxd6 $1 cxd6 39. f4 $1 {Opening the position at the right moment.} exf4
40. gxf4 c5 41. Re6 Rxf4 42. Rxh6+ Kg8 43. Qd2 Rf7 44. Rg1 $16 {And now, there
is an attack going already.} c4 $2 45. Qg5 $18 {[%cal Gg5h5]} Rdf8 46. Qh5 Rf1+
47. Kb2 {According to the engines, Black can delay mate for eight moves, by
means of the "Dilaram combination" starting with ...Rb1+ and so on.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 b5 5. c3 a5 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Bf4 Be7 8. Qc2
c5 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Ne5 O-O 11. a4 bxa4 12. Qxa4 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. h4 Qc7
15. e4 Nb6 16. Qc2 Rfd8 17. Rfc1 h6 18. Be3 Qd7 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Nc4 a4 21.
Re1 Qb5 22. Na3 Qa6 23. Rad1 Rab8 24. c4 Nxe3 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxe3 Bxg2 27.
Kxg2 Qb7+ 28. Kg1 Qb4 29. Rc3 Qb8 30. Re3 Qb4 31. Rc3 Rd7 32. Nb5 Qa5 33. Qe2
Qd8 34. Ra3 Rd2 35. Qf3 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Qd2 37. Rxa4 Qe1 38. Nc3 Qg1+ 39. Kh3 Re1
40. Ra7 Qf1+ 41. Qg2 Qxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Bf8 43. f4 g5 44. h5 gxf4 45. gxf4 Kg7 46.
Rd7 Re3 47. Rb7 Re1 48. b3 Re3 49. Nd1 Re2+ 50. Nf2 Rc2 51. Kf3 Rc3+ 52. Ke2
Rg3 53. Ne4 Rh3 54. Nf6 Rh1 55. Rd7 Rh2+ 56. Kd3 Rh3+ 57. Kc2 Rh4 58. Ne8+ Kg8
59. f5 Rh2+ 60. Rd2 Rxd2+ 61. Kxd2 exf5 62. Nf6+ Kg7 63. Ke3 Be7 64. Nd7 Bg5+
65. Kf3 Bd2 66. Nxc5 f6 67. e6 Kf8 68. Nd3 Ke7 69. Nf4 Kd6 70. c5+ Kc6 71. Nd5
1-0

[Event "CRO-chT3B Center North"]
[Site "Croatia"]
[Date "2012.05.12"]
[Round "4.35"]
[White "Heric, Srecko"]
[Black "Topalovic, Velimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "2012.04.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2013"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c3 c6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. b3 e6 8. O-O
Bd6 9. c4 Rc8 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Ne5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Ne4 13. Nd2 Ndf6 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Nf3 Bb8 16. Nd2 Qc7 17. g3 f5 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Nf3 Rf6 20. Kg2 Nxg3 21.
fxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Qxh3+ 23. Nh2 Bxh2 24. Qxh2 Qxe3 25. Rae1 Qd3 26. Bc1 Rcf8
27. Bf4 h6 28. Qg3 Qxg3 29. Bxg3 f4 30. Bf2 g5 31. Re7 R6f7 32. Rfe1 Kg7 33.
R1e5 Rxe7 34. Rxe7+ Rf7 35. Re5 Kg6 36. Kg2 h5 37. b4 a6 38. a4 Rf5 39. Re8 Rf7
40. Re5 Rf5 41. Re8 Rf7 42. Rd8 Re7 43. b5 axb5 44. Rd6+ Kf5 45. axb5 Rc7 46.
b6 Re7 47. Rd8 Kf6 48. Rh8 Kg6 49. Kf1 h4 50. Kg2 Kf5 51. Rc8 Rh7 52. Rc7 h3+
53. Kh2 Kg6 54. Rxh7 Kxh7 55. Kxh3 Kg6 56. Kg4 Kf6 57. Be1 Kg6 58. Bb4 Kf6 59.
Bc5 f3 60. Kxf3 Kf5 61. Kg3 g4 62. Bf8 Ke4 63. Bg7 Kf5 64. Be5 Kg5 65. Kf2 Kf5
66. Ke3 Kg6 67. Kd3 Kf5 68. Kc3 Ke6 69. Kb4 Kd7 70. Kc3 Ke6 71. Kd3 Kf5 72. Ke3
Kg6 73. Kf2 Kf5 74. Kg3 Kg5 75. Bh8 Kf5 76. Kh4 Kf4 77. Be5+ Kf3 78. Bg3 Ke4
79. Kxg4 Kxd4 80. Bc7 c5 81. Kf4 Kc4 82. Be5 Kb5 83. Bc7 Kc4 84. Kf3 Kd3 85.
Kf2 Kd2 86. Bd6 c4 87. Kf3 d4 88. Bb4+ Kc2 89. Ke4 d3 0-1

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Handler, Lukas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2321"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. cxd5 Nxg5 7. Nxg5 e6 8.
Nf3 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 c6 11. O-O Qd6 12. Rb1 a5 13. h3 Be6 14. Qc2 Nd7 15.
Rfc1 Rfe8 16. Na4 f5 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Qc7 19. a3 Kh8 20. g3 Bf6 21. h4 a4
22. Kg2 Kg7 23. Qc3 Bd7 24. Qc2 Re7 25. Rh1 h5 26. Rhc1 Be8 27. Qd2 Qd8 28. Ng1
Qd6 29. Ne2 Kg8 30. Qc2 Bg7 31. Nc3 b5 32. Ne2 Qf6 33. Ng1 Re6 34. Nf3 Qd8 35.
Qc3 Qe7 36. Ra1 Bf6 37. Rab1 Kg7 38. Ra1 Qd6 39. Be2 Re7 40. Bd1 Rc7 41. Qc2
Rb7 42. Ne1 Re7 43. Bf3 Rea7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Huber, Martin Christian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2150"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. f3 Kh8 12. Be3 Ng8 13. Qd2 Ndf6 14. c5 f4 15. Bf2
g5 16. Nb5 a6 17. Qa5 dxc5 18. Nxc7 Ne8 19. d6 Rb8 20. Bxc5 b6 21. Bxb6 Nxd6
22. Nb4 g4 23. fxg4 Qg5 24. Nc6 Bxg4 25. Bd3 Rbc8 26. Qd5 Nf7 27. Bxa6 Nf6 28.
Qd3 Rb8 29. Nxb8 Rxb8 30. Bf2 Rxb2 31. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 32. Rxb1 h5 33. Bc4 Qg6 34.
Ne6 f3 35. Nxg7 Kxg7 36. Rb7 Be6 37. g3 Bxc4 38. Qxc4 h4 39. Qb3 Nxe4 40. Qxf3
Neg5 41. Qg4 e4 42. Bd4+ 1-0

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Juhasz, Kristof"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2378"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. Nc3 Bf5 8. b3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Qa5 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. e3 c5 12. Qe2 a6 13. dxc5 Bxb2 14. Qxb2 Qxc5
15. Rac1 Nc6 16. Rfd1 Rfc8 17. Nd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qe5 19. Qe2 Nxd4 20. Rxd4 b5
21. Qd2 Qe6 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Qd3 Qd7 25. a4 bxa4 26. bxa4 Rc5
27. Rb4 Kg7 28. Qd4+ f6 29. Qe4 d5 30. Qd4 Qc6 31. Rb5 Rxb5 32. axb5 Qxb5 33.
e4 dxe4 34. Qxe4 Qc5 35. h4 h5 36. Qa8 Qd4 37. Qb7 Qe5 38. Qa8 Kf7 39. Qh8 Qe4+
40. Kg1 Qc2 41. Kg2 Qc6+ 42. Kg1 Ke6 43. Qg7 Qe4 44. Qg8+ Kf5 45. Qc8+ e6 46.
Qc3 g5 47. hxg5 fxg5 48. f3 Qe2 49. Qc5+ Kg6 50. Qf8 g4 51. Qe8+ Kf6 52. Qd8+
Ke5 53. Qc7+ Kd4 54. Qb6+ Kd3 55. Qb5+ Kd2 56. Qb4+ Kc2 57. Qa4+ Kb2 58. Qb4+
Kc1 59. Qa3+ Qb2 60. Qe3+ Qd2 61. Qa3+ Kd1 62. Qa1+ Qc1 63. Qf6 Kc2+ 64. Kf2
Qd2+ 65. Kf1 Qd1+ 66. Kf2 Qxf3+ 67. Qxf3 gxf3 68. Kxf3 Kd3 69. Kf4 Kd4 70. Kg5
e5 71. Kxh5 e4 72. g4 e3 73. g5 e2 0-1

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Druska, Juraj"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2311"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Ba6 5. Ne5 c6 6. d4 Qc7 7. Qc2 d6 8. Nd3
Be7 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. O-O Bb7 12. e4 e5 13. Ne2 Rfe8 14. Bb2 Bf8 15.
Rfe1 a6 16. f3 Rac8 17. Bh3 Rcd8 18. Rad1 Bc8 19. Bg2 a5 20. f4 Ng4 21. Qc1 f6
22. h3 Nh6 23. Bf3 g6 24. Kg2 Bg7 25. c5 dxc5 26. dxc5 b5 27. a3 Nf8 28. b4 Nf7
29. Bc3 a4 30. Qb2 Be6 31. Nf2 Bb3 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. h4 Be6 34. Qb1 Bh6 35. f5
Bc4 36. Ng4 Kg7 37. Rd1 Rxd1 38. Qxd1 Qd7 39. Qxd7 Nxd7 40. Nxh6 Nxh6 41. g4
gxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kriebel, Tadeas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C64"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2333"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5 5. d4 fxe4 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Qe7 8.
b4 Bxb4 9. Bf4 Qc5 10. a4 Bxc3+ 11. Nxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 Ne7 13. Rc1 Qa5 14. Bc4
Ng6 15. Bg3 Rf8 16. Qd4 c6 17. h4 b6 18. Rd1 Ne7 19. Kg1 Nf5 20. Qxe4 Nxg3 21.
fxg3 Bb7 22. e6 d5 23. Qg4 Qc5+ 24. Kh2 Qe7 25. Rhf1 O-O-O 26. Rf7 Rxf7 27.
exf7+ Kb8 28. Qf4+ Kc8 29. Be2 Ba8 30. Re1 1-0

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Menezes, Christoph"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2227"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Nc3
Nbd7 9. Bf4 dxc4 10. e4 b5 11. d5 Qb6 12. dxc6 Nc5 13. e5 Rd8 14. Qe2 Nd5 15.
Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bg5 Bf8 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Ba6 19. Be3 Rc8 20. Ng5 h6 21.
Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Qg6 Rd8 24. Rd6 Bxd6 25. exd6 Rxd6 26. Be4 Rxc6 27.
Qe8# 1-0

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E98"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 h5 13. c5 g5 14. a4 Ng6 15. a5 Bh6
16. Nb5 a6 17. Na3 Rf7 18. Nc4 Rg7 19. cxd6 Nxd6 20. Ra3 Nxc4 21. Bxc4 g4 22.
fxg4 hxg4 23. g3 Kh7 24. Nd3 Qg5 25. Nc5 Qh5 26. Qc2 Bg5 27. Rd1 Be7 28. b4 Bd6
29. Bf1 Bd7 30. Nxb7 Bxb4 31. Ra2 Nh4 32. gxh4 g3 33. hxg3 fxg3 34. Be3 Rf8 35.
Qb3 Rf2 36. Rxf2 gxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Qxh4+ 38. Ke2 Bb5+ 39. Rd3 0-1

[Event "Vienna Clock sim"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wertjanz, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2246"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2012.04.27"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Be3 Bh5 11. h3 exd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. Bc1 d5 15. e5
Ne4 16. b3 Nb6 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rxe4 c5 19. Bb2 c4 20. Nbd2 Rc8 21. bxc4 bxc4
22. Rc1 Qd5 23. e6 f6 24. Re1 Rfe8 25. Nb1 Bb4 26. Bc3 Bd6 27. Nbd2 Rxe6 28.
Rxe6 Qxe6 29. Ba5 Ba3 30. Rc3 Bb2 31. Re3 Qc6 32. Bxb6 Qxb6 33. Qc2 Bxd4 34.
Nxd4 Qxd4 35. Qf5 Qc5 36. Qe6+ Bf7 37. Qxa6 c3 38. Ne4 c2 0-1

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{El Magistral de León cumple 25 años y, como no podía ser de otra manera,
la organización ha preparado un autentico espectáculo para la ocasión. El
Magistral de León se ha caracterizado desde sus primeras ediciones por contar
siempre con la participación de los mejores jugadores españoles a los que
durante 25 años ha brindado la oportunidad de medirse a los mejores
ajedrecistas del mundo. El duelo a seis partidas - 45 mn. por jugador + 15 seg.
de incremento después de cada jugada- entre el excampeón del mundo Veselin
Topalov y el número uno español Paco Vallejo, mantiene esa tradición en una
de las mejores versiones posibles: Topalov y Vallejo practican siempre un
ajedrez arriesgado, original y a menudo brillante; su presencia asegura un
emocionante encuentro más allá del resultado deportivo. Veselin Topalov y
Paco Vallejo se conocen muy bien, son amigos y han trabajado juntos en
diversas ocasiones, ello no impide sin embargo que en las 27 partidas jugadas
entre ambos hasta la fecha haya reinado el espíritu de lucha y abundado las
ideas brillantes, arriesgadas y sorpresivas. El resultado no puede ser más
igualado: seis victorias para cada uno y quince empates. Se cruzaron en las
semifinales del Magistral de León en 2006; en aquella ocasión venció el
gran maestro búlgaro por 2,5 a 1,5. Esta edición promete ser auténtico
regalo de cumpleaños para la afición leonesa.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 {Topalov
se aparta de 2...d6 que mantendría abierta la posibilidad de jugar su
variante favorita: la Najdorf} 3. Nf3 g6 {uno de los "inconvenientes" del
orden elegido por las blancas es que no podrán jugar el sistema Maroczy
contra el Dragón Acelerado} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 ({Las blancas no pueden jugar directamente} 8. f3 $2 {por la conocida
trampa} Qb6 $1) 8... d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. a4 (12. O-O-O a5
{Es el inicio de otra importante rama de la procelosa teoría del dragón})
12... bxa4 13. Bxa4 ({Vallejo jugó} 13. Nxa4 {contra Anand en el Magistral de
León del año 2008}) 13... a5 14. O-O Rb8 {Puede apreciarse que el orden
elegido por Topalov es el más preciso para oponerse al intento blanco de
transponer al ataque yugoslavo contra el dragón. La necesidad de jugar 8.Bb3
permite a las negras disuadir al blanco del enroque largo y el consiguiente
ataque en flancos opuestos. La posición alcanzada en este inicio de medio
juego tiende a la igualdad.} 15. Bxd7 {Tras casi 5 minutos de reflexión} Qxd7
16. b3 ({Las blancas pueden intentar} 16. Rxa5 Rxb2 17. Nd5 Rb7 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6
19. Bxf6 exf6 20. Rd5 {pero las negras nivelan la posición presionando el
peón "c" con sus piezas pesadas}) 16... Qc7 17. Rf2 {Sobreprotege "c2" a la
vez que impide un posible jaque intermedio en la diagonal g1-a7 lo que amaga
Bf6 seguido de Nd5} e6 {Controlando definitivamente el salto a d5} 18. Qd3 d5
$1 {Con este oportuno golpe central Topalov liquida toda ilusión de ventaja
blanca} 19. exd5 Rfd8 $1 20. Qe3 ({Contra} 20. Nb5 {existía la bonita
continuación} Rxb5 $1 21. Qxb5 Ng4 $1 {y las blancas no pueden impedir la
entrada en "h2" de la Dama negra.}) 20... Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd4 $1 22. Qxd4 Rxd5 {
Topalov ha tratado magistralmente la posición y disfruta de una ligera
ventaja gracias a la mejor coordinación de sus piezas} 23. Qe3 Re5 24. Qc1 {
Una retirada poco natural} ({pero} 24. Qd2 Rd8 {no hace sino facilitar las
cosas a las negras}) 24... Rd8 25. g3 {Otra jugada bastante fea que debilita
la posición del Rey} Qc3 $1 26. Rb1 {El reloj de Paco refleja también lo
apurado de su situación: dispone de 7 minutos por 17 de su rival} h5 27. Qb2
Re1+ $1 28. Kg2 Qe3 29. Rxe1 Qxe1 30. c4 Rd3 ({No se conseguía nada con} 30...
Rd1 31. Qe2 Qg1+ 32. Kh3 {y el ataque se agota}) 31. c5 {buscando distraer a
las fuerzas negras. El reloj es ahora el principal enemigo de Vallejo que
dispone de tan solo minuto y medio para el resto de la partida mientras
Topalov tiene casi un cuarto de hora.} Qc3 32. Qb1 ({las blancas no llegan al
final de torres de 4 contra 3 tras} 32. Qxc3 Rxc3 33. b4 axb4 34. Rb2 b3 35.
Kf1 Kf8 {y ganan}) 32... Rd5 33. Rc2 Rd2+ 34. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 35. Kh3 Qc3 36. Qg1
Qxf3 ({Tal vez hubiera resultado más desagradable algo parecido a} 36... e5
37. Kg2 Kg7 {manteniendo todas sus bazas}) 37. Qc1 $1 {Las blancas fian su
suerte al contrajuego que sea capaz de crear el peón pasado que, como es
sabido, es especialmente fuerte en los finales de Dama.} Qc6 38. Qc3 Kh7 (38...
Qc7) 39. Qf6 (39. Qxa5 g5 40. Qc3 Kg6 {sería bastante peligroso para la salud
del rey blanco}) 39... Kg8 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Qf6 Qxc5 42. Qxf7+ Kh6 43. Qxe6 Qc3
{Y tablas, un buen resultado para Vallejo que ha defendido una posición muy
delicada.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 {La variante Mac Cutcheon, una
elección ambiciosa de Paco} 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1 $5 {Mucho mas empleada es 6.Ad2}
Ne4 7. Qg4 g6 8. Nge2 Nxc3 ({Vallejo ya habia jugado esta posición con
blancas contra Radjabov en el torneo de Linares del año 2003, entonces el GM
de Azerbayán prefirió} 8... c5) 9. bxc3 ({Resulta más natural} 9. Nxc3 $5 c5
{y ahora} 10. a3 $5 Qa5 11. axb4 $1 Qxa1 12. Bb5+ Bd7 13. O-O {con mucha
compensación, por ejemplo} cxd4 {se encuentra con el golpe} 14. Nxd5) 9... Ba5
10. Ba3 Nd7 11. h4 Nb6 $1 {Amenazando Cc4. Ha valido la pena emplear 8 minutos
en gestar esta continuación que acierta en el corazón de la posición blanca}
({No es buena} 11... h5 $6 {por} 12. Qf4 {con idea de pasar la torre mediante
Th3: según el GM Jesús de La Villa el ataque se llevaria solo.}) (11... c5 $5
{Sin embargo, resultaba interesante} 12. h5 Qg5 $1 {acabando con la iniciativa
blanca y quedándose con mejor estructura.}) 12. Bb4 ({No hay tiempo para} 12.
Rh3 Nc4 13. Bb4 {por} Bb6 $1 {con idea de a5 y el alfil blanco sufre}) 12...
Bxb4 13. cxb4 Qe7 14. a3 a5 15. b5 Nc4 {Vallejo ha conseguido salir con
ventaja de la apertura} 16. Qf3 Bd7 17. a4 ({No era suficiente tampoco} 17. Nc3
{por} Nxa3 18. Bd3 Qb4 $17) 17... Qb4+ 18. Nc3 (18. Qc3 c6 19. bxc6 Bxc6 {
y el blanco no puede sostener su flanco de dama}) 18... Na3 $1 ({Es seguir una
pista falsa ganar material con} 18... Qb2 {por} 19. Rb1 Qxc2 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21.
O-O {con iniciativa blanca}) ({Tampoco} 18... Nxe5 {la "tactiquera" propuesta
de Jaime Santos} 19. dxe5 d4 20. Rh3 {el Sr Houdini pone en vereda a nuestro
joven talento}) 19. Qd3 Rc8 (19... c5 {también con ventaja. La clave es
aprovechar rápidamente la columna c}) 20. Be2 c5 21. O-O cxd4 22. Nxd5 exd5
23. Rxa3 ({El dilema es si cambiar o no las damas, pero} 23. Qxa3 Qxa3 24. Rxa3
Rxc2 {es muy desagradable de defender}) 23... Bf5 24. Qg3 Rxc2 {Después de
las últimas escaramuzas las negras han consolidado una clara ventaja} 25. Rb3
Qxa4 26. Bd1 {Curiosamente las blancas no han pensado mucho para llegar a esta
ruinosa posición.} ({Después de} 26. e6 Bxe6 27. Qb8+ Ke7 28. Qxb7+ Kf6 {
el rey negro está seguro y el blanco tiene varias piezas tocadas}) 26... Rc1
27. e6 O-O $1 {más importante que comerse otro peón es mejorar dos piezas}
28. exf7+ ({no solucionaba nada} 28. Rb1 Qc4 29. Rxc1 Qxc1) 28... Rxf7 29. h5 (
{Muy interesante es} 29. Rf3 Rxd1 30. Rxf5 Rxf1+ 31. Kh2 {y los humanos no
conseguimos ver como ganan las negras, pero el módulo, sin piedad, nos hace
ver la luz. Pero} Re1 {acaba con todas las alegres esperanzas de salvación de
las blancas}) 29... g5 ({mejor es} 29... Qc4 $1 30. hxg6 Re7 {y difícilmente
podrían defenderse las blancas}) 30. Rb1 Qc4 31. Rxc1 Qxc1 32. Bb3 Qc5 33. Qe5
Be4 34. f3 d3+ 35. Kh2 d2 36. Rd1 Bxf3 $4 ({Muy apurado de tiempo Paco no ve
la continuación ganadora} 36... Rxf3 $1 37. Rxd2 ({si} 37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. Qe5+
Rf6 39. Rxd2 Qd6 {ganando}) ({y si} 37. Qxe4 Qd6+ 38. Kg1 Rxb3) 37... Rxb3 {
con ventaja decisiva}) 37. Rxd2 Be4 38. Bxd5 ({Más precisa es} 38. Rxd5 Bxd5
39. Bxd5 Qf2 {con igualdad}) 38... Bxd5 39. Rxd5 Qe7 40. Qb8+ $2 {Topalov
pierde el hilo} ({Con} 40. Qxe7 Rxe7 41. b6 a4 42. Ra5 Re6 43. Rxa4 Rxb6 44.
Rd4 {mantenía buenas chances de salvar el medio punto}) 40... Rf8 41. Qg3 Rf4
42. Qd3 $4 {Despeñandose definitivamente} ({Con} 42. Qc3 {que controla la
casilla "e1" sostenía a Topalov en la partida}) 42... Rh4+ {y el excampeón
mundial abandona ante el mate o la perdida de la dama} 0-1

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. g5
Nfd7 9. h4 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Be3 O-O 12. Qd2 Nc6 13. O-O-O Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rc8
15. Rg1 Ne5 16. Qe3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. f4 Re8 19. f5 Bf8 20. f6 e5 21. Bb6
Qd7 22. fxg7 Bxg7 23. Bc5 Bf8 24. h5 Rxc3 25. bxc3 Re6 26. Bb4 Qc7 27. Qa7 Qc8
28. Rdf1 Be7 29. Rf6 Bxf6 30. gxf6+ Kf8 31. Qb6 Bc6 32. Rg8+ 1-0

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C14"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Tras el tremendo traspiés de la derrota anterior y con marcador tan adverso,
cabe esperar de Topalov en esta cuarta partida una batalla sin cuartel para
seguir con alguna opción en el mach.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 (
{Variando Paco respecto a la segunda partida en la que se decantó por la más
aguda} 4... Bb4) 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8. Qg4 {Jugada muy poco
empleada,pero que ha brindado en la práctica buenos resultados. Imaginamos que
ello ha sido advertido por Topalov en su preparación.} f5 {lo más natural} 9.
exf6 Nxf6 10. Qh4 b6 ({Llegó la novedad. Se habia probado:} 10... c5 11. Nf3
Nc6 12. dxc5 Qxc5 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Bd3 Bd7 15. Rhe1 {con ligera ventaja
blanca,que no fue suficiente para ganar en: Motylev,A -Miljanic,B/Niksic 2000})
11. Nf3 c5 12. Bd3 Nc6 (12... O-O $2 13. Bxh7+) 13. O-O-O ({La aparente} 13.
Bg6+ Kd8 14. O-O-O Rf8 15. Bd3 {es sin duda interesante y mereceria
considerarse. El devenir de la partida es consecuente con la necesidad del
jugador búlgaro de ganar para seguir vivo en el mach.}) 13... cxd4 ({La natural
} 13... O-O {se encontraria con} 14. Ne5 Qd6 15. g4 {que parece muy fácil y
directo para el blanco}) 14. Bg6+ {lo más incisivo, aunque} (14. Ne2 {también
es bastante fuerte}) 14... Kd8 {creemos que el rey negro sufriria mayores
contratiempos en el flanco de rey} (14... Kf8 15. Ne2) 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Rxd4
Bd7 ({Si} 16... Ng8 17. f5 $1 {las negras no lograrian la salvación}) 17. Bd3 {
La cuestión es si el centro negro podrá aguantar mucho tiempo los envites de
las poderosas piezas blancas. La incomodidad de la posición negra es evidente.}
Re8 18. Re1 {La pieza que faltaba por activar} Qc5 19. Ne2 ({Seria precipitada
} 19. f5 $2 exf5 $1 (19... e5 20. Rxd5) 20. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {con ventaja negra})
19... Bb5 {es comprensible la busqueda de este cambio de alfiles para relajar
la prima de riesgo} 20. Kb1 e5 $2 {Pero esta expansión central no nos parece
adecuada, teniendo en cuenta la fragilidad del rey negro justo en este sector}
({La huida inmediata con} 20... Kc7 {era lo mejor}) 21. fxe5 Rxe5 22. c4 $1 {
Sencilla jugada que pone en evidencia la errónea vigésima movida negra y que
puede que haya obviado Paco. Ventaja casi decisiva de Topalov.} Bd7 ({No
arregla nada} 22... Bc6 23. cxd5 Rxd5 24. Bc4 $1 Rxd4 25. Nxd4 {con todo tipo
de dolorosisimas amenazas}) 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. cxd5 Qxd5 {La exposicion del rey
negro y la descoordinación de sus fuerzas hace preveer un rápido y fatal
desenlace a favor de las blancas} 25. Qg3 $1 {Lo más enérgico, privando de
oxigeno al monarca negro y amenazando todo. La ventaja blanca es decisiva.} g6
{Por si fuera poco Vallejo dispone de 7 min por 20 min de Topalov} (25... Bf5
26. Bxf5 Qxf5+ 27. Ka1 {encontrandose el rey negro algo desnudo}) 26. Nc3 {
Lo mejor} (26. Nf4 Qd4 {La ventaja del caballo blanco en "c3" es que apoya un
Td1 letal}) 26... Qd4 27. Rd1 Qc5 28. Qf4 ({Con} 28. Qf3 Qc6 29. Ne4 {se
provocaba el desplome de la posición negra}) 28... Qe7 (28... Nd5 29. Qg5+ Ne7
30. Qf6 {era un horror}) 29. Rf1 {Uno de los caminos hacia la victoria} (29.
Qd4) 29... Nh5 30. Qd4 Rb8 31. Nd5 Qd6 32. Re1 Be6 33. Nf4 {Abandonan. Mala
partida de Vallejo que deja abierto el match para la última jornada.} 1-0

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{La jornada final promete un gran espéctaculo ajedrecístico pleno de
emoción y lucha sin cuartel.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
a6 {De nuevo la Najdorf} 6. Qf3 {Una subvariante cuyo mejor defensor es el
inglés Nigel Short} g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Bg5 Qa5 9. Be3 {Nos encontramos en una
posición inédita} O-O 10. O-O-O Nc6 {Creemos que las negras, como mínimo,
han igualado} 11. Kb1 {Necesaria tarde o temprano} Bd7 $6 {Siendo una jugada
natural nos parece que no es lo mejor.} ({Es típica en estas posiciones} 11...
Be6 $5 {sin miedo a doblar los peones en "e" ya que se controlaría la
importante casilla "d5" y cobra vida la torre de "f8"}) 12. Nb3 {Con el alfil
negro en "e6" dispondriamos de Axb3!?} Qc7 13. g4 Ne5 {Existiendo múltiples
posibilidades nos gusta} ({Más flexible es} 13... Rac8 {que mantiene abiertas
varias posibilidades}) 14. Qg2 {Posiblemente la dama blanca esté mejor aquí
cuando suceda el temible ataque blanco} Be6 $2 ({Tiene mucha lógica} 14... Nc4
15. Bxc4 Qxc4 {con idea de a5-a4 etc}) 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bd4 $1 ({Mejor que} 16.
Bxc4 Bxc4 {porque las piezas negras estarían menos expuestas en el flanco de
rey. Ahora el ataque blanco parece imparable}) 16... Rac8 {Topalov no debe
estar cómodo ya que le restan 17 min por 39 min de Vallejo} 17. f5 $1 Bd7 {
Estas jugadas dubitativas con el alfil solo sirvieron para que el blanco
ganara tiempos en el ataque} 18. Bxc4 ({Con} 18. g5 {también la posición
negra es desesperada} Nh5 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qf2) 18... Qxc4 19. g5
Nh5 20. Na5 $1 {Existen varias jugadas ganadoras pero, Paco efectúa lo más
duro.} Qxd4 ({Desesperación.Es para llorar} 20... Qb4 21. Nd5 Qxa5 22. Nxe7+
Kh8 23. f6) 21. Rxd4 Bxd4 22. Nd5 {Ventaja decisiva del blanco} Rfe8 23. Rd1
Bg7 ({Tras} 23... Be5 24. Nb6 Rc7 25. Nac4 Bg7 26. Qf3 {las negras podrían
abandonar}) 24. Qf3 {Mejorando la dama y apoyando un resolutivo "f6"} Bc6 25.
Nxc6 $1 {De nuevo lo más fuerte} bxc6 26. Nxe7+ $1 Rxe7 27. f6 Bxf6 28. gxf6
Re6 29. Qa3 Nxf6 30. Rxd6 ({Por supuesto también gana} 30. Qxa6) 30... Rxe4
31. b3 ({Es incluso más precisa} 31. Qa5) 31... Re1+ 32. Kb2 Ne4 33. Qa5 Nxd6
34. Qxe1 Kf8 35. Qe5 Rd8 36. Qa5 Ke7 37. Qxa6 Rc8 38. a4 c5 39. Qa7+ Kd8 40. a5
Rc7 41. Qa8+ Kd7 42. a6 Nc8 43. Qd5+ Ke7 {Topalov continúa por inercia} 44. c3
Nb6 45. Qe5+ Kd7 46. Qf6 Nc8 47. Qxf7+ Kc6 48. Qf6+ ({Una bonita variante es} 
48. Qe6+ Nd6 49. c4 Rd7 50. Qxd7+ Kxd7 51. a7) 48... Kb5 49. c4+ Ka5 50. Qd8 ({
Otra hermosa línea es} 50. b4+ cxb4 51. Qd8 Kb6 52. c5+ Kc6 53. Kb3 {como en
la partida}) 50... Kb6 51. b4 cxb4 52. c5+ Kc6 53. Kb3 g5 54. Kc4 {Y Topalov
dejó de sufrir. !!Felicidades a Paco!!} 1-0

[Event "Leon Masters 25th"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2012.06.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "Estremera,S/Mellado,J"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Con el match decidido a favor del GM español, Veselin Topalov debe intentar
al menos dejar el marcador en una honrosa derrota por la mínima} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 {Una variante secundaria que encierra
bastante veneno} ({Forma parte del repertorio de casi todos los "grandes" la
continuación} 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6) 5... d6 ({La continuación que goza de
mayor prestigio según la teoría es} 5... d5 6. e5 Ne4) 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 e5
8. Bd3 c5 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. d5 {Hemos alcanzado una posición característica de
la Defensa Nimzoindia, las blancas disponen de la pareja de alfiles y más
espacio, a cambio las negras mantienen bloqueada la estructura e inician el
cerco a la debilidad blanca en c4. Los interesados en estudiar esta estructura
clásica pueden consultar el libro que Ivan Sokolov dedicó hace un par de
años a este tema.} Na5 11. Ng3 ({Clavar con} 11. Bg5 {sería contrarrestado
con} h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5) 11... Nd7 12. Rb1 $5 ({Si} 12. O-O Nb6 {
y contra} 13. Qe2 {las negras tendrían} Nb3) 12... Re8 $5 {habilita la
casilla f8 para maniobrar con elcaballo hacia el flanco de rey} 13. O-O b6 {
Las negras podrán, en el momento oportuno, atacar la debilidad estructural
blanca desde a6} 14. Nf5 Nf8 15. Ne3 Ng6 16. Re1 $6 ({Las blancas debían tal
vez impedir el salto del caballo con} 16. g3) 16... Nf4 17. Bf1 Rf8 18. f3 g6
19. g3 Nh5 20. Bd3 {Controlando la ruptura f5} Kh8 21. Rb2 {Prosigue el lento
maniobrar típico de estas posiciones; las blancas preparan el traslado de la
torre por la segunda fila hacia territorios del flanco de rey} Bh3 {Un momento
importante, las negras abandonan definitivamente la posibilidad Ba6, lo que
deja al caballo de "a5" sin objetivos y muy alejado del escenario donde se van
a desarrollar los acontecimientos.} 22. Ng4 f6 23. Kh1 Qe7 24. Qb1 {Dando paso
a la torre sin perder el control sobre f5} Rae8 25. Rbe2 Qf7 26. Bh6 Rg8 27.
Bd2 Rgf8 28. Rg1 Re7 29. Ree1 Qe8 30. Qd1 {La dama blanca controla así una
posible incursión de su homóloga en a4} Ng7 ({No resulta satisfactorio} 30...
b5 31. cxb5 c4 32. Qa4 $1) 31. Bh6 ({La alternativa evidente es} 31. Nf2 Bd7 {
y ahora no ofrece ventaja la ruptura} 32. f4 {por} Ba4 33. Qe2 exf4 34. gxf4
Qd7 {y las negras mantienen su posición intacta}) 31... Bxg4 $1 32. fxg4 g5 {
Bloqueando completamente la posición} 33. h4 Qg6 34. Bxg7+ ({El intento de
obtener un bastión en la casilla f5 para una torre con} 34. hxg5 fxg5 35.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Rgf1 Rxf1+ 37. Rxf1 Qe8 ({pero no la perdedora} 37... Nxc4 $2
38. Bxc4 Qxe4+ 39. Qf3 $1) 38. Rf5 h6 {No debe inquietar al las negras}) 34...
Kxg7 35. Rgf1 h6 ({Vallejo podía incluso luchar por la iniciativa jugando} 
35... gxh4 $1 36. gxh4 Qh6 $1) 36. Rf2 Kg8 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Rh2 Rh7 39. Rh5 {
Último intento de mantener viva la lucha, pero la posición negra es
inexpugnable} Qe8 40. Kg2 Kg7 41. Reh1 Rfh8 42. Qf3 Qg6 43. Qe2 Kf8 44. Bc2 Ke7
45. R1h2 Nb7 46. Bd1 Na5 47. Qd3 Kf7 48. Bf3 Kg7 49. Qf1 Kf7 50. Kf2 Kg7 51.
Ke3 Qe8 52. Be2 Qg6 {La única esperanza de Topalov es el apuro de tiempo que
se avecina} 53. Qd1 Qe8 54. Qh1 Rxh5 $6 {Finalmente, Paco decide que ha
llegado su momento !en el peor momento!} 55. gxh5 Qa4 $2 {Dejando solo a su
rey ante las fuerzas enemigas} 56. h6+ Kf7 57. Qf1 $6 ({Más fuerte resulta} 
57. Qf3 $1) 57... Qxa3 $4 ({Era menester desandar el camino para atender a los
suyos} 57... Qd7) 58. Qf5 {Ahora el rey negro no escapará a la peor de las
suertes} Qxc3+ 59. Kf2 Qd4+ 60. Kg2 Qd2 61. Qd7+ {Y Topalov obtiene un
merecido premio a su tenaz porfía.} 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. Qd2 Bb4 10. a3 Qa5 11. Rb1 Bxc3 12. bxc3 O-O 13. Bb5 Nb6 14. O-O Nc4
15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Ng5 b6 17. Qe1 h6 18. Ne4 Ne7 19. Bd4 Nf5 20. g4 Nxd4 21.
cxd4 Qd5 22. Nd6 f5 23. gxf5 exf5 24. c3 Bd7 25. Qg3 Bc6 26. Kf2 Rad8 27. Rg1
Rd7 28. Rbe1 Qa5 29. e6 Re7 30. Nf7 Rfxf7 31. exf7+ Rxf7 32. Qg6 Bd7 33. Rg3
Qxa3 34. Qxh6 b5 35. Qh4 Qd6 36. Re5 Qf6 37. Qh5 a5 38. Rg6 Qd8 39. Re3 Qc7 40.
Qh4 Bc6 41. Rh3 Kf8 42. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 Ne7 6. Nh4 Ng6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8.
c4 e5 9. Nc3 g5 10. Be3 d6 11. Qa4 Bd7 12. O-O-O g4 13. Qc2 Be7 14. Rdf1 g6 15.
f4 gxf3 16. Rxf3 Bg4 17. Rf2 Be6 18. Qa4 Qd7 19. Qa6 Rb8 20. Qa4 f5 21. g3 Rh3
22. Re1 Kf7 23. Qd1 Rbh8 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. exf5 gxf5 26. Bg5 Kg6 27. Bxe7 Qxe7
28. Ne2 Kg7 29. Ng1 R3h5 30. Nf3 Rf8 31. Qc3 Rh6 32. Rfe2 Kg8 33. h4 Rg6 34.
Ng5 f4 35. gxf4 Rxf4 36. Nxe6 Qxe6 37. Re4 Qf6 38. h5 Rg2 39. R4e2 Rff2 40.
Rxf2 Qxf2 41. a3 Kh7 42. Kb1 Kh6 43. Ka2 Kxh5 44. Qc1 Qd2 45. Qb1 Kg5 46. Rd1
Qe3 47. Re1 Qd2 48. Rd1 Qc2 49. Qxc2 Rxc2 50. Kb3 Rf2 51. Rg1+ Kf5 52. Rg7 Rf3
53. Kc2 e4 54. dxe4+ Kxe4 55. Rxa7 Kd4 56. Rd7 Rf2+ 57. Kb3 d5 58. cxd5 cxd5
59. a4 c4+ 60. Ka3 Rf3+ 61. Ka2 Rb3 62. Rh7 Kc5 63. Rc7+ Kb4 64. Kb1 Kxa4 65.
Kc2 Rh3 66. Rc5 Rd3 67. b3+ Kb4 68. bxc4 Rc3+ 69. Kd2 Rxc4 70. Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O h6 7. Nbd2 Bg6 8. Nb3
Nd7 9. c3 Nf5 10. Bd2 Rc8 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Qxh4 13. f4 Be4 14. Be1 Qh3 15.
Rf2 h5 16. Nd2 Bd3 17. Bxd3 Qxd3 18. f5 Be7 19. Rf3 Qa6 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Nb3
hxg4 22. Rf1 Rxh2 23. Bf2 Rh5 24. Kg2 Kd8 25. Bg3 Rf5 26. Qxg4 Rg5 27. Qxe6
Qe2+ 28. Rf2 Qe4+ 29. Rf3 Qe2+ 30. Rf2 Qe4+ 31. Rf3 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxc4 7. e3 Be6 8.
Nf3 Nd7 9. d5 Bg4 10. Qd4 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Rg8 12. Qxc4 Bg7 13. Rd1 Kf8 14. Bg3
Ne5 15. Qe4 f5 16. Qf4 c6 17. Bc4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Qa5 19. O-O Qxc3 20. Qa4 cxd5
21. Rxd5 Bf6 22. Rb1 Qc6 23. Qb3 b6 24. e4 Qe6 25. Rbd1 Kf7 26. exf5 gxf5 27.
Kg2 Kg7 28. Qb1 Rac8 29. Rxf5 Kh8 30. Rh5 Qf7 31. Rhd5 Rc5 32. Qe4 Qg6 33. Qe6
Rc2 34. a4 h6 35. Kh1 Rxf2 36. Rg1 Rxf3 37. Qe2 Rf5 38. Rd7 Kh7 39. Rxa7 Rg7
40. Rc7 h5 41. Rc4 Rg5 42. Rf1 Rg4 43. Rxg4 Qxg4 44. Qxg4 Rxg4 45. Rb1 Rxa4 46.
Rxb6 h4 47. Bf2 Ra2 48. Bc5 Rc2 49. Be3 Kg6 50. Rb3 Kf5 51. Bg1 e5 52. h3 e4
53. Rb5+ Kg6 54. Rb6 Kf5 55. Rb5+ Kf4 56. Rb3 Bc3 57. Bh2+ Ke3 58. Rb8 Rc1+ 59.
Kg2 Rc2+ 60. Kh1 Rxh2+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 a6 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bh6 b5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. Qb4 Rc8 20. Nxb5 Rc5 21.
a4 Ba6 22. Rxc5 dxc5 23. Qe1 Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. b4 cxb4 27.
Qxb4 Qd1+ 28. Qe1 Qxe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "226"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 a6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4
Bg4 15. Bxg4 Nfxg4 16. O-O Rc8 17. Qd1 g6 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. N2f3 Nf6 20. Nxe5
Qxe5 21. Qd2 Ne4 22. Qb4 Rc7 23. Nf3 Qe7 24. Qxe7 Rxe7 25. Rc2 Rd8 26. Rfc1 Kf8
27. h4 Ke8 28. Nd4 Nd6 29. Kf1 h5 30. Ke2 Red7 31. f3 Ke7 32. Kd3 Ne8 33. Rc8
Kd6 34. b4 Ng7 35. b5 axb5 36. Nxb5+ Ke7 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. Nd4 Rc7 39. Rb1 Ke7
40. Rb5 Kd6 41. Rb6+ Ke7 42. g4 hxg4 43. fxg4 Ne6 44. h5 Nc5+ 45. Ke2 Na4 46.
Rb3 gxh5 47. gxh5 Kf6 48. Kf3 Kg5 49. Ne2 Kxh5 50. Nf4+ Kh6 51. Nxd5 Rd7 52.
Rb5 Kg7 53. Ke4 b6 54. Ke5 Ra7 55. a3 Nc5 56. Nxb6 Rxa3 57. Rxc5 Rxe3+ 58. Kf4
Re6 59. Nd5 Ra6 60. Ne3 Kg6 61. Rc8 Ra4+ 62. Nc4 f6 63. Rc6 Rb4 64. Ke4 Rb5 65.
Nd6 Re5+ 66. Kd4 Re6 67. Ra6 Kh5 68. Ra5+ Kg6 69. Ne4 Rb6 70. Ra8 Re6 71. Rg8+
Kf7 72. Rg1 Ra6 73. Ke3 Re6 74. Kf4 Ra6 75. Rd1 Kg6 76. Rd4 Rb6 77. Ng3 Ra6 78.
Nf5 Ra5 79. Ne7+ Kf7 80. Nc6 Rc5 81. Rd6 Rc4+ 82. Kf5 Rc5+ 83. Ke4 Rh5 84. Rd7+
Ke6 85. Rg7 Rh4+ 86. Kd3 Kd5 87. Nd8 Rh3+ 88. Ke2 Ke4 89. Re7+ Kf5 90. Nb7 Ra3
91. Nd6+ Kg6 92. Nc4 Rb3 93. Re6 Kg5 94. Nd6 Kg6 95. Kf2 Ra3 96. Re8 Kg7 97.
Nf5+ Kg6 98. Ne3 Ra4 99. Kf3 Rd4 100. Ng2 Ra4 101. Rb8 Ra5 102. Kg4 Rg5+ 103.
Kh4 Rh5+ 104. Kg3 Rg5+ 105. Kh3 Ra5 106. Nf4+ Kf5 107. Rb4 Re5 108. Ng2 Ra5
109. Ne3+ Kg6 110. Kg4 Rg5+ 111. Kf4 Ra5 112. Rc4 Rb5 113. Rc6 Rb4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Kh1 Nh5 11. g4 Nf6 12. Bf4 h5 13. g5 Nh7 14. Qd2 Qe7 15. Rad1
Nd7 16. Rg1 Ne5 17. Nc2 Be6 18. Ne3 Rad8 19. Qe1 a6 20. Qg3 Bc8 21. h4 b5 22.
cxb5 axb5 23. a3 Nf8 24. Qh2 Ne6 25. Bg3 Nc5 26. Qg2 Be6 27. b4 Nb3 28. Be1 Qa7
29. Nc2 Nc4 30. f4 Nxa3 31. Nxa3 Qxa3 32. f5 Bc4 33. Bxh5 gxh5 34. f6 Bh8 35.
g6 Bxf6 36. Nd5 Bxd5 37. exd5 Qb2 38. gxf7+ Kf8 39. Qg8+ Ke7 40. f8=Q+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kazhgaleyev, Murtas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2589"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Nf3 exd5
9. cxd5 h6 10. Be3 a6 11. a4 Re8 12. Bd3 Nbd7 13. O-O Nh5 14. Re1 Qf6 15. Rc1
Nf4 16. Bf1 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Nb1 Bd7 19. Na3 Qf6 20. f3 g5 21. a5 Re7 22.
Nc4 Qg6 23. e5 Rae8 24. Nxd6 Rd8 25. Nxb7 Rb8 26. Nxc5 Bf5 27. e6 fxe6 28. d6
Rf7 29. d7 Nd5 30. Bd4 Rd8 31. g4 Bc2 32. Rxc2 Bxd4+ 33. Qxd4 Qxc2 34. Bd3 Rf4
35. Bxc2 Rxd4 36. Nxe6 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "201"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 Nf4 12. Ne4 Na5 13. Bxf4 Nxb3 14. axb3 exf4
15. d4 Re8 16. Qd3 f5 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. dxc5 Qg6 20. Re1 Rf8 21.
Re7 Be4 22. Qd1 c6 23. b4 Bd5 24. c3 h6 25. Kh2 Rf7 26. Rxf7 Qxf7 27. Ne5 Qe7
28. Qd4 Qg5 29. Nf3 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Qh4 31. b3 Kh7 32. c4 Kg8 33. Kg2 Qg5+ 34.
Kf1 Qh5 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Ke2 Qf7 37. Qd4 Qe7+ 38. Kf1 g5 39. Qd6 Qe8 40. Kg2
Kg7 41. Qc7+ Kg6 42. Qd6+ Kg7 43. h4 Qc8 44. Qe7+ Kg6 45. h5+ Kxh5 46. Qf7+ Kh4
47. Qg6 Qh8 48. Qxc6 g4 49. Qd6 Kg5 50. c6 Qe8 51. Qd5 gxf3+ 52. Qxf3 Qe7 53.
Qd5 Kg4 54. Kh2 Qc7 55. Qd7 Qe5 56. Qd5 Qc7 57. Qg2+ Kh4 58. Qf3 Kg5 59. Kg2 h5
60. Qd5 Kg4 61. c5 h4 62. Qf3+ Kg5 63. Kh3 Kf6 64. Qd5 Kg5 65. Qg8+ Kf6 66. Qd5
Kg5 67. Qe6 Qg7 68. f3 Qa1 69. Qe7+ Kg6 70. Qe8+ Kg7 71. Qe7+ Kg6 72. Qe8+ Kg7
73. Kxh4 Qf6+ 74. Kh3 Qa1 75. Qd7+ Kf6 76. Qd6+ Kg5 77. Qe7+ Kg6 78. Qe6+ Kg5
79. Qg8+ Kh5 80. Qg2 Qf6 81. Qg8 Qxc6 82. Qh7+ Kg5 83. Qh4+ Kg6 84. Qxf4 Qe8
85. Qd6+ Kg5 86. Qd2+ Kf6 87. Qd4+ Kg5 88. f4+ Kh5 89. Qe5 Qd7 90. Qe2+ Kg6 91.
Qg2+ Kf7 92. Kh4 Qd8+ 93. Qg5 Qd3 94. Qh5+ Kg7 95. Qg5+ Kf7 96. Qh5+ Kg7 97.
Qe8 Qxb3 98. Qe7+ Kg8 99. c6 Qc4 100. Qe8+ Kg7 101. Kg5 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kurnosov, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. h3 a6 10. O-O Na5 11. f4 Qc7 12. Qd3 b5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bb7 15.
b3 e6 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 17. b4 Rad8 18. f5 exf5 19. exf5 Rfe8 20. f6 Bf8 21. Bf4
Qb6 22. a4 Nc5 23. a5 Nxd3 24. axb6 Nxf4 25. Rxf4 d5 26. c3 Ra8 27. b7 Rab8 28.
Rxa6 Rxb7 29. Ra5 h5 30. Rxb5 Rc7 31. Rf3 Bh6 32. Kf2 Bd2 33. Rc5 Ra7 34. Ra5
Rc7 35. Rc5 Ra7 36. Kg3 Be1+ 37. Kh2 h4 38. Rxd5 Ra1 39. Nc6 Re2 40. Nd4 Bg3+
41. Rxg3 Ree1 42. Rxg6+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.08"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4
cxd4 9. cxd4 Bxe4 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 e6 12. Qxb7 Qc8 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Qg3 O-O
15. Bh6 Ne8 16. h4 Qb7 17. b3 Kh8 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. Ne4 Nf6 20. Nxf6 gxf6 21. Qf3
Qxf3 22. gxf3 f5 23. Rac1 Bxh4 24. Rc6 a5 25. Bxd6 Rg8+ 26. Kf1 Bf6 27. d5 Rge8
28. dxe6 Rxe6 29. Rxe6 fxe6 30. a3 Rd7 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 Rb7 33. Rc7 Rb5 34.
f4 h5 35. Kg2 Kg8 36. Kg3 Rd5 37. Bc5 Rd3+ 38. Kg2 Rb3 39. Rb7 e5 40. fxe5 Bxe5
41. Re7 Bf4 42. Be3 Rxb4 43. Bxf4 Rxf4 44. Kg3 Rg4+ 45. Kh3 Rf4 46. Kg3 Rg4+
47. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 Bg4 8.
Nbd2 Re8 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Qc2 h6 11. Bh4 c6 12. Rae1 Qc7 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. Bh7+ Kf8
15. Bxd6+ Qxd6 16. Bf5 Bxf5 17. Qxf5 g6 18. Qb1 Nhf6 19. g3 a5 20. a4 Rxe1 21.
Rxe1 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. Qd1 Qe6 24. Nb3 b6 25. Nc1 Nd6 26. Nd3 Kg7 27. Nfe5
Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Nf5 29. Qg4 c5 30. h4 cxd4 31. cxd4 h5 32. Qf4 f6 33. Nf3 Qd6 34.
Qxd6 Nxd6 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. b3 Kf5 38. Nd2 Kg4 39. Nb1 Nf5 40. Nc3
Nxd4+ 41. Kf1 Nxb3 42. Nxd5 Kf3 43. Nxb6 Nd2+ 44. Kg1 Ne4 45. Nc4 Nxf2 46. Kh2
Ng4+ 47. Kg1 Kxg3 48. Nxa5 Ne5 49. Nb7 Kxh4 50. a5 Nc6 51. Kf2 g5 52. a6 g4 53.
Nd8 Na7 54. Ne6 g3+ 55. Kf3 Kh3 56. Nf4+ Kh2 57. Ng2 Nc6 58. Nh4 Kh3 59. Ng2 h4
60. Ne3 f5 61. Ng2 Na7 62. Ne3 Nb5 63. Ng2 Nd4+ 64. Ke3 Nb5 65. Kf3 Nc7 66. a7
Na8 67. Ne3 f4 68. Ng2 Kh2 69. Nxh4 Nc7 70. Ng2 Kh3 71. Nxf4+ Kh2 72. Ng2 Kh3
73. Ne3 Na8 74. Ke4 Nc7 75. Kd3 Kh2 76. Kc4 Kg1 77. Nf5 Kf2 78. Nxg3 Kxg3 79.
Kc5 Kf4 80. Kc6 Na8 81. Kb7 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.08"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ismagambetov, Anuar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2471"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3 Qxc6 14.
Qxc6 bxc6 15. Kd2 Bd7 16. Rhc1 Rfb8 17. b3 f6 18. Rab1 Kf7 19. Rc5 a6 20. a4
Rb7 21. Rb2 Ke7 22. Kc3 Kd6 23. Ra5 Ke7 24. b4 Ke6 25. g4 Kf7 26. f3 g6 27. Bd4
Rbb8 28. e3 Re8 29. h4 h5 30. Rf2 Rec8 31. gxh5 gxh5 32. Rg2 Re8 33. Rg3 Re7
34. Bc5 Ree8 35. Kd4 Bf5 36. Bd6 Bc2 37. Rg1 Bf5 38. Bf4 Re7 39. b5 cxb5 40.
axb5 Rb7 41. Rxa6 Rxa6 42. bxa6 Ra7 43. Kxd5 Rxa6 44. e4 Be6+ 45. Kd4 Ra3 46.
Rg3 Bb3 47. Bh6 Bd1 48. Rg7+ Ke8 49. f4 Ra4+ 50. Kd3 Bf3 51. e5 fxe5 52. fxe5
Rxh4 53. e6 Re4 54. Rg8+ Ke7 55. Rg3 Bh1 56. Rh3 Bg2 57. Rxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.08"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 d5 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. O-O Ng6 8.
Re1 f6 9. Ba3 e5 10. Na4 Nf4 11. Bxc5 Bxc5 12. Nxc5 O-O 13. d4 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5
15. Nd3 Nxh3+ 16. gxh3 f5 17. exd5 e4 18. Nde5 exf3 19. Qd2 Qh4 20. Qd3 Qg5+
0-1

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.08"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2837"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2012.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Bd3 e6 7. Bxf5 exf5 8. Qb3
Ra7 9. Bd2 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qd3 g6 13. e4 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Qxe4 Nd7 16. Bg5 Qa5 17. Rfe1 Raa8 18. h3 Nb6 19. Bh6 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Qd5 21.
Qh4 Re8 22. Qf6 Bf8 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Ng4 h5 25. Ne5 Qd8 26. Qf4 Kg7 27. Re4
Nd5 28. Qf3 Qd6 29. Rae1 Rad8 30. a3 Qc7 31. Nd3 Rd6 32. Nc5 a5 33. Qg3 Rfd8
34. Re5 b6 35. Ne4 R6d7 36. Ng5 Qd6 37. Ne4 Qc7 38. Qf3 c5 39. Ng3 {Magnus has
been fishing around for a way to decide this essentially equal game in his
favour, and blunders:} h4 $4 40. Nh5+ gxh5 41. Qxh5 $4 ({Topalov had a forced
mate against the Norwegian, but did not see it:} 41. Rg5+ Kf8 42. Qxh5 {
and Black can only delay the mate by a few suicidal moves.}) 41... Rd6 42. Rg5+
Rg6 43. Rxd5 Qc6 44. Qxg6+ Qxg6 45. Rxd8 c4 46. d5 Qc2 47. d6 Qd2 48. Re4 Qxb2
49. Rxc4 Qa1+ 50. Kh2 Qe5+ 51. Kg1 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 Qe5+ 53. f4 Qe3 54. d7 Qg3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6 8.
Be2 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 a5 11. f3 a4 12. Rc1 Be6 13. Nb5 Qa5 14. Rc2 Rfc8
15. Qxa5 Rxa5 16. Kd2 Nd7 17. Rb1 Ne5 18. b3 axb3 19. axb3 Raa8 20. Nc3 Nc6 21.
Nd5 Ra3 22. c5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Nb4 24. Rc4 Ra2+ 25. Ke1 Nxd5 26. cxd6 Rxc4 27. d7
Ra8 28. bxc4 Nxe3 29. Rxb7 Rd8 30. Rc7 e6 31. Rc8 Bf6 32. c5 Nc2+ 33. Kf1 Nd4
34. Bd1 Kf8 35. Ba4 Ke7 36. c6 Be5 37. c7 Bxc7 38. Rxc7 e5 39. Kf2 Ne6 40. Rc8
Nf8 41. Rc5 Nxd7 42. Bxd7 Rxd7 43. Rxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "228"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. a3
c4 9. Nc3 cxd3 10. cxd3 c5 11. Be3 b6 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Rc8 14. Rfe1 Qc7 15.
Qc1 Rfd8 16. Bf4 Qd7 17. Qe3 Nh5 18. Bh2 Nf6 19. Rd2 Qe8 20. Red1 Bc6 21. Be5
Ba4 22. Re1 Bc6 23. Red1 Bb7 24. Qg5 a6 25. Qe3 b5 26. Rc1 c4 27. d4 e6 28. Qf4
Nh5 29. Qe3 Nf6 30. Qf4 Qe7 31. Rcd1 Re8 32. Re1 Rcd8 33. d5 Nh5 34. Qh2 exd5
35. exd5 f6 36. g4 fxe5 37. gxh5 gxh5 38. Rde2 Bxd5 39. Nxe5 Qb7 40. Qg3 Re6
41. Kh2 Rde8 42. f4 Rf6 43. Qg5 h6 44. Qxh5 Bf7 45. Qg4 Qc8 46. Qg3 Qf5 47. Ne4
Qxf4 48. Nxf6+ Qxf6 49. Rg1 Bh5 50. Reg2 Qxe5 51. Qxe5 Rxe5 52. Rxg7+ Kf8 53.
Ra7 Bf7 54. Rf1 Re7 55. Rxe7 Kxe7 56. Kg3 a5 57. Kf4 b4 58. axb4 axb4 59. Ke5
c3 60. bxc3 bxc3 61. Rc1 Be6 62. Rxc3 Bd7 63. h4 Bg4 64. Rc7+ Ke8 65. Kf6 h5
66. Re7+ Kd8 67. Rg7 Ke8 68. Kg5 Kf8 69. Ra7 Ke8 70. Kf4 Kf8 71. Ke5 Ke8 72.
Kd6 Kf8 73. Rh7 Ke8 74. Re7+ Kf8 75. Re5 Kf7 76. Kd5 Kf6 77. Ke4 Bf3+ 78. Kf4
Bg4 79. Re1 Bd7 80. Rd1 Bg4 81. Rd6+ Ke7 82. Ke5 Kf7 83. Rb6 Bd1 84. Rb7+ Kg6
85. Rb2 Bg4 86. Rf2 Kg7 87. Kd6 Kg6 88. Ke7 Bf5 89. Rf4 Bg4 90. Rf6+ Kg7 91.
Rf7+ Kg6 92. Kf8 Be6 93. Rf2 Bf5 94. Rf4 Kf6 95. Rf2 Kg6 96. Ke7 Bg4 97. Rf6+
Kg7 98. Rf1 Kg6 99. Kf8 Bf5 100. Kg8 Be6+ 101. Kh8 Bg4 102. Ra1 Kf7 103. Kh7
Kf6 104. Kh6 Kf7 105. Ra5 Kf6 106. Rg5 Kf7 107. Rg6 Bf3 108. Rg1 Bg4 109. Rf1+
Ke7 110. Kg5 Ke6 111. Re1+ Kf7 112. Re5 Bd1 113. Kf4 Bg4 114. Rxh5 Bxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kotsur, Pavel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e4 Nc6 6. Nge2 e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. a3
O-O 9. Rb1 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Bf4 Qd7 12. b4 Rad8 13. Qd2 Ba8 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15.
Qxh6 Ne5 16. Rbd1 f6 17. h3 Nf7 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. d4 cxb4 20. axb4 Rfe8 21. d5
exd5 22. cxd5 Rc8 23. Qd2 Rc4 24. Rb1 Rec8 25. Rfc1 f5 26. Nf4 Kg8 27. Ne6 fxe4
28. Bxe4 Ne5 29. Bg2 Nf5 30. Ne4 Qe7 31. Rxc4 Rxc4 32. Rc1 Bxd5 33. Qxd5 Rxc1+
34. Kh2 Qf7 35. N4g5 Qe7 36. Qa8+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 f6 12. a3 Kh8 13. Ba2 Nf4 14. Ne4 Ng6 15.
Be3 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. h4 f5 18. Neg5 Nxh4 19. Ne6 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Qd6 21.
Nxf8 Rxf8 22. Kf1 Bg5 23. Re6 Qf4 24. Qe2 Bxf3 25. Qe5 Qh4 26. Qg3 Qh1+ 27. Qg1
Qh5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 O-O 9. d4 Bd6 10. Bb5 Qf6 11. Bb2 Bf5 12. Qe2 Be4 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3
Rfe8 15. Qc2 Qg6 16. Qxg6 hxg6 17. Ke2 b6 18. Nd2 Na5 19. a4 Rad8 20. h4 Bf8
21. h5 gxh5 22. Rxh5 exd4 23. cxd4 g6 24. Rh4 Bg7 25. Re4 c5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.
Kd3 Rd8 28. Nf3 Nc6 29. Bc3 cxd4 30. Nxd4 Ne5+ 31. Ke2 Rc8 32. Rc1 Rc4 33. f4
Nd7 34. a5 bxa5 35. Kd3 Rc8 36. Ra1 a4 37. Bb4 Nb6 38. Ba5 Nc4 39. Bb4 a5 40.
Bc3 Nxe3 41. Rxa4 Nf5 42. Rxa5 Rxc3+ 43. Kxc3 Nxd4 44. Kd3 Nf5 45. g4 Nh6 46.
Ra8+ Kh7 47. g5 Nf5 48. Ke4 Bc3 49. Kf3 Kg7 50. Rc8 Bb4 51. Rb8 Bd6 52. Rd8 Bc5
53. Rc8 Bb6 54. Rb8 Bc7 55. Rc8 Nd4+ 56. Kg4 Bd6 57. Rd8 Nf5 58. Ra8 f6 59.
Ra7+ Be7 60. gxf6+ Kxf6 61. Ra6+ Bd6 62. Rb6 Kf7 63. Ra6 Be7 64. Ra7 Ke6 65.
Ra6+ Nd6 66. Rb6 Kf7 67. Rxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 d5 7. Bf4 O-O 8. Ne5
Bd7 9. Qb3 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Bc6 11. Nd2 Qd7 12. Qa3 b6 13. b4 cxb4 14. cxb4 Rfc8
15. Rfc1 Ne8 16. Nf3 f6 17. Bb2 e5 18. h4 Nd6 19. Qb3 Bb7 20. a4 Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1
Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Nxc8 23. b5 Bf8 24. Nd2 Qf7 25. Nf1 Bc5 26. e3 Bf8 27. Nd2 Nd6
28. Ba3 Ne8 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. a5 Nc7 31. axb6 axb6 32. Qa3+ Kg7 33. Qd6 Nxb5
34. Qxb6 Nc3 35. Nb3 e4 36. Nc5 exd3 37. Nxd3 Ne4 38. Nf4 g5 39. Ne6+ Kh6 40.
Nd8 Qd7 41. hxg5+ Kxg5 42. Nxb7 Qf5 43. Bxe4 Qxe4 44. Qd4 Qb1+ 45. Kg2 Qxb7 46.
Qc5 Kg6 47. Qd4 Qc6 48. Kh2 Qe6 49. Kg1 h5 50. Qf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jumabayev, Rinat"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. dxc5 dxc5 7. Qxd8+ Nxd8 8.
Nb5 Ne6 9. Ng5 Kf8 10. Nxe6+ Bxe6 11. Be3 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Nc7 Bc3+ 14. Kd1
Rd8+ 15. Kc2 Bd4 16. Bxd4 Rxd4 17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18. Rxb7 Nf6 19. f3 Kf7 20. Be2
Rhd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1 22. Bxd1 Rd7 23. Rb8 Rc7 24. Kc3 Nd7 25. Rb2 e5 26. Ba4 Nb6
27. Bb5 e6 28. Rd2 Ke7 29. a4 a5 30. Rd1 Rc8 31. Rd2 Rd8 32. g3 Rxd2 33. Kxd2
g5 34. Ke3 Kf6 35. Ke2 Nc8 36. Ke3 Nd6 37. Ba6 h6 38. Bb5 Ke7 39. Ba6 Kf6 40.
Bb5 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. g3 e5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bg2 d6 6. d3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1
a5 9. a3 Re8 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 e4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Rxe4 14. b5 Nd4 15.
Nxd4 Rxd4 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Re4 19. Be3 b6 20. Qd3 Qe7 21. Rfc1
f5 22. Rc2 h5 23. Rbc1 Ra7 24. Rc4 Rxc4 25. Rxc4 Qe5 26. Kg2 Qb2 27. Rc2 Qb1
28. Rxc7 Qxd3 29. Rc8+ Kf7 30. exd3 Ra5 31. Rc7+ Kg8 32. Rc6 Rxb5 33. Rxd6 Kf7
34. Bxb6 Be5 35. Rc6 Rxd5 36. d4 Bxd4 37. Bxd4 Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6 8.
Bg5 Bg7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Bd3 a5 11. O-O a4 12. Rfe1 Bd7 13. Rab1 Re8 14. h3 Qa5
15. b4 axb3 16. axb3 Qb4 17. Qc2 Be6 18. Bd2 Qc5 19. Be3 Qb4 20. Nb5 Rec8 21.
f4 Bd7 22. Nc3 Bc6 23. Ne2 Nd7 24. Nd4 Nc5 25. Kh2 Ra3 26. Bg1 Rca8 27. Bf1 Ra2
28. Nxc6 bxc6 29. Qd1 Ne6 30. Qf3 Nd4 31. Qg3 Rc2 32. e5 dxe5 33. fxe5 c5 34.
Bxd4 cxd4 35. Ra1 Rxa1 36. Rxa1 Qb8 37. Re1 Rc3 38. Qf4 Rxb3 39. Qxd4 e6 40. c5
Rb4 41. Qd6 Bf8 42. Qxb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. Nbd2 Be7 5. c3 b6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e4 Bb7 8.
Bd3 g6 9. h4 Qe7 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. O-O-O O-O-O 12. Ba6 Bxa6 13. Qxa6+ Kb8 14.
Rhe1 Bxh4 15. d5 Na5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. dxe6 dxe6 18. Ne5 Bg5 19. Qxa5 Rxd2 20.
Nc6+ Kb7 21. Rxd2 Bxd2+ 22. Kxd2 Qg5+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nc6 5. e4 d6 6. Re1 Nf6 7. c3 O-O 8. d4
Bg4 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Qc2 Nd7 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 e6 13. Bg2 a6 14. Be3 Rc8 15.
Nd2 Qe7 16. f4 e5 17. f5 b5 18. g4 Bf6 19. Nf3 Nd4 20. Qd2 Nxf3+ 21. Bxf3 Bh4
22. Red1 Nb6 23. b3 Rfd8 24. Qe2 Bg5 25. Bf2 Bh4 26. Be3 Bg5 27. Bf2 Bh4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 O-O 6. e5 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nd5 8. h3
Nb6 9. Bb3 Na6 10. O-O Nc5 11. Nc3 c6 12. Be3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Qc7 14. Bc5 Nd5 15.
Nxd5 cxd5 16. Bd4 Bf5 17. c3 a6 18. Qe3 h6 19. b4 g5 20. Rfe1 Rac8 21. Nd2 Bc2
22. f3 Qc6 23. Rac1 Qg6 24. Qf2 Bd3 25. Nb3 Rc7 26. Nc5 Bf5 27. Qg3 Be6 28. Ra1
Rfc8 29. Re2 Bf5 30. Kh2 e6 31. Qf2 Qh7 32. Qg3 Qg6 33. Rae1 h5 34. Rd2 Bh6 35.
Be3 Kg7 36. Nb3 Rc4 37. Nd4 Kg8 38. Ra1 h4 39. Qf2 Bg7 40. f4 Be4 41. Rg1 R4c7
42. g3 hxg3+ 43. Rxg3 Bh6 44. fxg5 Bg7 45. Bf4 Rc4 46. Rg1 Qh5 47. Qg3 Bg6 48.
Rf2 Rxd4 49. cxd4 Rc4 50. Be3 Rxb4 51. Rc1 Kh7 52. Qg4 Rb3 53. Qxh5+ Bxh5 54.
Rc3 Rb4 55. Kg3 a5 56. Kf4 a4 57. Rd2 Rb6 58. h4 Ra6 59. Rc7 b5 60. Rb7 a3 61.
bxa3 Rxa3 62. Rxb5 Ra1 63. Rb8 Rf1+ 64. Bf2 Rh1 65. Rdb2 Rh3 66. Bg3 Rh1 67.
Rb1 Bd1 68. Ke3 Kg6 69. Kf2 Kf5 70. Rc1 Kg4 71. Rbb1 Rh3 72. Rxd1 Rxg3 73. Rg1
Rxg1 74. Rxg1+ Kxh4 75. g6 f6 76. exf6 Bxf6 77. g7 Bxd4+ 78. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Chadaev, Nikolay"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Qa4 d6 7. e5 dxe5 8.
Nxe5 Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Be3 Bg7 11. Rd1 Qc8 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O a6 14. Qh4 e6
15. Bg5 Ne8 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Be7 Qb6 19. Bxf8 Bxf8 20. Rd7 Qc6 21.
Rd3 Nd6 22. Qd4 Nf5 23. Qd7 Qb6 24. b3 Be7 25. Na4 Qa7 26. g4 Rd8 27. Qc7 Rxd3
28. cxd3 Bd6 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30. gxf5 b5 31. Qc6 Qd4 32. Qc3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Qd2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3
exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. O-O a6 12. a4 Ne5 13. Bc2 Rb8 14. b3 b5 15.
axb5 axb5 16. f4 Ned7 17. e5 dxe5 18. f5 c4 19. b4 e4 20. Qf4 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Bb7
22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Ra5 Rf8 24. Rxb5 Qa6 25. Qd2 Qd6 26. Ng3 Ne5 27. Bxf6 Rxf6
28. Rxf6 Qxf6 29. Ncxe4 Qa6 30. Ra5 Qb6 31. d6 Rd8 32. h3 Nd3 33. Bxd3 cxd3 34.
Qxd3 Qxb4 35. Rb5 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Bxe4 37. Nxe4 Kh8 38. Qd5 Qe3 39. Rb3 Qf4+ 40.
g3 Qf5 41. Qxf5 gxf5 42. Nc5 Kg8 43. Rd3 Bf8 44. Rd5 Rxd6 45. Rxf5 Rd2+ 46. Kg1
Bxc5+ 47. Rxc5 Kg7 48. Rf5 Kg6 49. Rf2 Rd3 50. Kg2 h5 51. h4 Rc3 52. Rf3 Rc2+
53. Kh3 Ra2 54. Rb3 Rc2 55. Rb6+ Kg7 56. Rb5 Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.09"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Ne4 7. d4 d5 8. Bb2
Bf5 9. e3 Nd7 10. Qe2 a5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Rfc1 e6 14. a4 Re8 15.
Bf1 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nf6 17. Qe2 Bf8 18. Bg2 Qb6 19. Rab1 Qc7 20. Qe1 Bd6 21. Rc2
Qd8 22. Bf3 Bf8 23. Kg2 h5 24. h3 Bd6 25. Re2 Qc7 26. Qd2 Bf8 27. Qc2 Bg7 28.
Rbe1 Qd7 29. Rb1 Bf8 30. Ree1 Qc7 31. Qd2 Red8 32. Qc2 Be7 33. Red1 Bf8 34. Be1
Bg7 35. b4 axb4 36. Rxb4 Bf8 37. Rbb1 Ra7 38. a5 Be7 39. Rb3 Rd7 40. Rdb1 Qc8
41. R1b2 Bd8 42. Ra2 Qa8 43. Rba3 Be7 44. Ra4 Ne8 45. Be2 Nc7 46. Qb1 Bd8 47.
Rb4 Na6 48. Rb3 Nb8 49. Rab2 Kg7 50. h4 Bf6 51. Bb4 Be7 52. Be1 Bd8 53. c5 Bf6
54. Bd3 e5 55. dxe5 Bxe5 56. Ra2 Na6 57. Rc2 Bf6 58. Bxa6 Rxa6 59. Qd1 Qe8 60.
Qd3 Ra7 61. Rc1 Qe7 62. Kg1 d4 63. e4 Qe6 64. Rcb1 Be7 65. Bb4 Ra8 66. Kg2 Re8
67. Bd2 Bxc5 68. Rxb7 Ree7 69. a6 Ba7 70. Rxd7 Rxd7 71. Rb7 c5 72. Qb5 Qxe4+
73. Kh2 Rxb7 74. Qxb7 Qxb7 75. axb7 c4 76. Kg2 c3 77. Be1 Kf6 78. Kf3 Ke5 79.
Ke2 Kd5 80. Kd3 Kc6 81. f3 Kxb7 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bf6 13. Nd2 Na5 14. Ne4 Bxe4
15. dxe4 c6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. a4 Rfd8 18. Qe2 h6 19. g3 Bg5 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Qe3
Qe7 22. Kg2 g6 23. Red1 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Qc5 Qc7 27. axb5
axb5 28. Ba2 Kg7 29. c4 Nxc4 30. Bxc4 bxc4 31. Qxc4 Qd6 32. Qd3 Qb4 33. c3 Qc5
34. Kf3 Qe7 35. Kg2 Qc5 36. Kf3 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 e6 6. d3 Nge7 7. h4 h6 8. a3 d5
9. Bd2 b6 10. Rb1 Bb7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 dxc4 13. dxc4 Nf5 14. e3 Qe7 15. Qe2
Rad8 16. Red1 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Ne4 Rd7 19. Be1 Rfd8 20. b4 Rxd1 21. Rxd1
Rxd1 22. Qxd1 Kg7 23. Qd3 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Qd6 25. Qe2 h5 26. Kg2 Qc7 27. Qd3 Qd6
28. Qc2 Qc7 29. Qd3 Nd6 30. b5 Nxe4 31. Qxe4 Qd6 32. a4 Bf6 33. Qc2 Qd7 34. a5
Qb7+ 35. Kf1 Qf3 36. Qd3 Qg4 37. a6 Qh3+ 38. Ke2 Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Kh7 40. Kg2 Kg7
41. e4 e5 42. f3 Qe6 43. Qd5 Qxd5 44. exd5 Be7 45. g4 Bd6 46. Bc3 f6 47. Kf2
Kf7 48. Ke3 f5 49. gxh5 gxh5 50. Ke2 Ke8 51. Bd2 Kf7 52. Bg5 Ke8 53. Ke3 Kd7
54. Bf6 Ke8 55. Kd3 Kd7 56. Ke3 Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kotsur, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6 3. e4 g6 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. a4 Bg7 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O
Na6 9. Re1 Nc7 10. Bf1 e6 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. c3 Re8 13. Ng5 d5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15.
Qc2 b6 16. g3 Qd7 17. Bh3 Qf7 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 c4 20. Nf3 Nf8 21. Be3 Na6 22.
Qf2 Qc7 23. Nd4 Nc5 24. Rf1 a6 25. Kh1 Qd7 26. Qc2 Nd3 27. Bg4 Nc5 28. h4 h5
29. Bh3 Qf7 30. Kh2 Rac8 31. Rg1 Bh6 32. Raf1 Ncd7 33. Qe2 Kh8 34. b4 Rc7 35.
Nf3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. O-O
a5 9. a4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Nb1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 13. Bb5 Ba6 14. Be3 Bxb5 15.
axb5 Rc8 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Rfc1 Rc7 18. Na4 Qb8 19. Rxc7 Qxc7 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. b3
Rc8 22. Qd2 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Bd8 24. Bd2 Qc7 25. Qxc7 Bxc7 26. Ne1 f6 27. f4 Kf7
28. Kf2 Bd8 29. Bxb4 axb4 30. Nd3 Be7 31. g4 fxe5 32. Nxe5+ Nxe5 33. dxe5 Bd8
34. f5 exf5 35. gxf5 g6 36. f6 Bc7 37. Ke3 Bxe5 38. Nxb6 Bxh2 39. Nxd5 h5 40.
b6 Ke6 41. b7 g5 42. Kf3 g4+ 43. Ke4 Bd6 44. Nf4+ Kxf6 45. Nxh5+ Ke6 46. Ng7+
Kd7 47. Nf5 Bb8 48. Ne3 g3 49. Kf3 Kc6 50. Nc2 Kxb7 51. Nxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. g5
Nfd7 9. h4 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Be2 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 b5 13. O-O-O Qa5 14. a3 Ne5
15. Qb6 Qxb6 16. Bxb6 Ng6 17. Bc7 Nxh4 18. Bxd6 Ng6 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. Rh2 Ra7
21. Rdh1 h6 22. gxh6 g6 23. e5 Bb7 24. Rd1 Ba8 25. Rd6 Nf5 26. Rb6 Rc8 27. Bd3
Nd4 28. f4 Bc6 29. Be4 Be8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 d6 8. Be2
O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rc1 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bh6 12. f4 Be6 13. b3 Rc8 14. Bd3 Bd7 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 b5 17. f5 bxc4 18. bxc4 Rb8 19. Qc2 Bg7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21.
Rce1 Re8 22. Re3 Qb6 23. Qf2 f6 24. fxg6 hxg6 25. Qg3 g5 26. h4 Qd4 27. hxg5 f5
28. Rf4 Qa1+ 29. Re1 Qc3 30. Qh3 Kg8 31. Re3 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Qg7 33. Bxf5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jumabayev, Rinat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. h3 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rd1 Qe7
15. Bd2 Rac8 16. Be1 Be5 17. Rac1 a6 18. Qb1 g5 19. Be2 b5 20. Bf3 b4 21. Ne2
a5 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. exd4 Na4 24. Bd2 Nd5 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. Rc6 Nab6
28. Qc1 f6 29. b3 Na8 30. Qc5 Qd7 31. Qxa5 Qxc6 32. Qxd8+ Kh7 33. Bxd5 exd5 34.
Qa5 Nc7 35. Qc5 Qd7 36. Qxb4 Ne6 37. Qc3 Qb5 38. Qc2+ Kh6 39. Be3 Qb4 40. Qd2
Qxd2 41. Bxd2 Nxd4 42. Kf1 Kg6 43. g4 Kf7 44. Be3 Nc6 45. Ke2 d4 46. Bd2 Ke6
47. a4 Kd5 48. f3 Ne5 49. a5 Kc5 50. f4 gxf4 51. Bxf4 Nc6 52. Bd2 Ne5 53. g5
fxg5 54. Bxg5 Kb5 55. Bd2 g6 56. h4 Kc5 57. Be1 Kb5 58. Bg3 Nc6 59. Be1 Ne5 60.
Kd1 Nf3 61. Bd2 Nxh4 62. Ke2 Nf5 63. Kd3 g5 64. Bxg5 Kxa5 65. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2
exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. f3 a6 11. a4 b6 12. h4 h5 13. Nh3 Bxh3 14. Rxh3 Nbd7 15.
Rh1 Qc7 16. Kf2 Qb7 17. Rab1 Rec8 18. Rhc1 Ne8 19. b4 cxb4 20. Rxb4 Rc7 21. Nd1
Rxc1 22. Qxc1 Rc8 23. Qb1 Rc7 24. Be3 Qc8 25. Qb3 Nef6 26. Rc4 Rxc4 27. Qxc4
Nc5 28. Bxc5 bxc5 29. Qxa6 Qd8 30. g3 Ne8 31. Bb5 Bd4+ 32. Ke2 Ng7 33. Bc6 Kh7
34. Qb7 g5 35. Qd7 Qf6 36. hxg5 Qxg5 37. Qxd6 Qc1 38. Qf4 Qc4+ 39. Ke1 f6 40.
Bb5 Qb3 41. Ke2 c4 42. Qc1 c3 43. Bd3 Qb8 44. f4 Qc7 45. d6 Qc6 46. a5 f5 47.
Qc2 Qxd6 48. exf5 Qf6 49. a6 h4 50. Nxc3 Bxc3 51. a7 Qe7+ 52. Kf3 Qxa7 53. f6+
Kh6 54. Qxc3 hxg3 55. fxg7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2837"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. d5 c4 13. Bc2 Qc7 14. Nf1 Nc5 15. N3h2
a5 16. a3 Rb8 17. Bd2 Nfd7 18. Ng3 Qd8 19. Nf5 Nb6 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Be3 Nba4
22. Rb1 f5 23. f3 f4 24. Bf2 g5 25. Kf1 Bd7 26. Ke2 b4 27. axb4 axb4 28. Qd2 b3
29. Bd1 Nd3 30. Rg1 Bb5 31. Kf1 Ra8 32. g3 Kh8 33. gxf4 gxf4 34. Rg4 Bd7 35.
Bh4 Qf7 36. Be2 Nac5 37. Kg2 h5 38. Rg5 Rg8 39. Bxd3 Nxd3 40. Kh1 Rxg5 41. Bxg5
Bxh3 42. Rg1 Rg8 43. Qe2 Kh7 44. Bh4 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 a5 11. Rd1 a4 12. c5 Qa5 13. cxd6 exd6 14. O-O a3
15. b3 Be6 16. Bd4 Rac8 17. f3 Rc6 18. Nb5 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 Ra8 20. Rfd1 h5 21.
Kf2 Ra5 22. h4 Kh7 23. Ke1 Kg8 24. Ba1 Ne8 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. b4 Ra4 27. Nd4 Rc8
28. Bb5 Rxb4 29. Nxe6+ fxe6 30. Bd7 Ra8 31. Bxe6 Kf6 32. Bd7 Rb2 33. Bxe8 Rxe8
34. Rxd6+ Re6 35. Rxe6+ Kxe6 36. Rd2 b5 37. Kd1 Rb1+ 38. Kc2 Rb2+ 39. Kc1 Rb4
40. g3 Rc4+ 41. Rc2 Rd4 42. Rc6+ Kf7 43. Kc2 Rb4 44. Kc1 Rd4 45. Rc7+ Kf6 46.
Rc6+ Kf7 47. Kc2 Rb4 48. Kc1 Rd4 49. e5 Rd3 50. Rf6+ Kg7 51. Kc2 Rd4 52. Ra6 b4
53. Kb3 Rd3+ 54. Kxb4 Rxf3 55. Ra7+ Kf8 56. Rxa3 Rf2 57. Ra7 Re2 58. a4 Re4+
59. Kc5 Rxe5+ 60. Kd4 Re1 61. a5 Ra1 62. Ke5 Ra3 63. a6 Kg8 64. Ke6 Kf8 65. Kf6
Rf3+ 66. Ke5 Ra3 67. Kf4 Kg8 68. Ke5 Kf8 69. Ke6 Re3+ 70. Kf6 Rf3+ 71. Ke5 Ra3
72. Kd4 Kg8 73. Kc5 Ra2 74. Kb5 Ra3 75. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8.
O-O Nf6 9. f4 d6 10. e5 Nfd7 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Ne4 Qc7 14. Qh5 O-O
15. c3 f5 16. Ng5 Nf6 17. Qe2 h6 18. Nf3 Bd6 19. g3 b6 20. Nbd4 Ne7 21. Bf2 Qd7
22. Rad1 Ng6 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. Nxe6 Re8 25. Ne5 Nxe5 26. fxe5 Ne4 27. exd6 Rxe6
28. Bxe6 Qxe6 29. Bxb6 Bb7 30. Qe3 Ng5 31. h4 Ne4 32. d7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. a4
h6 9. Be2 Be6 10. a5 Nbd7 11. O-O Qc6 12. Nd2 Be7 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Rc8 15.
Qe1 b5 16. Bd3 Ne5 17. Nf3 O-O 18. Kh1 Nxf3 19. gxf3 Kh8 20. Qd2 Nh7 21. Rg1
Qc5 22. Be3 Qh5 23. Qg2 Bf6 24. f4 Rg8 25. Rae1 b4 26. Nd1 Bc4 27. Bxc4 Rxc4
28. b3 Rc7 29. Bb6 Rcc8 30. Ne3 Bc3 31. Rd1 Nf6 32. Rxd6 Qh4 33. Qf3 Qh5 34.
Qxh5 Nxh5 35. Nd5 Bd2 36. Ne7 Rxc2 37. Nxg8 Bxf4 38. Rgd1 Bxh2 39. R6d2 Rxd2
40. Rxd2 Ng3+ 41. Kg2 Nxe4 42. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Chadaev, Nikolay"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. Nbd2 d6 10. h3 h6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. a5 Rb8 13. Re1 Re8 14. Ba4 Bd7 15. Be3
Bf8 16. Nfd2 Ne7 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 18. d4 Qb5 19. b3 Ng6 20. d5 Nd7 21. Qg4 Nc5 22.
h4 Kh8 23. h5 Ne7 24. Nf1 f5 25. exf5 Nxd5 26. Ng3 Nd7 27. Rad1 N7f6 28. Qh3
Qd7 29. Bd2 Qf7 30. Qh4 Be7 31. Qh3 Bf8 32. Qh4 Be7 33. Qh3 Bf8 34. Qh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Qb6 8. O-O
Nxd4 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. Nb3 Nge7 11. Be3 Qd8 12. Nc5 Rb8 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. Bb5 Be7
15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxa7 Ra8 17. Be3 Rxa2 18. Qb3 Ra8 19. h4 Nxh4 20. Nxh4 Bxh4
21. Bc5 Rc8 22. f4 Be7 23. Bb6 O-O 24. Kh2 f6 25. Qh3 fxe5 26. fxe5 Bg5 27.
Rce1 Qe7 28. Kh1 Rxf1+ 29. Bxf1 Rf8 30. Bd3 g6 31. Bg1 Rf4 32. g3 Rf3 33. Be2
Rb3 34. Bg4 Nd8 35. Qg2 h5 36. Bd1 Rd3 37. Qc2 Rxg3 38. Qxg6+ Qg7 39. Qe8+ Qf8
40. Qg6+ Qg7 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Bh2 Rh3 43. Bc2+ Kh6 44. Rg1 h4 45. Rxg5 Rxh2+
46. Kxh2 Kxg5 47. Qxd8+ Kg4 48. Qf6 Qg8 49. Bd1# 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2012.07.10"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2012.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.08.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Nge2 e5 8. O-O
Re8 9. e4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nbd7 11. Re1 Nc5 12. Bf4 Ng4 13. h3 Ne5 14. Bf1 Qb6 15.
Qd2 Ncd3 16. Bxd3 Qxd4 17. Be2 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxh3 19. Rad1 a6 20. Be3 Be6 21.
Rxd6 Bxc4 22. b3 Bxe2 23. Rxe2 Rad8 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Na4 g5 26. Nc5 g4 27. Kf1
Bf8 28. Nxb7 Rd7 29. Na5 Rd1+ 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31. Kxe1 Bb4+ 32. Bd2 Nf3+ 33. Ke2
Nxd2 34. Nxc6 Bc3 35. Ne7+ Kg7 36. Nd5 Nxe4 37. Kd3 Nxf2+ 38. Kxc3 Ne4+ 39. Kd3
Nxg3 40. Nb4 h5 41. Ke3 Nf5+ 42. Kf4 g3 43. Kf3 h4 44. Kg2 Ne3+ 45. Kh3 g2 46.
Kh2 h3 47. Nxa6 Ng4+ 48. Kg1 Ne5 49. Kf2 Nf3 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Amonatov, Farrukh"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Tajikistan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "TJK"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
e3 e6 9. Qb3 Nxc4 10. Bxc4 Qb6 11. f3 Qxb3 12. Bxb3 Bd3 13. e4 Be7 14. Be3 O-O
15. Kf2 a5 16. Rhd1 Ba6 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. d5 exd5 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5
21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rxd5 Bb4 23. Rd7 Bc4 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25. Rd8+ Bf8 26. Ke2 f6
27. Kd3 Rc6 28. g4 Rd6+ 29. Rxd6 Bxd6 30. h3 Kf7 31. Bd2 Be5 32. b3 Bc7 33. Kc4
Ke6 34. Bc3 Bd8 35. f4 g6 36. Kb5 f5 37. gxf5+ Kxf5 38. Bxa5 Bxa5 39. Kxa5 Kxf4
40. Kb6 g5 41. Kxb7 h5 42. a5 g4 43. hxg4 h4 44. a6 h3 45. a7 h2 46. a8=Q h1=Q+
47. Kb8 Qh8+ 48. Ka7 Qa1+ 49. Kb7 Qh1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 Nc5 11. Re1 Bd7 12. Rb1 h6 13. f3 {A rare continuation
in this line, which was thoroughly analysed by GM Lubomir Ftacnik in Lexicon07.
} (13. Kh2 {is the most common prophylactical move.}) 13... Ne6 $146 {Hardly a
successful innovation.} (13... a6 14. Be3 Qc8 (14... b5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Ndxb5
Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Rxa2 18. Nc3 Ra8 19. e5 $1 Rxe5 20. f4 Rxe3 21. Rxe3 Rb8 22. b4
$16 {1/2 Arsovic,G (2399)-Spasov,V (2590)/Plovdiv 2011/CBM 140 Extra}) 15. g4 (
15. Qd2 $5 Kh7 16. Kh2) 15... h5 16. Qd2 hxg4 17. hxg4 Rb8 18. b4 Ne6 19. Nde2
b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Rbc1 $14 {1/2 Tregubov,P (2595)-Markovic,M (2530)/Budva
2002/EXT 2003 (90)}) (13... c6 14. Be3 Qc7 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nde2 a5 17. b5 cxb5
18. Nxb5 Bxb5 19. cxb5 d5 20. exd5 Qe5 21. Bf2 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. f4 $16 {
1/2 Yurtaev,L (2530)-Akopian,V (2630)/Tilburg 1994/CBM 044 (79)}) (13... a5 14.
b3 (14. Be3 $5) 14... Qc8 15. g4 h5 16. Be3 hxg4 17. hxg4 Nh7 18. Qd2 Qd8 19.
Nde2 Bc6 20. Nd5 $14 {0-1 Tregubov,P (2470)-Miljanic,B (2410)/Cetinje 1996/EXT
2000 (55)}) (13... Nh5 $5 14. g4 Ng3 15. Be3 h5 16. Qd2 {1-0 Osbahr,T (2000)
-Bergner,H (2000)/ICCF Email 2003/CBM 110 (42)} hxg4 17. hxg4 Qh4 $13) 14. Nde2
a6 (14... h5 15. h4) 15. Be3 b5 16. b3 h5 17. Qd2 (17. f4 $5) 17... Qc8 (17...
h4 18. g4 b4 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Nc5 21. Rec1 $14) 18. Nd5 Rb8 19. Red1 c5 {
This move looks strange as White safely controls the d4-square. Probably GM
Veselin Topalov didn't see other good options.} (19... bxc4 20. bxc4 Nxd5 21.
cxd5 Nc5 22. h4 Rb6 23. Rdc1 $14) 20. g4 $6 (20. Ndf4 $5) 20... hxg4 21. hxg4
Bc6 (21... bxc4 22. Nxf6+ $1 (22. bxc4 Nxd5 23. cxd5 (23. Qxd5 Rxb1 24. Rxb1
Nd4 $1) 23... Nc7 $13) 22... Bxf6 23. bxc4 Ba4 24. Rdc1 $14) 22. Ndc3 (22.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxd6 $6 Rd8 24. Qg3 bxc4 25. bxc4 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rb2) (22. Kf2
$5) 22... Rd8 23. Nd5 Rb7 24. Bh3 Re8 25. g5 Nd7 26. Bxe6 $6 {A strange
exchange. The bishop pair will be an important factor in Black's favour.} (26.
Kf2 $142 Qd8 27. f4 {although Black's position remains solid.}) 26... Rxe6 27.
Nef4 Re5 (27... Ne5 $5 28. Kf2 Re8 $36) 28. Kf2 (28. Nf6+ $5 Nxf6 29. gxf6 Bxf6
30. Qxd6 $13) 28... Qd8 29. cxb5 axb5 30. Rh1 Ra7 31. Rh2 Qa5 32. Qxa5 Rxa5 33.
Kf1 b4 {The endgame is good for Black.} 34. Rg2 Re8 35. Rd1 Ne5 $6 (35... Be5
$15 {/=}) 36. Rf2 Kf8 $2 (36... Nd7 $142 {[%cal Yg7e5]}) 37. Nf6 $1 {Black
underestimated this move. He is now in trouble.} Rd8 38. Kg2 Ke7 (38... Bxf6
39. gxf6 {[%csl Gf6]}) 39. N4d5+ Bxd5 40. Nxd5+ Kf8 41. Kg3 $16 {[%csl Gd5]}
Nc6 42. Rh2 Ne7 43. Nb6 (43. f4 $142 $14) 43... Rb5 44. Nc4 d5 45. Kg4 Bc3 (
45... Ke8 $142 46. exd5 Nxd5 47. Bf2 f5+ 48. Kg3 f4+ 49. Kg4 Kf7 $14) 46. Bf4
$1 Rb7 (46... Bd4 $142 47. Bd6 $1 dxc4 (47... Rxd6 48. Nxd6 Rb6 49. Rxd4 cxd4
50. e5 $16) 48. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 49. Rh8+ Kg7 50. Rxd8 Nc6 51. bxc4 Rxg5+ 52. Kxg5
Nxd8 53. Kf4 $16) 47. Ne5 {[%cal Rh2h7]} Bxe5 48. Bxe5 Ke8 49. Rh8+ (49. Rh7
$142 d4 50. Rh8+ Kd7 51. Bxd4 $1 Rxh8 52. Bxh8+ Kc6 53. Be5) (49. Kf4 $5) 49...
Kd7 50. Rxd8+ Kxd8 {[%mdl 4096]} 51. Bd6 Rb5 52. Bxe7+ (52. Rc1 $142 $1 {
winning a pawn without trading minor pieces;} c4 53. bxc4 dxc4 54. Rxc4 b3 55.
axb3 Rxb3 56. Rc7 Nc8 57. Be5 Rb5 58. Kf4 {is hardly a good option for Black.})
52... Kxe7 53. Rxd5 Ra5 54. Rd2 Ke6 55. f4 Ra8 $2 (55... Ra7 $142 56. Rc2 (56.
f5+ Ke5) 56... Rc7 {, and it is still difficult for White to convert his extra
pawn. He must probably bring his king to b2, play a2-a3 etc. but that
considerably simplifies the game.}) 56. f5+ Ke5 57. Rd7 $18 Kxe4 58. Rxf7 gxf5+
59. Rxf5 Rxa2 60. Rxc5 Rg2+ 61. Kh5 Rg3 62. g6 Kf4 63. Kh6 Rxb3 64. g7 Rg3 65.
Rb5 b3 66. Kh7 Rh3+ 67. Kg6 Rg3+ 68. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.31"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Eid, Fadi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2377"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Lebanon"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "LBN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 7. Re1 e5 8.
c3 Nf6 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nd7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Be3 f6 13. Nbd2 Nb6 14. Rc1
Rc8 15. Nc4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Nxc4 18. Rxc4 a5 19. Rdc1 Kd7 20. a3 Bd6
21. Rd1 Bf7 22. Rc3 Kc7 23. Bb6+ Kxb6 24. Rxd6 a4 25. Rcd3 Rc7 26. Nh4 Rb8 27.
Rd2 Kc5 28. R6d3 Rb3 29. Rxb3 Bxb3 30. Nf5 Be6 31. Ne3 Rd7 32. Rc2+ Kb5 33. Kf1
Bb3 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cori, Jorge Moise"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2496"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Peru"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PER"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 a5 7. a4 Be7 8. Bb5
O-O 9. O-O Ncb8 10. Re1 b6 11. g3 c6 12. Bf1 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. h4 h6 15. c3
c5 16. Nh2 Re8 17. Qg4 Kh7 18. Qh5 Kg8 19. Re3 Bf8 20. Rf3 g6 21. Qg4 Qe7 22.
Qh3 Bg7 23. Ng4 Kh7 24. Bg5 Qf8 25. Kg2 h5 26. Ne3 Nc6 27. g4 Ndxe5 28. dxe5
Nxe5 29. gxh5 gxh5 30. Rg1 f5 31. Kh1 Ra7 32. Nc1 d4 33. cxd4 cxd4 34. Ng2 Ng4
35. Nf4 Qf7 36. Nce2 e5 37. Nxh5 e4 38. Rf4 e3 39. Rgxg4 fxg4 40. Rxf7 Rxf7 41.
Qxg4 exf2 42. Neg3 Re1+ 43. Kh2 Be5 44. Bf4 d3 45. Bxe5 Rxe5 46. Qc4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.03"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Philippines"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "PHI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rc1 h6 13. Bh4 Qe7 14. e4 Bxf1
15. Kxf1 g5 16. Bg3 Qb7 17. e5 Qe4 18. Qxe4 Nxe4 19. Rc4 Nxg3+ 20. hxg3 Kg7 21.
Rxc5 Nd7 22. Rc7 Nb6 23. Ke2 Nd5 24. Rc2 a5 25. b3 Rfd8 26. Nd4 a4 27. b4 Nxb4
28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. axb4 Rd4 30. Rb1 Re4+ 31. Kd3 Rxe5 32. Ra2 Rc8 33. Kd2 Rd5+
34. Ke1 Kg6 35. Kf1 Kf6 36. Re1 Rc6 37. Rxa4 Rd2 38. Kg1 Rb2 39. g4 Rcc2 40.
Ra8 Kf7 41. Ra7+ Kf6 42. Ra6 Rxf2 43. Raxe6+ Kf7 44. Re7+ Kf8 45. Re8+ Kf7 46.
R1e7+ Kf6 47. Re6+ Kf7 48. R8e7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Ne4 {
This rare continuation will hardly gain new adherents.} 8. Qc2 (8. Bd3 f5 9.
Bxe4 (9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. O-O g5 12. Bxe4 gxf4 13. Bd3 fxe3 14. fxe3
Kh8 15. Ne2 c6 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Qa5 Bg5 20. Qc7 Rfc8 21.
Qg3 Rg8 $132 {0-1 Amanov,M (2516)-Topalov,V (2752)/Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week
in Chess 931 (56)}) 9... fxe4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 b6 12. b4 a5 13. a3 bxc5
14. bxc5 Rf5 15. Bg3 Bh4 16. Qa4 Bd7 17. Qc2 Qg5 $13 {1/2 Esen,B (2587)
-Ganguly,S (2629)/Vlissingen NED 2012/The Week in Chess 927 (27)}) (8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Ne5 (9. Nd2 e5 10. Bxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qd5 12. Qc2 Rd8 13. Bc4 Qxe5 14.
Rc1 Bf5 $15 {1/2 Socko,M (2490)-Halkias,S (2600)/Kavala 2011/CBM 143 Extra (27)
}) 9... Nxe5 10. Bxe5 b6 11. b4 f6 12. Bg3 a5 13. a3 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15.
Qxa1 Qd5 16. Be2 bxc5 17. bxc5 e5 18. dxe5 f5 19. O-O Be6 20. Rc1 Ra8 21. Qc3 (
21. Qb1 Qd2 22. Bc4 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Qd3 24. Rc1 Qxb1 25. Rxb1 Bxc5 $11 {1/2
Lenic,L (2633)-Grachev,B (2672)/Muelheim GER 2012/The Week in Chess 937 (28)})
21... Ra2 22. Bf1 Rd2 23. h3 Rd1 {1/2 Gagunashvili,M (2577)-Halkias,S (2593)/
Porto Carras 2011/EXT 2012}) (8. Rc1 c6 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 b6
12. Qa4 bxc5 13. dxc5 Qd5 14. Bd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Qf5 16. O-O e5 17. Bc3 Bxc5 18.
Qa5 Bb6 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. Bxe5 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 Be6 22. Rxc6 Bxa2 $11 {1/2 Ding
Liren (2702)-So,W (2677)/St Louis USA 2012/The Week in Chess 936 (46)}) (8. h4
$5 Nxc3 9. bxc3 c6 10. Bd3 f5 11. g4 fxg4 12. Ng5 Nf6 13. Qc2 h6 14. Bh7+ Kh8
15. Bg6 {1-0 Bellaiche,A (2435)-Reshetov,V (2126)/St Petersburg 2009/CBM 132
Extra (24)} b6 $132) 8... f5 (8... g5 {is crucial:} 9. Bg3 f5 10. Nxe4 (10. h3
$6 Nxg3 11. fxg3 Nf6 12. Bd3 (12. Nxg5 Nh5 $1) 12... Ne4 13. g4 Ng3 14. Rh2 c6
$15 {1-0 Forintos Gy-Csom I/Magyarorszag Inf.7/479 1969/[Florian,T] (39)}) (10.
Bd3 $5) 10... dxe4 11. Nd2 f4 12. Bc4 (12. Nxe4 Rf7 13. O-O-O Nf8 14. Be2 fxg3
15. hxg3 Bd7 16. d5 exd5 17. Rxd5 c6 $13 {1/2 Lenderman,A (2525)-Sarkar,J 
(2376)/Orlando 2011/CBM 143 Extra (38)}) 12... fxg3 13. hxg3 Qe8 $1 (13... Rf6
14. Qxe4 Nf8 15. Nf3 Rg6 16. Ne5 Rg7 17. O-O-O $16 {1-0 Ehlvest,J (2627)-Saidy,
A (2376)/Los Angeles 2000/EXT 2001 (25)}) 14. Nxe4 Qg6 15. Bd3 Qg7 16. f4 $44)
9. Bd3 (9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. f3 Ng5 12. Bxg5 Bxg5 13. f4 Bf6 14. b4 g5
15. g3 Kh8 16. Be2 Rg8 $11 {1/2 Fressinet,L (2714)-Ponomariov,R (2734)/
Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week in Chess 931 (30)}) (9. h3 {is too slow:} c6 10. Bd3
(10. Be2 Bf6 11. g4 $6 b6 12. cxb6 axb6 13. Rg1 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 $15 {0-1
Kazimova,N (2209)-Batsiashvili,N (2434)/Baku AZE 2012 (28)}) 10... Bf6 11. g4
b6 12. cxb6 Qxb6 13. g5 Be7 14. g6 hxg6 15. Rg1 Kh7 16. h4 c5 17. Qe2 a5 18. h5
gxh5 19. Ne5 Ndf6 $17 {0-1 Blanco Gramajo,C (2577)-Gerbich,V (2477)/Rochade
5171-Jub15 bd03 2005/CBM 118 (50)}) 9... c6 (9... g5 $5 10. Bg3 c6 {needs
checking, e.g.} 11. Ne2 $5) 10. Ne5 Bf6 11. Nxd7 Bxd7 12. f3 Ng5 13. Bxg5 {
White leads to a closed setup like in Fressinet-Ponomariov.} (13. Bd6 Re8 14.
f4 Nf7 15. Be5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 b6 $132 {0-1 Krivobokov,S-Goltsov,D/Tula 2002/EXT
2010 (30)}) 13... Bxg5 14. f4 Be7 15. a3 b6 16. b4 g5 17. g3 Kh8 18. Be2 gxf4 {
There was no need to open the g-file at once.} (18... Rg8 $11) 19. gxf4 Rg8 20.
Kd2 Qf8 21. Rag1 bxc5 $6 {And the opening of the b-file is wrong. It will
serve White.} (21... Rg6 $5) 22. bxc5 Rb8 23. Rb1 $6 {It was probably better
to trade both pairs of rooks:} (23. Rxg8+ Qxg8 24. Rb1 {Still, breaking down
Black's defence would be very difficult for White.}) 23... Rxb1 24. Rxb1 e5 $1
{The right reaction.} (24... Rg2 {is senseless. White's queenside attack after}
25. Qa4 {comes first.}) 25. dxe5 $6 (25. fxe5 f4 $1 $40) (25. Rb7 {was logical.
The position remained dynamically balanced.}) 25... Bxc5 26. Rb7 Bc8 27. Rb8 d4
$6 (27... Bb6 $142 {[%cal Yb6c7,Yf8h6] with an excellent position for Black})
28. exd4 Qh6 (28... Bxd4 $142 29. Ba6 Be3+ $3 (29... Qh6 30. Rxc8 Qxf4+ 31. Kd3
Qe3+ 32. Kc4 {, and White's king escapes}) 30. Kxe3 Qc5+ 31. Kf3 Bxa6 32. Rxg8+
Kxg8 33. Qd2 $14) 29. Qa4 $1 {[%mdl 64] Black probably missed this strong move.
} (29. dxc5 $4 Qxf4+ $19) 29... Bb6 (29... Qxf4+ 30. Kc2 Qxd4 (30... Bxd4 31.
Qxc6 $18) 31. Qxc6 $18) 30. Kc2 Be6 31. Rb7 (31. Rxg8+ Bxg8 32. h3 $1 $18)
31... Qxf4 32. Rxb6 $1 axb6 33. Qxc6 Rg6 34. d5 Bg8 $6 (34... Qxe5 {may be a
relatively better choice. White's strong connected pawns are quite worth a
piece.}) 35. e6 Qe5 36. Qxb6 Rg2 37. Kd3 $1 Rxh2 38. Qd4 {The endgame is
clearly winning for White. His king will support his pawns.} Rh3+ 39. Kc4 Qxd4+
40. Kxd4 {[%mdl 4096]} Kg7 41. e7 Bf7 42. d6 Rh4+ (42... Be8 43. Bb5) 43. Ke5
Be8 44. Bb5 Bxb5 45. Nxb5 Kf7 46. Nc7 Re4+ 47. Kxf5 Re1 48. a4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.05"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Amanov, Mesgen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2516"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkmenistan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TKM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Ne4 8. Bd3
f5 9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. O-O g5 12. Bxe4 gxf4 13. Bd3 fxe3 14. fxe3 Kh8
15. Ne2 c6 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Qa5 Bg5 20. Qc7 Rfc8 21. Qg3
Rg8 22. Qh3 Rbf8 23. b4 Rf6 24. Rae1 Rh6 25. Qf3 Be8 26. Nf4 Bh4 27. Rb1 Bg3
28. h3 Qh4 29. Be2 Rg4 30. Rb3 Bh5 31. Nxh5 Rxh5 32. e4 Rhg5 33. exf5 Rf4 34.
Qe3 Re4 35. fxe6 Rxe3 36. Rxe3 Qxd4 37. Rf8+ Rg8 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. Rxg3+ Kf8
40. Rf3+ Ke7 41. a3 Qb2 42. Rf2 h5 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Rf1 Qe3+ 45. Rf2 d4 46.
Bxh5 Kxe6 47. Bf3 d3 48. h4 Qe1+ 49. Rf1 d2 50. Bg4+ Ke5 51. h5 Kd4 52. Bd1 Kc3
53. g4 Qg3+ 54. Kh1 Kb2 55. a4 Ka2 56. Be2 Qe1 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Solomon, Kenny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2414"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "South Africa"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RSA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 c5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bxb4
cxb4 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Nbd7 12. Ne3 a5 13. a3 bxa3 14. bxa3 Be4
15. Qb3 Rc8 16. Rac1 Qc7 17. Bh3 Ba8 18. Qb2 g6 19. Nd2 Rb8 20. f3 Qd8 21. Nc2
e5 22. e4 Nf8 23. Rcd1 Qc7 24. Ne3 Ne6 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Nb1 Bc6 27. Nc3 Bd7
28. Kg2 Rf8 29. Nb5 Bxb5 30. cxb5 Rbd8 31. dxe5 dxe5 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rc1 Qd6
34. Nc4 Qd4 35. Qxd4 exd4 36. Nxb6 d3 37. Kf2 d2 38. Rd1 Rb8 39. Nc4 Rxb5 40.
Rxd2 Rc5 41. Rc2 g5 42. Ke3 e5 43. Kd3 h5 44. Nd6 Rxc2 45. Kxc2 g4 46. fxg4
hxg4 47. Kd3 Kf8 48. Nc4 Nd7 49. Nxa5 Ke7 50. Nb7 Nb6 51. Kc3 Kd7 52. Nc5+ Kc6
53. Nd3 Nd7 54. Kc4 Nb6+ 55. Kb4 Nd7 56. a4 Kb6 57. a5+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.07"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O {For this line - see the survey by GM E.Postny in CBM 146 and annotations
to Giri - Aronian in CBM 147.} c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Bd7 $146 {This novelty
didn't work well in the present game.} ({GM Veselin Topalov did better in two
later games, in which he played} 10... Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. Rac1 (
13. Be2 a6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 b5 16. Rd4 Rfd8 17. Rad1 Rxd4 18. Rxd4 Rc8 $11
{1/2 Grachev,B (2672)-Harikrishna,P (2688)/Muelheim GER 2012/The Week in Chess
937 (24)}) 13... a6 14. b4 Nce4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. a3 a5 (16... Rfc8 17. f3 Bd5
18. Be2 Bb7 19. e4 h6 20. Be3 a5 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. bxa5 bxa5 23. Rb1 Ba8 24.
a4 Bb4 25. Kf1 e5 26. Nb3 Nd7 27. Rd1 Bc6 28. Rc1 Kf8 29. Ba6 Rc7 30. Bb7 Bb5+
31. axb5 Rxb7 $11 {1/2 Gelfand,B (2738)-Topalov,V (2752)/London ENG 2012/The
Week in Chess 933 (36)}) 17. f3 Bd5 18. e4 Bxc4 19. Rxc4 axb4 20. axb4 Rfc8 21.
Rdc1 Rxc4 22. Rxc4 h6 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. Nc6 b5 25. Rd4 Ra6 26. Nxe7 Kxe7 $11 {
0-1 Giri,A (2730)-Topalov,V (2752)/London ENG 2012/The Week in Chess 935 (52)})
(10... a6 {continues to be an important topic. White apparently keeps some
pressure. Here are some of this year's games:} 11. Ne5 (11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bc7
Re8 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bd3 Nc3 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rac1 Nxc7 18. Rxc7 Bd6
19. Rc3 Rd8 20. Rd1 Kf8 21. Bc2 Ke7 $11 {1/2 Rajlich,I (2412)-Pokorna,R (2353)/
Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week in Chess 930 (52)}) 11... Ncd7 (11... Qxd1 12. Rfxd1
Rd8 13. Be2 Nd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Bc7 Rdc8 17. Be5 f6 18. Bd4 Ne4
19. h3 Bh5 20. g4 Bf7 21. Ne1 Rc6 22. Rac1 Rac8 23. Rxc6 Rxc6 24. Bd3 h5 25.
Bb1 hxg4 26. hxg4 Nd6 27. a3 Nb5 $11 {1/2 Mista,A (2538)-Grabarczyk,M (2445)/
Warsaw POL 2012/The Week in Chess 913 (54)}) 12. Be2 Nxe5 13. Qxd8 (13. Bxe5
Qa5 14. Bg3 Bd7 15. Bf3 Rad8 16. Qb3 b5 17. Rfc1 Rc8 18. Ne2 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rc8
$11 {1/2 Fressinet,L (2693)-Matlakov,M (2632)/Plovdiv 2012/CBM 148 (60)}) 13...
Rxd8 14. Bxe5 Nd5 (14... b5 $5 15. Bf3 Ra7) 15. Bf3 Nxc3 16. Bxc3 a5 17. Rfd1
f6 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. Rd1 Bc7 20. h4 Kf8 21. h5 $14 {1-0 Wojtaszek,R (2706)
-Mista,A (2587)/Warsaw POL 2012/The Week in Chess 902 (46)}) 11. Ne5 Be8 12.
Be2 {[%cal Ye2f3][%mdl 32]} Rc8 (12... Nfe4 $5 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qc2 Nd6 15.
Rfd1 Qb6) 13. Rc1 h6 $6 ({Here, too, Black should have tried to release
pressure by means of} 13... Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 {as} 15. Rxc8 Qxc8 16. Qd4 f5
17. Qxa7 $2 {doesn't work due to} g5 18. Bg3 Bc5 19. Rc1 f4) 14. h3 Qxd1 {
In the endgame Black quickly gets out of moves but it is hard to give him good
advice.} ({in the event of} 14... Nce4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Qd4 {
is already strong for White.}) 15. Rfxd1 g5 16. Bg3 Kg7 17. Bf3 b6 ({Maybe
something like} 17... h5 {but after} 18. Ne2 (18. b4 {is not deadly yet due to}
Na4 19. Nxa4 Bxa4 20. Bxb7 $2 Rb8) 18... h4 19. Bh2 Bb5 20. Nd4 a6 21. b3 {
Black's position is quite poor.}) 18. Ne2 $1 {[%cal Ye2d4,Rb2b4]} Rd8 (18...
Bb5 {now allows an invasion of c6:} 19. Nd4 a6 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. Nc6) (18... h5
{was equally hopeless due to} 19. b4 (19. Nd4 g4 20. hxg4 hxg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4
22. Nxg4 a5 23. Ne5) 19... Ba4 20. bxc5 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Rxc5 22. Nd4) 19. Nd4 a5
20. Nc4 $1 {[%csl Rb6,Gc4,Gd4]} Nfe4 21. Be5+ Bf6 (21... Kg8 22. Bc7) 22. Bxe4
Nxe4 23. Nxe6+ {A classic positional game by Rustam Kasimdzhanov!} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.09"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Venezuela"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "VEN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 c5 7. Bxb4 cxb4 8.
Nbd2 Nc6 9. e4 O-O 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. e5 Ne8 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Bd3 d5 14. exd6
Nxd6 15. O-O Qf6 16. c5 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Rxc5 18. Bxa6 Rxc2 19. Nxc2 Qxb2 20. Rfc1
Rd8 21. Kg2 g6 22. Nb3 Ne4 23. Bb7 Nc5 24. Rab1 Qf6 25. Bf3 Nxb3 26. axb3 Rd2
27. Ne3 Qd4 28. Kg1 Qf6 29. Kg2 Qd4 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Re1 a5 32. Ng4 f5 33. Rc7+
Kf8 34. Ne3 Qb2 35. Rf1 b5 36. Rb7 Qc3 37. Re1 a4 38. bxa4 bxa4 39. Nd1 Qb3 40.
Re5 Rd8 41. Reb5 Rd4 42. Ne3 a3 43. Nd5 1-0

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. Nc2
Bg7 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxg7 Nc3 14. Bxc3 Qxc3
15. Ne3 Be6 16. Rc1 Qa5 17. Qc2 Rfc8 18. Qb2 Rab8 19. Rfd1 Qe5 20. Qd2 a5 21.
Nd5 Bxd5 22. cxd5 Nb4 23. f4 Qf6 24. Bh3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Na6 26. e4 b6 27. e5
dxe5 28. Rc6 Qg7 29. d6 exd6 30. Qxd6 exf4 31. Bf1 fxg3 32. hxg3 Qa1 33. Qf4
Rf8 34. Rc1 Qxa2 35. Bxa6 Qxb3 36. Bc4 Qb4 37. Rf1 Qe7 38. Kh2 a4 39. Rf2 a3
40. Re2 Qc5 41. Rf2 Qe7 42. Re2 Qc5 43. Rf2 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. Rac1 a6 14. b4
Nce4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. a3 Rfc8 17. f3 Bd5 18. Be2 Bb7 19. e4 h6 20. Be3 a5 21.
Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. bxa5 bxa5 23. Rb1 Ba8 24. a4 Bb4 25. Kf1 e5 26. Nb3 Nd7 27. Rd1
Bc6 28. Rc1 Kf8 29. Ba6 Rc7 30. Bb7 Bb5+ 31. axb5 Rxb7 32. Nc5 Nxc5 33. Bxc5+
Ke8 34. b6 Bxc5 35. Rxc5 f6 36. Rxa5 Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. b4 c5 13. bxc5 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nxc5 15.
dxc5 Rxc5 16. f4 Nd5 17. Bb2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Qc7 19. Rfc1 Rc8 20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21.
Bd3 Rxc3 22. Qxc3 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxb5 Bxa3 25. Kg2 g6 26. Rd1 Rc7 27.
Rd7 Rxd7 28. Bxd7 Kg7 29. e4 Kf6 30. Kf3 a5 31. e5+ Ke7 32. Ba4 Bc5 33. h3 Bb6
34. Bb5 Bc5 35. Ba4 Bb6 36. Bb5 Bc5 37. Ba4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. Be3 c4 8. b3
cxb3 9. axb3 Nge7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 a6 12. Nbd2 Bf5 13. Bf1 Rc8 14. Nh4 Be6
15. Bd3 Ng6 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Nf1 Qf6 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bf2 Ne7 20. Rc1 Bxd3 21.
Qxd3 Nf5 22. c4 Bf4 23. Rc2 Qf7 24. c5 Ne7 25. b4 Nc6 26. Qb3 Rfe8 27. Rd1 Re7
28. b5 axb5 29. Qxb5 Rce8 30. Ra2 h5 31. Rda1 Kh7 32. Ra8 Rxa8 33. Rxa8 Bg5 34.
Ra2 Qf4 35. Rd2 Bf6 36. Qd3 Qf5 37. Qxf5 gxf5 38. Ng3 g6 39. Ne2 h4 40. Nc3 Rd7
41. Na4 g5 42. Nb6 Rd8 43. h3 Kg6 44. Kf1 g4 45. fxg4 fxg4 46. hxg4 Kg5 47. Rd3
Kxg4 48. Kg1 Ne7 49. Ra3 Nc6 50. Rd3 Ne7 51. Ra3 Nc6 52. Rd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Bc1 Nhf6 14. Bb2 Qc7 15.
e4 dxc4 16. Nd2 e5 17. Nxc4 exd4 18. Rxd4 Rfd8 19. Ne2 Bc5 20. h3 Bxc4 21. Qxc4
Ne5 22. Qc3 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 c5 24. Nf5 Nc6 25. Nxg7 Nd4 26. Qe3 Nxe4 27. Bxe4
Kxg7 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Bf5 Rb8 30. Re1 Re8 31. Rc1 Qe7 32. Qh5 f6 33. Bxd4 cxd4
34. Rc6 Rf8 35. Re6 Qg7 36. Re4 Qf7 37. Qf3 Qb7 38. Qe2 Rf7 39. Rxd4 Re7 40.
Qf1 Rbe8 41. Qg2 Re1+ 42. Kh2 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 R8e7 44. a4 R1e5 45. Bd3 Kg7 46.
Kf3 Rh5 47. Kg4 Rg5+ 48. Kh4 Rc5 49. Bc4 Kh6 50. g4 Rce5 51. Rd8 Re8 52. Rd7
R8e7 53. Rd8 Re8 54. Rd7 R8e7 55. Rd8 Re8 56. Rd7 R8e7 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. c5 g6 {Dominguez is way too
strong not to know about problems after the weaker older move 6...Bg4. Black
has build up a fortress on the queenside and thus will be able to focus on the
centre of the board.} (6... Bg4 7. Qb3 $1) 7. Ne5 Bg7 8. f4 Qc7 {The defender
is usually unable to avoid playing the queen to c7 at some stage in this setup.
It will be necessary to defend the c6-pawn in order to develop the pieces so
Black is waiting to see what his opponent will do.} (8... O-O 9. Be2 (9. Bd3
Be6 (9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. g4 Nbd7 12. f5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. fxe6 fxe6
15. Bd2 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Bxe5 17. Qe2 a5 18. a3 a4 $11 {0-1 Eljanov,P (2729)
-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 (47)}) 10. g4 Qc7 11. Bd2 a5 12. g5 b4
13. Na4 Ne4 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Qe2 f6 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. gxf6 exf6 19.
O-O-O Bf5 $17 {0-1 Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 (31)
}) 9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. Bf3 Nbd7 12. Nd3 Bf5 13. Nf2 h5 14. h3 b4 15. Na4
Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Bd2 Rab8 18. Qe2 h4 $11 {1-0 Wang Yue (2716)-Malakhov,V 
(2732)/Ningbo 2010 (46)}) (8... a5 9. Bd3 Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bd2 e6 12. Qe2
h5 13. O-O-O b4 14. Na4 Ne4 15. Nb6 Ra7 16. Nd3 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Rdg1 Qb8
19. Nf2 Nxf2 20. Qxf2 a4 $15 {1/2-1/2 Bacrot,E (2705)-Wang Yue (2736)/Elista
2008 (47)}) (8... Be6 9. Bd3 Qc8 10. Bd2 Bf5 11. Bxf5 gxf5 12. b4 Nbd7 13. a4
Ne4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. fxe5 fxe4 16. O-O O-O 17. Be1 Qe6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6
exf6 20. Bg3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk
2009 (80)}) 9. Be2 h5 {Yet another move, that simply belongs to a defensive
plan. Topalov would like to attack and the advance of the h-pawn will
maximally complicate his g2-g4 idea.} (9... a5 10. a3 O-O 11. O-O Be6 (11...
Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. a4 b4 14. Qc2 f5 15. Qb3+ e6 16. Bc4 Qe7 17. g4 Bxe5 18.
fxe5 Na6 19. Qd1 Nc7 20. b3 {0-1 Vitiugov,N (2709)-Malakhov,V (2712)/Moscow
2010 (41)} Ba6 $15) 12. Nd3 (12. Bf3 Nbd7 13. Nd3 h6 14. g4 Nh7 15. h4 f5 16.
g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Kf7 18. Kg2 Rfb8 19. Bd2 Nhf8 20. Be2 $16 {1-0 Gelfand,B 
(2741)-Wang Yue (2752)/Medias 2010 (82)}) 12... Ne4 13. g4 f5 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15.
Ne5 a4 16. gxf5 gxf5 17. Kh1 Nd7 18. Rg1 Kh8 19. Qf1 Nxe5 20. fxe5 $14 {
1-0 Al Sayed,M (2490)-Sanchez,L (2262)/Caleta 2011 (54)}) (9... Be6 10. Bf3
Nbd7 11. Nd3 h5 12. a3 Bf5 13. O-O a5 14. Ne5 O-O 15. Bd2 Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17.
a4 b4 18. Ne2 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Be6 20. Qc2 Bd5 21. Nf4 $14 {1-0 Ashwin,J (2431)
-Phoobalan,P (2255)/Jalgaon 2010 (61)}) 10. O-O a5 11. a3 {The modest move a3
is a defence against an attack on the c3-knight. The weakness on e4 is so
important, that White can not leave it without exerting some control.} (11. Bd3
Bf5 12. Bxf5 gxf5 13. Qc2 e6 14. Bd2 Nbd7 $11) 11... Bf5 12. h3 Nbd7 13. Bf3 {
We shall be returning to the g4 idea in our comments several times. Topalov
has decided to refrain from it at this early stage of the game, since now he
would not get an advantage.} (13. g4 hxg4 14. hxg4 Be4 15. g5 Nh5 16. Nxe4 dxe4
$11) 13... Ne4 $1 14. Bxe4 (14. g4 $2 Nxc3 15. bxc3 hxg4 16. hxg4 Be6 $17)
14... dxe4 (14... Bxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. a4 b4 18. Nc4 $14) 15. Bd2
{The coveted advance of the g-pawn would have meant excessive weakening of the
kingside leading only to problems.} (15. g4 $2 hxg4 16. hxg4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Be6
$17) 15... Nf6 16. Qe2 Be6 17. b4 (17. Be1 O-O 18. Bh4 Rfd8 $11) 17... axb4 18.
axb4 O-O 19. Rfc1 Rfb8 20. Be1 {The Bulgarian ex world championship challenger
has finally parted with the chimera of the pawn attack on the kingside.} (20.
g4 $6 hxg4 21. hxg4 Nd7 22. Nxe4 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Qd7 24. g5 Ra4 $15) 20... Qc8
21. Kh2 Ra6 22. Bh4 Rba8 23. Rxa6 Qxa6 24. Qe1 Qb7 {Dominguez had every reason
to be satisfied with his position, but he could not find the courage to try
using the a-file for an attack at the cost of the e4-pawn.} (24... Ra7 $5 25.
Qd2 Nd5 26. Nxe4 f6 27. Nd3 Qa3 28. Be1 Qb3 $15) 25. Ra1 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Nd5 27.
Nxd5 (27. Nxe4 $6 f6 28. Nf3 Nxb4 $15) 27... Bxd5 28. Qa5 $1 Qc8 {Black has
reached the situation where he has to try building a fortress at a cost of a
pawn. It was a much bigger risk to allow the enemy pieces to start active
operations.} (28... Kh7 29. Qd8 f6 30. Nd7 Be6 31. Nb8 Bd5 32. Qe8 $16) 29.
Bxe7 Qe8 30. Qc7 (30. Bh4 $2 f6 $17) (30. Qd8 Qxd8 31. Bxd8 Kf8 32. Kg3 Ke8 33.
Bh4 Bxe5 $11) 30... f6 31. Qd7 Bf7 (31... Qxd7 32. Nxd7 Kf7 33. Bd6 Ke6 34. Nb6
$14) 32. Bxf6 {Topalov will get three pawns for the piece and can look into
the future without concern. The other option was to take the c6-pawn right
away keeping the balance as well.} (32. Qxc6 fxe5 33. Qxe8+ Bxe8 34. fxe5 Kf7
35. Bg5 Ke6 36. Kg3 Kd5 37. Kf4 Bd7 $11) 32... Bxf6 33. Qxc6 Bxe5 $2 {Original,
non-standard positions represent serious risks even for very strong players.
Various solutions can be more difficult to evaluate and judgements can turn
out to be plain wrong.} (33... Qxc6 $5 34. Nxc6 Kf8 35. Na7 Bc4 36. Nc6 Ke8 37.
Ne5 g5 38. f5 $11) 34. Qxe8+ Bxe8 35. fxe5 h4 {Black is hoping to get
counterplay with the pawn advance to g4 with the goal of exploiting the
potential of the h-pawn.} (35... Bc6 36. Kg3 Kf7 37. Kf4 Ke7 38. Kg5 Kf7 39. h4
Bd5 40. g4 hxg4 41. Kxg4 Ke7 42. Kg5 Kf7 43. e6+ Bxe6 44. Kf4 Bf5 45. d5 Kf6
46. c6 $18) 36. d5 Kf7 37. Kg1 Ke7 38. Kf2 g5 39. Ke1 Bf7 {The three white
connected passed pawns are very dangerous and Dominguez must have been
agonising between hopeless continuations.} (39... Bh5 40. Kd2 g4 41. hxg4 Bxg4
42. c6 Bf3 43. d6+ Kd8 44. gxf3 h3 45. e6 h2 46. e7+ Ke8 47. c7 $18) 40. e6 Bh5
(40... Bxe6 41. dxe6 Kxe6 42. Kd2 $18) 41. Kd2 Kd8 {The centralising of the
white king after the immediate 41...g4 was very impressive.} (41... g4 42. hxg4
Bxg4 43. Kc3 Bf3 44. Kd4 Bxg2 45. Ke5 h3 46. d6+ Ke8 (46... Kd8 47. e7+ Kd7 48.
c6+ $18) 47. c6 h2 48. c7 $18) 42. d6 g4 43. hxg4 Bxg4 44. e7+ Ke8 45. c6 Be6
46. Kc3 Bd5 47. c7 Bb7 48. Kd4 Kd7 49. Kc5 {The defender is helpless, as he
can not prevent the loss of the b5-pawn. A very interesting and unusual
endgame!} (49. Kc5 Ba6 50. Kb6 Bc8 51. Kxb5 $18) 1-0

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. cxd5 c5 7. dxc5 Nd7 8.
Qa4 Qc7 9. Ne4 Bxb2 10. Rb1 Bg7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Qa3 Ne5 13. Ned2 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3
Rd8 15. e4 Bd4 16. Rc1 Qe5 17. Nc4 Qf6 18. Rc2 Bd7 19. Be2 e6 20. Ne3 exd5 21.
Nxd5 Qh4 22. Bc4 Be6 23. Rd2 Be5 24. Ke2 b5 25. cxb6 axb6 26. Qb3 b5 27. Qxb5
Kg7 28. Qb3 Rab8 29. Qe3 h5 30. Bb3 Bxd5 31. Bxd5 Qf6 32. Rc2 Rdc8 33. Rxc8
Rxc8 34. Rd1 Bf4 35. Qd4 Rc2+ 36. Kf1 Be5 37. Qe3 Qh4 38. f4 Qxh2 39. Qf3 Rc3
40. Rd3 Rc1+ 41. Rd1 Rxd1+ 42. Qxd1 Qxf4 43. Qd3 h4 44. Bb3 g5 45. Bd1 g4 46.
Qd7 Qxe4 47. Qxg4+ Qxg4 48. Bxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Nf6 15. Qe2 Qd5 16. c4 Qe4 17. Qxe4 Nxe4 18. Be1 c5 19. Ne5 Bf6 20. f3 cxd4 21.
Rxd4 Nd6 22. Rxd6 Bxe5 23. Rd3 Rc8 24. b3 b5 25. Rh4 f5 26. Bc3 Bg3 27. Rhd4
Be5 28. Rh4 Bg3 29. Rhd4 Be5 30. Rh4 Bg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. e4 d4 8. Ne2
e5 9. c3 dxc3 10. bxc3 b6 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. a4 Rd8 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. c4 Na5 15. Ba3
Qe8 16. Bb4 Nc6 17. Bc3 Nd7 18. Nd2 Nc5 19. Nb3 Bc8 20. a5 Bg4 21. f3 Be6 22.
h4 Qe7 23. Kh2 Rd7 24. Bh3 Rad8 25. axb6 Nxb3 26. bxc7 Nxa1 27. cxd8=Q+ Qxd8
28. Bxa1 Bxh3 29. Kxh3 Nb4 30. Qa4 Nxd3 31. Kh2 Nc5 32. Rxd7 Qxd7 33. Qxd7 Nxd7
34. Nc3 f5 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Na4 h5 37. Kf2 Bf8 38. Ke2 Ke6 39. Bc3 Be7 40. Kd3
f4 41. Be1 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Nc5+ 43. Nxc5+ Bxc5 44. Be1 a6 45. Ke2 Be7 46. f4 exf4
47. Kf3 Bd6 48. Ba5 Kd7 49. Bd2 Bc7 50. Bc3 Ke6 51. Bh8 Be5 52. Bxe5 Kxe5 0-1

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.10.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Qc2 h6 6. Bh4 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5+ 8.
Nbd2 Qxc5 9. e3 Nbd7 10. Rc1 Nb6 11. a3 dxc4 12. Nxc4 Nxc4 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. O-O
Bd7 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Qb3 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Be2 Kf8 19. Kf1 Nd5 20. Bxe7+
Nxe7 21. Ne5 Bc6 22. g3 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Ke8 24. Ke1 Nc8 25. Rd4 Ra5 26. f4 Ke7
27. Rb4 b5 28. Rb3 f6 29. Nd3 Nb6 30. Nb4 Na4 31. Nc2 Nc5 32. Rb4 e5 33. fxe5
fxe5 34. Rg4 Ne6 35. Nb4 g5 36. Nd3 Kd6 37. Nf2 Bd7 38. Rb4 Nc5 39. h4 b6 40.
hxg5 hxg5 41. Kd2 Ke7 42. Bf1 Bc6 43. Ke1 Kf6 44. Nd1 Ra4 45. Nc3 Rxb4 46. axb4
Na6 47. Na2 Nc7 48. Nc3 Na6 49. Na2 Nc7 50. Nc3 Na6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.10.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. Rac1 a6 14. b4
Nce4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. a3 a5 17. f3 Bd5 18. e4 Bxc4 19. Rxc4 axb4 20. axb4 Rfc8
21. Rdc1 Rxc4 22. Rxc4 h6 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. Nc6 b5 25. Rd4 Ra6 26. Nxe7 Kxe7 27.
Rd2 Nd7 28. Rc2 g5 29. Bc7 f6 30. Ba5 h5 31. h4 gxh4 32. Rc8 Ne5 33. Rc7+ Kd6
34. Rb7 h3 35. gxh3 Nxf3 36. Rxb5 Nd2+ 37. Kg2 Ra8 38. Rxh5 Rg8+ 39. Kf2 Nxe4+
40. Ke3 f5 41. Rh7 e5 42. Bc7+ Ke6 43. Kd3 Rg3+ 44. Kc4 Rc3+ 45. Kb5 f4 46.
Rh6+ Kd5 47. Bb6 f3 48. Rh8 Ra3 49. Bg1 f2 50. Bxf2 Nxf2 51. Rd8+ Ke4 52. Kc6
Rc3+ 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.11"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[Annotator "Eljanov,P"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Ashdod"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 {Again like in my game
vs Bu from the last round of the Olympiad my opponent postpones Qb3 and gives
me the extra option with ...Qc7} e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2
g5 11. Qb3 Qc7 $5 {And again I decided to step into completely unknown
territory instead of the usual paths.} (11... Qb6 12. Bg2 Be7 {and after some
transpositions we have dozens of games in this position.}) 12. Bg2 Be7 13. cxd5
$5 ({In the event of} 13. Rc1 {I would probably play in the same manner as in
the game vs Bu:} Qb6 $5 {In the only game in my database Black was very much
ok:} 14. cxd5 Qxb3 15. axb3 exd5 16. f3 Nf8 17. Kf2 Ne6 18. Ne2 Kf8 19. b4 g6
20. Ra1 Kg7 21. Nc1 Nd7 22. Rd1 f5 23. Bc3 Bf6 24. Bf1 a6 25. Nb3 Raf8 26. Kg2
Rf7 27. Bd3 Bd8 28. Rh1 {1/2 (28) Bercys,S (2418)-Paragua,M (2476) Irvine 2010}
) 13... exd5 14. O-O-O Nb6 {Solid.} (14... b5 {I think such agression is a bit
premature here} 15. Kb1 Nb6 16. Qc2 b4 17. Ne2 Nc4 18. f4 $5 $36) 15. e4 $6 {
After long thought. It was rather unexpected as I was almost sure that Veselin
would play 15.Kb1 almost immediately. Indeed the move in the game is a bit
premature.} ({After} 15. Kb1 $1 {Black should play carefully:} a5 (15... O-O-O
16. e4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Qxf7 Bf6 19. Qg6 $14) (15... Nc4 16. Bc1 Qb6 17.
e4 Qxb3 18. axb3 Nb6 19. f3 $14) 16. e4 Nxe4 (16... a4 17. Qc2 Nxe4 18. Nxe4
dxe4 19. Qxe4 Kf8 20. h4 Nc4 21. Bc3 gxh4 22. d5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 a3 24. b3 Nd6
25. Qd3) 17. Nxe4 dxe4 {this is a much better version for White, but Black is
still solid enough.} 18. Rde1 $5 (18. Bxe4 a4 (18... Kf8 19. a4 Kg8 20. Rhf1
$14) 19. Qc2 Qd8 $132) 18... a4 19. Qc2 Kf8 20. Rxe4 Nd5 {White has some
pressure, but Black should hold it.}) 15... Nxe4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rhe1 Nd5 $1
{After this simple move my position becomes even more pleasant.} 18. Rxe4 O-O-O
19. Qa4 Kb8 ({I saw} 19... Qh2 {but there was no reason to calculate as my
position is good enough} 20. Qxa7 Qxg2 21. Qa8+ Kc7 22. Rxe7+ $1 Nxe7 23. Ba5+
b6 24. Qa7+ Kc8 25. Bxb6 Qh2 26. Qxe7 Rd7 $11) 20. Ba5 Nb6 ({Again I could play
} 20... b6 21. Bd2 Qh2 {but here White has a decent positional compensation
for the pawn.} 22. Bf1 Qxf2 23. Kb1 Rd6 24. Bc4 $44) 21. Qb3 Bf6 22. Kb1 Rd5
23. Bb4 Rhd8 24. Bc5 R5d7 25. Bf1 Be7 {I decided to clarify the position.} (
25... Nd5 $5) 26. Rde1 Bxc5 27. dxc5 Nd5 $15 {Now it's clear that the black
knight is clearly stronger then the bishop. Black's advantage is insignificant
but on the other hand it's rather unpleasant to defend the position for the
weaker side.} 28. a3 Nf4 29. Ka2 f6 30. Re8 Ng6 $1 {A nice knight transfer to
the best square on the board.} 31. R1e6 Ne5 32. Ba6 Kc8 33. Bc4 Rxe8 34. Rxe8+
Rd8 35. Re6 ({I think without rooks White has fewer problems:} 35. Be6+ Kb8 36.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 37. Bf5 a5 $15) 35... Rd4 36. Re8+ Rd8 37. Re6 Kb8 $1 {I didn't
consider a threefold repetition - just win a little bit of time.} 38. Qc3 $6 ({
White should play carefully} 38. Kb1 Ka8 39. Qc3 a6 40. Be2 Ka7 {where his
defence is still unpleasant.}) 38... a6 39. Be2 Ka7 $6 (39... Qf7 $1 {I saw
this move but with few minutes left on the clock I decided to not force
matters.} 40. Bc4 (40. Qb3 Nd7 41. Re3 Qf8 $17) 40... Nxc4 (40... Qf8 $5) 41.
Qxc4 Rh8 $1 {I saw this move also but I wasn't sure about the evalution in
this endgame. I got more or less the same position in the game finally.} 42. f4
gxf4 43. Qxf4+ Ka7 44. Qc4 Rxh3 $17) 40. Bc4 $6 {In time trouble this position
is really difficult to hold.} (40. Qb4 {was the best try but it's impossible
to calculate} Rd5 (40... Ka8 $5) 41. Re8 Nd7 42. Re7 $8 Re5 43. Rxg7 Rxe2 44.
Qd4 Qe5 45. Rxd7 Qe6+ 46. Kb1 Qb3 47. Qc3 Qxc3 48. bxc3 Rxf2 {and after
several only moves White has a worse endgame which is probably holdable.})
40... Rd1 41. Re8 Qd7 {Not a bad decision which leads to a technically winning
position, but I had another stronger possibility.} (41... Nd3 $1 42. a4 a5 43.
Kb3 Nxc5+ 44. Kc2 Rd8 {with an easy win.}) 42. Rg8 Nd3 $1 43. Bxd3 Rxd3 44. Qc4
Rxh3 45. Rf8 Rd3 $1 46. Rf7 Qd4 47. Qxd4 Rxd4 48. f3 a5 $5 {I was very proud
about this intermediate move which is limiting White's possibilities. But in
fact it looks like the position is winning in any case.} (48... Rf4 49. Rxg7
Rxf3 50. b4 a5 51. bxa5 (51. b5 cxb5 52. c6 Kb6 53. c7 (53. cxb7 Ka7 $19) 53...
Rc3 54. Rf7 Rxc7 55. Rxf6+ Rc6 56. Rf5 Rc5 57. Rf6+ Ka7 $19) 51... Rc3 52. Rf7
Rxc5 53. Rxf6 Rc4 54. Kb3 Rxg4 $19) 49. Rxg7 Rf4 50. Rf7 Rxf3 51. a4 Rf4 52.
Ka3 Kb8 $1 {It's very strange that Houdini doesn't understand this endgame at
all and doesn't see a difference between several possibilities.} ({It was not
too late to make a mistake:} 52... Rxg4 $2 53. Rxf6 Rf4 (53... Kb8 54. Rg6 $1)
(53... Rg3+ 54. b3 g4 55. Rg6 Rg1 56. Rg8 g3 57. Ka2 {this is probably drawn})
54. Rg6 Rf5 55. b4 Rf3+ 56. Kb2 axb4 57. Rxg5 b6 (57... Rc3 58. Rg4 $15) 58.
cxb6+ Kxb6 59. a5+ Kc7 60. Rg4 $1 c5 61. Rg6 {and Black can't make progress.})
53. Rf8+ Kc7 54. Rf7+ Kc8 55. b3 Rxg4 56. Rxf6 Rf4 ({I could play immediately} 
56... Rb4 $1) 57. Rg6 g4 58. Rg7 (58. Rg8+ Kd7 59. Rg7+ Ke6 60. Rxb7 Rf7 $19)
58... Rb4 $1 {The point of my winning plan. Now my king can go to the other
side of the board without there being any barriers.} 59. Kb2 Kd8 60. Kc3 Ke8
61. Rh7 Kf8 62. Kd2 Rxb3 63. Rh8+ Kf7 64. Ra8 Ke6 65. Rxa5 Kd5 66. Ra7 Kxc5 67.
a5 g3 68. Ke2 Kc4 69. a6 bxa6 70. Rxa6 c5 71. Rg6 Kb4 72. Rg4+ c4 73. Kd1 Rb1+
74. Kc2 Rg1 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.12"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mitkov, Marjan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2331"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Gambit Aseko See"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "MKD"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 g6 6. a4 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O a5
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. e4 Nb4 11. h3 Nd7 12. Be3 e5 13. d5 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15.
Qxd5 Nf6 16. Qxe5 Ng4 17. Qc5 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Bxb2 19. Rab1 Bg7 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21.
Bc4 Be6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rb6 Rac8 24. e5 Rc6 25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Rd6 Rc8 27. Nd4
c5 28. Nxe6 c4 29. Nxg7 Qxg7 30. e6 Qa1+ 31. Kh2 Qf6 32. Rd4 Re8 33. Rxc4 Qxe6
34. Qxe6+ Rxe6 35. Rc5 Ra6 36. g4 h6 37. Kg3 Kf7 38. h4 Kf6 39. f4 Ra7 40. h5
gxh5 41. Rxh5 Kg6 42. Rb5 Ra6 43. Kh4 Rc6 44. Rxa5 Rc1 45. Ra6+ Kg7 46. a5 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.14"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zuerich SG"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e4 O-O 7. Nge2 b5 8. Nf4 a6
9. Bd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Ba5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Ne5 13. Kh1 c4 14. b3 b4 15. Na4
c3 16. Be3 Bc7 17. a3 a5 18. Bb5 Rb8 19. Qe2 h6 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21. axb4 axb4 22.
Rd4 g5 23. Nh3 Bxh3 24. gxh3 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Rb8 26. Qe2 Nh5 27. h4 Nf4 28. Qf2
Qf6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Rdd1 Bd8 31. Ra2 Qh6 32. Qg3 Kh7 33. Rg1 Nfg6 34. Rf2 Qh5
35. f4 Nd3 36. Rff1 Bf6 37. Ba7 Rb7 38. Qxd3 Rxa7 39. Rg3 Nxf4 40. Rxf4 gxf4
41. e5+ Kh6 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.15"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Novy Bor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. h3 Bh5
9. g4 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. f3 Bg6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
a4 b4 16. Bb2 e6 17. Rc1 Be7 18. Qd4 O-O 19. O-O a5 20. f4 Be4 21. Bd3 Bxd3 22.
Qxd3 Qd7 23. Rc2 Rfc8 24. Rfc1 Rxc2 25. Qxc2 g6 26. Bd4 Kf8 27. Kg2 Ke8 28. Kf3
Ra6 29. h4 Qb7 30. h5 Kd7 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. Rh1 Rc6 33. Qd3 Qa6 34. Qb5 Qxb5
35. axb5 Rc8 36. Rh7 Rf8 37. e4 dxe4+ 38. Kxe4 Kc7 39. f5 gxf5+ 40. gxf5 exf5+
41. Kxf5 Kd7 42. Ke4 Bg5 43. Kd5 Rd8 44. Bb6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.16"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg CF"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Bd3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 d4 14. exd4
Nxd4 15. Qd1 Bxc5 16. Nf3 Bg4 17. O-O Kf8 18. Nb5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bb6 20. Nxd4
Bxd4 21. Qb3 Kg7 22. Qxb7 Rab8 23. Qe4 Bxb2 24. Rc6 Qe5 25. Qc4 Rb6 26. Rc5 Qd4
27. Rf5 Rf6 28. Qxd4 Bxd4 29. Rxf6 Bxf6 30. Bc4 Rc8 31. Bb3 Bb2 32. Rd1 Rc1 33.
Rxc1 Bxc1 34. g4 a5 35. Kf1 Bf4 36. Ke2 f6 37. Kd3 Bd6 38. Ke3 Bf4+ 39. Kd3 Bd6
40. Ke3 Bf4+ 41. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.17"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Tomsk 400"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ ({The line} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6.
Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 (7. c4 {enables Black to consider the thrust} f5 $5 $132 {
due to the active position of the Bc6.}) {can lead to similar positions as in
the game after} 7... h6 $5 $13 ({More common is} 7... Nf6)) 3... Nd7 $5 {
The most ambitious reaction.} ({However, the most solid continuation with the
best reputation is definitely} 3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {For the novel idea} 5.
c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. f3 Qc7 $5 (9... Nc6 {and}) (9... O-O
{are the customary moves}) 10. b3 Qa5 {see Carlsen,M (2843)-Anand,V (2780)/Sao
Paulo/Bilbao/2012/}) 4. O-O (4. d4 cxd4 ({The alternative} 4... Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. O-O $32 {gives White more chances to fight for an opening
edge.}) 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 {Now White can transpose into the game, we'll
check other options:} 7. Bg5 (7. Nc3 e5 8. Qd3 Rc8 9. O-O h6 10. Be3 Nf6 {
leads to a comfortable Najdorf for Black:} 11. Nd2 (11. a4 Be7 12. a5 Be6 13.
Rfd1 O-O 14. Nh4 Rc6 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Qc8 17. h3 Rd8 18. Bb6 Rd7 19. Qf3
Bd8 20. Be3 Rc4 $15 {[%cal Yc4b4,Yc8c6] Spasov,V (2621)-Volokitin,A (2661)/
ROM-chT Baile Herculane/2010/}) 11... Qc7 12. a4 (12. h3 b5 13. a3 Be7 14. f4
exf4 15. Rxf4 Be6 16. Raf1 Nd7 17. Bd4 Ne5 18. Qg3 Bg5 19. R4f2 O-O 20. Nf3 Bf6
21. Nxe5 Bxe5 $11 {Sigurpalsson,R (2229)-Baklan,V (2617)/ISL-chT Reykjavik/
2011/}) 12... Be7 13. a5 O-O 14. Rfd1 Be6 15. Nf1 Qc4 {1/2,Adams,M (2712)
-Radjabov,T (2761)/Wijk aan Zee/2009/} 16. f3 (16. Qxc4 Rxc4 17. f3 Rfc8 $11 {
/=/+}) 16... Qb4 17. Rdb1 Bc4 18. Qd2 d5 $5 19. exd5 Rfd8 20. Ra4 Qd6 21. Bb6
Rd7 22. Ne3 Bxd5 23. Qe2 (23. Nf5 $142 $11) 23... Bc6 24. Rd1 Qe6 25. Raa1 Bb4
$36 {Frois,A (2374)-Damaso,R (2437)/Porto/2001/}) (7. c4 b5 8. Nc3 (8. Na3 e5
9. Qd3 Qb6 10. O-O Qb7 11. Re1 h6 12. b3 Nf6 13. Nc2 Be7 14. Ba3 Bc6 15. Nd2
O-O 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Nf1 Bd7 18. Nfe3 Be6 19. Rad1 Rac8 20. Bb4 bxc4 21. bxc4
Qa7 22. Na3 Rb8 $11 {/=/+,Tiviakov,S (2673)-Zhigalko,S (2649)/Nakhchivan/2012/}
) 8... e5 9. Qd3 bxc4 10. Qxc4 Be6 11. Qc6+ Bd7 12. Qc4 Be6 13. Nd5 $6 ({
A more circumspect move was} 13. Qc6+ $11 {, or at least}) (13. Qd3 $11) 13...
Qa5+ 14. Qc3 Qxc3+ 15. Nxc3 h6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Bb2 Nf6 18. O-O Be7 19. Rfd1 O-O
20. Nd2 Rc6 21. Nf1 Rfc8 22. Rd3 Bd8 23. Ne3 Bb6 24. Rad1 Bd4 $36 {Howell,D 
(2635)-Shanava,K (2569)/Istanbul olm/2012/}) (7. O-O {- 4.0-0}) 7... Rc8 8. Nc3
h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. Qd3 g5 $1 11. Bg3 Nf6 12. Nd2 (12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Nd2 Be6 14.
Nb3 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qa1+ 16. Nb1 Be7 17. f3 O-O 18. h4 Nh5 19. Be1 Nf4 20. Qf1
Rc6 21. hxg5 Bxg5 22. Bd2 Rfc8 $40 {Jansa,V (2513)-Georgiev,K (2666)/EU-ch
Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) (12. h4 g4 $5 (12... Rg8 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. O-O-O Qc7 15.
Kb1 b5 16. Rhe1 Qc4 17. Nd2 Qxd3 18. cxd3 b4 19. Ne2 Bb5 20. d4 Bd3+ 21. Ka1
Nd7 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Nf3 Bxe2 24. Rxe2 f6 25. Nh2 g4 26. Bh4 Be7 27. f3 $132 {
Oral,T (2510)-Babula,V (2571)/CZE-chT/2006/}) 13. Nd2 b5 14. a3 Be6 (14... Be7
{and}) (14... h5 {also give Black a good position.}) 15. O-O (15. h5 Qa5 16.
Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. O-O Bg7 19. Bh4 Qc7 20. Rac1 O-O 21. c4 f5 $36 {
Shaposhnikov,E (2545)-Khismatullin,D (2664)/Samara/2012/}) 15... Be7 16. Rfd1
Qb6 17. Nf1 Rc4 18. Nd2 Rd4 $5 (18... Rc8 $11) (18... Rc5 $5 $13) 19. Qe3 Qc6
20. Re1 Bd8 21. Nb3 Rc4 22. Rad1 Bb6 23. Qd3 Rxc3 $5 24. bxc3 Ke7 $44 {
Movsesian,S (2723)-Topalov,V (2803)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/}) 12... b5 13. a4
b4 (13... Qa5 14. O-O bxa4 15. Rfb1 Qc5 16. Qxa6 Be7 17. Nxa4 Qxc2 18. Nb6 Rd8
19. Ndc4 Qxe4 20. Re1 Qf5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Rxe5 Qc2 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. Qxf6 $18
{Naiditsch,A (2691)-Sanikidze,T (2566)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 14. Nd1 Qb6 15. Ne3
Qd4 16. O-O Be7 17. Qxa6 O-O 18. Qd3 Qxb2 19. Rfd1 Qc3 20. f3 Be6 21. a5 Rc6
22. Bf2 Ra8 23. Ra4 d5 $11 {Baltag,I (2396)-Babula,V (2595)/Istanbul olm/2012/}
) 4... a6 {The move order is important for achieving the desired position.} (
4... Ngf6 5. d4 $5 a6 (5... Nxe4 6. Qe2 $44 {[%cal Yd4c5,Yf1d1] and retaining
the pawn is very risky due to Black's lag in development.}) (5... cxd4 6. Qxd4
e5 7. Qd3 h6 8. c4 $5 a6 9. Bxd7+ Bxd7 10. Nc3 {transposes to the line 9...Nf6,
mentioned in the notes below. Here Black's counterplay is less concrete and
effective, than in the game.}) 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. Nc3 {- 4.d4 Nf6}) 5. Bxd7+ {
Retreating costs a valuable tempo and never was White's plan anyway.} (5. Bd3
g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Bc2 Ngf6 8. d4 Qc7 9. h3 O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Nbd2 e5
13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qe2 Bc6 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 b5 17. Rfd1 bxa4 18. Bxa4 Bxa4
19. Rxa4 Qc2 20. Rda1 Nxe4 21. Ne1 Qb2 22. Nd3 Qc2 23. Ne1 $11 {1/2,Bartel,M 
(2653)-Cheparinov,I (2650)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 5... Bxd7 6. d4 cxd4 7.
Qxd4 e5 {Again the Najdorf motif as above.} ({More restrained, but plausible is
} 7... e6 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bc6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Rfe1 h6 13. Bxf6
Bxf6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Rfc8 16. Rd3 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. a3 Rab8 19. Nd4
b4 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. axb4 Rxb4 $11 {Bologan,V (2663)-Van Wely,L (2680)/
playchess.com 5'/2004/}) ({Another version of the same idea is} 7... Rc8 $5 8.
c4 (8. Nc3 e5 9. Qd3 h6 {leads to a position, mentioned already in the note to
4.0-0 as fully satisfactory for Black.}) 8... Qc7 9. b3 e5 10. Qd3 b5 11. Na3
Qb7 12. Re1 h6 (12... Bc6 13. Nb1 Nf6 14. Nc3 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17.
Bb2 f6 18. a3 Be7 19. axb4 O-O 20. Nd4 f5 21. Ne6 Rf6 22. c5 $16 {Jones,G 
(2653)-Gordon,S (2539)/GBR-ch North Shields rpd plof/2012/}) 13. Nd2 (13. cxb5
axb5 14. Nc2 Nf6 15. Nb4 Be7 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Nd2 Be6 18. Nb1 {Kabanov,N (2500)
-Akkozov,B (2288)/Pavlodar/2010/} d5 $32 {|^}) 13... Nf6 14. Nc2 Be7 15. Ba3
Be6 16. Ne3 {1/2,Haslinger,S (2524)-Esen,B (2587)/Vlissingen/2012/} O-O $11) 8.
Qd3 h6 9. c4 (9. Nc3 {gives Black a pleasant choice between} Rc8 {-7...Rc8!?} (
{and} 9... Nf6)) 9... b5 $1 {This energetic advance gives Black full-blooded
counterplay.} (9... Nf6 {is less active and somewhat weaker, although it's
played more often:} 10. Nc3 Be7 11. a4 O-O (11... b6 $6 {is too passive:} 12.
b3 Ra7 13. Rd1 Bc8 14. Ba3 Rd7 15. Nd2 O-O 16. Nf1 Bb7 17. Ne3 Re8 18. Ncd5
Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qa8 21. Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Rd5 f6 23. Rad1 Rad8 24. g3
g5 25. f4 $16 {[%csl Ga3,Rd6,Re5,Re7,Rf6,Rg5,Rh6] Tiviakov,S (2647)-Anand,V 
(2817)/Bundesliga/2012/}) 12. Be3 $5 (12. b3 {allows the liberating} b5 $1 13.
axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. cxb5 Rb8 16. Be3 Bxb5 $1 17. Nxb5 Qa6 18. Rc1 Qxb5
19. Qxb5 Rxb5 20. Rc7 Bf8 21. Nd2 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {Oratovsky,M (2520)
-Soffer,R (2515)/Tel Aviv/1994/}) 12... Rc8 (12... Be6 13. a5 Rc8 14. b3 Nd7
15. Nd5 Qe8 16. Rfd1 Bd8 17. Nd2 Kh7 18. f3 g6 19. Nc3 (19. b4 $5) (19. Nb1 $14
) 19... Be7 20. Nd5 Bd8 {1/2,Rublevsky,S (2662)-Fedorov,A (2684)/Smolensk/2000/
}) 13. a5 Qc7 14. b3 Be6 15. Rfc1 (15. Nh4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 f5) 15... Qb8 16. Ne1
(16. h3 $5 $14) 16... Ng4 17. Nc2 f5 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qe2 Kh8 21.
Rd1 Be6 22. Nc3 Bh4 23. f3 Nxe3 24. Nxe3 Bd8 25. Ne4 Rc6 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5
b6 28. Qd1 Bc7 $132 {Anisimov,P (2445)-Amonatov,F (2557)/St Petersburg/2003/})
10. Nfd2 {Protecting Pc4 with the N takes the sting out of bxc4. Although the
text move looks unnatural, alternatives give Black at least easy equality:} (
10. Rd1 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nf6 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Nd5 (13. h3 O-O 14. Be3 Qb8 15. Rab1
Qb7 16. Qd3 Bc6 17. Nd2 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {Dovzik,J (2374)-Likavsky,T (2498)
/SVK-chT/2009/}) 13... Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Qc8 15. b3 Bc6 16. Qd3 Qb7 17. Nd2 O-O 18.
Ba3 Rfd8 19. Qe2 d5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Rac1 Qe6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24.
Qxe4 Rac8 $11 {1/2,Rivas Pastor,M (2445)-Suba,M (2520)/Albacete/2005/}) (10.
Nc3 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nf6 12. Qd3 Be7 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nc4 Be6 (14... Qb8 15. Rd1
Bb5 16. Nxb5 axb5 17. Ne3 Rd8 18. Nd5 Qb7 19. Be3 Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 21. Rxd5
b4 22. Kf1 Rdc8 23. Rb5 Rc2 24. Rxb4 d5 $44 25. Rb7 d4 26. Rc1 Rac8 27. Rxc2
Rxc2 28. Rxe7 $11 {1/2,Tyulin,E (2450)-Cherkasov,N/corr/1987/}) 15. Ne3 Qc7 16.
Bd2 Qb7 17. b3 Rfd8 {1/2,Marinovic,B (2390)-Kovacevic,A (2549)/Valjevo SRB-chT/
2012/}) (10. c5 Be6 11. Qe3 Nf6 12. b3 Rc8 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bb2 Rc2 15. Bc3 b4
16. Qd3 {1/2,Oratovsky,M (2587)-Damaso,R (2423)/Maia/2003/} Rxc3 17. Nxc3 bxc3
18. Rfd1 Be7 19. Qxc3 Qa8 $15) 10... Nf6 11. Nc3 Qb8 $5 {This seems to be the
best.} ({After} 11... Qb6 12. a4 {Black's queen is misplaced, as is clearly
show by the continuation} b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 a5 15. Nc4 Qa6 16. f4 Rc8
17. b3 Be7 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Rxf7 $1 Bc5+ (19... Rxc4 20. Rxe7+ $16) 20. Kh1
Bd4 21. Rxd7 Rxc4 22. Rxg7 $1 $16 {Iordachescu,V (2440)-Marin,M (2545)/
Bucharest/1996/}) (11... b4 {is perhaps plausible, but closing the queenside
after Black's 9...b5! doesn't seem too consistent:} 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 (13.
cxd5 Bb5 14. Nc4 Rc8 $11) 13... Be7 14. Re1 O-O 15. Nf1 Be6 16. Qd3 Qa5 $6 (
16... f5 $142 $1 $132) 17. Ne3 Bg5 18. b3 Rfd8 19. Rd1 $14 Bxe3 {This swap
eases White's task and still wasn't forced, but Black was probably worried
about ideas, connected with Nf5.} 20. Bxe3 Qc7 21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Qc6 23. Ra5
Rd7 24. f3 Rdd8 25. Rda1 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rd6] Olsarova,K (2247)-Womacka,M (2427)
/Teplice/2012/}) 12. a4 bxa4 (12... b4 13. Nd5 $14) 13. Nxa4 Be7 $13 {[%mdl 32]
Topalov has opened the queenside instead of pushing the b-pawn. Strategically
the position resembles an original mix of the Najdorf and Sveshikov setups.}
14. Nc3 $146 {A natural novelty.} ({A very similar line is} 14. Rd1 Bc6 15. Nc3
O-O 16. Nf1 Qb7 17. f3 Nh5 (17... Nd7 $5 $132) 18. Ng3 (18. Ne3 $142) 18...
Nxg3 19. hxg3 Rfc8 20. Be3 a5 21. Nb5 ({Releases the tension, but} 21. b3 $5
Qb4 $11 {is also only roughly equal.}) 21... Bxb5 22. cxb5 Rcb8 23. b6 Bd8 24.
Qxd6 Bxb6 $11 {Skripchenko,A (2468)-Melia,S (2400)/EU-chW Gaziantep/2012/ The
game was quickly drawn after massive simplification.}) 14... O-O 15. b3 Bc6 16.
Ba3 {[%cal Yb3b5]} a5 {Topalov naturally prevents b4-b5 and fixes the pawn on
b3 as a target for his major pieces.} 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. f3 Ra7 19. Kh1 Rb7 $132
{[%cal Gb8b3] ~~ Pressure on the semi-open b-file allows Black to retain the
dynamic balance.} 20. Rdb1 (20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 (21. cxd5 Bb5 22. Qe3 Rc8 $11
{/=/+}) 21... Bd7 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5][%cal Yf7f5,Ye7f6] is pleasant for Black}) (
20. Rab1 $142 $11) 20... Rc8 ({The immediate} 20... Nd7 $5 {[%cal Yd7c5,Ye7g5]
was also fully viable.}) 21. Rd1 Rd8 22. Ra2 Nd7 $5 {After slight hesitation
Topalov opts for an active plan - he abandons the control of d5 and transfers
his knight to more active squares.} 23. Qc2 (23. Nd5 Bg5 24. Rb1 Nf8 25. Qc3
Ne6 $5 26. Qxa5 Nd4 {and Black regains the pawn back with a pleasant position.
This line shows how Black can play so to say "around" the seemingly powerful
Nd5.}) 23... Bg5 24. Nf1 Nf8 25. Ne2 {This passive retreat helps Black.} (25.
Ng3 $5 {[%cal Yg3e2]}) 25... Ne6 26. Rd3 Qa7 {[%mdl 512] This pawn sacrifice
in approaching time-trouble is interesting, but hardly fully clear.} (26... a4
27. bxa4 Rb1 28. Rd1 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Bxa4 30. Qxa4 Qb1 31. Bc1 Bxc1 32. Ra1 Qd3
33. Rxc1 Qxe2 34. Qc2 $11 {simplifies the position and eases White's task.}) (
26... Nc5 $5 27. Bxc5 dxc5 $11 {/=/+}) 27. Qd1 (27. Bxd6 a4 $1 (27... Qf2 $143
28. Qb1 Nc5 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 $44 {[%csl Rb3,Gc6,Gg5]}) 28. Qd1 (28. b4 $2 Qf2 29.
Qb1 (29. Qd1 Nf4) 29... Rxb4 $1 30. Bxb4 Rxd3 $17) 28... Rbd7 29. b4 Be7 30. c5
Bb5 $36) (27. Rxd6 $142 $5 Qf2 28. Qb1 (28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Qb1 Bb6 $44 {
is similar}) 28... Rxd6 29. Bxd6 Qb6 30. Rb2 Nc5 $44 {Here Black has enough
for the pawn, but he can hardly claim an advantage and the final result is
very much open.} (30... Nd4 $5)) 27... Qb6 28. Ra1 Qf2 29. Nc3 Nc5 $5 ({
The text move retains the tension and is less committal than} 29... Nd4 30. Rb1
(30. Ra2 Qh4 31. Nd5 Rxb3 $5 32. Rxb3 Ba4 $36) 30... Rxb3 31. Rxb3 Nxb3 32. f4
$1 Bxf4 33. Rf3 Qd4 $1 (33... Qb6 $143 $6 34. Nd5 $16) 34. Qxb3 a4 35. Qc2 (35.
Qb4 f5 36. Nb5 Qa1 $44) 35... Qxc4 36. Qd3 $13) 30. Bxc5 Qxc5 31. Nd5 Rdb8 32.
Nfe3 g6 $11 {/=/+ The position slightly favours Black. White's knights are
tied to each other and he can't attack Black's isolated pawns, while his own
Pb3 is under pressure. On the other hand Black can prepare a timely a4, or
carefully expand on the opposite flank.} 33. h3 {White makes some s breathing
space, but this is questionable, as his king will not be any safer on h2.} ({
Perhaps he should have rather marked time with} 33. Rc3 h5 34. Rd3) 33... h5
34. Qc2 h4 {[%csl Rf4,Rg3] While this is a sound positional move, in some
lines White can profit from the g4-square.} 35. Qa2 Kg7 (35... a4 $5 36. b4
Rxb4 37. Nxb4 Rxb4 $44) 36. Ng4 $6 {This is dubious, as it allows a promising
exchange sacrifice.} ({White could have waited instead with} 36. Qc2 $132) ({
Even better was the concrete} 36. Qd2 $5 Bxd5 (36... Rxb3 $2 37. Nf5+ $18) (
36... Bxe3 37. Nxe3 Rxb3 38. Rxb3 Rxb3 39. Ng4 $40) 37. Rxa5 Qb4 38. Qxb4 Rxb4
39. Nxd5 $11) 36... a4 $1 37. f4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A serious error, probably
caused by time trouble.} (37. bxa4 $2 Rb2 38. Qa3 Rb1+ $19) (37. b4 $8 Rxb4 38.
Nxb4 Rxb4 39. Rc3 f5 40. Nf2 {was more resilient, although after} Qd4 $36 {
Black is distinctly on top.}) 37... Rxb3 $19 {Now the defence collapses.} 38.
Rxb3 (38. fxg5 Rxd3 $19 (38... Rb2 $5 $19)) (38. Rd2 Bxf4 $19) 38... axb3 39.
Qb2 Bxd5 40. Nxe5 {Sheer desperation.} (40. exd5 Bxf4 $19) (40. fxg5 Bxe4 41.
Nf6 Qxc4 $19) 40... dxe5 (40... dxe5 41. Qxe5+ Bf6 42. Qxb8 Bxa1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. e4 Bg4 8.
Bb5+ c6 9. Ng5 O-O 10. Be2 Bxe2 11. Nxe2 {This line, which has gained some
popularity this year, was examined in CBM 147, annotations to Aronian - Navara.
} e5 (11... h6 12. Nf3 N8d7 13. Be3 Re8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Bf4 Qc8 16. O-O Nf8 17.
Nc3 Qe6 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. a4 Qc8 20. b3 $14 {1-0 Bernasek,J (2487)-Shishkin,V 
(2485)/Brno CZE 2012/The Week in Chess 931 (50)}) (11... Na6 12. Qh3 $5 (12.
Be3 Qd6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qxb4 (14. Qc2 $142 Qc4 15. Rfc1 Qxc2 16. Rxc2 e5 17.
dxe5 Bxe5 18. a3 $11) 14... Nxb4 {[%cal Rb4c2]} 15. Rfc1 e5 $1 $15 {0-1
Aronian,L (2805)-Navara,D (2712)/Wijk aan Zee 2012/CBM 147/[Krasenkow] (60)})
12... h6 13. Nf3 Qd7 14. Qh4 h5 (14... g5 15. Bxg5 hxg5 16. Nxg5 $44) 15. h3 c5
16. g4 cxd4 17. gxh5 $13 {0-1 Fressinet,L (2714)-Sutovsky,E (2687)/Istanbul
2012/CBM 151/[Ftacnik,L] (37)}) 12. dxe5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This move itself is
quite obvious but GM Veselin Topalov's idea is very interesting.} ({The attack
started with} 12. Qh3 {was unsuccessful in the following game:} h6 13. Nf3 exd4
14. Bxh6 Re8 15. O-O-O (15. O-O $5 c5 16. Rac1) 15... c5 16. Ng5 Qd7 17. Qh4 f6
18. Bxg7 Qxg7 19. Nh3 Nc6 $17 {0-1 Navara,D (2706)-Svidler,P (2741)/Prague
2012/CBM 149 (41)}) 12... h6 (12... Bxe5 $2 13. Qh3 h5 14. Ne6 $1 {winning a
pawn.}) 13. Nh3 $5 (13. Nf3 {is more natural although after} N8d7 {Black
should gradually equalise, e.g.} 14. O-O (14. e6 $6 Nc5 15. exf7+ Rxf7 16. Qc2
Nd3+ 17. Kf1 c5 $44) (14. Nf4 Kh7) 14... Qe7 15. a4 (15. Bf4 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5
17. Bxh6 Qh4 18. f4 Qxh6 19. fxe5 Rae8) 15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. a5 Nd7 18.
Qxb7 Qxe4 19. Qxd7 Qxe2 {etc.}) 13... N8d7 14. f4 {An ambitious attempt. White
holds his pawn but leaves his king in the centre.} Nc5 15. Qc2 Nd3+ 16. Kf1 f5
(16... c5 {was played in a later game but White managed to consolidate his
position:} 17. Nf2 c4 18. Be3 Qd7 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Nc3 Qc6 21. Ke2 Nb4 22. Qb1
Na4 23. a3 Nxc3+ 24. bxc3 Nd3 25. Nxd3 cxd3+ 26. Rxd3 $16 {1-0 Lupulescu,C 
(2613)-Nyback,T (2598)/Bremen GER 2012/The Week in Chess 940 (48)}) 17. exf6
Rxf6 18. Be3 $6 (18. Nf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 Qe7 20. Rf1 (20. g3 Re8 21. Nc3 g5 $1
22. f5 $6 Rf7 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rg7c3]}) 20... Re8 21. Ng3 {[%cal Yf2g1]} h5 $1
$132) (18. a4 $5 {[%cal Ra4a5]}) 18... Rf7 $2 ({Surprisingly,} 18... Nxb2 $1 {
was possible at once:} 19. e5 (19. Bd4 N2c4 20. Bxf6 $2 Qxf6 {[%cal Rf6a1,
Rc4e3]}) 19... N6c4 20. Bd4 c5 $5 ({well,} 20... Qxd4 21. Nxd4 Ne3+ 22. Kf2
Nxc2 23. Nxc2 Rf7 $15 {is good enough}) 21. exf6 (21. Bxc5 $2 Rc6) 21... cxd4
22. Qxg6 Qxf6 23. Qxf6 Bxf6 $36) 19. Rd1 Rd7 20. Nf2 $1 Nxb2 21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22.
Bc1 $2 {[%mdl 2048] Both players start committing mistakes in complications.} (
22. e5 $1 N2c4 (22... N6c4 23. Bc1) 23. Bxb6 Nxb6 24. Qxg6 $16) 22... N6c4 $2 {
[%csl Rb2,Rc4]} (22... N2c4) 23. h4 (23. e5 $5 Rd8 24. Qxg6 Nd1 25. h3 $16)
23... b5 24. Rh3 (24. e5 $1 $16 {[%cal Rc2g6]}) 24... Rd8 25. Rg3 Nd1 26. e5 $1
Qf5 27. Qxf5 gxf5 {[%mdl 4096]} 28. Rg6 (28. Nd3 $1 {[%cal Rf1e1]} Nde3+ 29.
Bxe3 Rxd3 30. Bxa7 $16) ({If White preferred to play for a positional
advantage rather than win a pawn, then} 28. h5 {was more appropriate.}) 28...
Nce3+ (28... Nde3+ $5 29. Kg1 c5) 29. Kg1 c5 30. Ng3 Kf7 31. Ra6 Bf8 32. Rxa7+
Be7 {Black has considerably improved the position of his pieces.} 33. Nxd1 (33.
h5 $5 Ke8 34. Ra6) 33... Rxd1+ 34. Kf2 Ng4+ 35. Ke2 Rxc1 36. Nxf5 Ke6 37. Nxe7
h5 {White has won a second pawn but Black is now even more active.} 38. Nc8 c4
$6 (38... Rc2+ $142 39. Kd3 Rxg2) 39. Nd6 (39. Ra6+ $1 Kd5 (39... Kf5 40. Kd2
$1 Rg1 41. e6 Rxg2+ 42. Kc3) 40. Rd6+ Kc5 41. Ne7 {was the best way to keep
the position alive.}) 39... Rc2+ 40. Kf3 Rc3+ 41. Ke4 Re3+ 42. Kd4 Rd3+ 43. Kc5
c3 44. Rc7 c2 45. Kxb5 Ne3 {A third pawn has gone but the threat of losing the
rook for the c2-pawn forces a liquidation into a drawish endgame.} 46. f5+ ({Or
} 46. Rc6 Ke7 47. Nf5+ Nxf5 48. Rxc2 Nxh4 {, and Black should not lose.}) 46...
Kxe5 47. Nc4+ Nxc4 48. Rxc4 Rd5+ 49. Kc6 Rd6+ 50. Kc7 Rd2 51. a4 Rd4 52. Rc5+
Kf6 53. a5 Rd5 54. Rc6+ Kxf5 55. a6 Ra5 $1 56. Kb6 Ra2 57. a7 Rb2+ 58. Kc7 Ra2
59. Kb7 Rb2+ 60. Kc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {These days this is
quite popular move on the highest level, designed to avoid tons of theory in
the main lines.} d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bc2 (11.
Nf1 {allows Black to start activity in the centre:} Nc5 12. Bc2 (12. Bxc6 bxc6
13. g4 Bg6 14. Ng3 Ne6 15. Kg2 c5 $11 {Carlsen,M (2786)-Beliavsky,A (2619)
Dresden 2008}) 12... d5 13. Qe2 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 d4 $11 {Adams,M (2735)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2679) Cala Mayor 2008}) 11... h6 {A new continuation in this
particular position. Like yesterday against Nisipeanu (19.h3), the Ukrainian
GM makes a useful waiting move, asking White to define his intentions.} (11...
Nc5 {has been played before, after which White can start playing aggressively
with} 12. g4 Bg6 13. d4 {winning a tempo by attacking the knight and Black has
nothing better than to retreat it back to d7.}) 12. a3 {Playing "cat and
mouse": for the moment Topalov is choosing a similar strategy, asking his
opponent to find another useful move.} Re8 {Ivanchuk doesn't have problems
with that: Black is not forced to hurry with playing Nd7-c5, since there are
sufficient other options.} 13. g4 {White can hardly claim to fight for
advantage without the pawn advance in the centre. And in order to play d3-d4
the ex-World Champion decides to go for this double-edged advance as well.} ({
The immediate} 13. d4 {would be a mistake in view of} exd4 14. g4 dxc3) ({But} 
13. Nf1 {was a very decent alternative}) 13... Bg6 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 d5 $1 {
A good "human" decision. In all cases Black's chances for a successful fight
for the supremacy in the centre is by no means worse.} 16. e5 {"When I went
for this, I missed that he can arrange his pieces so comfortably like in the
game and that White can be even worse" (Topalov)} (16. exd5 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Na7 {
is also fine for Black.}) 16... Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Nf8 {The knight comes to e6,
blockading e5 and underlining the weakness of pawn on d4.} 18. Nf1 {Ideally
White would like to bring this knight to f5 and create some attack, but Black
will mobilise his forces very quickly and start his own counterplay on the
kingside, exploiting the weaknesses created by the advance of the white g-pawn.
} Ne6 19. Be3 Bg5 20. Rad1 (20. Nxg5 hxg5 21. Rad1 f6 {offers Black great play
as well.}) 20... f6 $1 21. Qb3 Na5 22. Qc3 ({After} 22. Qb4 {Black plays} Nc4 {
as well and} ({Better than} 22... c6 23. h4 Bxe3 24. Nxe3 $14) 23. Qxb7 {
favours Black after} Rb8 $17) 22... Nc4 23. h4 Bxe3 24. Nxe3 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 c6 (
25... fxe5 26. Qxe5 c6 27. Re3 $11) 26. h5 Rf8 27. exf6 Qxf6 {Ivanchuk has
managed to achieve a slight advantage. Almost at every move White has several
options, but there is no clear equality, which means that Topalov is always
forced to defend a slightly inferior position. However, in spite of the many
remaining moves, the game never crossed the line of just a minimal advantage
for Black.} 28. Ne5 {Topalov prefers to keep the knights, possibly hoping that
in a more complicated position time can play its role (Ivanchuk had less than
10 minutes left at this moment).} (28. Qxe6+ Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Rxf3 30. Re7 Raf8
$15) 28... Qh4 29. Qg3 Qxg3+ 30. fxg3 {Black's structural advantage is not
enough for real winning chances.} Ng5 31. Kg2 Ne4 32. Rf1 Rxf1 33. Rxf1 Re8 (
33... Rf8 34. Rf5 $1) 34. Nd7 Rd8 35. Ne5 Re8 36. Nd7 a5 {Obviously, being at
no risk himself Ivanchuk prefers to keep the game going.} (36... Rd8 37. Ne5
Re8 {would have been a draw due to the threefold repetition.}) 37. a4 Ng5 38.
Ne5 Rf8 39. Rf5 $1 {White is ready to exchange rooks only if it improves his
pawn structure.} (39. Rf4 $2 Ne6 40. Rxf8+ Kxf8 {and the knight endgame is
lost for White}) 39... Ne4 (39... Ne6 40. Nf3) 40. Kf3 Re8 41. Kg2 Nd6 42. Rf2
Re7 43. b3 Re8 44. Rc2 Nf7 45. Nf3 Kf8 46. Rf2 Kg8 (46... Ke7 47. Nh4 $1) 47.
Rc2 Kh7 ({The complications after} 47... Re3 48. Rc5 Rxb3 49. Rxa5 {will most
likely lead to a draw as well.}) 48. Rc5 Re2+ 49. Kf1 Re3 50. Kg2 Ng5 (50...
Rxb3 51. Rxa5 $11) 51. Nxg5+ hxg5 52. Rxa5 Rxb3 53. Ra7 g6 54. a5 Kh6 55. Ra8 (
55. a6 bxa6 56. Rxa6 Rc3 57. hxg6 Kxg6 58. Ra7 Kf6 59. Rc7 {is also possible.})
55... gxh5 56. Rh8+ Kg7 57. Rb8 Rb5 (57... hxg4 $2 58. a6) (57... h4 58. gxh4
gxh4 59. Kh2 $1 $11 (59. a6 $4 {loses here:} Rg3+ 60. Kh2 bxa6)) 58. gxh5 g4
59. Kf2 Kh6 60. Ke3 Kxh5 61. Kf4 Kg6 62. Kxg4 Rxa5 63. Kf4 c5 64. dxc5 Rxc5 65.
Rxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 {The Sicilian Alapin has been used by Nisipeanu before as well,
although much more often he goes for the Open Sicilian. However, the Romanian
grandmaster has rather bad memories in the Open Sicilian against Topalov: he
drew twice and lost twice. As a rule, the move 2.c3 leads to quieter positions,
but as we'll see, not between these two ambitious fighters.} d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4.
d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 (6. Be2) ({and} 6. Be3 {are the main moves, but the
theory developed very deep in those lines and in the past decade the capture
on c5 has become more and more popular. Also from the statistical point of
view 6.dxc5 is a promising continuation for White.}) 6... Qxd1+ {Actually we
are witnessing a somewhat paradoxical case: the exchange of queens represents
an ambitious continuation for Black, since instead of a quiet endgame it leads
to very sharp positions.} (6... Qxc5 {keeps material equality, but hands the
initiative to White after} 7. Na3) 7. Kxd1 e5 {If Black takes the pawn back,
he will have an obvious advantage thanks to his lead in development and better
control in the centre.} 8. Be3 {A surprise. Usually White plays 8.b4 almost
automatically.} Nd5 9. b4 {Nisipeanu is not afraid to give up his bishop for
his opponent's centralised knight, since every exchange of pieces favours
White.} g6 {After this natural, but new continuation we have a rare situation
when after just 9 moves there is a completely new position on the board!
Topalov's intention with 9...g6 is clear: he wants to develop the bishop to
the long diagonal and combine different ideas, for instance the advances of a-
and e-pawns. White must stick to the extra pawn and try not to allow his
opponent to activate the pieces too much. The price for every decision in such
an unbalanced position is very high and no wonder that Nisipeanu thought for
half an hour before answering.} (9... Bf5 10. Bc4 O-O-O 11. Kc1 {looks safe
for White}) ({but as Topalov admitted after the game,} 9... f6 {might be a
good alternative to 9...g6.}) 10. Kc2 Bf5+ ({Of course, in such sharp position
Black has plenty of options. One of the most principled continuations seemed
to be} 10... a5 11. b5 (11. Bb5 axb4 12. Nxe5 Nxe3+ 13. fxe3 Bf5+ 14. Kb3 Be6+
15. Kb2 O-O-O {looks very dangerous for White}) 11... e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Nd2 f5
) ({After} 10... Bg7 11. Nbd2 (11. Bc4 $5) 11... O-O 12. Bc4 {it is not so
easy to prove full compensation.}) 11. Kb3 a5 12. Bc4 $1 {A precise move.} (12.
Bb5 {is weaker:} Bg7 {with great compensation.}) ({or} 12. b5 a4+ 13. Kb2 Nxe3
14. fxe3 Na5 15. Nxe5 Bxc5 {and again Black is better}) 12... Be6 13. Ng5 (13.
b5 a4+ 14. Kb2 Na5 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Nbd2 ({or} 16. Nxe5 Bg7) 16... f6 {
is good for Black (Topalov)}) 13... axb4 14. cxb4 (14. Nxe6 $2 {runs into} Na5+
15. Kc2 Nxc4 16. Nxf8 Ndxe3+ 17. fxe3 Nxe3+ 18. Kb3 Nxg2 {with clear advantage
for Black, since the knight on f8 is trapped.}) 14... Ncxb4 15. Nc3 {This is
somewhat more precise than taking immediately on e6, since in some variations
White keeps also the option to take on e6 with the bishop.} ({The positional} 
15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Re1 {is not so good for White in view of} Nc6) 15... Nxc3 (
15... Nxe3 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. fxe3 Bxc5 18. Ne4 b6 $11) 16. Nxe6 ({There was
also the interesting} 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Kxb4 Nd5+ 18. Kb5 {though it is also
about equal after} Be7 19. Ne4 (19. Nxe6 $2 Ra6 {loses the knight}) 19... Nxe3
20. fxe3 Ra3) 16... fxe6 17. Kxb4 {The march with the king to b5 is a brave
and objectively good decision by the Romanian grandmaster.} (17. Kxc3 Nd5+ 18.
Kd2 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Bxc5 20. Bxe6 $11) 17... Nd5+ 18. Kb5 Be7 $1 (18... Nxe3 19.
fxe3 Rc8 20. Rac1 $1 Rxc5+ 21. Kb6 {threatening a check from b5 suddenly leads
to problems for Black.}) 19. Rac1 ({White had at his disposal an interesting
idea to sacrifice the exchange with} 19. Rhd1 Nc3+ (19... Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rc8 21.
Rac1 Rxc5+ 22. Kb6 Kf7) 20. Kb6 Nxd1 21. Rxd1 {with great compensation, but
instead of taking on d1 Back can give a check on a4 and the best for White is
to repeat the position.}) 19... Bd8 {Threatening mate in one!} 20. Bb3 ({
An interesting idea to play for the advantage was} 20. Bd2 $1 {and Black
suddenly may feel uncomfortable with his weak pawns on the e-file. If} O-O {
then} 21. f3) 20... Rf8 21. Rhd1 Ra5+ 22. Kc4 Be7 $1 23. Kd3 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Bxc5
25. Rf1 $1 ({Stronger than} 25. Bxe6 Rf2 {with an initiative for Black, since}
26. Rd2 {is bad in view of} e4+ 27. Kc2 Rf6 $1) 25... Rxf1 26. Rxf1 Ke7 {
With the next rook manoeuvre Nisipeanu accurately neutralises any possible
danger.} 27. Rc1 $1 b6 28. Rc4 Ra8 29. Ra4 {Black's extra pawn plays no role
and Topalov decided to call it a day right away.} Rxa4 (29... Rd8+ 30. Ke2) 30.
Bxa4 g5 31. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ {Anand had his problems with this line in Sao Paulo/
Bilbao; this undoubtedly inspired Caruana to use it against another
world-class GM.} Nd7 {This could have been expected, as Topalov had played it
in the past, notably only a few weeks ago against Bologan - see the notes to
this game in CBM 151.} (3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {still retains its solid
reputation:} {White's main try is definitely} 5. c4 (5. O-O Nf6 6. Qe2 Nc6 7.
Rd1 {and Black has a choice here:} e6 (7... Rc8 8. c3 e6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Bg5 Be7
11. cxd4 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e5 Be7 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. Nc3 O-O 16. d5 exd5 17.
Nxd5 Rfd8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qxe7 Nxe7 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Ghaem Maghami,E 
(2572)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2711)/World Cities Al Ain/ 2012/}) ({Also fine is} 
7... g6 8. c3 Qg4 $5 {/\} 9. d3 c4 (9... Ne5 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. d4 Nf4 12. Qb5+
Nc6 13. g3 O-O-O 14. Kh1 Nh3 15. Rf1 d5 16. exd5 Rxd5 17. Qc4 Rf5 18. d5 Qxc4
19. Nxc4 Rxf3 20. dxc6 Rxf2 21. cxb7+ Kxb7 22. Be3 $36 {Guliyev,N (2555)
-Vocaturo,D (2372)/Villa San Giovanni/2005/}) 10. d4 Qxe4 11. Qxc4 Bg7 12. Bg5
O-O 13. Nbd2 Qf5 14. Nf1 Rac8 15. Ne3 Qd7 16. Qe2 {Lyell,M (2226)-Szeberenyi,A
(2331)/Budapest/2012/} Ne4 $11) 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Rc8 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. c4 a6 (
11... Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. b3 Bc5 14. Nc3 a6 15. Be3 Bb4 16. Bd2 Qc6 17. Rac1
Bc5 18. Bg5 Bd4 19. Qf3 Nd7 20. Nb5 Qb6 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. e5 Nxe5 23. Qg3 f6
24. Bf4 Ng6 25. Bd6 e5 {Kadric,D (2458)-Saric,A (2533)/Zadar/2012/} 26. c5 Qc6
27. f4 $1 $40) 12. Bf4 Ne5 13. Nbd2 Ng6 14. Be3 Be7 15. a4 Ng4 16. Bd4 Bf6 17.
a5 Nf4 18. Qf1 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 O-O 20. g3 Qc5 21. N2f3 Ng6 22. b3 Rfe8 23. h3 Nf6
24. Qe1 Qh5 25. Kg2 d5 $11 {Iordachescu,V (2651)-Kokarev,D (2618)/Moscow/2012/}
) 5... Nf6 (5... Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Nde2 $5 Nf6 10. f3 O-O
11. O-O a6 12. a4 e6 13. Bg5 $11 {/+/=, Caruana,F (2773)-Anand,V (2780)/Sao
Paulo/Bilbao/2012/}) 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. f3 {and now} Qc7 $5
10. b3 Qa5 11. Bb2 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Nce2 Rfd8 14. Bc3 Qb6 15. Kh1 d5 16.
Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qe1 {Carlsen,M (2843)-Anand,V (2780)/Sao Paulo/Bilbao/2012/ This
game was also annotated in CBM 151. Here Anand recommended} Re8 $5 $11 {/\} 18.
e5 Nd7 19. e6 fxe6 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd3 Qb8 {and Black is fine.})
4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 $5 {[%cal Yc2c3,Yd3c2,Yd2d4] A paradoxical retreat, which
started appearing mainly in 2012. White values his bishop higher than the
extra tempi, by preparing its transfer to c2 he aims for a Closed Ruy Lopez
type of position.} ({The usual continuation} 5. Bxd7+ {didn't give White
anything in the aforementioned game after} Bxd7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 e5 8. Qd3 h6
9. c4 b5 10. Nfd2 Nf6 11. Nc3 Qb8 12. a4 bxa4 13. Nxa4 Be7 14. Nc3 O-O 15. b3
Bc6 16. Ba3 a5 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. f3 Ra7 19. Kh1 Rb7 20. Rdb1 Rc8 $13 {/<=>,
Bologan,V (2695)-Topalov,V (2751)/ECC Eilat/2012/}) (5. Be2 Ngf6 6. d3 g6 {
is rather soft, an interesting and original example is} 7. c4 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9.
Ng5 $6 h6 10. Nh3 Nb8 $1 11. f4 Nc6 12. g4 Nd4 13. f5 b5 14. Nf4 g5 15. Nfd5 e6
16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Bf3 Qe5 18. Bg2 Rb8 19. Rb1 Re8 20. Qd2 bxc4 21. dxc4 Rb4
$15 {[%csl Gd4,Ge5,Gg7] Campora,D (2565)-Suba,M (2520)/Ponferrada/1992/}) 5...
Ngf6 (5... g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Bc2 {can have an independent character after} Ne5 $5
(7... Ngf6 {transposes back into the game.}) 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. a4 Nf6 10. d3 O-O
11. a5 Qc7 12. Nd2 Rd8 13. h3 Be6 14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Nc4 Nf4 16. Qf3 Bxc4 17. dxc4
Rd7 18. Rd1 Rad8 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. g3 Ne6 21. Be3 Bf8 22. Ba4 Rd6 $11 {Nguyen,
V (2311)-Nguyen Huynh Minh,H (2460)/VIE-ch Can Tho/2012/}) 6. c3 g6 {This
branch is relatively unexplored and both sides are still searching for the
best setup.} (6... e5 {was too passive:} 7. Bc2 Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. a4 b6 10. Qe2
Qc7 11. d5 Re8 12. c4 Bf8 13. Ne1 g6 14. Nc3 Nh5 15. g3 Ng7 16. Ng2 f5 17. Bg5
Be7 18. Bh6 fxe4 19. g4 $1 Qd8 20. h3 Bg5 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 22. Nxe4 Qe7 23. f4 $16
{(),Bartel,M (2658)-Lu,S (2516)/Moscow/2012/}) ({I like} 6... b5 $142 $5 {
Looking forward, later in the game Black spent a lot effort to get in exactly
this push, which right now he has for free. He has been doing well after} 7.
Bc2 Bb7 8. Qe2 e5 $5 ({Black doesn't need the risky complications after} 8...
c4 9. b3 Qc7 10. bxc4 bxc4 11. Na3 Rc8 12. Rb1 Ba8 13. Rb4 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. e6
$1 fxe6 16. Nxc4 a5 17. Ra4 Bc6 18. Nce5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. f3 $36) (8...
Qc7 9. a4 (9. d4 $142 $13) 9... b4 10. d3 g6 11. Bb3 Bg7 12. a5 bxc3 13. bxc3
O-O 14. Bg5 Rab8 15. Nbd2 Bc6 16. Ra3 h6 17. Bh4 g5 18. Bg3 Nh5 19. Rc1 Rb5 20.
Nc4 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Rfb8 22. Qa2 e6 $15 {[%csl Gc6,Gg7] Devereaux,M (2367)
-Hansen,T (2444)/NOR-chT/2012/}) (8... e6 9. d4 Be7 10. Nbd2 Qc7 11. Bd3 O-O
12. Re1 e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. c4 b4 15. Nf1 Rfe8 16. Qc2 Nf8 17. Ne3 Ne6 18. Nd5
Qd6 19. a3 a5 20. b3 Nd7 21. Bd2 Bf8 22. Bf1 Bc6 23. g3 Qb8 24. a4 Nd4 $11 {
Wang Chen (2490)-Ding,L (2660)/Xinghua/2012/ Black got a good Ruy Lopez here,
but why not play e5 in one move?}) 9. d4 Be7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. a4 cxd4 12. axb5
axb5 13. Rxa8+ Bxa8 14. cxd4 b4 15. Ne1 O-O 16. d5 Nc5 17. Nd2 Bb7 18. b3 Ba6
19. Qf3 Nfd7 20. Nf1 Ra8 21. Ne3 Bg5 $132 {/=/+,Kalegin,E (2467)-Khismatullin,
D (2635)/Ufa/2012/ However, the move order in this game was 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6
6.Ba4 e5 7.0-0 b5 8.Bc2 Bb7.}) 7. Bc2 Bg7 8. d4 Qc7 ({Keeping the centre
closed is more logical than} 8... cxd4 9. cxd4 O-O {which allows the active
development} 10. Nc3 {However, Black got counterplay after} e5 11. dxe5 (11. d5
$5 $14 {()}) 11... dxe5 12. a4 Qc7 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 b6 15. Nd2 Bb7 16. Bb3 g5
17. Bg3 Nc5 18. Qe2 Rfd8 19. Bc4 Rac8 $11 {Okhotnik,V (2446)-Kavcic,Z (2273)/
Feffernitz/2012/}) 9. a4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 40] A new idea, connected with a well
prepared strategy.} (9. h3 O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Nbd2 e5 13. dxe5 ({
Innocuous,} 13. d5 {is more ambitious}) 13... dxe5 14. Qe2 Bc6 15. b4 cxb4 16.
cxb4 b5 17. Rfd1 bxa4 18. Bxa4 Bxa4 19. Rxa4 Qc2 20. Rda1 Nxe4 21. Ne1 Qb2 22.
Nd3 Qc2 23. Ne1 Qb2 24. Nd3 Qc2 25. Ne1 Qb2 {1/2,Bartel,M (2653)-Cheparinov,I 
(2650)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/ Topalov undoubtedly knew this game and
Caruana could have reasonably expected him to use a setup employed by his
second.}) (9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 e5 11. Nbd2 b5 12. Nf1 exd4 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Nxd4
Bb7 15. Bf4 Nh5 16. Be3 Rac8 (16... d5 $6 17. exd5 Nhf6 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. Nc6
Rac8 20. Bb3 $36 {Chudinovskih,A (2379)-Lajthajm,B (2502)/EU-ch Budva/2009/})
17. Rc1 Rfe8 $11 {[%cal Ge8e4,Gb7e4] is again a typical Ruy Lopez position, in
which Black has reaonable counterplay against e4.}) 9... O-O 10. d5 $1 {
The point of White's idea - after preventing b5 he closes the centre, aiming
for Benoni-like positions.} b6 11. c4 e6 {Afterwards Topalov suggested} (11...
e5 {as a possible improvement. However, although Black's pieces are better
placed than in Bartel-Lu Shanglei above, White still has more space and a
pleasant position after} 12. Nc3 $14) 12. Nc3 {A natural move.} ({Caruana
hardly considered} 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Nc3 Nb8 $5 $13 {[%cal Yb8c6,Yc6b4,Yc6d4]})
12... exd5 13. cxd5 ({Even the symmetrical} 13. exd5 {promises White a slight
edge, but Caruana has higher ambitions. In the resulting Modern Benoni
position Black has some extra moves (b6, Qc7), but they are not too relevant
and he must fight for equality.}) 13... Re8 14. h3 {A useful move, which
limits both Bc8 and Nf6.} Rb8 15. Qe2 $1 {White doesn't mind the X-ray, it's
more important to stop b5.} (15. Bd3 $143 $2 c4 16. Bc2 b5 $36) 15... Ne5 (
15... Qb7 {[%cal Rb6b5,Rf6d5]} 16. Bd3 $1 $14 (16. Bf4 Bf8 17. Bd3 b5 $1 18.
axb5 axb5 19. Bxb5 Nxe4 $132) {/\} 16... b5 $6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Nxe4 $2
19. Bc6 $18) (15... c4 16. Be3 {[%csl Rc4] is not too effective, as the
advanced pawn is vulnerable:} b5 $2 {runs into} 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra7 Rb7 (
18... Qd8 19. Nd4 $18 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Rd4c6]}) 19. Nxb5 $16) 16. Nxe5 ({
White doesn't need complications after} 16. Nd2 g5 $13 (16... c4 $5 17. f4 Nd3
$44)) 16... Rxe5 (16... dxe5 17. Bd3 $14 {/+/- gives White a permanent edge.})
17. Be3 Re8 18. Bd3 Bb7 (18... c4 {also doesn't fully solve Black's problems
after} 19. Bxc4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21. Bxa6 Bxa6 22. Qxa6 Bxb2 (22... Rb4 23.
Rac1 Qd7 (23... Qd8 24. Rc4 $5 $16) 24. Rc6 $16) 23. Rab1 Rb4 (23... Bd4 24.
Qd3 $16) 24. Bd2 Rb3 25. Bh6 $1 $36 {[%csl Rb2,Rb3,Rb6,Rd6,Rg8] Black's forces
are uncoordinated.}) 19. Rac1 $14 {[%csl Gb5,Gc4] White is better, as he has
stopped both c4 and b5.} Re7 20. Qd2 (20. b3 $142 $14) 20... Qd7 $6 {Black
lacks a clear plan.} (20... Nd7 $142) (20... c4 $5) 21. b3 Bc8 22. Bh6 Bh8 (
22... b5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Rfe1 $36 {[%csl Rg7] and without the
Bg7, Black's queenside play is ineffective and his kingside is vulnerable.})
23. Qe2 $1 {[%csl Gb5] Once again controls b5.} Re8 24. Rfe1 Ra8 25. Qf3 Qc7
26. Qg3 Nd7 27. f4 Bb7 28. Kh1 $36 {Caruana patiently improves his position,
while Black has nothing constructive to do.} Nf6 29. Bc4 Nh5 30. Qf3 Rab8 31.
Rcd1 $1 {No hurry.} ({Black would probably welcome} 31. g4 Nf6 32. e5 $6 dxe5
33. fxe5 Rxe5 (33... Nd7 $5 34. Ne4 Qxe5 35. Bf4 Qe7 36. Bxb8 Rxb8 37. g5 Qf8
$14) 34. Rxe5 Qxe5 35. Bf4 Qe8 36. Bxb8 Qxb8 $44 {/+/=}) 31... Ra8 (31... Bd4
$142 $5 {activates the B, chasing it away would disrupt White's setup.}) 32.
Rd2 b5 $6 {[%mdl 64] Lashing out. This liberating attempt leads to tactical
complications, but objectively it's insufficient.} 33. axb5 Qa5 34. e5 $1 {[]}
(34. bxa6 $2 Qxc3 $17) 34... dxe5 35. Rde2 $2 $138 (35. bxa6 Bxa6 (35... e4 36.
Nxe4 Bxa6 (36... Rxe4 37. Rxe4 Qxd2 38. axb7 $18) 37. Rde2 $16) (35... exf4 36.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 37. axb7 (37. Ra2 Qxc3 38. Qxc3 Bxc3 39. axb7 $18) 37... Bxc3 38.
Rd1 Bd4 39. g4 $1 {[%csl Gb7] /\} fxg3 40. d6 $18) 36. Ra2 (36. Rde2 $5 $16 {
is maybe even more convincing}) 36... e4 (36... Qb6 37. fxe5 Bxc4 38. Rxa8 Rxa8
39. bxc4 $18) 37. Rxe4 (37. Rxa5 exf3 {is less incisive}) 37... Qxc3 38. Qxc3
Bxc3 39. Rxe8+ Rxe8 40. Rxa6 Bg7 $5 $16 {Although Black is still fighting here,
White retains excellent winning chances.}) 35... e4 $6 $138 {Topalov repays
the favour.} (35... axb5 $142 $1 36. Nxb5 e4 $13 {/\} 37. Rxe4 $2 Qxe1+ 38.
Rxe1 Rxe1+ 39. Kh2 Raa1 $19) 36. Nxe4 axb5 37. g4 $1 {Topalov underestimated
this strong move.} Rxe4 $2 {This should have lost by force.} (37... f5 38. gxf5
bxc4 39. bxc4 $40) (37... bxc4 38. bxc4 $5 (38. gxh5 f5 39. hxg6 (39. Nf6+ Bxf6
40. Rxe8+ Kf7 $13) 39... Rxe4 40. Rxe4 fxe4 41. gxh7+ Kxh7 42. Qxe4+ Kxh6 43.
Qe6+ Kh7 44. Rg1 Bxd5+ 45. Qxd5 Bg7 46. Qf7 Qa1 $1 47. Rxa1 Rxa1+ $14 {gives
Black chances to create a fortress.}) 38... f5 39. gxf5 {-37...f5 White has a
strong attack here, but Black can at least fight on.}) 38. Rxe4 Nf6 39. Re7
bxc4 40. bxc4 Bg7 41. Bxg7 Kxg7 42. f5 $1 $18 {[%cal Rf5g6,Rg4g5] This
powerful move costs Black material.} g5 (42... gxf5 43. Qe3 $5 (43. Qxf5 Qd2
44. Rf1 $18) 43... Qa3 44. Qg5+ (44. Rxb7 $18) 44... Kf8 45. R7e3 Qb2 46. gxf5
Nxd5 47. Qh6+ Qg7 48. Re8+ $18) 43. Qe3 h6 44. Qe6 $5 (44. Rxb7 Re8 45. Re7
Rxe7 46. Qxe7 Qc3 {is less convincing.}) 44... Rf8 45. Rxb7 Qc3 46. Kg2 Qxc4
47. d6 Qd3 48. Re3 Qd1 49. Re1 Qd2+ (49... Qd3 50. Re3 Qd1 51. Re7 $5 {is
similar to the game.}) 50. Re2 Qd3 {[%mdl 256] The final phase of the game is
notable for Topalov's valiant defence, in a hopeless situation he continues to
create problems and is finally rewarded for his resourcefulness.} 51. Re7 c4
52. d7 c3 53. Qc6 Qd4 ({The rook can't join in:} 53... Rb8 54. Qc7 {[%csl Rf7]
it must return to protect f7.}) 54. Qc7 $1 {[%cal Re7f7]} Qd3 (54... Nd5 55.
d8=Q $18) 55. d8=Q Rxd8 56. Rxf7+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ Kh8 58. Rge7 h5 $5 (58... Qd4
59. R7e3 $18 {[%csl Rc3]}) 59. gxh5 ({The simplest solution was} 59. Qe5 Qd5+
60. Qxd5 Nxd5 (60... Rxd5 61. R2e6 $18) 61. Re8+ Rxe8 62. Rxe8+ Kg7 63. Rc8 $18
) 59... g4 60. hxg4 Qd5+ (60... Rg8 61. Rh7+ $1 Nxh7 62. Qe5+ Rg7 63. h6 $18)
61. Kg3 (61. Kh2 Nxg4+ 62. Kh3 $18 {is the computer recommendation, but a
human player prefers to avoid a king walk.}) 61... Qd4 (61... Rg8 62. Rh7+ $1
Nxh7 63. Qxc3+ $18) 62. Qf4 Qxf4+ 63. Kxf4 Nd5+ 64. Kf3 $2 {The first serious
error.} (64. Kg5 Rg8+ (64... c2 65. Re8+ Kh7 66. R2e7+ $18) 65. Kh4 c2 66. Rxc2
Nxe7 67. f6 Nd5 68. Rf2 $18 {should win, the pawns are too strong.}) ({Even
better was} 64. Kg3 $1 {, now contrary to the game} c2 (64... Nxe7 65. Rxe7 Rc8
66. Re1 $18) 65. Re8+ Kg7 (65... Kh7 66. Rxd8 c1=Q 67. Rd7+ Kh6 68. Re6+ Kg5
69. Rg6#) {fails to} 66. f6+ $1 Nxf6 (66... Kf7 67. R8e7+ Nxe7 68. fxe7 c1=Q
69. exd8=Q $18 {and there is no perpetual.}) 67. R2e7+ Kh6 68. Rxd8 c1=Q 69.
Rh8+ Kg5 70. Re5# {- here White's king controls the h4-square.}) 64... c2 $1
65. Re8+ $6 {Losing control.} (65. Rxc2 Nxe7 66. f6 Nd5 67. Rc6 $16 {[%cal
Rg4g5] /+- still gives White excellent winning chances.} (67. g5 $2 Nxf6 68.
gxf6 Rd6 69. Rc8+ Kh7 70. Rf8 Ra6 $11)) 65... Kg7 $1 {[]} (65... Kh7 $2 66.
R2e7+ Kh6 67. Re6+ Kg5 (67... Kg7 68. h6+ Kf7 69. g5 $1 $18) 68. Rg6+ Kh4 69.
Re2 $18) 66. h6+ (66. f6+ Nxf6 67. R8e7+ (67. R2e7+ Kh6 $11) 67... Kf8 68. Rc7
Rd3+ 69. Kg2 Nxg4 70. h6 Nxh6 71. Rexc2 $11 {/+/= gives only practical chances
- according to the Tablebases the endgame is a draw.}) 66... Kf7 (66... Kh7 $2
67. Rxd8 c1=Q 68. Rd7+ $18) 67. Rxd8 $6 {Squanders the last opportunity.} (67.
Rxc2 $142 $1 Rxe8 68. g5 Re3+ $16 {/+/= and although White's king must now
retreat to the 2nd rank, he still has winning chances.}) 67... c1=Q $11 68.
Rd7+ (68. Rxd5 Qh1+ 69. Rg2 Qf1+ 70. Kg3 Qe1+ {and White can avoid an
immediate perpetual only at the cost of a rook:} 71. Kf4 Qf1+ 72. Kg5 Qxg2 73.
Rd7+ Kg8 $11) 68... Kf6 69. Rd6+ Kf7 70. Rd7+ Kf6 71. g5+ Kxg5 72. Rxd5 Qf4+ (
72... Qh1+ 73. Rg2+ Kxh6 $11) 73. Kg2 Qg4+ 74. Kf2 Qf4+ 75. Kg1 (75. Ke1 $2
Qh4+ 76. Kd2 Qb4+ 77. Kd3 Qb3+ $19) 75... Qc1+ 76. Kg2 Qc6 77. Red2 (77. Ree5
Qc2+ $11) 77... Kxh6 78. Kg3 Kg5 79. f6+ Kg6 80. R2d3 Qc7+ 81. Rd6 Qc5 {
White's king is too exposed for any winning attempts.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc7 11. Nc3 a6 {[%cal Ya8a7] A rare move. Black plans
to develop his rook via a7.} (11... Qc8) (11... Ne6) ({and} 11... Nc6 {are
seen in practice more frequently.}) 12. Bf4 $146 {Two previous games went
quite successfully for Black:} (12. Ne4 d5 13. Nh4 Bxh4 14. gxh4 Nc6 15. Bf4
O-O 16. Ng5 g6 17. h5 Ne6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. e3 gxh5 20. Kh1 Kh8 {1/2
Khmelniker,I (2411)-Sulskis,S (2528)/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (35) - White has
lost all his compensation for the missing material}) (12. Qf5 O-O 13. Bf4 (13.
Ng5 $1 g6 14. Qh3 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Bxb7 Ra7 17. Bg2 $44) 13... Ne6 14.
Bd6 Ra7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qe5 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nc6 18. Qd5 Ned4 19. Be4 Nb4 20.
Qh5 g6 21. Qh6 Nxe2+ 22. Nxe2 Qxe4 $19 {0-1 Arnaudov,P (2404)-Suba,M (2451)/
Arvier 2010/CBM 137 Extra (66)}) 12... O-O 13. e3 {White prefers to avoid
simplifications.} (13. Ng5 {was possible here, too:} Bxg5 14. Bxb7 Ra7 15. Bxg5
Qxg5 16. Be4 Qh6 17. e3 $44) 13... Ra7 14. Rd2 Ne6 15. Rad1 Nxf4 16. exf4 $44 {
[%csl Gd1,Gd2][%cal Gd2d7]} Qc8 (16... Bf6 $5) 17. h4 d6 18. a3 Nc6 $6 {
Black should be ready to exchange White's knight on d5.} (18... h6 $142) 19.
Nd5 Bd8 (19... b5 $5 {[%cal Yc5c4]}) 20. Ne3 Bf6 (20... Be7 21. Nf5) 21. Rxd6
Nd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. Nf5 $14 Qb8 (24... Bf6 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26.
Rd6 $16 {[%csl Gf5,Rg8]}) 25. Qe4 g6 (25... Bxb2 26. Ne7+ Kh8 $2 27. Nc6 Qc7
28. Rd8 $18) 26. Ne7+ $6 {As a result of Black's inaccuracies, White has
obtained strong pressure but now he complicates his task.} (26. Nxd4 Qxd6 27.
Qxb7 b5 (27... cxd4 28. Qxa6 {with an extra pawn and excellent winning chances.
}) 28. Qc6 Rd8 29. Qxd6 Rxd6 30. Kf1 cxd4 31. Ke2 $14 {_|_}) 26... Kg7 27.
R1xd4 cxd4 28. Qxd4+ f6 29. Nc6 Qc8 30. Kh2 {[%mdl 1024] White's pieces are
very active but that merely compensates for Black's material advantage.} Rc7 (
30... Qf5 $142 $1 {[%cal Yf8e8]}) 31. Qd5 $1 (31. Nd8 Re7 32. Qxb6 Rfe8) 31...
Re8 32. Nd4 Rce7 (32... Kh8 $1 {, evading the knight fork, was the right
defence. White has no decisive blow:} 33. Ne6 (33. Rxb6 $6 Rd7 34. Rd6 Red8) (
33. f5 gxf5 34. Nxf5 $2 Rc5) (33. Rxf6 Rd7 34. Rd6 Rxd6 35. Qxd6 Qc5) 33...
Rce7 34. f5 Qc2 $132) 33. f5 Qc1 $2 {[%mdl 8192] This move definitely loses.
Black's queen has nothing to do on c1.} (33... Re5 34. Qf3 gxf5 35. Rxb6 Qc5) (
33... b5 $5) 34. Ne6+ Kh8 35. Qd4 Qc2 (35... Rf7 36. Rd8 Qc6 37. Qxb6 $1 $18)
36. Qxf6+ Kg8 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38. Qxg6+ hxg6 39. Nf4 Rg7 40. Rxb6 a5 {White has
a decisive material advantage, Black's resistance is absolutely hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 {The Meran Variation.} 9. a3 (9. O-O {and}) (9. e4 {are the main moves,
but 9.a3 is also currently fashionable at the highest level. For instance,
among many other top GMs it was successfully played by Carlsen and Kramnik.
Even Topalov used it on the White side before.}) 9... Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd2
a5 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nge4 Be7 14. Qc2 Rc8 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Ne4 c5 {As a rule of
thumb, if Black succeeds in playing c6-c5 in the Meran he is doing fine. The
present game is no exception.} 17. Nxf6+ gxf6 $5 {One can only admire
Topalov's fighting spirit.} ({Black could easily keep equal prospects with} 
17... Bxf6 18. dxc5 Bxb2 {which actually has been played before. In that case
the position is very drawish. For instance} 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. Qxb2 Kxh7 21. Rac1
Bc6 22. f3 Qc7 23. Bc3 f6 24. Rfd1 Rfd8 25. Rd6 Rxd6 26. cxd6 Qxd6 27. Bxa5 {
and both games in GM practice which achieved this position ended in a draw
soon.}) 18. Rae1 $5 {Vassily Ivanchuk chooses the most ambitious continuation
for White. This creative rook move has several ideas. First of all, the e-file
is very likely to open soon and then the rook will be active on e1. Secondly,
White is ready to place the queen on d1 (on its way to h5) without breaking
the connection between the rooks. True, the rook on f1 is out of play for the
moment, but apparently the Ukrainian GM considered this not such an important
factor.} ({After} 18. Bxb5 cxd4 19. Qb3 f5 20. exd4 {White can hope to remain
with an extra pawn, but in any case Black will have sufficient activity.
Instead, Ivanchuk fights for the initiative himself.}) ({In the event of the
immediate} 18. Qd1 f5 19. Qh5 cxd4 {White is missing the rook on e4 to support
the e3-e4 advance.}) 18... f5 ({The main idea behind 18.Rae1 can be seen in
the following variation:} 18... cxd4 19. Qd1 dxe3 $2 20. Rxe3 {and White
builds a strong attack.}) 19. Qd1 Bg5 20. e4 Qxd4 (20... c4 {might have been
more unpleasant for White, since after} 21. Bc2 Qxd4 22. Bxg5 Qxd1 23. Rxd1
hxg5 24. exf5 exf5 25. Bxf5 Rc5 {Black can try to play for a win without any
risk. His queenside pawn majority is obviously more valuable than his
opponent's majority on the kingside.}) 21. Bc3 $1 ({Ivanchuk avoids the line
from the previous variation, which would have happened after} 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22.
exf5 c4 23. Bc2 Qxd1 24. Rxd1) 21... Qd8 {The queen goes to d8 in order to be
able to support the bishop's retreat to f6, if necessary.} 22. Bxb5 (22. f4 Bf6
) 22... Bxe4 (22... fxe4 23. Qh5 Kh7 24. Rd1 Bd5 25. Bc4 {looks dangerous for
Black from the practical point of view.}) 23. Qh5 Bd2 ({Again} 23... Kh7 24.
Rd1 Bd5 25. Bc4 {is something Topalov wanted to avoid.}) 24. f3 (24. Rd1 Qg5
25. Qxg5+ Bxg5 26. Bxa5 Bf6 27. Bc3 Bxc3 28. bxc3 $11) 24... Bxc3 25. bxc3 Bd3
26. Bxd3 (26. Rd1 c4 27. Qxh6 Qe7 28. Rfe1 Rfd8 {and the position is equal too,
since the black queen comes to f8 to protect the king.}) 26... Qxd3 27. Rxe6
fxe6 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Qxh6+ Kg8 30. Qg6+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bucharest Kings playoff 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2012.11.13"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O e5 8. a3
f6 9. e3 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bf7 12. d4 exd4 13. exd4 cxd4 14. Ne2 Bc5 15. b4
Bb6 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Nexd4 Bd5 18. Nf5 Re8 19. g5 Qd7 20. N3h4 Ne5 21. gxf6 gxf6
22. a4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Nd5 24. Kh1 Kh8 25. a5 Bc7 26. Qh5 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Nxf7 28.
Rad1 Rad8 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Bxf6+ Kg8 31. Rg1+ Kf8 32. Bg7+ Kg8 33. Be5+ Kf8
34. Bxc7 Re4 35. Bb8 Rxb4 36. Bxa7 Rf4 37. Bb6 Rfxf5 38. Nxf5 Rxf5 39. Rc1 Ng5
40. Kg2 Rf7 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. h4 Ne6 43. Kg3 Kg6 44. Rc4 Rd7 45. Rb4 Ng7 {
Topalov lost on time. Which is surprising, considering the 3 seconds increment
per move. A very disappointing result for the Bulgarian Grandmaster.} 0-1

[Event "Bucharest Kings playoff 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2012.11.13"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 7. Qd2 Qe8 8. f3
c6 9. Bd1 b5 10. cxb5 cxb5 11. Nge2 b4 12. Na4 Bd7 13. b3 e5 14. Be3 Rd8 15. d5
Nh5 16. O-O f5 17. Bc2 Bb5 18. Bd3 fxe4 19. fxe4 Nf4 20. Bxb5 Qxb5 21. Nxf4
exf4 22. Bd4 Bxd4+ 23. Qxd4 Rde8 24. Rae1 Nb8 25. Nb2 $1 {It is more important
to improve the position of the knight on a4 than take the pawn (Rogozenco).}
Nd7 26. Nd3 g5 27. Nxb4 Ne5 28. Nc6 Nxc6 29. dxc6 Qxc6 30. e5 dxe5 31. Rxe5 h6
32. Rfe1 Rxe5 33. Qxe5 Qb6+ 34. Kh1 Rd8 35. h3 Qd6 36. Qf5 Rf8 37. Qe6+ Qxe6
38. Rxe6 Kg7 39. Ra6 Rf7 40. Kg1 h5 41. Kf2 Rc7 42. Kf3 Re7 43. Kf2 Rc7 44. Ra4
Kg6 45. h4 Rc2+ 46. Kf3 Rc3+ 47. Kf2 gxh4 48. Rxf4 Rc2+ 49. Kf3 Rxa2 50. Rxh4
Ra3 51. Rb4 a5 52. Rb6+ Kf5 53. Rb5+ Ke6 54. Ke4 a4 55. bxa4 Rxa4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 Re8 10. h3 a5 11. Qc2 e5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. e4 Qe7
15. Kh2 Bd7 16. Bh6 Qc5 17. Rac1 Bc6 18. Nd5 Qxc2 19. Rxc2 Bxd5 20. exd5 Bd6
21. Rfc1 Rad8 22. Bg5 Rc8 23. Bf4 Bxf4 24. gxf4 Rcd8 25. Rxc7 Nxd5 26. Rxb7
Nxf4 27. Rcc7 Rf8 28. Bf1 Ne6 29. Rc2 Rd5 30. Bc4 Rf5 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Kg1
Rg5+ 33. Kf1 Rh5 34. Kg2 Rg5+ 35. Kf1 Rh5 36. Kg2 Rg5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:18:46"]
[BlackClock "0:00:40"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. e3
c4 9. Nd2 g5 10. Bg3 Bf5 {This line was examined in CBM 141, game Radlabov -
Eljanov (annotations by GM Pavel Eljanov).} 11. Be5 {Probably a bit premature.}
(11. Be2 {is more common; here are some recent games:} O-O (11... Nc6 12. h4
Rg8 (12... O-O $5) 13. a3 $5 (13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Rc1 Kf8 (14... Qe7 15. O-O Bxc3
16. Rxc3 b5 17. a4 a6 18. Qa1 b4 19. Rcc1 Ne4 $132 {0-1 (35) Kosteniuk,A (2497)
-Hou,Y (2575) Rostov on Don 2011}) 15. O-O Rh8 16. b3 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 b5 18. bxc4
bxc4 19. Qa4 Rc8 20. Nxc4 $2 Ne4 21. Rcc1 Qf6 $19 {0-1 (37) Riazantsev,A (2705)
-Kulaots,K (2581) Warsaw POL 2012}) 13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 b5 15. O-O Qe7 16. Re1
Kf8 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. e4 $1 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. a4 b4 21. d5 Rd8 22. Bxc4
$14 {1-0 (33) Ding,L (2637)-Wang Hao (2728) Ningbo 2011}) (11... Nbd7 12. O-O
Qa5 (12... O-O 13. f3 Bg6 14. e4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qc1 b5 17. e5 Nh7 18. f4
$16 {1-0 (44) Cheparinov,I (2640)-Cramling,P (2536) Villafranca 2010}) 13. Qc1
O-O 14. a3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rac8 16. f3 Bd3 17. Re1 Rfe8 18. Bd1 Re6 19. Nf1 Rce8
20. Qd2 Nf8 $13 {1-0 (36) Moradiabadi,E (2502)-Dizdar,G (2521) Paris 2006}) 12.
O-O (12. h4 $6 Re8 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Be5 Nbd7 15. f4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 b5 17. g4
Bh7 18. Rh6 Re6 19. fxg5 Nxe5 20. gxf6 Ng6 $17 {0-1 (31) Nyback,T (2636)
-Grandelius,N (2545) Plovdiv 2012}) 12... Re8 13. a3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nc6 15. Re1
b5 $11 {0-1 (31) Eljanov,P (2716)-Morozevich,A (2788)/ Moscow 2008/CBM 126
Extra}) ({The immediate} 11. h4 {is also possible, e.g.} Rg8 12. hxg5 hxg5 13.
Be5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nbd7 15. Qf3 Bg6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qg3 Qb6 18. Qe5+ Kd7 19.
Be2 Rae8 20. Qxg5 Bc2 21. Qf4 Qb2 22. O-O Rxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Rg8+ 24. Kh2 Rh8+ 25.
Kg2 {1/2 (25) Nyback,T (2618)-Kulaots,K (2567) Salo FIN 2012}) ({Finally,
White can go for simplifications:} 11. Bxb8 {[%cal Rd1a4]} Bxc3 $8 12. bxc3
Rxb8 13. Qf3 Bg6 14. h4 gxh4 15. Qf4 b5 16. a3 Rb6 17. Be2 Re6 18. Rxh4 Ne4 19.
Rc1 h5 $13 {1-0 (45) Chiburdanidze,M (2502)-Xu Yuhua (2484) Doha 2011}) 11...
Bxc3 {More or less forced.} (11... Nbd7 $2 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Nxd5 $16) 12. bxc3
Nbd7 13. Bd6 (13. Qa4 O-O 14. Bg3 {is rather illogical:} Re8 15. Be2 Re6 16.
O-O Qe7 17. Qd1 Qa3 $36 {1-0 (54) Zhou Jianchao (2660)-Xiu,D (2508) Xinghua
Jiangsu 2011}) 13... Qb6 14. Bb4 $146 {This move provokes 14...a5 but that is
rather good for Black, who starts advancing his queenside pawns.} (14. Bg3 Qb2
$1 15. Qc1 Qxc1+ 16. Rxc1 b5 17. f3 O-O 18. Kf2 Rfe8 19. a4 a6 20. Be2 Re6 $15
{0-1 (56) Radjabov,T (2740)-Eljanov,P (2751) Astrakhan 2010 CBM 141 [Eljanov]})
(14. Ba3 Qa6 (14... Qe6 15. Qa4 a5 16. Qb5 $14 {Werle,J (2574)-Bartel,M (2599)
Germany 2010}) 15. Bb4 Qe6 16. a4 Ne4 17. a5 g4 18. Be2 Ndf6 19. Nf1 O-O-O $15
{0-1 (30) Gauglitz,G (2465)-Dizdar,G (2500)/Halle 1987/ CBM}) 14... a5 15. Ba3
Qc6 16. Be2 b5 17. O-O Rb8 18. f3 b4 19. Bb2 O-O 20. Rc1 Nb6 {Black has seized
the initiative.} 21. Ba1 Qe6 (21... Rfc8 $5 22. e4 Bg6) 22. e4 dxe4 {The
position now opens up.} (22... Bg6 $5 {and if} 23. exd5 Nfxd5 24. Nxc4 {then}
bxc3 $17 25. Bxc3 $2 Nxc4 26. Bxc4 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Nxc3) 23. cxb4 axb4 24. fxe4
Nxe4 $6 (24... Bxe4 $142 $1 25. Rxf6 (25. Nxc4 Nfd5 $15) 25... Qxf6 26. Nxe4
Qf4 27. Nf2 Ra8 28. Rc2 c3 {Despite White's formal material advantage, his
position is worse, due to Black's strong c3-pawn.}) 25. Bxc4 Nd5 26. Nb3 {
[%mdl 2048] White has considerably activated his pieces.} Bg6 27. Nc5 Qd6 28.
Qf3 Rfe8 (28... Rbe8 $142 $1 29. Nb7 Qd7 30. Nc5 Qd6 $11) 29. Na6 $1 {Suddenly
White wins an exchange. OK, for a pawn, and Black's compensation is obvious
but still Black is not totally safe now. Besides, Peter Leko comes under
tremendous time pressure.} Rb7 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Nc7 Rxc7 32. Rxc7 Qxa2 33. Qh3
(33. d5 $5 {[%cal Ga1h8]} Qxd5 34. h4) 33... Qd5 (33... Kh7 {was quite
possible; well, White could have played} 34. d5 {here, too.}) 34. Qxh6 Nc3 35.
Kh1 $2 (35. Bxc3 $142 bxc3 36. Kh1 Qf5 37. Rg1 c2 38. Rc5 Qf2 39. Rc6 $11)
35... Qf5 36. Rg1 Ne4 37. Rc2 b3 38. d5 f6 39. Re2 Bf7 $2 (39... Ng3+ $4 40.
hxg3 Rxe2 {didn't work due to} 41. g4 $1 Qe4 42. Bxf6 $18) (39... Kf7 $1 {
was the way to obtain an advantage:} 40. d6 Ng3+ 41. hxg3 Rxe2 42. d7 $1 Rd2 $1
{winning the d-pawn (Indicated by GM M.Golubev)} ({but not} 42... Qxd7 $2 43.
Bxf6 Kxf6 44. Rf1+)) 40. d6 Qg6 $2 (40... Bd5 $1 41. d7 Rd8 42. Rc1 $1 {
[%cal Yh1g1]} Bb7 $1 43. Re3 $1 g4 $1 {(M.Golubev)} 44. Rxb3 Rxd7 $132 {
[%cal Rd7h7] is, of course, impossible to find on move 40.}) 41. Qxg6+ Bxg6 42.
d7 Rd8 43. Rd1 $16 {Black has no compensation for the exchange anymore, and
White gradually overcomes the technical difficulties in this ending:} Kf7 44.
g4 Nc5 45. Rd6 Ne4 46. Rd4 Nc5 47. Re3 Bc2 48. Rc3 Nxd7 49. Re3 f5 50. Bb2 fxg4
51. Rd5 Kg6 52. Re7 Ra8 53. Rdxd7 Ra2 54. Rd6+ Kh5 55. Bg7 g3 56. h3 Bg6 57.
Ree6 b2 58. Bxb2 1-0

