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Being down 2-1 in the final match, Alexei Shirov is in a must-win situation and with Black pieces, which makes it even worse when ultra solid Gata Kamsky is on the other side of the table. We have an interesting game ahead, enjoy the live commentary on Chessdom!
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Yet another Shirov's attempt to play Sveshnikov Sicilian has been forestalled by Kamsky.
3... g6 4.O-O (4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Perhaps this line would have also been good choice for Kamsky.)
4... Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 O-O 7. d4 is most popular, but tender 7. h3 was also employed in Grandmaster practice.
7.d4 d5 ( This move is not allowing Nc3 like in the line 7... cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5)
8.e5 (8.exd5 Qxd5 9.dxc5 might have been Kamsky's way to the draw... (9.c4!? Qd6))
8... Ne4 9.Bxc6 ( Immediate 9.Nbd2 is also popular)
9... bxc6 10.Nbd2 10...cxd4 or 10...Nxd2
10... Bf5 Shirov goes with the different line. 11. Nh4 e6 12. Nxf5 exf5 was played in McShane-Shirov 2003. Another possibility is 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng5 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qd5.
11.Nh4 e6 12.Nxf5 exf5 13.f3 (13.Nf1 Rb8 was played in three games, including McShane-Shirov, but transposition is still possible after 14.f3 Ng5) (13.Nf3 Rb8 14.Re2!? with idea Ne1 is Eduard Rozentalis' interesting plan that brought him a victory in this line.)
13... cxd4! Most likely 14. cxd4 Ng5 will follow. 14. fxe4? dxc3 15. bxc3 fxe4 is even better for Black! ( 13...cxd4 is better than 13... Ng5 14.Nb3! Ne6 (14... cxd4 15.Bxg5! Qxg5 16.cxd4) 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5)
14.cxd4 Ng5 15.b4 Kamsky is taking a grip on c5 square, hoping to take advantage of the backward c6 pawn. Shirov will prepare f6... (15.Nb3 Ne6 16.Qc2 Rc8)
15... a5 16.bxa5 Forced but good enough. Now on 16...Rxa5 White has 17. Nb3. Better was 15...Ne6.
16... Rxa5 17.Nb3 Ra7 Kamsky is not only enjoying small advantage, but he is also much closer to the desired draw because the entire queenside will be dead after the blockade on c5.
18.Bxg5! (18.Qc2 was objectively stronger, but exclamation mark goes because Kamsky is exchanging Black's probably most active piece.)
18... Qxg5 19.Qc2 (19.Qc1 Qh4 20.Qxc6 Rxa2)
20.a4! Bf8 21.a5 Bb4 22.Re2 Kamsky is playing with astonishing precision. Pawn a5 will greatly reduce Black pieces mobility.
22... Qd8 23. Qc1!? with idea 23...Bxa5 24. Rea2
23.e6! "The easiest way to achieve necessary draw is to play for a win" - old saying goes... (23.a6 Qb6 24.Qd3 c5 is equal (24... Rca8 25.Rea2))
23... fxe6 (23... Qd6!? 24.exf7+ Kxf7)
24.Rxe6 Qd7 (24... Bxa5 25.Rxc6 is better ending for White)
25.Qe2 Kf7 26.Re5 Bd6 27.f4?! It is not clear why Kamsky gave up the exchange because there is no obvious compensation. Shirov can easily avoid the e6 threat. ( Why not 27.Re3 Bf4 28.Rc3 Re8 29.Qc2)
27... Bxe5 28.fxe5 Qb7 29.Nc5 Qb4 30.e6+ Kg8 31.Rd1 Taking on a5 would lead to perpetual check after e7 and Qe6-e5.
31... Qxa5 32.e7 Re8 33.Qe6+ Kg7 34.Qe5+ Kf7 35.Qe6+ and the players have agreed to draw! Congratulations to Gata Kamsky for winning the World Cup! On September 2008 he will play with Veselin Topalov for the right to challenge winner of Kramnik-Anand match during 2009. Thank you everyone for following the Chessdom live coverage of the World Cup, see you again during some new tournament.
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