Chess Magazine Chess Chro

Semi-Monthly Online E-Zine WCC-Special (03rd NOV) – Vol.
1, Issue 08-Part-II
The First Ever Semi-Monthly Online Chess Magazine. For subscription visit
http://www.chesschronicle.org or http://www.pakchess.com
All material copyright © Chess Chronicle, unless otherwise indicated.
Che s s a t L a r g e
“World Chess Championship Special” by Frank Kolasinski
O
ur heartiest congratulations go out to He then upheld the new ranking by tying for
the new world champion, first at Linares with Kasparov. Two months
Grandmaster Veselin Topalov, for later he won the inaugural MTel Masters
his outstanding tournament performance, and event by a full point over Anand, took second
indeed, for his play throughout the year at Dortmund. And finally, his performance in
2005! Veselin began the year by climbing to the first seven rounds of this tournament will
third place on FIDE's world ranking list, and undoubtedly be talked about for years as
then finished third at Wijk aan Zee. he cruised through the first half of the eight
player event
with a
blistering
+6-0=1 score!
He was then
able to coast
in the second
half, drawing
each of his
seven games
to finish at
10/14 with a
2890 overall
performance
rating. He
was the only
undefeated
participant, as
he finished a
World Champion GM Topalov & Silvio Danailov with the President of the Republic full 1.5 points
of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov (center) ahead of
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2788 ** 1= == 1= 1= 1= 1= 1= 10.0 2889
2 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738 0= ** == 11 1= == == 1= 8.5 2818
3 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 == == ** 0= =1 01 1= 11 8.5 2811
4 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707 0= 00 1= ** =1 =1 == == 7.0 2743
5 Leko, Peter g HUN 2763 0= 0= =0 =0 ** =1 1= 1= 6.5 2706
6 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2670 0= == 10 =0 =0 ** == 01 5.5 2668
7 Adams, Michael g ENG 2719 0= == 0= == 0= == ** == 5.5 2661
8 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735 0= 0= 00 == 0= 10 == ** 4.5 2606
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All material copyright © Chess Chronicle, unless otherwise indicated
-2-
Viswanathan Anand and Peter Svidler in a on move seventeen that enlivened the
very, very impressive performance. position, giving up a pawn for activity. This
turned out to be at least a dubious sacrifice,
Round Twelve – October 11th, 2005 and Anand simply outplayed the Hungarian,
who was clearly overly optimistic here,
In the third to the last round of the tournament deviating from his disastrous game one of the
with a great deal still on the line the Brissago match with Kramnik.
regrettable occurred in the game
game Topalov& Svidler, a peaceful Ruy With his second consecutive win, Anand was
Lopez Anti-Marshall which offered Svidler able to catch Svidler in second place, both
little, ending in a tame draw. Playing for a now a point and half behind Topalov, but with
only two rounds remaining. Alexander
Morozevich
pulled a rabbit
from his hat
by playing the
Van Geet
Opening
(1.Nc3) in his
game against
Polgar. Judit
took nearly
five minutes
to respond,
and after a
couple of
moves the
game reverted
into a Sicilian
Najdorf.