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 e5 8. O-O
Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. a3 Rc8 13. Rd1 exd4 14. Rxd4 Re8
15. Bg5 Qc7 16. Re1 Nf8 17. Qd1 Ne6 18. Rd2 Nxg5 19. Nxg5 Qc5 20. Nf3 Bf8 21.
h4 h6 22. Rd4 Qa7 23. Bb3 Rc5 24. Qd2 Qa8 25. Qf4 Qc8 26. Red1 a5 27. Nh2 Rxc3
28. bxc3 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 Bxe4 30. Qd2 d5 31. a4 Bc5 32. Kf1 $2 (32. Qf4 {was
needed.}) 32... bxa4 33. Bxa4 Qc7 34. g3 Qc8 $2 (34... Qe5 35. Bb5 Qf5 36. Ke1
Bg2 {gave Black excellent winning chances.}) 35. f3 Bf5 36. g4 Be6 37. Kg2 Bd6
38. Qd4 Qc7 39. Nf1 Be5 40. Qd3 Qxc3 41. Qxc3 Bxc3 42. Ng3 Kf8 43. g5 hxg5 44.
hxg5 Ne8 45. Ne2 Bb4 46. Nf4 Nd6 47. Kh1 Nc4 48. Bc6 Bd2 49. Bxd5 Bxf4 50. Bxe6
fxe6 51. Rd4 Bxg5 52. Rxc4 Ke7 53. f4 Bf6 54. Rc5 a4 55. Ra5 a3 56. Rxa3 g5 57.
fxg5 Bxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:36"]
[BlackClock "1:10:44"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Kh1 Nh5 11. g4 Nf6 12. Bf4 h5 13. Nf5 $1 {[%mdl 512] This
interesting piece sacrifice was found just recently.} (13. g5 {is the main
theoretical move.}) 13... gxf5 14. gxf5 {[%cal Yf1g1,Gg1g8]} d5 {Black failed
to parry White's attack in two previous games:} (14... Nbd7 15. Rg1 Kh8 16. Qe1
Ne5 (16... Nh7 $5 {needs checking}) 17. Qh4 Nh7 18. Qxh5 Qe7 19. Rg3 Nd7 20.
Rag1 Ndf6 21. Qh4 Nxe4 22. Qxh7+ $1 Kxh7 23. Rxg7+ Kh8 24. fxe4 $18 {1-0 (35)
Shomoev,A (2557)-Ganguly,S (2626) Moscow 2013}) (14... Kh8 15. Rg1 Nh7 16. Bxd6
Nd7 17. Qd2 Be5 18. Bxe5+ Rxe5 19. f4 Re8 20. Bxh5 Qe7 21. Qg2 Qf8 {1/2 (39)
Antic,D (2473)-Markovic,M (2486) Pozarevac 2013} 22. e5 $16) 15. cxd5 cxd5 16.
e5 $6 (16. Rg1 $142 $1 $40 {(Indicated by GM M.Golubev), e.g.} dxe4 17. Nxe4 $1
Qxd1 (17... Nxe4 18. fxe4 Qxd1 19. Raxd1 Kh8 20. f6 $1 Bxf6 21. Rd5 Bg4 22.
Bxg4 hxg4 23. Rxg4 $18) (17... Bxf5 18. Nd6) 18. Nxf6+ Kh8 19. Raxd1 Bxf6 20.
Rd6 Nd7 21. Bb5 $16) 16... Bxf5 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Nxd5 Qxb2 19. Ne7+ $1 Rxe7
20. Qd8+ Kh7 (20... Bf8 $142 $1 {, which apparently led to equality:} 21. Rg1+
(21. Bc4 Nd7 $1 22. Qxa8 Re4 $3) 21... Bg4 22. fxg4 Nd7 $1 (22... h4 $143 23.
Bf3) 23. gxh5+ Kh8 24. Qxa8 Rxe2 {(M.Golubev)} 25. Rae1 $1 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Qf2
27. Bg3 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Kh7 29. Bf2 Qg4+ 30. Bg3 Qf3 $11) 21. Qxe7 Bg6 (21... Nc6
$2 22. Qxf7 Bg6 23. Bd3 $1 Bxd3 24. Qxh5+ Kg8 25. Qd5+ $18) 22. Rad1 $6 (22.
Qe8 $142 $1 $16 {keeping Black's queenside frozen.} Qb4 23. Bg3 Bxa1 $6 24.
Rxa1 {is obviously bad for Black.}) 22... Nc6 23. Qe3 Qxa2 {Black has two
pawns for the exchange. White finally manages to capture one of them but
doesn't get winning chances:} 24. Bd3 Rd8 25. Bxg6+ fxg6 26. Rxd8 Nxd8 27. Be5
Ne6 28. Ra1 Qd5 29. Bxg7 Nxg7 {White's king is too exposed.} 30. Qe4 (30. Rxa7
Nf5 31. Qe2 {is hardly sufficient either.}) 30... Qd7 31. Rxa7 Qd1+ 32. Kg2
Qd2+ 33. Kh3 Qd7+ 34. Kg2 Qd2+ 35. Kg3 Qd6+ 36. f4 Kh6 37. Rxb7 Nf5+ 38. Kg2
Qd2+ 39. Kg1 Ne3 40. Rh7+ Kxh7 41. Qe7+ Kg8 42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qe7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 Bg4 {
This move is not so popular nowadays.} (7... O-O {is more common.}) 8. Re1 {
This may also arise via C87 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Bg4 8.d3.} Nd7 {Immediately
transferring the N to the <<.} (8... O-O {is the main alternative.}) 9. h3 ({
The another lines are} 9. Be3) ({and} 9. Nbd2) 9... Bh5 ({Black's main plan is
} 9... Bxf3 10. Qxf3 {and} Bg5 {to exchange the dark-squared B} 11. Be3 {
is similar to the game.} (11. Qg3 {looks more ambitious, but after} Bxc1 12.
Qxg7 Bxb2 13. Qxh8+ Ke7 (13... Nf8 $6 14. Nd2 Bxa1 15. Rxa1 Qg5 16. Nf3 {
with some pressure.}) 14. Qxd8+ Nxd8 15. Nd2 Bxa1 16. Rxa1 $11 {Black is
closer to an equal endgame.})) 10. Be3 (10. Nbd2 {is also possible, but first
White develops his B.}) 10... b5 ({7 years ago, Topalov had a game with} 10...
h6 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nbd2 h5 13. g5 Nb6 14. Bb3 h4 15. a4 d5 $1 16. a5 d4 17. cxd4
exd4 18. Bf4 Nd7 $13 {Topalov-Mamedyarov, Wijk aan Zee 2006; with a very
unclear struggle.}) 11. Bc2 (11. Bb3 {is another alternative keeping the B on
the a2-g8 diagonal.}) 11... Nb6 $146 (11... h6 {preparing Bg5} 12. Nbd2 Bg5 13.
Nf1 Qf6 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nxg5 hxg5 16. Qd2 Qf3 17. Ng3 Rxh3 18. Bd1 Rxg3+ 19.
fxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kf1 Nc5 $44 {Palac-I.Sokolov, Sibenik 2011}) 12. Nbd2 O-O 13.
Nf1 Rb8 {It lookes like a strange move, but Black protects his N and prepares
for d5.} ({The immediate} 13... d5 $6 {could have been met by} 14. Bxb6 $1 cxb6
15. d4 $1 exd4 16. exd5 Na5 (16... Qxd5 17. Be4 $18 {loses a piece.}) 17. Ng3
Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Bf6 (18... dxc3 $2 19. Qe4 $18) 19. Ne4 $16 {and White is better.
}) 14. Ng3 (14. a3 $5 {is a very interesting prophylactic move. White prepares
for Bb3 and in the event of Na5 he can reply with Ba2.} Bxf3 ({in the event of
} 14... d5 15. Bxb6 Rxb6 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Ne3 Qd8 18. Bb3 {White is very
active. The b3 B and e3 N work well together.}) 15. Qxf3 Bg5 16. Bb3 (16. b4 $5
) 16... Na5 17. Ba2 $14 {showing the main idea of a3.}) 14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bg5
16. Nf5 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 ({After} 17. fxe3 {the white P wouldn't be so flexible.})
17... Ne7 18. d4 c5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. h4 $5 {A very ambitious move. It
prevents Ng6 and causes some unpleasant problems for Black to avoid h5-h6.} Qd6
21. Red1 Qe6 22. a4 $1 {A very good move. Since Black is preventing White's
h5-h6 threats, Topalov suddenly starts to play on the queenside.} Rfd8 ({
In the case of} 22... Nxa4 23. Bxa4 bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rxb2 25. Nc4 $36 {followed
by Rd6 with a strong initiative.}) 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Ra6 Qc6 26.
c4 $1 b4 27. Ba4 $1 {Topalov improves his B and protects his Q side with Bb5.}
({The computer suggests} 27. Nd5 {, but after} Nexd5 28. exd5 Qb7 29. Ra1 Ra8
30. Rxa8+ Qxa8 {Black can hold the position.}) 27... Qb7 28. Bb5 Nbc8 29. Ng4
Nd6 30. Nxe5 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Nxe4 32. f3 Ng3 33. Kf2 {White's advantage is
undeniable, as all of his pieces are more active than Black's and the B is
also stronger than the N.} Ngf5 (33... Nh1+ 34. Ke1 $14) 34. h5 f6 35. Nd7 Rc8
36. Ba4 $1 {Threatening with Ra5.} Nd4 37. h6 $1 f5 38. Ke3 (38. hxg7 Kxg7 39.
Ke3 b3 {transposes to the game.}) 38... b3 ({If} 38... gxh6 39. Nxc5 Nxf3 40.
gxf3 (40. Kxf3 Rxc5 41. Rb6 $16) 40... Rxc5 41. Kd4 Rc8 42. c5 $16 {then White
is also better.}) 39. hxg7 Kxg7 40. Kd3 Nc2 41. Kc3 f4 42. Ra7 Kg6 43. Bxb3 $18
Ne3 44. Nxc5 $1 N7f5 45. Ra6+ Kh5 46. Ne6 Kh4 47. Nxf4 Kg3 48. Nd3 Kxg2 49. c5
Kxf3 50. Be6 Rd8 51. Bxf5 Nxf5 52. Rf6 Ke4 53. Re6+ Kf3 54. b4 h5 55. Ne5+ Kf4
56. Nf7 Rf8 57. Nd6 Nxd6 58. Rxd6 Rh8 59. b5 h4 60. b6 h3 61. b7 h2 62. Rd1 Ke4
63. Kc2 $1 {A very good practical move.} ({Topalov avoids the Q vs R ending.
After} 63. c6 h1=Q 64. Rxh1 Rxh1 65. b8=Q Rc1+ 66. Kd2 Rxc6 {which is also
winning, but the text move is easier.}) 63... Rg8 64. c6 Rg2+ 65. Kc3 Rg3+ 66.
Kc4 Rg1 67. b8=Q h1=Q 68. Rd4+ Kf5 69. Qf4+ Kg6 70. Rd6+ Kh7 71. Qf5+ Kh8 72.
Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11. Nge2 Bf5 12. Be5 O-O 13. Nd4 Re8 14. Nxf5 Rxe5
15. Nxh6+ Kg7 16. Ng4 Re7 17. O-O-O Bxc3 18. f3 Qxa2 19. fxe4 Qa1+ 20. Qb1
Bxb2+ 21. Kc2 Qa4+ 22. Kxb2 Rxe4 23. Rd4 Rxd4 24. exd4 Qxd4+ 25. Ka3 Qxg4 26.
Qxb7 Qd4 27. Qxa8 Qc3+ 28. Ka2 Qc2+ 29. Ka3 Qc3+ 30. Ka2 Qc2+ 31. Ka3 Qc3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O Ba6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qa4 Qc8 11. Bd2 Re8 12. a3 Bf8 13. b4 c5 14. bxc5 bxc5
15. Rab1 c4 16. Rb2 Nc7 17. Rfb1 a6 18. Rb6 Re6 19. Rxe6 fxe6 20. Ne5 Nb5 21.
Nxb5 axb5 22. Qxb5 Bxa3 23. f3 Bd6 24. Qc6 Qxc6 25. Nxc6 Ra2 26. Bb4 Bc7 27.
Be1 Ra6 28. Nb4 Ra3 29. Nc2 Ra2 30. Rc1 Kf7 31. Nb4 Ra3 32. Nc2 Rb3 33. h3 Ke8
34. Kf1 Kd7 35. Ke2 e5 36. Ra1 Rb2 37. Kd1 exd4 38. exd4 Nh5 39. Bd2 Bb6 40. g4
Nf6 41. Ba5 Ne8 42. Bxb6 Rxb6 43. Ne3 Nc7 44. Ra5 Rb5 45. Rxb5 Nxb5 46. Nxd5
Nxd4 47. Nb6+ Ke6 48. Nxc4 Nxf3 49. Ke2 Ng1+ 50. Ke3 Nxh3 51. Nd2 Ng5 52. Kf4
h6 53. Nb3 Kf6 54. Nd2 Ne6+ 55. Kg3 Nc5 56. Nc4 Nd3 57. Ne3 g6 58. Nc4 Ke6 59.
Ne3 Ke5 60. Nc4+ Kd5 61. Nb6+ Ke4 62. Nd7 Ne5 63. Nf6+ Ke3 64. Ng8 Nf7 65. Ne7
g5 66. Ng8 Ke4 67. Nf6+ Ke5 68. Ng8 Ke4 69. Nf6+ Ke5 70. Ng8 Ke4 71. Nf6+ Ke5
72. Ng8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({In 2008 Morozevich came up with} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. Nf3 Na6 7. c6 $5 {Morozevich,A (2788)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/
Moscow/2008/ and scored a resounding win against Ponomariov in the Tal
Memorial. For details see the notes to this game in CBM 126 by Krasenkow, I'm
mentioning this because of the similarity: In our game the creative Russian GM
will come up with another novelty at an early stage, also involving the
advance of a c-pawn.}) 1... c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3
({The other main move is} 6. a3 {Here are two recent games by Tkachiev which
featured the less usual} Nxd4 (6... Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O
Bb7 11. Bf4 $11 {/+/=, Carlsen,M (2848)-Polgar,J (2705)/London/2012/ For more
details about the whole line see the extensive notes to this game in CBM 152})
7. Qxd4 b6 8. Qf4 Bb7 9. e4 Be7 $5 $146 ({Black doesn't hurry with} 9... d6 10.
Bd3 Be7 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Rd1 a6 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfe1 Bf6
17. Kh1 g6 18. Rc1 Bg7 19. Bf4 Be5 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. b4 Nf6 22. Qe3 Rfd8 23. f3
Kg7 24. Bf1 Rd4 25. c5 $1 bxc5 26. Na4 $36 {Tkachiev,V (2644)-Hamdouchi,H 
(2602)/Nancy rpd/2013/}) 10. Bd3 ({More testing is to accept the challenge with
} 10. e5 $5 Nh5 11. Qg4 g6 12. Bh6 f6 13. Be2 Qc7 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Qh3 $13 {
/+/=}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Qb8 12. Qf3 a6 13. Bf4 d6 14. Qh3 Nd7 15. Nd5 exd5 16.
Qxd7 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe7 Re8 19. Qxd6 Qxd6 20. Bxd6 Rac8 21. Rfc1 Rc6
22. Bg3 Rec8 23. b3 b5 24. Re1 Bc2 25. cxb5 axb5 26. a4 Bxb3 27. axb5 Rb6 28.
Rec1 Rxc1+ 29. Rxc1 f6 30. Rc8+ Kf7 31. Rb8 Rxb8 32. Bxb8 h5 $11 {Tkachiev,V 
(2650)-Ivanchuk,V (2758)/Gibraltar/2013/ Due to the opposite-coloured bishops
Black easily held the endgame.}) 6... Qb6 7. Nb3 ({The text move is played
more often than} 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8. Bg2 ({The more topical alternative} 8. Bf4 Nfg4
{was analysed in the notes to the aforementioned game Carlsen-J.Polgar.}) 8...
a6 9. Na4 ({The older} 9. Qa4 Rb8 10. Be3 Bc5 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. Qa3 b6 $11 {
promises Black easy equality.}) 9... Qa5+ {Another recent novelty is} 10. Nbc3
$5 $146 (10. Bd2 $6 Qd8 11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 $6 (12. c5 $142 $1 $132) 12...
Nxc4 13. Bb4 d5 14. Qb3 Bd7 15. O-O Rc8 16. Rfc1 a5 17. Be1 O-O $17 {
Kleeschaetzky,R (2220)-Holloway,T (2160)/Bundesliga2N/2008/}) 10... Nxc4 11. b3
Nb6 (11... Na3 $5 12. O-O d5 13. e4 (13. Be3 Nd7 $15) 13... b5 14. exd5 Bb7 (
14... bxa4 15. dxe6 Qxc3 16. Bd2 $32 {|^}) 15. Ne4 bxa4 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. dxe6
Rd8 18. Qe2 Bxg2 19. e7 Bxe7 20. Bxa3 O-O 21. Bxe7 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Rd2 23. Qf3
Qe5 $11) 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. O-O Be7 (13... d5 14. e4 $44) (13... Qa5 $5 14. Bd2
Qd8 $13) 14. Na4 Qd8 15. Be3 d5 16. Bb6 Qd6 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Bc7 Qa3 19. Nb6 O-O
20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc2 Bc6 22. Qc1 Qxc1 23. Rfxc1 Ba3 24. Rb1 $14 {Kramnik,V 
(2801)-Gelfand,B (2739)/Alekhine memorial Paris/St Petersburg/2013/ White's
small material advantage gives him winning chances, but after a long defence
Gelfand managed to save the game.}) 7... Ne5 8. e4 Bb4 9. c5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]}
({Until now White, without a second thought, has played almost exclusively} 9.
Qe2 {, but in 2013 Black has been doing fine after} d6 {Morozevich's most
recent outing with this line prompted him to look for earlier improvements:}
10. Bd2 (10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Bg2 e5 $5 ({More ambitious
than} 13... O-O $11 {, mentioned in the notes to Carlsen-J.Polgar}) 14. c5 (14.
O-O b6 $13) 14... b6 $146 (14... Bg4 15. Qb5 a6 16. Qb6 Qxb6 17. cxb6 Be6 18.
O-O-O Ke7 {Ftacnik,L (2568)-Kovacevic,A (2582)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} 19.
Kb2 $11) 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. O-O O-O 17. Rfd1 (17. f5 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Qa3 19. Rxd8+
Nxd8 20. Bg5 Ba6 21. Qd2 Qe7 22. Rd1 Nb7 23. Bf3 Rd8 $15 {Radjabov,T (2793)
-Gelfand,B (2740)/Candidates London/2013/}) 17... Qe7 18. f5 h6 19. g4 Rd8 20.
h4 h5 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 22. gxh5 Kh7 23. Bg5 Bb7 24. Bf3 Rc8 25. Qg2 Bc6 26. Kh2
Nb7 27. Nd2 Nc5 28. Rg1 Rg8 $132 {Civitillo,A (2447)-Zautzig,H (2555)/corr/
2010/}) 10... O-O (10... a5 11. f4 Nc6 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Bg2 e5 $1 $11 {Fridman,
D (2667)-Anand,V (2780)/Baden-Baden/2013/ also solves Black's opening problems,
for more details see the notes to this game in CBM 153.}) 11. O-O-O a5 12. f4
a4 13. Na1 ({A new, but rather clumsy idea. White refrains from the complex} 
13. fxe5 axb3 14. a3 dxe5 $13) 13... Nc6 14. Nc2 a3 15. b3 d5 $5 (15... Bc5 16.
Be3 Qa5 $132) 16. Bg2 (16. e5 dxc4 $1 {/\} 17. exf6 $6 cxb3 18. Nxb4 Nxb4 19.
axb3 a2 20. Kb2 Rd8 $17) 16... dxc4 17. Qxc4 Bxc3 (17... Ng4 $5 $132) 18. Qxc3
Ng4 19. Qf3 e5 20. f5 Nf6 (20... Bxf5 $5 21. exf5 Rac8 22. Qxg4 Nd4 23. Be4 h5
24. Qh4 Rxc2+ 25. Bxc2 Rc8 26. Qe4 Rxc2+ 27. Qxc2 Nxc2 28. Kxc2 Qc6+ 29. Bc3
Qe4+ 30. Kd2 Qd5+ 31. Kc1 Qc6 $11) 21. Bg5 Qc5 22. Kb1 b6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Rd5
Qe7 25. Rhd1 Ra5 26. Qe3 (26. Qf2 $5 $36) 26... Nd4 $1 27. Nxd4 exd4 28. R1xd4
Bxf5 $11 {Morozevich,A (2758)-Grischuk,A (2764)/RUS-chT/2013/}) 9... Qc6 $1 {
Here the parallel with Morozevich-Ponomariov ends: while Ruslan was surprised,
the Bulgarian GM reacted quickly and confidently. Topalov had obviously done
some research of his own and anticipated White's attempt beforehand.} (9...
Bxc5 10. Nxc5 Qxc5 11. Be2 $44 {[%csl Gc1][%cal Yc1e3,Ye3f4] gives White good
compensation - he has two bishops and potentially promising play on the dark
squares.}) 10. f3 (10. Bg2 Qb5 {practically forces} (10... b6 11. Bf4 d6 (11...
Nc4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. e5 Nd5 14. bxc3 $14 {/\} O-O 15. Qg4 Kh8 16. Bh6 $1 gxh6
17. Qxc4 $16) 12. cxd6 (12. Qxd6 Qxd6 13. cxd6 Nd3+ 14. Kd2 Nxf4 15. gxf4 Bb7
$11 {/=/+}) 12... Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Kf1 Nd3 15. e5 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qxe5 17.
Qc2 Nc5 18. Bf4 Qh5 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Re1 Nxf4 21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Bxa8 Bb5+ 23.
Kg1 Nh3+ 24. Kg2 Nf4+ $11) 11. Bf1 Qc6 $11 {White certainly didn't reveal his
novelty to immediately repeat moves.} ({Perhaps Topalov himself would have
gone for the fighting, but very risky line} 11... Qa4 12. f3 Nxe4 13. fxe4
Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxe4+ 15. Qe2 Qxh1 16. Qxe5 O-O $13)) 10... b6 11. Bf4 {Both
sides continue playing concrete chess, the following series of moves is
practically forced.} (11. cxb6 Nxe4 $1 (11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 axb6 $36) 12. fxe4
Qxe4+ 13. Qe2 Qxh1 14. Qxe5 Ba6 15. Nd2 Bxf1 16. Nxf1 O-O $32 {-/+}) 11... Ng6
12. Bd6 bxc5 (12... Nxe4 $2 13. fxe4 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxe4+ 15. Kf2 Qxh1 16. Bg2
$18 {[%csl Ra8]}) 13. a3 (13. Kf2 Bxc3 14. bxc3 c4 15. Nc5 Nd5 16. Bxc4 Qxd6
17. Qd4 Ne5 (17... f5 18. exd5 e5 19. Qe3 f4 20. gxf4 Nxf4 21. Ne4 Qc7 22. Qc5
Qxc5+ 23. Nxc5 d6 24. Ne4 $132) (17... O-O $5 18. exd5 e5 19. Ne4 $13) 18. exd5
Nxc4 19. Qxc4 O-O $15 {/\} 20. Rhd1 Rb8 21. dxe6 $6 Rb2+ 22. Kg1 Qc6 23. Qd5
Qxd5 24. Rxd5 fxe6 $36) 13... Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 a5 $1 {[%cal Ya5a4,Yc8a6] Another
strong move, which Topalov obviously prepared at home and still played fast.
Black frees his potentially trapped rook and prepares to unravel his queenside.
} (14... Nxe4 $143 $6 {still isn't ideal:} 15. fxe4 Qxe4+ 16. Kf2 Qxh1 (16...
Bb7 17. Rg1 Qf5+ 18. Ke1 $16 {[%csl Gd6]}) 17. Bg2 Qxh2 18. Qh1 $36 {[%csl Ra8]
} (18. Qf3 $6 Rb8 $1 19. Bxb8 Nh4 $13) (18. Nxc5 $5 {[%cal Rd1f3,Rd1h1]})) 15.
e5 (15. Nxc5 Nd5 $1 16. exd5 (16. e5 f6 $36 {[%csl Re5]}) 16... Qxd6 $15) (15.
Kf2 c4 16. Nc5 Nd5 $11 {/=/+ is similar to the 13.Kf2 line above, with only
the moves a3 and a5 inserted. As in both cases White has to fight for equality,
Morozevich supports his powerful Bd6 instead. The problem is that not only
Black, but also White lacks development.}) 15... Nd5 {Here Black already had a
choice and he opts for the safest line.} (15... a4 16. Nd2 (16. Nxc5 Nxe5 $15)
16... Ng4 17. Nc4 $44) ({However, there are two other moves, which can't be
discarded outright:} 15... Ne4 16. Bb5 (16. fxe4 Qxe4+ 17. Kf2 Qxh1 18. Bg2
Qxd1 19. Rxd1 a4 $5 $17) 16... Qxb5 17. fxe4 Ba6 18. Rb1 $5 $13 {Although the
open f-file might be dangerous for Black, it's difficult to see how White
could directly profit from it.}) (15... Ng4 $5 16. Bd3 (16. fxg4 Qxh1 17. Nxc5
{is interesting, but speculative - in the future Black can free his kingside
with f6 (just as in the game).}) 16... f5 {[%csl Re5]} 17. exf6 (17. Qe2 c4 18.
Bxc4 N6xe5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxc4 21. Qxg7 Rf8 $15) (17. Bb5 Qxb5 18. fxg4
fxg4 19. Rf1 Ba6 $36) 17... Nxf6 18. Bxg6+ hxg6 19. Qd3 Kf7 $15 {[%cal Rc5c4,
Yf6e8,Yd7d6,Ye6e5]} 20. Nxc5 $2 Rh5 $1 $19) 16. Bd3 ({Morozevich couldn't make
lines like} 16. c4 $6 Ne3 17. Qe2 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Qxf3 19. Nxc5 Qxh1 {work and
his initiative starts fading away.}) ({Krasenkow's suggestion is} 16. a4 $5 {
[%cal Rf1b5] , which could have led to a number of more or less forced draws:}
Nxc3 (16... Ba6 17. Nxa5 Qb6 18. Nc4 Qc6 {A simpler try is} 19. Na5 $142 $11 (
19. Qb3 Nxe5 $5 (19... f6 20. Na5 c4 21. Qb2 Qc8 22. exf6 gxf6 23. f4 Qd8 24.
Nxc4 (24. Nb7 Qc8 25. Na5 Qd8 $11) 24... Qc8 25. Qb3 Qc6 26. Ba3 Ndxf4 27. Nd6+
Kf8 $13 (27... Ke7 $5)) 20. Bxe5 f6 21. Na5 (21. Nd6+ Ke7 $36) 21... c4 (21...
Qc8 22. Bc4 (22. Bf4 Bxf1 23. Nb7 O-O 24. Rxf1 c4 $44 {|^}) 22... fxe5 23. Bxd5
Rb8 24. Qa2 Qc7 25. Nc6 exd5 $5 (25... dxc6 26. Bc4 $14) 26. Nxb8 Qxb8 {
[%csl Re1]} 27. Qxd5 Qb2 28. Qxe5+ Kd8 29. Qg5+ Kc8 (29... Ke8 30. Qe5+ $11)
30. Qxc5+ Kd8 31. Qa5+ Ke8 32. Qxa6 Qxa1+ 33. Ke2 Qxh1 34. Qc8+ Kf7 35. Qxh8
Qxh2+ $11) 22. Qb8+ (22. Nxc6 cxb3 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 $15) 22... Rxb8 23. Nxc6 Rb6
24. Nb8 fxe5 25. Nxa6 Rxa6 26. Bxc4 $11)) 17. Qd2 Ne4 (17... Qxf3 $4 18. Bg2)
18. fxe4 Qxe4+ 19. Kf2 Bb7 20. Be2 Qg2+ 21. Ke3 Qe4+ $11) 16... f6 $1 {[%mdl
32] Undermining White's central outpost is crucial for Black's strategy.} 17.
Bxg6+ (17. c4 $5 {deserved attention:} fxe5 (17... Ne3 18. Qe2 fxe5 19. Bxc5
Nf5 20. Rd1 $13 {[%cal Rd3e4]}) 18. cxd5 (18. Bxc5 Nf6 $15 {[%cal Ra5a4,Yc8b7,
Yd7d6]}) 18... Qxd6 19. dxe6 Qxe6 20. Nxc5 Qb6 21. Rc1 $132) 17... hxg6 18. Qd3
Kf7 19. Nd2 (19. Nxc5 fxe5 20. Ne4 Ba6 21. c4 $1 (21. Ng5+ $2 Kg8 22. Qxg6
Qxc3+ 23. Kf2 Qd2+ 24. Kg1 Qd4+ $19) 21... Rh5 (21... Nf6 22. Rc1 Rh5 {only
transposes}) (21... Bxc4 22. Ng5+ Kf6 $8 23. Ne4+ Kf7 $11) (21... Qxc4 22. Qxc4
Bxc4 23. h4 $44) 22. Rc1 Nf6 23. O-O $13 {/=/+}) 19... c4 $1 $36 {From now on
Morozevich is definitely fighting only for equality.} (19... Ba6 20. c4 $13)
20. Qd4 $5 (20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Ba6 22. Nxa5 Rac8 $36) 20... Qb6 $1 {
The queen swap lessens the potential danger for Black's king.} (20... Ne7 21.
g4 $5 {is less clear-cut}) 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Rb1 Nd5 23. Ne4 g5 $1 {Another
important link in the strategic chain - Black discourages h4.} 24. Kd2 (24. h3
$5 $15) 24... Rh3 $1 25. Nf2 Rh5 26. Rb5 (26. h4 $142 gxh4 27. Rxh4 $15 {
and getting the Bc8 into the game is still not easy.}) 26... a4 27. h3 Ba6 28.
Rc5 Bb7 29. Rb1 Bc6 30. Rxc4 Ne7 $1 {[%cal Ye7g6] Black has gladly returned
the extra pawn to activate his bishop.} 31. g4 Rhh8 32. Ke3 $6 $138 {
Morozevich was already down to his last 6 minutes and the text move is not
ideal.} (32. f4 $142 $1 gxf4 33. exf6 (33. Rxf4 Ng6 $17) 33... gxf6 34. Bxe7
Kxe7 35. Rxf4 $15 {leads to a pleasant endgame for Black, but his advantage is
still far from decisive.}) 32... Ra5 $1 {Finally forcing White to relinquish
his central outpost. Compare this position with the one after move 16!} 33.
exf6 ({Here White can't even exchange the knight as in the previous note:} 33.
Bxe7 $2 Rxe5+) 33... Nd5+ $5 34. Kd2 gxf6 {[%csl Gd7,Ge6,Gf6][%cal Ye6e5,Yf7e6]
[+]} 35. f4 $8 gxf4 36. Bxf4 Rb5 (36... e5 $142 37. Bg3 Nc7 $5 $36 {[%csl Ra3]
[%cal Yc7b5,Ya5d5]}) 37. Rxb5 Bxb5 38. Rd4 (38. Rc5 {is interesting but White
was obviously worried about} Nxf4 (38... Bf1 39. Bd6 Bxh3 40. c4 $132) (38...
Bc6 39. Bg3 {and now} e5 $6 {isn't with tempo as in the game, so White has} 40.
g5 $1) 39. Rxb5 Nxh3 40. Nxh3 Rxh3 41. Rb4 Rh4 (41... Rh2+ $5) 42. Rxa4 f5 $36)
38... Bc6 39. Bg3 (39. Be3 $5 {/\} e5 40. Rd3 Rb8 41. c4 $15) (39. c4 Nxf4 40.
Rxf4 e5 41. Rf5 Kg6 $17) 39... e5 40. Rc4 Rb8 41. Nd3 $1 {[%cal Yd3b4,Yg3e5]
After the time-control White finds the best chance - activating his knight.} (
41. g5 $2 Rb2+ 42. Kc1 Ne3 $1 43. Kxb2 (43. Rb4 Rc2+) 43... Nxc4+ 44. Kc1 fxg5
$19 (44... f5 $19)) 41... Rb3 (41... Ke6 $5 42. Nc5+ Kd6 $17) 42. g5 $2 ({
The consistent move was} 42. Bxe5 $1 Rxa3 $5 (42... fxe5 43. Nxe5+ Ke7 44.
Nxc6+ dxc6 45. Rxc6 $5 (45. Rxa4 Rxc3 $17) 45... Rxa3 46. g5 $132 {and
fighting against the kingside passed pawns will most probably cost Black his
last winning hope - the Pa4.}) 43. Bd4 Ra2+ 44. Kc1 Bb5 (44... Rh2 $5 45. Nf2
Nf4 $17) 45. Rc5 Bxd3 46. Rxd5 Ke6 47. Ra5 a3 $17 {gives Black good winning
chances, but the game is not over yet.}) 42... e4 (42... Bb5 $142 $1 43. Rc5
Nb6 {[%cal Rb6c4] /\} 44. gxf6 d6 $1 45. Rc7+ Kxf6 $19 {[%csl Ra3]}) 43. Nf4 (
43. Rxe4 Nxc3 44. Re3 Nb1+ (44... Ne4+ 45. Kc2 (45. Kc1 Nxg3 46. Rxg3 Be4 47.
Kd2 Rxd3+ 48. Rxd3 Bxd3 49. Kxd3 fxg5 50. Kc4 Ke6 51. Kb4 Kd5 $19) 45... fxg5 (
45... Nxg5 $5) 46. Be1 $17 {/-+}) 45. Ke2 Nxa3 $5 46. gxf6 Bb5 47. Bh4 Kf8 $19)
43... Nxf4 (43... e3+ 44. Kd3 Ne7 $5 {[%cal Rc6b5]} 45. Rc5 (45. Kxe3 Nf5+ 46.
Kf2 Rb2+ $19) 45... d6 46. Ra5 Bb5+ 47. Kxe3 fxg5 48. Ne2 Nf5+ 49. Kf2 Rb2 50.
c4 Bd7 51. Ke1 Rb3 $17 {/-+}) 44. Bxf4 Rxa3 (44... fxg5 $142 $1 45. Bd6 (45.
Bxg5 Rxa3 {transposes to the game after} 46. Rc5 Ra2+ $19) 45... Ke6 46. Bb4
Rb2+ 47. Ke3 Rh2 $19) 45. Rc5 fxg5 46. Bxg5 {Eases Black's task.} ({A more
resilient try was} 46. Rxg5 $1 Ra2+ (46... d5 47. Rf5+ Ke6 48. Re5+ Kd7 49. Rh5
$17) 47. Ke3 {/\} a3 $6 ({Black has a large advantage, but he must still work
for the full point after} 47... Ra1 $17 {or}) (47... Rc2 $17) 48. Rf5+ $1 Kg6
49. Rg5+ Kf6 50. Ra5 Ra1 51. c4 {[%cal Rf4e5]}) 46... Ra2+ 47. Ke3 a3 $19 {
[%cal Ya2a1,Ya3a2] White has no effective defence against the advance of the
Pa3.} 48. Bf4 Ra1 49. Rf5+ Ke6 (49... Kg6 50. Rg5+ Kf6 {-49...Ke6}) 50. Re5+
Kf6 51. Ra5 d5 $6 (51... a2 $142 $1 52. Kf2 (52. Be5+ Ke6 53. c4 Rh1 54. Bd4
Rxh3+ 55. Ke2 Rh2+ $19 (55... d5 $5 {/\} 56. Rxa2 Rh2+ 57. Bf2 d4 $19 {[%csl
Gd4,Ge4]})) 52... Ke6 (52... e3+ $6 53. Bxe3 Rh1 54. Bd4+ Kf7 55. c4 $17) 53.
c4 d5 54. cxd5+ Bxd5 55. Bd2 Rh1 56. Bc3 Rxh3 $19) 52. Kd4 $6 (52. c4 $1 Ke6 $1
(52... a2 53. cxd5 Re1+ (53... Bxd5 54. Rxd5 Re1+ 55. Kf2 Rf1+ (55... a1=Q 56.
Be5+ Qxe5 57. Rxe5 $11) 56. Ke2 Rxf4 57. Ra5 $11) 54. Kf2 (54. Kd4 $2 Rd1+ 55.
Kxe4 Bxd5+ $19) 54... Ba4 (54... a1=Q 55. Rxa1 Rxa1 56. dxc6 $11) 55. Rxa4 a1=Q
56. Rxa1 Rxa1 57. h4 $11 Kf5 58. Bg5 Ke5 59. h5 Kxd5 60. h6 {is already a TB
draw (even with the pawn only on h4).}) 53. Kd4 Bb7 $17 {still retains good
winning chances.}) 52... a2 {[%cal Ra1d1]} 53. Bd2 (53. Kc5 Kf5 54. Bh6 Bb5 55.
Kxb5 Rb1+ 56. Kc6 a1=Q 57. Rxa1 Rxa1 58. Kxd5 Rd1+ 59. Kc4 Rd3 $19) 53... Bb5
$1 {[%cal Rb5c4,Ra1d1]} 54. Kxd5 (54. Rxb5 Rd1 55. Ra5 a1=Q (55... Rxd2+ 56.
Ke3 Rd3+ 57. Kf2 Rxh3 $19) 56. Rxa1 Rxa1 {/\} 57. c4 Rd1 $19) 54... Rd1 55.
Kxe4 (55. Rxa2 e3 $19) 55... a1=Q {[%mdl 2] An extra rook is too much. With
this game Topalov took the sole lead and ran away with the tournament.} 0-1

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 Qb6 14. Rhe1 O-O
15. Nf5 exf5 16. Rxe7 Qd8 17. Re2 Ne4 18. g3 Ndf6 19. Nh4 Qd7 20. Qf3 Qxd4 21.
Nxf5 Qe5 22. Bc1 Rfe8 23. Rde1 Re6 24. g4 Rae8 25. Ka1 Qd5 26. Qa3 Nxg4 27.
Nxg7 Kxg7 28. f3 Nef6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Rxe6 Qxe6 31. fxg4 Qxg4 32. Qxa7 Qxh5
33. Qxb7 Qh1 34. Kb1 h5 35. Qc7 h4 36. Qf4 Ne4 37. a4 h3 38. a5 Qe1 39. a6 Nd2+
40. Ka2 Qxc1 41. Qg5+ Kh7 42. Qh5+ Kg7 43. Qg5+ Kh7 44. Qh5+ Kg7 45. Qg5+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Margvelashvili,G"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Before this game, Topalov was leading the tournament and had half point
more than Caruana. So it was one of Caruana's last chances to catch Topalov.
No wonder he chose a very aggressive set-up with White.} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O (9... h5 {
This move has been played by Topalov previously. The idea is to prevent g4 and
develop an attack on the queenside. On the other hand the h5-pawn almost
denies Black an opportunity to castle short.}) 10. O-O-O {Caruana and Topalov
have castled on opposite sides. Now the question is whose attack will be
faster.} a5 $5 {Topalov tries to push his pawn to a4 and then possibly to a3,
getting rid of the knight from b3 and weakening Caruana's queenside pawns.} 11.
a4 {Preventing the above mentioned plan.} Na6 {We will see on the next move
why Topalov developes his knight on a6, and not c6.} 12. Bb5 Nc7 $1 {Strong
move. Topalov wants to exchange the b5-bishop that defends Caruana's position
on the queenside, and also prepares for a possible d5-push.} (12... Nb4 {
is more natural, but in many variations this knight is misplaced on b4.}) 13.
Bb6 {Caruana cannot afford to give up his b5-bishop, so he decides to exchange
the dark-squared bishop for the c7-knight.} (13. Be2 {this retreat is too slow,
since after} d5 $1 {Black developes a big initiative in the center.}) 13... Qc8
14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. g4 {Caruana proceeds with his own plan. He wants to get rid
of the f6-knight and occupy the d5-square.} Rfd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18.
exd5 g6 19. Kb1 {The opening phase of this game is over and we can draw some
conclusions. Both kings are defended very well, and neither side can develop
an attack. But whereas Black has a clear plan of pushing f6 and attacking the
weak f3-pawn, White's plan is less obvious. Probably the best Caruana can do
is to bring the b3 knight to e4. Overall, I think Topalov's position is
slightly preferable and easier to play.} Rf8 $1 20. Qe3 Qd8 (20... Nf4 21. h4
f6 {was already possible, with a slight advantage for Black.}) 21. h4 Nf4 22.
Qg1 h6 $5 {Topalov deviates from his original plan. He wants to exchange the
h6-pawn for the g5-pawn, which would allow him to push ...f5 and dominate in
the center.} 23. Nd2 Kg7 24. gxh6+ Kxh6 {The king looks dangerously placed on
h6, but Caruana does not have enough resources to cause any troubles.} 25. Nc4
Qc7 26. Qe3 Kh7 27. h5 $1 {A strong move by Caruana: sacrificing a pawn to
open files.} g5 $1 {Topalov is correct to decline the pawn sacrifice.} (27...
Nxh5 $4 {would just lose a game.} 28. Rdg1 f5 29. f4 $1 {with the following
Qf3 and Black has no defence against Rxh5.}) (27... gxh5 {is possible, but
risky. For example:} 28. Nb6 Rad8 29. Rd3 $1 {preparing Rc3 followed by Nd7.})
28. h6 f5 29. Qd2 {Freeing the e3-square for the knight, which can attack the
f5-pawn from there. This position is very complicated, which means that plan
with ...f6 was better than Topalov's h6-plan.} Rf6 30. Rdg1 Rg6 31. Ne3 Rf8 32.
Nc4 $6 {Not a good move.} (32. Ng2 $1 {is the right move, exchanging the
f4-knight} Nxg2 33. Rxg2 Bd8 34. Bd3 {with a slight advantage for Caruana.})
32... Bd8 $1 33. Rd1 Rff6 34. Qf2 Rxh6 35. Qa7 $2 {In time trouble Caruana
makes several inaccurate moves.} (35. Ne3 {is better.}) 35... Rxh1 36. Rxh1+
Rh6 37. Qg1 $6 (37. Rxh6+ Kxh6 38. Qg1 {was more accurate, since it would not
allow Topalov to place his rook on h4.}) 37... Rh4 $1 38. Ne3 Qf7 39. Ng2 $6
Rxh1 40. Qxh1+ Qh5 41. Qxh5+ Nxh5 42. Ne3 Ng3 43. Kc1 Kg6 44. Kd1 g4 $6 (44...
e4 $1 45. fxe4 Nxe4 46. Bd7 Ng3 {and White cannot stop the black pawns from
advancing.}) 45. fxg4 f4 46. Nc4 $2 {The final mistake by Caruana.} (46. Nf5 $1
{aiming for an opposite coloured bishop ending that has huge drawing
tendencies.} Nxf5 47. Bd3 f3 48. Kd2 Kg5 49. Bxf5 Kf4 50. Kd3 Kg3 51. Be4 Kxg4
52. c3 {and it is not clear to me how Topalov was going to win this position.})
46... Bc7 {Now it is over.} 47. Bd7 Kg5 48. Ke1 f3 49. Ne3 Bb6 {Topalov's
pawns are unstoppable, so Caruana resigned. A very intense game, where Caruana
took a lot of risks, but in the end Topalov just played a better game.} 0-1

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A64"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. a4 a6 12. a5 b5 13. axb6 Nxb6 14. Nb3 Bf5 15.
Na5 Ne4 16. Bd2 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 h5 18. e3 h4 19. Rfe1 Qg5 20. Na4 Reb8 21. Nc3
Qh5 22. f3 Qh8 23. g4 Bd7 24. h3 f5 25. g5 f4 26. exf4 Bd4+ 27. Kh1 Qg7 28. Bf1
Re8 29. Ne4 Kh8 30. Nxd6 Rxe1 31. Rxe1 Rf8 32. Re4 Nxd5 33. Nb3 Bc6 34. f5 gxf5
35. Rxh4+ Kg8 36. Nxd4 cxd4 37. Bc4 Qe5 38. Qxd4 Qxd6 39. Rh6 Qe7 40. Bxd5+
Bxd5 41. Rh8+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c6 2. g3 d6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. c4 e5 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. d3
Nbd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Be3 Ne8 11. Qd2 Nc7 12. Nh2 f6 13. d4 Bf7 14. b3 b5 15. cxb5
cxb5 16. Rfd1 b4 17. Na4 a5 18. Rac1 Nb5 19. Nf3 Rb8 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Ng5 Bxg5
22. Bxg5 Qe8 23. Be3 Be6 24. Qe2 h6 25. Kh2 Nf6 26. f4 exf4 27. Bxf4 Nd7 28.
Rxd6 Nxd6 29. Bxd6 Rc8 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Bxf8 Nxf8 32. Nb6 Qc7 33. Nd5 Qe5 34.
Nf4 Bf7 35. Qa6 Ne6 36. Nd5 Ng5 37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Qf5+ Qxf5 39. exf5 Be8 40. Ne3
Nf7 41. Nc4 a4 42. Bd5 axb3 43. axb3 h5 44. Kg2 Kh6 45. h4 g5 46. fxg6 Kxg6 47.
Bxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A55"]
[WhiteElo "2608"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e4 e5 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. d5
Nc5 9. Nd2 a5 10. b3 Bd7 11. a4 Ne8 12. Ba3 Nc7 13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Nf3 Bf6 15.
Qd2 Na6 16. Rad1 Ra7 17. Qe3 Qb8 18. Kh1 h6 19. Rg1 Qc8 20. g4 g5 21. h3 Qd8
22. Nh2 Qb6 23. Rb1 Raa8 24. Nf1 Nb4 25. Ng3 Nc2 26. Qf3 Qd8 27. Nf5 Kh7 28.
Bd3 Nd4 29. Nxd4 cxd4 30. Ne2 Bg7 31. Ng3 Qf6 32. Nf5 Kh8 33. Kg2 Rfe8 34. Rh1
Rac8 35. Rh2 Bxf5 36. gxf5 Qd8 37. Qh5 Qf6 38. Re1 Bf8 39. h4 g4 40. Qxg4 Bb4
41. Kf1 Rg8 42. Qh5 Bxe1 43. Kxe1 Rg1+ 44. Ke2 Rcg8 45. c5 cxd5 46. exd5 e4 47.
Bxe4 d3+ 48. Bxd3 R8g4 49. Rh3 Rf4 50. Bc2 Kg7 51. Re3 Rxh4 52. Qf3 Rhh1 53.
Qf4 Re1+ 54. Kd2 Rxe3 55. Qxe3 Qa1 56. Qg3+ Kf6 57. Qd6+ Kg7 58. Qg3+ Kf6 59.
Qd6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2868"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. e3 g6 4. Bb2 Nf6 5. c4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. Nd5 Bc6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bxf6
exf6 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 16. Rfd1 f5 17. f3 Kg7 18. Kf2 Kf6 19. h4 h6 20. Be2 g5 21.
hxg5+ hxg5 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rd1 Rxd1 24. Bxd1 f4 25. g3 Ke5 26. b4 Bd5 27. a3
f5 28. gxf4+ gxf4 29. Be2 b6 30. Bd1 Bc4 31. exf4+ Kxf4 32. Bc2 Bd5 33. Bd1 Bc4
34. Bc2 Ke5 35. Kg3 Be6 36. Bb1 f4+ 37. Kh4 Kd4 38. Kg5 Ke3 39. Be4 Bd7 40. Bd5
Kd4 41. Be4 Kc3 42. Kxf4 Kb3 43. Bd3 Kxa3 44. b5 Kb4 45. Ke5 Bxb5 46. Bc2 a5
47. f4 a4 48. Kd4 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c6 2. g3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. c4 e5 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. h3 a6 11. a4 a5 12. e4 Bf8 13. Be3 exd4 14. Nxd4 Ne5 15. b3
g6 16. Rd2 Ned7 17. Rad1 Nc5 18. Bg5 Bg7 19. Nde2 Qb6 20. Rxd6 Nfd7 21. Nd5
Qxb3 22. Qxb3 Nxb3 23. Nc7 Re5 24. Nxa8 Rxg5 25. Rxd7 Bxd7 26. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bg4 3. e3 e6 4. Bb2 Nf6 5. d3 a5 6. a3 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 Bd6 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Nxf3 O-O 10. Be2 c6 11. O-O Qe7 12. c4 Rfd8 13. Qc2 Nf8 14. e4 dxe4 15.
dxe4 e5 16. c5 Bxc5 17. Nxe5 Bd4 18. Bxd4 Rxd4 19. Nf3 Rxe4 20. Bd3 Re6 21. Bc4
Nd5 22. Rfd1 Rd8 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qc3 Ra6 25. Nd4 Ne6 26. Nf5 Qg5 27. Qe5 g6
28. Rxd5 Rxd5 29. Qxd5 Qxf5 30. Qxb7 Rd6 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 Kg7 33. b5 Rd2
0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e3 d6 3. b3 e5 4. Bb2 Nf6 5. d4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 e4 7. Nfd2 d5 8. f3
exf3 9. Qxf3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Bg4 11. Qf2 Bh5 12. c5 Nbd7 13. O-O Be7 14. b4 Bg6 15.
Bxg6 hxg6 16. h3 Nf8 17. Nc3 Ne6 18. Nf3 O-O 19. a4 Qb8 20. b5 Bd8 21. Ba3 Bc7
22. Rab1 Bg3 23. Qc2 Qd8 24. Ne2 Bc7 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Rb7 Ne4 27. Nc3 Ng3 28.
Rfb1 Re8 29. Qf2 Re7 30. a5 Nf5 31. a6 Bg3 32. Qd2 Qa5 33. Rxe7 Nxe7 34. Nxd5
Qd8 35. Nxe7+ Qxe7 36. e4 Nc7 37. Qd3 Rd8 38. Rb7 Qe6 39. Ng5 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Bb2 Nf6 5. Bb5 e6 6. c4 Bd6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Bg4 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. Rc1 a6 13. Be2 Ba7 14. h3 Bh5 15.
Nh4 Bg6 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Bf3 d4 18. exd4 Bxd4 19. Na4 Bxb2 20. Nxb2 Nd4 21.
Rxc8 Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Qxc8 23. Nc4 b5 24. Ne3 Qc3 25. Qe2 Re8 26. Rd1 Qe5 27. Qc2
Ne4 28. Rd5 Qf4 29. Rd3 Qf6 30. Nd5 Qe5 31. Ne3 Kh7 32. a4 bxa4 33. bxa4 Rb8
34. Rd5 Qa1+ 35. Rd1 Qe5 36. Rd5 Qf4 37. Rd4 f5 38. Rd7 Qe5 39. Nc4 Qc5 40. Ne3
Qxc2 41. Nxc2 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Nxf2 43. Nd4 Ne4 44. Ne6 g5 45. h4 g4 46. Ng5+ Nxg5
47. hxg5 Kg6 48. Kg3 Kh5 49. Rxg7 Rb4 50. a5 f4+ 51. Kh2 Ra4 52. g6 Rxa5 53.
Rf7 Kxg6 54. Rxf4 Kg5 55. Rc4 Kh4 56. Rb4 Ra2 57. Rc4 a5 58. Rd4 a4 59. Rc4 a3
60. Ra4 Ra1 61. Rb4 Rc1 62. g3+ Kg5 63. Rb5+ Kf6 64. Ra5 Rc2+ 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A55"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 Nd7 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1
a6 9. b4 Qc7 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rd1 h6 12. h3 Nf8 13. Be3 Ng6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15.
Na4 Be6 16. Bb6 Qb8 17. Nc5 Nf4 18. Nxe6 Nxe6 19. c5 Bd8 20. Bc4 Bxb6 21. cxb6
Re7 22. a4 a5 23. b5 c5 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Qxc5 Qf8 26. Rbc1 Nxe4 27. Qd5 Nf6
28. Qxb7 Rb8 29. Qa7 e4 30. Nd4 Rexb6 31. Nc6 R6b7 32. Qxa5 Re8 33. Rd8 Kh7 34.
Rxe8 Qxe8 35. Qc3 Rd7 36. b6 Rd3 37. Qe5 Qd7 38. Qc7 Rd1+ 39. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 40.
Kh2 e3 41. fxe3 Nd5 42. Qd6 Qb3 43. Nd4 Qxe3 44. Qxd5 Qf4+ 45. Kg1 Qc1+ 46. Kf2
Qd2+ 47. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2013.05.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 e6 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. e3
a5 9. a3 O-O 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Ne8 12. O-O Bf6 13. d4 Nd6 14. Ne5 a4 15. Nd3
axb3 16. cxb3 Re8 17. a4 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Rc1
Qb6 22. Rc3 Ne4 23. Rd3 g6 24. Qc2 Re7 25. Rd4 Ng5 26. Qc3 Ne6 27. Rd2 Qc5 28.
Rc1 Qxc3 29. Rxc3 f5 30. h4 Kf7 31. Bf3 Kf6 32. Bd1 h6 33. b4 g5 34. b5 cxb5
35. axb5 Rd7 36. Bf3 Rad8 37. Kh2 d4 38. exd4 Nxd4 39. Rb2 Nxf3+ 40. Rxf3 Rd2
41. hxg5+ hxg5 42. Rfb3 R8d5 43. Rxd2 Rxd2 44. Kg2 g4 45. b6 Ke6 46. Kf1 Kd6
47. f3 gxf3 48. Rxf3 Rd5 49. Rb3 Kc6 50. Ke2 Rb5 51. Rd3 Kxb6 52. Rd6+ Kc7 53.
Rf6 Rd5 54. Ke3 b5 55. Rg6 b4 56. g4 fxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2868"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 ({It is interesting to compare the line played in
this game with that obtained by symmetry:} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 d5 {
This idea had been developed by Korchnoi as a complement to the Grünfeld, one
of his favoured openings half a century ago. He won a couple of games against
6.Bg5, but in his comments he considered} 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Ndb5 Nxc3 8. Qxd8+
Kxd8 9. Nxc3 Bg7 10. Bd2 {to be better, slightly favouring White on account of
Black's impossibility to castle. Things are not entirely clear, though, since
the king can reach safety anyway.} Nc6 11. g3 Be6 12. Bg2 Rc8 13. O-O Kc7 ({
Black's coordination looks less harmonious after} 13... Ke8 14. Rfc1 b6 {
Gheorghiu,F (2520)-Petrosian,T (2645) Skopje 1972 (1/2, 32)}) 14. Bf4+ Kb6 15.
Rac1 {Fomichenko,E (2492)-Andonov,B (2326) Rennes 2008 EXT 2009 (1-0, 59)} Rhd8
{with similar play (with reversed colours) as in one of the lines below.}) 3...
Nc6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. d4 {The only way to prevent Black setting up the
Maroczy bind with reversed colours.} cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ndb4 {Not the only possible
reaction, but surely a natural one.} 8. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Nxc6 10. Nc3 ({
Ulf Andersson, in his best days the world's greatest expert at getting an
endgame advantage out of nothing, almost never refrained from a move like} 10.
Bxc6+ {White can hardly claim an advantage here, but the weakness of the pawns
will stay there forever, giving Ulf a clear plan of play.} bxc6 11. Nc3 e5 12.
Be3 h5 (12... Be6 13. Kc2 Bb4 14. Na4 Bf5+ 15. Kc1 a5 16. Bc5 O-O-O 17. Bxb4
axb4 18. Rd1 Kc7 19. b3 h5 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Ra8 23. Kb2 Rd8
24. Kc1 Ra8 25. Ra1 Ra5 26. Kb2 c5 $11 {Andersson,U (2605)-Sax,G (2610)
Brussels 1988 (1/2, 44)}) 13. h4 Bb4 14. Kd2 Ke7 15. Rhc1 Rd8+ 16. Ke1 Be6 17.
a3 Bxc3+ $6 {Black mistakenly thought that the opposite coloured bishops would
make his defence easier.} (17... Ba5 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Ga5b6]}) 18. Rxc3 Bd5 19.
b4 Rdb8 20. Bd2 Ke6 21. Rc5 Rb5 22. Rcc1 f6 23. a4 Rb7 24. Rc5 $14 {Andersson,
U (2560)-Stean,M (2540) Sao Paulo 1979 (1-0, 52)}) 10... Bd7 {This is not so
much a way to prevent Bxc6+, as it is a preventive measure against Nd5 or Nb5.}
(10... g6 11. Nd5 $36) (10... e5 11. Nb5 $36) 11. Be3 (11. Nd5 O-O-O) (11. Nb5
Kd8) 11... g6 (11... O-O-O {1/2 Kramnik,V (2758)-Kasparov,G (2851)/Frankfurt
2000/CBM 078/[Stohl] (32)}) 12. Rc1 Bg7 13. Kc2 $146 {Entirely in the spirit
of a game mentioned above.} (13. f4 {1-0 Smirin,I (2590)-Alterman,B (2615)/
Dresden 1998/CBM 065/[Stohl] (49)}) (13. Ke1 h5 14. h3 Nd4 {1/2 (14) Izoria,Z 
(2602)-Mikhalevski,V (2572) Lake George 2005}) 13... Rc8 (13... Bf5+ 14. Kb3 {
only helps White activating his king. In certain lines, having the b2-pawn
defended would be quite useful, allowing Na4-c5 or Nd5.} Na5+ (14... Be6+ 15.
Ka3 Rc8 16. Na4 $14) 15. Kb4 Nc6+ 16. Ka3 Rc8 17. Nd5 $14 {[%csl Ga7,Gb7][%cal
Gd5b4] One of the threats is Nb4, putting serious pressure on the black
queenside pawns. here too, the usefullness of the king on a3 is obvious.}) 14.
Rhd1 Na5 15. Bd4 ({If} 15. Kb1 {White has to reckon with a continuation in the
style of Ulf:} Bxc3 $5) 15... Bf5+ 16. e4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Be6 18. b3 f6 19. f4
Kf7 20. Kb2 Rhd8 $11 {Black has normal development and White's space advantage
does not count that much. Both participants displayed high fighting spirit,
but the equality will persist, with one exception, until the end.} 21. Rcd1
Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Nc6 23. Rd2 h6 24. Bf3 Bh3 25. Nb5 h5 26. Be2 h4 $6 {This coud
have led to some problems.} 27. Bc4+ $6 (27. gxh4 $5 a6 (27... Rh8 28. h5 gxh5
29. f5 a6 $6 30. Bc4+ Kg7 31. Nc7 $16) 28. Nc3 Rh8 29. h5 gxh5 30. Na4 $14)
27... Be6 28. Bd5 hxg3 29. hxg3 a6 30. Nc3 Rd8 31. Na4 Bxd5 32. exd5 Nb4 33.
Nc3 Nc6 34. Ka3 Na7 35. Kb4 Nc8 36. Ne4 Nd6 37. Nc5 Rc8 38. Ne6 b6 39. Rh2 Nf5
40. g4 Ne3 41. Rh7+ Ke8 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Rxc8 Kxc8 44. g5 Nxd5+ 45. Kc4 Ne3+
46. Kd4 Nf5+ 47. Ke4 Kb7 48. Nf8 Nd6+ 49. Kd5 fxg5 50. fxg5 Nf7 51. Nxg6 Nxg5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
d4 Nf6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Ne5 $146 ({Deviating from the natural developing
move} 10... Bd7 {which eventually led Black to defeat in Carlsen,M (2872)
-Gelfand,B (2740)/London 2013/CBM 154/[Nielsen,PH] (1-0, 48)}) 11. h3 Be7 12.
c4 Ng6 13. Nc3 Qc7 {Black's position would be absolutely comfortable if he did
not have the weakness on b6. Still, in the game White did not manage to get
anything special out of it.} 14. Na4 Bd7 15. Qb3 O-O 16. Qb6 Qe5 17. Bd2 Ne4
18. Nc3 Qc5 19. Qxc5 Nxc5 20. b3 Rac8 21. Be3 Rfd8 22. Red1 Be8 23. g3 Ne5 24.
Bg2 Nc6 $11 {Black is perfectly mobilised and has no problems at all.} 25. Nxc6
Bxc6 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27. f4 Kf8 28. Kf2 Ke8 29. Ke2 Rb8 30. g4 f5 31. Rac1 g6 32.
Rd4 Rxd4 33. Bxd4 Rd8 34. Rd1 Nd7 35. Na4 Bd6 36. gxf5 exf5 37. Kf3 Be7 38. Nb2
Nf8 39. Be3 Rxd1 40. Nxd1 Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. Rg1 {The main line is 12.g5, but
nowadays the text move has become very popular. Actually Anand was the first
to play it himself in 2006 against Morozevich.} Nb6 (12... b4 {is the other
possibility.} 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 a5 15. g5 Nh5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nc1 {with a
slightly better position for White. Now we can understand the main idea behind
the 12.Rg1 move, that the R will join the battle from g4!}) 13. Na5 $1 {
A very typical reaction in this 12.Rg1 line. White avoids Nc4 and also
prepares for a positional P sacrifice after Nd5.} Rc8 ({In the event of} 13...
Qc7 14. g5 Nh5 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxa5 18. Kb1 ({or} 18. Bd3 {
. White has sacrificed a P, but the d5 square and the B pair give a nice
compensation for that. White's plan is Rg4 and c4, or Be4.})) 14. g5 Nh5 15.
Kb1 Nf4 {Topalov prevents Nd5, so b4 is threatening now.} (15... b4 {is too
early, as} 16. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 17. exd5 Qxa5 18. dxe6 fxe6 19. Bh3 {and Black
cannot protect the e6 P. For example:} Kf7 $2 20. g6+ $1 hxg6 21. Qg2 $18 {
and White wins.}) (15... g6 {was a game between Anand-Karjakin} 16. Nd5 (16. a3
$5 Qc7 (16... Nf4 {is transposing to the game.}) 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19.
Qxd5 Qxa5 20. Bd3 Rfd8 21. Rg4 Rb8 22. Rh4 $1 {A very strong move. Now Black
can't avoid Rxh5 and Qe4 with a decisive attack.} Qc7 23. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 24. Qe4
f5 25. Qxf5 Bf8 26. g6 $18 {with a winning attack, Ter Sahakyan-Y.Wei, Athens
2012.}) 16... Nxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxa5 19. c4 (19. Bd3 $5) 19... Nf4 (
19... Rb8 20. Rg4 Ng7 21. h4 Nf5 22. Bf2 Bd8 23. cxb5 axb5 24. Bd3 b4 25. Qb3
$44 {Anand-Karjakin, Nice rapid 2009}) 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Qxb5 Qa7
$13 {with a double-edged fight.}) 16. a3 g6 $146 {The first novelty in the
game.} (16... Qc7 {was an alternative} 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Bxd5
20. Qxd5 Qxa5 21. Bd3 g6 22. h4 Rc5 23. Qe4 Re5 24. Qxf4 Rb8 25. c3 Qb6 26. Bc2
a5 27. Bb3 $36 {and White has some initiative, Dominguez Perez-Van Wely, Wijk
aan Zee 2010.}) 17. h4 Qc7 (17... d5 {could have been met by} 18. Bxf4 exf4 19.
Nxd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Qxa5 22. Bd3 Rfd8 23. Qb3 Rc5 24. Be4 $14 {
and White is slightly better, because his B is stronger, than his opponent's.})
18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 20. exd5 Nxd5 {This is forced, otherwise Nc6 is
very unpleasant.} 21. Qxd5 Qxa5 (21... Qxc2+ $2 {is only a check,} 22. Ka1 {
and now we can understand 16.a3, otherwise White gets mated on the back rank
with Qc1.}) 22. Rg4 $1 {The R comes immediately into play. White wins back the
P, then thanks to his better B and the attack with h5, his chances are better.}
(22. Bd3 {transposes to 16...Qc7.}) 22... Rc5 23. Qb3 d5 ({In the event of} 
23... Rf5 24. Bd3 {followed by Rxf4.}) 24. Rxf4 {Now we can understand Anand's
17th move. The g5 P is protected} Qc7 25. Rfd4 Qh2 {Topalov wants to
complicate the play, he tries to create some counterplay with his Q in the
opponent's position.} ({After} 25... Rd8 {White can continue with} 26. f4 $1 {
and White's position is more promising, he threatens with Bg2 or f5.}) 26. c3 {
A deep cold-blooded reaction. Anand doesn't hurry with the takes on d5. The
plan will be understandable on the next move.} Rd8 27. Qc2 $1 {This is the
point of c3. White would like to exchange the Q, as the endgame is much better
to him.} Qg3 {Of course...} (27... Qxc2+ $6 28. Kxc2 f6 29. f4 $16 {followed
by Bg2 and the d5 P is lost.}) 28. f4 {Prepares for Bg2.} Bd6 $6 ({Probably} 
28... Qxh4 {should have been played, however White has also a slight advantage
after} 29. Bg2 Rc4 $1 30. Bxd5 Rxd4 31. Rxd4 $14 {but still Black has some
drawing chances after} Kf8 {.}) 29. Bg2 Bxf4 30. Bxd5 {White has a big
advantage, because his B is much better and the f7 P is also very weak.} Kg7
31. Qe4 $1 $16 {A very strong move again... Anand protects the d5 B and
prepares for Rf1!} Qe3 (31... Be5 $2 {loses to} 32. Rf1 $1 Bxd4 33. Qxd4+ $18)
32. Qh1 $1 {Of course... White doesn't change Q, as he hopes for some attack.}
Rd7 33. R1d3 $6 (33. Qf1 $1 {was the best and in the event of} Be5 34. R4d3 $1
Qf4 35. Rf3 $1 $18 {White wins.}) 33... Qe5 $2 {Loses immediately, but Black's
position was already difficult.} (33... Qf2 34. Qe4 $1 (34. Rf3 $2 Qxd4 $1 35.
cxd4 Rc1+ {and Black escapes.}) 34... Qxh4 35. Bb3 $1 {and Black's position is
hopeless.}) ({Maybe} 33... Qe2 {gives the best chance, but after} 34. Rd1 {
White can improve his pieces.}) 34. Qf3 $1 $18 Bh2 35. Be6 {A very pretty
winning move, although it wasn't the only one.} ({The simple} 35. Bb3 $18 {
was also good.}) 35... Re7 36. Re4 Rxe6 37. Rxe5 Rcxe5 38. Rd8 Re4 39. Ka2 Bf4
40. Rd7 Kg8 41. Ra7 {This was a nice win by Anand!} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2608"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. e3 $5 {Kramnik's recent novelty from
the Candidates Tournament seems to have appealed to one of his historical
rivals...} Bg7 $146 {Of course, any natural fifth move is likely to be a
novelty, since there is no practical material available. Curiously, it was the
current game and not Kramnik's that unchained a real fury in this line: in the
following days and weeks, there were several games at high/top level with it.}
(5... dxc4 6. Ne2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Na3 Nbd7 9. Nxc4 Nb6 10. b3 $146 (10. Na5 {
1/2 (59) Kramnik,V (2810)-Gelfand,B (2740)/London 2013/CBM 154/[Krasenkow,M]})
10... Re8 11. Ba3 Nxc4 12. bxc4 e5 {White has better control in the centre,
but this does not really bother Grünfeld adherents. Still, as the game
continued, White retained an edge which was only enough to reach a drawn
opposite bishops ending with an extra pawn} 13. d5 cxd5 14. cxd5 Bg4 15. Rb1
Qa5 16. Rb3 e4 17. h3 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Nxd5 19. Rc1 Rad8 20. Rc5 Qa4 21. Qc4 Qxc4
22. Rxc4 b6 23. Ra4 a5 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Nc3 26. Bc6 b5 27. Bxb5 a4 28.
Rb2 Rb8 29. Bc4 Rxb2 30. Bxb2 Ne2+ 31. Bxe2 Bxb2 {Zoler,D (2533)-Roiz,M (2617)/
Legnica 2013 (1/2, 40)}) (5... Bf5 6. Ne2 Qd7 7. b3 Bh3 8. Bxh3 Qxh3 9. Nf4 Qf5
{This really looks provocative. What about some developing moves?} 10. O-O Nbd7
11. f3 dxc4 {This also looks like a concession.} 12. bxc4 Qa5 13. Qb3 e5 14.
Nd3 O-O-O {White has the centre, is better developed and has the safer king's
position. Still, the whole advantage will vanish in just a couple of moves.}
15. Bd2 $6 {Placing the bishop on a vulnerable square and helping the queen
retreat to a safe square, covering b7.} (15. Na3 $1 {[%cal Ga1b1]}) (15. Nc3 $1
) 15... Qc7 16. Na3 e4 17. Nf2 ({The point is that after} 17. fxe4 Nxe4 {
the bishop is attacked and there is no time for Rxf7.} 18. Be1 Bh6 $132) 17...
exf3 $13 {Rodshtein,M (2638)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2710)/Legnica 2013 (0-1, 22)})
6. Ne2 O-O 7. O-O b6 8. b3 Bb7 ({Slightly later, Topalov had this line again,
but Black deviated:} 8... a5 $146 9. Nf4 Ba6 10. Nd2 e6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. Bb2 Rc8
13. Rc1 Qe7 14. Rc2 Rfd8 15. Qa1 {White hopes to complete his regrouping with
Rfc1 and retain his space advantage, but Black's counterplay strikes at once.}
c5 $1 16. Rfc1 cxd4 17. exd4 Bh6 18. Ba3 Qe8 19. Nxd5 $5 {Otherwise it would
be hard to justify the knight's development on f4, but the complications will
eventually leave Black on top.} Nxd5 (19... exd5 $2 20. Re1 $18) 20. cxd5 Rxc2
21. Rxc2 exd5 22. Bxd5 Nc5 23. Bg2 Bg7 24. Bb2 Nd3 25. Bf1 Qd7 26. Nc4 Nxb2 27.
Qxb2 Bxd4 $15 {Topalov,V (2793)-Kamsky,G (2741)/Thessaloniki 2013 (1/2, 47)})
9. Nbc3 {A common rule of the Catalan opening (with which this position bears
some similarity) says that after ...Bb7 White can safely develop his knight on
c3, since ...Ba6, attacking c4, would imply a loss of time.} Nbd7 10. a4 {
[%cal Ga4a5,Gc1a3] As we know already, a favourite move of Topalov in this
line.} Re8 11. Ba3 e6 12. Rc1 {White is builidng up his pressure gradually and
Black felt like undertaking some concrete action.} Ba6 13. Qc2 Rc8 (13... dxc4
14. Bxc6 Rc8 15. Bg2 {[%cal Gb3b5]} cxb3 16. Qxb3 Bc4 17. Qb2 a6 18. Rfd1 Qc7
19. Nb1 Qb8 20. Nec3 {[%cal Gb1d2]}) 14. Qa2 {Some hidden virtues of a2-a4 are
revealed now: the a2-square is available for the queen.} Bf8 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16.
Rfd1 Qe7 17. Nf4 {In the absence of the dark-squared bishops, this is a safe
square for the knight.} dxc4 {A typical reaction for a Grünfeld player, but it
does not yield equality.} (17... Rfd8 18. Nd3 Bb7 (18... c5 19. Nb5 $1 $16) 19.
a5 $36) 18. bxc4 e5 19. Nd3 exd4 (19... e4 20. Nf4 $14 {[%cal Ga4a5]}) 20. exd4
Qd6 21. Ne2 (21. a5 $5 bxa5 (21... Qxd4 22. Ne2 Qg4 23. Ndf4 $16 {After
over-defending the e2-knight, White threatens axb6 attacking the bishop, but
also Bh3.}) 22. Na4 $14) 21... Rfe8 22. Nef4 Rcd8 23. h4 {White's position is
very pleasant, but the main psychological problem is that on virtually every
move he has pleasant choices.} (23. a5 $5) 23... c5 24. dxc5 $5 {Spoiling the
structure for the sake of occupying the d5-square and getting chances for a
kingside attack.} Nxc5 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 Nxd3 27. Rxd3 Qc7 28. Qd2 (28. h5
Bc8 29. Qa1 {[%csl Gf6][%cal Gh5h6]}) 28... Bb7 (28... Bc8 $5 29. h5 Bf5 30.
Re3 gxh5 $14 {looks like a better dfeensive plan.}) 29. h5 Bxd5 30. cxd5 $16 {
White has a strong passed pawn and serious kingside pressure. Since some of
Alekhine's games with just major pieces on board, it is known that Black is in
serious trouble.} Qe5 $6 ({Such a pawn should be blocked.} 30... Qd6 $16) 31.
h6 {Principled, strong, probably winning, but not the only move!} (31. hxg6 $5
hxg6 (31... fxg6 {weakens the king's position even more.}) 32. d6 Kg7 (32...
Rd7 $2 33. Re3 $18) 33. d7 Rh8 (33... Re7 34. Rc8 $18) 34. Re1 Qf5 35. Rd6 $18)
31... Qh5 32. d6 Re2 33. Qf4 Qe5 34. Qf3 Re1+ 35. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe6 {
So far, Topalov has been making choices that were a pure matter of taste.
Starting with this moment, he will miss some winning lines; this has been one
of his symptoms even in his earlier best years.} 37. Qc6 (37. Qb7 {The threat
Qxa7 is real, since Qe4+ is met with Rf3, attacking f7.} Qd7 38. Qd5 {[%cal
Gd3e3]} Qe6 39. Qxe6 fxe6 40. Kf3 Kf7 41. Ke4 Rc8 42. Rf3+ Ke8 43. Ke5 $18)
37... f6 38. Qc7 Qd7 39. Qc4+ (39. Re3 {leads to a probably winning ending:}
Kf8 40. Re7 Qxc7 41. Rxc7 Rxd6 42. Rxh7 g5 (42... a6 43. Rh8+ Kf7 44. Rb8 $18)
43. Rxa7 Kg8 44. Ra6 Kh7 45. a5 g4 (45... Kxh6 46. Rxb6 Rd5 47. Rxf6+ Kg7 48.
Ra6 $18) 46. axb6 Rd1 47. b7 Rb1 48. Rxf6 Rxb7 49. Rf4 $18) 39... Kf8 40. Rd1
Qb7+ 41. Kg1 Qf7 42. Qb4 Qe6 43. a5 $6 {Just helping Black to get counterplay
with his a-pawn.} (43. d7+ Qe7 44. Rd6 Rxd7 45. Rxf6+ Ke8 (45... Kg8 46. Qc4+
Kh8 47. Rc6 $18) 46. Qf4 Rd1+ 47. Kh2 $40) 43... bxa5 44. Qxa5 Rd7 45. Qc5 Kf7
46. Qc2 a5 $1 $14 {It is hard to avoid the exchange of the passed pawns.} 47.
Rd4 a4 48. Rxa4 Qxd6 49. Ra1 Qe6 50. Ra8 Qd5 51. Ra1 Qe6 52. Rb1 Qf5 53. Qc4+
Qe6 54. Qa4 Qd5 55. Re1 g5 56. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. g4
d5 {A radical attempt to prevent the typical kingside attack. Black has a wide
range of alternatives in the true spirit of the Scheveningen variation, while
now play takes on the contours of the Rubinstein French Defence.} (8... h6) (
8... Nc6 9. g5 Nd7 {Bologan,V (2585)-Atalik,S (2585)/Timisu de Sus 1998/EXT
2002/[Atalik] (1-0, 58)}) (8... b5 9. g5 Nfd7 10. a3 $5 Bxg5 11. Qd2 Bf6 12.
O-O-O Bb7 13. Rhg1 Nc5 14. e5 Bxe5 15. Ndxb5 $40 {Ivanchuk,V (2739)-Negi,P 
(2634)/Peristeri 2010/CBM 137 Extra (1-0, 21)}) 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11.
Bf3 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Bxd2 {A superficial glance would suggest the
following evaluation: White has an advance in development and kingside space
advantage. However, the latter will turn into a drawback, allowing Black to
catch up in development.} Nd7 14. O-O-O Ne5 {Now is when the drawbacks of the
early g2-g4 come to tell: with the pawn on g3, White could retreat with his
bishop to g2, preventing Black's queenside development.} 15. Be2 Bd7 16. f4 {
1/2 Tiviakov,S (2628)-Nielsen,P (2626)/Esbjerg 2002/CBM 091} Nc6 $146 {The
novelty consists of the fact that, unlike in the previous game, the struggle
went on for a while.} 17. Nb3 O-O-O 18. Bf3 Kc7 19. a3 Na7 20. Nd4 Nb5 21. Be3
Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Bc6 23. Rhf1 f6 24. Be2 h6 25. h4 b5 26. h5 Be4 27. Rd2 Kc6 28.
Rfd1 Rd7 29. Be3 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 e5 31. c4 b4 32. axb4 Bxb4 33. Rd1 Re8 34. fxe5
Rxe5 35. Bd2 Bxd2+ 36. Kxd2 a5 37. Ra1 Kb6 38. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Nb3 Bb4 13. Bd2 O-O 14. a4 (14.
a3 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Tomashevsky,E (2738)/Moscow 2012/CBM 149/[Stohl,I] (1-0,
82)}) 14... bxa4 15. Nxa4 a5 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Nac5 Bd5 18. f3 Rxa1 19. Rxa1
Rc8 20. Rc1 Bxb3 21. Nxb3 Rxc1+ 22. Nxc1 Nc5 23. Kf2 Nd5 24. e4 Nb6 25. Ke3 {
Frequently a well centralised king can make the difference in endings. Here,
it does not promise White too much, since the next move sets up an
impenetrable fortress.} e5 $1 26. b3 (26. Na2 Nba4) 26... Kf8 27. Bd1 Ke7 28.
Na2 Na6 29. Be2 Nc5 {The only square from which the bishop could defend the
b3-pawn and prevent ...Na6 is c4, but it is controlled by the reserve black
knight.} 30. Bd1 Na6 31. Be2 Nc5 32. Bd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ ({It is interesting to compare the position arising
after} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9.
O-O-O {(just another anti-Sicilian tabyia) with that after 9.Nc3 from a
comment below.}) 3... Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 a6 ({Black could opt
for a Najdorf like structure in the centre with} 6... e5 7. Qd3 h6 {for
instance} 8. c4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bxd7 Bxd7 11. a4 Bc6 {Grischuk,A (2764)
-Nepomniachtchi,I (2707)/Moscow 2012/CBM 152 Extra (1/2, 25)}) 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.
Bg5 {After this move, ...e7-e5 is out of question, of course.} e6 9. Nbd2 {
Not the most popular way to develop the queen's knight in any kind of
Sicilians.} (9. Nc3 {looks more natural, when a comparison with the tabyia
mentioned in the introduction may be instructive. White seems to be a bit
ahead with his development, since instead of ...Bc6 Black has ...a6 on the
board. However, White has castled short, which has a double drawback. First of
all, he is behind by one tempo in the process of centralising his rooks.
Secondly, the kingside pawn storm, one of the main plans in the 4.Qxd4 line,
is virtually impossible here.}) 9... Bc6 {This position has repeatedly ocurred
in the practice of the modern anti Sicilian guru Rublevsky.} 10. Rfd1 {By
placing this rook on d1, Svidler probably wanted to keep the option of gaining
queenside space with a4-a5. However, after the early opening of the d-file,
the choice will lose any relevance.} (10. Rad1 Be7 11. Nc4 {Rublevsky,S (2672)
-Vorobiov,E (2547)/Krasnoyarsk 2003/CBM 098/[Psakhis] (1-0, 21)}) (10. Nc4 b5 (
10... Bxe4 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qxe4 d5 {Maze,S (2494)-Campos Moreno,J (2443)/
Andorra 2005/CBM 107 ext (1/2, 20)}) 11. Nb6 $5 (11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nxd6+ Bxd6
13. Qxd6 Bxe4 {Rublevsky,S (2670)-Bologan,V (2663)/Poikovsky 2003/CBM 095/
[Bologan] (1/2, 35)}) 11... Rb8 12. Nd5 $5 {Rublevsky,S (2686)-Misailovic,N 
(2349)/Budva 2004/CBM 102 ext (1-0, 28). A spectacular sacrifice, typical for
the main lines of the 6.Bg5 Najdorf. We can see that Rublevsky plays the
so-called side lines only to avoid heavy theory, but not the big fight at all!
Black rejected the sacrifice and got a simply worse position. However, White
seems to have a strong attack after:} exd5 13. exd5 Bb7 14. Rfe1+ Kd7 (14...
Be7 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qxf6 {[%cal Ge1e7,Ga1e1,Gf6h8] Threatening Rxe7+
followed by Re1, apart from the obvious Qxh8+.} Kd7 17. Qf5+ Kc7 18. Qxf7 Re8
19. Re3 $18 {[%cal Ga1e1]}) 15. a4 $5 $40) 10... Be7 11. e5 {This leads to
simplifications with little chances for an advantage.} (11. Nc4 $5) 11... dxe5
12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Nxe5 Rd5 $146 {Exposing the rook to an early exchange will
lead to a position with a symbolic developmental advantage for White.} ({
The seemingly passive} 13... Rc8 {is absolutely safe for Black.} 14. Nxc6 Rxc6
15. c3 Nd5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nf3 Rd8 $11 {Komliakov,V (2460)-Vorobiov,E (2435)/
Moscow 1997/EXT 2000 (0-1, 39)}) 14. Ndf3 (14. Nxc6 Rxg5) (14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. c3 Ke7 17. Nc4 Rhd8 {Black's excellent centralisation
compensates for the outpost on c4.} 18. Ne3 Rd2 19. Rxd2 Rxd2 20. Rb1 h5 21.
Kf1 Bg5 22. Nc4 Rc2 23. Re1 h4 {Black is quite active, so maybe White should
start looking for a draw, for instance:} 24. Re2 Rc1+ 25. Re1 Rc2) 14... Rxd1+
15. Rxd1 Be4 {This basically loses a tempo and must have been the consequence
of some simple oversight. However, it will not have concrete consequences.} (
15... Bxf3 16. Nxf3 b5 17. c4 bxc4 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Rxc4 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Ke7 $11 {
[%cal Gh8b8]}) 16. Rd4 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Nd5 (17... b5 $5) 18. c4 Nb4 (18... Bxg5
19. cxd5 Bf6 20. Rb4 b5 21. dxe6 fxe6 {The weaknesses in the centre are
compensated for by the overall piece activity, for instance} 22. a4 Kd7 23.
axb5 Rb8 {and the black king may become threatening.}) 19. Bxe7 Kxe7 20. Ne5
Rd8 21. Rxd8 Kxd8 22. a3 ({Once again, the king's centralisation spares Black
problems after} 22. Nxf7+ Ke7 23. Ne5 (23. Ng5 Nxa2 24. Nxh7 Nc1 25. Ng5 Nd3
26. b3 a5 27. Ne4 Nc1 28. Nd2 Kd6) 23... Kd6 (23... Nxa2 24. Nd3 $14 {[%csl
Ga2][%cal Gg1f1,Gf1e2,Ge2e3]}) 24. f4 Kc5 $132) 22... Nc6 23. Nxc6+ {
Transposing into a pawn ending in which the queenside majority may prove
dangerous if Black plays carelessly.} bxc6 24. f4 c5 25. b4 a5 $1 {Which he
does not! The accurate last move removes any potential danger from the
position.} 26. b5 {This allows Black to build up a fortress, but the
alternatives can hardly be taken seriously.} ({Still, in order to illustrate
the hidden mutual dangers characteristic for pawn endings, I will just give a
few lines:} 26. bxa5 Kc7 27. Kf2 Kb7 28. Ke3 $1 {[%cal Ge3e4,Ge3d3]} (28. Ke2
$2 Ka6 29. Kd3 Kxa5 30. Kc3 Ka4 31. Kb2 f6 $19) 28... f5 (28... Ka6 $2 29. Ke4
f6 30. f5 $1 $18 {[%csl Gd5]}) 29. Kd3 Ka6 30. Kc3 Kxa5 31. Kb3 $11 {There is
no way to penetrate with either king.}) (26. bxc5 {leaves White struggling,
but would probably end in a draw anyway:} Kc7 27. Kf2 Kc6 28. Ke3 Kxc5 29. Kd3
a4 30. g4 {It will be revealed slightly later how useful it is to get some
space before undertaking anything concrete.} f6 31. g5 fxg5 32. fxg5 e5 33. Ke4
Kxc4 34. Kxe5 Kb3 35. Kd4 Kxa3 36. Kc3 Ka2 37. Kc2 a3 38. h3 $11 {Here it is!
White needs to have more reserve tempi than his opponent, for which the space
advantage is essential.}) 26... f5 27. Kf2 a4 28. Kg3 g6 29. Kh4 h6 30. g4 Kd7
31. gxf5 exf5 32. Kg3 Kc7 33. h4 h5 34. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Nbd7 12. d5 Bxc3 13. dxe6 Bxf3 14. gxf3
fxe6 15. bxc3 Qc7 16. Bxe6+ Kh8 17. Qc4 Qb7 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. Qd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5
Nc5 21. Be3 Rxf3 22. Re1 Ne6 23. a4 Rf7 24. a5 h6 25. axb6 axb6 26. Bxb6 Nf4
27. Ra5 Rb8 28. Bd4 Rb2 29. Ra7 Rxa7 30. Bxa7 Rc2 31. Bd4 Kh7 32. h4 g5 33.
hxg5 hxg5 34. Re5 Kg6 35. Kh2 Nd3 36. Re6+ Kf5 37. Re8 Kg4 38. Re4+ Nf4 39. Re1
Ne2 40. Kg2 Nxc3 41. Bxc3 Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. Qd2 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Be2 h5 12. O-O-O Nd7 13. Kb1 Nb6 14. f5 e5 15.
Nb3 Rc8 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Bh6 18. Qd3 Nc4 19. Bf3 h4 20. Rhe1 Kf8 21. Re4
Bg5 22. c3 Qb6 23. Na1 Kg7 24. Nc2 a5 25. Ka2 Rc7 26. Rg4 Kf8 27. Qe2 Qc5 28.
Be4 Nb6 29. Kb1 Rg8 30. Qe1 Ke7 31. Qe2 Kd7 32. Bd3 Nc4 33. Bxc4 bxc4 34. Ne3
Rb8 35. Nxc4 a4 36. Qc2 Rb3 37. Ka1 Qb5 38. Qe2 Rc5 39. Re4 Ke7 40. Qd3 Qb7 41.
Rg4 Qb5 42. Re4 Kd7 43. Qe2 Kc7 44. Qd3 Qb7 45. Rg4 Rbb5 46. Qc2 Qa8 47. Nd2
Ra5 48. Nc4 Rab5 49. Nd2 Ra5 50. Nc4 Rab5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d6 5. Qc2 Nbd7 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Rd1 a6 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 b5 12. b3 bxc4 13. bxc4 Rb8 14. Be3 h6 15.
Qa5 Ne4 16. c5 Ndf6 17. Rac1 Bd5 18. Qxa6 Ng4 19. Rd3 Qe7 20. Qa5 Rb2 21. h3
Ra8 22. Qe1 Ngf6 23. Nh2 Nd7 24. f3 Nef6 25. cxd6 cxd6 26. Bd2 Nb6 27. Bb4 Bc4
28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Nfd5 30. Nf1 Nxb4 31. Qxb4 Qc7 32. Ne3 d5 33. Qc5 Qa7 34.
Kf2 Qxa3 35. Qxa3 Rxa3 36. Bf1 Rb3 37. h4 Rb4 38. g4 g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. Ke1
Kg7 41. Kf2 Bb5 42. Nc2 Rb3 43. Ne3 Kf6 44. Rc7 Nc4 45. Nxc4 Bxc4 46. Ra7 Rb1
47. Ra4 Rd1 48. Rb4 Rxd4 49. Ke1 Rf4 50. e3 Rxf3 51. Bxc4 dxc4 52. Ke2 Rh3 53.
Rxc4 Ke5 54. Rc5+ Ke4 55. Rc4+ Kd5 56. Ra4 f5 57. gxf5 exf5 58. Ra5+ Ke4 59.
Ra4+ Ke5 60. Ra5+ Kf6 61. Ra6+ Kg7 62. Rb6 Rh6 63. Rb5 Kg6 64. Kf2 Rh2+ 65. Kg3
Re2 66. Kf3 Rd2 67. Rb8 Kf7 68. Rb6 g4+ 69. Kf4 Rf2+ 70. Kg5 Rf1 71. Ra6 Rf3
72. Rf6+ Ke7 73. Rg6 Rf1 74. Ra6 Rf2 75. Rb6 Rf3 76. Rg6 Rf2 77. Ra6 g3 78. Ra1
Ke6 79. Kh4 g2 80. Kg3 Rb2 81. Rg1 Ke5 82. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 83. Kxg2 Ke4 84. Kf2 f4
85. exf4 Kxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Ne2 O-O 7. O-O b6 8. b3 a5
9. Nf4 Ba6 10. Nd2 e6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Rc1 Qe7 14. Rc2 Rfd8 15. Qa1
c5 16. Rfc1 cxd4 17. exd4 Bh6 18. Ba3 Qe8 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Rxc2 21. Rxc2
exd5 22. Bxd5 Nc5 23. Bg2 Bg7 24. Bb2 Nd3 25. Bf1 Qd7 26. Nc4 Nxb2 27. Qxb2
Bxd4 28. Qc1 Bb7 29. Bg2 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 b5 31. axb5 Qxb5 32. f3 Ba7 33. Re2 Qxb3
34. Nxa5 Qb5 35. Nc4 h5 36. Rc2 Rd3 37. Rc3 Qd5 38. Rxd3 Qxd3 39. Qf1 Qc2+ 40.
Kh1 h4 41. Nd6 h3 42. Ne4 Be3 43. g4 Bf4 44. Ng3 Qb3 45. Ne4 Qc2 46. Ng3 Qb3
47. Ne4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Nbd7 {
Every student of the Scheveningen/Najdorf Sicilian complex was taught that the
knight from b8 belongs on the c6-square. Virtually the only good players
experimenting with placement of the knight on d7 have been Topalov and his
Bulgarian analytical team.} 8. g4 h6 9. f4 g5 $5 {The internal logic of the
chess struggle will sometimes hint at correct solutions to problems somewhat
automatically. Black wanted to play g7-g5 and if necessary is even prepared to
do it as a form of positional sacrifice.} 10. f5 {It makes little sense to
hold White responsible for his alibistic approach. Ponomariov was well aware
of the fact, that Topalov would not have played the line without thorough
preparation. Objectively speaking the only move able to aspire for any real
advantage will have to be the accepting of the sacrifice with 10.fxg5.} (10.
fxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 b5 (11... Qb6 12. Nb3 (12. Qd2 Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qa3 $13) 12...
Rxh2 $1 13. Rf1 Bg7 (13... Be7 14. Qd2 Nxg4 $2 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Qg5+ Ngf6 17.
e5 dxe5 18. O-O-O Rf2 19. Nd2 Rxf1 20. Rxf1 Qd8 21. Nc4 $16) 14. Bf4 (14. Qd3
Ne5 15. Qg3 Rxe2+ $1 16. Kxe2 Nfxg4 $132) 14... Rh3 15. g5 Nh7 16. Qd2 $16) 12.
Bf3 (12. e5 dxe5 (12... Nxe5 $2 13. Bf3 Ra7 (13... d5 14. Qe2 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3
Bg7 16. Nc6 Qc7 17. Bxf6 $18) 14. Nc6 Nxc6 15. Bxc6+ Bd7 16. Bxd7+ Rxd7 17. Rf1
Be7 18. Qd4 e5 19. Qf2 $18) 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bf3 Rb8 15. Qd3 Kf7 16. h4 $44) (
12. a3 Bb7 13. h4 Be7 14. Rf1 Ne5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. g5 Bg7 17. Bh5 Qe7 18. Qe2
Rc8 19. O-O-O Rxc3 20. bxc3 d5 21. Nxe6 Qxe6 22. exd5 Qd6 23. Rxf7 Kd8 24. Rxg7
Nc4 25. Qe7+ Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Kxe7 27. Re1+ Kd6 $11 {1/2 (52) Jakubowski,K (2510)
-Kukawski,M (2338) Warsaw 2011}) 12... Ne5 (12... b4 13. Nce2 (13. Ncb5 $5 axb5
14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 16. Bxa8 Be7 17. h4 $14) (13. e5 bxc3 14. b4 d5
15. exf6 Qc7 16. Qe2 $13) (13. Nd5 exd5 14. Nc6 Qb6 15. Qe2 Qb5 $1 $17) 13...
Ne5 14. Ng3 Be7 15. h4 Bb7 $13) 13. Nc6 $5 (13. Qe2 Be7 14. O-O-O Bb7 15. Bf4
Nfd7 16. Kb1 Rc8 17. Bc1 Nb6 18. g5 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Na4 20. Rd3 Bxg5 21. Bxg5
Qxg5 22. Ka1 Nxd3 23. cxd3 Nxc3 $19 {1-0 (39) Ponkratov,P (2605)-Inarkiev,E 
(2680) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 13... Nxc6 14. e5 Qb6 $1 (14... Nxe5 15. Bxa8 Be7
16. Qd4 $16) 15. Bxf6 Rh3 $1 16. exd6 (16. Bg5 $5 d5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qxd5
Rxf3 $1 19. Qxf3 Bb7 20. Rf1 (20. e6 $6 Bb4+ $1 21. c3 Ne5 22. exf7+ Nxf7 23.
Qe2+ Kf8 $17) 20... Nxe5 21. Qe2 Qe6 22. O-O-O $13) 16... Qe3+ 17. Be2 Ne5 $1 (
17... Rf3 18. Bg5 $1 Qf2+ 19. Kd2 Qd4+ 20. Kc1 Rxc3 21. Qxd4 $1 Nxd4 22. bxc3
Nxe2+ 23. Kd2 Nxc3 24. Kxc3 Bxd6 $14) 18. Qc1 $6 (18. Bxe5 $2 Qxe5 $17) (18.
Rf1 Bb7 19. Qc1 Qxc1+ 20. Rxc1 Bxd6 21. Rd1 Bc7 $44) 18... Nf3+ 19. Kd1 Qb6 $6
(19... Qc5 $1 20. Qf4 e5 21. Qe4 Qxd6+ 22. Bd3 Rb8 23. g5 b4 24. Ne2 Bb7 25.
Qe3 Nxg5 26. Qxe5+ Qxe5 27. Bxe5 Rd8 $17) 20. Ne4 $1 {0-1 (28) Bologan,V (2657)
-Cheparinov,I (2670) Kemer 2007} (20. Qf4 $2 Bxd6 21. Qe4 Bb7 $19)) 10... Ne5
11. h3 {The results for Black in the games of strong players are not exactly
encouraging, but the culprit might not have been the objective value of the
position.} (11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nf3 Nfd7 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Qd4 Bd7 15. O-O-O Be7
16. Kb1 Qa5 17. a3 O-O-O 18. Rhf1 Qc5 19. Qd2 Qc6 20. h4 Rhg8 21. hxg5 Bxg5 22.
Bxg5 Rxg5 23. Rf6 Nxg4 24. Rxh6 $14 {1-0 (114) Salgado Lopez,I (2626)
-Huschenbeth,N (2521) Chennai 2011}) (11. a4 Bg7 12. a5 O-O 13. h4 gxh4 14. g5
Nh7 15. gxh6 Bf6 16. Qd2 Kh8 17. Nb3 exf5 18. Bb6 Bg5 19. Bxd8 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2
Rxd8 21. Rxh4 Ng5 22. Rf1 Nxe4+ 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Rxe4 $14 {1-0 (44) Kovalev,A
(2515)-Oparin,G (2257) Alushta 2009}) 11... b5 {[%mdl 4] Black's ambition to
prepare real counterplay on the queenside must be a correct strategy. White
can only hope for some medium term advantage.} (11... Bd7 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Nf3
Bc6 14. Qd4 Nfd7 15. O-O-O Rg8 16. Nd2 Qe7 17. Nb3 Ng6 18. Na5 Nde5 19. Rhf1
Rd8 20. Kb1 Bg7 21. Qb4 Rf8 22. Bb6 $14 {1-0 (52) Alekseenko,K (2434)-Al Sayed,
M (2511) St Petersburg 2012}) 12. a3 Qe7 (12... Bg7 13. Qd2 Qe7 14. fxe6 fxe6
15. Nf3 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Nd7 17. e5 d5 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxd5 Rb8 20. O-O-O $36)
13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Nf3 Bb7 {The defender is not afraid of exchanges on the
e5-square. Doubled pawns in the centre need protection, on the other hand they
manage to steal a huge amount of attractive squares from the white pieces.} (
14... Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bb7 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. O-O-O Rd8 18. Bg2 $14) 15. Nxe5 (15.
Rf1 Bg7 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Bd3 O-O $11) 15... dxe5 16. Bd3 Qc7 {Topalov is
acting in the style of truly classical players and thus he prepares an
exchange of the dark squared bishops. It is hard to prove, that the natural
development with 16...Bg7 would not have been sufficient for the equality.} (
16... Bg7 17. Qd2 O-O 18. O-O-O b4 19. axb4 Qxb4 20. Rhe1 Bc6 21. Nb1 Qb7 $11)
17. h4 Bc5 (17... gxh4 18. Rxh4 O-O-O 19. Qf3 Nd7 $13) 18. Qe2 (18. Bxc5 Qxc5
19. Qf3 Rf8 20. Qe2 O-O-O $11) 18... Bxe3 (18... Bd4 19. Bd2 O-O-O 20. O-O-O
$14) 19. Qxe3 Nxg4 20. Qg3 h5 {The temporary solution for the knight on g4 is
sufficient for the slowing down of White's initiative.} (20... Nf6 21. hxg5 Nd7
22. Rxh6 O-O-O 23. O-O-O $18) 21. O-O-O O-O-O (21... gxh4 22. Qxh4 Qe7 23.
Bxb5+ axb5 24. Qxg4 hxg4 25. Rxh8+ Kf7 26. Rh7+ Kf8 27. Rxe7 Kxe7 28. Rg1 Rg8
29. Kd2 Bc6 $11) 22. hxg5 Qg7 23. Qh4 (23. Rdf1 Qxg5+ 24. Kb1 Rd7 $11) 23...
Rdg8 24. Be2 Qxg5+ 25. Qxg5 Rxg5 {The results of the opening battle must be
quite pleasing for the second player. The extra pawn is forcing the opponent
into activity directed at proving enough compensation for the missing material.
} 26. Rh4 Nf6 (26... Kc7 27. Rg1 Rf8 28. Rgh1 Nf6 29. Bxh5 $11) 27. Rf1 Rh6 28.
b4 Rg2 {The black pieces are fairly tied down, so it will be difficult for him
to generate active play.} (28... Rg3 29. Kb2 Kd8 30. a4 bxa4 31. Ra1 Re3 32.
Rxa4 Nxe4 33. Nxe4 Rxe2 34. Nc5 $11) 29. Bf3 (29. a4 bxa4 30. Bf3 Rg3 31. Nxa4
$11) 29... Rg3 30. a4 Bc6 {It must have been very difficult for Black to judge,
in which line his chances for any progress are the best.} (30... Ne8 31. Kb2 (
31. axb5 Rf6 32. Be2 Rxf1+ 33. Bxf1 Rg1 34. bxa6 Rxf1+ 35. Kd2 Bxa6 $17) 31...
bxa4 32. Nxa4 Nd6 33. Be2 Re3 34. Nc3 Nxe4 35. Rf8+ Kc7 36. Rf7+ Kd6 37. Rxb7
Nxc3 38. Bd3 $11) 31. axb5 axb5 (31... Bxb5 32. Nxb5 axb5 33. Be2 Kc7 34. Bxb5
Rg4 35. Rxg4 hxg4 36. Be2 $11) 32. Ne2 (32. Kb2 Kc7 33. Be2 Kb6 34. Rd1 Re3 35.
Rd6 Kc7 36. Rxe6 Rxc3 37. Rxf6 Rxc2+ 38. Kxc2 Rxf6 39. Rxh5 $11) 32... Rg5 33.
Kd2 Rh7 $15 34. Rg1 {Ponomariov is well aware of his relative misfortune in
this position, but the problems are still manageable due to his opponent's
weaknesses on b5 and h5.} (34. Nc1 Rd7+ 35. Nd3 Rd4 36. Re1 Rg3 37. Re3 Kc7 $15
) 34... Rxg1 35. Nxg1 Kd8 (35... Rd7+ 36. Ke3 Rd4 37. c3 Rc4 38. Ne2 Be8 39.
Kd2 Kd8 $15) 36. Ke3 Be8 (36... Ra7 37. Ne2 Ra3+ 38. c3 Be8 39. Kd3 $15) 37.
Be2 Ra7 (37... Rc7 38. Nf3 Rxc2 39. Nxe5 Ke7 40. Rf4 Ra2 $15) 38. Nf3 Ng4+ 39.
Kd2 Ke7 (39... Rd7+ 40. Kc1 Rg7 41. Ne1 Nf2 42. Nd3 Nxd3+ 43. cxd3 $11) 40. Ne1
Nf6 41. Nd3 {White has managed to survive the first time control without any
additional harm and real improvements for the black position are difficult to
imagine.} Kd6 42. Nc5 Ra1 43. Rh3 Rb1 44. c3 (44. Kc3 Rg1 $15) 44... Rg1 45.
Nb7+ Ke7 46. Nc5 Rg2 47. Ke1 {The white pieces are located at optimal squares
and it is up to the enemy to prove that his defensive setup is insufficient.}
Rg5 48. Kf2 Bc6 49. Rg3 $1 {Ponomariov is exchanging yet another pair of rooks
along the g-file. The resulting endgame with reduced material is fairly easy
to hold.} (49. Bf3 Rg8 50. Rg3 Rh8 $11) 49... Rxg3 50. Kxg3 Be8 (50... Bxe4 51.
Bxb5 Bf5 52. Be2 Nd5 53. Bxh5 Nxc3 $15) 51. Kh4 Bc6 52. Bf3 Kd6 53. Kg5 Ke7 54.
Kh4 {Black is unable to make any real progress.} Kd6 55. Kg5 Ke7 56. Kh4 Kd6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 {
Das ist die Hauptvariante, wenn Schwarz auf 3.Lb5 mit 3...d6 und 4...Ld7
reagiert.} 8. h3 ({Die Alternative ist} 8. d3 {z.B.:} e6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. h3 Bh5
11. g4 Bg6 12. Nh4 Nd7 13. Ng2 h5 14. f4 hxg4 15. hxg4 Qc7 16. Nf3 O-O-O 17.
Ne3 Nb6 18. Nc4 Nxc4 19. dxc4 f5 20. exf5 exf5 21. g5 Bf7 22. Qc2 g6 23. Qf2 d5
24. cxd5 Bxd5 25. Be3 Bxg5 26. Qg3 Be7 27. Bg2 g5 28. Nxg5 Bxg5 29. Bxd5 Rxd5
30. Qxg5 Qf7 31. Kf2 Rh2+ 32. Kf1 Rd8 33. Qg3 Qc4+ 34. Kg1 Rxb2 {0-1 (34)
Anand,V (2791) -Carlsen,M (2776) Nice 2009}) 8... Bh5 ({Noch öfter wird} 8...
Bxf3 {gespielt:} 9. Qxf3 g6 10. Qd1 Bh6 11. a4 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. d3 Bxc1 14.
Qxc1 O-O 15. Nd2 Qc7 16. Ne4 b6 17. Qh6 f6 18. d4 cxd4 19. Bc4 e6 20. Ng5 fxg5
21. Rxe6 Ncb4 22. cxb4 Qxc4 23. Rxg6+ hxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh6+ Kg8 26. Qg6+
{1/2-1/2 (26) Jones,G (2644)-Shirov,A (2708) England 2013}) 9. d4 ({Oder} 9. d3
e6 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 Nd7 12. g5 e5 13. Qg4 Be7 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 h6 16. h4
hxg5 17. hxg5 f6 18. Nd2 fxg5 19. Ne4 Nf6 20. Qxg5 O-O 21. Qg6 Qe8 22. Bg2 Qxg6
23. fxg6 Nh5 24. Ng3 Nf4 25. Bxf4 Rxf4 26. Bd5+ Kf8 27. Kg2 Bf6 28. Re4 Ne7 29.
Bf7 Rxe4 30. dxe4 Bg5 31. Rh1 Bh6 32. Kf3 b5 33. Kg4 a5 34. a3 a4 35. Nh5 b4
36. cxb4 cxb4 37. axb4 Rb8 38. Nf6 gxf6 39. Rxh6 Rxb4 40. Rh8+ Kg7 41. Rh7+ Kf8
42. f3 Rxb2 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Rh7+ Kf8 45. Kg3 a3 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Rh7+ Kf8 48.
Rh8+ Kg7 49. Rh7+ Kf8 50. Rh8+ Kg7 51. Rh7+ {1/2-1/2 (51) Rublevsky,S (2702)
-Ivanchuk,V (2786) Almaty 2008}) 9... Bxf3 10. gxf3 cxd4 11. cxd4 d5 ({Gut
spielbar ist} 11... e5 {z.B.:} 12. d5 Nd4 13. Be3 Nd7 14. Nd2 Qf6 15. Bg2 g6
16. f4 Nb5 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. a4 Nd6 19. Rc1 h5 20. Qb3 Bh6 21. Nc4 Rb8 22. Qb4
Bf8 23. Qd2 Be7 24. Nxd6+ Qxd6 25. Rc2 O-O 26. Rec1 Kh7 27. Qe2 Bd8 28. Rc4 Bb6
29. Bd2 Qf6 30. a5 Bd4 31. Be3 Bxe3 32. Qxe3 Qd6 33. Rc7 Nf6 34. Qa3 Ne8 35.
Re7 {0-1 (35) Al Modiahki,M (2572)-Sasikiran,K (2661) Macau 2007}) 12. Nc3 e6
13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. exd5 Nxd4 16. Re4 Qb6 17. dxe6 Qc5 $2 {Wirft die
Partie einzügig fort.} ({Völlig OK für Schwarz ist} 17... Nxe6 18. Nd5 Qd8
19. Qa4+ b5 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qb4 f5 22. Ree1 Rg8+ 23. Kh1 Qd5 24. Qc3 Rd8 25.
Re5 Qd2 26. Qxd2 Rxd2 27. Re2 Rd4 $15 {0-1 (89) Sadykov,R (2255)-Savina,A 
(2392) Izhevsk 2010}) 18. e7 {Nach diesem Zug bricht die schwarze Stellung
bemerkenswert schnell zusammen.} ({Weniger kräftig ist} 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Na4
Qg5+ 20. Rg4 Qd5 $14) 18... h5 (18... Ne6 19. Nd5 Bd4 20. Qa4+ b5 21. Bxb5+
Qxb5 22. Rxd4 $18) (18... Nf5 19. Qa4+ $18) 19. Rc1 Rh6 20. Kh1 Rg6 (20... Qa7
21. Nd5 $18) 21. Ne2 1-0

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6
9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 cxb5 13. c6 Qc8 14. c7 b4 15. Nb5 a4
16. axb4 Bxb4+ 17. Ke2 Ra5 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Rhc1 Qa6 20. Nd6 Qxd3+ 21. Kxd3 Bxd6
22. c8=Q Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Nf8 24. Bxd6 Nxd6 25. Rd8 Nc4 26. Ne5 Nxe5+ 27. dxe5 g5
28. f4 Kg7 29. g3 h5 30. Kc3 Ng6 31. Kb4 Rc5 32. Rxa4 h4 33. gxh4 gxf4 34. exf4
Rc4+ 35. Kb5 Rxa4 36. Kxa4 Nxf4 37. Kb5 Ng6 38. h5 Nxe5 39. Kxb6 Nd3 40. Rd7
Ne5 41. Rd8 Nd3 42. Rd7 Ne5 43. Rd8 Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nc3
d6 9. a3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Nc6 13. Bd2 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15.
Ne2 c5 16. h3 Qd7 17. Qb1 e5 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. a4 Qc6 20. Ng3 c4 21. Nf5 Bc5
22. f4 Nxe4 23. dxe4 Qxe4 24. Ng3 Qxc2 25. Ne4 d3+ 26. Kh1 Bd4 27. axb5 Bxa1
28. Qxa1 c3 29. Qxc3 Qxc3 30. Bxc3 Rxf4 31. Rxf4 exf4 32. bxa6 Rxa6 33. Kg1 Re6
34. Ng5 Re2 35. Nf3 g5 36. Kf1 Rc2 37. Bd2 h6 38. Ke1 Rc4 39. Kd1 Re4 40. Ne1
Re2 41. h4 gxh4 42. Bxf4 Kh7 43. Bc7 Rf2 44. Bb6 Ra2 45. Bd8 Rxg2 46. Nxg2 h3
47. Bc7 hxg2 48. Bh2 Kg6 49. Kd2 Kf5 50. Kxd3 Kg4 51. Ke3 Kh3 52. Bg1 Kg3 53.
Bf2+ Kh2 54. Kf4 g1=Q 55. Bxg1+ Kxg1 56. Kg4 h5+ 57. Kxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 {The classical line
is still quite rare in Nakamura's practice, who until now has mainly
alternated between the sharp lines as 6.Bg5, 6.Bc4 and 6.Be3.} ({Although the
English Attack is still popular, the latest encounters between top players
with some exceptions mostly confirm the dynamic balance and it seems that they
are just checking the opponent's homework:} 6. Be3 e6 (6... e5 {is the main
and fully playable alternative, which occurs even more often.}) 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Qc7 12. h4 d5 {Currently the most testing
try is} 13. Bf4 $1 (13. Bh3 $143 $6 Nb6 14. b3 (14. g5 Nc4 15. Qd3 hxg5 16.
hxg5 Nd7 $17) 14... dxe4 15. g5 Nfd5 16. fxe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 hxg5 18. hxg5 g6
19. Kb1 Bg7 20. Rhf1 Qe5 21. Qf2 Ra7 $36 {[%csl Gc8,Gg7][%cal Gg7a1,Gh8h1]
Karjakin,S (2763)-Cheparinov,I (2650)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 13... e5 14.
Bh2 dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Rxh2 17. Rxh2 exd4 18. Rh8 (18. Rh4 Ng4 $5 $146 (
18... b3 19. axb3 Nc5 20. Nxd4 Nd5 21. fxe4 Nb4 {Leko,P (2737)-Grischuk,A 
(2754)/London/2012/} 22. Bc4 $16 {[%csl Re8] ->}) 19. Rxg4 Nc5 20. Rh4 d3 (
20... b3 $2 21. Kb1 e3 22. Qc1 d3 23. Qxe3+ Be6 24. axb3 dxe2 25. Bxe2 Rd8 26.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 27. Bc4 a5 28. g6 $16 {Saric,I (2622)-Korobov,A (2705)/EU-ch
Legnica/2013/}) 21. Nd4 Bb7 22. Rh8 O-O-O (22... Rd8 {[%cal Rd8d4]} 23. Nb3 $8
Ne6 24. Re1 (24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Re1 dxc2 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qxb4+ Qd6 28. Qxd6+
Rxd6 29. Rxe4 Rd1+ 30. Kxc2 Rxf1 31. Ra4 $132 {/=}) 24... Rc8 25. fxe4 Qxc2+
26. Qxc2 Rxc2+ 27. Kb1 d2 28. Rd1 Bxe4 29. Ka1 $13) 23. Kb1 $1 dxc2+ 24. Qxc2
exf3 25. Qd2 Be4+ 26. Ka1 Kb7 27. Bc4 b3 28. Rc1 Qd6 $2 (28... bxa2 $1 $132)
29. Nxf3 $16 {Jakovenko,D (2713)-Artemiev,V (2524)/Yekaterinburg/2013/}) 18...
Nd5 19. Qxd4 Bb7 20. fxe4 (20. Qxe4+ Ne7 21. Qxb4 Ng6 22. Rg8 Ne7 23. Rh8 Ng6
24. Rg8 Ne7 25. Rh8 {1/2, Kasimdzhanov,R (2699)-Grischuk,A (2779)/Thessaloniki/
2013/}) 20... N5b6 21. Qxb4 (21. Bh3 O-O-O 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Rxf8
Rxf8 25. Qxd7 Bxe4 26. Qa4 a5 27. Qb5+ Kc8 28. Qa6+ (28. Nd4 Rd8 $11) 28... Kb8
29. Qb5+ Kc8 30. Qa6+ Kb8 31. Qb5+ Kc8 {1/2, Dominguez Perez,L (2723)-Korobov,
A (2698)/RUS-chT Loo/2013/}) 21... O-O-O 22. Qb3 (22. Qd4 Qc5 23. e5 Qxd4 24.
Nxd4 Nxe5 25. Ne6 Rxd1+ 26. Kxd1 Ng6 27. Rxf8+ Nxf8 28. Nxf8 Kd8 29. Bd3 Ke7
30. Nh7 Na4 31. Kc1 Nc5 32. Bf5 Be4 $44 {Dosi,A (2585)-Hansen,O (2499)/corr/
2009/}) 22... Bxe4 $1 (22... Bc5 $2 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qxf7 Qxg5+ 25. Kb1 Qe5
26. Bh3 $16 {Jarmula,L (2149)-Zaczek,J (2096)/Warsaw/2012/}) 23. Nc3 Qf4+ 24.
Kb1 Kc7 25. Bxa6 Nc5 26. Nb5+ Kc6 27. Na7+ $8 Kc7 28. Nb5+ Kc6 29. Na7+ Kc7 {
1/2, Karjakin,S (2776)-Grischuk,A (2780)/Beijing/2013/}) ({An interesting
sideline, which Nakamura also used to play, is} 6. h3 {A recent spectacular
encounter went} e5 7. Nde2 h5 $5 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 b5 10. Nd5 Nbd7 11. Nec3 Bb7
12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. Bg5 Qe6 14. O-O Rc8 15. Re1 b4 16. Na4 Rc4 17. f3 h4 (17...
Bc6 $5 18. b3 Rd4) 18. g4 d5 19. b3 Rd4 (19... Rc7 20. a3 $5 $14 {/~~}) 20.
Qxd4 $1 exd4 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Rxe6+ fxe6 23. Rd1 e5 24. f4 Ne3 25. Bxb7 Nxd1
26. Bc6 exf4 27. Nc5 O-O 28. Nxd7 Re8 29. Kf1 Re3 30. Bxf4 Rxh3 {Leko,P (2737)
-Mamedyarov,S (2761)/Beijing/2013/} 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Ne5 $36) 6... e5 ({
Two weeks earlier in Norway in their encounter Topalov opted for the
Scheveningen continuation} 6... e6 7. Be3 Be7 (7... Qc7 {/\} 8. g4 d5 $5 9.
exd5 Bb4 10. Qd3 $146 (10. dxe6 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 fxe6 $13) 10...
Nxd5 11. Bd2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. O-O-O Nc5 16.
Bf3 Bd7 17. Nb3 Rc8 18. Nxc5 Rxc5 19. Bxb7 Bb5 20. Rd6 Ke7 21. Rhd1 h5 22. a4
Bxa4 23. Rxa6 Bb5 24. Ra5 hxg4 25. c4 Rxc4 26. Rxb5 Rxh2 $11 {Hou,Y (2595)
-Navara,D (2707)/Prague m/2013/}) 8. g4 d5 (8... b5 9. g5 Nfd7 10. a3 Bxg5 11.
Qd2 Bf6 12. O-O-O Bb7 13. Rhg1 Nc5 $2 (13... O-O $142 $13) 14. e5 $1 Bxe5 15.
Ndxb5 Nb3+ 16. cxb3 axb5 17. Bxb5+ Bc6 18. Bd4 Qc8 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Kb1 Rg8
21. Ne4 {1-0, Ivanchuk,V (2739)-Negi,P (2634)/GRE-chT Peristeri/2010/}) 9. exd5
Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Bf3 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Bxd2 Nd7 14. O-O-O Ne5 15.
Be2 Bd7 16. f4 (16. Rhe1 $14) 16... Nc6 17. Nb3 O-O-O 18. Bf3 Kc7 19. a3 $6 (
19. Bc3 $14) (19. Rhe1 $5) 19... Na7 20. Nd4 Nb5 21. Be3 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Bc6 23.
Rhf1 f6 24. Be2 h6 25. h4 b5 $11 {Nakamura,H (2775)-Topalov,V (2793)/Stavanger/
2013/ Although the game was drawn in the end, the endgame was more comfortable
for White. Therefore an early deviation is no major surprise, Topalov has
already played both main moves in the past.}) 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Be6
10. Qd3 ({The main move here is definitely} 10. Qd2 {, which is covered in
more detail in the notes to Ponomariov-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2011 in CBM 141. I
will add just one personal experience:} Nbd7 11. a4 Nb6 $5 ({A viable
alternative to} 11... Qc7 {and the more common}) (11... Rc8) 12. a5 Nc4 13.
Bxc4 Bxc4 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. f3 Rc6 16. Qf2 Qc8 (16... Nd7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5
f5 19. exf5 Qc8 20. Rd2 Rxf5 21. Qe2 Rf7 22. Ra4 Nf6 23. c4 Bf8 24. Rd1 Rfc7
$132 {Mostowik,D (2059)-Auzins,M (2419)/corr/2011/}) 17. Nc1 Qe6 18. Nd3 d5 19.
exd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bc5 Bc4 22. c3 Bxd3 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rxd3 Rd8 25.
Rad1 Rcd6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Qxd6 28. h3 g6 $11 {1/2, Petrik,T (2534)
-Stohl,I (2518)/CZE-chT/2013/}) ({Another (and possibly more flexible) way to
achieve the game position is} 10. Nd5 Nbd7 ({Was Nakamura worried about the
sacrificial} 10... Nxe4 $5 11. Bb6 Qd7 12. Nc7 Nc6 13. Nxa8 Rxa8 14. f3 Nf6 15.
Bf2 h6 16. c4 Rd8 17. Bb6 (17. Qd2 $5) 17... Rc8 18. Rc1 $6 d5 $1 19. cxd5 Nxd5
20. Bf2 Bg5 21. Nc5 Qe7 22. Nxe6 Bxc1 23. Qxd5 fxe6 24. Qe4 Bxb2 25. Bd3 Kf8
26. Qh7 Nd8 27. Qh8+ Kf7 28. g3 Qf6 29. Kg2 Bd4 30. Be1 Ke7 $15 {Globa,
V-Babushkin,I (2267)/corr/2011/}) 11. Qd3 {This move order was actually
featured in Ponomariov-Anand.}) 10... Nbd7 ({Natural development, but Black
can consider also the other knight move} 10... Nc6 {This is more popular in
postal games and should also suffice for equality after} 11. a3 {and now:} (11.
Rfd1 Rc8 12. a3 Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bd7 16. b4 Qd8 17. c4
f5 18. f4 Bf6 19. Rac1 Re8 20. Re1 exf4 21. Bxf4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Re4 $15 {Zvara,P
(2419)-Swiercz,D (2611)/CZE-chT/2013/}) 11... Rc8 (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13.
Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Rad1 Qxd3 (14... Rfd8 15. Qxd5 Rxd5 16. Rxd5 Bxd5 17. Rd1 Bxb3
18. cxb3 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. b4 $14 {[%cal Yb4b5]}) 15. Bxd3 f5 (15... Rfd8
16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 Rac8 18. Bb6 Rd7 19. Rfe1 f6 20. Bc4 Re7 21. Bd3 Rd7 22.
f3 Kf7 23. c3 Ne7 24. Bc2 Nd5 25. Bf2 Rcd8 26. g3 b5 27. Rd2 h5 $11 {Brodt,A 
(2396)-Gueci,A (2469)/corr/2011/}) 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 Rfe8 18. f3 b5 19. b3
Rad8 20. Rfe1 Rd7 21. a4 bxa4 22. bxa4 Rd5 23. Bb6 Nb4 24. Bf1 Rxd1 25. Rxd1
Rc8 26. Ba5 Nd5 27. Bxa6 Rxc2 $132 {Voiculescu,C (2545)-Demetrio,A (2510)/corr/
2009/ Facing the bishop pair in an endgame is not necessarily ideal, but
Black's position is probably defensible.}) (11... Na5 12. Nd2 (12. Nd5 Nxd5 13.
exd5 Bd7 14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. b4 Qc7 16. c4 f5 17. f3 b6 18. Qc2 g6 19. Bd3 Bh4
20. Rac1 f4 $13 21. Bf2 {1/2, Schmidt,T (2597)-Lounek,J (2520)/corr/2008/})
12... d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Qxd5 Bxd5 16. Bb6 Bd8 17. Bc5 Re8 18.
b4 Rc8 19. c4 Be6 20. Rac1 f5 21. Be3 Nc6 22. f3 {Yemelin,V (2515)-Karasev,V 
(2405)/St Petersburg/1995/} a5 $5 $132) 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 e4 14. Qd2 Ne5
15. Rac1 Re8 16. c4 Nfd7 17. Rc2 (17. h3 h6 18. Nd4 Nc5 19. Rc3 Qd7 20. b4 Ncd3
21. Qc2 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. f3 b5 24. cxb5 Rxc3 25. Qxc3 Rc8 26. Nc6 Nf4 27.
Qc2 Nxe2+ 28. Qxe2 exf3 29. Qc2 fxg2 30. Ne7+ Qxe7 31. Qxc8+ Kh7 32. Kxg2 axb5
33. Qf5+ Kh6 34. Qe4 g6 $44 {1/2, Cornejo,W (2551)-Dronov,A (2680)/corr/2011/})
17... Bh4 (17... Rc7 18. h3 Qc8 19. Rfc1 Bf8 20. a4 h6 21. Rc3 Nc5 22. Nxc5
dxc5 23. a5 Bd6 24. Rb3 Rd7 25. Qc2 f5 26. Rb6 $14 {Voiculescu,C (2583)
-Ljubicic,L (2575)/corr/2010/}) (17... h6 18. Nd4 Nc5 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Nxe7+
Qxe7 21. Qd4 f5 22. b4 Ncd7 23. c5 Qf7 24. c6 Nf6 25. Rd1 g5 $14 {/<=>,
Voiculescu,C (2547)-Nefedov,S (2447)/corr/2011/}) 18. Rd1 b6 19. Nd4 Qf6 20.
Rc3 h6 21. Qc2 Nc5 22. b4 Ncd3 23. g3 Qg6 24. Nc6 Bf6 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Bxb6
Nf3+ 27. Rxf3 exf3 28. Qxg6 fxg6 29. Bd3 Bd8 $1 $11 {Voiculescu,C (2547)
-Avotins,M (2446)/corr/2011/}) 11. Nd5 Bxd5 {Black rarely plays anything else.}
({However, there is the interesting} 11... b5 $5 12. a4 Bxd5 13. exd5 Qc7 14.
Rfc1 Nc5 15. Nxc5 dxc5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qxb5 Nxd5 18. Bd2 Nf4 19. Bf1 Rab8 20.
Qa5 Rb6 21. Qc3 Ne6 22. Re1 Nd4 23. b3 Rd8 24. Ra2 Rg6 $132 {Pezikov,E (2337)
-Gerasimov,V (2379)/corr/2010/}) 12. exd5 Nc5 {A radical solution, Black wants
to change the pawn structure so that he doesn't have to worry about the
expansion b4,c4-c5 in the future.} (12... Re8 13. c4 Bf8 14. Nd2 a5 15. Bd1 Nc5
16. Qe2 g6 17. Nb1 Nh5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Qd2 Ng7 20. Ba4 Re7 21. d6 Re6 22. d7
$36 {[%csl Gd7] Hovhannisyan,R (2589)-Andriasian,Z (2624)/Yerevan/2012/}) ({
Similar to the game is} 12... Rc8 13. c4 Nc5 $5 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. f4 (15. d6
Qxd6 16. Qxd6 Bxd6 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Bg5 e4 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Bg4 Rb8 21. b3
Be5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ {1/2, Sulskis,S (2550)-Vovk,A (2567)/Hastings/
2013/}) (15. Bf3 $5 {is analogous to the game and possibly better.}) 15... Bd6
16. fxe5 Bxe5 17. Rab1 Qd6 18. h3 Rce8 19. Bf3 b6 20. Kh1 Re7 21. b4 cxb4 22.
a3 a5 23. axb4 axb4 24. Bd2 Nd7 $11 {Andrijevic,M (2384)-Pavlovic,M (2461)/
Vrsac op/2000/}) 13. Nxc5 {White agrees to resolve the tension.} ({In the
aforementioned game Ponomariov played} 13. Qd2 Nfe4 (13... b6 14. f3 Nh5 15.
Rfd1 f5 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. c3 Bh4 18. Bd3 g6 19. b4 cxb4 20. cxb4 Bf6 21. Rab1
e4 22. fxe4 Be5 23. Bf2 f4 24. Be2 Nf6 25. Qd3 g5 26. Qh3 $36 {Efimenko,Z 
(2683)-Safarli,E (2607)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/ For more details about this
game see the notes by Ftacnik in CBM 139.}) 14. Qb4 a5 15. Qb5 Qc7 16. Qc4 Rac8
{and camr under pressure after the slow} 17. Rfd1 $6 (17. f3 $11) 17... f5 $1
18. c3 Qd8 19. Qb5 b6 20. Nd2 Nxd2 21. Bxd2 Bf6 22. Rab1 e4 23. b4 Nd7 24. Rb3
Be5 $36 {Ponomariov,R (2744)-Anand,V (2810)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) 13... dxc5 {
[%csl Gd5,Gd6,Ge2,Ge3][%cal Yf6e8,Ye8d6,Ye7d6][%mdl 32] A strategically
interesting position. White has a central passed pawn and two bishops, but
this doesn't necessarily give him an edge, as the blockade on d6 is very
strong.} 14. Bf3 $5 {In the notes to Ponomariov-Anand I mentioned only} (14.
Rad1) ({and} 14. c4 {The drawback of these otherwise natural moves is that
Black can get in the e5-e4 advance with more concrete counterplay. Nakamura's
move prevents it at least for the near future; even purely statistically it
promises White the best practical results.}) 14... Qc7 (14... Bd6 15. Bg5 h6
16. Bh4 Qe7 17. Rfe1 Rae8 18. Re3 g6 19. Rae1 Kg7 20. c4 Qc7 21. Bd1 Nd7 22.
Ba4 (22. g4 $5) 22... f5 23. Bxd7 Qxd7 (23... e4 $5 24. Qc3+ Be5 25. Bg3 f4 26.
Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Bxe8 Bxc3 28. bxc3 $13) 24. f3 g5 25. Bf2 Re7 26. R3e2 Qc7 27.
Bg3 h5 28. Qc3 f4 29. Bf2 Kh6 30. h3 Rg8 $14 {/<=>, Solak,D (2599)-Amonatov,F 
(2610)/Istanbul olm/2012/}) 15. c4 g6 $146 {Although this new move is
basically useful, the timing is dubious. Black should try to stabilise his
setup as soon as possible:} (15... Rfe8 16. g3 Bd6 17. Bg2 Qd7 (17... e4 $142
18. Qc2 Ng4 19. Bxe4 Nxe3 20. fxe3 g6 $44 {/+/=}) 18. Rfe1 b5 19. Bd2 Qg4 20.
b3 e4 21. Qc2 Ra7 22. Re3 Be5 23. h3 Qg6 24. Bxe4 $1 Nxe4 25. Qxe4 f5 26. Qxe5
Rxe5 27. Rxe5 $36 {Ghyssens,D (2264)-Stolz,P (2130)/corr/2009/}) (15... Ne8 16.
Be4 h6 (16... g6 17. Bh6 Ng7 (17... f5 18. d6 Nxd6 19. Bd5+ $14 {/+/-}) 18.
Rae1 Bd6 (18... f5 19. d6 Bxd6 20. Bxb7 $36) 19. g3 b5 20. Rc1 Qd7 21. Rfe1
Rfb8 22. Re2 Ra7 23. b3 b4 24. Ra1 f6 25. Bd2 a5 26. a4 {1-0 Dutra Neto,A 
(2416)-Rizzardi,J (2355)/ICCF email 2011/Corr 2013 (51)} f5 27. Bg2 e4 28. Qc2
$14 {[%cal Rf2f3]}) 17. Qc2 Nd6 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Bd3 f5 20. f3 Rae8 21. Rae1
Bf6 22. Bf2 Qc8 23. Re2 Re7 24. b4 b6 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Bg3 Qd7 27. Rfe1 $14 {
[%csl Rc5,Re5] Turov,V (2539)-Ferreira,N (2405)/corr/2010/ Transferring the
knight to d6 costs time and allows White to build up pressure against the Pe5 
(or on the e-file).}) (15... Bd6 $142 $1 16. g3 (16. h3 Rae8 17. Be2 e4 18. Qb3
Nd7 19. Rad1 f5 20. Bd2 Nf6 21. g3 e3 22. Bxe3 Bxg3 23. Bf3 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Ne4
25. Rfe1 Bd6 $36 {[%csl Rh1] O'Brien,A (1870)-Ohl,K (1800)/corr/2004/}) 16...
Rae8 17. Qc2 e4 18. Bg2 Ng4 19. Bxe4 Nxe3 20. fxe3 g6 $44 {[%csl Gd6,Re4]
leads to a position in which Black's dark-square control and the opposite
coloured bishops should give him sufficient compensation for the pawn to hold
the balance:} 21. Rae1 (21. Rf3 Re7 (21... f5 22. Bd3 Be5 23. Raf1 Bg7 24. Kg2
Re7 25. e4 fxe4 26. Rxf8+ Bxf8 27. Bxe4 Qe5 28. Bf3 $14 {Karpanov,V (2134)
-Myakonikikh,D (2338)/corr/2009/}) 22. Bd3 Rfe8 23. e4 Be5 24. Raf1 Rb8 25. Qd2
Kg7 26. Kg2 (26. b4 b5 27. Kh1 bxc4 28. Bxc4 f6 29. Rb1 h5 30. Be2 cxb4 31.
Rxb4 Rxb4 32. Qxb4 a5 {1/2, Voiculescu,C (2565)-Bellmann,H (2484)/corr/2009/})
26... b5 27. b3 b4 28. g4 h6 29. Rh3 Rh8 30. Qe3 Bd4 31. Qf3 f6 32. Rg3 Be5 33.
Bc2 Ree8 $11 {Voiculescu,C (2538)-Ljubicic,A (2505)/corr/2011/}) 21... Re7 22.
Bd3 f5 (22... Rfe8 23. Qd2 Be5 24. Kg2 Rb8 25. a3 Qd6 26. b3 ({A similar line
is} 26. Rf3 b5 27. b3 Kg7 28. Ref1 bxc4 29. Bxc4 f5 30. Re1 Bf6 31. a4 Re5 32.
Re2 h5 33. Qa5 Bd8 34. Qc3 Bf6 $132 {Moreira,J (2399)-Muukkonen,K (2397)/corr/
2011/}) 26... Kg7 27. Rb1 b5 28. Rf3 bxc4 29. Bxc4 f5 30. Qa5 h5 31. h4 Qf6 32.
Qd2 Bd6 33. Qd3 Rbe8 34. Bxa6 Re4 35. Bb5 R8e7 36. Rc1 {1/2, O'Hare,C (2438)
-Muukkonen,K (2397)/corr/2011/} Rg4 $44 {[%csl Rh4]}) 23. a3 Rfe8 24. Rf3 Re5
25. Kg2 Bf8 26. Re2 Qe7 27. Qb3 Qc7 28. Qc2 Qe7 29. Qb3 Bh6 30. Bc2 Qc7 31. Kf2
R5e7 32. Kg2 Qd6 33. Kf2 Bg7 34. Qd3 Re5 35. Qd2 b5 $132 {Demchenko,A (2639)
-Nepomniachtchi,I (2717)/Yekaterinburg/2013/ This is until now the only
non-postal game, which featured the position after move 20. It's also the only
one Black lost, as he got overambitious later on.}) 16. Rae1 h5 $6 {Loses a
pawn almost by force.} (16... Bd6 $142 17. g3 Nd7 $14 (17... Rae8 $2 18. Bh6))
17. Bg5 {[%cal Rd5d6]} Ne8 (17... Qd6 18. Be4 $5 {[%cal Rf2f4,Re4g6]} Nxe4 (
18... b5 19. b3 $16) 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxe4 $16 {[%csl Re5]}) 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19.
Qe3 Nd6 $5 {The best chance. Black doesn't insist on protecting the pawn and
hopes to build a fortress.} (19... f6 20. b4 $1 Rc8 (20... b6 $2 21. d6 $18) (
20... cxb4 21. c5 $16 {/+-}) 21. bxc5 Qxc5 (21... Rxc5 22. d6 $1 Qxd6 $8 23.
Qh6 f5 24. Rd1 Qf6 25. Rd7 $18) 22. Qh6 Kf7 23. d6 Nxd6 24. Bd5+ $40) 20. b3
Rfc8 (20... Rfe8 21. Qxc5 b5 22. Qb4 a5 23. Qc3 bxc4 24. bxc4 Rac8 25. Be2 $14
{/+/-}) 21. Qxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxe5 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Rc1 (24. Ra1 $5 {/\} b5
25. cxb5 axb5 26. a4 $36) 24... a5 {Topalov defends passively. As he fails to
hold in the end, perhaps it was worth trying} (24... b5 $5 25. g3 (25. b4 $5
cxb4 26. c5 Rc8 $14) 25... bxc4 26. bxc4 Rb8 $14) 25. Kf1 $16 {[%mdl 4096]
It's still not simple to convert the extra pawn, but Nakamura shows patience
and good endgame technique.} Kg7 (25... h4 26. g3 hxg3 27. fxg3 $16) 26. h4 b6
27. g3 Kf6 28. Be2 Re7 29. Rc3 Re8 30. Ke1 Ra8 31. Bd1 Re8+ 32. Kf1 Ke5 33. Bc2
Kf6 34. f3 Re7 35. Kf2 Re8 36. Re3 $1 {White needs a rook swap to make further
progress - this enables him to activate his king.} Rxe3 (36... Rh8 $5 $16 {
is more resilient}) 37. Kxe3 Kg7 (37... Ke7 38. g4 $36 {[%csl Rh5]}) 38. Kf4 f6
39. g4 a4 ({Marking time with} 39... Kf7 40. Bd3 Kg7 41. g5 $5 Kf7 42. gxf6
Kxf6 43. Ke3 $16 {[%cal Yf3f4,Ye3d2,Yd2c3,Ya2a3,Yb3b4] /+- is similar to the
game.}) 40. Bd3 axb3 41. axb3 Kh6 42. g5+ Kg7 (42... fxg5+ 43. hxg5+ Kg7 44.
Kg3 Kf7 45. f4 Kg7 46. Kh4 Kf7 47. f5 $18) 43. gxf6+ Kxf6 44. Ke3 g5 ({Black
can't sit and wait, a sample line is} 44... Nf7 45. f4 Nd6 46. Kd2 Nf7 47. Kc3
Nd6 48. b4 Nb7 49. bxc5 Nxc5 50. Bc2 Nb7 51. Kb4 Nd6 52. c5 $18) 45. hxg5+ Kxg5
46. f4+ Kh6 (46... Kg4 47. Be2+ Kh4 (47... Kf5 48. Bxh5 b5 49. Be2 $18) 48. Bd1
$22) 47. Kf3 Kg7 48. Kg3 Kh6 49. Kh4 Ne8 50. f5 Nd6 (50... Nf6 51. d6 (51. Be2
$18) 51... Kg7 52. Be2 Kf8 53. Bf3 Ke8 54. Kg5 $18) 51. f6 $18 Nf7 (51... Nc8
52. Kg3 Nd6 53. Kf4 {[%cal Rf4e5]} Nf7 54. Kf5 $18) 52. Be2 {[%csl Rh5]} Nd6
53. Bxh5 b5 54. cxb5 {The blockade is broken and White already has a wider
choice.} (54. f7 Kg7 55. cxb5 Nxb5 56. Kg5 Nd6 57. Kf4 $18 {also wins.}) 54...
Nxb5 55. Be2 (55. f7 $142 $18) (55. Kg4 {[%cal Rf6f7,Rg4f5]} Nd4 56. d6 $18)
55... Nd4 56. Bh5 $1 (56. Bd3 $6 Nf3+ 57. Kg3 Ne5 58. d6 Kg5 $14) 56... Nxb3
57. d6 Nd4 58. d7 Ne6 (58... Nc6 59. Bf7 Nd8 60. Bd5 Kg6 61. f7 Kg7 62. Kg5 Kf8
63. Kf6 c4 64. Bxc4 Nxf7 65. Bb3 Nd8 66. Bd5 Nf7 67. Ke6 Nd8+ 68. Kd6 $22 {+-})
59. Bg4 ({Faster is} 59. Bf7 Nd8 60. Bd5 $18 {- 58...Nc6}) 59... Nd8 60. Bf5 c4
61. Kg4 c3 62. Kf4 Nf7 63. Bd3 Nd8 64. Bc2 Kh5 65. Kf5 Kh6 66. Bb3 Kh7 67. Kg5
Nc6 68. Ba4 Nd8 69. Bc2+ Kg8 70. Kg6 Kf8 71. Bb3 Nc6 72. Kf5 Nd8 73. Ke5 Nb7
74. Kd4 {[%cal Rd4c3] The Pc3 falls and White's king returns to support its
pawns.} 1-0

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Qe2 Bd6 7. Nc3 c5 8.
g3 Nd7 9. Nd5 Nb8 10. c3 Nc6 11. Bd2 Be7 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 Bg4 14. Bc3 Bxb4
15. Bxb4 Nxb4 16. Nxb4 Qf6 17. Qb2 Qxf3 18. Qxe5+ Be6 19. O-O O-O 20. Nd5 Bh3
21. Nf4 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 c6 23. h3 Rfe8 24. Qc5 h6 25. Qc2 g5 26. Ng2 Rad8 27. Ne3
Qf6 28. Kg2 Qd4 29. Rd1 Re5 30. Qe2 Ra5 31. h4 gxh4 32. Qg4+ Qg7 33. Qxh4 Qg5
34. Qh3 Rxa2 35. Nf5 h5 36. d4 Kf8 37. Rh1 Qd2 38. Rf1 Qg5 39. Rh1 Ke8 40. Qxh5
Qxh5 41. Rxh5 a5 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Rh7 Rf8 44. g4 Re2 45. Kf3 Re1 46. g5 Rg1 0-1

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.06.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 Nd7 7. O-O c5 8. Nh4 {
The most principled option. Also White can play 8.Be3 and 8.dxc5!?} (8. Be3 Nc6
9. Nbd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Be7 11. a3 O-O 12. b4 Nb6 (12... a6 $6 13. Rc1 a5 14. b5
Na7 15. a4 Rc8 16. Qb3 b6 17. Qb2 $14 {Cheparinov,I-Bulmaga,I Golden Sands BUL
2012 1-0 (40)}) 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Nb3 Nc4 15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Rxc4 Qd5 17. Rc1 b6
$44 {Short,N-Adams,M/Garmisch Partenkirchen 1994 1/2-1/2 (30)}) (8. dxc5 $5
Nxc5 9. Nd4 Bg6 10. h4 $5 $146 h6 11. h5 Bh7 12. Bb5+ Nd7 13. Re1 Nf5 14. Bd3
Nxd4 15. cxd4 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qh4 17. Nc3 a6 (17... Qxh5 $2 18. Nb5 Rc8 19. Nxa7
Ra8 20. Nb5 Rc8 21. Bd2 Be7 22. Rac1 O-O 23. Nd6 $14) 18. Qd1 Rc8 19. g3 Qh3
20. g4 Bb4 21. Re3 Qh4 22. Kg2 f5 (22... Rc4 $5 23. Rh3 Qe7) 23. gxf5 Bxc3 24.
bxc3 Rf8 25. Qe2 Rxf5 26. Rh3 Qe4+ 27. Qxe4 dxe4 28. Rb1 b6 29. Bd2 Rd8 30. Be3
Rc8 31. Bd2 Rd8 32. Be3 Rc8 33. Bd2 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Zhigalko,S-Mamedyarov,S/Loo
RUS 2013}) 8... Be4 (8... Bg6 $6 {A slightly passive move. In my opinion, the
possible consequences aren't very cheerful. White trades his knight for
Black's bishop and gradually prepares an attack on the kingside. Black has no
counterplay} 9. Nd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Nf3 Be7 13. Be3 Nb6 14.
b3 O-O 15. g3 a5 16. a4 Rc8 17. Rc1 Rc7 18. h4 Qb8 19. Ng5 Nb4 20. h5 $14 {
Amonatov,F-Malakhatko,V St Petersburg 2009 1-0 (38)}) 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. g3 (10.
Nxe4 dxe4 ({Black has to be careful, otherwise he will be the co-author of a
chess miniature.} 10... Qxh4 $4 11. Bg5 Qxe4 12. Bd3 $18) 11. g3 Qb6 12. Be3 {
The main continuation. White also can try 12.d5 and 12.dxc5.} (12. d5 $5 {
an interesting attempt.} Ncxe5 $8 13. Bf4 O-O-O 14. dxe6 Qxe6 $6 {as we will
see, Black could have faced big troubles. So he should look for some
improvement.} (14... fxe6 $5 15. Qa4 Nf7 16. Ng2 g5 17. Be3 Nf6 $132) 15. Qa4
f5 16. Qxa7 Be7 17. Bb5 Nb8 18. f3 $2 (18. Ng2 $1 Nf3+ 19. Kh1 Bd6 20. Rfd1 $16
) 18... g5 $1 {Black could be happy with his position} 19. Bc4 Qf6 20. Bxe5
Qxe5 21. f4 gxf4 22. Rxf4 Bxh4 23. Rxh4 Nc6 $17 {Liu Qingnan-Pantsulaia,L
Qinhuangdao CHN 2011 0-1 (39)}) (12. dxc5 Qxc5 (12... Bxc5 13. Qc2 Ncxe5 14.
Qxe4 O-O $14) 13. Qa4 Qxe5 14. Bb5 Qd5 $6 {A dubious move. I think Black
should have chosen between 14 ...Be7 and 14....Rc8} (14... Rc8 15. Bf4 Qc5 16.
Rfe1 a6 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 Rxc6 19. Rxe4 Be7 20. Nf3 $11) (14... Be7 $5 15.
Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Qd5 $8 17. Qxd5 exd5 18. Nf5 g6 19. Ne3 Nb6 $11) 15. Rd1 Nb6
16. c4 $1 (16. Rxd5 Nxa4 17. Rd4 Nc5 18. b4 Nd7 19. Rxe4 Be7 20. Nf3 O-O) 16...
Qc5 17. Qc2 f5 18. Be3 Qe5 19. a4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van Kampen,R-Lenderman, A
Hoogeveen NED 2011 (86). White has a very strong attack.}) 12... Rd8 13. Qa4
Be7 14. Rab1 Bxh4 $1 {It seems to me that this is the strongest continuation} (
14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 17. Ng2 O-O 18. Rfc1 Nd5 19. Nf4 N7b6 20.
Bf1 Rd7 21. Nxd5 (21. Bg2 Nxf4 22. Bxf4 f5 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Bxe4 Bxd4 $132)
21... Nxd5 22. Bg2 f5 23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Rc4 $14 {Inarkiev,E-Ovetchkin,R
Novokuznetsk 2008 1/2-1/2 (43). Due to the pair of bishops and Black's doubled
pawns White has much better chances.}) 15. gxh4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qb4 17. Bb5 (17.
Qxb4 $5 Nxb4 18. Rbc1 Nd5 19. Bd2 f5 20. exf6 gxf6 $132) 17... Qxa4 18. Bxa4
Nb6 19. Bc2 Nxd4 20. Bxe4 Nc4 21. Rbd1 {1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S-Motylev,A/Wijk aan
Zee 2007}) 10... Be7 11. f3 $146 {As far as I know, this option is considered
as a harmless one. Morozevich employs a novelty, which doesn't change the
general assessment of the line.} (11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng2 Qb6 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14.
b4 Nd3 15. Bxd3 exd3 16. Qxd3 (16. Be3 Qa6 17. a4 Nxe5 18. Bd4 Bf6 19. Re1 Qd6
20. f4 Nc4 21. Qxd3 Rc8 $11) 16... Nxe5 17. Qe4 Bf6 18. Be3 Qc6 19. Qxc6+ Nxc6
20. Rac1 O-O $11 {Socko, B-Drozdovskij,Y Tromso NOR 2010 1/2-1/2 (67)}) 11...
Bg6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Nb3 $8 cxd4 $5 {Black could try 13...g5.} (13... g5 $5 {
After this move the game sharpens} 14. f4 {sooner or later White has to play f4
} (14. Kg2 $5 Rc8 15. f4 gxf4 16. Bxf4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nb6 $132) 14... gxf4 15.
Rxf4 (15. Bxf4 $2 Qb6 16. Qd2 cxd4 17. cxd4 Ndxe5 $17) 15... Rc8 16. Kg2 Qb6
$13) 14. cxd4 Nb6 $1 {Black has good counterplay.} 15. f4 (15. Be3 Nc4 16. Bxc4
dxc4 17. Nd2 b5) 15... Nc4 {Perhaps preparing long castling was part of
Topalov's plan so he didn't want to play 15...Rc8. It seems to me that after
15...Rc8 Black has good counterplay as well.} (15... Rc8 16. Kg2 Nc4 17. Rf3 a5
18. a4 Qb6 {It is difficult to suggest a good plan for White.}) 16. Kg2 Qb6 17.
Rf3 O-O-O 18. Be3 {It is hard to believe that White can claim an advantage
after trading his dark-squared bishop. Otherwise White wouldn't be able to
complete his development.} (18. Rc3 Kb8 19. Bxc4 $6 (19. a3 f6) 19... dxc4 20.
Rxc4 Qb5 21. Rc3 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23. Qf3 (23. Qxd4 $2 Qe2+ 24. Qf2 Rxh2+ 25.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 26. Kh3 Qg1 $19) 23... Rhd8 24. Rb3 Rb4 $17) 18... Nxe3+ (18... Nxb2
$2 {Of course, to take this pawn means to commit suicide.} 19. Qc2 Nc4 (19...
Na4 20. Rb1 Qc7 21. Bd2 $16) 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. d5 cxb3 22. axb3 Qc7 23. dxc6 b6
24. Qc4 Kb8 25. b4 {White's attack will be decisive soon.}) 19. Rxe3 Kb8 20. a4
a6 {I think that is a small inaccuracy} (20... Bb4 $1 {I would recommend this
move. As more as I'm concerned, Black's position is better after 20...Bb4:} 21.
Rc1 (21. a5 $6 Bxa5 22. Nc5 Bb4 23. Rb3 a5 $17) 21... Rc8 22. Rc2 Rc7 $15) (
20... Na5 21. Nxa5 Qxa5 22. b4 Bxb4 23. Rb3 Rd7 24. Rab1 Be7 25. Rb5 Qc3 26.
Rc1 Qe3 27. Rb3 Qe4+ 28. Bf3 Qf5 29. h4 Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Bg4 Qe4+ 32. Bf3
Qf5 $11) 21. a5 Qb4 22. Rd3 Rc8 23. Nd2 $2 {White loses a pawn without any
compensation.} ({White should have played} 23. Nc5 $1 {even though Black would
have sufficient compensation for the queen.} Bxc5 (23... Nxa5 $5 24. Ra4 Bxc5
25. Rxb4 Bxb4) 24. Ra4 Rc7 25. Rxb4 Bxb4 26. Qb3 Bxa5 27. Rd1 Ka7 28. h4 Bb6
29. Qa4 $13) (23. h4 $5 Rc7 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. Ra4 Rhc8 26. Rxb4 Bxb4 $13) 23...
Nxa5 $17 24. Nf3 (24. Rda3 $2 Qxd4 $1 25. Rxa5 Rxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Qf2+ 27. Kh3 Rh8+
28. Kg4 Rh4+ 29. gxh4 Qg2#) 24... Qb6 25. Qa4 Bb4 26. h4 Rc7 27. Rh1 {White
has no plan. He should look for some tactical chances.} Rhc8 28. Bd1 Be7 29. b3
Rh8 30. Ng5 Bd8 31. Rf1 Nc6 32. Bg4 Nb4 33. Rd2 Ka7 34. Rff2 Nc6 {It gives a
chance to complicate the game.} (34... Bxg5 35. fxg5 Rhc8 36. Bd1 $17 {Black
still has an advantage but at least White has some counterplay, which is
connected with the pressure on the f7-pawn and the ability to create a passed
pawn after g4, h5, h6.}) 35. Nxf7 $6 {Morozevich has waited for his chance to
sharpen the game and he has taken it.} ({Perhaps Morozevich would have a
better chance of a positive result, if he waited with} 35. Rf3) ({or} 35. Rf1)
35... Rxf7 36. Bxe6 Rc7 37. Bxd5 Ne7 38. Be4 Nf5 39. Bxf5 (39. Rd3 Qe6 $1 (
39... Bxh4 $5 40. gxh4 Nxh4+ 41. Kf1 Rc1+ 42. Ke2 Nf5 43. Bxf5 gxf5 $40) 40. d5
Nxh4+ 41. gxh4 Qg4+ 42. Rg3 Qxh4 43. Qd4+ Ka8 44. Kf3 Rc1 45. d6 Rf8 46. Rg4
Qh3+ 47. Rg3 Qh5+ 48. Ke3 Re1+ 49. Kd3 Qd1+ 50. Kc4 Qxd4+ 51. Kxd4 Bb6+ 52. Kd5
Bxf2 $19) 39... gxf5 40. d5 Rc3 $19 41. d6 Rxb3 $6 ({Topalov could have won
immediately:} 41... g5 $1 42. fxg5 (42. hxg5 Rxg3+ 43. Kxg3 Qe3+ 44. Rf3 (44.
Kg2 Qh3+ 45. Kg1 Qh1#) 44... Qxd2 $19) 42... Bxg5 $1 43. hxg5 Rxg3+ 44. Kxg3
Qe3+ 45. Rf3 Qxg5+ 46. Kf2 Qxd2+ 47. Kg3 Qh2#) 42. Rfe2 $2 {Black's position
is winning, but Morozevich could try the last chance to save the game} (42. Qd4
$5 Qxd4 43. Rxd4 Bb6 44. Rdd2 Bxf2 45. Kxf2 Rb4 $1 (45... Kb6 $2 46. e6 Rb4 $8
(46... Rc3 $2 47. d7 Rc7 48. g4 $1 fxg4 49. f5 Kc6 50. h5 b5 51. d8=Q Rxd8 52.
Rxd8 Re7 53. h6 gxh6 54. Kg3 b4 55. Kxg4 a5 56. Rd1 b3 57. Kf4 a4 58. Ke5 b2
59. f6 $18) 47. d7 Re4 48. d8=Q+ Rxd8 49. Rxd8 Rxe6 50. Rd5 g6 (50... Rf6 51.
h5 a5 52. Ke3 a4 53. Kd2 Kc6 54. Re5 b5 55. Kc3 $11) 51. h5 gxh5 52. Rxf5 {
The position seems to be drawish. For example} a5 53. Rxh5 a4 54. g4 Re8 55. f5
a3 56. f6 Ra8 57. Rh1 a2 58. f7 (58. g5 $5 Ra5 $1 59. Ra1 Rxg5 60. Rxa2 Rf5+
61. Ke3 Rxf6 62. Kd4 $11) 58... Rf8 59. Ra1 Rxf7+ 60. Kg3 $11) 46. e6 Re4 47.
e7 Kb6 48. h5 $5 (48. d7 Rxe7 49. d8=Q+ Rxd8 50. Rxd8 a5 51. Rd5 a4 52. Rxf5 a3
53. Rd5 a2 54. Rd1 Re8 $19) 48... a5 49. Kf3 Kc6 50. h6 gxh6 51. g4 Re6 52. d7
fxg4+ 53. Kxg4 Rxe7 54. d8=Q Rxd8 55. Rxd8 b5 $19) 42... Rxg3+ $1 43. Kxg3 Qg1+
44. Kf3 Bb6 0-1

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.06.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Nc3 {This is
not so popular as 7.c3 or 7.a4, but a logical positional move, White wants to
occupy the d5-square immediately.} d6 (7... O-O {is the other line.}) 8. Nd5
Na5 {A rare move. Black would like to remove the b3 B, but he allows White's
next move.} ({In the event of} 8... Rb8 9. c3 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Ne7 11. Bb3 O-O 12.
d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb6 14. h3 h6 15. Re1 c5 16. Be3 Bb7 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. dxc5 Bxc5
19. Nh4 Qb6 20. Rc3 $14 {White was slightly better, Grischuk-Lenic, Porto
Carras 2011.}) 9. d4 $1 {An important principle. When your opponent's piece
goes to the edge of the board, you should attack in the centre!} Nxb3 (9...
exd4 $5 {was the alternative} 10. Bg5 c6 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. Bh4 Rg8 13. Nxd4
Bxd4 14. Qxd4 c5 {followed by c4. This is the point, why Black doesn't take on
b3.}) 10. axb3 Nxd5 $146 {The new move in the game.} (10... exd4 $6 {was
dubious, as} 11. Bg5 c6 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Bh4 Rg8 {(Satyapragyan-Deshmukh,
Tirupati 2012)} 14. Nxd4 Rg4 15. Bg3 Rxe4 16. Nxb5 $1 {and Black's position is
hopeless, for example:} cxb5 17. Qd5 $18) 11. exd5 exd4 12. Re1+ Kf8 13. Nxd4 {
White has gained some space. His position looks comfortable, because the black
K didn't castle, that's why it is not so easy to finish the development for
Black.} Bd7 {Otherwise Nc6.} 14. Be3 Qf6 15. Qd2 h5 {A logical move. Black
wants to find some counterplay with h4-h3, and sometimes he can bring his R
from h5.} 16. b4 Bb6 17. Ra3 ({The engine suggests} 17. Nf3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 {
, but I like Topalov's move too.}) 17... h4 18. Ne6+ $1 {A very pretty
tactical move, but still Black's position doesn't collapse.} Kg8 $1 {This is
forced.} (18... fxe6 $6 {is bad, as} 19. Bxb6 {followed by Rf3.}) 19. Bxb6 cxb6
20. Ng5 (20. Rf3 $5 {was an interesting alternative} Qh6 (20... Qg6 21. Nf4)
21. Ng5 {is also dangerous for Black!}) 20... Rc8 $6 {A dubious move, but
Caruana wants to activate his R.} (20... Qxb2 $6 21. Rc3 $36 {and White is
very active.}) ({Maybe} 20... Rh5 {was the best} 21. f4 Qxb2 22. Rc3 Rf8 23.
Rc7 Bf5 {and it is also difficult to continue with White.}) 21. Rf3 $6 (21.
Rxa6 $1 {The computer is very happy and immediately takes the material. By
human measures, in a practical game it is too risky, probably that's why
Topalov didn't take it.} Rh5 22. f4 Qxb2 23. Ra7 $1 Bf5 24. Rc7 $1 $18 {
and Black's back rank is weak.}) 21... Qg6 22. Rd3 {A good solid move.} (22.
Rxf7 $2 {doesn't work, as} Rh5 $1 23. Rxd7 Rxg5 {and suddenly Black becomes
very active.}) ({or} 22. Nxf7 $6 {is also weak, because of} Rh5 $1 {the f7 N
is in a trouble and the c2 P is also hanging.}) 22... Rh5 23. f4 f6 24. Ne4 Rc7
25. Nxd6 $6 {A very dangerous move. After this, the N can't come back.} ({
The solid} 25. c3 {was easier, for example:} Bf5 26. Rde3 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Qf5 28.
Qe3 $14 {and Black's position has some weaknesses.}) 25... f5 $1 {Black
deprives the N of the e4-square.} 26. Qe2 (26. Ne8 $5 {is a typical engine line
} Bxe8 27. Re6 Qf7 28. Rde3 Bd7 29. Re7 Qf6 30. d6 Ra7 31. Qd5+ Kh7 32. Rf7
Qxb2 33. Qe5 Qxe5 34. fxe5 Kg6 35. e6 Rh8 {and finally Black should level the
endgame.}) 26... Rh6 27. Ne8 Rc8 28. Re3 Kf8 29. Nxg7 $6 (29. c3 {was
interesting} Rxe8 30. Re7 $44 {with some compensations.}) 29... Qxg7 30. c3 Qg4
31. Qd2 Rh7 32. Qd4 Rg7 $15 {Caruana protects his position, Black is already
slightly better.} 33. R1e2 Qg6 34. b3 a5 35. bxa5 bxa5 36. h3 a4 37. Qb4+ Kg8
38. bxa4 bxa4 39. c4 Qf6 40. c5 Qf8 41. d6 (41. Rc2 $142 {was more precise,
but White's position was already difficult.}) 41... Rb8 42. Qd4 Bc6 43. Re7 a3
44. Qc4+ Kh8 45. Qc3 Ra8 $6 (45... Kh7 {was the correct move} 46. Qxa3 Be4 $1
$19 {and Black should be winning.}) 46. Qa1 $6 (46. d7 $1 {was the only chance}
Be4 (46... a2 47. Qa1 {transposes to the game.}) 47. R7xe4 $1 fxe4 48. Qe5 $1 {
Black can't avoid the perpetual check.}) 46... Be4 $1 47. Qe5 Bc6 $2 (47... a2
$19 {was an easy win.}) 48. Qa1 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} (48. Kh2 $1 {is the
exact} a2 49. Qa1 {with transposes to the game.}) 48... a2 $2 (48... Be4 $1 {
Black should return to the game.}) 49. Kh2 (49. d7 $1 Be4 50. Rxg7 Qxg7 51.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 52. Rxa2 Rd8 53. Ra7 Kf7 54. Rc7 Ke7 55. c6 $11 {with a drawish
endgame.}) 49... Be4 50. Rc7 Qg8 51. Re7 $2 (51. Rd2 $1 {was a very difficult
computer move.} Kh7 52. Qf6 $1 Rxc7 53. Qxh4+ Kg7 54. dxc7 a1=Q 55. Qg5+ Kh7
56. Qh4+ {with a nice perpetual check.}) 51... Kh7 52. Qf6 Rxe7 53. Qxh4+ Kg7
54. Qxe7+ Kh8 $2 {Another mistake.} (54... Qf7 {was the only winning move:} 55.
Qg5+ Qg6 56. Qe7+ Kg8 $19 {and Black wins.}) 55. Rxe4 $2 (55. Rxa2 $1 {have
been saved the game} Rxa2 (55... Qxa2 56. Qf6+ Kg8 57. Qg5+ $11) 56. Qh4+ Kg7
57. Qg5+ $11) 55... a1=Q $19 56. Re5 Qb2 57. Re2 Qbg7 58. Qh4+ Q8h7 59. Qe1
Qhg6 60. d7 Qxd7 {This was a fantastic huge, struggle!} 0-1

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.06.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Qf2 O-O 12. Bc5 Bxc5 13. Qxc5 Qxc5 14. Nxc5
d5 15. f4 Neg4 16. e5 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Bxd7 18. Rd4 Ne3 19. Kd2 Nf5 20. Rd3 b4 21.
Nd1 d4 22. Rg1 Bc6 23. g3 Rac8 24. Kc1 a5 25. Rd2 Rfd8 26. Bd3 a4 27. Re1 g6
28. b3 axb3 29. axb3 Ra8 30. Kb2 Ne7 31. Bc4 Bf3 32. Nf2 Nf5 33. Bd3 Ne3 34.
Be4 Bxe4 35. Nxe4 Rdc8 36. Ree2 Rd8 37. Nd6 Nf5 38. Re4 Nxd6 39. exd6 Rxd6 40.
Rdxd4 Rxd4 41. Rxd4 Rb8 42. c3 bxc3+ 43. Kxc3 Kf8 44. Rd7 Rc8+ 45. Kb2 Ke8 46.
Ra7 h5 47. b4 h4 48. Kb3 h3 49. b5 Rc5 50. Kb4 Rc2 51. b6 Kd8 52. Rxf7 Rxh2 53.
Rh7 Kc8 54. Kc5 Rc2+ 55. Kd6 h2 56. Kxe6 Rg2 57. Ke5 Rxg3 58. Rxh2 Rb3 59. Rh8+
Kb7 60. Rh7+ Kxb6 61. Kf6 Rb4 62. Kg5 Kc6 63. Rf7 Kd5 64. Kxg6 Rb6+ 65. Kg5 Rb8
66. f5 Rg8+ 67. Kf6 Ke4 68. Ra7 Rf8+ 69. Kg6 Rg8+ 70. Kf7 Rh8 71. Kg7 1-0

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c3 Be7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O Bd7 8. Ba4
Re8 9. Re1 Bf8 10. Nf1 h6 11. Ng3 Ne7 12. Bc2 Ng6 13. d4 c6 14. h3 Qc7 15. Be3
Rad8 16. c4 c5 17. d5 b5 18. Nd2 Rb8 19. cxb5 Bxb5 20. b3 Nd7 21. Nc4 Nb6 22.
Na3 Ba6 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Qd7 25. Qd2 Na8 26. Rac1 Nc7 27. Rc4 Ne7 28. Ra4
Nc8 29. Rc1 a6 30. Rc2 Na7 31. Nc4 Nab5 32. Rc1 Nd4 33. Kh2 Kh7 34. Rf1 Be7 35.
f4 exf4 36. Bxf4 Rf8 37. Be3 Rbe8 38. Bxd4 cxd4 39. Qxd4 f5 40. Rxf5 Bf6 41.
Qd3 g6 42. Rf3 Qe7 43. Rb4 Nb5 44. a4 Nd4 45. Rxf6 Qxf6 46. Nd2 h5 47. Qxd4 1-0

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 f6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8. Bf4
O-O-O 9. Bg3 f5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. c4 d4 13. h4 Nh6 14. c5 Kb8 15.
b4 Be8 16. Nc4 Bh5 17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. gxf3 a6 19. Rb1 Na7 20. a4 Qc6 21. Qd1 Rhf8
22. Bf4 Nf7 23. Na5 Qc7 24. Qe2 h6 25. Nc4 g5 26. Bd2 Rd5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. f4
Rdd8 29. Rh7 g4 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Qxc5 32. Bb4 Qxb4+ 33. Rxb4 Bxb4+ 34. Kf1
Rh8 35. Rxh8 Nxh8 36. Qb2 Bc5 37. b6 Nc6 38. Qb5 Bb4 39. Nd6 Ng6 40. Nxb7 Kxb7
41. Qa6+ Kb8 42. Qc4 Nge7 43. Qxe6 Kb7 44. Ke2 Kxb6 45. Kd1 Ra8 46. Bc4 Ra3 47.
Qd7 Rf3 48. Be2 0-1

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Bxd5 9. Nc3 Be6 10. Nb5 a6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Bg2 f5 14. e3 Bg7 15.
O-O O-O 16. Rfd1 Qf6 17. Nh4 b5 18. Rab1 Rac8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Ne7 21. Bg2
Rc7 22. Rd2 c4 23. Qd1 b4 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Qxd7 c3 26. bxc3 bxc3 27. Rc1 Qe6
28. Qa4 Rc8 29. Bf1 Ng6 30. Nf3 Qe4 31. Qxa6 Ra8 32. Qe2 Rb8 33. Ne1 Rb1 34.
Qd1 Rxc1 35. Qxc1 Ne5 36. Be2 Qd5 37. Qc2 Nc6 38. Bf3 Qd2 39. Bxc6 Qxe1+ 40.
Kg2 Qd2 41. Ba4 Qd5+ 42. Kg1 Bf6 43. Bb3 Qd7 44. Qe2 Kg7 45. a4 Bd8 46. Qc4 Ba5
47. Qc5 Qd3 48. Kg2 Qe4+ 49. f3 Qb1 50. Qd5 Kh6 51. Qxf7 Qb2+ 52. Kh3 c2 53.
Bxc2 Qxc2 54. Qf6+ 1-0

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5
9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 d4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Ne4 Qh4+ 13. Bf2 Qg4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4
15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. Be4 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Ba3 18. Bxa8 Bc5 19. Bf3 Qg6 20. Ne4 Rd8 21.
Rd1 Bb6 22. Qb4+ 1-0

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 c6 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nge2 Be6 7. Bf4 Qd7 8.
Bb3 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. Be5 O-O 11. Nf4 Bxb3 12. axb3 Qd8 13. Qe2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1
e6 15. Nd3 Qe7 16. h3 a6 17. Na4 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7 19. Qe3 Rfd8 20. Nc3 c5 21.
f4 b5 22. Nf2 f6 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Qf3 b4 25. Na4 c4 26. bxc4 Nc5 27. Nxc5 Qxc5
28. Qe4 Bxb2 29. Rab1 Bd4 30. Rd2 a5 31. Qxe6+ Kg7 32. Kh2 Bxf2 33. Rxf2 Qxf2
34. Qe7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Korobov, Anton"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qc7 11. Bb2 e5 12. h3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Rad8 14. Rad1 e4 15.
Nd2 Bg6 16. Rc1 Ne7 17. f4 exf3 18. Rxf3 Nf5 19. Ba2 Ng3 20. Qe1 Nge4 21. c4
Nxd2 22. Qxd2 Ne4 23. Qe1 Rfe8 24. Bb1 b6 25. d5 f6 26. Rf4 Re7 27. Bxe4 Rxe4
28. Rxe4 Bxe4 29. Qh4 Re8 30. Rf1 Qe7 31. Qf4 h6 32. Rd1 Kh7 33. d6 Qd7 34. Bc3
Bc6 35. Be1 Re4 36. Qf2 Rxc4 37. Qd2 Be4 38. Bf2 Rc2 39. Qe1 Ra2 40. Qc3 Qa4
41. Qe1 Qd7 42. Qc3 Qf5 43. Rd2 Rxd2 44. Qxd2 Bc6 45. Bg3 Bd7 46. Kh2 Qe4 47.
Qe2 Kg8 48. Qf3 Qxf3 49. gxf3 Kf7 50. Kg2 b5 51. h4 b4 52. axb4 cxb4 53. Be1 a5
54. Kf2 Ke6 55. e4 Kxd6 56. Ke3 Ke5 0-1

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 d5
9. Bd3 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rd1 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5
15. O-O O-O 16. Bg5 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qe7 18. Bc2 Rad8 19. Kg2 h6 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21.
Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rd1 Rxd1 24. Bxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 e4 8. Ne5
f5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Nd2 Ba6 11. Nb3 Rb8 12. Bd2 Qd7 13. Rc1 h5 14. h4 O-O 15.
e3 g6 16. Re1 Bd6 17. Bc3 Bd3 18. Re2 Rb5 19. Rd2 Bc4 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. dxc5
Bxa2 22. Bf1 Bb3 23. Qe1 Rbb8 24. Ra1 Qe7 25. Bd4 g5 26. Qe2 Qh7 27. hxg5 Qg6
28. Ra6 Rfe8 29. Bf6 Re6 30. Rxa7 Nxf6 31. gxf6 h4 32. Rd7 Rxf6 33. Raxc7 hxg3
34. fxg3 Qxg3+ 35. Qg2 Rg6 36. Qxg3 Rxg3+ 37. Kh2 Rxe3 38. Rxc6 Bf7 39. Rb6 Rb3
40. Rxb8+ Rxb8 41. c6 Rxb2+ 42. Kg3 Be6 43. Re7 Bd5 44. c7 Bb7 45. Re8+ Kg7 46.
Rb8 Kf6 47. Rxb7 Rc2 48. Ba6 Kg5 49. Ra7 f4+ 50. Kh3 Rc3+ 51. Kh2 Rc2+ 52. Kg1
Rc1+ 53. Kf2 e3+ 54. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Kiev rapid"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "2013.06.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2013.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Re1 Qd7 11. Ne2 Rae8 12. Ng3 Bd8 13. Rf1 Be7 14. Re1 Bd8 15.
a4 Ne7 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bg5 Nc8 18. Qd2 Kh8 19. h3 Ng8 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. c3 c5
22. d4 Qc7 23. Qe3 Nb6 24. Kh2 f6 25. Be6 Bc8 26. Bxc8 Rxc8 27. Qe2 c4 28. Qe3
Ra8 29. Rad1 g6 30. Rd2 Rad8 31. Red1 Na4 32. Nh4 Qb6 33. Nf3 Rc8 34. Ra1 Ne7
35. h4 Rc7 36. h5 g5 37. Kg1 h6 38. Nh2 exd4 39. cxd4 c3 40. bxc3 Rxc3 41. Qe1
Rc4 42. Ng4 Rxd4 43. Nxh6 Nc3 44. Qe3 1-0

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8.
Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Rad1 Ne4 14. Nb5 {
This classic variation is a rare guest in today's practice.} g5 {An
interesting move requiring further analysis. The games played so far don't
lead to any conclusion.} (14... Qf6 {is more common.}) 15. Be3 (15. Bc1 {
is harmless:} h6 (15... g4 $5) 16. Bd3 Qb6 17. Rfe1 Nd6 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Nxd6
Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qxd6 $132 {0-1 (61) Siekanski,J (2340)-Jasnikowski,Z (2430)
Slupsk 1989}) (15. Nxg5 $5 Nxg5 16. Nd6 {is critical but Black apparently
holds his ground:} Qf6 $1 17. Nxe8 (17. Nxb7 Qxb2 18. Qxa6 Nh3+ $1 19. gxh3
Rxe2 20. Nxc5 Bxh3 $13) 17... Rxe8 18. Qb5 {1-0 (51) Gavrileteanu,L (1827)
-Gallo,L (2009) IECG 2003} Rd8 $1 $13 19. Qxb7 $140 Bc8) 15... h6 (15... g4 $6
16. Nd2 Qh4 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 18. Qc1 Be5 19. g3 Qh3 20. Rfe1 Re8 21. Bf1 Qh5 22.
Nc3 $16 {1-0 (30) Arakelov,I (2334)-Shipilov,A Voronezh 2000}) (15... Bxb2 $5
16. d6 $44 {needs checking}) 16. d6 (16. Bd3 Nd6 $6 (16... Nb4 $5) (16... Bxb2
$5) 17. Nxd6 Bxd3 18. Rxd3 Qxd6 19. h4 $14 b5 20. Qxb5 g4 21. Nd2 $16 {1-0 (36)
Bai,J (2236)-Dolgener,T (2220) Budapest HUN 2013}) (16. Nd2 Nd6 $6 (16... Bxb2)
17. Qb3 Nxb5 18. Bxb5 Re5 19. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (28) Babula,V (2132)-Pribyl,M (2202)
Brno 1989}) (16. Qb3 $5 Qb6 17. Nd2 Nxd2 (17... Nc7 $5) 18. Rxd2 Rad8 19. Rc1
Bd7 20. d6 Re4 21. Nc3 Qxb3 22. axb3 Rb4 23. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (50) Milanovic,D 
(2378)-Jevtic,M (2350) Jahorina 2000}) 16... Qd7 17. a3 (17. Qc1 $5 {M.Golubev}
) 17... Rad8 (17... Bxb2 $5 {M.Golubev}) 18. Qc1 Qe6 19. b4 {This was the idea
behind 17.a3.} cxb4 20. Nfd4 {[%mdl 2048]} Qf6 (20... Bxd4 21. Rxd4 $5 Nxd6 22.
Qd1 Nxb5 23. Rxd8 Nc3 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qd2 $14) 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Bxa7 (22.
axb4 $142 $1 Nxb4 23. Bc4 {o^d6,^^ with excellent compensation for the pawn.})
22... Nc3 23. Nxc3 bxc3 24. Bd3 Qf6 25. Bxa6 $2 (25. Bb5 Re6 26. Bd4 Qf4 (26...
Qxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. d7) 27. Bxc3 Qxc1 28. Rxc1 Rexd6 {, and Black should
not lose. But after the text move he seizes initiative.}) 25... bxa6 26. Bc5 $2
(26. Bd4 $142 {but after} Qxd4 $1 (26... Qf4 27. Qxf4 gxf4 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29.
Rc1 $11) 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. h4 Re2 $1 29. hxg5 Rd2 {[%csl Gc3] Black's
compensation for the queen is more than sufficient (indicated by Mikhail
Golubev).}) 26... Qf5 27. Bb6 Rd7 28. a4 (28. Bc7 Re2 29. Rde1 Rd2 30. Re8+ Kh7
31. Qe1 Bd4 {is hardly enough for survival either.}) 28... Re2 29. Qa3 c2 30.
Rc1 Bf8 (30... Qd5 $5 31. Bc5 Be5) 31. Bc5 Re5 32. Bb4 (32. Be3 Bxd6 33. Qb3
Rc7 {left him no real hope.}) 32... a5 $1 33. Bc3 Bxd6 34. Qb3 Re2 35. Qc4 Rde7
36. Qc6 R7e6 37. Qc8+ Bf8 38. Bb2 Qd3 39. g3 Rd2 40. Qc3 Qxc3 41. Bxc3 Rde2 (
41... Rde2 {[%cal Rf8a3]} 42. Ra1 Rc6 43. Bd4 (43. Bxa5 Bg7) 43... Rd6 44. Bb2
Rd1 45. Bc3 Rxa1 46. Rxa1 Bc5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 d5
9. Bd3 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Qe2 Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. O-O c5 14. d5 exd5 15.
Rfe1 dxc4 16. Bxc4 O-O 17. Rad1 Qd7 18. Ng5 Nd5 19. Qd3 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 f6 21.
Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Bxd5+ Qxd5 23. Qxd5+ Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Kf8 25. Kf1 Re8 26. Red1 g6
27. h4 h5 28. Rd7 Re7 29. Rd8+ Kf7 30. Rc8 Rfe6 31. Rd3 Re8 32. Rc7+ R8e7 33.
Rc8 Re8 34. Rc7+ R8e7 35. Rc8 Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O Nc6 8. Bg5
{A rare and harmless continuation. Usually White keeps this bishop playing} (8.
e4) ({or} 8. e3) {8.Bg5 is common when Black's bishop is on b4 instead of e7.}
8... a6 {This move is rather unnecessary.} (8... h6 $5 {leads to easy equality:
} 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. e3 e5 11. d5 Nb4 12. Nd2 c6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Nxc4 Ba6 15.
Qg4 Nd3 16. Rfd1 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Nxb2 18. Rxd8 Nxc4 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 $11 {0-1 (44)
Petursson,M (2560)-Zarnicki,P (2470) Oviedo 1993}) (8... Rb8 {is more
ambitious:} 9. Qa4 $5 (9. a4 Na5 10. e3 Nd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Nd2 Nxc3 13. bxc3
b6 14. e4 Bb7 15. Qc2 c5 $17 {0-1 (52) Matnadze,A (2415)-Zhukova,N (2425)
Antalya 2002}) (9. e3 b5 10. h4 Nb4 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14.
Ne5 $17 {1/2 (14) Gonzalez Vidal,Y (2522)-Tarrago Antoni,M (2258) Barbera del
Valles 2010}) {but Black is fine after} 9... b5 10. Nxb5 Bd7 11. Nc3 Nxd4 12.
Qxc4 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Rxb2) 9. e3 Rb8 10. Nd2 e5 (10... Na5 $142 11. Qe2 Nd5 12.
Bxe7 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qxe7 14. Nxc4 Nxc4 15. Qxc4 e5 16. Rab1 b6 17. Rfd1 a5 18.
Qb5 e4 19. c4 Bd7 20. Qd5 Rfe8 $11 {0-1 (46) Meszaros,T (2448)-Kovacs,G (2493)
Hungary 2011}) 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. d5 Na5 13. b4 $1 cxb3 14. axb3 b6 15. b4 Nb7
16. Rxa6 $14 {White has recaptured the pawn and keeps a small edge, due to the
weakness of the light squares in Black's camp.} Be7 17. Qb1 Nd6 18. Ra7 Bd7 19.
Nf3 f6 20. Qb3 Kh8 (20... Ra8 $142 {M.Golubev}) 21. Rfa1 Rc8 22. h4 Qe8 23. Rc1
$6 {Not the best plan.} (23. Bf1 $5 $14) 23... Qh5 24. Nb1 $6 Nb5 $11 {[%csl
Gb5]} 25. Ra6 Bd6 (25... e4 $5 26. Nfd2 f5 $132) (25... Qg4 $5 26. Rc4 Qg6) 26.
Nbd2 Ra8 27. Raa1 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qf7 29. Nc4 Be7 30. Nfd2 Rd8 (30... Rc8 $142 {
The c-file can open up in the immediate future.}) 31. Ne4 Qf8 $6 {Black
underestimates the following pawn sacrifice.} (31... Rc8 $142) 32. d6 $1 {
[%mdl 512]} Nxd6 33. Nexd6 Bxd6 34. Nxd6 cxd6 (34... Qxd6 $2 35. Rd1 Qe7 36.
Qd5 {[%cal Gd1d8,Gd5d8]}) 35. Ra7 {White's pieces are now extremely active;
still, Veselin Topalov holds his ground after all.} f5 36. Bd5 f4 $132 37. exf4
exf4 38. Qf3 Qf5 39. Be4 Qf6 40. Qxf4 Qxf4 41. gxf4 {[%mdl 4096]} g6 42. Bd5
Bf5 43. Rb7 Re8 44. Rxb6 Re1+ 45. Kg2 Be4+ 46. Bxe4 Rxe4 {White can't make use
of his kingside pawn advantage, due to his double f-pawns.} 47. Kf3 d5 48. Rb7
h5 49. b5 Rb4 50. Ke3 Kg8 51. b6 Kf8 52. Kd3 d4 53. Ke4 Ke8 54. Kd3 (54. f3 Kf8
55. f5 gxf5+ 56. Kxf5 d3 57. Rd7 Rxb6 58. Rxd3 Kg7 $11) 54... Kf8 55. Rb8+ Kg7
56. b7 Kh7 57. Ke4 Kg7 58. f3 Kh7 59. Kd5 {This attempt proves vain, too.} d3
$1 60. Kc6 d2 61. Rd8 Rc4+ $1 62. Kb6 (62. Kb5 Rc2 $1) 62... Rb4+ 63. Ka6 Ra4+
64. Kb5 Ra2 65. Rd7+ Kh6 66. Rd4 Rb2+ 67. Kc6 Rc2+ 68. Kd6 Rb2 69. f5 Rxb7 70.
Rxd2 g5 71. Kc6 Rf7 72. Rd6+ Kh7 73. hxg5 Rxf5 74. Rh6+ Kg7 75. Rxh5 Rxf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. Be3 Qc7 8.
f4 d6 9. c4 Nb4 10. Nc3 Nxd3+ 11. Qxd3 a6 12. O-O Be7 13. Rac1 O-O 14. h3 b6
15. Nd4 Bb7 16. b3 Rae8 17. a4 Qc8 18. Rfe1 Nd7 19. Bf2 Nc5 20. Qb1 Qa8 21. b4
Nd7 22. Nb3 Rc8 23. Qd3 Rc7 24. a5 Rfc8 25. axb6 Rxc4 26. Na5 Rxb4 27. Rb1 Nc5
28. Qe2 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Bf6 30. e5 dxe5 31. Bxc5 Rxc5 32. Nxb7 Qxb7 33. Ne4 Rc6
34. Nxf6+ gxf6 35. Qd1 e4 36. Rb3 e3 37. Kh2 h6 38. Qd8+ Kh7 39. Rxe3 Qxb6 40.
Qxf6 Qxe3 41. Qxf7+ Kh8 42. Qf8+ Kh7 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Qf8+ Kh7 45. Qf7+ Kh8 46.
Qf8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 e5 10. d5 Na5 11. Nd2 {A rare, old-fashioned but quite possible
continuation.} (11. e4 {is the main line.}) 11... f5 (11... Qe7 12. Rb1 (12. a4
Rd8 13. Nb3 Nbc4 14. Nxa5 Nxa5 15. Qc2 Bf5 16. e4 Bd7 17. b3 c5 18. Nd1 b6 19.
Nb2 Nb7 20. Nc4 {1/2 (20) Sher,M (2400)-Gavrikov,V (2545) Prague 1988}) (12. e4
$5 c6 13. b3) 12... Nac4 13. e4 Nd6 14. b3 f5 15. a4 Bd7 16. Ba3 Rae8 17. Qe2
Nbc8 18. Rbc1 Rf7 19. Rc2 $14 {1-0 (73) Blagojevic,D (2514)-Benderac,S (2307)
Neum 2004}) ({The unforced} 11... Nac4 {is premature:} 12. b3 (12. Qe2 Nd6 13.
a4 f5 14. a5 Nd7 15. e4 Nf6 16. Rd1 $14 fxe4 $6 17. Ndxe4 Nf5 18. Bg5 Nd4 19.
Qc4 Kh8 {1-0 (45) Suba,M (2510)-Reinaldo Castineira,R (2345) Dos Hermanas 2000}
20. f4 $1 $18) (12. Nxc4 Nxc4 13. e4 Bd7 14. Qb3 b5 15. Nxb5 Rb8 16. Qxc4 Bxb5
17. Qc2 Bxf1 18. Bxf1 f5 19. Be3 $14 {1-0 (29) Kharitonov,A (2540)-Aubel,J 
(2260) Berlin 1997}) 12... Nd6 13. e4 f5 14. a4 a5 15. Qe2 Bd7 16. Nc4 Nbxc4
17. bxc4 fxe4 18. c5 Nf5 19. Qc4 Nd4 20. Nxe4 $14 {1/2 (40) Grynszpan,M (2320)
-Servat,R (2285) Buenos Aires 1988}) (11... c6 {is the simplest and probably
best:} 12. b4 (12. Nb3 Nxd5 (12... Nxb3 $143 13. Qxb3 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15.
Bxd5 Rb8 16. e4 $14 {1-0 (39) Blagojevic,D (2527)-Radic,B (2100) Zenica 2004})
13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qxd5 (14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. Qxd5 Qb6) 14... Nxb3 15. axb3 Qe7 $11
) (12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Nde4 Qe7 14. Qd6 Rd8 (14... Qxd6 15. Nxd6 Rd8 16. Rd1 Bf8
17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Kf1 Bb4 19. Nd5 f5 20. Ke2 e4 $11 {0-1 (47) Sofrigin,A 
(2320)-Balinov,I (2450) Schwarzach 1998}) 15. Qxe7 Nxe7 16. Nc5 Nc6 17. Rb1 Bf8
18. b4 Nxb4 19. Nxb7 Bxb7 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. Bg2 Nd3 $132 {1/2 (79) Mascarinas,
R (2395)-Rogers,I (2355) Hong Kong 1982}) 12... Nac4 (12... e4 13. bxa5 Bxc3
14. axb6 (14. Ba3 $5) 14... Bxa1 15. Ba3 Bg7 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. Bxe4 axb6 18.
Qb1 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Qd6 20. Qb3 $14 {1-0 (41) Appel,R (2320)-Schulze,E Germany
1989}) 13. dxc6 (13. Nxc4 $5 Nxc4 14. Qe2 cxd5 15. Bxd5 Nb6 16. e4) 13... e4
14. Qc2 bxc6 $13 {R.Dautov} 15. Ndxe4 $140 Bf5 $44) {After the text move it
will be difficult for Black to push ...c7-c6, and White keeps an edge.} 12. e4
$1 (12. Qe2 $143 e4 13. Rd1 Bd7 14. Rb1 Qe7 15. f3 exf3 16. Bxf3 Rae8 $15 {
0-1 (93) Fancsy,I (2406)-Zarnicki,P (2536) Dos Hermanas 2003}) 12... Nac4 13.
Na4 (13. b3 $142 $1 Nxd2 (13... Nd6 14. a4) 14. Qxd2 $14 {Dautov,R (2495)
-Ragozin,E (2275) USSR 1987}) 13... Nd6 (13... Nxd2 $5 14. Bxd2 fxe4 15. Nxb6
axb6 16. Bb4 Rf7 17. Bxe4 Bh3 18. Re1 Bf8 $11) 14. Nc5 a5 15. b3 Qe7 16. a4 Rd8
17. Ba3 Qf7 18. Rc1 $1 $14 {[%cal Gc1c7] A good move with a wrong idea!} fxe4
19. Ndxe4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxd5 $2 (20... Rxd5 21. Qc2 {[%cal Rc2c7,Re4g5]} c6 (
21... Bh6 22. f4 $1) 22. Nd6 $14) (20... Bf5 21. d6 $1 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 cxd6 23.
Bg2 $36) 21. Nd6 $2 {[%mdl 64]} ({Black would be in trouble after} 21. Bd6 $3 {
[%cal Rd6c7,Re4g5] (indicated by several commentators)} {e.g.} Bh6 (21... cxd6
22. Ng5) (21... h6 22. Bxc7 Bg4 23. Qxg4 Nxc7 24. Rfd1 $16) 22. Bxc7 $1 Bg4 (
22... Rd7 23. Bxe5 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 {keeping decisive threats}) 23. Qxg4 Nxc7 24.
Ng5 Qe7 25. Qc4+ Kg7 26. Qxc7 Bxg5 27. Qxe7+ Bxe7 28. Bxb7 $16) 21... cxd6 22.
Rxc8 Nf6 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Re1 $44 {Still, a strong bishop pair gives White a
good compensation for the pawn.} Re8 25. Bb2 Qc7 26. Qd3 Qb6 27. Rd1 (27. Qc4+
$142 $1 Kh8 28. Rd1) 27... e4 28. Qxd6 Qxb3 29. Qd4 Rf8 $2 (29... Qf7 30. Bf1
Ng4 31. Qxg7+ Qxg7 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. Rd7+ Kh6 34. Be2 Nf6 35. Rxb7 Rc8 $132) (
29... Re7 $5 30. Bf1 Nd5 $1 31. Qxd5+ Qxd5 32. Rxd5 Bxb2 $11) 30. Bf1 $2 (30.
Bxe4 $16 {^^ was simple and strong.}) 30... Kh8 31. Rd2 h5 32. Bg2 Re8 33. h3
Kh7 34. Qc3 Qxc3 35. Bxc3 e3 36. Re2 exf2+ 37. Kf1 Rc8 38. Bxa5 Rc4 39. Re7
Rxa4 40. Bc3 Kg8 41. Rxb7 {White has regained the pawn but the position has
totally simplified.} Ra6 42. Rb8+ Kh7 43. Rb7 Kg8 44. Bd4 Ra4 45. Bb2 Ra6 46.
Kxf2 Rd6 47. Ke2 Rd7 48. Bxf6 Rxb7 49. Bxb7 Bxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Rxe8+ Nxe8 12. Nd5 Bg5 13. c4 c6 14. Nc3
Nf6 15. d4 Bxc1 16. Rxc1 d5 17. Qb3 dxc4 18. Bxc4 Qe7 19. a4 b6 20. d5 cxd5 21.
Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 Be6 23. Bxe6 Qxe6 24. Qxe6 fxe6 25. Kf1 Rd8 26. Rc4 Rd2 27.
b4 a6 28. Rc6 Ra2 29. Rxe6 Rxa4 30. Rxb6 a5 31. b5 Rb4 32. g3 a4 33. Kg2 a3 34.
Ra6 Rxb5 35. Rxa3 Kf7 36. Ra2 h5 37. f4 g6 38. Kh3 Kf6 39. Kh4 Rc5 40. Ra7 Rc2
41. Ra6+ Kg7 42. h3 Rc4 43. Re6 Kh6 44. Rf6 Ra4 45. g4 Rxf4 46. Rxf4 g5+ 47.
Kg3 gxf4+ 48. Kxf4 hxg4 49. Kxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 Nxc5 8.
Bg2 Nce4 9. O-O Bxc3 (9... Nxc3 {is more common and logical, not yielding
White the bishop pair.}) 10. bxc3 d5 {Hardly a good idea - to open up the
position against White's bishops.} (10... d6 11. Nd4 Nc5 12. Rd1 (12. Ba3 Bd7
13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Nb5 Bxb5 15. cxb5 Qc7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 $11 {0-1 (67) Vera
Gonzalez Quevedo,R (2510)-Rivera,A (2440) Cienfuegos 1997}) 12... Bd7 13. Nb3
Qc7 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 {0-1 (53) Neubauer,M (2465)-Stefansson,H (2574) Rijeka 2010}
15. Bxb7 Rab8 16. Bf3 $14) (10... Qc7 $5 11. Nd4 (11. Bf4 $5 Qxc4 $4 12. Ne5)
11... d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rac1 Qe5 15. e3 Bd7 {1/2 (15) Brunner,N
(2412)-Renet,O (2469) Haguenau FRA 2013}) (10... Qa5 $5 11. Nd4 d5 (11... Qxc3
$6 12. Qxc3 Nxc3 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rfc1 e5 15. Rxc3 exd4 16. Rd3 Rxe2 17. Rxd4
$36) 12. cxd5 exd5 13. c4 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bb2 Bd7 16. f3 (16. Qb3 $5)
16... Rac8 17. Qd3 Nc5 18. Qd2 Na4 19. e4 Qd6 $11 {1/2 (31) Vera Gonzalez
Quevedo,R (2495)-Adla,D (2435) Matanzas 1992}) 11. Ng5 $5 {White wants to
immediately get rid of Black's centralised knight. A tactical fight now starts.
} (11. Bf4 $5 {was probably more appropriate, though,} dxc4 $140 $6 12. Ne5)
11... Nd6 $1 (11... Nxg5 12. Bxg5 dxc4 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Qa4 {with unpleasant
pressure.}) 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rd1 Bf5 14. Qb3 h6 15. Nh3 Bxh3 16. Bxh3 Re8 17.
Bg2 Rxe2 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 Qf6 20. Bf4 Ne4 $2 {[%mdl 64] The wrong choice.
} (20... Nf5 $1 21. Qxb7 Rae8 22. Qf3 (22. Qxa7 Nh4 $1 23. Qb7 g5) 22... R2e4 {
gave Black a decent compensation for the pawn.}) 21. Qd3 Nxc3 22. Rac1 {
Black's pieces are in trouble.} Nxd1 $2 (22... g5 $8 23. Rxc3 gxf4 24. Qxe2
Qxc3 25. Qg4+ Qg7 26. Qxf4 $16 {[%csl Rg8]}) 23. Qxe2 Nc3 24. Qc4 {The knight
is trapped, and further resistance is hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Be7 (8... Bb4 {is the other main line.}) 9. f3 b5 (9... O-O {was more
common, but nowadays the text move has become popular.}) 10. g4 Nxd4 {Black's
plan is developing the queenside quickly and waiting for both sides to castle.}
11. Bxd4 (11. Qxd4 {has also been tried} Bb7 12. g5 Nh5 13. Kb1 (13. a3 Rc8 14.
Kb1 Bc5 15. Qd2 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 {(Eliseev-Grachev, Yekaterinburg 2013)} O-O {
and thanks to the weak f4-square Black has a comfortable position.}) (13. Bh3
Rc8 $1 14. Qd2 ({The tempting} 14. Bg4 {can be met by} b4 $1 15. Bxh5 bxc3 16.
Qxg7 cxb2+ 17. Kxb2 Rf8 $13 {and Black has a nice counterplay for the P.})
14... b4 15. Na4 d5 $5 {was more promising.} (15... Bc6 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Bg4
Rxb6 18. Bxb6 Qxb6 19. Bxh5 Qa5 20. Kb1 Qxg5 21. Qxg5 Bxg5 $44 {with some
compensation, Robson-Wang Yue, Ningbo rapid 2013.})) 13... Rc8 14. Qd2 g6 15.
Bh3 b4 16. Ne2 d5 17. e5 O-O 18. Bd4 a5 (18... Bxg5 $5 {leads to a forced and
unclear line} 19. Qxg5 Qxc2+ 20. Ka1 Qxe2 21. Bg4 Ng7 22. Qh6 Rc4 $13) 19. Bg4
Ng7 20. h4 a4 21. Nc1 Ba6 22. h5 {and suddenly White's attack is faster} a3 23.
Qh2 gxh5 24. Rd2 Bxg5 25. f4 Bd8 26. Bxh5 $18 {with a winning attack, Z.
Almasi-Inarkiev, Havana 2013.}) 11... Bb7 (11... b4 12. Ne2 Bb7 13. Ng3 ({
in case of} 13. g5 Nxe4 $1 {a typical strong sacrifice} 14. fxe4 Bxe4 15. Rg1 (
15. Ng3 $2 {is bad because of} Bxg5 $19 {and mate on c2!}) 15... e5 16. Bf2 Rc8
17. c3 d5 $36 {with a strong initiative.}) 13... O-O 14. Kb1 Rfc8 $13 {Alsina
Leal-Inarkiev, Barcelona 2010.} (14... d5 $5 $13)) 12. Qf2 (12. g5 {was also
tried by Dominguez} Nh5 13. Bd3 O-O 14. Ne2 e5 15. Be3 g6 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. h4
Rac8 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Ne2 d5 $132 {with a double-edged fight, Dominguez
Perez-Potkin, Havana 2012.}) 12... O-O 13. Bd3 $146 {The first novelty.} (13.
Bb6 Qb8 (13... Qc6 {also looks interesting} 14. g5 Nh5 15. Be3 b4 16. Ne2 {
similar to the game.}) 14. g5 Nh5 15. Be3 ({First the computer suggests} 15.
Rxd7 {, but in human terms in my view, it is too risky in a practical game.}
Bxg5+ 16. Kb1 b4 17. Ne2 Bc6 18. Rd1 Rc8 $132) 15... Bc6 16. Ne2 b4 17. Nd4 Bb7
18. Kb1 {is the typical reaction.} (18. Bc4 $6 a5 {and Black looks nicely
placed, Sanal-Potkin, Nakhchivan 2013.})) 13... Rac8 (13... b4 14. Na4 d5 15.
e5 Nd7 16. f4 {similar to the French Defence Steinitz opening.Variation}) 14.
Ne2 $6 {A logical plan, Karjakin wants to transfer his N to g3. On the other
hand, this manouvre also means leaving the equally important queenside.} (14.
Kb1 {was an alternative} b4 15. Na4 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Qe3 (17. fxe4 $6 dxe4)
17... Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. f4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qc5 21. Qxc5 Rxc5 {with about an
equal endgame.}) 14... d6 (14... d5 15. e5 Ne4 (15... Nd7 {is also possible}
16. f4 Nc5) 16. Qe3 b4 $5 (16... Nc5 17. Kb1 Nxd3 18. Qxd3) 17. fxe4 dxe4 18.
Bxe4 Bg5 $1 19. Nf4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Qc6 ({or} 20... Bxf4+ 21. Kb1 Bg5) 21. Qxc6
Bxf4+ 22. Kb1 Rxc6 {with an interesting endgame.}) 15. Ng3 Nd7 16. Rhe1 (16. f4
Nc5 17. Kb1 e5 18. Be3 Bh4 $15) 16... Nc5 17. Kb1 Rfd8 18. b3 e5 19. Bb2 Bh4 $1
20. Rg1 g6 21. Qe3 f6 $1 22. f4 exf4 23. Qxf4 d5 {Topalov chooses the human
way. He wants to liquidate to a slightly better endgame.} ({Engines suggest} 
23... Nxd3 24. cxd3 Qc2+ 25. Ka1 Qxh2 26. Rh1 Qxg3 27. Qh6 Rc2 28. Rxh4 Rd7 29.
Rhh1 Qg2 30. Rb1 {should be good for Black, but White's attack also looks
dangerous in a practical game!}) 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 $15 25. Rgf1 (25. e5 Nxd3 26.
Rxd3 fxe5 27. Bxe5 Rf7 $15) 25... d4 $1 {Black fixes the centre and closes the
long diagonal.} 26. Rf3 $6 (26. Ne2 Rcd7 (26... Nxe4 27. Nxd4) 27. Nf4 Nxe4 $15
) 26... Re7 27. Ba3 Re5 28. Bxc5 {The e4 P was very weak, so Karjakin had to
give up his important B.} Rxc5 29. c4 bxc4 30. Bxc4+ Kg7 31. Kb2 Rg5 (31... Bc8
32. h3 Re5 $15) 32. h3 h5 33. Ne2 hxg4 34. hxg4 Rxg4 35. Nxd4 Kh7 $1 $17 {
A good cool-blooded move, which avoids the threats of N moves.} 36. Rh3 g5 37.
Kc3 $6 {Not a very precise move, but White's position was already difficult.} (
37. Be6 Rg2+ 38. Kc3 Bxe4 39. Re1 Bg6 40. Nf5 $15 {with a little counterplay.})
37... Bxe4 38. Bxa6 f5 (38... Kg6 $19) 39. Bd3 Kg6 40. Nf3 Bg3 $19 {Black has
a winning position. The rest is easy.} 41. Be2 Rc8+ 42. Kd2 Rc2+ 43. Ke3 Rc3+
44. Bd3 Bxd3 45. Rxd3 Bf4+ 46. Ke2 Rg2+ 47. Kf1 Rxd3 48. Kxg2 Rd8 49. Ne1 Rd2+
50. Kf1 g4 51. Rc3 Rxa2 52. Nd3 Kg5 {A nice win by Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. e4 Nxe5 11. exf5 Ned7 12. d5 g6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Qd4 Rg8
15. fxg6 Rxg6 16. Qf2 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Bb5 Re6+ 19. Kf1 Bg7 20. g3 Kf8 21.
Kg2 d4 22. Rd1 Nb6 23. Ra3 Rc8 24. Rad3 Nd5 25. Rxd4 Rxc1 26. Rxd5 Rxd1 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Bc4 Rc6 29. Qc2 Rd4 30. b3 Rcd6 31. Qf5 Rd2+ 32. Kf1 Bf6 33.
Qxh7 e6 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35. Qe3 Rxh2 36. Qc5 Bc3 37. Bd3 Bb4 38. Qg5+ Kf8 39. Kg1
Ra2 40. Qh6+ Ke7 41. Qg5+ Kd7 42. Qh5 Kd8 43. Qh7 Rd5 44. Kf1 Bc3 45. g4 Ke7
46. Qe4 Kf8 47. f4 Rd2 48. Bc4 R5d4 49. Qe3 Bb4 50. f5 Rxg4 51. fxe6 Rdd4 52.
Qh6+ Ke7 53. exf7 Rdf4+ 54. Ke2 Rg2+ 55. Kd3 Rg3+ 56. Ke2 Rg2+ 57. Kd3 Rg3+ 58.
Ke2 Rg2+ 59. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.15"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bg6 ({Üblicher ist} 5... c5) ({
oder} 5... Nd7 {, was aber häufig nur Zugumstellung bedeutet.}) 6. O-O Nh6 {
Auch dieser Zug wird hier eher selten gespielt und beinhaltet eine Provokation,
denn Weiß kann nun mit Lxh6 die schwarze Struktur am Königsflügel entwerten.
} ({Der Springer kann auch via e7 nach f5 gelangen.} 6... Ne7 7. Nbd2 Nf5 8. g4
Ne7 9. Nh4 c5 10. c3 Nbc6 11. Nxg6 Nxg6 12. Nf3 Be7 13. g5 Qb6 14. h4 cxd4 15.
cxd4 f6 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bd3 fxg5 18. Re1 O-O-O 19. Rxe6 Qc7 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21.
Rxe7 Nxe7 22. Qg4+ Qd7 23. Qxd4 Nc6 24. Qf4 Rdf8 25. Qg3 h6 26. Be2 hxg5 27.
Bg4 Rf5 28. Bxg5 Rhf8 29. Rc1 b6 30. Bxf5 Rxf5 31. f4 Kb7 32. h5 Nd4 33. Re1
Ne6 34. h6 Nxg5 35. fxg5 Qd8 36. Re5 Qc7 37. Re3 Qd8 38. Qg2 Rxg5 39. Rg3 Re5
40. Rg7+ Kc6 41. Qc2+ Kd6 42. Rg6+ Re6 43. Qh2+ Kc5 44. Rxe6 Qg8+ 45. Kf1 {
1-0 (45) Shirov,A (2700)-Dreev,A (2654) Loo 2013}) 7. c3 Be7 (7... Nf5 8. Qb3
Qc7 9. g4 Ne7 10. Nh4 h5 11. Nxg6 Nxg6 12. gxh5 Ne7 13. Nd2 f6 14. exf6 gxf6
15. c4 Nf5 16. Qh3 Nxd4 17. Bd1 Qe5 18. Nb3 Rg8+ 19. Kh1 Qe4+ 20. f3 Qf5 21.
Qxf5 Nxf5 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Bc2 Nc6 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Bf4 Rh8 26. Rac1 Rxh5 27.
Rfd1 Rd8 28. Nd4 Nxd4 29. Rxd4 Rd7 30. Bg3 Kf7 31. Rcd1 Ke6 32. Re1+ Kf7 33.
Red1 Ke6 34. Re1+ Kf7 {1/2-1/2 (34) Najer,E (2634)-Riazantsev,A (2705) Loo 2013
}) ({Nach} 7... Nd7 {wird eine Stellung erreicht, die meist nach 5...Sd7
entsteht, z.B.} 8. Bxh6 gxh6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. Nb3 O-O 11. Nc1 c5 12. Qd2 cxd4
13. cxd4 Qb6 14. Nd3 Kg7 15. Rac1 Rfc8 16. Nf4 Qb4 17. Rc3 Qa5 18. Nxg6 hxg6
19. Rb3 Qxd2 20. Nxd2 Rc2 21. Rxb7 Rxd2 22. Rxd7 Rxe2 23. Rxe7 Rxb2 24. g3 Rc8
25. Rxa7 g5 26. h3 h5 27. a3 Rc4 28. Rd1 g4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. Kg2 Rcc2 31. Rf1
Rd2 32. Ra4 Ra2 33. Kg1 Rd3 34. Kg2 Rf3 35. Ra8 Rd2 36. a4 Rxd4 37. a5 Ra4 38.
a6 Rf5 39. a7 Rxe5 40. Rh1 Ra2 41. Rh4 Rg5 42. Kg1 Kf6 43. Rh6+ Ke5 44. Rh7 Rf5
45. Rh2 Ra1+ 46. Kg2 Ra2 47. Kg1 Rf3 48. Rg8 Rxa7 49. Rxg4 Ra2 50. Rg8 d4 51.
Rd8 d3 52. Kf1 Kf6 53. Ke1 e5 54. g4 e4 55. Rd4 e3 56. g5+ Kg7 {0-1 (56)
Savchenko,B (2550) -Galkin,A (2615) Konya 2012}) 8. Bxh6 gxh6 {Im Gegenzug
für die entwertete Bauernstruktur am Königsflühel erhält Schwarz Spiel auf
der g- und f-Linie.} 9. g3 {Weiß bereitet die Attacke h2-h4-h5 vor.} ({
Bekannt war bisher} 9. Qd2 Qb6 10. b3 c5 11. Qxh6 Nc6 12. Qf4 f6 13. exf6 O-O
14. Qe3 Rxf6 15. Nbd2 Bd6 16. g3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Ba3 18. Rad1 Bb2 19. Nb1 Bxb1
20. Rxb1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Qg5+ Rg6 23. Qh5 Rf8 24. Rbd1 Qg7 25. Rd2 Nd4
26. Bd1 Nf5 27. Qe2 Kh8 28. Re1 Rgf6 29. Qe5 Ne7 30. Bc2 Ng6 31. Qg5 Qc7 32.
Qe3 a6 33. Rde2 Qg7 34. Qg5 Qf7 35. Qd2 Rg8 36. Kh1 Ne7 37. Qd4 Nc6 38. Qh4 Rg7
39. Rf1 e5 40. Bd1 e4 41. Kg1 Nd4 42. Rd2 Nf5 43. Qh5 Qg8 44. Qe2 Qe6 45. Re1
Qe5 46. Rc2 Rf8 47. Qh5 Qf6 48. Rd2 e3 49. fxe3 Nxe3 50. Qe2 d4 51. Qd3 Rd7 52.
b4 Rd5 53. Bc2 Rf5 54. Rdd1 Qg7 55. Rxe3 dxe3 56. Qxe3 Rf3 57. Qe4 R3f7 58. Re1
Qb2 59. Re2 Qc1+ 60. Re1 Rf1+ 61. Kg2 R1f2+ 62. Kg1 Qxc2 {0-1 (62) Sjugirov,S 
(2562)-Riazantsev,A (2634) Moscow 2009}) 9... O-O 10. Nbd2 a5 11. Ne1 c5 12. h4
cxd4 13. h5 Be4 14. cxd4 Nc6 15. Bf3 ({Nach} 15. f3 {würde die schwarze
Opferidee, wie in der Partie gespielt, funktionieren:} Bf5 16. g4 Nxd4 17. gxf5
Nxf5 18. Ng2 Bc5+ {und die Schwäche der Felder e3 und g3 garantiert Schwarz
besseres Spiel.}) 15... Bf5 $6 (15... Bxf3 16. Ndxf3 Qb6 17. Rb1 f6 $11) 16. g4
Nxd4 $2 ({Es ging noch} 16... Be4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Nxd4 $14) 17. gxf5 Kh8
$2 ({Besser war noch} 17... Nxf5) 18. f6 Bb4 19. Bg2 Rg8 20. Ndf3 Nc6 21. Nd3
Qb6 22. Kh1 Bc5 23. Qc1 (23. Qc1 {und der Läufer muss bis auf sein
Ausgangsfeld zurück und kann von dort auch kaum mehr aktiviert werden:} Bf8
24. Qe3 $18 (24. a3 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 {The Philidor Defence had
been forgotten for a long time in chess tournament practice, until promising
French GM Bauer wrote a nice book about it. Due to his and some other GMs'
efforts the opening started to become more and more popular. Nowadays we see
not one but a few ideas that Black uses against the regular setup Bc4 0-0.} 6.
O-O O-O 7. a4 c6 8. Re1 {This is considered as best play so far for White.} a5
9. h3 Nb6 {And this is something that has been introduced in the last few
years and at the present moment is the most popular reply for Black at this
point. Very interesting positions are ahead of us.} 10. Bb3 {Not the only move,
White has various ideas how to proceed with the bishop from here.} (10. Ba2
Nfd7 11. Be3 exd4 12. Bxd4 (12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Rad1 Be6 14. b3 $5 {a strange
looking move} (14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 d5 16. Qg4 {transposes below to the main
line under 12.Qxd4}) 14... Ncd7 15. Ne2 d5 16. Nf4 Re8 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. e5 Bc5
19. Qg4 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Qe7 21. c3 c5 22. Bb1 Nf8 23. h4 c4 $132 {1/2-1/2 (48)
Zhigalko,S (2661)-Mamedov,N (2602) Denizli TUR 2013}) 12... Nc5 13. Bxc5 dxc5
14. Qe2 Qd6 15. Rad1 Qg6 $5 (15... Qh6 16. Nd2 (16. Qd2 Qg6 17. Ne5 Qf6 18. Nc4
(18. f4 Be6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qf2 Bf6 21. Qxc5 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Nd7 23. Qd6 Nxe5
$11) 18... Nxc4 19. Bxc4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Qd7 Rfd8 22. Qxb7 Rdb8 23. Qd7
Rxb2 $11 {1/2-1/2 (30) Alsina Leal,D (2527)-Magem Badals,J (2593) Barcelona
ESP 2010}) 16... Be6 17. Nc4 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Rad8 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qe3 Rxd1 21.
Rxd1 Bf6 22. Qxc5 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 Qxe4 24. Rd4 Qe5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (54) Quesada
Perez,Y (2604)-Alonso Rosell,A (2540) Barcelona ESP 2012}) 16. Ne5 Qg5 17. f4
$6 (17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. f4 Qh4 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. f5 Kg8 21. Rf1 (21. Nb1 Bd7 22.
Nd2 Be8 $13) 21... Bd7 22. e5 Rf8 23. e6 Be8 24. Ne4 c4 $13) 17... Qxf4 $1 18.
Nxf7 c4 19. Rf1 Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 $1 $17 (20... Qe3 $2 21. Qh5 $1 $18 {0-1 (48)
Inarkiev,E (2680)-Al Sayed,M (2498) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2013})) (10. Bf1 exd4
11. Nxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Nce2 g6 14. Bh6 (14. Nf4 Ng7 15. Nd3 f6 16. b3 fxe5
17. Nxe5 Bb4 18. Bd2 Nd7 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Qd2 Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Qd6 22. Rae1 Bd7
23. Nf3 Rae8 24. Bd3 Rxe5 25. Nxe5 Bc8 26. Qe3 Re8 27. Qf4 Qf8 28. Qd4 Ne6 29.
Qh4 Qe7 30. Qg3 Qg5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (53) Saric,I (2616)-Neuman,P (2465) Deizisau
GER 2013}) 14... Ng7 15. Nf3 $5 (15. Ng3 Bg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Nf3 Qf4 18. Ne2
Qb4 $1 (18... Qh6 19. Ned4 Be6 20. c3 Nd7 21. b4 Rfe8 22. Qb3 $14 {0-1 (64)
Efimenko,Z (2682)-Bologan,V (2690) Poikovsky RUS 2009}) 19. c3 Qe7 20. Ned4 Bf5
21. Qb3 Qc7 22. Rad1 Rad8 $11) 15... Nd7 16. Ned4 Nc5 17. c4 Be6 $5 (17... Nce6
18. Qb3 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 c5 20. Ne2 dxc4 21. Qxc4 Be6 22. Qc3 Qb6 23. Nf4 Rfd8 $14
{1-0 (60) Kosintseva,T (2562)-Zhu Chen (2476) Ulaanbaatar MGL 2010}) 18. Qc2
Qb6 19. Rad1 Rfd8 $13) (10. Bd3 $5 {An interesting idea especially due to a
Morozevich game which I find rather interesting for further development.} Nfd7
(10... exd4 11. Nxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Bf4 g6 14. Nf3 Ng7 15. Ne2 Nd7 16. c3
Nc5 17. Bc2 Bf5 18. Bh6 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 f6 20. Ned4 fxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 22. Rad1
Rae8 23. Ndf3 Bd8 24. c4 $36 {0-1 (63) Hansen,S (2603)-Hopman,P (2365) Pattaya
THA 2011}) 11. Be3 (11. Ne2 exd4 $1 (11... c5 12. c3 c4 13. Bc2 Qc7 14. Ng3 Rd8
15. Nh2 $14 {1-0 (30) Stojanovic,D (2495)-Rowe,P (1987) Istanbul TUR 2012}) 12.
Nexd4 Nc5 13. b3 Bf6 14. Rb1 Nbd7 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Nf5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18.
Bxc5 dxc5 19. Bc4 Qf6 $13 {1/2-1/2 (35) Meier,G (2546)-Al Sayed,M (2469) Biel
SUI 2007}) 11... exd4 (11... Re8 $5 12. Qd2 exd4 13. Bxd4 Ne5 $1 14. Nh2 Ng6
15. f4 Bf6 16. Be3 d5 17. e5 Bh4 18. Bf2 Bxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Nd7 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21.
Nf3 Qb6 $13) 12. Bxd4 Nc5 13. Bf1 $5 Be6 (13... Qc7 14. Qd2 Ne6 15. Be3 Bf6 16.
Rad1 Rd8 17. b3 Nd7 18. Ne2 Ndc5 (18... Ne5 19. Nfd4 (19. Nh2 Ng6 20. f4 Nc5
21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Qc1 c4 $132) 19... Ng6 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Bd4 $14 {[%cal
Gf2f4]}) 19. Ng3 $14) 14. Qd2 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Rad1 Re8 17. b3 h6 (17...
Bf8 18. Bc4 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Bxc4 20. Bxc5 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bd5 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23.
Nd4 f6 24. Rd3 $14) 18. Bc4 Nb4 (18... Nc7 19. Qf4 Qc8 20. Qg3 Bf8 21. Ne5 $36)
19. Bxc5 $1 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bxc5 21. Bxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Ne4 $16 {
1/2-1/2 (53) Morozevich,A (2770)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2589) Astana KAZ 2012}) 10...
Nfd7 11. Be3 exd4 12. Nxd4 (12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Rad1 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 d5
16. Qg4 Qe8 {this position is perfectly ok for Black} 17. h4 (17. b3 Nbd7 18.
Rd4 Rf5 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Rg4 Qf7 21. Bd2 Rf8 $13 {1/2-1/2 (30) Ni Hua (2645)
-Danielsen,H (2519) New Delhi IND 2011}) 17... Nbd7 18. Ne2 Qf7 19. Ned4 Rae8
20. Rb1 Bd8 21. h5 Ne4 $15 {0-1 (58) Sosna,J (2385)-Neuman,P (2471) Czech
Republic CZE 2013}) (12. Bxd4 Nc5 13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Qe2 Qd6 {We have the same
position like in the 10.Ba2 line but with a bishop on b3. Quesada is using
this fact for a small idea.} 15. Qe3 $5 Qg6 16. Ne2 $1 {now the pawn on a4 is
protected} Qh6 17. Qxh6 gxh6 18. c3 Be6 19. Bc2 Rad8 20. Nf4 Bc8 $13 {1-0 (74)
Quesada Perez,Y (2620)-Narciso Dublan,M (2551) Barcelona ESP 2011}) 12... Nc5
13. Qf3 (13. Qh5 Nxb3 14. cxb3 g6 15. Qh6 Nd7 16. Rad1 Re8 17. Nf3 Bf8 18. Qf4
Qe7 19. Qg3 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bg7 21. Bg5 Qf8 22. f4 Nd7 $13 {0-1 (42) Horvath,C 
(2208)-Neuman,P (2522) Pardubice CZE 2013}) (13. Nf5 $6 Bxf5 $1 14. exf5 Nxb3 (
14... Nbd7 15. Qg4 d5 16. Rad1 Bf6 {this is also ok for Black}) 15. cxb3 Bf6
16. Qg4 Nd7 (16... d5 $2 17. Bc5 $16 {1-0 (35) Potapov,P (2460)-Kabanov,N 
(2472) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2013}) 17. Rad1 d5 {Black is fine.}) 13... Nxb3 14.
cxb3 Be6 {I am not so sure about this move, somehow it runs on f4-f5 ideas.} (
14... Nd7 15. Rad1 Ne5 16. Qe2 (16. Qg3 Re8 17. Re2 Bh4 18. Qh2 Bf6 19. Red2
Ng6 20. Nde2 Be6 $13) 16... Bd7 (16... Re8 $5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Qd2 Bf6 19. f5 Ne5
20. Nc2 Re7 21. Qf2 Rd7 $13) (16... Ng6 17. f4 f5 $13) 17. f4 Ng6 18. Nf5 Bxf5
19. exf5 Nh4 20. Bf2 Nxf5 21. g4 Nh4 22. Qxe7 Nf3+ 23. Kf1 Nxe1 24. Qxd8 Rfxd8
25. Kxe1 d5 26. Bb6 Re8+ 27. Kd2 f6 $13 {1/2-1/2 (57) Rublevsky,S (2667)
-Bologan,V (2645) Tomsk RUS 2006}) 15. Rad1 Nd7 (15... d5 16. Qg3 $16) (15...
Kh8 16. Qg3 $14) 16. Qg3 Ne5 17. Re2 Ng6 (17... Bh4 18. Qh2) 18. f4 $14 c5 $2 (
18... Bc8 {It was better to accept the fact that a mistake had been made and
to retreat with the bishop.}) 19. Nf5 $5 (19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 Qc8 21. Nb5 Ra6
22. Red2 $16) 19... Bxb3 20. Rdd2 Rc8 21. Rf2 {White has a strong initiative
for the pawn.} Kh8 22. h4 Rg8 23. h5 Nf8 24. Nxd6 Bxd6 25. e5 f5 26. Rxd6 Qe8
27. Qh3 $16 Be6 28. Rfd2 h6 29. Nb5 Nd7 30. Qf3 b6 31. Qd1 $18 Nf8 32. Rxb6 Qe7
33. Qf3 Nd7 34. Rb7 Rb8 35. Ra7 Rgd8 36. Rd6 Qf7 37. Nc7 Bc4 38. e6 Qe7 39.
Rxd7 Rxd7 40. exd7 Qxd7 41. Nb5 Qe6 42. Qg3 1-0

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Rad1 Nf6 12. Rfe1 b6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Re3
Nd5 15. Rh3 f5 16. Bc1 Bf6 17. Re1 c5 18. g4 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Qd7 20. dxc5 Rae8
21. gxf5 Rxf5 22. Rxf5 exf5 23. Bd2 Re4 24. Qd3 bxc5 25. Re3 Qe6 26. f3 Rxe3
27. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 28. Bxe3 Kh8 29. Bxc5 Nxc3 30. Bd4 Nxa2 31. Bxa2 Bxf3 32. Bb1
Bg4 33. Kg2 a5 34. Kg3 Bd1 35. Bxf5 Bb3 36. Kf4 Kg8 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Bxh7 g6 39.
Kf4 Bc2 1-0

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 ({Die
populärere Alternative ist} 6... e4 7. Ng5 (7. Ne1)) 7. d3 h6 8. Bd2 ({Oder} 
8. Nd5 Bc5 9. e3 a6 10. b3 Ba7 11. Bb2 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7 13. Nd2 f5 14. Rc1 f4
15. exf4 exf4 16. Rc4 Ng6 17. Ne4 Ne5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Qa1 Bd4 20. Rxd4 exd4
21. Qxd4 f3 22. Bh1 Be6 23. Nc3 c6 24. d6 Bd5 25. Ne4 Qd7 26. Rd1 Rad8 27. Qe3
Qf7 28. h4 Qf5 29. Kh2 Rd7 30. Re1 g5 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Qxg5+ Qxg5 33. Nxg5
Rxd6 34. Re3 Rdf6 35. Kg1 a5 36. Nh3 b5 37. Nf4 Rxf4 38. gxf4 Rxf4 39. Kf1 Kf7
40. Ke1 Kf6 41. Kd2 a4 42. bxa4 Rxa4 43. Bxf3 Rxa2+ 44. Kc3 {1/2-1/2 (44)
Anand,V (2786)-Gelfand,B (2755) Moscow 2013}) 8... a5 9. e3 ({Zumeist geschieht
} 9. a3 {z.B.:} Bc5 10. Na4 Re8 11. Nxc5 dxc5 12. Bc3 Qd6 13. Nd2 Bg4 14. h3
Bd7 15. Kh2 Rad8 16. b3 b6 17. Re1 Nd4 18. e3 Nc6 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Ne7 21.
Qc2 f5 22. Bf3 Bc6 23. Be2 Qe6 24. Rad1 Bb7 25. f3 Rd7 26. Rf1 Ng6 27. Rf2 Red8
28. Rg1 Rd6 29. a4 R6d7 30. Bb2 Rd6 31. Bc3 R6d7 32. Bf1 e4 33. dxe4 fxe4 34.
f4 Qe7 35. Be2 Rd3 36. Bxd3 exd3 37. Qd2 Qe4 38. f5 Ne5 39. Rgf1 Re8 40. f6
gxf6 41. Rxf6 Re7 42. Rf8+ Kh7 43. R8f4 Qg6 44. e4 Bc6 45. Rf6 {1-0 (45)
Ponomariov,R (2743)-Cheparinov,I (2678) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 9... Bf5 10. Qe2
Re8 11. Rfd1 e4 12. dxe4 Nxe4 13. Rac1 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Be4 15. Nh4 Bxc3 16. Rxc3
Qf6 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. c5 Nd4 $2 {Der schwarze Angriff erweist sich als nicht
so stark wie erhofft.} (18... Rd8 $11) 19. Qd3 Rxh4 20. gxh4 Nf3+ 21. Kf1 Nxh2+
22. Kg2 Nf3 23. cxd6 cxd6 24. Qxd6 Nxh4+ 25. Kf1 Qf5 {mit der Idee Dh3 und
Gegenspiel.} 26. Qd7 Qf3 27. Qd5 Qh3+ 28. Ke2 Ra6 (28... Qg4+ 29. Kd2 Nf3+ 30.
Kc1 h5 31. Rc4 $18) 29. Qe4 $18 ({Gut war auch} 29. Rc4 $5) 29... f5 30. Qd5+
Kh7 31. Rc4 (31. Qxb7 $4 Qg4+ $19) 31... f4 32. Rxf4 Ng6 33. Qf5 Qh2 34. Rd7 h5
35. Rd5 Rb6 36. Qxh5+ Qxh5+ 37. Rxh5+ Kg8 38. Rd4 Rxb2+ 39. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The third game was a nail biting affair. Topalov was extremely aggressive and
repeated the line that gave him a victory on the first game. This time the
ante was upped as he sacrificed an exchange and two pawns for an initiative
against his opponent's king. His plan almost worked as he was very close to
victory, and only a slight inaccuracy and clever play by the Czech player
allowed Black to salvage half a point.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Qg4 Nc6 11.
Re1 f5 12. Qf3 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Kh8 14. Bf4 g5 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. Rae1 Bxe5 17. Rxe5
Qf6 18. h4 gxh4 19. Bf4 Qg6 20. Qh3 Rg8 21. Re3 h6 22. Qh2 b5 23. Bf1 Kh7 24.
Qxh4 e5 25. dxe5 (25. Rg3 $1 {Surprisingly effective.} Qe6 26. Rxg8 Kxg8 (26...
exf4 27. Rf8 {should be hopeless.}) 27. Bxe5 Kh7 28. Qd8 $1 $18) 25... Qe6 26.
Bd3 {threatening Bxf5.} Rg6 $1 {Forced but sufficient.} 27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. fxg3 {
White is down an exchange, but Black's king position is so weak that he can't
really do much with it.} Bb7 29. Bc2 Rf8 30. g4 Qg6 31. e6 Qxe6 (31... Be4 $5 {
would maybe have caused White some problems, but I believe White's initiative
after 32.Bb3 is enough to hold a draw somehow. Only a computer would play on
such a position!}) 32. Bxf5+ Rxf5 33. gxf5 Qxf5 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 35. Qg5+ Qxg5 {
Laznicka saved himself on this one!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d5 8. e3 Nc6
9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Bc4 Qf5 11. dxc5 Ne4 12. cxb6 O-O 13. Bd3 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Ne5
15. Bxe4 Qxe4 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Bg3 Qe4 18. O-O Bb7 19. f3 Qxe3+ 20. Bf2 Qg5
21. c4 axb6 22. Bxb6 Rfc8 23. a4 e5 24. c5 Re8 25. a5 Qg6 26. Rad1 e4 27. Rd6
Re6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Qc2 Bc6 30. Rd1 Rf8 31. Rd6 Qg5 32. Rxc6 exf3 33. g3 Qe5
34. Qf2 Qa1+ 35. Qf1 Qd4+ 36. Qf2 Qd1+ 37. Qf1 f2+ 0-1

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
e3 e6 9. Qb3 Nxc4 10. Bxc4 Qb6 11. f3 Qxb3 12. Bxb3 Bd3 13. e4 a5 14. Be3 Bb4
15. Kf2 Ba6 16. Rhd1 O-O 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. g4 Kf8 19. g5 Nd7 20. f4 Rac8 21.
Kf3 b5 22. h4 Nb6 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Na2 Nc4 25. Nxb4 axb4 26. Ra1 Bb7 27. Bd2
Nxb2 28. Bxb4+ Ke8 29. Rd2 Nc4 30. Rdd1 Nb2 31. Rd2 Nc4 32. Rdd1 Nb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 {There's always a lot to be said about the
Orthodox type of position in the Queen's Gambit. Obviously Black isn't aiming
for an utlra-aggressive setup the way that the King's Indian or Benoni deal
with the opening, and it's even more solid than a Queen's Indian or a Slav, so
why isn't it more popular? The reason really is that it is quite passive and
if White doesn't do anything special he should retain the slightest of edges.
However, once in a while, specially lately, White goes for immediate
aggression to try to punish Black for trying to develop so harmoniously.} 4.
cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 (6... Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 {is also a popular line.})
7. g4 $5 {Nothing new under the sun. This idea has been around since the age
of Botvinnik, but only lately has White really explored all of its potential.}
Be6 8. Bd3 (8. h4 $5 Nd7 9. g5 h6 10. g6 {was seen just yesterday in the game
Stefanova-Kosteniuk, Tashkent Grand Prix}) 8... Nd7 9. Bf5 $5 {Not entirely
new. Volkov tried it unsuccessfully against Grachev last year, but whenever
Volkov essays something grandmasters look at it with interest.} Bxf5 {already
new, Gracehv chose Nf8.} 10. gxf5 Bb4 11. Nge2 Ne7 12. Qc2 {White's pawn on f5
is very weak, but it is hard to get to. The open f-file and the potential to
set up a strong pawn center compensate.} Nb6 13. f3 $2 {Strangely we will see
that this move is the source of all of White's problems from now on. Of course,
hindsight is 20/20.} (13. Rg1 g6 14. Be5 {was certainly more to the point.})
13... g6 $5 {Black takes advantage of the fact that the f3 move has somewhat
weakened darksquares, specifically the h4-e1 diagonal and the e3 square.
Topalov's idea is very strong.} 14. fxg6 Nxg6 $1 {Topalov's idea.} 15. O-O-O
Qe7 16. Rd3 Nc4 {The pressure on e3 is ramping up, and Laznicka decides to
kick out this knight from c4, but at the cost of further weakening his dark
squares.} 17. b3 Na3 18. Qb2 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 Rg8 {With white's discoordinated
rooks, it is suddenly Black that takes advantage of the open g-file.} 20. Qf2
O-O-O 21. Kb2 Kb8 22. Nb1 Rde8 23. Nxa3 Bxa3+ 24. Kb1 Bd6 {White's position is
very discoordinated, and oh did he wish his pawn on f3 was back on f2...} 25.
Ne2 Qe6 26. Nc3 Qf5 27. Rhd1 Rg6 28. R1d2 Qh3 29. f4 Qf5 30. Ne2 h5 31. Ng3 Qg4
32. Qe2 h4 33. Qxg4 Rxg4 34. Nf5 Bb4 {White hasn't lost material yet, but his
position keeps becoming worse and worse. His rooks are horrible compared to
their counterparts and specially h2 will be hard to hold on to.} 35. h3 (35.
Rf2 Rh8 $1 {Suddenly puts the question to the knight on f5: how exactly are
you going to go back? The threat is Rh5.}) 35... Rg6 36. Re2 (36. Nxh4 Rg1+ 37.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 38. Rxd1 Rxe3 {is hopeless as White is about to lose a pawn or two.})
36... Rh8 37. e4 Rf6 38. Ng7 Rg8 {The lone knight on g7 persishes as his rooks
are unable to support him. Topalov played a positionally brilliant game to
conclude this match.} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.20"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Moen, Andreas"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Oslo"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f4
b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. O-O d6 11. Kh1 Nd7 12. Bd2 Ngf6 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Nd4 Rac8 15.
Rae1 Nc5 16. b4 Nxd3 17. cxd3 Qd7 18. Rc1 Rfe8 19. Nb3 g6 20. Be3 Bf8 21. Rc2
Nh5 22. Rfc1 d5 23. exd5 exd5 24. Qf2 d4 25. Nxd4 Rcd8 26. Ne4 Bxe4 27. dxe4
Rxe4 28. Nb3 Qe6 29. Rc3 Re8 30. Bd2 Nxf4 31. Nd4 Rxd4 32. Bxf4 Rxf4 33. Qxf4
Bh6 34. Qxh6 Qe1+ 35. Rxe1 Rxe1# 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.21"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jepson, Christian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2392"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Limhamn"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SWE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. c3 Rb8 13. Nc4 bxc3 14. bxc3 Be6 15.
Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qc2 Rfe8 18. Be3 Ng4 19. Bd2 c4 20. h3 Nf6 21. Qa2
Rbc8 22. Rab1 Bd8 23. d4 exd4 24. cxd4 c3 25. Bg5 d5 26. Bxf6 Bxf6 27. Rbc1 Rc4
28. exd5 Qxd5 29. Rxc3 Rxd4 30. Qxd5 Rxd5 31. Rc6 Ra5 32. Re4 Rd8 33. g4 h6 34.
Kg2 Rd3 35. Rexe6 Rxa4 36. Rxa6 Rxa6 37. Rxa6 Rb3 38. Ra4 Rb2 39. h4 Rb5 40.
Rc4 Ra5 41. h5 Ra2 42. Rc8+ Kf7 43. Rc7+ Ke6 44. Rc4 Rb2 45. Ne1 Bh4 46. Nd3
Rd2 47. Rd4 Ra2 48. Kf3 Rc2 49. Ra4 Bg5 50. Ra6+ Ke7 51. Ke4 Rc4+ 52. Kf5 Rd4
53. Ra3 Bf6 54. f4 Rd7 55. Ne5 Rc7 56. Ra8 Bxe5 57. fxe5 Kf7 58. Ra5 Ke7 59.
Ra6 Kf7 60. Rd6 Ke7 61. Rd5 Rc6 62. Rb5 Rc7 63. e6 Kd6 64. Re5 Ke7 65. Kg6 Rc4
66. Kxg7 Rxg4+ 67. Kxh6 Rh4 68. Kg5 Rh1 69. h6 Rg1+ 70. Kf5 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.22"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3
Ne4 9. e3 Bb7 10. d5 d6 11. O-O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Qc2 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6
15. Bd3 O-O-O 16. Be4 Kc7 17. Nd2 exd5 18. Bxd5 Ne5 19. f3 Qg6 20. e4 h5 21.
Nf1 g4 22. f4 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Nc4 24. Qa4 Na5 25. Ne3 h4 26. Rxh4 Rxh4 27. gxh4
Qf6 28. e5 dxe5 29. d6+ Kc8 30. d7+ Kb8 31. Nxg4 Qe6 32. fxe5 Nc4 33. Nf6 Nxe5
34. Qf4 Kb7 35. h5 c4 36. Kc2 Nxd7 37. Rd6 Qe7 38. Qd4 Nxf6 39. Rxd8 Qe2+ 40.
Kb1 Qf1+ 41. Qd1 Qxg2 42. Rd6 Qf2 43. h6 Kc7 44. Qd4 Qf5+ 45. Kb2 Qb5+ 46. Ka1
Qg5 47. Qd2 Qf5 48. Rd4 Kb7 49. Qg2+ Ka6 50. Qe2 b5 51. Rd6+ Ka5 52. Qe3 Qf1+
53. Kb2 Qg2+ 54. Ka3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.24"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "191"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Ugra"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 b4
9. Nbd2 Na5 10. Ba2 O-O 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc4 Nxc4 13. Bxc4 bxc3 14. bxc3 Qe8 15.
Qe2 Bd7 16. Qa2 h6 17. Re1 Bc6 18. h3 Kh8 19. Be3 Nh7 20. Bxa6 f5 21. Qc4 Bd8
22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxb5 26. d4 e4 27. Nd2 d5 28.
c4 Rb8 29. Rec1 c6 30. Ra6 Rf6 31. f3 exf3 32. Nxf3 dxc4 33. Rxc4 Rb1+ 34. Kf2
Rb6 35. Rxb6 Bxb6 36. Ke2 Re6 37. Ne5 Nf6 38. Rxc6 Rxc6 39. Nxc6 Kg8 40. Ne7+
Kf7 41. Nf5 h5 42. Kd3 g6 43. Nh4 Nd5 44. Bg5 Ba7 45. Bd2 Kf6 46. Ke4 Nc7 47.
d5 Nb5 48. Bb4 Bb8 49. Nf3 Nd6+ 50. Bxd6 Bxd6 51. g4 hxg4 52. hxg4 Ke7 53. Kd3
Bf4 54. Kc4 Be3 55. Kd3 Bf4 56. Kd4 Bg3 57. Nd2 Bf2+ 58. Kc4 Be3 59. Ne4 Kd7
60. Kd3 Bf4 61. Kd4 Bh2 62. Ng5 Ke7 63. Ne6 Bd6 64. Nc5 Bh2 65. Ne4 Bg1+ 66.
Kc4 Kd7 67. Kd3 Bh2 68. Kd4 Bf4 69. Nf2 Bh2 70. Nd3 Kd6 71. Ke4 g5 72. Ne1 Bg3
73. Nf3 Bf4 74. Nd4 Bc1 75. Nf5+ Kd7 76. Kd3 Bf4 77. Kc4 Bc1 78. Kd3 Bf4 79.
Kd4 Bh2 80. Kc4 Bb8 81. Nd4 Bf4 82. Ne6 Bc1 83. Kd4 Kd6 84. Ke4 Bd2 85. Nd4 Bc1
86. Nf5+ Kd7 87. Ne3 Ke7 88. Nc4 Bf4 89. Kf5 Kd7 90. d6 Bh2 91. Kxg5 Ke6 92.
Kh5 Bf4 93. g5 Kf5 94. g6 Ke6 95. g7 Kf7 96. d7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.25"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Wojtaszek,R"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Novy Bor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

{Before this match, we were one point behing our opponents. We had no pressure
at all, Socar is like the Real Madrid of chess, they have only star players,
so we were expected to lose. We were even joking that David Navara, our
highest rated player, would be their 2nd reserve player :) Anyway, I was
looking forward to this game, it's always nice to play such strong rivals.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 h5
{I hestitated before playing this move a little bit because I knew that my
opponent is one of the biggest experts in this line from Black's point of view.
On the other hand I was too curious and decided to see what he prepared.} 9.
Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Qc7 ({Last year I played} 11... g6 {against
Leko but here I had different idea in mind. The game went} 12. Be2 Bg7 13. O-O
O-O 14. Na5 Rb8 15. c4 e4 {with unlcear play.}) 12. c4 g6 13. O-O-O $5 {
Quite an interesting novelty. White wants to hide his king on the queenside.} (
13. Be2 {followed by 0-0 would be normal but here Black can try} a5 $5 {
which was played by Dominguez against Caruana. Black's idea is to exchange
queens:} 14. Rd1 a4 15. Na1 Qa5 16. Qxa5 Rxa5 {and I think Black has a very
decent position.}) 13... Nb6 $1 {I think it's the best reaction as it forces
the exchange of dark-squared bishops.} (13... Bg7 {would be normal , but I
didn't like the position after} 14. Kb1 O-O 15. Be2 {and didn't really see how
I can proceed.}) 14. Qa5 Bh6 {A typical idea in this line, Black will castle
in an unusal way with Kf8-g7.} 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Kb1 Nfd7 ({During the game I
also considered} 16... O-O-O {but it looked bizarre for me, so I decided to
stick to the normal plan} 17. Rc1 Kb8 18. Bd3 ({computers suggest also} 18. c5
$5 Nbxd5 19. Qa4 {and Black might be in trouble also here}) 18... Rhh8 19. Qd2
h4 20. Rhe1 {with the idea Bf1 and Re3, I didn't like Black's position.}) 17.
Qd2 ({White has nothing after} 17. f4 exf4 $1 18. Qd2 Kf8 $1 19. Qxf4 Kg7 20.
Nd4 Ne5 $13) 17... Rh8 18. Rc1 Na4 $6 {I wanted to prepare a blockade with
a5-Nc5 but we both missed a strong reply for White.} ({I should have started
with} 18... Kf8 $1 19. f4 (19. g3 h4 $1) 19... exf4 20. Qxf4 Na4 {with chances
for both sides.}) 19. Be2 $6 (19. Na5 $1 {and strangely enough, Black is
already in trouble:} Kf8 {would be normal but} 20. c5 $1 {is a very strong
sacrifice} dxc5 $6 (20... Nf6 {would be a less evil} 21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. Nxb7 Qd7
23. Nc5 Nxc5 24. Rxc5 Kg7 {but it's clear that Black has not enough
compensation for the pawn}) 21. d6 Qc8 22. Bc4 $36) 19... a5 20. Na1 $5 {
The knight has nothing to do on b3, so White wants to put it on b5. Now it's
all about manouevring.} Kf8 21. Nc2 Kg7 22. Na3 Nf6 $2 {This just loses an
important tempo.} (22... Qd8 $1 23. Nb5 Qf6 24. Bd1 Nac5 {and compared to the
game I would have an extra tempo.}) 23. Nb5 Qe7 24. Rhe1 Nc5 25. Bd1 Nfd7 26.
b3 Qf6 $6 {Around here I started to drift and lose too much time as I couldn't
findthe right plan.} ({It was time to play actively with} 26... f5 $5 27. Bc2 (
27. g4 $6 hxg4 28. fxg4 f4 29. Qxf4 $4 Nd3 $1 $17) 27... Nf6 28. g3 b6 29. h3
Raf8 {but even here Black's position looks already unpleasant.}) 27. Bc2 h4 28.
Rf1 b6 29. Rce1 $6 {It looked tempting to improve the R's position but it was
time for more active play already:} (29. f4 $1 {and it's difficult to
recommend something for Black, for instance} e4 (29... exf4 30. Rxf4 Qe7 31.
Rcf1 Ne5 32. Nd4 $16 {and Nc6 next}) 30. Rce1 Rae8 31. Re2 {with clear
advantage for White.}) 29... Rae8 $1 30. a3 Re7 31. Qc3 $6 (31. g3 hxg3 32.
hxg3 Ree8 {and the opened h-file favours Black I think}) (31. b4 $1 {was a way
to go} Nb7 32. Nc3 Ree8 33. f4 exf4 34. Rxe8 (34. Ne4 $5 Rxe4 $1 35. Rxe4 g5 {
with some compensation}) 34... Rxe8 35. Rxf4 Re1+ $1 (35... Qe7 36. Ba4 {
and Black is paralysed}) 36. Ka2 Qe5 37. Rxh4 Qe3 38. Qxe3 Rxe3 39. Kb3 {
with clear advantage in the endgame.}) 31... Ree8 32. Kb2 $6 (32. Qd2 {would
be better as it's difficult to see what Black can do.}) 32... Nb7 $1 {I was
very happy to find this idea during the game. At least now I will be able gain
some space on the kingside. Moreover, Black has an easy plan - to develop some
pressure on the kingside.} 33. b4 $5 {Fixing the knight on b7 but it's always
risky to push pawns in front of your king...} Qf4 34. Rh1 Nf6 35. Bb3 Rh5 $5
36. Re2 Rg5 37. Bc2 Rc8 38. Be4 Nh5 39. Rc2 Nf6 $6 {Quite a naive decision. I
was a bit short of time so I was hoping to repeat moves once, but of course
White doesn't have to do that.} (39... f5 $1 40. Bd3 Nf6 {was what I should
have done, with a very comfortable position for Black.}) 40. Qe1 $1 Nd7 $6 {
As it happens quite often, mistakes come in pairs. It was much better to keep
the N on f6.} (40... Kg8) 41. Qf2 $1 Kg8 (41... f5 42. Bd3 e4 43. Qd4+ $1 (43.
fxe4 Qxf2 44. Rxf2 fxe4 {ist good for Black}) 43... Kg8 44. Bf1 $1 {and Black
is stuck with the pinned Q on f4.}) 42. Bd3 {With the idea Nc3-e4.} Rh5 $5 43.
Qe2 $6 {White also waits but there was a chance to free the R from h1.} (43.
Nc3 Qh6 {was my idea during the game.}) (43. g4 $1 hxg3 (43... Rh8 44. Rg1 $1 {
threathening g5} Qf6 45. g5 Qg7 46. Rc3 $14) 44. hxg3 Qh6 45. Rxh5 Qxh5 {
and maybe White is a little bit better but I thought I have some
counter-chances as well.}) 43... Kg7 $132 44. Kb1 Rhh8 {Here I decided to
change my plan and try to use the fact that White is expanded on the queenside.
} 45. Qf2 Ra8 $5 46. Nc3 $4 {After manoeuvring for a long time White finally
makes a final blunder.} (46. Nc7 $2 {It's too late for repeating like this:}
axb4 47. Nxa8 b3 $1 48. Rb2 Rxa8 49. Rxb3 Nbc5 50. Rc3 Qd4 51. Qc2 Na4 $17) (
46. Rb2 $1 {was the way to keep equality:} axb4 47. axb4 Ra4 48. Kc2 $1 Rha8
49. g3 Qf6 {with an unclear position where both sides have chances.}) 46...
axb4 47. axb4 Ra3 48. Kb2 Rha8 $19 {White is already lost, there is no defence
against the piece sacrifice and ...Qd4.} 49. Rd2 Nbc5 $1 50. bxc5 Nxc5 51. Be4
Rb3+ 52. Kc2 Raa3 {And my opponent resigned. Later on we were able to win also
on board 1 and 3 which gave us a sensational win against Socar. Thanks to this
result, the next day we were able to celebrate winning the European Club Cup!}
0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.26"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Nbd2
Nd7 9. Bc2 Nb6 10. Re1 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Bxc2
15. Qxc2 Bf6 16. Qb3+ Kh8 17. Nf3 a5 18. a4 Qd7 19. Bd2 Qf7 20. Qxf7 Rxf7 21.
Bxa5 Nd5 22. Bd2 h6 23. Ra3 Kg8 24. h3 Rff8 25. b4 Kf7 26. b5 Rfe8 27. Rxe8
Kxe8 28. Kf1 Kd7 29. Ke2 c6 30. bxc6+ bxc6 31. a5 c5 32. Kd3 Kc6 33. Rb3 Nb4+
34. Bxb4 cxb4 35. Rxb4 Rxa5 36. Rb3 Kd5 37. g4 g5 38. Ke3 Bg7 39. Kd3 Bf6 40.
Ke3 Bg7 41. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svane, Rasmus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2467"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 e6 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Nbd7 8.
O-O Bd6 9. e4 O-O 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Re1 e5 12. Bg5 Rfe8 13. Nh4 Bf8 14. Nf5 h6
15. Bd2 Rad8 16. Rad1 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nc5 18. b3 Rd7 19. Bc3 Red8 20. Rxd7 Nfxd7
21. Rd1 Ne6 22. Bb2 Ndc5 23. Rxd8 Nxd8 24. Qg4 Kh7 25. Ne3 Nde6 26. h4 Nd4 27.
Qd1 Nde6 28. a4 Nd7 29. Bh3 Qd6 30. Qf3 Kg8 31. Nc4 Qe7 32. Nxe5 Nxe5 33. Bxe5
Nc5 34. Qf4 b5 35. axb5 cxb5 36. Bf1 a6 37. f3 Ne6 38. Qe3 Qd8 39. Qd3 Qb6+ 40.
Kg2 Bc5 41. f4 Bg1 42. Qd2 Be3 43. Qd6 Qa5 44. b4 Qa3 45. Qd3 Qc1 46. f5 Nf8
47. Bc3 Nd7 48. e5 1-0

