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Gata Kamsky thought he was white in the first game, and without any preparation, managed to hold a draw from inferior position. Ruslan Ponomariov was like Houdini in the first few rounds, escaping from impossible situations, but he has stabilized his form since. We are looking forward to an interesting positional struggle. Enjoy!
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 Kamsky is bravely running into the very sharp Naidorf Sicilian. He probably has some aces prepared for crucial moments.
6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 (8.Nb3 was quiet alternative)
8... Nc6 ( Critical is 8... Qxb2 and now white chooses between Rb1 and Nb3. Maybe Ponomariov is feeling the danger and goes for the more solid continuation.)
9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nb3 Bd7 11.O-O-O O-O-O 12.Be2 h5 It is important not to allow Bh5.
13.Rhf1 Rook is we ll placed on f1, it can be used to press on the f-file after f5 or for maneuvering over the 3rd rank.
13... Be7 14.Rf3 Rdg8 15.Bf1 Temporal retreat, until White regroups to attack h5.
15... Kb8 16.Kb1 h4 One of White's ideas was Rh3 and Qe2, attacking the h5 pawn. Pawn will be easier protected on h4, because after possible Rh3 and Qe1, Black has Rg4 and Be2 not possible because g2 pawn is hanging.
17.Qe1 17...Rh5 with idea f5 was seen in one game
17... Rg4 18.a3!? Always useful move. Maybe Gata is securing future Rd3? (18.Nd5 was interesting 18... exd5 19.exd5 Bf8 (19... Ne5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.d6!) 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Rf2 d5)
18... Qc7 19.Ne2 Knight is protecting f4 and cleaning c3 square for Rook.
19... Rh5 Probably intending f5.
20.h3 Rg8 21.f5 21...exf5 22. Nf4!, so 21...Rh7 looks like the safest move.
21... Rhh8 22.Nf4 Bf8 Getting away from Nd5 tricks, maybe even cleaning e7 for the Nc6? 23. Rc3 and then 24. Nd5 looking strong.
23.Qf2 Rg5 24.fxe6 (24.Rc3!? exf5 25.Nd5 Qd8 26.Nd2! fxe4 (26... Be6 27.Nf3 fxe4!? 28.Nxg5 fxg5) 27.Nxe4)
24... fxe6 25.Rc3 Rh6 26. Nd4 will be met with Re5, and 26. Nd5 Qd8...
26.Nd4 Re5 27. Bxa6! looks strong 27...bxa6 28. Nfxe6 Rxe6 29. Rxc6 Bxc6 30. Nxe6
27.Nd3 Idea Nb4, but maybe Bxa6 was even better.
27... Rxe4 Pono didn't really have choice besides taking on e4, Nb4 was coming anyway.
28.Nb4! It looks crushing now, Black can hardly resist the pressure on his King.
28... Rxd4 (28... Ka8 29.Bxa6 bxa6 30.Ndxc6 and Na6 coming.)
29.Rxd4 Qa5 30. Rxh4 is the simplest solution. (29... Qb6 30.Nxa6+! bxa6 31.Rb4)
30.Rxh4 Kamsky has achieved material advantage and we don't doubt in his technique. Ponomariov is ready to be sent home....
30... f5 31.Rxh6 (31.Rxc6!? Bxc6 (31... Rxh4 32.Nxa6+ bxa6 33.Rxa6 Qc7 34.Qxh4) 32.Qd2 Kc7 33.Rxh6 Bxh6 34.Qxh6)
31... Bxh6 32.Rb3! Nxb4 33.Rxb4 Bc6 34.g4 fxg4 35.Rxg4 After the light-squared Bishop are exchanged, Black won't be able to stop passed h-pawn.
35... Qe5 36.Rg8+ Kc7 37.Bd3 Be3 38.Qg3 Qc5 39.b4 Qd4 40.Qg7+ (40.Rg7+!? Kb8 41.Rg4)
40... Qxg7 41.Rxg7+ Time control has been reached and Kamsky will now simply advance with h-pawn.
41... Kd8 42.h4 e5 43.h5 e4 44.Be2 Bf4 45.Rg6 and Ruslan Ponomariov finally threw the towell. Congratulations to Gata Kamsky for qualifying to the final four in the World Cup! He has secured place in the next year Grand Prix. Thank you everyone for following the commentary, we continue live action in the game Cheparinov-Carlsen.
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