Morozevich
managed to
obtain a slight
GM Topalov handed the world cup to the director of National History
advantage,
Museum Bojidar Dimitrov
but after many
exchanges there wasn't enough material left
win with black against Veselin Topalov was
on the board. Although he tried hard for the
always going to be a tall order and
win, Polgar played well and was able to
after twenty-one moves Topalov had a slight
secure the draw. Another Anti-
advantage, which undoubtedly prompted
Marshall played out in the Kasimjanov-
Peter to weigh up the advantages of finishing
Adams game, with the reigning World
second against having some slim chances of
Champion getting a slight advantage,
winning the game. Vishy Anand played one
especially after the twenty-fifth move when
of his best games so far, playing the Petroff
Adams should have exchanged queens
against Peter Leko, who produced a novelty
leveling the position. But Adams played
-2-
well in a very difficult endgame, saving the His choice is in view of the tactical situation
position and a in the current standings. It is especially
draw. Kasim will have white against Topalov essential that Vesko does not give Svidler any
in the next round (the current world champion chances for a win. By this means, the
against the new world champion?) with both Bulgarian keeps his advantage of 1.5 points in
Anand and Svidler now nipping at his heels. the tournament ahead of the Russian
chessmaster. This psychological situation
Topalov - Svidler 1/2 explains why Topalov chooses a variation that
Leko - Anand 0-1 doesn't give him any obvious advantage, but
leaves black in the frustrating role to fight
Kasimdzhanov - Adams 1/2
only for a draw. 9...d6 10.a3 Qd7
Morozevich - Polgar 1/2
[10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nbd2
Nc6 13.Nf1 Bc8 14.c3 Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6
[C88] - Spanish 16.Ng3 (16.b4 Nh5 17.N1h2 Nf4 18.Bxf4
Rxf4 19.Qb3 Qd7 20.a4 bxa4 21.Rxa4 cxb4
22.cxb4 Rb8 1/2-1/2 Adams,M-
Topalov,V (2788) Kasimdzhanov,R/Linares ESP 2005 (62))
Svidler,P (2738) 16...Nd7 17.Be3 d5 18.exd5 exd5 19.a4 Rb8
WCC (12), 11.10.2005 20.axb5 axb5 21.b3 Ra8 1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-
Topalov,V/Linares ESP 2005 (21)] 11.Nc3
Nd8 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5 Ne6
by GM Petar Genov 15.Nxe7+ [15.Be3 Bf8 16.Qf3 c5 17.Bd5
Nxd5 18.exd5 Nc7 19.Ne4 Nxd5 20.Qg4
Kh8 21.Nexd6 Nf6 22.Qf4 Nd5 23.Qg4
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 Nf6 24.Qf4 Nd5 1/2-1/2 Sutovsky,E-
5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 Almasi,Z/Paks HUN 2005 (24)] 15...Rxe7
9.d3 Topalov abandons the principal opening 16.f3 Rd8 17.Bxe6 An interesting practical
dispute over the Marshal counter-attack, decision. Vesko abandons the play with a pair
directing the game towards a calm strategical of bishops. He could have had better
play, where he could hardly be caught in a opportunities going into the endgame with a
surprise prepared by his opponent. Bc1 against Ne6 - this is even, but there are
still chances for both sides. After this change
there are practically no real chances for black
to complicate the coming play. This prevents
white from having to dwell upon black's
possibility of c7-c5-c4 isolating the white-
squared bishop. [17.Be3 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5
19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.Bxd5 Rx
d5 22.Kf2 h5 1/2-1/2 Galkin,A-Aronian,L/
Moscow RUS 2005 (22)] 17...fxe6 17...Qe6
or 17...Re6 doesn't change the equal
estimation of the position, too. 18.e5 This
defeats black's pawn chain, making senseless
their plans for something more. 18...dxe5
World Champion with kids! 19.Qxd7 Rdxd7 20.Rxe5 Rd6 [20...h6
21.Be3 Re8 22.Re1 1/2-1/2 Efimenko,Z-
Aronian,L/Moscow RUS 2005 (22)] 21.Bf4
-3-
11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bf5
For some reason this very popular move
wasn't tested in Argentina. [Adams decided to
repeat 13...Na5 not less than twice despite his
loss to Polgar in Sofia earlier this year.