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nc3 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. exd4
g5 9. Bg3 d5 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be5 Be6 14. c5 Rb8 15. Qc2
Nh5 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. Bd3 Qd7 18. Qd2 Bf5 19. Be2 Qe6 20. O-O Qf6 21. g3 a5 22.
Rad1 Qg6 23. b3 Rfe8 24. Na4 Rb4 25. Qc3 e5 26. dxe5 Re4 27. Ba6 R4xe5 28. Qxa5
Be4 29. Qd2 Qf6 30. Nc3 Bf3 31. Rde1 Nf5 32. Bd3 Nxh4 33. Rxe5 Rxe5 34. Qf4
Qxf4 35. gxf4 Rh5 36. Ne2 Nf5 37. Ng3 Nxg3 38. fxg3 Rh1+ 39. Kf2 Rh2+ 40. Ke3
Rxa2 41. b4 Ra4 42. Kd4 Rxb4+ 43. Ke5 Kg7 44. f5 f6+ 45. Kd6 Rb3 46. Ra1 h5 47.
Bc2 Rb2 48. Ra7+ Kh6 49. Ba4 d4 50. Ke6 Rb8 51. Kxf6 h4 52. gxh4 g3 53. Bc2 g2
54. Ra1 Kh5 55. Ke5 Kxh4 56. Kf4 Bd5 57. f6 Rf8 0-1

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Bd7 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Ne2 Nc6 7. c3 Nf6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Ng3 Ne7 10. Nf3 Ng6 11. Nf5 Bf4 12. Re1 Bxc1 13. Qxc1 Bxf5 14. Bxf5
Re8 15. Qc2 Qd6 16. g3 Nf8 17. Qb3 g6 18. Bh3 Ne4 19. Ne5 Ne6 20. f3 Nf6 21.
Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Nxg6 Qxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 24. Kf2 Ree8 25. Nf4 Rad8 26. g4 h6 27.
h4 Rd6 28. Qxb7 Rb6 29. Qxc7 Rxb2+ 30. Kg3 Re3 31. Qd8+ Kg7 32. Nxd5 Nxd5 33.
Qxd5 Rxc3 34. Qe5+ Kg8 35. d5 Rbc2 36. d6 Rd3 37. g5 hxg5 38. h5 Rd1 39. Qxg5+
Kf8 40. Qe7+ Kg8 41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Qe5+ Kg8 43. d7 Rcd2 44. h6 f6 45. Qxf6 Rxd7
46. Qg6+ Kh8 47. Qf5 R1d5 48. Qe4 Rd4 49. Qb1 R4d6 50. Qf5 Rd5 51. Qc2 R5d6 52.
f4 Rf7 53. Qb2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nevednichy, Vladislav"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 7. e5 e6 8. d3
d5 9. c4 Ne7 10. Nc3 Nc8 11. Qe2 Be7 12. b3 O-O 13. Ba3 Nb6 14. Rac1 Rc8 15.
Rfd1 Kh8 16. Nb1 Nd7 17. Bb2 a5 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxe5 20. Qe2 Ng6 21. Na4
Bd6 22. Ba3 Qe7 23. Re1 d4 24. g3 e5 25. h4 Rfe8 26. Qg4 Qf8 27. h5 f5 28. Qh3
Ne7 29. Bxc5 Bb8 30. Kg2 Qf6 31. Rc2 Ng8 32. Rce2 Qf7 33. f3 Re6 34. Nb2 Rh6
35. g4 Nf6 36. Nd1 e4 37. dxe4 Nxh5 38. gxh5 Rxh5 39. Qxf5 Rxf5 40. exf5 Rg8
41. Bxd4 Qxf5 42. Re4 Rf8 43. R1e3 Bf4 44. Rd3 Qg6+ 45. Kf1 Be5 46. Bf2 Bg3 47.
Bxg3 0-1

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Petkov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bg2 Qd7 5. O-O Bh3 6. Bxh3 Qxh3 7. c4 O-O-O 8.
Ng5 Qf5 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Nc3 Qf5 11. e4 Qg6 12. d5 a6 13. Qg4+ e6 14. dxc6 h6
15. Rd1 Re8 16. cxb7+ Kxb7 17. e5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Bc5 19. Qe4+ Qxe4 20. Nxe4 Bb6
21. Rd7 f6 22. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shengelia, Davit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2543"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Qc2 a6 8.
Nc3 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. d4 Qc7 11. Rd1 b5 12. d5 e5 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nge4 Nxe4 15.
Nxe4 f5 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. b3 a5 18. Bh3 f4 19. Be6+ Kh8 20. Bb2 fxg3 21. hxg3
Nf6 22. Qf5 Re8 23. Rac1 c4 24. bxc4 bxc4 25. Bxe5 Bxe6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Bxd6
Bf7 28. Bc7 Re7 29. d6 Rd7 30. f3 Kg7 31. Kf2 a4 32. Rc3 Be6 33. g4 Kf7 34. Rb1
a3 35. Ke3 Ke8 36. Kd4 Rh7 37. Kc5 Kd7 38. Rh1 Bf7 39. Rb1 h5 40. Rb7 Kc8 41.
Rb1 h4 42. Re3 h3 43. Kc6 Ra6+ 44. Kc5 Ra8 45. Re7 Bg6 46. Rxh7 Bxh7 0-1

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Saric, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Re4 g5 16. Qf1 Qh5 17. Nd2 f5 18. Re1 f4 19. Ne4 Bh3 20. Bd1 Qh6 21. Qe2 Rae8
22. Qh5 Qxh5 23. Bxh5 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Nf6 25. Bf3 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 fxg3 27. hxg3
Bxg3 28. Be3 Rf6 29. fxg3 Re6 30. Bxc6 Rxc6 31. Bxg5 Re6 32. Kf2 Bg4 33. Re1
Rxe1 34. Kxe1 Kf7 35. b3 Be6 36. Kd2 Ke8 37. Kc2 Kd7 38. a4 Kc6 39. Kb2 Kd5 40.
Bf6 Bf5 41. Ka3 h5 42. Kb4 Bd3 43. Bg7 Be2 44. Bh6 Bd3 45. Bg7 Be2 46. Ka5 Kc6
47. Bh6 Bd3 48. Bd2 Be2 49. c4 bxc4 50. b4 c3 51. Bxc3 Bf1 52. Bd2 Be2 53. Bg5
Bf1 54. Be7 Bc4 55. b5+ axb5 56. axb5+ Kd5 57. Bf6 Ke6 58. b6 Kd6 59. Be5+ Kc6
60. Bf4 Bf1 61. d5+ Kb7 62. g4 hxg4 63. d6 1-0

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Baklan, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. h3 Na6
9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Nd2 Nd7 11. a3 Nb6 12. b3 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Bh5 Qd7 15. O-O
Nc5 16. Qc2 e4 17. Rad1 Nd3 18. Be2 Be5 19. Bxd3 exd3 20. Qxd3 Qg7 21. Ne2 f4
22. Nf3 h6 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Bh4 Bf5 25. Qc3 Kh7 26. Kh2 Nd7 27. c5 Rae8 28. c6
bxc6 29. dxc6 Nb6 30. f3 Re6 31. Bf2 Rg6 32. Rg1 Be6 33. Bxb6 cxb6 34. g4 Rg8
35. Rd6 h5 36. c7 Rc8 37. Qd3 hxg4 38. Rxe6 g3+ 39. Nxg3 fxg3+ 40. Rxg3 e4 41.
Rxe4 Rxg3 42. Rg4+ Kh6 43. Qe3+ Kh5 44. Rxg7 Rxg7 45. Qe5+ Rg5 46. Qe7 Rgg8 47.
f4 Kh6 48. f5 Rce8 49. Qh4+ Kg7 50. Kg3 Kf7+ 51. Kf4 Rh8 52. Qg3 Reg8 53. Qc3
Re8 54. Qc6 1-0

[Event "Kozloduy Danube Countries 2nd"]
[Site "Kozloduy"]
[Date "2013.11.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Iordachescu, Viorel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2614"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2013.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Qxf3 e6 10. Na3 Be7 11. Qd1 O-O 12. Nc2 Rc8 13. d3 d5 14. e5 Nd7 15.
Bf4 Bg5 16. Bg3 Bh4 17. Bxh4 Qxh4 18. g3 Qd8 19. d4 Qb6 20. Rb1 Rc7 21. Re2
Rfc8 22. h4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nb4 24. Nxb4 Qxb4 25. a3 Qe7 26. Rd2 Nb8 27. Kg2 h6
28. Bd3 Nc6 29. Qg4 Qd8 30. Qf4 f5 31. Rh1 Ne7 32. Re2 Qd7 33. f3 Qa4 34. g4
Rf8 35. h5 Nc6 36. gxf5 Qxd4 37. Qe3 exf5 38. f4 Qxe3 39. Rxe3 Nd4 40. Rd1 Ne6
41. Rf3 g6 42. hxg6 Rg7 43. Bb1 Rxg6+ 44. Kf2 Rg4 45. Ba2 Nxf4 46. Ke3 Ng6 47.
Rxd5 Kh8 48. Kf2 Re4 49. e6 Ne5 50. e7 Ng4+ 51. Kg3 Rxe7 52. Rdxf5 Rxf5 53.
Rxf5 Ne3 54. Rf6 Kg7 55. Rb6 a5 56. a4 h5 57. Kh4 Re4+ 58. Kxh5 Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.08"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. a3 Be7 8. b4
Be6 9. O-O O-O 10. d3 Nd4 11. Be3 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 c6 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rab1 Nd5 15.
Bc5 Bxc5 16. bxc5 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 Qc7 18. Rb4 {White's position is flexible and
he seems to have promising pressure against the backward b7-pawn.} Rae8 19.
Rfb1 Bc8 {But now the illusion vanishes. The b7-pawn is easy to defend and
White has no pawn breaks at his disposal. At the same time, Black has the
whole right half of the board for manoeuvring and preparing his attack. The
element that allows White to avoid trouble is the communication between the
wings along the fourth rank.} 20. R1b2 ({Over the past few moves, White will
only move the pieces around without a clear plan. It migth have been more
useful to prepare for any possible simplification to an ending with} 20. Ra4 a6
21. Rab4 Qf7 22. e3 g5 23. a4 {followed by a4-a5.}) 20... Kh8 21. Qc1 Qf7 22.
e3 g5 23. Qc3 Qg7 24. Bg2 f4 ({Black could still prepare his attack with, say} 
24... Re7 $5 {since White cannot do much.}) 25. exf4 exf4 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 27.
Be4 Re5 28. Rc2 f3 29. Kf1 Rd8 30. Bxf3 Rxd3 31. Bg4 a5 32. Ra4 Bxg4 33. Rxg4
Rxa3 34. Rb2 Kf6 35. Rxb7 Ra2 {Black even has some symbolic advantage now.} 36.
h4 gxh4 37. Rxh4 Rf5 38. Rf4 Rxf4 39. gxf4 Rc2 40. Rxh7 Rxc5 41. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.09"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 {A quiet
move, instead of the more aggressive} (7. g4) 7... Nf6 (7... Nd7 {should
rather be played first (preventing h2-h4 for the time being)}) 8. Ng3 Bg6 9. h4
h5 10. Bg5 $146 {A new continuation in this well-known position. It is not bad
but GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov misplays the resulting position completely.} (10.
Be2 Qb6 (10... Nbd7 $5 11. Bf3 Qb6 (11... Qa5 12. a3 Nb6 13. b4 Qa6 14. Be2 Nc4
15. Bg5 $14 {1-0 (49) McShane,L (2546)-Berkes,F (2545) Goa 2002}) 12. Qe2 Kf8
13. Kf1 Re8 14. Kg1 Kg8 {1/2 (14) Drozdovskij,Y (2550)-Zakharevich,I (2523)
Moscow 2006}) 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. a3 (12. Bf3 Qa6 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. Bg5 Rd8 15. b3
Nbd7 16. Nce2 Qa3 17. O-O Bb4 $36 {0-1 (73) Vaganian,R (2570)-Giorgadze,T 
(2535) Minsk 1979}) 12... a5 13. Rc1 (13. Rd1 O-O 14. Bf3 Rfe8 15. Bg5 Bd6 16.
Nce2 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. O-O a4 19. Nc3 Bxg3 20. fxg3 Qa5 $11 {1-0 (69)
Caruana,F (2772)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2709) Zug 2013}) 13... Qd8 (13... Kf8 14. O-O
Qd8 15. Qd1 Nb6 16. Bg5 Nfd7 17. f4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 $14 {1-0 (34) Dreev,A (2658)
-Doettling,F (2542) France 2007}) 14. Qd1 Kf8 $5 15. Bf3 Kg8 16. O-O Nf8 17.
Qb3 Ra7 18. e4 $5 a4 19. Qd1 dxe4 20. Ngxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxh4 22. d5 $13 {
1/2 (22) Sadler,M (2665)-Baburin,A (2570) Isle of Man 1997 CBM 061 [Baburin]})
(10. Bd3 $5 {, getting rid of Black's powerful bishop and then preparing f2-f3
and e3-e4, is probably more appropriate, e.g.} Bxd3 11. Qxd3 g6 12. O-O-O (12.
e4 dxe4 13. Ngxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nd7 15. d5 Nf6 $13 {1/2 (36) Delchev,A (2637)
-Franco Alonso,A (2483) Linares ESP 2013}) 12... Na6 (12... Nbd7 13. e4 dxe4
14. Ngxe4 O-O (14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Nf6 $6 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Qa3 $16 {1-0 (51)
Lalic,B (2514)-Carlhammar,M (2324) Paris 2008}) 15. f3 Qa5 16. g4 $40 {Chekhov,
V (2505)-Timoshchenko, G (2490) USSR 1987}) 13. Kb1 Qd7 (13... Qa5 14. Bg5 {
1-0 (24) Portisch,L-Pietzsch,W Kecskemet 1966} O-O $14) 14. f3 $14 {[%cal
Ye3e4]}) 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 {may be still possible but White's idea
is completely different.}) 11... Ne4 {A logical simplification.} (11... Qb6 $5
12. Qd2 Nf8 {[%cal Yf8e6] needs checking, too.}) 12. Ngxe4 (12. Ncxe4 $5 dxe4
13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxh5 $5 Bxh5 15. Bxh5 g6 (15... Qb4+ 16. Kf1 Qxb2 17. Be2 {
[%csl Re8][%cal Gb1b7]}) 16. Be2 Rxh4 17. Rxh4 Qxh4 18. Qb3 Nb6 19. Rc1 {
, and White keeps some pressure.}) 12... dxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qb3 b5 $6 {
A risky move.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 14... Nb6 {Black probably
didn't like} 15. a4 {, overlooking a good defence:} f5 $1 16. a5 Bf7 17. Qa3
Nd5 $14 {/=}) 15. Rc1 O-O 16. g3 Nf6 17. a4 $1 a6 18. Na2 Rfc8 19. O-O $6 {
[%mdl 32]} (19. Nb4 $142 $1 $36) 19... Bf5 20. Nb4 Be6 {That's the difference!}
21. Qa3 $6 (21. Qc3 $142 c5 (21... Qd7 22. Qc5) 22. dxc5 a5 23. Nc6 $1 Rxc6 24.
axb5 Rcc8 25. Rfd1 $44) 21... Qd7 $1 {[%cal Ye6g4] It turns out that White's
king is less safe on the kingside than it was in the centre!} 22. axb5 $6 {
Another unwise idea - to open up the a-file.} (22. Qc3 $142 Bc4 23. Bxc4 bxc4
24. Kg2) 22... axb5 23. Qc3 Bc4 $1 24. Bxc4 bxc4 {[%cal Rd7h3]} 25. Kg2 Rcb8 $1
{That's the difference! Black obtains the initiative on the queenside, too.}
26. Ra1 (26. Qxc4 $4 Ra4) 26... Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 $17 {[%csl Rb2,
Rg2]} 29. Qd2 Qg4 30. Re1 Qf3+ 31. Kh2 Kh7 $1 {White is completely passive so
Black activates his king for a future ending.} 32. Qe2 Kg6 {Disgusted, White
chose to resign. Black should gradually win, preparing ...g7-g5, e.g.} (32...
Kg6 33. Qc2 (33. Qxf3 $2 exf3 {[%cal Rb8b2]}) 33... Kf5 34. Qd2 {(White has no
active moves)} (34. Ra1 g5 35. Ra5 gxh4 36. Rxd5+ Kg4 $19) 34... g5 35. Rg1 $1
(35. hxg5 h4 36. gxh4 Rh8) 35... Kg6 {then at some point ...Qf3-g4 forcing the
exchange on g5, then preparing ...h5-h4 etc. But, of course, White could have
put up a long resistance.} (35... Rg8 $6 {was not good due to} 36. Qa5)) 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.11"]
[Round "4.12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. a4 Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8
15. Na3 Bb4 16. Re5 Bd6 17. Re1 Bb4 18. Re5 Bd6 19. Re1 Bb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.12"]
[Round "5.14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ragger, Markus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Austria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUT"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 Qe8 14. d4 exd4 15.
cxd4 Qg6 16. b3 Rf7 17. Kh1 Rff8 18. Ra2 Nd7 19. Rc2 c6 20. Qe2 d5 21. Bb2 Bd6
22. g3 Ra7 23. Kg2 Bf4 24. Bc1 Bh6 25. Qd3 Raa8 26. Re2 Bxd2 27. Bxd2 dxe4 28.
Qxe4 Qxe4 29. Rxe4 Rab8 30. Bf4 Rb7 31. Rxe6 Nxb3 32. Rexc6 Nb6 33. Rb2 Na5 34.
Rc7 Nd5 35. Rc5 Rxf4 36. gxf4 Nxf4+ 37. Kg3 Nd3 38. Rc8+ Kf7 39. Rd2 b3 40.
Rxd3 b2 41. Nd2 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.14"]
[Round "6.11"]
[White "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Switzerland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. O-O e6 8. Bxg6
hxg6 9. Qd3 dxc4 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qe2 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Bb2 Qb8
15. h3 Qb7 16. Rfd1 Rc8 17. Rac1 Be7 18. Nb1 O-O 19. Nbd2 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Qd5 23. Nf3 Ne4 24. Bb2 Bf6 25. Bd4 a5 26. Bb6 Ra8 27. Nd4
b4 28. Qb5 Nc3 29. Qxd5 Nxd5 30. Bc5 a4 31. bxa4 Rxa4 32. Nc6 Bc3 33. Rb1 f5
34. Ne7+ Nxe7 35. Bxe7 Kf7 36. Bc5 g5 37. Rb3 Rxa2 38. Bxb4 Ra1+ 39. Kh2 Bxb4
40. Rxb4 Kf6 41. g3 Ra2 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.15"]
[Round "7.13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Steingrimsson, Hedinn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2543"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Iceland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Rg1 g5 12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. O-O-O Qxb3 14. axb3
O-O-O 15. Kc2 Nf8 16. Ra1 Kb8 17. f3 Ng6 18. c5 Rd7 19. b4 a6 20. Rh1 Rc8 21.
Bd3 Bd8 22. Ra3 Nh4 23. Rf1 Ne8 24. Be1 Ng2 25. Bf2 Re7 26. Rg1 Nh4 27. f4 f6
28. Bg3 Bc7 29. Bxh4 gxh4 30. Rga1 Bd8 31. Bxa6 bxa6 32. Rxa6 Rb7 33. b5 cxb5
34. c6 Nc7 35. cxb7 Kxb7 36. Rd6 b4 37. Na4 Nb5+ 38. Nc5+ Rxc5+ 39. dxc5 Nxd6
40. cxd6 Bb6 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Ra6 Kb7 43. Ra4 Bc5 44. d7 Kc7 45. Ra5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.16"]
[Round "8.11"]
[White "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2557"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 a5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. a3
Be7 9. Be2 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rab1 Nd6 15.
Nd2 f4 16. Bd3 dxc4 17. Nxc4 f3 18. gxf3 Rxf3 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Be2
Rh3 22. Ng3 Qh4 23. Bc4 Nb6 24. Nf5 Qg4+ 25. Ng3 Bd7 26. f3 Rxg3+ 27. hxg3
Qxg3+ 28. Kh1 Qh3+ 29. Kg1 Qg3+ 30. Kh1 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Qg5+ 32. Kf2 Rf8 33. Ke2
Qf6 34. Rf2 Be8 35. Qb3 Nxc4 36. Qxc4 Bh5 37. Rbf1 Qg6 38. Kd2 Rf5 39. e4 Rb5
40. Kc1 Kh8 41. Rd2 Qf6 42. Rd3 Qg5+ 43. Rd2 Qf4 44. Rff2 Rg5 45. Qb3 a4 46.
Qxb7 Bxf3 47. Qc8+ Kh7 48. Rxf3 Qxf3 49. Qxe6 c5 50. dxc5 Qf1+ 51. Rd1 Rxc5+
52. Kd2 Qf2+ 53. Kd3 Qc2+ 54. Kd4 Rg5 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 {Of course, this is a harmless line but
if White wants just to play chess, it is quite possible.} g6 5. e3 Bg7 {
For some reason this position belongs to the Grünfeld Defence although the
corresponding move order (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d5 5.e3 c6) looks
quite artificial.} 6. Bd3 c5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An unexpected switch.
Apparently, Black loses a tempo but the way White has exploited it (Nb1-d2)
can hardly bring him any benefit.} (6... O-O {is usually played.}) 7. dxc5 (7.
cxd5 $5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 {needs checking}) 7... Na6 8. Nb3 ({Now after} 8. cxd5
Nxc5 9. Bc4 ({or} 9. Bb5+ Bd7) 9... a6 {[%cal Rb7b5] Black obtains an
excellent position and will soon recapture the pawn.}) 8... dxc4 (8... Nxc5 {
is also possible but then White comfortably develops his pieces:} 9. Nxc5 Qa5+
10. Bd2 Qxc5 11. Rc1) 9. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Ne4 11. Ke2 (11. Bxa6 bxa6 12. Ke2
a5 $1 {[%cal Rc8a6] with the initiative}) 11... Naxc5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 $11 {
Black has no problems.} 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Kxd7 15. Rd1+ Ke8 16. Rb1 Rc8
17. Bd2 Ne4 18. Bb4 f5 19. Ne1 a5 $6 {this pawn exchange is dubious as it
deactivates Black's rook.} (19... Rc4 20. a3 (20. Ba3 Ra4) 20... b6 {[%cal
Ya7a5]} 21. f3 Nf6 22. Rbc1 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Nd5 $11 {was the most solid
continuation.}) 20. Bxa5 Ra8 21. Rd5 (21. Bb4 $142 Rxa2 22. Nd3 Kf7 23. Rdc1
$36 {[%csl Ra2]} {although after} Rb8 24. Rc7 Bf6 {Black should hold on anyway.
}) 21... b6 (21... e6 $5 22. Rb5 Nd6 23. Rb6 Nc8 24. Rxb7 Rxa5 25. Rxg7 Ne7 {
[%cal Re8f8] The endgame with two pawns for the exchange is rather unclear.})
22. Bb4 $1 (22. Bxb6 Rxa2 $11 {[%cal Ra2b2,Re4c3]}) 22... Rxa2 23. Nd3 Kf7 24.
Rc1 (24. Rd7 {was another attempt to keep the initiative. Black could try a
surgical solution:} Rc8 $5 (24... Bf6 25. Rc1 $36) 25. Rxe7+ Kg8 26. Be1 $1 (
26. f3 Bxb2 27. Kf1 Nc3 28. Bxc3 (28. Rxb2 Rxb2 29. Nxb2 Nd5 30. Rd7 Nxb4 {
[%cal Rc8c1]}) 28... Bxc3 29. Rxb6 Rd8 30. Rb3 Bf6 {, and with a rook on the
2nd rank Black should not lose}) 26... Bxb2 27. Nxb2 Rc2+ 28. Kf1 Raxb2 29. Ra1
$1 Ra2 30. Rd1 Nd2+ 31. Kg1 {- here Black should still fight for a draw.})
24... Rha8 {Preparing to cover the 7th rank from a7.} 25. Rc2 Nf6 26. Ne5+ Ke8
(26... Kg8 $5 27. Rb5 e6 {[%cal Yf6d5]} {although after} 28. Nc6 {White keeps
initiative.}) 27. Rb5 R2a7 28. Ba3 $6 {White misses his best opportunity.} (28.
Rxb6 $4 Nd5) (28. Nc4 $1 {wins the b6-pawn with chances to convert his own.})
28... Ra5 $1 29. Rc7 (29. Rxa5 bxa5 {[%cal Yf6d7]}) 29... Rxb5 30. Rxe7+ Kd8
31. Nf7+ (31. Nc6+ Kc8 32. Rxg7 Rxb2+ $1 (32... Rxa3 $143 33. bxa3 Rb2+ 34. Kf3
Ne4 35. Kf4 Rxf2+ 36. Ke5) 33. Bxb2 Ra2 34. f3 Rxb2+ 35. Kd3 Rxg2 36. Rf7 Nd7
37. Rxh7 {was a better (but still, according to GM E.Gleizerov, rather
symbolic) attempt to play for a win.}) 31... Kc8 32. Nd6+ Kd8 33. Rxg7 Rd5 {
[%cal Ra8a3] Now White must give a perpetual.} 34. Nb7+ Kc8 35. Nd6+ Kd8 36.
Nb7+ Kc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:11:11"]
[BlackClock "1:54:04"]

1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c6 {[%emt 0:
00:05]} 3. e3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 5. Qc2 {[%emt 0:03:27] Topalov-Anand was a classic clash,
in which the Bulgarian sidestepped the massive preparation he knew Anand would
still have stored up from his World Championship match, and played a flexible
Reti setup. This led to uncharted waters as of 7...Bd6. Black gave a pawn to
complete his development and play against the fractured pawn structure, which
was enough to keep the balance but no more.} e5 {[%emt 0:02:31]} 6. cxd5 {
[%emt 0:01:18]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 7. d4 {[%emt 0:05:02]} Bd6 $146 {[%emt 0:
01:55]} (7... exd4 8. Nxd5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxd5 10. Bc4 Qh5 11. Nxd4 Nf6 12. f3 a6
13. O-O-O Bd7 14. g4 Qc5 15. Nb3 Qe7 16. e4 Be6 17. Nd4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 c5 19.
Nf5 Qe6 20. Qa4+ b5 21. Qa5 g6 22. Rhe1 Qc6 23. Bf4 gxf5 24. exf5+ Be7 25. Bd6
Nd5 26. Rxd5 Qxd5 27. Rxe7+ Kf8 28. Rd7+ Ke8 29. Qe1+ {1-0 (29) Nogueiras
Santiago,J (2482)-Abreu Delgado,A (2459) Havana 2004}) 8. dxe5 {[%emt 0:08:17]}
Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 9. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:06:53]} Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 10. Qe4 {
[%emt 0:03:48]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:02:22]} 11. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:06:34]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:
00:15]} 12. Bb5+ {[%emt 0:01:29]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 13. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:01:18]
} g6 {[%emt 0:07:53]} 14. Bd2 {[%emt 0:15:23]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:03:37]} 15. Qxe5+ {
[%emt 0:14:21]} Qxe5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 16. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxc3+ {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 17. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 18. Ke2 {[%emt 0:03:23]}
Rac8 {[%emt 0:06:12]} 19. Rhc1 {[%emt 0:01:30]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 20. a4 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} Rhc8 {[%emt 0:02:50]} 21. Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} a6 {[%emt 0:02:
53]} 22. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:26]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 23. axb5 {[%emt 0:02:16]}
axb5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 24. Rb1 {[%emt 0:05:15]} Rxc3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 25. Rxc3 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Rxc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 26. Rxb5 {[%emt 0:05:32]} Bc4 {[%emt 0:
01:23]} 27. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:15]
} h5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 29. h3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 30. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:03:38]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 31. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} g5 {[%emt 0:08:
38]} 32. Ra1 {[%emt 0:05:06]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:02:13]} 33. Ra6+ {[%emt 0:01:41]} f6
{[%emt 0:00:18]} 34. Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} h4 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 35. g3 {[%emt 0:
00:09]} hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 36. Kxg3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rb2 {[%emt 0:01:31]}
37. e4 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 38. f3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Rg1+ {
[%emt 0:00:11]} 39. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 40. Kg2 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 42.
Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 43. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kf7 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 44. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:05:14]} 45. Kg3 {[%emt 0:
00:58]} Rg1+ {[%emt 0:01:48]} 46. Rg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxg2+ {[%emt 0:00:54]}
47. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 48. Kf2 {[%emt 0:02:33]} Kf4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 49. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 50. Kg3 {[%emt 0:
00:27]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 51. exf5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Kxf5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 52.
h4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} gxh4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 53. Kxh4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 54. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:04] It is almost ironic that when they
shook hands on move 54, with their bare kings, their game was the first to end,
despite having the most moves played of all the skirmishes in the round.} Kxf3
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
{Topalov chooses another way to avoid the Marshalll counterattack.} b4 9. d4 d6
10. dxe5 dxe5 {Aronian has a lot of experience in this line.} 11. Nbd2 {
The exchange of queens woudn't really suit Topalov's aggressive style.} (11.
Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Nbd2 h6 (12... Bd6 13. a5 h6 14. Bc4 Kf8 15. b3 Ke7 $6 ({After} 
15... Bb7 {Black is only slightly worse.}) 16. Bd5 $1 Nxd5 17. exd5 Na7 18.
Nxe5 $16 {1-0 (34) Karjakin,S (2721)-Aronian,L (2754) Nalchik 2009}) 13. a5 Bc5
14. Bc4 Ng4 15. Re2 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. h3 Nf6 18. Re1 Rab8 19. Nc4 Rb5 20.
b3 Bd4 $11 {1-0 (70) Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2813) Saint Louis 2013}) (11.
Bg5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nxe4 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Nxe5 Nc5 15. Nd2 Nxb3 $6 (15... Bf5 {
followed by Ra8-d8 looks like an improvement for Black.}) 16. Nxb3 f6 17. Nd7
Re8 18. Na5 Nf5 19. Nc5 Nd6 20. Nd3 Rb8 21. Nc6 Rb6 22. Ncxb4 $16 {0-1 (58)
Giri,A (2732)-Aronian,L (2801) Antalya 2013}) 11... Bc5 12. h3 Bb7 13. Qe2 {
This position is rather typical. Objectively, it should be equal. However, if
Black makes a few inncuous moves, he may find himself under pressure. White's
idea is to play Nd2-c4, attacking the Pe5 and bringing the knight to e3 and d5
or f5, according to circumstances.} Nd4 (13... Qe7 14. Nc4 a5 {followed by
Bb7-a6 at some point should be playable as well.}) 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Bc4 $146 (
15. Qf3 Kh8 {1/2-1/2 (15) Jansa,V (2485)-Razuvaev,Y (2525) Kolkata 1986}) (15.
a5 $5 {is another option, typically fixing the Pa6 as a potential weakness.})
15... a5 16. Bd3 Nd7 $6 {This is a dubious manoeuvre.} (16... Qe7 17. Nf3 c5 $1
$132 {is a slightly strange idea to lock in his own bishop in the centre. But,
I don't see how White can trap it.}) 17. Nf3 Nc5 (17... Bb6 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3
$14 {The light squares in Black's camp are seriously weakened.}) 18. Nxd4 exd4
19. Bf4 Re8 20. Qh5 Qe7 (20... Nxe4 $6 {was definitely risky.} 21. f3 g6 (21...
Nf6 22. Qc5 Nd5 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Bg3 $16) 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Qh4 Nd5 24. Bg5 Qd6
25. Qxd4 c5 26. Qh4 $16) 21. Bb5 {Provoking the move that now follows, closing
the long diagonal for Black's bishop.} c6 22. Bc4 Ba6 (22... g6 {was also
possible, but the weakness of the dark squares near the king may become
apparent after} 23. Qf3 Ba6 24. Ba2 Ne6 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. Bg5 $36 {[%cal Gg5f6]
}) 23. Bd6 $1 Qxd6 24. Bxf7+ Kf8 25. e5 Qd7 26. e6 Nxe6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qxh7
$6 {It was a tough dilemma for Topalov, which pawn to take. From a human point
of view it's really tempting to grab the one near the opponent's king. However,
objectively the other capture offered White more chances for a win.} (28. Qxa5
Bb7 29. Qxb4+ c5 30. Qb6 {I can understand why Veselin didn't go for this
position. It looks as if Black has good attacking chances on the long diagonal.
The concrete variations, however, are in White's favour.} Qd5 (30... Bc6 31. a5
Qd5 32. f3 Nf4 33. Rxe8+ Bxe8 34. Kh1 $1 Qg5 35. Qd6+ Kf7 36. Rg1 $16) 31. f3
Bc6 32. b4 c4 33. a5 d3 34. cxd3 cxd3 35. Rad1 Kf7 36. a6 d2 37. Re2 Qb5 38.
Qxb5 Bxb5 39. Rexd2 Bxa6 40. Rd6 {White's rook plus two pawns are superior to
Black's two minor pieces.}) 28... Qd5 29. f4 $1 d3 $1 {Both players are
playing the best moves, and this exciting position is heading into a forced
draw.} 30. f5 d2 31. Qh8+ Kf7 (31... Ke7 $5 {is very non-human, but also leads
to a draw after} 32. Qh4+ g5 $1 33. Qxg5+ Kd7 34. Rxe6 $1 d1=Q+ 35. Rxd1 Qxd1+
36. Kh2 Rxe6 37. fxe6+ Kxe6 38. Qg6+ Kd7 39. Qf5+ $1 Kd6 40. Qxa5 Qxc2 41.
Qxb4+ $11) 32. Qh5+ {Neither side can avoid the perpetual check.} Kf8 33. Qh8+
Kf7 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:02:12"]
[BlackClock "0:10:08"]

1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:02:52]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:
10]} d5 {[%emt 0:04:26]} 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. Bg2
{[%emt 0:00:09]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:25]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:
23]} 8. d3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:20]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Be6 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} 10. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:41] White has chosen a much less forcing
system of development than the usual a2-a3 followed by b2-b4. His main idea is
simple: Black is doing fine in the analogous Dragon Variation, so with
reversed colours and an extra tempo things should be even better for White
here. However, in such openings the step from comfortble equality to at least
a tiny advantage is at times bigger than just one tempo.} Re8 {[%emt 0:07:28]
Topalov played this rare move after seven minutes. Had he analysed it some
time ago, or was it over-the-board inspiration? Hard to say.} (10... f5 {
1-0 (43) Kamsky,G (2741)-Svidler,P (2769) Thessaloniki 2013 CBM 155 [Stohl,I]})
(10... f6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Bxd4 c6 {0-1 (51) Ranola,
Y (2466)-Atalik,S (2561) Bratto 2005 CBM 108 ext [Atalik,S]}) ({The immediate
return of the knight to the central square is also possible.} 10... Nd5 11.
Nxd5 Bxd5 12. a3 {Only that now} Nd4 $6 {does not look too justified.} (12...
Re8 {would transpose back to the game.}) 13. Nxe5 (13. Bxd4 exd4 14. Ne5 c6 15.
Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Nf3 Rfe8 17. Re1 Bf6 {Markowski,T (2629)-Macieja,B (2624) Warsaw
2010 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 13... Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Qd5+ 15. Nf3 Nxf3 16. exf3 c6 {
Black does not have full compenstion for the pawn, but just drawing chances.}
17. Qc2 (17. Re1 $5 Rfe8 18. Rc4 {[%cal Gc4e4,Rc4d4]}) 17... Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Rd7
19. Qc4 $14 {Malakhov,V (2715)-Sargissian,G (2678) Ohrid 2009 (1/2-1/2, 43)})
11. a3 {[%emt 0:05:08]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:06:42] A common method. The knight had
retreated at a moment when White had some dynamic threats in the centre. After
completing the development, Black makes the knight move back to the centre in
order to restrict White's activity along the long diagonal.} 12. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:
00:23]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 13. Qa4 {[%emt 0:06:39] A interesting position.
White has freer development but no real threats yet. On the other hand, for
Black it is not easy to choose the most flexible continuation. Most of the
moves imply some degree of commitment.} a6 {[%emt 0:03:54] I completely fail
to understand this move. Black anticipates the (not so real) threat Qb5,
avoiding any kind of piece committment. On the other hand, he gives away a
tempo and weakens his queenside slightly.} ({The natural} 13... Qd7 $2 {
is flawed tactically:} 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qxd7 Nxd7 16. Bxd5) (13... Bd6 {
looks solid, but gives up the pressure along the d-file and exposes the bishop
a bit.} 14. Nd2 (14. Qb5 Ne7 15. Bc5 a6 16. Qa4) 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Ne7 16.
Qb3 (16. Ne4 $5 $14) 16... b6 17. Bg5 c5 18. Ne4 Qd7 19. Bxe7 Bxe7 20. a4 Rab8
21. Qc4 Red8 22. Nc3 Qb7+ 23. Qe4 Rd4 24. Qxb7 Rxb7 25. b3 f5 26. f3 g6 $15 {
Vaganian,R (2595)-Gurevich,M (2630) Nabereznye Chelny 1988 (0-1, 52)}) ({
The more cautious} 13... Bf8 {gives up the possibility of ...Be7-f6, which
served Black well in the game.} 14. Rfd1 a6 (14... Qd7 15. Qb5 Rab8 $6 16. Bxa7
$1) 15. Rc3 {In the main game, the similar rook lift was met with ...Bf6,
threatening ...e4.} h6 (15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Rc2 c6 19. b4
Re5) 16. Rdc1 Rc8 17. Bh3 Rb8 18. Bf5 g6 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. dxe4 $14 {Grischuk,A
(2780)-Mamedyarov,S (2761) Beijing 2013 (1-0, 61)}) 14. Rc3 $146 {[%emt 0:23:
34] Most probably an over-the-board novelty, since Karjakin spent 23 minutes
on it. In view of Black's answer, its merits are debatable, though.} (14. Rfd1
Rb8 {Another ultra-cautious move, which I cannot explain too well.} (14... Bf8
$5) (14... Qd6 $5) 15. h4 (15. Qc2 {releases the pressure too easily.} Bd6 16.
Nd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nd4 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Ne4 c6 20. Qc4 Bf8 21. Re1 Qd7 22. b4
Re5 23. Rc2 Rbe8 $15 {Movsesian,S (2696)-Rublevsky,S (2695) Rhodes 2013 (1/2-1/
2, 58)}) 15... h6 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Qd6 (17... Bd6 $142) 18. Qc2 (18. Bh3 $36 {
[%cal Ge5d7,Gd7c5,Ge3f4]} Rbd8 $2 19. Bf4) 18... f5 19. b4 Qe6 20. Nxc6 Bxc6
21. Bf4 Rbc8 22. Bxc7 Rxc7 23. d5 Qf7 24. d6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 f4 $132 {Bartel,M 
(2658)-Macieja,B (2617) Warsaw 2012 (1-0, 68)}) 14... Bf6 $1 {[%emt 0:04:29]
Immediately questioning the viability of the novelty.} (14... Bf8 15. Rfc1 Qd7
16. Bc5 $14) 15. Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:48][%cal Yc5d5]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:28] I could
not say if this solid, but slightly passive, move was dictated by the
underestimation of his own position, or the desire to keep playing rather than
forcing a draw, either by repetition, or general simplification.} (15... Be7
16. Rxd5 {If White does not wish to repeat moves, this is the only alternative.
} (16. Rc2 {[%csl Ga4]} e4 $1 $15 {[%cal Ga4g4]} 17. dxe4 $2 b5 $17) ({I am
slightly alarmed that my engine suggests} 16. Rcc1 {(??) which actually gives
away a tempo.}) 16... Qxd5 17. Nd4 Qa5 $1 {Both players may have considered
this impossible.} (17... Qd8 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bxc6 $18) 18. Bxc6 {Under
different circumstances, this would win a piece, but the knight and the other
bishop are hanging.} Qxa4 19. Bxa4 exd4 20. Bxe8 dxe3 $11) 16. Rfc1 {[%emt 0:
04:45] Forcing a move which Black wanted to play anyway.} (16. Nd2 $5 Bxg2 17.
Kxg2 c6 18. Qg4 Nd5 19. h4 {might have lead to more interesting play.}) 16...
c6 {[%emt 0:03:23]} 17. Bg5 {[%emt 0:08:02]} Bxg5 {[%emt 0:19:30]} 18. Nxg5 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Bxg2 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 19. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:
01:03]} 20. Qg4 {[%emt 0:06:59]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:03:32] The last exchanges have
taken the steam out of White's initiative. With the knight on d6, it will be
hard to carry out the queenside minority attack and otherwise it is not easy
to suggest a constructive plan for White.} 21. e3 {[%emt 0:10:15]} Qf6 {
[%emt 0:09:39]} 22. Ne4 {[%emt 0:15:54]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 23. Qxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:05] The knights have disappeared, but the weakness of the d3-pawn
prevents White from attacking with his queenside pawns at his own leisure.}
Rad8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 24. R1c3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Re6 {[%emt 0:06:01]} 25. b4 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} g6 $1 {[%emt 0:02:34] Preparing an effective tactical trick.} (
25... Rd4 $2 26. exd4 exd4 {would be premature due to the unexpected} 27. Rxc6
$3 bxc6 28. Rxc6 $18 {based on the weakness of the eighth rank.}) 26. a4 $6 {
[%emt 0:06:01] Possibly overlooking Black's idea.} ({It would have made sense
to keep the b4-pawn defended with, say} 26. h4 {although this would already
mean giving up any hopes for displaying some activity.} Rd4 (26... h5) 27. Qf3)
26... Rd4 $1 {[%emt 0:05:46][%csl Gb4]} 27. exd4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} exd4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 28. Qxe6 $6 {[%emt 0:00:38] Underestimating the queen's
strength in the fight against two rooks.} (28. Qf3 Qxf3+ 29. Kxf3 dxc3 30. Rxc3
$11 {Black's advantage, based on the weakness of the d3-pawn, is purely
symblic.}) 28... Qxe6 {[%emt 0:02:04]} 29. R3c4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:
04:38]} 30. a5 {[%emt 0:04:10] White's position looks rock solid, but contains
an important weakness: the d3-pawn.} h5 {[%emt 0:03:17]} 31. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07]
} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 32. Kg1 {[%emt 0:01:25]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:04:04]} 33. Rc1 {
[%emt 0:03:22]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:01:10]} (33... g5 $5 {It would have made sense to
weaken the white king's position:} 34. hxg5 (34. Rxg5 Qxb4 35. Rxh5 Qd2 {
[%cal Gd2d3]}) 34... Qg6 35. Rd1 h4 36. gxh4 Qe6 37. Kf1 Qh3+ 38. Ke2 Qg4+ 39.
Ke1 Qxh4 40. Rd2 Qh1+ 41. Ke2 Kg7 $5 $15 {[%cal Gg7g6,Gg6h5,Gh5g4] Despite his
slight material advantge, White has problems of coordination.}) 34. R5c4 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} Qe5 {[%emt 0:02:00]} 35. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:01:
17]} 36. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Qh1+ {[%emt 0:01:09]} (36... f5 $5 $15 {[%cal
Gf5f4]}) 37. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 38. Kf1 {[%emt 0:01:12]}
Qh1+ {[%emt 0:00:27]} 39. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 40. Kf1 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 $5 {I am not sure if this
can be called the Moller (5...b5 and 6...Bc5), but it is a close cousin of
those lines. Black's idea is to delay ...b5 so White isn't able to instantly
reply with a4. This gives Black a few additional options - for instance the
idea of entirely avoiding ...Rb8 after a4, but at the least it also prevents,
or reduces the impact of a few additional lines for White like the Nxe5 lines.
All that sounds good, but Black has to deal with additional options here for
White as well, which is the reason why 5...Bc5 hasn't really been in fashion
of late. It is also probably the reason why Topalov chose it here, and he
successfully managed to bring Svidler out of book very quickly.} 6. c3 (6. d4
$5 {is another interesting, but very rare option for White to explore.}) 6...
b5 7. Bc2 {But this is the extra option Black has to deal with compared to 5...
b5, and 6...Bc5. At first sight, the bishop is naturally better placed on c2,
and if Black just continues in the way of Moller, then White will have a
better version. So instead, he ought to go for the forcing} d5 8. d4 dxe4 9.
dxe5 $5 {A less popular move, but since Svidler has played it before, it
certainly couldn't be a surprise to Topalov.} (9. Nxe5 {leads to a long,
insane variation that Svidler understandably wanted to avoid} Nxe5 10. dxe5
Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 (12... Rb8 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Bg5+ Ke6 15. Bh4
Nxe5 16. Bd5+ Kf5 17. Bxf7 $5 $146 {doesn't let Black equalise fully yet.} (17.
Nd2 Bb7 18. Nb3 {This lets White maintain pressure as well.} (18. Ne4 Bb6 19.
Ng3+ Kg6 20. Bb3 f6 21. Ne2 Rhe8 $11 {(57) Shirov,A (2710)-Ivanchuk,V (2740)
Monte Carlo 1998}) 18... Bb6 19. Bg3 f6 20. Nd4+ Bxd4 21. cxd4 (21. Rxd4 c5 22.
Rd2 c4 23. Rad1 Rhe8 $11 {1/2-1/2 (55) Hermansson,E (2545)-Hector,J (2638)
Sweden 2007}) 21... Bxd5 22. dxe5 Rbd8 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Bxc7 {is a much more
drawish opposite coloured bishop endgame than 17.Bxf7.}) 17... Bxf2+ (17...
Nxf7 18. Rd5+ Kg6 (18... Kg4 19. Bg3 Bb6 20. h3#) 19. Rxc5 $16) 18. Bxf2 Nxf7
19. Bg3 $14 {Due to the opposite coloured bishops, and more activity, Black
certainly has chances for a draw...but it's not yet easy. Black's exposed king,
and likely pawn less, certainly give White enough reason to be happy with the
outcome of the opening.}) 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 Bb6 $1 {We've most of the
theory established here already, with an old Svidler game after Bg5. And in
general, Black seems to be doing fine after the following exchange sacrifice:}
15. Bxa8 Nd3+ 16. Kf1 Nxc1 17. Na3 Be6 18. Rxc1 Rxa8 {The insanity is
simplified to a much more normal position, but as is often the case, the
excellent bishops actually offer Black good compensation for the rook.}) (9.
dxc5 {certainly hasn't been completely explored either.} Qxd1 10. Bxd1 exf3 11.
Bxf3 e4 $1 (11... Bb7 12. b4 e4 13. Be2 O-O 14. a4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (28) Dvirnyy,D
(2515)-Saravanan,V (2401) Forni di Sopra 2012}) 12. Be2 (12. Re1 O-O $5 (12...
Bf5 13. Nd2 O-O-O 14. Be2 Nd7 15. a4 Nxc5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bxb5 $14 {1/2-1/2 
(22) Chandler,M (2537)-Lane,G (2445) Brisbane 2005}) 13. Bxe4 Re8 14. Nd2 Bf5
15. f3 Rad8 {should be quite ok for Black.} 16. Kf1 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. fxe4
Ne5 $44 {1/2-1/2 (45) Rajlich,V (2337)-Gustafsson,J (2535) Budapest 2001})
12... Bg4 $1 {exchanging a pair of bishops will make Black's life a lot easier.
} 13. Bxg4 (13. f3 exf3 14. gxf3 Bf5 15. b4 O-O-O 16. a4 Rhe8 $1 $15 {1/2-1/2 
(24) Shen,Y (2459)-Kosintseva,T (2479) Ergun 2006}) 13... Nxg4 14. a4 b4 15.
cxb4 Nxb4 16. Bd2 Nc2 17. Ra2 Rb8 18. Nc3 O-O 19. Nxe4 Rfe8 20. Ng3 Ne5 $44 {
1/2-1/2 (41) Salai,L (2440)-Onischuk,A (2605) Yerevan 1996.}) 9... Qxd1 10.
Rxd1 exf3 $1 {Even though there is still one game with this move, it was
almost certainly a surprise for White. Black voluntarily spoils his structure,
and does not take a pawn with a check....} (10... Bxf2+ {has been the main
theoretical move, but now Black seems to be sufferring, even though he's close
to equality:} 11. Kf1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Bb7 13. h3 Ne3+ 14. Bxe3 Bxe3 15. a4 O-O (
15... Ke7 16. Na3 Rhb8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Nxe5 20. Bxb7 Rxb7
21. Nxc7 Nxf3 22. Nd5+ Ke6 23. Nxe3 $16 {1-0 (46) Areshchenko,A (2657)-Gupta,A
(2570) Mumbai 2009}) 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Na3 b4 19. Nc2 Bf4 20.
Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Nxb4 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Bxe5 23. Nc6 Bd6 24. b4 f5 25. b5 Rf6 26. Rd5
Re6 27. c4 $14 {1-0 (44) Hossain,E (2516)-Gupta,A (2584) Kolkata 2009}) 11.
exf6 gxf6 12. Be4 (12. Bf4 $5 {could be an interesting way which needs further
checking. After} Ne5 13. Be4 Rb8 14. g3 {The pawn sacrifice seems to be just
temporary, and if White is able to regain the f3-pawn without spoiling his
position, then White might have chances. Still, the assesment is probably
close to equal right now.}) (12. a4 Ne5 $5 {dealing with it aggressively} 13.
axb5 Bb7 14. bxa6 Rxa6 15. Rxa6 Bxa6 $132) 12... Bd7 $1 (12... Bb7 {looks more
natural, but now Black won't be able to go 0-0-0.}) 13. a4 O-O-O 14. axb5 Ne5
$1 {Really impressive play! No wonder, Svidler spent a huge deal of time on
these moves. It is already White who needs to be careful here...} 15. Bf4 Bxb5
{Black's pawn structure is abysmal, but his activity more than makes up for it.
} 16. Na3 Rxd1+ $6 {Slight inaccuracies begin creeping into Topalov's game....
it's always hard to start to focus right after your preparation ends. Black is
still ok after this, but giving away the d-file makes White's play a lot
easier.} (16... Bd3 $1 {would have been the simplest.} 17. Bxe5 (17. gxf3 Rhg8+
18. Bg3 f5 $1 {would win material}) 17... Bxe4 18. Bxf6 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Re8 20.
g3 Bd5 $15 {Black's pieces are much better, and the mating bind due to the
f3-pawn is very annoying for White as well.}) 17. Rxd1 Be2 18. Rd5 Rg8 $2 {
A surprising mistake. Black should have tried to take fxg2 when he could. The
pawn on f3 looks impressive, but he isn't active enough to hold on to it for
too long...and in general a tripled pawn is never too nice to keep. But it was
already not that easy to make a decision:} (18... Bxa3 {would be definitely
better than the game, but it's not entirely equal} 19. bxa3 fxg2 20. Bxe5 fxe5
21. Rxe5 {with slight pressure.}) (18... Bd6 19. g3 {the pawns are still a
problem, although Black has more counterplay here.}) (18... Ba7 $1 {now g3 is
probably not very nice due to the pressure on f2} 19. Bxe5 fxe5 {and Black
should have enough counterplay to equalise probably.}) 19. g3 Bxa3 20. bxa3 Ng6
21. Be3 {The tripled pawns make Black's life hard, and Svidler conducts the
next few moves quite well and practically, just increasing the pressure.} Re8
22. Bf5+ Kb7 23. Rd4 Re5 24. g4 a5 25. h3 h5 26. Be4+ Ka6 (26... Kc8 {is a
more stubborn defence, but it's hard to figure it out during a game...Black
can't really expect his king to come under a mating attack, can he?}) 27. gxh5
$1 Rxh5 28. Rd8 {Finally, it's time for precision! The king is a target now.}
Ne5 (28... Rxh3 29. Rb8 $1 {is an amazing move that Topalov might have
overlooked. Bb7 is a very strong threat as well...} (29. a4 Rh8 {is a draw.})
29... Rh8 30. Rb2 {and the beautiful mate with Bb7 follows.}) 29. a4 c6 30. Rb8
{The king is still not out of the woods.} Nc4 31. Bd4 c5 32. Bxf6 Nb6 33. Bd8 (
33. h4 $16 {was simpler.}) 33... Nd5 34. Ra8+ Kb7 35. Rxa5 Re5 36. Rxc5 Rxe4
37. Rxd5 Rxa4 38. Rf5 Kc8 39. Bg5 Rc4 40. Bd2 {It could be argued that Svidler
spoilt his advantage a bit in the last moves, but he did reasonably well to
reach the time control, and the endgame is still quite unpleasant for White.}
Rc7 {Too passive. The h-pawn is just on a roll now} (40... Rh4 41. Kh2 Bf1 42.
Rxf3 Rh5 {is an interesting suggestion by the computer. Amazingly, there
aren't many ways to improve...but it's hard to say if Black can save the
position after} 43. Rxf7 Rxh3+ 44. Kg1 Be2 $16) 41. h4 Kd8 42. Bg5+ $1 {
A very nice trick. Black would have been in time to control the h-pawn...but
White brings mating nets into the game as well!} Ke8 43. Rd5 f5 (43... Rd7 44.
Rxd7 Kxd7 {should just be lost as the two pawns are too far away. As usual,
the computer doesn't understand these opposite coloured bishop endgames very
well...}) 44. h5 Rc4 45. Rd4 $1 {The opposite coloured bishop endgame is of
course lost...} Rxc3 46. h6 Rc8 47. h7 Kf7 48. Bd8 $1 {The final touch.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:26:36"]
[BlackClock "1:03:45"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7
{[%emt 0:00:21]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:11]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. c5 {[%emt 0:00:04] A very direct approach and
the most popular one.} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:14] The most principled way to question
the effectiveness of the last move. Both players had had this position before,
so they must have both known what they were doing.} (7... c6 8. h3 {0-1 (41)
Bacrot,E (2749)-Aronian,L (2801) Warsaw 2013 CBM 158 [Krasenkow,M]}) (7... Ne4
8. Qc2 f5 {1-0 (48) Topalov,V (2752)-Giri,A (2711) Istanbul 2012 CBM 151 
[Krasenkow,M]}) 8. Be5 $5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Following his own path and deviating
from that which was supposedly the most familiar to Kramnik.} (8. Bd3 Nxf4 9.
exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qe2 Rfa8
16. b5 $1 (16. Rab1 {Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V (2785) Kazan 2011 CBM 143 
[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 39)}) 16... cxb5 17. Nxd5 $1 {Aronian,L (2802)-Giri,A 
(2714) Porto Carras 2011 CBM 146 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 43)}) 8... c6 {[%emt 0:01:
01]} 9. Bd3 {[%emt 0:02:09] Clearly the most active developing move.} (9. Be2 {
is a bit too passive.} f6 10. Bg3 g6 ({The knight did not really need
defending yet. Black should have started his counterplay without delay:} 10...
e5 $1 11. b4 e4) 11. b4 e5 12. Qb3 Kh8 {Savchenko,B (2569)-Azarov,S (2585)
Voronezh 2008 (0-1, 36)} 13. b5 $5) (9. h3 {simply gives away a tempo, since
Black was going to take on e5 at some point anyway.} Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. Bd3
Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. O-O e5 $5 $132 {Krush,I (2472)-Zatonskih,A (2499) Saint
Louis 2011 (1-0, 37)}) 9... g6 {[%emt 0:03:43]} ({An old game by Topalov saw
the too straightforward} 9... f5 $6 10. b4 a6 11. h3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 f4 13. e4
$14 {Topalov,V (2707)-Campora,D (2526) Barcelona 2000 (1-0, 40)}) (9... f6 {
was played in a historic match, a long, long time ago, but deserves closer
investigation.} 10. Bg3 (10. Ng5 {is interesting but may well lead only to a
draw:} fxe5 11. Qxh5 Bxg5 12. Qxh7+ Kf7 13. Qh5+ (13. Bg6+ Kf6 14. Bh5 Bh6 15.
g4 Ke7 16. g5 Rh8 17. Qg6 Qf8 {parries the attack.}) 13... Kg8 $11 14. Bh7+ $2
Kh8 15. Bg6+ Bh6 $19) 10... f5 {In a way, Black won a tempo over
Topalov-Camora above. But it could well turn that he has actually lost a tempo,
depending on the ulterior course of the game.} 11. Ng5 $2 {Steinitz,W-Chigorin,
M Nuremberg 1896 (1-0, 33)} (11. Be5 $5 {would really throw away a tempo.}) (
11. b4 $5 Nxg3 12. hxg3 g6 {[%cal Ge7f6,Ge6e5]} 13. b5 e5 $1) 11... Nxc5 $1 12.
dxc5 Nxg3 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. hxg3 Bxc5 $17) (9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 g6 ({If} 10...
Nf6 11. Qc2 $14 {Black cannot free himself easily, since ...Nd7 would require
weakening the kingside with either ...h6 ot ...g6. This would be at least
risky given that White can still castle long.}) 11. h4 $36 Bxh4 $2 12. Qg4 Bf6
13. Rxh5 $18) 10. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07] In some cases, this could prove an useful
move for the attack, but clearing the h2-square for the bishop is at least as
important.} f5 $6 {[%emt 0:13:01] Allowing White to keep his bishop is
strategically risky.} ({True, embarking the following line against Topalov
would imply risks of a different nature.} 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 f6 12. Nxg6 hxg6
13. Qg4 f5 14. Qxg6+ Ng7 15. h5 {The engines are sceptical about this whole
plan, but Topalov has more than once proven he deals well with positions
offering unclear compensation. It was precisely this kind of anti-computer
chess that, basically avoiding his opponent's preparation, yielded him the
supreme crown in 2005.} Rf6 (15... Kh8 $5) 16. Qg5 Kf7 17. Ne2 Qh8 18. Nf4 Qh6
19. Qg3 Ke8 20. Be2 b6 21. Ng6 Bd7 22. b4 $44 {Black is under no immediate
threats, but freeing himself is almost impossible.}) 11. Bh2 $1 $14 {[%emt 0:
07:01]} b6 {[%emt 0:08:01]} (11... Bxh4 {is another form of risky material
grabbing.} 12. Nxh4 Qxh4 13. Qd2 e5 14. O-O-O $36 {[%csl Gg8]}) 12. b4 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} f4 {[%emt 0:03:44] Kramnik must have relied on this way of
neutralising the bishop, but since the h5-knight is doomed to defend the
f4-pawn, Black cannot really hope to be a piece up for practical reasons in
any other area of the board.} 13. O-O {[%emt 0:11:15]} a5 $2 {[%emt 0:31:37]
Playing with fire.} (13... bxc5 14. bxc5 e5 15. Qa4 Qc7 (15... Bb7 16. Rab1)
16. Rab1 $32 e4 $6 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 $16) (13... Bb7 $5 $14) 14. b5 $1 $16
{[%emt 0:04:22] Kramnik surely saw this (it is just too thematic), but he must
have overlooked something at a slightly later moment.} (14. a3 axb4 15. axb4
Rxa1 16. Qxa1 bxc5 17. bxc5 e5 $11) 14... bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} (14... Bb7 15.
bxc6 Bxc6 16. cxb6 Qxb6 17. Qe2 $16 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gf1c1]}) 15. bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:
07]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:03:05]} 16. Bb5 {[%emt 0:04:10]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:07:48]} 17. a4
$16 {[%emt 0:05:06] Kramnik must have thought he would get the c6-pawn without
any problems, underestimating White's dynamic potential.} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:31]}
(17... c4 18. exf4 Nxf4 19. Ne2 {[%cal Gc6c7,Gh2c7]} Bd6 20. Nxf4 Bxf4 21. Bxf4
Rxf4 22. h5 gxh5 23. Ne5 $18 {[%csl Ga8,Gb8,Rg8]}) 18. dxc5 {[%emt 0:02:29]}
Nxc6 {[%emt 0:13:23]} 19. Nxd5 $1 {[%emt 0:08:20] The point.} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:
47]} 20. Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 21. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]}
Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 22. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:03:33]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 24. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 25. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:04:01]} fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Bxe3+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 27. Kh1 $16 {[%emt 0:00:05] Black has limited the
damage to the loss of just one pawn. Still, that pawn is quite dangerous.} Rc2
$2 {[%emt 0:11:36] This counterplay will fail.} ({It would have made sense to
stop the pawn somehow.} 27... Nf6 28. Rb1 Nd5 $16) 28. Rb1 $18 {[%emt 0:05:31]}
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 29. Raa1 {[%emt 0:05:52]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 30. Be5+ {
[%emt 0:05:35]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Ra6 $18 {[%emt 0:00:19] There is no
way to stop the pawn now.} Be3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 32. b6 {[%emt 0:04:22]} Rc1+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 33. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxc1+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Kh2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 35. g4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:42] The start of a
well-calculated execution.} Bf4+ {[%emt 0:03:10]} 36. Kg2 {[%emt 0:02:04]} Bxe5
{[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:01:21]} 38. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:02:29]} (38... Nd5 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41.
Nd7+ Ke6 42. b7 $18) 39. b7 {[%emt 0:05:20]} Rb3+ {[%emt 0:01:23]} 40. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ke3 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Andreikin,D"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nbd2 Be7 {I prefer this
natural move to the one chosen by Kramnik 6...g6?! (Andreikin-Kramnik,
Dortmund 2013. 1-0)} 7. Qc2 O-O 8. e3 c5 {A logical continuation.} ({If Black
plays passively, White can begin a dangerous attack:} 8... c6 $6 9. h4 $1 Nd7
10. g4 $40) 9. dxc5 Nd7 ({Another interesting idea is} 9... Na6 $5 10. cxd5
exd5 11. Bxa6 Qxa6 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. b4 Bf6 $44) 10. cxd5 exd5 $6 {Here is the
first important moment.} ({After} 10... Nxc5 11. dxe6 (11. d6 Bxd6 12. Rd1 $11)
11... Bxe6 12. Bc4 Bf5 13. e4 {we both overlooked} Nxe4 $1 {At the press
conference after the game Veselin was talking about the move 13...Bg6?!} 14.
Nxe4 Qg6 {Black develops a dangerous initiative, for example} 15. Bd5 (15. Nfd2
Rac8 16. O-O b5 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Qd3 Bg5 $17) (15. O-O $5 Bxe4 16. Qb3 Rad8 {
Black has the advatage of the two bishops.}) 15... Rfd8 16. Bxb7 Qxg2 17. Ke2 (
17. Rg1 $2 Qxf3 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxf3 Bxc2 $19) 17... Bg4 18. Qb3 Rab8 19.
Rhg1 Qxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Bxf3+ 21. Kxf3 Rxb7 $15 {This endgame is better for Black.}
) 11. Nb3 {Of course, now I don't give up the c-pawn.} a5 (11... b6 12. c6 Nb8
13. Rc1 Bb4+ 14. Nbd2 Bf5 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nxc6 17. O-O $14) 12. a4 $5 {
I supported my opponent's aspiration for a difficult fight.} (12. Bd3 a4 13.
Nbd4 Nxc5 14. O-O $11) 12... b6 13. c6 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Nc5 {I prefer this move to
the passive:} (14... Nb8 $6 {with idea to win back a pawn.} 15. Nbd4 Bc5 16.
Bb5 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3+ 18. Nxf3 Nxc6 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. Ke2 {If the white king is
consolidated, Black will get an unpleasant endgame.}) 15. Nbd4 Ne4 $2 {The
black knight in the centre is beautiful, but not effective. Black had an
opportunity to activate other pieces:} (15... Bg4 $1 16. Bb5 ({During the game
I wanted to make another move:} 16. h3 $6 Bxf3+ 17. gxf3 Ne6 18. Qf5 {but here
I didn't see} Qh4 $1 $17 19. Bd3 g6 20. Rg1 Ng5 $1 $19) 16... Ne6 17. Kc1 Bc5
18. Qd2 Bb4 19. Qc2 Bc5 $11) 16. Bb5 {The white position is better. The pawn
on c6 is very strong!} g5 $2 {This is a continuation plan associated with
mistaken knight move.  Black could qualify for counterplay after} (16... Bg4
17. Kc1 Bh5 $5 18. Bd3 $5 (18. Kb1 Bg6 19. Bd3 Nxf2 20. Bxg6 Qxg6 21. Qxg6 fxg6
22. Rc1 Nd3 23. Rd1 Nf2 24. Rc1 Nd3 $11) 18... Nc5 19. Bf5 Bxf3 20. gxf3 g6 21.
Bh3 Na6 $1 22. Bf1 $5 (22. Kb1 Bc5 $11) 22... Rfc8 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. c7 Ra7 25.
Nb5 Bd6 26. Nxa7 Rxc7 27. Nc6 Bf8 28. Kb1 Rxc6 $44) 17. h3 $16 {Now Black is
devoid of any counterplay.} h5 $6 {This is an unnecessary weakening of the
king. Black should think about defence} (17... Ra7 18. Kc1 Rc7 19. Kb1 Rd8 20.
Ka2 Bf8 21. Rac1 Bg7 $16 {White's position is winning, but not very easy.}) 18.
Kc1 $1 {I can ignore the activity of my opponent.} Bc5 {This move is a
recognition of the failure of his plan. After} (18... g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. Kb1
$1 gxf3 21. gxf3 Ng5 22. Ka2 $18 {Black's king is doomed.}) 19. Kb1 Re8 20. Ka2
$18 {Black has played badly and this position is already absolutely lost. The
weakness of the kingside should soon be crucial.} Ra7 21. Rad1 Kf8 22. Rhf1 Kg7
23. Ka1 Bf8 $2 24. Ne2 Rd8 25. h4 $1 g4 26. Nf4 Kg8 27. Nxd5 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d6 {[%emt 0:
00:04]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. h3 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 7. g4 {[%emt 0:02:22]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
8. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:23]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} 10. Qd2 {[%emt 0:03:28]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:02:01]} (10... Nxd4 11.
Bxd4 b5 12. Bxf6 exf6 13. O-O-O Be6 14. f4 Qa5 15. Kb1 f5 16. Nd5 Qxd2 17. Rxd2
fxg4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Ne3 Bd7 20. Rxd6 Ra7 21. e5 Be6 22. Bd5 Re8 23. c4 Bf8
24. c5 h5 25. c6 Rc7 26. Bf3 Kg7 27. Rc1 h4 28. Bg4 Bxg4 29. Nxg4 Rec8 30. Rf6
Be7 31. a3 h3 32. Rc2 Rd8 33. Ka2 Rd3 34. f5 Rg3 35. Rd6 gxf5 36. Nf6 Bxf6 37.
Rxf6 Rg6 38. Rxf5 Rgxc6 39. Rg5+ Kf8 40. Rxc6 {Volokitin,A (2674)-Kotanjian,T 
(2531) Yerevan 2014 0-1}) 11. O-O-O {[%emt 0:09:30]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:15:24]} 12.
f4 {[%emt 0:16:13]} Na5 {[%emt 0:06:16]} 13. b3 {[%emt 0:03:05]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:
00:49]} 14. Nde2 {[%emt 0:04:32]} b5 {[%emt 0:06:50]} 15. Nd5 $146 {[%emt 0:10:
53]} (15. Kb1 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Nb7 18. Bd4 Nc5 19. Ng3 e5 20. fxe5
dxe5 21. Bb2 Qd6 22. g5 Nfd7 23. h4 Nb6 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Nd7 26. h5 Nc5
27. Bf3 Rc7 28. Qh2 Rfc8 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Bg4 Rb8 31. Rde1 Re7 32. Re3 Ree8
33. Rh3 Kf8 34. Rh7 {1-0 (34) Admiraal,M (2221)-Bosboom,M (2455) Haarlem 2010})
15... Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 16. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:09:44]} 17.
Rhf1 {[%emt 0:08:20]} e6 {[%emt 0:08:52]} 18. Rf2 {[%emt 0:05:19] An
interesting but short game. A double-edged Najdorf saw the Azeri player
sacrifice a piece for the initiative. Topalov saw nothing better than to
return it to force a queen exchange, but he did gain the slightest bit of
pressure against Black's pawns in the resulting endgame. However Black was
never in any real problems and the game resulted in a draw.} Nc4 {[%emt 0:13:
00][%csl Gc4]} 19. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 20. Bd4 {
[%emt 0:16:24]} c3 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 21. Qxc3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Qxc3 {[%emt 0:02:
09]} 22. Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:03:55]} 23. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
Rxc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 24. dxe6 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Rxe6 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 25. Rfd2
{[%emt 0:02:59]} Rg3 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 26. Rxd6 {[%emt 0:07:23]} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:
00:16]} 27. Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 28. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:
12]} Rxg2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. g5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 30. Rd4
{[%emt 0:03:21]} f6 {[%emt 0:02:43]} 31. a4 {[%emt 0:04:54]} fxg5 {[%emt 0:00:
57]} 32. fxg5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 {Before this game, Levon and I were running neck and neck. I had
spent some time checking Topalov's game with Svidler and the Najdorf.} 2. Nf3
d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 {The only argument against this move
was that Topalov had played it with White against Mamedyarov the previous day,
but in the end, I decided to go with it.} e6 {Shakhriyar had played 6...g6,
but I assumed Veselin would go for this.} 7. g4 Nfd7 8. Bg2 Be7 9. Be3 Nc6 10.
h4 Nde5 11. g5 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. b3 {A bit weakening, but I wanted to stop
...Nc4.} f5 {I was happy to see this, since I felt this weakened the e6-pawn.}
14. f4 Ng4 15. Qe2 {Since the dark-squared bishop can't easily come to the
long diagonal, I was ready to give up the two bishops} (15. Bd2 O-O 16. Qe2 d5
17. exf5 exf5 18. O-O-O Kh8 {is messier.}) 15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 fxe4 17. O-O-O
d5 18. Nxe4 Ba3+ (18... Qa5 {This is trickier than we both thought at the
board.} 19. Nc3 (19. Nd6+ Kf8 20. Qxe6 Qa3+ 21. Kb1 Qxd6 22. Qf5+ {and the
king stuck in the centre means that White has enough for the piece}) 19... O-O
20. Qxe6+ Kh8 {Here the comp points out that White has to be extremely precise:
} 21. Kb1 $1 (21. Qxe7 $2 Rfe8 $1 22. Qd6 Rad8) 21... Qxc3 (21... Rfe8 22. Qh3
$1 $18) 22. Qxe7 Rfe8 23. Rh3 $1 {only this move gives White an edge.}) 19. Kb1
Qe7 20. Nf2 $1 {Rerouting to e5.} Bc5 21. Qg3 Bxf2 22. Qxf2 O-O 23. Qd4 $1 {
I was happy here, since I saw the upcoming bishop ending was pleasant for
White.} Rf5 24. Rde1 $1 (24. Bh3 e5) (24. Rhf1 Raf8 25. Bh3 e5 26. fxe5 Rxe5
27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28. Rf1+ Kg8 {and it's not clear how the presence of rooks
helps White.}) 24... Raf8 25. Rhf1 Qd6 {Black can't wait due to the threat of
Bh3.} 26. Re5 Rxe5 (26... Be8 27. Rxf5 Rxf5 28. Bh3 e5 29. Qe3 $1 $18) 27. fxe5
Rxf1+ 28. Bxf1 Qe7 29. a4 {Also a good move, but...} (29. Bh3 $1 {was my first
intention and it's simpler since it stops Black rerouting his bishop to g6.
However, I saw that Qa7 was very strong and decided to go for that.}) 29... Be8
30. Kb2 $2 (30. Qa7 $1 {I wanted to play this, but suddenly began to doubt the
pawn races at the board. As the comp shows, my doubts were mistaken, White
wins easily:} Qb4 31. Qb8 Kf8 32. Ka2 Qxh4 (32... Qb6 33. h5 Ke7 34. Bd3 g6 {
the comp defends like this, but this must be nice for White}) 33. Qxb7 Qxg5 34.
Bxa6 Qxe5 (34... h5 35. Qb8 h4 36. Bb5 Qe7 37. a5 h3 38. a6 h2 39. a7 h1=Q 40.
a8=Q $18) 35. Bd3 h5 36. a5 h4 (36... Qd6 {taking the queen back} 37. a6 Bc6
38. Qc8+ Kf7 39. a7 Qe7 40. Qb8 $1 {followed by Bb5}) 37. a6 {but even this
wins, albeit with another intermezzo} (37. Qb4+ $18 {the easiest, simply
collecting the pawn}) 37... h3 38. a7 h2 39. Qb8 $1 {This is important} (39.
a8=Q h1=Q {this is indeed drawn}) 39... Qxb8 (39... Qh5 40. a8=Q h1=Q 41. Qd6+
$18) 40. axb8=Q h1=Q 41. Bg6 $18 {Now White wins the bishop.}) 30... Bg6 31.
Bh3 h6 $2 {It only took me a few seconds to see the zugzwang and now I was
quite excited.} (31... Be4 {Black is still worse, but it's hard to see how
White breaks through.}) 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Qg4 Kf7 34. h5 {And that's it.} Be4 {
Here I saw the next zugzwang coming!} (34... Bf5 {what I suspect he had
overlooked initially is that ...Qg5 loses} 35. Qf4 Qg5 36. Qxg5 hxg5 37. Bxf5
exf5 38. h6 {and the Black king can't stop both pawns.}) 35. a5 {This move is
vital, it fixes Black's queenside and makes the bishop the only piece which
can move; the black queen is needed to protect both the e6-pawn and the
f6-square.} Bh7 36. c3 $3 {A very nice move to be able to make.} Be4 37. c4 {
And now that Black can't recapture.} Bf5 {There is nothing else.} 38. Qf4 dxc4
39. Bxf5 exf5 40. Qxf5+ Ke8 41. Qc8+ Kf7 42. Qxc4+ Kg7 43. Qd5 $1 {Black's
king is still trapped on the last 2 ranks.} Kf8 44. Kc3 Ke8 45. b4 Qc7+ 46. Kd4
Qe7 47. Qg8+ (47. Qd6 Qh4+ 48. Kc5 {was much simpler.}) 47... Kd7 48. Kd5 Kc7 {
Now White has to be precise.} 49. Qg6 $1 Qh4 (49... Qxb4 50. Qd6+ Qxd6+ 51.
exd6+ {wins easily.}) 50. Qd6+ Kc8 51. Kc5 $1 {The White king now breaks
through via b6.} Qf2+ (51... Qxh5 52. Kb6 Qf7 53. e6 Qf2+ 54. Qc5+ Qxc5+ 55.
bxc5 h5 56. e7 Kd7 57. Kxb7 {and White is faster.}) 52. Qd4 Qf7 53. Qc4 $1 {
Now White's king can move with check.} (53. Kb6 $4 Qc7+ 54. Ka7 b5+) 53... Qg7
54. Kb6+ Kb8 55. Qc5 Qf7 56. Qd6+ Kc8 57. e6 {Topalov resigned, leaving me in
clear first place one point ahead of Aronian.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2830"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Bd3 {A solid way to fight
for a small edge without taking much risk.} Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. O-O Bb4 {
Preventing White from pushing e3-e4 at the early stage of the game. In many
cases Black may even be able to afford to give up the dark-squared bishop.} 9.
Bd2 O-O 10. Rfd1 {A tricky waiting move. The natural 10...Nbd7? would be a
tactical blunder: 11.Nxd5! Nxd5 12.cxd5 Bxd2 13.dxe6 and White wins a pawn.} ({
Also worth considering is} 10. a3 $5 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 (11. bxc3 b5 12. cxd5 exd5
13. a4 Nbd7 $11) 11... Nbd7 12. Nd2 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Qe2 dxc4 15. Nxc4 Nd5
16. Be5 b5 17. Nd2 Rc8 {and White is marginally better here.}) 10... a5 (10...
Ba5 $5) 11. a3 Be7 (11... Bxc3 $6 {In this version this decision seem dubious:}
12. bxc3 $1 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. c4 $14 {and we can clearly see a drawback
to the weakening 10...a5.}) 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 {Black's position lacks
some space, so exchanging one pair of knights may definitely ease his task.} (
13... Nbd7 14. Nc3 $1 {potentially may be more dangerous for Black. For
instance,} Qb6 15. Bf4 a4 16. h3 Qa6 17. Rac1 Rad8 18. Qf1 h6 19. d5 $14 {
1-0 Bacrot,E (2691)-Rausis,I (2486)/Liverpool 2008/CBM 126 Extra (35)}) 14.
Qxe4 Nd7 15. Bf4 $146 {A natural novelty. The bishop was blocking the d-file,
so White finds the best square for it.} (15. a4 Qb6 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. Qe2 {
1-0 Papp,P (2316)-Bird,A (2205)/Kecskemet HUN 2013 (50)} c5 18. d5 exd5 19.
Rxd5 Nf6 $11) (15. Bc3 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qc7 $11) 15... Re8 {A standard prophylactic
move. Black is not only protecting the bishop, but also freeing a way for the
route Nd7-f8-g6.} ({Veselin could hardly improve on his play at this stage:} 
15... Qb6 16. Qc2 Rfd8 17. Rd3 c5 18. d5 exd5 19. Rxd5 Nf6 (19... Nf8 20. Rad1
Ng6 21. Bg3 Rxd5 22. cxd5 $14) 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Re1 Bd6 22. Bd2 $14 {with
stable pressure.}) 16. Qc2 ({Levon could also try} 16. Rd3 $5 a4 (16... Qb6 17.
Qe2 Qa6 18. Re3 b5 19. Re1 $14) (16... Nf6 17. Qe2 a4 18. Rad1 Qa5 19. Ne5 Rad8
20. h4 $14) 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Re3 $14 {Preventing the freeing
c6-c5 for a while.}) 16... Qb6 17. Rd3 ({There was also the interesting} 17. c5
$5 Qa6 18. Rd3 Rad8 19. Rad1 {White has a serious space advantage and a clear
plan of delivering the knight to d6. Black's control over the d5-square
doesn't fully compensate for those factors.} Nf6 (19... a4 20. h3 Nf6 21. Ne5
Rd5 (21... Nd5 22. Bg3 {followed by 23.Nc4 with some advantage.}) 22. Nc4 $14)
20. Ne5 Nd5 21. Bg3 Bf6 22. Nc4 $14) 17... c5 18. d5 (18. Rad1 cxd4 19. Rxd4
Nc5 20. Be3 Red8 $11) 18... Bf6 (18... exd5 19. Rxd5 Nf8 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Be5
Ng6 22. Bc3 Bf6 23. Qd2 Rxd5 24. cxd5 Bxc3 25. bxc3 $14) 19. Rad1 $6 {This
natural move allows Black to regroup the pieces.} ({That seems the last moment
to pose Black any problems:} 19. Rb3 $1 {after any retreat the queen would be
misplaced, so Black lacks harmony:} Qa7 (19... Qa6 20. Rd1 exd5 21. Rxd5 a4 (
21... Nf8 22. Rd6 Qa7 23. Rdb6 Re7 24. Bd6 $16) 22. Re3 Qc6 23. Qf5 $14) 20. a4
(20. Rd1 exd5 21. Rxd5 Nf8 {is close to equality too.}) 20... exd5 21. cxd5
Rac8 22. Rc1 b6 23. Re3 $14) 19... exd5 20. Rxd5 (20. cxd5 $6 {is unsuccessful
from a human point of view, since after} a4 21. R3d2 Qb3 {Black has a
comfortable position,while the passed Pd5 may become weak soon.}) 20... Nf8 21.
R1d2 {Protecting the Pb2, but Black gets some tactical resources, as it
weakens the 1st rank.} ({However, it looks like in case of} 21. Be5 Bxe5 22.
Nxe5 Rad8 23. g3 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Qc7 25. Qf5 b6 $11 {Black should easily
equalise too .}) 21... Ne6 $11 22. Rd6 (22. Be3 Rad8 23. g3 h6 $11) 22... Qc7
23. Bg3 $6 {Levon is allowing too much activity.} ({A more accurate try would
be} 23. Rxe6 Qxf4 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rd5 $11) 23... Nd4 $1 24. Qd1 $1 {
Switching to a precise defence.} (24. Qd3 Qe7 25. h3 Rad8 26. Nxd4 Rxd6 27.
Bxd6 Qe1+ 28. Kh2 Bxd4 $15) 24... Qe7 ({After} 24... Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qc8 26. Kg2
Bd4 27. Re2 $11 {Black can hardly exploit any drawback in White's kingside
pawn structure.}) 25. h3 Rad8 26. Rxd8 ({Levon could also simplify the
position:} 26. Nxd4 Rxd6 (26... cxd4 27. c5 $11) (26... Qe1+ 27. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 28.
Kh2 Rxd6 29. Bxd6 Bxd4 30. b4 $11) 27. Bxd6 Qe1+ 28. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 29. Kh2 Bxd4
30. b4 $11) 26... Rxd8 27. Nxd4 cxd4 {Veselin chooses the ambitious way, but
White is able to stop the passed pawn.} (27... Bxd4 $5 {requires some accuracy
as well:} 28. Qe2 (28. b4 b6 29. bxa5 bxa5 30. Kf1 Qe6 31. Qe2 Qb6 $15) 28...
Qd7 29. Bf4 Re8 30. Be3 Re4 31. Qf3 Qe6 32. Bxd4 cxd4 33. b3 $11) 28. a4 $1 {
An important move - fixing the pawn structure may tell in the edngame.} h5 (
28... Re8 29. Kf1 Qc5 30. b3 h5 31. f3 $11) 29. b3 h4 30. Bf4 g5 $6 {This move
doesn't change the objective valuation, but after exposing the king Black
should be careful as well.} (30... Re8 31. Kf1 g5 32. Bh2 $11) 31. Re2 $1 {
Taking control over the e-file.} Qc5 32. Bd2 Qf5 33. Re1 b6 $1 {Correctly
deviating from the most tempting advance.} (33... d3 34. Qh5 Kg7 35. f4 Qg6 36.
Qg4 gxf4 37. Qxf4 Rd4 38. Qf3 $14) 34. Qf3 {Going into an equal endgame.} ({
The strong passed pawn is too strong, so White couldn't create any serious
threats:} 34. Qh5 Qd3 35. Rd1 (35. Bxg5 $6 Qf5 36. f4 d3 $15) 35... Qc2 36.
Bxg5 Qf5 37. f4 d3 $11) 34... Qxf3 35. gxf3 Kg7 36. Kf1 (36. f4 gxf4 37. Bxf4
d3 38. Rd1 Rd7 39. Be3 Rd6 40. Kg2 Kg6 41. Kf3 Kf5 $11) 36... Kg6 37. Re4 Kf5
38. Ke2 d3+ $1 {Just in time! Black shouldn't allow 39.Kd3.} 39. Kd1 Bd4 40.
Rg4 ({Or} 40. Be3 Bc5 $1 41. Kd2 Bb4+ 42. Kd1 Bc5 $11) 40... f6 41. f4 gxf4 42.
Rxf4+ Ke5 43. f3 ({White could try} 43. Rxh4 Bxf2 44. Bc3+ Kf5 45. Rh5+ {
but it doesn't give any realistic hopes either:} Ke6 ({or} 45... Ke4 46. Bxf6
Rf8 47. Re5+ Kf4 48. Be7 Re8 49. Re6 Kf5 50. Rf6+ Ke4 51. Rf7 Be3 $11 {with
sufficient counterplay.}) 46. Rd5 $1 Rxd5 47. cxd5+ Kxd5 48. Bxf6 b5 49. axb5
Kc5 50. Kd2 Kxb5 51. Kxd3 a4 52. bxa4+ Kxa4 $11) 43... Bf2 44. Rg4 Kf5 45. Rf4+
Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b6 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:10]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:
21]} 8. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 9. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nbd7 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 11. Rac1 {
[%emt 0:00:37]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 12. b3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:13]
} 13. Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:29] The most popular move.} ({
Something might have bothered Karjakin during this game, though, since
slightly later, in two of his games from the Gashimov Memorial, he switched to
} 13... Re8) 14. g4 $5 {[%emt 0:00:18] An ambitious move, aiming to weaken
Black's control over the d5-square and gain kingside space. Its drawback is
that the queen might have problems getting back into the play properly after
g4-g5, ...Nh5.} (14. Bh3 {Meier,G (2668)-Danin,A (2556) Dresden 2012 EXT 2014 
[Gutman,L] (1-0, 38)}) (14. Bh6 {Karpov,A (2688)-Gelfand,B (2704) Cap d'Agde
2002 CBM 092 [Stohl,I] (0-1, 40)}) 14... Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:21] Typical for
modern chess. Black willingly loses two tempi, considering that g3-g4-g5
rather weakens White's position.} (14... h6 {Kramnik,V (2751)-Karpov,A (2710)
Dos Hermanas 1999 CBM 071 [Stohl,I] (1/2-1/2, 33)}) (14... Qa8 15. g5 Ne4 (
15... Nh5 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. cxd5 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 $5 {[%cal Gf3d4,Gd4c6]} Qxd5 19.
Rc7 $36) 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Nec5 {Weber,U (2413)-Eingorn,V (2562) Bad
Wiessee 2010 (1/2-1/2, 44)} 18. Rd2 Qb8 19. Nd4 Rfc8 20. Rdc2 $14) (14... b5
15. g5 Nh5 16. Nd5 Rc8 (16... Bxd5 17. cxd5 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Qa5 {Hamdouchi,H 
(2535)-Solozhenkin,E (2506) France 2001 (1/2-1/2, 24)} 19. Rc2 $16 {[%cal
Ge3d2,Gf3d4,Gd4c6]}) 17. Nd4 bxc4 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Bxb7 $16 {Kraai,J (2514)
-Browne,W (2449) San Francisco 2012 (1-0, 38)}) 15. g5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:07]} ({
Karjakin had faced} 15. Bh3 b5 16. cxb5 (16. g5 Nh5 {would transpose to the
analysis below.}) 16... Qa5 17. Bd2 Bxf3 18. exf3 axb5 19. g5 b4 20. gxf6 ({
In a later move White deviated with the more consistent} 20. Na4 Ne5 21. Bg2
Nd5 22. f4 Nd7 $13 {Banusz,T (2593)-Sargissian,G (2676) Warsaw 2013 (1/2-1/2,
53)}) 20... Bxf6 21. Qe4 bxc3 22. Bxd7 Rcd8 23. Bxc3 Bxc3 24. Qxe7 d5 25. Bb5
d4 $44 {Jakovenko,D (2729)-Karjakin,S (2766) Sochi 2012 CBM 148 [Karjakin,S] 
(0-1, 53)}) 15... Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 16. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} (16. Bh3 b5 {
Despite the strong pressure in the centre, White has no constructive way of
taking the initiative.} 17. c5 {After this resolute move, Black can sacrifice
the exchange and even the queen. The justification is always that the white
queen has restricted mobility.} (17. Nd2 {[%cal Gh3g4]} Be5 {[%cal Gh5g7]} 18.
f4 Bxc3 $5 19. Rxc3 Qa5 20. Rc2 Rc7 21. f5 Ne5 {It is not entirely clear yet
if White can use his dark-squared bishop for attacking purposes, while
otherwise Black is doing fine.}) 17... Rxc5 $1 18. Bxc5 Nxc5 19. Nd5 (19. Nxb5
{can be met in many ways, but I prefer:} axb5 20. Rxc5 dxc5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 $44
22. Bf1 Bxf3 23. exf3 Rd4 24. Qh3 e6 $44 {[%csl Gh3]} 25. Bxb5 $2 Rd1+ 26. Bf1
Nf4 27. Qg4 Be5 $19 28. a4 h5 29. gxh6 Kh7 30. a5 f5 31. Qh4 g5 32. Qxg5 Nh3+)
19... e6 20. Rxc5 dxc5 21. Nf6+ Bxf6 22. Rxd8 Bxd8 $44 {[%cal Gh7h6]}) 16...
Rc7 {[%emt 0:24:28][%cal Gd8a8] The rook returns to this square after the
circumstances have changed. It took Karjakin nearly half an hour to decide
upon this move, quite understandably.} (16... Bb2 17. Rc2 Bh8 {Hoping to
transfer the knight to f5, but sadly this is not possible.} 18. Ng3 Ng7 $6 19.
Ne5 $1 Bxg2 20. Ng4 $1 $16 {[%csl Gg8][%cal Gg4h6]}) (16... Qc7 17. Ng3 $14)
17. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 18. hxg3 $14 {[%emt 0:00:04]
White has improved his positon and has some potential threats along the h-file}
Qa8 {[%emt 0:03:02]} 19. Ne1 {[%emt 0:10:28]} ({The straightforward} 19. Kh2
Rfc8 20. Rh1 b5 21. Kg1 Nf8 {does not yield anything. As we will see, Topalov
intended to make use of the h-file in another way.}) (19. Bh3 $5 Bxf3 (19...
Nc5 20. Nd4 $14) 20. exf3 Ne5 21. Bg2 Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Qxf3 23. Bxb6 Rc6 24. Be3
$14 {[%cal Gh4h1,Gd1d5,Gd5a5]}) 19... Nc5 {[%emt 0:17:20]} 20. Qh1 {[%emt 0:02:
08] Cornering the queen is typical for openings with reduced space. For
instance, Black sometimes resorts to this kind of regrouping. As a recent
example we can take the third game from the Carlsen-Anand match. But in that
game, too, Black had no space at all and this regrouping was some sort of
desperate way of staying in the game. And yet, Topalov's move is strong, since
despite his space advantage, the queen needed redeploying.} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:08:
13]} 21. Bxb7 $6 {[%emt 0:07:44] It is always a good question what to do when
bishops are in tension this way. In this case, I feel that releasing the
tension only helps Black improve his position slightly. Mainly, it allows him
to defend the b6-pawn.} ({I would prefer carrying out the same plan as in the
game without exchanging bishops. Let Black do it!} 21. Nd3 Nxd3 22. exd3 b5 (
22... Bxg2 23. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rb7 25. a4 f6 26. gxf6 Bxf6 {White is a
couple of tempi ahead of the game position, which he can exploit with, say,}
27. g4 h5 28. Rh1 hxg4 29. Kg3 $14) 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. d4 bxc4 25. Rxc4 Rbb8 (
25... Rxc4 26. bxc4 Rb8 27. Qxa8 Rxa8 28. Rb1 Rc8 29. c5 $14) 26. Qxa8 Rxa8 27.
Rdc1 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 $14) 21... Qxb7 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 22. Qxb7 {[%emt 0:00:58]}
Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 23. Nd3 {[%emt 0:12:40][%cal Gd3b4,Gb4d5]} Nxd3 {[%emt 0:
17:12]} (23... a5 24. Nf4 $14) 24. exd3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} f6 $132 {[%emt 0:01:
06] Black gradually solves his problems now.} 25. gxf6 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Bxf6 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 26. a4 $5 {[%emt 0:02:36][%csl Rb6,Ge3]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (
26... a5 27. Kg2 h5 28. g4 $5) 27. b4 {[%emt 0:03:23]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 28.
Kg2 {[%emt 0:01:01]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:10:21]} 29. Kf3 {[%emt 0:07:50]} (29. g4 $2
hxg4 30. Kg3 Kf5 $15) 29... Rf8 {[%emt 0:03:56]} 30. Ke2 {[%emt 0:02:16]} Kf5 {
[%emt 0:05:37]} 31. f3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} g5 $1 {[%emt 0:01:51] The game has not
gone White's way. Black is absolutely fine.} 32. Rh1 {[%emt 0:03:18]} Kg6 {
[%emt 0:02:03]} (32... h4 33. Kf2) 33. Rc2 {[%emt 0:03:41]} e5 {[%emt 0:01:23]}
34. b5 {[%emt 0:06:20]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:04:22]} 35. a5 $6 {[%emt 0:03:30] Too
ambitious and looking for trouble actually.} bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 36. b6 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 37. Rb1 {[%emt 0:01:57]} Rab8 {[%emt 0:02:
42]} 38. Ra2 {[%emt 0:01:46]} Bxb6 $1 {[%emt 0:05:33]} 39. Rab2 {[%emt 0:01:00]
} Bxe3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} (39... a4 40. Rxb6 $1 (40. c5 $2 dxc5 41. Bxc5 Bxc5 42.
Rxb7 Rxb7 43. Rxb7 a5 $1 {[%cal Gc5b4,Ga4a3]} 44. Rc7 Bb4 45. Rc2 a3 {[%cal
Gg6f5]} 46. g4 h4 47. Ke3 h3 48. Ke4 Be1 {[%cal Ge1g3,Gh3h2]} 49. Ra2 Bc3 $1
$19) (40. Bxb6 a3 $17) 40... Rxb6 41. Rxb6 Rxb6 42. Bxb6 a3 43. Ba5 a2 44. Bc3
$11) 40. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:17]}
Bc5 $15 {[%emt 0:00:30] Only Black can play here.} 42. Rb8 {[%emt 0:12:41]} a4
{[%emt 0:00:18]} 43. Kd1 {[%emt 0:10:44]} h4 {[%emt 0:05:09]} 44. Rg8+ {
[%emt 0:03:18]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 45. g4 {[%emt 0:02:29]} Bf2 {[%emt 0:18:
35]} (45... Bg1 {[%cal Gh4h2,Ge5e4,Gf6e5,Ge5f4]} 46. Rf8+ $1 (46. Rh8 e4 $1 47.
fxe4 Ke5) 46... Ke7 47. Rg8 Be3 48. Rg6 Bf4 49. Rh6 a3 50. Kc2 $11) (45... e4
46. fxe4 Ke5 47. Rf8 Kd4 48. Kc2 a3 49. Rf3 $11) 46. Rh8 {[%emt 0:02:17]} Kg7 {
[%emt 0:03:22]} 47. Rh5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:02:59]} 48. Kc2 {[%emt 0:
03:10]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 49. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 50.
Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 51. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Bc1 {
[%emt 0:03:33]} 52. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Bb2 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 53. Kb3 {[%emt 0:
00:13]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 54. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 55.
Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 56. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bb2 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 57. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B49"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 b5 (7...
Nf6 {is the big main line.}) 8. Nxc6 dxc6 (8... Qxc6 {is by far more popular
than the text move.}) 9. a4 {A logical decision, Topalov immediately attacks
Black's queenside.} (9. O-O {has also been tried} Bb7 10. a4 b4 11. Nb1 c5 12.
Nd2 Nf6 13. Bd3 ({now} 13. f3 $6 {is not so good, because of} Bd6 $1) 13... Be7
{was more solid.} (13... c4 14. Nxc4 Nxe4 {(Korneev-Brodsky, Sochi 2012)} 15.
Qg4 $36 {with a great initiative for the pawn.}) 14. Qe2 O-O 15. f3 {and
White's position looks more comfortable.}) 9... b4 (9... Bb7 10. O-O {
transposes to 9.0-0.}) 10. Nb1 Nf6 (10... Bb7 {was an alternative} 11. Nd2 Nf6
12. f3 (12. Bd3 Nd7 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nc4 O-O 15. a5 $14 {with a comfortable
position for White.} (15. e5 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 c5 17. f4 Bd5 18. O-O Bxc4 19. Bxc4
Nb6 $13 {Dragun-Malakhatko, Warsaw 2011.})) 12... Be7 (12... Rd8 13. Qc1 $14 {
followed by Nc4.}) 13. Nc4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 11. Nd2 c5 (
11... Bb7 {transposes to 10...Bb7.}) 12. f3 $1 (12. O-O {was also possible,
but I prefer the text move, because he is immediately preparing for Nc4.})
12... Bb7 (12... Bd6 $2 {is bad now, since} 13. Nc4 Bxh2 $2 14. Rxh2 $1 Qxh2
15. Bxc5 $18 {and White is winning.}) 13. Nc4 Nd7 (13... Be7 14. Qc1 O-O (14...
Nd7 {transposes to the game.}) 15. Bf4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 14.
Qc1 $1 {A nice positional move. White prepares for the unpleasant Bf4 and he
is very strong on the dark squares.} Be7 15. O-O (15. Bf4 e5 16. Bg3 {is very
similar to the game.}) 15... O-O 16. Bf4 e5 {This isn't a pretty move, but it
is forced.} ({In the event of} 16... Qc6 $6 17. Rd1 $36 ({or} 17. Na5 {and
White looks nicely placed.})) 17. Bg3 h6 18. c3 a5 19. Qc2 {White improves his
pieces.} Ba6 20. Rfd1 (20. Ne3 $5 {was an interesting alternative:} b3 (20...
c4 21. Nd5 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 $36 {and White has a nice initiative.}) 21. Qd2 Bg5 22.
Bxa6 Rxa6 23. Nd5 $14) 20... Rfd8 21. b3 {A natural move, but} (21. Rd5 $1 {
was more accurate, for example} Bb7 22. Nxe5 $1 {A brilliant tactical blow!}
Bxd5 23. Nxf7 Qb6 24. exd5 Kxf7 25. d6 $1 $18 {followed by Bc4 with a decisive
attack.}) 21... Bg5 22. Bf2 Nf8 23. cxb4 cxb4 $6 {An inaccuacy. After this,
White will control the d-file.} (23... axb4 {should have been played.}) 24. Bb6
$1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qb8 26. Bf2 $1 {Simple, but strong!} Qc7 (26... Bd8 $142 {
was more exact.}) 27. Rd5 Rc8 28. h4 ({The engine suggests} 28. Rc5 {, but I
think Topalov didn't want to allow} Qxc5 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 {White looks better,
however Black has a stable position. It isn't so easy to find any weaknesses
in Black's position.}) 28... Be7 29. Qd2 Rd8 $2 {Loses immediately, but
Black's position was already difficult.} ({Still} 29... Bxc4 {was the only
chance} 30. Bxc4 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Bxd8 32. Qd5 {, but Black has to face a long
period of torture.}) 30. Bb6 $1 $18 Rxd5 31. Qxd5 Qb8 32. Qxa5 Bxc4 33. Bxc4
Qd6 34. Bf2 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 (10. e4 {is the main alternative here.}) 10... c5 {
This continuation leads to a position with a fixed centre (d4 vs d5), which is
rather favourable for White's knights. Practice has seen:} (10... Rd8 11. c5
Bd7 12. b4 Be8 13. f4 Nd7 14. Kh1 Qe7 15. Rf3 $36 {0-1 (38) Abhishek,A (2106)
-Sethuraman,S (2574) Kanpur IND 2014}) (10... Nd7 11. f4 Qe7 12. c5 Nxe5 13.
fxe5 b6 14. b4 Bd7 15. Qg4 Rfb8 16. Rab1 Be8 17. h4 Qd8 18. h5 g5 19. Nd1 a5 {
1/2 (19) Latorre,M (2312)-Mareco,S (2591) Asuncion 2011}) (10... Qe7 11. cxd5
exd5 12. f4 Nd7 13. Qf3 Nxe5 (13... Nf6 14. Rae1 Rd8 15. Kh1 c5 16. a3 c4 17.
Bc2 Qc7 18. g4 $40 {1-0 (27) Polak,T (2543)-Feher,A (2342) Hungary 2012}) 14.
fxe5 Be6 (14... f6 $5 15. Qg3 g5 $13) 15. Ne2 Qg5 16. Qf4 Rae8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18.
h4 $14 {1-0 (93) Polak,T (2525)-Krejci,J (2455) Ostrava 2010}) (10... dxc4 11.
Nxc4 $1 (11. Bxc4 c5 12. f4 (12. Rc1 cxd4 13. exd4 Rd8 14. Re1 $6 Nc6 15. Qa4
Rxd4 16. Nxc6 Bd7 $17 {0-1 (37) Krejci,J (2529)-Hovhannisyan,R (2630) Moscow
2013}) 12... cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxf6 Bxf6 16. Rac1 {1/2 (36)
Cmilyte,V (2514)-Sebag,M (2501) Beijing CHN 2013} Rd8 $11) 11... Qe7 12. Qb3
Rd8 13. Rad1 b6 14. f4 Bb7 15. Be4 Na6 16. a3 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19.
Nxd5 Qe6 20. f5 gxf5 21. Nf4 Qc6 22. Nh5 $44 {1-0 (31) Fedoseev,V (2525)-Negi,
P (2641) Moscow 2012}) 11. cxd5 cxd4 (11... exd5 12. Nxd5 $5 (12. f4 Nc6 13.
Kh1 Qd8 14. Rc1 cxd4 15. exd4 {1-0 (66) Gunina,V (2490)-Nezad,H (2394) Caleta
2013} Be6 $14) 12... Qd6 13. Nf4 $1 Bxe5 (13... cxd4 14. Nexg6 $1 fxg6 15. Qb3+
Rf7 16. Bxg6 Qf8 17. exd4 $40) 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nxg6 Qf6 17.
Nxf8 Kxf8 18. Qd5 $14) 12. exd4 exd5 13. Re1 $1 $14 {[%csl Ge5]} ({Now after} 
13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Nf4 Nc6 $1 {Black has no problems, e.g.} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Ne2
Bg4) 13... Be6 14. Bb5 $1 {[%mdl 32] A typical manoeuvre in order to weaken
Black's queenside.} Rd8 15. Rc1 a6 16. Ba4 Rd6 $1 {[%cal Yb8d7]} (16... b5 17.
Bb3 {[%csl Gb3]}) 17. Qb3 (17. Qd2 $142) 17... b6 $6 ({Black renounced} 17...
b5 {in view of} 18. Qa3 {[%cal Ra4b5,Ra3d6] . In fact, he saw the riposte} Qd8
$1 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. Qxa8 Ra6 21. Qb7 Rb6 {, which led to a draw:} 22. Qa8 (22.
Nxf7 $6 Bxf7 23. Qe7 Qxe7 24. Rxe7 Kf8 25. Rc7 Bxd4) (22. Qa7 $6 Bxe5 23. Nxd5
$5 (23. dxe5 Nc6 24. Qa3 b4) 23... Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Bxd5 25. Rc8 Qxc8 26. Qxb6
Nd7 27. Qxb5 Nf6 {[%cal Rc8g4]} 28. f3 Bxa2 $17) 22... Ra6 $11 {but Veselin
Topalov was playing for a win.}) 18. Ne2 b5 19. Qa3 Bf8 20. Bc2 Nc6 (20... Nd7
$5) 21. Qg3 (21. Qe3 $142 $14 {[%cal Ye2f4]}) 21... Rc8 22. h4 Ne7 (22... Be7
$5 23. h5 Qg5 $13) 23. h5 (23. Nf4 $5 Nf5 24. Bxf5 Rxc1 (24... Qxf5 25. Rc5 $1)
25. Rxc1 Qxf5 26. Rc7 $36) 23... g5 24. f4 $1 Qg7 (24... Nf5 25. Qf2) 25. Rf1 (
25. Qf2 $5 {[%cal Ye2g3]}) 25... f6 $1 26. Ng4 $6 {This retreat releases
White's pressure.} (26. Ng6 $142 $1 Nxg6 (26... Rdc6 27. Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Bd3 $14)
27. Bxg6 Rxc1 28. Nxc1 $1 $14 {[%cal Yc1d3]}) 26... Rdc6 27. Ne3 f5 $1 28. fxg5
(28. Qe1 {was probably more accurate.}) 28... Qxg5 29. Qxg5+ (29. Qf3 Bf7 30.
Nf4 Bg7 31. Rfd1 Rc4 $5 32. Nxc4 Rxc4 $44) 29... hxg5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Rxc6
Rxc6 32. Nxf5 {[%mdl 4096]} Rc2 33. Neg3 Rxb2 {The position has sharpened.
Black's bishop pair has become an important factor but White's passed h5-pawn
should not be underestimated either.} 34. Re1 Bd7 (34... Bxf5 35. Nxf5 Rxa2 36.
Re8 $132) 35. Ne7+ Kf7 $6 (35... Kg7 $1 36. Nxd5 Bd6 37. Ne4 Be6 38. Nxd6 Bxd5
39. Re5 Rxg2+ 40. Kf1 Bf3 {is not easy to find and evaluate.}) 36. Nxd5 Bc6 37.
Rf1+ $1 Ke6 {Black's king is unsafe here but he has no choice.} (37... Kg7 $2
38. h6+ Kxh6 39. Rf6+) (37... Kg8 $6 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. d5) 38. Ne3 (38. Nc7+ $1
Kd6 39. d5 Kxc7 40. Rf7+ Kb6 41. Rf6 $16 {(indicated by GM P.Maletin)}) 38...
Bg7 39. Ngf5 Bh8 40. h6 Be4 41. d5+ Kd7 42. Ng3 (42. Ng7 $5 Rb1 43. Ne6) 42...
Bd3 43. Rf7+ Ke8 44. Rf3 Rxa2 45. Nef5 Rd2 $2 {[%mdl 64] Black misses a
tactical motif.} (45... Bxf5 46. Nxf5 g4 $1 {should be enough to save the game,
e.g.} 47. Rg3 Rd2 48. Rxg4 Rxd5 49. Rg8+ Kf7 50. Rxh8 Rxf5 $11) 46. Ng7+ $1 Ke7
47. d6+ $1 Kxd6 48. Rf8 {Black's h8 bishop is suddenly trapped!} b4 {
Desperation.} 49. Rxh8 b3 50. N7f5+ $2 {This check suddenly lets White's
victory slip.} (50. Ne4+ $1 {was the nicest way to win:} Bxe4 51. Rd8+ Ke5 (
51... Kc5 52. Rxd2) 52. Rxd2 Bc2 53. Kf2 b2 54. h7 $1 b1=Q 55. Re2+ $1 Kd5 56.
h8=Q $18) 50... Bxf5 $2 {Black fails to find a miraculous escape:} (50... Kc7
$1 51. h7 b2 52. Rc8+ Kxc8 53. h8=Q+ Kb7 $1 54. Qg7+ Ka8 {- White can't either
stop Black's pawn or capture his d2-rook and must give a perpetual.}) 51. Nxf5+
Kc7 52. h7 b2 53. Rc8+ Kxc8 54. h8=Q+ Kd7 55. Qh7+ (55. Qh7+ Kd8 56. Ne3 $18)
1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.30"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:02:54"]
[BlackClock "0:19:49"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Nxd4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. c3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} 8. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c6 {[%emt 0:17:02]} 9. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 10. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} h6 $146 {[%emt 0:17:35]} (10... d6 11.
Nc4 h6 12. Bh4 Be6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. a3 Qe7 15. Bc2 Rad8 16. d4 Rfe8 17. Qf3 b5
18. h3 Bc8 19. Rae1 Be6 20. Kh1 Bc8 21. Bd3 Be6 22. Bc2 {1/2-1/2 (22)
Venkatesh,M (2450)-Gupta,A (2412) Bikaner 2004}) 11. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 12. exd5 {[%emt 0:04:19]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 13. Bb3 {
[%emt 0:09:26]} g5 {[%emt 0:12:06][%csl Rf5,Rg6,Rh6] The other hard-fought
game of the round. White always had some lingering positional advantages in
the position, especially targeting Black's weak pawns on the kingside. However
Andreikin always had some nagging counterplay with his active pieces. Topalov
managed to win a pawn but his own structure was compromised, eventually
leading to an easily drawn bishop endgame.} 14. Bg3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Re8 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 15. Re1 {[%emt 0:07:34]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:04:41]} 16. Nc2 {[%emt 0:
02:09]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:11:47]} 17. Qd2 {[%emt 0:06:26]} d4 {[%emt 0:05:00]} 18.
h3 {[%emt 0:14:22]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 19. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:
04:48]} 20. Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} dxc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Qxc3 {[%emt 0:00:
45]} Nxd7 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 22. d4 {[%emt 0:03:04]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 23. Qb3
{[%emt 0:02:51]} Ba5 {[%emt 0:06:18]} 24. Re2 {[%emt 0:03:25]} exd4 {[%emt 0:
05:00]} 25. Rxe8+ {[%emt 0:02:58]} Qxe8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 26. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:
11]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 27. Qf3 {[%emt 0:09:56]} Qe4 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 28. Nf5
{[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxf3 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 29. gxf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:
00:32]} 30. Nxh6+ {[%emt 0:02:41]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 31. Nf5+ {[%emt 0:00:
04]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 32. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:10:21]} 33. Nc4
{[%emt 0:03:12]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 34. Re1 {[%emt 0:05:32]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:
09]} 35. b3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:03:34]} 36. Kf1 {[%emt 0:06:05]} Bc5
{[%emt 0:00:39]} 37. Re2 {[%emt 0:03:40]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 38. Rd2 {[%emt 0:
03:31]} Rxd2 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 39. Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 40.
Bb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ne4 {[%emt 0:03:53]} Be7 {[%emt 0:
05:55]} 42. Ba7 {[%emt 0:04:34]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:03:50]} 43. Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Kh4 {[%emt 0:07:28]} 44. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:05:12]} 45. Bc5 {
[%emt 0:03:27]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:02:57]} 46. Bd6 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Kh4 {[%emt 0:02:
14]} 47. Bb4 {[%emt 0:02:38]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 48. Ba3 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Kg6
{[%emt 0:04:37]} 49. Kf1 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 50. Bb4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:02:50]} 51. Nd2 {[%emt 0:03:15]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:01:
21]} 52. Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:05:05]} 53. Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kh4
{[%emt 0:02:02]} 54. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 55. Bb4 {
[%emt 0:05:26]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 56. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:
31]} 57. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 58. Kf1 {[%emt 0:02:54]} Kg6
{[%emt 0:02:18]} 59. Bd6 {[%emt 0:05:19]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 60. Ba3 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 61. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:02:
45]} 62. a4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:02:05]} 63. Be5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kh4
{[%emt 0:03:33]} 64. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:01:46]} 65. Nxc5 {
[%emt 0:00:55]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 66. Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:03:
50]} 67. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kxh3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 68. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:00:04]}
Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 69. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2881"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Na3 Ne7 10. Nc2 Ng6 11. h3 Re8 12. Be3 c6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3 d5 15.
Qc2 Be6 16. Rad1 Ra8 17. Ng5 d4 18. Nxe6 Rxe6 19. Nf5 c5 20. h4 Nf8 21. Bh3 Rc6
22. f4 exf4 23. gxf4 Nh5 24. Rf1 Ng6 25. Qh2 Nxh4 26. Nxh4 Qxh4 27. Bf5 Qg3+
28. Qg2 Rd8 29. Rf3 Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2 g6 31. Bg4 Nf6 32. Bh3 dxc3 33. bxc3 Nxe4
34. Rc1 Nf6 35. Re3 Rcd6 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O
Ng4 9. dxe6 fxe6 10. f4 Nc6 11. h3 Nf6 12. Be3 a6 13. Qd2 e5 14. f5 Nd4 15. Bg5
Qe8 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nd5 gxf5 18. exf5 e4 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. Qg5+ Kf7 21. Nxd4
cxd4 22. Qh5+ Kf8 23. Qxe8+ Kxe8 24. Bxe4 Bd7 25. Rad1 Rc8 26. Rxd4 b5 27. cxb5
axb5 28. g4 h6 29. Re1 Kd8 30. Bd3 Rc5 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Kg3 Kd7 33. Kf4 Rf8 34.
h4 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 dxe4 3. Nxe4 Nf6 4. Nxf6+ exf6 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Ne2 Nc6
8. c3 f5 9. Qc2 Qf6 10. Bd2 h6 11. O-O-O a5 12. Ng3 Ne7 13. f3 a4 14. Kb1 c5
15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Rhe1 Rd8 17. Bf4 Be6 18. Be5 Qg6 19. Ne2 Nd5 20. Nd4 Bxd4 21.
Bxd4 Nb4 22. cxb4 Rxd4 23. g4 Rad8 24. gxf5 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rxd1+
27. Qxd1 Qxf5+ 28. Ka1 Qe5 29. a3 b5 30. h4 g5 31. h5 Kg7 32. Qd3 Kf6 33. Qh7
Qe1+ 34. Ka2 Qe6+ 35. Ka1 Ke7 36. Qd3 Qe1+ 37. Ka2 Qe6+ 38. Ka1 f5 39. Qxb5 g4
40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Qb7+ Kf6 42. b5 Qe1+ 43. Ka2 Qe6+ 44. Ka1 Qe1+ 45. Ka2 Qe6+
46. Ka1 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. dxc5 Nxe4 7. cxd6
Nxd6 8. Bf4 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe2 Qc8 11. Rd1 Nf5 12. g4 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14.
g5 O-O 15. Qg4 e5 16. Qxh4 exf4 17. Nc3 Qf5 18. Nd5 Nc6 19. Qxf4 Qxc2 20. b4
Rae8 21. b5 Ne5 22. Re1 Ng6 23. Qf3 Qd2 24. Ne3 Ne5 25. Qxb7 Nd3 26. Rf1 Re5
27. h4 Nxf2 28. Nc4 Nh3+ 29. Kh1 Nf2+ 30. Kg2 Qe2 31. Nxe5 Ng4+ 32. Kg3 Nxe5
33. Rae1 Qg4+ 34. Kh2 Qxh4+ 35. Kg1 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Qh3+ 37. Kg1 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qh3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Be2 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6
8. d4 O-O 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Rb1 exd4 11. cxd4 Nb4 12. Rb2 Nd5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14.
Qxd3 b6 15. c4 Nf4 16. Bxf4 Bxf4 17. Rbe2 Qf6 18. g3 Bd6 19. Kg2 Rad8 20. Re4
g6 21. R1e3 c6 22. a4 Rd7 23. Qe2 Kg7 24. a5 Rfd8 25. axb6 axb6 26. h4 h6 27.
Nh2 Qf5 28. Rf3 Qa5 29. Nf1 Bf8 30. Qb2 Kg8 31. Ref4 Bg7 32. Ra3 Qe1 33. Rd3
Qa5 34. Ra3 Qe1 35. Ne3 Bxd4 36. Qc2 Qb4 37. Rd3 Qc5 38. Ng4 h5 39. Nh2 b5 40.
Nf3 Bg7 41. Rxd7 Rxd7 42. Qe2 Re7 43. Qd3 bxc4 44. Rxc4 Qd5 45. Qxd5 cxd5 46.
Rc8+ Bf8 47. Rd8 Kg7 48. Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Re1
Re8 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Kh2 Bxf2 12. Rf1 Ba7 13. Nh4 Nh7 14. Nf5 Ne7 15.
Qg4 Ng6 16. Nc4 Nf6 17. Qe2 d5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. Nxh6+ Kf8 21.
Bg5 e4 22. Bxf6 exd3 23. Qf3 Qxf3 24. Rxf3 Re2+ 25. Kh1 gxf6 26. Rxd3 b5 27.
Rd7 bxc4 28. Rxf7+ Ke8 29. Rxf6 Ne5 30. Raf1 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qh5 8. d3
exd3 9. Qxd3 Na6 10. Bg2 Bh3 11. Bf3 Qg6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxa6 Rd8 14. Ne3
Ne4 15. Nxe4 Qxe4 16. f3 Qe6 17. Qc4 Qg6 18. Bd2 Be7 19. O-O-O O-O 20. Bc3 Be6
21. Qa4 Bc5 22. Nc2 Qh6+ 23. Qf4 Qg6 24. b3 Rde8 25. h4 h5 26. Kb2 f6 27. Rd2
Be7 28. Nd4 Bd7 29. e4 Qf7 30. Nf5 Bxf5 31. Qxf5 g6 32. Qa5 Bd8 33. Qa4 Bc7 34.
Qxc6 Bxg3 35. Rd7 Re7 36. Rxe7 Qxe7 37. Rg1 Be5 38. Rxg6+ Kh7 39. Rg2 Rd8 40.
Qc4 a5 41. a4 Qe8 42. Bxe5 Qxe5+ 43. Ka2 Qe7 44. Qb5 Kh6 45. Qxa5 Rd3 46. Qa8
Rd8 47. Qc6 Qe5 48. Qb7 f5 49. Qf7 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 d5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
b5 9. exd5 exd5 10. d4 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nb3 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15.
Rxa4 Re8 16. Bg5 Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 h6 18. Be3 Bg6 19. c3 Bc2 20. Ra3 Rb8 21. Nfd4
Bxd4 22. Nxd4 Nxd4 23. Bxd4 Rxb2 24. Kh2 Be4 25. Rxa7 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Ne4 27. Qa1
Rb8 28. Qa5 Qxa5 29. Rxa5 Rc8 30. Rxd5 Nxc3 31. Bxc3 Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. d3 e6 5. Nbd2 h6 6. e4 Bh7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Qe2
Ne7 9. Nh4 g5 10. Nhf3 Nd7 11. b4 Qc7 12. Rb1 O-O-O 13. c4 g4 14. Ne1 h5 15.
Nc2 Be5 16. d4 Bg7 17. Nb3 e5 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Nc5 Nb6 20. cxd5 Nexd5 21. Bb2
exd4 22. Nxd4 Rhe8 23. Qd2 Nc4 24. Qg5 Bxb1 25. Rxb1 Nxb2 26. Qxg7 Nc4 27. Nb5
Qe5 28. Qxf7 Re7 29. Qg6 a6 30. Nxa6 bxa6 31. Qxa6+ Kb8 32. Rd1 Qe2 33. Nc3
Qe1+ 34. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35. Bf1 Nxc3 36. Qxc4 Ne2+ 37. Kg2 Nd4 38. Qc5 Nf3 39. Qb5+
Kc7 40. Qa5+ Kd7 41. Qxh5 Rf8 42. Qxg4+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{With the help of Valentin Stoica.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 {
This has become increasingly popular over the last year. When I started
playing it a bit earlier I thought I could find a shelter from forced
variations, allowing me to be alone, one to one, with my opponent. Theory's
tentacles are reaching here, too, unfortunately.} a6 $5 ({In order to have
some reference points it is essential to know that the following more natural
continuation would most likely transpose to the 4.e3 QI variation.} 4... Be7 5.
b3 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Bb2 b6 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12.
Qe2 Re8 13. Rfd1 Bf8 14. h3 (14. Nf1 g6 15. Ne3 dxc4 16. bxc4 Bg7 {Karpov,A 
(2740)-Morovic Fernandez,I (2605) Las Palmas 1994 (1-0, 39)}) 14... g6 15. Qe3
Bg7 {Smyslov,V (2600)-Ribli,Z (2615) London 1983 (1-0, 65)}) 5. b3 ({Black
would be just too glad to get an extra tempo over the QGA after} 5. Bd3 dxc4 6.
Bxc4 b5) 5... c5 6. Bb2 cxd4 7. exd4 g6 $5 {The only justification for the 4th
move. If Black develops normally with ...Be7, he will have just wasted a tempo
with ...a6. But since the bishop is heading for g7 in the long run, it makes
sense to save two tempi with the last move.} 8. Bd3 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Nc6
11. Ne5 $5 $146 {The only way to question Black's opening play. After all,
everything which he has been doing was rather time consuming so he is behind
with his general developing plan involving ...b6 and ...Bb7.} (11. Rc1 dxc4 (
11... b6 12. Ba3 Ne7 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. c5 bxc5 15. Bxc5 $14 {Shengelia,D (2558)
-Feher,A (2340) Austria 2012 (1/2-1/2, 58)}) 12. bxc4 b6 13. Ne4 (13. Ba3 Re8
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Bb7 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxb7 Ra7 18. dxe5 {1/2-1/2 (18)
Khenkin,I (2574)-Haslinger,S (2544) Delft 2014}) 13... Bb7 14. Ba3 Nxd4 15.
Bxf8 Bxf8 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $44 {Anton Guijarro,D (2574)-Bruzon Batista,L (2699)
Linares 2013 (1/2-1/2, 30)}) 11... Bd7 {Deviating from the aforementioned plan.
} (11... Nxd4 $5 {is tempting, but maybe not 100% equalising.} 12. Bxg6 $1 (12.
Bxd4 dxc4 13. Bc5 cxd3 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 $15) 12... hxg6 13. Bxd4 {White has some
lead in development, making the weaknesses on the dark squares rather
dangerous for Black.} Nd7 (13... b6 14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Rad1 Nd7 (15... Qc7 16. Qe3
$1 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qxb6 d4 20. f4) 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxb6
d4 18. Qg4 Qc6 19. c5 e5 20. f3 $14) 14. Qe2 (14. Nxd7 Bxd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16.
cxd5 Bb5) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 f6 (15... Bd7 16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Nf3 Rc8 18. Qe3
$14) 16. Bb2 e5 (16... d4 17. Qg4) 17. Ba3 Rf7 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Nc4 $14) 12.
Ndf3 $6 {Weakening the control over the e4-square so early makes little sense.
After ...g7-g6 White should be ready to meet ...Nxe5 with dxe5, Xf6. It would
have been better to develop according to the pattern from the classical games
above.} ({True,} 12. Qe2 {would allow} Nb4 $5 13. Bb1 Rc8 {[%csl Ga1]}) (12.
Rc1 $1 Rc8 13. Qe2 $14 Bh6 {would achieve very little after} 14. f4) 12... dxc4
$6 {A strange concession.} (12... Nxe5 $142 $1 13. dxe5 (13. Nxe5 Bc6 {It is
always good for Black to exchange some minor pieces.}) 13... Ne4 $1 {Here is
when the e4-square is important.} 14. Bc2 (14. cxd5 exd5 {[%cal Gd7g4]} 15. h3
Rc8 $132 {[%csl Gc3]}) 14... Bc6 15. Qe2 Nc5 16. Rfd1 Nd7 $1 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Gd5c4,Gc6f3]}) 13. bxc4 Qc7 14. a4 $6 {I believe chess has not changed that
much since Smyslov and Karpov, at least not when it comes to regrouping in
standard positions.} (14. Qe2 $142 Rfd8 15. Rac1 Be8 16. Rfd1 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 (
17. dxe5 Nd7) 17... Nd7 18. Ng4 $14 {[%cal Gg4e3,Gd4d5]}) 14... Rfd8 15. Qb3
Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. dxe5 Ng4 {[%csl Ge5] With the queen on e2, this would run
into h2-h3.} 17. Rfe1 Bc6 {[%csl Ge5]}) 16... Bc6 17. Rfd1 Nd7 $11 18. f4 (18.
Ng4 h5 19. Ne3 Qb6 $1 {Once again, we notice that a2-a4 and Qb3 do not really
work to White's favour.}) 18... Nxe5 $6 ({I would prefer increasing the
pressure against the white centre with} 18... Qb6) 19. fxe5 Rd7 {In the
absence of knights, White's space advantage is not too threatening, but in
principle the game starts getting a bit one-sided.} 20. Be2 Qd8 21. a5 Rc8 22.
d5 $1 exd5 23. Bg4 $14 d4 24. Bxd7 Qxd7 25. Rxd4 Qe7 26. Re1 Re8 27. Rf4 Qc5+
28. Bd4 Qxa5 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. Bxc3 Bh6 31. Rf2 b5 32. Rf6 Bd7 33. Rxa6 bxc4 34.
Rea1 Be6 35. Kf2 Bf8 36. Ra8 Bc5+ 37. Ke2 Rxa8 38. Rxa8+ Kg7 39. Ra5 Bb6 40.
Ra6 Bg1 41. h3 g5 42. g4 Bh2 43. Ra8 h6 44. Rd8 Kg6 45. Kf3 Bf4 46. h4 h5 47.
hxg5 Bc1 48. gxh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Both players are big
experts in the Najdorf opening.} 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 ({White wants to avoid the} 
7. Bg5 {line. He simply repeats and then chooses another move in the starting
position of the Najdorf.}) 7... Nf6 8. h3 e5 9. Nb3 (9. Nde2 {is more common,
but Topalov wanted to transpose to the 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 line.}) 9... Be6
10. Be3 {After a interesting move order, we are now in the B90 line with h3.}
Be7 11. f4 {This is the point of the move h3. Black can't play ...Ng4 and the
structure is changing.} exf4 12. Bxf4 Nc6 13. Qe2 Nd7 {A logical decision.
First Black would like to place a knight on the e5-square, and only then will
he castle.} ({Last year Grischuk had played this position with White:} 13...
O-O 14. O-O-O Ne8 15. Kb1 Bf6 16. Qe3 Rc8 17. g4 Be5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. g5 b5
20. h4 Qc7 21. Nd4 $14 {with a comfortable middlegame for White,
Grischuk-Swiercz, Tromso 2013.}) 14. O-O-O Nce5 {More exact than 14...Nde5
because after ...Rc8 Black wants to threaten the typical exchange sacrifice ...
Rxc3.} 15. Nd5 (15. Kb1 {is more popular.}) 15... Bxd5 16. Rxd5 O-O 17. Kb1
$146 {A completely acceptable novelty by Topalov.} ({Before} 17. h4 {was tried,
} Rc8 18. g4 Qc7 19. g5 Nb6 20. Rd4 (20. Rd1 $5) 20... a5 $1 {/\ a4-a3} 21. Rh3
(21. Nxa5 Ra8 $36) 21... a4 22. Na1 (22. Rc3 $2 {does not work because of} axb3
$1 23. Rxc7 bxa2 $19 {and White can't avoid ...a1Q.}) 22... f6 $1 $132 {
with a double-edged battle in Shirov-Gelfand, Chalkidiki 1993.}) 17... Qc7 18.
Rd1 {A useful prophylactic move. White simply avoids falling prey to the move .
..Nb6 with tempo; moreover the rook was attackable in the centre.} Nb6 19. h4 {
White prepares Rh3.} ({In the event of} 19. g4 Nec4 20. g5 (20. Bc1 Bf6) 20...
Rac8 21. Bc1 Na4 $13 {with an unclear fight.}) 19... Nec4 20. Rh3 Bf6 21. c3 ({
The solid} 21. Bc1 {was also an option} Rfe8 22. h5 $1 (22. Nd4 $2 {does not
work because of} d5 $1 $15) 22... Rac8 (22... d5 23. h6 $1 Rxe4 24. Qf2 {
and White has some play for the pawn, but still this is a double-edged fight.})
23. h6 g6 $13) 21... Rfe8 {The most logical move.} 22. Nd4 Qc5 23. Nf5 $6 {
An inaccuracy, which allows Black's following reply.} (23. Qd3 {, stepping out
of the pin, was easier} d5 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Bc1 Ne5 $13) ({Or} 23. Bg5 {
as suggested by Mr. Houdini,} Bxd4 (23... Bxg5 $2 24. hxg5 Qxg5 25. Nf5 $16) (
23... Be5 24. Nf5) 24. cxd4 Qc6 {with a very difficult middlegame.}) 23... d5
$1 {The strongest move. Now White has to face some dangerous threats.} 24. e5
$1 {The best reply, White wants to close the e-file for a while.} Bxe5 ({
Probably} 24... Nxe5 $1 {was more accurate} 25. Re1 (25. Bc1 $5 {is a typical
computer move; the Ne5 doesn't have a good move.} Nec4 26. Qh5 Re6 27. Rg3 g6 {
and Black looks nicely placed.}) 25... Qc6 {and Black is a healthy pawn up.})
25. Qg4 g6 26. h5 ({In the event of} 26. Nh6+ Kg7 ({or} 26... Kf8 27. Qf3 Re7 {
with a very complicated middlegame.})) 26... Qf2 $1 {Black's queen is very
powerful on f2.} 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Bc1 f5 {The only move, otherwise Rf3 would
have followed.} 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 (30. gxf3 Re6 {and the Nh6 can't come
back.}) 30... Rad8 31. g4 {Of course White has to organise some help for the
Nh6.} d4 32. hxg6 $6 {A small inaccuracy.} (32. gxf5 {was correct} dxc3 33.
fxg6 $1 {Now we see the point of keeping the h-pawn. White is threatening to
play Rf7+ followed by Rxh7 and mate.} Nd2+ 34. Bxd2 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 cxd2 36. Nf5+
{followed by Kc2 with a nearly equal endgame.}) 32... hxg6 33. Rfd3 $2 {
The decisive mistake, but} (33. gxf5 {wasn't as good as one move earlier,
because} dxc3 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. bxc3 Rd1 $15 {and Black is slightly better.})
33... Nd5 $1 $19 {The best move, now Black simply threatens to play Bf4 and
the Nh6 is trapped.} 34. cxd4 Bf4 35. Bxf4 Nxf4 36. Rf3 Re1 $1 {A great
victory by Grischuk!} 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. a4 Nc6 8. f4
d5 {Topalov comes up with a surprising choice of opening plan. The d-pawn
advance transforms the position into something more closely related to the
French Defence than the Sicilian. No other strong players have tried this idea,
it must have been a surprise for Svidler.} 9. e5 Nd7 10. Qg4 {The Russian star
is wanting to create problems for his opponent on the kingside, but the queen
is leaving the centre of the board.} (10. Qd2 Bb4 (10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc5 12.
Bxc5 Nxc5 13. Qd4 Nd7 14. Bd3 Qc7 15. O-O Qc5 16. Ne2 O-O 17. b4 Qxd4+ 18. Nxd4
Re8 19. Rfe1 b6 20. Kf2 f6 21. Re2 $11 {1-0 (47) Gietl,T (2230)-Wuensch,R 
(2040) Roethenbach 1996}) 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Nc5 13. Qf2 Nxd3 14. cxd3 f6 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bc5 Bxc5 17. Qxc5 Rb8 18. b4 Qb6 19. Qxb6 Rxb6 20. Rab1 $14 {
1-0 (55) Ji,D (2226)-Liu,Q (2322) Wuxi 2005}) (10. Be2 Bc5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12.
Bxc5 Nxc5 13. a5 O-O 14. Qd4 Nb7 15. b4 c5 16. bxc5 Nxa5 17. O-O Nc6 18. Qd3
Qe7 19. Qh3 Qxc5+ 20. Kh1 Ne7 $11 {1-0 (41) Koziol,K (1710)-Tynski,B (1509)
Mielno 2011}) 10... g6 (10... Nc5 11. a5 $1 h5 12. Qh3 Bd7 13. Be2 $14) 11.
O-O-O Bc5 (11... Bb4 12. Nce2 Qa5 13. Kb1 Qxa4 14. Qg5 $13) 12. Qg3 {Black has
all his pawns on light squares, so the white queen retreats to support the
dark squares in the centre.} Qb6 (12... Bxd4 13. Bxd4 Nxd4 14. Rxd4 Qb6 15. Qf2
Nb8 $11) 13. Qf2 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Rxd4 {The remarkable choice of a
grandmaster as plain mortals would surely prefer the exchange of queens. The
subsequent middlegame position should be at least nominally more pleasant for
White as he has the better bishop.} (15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. Rxd4 Nb8 17. Rd1 Nc6 18.
b3 Bd7 $11) 15... Nb8 16. h4 Bd7 (16... Nc6 17. Rd2 Qxf2 18. Rxf2 h5 19. b3 Bd7
$11) 17. Rd2 Qa5 {Both players are doing their best to keep the flame of the
fight blazing. Topalov is voluntarily sidesteping the easy line with exchange
of the queens.} (17... Qxf2 18. Rxf2 h5 19. b3 Nc6 $11) 18. h5 Rf8 19. hxg6
hxg6 20. Rh3 {White enjoys the better structure and development advantage, but
Black's position is not easy to get at and he does not have obvious weaknesses
apart from the f7-pawn.} (20. Kb1 Nc6 21. g4 O-O-O $11) 20... Nc6 21. b3 O-O-O
22. Ne2 {The knight is aiming for the d4-square, but Black will finally get a
chance to start some counterplay.} (22. Kb2 g5 23. fxg5 Nxe5 24. Re2 Qc7 $11)
22... f6 (22... g5 23. g3 f6 24. exf6 Rxf6 25. Bg2 $11) 23. exf6 (23. Rf3 $6
fxe5 24. fxe5 Qb4 25. Qe3 Qe4 $15) 23... Rxf6 24. Rf3 Rdf8 25. Nd4 Qc7 {
The pressure against the f4-pawn is neutralising all White's hopes for some
advantage. Black must remember that his pawns are still on the same colour of
squares as his bishop.} (25... Qb6 26. Kb2 Kc7 27. Rdd3 $11) 26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27.
Rd4 e5 {[%mdl 32] Simple and efficient play will activate the black queen with
good prospects of minimising White's winning chances.} (27... Qg7 28. Qe3 g5
29. fxg5 Rxf3 30. gxf3 e5 31. Rh4 e4 (31... d4 32. Qg1 Rg8 33. f4 exf4 34. Rxf4
Qxg5 35. Qxg5 Rxg5 36. Rxd4 $14) 32. Rf4 Rxf4 33. Bh3+ Bd7 34. Bxd7+ Kxd7 35.
Qxf4 exf3 36. Qxf3 Qxg5+ $11) 28. fxe5 Qxe5 (28... Rxf3 $5 29. gxf3 Qxe5 30. c3
g5 $11) 29. Be2 (29. Rxf6 $4 Rxf6 30. Qg1 Rxf1+ 31. Qxf1 Qxd4 $19) 29... g5 (
29... Rxf3 30. Bxf3 Kc7 31. Kb1 g5 32. Qd2 Rf4 33. Rxf4 gxf4 $11) 30. Qe3 Qxe3+
31. Rxe3 {Topalov has failed to exchange rooks on the f3-square so White still
sports a minimal advantage.} Rf4 (31... Kd7 32. Rg3 Rf4 33. Rd2 Rg8 34. Rgd3
$14) 32. Rxf4 (32. Rd2 d4 33. Re5 Bxg2 34. Rxg5 Bc6 $11) 32... Rxf4 (32... gxf4
33. Re7 d4 34. Bf3 Rf6 35. Kd2 $14) 33. Rg3 d4 34. Bf3 (34. Rxg5 Rf2 35. Kd2
Kc7 36. Rg4 a5 $14) 34... Bxf3 35. gxf3 Kd7 {Black has accepted, that the
extent of his dreams lies in a position which he can draw despite the absence
of the pawn.} 36. Kd2 (36. Rxg5 Rxf3 37. Rd5+ Kc6 38. Rxd4 b5 $11) 36... Kd6
37. Kd3 a5 (37... b5 38. axb5 axb5 39. Rxg5 Kc6 40. Rg4 Rxf3+ 41. Kxd4 Kb6 $11)
38. Kc4 (38. Rxg5 b6 39. Kc4 Rxf3 40. Rg6+ Kc7 41. Kxd4 Rf4+ 42. Kd3 $14) 38...
Kc6 39. Rxg5 Rxf3 40. Rc5+ {Svidler is not ready to pretend that he can win
the general rook endgame with 2 pawns against one on the same flank.} (40. Rxa5
Rc3+ 41. Kxd4 Rxc2 $14) 40... Kb6 41. Rb5+ Kc6 42. Rc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2881"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 Nbd7 9. e3 (9. Qa4 {would transpose to the second round game
Agdestein-Giri}) 9... Qa5 10. Nd2 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc5 $146 (11... O-O 12. Be2
Qxc3 13. O-O Qxc5 14. Rc1 Qb4 15. Bg3 Nb6 16. Be5 Qe7 17. Bd4 $44 {
Kasimdzhanov,R (2700)-Aleksandrov,A (2554) Dubai 2014 (1-0, 48)}) 12. Rc1 O-O
13. Be2 Qa3 14. O-O Qxa2 15. c4 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Be7 Re8 18. Bd6 Nf6 19.
Ra1 Qb2 20. c5 a5 21. Rb1 Qa2 22. Bb5 Rd8 23. Qc1 Qe6 24. Bc7 Rf8 25. Bd6 (25.
Bc4 Qg4 (25... Qf5 26. Rb5) 26. Rd1 a4 27. Qa3) 25... Rd8 26. Bc7 Rf8 27. Bd6
Rd8 28. Bc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 b4 $5 {Not as popular as the typical .
..Qb6 as it doesn't seem required at first, but it has an important use when
compared to ...Qb6.} (11... Qb6 {is typically met by} 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Qe1 {
when Black has to make some unwanted commitment like ...Ra7, or ...Be7, in
order to deal with the threat of Nd5. Of course, it's still a very complicated
theoretical line, but with 11...b4, Black hopes to avoid this, while reasoning
that ...b4 should eventually turn out to be a useful move. The drawback is
that White's knight is quickly getting transferred, and perhaps he can create
new threats with f5 - Nd4/Nf4, or Ng3-Nh5.}) 12. Nce2 Qb6 13. Qe1 $6 {This
just seems to be a pointless automatic move here. Possibly, Anish was
surprised with ...b4, and decided to not take any immediate action...but
without that, Black manages to get an ideal position for these structures.} (
13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. f5 {is definitely the critical line. This can be reached
after 11...Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.f5 b4 as well, although 13...b4 wasn't the only
move there.} e5 (14... Bxe4 {seems too risky.} 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Qf4 d5 17.
Qxf6 Rg8 18. Nf4 Be7 19. Qh6 Bg5 20. Qh5+ Ke7 21. Bd3 $1 $16 {1-0 (43)
Naiditsch,A (2710)-Kozul,Z (2601) Bol 2013}) 15. Ng3 h5 $1 (15... Qc5 16. Nh5
Ke7 17. Bd3 Rg8 18. Rhg1 a5 (18... Rg5 19. Qe2 Bh6 20. h4 Rgg8 21. Rge1 $5 {xe3
} (21. g4 Be3 22. Rg3 Bf4 23. Nxf4 exf4 24. Rg2 a5 25. Rf1 a4 26. Qf2 a3 $13 {
Brkic,A-Nevednichy,V Zadar CRO 2005}) 21... a5 22. Bc4 a4 23. g4 a3 24. b3 $16
Rac8 25. Nxf6 Kxf6 26. g5+ Bxg5 27. Qh5 $18) 19. g4 a4 20. h4 (20. g5 fxg5 21.
f6+ Kd7 22. Qe2 Rc8 23. Rg3 a3 24. Ba6 Rc7 25. b3 Rg6 26. Bc4 Kc8 27. Rgd3 {
1/2-1/2 Czarnota,P -Miton,K /Warsaw POL 2005}) 20... a3 21. g5 {A} (21. Bc4 $5
Bxe4 $13) 21... fxg5 22. hxg5 Qd4 (22... axb2 $2 23. Bc4 $16) 23. Qc1 $1 (23.
c3 bxc3 24. bxc3 Qb6+ $1 25. Ka1 Bh6 $1 26. Rb1 Qc5 27. Rbc1 Rab8 $17) 23...
axb2 24. Qxb2 Qc5 (24... Qxb2+ 25. Kxb2 $14 {means suffering for Black.}) 25.
Nf6 Rxg5 26. Rxg5 Kxf6 27. Rg8 h6 28. Qc1 d5 29. Rh8 Ke7 30. Qd2 d4 31. Rh7 $18
{1-0 (38) Evtushenko,S-Hamilton,D (2023) ICCF 2010}) 16. h4 {A typical
situation.} Bh6 $1 (16... Rd8 $2 17. Bc4 a5 18. Qe2 Qc5 19. b3 Ke7 20. Nxh5 $16
{Tiviakov,S-Galliamova,A/Elista 1998}) 17. Qe2 ({Accepting the pawn sacrifice
is the most common:} 17. Qxd6 Rd8 18. Qxd8+ Qxd8 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 {but it's hard
to say if White is better in this endgame despite being even two pawns up
temporarily. The two bishops in this line are always excellent in an endgame:}
20. Nxh5 Ke7 21. Bd3 Be3 (21... a5 22. g4 Be3 23. Rh3 Bd4 {Dembo,Y-Atalik,S
Cannes FRA 2007} 24. Ng3 $16) 22. Rh3 Bf2 $5 $146 (22... Rxh5 23. Rxe3 Rxh4 24.
a3 a5 25. axb4 axb4 26. Ka2 Kd6 27. Kb3 Kc5 28. Rh3 Rg4 $11 {Bologan,
V-Kotronias,V/Warsaw POL 2005}) 23. g4 Rg8 24. Rh2 Be1 25. Rh1 Bf2 $11) 17...
Ke7 18. Nxh5 Qb7 (18... Rhd8 $5 {/\ d5 is worth considering as well.}) 19. Re1
b3 $5 20. axb3 a5 21. g4 a4 22. Rh3 a3 $13 {and we get rather insane
complications, as in Sferle,M (2530)-Yeremenko,A (2440) ICCF 2011.}) 13... Rc8
14. h4 {Not an ideal move, but I think White already realised that it's not
easy to go for the typical active plans, and decides to play more solidly. The
pawn doesn't seem to be doing much, but he wants to bring the kingside rook
into the game via h3.} (14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nd4 Bb7 16. f5 e5 17. Nf3 Rg8 18. Qh4
Ke7 19. Rg1 h5 20. Bd3 Bh6 21. g3 a5 {and once again Black had a dream
position as White failed to generate even the slightest counterplay on the
kingside, Shirov - Kozul, Heraklio 2007.}) (14. f5 {is already not that nice
since after} e5 {White can't take Nxc6 due to ...Qxc6!}) 14... Na5 ({Of course
Black has various plans, but I don't see why he didn't just go for the usual} 
14... a5 15. Rh3 a4 {when Black seems to have a rather nice version. There is
no need to actually spend two moves to bring the knight to c4, where it's not
neccessarily better.}) 15. Nc1 {White sticks with his plan for solid play, but
he could have already tried to be more ambitious.} (15. Ng3 $1 {/\ Nh5. The
knight trip to c4 doesn't look as useful here.} Rg8 (15... h5 16. Be2 $16) (
15... Nc4 16. Nh5 Be7 17. g4 $16) 16. Nh5 Be7 17. g4 $5 $14 Rxg4 $140 18. Bh3
Rg8 19. Rg1 $16) 15... Nc4 16. Rh3 a5 {Now, Black's position looks really
commanding again. White really can't expect much unless he goes on the
offensive in this line.} 17. Bxc4 {It was hard having to put up with this
knight.} Rxc4 18. Rhd3 h5 19. g3 {The position seems to be in some kind of
dynamic balance. Black can't really break through in the centre, while it's
unimaginable to go 0-0 for now... while White's position looks really solid as
well. But now Topalov embarks on a regrouping mission, conducting the next
part of the game spectacularly!} (19. e5 {will probably open up the position
for the black bishops.} fxe5 20. fxe5 Bg7) 19... Be7 20. Qe2 Bc8 $1 {An
excellent idea. It's hard to see what White is going to do...} 21. R3d2 Ba6 22.
Qf3 {keeping 0-0 under check, but what next for White?} a4 23. Nce2 Bb7 24. Qd3
Rc5 25. c4 Kf8 $6 {Black decides to simply improve his position a bit more
before preparing a way to breakthrough.} ({Black could have already exploited
White's awkward pieces with} 25... Qa6 $1 26. Nb5 (26. b3 Qa8 $1 {is the point.
Incredibly, e4 can't be defended}) 26... Qc6 {and White has to go for} 27.
Nxd6+ Qxd6 28. Qxd6 Bxd6 29. Rxd6 Bxe4+ 30. Ka1 O-O {with a very pleasant
endgame for Black.}) 26. b3 Rg8 {Black doesn't want to commit ...Kg7 either,
since he is understandably worried about a swift counterattack... at the same
time then the whole plan with ...Kf8 doesn't have a point.} 27. bxa4 $1 {
White doesn't want to keep suffering and shuffle around, while Black takes his
time to increase the pressure.} Qa6 28. Nb5 Kg7 {Black needs the rook. It
makes me wonder if ...Rg8 was required at all...} 29. Ned4 Qxa4 30. f5 $2 {
As it turned out, this move worked very well for White... also considering the
fact that it was undoubtedly a time pressure situation, this makes sense, but
objectively it also loses.} (30. Re1 {just holding together his position and
perhaps preparing f5 was more appropriate.}) 30... Re5 $1 31. Re1 Kh8 $4 {
Alas! Topalov continues to play slowly, but he forgets that White has some
activity too now.} (31... d5 $1 {did not require much calculation, but Black
had to realise that it was already time to break.} 32. fxe6 dxc4 33. Qxc4 Rc8
34. Qd3 fxe6 $19) 32. Nf3 $1 {Suddenly the tables are turned...it's hard to
deal with such a sudden shock, and Topalov collapses.} exf5 ({Black might have
thought about} 32... Rxg3 {but this is just met by} 33. Nxd6 {and Black's
position is just collapsing.}) 33. Nxe5 fxe5 34. Nxd6 b3 {Already, there are
multiple ways to win, but probably in something of a time scramble, Anish goes
for the safest:} 35. Nxb7 bxa2+ 36. Ka1 Qb4 37. Qe3 f4 38. gxf4 Bxh4 39. Rh1
Qxb7 40. fxe5 Rg4 41. Qh6+ Kg8 42. Qxh5 Qxe4 43. Rd8+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 {Thanks to his castled king
Black is able to start real counterplay in the centre.} 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 (
7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. e3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3
Kg7 14. Qh5 Rh8 15. f4 d5 16. O-O dxc4 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. fxg5 Qe7 19. Rf6 Bd7
20. Rcf1 {1-0 (20) Bacrot,E (2725)-Inkiov,V (2465) Haguenau 2013}) 8. Nxd4 d5 {
Kramnik is right to hurry up with active operations in the centre as with each
move the opponent will be closer to complete development including the king
being brought to safety. The pawn advance to d5 is a relatively rare
continuation as Black has predominantly been testing other ideas.} (8... Nc6 9.
a3 (9. e3 e5 (9... b6 10. Ndb5 (10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {1/2 (11) Marin,M (2475)
-Andersson,U (2600) Szirak 1987}) 10... Be7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bg3 d6 13. O-O Bb7
14. Bf3 a6 15. Nd4 Qc8 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd5 Bd8 18. Nb4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Ra7 20.
Qc6 Qxc6 21. Nxc6 $14 {1-0 (53) Bacrot,E (2706)-Rau,H (2464) Deizisau 2012}) (
9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Ra3 Qe7 13. Bd3 Qb4+ 14. Kf1 Qxb2 15.
Bxe4 Qxa3 16. h4 Nxd4 17. hxg5 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Be5 f6 20. Bd6 Qc3 21.
Rxh6 Rf7 22. Rg6+ $18 {1-0 (28) Sedlak,N (2553)-Perunovic,M (2580) Vrsac 2008})
(9... d6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Rxc3 Rc8 14. f4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3
d5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Rfc1 Rxc3 19. Rxc3 Qb6 20. Rb3 Qc7 21. Kf2
$11 {1/2 (36) Barsov,A (2525)-Campora,D (2505) Catalan Bay 2003}) (9... Be7 10.
Be2 d5 11. O-O Bd7 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxe7 Ncxe7 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bf3 Rc8 16.
Bxd5 exd5 17. Qb3 Bc6 18. Rc3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Rb3 Ra8 21. a3 $16 {
1-0 (73) Zhang,Z (2649)-Hussein,H (2354) Beijing 2008}) 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ndb5
Rd8 12. Be2 d6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nxc3 Be6 15. Qb3 Rd7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Rd2 Qg6
18. Rcd1 e4 19. Qc2 Bf5 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rd5 $11 {1-0 (58) Bacrot,E (2645)
-Socko,B (2551) Rethymnon 2003}) 9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Nb5
Nxc3 13. Nxc3 d5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 Be6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. e3 Rac8 18. h4
g4 19. Be2 Na5 20. Be5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 $15 {1/2 (54) Anand,V (2784)-Timman,J
(2649) Wijk aan Zee 1999}) (8... b6 9. e3 Bb7 10. Ndb5 $1 Na6 11. Nd6 Bxd6 12.
Qxd6 Rc8 (12... Qc7 13. Nb5 $16) 13. f3 Rc6 14. Qd4 Qe7 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 Rd8
16. Be2 $16) 15... g5 $6 (15... Nc7 16. O-O d5 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bd3 $16) 16.
Bg3 d5 (16... Nh5 17. Rd1 (17. Bf2 f5 18. h4 $16) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 Rd8 19.
Ne4 $16) 17. h4 (17. Be5 Nd7 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bg3 $16) 17... Nh5 (17... dxc4
$2 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Ne4 Nh7 20. Bd6 $18) 18. Bf2 Ng7 19. hxg5 hxg5 (19... Qxg5
20. cxd5 exd5 21. g4 $16) 20. Qe5 $5 {1-0 (36) Ponomariov,R (2705)-Polgar,J 
(2708) Vitoria Gasteiz 2007} (20. cxd5 exd5 21. Bb5 Rc5 22. a3 $16)) (8... g5
9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Ndb5 f5 11. Bc7 Qe7 12. f3 a6 13. a3 axb5 14. axb4 Na6 15. Be5
d6 16. Bd4 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 bxc4 18. e4 fxe4 19. Bxc4 b5 20. Bb3 Bb7 21. Qd4 Kh7
$11 {1-0 (62) Bauer,C (2640)-Cheparinov,I (2621) Metz 2005}) (8... Be7 9. e3 d6
10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O a6 12. Bg3 Bd7 13. Nb3 Ne5 14. c5 Qb8 15. f4 Ng6 16. e4 e5
17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Rxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxd7 $18 {1-0 (33) Gonzalez
Garcia,J (2522)-Hernandez Carmenates,H (2570) Barbera del Valles 2011}) 9. Bxf6
(9. e3 e5 10. Nf3 g5 11. Bg3 d4 12. exd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 (13. Qxd4 Re8+ 14. Be2
Qe7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Qe3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qxe3 18. fxe3 Rxe3 19. Nd4 $11) 13... Qb6
14. Ndb5 Bg4 15. Be2 Bxe2 16. Kxe2 Qe6+ 17. Kf1 Qxc4+ 18. Qe2 Qxe2+ 19. Kxe2
Re8+ 20. Kd3 Nc6 $11 {1/2 (56) Wojtaszek,R (2701)-Tkachiev,V (2632) Legnica
2013}) (9. cxd5 g5 (9... exd5 10. e3 Nc6 11. Be2 Re8 12. O-O g5 13. Bg3 Bxc3
14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Rxc3 Bd7 16. f3 Re6 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. Rfc1 Nh5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20.
Ba6 Ng6 21. Bb7 Rd8 22. Qd4 $16 {1/2 (41) Byrne,R-Wexler,B Leipzig 1960}) 10.
Bg3 Qxd5 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Rd8 13. Nb5 Na6 14. f3 Bd7 15. e4 Qc5 16. Qd4
Bxb5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxb5 a6 19. Be2 Nh5 20. Bf2 Rac8 21. Rc2 Nd3+ 22. Kf1
Nhf4 $11 {1/2 (37) Ipatov,A (2569)-Smirnov,P (2618) Moscow 2013}) 9... Qxf6 10.
cxd5 Rd8 {The former world champion is working hard on chess and often his
analyses are surprisingly deep. Black could have tried the simple recapturing
with pawn with a fair position.} (10... exd5 11. e3 Nc6 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3
Qg6 $11) 11. e3 (11. e4 $2 exd5 $19) 11... Rxd5 (11... exd5 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13.
Rxc3 Nc6 $11) 12. Qb3 Rxd4 $6 {[%mdl 1028] The game was very important for
both players who have not been on friendly terms ever since their world
championship match. Kramnik tries to punish Topalov with active play over the
board. Unfortunately the exchange sacrifice is not forced and most likely also
not the strongest line.} (12... Qe7 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. O-O Nc6 $11) 13. exd4 Nc6
14. Bb5 $1 Qf4 {Black gets cold feet at the moment when he could shock his
adversary with the sacrifice of the rook with 14...Nxd4!? The whole system is
very spirited, but Black has no reason to believe that he can gain an opening
advantage.} (14... Qxd4 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. O-O $14) (14... Nxd4 $5 15. Qxb4 Qf4
16. Kd1 (16. Qe7 Qxc1+ 17. Nd1 Nc2+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ 19. Ke1 e5 $19) 16... e5 17.
Ne2 (17. Rf1 Bg4+ 18. f3 Rd8 19. Qe7 Nc6+ 20. Qxd8+ Nxd8 21. fxg4 Qxg4+ 22. Kc2
$14) 17... Nxe2 18. Qxf4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Bf5 20. Rc5 $14) 15. O-O Nxd4 16. Qd1 (
16. Qc4 $5 Bd6 (16... a6 17. Rfd1 e5 18. Nd5 Qg4 19. Qxb4 axb5 20. Kh1 $14) 17.
g3 Qg4 18. Rfd1 e5 19. Qd5 Be7 20. Rd3 $14) 16... Bxc3 $6 {Even in the battle
of two former world champions the positional rules are still more than valid.
Kramnik is diminishing his chances by the exchange of his dark-squared bishop
for the knight at the moment when a simple retreat would have offered near
equality.} (16... Ba5 17. Bd3 e5 $11) 17. Rxc3 e5 (17... Nxb5 $2 18. Qd8+ Kh7
19. Rxc8 $16) (17... Qd6 18. Bc4 e5 19. Qh5 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Rc7 $14) 18.
Bc4 (18. Qc1 $5 Be6 19. Bd3 $14) 18... Bd7 19. Qc1 Qf6 (19... Qxc1 20. Rfxc1
Bc6 21. f3 $14) 20. Qe3 Bc6 21. Bd3 {White is very disciplined and he is
working hard on stabilising his position in the centre. Black's chances for
active counterplay will be honed down to a minimum.} Re8 (21... Qd6 22. Be4
Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Rd8 24. Re3 Nc6 25. f4 exf4 26. Qxf4 $14) 22. Be4 Bb5 (22... Qd6
23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rc4 Rb8 25. b3 Rd8 26. Re1 $14) 23. Re1 Qa6 $2 {Kramnik did
not play this spirited opening with the hope of defending passively. His
striving for active play is perfectly understandable, but White will benefit
more from the conflict.} (23... Qe7 24. b3 $14) 24. Rc7 $1 Qxa2 (24... Bc6 25.
Bxc6 bxc6 26. Qa3 $1 $16) 25. Rxb7 a6 (25... Qxb2 26. Rb1 Qe2 27. R7xb5 Qxe3
28. fxe3 Nxb5 29. Rxb5 $18) 26. b3 Rd8 $6 {The nerves are ticking and Black is
not willing to admit that only passive defence can offer some chances of
survival.} (26... Rf8 27. Bb1 Qb2 28. h3 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 Nf4 30. Rc7 Nd5 31. Qe4
Nf6 32. Qf5 $16) 27. Bd5 $1 Ne2+ (27... Rxd5 28. Rb8+ Kh7 29. Qe4+ f5 30. Qxd5
$18) 28. Kh1 (28. Rxe2 $2 Qxe2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qxe2 Bxe2 31. h4 $14) 28...
Nf4 (28... Qc2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Bc4 Qd1 (30... Bxc4 31. Qxe5 Qc3 32. Qxc3 Nxc3
33. bxc4 $18) 31. Qxe2 Qxe2 32. Bxe2 Bxe2 33. h3 $18) 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qb6 $6
{Topalov is not immune to trepidations of his own. In the heat of the fight he
chooses exactly the wrong method of bringing his queen closer to the black
king.} (30. Rb6 $1 Qd2 31. Rb8 Qd6 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8 33. Qxe5 Nd3 34. Qe7 $18) (
30. Qxe5 Qxf2 31. Bd5 $1 Nh5 32. Bf3 Nf6 33. Rf7 $18) 30... Qd2 31. Rg1 Kh7 $6
{A nervous move, ignoring the golden chance to complicate matters with a
spectacular hidden resource. In the battle of two computers we would have seen
31..Nh3!!, but instead we are witnessing the merciless duel of two ex-world
champions.} (31... Nh3 $3 32. gxh3 Be2 33. Qc6 Qd3 34. Bd5 Qxd5+ 35. Qxd5 Rxd5
36. Rc1 $16) (31... Qd4 32. h3 $18) 32. h3 Rd6 (32... Qd4 33. Bc4 $18) 33. Qc7
Bd7 (33... Rd7 34. Qb8 Rd8 35. Qxe5 Qxf2 36. Bg6+ $18) 34. Qb8 {Exactly this
picture was the defender's worst nightmares. Black is unable to defend the 8th
rank so he chooses to play va-banque.} h5 $8 35. Qg8+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Kg5 37.
Qxg7+ Kf5 38. Bxh5 {Time trouble is lurking around the corner and White
probably had no time to choose the best winning line. Fortunately for the
aggressor his position is completely winning in most sensible lines.} (38. f3
Nd3 39. Rxd7 Rxd7 40. Qg6+ Kf4 41. g3+ Kxf3 42. Qf5+ Ke3 43. Qg5+ Nf4 44. Qxe5+
$18) (38. Bg8 $1 Ng6 39. Bh7 Be8 40. Re7 Re6 41. Rxe8 $18) 38... Nxh5 39. Qg4+
Kf6 40. Qxh5 Qxf2 41. Qh6+ {Even after the time control Topalov is not ready
to play the best moves, he just wants to grab his deserved point and run...} (
41. Rb8 $1 Ke6 42. Qg4+ Ke7 43. Qg7+ Ke6 44. Rf8 $18) 41... Ke7 42. Qg7+ Ke6
43. Qg4+ Ke7 44. Rd1 {Material and positional superiority is rendering any
resistance by Black pointless.} (44. Rd1 Rxd1+ 45. Qxd1 Qf5 46. h4 Ke8 47. Kg1
$18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {Topalov is ready to defend his fascinating idea of an early b5-b4 in the
Sicilian Defence. The system is playable, but Black has to go to extremes to
prove that the pawn advance was not hopelessly premature.} 9. Na4 Nbd7 10.
O-O-O Qa5 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3 Qc7 13. axb4 d5 14. b5 {Caruana is well prepared
for the pet line of his dangerous opponent. White has to play well in order to
minimise the counterplay of Black's pieces in the centre.} (14. c4 dxe4 (14...
dxc4 15. bxc4 a5 16. Nb5 Qc6 17. bxa5 Be7 18. Qc3 $16) 15. f4 (15. Kb2 Be7 (
15... exf3 16. gxf3 (16. Nxf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rb8 $17) 16... e5 17. Bh3 $1 (17.
Nf5 Bxf3 18. Bg2 Bxd1 19. Bxa8 Bg4 $17) 17... exd4 (17... Qd6 18. Rhe1 Qxb4 19.
c5 $16) 18. Bxd4 Be7 19. Rhe1 $40) (15... e5 16. Nf5 exf3 17. c5 Rb8 18. Rg1
$15) (15... g6 16. Be2 exf3 17. Bxf3 Bg7 18. Bh6 O-O 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rhe1 e5
21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Nc2 Rad8 $11 {0-1 (39) Grandelius,N (2366)-Palac,M (2587)
Schwarzach 2008}) 16. Be2 O-O 17. Bf4 (17. f4 Rfd8 18. Qe1 Rab8 $17) 17... e5
18. Bg3 g6 (18... exf3 $5 19. gxf3 Rfd8 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Qg5 Kh8 $17) 19. Nc2
Rfd8 (19... a5 20. b5 Rfd8 21. Qe3 Rac8 (21... Nc5 22. b6 $15) 22. Rhf1 Nc5 $17
) 20. Qe3 Bc6 (20... a5 $5) 21. Nc3 $11 {1-0 (42) Motylev,A (2638)-Cheparinov,
I (2625) Wijk aan Zee 2006}) 15... Nd5 16. Nc2 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Be7 18. Rxd7 Qxd7
19. Nb6 Qc7 20. Nxa8 Bxa8 21. Be2 O-O 22. Rd1 a5 23. bxa5 Qxa5 $15 {1-0 (32)
Ponomariov,R (2738)-Grischuk,A (2719) Sochi 2006}) (14. Kb1 dxe4 15. b5 Nd5 (
15... Be7 16. Bf4 (16. bxa6 Bxa6 17. Nb5 Qb7 18. Nac3 O-O 19. fxe4 Rfc8 20. e5
Nxe5 21. Qe1 Bxb5 22. Nxb5 Qa6 23. Na7 Qa3 $19 {0-1 (29) Stets,D (2468)-Smith,
A (2478) Fagernes 2012}) 16... Qc8 17. Bc4 axb5 18. Bxb5 O-O 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20.
Bxd7 Nxd7 21. Qxd7 $11 {1/2 (30) Szabo,K (2520)-Kulaots,K (2556) Budapest 2008}
) 16. fxe4 Bb4 17. Qf2 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 O-O 19. bxa6 Bxa6 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. Qd3
Rfa8 22. Nxe6 Qb8 $11 {1-0 (59) Serfling,R-Solodovnichenko,Y (2585) playchess.
com INT 2007}) 14... e5 $5 {The whole system is not for the fainthearted, but
the e-pawn advance maximises the conflict at the moment when White is better
developed. It is most likely, that in the days before computers could help
grandmasters the idea would have been considered to be too dangerous.} (14...
dxe4 15. b6 Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Qd6 17. Ka2 Qe7 18. c3 O-O 19. Nc2 Bc5 20. Nxc5 Nxc5
21. Qd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Rfc8 23. b4 Na4 24. c4 exf3 25. gxf3 Bxf3 26. Rg1 Ne4 $2
(26... a5 27. b5 Ne8 $11) 27. Rd7 $18 {1/2 (59) Saric,I (2643)-Lahno,K (2554)
Germany 2011}) (14... Ba3+ 15. Kb1 O-O 16. Qc3 Qd6 17. bxa6 Bxa6 18. Qc6 Qxc6
19. Nxc6 dxe4 20. fxe4 Bb7 21. Bb5 Rfc8 22. Na7 Rc7 23. Bxd7 Rxd7 24. Rxd7 Nxd7
25. Rd1 Nf6 $11 {1/2 (52) Aroshidze,L (2490)-Nielsen,P (2640) Kalamaria 2006})
15. bxa6 (15. b6 Nxb6 16. Ne6 fxe6 17. Bxb6 Ba3+ 18. Kb1 Qe7 19. Ba5 Rb8 20.
Qc3 Bd6 21. Bd3 O-O 22. Rhe1 d4 23. Qd2 Nd7 24. Nb2 Nc5 $15 {0-1 (34) Brodsky,
M (2566)-Cheparinov,I (2632) Hoogeveen 2006}) 15... Bxa6 {Topalov's move is
technically speaking a novelty, but the recapture on d4 is just plain bad. It
is very likely, that both players had analysed this position before meeting
over the board.} (15... exd4 $2 16. Bf4 $1 Qc6 17. axb7 Rxa4 (17... Qxb7 18.
Qxd4 $16) 18. b8=Q+ Nxb8 19. bxa4 Ba3+ 20. Kb1 O-O 21. Bb5 Qb6 22. Qxd4 Bc5 23.
Qe5 $18 {1-0 (38) Wei,Y (2418)-Yilmaz,M (2543) Athens 2012}) 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17.
Bxb5 d4 18. Bxd4 $5 {[%mdl 4] Caruana is admitting that he has to bite the
bullet and try to punish Black for his risky play. The modest retreat with the
bishop would enable Topalov to finish his development and entertain promising
prospects on the queenside.} (18. Bg5 Ba3+ 19. Kb1 O-O 20. c4 Qd6 $15) 18...
exd4 19. Qxd4 Ra5 20. Qd3 Ba3+ 21. Kb1 Ke7 $1 {A brave move by any measure as
the ex-world champion demonstraties his excellent handling of risk. Castling
would have been safer, but White would have an easy time dealing with the
situation.} (21... O-O 22. Bxd7 Rd8 23. Qc3 Qxc3 24. Nxc3 Nxd7 25. Rd5 Rxd5 26.
Nxd5 $11) 22. Bxd7 (22. c4 Rb8 23. f4 Raxb5 24. cxb5 Qxf4 25. Rhf1 Qe5 $14)
22... Nxd7 23. Nc3 $2 (23. Qc3 Qxc3 24. Nxc3 Nb6 $15) 23... Ne5 $2 {This
moment in the battle is affecting both players in equal measure as they make
weak moves. Topalov was surely quite unhappy about his decision not to play
the brave move 23...Nb6! with better chances.} (23... Nb6 $1 24. Nb5 Qc5 25.
Nd4 Bb4 26. Nf5+ Kf6 27. c4 Rha8 28. Qd4+ Qxd4 29. Nxd4 Ra1+ 30. Kc2 R1a2+ 31.
Kd3 R8a3 $17) 24. Nd5+ (24. Qd2 Rb8 25. Nd5+ Rxd5 26. exd5 Bd6 27. Rhe1 Kf8 28.
Re4 Nc4 29. Qd3 $11) 24... Rxd5 25. Qxd5 Rc8 (25... Rd8 $2 26. Qxd8+ Qxd8 27.
Rxd8 Kxd8 28. c3 $16) 26. c4 Bc5 {The last mysterious moment when Black has
abstained from the tempting idea of attacking the b3-pawn. Most likely Black
was still hoping to organise a hunt against the white king loosely sitting on
b1.} (26... Rb8 $5 27. c5 Qxc5 28. Qxc5+ Bxc5 29. Rd5 Bd6 30. f4 Ng4 31. e5 Bc7
32. Rhd1 $11) 27. f4 Ng6 28. g3 Ke8 {It would have been useful to enter the
minds of great players, where one would surely find normal human emotions
defining other mortals. Black is probably feeling way too exposed with his
king on the e7-square.} (28... Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Qb2 Kf8 $11) 29. Rd3 Ne7 30.
Qe5 {Caruana has worked his way up to the highest level even among the best
players. He must have judged the position to be somewhat risky for him so he
decided to simplify the matters into a middlegame/endgame without queens.} (30.
Qg5 Kf8 31. Rhd1 f6 32. Qg4 Qa5 33. Qe2 Ra8 34. Qb2 $11) 30... Qxe5 31. fxe5
Nc6 32. Rhd1 (32. Rd5 Nb4 33. Rd2 Be3 34. Rdd1 Ra8 35. Kb2 Bc5 36. Kc3 Na2+ 37.
Kb2 Nb4 $11) 32... Nxe5 33. Rd5 f6 {White has got a stable position with rook
and two pawns for two his opponent's two minor pieces. The great base for the
knight on e5 is helping to complicate his efforts to get the pawns rolling.}
34. Kb2 Ke7 35. Kc3 Bf2 36. Ra1 (36. g4 g5 37. h3 h5 38. gxh5 Rh8 $11) 36...
Rc7 (36... h5 37. Rb5 Rc7 $11) 37. Ra2 Be1+ 38. Kb2 (38. Kd4 $2 Nc6+ 39. Ke3
Nb4 $15) 38... Nc6 39. Ra1 Bb4 (39... Bf2 40. Rad1 Ne5 $11) 40. Ra8 Bd6 {
Objectively speaking the position is very close to a dynamic equilibrium, but
White still entertains some mild hopes for an initiative.} (40... h6 41. Rb5
Be1 $11) 41. Ra6 Be5+ 42. Ka3 Nb8 (42... Bc3 43. Rb5 Nd4 44. Rb8 Kf7 45. Rba8
Nc2+ 46. Ka4 Bd4 $11) 43. Raa5 (43. Rb6 Ra7+ 44. Kb4 Na6+ 45. Kb5 Nc7+ 46. Kc6
Nxd5 47. exd5 Rc7+ 48. Kb5 $11) 43... Nc6 44. Ra4 Nd4 45. Rda5 Bd6+ 46. Kb2 Be5
47. Ka3 Nc2+ (47... Bd6+ $11) 48. Ka2 Bd4 49. Rd5 Bc3 (49... Be5 50. c5 Rb7 $11
) 50. Kb1 Nb4 51. Rb5 Nc6 52. Rc5 Bd4 53. Rd5 Bg1 {Topalov loses his patience
with the repeated efforts of his opponent and thus he tries to force matters
with an attack on the pawns on the kingside.} 54. b4 Ne5 (54... Bxh2 55. b5 Rb7
56. Ka2 Nd8 57. c5 Rxb5 58. c6 Rxd5 59. exd5 Bxg3 60. Rg4 Bc7 61. Rxg7+ Nf7 $11
) 55. c5 Rb7 56. Kc2 (56. h3 Nc6 $15) 56... Bxh2 57. b5 Rxb5 58. Ra7+ {A
slight omission is making the defensive task easier for Black. It seems to be
more exciting to play 58.c6!? right away even though Black would have been
able to cope just fine.} (58. c6 $5 Rb8 59. Ra7+ Ke8 60. Rxg7 Nxc6 61. Rd6 Rb6
62. Kd2 Bg1 63. Rxf6 Bd4 64. Re6+ Kf8 65. Rxh7 Rb2+ $11) 58... Ke8 59. Rxg7 (
59. c6 Nxc6 60. Rxb5 Nd4+ 61. Kd3 Nxb5 62. Rxg7 $11) 59... Bg1 60. Rc7 (60. c6
Nxc6 61. Rxb5 Nd4+ 62. Kd3 Nxb5 63. Kc4 $11) 60... Rb4 {The elimination of the
majority of the pawns is not far away. The battle never left the territory of
approximate equality.} 61. c6 Bb6 62. Rxh7 (62. Rc8+ Ke7 63. c7 Rc4+ $17) 62...
Rxe4 63. Rh4 Rxh4 {Topalov has no reason to complicate his defensive tasks by
avoiding exchanges.} (63... Re2+ 64. Kd1 Rb2 65. Rh8+ Ke7 66. Rh7+ Ke6 67. Rc5
Rb3 68. c7 Bxc7 69. Rhxc7 Rxg3 $11) 64. gxh4 Nxc6 65. Rd6 Nb4+ 66. Kb3 Bc5 (
66... Bc5 67. Rxf6 Be7 68. Rf5 Nc6 69. Rf4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. e3
$5 {I must confess it comes as a surprise that this is so effective.} ({
In my English trilogy I recommended} 8. d3 h6 (8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Nd4 10. Nxd4
Bxd4 11. e3 Bb6 12. a4 a5 13. Bd2 {leads to slightly more pleasant play for
White, for instance} Bd7 14. Qc2 c6 15. Qb3 Rb8 16. f4 {Reinderman,D (2601)
-Rublevsky,S (2678) Aix-les-Bains 2011 (1-0, 43)}) 9. e3 a6 ({Or if} 9... a5
10. b3 Ba7 {the a5-pawn slows down the attack based on b3-b4, but weakens the
b5-square, justifying} 11. Nc3 $5) 10. b3 Ba7 (10... Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. d4
$14) 11. Nxf6+ $1 ({But now the threat of taking on d5 was real:} 11. Bb2 $6
Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7) 11... Qxf6 12. Bb2 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Bc3 {White's
queenside attack will develop naturally while for Black it is not easy to take
advantage of the pin, since the queen is blocking the f-pawn.} Qe7 {This
releases the pressure, simplifying White's play.} ({But even after something
like} 14... Rae8 15. b4 Nd8 16. Rc1 Ne6 17. c5 {White's position is more
pleasant.}) (14... a5 15. a3) 15. b4 f5 16. Qb3 {The start of a smart
regrouping aimed at taking the steam out of Black's attack.} Kh8 17. Qb2 Nd8
18. Rae1 Ne6 19. Nd2 c6 20. Kh2 Rad8 21. f4 Bb8 22. Nf3 $14 {Rogozenco,D (2576)
-Wells,P (2476) Germany 1999 (1-0, 32). There is no black attack left and
White's pieces are better placed while his structure is more flexible.}) 8...
a6 9. b3 {A rare move.} (9. d3 {is more popular. In principle it leads to the
same type of positions as after 8.d3, with the difference that Black has saved
on the tempo ...h7-h6. One recent high level example is} Ba7 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.
Bd2 Qg6 12. Bc3 {Grischuk,A (2785)-Adams,M (2752) Warsaw 2013 CBM 158 [Adams,M]
(1/2-1/2, 48). From Adams' comments it can be inferred that the position is
roughly equal but just more pleasnt for White.}) 9... Ba7 10. Bb2 Nxd5 {
There were no reasons to refrain from this exchange, allthough it will appear
that White is well prepared against it.} (10... h6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $14) (
10... Be6 11. Ng5 Bxd5 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Qb1 h6 14. a3 hxg5 15. axb4 $14) 11.
cxd5 Ne7 12. Nh4 $5 {This is the move which gives meaning to the whole plan.
Since ...g7-g5 is risky in most of the cases, the knight clears the path for
the f-pawn in the most active way.} ({With the bishop on a7} 12. d4 {is
pointless due to} e4) 12... f5 $146 ({The game introducing the whole plan,
played just three days earlier (!) proves how dangerous White's attack could
be:} 12... c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 (13... bxc6 14. Rc1 {[%cal Gd2d4,Gf2f4]}) 14. f4
exf4 (14... d5 15. fxe5 d4 16. Qe2 dxe3 17. dxe3 Qg5 18. Rae1 $36 {[%csl Ga8,
Gb7,Gc8]}) 15. Rxf4 d5 16. Qh5 Bb8 (16... Be6 17. Raf1 $40) 17. Rf2 d4 18. Be4
h6 19. Raf1 Be6 20. Nf5 $18 {Swiercz,D (2613)-Balogh,C (2648) Budapest 2014 
(1-0, 36)}) (12... g5 13. Nf3 f6 14. Ne1 $14 {[%cal Gd2d4,Gf2f4]}) 13. f4 $6 {
Too straightforward.} ({It would have made sense to develop before starting
concrete action.} 13. Rc1 {We will see that the rook can prove useful here.} g5
(13... Bb6 {[%csl Gc7]} 14. f4 e4 15. g4 Nxd5 16. Nxf5 Bxf5 17. gxf5 Qe7 18.
Rc4 $1 {This is the moment when the rook's previous development is essential!})
14. Nf3 h6 (14... Nxd5 15. Nxg5 Nf6 16. d4 $36) (14... Ng6 15. Qc2 Rf7 16. d4
e4 17. Nd2 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Gf2f3,Gg3g4]}) 15. Qc2 Bb6 (15... c6 16. dxc6 Nxc6
17. Nxe5 $3 Nxe5 (17... dxe5 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qxc6) 18. f4 $36) 16. Qc4 {
This is the square for the knight, but White needs to defend d5 before playing
d3 and Nd2.} Kh7 17. d3 Bd7 18. Nd2 $14 {[%csl Gb6][%cal Gc4c2,Gd2c4,Gf2f4]})
13... e4 14. g4 Nxd5 15. Nxf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 Qe7 17. Kh1 Nf6 {Black has no
special reasons to complain, but the position remains tense.} 18. d3 {I would
not create myself a weakness so easily.} ({The hypermodern approach, ignoring
the centre, would be} 18. Rg1 d5 19. Bf1 c6 20. Qe1 $13) 18... c6 (18... Bxe3
19. dxe4 $14) 19. dxe4 (19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. dxe4 Bxe3 $15) 19... Nxe4 20. Qc2
Rae8 $15 {/=} 21. Rg1 Nf6 (21... Rxf5 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rxg7+ Kf8
25. Rxb7 Bxe3 26. Re1 $44) 22. Rae1 Qf7 (22... d5 23. Be5 $11) 23. e4 $2 (23.
Qd2 {looks OK for White.}) 23... d5 $1 (23... Bxg1 24. Rxg1 $44) 24. Bxf6 (24.
e5 Ng4 25. Rgf1 Qxf5 $17) 24... Bxg1 25. Be5 Ba7 26. exd5 cxd5 $17 {White does
not have enough compensation for the exchange.} 27. Qd3 Rd8 28. Rc1 Rd7 29. Bh3
Re7 30. Qg3 Kh8 31. Rc2 Bb8 32. Bg4 d4 33. Kg1 d3 34. Rd2 Qd5 35. Rxd3 Ba7+ 36.
Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qe4+ 38. Kd1 Bb8 39. Qf3 Qxf3+ 40. Bxf3 Bxe5 41. fxe5 Rxe5 42.
Bxb7 Rexf5 43. a4 a5 44. h3 Rf2 45. Ba6 g5 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Bg5 (7. Nbd2 {
is another main line.}) 7... h6 8. Bh4 Bf8 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Re1 ({Three years ago
} 10. d4 {was tried by Carlsen} exd4 11. Nxd4 (11. cxd4 $6 {is dubious as after
} g5 {the Pe4 is hanging.}) 11... Bd7 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bd3 Be7 14. f4 Qb8 15.
Bxf6 Bxf6 16. e5 $5 dxe5 17. Ne4 {with a complicated position, Carlsen-Howell,
London 2011.}) 10... Bd7 11. a4 $146 {A novelty by Topalov. This is a very
typical move in the Ruy Lopez. White simply protects his Bb5, also he avoids ..
.a6 followed by ...b5 and sometimes he can gain some space with a5.} (11. Ba4
Be7 12. Nf1 Nh7 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Bb3 Ng6 15. Ng3 Ng5 16. Nf5 Qf6 $11 {with an
equal middlegame, Gruenfeld-Roiz, Acre 2013.}) 11... g6 12. Nf1 {White
continues his plan, he prepares for Ne3-d5. Now the bishop on h4 is very
useful.} Bg7 13. Ne3 Qc8 {Black steps out of the pin, because Nd5 was already
an unpleasant threat.} 14. a5 a6 15. Bc4 Nd8 {A typical manoeuvre; the
c6-knight wasn't so useful, so Black prepares ...Ne6 followed by ...Nf4.} 16.
b4 Ne6 17. Qb3 {White has gained some space on the queenside and his pieces
are well-placed. However, Black is solid and it is not so easy to create any
weaknesses in his position.} Bb5 {A logical decision; Black frees the
d7-square for his queen.} 18. Bxf6 ({After} 18. Bxb5 axb5 19. h3 Nh5 {the Bb4
is a little bit out of play.}) 18... Bxf6 19. g3 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Qd7 21. d4 {
Topalov doesn't want to waste any time, he gets active in the centre and
changes the structure.} ({In the event of} 21. h4 c6 {we have a balanced
middlegame.}) 21... exd4 22. cxd4 Qb5 {Black would like to exchange queens,
because after that the Bf6 would be stronger on the long diagonal.} 23. Rac1
Bg7 $2 {An unexpected error; Black leaves his c7-pawn unprotected.} ({In the
event of} 23... c5 24. e5 $1) (23... Qxc4 24. Rxc4 Bd8 {looks very passive,
but it was important to protect the c7-pawn.}) 24. h4 $2 {Another surprise.
White doesn't take the pawn and instead plays a positional move.} (24. d5 $1 {
was correct} Qxc4 25. Rxc4 Ng5 26. Nxg5 hxg5 27. Rxc7 Rxe4 28. Rxb7 Bc3 29. Rb1
$16) ({or} 24. Qxb5 $1 axb5 25. d5 Ng5 26. Nxg5 hxg5 27. Rxc7 Rxe4 28. Nc2 $16)
24... c5 $1 25. bxc5 dxc5 26. dxc5 Rac8 27. Qxb5 axb5 28. Nd5 Ra8 (28... Rxc5 {
was also possible} 29. Nd2 Ra8 30. Nb3 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 {with an equal endgame.})
29. e5 Rxa5 30. Nf6+ Bxf6 31. exf6 {After the exchange of White's knight
against Black's bishop the position has become completely drawish.} Raa8 32.
Rb1 Nxc5 33. Rxe8+ Rxe8 34. Rxb5 Nd7 35. Rxb7 Nxf6 36. Rb2 h5 37. Kf1 Kg7 38.
Re2 Rxe2 39. Kxe2 Kf8 40. Kf1 Ke7 41. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

