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The choice of today's highlighted game is self-explanatory. Up to now two players have really impressed with their performance and this round meets them in a duel that may be decisive in determining the final winner of the event. Ivanchuk won their first encounter here as Black. Nevertheless Topalov gains confidence and is only a point behind after a series of wins. Gathering two chess artist is granting that a really entertaining game will result. Let's observe it and hopefully enjoy an fascinating show.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 Semi-Slav, White has to choose between Meran or Moscow variations.
5.Bg5 h6 Nowadays the once fashionable (5... dxc4) leading to Botvinnik variation is almost extinct.
6.Bxf6 The pawn sacrifice (6.Bh4)
6... Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Rc1 Instead of the almost automatic reply 8.Bd3 White delays his Bishop's development. Thus he evades the line (8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 g6) Topalov invested about 10 minutes in his answer.
8... Bd6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O Qe7 11.Qc2 Ivanchuk seems in no hurry and patiently deploys his pieces on good squares without changing the central pawn structure.
11... a6 Veselin is not content with (11... dxc4 12.Bxc4 b6 (12... e5 13.Ne4 exd4 14.exd4 creates some pressure)) followed by Bc8-b7 but is planning by dxc4 followed by b7-b5 and c6-c5 to fight for the initiative. The Ukrainian has to decide the situation in the center. (11... a6 12.c5 Bc7 13.e4) is a possible way to try to exploit the drawback of the weakened 'b6' square.
12.c5 Bc7 13.e4 After evaluating the possibilities for 20 minutes he concluded that's the correct way to play.
13... dxe4 Ivanchuk stares at the ceiling and is calculating variations blindfold, as is his custom, with a content expression.On the contrary his opponent seems nervous and is bent overboard.
14.Nxe4 Rd8 (14... e5 15.Rfe1) is premature as the Black Queen is badly positioned.
15.Rfe1 Nf8 Standard defensive setup.
16.Qc3 f6 Prepares Bc8-d7-e8. One of the questions to Ivanchuk during yesterday's press conference was if being in time trouble is a necessary condition for him to win a game. He was not certain about the answer. As his time left is rapidly diminishing (0.38 1.12) we are to see if this tradition is still valid.
17.Bb1 (17.Nfd2 aiming Nd2-c4-d6 can be countered by 17... Qd7 so a the Bishop leaves 'd' file first.)
17... Kh8 18.a3 White has enough useful waiting moves so Bc8-d7 has to be played at some moment.
18... Bd7 19.Nfd2 Topalov faces a difficult dilema - to play or not to play 19...f5.
19... f5 Choosing the lesser evil. Letting a Knight to 'd6' is too passive for his style.
20.Ng3 Qf6 21.Nf3 Be8 22.Ba2 Binding Black to defend his weaknesses. Depriving opponents of any counterplay is characteristic for Ivanchuk but would he be able keep things under control during the approaching time trouble? Clock readings: 0.27 0.54
22... b6 Looking for some complications before the Ukrainian had the chance to tighten his grip.
23.Rc2 As if saying: You may create as many weaknesses in your camp as you like, I'll double on the 'e' file, tactics may wait.
23... bxc5 24.Qxc5 Rab8 True to his nature Topalov is ready to take the risk of creating long-term weak points but to be able to get his pieces on active positions and we all know how dangerous he could be having the initiative.
25.Rd2 Another subtle prophylactic move.
25... a5 ( It was too early for 25... Bb6 26.Qc4 c5 - 27.dxc5 Rxd2 28.Nxd2 Qxb2 29.Rb1 Qxd2 30.cxb6)
26.Qc3 Rd6 27.Rde2 (27.Ne2) to activate via e2-c1-d3 or b3 the Knight makes more sense but Ivanchuk is already in mild time trouble: 0.13 0.39
27... Bb6 28.Re5 Bf7 Veselin prepares to take over the initiative.
29.Bb1 Qd8 Preventing eventual sacrifices on 'f5'. 0.07 0.29
30.Ba2 Vassily's last moves fail to fit some plan.
30... Rb7 Nxf5 was the threat so Bf7 is to be defended.
31.Ne2 Time: 0.04 0.26. Ng3 was out of play so has to get to a better square. Meanwhile 'd4' gets better protection but now 31...Nd7 could be critical.
31... Ng6 Avoids the exchange sacrifice (31... Nd7 32.Rxf5)
32.Re3 a4 Unnecessary weakening the pawn.
33.Qc2 0.03 0.18
33... Rc7 34.Qxa4 c5 35.dxc5 (35.Rc3 was more accurate.)
35... Rxc5 36.Rc3 Ne5 37.Ned4 The correct defense but 15 seconds only are left for 3 moves.
37... Ng4 Aiming for further complications
38.h3 Nxf2 39.Kxf2 Ra5 40.Qc2 Rxd4 (40... Kh7) could lead to Black[s advantage. With time control passed White has to defend with precise moves to keep the balance but he's back in the game.
41.Kf1 Only move. Meanwhile the game Cheparinov-Aronian finished draw, the Bulgarian could not convert his extra pawn into something real.
41... Qd7 Another game finished - Radjabov defeated Bu. The Chinese suffered his 5th defeat in 7 rounds only.
42.Rc8+ Kh7 43.Qc6 White King is too exposed so after 20 minutes Ivanchuk prudently decided to trade the Queens. After (43.Qc6 Qd6 44.Qxd6 Rxd6 45.Rf8 Ra7 46.Ne5 Rd2 47.Re2 Rd1+ 48.Re1 Rd2) draw by threefold repetition may happen.
43... Qd6 44.Qxd6 Rxd6 45.Rf8 Ra7 46.Ne5 Rd2 47.Re2 Rd1+ 48.Re1 Rd2 49.Re2 Draw. Ivanchuk got som advantage after the opening but Topalov skillfully complicated the games and created dangers against the White monarch. After the time control was passed the Ukrainian found a way to exploit Black's inaccuracy on move 40 and managed to force a threefold repetition.
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