14.Rb1 (14.Ne5!? Bf5 15.c4 Qd6 16.c5 Qd5
17.Bf3 Be4 18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.Bd2 Nc6
20.Re1 Qh4 21.Nf3 Qh5 22.Rb1 Bf6
23.Rxb7 Nxd4 24.Nxd4 Qxd1 25.Rxd1
Bxd4 26.Be3 Bxe3 27.fxe3 with a very
unpleasant rook endgame for Black. 1-0
Leko, P-Adams,M/San Luis ARG 2005 (39);
White still have some symbolic advantage - a It's interesting that White deviated from the
better pawn structure and a mere weakness of main line 14.Re1, which was also Polgar's
the points c5 and e5 but the tournament choice in Sofia, in both games.) 14...a6
situation is more important. This draw made 15.Ne5 Bf5 16.Bf3 Qe6 17.Rb2 Bxa3
18.Re2 Bxc1 19.Nc6 Qf6 20.Nxa5 Bf4
Vesko practically unreachable and the new
21.Nxb7 Rab8 22.Rfe1 g6 23.Ra2 c6 24.Nc5
World Champion! 1/2-1/2
and a draw was agreed 1/2-1/2 Svidler, P-
Adams,M/San Luis ARG 2005 (24) probably
[C42] - Petroff
because of the following line: 24...Rb1
25.Qe2 Rfb8 26.Ra1 R1b2 27.Qxa6 Bxh2+!
Leko,P (2763) 28.Kxh2 Qh4+ 29.Kg1 Qxf2+ 30.Kh1 Qh4+
Anand,V (2788) with the perpetual.] 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Bf4
WCC (12), 11.10.2005 Rac8 This position was tested a lot of times
on the highest level, while White tried almost
by GM Victor all possible moves. You'll find a number of
Mikhalevski examples below. 16.h3 This unfortunate for
Leko move was introduced on the top level by
nobody else, but Leko's rival in Brissago 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Fortunately Petroff wasn't Vladimir Kramnik, who, by the way, beat him
very popular in San Luis as one could expect. already in the first game of the match with
3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 [In the very black pieces. White makes a prophylactic
important game of the last round Svidler move, while Black has to find a constructive
played 5.Nc3 against Anand, but after idea, which is not an easy task. In some lines
5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 White can use the h2-square for the
9.0-0-0 Ne5 10.Kb1 Re8 11.Nd4 a6 12.f4 manoeuvre of the knight to g4 or e3 via f1.
Ng4 13.Bd3 d5 14.Rhe1 Bh4 15.g3 Nxe3 [For example Adams surprised Kramnik and
16.Rxe3 Rxe3 17.Qxe3 Bf6 18.Nf3 Qe7
Anand in Sofia 2005 with a new idea 16.Bg3;
19.Qxe7 a draw was agreed.] 5...d5 6.Bd3
Anand showed another interesting novelty in
Nc6 [The game Svidler,P-Morozevich,A
the same tournament 16.Qc1 and crushed
from the 11th round saw White obtaining
Kramnik in 20 moves.
advantage after 6...Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6
9.Re1 Bf5 10.Qb3 Na6 11.Nc3 dxc4
12.Bxc4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 b5 14.Bf1 Nc7 The game Polgar,J-Kramnik,V, Sofia 2005
15.Bg5 Qc8 16.Bh4 a5 17.Bg3 a4 18.Qb2 saw 16.Bd3 ] 16...Be4 The chess theory has
Bxg3 19.hxg3 Nd5 20.c4 bxc4 21.Bxc4 Rb8 been developing very fast. Also this idea has
22.Qd2 Qb7 23.Ne5 Qb6 24.Rac1²] 7.0-0 just celebrated its first anniversary. [In the
Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.a3 Nc6 origin game Anand played 16...Bf6 17.Nh2
-4-
Qa5 18.Bd2 Rcd8 19.Bf3 h6 20.Ng4 Bxg4 means of 19.f3 and at the same time closes
21.hxg4 Bg5 22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 the way back for the White's light-squared
24.Qd3 Nd8 25.g3 c6 26.Kg2 Ne6 27.Rb1 bishop. [18...Ra8? Black can't move the rook
Re7 and despite some pressure kept a draw. in view of 19.c4 and after 19...Qxd4 20.Be3
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee Black loses a piece.; 18...f5? is dangerous in
NED 2003.; view of 19.Be2! Threatening Bc4. Now we
can appreciate Anand's 18...Bh1! 19...b5
Motylev introduced an interesting novelty 20.a4! Bxh3 21.Bf3 Qf7 22.axb5 Nb8
against Kasparov and managed to equalize. 23.Qb3± and White obtains a clear positional
16...h6!? It has to be mentioned that the idea edge.] 19.f3
already found followers. 17.Nd2 Qd7
18.Nc4 Bd6! 19.Qd2 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Re4
21.Qg3 Rce8 22.Ne3 R4e7 1/2-1/2
Kasparov,G-Motylev,A/Moscow RUS 2004.