{It may seem strange that in my day by day comments for chessbase.com I have
put the Leningrad Dutch into the same category as the Berlin and the Petroff
defences. The Dutch is highly non-symmetrical and has been traditionally
considered a good weapon to play for a win by asccepting high positional risks.
However, over the past years White has systematically failed to prove an
advantage in the main lines with g2-g3, so players like Kramnik and Aronian
have started experimenting with rare and unexplored systems of developing.
Besides, the description "wall" surely applies to the structure Black is
aiming for, maybe to a higher extent than in the aforementioned openings. On
basis of all these considerations, I hope you will welcome the Leningrad Dutch
into the group of wall-defences.} 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 {Topalov also
deviates from the main lines.} e6 $5 {Not really switching to another system.
The positional threat of ...Bb4 as well as the possibility to switch to the
Stonewall later induces the next move after which Black will be ready to
continue his Leningrad style development.} 4. a3 (4. e3 {is surely playable,
but Topalov wanted his bishop to go to f4.} Bb4 (4... d5 5. Bd3 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6
7. f3 O-O 8. Nge2 Qc7 9. cxd5 $1 {Kortschnoj,V (2625)-Nikolic,P (2635)
Sarajevo 1998 CBM 066 [Tyomkin,D] (1-0, 49)}) 5. Nge2 O-O 6. a3 Be7 7. g3 d5 {
1/2-1/2 (27) Morovic Fernandez,I (2551)-Rodriguez Vila,A (2479) Santos 2003
CBM 095 [Roiz,M]}) ({As for} 4. Bf4 {it seems that it allows} Bb4 {in optimal
form, since the consolidating Nge2 is not available yet.} 5. Rc1 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7
7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Ne4 $132 9. h4 $5 d6 10. Ng5 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxg5 (11... Qe7 $5
) 12. Bxg5 (12. hxg5 $5 Bxg2 13. Rh2 $44 {White has all kind of positional
threats such as d4-d5, c4-c5 or doubling along the h-file. The bishop has to
retreat to either e4 or c6, which are both vulnerable squares, since} Bb7 $2
14. Bf3 $1 $16 {would speed up White's queen's transfer to h3 or h5.}) 12...
Qe8 13. Bh5 Qd7 14. d5 Na6 $15 {Ipatov,A (2454)-Narciso Dublan,M (2553)
Badalona 2009 (0-1, 34)}) 4... g6 {At GM level a novelty. It had been played
in a few games between low rated players.} (4... d5 {does not seem entirely
logical, as White has not obstructed his c1-bishop yet.} 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 $14 {
Mihailovs,J (2405)-Moskalenko,V (2565) Barcelona 2010 (1/2-1/2, 34)}) 5. Bf4
$146 {Reminiscent of Aronian-Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2014.} Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3
d6 8. Be2 {I would rate that the first opening duel has yielded Black some
success. At the moment, the move ...e7-e6 is more useful than a2-a3. It
prevents a central blockade based on d4-d5 and allows the queen's development
to e7.} h6 {The plan introduced by this move loses time and results in the
weakening of the light squares.} ({I would prefer} 8... Nc6 9. Qc2 Qe7 {
, preparing either ...e6-e5 or ...Nd8-f7.}) ({Or if Black wanted to develop
his queen's bishop to b7, he should have done it without weakening the f5-pawn
anyway:} 8... b6 9. O-O Bb7) 9. h3 g5 $2 {The illusion of playing against the
f4-bishop proves too strong.} ({In principle, ...h7-h6 may be useful by
preventing Nf3-g5, so it was not late for Black to switch back to a better
plan:} 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 b6) 10. Bh2 Nbd7 ({The same plan as above does not
work out so well now:} 10... Qe7 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. d5 Nd8 13. Bd3 {and f5 is
hard to defend.}) 11. Qc2 b6 12. Rd1 Kh8 13. b4 Bb7 14. d5 $1 {After the
bishop has emerged on b7, this is just natural. For the time being, Black has
indirect ways of defending the f5-pawn, but these are only temporary solutions
while the core of the problem will persist.} e5 $5 15. Nd2 (15. Qxf5 $6 {
does not work out well due to:} Nxd5 16. Qc2 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 e4 18. Nd4 c5) 15...
c6 $6 {There was no need to weaken the d6-pawn so soon. True, the bishop is
temporarily passive on b7, but could be recycled with a later ...Bb7-c8.} ({
The neutral} 15... a5 {is an important alternative.}) ({I would mainly consider
} 15... f4 {, removing the problems with the hanging pawn and giving the
h2-bishop a hard time. The computer is quite sceptical about my idea, but
engines tend to underestimate the importance of cutting such bishops off-play.
I would surely not castle in this position despite Houdini's optimism. Most
likely, White would have to switch to King's Indian play with} 16. e4 Qe7 17.
f3 h5 18. Bg1 Bh6 19. Bf2 Kg7 20. Nb3 $16 {White's queenside attack is more
realistic than Black's kingside counterplay, which would mainly weaken his own
king.}) 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. O-O Rc8 ({Due to the weaknesses along the d-file, it
is too late for} 17... f4 18. Nde4 {already.}) 18. Qxf5 $1 {Just like in the
game Leko-Wang, White destroys the wall with a positional queen sacrifice.} Ne4
19. Qxf8+ $1 Bxf8 20. Ndxe4 Qc7 21. Rd2 Kg7 22. Rfd1 {As I mentioned on my
Leningrad Dutch DVD, when things go wrong for Black in this opening, they can
really spoil your day. Soon there will be only ruins left out of the black
wall.} Nf6 23. Nxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Qe7 25. Bg3 Be8 26. Rxf6 $5 {Not really
necessary, but strong enough and rather typical for Topalov, who likes playing
with minor pieces against major pieces.} (26. b5 $16 {[%cal Ga3a4]}) 26... Qxf6
27. Ne4 Qg6 $8 (27... Qe7 28. Nd6 {[%cal Gd6c8,Gd6f5]}) 28. Nd6 Ba4 (28... Rd8
29. Nf5+ Qxf5 30. Rxd8 $16) (28... Ra8 29. Bf3 Qc2 $8 30. Bxe5+ Kf8 31. Nf5 $40
) 29. Rd5 Qb1+ {The queen's activity is very sterile, since White dominates
the centre and has no weaknesses.} 30. Kh2 Rf8 31. c5 Bb3 32. Rxe5 {Materially
speaking the position is balanced (two minor pieces and three pawns for the
queen) but the exposure of the black king is decisive.} Qc2 33. Bf3 Rxf3 {
The bishops were getting too strong. However, this return sacrifice does not
save the game.} 34. gxf3 bxc5 35. bxc5 Ba4 36. Nf5+ Kg6 37. c6 h5 38. Nd4 Qc4
39. h4 gxh4 40. Bxh4 a5 41. Re6+ Kf7 42. Re7+ Kg6 43. c7 {[%csl Rg6][%cal
Gf3f7]} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Romania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ROU"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5
O-O 9. Qd2 Nxc5 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 b6 12. h4 Qc7 13. Kb1 f6 14. Qg3 f5 15.
Nd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bb7 17. Qf3 Rf7 18. g4 fxg4 19. Qxg4 Raf8 20. Rg1 b5 21. Ne2
Bc8 22. h5 b4 23. Bh3 Ne4 24. Qg2 Bc5 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. Qg3 a5 27. Qe3 Ne4 28.
Bg2 Nc5 29. Rd4 Na4 30. Nc1 Qb6 31. Re1 Nc5 32. b3 Nb7 33. Ne2 Nd8 34. Bh3 Nc6
35. Rd3 Qxe3 36. Rxe3 Re7 37. Rd1 Bd7 38. c4 bxc3 39. Rxc3 Rb8 40. a3 Rb6 41.
Kb2 Kf8 42. Rc5 Be8 43. Bg4 Reb7 44. Rd3 Ke7 45. Rdc3 Bd7 46. Rg3 Kf8 47. Bh3
Ra7 48. Rgc3 Ke7 49. f5 Nxe5 50. fxe6 Bxe6 51. Bxe6 Kxe6 52. Nf4+ Kf7 53. Rxd5
Nd7 54. a4 Nf6 55. Rdc5 Rbb7 56. Ka3 Rd7 57. Rb5 Rd4 58. Rf3 Ke7 59. Re3+ Kd6
60. Rf5 h6 61. Re6+ Kd7 62. Ree5 Kd6 63. Rb5 Kc6 64. Ne6 Rd5 65. Rbxd5 Nxd5 66.
Nd4+ Kc5 67. Nb5 Rd7 68. Nc3 Kd4 69. Rxd5+ Rxd5 70. Nxd5 Kxd5 71. b4 Kd4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.06"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Qd3 Nb6 ({
Another option is} 7... c6 8. O-O b6 9. b3 a5 (9... Ba6 {is more principled})
10. e4 Ba6 11. e5 Ne8 12. h4 h6 13. Rd1 b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Ne2 {and White
got a clear plus in the recent game Kramnik-Baramidze, Dortmund 2014.}) 8. c5 (
8. b3 {is less ambitious:} dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 {and Black is fine.}) 8... Nbd7 9.
O-O c6 (9... b6 {is risky but a very direct move:} 10. c6 (10. b4 {doesn't
work here} a5 11. c6 axb4 $1 12. cxd7 Ba6 13. Nb5 c6) 10... Nb8 11. Ne5 {
with sharp play but probably in White's favour.}) 10. b4 b6 (10... e5 {is a
logical attempt to free the position, but White is better due to a nasty trick:
} 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 g5 13. Nxg5 $1 Bxg5 14. Qf5 Bxf4 15. Qxg4+ Bg5 16. h4
$16) 11. Bf4 a5 12. a3 (12. b5 Bb7 13. cxb6 Qxb6 $11) 12... Ba6 13. Qc2 {
So we get a typical Queen's Gambit position with the difference that the white
bishop is developed on g2. Due to this Black can't exchange the light-squared
bishops and is suffering more than usual.} Nh5 14. Bd2 Nhf6 15. Bf4 {Not a
plan to draw early of course, just trying to avoid future time trouble and to
tease my loveable opponent a little.} Nh5 16. Bd2 Nhf6 17. Rfe1 $1 {Don't even
dream about it!} Bc4 {Trying to get ready to manoeuvre this bishop to d5 after
the (premature at the moment) move e4.} 18. Bf4 {Now Nd2 is on the agenda,
followed by e4.} (18. e4 {leads to a draw after} dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxc4
Nxd2 21. Nxd2 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 bxc5 24. bxc5 Nxc5 $11) 18... Nh5 19.
Be3 Nhf6 20. Bf4 Nh5 21. Be3 {I checked my scoresheet carefully to make sure
there was no threefold repetition.} Nhf6 22. h3 $1 {I have told you already!}
h6 (22... Re8 {was another way to slightly improve the position. In general
Black can't do much here, just to try to get ready to meet the actions of the
opponent accordingly.}) 23. Nd2 Ba6 24. f4 {That was the idea behind 22.h3
which covered the g4-square to stop ...Ng4. Now the plan is Bf2 and e4 and
good or bad Black has to do something about it.} bxc5 25. bxc5 Nxc5 {This
tactical operation changes the (unfavourable) character of the position but
doesn't bring full relief.} 26. dxc5 d4 27. Bf2 dxc3 28. Qxc3 (28. Nf3 {
is what the computer prefers, but too delicate for me, especially since I saw
that the forthcoming complications are in favour of White.}) 28... Nd5 (28...
Qc7 $142 {strangely enough Houdini gives just a tiny plus for White here,
although visually he should be better in my opinion.} 29. Rab1 $14) 29. Qc2 Bf6
30. e4 $1 {An important and powerful resource which probably made my opponent
regret his decision of two moves ago.} Bxa1 31. exd5 $16 Qf6 (31... Bf6 32. d6
$1 (32. dxe6 {is not bad either but I somehow prefer my protected passed pawn
on the sixth rank.}) 32... Qd7 33. Nf3 Rab8 34. Bd4 {that was my plan during
the game. Black has difficulties defending the key c6-pawn plus his bishop is
out of play in addition to all other problems of his position.}) 32. d6 $1 {
Most ambitious.} (32. dxe6 {is the computer's first choice, but again I had 
(justified) plans to queen my d-pawn...} Bd4 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Ne4 Qd8 35. Nd6
$16) 32... Qc3 (32... Bd4 {is sad, although possibly objectively best} 33. Nb3
({or} 33. Nf3 Bxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rab8 35. Ne5 g5 36. Kg1) 33... Bxf2+ 34. Qxf2 Qc3
35. Qe3 Qc2 36. Rc1 Qa2 37. Nd4 $16) 33. Qd1 Bb2 34. Bxc6 {Tasty one.} Rad8 (
34... Rab8 {I expected this logical move (after all the rooks belong on the
open files, but the computer is not impressed with it either, giving the
following logical variation:} 35. Nb1 Qf6 36. Bg2 e5 37. Nd2 exf4 38. Ne4 Qg6
39. c6 {one of many other good options} Be5 40. Bc5 fxg3 41. d7 {and time to
call it a day.}) 35. Nb1 $1 {Not the best square for a knight in general, but
with such passed pawns White just needs to stop possible counterplay (tricks)
of the opponent. And mine is very tricky and resourceful - I experienced that
already long ago, in Elista 2006...} Qf6 36. Qd2 $18 Rb8 37. Be4 (37. d7 {
is simpler, but everything does it already, just not to blunder} e5 38. Bd5)
37... e5 38. Nc3 $1 Qe6 (38... Bxc3 39. Qxc3 exf4 40. Qxf6 gxf6 41. c6 {
and Black will be lucky if he manages to give a full rook for those pawns...})
39. Nd5 {Now, when the knight is on d5 instead of b1, it is hard to spoil it.}
Qxh3 40. Bg2 Qh5 41. d7 ({or} 41. c6) 41... exf4 42. Qxf4 Bxa3 (42... Bb5 43.
c6 Rbd8 44. Ne7+ Kh7 45. c7 Bxd7 46. cxd8=Q Rxd8 47. Qc7 {winning another
piece even if just one would be enough}) 43. Qxb8 {For the first time in the
game I had to calculate some 5 plus moves ahead. Just a dream scenario for a
pensioner like me...} Rxb8 44. Re8+ Kh7 45. Rxb8 Qd1+ 46. Kh2 Qh5+ 47. Bh3 {
No mercy.} Qf3 (47... Bf1 48. Nf4 Qf3 49. d8=Q {is what was planned} (49. Bf5+
g6 50. Bd4 {is even more humiliating}) 49... Qxf2+ 50. Bg2 {and mate follows.})
48. d8=Q Qxf2+ 49. Bg2 {A well played game by me, even if not very difficult.
Still, a rare case with me lately, so I am glad to present it to the public.}
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.08"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Serbia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. a4 a5 8. d3
Be7 9. Be3 Be6 10. Bxb6 cxb6 11. O-O O-O 12. e3 Rc8 13. Nb5 Bf6 14. Rc1 Re8 15.
Nd2 Re7 16. Ne4 Rd7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. d4 exd4 19. exd4 g6 20. Rc3 Qf5 21. Re1
Rcd8 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxc6 Bd5 24. Rc3 Bb7 25. Qc1 Qd5 26. f3 Ba6 27. Re4 Bxb5
28. axb5 Qxb5 29. Rc8 Qf5 30. Qc6 Rxc8 31. Qxc8+ Kg7 32. Kg2 Rd6 33. Qc7 Qd5
34. Rf4 Rd7 35. Qxb6 Rb7 36. Qf6+ Kg8 37. Kh3 Rxb2 38. Qe5 Qxe5 39. dxe5 Re2
40. Rf6 Rxe5 41. g4 Re6 42. Rf4 Kf8 43. Ra4 Ra6 44. Kg3 Ke7 45. Kf4 Kd6 46. Kg5
Ra7 47. Kh6 f6 48. h4 Kc5 49. h5 gxh5 50. gxh5 Kb5 51. Ra1 a4 52. f4 a3 53. f5
a2 54. Rc1 a1=Q 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.09"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. Nbd2 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd3 a5 11. O-O a4 12. Qc2 h6 13. bxa4 Qa5 14. cxd5 Nxd5
15. Rfc1 Qxa4 16. Qxa4 Rxa4 17. Bc4 Bd7 18. Bb3 Raa8 19. Ne4 Ra5 20. Bd4 Rfa8
21. Bc5 Kf8 22. Rc4 Nf6 23. Nxf6 gxf6 24. Bxe7+ Kxe7 25. Rac1 e5 26. Rb4 Rb5
27. Rh4 Be6 28. Bxe6 fxe6 29. a4 Rba5 30. Rxh6 Rxa4 31. Rh7+ Kd6 32. Rd1+ Kc5
33. h4 Ra1 34. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 35. Kh2 Kd6 36. Rh8 f5 37. h5 e4 38. h6 Ke5 39. h7
Ra7 40. Kh3 Rf7 41. Kh4 Kf6 42. Kh5 Kg7 43. Re8 Kxh7 44. Rxe6 Rc7 45. g4 fxg4
46. Kxg4 c5 47. Rxe4 c4 48. Kg5 c3 49. Rh4+ Kg7 50. Rh1 Rf7 51. Rc1 Rxf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.10"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. f3 {Control over the central e4-square is
extremely important in this line, but the text move looks rather risky, as
Black gets some development advantage and may disturb White's king.} ({There
is a recent example where a young Russian GM was able to claim something of an
edge:} 11. cxd5 $5 exd5 12. Bd3 Qe7 13. Qb3 Nxg4 (13... a5 $5) 14. Nxd5 cxd5
15. Bxb4 Qh4 16. Qc2 Nxe3 17. Qc7 Qf4 18. Rc1 Qxc7 19. Rxc7 $14 {1-0 Dubov,D 
(2614)-Ragger,M (2632)/Dubai UAE 2014 (32)}) 11... dxc4 {Topalov prefers to
keep a dynamic situation in the centre.} (11... Qc7 $5 {deserves serious
attention too:} 12. Kf2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 O-O-O $132) 12. Bxc4 Nd5 13. Qb3 (13. e4
N5b6 14. Bb3 c5 15. a3 Ba5 $132) 13... a5 (13... Qh4+ 14. Ke2 a5 15. a3 a4 16.
Qc2 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $132) 14. Kf2 $6 $146 {An unsuccessful innovation by
Ivanchuk. The king cannot be safe when Black can attack the centre by means of
c6-c5 or e6-e5.} ({In the preceding games Black didn't experience problems
either:} 14. a3 a4 15. Qc2 Ba5 16. Kf2 Qh4+ 17. Kg2 Bc7 $132 {1/2-1/2 Fridman,
D (2652)-Balogh,C (2662)/Germany 2011/CBM 146 (65)}) (14. O-O-O $6 a4 15. Qc2
a3 $15 {1/2-1/2 Kveinys,A (2506)-Hansen,S (2603)/Reykjavik 2011/CBM 141 Extra 
(25)}) 14... N7b6 $1 15. Bd3 (15. a3 a4 16. Qa2 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 Bd6 $15) 15... e5
$36 {White's position is already quite unpleasant.} (15... a4 $5 16. Qc2 a3 17.
Nxd5 Nxd5 18. e4 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Ne7 $15) 16. Nxd5 {Exchanging one pair of
bishops is in Black's favour, but White could hardly avoid it.} ({The
alternatives were not attractive:} 16. h4 exd4 17. exd4 a4 18. Qc2 Be7 19. Nxd5
Bxh4+ 20. Kg2 Nxd5 $15) (16. a3 a4 17. Qc2 exd4 18. exd4 Qh4+ 19. Kg2 Bd6 20.
Rae1+ Kf8 $15) 16... Nxd5 17. Bxb4 Qh4+ $1 {An important intermediate check.} (
{After} 17... axb4 18. Bc4 exd4 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 dxe3+ 21. Kxe3 cxd5 22.
Kd4 {White should be OK in this rook ending.}) 18. Ke2 axb4 {White has to
release the tension in the centre before Black castles.} 19. Bc4 (19. Be4 Nf6
20. d5 cxd5 21. Bxd5 O-O 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Bxb7 Rd7 24. Bc6 Rc7 $36) 19...
O-O-O 20. dxe5 ({The following simplifications didn't help much:} 20. Bxd5 Rxd5
21. e4 Rxd4 22. Qxf7 Qg5 23. Rad1 Rhd8 $36) 20... Qg3 21. Rag1 Qxe5 {The king
is still under attack.} 22. Kf2 $6 {A critical loss of tempo.} ({Vassily had
to simplify the position at any cost:} 22. Bxd5 Rxd5 23. Rd1 Rxd1 24. Kxd1 Qd6+
25. Kc2 Rd8 $15) 22... Nb6 $1 {Now Black's attacking potential is threatening
- there are a couple of dangerous threats.} 23. Bd3 $6 {This should be a
decisive mistake, but...} ({White's position was already very difficult, but
after} 23. Re1 Nxc4 24. Qxc4 Rd2+ 25. Re2 Rxb2 (25... Qxb2 26. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 27.
Kg3 Qd6+ $17) 26. Rxb2 Qxb2+ 27. Kg3 Qe5+ $17) ({Or} 23. f4 Rd2+ 24. Kf3 Qe7
25. Bxf7 Nd5 26. Bxg6 (26. Bxd5 cxd5 $19 {[%cal Ge7e4]}) 26... Rxb2 27. Qd3
Rxa2 $17 {it was possible to fight for a draw.}) 23... Rhe8 $6 {Surprisingly
enough, Veselin misses a golden opportunity to win a pawn.} (23... Na4 $142 $1
24. f4 (24. Qxa4 Rxd3 25. Qa8+ Kc7 26. Qxh8 Rd2+ 27. Kf1 Qb5+ 28. Ke1 Qe2#)
24... Qxb2+ 25. Qxb2 Nxb2 26. Be2 Rd2 27. Kf3 Kc7 $19) 24. Re1 {Now White is
not losing on the spot.} Qd6 $6 {One more step in the wrong direction - The
queen was well placed in the centre.} (24... f5 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. f4 Qf6 $17)
25. Be4 $6 ({Better was} 25. Bc4 $1 {was better:} Nxc4 26. Qxc4 f6 27. Re2 $15)
25... Nd7 26. Qc4 Nf6 (26... Ne5 $5 27. Qc2 Qe6 28. b3 Nd7 $36) 27. Bc2 Qe7 28.
Re2 Rd2 $1 {Finally Black has made some progress.} (28... Nd5 29. Be4 $15) 29.
Qb3 Red8 {Obviously, White is under srong pressure, and Vassily errs again.} (
29... Qd6 $5 30. Qc4 Qe5 31. Qb3 Rxe2+ 32. Kxe2 Nd5 33. Be4 Nc7 $17 {[%cal
Gf7f5]}) 30. Rhe1 $2 (30. a3 $142 bxa3 31. Qxa3 Qe5 $17) 30... Nh7 $2 {Once
again, Topalov fails to find a concrete way to win the pawn!} (30... Rxe2+ 31.
Rxe2 Nd5 32. Kf1 Qh4 33. Rh2 Qg3 $19) 31. Kg3 Ng5 ({Of course, it's not easy
to go back from a psychological point of view:} 31... Nf6 32. f4 g5 $15) 32.
Qc4 Ne6 33. f4 {Now the king is more or less protected.} Nc5 (33... Kb8 $5) 34.
Bb1 Rxe2 35. Qxe2 Ne4+ {White's task is becoming easier after the exchange of
minor pieces.} (35... Kc7 $5 36. b3 g5 $15) 36. Bxe4 Qxe4 37. Kf2 $15 {It
looks like White should be able to hold this position with precise play.} g5
38. fxg5 Qe5 {Black is better now due to a preferable pawn structure and the
activity of his major pieces.} 39. Kg2 Qxg5 40. b3 Qe5 $6 ({It was possible to
pose more problems after} 40... f5 41. Rf1 fxg4 42. hxg4 (42. Qxg4+ Qxg4+ 43.
hxg4 Rd2+ 44. Kf3 Rxa2 45. Ke4 Rb2 $17) 42... Qe7 $15) 41. Qf3 {White manages
to improve his position little by little.} f6 (41... Rd2+ 42. Re2 Rxe2+ 43.
Qxe2 $11) 42. Re2 Qc3 (42... g5 43. Rf2 Rd6 44. Qf5+ Qxf5 45. Rxf5 $11) 43.
Qf5+ Kb8 44. Qc2 $6 {A strange passive move.} ({It was the right moment to
exchange some kingside pawns:} 44. g5 $1 Rd5 45. Qf4+ Ka7 46. gxf6 gxf6 47. Qc4
$11) 44... Kc7 ({White would regret his passive move in the event of} 44... Rd3
$1 45. Qxc3 bxc3 46. Kf3 b5 47. b4 c5 48. a3 c4 $15) 45. Qg6 Rd7 46. g5 Kb6 $6
{One more inaccuracy.} ({After} 46... fxg5 47. Qxg5 Kb6 48. h4 Rd3 $15 {
White is still experiencing some problems with his king.}) 47. gxf6 gxf6 48. h4
$1 $11 {Now the passed h-pawn is an important factor.} Rd1 49. Qe4 Ka7 50. Qf4
c5 51. Qf5 Qc1 {A disappointing result for Veselin!} ({White has finally
equalised:} 51... Qc1 52. Qf2 Qb1 53. e4 Rc1 54. Qe3 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3
e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 h5 {This line is one of the favourite weapons of
Dominguez.} 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 g6 14. Be2 Qc7 15. Rc1 $1 {
A deep move by Topalov. This is more accurate than 15.c4. White avoids 15...
Nb6, because he can answer that with 16.c4 and the b6 N becomes very passive.}
(15. c4 {could have been met by} a5 {.}) 15... Ng8 $5 {At first sight this is
a strange move, but Black prepares for Bh6 to exchange the dark squared B.} ({
Now} 15... a5 $6 {is dubious, as} 16. a4 $1 $14 {and the b5 square is weak.}) (
{Three month previously, Dominguez played} 15... Bg7 16. O-O O-O 17. c4 b6 18.
Na1 Kh7 19. h3 Ng8 20. g4 Qd8 21. gxh5 Qh4 $1 22. hxg6+ fxg6 $44 {with nice
compensation, So-Dominguez Perez, Havana 2014.}) 16. O-O $146 {The first new
move in the game.} (16. c4 Bh6 17. f4 Ne7 (17... exf4 $5 {was also interesting}
18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Qb6 $13 {with an unclear middlegame.}) 18. fxe5 Bxe3 19.
Qxe3 Nxe5 20. O-O Nf5 21. Qd2 (21. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 22. c5 $44) 21... b6 $13 {
and Black was active, Mista-Yilmaz, Germany 2014.}) 16... Ne7 ({After the
logical} 16... Bh6 {White can continue with} 17. f4 $36 {and it isn't so easy
for Black to finish his development.}) 17. Bg5 $1 {This is a provocative move
and White avoids Nf5.} f6 ({In the event of} 17... Bg7 18. Kh1 {and Black has
to weaken his position, otherwise he can't castle.}) 18. Be3 O-O-O $1 {An
unexpected, but a great decision. Suddenly Black castles on the queenside,
which is very rare in this type of Najdorf.} ({In the event of} 18... Bg7 $6
19. c4 b6 (19... O-O 20. c5 $1 $36) 20. c5 $1 {What a brilliant break-through!}
bxc5 21. Nxc5 $1 Nxc5 (21... dxc5 22. d6 $18 {with a decisive attack.}) 22. b4
$36 {and Black is in trouble.}) 19. c4 Nf5 20. Bf2 $1 {A brave decision,
Topalov simply sacrifices an exchange.} Kb8 ({After capture the sacrifice with
} 20... Bh6 21. Qb4 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Kb8 23. Na5 {and White has some compensation
for the exchange.}) 21. Qc3 Bh6 22. Rcd1 Nc5 23. Nd2 (23. Na5 $5 {was an
interesting option,} Be3 (23... Ne3 $2 {is losing, because of the brilliant}
24. b4 $3 Nxd1 25. Rxd1 Nd7 26. c5 $18 {and White has an overwhelming attack!})
(23... Nd4 24. Rfe1 {and White is threatening with b4.}) 24. Bxe3 Nxe3 25. Nc6+
$1 {An important intermediate move!} bxc6 26. Qxe3 $36 {and White has some
initiative.}) 23... Nd4 24. Rfe1 ({Of course} 24. Bxd4 $2 {is bad, as} exd4 25.
Qxd4 $2 Rhe8 $19 {and Black is winning.}) 24... a5 {Black simply prevents b4.}
25. Bf1 f5 ({The engine suggests} 25... Na4 $5 26. Qc1 Nc5 {and it is not so
easy to continue the attack with White.}) 26. Nb3 $1 {A nice move. White has
some space disadvantage, so it is good to exchange Black's unpleasant N.} Ndxb3
27. axb3 e4 $6 {An ambitious reply, but it is not the best.} ({The solid} 27...
Qb6 {was better to avoid b4 and the b3 P is under pressure too.} 28. Ra1 Qb4
29. Qxb4 axb4 30. Bxc5 dxc5 31. Rxe5 Rhe8 $44 {and Black has some compensation
for the P.}) 28. b4 $1 {White immediately grabs the initiative.} axb4 29. Qxb4
Rhe8 (29... exf3 30. gxf3 $16 {is not dangerous for White, his K is safe.}) 30.
fxe4 (30. Qc3 $5 {was also strong.}) 30... fxe4 (30... Rxe4 31. Ra1 $16) 31.
Bd4 e3 $6 {This P will be weaker.} (31... Bg7 32. Be3 Be5 33. Qa3 $1 $16 {
followed by b4 and White is better.}) 32. Qa3 {Prepares for b4.} Re4 33. b4 Na6
34. Be2 $1 $18 {Topalov is playing very strong moves. Now he is threatening
with Bf3. White's position is already winning.} Bg5 35. Bf3 Rxd4 36. Rxd4 Qb6
37. Re4 Qxb4 38. Qxb4 Nxb4 39. h4 Bh6 40. Rd1 (40. Rb1 $18 {was more simple.})
40... Rc8 41. c5 dxc5 42. d6 Nc6 43. Rb1 Rd8 44. Re7 $1 Nxe7 45. dxe7 Re8 46.
Rxb7+ Kc8 47. Bc6 {A great victory by Topalov!} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 (9... Nb6 {is the other main line.}) 10. g5 b4 11. Nd5 (11. Ne2 {
is more popular.}) 11... Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Be7 15. h4 (
15. Rg1 {has also been played} O-O 16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 f5 $1 $13 {with an
unclear middlegame, Leko-Kasparov, Linares 1999.}) 15... O-O ({6 years
previously Topalov had a game with} 15... a5 16. a3 a4 17. Nd2 Rb8 18. axb4
Rxb4 {(Topalov-Ivanchuk, Morelia/Linares 2008)} 19. Qc3 Qb8 20. Qc6 $1 $14 {
and White's position is promising.}) 16. a3 (16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 a4 18. Kb1 f5
$132 {with a double-edged fight, Leko-Kasparov, Bled ol 2002.}) 16... bxa3 $1 (
16... a5 17. axb4 axb4 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Ke2 $1 $14 {Topalov}) 17. Rxa3 a5 18.
Qb5 $1 {The most ambitious reaction.} Qc7 19. Nxa5 Rfb8 (19... Qxc2 $5 {
was an interesting option} 20. O-O Bd8 21. Nc4 (21. Qxd7 Rxa5 22. Qxd6 Qxb2 23.
Rxa5 Bxa5 $11) 21... Rb8 $1 (21... Rxa3 22. bxa3 Qf5 23. Kg2 $1 $14 {and White
is slightly better.}) 22. Qc6 (22. Qxd7 $2 Qxc4 $17) 22... Qf5 23. Qxd6 Rc8
$132 {with a double-edged fight.}) 20. Qc6 Qxc6 $2 {A serious mistake. After
this White will have an unpleasant P in Black's position.} (20... Bd8 $1 {
was the correct answer,} 21. O-O Rxa5 22. Rxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxd7 Bb6 24. Bxb6 Qxb6+
25. Kg2 Qb4 26. Qc7 Rf8 $44 {and Black is not worse.}) 21. dxc6 d5 (21... Rxb2
$2 {does not work, because of} 22. cxd7 Rb1+ 23. Ke2 Rxh1 24. Nc6 $1 $18 {
and White is winning.}) 22. Ra2 Bd8 ({In case of} 22... Rb5 23. cxd7 (23. Bd2
Nf8 24. Ke2 $14) 23... Rbxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. Ke2 d4 26. Rd1 $1 Rd5 27. c3
Rxd7 28. cxd4 exd4 29. Bxd4 $14 {and White is a healthy P up.}) 23. cxd7 Rxa5
24. Rxa5 Bxa5+ 25. Ke2 d4 (25... Rxb2 $2 {is bad, as} 26. Ra1 $18) 26. Bd2 Bd8
27. Kd3 (27. Ra1 {was also strong.}) 27... f6 (27... Rxb2 28. f4 Rb7 29. fxe5
Rxd7 30. Ra1 $16 {and White is better.}) 28. f4 Rxb2 (28... Kf7 29. gxf6 gxf6
30. fxe5 fxe5 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Bg5+ Kxd7 33. Rf8 Bc7 34. Rxb8 Bxb8 35. Ke4 {
should be a winning endgame for White.}) 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Ra1 Rb8 (30... Kf7
31. Ra8 $1 Ke7 32. g6 $1 h6 33. Bxh6 $1 $18) 31. Ke4 ({The pretty} 31. Ra5 $1
$18 {was probably stronger.}) 31... Kf7 32. Kxe5 Rb7 ({In the event of} 32...
Ke7 33. Ra7 Bb6 34. d8=Q+ $1 $18 {with a winning position for White.}) 33. Rf1+
Ke7 34. g6 $1 {A really strong move! White frees the g5 square for his B even
with a P sacrifice too.} Rb5+ (34... hxg6 $2 35. Bg5+ Kxd7 36. Rf7+ $18) 35.
Kxd4 Bb6+ $6 (35... Kxd7 36. gxh7 Rh5 37. Bg5 $1 Rxh7 38. Ke5 $18 {and White
is winning.}) 36. Kc4 Rc5+ 37. Kb3 Kxd7 38. Rf7+ Ke6 39. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.14"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. f3 O-O 10. Be3 Rc8 11. b3 a6 12. Qd3 Nc6 13. O-O Qd8 14. Rfd1 Nd7
15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. Bd4 Bxd4+ 17. Qxd4 e6 18. Rd2 Qa5 19. Nd1 Qg5 20. Ne3 b5 21.
Rf1 h5 22. f4 Qc5 23. e5 dxe5 24. Qxc5 Nxc5 25. fxe5 Ne4 26. Rd7 Rf8 27. Ra7
Nc3 28. Rf3 Ne2+ 29. Kf1 Nc1 30. g4 bxc4 31. bxc4 Nd3 32. gxh5 Nxe5 33. Rg3 f5
34. hxg6 f4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Caruana had a dream tournament at the Sinquefield Open 2014. He won ahead of
Magnus Carlsen with an astonishing three point margin. After seven rounds
Caruana had a perfect score of 7.0/7. This was the first game of the
tournament and hence, it is interesting to see how it all began.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2.
c4 c5 {White can play quietly with g3, Bg2 or he can play the Maroczy
structure with d4. Against whatever White chooses, Black has a good number of
ways to play as well. Hence, the Symmetrical English is one of the richest
openings in chess literature.} 3. Nc3 Nc6 ({Just to give you a glimpse of how
many varied setups are possible, let's consider the move ...d5.} 3... d5 4.
cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 (5. g3 Nc6 {transposes to the game.}) 5... Nb4 (5... Nxc3 6.
dxc3 (6. bxc3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 {And believe it or not, we have transposed to the
Grünfeld Defence.}) 6... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 $14 {is a comfortable endgame for White
in which he scores well.}) 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Ne6 $13 {And out of
the eight opening moves, the black N has made five. But that's how modern
openings work.}) 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 (6. e4 $2 {is no longer any good
as after} Ndb4 $1 $17 {Black is just better.}) (6. d4 {is very strongly met
with} Qa5 $1) 6... Nc7 {In order to set up the Maroczy Bind with ...e5.} (6...
g6 {is another way to play} 7. O-O Bg7 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. d3 O-O {The latest
trend now is to sacrifice the b2-pawn with} 10. Be3 $5 {The game Karpov-Ribli,
Amsterdam, 1980, is one of the classics in this line.}) (6... e5 $2 7. Nxe5 $1
$16) 7. O-O e5 {In the Maroczy Bind structure which is defined by the pawns on
e5 and c5, Black has more space. But White is ahead in development and will
try to break Black's hold on the position with either b4 or f4. In the
meanwhile Black will try to finish his development.} 8. a3 {This move has
become quite popular after Mihail Marin recommended it in his book on the
English Opening. The idea is to pressurise the centre with the intention of
playing b4.} (8. d3 {is the normal way to play this system.} Be7 9. Nd2 {
Now there are two schools of thought here. One is that of the players who do
not mind ruining their structure by allowing Bxc6 and other is for thos who
prevent it by going Bd7. I prefer the former.} (9. Be3 {followed by Rc1 is the
other plan.} O-O 10. Rc1 f5 $5 {A relatively untested idea. But I think Black
is doing fine here.} 11. Na4 b6 12. b4 Nxb4 13. Nxe5 Nbd5 14. Bd2 (14. Nc6 Qd6
15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $11) 14... Bf6 $11) 9... Bd7 $6 {this is a little timid and
unnecessary.} (9... O-O 10. Nc4 f6 11. f4 (11. Bxc6 bxc6 {I cannot believe
that White has an advantage here but it does lead to an imbalanced game,})
11... exf4 12. Bxf4 Kh8 {with an interesting position.}) 10. Nc4 f6 11. f4 b5
12. Ne3 exf4 13. Rxf4 $14 {White's chances have to be preferred here.}) 8...
Rb8 $5 {a very shrewd way to stop White from going b2-b4.} (8... Be7 $6 9. b4
$1 cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 $2 11. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Qxb4
$18 {shows White's idea perfectly.}) 9. d3 {Topalov changes his plans and goes
for normal play.} (9. b4 $2 cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13.
Bxc6+ bxc6 {[%cal Gb8b4] And you notice how the subtle move Ra8-b8 changes
everything!}) (9. Rb1 {is Marin's recommendation.} f6 {defending against b4.}
10. d3 (10. e3 $6 Bf5 $1) 10... Be7 11. Be3 Be6 $1 {A move which Marin does
not cover.} (11... O-O $6 {allows White to play b4.} 12. b4 $1 cxb4 13. axb4
$36) 12. Nd2 (12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 {[%csl Ra7]} Bxb4 $15 {There are no tactics
for White here.}) 12... Qd7 {Black is already very comfortable. In a top level
game between Ding and Nepomniachtchi, White played} 13. b4 cxb4 14. axb4 O-O (
14... Bxb4 $2 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Bxa7 $14) 15. b5 Nd4 $15 {Black is already
pushing for an advantage.}) 9... Be7 10. Be3 (10. Nd2 {As we already know, the
knight is going to c4 and then White will go f4.} O-O 11. Nc4 Be6 $1 {The key
difference because of the inclusion of a3 and Rb8.} (11... f6 $6 12. f4 (12.
Bxc6 bxc6 {is one of the ideas in this opening. But here the inclusion of the
moves a3 and Rb8 seems to favour Black as his rook is on the open file.}) 12...
exf4 13. Bxf4 $14 {[%cal Gf4b8] and this pin can be quite irritating.}) 12.
Bxc6 Bxc4 {b7 is no longer hanging.} (12... bxc6 13. Nxe5 $14) 13. Bxb7 Bxd3
14. Bg2 Bg6 $11) 10... O-O 11. Rc1 Bd7 (11... b6 $6 {with the idea of ...Bb7
is met with} 12. b4 $1 cxb4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Qa4 Bb7 (14... b5 15. Nxb5 Rxb5
16. Rxc6 $14) 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxb4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 $14) (11... Be6 $5 {was an
interesting way to continue.} 12. Ne4 b6 13. b4 (13. Nfg5 Bg4 14. h3 Bd7 {
Black is fine.}) 13... f5 14. Neg5 Bd5 15. bxc5 h6 16. Nh3 Ne6 17. cxb6 axb6
$44) 12. Nd2 (12. Ne4 {Only a month previously Nisipeanu had played this. And
this looks like a much more coherent way to play.} b6 13. b4 cxb4 14. axb4 Nb5
$1 {As played by Gabor Nagy is the best.} (14... Bxb4 $6 {This can be a good
point to stop and think - why did White sacrifice his b4 pawn?} 15. d4 $1 {
Precisely so! A superb central break which leaves Black in trouble.} exd4 (
15... Nd5 16. Bg5 f6 17. dxe5 $18) 16. Nxd4 Ne7 (16... Nxd4 17. Qxd4 $16) 17.
Nc2 Ba5 18. Bf4 $16) 15. Rc4 {And now instead of Rc8 as in the game, f6 is
strong with a fine position for Black.} f6 $11) 12... Nd4 $1 $11 {Black has
finished his development without any major catastrophe happening. Caruana's
opening play has been successful.} 13. Nc4 f6 14. f4 {The only way to create
counterplay in this position.} exf4 (14... b5 15. Na5 {with the knight looking
towards squares like b7 and c6, White has some pressure.}) 15. Bxf4 Nde6 (15...
b5 16. Na5 $14) 16. Bd2 (16. Bd6 Bxd6 17. Nxd6 Bc6 18. Bxc6 Qxd6 19. Bg2 f5 $11
) 16... b6 {Caruana is careful and consolidates his position. The position is
quite complicated and dynamic, but Black holds the long term trumps. Mainly
because he has no weak pawns and has only two pawn islands as compared to
White's three. This explains why, if White doesn't do anything his position
will go downhill pretty soon.} 17. g4 $5 {What is Topalov trying to achieve?
The main idea is to put his B on g3 via e1. On g3 the B will be wonderfully
placed and looking at the important dark squares like d6 and c7. It's an
ambitious plan that weakens the white pawn structure and his king position but
that is how Topalov plays.} Be8 {Caruana too senses that f7 might be the best
square for his bishop.} 18. Be1 b5 19. Ne3 (19. Na5 $2 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Qxg4 $17)
19... Bd6 {Stopping Bg3.} 20. Ncd5 $6 {As mentioned previously, any exchange
is just going to help Black as he has THE long term advantage of a better pawn
structure.} (20. Nf5 {should have been preferred.} Be5 21. e3 g6 22. Ng3 Qd7 {
The position remains complicated with mutual chances.}) 20... Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bf7
{Black consolidates and White's g3-g4 is looking very silly now. There are
weaknesses all over the board.} 22. Nf5 Be5 {I wonder what Topalov saw when he
decided to go for this position.} 23. Qd2 (23. Bxe6 Bxe6 24. Rxc5 Bxf5 25. gxf5
Bd4+ 26. Bf2 Bxc5 27. Bxc5 Re8 (27... Rf7 28. e4 Qd7 29. d4 {The central pawns
looks a little menacing.}) 28. Bxa7 Rb7 29. Bc5 Qd5 $15 {White may hold this
one but there is no doubt that Black is better.}) (23. Bc3 g6 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25.
Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nxf7 Qxd5 $19) 23... Nd4 $1 {Cool play by Caruana. He keeps
exchanging pieces which accentuates the weaknesses in White's camp.} 24. Bxf7+
Rxf7 {The threat of Nb3 forces White to exchange one more pair of minor pieces.
} 25. Rd1 Nxf5 26. gxf5 {Let us take stock of what has happened. White's king
is shivering. White's pawns are weak. The bishop which had a dream of going to
g3 is lying passively on e1. Black on the other hand has a safe king, a
perfect pawn structure and a monster on e5. This should be winning for Black.}
(26. Rxf5 Qd4+ $19) 26... Qd4+ 27. Bf2 Qg4+ 28. Kh1 c4 $1 {At first it is
difficult to understand what is the point of this move. But on closer
inspection, we can notice that Caruana is trying to remove the d3-pawn which
controls the important e4-square and at the same time open the b-file for his
R standing on b8.} (28... Qxf5 29. Bxc5 {unnecessarily gives White counterplay.
}) (28... Qh5 29. Bg1 {and White is holding on.}) 29. Qc2 {trying to control
the important e4 square after dxc4.} (29. dxc4 Qe4+ 30. Kg1 bxc4 31. Bd4 Rd7
32. e3 h5 33. Qc3 Qg4+ 34. Kh1 Kh7 $19) 29... Re8 $1 {X-raying the e2-pawn.}
30. dxc4 $2 {Missing Black's idea but the position is already very difficult
and it is hard to suggest a reasonable alternative for White.} Qh5 $1 {
Surprisingly, it is difficult to defend h2.} 31. h4 (31. Bg1 Bxh2 $1 {This
move ends all resistance.} 32. Bxh2 Rxe2 33. Rd8+ Rf8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $19) 31...
Qg4 32. Qd3 bxc4 33. Qe3 Rfe7 34. b3 Bb2 $1 {The final accurate move. The B
controls the c1-square and next will follow c3-c2. A perfect game by Caruana
who made use of every little mistake committed by the Bulgarian grandmaster.}
35. Z0 (35. Qf3 Qxf3+ 36. exf3 c3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {The Chebanenko Slav has a reputation
of being a solid and dependable defense against 1.d4.} 5. e3 b5 6. c5 g6 7. Bd2
{A new approach, but one that makes sense. White tries to develop the
queenside and pressure with the pawns before finishing development on the
kingside.} Bg7 8. b4 a5 $5 {Topalov adds his own dynamic twist to the opening.
Black plays aggressively, vying for the advantage himself.} (8... Bg4 9. h3
Bxf3 10. gxf3 Nbd7 11. f4 {is an old game that Aronian lost against Bu
Xiangzhi in 2004; the Armenian player has improved quite a bit since then,
though!}) 9. bxa5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Ng5 {It is unclear if Aronian saw the
exchange sacrifice from here.} (11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Na6 {is unclear.}) 11...
Qd5 12. f4 (12. h4 e5 {cannot be to anyone's liking.}) 12... h6 13. Nh3 Bxh3
14. gxh3 Bxd4 {This is the point of Black's play.} 15. exd4 e3 16. Bxe3 {
Virtually forced, but White took his sweet time thinking about going into this
line.} (16. Rg1 Qxd4 {is completely lost for White as the bishop on d2 is
trapped.}) 16... Qxh1 17. Qd2 {White is down an exchange, but he has a few
things to show for it. For one the pair of bishops is quite strong, for
another Black's king will not easily find a haven. That being said, White's
pawn structure is so bad that if Topalov can reach any endgame it must be
nearly winning for him. The issue is if he can reach it.} Na6 18. O-O-O Qd5 19.
Bg2 Qc4+ 20. Kb1 Qe6 $2 {Aronian remarked that Topalov is a very passionate
player, a passion that fuels his attacks. However in the defensive side it
seems that Topalov is not so strong. A half-joke in the commentary room was
that Topalov was amazing down the exchange for compensation, but vice versa
was not so good.} (20... Qb4+ 21. Ka1 Kd7 $1 {Is still anyone's game.}) 21. d5
{Simple. The pawn crashes through and Black has trouble resisting the advances.
} Qf5+ 22. Kb2 O-O-O $2 {A move only Topalov can play.} (22... O-O 23. dxc6 Nc7
{and it is not so easy to make progress for White; mainly due to his terrible
pawn structure and his somewhat exposed king.}) 23. d6 exd6 $2 {Black is
basically lost after this move, but already the situation was not easy.} 24.
cxd6 Qf6+ 25. Kb1 Qf5+ 26. Kc1 Qf6 27. d7+ $1 {Of course. Now Bd4 will be
playable and devastating.} Kb7 28. Bd4 Qe6 29. Bxh8 {It's hard to say exactly
how Topalov went down in flames so quickly, but he will definitely need to
step up his game to catch up in the tournament.} (29. Bxh8 Rxh8 30. d8=Q Rxd8
31. Qxd8 Qc4+ 32. Kd2 Qxf4+ 33. Ke2 {and Black runs out of checks sooner
rather than later.}) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {This
Arkhalgelsk system is one of Nakamura's favourite weapons.} 7. c3 d6 8. a4 Rb8
9. h3 {A rare move, but this transposes to the main line.} (9. d4 Bb6 10. h3
O-O {is the same as the text move.}) 9... O-O 10. d4 Bb6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. axb5
axb5 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 {Black has to create counterplay on
the queenside, otherwise the b5 P is lost.} 16. Nb1 Re8 (16... c5 {is more
popular,} 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 cxd4 19. Qd3 b3 20. Bxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 g5 22. Nxg5
hxg5 23. Bxg5 d3 $1 $13 {with a really complicated position, Navara-Shirov,
Carlsbad 2007.}) 17. Nbd2 b3 18. Bb1 ({In the event of} 18. Nxb3 $6 Nxb3 19.
Bxb3 Rxe4 {and Black looks nicely placed.}) (18. Bd3 $5 {was the alternative,}
Qd7 19. Ra3 Re7 20. d5 Rbe8 $132 {with a double-edged fight.}) 18... Qd7 19. e5
$6 $146 {A risky move since White's pieces are not well developed and Black's
Bs can be really strong.} (19. Qe2 $6 {was played in Kulaots-Caruana,
Gibraltar 2011, but Black should have been played} Nxe4 $1 20. Bxe4 f5 $36 {
with a nice initiative.}) ({Probably} 19. Ra3 {was a logical and solid reply,}
Re7 $13 {with an unclear middlegame.}) 19... dxe5 20. dxe5 Nh5 $1 $36 {Now
both Black Bs are extremely active.} 21. Ng5 $2 {This looks an aggressive move,
but is a tactical blunder.} ({The B sacrifice with} 21. Bxh7+ $2 {doesn't work
here, because of} Kxh7 22. Ng5+ Kh6 $1 23. e6 Bxf2+ $1 24. Kxf2 Qd4+ 25. Re3
Nc4 $19 {and Black is winning.}) ({In the event of} 21. Ne4 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 Nc4
$15 {and the e5 P is lost.}) 21... g6 $2 {Returns the favour. Nakamura missed
a strong tactical blow.} (21... Bxf2+ $1 {was the strongest reply} 22. Kxf2
Qd4+ 23. Re3 (23. Kf1 $2 Ng3# {mate.}) 23... Rxe5 24. Be4 (24. Bxh7+ Kf8 25.
Be4 Rxg5 $19) 24... Rxg5 25. Bxb7 Nxb7 26. Qxb3 Qd8 (26... Nf4 {was also
strong.}) 27. Nf3 Rd5 28. Re8+ Qxe8 29. Qxd5 Nf6 30. Qc4 Nc5 $1 $17 {and Black
is a P up with great winning chances.}) 22. e6 $1 {Topalov grabs the practical
chance to weaken Black's kingside.} fxe6 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qh4 Rf8 $6 (24... Bd5
{was more precise to stabilise the position,} 25. Ndf3 Nc6 26. Ra4 Rf8 {
and White has some compensation for the P, but not more.}) 25. Ndf3 $1 Bd5 26.
Ne5 Qg7 27. Bd2 $6 {An inaccuracy, now Black can again grab the initiative.} (
27. Ngf3 {was more accurate} Nh5 28. Be4 $36 {and White's pieces are very
powerful.}) 27... Nc6 (27... Nh5 $1 {was better} 28. Ngf3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 (29.
Nxf3 $2 Qxb2 $17) 29... Nc6 $1 {This is the point!} 30. Nxc6 Qxb2 31. Nxb8 Qxd2
32. Bxg6 $1 {The only chance.} hxg6 33. Rad1 Bxf2+ $1 34. Qxf2 Qg5+ 35. Qg2
Qxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Rxb8 {and White has to fight for draw.}) 28. Nxc6 Bxc6 $6 {
The reflex response.} ({Still Black had a strong intermediate move in} 28...
Nh5 $1 29. Bc3 (29. Nxb8 $2 {is losing, as} Bxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 31. Kxf2 Qxb2
$19) 29... Bxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 31. Ne4 $1 {Another important move.} Rxg2+ (
31... Bxe4 32. Bxe4 Qf8 33. Nxb8 Qc5 34. Kh2 Qd6+ 35. Kg1 Qc5 $11) 32. Kxg2
Nf4+ 33. Kg3 Nh5+ 34. Kg2 Nf4+ $11) 29. Bc3 $1 {An unpelasant move pinning the
N on f6. Now Black has to face some dangerous threats.} e5 $2 (29... Rbe8 {
was tougher} 30. Rxe6 Qd7 31. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 32. Bd3 Re7 33. Qc4+ Qxc4 34. Bxc4+
Kg7 35. Ne6+ Rxe6 36. Bxe6 {+/=/+/- and White's chances are better.}) 30. Rxe5
$1 $18 {Topalov is playing very well, his position is already winning.} Nd5 31.
Qc4 $1 {Another strong reaction.} Bxf2+ (31... Rxf2 32. Kh1 $1 $18 {and the
f1-square is protected, Black can't avoid White's threats.}) 32. Kh1 Rb4 (32...
Bg3 33. Rxd5 $18) 33. Bxb4 ({Probably} 33. Qxc6 $1 $18 {was more accurate, but
the text move is also winning.}) 33... Qxe5 34. Be4 $1 Rf6 (34... Rd8 35. Qxc6
Nxb4 36. Qc4+ Nd5 37. Ra8 $1 $18 {this pretty move wins the game.}) 35. Rd1 Kg7
(35... Qxg5 36. Bxd5+ Bxd5 37. Rxd5 $18) 36. Bxd5 Bxd5 37. Qxd5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2877"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Finegold,B"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bd2 $5 {An unusual way to fight for
an advantage.} Bb7 6. g3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Be7 10. Bf4 Na6 11.
Nb5 d5 12. Ne5 Nc5 13. Rc1 a6 14. Nc3 dxc4 {Diagram # White has nothing from
the opening and the game is completely equal. Normally, this is where Magnus
outplays his opponents, but, thus far, not in this event.} 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16.
Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nc6 $5 {Magnus does not want the equality offered by 17.Nxc4}
Rde8 $5 (17... Rd7 18. Ne5 Rdd8 $11) 18. Rfd1 {Both sides decide to play for a
win. Now Topalov is ahead a pawn, but his Rf8 is out of play and white may
want to play Be5xf6 and penetrate with Rd7.} h6 19. e4 Bc5 $1 20. e5 {Diagram #
} Nd5 $1 {Topalov plays very accurately and maintains equality by giving back
the pawn.} 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 b5 $5 (22... Re6 23. Nd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 b5 $11
) 23. Be3 $1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Re6 25. Nd4 Rb6 26. b3 Rc8 27. Kg2 {Diagram #} Rc5
$1 {This temporary pawn sacrifice ensures black has no difficulties.} 28. Rxc5
Nxc5 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. Rxc4 Nd3 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. e6 fxe6 33. Kf3 Kg6 {Now the
game is just a draw. But Magnus goes a little too far and things get
interesting!} 34. a4 e5 35. Nc6 Kf5 36. g4+ (36. e4+ Ke6 37. Nb8 a5 38. Rc6+
Rxc6 39. Nxc6 Nb2 40. Nxa5 Nxa4 $11) 36... Ke6 37. a5 Rb5 38. Rd8 $2 (38. Rg8
Kd6 39. Nd8 Ke7 40. Nc6+ Kd6 $11) 38... Nc5 39. h4 Rb1 40. Rg8 Kd6 {Time
control was reached and only Topalov can play for a win now!} 41. Nb8 e4+ 42.
Kg2 Rb2+ 43. Kf1 Rb5 44. Kf2 $6 (44. Ke2 Kc7 (44... Ne6 45. Nxa6 Rxa5 46. Nb4
Rb5 47. Nc2 $11 {And the Ke2 makes all the difference (with the Kf2, as played
in the game, now 47...Rb2 wins)}) 45. Nxa6+ Nxa6 46. Rxg7+ Kc8 47. g5 $11)
44... Ne6 45. Rc8 Rxa5 (45... Rc5 {People got excited when they saw the
computer evals, but this is also a draw...} 46. Rxc5 Nxc5 47. h5 Kc7 48. Nxa6+
Nxa6 49. Kg3 $11) 46. Rc6+ Kd5 47. Rxa6 Rxa6 48. Nxa6 Kc6 49. Nb4+ Kc5 50. Nc2
Kc4 51. Ke2 g5 52. hxg5 hxg5 53. Kd2 {White needs to be careful, but this is
an easy draw for Magnus.} Nc5 54. Na3+ Kb4 55. Nc2+ Kc4 56. Na3+ Kd5 57. Nb5
Nd7 58. Nc3+ Ke5 59. Nd1 Nf6 60. Nf2 Kd5 61. Nh3 Nxg4 62. Nxg5 Nxe3 63. Nxe4
Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a5 11. a4 (11. Bb5 {is the main line with many top
games.}) 11... Na6 12. g4 Nb4 13. Kb1 Qc7 (13... Rc8 {is the most popular move.
}) 14. g5 ({The immediate} 14. Bb5 {allows} d5 15. g5 d4 16. gxf6 dxe3 17. Qxe3
Bxf6 18. Nc5 Rad8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 $11 {Ganguly-Gutman, Dresden 2012}) 14... Nh5
15. Bb5 ({Improving the b3 N also came into consideration:} 15. Nc1 f5 16. Nd3
Qc6 17. Rg1 Kh8 18. g6 f4 19. Bf2 Rfc8 20. Ne1 Qe8 21. Bb5 Qg8 22. Nd3 $36 {
Szczepanski-Kasperek, corr. 2009}) 15... Rac8 16. Rhg1 $146 {This very natural
move is a novelty.} (16. Qf2 Nf4 (16... Bd8 {isn't so clear}) 17. h4 d5 18.
Bxf4 exf4 19. exd5 ({A more accurate try is} 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bf5 21. Bd3
$16) 19... Bf5 20. Rd2 Bd6 21. Nd4 $2 (21. Ne4 $18) 21... Bc5 $1 22. d6 $1 Qb6
23. d7 (23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. fxe4 Qxd6 25. c3 Qe5 26. Qf3 $14) 23... Rcd8 $142 $44
(23... Nxc2 $4 24. Nxf5 $3 $18 {Hou Yifan-Sebag, Beijing 2013})) 16... f5 {
This is the typical move in this kind of structure.} 17. gxf6 (17. Nd5 {
seems to win a P, but things aren't so easy:} Nxd5 (17... Bxd5 18. exd5 Qxc2+
19. Qxc2 Rxc2 20. Nxa5 $16) 18. exd5 Bd7 19. Nxa5 Bxb5 20. axb5 Ra8 $44) 17...
Nxf6 18. Qg2 (18. Bh6 Rf7 $13 {is nothing special.}) 18... Nh5 (18... Rf7 19.
Bg5 Nh5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Qd2 Bxb3 22. cxb3 Rf6 23. Qg5 Nf4 24. Rxd6 $1) (18...
g6 $5 {would be a very deep move, the advantage of which becomes clear in the
18...Rf7 line.} 19. Bg5 Nh5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Qd2 Bxb3 22. cxb3 Rf6 23. Qg5 Nf4
{and there is no mating threat on g7!}) 19. Nc1 ({The computer gives the
amazing} 19. f4 $5 exf4 20. Nd4 Bd7 21. Bf2 {, but Topalov's move is much more
logical. He wants to improve the position of his N, maybe exchange Black's
strong b4 N.}) 19... Bf6 (19... Rf7 $5 {seems more logical.} 20. Nd3 Rcf8 21.
Rgf1 Nc6 $13) 20. Nd3 (20. N1e2 Kh8 $1 21. Rd2 Qf7 $1 {and Black is fine.})
20... Nxd3 $1 {Black tries to create counterchances, mainly in connection with
the next move.} (20... Nc6 21. f4 $1 exf4 22. Nxf4 Nxf4 23. Bxf4 Bd4 24. Rxd4
Rxf4 25. Rd2 Rg4 26. Qh1 $1 $14) 21. Rxd3 Nf4 $1 {Practically the only
sensible move, because if Black plays a waiting move, for example} (21... g6
22. Rgd1 Be7 23. Qg1 $16 {White is much better.}) (21... Bh4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23.
Rxd5 g6 (23... Nf4 $2 24. Bxf4 Rxf4 25. Rxd6 $18) 24. Qd2 $16 {is also much
better, because the f4-square is useless and the decisive factor is Black's
bad structure.}) (21... Be7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 g6 24. Rd2 $14 {With two Bs
and a good structure White has a promising position.}) 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Nd5
Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Be5 {Let's take a fresh look at the position. The players have
opposite-coloured Bs, and both of these Bs are strong. At first sight, it's
hard to believe, that Black has good drawing chances, because White is going
to increase the pressure on Black's position. On the other hand, with precise
play Black should have held this position.} (24... Qb6 $5 25. c3 Rc5 26. Rgd1
Be5 {is very similar to the game.}) 25. c3 Rf6 26. Qf2 b6 27. Ba6 Rb8 28. Bd3
Kh8 29. Rb5 Rf7 30. h4 Qa7 {White's pieces are more or less in their best
positions, now White has to improve his Q.} 31. Qc2 Rc7 32. Qb3 Rc5 33. Qe6
Rxb5 34. Bxb5 Rf8 35. h5 Qc7 (35... Qf7 $1 36. Qxf7 Rxf7 37. Kc2 Rc7 {seems to
be drawish.}) 36. Ka2 Qd8 (36... Qf7 $1) 37. Qg4 Qc7 38. Kb3 Rc8 $6 {This move
isn't bad, but the plan in connection with it is. Black should exchange the Q
to reach the draw. If White wants to break into Black's position, he can use
his R to defend on c7, cutting the white K away from the queenside Ps.} 39. Qe6
Qc5 $4 (39... Rf8 $1 40. Rg5 Qf7 41. Qxf7 Rxf7 42. Kc4 Rc7+ 43. Kd5 Kg8 44. Ke6
Rf7 45. Be8 Ra7 46. Bd7 h6 47. Rf5 g5 48. hxg6 Kg7 $11) (39... Qd8 $1 {/\ Qg8})
40. Rg5 $3 $18 {The killing move. The R joins the attack and the game is over.}
Rb8 41. Rf5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Re1 Be7 10. e5 {Topalov has some experience handling this variation
as White.} (10. Qf3 O-O 11. Bg5 d4 12. Na4 e5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (64) Topalov,V (2772)-Mamedyarov,S (2757) Sofia 2007}) 10... Nd7 11.
Qg4 {This game appeared only a couple of weeks after I completed a survey on
this line, which already included a couple of Caruana games. The current game
is another important contribution.} Kf8 {This move used to be in a shadow of
the main continuation 11...g6. However, recently Black has experienced
problems, allowing White's bishop to sneak to h6.} (11... g6 12. Bh6 Rb8 13.
Nd1 $1 Rb4 14. c4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Qa5 16. Ne3 Nxe5 17. Qd4 f6 18. Qc3 $6 (18. a3
Qb6 19. Qh4 $1 Rxb2 20. Bg7 $16) 18... Qc5 19. Rac1 $14 {1-0 (44) Caruana,F 
(2791)-Svidler,P (2753) Dubai 2014}) 12. Na4 {Fabiano has played this line as
Black as well.} (12. Qe2 c5 13. b3 Bb7 14. Bb2 g6 15. Nd1 Qb6 16. c4 d4 17. Bc1
h5 18. Be4 h4 19. f4 Kg7 20. Nb2 a5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (50) Solak,D (2632)-Caruana,F
(2801) Tromsoe 2014}) 12... Qa5 $146 {A novelty, but Caruana responded quickly,
clearly hinting at thorough preparation.} (12... h5 13. Qf4 (13. Qe2 c5 14. c4
d4 15. Bd2 Bb7 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 a5 18. f4 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (38) Filipenko,
A (2309)-Tunik,G (2437) Togliatti 2014}) 13... Kg8 14. Bd2 g6 $6 (14... a5 $5 {
[%cal Gc8a6]}) 15. c4 Kg7 16. b4 $16 {0-1 (58) Leon Hoyos,M (2484)-Granda
Zuniga,J (2621) Cali 2007}) (12... c5 13. c4 (13. b3 {would transpose to the
game Karjakin-Ivanchuk with a slightly different order of moves.} Bb7 14. c4 d4
15. Bd2 Qc7 16. Qf4 g5 $1 17. Qg3 h5 $132 {1/2-1/2 (37) Karjakin,S (2786)
-Ivanchuk,V (2757) Loo 2013}) 13... Qa5 14. Qd1 d4 15. Bd2 Qc7 16. Qe2 Rb8 17.
b3 Bb7 18. Rad1 h5 19. Nb2 g6 20. Bf4 Kg7 $11 {0-1 (41) Andreev,E (2501)-Popov,
I (2632) Taganrog 2013}) 13. Re2 $1 {Veselin unleashed a novelty, but went
into a deep thought already on the next move. Fabiano appeared to be better
prepared for this line.} (13. Bg5 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 h6 15. Qf4 g5 16. Qg4 h5 17.
Qxg5 Qxa4 18. Qd8+ Kg7 19. Qg5+ $11) 13... h5 (13... Qb4 {was another option
to swap queens.} 14. Qxb4 Bxb4 15. c4 Bb7 16. a3 Be7 17. Bd2 {White keeps some
slight pressure on the queenside.}) 14. Qf4 g5 15. Bd2 Qc7 $6 {That was a
tough dilemma. Topalov decided to keep the queens on the board. However,
having pushed forward the kingside pawns, it would have been safer to swap
queens, even at the cost of spoiling the structure.} (15... gxf4 16. Bxa5 {
The Pf4 is now a clear target, but it's not easy for White to get it.} Rg8 (
16... c5 17. c4 d4 18. Be4 Rb8 19. b3 $14) 17. Kf1 Bb7 18. c4 (18. b4 Ke8 19.
Rb1 Bd8 20. Bxd8 Kxd8 {is also decent for Black.}) 18... h4 19. h3 c5 20. cxd5
Rg5 $1 {[%csl Re5]} (20... Bxd5 $2 21. Be4 $16) 21. Rae1 Bxd5 22. Be4 Rxe5 23.
Bc7 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 f3 26. gxf3 Rc8 $11 {White's play could,
probably, be improved upon somewhere along the variation, but the conclusion
is clear: Topalov should have traded queens.}) 16. Qg3 h4 17. Qg4 Rg8 $6 (17...
h3 18. Bxg5 hxg2 19. Bxe7+ Kxe7 20. Qg5+ Kf8 21. c4 Rg8 22. Qf4 $16) (17... c5
{was worth trying. White can develop a ferocious attack, but has to calculate
very precisely.} 18. Bxg5 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 c4 20. Bf5 $1 exf5 21. Rae1 $3 {
A remarkable follow-up. Such quiet moves, when you just sacrificed a piece,
are very difficult for a human player to make.} (21. e6 $2 fxe6 22. Rxe6 Ne5
$13) 21... Rg8 22. Qxh4 Rg6 (22... Nb8 $2 23. e6 $1 Bxe6 24. Nb6 $1 Qxb6 25.
Rxe6 fxe6 26. Qf6+ Ke8 27. Rxe6+ Qxe6 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Qxf5+ Kg7 30. Qxd5 $18)
23. e6 Nf6 24. Qh8+ Ng8 25. exf7 Kxf7 (25... Qxf7 26. Qd4 Rc6 27. Nb6 Rb8 28.
Nxd5 {White has already three pawns for a piece and his attack is in full
swing.}) 26. Re8 Qd6 27. Nb6 Bd7 (27... Qxb6 $2 28. R1e7+ $1 Nxe7 29. Qf8+ Ke6
30. Qxe7#) 28. Rxa8 Qxb6 $16) (17... Nxe5 $5 {was an interesting possibility
to change the unfortunate course of the game.} 18. Rxe5 Qxe5 19. Bc3 Qf4 20.
Qxf4 gxf4 21. Bxh8 f6 {Black has lost a piece, but White's dark-squared bishop
is locked in and will be captured soon.} 22. Nb6 Rb8 23. Bxa6 $1 Rxb6 24. Bxc8
Kf7 25. Re1 {Provoking e6-e5 in order to weaken the light squares.} e5 26. Rb1
Kg8 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. a4 e4 29. b4 Bc3 30. b5 {White is a pawn up, but
opposite coloured bishops yield Black chances to hold.}) 18. Rae1 c5 19. c4 $16
dxc4 ({White keeps a big advantage also after} 19... d4 20. Qh5 Bb7 21. b3 {
Later on the knight can be transferred to d3.}) 20. Bxc4 Bb7 21. h3 Rd8 22. Bc3
Nb8 23. Re3 Nc6 $2 (23... Rg7 $1 {was a necessary prophylactic move.} 24. Rd3
Rxd3 25. Bxd3 Nc6 {Black's position is not a piece of cake, but the fight is
still on.}) {[%tqu "En","How can White achieve a decisive advantage?","","",
"c4e6","The decisive blow!",10]} 24. Bxe6 $1 {The decisive blow!} fxe6 (24...
Nd4 25. Bf5 {leads to a position where White has a pawn and a compensation.})
25. Rf3+ Ke8 ({After} 25... Kg7 26. Qh5 Rdf8 27. Rf6 $1 {is crushing.} Rxf6 (
27... Bxf6 28. exf6+ Rxf6 29. Rxe6 $18) 28. exf6+ Bxf6 29. Qxg5+ $18 ({or} 29.
Nxc5 $18 {[%cal Gc5e6]})) 26. Qxe6 Rg7 27. Qh6 Nd4 28. e6 $1 {The most precise
and effective.} Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 Bf8 (29... Rg8 30. Qh5+ Kf8 31. Qf7#) 30. Qh5+
Ke7 31. Bxg7 (31. Bxg7 Bxg7 32. Qf7+ Kd6 33. e7 {is more than enough.}) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 {A rare move order.
Now we have an "unusual Catalan" with 5...Nbd7?! 6.Nc3?!} Rb8 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 7.
a4 (7. Qa4 a6 {leads to a harmless line of the Catalan (with 5.Qa4+).}) 7...
Bb4 (7... b6 8. Nd2 Bb7 9. Bxb7 Rxb7 10. Nxc4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. e4 $14 {
1-0 (41) Kallio,H (2410)-Berkes,F (2393) Budapest 2001}) (7... a6 8. O-O (8. e4
Bb4 9. e5 Nd5 10. Bd2 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be7 12. O-O b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. d5 $6 exd5
15. e6 fxe6 16. Nd4 Rb6 $17 {0-1 (30) Sokolsky,A-Goldberg,G Kiev 1957}) 8...
Be7 9. Nd2 (9. e4 O-O {again leads to a theoretical Catalan position}) 9... b5
10. axb5 axb5 11. Bc6 b4 12. Nb5 Rb6 13. Ra8 Rxc6 14. Na7 Nb6 15. Nxc6 Qd5 {
1/2 (15) Razuvaev,Y (2570)-Cvetkovic,S (2430) Stary Smokovec 1990} 16. Rxc8+
Nxc8 17. Nxb4 $11) 8. O-O O-O 9. Nd2 e5 $1 {This break solves Black's problems.
} 10. Nxc4 exd4 11. Qxd4 Nc5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Bf4 Ne6 (13... Be6 {was even
simpler:} 14. Na2 Bxc4 15. Nxb4 Ne6 {[%cal Rc4e2] , and White must play} 16.
Bxc7 Nxc7 17. Rfc1 Bxe2 18. Rxc7 a5 19. Nc2 Rd2 $11) 14. Be3 $6 (14. Rfd1 $5
Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Bd7 $11) 14... a6 ({Black could have seized the initiative by
means of} 14... Nd4 $5 {, although White should hold his ground after} 15. Rfd1
Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nxe2+ 17. Kf1 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Be6 19. Kxe2 Bxc4+ 20. Ke1 Bb3 21.
Rb1 Bxa4 22. Rxb7 Rxb7 23. Bxb7 {Levon Aronian is playing too cautiously and
misses a lot of chances.}) 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. Nc4 Bb4 17. Rfc1 $6 (17. Rfd1 $11)
17... Nd4 18. Bxd4 Rxd4 19. b3 $6 (19. Na2 $142 Be7 20. e3 {M.Notkin}) 19... c6
20. h3 $6 (20. Na2 {[%cal Yc1d1]}) 20... Be6 {Black has already obtained
serious pressure.} 21. e3 $6 (21. Na2 $5 Be7 22. Nc3) 21... Rdd8 $6 {Another
excessive "accuracy", instead of just winning a pawn:} (21... Rd3 22. Na2 (22.
Ne2 Rxb3 23. Nd4 Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Ra3 {was probably what Black missed}) 22... Rxb3
23. Nxb4 Rxb4 $17) 22. Ne2 g6 23. Nd4 {Black is still slightly better but
White defends tenaciously.} Bd5 24. a5 h5 25. Ra4 Bc5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Ne2 Be7
28. Nc3 Rb5 $5 (28... Rd3 29. Ne5 Rd2 30. Nc4) 29. Nd2 Rb4 30. Rxb4 Bxb4 31.
Nc4 Rd8 32. Na2 Be7 33. Nc3 Nd5 34. Na4 Nb4 35. Kf1 Rd3 36. Rb1 Na2 37. Ra1 Nb4
38. Rb1 Na2 39. Ra1 Nb4 40. Rb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 Ne7 11. Ne4 Ng6 12. Re1 h6 13. Kh2 $5 {A very
useful move. White's idea is g4 and his K is ready to go to g3.} (13. b3 c5 14.
Bb2 Be6 15. Ng3 a5 16. a4 Nf4 17. Bc1 Nd5 18. Bd2 c4 19. bxc4 Nb4 $132 {
with a double-edged fight, Robson-Onischuk, Saint Louis 2014.}) 13... c5 14. c4
$146 {A novelty by Nakamura.} (14. g4 {has also been played} Be6 15. Nc3 Be7
16. Be3 Kd7 17. Kg3 Kc6 {Usually the c6-square is a nice base for Black's K.}
18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Rxd8 Bxd8 20. Rd1 Be7 21. Rd2 b6 22. b3 a6 23. Rd1 h5 $36 {
and Black has a comfortable position, Bokros-Postny, Oropesa del Mar 1999.})
14... Be6 15. b3 {This is a typical Berlin position. White has a space
advantage, while Black has two Bs, his position is solid and his P structure
is also strong.} b6 16. g4 {The ambitious reaction, White continues his plan
on the kingside.} h5 $1 {Topalov immediately tries to create counterplay on
the h-file.} 17. Kg3 Rd8 18. Neg5 $6 {This move starts a wrong plan.} (18. Bg5
{was better,} Rd3 (18... Be7 19. Re3 {and White is solid.}) 19. Re3 Rxe3 20.
Bxe3 {with an equal position.}) 18... Bc8 $1 {The right move. Black doesn't
want to give up his B and he isn't afraid of e6!} 19. Bb2 ({Probably Nakamura
wanted to play} 19. e6 $2 {, but this does not work because of} Bd6+ 20. Kg2 f6
$1 21. Nf7 hxg4 22. hxg4 Bb7 $1 {This is the point!} 23. Nxh8 Nxh8 $1 $17 {
and White can't avoid the really unpleasant pin of the N on f3 and Black is
threatening to play Ng6 followed by Nh4.}) 19... Be7 {The most natural reply.}
20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 hxg4 (21... Bb7 $5 {was also possible to keep the
tension.}) 22. hxg4 f6 $1 {A good move. Black opens the position and the
g-file, the g4 P will be weak, moreover Black is ready to play Rg8.} 23. exf6 (
23. Nh3 Kf7 ({or} 23... f5 {and Black is slightly better.})) 23... gxf6 24. Re1
{An interesting tactical choice, but it isn't dangerous for Black.} (24. Ne4
Kf7 {is similar to the game.}) 24... Kf8 $1 {The best reply!} ({In the event of
} 24... fxg5 25. Bxh8 Nxh8 26. Nxg5 Ng6 27. f4 {and White won't lose.}) 25. Ne4
Kf7 26. Bc1 {It is difficult to find any useful move for White.} Rg8 $1 {
White's K is under X-ray attack, he has to face some unpleasant threats.} 27.
Rh1 $6 {An inaccuracy, but it is difficult to hold White's position.} (27. Bd2
{was tougher, but} Bb7 {and White's position is very unpleasant.}) 27... Bb7 $1
28. Re1 (28. Rh7+ Ke6 29. Nfd2 Ne5 30. f3 Nd3 31. Ba3 f5 $17 {and White is in
a big trouble.}) 28... Re8 $1 {Topalov is playing the strongest moves.} 29.
Nfd2 {The only move, otherwise Black immediately wins material.} Ne5 $1 {
Black's activity is very strong.} 30. Bb2 $6 (30. Rh1 {was tougher, but} Nd3
$17 {and Black is better.}) 30... Nd3 31. Rb1 Rg8 32. Kf3 Nxb2 33. Rxb2 Bc8 {
White cannot protect the g4 P. White has no hope.} 34. g5 f5 35. Nf6 Rxg5 36.
Nd5 Bb7 37. Rb1 Rg4 38. Rh1 Bd6 39. Ke2 Rd4 40. Rh7+ Kg6 41. Rd7 Bxd5 42. cxd5
Rxd5 $6 (42... b5 $1 $19 {was much better and White can resign.}) 43. Nc4 b5
44. Nxd6 cxd6 45. Rxa7 b4 {Black should be much better, but R endgames always
give some practical chances.} 46. a4 bxa3 47. Rxa3 Re5+ 48. Kd3 Kg5 49. Ra6 Re1
(49... Kf4 50. Rxd6 Kf3 {was also strong.}) 50. Kd2 Re6 51. Rb6 (51. Ra4 f4 52.
Kd3 Kg4 {is also hopeless for White.}) 51... Kg4 52. b4 cxb4 53. Rxb4+ Kf3 54.
Kd1 f4 55. Rd4 Re4 56. Rd2 d5 57. Ra2 Kg2 {A very nice victory by Topalov!} 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Akobian,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {In this game Vachier-Lagrave decided to play a slow setup without any
theory} d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. e4 O-O 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. Re1 ({White could have also tried the interesting} 9. Nxe5 $5 Nxc3
10. Nxc6 Nxd1 11. Nxd8 Nxb2 12. Bxb2 Bxb2 13. Rab1 Rxd8 14. Rxb2 c6 15. Re1 {
with about equal position.}) 9... Nde7 10. a4 h6 11. a5 a6 {very important to
stop white from playing a6} 12. Be3 Re8 13. Qd2 Nf5 14. Bc5 Rb8 15. Ne4 b6 $1 {
Diagram [#] Black is removing the Bishop from active c5 square.} 16. axb6 cxb6
17. Ba3 Ncd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Qd1 ({White could of tried} 19. Nd6 Re6 20. Nxc8
Rxc8 21. Rac1 h5 $1 22. Bb4 a5 23. Bc3 Nb5 {and black is slightly better.})
19... Bb7 20. c3 (20. Nd6 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Re6 22. c3 Nc6 $15) 20... Nb5 21. Qb3 {
Active move by white I believe this is the right way to play otherwise black
might be slightly better.} Qd7 (21... Nxa3 22. Qxa3 a5 23. Qb3 Qc7 $15) (21...
Qxd3 $4 22. Rad1 {and black queen is in trouble.}) 22. Re3 Kh7 23. Rae1 f5 24.
Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Re6 26. Nf3 Rbe8 27. Kg1 e4 $6 {Topalov is slightly better
but here he rushed to break thru. Better is to build up.]} (27... a5 28. d4 e4
29. Nh4 Nxa3 30. Qxa3 h5 31. Ng2 Bh6 {black is slightly better}) 28. dxe4 Rxe4
29. Rxe4 Rxe4 (29... fxe4 30. Nh4 (30. Rd1 $4 exf3 31. Rxd7 Re1#) 30... Nxa3
31. Qxa3 Qd2 32. Ng2 e3 33. fxe3 Rf8 34. Rf1 Rxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Qd1+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ {
with a draw}) 30. Rd1 Qe8 (30... Qb7 31. c4 (31. Rd8) 31... Nxa3 32. bxa3 Qc6)
31. Qd5 $1 {Diagram [#] Activating the Queen} Nxa3 32. bxa3 Qe7 33. h4 Qc5 34.
h5 Qxd5 35. hxg6+ Kxg6 36. Rxd5 Bxc3 37. Rd6+ Kf7 38. Rxb6 Ra4 39. Rxh6 Rxa3
40. Nh4 Ra5 41. Rc6 {Very solid game by both players position always remained
around equality throughout the game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2877"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 b6 11. Bf4 Bb4 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Be2 14.
Nfd2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 Nd4 16. Be3 Nf5 17. Bf4 Nd4 18. Be3 Nf5 19. Bf4 Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "SHSM-64"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O
exd5 9. exd5 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nbd7 12. Qd1 Nh5 13. Ne4 Be5 14. f4 f5
15. fxe5 fxe4 16. Rxf8+ Qxf8 17. e6 exd3 18. exd7 Qf5 19. g4 Qxd7 20. Qxd3 Nf6
21. Qf3 Qg7 22. Bd2 Nd7 23. Bc3 Ne5 24. Qe4 Rf8 25. Rf1 Qe7 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.
Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qe3 Qd6 29. Kg2 Kg8 30. Kf3 Qa6 31. Ke4 Qxc4+ 32. Kxe5 Qxa2 33.
Ke6 Qxb2 34. Qf3 Kg7 35. g5 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.16"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2622"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Oslo Schakselskap"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Nbd7 {
An uncommon mixture of plans.} (7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 {or}) (7... c5 {are usually
played.}) 8. Qa4 $146 {Unbelievably, a new move!} (8. e3 {still allows Black
to play} g5 9. Bg3 Ne4) (8. Qc2 {leads to a well-known position from the 6...
Nbd7 7.Qc2 system}) 8... c5 9. dxc5 a5 (9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Qb4 {
transposes to the line 6...Nbd7 7.Qa4 etc. with a later ...h7-h6.
Agdestein-Giri, annotated in CBM 161 by GM Mihail Marin, is the most recent
example.}) 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 O-O {The inclusion of ...a7-a5 a2-a3 deprives
White's queen of the b4-square; on the other hand, Black's queenside is
weakened now; on the third hand, the b3 square can be available for Black's
knight in some lines. In total, these new factors probably keep the balance of
the position.} 12. Qd4 Re8 13. Nd2 Qc7 {Too weak.} (13... g5 $5 14. Bg3 Nf8 {
[%cal Yf8e6] looks risky but perhaps quite playable, e.g.} 15. h4 Ne6 16. Qe3
Nf4 17. Qd4 Ne6 $11) 14. e3 Ne4 15. Bb5 Re6 (15... Qxc5 16. Qxc5 Nexc5 17. O-O
$14 {[%csl Gb5]}) 16. c4 $1 Qxc5 17. Nb3 {White goes for a positional
advantage instead of winning a pawn, which would give Black counterplay:} (17.
Qxc5 Ndxc5 18. cxd5 Re5 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Bc4 (20. Bd3 Nc5 21. Rd1 Nxd3+ 22.
Rxd3 Bf5) 20... Bd7 {[%cal Ya8c8]}) 17... Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Re5 19. f3 Nec5 20.
cxd5 (20. Ke2 $5 {[%cal Yh4g3]}) 20... Nb6 (20... Rxe3+ 21. Kf2 Re5 22. d6 {
[%csl Gd6][%cal Yh1d1] is also favourable for White, e.g.} Rd5 23. Rhd1 Rxd6
24. Nf5 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 {with domination.}) 21. O-O Rxd5 (21... Rxe3 22. Rfc1) (
21... Nxd5 22. e4 Nc3 23. Bc4 $16) 22. Rab1 Ne6 23. Nxe6 Bxe6 {So, White has
obtained a typical positional plus: the bishop pair in an open position with
an asymmetrical pawn structure. However, precision is required.} 24. e4 $6 (24.
Rfc1 {, covering the c4-square, may be more accurate.}) 24... Rh5 25. Bf2 Nc4 {
[%cal Rc4a3,Rc4d2]} 26. g4 Rxb5 $6 {There was no need to give up the exchange.}
(26... Re5 $142 {e.g.} 27. Bd4 Rg5 28. h4 Rg6 29. h5 Rg5 30. Bxc4 Bxc4 31. Rfc1
Rb5 $5 {, and Black should hold on.} (31... b5 $143 {[%csl Rg5]})) 27. Rxb5 Nd2
28. Rxb7 Nxf3+ 29. Kg2 Nd2 30. Rd1 Nc4 31. a4 Bxg4 {It looks like Black, with
a pawn for the exchange, has a decent position; however, rooks are rooks,
especially when the struggle is taking place on both sides of the board.
Finally Black's a5-pawn falls, and White's outside a-pawn becomes an important
factor.} 32. Rd4 Rc8 33. Bg3 Ne3+ 34. Kf2 Nd1+ 35. Ke1 Ne3 36. Kf2 Nd1+ 37. Ke1
Ne3 38. Kd2 Nf1+ 39. Kd3 Rc1 (39... Nxg3 40. hxg3 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 40. Rd8+ Kh7
41. Ra8 Nxg3 {Black hurries up to win White's kingside pawn but keeping a
strong knight was also possible:} (41... Rd1+ 42. Kc2 Bf3 43. Re7 Ne3+ 44. Kc3
Nf5 45. Rxf7 Bxe4 46. Rxa5 Rd3+ 47. Kb4 Nd4 {etc.}) 42. hxg3 Be6 43. Rxa5 Rg1
44. Re5 Rxg3+ 45. Kd4 Ra3 46. a5 Kg6 47. Rbb5 Ra4+ 48. Kc3 Rc4+ 49. Kb2 Ra4 50.
Rbc5 Ra2+ 51. Kc3 Ra4 52. Rh5 Rxe4 $2 {Now White's pawn moves forward.} ({
His task was not yet easy after a waiting move like} 52... Kh7 {. If} 53. Rc6 {
then} g5 {[%cal Yh7g6,Yh6h5]}) 53. a6 f5 54. Rh1 Ra4 55. Rc6 Kf7 56. Rb1 Bd5
57. Rb7+ Kg8 58. Rg6 $1 {White's b7-rook is untouchable.} Rc4+ (58... Bf7 59.
Rd6 {[%cal Ya6a7]}) 59. Kd3 Bxb7 60. Kxc4 Bf3 61. Kd4 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.17"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novy Bor"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. b3 {This move became
popular after the rapid game of the World Championship play-off Gelfand -
Anand (2012). It was annotated and the whole line thoroughly examined by GM
Lubomir Ftacnik in CBM 149.} (13. Nxd4 {is the main theoretical continuation.})
13... Ne5 (13... Nb6 {requires further examination. A practical example:} 14.
Bc4 (14. Be4 $5) 14... Bd7 (14... Qf6 $5) (14... Nxc4 $5 15. bxc4 Qc7 {[%cal
Yb7b5]}) 15. Bb2 Rc8 16. Qd3 $14 {1-0 (27) Dmochowska,A (1790)-Maslova,P (1900)
Budva 2013}) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Re1 (15. f4 Bf6 16. Ba3 Re8 17. d6 Bd7 18. Qd2
Bc6 19. Rac1 Qd7 20. Rfe1 Qg4 21. Bf1 g5 22. Bc5 Qxf4 23. Qxf4 gxf4 24. Rxe8+
Rxe8 25. Rd1 Rd8 $11 {1-0 (52) Bacrot,E (2702)-Sumets,A (2622) Fujairah City
2012}) 15... Re8 (15... Qxd5 16. Ba3 Rd8 17. Qe2 (17. Bc4 Qa5 18. Qg6 Rd7 19.
Qh5 Qxa3 20. Qxe5 Rd8 21. Rad1 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 17... Qa5 $4 (17... Bd6 $1 $14)
18. Be7 Rd5 19. b4 Qc7 20. Qe4 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Rf5 22. Rac1 {1-0 (22) Navara,D 
(2700)-Shomoev,A (2581) Yerevan ARM 2014}) 16. Bb2 (16. f4 $5 Bf6 17. Rxe8+
Qxe8 18. Bd2 Qd8 19. Re1 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 16... Bd7 17. g3 (17. Qd2 {is more
accurate but still harmless due to} Qg5 $1 18. Qxg5 hxg5) 17... Rc8 (17... Qa5
$1 {apparently gives Black an excellent position.}) 18. Qd2 Qf6 {This is also
inaccurate, I guess.} (18... Bh3 $142 $1 {[%cal Rd8d5]} 19. Be4 Qb6 20. Rad1
Bf6 {, and the d4-pawn is untouchable.}) 19. Bf1 {David Navara deviates from
the stem game but goes his own way instead of following Ftacnik's
recommendation.} (19. a4 $2 Qf3 $1 20. Be4 Qxb3 $17 {1/2 (32) Gelfand,B (2727)
-Anand,V (2791) Moscow 2012 CBM 149 [Ftacnik,L]}) (19. Qb4 $5 {[%cal Rf2f4]}
Qf3 $5 (19... Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Kg2 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 20. Qxb7 Rc7 21. Qa6
Qxd5 22. Be4 $14) 19... g5 $1 {[%mdl 32] Preventing f2-f4. Black's d4-pawn is
now safe.} 20. Bg2 $6 {It was not a good idea to allow ...d4-d3.} (20. Rac1
$142 $11) 20... Bf5 21. Rac1 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 d3 {[%csl Gd3]} 23. Bxe5 (23. Re1
Re7 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Re3 $5 {is relatively better but Black still has the
upper hand after} Rxe3 26. fxe3 Qe5) 23... Qxe5 24. g4 Qe2 $1 {White probably
overlooked this tactical trick.} 25. Qxe2 dxe2 26. Re1 Bxg4 {[%mdl 4096] Black
has won a pawn and gradually brings home his material advantage.} 27. f3 Bf5
28. Kf2 Bd3 29. f4 gxf4 (29... Kg7 $5) 30. d6 b6 31. d7 Rd8 32. Bc6 {White's
bishop will be pushed away from this square.} Kf8 33. Rc1 (33. Kf3 Ke7 34. Kxf4
Kd6) 33... Ke7 34. Rc3 Kd6 35. Rxd3+ Kxc6 36. Rf3 Rxd7 37. Rxf4 Re7 38. Ke1 Kb5
39. Rf6 ({After} 39. h4 a5 {White can hardly save the game as well.}) 39... Kb4
40. Rxh6 Ka3 41. Rf6 (41. h4 Kxa2 42. b4 {was more stubborn but Black should
win anyway.}) 41... Kxa2 42. Rf3 Re4 43. Rxf7 a5 44. Rf6 b5 45. Rf5 b4 46.
Rxa5+ Kxb3 47. Rh5 Kc3 48. Rc5+ Kb2 49. Rh5 b3 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.18"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. bxa5 c5 11. a4 Rxa5 12. Ra3 Ra6 13. Ne1 {[%mdl 32] A typical
plan: Ne1-d3 and possibly f2-f4. However, I don't like it in this particular
position. Other options:} (13. Re1 {with the idea Be2-f1 (or Qd1-c2) and then
Nc3-b5. This is a bit artificial. E.g.} Kh8 14. Qc2 Ne8 15. Nb5 Ng8 16. Bf1 f6
17. g3 Nh6 18. Bg2 Nf7 19. Bd2 Bd7 20. Rb1 f5 21. Nc3 b6 {0-1 (39) Stern,R 
(2461)-Lanka,Z (2504) Rostock 2002 - Black obtained a solid position.}) (13.
Nd2 {followed by Nc3-b5 and Bc1-b2 is very logical. A relatively recent
example:} Nd7 14. Nb5 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 $1 exf4 17. Rxf4 Ng6 18. Rf1 Nde5
19. Nf3 f4 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Bg4 Kh8 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 23. Qh5 Qd7 24. Bd2 Qg7 25.
Kh1 $14 {1-0 (42) Buhmann,R (2541)-Babaev,R (2479) Boeblingen 2008}) 13... Nd7
14. Nd3 (14. Nb5 f5 15. exf5 {0-1 (40) Karttunen,M (2275)-Solleveld,M (2295)
Sas van Gent 1998} {can now be met with} Nxf5 {as White doesn't control the
e4-square.}) 14... h6 {I am not sure Black should cover the g5-square.} (14...
Nb6 $5 15. Qb3 f5 16. exf5 (16. f3 f4 $5) 16... Nxf5 17. Nb5 Nd7 18. f4 e4 19.
Nf2 Re8 20. Qc2 Nf6 $13 {1/2 (30) Lputian,S (2633)-Smirin,I (2649) Kemer 2007})
(14... f5 {is quite natural:} 15. f4 fxe4 $1 (15... exf4 16. Nxf4 Bd4+ 17. Kh1
Bxc3 (17... Nf6 18. Nb5 Be5 19. Nd3 $1 fxe4 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Rxf8+
Kxf8 23. d6 $16 {1-0 (54) Rychagov,A (2506)-Banikas,H (2542) Athens 2000}) 18.
Rxc3 Ne5 19. Bb2 fxe4 20. Re3 g5 21. Nh5 $36 {1/2 (26) Simmelink,J (2315)
-Fabiani,J (2378) IECG 2002}) 16. Nxe4 Nf5 17. Kh1 Qe7 18. fxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5
Qxe5 20. Ng5 Bd7 21. Bf4 Qd4 $13 {0-1 (39) Nikcevic,N (2409)-Djukic,N (2503)
Cetinje 2010}) 15. f4 {A logical consequence of Nf3-e1-d3. It is important
that White's knight controls the e5-square.} (15. f3 f5 16. Nf2 {is passive.
The key to this position is the fact that White can't break through on the
queenside; therefore, he should prepare some play on the kingside, which is
very dfficult after f2-f3 f5-f4. Here is an example:} Nf6 17. g3 g5 18. Bd2 Rf7
19. Qc2 Bf8 20. Rb1 Rg7 21. Bd3 f4 22. g4 h5 23. h3 Ng6 24. Kf1 Rh7 25. Ke2 Be7
26. Nb5 Kf7 27. Raa1 Nh4 28. Rg1 Bd7 29. Qb3 Qc8 {1/2 (29) Irwanto,S (2452)
-Spasov,V (2578) Turin 2006}) 15... exf4 16. Nxf4 (16. Bxf4 f5 $132) 16... Ne5
{Black has established a blockade but White is not too concerned. Black's
pieces are constricted, his e7-knight is placed extremely poorly, merely
getting in the way of his pieces. The only problem for White is how to break
through.} 17. Kh1 Kh7 18. Nb5 Ng8 19. Qc2 Nf6 {The knight has improved its
position but still it would be much better for Black to get rid of it
altogether.} 20. h3 Qe7 (20... g5 21. Nd3 Nfd7 {was an option but Black didn't
want to weaken the light squares in his camp.}) 21. Bd2 Bd7 22. a5 Kg8 23. Re3
b6 {A double-edged decision since the a- and b-files are more likely to be
used by White due to his space advantage.} 24. Nd3 bxa5 (24... Nxd3 $5 25. Bxd3
bxa5 26. Nxd6 (26. Bc3 a4) 26... Rxd6 27. e5 Nxd5 $5 28. exd6 Qxe3 29. Bxe3
Nxe3 30. Qd2 Nxf1 31. Bxf1 a4 $132) 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Bc3 Qg5 27. Ref3 Ne8 {
[%csl Re8]} 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. Nc3 a4 (29... Qe5 30. Qb2 {[%cal Rb2b7]} {
although after} Ra8 31. Qb7 Rd8 {Black's position is very solid.}) 30. Qb2 {
[%cal Rb2b7,Rc3a4]} Qd8 $6 (30... Ra5 $5 31. Nxa4+ Qe5) 31. Nxa4+ Kg8 32. Nc3 {
The blockade on e5 has been lifted, and White's chances are preferable due to
Black's poor e8-knight.} Rb6 33. Qd2 Qg5 34. Qa2 Bc8 35. Qa8 Qd8 36. Qa5 Qc7
37. Nb5 Qb7 38. Qd2 Kg7 39. Qc3+ Kg8 (39... f6 40. Rg3 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Re2h5]}
Kh7 41. Bd3 $40 {[%cal Re4e5]}) 40. e5 $16 dxe5 41. Qxe5 Bd7 42. Nc3 Nd6 43.
Rf6 Qb8 44. Qf4 Nf5 (44... Bf5 45. g4 (45. Qxh6 Qd8 46. Qg5 Rb3) 45... Bc2 46.
h4 $16) 45. Ne4 Qxf4 46. Rxf4 Rb1+ 47. Kh2 Rb2 48. Bd3 Rc8 49. Ra6 Kg7 50. Nf6
Ne3 51. Nxd7 Nxg2 52. Kg3 Nxf4 53. Kxf4 {Besides a material advantage, White
now has a strong passed pawn, and Black's c5-pawn is very weak.} Rf2+ 54. Ke5
Rf3 55. Be4 $1 Re8+ (55... Rxh3 56. Nf6 {[%cal Yd5d6,Yd6d7]}) 56. Re6 $1 fxe6
57. Bxf3 {[%mdl 4096]} exd5+ 58. Kxd5 Re3 59. Bg4 h5 60. Be6 g5 61. Nxc5 g4 62.
hxg4 h4 {This pawn doesn't help Black; White successfully stops it.} 63. Kd4
Ra3 64. Bd5 h3 65. Ne6+ $2 (65. Nd3 $142 h2 66. Nf2) 65... Kf6 66. Nc5 h2 $2 {
Black misses a golden chance:} (66... Kg5 67. Ne4+ Kxg4 68. c5 h2 69. c6 Kf4 $1
{, and White can't win, e.g.} 70. Nf2 (70. Nc3 Ra7 71. Nb5 Re7 72. c7 Rd7 $11)
70... Ra7 71. Kc5 Ra5+ 72. Kb6 (72. Kd6 Rxd5+ 73. Kxd5 Kf3 74. Nh1 Kg2 75. c7
Kxh1 76. c8=Q Kg2 $11) 72... Rxd5 73. c7 Rd2 74. c8=Q Rxf2 $11) 67. Ne4+ Ke7
68. Nf2 Ra1 69. Ke3 Rf1 70. c5 Rc1 71. c6 Kd6 72. Bg2 Rc2 73. g5 Ke5 74. g6
Rc3+ 75. Nd3+ Kf6 76. Be4 Ke6 77. Kd4 Ra3 78. c7 Ra4+ 79. Kc3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.19"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Malachite Sverdlovsk Region"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {Once the QID was the top solid opening against 1.
d4, nowadays the elite goes more often for various lines of the Queen's Gambit.
} 4. g3 Bb7 {The classical move.} ({Slightly more popular is} 4... Ba6 {
, especially due to Karjakin:} 5. b3 (5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2
(8. b3 c5 9. Bb2 d6 10. Re1 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc7 13. e4 Nc6 14. N2f3
a6 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Nd4 Qb7 17. Qf3 Nd7 18. e5 Qxf3+ 19. Nxf3 Nxe5 20. Nxe5
dxe5 21. Bxe5 Rfc8 22. Red1 Ra7 $11 {Andreikin,D (2722)-Karjakin,S (2767)/Baku/
2014/}) 8... d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Rd1 Na6 11. a3 Qc8 12. Nb1 c5 13. Nc3 Nc7 14.
Nh4 g6 15. Bh6 Rd8 16. Nf3 Ne6 17. h3 Qc6 18. e3 Rac8 19. Qe2 Qe8 20. Ne5 Ne4
21. Rac1 cxd4 22. exd4 f5 23. Kh2 Bf6 24. f4 Rc7 $132 {Grischuk,A (2797)
-Karjakin,S (2767)/Baku/2014/} (24... g5 $5)) ({The pawn sacrifice} 5. Qc2 Bb7
6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 {appears less often than a couple of years ago:} exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Qf5 (11. Qa4 Nf6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. g4 Ne8 $146 (
13... Nb4 14. a3 Nbd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. g5 Bc6 17. Qh4 Ne8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19.
Rxd7 Bb7 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Be3 Rd5 22. Nf3 Nd6 $44 {Shirov,A (2699)-Aronian,L 
(2759)/Elista cm/2007/CBM 119/[Stohl,I]}) 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxb7 Rb8 16. Bg2 d6
17. g5 Nc7 18. Bf4 Ng6 19. Bg3 b5 20. Qg4 Qc8 21. Qxc8 Rfxc8 22. Ne4 Ne8 23.
Nxd6 (23. h4 $5 $44) 23... Nxd6 24. Bxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Nf4 $11 {Ding,L (2742)
-Harikrishna,P (2725)/Kocaeli/2014/}) 11... Nf6 12. e4 g6 13. Qf4 O-O 14. e5
Nh5 15. Qc4 (15. Qh6 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 cxd4 18. Rxd4 Qc7 19. Nc3 Qxe5
20. Rxd7 Qe6 21. Rd1 Rad8 $11 {Bacrot,E (2720)-Karjakin,S (2771)/Dubai rpd/
2014/}) ({White retains more tension in the position with} 15. Qg4 d5 16. exd6
Bxd6 17. Nc3 Qb8 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Nd5 Ne7 20. Ne3 Nc6 {Although he has
sufficient compensation, getting something more concrete is difficult.} (20...
Ng7 $5)) 15... Qc7 $5 ({This has recently replaced} 15... d5 16. exd6 Bxd6 17.
Nc3 Na5 18. Qd3 Bc7 19. Qc2 Qe7 20. Re1 Qd7 21. Bg5 f6 22. Bh6 Rfd8 23. Rad1
Qf7 24. b4 cxb4 25. Nb5 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 $44 {Gelfand,B (2755)-Leko,P (2756)/
Jermuk/2009/CBM 132/[Gelfand,B]}) (15... Na5 16. Qd3 Qc7 17. Nc3 Rad8 18. Nb5
Qb8 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. Qc3 Ne6 22. Rad1 $44 {Pellen,M (2490)-Siigur,
J (2452)/email/2011/}) 16. Bh6 Na5 17. Qe2 Rfe8 18. Nc3 Rad8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20.
Rxd5 Nc6 21. Qc4 Ng7 22. Rad1 Nb4 23. Rd6 $6 (23. R5d2 Ne6 $13) 23... Nf5 24.
Bf4 b5 $1 $15 {Sethuraman,S (2590)-Mareco,S (2574)/Tromso olm/2014/}) (5. Qb3
Nc6 6. Nbd2 Na5 7. Qc3 (7. Qa4 Bb7 8. Bg2 c5 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. O-O Be7 11. Re1
Qc7 12. e4 Bc6 13. Qa3 d6 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 O-O 17. Qa4 Rfc8
18. Ndf3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxc6 Rxc6 21. Bf4 Rb6 $11 {/+/=,Gelfand,B (2748)
-Karjakin,S (2767)/Tashkent/2014/}) 7... c5 8. dxc5 bxc5 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne4
11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Bg2 Nc6 13. O-O Rb8 14. b3 Be7 15. Bb2 O-O 16. Qe3 Bxf3 17.
Bxf3 Nd4 $5 {is a positional sacrifice, typical for this line. After} 18. Bxd4
cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc7 20. Rad1 Rfd8 21. Qe4 Qa5 22. Qe2 d6 23. exd6 Bxd6 24. h4 Bc5
25. Kg2 Qc7 26. Qe4 a5 $44 {Vachier-Lagrave,M (2757)-Karjakin,S (2767)/
Tashkent /2014/ the blockade on the dark squares holds strong.}) 5... Bb4+ 6.
Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 {is a long-lasting theoretical feud between Aronian and
Karjakin, where the former has until now been far more successful:} c6 (7...
O-O 8. Bg2 c6 9. e4 d5 10. exd5 cxd5 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bf4 Na5 14.
Rc1 Ba3 15. Rb1 Bb4 16. Ne2 Nc6 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Nf4 Qd6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. cxd5
exd5 21. Bxd5 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Qxe5 23. Re1 $36 {Aronian,L (2812)-Karjakin,S 
(2759)/Wijk aan Zee/2014/ For more details see the notes to this game in CBM
159.}) (7... d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Rc1 Nbd7
13. Bg5 c6 14. f4 c5 15. e3 cxd4 16. exd4 Ne4 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qd3 Ndf6 19.
Bh3 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qd6 21. Rfc1 Ne4 22. R3c2 f6 23. Nc6 Rf7 24. Qb5 g6 25. Qb4
$14 {Navara,D (2718)-Almasi,Z (2695)/CRO-chT Bol/2014/}) 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4
10. Nxe4 Bb7 (10... c5 11. Bc3 Bb7 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Na6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.
Be4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 O-O 17. Rd1 Nc5 18. Qf3 Qc7 19. O-O Qb7 20. Qxb7 Nxb7 21. Bb4
Rfc8 22. Rd2 a5 23. Ba3 a4 24. Nb5 axb3 25. axb3 Nc5 $11 {Van Wely,L (2655)
-Carlsen,M (2646)/Schagen/2006/}) 11. Bc3 ({For Topalov's aggressive} 11. Neg5
$5 {see Topalov,V (2778)-Anand,V (2785)/Sofia/2005/CBM 107/[Tyomkin,D]}) 11...
Nbd7 (11... c5 $142 $5) 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bd3 c5 14. Be4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 O-O 16.
O-O Qc7 17. Rad1 a6 18. Rfe1 Rfd8 19. Qe3 cxd4 20. Bxd4 h6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22.
Ne5 b5 23. Rc1 bxc4 24. Rxc4 Qd6 25. Qf3 Qd5 26. Kg2 a5 27. Ra4 $14 {Aronian,L
(2815)-Karjakin,S (2771)/Stavanger/2014/ For more details see the notes to
this game by Krasenkow in CBM 161.}) 5. Bg2 Be7 ({In the sideline} 5... c5 6.
d5 exd5 {White has come up with a similar promising pawn sacrifice} 7. cxd5 $5
({The main move used to be} 7. Nh4 {, which doesn't give White much.}) {
The defence faces serious problems here:} 7... Bxd5 8. Nc3 Bc6 9. e4 $1 d6 10.
O-O Be7 11. Nh4 g6 $6 (11... O-O $142 12. Nf5 $44 {|^}) 12. Bh6 Bf8 13. Bxf8
Kxf8 14. Qd2 Ne8 15. Rad1 Kg7 16. f4 Qc8 17. Nd5 Rf8 18. e5 $1 dxe5 19. f5 Qd8
20. f6+ Nxf6 21. Nf5+ Kh8 22. Qh6 Rg8 23. Nxf6 {1-0, Gelfand,B (2748)
-Andreikin,D (2722)/Baku/2014/}) 6. Nc3 (6. O-O O-O {can transpose into the
game, but not necessarily:} 7. Nc3 (7. d5 exd5 8. Nh4 {isn't currently
considered too dangerous:} c6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nf5 Nc7 11. e4 d5 12. Nc3 Bf6
13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Ne3 Nc6 16. Nxd5 Be5 17. Re1 Re8 18. Qg4 Nd4
19. Bg5 f5 20. Bxd8 fxg4 21. Ne7+ Kf7 22. Bxb7 Raxd8 23. Rxe5 Rxe7 24. Rxe7+
Kxe7 $11 {Lysyj,I (2670)-Khismatullin,D (2671)/Vladivostok/2014/}) (7. Re1 Na6
8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Bf4 $5 (9. Qc2 f5 10. Ne5 d6 11. Nd3 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2742)
-Adams,M (2753)/Bilbao/2013/} Bf6 12. Be3 c5 $132) 9... d6 10. Qc2 Nb4 11. Qb3
Nxc3 12. Qxc3 c5 13. e4 Nc6 14. d5 Bf6 15. Qd2 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. e5 dxe5
18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 exd5 20. Rae1 Qd6 21. Re7 Bc6 22. Bxd5 Rad8 23. Rxa7
Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxd5 25. cxd5 Rxd5 26. Rb7 Rd6 27. Re3 g6 28. Rb3 c4 29. R3xb6
Rxb6 30. Rxb6 Ra8 31. a3 c3 $14 {/=, Gelfand,B (2748)-Grischuk,A (2797)/Baku/
2014/}) 7... Ne4 8. Bd2 f5 $5 ({For} 8... Bf6 {see the note to move 8.}) 9. d5
Bf6 10. Rc1 (10. Qc2 $2 {is possible without castling, here} Bxc3 $1 11. Bxc3
exd5 $15 {wins a pawn.}) 10... Na6 11. Be1 Nac5 12. Nd4 Qe7 {This position was
played already in the 20th century, Black has reasonable counterplay:} 13. Ndb5
a6 14. Nxc7 Bxc3 15. Bxc3 Rac8 16. b4 Rxc7 17. Bb2 d6 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. Ba3 e5
20. Rb1 Nd7 21. Qb3 a5 22. Rfc1 Ba6 23. Bh3 g5 24. e3 Qf6 25. Bf1 Rb8 26. Qd1
Qg6 27. f3 h5 $13 {Forsloef,L (2475)-Fritz,J (2446)/email/2008/}) 6... Ne4 {
The main move.} ({After} 6... O-O {Black must reckon with Korchnoi's} 7. Qc2 $5
c5 8. d5 {In practice White is doing well in this line.}) 7. Bd2 {[%cal Yd4d5]
Introduced by Opocensky at the Buenos Aires ol 1939, this move is nowadays
White's main try to fight for an edge from the opening.} ({The former main line
} 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 O-O 9. O-O $132 f5 ({or} 9... c5 $11 {is currently
considered too soft and is out of fashion.})) 7... Bf6 {The main move, geared
against d5.} (7... d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qa4+ $5 (9. O-O O-O 10. Rc1 Nd7 11. Bf4
c5 12. Nd2 ({According to Krasenkow, the popular} 12. dxc5 {, or}) (12. Be3 {
and}) (12. Qc2 {are better tries to get an opening advantage.}) 12... Nxc3 13.
bxc3 Rc8 (13... Nf6 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nb3 Ba3 16. Rc2 Rc8 $11 {1/2, Petrosian,
T (2640)-Karpov,A (2540)/Moscow/1971/}) 14. Re1 Re8 15. e4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rxc1
17. Qxc1 Nf8 18. e5 Qd7 19. Qb1 Rc8 20. Be3 g6 21. h4 Qc6 22. Bh3 Ne6 $132 {
Giri,A (2737)-Fressinet,L (2708)/Elancourt/2013/CBM 157/[Krasenkow,M]}) 9...
Qd7 10. Qc2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 {[%csl Rd7]} O-O 12. O-O Nc6 13. Rac1 Rad8 14. e3 Bf6
15. Rfd1 Na5 16. b3 Rfe8 17. Ne2 Qd6 18. Nf4 c6 19. Ne5 c5 20. Ng4 $16 {
[%csl Rd5] Kasparov,G (2690)-Gligoric,S (2505)/Niksic/1983/}) 8. Qc2 ({The
complications after} 8. Rc1 $6 Bxd4 $1 9. Nxd4 Nxc3 10. Bxb7 Nxd1 11. Rxd1 c6
12. Bf4 O-O 13. Bd6 Re8 14. Bxa8 Qc8 15. b4 Na6 16. b5 Qxa8 17. bxa6 c5 18. Nf3
Qe4 19. Rc1 f6 20. a3 {give Black at least a draw with} Qc6 ({Engines recommend
} 20... g5 $5 {and prefer Black.}) 21. Rd1 Qe4 $11) ({The more usual
continuation is} 8. O-O O-O 9. Rc1 ({After} 9. Qc2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 d6 11. d5 {
the simplest is} Bxc3 12. Qxc3 exd5 13. Nh4 d4 $1 14. Qxd4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 Nc6
16. Qc3 a5 17. Nf4 Re8 18. Rfe1 Qd7 19. Rad1 Re5 20. e4 Rae8 21. f3 f5 22. Nd3
R5e7 23. e5 dxe5 24. Nxe5 Qe6 $11 {Smejkal,J (2570)-Makarichev,S (2505)/
Sarajevo/1982/}) 9... c5 ({More restrained and maybe even more solid is} 9...
d6 10. d5 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Bxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. b4 a5 14. a3 Nd7 15. Rb1 Qe7 16.
Ne1 Ra7 17. Nc2 Rfa8 18. h4 Bc8 19. e4 h5 20. Bf3 g6 21. Qh6 axb4 22. axb4 Ra2
23. Ne3 Qf6 24. Nf1 Qg7 25. Qg5 Qf6 $11 {Markus,R (2602)-Hracek,Z (2634)/
Tromso olm/2014/}) 10. dxc5 (10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Bc3 Nc6 $11) ({The main move is
} 10. d5 exd5 11. cxd5 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 d6 13. Nde4 Be5 $5 {The resulting complex
position ressembles a Benoni, chances are roughly equal:} ({The passive} 13...
Be7 14. f4 Nd7 15. g4 a6 16. a4 ({or} 16. g5 $5 $14 {gives White more
realistic attacking chances})) 14. Qd2 ({More enticing in my opinion is} 14. f4
Bd4+ 15. Kh1 Ba6 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. Rfe1 g6 18. e3 Bg7 19. Ng5 $5 {[%cal Yg5f3,
Ye3e5] , White strives to play in the centre.}) 14... Ba6 15. Rfe1 g6 16. g4
Qe7 17. f4 Bg7 18. g5 Nd7 19. a4 Rae8 (19... Rfe8 $5) 20. e3 Rd8 21. h4 Rfe8
22. b3 Nf8 23. Ng3 Bc8 24. Bf3 h6 25. Nce4 Nh7 26. Qd3 f5 $1 27. Nd2 hxg5 28.
hxg5 Nxg5 $5 29. fxg5 Qxg5 $44 {Sjugirov,S (2635)-Alekseev,E (2673)/Moscow/
2012/}) 10... bxc5 11. Qb3 $5 Qb6 12. Bf4 {This is still a rare idea, but
White has had some recent success with it and also Houdini likes the pressure
on the d-file. Further practical tests are required:} Nxc3 13. bxc3 Be4 (13...
Nc6 14. Rfd1 (14. Rb1 $5) 14... Na5 15. Qc2 Bc6 16. Nd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qc6+ 18.
Kg1 Rfd8 19. Rb1 d6 20. Qb2 Rd7 $6 21. Qb5 Qxb5 22. Rxb5 Bxc3 23. Ne4 a6 24.
Rxc5 dxc5 25. Rxd7 Bb4 26. Nd6 f6 27. Be3 $36 {Berkes,F (2685)-Kovacevic,A 
(2549)/HUN-chT/2012/}) 14. Rfd1 Rd8 (14... d5 $2 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17.
Kxg2 Qxb3 18. axb3 Rd8 19. Ng4 Be7 20. Ne3 d4 21. cxd4 cxd4 22. Nf5 Bf6 23.
Nxd4 $16 {1-0 Cheparinov,I (2664)-Nikolov,M (2550)/Panagyurishte 2012/CBM 148
Extra (59)}) 15. Ng5 (15. Bd6 $5) 15... Bxg2 16. Kxg2 e5 17. Be3 Bxg5 18. Bxg5
f6 19. Be3 d6 20. Rb1 Nd7 21. f3 Qc7 22. a4 Rab8 23. Qa2 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Qa5 25.
Rb7 Nb6 26. Qd2 Qxa4 27. Bxc5 Qxc4 28. Bxb6 axb6 29. Rxb6 d5 $11 {Medvegy,Z 
(2522)-Bokros,A (2461)/Zalakaros/2014/}) 8... Nxd2 9. Qxd2 d6 10. d5 {White
fights for central space.} (10. O-O O-O 11. e4 Nd7 12. Rad1 g6 13. Rfe1 (13. h4
Qe7 14. Rfe1 Bg7 15. Qc2 c5 16. b3 cxd4 17. Nxd4 a6 18. Qd2 Rfd8 19. Qe3 Rab8
20. Rd2 Nf6 21. Bf3 Qc7 22. Red1 Nd7 23. Bg2 Rbc8 24. Bh3 Re8 25. Nde2 Bf8 $11
{Anand,V (2780)-Carlsen,M (2843)/Sao Paulo/Bilbao/2012/ Black has a pleasant
Hedgehog here with no problems whatsoever.}) 13... Bg7 {gives Black a flexible
position, violent attempts to break it up would enhance the power of his
bishop pair.} 14. d5 e5 15. b4 a5 16. a3 Ba6 17. Nb5 Nf6 18. Bh3 Qe7 19. Ra1
axb4 20. Qxb4 Bxb5 21. cxb5 Bh6 $11 {Morozevich,A (2722)-Alekseev,E (2678)/
RUS-chT Loo/2014/}) 10... Bxc3 $146 {[%mdl 40] Until now Black has usually
tried to stablise the central pawn-structure as soon as possible. Grischuk's
strategy is slightly different, Black opts for a more open fight.} (10... e5
11. h4 $1 Nd7 12. e4 a5 13. Bh3 Nc5 14. O-O Bc8 15. Bxc8 Qxc8 16. Kg2 O-O 17.
Qe3 Qg4 18. Rh1 Be7 19. Nd2 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. f3 Qg6 22. Nce4 $14 {[%csl
Ge4] Browne,W (2510)-Saidy,A (2415)/Reno/1994/}) (10... O-O $142 11. Nd4 {
, but even here it's more prudent to exchange the bishop with} Bxd4 $5 (11...
e5 $2 12. Nc6 Qd7 13. Nxb8 Rfxb8 14. h4 $1 a5 15. a4 $1 Rf8 16. e4 h5 17. O-O-O
g6 18. Bh3 Qe7 19. Kc2 Kg7 20. f3 Rh8 21. Rh2 Ba6 22. Nb5 Raf8 23. Kb1 Qd8 24.
Qd3 Be7 25. Re2 Bc8 26. Bxc8 Qxc8 27. Rg1 Bd8 28. Na7 $16 {[%csl Ga7,Rd8]
Karpov,A (2760)-Jussupow,A (2630)/Tilburg 1993/CBM 039/[Dautov] Here White's
knight again dominated the bishop in a model game.}) 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qd2 a5 14.
O-O Nd7 15. e4 Nc5 16. f4 Re8 17. f5 f6 18. b3 Bc8 19. Qc2 Bd7 20. h4 Qe7 21.
Rf2 Kh8 22. Kh2 Rg8 23. Qd2 Rab8 24. Bf1 Rbf8 25. Be2 g5 $11 {Indjic,A (2430)
-Lysyj,I (2656)/EU-ch Plovdiv/2012/}) 11. Qxc3 O-O 12. Nd2 ({We have already
mentioned} 12. O-O exd5 13. Nh4 d4 $11 {above.}) 12... Re8 13. e3 c5 $5 ({
Grischuk spurns} 13... e5 {and plays more actively, than Lysyj above.}) 14. O-O
exd5 15. cxd5 {To increase his chances for a central break White needs more
pieces.} ({A less ambitious move is} 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 (15... Qe7 $5) 16. cxd5 Nd7
$11) 15... Nd7 16. a4 (16. e4 b5 $132 {with typical Benoni counterplay.}) 16...
Ba6 17. Rfd1 b5 $6 {This seems too violent.} (17... Qe7 $142 $11) (17... Qf6 $5
$11) 18. axb5 ({The immediate} 18. b4 $5 {/\} bxa4 19. Ne4 $1 $36 {[%csl Rd6]
is interesting}) 18... Bxb5 19. b4 a6 20. Nb3 Rc8 (20... c4 21. Nd4 Ne5 22. Bf1
$14 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Ye3e4,Yf2f4]}) 21. bxc5 Nxc5 22. Nd4 $14 {White is better
due to his more compact pawn-structure.} Qf6 $6 (22... Qd7 $14 {is rather
passive.}) 23. Rac1 $6 {[%cal Yd4c6] Topalov wants more than an endgame and
prepares to invade via c6, but he runs into a tactical blow.} (23. Nxb5 $142
axb5 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. Rdb1 $16 {[%csl Rb5]}) 23... Ne4 $1 24. Qxc8 {Accepts
the challenge, but this should have led to a draw by force.} (24. Qb2 Rxc1 25.
Rxc1 Nc5 $132 {[%cal Yb5d3,Yd3e4]}) 24... Qxf2+ 25. Kh1 Qxe3 26. h3 (26. Bxe4
$6 Qxe4+ 27. Kg1 Qe3+ $1 (27... Rxc8 $2 28. Rxc8+ Be8 29. Nc2 $1 $16 {[%csl
Re8][%cal Rd1e1]}) 28. Kg2 Rxc8 (28... Qe4+ $11) 29. Rxc8+ Be8 30. Rf1 h6 31.
Ne6 $15 {/=}) 26... Nxg3+ 27. Kh2 Qf4 $2 {This causes Black big problems for
many moves to come.} (27... Qe5 $142 $1 28. Nf3 (28. Nxb5 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Ng3+ 30.
Kg1 Ne2+ $11) 28... Nf1+ 29. Kg1 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Ng3+ 31. Kh2 Ne2 $1 $11 {and
White can't well avoid a perpetual.}) 28. Qg4 $1 {Forces a queen swap.} Nf1+
29. Kg1 Qh2+ 30. Kf2 Ne3 31. Qg3 Nxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Qxg3+ 33. Kxg3 g6 {[%csl Ra6,
Rd6][%mdl 4096] Formally the material is equal (Black has 3P for the N), but
this endgame is advantageous for White, as Black's pawns are not dangerous and
mostly just vulnerable. Grischuk's main hopes to save the game stem forom the
fact the White has only 2P (and soon only a single one) left.} 34. Rc1 (34. Rb1
$142 $5 $16) 34... Kg7 35. h4 Kf6 36. Kf2 h6 37. Bf3 g5 38. hxg5+ hxg5 39. Rc7
Re7 40. Rc3 Re8 41. Bg2 Re7 ({A more resilient move was} 41... g4 $1 $14 {<=>})
42. Rh3 $1 Kg6 (42... g4 $5 43. Rh6+ Ke5 $14) 43. Bf3 Bd7 (43... f5 $2 44. Rh6+
$1 Kxh6 45. Nxf5+ $16) 44. Rh8 Re8 (44... f5 45. Nc6 $36) 45. Bh5+ Kg7 {
Black prefers to sacrifice a pawn to exchange White's active rook.} (45... Kf6
46. Rh6+ Ke7 (46... Ke5 $2 47. Nf3+ $18) 47. Nc6+ Bxc6 48. dxc6 $16) 46. Rxe8
Bxe8 47. Nf5+ Kf6 48. Nxd6 Bd7 49. Nb7 $6 (49. Nc4 $142 $5 {/\} Bb5 50. Na5 Be8
51. Nc6 $16) 49... Be8 50. Ke3 Ke5 51. d6 {[%cal Rh5f7]} Ke6 $2 {This allows
White to activate his K and coordinate his forces. The threat against f7 was
more or less illusory:} (51... a5 $142 $1 52. Bxf7 Bd7 {and White has no way
to support his passed pawn.} 53. Kd3 g4 54. Kc4 g3 55. Bd5 Be6 {already forces}
56. Bxe6 Kxe6 57. Nc5+ Kxd6 58. Ne4+ $11) 52. Kd4 a5 53. Bf3 a4 54. Bd5+ Kf6 (
54... Kd7 55. Kc5 a3 56. Bc6+ Kc8 57. Kb6 $1 Bd7 58. Nc5 $18 {and White wins
Black's bishop.}) 55. Nc5 {[%csl Gc5,Gd4,Gd5,Gd6]} Bb5 56. Ne4+ (56. Bc4 $1 Bc6
57. Ke3 a3 58. Ba2 Bb5 59. Bb3 Bc6 60. Bc4 $22 g4 61. Kf4 $18) 56... Kf5 57.
Bxf7 g4 58. Bd5 a3 59. Ng3+ Kf4 60. Ne4 (60. Ne2+ $1 Kf5 61. Kc5 Bd7 62. Nd4+
Kf4 63. Nc2 $18 {[%cal Rc2a3]}) 60... g3 61. Nc3 Kf5 62. Be4+ $6 {White
shouldn't let the king nearer to his pawn, but even after} (62. Kc5 Ba4 $5 (
62... Bd7 63. Ne2 $1 g2 64. Bxg2 a2 65. Nd4+ $18 {[%cal Rd4b3,Rd4c2]}) {
it's not easy to see, how White can win:} 63. Ne2 g2 64. Kb4 Bd7 65. Kxa3 Ke5
$11 {is already insufficient.}) 62... Ke6 63. Bg2 Bd7 (63... a2 $1 64. Nxa2 (
64. Bd5+ Kxd6 $11 65. Nxb5+ $4 Ke7 66. Bxa2 g2 $19) 64... Kxd6 {was an
immediate draw, but even now I don't see how White can improve his position -
Black's passed pawns are too far forward and tie down the enemy forces.}) 64.
Kc5 Ke5 65. Bd5 Be6 66. Bc6 Bd7 $1 67. Bh1 (67. Bxd7 $2 g2 68. Ne2 a2 $19)
67... Be8 68. Na2 Bd7 69. Nb4 Be8 70. Bd5 Bd7 71. Nd3+ Kf6 72. Nb4 {SOCAR had
already won the match, so Topalov abandons further winning attempts.} Ke5 73.
Nd3+ Kf6 74. Nb4 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.20"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. h3 Qe7 13. Bd5 Bd7 14. Nb3 Bd6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. Qe2 Nb8 19. Bc4 Nh5 20. Na5 Bc8 21. Bd5 Nf4
22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. Qc4 Kh7 24. Kf1 Bc5 25. Red1 Bb6 26. Nc6 Nxc6 27. Bxc6 a5 28.
c3 bxc3 29. Qxc3 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Bd5 f6 33. b4 axb4 34.
Qxb4 Qd6 35. Qxd6 cxd6 36. Nh4 h5 37. Bc6 Kh6 38. Ke2 Kg5 39. Nf3+ Kh6 40. Nd2
f5 41. exf5 Bxf5 42. Ne4 Bxe4 43. Bxe4 h4 44. f3 Kg5 45. Kd3 Kf6 46. Kc4 Ke7
47. Kb5 Bf2 48. Kc6 Be1 49. Bf5 Bd2 50. Kb6 d5 51. a5 Kd6 52. a6 Be3+ 53. Kb7
Bf2 54. Bc2 Bg1 55. a7 Bxa7 56. Kxa7 Kc5 57. Kb7 Kd4 58. Kc6 e4 59. Bd1 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sanchez Jerez, Emilio Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E66"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2282"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 Rb8 11. a4 e5 12. b3 Ng4 13. e4 f5 14. exf5 gxf5 15. h3
Nf6 16. Bb2 Qe8 17. Rae1 Qh5 18. f4 e4 19. Rf2 b6 20. Nf1 Nb7 21. Ne3 Nd8 22.
Qd2 Nf7 23. g4 fxg4 24. hxg4 Bxg4 25. Nxe4 Nh6 26. Nxd6 Bh3 27. Bxh3 Qxh3 28.
Rh2 Qd7 29. Rxh6 Qxd6 30. Nf5 Qd7 31. Re6 Ne4 32. Ne7+ Kf7 33. Qh2 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Debashis, Das"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E58"]
[WhiteElo "2503"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qc7 11. h3 e5 12. a4 Bf5 {This tabiya of the
Rubinstein Variation in the Nimzo-Indian always promises interesting games.}
13. Ba3 b6 14. Bb5 e4 15. Nd2 Na5 16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. Rfc1 Be6 18. Rab1 Rd5 $5 {
Topalov is always looking for aggressive chances. Here he is planning to swing
his rook over to the kingside, with some serious threats.} 19. Qf1 Rg5 20. Kh1
Rd8 21. Be2 {White's kingside is holding, but he doesn't seem to be making any
progress of his own.} Rg6 22. f4 {Even though it is hard to come up with an
alternative, this seems to weaken White's position too much.} exf3 23. Bxf3 Qd7
(23... Rh6 $5 {Was stronger to play first. The idea is actually quick simple;
rip the game apart with g5-g4.} 24. Qf2 g5 25. e4 g4 26. Be2 gxh3 27. g3 Nc4 $3
$17 {sctacular, but not the only move} 28. Bxc4 Bxc4 {and the piece is taboo
because of} 29. Nxc4 Nxe4 30. Qe3 Nxg3+ 31. Kg1 h2+ 32. Kg2 Rg6 $19) 24. Ra1
Nd5 25. Qf2 Bxh3 $1 26. c4 (26. gxh3 Qxh3+ 27. Qh2 Qe6 $19 {leaves White's
king too vulnerable to the attacks on the h and g files.}) 26... Nf6 27. gxh3
cxd4 (27... Qxh3+ 28. Qh2 Qe6 {was still very strong.}) 28. e4 Nb3 $1 {A nice
distraction tactic.} 29. Bg2 (29. Nxb3 Qxh3+ 30. Qh2 Qxf3+ {and mate}) 29...
Nxa1 30. Rxa1 Re8 $6 {From here on Topalov seems to lose the thread of the
game a little.} (30... Qc7 {was stronger, with the idea of relocating the f6
knight to a more powerful square, either e5, c5 or h5.}) 31. Bb2 Nh5 32. Ra3 d3
$2 (32... Rf6 $15) 33. e5 {Now White is fully back in the game. Black is not
coordinated enough to push his d-pawn.} Rg3 34. Kh2 Qc7 35. Ne4 {Suddenly that
rook on g3 is in serious problems.} d2 36. Rxg3 d1=Q 37. Nf6+ Kh8 38. Nxe8 {
A crazy position! Black has two queens and a knight against a queen, a rook,
and three pieces. Black must exchange queens or he will get mated very soon.}
Qc5 39. Qxc5 bxc5 40. e6 fxe6 (40... f6 $1) 41. Bxg7+ (41. Rg4 $1 {and then
taking on g7 with the knight instead, kept some winning chances.}) 41... Nxg7
42. Nxg7 Qxa4 43. Nxe6 Qxc4 44. Ng5 a5 45. Ne4 a4 46. Rc3 {Oddly enough the
game fizzled into a draw. In this position some computers might claim that
this is better for Black, but that is clearly not the case. As soon as White
takes the pawn on c5 and sacrifices something for the a-pawn the position
cannot be won, even if White sacrifices the rook!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Guerrero Vargas, Andres Jesus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg5 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. e3 Ne4 7. Nxe4 Bxe4 8.
Bxe7 Qxe7 9. c3 e5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 e4 12. Qxb5 exf3 13. Qb7 O-O 14. Qxa8
Nc6 15. Qb7 Rb8 16. Qxc7 Rxb2 17. Qc8+ Nd8 18. O-O h5 19. Rab1 Rxb1 20. Rxb1
Kh7 21. Qc5 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
Be7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Bg3 Bd7 11. a4 Bf8 12. Re1 a6 13. Bc4 g6 14. d4 Bg7 15. Qb3
Re7 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bd5 Rb8 18. Nc4 Nh5 19. Bh4 g5 20. Bg3 Qe8 21. Ne3 Nf4
22. Qc2 Kh8 23. b4 Nd8 24. Bb3 Be6 25. Rad1 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Nf5 Nc6 28.
Rd1 Qe8 29. h3 Rd8 30. Bxe6 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 fxe6 32. Nxg7 Kxg7 33. b5 axb5 34.
axb5 Ne7 35. Nxe5 Nh5 36. Qd4 Nxg3 37. Ng4+ Kh7 38. fxg3 Qxb5 39. Qf6 Qc5+ 40.
Kh2 Ng8 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42. Qg6 h5 43. Qxh5+ Kg7 44. e5 Qe7 45. c4 b6 46. Nf6 Nxf6
47. Qxg5+ Kf7 48. Qf4 c6 49. exf6 e5 50. Qe3 Qe6 51. h4 Kxf6 52. Qxb6 e4 53.
Qd4+ Kg6 54. c5 e3 55. Qd6 Qxd6 56. cxd6 e2 57. d7 e1=Q 58. d8=Q Qe6 59. Qd4
Qc8 60. g4 c5 61. h5+ Kf7 62. Qd5+ Kg7 63. Qe5+ Kg8 64. g5 Qg4 65. Qe8+ Kh7 66.
Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Bb2 Ngf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. c4 c6 8. Qd1
Bd6 9. Be2 a6 10. O-O Bb8 11. d4 Qc7 12. f4 g5 13. Nc3 gxf4 14. exf4 Ba7 15. c5
Rg8 16. b4 Nf8 17. Qe1 Ng6 18. Qf2 Bb8 19. Bc1 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bc4 Qd7
22. f5 Qc7 23. g4 exf5 24. Kh1 Ne7 25. Bd2 Qg3 26. Qxg3 Bxg3 27. gxf5 Rd8 28.
Be3 Nd5 29. Bg1 Rg5 30. Rab1 Ke7 31. Rb3 Kf6 32. a4 Bc7 33. Bf2 Rh5 34. Be2 Rh6
35. Bg4 Rg8 36. Rg1 Nf4 37. Re3 Nd3 38. Rxd3 exd3 39. Kg2 Rh5 40. d5 cxd5 41.
Kf3 Rxf5+ 42. Bxf5 Rxg1 43. Bxg1 Kxf5 44. Be3 h5 45. Bd2 d4 46. b5 axb5 47.
axb5 Be5 48. c6 bxc6 49. bxc6 Bc7 50. Bh6 Bb6 51. Bf4 Ke6 52. Ke4 d2 53. Bxd2
Kd6 54. Kf5 Kxc6 55. Kg5 Kd5 56. Kxh5 Ke4 57. Kg4 d3 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 a6 8.
Be2 {It's always refreshing to see that after eight moves we are already out
of theory. Black will play this in a hedgehog style, developing with b6 and
Bb7, while White will try to contain his opponent.} b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7
11. Bg5 Be7 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bh4 Ne5 14. Nf1 Rd8 15. Bg3 O-O 16. Ne3 Rc8 17. Kh1
Rfd8 18. f3 Nh5 19. Bf2 Nf4 {Black doesn't have too much to complain about his
position. He is a little cramped, but he has some good squares on the kingside;
it is not trivial to push the knights back as any pawn move on the kingside
will cause a weakness. On the other hand Nakamura still holds a nice amount of
space and targets the b6 and a6 pawns with his diagonals.} 20. Bf1 Nfg6 (20...
h5 {and march the pawns forward on the kingside is not completely crazy.}) 21.
Qd2 Bg5 22. Qe1 Nf4 23. Bg3 Nh5 24. Bf2 {Black looks to be relatively planless,
but as is usual in the hedgehog finding a way to improve ones position 
(doesn't matter if you are white or black) seems to be the most difficult part
of the game.} Qe7 25. Ra3 Nf4 26. Rb3 Rc6 27. Ne2 $1 {White gets rid of this
pesky knight on f4, and this gives him a slight edge.} Nxe2 (27... Nfg6 28. Nd4
$16) 28. Bxe2 Rdc8 29. c3 Nd7 30. Nc2 d5 $6 {This advance usually solves
Black's problems, but here it is done too early. Black had to defend against
certain threats.} (30... Nc5 31. Ra3 R6c7 {is perhaps slightly favorable for
White but still anyone's game.}) 31. Nb4 $1 Rc5 32. exd5 {Suddenly thehre is
no good way of recapturing on d5. It is unclear to me what Topalov had planned,
as 31.Nb4 was quite obvious.} Ra5 33. Nc6 Bxc6 34. dxc6 Rxc6 35. Rb4 $16 {
The pair of bishops and the awkward position of Black's rook causes real
headaches for Topalov. White has a clear advantage.} Bf6 36. Qf1 Rd6 37. Rxd6
Qxd6 38. Bxa6 {One pawn finally falls: White has converted his advantage into
something tangible.} Nc5 39. Bb5 Qd2 40. Bg1 Ra8 41. Bc6 $1 Rc8 42. Rxb6 $1 {
Now it's two pawns!} Bd8 43. Rb5 Rxc6 44. Bxc5 Bc7 45. a5 {Black simply lacks
any good compensation for his material. The rest is easy for Nakamura.} Qc2 46.
f4 f6 47. h3 Kh7 48. f5 exf5 49. Bg1 Be5 50. a6 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg5 Qc8 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. e4 Bb7 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Bh3 c6
15. Nd2 Bxd4 16. Nc4 c5 17. Nd6 Qd7 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Rxd4 cxd4 20. Qc7 Bxe4
21. Re1 Bd5 22. Bf1 Nc6 23. Bf6 Qb8 24. Qxb8+ Rxb8 25. Bb5 d3 26. a3 d2 27. Rd1
Rc8 28. Rxd2 Na5 29. Rd1 Nb3 30. h4 h5 31. Bd7 Rc4 32. Bb5 Rc8 33. Bd7 Rc1 34.
Rxc1 Nxc1 35. b4 Nb3 36. Kf1 Nd2+ 37. Ke2 Nc4 38. a4 Kf8 39. f3 Nd6 40. Ke3
Nc4+ 41. Ke2 Nd6 42. Kf2 Ne8 43. Bxe8 Kxe8 44. a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2547"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. a4 O-O 11. a5 a6 12. Qb3 Qe7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. e4 Nf6 15.
exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qxd5 Be6 18. Qe4 Qd6 19. Qxb7 Rfb8 20. Qe4 Bd5 21.
Qe2 Re8 22. Qd1 Rab8 23. Rc1 Rb4 24. Rc3 Rxb2 25. Bc4 Qb4 26. Qd3 Bxc4 27. Qxc4
Qxa5 28. Rb3 Qa2 29. Qc6 Qxb3 30. Qxe8+ Kh7 31. Qa8 Qb5 32. h3 a5 33. d5 Rb1
34. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 35. Kh2 Qb4 36. Kg1 a4 37. d6 a3 38. d7 Bf6 39. Qd5 Kg7 40. g3
Qb2 41. d8=Q Bxd8 42. Ne5 Qb1+ 43. Kg2 Qf5 44. f4 Bc7 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. a3 a5 11. Ne1 Be6 12. Nd3 Bc4 13. Nc5 Bxf1 14. Qxf1 Qb8 15.
Qb5 e5 16. Nxb7 exd4 17. Ne2 Na7 18. Qd3 dxe3 19. Bxe3 Bxb2 20. Rb1 Bg7 21. Nf4
Qc8 22. Bxb6 cxb6 23. Nd6 Qc3 24. Qxc3 Bxc3 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxb6 Bd4 27. Ra6
Nb5 28. Rxa5 Nc3 29. Bf1 Rb8 30. Ne2 Bb6 31. Re5 Nd1 32. Kg2 Bxf2 33. a4 Ba7
34. Rb5 Rd8 35. Rb7 Bc5 36. Rb5 Ba7 37. Rb7 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc4 Be6 9. Qe2 a5 10. a4 Nd7 11. Bd2 Bxc4 12. dxc4 Qe7 13. Kh1 Bb6 14. Ra3 Nc5
15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh3 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. g4 Rff8 19. g5 h5 20. Qxh5 Rf5 21. Ng1
Qf7 22. Qh4 Qg6 23. Rh3 Raf8 24. Ne2 Ne6 25. Qe4 d5 26. cxd5 cxd5 27. Qg4 Bxf2
28. c4 d4 29. Qe4 Rxg5 30. Qd5 Rgf5 31. Qe4 R5f6 32. Qxg6 Rxg6 33. Ng3 Bxg3 34.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Rxg3 Rf6 36. Bxa5 e4 37. Rg4 e3 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. e3 Nc6 8. d4 b6
9. dxc5 bxc5 10. c4 Bb7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nc3 Rc8 13. Re1 Re8 14. Nh4 Ne5 15.
Nb5 Bf8 16. Nxa7 Ra8 17. Nb5 Qb6 18. a4 c4 19. Bd4 Bc5 20. b4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4
Qxd4 22. Nxd4 Nd3 23. Reb1 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Nhf5 Bd5 26. Nb5 g6 27. Nfd4
Reb8 28. Nc7 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O c6 7. d3 a5 8. a3
axb4 9. axb4 Rxa1 10. Bxa1 Na6 11. c3 Re8 12. Nbd2 e5 13. e4 Nc7 14. Qc2 b5 15.
Re1 Nd7 16. Nb3 Nb6 17. Na5 Qd6 18. Bb2 h6 19. Bc1 Na4 20. Be3 Ne6 21. Bd2 Bd7
22. c4 dxc4 23. dxc4 Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4 25. Qb3 Nc3 26. Nb7 Qe7 27. Nc5 Be6 28.
Bf1 Ra8 29. e5 Na4 30. Nxe6 Qxe6 31. Qc2 Nc3 32. Bxc3 dxc3 33. Qxc3 Qe7 34.
cxb5 cxb5 35. Bxb5 Rb8 36. Qc4 Bxe5 37. Bc6 Qf6 38. b5 Bd4 39. Re2 Rd8 40. Kg2
Bb6 41. Bd5 Kg7 42. h4 h5 43. Qe4 Rc8 44. Ba2 Rc5 45. Qd3 Rf5 46. f4 Rc5 47.
Bc4 Rc8 48. Re5 Rd8 49. Rd5 Qb2+ 50. Kh3 Bg1 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Bd6 4. Bg3 Ne7 5. Nf3 c5 6. c3 Nbc6 7. Nbd2 Nf5 8.
Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Bd3 Nfe7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. e4 cxd4 13. e5 Qc7 14. cxd4
Qb6 15. Nb3 a5 16. a4 Nb4 17. Bb5 Rd8 18. Nc5 Na6 19. Rc1 Nxc5 20. Rxc5 Bd7 21.
Qd2 Bxb5 22. Rxb5 Qa7 23. Rc1 b6 24. Rb3 Rac8 25. Rbc3 Qd7 26. b3 Rxc3 27. Rxc3
Rc8 28. g3 Rxc3 29. Qxc3 Qc6 30. Qd2 Qc8 31. Kg2 Nf5 32. h3 Qc6 33. g4 Ne7 34.
Ng1 Ng6 35. Ne2 b5 36. Qc3 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 Nxe2 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2876"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Bc4 c6 4. Qf3 e6 5. Ne2 d5 6. Bb3 Nd7 7. Nbc3 Ne7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Bd6 Re8 12. h3 Nf6 13. e5 Nd7 14. Ng3 Nc8 15. Ba3
c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Ba4 Ncb6 18. Qe2 Nxa4 19. Nxa4 Qa5 20. b3 Bxe5 21. Bb2
Bxb2 22. Nxb2 Qc7 23. Qe3 e5 24. Qg5 f6 25. Qg4 Rad8 26. Rd2 e4 27. Re1 Ne5 28.
Qh4 f5 29. Na4 d4 30. Qg5 Nf7 31. Qf6 Rd6 32. Qh4 Rde6 33. Rdd1 e3 34. f4 Qc6
35. Re2 Ba6 36. Nb2 Bxe2 37. Nxe2 Nd6 38. Nd3 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Bd3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. exd5 exd5 7. Ngf3 Nf6 8.
O-O O-O 9. h3 Nc6 10. Nb3 Bb6 11. Re1 Ne4 12. Be3 Bc7 13. c4 Be6 14. Nc5 Nxc5
15. Bxc5 Re8 16. Qc2 g6 17. Rad1 Qf6 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxg6 Bxf3 20. Bxh7+ Kh8
21. gxf3 Qg7+ 22. Kf1 Rxe1+ 23. Kxe1 Qxh7 24. Qxh7+ Kxh7 25. Rd7 Ba5+ 26. Kf1
Kg6 27. Rxb7 Rb8 28. Rd7 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Ke2 Kf5 31. Kd3 Ne5+ 32. Kd4 Ke6
33. f4 Nd7 34. Ba3 f5 35. b3 Bb6+ 36. Kd3 Bxf2 37. Bb4 Nf6 38. Ke2 Nd5 39. Bd2
Bb6 40. h4 Bd8 41. h5 Kf7 42. a4 Bc7 43. Kf3 a5 44. Bc1 Kg7 45. Bd2 Kh6 46. Bc1
Kxh5 47. Bd2 Kg6 48. Bc1 Kf7 49. Bd2 Ke6 50. Bc1 Kd7 51. Bd2 Kc6 52. Bc1 Kc5
53. Bd2 Kd4 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. h3 Ne7
9. Re1 Ng6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Rxe3 O-O 12. Nbd2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qxd5
15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Nxb3 f6 17. d4 exd4 18. Nfxd4 Ne5 19. a5 Rd8 20. Ra4 b6 21.
axb6 cxb6 22. f4 Bd7 23. Rb4 a5 24. fxe5 axb4 25. exf6 bxc3 26. bxc3 gxf6 27.
Nd2 Be8 28. Ne4 Bg6 29. Nxf6+ Kf7 30. Ng4 Re8 31. Ne5+ Kg7 32. h4 Ra5 33. Ndc6
Rc5 34. Kf2 Re6 35. Nxg6 Rxe3 36. Kxe3 Rxc3+ 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. Na3 d6 10. Nc2 h6 11. a3 Be6 12. b4 b6 13. b5 Na5 14. c4 Nb3 15. Rb1 Nxc1
16. Qxc1 Qd7 17. Ne3 Bh3 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Kh7 20. Nd2 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 f5 22.
f3 Rf7 23. Nc4 Raf8 24. Rf1 h5 25. Qd1 Bh6 26. Rb2 h4 27. a4 Qe7 28. Kg1 Qd8
29. Rg2 Kg7 30. Qe2 Bg5 31. f4 fxe4 32. dxe4 h3 33. Rgf2 exf4 34. Qg4 fxg3 35.
Rxf7+ Rxf7 36. Rxf7+ Kxf7 37. Qxg3 Qf6 38. Nxd6+ Kf8 39. e5 Qf4 40. Qxh3 Qd4+
41. Kf1 Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qd2+ 43. Kf1 Qd1+ 44. Kf2 Qd2+ 45. Kf1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Bxc5 10. Ke2 Bd7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Bd3 Bc6 13. Ne5 Nbd7 14. Nxc6
Rxc6 15. Nd2 Rac8 16. a3 Bd6 17. Rxc6 Rxc6 18. Rc1 Rxc1 19. Bxc1 Kf8 20. g3 Nd5
21. Be4 Nc3+ 22. Kd3 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Be7 24. a4 f5 25. Nd2 Kf7 26. h3 e5 27. e4
g6 28. Bb2 Ke6 29. f3 h5 30. Bc3 a6 31. Bb2 Bb4 32. Nc4 Nc5+ 33. Ke3 fxe4 34.
Nxe5 exf3 35. Nxg6 Nxb3 36. Nf4+ Kf7 37. Nxh5 Nc5 38. g4 Nxa4 39. Ba1 Bc3 40.
Bxc3 Nxc3 41. Kxf3 a5 42. Ke3 b5 43. Kd3 Nd5 44. Ng3 Nf4+ 45. Kc3 Nxh3 46. Nf5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.06.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 Bg4 6. Nbd2 Qc8 7. c4 Nf6 8. Ne5
Be6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nb3 Na6 11. e4 Nb6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Rc1 Bh3 14. Bxh3 Qxh3
15. Nd3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Qe6 17. Ndc5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Qc8 19. Rfd1 Nd7 20. d5 Nxc5
21. Bxc5 Rd7 22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Rd1 Qc7 25. b3 h5 26. Qa6 Qe5 27.
Qxc6 h4 28. Qd5 Qb2 29. Bxe7 Rc8 30. Bxh4 Qxa2 31. Bg5 Re8 32. Be3 Qc2 33. Rc1
Qxe4 34. Qxe4 Rxe4 35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1
g6 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 {is more common, with a usual continuation being} dxc4 10.
Bxc4) 9... Bg7 (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 {was possible here, too.}) 10. cxd5 {
[%mdl 32] White goes for the classic Karlsbad structure, for which his rook is
not placed properly on c1 but neither is Black's bishop on g7.} ({He can
include mutual castling first:} 10. O-O O-O (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 {again leads
to a common position}) 11. cxd5 (11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Qf4 13. Qc2 f5 14. Nc3
Qc7 15. Rfd1 e5 16. d5 {0-1 (31) Kanep,M (2505)-Fridman,D (2653) Riga 2012} e4
$132) (11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Rfd1 a6 $5 13. a3 Rb8 14. h3 Kh8 15. Nd2 Rd8 16. b4 b5
17. c5 e5 18. Nb3 Nf8 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. Nd4 Qc7 21. h4 Ne6 $132 {1/2 (48)
Aronian,L (2816)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2684) Istanbul 2012}) 11... exd5 12. b4 a6 (
12... Nb6 {1/2 (17) Tosic,M (2440)-Kosic,D (2455) Kladovo 1993} 13. b5 $1) 13.
a4 Qd6 14. Qb3 (14. b5 $5) 14... b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. e4 {1/2 (42) Devereaux,M
(2329)-Horton,J Port Erin 2003} Nb6 $1 $11 17. exd5 $140 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Be6 $1)
({If} 10. b4 a6 11. a4 {then} dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 $11 14. b5 $6 axb5
15. axb5 c5 16. Be2 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nb6 18. Ra1 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 e5 20. Nf3 Be6 $36
{0-1 (60) Kolbus,D (2416)-Malakhatko,V (2556) Port Erin 2005}) 10... exd5 11.
b4 {[%cal Yb4b5]} a6 (11... Qd6 {is less accurate:} 12. b5 O-O 13. O-O Nb6 14.
bxc6 bxc6 (14... Qxc6 15. Ne5 Qe8 16. Nd3 Bd7 17. Nc5 Bc6 18. Qb3 Qe7 19. a4
Qg5 20. Rfd1 Rad8 21. Nb5 Nc8 22. Bf3 a6 23. Nc3 $16 {1/2 (61) Shchekachev,A 
(2537)-Bajarani,U (2424) Paris 2011}) 15. Na4 Re8 16. Nc5 Rb8 17. Re1 Nd7 18.
Nd3 Ba6 19. Nf4 Bb7 20. Qa4 a6 21. Nd3 Rec8 22. Qa5 $14 {1-0 (46) Shchekachev,
A (2528)-Lamorelle,J (2277) Paris 2012}) 12. a4 O-O 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 {
The classic minority attack leads to a typical position with the weak c6-pawn 
(in the event of b5xc6 b7xc6) or weak b- and d-pawns in Black's camp (in the
event of ...c6xb5 or b5xc6 Qxc6). Usually Black opts for the former setup as
it is difficult for White to convert such a small advantage. Often (in the
present game, too) White refrains from the early capture on c6 so that the
b-file remains closed, and he can sometimes attack the b7-pawn.} Qd6 15. O-O
Nb6 16. Qb3 Rb8 17. Nd1 {The knight goes to d3 and then possibly to c5 or e5.}
Bf5 18. Nb2 Rfc8 19. Nd3 Bxd3 {A simple way to disrupt White's plan. However,
the exchange of Black's light-squared bishop has a drawback as it is a good
defender of his position.} 20. Qxd3 c5 {Another typical transformation. Black
prefers to have an isolated central pawn, safely protected by the perfectly
placed b6 knight. In many cases (including this one) it is quite enough for
equality.} 21. dxc5 Rxc5 $11 {However, the World Champion is famous for
regularly outplaying his rivals in quiet equal positions.} 22. h4 Na4 (22... h5
{was quite possible (and would have been probably played against any other
opponent):} 23. Ng5 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Ra8 $11) 23. h5 Rbc8 $6 {Another timorous
move.} (23... Nc3 $142 24. hxg6 Qxg6 $11) 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 {The knight is hardly
placed better on c5 than on b6.} 25. Qc2 {Now the destruction of Black's
queenside is inevitable. He must switch to defence.} gxh5 (25... Qe6 26. Rc1 $1
$36) 26. Nd4 Qg6 27. Nf5 $14 {[%csl Gf5]} Bf8 28. Rd1 Qe6 29. Rc1 Nb3 $1 {
[%mdl 256] A correct simplification.} 30. Qxc8 Nxc1 31. Qxc1 Qxf5 {The
opposite-coloured bishops should secure Black a draw.} 32. Qc7 Qb1+ 33. Bf1 d4
$1 34. exd4 (34. Qxb7 dxe3 35. fxe3 Qe1 {[%cal Yf8d6,Ye1g3]}) 34... Qd1 (34...
Qe4 $142 $1 $11 35. Bc4 $140 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf2) 35. Qe5 $1 (35. Qxb7 Qxd4 $11 {
[%cal Yf8c5]}) 35... Bg7 36. Qe8+ Bf8 37. Qd8 Kg7 (37... Qd2 $142 $5 38. d5 Kg7
) 38. Qd5 $1 {White is trying all possible chances.} b6 39. Qe5+ Kg8 40. Qf6
Bg7 (40... Bb4 $142 $1 41. Qxb6 (41. Qxh6 Qxd4 {[%cal Yb4c5]}) 41... Kg7 {
[%cal Yb4c3,Yc3d4]} 42. Qd8 Bc5 $1 {, which is not easy to find, though.}) 41.
Qxb6 Bxd4 42. Qxh6 Qg4 43. Qd6 Qd1 44. Qd8+ Kh7 $6 {A serious inaccuracy.} (
44... Kg7 $1 45. Qg5+ Kh7 {was still a clear draw.}) 45. Qc7 $1 {White's
passed pawn now moves forward.} Kg7 46. b6 Qg4 $1 {The only way to create
counterplay.} (46... Qd2 $4 47. Qg3+ Kh7 48. b7) 47. b7 Qh4 $1 48. g3 Qf6 49.
Qc2 Qe5 {Black has stopped White's pawn at the last moment. The draw is still
highly probable.} 50. Qd3 Ba7 51. Qf3 Qf6 52. Qe2 {The queen exchange leads to
a draw, e.g.} (52. Be2 Qxf3 53. Bxf3 Kg6 54. Kg2 f5 55. Be2 Bb8 (55... f4 56.
gxf4 Bb8 {is good enough}) 56. Kh3 Be5 57. f4 Bc7 58. Kg2 (58. Kh4 Bd8+) 58...
h4 $1 $11) 52... Qc3 53. Kh2 Qd4 54. Qf3 Bb8 $2 {Surprisingly, this is a big
mistake.} (54... h4 $1 {was correct as} 55. g4 Qe5+ 56. Kg2 Bb8 {lead to a
dead draw.}) 55. Kh3 Bc7 (55... Qf6 56. Qxf6+ Kxf6 57. Kh4 Kg6 58. Be2 {
- Black's bishop is placed wrongly, unable to give a check, therefore he loses
the h5-pawn and the game.}) 56. Be2 Bb8 57. Bd1 {[%cal Rf3h5] White doesn't
want to calculate the queen endgame after} (57. Qxh5 Qxf2 58. Qg5+ Kf8 59. Qd8+
Kg7 60. Qxb8 Qxe2) 57... f5 {Desperation.} 58. Be2 f4 (58... Qg4+ 59. Qxg4+
hxg4+ 60. Bxg4 fxg4+ 61. Kxg4 $18 {White's pawns easily prevail as his king
goes to the queenside at the decisive moment.}) 59. Qxh5 Qxf2 $5 60. Qg5+ Kf7
$138 {White lost on time unaware of the time rate. He still needed several
accurate checks to construct the mating net:} (60... Kf7 61. Bc4+ Ke8 62. Bb5+
$1 {Only this; if Black's king escapes to the queenside, it will be safe!} Kf7
63. Qf5+ Kg7 64. Qd7+ $1 Kf6 65. Qd8+ $1 Kg7 (65... Kf7 66. Bc4+ Kg6 67. Qg8+
Kf6 68. Qf8+ Kg5 69. Qg7+ {leads to the same}) 66. Qe7+ Kh6 67. Qf6+ Kh7 68.
Bd3+ Kg8 69. Bc4+ Kh7 70. Qf7+ Kh6 71. Qf8+ $1 Kg5 72. Qg7+ Kf5 73. g4+ Ke4 74.
Qg6+ Kd4 75. Qb6+ $18) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. Nxe5
Nxe5 9. d4 Bxd4 10. Qxd4 d6 11. Bf4 c5 12. Qd2 O-O 13. f3 c4 14. Ba2 Be6 15.
Nc3 b4 16. Ne2 b3 17. Bb1 bxc2 18. Bxc2 Rxb2 19. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 20. Rxb1 Qc7 21.
Rd1 Ne8 22. Qb4 Nd3 23. Bxd3 cxd3 24. Rxd3 Qc4 25. Qa3 d5 26. Kf2 Qc6 27. Nd4
Qc4 28. exd5 Qxd5 29. Nxe6 Qxe6 30. Qb3 Nf6 31. Qxe6 fxe6 32. Rb3 Rc8 33. Bd2
Rc2 34. Ke2 Nd5 35. Kd3 Rc7 36. Rb8+ Kf7 37. g4 Rd7 38. Kc2 Rc7+ 39. Kb3 e5 40.
Ra8 Rb7+ 41. Kc2 Rc7+ 42. Kd3 Rd7 43. Ke2 Rd6 44. h4 Nf4+ 45. Bxf4 exf4 46. a5
h6 47. h5 Ke7 48. Ra7+ Kf8 49. Ke1 Kg8 50. Ke2 Kf8 51. Ke1 Kg8 52. Ke2 Kf8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. f4
O-O-O 16. Qe1 e5 17. f5 h6 18. Nf3 N8d7 19. Kh1 Rhe8 20. Bd2 Qc6 21. Rd1 Nb6
22. Nd5 $2 (22. Be3 $13) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Ba5 e4 25. Ng1 Bc7 26. d6
Bxa5 27. Qxa5 e3 28. Ne2 Qc6 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {The Ragozin was a very popular choice
in Stavanger. Black essays the active bishop sortie, but he can still opt for
solid lines later on - as he does in our game.} ({The text move is more
enterprising than} 4... Be7 {- the Orthodox Queen's Gambit was absent in
Norway!}) ({Another sharp continuation is the Semi-Slav} 4... c6 {, which
however arose in Stavanger only by transposition:} 5. Bg5 (5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 (
6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5
h6 13. Nxd4 Qh4 14. Nf3 Qh5 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 b6
19. Ba4 $146 (19. Rd1 Bb7 20. Bb3 Rad8 21. Rd3 Bc7 22. Bd2 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Rxd5
24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Rc1 Rd8 $11 {Mamedyarov,S (2753)-Anand,V (2786) Moscow 2013})
19... Bb7 20. Bc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6 Rac8 22. Be3 (22. Nd4 Be5 $11) 22... Rxc6 23.
Rad1 Re8 24. Bd4 Bf8 25. g3 Kg8 26. Kg2 Ne4 27. Rfe1 Rce6 28. Re3 Nc5 $11 {
Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Giri,A (2773) Stavanger 2015}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8
15. f4 O-O-O 16. Qe1 e5 17. f5 ({More principled, but far from clear is} 17.
Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 exf4 19. Bd2 $5 $44 {, this has brought White a moderate
success in postal practice.}) 17... h6 18. Nf3 N8d7 19. Kh1 (19. Bd2 $142)
19... Rhe8 (19... Nb8 20. Be3 Nc6 21. Rc1 Rhe8 22. Bb1 Nd4 23. b4 c4 24. a3 Bf8
25. Rd1 Nxf3 26. gxf3 Rxd1 27. Qxd1 Rd8 28. Qe1 Bc6 29. Qf2 Kb7 $11 {Knight,T 
(2526)-Loinjak,S (2443) email 2008}) 20. Bd2 Qc6 21. Rd1 Nb6 22. Nd5 $2 ({
Premature, but} 22. a3 Bc7 $15 {[%cal Yb5b4,Yb6c4] is already comfortable for
Black.}) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Ba5 e4 25. Ng1 Bc7 26. d6 Bxa5 27. Qxa5
e3 28. Ne2 Qc6 {[%csl Rd6,Ge3,Rg2] 0-1, Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Topalov,V 
(2798) Stavanger 2015}) 5... h6 6. Bh4 (6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1 g6 9. Be2
Bg7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 a6 12. a4 O-O 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Qd6 15. O-O Nb6 16.
Qb3 Rb8 17. Nd1 Bf5 18. Nb2 Rfc8 19. Nd3 Bxd3 ({Black has no problems at all
after} 19... Nc4 $142 $1) 20. Qxd3 c5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. h4 Na4 $6 (22... h5 23.
Ng5 Qc7 $11) 23. h5 Rbc8 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 25. Qc2 gxh5 26. Nd4 Qg6 27. Nf5 (27.
Qf5 $5 $36) 27... Bf8 {Carlsen,M (2876)-Topalov,V (2798) Stavanger 2015} 28.
Bf3 Qe6 29. Rc1 $36) {A new direction in the Anti-Moscow is} 6... g5 (6... dxc4
7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. e5 Nd5 11. O-O Nxc3 (11... Nd7 {is the
standard reaction}) 12. bxc3 c5 13. a4 a6 14. Qb1 g4 15. Nh4 cxd4 16. axb5 d3
17. Bxg4 a5 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qd5 20. Ra4 Nd7 21. Qa2 Nb6 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23.
Qxa5 Bc5 $44 {Grischuk,A (2780)-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7. Bg3
{and now} Ne4 $5 (7... dxc4 {already gives White a choice, apart from} 8. e4 ({
he has the alternatives} 8. e3) (8. h4 {and}) (8. a4 $5)) {The simplest and
possibly the best reaction seems to be} 8. e3 $5 {/\} (8. Nd2 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7
(9... Qb6 $5 $13) 10. e3 a6 11. Bd3 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. f4 Bb7 15.
Nf3 Rc8 16. O-O g4 17. Ne5 h5 18. Ne2 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 f5 20. Qc2 Nxe5 21. dxe5
Qc8 22. Qd2 $16 {Grischuk,A (2728)-Kramnik,V (2788) Moscow blitz 2008}) (8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Qxd4 10. e3 Qxb2 11. Rb1 Qc3 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O Nc5 14. Nb3
Nd3 15. Nd2 Nc5 {½, Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Carlsen,M (2876) Stavanger 2015})
8... Qa5 9. Qb3 Bb4 10. Rc1) 5. Bg5 ({The main alternative is} 5. cxd5 exd5 6.
Bg5 {and now:} {Aronian preferred} h6 (6... Nbd7 7. Rc1 (7. e3 c5 ({Black can
still transpose into 6...h6 with} 7... h6) 8. dxc5 (8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Qc2 c4 10.
Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 {is the older main line, here it's difficult for White to
fight for an advantage.}) 8... Qa5 ({or} 8... O-O {was the topic of an opening
survey in CBM 148.})) (7. Qc2 c5 8. g3 $5 {is another recent try to get an
opening advantage:} h6 9. Bf4 Qa5 10. Bg2 Ne4 11. Rc1 Qxa2 12. Nd2 Bxc3 13.
bxc3 Qxc2 14. Rxc2 Nxd2 15. Kxd2 Nb6 16. dxc5 Nc4+ 17. Kd3 Bf5+ $2 (17... Be6
$132) 18. e4 Bh7 19. Kd4 Na5 20. Kxd5 O-O-O+ 21. Bd6 b6 22. Ra1 Nb7 23. Rxa7
bxc5 24. Bh3+ f5 25. e5 {1-0, Vitiugov,N (2735)-Aleksandrov,A (2603) EU-ch
Jerusalem 2015}) 7... c6 8. e3 ({A more restrained way is} 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Rxc3
O-O 10. e3 Qe8 $132) 8... Qa5 9. Bd3 Ne4 (9... Qxa2 $5 10. O-O Qa5 11. Ne5 Nxe5
12. dxe5 Ng4 13. Bf4 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Qb3 Be7 16. e4 Qb4 17. Qc2 d4 18. Ne2
Be6 19. Bd2 Bb3 20. Bxb4 Bxc2 21. Bxc2 Bxb4 22. e5 Ng4 23. Nxd4 Nxe5 24. Ne6
Ke7 25. Nxg7 Rad8 26. Rfd1 a5 $13 {/=, Khismatullin,D (2657)-Landa,K (2635)
Dagomys 2010}) 10. O-O Nxg5 11. Nxg5 Nf6 12. Qc2 h6 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Ne5 Ng4 15.
Nf3 (15. Bf5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qf5 Qc7 19. Nxd5 Bxh2+ 20.
Kh1 Qd7 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Qxf6 Rg8 23. Kxh2 Rg6 $132 {Korotylev}) 15... Nf6 16.
h3 O-O 17. Ne5 a6 (17... c5 $6 18. Nb5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. f4 c4 21. Bh7+ Kh8
22. Nd6 Nc5 23. Rcd1 $16 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Jakovenko,D (2736) Khanty-Mansiysk
2009}) 18. f4 (18. Na4 $5 $14) 18... c5 19. g4 cxd4 20. exd4 Be6 21. Qb3 (21.
Qf2 $13) (21. Kh1 $5) 21... b5 22. f5 Qb6 23. Nf3 $8 Bc8 24. Kg2 $6 (24. Nxd5
$1 Nxd5 25. Be4 Nc7 26. Rc6 Qb7 27. Nd2 $13) 24... Bb7 {[%csl Re4][%cal Ga8h1]}
25. Na4 Qa7 26. Nc5 Rac8 (26... Ne4 $5 $36) 27. a4 (27. Nxb7 $142 Qxb7 $15)
27... Bxc5 28. dxc5 d4 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Bc6 31. Qb6 Qd7 32. Kg1 Rfe8
$40 {[%csl Rg1] Vachier Lagrave,M (2754)-Caruana,F (2803) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}
) 7. Bh4 Nbd7 (7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Bb2 12.
Rxc7 Na6 13. Rc2 Bxd4 14. e3 Bg7 15. h4 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Aronian,L (2815)
Flor & Fjaere blitz 2014} Bf5 $1 16. Bb5+ Kf8 $13) 8. e3 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Qc2
(10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Kb1 O-O-O
16. a3 Bd6 17. Nb5 Kb8 18. Nxd6 Rxd6 19. Nb3 Bc8 20. Nc5 Nd7 21. Na4 Nb6 22.
Nc5 $11 {Vitiugov,N (2739)-Aronian,L (2770) Sochi 2015}) 10... h5 11. h3 $146 (
11. h4 g4 12. Ng5 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 {Rasmussen,K (2462)
-Wegerer,F (2235) Pula 2007} Rh6 $1 $17 {[%cal Yf7f6]}) 11... Qf6 (11... Bxc3+
12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Nb6 14. Bd3 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. O-O Qe7 17. Ne5 Be6 18.
Bf5 Nd7 19. e4 Nxe5 20. exd5 $1 O-O-O 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Rae1 exf5 23. Rxe5 $16
{Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 12. Bd3 Bxc3+ 13.
bxc3 Nxg3 14. fxg3 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Nh4 Nb6 17. Qf2 (17. e4 $5 dxe4 18.
Bxe4 c6 19. Rf1 $13) 17... Qxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Be6 19. Nf5 Kd7 20. Rh4 Rhg8 21. Ke2
Nc8 22. Rf1 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Kxd6 24. Bf5 Rg5 25. Bxe6 Kxe6 26. Rh7 Rf8 27. a4 b6
28. Kd3 c5 29. Rh6+ f6 30. Rh7 Rf5 $1 $44 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Grischuk,A
(2781) Stavanger 2015}) 5... h6 ({In a later round Levon didn't repeat this
line and went somewhat surprisingly for the Vienna with} 5... dxc4 6. e4 c5 7.
Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6
13. h4 a6 14. Rh3 Qb4 ({This has replaced the older} 14... Qa5 15. Ba4 $5 b5
16. Bb3 Qb6 17. Rc1 Bb7 18. Rhc3 Ne5 19. f4 Rd8 20. fxe5 Rxd4 21. Qf3 f5 22.
Qf2 fxe4 23. Rc7 {1-0, Khalifman,A (2617)-Kachar,V (2283) Voronezh 2014}) 15.
Be2 Ne5 16. Rb1 $5 (16. h5 Qd6 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. Rd3 Qh2 19. f4 Rg8 20. Bf3 Bd7
21. Ne2 Qh1+ 22. Ng1 Nd4 23. Rxd4 Bb5+ 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Ke3 e5 26. fxe5 Qg5+
27. Kf2 Qg3+ $11 {Anand,V (2770)-Kramnik,V (2787) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014}) 16...
Qd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 $5 $146 (17... b5 18. Rd1 Bb7 {0-1 (49) Bida,M (2323)-Bluebaum,
M (2521) Durban 2014} 19. Qh6 $1 Qe7 20. Rc3 {[%cal Rd4b5]} Rd8 21. f3 $44) 18.
Rxb7 Bb5 19. Rb3 Rc8 (19... Rd8 20. R3xb5 axb5 21. Bxb5+ Kf8 22. Nxe6+ Qxe6 23.
Qxd8+ Kg7 24. Qd5 Qg4 $132) 20. Bxb5+ axb5 21. Qb4 (21. R7xb5 O-O (21... Nc4 $5
22. Qc3 O-O $13) 22. Rg3+ Ng6 23. h5 Rfd8 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. Rb4 e5 26. Rd3 exd4
27. Rbxd4 Qa6 $44) 21... Qxb4 22. Rxb4 O-O (22... Nd3 23. Nxb5 Rc1+ 24. Ke2
Nxb4 25. Rb8+ Ke7 26. Rxh8 Rc2+ $11) 23. R7xb5 Rfd8 24. Ke2 Kg7 25. Ra4 (25. a4
Rc1 $132) 25... Ra8 26. Rbb4 Rdb8 27. Nb3 Rxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxa2+ $11 {Giri,A 
(2773)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 6. Bxf6 {The usual response.} ({
Without the exchange on d5} 6. Bh4 {can be rather risky:} dxc4 $5 ({White must
also reckon with} 6... g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 (8. Rc1 $6 h5 9. Qa4+ Nc6 10. cxd5
exd5 11. Ne5 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Bxc6 14. Qb3 h4 15. Be5 f6 16. f3 fxe5
17. fxe4 O-O 18. e3 Kg7 19. Bb5 Qd6 20. Qa4 Rae8 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Rf1 h3 23.
gxh3 Qh6 $40 {Michalik,P (2576)-Movsesian,S (2700) Czechia 2014}) 8... h5 9. h4
g4 $13) 7. Qa4+ (7. e3 b5 8. a4 c6 {and in practice White's compensation has
been rather nebulous.}) 7... Nc6 8. e3 Bd7 9. Qc2 b5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Ne7
12. Ne5 Nf5 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. a4 c6 16. g3 a5 17. Bg2 Ra6 18. d5
cxd5 19. axb5 Rb6 20. e4 dxe4 21. Rxa5 O-O 22. Bxe4 (22. Qxe4 $5 Rxb5 23. Rxb5
Qxb5 24. O-O $132) 22... Nd6 23. Bc6 $2 (23. O-O $15) 23... Qc7 24. Ra4 Nxb5
25. Bxb5 Qe5+ $17 {Eljanov,P (2729)-Khismatullin,D (2656) St Petersburg 2013})
6... Qxf6 7. Qa4+ {An attempt to disrupt Black's natural development and
prevent c7-c5.} ({After} 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 {Black has been
holding his own recently:} 10. O-O (10. dxc5 Bxc5 (10... Nd7 11. c6 Ne5 (11...
bxc6 $5 12. O-O Ne5 13. Be2 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Ba6 15. Re1 Rab8 16. Qa4 Rb6 $132 {
Sasikiran,K (2658)-Sandipan,C (2478) Mumbai 2003}) 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. O-O (13.
Qb3 $5 Ba5 14. cxb7 Rb8 15. Ba6 Bxb7 16. Bxb7 Qc7 17. O-O Rxb7 18. Qa3 $14)
13... bxc6 14. Qe2 Rd8 15. Rfd1 Bb7 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qc7
19. h3 Bxc3 20. bxc3 c5 21. Qa4 Qc6 $11 {Giri,A (2790)-Carlsen,M (2863)
Shamkir 2015}) 11. Qc2 (11. O-O Rd8 (11... Qe7 12. Ne4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bb6 14. Rfd1
Nc6 15. Rxd8+ Nxd8 16. Ne5 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. g3 Nc6 20. Bb5 Rc8
21. Rc1 Ne7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 $11 {Aronian,L (2816)-Anand,V (2780)
Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012}) 12. Qc2 $5 (12. Qe2 Qe7 13. a3 Bd7 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. b4
Bb6 16. Bb3 Be8 17. Na4 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Bc7 19. Nc5 Bd6 20. Bc2 a5 21. Qd3 g6
22. Ne4 Rd8 $15 {Shirov,A (2696)-Wei,Y (2551) WCup Tromsoe 2013}) 12... Bf8 (
12... Qe7 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14. Bd3 Bb6 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 Nc6 17. Na4 f5 18. Bxc6
Bxc6 19. Ne5 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Bxa4 21. Qxa4 Qc7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Nf4 Rd8 24. Rxd8
Qxd8 25. Qb3 $11 {/+/=, Buczinski,H (2184)-Salzmann,S (2133) email 2008}) 13.
Rfd1 Nc6 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. Rxd8 Qxd8 16. Rd1 Bd7 {½, Wang,Y (2689)-Zhang,Z 
(2613) Jiangsu Wuxi 2008}) 11... Bd7 (11... Bb4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14.
Rxc3 Bd7 15. Rd1 Rc8 16. Be2 Rxc3 17. bxc3 f6 18. Rb1 b6 19. Rd1 Kf8 20. Nh4
Bc6 {Fressinet,L (2711)-Gajewski,G (2641) Saint Quentin 2014} 21. Bh5 $36) 12.
O-O Bb6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. a3 Rfd8 16. Nd6 Rab8 17. Qe4 (17. Ba2 $5 {
[%cal Ya2b1]}) 17... Bc7 18. Bd3 g6 19. Nb5 Bb6 20. h4 $6 (20. Qf4 Kg7 $11)
20... e5 21. Be2 Bf5 22. Qa4 e4 23. Nfd4 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Bd7 25. Bb5 {Ipatov,A 
(2608)-Zhukova,N (2470) Doha 2014} Bg4 $17) 10... cxd4 11. Ne4 (11. Nxd4 Bd7
12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Bxc6 15. Bb5 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bc6 17. Bb5 Bd5 18.
Bc4 {½, Topalov,V (2798)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger 2015 This quick draw in the
last round only repeated past games, but it brought Topalov tournament victory.
}) 11... Qe7 12. Nxd4 Bd7 {This year White has tested} 13. Bd3 (13. Qh5 Nc6 14.
Nb3 f5 (14... Be8 15. a3 f5 (15... Bd6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Qc5 Qf6
19. Bd3 {[%cal Rd3h7]} g6 20. Qc2 Ne5 {Zhukova,N (2471)-Szczepkowska,K (2414)
Chengdu 2015} 21. Be4 Ba4 22. Rd4 $14) 16. Qe2 Bxa3 17. bxa3 fxe4 18. Nc5 Ne5
19. Ba2 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 21. gxf3 Bh5 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Bg4 exf3 24. Qb2 Bxg4
25. Rg1 Rf7 26. Qd4 h5 27. Nd3 Rd8 28. Qe4 Qe7 29. Qxe7 Rxe7 30. Nf4 Kh7 31.
Rc5 $132 {So,W (2762)-Hou,Y (2673) Wijk aan Zee 2015 For more details about
this game see the notes by Ftacnik in CBM 165}) 15. a3 fxe4 (15... Ne5 $5 16.
Be2 Be8 17. Qh3 Bc6 18. axb4 Bxe4 19. Qg3 {Ramirez,A (2591)-Cornette,M (2545)
Cappelle la Grande 2012} Qg5 $5 $11) 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. Nc5 Nd3 18. Nxd3 exd3
19. Bxd3 Bc6 20. Rc4 Rf6 21. Be4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rd8 23. Qe2 Rf5 24. h3 Rfd5 25.
Qg4 R8d6 26. Rc1 {Aronian,L (2804)-Anand,V (2785) Bilbao 2014 For more details
see the notes to this game by Roiz in CBM 163} Qd7 $11 {/+/=}) 13... Nc6 14.
Nb3 Na5 $5 15. Rc7 Rfd8 16. a3 ({A forcing tactical line is} 16. Nbc5 f5 $8 17.
a3 fxe4 18. axb4 exd3 19. Qxd3 (19. bxa5 $2 Rac8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 $17 {[%csl Gd3]}
) 19... Bb5 20. Rxe7 Bxd3 21. bxa5 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Rd1+ 23. Ke2 Rad8 24. Rxb7
R1d2+ 25. Ke1 $11 {½, Matlakov,M (2694)-Wojtaszek,R (2746) Montpellier 2015})
16... Nxb3 17. Qxb3 Ba5 18. Rxb7 Ba4 $1 19. Rxe7 Bxb3 20. Nc5 Bb6 21. Nxb3 Rxd3
22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. exd4 Rb8 24. Rxa7 Rxb2 25. Ra4 Ra2 $11 {Gelfand,B (2744)-Giri,
A (2776) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7... Nc6 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 {Retains the central
tension.} ({Topalov spurns the Carlsbad-like} 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O
a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 (13. a3 Ne7 14. b4 c6 15. Qb3 g5 16. Qb2 Qg7 17. Na4
Rae8 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. g3 Nf5 20. Bd3 Qf6 21. Rf1 h5 22. Rac1 h4 23. Qd2 Nh6 $2 (
23... hxg3 24. hxg3 Kg7 $15) 24. e4 $16 {Aronian,L (2777)-Anand,V (2797)
Baden-Baden 2015}) 13... Ne7 14. a3 Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 16. Na4 b6 $6 (16... b5 $5
17. Nc5 Nb6 $132) 17. Nb2 Ne7 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. a4 a5 20. b5 Re8 21. Rc3 Bf5 22.
Rac1 Rad8 23. Nd2 Rd7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Bg4 $16 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2797)
Wijk aan Zee 2015 Although White won both quoted games, Krasenkow in his notes
in CBM 165 indicates ample improvements for Black. Especially Anand, who
concentrated on his kingside play, achieved a promising position.}) 9... dxc4 (
{Perhaps it's more accurate to force White's Q to move with} 9... Bd7 $5 10.
Qb3 (10. Qc2 dxc4 11. O-O Na5 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Ne4 Bd6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bxc4
Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Be7 17. Rac1 c6 18. Qb3 Rfd8 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Qe7 21. Qc3
Rd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 $11 {Zoler,D (2504)-Hammer,J (2647) Yerevan 2014}) 10... dxc4
11. Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 Bd6 $11 {[%cal Ye6e5,Rc6a5]}) 11... Qg6 ({We will have a
look at} 11... Bd6 {in the following note, it can lead to similar positions.})
12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfd1 (13. Nb5 Rfc8 14. Nxd6 cxd6 15. Rac1 e5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17.
Bd3 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Qb5 Qe6 20. Qxb7 Rab8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 22. Rc5 Rxa2 23.
Qb7 Ra5 24. Rxa5 Nxa5 25. Qxa7 Nc4 26. Rc1 Nd6 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8 28. Qa1 e4 29.
Nd4 Nf5 30. Nxf5 Qxf5 {½, Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Yu,Y (2677) Wijk aan Zee 2014}) (
13. Rac1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Bb1 Nb4 18. Be4 c6 19.
Bb1 Be8 20. a3 Nd5 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Ba2 g5 23. h3 Kg7 24. Rd2 Nf6 25. Bb1 a5 26.
Nxf6 Bxf6 27. Be4 a4 $11 {Zhou,J (2589)-Yu,Y (2723) Xinghua 2015}) 13... Rfd8
14. Bd3 Na5 15. Qb5 Bxb5 16. Bxg6 Bc6 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 Nc4 19. Rdc1 Nb6
20. Kf1 c6 21. Ke2 Kf8 22. g4 Ke7 23. h4 Rac8 24. Rc2 Nd7 $11 {/+/=, Vallejo
Pons,F (2698)-Wei,Y (2634) Leon rpd 2014 Black had a solid, but rather passive
position, which he eventually managed to hold.}) 10. O-O Bd7 (10... Bd6 11.
Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 e5 $5 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Nxd6 cxd6 $11 {/+/=}) 11... Bd7 12. Rac1
Qg6 13. Rfd1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Ne4 Nb4 17. Bb1 Ba4 18. Rd2 Bc6
19. a3 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nd5 21. Rdc2 c6 22. Nd2 a5 23. g3 Rfd8 24. Nc4 Be7 25. Kf1
Ra6 26. Bd3 Nb6 27. Ne5 Raa8 28. f4 Nd7 29. Nf3 a4 30. Ke2 Ra5 $11 {/+/=,
Melkumyan,H (2676)-Naroditsky,D (2633) Tsaghkadzor 2015 This position is
slightly more pleasant for White and in the end he managed to win.}) 11. Bxc4
Bxc3 {Aronian decides not to lose any more time and gives up the bishop-pair
instead. It's not so simple to equalize after the alternatives:} (11... Bd6 12.
Qc2 $5 (12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 e5 14. d5 Nd8 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. Rac1 f5 17. Be2 Rc8
18. Qb3 f4 19. Nd2 b6 20. Qa3 fxe3 21. Qxe3 Nf7 22. Ba6 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bf5 24.
Ne4 Rd8 25. Ng3 Bg6 26. Bd3 $36 {Wagner,D (2481)-Landa,K (2640) Germany 2013})
12... e5 13. d5 Nb4 14. Qd2 Qg6 (14... a5 $5) 15. a3 Na6 16. b4 Bh3 $6 17. Ne1
e4 18. f3 exf3 19. Nxf3 Bg4 20. Bd3 Qh5 21. Ne4 Rad8 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 23. e4 $16 {
[%csl Ra6,Gd5,Ge4] Ragger,M (2670)-Cornette,M (2552) Belfort 2012}) (11... Qg6
{[%cal Rc6d4]} 12. Qd1 $5 {[%cal Yc4d3] also seems to retain a small plus.})
12. bxc3 Rfd8 (12... Qe7 13. Be2 (13. Qc2 $5 {/\} e5 14. Rab1 b6 15. Bd5 $36)
13... e5 $1 14. Qb3 b6 15. Qc4 Rac8 16. Nd2 Na5 17. Qb4 c5 18. Qa3 Rfe8 (18...
Qe6 $5) 19. d5 e4 20. c4 Qg5 21. Kh1 Rcd8 22. Rae1 Bf5 23. Rg1 h5 24. Nf1 Bg4
$11 {Fedoseev,V (2601)-Aleksandrov,A (2586) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 13. Be2 $146
{[%mdl 40] Topalov's novelty indicates a different strategy, contrary to prior
examples: White will concentrate more on queenside play.} (13. Qc2 Na5 14. Bd3
c5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4 Qe7 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. f5 f6 19. Ng4 exf5 (19... h5 20. Nf2
e5 $1 $36) 20. Bxf5 Rc7 21. Rad1 h5 22. Nf2 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nc4 24. Rfe1 Bf7 25.
Bd3 b5 26. Ne4 Re8 27. Qf2 Rc6 28. Nc5 Rxc5 29. dxc5 Qxc5 $44 {0-1 (44) Hansen,
C (2621)-Hammer,J (2665) Oslo 2015}) (13. Qa3 Qe7 14. Qb2 Na5 15. Bd3 c5 16. e4
Be8 17. Rad1 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rac8 19. Rfe1 Nc4 20. Qe2 Nb6 21. Rc1 Qa3 22. Rxc8
Rxc8 23. d5 Bd7 $15 {Shankland,S (2661)-Aronian,L (2770) Tsaghkadzor 2015})
13... Be8 {Follows the same plan as against Shankland, but this seems
unnecessarily passive.} (13... e5 $5 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bf5 $132) 14. Qa3 Qe7
15. Qb2 Na5 {[%cal Yc7c5]} 16. Qb4 $5 {[%mdl 4096] Topalov prevents c5 and
opts for a slight endgame pull.} Qxb4 17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Rab1 a5 $5 {Aronian
seeks activity.} ({Moves such as} 18... Ne7 {, or}) (18... Rac8 {enable White
to retain his space advantage and a small, but long-term edge.}) 19. bxa5 {
A controversial decision. White opens the queenside for his rooks, but
improves Black's pawn structure.} ({More natural was} 19. b5 Ne7 (19... Nb4 20.
a3 Nd5 21. Rfc1 $14) 20. Rfc1 $14) 19... Nxa5 20. Rfc1 Rdc8 21. Ne1 {[%csl Gc5,
Ge5][%cal Ye1d3]} Ra7 (21... Bc6 22. f3 (22. Nd3 Bd5 23. Nb4 c6 {[%csl Gc4]
[%cal Yb7b5]} 24. a4 Bb3 25. Nd3 Bc4 $132) 22... Bd5 23. Rb2 $14) 22. Nd3 Nc6
23. Bf3 Nd8 {[%cal Ye8c6] Black has foregone an earlier chance to activate the
Be8, but now he prepares the bishop swap.} 24. Nb4 (24. g3 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Nxc6
26. Nc5 Nd8 ({or} 26... Na5 $5 {seemed one exchange too much to Topalov.
Therefore he prevents Bc6, but the knight obstructs the open file.})) 24... Ra5
{[%cal Yc7c5]} 25. h4 Kf8 26. Rc3 c6 (26... c5 27. Rbc1 (27. Nd3 c4 28. Nc5 b5
29. a4 bxa4 30. Rxc4 Rc7 $132 {[%csl Ga4]}) 27... b6 28. a3 f6 $5 {/\} 29. Nd3
c4 $132) 27. Bd1 $5 {[%cal Yd1b3,Yb4d3] The manoeuvring continues, the bishop
will protect a2 and free the knight.} Ke7 (27... c5 $6 28. Nd3 c4 29. a4 $1 b5
(29... Bxa4 30. Bxa4 Rxa4 31. Nc5 $36 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Yc3c4]}) 30. axb5 Bxb5
31. Bf3 $14 {/+/-}) (27... f6 $5 28. Bb3 Bg6) 28. Bb3 c5 $5 {Aronian finally
decides to clarify the position.} 29. Nd3 b6 30. dxc5 (30. Bc2 Rb5 31. dxc5
Rxb1+ 32. Bxb1 Bb5 $11) 30... bxc5 (30... Bb5 $5 31. Bc4 Bxc4 32. Rxc4 bxc5 33.
a4 Rc7 {is probably a more reliable way to neutralise the pressure. The
distant passed pawn is under sufficient control.}) 31. f3 (31. Rbc1 Nb7 {
[%cal Ye8a4]} 32. e4 {is similar.}) 31... Rc7 32. e4 Nb7 33. Rbc1 Ba4 (33... f6
34. e5 Bg6 35. Nf4 Bf7) 34. e5 $1 {() The difference in comparison with the
note to move 30 is here the bishop swap will take place on b3, enabling the
Pb3 to join the attack on the vulnerable Pc5. However, Black's position is
still defensible...} Rc6 (34... Bxb3 $142 35. axb3 Ra3 36. b4 (36. Kf2 Rd7 37.
Ke3 Rd5 $11) 36... Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Kd7 38. bxc5 Kc6 $11 {[%cal Yc6b5]}) (34... g6
{also deserves attention, Black prevents further space gains.}) 35. Kh2 Rb6 36.
h5 $1 $36 {[%csl Rg7] Fixes a weakness and continues the fight.} (36. Bxa4 Rxa4
37. Nxc5 Nxc5 38. Rxc5 Rxh4+ 39. Kg3 Rd4 $11) 36... Bxb3 (36... f6 $142 $5 37.
Nb2 (37. Bc4 Bc6 $14) 37... Bxb3 38. axb3 $14) 37. axb3 {[%cal Rb3b4]} Kd7 $2 {
This doesn't stop White's main threat.} (37... Rab5 $142 {still retains
reasonable drawing chances:} 38. Nxc5 (38. b4 cxb4 39. Nxb4 (39. Rc8 $2 Rd5 $17
) (39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rc8+ Nd8 41. Nxb4 Rxe5 $15) 39... Rxb4 40. Rc7+ Ke8 41.
Rc8+ Nd8 42. Rd1 Ke7 43. Rcxd8 Rb7 $11) 38... Nxc5 39. Rxc5 Rb7 $5 (39... Rxc5
40. Rxc5 Rb7 $1 $14 (40... Rxb3 41. Rc7+ Kf8 42. Rc8+ Ke7 43. Rg8 {[%csl Rg7,
Rh6]} Rb5 44. f4 f6 45. Rxg7+ Kf8 46. Rh7 fxe5 47. fxe5 Rxe5 48. g4 $18 (48.
Rxh6 $2 Rg5 49. Kh3 Kg7 $11))) 40. R1c3 f6 $14) (37... f6 $2 38. b4 cxb4 39.
Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rxg7 $18) 38. b4 $1 cxb4 (38... Rab5 39. bxc5 Rc6 40. Rc4 $16 {
[%cal Yc4g4]}) 39. Rc8 {[%cal Rc1c7]} Nd8 40. R1c7+ Ke8 41. Nc5 {[%cal Rc7d7]}
Rxc5 $8 {Bitter, but true - Black must give up an exchange to stave off the
mating attack.} 42. Rxc5 b3 43. Rc1 Kd7 (43... b2 $6 44. Rd1 Ke7 45. Rcxd8 Rb7
46. Rg8 b1=Q 47. Rxb1 Rxb1 48. Rxg7 $18 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rg7h7]}) 44. R8c7+ Ke8
45. Rc8 ({Topalov probably spurned} 45. R7c3 {due to} Rb5 (45... b2 46. Rb1 Nc6
47. f4 $18) 46. f4 f6 $16) 45... Kd7 46. R8c3 Ke7 (46... Rb5 47. Rd1+ Ke7 48.
Rc7+ Ke8 49. Rc8 Rd5 50. Rxd5 exd5 51. Rb8 $18) ({A more resilient try was} 
46... Nc6 $142 $5 47. f4 f6 $16) 47. Rd3 (47. Rb1 $1 Nc6 48. f4 Nd4 49. Rc7+
Ke8 50. Ra1 Rb8 51. Raa7 Nb5 (51... b2 52. Re7+ Kd8 53. Rxf7 Ke8 54. Rxg7 Kf8
55. Rh7 Kg8 56. Rag7+ Kf8 57. Rh8+ $18) 52. Rab7 Rxb7 53. Rxb7 Nd4 54. Rb4 Ne2
55. Rb8+ Ke7 56. Rb7+ Kf8 57. g3 Nc1 58. Kg2 $18 {[%cal Yg2f3,Yf3e3,Ye3d2]}) (
47. f4 $5 {leads to the game position.}) 47... Nb7 (47... Nc6 $142 48. Rd6 b2
49. Rb1 f6 $16) 48. Rdc3 Nd8 49. f4 $5 (49. Rb1 $1 $18 {-47.Rb1!}) 49... f6 (
49... b2 50. Rb1 {[%cal Yc3c2,Yc2b2]} f6 51. Rc7+ Ke8 52. exf6 (52. Rxg7 $2
fxe5 {/\} 53. fxe5 Nf7) 52... gxf6 53. Rc2 Rb5 54. g4 Rb4 55. Rf2 $18 {and
White will gradually win.}) 50. Rc7+ Ke8 (50... Kf8 51. Rc8 b2 52. Rb1 $18 {
- 49...b2}) 51. Rxg7 $1 fxe5 (51... Nc6 52. exf6 b2 53. Rb1 Nd4 54. g4 $1 $18 {
[%cal Rg4g5] /\} Nf3+ (54... Nc2 55. Rd1 $1 $18) 55. Kg2 Nd2 56. g5 Nxb1 57. g6
$18 {[%cal Rg7e7,Rg6g7]}) 52. Rcc7 $18 {[%cal Rg7g8] The mating attack trumps
the passed pawn and the rest is simple and straightforward.} Kf8 53. Rh7 Kg8 $8
54. Rcg7+ Kf8 55. Rd7 Kg8 56. Rxh6 Nf7 (56... b2 57. Rxd8+ Kg7 (57... Kf7 58.
Rh7+ Kf6 59. Rf8#) 58. Rg6+ Kf7 (58... Kh7 59. Rd7+ Kh8 60. f5 $1 b1=Q 61. Rh6+
Kg8 62. f6 $18 {[%cal Rf6f7,Rd7g7]}) 59. Rd7+ Ke8 (59... Kf8 60. h6 b1=Q 61. h7
$18) 60. Rc7 Kf8 61. h6 b1=Q 62. h7 $18) 57. Rg6+ Kh8 58. Rf6 $1 (58. Rf6 b2
59. Rfxf7 Kg8 60. h6 Rb8 (60... b1=Q 61. Rg7+ Kf8 62. Rd8#) 61. Rh7 b1=Q 62.
Rdg7+ Kf8 63. Rh8#) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {[%mdl 4096]} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 {Topalov has a rich
experience in this system. For instance, he used it with White in the World
Championship match against Vladimir Kramnik.} Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 {
The most solid choice.} ({Provoking the f2-f3 advance by means of} 6... Be4 7.
f3 Bg6 {is somewhat more ambitious, but risky continuation.}) 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8.
Bd2 Nbd7 9. Qc2 {This setup is usually connected with q-side castling and
offers a complex battle.} a6 {This move is a standard preparation of q-side
activity.} ({After} 9... Rc8 10. O-O-O b5 (10... c5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Kb1 $14)
11. c5 {White may claim for something of an edge, since} Ng4 12. Be1 Rxh2 13.
Rxh2 Nxh2 14. Be2 {looks rather dangerous for Black.}) ({After} 9... Be7 {
White should switch to a quiet way of development:} 10. Be2 (10. O-O-O {
offers nothing now:} Nb6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Kb1 Rc8 $11) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O
12. O-O c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. Be2 $14) ({The most natural looks to
be} 9... Bd6 10. g3 dxc4 (10... Qe7 11. c5 Bc7 12. Bg2 e5 13. O-O O-O 14. b4
$14) (10... O-O) 11. Bxc4 Qe7 12. Be2 e5 {with a long strategic battle, where
White's bishops offer White some edge.}) 10. O-O-O $146 {This brave move is a
novelty.} ({Another logical way of handling the position was} 10. c5 $5 Qc7 11.
g3 e5 12. Bg2 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. b4 $14 {Black faces some problems with
creating counterplay, since the b7-b6 advance would allow White to take
control over the c5-spot.}) ({At the same time, the previously played} 10. Bd3
dxc4 (10... b5 11. c5 Ng4 12. h3 $14 {1/2 -1/2 Schlosser,P(2550) - Hertneck,G
(2525)/Bayern-chI Bank Hofmann 1st 1997}) 11. Bxc4 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Be2 Rc8
{was comfortable for Black in 1/2-1/2 Ding,Liren (2458) - Zhao Jun (2560)/
Beijing zt 2009}) 10... Be7 (10... Rc8 $5 11. c5 (11. Kb1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13.
Be2 c5 $132) 11... b6 12. Bxa6 Rb8 13. cxb6 Qxb6 14. Be2 c5 $44) 11. Kb1 Qc7
12. h3 (12. g3 dxc4 (12... O-O 13. e4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Rfd8 16. Qc2
$14) 13. Bxc4 c5 14. Be2 Rc8 $132) 12... Rd8 ({The following possibility looks
most principled:} 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 c5 {and White has to enter into an
extremely wild position in order to fight for the initiative:} 14. d5 Nb6 15.
dxe6 Nxc4 16. Qa4+ b5 17. Nxb5 axb5 18. Qxa8+ Bd8 $132) 13. c5 {Obviously, the
Rd8 has not much of a job in the centre, so this move definitely makes sense.}
e5 (13... b6 14. cxb6 Qxb6 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Qd3 O-O) 14. f4 (14. Bd3 $5 {
deserved serious attention:} O-O 15. Na4 (15. g4 $5 {is also interesting.})
15... Rfe8 16. Rhe1 e4 17. Bf1 $14 {White is better prepared for the resulting
''French pawn structure''}) 14... exd4 15. exd4 Nh5 $1 {That concrete approach
is definitely the best here. White's setup isn't completed, so protecting the
Pf4 is not an easy task.} (15... O-O 16. Bd3 b6 17. Rhe1 Rfe8 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19.
f5 gxf5 20. Bxf5 Qxd4 21. g4 {offers White excellent compensation for a
missing pawn.}) 16. Ne2 ({After} 16. Re1 Ng3 (16... Nxf4 $6 {is too risky:} 17.
g3 Ne6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Qxg6+ Kf8 20. h4 $36) 17. Rg1 Kf8 18. Bd3 Bf6 19. Be3
Re8 $132 {Black gets control over central squares, so the position is balanced.
}) 16... Nhf6 17. Nc3 Nh5 {Topalov's tournament situation was excellent, so he
had no reasons for avoiding a draw by repetition here.} 18. Ne2 Nhf6 19. Ng3
Ng8 $2 {Quite a strange decision - White gets a serious development advantage
now.} ({A much better way was} 19... b6 $1 20. cxb6 Qxb6 21. Re1 Kf8 $132) 20.
Bd3 f5 ({Unfortunately, there is no time for manoeuvres:} 20... Bf6 21. Ne2 Ne7
22. h4 $1 Nf5 23. h5 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Bxd4 25. hxg6 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Nxc5 27. gxf7+
Kxf7 28. Bg6+ $18) 21. Nxf5 $6 {This tempting piece sac seems somewhat
premature.} ({The precise} 21. Rhe1 $1 {would punish Black for his careless
waste of time:} Kf7 (21... Ngf6 22. Nxf5 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf8 24. g4 $16) 22. Nf1
$1 (22. Nxf5 {is less clear:} gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf8) 22... Ngf6 23. g4 Ne4 24. Ne3
$16) 21... gxf5 22. Bxf5 Ndf6 $6 {Returning the favour.} ({Black had a great
chance to regroup the minor pieces by means of} 22... Bf6 $1 23. g4 Ne7 24. g5
({After} 24. Rhe1 Kf8 25. Re2 Nxf5 26. Qxf5 Re8 27. Rde1 Rxe2 28. Rxe2 Nb8 $1
29. g5 Qd7 30. Qxd7 Nxd7 31. gxf6 Nxf6 $11 {Black has full positional
compensation for a pawn}) 24... Bxd4 25. Rhe1 Kf8 $132) 23. Bg6+ Kf8 24. g4 Ne4
{Of course, Veselin is ready to give up some material in order to consolidate.}
25. g5 $1 {[%csl Re7,Rf8,Rg8] Despite the material advantage, Black's position
is rather passive and unpleasant now.} Rh4 $2 (25... b6 {didn't offer Black
any counterplay:} 26. h4 bxc5 27. dxc5 $16) ({Topalov's task was tough, but
the correct} 25... Re8 $1 {would allow Black to regroup the pieces and
consolidate:} 26. h4 Bd8 27. Bxe8 Kxe8 28. h5 Ne7 $132) 26. Bc1 {A natural
move - the bishop has found a safe square, while the queen is getting useful
along the 2nd rank.} ({However, a much more energetic and stronger option was} 
26. Be1 $1 Rh8 {the lesser evil} (26... Rxf4 $2 {gives White a decisive attack
after} 27. h4 b6 28. Bd2 Nxd2+ 29. Qxd2 bxc5 30. Rhf1 $18) 27. h4 $16) 26...
Qd7 27. Qg2 b6 $1 {Black's position still looks dangerous, but Topalov finds a
way to develop counterplay.} 28. cxb6 ({Possibly,} 28. Bxe4 $5 {was better
from the practical point of view. For instance, after} dxe4 29. f5 bxc5 30. Qg3
Rh8 31. dxc5 Qxd1 32. Rxd1 Rxd1 $132 {White's position looks somewhat safer.})
28... Bd6 (28... Rb8 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5 cxd5 31. f5 $44) 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5
{Jon Ludvig's play is very natural. The Kf8 is in permanent danger, but
Black's pieces are much more active than before.} Ne7 (30... cxd5 $5 {deserved
serious attention:} 31. Rxd5 Ne7 {and it looks like White must play precisely
in order to keep the balance:} 32. Rd4 Rb8 (32... Nf5 33. Rxe4 Qc6 34. Rhe1
Qxb6 35. Re6 $44) 33. Rhd1 Rxb6 34. g6 $1 Rxh3 35. Rxd6 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Qxd6 37.
Qxh3 Qxg6 38. Qe3 $11) 31. dxc6 Qxc6 32. Rhe1 Qxb6 (32... Rb8 33. Qxe4 Qxe4+
34. Rxe4 Rxb6 35. Re6 Bc5 36. Rxb6 Bxb6 37. Rd6 {led to a drawish endgame.})
33. Qxe4 {The resulting position is approximately equal - White has sufficient
compensation for a piece, but not more.} Bc5 34. Rxd8+ Qxd8 35. Qc4 Qd4 36.
Qxa6 {Correctly deviating from an exchange - the vulnerablity of Black's
monarch causes problems here.} g6 $6 {Inviting some troubles.} ({The most
natural} 36... Rxh3 37. a4 Qd3+ 38. Qxd3 Rxd3 {led to an endgame, where the
draw looks unavoidable.}) 37. Re5 $1 Qd6 38. Qa8+ Kg7 39. Qf3 ({Hammer could
have posed Black more problems by means of:} 39. Qe4 $1 Rxh3 40. a4 Rg3 41. a5
$14 {the a-passer is quite annoying.}) 39... Bd4 40. Re2 Qd7 41. Qd3 {White
has 4 pawns for a piece, but the activity of Black's pieces cannot be
underestimated.} Nc6 (41... Nf5 42. Rc2 Rh8 43. a4 Ra8 (43... Qxa4 $2 44. Rc7+
Kf8 45. Qe4 $18) 44. b3 $14) 42. Rh2 $6 ({More in the spirit of White's
previous play was} 42. Rc2 Nb4 43. Rc7 Qxc7 44. Qxd4+ Kf7 45. Qxb4 Rxh3 46. Qe4
$14 {keeping some edge, though it would be very difficult to advance the
passers.}) 42... Nb4 $1 43. Qc4 (43. Qe4 Qf5 44. Qxf5 gxf5 45. a4 Nd5 46. a5
Nxf4 47. Bxf4 Rxf4 48. Kc2 $11) 43... Rxh3 {Now Topalov is no longer facing
any risk.} 44. Rd2 (44. Rxh3 {was safer:} Qf5+ 45. Rd3 Qxd3+ 46. Qxd3 Nxd3 47.
Bd2 Nxb2 48. Kc2 Na4 49. Kd3 Bg1 50. Ke4 Nc5+ 51. Ke5 $11 {and Black cannot
avoid the exchange of Pg6.}) 44... Qf5+ 45. Ka1 Bc5 $1 {Now White is under
pressure, though the position is still equal.} 46. a3 Nd3 47. Rd1 Nxc1 48. Rxc1
Bf8 49. Qd4+ Kg8 50. Rc7 $1 ({Correctly rejecting} 50. Qc4+ Qf7 51. Qxf7+ Kxf7
$15) 50... Qe6 51. Qc4 Qxc4 52. Rxc4 Kf7 53. a4 Rb3 (53... Ke6 54. a5 Bd6 55.
a6 Rh7 56. Ra4 Ra7 57. Kb1 $11) 54. a5 {The strong a-passer doesn't yield
Black much time for attacking the other pawns.} Rb5 55. Ra4 Bg7 56. Ra2 {
This awkward move is the only way to protect the pawn.} (56. Kb1 {was also
possible:} Rxb2+ 57. Kc1 Rb8 58. a6 $11) 56... Bd4 57. Ra4 Bxb2+ 58. Ka2 Bc1
59. a6 Rb2+ 60. Ka1 Rb8 61. Rc4 Be3 62. Rc7+ Kg8 (62... Ke6 63. Rc6+ Kd5 64.
Rxg6 $11) 63. Rc6 Bd4+ 64. Ka2 Kf7 {Black is pushing for a win, but his
resources are limited.} 65. Rd6 Bc3 66. Rc6 Bh8 67. Ka3 Bd4 68. Ka4 Rf8 ({
Black could have tried} 68... Rb6 $5 69. a7 Rb1 70. Rd6 Bxa7 71. Rf6+ Kg7 72.
f5 {White manages to swap the pawns, but there was still some theoretical
chance.}) 69. Kb5 Kg7 70. Rc7+ Rf7 71. Rxf7+ Kxf7 72. Kc4 Ba7 73. Kd5 Ke7 74.
Kc6 $4 {GM Hammer definitely doesn't deserve a loss in this game. Alas, this
terrible blunder immediately spoils half a point.} (74. f5 gxf5 75. Ke5 $11) (
74. Ke5 Bb8+ 75. Kd5 $11) 74... Ke6 (74... Ke6 75. Kb7 Be3 76. a7 Bxa7 77. Kxa7
Kf5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 {In CBM 161
I did a survey of this variation. The current game adds to my conclusion that
Black is doing fine in this line.} b5 {The most aggressive.} 8. Nf4 {This move
strengthens White's centre, but the knight on f4 might be misplaced in some
cases.} (8. Ng3 {is another option.}) 8... exd5 {Topalov deviates from his own
game, where he also achieved a good position.} (8... a6 9. Bd2 exd5 10. cxd5
Ba5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Ne5 13. Kh1 c4 14. b3 b4 15. Na4 c3 16. Be3 Bc7 $15 {
[%csl Gb4,Gc3] 0-1 (41) Timofeev,A (2631)-Topalov,V (2751) Eilat 2012}) (8...
e5 {has appeared in practice as well with good results for White. Closing the
centre gives White some time to regroup his pieces.}) 9. cxd5 (9. Nfxd5 Nxd5
10. Qxd5 Qb6 11. Bf4 Be6 $1 {has never appeared so far, but might be an
improvement that Topalov had in mind.} (11... Rd8 $2 12. Bg5 $1 Re8 13. Rd1 $16
{1-0 (19) Khairullin,I (2602)-Karthikeyan,P (1983) Vlissingen 2009}) (11...
bxc4 $6 12. Bxc4 Nc6 13. O-O Be6 14. Qd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (40) Volkov,S (2636)
-Maletin,P (2545) Novokuznetsk 2008}) 12. Qxd6 (12. Qxa8 $6 Nc6 13. Qxf8+ Kxf8
$15) 12... Qa5 13. Kf2 Rd8 14. Qc7 Rd2+ 15. Kg3 Qxc7 16. Bxc7 Bxc3 17. bxc3
bxc4 $13) 9... a6 {We have here a Benoni type structure with, somewhat
unusually, Black's bishop on b4 and a slight lag in development for White.
It's important for Black that he has already managed to expand his play on the
queenside.} (9... c4 $6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. axb5 Ne5 12. Be3 $14 {0-1 (34) Moranda,
W (2533)-Dziuba,M (2556) Lublin 2008}) 10. Be2 (10. a4 {is worth checking.
Black should reply with} Ba5 $1 {tactically protecting the Pb5.} 11. Be3 (11.
axb5 axb5 {[%cal Ga5c3]} 12. Bd2 Qb6 $132) 11... c4 12. axb5 axb5 13. b4 $1
cxb3 (13... Bxb4 $6 14. Rxa8 Bxc3+ 15. Kf2 $14) 14. Qxb3 Ba6 $13) 10... Nbd7
11. O-O c4 $146 {More flexible than the previously played 11...Ne5. It's not
clear yet, where Black's knight should go.} (11... Ne5 12. Kh1 (12. a4 $5)
12... Bd7 13. Nd3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 $13 {1/2-1/2 (30) Richter,M (2470)-Babula,V 
(2583) Pardubice 2013}) 12. Be3 $6 {This allows the exchange of dark-squared
bishops, which, to my mind, White should avoid, at least at this stage of the
game.} (12. Kh1 {looks more in the spirit of the position.} Bc5 $1 (12... Ne5
13. a3 Bc5 14. b4 Bb6 15. g4 h6 16. Ng2 a5 17. Bf4 {This is the kind of
position that White should strive for in this line - to stabilise the
queenside and try to create chances on the kingside.}) 13. g4 Ne5 14. Ng2 h6
15. a3 {trying to push b2-b4 even in a slightly inferior version.}) 12... Bc5
13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. b4 (14. Qd4 g5 $1 15. b4 cxb3 16. Nd3 Nfd7 $15) 14... cxb3
15. axb3 b4 16. Nb5 $2 {This is, actually, a blunder. It would be good for
White, if the knight reached the d4 square, but not in this game...} (16. Na4
Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 a5 19. Nd3 Ba6 20. Nb2 Rfc8 21. Bxa6 Qxa6 $15 22.
Nc4 $2 Rxc4 $1 23. bxc4 Nd7 $17 {[%cal Gd7c5]}) (16. Nb1 Nfd7 17. Nd2 a5 18.
Nh5 $5 {would be acceptable for White, though I already slightly prefer
Black's position.}) 16... Qb6 17. Kh1 {[%tqu "En","How can Black win
material?","","","g7g5","White can't keep both knights and has to sacrifice
one of them.",5]} g5 $1 {White can't keep both knights and has to sacrifice
one of them.} 18. Qd4 Ncd7 19. Qxb6 (19. Qxb4 gxf4 20. Qd2 Nh5 $19) 19... Nxb6
20. Nc7 (20. Nxd6 gxf4 {is another version of giving a piece, but White's
compensation is insufficient.}) 20... Ra7 21. Nb5 {Unfortunately for Grischuk
it's not a repetition. Black's rook can have squares along the seventh rank.}
Re7 $6 {It's not clear why Topalov gave up the Pd6, when he could defend it.} (
21... Rd7 22. Nxd6 ({Perhaps, he was slightly concerned about} 22. Ne6 {
but, it should be winning for Black after} fxe6 23. dxe6 Re7 24. Nxd6 Bxe6 25.
Rxa6 Rb8) 22... Rxd6 23. e5 Rdd8 $19) 22. Nxd6 gxf4 23. Bxa6 Rd8 24. Bxc8 $6 (
24. Nxc8 Nxc8 25. Ra4 Ra7 26. Bb5 {would be a better chance. The bishop will
be annoying on c6.}) 24... Rxd6 25. Bf5 Nbd7 26. g3 (26. Ra7 Kf8 27. Ra8+ Kg7
28. Ra7 Re5 {and slowly, but surely Black will regroup his pieces and
eventually win.}) 26... fxg3 27. Rg1 $6 {Grischuk insists on opening the
g-file, but it makes the things even worse for him.} (27. hxg3 {should have
been played, at least keeping the structure intact. Here Black's winning task
would be far more difficult.}) 27... Kf8 28. Rxg3 Nc5 $19 {White has no
threats. Meanwhile, the weakening of the f4-square will become apparent very
soon.} 29. Bh3 Re8 30. Rb1 Nh5 31. Rg5 Nf4 {The perfect blockade. The rest is
easy.} 32. Bf1 Ra8 33. Bc4 Ra2 34. Rg4 Rh6 $1 35. h4 (35. Rxf4 Raxh2+ 36. Kg1
Rh1+ $19 {[%csl Rb1]}) 35... Nfd3 36. Rg2 Rxh4+ 37. Kg1 Ra7 38. d6 Rh6 39. Rh2
Rxd6 {Well played by Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bd7 14. Qd2 Qe7
15. Rac1 Bc6 16. Rc2 Rfd8 17. Rfc1 Ne8 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. e3 Nd6 20. Ne2 Bb5 21.
Nf4 Rac8 22. h4 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 24. Rxc8 Nxc8 25. Qa5 Qd7 26. b3 b6 27. Qc3
Qc6 {The position almost fits the description of dead drawn. With a trade on
c6 the symmetrical pawn structure would surely lead to a draw. Topalov wants
to fight for a win, but in the way that he does it is rather strange.} 28. Qa1
{threatening e4 ideas, with a discovered check down the long diagonal in case
of a capture by the d-pawn.} Qc7 29. Bh3 $2 {This move is just bad though.
Black's position is still not that much better, but White is allowing Caruana
chances for no reason.} (29. e4 dxe4 30. d5+ e5 31. Bxe4 Qe7 $15 {the knight
comes to d6 with a nice position for Black.}) 29... Qc2 {This is the point.
The queen penetrates in this square now that e4 is not really available.} 30.
a4 (30. e4 Qxe4 31. Qc3 {is still equal, but hard to play.}) 30... Ba6 31. Qa3
Qd1+ (31... Qd2 {might have been an inch more precise as it doesn't allow
White access to c1 too easily.}) 32. Kh2 Qd2 33. Bg2 $1 {in the nick of time.}
h6 (33... Qxf2 34. Qc1 {gives White enough counterplay with Qc7 coming up and
multiple threats.}) 34. a5 $1 {The only move to equalize.} Qxa5 (34... bxa5 35.
Qc5 $11) 35. Qc1 Qb4 36. e4 Qxd4 37. exd5 e5 38. Ne6+ {The final detail. The
perpetual is forced and the game ends in a draw.} fxe6 39. Qc7+ Kf6 40. Qd8+
Kf7 41. Qd7+ Kf8 42. Qd8+ Kf7 43. Qd7+ Kf8 44. Qd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Illingworth,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. b3 a5 $5 {[%cal Gb1c3,Gc8a6,Yb1d2,Yc8b7] I analysed this
variation in some depth close to a year ago and concluded it was a pretty
clear equaliser, and not much has changed since then, possibly because the
fashion now is to play the Bf4 systems as recommended by Avrukh. One of the
points is that this is a waiting move - Black can place the bishop on a6 after
Nc3, and on b7 in the event of a Nbd2 setup.} 11. Bc3 (11. Nc3 Ba6 {is not
threatening for Black at all.}) 11... Bb7 (11... Ne4 $5 {[%cal Yf7f5]
intending in many cases to Stonewall with ...f5 is also fine for Black, as
I've demonstrated in my analyses.}) 12. Nbd2 c5 $1 {I had previously
recommended this variation as well, trying to equalise by liquidating
everything in the centre. However Topalov had already spent a bit of clock
time by this point, so it seems he did not expect Giri to adopt the variation.}
13. Ne5 (13. e3 Qc7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. dxc5 Bxc5 $5 {is not remotely dangerous
for Black.} (15... bxc5 $132 {[%cal Ya5a4] is also fine if Black wants more
complex play.})) 13... cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qc8 $6 {White obtains a
typical Catalan advantage after this somewhat awkward move.} (15... Ng4 {
as played previously is best, though it's fair to assume that Giri had some
idea in mind to at least ask Black some questions.} 16. Bc3 $1 (16. Bb2 Bc5 17.
e3 Qe7 18. h3 Nf6 $11) 16... Bc5 (16... Bf6 17. Ne4 $1) (16... Rc8 17. h3 Nf6
18. Qb2 $14 {also gives White steady pressure.}) 17. e3 Bxe3 $1 (17... Qe7 18.
h3 Nf6 19. Qb2 {½-½ (46) Bluebaum,M (2514)-Burg,T (2490) Bremen 2013} Rfd8
20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. cxd5 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Ba3 23. Qc3 Rxd5 24. Ne4 Kg7 25. g4 $1 $14
{[%csl Ra3,Ye4,Rf6] would be a fairly normal continuation, giving White a very
standard advantage as Black's kingside is weak and White has the far better
minor piece.}) 18. fxe3 Nxe3 19. Qd3 Nxg2 20. Nf3 $1 dxc4 21. Qe2 Qc7 22. Kxg2
Bd5 $44 {[%csl Yd5] and Black's powerful light-squared bishop gives him good
compensation for the modest material deficit.}) 16. Rac1 {Now the queen is a
bit misplaced along the c-file, and Black has problems connecting his rooks.}
dxc4 ({It's now too late for} 16... Ng4 17. Bb2 Bc5 18. e3 $36 {[%cal Yc2c3,
Rc5e3]}) (16... Ba3 17. Bb2 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Bxg2 20. Nd6 $1 Qa6 21.
Kxg2 $36 {[%cal Ye2e4,Ye4e5,Rd6c8] also fails to solve Black's problems; White
owns the c-file and will anchor his knight with e4-e5.}) 17. Bxf6 $1 {A
practical decision, aiming for a small but enduring advantage, which is
unpleasant for the opponent.} (17. Nxc4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qc6+ 19. f3 b5 20. Ne3
Qxc2 21. Rxc2 Rfc8 22. Rdc1 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 $14 {is also a better endgame for
White, but it's not easy for White to increase the pressure after} Ne8 $1 {
[%cal Ya5a4]}) 17... Bxf6 18. Qxc4 (18. Nxc4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc6+ 20. e4 Rfd8 21.
Nd6 Qxc2 22. Rxc2 Be5 $11 {is nothing real for White.}) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2
Qb7+ 20. Qe4 $14 {[%csl Yd2,Rf6][%cal Yc1c8,Yd1d8] Even modern engines don't
fully appreciate the dangers for the side with the bishop in such positions.}
Rfb8 (20... Ra7 $143 21. Qxb7 Rxb7 22. Ne4 Bb2 23. Rc6 {and White is obviously
in control.}) ({It looks wrong to activate White's knight with} 20... Qxe4+ $5
21. Nxe4 {but after} Rfd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Rc6 {Black's position, though
passive, seems tenable based on} Kf8 24. Nd6 Ke7 25. Nb5 Rb8 {[%cal Ye7e8,
Yd8e7,Ye7c5] and I don't see how White breaks through if Black sits tight.})
21. Rc6 $5 (21. Qxb7 Rxb7 {transposes to the game.}) 21... Qd7 (21... Rd8 22.
Rd6 $5 {is a clever trick, but it peters out to equality after} Qxe4+ 23. Nxe4
Be7 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 $11 {and Black can hold this endgame.}) 22.
Rcc1 (22. Qf3 Rc8 23. Rdc1 Be7 $1 {is solid for Black as well, though White
can keep slight pressure with} 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Nc4 Bc5 26. Ne5 Qe7 27. Nd3
$14) (22. Rxb6 Rd8 $1 {pinning the knight is not what White is after.}) 22...
Qb7 23. Qxb7 Rxb7 24. Ne4 Be7 {While this position can be held, it's not
entirely trivial as Black has few prospects for active play and White can try
things here and there.} 25. Nd6 (25. Rc6 b5 $1 {with ...a4 in mind offers
counterplay, and} 26. Nc5 Bxc5 27. Rxc5 g6 {really would be equal.}) 25... Rd7
({I would have been tempted to try my luck in the double rook endgame with} 
25... Bxd6 $5 26. Rxd6 Kf8 27. Rcc6 b5 28. e4 b4 {when the possibility of ...
a4 limits White's scope to squeeze Black, and after} 29. Ra6 Rxa6 30. Rxa6 Rb5
{[%cal Rb5c5]} 31. Rc6 g5 $1 $11 {[%cal Rf2f4,Rh2h4] I don't see a clear way
for White to make inroads.}) 26. Nc4 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 b5 (27... Bc5 $6 28. Rd7 a4
29. Rb7 axb3 30. axb3 {wins the b6-pawn, which Black doesn't need to allow.}) (
{It transpires that} 27... Rd8 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {is just a draw; the key
defensive setup for Black is} 29. Kf3 Kf8 30. Ke4 Ke7 31. a4 f6 32. Kd4 Kd7 33.
Nb2 Kc6 34. Kc4 g5 $1 {[%csl Yd5,Ye5,Yf4,Yf5] when with f4 covered, White has
no way through for his knight:} 35. f3 Be7 36. Nd3 h5 $11) 28. Ne5 Bf6 29. Nd7
$1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Rd7f8] This is the only way to keep the game going. Now it
isn't so easy for Black to activate his king (if it could reach e7 the
position would be a trivial draw).} a4 (29... Bd8 {was probably better in
hindsight to stop the Rc1-c7 plan, and}) (29... Rc8 $5 30. Rd6 Rc7 {(preparing
...Be7)} 31. Nxf6+ gxf6 32. Ra6 Rc2 33. Rxa5 Rxe2 {also more or less kept the
balance.}) 30. Rc1 axb3 (30... Rd8 31. Rc7 a3 {[%cal Yd8d2,Yd2a2] is the
engine's recommendation, but I would be quite concerned that both a3 and b5
would become weaknesses. However, introducing the idea of ...Rd2 for when the
knight moves shouldn't be sneezed at and} 32. f4 Be7 33. Kf3 f6 34. Ke3 Kf7 $1
35. b4 Kg6 36. Nc5 Bxc5+ 37. Rxc5 Rd1 38. Rxb5 Ra1 $11 {for one looks like a
draw.}) 31. axb3 Be7 32. Rc7 {[%csl Yc7,Yd7] Now White's pressure is becoming
quite serious as he's developed something of a bind.} Rd8 {Topalov finds the
right defence.} 33. Rb7 ({Not} 33. Ne5 $4 Bd6 34. Rd7 Rxd7 35. Nxd7 f6 {
and rather comically, the knight is trapped!}) 33... Bd6 34. g4 {Naturally
White wants to fix as many of Black's pawns on dark squares as possible. Also
he can gain a lot of space on the kingside, which is quite unpleasant for the
opponent to deal with over the board.} h5 $6 {Unfortunately the 'active'
defence is not so great here as Black will lose too much time when he later
tries to regain the pawn.} (34... b4 {[%csl Rb4] is the engine's first choice,
but as mentioned I would avoid putting the pawns on dark squares if possible.})
(34... h6 35. h4 Kh7 {is the passive defence and probably best, though White
can increase the pressure with} 36. h5 (36. e3 {first would be another way to
start.}) 36... g6 $5 37. e4 Kg7 38. Kf3 Rc8 $1 39. Rb6 Rc3+ 40. Ke2 Bf4 41.
Rxb5 g5 $14 {and while Black should hold the draw with his active pieces, it's
not guaranteed by any means.}) 35. gxh5 Kh7 (35... f5 {wouldn't really be
consistent with Black's last, though it does avoid the trick in the game.}) 36.
b4 $1 {This is a nice move to keep control of the position.} Bxb4 $6 {
Continuing to aim for active play, however} (36... Kg8 $5 {makes sense now
that White has played b4. Then} 37. e3 Bxb4 38. Ne5 Rf8 39. Rxb5 Bc3 {should
still be drawable, though White can certainly press all night.}) 37. Ne5 {
Losing f7 is definitely a blow, though it may not be a decisive mistake.} Rd5
38. Nxf7 Rxh5 39. f4 $16 {[%csl Rb5,Re6,Rg7,Rh5,Rh7] Black's main problem is
that all his remaining pawns are isolated, and his bishop and rook don't
really coordinate well.} Kg6 40. Ne5+ Kh7 $2 (40... Kh6 41. Nf3 $1 (41. Rxb5
Bc3 42. Nf7+ Kg6 43. Rxh5 Kxh5 44. Kf3 Kg6 45. Nd6 Bb4 46. Nc4 Kf6 47. Kg4 Bc5
$11 {[%cal Yg7g6] is just a draw to my eyes.}) (41. e3 Bd2 42. Rxb5 Bc3 $1 43.
Kf3 Bxe5 44. Kg4 $1 Rxh2 45. Rxe5 Rg2+ 46. Kh4 Kg6 47. Rxe6+ Kf7 $11 {is also
a draw as far as I know; as least I know that it's a draw if the pawns are
moved one file to the right, and here White's king is cut off to boot.}) 41...
Rc5 42. Ng5 $1 (42. e4 Bc3 43. Ng5 {allows Black to draw with} Rxg5+ 44. fxg5+
Kxg5 45. Rxb5+ ({or} 45. Kf3 b4 46. Rb6 e5 47. Rb7 g6 $11) 45... Kf4 46. Rb6
Kxe4 47. Rxe6+ Be5 $11 {with a tablebase draw.}) 42... Rc2 43. Kf3 Rc3+ 44. Kg4
Re3 45. Rxb5 Be7 46. Re5 Rxe5 47. Nf7+ Kg6 48. Nxe5+ Kf6 {and, similar to the
41.Rxb5 note, this ending seems a fairly comfortable draw for Black.}) 41. Nf7
$2 (41. Nf3 $1 {transposes to the game. Instead Giri opts to repeat moves.})
41... Kg6 (41... Bd2 $5 42. Ng5+ Kg6 43. Nxe6 Rh4 {is a strange setup and I
think the best continuation is} 44. Kf3 Kf6 45. Rb6 b4 $5 46. e4 Ke7 47. f5
Rh3+ 48. Kg4 Re3 49. Nc5 Bc3 50. Kf4 Rh3 51. e5 Rxh2 52. Ne4 Rh1 53. Rb7+ Kf8 {
and while this might be a draw, it's an extremely unnatural setup to play over
the board.}) 42. Ne5+ Kh7 (42... Kh6 $1 {as noted before seems to save Black
with best play.}) 43. Nf3 $1 $18 {[%csl Re6][%cal Yf3g5] Now that the knight
can reach g5 without allowing counterplay against the White pawns, I'm
convinced that White is winning.} Rf5 (43... Bc3 44. Ng5+ Kg6 45. Nxe6 {
clearly isn't much help.}) (43... Kg6 44. Kg3 Bc3 45. Rb6 b4 46. Kg4 $1 Rc5 47.
Ng5 {[%cal Yg5e6] is winning for White.}) 44. Ng5+ Kh6 (44... Kg8 45. e3 $1 ({
After} 45. Rb8+ Rf8 46. Rxb5 Bd2 47. Nxe6 Rf6 48. f5 g6 49. e4 gxf5 50. exf5 {
I'm assuming this is a win because Black's king is stuck on the back rank,
though I'm not 100% sure. Anyway it doesn't really matter as White has clearer
alternatives.}) 45... Bc3 46. Nxe6 b4 47. Kf3 Rh5 48. Kg3 $18 {[%cal Ye6g5,
Yg3g4,Ye3e4,Ye4e5] and with an extra pawn and better pieces, plus a passed
e-pawn, White should have few problems converting his advantage.}) 45. Kf3 $1 {
Now the game is effectively over.} Bd2 (45... e5 46. Nf7+ Kh7 47. Nxe5 {
again leaves White up a pawn and ready to roll his pawns.}) 46. e3 b4 47. Nxe6
Rh5 (47... Bc3 48. e4 Rh5 49. e5 Rxh2 50. Rxg7 {will also be winning for White,
who can combine the advance of his passers with mating threats.}) 48. Nxg7 Rxh2
49. Nf5+ Kg6 50. Ne7+ Kf6 51. Nd5+ Ke6 52. Ke4 {And just like that, b4 is gone.
} Rh3 53. Rb6+ Kd7 54. Kd3 Bc1 55. Rxb4 Kd6 56. Kd4 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc3 14. Rxc3
Bxc6 15. Bb5 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bc6 17. Bb5 Bd5 18. Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 (4... a6 {is the another main line,
but after} 5. Bd3 Ngf6 {White doesn't have to play 6.Re1, he can immediately
answer with} 6. c3 {followed by Bc2, d4.}) 5. Re1 a6 6. Bd3 b5 7. c4 g5 $5 $146
{A very interesting and ambitious novelty by Topalov. Nowadays ...g5 becomes
typical in these type of position. In case of White captures the P Black has
some play on the g-file and in case of White ignores, Black continues with ...
g4 and takes some pressure in the centre.} ({Last year Nakamura played} 7...
Ne5 {against Carlsen,} 8. Bf1 Nxc4 9. a4 Bd7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 e5 12. axb5
exd4 13. Bxc4 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Bb3 Be7 16. Qxd4 $14 {and White had a
comfortable position, Carlsen-Nakamura, Zuerich rapid 2014.}) 8. Nxg5 {Carlsen
takes the gauntlet.} (8. cxb5 $5 {was the alternative,} g4 9. e5 $5 dxe5 10.
Ng5 Nb6 {with a very complicated position.}) 8... Ne5 9. Be2 bxc4 10. Na3 (10.
Nc3 $5 {was also possible,} Rg8 11. d4 cxd3 12. Bxd3) ({or} 10. Nf3 $5 Nd3 11.
Bxd3 cxd3 12. e5 $1 Nd5 (12... dxe5 13. Nxe5 {and White has a dangerous
initiative since} Bb7 $2 {loses instantly,} 14. Qa4+ $1 Nd7 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
16. Qb3+ Kg7 17. Qxb7 $18 {and White wins.}) 13. Na3 Rg8 $132 {with a
double-edged fight.}) 10... Rg8 11. Nxc4 $6 {A pretty piece sacrifice, but
objectively this is not so good!} (11. Nf3 $6 {could have been met by} Nd3 12.
Bxd3 cxd3 13. Nc4 (13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Qd5 $17) 13... Be6 $15 {and Black
looks fine.}) ({Probably} 11. d4 {was the most accurate, but} cxd3 12. Bxd3 h6
13. Nf3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 d5 $1 $132 {and Black has a nice counterplay.}) 11...
Nxc4 (11... Rxg5 $2 {is bad, because of} 12. d4 $16 {and White is better.}) 12.
d4 {This was the point of the piece sacrifice.} Nb6 13. Bh5 (13. dxc5 dxc5 14.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 15. Nxf7+ Ke8 16. Ng5 e5 $15 {and two Ps are not enough.}) 13...
Nxh5 14. Qxh5 Rg7 (14... Rg6 $1 {was more accurate. The R is much more active,
and after} 15. Qxh7 Rg7 16. Qh8 cxd4 17. Nh7 Rxh7 18. Qxh7 e5 $17 {and Black
has a wonderful position.}) 15. Nxh7 Qd7 (15... Bg4 16. Qh4 Rxh7 17. Qxh7 cxd4
18. Bh6 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 e5 20. f4 {and still White has some counterchance.}) 16.
dxc5 dxc5 17. e5 $2 {Decisive mistake.} (17. Nxf8 {was the only move} Qh3 $1 (
17... Qg4 18. Qxg4 Rxg4 19. Nh7 f6 20. Ng5 $1 fxg5 21. g3 $1 $18 {followed by
f3 and the R is trapped.}) 18. Qxh3 Bxh3 19. g3 Nc4 (19... Kxf8 20. Bh6 {
might even favour White as Black's pieces are not well coordinated.}) (19...
Rg8 20. Nh7 f6 $13) 20. Bh6 Rg8 $13) 17... Qc6 $1 ({The natural} 17... Bb7 $4 {
is losing immediately, as} 18. Nf6+ exf6 19. exf6+ $18) 18. f3 ({Now} 18. Nf6+
{could have been met by} Kd8 $1 $17 {and Black is better.}) 18... Qg6 $1 {
A good move, Black forces to exchange of Qs and he avoids White's practical
chances.} 19. Nf6+ Kd8 $1 {The black K simply slides over to safety.} 20. Qxg6
Rxg6 21. Ne4 Bb7 22. h4 Rc8 23. h5 Rg8 24. Bd2 Nc4 25. Bc3 Bh6 26. Rad1+ Ke8
27. Rd3 Bf4 $1 $19 {Very precise play by Black, his position should be winning.
} 28. Nf2 Bc6 29. Nh3 Bg3 30. Re2 Bb5 31. Rd1 Bc6 32. Nf2 Bxe5 $1 {A beautiful
tactical solution! White's position is now hopeless.} 33. Ng4 (33. Bxe5 Bxf3
34. Rde1 Bxe2 35. Rxe2 Nxe5 36. Rxe5 f6 $19) 33... Bxc3 34. bxc3 Kf8 35. Kf2
Rh8 36. Ne5 Nxe5 37. Rxe5 Be8 38. g4 f6 39. Re6 Bb5 40. Rde1 Rc7 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Illingworth,M"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,146,27,19,19,10,13,8,12,13,13,-1,-3,-5,0,-2,16,7,7,6,6,9,33,10,10,10,
56,45,48,38,19,7,3,3,18,19,22,17,25,19,13,28,36,37,37,37,73,73,92,89,91,70,83,
83,103,100,96,98,92,81,73,74,67,64,65,26,40,24,28,28,49,4,47,53,38,43,46,46,62,
67,76,81,96,57,81,79,70,80,63,70,70,70,70,69,109,119,78,129,92,100,118,118,119,
119,119,117,108,110,143,144,144,144,163,163,171,176,157,157,187,187,187,208,
168,198,203,230,363,383,419,419,439,417,490,487,480,528,547,547,547,547,547,
527,909,752,909,909,1012,909,1207] The following game between two of the
winners in the first round put Topalov in the outright lead, though he slowed
his pace somewhat after this game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5.
Nbd2 $5 {A relatively fresh move order device, aiming to limit Black's options.
} (5. Bxc6 {is the more strategic approach,}) ({whereas} 5. O-O {is another
major option}) ({and} 5. c3 {is the main line.}) 5... d6 {A normal move, but
now Nakamura can't play the ...Re8/...d5 setups he had favoured in a couple of
his previous games.} (5... Nd4 {isn't as effective here as after 5.0-0 because
of} 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. d4 $5 ({Or White can grab the bishop pair with} 
8. Nc4 {[%csl Rb6]} O-O 9. O-O) 8... exd4 9. e5 dxc3 10. bxc3 Qe7 11. O-O {
[%cal Ye1e8] <->e} Nd5 12. Bc4 Nf4 13. Nf3 Ne6 14. a4 O-O 15. Nd4 $36 {[%csl
Ra8,Rc8,Ye5][%cal Rd7d5,Rd7d6] and White has very promising compensation in
the style of the Evans Gambit - Black will probably have to return the pawn to
develop his remaining pieces.}) (5... O-O {gives White a few options, such as}
6. c3 ({White can also move order Black with} 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. O-O {into the 5.
Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0 variation.}) 6... d6 {and now 7.0-0 transposes to
the game, but} 7. h3 $5 {is an interesting alternative that has been favoured
by a few strong players recently.}) 6. O-O O-O 7. c3 ({Earlier this year
Carlsen tried the independent} 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. h3 {, but after} h6 9. Re1 Re8
10. Nf1 d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. Be3 Bf8 $11 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7,Yc8,Ye5,Yf8] ^^, ><o/
oc; 0-1 (75) Adams,M (2727)-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St Petersburg 2013 CBM 154 
[Szabo,Kr], Black was fine.}) 7... Ne7 {[%cal Yc7c6,Ye7g6] /\Ng6, /\c6} ({
This is the most popular move at a high level, although} 7... h6 {has been
extensively tested in engine games.}) (7... a6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 $1 exd4 10.
cxd4 Bb6 11. Qc2 {[%csl Rb6,Rc6,Rc7,Yd4,Ye4] [+], ><o/oc, ><Bb6 however is a
good indication of what White is aiming for - to achieve the d4 break and stop
Black freeing his position. To give one illustrative example:} Re8 12. Re1 c5
13. d5 Bg4 14. b3 Ba5 15. Re3 c6 (15... Bxf3 $142 16. Nxf3 Qe7 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18.
Nxd2 Ng4 19. Ree1 $14 {[%csl Yd5,Ye4][%cal Yd2c4,Yb3b4] /\Nc4 is still not
enough for full equality; while Black drew both correspondence games to reach
this position, White's extra space and flexible structure give him the more
comfortable game.}) 16. dxc6 d5 17. exd5 Rxe3 18. fxe3 Qxd5 19. Bb2 $14 {
[%csl Ra6,Rc5] ><a6, ><c5; 1-0 (66) Ponomariov,R (2723)-Sargissian,G (2671)
Melilla 2011 CBM 146}) 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 (10. Bd3 {is no longer
played, with good reason:} Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qb3 Nc6 $1 13. d5 Ne7 $11 {
[%csl Yb6][%cal Yb6g1] /^b6-g1 and White can't possibly be better facing such
a strong bishop on b6.}) 10... Ng6 (10... Bg4 {0-1 (38) Vachier Lagrave,M 
(2754)-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 CBM 167 [Illingworth,M], was
annotated by yours truly, although it's worth pointing out that Caruana played
this way in a later round of the Sinquefield Cup against Topalov, going on to
win.}) 11. h3 ({This makes sense as} 11. b3 $6 c6 12. Bd3 Bg4 $1 $15 {[%csl
Rd4][%cal Rg6f4] ><d4, /\Nf4 would be more than a little awkward.}) 11... c6 (
11... d5 $143 12. e5 Nh5 {[%csl Ye5] is a favourable transformation of the
structure for White, who stops Black achieving his key ...f6 break under
reasonable circumstances by means of} 13. Nb3 Nhf4 14. Bxf4 Nxf4 15. Qd2 Ne6
16. Bd3 c6 {actually transposes to my 11...d5 note, where I indicated} 17. Bf5
$1 $14 {[%csl Re6][%cal Rf7f6,Re5f6,Rf5e6] \/f6 , after which Black does not
have any obvious counterplay.}) 12. Bd3 {This was the product of the first
major think of the game.} (12. Ba4 $6 {misplaces the bishop and} d5 13. e5 Nh5
14. Nf1 Nhf4 15. Bc2 f6 $36 {[%cal Rb6g1,Rf8f1] <->f, /^b6-g1; ½-½ (38)
Svidler,P (2758)-Anand,V (2770) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160 [Stohl,I]
favoured Black.}) (12. Bf1 $5 {is probably the main alternative Topalov was
contemplating, and I expect some of the subsequent theoretical discussions to
follow this direction.} d5 $1 ({Black should change the structure as} 12... Re8
13. b4 Be6 14. a4 a6 15. a5 Ba7 16. Bb2 h6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Kh2 $14 {[%csl Yd4,
Ye4][%cal Yd1c2,Yf1g2,Ya1d1] [+], /\Qc2, Rd1, /\Bg2 gives White a clear space
advantage and plenty of chances to slowly improve his position, while Black
can only sit and wait.}) 13. e5 Nh5 14. b4 f6 15. a4 Nhf4 $1 (15... fxe5 16. a5
Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Qf6 18. N4f3 e4 19. Ra3 exf3 20. Nxf3 Nhf4 21. Qd2 $14 {[%csl
Rf4,Rg6][%cal Yc1b2,Yb2h8,Ya3e3] ><Nf4, ><Ng6 and Bb2 provides more than
enough compensation for the pawn as the dark-squared bishop will be a monster
on the long diagonal, plus it is quite hard for Black to coordinate his minor
pieces.}) 16. a5 Bc7 17. Nb3 fxe5 18. dxe5 $14 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4][%cal Yg2g3,
Yf2f4] and the position is very double-edged, but I think White has the better
chances because the Black majority is blockaded and White has the safer king
in the long-term.}) 12... Nh5 $1 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Rh5f4] /\Nhf4, ><Bd3} ({
Black has to play to disrupt White's natural development as quiet play will
leave White with better central control for free:} 12... Re8 13. Nc4 Bc7 14.
Bg5 d5 15. Ncd2 $14 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Gg5d8] ><Bc7}) (12... Nf4 $143 {is merely
a shot in the dark after} 13. Bf1 $14 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Yd2c4] /\Nc4, ><Nf4} (
13. Bc2 Bxh3 $5 14. gxh3 Nxh3+ 15. Kg2 Ng4 16. Nc4 Ngxf2 17. Qd2 {may also
favour White, but why enter such complications when it's not necessary?})) (
12... d5 13. e5 Nh5 14. Nb3 ({It would be a strategic mistake to enter} 14.
Bxg6 $143 $6 fxg6 $1) 14... Nhf4 15. Bxf4 ({Once again} 15. Bxg6 $6 fxg6 16.
Bxf4 Rxf4 17. a4 a5 18. Rc1 g5 {[%cal Rg5g4,Rf8f1] is very comfortable for
Black; it is not clear where White's play is coming from, whereas Black has
nice pressure along the half-open f-file and ideas of ...g4 in the mix.}) 15...
Nxf4 16. Qd2 Ne6 {actually transposes to my 11...d5 note, where I indicated}
17. Bf5 $1 $14) (12... Be6 {is a bit too slow after} 13. b4 Nh5 ({or} 13... Re8
{[%csl Re6][%cal Re8e1] <->e} 14. a4 a6 15. a5 Ba7 16. Bc2 Qe7 17. Ra3 Rad8 18.
Nf1 d5 19. e5 Ne4 20. Rb3 $14 {[%csl Ye4][%cal Yf1d2,Yf1g3] /\Nd2, /\Ng3 and
while Black has a nice knight on e4 for now, it will soon be evicted, while
White's trumps are enduring.}) 14. Nc4 Nhf4 ({Also good for White is} 14... d5
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. e5 Nhf4 17. Bb1 $14 {[%csl Yb1,Yc1,Ye5] ^^}) (14... Bc7 $2 {
would allow} 15. d5 $1 cxd5 16. exd5 $16 {[%cal Yd3g6] /\Bxg6}) 15. Nxb6 axb6
16. d5 cxd5 17. exd5 Nxd5 {(Black should at least have a pawn to compensate
his positional problems)} 18. Bb2 Ndf4 19. Bf1 $1 Bxa2 20. Qd4 $1 Nh5 21. Qd2
$14 {[%csl Ra2,Yb2,Rg6,Rh5][%cal Yb2h8] and despite his material deficit,
White is better as he has the two bishops and Black has real problems
organising his pieces at all.}) 13. Nc4 Bc7 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Rd6d5] /\d5} 14.
d5 $1 {Only this move makes sense, else Black plays ...d5 and the knight on c4
feels strangely placed.} (14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3 Nhf4 {is nothing special for
White; if} 16. d5 c5 $11) (14. e5 {sets some tricks up if Black plays 14...d5.}
d5 $5 {This can still be played, but it gets very chaotic:} (14... Nhf4 15.
Bxg6 Nxg6 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. exd6 Bxd6 18. h4 Bb4 $11 {is safe for Black now that
White's light-squared bishop is traded,}) ({as is} 14... dxe5 15. Ncxe5 Nhf4
16. Be4 Nxe5 17. Bxf4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Be6 $11 {[%csl Rd4,Yd5]
><d4 with a typical anti-IQP position.}) 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. e6 $1 (
17. Ncd2 $2 h6 18. Be3 Qf7 $15 {[%cal Yg6g5,Yg5g4] /\g5-g4 can only favour
Black.}) 17... Qe8 18. e7 Rf5 $1 (18... Rxf3 19. Qxf3 dxc4 20. d5 h6 21. d6 $14
{[%csl Ra8,Rc7,Rc8,Yd6,Ye7,Re8,Rh5] is very messy, but the powerful passed
pawns give White the advantage.}) 19. Nce5 ({Black obtains fantastic
compensation for the exchange after} 19. g4 Rxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf4 21. Ne5 h6 22.
Ngf3 Nxh3+ 23. Kf1 Nf4 $44 {[%csl Yf4][%cal Yg6g5,Yc7d6] /\Bd6, /\g5}) 19...
Nf4 20. Qd2 Ne6 21. g4 Nxg5 $1 22. Nxg5 Rf6 $13 {followed by ...h6 and ...g5,
when the position is still extremely unclear.}) (14. Ne3 {is harmless because
of} Nhf4 15. Bc2 ({or} 15. Bf1 Re8 {[%csl Re4] ><e4} 16. Qc2 d5 $11) 15... d5
16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bd2 Be6 $11) 14... Nhf4 {This is the natural continuation of
Black's play. Up to this point the players were following a correspondence
game (though both took some time to get here).} (14... cxd5 15. exd5 {doesn't
make much sense for Black.}) (14... Re8 {is also inconsistent, and allows the
following device:} 15. e5 $1 cxd5 (15... dxe5 $6 16. d6 $1 $16 {[%csl Yd6]
[%cal Rd3g6] /\Bxg6}) 16. Bg5 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 hxg6 20.
Qxd5+ Kg7 21. Bd2 Qg8 22. Ne3 $16 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8,Rh5][%cal Rd5b7] and Black
has big trouble even completing his development.}) 15. Bf1 ({This is the
correct square for the bishop, keeping everything protected, as} 15. Bc2 cxd5
16. exd5 b5 17. Ne3 Ba5 ({or} 17... Bb6 $11) 18. Bd2 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Qf6 $11 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Rc8b7,Rg6e7] /\Ne7, /\Bb7, ><d5 is quite comfortable for Black.
In fact the d5-pawn feels more like a target than anything else in such a
position.}) 15... f5 $6 {This is a bit over-ambitious in light of the game
continuation.} (15... Re8 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1][%cal Ye8e4,Yc6d5] ->e, /\cxd5 would
have been fine for Black as White has some difficulty finishing his
development without making a concession:} 16. Bxf4 (16. dxc6 bxc6 {is a
favourable trade for Black.}) 16... Nxf4 17. Qd2 cxd5 $1 (17... Qf6 18. e5 $1
dxe5 19. d6 Rd8 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Nfxe5 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 $36 {gives White a
significant initiative based on his passed d-pawn.}) 18. exd5 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Ng6
$11 {[%cal Yc8d7,Ya8c8] /\Bd7, Rc8 and it is not easy for White to exploit his
extra space, which Black can develop around.}) (15... cxd5 16. exd5 b5 {
however is not as effective here, as the b5-pawn will come under attack with}
17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Bd2 Bb6 19. Kh2 Re8 20. Qb3 $14 {[%csl Rf4,Rg6] ><Nf4, ><Ng6
and White's space advantage is more serious when the board is full of pieces.})
16. e5 $1 {This strong pawn sacrifice will create major gaps in Black's
dark-squared defences.} (16. dxc6 $143 fxe4 {is good for Black,}) ({as is} 16.
exf5 $143 Bxf5) 16... Nxd5 ({This is clearly better than} 16... cxd5 17. Nxd6
Bxd6 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. Bd2 Bd7 20. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Yc3] and Black has no good
way to challenge a battery down the long diagonal.}) 17. exd6 $1 ({It looks
natural to insert} 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. exd6 Bxd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Qb3 {[%csl Rg5]
[%cal Yf5f4] , but after} f4 {[%csl Rg5] ><Bg5 the White bishop cannot reach
the long diagonal, as happened in the game.}) 17... Bxd6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. b3
$14 {[%csl Rf5,Rg7,Rg8][%cal Rf7f5,Yc1b2,Yb2h8,Yd1d4] White has a quite stable
advantage as his dark-squared bishop is unopposed and it will be very hard for
Black to challenge it, especially as the move ...f5 seriously weakened his
king. If only that pawn could move backwards - then Black's problems would be
solved! Furthermore, we'll see later on that the bishop pair will be a serious
asset even in the endgame.} Bd7 {The most obvious move, for sure.} (19... Qf6 {
only hastens Bb2 after} 20. Ba3 Rd8 21. Qd2 h6 22. Bb2 Qf7 {and White has a
plethora of attacking options; I like} 23. Qd4 $14 {[%cal Yh3h4,Yh4h5,Yf3e5,
Yf1c4,Ya1d1] /\Rad1, Bc4, Ne5} ({but} 23. Rad1 {is also logical,}) ({although} 
23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Rxe5 Be6 {would simplify Black's defensive task as the knight
was very misplaced on g6.})) (19... f4 $5 {aims to develop more actively, but}
20. Bb2 Bf5 21. Qd4 Qd7 22. Bc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Yb2,Rf5] is much better for
White now that an opposite-coloured bishop middlegame is on the cards.}) 20.
Bb2 Rfe8 $6 {Defending Black's position certainly isn't easy, but White's
advantage becomes a fair bit larger after this, as it becomes difficult to
protect the g7-pawn.} (20... h6 21. Bc4 Rf7 {is probably the best defence, but
here too} 22. h4 $1 $14 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Yh4h5,Yf3e5] /\h5, Ne5 and h5 sees
White increase the pressure on Black's kingside.}) 21. Qd4 $1 {White gains
some time with a nice shuffle.} Qf6 (21... Qf8 $143 {is too passive after} 22.
Bc4 Be6 23. Ng5 $16) 22. Qd2 $16 {Obviously White doesn't want to trade the
queens when Black's king is exposed.} Qd6 {The natural square for the queen.} (
{Instead} 22... Qf8 $5 {runs into greater problems after the consistent} 23.
Bc4 Be6 24. Nd4 ({If} 24. Ng5 Bf7 $14 {defends.}) 24... Qf7 25. Rad1 Rad8 26.
Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Qxe6 28. Qa5 Qd7 29. Qxa7 {[%cal Yc4g8,Yd1d8] <->d, /^c4-g8,
><Nd5 and White is much better with a very strong bishop pair.}) 23. Bc4 {
White's play is as simple as it is effective - now Qd4 is a big threat.} h6 {
Black hopes to hold the endgame, but we'll see that this proves a pretty
difficult task.} (23... Be6 $142 24. Qd4 Qd7 {was probably a better defence,
but not by much: White retains a clear advantage with} 25. Ng5 Nf8 26. Re5 h6
27. Nxe6 Nxe6 28. Qd3 $1 (28. Bxd5 $6 cxd5 29. Rxd5 Qf7 {gives Black decent
chances to defend because of the fixed nature of the position.}) 28... Nef4 29.
Qxf5 Qxf5 30. Rxf5 $16 {[%csl Yb2,Yc4] ^^ and White has a big advantage as the
bishops are much stronger than the knights.}) 24. Qd4 ({It doesn't make such
sense to simplify the position with} 24. Ba3 $6 Qxa3 25. Bxd5+ cxd5 26. Qxd5+
Kh7 27. Qxd7 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxa2 29. Qxb7 Rd8 $14 {[%cal Rd8d3] /\Rd3}) 24...
Qf6 25. Qxf6 (25. Bxd5+ $6 cxd5 26. Qxd5+ {doesn't win because of} Be6) 25...
gxf6 26. Bxf6 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 {[%csl Yc4,Rf5,Yf6,Rg8,Rh6] This endgame is a
nightmare for Black to defend as White has the bishop pair, and Black's
kingside pawns and king are quite exposed.} Re8 {Fighting for control of the
open file, plus it's not obvious where the rook goes otherwise.} (27... b5 28.
Bxd5+ cxd5 {gives White pretty good winning chances with a rook and knight
each to complement the opposite coloured bishops, and furthermore White has
clearly the better bishop and Black's pawns are mostly weak. Play could proceed
} 29. Rd1 $1 (29. h4 {doesn't convince after} Kf7 30. Bd4 Re8 31. Rxe8 Bxe8 32.
Bxa7 f4 {and although Black is a pawn down, removing the rooks greatly
increases Black's drawing chances.}) 29... Be6 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 $16 {
[%csl Ra7,Rd5,Rf5,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Yd1b1,Yb1b7,Yf3d4] /\Rb1-b7, /\Nd4 and Black
is in a bad way, with very passive pieces, plus all his remaining pawns are
isolated. Even his king can become an issue after something like Rb1-b7.}) 28.
Rd1 $1 {White has the safer king, so it is sensible to retain the major pieces.
} Be6 29. Nd4 ({Going after the bishop pair immediately, but in light of the
note to move 30, it was probably more precise to start with} 29. Bb2 Kf7 30.
Nd4 $16 {, so Black can't take away White's bishop pair.}) 29... Kf7 ({
Defending the a-pawn with} 29... a6 {gives White the time to improve his
position with moves like} 30. g3 $16) 30. Nxe6 Rxe6 $6 ({The machine doesn't
see much difference between taking on e6 or f6, but I think Black will be able
to hold the pawn-down endgame that arises from} 30... Kxf6 $1 31. Bxd5 cxd5 32.
Nc7 Re2 33. Nxd5+ Ke5 {[%csl Ye2] , as his pieces become very active, which is
a small price to pay for a pawn in a worse rook endgame. After} 34. Nb4 (34.
Nc3 {is well met by} Rc2 {,}) ({but} 34. a3 $5 {is a valid attempt to keep as
many pawns alive as possible. Still,} Rb2 35. b4 Ra2 36. Ne3 Ke6 37. Nc4 b5 38.
Nd6 a6 {should place Black in reach of a draw, with best play.}) 34... Ke6 35.
Rd8 a5 36. Nd3 Rxa2 37. Nc5+ Ke5 38. Re8+ Kd5 39. Nxb7 a4 40. bxa4 Rxa4 $14 {
[%csl Rb7] ><Nb7 and in such a three vs. two situation, especially with
White's knight currently out of play, Black should succeed in holding the draw,
though Black's split pawns give White some practical chances.}) 31. Bd4 ({
White wants to provoke some pawn weaknesses on the queenside, though} 31. Bb2 {
is good as well.}) 31... a6 32. Kf1 $1 {A nice refining move, emphasising the
fact that Black is struggling to find a useful course of action.} Ngf4 (32...
h5 {holds back White's majority but also risks making the pawns even bigger
targets of attack. One continuation could be} 33. a4 (33. Bd3 $5 Nge7 34. h4
$16 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Yd3e2,Yg2g3] /\Be2, ><h5 is probably more unpleasant.})
33... Ngf4 (33... b5 34. Bd3 Nge7 35. h4 $1 $16 {is a good example of what
Black wants to avoid - the h5-pawn is fixed as a weakness.}) 34. a5 {and
despite not having a great pawn break, the weakness of Black's pawns and the
difficulties Black faces with the pin give White winning chances, although
Black might just hold the position with} h4 35. Be3 Re4 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4,Gf4] .})
33. b4 $1 {Incrementally improving the position is a good practical try given
that the players were close to the time control.} (33. Be3 b5 34. Bxf4 bxc4 35.
Bd2 cxb3 (35... c3 $2 36. Be1 $1) 36. axb3 h5 {[%csl Ya6,Yc6,Yd5,Ye6,Yf5,Yh5]
[%cal Yd5c7] /\Nc7 is the main line given by the engine, but I think Topalov's
decision is better as here Black can simply defend everything on the light
squares to draw.}) 33... Re4 ({This is probably the best defence as} 33... Kg6
$2 34. g3 $1 Nxh3 35. f4 {[%csl Rh3] ><Nh3} Kh5 36. Bb3 $1 $16 {gives Black a
severe issue in his trapped knight on h3, which will probably have to
sacrifice itself on f4 in the near future.}) 34. f3 {Black was threatening ...
Ne6, so there is nothing better.} Re8 35. g3 $1 {Using the idea we already saw
in the previous note to force Black's pieces back.} Ne6 (35... Nxh3 $2 36. f4
$1 $16 {is even better here than before.}) 36. Bf2 {[%cal Yg3g4,Ya2a4,Yb4b5] /
\a4, b5, /\g4 Topalov has done a great job of keeping control of the position,
although now the next step is to open the position a bit more so his pieces
can show their full energy. Of course this has to be done without trading too
many pawns, as if the pawns are all left on one side of the board, the knights
will find it much easier to hold White's pieces off.} Rd8 ({This is the right
decision as} 36... Nxb4 $2 37. Rd7+ Kf6 (37... Re7 $2 {loses to} 38. Bxe6+ Kxe6
39. Rxe7+ Kxe7 40. Bc5+ $18) (37... Kg6 38. Rxb7 Nd5 39. Bxa6 {is no help for
Black either.}) 38. Rxb7 Nd5 39. Rh7 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6,Rf5,Rf6,Rh6] wins a
pawn, as Black has too many weaknesses to cover.}) 37. Re1 $5 {A very smart
move, practically speaking, as it prompted Nakamura to make a typical decision
when defending a worse position - to change the position in some fashion -
which proved a mistake in this case.} (37. Bb3 $1 {as given by the engine is a
good consolidating move, although after} Kf6 {I'm not entirely sure what
White's best plan. He should probably start with} 38. a3 {, then combine ideas
of a g4 push with a later a4/b5, though I'm unsure how he should execute it.
The problem with moves such as f4, which fix the f5-pawn, is that Black can
play ...h5 and then the g4 push would trade off most of the kingside pawns -
it would be ideal if White can leave Black with at least one weak pawn on each
side of the board.}) 37... f4 $2 {If one looked at this position in isolation,
this decision would seem a bit strange as the f4-pawn becomes fixed as a
weakness, but we have to remember that Black has been under pressure from the
early part of the game from White's very dynamic play, starting with his pawn
sacrifice earlier, and when faced with such persistent pressure, it's very
hard not to make a serious mistake eventually, especially when we consider
that both players were a bit short of time.} (37... Kf6 {is probably best as
I'm not infatuated with any of White's kingside pawn moves at this stage:} 38.
g4 (38. f4 h5 {[%cal Rg3g4] /\g4 is what Black wants, when White lacks a good
breakthrough on the kingside - as mentioned before, g4 exchanges too many
pawns to be ideal.}) (38. h4 $5 {and then g4 may be the most precise.}) 38...
Ndf4 $1 39. Bxe6 Nxe6 40. Bh4+ Ng5 41. f4 fxg4 42. hxg4 Rd4 43. fxg5+ hxg5 44.
Bg3 Rxb4 45. Kf2 Rxg4 {[%cal Yg4a4,Yb7b4,Yb4b3] /\Ra4, b5-b4 and while White
has one pawn remaining, Black should be able to trade the pawn off and achieve
a draw.}) ({A waiting move such as} 37... h5 {was also possible. As usual
White is better, but Black should be able to defend if he maintains his setup
until White makes a major push.}) 38. g4 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Yh3h4,Yg4g5,Re1e4] /
\h4-g5, /\Re4, ><f4 Now Black has serious problems, as White will be able to
eventually create a passed pawn with h4 and g5, while leaving Black with this
weakness on f4.} Ng5 {The knight is going to be pushed back by h4 later anyway,
but it's hard to offer a better suggestion.} ({For instance} 38... Kf6 39. Re4
{shows up the problem of the f4-pawn,}) ({and} 38... Re8 {(trying to bait
White into cashing in)} {is strongly met by} 39. h4 $5 {It transpires the
b4-pawn is not a freebie:} (39. Re4 $5 {[%csl Rd5,Re6][%cal Yc4f7] /^c4-f7,
><Nd5, ><Ne6 to keep consolidating is also possible - quite importantly,
Black's knights are both tied up as moving either one allows Rxf4.}) (39. Bxd5
$6 cxd5 40. Re5 {would be too impatient after} d4 41. Rd5 Rc8 42. Bxd4 Rc4 (
42... Rc2 $143 43. Rf5+ Ke8 44. Be5 Rxa2 45. Bxf4 Nxf4 46. Rxf4 {gives White
excellent winning chances.}) 43. Bc5 Nxc5 44. bxc5 Ke6 45. Rh5 Rc3 46. Rxh6+
Ke5 {[%cal Yc3c2,Yf1f2] /\Rc2 and Black's pieces are very active, which gives
him reasonable drawing chances even being two pawns down - which will soon
become one.}) 39... Nxb4 40. Rb1 a5 41. a3 Nc2 42. Rxb7+ Kf6 43. Bb3 $1 Nxa3
44. Rh7 Kg6 45. Ra7 Nb5 46. Bc2+ Kf6 47. Rxa5 $16 {and with some fine
technical play White has obtained a clear advantage as all of Black's
remaining pawns are quite weak.}) 39. Kg2 Re8 (39... Ne6 {is a hard move to
play as it admits Black has nothing to do, but it was an alternative.}) 40. Rd1
$1 (40. Rxe8 $2 Kxe8 41. Bxd5 cxd5 42. h4 Ne6 {[%csl Yc4,Yd4,Ye4,Yf4] looks
like a fortress to me as White's king has no way to penetrate through the
c4-d4-e4 barrier.}) 40... Re5 $6 {Black was probably already losing, but this
makes White's task easier.} (40... Rd8 41. Bb3 Kf6 {seems the best defence,
but still} 42. Bd4+ (42. Rd4 Ke5 43. h4 Ne6 44. Re4+ Kd6 45. Bb6 Rg8 46. a3 {
is another approach, again with a clear edge. Normally cutting the opponent's
king off from your majority would be an achievement, but the other pieces have
taken its place quite well.}) 42... Kg6 43. h4 Ne6 44. Kf2 Nxd4 45. Rxd4 Kf6
46. Bxd5 Ke5 (46... Rxd5 47. Rxd5 cxd5 48. Ke2 Ke6 49. Kd3 $18 {is an easy win.
}) 47. Re4+ Kxd5 48. Rxf4 $18 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Yf4f8] and this should be a
quite easy win.}) 41. Bd4 ({This should be good enough, but the rook felt
offside on e5, so I would have gone for} 41. h4 $1 Ne6 42. Bd4 Nxd4 43. Rxd4
Kg6 44. Bxd5 cxd5 (44... Rxd5 45. Rxd5 cxd5 46. Kf2 $18) 45. Kf2 Re3 46. Rxd5
Ra3 {and after some brief analysis I concluded the rook ending is probably a
win for White, based on} 47. Rd6+ Kg7 48. Rb6 Rxa2+ 49. Ke1 Ra3 50. Rxb7+ Kg8
51. Ke2 Re3+ 52. Kf2 Rb3 53. Rb6 Rb2+ 54. Ke1 Kg7 55. Rxa6 Rxb4 56. Ke2 Rd4 57.
h5 Kh7 58. Re6 $18 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ye6e4] as Black's king is cut off from the
f-pawn, which will soon be lost with Re4.}) 41... Re8 (41... Re7 {is well
answered by} 42. h4 Ne6 43. Kf2 (43. Bf2 $2 Nxb4 $1 44. Bc5 Nc2 {is suddenly
not that simple.}) 43... Ke8 44. a3 $16 {and White's position is fully
organised, and he will start working on the g5 break.}) 42. h4 ({White could
have probably cashed in with} 42. Bxd5+ cxd5 43. h4 Ne6 44. Bb6 d4 45. Rd2 $1
Rc8 46. Bxd4 Nxd4 47. Rxd4 Rc2+ 48. Kh3 Rxa2 49. Rxf4+ Kg7 50. Rd4 $18 {
and White should win this easily. Obviously a possible situation of two
connected passed pawns vs. one passer is a win for the stronger side (in
general).}) 42... Ne6 43. Bf2 $6 ({White keeps the bishop pair, but he could
transpose to the previous note with} 43. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 44. Bb6) 43... Nec7 (
43... Rd8 $142 44. Re1 Ke7 45. Re4 $16 {[%cal Ye6f4,Yd5f4,Yd8d2] is much
better for White, but Black's position is not collapsing just yet.}) 44. h5 $1
{A very nice move to fix the h6-pawn as a target too, and this also makes the
g5 break easier to achieve. Then the h-pawn will be a true monster.} (44. Bc5
$1 {was also strong, to deprive Black's pieces of good squares.}) 44... Kf6 ({
Waiting around doesn't work here either:} 44... Re6 45. Bd4 Ke7 46. Kf2 Kf8 47.
Bb3 Kf7 48. Rg1 $16 {[%cal Yg4g5,Yb3c2,Yc2h7,Yd4h8] and once g5 comes, the
passed h-pawn will be extremely difficult to stop, as the bishops will support
it almost perfectly.}) 45. Kh3 $1 {A nice move, ensuring ...Ne3 doesn't happen
with check.} b5 $5 ({Black gets desperate as} 45... Kg7 46. Bd4+ Kh7 47. Bc5
Kg8 48. Kh4 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yg4g5] and g5 would be quite an easy plan to
execute.}) 46. Bd4+ Kg5 {Objectively this isn't the best move, but that
shouldn't be the main consideration in a losing position.} ({Instead} 46... Kf7
{makes it quite easy for White after} 47. Bd3 Kg8 48. Bg6 Re7 49. g5 hxg5 50.
Rg1 Ne6 51. Be5 $18) 47. Bxd5 ({Good enough to win, but the most crushing was
the quiet} 47. Bb3 $1 {[%csl Rg5][%cal Yd4f2,Yf2h4] when Black is quite
helpless against the plan of Bf2-h4, for example:} Nxb4 48. Bf2 Kf6 49. Bh4+
Ke5 50. Bf7 Rf8 51. Re1+ Kd4 52. Re4+ Kc3 53. Be1+ Kd3 54. Bg6 {and Black
cannot avoid substantial material loss.}) 47... Nxd5 48. Rc1 ({Or} 48. a3 {
first.}) 48... Re6 (48... Nxb4 $2 49. Rc5+ Nd5 50. Rxc6 {will be mate with Rg6.
}) 49. Rc5 {Here Komodo and Stockfish share a little joke with us by claiming
'0.00' after 49...Rd6. Were you fooled.} (49. a3 {transposes to the position
after move 53 in the game.}) 49... Rd6 50. Bg7 Re6 51. Bd4 Rd6 {Now you get
the joke - the machines were referencing the twofold repetition of the
position! Of course, this is an absolutely normal technique to emphasise one's
control of the position and gain some seconds on the clock.} 52. a3 $1 Re6 53.
Rc1 {transposes to the position after move 53 in the game.} Ne7 54. Bf2 $1 {
Now White's converting task is trivial.} Kf6 55. Bh4+ ({I'll just point out
for instructional purposes that} 55. Re1 Rxe1 56. Bxe1 {is a winning endgame
after} Nd5 57. Kh4 Kf7 58. Bd2 Kf6 59. Bc1 Kg7 60. Bb2+ Kh7 61. Be5 Kg8 62. g5
hxg5+ 63. Kxg5 {. However Topalov's move is the strongest.}) 55... Kf7 56. g5 (
56. Bxe7 Kxe7 57. g5 {also won.}) 56... hxg5 57. Bxg5 Nd5 58. Kg4 {White wins
the f4-pawn.} Kg7 59. Bxf4 Nxf4 60. Kxf4 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Re6c6] True, with
the queenside pawns gone this is a theoretical draw, but the presence of these
pawns make the position a win for White, as Black is tied to the defence of
these pawns and has too much ground to cover.} Rd6 61. Rc3 Kf6 ({Nothing is
altered by} 61... Rd4+ 62. Kg5 Rd5+ 63. Kg4 Rd4+ 64. f4 $18) 62. Kg4 a5 {
A last attempt to confuse White as} (62... Kg7 63. f4 Kh6 64. Re3 Rf6 65. f5 {
is not hard to execute.}) 63. bxa5 ({It would be a huge pity to allow} 63. Rc5
$4 axb4 64. axb4 Rd4+ 65. f4 Rxb4 66. Rxc6+ Kf7 {with a draw, even if the
b-pawn is absent.}) 63... Rd4+ 64. f4 Ra4 65. Rxc6+ Kg7 66. a6 {White keeps a
pawn on the queenside, so he just wins.} Rxa3 67. f5 b4 68. f6+ Kf7 69. h6 Kg6
70. Rc8 b3 ({If} 70... Rxa6 71. h7 Kxh7 72. f7 $18) 71. Rg8+ Kf7 72. h7 Ra4+
73. Kf3 {Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 {no 7...g5 like in Carlsen-Topalov!} cxd4
5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3 e5 9. Qd3 h6 10. Nd2 {a rare plan,
but it's been seen before. White tries to remaneuver his pieces to exploit the
weaknesses on d6 and d5. Black on the other hand is quite solid, with good
development, not to mention a potentially strong pair of bishops.} b5 {makes
plenty of sense to avoid the knight from coming to c4. White must justify his
play by attacking on the queenside aggressively.} 11. a4 Rb8 12. Rd1 Be7 13.
axb5 axb5 14. Nf1 {The knight heads to d5 anyway, but this seems to be too
slow. Black forces the hand of the knight on c3 before White can install his
knight on e3.} b4 $1 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 (16. exd5 O-O {is already even
worse for White. His isolated pawn on d5 will be weak in the long run.}) 16...
O-O 17. Ne3 Be6 18. Qd3 Qc7 19. Bd2 Rfc8 {Black has more than sufficient
pressure on the queenside. He isn't better, but White has no hopes for an
advantage. Because of White's control of d5 he is still ok.} 20. c3 bxc3 21.
Bxc3 Qb7 22. Nd5 {Now it is just a matter of time until White wins one of the
bishops for his knight, leading towards a drawish endgame. It is safer for
Black to exchange his dark square bishop than his light square bishop to
retain opposite colored bishops.} Bg5 23. h3 Ra8 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Rxa1 26.
Rxa1 Ra8 27. Rxa8+ Qxa8 28. f3 {Clearly, this game isn't going anywhere. The
draw is in sight.} Qc6 29. Kf2 f6 30. Kg1 Qc5 31. Qxc5 dxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3
e5 {White has a choice between playing this, repeating moves or going for the
Bg5 lines after Ng4. Also he has 11 moves besides f3 that make sense... such
is the Najdorf.} 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 h5 {The modern variations of the Najdorf
all involve an early h5. The idea is that g4 is delayed, or sometimes outright
prevented, but on the other hand Black can't castle.} 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5
Nbd7 13. Qd2 g6 14. O-O-O Nb6 {White has two possibilities in this position.
Qa5 has been played more, but Kb1 is the move that is trending.} 15. Kb1 Nbxd5
16. Bg5 Be7 17. Na5 {played after an 11 minute think, so its fair to say that
Grischuk wasn't in his preparation any more.} Rb8 18. Bc4 Nb6 (18... Qc7 {
worked tactically, and was maybe a very bit better than the move played in the
game.} 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Bxg5 $11) 19. Bxf6 $6 {After this move Black has
no problems.} (19. Rhe1 $1 {Might be more accurate} Qc7 {what else?} (19... O-O
20. Bb3 {starts looking dangerous.}) 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 {
is like the game but White is up a tempo. Now e5 hangs.}) 19... Bxf6 20. Qxd6
Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Bd8 22. Rd3 Bc7 23. Bb3 Ke7 24. Rhd1 Rhd8 25. Rxd8 Bxd8 26. Nc4
Nxc4 27. Bxc4 {With opposite colored bishops, it is clear that this game is
now a dead draw.} Bb6 28. c3 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Kc2 Bc7 31. Bd5 {Done.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 {Logical move. Black often goes for the d5 push and
it is helpful to have the R on e1.} Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qb3 {White is leaving
the pin, and he prepares fot Nc4 with idea of playing Nxb6.} d5 {The most
direct reply. Black would like to fix the centre, because White's Ps are very
flexible.} 13. e5 Nd7 14. a4 a5 (14... c5 $2 {could have been met by} 15. a5 $1
{.}) (14... a6 {was played by Ragger,} 15. Bd3 c5 16. g4 $5 c4 ({In case of} 
16... Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Ng5 $1 {followed by Qg3-h4 and Black's position
looks very dangerous.}) 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Nxc4 Bg6 19. Bg5 $1 Ba7 20. Qa3 f6 (
20... Re8 $2 21. Nd6 $1 $18 {and White is winning.}) 21. exf6 gxf6 22. Bh6 {
with a very complicated game, Svidler-Ragger, Bundesliga 2015.}) 15. Qd1 {
White prepares for Nb3.} Nb8 $5 {Interesting N maneuver. Caruana wants to put
his N on b4 by Nbc6-b4.} 16. Nb3 Nbc6 17. Bg5 h6 $146 {This is the first new
move in the game.} (17... Nb4 18. Rc1 h6 19. Bh4 c6 20. Be2 Qc7 21. g4 (21. Bg3
$5) 21... Bg6 22. Qd2 Na2 (22... Rfe8 $5) 23. Ra1 Nb4 24. Rec1 Qd7 25. Nc5 Bxc5
26. dxc5 $14 {and White had a slight advantage, Vachier Lagrave-Leko, Beijing
rapid 2014.}) 18. Bh4 Qc8 ({In case of} 18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bxd4
21. Qg4 {and Black has to face a lot of unpleasant attack on the kingside.})
19. g4 $5 {A brave and ambitious reaction by Topalov. He would like to gain
some space, on the other hand his kingside can be a target for Black.} Bg6 20.
Rc1 Bh7 (20... Qe6 $5 {was also possible.}) 21. Bg3 $6 {A logical reply, but
this is an inaccuracy, because he allows Black next move.} (21. Nc5 $1 {
was correct,} Ng6 22. Bg3 Bxc5 23. dxc5 $14 {and White has a comfortable
position.}) 21... Nb4 {The N is very powerful from b4. Nobody can attack it,
controls the d3-square and Black is ready to play ...c6 too.} 22. Re3 Na2 23.
Ra1 Nb4 24. Ne1 {Topalov doesn't want to repeat right away.} Nec6 25. Qd2 Qe6
26. Bxc6 $6 {This is a strange idea to give the light-squared B so quickly.
The B blockated the light-squares very well, but from now the b4 N becomes
more stronger.} ({The natural} 26. Rc1 {was more solid.}) 26... Qxc6 27. Rc3
Qe6 28. Ng2 f6 {Caruana starts to open the lines for his pieces.} 29. Nf4 Qd7
30. e6 (30. Nh5 $5 {was an interesting option,} f5 31. Bf4 $5 fxg4 32. Bxh6 $1
gxh6 33. Qxh6 Bd3 34. Qg5+ Kf7 35. Qf6+ Kg8 36. Qg5+ {with perpetual checks.})
30... Qe7 31. Re1 f5 $1 {Very good move! Caruana immediately gains the
initiative and tries to create some weaknesses on the kingside.} 32. Nc5 Bxc5
33. Rxc5 c6 {Suddenly Black completely protects himself and White's pieces are
without coordination. Black is threatening with ...g5.} 34. Rc3 g5 $1 35. Ng2
$2 {The decisive mistake.} ({The engine suggests} 35. gxf5 $1 {as the most
tougher reply,} Bxf5 $1 (35... gxf4 $2 36. Bxf4 Bxf5 37. Rg3+ Kh7 38. Bxh6 {
and suddenly Black is in trouble.}) 36. Ng2 Be4 37. h4 Rf5 {and Black looks
nicely placed, but still White has some practical chance.}) 35... f4 36. Nxf4 (
36. Bh2 Rf6 $19 {is hopeless for White.}) 36... gxf4 37. Bxf4 Nd3 $1 {Caruana
continues with the strongest move.} 38. Rxd3 Bxd3 39. Bxh6 Rf3 $1 {Another
right reaction! Black is a R up and White's three Ps are nothing for it.} 40.
Re3 Rxe3 41. Qxe3 Qh7 42. f3 Re8 43. h4 Qg6 44. e7 Qd6 {Very precise solution!
Black sacrifices his B, and he reaches a completely winning endgame.} 45. Bf4
Qxe7 $1 {This is the point!} (45... Rxe7 46. Be5 Qg6 47. h5 {is more material,
but also more complicated.}) 46. Qxd3 Qe1+ 47. Qf1 Qxf1+ 48. Kxf1 Rf8 49. Be5
Rxf3+ 50. Kg2 Rb3 51. h5 Rxb2+ 52. Kg3 b5 53. axb5 Rxb5 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:20]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6.
Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} dxc6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 7. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf5 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 8. Qxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kxd8 {[%emt 0:00:06];Polgar,J (2735)
-Topalov,V (2788) FIDE-Wch San Luis 2005 (6) 0-1 Even though Topalov's
trademark opening is the Najdorf Sicilian, the Berlin defence, a "discovery"
of his former World title rival, occupies a solid place in his repertoire. He
has used it twice on his way to the supreme title in San Luis 2010. He scored
an important win in the early rounds in} {and a safe draw to secure his first
place in the penultimate round in} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:02:24];Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
-Topalov,V (2788) FIDE-Wch San Luis 2005 (13) 1/2} h6 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 10. Rd1+
{[%emt 0:02:42]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 11. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:01:
33] The paradox of this opening is that with the exception of his knight Black
is even worse than completely undeveloped, since he has lost the right to
castle in the meanwhile. What makes things even more weird is that he can keep
moving around with the same knight which has consumed four tempi over the
first eight moves! Quite naturally, developing moves have also been tried here.
} (11... Bd7 12. Bf4 Rd8 {Caruana,F (2783)-Carlsen,M (2881) Shamkir 2014 CBM
160 [Caruana,F] (1-0, 53)}) (11... Be7 {was the choice of a Berlin
non-specialist, even though one of the greatest players ever!} 12. Ne2 Nh4 13.
Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Be3 Bf5 15. Nd4 Bh7 16. g4 Be7 17. Kg2 h5 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Kf3 {
Polgar,J (2681)-Kasparov,G (2838) Moscow (Russia vs World, rapid) 2002 CBM 091
[Wedberg] (1-0, 42)}) ({In view of the permanent danger of a pawn break in the
centre,} 11... Be6 {looks as a solid option. The only problem is that Black
has to give up the bishops' pair soon.} 12. g4 Ne7 13. Nd4 Rd8 14. Bf4 ({
The prophilactic} 14. Kg2 $5 {might have been better. By evacuasting the back
rank White threatens Nxe6, in order to meet ...Rxd1? (without check) with
Nxc7+, winning a pawn.} Bc8 15. Bf4 {This looks like a more active version of
the game continuation.}) 14... Nd5 $1 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Ne2 b5 ({Black could
have ignored the threat c2-c4, weakening the d4- and d3 squares with} 16... Kf7
{for instance} 17. c4 Nxf4 18. Nxf4 Bc5 $132) 17. b3 (17. Bg3 $5) 17... Bc5 (
17... Kf7 $5) 18. c4 bxc4 19. bxc4 Nb6 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21. h4 Ke7 22. g5 {
In Ni,H (2703)-Sasikiran,K (2640) Danzhou 2015 (1-0, 48) Black should have met
White's original pawn break with} Rf8 23. Kg2 Rf5 {[%csl Gc4,Gf2]}) 12. Nd4 {
[%emt 0:06:18] Deviating from two recent games of the main Berlin player
Caruana.} (12. Bf4 Ng6 13. Bh2 Be7 14. Nd4 Nf8 15. Rd3 h5 16. Re1 Ne6 {allowed
Black a safe regrouping in Caruana,F (2803)-Dominguez Perez,L (2734)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 CBM 167 [Marin,M] (½-½, 40)}) (12. b3 Bf5 13. Nd4 Bh7
14. Bb2 {Caruana,F (2805)-Carlsen,M (2876) Stavanger 2015 CBM 167 [Wagner,D] 
(1-0, 45)}) 12... Ng6 {[%emt 0:10:19] It is essential to clear the e7-square
for the king for reasons which will be revealed in the lines below.} (12... a6
{is clumsily preparing the losing ...c6-c5.} 13. a3 {This does not make much
sense, it only invited Black to take the byte.} (13. Ne4 $14 {would be a more
useufl way of preventing ...c5.}) 13... c5 $2 (13... Ng6 14. f4 {would lead to
similar play as in the game.}) 14. Ndb5 $1 axb5 15. Nxb5 {In view of the
threat Nxc7 mate Black loses material. Now is when the unavailibility of the
e7-square is relevant.} Nd5 16. Rxd5 c6 17. Nd6+ Kd7 18. Rd3 $18 {Bobras,P 
(2576)-Korneev,O (2651) La Laguna 2008 (½-½, 57)}) ({And a neutral move like
} 12... h5 $2 {would allow the same trick:} 13. Ndb5 $1 $18) 13. f4 {[%emt 0:
02:36]} ({With the e7-square free, the combination} 13. Ndb5 $6 {does not
really work:} cxb5 14. Nxb5 Rb8 15. Nxc7+ Ke7 16. b3 Bd7 17. Ba3+ Kd8 18. e6 {
Coleman,M (2201)-Parry,M (2292) Cherry Hill 2007 (1-0, 55)} Kxc7 19. Rxd7+ Kc6
$15 {White does not have enough compensation for the knight. Due to his
hanging bishop, he has no time to play Rxf7, which would change the situation
quite a lot.}) 13... Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:17] Planning the exchange on d4 in order
to increase Black's control over the e6- and f5-squares. But this will allow
White achieve a very active position, while the g6-knight is not of much use
for the blockade anyway. Unless Black intends to spend two more tempi with it
to return to f5.} ({If} 13... a6 14. Be3 c5 $2 {White already has an
alternative to the familiar combination:} 15. Nd5 $1 Kd7 16. Nb3 Kc6 17. Na5+)
(13... f6 {was a worthy alternative to the game move, aiming to neutralize
White's space advantage.} 14. exf6 (14. e6 Bc5 15. f5 Nh4 {leaves the pawns
hanging.}) 14... gxf6 {Black plans ...Kf7, ...h5-h4 and if} 15. f5 Nh4 16. g4
h5 {he has reasonable counterplay.}) 14. Be3 {[%emt 0:04:02]} h5 {[%emt 0:01:
12]} 15. Ne4 {[%emt 0:11:13]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (15... Bb6 {would more or
less force Black take on d4 anyway after} 16. c4) (15... Be7 {is just a loss
of time, allowing White to slowly increase the pressure with} 16. Rd2 $14) 16.
Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} h4 {[%emt 0:03:44]} 17. Rad1 {[%emt 0:10:01] If Black
could regroup with ...Ne7-f5 followed by ...Be6 he would achieve a dream
position, with perfect blockade on light squares. But he does not have the
time for pursuing such dreams due to the threat 18.Rd8+ Ke7 19.Bc5+} Bf5 {
[%emt 0:00:44]} (17... Be6 {runs into} 18. Nc5 b6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rd7 {
when the tricky} Ne7 {fails o equalize:} 21. Rxc7 Nd5 22. Rxd5 cxd5 23. Rxg7 {
with two pawns for the exchange and a very active position.}) 18. e6 {[%emt 0:
01:57] So far, both players had spent some time on several moves, but White
played his last move after less than two minutes. This type of pawn break is
thematic and when it works it can cause Black some trouble.} Bxe6 $6 {[%emt 0:
29:40] Topalov was visibly surprized by the last move, as he answered after
half an hour. He was possibly living under the illusion that the light suqars
are all "his". But the last move does not solve Black's problems completely.} (
{True} 18... Bxe4 $6 {is not entirely satisfactory either:} 19. Rxe4 ({The
hurried} 19. exf7+ {only speeds up Black's development:} Kxf7 20. Rxe4 Rad8 21.
Rxd8 Rxd8 22. f5 Rd1+ 23. Kf2 Ne7 $11 {[%csl Gf5,Gh4]}) 19... f5 (19... fxe6 $2
20. f5 Nf8 21. fxe6 $18) 20. Rb4 b6 21. Rd7 $36) ({But} 18... fxe6 {is not at
all easy to refute, even though White's compensation is beyond any doubt.} 19.
Ng5 {[%cal Gd4d7]} Ne7 20. c4 (20. Rd7 Nd5) 20... c5 21. R4d2 (21. Rd7 Nd5 22.
Rxg7 Nxe3 23. Rdd7 {leads only to a draw by perpetual.}) 21... b6 $44 {White's
position is more active, but Black is solid and has an extra pawn. The game is
rather one-sided (Black cannot generate counterplay too easily) but it is not
obvious how could White break the black fortress.}) 19. Nc5 {[%emt 0:01:44]}
Rh5 $146 {[%emt 0:09:01] Most probably, an over-the-board novelty.} (19... b6
20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rd7 $16 {Saric,I (2609)-Sulava,N (2565) Marija Bistrica 2011
(1-0, 33)}) (19... Bc8 {is too passive to be good:} 20. Re4+ $1 Ne7 21. Bd4 {
[%cal Gd1e1,Gd4g7]} f5 22. Re2 Kf7 23. Bxg7 $16) 20. Nxb7 {[%emt 0:07:34]
Black has chronical weaknesses on the queenside, but Topalov had thought up a
way to mend the pawns.} Rd5 $6 {[%emt 0:05:13] This will eventually rid Black
of his double pawns, but not of the weak c5-square.} (20... Rb5 $5 21. Nd8 $8
Rxb2 22. Nxc6 {Threatening Rd8+ followed by mate.} f5 {[%csl Ge5,Gg5]} ({
The strategically more desirable} 22... f6 $2 {fails tacctically to} 23. Re4
Kf7 24. Nd8+) 23. R4d3 Rxa2 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Rc3 c6 26. Nf3 $44 {White surely
has the initiative due to the weakness of the dark squares and the presence of
opposite-coloured bishops, but Black is not without counterchances.}) 21. b3 {
[%emt 0:08:26]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:05:18]} 22. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:
00:19]} 23. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c6 {[%emt 0:02:07]} 24. Rd4 {[%emt 0:03:22]
White has a perfect blockade and threatens to win the a7-pawn.} Bc8 {[%emt 0:
07:59] This looks a bit passive.} ({True, Black had to remove the bishop from
e6, for instance:} 24... Ne7 $2 25. Ra4 Ra8 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Rxa7 $18) ({But} 
24... Bf5 {looks a bit more active even though} 25. c4 {may be similar to the
game.}) 25. Ra4 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 26. c4 {[%emt 0:07:57]}
dxc4 $6 {[%emt 0:04:17] A heavy positional concession.} (26... Ne7 27. cxd5
cxd5 $14 {[%cal Ge7f5] would still have been playable for Black. In fact, the
knight manoeuvre gives meaning to the bishop retreat to c8 rather than f5.})
27. Rxc4 $16 {[%emt 0:01:47]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} ({Even now} 27... Ne7 {
made some sense.}) 28. Nb7 {[%emt 0:01:04] Sudenly, White switches to the
attacking mode.} Kd7 {[%emt 0:02:28]} 29. Rd4+ {[%emt 0:02:22]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:
03:11]} 30. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:52]} (30... Be6 31. f5 Bd5 32.
Nb5+ (32. Nxf7 $5) 32... cxb5 33. Rxd5 Ne7 34. Rxb5 $18) 31. Nxf7 {[%emt 0:05:
57]} Re8 {[%emt 0:07:42]} (31... Bxa2 32. f5 Nf8 33. Rb4 {[%csl Ra2][%cal
Ge3f4] threatens the devastating Bf4+ while leaving the a2-bishop in off-side.}
) 32. Kf2 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Bxa2 $2 {[%emt 0:05:42] Giving away the control of
the f5-square makes things simpler for White.} (32... a6 {, removing the pawn
from the e3-bishop's range would have offered some hopes still.} 33. Ra4 Re4
34. Rxe4 (34. Rxa6 Nxf4 {offers some shadow of counterplay.}) 34... Bxe4 35.
Ng5 Bb1 36. a3 Kd6 37. b4 Kd5 {and a win is not obvious for White yet.}) 33. f5
$18 {[%emt 0:02:14]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 34. Ra4 {[%emt 0:05:37]} Bxb3 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 35. Rxa7+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kb8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 36. Nd6 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 37. Rxg7 {[%emt 0:01:52][%cal Ge3g5,Gg5h4]
} (37. Rxg7 Rxd6 38. Bf4) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. dxc3 {This endgame
had only a couple of years of popularity a long time ago. It is very slightly
better for White, but at some point people realized that if Black goes f6 and
e5 he should equalize.} Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 f6 8. Be3 e5 9. Nd2 Be6 (9... Nd7 {
was Bogner-Li Chao from 2014. The Chinese player won that game.}) 10. Bc4 Kf7
11. Kc2 Be7 12. Rad1 {Technically the novelty of the game, though the last
time any other move was played was back in 1991...} Rd8 13. Bxe6+ Kxe6 14. Nc4
Rxd1 15. Rxd1 Nc6 16. a4 {White has very little in this endgame... perhaps not
even that. It seems that Topalov was ok with playing a position without any
kind of advantage, perhaps even heading to a draw after two consecutive losses.
} a5 17. f4 h5 18. Rf1 exf4 19. Bxf4 Ne5 20. Bxe5 fxe5 {The knight has no
advantage over the bishop, and vice versa. The game is bound to be drawn in
this position as there is nothing to attack.} 21. Rf3 b6 22. Rg3 Rg8 23. Kd3
Bh4 24. Rf3 Be7 25. Ke2 Rb8 26. Rg3 Kf6 27. Ne3 c6 28. Nc4 Bc5 29. h3 Ra8 30.
Rf3+ Ke6 31. Rg3 Kf6 32. Rf3+ Ke6 33. Rg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Bb2 a5 10. Nf4 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 Nc6 13. Nd3 bxc5 14. bxc5 Ne4 $6
{Topalov mentioned that this move was not good.} (14... Bb7 {followed by} 15.
Be2 Qd7 16. O-O Ra8 17. Qc1 Ba6 {close to equal.}) 15. Be2 Bd7 16. f3 Nxc3 17.
Bxc3 {Black is suffering here slightly.} Qa8 18. Kd2 Rb8 19. Qxa8 (19. Rb1 $1 {
keeping some pressure.}) 19... Rxa8 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21. Bxa1 Kf8 22. Bc3 Ke8 23.
g4 g6 24. f4 h6 25. h3 Bf6 26. Bf3 Bc8 {White is still better thanks to his
space advantage but it is difficult to create any kind of play. Wesley tried
to maneuver around for a long time, but was unable to create something.} 27.
Bd1 Bd7 28. Ne1 Na7 29. Ba5 Bd8 30. Nf3 {The position is so locked up. The
players actually blitzed out many moves, as there is not much going on. So
needs to create some pawn break to do anything but it seems almost impossible
to find.} Bb5 31. Bc3 Nc6 32. Ke1 Nb8 33. Bc2 Nd7 34. Ba5 Nf6 35. g5 hxg5 36.
fxg5 Nd7 37. h4 Nb8 38. Ne5 Nc6 39. Nxc6 Bxc6 40. Kf2 Kd7 41. Kg3 Be7 42. Kf4
Bb5 43. Ke5 c6 44. Bd1 Bd3 45. Bb6 Bf1 46. Ba7 Bd3 47. Bb8 Bb1 48. Bd6 Bd8 49.
Bb8 Bd3 50. Bd6 Bb1 {There is simply nothing to do here in this position.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.09.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. a3 {A
variation that scores rather badly for White, Topalov must have had some kind
of special idea.} Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd2 {White will have some
compensation for his pawn thanks to the central majority and a slightly
weakened kingside, but it should not be enough. If anything Black has real
chances to play for an advantage, as the score of this line proves.} b5 11. Qc2
a6 12. e4 Qd7 13. g3 Bb7 14. Bg2 Ne7 {Aronian mentioned after the game that he
was very happy with the opening... "I didn't have to think! just put the
knight on e7, a rook on d8 and go c5, what else can I do?".} 15. O-O O-O 16.
Rfd1 Rad8 17. a4 c5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rab1 f5 {Black really has no
problems, and this advance forces White to start thinking about not falling
into a clearly worse position.} 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Rxb5 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 cxd4 24.
Qc1 dxc3 {forcing the draw} (24... Qe7 {was worth considering, but Aronian
thought he shouldn't get too clever...} 25. Be4 $1 $11 (25. Rb4 Rc8 $15)) (
24... Kh8 {was what Topalov was afraid of, but there is a clear draw here...}
25. cxd4 Nxd4 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Qh6 $1 Qe7 28. Rb7 $11 Qd8) 25. Rxf5 Rxd1+ 26.
Bxd1 exf5 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ {And with that Aronian becomes
the 2015 Sinquefield Champion.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adu, Oladapo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2241"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 O-O 8.
O-O Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. e4 h6 11. e5 Nh7 12. a3 Ba5 13. b4 Bd8 14. Re1 a5 15. b5
a4 16. Bb2 Qf8 17. h4 g5 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Nh2 Qg7 20. Ng4 Nhf8 21. Bf1 Qh7 22.
Bd3 Qh3 23. Qd1 Kg7 24. Bf1 Qh7 25. f3 Ng6 26. Re2 Rh8 27. Rh2 Qg8 28. Rxh8
Qxh8 29. Rc1 Ne7 30. Kg2 Nf5 31. Bd3 Nf8 32. Qc2 Ng6 33. Rh1 Qf8 34. cxd5 cxd5
35. Nf1 Be7 36. Qd2 Bd7 37. Rh5 Qd8 38. Nfe3 Nxe3+ 39. Qxe3 Rc8 40. Qd2 Ra8 41.
Qd1 Qa5 42. Qh1 Qd2+ 43. Nf2 Rg8 44. Bc1 Qc3 45. Rh7+ Kf8 46. Qh6+ Ke8 47. Bxg6
fxg6 48. Rxe7+ Kxe7 49. Qh7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Adu, Oladapo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2241"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. e4 Nbc6 8. Re1
d4 9. Nh4 g5 10. Nhf3 Ng6 11. h3 Be6 12. a3 a5 13. Nf1 f6 14. N3h2 Qd7 15. Qh5
a4 16. Ng4 Kh8 17. Nh6 Nce7 18. Nf5 Nxf5 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Bxb7 Bxh3 21. Bxa8
Rxa8 22. Nh2 Be6 23. Qf3 Rb8 24. Qh5 Bd5 25. f3 c5 26. Nf1 Bf7 27. Qh2 Kg8 28.
Nd2 f5 29. Qh3 h6 30. Kf2 Bd5 31. Qh5 Qc6 32. Kg1 Rf8 33. Rf1 f4 34. Qh2 fxg3
35. Qxg3 Nh4 36. Ne4 c4 37. Rf2 cxd3 38. cxd3 Qa6 39. Bxg5 hxg5 40. Nxg5 Qh6
41. Raf1 Nf5 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.14"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. dxc5 Qxc5 7. h3 Bh5 8.
Na3 a6 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Qa4+ Nbd7 11. Bf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bg2
c6 9. e4 d5 {This position was the subject of a major theoretical discussion
between Levon Aronian and Sergey Karjakin: it happened in 3 games between
those players, which were annotated in CBM 151, 155, and 159.} 10. Qe2 ({
Levon Aronian played} 10. exd5 {in the above-mentioned games. I condemned the
text move in CBM 151 but Topalov seems to have a different opinion.}) 10... b5
$1 (10... Nbd7 11. e5 Ne8 12. O-O Nc7 13. a4 Re8 14. Rfe1 Nf8 15. h4 Qd7 16.
Red1 Red8 17. Be3 Rab8 18. Rdc1 (18. Ne1 $5 {[%cal Ye2g4,Ye1c2]}) 18... Rbc8
19. Kh2 Qe8 20. Ne1 Qd7 21. Nc2 dxc4 22. bxc4 Nd5 23. Bd2 Nxc3 24. Bxc3 c5 $11
{1/2 (32) Jussupow,A (2610)-Spraggett,K (2575) Quebec 1989}) (10... c5 11. dxc5
(11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. dxc5 (13. Be3 $5 {[%cal Ya1d1]}) 13... Bxc5 14.
Bg5 Re8 15. Qc2 Nb4 16. Qb1 dxc4 17. Rd1 Qe7 18. bxc4 Bxc4 19. a3 Na6 $13 {
0-1 (56) Tukmakov,V (2575)-Ehlvest,J (2445) Minsk 1987}) 11... Bxc5 12. e5 Ne8
(12... Nfd7 $5 13. O-O Nc6 {[%cal Yc5e7,Yd7c5] V.Gavrikov} 14. Rad1 $36 {
[%cal Yd2f4]}) 13. O-O Nc6 14. Rfd1 Nc7 15. Bg5 (15. Bf4 Qe7 16. Qc2 h6) 15...
Be7 16. Qe3 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 f6 18. Qe1 fxg5 19. cxd5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Qe6+
Kh8 22. Rxd5 (22. Ne5 Qe8 23. Bxd5 Bf6 24. Qxe8 Raxe8 25. Nf7+ Rxf7 26. Bxf7 {
1/2 (26) Gavrikov,V (2550)-Lerner,K (2520) Riga 1985}) 22... Qe8 23. Nxg5 h6 {
1/2 (39) Perez,J (1924)-Fages,J (1892) IECG 2002} 24. Ne4 Bc8 25. Qe5 Bb7 26.
Rd4 $14) 11. e5 (11. exd5 $2 exd5 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Nxb5 Ba3 $1 14. Bf1 Re8 15.
Be3 (15. Ne5 Bb2 16. Rd1 Bxd4 17. f4 Nfd7 18. Nxd4 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bxe2 20. Bxe2
Rxe5 {0-1 (20) Tukmakov,V (2575)-Chernin,A (2570) Moscow 1987}) 15... Qa5+ 16.
Kd1 Nc6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 $19 {-> 0-1 (48) Gustafsson,J (2634)
-Zhigalko,A (2568) Warsaw 2008}) 11... Ne8 {[%csl Re8]} ({I still believe that
} 11... Nfd7 $1 {is more appropriate. White must play} 12. cxb5 cxb5 {anyway,
and the b8-knight comes out to c6. In the following correspondence game Black
obtained an excellent position, and it would be interesting to see what
Veselin Topalov had prepared here:} 13. Qe3 b4 14. Ne2 Qb6 15. Rc1 Nc6 16. O-O
Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Rc7 Rad8 20. Rfc1 Rfe8 21. Be3 Qxe5 22.
Qb5 Nf6 23. Rxa7 Bd6 $15 {0-1 (53) Simon,H (2141)-Van Seben,E (2239) IECG 2007}
) 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Qe3 (13. Nxb5 $2 Qb6 14. a4 Nc7 15. Bf1 Nc6 {[%csl Rd4]})
13... Nc6 (13... b4 14. Na4 (14. Ne2 $6 Nc6 15. Nf4 Qb6 16. Nd3 Nc7 17. Rc1 Nb5
$17 {0-1 (35) Dydyshko,V-Ivanov,A Minsk 1985}) 14... Nc6 15. Bf1 Qa5 16. Bd3 (
16. Nb2 Rc8 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 f6 19. O-O Nc7 20. a3 Qb5 21. axb4 Bxb4 $11 {
1/2 (32) Atakisi,F (2512)-Lepikhov,A (2610) ICCF Email 2001}) 16... Rc8 (16...
Nc7 $5) 17. Rc1 $5 $36 (17. O-O $143 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxe7 Nxe7
21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Na6 $15 {0-1 (40) Atakisi,F (2523)-Teichmeister,S (2530)
ICCF 2002})) 14. Bf1 {[%mdl 32] A typical manoeuvre in this structure: White's
bishop is more active on d3 than on g2.} Rc8 15. Bd3 Nc7 16. Rc1 Ba3 $5 17. Rd1
Be7 18. h4 b4 19. Ne2 Bxd3 {A premature exchange, after which Black's
c7-knight becomes his headache for quite a while.} (19... Nb5 $5 $132 {[%cal
Yd8b6]}) 20. Qxd3 f5 (20... a6 {[%cal Yc7b5]} 21. Ng5 g6 22. Kf1 {, and the
weakness of Black's kingside promises White a strong attack} ({but} 22. Nxh7 $6
Kxh7 23. h5 {is premature due to} Rh8 $1)) 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bd2 a6
24. Rg1 Nb5 {Black has finally managed to activate his knight but White has
prepared an attack in the meantime.} 25. g4 $1 {[%mdl 128]} f4 ({The position
after} 25... fxg4 26. Rxg4 h5 27. Rg6 {is hardly satisfactory for Black but
the text move doesn't help him either.}) 26. g5 $1 hxg5 27. Qg6 Bd8 28. Rxg5 $1
Qf7 29. Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Bxb4 Be7 31. Bxe7 Nxe7 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rg4 Nf5 34.
Rxf4 {White has won two pawns and easily converts his advantage.} Rc2 35. Ng3
Rxa2 (35... g6 36. a4 Nc7 37. h5) 36. Nxf5 exf5 37. Rxf5+ Ke6 38. Rf4 Ra1+ 39.
Kd2 Ra2+ 40. Ke3 Ra3 41. Ng5+ Kd7 42. Rf7+ Kc6 43. Rxg7 Rxb3+ 44. Kf4 Nxd4 45.
Rg6+ Kc5 46. Rxa6 Rb4 47. h5 Nc6+ 48. Kf5 Rh4 49. f4 Rxh5 50. Ra1 d4 51. Ke4 d3
52. Rc1+ Kb5 53. Kxd3 Nxe5+ 54. fxe5 Rxg5 55. Ke4 $18 {_|_} Rg2 56. e6 Kb6 57.
Ke5 Kb7 58. e7 Re2+ 59. Kf6 Rf2+ 60. Ke6 Re2+ 61. Kf7 Rf2+ 62. Ke8 Rf3 63. Rc4
Rf1 64. Kd7 Rd1+ 65. Ke6 Re1+ 66. Kd6 Kb6 67. Rb4+ Ka7 68. Rb5 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2599"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. Qe1 e6 11. h4 Qc7 12. Ndb5 Qb8 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5
15. Qd2 a6 16. Bf4 Be5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Re1 Qg3 19. Nc3 Bf5 20. Nxd5 Rfd8 21.
Bc4 Rac8 22. Kb1 h5 23. Qc3 {Black is down a pawn and his position looks very
sketchy. His king on g8 does not feel safe and his attack on the c2 pawn isn't
quite that strong yet.} Qxg2 $6 {well, at least Black recovers his material...
for now} 24. Ne3 $1 Qxf3 25. Rhf1 $6 (25. Ref1 $1 {prevents what happened in
the game. For example} Qg3 (25... Qe4 26. Nxf5 $18) 26. Qf6 $1 $18 {
Threatening mate with Bxf7+ and the f5 bishop. Black is positively lost.})
25... Qg3 26. Rg1 (26. Bxf7+ $1 Kh7 (26... Kxf7 27. Qc4+ Kf6 (27... Kg7 28.
Nxf5+ gxf5 29. Rg1 $18) 28. Nxf5 {gets swiftly mated.}) 27. Nxf5 Qxc3 28. bxc3
gxf5 29. Rxf5 $18) 26... Qe5 27. Nxf5 Qxc3 28. bxc3 Kf8 29. Nh6 (29. Ng3 Ne5
30. Rxe5 Rxc4 31. Ne4 {is an extra piece that White should eventually convert.}
) 29... Ne5 30. Bxf7 $6 (30. Bb3 Nc4 (30... f6 31. Rxe5 fxe5 32. Rxg6 $18) 31.
Bxc4 Rxc4 32. Ref1 {should be winning somehow.}) 30... Nf3 31. Bxg6 Nxe1 32.
Rxe1 $2 (32. Bxh5 $1 $18 {keeps the knight on e1 trapped!}) 32... Kg7 33. Bf5
Rc6 $1 34. Re7+ Kf8 35. Rf7+ Ke8 {Strangely, now White is forced into a very
awkward position with his minor pieces.} 36. Rh7 Rd1+ 37. Kb2 Rb6+ 38. Ka3 Rdd6
{the knight is trapped} 39. Rh8+ (39. Nf7 Rd5 {is a double attack on the
bishop and a5... mate!}) 39... Ke7 40. Ng8+ Kf7 41. c4 Rdc6 $1 42. Bd3 Kg7 {
Black wins back the exchange and eventually drew the game.} 43. Rxh5 Kxg8 44.
Rd5 Rc7 45. h5 Kg7 46. c5 Rb1 47. c4 Rh1 48. Kb4 Rh2 49. a4 Kh6 50. Ka5 Rb2 51.
Be4 Rb3 52. Re5 Rb2 53. c6 bxc6 54. Re6+ Kxh5 55. Rxc6 Re7 56. Bd5 Kg5 57. Rxa6
Kf5 58. Bc6 Ke5 59. Bb5 Rb7 60. Ra8 Kd6 61. Ka6 Rc7 62. Rd8+ Kc5 63. a5 Rh7 64.
Rb8 Ra2 65. Rb6 Rg7 66. Rc6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.18"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Bb5 dxe4 5. Nxe5 Qd5 6. Qa4 Nge7 7. f4 exf3 8.
Nxf3 a6 9. Be2 Bf5 10. O-O O-O-O 11. d4 Qd7 12. b4 f6 13. Na3 Nd5 14. Bd2 Re8
15. Rfe1 Nb6 16. Qb3 Be6 17. c4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 19. Be3 Qd7 20. Bf3 Qa4 21.
Bxb6 Qxb3 22. axb3 cxb6 23. Rxe6 Rxe6 24. Bg4 Kd7 25. Re1 Bxb4 26. Rxe6 Bxa3
27. Rxf6+ Ke7 28. Re6+ Kf7 29. Kf1 h5 30. Bf5 Rh6 31. Rxh6 gxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2599"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Täuscht die
Najdorf-Variante an.} 6. Be2 g6 {Und nach dem kleinen 6.Le2 doch Drachen.} 7.
Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 {Topalov bereitet aber nun doch die lange Rochade vor. Im
Unterschied zur ähnlichen Position in der richtigen Drachenvariante hat Weiß
Le2, Schwarz a6 eingeschoben.} Nc6 9. f3 d5 {Kommt etwas früh.} (9... O-O 10.
O-O-O d5) 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Bxd4 {Mit dem Tausch des Lg7
verliert der Drachen stets viel Gift.} 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Qc5 Qb8
16. g3 a5 17. Na4 Rd8 ({Hier ging} 17... Nf4 {mit der Absicht.} 18. gxf4 (18.
Bc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nd5 $11) 18... Qxf4+ 19. Kb1 Qxa4 $17) 18. a3 (18. c4 Nb4 19.
a3 Na2+ 20. Kb1 Qb3 $11) 18... h5 19. Rd2 Qc7 20. Rhd1 h4 21. f4 {[#]} Rab8 $2
22. c4 $18 Nf6 (22... hxg3 {reicht nicht:} 23. cxd5 gxh2 24. dxe6 Rxd2 25.
exf7+ Kxf7 26. Kxd2 Rd8+ 27. Bd3 Qxf4+ 28. Qe3 Qxa4 29. Rf1+ $19) 23. Qe5 Rdc8
({Nun scheitert} 23... Qxe5 {am Zwischenzug.} 24. Rxd8+) 24. Nc5 {Auf a6 gibt
es noch ein Problem.} Bf5 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Na6 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "203"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nxe4 Bf5 4. Qe2 Nd7 5. d3 e6 6. g4 Bg6 7. h4 h5 8. g5
Ne7 9. Bd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Bc3 O-O 12. Nh3 e5 13. Ng3 Nc5 14. Bg2 Na4 15.
Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 c6 17. Nf4 Re8 18. Nfxh5 Bf8 19. Qf4 Qa5 20. Qc4 b5 21. Qb3
Nc5 22. Qc3 Qxa2 23. Rhe1 Na4 24. Qb3 Qxb3 25. cxb3 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Nc5 27. Nf4
Bd6 28. Nge2 Re8 29. Rd1 Nxb3+ 30. Kc2 Nc5 31. Bf3 Bf5 32. Nd4 Bd7 33. Nfe2 a5
34. Nc3 Na6 35. Ne4 Nb4+ 36. Kb1 Bf8 37. h5 a4 38. h6 Re5 39. Bg2 Nd5 40. Rc1
Nf4 41. Bf1 c5 42. hxg7 Kxg7 43. Nf3 Rf5 44. Nh4 Re5 45. Nf3 Rf5 46. d4 cxd4
47. Rc7 Ne6 48. Rxd7 Rxf3 49. Bxb5 a3 50. Be2 Rf4 51. f3 axb2 52. Ng3 Kg6 53.
Rd5 Nxg5 54. Bd3+ Kh6 55. Nf5+ Kh5 56. Nxd4 Bg7 57. Nf5 Bf6 58. Ng3+ Kh4 59.
Nf5+ Kh5 60. Rd6 Ne6 61. Be4 Kg5 62. Rd5 Rxe4 63. fxe4 Kf4 64. Nd6 Nd4 65. Rh5
Bg7 66. Rh7 Be5 67. Rxf7+ Ke3 68. Nc4+ Kxe4 69. Kxb2 Kd5 70. Ne3+ Ke4 71. Ng4
Nf3+ 72. Kb3 Bd4 73. Rf8 Nd2+ 74. Kb4 Nf3 75. Kb5 Ba1 76. Re8+ Kf4 77. Nf2 Ne5
78. Kc5 Kf3 79. Rf8+ Ke3 80. Kd5 Nd3 81. Ng4+ Ke2 82. Rf5 Bg7 83. Ke4 Bc3 84.
Kd5 Bd2 85. Kd4 Bb4 86. Rh5 Bc5+ 87. Kc4 Bf2 88. Rh2 Kf3 89. Kxd3 Bg3 90. Rh8
Kxg4 91. Ke4 Bc7 92. Rg8+ Kh4 93. Kf5 Kh3 94. Rg4 Kh2 95. Ke4 Kh1 96. Kf3 Kh2
97. Rg2+ Kh1 98. Kf2 Bb6+ 99. Kf1 Bc7 100. Rg7 Bd6 101. Rh7+ Bh2 102. Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 ({A month
previously Topalov won a nice game against Carlsen in} 6. Bd3 b5 7. c4 g5 $5 8.
Nxg5 Ne5 9. Be2 bxc4 10. Na3 Rg8 11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. d4 Nb6 13. Bh5 Nxh5 14. Qxh5
Rg7 15. Nxh7 Qd7 16. dxc5 dxc5 $15 {Carlsen-Topalov, Saint Louis 2015.}) 6...
b6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bb7 9. c4 e6 ({The greedy} 9... Nxe4 $6 {is too
dangerous, because} 10. f3 Nef6 11. Nf5 $40 {and White has a strong attack.})
10. Nc3 Be7 11. f3 Rc8 12. Be3 O-O 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. Rac1 Qb8 15. Kh1 Rfe8 16. a3
Bd8 {A very typical manoeuvre in the Hedgehog System. Black prepares for ...
Bc7 with which he exerts pressure on the b8-h2 diagonal.} 17. Bg1 {A
prophylactic move.} h5 $146 {A novelty by Topalov. Black would like to advance
with his h-P and creates some weaknesses on White's kingside.} (17... Bc7 18.
b4 d5 19. cxd5 Bf4 20. Be3 Bxh2 (20... Bxe3 {(Fernandez Aguado-Vehi Bach,
Sitges 1989)} 21. Rxe3 $1 exd5 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. exd5 $16 {
and White is a healthy P up.}) 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Qa2 Nf8 23. Bc4 $16 {and
White is better, for example} Qe5 24. Bxe6+ $1 Nxe6 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Bd4 $1
$18 {and wins.}) 18. b3 Ne5 (18... h4 $5 {was also possible.}) 19. f4 Ned7 20.
b4 Qa8 {White weakened his e4-P after f4, so Black immediately puts it under
pressure.} (20... h4 $5) 21. Bd3 Be7 {The B was already useless on d8.} (21...
h4 $5) 22. h3 Rc7 $6 {An inaccuracy.} ({Even now} 22... h4 $5 {was an
interesting option too.}) 23. Re2 (23. e5 $1 {was the strongest reply,} dxe5
24. fxe5 Nh7 25. Bh2 $1 $36 {followed by Ne4 and White has a nice initiative.})
23... h4 24. Bf2 Nh5 25. Nf3 Ng3+ 26. Bxg3 hxg3 27. Qe1 Nf6 28. Qxg3 Nh5 29.
Qg4 Nf6 30. Qg3 Nh5 31. Qg4 Nf6 32. Qh4 g6 ({In the event of} 32... Nxe4 33.
Ng5 Nxg5 34. fxg5 g6 35. Rf1 Bf8 36. Be4 $1 {and now} Rxc4 $2 {does not work
because of} 37. Rxf7 $3 Kxf7 38. Qh7+ Bg7 39. Rf2+ $18 {and White wins.}) 33.
Ng5 Qd8 (33... Nh5 {was also an alternative.}) 34. Rd1 Nh5 35. Qg4 e5 ({
Probably} 35... Nf6 {was more accurate,} 36. Qf3 Nh5 {and in the event of} 37.
Nxe6 $5 fxe6 38. Qg4 Nxf4 39. Qxf4 Bf6 $44 {with a double-edged fight.}) 36.
Nd5 Bxd5 37. exd5 Bxg5 38. fxg5 Nf4 39. Rc2 b5 $2 {A decisive mistake,
probably in time trouble.} (39... Nxd3 40. Rxd3 e4 41. Rd4 e3 42. Re2 Rce7 $44
{with some compensation for the P.}) 40. c5 $1 Nxd3 (40... Nxd5 {could have
been met by} 41. Bxg6 $1 Ne3 42. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 (42... Kf8 43. Qh5 $1 Nxd1 44.
Qh6+ Ke7 45. Rd2 $18) 43. Qe4+ $18 {and White wins.}) 41. Rxd3 e4 42. Rd4 e3
43. c6 Re5 44. h4 Rce7 45. Re2 Qb6 46. g3 a5 47. Kg2 axb4 48. axb4 Qa7 49. Rd3
Re4 50. Qc8+ Kh7 51. Qd8 Rxb4 52. Rd1 Rbe4 53. Qxd6 Qa4 54. Rde1 $2 {This safe
move is a mistake! Now Black gets some chances.} (54. Rc1 $1 $18 {was the best
answer followed by c7, so Black can resign.}) 54... Qc4 $1 {The correct reply!}
55. h5 gxh5 56. Qh6+ Kg8 57. g6 fxg6 $2 {The decisive mistake, which loses
immediately!} (57... f5 $1 {was very important,} 58. Rxe3 (58. Qxh5 Qxd5) 58...
Rxe3 59. Rxe3 Qxd5+ 60. Kf1 Qh1+ $11 {and Black survives with perpetual checks.
}) 58. Qxg6+ $18 Rg7 59. Qxh5 Qd4 60. Ra2 {Now Black is already helpless.} Rf4
61. Ra8+ Rf8 62. Rxf8+ Kxf8 63. Qh8+ Kf7 64. Rf1+ Ke7 65. Qf8# 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.21"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
Na5 9. Ba2 c5 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Ne2 Nc6 13. Ng3 O-O 14. c3 Qd7 15.
Qe2 Rad8 16. Rd1 d5 17. b4 h6 18. Bd2 Rfe8 19. h3 Bd6 20. Be1 Qc7 21. Rdc1 Qd7
22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. a4 bxa4 24. Rxa4 a5 25. Qa2 Bb6 26. c4 dxe4 27. dxe4 Bc7 28.
c5 Qd3 29. Bc3 Qb5 30. Rb1 Qa6 31. Nd2 Rd3 32. Qc2 Red8 33. Nc4 Qa7 34. Nb6 Qa6
35. Qa2 Rd1+ 36. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 37. Kh2 Kf7 38. Bxa5 Qb5 39. Nc4 (39. Qc4 $1) 39...
Nxa5 40. Nxa5 Qxc5 41. Nb3 $2 (41. Nc4 $11 {Black's structure is bad but he is
very active. Svidler should hold.}) 41... Qc3 42. Ra7 $4 {Probably this move
came with a draw offer. Svidler took it, though he is winning:} (42. Ra7 Qe1
43. Rxc7+ Kg6 {White is getting mated and his knight is trapped. For example:}
44. Nf5 Qg1+ 45. Kg3 Nh5+ 46. Kf3 Rd3+ 47. Ne3 Nf4 {and White will soon be
mated on g2.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.18"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Karttunen, Mika"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2423"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Tammer Shakki"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FIN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bg2 Qc7 7. O-O Qxc4 8.
Na3 Qc7 9. Bg5 Nc6 10. Rc1 h6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qa4 Rb8 13. Rfd1 Be7 14. Qc2 f5
15. Qc3 O-O 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Nc4 d5 18. Nd2 c5 19. Rc2 a5 20. Nb3 a4 21. Nc1
c4 22. Nd3 Bd6 23. Qd2 Kh7 24. Nc1 Be5 25. b3 axb3 26. axb3 c3 27. Qd3 Rb4 28.
Qf3 Bg7 29. e3 Bb7 30. Qh5 Qe7 31. Ne2 Rxb3 32. Nd4 Bxd4 33. exd4 Qf6 34. Bf1
Rc8 35. Qf3 Kg7 36. Qe3 Rc6 37. Rdc1 Rb4 38. Rd1 f4 39. gxf4 Qg6+ 40. Qg3 Kf6
41. Qxg6+ fxg6 42. Kg2 g5 43. fxg5+ hxg5 44. Rd3 e5 45. Rdxc3 Rxc3 46. Rxc3
Rxd4 47. Rb3 Bc8 48. Be2 Rd2 49. Rb6+ Ke7 50. Bh5 e4 51. Rg6 e3 52. Rxg5 Rxf2+
53. Kg3 d4 54. h4 Bf5 55. Bf3 Kf6 56. Rg8 d3 57. Rf8+ Ke5 58. Re8+ Be6 59. Rd8
d2 60. Rd3 e2 61. Bxe2 Rxe2 62. Kf3 Rh2 63. Ke3 Bf5 64. Rxd2 Rh3+ 65. Kf2 Kf4
66. Kg2 Rg3+ 67. Kh2 Be4 68. Rf2+ Bf3 69. Rb2 Rg4 70. Rb4+ Be4 71. Rb3 Rg2+ 72.
Kh3 Rd2 73. Rb4 Rd3+ 74. Kh2 Rd1 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Socar"]
[BlackTeam "Belorechensk"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Rb8 12. g3 O-O 13. h4 Be6 14. Nc2 Bxd5
15. Qxd5 Ne7 16. Qd3 d5 17. Bg2 dxe4 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Bxe4 g6 20. Ke2 Bg7 21.
Rhd1 f5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Bb7 a5 24. Rd1 Rxd1 25. Kxd1 e4 26. a3 Bf6 27. Kd2
h5 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 g5 30. hxg5 Bxg5+ 31. Ke2 h4 32. gxh4 Bxh4 33. Nd4 Kf7
34. Nxb5 Ng6 35. Nd4 Kf6 36. b5 Nf4+ 37. Kf1 Nd3 38. f3 Nc5 39. Bc8 exf3 40. c4
Bg3 41. Nxf3 Bc7 42. Ke2 f4 43. Bh3 Bb6 44. Kd2 Ba5+ 45. Kc2 Ke7 46. Bf5 Kd6
47. Bh7 Bb6 48. Bg8 Nd7 49. Bd5 Nc5 50. Nh4 Nd7 51. Kd3 Bf2 52. Nf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Socar"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 {More than 200
games have reached this position and almost all of them have continued with
Bg2. Topalov wanted to try something different. But by making the move a3, he
cannot really hope for an opening advantage. It is more like trying to play a
fresh position.} 7. a3 $5 Ne4 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. Nfd2 Bb7 10. Qc2 f5 11. Nc3 O-O 12.
Nb5 Nc6 13. b4 $6 (13. Nxd6 cxd6 $5 {would have given Black a very comfortable
position but White is not worse in any way. The way Topalov plays leaves him
with a very bad position.}) 13... Be7 $1 {Preserving the bishop. The knight on
b5 looks really silly now.} 14. e3 a5 $1 15. bxa5 Rxa5 $17 {The opening has
gone horribly wrong for White. Not only is he behind in development, his pawn
structure is not so great with a weak and isolated a-pawn and also the black
knight on e4 is very well placed.} 16. Rb1 Qd7 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19.
Bd2 Ra6 20. O-O Na5 21. Bxa5 Rxa5 22. a4 Ba6 23. Rfc1 c6 24. Nc3 Rb8 $6 {
Why do you need to bring the rook from the half open f-file?} (24... Bd8 $1 25.
Na2 c5 $1 (25... Bc4 $6 26. Rxc4 $1 dxc4 27. Qxc4 $44) 26. dxc5 bxc5 $17) 25.
Bf1 Bc8 26. Na2 h6 27. Nb4 Bb7 28. Na2 Bd8 29. Nc3 Rba8 30. Rb2 Bc7 31. Qd1 {
Let's take stock once again to understand what's going on. White has a
weakness on a4 and Black has weaknesses on b6 and c6. It seems as if they
cancel out each other. But the important thing to note here is that the b6 and
c6 weaknesses can be protected by bishops on d8 and d7. Then they are
defending the weaknesses and also eyeing the kingside. Also crucial is the
semi-open f-file. While one of the black rook can continuously put pressure on
the a4 pawn, the other one can go to the f-file and start pressurising the f2
pawn and also threaten a kingside attack. Black has a clear advantage in this
position. It is interesting to see how Peter Leko misplayed this promising
position.} Bd8 $2 {An error. It was much more important to transfer the rook
to the f-file first.} (31... Rf8 $1 32. Qh5 Bc8 {Stopping Bh3.} 33. Rbc2 Bb8 $6
34. Ne2 Rf6 (34... Rf5 $6 35. Qg4 (35. Rxc6 $1 Rxh5 36. Rxc8+ Kh7 37. Rxb8 $11
{[%cal Ge2f4] White has excellent compensation.}) 35... Rf6 36. Qxd7 Bxd7 $17)
35. Nf4 Bxf4 36. exf4 Kh7 $15) 32. Qh5 Bc8 {Now the rook is stuck on a8 and
White can bring his knight into the game via e2.} 33. Rbc2 (33. Ne2 $1 {
was more accurate.}) 33... Be7 (33... Qe6 34. Ne2 Bd7 35. Nf4 Qe8 {and Black
has managed to co-ordinate his position. But White can execute a strong
positional exchange sacrifice.} 36. Qxe8+ Bxe8 37. Rxc6 $1 Bxc6 38. Rxc6 Rxa4
39. Nxd5 $14) 34. Ne2 Ba3 (34... Rxa4 35. Rxc6 $18) 35. Rb1 Rxa4 36. Rxb6 {
All of Black's superior co-ordination is lost and White has nearly a winning
position. The mistakes made by Leko were so subtle in nature - he didn't
organize his forces in the best possible way.} Bb7 37. Nf4 $18 {Look how the
position has changed. From a clearly better situation, Leko misplayed his
position so badly that he is completely lost!} Rb4 38. Ng6+ (38. Rxb4 Bxb4 39.
Bh3 Qd8 40. Ng6+ Kh7 41. Ne5 $18) 38... Kh7 39. Ne5 Qe8 40. Qxe8 Rxe8 41. Rxb4
Bxb4 42. Rb2 c5 43. dxc5 Rxe5 44. Rxb4 $18 {White has won a pawn and the rest
is a matter of straightforward technique.} Re7 45. Rb6 Rc7 46. Bb5 Bc8 47. Rc6
Rb7 48. Rxc8 Rxb5 49. c6 Rc5 50. Kg2 Rc2 51. h4 h5 52. c7 g6 53. g4 d4 54. exd4
e3 55. Kf1 e2+ 56. Ke1 g5 57. hxg5 h4 58. Rf8 h3 59. Rf6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.22"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. c4 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Qg4 {This old theoretical line seems to be
promising for White in general, plus Topalov was not very familiar with it.} f5
{The safest choice.} (11... Nf6 {is more principled but dangerous at the same
time:} 12. Qh4 {/\ Bg5} Ne4 13. Qh3 Qxd4 14. Bf4 {with complicated sharp play
ahead.}) 12. Qe2 Bf6 13. Bc4 {It is clear that White has managed to get a nice
initiative out of the opening although Black's position is solid.} Re8 (13...
Nd7 $2 14. Nc6 $1) 14. Rd1 Nd7 (14... Nc6 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. f4 $1 Qd6 17. Bb3 {
with a clear positional advantage.}) 15. Bb5 (15. Bd2 {was possible, with some
advantage, but I decided to choose a more ambitious move.}) 15... Bxe5 16. dxe5
Qe7 {The only reasonable move.} (16... a6 17. Nxd5 axb5 (17... Bxd5 18. Bxa6)
18. Nb4 $1 Qe7 19. Rd6 $16) 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qh5 $1 {The point.} g6 {
Weakening, but there is no other way to defend against Bg5.} (18... h6 19. Bxh6
$1 gxh6 20. Qg6+ Kf8 21. Qxh6+ Kf7 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qxf5+ Qf7 25.
Bxd7 Qxf5 26. Bxf5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rae8 28. Kf1 {and White is clearly better in
this endgame.}) (18... Nxe5 {was a try although White is better, being an
exchange up even if Black has chances for a draw} 19. Bg5 Qf8 20. Bxe8 Rxe8)
19. Qh6 Rec8 20. Bg5 Qf7 21. Bxd7 (21. Bf4 {was another, more positional
approach, keeping some pressure} a6 22. Bf1 b5 23. b3 {with some advantage.})
21... Qxd7 22. Bf6 {White has good attacking potential in this position and
even if Black might hold with precise defence it is not easy to demonstrate
over the board.} Qf7 {He has to lose a tempo with this move because Rxd5 was
coming otherwise.} (22... Rc2 23. Rxd5 $1 exd5 24. e6 Qc7 25. e7) ({or} 22...
Rc4 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. e6) 23. b3 {It is important to prevent the ...Rc4, ...
Rg4 resource.} (23. Rd3 {is very direct approach but Black seems to have
enough defensive resourses:} Rc2 (23... Rc4 24. b3) 24. Rg3 Rac8 25. h4 R8c4 $1
26. h5 Rg4 27. Rxg4 fxg4 28. Qg5 h6 29. Qxg4 g5 {/\ ...Qh7.}) 23... Qf8 24. Qf4
(24. Qg5 {was tempting, but Black is just in time again to defend his king:}
Rc2 25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 Qb4 $1 {that is why Qf4 was chosen instead of Qg5 in
the game} 27. hxg6 Qg4 28. Qxg4 fxg4 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rd4 g3 $1 31. Rh4+ Kg6
32. Rg4+ Kf5 33. Rxg3 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2 {with a draw.}) 24... Rc2
$2 {The only mistake in the game but quite a serious one. Before starting
counterplay Black should have improved his king position.} (24... h6 $1 25. h4
Rc5 $1 {followed by ...Kh7 next and Black's position is passive but difficult
to break.} (25... Rc2 26. Rxd5 $1 exd5 27. Rd1 Qc5 28. h5 {and mate is near}))
25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 {Now seemingly active rooks and control of the c-file
doesn't help Black to defend against the threats on the kingside.} Qe8 (26...
Qf7 {was slightly more logical but does not change much.}) 27. Rd3 {/\ hxg6.}
R2c3 28. Rad1 gxh5 {Topalov presumably pinned his hopes on this idea but
underestimated the exchange sacrifice; in any case, there was no longer
anything else to do here.} 29. Rxd5 $1 {Strong and logical.} exd5 30. e6 {
More forcing and leads to a forced win in all lines, so I have chosen it.} (30.
Rxd5 $18 {was good enough.}) 30... R3c7 (30... Qg6 31. Bxc3 Rxc3 32. Qb8+ Kg7
33. e7 {game over}) (30... R3c6 31. Rd3 Rxe6 32. Rg3+ Kf7 33. Qh6 $1 {once I
noticed this move in my calculations I understood that my attack is decisive}
Rxf6 34. Qg7+ Ke6 35. Re3+ $18) 31. Rxd5 Qxe6 (31... Qg6 32. Qxc7 $1) (31...
Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Qg6 33. Qxc1 $1) 32. Qg5+ Kf8 ({or} 32... Kf7 33. Rxf5 Rc5 34.
Qxh5+ Kf8 35. Be5+ Ke7 36. Qxh7+ Ke8 37. Rg5 (37. f4) 37... Rxe5 38. Qh5+) 33.
Rxf5 Rf7 (33... Rc5 {does not change anything even if is more resistant} 34.
Be7+ Ke8 35. Bxc5 {was my intention} (35. Rf8+ Kd7 36. Bxc5 {wins on the spot
according to computers}) 35... Rxc5 36. Qxh5+ Kd7 37. Rxc5 bxc5 38. Qxc5 {
with an easy technical win.}) 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Re5 Rc6 {Trying to use some
pinning motifs.} 36. Qxh5 {White is counterpinning with devastating effect, so
Topalov resigned.} 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Socar"]
[BlackTeam "Novy Bor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 g6 12. O-O-O ({Last year Topalov chose} 
12. Be2 Qc7 13. Rc1 Ng8 $5 14. O-O Ne7 15. Bg5 $1 f6 16. Be3 O-O-O 17. c4 Nf5
18. Bf2 $1 Kb8 19. Qc3 Bh6 20. Rcd1 $36 {Topalov-Dominguez Perez, Tromso ol
2014, and White had a nice position.}) 12... Nb6 {Topalov was the first to
play this move with Black in 2008 against Anand.} 13. Qa5 ({Two month ago
Grischuk played} 13. Kb1 {against Topalov,} Nbxd5 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Na5 Rb8 16.
Bc4 Nb6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Bd8 20. Rd3 Bc7 21. Bb3 Ke7 22.
Rhd1 Rhd8 $11 {Grischuk-Topalov, Saint Louis 2015, with an equal endgame.})
13... Bh6 {This is the point!} 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. g3 (15. Kb1 Rc8 (15... Kf8 $5)
16. Qb4 Kf8 17. c4 Kg7 18. g3 Rh8 19. Rc1 Qc7 20. Bh3 Rce8 21. Rhd1 Re7 22. a3
Rd8 23. Nd2 Nbd7 (23... e4 $5) 24. Qc3 a5 25. Bxd7 Nxd7 26. f4 $14 {
Anand-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2008, and White had a comfortable position.}) 15...
Kf8 16. Kb1 Kg7 17. Be2 $146 {A novelty by Topalov.} (17. f4 {was tried in a
correspondence game,} h4 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. d6 Nbd7 20. Bg2 Qxa5 21. Nxa5 e4 22.
Nxb7 Rh5 23. c4 Rb8 24. c5 Nxc5 25. Nxc5 Rxc5 $11 {Bell-Ísólfsson, ICCF 2014,
with an equal endgame.}) 17... Rh8 18. c4 Rc8 19. Rc1 Nfd7 20. Rhd1 Rc7 ({
In the event of} 20... h4 21. g4) ({or} 20... Nc5 21. Nd2 Nbd7 22. Qa3 $13 {
with an unclear position.} (22. Qxd8 Rhxd8 23. b4 Na4 $11)) (20... Re8 $5) 21.
Qa3 $1 {A very nice move by Topalov; now the d6-P is under pressure and it is
not easy to protect.} Nc8 22. Nd2 (22. c5 $6 {is too early, as} Nxc5 23. Nxc5
dxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxc5 25. Qxc5 Nd6 {and Black has a great blockade on d6.}) 22...
Nf6 (22... f5 $5) 23. h3 $1 Re7 24. g4 hxg4 25. fxg4 (25. hxg4 $6 {could have
been met by} Rh2 $132) 25... e4 26. g5 Nd7 27. Bg4 e3 28. Qc3+ Kg8 (28... Kh7
$5 {was an interesting alternative.}) 29. Nf3 Ne5 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. Re1 ({
Probably} 31. c5 $1 {was stronger} Ne7 (31... e2 32. Re1 Rxd5 33. c6 $1 bxc6
34. Qf6 $1 Qxf6 35. gxf6 Na7 36. Rxe2 $16 {and White is better.}) 32. c6 Qc7
33. Qa3 $36 {and White has a dangerous initiative.}) 31... Nb6 32. Qd4 $1 Nd7
33. Rc3 e2 34. Rc2 Rxg5 $6 {A dubious move, which gives up the important
e-file.} (34... b5 {was more accurate} 35. cxb5 axb5 36. Rcxe2 Rxe2 37. Rxe2
Ne5 38. Qf4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 35. Bxd7 $1 {Otherwise ...Ne5.
} Qxd7 36. Rcxe2 Kh7 37. a3 $1 {A very strong and deep move. White opens an
airhole in his back rank and now he is ready for action!} ({The immediate} 37.
Re7 {could have been met by} Qf5+ 38. Ka1 b5 {.}) 37... b5 $2 {Loses
immediately, but Black's position was already difficult.} (37... Rf8 {was
tougher, but} 38. Re7 Qxh3 39. Rxb7 $16 {and White's chances are much better.})
38. Re7 $1 $18 {The best move, White's pieces are very active, Black has no
hope left.} Qf5+ 39. Ka2 Rg8 40. Re8 Qd7 41. R8e7 Qf5 42. R1e4 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.24"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 9. Bb5 Nc6 10. Qd1 e6 11. Nf3 Be7 12. h3 Ne4 13. O-O Nxc3 14. bxc3 Ne5
15. Rb1 Bxb5 16. Rxb5 Qd7 17. a4 Nc4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 f6 20. Bg3 Rc8 21.
Qb3 b6 22. a5 Bd8 23. axb6 Bxb6 24. Rb4 O-O 25. Rc1 Rc6 26. c4 dxc4 27. Rbxc4
Qd5 28. Qa4 Rxc4 29. Rxc4 h6 30. Rc6 Rd8 31. Kh2 Kf7 32. Kg1 Qd7 33. Qc4 Qd5
34. Qa4 Qd7 35. Qc4 Qd5 36. Qa4 Qd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Qa4 $5 {The move Bb3 has become quite
popular in this c6-d5 line, but Qa4 has yet to be completely explored. Giri
sank into thought after this move. Presumably he was trying to recollect his
analysis.} Nfd7 (5... Bg7 {is the other main move here.}) 6. cxd5 Nb6 7. Qd1 (
7. Qb3 {is also possible but the queen retreat to d1 is much more popular.})
7... cxd5 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 Bg7 {Saduakassova-Lei reached this position in
August 2015. One cannot be sure whether Topalov had seen this game before or
not, but he was playing fast and seemed to have come well prepared.} 10. Nge2
O-O 11. O-O Re8 (11... e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. h3 $1 $14 {The wise thing would be
not to take the pawn on d5.} (13. Nxd5 $6 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 (14. Bxd5 $2 Bg4 $1 $17
{[%cal Gg4e2,Gd8d5,Ge5f3]}) 14... Qxd5 15. Bxd5 Rd8 $44)) 12. b3 {Sooner or
later White had to make some move which would allow e5.} (12. h3 e5 $1 13. dxe5
Bxe5 {and the d5-pawn cannot be taken as h3 would be left hanging.}) 12... e5
13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. h3 (14. Bb2 Bg4 15. h3 Bf3 {is something that Topalov wanted
to avoid.}) (14. Nd4 {In order to stop the Bf5-d3 idea was a possibility and
after} Bg4 15. Qd2 Nc6 16. Ba3 Nxd4 17. exd4 {Black's main problem is the
knight on b6. It is misplaced. The position is slightly more pleasant for
White.} Qf6 18. Bc5 Bf3 19. Bxf3 Qxf3 20. Rae1 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Nd7 22. Be7 $14)
14... Bf5 15. Nd4 Bd3 16. Re1 Ba6 17. Qd2 {White has to make these slightly
uncomfortable moves due to the threat of the knight coming to d3. But it's
fine because the position is static in nature.} Nd3 18. Rd1 {The knight on d3
is well placed but may soon get caught. Hence, Anish decides to up the ante.}
Bxd4 (18... Nxc1 19. Raxc1 $16 {is just a huge advantage.}) 19. exd4 Qf6 20. a4
$5 {Highly creative play from the Bulgarian. Topalov sacrifices the d4-pawn in
order to activate his rook in a very original fashion.} (20. Bb2 {looked
normal as now the d4-pawn is taboo.} Rac8 {Black has no problems.} (20... Qxd4
21. Bf1 $1 $18)) 20... Qxd4 21. a5 Nd7 22. Ra4 $1 {No one would have ever
thought that the a1 rook could have been useful for a kingside attack. But
Giri had given up his dark-squared bishop, and his king looks a little weak,
hence this is an extremely logical consequence. But to find this idea of a4-a5
Ra4 you need to be somewhere around 2800!} Qe5 23. Nxd5 {White seems to have
the initiative as all his pieces are in play now. The threat is to play Re4
followed by Ne7+.} Nxc1 (23... N7c5 {was a natural move, but Giri had missed
the brilliant resource of 25.Qg5!} 24. Rh4 $1 $44 {[%cal Gd2h6]} Nxc1 (24...
Nxb3 $2 {The most natural move now loses in brilliant fashion.} 25. Qg5 $1 {
Who would think of this move when Qh6 is also possible.} (25. Qh6 Nbxc1 26.
Qxh7+ Kf8 {Black is completely safe.}) 25... Nbxc1 (25... Qxg5 26. Bxg5 {
Threatening Nf6+.} h5 27. Nc7 $18 {Everything is hanging!}) 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27.
Nd7+ $18) 25. Qxc1 {with unclear play.} Nxb3 $2 26. Qa3 $1 {A pretty unusual
knight trap!} Be2 27. Re1 Nd4 28. Qa4 Ne6 (28... Nc6 29. Re4 $18) 29. Rxe2 Qxe2
30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Qa3+ Kg7 32. Qa1 $18 {Agreed that all this is not easy to see,
yet it is completely winning.}) 24. Rxc1 $16 {White is clearly better.} Nf6 25.
Nc7 (25. Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. Rf4 $16 {is also a very solid edge for White mainly
because the black king is weak and the bishop on a6 is firing blanks.}) 25...
Rad8 26. Qf4 g5 (26... Re7 27. Qxe5 Rxe5 28. Nxa6 bxa6 29. Rc6 Kg7 30. Rxa6
Re1+ 31. Kh2 Rd2 32. Rf4 $16 {and now we see why the pawn on g5 is important.
It prevents Rf4.}) 27. Qb4 (27. Qxe5 {was the much more pragmatic approach.}
Rxe5 28. Nxa6 bxa6 $14 {Only one person can be better here and you don't need
to be a GM to know who!}) 27... Qb2 28. Raa1 Re2 29. Qc5 {[%cal Gc5g5,Gc5f2]} (
29. Nxa6 Rxf2 30. Bxb7 Rdd2 $19) 29... h6 30. Nxa6 bxa6 31. Rab1 (31. Qxa7 {
Winning material is often the best way to solidify your edge.} Rdd2 32. Rc8+
Kg7 33. Rf1 $16) 31... Qd2 32. Bf3 (32. b4 {was better.}) 32... Ne4 $5 33. Qxa7
$2 (33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34. Rd1 Qxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 36. Kg2 {This will most
probably end in a draw but White is definitely not under any pressure here.})
33... Nxf2 $1 {Giri said after the game that this reminded him of his
childhood. He would be playing players rated above him and would get
completely positionally outplayed but still win in the end thanks to his
tactical awareness. Somehow this is very similar. White's position quickly
disintegrates now.} 34. Bxe2 Nxh3+ 35. Kf1 (35. Kg2 Qxe2+ 36. Kxh3 Rd2 $1 37.
Rc8+ Kg7 $19 {There is just no way to prevent mate.}) 35... Qd5 $1 {Very
accurate play and nicely spotted by Giri in spite of not having much time.
Black is a rook down but he is winning thanks to his excellent co-ordination.}
36. Bh5 (36. Ke1 {would have put up the maximum resistance.} Qh1+ 37. Bf1 Qf3
$3 {A move that is easy to understand when you see it, but very difficult to
find over the board.} 38. Bxh3 (38. Rb2 Qxg3+ 39. Rf2 Re8+ 40. Be2 Nf4 41. Rc2
Qg1+ 42. Rf1 Qxa7 $19) 38... Re8+ 39. Kd2 Re2+ 40. Kd1 Qd3#) 36... Qh1+ 37. Ke2
Qg2+ 38. Ke1 Re8+ 39. Kd1 Nf2+ 40. Kc2 Ne4+ {An unfortunate loss for Veselin
and a good start for Giri, who must not have expected to win this game after
the position he had after 20 moves.} (40... Ne4+ 41. Kd3 Qd2+ 42. Kc4 Rc8+ 43.
Qc5 Rxc5#) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Adhiban,B"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Wat else :)? Looking at the amount of games
played in the Berlin in London it could have easily been a "Berlin theme"
tournament.} 4. d3 {One of the critical attempts at maintaining some
complexity in the positions.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. h3 a6 ({Two rounds
later Topalov-Caruana continued with} 7... Ne7 $5 8. d4 Bb6 (8... exd4 9. cxd4
Bb6 {would be very similar to (Topalov-Caruana Sinquefield cup 2015)}) 9. dxe5
dxe5 10. Qe2 Ng6 11. g3 {The position has a lot of similarities to the Italian.
} Qe7 12. Bd3 a5 {Black has been able to hold without too many problems.}) 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O {This position does occur often in the d3 system but without
c3 included.} Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. Nf1 Bb6 (11... d5 $5 {is an interesting
option played by Lysyj.} 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 $14) (11... a5 {looks much more
sound positionally since here Black is not wasting time on retreating with the
bishop.}) 12. Ng3 {Black lacks any clear plan and has to wait for White to
show his hand.} ({My fellow teammate went for} 12. Be3 $5 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 c5 14.
Qc2 a5 15. Rad1 Bb7 {Under the impression that White doesn't have any
ambitious intentions, Black loses his sense of danger.} (15... a4 $11 {was
stronger.}) 16. Nf5 Qd7 17. Nh2 $1 {For now White has only one active piece
but, as we will see, Black will help out a friend in need!} c4 {This move is
just epic, it allows white to build up his momentum with amazing speed :).} 18.
Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 cxd3 20. Rxd3 {White will remain in Black's debt forever for
allowing hg4 strengthening the stronghold on f5 and also bringing the rook
into play via the 3rd rank! But Black is not done yet!} Ba6 {Go to h3 and then
if you have the guts try to mate me!} 21. c4 $1 (21. Rh3 Bc4 $11 {[%cal Gc4e6]}
) 21... Qc6 22. b3 a4 23. Rh3 {Finally Bok's efforts have been rewarded! White
has a crushing attack!} axb3 24. Qd2 $1 f6 {This is just asking for it, but in
perfect line with Black's strategy in this game which was to help out White
whenever he had a problem.} (24... Re6 $142 25. axb3 $16) 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26.
Qxh6+ Kf7 27. Qh7+ Ke6 28. g5 {Negi-Bok 2012, with a winning attack and the
mystery has been solved :).}) 12... Bd7 (12... Be6 13. Be3) (12... a5) 13. Be3
Qb8 (13... c5 {Of course Black has to play this, ruin his bishop's future but
prevent d4 and earn 0.00 from the engine!} 14. Nh2 a5 15. Qf3 a4 16. Nf5 (16.
Ng4 Nxg4 17. hxg4 f6 18. Nf5 Be6 $15) 16... Kh8 (16... Bxf5 17. Qxf5 Qd7 18.
Qxd7 Nxd7 $11 {at least I can agree with this.}) 17. Ng4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 {
I would be very happy with White here but the computer is confident that it
can hold the position, I should perhaps challenge it to a theme match in this
specfic position.}) 14. Qd2 {Simple and efficient.} Bxe3 15. Rxe3 a5 16. d4 (
16. Nh4 $5 {looks highly tempting since all the white pieces are set for a
nasty kingside attack.It was highly surprising that Topalov didn't go for it.}
Kh7 (16... g6 17. Rf3 Kg7 18. Rxf6 $1 Kxf6 19. Qxh6 Rh8 (19... Qxb2 20. Nh5+ {
also ends badly for Black.}) 20. Nh5+ {I was under the impression that this
should win for White but the computer comes up with} Ke6 $1 {But White has} (
20... Ke7 21. Qg5+ Ke8 (21... Kf8 22. Nxg6+ {mating.}) 22. Nxg6 $1 $18) 21.
Ng7+ Ke7 22. Qg5+ f6 23. Ngf5+ $1 $11) 17. Rf1 Qb6 18. Kh2 Rab8 19. b3 {
and White has a threatening intiative on the kingside.}) 16... exd4 17. cxd4 (
17. Nxd4 $5 {would have been better.} c5 18. Nf3 (18. Nde2 Bc6 {and white is
more or less forced to play} 19. f3 {after which his attacking intentions come
to an end after} g6) 18... Bc6 19. Rae1 Qb7 20. e5 Nd5 (20... dxe5 21. Nxe5
Bxg2 22. Ng4 $1 Rxe3 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Rxe3 $40 {Black's king is in more
trouble!}) (20... Bxf3 21. exf6 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 $1 (22. fxe3 $5 {[%cal Gd2g2]
Surprise!}) 22... Bxg2 23. fxg7 $18) 21. Re4 $14) 17... Qb4 {Of course Black
is happy to exchange the queens to minimise White's influence on the centre.}
18. b3 (18. Qc2 Rab8 (18... a4 {also looks fine.}) 19. b3 a4 $11) 18... Qxd2
19. Nxd2 a4 {Now its pretty equal.} 20. a3 (20. b4 a3 $1 {Fixing the pawn
structure.}) 20... axb3 21. Rxb3 Ra4 22. Rb7 Rxd4 23. Nf3 Ra4 24. Rxc7 Rc8 25.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. e5 dxe5 27. Nxe5 c5 28. Rc1 Rxa3 29. Rxc5 Be6 30. Rc1 Ra8 31.
Nf3 Rc8 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Nd4 {One of the many interesting draws in London :).
} 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The Najdorf is the main
weapon of both players.} 6. h3 {This move is becoming more and more popular.}
e5 ({Topalov has also tried:} 6... e6 {, which also leads to a very complex
battle.}) 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 Nbd7 {Veselin deviates from the main theoretical
continuations and chooses a less explored move.} 9. Bg2 {This natural move is
quite toothless: Black manages to push b7-b5 without losing control over the
d5-square.} ({The most critical move seems to be} 9. a4 $5 {, reducing Black's
active possibilities on the queenside. For instance,} b6 ({The previously
played} 9... h4 {doesn't look attractive for Black here:} 10. g4 Nc5 11. Bg2
Be6 12. a5 Be7 13. b4 Ncd7 14. Nd5 $14 {Baklan,V-Dziuba,M, Lublin 2nd 2010})
10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O Be7 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. Rfd1 {Shirov,A - Oparin,G ,
Nutcracker Rapid 2014, White's position was somewhat more pleasant due to an
advantage in space.}) 9... b5 {This position is already quite comfortable for
Black.} 10. Nd5 ({The ambitious} 10. a4 $6 {only helps Black to develop his
counterplay:} b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 a5 13. O-O Ba6 14. Re1 Be7 $15 {Sax,
G-Tatai,S, Bratto 2007}) 10... Nxd5 11. Qxd5 {No doubt, Maxime would prefer to
have a minor piece on d5.} Rb8 $146 {A novelty. Topalov reasonably keeps his
his knight on d7 for a while - since there are few decent routes for it to
take.} (11... Nb6 12. Qd1 Be6 13. f4 f6 14. Nc3 Rc8 $132 {Zherebukh,Y-Gromovs,
S, Campobasso op-A 2010}) 12. Be3 Be7 13. Qd2 Nf6 ({The tempting looking} 13...
b4 {can be met with:} 14. c4 $1 O-O 15. O-O Nc5 16. b3 $14 {and White gets a
small, but long-lasting advantage: Black lacks any active ideas.}) ({However,
it was possible to start with} 13... O-O $1 {keeping the Nd7 on its place for
a while} {and now if} 14. O-O-O Qc7 {then Black would be ready to meet} 15. g4
{with} h4 $1 16. Nc3 Bb7 $132) 14. O-O ({The more aggressive way of handling
the position was:} 14. O-O-O $5 Qc7 ({But} 14... O-O $6 {is unsuccessful in
view of} 15. g4 $1 hxg4 16. Ng3 {with a powerful attack.}) 15. Kb1 b4 16. Bg5
a5 $132) 14... O-O {Now, when there is no threat of a kingside attack, it
definitely makes sense to castle.} 15. Kh2 Bb7 (15... a5 $5 {also deserved
some attention:} 16. a3 (16. Nc3 $6 {is premature:} b4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 f5
$15) 16... Qc7 17. Nc3 Bd7 $132) 16. Nc3 Rc8 17. a4 b4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 ({Another
interesting move was} 18... Bxd5 $5 19. exd5 a5 20. Rfc1 Nd7 21. c3 Nc5 22. Qd1
bxc3 23. Rxc3 h4 $132) 19. exd5 a5 20. Qe2 Bg5 $1 {The exchange of bishops
would temporarily leave the Pa5 unprotected, but it is a correct decision.} ({
The alternative -} 20... Qe8 21. c4 $1 {should be met with a pawn sac} ({
Instead, the ''greedy''} 21. Qxh5 f5 22. Qxe8 Rfxe8 23. Rfc1 Bf6 $44 {offers
Black excellent compensation and easy play.}) 21... bxc3 22. bxc3 Rxc3 23. Rfb1
Qa8 24. Qb5 $14) 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 22. h4 $6 {Wasting an important tempo. White's
position isn't good from a strategic point of view, so} ({it was better to
change the character of the battle and accept the challenge:} 22. Qb5 Qe7 23.
Qxa5 Rxc2 24. Rac1 (24. Qxb4 {is possible also, then after} Qc7 $1 25. Qa3 Ba6
26. Be4 Re2 {Black would obtain sufficient counterplay.}) 24... Rxb2 25. Rb1
Ra2 26. Qxb4 Ba6 27. Qb3 {with complex, double-edged play.}) 22... Qf6 $2 {
A strange reply. Now White's previous move is fully justified!} ({At the same
time,} 22... Qe7 {would allow Veselin to consolidate and keep a definite
positional advantage:} 23. Qxh5 (23. Rac1 {is hardly any better:} f5 24. Qxh5
e4 {the Pd5 is going to fall, after which White's pieces are very passive.})
23... Rc5 (23... Rxc2 $2 24. Be4 g6 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+ $18) 24. Be4 g6 25.
Qh6 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 $15) 23. Qb5 Qe7 24. Qxa5 Rxc2 {Now in comparison to
the line with 22.Qb5, White benefits from having the pawn on h4 - Black's
kingside activity is limited.} 25. Rac1 $1 {The most energetic.} ({Instead,} 
25. Qb6 {trying to promote the a-passer would yield Black full control over
the c-file:} Rfc8 26. a5 Qc7 27. Qb5 Rc5 28. Qxb4 Ra8 $11) 25... Rxb2 26. Rb1 {
White manages to grab the pawn back.} Ra2 (26... Ra8 27. Qxa8+ Bxa8 28. Rxb2
Qa7 29. Rxb4 f5 30. Ra1 e4 31. a5 Bxd5 32. Kg1 $1 ({The inaccurate} 32. a6 {
gives Black sufficient counterplay after} f4 $1 33. gxf4 Qxf2 34. a7 Kh7 35.
Rb5 e3 36. Rxd5 Qxf4+ 37. Kh1 Qxh4+ 38. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 32... Kf7 $14 {Black's
position is quite unpleasant, but the Kg1 is not that safe, and that makes
White's task very difficult.}) 27. Qxb4 Ba6 28. Qb3 ({Possibly, a stronger
move was} 28. Ra1 $5 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 Qc7 30. a5 Rb8 31. Qa3 $14 {Black has
manages to avoid the penetration of White's pieces into his camp, but the
strong Pa5 still offers White a definite advantage.}) 28... Bxf1 (28... Re2 29.
Qb6 Ra8 30. Rfc1 Qf6 31. Rb2 $14) 29. Qxa2 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 {The Bg2 is gone, so
White's king is getting more vulnerable. However, Black has to play very
precisely in order to prove it.} Ra8 $2 {Switching to a passive defence is the
wrong strategy!} ({All the same, after} 30... e4 $1 31. Qc4 (31. a5 $6 e3 32.
Re1 Qe4+ 33. Kh2 Rc8 $1 34. Rxe3 Rc2 35. Rxe4 Rxa2 $11) 31... f5 32. Rb4 Ra8
$14 {Black would obtain excellent drawing chances.} (32... e3 $5 33. Qe2 Re8
$14)) 31. a5 e4 $2 {This advance is not useful any longer. Moreover, it
invites new troubles.} ({The patient} 31... Qa7 32. Rb5 g6 33. a6 Qd4 $16 {
would allow Topalov to stay in the game.}) 32. Rb3 $1 f5 33. Qd2 $6 {There was
no reason for such prophylactic measures.} ({There was the much stronger} 33.
a6 $1 f4 34. Rb7 Qf6 35. a7 fxg3 36. fxg3 Qf3+ 37. Kh2 Kh7 38. Qb2 Qg4 39. Qf2
$18 {with full domination.}) 33... Qc7 $2 {The last mistake.} (33... Qf7 $1 {
was necessary:} 34. Rb5 Qf6 $16 {it would be not easy for White to make
further progress. For instance, nothing is achieved by} 35. Qb4 $6 Qe5 36. Rb8+
Rxb8 37. Qxb8+ Kh7 38. a6 e3 $1 $11 {leads to perpetual check.}) 34. Qb2 $1 {
White's pieces are dominationg all over the board now.} Rxa5 ({A more stubborn
try would be} 34... Qxa5 35. Rb7 Qa1 36. Rxg7+ Kh8 {, but after} 37. Qxa1 Rxa1
38. Rg5 Kh7 39. Rxf5 Kg6 40. Rg5+ Kh6 41. Rg8 Ra5 42. Re8 Rxd5 43. Rxe4 $18 {
White gets a winning rook ending.}) 35. Rb7 Ra2 36. Qb5 Rxf2+ {Desperation.} ({
Nor was there any hope after} 36... Qc1 37. Qe8+ Kh7 38. Qxh5+ Qh6 39. Qxf5+
Qg6 40. Qxg6+ Kxg6 41. Re7 $18) 37. Kxf2 Qc2+ 38. Qe2 1-0

