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While Vassily Ivanchuk wins game after game we'll focus our attention on two other players who are considered favorites in this tournament. Radjabov seems a bit tired lately, often gets into time troubles and spoils good games, (as yesterday when he outplayed Aronian but couldn't finish the job properly) but nevertheless is a very strong player and we hope that he'll soon regain his form. Topalov wasn't very convincing in his last two games. After losing to Ivanchuk he used that line of French Defense himself yesterday but got into bad position and needed all the luck during the time trouble complications to win the game. Still, he is keeping track of the provisional leader and having 2 out of 2 as Black should have helped him in regaining confidence. Let's hope that both players will show their best today and an entertaining duel is awaiting.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Catalan Opening. Veselin has great experience here and not so great results.
4... Bb4+ Topalov's pet line.
5.Nc3 ( 5 years ago in a game between them Teimour preferred 5.Bd2)
5... O-O 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.a3 ( White deviates from his game with Maceja at the World Cup where 7.O-O was played.)
7... Be7 8.Qa4 a6 9.Qxc4 b5 10.Qd3 Bb7 Black returned the 'c4' pawn in order to get his Bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal and prepare c7-c5.
11.Bg5 A new move. Various alternatives were tested in earlier games but White failed to claim any advantage.
11... Nbd7 (11... c5 was premature: 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.dxc5 Nbd7 14.Qe3)
12.b4 Neutralizing the c7-c5 threat but how about e6-e5? (12.b4 e5 13.dxe5 ( or 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ng5 Bxg5 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Bg2 exd4 17.Qxd4 Bf6) 13... Nxe5 14.Qf5 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 g6) is comfortable for Black.
12... a5 Attacking the 'b4' pawn but at the same time weakens 'b5'. White may simply castle now.
13.O-O axb4 14.axb4 Bxb4 15.Nxb5 ( After 15.Nxb5 c5 Topalov can annihilate all the Queen side pawns and completely level the game. If 16.Nd6 then 16... Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 cxd4)
15... c5 16.dxc5 Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Bxc5 Usually in such positions draw is agreed. In case your contract says that would lead to a considerable financial fine things are different and sometimes even such dull-looking situations may lead to interesting games.
18.Bxf6 There was no need to give up the bishop pair.
18... Qxf6 19.Qc3 Qxc3 20.Nxc3 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Ne5 Draw seems inevitable but the game should proceed.
22.Bb7 Bd4 23.Rc1 Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Rb8 25.Rc8+ Rxc8 26.Bxc8 More pieces have been exchanged.
26... Nc4 Draw agreed. Both opponents played solidly. Radjabov attempted to fixate the Black pawn structure. Topalov could try some complications but went for equalizing and after numerous exchanges a position of dead draw was reached.
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