(76)] 17.Nd2 This unfortunate attempt to
revive Kramnik's 16.h3 after Kramnik's
17...Na5! in Brissago was recommended by
Hungarian theoretician Lukacs. The game
shows that Leko's opening preparation had a
big hole, which is a big surprise. I wonder
what exactly was missed by Leko. [Earlier
White tested only 17.Be3 Na5 (The origin
game saw 17...Rcd8 18.Nd2 Bg6 19.Bf3
Qd7 20.Qa4 Ne5 21.Qxd7 Nxf3+ 22.Nxf3 Bh4! I believe Peter underestimated this idea.
Rxd7 1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Bologan,V/Dortmund [19...f5 20.Bh5 (20.Kxh1?! fxg4 21.hxg4
playoff blitz (3) 2004 (26). (25)) 18.c4 Rf8³ is better for Black.) 20...g6 21.Kxh1
(Timman tried a new idea 18.Ne5 but after gxh5 22.Qb1!± was recommended by
18...Bf6 decided to repeat the moves. 19.Ng4 Lukacs. Probably Leko believed his
Be7 20.Ne5 Bf6 21.Ng4 Be7 1/2-1/2 compatriot without giving the idea of 17.Nd2
Timman,J-Erenburg,S/Gothenburg SWE 2005 a real test. And indeed the arisen position
The Week in Chess 561 (21)) 18...Nxc4 looks good for White as the ideas of
19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Nd2 Qd5 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 Be5 and Qxb7 are very annoying.] 20.Rf1?!
22.Bg5 Qxe1+ 23.Qxe1 Bxg5 24.Qa5 Bf6 After this move White has to fight for
25.Qxa7 c5 26.Qxb7 Bxd4 27.Ra2 c4 28.Re2
equality. [20.Rxe8+!? was fundamental.
Red8 29.a4 c3 and the strong c-pawn is at
least compensates material disadvantage. 0-1 20...Rxe8 A) 21.Kxh1?! This queen sacrifice
Leko, P-Kramnik,V/Brissago SUI 2004.(65)] leads to a sharp position in which Black's
17...Bxg2! Black has to accept the challenge. chances should be at least not worse.
Otherwise the idea of 16...Be4 would be 21...Re1+! (21...h5) 22.Qxe1 Bxe1 23.Rxe1
senseless. 18.Bg4 White attacks the rook on f5 24.Re8+ (24.Bh5 g6) 24...Kf7 25.Rc8
c8 and prepares to win the bishop on g2 by fxg4 26.Rxc7+ Kg6 27.hxg4 Qa5! and Black
means of c4. [The immediate 18.c4 leads to a is not in danger of losing the game.;
position with good compensation for the B) 21.Qb3! This way White trades the
sacrificed exchange. 18...Qf5! Thanks to this queens while the bishop on h1 remains
counterattack the entire idea of 16...Be4 trapped. B1) 21...Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Qf5
works. 19.Bg4 Qxf4 20.Bxc8 Rxc8 21.Kxg2 23.Qxb7 (23.Bxc6 Qxf4 24.Bxe8 Qg3+
Qxd4©] 18...Bh1! This strong intermediate leads to a draw by perpetual.) 23...Nd8
move forces weakening of the position by (23...Qxf4? 24.Qxc6+-) 24.Qxc7 Bg5!