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qe2 $5 {Topalov decides to take the game into unknown
territory obviously looking for a fighting type of chess, which suits his
style perfectly.} ({Taking the pawn might prove to be risky:} 10. Nxe5 Qd6 11.
Nef3 Ng6 12. O-O (12. Bc4 Bd7 13. Qc2 Bc6 14. O-O Rae8 15. Re1 Nf4 $44) 12...
Bxh3 13. gxh3 (13. e5 Qe6 14. gxh3 (14. exf6 Qg4 15. Nh4 Qxh4 $17) 14... Qxh3
15. exf6 Nf4 16. Ne1 Qg3+ $11) 13... Qg3+ 14. Kh1 Qxh3+ 15. Nh2 c6 16. Bc4 Bc7
17. f4 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 Nxf4 19. Qf3 Qh4 20. Ndf1 Ng6 $19) 10... Ng6 11. g3 Qe7
12. Bd3 a5 13. Nc4 Bc5 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Ne3 h6 17. O-O-O Be6 18.
Kb1 b5 {We have got a very sharp position with unusual long castling in the
Ruy Lopez. I must say that it happened to me once, but the outcome of that
game was not encouraging.} 19. c4 b4 20. Nd5 Nd7 21. Ne1 c6 (21... Ngf8 22. f4
c6 23. Ne3 f6 24. h4 Bf7 25. f5 $36) 22. Nc7 Rac8 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. h4 $6 (24.
Bc2 $1 {preventing ...a4 is an important nuance in the position.} Ngf8 $1 (
24... Nb6 25. Nd3 $1 $14) 25. Nd3 (25. b3 Qb6 26. Nd3 {with next f4}) 25...
Qxc4 $1) 24... Rf8 $6 (24... a4 $1 25. Bc2 Ra8 26. Nd3 Qa5 27. Qe1 c5 28. h5
Ne7 $17) 25. Bc2 $1 {Probably missed by Caruana. Black has deprived himself of
the f8-square for a knight and that creates certain problems.} Qe7 (25... Rxf2
26. Qg4 Ngf8 27. Nd3 Qe3 28. Nxf2 Qxf2 29. Rhf1 $18) 26. Nd3 Nc5 27. Qe3 Nxd3
28. Rxd3 Rfd8 29. Rhd1 Rxd3 30. Qxd3 $14 Nf8 31. Ba4 {White definitely enjoys
the better position but somehow it is not so easy to win it.} ({An alternative
was highly interesting:} 31. Qd6 Qf7 $5 ({also possible is} 31... Qxd6 32. Rxd6
Kf7 33. Ba4 Ke7 34. Rxc6 Rxc6 35. Bxc6 Kd6 36. Be8 Nh7 37. Bf7 Nf6 38. f3 g5
39. hxg5 hxg5 40. Kc2 g4 41. fxg4 Nxg4 42. Bh5 Nf6 43. Bf3 Nd7 $1 44. g4 Ke7
45. g5 Kf7 46. Bh5+ Kg7 47. Kd2 Nc5 48. Ke3 {I am not sure also about this
position either that White can make further progress}) 32. Qc5 Qc7 33. Ba4 Kf7
34. Rd6 Nd7 35. Qxc6 Qxc6 36. Rxc6 Rxc6 37. Bxc6 Nc5 38. Kc2 g5 39. f3 Ke7 {
it is not clear if White can win this despite beeing a pawn up:} {for instance:
} 40. Kd2 gxh4 41. gxh4 a4 42. Ke3 a3 $1 43. bxa3 bxa3 44. Kd2 Nb3+ 45. Kc3 Nd4
46. Ba4 Nxf3 47. h5 Ng5 48. Bc2 Kd7 49. Kb4 Kc6 $11) 31... Qc5 $1 32. Rd2 Kf7
33. Bd1 Ra8 $6 (33... Rc7 $5 34. Qd6 (34. Qd8 Ra7 35. b3 a4 $5 $132) 34... Qxd6
35. Rxd6 Ke7 $11) 34. Qd6 $1 Qxc4 35. Qxe5 $16 Qb5 36. Qc7+ $6 (36. Bh5+ $1 Kg8
37. Qxb5 cxb5 38. Be2 Rb8 39. Rd6 Kf7 40. h5 Rb7 41. Ra6 a4 42. Ra5 Nh7 43.
Bxb5 $16) 36... Kg8 37. Qd6 a4 38. Be2 Qb6 39. Bc4 Re8 40. Qd4 (40. g4 $5 Qb7
41. g5 hxg5 42. hxg5 $16) 40... c5 41. Qd6 Qb7 42. f3 a3 $1 {This is a key
asset that helps Black to obtain certain counterplay.} 43. Rd3 (43. b3 Qf7 44.
f4 Qb7 45. Qe5 Kh8 46. Rd6 Qa8 47. h5 Re7 $14) 43... axb2 44. Kxb2 Kh7 45. Kc2
Rc8 $5 {Anticipating a very long line...} 46. Ba6 Qa7 47. Bxc8 Qxa2+ 48. Kd1 c4
49. Rd2 Qa1+ 50. Ke2 c3 51. Qxf8 cxd2 52. Kxd2 Qb2+ $6 (52... Qc3+ $1 53. Kd1
h5 $1 54. g4 Qb3+ 55. Ke1 hxg4 56. fxg4 Qe3+ 57. Kf1 Qd3+ 58. Kg2 Qc2+ 59. Kg3
Qc3+ 60. Kg2 Qc2+ $11) 53. Ke3 Qc1+ 54. Kf2 Qd2+ 55. Kf1 Qd1+ 56. Kg2 Qe2+ 57.
Kh3 h5 58. g4 (58. Qc5 Qxf3 59. Qg1 Qxe4 60. Qg2 Qf5+ 61. Kh2 b3 62. Ba6 $16)
58... hxg4+ 59. Kxg4 Qg2+ 60. Kf4 Qh2+ 61. Ke3 Qg1+ 62. Kd3 Qf1+ 63. Kd4 Qa1+
64. Kc4 Qc3+ 65. Kb5 b3 66. Bxe6 ({Another type of queen endgame could have
arisen after} 66. Qe8 $5 Qxf3 (66... Qe5+ 67. Ka4 b2 68. Bxe6 $1 $18) 67. Bxe6
b2 68. Qg8+ Kh6 69. Ba2 Qd3+ 70. Qc4 b1=Q+ 71. Bxb1 Qxb1+ 72. Kc6 $14) 66...
Qe5+ 67. Kb4 Qxe6 68. Kc3 Qb6 $6 (68... b2 $1 69. Kxb2 Qb6+ 70. Kc3 Qe3+ 71.
Kc4 Qe2+ 72. Kc5 Qc2+ 73. Kd6 Qd3+ 74. Ke5 Qc3+ 75. Kf4 Qc1+ 76. Kg4 Qg1+ 77.
Kf5 Qe3 78. f4 Qh3+ 79. Ke5 Qc3+ 80. Ke6 Qb3+ {it seems that White can't
progress in this endgame.}) 69. Qf5+ Kg8 70. Qd5+ {A better version of this
endgame is in the following line...} (70. Kb2 $1 Qf2+ 71. Kxb3 Qxh4 72. Kc4 Qh2
73. Qd5+ Kf8 74. e5 Qf4+ 75. Kd3 $16 {White has much more active pieces
compared to the game.}) 70... Kf8 71. Qxb3 Qf6+ 72. Kc2 Qxh4 {Now Black can
save this due to the inactive positions of the white king and queen.} 73. Qb8+
Kf7 74. Kd3 Qe1 75. Qf4+ Ke6 76. Qf5+ Ke7 77. Qc5+ Kf7 78. Qf5+ Ke7 79. Qg6
Qd1+ 80. Ke3 Qe1+ 81. Kf4 Qc1+ 82. Kf5 Qc5+ 83. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 ({One year before
they had already played a game with} 6... e6 7. g4 Nfd7 8. Bg2 Be7 9. Be3 Nc6
10. h4 $5 Nde5 11. g5 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. b3 f5 14. f4 Ng4 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16.
Qxe3 fxe4 17. O-O-O d5 18. Nxe4 $13 {Anand-Topalov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014, with
a complicated position. Later Anand managed to win.}) 7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5 (8. g3
{is the another main move.}) 8... Be6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 $5 {
A little improvement by Anand.} ({He had played} 11. Nec3 {a few times, but
now he had this move up his sleeve.}) 11... g6 $146 {Topalov makes the first
new move of the game. He would like to play ...Bh6 to stop White from 0-0-0.}
12. O-O-O Nd7 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Nec3 Rc5 ({The straightforward} 14... Bh6 $5 {
looks more natural.}) 15. Be2 b5 $6 {This is an inaccuracy, which allows a
good attack for White.} (15... Bg7) ({or} 15... Bh6 {was important to continue
the development.}) 16. a3 (16. f4 $1 {was stronger, the point being} exf4 17.
Qd4 $1 Rh7 18. Nxf4 $16 {and White has nice play.}) 16... Nb6 17. g4 hxg4 ({
In the event of} 17... Bxd5 18. exd5 hxg4 19. hxg4 Rxh1 20. Rxh1 Bg7 21. Ne4 $1
Rxd5 22. Qc3 $36 {and the rook can be in trouble on d5.}) 18. Nxb6 (18. hxg4 $5
Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Bxd5 20. exd5 {transposes to 17...Bxd5.}) 18... Qxb6 19. hxg4
Rxh1 20. Rxh1 Bg7 21. Qe3 Qb7 ({The unsuspecting} 21... a5 $2 {could have been
met by} 22. b4 $1 $18 {and suddenly White wins.}) (21... Rc6 $5 {was also
possible.}) 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. g5 $1 {Anand fixes the kingside and he prepares
for Rg1 followed by Bg4 to exhange the light-squared Bs.} Qc6 24. Rg1 Qd7 (
24... a5 $5 {was an interesting option to create counterplay on the queenside.}
25. Bg4 b4 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. axb4 axb4 $13) 25. Qg3 Rc8 26. Bg4 $1 {White has
achieved his aim.} Bxg4 ({If Black tries to keep the tension with} 26... a5 {
, White can continue with} 27. Bxe6 fxe6 28. Qd3 Rb8 29. Nd1 $1 Qc6 30. Ne3 $36
{and White has a great initiative.}) 27. Qxg4 Qxg4 28. Rxg4 Bf8 29. Nd5 $14 {
White has a comfortable endgame, he has a "good N" against the "bad B". The
plan in such positions is usually simple. Keep control and create a passed
pawn on the queenside. However the difficulty here is that the g5-pawn is weak
and the rook has to protect it.} Be7 30. c3 Rc6 31. Kc2 Kd7 32. Kb3 Bd8 33. a4
$1 {The first step of White's plan. He tries to create a passed pawn.} Rc5 34.
axb5 Rxb5+ ({Probably} 34... axb5 $5 {was a larger task to create a passed
pawn for White. Now the engine suggests} 35. Rg2 Rc4 36. f3 Ke6 37. Rg1 Ra4 38.
Rh1 {, but this is still a big fight.}) 35. Ka2 a5 36. b4 axb4 37. cxb4 {
So step one has been completed. Now White should get the rook into the game
somehow.} Rb7 38. Kb3 Rb8 39. Rg1 $1 Rb7 40. Rg3 Rb8 41. Rg1 Rb7 42. Ra1 $1 {
A very good move! Anand sacrifices the g5-pawn and gets his rook into the
action.} Bxg5 43. Kc4 Bd8 44. f3 ({The immediate} 44. b5 {was also good.})
44... f5 45. Rh1 (45. b5 $5) 45... fxe4 46. fxe4 g5 47. b5 Rb8 48. Rh7+ Ke6 (
48... Kc8 {looks safer, because on e6 the king is in a mating net.}) 49. Kb4 $1
{Black is in zugzwang! The rook cannot move away from the b-file as b6 would
come and the bishop cannot move away, because of the mate on e7. Only the
g-pawn can play!} ({The tempting} 49. b6 $2 {was a big mistake, as} Rxb6 $1 50.
Nxb6 Bxb6 {and probably Black can hold.}) 49... g4 50. Rg7 g3 51. Rxg3 Rb7 52.
Rg6+ Kd7 53. Rg7+ Kc8 54. Rg8 Kd7 55. Kc4 Rb8 (55... Kc8 56. b6 $18 {is
hopeless for Black.}) 56. Rg7+ Ke6 57. Kb4 $1 {This is the same zugzwang
position without the g-pawn and White is just winning.} Ba5+ $1 {The best
practical chance.} 58. Kc4 (58. Ka4 $1 {would have won the game with ease, for
example} Bd8 {is strongly refuted by} 59. Ra7 $1 Rc8 60. b6 $18) ({, but even} 
58. Kxa5 Rxb5+ 59. Ka4 Ra5+ 60. Kb3 Ra3+ 61. Kc4 Ra4+ 62. Nb4 $18 {should be
winning too.}) 58... Bd8 59. Rg8 Rc8+ 60. Kd3 (60. Kb4 $1 {was stronger,} Ba5+
$2 61. Kxa5 Rxg8 62. b6 $18 {and the pawn cannot be stopped.}) 60... Rb8 61.
Rh8 $6 {An inaccuracy; now Black can defend more easily.} (61. Kc4 $1) 61...
Kd7 62. Rh7+ Ke6 $2 {A mistake, which helps White to reach the zugzwang
position.} (62... Kc8 $1 {was tougher.}) 63. Kc4 Rc8+ 64. Kb4 Rc1 (64... Rb8 {
could have been met by} 65. Ra7 $1 $18 {and White has managed the final
zugzwang.}) 65. b6 {Finally the pawn moves ahead and it's all over.} Rb1+ 66.
Ka5 Bxb6+ ({In the event of} 66... Rb2 67. Ka6 Ra2+ 68. Kb7 Rb2 69. Kc8 Rc2+
70. Rc7 $1 $18 {and White wins} ({, but not} 70. Kxd8 $4 Rc8+ $1 $11 {and
stalemate!})) 67. Nxb6 {This position is easily winning for White because
Black can't exchange the e4-pawn and White can always protect it with Rh4.}
Ra1+ 68. Kb5 Rb1+ 69. Kc6 Rc1+ 70. Kb7 Rb1 71. Kc7 Rc1+ 72. Kd8 Re1 73. Rh4 Kf6
74. Rg4 $1 {A fine victory for Anand who played a consistent game.} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6
9. b4 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. O-O Qc8 14. Rb1 axb4 15. axb4
Qb7 16. Ne1 Rfa8 17. Nc2 R6a7 18. f3 Qc8 19. Qd3 bxc5 20. bxc5 e5 21. dxe5 Nxc5
22. Qd2 Nfd7 23. Nd4 Ne6 24. Rfc1 Nxf4 25. exf4 Bc5 26. Kh2 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Nf8
28. Qd2 Ng6 29. Rb2 Qd7 30. Ne2 Ra4 31. Rbc2 R8a6 32. Nd4 {White already has
the much more pleasant position here. He is attacking the c6-pawn and Black
doesn't have many ways to defend it.} Ne7 $2 {Adams forgot about the move Nb3
here: it sets up a deadly threat of a Nc5 fork and this cannot be stopped.} (
32... Rc4 {was relatively best giving up a pawn but retaining decent chances.}
33. Rxc4 dxc4 34. Rxc4 c5 35. Rxc5 Ra4 36. Nb3 Qxd2 37. Nxd2 Nxf4 $16 {It will
be touch and go between White winning this one and a draw.}) 33. Nb3 $1 Qf5 34.
Nc5 Ra8 35. Nxa4 Rxa4 {White can win in a variety of ways from here and that
could well be the reason why Topalov went wrong after a few moves. Maybe he
thought he could play the way he liked.} 36. g3 (36. g4 $5 Qxf4+ 37. Qxf4 Rxf4
38. Kg3 g5 39. Ra2 $18 {would have lead to a winning position for White.})
36... g5 37. fxg5 hxg5 38. Re1 $6 Ng6 39. e6 $6 {At this point Topalov thought
that he could play just about anything and win the game. However that is not
the case as we shall see in the game.} fxe6 40. Rxc6 Ne5 41. Rc8+ Kf7 42. Rf1
Nxf3+ 43. Rxf3 Qxf3 44. Qc2 {This looks extremely dangerous for Black but
surprisingly he can defend the position with the only move here.} Kg7 $1 45.
Qxa4 (45. Rc7+ Kf6 $11) 45... Qf2+ 46. Kh1 Qf1+ 47. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 {Every now and then Levon
plays these free flowing lines from the white side of the English and scores
some beautiful victories.} Nb4 (5... Nxc3 6. dxc3 {is much more popular as the
endgame arising after} (6. bxc3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 {takes us back to a position
which has been played well over 10,000 times.}) 6... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nc6 8. Be3
e6 9. Kc2 $14 {leads to a highly comfortable queenless middlegame for White.})
6. Bc4 $5 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 (7. Bxd3 Qxd3 {gives Black a perfectly fine position.})
7... Nf4+ (7... Nxc1+ 8. Rxc1 Nc6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nxd4
$14) 8. Kf1 Ne6 {[%cal Gg8f6,Gf6d5,Gd5b4,Gb4d3,Gd3f4,Gf4e6] What has Black
achieved by making six knight moves out of the eight played so far? First of
all White has lost the right to 0-0 and secondly the d4 square is weak.
Meanwhile Black is behind in development, and a player like Aronian doesn't
have to be asked twice to play aggressively.} (8... Be6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. d4 cxd4
11. Nxd4 $14) 9. b4 $1 {By far the most popular move and already played in
more than 120 games. Levon sacrifices a pawn in order to get a strong centre.}
(9. Ne5 {is the other move.}) 9... cxb4 10. Nd5 (10. Ne2 {is the other move
here. Play could continue something like this} Nc5 $1 (10... Nc7 11. d4 e6 12.
h4 $5 Be7 13. Bf4 $14) 11. Qc2 e6 12. d4 Ncd7 13. Bb2 {With a complex position.
}) 10... g6 11. d4 (11. Bb2 Bg7 12. Bxg7 Nxg7 13. d4 O-O {Black has a fine
position.}) 11... Bg7 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Rc1 Bd7 (13... O-O 14. h4 $1 {White's
position looks quite harmonious, however this had to be the best way for Black
to play. In the game he delays 0-0 but is unable to come up with anything
constructive.} h5 $1 15. g3 $1 $13 {[%cal Gf1g2]}) 14. Qd2 Qa5 15. h4 $1 {
White makes full use of the rook being on h1.} Rc8 (15... h5 16. g3 {Black
cannot really do much due to White's strong centre. Meanwhile White can
improve his position with Kg2, Rc2, Rb1 etc.}) (15... b3 $5 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17.
axb3 Rc8 18. Ra1 Nxc4 19. bxc4 Rxc4 20. Rxa7 $14) 16. Bb3 (16. h5 b3 $1 17.
Qxa5 Nxa5 18. axb3 b5 $1 $132) 16... Qb5+ 17. Kg1 h6 18. Kh2 {Through
artificial means Levon has been able to get his king to safety. Meanwhile the
black king cannot castle as the h6 pawn is hanging.} g5 19. Rhd1 Kf8 20. Kg1 {
The king moved from e1-f1-g1-h2 and castled artificially. It really doesn't
seem like White made so many moves with his king as Black too wasn't able to
do anything concrete.} Rd8 (20... g4 21. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. dxe5
$16) 21. hxg5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 $2 (22... Be8 {was relatively better but here
too White has a pleasant edge after} 23. Bc4 (23. Rxc6 Nxg5 $11) 23... Qa5 24.
Be3 $16) (22... Nexd4 $2 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Rxc6 $1 Bxc6 25. Qxd4 $18) 23. Qxg5
{Rxc6 followed by Qxe7 is a strong threat. Black must do something about it.}
Bh6 24. Qh4 $1 Bg7 25. Qf4 {Ng5 is threatened with all the pieces joining in
the attack and the threat of Qc7 is also quite huge.} Bh6 26. Ng5 (26. Qh2 Bg7
27. Qc7 $18) 26... Bxg5 (26... f6 27. Nxf6 Qxg5 28. Nh7+ $18) 27. Qxg5 {
The resignation may seem premature but it is not.} (27. Qxg5 Be6 (27... f6 28.
Qf4 {[%cal Ge4e5]}) 28. Rxc6 Qxc6 (28... Bxd5 29. Rc5 $18) 29. Qxe7+ Kg7 30.
Qg5+ Kf8 (30... Kh7 31. Nf6#) 31. Qxd8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2834"]
[Annotator "Bronznik,V"]
[PlyCount "193"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 {Die Idee
von Petrosian, deren Sinn im weiteren a4-a5 mit dem nachfolgenden Bauerntausch
auf b6 besteht, wonach Schwarz am Damenflügel einen vereinzelten anfälligen
Bauern bekommt, auch wenn dieser gleichzeitig ein Freibauer ist (manchmal kann
übrigens anstatt des Tausches auf b6 der Vorstoß a5-a6 geschehen). Tauscht
Schwarz auf a5 selbst, wird sein a-Bauer schwach. Stoppt der Nachziehende den
weißen Bauer mit a7-a5, schwächt er das Feld b5 und bekommt einen schwachen
Bauern auf b6. Spielt er nicht a7-a5, sondern a7-a6, bleibt das Feld b5 unter
seiner Kontrolle, dafür aber wird nicht nur sein Bauer b6, sondern auch der
Bauer a6 schutzbedürftig.} ({Als Hauptvariante gilt} 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. Rad1 ({
stattdessen kann man hier mit} 14. a4 {immer noch zu Petrosians Plan greifen,
was dann nur eine kleine Zugumstellung bedeuten wird.})) 13... Bb7 14. Rfe1 Nf6
{Eine sehr seltene Fortsetzung. Schwarz greift den Bauern e4 ein weiteres Mal
an und erhöht wesentlich seine Kontrolle über das Feld d5, andererseits aber
wirkt er am Damenflügel nicht mehr mit; außerdem sollte sich Weiß für
e4-e5 entscheiden, würde es jetzt mit Tempo passieren.} ({"Normal" ist} 14...
Rc8 15. Bd3 {und nun sind die verbreitetsten Optionen} Qc7 (15... a5 $5) ({und
} 15... e5 $5)) 15. Bd3 h6 {Eine sehr wichtige Prophylaxe gegen den Plan e4-e5,
Nf3-g5-e4. Was passieren kann, wenn Schwarz darauf verzichtet, zeigt folgendes
klassisches Beispiel:} (15... Rc8 $6 16. a5 (16. e5 $6 Bxf3 17. exf6 Bh5 {
scheint für Schwarz durchaus akzeptabel zu sein}) 16... Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18.
Rac1 Qb8 19. Rb1 Qa8 20. Ra1 Qb8 21. e5 $1 Nd5 (21... Bxf3 22. exf6 Bh5 23.
fxg7 Kxg7 24. d5 $5 exd5 25. Qg5+ Bg6 26. h4 Rc3 27. Rad1 Qd8 28. Re7 $16) 22.
Ng5 h6 23. Ne4 Qc7 24. Nd6 Ra8 25. Rab1 $16 {Jussupow,A (2575) - Eslon,J (2440)
/Can Picafort 1981.}) 16. a5 a6 $146 {Eine Neuerung, die aber am Charakter der
Stellung und ihrer Bewertung nicht viel ändert.} (16... b5 $6 {ist
zweifelhaft wegen} 17. a6 $1 Bc6 18. Ne5 {, z.B.} Qb6 (18... Be8 19. Qb4 $16)
19. Qb4 {mit klarem weißem Vorteil.}) (16... bxa5 17. Rxa5 Qc7 $14 {Rotstein,
A (2540) - Remling,C(2345)/BL-2 2004}) 17. axb6 Qxb6 18. Rab1 {Eine
natürliche, aber nicht die einzige gute Fortsetzung. In Frage kam auch die
Idee, diesen Turm auf der a-Linie zu belassen, um den Druck auf den schwarzen
a-Bauern aufrechtzuerhalten - aus dieser Sicht waren z.B. die Optionen} (18.
Reb1 $5 Qa7 19. Qe3) ({und} 18. Ra4 {beachtenswert.}) 18... Qc7 ({Eine
Alternative zum Textzug war die Fortsetzung} 18... Qa7 {[%cal Ga7d4] , um den
Bauern d4 nicht aus den Augen zu verlieren. Dabei aber entfernt sich die
schwarze Dame zu weit weg vom Königsflügel, was den Anziehenden berechtigt,
dort einen Angriff zu starten -} 19. g4 $5 (19. e5 Nd5 20. Re4 Rfc8 $13 {
[%cal Yg8f8]}) (19. Qa5 $5 $14 {[%csl Ra6]}) 19... Nxg4 (19... Rfc8 20. g5 hxg5
21. Qxg5 Bc6 22. Kh1 $40 {[%cal Re1g1]}) (19... Rab8 20. g5 hxg5 21. Qxg5 $40)
20. Qf4 Nf6 21. Kh1 {[%cal Re1g1] mit brandgefährlicher Kompensation für den
geopferten Bauern.}) 19. Rbc1 $6 {Schwer zu sagen, mit welchem Plan Topalov
diesen Zug verband. In jedem Fall wirkt sein Spiel auf mich ab diesem Moment
recht kraftlos.} ({Viel stärker war} 19. Ne5 $1 {- Weiß aktiviert seinen
Springer , ermöglicht f2-f3, lässt seinen Damenturm bei dem Bb7 weiterhin
bleiben und lässt sich die Option Re1-c1 offen. Folgende Varianten wären
dann möglich:} Rfb8 $5 (19... Rfd8 20. Rec1 Qe7 21. f3 Ne8 (21... Rxd4 $4 22.
Qb2 $18) (21... a5 22. Qb2 Qd6 23. Nxf7 $1 Qxd4+ 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Ne5 Bc8 26.
Bb5 $16) 22. Bf1 Nd6 23. Qa5 {mit starker Initiative am Damenflügel}) (19...
a5 $6 {(hier wird der Bauer noch anfälliger)} 20. Rec1 Qe7 21. f3 Rfc8 22. Nc4
a4 23. Rb4 a3 24. Ra1 $16 {[%csl Ra3]}) 20. Qf4 $5 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Rg2g5,
Rh2h4]} (20. f3 $14 {/\Rec1}) 20... a5 21. g4 {mit sehr gefährlicher
Initiative am Königsflügel.}) ({Das aggressive} 19. g4 $6 {führt zu einem
spannenden Kampf, ist aber an dieser Stelle bestimmt nicht die stärkste
Fortsetzung, z. B.} Nxg4 (19... a5 $5) 20. Rec1 Qe7 21. Qf4 f5 22. exf5 (22.
Rc7 fxe4 23. Rxe7 Rxf4 24. Rbxb7 exd3 25. Rxg7+ Kh8 26. Nh4 Ne5 $1 27. dxe5
Rxh4 28. Rh7+ Kg8 $11) 22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Qg5 24. Qg3 exf5 25. h3 Nf6 26. Qxg5
hxg5 27. Bxf5 Rad8 {- nach Komplikationen entstand ein remisliches Endspiel.})
19... Qe7 20. Qa5 Rfc8 $1 $11 {Hat Topalov früher übersehen, dass dieser Zug
mit keinem Bauernverlust verbunden ist? Wie dem auch sei, hat ihm die Aktion
19.Rfc1, 20.Qa5 gar nichts gebracht, während der ganze schwarze Aufbau jetzt
ganz harmonisch aussieht.} 21. Rxc8+ ({Auch nach} 21. Rb1 Qc7 {hat Schwarz
keine Schwierigkeiten, z.B.} 22. Qa1 a5 23. Ne5 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Rxa6 $11) 21...
Rxc8 22. Nd2 $6 ({Den Vorzug verdiente das viel aktivere} 22. Ne5 $1 {, z. B.}
Qd6 23. Qa1 a5 (23... Rd8 24. d5 $1 exd5 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. e5 Qe7 27. exf6 Qxf6
28. Qb1 Bc8 (28... Rd7 $4 29. Re3 d4 30. Bc4+ Kf8 31. Re6 Qg5 32. Qb4+ Re7 33.
Bf1 {[%cal Rf2f4]} Bxg2 34. f4 $1 $18) (28... Ba8 29. Qa2 Kg8 30. Bxa6 $11) (
28... Bc6 29. Bxa6 Kg8 $11) 29. Bh7 $1 $44 {/\30.Re3} (29. Re3 Kg8)) 24. d5 (
24. f3 Rd8 25. Bf1 Qxd4+ 26. Qxd4 Rxd4 27. Ra1 $11) 24... exd5 25. Nxf7 Qe6 26.
e5 Ne8 (26... Qxf7 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Qxa5 Qc3 29. Qxc3 Rxc3 $11) 27. Nd6 Nxd6
28. exd6 Qxd6 29. Qxa5 $11) 22... Qd7 {Ab jetzt und bis zum Schluss wird
Initiative voll und ganz dem Schwarzen gehören.} 23. Qb6 (23. Qa1 a5 $1 {
[%cal Ra5a4]}) 23... Rc3 24. Bxa6 {Topalov lässt sich auf eine Stellung mit
allen Bauern am gleichen Flügel ein, in der aber der Gegner dank Aktivität
seiner Figuren am Drücker sein wird.} ({Als Alternative gab es z.B. die
Variante} 24. Bb1 Qb5 25. Qd8+ Ne8 26. Nf3 Rc8 27. Qe7 Rc7 28. Qd8 Qd7 29. Qxd7
Rxd7 30. Bd3 Nf6 31. Kf1 a5 $15) 24... Bxa6 25. Qxa6 Qxd4 26. Nf3 Qc5 27. e5 (
27. h3 Rc1 28. Qf1 Rc2 $36) 27... Nd5 28. Qa8+ Kh7 29. Qb7 Rc1 30. Qb2 $6 ({
Stärker ist} 30. h4 $1 {, um Raum zu gewinnen und später eventuell auch
h4-h5 folgen zu lassen, z.B.} Rxe1+ (30... Rc2 31. Rf1 Qc7 32. Rb1 Rc1+ 33. Kh2
Rc4 34. Qxc7 Rxc7 35. g3 Kg6 36. Kg2 {, und dieses Endspiel kann man leicht
halten} {(} Kf5 37. Rb8 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Rg8) 31. Nxe1 Qc1 32. Kf1 Qf4 33.
Qb1+ g6 34. h5 $5 (34. Nf3 {soll auch reichen}) 34... Qxe5 35. hxg6+ fxg6 36.
Nf3 {, und wegen der offenen Lage seines Königs hat Schwarz hier kaum Chancen,
seinen Mehrbauern zu verwerten.}) 30... Rc2 31. Qd4 g5 $1 {Carlsen beginnt,
den Gegner am Königsflügel einzuengen - gerade dieses Spielmuster hätte
Topalov früher mit 30.h4! verhindern können.} 32. g3 Kg7 33. Qxc5 Rxc5 34.
Re4 Kg6 35. h3 Ne7 {Schwarz fängt an zu manövrieren. Er plant, seinen
Springer nach c6 und den König nach f5 zu bringen, um den Bauern e5 mit allen
Kräften anzugreifen und den das Feld f4 schwächenden Zug g3-g4 zu
provozieren.} 36. h4 Kf5 37. Ra4 ({Das Turmendspiel mit einem weißen
Minusbauern, welches nach} 37. Re1 Nc6 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Kg2 Nxe5 40. Nxe5 Rxe5
41. Ra1 (41. g4+ $2 Kf4) 41... g4 {entstehen könnte, ist trotz des weit
vorgerückten und den Gegner hemmenden Bauern g4 objektiv gesehen Remis, aber
es ist nicht ganz einfach, dieses Ergebnis in einer praktischen Partie zu
erreichen - besonders gegen Carlsen!}) 37... Nc6 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. g4+ {
Topalov trifft die Entscheidung, sich an den Bauern e5 weiterhin zu halten,
und ist bereit, die Schwäche des Feldes f4, die dabei entsteht, in Kauf zu
nehmen.} ({Eine würdige Alternative dazu war die Möglichkeit, diesen Bauern
zu opfern, und zwar unter günstigeren Umständen, als in der vorherigen
Anmerkung, z.B,.} 39. Kg2 {, und wenn} Nxe5 (39... g4 $2 40. Rf4+) 40. Nxe5
Rxe5 {, dann} 41. g4+ $1 Kf6 42. Kg3 {- bei dieser Bauernstruktur erreicht
Weiß Remis ziemlich leicht.}) 39... Kg6 40. Re4 Ne7 41. Kg2 Nd5 {Ein schönes
Feld für den Springer - hier ist er sowohl gedeckt und zentralisiert, als
auch bereit, sofort auf f4 zu erscheinen, falls es sich dafür eine passende
Möglichkeit ergibt. Objektiv gesehen ist die weiße Stellung zweifellos
haltbar, aber am Brett ist es für den Anziehenden alles andere als leicht,
das gewünschte Ergebnis zu erreichen, weil der Gegner immer wieder neue
Drohungen aufstellt.} 42. Kg3 Rc3 (42... Nf4 $2 43. Nxg5 $1) 43. Re1 Ra3 (43...
Nf4 {hätte hier noch nichts gebracht -} 44. Re3 (44. Re4)) 44. Re4 Ra8 45. Rc4
Rh8 {Mit dem Turm auf der h-Linie entsteht in einigen Varianten die
Mattkonstruktion Kg3/Nf4+Rh3.} 46. Re4 Nc3 (46... Nf4 $2 47. Nxg5) 47. Re3 ({
Nach} 47. Rc4 Ne2+ 48. Kg2 Nf4+ 49. Kg1 (49. Kg3 $4 Rh3#) 49... Ra8 {würde
sich der weiße König sehr unwohl fühlen.}) 47... Rc8 48. Re1 Rc4 49. Re3
Ne4+ {Schwarz hat die Kontrolle über die vierte Reihe übernommen und beginnt
jetzt mit der Überführung seines Springers nach d3 - von dort aus wird er
nicht nur das Feld f4 im Auge behalten, sondern auch die Bauren e5 und f2
attackieren.} 50. Kg2 Ra4 51. Re1 Nc5 52. Kg3 Rf4 53. Nd2 Nd3 54. Re2 Ra4 55.
Nf3 Ra8 56. Re3 Rd8 57. Re4 ({Es gab auch andere spielbare Möglichkeiten, z.
B.} 57. Ne1 Nf4 58. Kf3 Rd2 59. Kg3) ({oder} 57. Ng1 Nf4 58. Nh3 Rd4 59. f3 {
, aber natürlich hätte Carlsen auch dann seine Gewinnversuche nicht
aufgegeben.}) 57... Rh8 58. Rc4 Ra8 (58... Nf4 $2 59. Nxg5) 59. Rc3 (59. Rd4 $2
Ra3 $1 60. Re4 (60. Kg2 $4 Nf4+ $19) 60... Ra2) (59. Re4 $2 Ra2 {- diese
Varianten zeigen uns die Vorteile der Position des schwarzen Springers auf d3.}
) 59... Nf4 60. Rc4 Ne2+ 61. Kg2 Rh8 62. Re4 $6 {Früher hat sich Topalov gut
verteidigt, aber mit seinem letzten Zug erlaubt er dem Gegner, den weißen
König in eine gefärdete Lage zu bringen.} ({Stärker ist} 62. Ne1 {(der
Springer räumt das Feld f3 für seinen König), z.B.} Nf4+ 63. Kf3 Rh1 64. Rc1
Rh3+ 65. Ke4 Rb3 (65... Ra3 66. Rc4 Ra2 67. Nc2) 66. Rc4 Rb2 67. Nc2 Nh3 68. f3
Rb3 69. Ne1 {, und Schwarz hat nichts greifbares erreicht.}) 62... Nf4+ 63. Kg1
Ra8 64. Nh4+ Kh6 65. Ng2 (65. Nf3 $2 Ra2 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Rf4h3] kostet den
Bauern f2.}) 65... Nd3 66. Ne1 Ra1 67. Kf1 {Passiver geht gar nicht - dem
Weißen stehen nur die Züge mit dem Turm nach e3 und zurück nach e4 zur
Verfügung. Verloren ist seine Stellung aber immer noch nicht!} Kg6 68. Re3 Nf4
69. Re4 Kg7 70. Kg1 Nd3 71. Kf1 Kf8 72. Re3 Nf4 73. Kg1 Ra4 $1 {Mit diesem Zug
nimmt Carlsen den Bauern g4 ins Visier und verbietet gleichzeitig dem
gegnerischen Turm den Zugang zur vierten Reihe.} 74. Kh2 (74. f3 Ra1 75. Kf1
Rd1 {(Carlsen)} 76. Kf2 Rd2+ 77. Kf1 {sieht natürlich unschön aus, aber kann
Schwarz in dieser Stellung wirklich etwas erreichen? Z.B. die Idee, hier den
König zu aktivieren, erweist sich als nicht ausreichend:} Ke7 78. Rb3 Kd7 79.
Rc3 Rd1 80. Re3 Kc6 81. Rc3+ Kd5 82. Rc7 Kxe5 83. Rxf7 Rd2 84. Rf8 Kd4 85. Rc8
$1 {mit Remis} {(} Ke3 86. Rc3+ Nd3 $140 87. f4 $1 {)}) 74... Nd5 75. Rg3 Kg7
76. Nd3 Rd4 77. Kg1 Nb6 $1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Rb6c4] Jetzt wendet Schwarz seine
Aufmerksamkeit wieder dem Bauern e5.} 78. Kf1 Re4 79. Kg2 Nc4 80. Kh3 Rd4 ({
Leider kann Weiß im Turmendspeil nach} 80... Nxe5 81. Nxe5 Rxe5 {leicht Remis
halten. Deshalb entscheidet sich Carlsen dafür, erst seinen König zu
aktivieren - in der Hoffnung, sich später in einem günstigeren Moment des
Bauern e5 zu bedienen. Übrigens musste er gleichzeitig auch weiteres, extrem
unangenehmes Problem beachten: nach dem 39. Zug von Weiß gab es in dieser
Partie weder Schläge noch weitere Bauernzüge - das hieß, er wurde gezwungen,
wohl oder übel demnächst auf e5 zu schlagen, um der 50-Züge-Regel aus dem
Weg zu gehen. Wozu er zuerst seinen Turm nach d4 brachte, kann wahrscheinlich
nur er selbst erklären.}) (80... Kf8) 81. Kg2 Kf8 82. Kf1 Ke7 (82... Re4 83.
Nc5 Nd2+ 84. Kg2 Rd4 {(so weit Carlsen)} 85. Nb3 $1 $11) 83. Ke2 Re4+ 84. Kd1 (
{Auf} 84. Kf1 {plante Carlsen} Nd2+ ({wie es bereits erwähnt wurde, kann der
Anziehende das Endspiel nach} 84... Nxe5 85. Nxe5 Rxe5 {trotz des schwarzen
Mehrbauern ziemlich problemlos halten}) 85. Kg2 Re2 {, aber nach} 86. Rh3 {
kommt Schwarz nicht weiter.}) 84... Nxe5 {Schwarz hatte bis zum Eintritt der
besagten Regel nur fünf Züge, deshalb sah Carlsen keinen Sinn mehr, mit
diesem Schalg zu warten - vielleicht hoffte er auch, die abgeschnittene Lage
des weißen Königs doch irgendwie auszunützen.} ({Die Idee, vor dem Nehmen
auf e5 seinen König wieder auf g6 zu bringen, um später nach f7-f5, g4xf5
mit dem Bauern zurückschzuschlagen, konnte leider nicht ausreichen:} 84... Kf8
85. Kc2 Kg7 86. Kc3 Nxe5 87. Nxe5 Rxe5 88. Kd3 Kg6 89. Rg1 f5 90. gxf5+ exf5 (
90... Kxf5 91. Rg3 {mit Remis}) 91. f4 $1 {(Notkin)}) 85. Nxe5 Rxe5 86. Kd2 Kf6
87. Ra3 Kg6 88. Ra6 $1 {(damit Schwarz nach f7-f5, g4xf5 nicht mit dem Bauern
zurücknehmen kann)} f5 89. gxf5+ Kxf5 90. Ra3 Kf4 91. Rb3 g4 92. Ra3 Re4 93.
Rb3 e5 94. Ra3 Rb4 95. Ke2 Rb1 96. Ra4+ e4 97. Ra3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+ Ke8 10. b3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Nd4 Ng6 13. Bb2 Be7 14.
Nc4 Nf4 15. Ne3 g6 16. g3 Ne6 17. Ne2 h5 18. a4 a5 19. Ba3 Bxa3 20. Rxa3 Ke7
21. Raa1 Nc5 22. Kg2 Re8 23. Nd4 Kf8 24. f4 Bd7 25. h3 Rad8 26. Nf3 Be6 27. g4
hxg4 28. hxg4 Bd5 29. Rh1 Ke7 30. Nxd5+ cxd5 31. Rh7 Ne6 32. Kg3 Rg8 33. Rf1
Nf8 34. Rh2 Ne6 35. Rh7 Nf8 36. Rh2 Ne6 37. Rh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Festa da Uva simul (+25=11- 0)"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.??"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Silva Jr, Maurides Ferreira D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "1975"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.02.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c6 4. c4 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. c5
Qxb3 9. axb3 Nbd7 10. h3 O-O 11. b4 a6 12. Be2 h6 13. Nd2 Rfc8 14. Nb3 Bd8 15.
Na5 Bxa5 16. bxa5 Ne4 17. f3 Nxc3 18. bxc3 e5 19. Bg3 Re8 20. Kd2 f6 21. Ra2
Re7 22. Rb2 Nf8 23. Ra1 Rae8 24. Ra3 Bc8 25. Bd3 g6 26. Rab3 Kg7 27. Rb4 Rd7
28. Bf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Festa da Uva quad"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. a3 {
Les alternatives Qd2 et g4 semblent un peu meilleures} (8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. g4 h6
10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Qc7 12. h4 d5 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bh2 dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16.
hxg5 Rxh2 17. Rxh2 exd4 18. Rh4 Ng4 19. Rxg4 Nc5 20. Rh4 d3 21. Nd4 Bb7 22. Rh8
O-O-O 23. g6 fxg6 24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb3 Nxb3+ 26. axb3 Be7 27. Bxd3 Rxh8 28.
Bxe4 Rd8 29. Qe3 Rxd1+ 30. Kxd1 Qc5 31. Qxc5+ Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 (33) Leko,P (2707)
-Giri,A (2798) Baku 2015}) (8. g4 h6) 8... h5 $5 {La nouveauté a-t-elle été
trouvée devant l'échiquier à l'inspiration?} 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O {[%csl
Ra3] Il est difficile de jouer l'attaqua anglaise sans le ooo mais la poussée
a3 est assez affaiblissante} Bb7 11. Kb1 Rc8 $132 12. h3 $6 $146 (12. h4 Be7
13. Rh3 O-O 14. Rg3 Kh7 15. Bg5 Re8 16. Bd3 Kh8 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Be3 Kg8 19. Nb3
Qc7 20. Bh6 Kh8 21. Be3 Be7 22. Bf4 Red8 23. Nd4 Bf8 24. Nde2 Ne5 25. Bg5 d5
26. exd5 Bxd5 27. Bf4 Bc4 28. Qe3 Bd6 29. Rg5 Nxd3 30. cxd3 Bb3 31. Rc1 Kg8 32.
Bxd6 Qxd6 33. Nf4 Re8 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35. Rxe5 g6 36. Nce2 Kg7 37. Rxc8 Rxc8 38.
Nd4 Bd5 39. b4 Bb7 40. Nb3 Nd5 41. Nxd5 Bxd5 {Larsen,S (2498)-Ljubicic,L (2649)
ICCF email 2011 0-1 (68)}) 12... h4 $1 {[%csl Rg2,Rg3] Sans la possibilité de
jouer g4, les Blancs sont privés de contre-jeu et la partie a basculé} 13.
Bd3 Ne5 14. Rhe1 Be7 $17 15. Bg5 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Rxc4 17. Nb3 Rh5 18. Bxf6 gxf6
19. Qe3 Qc7 20. Rd3 a5 21. Qd2 b4 22. axb4 Rxb4 23. Na2 Rb6 24. Rd1 a4 25. Nd4
Ba6 26. Ra3 Qb7 27. c3 d5 28. Rxa4 dxe4 29. fxe4 Qxe4+ 30. Qc2 Bb7 31. Rd2
Qxc2+ 32. Kxc2 f5 33. Nf3 Be4+ 34. Kd1 Bg5 35. Re2 Rd6+ 36. Ke1 Bf4 37. Nd4
Bg3+ 38. Kf1 e5 0-1

[Event "Festa da Uva quad"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8.
e3 O-O 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 11. a3 (11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 Ne7 14.
a3 Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 16. Na4 b6 17. Nb2 Ne7 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. a4 a5 20. b5 Re8 21.
Rc3 Bf5 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Nd2 Rd7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Bg4 Nh7 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qf3
Qg5 28. h4 Qe7 29. Rc6 Nf6 30. Nf4 g6 31. h5 Kg7 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Nxd5 Nxd5
34. Qxd5 Bxg3 35. Qg2 Bd6 36. Nc4 Rf8 37. Ne5 Bxe5 38. Qxg6+ Kh8 39. Qxh6+ Kg8
40. dxe5 Qxe5 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2797) Wijk aan Zee 2015 1-0}) 11...
Bd6 12. Nb5 Bg4 13. Rc1 a6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. Ng5 hxg5 17. Bxg4
Rce8 18. O-O g6 19. Qc5 Rd8 20. Qxd6 $146 (20. Be2 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 Re6 22. b4 Rd7
23. b5 Ne7 24. bxa6 bxa6 25. a4 Nf5 26. a5 Qe7 27. Qxe7 Rdxe7 28. Rc5 Rd7 29.
Bd3 Ng7 30. Rb1 f5 31. Rb7 Ne8 32. g4 f4 33. exf4 gxf4 34. Kg2 Rdd6 35. h4 Rf6
36. Kf3 Rf7 37. Rb8 Rf8 38. Ra8 Ng7 39. Rxa6 Ne6 40. Rxd6 Nxd4+ 41. Kg2 cxd6
42. Rxd5 f3+ 43. Kh2 Rf4 44. Rxd6 {1-0 (44) Chatalbashev,B (2581)-Sedlak,N 
(2605) Rijeka 2007}) 20... Rxd6 21. Rc5 Re8 22. Bf3 Red8 23. Rfc1 Kf8 24. Be2
Ra8 25. b4 $16 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7] Transposant dans une structure de variante
d'échange du gambit dame ou le Nc6 est trés mal placé} Ke7 26. h3 Ke6 27.
Bd1 $1 {[%cal Gd1b3]} (27. Bf3 $5) 27... Kd7 $6 28. Bb3 Rc8 29. Bxd5 {Après
le gain du P, l'avantage est facile à convertir} Nd8 30. Bb3 f6 31. Ba4+ c6
32. d5 b5 33. Bb3 Rb8 34. g4 1-0

