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Good day everyone, welcome to the Chessdom live coverage of the World Cup final. Since his comeback, Gata Kamsky was mostly relying on the Marshall attack, but Alexei Shirov presented good preparation when he blasted Jakovenko and Karjakin in this line. However, Kamsky started using other Ruy Lopez lines as well, and he also hired a second for the first time - GM Emil Sutovsky. One thing is certain, Shirov will attack with white pieces, while Kamsky has nerves of steel in defence. Enjoy!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ruy Lopez, as expected.
3... a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 Kamsky decided to stay away from Marshall Attack in which Shirov scored well during the World Cup. Maybe he is going for Breyer again?
8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Nb8 Breyer variation, used for the first time back in 19th century. It's peak of popularity was during 60's, when players like Tal, Spassky and Gligoric had it in regular repertoire.
10.d4 (10.d3 also had its moments of glory.)
10... Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.b3 a5 New move, introduced by Kamsky in earlier round against Peter Svidler. ( Magnus Carlsen and Shirov himself preferred 15... c6) ( while Mamedyarov used 15... d5) ( main variation is 15... Bg7)
16.a4 b4 17.cxb4 axb4 18.Bb2 Bh6 19.dxe5 Shirov is repeating Svidler's plan, probably having improvements prepared.
19... dxe5 20.Bd3 Nc5!? ( Kamsky is first to play a new move. Against Svidler he used 20... Bf4)
21.Bb5 (21.Bc4 Bf4!? solving the problem with e5 and attacking e4 defender (21... Nfxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Nxe5 with clear advantage for White because of f7 weakness.))
21... Qxd1 22.Raxd1 c6 23.Bc4 Nfd7 24.Re2 Bf4 Both players are still following main engine recommendations, probably this is still within the home preparation.
25.Rc2 Re7 Overprotecting f7 and 7th rank in general.
26.Ne2 26...Nxe4 might be too dangerous after 27. Nxf4 exf4 28. Re2! and Black is somehow tied up because Rook has to defend both Knights and White has Ng5. Simply 26...Bh6 maybe?
26... Bh6 Now there is problem for White. Ne2 is covering e-file and Nxe4 is threat since Re1 has no effect. White should move the Knight, but where? Ng3 allows repetition with Bf4, while after Nc1 or Nd2 Black will swap Bh6 for the Knight and White Rooks' coordination will be ruined - Kamsky would have Nxe4 or Nb6...
27.Ng3 Bf4 28. Re1 Ba6 or Kg7, maybe 28. Bc1 with idea Bxg3 29. Bg5! Kamsky's dark-squared Bishop is surely annoying..
28.Bc1! In spite of being 30 minutes down on clock, Shirov is still playing for a full point! 28...Bxg3 would allow 29. Bg5, but Kamsky has a wide range of neutral, solidifying moves on disposal - Kg7, Ba6 or h6...
28... Ba6 Removing White's valuable attacker and targeting b3 pawn. 29. Bd2 looks good for Shirov.
29.Bxf4 (29.Bd2!? Bxc4 30.Rxc4 Nxb3 31.Bxb4)
29... exf4 30.Ne2 30...Rxe4 31. Bxf7+ Kg7! and White is in trouble (31...Kxf7 32. Ng5+), but 31. Bxa6 Rxa6 32. Ned4 looks like sufficient compensation. 30...Nxe4 31. Bxa6 Rxa6 32. Rc4
30... Bxc4 After the long thought, Kamsky opted for a forced line where b-pawns are exchanged. (30... Rxe4 31.Bxa6 Rxa6 32.Ned4 Kg7 33.Nxc6 Rxc6 34.Rxd7)
31.Rxc4 Nxb3 32.Rxb4 Nbc5 33.Nc3 White seems to be in control now. Black pawns c6 and f4 might prove weak. Rd6 is coming..
33... Ree8 34.Rd6 White has clear advantage now, but we all know how tough is Kamsky when defending.
34... Re6 (34... Rec8 35.e5 with idea Ne4)
35.Rbd4 Rxd6 36.Rxd6 Ra6 37. Nd4 Ne5, so maybe 37. e5.
37.e5! Best chance to play on for the win, Rd4 or e6-Nd4 are ideas.
37... Rb6 38. Rd4 Rb3 39. Ne4!... ( better was 37... Kf8 38.Rd4 Ra5! (38... Ke7 39.Rxf4) 39.Rxf4 Nd3 close to equality.)
38.Rd1 Why not Rd4?
38... Rb3 39.Ne2 Ra3 40.Ned4 Rxa4 White is still slightly better, but very hard to convert the advantage.
41.Nxc6 Nf8 42.Ne7+ and players have agreed to a draw. Interesting game, Shirov might have had advantage after move 30, but Kamsky defended well to save f4 and trade all queenside pawns. Obviously, the opening was cooked in Kamsky's kitchen, probably all the way to move 28. Thank you everyone for following Chessdom live coverage, see you again tomorrow at 11 CET/ 5 EST for the 2nd game. Have a nice day.
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