-5-
(24...Ne6? 25.Qc6!+-) 25.Bg4 (25.Bxg5 White could try 31.c4 although Black is
Qxg5+ 26.Kh1 Qxd2÷) 25...Qxf4 26.Qxf4 already better.] 31...Qxc3 There is no way
Bxf4 27.Nc4² is slightly better for White; back anymore. White's position collapses.
B2) 21...Qxb3 22.Nxb3 f5! 32.Rd5 [32.d5 Qxa3µ] 32...Qxa3-+ With
two extra pawns Black shouldn't have
problems to win the game. The rest was just
matter of technique and doesn't require
serious comments. Anand slowly, but reliably
leads the game to its logical outcome. 33.Kh2
Qf8! 34.Qe6 Qf4+ 35.Kh1 Rf8 36.Qe2 h4
37.Rd7 Rf7 38.Rd8+ Kg7 39.Ne4 Qxf3+
40.Qxf3 Rxf3 41.Nc5 b6 42.Ne6+ Kf6
43.Nxc7 Rxh3+ 44.Kg1 Rd3 45.Nb5 Kg5
46.Nxa7 h3 47.Nc6 Kg4 48.Ra8 Kg3
49.Ra1 h2+ 50.Kh1 Nf4 51.Ne5 Re3
52.Rd1 Kh3 53.Nf7 Rg3! and White can't
stop 53...Ne2 followed by Rg1. 0-1
A nice tactical trick. It turns out that also
White's light-squared bishop is in the net of [C88] - Spanish
black pawns. 23.Bh5 (23.Bxf5?! Bxf3
24.Bxc7 Bd5³) 23...g6 24.Kxh1 gxh5 and Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
Black seems to hold the balance.] 20...f5 Adams,M (2719)
21.Bh5 White wants to open the position of WCC (12), 11.10.2005
the black king, however the latter finds a by GM Victor Mikhalevski
secure shelter on h8. [Certainly 21.Kxh1?
fxg4 22.hxg4 Rf8 favors Black.] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
21...g6 22.Kxh1 gxh5 23.Rg1+ Kh8 Now we 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 Since
can say that the idea of 19...Bh4! has passed White is lack of constructive ideas in the
the test. Now Leko has to play accurately to Marshall he's trying to deviate from it with
maintain the balance. Instead he's trying to either move in text or with 8.h3. Each of these
hard to prove correctness of 17. Nd2 and moves was tested in San Luis three times and
soon finds himself in trouble. 24.Qf1 Bf6 for the moment statistics is on the side of
25.Rb1 Ne7 Black consolidates the position 8.h3. 8...Bb7 [Both Svidler and Anand
and bind the knight to g6. 26.Bg5 Bxg5 preferred 8...b4 and both games were played
27.Rxg5 Rg8! 28.Rxg8+ [After 28.Rxh5?!³ simultaneously in the 10th round. 9.d3 d6
the rook would be out of play.] 28...Rxg8 10.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 A) 11...Qc8 12.Nc4 h6
29.Qe2 [29.Qc4 Qd6] 29...Ng6³ Anand is 13.c3 Rb8 14.d4 Bg4 15.Ba4 Qb7 16.d5 Na7
starting to outplay Leko and it turns out that 17.Ne3 Bc8 18.Qd3 Ng4 19.c4 (It seems
White's king is weaker than its colleague. that White could develop an unpleasant
30.Rb5?! [or 30.Qc4 Qd6!] 30...Qc6! pressure by means of 19.cxb4!? Qxb4
31.Rxf5?! It's easy to criticize Leko, but not 20.Bd2 Qb7 21.Rac1²) 19...Nxe3 20.Bxe3
so easy to recommend anything better. [In c5 21.dxc6 Nxc6 22.Qd5 Bd7 23.c5 dxc5
case of 31.Rc5 Black would have a strong 24.Bxc5 Bxc5 25.Qxc5 Rfc8 and Svidler
intermediate move 31...Re8!µ; succeeded to maintain the balance. 1/2-1/2
31.Qc4 Qe8! and weakness of the white king Leko,P-Svidler,P/San Luis ARG 2005 (36);
becomes essential.; B) 11...Rb8 12.Nc4 h6 13.h3 Qc8 It's
-6-
interesting that this position was reached in doing. [After 14...c6 15.Ba2 c5 16.b4 cxb4
both games by transposition of moves and 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Bd2² White is slightly better