[Event "Festa da Uva playoff1"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Re1
O-O 9. Nbd2 Ba7 10. h3 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 (13... Nxd5 14.
Ng3 Qd6 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. Qf3 Qe7 17. Nhf5 Qf8 18. Bb3 Rad8 19. Nh5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5
Nde7 21. Qf3 Ng6 22. Re4 Na5 23. Bc2 f5 24. Re1 Kh8 25. Ng3 Nh4 26. Qh5 Qf6 27.
d4 e4 28. Bf4 Bb6 29. Qe2 Nc6 30. Nh5 Qf8 31. Bg3 Ng6 32. Qe3 Re7 33. b4 Rde8
34. Bb3 Nce5 35. Bxe5 Nxe5 36. Nf4 Kh7 37. Nd5 Nd3 38. Nxe7 Nxe1 39. Nxf5 Nxg2
40. Kxg2 Qxf5 41. Bc2 Kh8 42. Re1 Qf7 43. Bxe4 {Giri,A (2778)-So,W (2767)
Bilbao 2015 1/2-1/2 (98)}) 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Re7 17. Qe2 Rae8
18. a3 $146 (18. Re1 g6 19. a4 a5 20. Qd2 Kg7 21. Nh4 Be6 22. Rf3 Nh7 23. Nh5+
gxh5 24. Rg3+ Kh8 25. Qxh6 Rg8 26. d4 f5 27. Ng6+ Rxg6 28. Rxg6 Bd5 29. Kh2 e4
30. Re3 Rg7 31. Rxg7 Qxg7 32. Qxh5 Qg5 33. Qe8+ Qg8 34. Qd7 f4 35. Re1 f3 36.
g3 Nf6 37. Qxc7 Qg5 38. Qf4 Qxf4 39. gxf4 Kg7 40. Rg1+ Kf7 41. Rg5 Nd8 42. Kg3
Ne6 43. Re5 Ng7 44. Rxd5 Nxd5 45. Bxe4 Nh5+ 46. Kxf3 Ndxf4 47. Bxb7 Nd3 {
Zhigalko,S (2682)-Kabanov,N (2486) Khanty-Mansiysk 2012 1-0}) 18... g6 19. Re1
Kg7 20. Qd1 h5 $1 {[%csl Rg3]} 21. Qe2 Qd6 22. Ne4 {La poussée h5 menaçant
le Ng3 a forcé les Blancs à joeur Ne4 et après l'échange les pièces
lourdes Blanches seront mal placées} Bxe4 23. dxe4 Rd7 $132 {[%csl Re1,Re2,
Re3]} 24. b4 Qe7 (24... Red8) 25. Bb3 Nd8 26. Qa2 Nh7 27. a4 c6 28. Nd2 Ne6 29.
Bxe6 Qxe6 30. Qxe6 Rxe6 31. Nb3 Ree7 32. Nc5 Rd8 33. Rd3 Rxd3 34. Nxd3 Nf8 35.
Kf1 Kf6 36. h4 Ne6 37. g3 Rc7 38. Rb1 Rd7 39. Ke2 Rc7 40. a5 c5 41. b5 c4 42.
Nb4 Rc5 43. bxa6 bxa6 44. Nxa6 Rxa5 45. Nb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Festa da Uva playoff1"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 $1 {La ligne critique} 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O a5 $5 (
5... Bb7 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nfd2 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qe2 a6 11. Nxe4
Bxe4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qe3 Rd8 15. Rd1 Be7 16. Nc3 Qf5 17. Rd3 O-O
18. Rad1 Rd7 19. Ne4 Rfd8 20. a3 c6 21. f4 a5 22. c3 Qd5 23. R3d2 Qc4 24. Nf2
c5 25. Ne4 cxd4 26. cxd4 b4 27. axb4 axb4 28. Rd3 Qd5 29. Nd2 Bf6 30. Nb3 Rc7
31. Qf3 Qb5 32. R1d2 Rdc8 33. Kg2 Rc2 34. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 35. Rd2 {Aronian,L (2784)
-Dominguez Perez,L (2732) Skopje 2015 1/2-1/2 (62)}) 6. Bf4 $146 (6. Nbd2 Be7
7. Ne5 Ra7 8. e4 Bb7 9. Qe2 b4 10. a3 bxa3 11. b3 O-O 12. Rd1 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5
14. exd5 exd5 15. Nd3 Re8 16. Qf1 Ba6 17. c4 Bd4 18. Rxa3 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Rae7
20. Bd2 Ng4 21. Bf3 Ne5 22. Ndxe5 Rxe5 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Qh3 Re1+
26. Kg2 Nd7 27. Qh4 Rb8 28. Qf4 Ne5 29. Bd5 Rb6 30. Ne3 Rf6 31. Qa4 g6 32. Ra2
Bd3 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. h3 h5 35. Qa8 g5 {Jirka,J (2429)-Soukup,J (2356) Czechia
2014 1/2-1/2}) 6... Be7 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. a4 b4 9. c3 $6 {Il est difficile
d'obtenir du contre-jeu sans réagir au centre mais ce coup est trop
affaiblissant} (9. Re1 $142 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Bb7 10. Ne5 {[%cal Ge2e4] Avec une
position plus saine mais les Noirs ont égalisé}) 9... bxc3 $132 10. bxc3 O-O
11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Ba6 13. Re1 Nd7 14. Bf4 Bd6 $5 15. Nb3 Bc4 16. Nd2 (16.
Bxd6 cxd6 17. Nd2 Ba6 {[%csl Rc3]}) 16... Ba6 17. Nb3 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Bc4 19. Nd2
Nb6 $15 {[%csl Ra4,Rc3,Gc4]} 20. Nxc4 Nxc4 21. e3 Rb8 22. Bf1 Qf6 23. Bxc4 dxc4
24. Qe2 Rb3 25. Qxc4 Qg6+ 26. Kh1 Qe4+ 27. Kg1 Rfb8 28. Qxc7 Qg6+ 29. Kh1 Qe4+
30. Kg1 Rb2 31. Rf1 Qf3 32. Ra2 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qh3 34. Qc4 Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In the 2014 Candidates, Vishy Anand began with a win over Levon Aronian with
1.e4 in the first round. Two years later and 2500 kilometres apart 
(Khanty-Mansisyk to Moscow), Vishy Anand sees no reason to change his strategy.
} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Of course the Berlin - the opening that
cannot be refuted! The best way to make a solid start to a long and gruelling
14 round event.} 4. d3 {This was Vishy Anand's main weapon against the Berlin
at the Candidates 2016. He got absolutely no advantage and hence resorted to
Giuoco Piano towards the end of the tournament.} Bc5 {The interesting part
about this position is that Anand has reached it with the white pieces on 24
occasions in the past, with 15 of them continuing with Bxc6. In this game,
however, he keeps his options open and goes for 0-0.} 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7.
Nbd2 (7. d4 $6 Bb6 $5 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. dxe5 Nxe4 $15) (7. h3 {was later tried
by Anand in his games against Caruana and Karjakin from the same tournament.
But that is another story.}) 7... Ne7 {Kramnik introduced this plan with ...
Ne7 in his game against Aronian in 2012. The idea is to take the game into
territory where the pawn structures would not be symmetrical.} 8. d4 {Now that
the d2-knight is defending the e4-pawn, Black has to cede the centre.} exd4 9.
cxd4 Bb6 {Now we have a position with quite some imbalances. White has a
beautiful central pawn duo, but Black has absolutely no problems in finding
squares for his pieces. If Vishy can develop his guys on c1 and a1, keeping
his centre intact, his position would be much better. But as we will see this
is not so easy.} 10. Re1 (10. h3 {Trying to limit the B is met with} d5 $1 11.
e5 Ne4 12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Nc6 $132) 10... Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 {All this has been
seen many times, with Topalov himself having this position against Fabiano
Caruana in 2015 with the white pieces. But now Anand makes the first new move
of the game - the novelty!} 12. a4 $5 $146 {The idea of this move is simply to
gain more space on the queenside with a4-a5. At some point the rook may come
into the game via a3.} a6 13. Bf1 Re8 14. a5 Ba7 15. Qb3 Nc6 $1 {As Boris
Gelfand rightly pointed out in the commentary room, "Good players are always
flexible with their plans." Nc6-e7 wasn't played with the intention to return
back to c6, but Topalov sees that the position has changed since his Ne7-move.
This is the best and although it may look weird Veselin doesn't hesitate to
play it.} (15... Rb8 {is possible but is quite passive. White can continue with
} 16. Qc3 $14 {with the idea of b4 and developing the c1-bishop.}) 16. d5 (16.
Qxb7 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 {Looks pretty good for Black as after} 18. Bxa6 d5 $1 {
White has serious co-ordination issues.}) 16... Nd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Qxb7 $5 {
Good or bad, this pawn had to be taken. Anand had made his previous moves with
the intention of taking on b7, so there was no backing out now.} Nd7 $1 {
A strong move by the Bulgarian. The knight not only threatens to go to c5 but
also opens the route for the queen to come to f6 or h4. White's pieces are
uncoordinated and undeveloped and the queen is looking a bit silly on b7.
Anand has to be really careful here.} 19. Nc4 $6 (19. Ra3 {was Anand's
original intention but he changed his mind at the last moment.} Qh4 {is now
met by} 20. Rae3 $1 {A completely appropriate exchange sacrifice. The bishop
on d4 is worth the rook. Anand saw this and even mentioned it in the press
conference, but during the game he changed his mind.} Nc5 21. Qxc7 f5 $1 $13 (
21... Bxe3 $6 22. Rxe3 $14 {White is better here.})) 19... Nc5 20. Qc6 {
[%csl Rf2,Rg1][%cal Gd4f2,Gd8h4,Gc5e4] A look at the position reveals that
Black has clear-cut compensation and a player of Topalov's class knows that.
However, it is one thing to know that you have compensation and quite another
to find a concrete tactical refutation. This was the moment when Black had a
chance to take the advantage but Topalov was unable to find it.} Nb3 $2 (20...
Bxf2+ $1 {This was the move that would have destroyed Anand's position.} 21.
Kxf2 Qh4+ {The rook is hanging, so g3 has to be played.} 22. g3 Nxe4+ {Once
again the knight has to be taken or else g3 falls.} 23. Rxe4 Qxe4 $17 {and
even though White has two pieces for a rook his position is pretty bad as his
king is exposed. It's not so easy to come up with a good move for White here.
E.g.} 24. Bf4 $2 {fails to} g5 $1 $19) ({Another extremely interesting idea is
the following:} 20... f6 {What is the point, you may ask? Well for starters
how do you meet the threat of trapping the white queen with Re7 and Be8. It
seems very difficult.} 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Re7 $1 {Be8 is threatened and the
queen will perish. The best White can try is} 23. b4 Be8 24. Qxa8 Qxa8 25. bxc5
$44 {Black should be better here, but the position is not so easy to play due
to the material imbalance.}) 21. Rb1 Nxc1 $6 {This makes White's task easier.}
(21... f5 {creating some play was better.} 22. Be3 Rxe4 23. Nd2 Rxe3 $1 (23...
Nxd2 24. Bxd2 $14) 24. fxe3 Nxd2 25. exd4 Nxb1 26. Rxb1 $11) 22. Rbxc1 Rb8 23.
Qxa6 $16 {White is two pawns up right now. Black may regain one of them but
even then he would be in a poor position, mainly because the a5-pawn is
super-strong. Topalov had to make quite a few inferior moves to reach this
position from what he had.} Qh4 {This looks like the most natural human move
to make as it attacks both the f2- and e4-pawns.} (23... f5 $5 {could have
been a tricky move to face.} 24. exf5 $6 (24. Ne3 $1 $14) 24... Bxf2+ $1 25.
Kxf2 Qh4+ 26. g3 Qd4+ 27. Kg2 Bf7 $3 $40 {Only computers can see moves like
these!}) 24. Rc2 Rxe4 25. Ne3 $1 {Experts praised this extremely accurate move
by Vishy Anand. The knight saves the kingside and now the c7 pawn is attacked.}
(25. Rxe4 Qxe4 {gives some activity to Black, although White is still better
after} 26. Rd2 $16) 25... Qd8 26. Qc4 Bg6 27. Bd3 $1 {Once again very accurate.
} (27. Qxc7 Bxe3 $1 28. fxe3 (28. Qxd8+ Rxd8 29. fxe3 Ra4 30. Rc6 Rxa5 $16)
28... Ra4 {The rook on c2 is attacked and the pride of White's position - the
a5 pawn falls.}) 27... Rf4 28. Bxg6 hxg6 (28... Bxe3 29. Be4 $18) 29. g3 $1 (
29. Qxc7 $6 Qxc7 30. Rxc7 Rxb2 $132) 29... Re4 30. a6 Qe8 31. Rce2 {This is a
human move to make. The computer comes up with a very interesting solution.} (
31. Qxc7 $1 Bxe3 32. Rxe3 Rxe3 33. fxe3 Qxe3+ {Many players would see until
this move and reject this variation because of counterplay. But the engine
suggests} 34. Kh2 {with a completely winning position.} Rb3 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36.
Qh4+ $18) 31... Bb6 32. Qd3 Ra8 33. Kg2 (33. b4 {With the idea of b5 looked
more logical.}) 33... Qa4 34. b3 Rd4 35. bxa4 $6 (35. Qc2 {was much better as
the natural} Qxa6 {loses to the very nice tactical shot} 36. Nf5 $3 gxf5 37.
Re8+ Rxe8 38. Rxe8+ Kh7 39. Qxf5+ $18) 35... Rxd3 {White's advantage has been
reduced at this point, but still it is much more pleasant to be in Anand's
shoes than Topalov's!} 36. Nc4 Rxa6 37. a5 {This is a nice tricky solution
that Vishy came up with.} Bd4 (37... Bxa5 $2 38. Ra1 Rxd5 39. Rea2 Rc5 40. Nxa5
$16) (37... Bc5 {was much better as after} 38. Re8+ Kh7 39. R1e7 {The d5-pawn
is hanging. The same was not possible when the bishop was on d4.} Rxd5 40. Rxf7
Rf5 $11) 38. Re8+ Kh7 39. R1e7 Rc3 40. Nd2 $5 {Anand transfers his knight to
better squares after Nd2-e4.} (40. Rxc7 $1 $16) 40... Rc2 $6 (40... f5 {
prevents Ne4, but the knight can reach g5 via another route.} 41. h4 $1 $14 {
[%cal Gd2f3,Gf3g5]}) 41. Ne4 f6 {stops Ng5 but exposes the seventh rank, which
Anand takes full advantage of.} 42. h4 $1 {Stopping Black from going g5.} (42.
Rf7 g5 {was Black's idea.}) 42... Rxa5 43. Rf7 g5 44. h5 {The mating net
cannot be broken.} Rxf2+ 45. Nxf2 Ra2 46. Rff8 Rxf2+ 47. Kh3 g4+ 48. Kxg4 f5+
49. Rxf5 {A complete exchange down, there is no way to survive as Black, and
hence Topalov resigned. A game filled with lots of ups and downs.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O {Diagramm [#] Eine auf allerhöchstem Niveau extrem beliebte
Variante. Die Remisquote ist auch extrem - hoch!} 9. Nc3 {Weiß versucht
zunächst, den Zug d7-d5 für Schwarz zu erschweren. Dessen Durchsetzung
ließe letztlich eine "Französische Abtauschvariante" entstehen - früher die
"Remisvariante" schlechthin.} Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Be7 13. c4 Nc7
14. d4 d5 {Diagramm [#] Dauerhaft verhindern ließ es sich nicht.} 15. cxd5 Bb4
{Ein neuer Zug Topalovs.} 16. Bd2 (16. dxc6 $2 {funktioniert offensichtlich
nicht:} Bxe1 17. cxb7 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Bxb7) 16... Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5
Qxd5 {Diagramm [#] Weiß verfügt über eine leichte Initiative.} 19. Re5 Qd6
20. Bc4 Bd7 21. Rae1 b5 ({In der e-Linie einen Turm entgegenzustellen wäre
nicht wirklich zielführend, da Weiß ggfs. auf e5 mit dem Bauern schlagen
würde:} 21... Rae8 22. Qe3 Rxe5 23. dxe5 $14) 22. Bb3 a5 {Der schwarze
Angriff am Damenflügel hindert den Weißen daran, über einen Zug wie Te7
auch nur nachdenken zu können.} 23. a4 {Diagramm [#] Jetzt löst sich in
Windeseile alles in Wohlgefallen auf.} bxa4 24. Bxa4 Be6 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5
Qxd4 27. Bxc6 Qxb2 28. Bd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Qf6 30. g3 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Topalov played his first white today and opened with the c-pawn.} Nf6 {
Aronian played this quite instantly, so the English Opening wasn't really a
surprise for him.} 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O {This opening
position occurred quite a few times at the Candidates 2016. In this position,
many new and interesting ideas were found in this tournament.} 6. Nd5 (6. O-O {
is the other main line.}) 6... e4 7. Nh4 {Black usually replies ...Re8. But
Aronian went for a relatively unknown move which has not been played by any
top player.} d6 $5 {This move has been played by Aronian's compatriot Minasian,
but Levond was unaware of that game. 12 days later Anand would land in the
same position as Black against Nakamura and get badly burned.} 8. Nxb4 (8.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bxe4 Re8 $1 10. Bg2 Bg4 $1 {Just have a look at the black pieces.
This is a completely winning position for Black.} 11. f3 Be6 $19) (8. a3 Bc5 9.
O-O Re8 10. e3 g5 $5 {was Nakamura-Anand, a game which the American won with
ease.}) 8... Nxb4 9. a3 Nc6 10. d3 d5 $1 {A very concrete way to approach the
position.} 11. O-O (11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. dxe4 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 Rd8+ 14. Kc2 Nd4+ $36
) 11... exd3 12. Qxd3 $6 (12. exd3 $11 {would have given White an entirely
viable position, but without any advantage. This was not to Topalov's liking.})
(12. cxd5 {is also fine but does not give an advantage.} dxe2 13. Qxe2 Nxd5 14.
Rd1 Be6 $11) 12... Ne5 $1 13. Qd4 $6 (13. Qc2 Nxc4 14. e4 {is a possible way
to play. The queen is of course better placed on c2 than on d4.} c6 (14... Be6
15. b3 Nb6 16. e5 $1 $44) 15. b3 Ne5 16. Bb2 Ng6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Bxf6 (18. e5
Bf5 $15) 18... Qxf6 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Bxd5 Rd8 $11) 13... Nxc4 14. e4 {Topalov
thought that he had excellent compensation but that isn't the case. Aronian
makes the best move.} Be6 15. b3 Na5 $1 (15... Nb6 {is also possible but ...
Na5 attacks a pawn.}) 16. Qa4 Nc6 (16... c6 17. Bd2 b6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Qxc6 (
19. exd5 cxd5 $17) 19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 Rc8 21. Qa4 Qb6 $17 {is some sort of a
computer line showing that even c6 was not so bad.}) (16... c5 {is possible
and Topalov was intending to meet it with} 17. b4 cxb4 18. axb4 Nc4 $15 {
Black seems to be slightly better.}) 17. Rd1 $2 {This was a big blunder by
Veselin, after which he is effectively two pawns down.} (17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bb2
$44) 17... Nxe4 $1 18. Bb2 (18. Bxe4 Qf6 $1 $17 {This move, which attacks the
a1-rook, was missed by Topalov.}) 18... Qe7 $17 {Black is two pawns up and
with some care he should win the game with ease. Aronian didn't realise his
advantage in the best possible manner but it was good enough.} 19. b4 a6 20.
Qc2 f6 21. Rac1 Rad8 22. Bf1 Rd7 23. f3 Nd6 24. Re1 (24. Bd3 g5 25. Ng2 Nc4 26.
Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. f4 {was a line suggested by Aronian in
the press conference as better than what Topalov played in the game. But here
the computer comes up with an counter-intuitive move which gives Black a
strong advantage.} gxf4 $5 {Usually humans would never make such a move
because the knight on g2 was passive and on f4 it would sit very nicely. But
the engine sees that the knight on f4 cannot do much due to the bishop on f7
and Black has a huge advantage.} 30. Nxf4 Bf7 $19) 24... Qf7 25. Bd3 g5 26. Ng2
Nc4 27. f4 Nxb2 28. Qxb2 Bh3 29. a4 h6 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Ne7 32. Qf2 Nf5 33.
Qf3 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re7 35. Rxe7 Qxe7 36. Qh5 (36. Qxd5 {is possible, but after}
Rd8 37. Qe4 Qxe4 38. Bxe4 Nd6 39. Rxc7+ Rd7 40. Rxd7+ Bxd7 41. Bd5 Bxb5 $17 {
Black should have excellent winning chances.}) 36... Bxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Ne3+ 38.
Kg1 f5 39. Qe2 Rf6 40. Qb2 gxf4 41. gxf4 Kh7 42. Kh1 Qg7 43. Qe2 d4 44. Qf3 c6
45. bxc6 bxc6 46. h3 Rg6 47. Rb1 Rg3 48. Qh5 Qd7 49. Kh2 Rg2+ 50. Kh1 Qd5 {
One can say that this was a pretty one sided affair and Topalov didn't really
have a chance in the game after he was two pawns down post opening.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. a4 a5 {The
players are following the game Carlsen-Adams from Wijk aan Zee 2016. Here
Carlsen went Na3 but Caruana first inserts Re1.} 8. Re1 O-O 9. Na3 Re8 10. Nc2
Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 Nc8 {Caruana thought that
this manoeuvre was a little odd, but according to Topalov Black should be
completely fine here.} 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Bb3 c6 17. h3 Be6 18. Bc2 Qc7 19. d4 {
White has a slight more pleasant position.} Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Qd2 Rad8 22.
Rad1 Be6 23. Qe3 b6 24. Nd2 c5 25. Bd3 Re7 $6 {This doesn't seem to be a very
useful move. Emil Sutovsky was very critical about it in his facebook post:
"Topalov didn't have much of a problem out of the opening, but he simply
stunned me by making a move Re8-e7 in a very complex position literally within
a few seconds. The position required quite some thought, and it could have
been a critical point"} 26. d5 Bd7 27. Ra1 {The idea of Ra1 followed by b4 is
very interesting.} Nh5 28. b4 Nf4 {The knight is well placed on f4 but later
on it becomes the sole reason why Black's position goes downhill. It comes in
the way of other pieces.} 29. bxa5 bxa5 30. Reb1 Rf8 31. Bb5 Bc8 32. Bf1 f5 {
It is an interesting position with White playing on the queenside and Black on
the other wing. But soon Topalov goes wrong.} 33. c4 Ref7 34. Ra3 fxe4 35. Nxe4
Bf5 36. Rab3 {As previously pointed out the knight on f4 really stops Black
from getting his required counterplay.} Bg6 37. Rb6 Qe7 $2 (37... Bxe4 {
was necessary and although White is clearly better, Black doesn't lose
material. Instead Topalov hallucinated and committed a blunder.}) 38. Nxd6 {
White has simply won material and stands just better.} Nxh3+ 39. Qxh3 {True
the rook on b1 is hanging but so is the guy on f7. So it just a complete piece
up position.} Rf6 40. Nc8 $1 Qd8 41. R1b5 $2 {An error on the 41st move. Very
surprising.} (41. Rxf6 Qxf6 42. Rb2 {is just curtains. White is a piece up and
there is nothing more to play for as} Bf5 {fails to} 43. Qxf5 $18 {[%csl Rf5,
Rg8][%cal Rc8e7]}) 41... Rxf2 {Now it gets a little complicated.} 42. Rxg6
Rxf1+ 43. Kh2 Qxc8 44. Qxc8 (44. Qxh6 {would have still given White excellent
winning chances.}) 44... Rxc8 45. Rc6 (45. Rb7 Rf7 46. Rc6 $5 {was an option.
But it is not enough to win because after} Rxb7 47. Rxc8+ Kf7 48. Rxc5 Rb4 $11
{it is just equal.}) 45... Re8 {The two black rooks combined with the e-pawn
give Black enough counterplay to hold a draw.} 46. Rcxc5 e4 47. d6 Rd8 48. Rc6
Rd1 49. c5 e3 50. Rb2 Rd2 51. Rb1 e2 52. Re1 Rf8 {Quite a heartbreak for
Caruana who could have been on 2.5/4 with this win.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Rb1 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Bf4 Bf8
15. Rb2 {[#]} Bd6 {[#]} (15... g5 {provoziert} 16. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 17. Bxg5 Qd7
18. Nxd5 {mit drei Bauern und Angriff für die Figur.}) 16. Nd3 (16. Nxf7 $5
Kxf7 17. Nxd5 Bxf4 18. Nxf6 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Re7 20. Nd5 {war auch hier möglich
und wird von der Maschine als vorteilhaft für Weiß angesehen.}) 16... Na6 17.
Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Nf4 Qe5 19. Rc2 Rad8 20. Na4 c4 21. Qd2 g5 22. Nh3 h6 23. f4 gxf4
24. Qxf4 cxb3 25. axb3 Kg7 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Nf4 Re7 28. Nd3 Ng4 29. Rf4 Ne3
30. Rd2 d4 31. Bh3 Be4 32. Nac5 Nxc5 33. Nxc5 f5 34. g4 fxg4 35. Bxg4 Nxg4 36.
Rxg4+ Bg6 37. Kf2 Re5 38. Nd3 Rf5+ 39. Ke1 h5 40. Rg1 a5 41. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Bronznik,V"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. h4 $6 {As Giri shows convincingly in the game, this
daredevil move is really dubious. But we would like to understand what
convinced Topalov to use this continuation. The Grünfeld Defence is one of
Giri's main openings, something with which the Bulgarian grandmaster was
obviously familiar. Wie Giri in der Partie überzeugend zeigen wird, ist
dieser draufgängerische Zug recht zweifelhaft. Wir wollen aber verstehen, was
Topalov zu dieser Fortsetzung überhaupt bewegte. Zu einer von Giris
Haupteröffnungen gehört die Grünfeld-Indische Verteidigung, was dem
bulgarischen Großmeister selbstverständlich bekannt war.} ({From time to
time (even at the top level) attempts have been made to meet the Grünfeld
Defence with the Ab und zu versuchte man (auch auf hohem Niveau), das
Grünfeld-Indisch mit der Variante} 3. Nc3 d5 4. h4 {variation. zu bekämpfen.}
{Statistics confirm that after Die Statistik verrät uns, dass während Weiß
nach} Bg7 {White scores wonderfully well. wunderbar punktet,} ({according to
results ist seine Bilanz nach} 4... c5 {is absolutely unsatisfactory.  As
Topalov explained immediately after the game, the idea behind 3.h4 is to
deprive the opponent of the opportunity of reaching the position which would
arise after the 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 c5 move order. absolut unbefriedigend.  Wie
Topalov gleich nach der Partie erklärte, bestand der Sinn von 3.h4 darin, dem
Gegner die Möglichkeit zu nehmen, die Position zu erreichen, die bei der
Zugfolge 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 c5 entstehen würde.})) 3... c5 $5 {The idea behind
this continuation and the plan linked to it is to obtain a Volga Gambit type
of position so that the move h2-h4 is of no use and possibly even harmful. Die
Idee dieser Fortsetzung und des mit ihm verbundenen Plans ist, eine
"wolgagambitartige" Stellung zu bekommen, um den Zug h2-h4 möglichst unnütz,
ja sogar schädlich zu machen.} ({In the event of Im Falle von} 3... Bg7 4. Nc3
d5 {there would arise by transposition of moves the position (a rather
unpleasant one for Black!) from the 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 Bg7
variation of the Grünfeld Defence, entstünde durch Zugumstellung die - für
Schwarz ziemlich unangenehme! - Position der Variante 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
d5 4.h4 Bg7 aus der Grünfeld-Verteidigung,} ({whereas während} 4... d6 5. e4
{would lead to a rare variation of the King's Indian - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h4. In both of these cases there appears to be much more
justification for the move h2-h4 than is the case in the Volga Gambit. zu
einer seltenen Variante 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h4 vom
Königsindisch überleiten würde - in beiden diesen Fällen scheint der Zug
h2-h4 viel mehr Berechtigung zu haben, als es im Wolga-Gambit der Fall ist.}))
(3... d5 $6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 $140 $6 5. h5 $36) 4. d5 (4. dxc5 Na6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6.
Be3 Ng4 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8. Nh3 d6 9. e3 Nf6 (9... Ne5 $5) 10. Nf4 Nfe4 $1 (10...
O-O 11. h5 $13) 11. Rc1 O-O (11... h5 $5) 12. Be2 Bf5 (12... a5 $5) 13. h5 g5
14. Nfd5 h6 15. b4 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Nd7 17. Nb5 {(Ivanisevic,I (2645) - Neubauer,
M (2413)/Plovdiv 2012)} a6 18. Nd4 Bh7 19. O-O e6 20. Nc3 Ne5 $36 {[%cal Rg5g4,
Rd8h4,Ra8c8]}) 4... b5 $1 5. cxb5 a6 6. bxa6 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. e4 d6 $1 $146 {
Black sticks to the idea of reaching a typical Volga Gambit setup. Schwarz
hält sich an die Idee, einen typischen Wolga-Gambit-Aufbau zu erreichen.} (
8... e6 {(this move is playable but not so strong as 8...d6) (dieser Zug ist
spielbar, aber nicht so stark, wie 8...d6)} 9. dxe6 (9. Nf3 $5 exd5 $140 10. e5
) 9... fxe6 $6 {(an interesting but at the same time very risky continuation) 
(eine interessante, aber gleichzeitig sehr riskante Fortsetzung)} (9... dxe6
10. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 10. e5 $1 {(Notkin)} (10. Bg5 $6 Qa5 $44 {Korobov,A (2713)
- Jumabayev,R (2607)/Moscow Aeroflot op-A 2016; with very good compensation.
mit sehr guter Kompensation.}) 10... Nh5 (10... Ne8 $2 11. h5 $1 $16 {/+- /+-})
11. g4 Nf4 12. Qf3 Nd5 13. Qg2 Rxa6 $1 (13... Bxa6 $143 14. Nxd5) 14. Bxa6 Bxa6
15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qxd5+ Kh8 17. Rh3 Nc6 18. Bd2 Nxe5 19. Bc3 Bc4 20. Qd6 Rf6 (
20... Nxg4 21. Bxg7+ Kxg7 22. O-O-O $16) 21. Qxc5 Rc6 22. Qa5 {, and in my
opinion it does not look as if Black has sufficient compensation. , und nach
einer ausreichenden schwarzen Kompensation sieht es m. E. nicht aus.}) ({
After Bei} 8... Bxa6 $2 9. e5 Ne8 10. Nf3 d6 11. e6 $1 fxe6 12. h5 $1 $16 {
White's handling of the opening would have been completely justified. hätte
sich die weiße Eröffnungsbehandlung völlig gerechtfertigt.}) ({In the case
of Auch im Falle von} 8... Nxa6 $6 {too, the first player's h2-h4 can make
sense. kann der Anziehende seinem h2-h4 einen Sinn geben:} 9. e5 (9. h5 $5 Nxh5
10. Be2 Nf6 $140 11. e5 Ne8 12. Nf3 d6 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nge4 $36) 9... Ne8 10. h5
$1 (10. Nf3 d6 11. h5 Nb4 12. e6 gxh5 13. exf7+ Rxf7 14. Bc4 Bf5 $13) 10...
Bxe5 11. Bh6 Ng7 12. Nf3 Bf6 13. Qd2 $36) 9. Nf3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Bxa6 {Giri's
opening plan has worked completely. One could think that the position had
arisen from a Volga Gambit, and then one would be wondering what White's
h-pawn is doing on h4. It must not be overlooked that the move h2-h4 has been
more harmful than useful for White: apart from it having cost valuable time,
it has weakened the g4-square. On the other hand the possibility cannot be
excluded that in some variations White will play h4-h5, but with his lag in
development and the fact that his rooks are not in touch with each other, he
would really need a lot of luck for such an advance to prove dangerous to his
opponent.  Giris Eröffnungskonzept ist voll und ganz aufgegangen. Man könnte
denken, die Position entstand aus dem Wolga-Gambit, und dann würde man sich
fragen, was denn der weiße h-Bauer auf h4 macht. Es ist nicht zu übersehen,
dass der Zug h2-h4 dem Weißen mehr Schaden als Nützen gebracht hat: außer
dass er wertvolle Zeit kostete, hat er das Feld g4 geschwächt. Andererseits
ist es natürlich nicht ausgeschlossen, dass Weiß in einigen Varianten h4-h5
spielt, aber bei seinem Entwicklungsrückstand und den getrennten Türmen muss
er wirklich viel Glück haben, damit sich dieser Vorstoß für den Gegner als
gefährlich erweist.} 11. Qc2 {As Topalov explained at the press conference,
his idea consisted of the manoeuvre Nc3-d1-e3. Wie Topalov auf der
Pressekonferenz erklärte, bestand seine Idee im Manöver Nc3-d1-e3.} (11. Bxa6
$5 Qxa6 12. Qe2 Nbd7 {(Topalov)} (12... Re8 13. Qxa6 Nxa6 14. O-O Nb4 {
(according to Giri at the press conference) (soweit Giri auf der
Pressekonferenz)} 15. a4 Reb8 16. Rfb1 {[%cal Yf3e1]} Nc2 17. Ra2 Nb4 18. Raa1
Nc2 {with a repetition of moves mit Zugwiederholung}) 13. Qxa6 Rxa6 {[%csl Rg4]
[%cal Rf8b8,Rf6g4,Rg4e5,Re8a8] with at least sufficient compensation, but in
return White has no problems with his king - he can castle short or play
Ke1-e2. mit mindestens ausreichender Kompensation, dafür aber hat Weiß keine
Probleme mit seinem König - er kann kurz rochieren oder Ke1-e2 spielen.}) (11.
Be2 $6 Qb4 $1 {(Giri)} 12. Bxa6 Nxa6 13. Qe2 (13. Qc2 $2 Qc4 $1 $19 {[%csl Re1]
[%cal Ra6b4,Rf8b8,Rf6g4]}) 13... Qxb2 14. Rb1 (14. O-O Qa3) 14... Qa3 15. Rb3
Qa5 16. O-O Ng4 $36 {[%cal Rf8b8]}) 11... Nbd7 ({I prefer Besser gefällt mir} 
11... Bxf1 $5 12. Kxf1 Na6 $5 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Ra6b4,Ra5a6] , e.g. , z. B.} 13.
Kg1 ({or oder} 13. g3 Nb4 14. Qb1 Qa6+ 15. Kg2 Ng4 16. Rf1 Rfb8) (13. Nd1 Qb5+
14. Kg1 Nb4 15. Bxb4 Qxb4 16. Nd2 Bh6 17. Ne3 Qd4 $1) 13... Nb4 14. Qb1 Qa6 {
[%cal Rf8b8,Rb4d3,Rf6g4] - in all variations he has wonderful compensation for
the pawn he has sacrificed. - in allen Varianten mit traumhafter Kompensation
für den geopferten Bauern.}) 12. Ne2 $5 {[%cal Yd2c3,Yh4h5] Topalov is
planning Bd2-c3 followed by h4-h5, which in the event of a future Nf6xh5 would
allow him to swap off the dangerous Bg7 and even to hope to be able to use the
opened h-file for counterplay. In certain circumstances either Ne2-g3 or
Ne2-f4 is possible. But there is also a disadvantage - the white king is still
left in the middle. Topalov plant Bd2-c3 gefolgt von h4-h5, was um Falle des
weiteren Nf6xh5 ihm erlauben würde, den gefährlichen Bg7 abzutauschen und
sogar zu hoffen, die geöffnete h-Linie fürs Gegenspiel zu benützen. Unter
Umständen ist auch Ne2-g3 oder Ne2-f4 möglich. Es gibt dabei aber auch einen
Nachteil - der weiße König bleibt nach wie vor in der Mitte.} ({A "normal"
continuation might be Eine "normale" Fortsetzung wäre} 12. Na4 Qd8 $5 (12...
Bxf1 13. Bxa5 Bxg2 {During the game Topalov did not particularly like this
position, but let us continue the variation: Während der Partie hat Topalov
diese Position nicht besonders gefallen, aber setzen wir die Variante fort:}
14. Nd2 Bxh1 15. Bc3 Bh6 $5 {[%cal Rh6d2,Rh1e4]} 16. Ke2 Bg2 (16... Bxd2 $6 17.
Rxh1) 17. Rg1 Bh3 {- it is far from easy to correctly evaluate this position.
My computer prefers White here but I am not sure it is correct. In any case
this line seems to be very playable for White. - es ist alles andere als
leicht, diese Stellung richtig einzuschätzen. Mein Computer bevorzugt hier
Weiß, aber ich bin mir nicht sicher, dass er recht hat. In jedem Fall scheint
diese Linie für Weiß mindestens gut spielbar zu sein.}) (12... Qc7 13. Bxa6
Rxa6 14. O-O e6 $5 $44) 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. O-O Qa8 15. Nc3 Rb8 $44 {- in this
and in the previous variation (12...Qc7) the position of the white h-remains
unfavourable, but at least White has castled. - in dieser und in der
vorherigen Variante (12...Qc7) ist die Lage des weißen h-Bauern nach wie vor
ungünstig, aber Weiß hat zumindest rochiert.}) (12. Nd1 Qb6 {(Giri)} (12...
Bxf1 $2 13. Bxa5 Bxg2 14. Nd2 Bxh1 15. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Rh1][%cal Rd1e3,Rf2f3]})
13. Bc4 $5 (13. Ne3 $6 Bxf1 14. Rxf1 (14. Kxf1 Qa6+ 15. Kg1 Qa4 $1 $17 {
[%csl Re4]}) (14. Nxf1 Ng4 15. Bc3 Bd4 $1 16. Ne3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Bxc3+ 18. Qxc3
Ra4 19. Nd2 Qa6 $17) 14... Qa6 $1 $17 {[%csl Re1][%cal Re7e6]}) 13... Bxc4 14.
Qxc4 Qa6 $1 15. Qxa6 Rxa6 16. Nc3 Nb6 {[%cal Rb6a4,Rf8a8] - once again with
very good compensation. - wiederum mit sehr guter Kompensation.}) 12... Qb6 13.
Bc3 h5 $6 {Giri's desire to exclude the idea of h4-h5 once and for all,can be
easily achieved; on the other hand, he now gives his opponent time to
consolidate his position. Black has the following reasonable alternatives:
Giris Wunsch, die Idee h4-h5 für immer und ewig auszuschließen, kann man
leicht nachvollziehen, andererseits gibt er jetzt dem Gegner Zeit, seine
Stellung zu konsolidieren. Dabei hatte Schwarz folgende sinnvolle Alternativen:
} (13... e6 14. dxe6 fxe6 {[%cal Rd6d5]} 15. h5 $5 (15. Ng3 $6 d5 $1) 15...
Nxh5 (15... d5 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Nf4 $13) 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nc3 {- Black is no
longer behind on material and according to the computer he is somewhat better;
but in return White can finally breathe again - he is planning by means of 
Qc2-d2 to bring his queen to an active position, thanks to the absence of the
Bg7 queenside castling can be considered, the semi-open h-file promises
counter-chances in many variations, the exchange sacrifice on h5 is in the air
- all in all White feels much happier in this variation than a few moves
previously in the game. - Schwarz hat keinen materiellen Nachteil mehr und
steht laut Computer etwas besser, dafür aber kann der Anziehende jetzt
endlich aufatmen - er plant, mittels Qc2-d2 seine Dame auf eine aktive
Position zu bringen, dank der Abwesenheit des Bg7 kommt die lange Rochade in
Betracht, die halboffene h-Linie verspricht in vielen Varianten Gegenchancen,
das Qualitätsopfer auf h5 hängt in der Luft - alles in allem fühlt sich
Weiß in dieser Variante viel besser, als ein paar Züge zuvor in der Partie.})
({Analysis shows that Die Analyse zeigt, dass} 13... c4 $5 {[%cal Rd7c5,Rf6g4]
- despite giving up control of the d4-square - was well worth considering, e.g.
- trotz die Aufgabe der Kontrolle über das Feld d4 - sehr beachtenswert war,
z. B.} 14. Ned4 (14. Ng3 Ng4 $1 {[%csl Re1,Rf1] This option was also missed by
both players when discussing the game - together with the queen, the knight
ensures that White will have major problems with his further development.
Diese Option ist auch bei der gemeinsamen Besprechung der Partie beiden
Spielern entgangen - der Springer sorgt zusammen mit der Dame dafür, dass
Weiß große Probleme mit seiner weiteren Entwicklung hat.} ({Giri only
considered Giri zog nur} 14... Nc5 {but on acoount of in Betracht, was aber
wegen} 15. Be2 {[%cal Ye1g1,Yh1f1] (Topalov) followed by 0-0 does not appear
totally convincing. gefolgt von 0-0 nicht ganz überzeugend aussieht.}) {
For example Zum Beispiel:} 15. h5 Nc5 (15... Bf6 $5 16. Bxf6 $140 exf6 $5 $17 {
[%csl Re4][%cal Rf8e8,Rd7c5]}) 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rh4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Qd2
Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 cxd3 $17 {[%cal Ra8c8]}) (14. Bd4 Nc5 15. Nc3 Qa5 {[%csl Re4] -
Black's activity counts for more than his opponent's extra pawn - die schwarze
Aktivität wiegt mehr, als der gegnerische Mehrbauer}) 14... Nc5 15. Nd2 e6 $1
16. Nxc4 (16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Nxc4 Qc7 18. Nd2 Bxf1 19. Rxf1 Qb7 20. f3 Nh5 $17 {
[%csl Re1,Rf4,Rh4]}) 16... Bxc4 (16... Qc7 $5 17. Ba5 Qd7) 17. Bxc4 Nfxe4 18.
dxe6 (18. O-O Ra4 $1 19. b3 Nxc3 20. Qxc3 Ne4 21. Qc2 Rxc4 22. bxc4 Qxd4 $17)
18... fxe6 19. Nxe6 d5 $1 20. Nxf8 (20. Bxd5 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Rae8 22. O-O Nxe6
$17) 20... dxc4 21. O-O Nxc3 22. Nxh7 Kxh7 23. bxc3 Nd3 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Rb6c6,
Rd3f4] , and despite White's material advantage he has to struggle for a draw.
But firstly he has considerable chances of achieving one and secondly no-one
could could have calculated over the board the complications which lead to
this position.  Thus we can easily comprehend that Giri, who very much liked
his position, during the game evaluated the 13...c4 continuation as
double-edged and for that reason rejected it. , und trotz seines materiellen
Vorteiles muss Weiß ums Remis kämpfen. Aber erstens hat er beträchtliche
Chancen dies zu erreichen und zweitens hätte kein Mensch die zu dieser
Position führenden Komplikationen am Brett berechnen können.  Somit können
wir leicht nachvollziehen, dass Giri, dem seine Stellung sehr gefiel, die
Fortsetzung 13...c4 während der Partie als zweischneidig bewertete und aus
diesem Grund verwarf.}) (13... Rfb8 $5 {(Topalov)} {The best reply is
presumably Die beste Antwort ist vermutlich} 14. a4 $1 {[%cal Ya1a2] , e.g. ,
z. B.} (14. h5 $2 Nxh5 $17 15. Bxg7 $140 $6 Kxg7 {[%cal Rb6b2]} 16. b3 Qb4+ 17.
Nc3 Bxf1 18. Kxf1 c4 19. Rc1 cxb3 20. axb3 Qxb3 $17 {/-+. /-+.}) (14. Ng3 {
The immediate Stärker ist das unverzügliche} Ng4 $1 {is stronger, e.g. , z.
B.} ({Topalov's suggestion das von Topalov angebotene} 14... Bxf1 {does not
appear to be the best continuation: scheint nicht die beste Fortsetzung zu
sein:} {But Zu bevorzugen ist} 15. Nxf1 $1 {is preferable (the knight gets
back into the game) (der Springer kommt wieder ins Spiel)} ({at the press
conference Topalov showed only auf der Pressekonferenz zeigte Topalov nur} 15.
Kxf1 {(in reality it is a mistake) (in Wirklichkeit ist es ein Fehler)} Ng4 {
, which is in fact very bad for White, e.g. , was für Weiß in der Tat ganz
schlecht ist, z. B.} 16. Nh2 (16. h5 Bxc3 $1 17. bxc3 Qb2 $1 18. Qxb2 Rxb2 19.
hxg6 hxg6 20. Ne2 Raxa2 21. Rxa2 Rxa2 $19) 16... Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nge5 18. a4 c4 {
[%csl Rf1]} 19. Nf3 Nd3 20. Nd4 N7e5 21. f3 (21. Kg1 Qa5 {[%cal Rb8b2]} 22. Ra2
Ng4 23. f3 Ngf2 24. Rh2 Rb3 $19) 21... Nc5 $17 {[%cal Rc5b3] /-+ /-+}) 15...
Ng4 16. N1d2 {, even if here after , auch wenn Schwarz auch hier nach} Bxc3 17.
bxc3 Qa6 {Black has more than sufficient compensation for the pawn. eine mehr
als ausreichende Kompensation für den Bauern hat.}) 15. Bxg7 (15. a4 Bd4 $5
$17) (15. Bxa6 Bxc3+ 16. Qxc3 Qxa6 17. h5 Nde5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 $17 19. hxg6 $140
$6 fxg6 $1 {[%cal Rc8f8]}) 15... Bxf1 $1 16. Rxf1 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gf1f2]} (16.
Nxf1 $6 Kxg7 {[%cal Rb6b2]} 17. b3 c4 $1 18. bxc4 Ra3 19. N1h2 Qb4+ 20. Qd2 (
20. Nd2 Rc3 21. Qd1 Nge5 22. Nhf3 Nd3+ 23. Kf1 Nf6 {[%cal Rf6g4]} 24. Ne1 Qc5
$19) 20... Nxh2 21. Rxh2 Qxc4 22. Qd4+ Qxd4 23. Nxd4 Rb4 24. Nc2 Rxe4+ 25. Kf1
Ra5 26. Ne3 Nf6 $19) (16. Kxf1 Kxg7 17. b3 c4 $1 18. Rd1 (18. bxc4 Qb2 $1 19.
Qxb2+ Rxb2 $17 {/-+ /-+}) 18... Nc5 $1 19. Nh2 (19. bxc4 $2 Qb2 $19) 19... Ne5
20. Nf3 (20. bxc4 $2 Qb2 $19) 20... cxb3 21. axb3 Nxf3 22. gxf3 Qxb3 23. Qxb3
Rxb3 24. Kg2 Ra2 $17) 16... Kxg7 17. b3 Nde5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. f4 Ng4 {(at
this point White can once again rue his decision to play 3.h4?!) (an dieser
Stelle darf Weiß seine Entscheidung 3.h4?! ein weiteres Mal bereuen)} 20. Rf3
(20. Ne2 f6 {[%cal Rg4e3]} 21. Rf3 Ra3 $17 {[%csl Ra2,Re1]}) 20... f6 {[%cal
Ra8a3]} (20... c4 $5 {[%cal Rb6g1]}) 21. Qc1 Ra7 $17 {[%csl Ra2,Re1][%cal
Rc5c4]}) (14. b3 c4 $5 ({Another good move is gut ist auch} 14... Ng4 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 {, once again with wonderful compensation for the pawn , wiederum mit
wunderbarer Kompensation für den Bauern}) 15. b4 Bb5 16. Bd4 (16. h5 $2 Ba4
17. Qb1 Nc5 $1 $19) 16... Ba4 17. Qxc4 Qb7 18. Nc3 Rc8 19. Qd3 Qxb4 {[%cal
Rf6d5,Rf6e4]} 20. Qd2 Ne5 $1 21. Rb1 (21. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 22. Bxe5 Nxe4 $1 $19) (
21. Bxe5 $2 dxe5 $19 {[%cal Rc8c3,Rf6e4]}) 21... Qa5 22. Bd3 (22. Nxe5 dxe5 23.
Bxe5 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe5 25. Qxa5 Rxa5 $17 {/-+ /-+}) 22... Nxf3+ (22... Nxd5 $5
23. Nxd5 Nxd3+ 24. Kf1 Qxd2 25. Nxe7+ Kf8 26. Bxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nxd2 Rc2 28. Ke2
Nxf2 $17) 23. gxf3 Nxe4 $1 24. Bxe4 Bxd4 25. Qxd4 Qxc3+ 26. Qxc3 Rxc3 $17)
14... Ng4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Ra2 Nde5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nc3 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Qa6+
20. Qe2 Nd3 21. Rh3 $1 Nxb2 22. h5 Qxe2+ 23. Kxe2 $15 {- White has returned
the pawn, but in return consolidated his position and although he is still
filling the role of the defender he has realistic chances of holding this
endgame. - Weiß hat den Bauern zurückgegeben, dafür aber seine Stellung
konsolidiert, und obwohl er sich immer noch in der Rolle des Verteidigers
befindet, verfügt er über realistische Chancen, dieses Endspiel zu halten.})
14. Ng3 Ng4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Ne2 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. O-O (19.
Rh3 $5 {(Notkin)}) 19... Qd3 20. Qxd3 (20. Rfc1 $5) 20... Nxd3 21. b3 {Of
cours Black still has good compensation for the pawn, but White's position is
nowhere near as critical as it was before 13... h5. Natürlich hat Schwarz
immer noch gute Kompensation für den Bauern, aber die weiße Stellung ist
nicht annähernd so kritisch, wie sie vor 13... h5 war.} Rfb8 ({After Nach} 
21... Ra3 22. Rfd1 Nb4 23. Rd2 Rfa8 24. Nc1 {(Topalov) White protects all his
weaknesses and it is hardly possible to imagine any other result than a draw.
deckt Weiß all seine Schwächen, und ein anderes Ergebnis als Remis kann man
sich hier kaum vorstellen.}) 22. Rfd1 Ne5 23. f3 Ra3 24. Kh2 {So that the king
can protect the pawn on h4 (which becomes vulnerable after f7-f5, e4xf5, gxf5).
Damit der König den Bauern h4 (der nach f7-f5, e4xf5, gxf5 anfällig wird)
decken kann.} Rba8 25. Nc1 f5 26. exf5 gxf5 27. Rb1 Rb8 28. Rb2 Rb4 29. Kh3 c4
30. Re2 ({M. Notkin's recommended Genauer ist das von M. Notkin empfohlene} 30.
Rbd2 $1 {is more accurate (White prophylactically overprotects his d5-pawn), e.
g. (Weiß überdeckt seinen schwachen Bauern d5 im Voraus), z. B.} cxb3 31.
axb3 Kf6 (31... Ng6 32. Rd4 {- according to Notkin - - soweit Notkin -} Rxd4
33. Rxd4 Ra1 34. Ne2 {- White certainly does not lose this position - diese
Stellung verliert Weiß bestimmt nicht}) 32. Kg3 Ng6 33. Rd4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Ra1
35. Ne2 Ra2 36. Nc1 Ke5 37. Rd1 Ra5 38. Nd3+ Kf6 39. Nb4 Ra3 40. Rb1 Ra5 {
[%cal Ra5b5]} 41. Rd1 {and there is no more than a draw in it for Black. und
mehr als das Unentschieden ist für Schwarz nicht drin.}) 30... cxb3 31. Nxb3
$6 ({A better impression is made by Einen besseren Eindruck macht} 31. axb3 {
, which would maintain control over the a4-square. , was die Kontrolle über
das Feld a4 behalten würde, z. B.} Ra1 (31... Kf6 $5) 32. Nd3 Rxd1 33. Nxb4
Kf7 (33... Rd4 $2 34. Nc6) 34. Nc6 Rxd5 35. Nxe5+ dxe5 {with an obvious draw.
mit offensichtlichem Remis.}) {After the move in the game Black gets the
option of rapidly restoring material equality, so that he can continue to
torment his opponent. Nach dem Partiezug bekommt Schwarz die Möglichkeit, das
materielle Gleichgewicht schnell wiederherzustellen, um dann den Gegner weiter
zu quälen.} 31... Ng6 32. Kg3 (32. g3 $2 Rxh4+ 33. gxh4 Nf4+ 34. Kh2 Nxe2 35.
Rd2 Nc3 36. Nc1 Ra5 $17) 32... Raa4 (32... Rxh4 $6 {allows White to draw with
childlike ease. erlaubt dem Anziehenden, kinderleicht zu remisieren:} 33. Rxe7+
Nxe7 34. Kxh4 Rxa2 35. Rd2 Rxd2 36. Nxd2 Kg6 37. g3 Nxd5 38. Nc4) 33. Red2 Kf6
({Or Oder} 33... Rxh4 34. Nd4 Kf6 35. Ne6 Ra5 $15 {[%cal Rh4a4]}) 34. Kf2 ({
After Nach} 34. Nd4 Rc4 $1 {(Giri/Topalov) White is in zugzwang - every move
would lose material. befindet sich Weiß im Zugzwang - jeder Zug würde
Material verlieren.}) (34. Rd4 $5 Rxd4 35. Nxd4 Rxa2 $15 {[%csl Rd5,Rh4]})
34... Rb5 $5 (34... Rxh4 35. Nd4 Ra5 36. Nb3 Rb5 $15 {[%csl Rd5]}) 35. Rh1 ({
The position after Die Stellung nach} 35. g3 $6 f4 $1 36. gxf4 Nxh4 37. Rh1
Rxf4 {[%csl Ra2,Rd5,Rf3] looks rather suspect for White. sieht für Weiß
ziemlich verdächtig aus.}) 35... Rxh4 36. Rxh4 Nxh4 {[%cal Rf5f4]} 37. f4 Ng6
38. g3 h4 (38... Nf8 $5 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Rf8d7,Rd7b6]}) 39. Rd3 ({After Auf} 
39. Rd4 $5 {(Notkin) then ist} hxg3+ 40. Kxg3 Nf8 {[%cal Rf8d7,Rd7b6] is
unpleasant, e.g. unangenehm, z. B.} 41. Rd3 Nd7 42. a4 Rb4 43. a5 Nb8 44. Rc3
Na6 {[%cal Rb4b5,Ra6c7] , and the d5-pawn is lost. , und der Bauer d5 geht
verloren.}) 39... hxg3+ ({There is the very interesting recommendation of M.
Notkin: Sehr interessant ist die Empfehlung von M. Notkin} 39... Rb8 $5 {
[%cal Rb8h8] - from here The white rook can continue according to need to h8,
g8, c8 or a8. - von hier aus kann sich der Turm je nach Bedarf weiter nach h8,
g8, c8 oder a8 begeben.}) 40. Kxg3 Nf8 41. Kf3 Nd7 42. a4 Rb4 43. a5 Nf8 {
[%cal Rf8g6]} ({After the game Giri showed the variation Nach der Partie
zeigte Giri die Variante} 43... Ra4 44. Rd4 Ra3 45. Rd3 {[%cal Rb3c5]} Nb8 46.
Ke3 Na6 47. Nc5 Rxa5 48. Nxa6 Rxa6 {and evaluated this endgame as drawn.
Topalov agreed with this evaluation. und bewertete dieses Endspiel als Remis.
Topalov stimmte dieser Einschätzung zu.}) 44. Nd4 ({It was worth considering
Beachtung verdiente} 44. Nd2 $5 {(Notkin)} Ra4 (44... Ng6 45. Ra3 {[%csl Ga5] 
(Notkin)} Nxf4 46. a6 Nxd5 47. a7 Nb6 48. a8=Q Nxa8 49. Rxa8 {with a draw mit
Remis}) 45. Nb3 {, and if Black wins the a5-pawn, but in doing so exhcanges
knights, the result is the rook ending from the previous note, e.g. , und wenn
Schwarz den Bauern a5 gewinnt, aber dabei die Springer abtauscht, kommt es zum
Turmendspiel aus der vorherigen Anmerkung, z. B.} Nd7 46. Rc3 Nb8 47. Ke3 Na6
48. Rd3 Nc7 49. Kf3 Ra3 50. Ke3 Nb5 51. Kf3 Nd4+ 52. Rxd4 Rxb3+ 53. Ke2 Ra3 54.
Rd3 Rxa5 55. Kf3) 44... Ng6 45. a6 ({At the press conference the players
analysed the continuation Auf der Pressekonferenz analysierten die Gegner die
Fortsetzung} 45. Ke3 Ra4 {. .} 46. Nc6 {and came to the conclusion that the
position after und kamen zum Schluss, dass die Stellung nach} Re4+ $1 ({
in the event of im Falle von} 46... Nxf4 $2 47. Rd4 $1 {(according to Giri) 
(soweit Giri)} Ng2+ 48. Kd3 Ra3+ 49. Kc4 {White obtains sufficient counterplay
for a draw. erhält Weiß zum Remis ausreichendes Gegenspiel}) 47. Kd2 Nxf4 48.
Ra3 Nxd5 49. a6 Rc4 50. a7 Nc7 {would be won for Black. für Schwarz gewonnen
wäre.}) (45. Ra3 Rxd4 46. a6 Rxf4+ 47. Kg3 Rc4 48. a7 Rc8 49. a8=Q Rxa8 50.
Rxa8 Ke5 $19 {[%cal Rg6f4,Rf4d5] Giri}) ({Giri was worried anout the
continuation Giri machte sich Sorgen über die Fortsetzung} 45. Ne6 $5 {
, which would deprive his Ng6 of the f8-square. , was seinem Ng6 das Feld f8
nehmen würde.}) 45... Ra4 46. Ne2 Rxa6 47. Nd4 Nf8 48. Nc2 Nd7 49. Ne3 Ra2 50.
Rd1 Rh2 51. Rg1 Rh3+ 52. Rg3 Rxg3+ {After the game Giri expressed the opinion
that he ought to play on with the rooks. From a practical point of view that
may well be correct but Black could hardly make progress without the help of
his opponent.  Nach der Partie äußerte Giri die Meinung, dass er mit der
Türmen weiter spielen sollte. Aus praktischer Sicht mag es durchaus stimmen,
aber ohne gegnerische Hilfe käme Schwarz auch dann nicht weiter.} 53. Kxg3 Nc5
54. Kf3 e6 55. dxe6 Kxe6 56. Nc2 Kd5 57. Ne3+ Ke6 58. Nc2 Nb3 59. Ne3 Nd4+ 60.
Kf2 Nc6 ({After the game Giri demonstrated the variation Nach der Partie
demonstrierte Giri die Variante} 60... d5 61. Ng2 Nc6 62. Nh4 d4 63. Ke2 Ne7
64. Kd2 Kd6 65. Kc2 (65. Kd3 $2 Kd5 $22 $19) 65... Kc5 66. Kd2 Kc4 67. Kc2 {
with a draw mit Remis} {( (} d3+ 68. Kd2 {) )}) 61. Ke2 Nb4 62. Kd2 Nd5 63. Ng2
Ne7 64. Kd3 Nc6 65. Nh4 Nb4+ 66. Kd4 Nc6+ 67. Kc4 Nb8 68. Nxf5 {During the
online commentary by GM S. Shipov a spectator spoke and said that according to
the 7-piece Tablebases (which have unfortunately so far only been available to
selected people) Black could win the knight ending. On Shipov's request for
more specific information, there was (at least during the broadcast) no
reaction. Thus we must decide for ourselves whether to take this suggestion
seriously or as a joke. Während der Online-Kommentare von GM S. Shipov
meldete sich ein Zuschauer und teilte mit, dass laut 7-Figuren-Tablebases (die
bis jetzt leider nur für Auserwählte zugänglich sind) Schwarz das
Springerendspiel gewinnen könnte. Auf Shipovs Bitte, eine konkretere
Information zu geben, gab es (zumindest während der Sendung) keine Reaktion,
somit dürfen wir selbst entscheiden, ob wir diesen Hinweis ernst nehmen oder
als einen Scherz betrachten wollen.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Rb1
{Nakamura is using the idea that was introduced into practice by his great
opponent in the world championship match of 2006. White is ready to build up a
strong pawn chain and even attack his opponent's structure with the help of
the advance of the b-pawn.} Nbd7 (8... Bd6 9. c5 Bc7 10. b4 e5 11. g3 Qe7 12.
Bg2 exd4 13. Qxd4 a5 14. a3 axb4 15. axb4 Be5 16. Qd3 Nbd7 17. O-O O-O 18. Ne2
Ra2 19. Nd4 Rfa8 $11 {1-0 (70) Ni,H (2691)-Gledura,B (2538) Karlsruhe 2016}) 9.
c5 a5 {It should make great sense to develop the rook from a8 with the help of
the exchange of a-pawns.} (9... e5 10. b4 a6 (10... a5 11. b5) (10... Qc7 11.
b5 Be7 12. bxc6 bxc6 13. Qa4 O-O 14. Be2 Rfb8 15. O-O Rxb1 16. Nxb1 Nf8 17. Nd2
Ne6 18. Nb3 Ne4 19. Bf3 Bf6 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Bb2 exd4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Nxd4
Nxd4 24. Qxd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (51) Volke,K (2475)-Huebner,R (2605) Switzerland
2008}) (10... Be7 11. g3 exd4 12. exd4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Bg2 Nf6 15. O-O
Qd5 16. Bf4 Rd8 17. Qe2 Qe6 18. b5 Nd5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Qxe4 Qxe4 21. Bxe4 $16
{1/2-1/2 (73) Roiz,M (2594)-Girya,O (2456) Minsk 2015}) 11. g3 Be7 (11... g5
12. Bg2 g6 13. e4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Bxg5 Be7
18. Be3 f5 19. a4 Ng4 $15 {0-1 (57) Nakamura,H (2640)-Volkov,S (2634)
playchess.com INT 2006}) 12. Bg2 O-O (12... e4 13. f3 exf3 14. Bxf3 Nf8 15. e4
dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nd5 17. Qb3 Ne6 18. Bb2 Qd7 19. O-O Rd8 20. Rbd1 O-O 21. Nd2 $11
{1-0 (47) Nisipeanu,L (2648)-Malakhov,V (2700) Burgas 2012}) 13. O-O Re8 14. a4
Qc8 15. b5 Bd8 16. Bd2 axb5 17. axb5 Ba5 18. Qc2 exd4 19. exd4 Nf8 20. Ra1 Bxc3
21. Bxc3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (51) Gelfand,B (2743)-Wang,H (2710) Beijing 2014}) (9...
Qc7 10. g3 b6 11. b4 a5 12. a3 axb4 13. axb4 Be7 14. Bd3 O-O 15. O-O bxc5 16.
bxc5 e5 17. f4 exd4 18. exd4 Nh7 19. f5 Bf6 20. Ne2 g5 21. Be3 Ra3 $11 {
0-1 (61) Moreno Trujillo,A (2522)-Candela Perez,J (2430) Madrid 2015}) 10. a3
Be7 (10... e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 13. f4 exf4 14. exf4 Be7 15. Be2 (15.
Bd3 $5 Nf8 16. Qf3 Ne6 17. Ne2 b5 $5) 15... Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Qd3
Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1
$11 {1/2-1/2 (66) Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743) Elista 2006}) 11. g3 e5 12.
Bg2 e4 13. b4 {The fight has not yet left the famous examples played by strong
players in the quest to find the best continuation for both sides. White is
abstaining from the immediate advance of the f-pawn, which would undermine the
e4-stonghold.} (13. f3 exf3 14. Bxf3 Nh7 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 O-O 17. O-O Ndf6
18. Nc3 Qd7 19. Be3 Rad8 20. b4 axb4 21. axb4 Rfe8 22. Re1 Qf5 23. g4 Qc8 24.
h3 $14 {0-1 (50) Ashwin,J (2478)-Ragger,M (2528) Yerevan 2007}) 13... axb4 14.
axb4 Nf8 15. b5 Ne6 16. Bd2 O-O {Even this position has been tested in
practice, but the queen move to d7 does not have to be the candidate for the
most precise solution.} (16... Qd7 17. Na4 Bd8 18. h4 g5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Nb6
Bxb6 21. cxb6 O-O 22. hxg5 {1/2-1/2 (22) Sasikiran,K (2661)-Malakhov,V (2690)
Sibenik 2007}) 17. Na4 Ng5 18. h4 (18. Nb6 Ra7 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Bb4 Nd7 $14)
18... Nf3+ 19. Bxf3 exf3 20. bxc6 {The White player is sitting close to the
top of the pyramid of human players, but the computer engine is not
impressionable and suggests a somewhat different solution.} (20. Nc3 $5 b6 21.
cxb6 Qxb6 (21... Rb8 22. Qxf3 Rxb6 23. O-O $16) 22. Qxf3 cxb5 23. Nxd5 Nxd5 24.
Qxd5 b4 25. O-O Rfb8 $14) 20... bxc6 21. Nc3 Bxc5 $6 {The great moment in the
game and a genuine mystery for any annotator. Topalov surprises his dangerous
opponent with a magificent idea of sacrificing a piece for the initiative.
Objectively speaking the adventure wasn't sufficient to equalise, but Nakamura
will struggle to find the best solution.} (21... Qd7 22. Qxf3 Bd8 23. Kf1 $14)
22. dxc5 d4 23. exd4 Qxd4 (23... Re8+ 24. Be3 Ra3 25. Rb3 Rxb3 26. Qxb3 Qxd4
27. Nd1 Qd7 28. Nb2 $14) 24. O-O (24. Qxf3 Ra3 25. O-O Qxd2 26. Ne4 Rxf3 27.
Nxd2 $11) 24... Qg4 25. Re1 (25. Bf4 Rfd8 26. Bd6 Ra3 $1 27. Qd3 Nd5 28. Be5
Kh7 $11) 25... Rfd8 26. Rb2 Rd4 {Black needed a lot of fantasy in order to
guess that the counterplay for the missing piece could be nearly successful.
White must be very cautios, as the f3-pawn is ready to support the Qh3 with
mating ideas.} 27. Re7 (27. Re3 $1 Rad8 28. Nb1 Ne4 29. Qxf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 Nxd2
31. Nxd2 Rxd2 32. Rb6 f6 33. Rxc6 Rc2 34. Re3 $16) 27... Rad8 28. Qb3 Rf8 29.
Qd1 (29. Be3 $2 Qh3 $19) 29... Rfd8 30. Qb3 Rf8 (30... Nd5 31. Nxd5 R4xd5 32.
Kh2 $18) 31. Nd1 Nd5 {Only the computer can understand very quickly, that the
most exact idea for Black would have been 31...Qf5! with sufficient
counterplay.} (31... Qf5 $1 32. Re3 (32. Bg5 Rd3 $19) 32... Rfd8 33. Rxf3 Qxc5
34. Qa2 Qd6 35. Ne3 Rxd2 36. Rxd2 Qxd2 37. Qxd2 Rxd2 38. Nc4 $11) 32. Re5 (32.
Ra7 Qe6 33. Raa2 Qe2 34. Nc3 Nxc3 35. Qxc3 Rfd8 36. Qe3 Re4 37. Qxe2 fxe2 $11)
32... Kh7 $2 {Black actually needs to generate compensation for the missing
piece and it was still possible with the help of the active move 32...Ra8!} (
32... Ra8 $1 33. Re1 (33. Kh2 Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Nf4 35. Kg1 Ne2+ 36. Kh2 Nf4 $11)
33... Qf5 34. Ra2 Rc8 $11) 33. Kh2 $1 Nf6 (33... f6 34. Ne3 Qc8 35. Rxd5 cxd5
36. Bc3 Rd3 37. Qc2 Rxe3 38. fxe3 Qxc5 39. Bb4 $18) 34. Be3 Rb8 (34... Rd7 35.
Rg5 Qe4 36. Nc3 $18) 35. Qxb8 Rxd1 36. Rb1 $1 {The rook is gone, but it does
not mean that Black would not be able to bite. Unfortunately for him White is
able to defend against all the tricks.} (36. Re7 $2 Qh3+ 37. Kxh3 Rh1#) 36...
Qd7 37. Rg5 Ne4 (37... Ng4+ 38. Rxg4 Rxb1 39. Qxb1 Qxg4 40. Qd3 $18) 38. Rxd1
Qxd1 39. Qf4 {Without the missing pieces Topalov can not really hope to fight
on.} (39. Qf4 Nxg5 40. hxg5 Kg8 41. Bd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 {Such is Anand's faith on his opening,
... he tried it against Aronian, then against Giri and now once again against
Topalov. That's the thing with Anand: once he believes in his opening
preparation he is not afraid of his opponents' novelties.} 5. Qc2 {Topalov
made this move that was played by Giri as well. He got up from his chair and
Anand replied instantly.} Bb4 {A combination of QGD, Ragozin and Nimzo Indian.}
6. cxd5 (6. a3 {was Anish's choice.}) 6... exd5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3 Ne4 9. Qc2
{Up till here the players have been following the game between Sakaev and
Eljanov from Dagomys 2009. But now Anand deviates.} O-O (9... Ndf6 10. Ne5 Bf5
11. f3 Nd6 12. Qc3 Nd7 13. Bf4 O-O 14. g4 Be6 15. e3 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 h5 17. gxh5
Qh4+ 18. Bg3 Qxh5 $11 {0-1 (50) Sakaev,K (2627)-Eljanov,P (2693) Dagomys 2009})
10. e3 Re8 11. b3 $5 {[%cal Gb2b3] This doesn't seem to be too ambitious.
After that Black can equalise without too many difficulties.} (11. b4 {If you
wanted to develop the bishop on b2 then why not b4? Well, then the b4-pawn
could become a weakness after} a5 12. Bb2 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1 Qe7 $15)
11... c6 12. Bd3 Nf8 13. Bb2 Bf5 14. O-O (14. Nd2 Qg5 $15) 14... Qf6 15. Ne5
Nd6 {By exchanging the light-squared bishops, Vishy is mainly aiming for a
position where he would have a knight against the b2-bishop. That would give
Black an excellent position.} 16. Rae1 Bxd3 17. Nxd3 Qg6 18. f3 $5 {The thing
about Topalov is that he always likes to play actively. Here he is looking for
the right moment when he can break in the centre with e4 and at the same time
take that square away from the d6-knight. But Black is just too solid and well
developed.} f6 19. a4 Ne6 20. Qd2 (20. Ba3 Nf5 $11) 20... h5 $5 {In some ways
securing the f5-square for the knight.} 21. Ba3 Nf5 22. Nf4 $6 {This move is
completely illogical. White exchanges the knights and leaves himself with some
weaknesses. Why would White voluntarily want to defend an inferior endgame
when he has an equal position?} Nxf4 23. exf4 {The resulting position looks
mildly in Black's favour. The main reason being that the knight is better than
the bishop and Black's pawn structure is better than White's.} Rxe1 (23... h4
$1 {Securing the f5-knight was also possible.}) 24. Rxe1 Re8 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.
Kf2 {Anand with his micro edge has the right to keep trying.} Nh6 27. Qd3 b6 {
This is a very responsible decision. On one hand Black is weakening the c6
pawn but on the other he is preventing the move a5 followed by Bc5 which would
paralyse his queenside majority. It is always a trade-off and Vishy chose the
move b6. It turns out that the c6-pawn was the reason why he couldn't really
make much progress. What would have happened if Vishy had not played b6 is a
completely different story.} 28. Bb4 Qe6 29. Qc2 Kf7 30. Ba3 Qd7 31. Bb4 Nf5
32. Qd3 g6 33. g3 Ng7 {White doesn't have too many active possibilities. Black
on the other hand can try to use his queenside majority by having the knight
on e6 at some point. Right now it doesn't seem possible because Ne6 is met
with f4-f5, but whether Black can prepare it is the question.} 34. Qe3 Kg8 (
34... h4 35. g4 $11) (34... Qe6 {might have been the best move.} 35. Qxe6+ (35.
Qc3 h4 $17 36. g4 f5 37. g5 Qd7 {and the position has changed in Black's
favour.}) 35... Nxe6 36. Ke3 c5 37. dxc5 bxc5 38. Ba3 f5 $15) (34... Ne6) 35.
Qd3 Kh7 36. Kg2 Qf5 37. Qc3 (37. Qxf5 Nxf5 {would definitely be some progress
for Black.}) 37... Qe6 (37... Qb1 {was possible, but as Vishy said in the
press conference with three moves to go until the time control he didn't want
to let things spiral out of control. In any case it was just a draw.} 38. Qxc6
Qb2+ 39. Kh3 Qxb3 40. Bf8 Qxf3 41. Qxf6 (41. Qc7 $2 Qf1+ 42. Kh4 g5+ $1 43.
fxg5 fxg5+ 44. Kxg5 Qf5+ 45. Kh4 Qg4#) 41... Nf5 42. Qf7+ Kh8 43. Qf6+ $11) 38.
Qd3 a5 39. Bd2 Qf5 40. Qc3 Qe6 41. Qd3 Qf5 42. Qc3 h4 {Vishy shuns the draw
and tries to play for a win.} 43. g4 Qb1 {The queen has made its way into the
enemy camp, but without the knight it cannot do much.} 44. Be3 (44. Qxc6 Qd3
$19 {The bishop on d2 will drop.}) 44... Qd1 45. Bf2 Qe2 46. Qe3 Qxe3 47. Bxe3
Ne6 48. Kh3 g5 49. f5 $1 (49. fxg5 fxg5 {might be a tad better for Black,
although a draw here looks most likely.}) 49... Nf4+ (49... Nc7 {being
over-ambitious might make things completely bad for Black.} 50. f4 $1 $16 {
It's White who has the chances to play for a win now.}) 50. Bxf4 gxf4 51. Kg2 {
There is no way to break through and hence the players agreed to a draw.} (51.
Kxh4 $2 c5 52. dxc5 bxc5 53. Kh3 c4 $19) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 h6 10. Nbd2 d6 11. c3 Rb8 12. h3 Re8 13. d4 Bf8 14. a5 bxc3 15. bxc3
exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Ba3 d5 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Qf3 Ba8 20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21. e5 Kg8
22. exf6 Qxf6 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Qc3 c5 25. Nf3 Rb8 26. Ne5 cxd4 27. Qxd4 Bd6
28. Bb2 Qxe5 29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. Bxe5 Rb5 31. Bd1 Nd3 32. Bd4 Bc6 33. Bc2 Nf4 34.
Be5 Rc5 35. Bd1 Nd3 36. Bd6 Rc3 37. Bg4 Kf7 38. Ra2 Bb5 39. Re2 Rc6 40. Bb8 Nc5
41. Re5 d4 42. Bf3 Rc8 43. Bd6 Ne6 44. Bh5+ Kf6 45. Bg4 Rc1+ 46. Kh2 Bc4 47.
Rf5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {The English Opening, extensively discussed in the 2016 Candidates
Tournament. It can be justified by the current trend - being able to develop
your pieces and keep the game flexible without engaging in a theoretical
battle every single game.} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O
d6 7. d3 h6 8. Na4 $5 {White simply wants to play a3-b4. This is a rare idea,
but it was also played in the very same round at the same Candidates
Tournament, by Svidler against Nakamura.} a5 {The standard reaction.} 9. b3 {
This is also possible because of Na4 (otherwise the knight would be hanging on
c3). After Bb2, e3, we go into a complex middlegame full of possibilities.} Qe7
(9... Re8 {was played in the other twin game of the round} 10. Bb2 Bf5 {
Black is not scared of e4, because that would simply weaken d4 too much} 11. e3
Qe7 12. a3 Bc5 13. Nc3 Qd7 14. Nd5 $5 {defines the position rather quickly, it
was also possible to keep everything more flexible, as did Aronian in his game.
} (14. d4 $5 exd4 15. exd4 Bb6 {and now both 16.d5 or the cool 16.Qd2 look
interesting for White}) 14... Nxd5 15. cxd5 Ne7 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Bh3 18. e4
$11 {½-½ (30) Svidler,P (2757)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016, and after many
simplifications, the game ended in a draw at move 30.} (18. Qd3 $5 Bxg2 19.
Kxg2 c6 (19... Nxd5 $2 20. Nf5 $1 Qc6 21. Kg1 f6 22. b4 $1 axb4 23. axb4 Rxa1 (
23... Bxb4 $2 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. e4 $18 {because of Ne7+}) 24. Rxa1 Bxb4 25. Rd1
Nc3 26. Rc1 Qe4 27. Qxe4 Rxe4 (27... Nxe4 28. Rxc7 $18 {with a decisive attack}
) 28. Bxc3 Rc4 29. Bb2 Rxc1+ 30. Bxc1 $16 {should be winning for White}) 20.
dxc6 bxc6 21. Rac1 {also doesn't look much because Black has counterplay on
the b3-pawn as well} Rab8 $44)) 10. Bb2 Bc5 11. e3 {This is the spirit,
keeping a very flexible position, Black has to be watching d4 or Nh4-f4 as
well. Also, Black's dark-squared bishop becomes somewhat awkward, since White
is the one who will decide if he is going for d4, and when. I think the whole
point is that White can gradually improve his position by pushing his pawns 
(like the ones I mentioned, or even a3-b4). And that is annoying for Black,
who doesn't have a clear pawn break. His pieces eventually will lack space.}
Ba7 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Nh4 $5 {Avoiding ...Bf5 and asking Black how is he going
to develop from here.} Qd8 {A kind of mysterious way to reorganise the pieces,
the queen just came from d8!} 14. Qd2 Ne7 15. Rad1 c6 {Having developed almost
all the pieces, Aronian could start thinking about some central action.} 16.
Ne2 $5 {I think he wants to play d4 and be able to take with a piece, and then
put some pressure on d6.} (16. d4 exd4 17. exd4 d5 {probably wasn't too
attractive for White. If c5, Black is able to regroup with Bb8, and then the
d4-pawn could become a weakness.}) 16... Nf5 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. d4 Qc8 (18...
Qc7 {followed by Rad8 was also possible.The Qc8-Bh3 idea could be prepared
later, after bringing the rook to d8.} 19. Nc3 Rad8 $13) 19. Nc3 {The problem
for Black is that White gradually improves his position, and Black has to be
waiting. Topalov did try to take immediate action, but ended up in a worse
position.} exd4 $5 20. exd4 {Now there is a positional threat of d5, and Black
has to be creative to avoid going into a worse position.} Ne4 $2 {Seemingly
natural, this move puts Topalov in big trouble, because of his lack of
development.} (20... Bh3 $1 21. d5 {Black has to deal with the weakness of the
d6-pawn without playing ...c5 (that would simply bury the bishop on a7)} a4 $1
22. dxc6 (22. Nxa4 Ne4 23. Qd3 Qf5 $1 $132) 22... Bxg2 23. Kxg2 bxc6 24. Nxa4
Ne4 $132 {followed by ...Ng5, with counterplay.}) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Rxe4
23. Rfe1 $1 $16 {Simple and good, Black has problems controlling the invasion
on the e-file.} (23. d5 $6 {wouldn't be a big deal now} Bc5 $1 $11 {and Black
is fine after ...Qf5 and ...Rae8}) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qf5 25. Re7 Rb8 26. Kg2
Bb6 27. Qe2 d5 28. c5 $2 (28. Qf3 $1 {keeping the pressure on d5, was stronger.
It is really hard to give Black any good advice here, his pieces are paralysed
and White has a clear plan (Rd7 to threaten d5, or force Black to play ...dxc4
and give White a passed pawn on the d-file)} Qxf3+ 29. Kxf3 dxc4 (29... a4 30.
cxd5 axb3 31. axb3 cxd5 32. Rd7 $16 {with big winning chances, after taking on
d5}) (29... Bd8 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. Ba3 Bc7 32. Re7 $18) 30. bxc4 $16 {and Ke4
followed by d5 (or Ba3-Bd6) most likely will be decisive.}) 28... Bd8 29. Re8+
Kh7 30. Bc3 (30. Qf3 $5 {was a possible try, but was not going to lead White
anywhere at this point} Qxf3+ (30... Qd7 $6 31. Rf8 f6 32. Qe2 {with a strong
initiative} Bc7 $2 33. Qd3+ g6 34. Rxf6 $18) 31. Kxf3 Kg6 {threatening ...Bc7
now that f7 is defended} (31... Bc7 $2 32. Re7 $18 {wins the f7-pawn and most
likely the game}) 32. Bc3 (32. a4 {there is no time for this} Bc7 $11) 32... a4
$1 (32... Bc7 33. Rxb8 Bxb8 34. Bxa5 $18 {is an easy win after a4-b4-b5, etc})
33. bxa4 Bc7 {now Black wants to play ...Ra8 if the white rook retreats} 34.
Rxb8 (34. Re2 Ra8 35. Rb2 Ra7 $11 {and it looks like Black will not have any
kind of problems holding this}) 34... Bxb8 $11 {has to be a draw, the extra
a-pawn is useless}) (30. Qe5 Qd7 $1 {and Black holds his own after ...Rc8 and
the bishop moving to f6, for example} (30... Qxe5 $2 31. dxe5 Kg6 {here
playing ...Bc7 doesn't help that much, White has a strong central pawn mass now
} 32. f4 Bc7 33. Re7 Rc8 34. g4 $18) 31. Bc3 Rc8 32. Qe2 {White tries to
retain a little pressure, but I think this is going nowhere} g6 33. h4 h5 $11 {
it is important to notice that the d4-pawn also could be under attack (after ..
.Bf6, for example).}) 30... Rc8 31. Rf8 (31. Qf3 Qd7 32. Rf8 Bf6 $1 33. Rxc8
Qxc8 34. Bxa5 Qa8 $132 {with enough counterplay to equalise the game.}) (31. h4
$5 Bc7 32. Re7 Kg8 33. h5 {this could be a small achievement - fixing the
structure on the dark squares on the kingside.} Kf8 34. Re3 Ra8 35. a4 Qd7 $11
{with ...Re8 next, I don't see how White will pose sany problems for Black.
The weakness on a5 and the fixing of the h6-g7 structure will not be enough,
the position remains very closed.}) 31... Bc7 32. Rxc8 Qxc8 33. Qe7 Kg8 34. h4
h5 35. Bd2 Qd8 $11 {Reaching full equality; White still plays on, but the
worst has passed for Black.} 36. Qe2 g6 37. Qe1 Kg7 38. a3 Qf6 39. b4 axb4 40.
axb4 Qf5 41. Qd1 f6 42. Be1 Kf7 43. f3 g5 44. Bf2 Qg6 45. Kf1 Qf5 46. Kg2 g4
47. f4 Qe4+ 48. Kg1 Ke6 49. Qb3 Qe2 50. Qb1 f5 51. Qa1 Qa6 52. Qe1+ Kf7 53. Qb1
Kf6 54. Qe1 Qa8 55. Qe2 Qc8 56. b5 Qe6 57. Qxe6+ Kxe6 58. b6 Bd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qb6 {This
Symmetrical English is a very complicated variation; both sides have found
interesting new ideas and improvements over the last years. This game is
another example.} 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8. Bf4 Nfg4 9. e3 (9. Qa4 $5 {Aronian,L (2739)
-Leko,P (2753) Morelia/Linares 25th 2008 (6) 1/2 I was really surprised the
first time I saw this idea. How could it be good to give up the f2-pawn with
check, without any clear reason? Aronian played this novelty in 2008 against
Peter Leko (who amazingly reacted very well - it is very hard to deal with
such a strong novelty over the board)} g5 {is the common move (played by Leko
in 2008 and then in 2015 also)} (9... Qxf2+ 10. Kd2 {and white has his 'jumps'
as well - Nc7+ is threatened, there is no easy way to deal with it} Qb6 $2 (
10... Qc5 11. Ne4 {with a complex position}) 11. h3 $16) 10. Bxe5 Qxf2+ 11. Kd1
Nxe5 12. Nc7+ Kd8 13. Nxa8 Qd4+ 14. Kc2 Nxc4 15. e4 Qd2+ (15... Ne3+ $2 {
was a tragic confusion by Karjakin. He mixed up the lines and couldn't figure
it out during the game, leading to a quick end} 16. Kb3 Qd2 17. a3 $1 {and
Black is in deep trouble as White's king is safe on a2} Qc2+ 18. Ka2 Qxa4 19.
Nxa4 Nxf1 20. Rhxf1 b5 21. N4b6 $1 axb6 22. Nxb6 Bb7 23. Rxf7 Bc6 24. Rd1 $18 {
1-0 (27) Nakamura,H (2776)-Karjakin,S (2760) Zuerich 2015}) 16. Kb3 Qxb2+ 17.
Kxc4 Bg7 18. Qa5+ b6 19. Qxg5+ f6 20. Qb5 Ba6 21. Qxa6 f5 22. Qxa7 Qxc3+ 23.
Kb5 {1/2-1/2 (23) Shankland,S (2661)-Leko,P (2713) Tsaghkadzor 2015; is a
bizarre forced line that leads to a draw.}) 9... a6 10. Qa4 Ra7 (10... g5 {
is another option} 11. Bxe5 Nxe5 12. O-O-O Rb8 13. Nd4 Qb4 14. Qc2 Be7 15. a3
Qa5 16. f4 Nc6 17. Nb3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (43) Rambaldi,F (2560)-Abdumalik,Z (2390)
Doha 2015; and White had the better chances.}) 11. h3 axb5 $1 $146 (11... g5 {
is possible here also, and had been played by Grischuk once already, but
didn't look convincing} 12. hxg4 gxf4 13. gxf4 axb5 (13... Nxg4 14. Bh3 Nxf2
15. Kxf2 axb5 16. Qxb5 $14) 14. Qxb5 Qxb5 15. Nxb5 Nc6 16. Nxa7 Nxa7 17. Bd3
Bg7 18. O-O-O $16 {1/2-1/2 (52) Matlakov,M (2689)-Grischuk,A (2792) Dubai 2014;
with advantage for White in this weird endgame.}) 12. Qxb5 Qc6 (12... Qxb5 $5 {
is also playable, apparently} 13. Nxb5 Bb4+ 14. Ke2 Ra5 15. hxg4 Nxc4 $13 {
with a super complicated and odd endgame for both players.}) 13. hxg4 Qxh1 14.
Bxe5 Qc6 15. Bd4 Ra8 16. a3 (16. O-O-O $5 {I think Topalov didn't want to
allow ...Qxb5, because a2 was hanging. But it was in fact playable:} Qxb5 {
(this is not forced, I'm just trying to justify 16.a3)} 17. Nxb5 Rxa2 18. Kb1
Ra4 19. Be2 $1 {is an important move to stop h5, but a very hard move to find!
Because 19.Na7 simply wins the exchange back, but apparently it is not enough}
(19. Na7 e5 20. Bb6 Rxa7 21. Bxa7 h5 $11 {with a balanced endgame}) 19... d6
20. b3 Ra5 21. Kb2 $16 {followed by Bc3, winning the exchange and getting big
chances in the endgame, because of his opponent's lack of development.}) 16...
Be7 17. Qh5 (17. Bxg7 $5 Rg8 18. Bd4 {(threatening Qh5)} Rg5 19. Qb3 Rxg4 20.
O-O-O {and again we have an irrational position, but I would definitely choose
White here:} d6 21. c5 Kf8 22. Bb5 Qc7 23. cxd6 Bxd6 24. Be2 $36) 17... Kf8 (
17... O-O $6 18. O-O-O $40) 18. O-O-O $6 (18. c5 $1 {was a key move to create
more problems for Black. In the game, Caruana was able to play 18...b6 and 19..
.Ba6.} d6 $6 19. Rd1 $1 $16 dxc5 $2 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Bxc5 22. Rd8+ Ke7
23. Rxh8 $18) 18... b6 {Now Black has easy and simple moves to bring his
pieces into play.} 19. Kb1 Ba6 20. Nb5 Rd8 21. Bc3 {Topalov chooses to play on
and gradually gets into trouble.} (21. Nd6 $5 {would force a draw immediately}
Bxd6 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qxd8+ Kg7 25. Qg5+ Kf8 26. Qd8+ Kg7 $11)
21... Bxb5 22. cxb5 (22. Qxb5 $5 Qxb5 23. cxb5 $13 {Black has to be watching
his queenside, b4-a4-a5 could be an idea.}) 22... Qf3 23. Rd2 Bf6 24. Bb4+ Kg8
25. Bd6 Rc8 26. Qh3 {Threatening the pretty Bg2.} Qe4+ (26... h5 27. gxh5 Rxh5
28. Qg2 Qxg2 29. Bxg2 Rxb5 30. Bb7 $1 $44 {followed by b4, puts the black
rooks in awkward positions.}) 27. Bd3 Qd5 28. Bb4 (28. Qf1 $5 {(threatening
Bxh7+)} g6 (28... Qf3 29. Qe2 Qxe2 30. Bxe2 $132 {now Black has trouble to
activate his h8-R. Meanwhile, White could start play on the queenside with
a4-b4-a5}) 29. Bf4 {(wanting to play e4-e5)} h5 30. e4 Qc5 31. Be3 $13 {
with an unclear position.}) (28. Bxh7+ $4 {fails because the queen on h3 also
stays under attack} Rxh7 $19) 28... Qf3 $1 29. Bf1 h5 30. Bg2 (30. gxh5 {
(similar to 26...h5)} Rxh5 31. Qg2 (31. Bg2 $5 Rxh3 32. Bxf3 d5 33. Ka2 {
The endgame remains complex, but Black has the better chances} Rh2 $17) 31...
Qxg2 32. Bxg2 d5 $17 {the difference is that Black is able to play the freeing
move ...d5, obtaining good chances in the endgame.}) 30... Qxg4 31. Qxg4 hxg4
32. Bd6 {Topalov wants to play a4-a5 (that would be very dangerous for Black).}
(32. Rxd7 {wouldn't change matters} Rh2 33. Bb7 Rb8 {and White is in trouble,
because there is no time to defend on f2 safely} 34. Be1 Rxb7 $1 35. Rxb7 Rh1
$19 {and Black wins the bishop.}) 32... Rc4 $1 {Stopping a4.} 33. Ka2 Rh2 34.
Bf1 Rc1 35. Bd3 Bg5 36. Bf4 Be7 (36... Bxf4 {was not an easy decision, because
White is marching fast with a4-b5-a5. But with precise play, it was good
enough for a win.} 37. exf4 Kf8 38. a4 Ke7 39. b4 Rg1 $1 40. a5 Rxg3 {scary,
but Black gets back in time} 41. axb6 Rgg2 42. b7 Rh8 $19) 37. e4 Bc5 38. e5
Re1 $2 {Throwing away the benefit of all the work so far by removing the R
from c1. Now White plays the strong 39.Rc2! threatening Rxc5 followed by b6.
Suddenly White has big chances to survive.} (38... f6 {is one of the winning
moves, threatening ...g5} 39. Bg6 fxe5 40. Bxe5 d5 $19 {and after taking on f2,
Black wins easily.}) (38... Kf8 {is also good enough, bringing the king to e7
and then thinking} 39. b4 Bd4 40. a4 Ke7 $19 {and Black takes on f2 at the
right moment, with an easy win.}) (38... Bxf2 $4 39. Rxf2 Rxf2 40. Bxc1 $18)
39. Rc2 $1 {Taking the opportunity to survive.} g5 $2 (39... Kf8 40. a4 $1 $132
{renewing threats (either Rxc5 or a5); it suddenly gets very dangerous for
Black} (40. Rxc5 $2 bxc5 41. b6 Ke7 $19 {and Black wins with ...Rh8})) (39...
Bxf2 $4 {it is never too late to go wrong} 40. Rc8#) (39... Rxf2 $2 40. Rxc5 $1
bxc5 41. b6 c4 42. b7 cxd3 43. b8=Q+ Kh7 44. Qb4 Ree2 45. a4 d2 46. Qd4 $16 {
Black is still fighting, but White should win this.}) 40. Bxg5 Rxe5 41. Bf6 Rd5
(41... Rd5 42. Be4 Rxf2 43. Rxf2 Bxf2 44. Bxd5 exd5 45. Be5 $13 {could have
been played, and it's hard to evaluate this weird bishop endgame, Black should
have the better chances, but White's queenside is scary. In any case, Caruana
probably wasn't in his best mindset to keep on pushing for the win. What a
crazy game!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 {The Sicilian occurred in the Candidates only twice! Apart from this
game Caruana used it in the last round in a must win situation. Karjakin
scored two crucial points against the Sicilian, indicating why the elite
considers 1...e5 safer in such a significant event.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 {Karjakin lost the lead in the previous round, now he
wants to get back to the top and goes for a popular and complex system.} e6 {
No wonder Topalov goes for the Scheveningen setup.} ({Last December in London
he lost 2 games after} 6... e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5 (8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 b5 10. Nd5
Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Rb8 12. Be3 Be7 13. Qd2 Nf6 14. O-O O-O 15. Kh2 Bb7 16. Nc3 Rc8
17. a4 b4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 a5 20. Qe2 Bg5 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 22. h4 (22. Qb5
Ba8 23. Qxa5 h4 $1 $44) 22... Qf6 (22... Qe7 23. Qxh5 f5 $44 (23... Rc5 $132))
23. Qb5 Qe7 24. Qxa5 Rxc2 25. Rac1 Rxb2 26. Rb1 Ra2 27. Qxb4 Ba6 28. Qb3 Bxf1
29. Qxa2 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 $14 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2765)-Topalov,V (2803) London
2015}) 8... Be6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 g6 ({Earlier Black preferred} 
11... Nc6 12. O-O-O g6 {with mixed success.}) 12. O-O-O Nd7 13. Kb1 {only
appeared later} Nc5 $142 $5 (13... Rc8 14. Nec3 Rc5 15. Be2 b5 16. a3 Nb6 17.
g4 hxg4 18. Nxb6 Qxb6 19. hxg4 Rxh1 20. Rxh1 Bg7 21. Qe3 Qb7 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. g5
Qc6 24. Rg1 (24. Qg3 $1 {/\} a5 25. Bg4 b4 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Qh3 $1 $36) 24...
Qd7 (24... a5 $1 $132) 25. Qg3 $36 {[%cal Ye2g4] Anand,V (2803)-Topalov,V 
(2803) London 2015}) 14. Qf3 Bg7 15. Nec3 b5 16. Be2 Rb8 17. a3 Bd7 $5 18. Qe3
a5 19. b4 (19. Na2 $5 {is maybe safer, but can hardly give White an advantage
after} Bh6 20. Qf3 Kf8 $13) 19... Ne6 20. g3 Nd4 21. Bd3 Be6 22. f4 axb4 23.
axb4 Ra8 $132 24. f5 gxf5 25. exf5 Nxf5 26. Bxf5 Bxf5 27. g4 $6 (27. Nxb5 O-O
28. g4 $13) 27... hxg4 28. hxg4 Rxh1 29. Rxh1 Be6 $15 {Ganguly,S (2648)-Giri,A
(2784) Doha 2015}) 7. g4 Nfd7 {We'll check the more popular reactions:} (7...
b5 8. Bg2 ({Karjakin would maybe continue as in the game} 8. g5 $5 Nfd7 9. a3
$13) 8... Bb7 9. O-O Nfd7 ({Black avoids the tactics} 9... b4 10. Nd5 $1 $44 {
, or}) (9... Nc6 10. e5 $36) 10. a4 $5 (10. Re1 Nc6 11. e5 d5 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13.
Ne2 Bb7 14. Nd4 Bc5 15. Be3 O-O 16. f4 Qc7 17. c3 Rae8 18. g5 Bb6 19. Kh1 Nc5
20. Rg1 Rc8 21. Rc1 Rfd8 22. h4 Ne4 23. Bf3 Qe7 24. Rg2 b4 $132 {Bruzon
Batista,L (2669)-Bu,X (2695) Danzhou 2015}) 10... b4 11. Na2 a5 12. c3 bxc3 13.
Nxc3 Nc5 14. Ndb5 Be7 15. Be3 Nba6 16. Qe2 O-O 17. Rad1 Qb8 18. f4 Bc6 19. b3
Nb4 20. f5 Re8 21. f6 $1 Bxf6 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Nxd6 Nd7 24. Nxe8 Qxe8 25. Qf2
Qf8 26. Rd2 Rc8 27. Ne2 Na6 28. Ng3 $36 {Schnabel,M (2439)-Horvat,M (2456)
email 2013}) (7... h6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. f4 Nc6 10. Be3 Nd7 11. O-O {To avoid these
problems, Black should prefer the safer} O-O (11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4 O-O 13. Qd2
Rb8 14. Ne2 b5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f5 Nf6 17. Ng3 Bb7 (17... Re8 18. Bd4 (18. Kh1
$5 {could have been Anand's intention in 2015, according to M.Pavlovic.}) 18...
e5 19. Be3 Bb7 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qxh6 Nh7 22. f6 Bf8 23. Qh5 Qc5+ 24. Kh2 Qe3
25. h4 Qh6 26. Qxh6 Bxh6 27. g5 $16 {Navara,D (2716)-Grischuk,A (2795) Tromso
olm 2014/ For details see the notes to this game in CBM 162.}) 18. Kh1 $5 Rbd8
$2 (18... d5 19. Bf4 (19. e5 Qxe5 20. Bf4 Qxb2 $132) 19... e5 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21.
Qxh6 Rfd8 22. g5 Bf8 23. Qh4 Nxe4 24. Nh5 Rd6 25. Bf3 $1 $44 {[%cal Yf1g1,
Yh5f6]}) 19. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 20. Qxh6 d5 21. g5 Qxg3 22. Rd3 $1 Nh5 23. g6 $18 {
Anand,V (2804)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2723) Stavanger 2015 For more details see
the notes to this game in CBM 167 by M.Pavlovic.}) 12. Nce2 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 (13.
Nxd4 e5 14. Nf5 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 16. Qd2 (16. Qd5 Bxf5 17. exf5 b5 18. Qxa8 $2
(18. Rad1 $11) 18... Qb6+ 19. Kh1 Rxa8 20. Bxa8 Bg5 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. b3 Qc5
$36 {[%csl Ra8,Ge5,Rh1] Shirov,A (2712)-Korobov,A (2700) Poikovsky 2015}) 16...
Bxf5 17. exf5 Rc8 18. b3 b5 19. Rfe1 Bf6 20. Rad1 Re8 21. Kh1 Rc7 22. c3 Rce7
$132 {Kruse,H (2374)-Riccio,E (2477) email 2010}) 13... b5 14. Ng3 e5 $5 15.
Qd2 exf4 16. Bxf4 Ne5 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 Rc8 19. Rad1 Nc4 20. Qc1 Bf6 21. b3
Ne5 22. Qd2 Qb6+ 23. Be3 Qc7 24. Qxd6 Qxc2 25. Qd2 Qc7 26. Qd6 Qa5 27. Qd2 Qc7
$11 {½, Shirov,A (2684)-Anand,V (2784) Zuerich blitz 2016}) ({Black should
gradually equalise after} 7... d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nde2 Bb4 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O
Nxc3 12. Nxc3 Qc7 13. Qd4 Bd6 14. Be3 Bd7 15. Rad1 Bh2+ 16. Kh1 Be5 17. Qb6
Qxb6 18. Bxb6 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Bc6 20. Rd4 Bxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Nc6 22. Rd7 Rab8 23. Rb1
Ne5 24. Rdd1 Rbc8 25. Bd4 Nc6 26. Rxb7 Nxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxc3 $11 {Evtushenko,S 
(2522)-Teichmann,C (2394) email 2013 However, I have a feeling Topalov
probably wanted to win at least one game in Moscow! Instead of gradual
equality, Black goes for a full-blooded fight.}) 8. Be3 {Karjakin develops his
queenside first, intending to hide his king there.} ({Two years ago we examined
} 8. Bg2 Be7 9. Be3 Nc6 10. h4 $5 (10. Qd2 O-O 11. O-O-O Nde5 12. Qe2 (12. b3
$5) 12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc6 14. Be3 b5 15. f4 Bb7 16. Kb1 Rc8 17. g5 Na5 $1 18.
Qe1 Qc7 19. Rc1 Nc4 20. Nd1 d5 21. exd5 Rfd8 $36 {Radjabov,T (2738)-Duda,J 
(2658) Berlin rpd 2015}) 10... Nde5 11. g5 Nc4 $5 ({More concrete and better
than} 11... Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. b3 f5 14. f4 Ng4 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 fxe4
17. O-O-O d5 18. Nxe4 Ba3+ 19. Kb1 Qe7 20. Nf2 Bc5 21. Qg3 Bxf2 22. Qxf2 O-O
23. Qd4 Rf5 24. Rde1 $14 {Anand,V (2770)-Topalov,V (2785)/Candidates
Khanty-Mansiysk/2014/ See the notes to this game by Anand in CBM 160.}) 12. Bc1
O-O 13. b3 (13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. b3 Nb6 15. Bb2 a5 16. Ne2 Ba6 17. Ng3 d5 18. Qd4
Bb4+ 19. Kd1 {Stevic,H (2613)-Yilmaz,M (2564)/Sarajevo/2014/} f6 $5 $13 {/=/+})
13... Qa5 14. Nde2 N4e5 $5 (14... Na3 15. O-O b5 16. Bd2 Qc7 17. Qc1 b4 18. Na4
{Nestorovic,N (2461)-Hajbok,R (2367)/Kazan/2013/} Nb5 $11) 15. f4 (15. h5 $5)
15... Ng4 $1 16. Bf3 h5 17. Bxg4 hxg4 18. Qd2 d5 19. exd5 Rd8 20. a3 exd5 21.
Na4 Qc7 22. h5 b5 23. h6 gxh6 24. Bb2 d4 $17 {Stevic,H (2619)-Tadic,B (2505)/
Neum/2014/}) (8. g5 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. h4 ({We will consider} 10. Be3 $5 {
in the following note.}) 10... Nb6 11. h5 N8d7 {leads to a line from the Keres
Attack, but with a tempo up for White. As he has played h2-h4, his bishop is
already on e3 and this enables the powerful temporary rook sacrifice 12.g6!
hxg6 13.hxg6. Here he needs the preparatory} 12. Rh3 Nc5 (12... d5 $142 $5 13.
g6 e5 $13) 13. g6 (13. Qg4 e5 14. Nf5 g6 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. O-O-O
Qd7 18. Nh6 Bxh6 19. Qxd7+ Nbxd7 20. Rxh6 Nxe4 21. Bg2 Nxc3 22. Bxb7 Nxd1 23.
Bxc8 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Nc5 25. b4 O-O 26. bxc5 Rxc8 27. cxd6 Rd8 $15 {Gopal,G 
(2580)-Areshchenko,A (2666) Al Ain 2014}) 13... hxg6 14. hxg6 Rxh3 15. gxf7+
Kxf7 16. Bxh3 e5 17. Qh5+ g6 18. Qh7+ Bg7 19. Ne6 Qh8 20. Ng5+ Kf6 21. b3 Qxh7
22. Nxh7+ Kf7 23. Be3 Rh8 24. Ng5+ Ke7 25. O-O-O $14 {Volokitin,A (2628)
-Kuzubov,Y (2640) Lvov 2015}) 8... Be7 ({Black usually plays the immediate} 
8... b5 {and now:} 9. a3 (9. a4 $6 b4 10. Na2 Bb7 11. Bg2 {allows} Nc5 $1 {
Contrary to the note to move 7 here White hasn't castled yet and has no
comfortable way to protect the Pe4, Black had an edge after} 12. Nxb4 Nxe4 13.
O-O d5 14. c3 Be7 15. f3 Nd6 16. f4 Nc4 17. Bf2 a5 18. Nd3 Nd7 19. Qe2 O-O 20.
f5 e5 21. Nb5 e4 22. Nf4 Bg5 23. Bd4 Qb8 $36 {Potkin,V (2585)-Artemiev,V (2674)
Moscow 2016}) (9. Bg2 Bb7 10. Qd2 Nb6 11. b3 N8d7 12. O-O Rc8 (12... Be7 13. f4
O-O 14. f5 $1 b4 15. Nce2 e5 16. f6 Bxf6 17. Nf5 $36 a5 18. Neg3 g6 19. Nh6+ $5
Kg7 20. g5 Be7 21. Ngf5+ $1 gxf5 22. exf5 Bxg2 23. Qxg2 Rc8 24. f6+ Kh8 {
Horvath,A (2536)-Kuzubov,Y (2667) Abu Dhabi 2014} 25. fxe7 Qxe7 26. Bxb6 Nxb6
27. Rf6 $40) 13. f4 Qc7 14. Nce2 e5 15. Nf5 g6 16. Nfg3 Qxc2 17. Qa5 exf4 $6 (
17... Qc7 $142 $1 $13 {is unclear.}) 18. Nxf4 Bg7 19. Rac1 Qb2 20. Nd3 $6 (20.
Nfe2 $1 {[%cal Re3b6] practically forces Black to play} Rc5 $16) 20... Bc3 $1
21. Nxb2 Bxa5 22. Nd3 Bc3 23. Ne2 Bg7 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Rc1 Kd8 26. Nd4 Bxd4
27. Bxd4 Re8 $15 {Andriasian,Z (2612)-Raznikov,D (2494) Jerusalem 2015}) 9...
Bb7 10. g5 {once again resembles the Keres without h6:} Nb6 11. Qg4 (11. h4
N8d7 12. Bg2 Rc8 13. Nde2 Be7 14. b3 h6 15. Qd2 Qc7 16. Bd4 e5 17. Be3 hxg5 18.
hxg5 Rxh1+ 19. Bxh1 f5 20. gxf6 Nxf6 21. Bg2 Nbd7 22. O-O-O Nc5 23. Bxc5 Qxc5
24. Kb2 a5 $132 {Adams,M (2742)-Ragger,M (2695) Germany 2016}) 11... N8d7 12.
O-O-O Ne5 (12... g6 13. h4 Rc8 14. h5 Ne5 15. Qh3 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Bxe4 17. hxg6
Bxg6 18. f4 Nd5 19. Nxe6 $1 $16 Qa5 20. Rxd5 Qxc3 {Shirov,A (2708)-Al Sayed,M 
(2507) Caleta 2013} 21. Nd4 $18) 13. Qg3 Nec4 14. f4 Rc8 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16. Rd3
(16. f5 $5) 16... g6 17. Rhd1 Bg7 18. e5 d5 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Bc1 Bf8 $132 {
Milde,L (2061)-Huerga,A (2174) LSS email 2013}) 9. g5 b5 (9... Bxg5 $2 {
fails to} 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Qh5+ $16) (9... Nc6 10. h4 {is again a Keres
Attack with an extra tempo. While the position is probably unclear, in
practice it's easier to handle with White.}) 10. a3 Bb7 11. h4 O-O {
Provocative.} ({Black usually postpones castling with} 11... Nc6 12. Qd2 (12.
Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd4 O-O 14. O-O-O Rb8 $132 {[%cal Ya6a5,Yb5b4]}) 12... Rc8 13.
Nxc6 (13. O-O-O b4 $1 14. axb4 Nxb4 15. Nb3 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Rxc2+ 17. Qxc2 Nxc2
18. Kxc2 O-O 19. Nc3 Qa8 20. Be2 Qb7 21. Na5 Qc7 22. Ra1 d5 23. Nb3 e5 $15 {
Hovhannisyan,R (2623)-Zhigalko,S (2664) Martuni 2013}) (13. Rh3 b4 14. axb4
Nxb4 15. Nce2 a5 16. c3 Nc6 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Rd3 Qb6 20. Nd6+ Bxd6
21. Rxd6 O-O 22. f4 Rcd8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Qc2 c4 $36 {[%csl Re1] Demchenko,A 
(2583)-Gelfand,B (2735) Moscow 2016}) 13... Rxc6 14. O-O-O O-O 15. h5 Qa5 ({
Not even} 15... Ne5 16. h6 g6 17. Qd4 f6 18. f4 Nc4 19. f5 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Rc5
21. fxg6 hxg6 $13 {Pichot,A (2517)-Cheparinov,I (2682) Antofagasta 2016}) 16.
Kb1 Rxc3 $5 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 Bxe4 19. Rh4 Bf3 20. Re1 Ne5 $44 {
Bromberger,S (2532)-Cheparinov,I (2684) Reykjavik 2016 Isn't Cheparinov
Topalov's second anymore?}) 12. Qd2 {Development first.} (12. f4 Nc6 13. Rh3
Rc8 14. f5 Nxd4 (14... Nce5 $5 {/\} 15. fxe6 Rxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Nc5 $36 {[%csl
Re1]}) 15. Qxd4 Nc5 16. Bd2 Re8 17. O-O-O Qc7 18. f6 Bf8 19. Bd3 Qb6 20. Kb1
Na4 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Ne2 Nd7 23. Rf1 Ne5 24. Nf4 Nd7 25. Nh5 $36 {Grischuk,A 
(2797)-Dominguez Perez,L (2751) Baku 2014 Although White won, the notes by
Havasi in CBM 163 show Black missed several improvements on the way.}) 12...
Nb6 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({Veselin had bad memories of} 12... Nc6 13. O-O-O Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Rc8 (14... Bc6 15. f4 Rb8 16. f5 exf5 17. Bg2 f4 18. Nd5 a5 19. Qxf4 Bxd5
20. exd5 b4 21. a4 Qc7 22. b3 Rbc8 23. Rd2 Ne5 24. Kb1 f6 25. Qf5 Qd7 26. Qxd7
Nxd7 27. Bh3 $16 {Demchenko,A (2589)-Gabrielian,A (2576) Iasi 2015}) 15. Rg1
Ne5 16. Qe3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. f4 Re8 19. f5 Bf8 20. f6 e5 21. Bb6 $40 {
Vallejo Pons,F (2697)-Topalov,V (2752) Leon rpd 2012 White has a lead in his
attack and went on to win.}) ({Postal games saw Black successfully adopting
the central counter} 12... d5 $5 13. exd5 (13. h5 dxe4 14. g6 Ne5 15. O-O-O
Nbc6 16. h6 fxg6 17. hxg7 Rf7 18. Bh3 Nc4 19. Nxc6 Qxd2+ 20. Bxd2 Bxc6 21. Bxe6
e3 22. fxe3 Bxh1 23. Rxh1 Bf6 24. Rf1 Kxg7 25. Bxf7 Nxd2 26. Kxd2 Bxc3+ 27.
bxc3 Rf8 28. c4 Rxf7 29. Rxf7+ Kxf7 {½, Lovakovic,F (2272)-Ilyin,P (2255)
email 2012}) 13... Nb6 14. Rg1 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. h5 (16. O-O-O Nc6 17.
Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Rxg2 Qxd2+ 20. Rxd2 Rad8 $11 {½, Korzh,L (2089)
-Lubas,J (2061) email 2014}) 16... Qc7 17. Nf5 Nc6 18. Bf4 Qb7 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7
20. O-O-O b4 21. Qe3 bxa3 22. bxa3 Rac8 $132 {Zolochevsky,V (2349)-Baldin,V 
(2332) email 2012}) 13. h5 {Natural enough, but the more energetic} (13. g6 $5
{also deserved attention:} {/\} hxg6 14. h5 $36) 13... N8d7 14. g6 Ne5 {
The knight aims for c4, while e6 is indirectly protected due to the fork on f3.
} ({However, the typical} 14... Bf6 $132 {was also interesting.}) ({, or the
more concrete} 14... Nc5 $5 15. Rg1 (15. O-O-O Nxe4 $1 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. gxf7+
Rxf7 18. Nxe6 Qc8 $17) 15... Bf6 $13) 15. O-O-O {Karjakin finishes his
development, contrary to Caruana-Nakamura, Moscow 2016 White's major pieces
will be able to support his bayonet attack.} ({The direct} 15. h6 fxg6 16. Bh3
(16. hxg7 Re8 $5) 16... Rf6 17. O-O-O (17. Bxe6+ Rxe6 18. Nxe6 Nf3+ 19. Kd1 Qc8
$36) 17... Nbc4 18. Qe1 Qa5 $13 {leads to immense complications, which are
almost impossible to evaluate correctly over the board. One plausible
follow-up is} {/\} 19. Bxe6+ (19. Bg5 $5) 19... Rxe6 20. Nxe6 Nxb2 21. Kxb2
Nc4+ 22. Kb1 Nxa3+ $1 (22... Qxa3 23. Bc1 Qb4+ $11) 23. Kc1 Rc8 24. Rd3 b4 $40)
15... Nbc4 16. Bxc4 ({Swaps a potential attacking unit, but after} 16. Qe2 Bf6
17. Bh3 Bc8 {Black's knights are alive and dangerous, e.g.} 18. gxf7+ Rxf7 19.
Bxe6 $6 Bxe6 20. Nxe6 Qa5 $44 {[%cal Rc4b2] /\Nb2}) 16... Nxc4 17. Qe2 Rc8 $2 {
The Sicilian is often about one mistake, which can often be irredeemable.} (
17... Nxe3 $6 18. fxe3 $1 (18. Qxe3 Bg5 19. f4 Bh6 20. Kb1 Qe7 $132) {opens
the <->f and also isn't ideal:} 18... Bf6 19. h6 hxg6 20. Qh2 {-> /\} Re8 21.
hxg7 Bxg7 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Rhg1 {[%cal Rg1g6]} Bxd4 24. exd4 Qf6 25. Rdf1 Qg7
26. Qxg6 Qxg6 27. Rxg6 $16) (17... Bf6 $142 $1 {Adams,M (2741)-Kasparov,G 
(2804) Linares 22nd 2005 (12) 0-1 retains the tension and is a typical move in
similar situations - see} 18. Qg4 (18. h6 {gives Black a choice between} fxg6
$5 (18... hxg6 19. hxg7 Bxg7 $13) 19. Nxe6 Qe7 20. Nxf8 Bxc3 $132) 18... Qe7 $5
$13 {/\} ({The Pe6 still requires protection:} 18... Rc8 $2 19. h6 hxg6 20.
Nxe6 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Qd7 22. hxg7 Bxg7 23. Qh3 fxe6 24. Qh7+ Kf7 25. Rdg1 Ke8 26.
Qxg6+ Rf7 27. Rh7 Kf8 28. Qh5 $1 {[%cal Rh7g7]} Rf6 (28... Bxc3 29. Qh6+ Ke7
30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. Rf1+ Kg8 32. bxc3 $18) 29. Qh4 $1 Rc7 30. Rhxg7 Qxg7 31.
Rxg7 Kxg7 32. Qg3+ $18) 19. Rdg1 h6) 18. h6 $1 $40 {[%mdl 128] This break
comes at the exactly right moment. White's Q and rooks are ready to pounce on
the hapless enemy king; the attack is simply too powerful.} fxg6 {loses
material without compensation.} ({However,} 18... hxg6 {is hopeless:} 19. hxg7
Re8 (19... Kxg7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Rdg1 {[%cal Re2h5,Rd4e6]}) 20. Qf3 $40 (20.
Nxe6 $5 fxe6 21. Rdg1 $18 {[%csl Rg8]})) 19. Nxe6 Qd7 (19... Qa5 20. hxg7 Rfe8
21. Rxh7 $1 $18 {and taking the R leads to a quick mate after} Kxh7 22. Rh1+
Kg8 23. Qg4 Kf7 (23... Ne5 24. Qf4) 24. Rh7 Rg8 25. Nf4 $18) 20. Nxf8 (20. hxg7
Rf7 21. Nc5 $16 {is good for White, but the text move is far simpler. Topalov
allegedly overlooked it, a definite sign he was totally out of form in Moscow.}
) 20... Bxf8 21. hxg7 Bxg7 22. Bd4 a5 ({After} 22... Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Nxa3 {
the computer solution is} 24. bxa3 $5 Rxc3 25. Rhd1 $18 {White's win is a
matter of technique.}) 23. Bxg7 Qxg7 24. Qg4 Re8 25. Qg5 Bc6 26. Qh6 Qh8 (26...
Bxe4 27. Qxg7+ Kxg7 28. Rhe1 Bc6 29. Rxe8 Bxe8 30. Rd4 $18 {[%cal Ra3a4]}) 27.
b3 $5 ({With an extra exchange White sees no need for} 27. Rh4 b4 28. Rd4 $1
$18 {and first of all strives to stop any meaningful counterplay.}) 27... Nxa3
{Endgames are hopeless:} (27... Qxc3 28. Qxh7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ {as well as} Qxh8
30. Rxh8+ Ke7 31. Rxe8+ Bxe8 32. bxc4 $18) (27... Bxe4 28. bxc4 (28. Rh3 $5)
28... Bxh1 29. Rxh1 {/\} Qxc3 30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Qh8+ Qxh8 32. Rxh8+ Ke7 33.
Rxe8+ Kxe8 34. cxb5 $18) 28. Rh3 (28. Qh3 $5 $18) 28... Bd7 29. Rg3 Qf6 30. Rh1
(30. Rdg1 $142 $1 Re6 31. f4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f5]}) 30... Re7 31. Qh4 Qg7 {
This loses by force.} ({A more resilient try was} 31... Qxh4 32. Rxh4 Bc6 {
, but in the endgame White should gradually convert his extra exchange in the
long run.}) 32. Nd5 Rf7 (32... Qa1+ 33. Kd2 Qd4+ 34. Rd3 $18) 33. Qd8+ Qf8 (
33... Rf8 34. Ne7+ $18 {so Black can't avoid the queen swap anyway. But now
White already has a better choice...}) 34. Qxa5 Nxc2 35. Qc3 (35. Qc3 Rxf2 36.
Rxg6+ hxg6 37. Rh8+ Kf7 38. Rh7+ $5 (38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Qh8+ Kf7 40. Qh7+)
38... Ke8 39. Qc7 Rf1+ 40. Kb2 {and White mates after the checks run out.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 {The idea of playing
a3 before e3 is to discourage the Nbd7 move. Nbd7 now can be met with Nb5.} c5
7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. cxd5 (9. Qc2 {is the main line of this variation.})
9... exd5 (9... Nxd5 {is played more often by Black. Play might continue
something like} 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 {which has already been played by
Topalov against Morozevich in San Luis 2005.}) 10. b4 (10. Be2 {looks normal
but allows Black to break in the centre with} d4 11. Na4 Bb6 12. exd4 (12. Nxb6
Qxb6 $11) 12... Bxd4 {This might not be such a huge edge for White.}) 10... d4
$1 {Nakamura is extremely alert and breaks right away in the centre.} 11. exd4
Bxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Be3 Nf5 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 $15 {Even though White has the
bishop pair, this position is completely favourable for Black thanks to his
developmental advantage. a7-a5 break looks strong and also Be6 followed by
Rac8 is not so easy to meet.} 15. Be2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 {Hikaru sank into deep
thought as to how he should use this small advantage that he has got out of
the opening. It is definitely an edge but not so huge and hence accurate play
is of paramount importance.} Ng4 $5 17. e4 (17. Bxg4 Bxg4 {is a pretty sad
position. The bishop is definitely superior to the knight and 0-0 is met with
Rd3.} 18. O-O Rd3 $17) 17... Be6 (17... Ne3 18. Kf2 $11) 18. O-O Ne3 19. Rfc1
Rd2 20. Bf3 (20. Kf2 Nc4 21. Ke1 Rd4 $15) 20... Rad8 21. e5 b6 22. Ne4 Rb2 23.
Re1 Nc4 (23... Nc2 24. Re2 $13) (23... Rb3 $5 {renewing the threat of Nc2 is
pretty strong.} 24. Re2 g6 $17) 24. Ng5 h6 25. Nxe6 fxe6 {Once the e6 bishop
is exchanged Black doesn't really have so much of an edge.} 26. Rac1 Rd4 27. h3
b5 28. Rc3 Rdd2 29. a4 a6 30. Bb7 Nb6 31. axb5 axb5 32. Be4 Nc4 33. Rg3 Re2 $15
34. Ra1 $2 (34. Rxe2 Rxe2 35. Bc6 Rxe5 36. Rc3 {Black has better defensive
chances here.}) 34... Nxe5 35. Ra8+ Kf7 36. Bh7 g5 37. Bg8+ Kf6 38. Rf8+ Kg7
39. Re8 Ng6 40. Bxe6 Nf4 {The bad tournament for Veselin continues.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.03.28"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 dxc4 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5
Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Nxc4 Rd8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Rb8 14. f4 e5
15. f5 Nd4 16. g4 b6 17. Rc1 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Kf2 h6 20. h4 g5 21. fxg6
fxg6 22. Rhg1 Ne6 23. g5 hxg5 24. hxg5 Nh7 25. Ne4 Kg7 26. Rc6 Nd4 27. Rc3 Ne6
28. Rc6 Nd4 29. Rc3 Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nf3 f6 12. Nd4 Kc7 13. Nb3 e5 14. f4
Bd6 15. Be3 Re8 16. Kf2 Ba6 17. Rhe1 Bc4 18. Rab1 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. gxf4
Rab8 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Li, Chao B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5
Be7 9. cxd5 Bxd5 10. Ndf3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 c5 13. Rc1 h6 14. a3 a5
15. Qa4 Qd7 16. Qxd7 Nxd7 17. Rfd1 Rac8 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Nd4 Rfd8 20. Nb5 Bxg2
21. Kxg2 Bf6 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. g4 Kg7 24. Kf3 h5 25. gxh5 f5 26. Nd6 Ra8 27.
Nc4 Nb3 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rg1+ Kh6 30. Ne5 Nd4+ 31. Ke3 Nc2+ 32. Kf4 Rf8 33. e3
b5 34. Rc1 Rc8 35. Nxf7+ Kg7 36. Nd6 Rc6 37. Nxb5 Kf6 38. Nc3 e5+ 39. Kg3 f4+
40. Kh4 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. a4 b6 7. Na3 Bb7 8. Re1
e6 9. c3 Be7 10. Bc2 Qc7 11. d4 O-O 12. h3 Rac8 13. Bd3 Rfe8 14. Qe2 Ra8 15.
Bf4 g6 16. Bh2 Bf8 17. Nc4 b5 18. Ncd2 c4 19. Bc2 e5 20. Qe3 Bg7 21. dxe5 Nxe5
22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. b3 cxb3 24. Bxb3 bxa4 25. Bxa4 Red8 26. Rab1 Rac8 27. Rb3 Ba8
28. Bg3 Qa5 29. Ra1 Qc5 30. Qxc5 Rxc5 31. Bh4 h6 32. Bxf6 Bxf6 33. Ra2 Bg5 34.
Nf3 Bxe4 35. Nxg5 hxg5 36. Rb6 Rxc3 37. Rxa6 Kg7 38. Ra7 Bf5 39. Re2 Rc1+ 40.
Kh2 g4 41. hxg4 Bxg4 42. Rxe5 Rc4 43. f3 Bf5 44. Bb3 Rh4+ 45. Kg3 Rb4 46. Rxf7+
Kh6 47. Re3 Rd2 48. Rc7 Kg5 49. Bg8 Rbb2 50. f4+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. e3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 c5 10. Nc3 a6 11. Rfd1 Ra7 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. d4 Qa8
15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bd4 a5 17. Ne1 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 Rc7 19. Qg4 g6 20. Qf4 Rfc8 21.
Be5 Rd7 22. Ne1 Rd5 23. Bb2 Rcd8 24. Rxd5 Qxd5 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Bxd4 f6 27. Kf1
Kf7 28. Ke2 e5 29. Bxc5 Bxc5 30. Nd3 Ba3 31. Rd1 Rc8 32. Ne1 Ke6 33. Rd2 Rc1
34. Rc2 e4 35. Rxc1 Bxc1 36. f3 f5 37. fxe4 fxe4 38. Nc2 Kd5 39. Nd4 Bb2 40.
Nc2 b5 41. Kd1 h5 42. Ke2 Be5 43. Kf2 a4 44. Kg2 axb3 45. axb3 g5 46. Kf2 g4
47. Kg2 Bc3 48. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C79"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 g6 5. c3 d6 6. d4 Bd7 7. O-O Bg7 8. Re1
Nf6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nbd2 Qe7 13. Nf1 b5 14. Bc2 Rad8
15. Ne3 Be6 16. Qc1 Qc5 17. Re2 Rd7 18. Qe1 Nh5 19. b4 Qb6 20. Bb3 Nf4 21. Rd2
Rxd2 22. Qxd2 a5 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. a3 g5 25. Bg3 Rd8 26. Qa2 Kf7 27. h4 Bf6 28.
hxg5 hxg5 29. Ng4 Rd3 30. Qc2 Rxc3 31. Qb2 axb4 32. axb4 Rc4 33. Bxf4 gxf4 34.
Rd1 Ke7 35. Nxf6 Kxf6 36. Rd7 Nd4 37. Nxd4 Rxd4 38. Rh7 Qc6 39. Qe2 Qc1+ 40.
Kh2 Rd1 41. Rh6+ Ke7 42. Rh7+ Kd6 43. Kh3 Rh1+ 44. Kg4 Rxh7 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. e3 g5 12. Bg3 Ne4 13. Bd3 Ne5 14. Qc2 Nxd3+
15. Qxd3 Bf5 16. Qb5 Qd7 17. Qxb7 Rab8 18. Qa6 Rb6 19. Qa5 c5 20. O-O Rb5 21.
Qa6 Rb6 22. Qa5 Rb5 23. Qa6 Rb6 24. Qa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
d4 Nf6 9. Be3 Be7 10. c4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. a3 Qc7 14. h3 Rad8
15. Nf3 Bd6 16. b4 Ne5 17. Nd2 Ng6 18. Qc2 Bh2+ 19. Kh1 Bf4 20. Nde4 Nxe4 21.
Nxe4 Bc6 22. b5 Bxb5 23. Qb3 Bxe3 24. cxb5 Bd4 25. Rac1 Qb6 26. Rc2 axb5 27.
Bxb5 Nf4 28. a4 Nd5 29. Qf3 Nf6 30. Ng3 Rd6 31. Rec1 Rfd8 32. Kg1 Be5 33. Nf1
Nd5 34. Nd2 Nb4 35. Nc4 Qc7 36. Nxd6 Nxc2 37. Qxf7+ Qxf7 38. Nxf7 Kxf7 39. Rxc2
Rd1+ 40. Bf1 b6 41. g3 Rb1 42. Kg2 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3 e6 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Ngf3 Bxf3 8. Nxf3
Qa5+ 9. Nd2 Ba3 10. Bxa3 Qxa3 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 a5 13. Qc1 Qe7 14. a3 e5 15.
O-O Na6 16. Re1 Rfd8 17. Qb2 e4 18. d4 Nc7 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Ne6 21. b5 g6
22. Rec1 h5 23. Ra2 Qe8 24. Rca1 Kg7 25. Ra7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 cxb5 27. cxd5 Rxd5
28. Rxb7 Qc8 29. Rxb5 Rxb5 30. Qxb5 Qc1+ 31. Nf1 Nc7 32. Qe5 Ncd5 33. g4 hxg4
34. hxg4 Qc7 35. Ng3 Qxe5 36. dxe5 Nd7 37. e6 fxe6 38. Nxe4 e5 39. Kg2 N7f6 40.
Nc5 Nc7 41. g5 Nh7 42. f4 exf4 43. exf4 Nf8 44. Bg4 Kf7 45. Kf3 Nb5 46. Ke3 Nc7
47. Ke4 Nb5 48. Ke5 Nc7 49. Ne4 Nb5 50. Nd6+ Nxd6 51. Kxd6 Kg7 52. Ke7 Nh7 53.
Be6 Nf8 54. Bc4 Nh7 55. Be6 Nf8 56. Bg4 Nh7 57. Ke6 Nf8+ 58. Ke5 Nh7 59. Bh3
Nf8 60. Bg4 Nh7 61. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Qc8 8.
Na3 a6 9. Nh4 Be4 10. f3 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Nc2 e6 13. Bg3 Be7 14. Ne3 b5
15. a3 Na5 16. Qc2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. O-O Nh5 19. Rae1 Nxg3 20. hxg3 Qc7 21.
f4 f5 22. Rf2 Kf7 23. Rfe2 Bf6 24. Nf1 Rae8 25. Nd2 g5 26. fxg5 Bxg5 27. Kf2 f4
28. Nf3 fxg3+ 29. Kg1 Qf4 30. Qa4 Bf6 31. Qxa6 Qg4 32. Qd6 Rh6 33. Re3 Reh8 34.
Kf1 Rh1+ 35. Ke2 Rxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Qf5 37. Qd7+ Kg6 38. Qxe6 Qb1+ 39. Ke2 Qxb2+
40. Nd2 Qc2 41. Rxg3+ Kh7 42. Rh3+ Kg6 43. Rxh8 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. Be3 Be6 10. Rc1 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. Rfd1 a6 14. a3 Bf6
15. Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Ne4 c6 19. b4 Be7 20. Qb3 Qb6 21.
Rc4 Rad8 22. Rb1 Rd5 23. a4 Qd8 24. Qb2 f5 25. Nd2 Bf6 26. Nf3 g5 27. Rc5 g4
28. Ne1 Be7 29. Rxd5 Qxd5+ 30. Kg1 Bg5 31. Ng2 Re5 32. Nf4 Qd6 33. b5 axb5 34.
axb5 cxb5 35. Qa2+ Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kh6 37. Nf4 Bxf4 38. gxf4 Qe6 39. Qxe6+ Rxe6
40. Rxb5 Rxe2 41. Rb6+ Kh5 42. Rxb7 Rd2 43. Rxh7+ Kg6 44. Rd7 Rxd3 45. Kf1 Rh3
46. Rxd4 Rxh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bf4 Nh5 8.
g3 Nxf4 9. gxf4 Nb6 10. e3 g6 11. h4 Bb4 12. Bd3 Bg4 13. Ne5 Bh5 14. Be2 Bxe2
15. Kxe2 f6 16. Nd3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qe7 18. Qc5 Nc4 19. Qxe7+ Kxe7 20. h5 Rag8
21. hxg6 hxg6 22. a4 a5 23. b3 Nd6 24. Rag1 Kf7 25. Rc1 Rh5 26. Rhg1 Rh2 27.
Rh1 Rh5 28. Rhg1 Rh2 29. Rh1 Rh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E53"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {Hari accepts the invitation of going into the Nimzo
Indian.} Bb4 4. e3 {The Rubinstein Variation is quite contradictory in nature.
White closes his bishop on c1 with this move but still this move is quite
ambitious in nature. The reason: Other pieces have natural squares to develop.
For eg. the knight goes to f3 and the bishop to d3. Later on e4 will liberate
the c1 bishop.} O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 {This is the tabiya of the entire
opening. Now the main move is 0-0. But Hari goes for immediate clarification
in the centre.} 7. cxd5 exd5 (7... Nxd5 8. O-O $1 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 $44
{And with threats like Bxh7, White has excellent compensation.}) 8. dxc5 Nbd7
$1 {Topalov makes use of the fact that he still hasn't developed his knight to
c6 and captures the pawn with his knight.} 9. Bd2 {Not many games have taken
place in this line. Two strong players Wojtaszek and Wesley So who played this
with black won their games. So it is an open question whether Harikrishna
really wanted to go for this line or not.} Nxc5 10. Be2 Ne6 {Immediately
threatening d4.} 11. a3 Be7 12. O-O a6 (12... d4 {Would not have been a good
idea now as after} 13. exd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Be3 {White's slight
activity in this symmetrical position, counts for quite a lot.}) 13. Rc1 b6 14.
Na2 {Hari is trying to exchange his d2 bishop with Bb4. But Black doesn't
really have any problems with that.} Bb7 15. Bc3 (15. Bb4 Nc5 {Followed by
Nfe4 gives Black good centre control.}) 15... Ne4 16. Be5 Bf6 17. Nb4 N4c5 18.
Nd3 (18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qxb2 $11) 18... Bxe5 19. Ndxe5 Qd6
20. Nc4 Qd8 21. Nce5 Qd6 22. Nc4 Qd8 23. Nce5 {Quite a tame draw. But Hari is
slowly but steadily getting in the groove.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D59"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. b3 c5 13. Bb5 a6 14. Bd3 Nd7
15. O-O a5 16. h3 Rfc8 17. a4 Nf6 18. Qe2 Bd7 19. Ne5 cxd4 20. exd4 Qd6 21. Qe3
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Qc1 Be6 25. Qc6 Qxc6 26. Nxc6 Kf8 27. Kf1
Ne8 28. Ne5 Nd6 29. Ke2 g5 30. Ng4 Bxg4+ 31. hxg4 Ke7 32. f3 Ke6 33. Ke3 f5 34.
Bxf5+ Nxf5+ 35. gxf5+ Kxf5 36. g4+ Ke6 37. Ke2 Ke7 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Ke2 Ke7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {A popular idea
avoiding lots of theory and heading for positional play.} d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. h3 b5 11. Bc2 {Usually White has to retreat to b3, but the
idea of this line is to sidestep ...b5 with Bc2 at once which helps him to get
in d3-d4. The downside is that the bishop on b3 is aiming at f7 and thus gives
Black certain problems that he needs to solve with some preparatory moves like
...h6 for instance.} Ne7 {Black has various ideas here, I will give few
interesting examples:} (11... g6 12. Nf1 Bg7 13. Ng3 Nb8 14. d4 Nbd7 {with a
Breyer type of position.} 15. b3 (15. d5 Bb7 16. b3 Qe7 17. c4 c6 18. Bg5 cxd5
19. cxd5 h6 20. Be3 Rec8 21. Rc1 Nc5 22. b4 Ncd7 23. Nd2 $14 {1-0 (70) Delchev,
A (2606)-Zisiadis,D (2005) Paleochora 2015}) 15... c5 16. d5 Qc7 17. Bg5 h6 18.
Be3 a5 19. Nh2 Kh7 20. Qd2 b4 21. c4 a4 22. Rad1 Qd8 23. Bb1 Re7 24. Rf1 Qh8
$13 {1/2-1/2 (71) Sengupta,D (2563)-Kovalenko,I (2680) Al-Ain 2015}) (11... Bb7
12. Nf1 Nb8 13. Ng3 Nbd7 14. d4 g6 {Another way of getting a Breyer type of
position.} 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. Rc1 c6 18. Bb1 Qc7 19. h4 h5 20. Bg5 Nh7
21. Be3 Ndf6 22. Nh2 Rad8 $13 {0-1 (45) Najer,E (2628)-Bruzon Batista,L (2691)
Internet 2013}) 12. d4 Ng6 13. Nf1 exd4 {This looks like a new idea in this
position, but the motif is known.} (13... Bb7 14. Ng3 h6 15. a4 c6 16. Be3 Qc7
17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Nh2 Re8 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 $14 {1-0 (40)
Gharamian,T (2661)-Butnorius,A (2400) Cappelle la Grande 2013}) 14. cxd4 c5 15.
d5 {This kind of Benoni structure is known and Black often employs it.} Nd7 16.
Ng3 a5 17. Be3 a4 18. Bd3 Rb8 19. Bf1 {Interesting play by Topalov, usually
players are happy with the bishop on c2 in the Ruy Lopez, but Topalov wants to
keep an eye on the queenside as well.} Nde5 {The problem of the black position
is typical: both black knights are heading for the same square which is
usually bad.} ({Another idea is to put pressure on e4:} 19... Nf6 20. Qc2 Bd7
21. Nd2 {[%cal Gf2f4,Gd2f3] White is heading for f4.} Be7 22. f4 h5 23. Nf3 h4
24. Nh1 Nh5 $13) 20. Nd2 $1 {Exchanging one knight would help Black immensly
and Topalov knows that.} Be7 21. b3 axb3 $6 {Such decisions to open or not are
not easy to solve during the game, but in this case it helps White because
soon he will be able to get on to the a-file.} (21... a3 {keeping the position
a bit closed was a safer option.}) 22. axb3 Bg5 23. Nh5 $1 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Nd7
25. Ra7 Re5 26. Be2 Ndf8 27. Qa1 {White is clearly better. In just few moves
all white pieces have started to get the best squares.} Qh4 28. Ng3 Qd8 29. Bg4
$1 {It is of crucial importance to get the f5-square for the knight.} Re7 30.
Rxe7 Nxe7 31. Bxc8 Rxc8 32. Nh5 f6 33. Rg3 Neg6 34. Qa6 Qd7 35. f4 {With f5 to
come next, Black is simply lost.} c4 36. bxc4 bxc4 37. Nxc4 f5 38. Nxd6 Rc1+
39. Kh2 fxe4 40. f5 e3 41. fxg6 hxg6 42. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Li, Chao B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Be7 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Ned2 e5 12. e4 Qe6 13. Rc1 b5 14. b3 c3 15.
Rxc3 Bb7 16. d5 cxd5 17. Rc7 Rb8 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Re1 Rd8 20. Nd4 Qb6 21. Bxd5
Qxc7 22. Ne6 Qb6 23. Nxd8 Qxd8 24. Nf3 O-O 25. Bc6 Nf6 26. Qxd8 Bxd8 27. Nxe5
Ba5 28. Re2 Rb8 29. Kg2 Kf8 30. f4 Bc3 31. g4 Rb6 32. Bf3 Rd6 33. Nc6 a6 34.
Nb8 Rb6 35. Nc6 Nxg4 36. Bxg4 Rxc6 37. Bd7 Rg6+ 38. Kf3 f5 39. Re8+ Kf7 40. Re3
Rd6 41. Be8+ Kf8 42. Bh5 g6 43. Bxg6 Rxg6 44. Rxc3 Rd6 45. Ke3 Kf7 46. a4 Re6+
47. Kf3 bxa4 48. bxa4 Rb6 49. Ke3 Rb4 50. a5 Rb5 51. Rc7+ Kg8 52. Rc8+ Kg7 53.
Rc7+ Kg8 54. Rc8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 f6 10. Rc1 Be6 11. Ne4 Bd5 12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qb1 Nxa2 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Qxa2 e4 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. Qb1 Rae8 18. e3 c6 19. Ne2 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Bf7
21. Nc3 Bg6 22. Qa3 Qxd2 23. Nb1 Qd7 24. Qxa7 Nd5 25. Qc5 Rf6 26. Nc3 Nxc3 27.
Qxc3 Rd6 28. b4 h6 29. Rfe1 Kh8 30. Qc2 Rd3 31. Bf1 Bh5 32. f4 Rd2 33. Qc3 Bd1
34. b5 c5 35. Qxc5 Ra8 36. Qb4 Bf3 37. Rc7 Rxh2 38. Rxd7 Rh1+ 39. Kf2 Rh2+ 40.
Bg2 Rxg2+ 41. Kf1 Rh2 42. Rd2 Rh1+ 43. Kf2 Rh2+ 44. Kf1 Rh1+ 45. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Nd2 Kc8 14.
Nf3 Be7 15. Rd3 h6 16. Kg2 c5 17. Kg3 Re8 18. c4 a5 19. a4 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21.
Ra2 Re2 22. Bd2 Ra6 23. b3 Rae6 24. Ng1 Bd4 25. Nxe2 Rxe2 26. Ra3 Bc6 27. Rxd4
cxd4 28. Bxa5 Rb2 29. c5 d3 30. Ra1 g5 31. b4 Bd5 32. Rd1 Rb3 33. b5 Ra3 34. f3
d2 35. Rxd2 Rxf3+ 36. Kh2 c6 37. Re2 Kd7 38. Be1 Ra3 39. bxc6+ Kxc6 40. a5 Kxc5
41. Bf2+ Kc4 42. Bb6 Kb5 43. Rb2+ Rb3 44. Rxb3+ Bxb3 45. Bd4 Bf7 46. Bg7 h5 47.
gxh5 Bxh5 48. Bf6 g4 49. Bd8 gxh3 50. Kxh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 11. Bf1 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Nh5 14. b4 f6 15. a4
Nhf4 16. a5 Bc7 17. Nb3 a6 18. Nc5 Ne6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bd3 Qd7 21. exf6 gxf6
22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Ra3 Rfe8 24. Rae3 Bd6 25. Bd2 Bf7 26. Nh2 Kg7 27. Qf3 Rxe3
28. Rxe3 g5 29. Ng4 Be7 30. h4 gxh4 31. Re1 Re8 32. Bh6+ Kg6 33. Re5 Bd8 34.
Qd3+ f5 35. Bf4 Kg7 36. Rxe8 Bxe8 37. Ne5 Qe6 38. Qd2 Qe7 39. Bh6+ Kh7 40. Nf3
Qe4 41. Ng5+ Bxg5 42. Bxg5 h3 43. gxh3 Bh5 44. Kh2 Be2 45. Qf4 Qxf4+ 46. Bxf4
Kg6 47. Kg3 Bf1 48. h4 Kh5 49. Bg5 Be2 50. Kf4 Bd3 51. Ke5 Kg4 52. Kd6 f4 53.
Kc7 f3 54. Kxb7 Bb5 55. Kc7 Kh5 56. Kd6 Kg4 57. Kc5 Kh5 58. Kd6 Kg4 59. Kc5 Kh5
60. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Qe6 10. Qe4 g6 11. Be2 Bg7 12. f4 O-O 13. O-O d6 14. Qxc6 dxe5
15. Qxc7 Ba6 16. Nd5 exf4 17. Bd3 g5 18. Qc5 Rad8 19. Nc7 Qh6 20. Kh1 Bb7 21.
Qf5 Rd7 22. c5 Rxc7 23. cxb6 axb6 24. Bd2 Rc5 25. Qg4 Rd8 26. Bb4 Rxd3 27. Bxc5
Rg3 28. Qd1 Bxg2+ 29. Kg1 Bf3+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Rb1 a5 9. d3 O-O 10. a3 Be6 11. Be3 Nd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Qa4 Bf6 14. Rfc1 Nd4
15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Bxd4 Bxg2 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Kxg2 c6 19. Rc5 Qe7 20. Qc2 Rfe8
21. e3 Qd7 22. d4 g6 23. a4 Re6 24. Rc1 Rf6 25. Re5 Qg4 26. Qd1 Qd7 27. Qe2 Qd6
28. Qc2 b6 29. Qe4 Kf8 30. g4 Qd7 31. g5 Rd6 32. Qf4 Kg8 33. Qe4 Kf8 34. Qf3
Kg8 35. Re4 Rd5 36. Re5 Rd6 37. Re4 Rd5 38. h4 Rf5 39. Rf4 Rxf4 40. Qxf4 Re8
41. Qf3 Re6 42. b3 Rd6 43. Qf4 Qd8 44. Rb1 Re6 45. Qf3 Qd6 46. Rd1 Qb4 47. Rc1
Qd6 48. Rd1 Qb4 49. e4 Qe7 50. d5 cxd5 51. exd5 Rd6 52. Qf4 Qe2 53. Rc1 Rd8 54.
Rc7 Qe8 55. Qf3 Rd6 56. Rc6 Qd7 57. Rxd6 Qxd6 58. Qe4 Kf8 59. Qd4 Ke7 60. Kf3
Kd7 61. Qg4+ Ke7 62. Qd4 Kd7 63. Ke2 Kc7 64. Qc4+ Kd7 65. Kd3 Ke7 66. Qe4+ Kd7
67. Qd4 Ke8 68. f4 Kd7 69. Qc4 Ke7 70. Ke4 Kd8 71. Qd4 Kd7 72. Qc4 Ke7 73. Kd3
Kd8 74. Qd4 Kd7 75. Ke2 Qe7+ 76. Kd2 Qd6 77. Qc4 Kd8 78. Kc2 Qa3 79. Qc3 Kd7
80. Qc6+ Ke7 81. Qxb6 Qa2+ 82. Kc3 Qa1+ 83. Kc4 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {The super-fashionable Berlin Variation of the
Ruy Lopez.} 4. d3 {This is the most flexible response, maintaining pieces and
avoiding massive exchanges.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 {A typical idea,
bringing the knight over to g6, from where it will stand better. On c6 the
knight is always somewhat limited, because of White's c3-pawn.} 8. d4 Bb6 9.
Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 {Achieving a symmetrical position, but White is always one
slight step ahead, since he has played d4, and Black has yet to show how to
fully equalise the position.} 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bc7 13. a4 a5 14. Nf1 d5 $5
15. exd5 $6 (15. Bg5 $1 $146 {defending against the pressure on e4 in the most
active way} dxe4 (15... h6 $6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Ne3 Rd8 19. dxe5
Nxe5 20. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 $16) 16. Bxe4 exd4 17. Qc2 $5 {
threatening to play Rad1, and also planning Bxf6 followed by Bxg6, using the
weakness of the 8th rank.} Bd7 {defending the tactical ideas on e8} (17... dxc3
$2 18. Bxf6 $1 (18. Rad1 $6 Qxd1 $1 19. Rxd1 Nxe4 $44) 18... Qxf6 (18... gxf6
19. Rad1 $16) 19. Bxg6 Rxe1 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Rxe1 g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. bxc3
$16) 18. cxd4 (18. Rad1 $6 h6 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 $15 {and Black is even better})
18... Nf8 $5 $13 {followed by ...h6.}) (15. Ng3 {was played in April, But
black also achieved comfortable equality} exd4 16. Qxd4 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Nxe4 18.
Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qxd4+ 20. Rxd4 Be6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (77) Landa,K (2626)-Nyback,
T (2608) Germany 2016}) 15... e4 $1 16. d6 {The only way to avoid a strong
centre for Black with 16...cxd5. In any case, Black's position is preferable
already.} Qxd6 17. N3h2 (17. Ng5 $6 Bf5 {simply threatening ...h6} 18. g4 {
looks suicidal} Be6 19. Nxe6 (19. Nxe4 $2 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bd5 $1 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 {
...Nh4 coming} 22. Ne3 Qd6 23. Nf1 Nh4 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 $19 {with the decisive ..
.Re1 threat}) 19... Qxe6 $40 {and it has to go wrong for White somehow.}) 17...
h5 $5 {Avoiding Ng4 at all costs.} 18. f3 {Risky, but probably the best
decision here, to avoid suffocation.} (18. Bg5 Bf5 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxh5
Nf4 21. Qd1 Qh4 {threatening ...Nxg2} 22. Re3 Bg6 {and after ...f5 (and ...
Rad8, ...Nd5), White will be under a huge pressure} 23. Qg4 Qh7 $1 $17) 18...
Bf5 19. fxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxh5 Nf6 $5 {An interesting practical try,
that worked out well.} 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qf3 $2 (23. Qf5 $1 {the best defence
- not an easy move to find} Nh4 (23... Re1 $2 24. Nf3 $1 $16) (23... Ne4 24.
Nf3 Ng3 25. Qg4 $13) (23... Re2 24. Nf3 Ne4 25. Be3 Ng3 26. Qc8+ Nf8 27. Bf2
Nxf1 28. Kxf1 Rxb2 29. Re1 $132) 24. Qf2 $13 {and White controls Black's
initiative for now}) (23. Qd1 {was also acceptable, keeping an eye on ...Re1}
Nd5 $1 24. Nf3 Ngf4 {threatening ...Re2} 25. Ne5 Qf6 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 $40 {
looks very good for Black.}) 23... Re1 24. Kf2 $2 (24. Bf4 {was the only move
to survive, but sometimes it is hard to realise that you are lost, and that
you have to give material right away. Especially in a position that was
completely normal 5 moves ago.} Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Nxf4 $17 {Black is much better
in the endgame, but there's still play.}) 24... Nh4 $1 25. Qd3 (25. Kxe1 Nxf3+
26. Nxf3 Ne4 $19 {and Black still maintains a strong attack, not to mention
the material superiority.}) 25... Qe6 $1 26. Ng4 Nxg4+ 27. hxg4 Nxg2 $1 28.
Kxg2 Qxg4+ 29. Kf2 Qh4+ {Kramnik plays like a computer and gives no survival
chances to Topalov, a very nice attack by the ex-world champion and current
world number 2.} 30. Kg2 Rxc1 $5 (30... Re6 $19 {was also good enough, with a
devastating attack.}) 31. Rxc1 Qg5+ {...and Black is totally winning in the
forthcoming endgame, after taking on c1.} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C28"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Na5 5. Nge2 Bc5 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 Nxc4 8.
dxc4 h6 9. Qd3 d6 10. Be3 Nd7 11. a5 a6 12. Ng3 Rb8 13. b3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nc5
15. Rad1 Ne6 16. Nd5 Nd4 17. Rd2 b5 18. axb6 c6 19. Nc3 Qxb6 20. h3 f5 21. exf5
Bxf5 22. Nxf5 Rxf5 23. Ne4 Qc7 24. c3 Nxb3 25. Rxd6 Na5 26. Qd3 Rf7 27. c5 Nb7
28. Rg6 a5 29. Qa6 Rc8 30. Rb1 Qd7 31. Rg3 Rc7 32. Rd3 Qf5 33. f3 Kh7 34. Rbd1
Qe6 35. Kh2 Qb3 36. R3d2 Qb5 37. Qb6 a4 38. Rb1 Qxb6 39. cxb6 Rc8 40. Ra2 Ra8
41. Rb4 Nd8 42. Raxa4 Rxa4 43. Rxa4 Rb7 44. Ra6 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qb3 c6 12. O-O Na6 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Bd3 c5
15. Bb5 Re6 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Qc2 a6 18. Be2 Rc8 19. Nd4 Re8 20. Bf3 b5 21. Qb1
b4 22. Nce2 Ne4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rc1 Re7 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Rc1 Rc7 27. h3 Rc4
28. b3 Rxc1+ 29. Qxc1 Qxc1+ 30. Nxc1 Bxd4 31. exd4 a5 32. Nd3 g5 33. f3 f6 34.
Kf2 Bc8 35. Ke3 Kf7 36. Nc5 h5 37. g4 Kg6 38. Kf2 f5 39. Kg3 hxg4 40. hxg4 fxg4
41. fxg4 Kf6 42. Kf3 Ke7 43. Kg3 Kf6 44. Kf3 Ke7 45. Kg3 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. d4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Qe2 Nbd7 15.
Rd1 Qc8 16. Nh4 g6 17. g3 Ne8 18. Ng2 Ng7 19. Bh6 Nf6 20. Ne3 Qh3 21. Bxg7 Kxg7
22. b4 h5 23. a4 a5 24. Rb1 axb4 25. Rxb4 bxa4 26. Raxa4 Ng4 27. Nf1 h4 28. f3
hxg3 29. hxg3 Nf6 30. Qg2 Qh6 31. Qh2 Qg5 32. Qd2 Qh5 33. g4 {My favourite
moment chess-wise from Paris was this position. Following the game in the
press-room I noticed that the computers indicated 33...Qh8! It looks
completely wrong at first sight, as while putting the queen in the corner is
often seen, it's always in connection with using the long diagonal. Here
however it combines attacking via the h-file with the possibility of playing
Rfb8, as well as maybe most serious, preparing ...Nh7 attacking on the
kingside. It's beautiful and logical, yet felt impossible for a human to play,
but after a short think Magnus uncorked it:} Qh8 $3 34. Nb5 Nh7 $1 35. Qh2 Rfb8
{Excellent coordination.} 36. c4 Qd8 {Now threatening ...Ng5.} 37. Ne3 Bg5 $5 (
37... Ng5 {was also strong.}) 38. Qe2 Bf4 39. Ng2 Bg3 40. Qe3 Ng5 41. Kf1 Qh8 {
And with Black having completely fulfilled the concept of ...Qh8 and activated
his pieces on their optimal squares, the white position collapses and Topalov
resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd4 Qe7 14. Rd1
Rd8 15. Be2 Bf5 16. Qb4 Rac8 17. O-O Be4 18. Nd2 Bg6 19. Nf3 b6 20. Rc1 Be4 21.
Nd2 Qf6 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Rcd1 g6 24. h3 h5 25. Qb5 Kg7 26. b4 Ne6 27. Rxd8
Rxd8 28. Bc4 Nc7 29. Qa4 Qc3 30. Qc6 Qe5 31. Rc1 Ne8 32. Bf1 Nf6 33. Qc7 Qxc7
34. Rxc7 Rd7 35. Rc4 h4 36. b5 Rd1 37. g3 hxg3 38. fxg3 Ra1 39. a4 Ra3 40. Bg2
Ra1+ 41. Kf2 Ra2+ 42. Kg1 Re2 43. Kf1 Rxe3 44. Kf2 Ra3 45. Bxe4 Nh5 46. g4 Nf6
47. Bg2 Ra2+ 48. Kg3 Ra3+ 49. Kf2 Ra2+ 50. Kg3 Ra3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. a4 b6 7. c3 Bb7 8. Qe2
g6 9. Bc2 e5 10. d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Rd1 Bg7 13. Rxd4 O-O 14. Nc3 Re8 15.
Qd1 Qe7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 Nc5 18. Nd2 Rad8 19. Qf1 g5 20. Bg3 d5 21. e5 Nh5
22. Nf3 Nxg3 23. hxg3 Bxe5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Rad1 Ne6 26. R4d2 d4 27. Ne2 Rd6
28. Nc1 Qf6 29. b4 g4 30. Qd3 Ng5 31. Qf5 Qxf5 32. Bxf5 Bc6 33. Ne2 Bxa4 34.
Ra1 Bb5 35. Nxd4 Red8 36. Rad1 h5 37. Bc2 a5 38. bxa5 bxa5 39. Kh1 a4 40. f4
gxf3 41. Nxf3 Rxd2 42. Rxd2 Rxd2 43. Nxd2 a3 44. Bb1 Ne6 45. Kg1 Nc7 46. Ba2
Bd7 47. Kf2 Be6 48. Bxe6 Nxe6 49. Nb3 a2 50. Ke3 Kg7 51. Kd2 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. Na3 e5 5. Nc2 Na6 6. Rb1 c5 7. b5 Nc7 8. d3 Bd6
9. g3 b6 10. Bg2 Ne7 11. Nd2 Rb8 12. Ne4 O-O 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. O-O Bb7 15. Bxb7
Rxb7 16. e3 Ne6 17. Qf3 Rd7 18. e4 Nc8 19. Qg2 Qe7 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 f5 22.
e5 Qe8 23. Ne1 Ne7 24. Rb2 Qa8 25. Nf3 Ng6 26. Qg3 a6 27. bxa6 Qxa6 28. h4 Rff7
29. Bd2 Ngf8 30. Rfb1 Rb7 31. h5 Qa8 32. Qg2 Ra7 33. Ng5 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Nxg5
35. fxg5 Rfe7 36. Rxb6 Rxa2 37. R1b2 Rxb2 38. Rxb2 Rxe5 39. Bf4 Re8 40. Rb7 Ne6
41. Kg3 Ra8 42. g6 hxg6 43. hxg6 Rf8 44. Be5 Re8 45. Kh4 Kf8 46. Rf7+ Kg8 47.
Kh5 f4 48. Kg4 f3 49. Bd6 Rd8 50. Be7 Re8 51. Kxf3 Nf8 52. Rxf8+ Rxf8+ 53. Bxf8
Kxf8 54. Ke4 Ke7 55. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. h3
Nbd7 9. Bd3 a6 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. O-O O-O 14. Be2 Ne5
15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Na4 Be7 17. Rxc8 Qxc8 18. Bc3 Ned7 19. Ba5 Qc6 20. Bf3 Qb5 21.
Bc3 Rd8 22. Qc2 Nd5 23. Rd1 N7f6 24. Bd4 Nb4 25. Qb3 Nc6 26. Qxb5 axb5 27. Nc3
Nxd4 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. exd4 b4 30. Nb5 b6 31. Kf1 Kf8 32. Bc6 Ne8 33. d5 exd5
34. Bxd5 Nd6 35. Na7 Bf6 36. b3 Bd4 37. Ke2 Bc5 38. g4 Nb5 39. Nxb5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 Nc6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. h3 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 Re8 13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15.
Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qc2 Raa8 18. Nc4 Qd5 19. Ne3 Qd7 20. Nc4 Qf5 21. b5
axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 e4 24. bxc6 exf3 25. Ne3 Qc8 26. cxb7 Qxb7 27. g3
Qc6 28. Kh2 Nd5 29. Nxd5 Qxd5 30. Qa4 c6 31. Qd4 Qf5 32. g4 Qe6 33. Kg3 Qe2 34.
Qd7 Qe5+ 35. Kxf3 Re6 36. Qd4 Rf6+ 37. Kg2 Qxd4 38. cxd4 Rf4 39. Ra4 g5 40. Rc4
Rf6 41. f3 Kf8 42. Rc5 Rd6 43. Rc4 Ke7 44. Kg3 Ke6 45. h4 Kd5 46. Ra4 Rf6 47.
hxg5 hxg5 48. Kf2 Re6 49. Rc4 f6 50. Ra4 Re7 51. Rc4 Re6 52. Ra4 Re7 53. Rc4
Re6 54. Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. b3 Bf5 8. Bb2 a5
9. Nc3 Ne4 10. e3 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Be4 12. Qe2 e6 13. Rfc1 Nd7 14. Bf1 Bxf3 15.
Qxf3 Nf6 16. Qe2 Ne4 17. Be1 Re8 18. Bg2 Nd6 19. Rab1 h5 20. h4 Qd7 21. a4 Bf8
22. Qd3 Bg7 23. Qc2 Bf6 24. Bh3 Qd8 25. Qd1 Kg7 26. Bg2 Qd7 27. Bf1 Rec8 28.
cxd5 exd5 29. b4 axb4 30. Bxb4 Ne4 31. Be1 Bd8 32. Rb2 Ba5 33. Rcb1 Nd6 34. Bb4
Bxb4 35. Rxb4 Ra7 36. Kh2 Qe7 37. Bd3 Rca8 38. Bc2 Qf6 39. Kg2 Qe7 40. Qf3 Qf6
41. Qe2 Ra5 42. Rb6 R5a7 43. R6b4 Ra5 44. Qf3 Qxf3+ 45. Kxf3 Kf6 46. Ke2 Ke7
47. f3 R8a7 48. Rb6 Kd8 49. e4 dxe4 50. fxe4 Kc7 51. R6b2 b5 52. axb5 Nxb5 53.
Kd3 Ra3+ 54. Rb3 Ra2 55. Rf1 Kd8 56. d5 Rd7 57. Bb1 Ra5 58. Ke3 cxd5 59. exd5
Nc7 60. d6 Re5+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. Nxg6
hxg6 9. Qc2 a6 10. h3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 12. O-O cxd4 13. exd4 Bd6 14. d5 e5 15.
Rad1 Rc8 16. Be2 Qe7 17. Rfe1 O-O 18. Bg5 Rfe8 19. Bg4 Rc7 20. Qe2 Qf8 21. Bxd7
Rxd7 22. Qf3 Nh7 23. Bd2 f5 24. Qg3 Qf7 25. h4 Nf6 26. Bg5 Ng4 27. Rd2 Bc5 28.
Kh1 Bd4 29. f3 Nf6 30. Bxf6 gxf6 31. Ne2 Rxd5 32. Nxd4 Rxd4 33. Rc2 Qh7 34. Kg1
Rxh4 35. Rc7 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 f4 37. Qg4 Qh4+ 38. Qxh4 Rxh4 39. Rxb7 Rc8 40. Rb6
Rc2+ 41. Re2 Rxe2+ 42. Kxe2 Kg7 43. Rxa6 Rh1 44. a4 Rg1 45. Kf2 Rb1 46. Rb6 Ra1
47. b3 f5 48. Rb5 Ra2+ 49. Kf1 Kf6 50. Rb6+ Kg5 51. Re6 Rb2 52. Rxe5 Rxb3 53.
Re6 Ra3 54. Ra6 Ra2 55. Kg1 Kh5 56. Kh2 g5 57. Ra5 Kh4 58. Rxf5 Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Ne7 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Ng3 c6 12. Bb3 Ba7 13. d4 Re8 14. h3 d5 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. g4 h5 20. Rxe4 Be6 21. Bc2
Bd5 22. Rb4 hxg4 23. Rxg4 Be6 24. Rg3 Rd5 25. Bg5 Kf8 26. Re1 Bb8 27. Bf4 Bc7
28. h4 Rad8 29. h5 Bb6 30. h6 gxh6 31. Bxh6+ Ke8 32. Kg2 Kd7 33. Bb3 Ra5 34.
Bc2 Rd5 35. Be4 Ra5 36. Bg5 Re8 37. Bc2 Kc8 38. b4 Rd5 39. Bf6 Rd2 40. Be4 Bxf2
41. Rf1 Be1+ 42. Kf3 Bxg3 43. Kxg3 Rg8+ 44. Kf4 Bd5 45. Bf5+ Kc7 46. a5 Rgg2
47. Re1 Rdf2+ 48. Ke3 Rxf5 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Ng3 Re8 9. Bd3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O Nc6 12. b4 Bb6 13. Nce2 d4 14. e4 Ne5
15. Bf4 Nfg4 16. h3 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Ne5 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. f4 Re8 20. f5 Bd7 21.
Kh1 Rc8 22. Rf4 Qg5 23. Rg4 Qe3 24. Qxe3 dxe3 25. Nh5 Bb5 26. Rxg7+ Kh8 27.
Rxf7 Bxe2 28. Nf6 Rc7 29. Rxc7 Bxc7 30. Nxe8 Bg3 31. e5 Bb5 32. Nd6 Bd3 33.
Nxb7 e2 34. e6 Bxf5 35. e7 Bg6 36. b5 Kg8 37. a4 Kf7 38. a5 Bc2 39. Nc5 Kxe7
40. b6 axb6 41. axb6 Kd6 42. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. h3 Bd7 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Bc2 c5 13. Ng3 Ng6 14. d4 cxd4 15.
cxd4 exd4 16. Qxd4 Rc8 17. Bb3 Ne5 18. Qd1 h6 19. Bf4 Qa5 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Nh5
Be6 22. Nxf6+ gxf6 23. Nh4 Red8 24. Qf3 Bg7 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. Qxf5 Qd2 27. h4
Qf4 28. Qh5 Rd2 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Rf1 Qxe4 31. Rad1 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Rf8 33. Qh5
f5 34. Bd5 Qc2 35. Bb3 Qxb2 36. Qg6 e4 37. Rd7 Qa1+ 38. Kh2 Qe5+ 39. Kh3 f4 40.
Rf7 Rd8 41. Bc2 Rd6 42. Qxe4 Qxe4 43. Bxe4 b5 44. Rxf4 Rd2 45. a3 Ra2 46. Rf3
Bd4 47. Bd5 Rxf2 48. Rxf2 Bxf2 49. Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D73"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qb3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. Nd2 e6 11. Ba3 Na5 12. Qb2 Bd7 13. O-O Rc8 14. e4 Bc6 15.
Bb4 b6 16. Rfe1 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nc4 18. Qb3 Qd7 19. d5 Bxd5 20. Rad1 Kd8 21. Ng5
Bf6 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Ne4 Bg7 24. Rxd5 Qxd5 25. Rd1 Qxd1+ 26. Qxd1+ Kc7 27. Qd5
1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Rb1 a5 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Be6 11. a3 Qd7 12. Rc1 f6 13. Nd2 Rfd8 14. Bxb6 cxb6
15. Nc4 Bc5 16. Na4 Qc7 17. e3 Rd7 18. Qb3 Rad8 19. Rc3 Kh8 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21.
Qb5 Na7 22. Qxa5 Qxa5 23. Nxa5 b6 24. Nc4 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Rxd3 26. Nxb6 Rd2 27.
Na4 c4 28. Rc1 Nc8 29. Kf1 Rd6 30. Ke1 Kg8 31. Nc5 Bf7 32. Ne4 Rb6 33. b4 Kf8
34. Bf1 Rc6 35. b5 Rc7 36. a4 Ra7 37. Ra1 Ra5 38. Kd2 Nb6 39. Nc5 Ke7 40. e4
Ra7 41. Kc3 Kd6 42. Kb4 c3 43. Rd1+ Ke7 44. a5 c2 45. Rc1 Nd7 46. Rxc2 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. e3 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Nf3 d6 7. Be2 O-O 8. a3 Nd7
9. Nc3 a5 10. O-O Re8 11. Nd2 Nc5 12. Nd5 Be6 13. Qc2 h6 14. Rfd1 Qc8 15. b4
Nd7 16. Bc3 Nf6 17. Bf3 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Ne7 19. e4 axb4 20. axb4 c6 21. Nc4 Rxa1
22. Rxa1 Qc7 23. dxc6 Nxc6 24. b5 Nd4 25. Bxd4 exd4 26. Qb3 b6 27. g3 Nd7 28.
Kg2 Nc5 29. Qb1 h5 30. h4 Be5 31. Bd1 Rb8 32. Bf3 Kg7 33. Ra3 Qd7 34. Bd1 Bf6
35. Nd2 d5 36. Bf3 dxe4 37. Nxe4 Be7 38. Nxc5 Bxc5 39. Ra8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Nbd2 e6 8.
Nh4 Be4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O a6 14. Qe2
f5 15. Rfe1 Rae8 16. a4 Re7 17. Rac1 Rd8 18. b4 Rc7 19. b5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Ne7
21. c4 dxc4 22. Rxc4 Nd5 23. Qb2 h6 24. g3 Rdc8 25. Ne5 Ndc3 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27.
Bc4 Kh7 28. Bf1 Qxd4 29. Nd3 Qxa4 30. Qb6 Qc6 31. Qd4 Qd5 32. Qe3 Qd6 33. Bg2
Rd7 34. Bf1 b5 35. Nf4 Nd1 36. Qb3 Qb6 37. Re2 Ndxf2 38. Kg2 Rd6 39. h3 b4 40.
Qf3 b3 41. Qh5 Qc6 42. Kg1 Nd3 43. Qg6+ Kh8 44. Nh5 Qd7 45. Re3 Ne5 46. Qxg7+
Qxg7 47. Nxg7 Kxg7 48. Rxb3 Rd1 49. Kg2 Rd2+ 50. Kg1 Kf6 51. Bg2 Rd1+ 52. Kh2
Rd3 53. Rb8 Nxg3 54. Rh8 Kg7 55. Re8 Kf6 56. Rh8 Nf7 57. Rg8 Ne4 58. h4 Nf2 59.
Bf1 Rd2 60. Kg1 Ng4 61. h5 Nge5 62. Bg2 Ng5 63. Rh8 Ng4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 c5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 e6 6. Rb1 Nge7 7. b4 d6 8. Nf3
O-O 9. O-O b6 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. Bb2 Rb8 12. Ba1 Rxb1 13. Qxb1 Ba6 14. d3 Qa5
15. Ne4 Rb8 16. Qc1 Nf5 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Ng5 Nd8 19. Ngxh7 e5 20. f4 Ne6 21.
fxe5 Ned4 22. Bxd4 Nxd4 23. Qg5 dxe5 24. Qh4 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nc2 Nc6 8.
Nc3 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. Ne3 Nd7 11. Bd2 Rc8 12. b3 Nf6 13. Rc1 Qd7 14. Ncd5 Bh3
15. Bxh3 Qxh3 16. Bc3 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qd7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd2 e6 20. Qb2+ f6
21. Nf4 Kf7 22. Rfd1 Qe7 23. Rd2 Rfd8 24. Rcd1 a6 25. Qa3 g5 26. Ng2 d5 27. Qb2
dxc4 28. bxc4 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Ne5 30. Qc2 Kg7 31. Ne3 b5 32. Qe4 bxc4 33. f4 c3
34. Rc2 gxf4 35. gxf4 Ng6 36. f5 Ne5 37. Qd4 Kh8 38. Rxc3 Rg8+ 39. Kf1 Qg7 40.
Ke1 Qg1+ 41. Kd2 Qf2 42. Qd6 Nf3+ 43. Kd3 Ne5+ 44. Kd2 Nf3+ 45. Kd3 Ne5+ 46.
Kd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nh6 5. O-O Nf5 6. c3 c6 7. Nbd2 Nd6 8. Ne5
Nd7 9. Nd3 Nf6 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Bf5 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. c4 Nfe4 14. Rc1 Qa5 15.
Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bc3 Qd8 17. f3 Bf5 18. c5 Nb5 19. Bb2 Nc7 20. Qd2 Re8 21. g4 Be6
22. Nd3 f6 23. e3 Qd7 24. h3 h6 25. Rce1 Bf7 26. f4 f5 27. Bf3 Kh7 28. Kh2 Be6
29. Rg1 Rg8 30. Qg2 Bf6 31. g5 Bg7 32. gxh6 Bxh6 33. Ne5 Qe8 34. Qg3 Qf8 35.
Rg2 Qf6 36. Reg1 g5 37. fxg5 Rxg5 38. Qf2 Rcg8 39. Bc1 Ne8 40. Bd2 Rxg2+ 41.
Rxg2 Rxg2+ 42. Qxg2 Ng7 43. Be2 Bf7 44. Bd3 Bh5 45. b4 a6 46. a4 Be8 47. b5
cxb5 48. axb5 Bxb5 49. Bxb5 axb5 50. Qxd5 Qh4 51. Qg2 Qh5 52. Qxb7 b4 53. Qg2
b3 54. Bc1 Qd1 55. Qg6+ Kg8 56. Qf7+ Kh7 57. Qg6+ Kg8 58. Qf7+ Kh7 59. Qg6+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. d4 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Bf6 12. Rc1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4
15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 Bb7 17. Rc7 Rab8 18. Rfc1 a5 19. h4 Bd5 20. Bb5 Rfd8 21.
f3 Ba8 22. Bd7 Kf8 23. Kf2 Bd5 24. Ke3 b5 25. R1c5 a4 26. Bxb5 axb3 27. axb3
Bxb3 28. Ra7 Bd5 29. Ba4 Ra8 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Bc6 Bxc6 32. Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. a5 Bg7 7. O-O a6 8. Bc4
O-O 9. d3 Nb8 10. Nd5 Nc6 11. Nb6 Rb8 12. Bd2 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nd7 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 {Diagramm [#]} 16. Rab1 $6 (16. Ra2 {war besser.}) 16... Qd8 17. h4
Nxa5 18. Ba2 Nc6 19. h5 e6 20. g3 $2 (20. c3 $1 {hätte zunächst einmal den
Sc6 limitiert.}) 20... b5 21. Kg2 Qf6 22. Qd1 a5 23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Rh1 Nb4 $6 (
24... a4 $1) 25. Bc3 ({Sofort} 25. Qg4 {war interessant:} Nxa2 26. Bg5 Qd4 27.
Qh4 Rfc8 28. c3 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Qxc3 30. Be7 f5 31. exf5 gxf5 32. Rbe1) 25... Qg5
26. f4 Qe7 27. Qg4 $2 {Diagramm [#] Jetzt funktioniert dieser Zug gar nicht
mehr - ungewöhnlich für Carlsen.} Nxa2 28. Qh3 f6 29. Qh7+ Kf7 30. Rh6 Rg8
31. Bxa5 Kf8 32. Rh3 Qf7 33. c3 Ra8 34. Bb6 Ra6 35. Bd8 Ke8 36. Bc7 Kd7 37. e5
Rh8 38. Qxh8 Bxh8 39. Rxh8 Kxc7 40. Rbh1 dxe5 41. R1h7 Qxh7 42. Rxh7+ Kd6 43.
Kf3 exf4 44. gxf4 b4 45. c4 Nc1 46. Ke3 Nb3 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 d4 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 Be7 8. e3 Nf6
9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Nd7 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nc2 a5 13. Rb1 Re8 14. a3 f6 15. b4
axb4 16. axb4 Nb6 17. b5 Nb8 18. Nh4 N8d7 19. Bd2 Nc5 20. Bb4 Nba4 21. Bd5+ Be6
22. Qf3 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Bf8 24. Nf5 g6 25. Nh4 Rc8 26. Ra1 Nb6 27. Ba5 Nb3 28.
Bxb6 Qxb6 29. Ra2 Kf7 30. Na3 Bxa3 31. Rxa3 Rc3 32. d6 Qxd6 33. Qxb7+ Re7 34.
Qa6 Qd5 35. b6 Nd2 36. Ra5 Qc6 37. Rb5 Rc1 38. Qa2+ Kg7 39. Qxd2 Rxe1+ 40. Qxe1
Qxb5 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Re1 e6 7. c3 b5 8. Bc2
c4 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Na3 Be7 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Qe2 Rc8
15. Na3 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Nb5 Ndc5 18. Nfd4 Nd3 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Qxd3 Ba6 21.
Qf3 Qb8 22. d3 Nc5 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. exd6 Nxd3 25. d7 Nxe1 26. dxc8=Q+ Qxc8 27.
Qg3 Kh8 28. h4 Nd3 29. Bf4 f6 30. Be3 e5 31. Nb3 Qb7 32. Nc5 Nxc5 33. Bxc5 Qxb2
34. Bf8 Qb7 35. Qg4 Qf7 36. Bb4 h5 37. Qf5 Bb5 38. Qc8+ Be8 39. Qc5 Kh7 40. Qe7
Qg6 41. Qe6 Bf7 42. Qd7 Bg8 43. Bf8 Qg4 44. Qxg4 hxg4 45. Kh2 Be6 46. Kg3 Kg8
47. Bc5 Kf7 48. f3 gxf3 49. gxf3 Kg6 50. Bf8 Kf7 51. Bc5 Kg6 52. Bf8 d4 53.
cxd4 exd4 54. Bc5 d3 55. Be3 Kh5 56. Bd2 Bd5 57. Be3 Kg6 58. Kg4 Bc6 59. Bd2
f5+ 60. Kf4 Kh5 61. Be1 g6 62. Ke3 Bb7 63. Kf4 Bc6 64. Ke3 d2 65. Bxd2 Kxh4 66.
f4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. Nb3 Bd6 8.
Na5 Rb8 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Qe2 Re8 11. h3 Nd7 12. Ng5 Nf8 13. Nxe6 Nxe6 14. Qg4 Bc5
15. O-O Qe7 16. Nc4 f6 17. Kh1 Rbd8 18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 c5 20. Bc3 Ng5 21. b3
Qe6 22. Qh5 b5 23. Qe2 Rd7 24. Ba5 Red8 25. Rfd1 Qa6 26. Be1 c4 27. Bh4 Nf7 28.
Rd2 cxd3 29. cxd3 b4 30. Rad1 Nd6 31. Qg4 Nb5 32. Rf2 Rd6 33. Rdf1 Qc8 34. Rf5
c5 35. Qg3 Kh8 36. Rxf6 gxf6 37. Rxf6 R8d7 38. Qxe5 Kg8 39. Re6 Rxe6 40. Qxe6+
Kf8 41. Bg5 Qc7 42. Bh6+ Rg7 43. e5 Nc3 44. d4 cxd4 45. exd4 Qf7 46. Qc8+ Ke7
47. Qb7+ Ke6 48. Qc6+ Ke7 49. Bxg7 Qxg7 50. Qb7+ Kf8 51. Qxb4+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Das ist mal etwas anderes als das ewige Spanisch...
} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8
11. h3 {Diagramm [#]} f5 12. exf5 (12. hxg4 fxg4 13. Nh2 g3 14. Nhf3 Bg4 {
mit deutlichem Vorteil für Schwarz.}) 12... Nxf2 13. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 d5
15. Bb3 Bxf5 16. Kg1 $2 (16. Qe2 {war zunächst angebracht.}) 16... Bxd3 {
Jetzt hat Schwarz Vorteil.} 17. Ne1 Bg6 18. Ndf3 e4 19. Nh2 Ne7 $6 (19... d4 $1
20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Be3 c5 {Mit starker Position für Schwarz.}) 20. Be3 Qd6 21.
Nc2 Rad8 22. Qd2 c5 23. Rd1 h6 24. Ng4 Bh5 25. Ba2 a5 26. Qe1 Be8 27. b3 b6 28.
Bf2 Bh5 29. Bh4 Rd7 {Diagramm [#]} 30. b4 $2 (30. Nce3 $1 d4 31. cxd4 cxd4 32.
Nc4 $1 $11) 30... axb4 31. cxb4 d4 32. Nce3 (32. Qxe4 Ng6 $17 {Der Bd4 ist
sehr stark.}) 32... Bxg4 33. hxg4 Ng6 34. Bg3 Qf6 35. Nf5 e3 36. bxc5 bxc5 37.
Qe2 Ne5 38. Bb1 {Diagramm [#]} Rfd8 {Ein auf den ersten Blick unmerklicher,
dafür aber umso schwererer Fehler. Schwarz verliert jetzt kräftig Material,
weil Weiß plötzlich auf dem weißen Feldernetz machen kann, was er will.} 39.
Bxe5 $1 Qxe5 40. Nh4 Qg5 41. Ng6+ Kg8 42. Qc4+ Rd5 43. Be4 Qxg4 44. Bxd5+ Kh7
45. Qd3 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nh6 5. O-O Nf5 6. c3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 Nd6 8. Re1
Nf6 9. Ne5 O-O 10. f3 Nd7 11. Nxd7 Bxd7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 b6 14. Nf2 c5 15.
Bg5 Re8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qxd6 Bf8 19. Qd2 Be6 20. Qf4 Qb6 21.
Re2 Bf5 22. Rxe7 Bxe7 23. Re1 Bd6 24. Qc4 Qxb2 25. f4 Rf8 26. Bd5 Kg7 27. a4 h5
28. Be4 Be6 29. Qd3 Rd8 30. Bxg6 c4 31. Qc2 Ba3 32. Re2 Qxc2 33. Bxc2 Bb2 34.
Bf5 Bxf5 35. Rxb2 Re8 36. Rb4 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Be6 38. Rb5 Kg6 39. Rg5+ Kh6 40. Rc5
Ra1 41. a5 Kg6 42. h3 Ra3 43. Ne4 f6 44. Kf2 Bxh3 45. Rc6 Rxa5 46. Rxf6+ Kg7
47. Rc6 Ra2+ 48. Ke3 Rg2 49. Rc7+ Kg6 50. Rxa7 Bf5 51. Ra6+ Kg7 52. Nd6 Bd3 53.
f5 Rxg3+ 54. Kf4 Rg1 55. Ra7+ Kh6 56. Nf7+ Kg7 57. Ng5+ Kg8 58. f6 Rg4+ 59. Ke5
Rxg5+ 60. Ke6 Be4 61. Rc7 Bd5+ 62. Ke7 Rf5 63. Rd7 Kh7 64. Rd6 h4 65. Kf8 h3
66. Rd7+ Kg6 67. Rg7+ Kxf6 68. Rf7+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nf1 Bb6 10. Ng3 Na5 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 13. d4 Nc6 14. h3 Rad8 15.
d5 Ne7 16. Nh4 c6 17. c4 cxd5 18. cxd5 Rc8 19. Qd3 Kh7 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 a6
22. Rac1 Red8 23. b3 Ng6 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. f3 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Rc8 27. Rc3 Qd8 28.
Ne2 Rxc3 29. Qxc3 Qb6+ 30. Kf1 Nh5 31. b4 Qb5 32. Ke1 g5 33. a3 Nf4 34. Nxf4
gxf4 35. Qc8 Qd3 36. Qf5+ Kg8 37. Qe6+ Kh7 38. Qf5+ Kg8 39. Qe6+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Bxd2 d5 7. cxd5 Qxd5
8. e4 Qd6 9. h3 O-O 10. Rc1 a5 11. Be2 Be6 12. Be3 Rfd8 13. O-O a4 14. Qc2 Bb3
15. Qc3 Ne8 16. Nd2 Be6 17. Rfd1 Ra6 18. Bc5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qc5 Rb6 21.
Qc2 Ra8 22. Rf1 Rb5 23. Nc4 Qc5 24. Qd1 Nd6 25. Nd2 Qb6 26. Bg4 Ba2 27. Re1
Rxb2 28. e5 Nb5 29. Nc4 Bxc4 30. Rxc4 Nc3 31. Qf3 Re8 32. Qf4 c5 33. e6 fxe6
34. Kh2 Qc6 35. Bf3 Qc8 36. Qd6 b6 37. Bg4 Qb8 38. Bxe6+ Kh8 39. Qxb8 Rxb8 40.
f4 Re8 41. Re5 g6 42. Bd7 Rxe5 43. fxe5 Kg7 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 O-O 8.
Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. e3 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 Ncd7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Be2 Ne5
15. Qb2 Ng6 16. Rc1 h6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Kf2 Rfd8 20. Rhd1 Bc6
21. Nb1 Kf8 22. Nc3 f5 23. Rd4 Ke7 24. Rcd1 Rd7 25. g3 Rcd8 26. h3 Kf6 27. f4
Ne7 28. g4 Kg7 29. Bf3 Rc8 30. Be2 Rcd8 31. b5 Bb7 32. a4 a5 33. bxa6 Bxa6 34.
Bf3 fxg4 35. hxg4 f5 36. Rb1 Rc8 37. Rxb6 Bxc4 38. Rdxd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Bb3 40.
Ne2 Rc2 41. Ke1 fxg4 42. Bxg4 h5 43. Bxe6 Bxe6 44. Rxe6 Nf5 45. Re5 Nd6 46.
Rxh5 Ra2 47. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd4 Nc5 6. Nc3 {Diagramm [#]} ({
Diese vollkommen ungebräuchliche Variante wurde schon vor langer Zeit
"erfunden":} 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Qe3 Ne6 8. Nc3 d6 9. Bd2 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Qxe5
Bg7 12. Qg3 O-O 13. O-O-O a6 14. h4 h5 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. Nd5 Qa4 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18.
axb3 f6 19. Be3 f5 20. g3 c5 21. Bg2 Kh7 22. Rhe1 Rb8 23. Nb6 f4 24. Bd2 fxg3
25. Nxc8 Nd4 26. Ne7 Rxf2 27. Be4 Nxb3+ 28. Kc2 Nd4+ 29. Kb1 Nb3 30. Bxg6+ Kh8
31. Bc1 Nxc1 32. Kxc1 Bxb2+ 33. Kb1 Bd4 34. Nf5 Rg8 35. Nxd4 Rxg6 36. Ne6 g2
37. Ng5 Rxg5 38. hxg5 h4 39. Kc1 Kg7 40. Re7+ Kg6 41. Re6+ Kxg5 42. Re8 h3 43.
Rg8+ Kf4 44. Rf8+ Kg3 45. Rd3+ Kg4 46. Rg8+ Kf5 47. Rxh3 Rf1+ 48. Kb2 g1=Q 49.
Rh5+ {1/2-1/2 (49) Ree,H (2480)-Ribli,Z (2505) Wijk aan Zee 1973}) 6... Ne6 7.
Qe4 Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. f4 O-O 10. O-O-O d6 {Diagramm [#] Das sieht komisch aus 
(gegenüber z.B. b7-b6), aber die schwarzen Figuren stehen extrem gut und die
Königsstellung des Nachziehenden ist sicher - genügend Gründe, um einen
Bauern ins Geschäft zu stecken.} 11. c5 Ne7 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. Rxd6 Qc7 14. g4
Nc5 15. Qc4 b6 16. Bxc5 bxc5 17. h3 $6 (17. Qe2 {war besser.}) 17... Rb8 18.
Qe2 Rb4 {Schwarz hat genügend Kompensation für den Bauern.} 19. Qd2 $6 (19.
Bg2 $1) 19... Rd4 20. Rxd4 $6 (20. Nb5 $1) 20... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rd8 22. Qf2 $2 (
22. Qa4 {war etwas besser. Falls jetzt} Nd5 {so} 23. Qc4) 22... Nd5 23. Nge2
Nb4 24. Kb1 Nd3 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Rh2 Rb8 27. b3 Nxf4 28. Nxf4 Qxc3 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Re1 e6 7. c3 b5 8. Bc2
c4 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Na3 Be7 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Qe2 Rc8
15. Na3 Ba6 16. d4 cxd3 17. Bxd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc5 19. Qe2 Ncxe4 20. Ng5 d5 21.
Nc2 Nc5 22. Be3 Qa6 23. Qxa6 Nxa6 24. Ra1 Nc7 25. Nd4 Bd6 26. Ngf3 Ne4 27. Nd2
Nxd2 28. Bxd2 Kf8 29. Kf1 Ke8 30. Ke2 Kd7 31. Kd3 g6 32. b4 e5 33. Nb3 e4+ 34.
Kc2 Ra8 35. Rxa8 Nxa8 36. Be3 Nc7 37. Nd4 Be5 38. c4 dxc4 39. Kc3 Nd5+ 40. Kxc4
Nxe3+ 41. fxe3 Bxh2 42. Kd5 f5 43. b5 Bg1 44. Nc2 Kc7 45. Ke5 Kb6 46. Nd4 Kc5
47. Kf4 Bh2+ 48. g3 h5 49. Kg5 Bxg3 50. Kxg6 f4 51. Kf5 f3 52. Kxe4 f2 53. Nb3+
Kxb5 54. Nd2 Kc6 55. Kf3 h4 56. Nf1 Kd5 57. Nd2 Kc6 58. Nf1 Kc5 59. Nd2 Kd5 60.
Kg2 Ke6 61. Ne4 Ke5 62. Nxf2 Bxf2 63. Kxf2 Ke4 64. Kg2 Kxe3 65. Kh3 Kf3 66.
Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. d3 h6
9. Nd2 Ne7 10. b4 c6 11. e4 Be6 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Ne2 Qd7 14. d4 Rfd8 15. Qc2 Bh3
16. Rad1 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 exd4 18. Bxd4 c5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. b5 a6 21. a4 axb5 22.
axb5 Ra8 23. Nf3 Bg7 24. Nf4 Ra3 25. Rd3 Rxd3 26. Qxd3 Nc8 27. Rd1 Re8 28. Nd5
Qg4 29. Re1 Kh8 30. h3 Qd7 31. Rd1 Qd8 32. Rd2 Nb6 33. Ra2 Nxd5 34. Qxd5 Qd7
35. Ra7 Re7 36. h4 Bf6 37. h5 g5 38. Nh2 Kg7 39. f3 Bd4 40. Ng4 Qe6 41. Qxe6
fxe6 42. Ra8 Rd7 43. Rc8 Bc3 44. Kf1 Ba5 45. Ke2 Rd8 46. Rxd8 Bxd8 47. f4 Bf6
48. Kf3 Bd4 49. f5 d5 50. cxd5 exd5 51. exd5 c4 52. Ke4 Bc5 53. f6+ Kf7 54.
Ne5+ Kxf6 55. Nd7+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Nc3 d6 6. e3 Bb4 7. Qc2 Nf6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. Qxc3 O-O 10. d3 Re8 11. Be2 e4 12. Nd2 d5 13. O-O exd3 14. Bxd3 Nbd7
15. cxd5 Ne5 16. Be2 Nxd5 17. Qc2 Bg4 18. Bxg4 Nxg4 19. Nf3 Qf6 20. Bd2 Qg6 21.
Qb3 Rab8 22. Rad1 Ngf6 23. Bc1 h6 24. Rd4 Ne4 25. Rfd1 Re6 26. Qc2 Rbe8 27. b4
Rf6 28. Nh4 Rxf2 29. Rxe4 Rxg2+ 30. Qxg2 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. Nf5 Re5 33. Rf1
f6 34. Kg2 Nb6 35. Nd6 Re7 36. Rd1 Rd7 37. Rd2 Nd5 38. Nf5 g6 39. Nxh6+ Kg7 40.
e4 Ne3+ 41. Kf3 Rxd2 42. Bxd2 Nc4 43. Bc1 Nxa3 44. Nf5+ gxf5 45. Bxa3 fxe4+ 46.
Kxe4 Kg6 47. Kf4 b6 48. Bc1 a5 49. bxa5 bxa5 50. Ba3 Kh5 51. Kg3 f5 52. Be7 a4
53. h3 Kg6 54. Kf4 Kh5 55. Kg3 Kg6 56. Ba3 Kg5 57. Bc1+ Kh5 58. Ba3 Kg5 59.
Bc1+ Kh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Rg1 g6 15.
h4 Qc7 16. Qf2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Qxc4 18. Nc1 b5 19. Nb3 b4 20. Na4 Rc7 21. Nb6 Qb5
22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Qd7 24. Qe2 Rfc8 25. Rc1 Qh3 26. Qf2 f5 27. gxf6 Nxf6 28.
Ra5 Nh5 29. Bg5 Rf8 30. Qd2 Qxf3 31. Bxe7 Rxe7 32. Qxd6 Qf6 33. Qxb4 Qxh4 34.
Rxa6 Nf4 35. a4 Ref7 36. Qc4 Kg7 37. a5 h5 38. Rb6 Qf2 39. Nc5 h4 40. Qc3 Re7
41. a6 Ne2 42. Qb4 Nxc1 43. Rb7 Rff7 44. Rxe7 Rxe7 45. Nd3 Qf6 46. Nxc1 h3 47.
Qc3 h2 48. Qh3 Qf2 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 c6 7. b3 Bf5 8. Bb2
Nbd7 9. e3 Ne4 10. Qe2 a5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Bh3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 e6
15. Rfd1 Nf6 16. Qe2 Ne4 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Bg2 Nd6 19. Rac1 h5 20. a4 Bf6 21. h4
Kg7 22. Ba3 Nf5 23. Rd3 Be7 24. Bb2 Bf6 25. Rcd1 Nd6 26. R3d2 Qd7 27. Kh2 Qd8
28. f3 Nf5 29. e4 dxe4 30. fxe4 Nh6 31. e5 Be7 32. Bh3 Qb6 33. Rd3 Rad8 34. Qf3
Kg8 35. Bc1 Bf8 36. Bg5 Rd7 37. Qf4 Nf5 38. Bxf5 exf5 39. Bf6 Bg7 40. Bxg7 Kxg7
41. Re1 Qc7 42. d5 cxd5 43. cxd5 Qc2+ 44. Qd2 Qxd2+ 45. Rxd2 Rc8 46. Re3 Rc5
47. Red3 Kf8 48. Kg2 b5 49. Kf3 bxa4 50. bxa4 Rc4 51. Rd4 Rc5 52. Kf4 Ke7 53.
Kg5 Rd8 54. R2d3 Rd7 55. Kh6 Rd8 56. Kg7 Rd7 57. e6 fxe6 58. d6+ Kd8+ 59. Kxg6
Rb7 60. d7 e5 61. Rd6 f4 62. gxf4 exf4 63. Rf6 Rxd7 64. Rf8+ Kc7 65. Rxd7+ Kxd7
66. Rxf4 Ke6 67. Rf6+ Ke7 68. Rf7+ Ke6 69. Rf6+ Ke7 70. Rf5 Rc4 71. Rxa5 Rxh4
72. Rxh5 Rxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 d4 8. Bb5
Bd6 9. exd4 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nc3 Re8
15. d3 Bc7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Ne4 Qf4 18. Qc1 Rad8 19. Qxf4 Bxf4 20. Rad1 f5 21.
Ng3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 g6 23. Kg2 Kf7 24. d4 Bg5 25. Rd3 h5 26. Rfd1 h4 27. Nf1 Re2
28. Nd2 Rd5 29. Kf1 Rxd2 30. R1xd2 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 c5 32. Ke2 cxd4 33. Kd3 g5 34.
b4 Kf6 35. Re2 Rd7 36. a4 g4 37. fxg4 fxg4 38. Re4 Rg7 39. Kxd4 g3 40. fxg3
hxg3 41. Re1 Kg5 42. b5 Kh4 43. a5 g2 44. Rg1 Kxh3 45. b6 a6 46. Kc5 Rg5+ 47.
Kc6 Rxa5 48. Kb7 Ra2 49. Ka7 Kh2 50. Rxg2+ Kxg2 51. b7 Rb2 52. Kxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3
Be7 9. Bg2 b5 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 O-O 12. Qd2 Bb7 13. a3 Rc8 14. Rfd1 Rc4 15.
f3 Qa8 16. b3 Rc7 17. g4 Rfc8 18. g5 Nh7 19. h4 Nhf8 20. Rac1 Ng6 21. Qe1 Ndf8
22. Bh3 Ne6 23. Rd3 Bf8 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. exd5 Nc5 26. Bxc5 Rxc5 27. Bxc8 Qxc8
28. c3 a5 29. Re3 a4 30. bxa4 bxa4 31. Re4 Rxd5 32. Kg2 Rb5 33. Rb4 Rc5 34.
Rxa4 d5 35. Rd1 Qc6 36. Rb4 d4 37. cxd4 Rc2 38. Rd2 Bxb4 39. axb4 Nxh4+ 40. Kh3
Qxf3+ 41. Ng3 Qg4+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 a5 7. Na3 Bc5 8. Nb5
O-O 9. Bg5 Be7 10. e3 dxe3 11. Bxe3 Bf5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nfxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Be4
15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Qc2 Ng5 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. Qf5 Bf6 19. Bxg5 Qxf5 20. Nxf5 Bxg5
21. Rd7 Rac8 22. Rfd1 Rfd8 23. R7d5 a4 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Rxg5+ Kf6 26. Rgd5
Rxd5 27. Rxd5 Re8 28. Kf1 Re4 29. b3 axb3 30. axb3 Re6 31. h4 Rb6 32. Rb5 Rxb5
33. cxb5 Ke5 34. h5 Kd4 35. g4 Ke4 36. Kg2 Kf4 37. f3 h6 38. Kf2 f5 39. gxf5
Kxf5 40. Ke3 Kg5 41. Ke4 Kxh5 42. Kf5 Kh4 43. f4 h5 44. Ke5 Kg3 45. f5 h4 46.
f6 h3 47. f7 h2 48. f8=Q h1=Q 49. Qf4+ Kh3 50. Qh6+ Kg2 51. Qxh1+ Kxh1 52. Ke6
Kg2 53. Kd7 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be6 7. c4 Nbd7 8. Be3
Rc8 9. Nc3 Bxc4 10. Bxc4 Rxc4 11. Qd3 Rc6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. g4 O-O 14. Kb1 a6
15. h4 Nc5 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. Rd1 Bc7 20. g5 Ne8
21. Rd7 Rd6 22. Re7 Kf8 23. Rxe5 b6 24. Kc2 g6 25. a4 Rc6 26. Rd5 Bd6 27. Rd1
Nc7 28. a5 Be7 29. axb6 Rxb6 30. b3 Ke8 31. Ra1 Kd7 32. Na4 Rb5 33. Nb2 Ke8 34.
Nc4 Kd7 35. Bf4 Ne6 36. Be5 Nd4+ 37. Bxd4 cxd4 38. Rxa6 Bc5 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "264"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 d4 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e3 Be7 8. exd4
cxd4 9. d3 O-O 10. Re1 Ne8 11. a3 a5 12. Nbd2 f6 13. Rb1 e5 14. Nh4 Nc7 15. Qh5
Qe8 16. Qxe8 Rxe8 17. f4 exf4 18. gxf4 Bd7 19. Kf2 Na6 20. Bd5+ Kh8 21. Ne4 f5
22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. fxg5 Nc5 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Nf3 Nxd3+ 26. Kg3 b6 27. Bf4 Ne7
28. Bf7 Rf8 29. Bd5 Nxf4 30. Kxf4 Ng6+ 31. Kg3 d3 32. Rd1 f4+ 33. Kf2 Bf5 34.
h4 Re8 35. Nd4 Nxh4 36. Nxf5 Nxf5 37. Rxd3 g6 38. b4 axb4 39. axb4 h6 40. gxh6
g5 41. Bf3 Ne3 42. c5 bxc5 43. bxc5 g4 44. c6 gxf3 45. Kxf3 Nc4 46. Kxf4 Rc8
47. Ke4 Na5 48. Rd6 Nxc6 49. Kd5 Ne7+ 50. Ke6 Ng8 51. Kd7 Ra8 52. Kc7 Ra7+ 53.
Kb6 Rf7 54. Rc6 Rf1 55. Kc7 Kh7 56. Kb6 Nf6 57. Kb7 Kxh6 58. Kc8 Kg6 59. Rc7
Ra1 60. Rc2 Nd5 61. Kd7 Kf5 62. Kd6 Ne3 63. Rc8 Rd1+ 64. Kc6 Nd5 65. Re8 Kf6
66. Re2 Ne7+ 67. Kc5 Ng6 68. Re8 Ne5 69. Kb5 Rc1 70. Kb4 Nc6+ 71. Kb3 Rc5 72.
Re1 Nd4+ 73. Kb4 Rc8 74. Re4 Ne6 75. Re1 Nf4 76. Kb5 Nd5 77. Rh1 Ke5 78. Rh5+
Kd4 79. Rh4+ Kd3 80. Rh3+ Ne3 81. Kb6 Rc3 82. Kb7 Kd4 83. Rh4+ Kc5 84. Rh3 Rb3+
85. Kc8 Kd6 86. Rh6+ Ke5 87. Kd7 Nf5 88. Rh5 Rc3 89. Rg5 Kf4 90. Rg1 Ne3 91.
Kd6 Ke4 92. Re1 Kd4 93. Rh1 Nf5+ 94. Ke6 Rf3 95. Rd1+ Ke4 96. Re1+ Ne3 97. Ra1
Nc2 98. Ra4+ Nd4+ 99. Ke7 Rh3 100. Kd6 Rh6+ 101. Ke7 Kd5 102. Ra5+ Kc4 103. Kf7
Nc6 104. Ra1 Ne5+ 105. Ke7 Kd5 106. Rd1+ Kc5 107. Rc1+ Nc4 108. Kf7 Kd5 109.
Rd1+ Kc6 110. Rc1 Rh4 111. Kf6 Kd7 112. Rd1+ Nd6 113. Kg5 Re4 114. Ra1 Ke6 115.
Ra6 Rd4 116. Kg6 Rg4+ 117. Kh5 Rg1 118. Kh4 Ke5 119. Kh3 Ne4 120. Kh2 Rg8 121.
Ra7 Nd2 122. Ra3 Kf4 123. Ra4+ Ke3 124. Kh3 Ne4 125. Kh2 Nc3 126. Ra7 Rg5 127.
Kh3 Ne4 128. Ra3+ Kf4 129. Kh2 Nd2 130. Kh3 Rh5+ 131. Kg2 Rg5+ 132. Kh3 Rg8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxc4 b6 11. Ne5 Ra7 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Bxb7 Rxb7 14. Bg5 h6
15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Nd3 Qd4 18. Qb3 Be7 19. e3 Qg4 20. Ne5 Qh5 21.
f4 Bf6 22. Nc4 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 Qc5 24. Qd4 Nd7 25. Rf2 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 Nc5 27. Rc2
Nxa4 28. Nd6 Rd7 29. Rc6 Nxb2 30. Rxb6 Rfd8 31. Rxa6 Na4 32. Nxf7 Rxd4 33. Nxd8
Rxd8 34. Rxa4 Rd2 35. Rd4 Ra2 36. h3 Kf7 37. Kf1 Rh2 38. h4 h5 39. e4 g6 40.
Rd3 Kf8 41. Re3 Ra2 42. Re2 Ra3 43. Kf2 Kf7 44. Re3 Ra1 45. Rd3 Rb1 46. Rd7+
Kf8 47. Ke3 Rb4 48. Rc7 Ra4 49. Kd3 Rb4 50. Rc4 Rb3+ 51. Kd4 Ke7 52. Rc7+ Kd6
53. Rc3 Rb4+ 54. Kd3 Ra4 55. Rb3 Ke7 56. Ke3 Kf6 57. Rd3 Rb4 58. Rd7 Ra4 59.
e5+ Kf5 60. Rf7+ Kg4 61. Rf6 Kxg3 62. Rxg6+ Kxh4 63. Rxe6 Ra3+ 64. Ke4 Ra4+ 65.
Kf5 Kg3 66. Rg6+ Kf3 67. Kg5 h4 68. Rh6 Rxf4 69. Rf6 Rxf6 70. exf6 h3 71. f7 h2
72. f8=Q+ Kg2 73. Qa8+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Nd5
Nxd5 9. Qxd5 Nd7 10. Nc3 Nf6 11. Qd1 Be6 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Be2 g6
15. O-O Rc8 16. Nd5 Bg5 17. c3 O-O 18. a4 Kg7 19. a5 h4 20. Ra4 Rc5 21. b4 Rc6
22. c4 Bf4 23. Ra3 Qg5 24. Nb6 f5 25. b5 axb5 26. cxb5 Rc1 27. Qxd6 Rxf1+ 28.
Bxf1 Bf7 29. a6 bxa6 30. bxa6 Rd8 31. Nd7 fxe4 32. a7 e3 33. a8=Q exf2+ 34. Kh1
1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. cxd5 c5 7. dxc5 Nd7 8.
e3 Nxc5 9. Bb5+ Kf8 10. Nge2 Qb6 11. a4 Qa5 12. O-O Kg7 13. Nd4 Rd8 14. Rb1 Qc7
15. Rc1 a6 16. b4 axb5 17. Ncxb5 Qe5 18. Rxc5 b6 19. Rc1 Bb7 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21.
Rxc6 Rxd5 22. Qb3 Rb8 23. h3 Rd2 24. Rc2 Rbd8 25. Nd4 Rxc2 26. Qxc2 Qd6 27. Nc6
Rd7 28. b5 Qa3 29. Rb1 Rd5 30. g3 h5 31. Kg2 h4 32. g4 Qd6 33. Qe4 Rd2 34. Qf3
Qd3 35. Rc1 Ra2 36. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 Ne7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. e4 c5 8. Nc3 d6
9. a3 Nbc6 10. Rb1 f5 11. b4 f4 12. bxc5 dxc5 13. Nd5 Qd6 14. Bb2 b6 15. Bc3 h6
16. a4 g5 17. Nd2 Ng6 18. Qh5 Rb8 19. a5 Nd4 20. axb6 axb6 21. Rb2 Ne7 22. Bxd4
exd4 23. Rfb1 Nxd5 24. exd5 Bf5 25. Ne4 Qd8 26. Bh3 Bxe4 27. dxe4 d3 28. Rd2
fxg3 29. hxg3 b5 30. cxb5 c4 31. Bf5 Qa5 32. Qg6 Qxd2 33. Qh7+ Kf7 34. Qg6+ Kg8
35. Qh7+ Kf7 36. Qg6+ Kg8 37. Qh7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. Qa4 d4 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 Nh6 7. b4 O-O 8. O-O Nf5
9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. Rb1 Re8 11. Ne4 Nd6 12. Nxd6 exd6 13. Qc2 Qc7 14. Re1 Nf8 15.
Bb2 Ne6 16. e3 dxe3 17. Rxe3 Bd7 18. Rbe1 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. axb4
Rxe3 22. fxe3 Qb6 23. Qb2 Ra4 24. b5 d5 25. Qf6 Be8 26. cxd5 Qxb5 27. dxc6 Qxc6
28. Qxc6 Bxc6 29. Rb1 Ra2 30. e4 Ne6 31. Bh3 Nc5 32. Ne5 Rd2 33. Bf1 Ne6 34.
Nf3 Ra2 35. Rc1 f6 36. Bh3 Kf7 37. Bxe6+ Kxe6 38. Nd4+ Kd6 39. Rf1 Ke5 40. Nf3+
Ke6 41. Nd4+ Ke5 42. Nf3+ Kd6 43. Nd4 Ba4 44. Rb1 Kc5 45. Ne6+ Kd6 46. Nf8 b5
47. Nxh7 Ke5 48. d4+ Kxe4 49. Nxf6+ Kxd4 50. h4 Ke3 51. Nd5+ Kf3 52. Nc3 Rc2
53. Nxb5 Kxg3 54. Kf1 Rh2 55. Rb4 Bd1 56. Ke1 Bg4 57. Nc3 Kxh4 58. Ne4 g5 59.
Nf2 Rg2 60. Nxg4 Rxg4 61. Rb3 Rg3 62. Rb8 Kh3 63. Kf1 Kh2 64. Rh8+ Rh3 65. Rg8
Rf3+ 66. Ke2 Rg3 67. Kf2 g4 68. Rg7 Rg2+ 69. Kf1 Rg1+ 70. Kf2 g3+ 71. Kf3 Rf1+
72. Ke2 Rf6 73. Rh7+ Kg1 74. Rg7 g2 75. Rg8 Rf5 76. Rg7 Kh2 77. Rh7+ Kg3 78.
Rg7+ Kh2 79. Rh7+ Kg1 80. Rh8 Rf4 81. Rh7 Re4+ 82. Kf3 Re8 83. Rg7 Kf1 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
O-O Qa5 9. Nb3 Qh5 10. e4 d6 11. Qxh5 Nxh5 12. Nd5 a5 13. Rb1 a4 14. Nd2 Nf6
15. Re1 Nxd5 16. exd5 Nb4 17. a3 Nd3 18. Rd1 Bh6 19. f4 Bg7 20. Ne4 Nxc1 21.
Rdxc1 Bf5 22. Bf3 Rfc8 23. g4 Bd7 24. Kg2 f5 25. gxf5 Bxf5 26. b4 b6 27. Kg3
Rc7 28. b5 Bd4 29. h4 h6 30. Rc2 Kf7 31. Rd1 Bg7 32. Rb1 Ra5 33. Rb4 Bd4 34.
Ra2 Ra8 35. Rd2 Bg7 36. Rd3 Rac8 37. Rxa4 Rxc4 38. Rxc4 Rxc4 39. Re3 Bd4 40.
Re2 Ra4 41. h5 Rxa3 42. Kg2 Be3 43. hxg6+ Bxg6 44. Nd2 Bxf4 45. Nc4 Rb3 46.
Nxb6 Rxb5 47. Nc8 Be5 48. Bg4 Rb4 49. Be6+ Kf6 50. Rf2+ Rf4 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d4 d5 6. c4 c6 7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4
c5 9. Bb2 Qb6 10. Qb3 Ne4 11. e3 Nc6 12. Ne5 Ng5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxb6 axb6
15. Bxc6 Ra6 16. Nd2 Bh3 17. Rfc1 Rd8 18. Nb3 Bg4 19. h4 Rd6 20. Bb7 Ra7 21.
hxg5 Rxb7 22. dxc5 bxc5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Nxc5 Rb2 25. Nb3 Ra6 26. c5 Rc6 27.
Rcb1 Rxb1+ 28. Rxb1 e5 29. f4 f6 30. Rc1 h5 31. gxh6+ Kxh6 32. fxe5 fxe5 33. e4
Kg5 34. a4 Be6 35. Rc3 Kg4 36. a5 g5 37. Kg2 Bxb3 38. Rxb3 Rxc5 39. Ra3 Rc2+
40. Kf1 Rc1+ 41. Ke2 Rc2+ 42. Kd1 Rc7 43. a6 Ra7 44. Ke2 Kh3 45. Kf2 g4 46. Kg1
Ra8 47. a7 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. a4 Ba7 7. O-O d6 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Kg7 12. Re1 Be6 13. b4 g4 14. Nh4 Ne7 15. Bxe6
fxe6 16. Nc4 b5 17. Ne3 h5 18. Kh1 Ng6 19. Nxg6 Kxg6 20. Bh4 Nxe4 21. Nxg4
Nxf2+ 22. Bxf2 Bxf2 23. Nxf2 Rxf2 24. Re3 Qf6 25. Rg3+ Kh6 26. Rh3 Qf7 27. Qc1+
Kg6 28. Rg3+ Kh7 29. h3 Rf8 30. Kh2 Qf4 31. Qxf4 exf4 32. Rg5 Kh6 33. h4 f3 34.
axb5 axb5 35. Re1 e5 36. Kh3 fxg2 37. Rxg2 R8f3+ 38. Rg3 Rxg3+ 39. Kxg3 Rc2 40.
Kf3 Rxc3 41. Ke4 Rb3 42. Rg1 Rxb4+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Qc2 O-O 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
b6 9. b3 Ne4 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Bb7 13. Rac1 Rc8 14. Rfd1 h6 15.
h3 Ba3 16. Rb1 a5 17. Qd3 Nf6 18. Bc1 Be7 19. Bb2 Ba6 20. Rbc1 Rc7 21. Qb1 Qb8
22. Ne5 Rfc8 23. e3 Bb7 24. c5 Ba6 25. Ba3 bxc5 26. Bxc5 Bxc5 27. Rxc5 Qb4 28.
Rdc1 a4 29. Nxc6 Qb6 30. Ne7+ Rxe7 31. Rxc8+ Bxc8 32. Rxc8+ Ne8 33. Bf1 Qb7 34.
Qc2 axb3 35. axb3 g5 36. Qc5 Kg7 37. b4 Nf6 38. Bd3 Nd7 39. Qxe7 Qxc8 40. b5
Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Qd2 42. Bf5 Nf8 43. b6 exf5 44. Qe5+ f6 45. Qc7+ Kg6 46. b7 Ne6
47. b8=Q 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Bd2 O-O 6. e3 Re8 7. Be2 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Rc1 Bg4 11. O-O Qd6 12. a3 Rad8 13. b4 a6 14. Bb2 Qh6
15. Qb3 Rd6 16. Rc5 Nb6 17. Qc2 Nd7 18. Rc4 Be6 19. Rc3 Bg4 20. Rc4 Be6 21. Rc3
Bg4 22. Rc4 Be6 23. Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 $5 {Recently on top level they started to use
a lot this thematic but a bit forgotten idea. It does remind me on an old game
Karpov-Jussupow, Bugojno 1986, which came from the Italian Game, where the Ex
World Champion executed nice positional ideas.} fxe6 12. Nbd2 d5 {Another
interesting thing is that I found only one game played in same manner dated
all the way back to 1962!} (12... Nd7 13. c3 Bf6 (13... Rb8 14. Nf1 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Rb5 16. Be3 {again with a complicated game}) 14. Qa4 bxc3 15. bxc3 Na7 16.
Qc4 Qe8 17. Qxa6 Nc5 18. Qc4 Qb5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Nb3 22. Rb1
Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Be3 Nc6 25. Rb7 Bxe3 26. Nxe3 Rfc8 27. Rc1 $14 {1/2-1/2
(43) Parma,B-Sanguineti,R Mar del Plata 1962}) (12... Qe8 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3
Qg6 15. Nf1 {with an interesting game ahead of us.}) 13. c3 {Taking the pawn
is not much advisable here:} (13. exd5 exd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bc5 16. Nf3
Ng4 17. Re2 Qd6 $19) 13... Bd6 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 dxe4 17. Nxe4
Bb4 18. Bd2 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 20. Bxb4 Qxe4 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Rc1 {Massive
changes didn't help Black to reach an equal play, still White has the easier
play and pawns on a6 and c7 are much more vulnerable than White's counterparts
on a5 and d4.} h6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Qe3 Qd5 25. h3 Rb4 $4 {A blunder that loses
a piece.} (25... Rb5 26. Qc3 Nxa5 27. Qxc7 Nb3 28. Re1 Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30.
Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qc2+ Kg8 32. Rxe6 {Due to the better king we can say that White
still has the initiative but chances for Black to equalise are high.}) 26. Qc3
$1 Nxd4 27. Qxb4 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 {Black resigned due to} (28. Kh1 Nxc1 29. Qb8+
Kh7 30. Qb1+ Nd3 31. Ne1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 9. c3 Na5 10. Ba2 $5 {A new idea, previously they went with the bishop to
c2:} (10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qb8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Qd5 Qc8
16. Nxe5 Be6 17. Qd6 Be7 18. Qd1 Qc7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nf3 O-O 21. Nbd2 Rad8
22. Qe2 $16 {Black failed to equalise in Khairullin,I (2629)-Gustafsson,J 
(2629) Bangkok 2016.}) 10... c5 11. Bg5 O-O 12. axb5 axb5 13. Na3 Qb8 14. Nc2 {
White has an easy strategical plan taking on f6 and landing a knight on d5.} h6
15. Bh4 (15. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 16. Ne3 Nc6 17. Qc2 {with typical play where White
has some pressure.}) 15... c4 $1 16. Nb4 Be6 17. Re1 Qb7 18. d4 Bg4 {The
bishop is locked on a2 and that helps Black immensly. In my opinion it is
easier to play with Black than with White.} 19. Bb1 Nb3 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ba2
$6 Nxe4 $1 {We are entering complications that is evaluated by enignes as a
clear win for Black, but this is a perfect example for the different approach
that humans are taking.} 22. Bxe7 Ned2 23. Bxb3 (23. Qc2 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Bxf3
25. Bxd6 Qc8 $1 $19) 23... Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Bxf3 25. Bxd6 Bxd1 26. Bxd1 exd4 27.
cxd4 Qd7 28. Bg3 (28. Bc5 Ra1 29. f3 Qf5 30. Kf2 Qf4 $19) 28... Qxd4 (28... Re8
29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Kf1 Qe4 31. Nc2 Qd3+ 32. Ke1 Qb3 33. Bd6 Qxb2 34. Bb4 Qb3
35. d5 {According to computers this is also winning for Black, but again to
make such choices is simply not easy.}) 29. Bf3 Qd2 30. Rd1 Qxd1+ {Topalov
wants to clean up the situation, but this doesn't win.} (30... Qxb2 $1 31. Bxa8
Qxb4 32. Rd8+ Kh7 {From a psychological point of view this is not an easy
choice for humans.} 33. Re8 (33. Be4+ g6 34. Kg2 (34. Re8) 34... Qe7 $19) 33...
f5 34. Bd5 c3 35. Bg8+ Kg6 36. Re6+ Kg5 {Black wins according to computers,
but nobody would even bother to calculate such positions, in tournament chess
it is unpractical.}) 31. Bxd1 Ra1 32. Kg2 Rxd1 33. Be5 f6 34. Bc3 Kf7 35. Nc2
g5 36. h3 Kg6 {Better for Black but not enough to win.} 37. Na3 Rd5 38. Kf3 f5
39. Kg3 f4+ 40. Kg2 Kf5 41. f3 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2819"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3
e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 Be7 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O Nbd7 13. g4 b5 14. g5 (14. h4
Nb6 15. Qf2 Rb8 16. g5 Nfd7 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 Rc8 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bg4
21. Be2 Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Re8 23. Qf3 Qc7 24. Nd4 Nb6 25. Rhe1 Bf8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8
27. Nf5 Qc4 28. b3 Qb4 29. c3 Rc8 30. Rd3 Nxd5 31. Bd2 Nb6 32. Kb1 Qc5 33. Be3
Qc7 34. Qf4 Re8 35. h5 Re6 36. Kc2 Qc6 37. Bxb6 Qxb6 38. Rf3 Qb7 39. Ne3 Re4
40. Qg3 Re5 41. Qf4 Rxg5 42. h6 gxh6 43. Rf2 Qd7 44. Nf5 Qe6 {0-1 (42) Caruana,
F (2810)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2798) Dortmund 2016}) 14... b4 15. gxf6 bxc3 16.
Qxc3 Nxf6 17. Na5 Rc8 18. Nc6 Qe8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qa5 {Alles bestens
bekannte "Theorie". Hier gibt es noch fast 400 Partien in der
ChessBase-Datenbank.} Rc6 21. Rg1 Rfc8 22. Rg2 (22. c3 {ist der Hauptzug.})
22... Bh3 23. Rgd2 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qe6 25. Rff2 h6 {Eine Partie zwischen Anand
und Grischuk, 2011, endete hier.} 26. Kb1 Qh3 {[#]} 27. Rd3 $2 Rxc2 ({Eine 
(maschinell) verbesserte Version der Idee war:} 27... d5 28. exd5 Rxc2 29. Rxc2
Qf1+ 30. Bc1 Qxd3 31. Qd2 Qf5 $17) 28. Rxc2 Qf1+ 29. Bc1 Qxd3 30. Qd2 Qxc2+ 31.
Qxc2 Rxc2 32. Kxc2 Kf8 {Schwarz hat auch hier einen Bauern gewonnen, aber im
Endspiel hat Weiß Gegenspiel mit seinem Damenflügel-Freibauern.} 33. Kb3 Ke7
34. Kc4 Ke6 35. b4 d5+ 36. exd5+ Nxd5 37. Bd2 f5 38. b5 axb5+ 39. Kxb5 Kd6 40.
a4 g5 41. a5 f4 42. Kc4 Nc7 43. Bb4+ Ke6 44. h3 h5 45. Bc5 e4 46. fxe4 g4 47.
hxg4 hxg4 48. Kd3 Na6 49. Bd4 Nb4+ 50. Ke2 Na6 51. Kf2 Kd6 52. Kg2 Ke6 53. Kf2
Kd6 54. Kg2 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qc2 {Den Zug sieht man
an dieser Stelle nicht so oft.} ({Beim Kandidatenturnier in Moskau geschah mit
vertauschten Farben.} 6. a3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. b4 d4
11. exd4 Bxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Be3 Nf5 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Be2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Ng4
17. e4 Be6 18. O-O Ne3 19. Rfc1 Rd2 20. Bf3 Rad8 21. e5 b6 22. Ne4 Rb2 23. Re1
Nc4 24. Ng5 h6 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Rac1 Rd4 27. h3 b5 28. Rc3 Rdd2 29. a4 a6 30.
Bb7 Nb6 31. axb5 axb5 32. Be4 Nc4 33. Rg3 Re2 34. Ra1 Nxe5 35. Ra8+ Kf7 36. Bh7
g5 37. Bg8+ Kf6 38. Rf8+ Kg7 39. Re8 Ng6 40. Bxe6 Nf4 {0-1 (40) Topalov,V 
(2780)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016}) ({Die Hauptvariante beginnt mit} 6. e3)
6... c5 7. dxc5 Na6 {Danach erhält die Partie einen eigenen Charakter.} ({Nach
} 7... Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 {wäre durch Zugumstellung wieder die Hauptvariante auf
dem Brett.}) 8. Rd1 Nxc5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 $5 {(#) Einladung zu einer
Tauschoperation.} (9... exd5 10. e3 {mit einer typischen Isolanistellung.}) 10.
e4 {Nimmt die Einladung an.} ({Im Falle von} 10. Nxd5 exd5 {wäre} 11. e3 $2 {
nicht so gut:} (11. a3 Be6 12. e3 Rc8 {mit deutlichem schwarzem
Entwicklungsvorsprung.}) 11... Qa5+ {und falls} 12. Qd2 $2 {so} (12. Nd2 Bg4
$17) 12... Nd3+ 13. Bxd3 (13. Ke2 Nxf4+ 14. exf4 Bb4 $19) 13... Bb4 $19) 10...
Nxf4 11. Rxd8 Rxd8 {Schwarz hat Läufer und Turm für die Dame bekommen und
steht mit seinen Springern recht aktiv.} 12. Ne5 (12. g3 Nfd3+ 13. Bxd3 Nxd3+
14. Kf1 b6 15. Kg2 Bb7 16. Rd1 Nc5 {kam ebenfalls in Betracht.}) 12... Bf6 13.
Nb5 b6 14. b4 (14. Nc6 Rd7 15. e5 {funktioniert nicht wegen} Bb7 (15... Bd8 $2
16. Nd6 {wäre natürlich schön für Weiß.})) 14... Bxe5 ({Nicht} 14... Na6
$2 15. Nc6 Rf8 16. e5 Bd8 17. Nd6 {mit unangenehmen weißen Vorposten.}) 15.
bxc5 a6 (15... bxc5 16. g3 Ng6 17. f4 a6 $11) 16. Nd6 bxc5 (16... Bd4 $5 {
mit der Idee} 17. Nxc8 Bxc5) 17. Nc4 Bd4 {Mit diesem Anker erhält die
schwarze Stellung große Stabilität, während Weiß seine Entwicklung immer
noch nicht abgeschlossen hat.} 18. g3 Ng6 19. Be2 Bd7 20. O-O Bb5 21. Na5 Ne5
22. Rd1 Rab8 23. Kg2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 Rb5 25. Nb3 h6 26. Rd2 Nc6 27. Qc4 e5 28. a4
Rb4 29. Qxa6 {Ein kleiner, aber sehr flüchtiger Erfolg. Der weiße
a-Freibauer wird durch den schwarzen c-Bauern neutralisiert.} Rxb3 30. Qxc6 Ra3
31. Qa6 Rb8 32. a5 c4 33. Qxc4 Rxa5 34. Kh3 Rc5 35. Qe2 Rcb5 36. f4 Rb4 37. Qd1
Rb1 38. Qh5 R1b5 39. Qe2 Rb4 40. Qd1 Rb1 41. Qh5 R1b5 42. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. d4 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 {For a long time 12.a4 was the
main move in this position in the Zaitsev, but in the last few years 12.a3 and
12.d5 have become equally popular.} h6 13. Bc2 ({Both the players have had
their share of experience with} 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nh2 Nbd7 (14... c6 15. dxc6 Bxc6
16. Qf3 Nbd7 {is the same}) 15. Qf3 c6 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Ng4 {Here Giri vs
Ding Liren went} Nc5 ({while Topalov vs Morozevich, 2009 continued} 17... a5
18. Ba2 $5 Qe7 19. Nf1 $5 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Nc5 21. g5 $1 $40 {1-0
Topalov-Morozevich, Nice 2009 (43); and White got nice attacking prospects.})
18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bc2 Red8 21. Nf1 d5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Giri-Ding
Liren, Bilbao 2015 (42)}) 13... Nb8 {Black responds with the Breyer style
manoeuvre.} 14. b3 {[%cal Gd2e4,Gc1b2] Since White cannot go Nf1-Ng3 (which is
usually his typical play in the Breyer) he finds the other way to develop his
B.} Nbd7 15. Bb2 Rc8 (15... g6 {is more common here. One of the comparatively
recent top level games went} 16. a4 c6 17. Bd3 Nh5 (17... Bg7 $5) 18. g3 Bg7
19. Qc2 Qb6 20. Bf1 Rac8 $132 {1/2-1/2 Leko-Caruana, Malmo 2012 (39); with a
dynamic position that gives chances to both sides.}) 16. a4 b4 $6 $146 {
This pawn sacrifice does not look challenging and is unlikely to repeat itself
at the top level. It offers Black good posts for his pieces temporarily but
nothing more than that.} (16... c6 {is normal and makes a lot of sense.}) 17.
cxb4 exd4 18. Bxd4 c5 19. bxc5 Nxc5 20. Qb1 (20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe5 Ne6 22. Nc4
$14) 20... a5 21. b4 axb4 22. Qxb4 Ba8 {What Black has, is definitely not
enough for the P.} (22... Nfxe4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Rb8 25. Qa3 Nxe4 26. a5
$16 {[%cal Ga5a6,Ga6a7]}) 23. a5 d5 (23... Nfxe4 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4
26. a6 $16 {[%cal Ga6a7]}) 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. e5 Qa6 26. Qg4 (26. Qb6 $5 Qxb6 (
26... Rc6 27. Qxa6 Rxa6 28. Nd4 $16) 27. axb6 Rb8 28. Reb1 Ne6 29. Ra5 Bc5 30.
Ba4 (30. Rbb5 $5 Bxb6 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxb6 $14) 30... Red8 31. Rab5 $16 Bc6
$6 32. Rxc5 Bxa4 33. Ra5 $18) 26... Ne6 27. Bf5 (27. Qf5 $6 g6 {does not
improve White's position.}) 27... Rc5 28. Bxe6 Rxe6 29. Nb3 ({A much more
decisive move is} 29. Nd4 $142 {although it involves giving up the a5-P in
return for a powerful attack.} Rg6 (29... Re8 30. e6 $1 fxe6 31. Rxe6 $5 (31.
Qg6 $1 Rec8 32. N2b3 Rc4 33. Nf5 $18 {[%csl Rg8]}) 31... Rxe6 32. Qxe6+ Qxe6
33. Nxe6 $18) (29... Re7 30. e6 $18) 30. Qd7 Rxa5 (30... Qc8 31. Qxc8 Rxc8 32.
Rec1 (32. a6 $5 $18) 32... Rxc1+ 33. Rxc1 Ra6 34. Rc8 g6 (34... Rxa5 35. e6 $18
) 35. N2b3 $18) (30... Bc6 31. Qd8 $18) 31. Rac1 $1 Bb7 32. N2b3 Ra2 33. Rc7
$18) 29... Rc4 30. Nfd4 Bb7 31. Qf5 Re7 32. e6 Bc8 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Qxd5 Bb7
35. Qe6 Rb4 36. Re3 ({Objectively stronger was} 36. Qxa6 {but it demanded
computer precision to follow-up accurately.} Bxa6 37. Re8 Kh7 (37... Rf6 38.
Rc1 Kh7 (38... Kf7 39. Rd8 Be7 40. Rc7 $18) 39. Rc6 Rxc6 40. Nxc6 Rxb3 41. Rxf8
Ra3 42. Rf5 Rc3 43. Nb4 $18) 38. Re6 Bc4 39. Rb6 Rxb6 40. axb6 Rf6 (40... Rb7
41. Na5 Rxb6 42. Nxc4 Rb4 43. Ne6 $18) 41. Nd2 Bd5 (41... Bd3 42. Ra8 $18) 42.
Ra5 Rd6 43. Nf5 Rd7 44. Ne3 Bb7 45. Ndc4 $18) 36... Qa8 37. Rc1 Bd5 (37... Bxg2
$4 38. Rc8 Qd5 39. Rxf8+ Kxf8 40. Qe8#) 38. Rc8 Bxe6 39. Rxa8 Bc4 40. Rc8 Kh7
41. Rc3 Ba6 42. Rd8 ({White could have exchanged one pair of Rs with} 42. R8c7
Rf6 (42... Rf4 43. Ne6 Rf6 44. Nxf8+ Rxf8 45. Nc5 $18) 43. R7c6 {Although even
then after} (43. R3c6 Bd6 44. Rd7 $18) 43... Rxc6 (43... Bd6 44. Rxa6 Bh2+ 45.
Kxh2 $18) 44. Rxc6 Bc4 {White has to find accurate ways to use his Ns.} 45. Nc2
$1 Ra4 (45... Rxb3 46. Rxc4 $18) 46. Nc5 $1 Bd5 (46... Rxa5 47. Nd7 $18) 47.
Nxa4 ({A nice exercise for calculation could be} 47. Rxh6+ Kxh6 48. Nxa4 Bb3
49. Nb6 Bxc2 50. a6 Be4 51. a7 Be7 52. a8=Q Bxa8 53. Nxa8 Bd8 $11 {It does not
look like White can progress.}) 47... Bxc6 48. Nc3 $16 {In spite of the
achievement, progress is not easy.} (48. Nb2 Be4 49. Nd4 Bb4 50. Nc4 Bd5 51.
Nc2 Bc3 52. N2e3 Bb7 53. f4 $16 (53. Kf1 $2 Ba6))) 42... Ra4 43. Ne6 $6 {
This loses the key P. Other natural moves would have kept things in White's
grasp, although his task would still not be easy.} (43. Nc6 $142) (43. Rc1 $142
) 43... Bb4 44. Rc6 Bb5 45. Rc1 Ra2 46. f3 Ba4 47. Nbd4 Bxa5 48. Ra8 Bb6 49.
Kh1 Bb3 50. Rb8 Bxe6 51. Rxb6 Bf5 {The position now looks technically drawn
but Black will have to endure a tough and thankless battle for a long long
time.} 52. Rd6 Bg6 53. Rd8 Bf5 54. Rd6 Bg6 55. Rc8 Rb7 56. Rdd8 Bd3 57. Ne6 Bf1
$2 {After enduring for a long time, Ding Liren makes a slip.} (57... Bf5 $142
58. Rh8+ (58. Nf8+ Kg8 $11) 58... Kg6 59. Nf4+ Kg5 60. Rc4 $14 {and the story
would continue. Topalov would still press for more but the position would be
objectively equal.}) 58. Nf8+ $2 {Topalov misses his chance. Luckily he will
get another. He admitted that it took him a lot of time to find the brilliant
idea that we see later in the game.} (58. Rh8+ $1 Kg6 59. Nf4+ {was correct,
transposing to the game.}) 58... Kg8 59. Ng6+ Kh7 (59... Kf7 $142 60. Nh8+ (60.
Nf4 Bxg2+ 61. Nxg2 Rb1+ 62. Kh2 Rbb2 $11) 60... Ke6 61. Re8+ Kd6 62. Rcd8+ Kc6
$11 {[%csl Rg2]}) 60. Nf8+ Kg8 61. Ne6+ Kh7 $4 {Black fails to spot the
critical point, probably misled by the repetition. But he does give the
spectators a chance to witness an aesthetically pleasing finish.} (61... Kf7 $8
62. Nf4 Bxg2+ $1 63. Nxg2 Rb1+ 64. Kh2 Rbb2 $11) 62. Rh8+ Kg6 63. Nf4+ $1 Kg5 (
{If} 63... Kf5 {then the Black K is pushed totally out of the game, and then
White will gobble up the >> pawns.} 64. Rhf8+ Ke5 65. Rce8+ Kd4 (65... Kd6 66.
Re6+ Kc5 (66... Kc7 67. Rf7+ $18) 67. Rc8+ Kb4 68. Re1 Ba6 69. Rb1+ Ka5 70.
Rxb7 Bxb7 71. Rc7 $18) 66. Re1 Bc4 67. Rc8 $18 {[%csl Rd4]}) 64. Rhf8 $1 {
Now Black K is stuck in an awkward position and he is likely to lose material
for it. The whole point can be seen if Black takes on g2.} Rbb2 ({In his
calculation, after} 64... Bxg2+ {Ding probably missed the brilliancy} 65. Kh2
$3 {[%csl Rg5] which would bring about a fantastic study-like finish to the
game. It's all about the vulnerable Black K.} (65. Nxg2 $4 Rb1+ 66. Kh2 Rbb2
$11) 65... Bxf3+ (65... Kh4 66. Nxg2+ $18) 66. Kg3 $18 {[%cal Gh3h4] and Black
has to give up everything to save his K.}) ({Another beautiful and study-like
line is} 64... Kh4 65. Rc1 $1 {[%csl Rf1]} Ba6 (65... g5 66. Rxf1 gxf4 67.
Rxf4+ $18) 66. g3+ $1 Kxg3 (66... Kg5 67. h4#) 67. Rg1+ Kxf3 (67... Kh4 68.
Rg4#) (67... Kf2 68. Rg2+ $18 {[%csl Ra2]}) 68. Nd5+ Ke4 (68... Ke2 69. Nc3+
$18) 69. Nc3+ $18) (64... Rb5 {does not help either} 65. Rc7 Kh4 (65... g6 66.
g3 $18 {[%cal Gh3h4]} h5 67. h4+ Kh6 68. Rh8#) 66. Rxg7 $18) 65. Rc7 $1 g6 (
65... Bxg2+ 66. Nxg2 Rxg2 67. Rxg7+ $18) 66. g3 (66. g3 Rh2+ 67. Kg1 {[%cal
Gh3h4]} Bxh3 68. Nxh3+ Rxh3 69. Rc5#) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "So,Wesley"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The Sinquefield Cup is an intimidating event beginning to end. At the opening
ceremony I looked at all these top ten players gathered together in one room,
knowing I would have to confront them one by one ... I assure you just the
thought had confidence sapping power!  This game was played after the rest day,
therefore both of us had time to prepare for this crucial mid-point match.
Just prior to the rest day Veselin had just won a very long game against the
tough Ding Liren and was consequently leading the event with 3.5/5. I was at 3/
5. It was clear from the beginning of the tournament that Veselin was in great
form, so if I was to make a break for the lead, now was the time. Fortunately
I had white, so it seemed the ball was in my court and I should push to take
the lead.} 1. c4 {At the same time it's never clear what the best opening is
to go for when you have to try for a win. There are a number of attractive
choices and the test is picking the right one. I decided on the English, with
an idea of heading the game towards unfamiliar positions.} e5 2. g3 Nf6 ({
I was hoping he would go for something else:} 2... c6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 d5 5.
cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qh5 8. Ne3 {where at least I can try and win his
pawn on e4, and create some tactical play.}) 3. Bg2 d5 {This appears to me to
be the most solid and principled system.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8. d3 (8. Rb1 {had been played by Anish Giri against Levon Aronian in
Round 5, however it's not clear if the interesting idea he had in that game
could stand the stress of deeper probing.} a5) (8. a3 {had been played by
Peter Svidler against me in Round 7. After} O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 a5 11. b5 Nd4
12. Bb2 Nb3 13. Rb1 f6 14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Nc4 16. Qc1 Nxb2 17. Qxb2 Rb8 {
my bishop pair compensates for White's space advantage on the queenside.}) 8...
O-O 9. a3 {I have played this d3 and a3 system before and it's a good and
solid line. My concern was that Veselin who prepares so well, would be sure to
know it as he certainly must have looked at all of my recent games. I debated
it but at the end of the day decided to go for it anyway, hoping that if he
caught me, my experience in this line would save me.} (9. Be3 Re8 {is known to
be okay for Black, so I played a3 first, to see where Black was going. Against
...Re8 setups I want to go b2-b4, and against ...Be6 I want to have the
Be3-Rc1 setup available.}) 9... Be6 (9... Re8 10. b4 {is another variation
which occured in my blitz game against Magnus during the Paris Grand Chess
Tour.}) 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Nd2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2
Nd4 $1 {Veselin reacted very well against the system I chose. His position is
absolutely solid with no weakness. Black also managed to trade a number of
pieces and it's hard to generate play for White.} 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Qb3 Rb8 18.
e4 $1 {To get rid of the backward e pawn.} (18. Rc2 c5 {can only be good for
Black.}) 18... dxe3 ({A decent alternative is} 18... c5 {to start pushing
pawns on the queenside.} 19. Nc4 $1 Bf8 (19... b5 20. Ne5) 20. Nb6 Re6 21. Nd5
b5 {with a concrete position where each move matters.}) 19. fxe3 Rf8 20. Ne4 {
Preventing ...Kh8. I want to keep the pressure on f7 by doubling my rooks on
the f-file..} ({However the immediate} 20. Rf3 Kh8 $11 {followed by ...f6
gives White nothing.}) (20. Rf5 Kh8 $11) ({Or} 20. d4 c5 21. d5 b5 22. e4 Bd6 {
and ...f6 next, with completely fine play for Black.}) 20... Qd7 (20... c6 21.
Rf3) 21. Rf3 Rbd8 $1 ({Black wanted to avoid} 21... c6 22. Rcf1 {when White
has some slight pressure.} Qd5 (22... Qe6 23. Qxe6 fxe6 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Kf3 Ke8 {Here I thought that White had nothing, but in fact it
seemed to be a pleasant endgame. White centralizes his king with Kf4-e5 and
slowly starts pushing the kingside pawns.}) 23. Qxd5 cxd5 24. Nc3 d4 25. Nd5
Bd6 26. Nb6 {Threatening a rook fork with Nd7.} Rbd8 27. e4 $14 {with an
outpost on d5 the knight looks stronger than the bishop and White should have
good chances to outplay his opponent.}) 22. d4 ({If I was in a more concrete
mood I would have gone for} 22. Qxb7 Rb8 (22... Qxd3 23. Rc3 Qb1 24. Rf1 Rb8 (
24... Rd1 25. Rxd1 Qxd1 26. Qxa6 {wins a pawn, and its not clear if Black has
enough for it.}) 25. Rxb1 Rxb7 26. b4 Re8 {when this endgame should still end
in a draw.}) 23. Qxc7 Rxb2+ 24. Rf2 Rxf2+ 25. Nxf2 Qxc7 26. Rxc7 Bxa3 {but
during the game I didn't think that White had much in this endgame anyway.})
22... c6 23. Rcf1 Qd5 24. Qc2 $1 {Not the best move, but for this game it was
a good idea to keep the queens on.} (24. Qxd5 Rxd5 {is just equal. White's
pawns are a little fragile on the dark-squares and at the same time he has
more pawn islands (3 vs 2) than Black.} 25. Rf5 Rd7 {My guess was that this
ending would end in a draw.}) 24... g6 (24... Qe6 {also looks very good. Black
will go ...f5 next and there is little White can do to stop this.}) 25. g4 {
To prevent f7-f5 and gain some space on the kingside. I have to be careful and
not let my e3-pawn get too vulnerable.} (25. Nc3 Qe6 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27. Nxe4 f5
$15 {is clearly not good.}) 25... Rde8 $1 {Veselin now starts playing very
ambitiously and strongly.} ({Although} 25... Bh4 {is good too. Black wants to
go Rfe8-e7 next, while keeping his other rook on the d-file. In this case, I
don't think I will play} 26. Kh3 $5 {which is the computer suggestion.}) 26. h3
Bd8 27. Nc3 Qe6 ({Black avoids the repetition} 27... Qd6 28. Ne4 $11) 28. Na4 (
28. e4 Bb6 29. d5 Qe5 $15) 28... b6 ({Or here} 28... Qd5 29. Nc3 $11) 29. Rc1 {
I quickly seized my chance, now that he had created a weakness on c6 for
himself.} c5 (29... Qe7 $1 {is what the engines where screaming for at the
live commentary.} 30. Qxc6 (30. Nc3 h5) 30... Qg5 $44 {with ample compensation
for the pawn. It's hard to parry all of Black's threats and my king feels
vulnerable, though I feel that White can hold with some accurate play.}) (29...
Qd5 30. Nc3 {is a little different, and the game should end in a draw after}
Qg5 31. Ne4 Qd5 32. Nc3 $11) 30. dxc5 b5 31. Nc3 Qc6 32. Qd2 {White needs to
keep his pieces on active places.} (32. Nd1 $2 f5 $19 {is clearly bad. In fact
it is losing immediately.}) 32... Re5 $2 {Playing way too ambitiously!} (32...
Qxc5 33. Nd5 Qa7 {gives Black no problems, but at the same time} 34. Qd4 (34.
Rc6 Qb7 35. Qc3 {is more complex, and White's initiative looks a little
threatening}) 34... Qxd4 35. exd4 {should not give White much problem in
holding the draw either.}) 33. b4 {Now my protected passed pawn will be hard
to deal with.} Bg5 34. Rd1 $1 {I must prioritize activity above all else. At
the same time I seize control of the d-file. Now the fun begins as I turn from
being slightly worse, to much better and suddenly winning.} Bxe3 $2 {A blunder
and a little bit of desperation. When you miss something in your calculation
and then decide to make a sort of random move, it's usually not a wise
decision.} (34... Rxe3 {is the best chance.} 35. Qd5 Qe8 36. Qxg5 Rxc3 37. Rxc3
Qe2+ 38. Kg3 Qxd1 39. Qe3 {and I would prefer White here as his rook is very
well placed to support the advance of the c-pawn.} (39. Qc1 Qd5 40. Qf4 {
might be even better, although White has to meet} f5 {with} 41. Rf3 $1 {
to prevent the opening of the f-file.})) (34... Rd8 35. Qa2 $1 {is perhaps
what he missed.}) 35. Qd7 $1 {Most accurate.} (35. Qd6 Qe8 36. Qxa6 {wins a
couple of pawns although} h5 $1 {might give Black some tricks considering that
White's king is very vulnerable.} 37. Qxb5 hxg4 38. hxg4 Qe6 39. Qd7 Qb3 40.
Qd3 Qe6 {when White is winning, but he has to watch out.} 41. Re1 $1 Re8 42.
Rexe3 Rxe3 43. Rxe3 Qxe3 44. Qxe3 Rxe3 45. Nd5 $18) 35... Qa8 $2 36. Nd5 {
Already here White has more than one winning continuation.} (36. h4 {to
prevent ...Bg5.} f5 37. c6 $18) ({Or} 36. c6) 36... Bg5 37. c6 {The reason I
can push my c-pawn so boldly is because his queen is seriously trapped in the
corner on a8.} Bh4 (37... Re2+ {is what I was mostly looking at during the
game. Apparently the best reply is} 38. Kg3 $1 {Activating the king and
threatening h4 at the same time.} f5 (38... Rc2 39. c7) 39. gxf5 Rf7 40. Qd6
gxf5 41. h4 Bd8 42. Kh3 $18 {Now that the White king is safe and the
complications are gone, White is all set to deliver a decisive attack.}) 38.
Rd2 {Keeping an eye on the second rank.} Re1 (38... Qe8 39. Qxe8 Rfxe8 40. c7
Rc8 41. Rc3 $16 {I didn't mind trading the queens at all, besides with a
strong passed pawn White should win this ending in the long run.}) 39. Rc2 $1 (
39. c7 Rc1) 39... Kg7 40. Nb6 Qb8 {Finally we made it to move 40 and got an
extra hour on the clock, but it cannot help Black because he is simply lost.} (
40... Qd8 41. c7) 41. Qd4+ {Followed by c7, and Veselin resigned. It is clear
that the importance of this game in terms of the final standing was paramount.
Without this win it's hard to see how I would have won the Sinquefield Cup,
considering that maybe even +2 would not be enough to win clear first if I
drew with Veselin. In the end it worked out well and I managed to win clear
first with 5.5/9.   Winning this tournament was a particularly sweet victory
because 12 months earlier in the 2015 edition of The Sinquefield Cup, I came
in dead last. It was an emotionally crushing time for me but I resolved to
come back and fight harder this year. This is what you need to do if you want
to compete professionally. All the players on this level are really, really
tough, and as I said at the closing, anyone of us could have clinched it this
year. It just happened to be my turn.} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 d5 7. cxd5 Qxd5
8. e4 Qd6 9. h3 a5 10. Be2 Nd7 11. Qc2 Nc5 12. Be3 Ne6 13. O-O O-O 14. b3 Rd8
15. Rfc1 Bd7 16. Qb2 Be8 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 b5 20. Qa3 Qxb4 21.
Qxb4 Nxb4 22. Nxe5 f6 23. Bg4 Nd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Nf3 Nxd3 26. Rxc7 Rd6 27.
Rb7 h5 28. Bf5 g6 29. e5 Nxe5 30. Nxe5 gxf5 31. Rb8 Kf8 32. Ng6+ Kf7 33. Nf4 h4
34. g3 Bc6 35. gxh4 Rd4 36. Rb6 Rc4 37. h5 Kg7 38. Kh2 b4 39. Nd3 Rc3 40. Nxb4
Be4 41. Rd6 Rf3 42. Nd5 Rxf2+ 43. Kg3 Rf3+ 44. Kh4 Bxd5 45. Rxd5 Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 b6 10. Nc3 Ke8 11. Rd1 Bb4 12. Ne2 Bb7 13. Ned4 Nxd4 14.
Nxd4 Bc5 15. Nf5 Rg8 16. g4 h5 17. Be3 g6 18. Nh6 Rh8 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. g5 Bc8
21. h4 Ke7 22. f4 Be6 23. Rf1 Rad8 24. c3 Bh3 25. Rf2 Ke6 26. Re1 Rd3 27. Re4
Rhd8 28. Ra4 Rd1+ 29. Kh2 R8d3 30. f5+ gxf5 31. Raf4 Bg4 32. Kg2 Bh3+ 33. Kh2
Bg4 34. Nxg4 hxg4 35. Kg2 g3 36. Re2 Rb1 37. h5 Rdd1 38. Kxg3 Rh1 39. Rc4 Kd5
40. Rf4 Rbg1+ 41. Rg2 Rxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Rxh5 43. Rxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Bc4 Qd6 8.
Qe2 O-O 9. Nbd2 a5 10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Nde4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. dxe4 Nd8 14. Bd2
c6 15. a4 Ne6 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. g3 Rad8 18. O-O Rd7 19. Bc1 Rfd8 20. Rxd7 Rxd7
21. Kg2 g6 22. Bh6 Qf6 23. Qg4 Rd8 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Kf3 Kf7 27.
Ke2 Rd7 28. h4 Bf8 29. Be3 Be7 30. Rb1 c5 31. g4 h5 32. gxh5 gxh5 33. Rh1 Rd8
34. Rh3 Rg8 35. Rf3+ Ke8 36. Rg3 Kf7 37. Kd3 b6 38. Kc4 Bxh4 39. Rh3 Bg5 40.
Bxg5 Rxg5 41. Kb5 Rg2 42. Rf3+ Ke7 43. Kxb6 Rg8 44. Rh3 c4 45. Rxh5 Rb8+ 46.
Kc6 Rxb2 47. Rxe5 Rc2 48. Rxa5 Rxc3 49. Rc5 Rc2 50. Kb5 c3 51. Kb4 Rxf2 52.
Rxc3 Kd6 53. Rc4 Rf8 54. a5 Rb8+ 55. Ka3 Ra8 56. Ka4 Ra7 57. Rd4+ Kc5 58. Rd8
Rb7 59. Rc8+ Kd4 60. a6 Re7 61. Kb5 Kxe4 62. Rc4+ Kd3 63. Ra4 e5 64. Ra3+ Kd4
65. a7 Rb7+ 66. Kc6 Rxa7 67. Rxa7 e4 68. Ra4+ Kd3 69. Kd5 e3 70. Ra3+ Kd2 71.
Kd4 e2 72. Ra2+ Kd1 73. Kd3 e1=N+ 74. Kc3 Nf3 75. Rf2 Ne1 76. Rd2+ Kc1 77. Rh2
Kd1 78. Rf2 Kc1 79. Rd2 Nf3 80. Rd5 Ne1 81. Rd8 Nf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.02"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nadir, Samir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2199"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Sudan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SUD"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Nc3 O-O
9. Bb2 Ne4 10. Ne2 Nd7 11. Rc1 Qf6 12. Rc2 Ng5 13. Ne1 Qh6 14. g3 Nf6 15. f3
Bd7 16. Qc1 Nf7 17. f4 a5 18. a4 g5 19. Nf3 Ne4 20. Ba3 Be8 21. Bxe4 Bxa3 22.
Qxa3 fxe4 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Bh5 25. Nd4 gxf4 26. Rxf4 Rxf4 27. exf4 dxc4
28. bxc4 Rd8 29. Rd2 Qg6 30. Nxe6 Re8 31. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ziska, Helgi Dam"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Faroe Islands"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FAI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d6 10. c3 Rb8 11. Nbd2 d5 12. Ba4 Bb7 13. Re1 bxc3 14. bxc3 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Nd7 16. Qe2 Nc5 17. Bc2 Bc8 18. Ba3 Ne6 19. Qc4 Bxa3 20. Qxc6 Bd7 21. Qd5
Rb5 22. Qa2 Bb2 23. Ba4 Bxa1 24. Bxb5 Bxc3 25. Bxa6 Qa8 26. Rc1 Bxd2 27. Qxd2
Qxa6 28. Qxd7 Qxa5 29. Qd5 Qa3 30. Rf1 Rd8 31. Qxe5 h6 32. Qa1 Qb4 33. Qb1 c5
34. Qxb4 cxb4 35. Rb1 b3 36. Kf1 Rb8 37. Ke2 Nf4+ 38. Kd2 Nxg2 39. Kc3 Nf4 40.
Nd4 b2 41. f3 Rc8+ 42. Kd2 Rc4 43. Nc2 g6 44. Rxb2 Kg7 45. Ra2 Kf6 46. Ke3 Ne6
47. Kf2 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Predojevic, Borki"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. a4
Rc8 15. Bd3 a5 16. Ra3 h6 17. h3 Qc7 18. Qb2 Rfd8 19. Rb3 Bc6 20. Rc3 Qb8 21.
Ra3 Qd6 22. Ba6 Ra8 23. Bf1 Rac8 24. Ree3 Qb4 25. Reb3 Qd6 26. Ba6 Bxe4 27.
Bxc8 Rxc8 28. Rc3 Rd8 29. Qc1 Nf6 30. Rc8 Rxc8 31. Qxc8+ Kh7 32. Re3 Bxf3 33.
Rxf3 Qxd4 34. Qc7 Kg8 35. Qc8+ Kh7 36. Qf8 Qxa4 37. Qxf7 Qa1+ 38. Kh2 Qe5+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 {The Veresov Attack is starting to be an outdated name for
this system after Baadur has made it his favourite and most effective weapon.
So what about Jobava Hyperattack?!} d5 3. Bf4 e6 ({I was amused to find an old
game played very much in Baadur's style:} 3... a6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nf3 h6 6. Ne5
Nbd7 7. g4 Bh7 8. h4 $36 {Alekhine,A-Rometti,B Nice 1937 (1/2-1/2, 21)}) ({
There are plenty of Jobava's games with annotations available already:} 3...
Bf5 4. f3 e6 5. g4 (5. Qd2 {Naiditsch,A (2718)-Harikrishna,P (2706) Wijk aan
Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Ftacnik,L] (0-1, 19)}) 5... Bg6 6. h4 {0-1 (80) Jobava,B 
(2699)-Nakamura,H (2799) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 CBM 167 [Sumets,A]}) (3... c5 4.
e3 cxd4 5. exd4 a6 (5... e6 6. Nb5 Na6 7. c3 Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 Bd7 10. a4
Bxb5 11. axb5 Nc7 {Jobava,B (2669)-Kovalenko,I (2668) Almaty 2016 (1-0, 61)})
6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nge2 {Jobava,B (2665)-Ponomariov,R (2709) Baku 2016 (1-0, 21)}) (
{Even though I like the kingside fianchetto even in systems where this is not
typical, I have some reserve with respect to} 3... g6 {since it offers White
more fluent play than he is supposed to have after placing his knight in front
of the c-pawn:} 4. Qd2 Bg7 5. Bh6 Bxh6 6. Qxh6 Bf5 (6... c5 7. e3 Nc6 8. O-O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Qd6 10. f3 a6 11. Nge2 Bd7 12. Kb1 Rc8 13. Nc1 Na5 14. Nb3 Nxb3
15. axb3 b5 16. Bd3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Rhe1 $16 {Black's king is stuck in
the centre and there is no counterplay at all.} Rg8 $2 {This is by far not the
only case when Baadur's opponent blunders something very simple.} 19. Nxd5 $1
Qxd5 20. Qxf6 {Jobava,B (2713)-Van Wely,L (2654) Dubai 2014 (1-0, 25)}) 7. Qd2
c5 8. e3 cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. f3 h5 {Ambitious strategically but leaving the
king short of safe places.} 11. Bb5 Qd6 12. Nge2 a6 13. Bxc6+ Qxc6 14. O-O h4
15. a4 a5 16. Rfe1 Kf8 17. Nf4 e6 18. Rac1 Ne8 19. Nb5 Nd6 {Jobava,B (2661)
-Demchenko,A (2589) Gjakova 2016 (1-0, 44)} 20. c4 $5 dxc4 21. d5 Qc5+ 22. Kh1
$36 {[%csl Rf8,Rh8][%cal Gd4h8]}) 4. Nb5 ({Deviating from his previous
favourite} 4. e3 Bd6 (4... Bb4 5. Bd3 c5 6. dxc5 $5 {Giving up the centre is
justified by the fact that the f8-bishop has moved already. In the game Black
will try retrieving the pawn without losing a tempo but things will prove not
that simple.} Nbd7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Bd6 Re8 9. Bb5 a6 10. Bxd7 Nxd7 11. Qd4 Qa5
12. O-O-O Bxc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. e4 $14 {Jobava,B (2708)-Korneev,O (2581)
Sochi 2014 (1-0, 45), with better development and chances to get the control
over the dark squares.}) 5. Nf3 O-O (5... a6 6. Bd3 h6 7. O-O c5 8. dxc5 {
The same issue.} Bxc5 9. e4 {And the also familiar central break.} dxe4 10.
Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 Nd7 13. c4 g5 14. Bd2 a5 15. a3 g4 16. Bc3
Rg8 17. Nd4 $16 {Jobava,B (2673)-Rakhmanov,A (2640) Minsk 2015, Once again
White has an advance in development plus a dangerous queenside majority.}) 6.
Bd3 b6 (6... c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Nc6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qf6 {
Jobava,B (2705)-Malakhov,V (2716) Warsaw 2013 (0-1, 19), White sacrificed the
b2-pawn and then a piece, resigning just a few moves later. But} 12. Qc1 h6 13.
c3 e5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 {would have retained some slight pressure.}) 7. O-O
Bb7 8. Re1 Nbd7 9. Ne5 a6 10. Qf3 Be7 11. Qh3 c5 12. a3 c4 13. Be2 b5 14. Qg3
Ne8 15. Bf3 f5 $6 {Probably aimed at preventing e3-e4, but weakening the dark
squares a lot. Black probably relied on the half blocked character of the
position.} 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Be5 Nf6 18. Ne2 Rad8 19. Nf4 Bd6 20. b4 Bc6 21. h4
$14 {Jobava,B (2713)-Radjabov,T (2724) Dubai 2014 (1/2-1/2, 59)}) 4... Na6 {
Since the knight is not stable on b5, we can say that White has invested two
tempi in forcing the enemy knight into developing far from the crucial
e5-square.} (4... Bb4+ 5. c3 Ba5 {is a somewhat unnatural way of defending c7.}
6. a4 a6 7. b4 axb5 $6 ({In a blitz game it is easy to overlook that} 7... Bxb4
$11 {actually works since} 8. Nxc7+ $2 Qxc7 9. Bxc7 Bxc3+ {retrieves the
material with interest.}) 8. axb5 b6 9. bxa5 bxa5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Nf3 Bb7 12.
Bd3 $16 {Jobava,B (2669)-Gelfand,B (2734) Almaty (blitz) 2016 (1-0, 48)}) 5. a3
c6 {With the exception of a couple of games between low rated players, this is
a new move.} (5... Be7 {eventually transposed to some sort of Bf4 Queen's
Gambit:} 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3 b6 8. c4 Bb7 9. Qc2 c6 10. Nc3 c5 11. Rd1 cxd4 12.
Nxd4 Nc5 13. Be2 Qc8 14. O-O {Jobava,B (2664)-Swiercz,D (2617) Abu Dhabi 2015 
(½-½, 65), with only some light pressure.}) 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. e3 {The most
principled decision, avoiding speeding up Black's development, but} (7. Bxd6 {
is not that bad either.} Qxd6 8. e3 Nc7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12.
Ne5 c5 13. Qf3 {with typical Queen's Pawn Opening play.}) 7... Nc7 8. Nf3 Bxf4
{White was threatening Ne5 when Black's queen would have remained confined to
just a few passive squares. After this exchange, strengthening White's control
over e5, the queen gets the perfect d6-square.} (8... O-O 9. Ne5 c5 {The only
constructive plan since ...b7-b6 leaves the c6-pawn undefended.} (9... Nfe8 10.
Bd3 f6 $6 11. Qh5 $1) 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. O-O Nxe5 13. Bxe5 f6 14.
Bg3 e5 15. b4 Be7 16. Qh5 g6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19. f4 $36) ({But
starting with} 8... b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. g4 {offers White a kingside initiative
anyway.}) 9. exf4 Qd6 10. Ne5 b6 {Now this natural developing move is
perfectly fine.} 11. Qf3 c5 12. Nb5 $5 {Typical for Jobava but probably not
best. Rather than consolidating his control on the dark squares White changes
the character of the position completely.} (12. Qe3 {looks more natural and if}
O-O {White can continue extravagantly with} 13. h4 {or 13.g4.}) 12... Nxb5 13.
Bxb5+ Bd7 (13... Nd7 14. f5 $36) 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O-O O-O ({With his
development incomplete Black cannot afford to take measures against f4-f5:} 
15... g6 $6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. c4 $36 {True, the ending arising after} a6 18.
Qc3 $1 Rf8 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. cxd5 Rac8 {is not necessarily lost, but why give
up a pawn so easily?}) 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. f5 Qe7 (17... exf5 18. dxc5 $14 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 18. Rhe1 cxd4 {At this high point of the game releasing the
tension is not necessary, but we cannot call it a concession either.} ({
Black could try activating his queen's rook:} 18... Rac8 {since} 19. fxe6 (19.
dxc5 Rxc5) 19... fxe6 20. Qxd5 exd5 21. Rxe7 Rxf2 {is about equal.}) ({But if
he plays in similar way as in the game, ...cxd4 would probably be best a few
moves later anyway:} 18... Qf6 19. Qf4 (19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qxf6 Rxf6 21. dxc5
bxc5 22. f4 Kf7 23. c4 Rd8 24. g3 Rf5 {should not be a problem for Black.})
19... g6 ({A safer move is} 19... Rae8 20. Re5 {when there does not seem to be
anything better than transposing to the game with} cxd4 21. Rxd4) 20. g4 exf5
21. gxf5 Rae8 22. Re5 Qd6 23. Qg3 {with some slight pressure.}) 19. Rxd4 Qf6
20. Qf4 Rae8 21. Re5 {White has invaded the central dark squares and has some
slight pressure but it remains an open question whether he can make progress
in any way.} exf5 {Objectively correct but in the long run a somewhat risky
decision since simplifying to a pawn ending would offer White an easy win.} ({
But it was not simple for Black to free himself for instance} 21... g6 22. Kb1
(22. fxe6 Qxf4+ 23. Rxf4 fxe6 24. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $11) (22. g4 exf5 23. Rdxd5 Rxe5
24. Rxe5 Qh4 25. f3 h5 $15) 22... gxf5 $2 23. g4 $16 {[%csl Rg8]}) 22. Rdxd5
Rxe5 23. Rxe5 g6 24. Re2 Rd8 25. Qe5 Qc6 26. f3 a5 ({For the time being Black
is under no pressure and he can choose on which wing to advance his pawns.} 
26... h5 $5) 27. b3 b5 {This pawn will be a potential weakness in a short
while.} (27... a4 28. b4 Rc8 29. Kb2 Qc4 $11) 28. Kb2 a4 29. b4 Qc4 $6 {
The first cause of Black's future problems.} (29... h5 30. Qc3 Qd7 31. Re5 $14
{[%csl Gb5]}) ({He should have kept the control over the c-file with} 29... Rc8
$1 $11) 30. Re3 $1 {[%csl Gb5,Gc2][%cal Ge3c3,Gc3c5]} Qf1 (30... Rc8 $2 31. Rc3
{transposes to a won pawn ending.}) ({But neutral moves do not promise full
equality either:} 30... h5 31. Rc3 Qf1 (31... Qh4 32. h3 Qf2 33. g3 {is
similar.}) 32. g3 Qf2 33. Qxb5 Qxh2 34. Qe5 $16 {[%cal Gb4b8]}) 31. Re2 $1 {
A fantastic move! The rook returns tothe previous square cutting the queen off
from the b5-pawn.} Rd1 32. Qxb5 Rb1+ $6 ({It would have relatively been better
to keep the control over the d4-square as Black could deliver the check on b1
at any later moment. However, this would not have spared him problems:} 32...
Kg7 33. Qe5+ Kh6 34. b5 Ra1 35. Kc3 Rxa3+ 36. Kb4 Ra1 37. c4 $16) 33. Kc3 Kg7
34. Qe5+ Kh6 35. Qe3+ Kg7 36. Qf2 Qh1 37. Qd4+ $1 {This is the difference!
White gains an important tempo.} Kh6 38. Re7 $6 {It was tempting of course to
play with the queen in the centre but} (38. Qf4+ $1 Kg7 39. Kc4 $18 {was more
convincing, defending the kingside pawns and sustaining the pawns' march with
the king.}) 38... Qxg2 {[%csl Gc3][%cal Gg2f3]} (38... Qxh2 39. Rxf7 $18) 39.
Qd2+ Qxd2+ 40. Kxd2 {The rook ending looks very promising but will be winning
only after Black's next mistake.} Ra1 $2 ({It was essential to activate the
king with} 40... Kg5 $1 41. Rxf7 ({The pawn ending is drawn now:} 41. Re1 Rxe1
42. Kxe1 Kf6 {The king is just in time to stop the advance of the b-pawn.} 43.
c4 Ke5 44. Ke2 Kd4 45. c5 Kd5 46. Ke3 g5 47. h3 h5 $11) 41... Kf4 42. c4 $16 {
White is of course much better but Black has certain counter-chances.}) 41. Re1
$1 Rxa3 (41... Rxe1 42. Kxe1 {[%csl Gb4,Gb5,Gb6,Gb7,Gb8,Gc4,Gc8,Gd4,Gd8,Ge4,
Ge8,Gf4,Gf5,Gf6,Gf7,Gf8,Rh6]}) 42. b5 (42. b5 Ra2 43. Rb1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.06"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Arenas Vanegas, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Colombia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "COL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. a3 {Each tempo
in the opening has the value of gold, but White is ready to invest in order to
prevent the arrival of any black piece on b4.} Bd7 8. Bd3 Bc6 9. O-O Nd7 10.
Re1 Rc8 {Black has managed to develop the whole queenside reserves in order to
tame down White's possible initiative on the kingside.} (10... dxe5 11. dxe5
Be7 12. b4 N5b6 13. Nc3 $14) 11. b4 a6 12. Ng5 {A very aggressive approach
that depends very much on the number of pieces in play. Arenas Vanegas seems
to believe, that the unfinished development of Black's kingside justifies
breaking some rules.} (12. Nbd2 Nc3 13. Qb3 Ba4 14. Qb2 Nd1 15. Qb1 Nc3 16. Qb2
Nd1 17. Qb1 Nc3 18. Qb2 {1/2-1/2 (18) Janev,E (2485)-Spasov,V (2579) Plovdiv
2008}) (12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nbd2 O-O (14... Nc3 15. Qc2 Nb6 16. Qxc3
Bxf3 17. Bb5+ axb5 18. Qxf3 d5 19. Qd3 Nc4 20. a4 Qxb4 21. Nf3 bxa4 $17 {
1/2-1/2 (49) Sivokho,S (2425)-Vaulin,A (2550) St Petersburg 1998}) 15. Ne4 (15.
Rc1 dxe5 16. dxe5 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rfd8 18. Qb3 Ng6 19. Qb2 Nb6 20. g3 h6 21. h4 Qd7
22. Ne4 Na4 $15 {0-1 (45) Batsanin,D (2474)-Papin,V (2475) Sochi 2008}) 15...
dxe5 16. dxe5 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rfd8 18. Qd4 Ng6 19. Qb2 Bd5 20. g3 Nb6 $15 {0-1 (49)
Shaked,T (2500)-Rublevsky,S (2650) Groningen 1997}) 12... dxe5 {Topalov as a
former world champion is well known for his good nerves and ability to hold
out against an opponent's initiative.} (12... g6 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. exd6 Qf6 15.
Qg4 Bh6 16. Bd2 O-O 17. Qh4 Qg7 18. Nf3 Bxd2 19. Nbxd2 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Qf6 21. Qg3
$16 {1-0 (43) Wolff,P (2564)-Stripunsky,A (2563) ICC INT 2011}) (12... Be7 13.
Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 Bf8 15. Qh3 dxe5 16. dxe5 Bg7 17. Nf3 (17. Qg3 Ne7 (17... Bb5
18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Nd2 Ne7 20. Ndf3 Nf5 21. Qf4 Rc4 22. Ne4 O-O 23. Bb2 Rc2 24.
Rab1 Qc7 $11 {0-1 (61) Janev,E (2444)-Shyam,S (2502) Varna 2013}) 18. Bb2 O-O
19. Nd2 h6 20. Nh3 Nb6 21. Nb3 Na4 22. Bd4 Bd5 23. Nc5 {0-1 (46) Janev,E (2451)
-David,A (2589) Bratto 2013} Bc4 $15) 17... Qc7 18. Qg3 Nxb4 19. axb4 Bxf3 20.
Bb2 Bc6 21. Nd2 O-O 22. Nc4 $15 Rcd8 {0-1 (39) Milovanovic,D-Stripunsky,A 
(2550) Parsippany 2005}) 13. Nxe6 $6 {The direct attack with the sacrifice on
e6 is well known, but it does not enjoy a good reputation. White was clearly
bending some rules with Ng5, but he crosses the critical line with this
untimely aggression.} (13. dxe5 Be7 14. Qg4 Ne3 (14... Bb5 15. Bxb5 axb5 16.
Nf3 Kf8 17. Nbd2 N7b6 (17... h5 18. Qd4 g5 19. Qd3 g4 20. Nd4 h4 21. Bb2 Qb6
22. Re4 $16 {1-0 (49) Janev,E (2450)-Nikolov,M (2550) Blagoevgrad 2010}) 18.
Ne4 Nc4 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nexg5 h6 21. Ne4 Ra8 22. Nd4 $14 {1-0 (44) Ulybin,M 
(2533)-Sipos,I (2482) Winterthur 2009}) (14... h5 $5 15. Qg3 h4 16. Qg4 Nxe5
17. Rxe5 Nf6 18. Qd1 h3 19. Nc3 (19. Nxh3 Qd4 20. Rxe6 Qxa1 $17) 19... Bxg2 $13
) 15. Bxe3 (15. Rxe3 Bxg5 16. Re1 Nxe5 $17) 15... Nxe5 16. Nxe6 Nxg4 17. Nxd8
Rxd8 18. Bc5 Rxd3 19. Rxe7+ Kd8 20. Re1 $11) (13. Nxh7 $2 Qh4 14. Bg5 Qxd4 $19)
13... fxe6 (13... Qf6 $2 14. Nxf8 Kxf8 15. Be4 exd4 16. Bb2 Nf4 17. Bxd4 Qg5
18. Qf3 (18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. g3 $16) 18... Ne6 19. Be3 Qf6 20. Nd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 
(20) Brynell,S (2465)-Rytshagov,M (2525) Gothenburg 1998}) 14. Qh5+ Ke7 {
Let us remark that the possibility of getting some small advantage for Black
with the daring move 14...g6 does not bode very well for the quality of the
knight sacrifice.} (14... g6 15. Bxg6+ hxg6 16. Qxg6+ (16. Qxh8 Kf7 (16... exd4
$1 17. Qxd4 Kf7 18. Bb2 Bh6 $17) 17. Qh7+ Bg7 18. Bh6 Qh8 19. Qxg7+ Qxg7 20.
Bxg7 Kxg7 21. dxe5 Nf4 $17 {0-1 (29) Velchev,H (2285)-Iotov,V (2556) Sofia 2009
}) 16... Ke7 17. Bg5+ N7f6 (17... N5f6 $2 18. dxe5 Qe8 19. Bxf6+ Nxf6 20. Qxf6+
$18) 18. Nc3 Kd7 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxf6 Be7 21. Bxh8 Qxh8 $15) 15. dxe5 {
I am not impressed by this pawn move as I strongly believe in piece play in
the middlegame, but especially in the opening. In my understading of chess it
should be more promising to engage pieces with 15.Bg5+.} (15. Bg5+ N5f6 (15...
N7f6 16. dxe5 Kd7 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bh6 $14) 16. Qh3 $5 (16. dxe5 $2 Nxe5 $1
$19) 16... Qc7 (16... e4 17. Nc3 Kf7 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 (18... b6 19. Bc2 Qe8 20.
Bb3) 19. Nxe4 Rc6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. Rac1 Qd7 $15) 17. dxe5 Nxe5
18. Bf4 Nf3+ 19. Qxf3 (19. gxf3 Qxf4 20. Qxe6+ Kd8 $19) 19... Bxf3 20. Bxc7
Rxc7 21. gxf3 g6 22. Ra2 Nd5 $15) 15... h6 $1 (15... N5f6 $2 16. exf6+ Nxf6 17.
Qh3 Be4 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. Ra2 Qd5 20. Rae2 Rc6 21. Rxe4 Rxc1 22. Rxe6+ Kf7 23.
Nc3 $18 {1-0 (34) Ulybin,M (2521)-Lefebvre,H (2286) Cappelle-la-Grande 2013})
16. Nc3 $2 {[%mdl 4] White is going beserk right at the end of the known chess
theory for this dubious line. The sacrifice of too many pieces makes it easier
for the defender to parry even the most violent attack.} (16. Qg4 N7b6 $1 (
16... Bb5 17. Bxb5 axb5 18. Nd2 Qe8 $17) 17. Nd2 h5 18. Qg3 Kd7 $17) (16. Qh4+
Kf7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Bg6 Qe7 $17) (16. Bg5+ hxg5 17. Qxh8 (17. Qxg5+ N7f6 18.
Nd2 Kd7 $19) 17... Nf4 18. Bf1 Nxe5 $19) (16. Bg6 N7b6 17. Nd2 Be8 18. Ne4 Bxg6
19. Qxg6 Qe8 20. Qg4 Kf7 21. Bb2 Nc4 $17 {0-1 (32) Dolzhikova,O (2261)
-Goormachtigh,J (2187) Benidorm 2012}) 16... Nxc3 $1 17. Bg5+ hxg5 (17... Nf6
$4 18. exf6+ gxf6 19. Bxf6+ $18) 18. Qxg5+ (18. Qxh8 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Qxd3 $18)
18... Nf6 19. exf6+ (19. Re3 Kd7 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Qg4 Bd5 22. Bf5 Rc6 $19)
19... gxf6 20. Rxe6+ {It is very difficult to assign the right sign to this
brave and desperate move. White must act quickly, otherwise his sacrifice of
two minor pieces will turn out to be senseless.} (20. Qc5+ Qd6 $19) 20... Kxe6
21. Qg4+ {The black king is vulnerable in the centre, but fortunately it is
not acting alone. Black can always part with one spare piece to slow down
White's initiative.} (21. Re1+ Kd7 22. Bf5+ (22. Qf4 Bd6) 22... Kc7 23. Qg3+) (
21. Bf5+ Ke7 22. Qe3+ Ne4 23. Bxe4 Bh6 $19) 21... Ke7 (21... Kd6 22. Qg3+ (22.
Qf4+ Ke7 23. Re1+ Kf7 24. Qf5 Bd6 $19) 22... Ke7 23. Re1+ Be4 24. Bxe4 (24. h3
Qd4) 24... Ne2+ $1 $19) 22. Re1+ Ne4 23. Bxe4 {White can hardly hope to give
perpetual check with two rooks missing after 23.Rxe4+} (23. Rxe4+ Bxe4 24.
Qxe4+ Kd7 (24... Kd6 $19) 25. Qxb7+ Qc7 26. Bf5+ Kd8 27. Qd5+ Qd6 $19) 23...
Qd2 $1 24. Kf1 (24. Rd1 Bd7 (24... Ba4 $19) (24... Rh4 25. Qf3 Rxe4 $19) 25.
Qf3 Rc1 $19) 24... Kd8 {Topalov was already enjoying himself as White was
obviously fighting a more than hopeless battle.} (24... Bb5+ 25. Bd3+ Qxe1+ (
25... Kd8) 26. Kxe1 Rc1+ 27. Ke2 Rc2+ 28. Ke3 Bh6+ 29. Ke4 Bc6+ 30. Kd4 Rd8+
$19) 25. Rd1 (25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rd1 Rc1 $19) 25... Bb5+ 26. Kg1 Rc1 {It is
very dangerous to play extreme lines without exact knowledge of what is
possible and what is not.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Bd6 9. Re1 O-O 10. Qd3 Nd7 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nb6 13. Qg3 Nxc4 14. Bh6
g6 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. h4 Nb6 17. h5 Qe7 18. Rd4 Be8 19. Bg5 f6 20. exf6 Qc5 21.
Rxe6 Qf5 22. Re5 Qb1+ 23. Kh2 gxh5 24. Bh6+ Bg6 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Qg5 Qxa2 27.
Re7 Qxf2 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rxg6 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Nc3 d6 6. a3 Nf6 7. e3 e4 8. Nd4
O-O 9. d3 d5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Be2 Qe7 12. b4 Bb6 13. O-O Rd8 14. Ra2 Bxd4 15.
exd4 Nc6 16. Be3 Bf5 17. dxe4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Qd2 Qe6 20. f3 Bg6 21. Re1
Re8 22. Bf1 Qd7 23. Raa1 a6 24. b5 axb5 25. Bxb5 h5 26. a4 Qd6 27. Bf4 Rxe1+
28. Rxe1 Qf6 29. Be5 Qf5 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. a5 Qd3 32. Qxd3 Bxd3 33. Bc7 f6 34.
Re3 Bc4 35. Re6 Kf7 36. Rxc6 Re8 37. Bg3 Kg6 38. h4 Re2 39. Rc7 Ra2 40. Be1 Ra1
41. Kf2 Ra2+ 42. Kg1 Ra1 43. Re7 Kf5 44. Kh2 g6 45. Kg3 Ra2 46. Rf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Bf5 11. Bxb8 Nxc3 12. Qxf5 Ne4+ 13. Ke2 Qxb8 14. Qxd5
1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 e5 5. c5 a5 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. b5 Bxc5 8. Bc4 Ne7
9. exd4 exd4 10. Ba3 Bxa3 11. Nxa3 Bg4 12. Nxd4 Nd7 13. Nac2 Nb6 14. Qb3 Qd6
15. O-O a4 16. Qc3 O-O-O 17. h3 Bd7 18. Rfe1 Ned5 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Qa5 Nb6 21.
Re3 Rhe8 22. Rb1 Re5 23. Ra3 Rde8 24. Re3 Kb8 25. Rd3 Bf5 26. Re3 Bg6 27. Rbe1
Rd8 28. d3 Nd5 29. Rxe5 fxe5 30. Nf3 Bxd3 31. Nxe5 Bxc2 32. Nf7 Qg6 33. Nxd8
Nf4 34. g3 Nxh3+ 35. Kg2 Nf4+ 36. Kg1 Nh3+ 37. Kg2 Nf4+ 38. Kg1 Nh3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. b4 Bb6 8. a4
a5 9. b5 Ne7 10. Bb3 c6 11. O-O Ng6 12. Nc4 Bc7 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bg5 h6 15. b6
Bb8 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Rb1 Ra6 18. g3 Be6 19. Ncd2 d5 20. exd5 cxd5 21. c4 Rxb6
22. cxd5 Bg4 23. Kg2 Rb4 24. Re4 Bd6 25. Rxg4 Rxg4 26. Ne4 Rxe4 27. dxe4 Bc5
28. Qe2 b6 29. Ne1 Ne7 30. Nd3 Bd4 31. Nb2 Nc8 32. Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. d4 d5 10. c3 Bd6 11. Bd3 Nce7 12. Nbd2 c6 13. Qc2 g6 14. Nf1 Ng7 15.
Ng3 f6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Nh4 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Nef5 19. Qd2 g5 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Re1
Qd8 22. Nxf5 Nxf5 23. Bxf5 Bxf5 24. Qe2 Kf7 25. g4 Bd7 26. f4 Kg6 27. fxg5 fxg5
28. Qe5 Qf6 29. Qh2 Bxg4 30. Re5 Bf5 31. g4 Bxg4 32. Rxg5+ Qxg5 33. Bxg5 Kxg5
34. Qxh7 b6 35. Qb7 Rc8 36. Qxa7 b5 37. b3 Kf4 38. Kf2 Bf5 39. a4 bxa4 40. bxa4
Ke4 41. a5 Rh8 42. Qc7 Kd3 43. a6 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3
Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. O-O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 a6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Kb1 b5 14. Be2 Nbd7
15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. fxe4 e5 17. Bc3 Bd6 18. h4 Nf6 19. Bf3 Qe7 20. g4 Nd7 21. g5
a5 22. Qc2 b4 23. Be1 c5 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. Rd5 Rc8 26. Bg3 Rc6 27. Qe2 Qc7 28.
Rhd1 Ke7 29. Qh2 Rc8 30. Bxe5 Bxe5 31. Qxe5+ Qxe5 32. Rxe5+ Kf8 33. Bg4 Nd3 34.
Bxc8 Nxe5 35. Bb7 Rc7 36. Bd5 Ke7 37. Bb3 Rc5 38. Rf1 f6 39. gxf6+ gxf6 40. Bd5
Rc8 41. Rh1 Nf3 42. a4 bxa3 43. bxa3 Rc3 44. Kb2 Rxe3 45. h5 gxh5 46. Rxh5 Kd6
47. Rh8 Nd4 48. Ra8 f5 49. Rxa5 f4 50. Bc4 f3 51. e5+ Kc6 52. e6 f2 53. Rh5 Re1
54. Rh8 Nxe6 55. Rh2 f1=Q 56. Bxf1 Rxf1 57. a4 Kc5 58. a5 Nd4 59. Kc3 Rf3+ 60.
Kd2 Ra3 61. Rh8 Rxa5 62. Rh5+ Kb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. e3 Nf6 5. b4 Be7 6. Nxe7 Qxe7 7. Bb2 O-O 8.
a3 d6 9. d3 c5 10. Ne2 b6 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Rb1 Re8 14. e4 Nc6 15.
Be2 Nd4 16. O-O Rab8 17. Bc1 Bc6 18. Be3 Qc7 19. f4 Qa5 20. Rc1 Qxa3 21. fxe5
dxe5 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Bh6 Re6 24. Bh5 f5 25. Be3 f4 26. Bf2 Rh6 27. Bg4 Rg6
28. h3 f3 29. Bxd4 cxd4 30. Nd5 fxg2 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 Nxc5 8.
Bg2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Nb5 Be4 11. Qd1 Nb7 12. a3 Be7 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Rc1 a6 15.
Nc3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Na5 17. b4 Nxc4 18. Bb7 Nh5 19. Bxc8 Qxc8 20. Bd2 b5 21. e4
Nf6 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. a4 Qb7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qe2 Rc8 27. Rfd1 Bg5
28. Rb1 Bf6 29. Rb3 g6 30. Nb1 h5 31. Nd2 Kg7 32. Nf3 d6 33. h4 Ra8 34. Ng5 Qe7
35. Nf3 Ra4 36. e5 Bxe5 37. Nxe5 dxe5 38. Qe1 Qb7 39. Rbd3 Ra2 40. Ra1 Rb2 41.
Qc3 Qb6 42. Rf1 Ra2 43. Qb3 Re2 44. Qd1 Rb2 45. g4 e4 46. Rg3 e3 47. Qd3 exf2+
48. Kh2 Rd2 49. Qc3+ Qd4 50. gxh5 Qxc3 51. Rxc3 gxh5 52. Kg2 Rd4 53. Rg3+ Kf8
54. Rxf2 Rxh4 55. Ra2 Nd6 56. Rd3 Nf5 57. Ra7 Rxb4 58. Rdd7 Nh6 59. Rdb7 Kg7
60. Ra5 Kg6 61. Rbxb5 Rxb5 62. Rxb5 f6 63. Rb8 e5 64. Kf3 Nf7 65. Kg3 Nd6 66.
Rg8+ Kf7 67. Rh8 Nf5+ 68. Kf3 Kg6 69. Rg8+ Kh7 70. Ra8 Kg7 71. Rb8 Nh4+ 72. Ke4
Kh6 73. Rb1 Kg6 74. Rh1 Kg5 75. Rg1+ Kh6 76. Rh1 Kg5 77. Rg1+ Kh6 78. Rh1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 Qe7 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Rd1 Ne4 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. f3 Bg6
15. Bd3 O-O 16. Bd2 Nf6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Kg2 b6 19. Re1 c5 20. Qc2 Rfe8 21.
Bb5 Red8 22. Bc3 Qc7 23. Qf2 Qb7 24. b3 a6 25. Bd3 Rbc8 26. dxc5 bxc5 27. Rad1
Re8 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Qf1 Qb6 30. e4 dxe4 31. Bxe4 Kg7 32. Qc4 Re7 33. Bd3 Rxe1
34. Rxe1 a5 35. Re2 Rd8 36. Be4 Qb4 37. Bd5 Qxc4 38. Bxc4 f5 39. f4 Kf6 40. Kf3
Bc7 41. Rc2 Bb6 42. h3 Rd1 43. Be2 Rd4 44. h4 Ba7 45. Bc4 Bb6 46. Rh2 Rd7 47.
h5 Kg7 48. hxg6 fxg6 49. Re2 Bd8 50. Re6 Bf6 51. Ra6 Bc3 52. g4 fxg4+ 53. Kxg4
Bd2 54. Kg5 Kh7 55. Rf6 Bc1 56. a4 Re7 57. Ra6 Re5+ 58. Kg4 Rf5 59. Rxa5 Rxf4+
60. Kg3 Rf5 61. Ra8 Bf4+ 62. Kg2 Be3 63. a5 Rf2+ 64. Kg3 Ra2 65. a6 Kh6 66. Kf3
Bd4 67. Ke4 g5 68. Rg8 Ra5 69. Kd5 Kh5 70. Kc6 g4 71. Kb6 Ra3 72. a7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bc5 8. a4
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2 d5 12. Nxe5 dxe4 13. d4 Bb6 14. Bg5 b3 15.
cxb3 Nc6 16. b4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. Bxf6 Qxd1 19. Raxd1 gxf6 20. Nxf7 Rxf7
21. Rd7 Raf8 22. a5 Ba7 23. Rc1 Bb8 24. Rcd1 Kg7 25. Rxf7+ Rxf7 26. Bxf7 Kxf7
27. Rd8 e3 28. fxe3 Ba7 29. Kf2 Ke7 30. Rg8 Be4 31. g4 Kd7 32. h4 Ke7 33. h5
Kd7 34. Rg7+ Kc6 35. Re7 Bc2 36. h6 Kd6 37. Rf7 Be4 38. Rxf6+ Ke7 39. Rxa6 Bb8
40. g5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "202"]
[EventDate "2016.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nge2 b5
9. O-O bxc4 10. Bxc4 d5 11. Bb3 a5 12. Kh1 Ba6 13. Rc1 e6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 g5
16. Bf2 Nbd7 17. e5 Nh5 18. Na4 Bb5 19. Re1 f6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Nec3 Ba6 22.
Ne2 g4 23. Ng1 Nf4 24. Rxc6 Nd3 25. Bg3 Nxe1 26. Qxe1 Rfe8 27. Nc3 Qf7 28. fxg4
Bxd4 29. Nf3 Bg7 30. g5 h5 31. Bc2 Nf8 32. h3 Rec8 33. Rd6 Rd8 34. g6 Qe8 35.
Ba4 Qxg6 36. Nxd5 Kh8 37. Nf4 Qf5 38. Nh4 Qf7 39. Rb6 Bd4 40. Rc6 Rdc8 41. Qe4
Bg7 42. Nhg6+ Nxg6 43. Nxg6+ Kg8 44. Ne5 Qf5 45. Qxf5 exf5 46. Rb6 Rcb8 47. Rg6
Kh7 48. Rg5 Bf6 49. Rxf5 Kg7 50. Rxf6 Kxf6 51. Nd7+ Kf5 52. Nxb8 Bc4 53. b3 Bd3
54. Nc6 Bb1 55. a3 Kf6 56. Bb5 Re8 57. Kh2 Re3 58. Nxa5 Rc3 59. Bc4 Be4 60. Bf1
Rc1 61. Nc4 Ba8 62. Ne3 Rc3 63. Bf4 Rxb3 64. a4 Rb4 65. Bc4 Rxa4 66. h4 Ra3 67.
Be2 Kg6 68. Kg3 Be4 69. Bf3 Bb1 70. Nc4 Rc3 71. Ne5+ Kf6 72. Kh2 Kf5 73. Bg3
Be4 74. Bxh5 Rxg3 75. Kxg3 Kxe5 76. Bf3 Bf5 77. Kf2 Bd7 78. Ke3 Be6 79. g3 Bd7
80. Bh5 Be6 81. Be8 Kf5 82. Bh5 Ke5 83. Be2 Bd7 84. Kd2 Be6 85. Kc3 Ke4 86. Bd1
Ke5 87. Kb4 Kd4 88. Kb5 Ke5 89. Kc5 Bd7 90. Be2 Be8 91. g4 Kf4 92. g5 Ke5 93.
Bd1 Bf7 94. Be2 Be8 95. Kb6 Kd6 96. Bd3 Bh5 97. Bc2 Be8 98. Bd1 Bf7 99. h5 Ke5
100. g6 Be8 101. h6 Bxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. d4 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 a5 8. b3 a4
9. Ba3 Bf5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Re8 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rfc1 Qb6 14. Bf1 e5 15.
Qb5 Ne4 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. bxa4 Rxa4
21. Bc5 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 Nc4 23. Bd4 b5 24. Be2 Ra6 25. f3 Bc2 26. Kf2 f6 27. g4
Kf7 28. h4 Ra4 29. h5 g5 30. Ke1 Ra3 31. Bc5 Ra8 32. Kf2 f5 33. a3 fxg4 34.
fxg4 Ke6 35. Kg3 Nd2 36. Bb4 Nc4 37. Bc5 Rc8 38. Bd4 Ra8 39. Bc5 Be4 40. Kf2
Rc8 41. Bd4 Ra8 42. Bc5 Kd7 43. Bb4 Ra6 44. Kg3 Rf6 45. Rf1 Rxf1 46. Bxf1 Ke6
47. Kf2 Bc2 48. Be2 Be4 49. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Bxc4 Qc7 9. O-O a6 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qe2 b4 12. Na4 Bb7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nxc5 Nxc5
15. Bc2 h6 16. Rd1 a5 17. Rd4 Ne7 18. Bd2 O-O 19. Rc1 Rfd8 20. Be3 Nd5 21. Bd2
Ba6 22. Qe1 Qb6 23. Bb1 Rac8 24. h3 h5 25. Qd1 Nd7 26. Be4 Rxc1 27. Bxc1 Nc5
28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Qxd5 Bb7 31. Qd4 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Qg6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5
Be6 9. g3 Nbd7 10. Bg2 Be7 11. Qd2 Rc8 12. a4 Rc4 13. b3 Rc5 14. Be3 Rc7 15. f4
Nb8 16. Bb6 Qc8 17. Bxc7 Qxc7 18. f5 Bd7 19. O-O Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Bc6 21. Nd5 Bxd5
22. exd5 Nbd7 23. c4 a5 24. Nc3 Bd8 25. Nb5 Bb6 26. Rab1 Ke7 27. Qg5 Qe3 28.
Qxe3 Bxe3 29. b4 axb4 30. Rxb4 Ra8 31. Ra1 Ra5 32. Rb3 Bc5 33. Nc3 b6 34. Nb5
Nf8 35. Bf3 N8h7 36. h4 Kd7 37. Kg2 Nf8 38. Nc3 Ke7 39. Rb5 Ra7 40. a5 Bd4 41.
Ra3 bxa5 42. Ne4 Nxe4 43. Bxe4 Nd7 44. Rbxa5 Rc7 45. Bd3 Kf6 46. Be2 Nc5 47.
Bxh5 Kxf5 48. Rf3+ Ke4 49. Bxf7 Bb2 50. Rb5 Bc1 51. Rb1 Bh6 52. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. h3 Nd7 8.
Nc3 Bd6 9. a4 b6 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd2 c5 12. Nc4 Nb8 13. f4 exf4 14. Qf3 Ra7 15.
Nxd6 cxd6 16. Bxf4 Be6 17. Qg3 Rd7 18. Nd5 Nc6 19. Bg5 f6 20. Nxf6+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Bd6 7. Nc3 c5 8.
O-O O-O 9. Nd2 Be6 10. Nc4 Nd7 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. f4 f5 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. g4 Rf8
15. f5 Bf7 16. Qf3 c4 17. Be3 cxd3 18. cxd3 Rc8 19. d4 b5 20. Nxb5 exd4 21.
Nxd4 Ne5 22. Qg3 Qd7 23. Bf4 Qb7 24. b3 Qb4 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Qxe5 Rfe8 27. Qf4
Rc3 28. Kh2 Bd5 29. f6 Ree3 30. f7+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E83"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Na5 9. b3 b5 10. cxb5 axb5 11. Rc1 c6 12. Ng3 h5 13. Bd3 e5 14. Nge2 b4 15. Na4
exd4 16. Bxd4 c5 17. Bf2 Nd7 18. O-O Ne5 19. Rfd1 Be6 20. Nf4 Bxb3 21. axb3
Nxb3 22. Qc2 Nxc1 23. Rxc1 Bh6 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. g4 Bg6 7. Ne5 e6 8. Nd2
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bg2 Bd6 11. O-O g5 12. Re1 Nf8 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. e4 dxe4
15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Nd7 17. Bg2 Qf6 18. d5 cxd5 19. cxd5 e5 20. Be3 a6 21.
Ba7 O-O 22. Rac1 g6 23. a4 Kg7 24. a5 Qe7 25. Rc4 Nf6 26. Bxb8 Rxb8 27. Qc3 Nd7
28. Re2 Qd8 29. b4 Qe7 30. Rb2 Rd8 31. b5 Bc5 32. bxa6 bxa6 33. Rb7 Bd4 34. Qd2
Qf6 35. Rc6 Qe7 36. Rcc7 Kf8 37. d6 Qxd6 38. Qxg5 Bxf2+ 39. Kxf2 Qd4+ 40. Kg3
Ke8 41. Qxd8+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Ne4 8.
e3 Nxc3 9. Qc2 Ne4 10. Bd3 Nd6 11. c5 Nf5 12. O-O h6 13. Rb1 O-O 14. Qc3 Nfe7
15. Bd2 b6 16. Rfc1 Na5 17. Qc2 Nc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Qxc4 Bb7 20. Ne1 Be4 21.
Rb2 Ng6 22. f3 Bd5 23. Qc3 f5 24. Nd3 Rf7 25. Be1 Qg5 26. Kf1 Re8 27. Re2 Bb7
28. Qc4 Qd8 29. Bg3 Qc8 30. Kf2 Ba6 31. Qc3 f4 32. exf4 Bxd3 33. Qxd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c4 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nf3
O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nc6 11. O-O Bd7 12. Re1 Rc8 13. Qe2 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Ncxe7
15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qd3 Qb6 18. Ne5 Be6 19. Re2 Rc7 20. Rae1 Rfc8
21. f4 Qa6 22. Qf3 Qb6 23. Qd3 Qa6 24. Qf3 Rc1 25. Re3 Qb6 26. f5 Qxd4 27. Kf1
Bxf5 28. Qxf5 R8c7 29. R3e2 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxb2 31. Nd3 Qb5 32. Kg1 g6 33. Qf6
Qb6+ 34. Qxb6 axb6 35. Nb4 d4 36. Nd5 Rc2 37. Rd1 Rxa2 38. Nxb6 Ra6 39. Nd5 Rd6
40. Rxd4 Kg7 41. Kf2 b5 42. Ke3 g5 43. Ke4 Re6+ 44. Kd3 Kg6 45. Ne3 f5 46. Rd5
f4 47. Ng4 b4 48. Rb5 Kh5 49. Ne5 b3 50. Kc3 Rd6 51. Rxb3 Rd5 52. Nd3 Ra5 53.
Kd2 Ra1 54. Ke2 Rh1 55. h3 Kh4 56. Ne5 Ra1 57. Kf2 Ra2+ 58. Kg1 Re2 59. Nf3+
Kh5 60. Rb6 Ra2 61. Ne5 Rc2 62. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 Nc6 6. Nc3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
O-O 9. Qd2 Be6 10. Nd5 a5 11. c4 a4 12. Nc1 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Nd4 14. Ne2 Nxe2 15.
Bxe2 Nd7 16. O-O h6 17. Bb5 Nc5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Qc2 Qb6 20. Bc4 Qa5 21. d6
Bxd6 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. a3 Be7 24. g3 Rfd8 25. Bd5 c4 26. Kg2 Ra5 27. f4 Bf6 28.
Rf2 Kh8 29. Qe2 Rc5 30. Qh5 c3 31. bxc3 Rxc3 32. fxe5 Qxe5 33. Qxf7 Rc7 34. Qg6
b5 35. Be6 Rf8 36. Bf5 Kg8 37. Rd5 Qc3 38. e5 Qc6 39. Be4 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bxd7+ Bxd7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 e5 8.
Qd3 Be7 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 h6 11. a4 O-O 12. b3 Be6 13. Be3 Ng4 14. Rfd1 Nxe3
15. Qxe3 Rc8 16. Nxe5 Bg5 17. f4 Bxf4 18. Qxf4 dxe5 19. Rxd8 exf4 20. Rxc8 Rxc8
21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Kf8 23. Re1 a5 24. Kf2 Rd8 25. Kf3 g5 26. Rd1 Re8 27. Rd3
Ke7 28. c5 Kd7 29. g3 fxg3 30. hxg3 f5 31. Rd4 Re5 32. b4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown Blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.11.14"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 Bxd5 11. Bb5+ Bc6 12. Bd3 Nd7 13. N1d2 a5 14. a3 a4
15. Nc1 Nc5 16. Bf5 Rg8 17. O-O Rg5 18. Be4 O-O-O 19. Nd3 Bb5 20. h4 Rh5 21. g4
Rxh4 22. Kg2 Bh6 23. Kg3 Bg5 24. Bf5+ Kb8 25. Ne4 Nxe4+ 26. Bxe4 h5 27. Rh1
Rxh1 28. Rxh1 hxg4 29. fxg4 Rd4 30. Kf3 Rc4 31. Nb4 Bd7 32. Rg1 Rd4 33. Rg2 Rd1
34. Nd3 Rh1 35. Nf2 Re1 36. Rh2 Re3+ 37. Kg2 Bf4 38. Rh8+ Kc7 39. Rg8 Rg3+ 40.
Kf1 Bb5+ 41. Nd3 Re3 42. Bf5 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 {To begin the game this modestly has become very popular. It's
an invitation to the Reti Opening, where computer preparation is not very
effective and there is plenty of room to get a positional game.} g6 {From a
theoretical standpoint, this is a clever choice. While White enjoys an array
of options against most other setups, here he will be quickly restricted. It's
either allowing Black to post a claim in the centre with e7-e5 or go into the
rock-solid Symmetrical Grünfeld. It's no coincidence that most of the players
in the London field see this line quite regularly in their games.} 3. Bg2 Bg7
4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 {Kramnik has played this position so many times
that recently he felt compelled to toy with alternatives like 6.Nbd2 and even
6.c3.} c5 {A very odd choice to me. When Black keeps the centre closed, you
can barely feel White's extra tempo. Now that the position will open up,
speedy development matters and White's chances to get a real edge certainly
improve.} (6... c6) ({and} 6... dxc4 {are far and away the main options.}) 7.
dxc5 dxc4 8. Na3 c3 ({Symmetry won't work for too long:} 8... Na6 9. c6 c3 10.
Qxd8 Rxd8 11. bxc3 Ne4 12. Nd4 {leaves Black struggling.}) 9. Nb5 $1 {In a
moment we'll get to why this is so strong... but here I actually figured out
what Topalov is doing! After the first couple of times I played and lost to
Vladimir in Dortmund I shared my approach with a friend: I would come to the
game, let Vladimir show what he had prepared and then try and see how I would
fare against him at his best. My friend was certainly amused, likening this
ritual to a kind of fetish and closing with the remark: "Certainly there would
also be someone who would try to survive against the Terminator until the
stage of arguments!" To cut a long story short, if you ask Kramnik to show his
improvement in a type of position he likes anyway and you arrive empty-handed,
you won't make it far. As of late, Topalov has claimed that he does not take
tournaments as seriously as before. I believe it shows in moments like these.}
(9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 {½-½ (73) Kramnik,V -Giri,A Leuven 2016, and
things worked out for Black.}) 9... cxb2 ({After} 9... Na6 10. Nxc3 Nxc5 11.
Be3 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd4 {Black still has to tread carefully with the
Bg2 soon putting pressure on the black queenside.}) 10. Bxb2 $14 {Instead of
giving Black a nice spot for his knight on c5, Kramnik has kept his pawn there.
Supported by superior development, this pawn is an asset, ready to drive a
wedge into Black's queenside at any point.} Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 $6 {
In the early years of my work with the now famous coach Vladimir Chuchelov I
tried to develop a mantra, that I consider still very helpful: When there is
an obvious natural move, try to make it work the best you can. Only if you are
then convinced it fails, look for something else. Chess is a game of harmony,
and I would feel compelled to consider the developing move 12...Nbd7 before
looking at something as clumsy as ...Qc8.} (12... Nbd7 13. Rac1 (13. Ne5 Bxg2
14. Kxg2 Qc8 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rac1 {White will keep trying, but
as so many pieces have come off, Black can breathe and gradually unravel.})
13... Qa5 14. Nbd4 $1 {The key is to break through on c6.} Bd5 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16.
Bxa3 Rfc8 (16... Rac8 17. Bh3 $1 e6 $2 18. c6 {[%csl Rf8]}) 17. c6 bxc6 18.
Bxe7 $14 {[%csl Rc6]}) 13. Rac1 {White's play flows naturally, while his
opponent must already feel cramped.} Nbd7 14. Nbd4 Bd5 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c6 $1 {
All of White's pieces stand well, there can be no other move. White creates
targets to exploit his far superior coordination.} Nb6 $2 (16... bxc6 17. Nxc6
Qb7 {was the only choice, but} 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Nfe5 {leads to a grip that is
already hard to shake off.}) 17. c7 {It is very hard to sharpen play and go
for the throat, when continuing at a leisurely pace conserves a very large
advantage. While c7 is certainly a good move, it passes up on a decisive
assault, starting with} (17. Ng5 $1 h6 (17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxc6 19. Qb3 e6 20.
Nxc6 Qb7 21. Kg1 Rac8 22. Ne5) 18. Bh3 Ng4 19. e4) 17... Nc4 18. Qb4 Nxb2 19.
Qxb2 b6 20. Qa3 $2 {This indecisive move opened a window of resistance for
Topalov, but he was not ready.} (20. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Kg1 Rac8 23.
Qb3 e6 24. Nb5 {is overwhelming} Ne4 25. Nc4 Bf8 26. Qf3 $18) 20... e6 $4 {
[%csl Rd6] Somehow, all 3 decisive games got decided by crude mistakes in this
round. But here I am sure Topalov was already despising his position in any
case. Still, when defending it is crucial to avoid making new weaknesses. The
new hole on d6 is too much for Black.} (20... Bh6 $142 $1 21. Rc2 Qb7 22. Bh3
$1 {White is ready to go to great lengths to provoke the weakening of the
d6-square.} e6 23. Nb5 {is of course no picnic either.}) (20... Qb7 21. Bh3 $1
e6 22. Ng5 h6 23. e4 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb5 {looks winning}) 21. Nb5 Bf8
22. Qb2 Bg7 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. a4 {With Ne5 imminent, Black can't avoid
collapsing.} Ne4 25. Qf4 a6 26. Qxe4 axb5 27. Qd3 f5 28. Ng5 {A trademark game
by Kramnik! Powerful play with all the pieces, and only a short moment of
hesitation that didn't spoil anything this time.} (28. Ng5 bxa4 29. Nxe6 Bxe6
30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 {and all White's pieces push the c-pawn through.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {The Advance Variation, featuring the advantage that
Black cannot choose between several possible stuctures, has become quite
popular mainly due to the efforts of Grischuk and Svidler some years ago and
has more recently been adopted by Shirov.} c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 {
The standard reaction to Black's move order.} (6. a3 Nge7 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4
Nf5 9. Be3 g6 {Matovic,M (2236)-Atalik,S (2564) Novi Sad 2016 CBM 174 [Atalik,
S] (0-1, 37)}) 6... Nge7 7. h4 $5 {A relatively rare move, even though the
advance of the h-pawn forms part of White's global plan.} ({There has been a
lot of interest at the top level for} 7. O-O Ng6 (7... Rc8 8. Na3 {0-1 (33)
Shirov,A (2712)-Svane,R (2542) Germany 2015 CBM 170 [CB]}) (7... Nf5 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. Bd3 {1-0 (44) Grischuk,A (2746)-Ivanchuk,V (2768) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011
CBM 145 [Marin,M]}) 8. g3 Be7 (8... cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 {1-0 (37) Svidler,P (2747)
-Ivanchuk,V (2757) London 2013 CBM 154 [Marin,M]}) 9. h4 cxd4 (9... O-O 10. h5
Nh8 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. b4 Be7 13. b5 Na5 14. h6 {1-0 (35) Grischuk,A (2746)
-Ivanchuk,V (2768) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 CBM 145 [Marin,M]}) 10. cxd4 O-O 11. h5
Nh8 12. h6 g6 13. Nc3 f6 {1-0 (34) Shirov,A (2686)-Akesson,R (2452) Stockholm
2016 CBM 172 Extra [Shirov,A]}) ({Statistically, the most frequent move is} 7.
Na3 {though, even though not so much at the top level. Here is just a recent
example:} cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Nc2 Qb6 10. O-O Na5 11. b3 Bb5 12. Bd2 Nc6 13.
Rc1 Be7 14. Bc3 {Black has solved the problem of his "bad" bishop, but the
next move is asking for trouble.} O-O-O $2 (14... Rc8 $5) (14... a5 $5) 15. b4
{This is not that much an attack against the king as a way of taking advantage
of Black's piece congestion.} Kb8 16. Bxb5 Qxb5 17. a4 $1 Qb6 (17... Qxa4 18.
Ra1 Qb5 19. Na3 Qb6 20. b5 Na5 21. Qa4 $18) 18. Qd2 a6 {McShane,L (2652)
-Hawkins,J (2590) London 2016 (1/2-1/2, 69)} 19. b5 $18 {[%cal Gc3a5]}) 7...
Qb6 {The most flexible move, delaying the exchange on d4 and keeping open all
the options for the e7-knight.} (7... Nf5 8. g4 Nfe7 9. h5 f6 10. exf6 gxf6 11.
dxc5 e5 12. g5 $36 {Sokolov,A (2521)-Prusikin,M (2528) Switzerland 2016 (1-0,
44)}) (7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Qb6 {may transpose though.} 9. b3 $6 {this seems too
slow.} (9. Na3 {transposes to the game}) (9. Nc3 {reaches a move repetition at
best:} Nf5 10. Na4 Qa5+ {[%cal Gc6d4,Gd7a4] Voss,A (1768)-Woltering,M (1727)
Germany 2010 (1-0, 46)} 11. Bd2 $2 Bb4 $17 {[%csl Gd4]}) 9... Nf5 10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh6 12. Rg1 f6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Qd2 Nf7 15. Nc3 O-O-O 16. O-O-O Kb8 17.
Kb1 Nd6 $11 {Polgar,J (2630)-Nikolic,P (2655) Moscow 1994 CBM 045 [Hansen,Cu] 
(0-1, 40)}) 8. Na3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 $146 {This new move obviously aims at
preventing Nc2, leaving the knight passive on a3 for a long time. But its main
drawback is releasing the pressure on b2.} (9... Nf5 {looks playable.} 10. Nc2
Nb4 (10... f6 $6 11. g4 Nfxd4 $6 12. Ncxd4 Nxe5 13. Rg1 Nxf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bc5 15.
Rg2 O-O 16. Kf1 Rac8 17. b3 {Movsesian,S (2632)-Ni,H (2614) ICC INT 2006 (0-1,
50), didn't yield Black enough compensation for the piece.}) 11. Nxb4 Qxb4+ 12.
Kf1 Bb5 13. h5 h6 14. g4 Bxe2+ 15. Kxe2 Ne7 16. Qd3 Nc6 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. b4 a6
19. Rhb1 Be7 20. a4 {Movsesian,S (2653)-Wang,H (2717) Huaian 2016 (0-1, 32),
White has a space advantage all over the board, but after exchanging two minor
pieces Black should not be too worried.}) 10. h5 h6 ({Once again} 10... Nf5 {
looks premature:} 11. g4 Nh6 12. Rg1 $14) ({But there wasn't an immediate need
for preventing h5-h6 for instance:} 10... Rc8 11. h6 ({White could play as in
the game} 11. Kf1 $5 a6 12. Bd2 {and the threat h5-h6 could eventually become
real, inducing /...h7-h6 anyway.}) 11... gxh6 12. Bxh6 Bxh6 13. Rxh6 Nf5 14.
Rh5 Nc6 {[%csl Gb2,Gd4] But Caruana's move should not be criticised, as it is
a way of inviting White to reveal his cards without defining his own queenside
intentions yet.}) 11. Bd2 {Taking full advantage of the drawbacks of the
novelty.} a6 12. Bc3 {But this is slightly questionable, as the c3-square
could be used by the knight.} (12. Kf1 $5 Nec6 ({Under the given circumstances
the more modest} 12... Nbc6 {may be safer.} 13. Bc3 Na7 14. Qd2 Nec6 15. Rh3
$14) 13. Rh4 O-O-O 14. Nb1 $1 {[%cal Ga2a3]} Na7 (14... Na5 15. b3) 15. Nc3 $16
) 12... Nec6 13. Rh3 O-O-O 14. Kf1 ({Even though slightly less effective now,
the regrouping starting with} 14. Nb1 {deserves consideration.} Na7 15. a3 Nbc6
16. b4 Nb5 (16... Kb8 17. Bb2 f6 18. Nc3 $14 {[%cal Gc3a4]}) (16... f6 17. Bb2
fxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 $14 {[%cal Gh3b3,Gb1c3,Gc3a4]}) 17. Bb2 Be7 18. Kf1
Kb8 19. a4 {Otherwise it is hard to see how could White get things going.} Nc7
20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 Nxb5 22. Nc3 {with reasonable compensation for the pawn
due to the somewhat exposed black king.}) 14... Kb8 {A cunning move, preparing
...f7-f6.} ({But objectively the immediate break} 14... f6 {was better:} 15.
Nc2 Nxc2 16. Qxc2 {[%cal Gc2c8]} Kb8 (16... fxe5 17. Nxe5 $16 Nxe5 $2 18. Ba5+
$1 Qc6 19. Rc3 $18) 17. Qd2 fxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 {[%csl Gd8][%cal Gc3a5]
} Rc8 20. Bd4 Bc5 21. Rb3 Bb5 $11) 15. Qd2 $6 ({The last good moment for} 15.
Nb1 {with possible transposition to the similar line above.}) 15... f6 $1 $15 {
Everything was ready for this break. Suddenly, White's imperfect coordination
starts to tell.} 16. exf6 ({With the centre under tension} 16. Nb1 $2 {would
be just asking for trouble:} fxe5 17. a3 (17. dxe5 d4) 17... e4 18. Nh4 e5 $19
{[%csl Gd4,Gh3]}) (16. Nc2 {was not entirely satisfactory either:} Nxc2 17.
Qxc2 fxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Bc5 20. Be1 Rc8 $36) 16... gxf6 17. Rg3 (17.
Nb1 e5 18. Rg3 Bf5 $17 {[%cal Gb4c2]}) 17... Be8 18. Nh4 ({This was the last
moment when White could think of redeploying his knight, even though this
would not have solved all the problems:} 18. Nb1 Na5 (18... Bxh5 19. a3 a5 20.
axb4 axb4 21. Na3 $5 $13) 19. Nh4 Bd6 20. Rg7 Nc4 $15) 18... Bd6 $6 {A curious
decision, allowing White to activate his rook on the seventh rank.} (18... e5
$1 19. dxe5 (19. Ng6 Bxg6 20. hxg6 Rg8 $15 {[%cal Ye5d4,Ge5e4,Gf6f5]}) 19... d4
20. Bxb4 Bxb4 21. Qd1 Nxe5 $15) 19. Rg7 e5 20. dxe5 {With the bishop hanging
Black does not have the intermediate ...d5-d4 anymore.} (20. Ng6 $5 Bxg6 21.
hxg6 exd4 22. Rd1 dxc3 23. bxc3 Qa5 24. Qb2 $13) 20... fxe5 21. Ng6 Bxg6 22.
hxg6 $13 {Things are still messy for White on the queenside but he has made
huge progress on the other wing.} e4 ({It looks wiser to take some measures
against the far advanced enemy forces:} 22... Rhf8 23. Rf7 (23. f3 $2 e4 $40)
23... Rxf7 24. gxf7 Qc7 25. Bh5 Qe7 26. g3 (26. Qxh6 $2 Qh4 27. Kg1 Bc5 28. Rf1
Nd3 $19) 26... Qe6 27. Kg2 Rf8 $13) 23. Rf7 Rhg8 $6 {The start of Black's
problems.} ({It was not too late for} 23... Rhf8 24. Qxh6 Rxf7 25. gxf7 Qc7 26.
Bf6 Rf8 27. Bh5 Ka7 28. Bg7 Rxf7 29. Bxf7 Qxf7 $44 {[%csl Ga2,Ga3]} 30. Qxd6
Qxg7 31. Rb1 Nd3 32. Qg3 Qf6 33. Nc2 d4 {Despite his missing exchange, Black
dominates the centre. The positon is unclear and chances are roughly equal.})
24. g7 {With such a far advanced pawn, sustained by the rook and bishop, White
is better already, even though the position remains messy.} Ka7 (24... d4 25.
Nc4 Qc5 (25... dxc3 26. bxc3) 26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Rc1 $16) 25. Qxh6 Nd3 $6 {
This makes White land up in an objectively hopeless position.} (25... Ne5 $5 {
Still offers some hope:} 26. Rf6 Nbd3 27. Bxd3 Nxd3 28. Nc2 Qc7 29. Nd4 Bf4 30.
Rxf4 Nxf4 31. g3 $16) 26. Bxd3 exd3 27. Re1 Bc5 28. Re6 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Ge6c6]
A tempting and not really bad move, but White does not need such
hyper-activity.} ({The simpler} 28. Qg6 {[%csl Gd3] eliminates the d3-pawn and
with it any source of black counterplay.}) 28... Rc8 (28... Ka8 $2 29. b4 $1
Bxb4 30. Rxc6 bxc6 31. Bxb4 Qxb4 32. Qxc6+ {mates}) 29. Qg5 $2 {The players
must have been in time trouble already. In such a chaotic position, though it
is basically winning for White. Mutual mistakes are very likely with little
time. The last move allows a nasty geometric trick.} (29. g3 $16 {[%cal Gf1g2]
would have spared back rank problems, making the trick ineffective:} Bxa3 30.
bxa3 Qb5 31. Bd2 Nd8 32. Qe3+ Ka8 33. Rb6 $18) 29... Bd4 $6 ({Missing} 29...
Bxa3 $1 30. bxa3 Qb5 {[%cal Gc6d8,Gd3d2] Suddenly the rooks are hanging.} 31.
Bd2 (31. a4 Qc4 $17) 31... Nd8 32. Qe3+ Ka8 33. Rb6 d4 $3 (33... Rc1+ $2 34.
Bxc1 d2+ 35. Rxb5 dxc1=Q+ 36. Qxc1) 34. Qxd4 Rc1+ $1 35. Bxc1 d2+ 36. Rxb5
dxc1=Q+ 37. Ke2 Nxf7 $17) 30. Re1 $2 (30. Qxd5 $1 Bxc3 31. bxc3 Rgd8 ({There
are some differences induced by} 31... Rcd8 32. Rd6 Rxd6 33. Qxd6 Qb2 34. g3
Qe2+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. f3 Qe2+ 37. Kh3 d2 38. Qxc6 $1 $18) 32. Rd7 (32. Rd6 Rxd6
33. Qxd6 Qb2 34. g3 Qe2+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. f3 Qe2+ 37. Kh3 d2 $13 {[%csl Gc6]})
32... Rxd7 33. Qxd7 Rd8 34. Rxc6 Rxd7 35. Rxb6 d2 36. Rb1 d1=Q+ 37. Rxd1 Rxd1+
38. Ke2 Rd8 39. Nc4 Rg8 40. f4 Rxg7 41. Kf3 Rc7 42. Ne3 Rxc3 43. g4 $18) (30.
Qd2 $5 $13) 30... Bxc3 $6 (30... Rxg7 $1 {Another combination which is far
from easy to see.} 31. Bxd4 (31. Rxg7 Rh8 $1 32. g3 Bxc3 33. bxc3 Rh1+ 34. Kg2
Rxe1 $19) 31... Rxg5 32. Bxb6+ Kxb6 33. Rd1 Ne5 $17) 31. bxc3 Qb2 32. Nb1 {
Finally thinking of this knight, true, not really voluntarily.} (32. Qc1 $13 {
looks safest}) 32... Rce8 33. Qd2 Rxe1+ 34. Qxe1 d4 $1 {Quite a tricky move,
clearing not only the d5-square but also the whole fifth rank for a rapid
queen switch to h5.} (34... Qb5 35. c4 Qxc4 (35... dxc4 36. Nc3 $16) 36. Nd2
$13) 35. Nd2 $2 $19 (35. cxd4 Qb5 36. Kg1 (36. Nc3 Qh5 $1) 36... Qd5 $15) ({
In time trouble who would think of a prophylactic move like} 35. a4 $1 $13 {
[%csl Gb5]}) 35... dxc3 36. Nc4 {The knight which had waited so passively on
a3 for such a long time seems to have become the hero of the game. But not
after Black's brilliant answer (the only one not to lose!)} Re8 $3 (36... Qb4
37. Qe3+ Kb8 38. Qxd3 $18) 37. Rxb7+ (37. Qxe8 Qc1+ 38. Qe1 d2 39. Qxc1 dxc1=Q+
40. Ke2 c2 41. Ne3 Qb2 $19) (37. Nxb2 Rxe1+ 38. Kxe1 cxb2 39. g8=Q b1=Q+ 40.
Kd2 Qc2+ 41. Ke3 Qe2+ 42. Kf4 d2 $19) 37... Qxb7 38. Qxe8 Qb1+ 39. Qe1 c2 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. d4 d5 10. g3 Re8 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne2 g5 13. h3 h6 14. Bg2 Ng7 15.
Ne5 f6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. c4 Qd7 18. Kh2 Bb4 19. Bd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 dxc4 21. Nc3
Bd5 22. Ne4 Qf7 23. Qa5 f5 24. Nc3 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 f4 26. Qc5 fxg3 27. fxg3 Rxe1
28. Rxe1 Rf8 29. d5 Nh5 30. Rg1 cxd5 31. Qxd5 Qxd5+ 32. Nxd5 Rd8 33. Rd1 Kg7
34. Kf3 c6 35. Ne3 Rd3 36. Rxd3 cxd3 37. Nf1 Kf6 38. Ke3 Ke5 39. Kxd3 Nf6 40.
Ne3 h5 41. Nc4+ Kd5 42. Ne3+ Ke5 43. Nc4+ Kd5 44. Ne3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 {This aggressive approach is rarely seen on the top
level.} 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. Nf3 (5. a3 $5 {is another interesting continuation,
which has recently gained some popularity}) 5... Bg4 6. c3 e6 7. b4 ({Possibly,
} 7. Be3 $5 {as was played in most games, poses Black more problems. For
instance, in the following recent encounter Hikaru was unable to solve the
problems:} Qc7 (7... Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nge7 9. Bb5 a6 10. Ba4 Qa5 11. Bc2 Nxe5 12.
Qg3 Nc4 13. b4 Qd8 14. O-O $36 {Zhigalko,S (2683)-Laznicka,V (2666) Rhodes 2013
}) 8. Nbd2 Nge7 9. Bd4 g6 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Bg7 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 Nxc6
14. Qe2 $14 {Leko,P (2693)-Nakamura,H (2779) Doha QAT 2016}) 7... a6 {The
e5-pawn should fall soon, so Hikaru is making a useful prophylactic move.} ({
There are several solid alternatives:} 7... g6 $5 8. Bb5 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Bg7 10.
Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qe2 a5 12. a3 f6 13. Bf4 Nh6 $44 {Fedoseev,V (2670)-Fridman,D 
(2620) Liepaja LAT 2016. Black had full compensation for the pawn.}) (7... Bxf3
$5 8. Qxf3 Nxe5 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Bb2 Be7 11. c4 Nf6 $132 {Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2704)-Andreikin,D (2718) Moscow 2012}) 8. Nbd2 ({White doesn't get much after
} 8. Bf4 Bxf3 $1 9. Qxf3 g5 10. Bg3 Bg7 $132 {Doluhanova,E (2252)-Schepetkova,
M (2302) Sharjah UAE 2016}) 8... Nxe5 9. Qa4+ ({The other moves have been
tested at a high level, but Black's position looks fine both after} 9. h3 Nxf3+
10. Nxf3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 g6 12. Be2 Bg7 13. O-O Ne7 $132 {Fedorchuk,S (2660)
-Lupulescu,C (2634) Legnica 2013}) ({and} 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Nf6 11. h3 Bh5 12.
Bb2 Be7 $132 {Frolyanov,D (2566)-Alekseev,E (2651) Kaliningrad RUS 2015}) 9...
Nd7 $146 {Hikaru chooses the most ambitious way, deviating from the
approximately equal endgame.} ({The previously played} 9... Qd7 {also looks
solid:} 10. Qxd7+ Nxd7 11. Bb2 Bxf3 ({But} 11... Ngf6 $6 {is inferior:} 12. Nd4
Be7 13. N2b3 e5 14. h3 $1 Be6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be2 $14 {Predojevic,B (2632)
-Zelcic,R (2539) Zadar 2010}) 12. Nxf3 Be7 13. Be2 Bf6 14. O-O Ne7 15. Rab1 O-O
16. c4 a5 $132 {Nevednichy,V (2554)-Zelcic,R (2548) Tromso 2014}) 10. Ne5 {
Veselin is trying to make use of pinning the Nd7, but most of his pieces are
undeveloped and do not bother Black.} Ngf6 11. c4 $6 {Veselin is pushing too
hard, exposing his pawn structure.} ({It was better to liquidate the bishop at
once in order to develop the Bf1 with tempo:} 11. Nxg4 $1 Nxg4 12. Be2 Nge5 (
12... Ngf6 13. O-O Be7 14. a3 O-O 15. Qc2 b6 16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. c4 dxc4 18. Nxc4
$14) 13. Bb2 {White's bishops can be potentially very strong, so Black has to
play precisely:} a5 $1 (13... Be7 14. Qb3 O-O 15. c4 dxc4 16. Nxc4 Nxc4 17.
Qxc4 $14) 14. Qb3 Be7 15. a3 b6 16. c4 $1 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1+ 18. Bxa1 dxc4 19.
Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Bxc4 bxc5 21. O-O O-O 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. Bxe6 Nf6 $11) 11... a5 $1
12. Nb3 $6 {This inaccuracy invites further troubles.} ({More to the point was
} 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qxd7+ Nxd7 14. cxd5 exd5 15. bxa5 Be7 $1 ({After} 15...
Bxc5 16. Nb3 O-O 17. f3 {White should be able to slowly equalise.}) 16. Be2
Bxe2 17. Kxe2 Nxc5 18. Nb3 $15 {with a slightly worse, but defendable endgame.}
) 12... axb4 13. Qb5 Be7 $1 {Now Black's development advantage is getting
threatening.} 14. c6 (14. cxd5 {is strongly met by} O-O $1 15. Nxg4 Nxg4 16. h3
Nxf2 $1 17. Kxf2 Bf6 18. Rb1 Rxa2+ 19. Kg1 Bc3 20. Bf4 Qf6 $40 {with a
powerful attack.}) 14... bxc6 15. Nxc6 Qc7 16. f3 {The best chance.} (16. Nxe7
{loses on the spot:} Rb8 $1 17. Qa5 Qe5+ 18. Be3 Kxe7 $19) 16... Bf5 17. Nxe7
Rb8 18. Nxf5 $2 {Veselin is trying to change the unfavourable course of the
game, but White cannot afford to lose the queen in this situation.} ({He had
to play} 18. Qa5 Qe5+ 19. Kf2 Kxe7 20. c5 Rhc8 21. Be3 Qb2+ 22. Be2 Bd3 23.
Rhe1 $17) 18... Rxb5 19. Nxg7+ Ke7 (19... Kf8 $1 {was simpler:} 20. Bh6 Qe5+
21. Kf2 Qb2+ 22. Kg1 Ra5 $1 $19) 20. cxb5 Nc5 $6 {This inaccurate move makes
Black's task tougher.} ({Hikaru should have continued} 20... Qe5+ 21. Be2 Nc5
22. Rb1 Nd3+ 23. Kf1 Nxc1 24. Nxc1 Nd7 $1 $19) 21. Bb2 Nxb3 22. axb3 {
Developing the queenside pieces is Veselin's definite achievement, but the
position is still very dangerous.} Qf4 (22... Rg8 $5 23. Bd4 Qc2 24. g3 Rxg7 $1
(24... Ne4 25. Ra7+ Kd6 26. Ra6+ Kd7 27. Ra7+ Kc8 28. fxe4 Qxe4+ 29. Be2 Qxh1+
30. Kf2 Qxh2+ 31. Kf1 $11) 25. Ra7+ Nd7 26. Bxg7 Qxb3 27. Be2 Qe3 28. b6 Qxb6
29. Ra1 f6 $17) 23. Be2 $6 {This is too modest!} ({The correct move was} 23.
Rd1 $1 Qg5 24. Bd4 Qxg7 25. g3 Qh6 26. Bd3 $17 {, activating all the forces.})
23... Rc8 $1 24. Rd1 ({In the event of} 24. b6 Qe3 25. Bxf6+ Kxf6 26. Nh5+ Ke7
27. Rd1 Rc2 28. Ng3 Qxb6 $19 {the lack of harmony makes White's position
completely lost.}) 24... Qg5 $6 {There was no reason for hurrying! The poor
Ng7 would be lost anyway.} ({A much stronger try was} 24... Rc2 25. Bd4 Qg5 26.
Nf5+ Qxf5 27. Bd3 Qg5 28. g3 Rc3 $1 29. f4 Qg8 $19) 25. b6 $2 {Returning the
favour.} ({GM Topalov misses another chance to consolidate:} 25. O-O $1 Rc3 $1
26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. f4 Qg8 28. Rde1 $17 {and the vulnerablity of the king on e7
offers White definite drawing chances.}) 25... Rc2 {The rook penetrates
White's camp with great effect.} 26. Bxf6+ Qxf6 27. Nh5 (27. b7 Qc3+ 28. Kf1
Qc7 $19) 27... Qc3+ 28. Kf1 Qe3 29. Re1 Qxb6 {Collecting the most important
pawn. The b3-pawn should fall soon too.} 30. Nf4 Qe3 31. g3 Qxb3 {The b3-pawn
is worth a piece, but there is still some technical work to do.} 32. Kg2 Kf8 (
32... e5 33. Kh3 Rd2 34. Ng2 Qc3 35. Rc1 Rc2 $19) 33. Kh3 Qb2 34. Rb1 Qf6 35.
Rhe1 (35. Rxb4 Qh6+ 36. Kg2 e5 $19) 35... e5 36. Nxd5 (36. Nd3 e4 37. Nxb4 Rd2
38. Rbd1 Rxd1 39. Bxd1 Qh6+ 40. Kg2 Qd2+ 41. Kf1 e3 42. Be2 Qxb4 $19) 36...
Qe6+ 37. Kg2 Qxd5 38. Rxb4 {White was able to liquidate all the opponent's
pawn on the queenside, but it's still lost!} Qd2 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Kf1 Qh6 $2 {
The last move before crossing the time control turns out to be a serious
mistake.} ({The most convincing was} 40... e4 $1 41. fxe4 Qh6 42. Kg1 Qe3+ 43.
Kf1 Qxe4 44. Kf2 Qa4 $1 {, and White is paralysed:} 45. Kf1 (45. Rb7 Qd4+ 46.
Kf1 Qd5 $19) 45... h5 46. Rbb1 Qe4 47. Kf2 Rxe2+ 48. Rxe2 Qxb1 $19) 41. Kg2 $2
{Alas, Veselin is far from his best...} ({Otherwise, he would have played} 41.
Rb4 $1 Qh3+ (41... Qxh2 $2 42. Rh4 Qxg3 43. Rg4+ Qxg4 44. fxg4 {, and now it
is Black, who has to fight for a draw!}) 42. Kg1 Qd7 43. Kf1 $17 {, and the
limited material balance leaves White some hopes - it's not easy to make
progress here!}) 41... e4 $1 {Now White's position is collapsing.} 42. Rb3 (42.
fxe4 Qe3 $19) (42. f4 Qh5 $19) 42... Qe6 43. Re3 exf3+ 44. Kxf3 Qh3 {The rest
is easy.} 45. Rd1 (45. Rh1 Qf5+ 46. Kg2 Qd5+ $19) 45... Qh5+ 46. Kf2 Qxh2+ 47.
Kf3 Rc6 48. Rd4 Rg6 49. g4 Rf6+ 50. Ke4 Qh1+ 51. Kd3 Qb1+ 52. Kd2 Qb2+ 53. Kd3
Rc6 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Kosintseva,N"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Even though both players had lost their chance to fight for first place in
the tournament, this game was by far the most interesting in this round.
Whereas the leaders had mostly theoretical battles that ended in draws, this
game is the only one that was sharp and had a result different from a draw.
Surprising enough, Michael Adams outplayed Veselin Topalov in a very sharp
battle, which we usually would not expect. Let's see how it happened.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Adams chooses a very positional system and avoids
the theoretical jungles of main Berlin lines.} Bc5 {Personally, I think this
is the better move.} ({The alternative} 4... d6 {is too passive:} 5. O-O Bd7 6.
Re1 $14 {and in my opinion, White will always be slightly better in such
positions because of the bad black dark-squared bishop.}) 5. Bxc6 {Again, this
move represents not the most popular continuation but at the same time I would
say that it is one of the most positional choices for White. He gives up the
light-squared bishop on purpose to limit the activity of the black pieces.
Typical play for Adams - get a drawish position, play it for a hundred moves,
and get a point by betting on his outstanding technique. However, this game
developed according to a different scenario.} dxc6 6. Nbd2 ({The pawn on e5 is
taboo:} 6. Nxe5 $4 Qd4 7. Be3 Qxe5 8. d4 Qxe4 9. dxc5 Qxg2 10. Rf1 Bh3 11. Nd2
Qg6 12. Rh1 O-O-O $19 {with a decisive initiative for Black.}) (6. Be3 {
This is line is playable, but too many pieces get exchanged afterwards, for
example:} Bxe3 7. fxe3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 (59) Nepomniachtchi,
I (2656)-Ponomariov,R (2737) Dagomys 2010}) 6... Be6 7. O-O {Now the e5-pawn
is hanging.} Bd6 ({As an alternative,} 7... Nd7 {seems to be more solid, on
the one hand, as White has no immediate d4. But on the other hand, White hass
at his disposal an additional resource... to play} 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 {,
forcing Black to trade his light-squared bishop for a knight.}) 8. d4 Nd7 ({
Of course not} 8... exd4 $4 {in view of} 9. e5 $18) 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Bxe5
{Normally Black should have no problem in this position. Strangely enough he
got a lot of them...} 11. f4 Bd4+ (11... Qd4+ $5 {seems to be risky from a
human point of view as this queen can be easily attacked by White's pieces.
But at the same time with such a centralised queen Black can provoke White
into playing too aggressively and then counter-attack under favourable
conditions. For example:} 12. Kh1 Bd6 13. c3 (13. f5 Bc4 14. c3 (14. e5 Bxf1
15. exd6 Bxg2+ $1 16. Kxg2 O-O-O 17. dxc7 Rd5 $132) 14... Qc5 15. Nxc4 (15. e5
Bxf1 16. exd6 Bd3 17. Qe1+ Kf8 18. dxc7 Qxf5 $13) 15... Qxc4 16. e5 Bxe5 17.
Re1 f6 18. Qd4 Qd5 19. Bf4 O-O 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. Qxd5+ cxd5 22. Rxe5 Rad8 $11)
(13. e5 Bc5 14. f5 Bd5 15. Qe2 b5 $1 $132) 13... Qd3 14. f5 (14. Rf3 Bg4 $1 15.
Rxd3 Bxd1 16. Nc4 Bc2 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Rxd6 Bxe4 $11) 14... Bd7 (14... Bc4
15. Rf3 Qe2 16. Qg1 $36) 15. Rf3 Qb5 16. a4 Qe5 17. Nf1 O-O-O $132) 12. Kh1 f6
{A very natural move. Black restricts the further advance of White's central
pawns.} (12... f5 $5 {An interesting alternative.} 13. Qe2 (13. exf5 Bxf5 14.
Re1+ Kf7 $132 {and the temporary position of the black king in the centre is
fully compensated for by the activity of Black's bishop pair.}) (13. e5 Qd5
$132) 13... O-O 14. Nf3 Bc5 15. Ng5 Qe7 {and again the activity of the black
pieces seems to be good compensation for a worse pawn configuration:} 16. Be3 (
16. Nxe6 Qxe6 17. e5 Rfd8 $18 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qc4 $132) 16... Bxe3 17.
Qxe3 Bc4 $1 18. Rfe1 fxe4 19. Qh3 (19. Qxe4 Qxe4 20. Rxe4 Bd5 21. Rd4 h6 $36)
19... h6 20. Rxe4 Qf6 21. Rxc4 hxg5 $132) 13. c3 Bb6 ({If Topalov had a second
chance to play this position, he would probably prefer} 13... Be3 {,trading
his dark-squared bishop for the white knight and betting on the drawish
tendency of opposite-coloured bishops.}) 14. f5 Bf7 15. e5 $1 {This is the
only good idea for White in the position. If he does not play dynamically, he
is at risk of getting into trouble in the long run since the position has
become quite open and the pair of black bishops pretty soon can turn into a
real power.} fxe5 {Black had no choice.} 16. Qg4 Qd3 {The major difference
between ...Qd3 and other queen moves is that White cannot play Ne4 - the rook
on f1 is hanging. Otherwise, if the knight gets to e4 White has excellent
compensation for the pawn.} (16... O-O {seems to be very dangerous, in view of}
17. Ne4 ({But not} 17. f6 $2 Bg6 $17) 17... Bd5 (17... h5 18. Qg3 Bc4 19. Bh6
Rf7 20. Rfd1 {and White has a very strong initiative for the pawn, for example:
} Qc8 21. Nf6+ Kh8 $8 (21... Kf8 22. Qxe5 gxh6 23. b3 $1 Ba6 24. Rd7 $3 Rxd7
25. Nxd7+ Qxd7 26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. Qg7+ Kd6 28. Rd1+ $18) 22. Nxh5 gxh6 23. Qxe5+
Kg8 24. Nf6+ Rxf6 25. Qxf6 Bf7 26. Rd3 Qf8 27. Rg3+ Kh7 28. Rd1 $36) (17... Bg6
18. Bg5 Qc8 19. Ng3 $40) 18. Ng3 $1 {It is very important for White to keep
the knight that can participate in the attack against the black king.} Kh8 19.
b3 Qe7 20. c4 Bf7 21. Bb2 $36) (16... Qd5 17. Ne4 $1 (17. Qxg7 $4 Rg8 $19)
17... O-O-O 18. Bg5 Rde8 19. f6+ Be6 20. Qh4 $36) 17. Qxg7 Rg8 (17... O-O-O {
fails due to} 18. Qxf7 Be3 19. Qe6+ Kb8 20. Qxe5 Bxd2 21. Bxd2 Qxd2 22. f6 $16
{and White's passed pawn should be a decisive factor in this position.}) 18.
Qxe5+ Kd7 19. Qe4 {The last moves were more or less forced, but now Topalov
had a very important choice and he did not solve the puzzle. The best bet for
Black was 19...Qd5.} Qa6 $2 (19... Qd5 $1 20. c4 (20. Qxd5+ $2 {Trades and
simplifications are not always good for the side that has a material advantage.
So, in this particular position after} Bxd5 21. Nf3 Raf8 $15 {Black gets the
pawn back and his bishops will dominate the position.}) 20... Qd4 $1 (20...
Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxc4 22. Nf6+ Ke7 (22... Kc8 23. Nxg8 Bxf1 24. Bg5 Bc4 25. Re1
$18 {with the deadly threat of Re8.}) (22... Kd6 23. Re1 $1 Rgf8 24. Bf4+ Kc5
25. Ne4+ Kb5 26. a4+ Ka6 27. a5 Bd4 28. Ra4 $18) 23. Nxg8+ Rxg8 24. Rf3 $14 {
followed by Be3.}) 21. Rd1 Kc8 22. h3 $14 {and in spite of the fact that White
keeps an extra pawn, Black has good chances to survive in the endgame thanks
to his bishop pair.}) 20. f6 {Now Black gets into real trouble.} Rae8 $6 {
A follow-up mistake. It was essential for Black to secure his king, even if it
means having to give up another pawn:} (20... Rad8 $1 {but also here White has
a clear advantage after} 21. b3 Kc8 22. Nc4 $16 {The reason is that the black
queen has become so decentralised.} Bd5 23. Qf5+ Kb8 24. Bg5) 21. Qf5+ $1 {
The pawn on h7 is venimous.} (21. Qxh7 $2 Qe2 $1 22. Qxf7+ Kc8 23. g3 Rh8 $19)
21... Kd8 (21... Be6 22. Qxh7+ Kc8 23. f7 Bxf7 24. Qxf7 Qe2 25. Qf3 $18) (21...
Re6 22. c4 $1 {Cutting off the black queen!}) 22. c4 $1 {Adams plays like a
machine. I wonder whether he might have analysed this position at home and we
are again seeing another game that actually "was not played on board" as Peter
Svidler said recently... ?!} Qa5 (22... Bd4 23. Rd1 c5 24. Nf3 Qxc4 25. Bg5 $18
{and Black is helpless.}) 23. Qh3 $1 {Again the strongest move.} (23. Qxa5 {
The endgame is not only not better for White, it might be better for Black!}
Bxa5 24. Nb3 Bb4 25. Bd2 Bxd2 26. Rad1 Kc8 27. Nxd2 Re2 $44) 23... Qb4 ({
In the event of} 23... Be6 {White wins material after} 24. Qd3+ Kc8 25. f7 Bxf7
26. Rxf7 Re1+ 27. Rf1 Qg5 28. Qh3+ $18) 24. Qxh7 $6 {That looks too greedy.
There was a better continuation.} (24. Nb3 $1 {Here Black probably would
resign in a couple of moves.} Qxc4 (24... Re1 25. Bg5 $1 Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rxg5
27. Rd1+ $18) (24... Be6 25. Qd3+ Qd6 26. Qc2 $18) 25. Rd1+ Bd5 26. f7 Qe2 27.
Rxd5+ cxd5 28. fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 (28... Rxe8 29. Bg5+ $18) 29. Bf4 $18) 24... Qf8 $6
{Too passive.} ({Perhaps, the best chance was} 24... Bg6 25. Qh3 Rh8 26. Qg4
Bh5 27. Qf5 {The position is still won for White, but the game goes on and
requires some precision.}) 25. b3 Bd4 (25... Re2 $4 26. Qd3+ $18) 26. Qd3 Qd6 (
26... c5 27. Nf3 Bg6 28. Qd1 Qxf6 $4 29. Bg5 $18) 27. Ne4 {The game is coming
to an end.} Qd7 (27... Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxa1 29. Bf4 Rg4 30. Bxd6 Rxe4 31. Be7+
Ke8 32. Rxa1 $18 {The endgame is bad in itself, but to play such an ending
against Adams makes absolutely no sense.}) 28. Rd1 {Now Black loses by force.}
Kc8 (28... c5 29. Nxc5 $18) 29. Qxd4 Qg4 30. Bg5 $1 {A very strong last trick!}
Rxe4 (30... Rxg5 31. Nxg5 Qxg5 32. Qd7+ Kb8 33. Qd8+ Rxd8 34. Rxd8#) (30...
Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. h4 $18 {Again, no chance here for Black.}) 31. Qxa7 {
The threat on a8 is deadly.} Bd5 32. Qa8+ Kd7 33. Rxd5+ {After 33....cxd5 34.
Qxg8 White wins.} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 {The Giuoco Piano is here to stay, at
least for a while. Only one issue back in CBM 175 I annotated the game
Karjakin-Navara, Baku olm 2016 and there have been numerous high-level
examples since - last, but not least in the World Championship match...} ({
However, in this game both players will postpone castling for quite a few
moves. while both Karjakin and subsequently Carlsen preferred} 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3
O-O 6. a4 (6. c3 d5 $5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 $5 (8. h3 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Bxc6
bxc6 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nbd2 Bf5 13. Ne4 Bg6 14. Qb3 Bf8 15. Qc2 c5 16. b3 h6 17.
Bb2 Nd5 18. Rad1 Qd7 19. c4 Nb4 20. Qb1 f6 21. Re3 Rad8 22. Rd2 Qc6 $17 {
Fedoseev,V (2667)-Shirov,A (2673) Moscow rpd 2016}) 8... Bf5 $5 ({1a)} 8... a6
9. a5 (9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Ba2 Qxd3 $5 (10... a5 11. d4 exd4 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Nbxd4
Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. Bb3 Bc6 16. Ne5 Bxe5 17. Qxe5 Re8 18. Qg3 Bd5 19. Bg5 f6
20. Bh6 Qe7 21. Bc2 Qf7 22. Rfe1 {Kryvoruchko,Y (2701)-Almasi,Z (2702) Hungary
2016} Nc4 $11) 11. a5 Nd7 12. Bb1 Qd6 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. Qc2 Ne7 $1 (14... g6 15.
Nge4 Bf5 16. Nxd6 Bxc2 17. Nxb7 Bxb1 18. Nxc5 Bc2 19. Nc4 Ne4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21.
Re1 f5 22. f3 Bc2 23. Nxe5 Rfe8 24. Bf4 $14 {Schroeder,J (2507)-Shirov,A (2674)
Helsingor 2016}) 15. Nge4 Bf5 16. Nxd6 Bxc2 17. Nxb7 Bxb1 18. Nxc5 Bf5 19. Nc4
Nc6 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. b4 Nd7 22. Be3 Nxc5 23. Bxc5 f6 24. Ne3 Be6 $11 {Cornette,
M (2583)-Naroditsky,D (2634) Grosseto Prugna 2016}) 9... Bf5 $5 (9... b5 10.
axb6 Nxb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 {Karjakin,S (2773)-Giri,A (2785) Bilbao 2016} 12. h3 Bh5
13. Bg5 $1 $14 {Roiz}) 10. Nbd2 b5 11. axb6 Nxb6 12. Nb3 Be7 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14.
Rxa6 Bxd3 15. Ra1 Bxf1 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Kxf1 f6 18. Ke2 Kf7 19. Nfd2 f5 20. g3
Bf6 $11 {Alekseev,E (2636)-Predke,A (2587) Sochi blitz 2016}) (8... a5 9. Nbd2
Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. Ne4 (11. Re1 Bg4 12. Ne4 Na7 13. h3 Bh5 14. d4 Nxb5 15.
axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Rd1 {½-½ (88) Giri,A (2782)
-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven 2016} (18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bxc7 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Nd5 21. Bxa5
dxc3 22. bxc3 Rfc8 23. Red1 Nf4 24. Kh2 h6 25. Bb4 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd5 $11 {
Kramnik,V (2812)-Aronian,L (2792) Paris rpd 2016}) 18... Qc5 19. Rxd4 Qxb5 20.
Qxb7 Rac8 $132) 11... Na7 $5 (11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Re1 Ne7 14. d4 exd4 {
Anand,V (2770)-So,W (2770) Leuven blitz 2016} 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Qxd4 $36) 12.
d4 Nxb5 13. axb5 exd4 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Qxd4 (15. Nxd4 Be6 16. Qf3 Bd5 17. Qg4
Qg6 18. Qxg6 fxg6 $1 19. b3 a4 20. Ba3 Rfd8 $15 {Asis Gargatagli,H (2499)
-Naiditsch,A (2684) Barcelona 2016}) 15... Bd7 16. Bf4 Qxd4 17. Nxd4 Rfc8 18.
Rfc1 c5 19. bxc6 Bxc6 20. b3 Bd7 21. Bd2 a4 22. bxa4 Nxa4 23. Rcb1 Nc5 $11 {
Predojevic,B (2639)-Banusz,T (2611) Austria 2015}) (8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 $1 10.
a5 (10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. Nf3 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Qc7 14. Re1 {Sedina,E (2275)
-Loiacono,A (2085) Trieste 2016} Bf5 $44 {[%cal Ya8d8]}) 10... c6 11. axb6 cxb5
12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 (14... Bb8 15. d4 Nd5 16. Nd2 f6 17.
Nef3 Bf5 18. Re1 Re8 19. Nf1 Bg6 20. Ng3 Qd7 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Bd2 Qd7 23. Qa1
Bxg3 24. hxg3 h6 25. Qf1 Qc6 26. Qe2 Bf7 27. Nh4 Qe8 28. Qxe8+ Bxe8 $44 {
Bok,B (2613)-Georgiadis,N (2470) Biel 2016}) 15. Be3 (15. Na3 Bb8 16. d4 {
Mamedov,R (2666)-Balogh,C (2614) Baku 2016} b4 $1 $44) 15... Bb8 16. d4 f6 17.
Nf3 Nd5 18. Re1 g5 (18... Qd7 $44) 19. Nfd2 Bg6 20. Nf1 h5 21. Qb3 Qd7 22. Na3
b4 23. Nc2 bxc3 24. bxc3 b5 25. Na3 b4 26. cxb4 Bf7 $132 {Alekseev,E (2636)
-Eliseev,U (2606) St Petersburg 2016}) 9. Re1 Nb6 10. Bb5 Ne7 {is a new
version of the 8...Nb6 idea, possibly a promising one:} 11. a5 c6 12. axb6 cxb5
13. Rxa7 (13. Be3 $5 $11) 13... Qxb6 14. Rxa8 Bxf2+ 15. Kh1 Rxa8 16. Rxe5 Bc5
17. Na3 Bd7 18. Nc2 Bd6 19. Re1 Nf5 20. d4 f6 21. Nb4 Bxb4 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23.
Qxb4 Qc6 24. Bf4 Be6 25. Qc5 Bd5 26. Qxc6 bxc6 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Rf4] ^-, Mamedov,
R (2688)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Doha 2016}) ({After} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 {
the safest, but not the only choice is} Be7 $5 (7... d6 8. c3 a6 9. a4 g5 10.
Bg3 (10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 12. Qf3 (12. b4 Bb6 13. Qf3 Qe7 (13... Rh8 $142
$5) 14. Na3 Be6 15. Bd5 Rh8 16. Nc4 Rag8 17. b5 Nb8 18. Nxb6 cxb6 19. Bxb7 a5
20. d4 Nbd7 21. Bc6 Kf8 22. h4 $14 {Daulyte,D (2421)-Abdumalik,Z (2389) Baku
olw 2016}) 12... Rh8 13. Nd2 Kg6 14. h4 Bg4 $1 15. Bxf6 Qd7 16. Qg3 Kxf6 17. d4
exd4 18. e5+ Ke7 19. Ne4 Rag8 20. Nf6 Qf5 21. Bd3 Qe6 22. b4 Ba7 $17 {Caruana,
F (2804)-Nakamura,H (2787) Paris blitz 2016}) 10... Ba7 (10... g4 $6 11. Bh4 $1
$44) 11. Na3 (11. Nbd2 Nh7 $1 {transposes to our game}) 11... Bg4 (11... Ne7
12. Nc2 Kg7 13. Kh1 Nh5 14. d4 f5 15. exf5 e4 16. Nxg5 Nxg3+ 17. fxg3 hxg5 18.
f6+ Rxf6 19. Rxf6 Kxf6 20. Qf1+ Bf5 21. g4 d5 22. Be2 Qd6 23. Ne3 Qf4 24. Qg1
Kg7 25. Rf1 $16 {So,W (2770)-Anand,V (2770) Leuven blitz 2016}) (11... Kg7 12.
Nc2 Be6 13. Ba2 b5 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. Bb1 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nd7 17. d4 f6 18. Bd3 c6
19. Nd2 Bf7 20. b4 Qc7 21. c4 bxa4 22. c5 a5 23. cxd6 Qxd6 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25.
Rxa4 Rxa4 26. Qxa4 $36 {Muzychuk,M (2545)-Cramling,P (2463) Chengdu 2016}) 12.
Re1 (12. Nc2 d5 $6 (12... Nh5 $142) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bh5 16.
Ra3 Kh8 17. Qd2 f5 18. Be5+ Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Kg7 20. Rg3 f4 21. Rh3 Be8 22. Qd3
$14 {[%csl Rg7] 1/2-1/2 (45) Dragun,K (2594)-Gajewski,G (2633) Poznan 2016}) (
12. h3 Bh5 13. Qe2 Ne7 14. Nc2 Ng6 15. Ne3 Kh7 16. Nf5 Ne7 17. Ne3 Ng6 18. Nf5
$11 {½,Chocenka,D (2403)-Jasinski,M (2393) email 2014}) 12... Nh5 13. h3 Bxf3
14. Qxf3 Nxg3 15. Qxg3 Qf6 16. Re2 Ne7 17. Nc2 Kg7 18. Rd1 Qf4 19. Qxf4 exf4
20. d4 Ng6 21. Ne1 Rae8 $11 {Neiksans,A (2614)-Lalith,B (2565) Warsaw 2016}) 8.
c3 (8. Bg3 d6 9. a4 $5 $13 {/\} Nh5 $6 10. Nxe5 $1 $14) 8... d6 9. Nbd2 Nh5 (
9... Na5 10. Bb5 a6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. a4 Bg4 15. b4 Nc6
16. h3 Bd7 17. Re1 Nf4 18. Nf1 Qf6 19. Ne3 Ne7 20. d4 Neg6 21. Kh2 a5 $1 $132 {
Karttunen,M (2445)-Stefansson,H (2521) Rhodes 2013}) 10. Bxe7 (10. Bg3 Nxg3 11.
hxg3 Bf6 12. Nh2 g6 13. f4 Na5 14. Ng4 Bg7 15. Bb5 c6 16. Ba4 Qb6+ 17. Rf2 exf4
18. gxf4 Qxb2 $17 {Thorhallsson,T (2454)-Godena,M (2522) Saint Vincent 2005})
10... Qxe7 11. d4 Nf4 12. Re1 Qf6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Nf1 Rd8 16.
Qb3 Qg6 17. Ng3 h5 18. h4 b6 19. Qb5 Qf6 20. Rad1 Bg4 $15 {Starostits,I (2489)
-Berzinsh,R (2422) Riga 2012}) ({3)} 6. h3 d6 (6... d5 $6 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1
Re8 9. Ng5 $1 Be6 10. c3 Nf4 11. Nxe6 Nxe6 12. Nd2 Bf8 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Bd5 Qf6
15. Be3 h6 16. Qa4 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qc4 Qd6 20. Rad1 Rad8
21. Rd2 Re7 22. Rde2 $16 {Karthikeyan,M (2435)-Monnisha,G (2070) Golden Sands
2013}) ({However, Black can postpone the advance of the Pd7 with} 6... a6 {, or
}) (6... h6 {Both are useful waiting moves and in most cases play just
tranposes into the main line,}) 7. c3 h6 (7... a6 8. Re1 Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2
Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 ({We mentioned some relevant games
after} 13... Nxd5 14. Ng3 Qd6 15. Nh4 {and}) (13... Bxd5 14. Ng3 Qd7 $5 15. Nh4
{in CBM 175}) 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Qe2 (15. Bd2 Qd6 16. Qc1 Nd5 17. d4 exd4 18.
Bxh6 Ne3 19. fxe3 d3 20. Ne4 Qd5 21. Bxd3 Qxd3 22. Nf2 Qg6 23. Bf4 Bb6 $44 {
Ponomariov,R (2709)-Anton Guijarro,D (2650) Tallinn rpd 2016}) 15... Qd7 16.
Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nd5 (17... Bd5 18. e4 Be6 $13) (17... Qd6 $5) 18. d4 exd4 19.
exd4 Bxh3 (19... Bf5 $2 20. Ne5 $1 Rxe5 (20... Nf4 21. Qf2 Nxe5 22. Bxf5 Ned3
23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Qd2 Qb5 25. b3 c5 26. Bxd3 Qxd3 27. Qxf4 Qxc3 28. Rc1 $18 {
Radjabov,T (2788)-Naiditsch,A (2712) Istanbul olm 2012}) 21. dxe5 Nf4 22. Qf2
Bxc2 23. Qxf4 Qe6 24. b3 $16 {Radjabov,T (2724)-Anand,V (2785) Dubai rpd 2014})
(19... Nf6 $5 20. Qf2 $14 {/=}) 20. Qd3 g6 21. gxh3 Qxh3 22. Nh2 $6 (22. Ne4 $1
$16) 22... Ncb4 23. cxb4 Nxb4 24. Qb3 Nxc2 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rf1 Re6 $15 {
Gauri,S (2307)-Chirila,I (2542) Chicago 2015}) 8. Re1 a5 (8... a6 9. Bb3 b5 $5
(9... Ba7 {-7...a6}) 10. Nbd2 Bb6 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. a4 Rb8 13. d4 Ng6 14. Be3
exd4 $5 15. Bxd4 c5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ne3 Qd8 19. Nd5 Bb7 20.
Nxb6 Qxb6 $11 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Carlsen,M (2857) Baku olm 2016}) 9. Bb3 (9.
Nbd2 a4 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nc4 (11. Bxa4 Rxa4 12. Qxa4 Nb4 13. Qd1 Nxd3 14. Rf1
Bc6 15. Qc2 Nf4 16. b4 Ba7 17. c4 Qc8 18. c5 Bd7 19. Nh4 Bxh3 20. Nc4 Qg4 21.
Bxf4 exf4 22. Qd3 Bxg2 23. Nxg2 f3 24. Nce3 Qg6 $40 {Drozdowski,K (1725)
-Vyzharov,I (2148) email 2010}) 11... Nb8 12. Bxd7 Nbxd7 13. d4 Ba7 14. dxe5
dxe5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 a3 17. b4 Nxe4 18. Nf5 Ndf6 19. Qc2 Qd7 20. g4 Qa4
21. Qxa4 Rxa4 22. Re3 g6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 24. h4 Kxh6 25. g5+ Kg7 26. gxf6+ Nxf6
27. Rxe5 Rd8 $15 {Papp,G (2587)-Harikrishna,P (2768) Novi Sad 2016}) 9... Re8
10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 (11. Bc2 Ba7 12. Nf1 d5 13. Qe2 b5 14. Rd1 d4 15. Ng3 a4
16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxa4 cxd3 18. Qxd3 Bd7 19. Bd2 Ne7 20. Bb3 Nc8 21. Rac1 c5 22.
Be1 Nd6 $15 {Beradze,I (2327)-Javakhadze,Z (2415) Poti 2012}) 11... Qb8 $5 (
11... Ba7 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Karjakin,S (2769) Baku 2016}) 12. d4 exd4 13.
cxd4 b5 14. dxc5 bxa4 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nb1 (16. Qxa4 Nb4 $44) 16... d5 17.
exd5 Bxd5 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Be3 Rc8 20. Nc3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 a3 {Harika,D (2528)
-Adams,M (2745) Douglas 2016} 22. bxa3 Ne5 23. Qf5 Rxc3 24. Bd4 $11) 6... d6 7.
c3 a6 {was the move order, employed in New York - we will get to the
Carlsen-Karajkin games below.}) 4... Nf6 5. d3 {Technically only this move is
characteristic of the Giuoco Piano.} (5. d4 exd4 6. e5 {is (was?) a favourite
of Jobava, leading to a more open and completely different type of struggle.
This line was the topic of an opening survey in CBM 158.}) 5... a6 ({The
alternative to the typical text move is} 5... d6 6. O-O a5 $5 {, fighting for
queenside space at the cost of slightly weakening b5.} ({Black still has the
flexible} 6... h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 a6 {, now} 9. Nf1 ({The last chance to
keep more tension and play} 9. a4 $142) 9... Na5 $1 10. b4 Nxc4 11. bxc5 Na5
12. cxd6 cxd6 13. a4 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rb1 Qc7 $1 16. Bd2 Re8 17. h3 Nb7 18.
Nh4 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Rxb5 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3 22. Nf3 Ra5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24.
Qd2 Qb5 25. Qc3 f6 26. d4 exd4 27. Nxd4 Qd7 $11 {Giri,A (2755)-Mamedyarov,S 
(2761) Moscow 2016 petered out into sterile symmetry.}) {There followed} 7. Re1
h6 (7... O-O 8. Nbd2 Kh8 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Ng3 Bb6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13.
Rxe3 Ne7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. d4 Nc6 16. a4 Rfe8 17. h3 Kg8 18. Qe2 Ra6 19. Rd1
Qe7 20. Rd2 g6 21. Qd1 Rb6 22. Rde2 Qf8 {½, Ehlvest,J (2620)-Spassky,B (2580)
Clermont Ferrand 1989}) 8. a4 O-O 9. Na3 Be6 $5 ({For} 9... Re8 10. Nc2 Ba7 11.
Be3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Nxa7 14. Bc4 {see Carlsen-Adams (notes by Carlsen
in CBM 171) and Caruana-Topalov (notes by Sagar Shah in CBM 172).}) 10. Bxe6
fxe6 11. Nc2 Qe8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qg6 14. Qb3 Nd8 15. Nf5 Qf7 16. Ng3 b6
17. Rad1 Nc6 18. Qc4 Qd7 19. h3 Rf7 20. Qb5 Raf8 21. Re2 Ne7 22. Qxd7 Nxd7 23.
d4 Ng6 24. Rc2 {Aronian,L (2795)-Tomashevsky,E (2731) Moscow blitz 2016} exd4
25. cxd4 Nb8 $1 $11 {[%cal Yb8a6,Ya6b4]}) 6. a4 {This move is an integral part
of the modern treatment of the Italian.} ({For a long time White did without
it, the position after} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. O-O g5 10. Bg3 O-O
11. Bb3 {can arise via different move orders. Here Black has had good results
with} Bg4 ({The analoguous} 11... Nh7 $5 {also deserves attention.}) 12. Kh1 $6
(12. h3 $142 Bh5 13. Nc4 $5 $13 Kh7 14. Bc2 Bg6 15. Re1 Nh5 16. Bh2 Qf6 17. Ne3
Rae8 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. d4 Nf6 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qe2
Rd8 24. Rad1 Rfe8 25. Ba4 c6 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 h5 $11 {
Nikac,P (2350)-Blagojevic,D (2532) Tivat 2011}) 12... Bh5 13. Qe1 Kg7 14. Bd1
Bg6 15. Nc4 Re8 16. Bc2 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rad8 18. a4 Nh5 {[%cal Yd6d5,Yf7f5]} 19. b4
d5 20. exd5 Qxd5 21. b5 e4 $1 $17 {Chandler,M (2485)-Karpov,A (2710) Bath 1983}
) 6... d6 7. Bg5 {Topalov finally opts for this active sortie, but the two of
them had already played this line earlier and So was well prepared this time.}
({Transposing into Karjakin-Navara (CBM 175) is} 7. O-O {and now:} h6 (7... Ba7
8. Re1 (8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 Ng6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Ne3 {is
Anand-Aronian, Candidates 2016 - see the notes to this game in CBM 172 by
Marin.} a5 $5 (12... c6 13. Qc2 d5 14. Bb3 {Grischuk,A (2747)-Karjakin,S (2774)
Almaty blitz 2016} a5 $5 $132) 13. Qc2 c6 14. Rfe1 d5 15. Ba2 b6 16. Rad1 Re7
17. Nf5 Ree8 18. c4 Be6 19. cxd5 {½, Kozionov,K (2453)-Mastrovasilis,A (2555)
Riga 2016}) 8... O-O 9. h3 Ne7 (9... h6 {- 7...h6}) 10. Nbd2 (10. d4 Ng6 11.
Bd3 (11. Nbd2 {- 10.Nbd2}) 11... c6 (11... Re8 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Be3 d5 14. Nbd2
exd4 15. cxd4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Bc6 17. Bg5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 c6 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Qxb6
Bxb6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. a5 Ba7 23. d5 Rab8 24. Rad1 Bc5 25. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1
hxg6 27. Rc1 Bb4 $11 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2784) Stavanger 2016}) 12.
Be3 Nh5 13. Nbd2 Nhf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 f6 18. Ra3
fxe5 19. dxe5 a5 20. Qc1 Qe7 21. Rb3 Bf5 22. Nd4 Ne6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)
-So,W (2782) Baku 2016} 23. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 24. g3 $13 {[%cal Yf2f4]}) 10... Ng6
11. d4 c6 (11... h6 12. Bf1 $1 Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 $6 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4
Nf4 17. c5 {(), Kramnik,V (2808)-Radjabov,T (2722) Baku olm 2016}) 12. Bf1 $5 (
12. b4 exd4 13. cxd4 Nxe4 $5 (13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Be6
17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ra6 Bb6 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Ng5 Bxd4 21. Ndf3 Bf6 22. Nxe6 fxe6
23. Rxe6 $36 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Matlakov,M (2694) Doha rpd 2016}) 14. Bxf7+
Rxf7 15. Nxe4 d5 16. Nc5 h6 17. Ra3 Bf5 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qh4 20. Rf3 {
Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York 2016} Bg6 $5 $132) 12... a5 13.
dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 Be6 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. b4 axb4 17. cxb4 b5 18. Ne3 bxa4 19. Rxa4
Bxe3 20. Bxe3 (20. Rxe3 $14) 20... Rxa4 21. Qxa4 Nxe4 22. Rc1 Bd5 23. b5 $44 {
Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York rpd plof 2016}) 8. Nbd2 (8. Na3 O-O
9. Nc2 (9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb3 Ne7 11. Nc2 Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Re8 14. Qc2 Ng4
15. Qa2 Rf8 16. h3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Qe7 18. Rf2 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Raf1 Rf6 21.
a5 Raf8 22. c4 Nh4 $11 {Jakovenko,D (2712)-Matlakov,M (2684) Poikovsky 2016})
9... Ne7 (9... Re8 {see Anand-Kramnik, Moscow blitz 2016.}) 10. a5 (10. d4 exd4
11. cxd4 Ba7 12. Bd3 c5 13. b3 cxd4 14. Ncxd4 Bg4 15. Bb2 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Re1
Nf5 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qg5+ 22. Rg4 Qe7 $44 {
Abasov,N (2552)-Golubov,S (2481) Baku op 2016}) 10... Ng6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3
Ng4 13. h3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qe7 15. Qb3 Kh8 16. Rf2 Bd7 17. Raf1 Rab8 18. Kh2 f6
19. Kg1 Rfe8 20. Nd2 Nf8 21. Nf3 Ng6 {½, Salgado Lopez,I (2662)-Lenic,L (2622)
Baku olm 2016}) 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Re1 Be6 10. b4 (10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nf1 Nh5
12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qe8 14. b4 Nf6 15. Ng3 a5 16. b5 Ne7 17. c4 Ng6 18. Rf1
b6 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Qe2 Rd7 21. Nh5 Rdf7 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Rxf6 Rxf6 $11 {
Anand,V (2770)-Kramnik,V (2812) Leuven blitz 2016}) 10... Ba7 11. h3 Bxc4 12.
Nxc4 Re8 13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qc2 Raa8 18.
Nc4 Qd5 19. Ne3 Qd7 20. Nc4 Qf5 21. b5 axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 e4 24. bxc6
exf3 $132 {Topalov,V (2761)-Kramnik,V (2812) Paris blitz 2016}) 9... Re8 (9...
Ba7 10. Re1 (10. b4 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. b5 Bd7 14. Qc2 Nh5 $5 15.
bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa6 exd4 17. Bc4 d3 18. Bxd3 Qf6 19. Nb3 Ngf4 20. Nbd4 Qg6 21.
Bf1 Nxh3+ 22. Kh1 Ng5 $40 {Rebord,M (2488)-Sadowski,M (2510) email 2010}) 10...
Nh5 $5 (10... Re8 {can after} 11. b4 {lead to positions from the 9...Re8 line.}
) 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 (12. Ne3 Nf4 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. d4 Bxg4 16.
hxg4 Qxg4 17. e5 (17. Qd3 {see Giri-So, Bilbao 2016}) 17... Rae8 18. exd6 cxd6
19. Qb3 Qd7 20. Bd5 g5 21. Be4 Re7 22. Qd5 Rfe8 23. Nxg5 Ne5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25.
Bh7+ Kg7 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. Qxf7+ Qxf7 28. Nxf7 Re2 $11 {Espinosa Aranda,A 
(2438)-Antoli Royo,J (2441) Monzon 2016}) 12... Nf4 (12... Bxe3 $142 13. Nxe3
Nf4 $13) 13. d4 $5 (13. Ng3 g5 14. Nh2 Ne7 15. Ng4 Qg6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Ne3 h5
18. d4 Be6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Qd7 {Seils,J (2366)-Rabiega,R (2524)
Germany 2004} Qf7 22. f3 Nc6 23. Rad1 Raa8 $11) 13... Ne7 14. N1h2 Neg6 15. Bf1
Re8 16. Qd2 exd4 17. Bxd4 Qe7 18. Rad1 Bd7 19. a5 Ba4 20. Ra1 Bc6 21. g3 Ne6
22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. Nd4 Nxd4 24. cxd4 Raa8 25. Bg2 $14 {Antipov,M (2557)-Gledura,
B (2585) Bastia 2016}) ({2a)} 9... Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Nc4 $13 {
/+/= A similar position arose in Giri-Kramnik. Leuven blitz 2016. This version
with the rook on f1 is perhaps slightly better for White.}) 10. Re1 Be6 11.
Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 {Now in my opinion the most logical is} Qd7 ({2b1)
} 13... Re8 14. Nf1 Ne7 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. c4 Nd7 17. a5 Ndf8 18. Be3 Ne6 19. c5
d5 $6 (19... Ngf4 $142) 20. d4 $1 dxe4 21. Nxe5 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxg6 e3
24. fxe3 Qxb4 25. Nf4 $16 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Nguyen,N (2629) Doha rpd 2016}) (
13... d5 14. Nb3 dxe4 (14... b5 $6 {[%csl Rc5]} 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 {
Karjakin,S (2769)-Navara,D (2742) Baku olm 2016} Re8 $5 17. Nc5 Qd6 $14 {
For more details see the notes to this game in CBM 175.}) 15. dxe4 Ne7 (15...
Qe8 16. Bd2 $14 {[%cal Yc3c4]}) 16. Be3 (16. c4 $5) 16... Bxe3 17. Rxe3 b6 18.
a5 Nc8 19. Qe2 (19. c4 $14) 19... Nd6 20. Nfd2 Qc8 21. c4 Nb7 22. Nf3 bxa5 (
22... c5 $1 $11) 23. Nxa5 Nxa5 24. Rxa5 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Borisek,J 
(2561) Doha rpd 2016} Qf8 25. Qe1 Rb8 $132) ({2b4)} 13... Nh5 14. Nf1 Qf6 15.
N1h2 (15. b5 $142) 15... Ree8 16. Ng4 Qe6 17. Rb1 Nf6 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. c4 Bxe3
$1 20. Bxe3 Ng6 21. d4 exd4 22. Bxd4 Nd7 $132 {[%cal Yd7e5] Grischuk,A (2752)
-Jakovenko,D (2714) Novosibirsk 2016}) (13... Ne7 {is another solid and
patient move - see CBM 175.}) 14. Nf1 (14. Nb3 Ree8 15. Bd2 Ne7 16. c4 Ng6 17.
Bc3 $2 (17. d4 $11) 17... Nh5 18. d4 Nhf4 19. Re3 Nxg2 $1 20. Kxg2 Nf4+ 21. Kg1
Qxh3 22. Ne1 Qg4+ 23. Kf1 Qh5 24. Kg1 Re6 $1 25. Ra2 Rae8 26. c5 {Khairullin,I
(2630)-De Jong,J (2447) Novi Sad 2016} Rg6+ 27. Rg3 Rg4 $1 $40 {[%cal Rg4h4]})
14... Ree8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Ne7 (16... Nd8 17. Nc4 Ne6 $11 {Van Foreest,J
(2551)-Tkachiev,V (2660) Stockholm 2016}) 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nc6 19. Nef5 d5
20. Nxc6 Qxc6 21. e5 Ne4 22. Nd4 Qc4 23. Re3 c5 24. bxc5 Qxc5 $132 {Van
Foreest,J (2614)-Kharchenko,B (2450) Novi Sad 2016}) 7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 (8. O-O {
won't force Black to automatically follow suit and castle. Interesting is} h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ne7 $5 (10... Bg4 11. Nbd2 Nh5 12. Kh1 (12. b4 Nxg3 13. hxg3
Qf6 14. b5 Na5 15. bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa6 h5 17. Re1 h4 18. Nf1 Be6 19. d4 hxg3 20.
Nxg3 g4 $17 {Castellanos Rodriguez,R (2481)-Sasikiran,K (2639) Benasque 2016})
12... Nf4 13. b4 O-O 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Ne7 16. Qc2 Neg6 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. g3
Nh3 19. Kg2 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. d4 Qe8 $13 {Andreikin,D (2636)-Nyback,T 
(2628) Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}) 11. d4 (11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. d4 Qe7 13. Re1 Nh7 $1
14. h3 h5 15. Nf1 g4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Ne3 O-O-O 18. Nxg4 hxg4 19. Nh2 Nf6 20.
Qd3 Nh5 21. Bxa6 Nxg3 22. fxg3 c6 23. Nxg4 exd4 24. cxd4 Ne5 $19 {->, Yudin,S 
(2530)-Harutyunian,T (2452) Kazan 2016}) 11... Nxe4 12. Nxe5 O-O 13. Nxf7 Rxf7
14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. f4 g4 16. f5 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Ng8 $1 18. Qxg4 Qg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5
20. Nd2 Nf6 21. Nf3 Nh7 22. g4 Bd7 23. Rfe1 Rg8 24. Kf2 Nf6 25. Kg3 c5 $15 {
[%csl Ga7,Gd7] Mamedov,R (2655)-Caruana,F (2804) Shamkir 2016 For more details
see the notes to this game in CBM 173 by Mokal.}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 O-O
11. O-O Nh7 $1 $146 {[%cal Yh6h4][%mdl 8] A strong move, which seems to have
occurred previously only in an engine game. Black goes for direct cunterplay
by preparing h5.} (11... g4 $143 $6 12. Bh4 $1 Kg7 13. Kh1 gxf3 14. Qxf3 Nb8 $2
(14... Rg8 $1 15. Rg1 $5 {[%cal Yg2g4,Yd2f1,Yf1e3,Yf1g3]} (15. g4 Bxg4 16.
Bxf6+ Qxf6 $11) (15. Bd5 $36 Nb8 16. Qe2 {[%cal Rf2f4]} Kh7 17. h3 c6 18. Bxf7
Rf8 19. Bb3 Qe8 20. f4 Nh5 21. f5 $44 {Tuncer}) 15... h5 16. h3 Qe7 17. Nf1 Be6
18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Rh8 20. Qg3+ Kf8 21. Raf1 Rh6 22. Bd5 $1 $14) 15. g4 Nbd7
(15... Bxg4 16. Rg1 h5 17. h3 $18) 16. Rg1 Rh8 17. Nf1 Qe8 18. g5 $18 Ng8 19.
gxh6+ Kf8 20. Qg3 Ngf6 21. Qg7+ Ke7 22. Rg6 Rg8 23. Bxf6+ Nxf6 24. Qxf6+ Kd7
25. Bxf7 {1-0, Demchenko,A (2589)-Howell,D (2671) Gjakova 2016}) ({Previously
the usual move was} 11... Kg7 12. Re1 Be6 (12... Nh7 {allows} 13. d4 $5 g4 14.
Nh4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nf1 $44 {[%csl Rg7]} Bf6 $6 (16... Nf6) (16... Kh8 {
and}) (16... Qg5 {are all possible improvements}) 17. Nf5+ Bxf5 18. exf5 h5 19.
Bf4 Bg5 20. Ng3 Kh6 21. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Rh2h4]} Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Ne5 23. Ba2 (23. f6
$1 Qxf6 24. Bd3 $40) 23... Nf6 24. Qd2+ Kh7 25. Qg5 Rg8 26. Qh4 {Van Foreest,J
(2615)-Leko,P (2709) Douglas 2016} Rg7 $14) 13. b4 (13. h3 $5 {also deserves
attention}) 13... g4 14. Nh4 Ne7 $2 ({Passive; he had to play} 14... Nh5 $1 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxg4+ Qg5 $132) 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nc4 (16. d4 $5 {/\} exd4 17. e5
$16) 16... b5 17. Ne3 h5 18. Kh1 Ng6 19. Nxg6 Kxg6 {Topalov,V (2761)-So,W 
(2770) Leuven blitz 2016} 20. d4 $1 exd4 21. cxd4 Nxe4 22. axb5 $36 {/\} axb5
23. Nxg4 $1 Nxg3+ 24. fxg3 $40 {[%csl Rg6]}) 12. h3 {Subsequent attempts
didn't threaten Black's concept:} (12. Ne1 Kg7 13. Nc2 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Ne3
Bg6 16. Re1 Nf6 17. b4 Qd7 18. b5 Ne7 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Ne4 Nh5 21. Rb1 {
Mamedov,R (2688)-Leko,P (2693) Tallinn blitz 2016} Nf4 $15 (21... Qc6 $5)) (12.
b4 h5 13. h3 h4 14. Bh2 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. Kh1 Qf6 17. Qe1 h3 18. Ng1 $6 (18.
Rg1 Kh8 19. Bg3 $11) 18... hxg2+ 19. Kxg2 Kh8 20. f4 $2 Rg8 21. Kh1 Qg6 22. Qg3
Qh5 23. Ndf3 {Ponomariov,R (2709)-Sychev,K (2453) Tallinn blitz 2016} Bxf3+ 24.
Qxf3 Rxg1+ $1 $18) 12... h5 13. d4 {A thematic reaction, White parries a flank
attack with a central advance.} (13. b4 {- 12.b4}) ({The aforementioned engine
predecessor went} 13. Kh1 Kh8 (13... Qf6 $5) 14. b4 h4 15. Bh2 g4 16. Ng1 (16.
hxg4 Bxg4 $11) 16... Rg8 ({There is also the interesting} 16... Nf6 $5) 17.
hxg4 Bxg4 18. f3 Bd7 19. f4 Bxg1 20. Rxg1 exf4 21. d4 (21. Bxf7 $6 Rg3 $1 $36 {
is risky}) (21. Bxf4 Qf6 22. Qf1 $13) 21... Qf6 22. Qe2 $2 (22. Qh5 $8 $13 {
Tuncer}) 22... Rg3 $1 23. Raf1 Ng5 24. Bd5 Kg7 25. Qf2 Ne7 26. Bxb7 Rb8 27.
Bxa6 Ng6 28. b5 Qe6 29. e5 d5 30. Rb1 Rh8 $40 {Pacificrabitt-Chessgott Engine
Room 2016}) 13... exd4 ({Advancing the Pg5 was not ideal in the previous notes;
even now} 13... g4 14. Bh4 Qd7 15. Nh2 ({Here White can maybe afford even} 15.
hxg4 hxg4 16. Nh2) 15... exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 (16... Nxd4 17. Ra3 $1 $44) 17. Ra3
$44 ({or} 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Be2 $13 {leads to a double-edged position, in
which Black's king could end up seriously exposed.})) 14. Nxd4 ({A suggestion
for the future might be} 14. cxd4 h4 15. Bh2 Nxd4 ({Maybe Veselin didn't like} 
15... g4 {, but this is at best unclear after} 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Be2 $5 h3 18.
d5 $13 {/+/=}) 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Nf3 $44) 14... g4 {Now White's B doesn't have
the h4 square and So prefers active play to material. Although this aggressive
advance will quickly pay off, this was mainly due to Topalov's poor form in
London.} (14... h4 $143 $6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bh2 $36 {[%csl Ra7,Rg8] and the
Ba7 is sorely missed on the kingside.}) ({Objectively speaking, possibly the
best move was} 14... Nxd4 $5 15. cxd4 h4 16. Bh2 Bxd4 17. Nf3 (17. Qh5 Bxb2 18.
Rab1 Be5 19. f4 $44 {/=}) {We have already mentioned this position above, after
} 17... Bxb2 18. Rb1 Bg7 19. e5 {Black should try to return some material to
finish his development:} g4 $5 (19... dxe5 $6 20. Qc2 $1 $32 e4 (20... Re8 $2
21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxh7 $16) 21. Qxe4 Qf6 22. Qe3 $5 $14) (19... d5 20. Bxd5 c6
21. Be4 Qxd1 22. Rbxd1 Re8 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Nxg5+ Kg8 25. Ne4 $14) 20. hxg4
Bxg4 21. exd6 (21. Rxb7 Ng5 $132) 21... cxd6 22. Rb4 (22. Bxd6 Bxf3 23. gxf3
Qg5+ 24. Kh1 Qf5 25. Qd5 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 Kh8 27. Bxf8 Rxf8 28. Qh5 $8 Bd4 29. Bxf7
$8 Qg3+ $11) 22... Qd7 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Bxd6 Rfd8 $11) 15. hxg4 $6 {[%mdl 128]
Opening the <->h gives Black attacking chances and So will fully exploit them.}
(15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. h4 Re8 17. Re1 Nf8 18. Nb3 $14 {[%csl Rg4,Rg8,Rh5] >< Kg8})
15... hxg4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. e5 {Topalov is again in a hurry to resolve the
central position.} (17. Nb3 $142 $1 Qg5 18. Re1 $13 {[%cal Ye4e5,Yb3d4] /+/=})
17... d5 18. Be2 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} ({As Black's Q is aiming for g5
anyway, more to the point was} 18. Bd3 Qg5 19. Nb3 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Qc1 $1
Qxc1 (21... Qh5 $6 22. Re1 {[%cal Ye1e5]} Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Rxe4 Rf6 25.
Re5 Bf5 26. Nd4 Rh6 (26... Bxd4 27. cxd4 Rh6 28. Kf1 $16) 27. Qxh6 Qxh6 28.
Nxf5 $16) 22. Raxc1 Rb8 23. Nd4 Rxb2 24. Nxc6 Bc5 $132 {/=}) 18... Qg5 19. a5
$2 {And on the other hand activating the R via a4 is too slow.} ({He had to
play} 19. Nb3 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Qd2 Qxd2 (21... Qh5 $5 22. Bd3 Bf5 $15) 22.
Nxd2 Nh5 23. Bh4 (23. Bxc7 Rf7 24. Bd6 (24. Bh2 Bd7 $17 {[%cal Ra8f8]}) 24...
g3 $1 25. Bxh5 gxf2+ 26. Kh2 Rh7 $36 {[%csl Gf2,Rh2]}) {, although Black
already has the upper hand after} 23... Nf4 $15 (23... Rb8 $5 24. b3 a5 $15))
19... f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Ra4 (21. Bxc7 Kg7 $19 {[%cal Rf8h8,Rg5h5] Veselin
must have been regretting his 15th move here...} (21... g3 $2 22. Bb6)) 21...
Rf7 $1 {The final prophylaxis/preparation.} (21... Nh5 22. Bxg4 Nxg3 23. Bxc8 {
[%cal Ra4g4]} Rf4 24. Nf3 Qh6 25. Bh3 Rxa4 26. Qxa4 Nxf1 27. Kxf1 $15 {is
unconvincing.}) 22. Re1 Nh5 $19 {The defence collapses, Black doesn't even
need his queenside pieces.} 23. Bxg4 Nxg3 24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rxc8 Bxf2+ 26. Kh2
Qe5 {The quickest, So forces mate.} 27. Kh3 Ne2 (27... Ne2 {[%cal Re5g3]} 28.
Nf1 Ng1#) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6
9. b4 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Be2 Ba6 12. O-O Qc8 13. Rb1 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 axb4 15. axb4
Qb7 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Ne1 Bd8 18. Qd1 Bc7 19. Nd3 b5 20. Ra1 Ne4 21. Ne2 Bd8
22. f3 Nef6 23. Nc3 Nf8 24. Rc2 Ng6 25. Rca2 Rxa2 26. Rxa2 Ra8 27. Qa1 Rxa2 28.
Qxa2 Nxf4 29. exf4 Nd7 30. Ne2 Bc7 31. h4 Nb8 32. h5 Qa6 33. Qb2 f6 34. g4 Nd7
35. Kf2 Qa8 36. Ke1 Kf7 37. Kd2 Kg8 38. Kd1 Kf7 39. Kc2 Qa4+ 40. Kc1 Qa8 41.
Kb1 Qa7 42. Qc1 Qa8 43. Kb2 Bd8 44. Qg1 Be7 45. Nec1 Bd8 46. Nb3 Qb7 47. Qe3
Qa8 48. Qc1 Qa4 49. Qe1 Qa8 50. Qd2 Qa4 51. Nf2 Qa8 52. Nh3 Qc8 53. Qc2 Nf8 54.
Nc1 Kg8 55. Nd3 Nh7 56. Qe2 Nf8 57. Qe3 Qd7 58. Ng1 Qe8 59. Ne2 Bc7 60. Nec1
Kf7 61. Nb3 Ke7 62. Qe1 Kd7 63. Nbc1 Kc8 64. Ne2 Nd7 65. Ng3 Qf7 66. Qe3 Kb7
67. Ne2 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 {Back to the
classical main line.} ({One round earlier Topalov managed to get one of his
not so numerous half points with the modern} 6... Nbd7 7. c5 c6 {Giri,A (2771)
-Topalov,V (2760) London 2016 (1/2-1/2, 67)}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 {White is
also returning to the classical approach. This was the move order advocated by
Korchnoi in his 1978 match with Karpov, setting the fashion for many decades.}
({In the same tournament the rare} 8. Bd3 {was tried in Aronian,L (2785)-Anand,
V (2779) London 2016 (½-½, 30)}) ({For quite some time Black's biggest
headaches were caused by} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 {
but here, too, there seem to be a new trend:} Bg4 ({The old line went} 11...
Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 {where White had worked out almost forced
ways to a small but annoying advantage, for instance:} Re8 15. Rc1 a6 16. Bxa6
Rxa6 17. b5 Rxa3 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Ra7 20. Rd6 Rd7 21. Qxd5 Rxd6 22. Qxd6
Qxd6 23. Bxd6 Bxf3 24. gxf3 {Leko,P (2741)-Kramnik,V (2770) Brissago 2004 CBM
103 [Lukacs] (1-0, 69)}) 12. Bxh7+ {This looks critical, but in a recent game
Black proved it is not dangerous.} (12. O-O Bd6 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Bxg6
hxg6 16. Qxd5 Bxf4 17. Qxd8 Nxd8 18. exf4 Ne6 {Potkin,V (2669)-Radulski,J 
(2552) Plovdiv 2012 (½-½, 36), and Black seems to be close to a draw despite
the missing pawn.}) 12... Kxh7 13. Qc2+ Kg8 14. Qxc5 Rc8 15. Qb5 d4 16. O-O
Bxf3 17. gxf3 dxe3 18. fxe3 Nd4 $36 {Ruck,R (2565)-Saric,A (2597) Germany 2016
(0-1, 35)}) 8... Nc6 9. Qc2 Re8 $5 {This came into the limelight during the
second Carlsen-Anand match.} ({The old main line goes} 9... Qa5 {- Carlsen,M 
(2853)-Nakamura,H (2814) Saint Louis 2015 CBM 168 [Wagner,D] (½-½, 95)}) 10.
O-O-O {The sharpest continuation. White speeds up his development, putting
pressure on the d-file but also somewhat exposing his king.} (10. Rd1 {is less
ambitious} e5 11. Bg5 d4 {Forintos,G (2425)-Sisniega,M (2390) Cienfuegos 1979
MCL [Notkin] (1/2-1/2, 41)}) ({In the aforementioned match White reacted with} 
10. Bg5 Be7 {Anand,V (2792)-Carlsen,M (2863) Sochi 2014 CBM 164 [Postny,E] (1/
2-1/2, 41)}) 10... e5 11. Bg5 (11. cxd5 {does not promise much:} exf4 12. dxc6
Qe7 $2 (12... Qc7 $1 {[%csl Gc6,Gf4]} 13. exf4 Qxf4+ 14. Kb1 bxc6 $15 {[%csl
Rb1,Gc5,Gc8]}) 13. exf4 Bg4 14. Bb5 $16 {Murariu,A (2513)-Tomici,S (2259)
Eforie Nord 2014 (1-0, 44)}) 11... d4 12. Nd5 b5 $5 $146 {Quite a puzzling
novelty. The move is logical, as it is aimed at questioning the stability of
the d5-knight and opening the c-file for the attack, but concretely it seems
that it is mainly Black who must act accurately to maintain the equality. And
still, as a surprize novelty it surely looks perfect, as White's play is not
very obvious in the first phase.} ({By the way, Korchnoi's setup from the 1978
and Carlsen's 9...Re8 are not really brand new. Have a look at this game and
check the year carefully:} 12... Be6 13. e4 $2 ({Actually} 13. Bd3 $5 {[%csl
Gh7] seems to cause problems.}) 13... Rc8 14. Kb1 Be7 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Qa4 h6
17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. h3 a6 19. Bd3 Nb8 20. Rc1 Nd7 21. Qd1 Nc5 $17 {Showalter,
J-Janowski,D New York,NY 1898 !! (0-1, 32). Actually, ...Rf8-e8 was a common
move in the Bg5 Queen's Gambit in those remote years, so 9...Re8 must not have
caused such a sensation as it did in 2014.}) (12... Be7 {looks quite solid and
even if it seems that White has some initiative Black seems to be holding his
own:} 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. exd4 Bg4 15. d5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd1 17. Nf5 Bxc2 18.
Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. Kxc2 Rc7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. b4 $44 {Gagare,S (2486)-Arjun,K 
(2292) Noida 2016 (1-0, 38)}) 13. Bxf6 $6 {This is a typical move when the
stability of the d5-knight is ensured, but this is not the case here. White
should have kept Bxf6 in reserve, avoiding later problems of coordination.} (
13. cxb5 {is critical.} {Anand might have planned} Na5 {similary with the game
continuation.} (13... Qxd5 {does not seem to offer enough play:} 14. Bc4 $1 (
14. Bxf6 $2 Na5 15. Bh4 Bb6 $5 $19 {[%cal Gc8e6,Ga8c8,Gd5a2,Ga5b3]}) (14. bxc6
Ne4 15. Bd3 Nxf2 $1 {[%cal Ge5e4]} 16. Bc4 Qxc6 17. Qxf2 Bf5 $36) 14... Qd6 15.
bxc6 Qxc6 (15... Rb8 {[%cal Gc5a3] looks very nice but it runs into a
unexpected blow} 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Bf4 Re5 18. exd4 Bxd4 19. b4 {White will
soon have a slight material advantage and his far advanced c-pawn will be very
annoying.}) 16. exd4 exd4 17. b4 Bf5 18. Qxf5 Bxb4 19. Rxd4 Bxa3+ 20. Kd2 {
and Black does not seem to have enough attack for the piece.}) 14. exd4 exd4
15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Kb1 {[%cal Gc2c5] White should first take preventive
measures before moving away with the bishop.} (16. b4 Bd6 17. Bh6 Be6 $44) (16.
Bh6 $2 Be6 $19) (16. Bd2 $6 Be6 17. Bxa5 Qxa5 18. Bc4 Bxa3 $132 {[%cal Ga8c8]})
16... Qd5 (16... fxg5 $2 17. Qxc5) 17. b4 (17. Bxf6 Be6 18. b3 (18. b4 Rac8
$132) 18... Qxb3+ 19. Qxb3 Bxb3 $13 {Black is a pawn down but his minor pieces
have invaded the enemy queenside. He might retrieve the pawn soon.}) 17... Bb6
18. Bd3 fxg5 19. bxa5 g4 20. Bc4 Qh5 21. axb6 Bf5 22. Bd3 Rac8 23. Qa4 gxf3 24.
b7 $1 (24. gxf3 Bxd3+ 25. Rxd3 Qg6 26. Rhd1 Re1 $1 $132) 24... Rb8 25. gxf3
Bxd3+ 26. Rxd3 Qg6 27. Qc4 Rxb7 {White's extra pawn is not too relevant and
his king is somewhat exposed. The game could well simplify to a drawn rook
ending.}) ({Another interesting but possibly not so challenging possibility is
} 13. Bd3 bxc4 14. Bxh7+ Kh8 15. Be4 Qd6 16. Nxf6 (16. exd4 Nxd4 17. Nxf6 gxf6
18. Bxa8 fxg5 $44) 16... gxf6 17. Qxc4 Re6 $1 {[%csl Gc6,Gf6,Gf7]} 18. b4 (18.
Rd2 Bxa3 19. bxa3 Rb8 20. Kd1 Na5 21. Qa2 Nb3 $40) 18... Bxb4 19. axb4 Rb8 $13
20. Qxc6 $2 Qxb4 $19) (13. b4 {is as risky as it looks} bxc4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15.
bxc5 {and now the strongest may be} Be6 $1 {White is allowed to save his piece,
but the strong central pawns would create unpleasant pressure against the
enemy king.}) 13... gxf6 14. cxb5 Na5 15. exd4 exd4 {The position has calmed
down slightly and White needs to find a good path for his knight.} 16. Nb4 $6 (
16. Ne3 {may have been more solid even though over the board it may not be
clear if the following fortress on the light squares is reliable enough:} Be6
17. Nc4 Rc8 18. Kb1 Bb6 19. Nfd2 $13) 16... Bxb4 17. axb4 Be6 18. Nxd4 $6 {
In vain hoping to defend the c-file using the outpost on c6.} ({Once again
White should have looked for some sort of fortress:} 18. Kb1 Qd5 19. Qa4 Nb3
20. Bd3 $15 {Black is very active but it is questionable whether he can make
progress.}) 18... Rc8 19. Nc6 Nxc6 20. bxc6 Qb6 21. Qa4 ({Unfortunately} 21. b5
{fails to keep the queenside closed after} a6 22. Rd6 axb5 23. Bd3 Ra8 $19)
21... Rxc6+ $6 {Not a bad move but there is a much stronger one.} (21... Bg4 $1
{more or less wins an exchange as White cannot quit the first rank nor weaken
the e3-square either:} 22. f3 (22. b5 Bxd1 23. Qxd1 a6 24. Bd3 axb5 25. Qg4+
Kf8 {does not offer compensation for the exchange.}) 22... Bf5 $19 {[%cal
Gc8c6,Gb6e3]} 23. Bd3 Qe3+ 24. Kc2 Qe2+ 25. Kc3 Re3 26. Qb5 Bxd3 27. Rxd3 Rxd3+
28. Qxd3 Rxc6+) 22. Kb1 Rd8 {Black has "only" excellent attacking chances now.}
23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Be2 (24. Qxc6 $2 Qd1+ 25. Qc1 Bf5+ 26. Bd3 Bxd3+ 27. Ka2
Qa4#) 24... Bf5+ 25. Ka2 Rc2 26. Rd1 Qb6 27. Bg4 Qe6+ (27... Bg6 28. Rd8+ Kg7
29. Qe8 Qxb4 30. Qg8+ Kh6 31. Qf8+ Qxf8 32. Rxf8 $15) 28. Ka3 Qe5 29. Qb3 Bg6
30. Bf3 Rxf2 31. h4 $6 {Wasting a tempo in a dangerous position.} (31. Qc3 $5)
(31. Rd5 $5 Rf1 32. Rd1 $1) 31... Bc2 (31... a5 $5) 32. Rd8+ Kg7 33. Qc3 $2 {
Topalov probably wanted to keep the third rank defended, overlooking that
controlling b5 was more important.} ({True, his position would be anything
other than milk and honey after} 33. Qc4 Qe3+ 34. Ka2 (34. Qc3 Rf1 $1 $19)
34... Bf5 $5 {[%cal Gf5e6]}) 33... Qb5 34. Qc6 Rxf3+ $1 {An elegant, though
not complicated, final trick.} (34... Rxf3+ 35. Qxf3 Qa4#) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The London Chess Classic was the last tournament of the Grand Chess Tour and
before the last round in London we already had a winner of the circuit - the
amazing Wesley So, who had a great 2016. But in the game between Levon Aronian
and Veselin Topalov, which I am discussing here, there also was a lot at stake:
Aronian had the chance to finish third in the GCT, whereas Topalov before this
game had 1.0/8 - a disastrous result after playing fighting chess throughout
the tournament. However, he did not plan to change his style to cut losses. He
repeatedly said in London that he was playing interesting chess and was trying
to have fun in all his games. After all, his creative play led to amazing
positions though Topalov failed to capitalize them.} 1. c4 $5 {The English
suits Levon's creative and original style. It often leads to unexplored
positions and he doesn't mind going into uncharted territory. It is here that
he discovers many of his brilliant ideas.} g6 2. Nc3 c5 {The Symmetrical
English, a very solid way to play with Black.} 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 {
Now Black has a wide range of choices.} d6 ({An alternative is} 5... Nf6 {
which after} 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 {leads to a classical position of
the Open English. But the fashionable move nowadays is} Qa5 $5 {which tries to
disturb White's development.}) (5... e5 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nge7 {The 'Botvinnik
Triangle' is one of the safest ways to fight against the English Opening.} 8.
a3 O-O 9. Rb1 a5 {and as soon as White plays Ne1 (preparing Nc2 and Ne3 to
control d5), Black quickly goes for ...Be6 and ...d5!}) (5... e6 6. O-O Nge7 7.
d3 O-O {followed by ...d5 or first ...b6-...Bb7.}) (5... Nh6 $5 {The knight
wants to go to f5 where it controls d4. But White can be original as well:} 6.
h4 $5 {followed by h5.}) 6. O-O e6 7. e3 {White takes the chance to play d4.}
Nge7 8. d4 O-O (8... cxd4 9. exd4 d5 {trying to fix the weakness on d4 and to
establish a piece on d5 is a typical reaction but Black is too far behind in
development for such measures. But White has to be keep this idea in mind.} 10.
cxd5 $1 exd5 {gives White a slight advantage.} (10... Nxd5 $2 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12.
Ne5 $16) 11. Bg5 $14) 9. Re1 $5 {I like this move. It is very useful in case
Black tries to play ...cxd4 and ...d5.} (9. d5 $6 {is not good:} Na5 $1 {
hitting the c4-pawn, and entering a good Benoni after:} 10. Nd2 exd5 11. cxd5
Rb8 {with excellent play for Black.} 12. Nde4 a6 13. Rb1 b5 $36 {0-1 (40)
Hillarp Persson,T (2564)-Rodshtein, M (2671) Helsingor 2014}) 9... a6 (9...
cxd4 10. exd4 d5 {and 9.Re1 proves to be very useful! White has the initiative:
} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bg5 $1 $36 Qb6 {and now both Na4 and Qd2 give White a very
good and active position.} (12... f6 13. Bd2 $14) 13. Na4 $14 (13. Qd2 $5 $14))
10. Bd2 $5 Rb8 (10... cxd4 $6 {helps White.} 11. exd4 Nxd4 (11... d5 12. cxd5
Nxd5 13. Bg5 $1 {is similar to the lines arising after 9...cxd4.}) 12. Nxd4
Bxd4 13. Bh6 $1 Bg7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Qd2 $16) 11. Rc1 b6 {Both players
improve their positions. White can still not play d5 (because with a bishop on
d2 the white queen does not defend d5) and Black is not yet ready to play ...
cxd4 followed by ...d5.} 12. Ne2 e5 $5 (12... Bb7 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Nexd4 (14.
exd4 {looks awkward and after} d5 $1 {Black should be fine.}) 14... Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 $14 {and White keeps a spatial advantage.}) 13. Bc3 (13. d5
Nb4 {forces White to part with his bishop.} 14. Bxb4 cxb4 $13 {with a complex
positional struggle - but Black looks fine.}) 13... h6 {A provocative move I
do not fully understand.} (13... b5 $5 {which starts play on the queenside was
more advisable.}) 14. d5 Nb4 15. Ra1 $1 {Threatening a3. One might think that
a5 is forced now, but we all know how Topalov works:} b5 $5 {An interesting
piece sacrifice that changes the direction of the game completely.} (15... a5 {
is too passive.} 16. a3 Na6 17. Nd2 {and White can slowly expand on the
queenside and has every reason to be happy.} b5 $2 {is probably always bad
because White now obtains an amazing outpost on c4 whereas the black knights
are horribly placed.} 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Nc4 $16 {with a tremendous position}) (
15... e4 {is no good either} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd2 Nd3 18. Rf1 b5 (18... Nxb2
$2 19. Qc2 Nd3 20. Nxe4 $16) 19. b3 $14 {and White is in the driver's seat.})
16. a3 bxc4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Bd2 Nxd5 {Black has three pawns for the piece
and prospects on the queenside.} 19. Qc1 $1 {There is no easy way to defend c4.
} c3 (19... Be6 $5 20. Rxa6 c3 21. bxc3 b3 {Black has only one pawn for the
piece but it is not easy to control the b3-pawn.} 22. Qb1 (22. Qb2 $2 Nb6 $1
$17) 22... b2 $36) ({The natural} 19... Qc7 $2 {fails:} 20. Nxe5 $18 {now the
knight is hanging on d5.}) 20. bxc3 b3 21. Qb1 {White desperately needs to
activate his bishop on d2 and his knight on e2.} (21. Qb2 $5 {right away was
also possible.}) 21... Nf6 $1 {White was threatening to play c4.} 22. Qb2 (22.
c4 $2 b2 $19 {followed by ...Bf5.}) 22... Qc7 23. c4 $1 {White sacrifices
another pawn but gains space for his pieces.} Qxc4 24. Nc3 {Here I thought
White should be able to consolidate, get at least one pawn back and start
playing for a win. But things aren't so simple:} (24. Bc3 $5 {bringing the
knight over to d2, was another defensive setup:}) 24... Be6 25. Rec1 Nd7 $5 (
25... Rfc8 $5) 26. e4 (26. Ra4 $5) (26. Bf1 Qc6 $1 27. e4 Nc5 {forces the
black queen on to a more passive post but White still has problems to prove an
advantage.} 28. Be3 Nxe4 29. Rxa6 Qb7 $13) 26... Nc5 27. Bf1 Qb4 28. Be3 (28.
Bxa6 $2 Ra8 $1 29. Bf1 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 $17) 28... Rfc8 {Black is bringing
pieces to the queenside to consolidate and prepare the advance of the a-pawn.}
29. Nd2 (29. Bxa6 {was possible now:} Nxa6 30. Rxa6 Ra8 $1 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32.
Nd2 f5 $5 $44) 29... a5 $1 30. Bxc5 {The natural reaction - White eliminates
the strong knight and stops the a-pawn.} Rxc5 31. Ra4 Qb7 32. Bc4 Qc6 $1 33.
Bd5 (33. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 {threatening ...Rxc3} 34. Raa1 Rc8 35. Ndb1 d5 $1 36.
exd5 exd5 37. Qxb3 e4 $132) 33... Bxd5 34. exd5 Qd7 35. Ra3 a4 $1 36. Nxa4 Rxd5
37. Nxb3 e4 38. Qa2 Qf5 $44 {A curious position - Black gave up his strong
passed pawns, but won White's pawn on d5. Black's d-pawn can become strong and
White has problems to coordinate his knights. Black has at least sufficient
compensation.} 39. Re1 Rdb5 40. Rc1 d5 41. Nac5 {I think Levon was playing for
a win here and rejects a number of solid options in the next moves.} (41. Nc3
$5 {bringing the knight over to the centre was another way to go.}) 41... d4
42. Ra7 (42. Ra8 $5 {was another way to control the risks - but in turn White
would have less winning chances.}) 42... d3 43. Rc7 $6 h5 $1 {With his pieces
in ideal positions Topalov now attacks on the kingside - the threat is h4-h3.}
44. Qa4 h4 45. Qxe4 $1 {White has no choice - he has to go on the defensive.}
Qxe4 46. Nxe4 Rxb3 47. gxh4 $2 {The decisive mistake.} (47. Rd7 $1 {was
necessary. After} h3 48. Rd1 $11 {White cannot take on d3 immediately but
after Kf1 a draw seems to be unavoidable.}) 47... Bh6 $1 {White is in trouble
now.} 48. Rf1 R3b4 49. f3 Rb2 50. Nf6+ (50. Rd7 Be3+ 51. Kh1 Rb1 52. Rxb1 Rxb1+
53. Kg2 d2 $1 54. Nxd2 Rb2 $19 (54... Rd1 $4 55. Ne4 $1 $11)) 50... Kg7 51. Ng4
d2 52. Rd7 (52. Nxh6 Kxh6 53. Rd7 Re8 $1 $19) 52... Re8 53. Nf2 Re1 {and White
resigned because he cannot stop ...Rb1.  This was Topalov's first win in
London. He finished with it and played a 2577 performance (which shows how
strong the tournament was - and anyone who criticises him should bear in mind
that 2600 is a grandmaster performance!). I guess it is always important to
finish the tournament with a win, and Topalov definitely was looking for one
in London. Aronian, on the other hand, had the better prospects in a very
complex position, and tried to push by keeping the tension in the end this did
not work out for him. I think we should thank the players for such a
delightful tournament (all rounds had at least one decisive result) and
congratulate Wesley So on a fantastic result: he won the London Chess Classic
2016 with 6.0/9 and a 2900+ performance! - let's see how he does in 2017!} 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Paehtz, Thomas Sr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 b6 5. Be2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 Ne4 8. Nfd2
Nxd2 9. Nxd2 O-O 10. Bf3 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Rc1 c6 13. Qa4 b5 14. Qb3 Nd7 15.
Bxd5+ cxd5 16. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Riff, Jean Noel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2468"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nh3 Nf6 7. Bc4 e6 8.
O-O Nbd7 9. f4 Nb6 10. Be2 Qd7 11. a4 Nbd5 12. Ng5 Bd6 13. c4 Ne7 14. Nf3 Rd8
15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Qb3 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5+ 18. Be3 O-O 19. Bf3 b6 20. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21.
Kh1 Rd4 22. Ne2 Rd2 23. Qc3 Rfd8 24. b4 Qc7 25. Ng3 a5 26. Rfc1 Nf5 27. Nxf5
Bxf5 28. c5 axb4 29. Qxb4 bxc5 30. Qxc5 Qxc5 31. Rxc5 g5 32. fxg5 Ne4 33. Rcc1
Nxg5 34. Bc6 f6 35. Nf3 Nxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Krysa, Leandro Sergio"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2491"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Ne2 e6 7. Nbc3 exd5 8. cxd5
O-O 9. Ng3 a6 10. Be2 b5 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 h5 14. Qd2 Nh7 15. a3
c4 16. f4 h4 17. Nh1 f5 18. Nf2 fxe4 19. Ncxe4 Ndf6 20. Ng5 Re8 21. Bf3 Bf5 22.
Ne6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 d5 24. Rad1 Rxe6 25. Bd4 Ne4 26. Qc2 Bxd4 27. Rxd4 Nhf6 28.
Nxe4 Nxe4 29. Rfd1 Qb6 30. g3 Rae8 31. Kg2 Kg7 32. gxh4 Qc7 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34.
Qc3 Kh7 35. Rxe4 Rxe4 36. Rxd5 Qc6 37. Qd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kantor, Gergely"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2448"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 O-O 13. Be3 Bf6 14. Qb3 Qe7
15. Rad1 Be6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Qxb7 Rfb8 18. Qc7 Bxb2 19. Nd4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rc8
21. Qg3 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 g6 23. Rfd1 Rc4 24. Qd3 Rac8 25. h3 Kg7 26. Rxc4 Rxc4 27.
a5 h5 28. Qd6 Qf5 29. a6 Ra4 30. Qc6 Qa5 31. g3 Qxa6 32. Qxa6 Rxa6 33. h4 Rb6
34. Rd7 a6 35. Ra7 Kf6 36. Kg2 Ke6 37. Kf3 f5 38. Kf4 Kd5 39. Kg5 Ke4 40. Rd7
Kf3 41. Rd2 a5 42. Ra2 Ra6 43. Rb2 a4 44. Rc2 a3 45. Ra2 Ke4 46. Re2+ Kd3 47.
Ra2 Kd4 48. Kh6 Ke4 49. Kg5 Kf3 50. Kh6 f4 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2572"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
e3 Qd7 9. O-O Rd8 $5 {Just as in the game against Adams from the same
tournament Romania's biggest talent shows himself aware of the latest
theretical trends. The last move increases the pressure in the centre and
removes the rook from the g2-bishop's range without exposing the king as in
the line which used to be fashionable until recently:} (9... O-O-O {e.g.
Pogonina,N (2454)-Koneru,H (2583) Tehran 2016 CBM 171 [Mikhalchishin,A] (1-0,
42). But even though the king is not under the bishop's pressure, its
situation is not entirely safe in the centre as it needs two more tempi to get
castled short.}) 10. Qe2 {As we will see the threat of retrieving the pawn was
mainly intended by Topalov as a way of inducing Black to open the centre with
the king still there and not as a direct attempt at restoring the material
equality.} ({The move best corresponding to the Catalan Gambit spirit is} 10.
Nc3 {ignoring the pawn and continuing developing. But in practice it has not
yielded anything concrete.} Be7 ({Since the pawn is not attacked} 10... Nb4 {
(Cheparinov,I (2689)-Lu,S (2627) Doha 2016 (1-0, 44)) is premature. White
could get a strong initiative in the centre with} 11. a3 Nbd5 12. Qe2 b5 13. e4
Nxc3 14. bxc3 c5 15. Rd1) 11. Qa4 (11. Qe2 {may be a more restrictive move
order with respect to our main game.}) 11... Nb4 {Now this is well timed as
the pawn was in danger.} 12. Bxb7 Qxa4 13. Nxa4 Rb8 14. Bg2 Nc2 15. Rb1 Na3 16.
Ra1 Nc2 17. Rb1 Na3 18. Ra1 Nc2 19. Rb1 {½-½ Ju,W (2580)-Harika,D (2543)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2016}) ({Other attempts at retrieving the pawn than the game
move are slightly more committal:} 10. Qa4 Nb4 ({better than} 10... e5 {
Ftacnik,L (2560)-Yermolinsky,A (2478) Tekirdag 2016 (½-½ , 59)} 11. Qb5 exd4
12. Qxb7 $14) 11. Qxd7+ Rxd7 12. Na3 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nxc4 {White cannot
take advantage of his bishop pair due to his incomplete development.} Nd3 ({
Black should not fool around with time as this would allow to White catch up
in deevlopment and retain the better chances due to his bishops.} 14... O-O 15.
Ne5 Rc7 16. a3 Nbd5 {Csonka,B (2398)-Kozak,A (2365) Hungary 2016 (½-½, 23)}
17. Bd2 $5 $14) 15. b3 O-O 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Nxa3 Rfd8 $11 {/=/+ Bai,J (2537)
-Bu,X (2715) Shenzhen 2016 (0-1, 48)}) (10. Nd2 {is not too annoying since the
knight moves far from the d5-square.} b5 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Qe2 a6 13. Bd2 Nd5 {
Saduakassova,D (2428)-Ju,W (2579) Doha 2016 (0-1, 48) Black is perfectly
regrouped and White's compensation is rather abstract,}) 10... e5 ({Obviously
the only answer as} 10... b5 11. a4 a6 12. axb5 axb5 13. b3 {leads to
queenside disaster.}) 11. Nc3 {Now that the centre is likely to open, the
knight should take the e4- and d5-squares under control.} ({White's advantage
is purely symbolic after} 11. Qxc4 exd4 12. Qb5 Rb8 13. Rd1 a6 14. Qc4 (14. Qf1
Bd6 15. exd4 O-O {Tomashevsky,E (2722)-Bu,X (2698) Novi Sad 2016 (½-½, 76)})
14... Bd6 15. exd4 O-O 16. Nc3 h6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Rfe8 19. Be3 Ne7 {
Andreikin,D (2736)-Lu,S (2619) China 2016 (½-½, 34)}) 11... Be7 {The most
logical move as it is best to defend the e-file and keep the d-file clear.} (
11... Bd6 12. Qxc4 exd4 13. exd4 O-O 14. Rd1 h6 15. Be3 $14 {Shankland,S (2674)
-Libiszewski,F (2545) Caleta 2017 (½-½, 40) is an improved version over the
same structure in the lines above.}) (11... exd4 {opens the d-file too quickly:
} 12. exd4+ Be7 13. d5 Nb4 14. Bg5 $14 {Kraemer,M (2570)-Luther,T (2541)
Austria 2016 (½-½, 42)}) 12. dxe5 $146 {Topalov gives up the tension in
order to open the centre and avoid any pawn weaknesses.} (12. d5 Nb4 13. e4 {
Dziuba,M (2554)-Wang,H (2701) Czech Republic 2017 (0-1, 59)} Nd3) (12. Rd1 exd4
13. Qxc4 O-O {Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2652)-Moskalenko,A (2488) Moscow 2017 (1-0,
37)}) 12... Nxe5 13. Bxb7 Bb4 ({Deac must have analyzed this position at home
as this not a very natural move, wasting a tempo with the king uncastled, is
indeed the engines' favourite. Black prevents b2-b3 as after} 13... O-O 14. b3
c6 15. Ba6 Qd3 16. Qxd3 cxd3 17. Bb2 {White retains the more flexible
structure and chances for a small but lasting advantage.}) 14. Rd1 Nd3 {
This strong knight offers Black entirely adequate play despite White's mobile
centre and bishop pair.} 15. e4 Bxc3 ({This is the second idea behind ..Bb4.
Black exchanges the knight which threatened to move ahead, for instance} 15...
O-O 16. Nd5 {with some initiative.}) 16. bxc3 Qb5 {Without being a mistake,
this starts looking a bit like playing with fire.} ({Black should castle while
this is still possible:} 16... O-O 17. Bg5 Qe6) 17. e5 Nd5 {Probably
overlooking White's answer. Did Deac really believe he had tricked a former
World champion into forcing Bxd5?!} (17... Qxe5 $2 18. Qxe5+ Nxe5 19. Re1 Nfd7
20. f4 $18) ({Once again castling is safest:} 17... O-O $1 18. exf6 Qxb7 19.
fxg7 Rfe8 $1 (19... Kxg7 20. Qh5 Qc6 21. Be3 a6 22. Rd2 $36 {[%cal Gd2e2,Ge3d4]
}) 20. Be3 (20. Qh5 $2 Ne1 $19) 20... Qe4 $15 {with black domination.}) 18. Rb1
$1 Nxc3 $2 ({The trick is that} 18... Qxb1 $2 {loses the queen:} 19. Bc6+ Kf8
20. Ba3+) ({But with his king in the centre Black should not have embarked on
forced play. Instead he should have limited the damage with} 18... Qc5 19. Qf3
O-O 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Qxd5 Rxd5 22. Rb7 $14) 19. Qf3 Qxe5 (19... Qc5 $2 20.
Bc6+ Kf8 21. e6) 20. Qc6+ Kf8 $2 {Probably a fruit of miscalculation.} ({
Even in a desperate position Black should have maintained the possibility of
castling.} 20... Rd7 21. Bb2 Ne2+ 22. Kg2 Nd4 23. Bxd4 Qxd4 24. Bc8 Qxf2+ (
24... Qd5+ 25. Qxd5 Rxd5 26. Ba6 $18) 25. Kh1 O-O 26. Bxd7 Qd4 27. Rd2 Nf2+ 28.
Rxf2 Qxf2 29. Bh3 Qxa2 $16 {Mamedyarov,S (2743)-Nakamura,H (2787) Tromsoe ol 
(Men) 41st 2014 (11.1) 1-0 White still faces technical problems winning this
position. Quite probably the game will simplify to the same type of ending as
analysed in:}) 21. Bb2 Ne2+ 22. Kg2 c3 (22... Qe6 {requires a bit more
imagination from White:} 23. Qxe6 fxe6 24. Bf3 Nd4 25. Bxd4 Rxd4 26. Rb8+ Ke7
27. Rxh8 c3 28. Rxh7 c2 29. Rxg7+ Kf6 (29... Kd6 30. Rf1 Rb4 31. Be2) 30. Rxd3
c1=Q 31. Rxc7 $1 {Eliminating Black's only passed pawn.} Qxc7 32. Rxd4 $18 {
Black cannot prevent the systematic advance of White's passed pawns.}) 23. Ba3+
Kg8 24. Qe4 c2 {This must have been what Deac relied on. It seems that White
loses but there is just one move after which he wins.} 25. Rxd3 $1 {Of course.
The back rank weakness decides.} (25. Rxd3 Qxe4+ 26. Bxe4 Re8 (26... Rxd3 27.
Rb8+) 27. Re1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. h3 Bb6 8. Nc4
Ne7 9. O-O Ng6 10. Ba4 Be6 11. Bc2 h6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. d4 c5 14. a3 Re8 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. d5 Bd7 17. Nd2 b5 18. Qf3 Nh7 19. Qg3 Qd8 20. f4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Qg5
22. Rf3 Qxg3 23. Rxg3 Kh8 24. Rf1 Ne5 25. Bd1 Re7 26. Bf4 f6 27. h4 Be8 28. Be2
Ra4 29. Re3 Nf8 30. Bg3 Kg8 31. c4 Nfd7 32. cxb5 Nb6 33. Rc1 Ra5 34. Be1 Ra4
35. Bf2 Bd7 36. Rg3 Nc8 37. Ra1 Na7 38. b3 Ra5 39. b4 Bxb5 40. bxa5 Bxe2 41.
Rb1 Ba6 42. Rgb3 Nc8 43. Bg3 Ng4 44. h5 Kf7 45. Re1 Ne5 46. Bxe5 Rxe5 47. Nf3
Re7 48. Nh4 Rd7 49. Nf5 Ne7 50. Ne3 Ke8 51. Kf2 Kf8 52. a4 Kf7 53. Reb1 Ke8 54.
g4 Kd8 55. Rc3 Kc7 56. Kf3 Nc8 57. Nc2 Kd8 58. Rc1 Ne7 59. Kf2 Ke8 60. Ne3 Rc7
61. Rb1 Kd8 62. Kf3 Rd7 63. Kf4 Rc7 64. Rcb3 Rd7 65. Ng2 Nc8 66. Kf3 Ke8 67.
Nf4 Rc7 68. Ne6 Re7 69. Kf4 Rd7 70. Ke3 Re7 71. R3b2 Rf7 72. Rf2 Bc4 73. Kd2
Ba2 74. Rb2 Bc4 75. Kc3 Ba6 76. Rb1 Na7 77. Rb6 Nc8 78. Rxa6 bxa6 79. Rb2 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E80"]
[WhiteElo "2689"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. e4 a6 7. a4 e6 8. Nge2 exd5
9. cxd5 Nbd7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Be3 h5 12. Nf4 Ne5 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Rb8 15. Qc2
Bd7 16. a5 Ne8 17. Na4 Qxa5 18. b4 Bxa4 19. Rxa4 Qd8 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Qxc5 Nd6
22. Qb4 Re8 23. Rc1 Qf6 24. Ne6 fxe6 25. Qxd6 Nf7 26. Qc5 b6 27. Qc7 exd5 28.
Rxa6 dxe4 29. Rc6 Rbc8 30. Qxc8 Rxc8 31. Rxf6 Bxf6 32. fxe4 Nd6 33. Rxb6 Be5
34. Rb3 Nxe4 35. Bd3 Nc5 36. Bc4+ Kg7 37. Rb5 Bd6 38. Rb6 Be5 39. Rb5 Bd6 40.
Bd4+ Kf8 41. Rb1 Nd7 42. Be6 Rc7 43. Rf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Hello chess lovers and fans! Now that Tata Steel Super-tournament is over, we
can now focus more on following the fighting and exciting chess happening in
Gibraltar :-D. In round 8, the only decisive game on the top boards that also
affected the leaderboard is the game between the imaginative Israeli GM
Sutovsky and former World Champ GM Topalov.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 {the Caro-Kann
is well-known for its solidity and dynamism, making it a good fighting weapon.}
3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 $5 {this sharp line in the Advance Variation only
started becoming popular in high-level practice in 2014, thanks to the efforts
of GMs Morozevich and Saric.} Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. Bg5 Be7 ({The most frequently
played line here is} 7... Qb6 8. Nd2 Qa6 9. c4 Bb4 10. b3 {which was tested in
the 4th round between Vocaturo and Caruana.}) 8. Nf3 Nh6 9. Bxh6 Rxh6 10. Nbd2
{Interestingly, this position had been played by Sutovsky 3 months previously,
a game which he nicely won.} Nd7 {I'm sure Topalov is still in his prep as
revealed by his time consumption.} ({Sutovsky's previous game went:} 10... Na6
$6 {the knight has no future here.} 11. c3 c5 12. a3 Rc8 13. b4 cxd4 14. cxd4
Kf8 15. Ke2 g6 16. Qb5 Rc7 17. Rac1 Nb8 18. Nb3 a6 19. Qd3 Kg7 20. Rxc7 Qxc7
21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. bxc5 Nc6 24. Rb1 Rh8 25. Qd2 $1 $16 {1-0 (59)
Sutovsky,E (2625)-David,A (2574) Novi Sad SRB 2016, and White eventually
converted his positional advantages into a win.}) 11. c3 {This normal move can
lead to the same middlegame structure as in the previously mentioned game. It
is also the new deviation according to the databases.} ({The only game played
here before was} 11. g3 c5 12. c4 cxd4 13. cxd5 Qa5 $1 $13 {½-½ (26) Potapov,
P (2485)-Alekseenko,K (2570) Sochi 2016, with a complex game.}) 11... c5 12. a3
Rc8 13. b4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nb6 $1 {Black has a better version of the middlegame
Sutovsky vs. David owing to the better placement of the knight.} 15. O-O $5 {
"Are you asking me?" replied the brave fighter from Bulgaria.} ({Playing in a
similar fashion as Sutovsky did in his previous game will not be as effective
here:} 15. Ke2 Nc4 16. Rhc1 b5 17. a4 a6 {and Black has no problems.}) ({
A more circumspect try is} 15. g3 Nc4 16. Kf1 (16. O-O) 16... Kf8 {but it's
probably not in Sutovsky's style.}) 15... Bxh4 $1 {Ladies & gentlemen, it is
showtime! :-)} 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Rac1 {"Let me 'show' you what I've got, "
Emil calmly and confidently said.} Qd8 {To which Veselin replied "OK, show me!"
} 18. Qb5+ Qd7 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. Qa5 b6 21. Qa6 {The fighters have exchanged
a series forcing blows, and when the smoke has cleared a little, the verbal
fight ensues:} Ne7 {"You're not taking or threatening anything yet, so let me
just play a natural move here."} 22. Rc1 {"It's coming, just you wait..."} Kd8
$6 {"C'mon, I still don't see it," Veselin tauntingly said. Unfortunately for
him, Veselin didn't sense that he is already drifting into dangerous territory.
..} ({Objectively, it was safer to get the king out of the danger zone with} 
22... f6 $5 23. Nf3 Kf7 {followed by transferring his rook to c8.}) 23. b5 $1 {
"Almost there!" said Emil who craftily played a prohpylactic attacking move.} (
{The hasty} 23. a4 $2 {fails to} Nc6 24. a5 Nxb4 {and Black successfully kicks
out White's annoying queen.}) 23... Nf5 {White to play.} 24. Nb3 $6 {This
solid move was played after a 4-minute thought.} ({Unfortunately for the
Israeli fighter, he missed here a great opportunity to show something real for
the sacrificed pawn that he courageously initiated on move 15:} 24. a4 $3 Nxd4
{Then what?} 25. Kh1 $1 {Of course this calm, cool move has to be foreseen &
planned before venturing into sac-ing another pawn!} Rg6 (25... Rh8 26. a5 $40
{and White's attack crashes through!} Nxb5 (26... bxa5 27. b6 $1) 27. axb6 Ke7
28. Rb1 $18) 26. a5 Rg4 27. g3 $1 {Another calm, patient move that allows
White to stop enemy counterplay and move forward his attack.} Nxb5 {the only
way to try to hold on} 28. axb6 axb6 29. Qa8+ Ke7 30. Rc8 $18 {and Black would
have been helpless in face of White's incoming decisive threats.}) 24... Rh8 {
Veselin hurries to bring his rook to the defence of his imprudent king.} 25. a4
Ke7 26. a5 Rb8 {"I made it!" Veselin said with a huge sigh of relief. The
situation is still complex, and Emil still has compensation owing to his
active pieces. However, now that the queenside is safely secured Emil has to
play more accurately as his compensation will be questioned move by move.} 27.
axb6 $2 {The only clear mistake in the game as it limits White's resources or
allows Black to defend easily. But without enough concrete analysis (and time
of course!), it's difficult to make the right choice here.} (27. Rc6 $1 Qb7 28.
Qxb7+ Rxb7 29. a6 $1 {This is the resource that allows White to keep the
balance.} Rd7 30. Rc8 {and Black cannot make progress:} Rd8 (30... g6 31. Kf1
$11) (30... g5 31. g3 $11 (31. Nc5 $5)) (30... f6 $2 {if Black is ambitious,
White can even get more!} 31. Nc5 bxc5 32. dxc5 d4 33. c6 Rd5 34. b6 d3 35.
bxa7 d2 36. Rc7+ $1 Ke8 (36... Kd8 37. a8=Q+ Kxc7 38. Qb7+ Kd8 39. c7+ $18) 37.
a8=Q+ Rd8 38. Qxd8+ Kxd8 39. Rd7+ $18) 31. Rc7+ Rd7 32. Rc8 $11) 27... axb6 28.
Rc6 Qb7 29. Qa3+ Kd7 {The position has now stabilised, and in the next moves
it is Veselin who will execute his plan and control the game.} 30. g3 Ke8 31.
Qc1 Qe7 (31... Qd7 $5 {preventing rook to c7, but Veselin was probably
concerned about} 32. Qg5 g6 $17 {but White only has ghost threats.}) 32. Rc7
Qd8 33. Qc6+ Kf8 34. Rd7 Qc8 $1 {Trading active pieces and simplifying when up
in material--simple chess!} ({A kingside attack doesn't work as it allows
White enough counterplay after} 34... Qg5 35. Qc7 Ra8 36. Rxf7+ Kg8 37. Qxb6 $1
Kxf7 38. Qb7+ $132) 35. Na5 $2 {Hastens the end. It is either a result of
frustration with losing control of his initiative earlier, or discouragement
for not seeing anything good coming from this position.} ({While it is true
that White is much worse due to lack of compensation, I think he should
nevertheless still have tried to resist and make Black do some technical work
after} 35. Rc7 Qe8 $1 36. Kg2 (36. Rd7 Rc8 37. Qb7 Rc3 38. Rc7 Rxc7 39. Qxc7
Qxb5 $19) 36... Qxc6 37. bxc6 (37. Rxc6 g5 $19) 37... Ne7 38. Kh3 $17 {Black
still needs to make a few more important decisions to convert the advantage,
but Veselin will most probably be up to the task!}) 35... bxa5 36. Rc7 Qd8 37.
b6 Ne7 38. Qc5 a4 $19 {Black is simply a piece up for nothing and has a clear
plan of trading his a-pawn for White's b-pawn.} 39. b7 a3 40. Qd6 a2 41. Rc1
Qxd6 42. exd6 Rxb7 {The rook ending is dead lost, so White resigned. A valiant
effort from both players! I am looking forward to more enterprising battles in
round 9 especially from "Top"alov who has now made his way back to the Top!}
0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.02.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Playing on the 2nd board in the 9th round and co-leading the tournament,
21-year old David Anton Guijarro from Spain has been the sensation of this
year's Gibraltar Masters. With ambitious and strong play, he has already
beaten the likes of Gelfand and Sutovsky, not to mention draws with Nakamura
and MVL. Now he faces the always dangerous ex-world champion Veselin Topalov.} 
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 {Topalov goes for
the most principled line, instead of the currently fashionable 6.d3!?, which
leads to quieter positions.} b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 {This position has
been played almost 37.000 times according to my database! Black has a wide
variety of choices in this main Ruy Lopez variation.} Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7
$5 {An interesting line, that had been played by David Anton himself three
rounds previously against Sutovsky. White now has two choices: a closed
position with 12.d5 or a very double-edged fight after 12.Nbd2. Naturally,
both Sutovsky and Topalov went for the second option, which always leads to
interesting play.} 12. Nbd2 (12. d5 $5 {is more positional, and was played in
the very first time in a classic Fischer - Keres game, from the amazing
Candidates Tournament in Curacao,1962!} Nb6 13. Nbd2 {is the main move} (13. g4
$6 {The brilliant ex-world champion went for a dubious plan here. White
normally has to be better prepared to use this kind of idea on the kingside 
(normally with Nbd2-f1-g3). It is also clear that Fischer wanted to stop ...f5
hitting his strong central pawn on e4, but on the other hand he allows ...h5!}
h5 $1 14. Nh2 hxg4 15. hxg4 Bg5 {Suddenly Black has easy play exploiting the
weak squares, and still keeps good prospects on the queenside} 16. Nd2 g6 17.
Ndf3 Bxc1 18. Qxc1 Kg7 19. Qg5 {The endgame is no relief for White, but Black
was considering ...Rh8 and then starting some work on the kingside himself.}
Nb7 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. a4 bxa4 22. Bxa4 Nxa4 23. Rxa4 Bd7 24. Ra2 c4 25. Nd2 Bb5
26. Nhf1 Rh8 27. Ne3 Rh4 $17 {0-1 (73) Fischer, R-Keres,P Curacao 1962, and
the superb Paul Keres went on to win a nice game.}) 13... g6 14. b4 (14. Nf1 $5
{also looks interesting} f5 15. Bh6 Rf7 16. b3 {with complex play}) 14... Nb7
15. a4 $6 {I don't think White is ready tor this kind of action on the
queenside} (15. Nf1 {1-0 (78) Nakamura,H (2774)-Nisipeanu,L (2659) Medias 2011,
was again possible:}) 15... bxa4 16. Bxa4 Nxa4 17. Qxa4 Bd7 18. Qb3 Qc7 19. Bb2
Rfc8 $15 {0-1 (41) Vedmediuc,S (2456)-Zhigalko,S (2669) Calimanesti Caciulata
2016, and Black achieved a better position.}) 12... exd4 $1 13. cxd4 Nc6 {
This is Black's idea, nearly forcing White to enter a double-edged position
with 14.d5. In the event of 14.Nf1, Black can simplify on d4 and enjoy a good
initiative in exchange for the worse pawn structure.} 14. d5 (14. Nf1 $6 cxd4
15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ne5 {justifying the 11...Nd7 move} 17. Qd1 Bf6 18. Ne3
Be6 $11 {This is a typical position where the piece activity easily
compensates for the weak pawn on d6. Black has easy play, with moves like ...
Rc8, ...Nc4, and ...Qb6. Meanwhile, White has a hard time developing his
queenside, and moves like f4 will create weaknesses.} 19. Bd2 (19. f4 Nc4 $132)
19... Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Qf6 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. cxd4 Rfc8
$15 {0-1 (58) Melia,S (2420)-Petrosyan,M (2480) Tbilisi 2016, and Black's
endgame is slightly preferrable, due to his good chances on the queenside.})
14... Nce5 15. a4 (15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Ng6 17. Nf3 Bh4 $1 (17... Bb7 $2 {
Now there is no reason to play like in the game, because white gets 18. f5! in
time.} 18. f5 Ne5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. b3 $5 $16 {followed by Be3, Rc1, Bd3, and
real pressure against the queenside}) 18. Nxh4 Qxh4 19. f5 (19. Rf1 {allows}
Bxh3 $1 20. gxh3 Qg3+ {forcing a draw}) 19... Ne5 {used to be the main line,
with a complex position, but Black should be fine.}) 15... Bb7 {Looks safer
than ...Rb8.} (15... Rb8 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. axb5 axb5 18. f4 Ng6 19. Nf3 Bh4 (
19... f5 $5 {stops the white attack, but may run into an inferior position:}
20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22. g4 Rf8 $5 23. f5 Ne5 24. Bf4 Nf7 25. Re6 $16)
20. Rf1 Bg3 21. f5 Ne5 22. Ng5 h6 $1 {is the only line surviving so far, but
it also looks dodgy} (22... Bh4 $2 {Svidler goes into a refuted line} 23. f6 $1
$18 {and White is winning!} h6 (23... g6 24. Qd2 {threatenig Nxh7} h6 25. Nh7
$1 $18 {1-0 (29) Kilpatrick,C (2052)-Wallis,I Southend 2006}) 24. Qh5 gxf6 25.
Nh7 Kxh7 26. Qxh4 {1-0 (26) Inarkiev,E (2732)-Svidler,P (2745) Germany 2016}) (
22... Nd7 23. Nxh7 $5 Kxh7 24. f6 g6 {and now both 25.e5!? and 25.Qg4 look
promising, and only the super computers will tell if White's attack is enough
for a win} 25. Qg4 $5 $40 (25. e5 $5 $40)) 23. f6 $1 gxf6 $5 (23... g6 24. Nf3
Qxf6 25. Bxh6 $36) 24. Nf3 Kg7 $13 {and somehow, Black's position is not
collapsing.}) 16. Qe2 (16. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Nf3 Bf6 {was seen in
David's game against Sutovsky} (18... Bh4 $2 {now this wouldn't make too much
sense with the bishop on b7} 19. Nxh4 Qxh4 20. Rf1 $5 (20. Ra3 $5 {making use
of the a4 move} Nxf4 $2 21. g3 $1 Nxh3+ 22. Kh2 $18 {and White wins})) (18...
Re8 $5) 19. g3 (19. e5 $5 Be7 20. Be4 f5 21. exf6 Bxf6 $13 {with another
unclear position}) 19... Qd7 20. Kg2 Rfe8 21. Ra3 {Generally speaking, this
looks promising for Black, since White's pawn majority is not advancing for
now and Black has good prospects on the queenside} Bd8 $5 (21... b4 $5 22. Rae3
c4 $13 {was very complex}) 22. h4 Nf8 23. h5 h6 24. f5 $2 {weakening too many
squares} Bf6 25. Nh2 Nh7 $1 26. Ng4 Bd4 27. axb5 axb5 28. Rxa8 Rxa8 29. b4 Ra2
30. bxc5 dxc5 31. Be3 Bxe3 32. Nxe3 Nf6 $17 {0-1 (56) Sutovsky,E (2628)-Anton
Guijarro,D (2650) Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017, Now White is clearly in
trouble, with the worse king and difficulty in advancing his pawns, while
Black can organise an attack and also think about advancing his own queenside.}
) 16... Rb8 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. axb5 (18. Nf1 {was played in December} Bf6 19.
Ne3 c4 $6 {probably a slight innacuracy to start pushing the pawns without ...
Re8 or ...Bc8} 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bd2 $14 {0-1 (41) Hansen,M (2452)-Wagner,D 
(2548) Vandoeuvre 2016, looks slightly better for White now, with the c3- and
d4-squares available for the pieces.}) 18... axb5 19. Nf1 Re8 20. Ne3 Bf6 21.
Bd2 Bc8 $1 {Bringing the bishop back into play, Black achieves a fully
consistent position, and keeps great prospects on the queenside, which is
basically one of the key ideas in this variation - control White's central and
kingside expansion and start advancing the b- and c-pawns at some point. Don't
get me wrong, I don't think Black is better here, but nowadays it is not easy
to achieve such a promising and interesting position as Black without running
into real dangers.} 22. Ba5 (22. f4 $6 Ng6 $17 {always looks good for Black,
since all his pieces are well prepared to meet this advance.}) 22... Qe7 23.
Bc3 $6 (23. Qf1 $5 {trying to prepare something like f4 followed by Nf5} b4 {
locks the bishop in on a5, but hands over the initiative to White} (23... Ng6
24. Nf5 Qd7 25. Ra2 $13 {with a weird position}) 24. f4 Ng6 25. e5 $5 dxe5 26.
f5 Nf4 27. g3 $13) 23... Ng6 $1 {Making a very good piece exchange, Black
doesn't need to worry about f4 anymore.} 24. Qf3 (24. Bxf6 Qxf6 $15 {would be
equally good for Black, threatening the b2-pawn and moves like ...Nf4.}) 24...
Bxc3 25. bxc3 Qg5 26. Kh2 h5 $1 27. Ra7 Re7 28. Rxe7 Nxe7 29. Ra1 (29. Nf5 $5 {
is a very counter-intuitive move pointed out by the computer. Normally it
could be a positional mistake, but here if Black plays ...Bxf5, then the
knight on e7 has a hard time to find a good square} Bxf5 30. exf5 $13) 29...
Ng6 30. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {Black aims to explore the c3 weakness, and exchange queens
only after White makes further concessions.} 31. Nf5 $2 {A mistake, as pointed
out by David in the post-mortem, and also by Topalov himself, according to him.
Not only because it may be the decisive mistake, but Black has very easy play
from now on.} (31. Nd1 {would be a very sad move to make} h4 32. Qe3 Bd7 $17 {
Black has a very confortable advantage, but for now White keeps control of the
only open file, and there is play.}) 31... Bxf5 32. exf5 Ne5 33. Rb1 h4 34. Qf4
g5 $1 35. Qe3 Nc4 36. Qc1 Kg7 37. Bd3 (37. Kh1 $5 {could have been better
maybe, but the position is already difficult.}) 37... Ne5 38. Be4 g4 $1 39.
hxg4 Nxg4+ 40. Kg1 Qh6 $1 {Forcing a horrible endgame for White, because if
the queen moves, then ...Qf4! is deadly.} 41. Qxh6+ (41. Qe1 Qf4 42. g3 hxg3
43. fxg3 Qg5 $19 {and the white king is in trouble with all the black pieces
joining the attack.}) 41... Kxh6 42. Kf1 Kg5 {A slightly surprising
resignation from Topalov, but the position is already hopeless, Black will
simply play ...Nf6, probably grab two pawns and start marching with his
queenside at some point. A superb win from David Anton, the man of the hour,
going into the last round as the sole leader of the 2017 Gibraltar Masters! In
the last round, he faces the experienced super-GM Michael Adams.} 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.02.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gledura, Benjamin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2589"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Navara,D"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bb4 10. Bg2 Nb6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O O-O 13. Qd3 Re8 14. a3 Bxc3
15. bxc3 Qd7 16. f3 Na4 17. g4 Re7 18. Rb1 b5 19. Bd2 Rae8 20. Rfe1 Qd6 21. Qc2
Qd7 22. Qd3 a6 23. Re2 Qd6 24. Rbe1 Nb2 25. Qc2 Nc4 {Black's knights are
surprisingly stronger than White's bishops. Besides, the a3-pawn is weak.} 26.
e4 $6 {The attempt to open the position backfires, but White's position was
unenviable in any case.} ({The computer suggests} 26. a4 bxa4 27. Bc1) ({or} 
26. Bc1 {, but such options are appalling rather than appealing.}) 26... dxe4
27. fxe4 c5 $1 {Great move. Black undermines the centre, after which White's
king becomes very weak.} (27... Nxg4 $2 28. e5 {would offer White the desired
counterplay.}) 28. e5 Qb6 29. Kf1 $2 {White's king enters a dangerous zone and
eventually gets punished.} (29. Qd3 cxd4 30. Qxd4 (30. cxd4 Rxe5 $17) 30... Qc7
$5 $17 {is not rosy for White, either. Still, it was the lesser evil.}) 29...
cxd4 30. cxd4 (30. exf6 $2 {loses to} Qxf6+ 31. Rf2 Nxd2+ 32. Qxd2 Rxe1+ $19)
30... Qxd4 31. Bc3 Qf4+ 32. Rf2 (32. Kg1 Nxg4 {was hopeless for White.}) 32...
Ne3+ {There were many roads to Rome, but this one is both pretty and
straightforward.} 33. Rxe3 Qxe3 34. exf6 {It looks as if White were alright,
but...} Qe1+ $1 {forces mate. A beautiful finale!} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Rb8 13. c3 Qe8 14. d4 bxc3 15.
bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Rb5 17. Nc4 Qg6 18. Qe2 Nd7 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Bc3 Rb3 21. Qc2
Rb5 22. Na3 Rb7 23. Qe2 Ra8 24. Rac1 Nd8 25. Nc4 Rb5 26. e5 Be7 27. exd6 cxd6
28. Bd2 Qf7 29. g3 Rab8 30. Bf4 Qf8 31. h4 h6 32. Kg2 Nf6 33. Bd2 Nd5 34. Ne3
Nxe3+ 35. fxe3 Qe8 36. e4 Nb7 37. Qc4 Bd8 38. Qc6 Bxa5 39. Bxa5 Rxa5 40. Re2
Qxc6 41. Rxc6 Rf8 42. Rb6 Ra3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This is GM Aleksandr Lenderman presenting you round 2 game of the day. Once
again the choice was a no-brainer, since this game by Veselin Topalov is one
of the most beautiful games I've ever seen. So, with great pleasure I will go
through this game with you.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 {One of
the many possible moves for Black here.} 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 (6... Be4 {
is slightly more common, but 6...Bg6 has been played more than once by Topalov,
including in big games, such as the 2016 Candidates in Moscow, against Hikaru
Nakamura.}) 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3 $5 (8. Rb1 $5 {has been played by Nakamura.}
Nbd7 9. c5 {The point of 8.Rb1. Now White's idea is to play b4 and be able to
protect his space on the queenside.} a5 10. a3 Be7 11. g3 e5 12. Bg2 e4 13. b4
axb4 14. axb4 Nf8 15. b5 Ne6 16. Bd2 O-O 17. Na4 $14 {1-0 (39) Nakamura,H 
(2790)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow RUS 2016. White won the opening game and then
won the game after the complications. I'm sure Topalov had improvements though.
}) 8... c5 $5 {Quite a rare move, so probably the first small surprise for
Wojtaszek. The only high level game from this position was between Kramnik and
Gelfand from 2005.} 9. Qb3 {Kramnik also played it. Since the game was in 2005,
it's possible that Topalov had even analyzed this position back when he was
preparing for his match against Kramnik.} Qd7 {So far Topalov has played very
quickly.} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. dxc5 Nc6 $146 {According to my database, a novelty,
and a very interesting, dynamic one, not to mention very good. Black is
sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. Now Black has a practical edge, since
he not only has the initiative, but also is probably better prepared than his
opponent in this rare territory.} (11... Bxc5 {was played by Gelfand but he
got a somewhat worse position where he might've had to suffer, had Kramnik
played a bit more precisely.} 12. Qb5 Qxb5 13. Nxb5 Kd7 14. O-O Nc6 15. Rd1 Ke7
16. Bd2 Bb4 17. Nc3 (17. Bxb4+ Nxb4 18. Be2 $14) 17... Rac8 18. Rac1 Rhd8 19.
a3 Bd6 20. Ne2 (20. Be2 $14 {was better for White.}) 20... Ne5 {1/2 (20)
Kramnik,V (2744)-Gelfand,B (2724) Saint Vincent 2005. The game was agreed a
draw here. I still prefer White. Maybe Kramnik clinched a tournament win with
this draw.}) 12. Bd2 {Wojtaszek had his first big think here, for about 15
minutes. He had alternatives here.} (12. Na4 $5 {trying to hold on to the pawn.
} Ne4 $1 13. Bxe4 dxe4 $44 {would lead to good compensation for Black, since
Black has annoying threats like ...Ne5, ...Qg4, and he can castle quickly with
0-0-0, while White's pieces are uncoordinated. White's only move not to be
worse now is...} 14. Nc3 O-O-O (14... f5) 15. Nxe4 Rh4 16. f3 f5 17. Nf2 Bxc5 {
and from a practical stand point of view I prefer Black, even though the
position is dynamically equal.}) (12. Qa3 Qg4 $1 13. Kf1 (13. O-O $4 Rxh2 14.
Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Ng4 $19) (13. g3 Be7 $36) 13... Be7 $44 {with good
compensation for the pawn.}) 12... Bxc5 {Now Black was able to avoid the queen
trade, and therefore avoid the slightly unpleasant endgame.} 13. Rc1 (13. Ne2 {
Might be a little bit more solid.} O-O-O $132) 13... Rd8 (13... d4 $5 14. Na4 (
14. Ne4 dxe3) 14... dxe3 15. Nxc5 exd2+ 16. Kxd2 Qd6 17. Rhe1+ Kf8 18. Nxb7
Qf4+ 19. Kd1 Ne5 20. Nd6 Qd4 21. Rxe5 Qxd6 {with very complex play. Of course
this is just a sample line and not all the moves are forced here.}) 14. Na4 ({
Again} 14. Ne2 {might be safer, but Wojtaszek is an ambitious player.}) 14...
Bd6 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 d4 $6 {This move helped Topalov win an excellent
game, but perhaps objectively it's slightly inaccurate.} (16... Kf8 $5 {
keeps the balance. Naturally Black doesn't want to castle since he doesn't
want to give up control of the h-file.}) (16... g5) (16... Ne4 {are also
viable alternatives.}) 17. Bb5 $2 {But this move is probably asking more from
the position than it can offer. White is moving the same piece twice, and
falling behind on development and allowing an initiative is very dangerous,
especially against Topalov.} (17. e4 $14 {I'm not completely sure what Black's
plan was against the simple e4. Black's knights don't have a good outpost
square, and in the long run, White's two bishops and strong centre should
prove a nice advantage, while the bishop on d3 blocks the passed pawn on d4,
and it can't be dislodged easily.} Ng4 18. Rd5 Qc7 19. h3 {Is better for White.
}) 17... O-O $1 {Playing for the initiative.} 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. f3 $6 {
Mistakes often come in pairs. When White played the move 17.Bb5, he left
behind the key e4-square, and now tries to cover that mistake up by defending
it. But here we have a classical situation where the cure is worse than the
disease. Black doesn't have ...Ne4 anymore, but now White's king is fatally
weakened.} (19. Qc2 {still kept White in the game.} Ne4 $1 20. Re5 $1 (20. Qxe4
dxe3 21. Qxe3 Rfe8 22. O-O Rxe3 23. Bxe3 $17 {might also offer White drawing
chances.}) 20... Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. O-O d3 23. Qd1 $15 {And even though
Black is better with his strong passed pawn on d3, White is still in the game.}
) 19... Qe7 (19... Rb8 20. Qa3 dxe3 21. Bxe3 Nd5 22. O-O Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Rxb2 $17
{was also very promising for Black.}) 20. Rc2 (20. Rxc6 dxe3 21. Bb4 Qd7 22.
Rd6 Qc7 23. Qc3 Qb8 24. Qd4 Nd5 $1 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Ba5 Nb6 $17 {is very
dangerous for White. Here the e3 pawn is very strong.}) 20... Nd5 21. Kf2 Rb8
22. Qa3 Rxb2 $5 {A very nice exchange sacrifice which shatters White's
defences and from here on White is under heavy pressure. The only reason I
don't give this move a double exclamation point is because objectively there
were other good solutions for Black here, arguably even a bit better.} (22...
Qh4+ $1 23. g3 dxe3+ 24. Bxe3 Qh3 $40 {would've also been very strong for
Black but this isn't so obvious from far away. However, here White is kind of
stuck to come up with a good plan.}) 23. Qxb2 $1 (23. Qxe7 $6 Rxc2 {was
Black's point.} 24. Qe5 Rxd2+ 25. Kg3 Nxe3 26. Kh3 Nxg2 {Black ends up getting
a rook, knight, and two pawns for the queen, and also a very strong initiative
against the White king. White is lost.}) 23... dxe3+ 24. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25. Kg3 $2
{The final mistake.} (25. Kf1 {still kept White in the game:} Nf4 $1 {Stopping
Re2. Here the king looks very bad, but still White can try to defend here, for
example...} 26. Qc3 Qb6 $1 {Otherwise White is fine.} 27. Qb3 (27. Qb2 Qa6+ 28.
Kg1 Nd3 29. Qb3 Re8 $36) 27... Qd4 $1 28. Qc4 $1 {Giving back some material to
get rid of the dangerous initiative.} Qd1+ 29. Kf2 Nd3+ 30. Kg3 Qxh1 31. Qxd3
Qe1+ 32. Kh3 Qe6+ 33. Kg3 $17 {is the best line for both sides according to
Stockfish 8. Black has good winning chances of course with the extra pawn, but
White can still put up a good defense.}) 25... Qf4+ (25... Qg5+ {was also good:
} 26. Kf2 Nf4 27. g3 (27. Kf1 Re8 $19) 27... Nd3+) 26. Kf2 (26. Kh3 $2 g5 {
is mate in a few moves.}) 26... Rb8 $1 {The last piece joins the fray. Without
this move, Black is not even better. Now, however, Black's attack is
unstoppable. A typical situation when three pieces attack the exposed king and
the king can't defend succesfully.} 27. Qc1 Qd4+ 28. Kg3 Ne3 $19 29. Rc5 (29.
Rd2 Nf5+ 30. Kh3 Qh4#) 29... Rb2 30. Rg1 Rxa2 31. h3 Qd6+ 32. f4 Qd3 33. Kh2
Qe4 34. Rg5 Rc2 {And White resigned since he's about to lose the f4-pawn and
Black will have both a material advantage and an unstoppable attack, which
will lead to more and bigger material gains. Beautiful game by Topalov. I love
the move 22...Rxb2! since from a practical standpoint of view it's very strong
even if objectively it's not the best. The reason is, it becomes much more
difficult for the opponent to play when he has to defend against the
initiative. Also a very nice opening surprise by Topalov which led to a fresh
position, a dynamic position, where Topalov feels in his comfort zone, and
also a position, which Wojtaszek hadn't had a chance to analyse deeply since
it was so rare. Wojtaszek normally has excellent opening preparation, since he
helped Anand a few times in his World Championship matches. So, outpreparing
him is already a big accomplishment in itself.} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. cxd5 g5 11. Bg3 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 exd5 14. Be2
Bd7 15. O-O Rac8 16. Be5 g4 17. Nd4 h5 18. Nb5 f6 19. Bd4 Ne6 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21.
Nb5 Rxa2 22. Bc3 Kf7 23. Rcd1 Bc6 24. f3 Bc5 25. Kh1 Bxe3 26. Nd6+ Kg8 27. fxg4
Nf4 28. Nf5 Nxe2 29. Nxe3 Nxc3 30. bxc3 hxg4 31. Rd4 f5 32. Kg1 Bb5 33. Rb1 Bc6
34. Rf1 Bb5 35. Rb1 Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2822"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3
g6 15. Nd2 c6 16. Nf3 Ng7 17. Qe2 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Re1 Ng7 20. Ne5 Bxe5
21. Qxe5 f6 22. Qe7 Qxe7 23. Rxe7 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Ke2 h5 27.
a4 g5 28. Bb8 a6 29. h3 Ng7 30. a5 Kg6 31. g4 f5 32. f3 Ne6 33. b4 Nd8 34. Bc7
Nf7 35. Kf2 hxg4 36. hxg4 Kf6 37. Kg3 Ke6 38. Bb8 Nh6 39. Kh3 fxg4+ 40. fxg4
Ng8 41. Ba7 Nf6 42. Bc5 Ne4 43. Kg2 Nxc3 44. Kf3 Ne4 45. Kg2 Nf6 46. Kf3 Kd7
47. Kg3 Kc7 48. Kf3 Ne4 49. Bb6+ Kd7 50. Bc5 Nd6 51. Ke3 Kc7 52. Bb6+ Kc8 53.
Bc5 Nc4+ 54. Ke2 Kd7 55. Kd3 Ke6 56. Ke2 Kf6 57. Kf3 Nd2+ 58. Ke2 Ne4 59. Ke3
Kg6 60. Ke2 Nf6 61. Kf3 Kf7 62. Kg3 Ke6 63. Kf3 Kf7 64. Kg3 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 $5 {At this level this daring move is not very
common.} 4. dxc5 e6 5. a3 {Preparing to gain queenside space with b2-b4, Bb2
and finally c2-c4.} ({More popular alternatives are} 5. Be3 Nd7 6. Bb5 {
Postny,E (2497)-Erenburg,S (2494) Tel Aviv 2002 CBM 093 [Postny,E] (1-0, 55)})
({and} 5. Nf3 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O f6 8. Qe2 (8. exf6 {helped Black's
development in Erenburg,S (2475)-Yevseev,D (2546) Alushta 2002 CBM 092 [Lukacs]
(0-1, 16)}) 8... fxe5 9. Nxe5 Nf6 {Smirnov,P (2539)-Kornev,A (2567) Krasnodar
2002 CBM 091 [Lukacs] (1-0, 66)}) 5... Bxc5 6. Nf3 ({Usually White plays} 6. b4
{but in most cases it transposes to the game.}) 6... Ne7 7. Bd3 Ng6 8. O-O Nc6
9. b4 Bb6 10. Bb2 {Black has developed his minor pieces apparently comfortably,
but his main problem remains the lack of space. Undermining e5 is not simple
at all.} Nf4 ({The main alternative is playing on the queenside with} 10... O-O
11. Re1 a5 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2702)-Andreikin,D (2706) Nizhnij Novgorod 2013
CBM 157 [Friedel,J] (1-0, 36)}) 11. c4 Nxd3 {Abstractly speaking this looks
like a concession as it does not cause White wasting time.} ({But if} 11... O-O
{the critical move is} 12. c5 {gaining even more space. In some games White
moved with his queen which obviously yielded Black an extra tempo after the
exchange on d3 with respect to our main game.} Bc7 (12... Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Bc7 {
allows} 14. b5 Ne7 15. a4 $16 {putting Black in a very passive position.}) 13.
Re1 ({With the knight on f4 still, the same plan does not work:} 13. b5 $2 Nxe5
14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Qg5 $17) ({But} 13. Bc2 $5 {may be an improvement.})
13... f6 14. exf6 {Ducarmon,Q (2487)-Mithil,A (2258) Pune 2014 (1-0, 53)} e5 $5
15. fxg7 Rf7 {with tremenduous initiative.}) 12. Qxd3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Ne7 $146 {
Things will turn bad for Black very soon after this novelty. Hard to guess
what went wrong in Topalov's preparation.} (13... O-O 14. Nc3 Nd4 (14... Ne7 {
is more passive:} 15. Rad1 Nd5 16. Qg4 {with strong pressure in Istratescu,A 
(2654)-Grachev,B (2688) Basel 2013 (1/2-1/2, 69)}) 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Qe2 Qh4
17. Rad1 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ {In Smirnov,I (2496)-Sharapov,E (2427) Evpatoria 2008 
(1-0, 23) Black should have played} Qxd8 {preparing to complete the queenside
development:} 19. Rd1 Bd7 {with chances to equalize.}) 14. Nc3 Bd7 (14... O-O {
would transpose to the less favourable game above.}) 15. Qg4 {[%cal Gc3e4,
Gg4g7] White has not done anything special and yet Black has some problems.}
Bc6 {This must have been the key move in Topalov's preparation, but then he
must have overlooked Karjakin's 17th move.} (15... O-O 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Ne4 $16
) 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Ng5 $1 {A typical pawn sacrifice. Due to the threat Nce4
Black needs accepting it but this will clear the long diagonal and the e-file.}
({Pawn grabbing would justify Black's idea:} 17. Qxg7 $2 Rg8 18. Qf6 Nf5 {
The king is under pressure and the queen isimmobile.}) 17... Qxe5 18. b5 {
Just that simple. The bishop does not have good squares.} h5 {A desperate
intermediate move failing to change the evaluation. of the position as joyless.
} (18... Bd5 19. Nxd5 Qxb2 20. Nxe6 $18) (18... Bd7 19. Rxd7 Kxd7 20. Nxf7 $18)
(18... h6 {may have been the lesser evil:} 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Na4
h5 22. Qc4 Qf5 (22... Qb5 23. Qc3 Qg5 24. Rd3 $16) 23. Rde1 $16 {[%cal Ge1e5]
with strong attack in both cases. Black's extra pawn is not relevant and he is
poorly coordinated while the King is vulnerable.}) ({Finally, the pawn is
absolutely taboo:} 18... Bxb5 $2 19. Nxb5 Qxb2 20. Nd6+ Kf8 21. Ngxf7 Rg8 22.
Ng5 $18) 19. Qh4 Bxb5 $2 {Even now the pawn is not edible.} ({Black could have
hang on for a while with} 19... Ng6 20. Qg3 Bd7 21. Nxf7 Qxg3 22. hxg3 O-O 23.
Nd6 $16 {His structure is awful and White's knights are very strong, but at
least he will not get mated.}) 20. Rfe1 {Winning an important tempo for
preparing the decisive blow on e6.} Qf5 21. Nxb5 Qxb5 22. Bxg7 Nf5 (22... Rg8
23. Ne4 $18 {[%cal Ge4f6,Ge4d6]}) 23. Nxe6 $1 {Not the only winning move but
the most elegant.} fxe6 (23... Nxh4 24. Nc7#) 24. Rxe6+ Kf7 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26.
Bxh8 {White has a decisive material advantage and as if this was not enough, a
continuing attack.} Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 {The bishop was entirely edible, of course,
but why to expose the king. Somewhere around this move Topalov missed the
right moment to resign.} Qa4 28. Red6 Rf8 29. Qg6+ Kxh8 30. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bf6 8. Qc2
Nxd2 9. Qxd2 {Delaying castling in this system was advocated by Karpov in his
best years. It could help by creating kingside threats, or allow White to
castle long after stabilising the queenside.} d6 10. h4 $146 {This thematic
move is usually played after the centre is blocked, but in this position is a
novelty.} ({The main move is} 10. d5 {Topalov had tried it a few years earlier.
} Bxc3 ({An old Karpov game went} 10... O-O 11. Nd4 e5 12. Nc6 Qd7 13. Nxb8
Rfxb8 14. h4 a5 15. a4 Rf8 16. e4 h5 17. O-O-O {with one-sided play in Karpov,
A (2760)-Jussupow,A (2630) Tilburg 1993 CBM 039 [Dautov] (1-0, 57)}) 11. Qxc3
O-O 12. Nd2 Re8 13. e3 c5 14. O-O exd5 15. cxd5 Nd7 {Topalov,V (2784)-Grischuk,
A (2789) Bilbao 2014 CBM 163 [Stohl,I] (½-½, 74), with satisfactory play for
Black.}) 10... Nd7 11. Rd1 {With the centre still flexible White gives up the
plan of castling long, but keeps his king in the centre to inhibit ...g7-g6 in
view of h4-h5. The last move takes measures against the breaks with ...e6-e5
and ...c7-c5, but may prove useful if White plays d4-d5.} O-O 12. Qc2 {[%csl
Rb7,Rh7][%cal Gf3g5,Gf6g5,Gh4g5] Threatening to win a piece with 13.Ng5 Bxg5
14.hxg5.} c6 $5 {Timman,J (2625)-Polugaevsky,L (2625) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee
1979 (8) 0-1 A flexible move, parrying the threat and preparing a slow
expansion with ...a7-a6 and ...b6-b5, but keeping other options as well. It
reminds me of} (12... Rb8 {allows the slight kingside weakening:} 13. Ng5 g6
14. Bxb7 Rxb7 15. Nf3 {[%cal Ge1f1,Gf1g2,Gh4h5]}) (12... Re8 {is less
committal but also less ambitious than the text:} 13. e4 (13. Ng5 $2 Bxg2 14.
Qxh7+ Kf8 $19) 13... e5 14. d5 a5 {This structure is typical for the whole
variation, but having delayed castling helps, as Bh3 and h4-h5 make part of
White's general plan. The king could later go to g2.}) 13. e4 Qc7 14. Ng5 {
[%csl Gh7][%cal Ge4e5]} e5 15. d5 h6 16. Nf3 a6 {Black consequently carries
out his plan, while White is a bit behind in development due to the time
losses caused by the queen and knight.} 17. dxc6 {The start of an ambitious
plan.} (17. O-O b5 $5 (17... cxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 b5 20. Rc1 {offers
White chances for an advantage due to his control on the light squares:} Nb6
21. Rdd1 Qxc4 (21... bxc4 22. Nd2 Rac8 23. Bh3 $16) (21... Nxc4 $2 22. b3 $18)
22. Qxc4 Nxc4 23. b3 Na5 24. Rxd6 $36) 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. Nd5 Bd8 $11) 17...
Qxc6 18. Bf1 $5 {It takes guts to play such a move with the king in the centre.
Topalov obviously wanted to prevent ...b6-b5.} (18. Qd3 b5 19. Qxd6 Nc5 20.
Qxc6 Bxc6 $44 {[%csl Gc4,Ge1,Ge4]}) 18... Rfc8 $6 {Slightly inaccurate.} ({
Black should have hurried to transfer the knight closer to the d4-square.} 
18... Nc5 19. b4 ({The same plan as indicated below leads to fiasco:} 19. g4
Bd8 20. g5 h5 21. g6 fxg6 {[%csl Gd4,Gf4][%cal Gf8f3,Gc5e6]}) 19... Ne6 $11)
19. a4 ({Missing the chance to take over the initiative with} 19. g4 $5 Bd8 20.
g5 h5 21. g6 $5 ({The more neutral} 21. Bh3 g6 22. Qd2 Be7 23. Qe3 {also looks
promising.}) 21... fxg6 22. Bh3 $36) 19... Nc5 20. Nd2 Ne6 21. Qb1 Nd4 22. Bh3
Rf8 23. Rc1 $2 {White wastes too much time. He probably wanted to inhibit ...
b6-b5, but it would have been more important to prepare to exchange the
central knight:} (23. Qd3 $1 Bd8 24. O-O f5 ({Of course, Black could play
solidly with, say,} 24... Qc5 {but then he would not have chances for an
advantage.}) 25. Nf3 $1 {In the game White will not have this resource.} Nb3 (
25... Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 $16 fxe4 $2 27. Be6+) 26. Qxd6 Nd4 27. Rxd4 (27. Qxc6
Nxf3+ 28. Kg2 Nxh4+ 29. gxh4 Bxc6 30. Rd6 $13) 27... exd4 28. Qxc6 Bxc6 29.
Nxd4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 fxe4 31. Be6+ Kh8 32. Bd5 Rc8 33. b3 $44) 23... Bd8 24. O-O
f5 $1 ({The other thematic break clears space for White's pieces:} 24... b5 25.
axb5 axb5 26. cxb5 Nxb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb5 28. Nc4 Bc7 29. Rfd1 $11) 25. Kh2 f4 {
Black has excellent attacking chances while White has no constructive idea.} (
25... g5 $5) 26. Qd3 Kh8 (26... Qe8 $5 {[%cal Ge8h5]}) 27. b3 Bc8 28. Bxc8 Qxc8
29. Ne2 Nxe2 30. Qxe2 {White has exchanged the active knight but this does not
make his king's situation safer.} Ra7 $1 {A thematic way of connecting rooks.}
31. Rc3 b5 ({Playing on two wings but the immediate} 31... Raf7 {was also
strong.}) 32. Rd3 bxa4 33. bxa4 Raf7 34. Rxd6 Bxh4 $1 35. Rd5 (35. gxh4 f3 36.
Qe3 Rf4 $19) 35... f3 $2 {Since Black will not be able to deliver mate on g2,
the last move reduces his attacking potential.} (35... Qe6 $1 36. a5 Be7 $17 {
Pawns are equal but Black is better regrouped and the white king is weak.
Curiously, the permanent threat of ...fxg3+ is likely to put White in zugzwang
with a lot of pieces on board!!} 37. c5 Kh7 $3 {Alekhine,A-Nimzowitsch,A San
Remo 1930 (3) 1-0 Creating the zugzwang. Compare with the famous} (37... fxg3+
{is premature.} 38. fxg3 Rxf1 39. Nxf1 Qf6 40. Kg2 $11) 38. Qd1 fxg3+ 39. fxg3
Rxf1 40. Nxf1 Qf6 $19) 36. Qd3 Qg4 37. Rh1 Bg5 38. c5 (38. Rxe5 $5) 38... Rb8 (
38... Bxd2 39. Qxd2 Qxe4 40. Re1 Qxa4 41. Rdxe5 $44 {The extra pawn is not
significant and the c-pawn is strong.}) 39. Nc4 Rfb7 $6 ({Black could have
strengthened his attack with} 39... Bf4 $1 {requiring from White a long series
of only moves to save the game:} 40. Rd8+ ({Black's idea is revealed after} 40.
Nb6 $2 Bxg3+ 41. fxg3 Qh5+ 42. Kg1 f2+ 43. Kg2 Qxh1+ 44. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 45. Qxf1
Rxf1+ 46. Kg2 Rc1 $17) 40... Rxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kh7 42. Nd6 $1 {[%cal Gd8c8]} (42.
c6 $2 Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Qxe4 $19) 42... Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Rf6 {[%cal Gg4h5]} (43...
Qh5+ 44. Qh4) 44. Qc8 $1 Qg5 45. Nc4 {[%csl Gd2,Ge3] It is Black's turn to
find a way of forcing a draw.} Rf4 {[%cal Gf4e4,Gf4h4]} 46. Ne3 Rf6 47. Nc4 $11
{with a draw by repetition.}) 40. Nb6 Rxb6 $2 {Black will not get enough
compensation for the exchange.} (40... Bf4 {would still have kept White under
pressure and probably maintained even chances. For instance} 41. Qf1 (41. Qxa6
Qh5+ 42. Kg1 Qg6 $11 {[%csl Ge4]}) 41... Qg6 42. gxf4 Qxe4 $44 {[%csl Gd5,Gh2]}
) 41. cxb6 Rxb6 42. Rxe5 Bh4 43. Qc3 Rg6 44. Qe1 $18 {White's position is not
too harmonious but he has parried the threats keeping a clear extra exchange
and a dangerous passed pawn.} Bg5 45. Rf5 Rd6 46. Rf8+ Kh7 47. e5 Rd3 48. e6
Be7 49. Rf4 Qh5+ 50. Kg1 Qd5 51. Qe4+ Qxe4 52. Rxe4 Kg6 53. Kh2 Rd2 54. Rf1 Kf5
55. Re3 Kg4 56. Kg1 g5 57. Rc1 Ra2 58. Kf1 Rxa4 59. Rc7 Bb4 60. Rc4+ (60. Rc4+
Kf5 61. Rxb4 Rxb4 62. e7) 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 {The Fischer-Sozin
Attack is not seen a lot these days.} e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. Bg5 $5 {A bit of fresh
air, although it has been studied and played before.} ({There's just too much
theory in} 8. O-O) 8... Be7 (8... b4 9. Na4 Nbd7 10. f4 Qa5 {is one
interesting, albeit much riskier, line}) 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. e5 Bb7 11. exd6 Bxd6
12. Qe3 Bc5 13. O-O-O Nc6 {The key position.} 14. Bxf6 (14. Qxe6+ $3 {was the
bombshell of 2008, courtesy of Vassily Ivanchuk.} fxe6 15. Nxe6 {Here his
opponent, Sergey Karjakin chose} Qe5 {which is OK} ({later} 15... Bd6 {was
found more reliable:} 16. Rhe1 Kd7 17. Nxc7 Kxc7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nd5+ Kb8 20.
Nb6 Bf4+ 21. Kb1 Ra7 22. Nd7+ Ka8 23. Nb6+ {Karjakin-Gashimov, 2010.}) 16.
Nxg7+ Kf8 17. Ne6+ Kf7 (17... Ke7 18. Rhe1 Bxf2 19. Rxe5 Nxe5 20. Ng7 Nc4 $11)
18. Rhe1 {but made a terrible mistake here} Qxe1 $4 ({still} 18... Bxf2 {
was the move.}) 19. Nxc5+ Kg6 20. Rxe1 Kxg5 21. Nxb7) 14... gxf6 15. Nd5 Qe5
16. Qxe5 Nxe5 17. Nc7+ Ke7 18. Nxa8 Bxg2 {Guess what, this whole thing has
been known to theory.} 19. Rhe1 $1 {A novelty and the improvement.} ({On the
previosly played} 19. Rhg1 Bxa8 20. Rg7 $15 {Fernandez Cardoso-Hernandez
Carmenates, 2011}) 19... Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Nf3 21. Rxe6+ fxe6 22. Rg4 Rxa8 23. Rxg2
Kf7 24. Rg3 Nd4 25. Rh3 Kg6 26. Rg3+ Kf7 27. Rh3 Kg6 28. Rg3+ Kf7 {It is not
the first game of Radjabov's in this tournament that followed a theoretical
path to a forced draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 9. c3 Na5 10. Ba2 bxa4 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Re1 c5 13. Bb1 Qc7 14. Bc2 c4 15.
Nxc4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Qxc4 17. Bxa4 Be6 18. Nd2 Qc7 19. Bb3 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 Rfb8 21.
Qc4 Qb7 22. Qe2 Qb5 23. Nc4 Rc8 24. Ne3 Qxe2 25. Rxe2 g6 26. Ra4 Rc5 27. Rc2
Rac8 28. Kf1 a5 29. Rd2 Kf8 30. Rd1 Ke8 31. f3 h5 32. Ke2 Kd7 33. Bd2 Ke6 34.
Be1 Rb8 35. b4 axb4 36. cxb4 Rc6 37. Rda1 d5 38. Ra6 Rd6 39. R1a5 dxe4 40. Nc4
exf3+ 41. gxf3 Rxa6 42. Rxa6+ Kf5 43. Ra5 Ke6 44. Rxe5+ Kd7 45. b5 Bd8 46. Bh4
Bc7 47. Bxf6 Bxe5 48. Nxe5+ Kd6 49. Bh4 Rb7 50. Bg3 Ke6 51. Nc6 Kd5 52. Nd8
Rxb5 53. Nxf7 Ke6 54. Nd8+ Kd7 55. Nf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. Nxd4 Qh4 14. Nf3 Qh5
15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 b6 19. Rd1 Bb7 20. Bb3 Rad8 21.
Be3 Be7 22. Rd3 Nxd5 23. Rad1 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rd8 27.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bxf7 g5 29. f4 gxf4 30. exf4 Kg7 31. Bd5 Bc7 32. Kg2 Bxf4 33. h3
Kf6 34. Kf3 Be5 35. b3 a5 36. a4 Bd6 37. Ke4 Be5 38. Kf3 Bd6 39. Ke4 Be5 40.
Kf3 Bd6 41. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 Bc5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e3 a6 6. Nge2 Ba7 7. b3 Nge7 8. Bb2
h5 9. h4 Bg4 10. d3 Qd7 11. Qd2 Rb8 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Ne4 f6 14. N2c3 Nd8 15. Nd5
Ng6 16. Ba3 Ne6 17. f3 Bf5 18. O-O Kh8 19. Qe2 Rbd8 20. Kh2 Nc5 21. Rcd1 c6 22.
Ndc3 b5 23. d4 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Qe6 25. dxe5 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Nxe5 27. Qxh5+ Kg8 28.
Bh3 Qf7 29. Qxf7+ Nxf7 30. cxb5 axb5 31. Rc1 Bc5 32. Bxc5 dxc5 33. Be6 Rfe8 34.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Rxc5 Rxe4 36. Rf2 Rxe3 37. Rxc6 Rdd3 38. Rg2 Kg6 39. Rc5 Re5 40.
Rxe5 fxe5 41. Rf2 e4 42. Kg2 b4 43. g4 Rc3 44. Re2 e3 45. Kf3 Kf6 46. Kf4 g5+
47. hxg5+ Kg6 48. Rxe3 Rc1 49. Re6+ Kg7 50. Re4 Rf1+ 51. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Rb1 Nc6 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Qa4 Qd7 10. d4 Nxd4 11. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Bxd7 13. Rxb7 Bxc3+ 14.
Bd2 Be5 15. Bf4 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Rab8 17. Rxc7 Be6 18. Rxa7 Rb1+ 19. Kd2 Rb2+ 20.
Kc3 Rxa2 21. Rxa2 Bxa2 22. Ra1 Be6 23. Kd2 Rd8+ 24. Ke3 Kg7 25. Be4 Rc8 26. f3
Rc4 27. Bd3 Rc5 28. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2832"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 e6 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bg3 Nge7 7. Bd3 h6 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. O-O Nf5 11. Bxf5 exf5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Qd3 Be6 14. Rfd1 Qf6
15. Qb5 Qe7 16. a4 Rfc8 17. a5 Bd8 18. a6 Bb6 19. axb7 Qxb7 20. Nc5 Qe7 21. Nd3
g5 22. Nde5 Nd8 23. h4 f6 24. Nd3 Nc6 25. Ra6 Qe8 26. Rda1 f4 27. exf4 g4 28.
f5 Bxf5 29. Nd2 Qf7 30. Nf4 Ne7 31. Re1 Re8 32. c4 Rad8 33. c5 Bd7 34. Qb4 Nc6
35. Rxe8+ Rxe8 36. Qc3 d4 37. Qc1 Bd8 38. Nc4 Bc7 39. Nd6 Bxd6 40. cxd6 d3 41.
Nxd3 Nd4 42. Nf4 Bb5 43. Ra3 a6 44. Kh2 Nf5 45. Qc7 Nd4 46. Rc3 Ne6 47. Nxe6
Qxe6 48. Bf4 Qf5 49. Kg3 h5 50. Rc5 Qd3+ 51. Kh2 Qg6 52. d7 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 e4 8. Ne5
f5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qc2 Qd7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bf4 c6 14. Rfc1 Bb7
15. e3 a5 16. h4 Rfc8 17. Qd1 Ba6 18. Rc2 a4 19. Rac1 Bd3 20. Rc3 Bb5 21. Bf1
Bb4 22. R3c2 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 Ra6 24. Kg2 h6 25. Rb1 Kh7 26. b3 a3 27. Rbc1 Qe6
28. Qh5 Rb6 29. Be5 Ra6 30. Qe2 Raa8 31. Bf4 Ra5 32. Qd1 Qd7 33. Qe2 Qe6 34.
Qd1 Qd7 35. Qe2 Qe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Rd1 b5 9. e5 Nfd7 10. d4 a6 11. Nb1 c5 12. c3 Nc6 13. Qg4 g6 14. Bh6 Qb6 15.
Na3 b4 16. Nc2 bxc3 17. bxc3 Qb2 18. Rac1 Qxc3 19. Ne3 Qa3 20. Bf3 Nxd4 21.
Bxd5 Rd8 22. Nc4 Qa4 23. Bf3 Rb8 24. Rxd4 cxd4 25. Qxd4 Qb5 26. Rd1 Rd8 27. a4
Qc5 28. Qe4 Rc8 29. Rc1 Rb8 30. Qd3 Rd8 31. Nd6+ Bxd6 32. Rxc5 Bxc5 33. Bc6 g5
34. Bxg5 Be7 35. Be3 a5 36. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. Be2 d4 8.
Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bd5 10. O-O Nc6 11. a3 a5 12. Bf4 a4 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Bg3 O-O
15. Rc1 Qd7 16. Bg4 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qc2 Rfc8 19. Rce1 Na5 20. Re4 c5 21.
Nc4 Qc6 22. Nd6 Rf8 23. Rg4 b5 24. h3 Nb3 25. Qe2 Kh8 26. Re1 Rab8 27. Bh4 Qd7
28. Qe4 Nd2 29. Qe2 Nb3 30. Rd1 Na5 31. Qe4 Nc6 32. Bxe7 Nxe7 33. Rc1 Qa7 34.
Rh4 Nf5 35. Nxf5 exf5 36. Qc6 Qe7 37. Rf4 Qxe5 38. g3 Rfc8 39. Qd7 Rf8 40. h4
g6 41. Qa7 Rfc8 42. Kh2 Qd6 43. h5 Qc6 44. Qe7 Qc7 45. Qe6 Rb6 46. Qd5 Kg7 47.
Rxd4 Qe7 48. Qd7 Qxd7 49. Rxd7+ Kh6 50. hxg6 Kxg6 51. Kg2 c4 52. dxc4 bxc4 53.
Rd4 Rbc6 54. Rc3 h5 55. Kh3 Kg5 56. Rf4 Rc5 57. Kg2 R8c7 58. Kf1 Rc8 59. Kg2
R8c7 60. Kh2 Rc8 61. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 g6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be3
Bg4 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Ne5 12. Qb3 c5 13. f4 c4 14. Qc2 Nd3+ 15.
Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 Rc8 17. Bd4 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Nc4 19. b3 Nd6 20. O-O Qd7 21. Qe3
Rc7 22. Ne2 Rfc8 23. f3 Qh3 24. Rf2 Rc2 25. a4 a6 26. Raf1 h5 27. Kh1 Rb2 28.
f5 Rcc2 29. Rg1 Nxf5 30. exf5 Qxf5 31. Rfg2 Qxd5 32. Qf4 Kh7 33. Rg5 Qe6 34.
Qd4 Qf6 35. Rxh5+ gxh5 36. Qd3+ Kh6 37. Qe3+ Kh7 38. Qd3+ Kh6 39. Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 Qb6 6. Nb3 a5 7. d3 a4 8. N3d2 d5
9. dxe4 dxe4 10. e3 Bg4 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Bb4 13. Ndxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4+ Be6
15. O-O O-O 16. Qh4 Ne5 17. Nd5 cxd5 18. cxd5 Bg4 19. f4 Be2 20. fxe5 Bxf1 21.
Bxf1 Qc5 22. Qd4 Rfd8 23. d6 Qa5 24. Kg2 Rac8 25. Bd3 g6 26. Be4 Rd7 27. Bd3
Re8 28. a3 Be1 29. b4 axb3 30. Bb2 Qd2+ 31. Kh3 Re6 32. Bb5 Rd8 33. Rd1 Qf2 34.
Qf4 Qxb2 35. Bc4 Qxe5 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. d4 e6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. e5 Nfd7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
c5 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Qg3 Ncxe5 11. Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 Nc6 13. Be3 Qa5 14. a3 Qd8 15.
O-O h5 16. Rfe1 h4 17. Qg4 Nf6 18. Qg5 Rh5 19. Qf4 Be7 20. Rad1 Kf8 21. Bxc6
bxc6 22. Bd4 Kg8 23. b4 Nd7 24. Na4 Rf5 25. Qh2 a5 26. Nb2 axb4 27. axb4 e5 28.
Be3 Bf6 29. b5 d4 30. bxc6 Nxc5 31. c7 Qc8 32. Bc1 Ne6 33. g4 hxg3 34. fxg3
Qxc7 35. Qg2 Rc8 36. g4 Rg5 37. Bxg5 Bxg5 38. Nd3 Be3+ 39. Kh1 Qxc2 40. Qxc2
Rxc2 41. Nxe5 Ng5 42. Rxe3 dxe3 43. Re1 f6 44. h4 Ne4 45. Nd3 Ng3+ 46. Kg1 Ne2+
47. Kf1 Ng3+ 48. Kg1 Rc4 49. Kg2 Rxg4 50. Kh3 Rg6 51. Rg1 Rh6 52. Rxg3 g5 53.
Rxe3 Rxh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Bb3 Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Qe2 Nc5
15. Rfd1 h6 16. Qe3 Nxb3 17. axb3 Ne7 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nxe5 Qc7 20. Nec4 Rbd8
21. Qg3 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 Qc6 23. h3 d5 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Qf3 Rfe8 26. Na5 Qf6 27.
Nxb7 Qxf3 28. gxf3 Rb8 29. Rxd5 Rxb7 30. Rxa6 Re2 31. Rc6 Rbe7 32. Kg2 Re1 33.
h4 Rb1 34. h5 Rxb2 35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rdd8 g5 37. Rh8+ Kg7 38. Rcg8+ Kf6 39.
Rxh6+ Kf5 40. Rc6 Rb1 41. Rc5+ Kf6 42. Rgxg5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 a6 4. Qc2 g6 5. e4 dxe4 6. Qxe4 Bg7 7. Nc3 Nh6 8. Bg5
Nf5 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. g4 Nd6 11. Qe3 Nf6 12. h3 h5 13. gxh5 Rxh5 14. h4 Bg4 15.
Be2 Nf5 16. Qd3 b5 17. Rhg1 bxc4 18. Qxc4 Nd6 19. Qa4 Qc8 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Rxg4 Qxg4 22. Qxc6+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. Bd3
O-O 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. f4 f5 13. g3 Rd8 14. h3 Nxe3 15.
Bxe3 d4 16. Bd2 dxc3 17. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 18. Qxc3 c5 19. O-O-O b6 20. g4 Bb7 21.
Rhg1 Qh4 22. Bc2 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Qf2 24. Qg3 Qxa2 25. Qc3 Qf2 26. Qg3 Qd4 27.
gxf5 Qa1+ 28. Kd2 Rd8+ 29. Ke2 Qb2+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd3 Be6 11. Nd5 Rc8 12. c3 a6 13. Re1 Nd7 14. a4 Ne5
15. Qd1 Re8 16. h3 Nc4 17. Kh2 Bd7 18. Re2 b5 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Rc2 e6 21. Ne3
Rb8 22. b3 Ne5 23. c4 Bc6 24. Ra3 Qc7 25. Bb2 Qb7 26. f4 Nd7 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28.
Qxd6 Rbd8 29. Qd4+ Kg8 30. Ng4 e5 31. fxe5 Nxe5 32. Nf6+ Kh8 33. Qe3 Re6 34.
Nd5 Kg7 35. Qc3 f6 36. Rca2 Be8 37. b4 Rc8 38. c5 Bb5 39. Rf2 Rf8 40. Raa2 h5
41. Rf4 Qb8 42. Raf2 Nd7 43. h4 Qe5 44. Bh3 Qxc3 45. Nxc3 Re7 46. Nxb5 axb5 47.
Bf1 Ne5 48. Rc2 Rd8 49. Kg2 Rd4 50. Rb2 Rb7 51. Rff2 Rxe4 52. Rfe2 Rd4 53. Red2
Re4 54. Be2 f5 55. Rdc2 f4 56. gxf4 Rxf4 57. c6 Rc7 58. Rc5 Kf6 59. Bxb5 Rxh4
60. Ba4 Rg4+ 61. Kf1 Nd3 62. Rcc2 Nxb2 63. Rxb2 Rc4 64. Bb5 R4xc6 65. Bxc6 Rxc6
66. Kg2 Ke5 67. b5 Rb6 68. Kg3 g5 69. Rh2 Rh6 70. b6 Kd6 71. Rb2 Rh8 72. b7 Rb8
73. Rb5 Kc6 74. Rxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. b3 Bd6 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Bb2 Re8 10. d3 Bf8 11. Rc1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Ne4 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4
15. g4 Bg6 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Rxc5 c6 18. Qd2 Qe7 19. Rc2 Rad8 20. Qf4 Qd6 21.
Qxd6 Rxd6 22. Bf3 f6 23. a4 Bf7 24. Ba3 Rd7 25. Rb1 Bd5 26. a5 Bxf3 27. axb6
Bd5 28. Bc5 a6 29. f3 h5 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. b4 Rh8 32. Rg1 hxg4 33. hxg4 Rh2+ 34.
Kg3 Rh8 35. Rcc1 Rdd8 36. Rh1 Rhe8 37. Kf2 Re6 38. Rh2 Bb3 39. Ke1 Re5 40. Kd2
Ba4 41. Rc4 Red5 42. Rh5 R5d7 43. Rc1 Bb5 44. Rf5 Rd5 45. Rf4 R8d7 46. Re4 Ba4
47. f4 Bb3 48. Ra1 f5 49. gxf5 Rxf5 50. Rg1 g6 51. Rg5 Be6 52. Rxf5+ gxf5 53.
Rxd4 Rxd4 54. Bxd4 Bd5 55. Bc5 Ke6 56. Kc3 Bg2 57. Kd4 Bf1 58. e4 Be2 59. Ke3
Bf1 60. Bf8 Bg2 61. Kd4 Bf1 62. Bg7 Be2 63. Bh6 Bg4 64. Kc5 Bh3 65. Bg5 Bg4 66.
Bh4 Bh3 67. Bg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. Ne5 Bd7 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8.
d4 e6 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Ne4 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. a3 a6 15.
Bd3 Qe7 16. f4 Rfc8 17. Qd1 Rc7 18. b3 Rac8 19. Bb2 a5 20. g4 Ne8 21. g5 Ng7
22. Qe2 Nf5 23. Nf3 Qf8 24. Qd2 Qe7 25. Rfe1 Qf8 26. Kh1 Be7 27. e4 dxe4 28.
Bxe4 Rd8 29. d5 exd5 30. Bxf5 gxf5 31. Nh4 d4 32. Nxf5 Bc5 33. Qd3 b6 34. Re4
f6 35. Re6 fxg5 36. fxg5 Kh8 37. Rf1 Qg8 38. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 Ne7 5. Bg2 d6 6. d3 c5 7. a3 Nbc6 8. Rb1 Be6
9. b4 Qd7 10. Nf3 h6 11. bxc5 dxc5 12. Nd5 g5 13. O-O O-O 14. Be3 b6 15. h4 g4
16. Nh2 h5 17. Rb2 Nd4 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. f4 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Rac8 21. Rbf2 exf4
22. Rxf4 Qd6 23. Nxg4 hxg4 24. Qxg4 Ng6 25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Qxc8+ Rf8 27. Rxf8+
Qxf8 28. Qe6+ Qf7 29. Qc8+ Qf8 30. Qe6+ Qf7 31. Qc8+ Nf8 32. Bh3 Qf3 33. Qb8
Qe3+ 34. Kg2 Qd2+ 35. Kh1 Qxd3 36. Be6+ Kh8 37. Bf5 Qf3+ 38. Kh2 d3 39. Qf4
Qe2+ 40. Kh3 d2 41. Bg4 d1=Q 42. Bxe2 Qxe2 43. d6 Qd1 44. e5 Ng6 45. Qf5 Qh1+
46. Kg4 Nxe5+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B34"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. h3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8.
Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. f4 Rc8 11. Nb3 a6 12. Kb1 b5 13. Qe1 Qc7 14. Bd3 Nb4
15. Rc1 Nxd3 16. cxd3 Qb8 17. g4 b4 18. Ne2 a5 19. Qd2 a4 20. Nbd4 Qb7 21. Ng3
Rfd8 22. f5 Qa6 23. g5 Ne8 24. h4 a3 25. b3 Bb5 26. Rc4 d5 27. exd5 Rxd5 28.
Nxb5 Rxb5 29. fxg6 fxg6 30. Qc2 Rbb8 31. Ne4 Qe6 32. Bf4 Ra8 33. Re1 Qg4 34.
Bd2 Rxc4 35. Qxc4+ Kh8 36. Bxb4 Qxh4 37. Bc3 Bxc3 38. Qxc3+ Ng7 39. Rf1 e5 40.
Qxe5 Qh3 41. Qf6 Qxd3+ 42. Ka1 Qd8 43. b4 Qxf6+ 44. gxf6 Nf5 45. b5 Rb8 46. Nc3
Kg8 47. Rb1 Kf7 48. b6 Kxf6 49. Rb4 Ke5 50. Kb1 Nd6 51. Kc2 h5 52. Kb3 g5 53.
Na4 Nb7 54. Rb5+ Kf4 55. Rd5 h4 56. Rd7 h3 57. Rh7 g4 58. Kc4 Kg3 59. Kd5 h2
60. Nc3 Na5 61. Ne2+ Kg2 62. Nf4+ Kf3 63. Rxh2 Kxf4 64. Kc5 g3 65. Rh4+ Kf3 66.
Kb5 g2 67. Rh3+ Kf2 68. Rh2 Nb7 69. Kc6 Nd8+ 70. Kc7 Rb7+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.25"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 a5 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O d6
9. Rb1 Re8 10. e4 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nd4 13. Bg2 Nd7 14. Be3 c6 15. h4 h5
16. Bh3 Kh7 17. Kh2 Qe7 18. Ne2 Ne6 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Rf8 21. Ng1 Bh6 22.
Bxh6 Kxh6 23. Nf3 f5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. d4 e4 26. d5 exf3 27. dxe6 Ne5 28. c5
Rad8 29. Qc1+ Kg6 30. Qf4 Ng4+ 31. Kg1 dxc5 32. bxc5 Rd3 33. Rfe1 Kh7 34. Bxg4
hxg4 35. Re5 Rd5 36. Rxd5 cxd5 37. Qd6 Qg7 38. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "182"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 a5 8. Bg5
Ba7 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nh4 c6 12. Qh5 d5 13. Bb3 Ng6 14. Nf5 Kh8 15.
g3 Be6 16. Bd1 Ne7 17. Bg4 Bxf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Qxf5 Qe7 20. Nf3 Rg8 21. Kg2
Rad8 22. Rad1 Qe6 23. Nh4 Qxf5 24. Nxf5 Rd7 25. exd5 cxd5 26. d4 h5 27. Rfe1
Bb8 28. dxe5 fxe5 29. Rd2 Rgd8 30. Red1 Kh7 31. Kf3 Bc7 32. Ne3 d4 33. cxd4
exd4 34. Nc2 Be5 35. Ne1 Rc7 36. Nd3 Bf6 37. Re2 a4 38. a3 Rd5 39. Rdd2 Rc6 40.
Rc2 Rb6 41. Rc5 Rxc5 42. Nxc5 Rc6 43. Nd3 Kg7 44. Kg2 Kf8 45. f4 Bg7 46. g4
hxg4 47. hxg4 Rg6 48. Kg3 Rc6 49. g5 f6 50. Kg4 fxg5 51. fxg5 Rb6 52. Kf5 Kf7
53. Rc2 Rb5+ 54. Kg4 Rb3 55. Rf2+ Kg8 56. Rf3 Kh7 57. Rh3+ Kg8 58. Rf3 Kh7 59.
Rg3 Kg8 60. Kf5 Rb5+ 61. Ke6 Kh7 62. Rg2 Kg8 63. Nf4 Re5+ 64. Kd6 Re3 65. Nd5
Rf3 66. Kc5 Kf7 67. g6+ Ke6 68. Nb4 d3 69. Kc4 Kf5 70. Rd2 Kxg6 71. Nxd3 Rf5
72. Nc5 b6 73. Nd7 b5+ 74. Kb4 Kf7 75. Nc5 Bf8 76. Rc2 Kf6 77. Kxb5 Bxc5 78.
Rxc5 Rf2 79. Kxa4 Rxb2 80. Ka5 Ke6 81. a4 Kd6 82. Rb5 Ra2 83. Rb4 Kc6 84. Ka6
Ra1 85. a5 Kc7 86. Rb5 Rc1 87. Ka7 Rc2 88. a6 Rc1 89. Ka8 Kc8 90. a7 Kc7 91.
Rc5+ Rxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nb5 Na6 8.
a3 Bd7 9. c4 Qe5+ 10. Qe2 Qxe2+ 11. Bxe2 Bxb5 12. cxb5 Nc5 13. O-O Nd5 14. Nc4
Nb3 15. Rb1 Rc8 16. Rd1 Bc5 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bh4 Ke7 19. Bf1 Nb6 20. Nxb6 Bxb6
21. Rd3 Nd4 22. Bg3 e5 23. Kh1 Nf5 24. f4 Nxg3+ 25. Rxg3 g6 26. fxe5 fxe5 27.
Bd3 Bd4 28. Rf3 Rhf8 29. Rxf8 Rxf8 30. g3 Rf2 31. b3 Kd6 32. Re1 Rf3 33. Bc4
Kc5 34. Rc1 Rf2 35. Bd3+ Kd5 36. Bc4+ Kd6 37. Re1 g5 38. Re2 Rf3 39. Kg2 Rc3
40. Kh3 h5 41. Bf7 Be3 42. a4 e4 43. Bxh5 Ke5 44. Bf7 Kf5 45. Bd5 g4+ 46. Kg2
Ke5 47. Bxb7 Kd4 48. b4 Kd3 49. Ra2 Bd4 50. a5 Rc1 51. h3 gxh3+ 52. Kxh3 e3 53.
Bf3 Rb1 54. b6 Rxb4 55. b7 Be5 56. a6 Rb6 57. Ra5 Bb8 58. Rd5+ Kc4 59. Rd8 Be5
60. Kg4 Kc3 61. Kf5 Bxg3 62. Be2 Kc2 63. Ke4 Re6+ 64. Kf3 Bh2 65. b8=Q Rf6+ 66.
Kxe3 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nxe4 6. Qxe4 Qd5 7. Qh4 Qe6+
8. Be2 Qg4 9. Qg3 Qxg3 10. hxg3 g6 11. d4 Bg7 12. Bh6 Bf6 13. Ne5 Be6 14. O-O-O
Nd7 15. f4 Rg8 16. g4 Rd8 17. c4 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Nb6 19. b3 g5 20. Kc2 f6 21.
exf6 exf6 22. Kc3 Kf7 23. Rdf1 Rg6 24. Bd3 Bxg4 25. Bxg6+ Kxg6 26. Re1 Nc8 27.
c5 Rg8 28. a4 a5 29. b4 axb4+ 30. Kxb4 Rd8 31. Kc3 b6 32. Kc4 Bf5 33. Re3 Bc2
34. Bxg5 Kxg5 35. Rg3+ Kf5 36. Rxh7 Bxa4 37. Rh5+ Ke6 38. Re3+ Kf7 39. Rh7+ Kg6
40. Rc7 Bb5+ 41. Kc3 bxc5 42. dxc5 Kf5 43. g3 Kg6 44. Kb4 Rd4+ 45. Kc3 Rd8 46.
Kb4 Rd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxb2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 10. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qa3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:00:32]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 13. Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3 Qe7 15. Rxb7 Qd8 16. O-O
Rb8 17. Rxb8 Qxb8 18. f5 Qc8 19. f6 gxf6 20. Qf4 Qc4 21. exf6 Rg8 22. Nxd5 exd5
23. Re1+ Kd8 24. Qb8+ Bc8 25. Qa7 Be6 26. Bb6+ Kc8 27. Qa8+ Kd7 28. Qb7+ Kd6
29. Ba7 Rxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Qg4+ 31. Kh1 Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qf3+ {1/2-1/2 
(33) Caruana,F (2795)-Robson,R (2663) Saint Louis 2016}) 13... Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 14. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:02:07]} 15. Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:58]}
Qh4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. g3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Qg4 {[%emt 0:04:15] [#]} 17. O-O
$146 {[%emt 0:05:13]} (17. Nd1 Be7 18. Nf2 Qg6 19. Rc3 O-O 20. Bxd7 Bxd7 21.
Rc7 Bd8 22. Rxd7 Bxb6 23. Rxb7 Rab8 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. O-O h5 26. Kg2 Rc8 27.
Nd3 Qe4+ 28. Kh3 Be3 29. Qe2 Qf5+ 30. Kg2 d4 31. Rb1 g6 32. Rb2 a5 33. a4 Kg7
34. h3 Qe4+ 35. Qf3 Qxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Rc4 37. Ra2 g5 38. fxg5 Bxg5 39. h4 Be3 40.
Ke4 Kh6 41. Kf3 Kg7 42. Ke4 Kg6 43. Nf4+ Bxf4 44. gxf4 d3+ 45. Kxd3 Rxf4 46. c4
Kf5 {Grischuk,A (2763)-Morozevich,A (2770) Astana 2012 1-0}) 17... Be7 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 18. f5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:44]} 19. Rf4 {[%emt 0:
00:16]} Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 20. Rxg4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Bxd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
21. Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. f6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} 23. Nd1 {[%emt 0:02:13]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 24. c3 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} h5 {[%emt 0:04:20]} 25. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26.
Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 27. Rb2 {[%emt 0:01:06]} a4 {[%emt 0:
00:25]} 28. Rd3 {[%emt 0:01:22]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 29. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:21]}
Ba4 {[%emt 0:03:37]} 30. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 31. Bd4 {
[%emt 0:02:29]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. h4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:
32]} 33. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. Kf2 {[%emt 0:02:19]} Ke8
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 36. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 37. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} 38. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Ka6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
R8c7 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 40. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 41. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 42. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:
21]} 43. Kxg4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 44. cxb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Rxb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 45. Rxb4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Kg5 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 47. h5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} gxh5 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 48. Kxh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
Rh1+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 51. Rg2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 52. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 53. Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 54. Rxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Be2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 55. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 56. Rc2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 57. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 58. Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 59. Rxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Rxa2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 60. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 61. Rd2 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} a2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 62. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 63. Rc2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 64. Rd2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 65. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 66. Rf3+ {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 67. Re3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 68. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Re1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2832"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5 10. e4 c6 11. Bf4 Nac4 12. Qe2 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 cxd5
15. exd5 {A fairly common Grünfeld structure.} Re8 (15... Nd6 {Carlsen-Wei Yi,
2016}) 16. Rac1 e5 $2 {An unfortunate idea. Helping White's Bf3 into the game
is not recommended.} 17. dxe6 Rxe6 18. Qc2 g5 19. Rfd1 Qe7 20. Bd2 Rd8 ({
The only way to justify g6-g5 seemed} 20... Nxd2 21. Qxd2 {but in a few moves,}
Re5 22. Kg2 Rf8 23. b3 f5 24. a4 a5 {the game would turn into a typical
Carlsen endgame. I wouldn't rate Black's chances of survival too
optimistically.} 25. Qd6 $16) 21. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 22. Qxc4 Red6 23. Re1 Qf6 24. Qg4
h6 25. Rc8 $1 Bf8 26. Bxd5 ({Magnus didn't seem to trust} 26. Re8 Rxc8 27. Qxc8
Qxf3 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29. Rh8 Rg6 {although White stands better after} 30. Rg8+
Kh7 31. Re8 Qd1+ 32. Be1 {as Black's problems with his king seem permanent.})
26... Rxd5 27. Bc3 Qg6 (27... Qd6 $142) 28. Re8 $2 (28. Qf3 Rxc8 29. Qxd5 {
is still much better for White.}) 28... Rxe8 $2 {Veselin was really low on
time.} ({He missed his only chance:} 28... Rd1+ 29. Kh2 Rxe8 30. Rxe8 Qd3 $1 {
as} 31. Qb4 Rh1+ $1 {draws by perpetual.}) 29. Rxe8 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qf1 31. Be1
Kg7 32. Qf3 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 g6 12. Be2 Bg7 13. O-O b6 14. c4 O-O 15.
Rac1 a5 16. Qd1 a4 17. Nd2 Nc5 18. Nb1 Re8 19. Nc3 e4 20. f4 Nd3 21. Bxd3 Ng4
22. Bf2 exd3 23. Qxd3 Ra7 24. Bd4 (24. Nb5 $1 Nxf2 (24... Rae7 25. Bh4) 25.
Rxf2 Rae7 26. Rcf1 Re3 27. Qd2 Bf6 28. Nd4 $14) 24... Rae7 25. Bxg7 Re3 26. Qd2
Kxg7 27. f5 Qh4 28. g3 (28. h3 Rxh3 29. gxh3 Re3 30. hxg4 Rg3+ 31. Qg2 Rxg2+
32. Kxg2 Qxg4+ 33. Kf2 Qf4+ 34. Ke2 Qxc4+ 35. Kd2 g5 $13) 28... Qg5 29. Qd4+ f6
30. Qf4 $1 (30. fxg6 Nxh2 $1) 30... Qxf4 31. gxf4 h4 $5 (31... a3 $5) 32. Nxa4
h3 33. Rc3 gxf5 34. Rxe3 Rxe3 35. Nc3 Kh6 36. a4 Kh5 37. a5 $6 (37. c5 bxc5 (
37... dxc5 38. d6) 38. a5 Re8 39. a6 Rg8 40. Rf3 Nh6+ 41. Rg3 Ra8 42. Rxh3+ Kg6
$11) 37... bxa5 38. c5 dxc5 39. d6 Re8 40. Rd1 Rg8 $1 41. Re1 $2 (41. Rd3 $8
Ne5+ 42. Rg3 Rxg3+ 43. hxg3 Nd7 44. Kh2 Kg6 45. Kxh3 Kf7 46. g4 fxg4+ 47. Kxg4
Ke6 48. Nb5 $11) 41... Ne5+ 42. Kf1 Nf3 43. Re2 Rd8 44. Nb5 Kg4 $19 45. Re7
Nxh2+ 46. Kf2 Kxf4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Bg2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 8. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:11]} 11. d4 {[%emt 0:
01:32]} exd4 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 12. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
13. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 14. f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} f5 {
[%emt 0:02:07]} 15. e4 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. Bh3 {[%emt 0:
01:40]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:02:34]} 17. exf5 {[%emt 0:04:24]} Bxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
18. Bxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Qxd4+
{[%emt 0:00:53]} 20. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21. Rfd1 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd4+ {[%emt 0:02:38]} 22. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ne3 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 23. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Ng4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 24. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Re8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. h3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 26. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:47]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. Rbd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} b5 {[%emt 0:01:
17]} 28. a3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Re3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 29. g5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} Nd5 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 30. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Rxd5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Re2+ {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 33. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxb2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34. f5 {[%emt 0:00:14]}
Rb3+ {[%emt 0:01:17]} 35. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxa3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 36. Rxb5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 37. Ra5 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 38. g6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 40. Ra8+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ra7+ {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 42. Ra8+ {[%emt 0:00:39]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 43. Ra7+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 44. Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} a3
{[%emt 0:00:33]} 45. Ra8+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Ra7+ {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 47. Rf7+ {[%emt 0:01:25]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 48. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:27]} a2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 49. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb1
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Rxa2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 51. Kg4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 52. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb3+ {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 53. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rb4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 54. Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:17]}
Rb5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 55. Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 56. Rf2+ {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 57. Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rxf5 {[%emt 0:00:
49]} 58. Kxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 59. h4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kg8
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 60. h5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
exd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. e3 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 8. Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Nge2 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 10. h3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:01]} 11. O-O {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. f3 {[%emt 0:00:26]} b5 {[%emt 0:02:01]
} 13. a3 {[%emt 0:02:19]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 14. e4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:01:01]} 15. e5 {[%emt 0:02:21]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. Bc1 {[%emt 0:
01:07]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 17. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} axb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18.
Rxa8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxa8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Nd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 20. f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:01:48]} 21. Kh2 {[%emt 0:
03:56]} Qa2 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 22. Ne3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 23.
Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qb3 {[%emt 0:03:10]} 24. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:17]} f6 {[%emt 0:
00:58]} 25. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:11]}
Qc6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 27. Rg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:02:18]} 28. f5 {
[%emt 0:01:33]} fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 30. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 31. Qh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Re6 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 32. Nh4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 33. Nxg6 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 34. Bh6 {[%emt 0:01:11]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:02:
47]} 35. Bxg7 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT Rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2017.06.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2017.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. a3 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8.
e3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 10. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:19]}
exd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. bxc3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 14. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} 15. f3 {[%emt 0:01:44]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 16. g4 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Be6 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 17. O-O {[%emt 0:01:34]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Qd2 {[%emt 0:
01:11]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 19. a4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 20.
a5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} h5 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 21. h3 {[%emt 0:01:26]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:
44]} 22. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Nd4 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Nxd4
{[%emt 0:06:20]} 24. exd4 f4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 25. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 28. Bxd7 {[%emt 0:02:22]} Qxd7 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 29. Re5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxe5 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 30. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]
} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 31. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 32. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:01:44]} Be8 {[%emt 0:02:09]} 33. Qb2 {[%emt 0:02:10]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 34. axb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} axb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 36. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh7 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 37. Ra8 {
[%emt 0:01:57]} Rh6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Qg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qb1+ {[%emt 0:00:
00]} 39. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qc2+ {[%emt 0:00:16]} 40. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Qd1+ {[%emt 0:00:47]} 41. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 42. Ra2 {
[%emt 0:02:12]} Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 43. e6+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:
14]} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.09"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2017.10.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 Nd7 7. O-O h6 8. Nbd2 g5
9. Re1 Qc7 10. Nf1 Bh7 11. Ng3 Nf5 12. Bd3 Nxg3 13. Bxh7 Rxh7 14. fxg3 Be7 15.
Qd3 Rg7 16. a4 O-O-O 17. a5 c5 18. Be3 h5 19. Rf1 Kb8 20. Qd2 Rdg8 21. b4 c4
22. Rae1 Qd8 23. Re2 Ka8 24. Ne1 f6 25. exf6 Nxf6 26. Nf3 Ne4 27. Qc2 Rf7 28.
Rfe1 Bd6 29. Nd2 Nf6 30. Nf3 Ne4 31. Nd2 Nf6 32. Nf3 Ne4 33. Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.09"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.10.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. d3 a6 6. Nge2 d6 7. h3 Be6 8. f4 h6
9. f5 Bd7 10. b3 Nd4 11. Bb2 Bc6 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Qe2 b5 14. Nd1 Nd7 15. c3
Bb6 16. Nf2 a5 17. O-O b4 18. Kh2 bxc3 19. Bxc3 h5 20. Nd1 Nf6 21. Ne3 Bb5 22.
Qd2 c6 23. Rfe1 Qc7 24. Kh1 Rd8 25. Nc2 O-O 26. a4 Ba6 27. b4 axb4 28. Nxb4 Ra8
29. Bf3 Bc5 30. g4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Rfb8 32. g5 Nh7 33. g6 Nf6 34. Nxa6 Rxa6 35.
Reb1 Rxb1+ 36. Rxb1 Rxa4 37. Bd1 Ra8 38. Bb3 d5 39. Qh2 Re8 40. Bd2 fxg6 41.
fxg6 Qd7 42. Rf1 Rb8 43. Rb1 Re8 44. Qh4 Qg4 45. Qxg4 Nxg4 46. exd5 cxd5 47.
Bxd5+ Kf8 48. Rb5 Bd6 49. Kg2 Nf6 50. Bf7 Rc8 51. Bg5 Rb8 52. Ra5 e4 53. dxe4
Nxe4 54. Be3 Nf6 55. Bd4 Be7 56. Kf3 Rd8 57. Be5 Bd6 58. Bxf6 gxf6 59. Rh5 f5
60. Rh8+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.09"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.10.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 h6 7. O-O Nd7 8. Nbd2
Qc7 9. Nb3 g5 10. Ne1 c5 11. Bh5 Bg6 12. f4 c4 13. Nd2 gxf4 14. Rxf4 Bg7 15.
Nf1 O-O 16. Ng3 Kh7 17. Rh4 Qd8 18. Nf3 Bd3 19. Bg4 Rh8 20. Nh5 Kg8 21. Rh3 Ng6
22. Be3 Qe7 23. Qd2 Bf8 24. Nf4 Nxf4 25. Bxf4 Bg7 26. Re1 Be4 27. Bxh6 Bxh6 28.
Rxh6 Kg7 29. Rxh8 Rxh8 30. Ng5 Bd3 31. g3 Nf8 32. h4 Nh7 33. Nh3 Rg8 34. Kh2
Kh8 35. Bh5 Qf8 36. Nf4 Bf5 37. Qe3 f6 38. Rf1 Qh6 39. Be2 Qg7 40. Nxd5 fxe5
41. dxe5 b5 42. Nf4 Qh6 43. Bh5 Rd8 44. Rd1 Rxd1 45. Bxd1 Ng5 46. Qxa7 Ne4 47.
Qa8+ Kh7 48. Bf3 Ng5 49. Qa7+ Kh8 50. Qa8+ Kh7 51. Qb7+ Kh8 52. Qb8+ Kh7 53.
Qc7+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.09"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C28"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2017.10.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be6 8.
a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Bb5 Na5 12. d4 e4 13. c4 Ne7 14. d5 Bg4 15.
Ba6 c6 16. h3 Bc8 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. d6 Ng6 19. c5 Nb7 20. Be3 bxc5 21. a5 Qd7
22. a6 Nxd6 23. Bxc5 Rfd8 24. Ng3 Qe6 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 26. Qg4 c5 27. Qxe4 Rxa6
28. Qxe6 Rxe6 29. Rxa7 Ne7 30. Rd1 g6 31. c3 Nc6 32. Rb7 Na5 33. Ra7 Nc6 34.
Ra6 h5 35. Ra4 Rce8 36. Nf1 Kg7 37. Ne3 Re5 38. Ra6 Ne7 39. Nc4 Re2 40. Ne3 Rb8
41. Ra5 Rbb2 42. Rf1 Ng8 43. Rxc5 Nf6 44. Re5 Nd7 45. Rd5 Nf6 46. Rd4 Ra2 47.
c4 Ra5 48. Rc1 Rc5 49. Ra1 Rb2 50. Ra7 Rb1+ 51. Kh2 Rb2 52. Rf4 Rb6 53. h4 Re6
54. Nd5 Rec6 55. Ne3 Re6 56. Kg3 Ne4+ 57. Kf3 Nd6 58. Rd7 Kf8 59. Rd4 Rc6 60.
Ra7 Kg7 61. g3 Rf6+ 62. Ke2 Re6 63. Kd3 Rf6 64. Rf4 Re6 65. Rd7 Kf8 66. Ra7 Ke8
67. Nd5 Re1 68. Nf6+ Kf8 69. Ra8+ Ke7 70. Nd5+ Kd7 71. Ra7+ Ke8 72. Ne3 Rb1 73.
Rd4 Nb7 74. Ra8+ Ke7 75. Kc2 Re1 76. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Bc4
Qc7 9. Bb3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Be7 11. O-O-O Na5 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. g3 b5 14. h3 b4 15.
Nce2 e5 16. Nf5 Nxb3 17. cxb3 Bxf5 18. exf5 Qb7 19. Rhf1 d5 20. f4 d4 21. Bg1
Ne4 22. Qe1 f6 23. fxe5 fxe5 24. Nc1 O-O 25. g4 a5 26. Bh2 Bd6 27. Qe2 h4 28.
Rde1 Ng3 29. Bxg3 hxg3 30. Qe4 Qxe4+ 31. Rxe4 g6 32. Nd3 g2 33. Rg1 gxf5 34.
gxf5 Rxf5 35. Rxg2+ Kf7 36. Rge2 Kf6 37. Nf2 Rc8 38. h4 Rf3 39. Rg4 Re3 40. Re4
Rxe2 41. Rxe2 Kf5 42. Ne4 Be7 43. Ng3+ Ke6 44. h5 Bg5 45. Rc2 Rf8 46. a4 Kd5
47. Rc7 Rf3 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C32"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. f4 d5 5. exd5 e4 6. d4 exd3 7. cxd3 O-O 8. d4
Re8+ 9. Nge2 Bd6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. h3 Nb6 12. Bb3 Bf8 13. f5 Nfxd5 14. Nf4 c6
15. Nfxd5 Nxd5 16. Qg4 Nf6 17. Qh4 h6 18. Rf3 b5 19. Rg3 Re1+ 20. Kh2 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Bd6 22. Ne4 Bxg3+ 23. Nxg3 Qd6 24. Rf1 Bd7 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Re8 27.
Kg1 a5 28. a3 Re3 29. Rf3 Rxf3 30. gxf3 Kf8 31. Kf2 Ne8 32. Bc2 Nd6 33. Bd3 f6
34. b4 a4 35. h4 Be8 36. Nf1 Ke7 37. Ne3 Bf7 38. Ke2 Kd7 39. Kd2 Bd5 40. Nxd5
cxd5 41. h5 Kc6 42. Ke3 Nc8 43. Kd2 Nb6 44. Ke3 Nc4+ 45. Bxc4 dxc4 46. Kd2 Kd6
47. Kc2 Kc6 48. Kd2 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2
Be7 9. Be2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Na2 d5 12. e5 Nfd7 13. f4 Nc5 14. O-O Ne4 15. Qe1
Qb6 16. c3 Nc6 17. a5 Nxa5 18. Nxb4 Bc5 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. b4 Nc4 21. Bxc4 dxc4
22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. f5 h4 24. Qe2 h3 25. Qg4 Qb2 26. Bf2 Qb7 27. Nf3 Nb3 28. Rfb1
O-O 29. Qxc4 hxg2 30. Ng5 Nd2 31. Qd3 Qd7 32. Bd4 Nxb1 33. e6 fxe6 34. Qh3 Rxf5
35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qh8+ Ke7 37. Qxg7+ Ke8 38. Qg8+ Ke7 39. Rxb1 Rf1+ 40. Rxf1
gxf1=Q+ 41. Kxf1 Qb5+ 42. Kf2 Qb2+ 43. Ke3 Qc1+ 44. Ke2 Qc2+ 45. Ke3 Qc1+ 46.
Ke2 Qc2+ 47. Ke3 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. b4 b6
9. h3 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. O-O Qc8 13. Qc2 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Qb7 15. Nd2
Rfe8 16. Rfc1 Bd8 17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. Nb3 b5 21. f4
Ra3 22. Qc2 Ne4 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Qxe4 Nf6 25. Qc2 Nd5 26. Qd2 Rea8 27. Ra1
R8a4 28. Rxa3 Rxa3 29. e4 Nxf4 30. Rc3 g5 31. h4 Qe7 32. g3 Nh5 33. hxg5 hxg5
34. Qb2 Ra4 35. Na5 Nf6 36. Ra3 Qc7 37. d5 exd5 38. Qxf6 Rxa3 39. e5 Rxa5 40.
bxa5 Qxa5 41. Qxg5+ Kf8 42. Qh6+ Kg8 43. Qg5+ Kf8 44. Qh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2
Be7 9. Be2 Qc7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rad1 b6 12. f4 Bb7 13. Bf3 Ng4 14. Kh1 Nxe3 15.
Qxe3 b5 16. a3 Rb8 17. h3 Nb6 18. Qc1 g6 19. Rd3 e5 20. Nde2 Nd7 21. Nd5 Bxd5
22. Rxd5 Rc8 23. Nc3 Nb6 24. Rd3 Kf8 25. Be2 Kg7 26. f5 Bf6 27. fxg6 fxg6 28.
Rdf3 Rcf8 29. Qe3 Be7 30. Bd3 Qc5 31. Qe2 Rxf3 32. Rxf3 Rf8 33. Rxf8 Bxf8 34.
h4 Be7 35. g3 Bd8 36. Kg2 Nd7 37. Nd5 Nf6 38. b4 Qa7 39. Nxf6 Bxf6 40. c4 bxc4
41. Bxc4 a5 42. b5 Qc5 43. a4 Bd8 44. Bb3 Bb6 45. Qf3 Qg1+ 46. Kh3 Qf2 47. Qxf2
Bxf2 48. Kg2 Bb6 49. Kf3 g5 50. hxg5 Kg6 51. Be6 Kxg5 52. Ke2 Kf6 53. Bd7 d5
54. exd5 e4 55. Be8 Bc7 56. Kf2 Ke5 57. Bxh5 Kxd5 58. g4 Bf4 59. Bg6 Bg5 60.
Ke2 Bd8 61. Be8 Ke5 62. Bd7 Kf4 63. Bf5 Bb6 64. Kd2 Bd4 65. Kc2 e3 66. Bd3 Kxg4
67. Be2+ Kf4 68. Kd3 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G20"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.10"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2017.11.10"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Nh3 h6 12. Bh4 c5 13. O-O d5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15.
Bc2 Ncd7 16. b3 b5 17. Qb2 bxc4 18. bxc4 Ba6 19. cxd5 Bxf1 20. dxe6 Qb6 21.
exf7+ Kh8 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Nf4 Rxf7 24. Bg6 Bc4 25. Bxf7 Bxf7 26. Bf2 g5 27.
Ne2 g4 28. e4 gxf3 29. gxf3 Ne5 30. Nd4 Bh5 31. Bg3 Nd3 32. Rb1 Nd7 33. Rb3
Rc1+ 34. Kg2 N3c5 35. Re3 Kh7 36. Re1 Rc4 37. Bf2 Ne5 38. Rb1 Ncd7 39. Rb3 Bf7
40. Rb2 Nd3 41. Rd2 N7e5 42. Kg3 Rc3 43. Rc2 Rxc2 44. Nxc2 b5 45. Bd4 Nc4 46.
Bc3 Bg6 47. Bb4 Kg8 48. Nd4 Be8 49. f4 Kf7 50. e5 Bd7 51. Kf3 h5 52. Ke4 Nf2+
53. Kd5 Ne3+ 54. Kd6 Ke8 55. e6 Nc4+ 56. Kc7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2
Be7 9. Be2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. g3 b5 12. a3 Rc8 13. Kb1 Na5 14. h3 g6 15. g4
e5 16. Nb3 Be6 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. g5 Nd7 19. Nd5 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Nc5
22. h4 O-O 23. c3 Ne6 24. Bd1 f6 25. Rd2 fxg5 26. Bb3 Rc4 27. Bxg5 Nxg5 28.
hxg5 Rxf3 29. a4 Kg7 30. Bxc4 bxc4 31. Rd5 Rf8 32. Ka2 Rb8 33. Rg1 Kf7 34. Rd2
Ke6 35. Rf2 Rh8 36. Kb1 h4 37. Kc2 h3 38. Rh2 Rh4 39. Rg3 Rxe4 40. Rhxh3 d5 41.
Rh6 Kf5 42. Rh7 Bxg5 43. Rf7+ Bf6 44. a5 Re2+ 45. Kd1 Rf2 46. Ke1 Rf4 47. Rg2
d4 48. Ra7 d3 49. Rxa6 e4 50. Rc6 e3 51. Rc5+ Ke6 52. Rc6+ Kd7 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8.
e3 Ne7 9. Bd3 b6 10. Nf3 Ba6 11. O-O Bxd3 12. Qxd3 O-O 13. e4 Nd7 14. Rfe1 Rfe8
15. Rac1 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Qd5 17. Nc3 Qd6 18. Qc4 Nf6 19. Ne5 Rf8 20. g4 Rac8 21.
h3 Nfd5 22. Ne4 Qh6 23. Qb3 Nf4 24. Kh2 Ned5 25. Qg3 f6 26. Rxc6 Rxc6 27. Nxc6
f5 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 a6 12. Nd2 b5 13. Nb3 Qb6 14. cxd5 exd5
15. Bg5 Be6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Rac8 19. Bd3 Nb4 20. Bxh7+ Kh8
21. Qd1 Nxd5 22. Qh5 Bg5 23. Be4+ Qh6 24. Qxh6+ Bxh6 25. Bxd5 Rcd8 26. e4 f5
27. Nc5 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Rxf2 29. Nd3 Rf6 30. Ne5 Re8 31. Ng6+ Kg8 32. Bc2 Re2 33.
Bd3 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 O-O 8.
Ng3 Be6 9. Bd3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O Nc6 12. a3 d4 13. Na4 Be7 14. e4 Nd7
15. Nf5 Nde5 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rc1 Rad8 18. Re1 b6 19. b4 Qf6 20. Bg3 Nxd3 21.
Qxd3 Ne5 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Nb2 Rc8 24. Rcd1 Rfd8 25. g3 Qf6 26. e5 Qf5 27. Qxf5
Bxf5 28. Nd3 Rc3 29. Nf4 Rxa3 30. e6 fxe6 31. Nxe6 Bxe6 32. Rxe6 Rd7 33. Re4 d3
34. Kf1 Ra4 35. Ke1 a5 36. Rb1 h6 37. h4 Rd5 38. Kd2 Ra2+ 39. Ke1 Rb5 40. Rd1
Ra4 41. Rxd3 Raxb4 42. Re8+ Kf7 43. Rde3 Rb1+ 44. Ke2 R5b2+ 45. Kf3 Rb3 46.
R8e7+ Kg6 47. h5+ Kh7 48. Ra7 Rxe3+ 49. fxe3 Rb4 50. e4 a4 51. e5 Kg8 52. e6
Kf8 53. g4 b5 54. Rf7+ Ke8 55. Rxg7 a3 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2
Be7 9. Be2 Bd7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. a5 O-O 13. O-O Ne5 14. Rfd1 h4 15. h3
Ng6 16. f4 Rxc3 17. Qxc3 Nxe4 18. Qd3 Ng3 19. Bf3 Qc8 20. Nc5 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6
22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Qxg6 Rf6 24. Qd3 Nf5 25. Bf2 Rg6 26. Qf1 d5 27. c3 Bd6 28.
Bd4 Qc7 29. Bb6 Qb8 30. Ra4 Qe8 31. Ra2 Qb8 32. Ra4 Qe8 33. Ra2 Qc6 34. Rd3 Qc4
35. b3 Qxb3 36. Rf2 Ng3 37. Qd1 Qxd1+ 38. Rxd1 Bxf4 39. Rb1 e5 40. Rd1 Rc6 41.
Rxd5 Rxc3 42. Rd1 Kh7 43. Rb2 Ra3 44. Re1 Kg6 45. Bd8 Kh5 46. Rxb7 g5 47. Rh7+
Kg6 48. Rb7 Be3+ 49. Kh2 Bf4 50. Bb6 e4 51. Kg1 Bd2 52. Rd1 e3 53. Rd7 Ra2 54.
Rd3 e2 55. R3xd2 Rxd2 56. Re1 Ra2 57. Kf2 Kf5 58. Bc7 Ne4+ 59. Kf3 Nd2+ 60.
Kxe2 Ne4+ 61. Kf1 Rf2+ 62. Kg1 Rc2 63. Bb6 Ng3 64. Rd1 Ke4 65. Ba7 Ne2+ 66. Kh2
Nf4 67. Rg1 Ra2 68. Bb6 g4 69. hxg4 h3 70. Bc7 Rxg2+ 71. Rxg2 Nxg2 72. Kxh3 Ne3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. g4
Nxg4 9. Qxd5 Qc8 10. a3 Nf6 11. Qg2 O-O 12. Bc4 Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. dxc5 Qxc5
15. Nge2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Nd4 Bg6 18. Qxb7 Rfe8 19. Qb5 Qc8 20. Qc6 Qh3
21. Qf3 Qd7 22. O-O Bf8 23. Bg3 Ne4 24. Rfd1 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Qc8 26. a4 Be4 27.
Qe2 Qxc3 28. Nb5 Qc6 29. Nc7 Bf3 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. axb5 Bxd1 32. Nxa8 Rxa8 33.
Rxd1 Bc5 34. Rd7 f6 35. Kg2 Re8 36. Bd6 Bxd6 37. Rxd6 Rb8 38. Rd7 Rxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 g6 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. Be2 Qc7 13. c4 a5 14. Rc1 a4 15.
Na1 Qa5 16. Nc2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Bh6 18. Bxh6 Rxh6 19. Ne3 Ke7 20. h4 Rhh8 21.
Rhf1 Nc5 22. Nd1 Ne8 23. Nc3 Ng7 24. Rh1 Nf5 25. Rce1 Nd4 26. Bd1 f5 27. f4 Kf6
28. g3 Rhb8 29. fxe5+ dxe5 30. d6 Ke6 31. d7 Kd6 32. Re3 e4 33. Nd5 Nxd7 34.
Kc3 Kc5 35. b4+ axb3 36. axb3 Ra3 37. Kb2 Rba8 38. b4+ Kxc4 39. Rxa3 Rxa3 40.
Kxa3 Kxd5 41. Re1 Kc4 42. Kb2 Ne5 43. Bc2 Nd3+ 44. Bxd3+ Kxd3 45. Rd1+ Ke3 46.
Kc3 Ne2+ 47. Kc4 b5+ 48. Kc5 Nxg3 49. Kxb5 f4 50. Kc5 Ne2 51. Kc4 f3 52. b5 f2
53. b6 Nd4 54. b7 Nc6 55. Kd5 Nb8 56. Rf1 Ke2 57. Rxf2+ Kxf2 58. Kxe4 Kg3 59.
Ke5 Kxh4 60. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G10"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.11.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Ne2 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nbc3 Nge7 10. O-O O-O 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Qd2 Bxe2 13. Nxe2 Nf5 14. Bh3
Nxe3 15. fxe3 Qd6 16. Nf4 Bh6 17. Rac1 Rae8 18. Rc5 Bxf4 19. Rxf4 b6 20. Rc3 f5
21. Bg2 Ne7 22. Rf1 Rc8 23. Rfc1 Rxc3 24. Rxc3 Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Nxc8 26. Qc3 Ne7
27. Kf2 Kf7 28. Ke2 Qd7 29. Kd2 Ng8 30. Kc2 Nf6 31. Kb3 Ke6 32. a4 a5 33. Bf1
Ne4 34. Qc2 Nd6 35. Ba6 Ke7 36. Ka2 Kd8 37. Qb3 Qc6 38. Bf1 Ke7 39. Bg2 Ke6 40.
Bf1 Ne4 41. Bb5 Qc7 42. Bd3 Nd6 43. g4 fxg4 44. e4 Qc6 45. e5 Nf5 46. Bxf5+
gxf5 47. Qe3 Qxa4+ 48. Kb1 Kd7 49. Qh6 Qd1+ 50. Ka2 Qa4+ 51. Kb1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Ra2 Be7 11. b4 Qd8 12. h3 b6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Be2 Be6 15.
Ng5 Rc8 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Ba6 Bxb4 18. Bxc8 Qxc8 19. O-O Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Ne4 21.
Qc1 Qd7 22. Rc2 Nc5 23. Rd1 Na5 24. Rxc5 bxc5 25. Qxc5 Nc6 26. Bg3 Rc8 27. Qb5
Ne5 28. Qa6 Nc4 29. Rb1 Nb6 30. Be5 Rc6 31. Bd4 Qc7 32. f4 h6 33. Kh2 Rc2 34.
Bxb6 axb6 35. Rxb6 Qc3 36. Rb8+ Kf7 37. Rb7+ Kf6 38. Qa8 Kf5 39. Qf8+ Ke4 40.
Rxg7 Qxe3 41. Qf6 Qxf4+ 42. Qxf4+ Kxf4 43. a4 d4 44. Rd7 e5 45. Rd6 Ra2 46. h4
h5 47. Rf6+ Ke3 48. Rf5 e4 49. Rxh5 d3 50. Rd5 Kd2 51. h5 e3 52. h6 Rxa4 53.
Kg3 e2 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4
Bb7 9. Bd3 a6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bd6 12. Ne2 Re8 13. f4 Ne4 14. Ng3 Nf8 15.
Nxe4 dxe4 16. Bc4 Re7 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh6 Bxe5 19. dxe5 b5 20. Rad1 Qe8 21. f5
bxc4 22. f6 Ne6 23. Rf4 Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. fxe7+ Kxe7 26. Ba3+ c5 27. Rf2
cxb3 28. Rfd2 Bc6 29. axb3 Rb8 30. Rc2 Rxb3 31. Bxc5+ Nxc5 32. Rxc5 Bb5 33. Rd6
Rxe3 34. Rc7+ Kf8 35. e6 Rd3 36. Rxf7+ Ke8 37. Rb6 Rd1+ 38. Kf2 Rf1+ 39. Ke3
Rxf7 40. exf7+ Kxf7 41. Kxe4 Kg7 42. Ke5 g5 43. Kf5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Ne8 10. c5 f5 11. a4 Nf6 12. Bg5 Nh5 13. g3 f4 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. Nc4
Bh3 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Nb5 fxg3 18. fxg3 Nxe4 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qc2 Ng5 21. cxd6
cxd6 22. Nbxd6 e4 23. Rad1 Qf6 24. Rf1 Bxf1 25. Bxf1 e3 26. Bg2 Nf3+ 27. Kh1
Nd4 28. Qb1 e2 29. Re1 Qf2 30. Ne4 Qf5 31. d6 Rae8 32. Ne3 Qd7 33. h4 Kh8 34.
Qd3 Rxe4 35. Qxe4 Qxd6 36. Nc2 Nxc2 37. Qxc2 Qxg3 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. d3 Bg4 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Re8 11. d4 a5 12. a4 Ne4 13. e3 e6 14. c4 Ndc5 15. Ne5
Na6 16. Nd3 Nd6 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. c5 Ne4 19. Kh2 Qc7 20. Rac1 h5 21. Bxe4 dxe4
22. Ne5 f5 23. Nxg6 Kf7 24. Nf4 h4 25. Bc3 Rh8 26. f3 hxg3+ 27. Kg2 exf3+ 28.
Rxf3 Qd7 29. e4 Nb4 30. Qe2 Bh6 31. Rcf1 Rce8 32. Bxb4 axb4 33. exf5 exf5 34.
Qc4+ Kf6 35. Nh5+ Kg6 36. Rxf5 Bg5 37. Nxg3 Re3 38. d5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 g6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Ba3 Qa5+ 8. Qd2
Qxd2+ 9. Nbxd2 Bf8 10. Bxf8 Kxf8 11. Ke2 Nbd7 12. Rhc1 Kg7 13. b4 b6 14. c5 Bb7
15. a4 Rhb8 16. Nb3 bxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Rxc5 Nd7 19. Ra5 Bc8 20. Rb1 Kf6 21.
g4 h6 22. h4 Ke7 23. g5 hxg5 24. hxg5 Rb6 25. Kd2 Kd6 26. e4 e5 27. exd5 cxd5
28. dxe5+ Nxe5 29. Nxe5 Kxe5 30. Rc5 Kd6 31. Kc3 Rab8 32. f4 Bd7 33. Ra5 d4+
34. Kc4 Be6+ 35. Kxd4 Rxb4+ 36. Rxb4 Rxb4+ 37. Ke3 Rb7 38. Kd4 Rb4+ 39. Ke3 Rb7
40. Kd4 Ke7 41. Be4 Rb4+ 42. Ke5 Bd7 43. Rxa7 Rxa4 44. Rxa4 Bxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. d4 a5 8. c3
b6 9. Re1 Bb7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Rxe4 Bf6 13. Re1 Ne7 14. Qc2 Bd5
15. Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nd5 17. Nf3 Rc8 18. Re4 c5 19. dxc5 Rxc5 20. Qe2 Qc8 21.
Bd2 Rd8 22. a4 Qb7 23. Re1 Qc6 24. h4 h6 25. Kg1 Ne7 26. Nh2 h5 27. Nf3 b5 28.
Bg5 Qb7 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Nd4 bxa4 31. Nxe6 fxe6 32. Rxe6 Ng6 33. Rxf6 Nf8 34.
Kh2 Rcd5 35. Qe3 Qg7 36. Qf3 Rd3 37. Qf4 Rd2 38. Re5 Ng6 39. Rxg6 Qxg6 40. Rg5
R2d6 41. Qxa4 Qxg5 42. hxg5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3
Nc6 9. b4 Be7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Ne4 13. Rc1 Bf6 14. Na4 Rc8 15.
Nc5 Nc3 16. Qd3 Bf5 17. Qd2 d4 18. Nxb7 dxe3 19. Qxe3 Qb6 20. Rxc3 Qxb7 21. Rc5
Rfe8 22. Qc1 Rxe2 23. Rxf5 Nd4 24. Rc5 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Rce8 26. Rc6 Bd4 27. Qc4
Bb6 28. Bg3 h5 29. a4 R2e6 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. a5 Bd8 32. Rd1 Be7 33. Qd5 Qxd5
34. Rxd5 h4 35. Bb8 Bxb4 36. Kg2 a6 37. Bc7 Be7 38. Bb6 Rg6+ 39. Kh3 Rf6 40.
Rd7 Bb4 41. Kg4 Rg6+ 42. Kxh4 Rh6+ 43. Kg3 Rh5 44. Ra7 Bxa5 45. Rxa6 Bb4 46.
Be3 Rd5 47. h4 Bd6+ 48. Kg2 f5 49. Bg5 Kf7 50. h5 f4 51. Bh4 Bf8 52. Kh3 Rxh5
53. Kg4 Rb5 54. Kxf4 Rb4+ 55. Kg3 Bc5 56. Bg5 Bd4 57. Be3 Be5+ 58. f4 Bf6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qc8 8.
Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Bh5 10. O-O Be7 11. Rae1 a6 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14. Qa4+
Nc6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 b5 17. Qd1 Qd7 18. a4 bxa4 19. Qxa4 O-O 20. Ra1 Bd6
21. Bg5 Qb7 22. Qh4 Be7 23. b4 e5 24. Be2 e4 25. Nd2 Nd8 26. Qh3 Ne6 27. Be3
Qc7 28. Rfc1 Nf4 29. Bxf4 Qxf4 30. Nb3 Qc7 31. Bxa6 Bd6 32. Be2 Rxa1 33. Rxa1
Be5 34. Nc5 Bd6 35. Na6 Qe7 36. Rd1 Be5 37. b5 Qa3 38. Qe3 Qb2 39. Qd2 Qxd2 40.
Rxd2 Bxc3 41. Ra2 Bd4 42. Nb4 Bc5 43. Nc6 d4 44. Bc4 d3 45. h3 e3 46. fxe3 d2
47. Bb3 Bxe3+ 48. Kf1 Ne4 49. Ke2 Bg5 50. Ra7 Nc5 51. Bd1 Re8+ 52. Kf3 Re1 53.
Be2 d1=Q 54. Ra8+ Kh7 55. Bxd1 Rxd1 56. b6 Rb1 57. Ra5 Ne6 58. Ra6 Bf6 59. Na5
Nc5 60. Ra7 Rxb6 61. Rxf7 Ra6 62. Nc4 Ne6 63. Rb7 Ra4 64. Nd6 Rd4 65. Ne8 Be5
66. Re7 Ng5+ 67. Ke3 Re4+ 68. Kd3 Rd4+ 69. Ke3 Rd5 70. h4 Kg8 71. Rb7 Nf7 72.
Nc7 Rd7 73. Rb8+ Kh7 74. Ne6 Bxb8 75. Nf8+ Kg8 76. Nxd7 Ne5 77. Nxb8 g5 78.
hxg5 Kf7 79. Kf4 Nd3+ 80. Ke4 Ne1 81. Nc6 Nxg2 82. Ne5+ Ke6 83. Nf3 Nh4 84.
Nxh4 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Ne8 10. a4 h6 11. c5 f5 12. a5 Nf6 13. Nd2 f4 14. Ba3 g5 15. b5 g4
16. b6 axb6 17. axb6 cxb6 18. cxd6 Rxa3 19. Rxa3 Ng6 20. g3 f3 21. Bd3 h5 22.
Ra8 h4 23. Nb5 Kh7 24. Qc2 Nh5 25. d7 Qxd7 26. Rc1 hxg3 27. hxg3 Ngf4 28. gxf4
Nxf4 29. Qc7 Qe8 30. Rxc8 Qh5 31. Rxf8 Qh3 32. Rh8+ Kxh8 33. Qc8+ Kh7 34. Qf5+
Kh6 35. Qxf4+ exf4 36. Bf1 Qh5 37. Nd6 g3 38. Nf5+ Kg5 39. fxg3 fxg3 40. Nxf3+
Qxf3 41. Bg2 Bd4+ 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 c6 5. Qa4 Nd7 6. cxd5 Nb6 7. Qb3 cxd5 8.
O-O e6 9. a4 Ne7 10. a5 Nd7 11. d4 Nc6 12. Qa4 a6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Bf4 Qd8 15.
Nc3 O-O 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 h6 18. Rfd1 g5 19. Bd6 Re8 20. Ne5 Ndb8 21. Ba3
Bd7 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. d5 exd5 24. Rxd5 Qc7 25. Rad1 b5 26. axb6 Qxb6 27. h4
gxh4 28. Nd6 Re2 29. Qf4 hxg3 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Bc5 gxf2+ 32. Bxf2 Qxf2+ 33.
Qxf2 Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Ra7 35. Re1 Ne7 36. Rd3 Nbc6 37. Nc8 Rc7 38. Nxe7 Nxe7 39.
Rd8+ Kh7 40. Be4+ Ng6 41. Rg1 Rf7+ 42. Ke2 Re7 43. Kd3 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2
Be7 9. O-O-O b5 10. g3 Bb7 11. Bh3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Kb1 b4 14. Ne2 a5 15.
Nd4 Bd7 16. Bg2 g6 17. f4 e5 18. Nf3 Qc7 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Nxe5 Be6 21. Bf4 Rd8
22. Nd3 Qc4 23. b3 Qc8 24. Be5 O-O 25. Qg5 Nd5 26. Qh6 Nc3+ 27. Ka1 f6 28.
Qxg6+ Kh8 29. Nf4 Nxd1 30. Qxh5+ Kg7 31. Qg6+ Kh8 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ Kh8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.11.12"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2017.11.12"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 c6 5. Bb3 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bb6 9. a3 Nc5 10. Ba2 Ne6 11. Ne2 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qc7 14. Nh4 Qd8 15.
Nf3 Bd7 16. Ng3 g6 17. d4 Qc7 18. Nh4 Qd8 19. Qf3 Kg7 20. Nhf5+ gxf5 21. Nxf5+
Kg6 22. Bxe6 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14.
Rfe1 Bb4 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Ne7 17. Nf3 Rh8 18. Nd4 Nd5 19. Bg5 Nxc3 20. Rd3
Na4 21. f4 Nc5 22. Rc3 Na4 23. Rg3 c5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. f5 Kf7 26. Bh4 Rag8 27.
Rb1 Nb6 28. fxe6+ Kxe6 29. Rg6+ Kf7 30. Rg5 Ke6 31. a4 Nxa4 32. Rxb7 Nc3 33.
Rxc7 Ne4 34. Rg6+ Kf5 35. Ra6 g5 36. Be1 Re8 37. Raxa7 Rxe5 38. Rf7+ Ke6 39. c4
Re8 40. Rg7 Kf5 41. Rgf7+ Ke6 42. Rg7 Kf5 43. Rgf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. dxc3 (7.
bxc3 {is a slightly more popular option}) 7... Bd6 8. e4 O-O 9. Bc4 (9. Be2 a5
10. O-O Qe7 11. Bg5 (11. Re1 h6 12. Rb1 Be6 13. b4 axb4 14. cxb4 Bg4 $132 {
1/2-1/2 (51) Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2645)-Gao,R (2468) Cappelle la Grande 2014})
11... f6 12. Be3 Be6 13. b4 axb4 14. axb4 Qf7 $11 {1-0 (37) Smirin,I (2656)
-Quesada Perez,Y (2649) Tromso 2014}) (9. Be3 Qe7 10. Rd1 f5 $5 11. exf5 Bxf5
12. Qb3+ Kh8 13. Qxb7 e4 14. Nd2 Ne5 $32 {0-1 (27) Lenderman,A (2581)-Adhiban,
B (2544) Wijk aan Zee 2011}) 9... Qe7 (9... Bg4 {[%cal Gf1c4,Gc8g4] is a
natural reaction and the idea can be seen in use 9...a5}) (9... Kh8 {[%cal
Gf7f5] is another possibility which is similar to the Lenderman- Adhiban game
above but here white is comparitively better developed and so there's nothing
to worry about.}) (9... a5 10. a4 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Qf6 13. Rg1 $13 h6
14. Be3 Rfd8 15. O-O-O $36 {0-1 (30) Muthaiah,A (2316)-Preotu,R (2463) Porto
Carras 2015}) (9... Qe8 10. b4 a5 11. b5 Nd8 12. a4 Kh8 13. Nd2 Ne6 14. Bxe6 $6
Bxe6 $15 {0-1 (30) Doostkam,P (2095)-Ly,M (2506) Dubai UAE 2016}) 10. Bg5 Qe8
11. O-O-O $5 {Topalov later admitted that this was probably a bit too
optimistic} (11. O-O Be6 {is normal and sedate.}) 11... Be6 ({Black could have
immediately tried to use the weakened light squares around the white king to
create some play with} 11... Na5 $142 {[%csl Ga2,Gb3]} 12. Bd5 (12. Ba2 Bd7 (
12... Be6 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. Nd2 b5 $15) 13. Kb1 Ba4 14. b3 Bd7 $15) 12... Bd7
$1 $36 {[%cal Gd7a4]} (12... Be6 13. c4)) 12. Bd5 f6 13. Be3 Bxd5 14. Rxd5 Ne7
15. Rdd1 (15. Rd2 {[%cal Gf3d2] gets in the knight's way} a5 (15... b5 16. c4)
(15... Qg6 16. Nh4) (15... Qc6 16. c4 b6 17. Rhd1 Bc5) 16. c4 $11 (16. Qb3+ Kh8
17. a4 Qg6 $17 {[%csl Rf3]}) (16. Rhd1)) (15. Rd3 {gets in the queen's way} Qg6
{[%csl Re4,Rg2]} (15... Qc6 16. Nd2 $14)) 15... Qc6 16. Nd2 a5 ({The counter} 
16... b5 $6 {does not work because of the nice positional stroke} 17. c4 $14 {
which breaks Black's structure and makes the position of the king irrelevant
when the queen exchange happens.}) 17. Qb3+ Kh8 18. Qc4 $1 Qd7 (18... Qxc4 $6
19. Nxc4 $16) (18... a4 19. Qxc6 Nxc6 20. Nc4 Be7 21. Rd5 $14) 19. a4 b6 (19...
Rab8 20. Qb5) (19... c6 20. Nb3 $16 {[%cal Gb3c5,Ge3c5]}) (19... Ng6 20. h4 $14
) 20. f3 Rab8 21. Kc2 ({Giri was prepared for} 21. Qb5 Qxb5 22. axb5 Rbd8 23.
Nc4 Nc8 {with a solid defence.}) 21... b5 $1 {Black sees his chance and
correctly decides to counter.} 22. axb5 Rxb5 23. Ra1 Rfb8 24. b3 (24. Ra2 h6 (
24... a4 25. Rha1) 25. Rha1 Nc6 26. Qd3 {[%cal Gd2c4]} Qf7 27. Nc4 Bc5 28. Bxc5
Rxc5 29. b3 Rcb5 30. Rb2 $11) 24... Ng6 25. Qa4 Qe7 ({Another dynamic idea was
} 25... Nf4 $5 26. Bxf4 (26. g3 $6 Bc5 $1 27. gxf4 (27. Bxf4 exf4 28. gxf4 Rd8
$17) (27. Bxc5 $2 Qd3+) 27... Bxe3 $15) 26... exf4 27. Nc4 Qe6 $132 {[%cal
Gh7h6,Gf6f5]}) (25... Bc5 $5 26. Bxc5 Nf4 27. Bd4 exd4 28. Qxd4 Qc6 $44) 26.
Nc4 Bc5 27. Bxc5 Qxc5 28. Rhd1 Nf4 29. Rd2 h6 (29... Rxb3 $4 30. Qxb3 $18) (
29... Ne6 30. Qa3 $14) 30. Qa3 {Giri was a bit surprised as he had not given
much importance to this idea and that probably explains his knee jerk reaction
to it.} a4 $6 {Actually at first sight this looks like a brilliant counter in
some way but White has a very cool antidote} ({In the post mortem Giri
mentioned that he regretted not going for} 30... Qc6 $142 31. Nxa5 Qe6 $44 {
which is serious compensation for the pawn due to the vulnerability of the
white king for example} (31... Qe8 $5 32. g3 Ne6) 32. g3 (32. Nc4 Kh7 $44 33.
Qa6 Qf7 34. Ra3 $2 Qxc4 $19) 32... Nh3 33. b4 (33. Nc4 Ng5 $15) 33... c5 $132)
(30... Ne6 $6 {can be refuted with some simple tactics} 31. Qxc5 Nxc5 32. Rxa5
Nxb3 33. Rd8+ $1 Kh7 (33... Rxd8 34. Rxb5 {[%csl Rb3]} Na1+ 35. Kb2 $18) 34.
Rxb8 Rxb8 35. Ra7 c6 (35... c5 36. Ra3 $18) 36. Ra6 $16) 31. bxa4 (31. Qxa4 $2
Rxb3 32. Qxb3 Rxb3 33. Kxb3 Qb5+ $19) 31... Rb4 32. Rb1 $1 {The point.} (32.
cxb4 Rxb4 33. Kd1 (33. Ra2 Qxc4+ $19) (33. Qa2 Rxc4+ $19) 33... Qg1+ (33...
Qxc4 34. Rc1 Qf1+ 35. Kc2 Qc4+ 36. Qc3 Qa2+ 37. Kd1 Qxa4+ 38. Ke1) 34. Kc2 Qc5
$11) 32... Qxc4 33. Rxb4 Rxb4 34. Qxb4 Qa2+ 35. Qb2 Qxa4+ 36. Qb3 Qa6 {The
clouds have cleared and White has come out with a comfortable advantage.} 37.
g3 (37. Qb8+ Kh7 38. Qxc7 Qa2+ $11) (37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. Qg8+ Kg6) (37. h4 $5 $16)
37... Ne6 38. Qd5 $6 ({The classical approach with} 38. h4 $142 {was the best
one but somehow Topalov miscalculated and could not work out the win if Black
countered with ...Nc5} Kh7 {[%cal Ge6c5]} (38... h5 39. Qd5 {[%cal Gd5c5]} Qb6
40. f4 $18) (38... Nc5 $2 39. Rd8+ Kh7 40. Qg8+ Kg6 41. h5+ Kxh5 42. Qxg7 $18 {
Black queen's checks can be dismissed easily after} Qa2+ (42... Qe2+ 43. Rd2
$18) 43. Kd1 Qb1+ 44. Ke2 Qc2+ (44... Qb5+ 45. Ke3 $18) 45. Rd2) 39. Qd5 {
[%cal Gd5c5] The main idea for White is to now take his king to the kingside.}
Qb6 (39... Qa4+ 40. Kd3 Qa6+ 41. Ke3 $18) (39... Kh8 40. h5 Kh7 41. Rd3 Kh8 42.
Kd2 Kh7 43. Ke3 $18) 40. Qc4 Nc5 41. Rd8 Ne6 42. Rd5 Qf2+ 43. Rd2 Qb6 44. Kd3
Nc5+ 45. Ke2 Ne6 46. Kf1 Qe3 47. Qd3 $18) 38... Ng5 39. f4 Nf3 {Giri's does
not miss his only chance of counterplay. The black king seems precariously
placed but the white king's vulnerability gives Black tactical opportunities.}
(39... Qa4+ 40. Kd3 Qa6+ 41. Ke3 Qb6+ 42. Ke2 Qa6+ 43. Qd3 $18) 40. Rd1 (40.
Rf2 $5 c6 (40... exf4 41. gxf4 $16) (40... Ne1+ 41. Kd2 $18 {[%csl Re1]} Qa1
42. Qb3) 41. Qb3 Kh7 (41... Ne1+ 42. Kd1 Nd3 43. Ra2 $18) 42. h3 (42. h4 f5 43.
exf5 e4 {[%csl Gd3,Gf3][%cal Ga6d3,Ge4f3,Ge4d3]}) 42... f5 43. exf5 e4 $132)
40... Qe2+ (40... c6 $5) 41. Kb3 ({This was White's last chance to get
something out of it} 41. Kc1 $5 Kh7 (41... Qxh2 42. Qe6 $18) (41... Qe3+ 42.
Kb2 Qe2+ (42... exf4 43. gxf4 Qxf4 44. Qf5 {[%cal Gd1d8]} Qxf5 45. exf5 Nxh2
46. Rd7 $16) 43. Ka3 Qa6+ (43... Nd4 44. cxd4 Qxd1 45. fxe5 fxe5 46. Qxe5 $16 {
[%cal Ga3b4,Gb4c5]}) 44. Kb4 $14) 42. Qd3 (42. Qd7 Qe3+ 43. Kb2 Qf2+ 44. Ka3
Qc5+ $11) 42... Qf2 43. h4 c5 (43... Qxg3 44. Rf1) 44. h5 $14) 41... Nd4+ $1 (
41... c5 42. Qd3 c4+ 43. Kxc4 Qa2+ 44. Kc5 $18) 42. Rxd4 exd4 43. Qxd4 Qxh2 44.
Qd8+ (44. e5 $5 fxe5 45. fxe5 Qxg3 46. e6 Qg6 47. Qd8+ Kh7 48. e7 Qb1+ (48...
Qb6+ $2 49. Kc2 Qf2+ 50. Qd2 Qf7 (50... Qf5+ 51. Qd3 $18) 51. Qd7 $18) 49. Kc4
Qa2+ 50. Kd3 Qb1+ 51. Kd2 Qb2+ 52. Ke3 Qc1+ 53. Qd2 (53. Ke2 Qc2+ 54. Qd2 Qe4+
55. Qe3 Qc2+ $11) 53... Qg1+ $11) 44... Kh7 45. Qd3 Kh8 46. e5 fxe5 47. fxe5
Qg2 (47... Qf2 48. Qe4 (48. Qd8+ Kh7 49. Qxc7 Qxg3 $11) 48... Qb6+ 49. Kc4 Qa6+
$11) 48. Qd8+ ({White could have tried pushing the pawn but eventually it just
changes the side that gives the perpetual check, for example} 48. e6 Qb7+ (
48... Kg8 $2 49. Qd8+ Kh7 50. e7 Qb7+ 51. Kc2 Qg2+ 52. Qd2 Qc6 53. Qe3 Qe8 54.
Qe6 g6 55. Kd3 h5 56. Ke4 $18) 49. Kc2 Qg2+ 50. Kc1 Qg1+ (50... Kg8 51. Qd8+
Kh7 52. e7 Qf1+) 51. Kd2 Qf2+ 52. Kd1 (52. Qe2 $4 Qxe2+ 53. Kxe2 Kg8 $19) 52...
Qg1+ 53. Kd2 $11) 48... Kh7 49. Qd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Quintiliano,R"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Be2 $5 {An interesting
move order, that Ding Liren played two years ago against Wesley So.} Bd6 ({
Of course Topalov would be very happy to transpose to the sharp lines of the
Meran with} 6... dxc4 {but} 7. a4 $1 {frustrates Black's plans.}) (6... b6 {
there is no way to take advantage of White's move order, as I proved with my
own (disastrous) experience} 7. O-O Bb7 8. Qc2 dxc4 (8... Bd6 $142) 9. Bxc4 c5
{it seems that Black developed very actively, but after} 10. Rd1 $1 {[%cal
Yd4d5] White is the one in command} cxd4 11. exd4 $1 (11. Nxd4 $2 {Socko,B 
(2646)-Stefansson,H (2574) EU-chT (Men) 16th 2007 (2.1) 0-1} a6 $11 {[%cal
Yb6b5]}) 11... Rc8 12. Qe2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 {[%cal Gd4d5] White is still playing
d5 and Black is always one tempo behind} Bd6 $5 14. d5 Bxh2+ $1 15. Kg2 $1 $36
{Leitao,R (2612)-Quintiliano Pinto,R (2441) Tres Barras Catarinense-ch 2016 (2)
1-0} (15. Kxh2 $2 Qc7+ {[%csl Yc4]})) 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 {Ding Liren deviates
from his game against Wesley and now the game transposes to a most solid
variation.} ({That game went} 8. a4 a5 ({Black had a satisfactory position with
} 8... Qe7 9. b3 a6 10. a5 e5 11. Bb2 e4 12. Nd2 Re8 $132 {Radjabov,T (2793)
-Fressinet,L (2700) Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012 (11) 0-1}) 9. Qc2 b6 10. e4
Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bb7 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. Bf4 $1 {a typical exchange
trying to get control over the dark-squares in the centre, in order to leave
Black with the bad bishop} Rad8 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qb4 18. b3
$1 Qe7 (18... Qxb3 19. Rdb1 Qc3 20. Qe3 $5 Qxe3 21. fxe3 {[%csl Yb6] looks
unpleasant for Black}) 19. Bf3 Ba8 20. Qe3 c5 21. Bxa8 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rxa8 23.
Qd3 $14 {Ding,L (2778)-So,W (2775) Shanghai m 2016 (1) 1/2}) (8. Qc2 dxc4 9. a4
e5 10. Bxc4 exd4 11. exd4 Nb6 12. Bb3 Nbd5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. a5 $5 {at first
sight looks like a slightly improved version for White, as he grabs some space
on the queenside and Black does not have a5 for his queen, but in fact he
managed to equalise without great problems after} h6 15. Bh4 Qc8 $1 16. Rfe1
Re8 17. a6 Rb8 $1 $11 {Giri,A (2790)-Grandelius,N (2649) Norway Chess 4th 2016
(8) 1/2}) 8... b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Qe7 {The interesting question of this
variation is where is each player going to place his rooks.} 11. Rfe1 (11. Rad1
{is usually played first, although in the next moves the position should
transpose, an interesting line is} Rac8 12. e4 $1 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Nf6 15. Qh4 c5 16. Rfe1 cxd4 (16... Ne4 {is safer but after} 17. d5 $1 {
White has the initiative}) 17. Nxd4 Bb4 (17... Ba3 $11) 18. Bd3 $1 Bxe1 $2 19.
Bxh7+ $1 Kh8 20. Bc2+ Kg8 21. Rxe1 $40 {[%csl Gg8][%cal Yd4f5];Eingorn,V (2590)
-Shakhov,A (2180) RUS-Cup01 Chigorin Memorial 1997 (2) 1-0}) 11... Rfe8 12.
Rad1 {I like to think that White's next move depends on where Black places the
rook.} Rad8 ({In a crucial game, Topalov played} 12... Rac8 {but now} 13. Bd3
$1 {is the right move} e5 (13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf5 {[%cal Gf5c8] is the
point}) 14. e4 $1 dxc4 (14... exd4 $2 15. exd5 $1) 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 g6 $5 (
16... a6 17. h3 g6 18. Qd2 Rcd8 19. Qh6 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qf8 $1 {Quintiliano
Pinto,R (2378)-Kaidanov,G (2569) American Continental 10th 2014 (11) 1/2 and
Black had no problems; it was actually White who had to fight for equality
soon -}) 17. Qd2 {looking to the new weaknesses in kingside} Rcd8 18. Qg5 a6
19. h3 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 {The position is even, but White
embarked on some nice and sound manoeuvres} 22. Nc2 {[%cal Yf2f4]} g5 23. Bc1
h6 24. Be3 c5 25. f3 Bf8 26. Bf2 $1 {[%csl Yf1,Yf2][%cal Ya2a4,Gc2e3,Ge3d5,
Ge3f5,Rf1a6,Rf2a7];Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V (2813) World-ch Kramnik-Topalov
playoff +2-1=1 rapid 2006 (2) 1-0 although no advantage is apparent, Black was
slowly outplayed -}) 13. Bf1 {Now this is the right square for this bishop,
White is ready for both c5 and e5.} ({The next round saw a quick draw after} 
13. e4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Bd6 17. Rfe1 Bb4 18. Rf1 Bd6 19.
Rfe1 Bb4 $11 {Radjabov,T (2748)-Carlsen,M (2843) Vugar Gashimov Mem 2018 (4.3)
1/2}) (13. Bd3 {now allows} e5 $1 14. cxd5 (14. e4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 a6
{is an improved version of the game Kramnik-Topalov, with the rook already on
d8}) 14... cxd5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 {[%csl Yd3] Even in the event of an isolated
pawn arising on d5, the bishop is misplaced} 16. Nd4 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Ne4 $11 {
Gelfand,B (2733)-Anand,V (2786) Dortmund SuperGM 35th 2007 (3) 1/2}) 13... c5 (
13... e5 $5 {was played by Ding Liren, and seems ok for Black} 14. dxe5 (14.
cxd5 e4 $1 15. Nh4 $6 Bxh2+ $1 16. Kxh2 Ng4+ 17. Kh3 Ndf6 $40 {Pelletier,Y 
(2541)-Gelfand,B (2724) Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th 2017 (7) 0-1}) (14. g3 $2
e4 15. Nh4 Qe6 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Qd2 Bb8 19. Rc1 g5 20. Ng2 Qh3 $36
{[%cal Yf6g4];Korobov,A (2652)-Ding Liren (2777) 2nd IMSA Blitz 2017 (11.1) 0-1
}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 (15. Nd4 dxc4 16. Nf5 Qe6 17. Nxd6 Rxd6 18. bxc4 Rxd1
19. Nxd1 c5 $132 {Van Wely,L (2641)-Anand,V (2790) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2010 (13)
1/2}) 15... Bxe5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Qb1 d4 $1 {probably the fruit
of Ding Liren's preparation} 19. h3 (19. exd4 Bxh2+ $1 20. Kxh2 Ng4+ 21. Kg3
Qg5 22. f4 Qh5 $13) 19... Ng4 $1 20. hxg4 Qh4 21. f4 dxe3 22. Rxe3 Bxf4 23. Rh3
Qxh3 $1 24. gxh3 Be3+ 25. Kh2 Bf4+ 26. Kg1 $11 {Wang,H (2698)-Ding,L (2781)
Danzhou 08th 2017 (1) 1/2}) (13... Bb4 {trying to stop e4, but then} 14. a3 $1
Bxa3 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 16. cxd5 $1 {preventing dxc4 and c5-ideas} exd5 17. Ra1 Qd6
18. Rxa7 $14 {Carlsen,M (2776)-Aronian,L (2750) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2009 (4) 1/2
}) 14. cxd5 exd5 15. g3 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4,Yd5][%cal Gf1g2,Gf1h3] The resulting
position is a rich positional battle: White has the option of playing dxc5 in
some moment and trying to press against the hanging pawns (after bxc5), play
against the isolani if Black takes on d4 (or after an eventual recapture with
a piece on c5), and in both cases the bishop might have an active role being
repositioned on g2 or h3. Black also has his counter-chances, as the hanging
pawns seem promising for him, with all his forces well centralised, and he can
prepare the advance c5-c4, making use of the queenside majority.} a6 (15... Rc8
{is another option, I like this instructive game of Sasikiran} 16. Qb1 $1 (16.
Bh3 $5 c4 $13) 16... cxd4 $6 (16... c4 $5 17. bxc4 Bb4 $1 18. Nd2 dxc4 19. e4
$1 {leads to many complications}) 17. Nxd4 Bb4 18. Rc1 Ne5 ({Black is not able
to reinforce the pin:} 18... Ne4 $2 19. Nf5 $1 Qe6 20. Nxe4 {[%cal Yf5g7]} Qxe4
21. Qxe4 dxe4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rd1 $16) 19. Bh3 Rcd8 20. Red1 Bc5 21. Bg2 $14
{Sasikiran,K (2684)-Brkic,A (2530) CRO-chT1A 17th 2008 (5) 1-0 Black should be
ok with correct play, but there's no doubt that White has achieved the ideal
position against the isolani and has good chances of playing with this small
advantage -}) 16. Bg2 Rc8 17. Qb1 (17. dxc5 $5 {is an interesting moment to
change the structure} Bxc5 (17... bxc5 $2 18. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Yh4f5]}
Qe6 19. Qd2 Nb6 20. e4 $1 d4 21. e5 $1 Bxg2 22. exf6 Be5 23. Nxg2 dxc3 24. Bxc3
Bxc3 25. Rxe6 Bxd2 26. Rxb6 $16) 18. Rc1 Ne4 19. Qd3 Ndf6 $11 {Swapnil,S (2407)
-Hillarp Persson,T (2577) Kolkata op 4th 2009 (2) 1/2 despite the isolani,
Black has an active position -}) 17... h6 $146 {The first new move. Black just
waits for White to define his setup while making an useful move.} (17... Rcd8
$6 18. Nh4 $1 cxd4 $2 (18... g6 $142) 19. Nf5 Qf8 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd4 $16 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Ye1d1];Kanarek,M (2484)-Krzyzanowski,M (2336) Kochan Memorial
25th 2014 (9) 1-0}) (17... c4 {Di Berardino,D (2492)-Aranha Filho,A (2299)
BRA-ch sf Sao Paulo 2010 (2) 1-0} 18. bxc4 dxc4 19. e4 $36) 18. Nh4 (18. dxc5
$5 {was an option, but it leads to some unbalanced positions in which it is
not easy to know who is better, generally both sides have chances} bxc5 19. Nh4
Qe6 20. Ne2 Rcd8 21. Nf4 Bxf4 22. exf4 Qb6 $13 {[%cal Yd5d4]}) 18... c4 $5 {
White's center is not really closed after this move.} 19. Nf5 Qf8 20. Nxd6 $6 {
But Ding Liren missed a good idea.} (20. bxc4 Rxc4 21. e4 $1 {was advantageous
for White, since he will end up with a strong passed pawn in the centre} dxe4 (
21... Bb4 22. e5 $1 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. exf6 Nxf6 25. Qxb6 Bc8 26. Rxe8 Qxe8
27. Qa5 $1 $14 {[%csl Gc3][%cal Yf5d6,Yf5e3]}) 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24.
Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 {and White has some pressure, for example} g6 (25... Nf6 26.
Qd3 b5 27. d5 $16) 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. Qe8+ Nf8 28. d5 $16) 20... Qxd6 21. bxc4
Rxc4 {Black is ok now and even can look optimistically to the future.} 22. a4
Rec8 23. Rc1 h5 24. h3 Nf8 {Black aims to improve his pieces and then his
position also improves.} 25. Qa2 Ne6 (25... h4 $5 {always comes into
consideration.}) 26. Qb3 Qd8 27. Re2 ({White was the one who could had played} 
27. h4 $1 {now}) 27... Bc6 28. Rec2 b5 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Nb1 Ng5 31. h4 Nge4
32. Na3 Qe7 $1 {Topalov played very interesting chess in Shamkir, and it is
not surprising that he's offering this exchange.} 33. Qd3 (33. Nxc4 dxc4 34.
Qa2 Bd5 {[%cal Yb5b4] is more than enough compensation for Black.}) 33... Rxc2
(33... Nd6 $5 {keeping the offer was an option:} 34. Qe2 (34. Nxc4 dxc4 35. Qe2
Bxg2 36. Kxg2 Nd5 $44 {[%cal Yb5b4]}) 34... Rxc2 35. Nxc2 Nc4 $11) 34. Nxc2 (
34. Rxc2 b4 35. Nb1 Qd7 $17) 34... Bd7 35. Qa3 Qe8 36. Nb4 Rc4 $1 37. Rxc4 (37.
Bf1 $2 Nxf2 $1 38. Kxf2 (38. Bxc4 Nh3+ 39. Kf1 bxc4 $19 {[%cal Re8e4]}) 38...
Ng4+ 39. Kg1 Rxb4 $1 $19 {[%cal Ge8e3]}) 37... bxc4 $17 {[%csl Yc4]} 38. Bc1 $1
{[%csl Ye3] Ding Liren has showed excellent defensive skills and fighting
spirit recently, especially in games in which he is inferior. This move is of
a highly prophylactic nature, White frees his queen without fearing Nxf2 ideas,
by overprotecting e3.} Be6 ({If Black had predicted White's plan to weaken the
pressure, he could had considered} 38... Qe6 {and if} 39. Na6 $2 Qg4 $1 {
[%csl Yd1] is winning} 40. f3 Qxg3 41. fxe4 Qe1+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ 43. Kh3 Qg1 $19)
39. Na6 $1 Qb5 40. Nc5 $1 {[%csl Ge4] Considering how unpleasant his position
is, Ding Liren is doing everything possible to release the pressure.} Kh7 41.
Nxe6 {This was a very difficult decision to make.} (41. Nxe4 Nxe4 42. Bxe4+
dxe4 $17 {looks desperate for White, despite the opposite-coloured bishops,
due to his very exposed king's position.}) 41... fxe6 42. Bf1 Nxf2 $2 {This is
beautiful but not enough to win. Many other moves would had kept Black's clear
advantage.} (42... Ng4 $1 {[%csl Yf2] is the most simple, f2 is just dropping}
43. f3 Qb8 $1 {[%csl Gg3] maybe this was missed by the players, although it is
not a difficult move} 44. fxg4 Qxg3+ 45. Bg2 Qf2+ 46. Kh2 (46. Kh1 Ng3+ 47. Kh2
Ne2 $19) 46... hxg4 {[%cal Gg4g3] the attack continues and Black is winning,
for example} 47. Qe7 g3+ 48. Kh3 Qf5#) (42... Qb8 {[%csl Yf2,Yg3]} 43. Qb2 Qc7
$17 {also preserves a clear advantage for Black.}) 43. Kxf2 Ne4+ 44. Ke2 $1 {
Ding Liren shows precision handling the defence.} (44. Ke1 Qb8 $1 {[%csl Rg3]
and Black wins} 45. Kd1 Qxg3 46. Qf8 Qg4+ 47. Ke1 Qxh4+ 48. Kd1 Qg4+ 49. Ke1
Qg3+ 50. Kd1 Qg1 51. Qf4 Ng3 52. Ke1 Qxf1+ 53. Qxf1 Nxf1 54. Kxf1 Kg6 $19 {
[%cal Yg6d3]}) 44... c3+ (44... Nxg3+ 45. Ke1 Nxf1 46. Kxf1 $13) 45. Ke1 Qb1 (
45... Qb8 {now White has} 46. Bd3 $1 {and his position is not worse} Qxg3+ 47.
Kd1 Qxh4 48. Qxc3 Qg4+ 49. Kc2 h4 50. Qc7 $1 h3 51. Qe5 $11) 46. Bg2 $1 {
[%csl Ye4] The powerful knight should be eliminated, and the lone black queen
is not able to win the game by itself.} Qc2 47. Bxe4+ dxe4 48. Kf1 $11 Kg6 49.
Kg1 Kh7 ({Black might try to imitate the famous game Short-Timman Tilburg 1991
and bring the king to help the queen, but then} 49... Kf5 {[%cal Yf5g4,Yg4h3]}
50. Qf8+ $1 {prevents this idea} Kg4 51. Qf4+ Kh3 52. Qf1+ Kxg3 53. Qf4+ Kh3
54. Qf1+ Kxh4 55. Qf4+ $11) 50. Kh1 Kh6 51. Kg1 Kg6 52. Kh1 Qd1+ 53. Kh2 Qe2+
54. Kg1 Qd1+ 55. Kh2 Qe2+ 56. Kg1 Qe1+ 57. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 64] After the first 3 rounds with only draws, this is the game which
finally managed to break the deadlock in Shamkir, with Topalov scoring a full
point against the home-crowd favourite. And an exciting encounter it was, full
of complications and tactical turns!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Nxe4 {Topalov had a lion's share of the decisive results in Shamkir,
unfortunately for him after two initial wins he finished badly, adding only
zeroes to his scoresheet. Two of them came in the last two rounds, after} (5...
Bc5 6. c3 O-O 7. d4 Ba7 8. Re1 ({The most ambitious and complex move here is} 
8. Bg5 {Sutovsky,E (2619)-Bartel,M (2631) Biel 2015 Those willing to take it
up should study Sutovsky's revealing notes to his win with Bartel in CBM 168.})
8... b5 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3 Bb7 11. a4 Ne7 12. Bc2 Ng6 13. Na3 c6 14. Bd3 Re8 15.
Nc2 h6 16. dxe5 $6 ({Opening the a7-g1 diagonal straight away lands White in
an uncomfortable position. His opening hadn't been a success, but with e.g.} 
16. axb5 axb5 17. Be3 $11 {, or the immediate}) (16. Be3 $11 {he still holds
the balance and has little to fear.}) 16... dxe5 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nf4 19.
Bc2 Qc7 20. Nf5 Rad8 21. Qc1 Bc8 22. Nh2 $6 (22. Ne3 $15) 22... Bxf5 23. exf5
e4 $1 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nf1 c5 26. b3 Nd3 $17 {[%csl Gd3] /-+, Topalov,V (2749)
-Wojtaszek,R (2744) Shamkir 2018}) 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Be3 {
The open Ruy Lopez is quite rare in Mamedyarov's games and must have been at
least a slight surprise for Veselin, so he decides to sidestep Shakh's
preparation and avoid a battle in the main line.} ({Until now he has played
exclusively} 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 {, after} Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1
Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 {we are at the first theoretical crossroads:} 15. Be3 (15.
Re1 O-O 16. b4 (16. Be3 {transposes to 15.Be3.}) 16... Qd7 17. h3 Rfd8 18. g4 (
18. Bf4 a5 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxa5 Nxa5 21. Nd4 g5 22. b4 Nc4 23. Bc1 d2 24.
Bxf5 dxe1=Q+ 25. Qxe1 Qd5 26. e6 Qe5 27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Be4 Re8 29. Nf3 Qe6 30.
Nd4 $44 {/=, Svidler,P (2745)-Mamedyarov,S (2743) Reykjavik 2015}) 18... Bg6 $1
(18... Be6 $2 19. Bf4 $16 {[%cal Ye1e3]}) {White somewhat more often starts
with} 19. Ba2 (19. Bf4 {and now:} {Black has even better results with the more
active} a5 $5 (19... Qc8 20. Ba2 (20. e6 fxe6 21. Ba2 Bf7 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxg5
Rd6 24. Qf3 Qf8 (24... Qd7 25. Bf4 d2 26. Red1 Rd8 27. Bxd6 Qxd6 28. Bb3 $14)
25. Rad1 e5 26. Bxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxd3 Qxf3 28. Rxf3 h6 $11 {Schakel,C (2408)
-Tinture,L (2452) email 2017}) 20... a5 21. e6 f6 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. b4 Nc4 24.
Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Rxa1 25. Qxa1 Qb7 26. Nd2 Ra8 27. Ba2 Qa7 28. Nb3 Qxa2 29.
Qxa2 Rxa2 30. Nd4 c5 31. Nc6 Kf8 $11) 25. Nd2 c5 $6 (25... Qb7 $142 $1 $132)
26. b5 $1 Be8 27. Rxa8 Qxa8 28. b6 Bc6 29. Bc7 Rd5 {Harikrishna,P (2755)-Ding,
L (2778) Danzhou 2016} 30. Qa1 $1 $16 {For more details see the notes to this
game in CBM 174 by Kr.Szabo.}) 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Ba2 Rf8 22. e6 (22. b4 Ra4 23.
e6 (23. Qd2 $6 Nd8 24. Bg5 c5 $36 {Caruana,F (2805)-Giri,A (2773) Stavanger
2015 See the notes to this game in CBM 167 by Ramirez Alvarez.}) 23... Qd8 24.
exf7+ Kh8 25. Bd2 h6 26. Be6 Rxa1 27. Qxa1 Bxf7 28. Bxf7 Rxf7 29. Re3 Qd5 30.
Qf1 $1 Rxf3 31. Qg2 Ne5 32. Rxe5 Qxe5 33. Qxf3 Qd6 34. Qe4 $11 {½, Tesic,Z 
(2406)-Walter,G (2455) email 2016}) 22... Qd8 23. exf7+ Kh8 24. Qd2 Qa8 25. Nd4
Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bh4 27. Bd5 Qxd5 28. Rxa5 Qxf7 29. Rxb5 h6 30. Bg3 Bxg3 31. fxg3
Qd7 32. Rbe5 Qxd4+ $44 33. Qe3 (33. R5e3 Rf6 34. Qc3 Qb6 35. Qd2 $11 {½,
Sherwood,H (2313)-Sanchez,M (2329) email 2016}) 33... Qxb2 34. h4 Qc2 $44 {
½, Malashenkov,A (2432)-De Jong,J mail 2017}) 19... Qc8 20. e6 (20. Be3 a5 21.
e6 f6 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. Bc5 Nc6 24. Nd4 Nxd4 25. Bxe7 d2 26. Re3 Rxa2 27. Rxa2
Nf3+ $1 28. Kf1 (28. Rxf3 $2 Bc2 $19) 28... Nh2+ (28... Bc2 $2 29. Bxd8 Bxd1
30. e7) 29. Kg1 $11 {½, Gritsaenko,V (2466)-Walter,G (2452) email 2016}) (20.
Bg5 a5 21. bxa5 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 Nxa5 23. e6 Nc4 24. exf7+ Bxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26.
Re4 c5 27. Re3 Rxa2 28. Rf3+ Kg8 29. Rxa2 d2 30. b3 Qe6 31. Ra1 Na5 32. c4 Qe5
33. Kg2 Nb7 34. Rb1 Qe4 35. Rb2 {½, Begliy,M (2438)-Walter,G (2452) email 2016
} Qe1 36. Rb1 Qe4 $11 {[%cal Re4b1]}) (20. Bf4 {transposes to Harikrishna-Ding
Liren above.}) 20... f6 21. g5 $5 $146 (21. Nh4 a5 22. bxa5 Rxa5 23. b4 Ra6 24.
Bf4 Qa8 25. Qd2 (25. Nxg6 $5 hxg6 26. Bxc7 Rc8 27. Ba5 Nxa5 28. Qxd3 Nc4 29.
Qxg6 Rxa2 30. Qf7+ $11) 25... Qa7 {Shirov,A (2689)-Mamedyarov,S (2743)
Reykjavik 2015 This was Mamedyarov's previous experience with the Open Ruy,
here} 26. Be3 $11 {would have still held the balance.}) 21... a5 22. gxf6 gxf6
23. Nh4 axb4 24. Qg4 f5 25. Qg3 d2 26. Bxd2 Bxh4 27. Qxh4 Rxd2 28. e7+ Rxa2 29.
Rxa2 bxc3 30. Qg3 Nxe7 31. Rxe7 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Qb7 33. Qg2 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Bf7 35.
Ra8+ Kg7 36. bxc3 Kf6 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Ra7 $11 {Gerasimov,V (2509)-Walter,G 
(2452) email 2016}) 15... O-O 16. Bd4 Qd5 17. Re1 Rfd8 ({Black is also close
to equality after} 17... d2 18. Re2 Bxb1 19. Rxb1 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bg5 21. g3 c5
22. Nf5 Qd3 23. Nd6 Qg6 24. h4 Bxh4 25. Rxd2 Be7) 18. h4 $5 {became
fashionable two years ago when Caruana used it to defeat Hou Yifan. Postal
players have meanwhile found effective antidotes:} ({The older continuation} 
18. Re3 Nxd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. Bxd3 cxd4 21. Re2 {was tested by Topalov more
than 20 years ago:} Qe6 (21... Bxd3 $5 22. Qxd3 Rac8 $13 {V.Mikhalevski}) 22.
h3 Rac8 (22... Rd5 23. Ne1 a5 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3 h5 26. Rc2 f6 27. exf6 Bxf6
28. Qe2 $36 {Topalov,V (2745)-Piket,J (2630) Antwerp 1997}) 23. Ne1 Rc6 {
Svidler,P (2735)-Motylev,A (2651) Moscow 2004} 24. Qb1 (24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3
h5 $11) 24... Bxd3 25. Qxd3 h6 26. f4 Qc8 $132 {Svidler,P (2735)-Motylev,A 
(2651) Moscow 2004}) 18... Nxd4 (18... Bg6 $6 19. b4 d2 20. Qxd2 Bxb1 21. Raxb1
Bxb4 22. Qf4 Be7 23. e6 fxe6 24. Qg4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Bf6 26. Nxe6 Rd7 27. Re3 $36
{Caruana,F (2804)-Hou,Y (2663) Shamkir 2016 For more details about the whole
line see the extensive notes to this game in CBM 173.}) (18... h6 19. Re3 (19.
Bxd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxb3 (20... Bc5 $5 $132) 21. e6 Bf6 $1 $11) 19... Bc5 $5 (
19... Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bg6 21. b4 c5 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Ba2 $36) 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21.
Bxd3 b4 (21... Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Rxd3 23. Qxd3 Nxe5 24. Qe4 $14) 22. e6 Bxe6 23.
Qe2 bxc3 24. bxc3 Bxb3 25. Re1 f5 26. h5 Bf7 27. Qc2 $44 {Iotov,V (2546)
-Williamson,H (2499) email 2013}) (18... d2 19. Qxd2 (19. Re2 Nxd4 20. Nxd4
Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Bxh4 22. Nf3 Be7 23. Rxd2 Qe4 24. Qe1 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rxd2 26.
Nxd2 Rd8 $11 {Conde Poderoso,A (2347)-Martin Vazquez,J (2283) email 2017})
19... Nxd4 $5 (19... Bxb1 20. Raxb1 Qxb3 21. e6 fxe6 22. Qf4 Bd6 23. Qg4 e5 $14
{/=}) 20. Qxd4 Qxb3 21. Qf4 Bxb1 22. Raxb1 c5 $132 {½ Broniek,M (2431)
-Boldysh,M (2384) email 2016}) 19. Nxd4 Be4 20. b4 (20. Qg4 Bg6 21. b4 d2 22.
Rd1 Bxb1 23. Raxb1 Qxe5 24. Rxd2 (24. Nc6 Qd6 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Ra1 g6 27. Qg3
Qe6 28. Qxc7 Rd6 29. h5 Bf8 30. Qb7 Bh6 $44 {Apicella,M (2304)-Hofstetter,H 
(2387) email 2016}) 24... Qf6 25. Re2 (25. g3 c5 26. bxc5 Bxc5 27. b4 Bb6 $11 {
Stroemberg,H (2364)-Nenneman,D (2000) email 2017}) 25... Bxb4 26. Ne6 fxe6 27.
Rxe6 Qf7 28. cxb4 Rd2 29. Re2 h5 30. Qe4 Rad8 $132 {Bergmanolson,M (2284)
-Panman,H (2319) email 2016}) 20... c5 21. Ba2 $5 (21. bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qg4 Bxd4
23. Rxe4 Bxe5 24. Ba2 Qd6 25. Qh5 Bh2+ 26. Kf1 Qf6 27. Re3 g6 28. Qg4 Qf4 29.
Qf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 Be5 31. Rxf7 Kh8 $11 {Zugrav,W (2567)-Hofstetter,H (2387)
email 2016}) 21... c4 22. Qg4 Bg6 23. h5 d2 24. Red1 Bd3 25. h6 g6 26. Qf4 $13
{/+/= is still waiting for practical tests.}) 9... Be7 10. c3 O-O ({After} 
10... Nc5 11. Bc2 Nd7 {, the pawn sacrifice} 12. Nd4 $5 Ndxe5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14.
Nd2 $44 {is really dangerous and Black tends to avoid it - there haven't been
any relevant games in this branch since 2016.}) 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 {A line, which
features older (even way back to the 19-th century!), as well as recent games.}
({In the notes to Caruana-Hou Yifan I concentrated on} 11... Qd7 {and taking
on d2 only on the following move. While being similar, there are some slight
diffferences between these branches, e.g. our game will show Black's Q can
have a different future.} {After} 12. Re1 {Black, apart from taking on d2
followed by Na5, has also} (12. Bc2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bg4 14. Bf4 Bxf3 15. gxf3
Rad8 16. Rad1 ({After} 16. Rfd1 Qe6 17. Qe3 {Hou,Y (2673)-Muzychuk,M (2554)
WChW Lvov 2016} {Black's play can be improved with} Na5 $1 18. b3 c5 $13) 16...
Rfe8 17. Rfe1 g6 18. Bg3 Qh3 (18... Bf8 $142 $5 19. Qg5 Qe6 20. Kg2 Ne7 $13)
19. f4 Bh4 20. a4 $1 Ne7 21. Qe2 c6 22. Qe3 Nf5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Bxh4 (24. Qb6
$2 Re6 25. Re3 Qg4 26. Rd2 Be7 $36 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Rh7h4] Paehtz,E (2464)
-Muzychuk,A (2582) Huaian rpd 2017}) 24... Qxh4 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qg3+ $14 (26.
Kh1 $5 $14)) 12... Rad8 13. Bc2 Bf5 $5 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 (15. Ng5 Bxg5 16.
Bxg5 Qf5 $1 17. Bxe4 (17. Rxe4 Qxg5 18. h4 Qh6 19. Rg4 Nxe5 20. Rg5 Qf6 21.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Rxe5 d4 24. cxd4 Rxd4 $15 {Fons Cervero,F-Sorin,A 
(2415) Olot 1992}) 17... Qxg5 18. Bd3 Nxe5 19. h4 Qf6 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qh5+
Kg8 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5 Rfe8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Kf1 Kf8 26. a4 Re4 $11 {
Shirov,A (2651)-Tomczak,M (2394) Karlsruhe 2018}) 15... dxe4 16. Qxd7 Rxd7 17.
e6 fxe6 18. Nd2 Ne5 19. Nxe4 Nd3 20. Re2 Rf5 21. Kf1 Kf7 22. Rd2 c5 23. f3 c4
24. Ke2 h6 25. b3 Ba3 26. Rc2 Bc5 27. Rb1 Bxe3 28. Kxe3 cxb3 29. axb3 Nc5 $11 {
Leko,P (2735)-Akopian,V (2694) Astrakhan 2010}) 12. Qxd2 (12. Bxd2 {seems
unnatural, Black equalized rather easily after} Qd7 13. Re1 Rad8 14. Bg5 Bg4
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Bc2 d4 17. Qd3 g6 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Bf5 20. Qb3 Bxc2 21.
Qxc2 Rxd4 22. Qc6 Qe6 23. Qxc7 Rc8 24. Qa7 Rd2 25. b4 Rcc2 26. h3 Qf5 27. e6
Qxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rxf2 29. e7 Rxg2+ $11 {½, So,W (2775)-Ding,L (2778) Shanghai
2016}) 12... Na5 13. Bc2 ({Retreating the B is very natural, but as in the
game Black solved his opening problems, maybe it's time to have a better look
at} 13. Nd4 $5 c5 (13... Nc4 14. Nxe6 (14. Bxc4 dxc4 $5 15. Rfd1 Bd7 16. a4
bxa4 17. Qe2 Qc8 18. Qxc4 c5 19. Nf3 h6 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Qxa4 Qb7 22. Rd2 Rfd8
23. Rad1 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Qb5 $11 {Bauer,C (2647)-Anton Guijarro,D (2651)
Heraklio 2017}) 14... fxe6 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 c5 17. Bc2 {[%csl Gc2,Re7]
The position with the ^- is deceptively simple, but White's attacking chances
shouldn't be underrated:} g6 18. g3 c4 19. h4 Rf7 20. Kg2 Rc8 21. Rad1 b4 22.
f4 Qa5 23. h5 $36 {Swiercz,D (2649)-Petrosyan,M (2546) Minsk 2017}) 14. Nxe6
fxe6 15. Bc2 Nc4 16. Qd3 (16. Qe2 $5 Nxe3 (16... Nxe5 17. Bd2 Qd6 18. Rae1 Ng6
19. Qxe6+ Qxe6 20. Rxe6 $14) 17. Qxe3 {can transpose into Swiercz-Petrosyan.})
16... g6 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Qh3 Bg5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. f4 Qe7 21. b3 Na3 22. Bd1 a5
23. Rc1 c4 24. Qg3 Rf8 25. h4 cxb3 26. axb3 a4 $132 {Barbosa,E (2518)-Diaz
Hernandez,H (2388) Lima 2018}) ({Other moves give Black reasonable counterplay
after recapturing on c4 with the b-pawn:} 13. Bg5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15. b4 cxb3
16. axb3 a5 17. Ra4 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 h6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rfa1 Rb8 21. R1a3 c5 22.
h3 Qc7 23. f4 Rb5 24. Kh2 Qb6 25. Qd1 Qc6 26. Ra2 Kh8 27. Qg4 Rxb3 28. Rxa5 d4
$132 {Yu,Y (2738)-Najer,E (2659) Moscow 2017}) (13. Rfd1 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15.
b4 (15. Nd4 Qd7 16. f4 c5 17. Nf3 Rfb8 18. Qf2 Rb5 19. b3 cxb3 20. c4 b2 21.
Rab1 Rb7 22. cxd5 Bxd5 23. Bxc5 {Hunt,A (2288)-Naes,F (2222) Port Erin 1999}
Qb5 $1 24. Bxe7 Bxa2 25. Ba3 Qb3 26. Bxb2 Bxb1 27. Rxb1 Rab8 $17) 15... cxb3
16. axb3 a5 17. Bg5 c5 18. Ra4 d4 19. Ra3 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 dxc3 21. Qc1 Qe7 22.
Nxe6 fxe6 23. Qxc3 Rfd8 24. Rda1 Rd5 $132 {Navara,D (2708)-Polgar,J (2682)
Prague 2010}) 13... Nc4 14. Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 {[%mdl 512] The pawn-sacrifice is
far from clear, but consistent.} ({Black readily equalizes after the softer} 
15. Bc1 Bf5 (15... f6 $5 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. a4 c5 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20.
f4 Nd6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. f5 Nxf5 24. Qxb5 Ne3 25. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 26.
Kh1 Bg5 $11 {Beth,N (2145)-Vuillemin,G (2178) email 2010}) 16. Qe2 Bxc2 17.
Qxc2 f6 18. Bh6 (18. e6 Re8 19. b3 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bc5 21. Kh1 Qd6 22. Bf4 Qb6 23.
Rfe1 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Nc6 25. Qc3 b4 26. Qd2 Nd8 27. e7 Ne6 28. Be3 Rxe7 $17 {
Korneev,O (2465)-Haba,P (2515) Bad Woerishofen 1992}) 18... Re8 19. Rae1 fxe5
20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Bf6 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Be3 Qe6 24. Ra1 Re8 25. h3 Qe4
$11 26. Qd2 Be7 27. Bf4 Bd8 28. Be3 Be7 29. Bf4 Bd8 30. Be3 {½, Doehner,H 
(2252)-Richter,W (2036) email 2009}) 15... Nxb2 {Black is also consistent.} (
15... Re8 16. b3 Na3 (16... Bf5 17. Qe2 Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Nb6 19. Rfe1 c5 20. Rad1
Rc8 21. Qd2 Rc6 22. h4 Re6 23. Qf4 Qc7 24. Qg4 a5 25. a3 Qb7 26. h5 $13 {
/+/=, Aronin,L-Milev,Z Moscow (Central CC) 1959}) 17. Bd1 Bf5 18. Qd2 c5 19.
Be2 Qb6 20. Qb2 (20. Rad1 $5 $14) 20... b4 21. cxb4 cxb4 (21... Qxb4 $5 22. e6
f6 23. Rad1 (23. Bd2 $2 Qe4 $17) 23... Nb5 24. Rxd5 Bxe6 $11) 22. Nd4 Be4 23.
Be3 Bc5 24. Rac1 Rac8 25. Rfd1 Rc7 26. Bf1 h6 27. Qe2 Nb1 28. Qxa6 Qxa6 29.
Bxa6 Nc3 30. Rd2 Nb1 31. Rdd1 Nc3 $11 {Ruggeri Laderchi,G (2345)-De Lorenzo,G
email 1999}) 16. Qe2 (16. Qe3 Nc4 17. Qf4 Re8 18. Ng5 Qd7 $15 {[%cal Ye6f5]
gives White nothing concrete.}) 16... Re8 17. Nd4 {After some thought Topalov
plays the main move.} ({Regaining the pawn} 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qxb2 {can hardly
give White any objective advantage, although he outplayed his opponent after}
Bg4 (18... c5 {is more natural, preparing b4 with << counterplay.}) 19. Nd4 Bf8
$2 ({A misguided swap, Black still has a reasonable position after} 19... Qd7
$13 {[%cal Yc7c5]}) 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Qb4 Qd7 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Re3 Be6 24. f4
Rac8 25. Qc5 c6 26. a4 $16 {Van Haastert,E (2429)-Vedder,R (2261) Netherlands
2015}) 17... Bd7 {White's large plus score in this line stems mainly from
pre-computer times; objectively speaking Black's defensive resources seem
sufficient.} (17... Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. f4 (19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Qxb2 c5 21. Ne2
Qc7 22. f4 {Seibold,M-Duehrssen,R ICCF corr 1935} f6 $5 $132) 19... c5 20. Nxe6
fxe6 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Qxb2 Rb8 23. Rad1 Qb6 24. Qc2 Kg7 25. Rf3 c4+ 26. Kh1 b4
27. Rg3 Rf5 28. Rxg6+ Kxg6 29. g4 Qe3 30. gxf5+ Kh6 31. Qg2 Rg8 $1 $11 {
Romanovsky,P-Tolush,A Leningrad 1938}) ({Weaker is} 17... Qd7 18. f4 Bg4 (18...
f5 19. g4 Bc5 20. gxf5 gxf5 21. Kh1 Bf8 22. Qh5 Qf7 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Qh3 Bxh6
25. Qxh6 c5 26. Nxf5 Bxf5 27. Bxf5 $18 {Baczynskyj,B (2370)-Bellin,R (2415)
London 1978}) 19. Qf2 c5 20. f5 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Nb3 $1 $36 (22. Qf4 cxd4
23. Qxg4 d3 24. Bb3 Nc4 25. Qd4 Qa7 $17 {Foldi,K (2202)-Fordan,T (2211)
Hungary 2010})) 18. f4 c5 {Black is in no hurry to return with his N and
pursues his own play instead. Indeed, the Nb2 will remain on its post until
move 24.} (18... Nc4 19. Rae1 c5 20. e6 {Yates,F-Gunsberg,I Chester/ Cheshire
1914 Although Black quickly got routed in this game, his defence can be
improved with} cxd4 21. f5 Bxe6 22. fxe6 f5 $1 23. Bxf5 Bc5 24. cxd4 Bxd4+ 25.
Kh1 Qh4 $1 $15) 19. Nf3 Qb6 20. Qf2 ({Black's last move took the sting out of
the impending pawn advance - after} 20. f5 gxf5 ({or} 20... Bxf5 {his Q joins
the defence, attacking the Bh6.})) 20... d4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] A novelty in the
spirit of the previous note - Shakh is not worried about White's attack and
furthers his own queenside ambitions.} (20... Nc4 21. Rae1 Bd8 22. Ng5 Na3 23.
e6 Rxe6 $1 (23... fxe6 24. f5 $1 exf5 25. Bxf5 gxf5 26. Qxf5 $1 $18) 24. Nxe6
fxe6 25. f5 (25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Qh3 Kg8 28. Qg3 $11) 25... exf5 26.
Qg3 {[%cal Rg3e5]} Bc7 27. Qh4 {[%cal Rh4e7]} Bd8 28. Qg3 Bc7 29. Qh4 {½,
Haznedaroglu,K (1990)-Wojcik,W (2185) email 2006}) 21. Bg5 {To further his
attack, White must get access to h4, possibly swapping the dark-squared bishop.
} ({Moves as} 21. Be4 dxc3 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 $17) ({or} 21. cxd4 cxd4 22. Be4 Nc4
23. Bxa8 Rxa8 $36 {[%cal Ye7c5,Yc4e3] pass the initiative unequivocally to
Black.}) 21... dxc3 {Black again opts for the most principled move, increasing
his material plus.} (21... d3 22. Bxe7 (22. Bb3 $5 {is maybe even stronger,
limiting Black's options}) 22... dxc2 (22... Rxe7 23. Bb3 Na4 24. Bxa4 bxa4 25.
Nd2 {[%cal Yd2c4,Yd2e4]} f5 26. Nc4 Qe6 27. Nd6 $44) 23. Bxc5 Qc7 24. Bb6 Qb7
25. Bd4 Bf5 26. Qh4 $132 {[%csl Rg8] Although the Pc2 is strong, Black's K is
seriously vulnerable.}) 22. Qh4 ({Now there will be no B-swap, but Black beats
off the attack after} 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. Ng5 $142 (23. Qh4 Rae8 24. Ng5 c4+ 25.
Kh1 f5 $19) (23. f5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 gxf5 25. Nh4 Nd3 $1 26. Qg3+ (26. Qxf5 c4+
27. Kh1 Kh8 $19) 26... Kh8 27. Nxf5 c4+ 28. Kh1 Rg8 $19) 23... f5 $5 24. Qf3
Rd8 25. Qxc3 h6 26. Nf3 Nc4 27. Bb3 Be6 $17) 22... c4+ {Tempting, but Black
could have also considered keeping c4 free for his knight to rejoin the
defence.} ({An unforced sample line is} 22... Bf8 $5 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bxc6 Qxc6
25. f5 Nc4 26. e6 Ra7 {/\} 27. Bf6 Ne3 28. exf7+ Rxf7 29. fxg6 {with the
beautiful resource} Rg7 $1 30. gxh7+ (30. Bxg7 Qxg6 $19) 30... Rxh7 31. Qg5+
Bg7 $17) 23. Kh1 Bf8 24. f5 $6 {Now Black shuts out the Bc2.} ({Stronger} 24.
Be4 $1 {with unclear consequences:} f5 (24... Bc6 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. f5 $44 {
[%cal Ye5e6] can be really dangerous - the N can't go to c4 anymore.}) 25. exf6
(25. Bxa8 Rxa8 $17) 25... Rxe4 26. f7+ Kg7 $8 27. Bh6+ Kxf7 28. Ng5+ Kg8 29.
Nxe4 Bxh6 30. Nf6+ (30. Qxh6 Bf5 31. Nxc3 Nd3 $17) 30... Kh8 31. Nxd7 Qd8 32.
Qh3 $5 Nd3 33. Ne5 $13) 24... Nd3 25. e6 Bxe6 $8 (25... fxe6 $2 26. fxg6 hxg6
27. Bf6 Bg7 28. Ng5 $18) 26. fxe6 Rxe6 $15 {After the forced piece sacrifice
Black has 4 extra pawns and his king is relatively safe for the time being.
However, the game is far from over.} 27. Rad1 ({Topalov's original intention} 
27. Nd4 Rd6 28. Rxf7 {fails to} h6 $1 (28... Kxf7 $2 29. Qxh7+ Bg7 30. Rf1+ $18
) 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Be3 Qd8 31. Qxh6 Rf7 $19 {[%cal Yf7h7]}) 27... Rae8 (27...
Rd6 $5 28. Qe4 Qc6 $36 {was possibly a simpler choice, Black returns a pawn to
force a queen swap.}) 28. Bxd3 cxd3 29. Rxd3 {[%cal Rg5d8,Rf3g5,Rd3c3]
Material is roughly equal and White has some threats - the game remains
complex and both players have to calculate a lot.} Re4 $6 {Squanders the
advantage, Black had two better moves:} ({The most natural move is} 29... b4 {
, after} 30. Bd8 (30. Bh6 Qb5 31. Rdd1 Re4 32. Qh3 Bg7 $5 $17) {Black has}
30... Qb5 $1 (30... Be7 31. Bxb6 Bxh4 32. Ba5 Be7 33. a3 c2 34. Rc1 bxa3 35.
Rxc2 $11) 31. Ng5 h6 32. Qf4 (32. Nxe6 Qxd3 33. Qf6 Qxf1+ $1 {[]} 34. Qxf1 Rxe6
{and the o^c3 decides the game:} 35. Bc7 c2 36. Bf4 b3 $1 37. axb3 Rf6 38. g3
Rxf4 39. Qxf4 Ba3 $19) 32... R6e7 $142 $1 (32... f5 33. Nxe6 Qxd3 34. Nxf8 Rxd8
35. Nxg6 c2 36. Rg1 Qe4 37. Qxh6 Rd1 38. Ne7+ Kf7 (38... Qxe7 39. Qg6+ Kf8 40.
Qxf5+ $11) 39. Qh5+ Kxe7 40. Rxd1 cxd1=Q+ 41. Qxd1 $11 {should be a draw.}) 33.
Bxe7 Rxe7 34. Nxf7 Qxd3 35. Ng5 (35. Ne5 Qf5 36. Nxg6 Qxf4 37. Nxe7+ Bxe7 38.
Rxf4 a5 $19) 35... Qxf1+ $8 36. Qxf1 hxg5 37. Qc4+ Kg7 38. g3 Rd7 $15 {/-/+}) (
{Also after} 29... Qc5 30. Bd2 cxd2 31. Ng5 Qxg5 $1 (31... h6 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33.
Rxd2 $11) 32. Qxg5 Re1 33. Rg1 Rxg1+ 34. Kxg1 Re1+ 35. Kf2 d1=Q 36. Rxd1 Rxd1
$15 {Black retains some winning chances without any risk.}) 30. Bf4 $1 {
[%cal Rf3g5]} Be7 {Mamedyarov is still ambitious.} ({Good enough for equality
was} 30... h6 $5 31. Rxc3 g5 32. Nxg5 hxg5 33. Qxg5+ Qg6 $11 {/\} 34. Qh4 Bg7
35. Rg3 $2 Re1) 31. Qg3 ({White avoids tha back-rank ambush} 31. Ng5 $2 Bxg5
32. Qxg5 Re1 33. Rdf3 Rxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Qf2 $1 $19) 31... b4 32. Ng5 Bxg5 33. Bxg5
Qe6 {Black's o^c3 is held in check by the Bg5. Due to his dark-square
vulnerability Mamedyarov seeks a Q-swap, but the position is already easier to
play for White.} 34. h3 Qe5 $6 (34... a5 35. Kh2 $13 {/+/=}) (34... Re1 $142 {
It's important for Black to simplify the position and} 35. Rxe1 (35. Rdf3 Rxf1+
36. Rxf1 Qxa2) 35... Qxe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxg3+ 37. Kxg3 f6 $1 {is still sufficient
for a draw after} 38. Bxf6 Re2 39. a3 Rd2 (39... a5 $5 $11) 40. Rf3 c2 41. Bb2
Rd1 $11) 35. Kh2 Qxg3+ 36. Kxg3 h6 $6 (36... Re1 37. Rxe1 Rxe1 38. Bf6 Re8 (
38... Kf8 39. Kf2 Re6 40. Rd8+ Re8 41. Rxe8+ Kxe8 42. Ke3 $14 {/+/- and with
the pawns stopped, only White can play for a win.}) 39. Rd5 $36 {is already
unpleasant, but the pawn-sacrifice is no better.}) ({Perhaps the best chance is
} 36... a5 $5 $14) 37. Bxh6 Re1 (37... a5 38. Rf6 $16) 38. Rf6 $1 (38. Rxe1
Rxe1 $11 {holds, but White can avoid the swap for the time being.}) 38... R1e6
39. Rf2 $6 (39. Rxe6 $142 $1 Rxe6 40. Be3 $16 {White prepares to cross over to
the queenside with his K, while} c2 {runs into} 41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. Bd4 g5 43. Rc8
Re2 44. Kf3 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Rxa2 46. Rc7 $18) 39... Re2 (39... a5 $142) 40. Rd5
$1 {Preventing a5 complicates Black's task.} Rxf2 $6 ({The final mistake, far
more resilient was} 40... R2e5 41. Rd7 R8e7) 41. Kxf2 $18 f6 42. Be3 {
Achieving an even better version of the 39.Rxe6 line with Black's pawns going
nowhere and soon to become objects of attack. Shakh's resignation seems a bit
premature, but his position is objectively lost.} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc4 e5 8.
Qc2 h6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Nc3 Be6 11. b3 Bc5 12. Na4 Be7 13. Nh4 g6 14. h3 Kf8 15.
Bb2 Re8 16. e4 Kg8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Ne3 Nb6 20. Qc3 Nxa4 21. Qxe5
Bd6 22. Qxf6 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 Qe7 24. Qc3 Bb4 25. Qe5 Qg5 26. Qb2 Rd8 27. a3 Rxd1+
28. Rxd1 Bc5 29. Nf1 Rd8 30. h4 Qe7 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. b4 Qd4 33. Qc2 Be7 34. c5
a5 35. bxa5 Bxc5 36. a4 Kg7 37. Nh2 Bb3 38. Qe2 Qxa4 39. Nf3 Qa1+ 40. Bf1 Qc3
41. Kg2 Ba4 42. Qc4 Qxc4 43. Bxc4 Bc2 44. Nd2 Bb4 45. Bb3 Bxb3 46. Nxb3 c5 47.
Kf3 c4 48. Nd4 Bxa5 49. Nb5 c3 50. Nd4 b5 51. Ke2 b4 52. f4 Bb6 53. Nb3 h5 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. Re1
Bg7 15. c3 O-O 16. Nc2 Re8 17. Qh5 e4 18. Bf1 Nxd5 19. Qxf5 Re5 20. Qh3 Qb6 21.
Rad1 Rae8 22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Rxd5 h6 24. Qd3 R8e6 25. g3 R4e5 26. Bg2 b4 27.
cxb4 Re2 28. Rf5 Qc7 29. Ne3 Qc1+ 30. Bf1 Rxb2 31. a3 Ra2 32. Qd5 Rxa3 33. Kg2
Raxe3 34. fxe3 Qxe3 35. Bxa6 Qe4+ 36. Qxe4 Rxe4 37. Rb5 Kf8 38. Bb7 Re2+ 39.
Kh3 Bd4 40. Bf3 Rb2 41. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2843"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 $5 ({In the remote past this was a
reasonably frequent alternative to the absolute main line} 4. g3 {but then it
almost disappeared for a long while. Nowadays there seems to be some interest
in it again.}) 4... Bb4 5. Qc2 Bxc3 {This apparent concession, exchanging the
bishop before White attacks it, is considered Black's safest way of "drying
up" the position and depriving White of any chance for an initiative. The
point is that WHite has to either expose his queen or somewhat spoil his
structure.} (5... O-O {leads to more lively play as for instance:} 6. Nd5 Re8
7. Qf5 d6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 {Grischuk,A (2785)-Giri,A (2737)
Elancourt 2013 CBM 157 [ChessBase Website] (1-0, 34)}) 6. bxc3 $5 {
Strategically this is the most consistent. White strengthens his centre aiming
at placing his pawns on d3 and e4. This would be fine in the 4.g3 systems, but
here White has committed his queen very early and needs to waste a tempo with
e3-e4.} (6. Qxc3 Qe7 7. Be2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Nb6 10. d3 Bg4 11. Bd2 O-O-O
12. Rc1 f5 {Oleksienko,M (2615)-Navara,D (2726) Germany 2018 (0-1, 52), with
active play for Black.}) 6... d6 (6... O-O {may lead to a transposition but in
the following game White reserved a different fate for his bishop than Carlsen:
} 7. d3 d6 8. Be2 Re8 9. e4 {Aronian,L (2799)-Matlakov,M (2728) Tbilisi 2017
CBM 181 [Mekhitarian,K] (1-0, 40)}) 7. e4 O-O 8. g3 $5 {Strategically the most
ambitious plan, but due to the two wasted tempi (Qc2 and e3-e4) completely
inoffensive.} Ne8 $5 $146 {The knight is temporarily passive on e8 but keeping
the bishop's diagonal open ensures the carrying out of the thematic break ...
f7-f5.} (8... Nd7 9. Bg2 Nc5 {looks a bit more harmoniousd, though.} 10. Nh4 (
10. O-O f5 $15) (10. d4 exd4 11. cxd4 Bg4 $5 $15 12. dxc5 $6 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qf6
$17) 10... a6 ({Preparing to undermine the centre with ...b7-b5. The same
manoeuvre as in the game} 10... Ne7 {does not work due to} 11. d4 $14 {and
Black can complain about not having placed the knight safely on e8.}) 11. O-O (
11. a4 Na5 12. d3 Nab3 $11) 11... b5 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Nxd4 14. Qd2 Nc6 15.
e5 Bb7 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Qxd6 cxd6 18. Nf5 {½-½ Khairullin,I (2662)-Svidler,
P (2739) Chita 2015 CBM 168 [Sagar Shah]} Ne5 $11) 9. Nh4 Ne7 10. d3 ({
Queenside queen activity is premature with incomplete kingside development. I
was watching the following game from the next board and was surprised by the
superficiality of such a great English expert like Suba:} 10. Qb3 Rb8 (10... f5
$5) 11. d4 c5 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Qa3 b6 14. Qxa7 Bb7 $17 {Suba,M (2535)-Komarov,
D (2580) Sovata 1998 EXT 1999 [Bulletin] (½-½, 40)}) 10... f5 11. exf5 Nxf5
12. Nxf5 Bxf5 {It goes without saying that Black has solved all his opening
problems.} 13. Bg2 c6 {Preparing to re-activate the knight.} 14. h3 Nc7 15. O-O
Ne6 $11 {If on the white side there were any other player, we could say
Black's position is comfortable and safe. But this is never the case when you
face Carlsen. And to do justice to Topalov, he is also in permanent search for
ways to complicate the fight.} 16. Be3 Nc5 {This is already a sign that
something may change in the position soon, in view of the possible exchange on
c5. But since White planned Rad1-d2, Qd1 and d3-d4, Black should activate his
knight before it is too late.} 17. Rad1 (17. Bxc5 {is slightly premature as
WHite is not too well prepared to defend the d3-pawn:} dxc5 18. Rad1 Qd7 19.
Kh2 Rad8 20. Qc1 Qe6 21. Qe3 Qg6 $11) 17... Qd7 18. Kh2 Bg6 $6 {A somewhat
inconsistent move, losing a tempo and disabling the regrouping with ...Qg6.} (
18... Rad8 19. Rd2 Rfe8 {would have kept the rhythm of development.}) ({
But also} 18... b6 {was good, with possible transposition to the game.}) 19.
Rd2 ({White could have tried using the tempo offered by Black with} 19. Bxc5 $5
dxc5 20. Rfe1 Rfe8 (20... Rae8 21. Re3 $14) 21. Re3 Rad8 22. Qe2 $14 {and
White is better regrouped, to take advantage of the opponent's weaknesses.})
19... Rae8 20. Qd1 b6 $1 $11 {Topalov consolidates his knight, but later he
will not make use of the main virtues of his last move.} 21. Re1 (21. Bxc5 bxc5
22. d4 cxd4 23. cxd4 e4 $13) 21... h6 22. Bxc5 {It is hard to say whether
Carlsen still hoped to obtain an advantage when playing this. In principle he
would have liked to carryi out d3-d4 but this is not easy to achieve under
favourable circumstances:} (22. d4 Ne4 $11) (22. f3 Nb7 $1 {Carlsen} (22... Ne6
23. d4 exd4 24. cxd4 d5 25. cxd5 Qxd5 {Topalov} 26. f4 Be4 27. Bxe4 Qxe4 28. d5
$16) 23. d4 $6 Na5 $15) 22... dxc5 $6 ({And it is even harder to say why did
Topalov weaken his centre when he had the simple and good} 22... bxc5 $11 {
at his disposal.}) 23. Re3 $14 {We now get a similar position as in some lines
above. The d3-pawn is much more solidly defended than the e5-pawn and c6 is
also hanging sometimes.} Re6 24. Kg1 $5 {A typical mysterious Carlsen move. He
probably wanted to keep f2 overdefended should his rooks get busy winning the
e5-pawn.} ({But} 24. h4 $5 $14 {may be a bit more to the point.}) 24... Rd6 25.
h4 Rd8 $6 {Another curious decision. It looks as if Topalov had lost his
patience. Or maybe he simply blundered something in the ensuing tactical line.}
(25... Re8 {completes the regrouping in a better way, by defending e5.}) {
But even after the last small inaccuracy Black remains close to equality.} 26.
Rxe5 Bxd3 (26... Rxd3 $2 {runs into} 27. Bd5+ $1 cxd5 28. Rxd3 ({or} 28. Rxd5 {
Topalov}) 28... Bxd3 29. Rxd5 $16 {Carlsen.}) 27. Be4 Bxc4 $2 {Along his
career Topalov probably sacrificed more exchanges and queens than any of his
contemporaries. But in this case the last move puts him on the verge of defeat.
} ({Ljubojevic suggested} 27... Bc2 {but Black loses a pawn without
compensation:} 28. Rxd6 Bxd1 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. Bxc6) ({Carlsen was mainly
worried about his chances for an advantage after} 27... Kf8 $1 {, defending e8
and avoiding any combination based on Re8+. Topalov considered this move but
"did not dare playing it" True, White could win a pawn with} 28. Qf3+ Kg8 (
28... Rf6 $2 29. Qe3 Rd6 30. Rxd3 Rxd3 31. Bxd3 Qxd3 32. Re8+ $1 $18) 29. Bxc6
Qxc6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Rd5 $1 {Not an easy move to find in advance.} Rxd5 32.
cxd5 Rd6 33. Rxd3 {But after} b5 $14 {Black is in no real danger of losing.})
28. Rxd6 Qxd6 29. Re8+ $1 Rxe8 30. Qxd6 Rxe4 31. Qxc6 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Bxa2 {
Material is about equal but the black king is vulnerable and his pieces are
not coordinated, making them comfortable targets for the queen.} 33. g4 {
White's best plan is weakening the enemy king, of course.} Kh7 34. f4 $18 h5 {
Logical but insufficient.} 35. f5 $6 {This weakens the f-pawn and offers Black
saving chances.} (35. Qd7 $1 {[%csl Ra2,Re1][%cal Gd7d2] would have more or
less won:} Bc4 (35... Re2+ 36. Kg3 {[%cal Gd7d3] does not change anything.})
36. Qf5+ g6 37. Qd7+ Kg8 38. gxh5 gxh5 39. Qxa7 $18 {The combined attack of
the queen, king and f-pawn wins easily.}) 35... hxg4 36. h5 (36. Qg6+ Kh8 37.
f6 g3+ ({During the post mortem} 37... gxf6 {was also considered satiosfactory
but probably both players overlooked that after} 38. Qxf6+ Kh7 {White wins a
piece with} 39. Qf2 $1 Ra1 40. Qb2 $18) 38. Qxg3 Re2+ 39. Kg1 gxf6 {with
reasonable drawing chances.}) (36. Qb7 $5 {[%cal Gf5f6]} Kh8 37. Qxa7 Bb1 38.
Qxb6 Bxf5 39. Qxc5 $18) 36... Bf7 37. Qb7 Kg8 $14 {Black has partly stabilised
and has two targets on f5 and h5.} 38. Qxa7 (38. f6 {is parried with} Re6)
38... Bxh5 $2 {This exposes the bishop in one of the lines below, once again
turning the position into critical for Black.} (38... Rf1 $14 {or}) (38... Re3
$14 {[%cal Ge3f3] would have retrieved the kingside pawns maintaining the
stability at the same time.}) 39. Qxb6 c4 40. Qd8+ Be8 ({A sad necessity such
as} 40... Kh7 {allows} 41. Qh4 {with a very unpleasant pin. For instance} Re2+
42. Kg3 Re3+ 43. Kf4 Rf3+ 44. Kg5 Rh3 45. Qf2 {with a similar attack as in the
game.}) 41. Kg3 Kh7 ({As pointed out by Carlsen} 41... g6 {fails to free Black
after} 42. Kf2 Re5 43. fxg6 Rf5+ 44. Kg3 Rf8 45. Qd6 {folowed by the king's
advance.}) 42. Qc7 Kg8 43. Qxc4+ Bf7 44. Qd4 Re8 45. c4 {White is winning
already and Carlsen will display the needed accuracy until the end.} Rf8 46. c5
Be8 47. Qd5+ Kh7 48. Qe6 (48. Qe4 $5 Bd7 49. f6+ Kg8 50. Qd5+ Rf7 51. fxg7 Kxg7
52. c6 Bc8 (52... Bf5 53. c7 $18) 53. Qg5+ Kh7 54. Qd8 Be6 55. c7 $18) 48...
Bb5 49. c6 Bxc6 (49... Ba6 50. c7 (50. Kxg4 Bc8 51. Qe5 $18 {Carlsen}) 50...
Bc8 51. Qg6+ Kg8 52. Kxg4 Rf7 53. Kg5 Rxc7 54. Qe8+ Kh7 55. f6 gxf6+ (55...
Rc5+ 56. Kh4 $18) 56. Kxf6 $18 {Carlsen.  Black loses one of his pieces soon.})
50. Qg6+ Kg8 51. Qxc6 Rf6 52. Qe8+ Kh7 53. Kxg4 {With pawns on f7 and g5 the
game would be drawn, but the way it is White has a simple winning plan, known
since the earliest endgame books.} Rh6 54. Kf4 Rf6 55. Ke5 Rh6 56. Qe6 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 (6. Nc3 $5 {was seen
in a game between two ex-world champions in 2017:} b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nd5 $5 (8.
d3 {Anand later tried this move against Carlsen:} d6 9. Nd5 h6 10. c3 Rb8 11.
Re1 Ba7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Re8 14. a4 b4 15. a5 bxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 $11 {
½-½ (66) Anand,V (2783)-Carlsen,M (2822) Saint Louis 2017, with a roughly
equal position.}) 8... Nxe4 9. d3 Nf6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Re1 h6 13.
Bh4 Bb7 14. c3 Rfe8 15. d4 e4 16. Nd2 Na5 $13 {0-1 (60) Anand,V (2786)-Kramnik,
V (2808) Stavanger 2017, with a complex and unbalanced position.}) 6... O-O 7.
d4 Ba7 {This idea was tried for the first time back in 1902! But more
seriously in a game between Tal and Keres, in 1959.} 8. Re1 {This is a
standard move, but apparently Black starts to achieve a comfortable position
if White plays too passively.} (8. dxe5 {was played by the Swedish GM
Grandelius against Wojtaszek's compatriot GM Gajewski, in 2018.} Nxe4 9. Qd5
Nc5 10. Bc2 Ne7 11. Qd1 d5 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Qxd6 cxd6 {The black pieces are
quite active, but White has a better pawn structure, guaranteeing him a very
slight advantage, that did not materialise in this game.} 14. Bf4 Bf5 (14... d5
$1) 15. Na3 Bxc2 16. Nxc2 Nf5 17. Rad1 $14 {1/2-1/2 (46) Grandelius,N (2646)
-Gajewski,G (2588) Batumi 2018}) (8. Bg5 $146 {a logical move, but a novelty
at the time. I think this is the critical way to play as White.} h6 9. Bh4 exd4
$1 (9... b5 $2 10. dxe5 $1 g5 11. exf6 Qxf6 (11... gxh4 {doesn't help} 12. e5
$3 bxa4 13. Qd2 {[%csl Rh6]} Kh7 {Now White wins with a nice combination:} 14.
Qd3+ Kh8 15. Ng5 $1 hxg5 16. Qf3 $1 Nxe5 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qh6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 $18
) 12. e5 $5 Qg7 13. Bc2 $1 gxh4 14. Nxh4 Nxe5 15. Nf5 Qf6 16. Qh5 Re8 17. Nxh6+
Kf8 18. Nd2 d5 19. Rae1 Bd7 20. Kh1 (20. Bf5 $1 $18) 20... Kg7 21. f4 Qxh6 22.
Qxh6+ Kxh6 23. fxe5 Kg7 $16 {½-½ (42) Tal,M-Keres,P Tallinn (Estonia) 1959,
Keres went on to defend this endgame.}) 10. cxd4 d6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nbd2 (12.
Re1 $5) 12... Re8 {Black is doing fine dynamically with the bishop pair and
the loose white central pawns.} 13. Qa4 (13. Re1 $5) 13... Bd7 14. e5 g5 $1 15.
Nxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 dxe5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxd8 Raxd8 $13 {0-1 (39) Smirnov,A 
(2478)-Nabaty,T (2622) Pardubice 2016, with complex play.}) 8... b5 (8... d6 {
was played in another very old game in 1963, this time by the Soviet master
Lev Aronin as Black.} 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Qe7 11. d5 $6 (11. Bxc6 {similar to
the Smirnov - Nabaty game, this exchange is typical in these positions. I
don't like 11.d5 as in the game.}) 11... Nb8 12. Nbd2 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6
15. Nf1 c6 $132 {1-0 (54) Nikitin,A-Aronin,L Moscow (Russia) 1963}) 9. Bb3 d6
10. h3 Bb7 {[%csl Ra7,Rb7]} 11. a4 Ne7 $1 12. Bc2 Ng6 {[%csl Ra7,Rb7,Rf6,Rg6]
This is the main idea of the variation - achieve this very active piece setup.
If Black is able to place the bishops and knights like this without any danger,
he should have a good position.} 13. Na3 c6 {Wojtaszek chooses to keep the
tension. 13...exd4 was possible, but not so clear.} (13... exd4 14. cxd4 b4 15.
Nc4 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 (16. Rxe4 d5 {with sharp play.}) 16... Nxe4 17. Rxe4 d5 $11)
14. Bd3 Re8 15. Nc2 h6 16. dxe5 $6 (16. Be3 {had to be played. With 16.dxe5,
Black's position improves and he already starts to look for a serious
advantage.}) 16... dxe5 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nf4 19. Bc2 Qc7 $1 {[%cal Ga8d8,
Gc6c5,Gc5c4] Topalov simply doesn't have much in return for all the strategic
achievements Black has made.} 20. Nf5 Rad8 21. Qc1 Bc8 $1 {Trying to eliminate
White's strongest piece. 22.Ng3 is possible, but it's hard to make such
passive moves.} (21... c5 $5 {was also a good move.}) 22. Nh2 $2 (22. Ng3 {
would have been a better choice.}) 22... Bxf5 23. exf5 e4 $1 $17 {[%csl Rf2,
Rf5,Rg2,Rh3] When Black achieves such a pawn structure, the advance of the
central e-pawn is very strong. White's f5-pawn basically becomes useless.} 24.
axb5 axb5 25. Nf1 (25. Ng4 {wouldn't change much:} Nxg4 26. hxg4 {Here Black
can choose the best purpose for the e-pawn: support d3 or break White's pawn
structure.} Nd3 (26... e3 $5 27. fxe3 Nd5 28. Re2 Nf6 $40) 27. Bxd3 exd3 $17)
25... c5 $1 26. b3 Nd3 27. Bxd3 exd3 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. c4 Re2 $1 30. cxb5 Qe5
{Wojtaszek is very precise concluding the game. The threat of ...Qd4 (amongst
others) decides the game.} 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. Qc4 Qxf5 33. f3 Rc2 34. Qxf7 Qg5
35. g4 Qh4 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 {White immediately
gains the dark-squared bishop.} Bb6 7. a3 {A typical move in this structure.
White frees the a2-square for his bishop.} (7. Nxb6 {is the most common
continuation.}) 7... O-O (7... h6 {was played by Mamedyarov in a blitz game,}
8. h3 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Re1 Bxc4 11. dxc4 Nd4 12. Nh4 Nd7 13. g3 Qf6 14. Nxb6
Nxb6 $11 {Artemiev-Mamedyarov, Huai'an blitz 2017, with a balanced middlegame.}
) 8. O-O Ne7 {A natural idea. Black goes to g6 with his knight, from where the
knight is more active.} (8... Be6) ({and} 8... h6 {are the other logical
options.}) 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Bg5 $1 {The best reply, because the pin can be
unpleasant for Black.} Be6 ({In the event of} 10... Ng6 11. Nh4 $1 $14 {
and White prevents ...h6, moreover he frees the f3-square for his queen.}) 11.
Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nh4 {White opens the black king's position a bit. With the last
move he prepares for Qh5.} d5 (12... f5 $6 {could have been met by} 13. exf5
Nxf5 14. Nxf5 Bxf5 15. f4 $14 {and White has a promising position.}) ({Probably
} 12... Ng6 $5 {was still the most accurate, for example:} 13. Qh5 Kh8 14. Bxe6
Nf4 15. Qh6 fxe6 16. g3 Rg8 17. Kh1 Ng6 {and Black tries to hold his position.}
) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 {White tries to open the centre, but this is not the
most precise now.} (14. Qf3) ({or} 14. Bxd5 Qxd5 (14... Bxd5 15. f4 $36) 15.
Qh5 Qd4 16. Qh6 Ra4 17. g3 $36 {gives some initiative for White.}) 14... c6 $2
{Error in reply!} ({The smart} 14... Nc3 $1 {was the correct reaction,} 15.
bxc3 (15. Qd3 $2 Qxd4) 15... Bxc4 16. Nf5 Kh8 17. Re1 Be6 {and Black doesn't
have a real problem.}) 15. Re1 $1 {The best move, White continues the pressure
on e5.} b5 16. Bxd5 cxd5 $6 (16... Qxd5 {was more accurate, but} 17. dxe5 fxe5
18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxe5 b4 20. Nf5 $14 {and White is a pawn up.}) 17. Qh5 e4 18.
f3 $1 {White opens the position again, because the black king can be weak and
the e1-rook can come to the play.} b4 $1 {Still the best practical chance to
create counterplay.} ({After} 18... exf3 $6 19. Qxf3 $16 {and Black's pawn
structure is very bad.}) 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe4 Ra5 21. Qh6 Qd5 22. Rf4 bxa3
23. bxa3 Qg5 24. Qxf6 ({The careless} 24. Rxf6 $2 {could have been met by} Qxh6
25. Rxh6 Kg7 $17 {and suddenly the rook is trapped on h6.}) 24... Qxf6 25. Rxf6
Rc8 26. Rf2 {White is two pawns up, but Black can win back the a3-pawn. If
White consolidates his position, comes back with the N and activates his king,
he should be winning.} b5 27. Rd2 b4 28. a4 Bd7 ({In the event of} 28... Rca8
29. Rb1 Rxa4 30. d5 Bd7 31. Nf3 $16 {followed by Kf2 and White is clearly
better.}) 29. Kf2 Rxa4 30. Rb1 Rc4 31. Rb2 ({The immediate} 31. Nf3 {was also
fine.}) 31... Kf8 32. g3 (32. Nf3 {was also good, but White doesn't have to
hurry with anything.}) 32... Bh3 33. Nf3 f6 34. Ke3 (34. Ne1 {is similar to
the text move, First he activates his king.}) 34... Bg4 (34... Ra3+ $1 {
was tougher, as} 35. Kf4 Bd7 36. Ne1 Bc6 {and it is not so easy for White to
activate the knight.}) 35. Ne1 $1 {White starts to improve his knight.} Ke7 36.
Ng2 (36. Nd3 {was also fine.}) 36... Bh3 37. Nf4 Be6 {Black can't do anything,
just wait.} 38. d5 Bf5 39. d6+ Kd8 (39... Kd7 40. Nd5 $18 {is also hopeless
for Black.}) 40. Nd5 Ra3+ 41. Kf2 Be4 42. Nb6 $1 {Black can't save the b4-pawn.
} Rc5 43. Rxb4 Rh5 44. Ke1 (44. Rxe4 $4 {was Black's last trap, because of}
Rxh2+ 45. Ke1 Ra1+ 46. Rd1 Rh1+ $17 {and suddenly Black will be an exchange up.
}) 44... Bc6 (44... Ra1+ 45. Rd1 $18) 45. Re2 Ra6 46. c4 Ra1+ 47. Kd2 Rf5 48.
Re7 Ra2+ 49. Kc3 {A great victory by Karjakin!} 1-0

