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Ruslan Ponomariov had a shaky start, chasing the minus in first two rounds against El Gindy and Wang Hao. His form has improved since and he was able to win next rounds without going into tiebreaks. Who knows, maybe he is like Italy in football, slow starter and then wins World Cup... After the solid performance at the Tal Memorial, Gata Kamsky continues to cruise around the barriers at the World Cup. Psychologically very strong, he is particularly dangerous in counterattack. He has played Ponomariov twice before, beating him 1.5-0.5 at the 2006 Mtel Masters.
1.d4 Last time Ponomariov played 1.e4 and we saw Marshall attack in Ruy Lopez.
1... Nf6 2.c4 e6 This is small surprise, Kamsky almost exclusively played Slav defence lately.
3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Garry Kasparov should be credited for bringing this line back to life during the matches with Karpov. Finachetto was also played couple of times during the World Championship in Mexico.
5... b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.O-O 7...cxd4 is most common, but 7...Bxc3 is also playable having Alekhine-Saemish, 1921 as original game!
7... cxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O Some sort of Hedgehog on the board. White can continue with Rad1 or b3.
9.Rd1 h6!? New move. Kamsky wants to prevent Bg5 and knock Ponomariov off from the known setups. Bishop c1 can still go to b2.
10.b3 Nc6 11.Qd3 11...d5 is interesting here, or maybe just 11...Qe7 with slightly passive, but solid middlegame.
11... Qe7 Perhaps Kamsky is intending Rfd8 and d6 (or d5).
12.Bb2 Ba3?! This is surprising... (12... Rfd8 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Rac8 with idea d5 is better.)
13.Bxa3 Qxa3 14.Nb5 Ponomariov didn't spend time on this logical continuation. He wants to land the Knight on d6.
14... Qe7 15.Nd6 Rab8 16.a3! Excellent. Ponomariov is grabbing more space.
16... Ba8 17.b4 Rfd8 Kamsky wants to play Ne8, but White has established permanent outpost on d6 and is enjoying significant advantage. b5, e4, Rd2 are all good continuations now.
18.b5 Na5 19.Ne5! Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rf8 Sad but forced...
21.Qf3 Qd8 22.Rd4 Qc7 23.Rad1 23...Nb7, trading one of the white knights would release some of the pressure.
23... Nb7! 24. Nxb7 Qxe5 otherwise Black is losing d7 pawn.
24.Nxb7 (24.Nexf7 Nc5 (24... Rxf7? 25.Nxf7 Kxf7 26.Rxd7+) 25.Ne5 Nd5 and Qd6)
24... Rxb7!? (24... Qxe5 25.Nd6 Qc5 and black is still holding, maybe Ra8-a6 next.)
25.Rd6 (25.Nxd7 Nxd7 26.Rxd7 Qxd7! 27.Rxd7 Rxd7 28.Qc6! with idea c5)
25... Qc8 Getting away from Nxd7.
26.R1d4 Rc7 Maybe 27. Qd3 with idea g4-h4-g5.
27.Qd3 Rd8 28.f3 a6 Kamsky is offering b6 pawn en price just to reduce the pressure from Rd6.
29.a4 (29.Rxb6 axb5 30.cxb5 (30.Rxb5 d5 31.e4!) 30... Nd5 31.Rxd5! exd5 32.a4 and two passed pawns are wonderful advantage for White.)
29... axb5 30.axb5 Rb7 31.g4 Qc5! Kamsky is incredibly patient defender! Here he immediately jumps on the opportunity to exchange couple of pieces.
32.Nxd7 (32.f4 Ruslan was probably afraid of 32... Nd5 33.R6xd5 exd5 34.Rxd5 but here he still has the advantage. This was the best continuation, with the game move, position turns into equal.)
32... Rbxd7 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Nxd7 35.Qxd7 Qxc4 36.Kf2 Qc5+ 37.e3 Qc2+ 38.Kg3 It would be needed a miracle for Ponomariov to win this.
38... Qc5 39.Kf2 Qc2+ 40.Kg3 Qc5 41.Kf2 And the players have agreed to a draw! White was so much better through most of the game, but Gata's patience and tenacity triumphed and secured him a draw before the tomorrow's game with White pieces. Thank you everyone for following the live commentary, we continue with Carlsen-Cheparinov.
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