only here Leko and Adams went their own thanks to control over the d5-square.] 15.exd5
way. 14.Be3 Rd8 15.Qe2 Bf8 16.Nfd2 Ne7 Nb7 [In case of the immediate 15...c6 16.b4
17.d4 Ng6 18.d5 Bd7 19.Ba4 Bb5 20.b3 Nb7 17.dxc6 Qxc6 18.c4 the tension on the
Be7 21.Rec1 c6! and soon Black equalized. queenside is in White's favor. Moreover the
1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Anand,V/San Luis ARG knight on b7 is restricted by the b4-pawn.]
2005 (25). (24)] 9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2 Qd7!? 16.d4 White forces the e-pawn to e4 and then
Black prepares Na5. [10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 cuts it off the other pawns. [Now 16.b4 trying
leads to Chigorin's-like setup.] 11.c3 Rfe8 to restrict the b7-knight can be answered by
12.Nf1 h6 13.Ne3 [The new World 16...a5 17.axb5 axb4 (17...Qxb5!?) 18.Rxa8
Champion played 13.Ng3 though back then Rxa8 19.c4 Nc5] 16...e4 17.Nd2 c6 18.dxc6
he was just a top GM. 13...Na5 14.Bc2 c5 Qxc6 19.axb5 axb5
15.d4 Bf8 16.d5 c4 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Nd2 Bc
8 19.h3 Bd7 20.Qf3 Be7 21.Ra2 Reb8 22.ax
b5 axb5 23.Rea1² 1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Adams,
M/Wijk aan Zee 2004.] 13...Na5 Black has to
move the knight to adjust the pawn structure
on the queenside, although earlier the knight
went in a different direction. The move n text
looks pretty logical as it wins a tempo. [Three
preceding games saw 13...Nd8 In all of them
Black's position was defended by English GM
Mark Hebden. A) 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8
Bxa8 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.N3h4 Ne6 18.Re3?!
(18.Qf3!? see Zhang Zhong-Hebden below.)
18...d5 19.Rg3 Kh8 and Black seized 20.d5! A strong move which was probably
initiative. 0-1 Hurn,R-Hebden,M/Newport underestimated by Adams. 20...Qc7 [In case
2004.; B) 14.Nf5 14...Bf8 15.N3h4 Kh8 of 20...Nxd5 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Nf5! The
key-move. Instead of exchanging the knights
B1) 16.Qf3 Ng8 17.Qg4 (17.Ng3!?) White develops a strong initiative. (Worse is
17...Ne6 18.Ng3 Nf6 19.Qf3 Ng8 20.Qg4
22.Nxd5 Qxd5 23.Nxe4 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Ra1)
Nf6 21.Qf3 Ng8 1/2-1/2 Apicella,M-
22...e3 (22...Bg5 23.Nxe4 Bxc1 24.Qd4! f6
Hebden,M/Clichy 2001/CBM 85 (21).;
25.Rxc1²) 23.fxe3 Re8 24.Qf3 with a very
B2) 16.axb5 16...axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Qf3 unpleasant pressure along the f-file and the
Ng8 19.Ne3 Ne6 20.Nhf5² Probably Adams a8-h1-diagonal.] 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Qe2
didn't like this passive position and that was [22.Nf5 doesn't reach the goal in view of
one of the reasons for playing 13...Na5. 22...Nc5] 22...Nc5! The only way to create
1/2-1/2 Zhang Zhong-Hebden,M/Hastings counterplay. 23.Qxb5 Nd3 24.Rd1 Ra5
2002/CBM 087 (53)] 14.Bd5 The idea behind 25.Qc4?! An inaccuracy. [25.Qb3! was
13.Ne3. White wants to exploit an probably the only chance to fight for
unfortunate position of the knight on a5. [In advantage. This way White keeps the c4-
case of 14.Bc2 c5 the knight would be better square available for the c-pawn. 25...Qa7
placed on g3.] 14...Bxd5 Black wants to 26.c4 Ra1 27.Qc3² with the idea of Nb3.;
exchange the d5-pawn later on by means of 25.Qc6?! Qb8! 26.Ndc4 Rc5 27.Qb6 Qa8!
