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Once again the highlighted game will be of Ivanchuk. He is leading during the whole event and after yesterday's surprising loss of Topalov, (tough if you recall, I've predicted that Bu would be extremely dangerous in the final rounds.) he is a full point ahead. Nevertheless, the tournament winner is still unknown. Vassily has the difficult task to play as Black against Bulgaria's new chess talent - Ivan Cheparinov. Ivan is a very aggressive player, especially as White and being Topalov's second is well versed in the opening theory. In spite of the two losses against Veselin, he is having a great tournament and if somehow manages to defeat the Ukrainian, will finish third (presumably), and enable Topalov to get to a tie-break match. So in theory there are still two possible champions. Their first game here was full of breathtaking complications when Vassily got the upper hand. Let's hope this one is going to be at least so spectacular.
1.e4 Of course, as Ivan will be playing only for the win.
1... c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 No Najdorf variation against Cheparinov.
3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 A bit of a surprise - Paulsen is not Ivanchuk's main opening.
5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-O Bb4 9.f3 Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 11.Bd4 ( Topalov used successfully on several occasions 11.Kb1 but Black's play has been improved since then. Besides 11.Bd4 there are other options as 11.Qe1, 11.Qd4, 11.Qf2. This line is very popular recently and its theory develops every hour.)
11... Be7 12.Qf2 d6 13.g4 O-O 14.g5 Nd7 15.Rg1 Both players got rapidly to this position. It has already occurred in Cheparinov's practice, while Ivanchuk has obviously done some home preparation. (15.f4 b4)
15... Bb7 I have myself played this line in several games and usually keep this Bishop at 'c8' a bit longer but different game plans are possible.
16.Kb1 Rfc8 All this had happened before in other games.
17.Rg3 A novelty. (17.a3) was played in the known games, Including by Kasparov. No White goes for all or nothing.
17... b4 18.Na4 The usual square to retreat the Knight in order to slow down Black's counterplay on the queen-side.
18... Bd8 Intending Bc6.
19.Nc1 Virtually forced.
19... Bc6 20.b3 Bxa4 21.bxa4 Ivan is preparing direct assault against opponent's King, but Vassily's position seems quite solid. (21.bxa4 Qb7) followed by Nd7-b6 looks attractive.
21... Nc6 22.Be3 ( Not letting Nd7-c5 as after 22.Bb2 Nc5 and protects the 'g5' pawn.)
22... Qb8 Dark-squared bishops are to be exchanged.
23.Rh3 Nb6 (23... Bb6 24.Bxb6 Qxb6 25.Qh4 Nf8 26.Rxd6 Qc5 was an option.)
24.Qh4 h6 25.Qg3 Nxa4 Ivanchuk defends in cold blood.
26.Rxd6 hxg5 (26... hxg5 27.e5 may be answered by 27... Nxe5 28.Qxe5 Bf6)
27.Bd3 (27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Qxg5 Qe5) is out of question, but I suspect that after (27.Bd3 Nc3+ 28.Ka1 Bf6) Black is going to win pretty soon. Time: 0.16 0.34
28... Bxe5 29.Rh8+ Kxh8 30.Qh3+ Kg8 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Rd7 Nc3+ 33.Ka1 Nb5+ and Cheparinov resigned because of (33... Nb5+ 34.Kb1 Na3) We may only congratulate Vassily Ivanchuk for winning the tournament in a very convincing way, and be thankful for the spectacular show during the last 11 day.
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