[Event "Wenzhou m"]
[Site "Wenzhou"]
[Date "2018.08.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2018.08.11"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. Nc3 Bf5 {This is a
typical move in the King's Indian. The B controls the important b1-h7 diagonal.
However on f5 the B can be attackable too.} (6... Nbd7 {is the most popular
move.}) ({Recently Carlsen played} 6... Nc6 7. d5 Nb4 8. a3 Na6 9. Nd4 e5 10.
dxe6 fxe6 11. O-O e5 12. Nb3 c6 13. e4 (13. Nd2 $5) 13... Nc7 14. f4 Ne6 15. f5
Nd4 16. Be3 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 gxf5 18. exf5 d5 $36 {Caruana-Carlsen, Karlsruhe/
Baden-Baden 2018, with a promising middlegame for Black..}) 7. Qb3 {White
immediately tries to exploit the fact that the B is not protecting the b7-pawn.
} (7. O-O {is a more popular move, Ding Liren has also played it with White,}
a5 8. d5 Na6 9. Nd4 Bd7 10. e4 Nc5 11. f3 e5 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Be3 Nh5 14. g3
e5 15. Ndb5 Bh3 16. Rf2 Rf7 $13 {Ding Liren-Vachier Lagrave, Stavanger 2018,
with a double-edged fight.}) 7... b6 8. d5 {White has gained some space and he
prepares for Nd4.} ({The natural} 8. O-O {was also possible.}) 8... a5 9. Nd4
Bd7 10. O-O Na6 11. Qd1 Nc5 (11... e5 $5 {was also an interesting option,} 12.
dxe6 fxe6 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Qe7 $13 {and White has the bishop
pair, but Black is active, his pawn structure is flexible.}) 12. Bf3 Rc8 {
A prophylactic move, Black prepares for ...e5, but first he goes out the
diagonal of the f3-B.} 13. a3 e5 $1 14. dxe6 Nxe6 (14... fxe6 $6 {could have
been met by} 15. b4 $1 $36 {and the N doesn't have a good place.}) 15. Re1 (15.
b3 {was the alternative move.}) 15... Nxd4 $6 {I think this is an inaccuracy,
because White can open the e-file, improve his structure and open the diagonal
of the c1-B.} ({Black should keep the tension with} 15... h5 $13 {and the
position is unclear.}) 16. exd4 Re8 17. Be3 $1 {The most ambitious reply,
White avoids the exchange of the Rs.} Be6 {Black provokes the d5 to close the
centre.} 18. d5 Bd7 (18... Bf5 {is more natural for me, however} 19. g4 $5 {
can be interesting,} Be4 (19... Bd7 20. g5) 20. Bg5 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Rxe1+ 22.
Rxe1 h6 $11 {with equalizing.}) 19. h3 {A useful move, White opens the back
rank and controls the g4-square.} ({For example:} 19. Qd2 Bg4 $1 {and Black is
OK.}) 19... Re7 20. Qd2 Qf8 21. Bd4 (21. b4 $14 {was the straightforward move
and White plays for c5.}) 21... Rce8 (21... Bh6 $5 {was a little bit more
accurate,} 22. Qc2 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Re8 {and Black is closer to equalising.}) 22.
Rxe7 Qxe7 23. b4 h5 ({Opening of the a-file with} 23... axb4 $6 {is only
helpful for White, as} 24. axb4 $14 {and Ra7 can be unpleasant for Black.}) 24.
bxa5 bxa5 25. Rc1 {A prophylactic move, White prepares for Nb5 or sometimes c5
and the R will be useful on the c-file.} ({The logical} 25. Rb1 {to gain the
b-file could have been met by} Bf5 {and the R shouldn't leave the 1st rank,
because of ...Qe1.}) 25... Kh7 {A very tempting move, Black prepares for ...
Bh6, however it is not the most accurate.} (25... Nh7 $1 {was the precise
reaction,} 26. Be3 Qh4 27. Nb5 Re5 $1 $132 {with a complicated position.}) 26.
Be3 (26. Nb5 $2 {is bad, as} Bh6 {.}) 26... a4 27. Bf4 ({In the event of} 27.
Nb5 Ne4 $1 28. Bxe4 Qxe4 29. Nxc7 Rb8 $44 {with a good compensation for the P.}
) 27... Bf5 28. Nb5 $1 {The correct reply!} ({The greedy} 28. Nxa4 {could have
been met by} Ne4 $1 29. Bxe4 Qxe4 $44 {and suddenly Black is very active.})
28... Be4 (28... Ne4 $2 {does not work, because of} 29. Bxe4 Bxe4 (29... Qxe4
30. Nxc7 $16) 30. Re1 $16 {and the pin is unpleasant for Black.}) 29. Re1 Qd7
30. Be2 $1 {A great move! White doesn't exchange, because the the black B on
e4 is attackable.} Bf5 {Of course the B escapes immediately.} 31. Bf1 Ne4 ({
After the exchange of the Rs with} 31... Rxe1 $6 32. Qxe1 $16 {the a4 and
c7-Ps become really weak.}) 32. Qe3 (32. Qa5 $5 {was also possible,} c6 33.
dxc6 Qxc6 34. Qa7 $36 {and White's chances are better.}) 32... Nf6 33. Qc1 Ne4
34. Re3 $6 ({Of course White doesn't repeat with} 34. Qe3 $11 {,}) ({however} 
34. Re2 $14 {was more accurate with a little advantage for White.}) 34... g5 $1
{Black immediately finds the counterplay.} 35. Bh2 Bh6 {Suddenly Black is
becoming active and threatening ...g4.} 36. g4 {White tries to solve it with a
tactical move.} hxg4 37. hxg4 Bxg4 38. Bd3 ({The fork with} 38. f3 $6 {is
dubious, as} Bxf3 39. Rxf3 g4 40. Rf4 f5 $1 $36 {and White is under pressure.})
38... f5 39. Qe1 Bh5 40. Bxe4 $2 {The decisive mistake, probably in time
pressure!} ({White should have played} 40. Nd4 $13 {with an unclear position.})
40... fxe4 41. Nd4 (41. Rxe4 $2 {does not work because of} Qg4+ $1 $19 {
and Black is winning.}) 41... Bf7 {Black had to avoid the Ne6.} 42. Bg3 (42.
Rxe4 {is also met by} Qg4+ $1 43. Rxg4 Rxe1+ 44. Kg2 Rc1 $17 {and Black has a
good chance to win the endgame.}) 42... Bg7 43. Nb5 Bg6 {Black improves his
pieces. The B-pair is extremely strong.} 44. Qe2 Re7 ({The engine suggests the
smart} 44... Kh6 $1 $19 {followed by ...Bh5.}) 45. f3 Qh3 46. Qh2 (46. fxe4 {
also doesn't help White, as} Bxe4 47. Qh2 Qxh2+ 48. Kxh2 Kg6 $19 {and Black
should be winning.}) 46... Qxh2+ 47. Kxh2 Bb2 $1 $19 {A good move, Black
prepares for ...Bc1 and puts some pressure on a3.} 48. c5 Bc1 49. cxd6 cxd6 50.
Rc3 Bd2 51. Bxd6 Rb7 52. Rc7+ Rxc7 53. Bxc7 exf3 54. Kg3 Be4 55. Bb6 Bxd5 56.
Bf2 Bc1 0-1