c6 and thus to obtain a nice position. White winning back the d5-pawn.] 25...Qb7?! For
has to hurry up and that's exactly what he is some reason Adams decided to go for an
-7-
endgame a pawn down instead of winning it as equal. 46.Ne3 [Also after 46.Qe4 Qd2
back right away. [The simple 25...Qxc4 was 47.Ne3 Bc5 White can't hope for anything
sufficient for equality. A) 26.Nexc4 Rxd5 serious.] 46...Bxe3! 47.fxe3 Qe1 Now white
(26...Ra4!? with the idea of Nxd5.) 27.Ne3 king can't escape the checks without giving up
Rb5 28.Nxe4 Nxc1 29.Nxf6+ Bxf6 30.Rxc1 a pawn and so after 48.Qd4 a draw was
Rxb2; B) 26.Ndxc4 26...Ra1 27.Bd2 Rxd1+ agreed. 1/2-1/2
28.Nxd1 Nxd5] 26.Nxe4 Nxc1 27.Rxc1!
[27.Nxf6+ allows to activate the bishop. F.e. [B90] - Sicilian Najdrof
27...Bxf6 28.Rxc1 Qxb2 29.Qf1 Bg5! and
Black obtains counterplay. (29...Bxc3? Morozevich,A (2707)
30.Nc4 Qxc1 31.Qxc1 Ra1 32.Qxa1 Bxa1 Polgar,J (2735)
33.Nxd6±) 30.Nc4?! (30.c4 is better.) WCC (12), 11.10.2005
30...Bxc1! 31.Nxb2? (31.Nxa5 Qxc3) by GM Victor Mikhalevski
31...Bxb2-+ with Ra1 coming and Black
even wins.] 27...Qxb2 [After 27...Nxd5?! 1.Nc3 . . . We can expect this move from
28.Nxd5 Rxd5 29.b4± Black is just a pawn nobody else but Morozevich. 1...c5 [1...d5
down.] 28.Rf1 [28.Qc8+ Kh7 29.Rf1 Nxe4 would be a mistake as it allowed Alex to get
30.Qf5+ Kg8 31.Qxe4 reaching the game his favorite Chigorin with an extra tempo.