[Event "Wenzhou m"]
[Site "Wenzhou"]
[Date "2018.08.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2018.08.11"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 Be6 9. b4 Nd4 10. Rb1 Nxf3+ 11. Bxf3 c6 12. d3 O-O 13. Bb2 f5 14. Na4 Nd7
15. Qc2 Qc7 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. bxc5 Rad8 18. Ba1 Rd7 19. Rb4 a5 20. Ra4 Bd5 21.
e4 Be6 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Be4 Rd5 24. d4 Qd7 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 26. Re1 Kf7 27. Re2
h5 28. dxe5 Qf3 29. Re3 Qd5 30. Re2 Qf3 31. Re3 Qd5 32. Rf4 Rxf4 33. gxf4 g6
34. Rg3 Bf5 35. Qb3 Bxc5 36. Qxb7+ Ke8 37. Qb8+ Ke7 38. Qb7+ Ke8 39. Qb8+ Ke7
40. Qb7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wenzhou m"]
[Site "Wenzhou"]
[Date "2018.08.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2018.08.11"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 d5 9. cxd5 g5 10. Bg3 Qxd5 11. e3 Qxa2 12. Bd3 Qxb2 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rc2
Qb4 15. Nb5 e5 16. Rxc3 Nc6 17. f4 Bg4 18. Qc2 exf4 19. exf4 Rac8 20. Bc4 Qc5+
21. Kh1 Qf5 22. Bd3 Qd7 23. fxg5 Nb4 24. Qf2 Nxd3 25. Qxf6 Qxb5 26. gxh6 Nf2+
27. Rxf2 Qb1+ 28. Rf1 Qg6 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qe7 Be6 31. Qxb7 Qxh6 32. Qxa7 Rc1
33. Rg1 Rxg1+ 34. Qxg1 Bd5 35. Qd1 Qe6 36. Qd2 Qf5 37. Kg1 Qb1+ 38. Be1 Qb6+
39. Kh1 Qf6 40. h3 Qf5 41. Kh2 f6 42. Bf2 Kf7 43. Bd4 Ke6 44. Qe3+ Qe4 45. Qf2
Qf5 46. Qg3 Qe4 47. Bc3 Kf5 48. Qf2+ Qf4+ 49. Qxf4+ Kxf4 50. Bxf6 Kf5 51. Bc3
Kg6 52. g4 Be6 53. Kg3 Bd7 54. h4 Be6 55. h5+ Kh7 56. Kf4 Bd7 57. g5 Be8 58.
Kg4 Bf7 59. g6+ Bxg6 60. hxg6+ Kxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wenzhou m"]
[Site "Wenzhou"]
[Date "2018.08.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.08.11"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg5 c6 8. Bg2
h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. O-O Qd8 11. c5 Bc7 12. e4 b6 13. b4 bxc5 14. bxc5 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 Ba6 16. Re1 Bc4 17. Qa4 Bd5 18. Re3 Qc8 19. Nc3 Bd8 20. Rb1 Bf6 21. Bf1
Rd8 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23. Reb3 Re8 24. Rb7 Re7 25. Rxe7 Bxe7 26. Ne5 Bf6 27. f4 g6
28. h4 h5 29. Kf2 Kg7 30. Ke3 a6 31. Rb6 Ra7 32. Bd3 Ra8 33. Qc2 Nd7 34. Rc6
Qe8 35. Rc7 Nxe5 36. fxe5 Bd8 37. Rb7 Qc6 38. Qb1 Bc7 39. Bxg6 Rg8 40. Bxf7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbbrkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBBRKRN w GEge - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. O-O O-O 3. Nb3 Nb6 4. Ng3 Ng6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 d5 7. c3 c5 8.
Ndf5 Qc7 9. Qd3 dxe4 10. Rxe4 Re5 11. Rxe5 Qxe5 12. f4 Qd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bb3 Nb6 15. Be3 c4 16. Bc2 Nd5 17. Bc5 Bb6 18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Nd6 Ne3 20. Rf2
Nxc2 21. Rxc2 Nxf4 22. Nxc4 Be6 23. Nxb6 Bxa2 24. c4 Rd8 25. b4 Bb1 26. Rf2 g5
27. h4 h6 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Nd5 Nxd5 30. Rd2 Kf8 31. cxd5 Ke7 32. Kf2 Kd6 33.
Kf3 Rc8 34. Kg4 Rc4+ 35. Kxg5 Rxb4 36. Nh5 Re4 37. Nf6 Re5+ 38. Kh6 b5 39. g4
Bg6 40. Ra2 Rxd5 41. Ra6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbbrkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBBRKRN w GEge - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. O-O O-O 3. Nb3 Ng6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Rxe4 e5 6. dxe5 Rxe5 7. Ng3 Rxe4
8. Nxe4 f5 9. Ned2 Bf6 10. Nf3 b6 11. c3 c5 12. Bc2 Ne7 13. Re1 Qd6 14. Nbd2
Be6 15. Rxe6 Qxe6 16. Bb3 Nd5 17. Qd3 Nac7 18. Nf1 b5 19. c4 Nb6 20. Ne3 Rd8
21. Qc2 bxc4 22. Nxc4 Nxc4 23. Bxc4 Nd5 24. h4 h6 25. Be3 Kh8 26. Bxc5 Qd7 27.
b4 Nc3 28. g3 Ne4 29. Be3 Qe7 30. Qb3 Bc3 31. a3 Bd2 32. Bd4 Be1 33. Kg2 Nd2
34. Nxd2 Rxd4 35. Nf3 Rd8 36. Bd3 f4 37. g4 Bxf2 38. Bb1 Bxh4 39. Qc2 g6 40.
Qxg6 Qe2+ 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbnnqkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBNNQKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Qxe4 Nd6 4. Qe2 Ne6 5. f3 Nf4 6. Qe3 Nd5 7. Qe1 f6 8.
Nd3 Bf7 9. b3 b5 10. a4 c6 11. Bf2 O-O 12. O-O Bc7 13. c3 a5 14. Nc5 e5 15.
dxe5 Qxe5 16. Qxe5 fxe5 17. Re1 Rfe8 18. Bc2 Bb6 19. Nd7 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Ra7 21.
Nc5 b4 22. c4 Nf6 23. Ne3 Nb7 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Rad1 Rd7 26. Bf5 Rd4 27. Nc2
Rf4 28. Bd7 Nxd7 29. Rxd7 Bg6 30. Re2 e4 31. Ne1 Ref8 32. Re3 R4f6 33. Rd4 h6
34. Kg3 exf3 35. Nxf3 Bc2 36. h3 Rf5 37. Rd2 Bb1 38. Rb2 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbnnqkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBNNQKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 Bxd5 4. Ne3 Bf7 5. h3 c6 6. Nd3 O-O 7. c3 e5 8. dxe5
fxe5 9. Bh2 e4 10. Bxb8 Rxb8 11. Nc5 Nd6 12. Qd2 Qe7 13. Bc2 b6 14. O-O-O N8b7
15. Nxb7 Nxb7 16. Qd7 Qxd7 17. Rxd7 Bxa2 18. Rc7 Nc5 19. b4 Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 exd3
21. f3 d2+ 22. Kxd2 Rbd8+ 23. Kc2 Rfe8 24. Re1 a5 25. bxa5 bxa5 26. Ra7 Bf7 27.
Rxa5 Bg6+ 28. Kc1 Rb8 29. Ra1 Rb3 30. Nc2 Rxe1+ 31. Nxe1 Rxc3+ 32. Kd2 Rc5 33.
g4 h6 34. f4 Be4 35. Ke3 Rc4 36. Nd3 Bxd3 37. Kxd3 Rxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.13"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkqnbrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKQNBRN w GBgb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "176"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nf2 Qe8 4. e3 O-O-O 5. g4 fxg4 6. Nxg4 Nxg4 7. Rxg4 e6
8. Qe2 Nf7 9. O-O-O g6 10. b3 b6 11. Bg2 Kb8 12. Kb1 Be7 13. h4 Nh6 14. Rg3 Nf5
15. Rh3 Qf8 16. Ng5 Bxg2 17. Qxg2 h6 18. Nf3 Bf6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Rg1 d6 21.
Qg4 Rg7 22. Rh2 Rdg8 23. Rhg2 Rf8 24. Qh3 Rfg8 25. Rg4 e5 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. e4
Ne7 28. d3 Rf8 29. R4g3 Nc6 30. Qg2 Qd6 31. Nd2 Rf6 32. Nc4 Qc5 33. Rf1 Rgf7
34. Rxf6 Rxf6 35. Rxg6 Rxg6 36. Qxg6 b5 37. Ne3 Nd4 38. Qg8+ Kb7 39. Qd5+ Qxd5
40. Nxd5 Kc6 41. Ne7+ Kd6 42. Ng8 h5 43. Nf6 Nf3 44. Nxh5 Nxh4 45. b4 c5 46. a3
Nf3 47. Kb2 Nd4 48. Ng3 cxb4 49. axb4 Nc6 50. Kc3 a6 51. Nf5+ Kd7 52. Ne3 Nd4
53. Nf1 Ne2+ 54. Kb2 Nd4 55. Nd2 Kd6 56. Nb3 Ne6 57. c3 Kc6 58. Kc2 Kd6 59. Kd2
Nd8 60. d4 Nc6 61. d5 Nd8 62. Kd3 Nb7 63. c4 bxc4+ 64. Kxc4 Kc7 65. Nc5 Nd6+
66. Kd3 Kb6 67. Nd7+ Kb5 68. Nxe5 Kxb4 69. Nd7 a5 70. e5 Nc8 71. d6 a4 72. Nf6
Na7 73. d7 Nc6 74. e6 a3 75. Nd5+ Kc5 76. d8=Q Nxd8 77. e7 a2 78. exd8=Q a1=Q
79. Nc3 Qf1+ 80. Kc2 Qg2+ 81. Kb3 Qb7+ 82. Ka3 Qa6+ 83. Na4+ Kc4 84. Qd7 Qa5
85. Qg4+ Kb5 86. Qd7+ Kc4 87. Qc6+ Kd4 88. Qf6+ Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.13"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkqnbrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKQNBRN w GBgb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. e5 c5 3. b3 e6 4. f4 f5 5. Nf3 Nf7 6. d4 g5 7. Nf2 g4 8. Ne1 b6 9.
Qd2 Nc7 10. g3 h5 11. O-O-O Qd7 12. c4 b5 13. cxb5 c4 14. bxc4 dxc4 15. Bxc4
Bd5 16. Qd3 Nxb5 17. Nc2 Be7 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qb3 Nc7 20. Qa4 Rb5 21. Bc3 O-O
22. Nd3 Qc6 23. Bb4 Nd5 24. Bxe7 Rb1+ 25. Kxb1 Nc3+ 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkbnrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKBNRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 b6 2. b3 f5 3. e3 e6 4. g4 Bf6 5. Bxf6 Nxf6 6. g5 Nd5 7. Bf3 Nf7 8. Ng3
g6 9. Qg2 Bc6 10. c4 Ne7 11. d4 b5 12. Nd3 Qg7 13. O-O bxc4 14. bxc4 O-O 15.
Nc5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkbnrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKBNRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 b6 2. b3 f5 3. e3 e6 4. g4 Bf6 5. Bxf6 Nxf6 6. g5 Ne4 7. Ng3 g6 8. Be2
O-O-O 9. O-O-O Nf7 10. Nf3 Qg7 11. Kb1 c5 12. h4 d5 13. h5 Kb8 14. Qh2 a5 15.
a4 Bc6 16. Rh1 Rh8 17. h6 Qf8 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Qe7 21. Qf4
Rd7 22. Rhe1 Rhd8 23. d3 exd3 24. Rxd3 Be4 25. Rd6 Rxd6 26. exd6 Qxd6 27. Rd1
Qxf4 28. Rxd8+ Kc7 29. exf4 Kxd8 30. Kc1 Ke7 31. Bc4 Bd5 32. Bxd5 exd5 33. c4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkbnrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKBNRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 b6 2. g4 f5 3. gxf5 Rxf5 4. b3 e6 5. e3 Bf6 6. Ng3 Ra5 7. a4 Bxa1 8. Rxa1
b5 9. Bf3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 bxa4 11. Qg2 Nf7 12. O-O g5 13. Ne4 g4 14. Nd4 Qg6 15.
c3 c5 16. f5 exf5 17. Nxf5 Qe6 18. Rxa4 Rxa4 19. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkbnrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKBNRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 b6 2. g4 f6 3. b3 Nf7 4. e3 e5 5. Ng3 g6 6. Be2 Bb7 7. Nd3 e4 8. Nf2 d5
9. d3 Nfd6 10. dxe4 dxe4 11. O-O-O f5 12. gxf5 gxf5 13. Nxf5 Qxg1 14. Nxd6+
Nxd6 15. Rxg1 Bh4 16. Bg4+ Kd8 17. Nh3 Ke7 18. Ng5 Bf2 19. Nxh7 Bxe3+ 20. Kb1
Rxf4 21. Be5 Rf7 22. Rg3 Bh6 23. Rc3 Nb5 24. Rh3 Rg8 25. Rd7+ Ke8 26. Nf6+ Rxf6
27. Bxf6 Rg6 28. Bh5 Kxd7 29. Bxg6 Bf4 30. Bf5+ Kd6 31. c4 Na3+ 32. Kb2 e3 33.
Bd3 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brnbkrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNBKRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 e6 2. b3 b6 3. e3 c5 4. Nd3 Ng6 5. Bf3 d5 6. g3 f6 7. Qg2 Nd6 8. c4 Bc7
9. Nhf2 Ne7 10. O-O Qf7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. g4 O-O-O 13. Rbc1 Kb8 14. a4 h5 15.
h3 hxg4 16. hxg4 a5 17. Bc3 Ng6 18. Qg3 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brnbkrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNBKRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b6 2. f3 e6 3. b3 f5 4. exf5 exf5 5. Qe3+ Ne7 6. Nd3 Nhg6 7. Qd4 Rf6 8.
O-O c5 9. Qf2 Re6 10. Ng3 Bc7 11. c4 O-O-O 12. b4 d5 13. Bb3 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bd5
15. Ba6+ Bb7 16. Bc4 Bd5 17. Ba6+ Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brnbkrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNBKRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b6 2. Ng3 e6 3. b3 Ng6 4. f3 c5 5. c4 e5 6. Nf5 d6 7. Ne2 Nge7 8. Ne3 g6
9. Bc2 Nc6 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Bxd4 cxd4 12. f4 Qg7 13. Qf2 O-O 14. f5 b5 15. Bd3
Bxd5 16. cxd5 gxf5 17. exf5 Nb6 18. f6 Qh6 19. g4 Qh3 20. Bf5 Nxd5 21. g5 Qh5
22. Be4 Nf4 23. Nxf4 exf4 24. Qxf4 d5 25. Bf3 Qg6 26. O-O Rc8 27. h4 Bc7 28.
Qg4 h6 29. Rbe1 Ba5 30. Bxd5 hxg5 31. hxg5 Bxd2 32. Re5 Be3+ 33. Rxe3 dxe3 34.
Be4 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G05"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.14"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brnbkrqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNBKRQN w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b6 2. f3 e5 3. b3 Ng6 4. d4 exd4 5. Bxd4 Bh4+ 6. g3 Be7 7. Nd3 f5 8. exf5
Rxf5 9. f4 c5 10. Bb2 Nd6 11. Bg4 Qe6+ 12. Kd1 O-O-O 13. Re1 Qd5 14. Nhf2 c4
15. Bxf5 Nxf5 16. bxc4 Qxc4 17. g4 Nfh4 18. Qg3 Bd6 19. Be5 Bxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5
21. Rxe5 Nf3 22. Nd3 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Rf8 24. Kd2 Rf3 25. Qe1 Qxg4 26. Rb4 Qe6 27.
Qh4 h6 28. a4 Bc6 29. Qd4 Qd5 30. Qg4 g5 31. Kc3 Kc7 32. Rd4 Qxe5 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbbrkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBBRKRN w GEge - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. O-O O-O 3. Nb3 Ng6 4. Ng3 d6 5. d4 b6 6. c4 c5 7. d5 b5 8. cxb5
Qxb5 9. a4 Qb8 10. Qc2 Bd7 11. Nd2 Ba5 12. Re3 Nb6 13. b3 Nf4 14. Nc4 Nxc4 15.
bxc4 g6 16. Ne2 f5 17. Nxf4 exf4 18. Rb3 Qd8 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qb2 Bc8 21. Bd2
Bxd2 22. Qxd2 Re4 23. Rb8 Qe7 24. Bf3 Rxc4 25. Qa5 Qd7 26. Ra1 Qg7 27. Rf1 Qd7
28. Ra1 Qg7 29. Rf1 Qd7 30. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbbrkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBBRKRN w GEge - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Qxh7 Ng6 3. Qh3 Rh8 4. Qg3 b5 5. cxb5 Qxb5 6. O-O d5 7. Nc2 c5 8.
d3 e4 9. dxe4 dxe4 10. Qa3 Kg8 11. Ng3 Ba5 12. Be3 Bxe1 13. Rxe1 Nb6 14. b3 Nd5
15. Bxc5 Ngf4 16. Qa4 Qxa4 17. bxa4 Nc3 18. Nd4 Nxd1 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. e3 Nd3
21. Bxa7 Bb7 22. a5 g6 23. f3 Kh7 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Ne5 27.
Rc1 Ng4 28. Nf3 Re8 29. Bd4 f6 30. h3 Ne5 31. a6 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbnnqkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBNNQKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Qxe4 h6 4. Nd3 Bh7 5. Qe2 c6 6. c3 O-O 7. f3 Nb6 8. Bf2
Ne6 9. g3 Bd6 10. Bc2 Qc8 11. Bb3 Nd5 12. Ne3 Ng5 13. O-O-O Nxe3 14. Bxe3 a5
15. Bxg5 hxg5 16. h4 g4 17. fxg4 a4 18. Bc2 a3 19. b4 b6 20. h5 c5 21. dxc5
bxc5 22. h6 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 g6 24. b5 c4 25. Rd5 Qc7 26. Rf1 Bxg3 27. Qe3 e6 28.
b6 Qe7 29. Rb5 Qh4 30. Qf3 Rad8 31. Rh1 Bf4+ 32. Kb1 Qf6 33. b7 e5 34. Be4 Qa6
35. Rb4 Qd6 36. Qe2 Kh8 37. Qxc4 f5 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Bc2 e4 40. h7 Be5 41. Bb3
Kg7 42. Rb5 Qf6 43. Rg1+ Kxh7 44. Qf1 Rd3 45. Qg2 Bf4 46. Rh1+ Bh6 47. b8=Q 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbnnqkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBNNQKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. f3 f6 3. Nd3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. fxe4 e5 6. dxe5 Bxe5 7. Bc5+ Bd6 8.
Bxd6+ Nxd6 9. e5 fxe5 10. O-O+ Bf7 11. Nxe5 O-O 12. c3 Qe7 13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14.
Bc2 Rxf1+ 15. Qxf1 N8f7 16. Nf2 Re8 17. Rd1 Ne5 18. Nd3 Nec4 19. Re1 Qf8 20.
Bb3 Qxf1+ 21. Kxf1 Kf8 22. Rxe8+ Kxe8 23. Ke2 Ke7 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. b3 Nd6 26.
Ke3 g5 27. g4 Ke6 28. c4 h6 29. a4 b6 30. h3 Nb7 31. b4 c5 32. bxc5 Nxc5 33.
Nxc5+ bxc5 34. Ke4 a5 35. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.13"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkqnbrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKQNBRN w GBgb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 c5 4. b3 f6 5. Bd3 g6 6. Qe2 Nf7 7. c4 b6 8. O-O Nc7
9. cxd5 exd5 10. Ng3 Be7 11. b4 c4 12. Bc2 Qd7 13. Nd4 O-O-O 14. a4 Kb8 15. f5
Ne5 16. b5 Rgf8 17. Rf2 Bd6 18. Rbf1 Qe7 19. Bc3 Bb7 20. Rf4 Rf7 21. Rh4 g5 22.
Rh3 Bc8 23. Kh1 Re8 24. Rh6 Bb4 25. Qh5 Bxc3 26. dxc3 Bd7 27. e4 Qa3 28. Rxh7
Rxh7 29. Qxh7 Qxc3 30. Nge2 Qe3 31. Qg7 dxe4 32. Qxf6 Kc8 33. Qg7 Nd3 34. h3
Rd8 35. Kh2 Nf4 36. Qxg5 Nfd5 37. Qg7 Ne8 38. Qg3 Nef6 39. Qxe3 Nxe3 40. Rf4
Ned5 41. Rf2 Rh8 42. Kg1 Nb4 43. Nc3 Nd3 44. Re2 Rh4 45. Kh2 Rf4 46. g4 e3 47.
Ne6 Rf1 48. Bxd3 cxd3 49. Rxe3 d2 50. Rd3 Ne4 51. Nxe4 d1=Q 52. Rxd1 Rxd1 53.
N6g5 Rd4 54. h4 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Chess960 G30"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.09.13"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brkqnbrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRKQNBRN w GBgb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.09.11"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. Ng3 d5 3. e5 f6 4. Nf3 Ng6 5. Qe2 Qd7 6. O-O-O O-O-O 7. b3 Kb8 8.
Qe3 c5 9. d4 Rc8 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Qe1 b6 12. Kb1 Bb7 13. Bd3 f5 14. Ne2 Nc7
15. h4 Ba6 16. h5 Ne7 17. b4 Bxf2 18. Qxf2 Qa4 19. Bb2 Qxb4 20. Ned4 Qa4 21.
Qh4 Nc6 22. Nxc6+ Qxc6 23. Nd4 Qd7 24. Qe7 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Atalik, Ekaterina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. Qe2
Nbd7 9. e4 c5 10. d5 e5 11. b3 Rc8 12. O-O Be7 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Rac1 Qc7 15. Nd1
Ne8 16. Ne3 g6 17. a4 c4 18. bxc4 bxa4 19. Ra1 f6 20. Rxa4 Nc5 21. Ra2 Nd6 22.
Nd2 a5 23. Rfa1 Ra8 24. Bc2 Ra7 25. Ba3 Rfa8 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27. Nb3 Qc8 28. c5
Ba6 29. Qe1 Nc4 30. d6 Bd8 31. Nxc4 Bxc4 32. Qc3 Qe6 33. Ra4 Bb5 34. Bd3 Bxd3
35. Qxd3 Rb8 36. Nd2 Kg7 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. exd5 Rab7 39. c6 Rb2 40. c7 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Santos Ruiz, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2523"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nbd2 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. b3 c5 10. Bb2 b6 11. Rac1 Bb7 12. Be2 Rc8 13. Qb1 dxc4 14. Nxc4 b5 15.
Nce5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 cxd4 17. Rxc8 Qxc8 18. Bxd4 Qa8 19. Nf3 Rc8 20. Qb2 Ne8 21.
Bxg7 Nxg7 22. b4 Nf5 23. Rc1 Nd6 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 25. Nd2 Bd5 26. a3 Qc6 27. Bf1
h5 28. Qe5 e6 29. h4 Bc4 30. Qc5 Qd5 31. Nxc4 bxc4 32. f3 Qd2 33. Bxc4 Nxc4 34.
Qc8+ Kh7 35. Qxc4 Qxe3+ 36. Kh2 Qxa3 37. Qc7 Kg7 38. Qe5+ Kh7 39. Qc7 Kg7 40.
Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2623"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 Nb8 13. Ng5 Re7 14. Ndf3 Nbd7 15.
Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Ng5 d5 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. f4 exd4 19. e5 dxc3 20. bxc3 Kg8 21.
exf6 Nxf6 22. Be3 c5 23. a4 b4 24. cxb4 c4 25. Bc2 Bxb4 26. Re2 a5 27. Bd4 Ne4
28. Re3 Qd7 29. Qe2 Rc8 30. Rd1 Qf7 31. Rf3 Re8 32. Re3 Qxf4 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34.
Rxe4 Qxe4 35. Qf2 Bc6 36. Qg3 Qg6 37. Qc7 Bxa4 38. Rf1 h5 39. Rf3 Bd6 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Matnadze, Ana"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2362"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 a6 4. Nd2 g6 5. Nb3 h5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 e6
9. Bd2 Nd7 10. c4 Ne7 11. Be2 Nf5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 Bh6 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15.
Bd3 Kf8 16. O-O Kg7 17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Rc3 Nb6 19. Nc5 Nc4 20. Qf4 Rg6 21. b3
Na5 22. Rg3 b6 23. Rxg6+ Kxg6 24. Nd3 Rc8 25. h4 Kh7 26. Re1 Qg8 27. Rc1 Rxc1+
28. Qxc1 Qg4 29. Nf4 Nc6 30. Nxe6 Nxd4 31. Ng5+ Kg7 32. Qc7 Ne2+ 33. Kf1 Ng3+
34. fxg3 Qd1+ 35. Kf2 Qd4+ 36. Ke2 Qb2+ 37. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Calzetta Ruiz, Monica"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 d6 8.
e6 Bxe6 9. axb5 Ne5 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. f4 Ng4 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Qe2 Kf8 14. Nc3 Bh4
15. g3 Bf6 16. Nf3 h5 17. Nd5 c6 18. bxc6 Bxc6 19. c4 a6 20. h3 Bxd5 21. cxd5
Nh6 22. Be3 Qd7 23. Kg2 Nf5 24. Bf2 g6 25. Rac1 Ne7 26. Qd2 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8
28. Bd4 Nxd5 29. Bxf6 Nxf6 30. Qxd6+ Kg7 31. Re7 Qc2+ 32. Kf1 0-1

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2641"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 Nd7 7. O-O c5 8. dxc5
Nc6 9. Nd4 Bxb1 10. Rxb1 Bxc5 11. f4 O-O 12. Kh1 Rc8 13. Be3 Qe7 14. a3 a6 15.
Bd3 g6 16. Qg4 Rc7 17. Qg3 Rfc8 18. Rbe1 Kh8 19. Qh3 Rg8 20. Bf2 Qd8 21. g4 Be7
22. Nf3 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 8th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2018.10.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Skripchenko, Almira"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2414"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2018.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.11.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. d4 g6 5. h3 Bg7 6. Bc4 O-O 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Bb3 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 N6d7 11. Ng5 Nxc5 12. Bc4 Nc6 13. Nc3 h6 14. Be3
hxg5 15. Bxc5 g4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. f3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Bf5 19. Bb5 Rfc8 20. Bxc6
Rxc6 21. Bxe7 Bxc2 22. Rd7 b6 23. Rc1 Bf5 24. Rd6 Rac8 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. g4 Re6
27. gxf5 Rxe7 28. fxg6 fxg6 29. Kf2 Re5 30. Rd1 Ra5 31. Rd2 Kf7 32. Ke3 Ra4 33.
c4 Ke6 34. Rg2 Kf5 35. Rc2 Ra3+ 36. Kd4 Kf4 37. c5 Ra4+ 38. Kc3 bxc5 39. Rg2
Ra6 40. Kc4 Kxf3 41. Rg1 Kf4 42. Rf1+ Ke5 43. Rg1 Kf6 44. Rg2 g5 45. Kxc5 Kf5
46. Kb5 Rb6+ 47. Kc5 g4 48. a4 Rg6 49. Kd4 g3 50. Ke3 Kg4 51. Rg1 Re6+ 52. Kd4
0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.20"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "212"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 a5 8.
a4 O-O 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Nxe5 Nc6 11. f4 Re8 12. O-O Nxe5 13. fxe5 Rxe5 14. Nc3
h6 15. Rae1 Rg5 16. d4 Bh3 17. Re2 Be6 18. Ref2 Rc8 19. Rf4 Nh5 20. R4f3 Nf6
21. Rf4 Bh3 22. R1f2 Be6 23. Qd3 Qd6 24. Rf1 b6 25. Nd1 Re8 26. c3 Bd7 27. Ne3
Bh3 28. Rxf6 gxf6 29. Rf2 Bd7 30. Rf3 Qe6 31. h4 Rg7 32. Bxd5 Qd6 33. c4 Rg3
34. Nf1 Rg7 35. Ng3 f5 36. Nxf5 Bxf5 37. Qxf5 Qe7 38. Rf4 Qe1+ 39. Rf1 Qe3+ 40.
Kh1 Kh8 41. Qf6 Kh7 42. Bxf7 Qg3 43. Bd5 Re3 44. Qf5+ Kh8 45. Qf4 Qxf4 46. Rxf4
Rg6 47. c5 bxc5 48. dxc5 Re1+ 49. Kh2 Rc1 50. c6 Rd6 51. Bf3 Rd2 52. b4 axb4
53. Rxb4 Kg7 54. a5 Ra2 55. Rb5 Ra4 56. Kg3 Kf6 57. h5 Rc3 58. Rb6 Kg5 59. a6
Ra2 60. c7 Rxc7 61. Rg6+ Kf5 62. Rxh6 Rg7+ 63. Kh3 Ra1 64. Kh2 Kg5 65. Rb6 Ra5
66. Rb7 Kh6 67. Be2 Rg8 68. Kh3 Re8 69. Rb6+ Kg5 70. Bf3 Rg8 71. Rd6 Ra4 72.
Kh2 Ra3 73. Kg3 Ra5 74. Kf2 Ra3 75. Ke2 Rb8 76. Rg6+ Kf5 77. Kf2 Rh8 78. Kg1
Ra4 79. Kh2 Ra3 80. Rb6 Kg5 81. Rg6+ Kf5 82. Kg1 Ra2 83. Rb6 Kg5 84. Kh2 Rh6
85. Rxh6 Kxh6 86. Bb7 Kxh5 87. Kg3 Kg5 88. Kf3 Kf5 89. Ke3 Ke5 90. Kd3 Ra4 91.
Kc3 Kd6 92. Kb3 Ra1 93. Kc4 Ra5 94. Kb4 Ra1 95. Kb5 Rb1+ 96. Kc4 Ra1 97. Kd4
Ra4+ 98. Ke3 Ke5 99. Kf3 Kf5 100. Bc8+ Kg5 101. Ke3 Kh4 102. Kf3 Ra3+ 103. Kf4
Ra4+ 104. Ke5 Kg3 105. Bb7 Rxa6 106. Bxa6 Kxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.20"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "186"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
h4 Qe6 9. Nd2 Nf4 10. Qe4 Ng6 11. f4 d5 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Nf3 c5 14. Bb5 c6 15.
Be2 Be7 16. h5 Nf8 17. Bd2 c4 18. O-O-O c5 19. Qa3 Qb6 20. Ba5 Qb7 21. Nh4 Ne6
22. Nf5 Nxf4 23. Nxe7 Nxe2+ 24. Kd2 c3+ 25. Kxe2 Bg4+ 26. Kf2 Qxe7 27. Rxd5 O-O
28. Bxc3 Qg5 29. Qxc5 Qf4+ 30. Kg1 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. Kg1 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+
34. g3 Qe4 35. Rd2 Rad8 36. Rf2 Bxh5 37. Re1 Qg6 38. Rf4 Qxc2+ 39. Qf2 Qg6 40.
Qxa7 Bg4 41. Qf2 Rd3 42. Kg1 Be6 43. Rf3 Rfd8 44. Rxd3 Rxd3 45. Re3 Rxe3 46.
Qxe3 Bxa2 47. Kf2 h6 48. Qd4 Be6 49. Qf4 Bd5 50. Ke3 Qb6+ 51. Qd4 Qc6 52. Kd2
Be6 53. Qd8+ Kh7 54. Qd3+ g6 55. Qe3 Qg2+ 56. Ke1 Bc4 57. Qf2 Qe4+ 58. Kd2 Qd3+
59. Ke1 Be6 60. Qf4 g5 61. Qf2 Kg6 62. Bd4 Bc4 63. Qe3 Qc2 64. Bc3 Qg2 65. Qf2
Qe4+ 66. Kd2 Kh5 67. Qe3 Qg2+ 68. Kc1 Be6 69. Be1 Bf5 70. Qd2 Qe4 71. Qc3 Kg4
72. b4 Qe2 73. Qd4+ Kh3 74. Qc3 Be6 75. Bd2 Kg2 76. Be1 Kf1 77. Bd2 Kf2 78. Qa3
Qc4+ 79. Kb2 Qd4+ 80. Bc3 Qd1 81. b5 Qe2+ 82. Kc1 Qxb5 83. Bd4+ Kg2 84. Qe3
Qf1+ 85. Kd2 Bg4 86. Bc5 Qd1+ 87. Kc3 Qf3 88. Kd2 Kxg3 89. Bf8 Qxe3+ 90. Kxe3
h5 91. Be7 h4 92. Bxg5 h3 93. Bf4+ Kg2 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.20"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3
Re8 9. Ng5 Re7 10. h3 h6 11. Ngf3 Be6 12. Nh4 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Qe2 Bxb3 15.
Nxb3 Bb6 16. Nf5 Re6 17. Be3 Nd4 18. cxd4 exd4 19. Nbxd4 Bxd4 20. Qf3 Bxe3 21.
fxe3 Qxd3 22. Qxb7 Rae8 23. Qxc7 Nd5 24. Qg3 Rg6 25. Qf3 Qe4 26. Rad1 Nxe3 27.
Rd8 Rxg2+ 28. Kh1 Kh7 29. Rxe8 Qxe8 30. Nxe3 Rxb2 31. Nf5 Qe5 32. Ng3 Rxa2 33.
Qd3+ Kg8 34. Qb3 Qb2 35. Qxf7+ Kh7 36. Qf5+ Kh8 37. Qf8+ Kh7 38. Qf5+ Kh8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.20"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "198"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Qe2 a5 8. a4
Nb4 9. Bf4 Nf6 10. O-O-O Qe7 11. Qd2 O-O 12. f3 Be6 13. Nd4 d5 14. e5 Bxd4 15.
Qxd4 Nd7 16. Nb5 c5 17. Qf2 d4 18. Qg3 Bf5 19. Rd2 Nd5 20. Nd6 Bg6 21. Nc4 Nxf4
22. Qxf4 f6 23. exf6 Rxf6 24. Qc7 Re6 25. Bd3 Ne5 26. Qxe7 Nxd3+ 27. cxd3 Rxe7
28. Kc2 Bf7 29. b3 Ra6 30. Rdd1 Rg6 31. g3 Bd5 32. Rhe1 Rge6 33. Rxe6 Rxe6 34.
f4 Bxc4 35. bxc4 Rh6 36. Rd2 Rb6 37. Re2 Rb4 38. Re7 h5 39. h3 b6 40. Rb7 Kh7
41. g4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Kg6 43. Rc7 Rxa4 44. Rc6+ Kf7 45. Rxb6 Ra2+ 46. Rb2 Ra3
47. Rb5 a4 48. Rxc5 Ra2+ 49. Kc1 Rg2 50. Rd5 Rxg4 51. Rxd4 g5 52. Rd7+ Ke6 53.
Rg7 Rxf4 54. Rxg5 Rf2 55. Ra5 Ra2 56. d4 a3 57. Re5+ Kd7 58. Re3 Kd6 59. Rc3
Kc6 60. Rc2 Ra1+ 61. Kd2 Rh1 62. Kc3 Rd1 63. Rh2 Kb6 64. Ra2 Rc1+ 65. Kb4 Rd1
66. d5 Rb1+ 67. Kc3 Rc1+ 68. Kd3 Rd1+ 69. Kc2 Rh1 70. Rxa3 Kc5 71. Ra4 Rh3 72.
Kb2 Rg3 73. Ra3 Rg2+ 74. Kb3 Rg3+ 75. Ka4 Rg8 76. Rc3 Rb8 77. Ka3 Rb7 78. Rc2
Rb8 79. Rb2 Rh8 80. Rc2 Rb8 81. Rc1 Rb7 82. Ka4 Rb8 83. Rc2 Rb7 84. Ka3 Rb8 85.
Rb2 Rh8 86. Rb4 Rh3+ 87. Rb3 Rh8 88. Rb4 Rh3+ 89. Ka4 Rh8 90. Ka3 Rh3+ 91. Rb3
Rh8 92. Rc3 Rb8 93. Ka2 Rb7 94. Rc2 Rb8 95. Rb2 Rh8 96. Kb3 Rh3+ 97. Ka4 Kxc4
98. Rd2 Rh8 99. Ka5 Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.21"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Nbd2
d6 9. a4 Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. O-O Nd7 13. Re1 c6 14. d4 Qc7 15.
Bb3 g6 16. Nc4 Kg7 17. Qd2 Rd8 18. Qc2 Nb6 19. Ne3 Nd7 20. Rad1 Nf6 21. Nh2 h5
22. f4 h4 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. gxh4 exd4 25. cxd4 Qg3 26. Nf3 Nh5 27. Nf1 Qf4 28.
Qf2 Bg4 29. Rd3 Rf8 30. g3 Qf6 31. N1h2 Be6 32. Bxe6 Qxe6 33. b3 Rad8 34. Kg2
a5 35. Qe3 Nf6 36. Ng5 Qd7 37. Rf1 Ng4 38. Nxg4 Qxg4 39. Nf3 Bd6 40. Qe1 Rh8
41. Nh2 Qe6 42. Rf2 Rhe8 43. Re2 f5 44. Rde3 f4 45. gxf4 Bxf4 46. Rd3 Bxh2 47.
Kxh2 Rxd4 48. Rxd4 Qe5+ 49. Kg2 Qxd4 50. Qxa5 Rxe4 51. Rxe4 Qxe4+ 52. Kg3 Qe3+
53. Kg4 Qe4+ 54. Kg3 Qd3+ 55. Kg4 Qd1+ 56. Kf4 Qd4+ 57. Kg5 Qg1+ 58. Kf4 Qd4+
59. Kg5 Qe3+ 60. Kg4 Qxb3 61. Qe5+ Kf8 62. Qb8+ Ke7 63. Qc7+ Ke6 64. Qc8+ Kd6
65. Qd8+ Kc5 66. Qf8+ Kb6 67. Qd8+ Ka6 68. Qa8+ Kb6 69. Qd8+ Ka6 70. Qa8+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.21"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B94"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qb6 8.
Bb3 e6 9. Qd2 Be7 10. O-O-O Nc5 11. Rhe1 h6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. g3 Qc7 14. f4 b5
15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Nh7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nc6 Qg5 19. Re3 Bb7 20. h4 Qg4 21.
Ne7+ Kh8 22. Qd6 Nxb3+ 23. axb3 Rfe8 24. Ne2 Nf8 25. Nf4 g5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27.
Ne2 Rad8 28. Qxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxd8 Kg7 30. c3 Qh3 31. Nd4 Be4 32. Nc8 Bg6 33. Nd6
Qf1+ 34. Kd2 Qf2+ 35. Ne2 Nh7 36. g4 Qf1 37. Rg3 f6 38. Rd7+ Kg8 39. Rd8+ Kg7
40. Rd7+ Kg8 41. Rd8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.21"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.
Bxe2 g6 9. h3 Bg7 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. Be3 Ne5 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Bd5 c5
15. Nb3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bc6 17. Nf4 a5 18. O-O-O a4 19. Na5 Rb5 20. Nxc6 Nxc6 21.
c3 a3 22. Rd2 Kd7 23. Nd5 axb2+ 24. Rxb2 Rxb2 25. Kxb2 Ke6 26. Nf4+ Kd7 27. Ra1
Rb8+ 28. Kc2 Nb4+ 29. Kd2 Nc6 30. Rc1 Ra8 31. Rc2 Ne5 32. d4 Nc4+ 33. Kd3 Ra4
34. Bc1 Nb6 35. dxc5 dxc5 36. c4 Kc6 37. g3 Ra8 38. h4 Rd8+ 39. Ke2 Re8+ 40.
Kf3 Ra8 41. Nd3 Bd4 42. Be3 Bxe3 43. fxe3 Kd6 44. Nf2 f5 45. e4 Ra4 46. exf5
gxf5 47. Nd3 Nxc4 48. Kf2 Kd5 49. Nf4+ Kc6 50. Nd3 Kd5 51. Nf4+ Kd6 52. Nd3 Ra3
53. Ke2 Ra4 54. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.21"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nb5
Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2 a5 11. Nbxd4 axb4 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1
c5 15. bxc5 Bxc5 16. Bd3 Qa5+ 17. Ke2 Nh6 18. Qf4 Ba6 19. Rb1 Rg8 20. Bd4 Bxd4
21. Qxd4 Bxd3+ 22. cxd3 g5 23. g4 Kg7 24. Kf1 Rc8 25. Qe3 Qd8 26. h3 Ng8 27.
Nxg5 h6 28. Nf3 Ne7 29. h4 Ra8 30. h5 Ra4 31. d4 Nc6 32. Qf4 Qe7 33. Kg2 Rc4
34. Rb2 Rc3 35. Ra2 Rc4 36. Ra8 f6 37. exf6+ Qxf6 38. Rg8+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.22"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Qxe5 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne8 8.
d4 Nf6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qf4 d5 11. Ne5 Na5 12. Re1 c6 13. Qg3 Bf5 14. Re2 Ne4 15.
Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bf4 Bh4 17. Qg4 Nxb3 18. axb3 Be7 19. Rae1 Bd6 20. f3 Bg6 21. h4
Bxe5 22. Rxe5 Qc8 23. Qg3 h5 24. Kh2 Kh7 25. Re7 Qf5 26. R1e2 f6 27. Rxb7 Rfe8
28. Rd2 a5 29. Bd6 a4 30. bxa4 Rxa4 31. Qf4 Qxf4+ 32. Bxf4 Ra1 33. Kg3 Rae1 34.
Kf2 Rh1 35. Bg3 Bf5 36. Rc7 Re6 37. Re2 Rxe2+ 38. Kxe2 Rc1 39. Rxc6 Rxc2+ 40.
Rxc2 Bxc2 41. Kd2 Bf5 42. Kc3 Kg8 43. Kb4 Kf7 44. Kc5 Ke8 45. b4 Kd7 46. Bd6
Bd3 47. Bf8 g6 48. Bg7 Bf1 49. g4 hxg4 50. fxg4 Be2 51. Bxf6 Bxg4 52. b5 Be2
53. b6 Bc4 54. Bg5 Ba6 55. Kxd5 Bb7+ 56. Ke5 Bf3 57. d5 Bg2 58. Bf4 Kc8 59. Ke6
Kb7 60. d6 Bh3+ 61. Ke7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.22"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Na4 Bb6 8. c3
h6 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Re1 Re8 11. h3 Bd7 12. Ba4 Ne7 13. Bc2 Ng6 14. d4 b5 15.
Bd2 b6 16. Nh2 d5 17. dxe5 Rxe5 18. exd5 Rxd5 19. Nf3 c5 20. Qb1 Nh4 21. Nxh4
Rxd2 22. Qc1 Be6 23. Nf3 Rd6 24. a3 Nd5 25. Be4 Qf6 26. Qc2 Rad8 27. Rad1 Nf4
28. Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Rd1 Bc4 30. Rxd6 Qxd6 31. Qd2 Qxd2 32. Nxd2 Bd3 33. Bc6 Kf8
34. h4 Ke7 35. g3 Ng6 36. f4 Kd6 37. Be8 Ke7 38. Bc6 Kd6 39. Be8 Ke7 40. Bc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.22"]
[Round "11.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Qxe5 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne8 8.
d4 Nf6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qf4 d5 11. Ne5 Na5 12. Re1 c6 13. Qf3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Ne8
15. Bf4 Nd6 16. Ne2 Bf5 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bxd6 Bxc2 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qc3 Bg6
21. Qxc6 Rfe8 22. h3 Rac8 23. Qxd5 Red8 24. Qa5 Qf6 25. Rac1 Rb8 26. Rc3 a6 27.
Re3 h6 28. Rc1 Kh7 29. Rc5 Rd7 30. Qc3 Rdd8 31. d5 Qf5 32. Nd4 Qb1+ 33. Re1 Qd3
34. Nc6 Qxc3 35. Rxc3 Re8 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. Re3 Rc8 38. g4 f6 39. Re7 Be8 40.
Nd4 Kg8 41. d6 Rd8 42. Rxg7+ Kxg7 43. Ne6+ Kg6 44. Nxd8 Bb5 45. Ne6 Kf7 46. Nc7
Bd3 47. b4 f5 48. Kg2 Kf6 49. Nd5+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.22"]
[Round "12.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2019.02.20"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4
h6 9. h3 b5 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Re1 Bb6 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 14. Ng3 Bb7 15.
Bd2 Rad8 16. Qe2 Qd7 17. Rad1 Bc5 18. b4 Bf8 19. a4 bxa4 20. Ne4 Nd5 21. Qf1 a3
22. Ra1 Ncxb4 23. cxb4 Nxb4 24. Bxb4 Bxb4 25. Reb1 a5 26. Nc5 Bxc5 27. Rxb7 Bb4
28. Qd1 Qc6 29. Rxb4 axb4 30. Ba4 Qd6 31. Bxe8 Rxe8 32. Qc2 c5 33. Kf1 Rd8 34.
Ke2 e4 35. dxe4 Qa6+ 36. Ke3 c4 37. Nd4 b3 38. Qc3 b2 39. Rd1 Qb6 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. Bb3 exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. h3 Bf5 15.
Re1 Re8 16. Qd2 a5 17. a3 Qd6 18. Re3 Rxe3 19. Qxe3 Rd8 20. Re1 Nd5 21. Bxd5
cxd5 22. Ne5 Be6 23. Qd3 Qb6 24. Na4 Qd6 25. Nc5 Bc8 26. Qb5 Qc7 27. Ncd3 Bf5
28. Nf4 Be4 29. f3 Bxe5 30. dxe5 Bf5 31. Nxd5 Qd7 32. Qxd7 Rxd7 33. Nc3 Kf8 34.
Kf2 g5 35. Rd1 Rc7 36. Rd5 b6 37. Ke3 Be6 38. Rd6 Rb7 39. Kd4 Ke7 40. b4 axb4
41. axb4 f6 42. Nd5+ Bxd5 43. Kxd5 fxe5 44. Rxh6 Rd7+ 45. Kxe5 Rd2 46. g4 Rf2
47. Kf5 Rxf3+ 48. Kxg5 Rb3 49. Rxb6 Rxh3 50. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nf1
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ng3 f6 11. O-O Be6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qd7 14. Qe2 Rad8
15. Rad1 Rfe8 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Nh4 g6 18. Nf3 Kg7 19. Qf2 Rf8 20. d4 exd4 21.
exd4 Na5 22. Bc2 Nc4 23. Rde1 Qd7 24. Bd3 Nd6 25. Qd2 b5 26. b3 Nb6 27. Re2
Rde8 28. Ref2 Bd5 29. h3 a5 30. Kh2 a4 31. Bc2 axb3 32. axb3 Ne4 33. Nxe4 Bxe4
34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. Ne5 Qd6 36. Kh1 Nd5 37. Ng4 f5 38. Ne5 b4 39. cxb4 Qxb4 40.
Qg5 Qxd4 41. Ng4 Ne3 42. Nxe3 Qxe3 43. Qxe3 Rxe3 44. Rc2 Rf7 45. Rfc1 Rxb3 46.
Rxc7 Rxc7 47. Rxc7+ Kh6 48. Kh2 f4 49. Rc5 g5 50. Rc7 Kg6 51. Kg1 h6 52. Rc6+
Kh5 53. Kf2 Ra3 54. Rd6 Ra2+ 55. Kf3 Ra1 56. Kf2 Ra3 57. Rc6 Rb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 Nxc5 8.
Bg2 Nce4 9. O-O Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. e4 d6 12. e5 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qc7 14. Qe2
Nd7 15. Bf4 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bd6 17. Rfe1 Rb8 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rad1 Qc5 20. Qe5
Qxe5 21. Rxe5 b6 22. c5 Ba6 23. h4 Rfd8 24. Rb1 Bc4 25. cxb6 Rxb6 26. Rb4 Bxa2
27. Ra5 Bd5 28. Bxd5 exd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. Bb3
h6 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nf1 Ba7 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. h3 Qd7 15.
Nh4 Bc5 16. Nhf5 Bf8 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Qd2 Be6 19. Nxh6+ gxh6 20. Bxh6 Nh7 21.
d4 f5 22. Rad1 f4 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Ne4 Qg7 25. Kh2 exd4 26. Nc5 Bd5 27. Be4
Bxe4 28. Rxe4 dxc3 29. Qc2 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 cxb2 31. Ne6 Qg6 32. f3 Ng5 33. Nxg5
Qxg5 34. Qb3+ Rf7 35. Qxb2 Rg7 36. Re2 b6 37. Qc2 Ne7 38. Qxc7 Nf5 39. Qxb6 Ne3
40. Qe6+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Rd1
b5 9. dxc5 Qc7 10. Bd3 Nb4 11. a4 bxa4 12. Nc3 Bxc5 13. Nxa4 Be7 14. Bb1 O-O
15. e4 Bb7 16. Bg5 Rfd8 17. Rc1 Qa5 18. e5 Qb5 19. Qe1 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nfd5 21.
Nc3 Nxc3 22. Bxe7 Ne2+ 23. Kg2 Nxc1 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Qxc1 Qxe5 26. Ra3 Nd5 27.
Ra4 g6 28. Ba2 Ne7 29. Rxa6 Rb8 30. Qc3 Qg5+ 31. Kf1 Rc8 32. Qe3 Qb5+ 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 Be7 5. O-O b6 6. b3 Bb7 7. c4 Nbd7 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 c5 12. Qe2 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc5 14. Bxc5
Bxc5 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Ba6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Rad8 18. g3 g6 19. Kg2 Rxd1 20. Rxd1
Rd8 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Bc4 Kg7 23. h4 h5 24. Qb7 Qe7 25. Qc6 Qd6 26. Qb7 Qe7
27. Qe4 a5 28. a4 Qf6 29. Bb5 Qb2 30. Bc4 Qf6 31. Bb5 Qb2 32. Qd3 Bb4 33. Bc4
Be1 34. Qf1 Bb4 35. Qd1 Qd2 36. Qxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Bxd2 e4 7. dxe4 Nxe4
8. e3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Bd3 d5 11. Rd1 Bg4 12. Bc3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Ng5 14. cxd5
Nxf3+ 15. Kf1 Nce5 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Be4 Qh4 18. Bxf3 Nxf3 19. Qf5 Qc4+ 20. Qd3
Qg4 21. h3 Qh5 22. Qc4 Nh2+ 23. Ke1 Nf3+ 24. Kf1 Ne5 25. Qe2 Nf3 26. Qc4 Ne5
27. Qe2 Nf3 28. Qc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. Nbd2
Re8 9. h3 Be6 10. Bc2 h6 11. Re1 d5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. Nh2 Qd7 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15.
dxe4 Be6 16. Qf3 Ne7 17. Ng4 Ng6 18. Ne3 Rad8 19. Nf5 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21.
Rad1 Qc6 22. Qxf4 Qb6 23. b4 Bf8 24. e5 Bxa2 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Re3 Kh8 27. Nd4
c5 28. bxc5 Bxc5 29. e6 Bxd4 30. exf7 Bxf7 31. cxd4 Bg8 32. Re7 Qd6 33. Qxd6
Rxd6 34. Rxb7 g5 35. Rb4 Kg7 36. Kf1 Bd5 37. f3 Bc6 38. Kf2 Bb5 39. Ke3 Re6+
40. Be4 Kf6 41. d5 Rb6 42. Rb2 Ke5 43. g3 Rb8 44. f4+ Kd6 45. fxg5 hxg5 46. Rf2
Rc8 47. Rf6+ Kc5 48. Rf5 a5 49. d6+ Kb6 50. Rxg5 a4 51. Bd5 Rd8 52. Kd4 Rxd6
53. Ke5 Rd8 54. Rf5 Kc5 55. Be6 a3 56. Rf3 Kb4 57. Rb3+ Ka4 58. Rb1 Re8 59. Kf6
Rd8 60. g4 Rd6 61. Ke5 Rd3 62. g5 Re3+ 63. Kf6 Rf3+ 64. Kg7 Re3 65. Bf7 Rxh3
66. g6 Rg3 67. Kf6 Bd3 68. Re1 a2 69. g7 Bb1 70. Bxa2 Bxa2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. a3 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Re8 8. e3
Bf8 9. Be2 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. d4 Qc7 12. Rc1 a6 13. h3 b6 14. Bg3 Bb7 15. b4
Rad8 16. c5 bxc5 17. bxc5 dxc5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Qc2 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 Qa5 21. Qa4
Qxa4 22. Nxa4 Ne4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Nxc5 Bxc5 25. Rxc5 Ra4 26. Rb1 Rd7 27. Rb3
f6 28. Kh2 Kf7 29. f3 Re7 30. e4 Rd4 31. Bf4 Rd1 32. h4 Ra1 33. Rd3 Ra2 34. h5
Rb2 35. a4 Rb4 36. Ra3 Rb1 37. e5 fxe5 38. Bxe5 Bc8 39. Bd6 Reb7 40. Rxc6 Bd7
41. Rxa6 R1b2 42. Be5 Re2 43. f4 Rc2 44. Rg3 Ke8 45. Ra8+ Rc8 46. Rxc8+ Bxc8
47. Rxg7 Rb3 48. Rh7 Rb6 49. Rh8+ Kd7 50. a5 Ra6 51. Bc3 Rc6 52. Bd4 Bb7 53.
Rh7+ Kc8 54. Be5 Rc2 55. Rg7 Ra2 56. Rc7+ Kb8 57. Rc2+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. e4
Nb4 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Be2 c5 11. a3 N4a6 12. Bb5+ Kf8 13. Nc3 Nc7 14. Be2 cxd4 15.
Nxd4 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bf4 Qxd1 18. Rfxd1 Ne8 19. Rac1 Nf6 20. Bf3 Nd7 21.
Ne2 Ba4 22. b3 Bb5 23. a4 Bxe2 24. Rxd7 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Bc5 26. Be3 Bxe3 27. fxe3
g5 28. Rcc7 Kg7 29. Rxf7+ Kg6 30. Rg7+ Kh6 31. Rge7 Rae8 32. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "11.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8.
Qxd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. O-O Ne5 11. b3 a6 12. Rfd1 Qa5 13. Rdc1 Nc6 14. e3
Ba3 15. Rd1 Bb4 16. Nde2 Qc7 17. a3 Be7 18. Ne4 Na5 19. Rab1 d6 20. h4 Rd8 21.
N2c3 Rb8 22. Rdc1 b6 23. Qe2 Bb7 24. Nd5 Qd7 25. Nxb6 Qc7 26. Nd5 exd5 27. cxd5
Qb6 28. b4 Bxd5 29. bxa5 Qxa5 30. Qd2 Qxd2 31. Nxd2 Be6 32. Nf3 d5 33. a4 Bd7
34. a5 Bb4 35. Nd4 Bxa5 36. Bxd5 Rxb1 37. Rxb1 Bc3 38. Rb7 Bxd4 39. exd4 Be6
40. Bxe6 fxe6 41. Rb6 Kf7 42. Rxa6 Rxd4 43. Ra2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.23"]
[Round "12.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D04"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 c6 4. Nbd2 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bg6 6. Ne5 e6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8.
c4 Nbd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. h3 O-O 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. a3 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. cxd5 Nxd3
15. Qxd3 Nxd5 16. Bd2 Rad8 17. Qc2 Rfe8 18. Rac1 Rd7 19. e4 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Bxf4
21. Rce1 Bc7 22. g3 Qe6 23. Kg2 Red8 24. Re3 Bb6 25. Rc3 Ba5 26. b4 Bb6 27. Re1
a5 28. Re2 axb4 29. axb4 Rd1 30. h4 R1d7 31. e5 Rd1 32. Ng5 Qd5+ 33. Rf3 Rd3
34. Qxd3 Qxd3 35. Rxd3 Rxd3 36. e6 fxe6 37. Rxe6 Rd8 38. Re7 Bd4 39. Rxb7 Bf6
40. Ne6 Re8 41. Nf4 g5 42. hxg5 Bxg5 43. Nh5 Re7 44. Rb6 Bd2 45. f4 Kf7 46. g4
g6 47. Ng3 Bxf4 48. Rxc6 Rb7 49. Rc4 Bd6 50. Ne4 Bxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "13.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 c5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8.
O-O Qa5 9. e3 d6 10. Bd2 Bd7 11. b3 Rfc8 12. Rc1 Rab8 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. e4 Qa3
15. Rc2 a6 16. Bc1 Qa5 17. Bd2 Qd8 18. Be3 b5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Qd2 b4 21. Nd5
Nxd5 22. exd5 Bc3 23. Qc1 Bb5 24. Rd1 Bf6 25. Bh3 Rxc2 26. Qxc2 Qa5 27. Bd2 Qa3
28. Bc1 Qa6 29. Bd2 Be2 30. Re1 Bf3 31. Qc7 Ra8 32. Bg2 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Qxa2 34.
Qb7 Rf8 35. Qxb4 Qa8 36. Qc4 Rc8 37. Qd3 Rc5 38. Be3 Rxd5 39. Qe4 e6 40. Rc1 h5
41. h4 Qb7 42. Qf3 Bg7 43. Bg5 Rb5 44. Qxb7 Rxb7 45. Rb1 Bc3 46. Kf3 f6 47. Be3
d5 48. Ke2 e5 49. Kd3 d4 50. Bc1 Kf7 51. f4 Ke6 52. fxe5 fxe5 53. Ke4 Rf7 54.
Bg5 Rf2 55. b4 Re2+ 56. Kd3 Rg2 57. Kc4 Ra2 58. b5 Ra8 59. b6 Kd6 60. b7 Rb8
61. Kd3 Kc6 62. Bf6 Rxb7 63. Rxb7 Kxb7 64. Bxe5 Kc6 65. Bxd4 Be1 66. Be5 Kd5
67. Bf4 Bb4 68. Bb8 Bc5 69. Bf4 Ke6 70. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "14.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. a4 a6 13. Bf1 Nc6 14. a5 Nxa5 15.
d5 c5 16. b3 Bc7 17. Bb2 b5 18. g4 Bg6 19. Nh4 Nxe4 20. Nxg6 Nxd2 21. Nxf8
Naxb3 22. Ne6 fxe6 23. dxe6 Qe7 24. Bg2 Rf8 25. Rxa6 c4 26. Bc3 Nc5 27. Ra7
Ndb3 28. Qd5 Kh8 29. Rxc7 Qxc7 30. e7 Re8 31. Qf7 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "15.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg2 Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qc5 9. e3 Qxc4 10. Ndb5 O-O 11. b3 Qg4 12. Bb2 d6 13. Bf3 Qh3 14. Bg2 Qh5
15. Qxh5 Nxh5 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. Ba3 Nf6 18. Nc7 Rac8 19. N7d5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Rfe8
21. Rfd1 Kf8 22. h3 h5 23. f4 Be6 24. Kf2 Red8 25. Rc2 Na5 26. Nc7 Bf5 27. Rcc1
Bd7 28. b4 Nc6 29. Nd5 Nb8 30. Re1 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Rc8 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. b5 Nd7
34. Bb4 Nc5 35. b6 axb6 36. Nxb6 Nd3+ 37. Ke2 Bxh3 38. Bxh3 Nxb4 39. a3 Nc2 40.
a4 e6 41. Bg2 d5 42. e4 Bd4 43. Nc8 Ne3 44. Bh1 dxe4 45. Bxe4 Nd5 46. a5 Bc3
47. Nb6 Nxb6 48. axb6 Bd4 49. Bxb7 Bxb6 50. Kf3 Kg7 51. g4 hxg4+ 52. Kxg4 f5+
53. Kf3 Kf6 54. Ba6 Bc7 55. Bb5 Bxf4 56. Kxf4 e5+ 57. Kf3 e4+ 58. Kf4 g5+ 59.
Ke3 Ke5 60. Bd7 g4 61. Kf2 Kf4 62. Bc8 Kg5 63. Bb7 Kf6 64. Bc8 Ke5 65. Bd7 Kf4
66. Bc8 g3+ 67. Kg2 Kg4 68. Bd7 Kf4 69. Bxf5 Kxf5 70. Kxg3 Ke5 71. Kf2 Kd4 72.
Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "16.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Ba4
b5 9. Bc2 Bb6 10. Re1 Ng4 11. Re2 Ne7 12. h3 Nf6 13. Re1 Ng6 14. Nf1 Re8 15.
Ng3 h6 16. d4 c5 17. a4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Be3 Be6 21. Qd2 Rc8
22. d5 Bd7 23. Bd3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Nf4 25. Bf1 Rc2 26. Rec1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qb8 28.
Ne2 Nxe2+ 29. Bxe2 Rc8 30. Ra1 b4 31. Nd2 Bb5 32. Bd3 Bxd3 33. Qxd3 Qc7 34. b3
Qc3 35. Qxc3 bxc3 36. Nc4 Nxe4 37. Rc1 Rb8 38. f3 Nd2 39. Rxc3 Nxb3 40. Nxd6
Nd4 41. Rc7 Rd8 42. Nxf7 Rxd5 43. Re7 Nf5 44. Rxe5 Rd1+ 45. Kh2 Kxf7 46. Rxf5+
Kg6 47. g4 Rd3 48. Kg3 Ra3 49. Re5 Rb3 50. Kf2 Ra3 51. Re3 Ra2+ 52. Kg3 Ra4 53.
f4 Kh7 54. f5 Kg8 55. Kf3 Rb4 56. Re4 Rb3+ 57. Re3 Rb4 58. Rc3 Ra4 59. Kg3 Rb4
60. Kh4 Kh7 61. Rc7 Kg8 62. Kh5 Rb6 63. Re7 Ra6 64. Re6 Ra8 65. Kg6 Rb8 66. Rc6
Rd8 67. h4 Rb8 68. g5 hxg5 69. hxg5 Kh8 70. Re6 Rg8 71. Kf7 Ra8 72. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "17.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. h3 Na6
9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Nd2 Nd7 11. a3 Nb6 12. b3 Bd7 13. O-O Nc5 14. Rc1 f5 15. b4 axb4
16. axb4 Nca4 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Qc2 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Bg3 f4 21. Bh2 h5 22. f3
Rf6 23. Ra1 c6 24. dxc6 bxc6 25. Nxd6 Rxd6 26. c5 Rg6 27. cxb6 Nxb6 28. Nb3 g4
29. fxg4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Bxg4 31. Nc5 Bf8 32. Qb3+ Qf7 33. Qxf7+ Kxf7 34. Ra7+
Kg8 35. Bxg4 Rxg4 36. Rc1 Rd8 37. Rc2 Bxc5+ 38. bxc5 Rd1+ 39. Kf2 Nd7 40. g3
Rd3 41. gxf4 exf4 42. Rb2 Kf7 43. Rbb7 Ke6 44. Rxd7 Rxd7 45. Rxd7 Kxd7 46. Kf3
Rg5 47. Bxf4 Rxc5 48. Ke2 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "18.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "202"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Ba4
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Re1 c5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bc2 b5 14. Nf1 h6 15. Qe2
Bb7 16. g3 Qc7 17. Kh2 Rad8 18. a4 Bc6 19. axb5 axb5 20. b3 Bb6 21. Bb2 Qb7 22.
N3d2 Rd7 23. Red1 Rfd8 24. f3 Nh5 25. Ne3 c4 26. Ndf1 cxb3 27. Bxb3 Nf6 28. Nf5
Bc5 29. N1e3 Qb6 30. Ng4 Nxg4+ 31. hxg4 Ne7 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Rd1 Qd8 34. Kh3
Kf8 35. Bc1 Nxf5 36. gxf5 Rxd1 37. Bxd1 Qd6 38. Bb3 Ba3 39. Be3 Bc5 40. Qd1 Ke7
41. Bd2 Bd7 42. Kg2 Bc6 43. Qc2 f6 44. Be1 Kd8 45. Kf1 Kc7 46. Ke2 Kb6 47. Be6
Kc7 48. Qa2 Kb6 49. Bd2 Kc7 50. Bg8 Kb6 51. Qf7 Qe7 52. Qb3 Qd6 53. Bf7 Qe7 54.
Be6 Qd6 55. Qa2 Kc7 56. Bf7 Kb7 57. Bd5 Bxd5 58. exd5 e4 59. Bf4 exf3+ 60. Kxf3
Qd7 61. g4 h5 62. Qd2 hxg4+ 63. Kxg4 g6 64. Qd3 Kb6 65. Qe4 b4 66. cxb4 gxf5+
67. Qxf5 Qxf5+ 68. Kxf5 Bxb4 69. Kxf6 Kb5 70. Ke6 Kc4 71. Bd6 Be1 72. Ba3 Bg3
73. Bb2 Kc5 74. Be5 Bh4 75. d6 Kc6 76. d7 Bd8 77. Bd6 Ba5 78. Ke7 Bb6 79. Ba3
Kd5 80. Bc1 Ba5 81. Bf4 Bb6 82. Bg5 Ba5 83. Ke8 Ke6 84. Bd8 Be1 85. Bc7 Bh4 86.
Bb6 Bg5 87. Bc5 Bh4 88. Bb6 Bg5 89. Bd8 Bd2 90. Bh4 Ba5 91. Bf2 Bc7 92. Bc5 Ba5
93. Ba7 Bc7 94. Bb8 Ba5 95. Bf4 Bb6 96. Bg5 Ba5 97. Bd8 Be1 98. Bc7 Bh4 99. Bb6
Bg5 100. Bc5 Bh4 101. Be3 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "19.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "216"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be3 a6 6. Qd2 h6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2
b5 9. a4 b4 10. Nd1 a5 11. c3 bxc3 12. bxc3 Ba6 13. Nf2 Qc8 14. O-O Nb6 15.
Rfe1 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Bxc4 17. d5 c5 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. Nd4 Qc8 20. Nb5 h5 21. Bd4
O-O 22. Nd1 Rb8 23. Ne3 Bxb5 24. axb5 Rxb5 25. c4 Rb3 26. Rxa5 Bh6 27. Qc2 Qb7
28. Nd5 Nxd5 29. exd5 Qb4 30. Rea1 Be3+ 31. Bxe3 Rxe3 32. Rb5 Re1+ 33. Kf2 Qxb5
34. Rxe1 Qc5+ 35. Kg3 Re8 36. Re4 Qa3 37. Qe2 Kf8 38. h4 Qc3 39. Kh3 Qf6 40.
Qe3 Ra8 41. Qh6+ Ke8 42. Qd2 Ra1 43. Kg3 Rb1 44. Qa2 Ra1 45. Qe2 Kf8 46. Qd2
Rh1 47. Qh6+ Ke8 48. Qd2 Rb1 49. Qa2 Ra1 50. Qe2 Ra8 51. Qe3 Kf8 52. Qh6+ Ke8
53. Qe3 Rc8 54. Qa7 Kf8 55. Qe3 Rc5 56. Qh6+ Kg8 57. Qe3 Rc7 58. Qb6 Rc8 59.
Qb7 Re8 60. Qb6 Qc3 61. Qc7 Kf8 62. Qb6 Rc8 63. Qb7 Re8 64. Qb6 Qa1 65. Qe3 Qf6
66. Qh6+ Qg7 67. Qe3 Qf6 68. Qh6+ Kg8 69. Qe3 Kg7 70. Qe2 Kf8 71. Qe3 Rc8 72.
Qh6+ Ke8 73. Qe3 Rc7 74. Qb6 Rc5 75. Qb8+ Kd7 76. Qb7+ Kd8 77. Qb8+ Rc8 78.
Qb6+ Ke8 79. Qb5+ Kf8 80. Qb7 Re8 81. Qb6 Ra8 82. Qe3 Ra2 83. Qh6+ Kg8 84. Qe3
Qb2 85. Qg1 Kf8 86. Kh3 Qd2 87. Qf1 Rc2 88. Kg3 Rb2 89. Kh3 Rc2 90. Kg3 g5 91.
hxg5 Qxg5+ 92. Kh2 f5 93. Rd4 Kf7 94. Kh3 f4 95. Kh2 Qg3+ 96. Kh1 h4 97. Re4 h3
98. Re2 hxg2+ 99. Rxg2 Qh4+ 100. Kg1 Rxg2+ 101. Qxg2 Qe1+ 102. Kh2 Kf6 103. Qg4
Qf2+ 104. Kh1 Qf1+ 105. Kh2 Qe2+ 106. Kh3 Qe5 107. Kh4 Qe1+ 108. Kh3 Qh1# 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "20.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Ba7 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bc2 Nc6 14. g4 Bg6 15.
Nf1 d5 16. e5 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Ne4 18. Be3 f6 19. Rad1 fxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5
Nxf2 22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. Qc5 Nxd1 24. Qxa7 Nf2 25. Qe3 Qh4 26. Qg3 Nxh3+ 27. Kh2
Qxg3+ 28. Kxg3 Ng5 29. Nd2 Re8 30. b4 Ne4+ 31. Nxe4 Rxe5 32. Rc1 Rxe4 33. Rxc7
Rxb4 34. g5 b5 35. Rd7 Ra4 36. Rxd5 Kf7 37. Rd6 Rxa2 38. Kf4 Ra4+ 39. Kf5 Ke7
40. Rb6 Kd7 41. Rb7+ Kc6 42. Rxg7 Rh4 43. Rf7 b4 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "21.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. c4 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Qa5 9. e3 d6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. Rc1 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. e4 Ne5 15.
Rc2 Nd3 16. Qe2 Nc5 17. Be3 Be6 18. f4 Na6 19. Rfc1 Nb4 20. Rd2 Bd7 21. h3 Rab8
22. Kh2 c5 23. a3 Bxc3 24. Rxc3 Nc6 25. Qd1 Be6 26. g4 f6 27. a4 Bf7 28. h4 Rb6
29. g5 fxg5 30. hxg5 Be6 31. Rcd3 Nd4 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Rxd4 Qb8 34. Rd3 Rb4
35. Bd2 Qb6 36. Bxb4 Qxb4 37. Qf3 Qe1 38. Qg3 Qc1 39. Re3 Qd2 40. e5 Bf5 41.
exd6 Qxd6 42. Bd5+ e6 43. Bg2 Qd2 44. Qe1 Qb2 45. Qc3 Qf2 46. Qe5 Rd8 47. Re2
Qh4+ 48. Kg1 Rd1+ 49. Bf1 Qg3+ 50. Rg2 Qf3 51. Qb8+ Kf7 52. Qa7+ Kf8 53. Qc5+
Ke8 54. Qc8+ Rd8 55. Qc5 Qxf4 56. Qf2 Qc1 57. c5 Rd1 58. Rg3 Rd2 59. Qe3 Rc2
60. Qxc1 Rxc1 61. b4 axb4 62. Rb3 Rxc5 63. Rxb4 Rc1 64. Kf2 Ra1 65. Rb8+ Ke7
66. Rb7+ Kd6 67. Bb5 Ke5 68. Rxh7 Kf4 69. Re7 Ra2+ 70. Ke1 Ke3 71. Kf1 Be4 72.
Kg1 Ra1+ 73. Kh2 Kf2 74. Rf7+ Bf3 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "22.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Ba7 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bc2 Nc6 14. g4 Bg6 15.
d5 Nb8 16. b3 c6 17. Bb2 cxd5 18. exd5 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 Nbd7 20. Qf5 Rc8 21. Nc4
Rc5 22. Rad1 Bb8 23. Ba3 b5 24. Bxc5 Nxc5 25. Ncd2 g6 26. Qg5 Bc7 27. Re3 Bb6
28. Nd4 Ncd7 29. N2f3 Qa8 30. Re7 Bd8 31. Ree1 Nxd5 32. Qh6 Bf6 33. Ng5 Bxg5
34. Qxg5 Ne5 35. Qh4 Rc8 36. Rc1 Rxc1 37. Rxc1 Nf4 38. Qg3 Qe4 39. Rd1 Ned3 40.
Kh2 Qxd4 41. Qe3 Qd5 42. f3 Kg7 43. Kg3 g5 44. Rd2 Qc5 45. Rxd3 Nxd3 46. Qxd3
Qe5+ 47. Kg2 Qb2+ 48. Kg3 Qe5+ 49. Kg2 Qb2+ 50. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "23.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. h3 Bg7 5. Be3 a6 6. f4 O-O 7. Bd3 b5 8. e5 dxe5
9. dxe5 Nd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Nf3 c5 12. O-O Bb7 13. c3 Nd7 14. a4 Qc6 15. Qe2
bxa4 16. Bc2 Nb6 17. f5 Qb5 18. Qf2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bxe5 20. Be4 Rad8 21. Bh6 Bg7
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rf2 Nd7 24. Re1 Qb8 25. Bc2 Qd6 26. Bxa4 Nf6 27. Bb3 Rd7 28.
Bc4 Rfd8 29. Rfe2 a5 30. b3 Qc7 31. fxg6 hxg6 32. Re5 Rd1 33. Rxe7 Qxe7 34.
Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Qe3+ 36. Kh1 Qxc3 37. Qf1 Qe5 38. Qf3 Qe1+ 39. Kh2 Qe5+ 40.
Kh1 Qc7 41. Qc3 Qd8 42. Qe5 Qd1+ 43. Kh2 Qd4 44. Qc7 Nd5 45. Bxd5 Qxd5 46. Qxa5
Qe5+ 47. Kh1 Kf6 48. Qb5 Kf5 49. Qc4 Qa1+ 50. Kh2 Qe5+ 51. Kh1 Kf6 52. Kg1 Ke7
53. Kf1 f6 54. Kf2 g5 55. Kf3 Kd6 56. Qd3+ Kc6 57. Qc4 Kb6 58. g3 Qf5+ 59. Kg2
Qe5 60. h4 Qf5 61. b4 cxb4 62. Qxb4+ Kc6 63. Qc4+ Kd6 64. Qd4+ Ke7 65. hxg5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Champions Showdown blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.02.24"]
[Round "24.4"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "213"]
[EventDate "2019.02.23"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2 g6 6. b3 Bh6 7. f4 e5 8. Nb5
Bxf4 9. Qxd6 Qxd6 10. Nxd6+ Kf8 11. Ba3 Nge7 12. Nf3 Kg7 13. g3 Be3 14. Nc4 Bh6
15. Ncxe5 Re8 16. Bb2 f6 17. Nc4 Nf5 18. Bd3 b5 19. Ncd2 Nd6 20. O-O a6 21.
Rfe1 Nf7 22. a4 Rb8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Nf1 Nfe5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27.
Kf2 Rb7 28. Ne3 Rbe7 29. Nd5 Rf7 30. Ne3 Bb7 31. Ng4 Rh5 32. Nxh6 Rxh2+ 33. Kg1
Rxh6 34. Bxb5 Rh5 35. Bd3 f5 36. exf5 gxf5 37. Bc4 Rd7 38. Bd3 Kf6 39. Ra5 Rg7
40. Kf2 Rh2+ 41. Ke3 Re7+ 42. Kd4 Rxe1 43. Rxf5+ Kg7 44. Rg5+ Kf6 45. Rf5+ Ke7
46. Ra5 Kd6 47. Ra7 Re7 48. b4 Rg2 49. c4 Rxg3 50. c5+ Kc7 51. Bb5 Rg4+ 52. Kc3
Kb8 53. Ra1 Re3+ 54. Kd2 Rxb4 55. Kxe3 Rxb5 56. Rc1 Kc7 57. Rc2 Bc8 58. Kf4 Bd7
59. Rh2 Rb4+ 60. Ke5 Rc4 61. Rxh7 Rxc5+ 62. Kf4 Kd6 63. Rh6+ Be6 64. Rh8 Rc4+
65. Kg3 Ke5 66. Rf8 Rb4 67. Rf1 Bf5 68. Re1+ Be4 69. Re3 Kf5 70. Rc3 Ke5 71.
Re3 Ra4 72. Rc3 Kd4 73. Rb3 Bd5 74. Rb2 Ra3+ 75. Kf4 Rf3+ 76. Kg4 Be4 77. Rb4+
Ke5 78. Rb5+ Kd6 79. Rb6+ Kc5 80. Rb8 Rf7 81. Rd8 Bd5 82. Kg5 Kd4 83. Kg4 Ke5
84. Re8+ Be6+ 85. Kg3 Rf6 86. Rb8 Rg6+ 87. Kf2 Bd5 88. Rb4 Be4 89. Rb8 Rg2+ 90.
Ke3 Rg3+ 91. Kf2 Ra3 92. Rb2 Kf4 93. Rd2 Bd3 94. Ke1 Kf3 95. Rf2+ Ke4 96. Rb2
Kd4 97. Kd2 Bc4 98. Rc2 Rh3 99. Rb2 Bb3 100. Kc1 Rh1+ 101. Kd2 Kc4 102. Ke3 Kc3
103. Rg2 Bc2 104. Rg7 Re1+ 105. Kf4 Bd3 106. Rc7+ Bc4 107. Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.03.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qe7 7. Nbd2 Bg4 8.
h3 Bh5 9. a3 Nd7 10. b4 Bd6 11. Nc4 f6 12. Ne3 Nf8 13. Nf5 Qd7 14. Be3 Ne6 15.
c3 O-O-O 16. Ng3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Kb8 18. Rfd1 g6 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Rhf8 21.
Bh6 Rf7 22. d5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 Qe8 24. Rad1 Rc8 25. Qg4 Bf8 26. Bxf8 Nxf8 27. Ne2
h5 28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Nc3 Ne5 30. Qe2 Re7 31. f4 Nf7 32. R5d4 Nd6 33. Qd3 Re6 34.
b5 b6 35. a4 g5 36. f5 Re5 37. Rf1 Rd8 38. Rd1 Rc8 39. Ra1 g4 40. hxg4 hxg4 41.
Rd1 Kb7 42. Rd5 Rxd5 43. Qxd5+ Kb8 44. Qd4 Qh5 45. Nd5 g3 46. Nxf6 Qh2+ 47. Kf1
Qh1+ 48. Qg1 Qh4 49. Qd4 Qh1+ 50. Qg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. a3 Bxc5 6. Qg4 Ne7 7. Nf3 Qb6 8. Bd3
Nbc6 9. O-O Ng6 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. Re1 O-O 12. Qh5 Bd7 13. b4 Be7 14. Bd2 f5 15.
exf6 Bxf6 16. Rac1 Nd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Nd1 Qb6 19. Be3 e5 20. c3 Bxe3 21.
Nxe3 Rae8 22. Bb1 d4 23. cxd4 exd4 24. Nc4 Qf6 25. f3 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Bf5 27.
Bxf5 Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Re8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Nd6 Nf4 32. Kf2 d3 33.
Ke3 Nxg2+ 34. Kxd3 Ne1+ 35. Ke4 Nc2 36. Nxb7 Nxa3 37. Nd8 Nc2 38. Nc6 a6 39.
Kd3 Ne1+ 40. Ke2 Nc2 41. Kd2 Na3 42. Kd3 Nb5 43. Nb8 Nc7 44. Ke4 Ke7 45. Ke5
Kd8 46. h4 g6 47. f4 Ke7 48. Nc6+ Kd7 49. Nd4 Ke7 50. Nc2 Ne8 51. Ne3 Nf6 52.
f5 Kf7 53. Nc4 gxf5 54. Kxf5 Nd5 55. b5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Ba5 11. Qb3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Na5 13. Qb4 b6 14. O-O Bf5
15. Rfc1 Rc8 16. Ba6 Rb8 17. Bd3 Re8 18. h3 c6 19. Bf4 Rb7 20. Qb2 b5 21. Qe2
Nc4 22. Ng5 Nxg5 23. Bxf5 Ne6 24. Bg3 b4 25. Qg4 Qb8 26. h4 a5 27. h5 Qa7 28.
Rab1 Nd2 29. Rb2 Nc4 30. Rb3 Nd2 31. Rb2 Nc4 32. Rb3 Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2845"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3
Bf5 9. Ne5 c5 10. Bd3 cxd4 11. exd4 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Qd6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. O-O
Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Re8 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Re2 20. Ra6
Rxb2 21. g3 Re8 22. Rxa7 Ree2 23. Ra5 Rxa2 24. Rxd5 Red2 25. h4 Ra4 26. Kg2
Raxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 28. Kf3 h5 29. Kg2 g6 30. Kf3 Kg7 31. Kg2 Rd5 32. Kf3 Rf5+
33. Kg2 Rd5 34. Kf3 Rf5+ 35. Kg2 Rd5 36. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 b6 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nd6
Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Rd8 16. Rac1 Nce4 17. Bb4 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qe8 19. Be2 Rd8 20. Qb3
Bd5 21. Qa3 a5 22. Be1 h6 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. b3 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Qb8 26. Qb2 Nc5 27.
f3 Nfd7 28. Bg3 Qc8 29. Nc4 Bxc4 30. Bxc4 Qc6 31. Qe2 f6 32. Bb5 Qd5 33. Bc4
Qc6 34. Qb2 Kf7 35. h3 Nb7 36. Qd4 Ke7 37. Qg4 Kf7 38. Kh2 Ndc5 39. a3 g6 40.
b4 axb4 41. axb4 h5 42. Qf4 Nd7 43. Ba6 Nd8 44. Qh6 Nf8 45. Bd3 f5 46. e4 Qd7
47. Qe3 Qc6 48. Qd4 Qd7 49. Qc3 g5 50. exf5 exf5 51. Bc4+ Nde6 52. Qh8 Kg6 53.
Be5 Qe7 54. Qg8+ Ng7 55. Qd5 Qd7 56. Bd6 Nfe6 57. Qe5 h4 58. Bb5 Qc8 59. Qd5
Qc3 60. Be8+ Kh7 61. Bd7 Qe1 62. Be5 f4 63. Qd3+ Kh6 64. Bc3 Qe3 65. Qc4 Kg6
66. Bc6 Kf7 67. Bd5 Ne8 68. Bd4 b5 69. Qc6 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 g6 15. Ba2
Bg7 16. b4 exd4 17. cxd4 a5 18. Rb1 axb4 19. d5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Rxb4 c6
22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Qf3 Bf8 24. Rb1 Ra4 25. Nf1 Rxe4 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. Bg5 Bg7 28.
Ne3 Qxa3 29. Ra1 Qc5 30. Rdc1 Rc4 31. Qd1 Ne4 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 a5 10. Bd2 g6 11. Ne4 Bg7 12. Nf6+ Kd8 13. O-O-O Ba6 14. Qg4 Kc8
15. Bxa5 h5 16. Qg3 h4 17. Qg4 Qxe5 18. Bc3 Qf5 19. Qxf5 gxf5 20. Nxd7 Bxc3 21.
Nxb6+ cxb6 22. bxc3 Kc7 23. Be2 Rag8 24. Rhg1 c5 25. g3 hxg3 26. hxg3 Rh2 27.
Rgf1 f4 28. Rd2 Bc8 29. Bf3 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rxd2 31. Kxd2 Rxg3 32. Bd5 Be6 33.
Bxe6 fxe6 34. Rf7+ Kd6 35. Rb7 Kc6 36. Re7 Kd6 37. Rb7 Kc6 38. Re7 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "219"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,219,16,33,24,-16,-9,-7,4,29,34,-28,6,-20,25,20,17,15,27,11,10,17,13,
25,29,-21,9,-21,-11,-18,-49,-51,-6,-37,-8,-36,-49,-43,-47,-47,-17,0,6,6,12,-4,
5,-25,-10,-11,-7,-3,0,4,4,-50,-51,-48,-44,-30,-24,-34,-29,-41,-29,0,7,2,9,9,10,
-50,-54,-58,-65,-56,-42,-50,-47,-89,-106,-104,-113,-109,-108,-109,-101,-109,
-103,-101,-105,-103,-103,-103,-103,-103,-102,-103,-99,-103,-99,-103,-92,-84,
-82,-93,-84,-82,-76,-92,-88,-88,-90,-98,-104,-31,-36,-112,-112,-78,-44,-128,
-143,-143,-138,-138,-133,-133,-135,-232,-159,-143,-138,-153,-112,-112,-116,
-115,-112,-112,-112,-112,-108,-108,-110,-108,-92,-53,-52,-52,-43,-43,-44,-41,
-41,-41,-41,-49,-49,-47,-46,-47,-40,-40,-42,-40,-40,-40,-40,-47,-47,-40,-40,
-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-40,-46,-47,-55,-55,-56,-40,-40,
-40,-45,-45,-52,-40,-56,-61,-49,-43,-55,-55,-56,-43,-43,-45,-45,-45,-56,-56,
-56,-56,-58,-43,-28755,-29976,-29977,-29978,-29979,-29980,-29981]} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Qc2 d5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {This is fairly
harmless.} (7. Bh4 $5 {is more challenging.}) 7... Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3
dxc4 (9... c6 {is more common.}) 10. Qxc4 Nc6 {A bit provocative. If Black
fails to push ...e6-e5, he risks ending up in a passive position. And if he
does push ...e6-e5 then after d4-d5 his c7 pawn gets under attack.} (10... Bd7
$6 11. Qxc7 (11. e3 Rc8 12. Qb4 Bc6 13. Be2 Bd5 14. Rc1 Nd7 15. O-O a5 16. Qa4
c6 17. Nd2 Qg5 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qb5 20. Qxb5 cxb5 $11 {1/2 (41) So,W 
(2770)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven 2016}) 11... Bc6 12. e3 Nd7 13. Be2 Qf5 14. Qd6
$16 {1/2 (54) Andraschko,F (2173)-Dehaybe,A (2149) Lechenicher SchachServer
2012}) (10... c6 11. g3 Nd7 12. Qc3 c5 13. Bg2 b6 14. Ne5 cxd4 15. Qc7 Nxe5 16.
Bxa8 Ba6 $44 {1/2 (56) Zhao,X (2499)-Tan,Z (2508) China 2017}) 11. Qc3 (11. Rd1
Rd8 12. e4 e5 $1 13. d5 Bg4 14. dxc6 $2 Bxf3 15. Rd3 b5 $1 16. Qc2 Rxd3 17.
Qxd3 {1/2 (49) Mamedyarov,S (2808)-Nakamura,H (2769) Stavanger 2018} Rd8 $1 18.
Qxf3 Qxc6 $19) (11. e3 e5 (11... Re8 12. Be2 Bd7 13. O-O Rac8 14. b4 a6 15. a4
Red8 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Ne7 18. Ne5 $14 {1/2 (72) Dragun,K (2530)-Lysyj,I 
(2666) Warsaw 2013}) 12. d5 Ne7 13. Qxc7 e4 14. Nd4 Nxd5 15. Qc2 Bf5 16. Be2
Rac8 17. Qa4 a6 18. O-O b5 $11 {1/2 (69) Erenberg,A (2386)-Svane,R (2573)
Karlsruhe 2017}) 11... Re8 {[%cal Ye6e5]} 12. Ne5 (12. Rd1 $5 e5 (12... Qg6 13.
g3 Qe4 14. Bg2 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. O-O $14 {1-0 (34) Bindrich,F (2598)
-Bromberger,S (2535) Germany 2017}) 13. d5 Nb8 14. e3 (14. e4 c6 15. Bc4 Bg4 (
15... cxd5 16. Bxd5 Nd7 17. O-O Nb6 18. h3 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Be6 $11 {1/2 (53)
Bindrich,F (2604)-Bosiocic,M (2597) Austria 2017}) 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3
18. gxf3 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Nc6 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. Ke2 Reb8 22. Rd2 Rb3 23. Rc1 Rab8
$11 {1/2 (43) Ivanchuk,V (2732)-Wei,Y (2740) Hoogeveen 2017}) 14... c6 15. Be2
cxd5 16. Rxd5 Nc6 17. O-O Bg4 18. h3 Bf5 19. Rfd1 Rac8 20. Rc5 Qe7 21. b4 $14 {
1/2 (90) Grischuk,A (2761)-Nakamura,H (2785) Paris 2017}) 12... Rb8 $5 {
A typical idea in such situations: Black anticipates the opening of the b-file
after Ne5xc6 b7xc6.} ({But} 12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qe7 $11 {is simpler. If} 14.
Rc1 {then} Bd7 $1) 13. g3 $6 (13. e3 $5 {, and Black has hardly anything
better than} Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7) 13... Rd8 14. e3 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qf3 16. Rg1 Qc6
(16... Bd7 $5 17. Be2 (17. Bg2 Qh5 {[%cal Rd7b5]}) (17. Qxc7 Rbc8 18. Qa5 Be8
$40 {[%csl Re1][%cal Gd8d1,Gc8c1]}) 17... Qc6 $11) 17. Qxc6 bxc6 $11 18. Rb1 (
18. b4 c5 19. b5 Bd7 20. O-O-O $11) 18... c5 19. Be2 Kf8 20. f3 Ke7 21. Bc4 Rb6
22. Ke2 Bd7 23. b3 Rdb8 24. Rbc1 Bb5 25. Rgd1 Ra6 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 {[%mdl 4096]}
27. Rd3 $6 (27. a4 Rxb3 28. Rxc5 $11) 27... Rxa3 28. Rcd1 Ra2+ 29. Ke1 Rb8 $6 (
29... f5 $1 $15 30. Rd7+ $140 Kf8 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. R1d7+ Kg6 33. Rg8 Rxb3 34.
Rgxg7+ Kh5 35. Rd2 Rxe3+ 36. Kf2 Rxf3+ $1 37. Kxf3 Rxd2 $17) 30. Rd7+ Kf8 31.
Rxc7 Kg8 32. Rd2 Rxd2 33. Kxd2 Rxb3 34. Rxc5 Rb2+ 35. Kd3 Rxh2 36. g4 Ra2 37.
Rc8+ Kh7 38. Rc7 Kg6 39. f4 $6 (39. e4 $11 {[%cal Yf3f4]}) 39... Rg2 40. Ke4
Rxg4 41. Kf3 Rg1 42. Rxa7 {This endgame is still drawish but requires accurate
play from White.} h5 43. Ra8 Kh7 44. Rf8 Kg6 45. Rh8 Ra1 46. Kg2 Ra5 47. Kf3
Rb5 48. Re8 Rb7 49. Rh8 Ra7 50. Kg2 f6 51. exf6 gxf6 52. Re8 Kf7 53. Rh8 Ra5
54. Kf3 Kg7 55. Re8 e5 56. Ke4 h4 57. fxe5 fxe5 58. Kf5 (58. Kf3 {is simpler:}
Kf6 59. Rh8 Ra4 60. e4 $11) 58... h3 59. Re7+ Kh6 60. Re8 (60. Kg4 $1 h2 61.
Re6+ Kg7 62. Re7+ Kf6 63. Rh7 Ra2 64. e4 $11) 60... Ra7 61. Rb8 h2 62. Rb6+ $1
{The only move now.} (62. Rb1 $2 Rg7 63. Rh1 Rg5+ $1 64. Kf6 (64. Ke4 Rh5 65.
Kf3 Kg5 $19) 64... Rh5 65. e4 Kh7 66. Kf7 Rh6 67. Ke7 Kg7 $19) 62... Kh5 63.
Rb1 Kh4 (63... Rg7 64. Rh1 $11) 64. e4 Re7 65. Ra1 Re8 66. Rb1 Kg3 67. Rb3+ Kg2
68. Rb2+ Kh3 69. Rb3+ Kh4 70. Rb1 Rh8 71. Kxe5 Kg3 72. Rh1 $1 (72. Kf5 $2 Rh5+
73. Kg6 Re5 74. Rb3+ Kh4 75. Rb1 Rg5+ $19) 72... Kg2 (72... Kf3 73. Kf5 Rh5+
74. Kg6 $11) 73. Rxh2+ $1 (73. Ra1 h1=Q 74. Rxh1 Rxh1 75. Kf5 (75. Kf6 $144)
75... Rf1+ $1 76. Kg6 Kf3 77. e5 Re1 $1 78. Kf6 Ke4 $19) 73... Rxh2 74. Kf6 Kf3
75. e5 Kf4 76. e6 Rh6+ 77. Kf7 Kf5 78. e7 Rh7+ 79. Kf8 Kf6 80. e8=N+ {This is
an "easy" theoretical draw but...} Kg6 81. Nd6 Rd7 82. Ne8 Rf7+ 83. Kg8 Ra7 84.
Kf8 Rd7 85. Kg8 Rf7 86. Nd6 Rd7 87. Ne8 Kf5 88. Kf8 Kg5 89. Kg8 Kg6 90. Kf8
Rf7+ 91. Kg8 Rf1 92. Ng7 $6 {[%csl Rg7] Very inaccurate but not losing when
Black's rook is on f1.} (92. Nd6 $4 Kf6 $19) (92. Nc7 $1 Kf6 93. Kf8 $11) 92...
Kf6 93. Nh5+ $1 (93. Kf8 Rf2 $1 94. Ne8+ Ke6+ 95. Kg8 Ke7 96. Ng7 Re2 $1 97.
Kh7 (97. Nh5 Re5 $1 98. Ng7 Rg5 $19) 97... Kf6 $1 98. Nh5+ Kg5 99. Ng7 Re7 $19)
93... Kg5 (93... Kf5 $2 94. Ng3+) 94. Ng7 Kg6 95. Ne8 Rf3 $5 96. Ng7 $4 {
Now losing - in a spectacular way, though.} (96. Nc7 $1 Kf6 97. Kf8 $11) 96...
Kf6 97. Nh5+ Ke6 $2 (97... Kf5 $3 98. Ng7+ (98. Kg7 Kg5) 98... Ke5 $3 99. Ne8 (
99. Nh5 Rh3 100. Ng7 Kf6 {- see game}) 99... Ke6 $1 100. Ng7+ (100. Kh7 Kf7
101. Nd6+ Ke7 102. Ne4 Rf4 $1 103. Ng5 Kf6 $19) 100... Ke7 $1 101. Kh7 (101.
Nh5 Rf5 102. Ng7 Rg5 $19) 101... Kf6 $1 {- game}) 98. Kh7 $2 (98. Kg7 $1 Kf5
99. Nf6 Rb3 100. Ne8 Ke6 101. Kg6 Rg3+ 102. Kh6 $11) 98... Kf5 99. Ng7+ Kf6
100. Nh5+ Kg5 101. Ng7 Rh3+ 102. Kg8 Kf6 103. Ne8+ Ke6 (103... Ke7 $1 104. Ng7
Rh1 105. Nf5+ Kf6 106. Nd6 Rd1 107. Ne8+ Ke7 108. Ng7 Re1 $1 $19 {, winning in
the same way as in annotation to move 93.} (108... Rd5 $5 109. Kh7 Kf8 $1 $19))
104. Ng7+ (104. Nc7+ Kd6 105. Ne8+ {, and Black must play} Ke7 $1 {- see above}
) 104... Ke7 $5 105. Nf5+ Kf6 106. Nd6 Rh5 107. Nf7 (107. Ne8+ Ke7 108. Ng7 Rg5
$19) ({in case of} 107. Ne4+ {White's knight, parted with his king, will be
lost, e.g.} Ke6 108. Kg7 Re5 109. Nd2 Kf5 110. Nc4 Re7+ 111. Kh6 Kf4 112. Kg6
Rc7 113. Na5 Ke4 {etc.}) 107... Rd5 $1 108. Nh6 (108. Kf8 Rd7 $19) 108... Rd8+
109. Kh7 Rd7+ 110. Kg8 (110. Kg8 Kg6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. b4 Ba7 8. a4 O-O
9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. h3 c6 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. a5 Bd7 15. Nf1 d5
16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bf4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 f6 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Bg3 Bf5
22. Re2 Qf7 23. Ne3 Rad8 24. Rd2 Rxd2 25. Qxd2 Be6 26. Re1 e4 27. Qe2 Qf6 28.
Qc2 Qg6 29. Qd2 Qf6 30. Qc2 Qg6 31. Qd2 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Bd3 Nd7 9. Qe2 Nc5 10. Bxc5 dxc5 11. O-O-O Bd6 12. Rhe1 Qf6 13. Kb1 Be6 14.
Nd2 Rae8 15. Ne4 Qh6 16. Qf3 Bd5 17. Qf5 Be6 18. Qg5 Qxg5 19. Nxg5 g6 20. Nxe6
Rxe6 21. g3 Rfe8 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Bc4 Re4 24. Bd5 Re2 25. Rf1 b6 26. Bf3 Re5
27. Kc1 c4 28. Kd2 Ra5 29. a3 Rb5 30. Kc1 Re5 31. Kd2 Rb5 32. Kc1 Re5 33. Kd2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Nd7 8.
Nb3 Be7 9. d4 f6 10. Na5 Rb8 11. dxe5 fxe5 12. Ng5 Bxg5 13. Qh5+ Bf7 14. Qxg5
Qf6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Rad1 Qe6 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Rd2 h6 19. Qg3 Nf8 20. Nb3 b6 21.
Rfd1 c5 22. Nc1 Qf6 23. b3 a5 24. Ne2 Ne6 25. Qe1 Rbc8 26. Bf2 a4 27. Bh4 Qg6
28. c3 axb3 29. axb3 Nf8 30. b4 Qc6 31. Nc1 Ng6 32. Bg3 Ra8 33. Nd3 cxb4 34.
cxb4 Qb5 35. h4 Ra3 36. h5 Nf8 37. Nxe5 Rxe5 38. Bxe5 Qxe5 39. Rd8 Qg5 40. Qd2
Qg3 41. Qf2 Qe5 42. Qd4 Qg3 43. Qf2 Qe5 44. Qd4 Qg3 45. Qf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a4 Be6 8. Ng5
Bxc4 9. dxc4 a5 10. Be3 Nb4 11. Qe2 Nd7 12. Nh3 c6 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Rd2 Nc5 15.
f4 exf4 16. Nxf4 Rae8 17. Qg4 Qc8 18. Qg3 Ne6 19. Nh5 Kh8 20. Nd5 cxd5 21. cxd5
g6 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Bd4+ Kg8 25. e5 Nxc2 26. Bf2 dxe5 27. h3
Rf5 28. Qd3 Nb4 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Nd5 31. Ng3 Rf4 32. Rxb7 Rxa4 33. b3 Ra1+
34. Kh2 Rb1 35. Ba7 Bb4 36. Ne4 Rxb3 37. Ng5 Nf4 38. Bc5 Rc3 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40.
Rb7+ Kg8 41. Rb8+ Kg7 42. Rb7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 e5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. a3 Bd6 8. d4
O-O 9. Bd3 h6 10. O-O exd4 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Nxd4 Nc5 13. Be2 Re8 14. Bd2 Bd7
15. Bf3 Ne4 16. Bb4 Be5 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Qb3 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 a5 20. Qxd5 Bb5 21.
Bxe4 Bxf1 22. Bc5 Qa6 23. Qf5 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Rc8 25. h4 b6 26. Rd6 Qb5 27. Bd4
Bd3 28. Qg4 Rc1+ 29. Kh2 Bg6 30. Rxb6 Qd5 31. h5 Qxh5+ 32. Qxh5 Bxh5 33. Rb5
Bg6 34. Rxa5 Rc2 35. Kg3 h5 36. Rg5 Kh7 37. f3 Rd2 38. a4 f6 39. Rxg6 Kxg6 40.
a5 Rd1 41. a6 Ra1 42. a7 Kf7 43. b4 Ra2 44. b5 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3
Bf5 9. Qb3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 Nbd7 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 c6 13. O-O a5 14. Rac1 Re8
15. Rc2 Qb6 16. Nd2 Ne4 17. f3 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 a4 19. Rb1 Qa6 20. h3 Nb6 21. Qc3
Nc4 22. e4 Qa5 23. Qd3 Qb6 24. Bf2 Ra5 25. Re2 Rb5 26. Qc3 Qa5 27. Qc2 Qb6 28.
Qc3 Qa5 29. Qc2 Qb6 30. Qc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2861"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bf4 g5 13. Be5 Ng4 14. Bd4 Qd6
15. Qg3 Qxg3 16. hxg3 f6 17. Na4 Re8 18. f4 Kf7 19. Nc5 a5 20. Rf3 Bxc5 21.
Bxc5 Ba6 22. Bf5 Bc8 23. Bd3 Ba6 24. Bf5 Bc8 25. Bxg4 Bxg4 26. Rf2 a4 27. Raf1
f5 28. Rd2 Re4 29. b3 Kg6 30. Bd4 Be2 31. Rc1 gxf4 32. gxf4 Rxf4 33. Rxe2 Rxd4
34. Re6+ Kg5 35. Rxc6 axb3 36. axb3 Rd2 37. Rf1 Ra2 38. Rf2 Ra1+ 39. Rf1 Ra2
40. Rf2 Ra1+ 41. Rf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Qd2 Qa5 15.
a3 Rc8 16. Qf2 Rc6 17. h4 O-O 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Be2 Rfc8 20. Rh5 Ng6 21. Bxg7
Kxg7 22. Qd4+ f6 23. g3 Bc4 24. f4 e5 25. fxe5 Nxe5 26. Rd1 Bxe2 27. Kxe2 Rxc3
28. bxc3 Rxc3 29. Rd2 Qb5+ 0-1

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Amin, Bassem"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3 Nfd7 21. Qe2 Nb6 22.
axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Ng5 Qf6 25. Rf1 Nbd7 26. h4 Qe7 27. Ra1 Bb7 28. Ra5
Ba6 29. Nxh5 gxh5 30. Qxh5 Bg7 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qf5 Kg8 33. Bd1 Qf6 34. Qh7+
Kf8 35. Bh5 Ke7 36. Nxf7 Nf8 37. Qf5 Qxf5 38. exf5 Nfd7 39. Nxd6 Rh8 40. f6+
Bxf6 41. Nf5+ Kd8 42. Bf7 Kc7 43. Be6 Bb7 44. Rxb5 Nxe6 45. dxe6 Bc6 46. Rb4
Rg8 47. g3 Ra8 48. f3 Bxf3 49. Rxc4+ Kd8 50. exd7 Kxd7 51. Bg5 Ke6 52. Ne3 Bg7
53. Kf2 Rf8 54. Rb4 Bc6+ 55. Ke2 Kd7 56. g4 Rf3 57. Rb8 e4 58. h5 Be5 59. Rg8
Rh3 60. h6 Rh2+ 61. Kf1 Rxb2 62. c4 Rh2 63. Kg1 Rh3 64. Rg7+ Kc8 65. Nf5 e3 66.
Ne7+ Kb7 67. Nxc6+ Kxc6 68. Re7 Kd6 69. Kf1 Rh2 70. c5+ Kd5 71. Rxe5+ Kxe5 72.
c6 Ke4 73. Kg1 e2 74. Bd2 Rxh6 75. Kf2 Rh2+ 76. Kg3 Rh7 77. g5 Kd3 78. Be1 Rc7
79. Kg4 Rxc6 80. Kf5 Rc1 81. Bb4 Rb1 0-1

[Event "Abidjan GCT rapid"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.10"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. b3 e6 6. Ba3 Qa5 7. Bb2 Nge7 8. h4
h6 9. Qb1 O-O 10. Ne4 f5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qb2+ e5 13. Nd6 Qc7 14. Nxc8 Raxc8
15. d3 Rcd8 16. Rc1 b6 17. Nf3 d5 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. a3 a5 20. e3 Nf6 21. b4
axb4 22. axb4 e4 23. dxe4 fxe4 24. Ng5 Qe7 25. Bxe4 Ne5 26. Nf3 Nxe4 27. Qxe5+
Qxe5 28. Nxe5 Rxf2 29. Rc4 Ra2 30. O-O Nxg3 31. Rf7+ Kg8 32. Rf2 Ra1+ 33. Kg2
Nf5 34. Re4 Re8 35. h5 Ra4 36. Kf3 Rxb4 37. Rxb4 cxb4 38. Nxg6 Nxe3 39. Rb2 Nd5
40. Rd2 Nf6 41. Rd6 Nxh5 42. Rxb6 Kg7 43. Nf4 Nxf4 44. Kxf4 Rf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Be7 8.
e4 Qd6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bc4 Qg6 11. O-O Bh3 12. Ne1 Rad8 13. b4 Kh8 14. f3 Bg5
15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Nd3 Bc8 17. Rad1 f6 18. Nc5 Qe3+ 19. Kh1 b6 20. Ne6 Bxe6 21.
Bxe6 Ne7 22. Rfe1 Qg5 23. Rd3 h5 24. Red1 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 Ng6 26. Qd2 Nf4 27. Bc4
h4 28. Bf1 f5 29. exf5 Qxf5 30. Qe3 Qc2 31. Qe1 h3 32. Qh4+ Qh7 33. Qxh7+ Kxh7
34. g3 Ng6 35. Be2 Rf7 36. Kg1 Nf8 37. Kf2 e4 38. f4 g5 39. Ke3 gxf4+ 40. gxf4
Ng6 41. Bh5 Kh6 42. Bxg6 Kxg6 43. Rg1+ Kf6 44. Rg3 Rh7 45. Kxe4 Rh8 46. b5 Rh5
47. c4 Rc5 48. Kd4 Rf5 49. Rf3 Rh5 50. Ke4 Rc5 51. Rc3 Rh5 52. a4 Rc5 53. Kd4
Rh5 54. Re3 Rh4 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. d4 d5 10. c3 Bd6 11. b3 g6 12. Na3 a6 13. Nc2 Nce7 14. c4 c6 15. Qd2
f6 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Nxa3 Rf7 18. Nc2 Bd7 19. Bd3 Qc7 20. Rac1 Rd8 21. Nb4 Qd6
22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Nc2 Nc6 24. b4 Ng7 25. a3 Bg4 26. Be2 Re7 27. Ne3 Be6 28. Rc5
Nf5 29. Bd1 Rde8 30. Ba4 Nxe3 31. Rxe3 Kg7 32. Bxc6 bxc6 33. h3 Bd7 34. Rcc3
Re4 35. Qe2 Qf4 36. Rxe4 dxe4 37. Nd2 Qd6 38. Nb3 Bc8 39. Rc1 Qd5 40. Qe3 g5
41. Na5 Bd7 42. Nc4 Be6 43. Nd2 Bf7 44. Rc5 Qd7 45. Ra5 Rd8 46. Nxe4 Qxd4 47.
Qxd4 Rxd4 48. Nc5 Rd1+ 49. Kh2 Rd2 50. f3 Bd5 51. Kg1 Rd1+ 52. Kf2 Rd2+ 53. Kf1
Bc4+ 54. Kg1 Rd1+ 55. Kh2 Rd2 56. Kg1 Rd1+ 57. Kf2 Rd2+ 58. Ke3 Rxg2 59. Nxa6
Rg3 60. Nc7 Rxh3 61. Rc5 Bf7 62. Kf2 Rh2+ 63. Kg3 Ra2 64. Rxc6 h5 65. b5 h4+
66. Kh3 Rxa3 67. Kg2 Bh5 68. Ne6+ Kg6 69. Nd4 h3+ 70. Kg3 Rd3 71. Rc4 h2 72.
Kxh2 Bxf3 73. Nxf3 Rxf3 74. Rb4 Rd3 75. b6 Rd8 76. b7 Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nc6 3. a3 g6 4. b4 Bg7 5. Bb2 d6 6. Nf3 f5 7. e3 Nf6 8. Be2 O-O
9. Nc3 Ne7 10. d4 e4 11. Nd2 d5 12. b5 Be6 13. a4 Rf7 14. O-O g5 15. Ba3 Ng6
16. Rc1 c6 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Nb3 f4 20. Nc5 Bf5 21. g3 f3 22. Ba6
Bc8 23. Bb5 a6 24. Bc6 Rb8 25. Rb1 Rxb1 26. Qxb1 Ne7 27. Bb7 Ng6 28. Bc6 Ne7
29. Bb7 Ng6 30. Bc6 Ne7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2861"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 Be6 9. b4 O-O 10. Rb1 f6 11. b5 Nd4 12. e3 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Rb8 14. d4 Bd6 15.
a4 exd4 16. exd4 Bf7 17. Qc2 Kh8 18. a5 Nc4 19. a6 bxa6 20. bxa6 Qd7 21. Rb7
Rxb7 22. axb7 c6 23. Ne4 Be7 24. Be2 Na5 25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. Qxc5 Qe8 27. b8=Q 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nc6 3. a3 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Be2 a5 8. O-O
Bc5 9. Be3 Bb6 10. Nbd2 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Ng4 12. Nc4 b5 13. h3 bxc4 14. hxg4 Bxg4
15. Qa4 Bd7 16. Qxc4 O-O 17. Qc5 Re8 18. Rac1 a4 19. Bd1 Re6 20. Rf2 h6 21. b4
Qe8 22. Nh4 Rd6 23. Qc3 Na7 24. Be2 Nb5 25. Qb2 g6 26. Rc5 Qe7 27. Nf3 f6 28.
d4 exd4 29. Bxb5 Bxb5 30. Rxb5 dxe3 31. Re2 Qxe4 32. Qc1 Qd3 33. Rb7 Qd1+ 34.
Qxd1 Rxd1+ 35. Kh2 Rd3 36. Rxc7 Rxa3 37. b5 Rb8 38. Nd4 Rd3 39. Rc4 a3 40. Ra4
Rd8 41. Ne6 R8d6 42. Nc5 R3d5 43. Ne4 Re6 44. Nc3 Rc5 45. Rxa3 f5 46. Rb3 f4
47. b6 Re8 48. b7 Rb8 49. Ne4 Rc7 50. Nd6 Rc6 51. Rd3 Kf8 52. g3 g5 53. gxf4
gxf4 54. Kg2 Ke7 55. Ne4 Rxb7 56. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Amin, Bassem"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2704"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 e6 6. e4 Bd6 7. h3 Bh5 8. Re1
Ne7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. d4 a5 11. c4 Bb4 12. a3 Bxd2 13. Bxd2 dxe4 14. Rxe4 b5 15.
cxb5 cxb5 16. Bg5 Nb6 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Re5 Bg6 19. Rxb5 Nc4 20. Ne5 Rac8 21.
Nc6 Qd6 22. Rc1 Rxc6 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Rc5 Qb7 25. R1xc4 Qxb2 26. Qc1 Qe2 27.
Rc8 Be4 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rc8+ Ke7 30. Qg5+ 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. b3 Nf6 6. Bb2 O-O 7. e3 e6 8. Nge2
d5 9. O-O Re8 10. d3 d4 11. exd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Rb8
15. b4 b6 16. a4 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Qf3 Rbe7 19. a5 e5 20. axb6 Qxb6 21.
Rfe1 e4 22. dxe4 Qc6 23. c5 Rxe4 24. Kg2 d3 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rxa7 Qd5 27. Rd1
Rd4 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. c6 Rc8 30. Rd7 Rb5 31. Rb7 Rd5 32. b5 Kf6 33. c7 Ke7 34.
b6 Kd7 35. Rb8 Rd6 36. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Bf4 b6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Ba6 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Bd2 Nhf6 14. Bf4 Nh5
15. Be5 Nhf6 16. e3 h6 17. Qd1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bd6 19. f4 Bb7 20. Rc2 a6 21. Rac1
Qe7 22. Na4 Qd8 23. Qd3 Ne4 24. Nc6 Bxc6 25. Rxc6 b5 26. Nc5 Nxc5 27. dxc5 Be7
28. e4 dxe4 29. Qxd8 Rfxd8 30. Bxe4 Ra7 31. Rc2 g5 32. Rb6 Rd4 33. Rb7 Rxb7 34.
Bxb7 Bd8 35. fxg5 hxg5 36. Bxa6 b4 37. Kf2 Kg7 38. Ke3 e5 39. Bd3 Rd5 40. c6
Bb6+ 41. Ke2 Bc7 42. g4 Rd4 43. Rc4 Rxc4 44. Bxc4 e4 45. Ke3 Bxh2 46. Kxe4 Kf6
47. Kd5 Ke7 48. Kc5 Bd6+ 49. Kb6 Kd8 50. Bxf7 Kc8 51. Be6+ Kb8 52. Bf5 Bc7+ 53.
Kc5 Be5 54. b3 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. b3 d6 6. Bb2 e5 7. e3 Nge7 8. Nge2
O-O 9. d3 a6 10. Qd2 Rb8 11. O-O b5 12. Nd5 Be6 13. Rae1 Qd7 14. f4 f5 15. Nec3
Kh8 16. Nxe7 Nxe7 17. Nd5 Rbe8 18. Qa5 Nc6 19. Qd2 Ne7 20. Kh1 Nxd5 21. cxd5
Bg8 22. e4 exf4 23. gxf4 fxe4 24. dxe4 Bxb2 25. Qxb2+ Qg7 26. Qd2 g5 27. fxg5
Re5 28. h4 h6 29. gxh6 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Qg6 31. Qf4 Rh5 32. Qf6+ Kh7 33. Qe7+ Kh8
34. e5 Qxh6 35. Qf6+ Qxf6 36. Rxf6 dxe5 37. d6 Rxh4+ 38. Kg1 Rd4 39. Rf5 c4 40.
bxc4 Bxc4 41. Rxe5 Rxd6 42. a3 Rd1+ 43. Kf2 Rd2+ 44. Kg1 Rd3 45. Re8+ Kg7 46.
Re7+ Kf6 47. Ra7 Rxa3 0-1

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Bd3 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Ne8 12. Nc3 d6 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qh6
dxe5 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Ne4 f6 17. Bc4+ Rf7 18. Nxf6+ 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bg7 8.
Nc3 Bg4 9. Qb3 Ne7 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O-O Qd6 12. Kb1 a5 13. h3 Be6 14. Qc2 a4
15. Ng5 b5 16. Nxe6 Qxe6 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 18. Ne2 b4 19. Nf4 b3 20. Qc5 bxa2+ 21.
Ka1 Qd7 22. Kxa2 Rdb8 23. Qc4 Rb5 24. Nd3 Rab8 25. Re2 Nc8 26. Rc1 Nd6 27. Qxc6
Qe6+ 28. Ka1 a3 29. bxa3 Rb3 30. Rb2 Rxa3+ 31. Kb1 Qa2+ 32. Kc2 Rxb2+ 33. Nxb2
Rb3 34. Rb1 Nc4 35. Qe8+ Bf8 36. Bh6 Na3+ 37. Kd2 Nxb1+ 0-1

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 Nf6 6. O-O d6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Rxf4 Bh5 11. Nf3 a6 12. a4 Bxf3 13. Rxf3 Nd4 14. Rf2 Ng4
15. Rf4 Ne5 16. Qd1 Bg5 17. Rf2 Bxc1 18. Qxc1 Qh4 19. Rf4 Qg5 20. Rf2 Qh5 21.
Qf4 b5 22. Bd5 Rab8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Re1 b4 25. Nd1 b3 26. c3 Nxd3 27. Qd2
Nxf2 28. Qxf2 Ne6 29. Ne3 Qg5 30. Rf1 Nc7 31. h4 Qe5 32. Bxf7+ Kh8 33. Nc4 Qe7
34. Qf4 Rbd8 35. e5 dxe5 36. Nxe5 Rd6 37. Qe3 Qd8 38. Bxb3 Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Rf6+
40. Kg1 Qf8 41. Kh2 g6 42. Kh3 Qc8+ 43. Kh2 Qf8 44. Kh3 Qc8+ 45. Kh2 Qf5 46.
Qxc5 Qf4+ 47. Kh3 Qf5+ 48. Kh2 Qf4+ 49. Kh3 Qf5+ 50. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2861"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O e4 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19. Nfd5 Kh8 20. f4 exf3 21.
Qxf3 Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Qh4 23. g3 Rg8 24. Nf4 Qh6 25. Bxf5 Raf8 26. Ne6 Bxg3 27.
hxg3 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxg3+ 0-1

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. d4 Bf5 6. Nh4 Be6 7. c5 g6 8. Bd3 Bg7
9. O-O O-O 10. b4 Bc8 11. f4 Ne8 12. Qe1 a5 13. Na4 axb4 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Qxb4
Na6 16. Qc3 Nf6 17. Nxc8 Qxc8 18. Rb1 Nc7 19. Qc2 Ne4 20. Nf3 Qd7 21. a3 Rfa8
22. Rb3 f5 23. Bb2 Ne6 24. Rb1 Nd8 25. Bc1 Bf6 26. g3 Kg7 27. Qg2 Ra4 28. h3 h5
29. g4 fxg4 30. hxg4 Qxg4 31. Qxg4 hxg4 32. Bxe4 gxf3 33. Bxf3 g5 34. f5 Kf8
35. Kf2 Ke8 36. Ke2 Kd7 37. Kd3 Kc7 38. Bh5 R4a7 39. Bb2 Ra6 40. Kc2 b6 41.
cxb6+ Rxb6 42. Rxb6 Kxb6 43. Bc3+ Kc7 44. Ra1 Nb7 45. a4 Nd6 46. Bg4 Nc4 47.
Kd3 c5 48. Bf3 cxd4 49. Bxd4 Ne5+ 50. Bxe5+ Bxe5 51. Ra2 Kd6 52. a5 Ra7 53. a6
Kc5 54. e4 d4 55. Ra5+ 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Amin, Bassem"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. h3 b5 10. Bc2 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 Nb8 13. Nf1 c5 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4
Nbd7 16. Ne3 Qc7 17. Bg3 g6 18. Bh2 Bg7 19. Nd2 d5 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5
22. Bb3 Qc6 23. Bxd5 Qxd5 24. Qe2 f5 25. Qf3 e4 26. dxe4 Qxd2 27. Rad1 Qxb2 28.
Rxd7 Qxc3 29. Qd1 fxe4 30. Bf4 Qf6 31. Qd5+ Kh8 32. Rf7 Qd4 33. Qc6 Rf8 34. Rd7
Qf6 35. Qxf6 Bxf6 36. Bxh6 Rfe8 37. axb5 axb5 38. Be3 c4 39. Rf7 Bc3 40. Rc1 b4
41. Rd7 Red8 42. Re7 Re8 43. Rd7 Reb8 44. Bf4 Rf8 45. Rxc3 Rxf4 46. Rxc4 Rb8
47. Rd1 b3 48. Rb1 Rf5 49. Rxe4 b2 50. Re2 Rfb5 51. Rd2 Kg7 52. g3 Rb3 53. Kg2
R8b7 54. h4 Kh6 55. Rc2 R7b6 56. Rd2 Rb7 57. Kh3 R7b4 58. Kg2 Rb5 59. Rc2 Rb7
60. Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e6 7. d3 Bd6 8. e4
Ngf6 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Nc3 O-O-O 11. a4 Rdg8 12. Rb1 g5 13. Bg2 a5 14. exd5 exd5
15. d4 Kb8 16. Qd3 h6 17. Re1 Nf8 18. Na2 Ne4 19. b4 f5 20. bxa5 Qxa5 21. Ba3
Bxa3 22. Qxa3 Nd7 23. Nb4 Kc7 24. c4 dxc4 25. Bxe4 fxe4 26. Rxe4 Re8 27. Rxe8
Rxe8 28. Qc3 Nb6 29. d5 Nxd5 30. Nxd5+ Qxd5 31. Qg7+ Kd6 32. Qxb7 Qd2 33. Kg2
Qd5+ 34. Kh2 Qd4 35. Qf7 Re7 36. Qf8 Kd5 37. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 dxc4 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. e3 Na5 8. Ne5
c5 9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Be7 13. Bf4 Bd7 14. d5 Rc8
15. dxe6 Rxc4 16. exd7+ Kxd7 17. O-O-O+ Kc6 18. Be5 Rd8 19. Rxd8 Bxd8 20. b3
Rc5 21. Bd4 Rf5 22. f3 Bb6 23. Bxb6 Kxb6 24. Re1 Rc5 25. Kd2 Nd5 26. Nxd5+
Rxd5+ 27. Kc3 Rc5+ 28. Kd2 Rd5+ 29. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Abidjan GCT blitz"]
[Site "Abidjan"]
[Date "2019.05.12"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2019.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "IVO"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 e5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. d4 Bd6 8.
dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. Qe4 Qe7 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Bb5+ Kf8 13. Qxd5 g6 14.
O-O Kg7 15. Bd2 Rd8 16. Qxe5+ Qxe5 17. Bc3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 Be6 19. Ba4 Rd3 20.
Rab1 b6 21. Bb3 Bxb3 22. Rxb3 Rc8 23. Rc1 Rd2 24. Ra3 Rc7 25. Kf1 Rb2 26. c4
Rd7 27. e4 Rdd2 28. Rf3 Rxa2 29. g3 Rdc2 30. Rd1 Rd2 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. Rc3 Rd7
33. e5 Re7 34. f4 f6 35. exf6+ Kxf6 36. Kf2 Rc7 37. Ke3 b5 38. c5 b4 39. Rb3
Rxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.12"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. c3 Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 15.
d4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Nf1 Bf6 18. d5 Ncb8 19. h4 Qa1 20. Re3 Nc5 21. c4 Qa6
22. N1d2 Qb6 23. Ra3 Bc8 24. Nb3 Nba6 25. Nxc5 Nxc5 26. Qe1 Bg4 27. Nh2 Bd7 28.
g3 Rb8 29. Nf3 h6 30. Be3 Qb2 31. Qc3 Qxc3 32. Rxc3 Ra8 33. Bxc5 dxc5 34. Rb3
Bg4 35. Kg2 Bxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Be7 37. h5 Bd6 38. Bd1 g6 39. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.13"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Ne4 Be7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Bb3 Bf5 11. a4 a5 12. Re1 Qd7 13. Be3 Rad8 14. Bxb6 cxb6
15. Bc4 Bg6 16. Qb3 Qc7 17. Re3 h6 18. Rae1 Kh8 19. Bd5 f6 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. d4
Bf7 22. Qc2 exd4 23. Nxd4 Rfe8 24. Ng3 Bd6 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.14"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e3 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. c4 b6 6. Be2 c5 7. a3 Bb7 8. O-O d6
9. d3 Nbd7 10. Nc3 e6 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. d4 Rab8 13. a4 d5 14. bxc5 bxc5 15. Ba3
Rfc8 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qd1 Qd8 19. Ba6 Rc7 20. Bb5 cxd4 21. Nxd4
Nb6 22. Rc1 Rxc1 23. Bxc1 Rc8 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. Re1 Nd7 26. Bb5 Nc5 27. Ba3 Bf8
28. Qc2 Rc8 29. Rc1 Bb7 30. Qb1 Be4 31. Qa2 Bd5 32. Qc2 Qg5 33. Bf1 Qd8 34. Qd1
h5 35. Nb5 a6 36. Nd4 Bb7 37. Rb1 Be4 38. Rc1 e5 39. Nf3 Qxd1 40. Rxd1 Bxf3 41.
gxf3 Nxa4 42. Bxa6 Ra8 43. Bb7 Rb8 44. Bxf8 Kxf8 45. Bc6 Nb6 46. Ra1 Rc8 47.
Be4 Nd7 48. Ra7 Nf6 49. Ra5 Nxe4 50. fxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.14"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. O-O
d6 9. Bg3 a6 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Nbd2 Bf8 13. Re1 Nh5 14. Nf1 Nxg3 15.
hxg3 g6 16. Ne3 Bg7 17. a4 Rb8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bb3 Rf8 20. d4 b4 21. Bd5 Bd7
22. Ra6 Ne7 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Bc4 bxc3 25. bxc3 Bc6 26. Qc2 Ra8 27. Rea1 Rxa6
28. Rxa6 Kh7 29. Ra5 f6 30. Nd2 Qd7 31. Nb3 Ra8 32. Nc5 Qd6 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34.
Ne6 h5 35. Qb1 Qb6 36. Qxb6 cxb6 37. Bd5 Bc6 38. Bxc6 Nxc6 39. Nd5 b5 40. Kf1
f5 41. Ke2 Bh6 42. Nec7 Na7 43. exf5 gxf5 44. Ne7 f4 45. gxf4 exf4 46. Kf3 Nc6
47. Nxc6 1-0

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.15"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. g4 b4 10. Nce2 h6 11. Nf4 Bb7 12. Qxb4 Qc8 13. Qd2 e5 14. Nf5 exf4 15.
Bxf4 Ne5 16. Be2 Qc7 17. O-O-O O-O-O 18. Kb1 g6 19. Ne3 Be7 20. c4 Kb8 21. Rc1
Nxe4 22. fxe4 Bxe4+ 23. Ka1 Bxh1 24. Rxh1 Bg5 25. Nd5 Bxf4 26. Qxf4 Qa7 27. Rc1
Rhe8 28. a3 Nc6 29. Bf3 g5 30. Qg3 Qc5 31. Bh1 Re2 32. Nc3 Re3 33. Qg2 Rc8 34.
Nd5 Rb3 35. Ka2 Rb7 36. b3 a5 37. Nc3 Qe3 38. Rc2 Qd3 39. Qd2 Qxd2 40. Rxd2 Re7
41. Rxd6 Rd8 42. Rxd8+ Nxd8 43. Be4 h5 44. gxh5 f5 45. Bxf5 Rf7 46. Bg6 Rf2+
47. Kb1 Rxh2 48. Ne4 g4 49. Kc1 Nc6 50. Kd1 Nd4 51. Ke1 Nxb3 52. Kf1 Nd4 53.
Ng3 Kc7 54. Be4 Nf3 55. c5 Nd2+ 56. Kg1 Rh3 57. Kg2 Nxe4 0-1

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.16"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. Ba4 Ngf6 5. O-O e5 6. c3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. d4
Qc7 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. c4 Be6 12. Qe2 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrkrqbbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKRQBBN w DBdb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nb3 Nb6 2. f4 f5 3. Ng3 g6 4. e4 e6 5. d3 Nf7 6. Be3 Bh6 7. Qf2 d6 8. Re1
Qd7 9. O-O-O Re8 10. e5 Nd5 11. Bd2 Qa4 12. c4 Nb4 13. Bxb4 Qxb4 14. Kb1 a5 15.
exd6 cxd6 16. d4 O-O-O 17. Ne2 a4 18. Nbc1 a3 19. Nd3 Qb6 20. Nc3 Kb8 21. c5
Qa5 22. b4 Qc7 23. Nb5 Qc6 24. Nxa3 e5 25. d5 Qa4 26. Qb2 e4 27. Nc1 Bxf4 28.
Bb5 Qa7 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. Nb3 Be5 31. Qc1 Qa4 32. Nc4 Qxb4 33. Nxe5 Nxe5 34.
Rd4 Qb5 35. cxd6 Rc8 36. Qd2 Qb6 37. d7 Nxd7 38. Qf4+ Qc7 39. Qxc7+ Rxc7 40. g4
Ne5 41. d6 Rd7 42. gxf5 gxf5 43. Nc5 Rd8 44. Rb4 Bd5 45. Rd1 Bc6 46. d7 Nd3 47.
Nxd3 exd3 48. Rd4 Be4 49. Kb2 Kc7 50. Rc1+ Bc6 51. Rxd3 f4 52. Rf3 Rf8 53. Rc4
Rd8 54. Rf2 Rxd7 55. Rcxf4 Bd5 56. Rd4 Kc6 57. Rc2+ Kd6 58. Rcd2 Ke5 59. a4 Rd6
60. Ka3 h5 61. a5 Rd7 62. Kb4 Rd6 63. Rxd5+ Rxd5 64. Rxd5+ Kxd5 65. Kb5 Ke4 66.
Kb6 Kf3 67. Kxb7 h4 68. a6 Kg2 69. a7 h3 70. a8=Q 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrkrqbbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKRQBBN w DBdb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nb3 Nb6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 exd4 4. Rxd4 f5 5. O-O-O Bxb3 6. axb3 Bc5 7. R4d3
fxe4 8. Rh3 Qg6 9. Kb1 Re8 10. Qc3 Bf8 11. f3 O-O-O 12. fxe4 Nf7 13. Rg3 Qh5
14. Re1 Ne5 15. Nf2 d5 16. Rh3 Qg6 17. Rg3 Qf7 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Bxd3 dxe4 20.
Bxe4 Rxe4 21. Rxe4 Rd1+ 22. Ka2 Qf1 23. Re8+ Kd7 24. Rd3+ Kxe8 25. Qe5+ Be7 26.
Qh5+ g6 27. Qxd1 Qxg2 28. Qe1 Qxc2 29. Rc3 Qf5 30. Bc5 Nd5 31. Bxe7 Nxc3+ 32.
bxc3 Qc2+ 33. Ka3 Kd7 34. Bg5 b6 35. Qe7+ Kc8 36. Qe6+ Kb8 37. Qg8+ Kb7 38.
Qd5+ Kb8 39. Qe5 Qd1 40. Bf4 Qd7 41. c4 a5 42. Kb2 Qc6 43. Qd5 Qf6+ 44. Be5
Qf2+ 45. Ka3 Qf8+ 46. c5 Ka7 47. Bxc7 bxc5 48. Ka4 Qf2 49. Bxa5 Qa2+ 50. Kb5
Qe2+ 51. Kxc5 Qe3+ 52. Kb5 Qe2+ 53. Qc4 Qxh2 54. Bb6+ Kb8 55. Qg8+ Kb7 56. Qf7+
Kb8 57. Qe8+ Kb7 58. Qd7+ Kb8 59. Bc5 Qe2+ 60. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brqknbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRQKNBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Ngf3 b6 3. b3 e6 4. Qc2 Be7 5. d4 Ngf6 6. O-O-O cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc7 8.
f3 b5 9. Nxb5 Nxb5 10. cxb5 a6 11. Qxc8+ Rxc8+ 12. Kb1 axb5 13. e4 b4 14. Ba6
Rb8 15. Nc2 d5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. exd5 exd5 18. Bc4 O-O 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5
Rfe8 21. Rhd1 g6 22. R5d3 Re2 23. R1d2 Rbe8 24. Rxe2 Rxe2 25. Nxb4 Rxg2 26. h3
Rg3 27. f4 Rg1+ 28. Kc2 Rg2+ 29. Rd2 Rg3 30. Nd5 Bd8 31. b4 Rxh3 32. Rd3 Rxd3
33. Kxd3 Kf8 34. a4 Ke8 35. a5 Kd7 36. a6 Kc8 37. b5 Kb8 38. Kc4 h5 39. b6 Bxb6
40. Nxb6 h4 41. Nd7+ Ka7 42. Ne5 h3 43. Ng4 Kxa6 44. Kd4 Kb5 45. Ke3 Kc5 46.
Kf3 Kd4 47. Nh2 Kd5 48. Nf1 Kd4 49. Kg3 Ke4 50. Nd2+ Kf5 51. Nf3 h2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brqknbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRQKNBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b5 2. d3 e6 3. Nef3 c5 4. b3 Qc7 5. Nh3 f6 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O Rg8 8. Nf4
e5 9. Nh5 b4 10. c3 a5 11. a3 g6 12. Nxf6 Nxf6 13. cxb4 d6 14. bxc5 Qxc5 15.
Qxc5 dxc5 16. Bxe5 Rb6 17. Bc3 Ke8 18. Bxa5 Ra6 19. Bc3 Bg7 20. a4 Ra7 21. b4
Nd7 22. Bxg7 Rxg7 23. bxc5 Nxc5 24. Rb8+ Kd7 25. Rc1 Nxa4 26. Ne5+ Ke6 27. f4
Rg8 28. Rb4 Kf6 29. Ra1 Nc3 30. Rxa7 Nxe2+ 31. Kf2 Nxf4 32. g3 Kxe5 33. gxf4+
Kd6 34. Rb6+ Nc6 35. Rba6 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrnkqrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRNKQRBB w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. d3 c6 4. Bxa7 Nxa7 5. Qa5+ Nc7 6. Qxa7 Kc8 7. Nab3 e5 8.
fxe5 Qxe5 9. Qc5 Qe8 10. Qf2 Ra8 11. a3 Qe7 12. e3 Bg7 13. Ne2 Re8 14. e4 fxe4
15. Bxe4 Ne6 16. Bg2 Rf8 17. Qe1 Rxf1 18. Bxf1 Qg5 19. Bh3 Kc7 20. Qd2 Qh5 21.
Bxe6 Bxe6 22. O-O-O Bxb3 23. cxb3 Bh6 24. Nf4 Qf3 25. Kc2 Bxf4 26. Qxf4+ Qxf4
27. gxf4 Ra5 28. Rf1 Rh5 29. Rf2 Kd6 30. Kc3 Kd5 31. b4 Kd6 32. Kd4 Rh4 33. Kc3
Ke6 34. a4 Kd6 35. b3 Kd5 36. Re2 Kd6 37. Rf2 Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrnkqrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRNKQRBB w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. d3 d6 4. c4 Nab6 5. b3 e5 6. Nc2 Ne7 7. a4 a6 8. a5 Nd7 9.
b4 e4 10. Qd2 d5 11. b5 Kc8 12. Bd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 dxc4 14. O-O Bd5 15. dxe4
fxe4 16. Na2 e3 17. Qxe3 Bxh1 18. Kxh1 Nf5 19. Nxf5 gxf5 20. Qf3 axb5 21. Rxb5
c6 22. Rb4 Qe6 23. Nc3 Re8 24. Rfb1 Nc5 25. Qh5 Ne4 26. Na4 Nf6 27. Qf3 Qxe2
28. Nb6+ Kc7 29. Qc3 Qe4+ 30. Kg1 Qe3+ 31. Qxe3 Rxe3 32. Nxc4 Re4 33. Nd2 Rxb4
34. Rxb4 Rd8 35. Nb3 Rd1+ 36. Kg2 Rb1 0-1

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "bbrqknrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRQKNRN w GCgc - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. e3 d5 4. cxd5 Bxd5 5. f4 e6 6. Nf2 Nhg6 7. g3 Nd7 8. h4 h6
9. Bxg6 fxg6 10. Qg4 Kf7 11. h5 g5 12. e4 Bb7 13. Ne3 Qe7 14. fxg5 Qxg5 15.
Qxg5 hxg5 16. Nh3 g4 17. Ng5+ Ke7 18. Nxg4 Nf6 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nxh5 21.
d3 Nf6 22. g4 Rcd8 23. O-O-O Rh8 24. Rd2 Rh4 25. Nf3 Rh3 26. g5 Nh5 27. Ne1 Rf8
28. Kc2 b5 29. Kb2 Rc8 30. Rf1 Bc6 31. Rh2 Rxh2+ 32. Bxh2 c4 33. dxc4 bxc4 34.
bxc4 Bxe4 35. Kb3 a5 36. Rf2 Rc5 37. Re2 Bb7 38. Re5 Rxe5 39. Bxe5 Kf7 40. Nd3
Kg6 41. Nc5 Bc8 42. Ka4 Kxg5 43. Kxa5 Kf5 44. Bh2 g5 45. Kb6 e5 46. Kc7 Be6 47.
Nxe6 Kxe6 48. c5 e4 49. Bg1 Kd5 50. a4 Kc4 51. c6 Nf6 52. Kd6 Ne8+ 53. Ke7 Nc7
54. Kf6 Kb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "bbrqknrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRQKNRN w GCgc - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. e3 e6 4. Nhg3 Qe7 5. f4 f6 6. Nh5 O-O-O 7. Nfg3 d6 8. Be4
Bxe4 9. Nxe4 Nf7 10. Nxg7 Qb7 11. Qf3 Rxg7 12. Bxf6 Rg8 13. Bxd8 Nxd8 14. O-O
Qg7 15. f5 Qe5 16. d4 cxd4 17. exd4 Qxd4+ 18. Kh1 Qe5 19. Ng3 Qf6 20. Rce1 d5
21. fxe6 Qxf3 22. Rxf3 Nfxe6 23. Nf5 Kb7 24. cxd5 Ng5 25. Rff1 Ka6 26. Ne7 Rg7
27. Nc6 Nxc6 28. dxc6 Rg6 29. Rf5 Ne6 30. Rc1 Bc7 31. g3 b5 32. a4 bxa4 33.
bxa4 Bb6 34. Rf7 Nc7 35. Rxh7 Re6 36. Rh5 Re3 37. a5 Bd4 38. Rh7 Bb2 39. Rc2
Be5 40. Re7 Nd5 41. Rxe5 Rxe5 42. c7 Ne7 43. c8=Q+ Nxc8 44. Rxc8 Kxa5 45. Kg2
Re2+ 46. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "bbrqknrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRQKNRN w GCgc - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. e3 e6 4. f4 Qe7 5. Nf2 O-O-O 6. Qe2 f6 7. O-O-O Nf7 8. g3
d5 9. d4 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Ng6 11. e4 Nxf4 12. gxf4 Bxf4+ 13. Nd2 Kb8 14. dxc5 Ne5
15. Bxe5+ Bxe5 16. Nf3 Bf4+ 17. Kb2 Be3 18. Qe2 Qxc5 19. Nd3 Bd4+ 20. Nxd4
Qxd4+ 21. Ka3 a5 22. Qf2 Qd6+ 23. Kb2 Bxe4 24. Qe3 f5 25. Nf2 Qe5+ 26. Ka3 Ka7
27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Rd5 29. Qf3 Qd6+ 30. Kb2 Rf8 31. Qe2 Qe5+ 32. Kb1 Rf4
33. Rde1 Rxe4 34. Qxe4 Rd1+ 35. Kc2 Qxe4+ 36. Rxe4 Rxg1 37. Rxe6 Rg2+ 38. Kc3
Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "bbrqknrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRQKNRN w GCgc - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b4 b6 2. c4 c5 3. bxc5 bxc5 4. e3 e6 5. Nhg3 Qe7 6. Nh5 e5 7. Nhg3 g6 8. Be4
Bxe4 9. Nxe4 f5 10. Nc3 Nf7 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. g4 fxg4 13. Qxg4 Ne6 14. Ng3 O-O
15. Ne4 Nh6 16. Qh5 Nf5 17. Rxg6+ hxg6 18. Qxg6+ Nfg7 19. Nef6+ Rxf6 20. Nxf6+
Kf8 21. Nh7+ Ke7 22. Qf6+ Ke8 23. Qg6+ Ke7 24. Qf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "11"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrkrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRKRNQ w FDfd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. c3 O-O 4. Nf3 Nb6 5. O-O Na4 6. Bc1 c6 7. Bc2 Nb6 8. Nb3
Rfe8 9. h3 Nc4 10. Nc5 h6 11. Rfe1 e5 12. b3 Nb6 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Rxe5
15. Bf4 Re7 16. e4 g5 17. Be3 Qg7 18. Qh2 Rde8 19. Bd4 Qg6 20. f3 dxe4 21. Qd6
Nfd5 22. Qxg6+ fxg6 23. Nxe4 Bf5 24. c4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Nf4 26. Kf2 Rxe4 27. Bxe4
Kf7 28. Bxb6 axb6 29. Rd7+ Re7 30. Rxe7+ Kxe7 31. g3 Nxh3+ 32. Kg2 g4 33. f4
Kf6 34. b4 g5 35. f5 h5 36. a4 h4 37. a5 bxa5 38. bxa5 hxg3 39. Kxg3 Nf4 40.
Bxc6 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrkrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRKRNQ w FDfd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c3 c6 2. f4 d5 3. d3 Nb6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nb3 O-O 6. Qg1 g6 7. Qf2 Ng4 8. Qg1
Qg7 9. h3 Nh6 10. Qf2 f6 11. O-O e5 12. fxe5 fxe5 13. e4 Nf7 14. Bc2 Bd6 15.
Qh4 Rfe8 16. Qg3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Be7 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Na5 Kh8 20. Bb3 Rf8 21.
Be3 Nd6 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Nxe4 25. Bd4 Bf6 26. Bc2 Bf5 27.
Bxe4 Bxe4 28. Nxg6+ Kg7 29. Nf4 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Na4 31. b3 Nc3 32. Nxb7 Nxa2 33.
Nc5 Bf5 34. Ke2 Nc3+ 35. Kd2 Nb5 36. Ke3 Kf6 37. g4 Bc2 38. b4 Kg5 39. Nce6+
Kh4 40. Nd8 Kg3 41. Nxc6 Na3 42. d5 Ba4 43. Nh5+ Kxh3 44. Nf6 h6 45. Kd4 Kh4
46. Kc5 Nb5 47. d6 Nxd6 48. Kxd6 Kg5 49. Ng8 a6 50. Ne5 Bb3 51. Ne7 Bd1 52.
Nf7+ Kxg4 53. Nxh6+ 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "13"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrkrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRKRNQ w FDfd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c3 Nf6 5. h3 Nb6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O g6 8. Rfe1
Rfe8 9. Nb3 Qg7 10. Nc5 Nc4 11. Nd3 h5 12. Nde5 Nd6 13. g3 a5 14. Qg2 Bf5 15.
Bf4 Bxb1 16. Rxb1 Nfe4 17. h4 f6 18. Nd3 b6 19. a4 e6 20. Re2 Re7 21. Rbe1 Rde8
22. Bxd6 Nxd6 23. Nd2 Qf7 24. Qh3 Nf5 25. Nf3 Bd6 26. Qg2 Kg7 27. Nc1 Rc8 28.
Nb3 Rc4 29. Nbd2 Rxa4 30. Qf1 Ra2 31. Rb1 a4 32. Qd1 Qe8 33. Qe1 a3 34. bxa3
Rxa3 35. c4 Bc7 36. Qc1 Ra7 37. cxd5 exd5 38. Rxe7+ Qxe7 39. Qc3 Ra3 40. Qc6
Qd6 41. Rc1 Ra1 42. Kg2 Rxc1 43. Qxc1 Qd7 44. Qc2 Kf7 45. Qb3 Qc6 46. Qa3 Bd8
47. Qa7+ Be7 48. Qb8 Kg7 49. Qa7 Qe6 50. Qb7 Kf8 51. Qb8+ Kf7 52. Qb7 b5 53.
Qxb5 Nd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.05"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrkrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRKRNQ w FDfd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c3 c6 3. Nf3 Nb6 4. Nb3 g6 5. h3 Bf5 6. Bd3 h5 7. Nc5 O-O-O 8. O-O
Nf6 9. Ng5 Bxd3 10. exd3 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. g3 Rde8 13. f4 e6 14. Rde1 Qg8
15. Qg2 f6 16. Nf3 e5 17. fxe5 fxe5 18. Bh6 Rf7 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21.
Rxe5 Bxe5 22. Rxf7 Qxf7 23. Qf2 Qxf2+ 24. Kxf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrkrqbbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKRQBBN w DBdb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nb6 2. e4 g6 3. f4 f5 4. Nb3 fxe4 5. Qxe4 Bh6 6. Be3 Bd5 7. Qd3 Qf7 8.
Re1 Nc4 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nxd2 Qxf4 11. O-O-O Rf8 12. c4 Be6 13. g3 Qf6 14. d5
Bf5 15. Qa3 Qd4 16. h3 O-O-O 17. g4 Be4 18. Ng3 Bf3 19. Ne2 Qxc4+ 20. Kb1 Bxd2
21. Qxa7 Be4+ 22. Ka1 Qa6 23. Qxa6 bxa6 24. Rxd2 Rf2 25. Rd4 Bg2 26. Bxg2 Rxg2
27. Nf4 Rh2 28. Ra4 Rf8 29. a3 Rd2 30. Rxe7 g5 31. Nh5 Ng6 32. Rxh7 Ne5 33. Ng3
Rxd5 34. Rxa6 Rf4 35. Rh8+ Kb7 36. Raa8 Rd1+ 37. Ka2 d6 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrkrqbbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKRQBBN w DBdb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nb3 Nb6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 exd4 4. Rxd4 f5 5. O-O-O Bxb3 6. axb3 Bc5 7. R4d2
fxe4 8. Ng3 e3 9. fxe3 Qe5 10. Kb1 Re8 11. Bd3 O-O-O 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Bf2 Nf7
14. Bg3 Qe6 15. Rf2 Bd6 16. Nxd6+ Nxd6 17. Bxh7 Ne4 18. Bxe4 Qxe4 19. Qc3 d6
20. Rf7 Re7 21. Rxe7 Qxe7 22. e4 Qxe4 23. Rxd6 Rxd6 24. Bxd6 Nd5 25. Qe5 Qxe5
26. Bxe5 g6 27. g4 Kd7 28. c4 Ke6 29. Bg3 Nf6 30. h3 c6 31. Bf2 b6 32. Kc2 Ke5
33. Bg3+ Ke4 34. Bb8 Nd7 35. Bc7 Kf3 36. b4 Kg2 37. h4 Nf6 38. Bb8 Nxg4 39.
Bxa7 b5 40. Kc3 Ne5 41. b3 Nf3 42. Kd3 Kg3 43. cxb5 cxb5 44. Ke4 Nd2+ 45. Kd5
Nxb3 46. Kc6 Nc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brqknbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRQKNBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Ngf3 e6 3. Qc2 b6 4. b3 Be7 5. O-O-O Ngf6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc7 8.
f3 b5 9. cxb5 Nfd5 10. e4 Ne3 11. Qc3 Nxd1 12. Kxd1 f6 13. Nec2 O-O 14. Bd3 g6
15. f4 a6 16. bxa6 Rb6 17. Qa5 Rxa6 18. Bxa6 Nxa6 19. Bb2 Bxe4 20. Re1 Nc5 21.
Ba3 f5 22. Re3 Nb7 23. Qd2 d6 24. g4 Nc5 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bb2 Bf6 27. Nb4 Qb7
28. Bc3 Rc8 29. h3 Bg2 30. Qe1 Kf7 31. a3 Ne4 32. Bb2 Bxd4 33. Bxd4 Qc7 34. Ke2
Qc1 35. Qxc1 Rxc1 36. a4 Bf1+ 37. Kf3 Rd1 38. Bb6 Bxh3 39. Rd3 Rxd3+ 40. Nxd3
Nd2+ 41. Kg3 Bf1 42. Nc1 Ne4+ 43. Kf3 Ke6 44. Bd4 h5 45. Bf2 Kd5 46. Be1 Nc5
47. Ke3 Bg2 48. Bh4 Be4 49. Kd2 Bf3 50. a5 Kc6 51. b4 Ne6 52. Ke3 Bd5 53. Ne2
Bc4 54. Nd4+ Nxd4 55. Kxd4 d5 56. Be1 Kb5 57. Kc3 Kc6 58. Kd4 Kd6 59. Bf2 Bb5
60. Bh4 Bc4 61. Bf2 Kc6 62. Kc3 Kb5 63. Be1 Bf1 64. Kd4 Bg2 65. Kc3 Be4 66. Kd4
Bg2 67. Kc3 Bf3 68. Kd4 Kc6 69. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "brqknbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRQKNBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. Ngf3 Ngf6 4. g3 Qc7 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc2 e5 7. O-O Be7 8. e3
e4 9. Ng5 Rf8 10. f3 exf3 11. Nxf3 O-O-O 12. b4 Be4 13. Rd1 Qb7 14. Nce1 Bxb1
15. Qxb1 Qc7 16. Nd3 h6 17. a4 g5 18. a5 Nd7 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21.
Nfe5 Rd6 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. d4 Qa3 24. c5 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Nc7 26. cxd6 Bxd6 27.
Qf5+ Kd8 28. Nxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrnkqrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRNKQRBB w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Rxf4 d5 4. Bc5 Nd6 5. e5 g5 6. Rf3 Qxe5 7. Qxe5 Bxe5 8.
Nd3 g4 9. Rf2 Bxh2 10. g3 Bg1 11. Bxd6 cxd6 12. Rf1 Bb6 13. Bxd5 Nc7 14. Be4 f5
15. Rxf5 Re8 16. Rf4 Bxa2 17. O-O-O Nd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Nb3 Rc8 20. Nd4 h5
21. Nf5 Kd7 22. Ng7 Rh8 23. Rf5 Be4 24. Rf7+ Kc6 25. Nb4+ Kb5 26. c3 Rh7 27.
Re1 d5 28. d3 Rc7 29. Rxc7 Bxc7 30. dxe4 Rxg7 31. e5 d4 32. Nd5 dxc3 33. e6
cxb2+ 34. Kxb2 Bd6 35. e7 Bxe7 36. Nxe7 Rg5 37. Rf1 Kc4 38. Rf5 Rxf5 39. Nxf5
Kd3 40. Ng7 h4 41. gxh4 Ke4 42. Nh5 b5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Champ Showdown 9LX rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nrnkqrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRNKQRBB w FBfb - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2019.09.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g5 2. f4 f5 3. e5 gxf4 4. d4 d6 5. Nab3 Ncb6 6. Nd3 Qh5+ 7. Kc1 O-O-O 8.
Nxf4 Qh6 9. g3 dxe5 10. dxe5 Bd5 11. Bf3 Nc4 12. Qe2 Nab6 13. Bxb6 Nxb6 0-1

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.07"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,132,19,31,18,18,18,-4,40,29,10,-4,11,12,10,12,10,10,24,19,26,13,16,16,
10,8,17,0,17,3,15,9,0,-24,-22,-18,-28,-40,-31,-86,-94,-95,-104,-84,-94,-103,
-74,-147,-143,-125,-137,-129,-148,-123,-153,-160,-160,-187,-83,-97,-78,-110,
-115,-118,-123,-122,-122,-124,-139,-124,-132,-130,-121,-116,-107,-107,-112,
-107,-112,-161,-81,-97,-81,-76,-91,-126,-91,-34,-63,-85,-106,-113,-115,-115,
-130,-157,-207,-256,-205,-210,-227,-220,-238,-230,-268,-268,-275,-277,-289,
-294,-245,-251,-190,-247,-257,-257,-215,-232,-244,-244,-208,-289,-191,-193,
-189,-200,-209,-238,-200,-200,-200,-336,-336,-335,-350]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Nd7 7. Bg5 $146 {A new move in this
well-known position. It's idea is certainly to provoke ...f7-f6, which can be
a weakening move if the centre opens up after d3-d4. Besides, Nf3-h4(-f5)
becomes possible.} (7. Be3 {was played by Hikaru Nakamura in an earlier game.
He won it but he didn't achieve any advantage after the opening:} Bd6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. c3 c5 11. a3 $5 a5 12. Re1 Nf8 13. d4 cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Be5 16. N2f3 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 b6 $11 {1-0 (24) Nakamura,H (2764)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2706) Baku 2014 CBM 163 [Marin,M]}) 7... f6 8. Be3 Bxe3 (8...
Bd6 {deserves attention here, too. If} 9. d4 (9. Nh4 {is not dangerous yet due
to} g6) {then} 9... O-O 10. Nbd2 Qe7 {, and Black looks OK.}) 9. fxe3 Qe7 10.
Nc3 b6 {[%mdl 32] An unusual plan: Black prepares long castling.} ({To} 10...
O-O {White could have played} 11. Nh4 {, then slowly preparing a kingside
attack.}) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Nh4 $6 (12. Rb1 {[%cal Yb2b4,Yb4b5] was more logical
here.}) 12... g6 13. Qe1 {Preventing ...f6-f5 but White's pieces are now
placed awkwardly.} O-O-O 14. a3 Kb8 15. b4 c5 16. Na4 Bc6 17. Nb2 Rhg8 18. Rd1
$6 (18. Nc4 $142 Rdf8 19. Qc3 {putting pressure on Black's e5 pawn in case of}
f5 20. Nf3) 18... Rdf8 19. c4 f5 $1 $17 {This advance marks the failure of
White's strategy.} 20. b5 Bb7 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Rd2 Qg5 {Black has a lot of
good plans here: ...Qg5-h5, ...f5-f4, ...Rg8-g3 or ...Rf8-f6-h6. White must do
something.} 23. e4 ({Examples:} 23. Na4 Rf6 24. Nb2 Rh6 25. Nf3 Qh5 {etc.}) (
23. Qf2 Qh5 24. Nf3 f4 25. e4 Rg3 $19) 23... fxe4 24. Rxf8+ (24. dxe4 Rxf1+ 25.
Kxf1 Nf6 $19) 24... Nxf8 $1 25. dxe4 {[%csl Rc4,Re4]} Ne6 26. Nf3 Qh5 27. Kh2
Nd4 28. Qe3 (28. Nxd4 exd4 $1 ({stronger than} 28... cxd4 {, after which
Black's e5 pawn is vulnerable, too, and White obtains a possibility to play
c4-c5 at some point}) 29. Nd3 Qf7 30. Rc2 Qe6 {, and White can't protect all
his weaknesses}) 28... Bc8 (28... Rg4 $1 {, winning the e4 pawn, was stronger.
If} 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Qf3 {then} Qe5+) 29. Ne1 Qg6 30. Ned3 Re8 31. Nd1 Qg8 32.
N3b2 {White has organized a kind of defence but his position is still bad, and
he can't hold it in a long term.} Be6 33. Qd3 Rd8 34. Qc3 h5 $1 35. Rf2 h4 36.
a4 Qg6 37. Qe3 Rg8 38. Kh1 Qh5 39. a5 Kc8 $6 {An apparently solid move
preparing ...Rg8-g3 Rf2-f8+ Kc8-d7. However, it allows White to create
counterplay.} (39... Rg3 $1 {was possible at once:} 40. Rf8+ Bc8 41. Qf2 bxa5
$1 {[%cal Yd4e6,Ye6g5]} 42. Ne3 Ne6 43. Rf5 Qh6 44. Rf3 Ng5 $1 $19) 40. Qe1 (
40. Nc3 $1 {was correct, after which Black should go for an endgame by} Qg6 {
[%cal Yg6g3]} ({as} 40... Rg3 41. Rf8+ Kd7 42. Qf2 {[%cal Rf2f6,Yc3d5]
suddenly gives White excellent counterchances.})) 40... Rg3 ({Here, too,} 40...
Qg6 {[%cal Yg6g3] was better.}) 41. Qf1 Kd7 42. Nd3 (42. Na4 {[%cal Ya4c3] was
White's last chance. Black must find} Bxc4 43. Qxc4 Qxd1+ 44. Kh2 Qb3 45. Rf7+
Ke8 46. Qxb3 Rxb3 47. Rxc7 Rxb5 48. Rxa7 Rxa5 49. Rxa5 bxa5 50. Nxc5 Ne2 $1 {
with a winning knight endgame.}) 42... Ke7 43. N1b2 Rg8 {Black converts his
advantage very slowly but he can afford such play as White is completely
passive.} (43... Qg5 $142) 44. a6 Qg5 45. Qg1 c6 $5 {A possible plan: Black
clarifies the situation on the queenside.} 46. bxc6 Nxc6 47. Rf1 Qg3 48. Qf2 {
White can hardly do anything else but the endgame is completely hopeless for
him. The rest of the game is not very interesting.} Qxf2 49. Nxf2 Rd8 50. Nfd1
Rd2 51. Rf2 Rxf2 52. Nxf2 {[%mdl 4096]} Na5 53. Kh2 Nxc4 54. Na4 Kd6 55. Nc3
Kc6 56. g3 hxg3+ 57. Kxg3 b5 58. Nd3 b4 59. Na4 b3 60. h4 Bf7 61. Kg4 Bg6 62.
Nc3 b2 63. Kf3 Kd6 64. Nb5+ Kd7 65. Nxb2 Nxb2 66. Nxa7 Bh5+ (66... Bh5+ 67. Kg3
(67. Kf2 Nd1+ 68. Ke1 Nc3 $19) (67. Ke3 Nc4+ 68. Kd3 Nd6 $19) 67... Be2 68. h5
Bxh5 69. Nb5 Kc6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.07"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. O-O c5 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. e4
cxd4 9. e5 Ng4 10. Re1 Nc5 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nxd4 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nf5 14. Be3 Nxd4
15. Bxd4 Bd7 16. Nc3 Bc6 17. Re3 Qh4 18. Bb6 Be7 19. Rg3 Bd8 20. Bc5 Bc7 21.
Rg4 Qh5 22. Bd6 Rd8 23. Rxg7 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxd6 25. exd6 Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.08"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 c5 {A logical reply to White's
anti-Gruenfeld setup: Black obtains the Modern Benoni defence with an extra
tempo.} 6. d5 d6 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nd2 Na6 {This is not Black's main plan in the
Modern Benoni but it is quite popular here.} 9. O-O Re8 {Black can do without
this move, too:} (9... Nc7 10. e4 a6 $5 (10... exd5 11. cxd5 Nfe8 $5 12. a4 b6
13. Nc4 f5 14. exf5 Rxf5 15. a5 Rb8 16. axb6 axb6 $13 {1-0 (71) Dreev,A (2654)
-Margvelashvili,G (2540) Las Vegas 2014}) 11. a4 b6 12. Re1 Rb8 13. dxe6 $6 (
13. Nf1 $5 exd5 $140 14. exd5) (13. h3 $5) 13... Nxe6 14. Nb3 Bb7 15. Bf1 Re8
16. f3 h5 (16... Nh5 $36 {[%cal Yf7f5]}) 17. Be3 h4 $13 {0-1 (45) Kunin,V 
(2551)-Baldauf,M (2460) Riga 2017}) 10. e4 (10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. e4 Nb4 12. Nb3
Nc6 13. Bf4 Nd4 $1 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15. Nb5 Nxe4 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. Nxd6 Nxd6 18.
Bxd6 Bc6 $132 {1/2 (33) Svidler,P (2751)-Gelfand,B (2753) Jerusalem 2014})
10... Nc7 11. a4 (11. Re1 b6 (11... Rb8 12. a4 (12. dxe6 Nxe6 13. Nb3 Nd4 (
13... b6 $1 $13) 14. Bf1 Ng4 15. h3 Ne5 16. Nxd4 cxd4 {1/2 (34) Dreev,A (2670)
-Grischuk,A (2777) Loo 2014} 17. Nd5 $14) 12... Na6 13. f3 (13. Bf1 Nb4 14. Na2
{0-1 (46) Moradiabadi,E (2549)-Ruck,R (2505) Las Vegas 2018} a5 $13) 13... Nb4
14. Nf1 exd5 15. cxd5 a6 16. Bg5 Bd7 (16... h6 $5) 17. Qd2 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19.
Ra7 $14 {0-1 (40) Georgescu,T (2453)-Melkumyan,H (2632) London 2015}) 12. h3 (
12. dxe6 Nxe6 13. Nf1 Nd4 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bd3 Be5 16. Be3 Nf4 $132 {1-0 (117)
Nakamura,H (2787)-Caruana,F (2804) Leuven 2016}) 12... Rb8 13. a4 exd5 14. exd5
Na6 15. Nf1 Nb4 16. Ng3 h6 17. Bf4 g5 18. Bd2 Rb7 19. Qb3 Rbe7 20. Bf1 a6 21.
Rxe7 Rxe7 22. Re1 Rxe1 23. Bxe1 Qe7 $11 {1/2 (90) Postny,E (2611)-Cheparinov,I
(2677) Sibenik 2016}) 11... b6 (11... Rb8 12. f3 a6 13. a5 Bd7 14. Kh1 Qe7 15.
Nb3 exd5 16. cxd5 Nb5 $132 {1/2 (93) Kuzubov,Y (2637)-Ragger,M (2680) Chartres
2017}) (11... Na6 12. f3 Nb4 13. Rf2 Nh5 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Nb3 f5 $132 {
1/2 (53) Ding,L (2782)-So,W (2760) Bilbao 2015 CBM 169 [Szabo,Kr]}) 12. Re1 Na6
{[%mdl 32] After a2-a4 Black's knight has obtained a comfortable b4 square.
Well, in case of ...e6xd5 c4xd5 it may obstruct Black's queenside counterplay
a little bit (after ...a7-a6 and ...b6-b5 he will be unable to play ...b5-b4)
but otherwise it is placed perfectly there.} (12... exd5 13. cxd5 Rb8 14. Rb1
h5 15. h3 Nh7 16. Nc4 Ba6 17. Qc2 Bd4 18. Be3 Qf6 19. Bxd4 cxd4 20. Na2 Ng5 21.
Bd3 $14 {0-1 (32) Novkovic,M (2402)-Heimann,A (2528) Switzerland 2018}) 13. h3
Nb4 14. Ra3 exd5 15. cxd5 a6 16. Bf1 Nd7 17. Na2 Ra7 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5
20. Nxb4 cxb4 21. Rf3 {Hardly a good idea. The rook will be even more awkward
here than on a2.} (21. Ra2 $13 {[%cal Yc1e3]}) 21... Bd7 22. b3 b5 23. Be3 Ra8
$6 (23... Rb7 $5 $11) 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bd4 Ra2 26. Re2 $6 (26. Bxe5 $142 dxe5
27. Re2 $14) 26... Rxe2 27. Bxe2 Qe7 {White suddenly has problems on the
e-file.} 28. Re3 $6 (28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. Re3 Rc8 $36) ({After} 28. Rd3 $6 f5 $1 {
is dangerous.}) (28. Bf1 {was probably the most solid defence. If} Bxd4 29.
Qxd4 Qxe4 {then} 30. Qa7 $1 $132) 28... Bf4 {White must give up the e4 pawn or
an exchange. He prefers the latter.} 29. Bf3 Bxe3 30. Bxe3 Rc8 (30... Ra8 $5
31. Bd4 (31. Qd4 Qe5 {[%cal Ra8a1]}) 31... f5 $5 32. exf5 Bxf5 {[%cal Yf5e4]
The position remains tense but Black has winning chances.}) 31. Qd4 Qe5 32. Qa7
Be8 33. g3 $44 {White has activated his queen and obtained good counterplay.}
Rc3 $5 34. Bd4 ({After} 34. Bf4 Qf6 35. Qb8 $1 {it was Black who must secure
the draw:} Rxf3 36. Qxe8+ (36. Bxd6 Qa1+ 37. Kg2 Rxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Qd4+ 39. Kf3
Qd3+ 40. Kf4 Qd2+ $11) 36... Kg7 37. e5 Qf5 38. exd6 Qxd5 39. d7 Qd1+ 40. Kg2
Rxf4 $1 41. gxf4 Qd5+ {(a well-known motif)} 42. Kh2 Qd2 43. Kg3 Qd3+ 44. f3
Qd1 $1 $11) 34... Qg5 35. Be2 $2 ({White was still OK after} 35. h4 $1 Qd2 36.
Be3 $1 Qe1+ 37. Kg2) 35... Qd2 36. Bf1 Rxb3 37. Kg2 (37. Bf6 Rf3 $1 {
destroying White's attacking setup.}) (37. Be3 Rxe3 38. fxe3 b3 39. Qe7 b2 40.
Qxe8+ Kg7 $19) 37... Ra3 (37... Rb1 {[%cal Rd2d1] was even stronger but Black
had to calculate} 38. Be3 Qd1 39. Qe7 Qxf1+ 40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kf4 b3 42. Qxe8+
Kg7 {and make sure White couldn't do anything here.}) 38. Qb6 Ra6 {The
simplest.} 39. Qxa6 Qxd4 40. Qc8 (40. Qxd6 Qxe4+ 41. f3 Qe1 42. Qb8 b3 43. Bd3
(43. Bxb5 Kg7 44. Bxe8 Qe2+ 45. Kg1 b2 $19) 43... Kg7 44. Qf4 Qc3 {, and Black
easily wins.}) 40... Qxe4+ 41. f3 Qe3 42. Bxb5 b3 43. Bxe8 Qe2+ 44. Kg1 Qd1+ (
44... Qd1+ 45. Kf2 Qc2+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.09"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Qa4+ c6 8. Bd3
Ne4 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 f5 11. Ne5 Bf6 12. f4 Be6 13. Be3 Qe7 14. Rad1 Nd7 15.
Nxe4 fxe4 16. Be2 g6 17. b4 a6 18. Qb3 Kg7 19. Qc3 h5 20. a4 Kh7 21. b5 axb5
22. axb5 Bxe5 23. fxe5 Bg4 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. Qb2 Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina Neide"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2374"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg5 f6 6. Be3 d5 7. exd5 exd5 8. d4 c4
9. Bg2 Bd6 10. Nh4 Nge7 11. Bh6 Kf7 12. O-O Be6 13. Nc3 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3 15.
bxc3 Qd7 16. f4 Nf5 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Bf3 Rae8 19. g4 Be4 20. f5 Rhg8 21. Kh1
gxf5 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 23. gxf5 Rh4 24. Be3 Qe8 25. Qf3 Qe4 26. Rab1 b6 27. a4 Ne7
28. Qxe4 dxe4 29. Rb5 Rh3 30. Bd2 Rf3 31. Rxf3 exf3 32. Rb1 Rg2 33. Bf4 Nd5 34.
Bb8 Rxc2 35. Rf1 Ne3 0-1

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Milliet, Sophie"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2394"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O
exd5 9. exd5 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nfd7 12. Ne4 Ne5 13. Qd1 Nxd3 14. Qxd3
Nd7 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Bf4 Ne5 17. Qc2 Rfe8 18. Rae1 h6 19. Bg3 f5 20. Nd2 Qc7 21.
Qb3 b6 22. f4 Nd7 23. Bh4 Nf8 24. Qc2 Qd7 25. Nf3 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Re8 27. b3
Rxe1+ 28. Bxe1 Qe8 29. Kf2 Nd7 30. Qe2 Qxe2+ 31. Kxe2 Nf6 32. b4 Ne4 33. Kd3
Kf7 34. b5 Bb2 35. Kc2 Bf6 36. a4 Bd8 37. Kd3 g5 38. fxg5 hxg5 39. g4 Kg6 40.
Nh2 Nf6 41. Bc3 Ne4 42. Be1 Nf6 43. Ke3 Ne4 44. gxf5+ Kxf5 45. Ng4 Nf6 46. Nxf6
Bxf6 47. a5 Bd8 48. a6 Bf6 49. Kf3 Be7 50. Bg3 Bf8 51. Be1 Be7 52. Bc3 Bd8 53.
Be1 Be7 54. Bg3 Bf8 55. Bf2 Be7 56. Be1 Bd8 57. Bg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Qc2 Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. Nd5 c6 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6
8. e3 Bc5 9. Bd3 d6 10. O-O a5 11. b3 dxe3 12. fxe3 Qh6 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Rf3 f6
15. Raf1 Be6 16. Rg3 Rae8 17. Rff3 Qh4 18. Kf1 h6 19. Rf4 Qxh2 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21.
Rxg7 Qh1+ 22. Kf2 Kxg7 23. Qg6+ Kh8 24. Bg8 Re7 25. Rxf6 Qh4+ 26. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Santos Ruiz, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qd1 e6 10. Bd3 Nc4 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Nf3 Bb4 13. Rc1 Ne4 14. O-O Bxc3
15. bxc3 f6 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Bb5 19. c4 Bxc4 20. Rfe1 O-O
21. Qb4 b5 22. Rc2 a5 23. Qd2 h5 24. h4 a4 25. Qb4 Rc6 26. a3 Re8 27. Kh2 Kf7
28. Rh1 Qd7 29. Qd2 Rd8 30. Qa5 Rdc8 31. Rg1 Ke8 32. Rgc1 Qd8 33. Qe1 Kf7 34.
f3 Qd5 35. Qg3 Bd3 36. Rxc6 Rxc6 37. Rxc6 Qxc6 38. Bd6 exf3 39. gxf3 Be2 40.
Bc5 Bxf3 41. Kg1 Qe4 42. Kf2 Bg4 43. Qf4 Bf5 44. Qxe4 Bxe4 45. Kg3 g5 46. Bb4
Kg6 47. Be7 Kf5 48. Kh3 Bd5 49. Kg3 Ke4 50. Kh3 g4+ 51. Kg3 Kxe3 52. Bxf6 b4
0-1

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2648"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 g6 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. Be2
Ne7 9. d4 Nf5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Qe7 12. Qa4+ c6 13. d5 Bd7 14. dxc6 bxc6
15. Rd1 O-O 16. Qa3 e4 17. Nd4 Qe5 18. Nb3 d5 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21.
Nxd5 cxd5 22. Rd2 Be6 23. O-O Qc7 24. Qa4 Qb6 25. Rb1 Rc7 26. Nd4 Bd7 27. Qb3
Qxb3 28. Nxb3 Rb8 29. Bd1 Be6 30. Nd4 a5 31. Ne2 d4 32. Nxd4 Bxd4 33. exd4 Bxa2
34. Ra1 Bb3 35. Bxb3 Rxb3 36. Rxa5 Rd3 37. Re2 Rxd4 38. g4 Rb4 39. Re5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Szczepkowska, Karina"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Bf4 Nc6 11. Rc1 Bb4 12. Qa4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. h4 f6 15.
Nd2 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 Bc6 17. Qc2 Nc4 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 c6 21.
Rce1 Rf7 22. Bf4 Qd7 23. Qe2 b5 24. Re8+ Rxe8 25. Qxe8+ Qxe8 26. Rxe8+ Rf8 27.
Re7 Rf7 28. Re6 Na5 29. Bd6 Rd7 30. Bb4 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 Bf6 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 O-O-O 13. Nxe6 Qxe6
14. Bb5 Qd7 15. Rhe1 Rde8 16. f4 Rxe1 17. Rxe1 Re8 18. a3 a6 19. Bc4 Rxe1+ 20.
Qxe1 d5 21. Bd3 h6 22. Qg3 f6 23. h4 Kb8 24. h5 Qe7 25. Qg4 Qe1+ 26. Ka2 Qe7
27. Qf5 Qd6 28. g3 Nd8 29. c4 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Nc6 31. c3 Ka7 32. Qg4 Qe7 33. Bd5
Qc5 34. Be6 Qe7 35. b4 Qd6 36. Qe2 a5 37. Kb3 axb4 38. Qe3+ Kb8 0-1

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Bf5 7. b3 Nf6 8. Bb2
Ne4 9. Na4 Bxb2 10. Nxb2 Qd7 11. Nh4 Nf6 12. Nxf5 Qxf5 13. e3 O-O 14. Na4 Rad8
15. a3 Qc8 16. Rc1 Kg7 17. Qc2 h5 18. h3 b6 19. Nc3 Rfe8 20. f4 e6 21. Qb2 Kg8
22. Ne2 Nh7 23. d4 cxd4 24. Nxd4 Nxd4 25. exd4 Nf6 26. Kh2 Kg7 27. b4 Qc7 28.
a4 e5 29. fxe5 dxe5 30. c5 h4 31. cxb6 hxg3+ 32. Kh1 Qxb6 33. Rc6 Qxd4 34. Qxd4
Rxd4 35. Rcxf6 Re7 36. R6f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. g4 Ne7 12. Ng5 Be8 13. f4 h6 14. Ne4 h5
15. Kg2 b6 16. c4 Ng6 17. Nbc3 Be7 18. Be3 Kb7 19. Ng3 hxg4 20. hxg4 Rh4 21.
Nf5 Rxg4+ 22. Kf3 Rh4 23. Nxh4 Nxh4+ 24. Kg4 g6 25. Bf2 Nf5 26. Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Nd2 Kc8 14.
Nf3 Be7 15. Bg5 Bc5 16. Rd3 b6 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 h6 19. Rd1 c5 20. Nh4 g5
21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. gxf5 Kb7 23. Kg2 Rad8 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Kf3 c4 26. Re4 b5 27.
Kg4 Kc8 28. e6 fxe6 29. fxe6 Rh8 30. Kf5 Kd8 31. e7+ Ke8 32. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.13"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8.
Be2 e5 9. Nb3 Be7 10. Nd2 Nc6 11. Nc4 Nd4 12. Bd3 Bg4 13. f3 Be6 14. Ne3 O-O
15. O-O Nd7 16. Ncd5 Bg5 17. c3 Nc6 18. Kh1 Rc8 19. Nc4 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 Nf6 21.
Nce3 Bxd5 22. exd5 Ne7 23. c4 a5 24. Qd2 Nd7 25. Bb1 Nc5 26. f4 exf4 27. Rxf4
Ng6 28. Rff1 Qg5 29. Qf2 Ne5 30. h4 Qd8 31. Qg3 g6 32. Nf5 Kh8 33. Nd4 f5 34.
b3 Qf6 35. Rcd1 Rce8 36. a3 Ng4 37. Nxf5 gxf5 38. Rxf5 Qg7 39. Rg5 Nf2+ 40. Kh2
Qh6 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sankalp, Gupta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5
Nxc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 Qa5 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. f5 exf5 14. Rxd5 Ne4
15. Rxa5 Nxf2 16. Rd5 Nxh1 17. Rxd7 b5 18. Bd3 f4 19. Bb6 Rab8 20. Nd5 Rfe8 21.
Nd4 Nxe5 22. Rxe7 f6 23. Bc7 Ra8 24. Bxh7+ Kh8 25. Bf5 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Barbosa, Evandro Amorim"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2501"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 Rb8 12. Ne2 Bg4 13. Bxf6 Bxf3 14.
Bxd8 Bxe2 15. Bxe2 Rfxd8 16. Rad1 a5 17. Rd3 Re8 18. Bf3 g6 19. g3 Re6 20. Kg2
Kg7 21. Rc1 Bc5 22. b3 h5 23. h4 a4 24. Rd2 Kf6 25. c4 d4 26. bxa4 Ke7 27. Rcc2
Ra8 28. Rb2 Rxa4 29. Rb7+ Kf6 30. Rc7 Rxc4 31. Rxc6 Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Libiszewski, Fabien"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2522"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2
Be7 9. c3 O-O 10. g3 cxd4 11. Nexd4 Nc5 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. h4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rc8
15. Bd3 h6 16. g4 Ba4 17. b3 Bb5 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Ng5 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21.
O-O-O Bd3 22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Qxd3 g6 24. Ne4 Qd5 25. Rd1 Rfd8 26. Kb2 Kg7 27. h5
Bc5 28. Qe3 Bxd4 29. Rxd4 Qc6 30. Rd6 Rxd6 31. exd6 Rf8 32. Qd4+ f6 33. c4 g5
34. d7 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Santos Latasa, Jaime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 c5 6. Bxb4 cxb4 7. Be2 a5 8. a3
Na6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Ne5 Qe7 12. Nd3 d5 13. Nf4 Rfd8 14. Nf3 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Nc7 16. Ne5 bxa3 17. bxa3 b5 18. Be2 b4 19. Bf3 Ncd5 20. Nfd3 Rdc8 21.
Nc5 Nc3 22. Qd3 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 Nd7 24. axb4 axb4 25. Nb3 Qd6 26. Rfc1 Qd5 27.
Nfd2 h6 28. h3 Nb6 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Rxc3 bxc3 31. Qxc3 Rc8 32. Qb4 Nc4 33. Nf3
Nd6 34. Nc5 Ra8 35. Qb6 Ne4 36. Nxe4 Qxe4 37. Qb2 Kh7 38. Kh2 Rc8 39. Qb5 Qc2
40. Qd7 Rc7 41. Qd6 Ra7 42. Qc5 Qxc5 43. dxc5 Ra5 44. Ne5 Kg8 45. Nd7 Ra7 46.
Ne5 f6 47. Nd3 Kf7 48. g4 Ra3 49. Nf4 Rc3 50. Kg2 Rxc5 51. h4 g6 52. Kf3 Ra5
53. Kg2 e5 54. Ne2 Ra4 55. Kg3 Ke6 56. Ng1 h5 57. gxh5 gxh5 58. Ne2 Ra2 59. Nc3
Rc2 60. Ne4 Rc4 61. f3 f5 62. Nf2 Rc3 63. e4 f4+ 64. Kg2 Kd6 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. a3 a6 7. Be3 d6 8. Bxc5
dxc5 9. Nd5 Be6 10. Ne3 Bxc4 11. Nxc4 Qe7 12. O-O Nd7 13. c3 Nb6 14. Ne3 O-O-O
15. Qc2 a5 16. Rfd1 Qe6 17. b4 cxb4 18. axb4 axb4 19. d4 b3 20. Qb1 exd4 21.
cxd4 b2 22. Qxb2 Qxe4 23. d5 Nxd5 24. Ra8+ Nb8 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Re1 Qg6 27.
Qa2 Qd6 28. Qa7 c6 29. g3 Kc7 30. Kg2 Rd8 31. Rb1 Rb5 32. Rxb5 cxb5 33. Qa5+
Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2602"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,65,19,28,46,30,28,39,71,47,16,20,14,20,51,32,79,49,20,23,11,9,20,14,
11,15,41,28,32,24,21,-1,39,46,58,70,51,47,47,47,70,43,25,36,32,74,79,190,192,
211,288,259,259,263,267,270,280,387,345,345,423,393,408,412,450,542,548,548]} 
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O cxd4 {A rare continuation, not very consistent with ...
b7-b6 (Black has protected the c5 pawn and now trades it). Moves usually seen
in practice:} (10... f5) (10... f6) (10... Bb7) 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nb8 {
A typical manoeuvre, however, quite possible without ...b7-b6.} 13. Bf2 (13.
Nd1 $5 {deserves attention and leads to a position often arising from another
move order, when White plays Nc3-d1 earlier:} Nc6 (13... Ba6 14. Bxa6 (14. Ne3
Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Nc6 16. c3 g6 17. Rf2 Rc8 18. Raf1 f5 19. exf6 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Bxf6
$11 {1/2 (50) Dek,L (2230)-Michiels,B (2533) Netherlands 2016}) 14... Nxa6 15.
Ne3 Nc5 (15... f5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Ng4 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Qc7 19. c3 Qc5 20. Rad1
Nc7 21. g3 Qxd4+ 22. Rxd4 Nb5 23. Rd2 Rac8 24. Re1 $14 {1-0 (73) Alekseev,E 
(2614)-Mokshanov,A (2405) St Petersburg 2017}) 16. Qe2 (16. f5 $5 $36) 16... f5
17. Rad1 Qe8 18. c4 $6 (18. g4 $5) 18... dxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21.
Kh1 Rfd8 $15 {1/2 (60) Quesada Perez,Y (2630)-Akobian,V (2661) Saint Louis 2017
}) 14. c3 (14. Bf2 d4 15. Bf3 Qc7 $132 16. Bg3 $2 Ba6 $17 {0-1 (47) Steinberg,
N (2466)-Sedlak,N (2518) Palic 2016}) 14... Nxd4 (14... f6 $6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16.
Ne3 Nxd4 17. cxd4 b5 18. Ng4 Qb6 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. Rac1 $16 {1-0 (39)
Bodnaruk,A (2431)-Grabuzova,T (2314) Sochi 2019}) 15. cxd4 Bd7 16. Ne3 {
White concentrates his forces on the kingside.} (16. Rc1 $143 b5 17. Nf2 Qb6
18. Qe3 b4 19. Nd3 Bb5 (19... Rac8 20. Nc5 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Qxb5 22. Rc2 Rc6 23.
Rfc1 Re8 $11 {1/2 (48) Santos Latasa,J (2566)-Ulybin,M (2483) Seville 2017})
20. Nc5 Bxe2 21. Qxe2 Rfc8 22. Qf2 Rc7 23. Rc2 Rac8 24. Rfc1 h5 25. g3 Rc6 26.
Kg2 g6 $11 {1/2 (48) Teran Alvarez,I (2378)-Gleizerov,E (2518) Seville 2017})
16... b5 (16... f5 $6 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Ng4 Rc8 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. g3 $14 {
1/2 (38) Kollars,D (2470)-Lomasov,S (2342) Kirishi 2016}) 17. Rf3 (17. f5 Bg5
18. Bd3 f6 19. fxe6 Bxe6 20. exf6 Rxf6 $11 {0-1 (67) Konguvel,P (2384)
-Sethuraman,S (2529) Aurangabad 2011}) (17. g4 $5 Qb6 (17... h6 $5) (17... b4
18. g5) 18. g5 f5 19. exf6 gxf6 20. h4 Kh8 21. Rf2 b4 22. Raf1 $36 {1-0 (35)
Ivic,V (2487)-Cabarkapa,N (2443) Kragujevac 2019}) 17... Qb6 (17... Rc8 18.
Raf1 f5 {1/2 (74) Gulden,E (2161)-Stankovic,M (2401) Mersin 2016} 19. exf6 Bxf6
20. Ng4 $36) 18. Rd1 (18. Ng4 {is a bit premature:} Rac8 (18... f5 $6 19. exf6
Bxf6 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21. Rc1 $16 {1/2 (33) Perunovic,M (2582)-Sedlak,N (2593)
Vrnjacka Banja 2012}) 19. Kh1 (19. Rg3 f5 20. exf6 {1/2 (20) Pikula,D (2489)
-Ulybin,M (2529) Winterthur 2012}) 19... f5 (19... b4 $5) 20. exf6 Bxf6 21.
Nxf6+ Rxf6 22. g3 (22. b4 Qc6) 22... b4 23. Re3 Be8 24. a3 bxa3 25. Rexa3 Bg6
$132 {1/2 (31) Vocaturo,D (2537)-Ulybin,M (2538) Alghero 2011}) 18... f6 (18...
b4 19. f5 $5) (18... Rac8 $5) 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Ng4 Rac8 (20... b4 $5 {[%cal
Yd7b5]}) 21. Nxf6+ Rxf6 {1/2 (30) Papp,G (2539)-Gleizerov,E (2579) Zagreb 2011}
22. b4 $14 Be8 $140 23. Rff1 Bg6 24. Rc1 {It is hard to draw a final
conclusion about this line but Black certainly faces problems here.}) 13... Ba6
(13... Nc6 14. a3 (14. Nb5 $5 {[%cal Yb5d4]}) 14... Bb7 15. Bd3 Rc8 16. Rae1 g6
17. Ne2 $14 {1/2 (48) Ostrovskiy,A (2453)-Hollan,P (2287) Pardubice 2019}) 14.
Bxa6 Nxa6 15. f5 $1 exf5 $6 {[%mdl 32] White's knight now takes a commanding
position on d5.} ({f5-f6 was not threatening yet so Black could have simply
played} 15... Rc8 {[%cal Yc8c4] The initiative belongs to White, though, after,
say,} 16. Rad1) 16. Nxd5 Nb4 17. c4 Rc8 18. a3 Nc6 19. Rfe1 Bc5 20. b4 $1 Bxf2+
21. Qxf2 Qd7 ({Giving up a pawn -} 21... Re8 22. Qxf5 Ne7 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {
- was probably the lesser evil.}) 22. Qh4 Qd8 $2 {A tactical oversight.} (22...
Kh8 $1 {was the only remaining defence although White kept a clear advantage
anyway, e.g.} 23. Rad1 (23. Nf6 $2 Qd4+) (23. b5 Qd8 $1 24. Qh5 Nd4) 23... Qe6
24. Nf4 (24. Nf6 $6 gxf6 25. exf6 Ne5 26. Qg3 Rg8 27. Qxe5 Qxc4 28. Qxf5 Qa2
29. g3 Qxa3) 24... Qe7 25. Qxe7 Nxe7 26. e6 (26. Rd7 $143 Rxc4 27. Rxe7 Rxf4
28. Rxa7 h6 {, and Black holds on}) 26... fxe6 27. Nxe6 Rfe8 28. Ng5 $16) 23.
Nf6+ $1 {[%mdl 64]} gxf6 24. Rad1 Nxe5 (24... Qc7 25. exf6 Kh8 26. Rd3 $18 {
[%cal Rd3h3]}) 25. Rxd8 Rfxd8 26. Qxf6 $18 {White has a decisive material
advantage, and Black's king is weak. The rest is clear.} Ng6 27. h4 h5 28. Rf1
f4 29. g4 $1 Rd3 30. gxh5 Rg3+ 31. Kf2 Nxh4 {Desperation.} (31... Nf8 32. Qxf4
Rg7 33. Rd1 $18) 32. Qxh4 Rxc4 33. Re1 (33. Re1 Rc2+ 34. Re2) 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2526"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 b6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bb7 9. O-O e6 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bg5 Rc8 13. h3 h6 14. Bh4 Nge5
15. Qe3 Qc5 16. Nd4 g5 17. Bg3 Be7 18. Ra3 h5 19. a5 b5 20. Na2 Qc7 21. Nb4 Nc5
22. Nxa6 Bxa6 23. b4 Ncd7 24. Nxb5 Bxb5 25. Bxb5 O-O 26. c4 h4 27. Bh2 Rfd8 28.
Rc3 Nf8 29. f4 gxf4 30. Bxf4 Nfg6 31. Bh2 Bf6 32. Rc2 Rb8 33. Rf2 Qe7 34. a6
Rdc8 35. Kh1 Ra8 36. Qe2 Bg5 37. Rff1 Kg7 38. Rd4 Qc7 39. Qf2 Rd8 40. Rfd1 Qb6
41. Qe2 Bf4 42. Bg1 Qc7 43. c5 d5 44. exd5 Rxd5 45. Rxd5 exd5 46. Bd3 Nxd3 47.
Qxd3 Be5 48. b5 Qa5 49. Qxd5 Re8 50. c6 Nf4 51. Qc4 Qa3 52. Bh2 Qe3 53. Rf1 Ne6
54. Qg4+ Ng5 55. Bxe5+ Qxe5 56. b6 Qb5 57. Qf4 Ne4 58. Qxf7+ Kh6 59. Qf4+ Kg6
60. Qg4+ Ng5 61. Rc1 Qa5 62. Qxh4 Qxb6 63. c7 Qxa6 64. Qg4 Rc8 65. h4 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Antipov, Mikhail Al"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 Nc6 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Be3
O-O 9. Qd2 d5 10. exd5 exd5 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Ndb5 Nxe3 14. Qxe3
Nd7 15. Nd5 Bc5 16. Qf4 Nb6 17. Ndc7 Qe7 18. Kb1 Be3 19. Qd6 Qxd6 20. Nxd6 Rb8
21. Bd3 Bf4 22. Be4 Rd8 23. Ncb5 a6 24. g3 Bg5 25. Nxc8 Rdxc8 26. Nd6 Rc7 27.
Rhe1 g6 28. Bc2 Kf8 29. Bb3 Rd8 30. f4 Bf6 31. Ne4 Rxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Be7 33. Ng5
Bxg5 34. fxg5 Nc4 35. Rd4 Ne5 36. h4 Nc6 37. Rf4 Ne5 38. a3 Kg7 39. Bd5 Rd7 40.
Be4 b5 41. Kc2 Rc7+ 42. Kb3 a5 43. Ka2 Rd7 44. Bg2 Rd2 45. Bf1 Nd3 46. Bxd3
Rxd3 47. Re4 a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Basso, Pier Luigi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Nbd2
d6 9. a4 Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Ba2 Nd7 13. d4 c6 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. g4
c5 16. g5 hxg5 17. O-O-O Bf6 18. Rh2 g6 19. Rdh1 cxd4 20. Rh6 Kg7 21. Nb1 Nc5
22. Nxd4 Bd7 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. Nb5 Qd8 25. Nxd6 Be6 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Qd1 g4 28.
Na3 Nf4 29. Nac4 Nh3 30. Rxf7 Rxf7 31. gxh3 Rh7 32. Qxg4 Bg5+ 33. Kb1 Qf6 34.
Rg1 Bf4 35. Qxg6+ Qxg6 36. Rxg6+ Kh8 37. Re6 Rd8 38. h4 Rc7 39. Kc2 Kh7 40. Kb3
a6 41. Nf5 b5 42. axb5 axb5 43. Ncd6 Rb8 44. Ne8 Ra7 45. Nf6+ Kh8 46. h5 Rba8
47. Nd5 Bc1 48. Kc2 Ra1 49. Rxe5 Kg8 50. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2626"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3
Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qd3 g6 12. f3 Qe7 13. e4 Rad8 14. Bg5 h6 15.
Bh4 g5 16. Bf2 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 fxe4 18. fxe4 Nb6 19. Bd3 Nxe4 20. Rae1 f5 21. Qc2
Nd5 22. Bg3 Qe6 23. Be5 g4 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Qxe4 h5 26. h3 Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1 Rf8
28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. hxg4 Qxg4 30. Qh7 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qg4 32. Qxb7 1/2-1/2