position two moves later seems to be more 2.d4!] 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4
precise as on the way White prevents the a6 Eventually the game transposes to the very
option 28...Qb7.] 28...Nxe4 [28...Qb7 is not popular variation of Najdorf. 6.Be3 Ng4
much different from the text. 29.Rd1 Nxe4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 A very
30.Qxe4 Qc7 31.c4 Bf6] 29.Qxe4 Ra7 popular setup. Most of the top players
30.c4 [30.Nf5 looks senseless in view of including Kasparov played it both with white
30...Bf8 31.c4 g6] 30...g6 Covering the f5- and black pieces. Also this tournament hasn't
square. It turns out that in the arisen position become an exception. 10.Be2 At the
it's not easy for White to make progress beginning of this setup White made this move
despite an extra pawn. 31.g3 Kg7 32.Rb1 almost automatically. [Svidler and
Ra1 33.Rxa1 Qxa1+ 34.Kg2 Bf6 Now Kasimdzhanov preferred the more fashionable
Black just has to avoid an exchange of 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 (11.f3 Nbc6 12.Bf2 Ng6
queens. 35.Qd3 [White could try an 13.Qd2 Qa5 14.0-0-0 Bd7 15.Kb1 Rc8
immediate aggression on the kingside, but 16.g3 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Qe5
after 35.h4 h5 36.g4! hxg4 37.Qxg4 Qe5 19.Qf2 Rxc3!? 20.bxc3 Qxc3 21.Rd3 Qa5
38.h5! Bg5! 39.hxg6 fxg6 40.Qd7+ Kf8 22.Qe3 Be6 23.Ra3 Qb4+ 24.Ka1 Kd7
Black seems to hold the balance.] 35...Qb2 25.Be2 Qc5 26.Rb1!± and Black started to
36.Nc2 h5 37.h4 Kf8 38.Qe4 Qb1 Black experience problems with the queenside. 1-0
exploits an unfortunate position of the knight Svidler,P-Polgar,J/San Luis ARG 2005 (59))
on c2. 39.Qe2 Qb2 40.Qd3 Qb1 41.Qf3 11...Bxf5 12.exf5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fxe6!
Be5 42.Ne3 Bd4 During the last few moves An essential exchange. (14.Ne3 Qa5+ 15.c3
Nf3+!! 16.Qxf3 Bxc3+ 17.Kd1 Qa4+
Black succeeded to improve the position and 18.Nc2 Bxb2 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Qb3 Qxb3
White tries his very last chance. 43.g4 hxg4 21.axb3 Bxa1 22.Nxa1 Ke7© 0-1 Svidler,P-
44.Nxg4 Qc1! Black covers the f4-square Topalov,V/San Luis ARG 2005 (44))
and thus stops the only serious threat of Qf4.
[44...Qc2? 45.Qf4! Bc5 46.Nf6±] 45.Qd3 14...fxe6 15.Ne3 A) Anand didn't know yet
Ba7 The bishop is on the right diagonal, the Topalov's smashing idea of the next round.
c-pawn stopped, White king is vulnerable: all Otherwise he might have 15...Qa5+ 16.c3
Nf3+ 17.Qxf3 Bxc3+ 18.Kd1 Qa4+ 19.Nc2
these factors allow us to evaluate the position
-8-
(19.Kc1!? Now this move may work thanks
to an intermediate check on h5, which was
impossible with the pawns on f5 and f7 in
Topalov's game. 19...Bxb2+ 20.Kxb2 Qb4+
21.Kc1 Nd4 22.Qh5+ Kd8 In any cases
Black's attack shouldn't be underestimated.)
19...Bxb2 20.Qb3 Qxb3 21.axb3 Bxa1
22.Nxa1 Ke7 see Svidler-Topalov.;
B) 15...0-0 16.Be2 Qe7 17.0-0 Rad8
18.Bh5 Kh8 19.Re1 d5 20.a4² 1-0
Kasimdzhanov,R-Anand,V/San Luis ARG
2005 (38). (37)] 10...h5 11.h4 gxh4 12.Rxh4 [16.Na4 is senseless in view of 16...Qa7]
Nc6 13.Nb3 Be6 14.Qd2 Rc8 A very 16...Qe3! After exchange of queens black
uncommon line. Black's not in a hurry with king feels safer. 17.Bf4! White will try to
14...Qb6 which allows 15.Nd5, but waits for play on the weakness of the h5-pawn, which
White to weaken the f2-pawn and only then is the only clear target in Black's position.
comes with Qb6. [14...Qb6 is the main line. [17.Nd5?! looks very risky. 17...Bxd5
15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nce5 17.c3 18.exd5 Nb4 19.c3 Nxd5 (19...Bh6 20.Kb1!;
(17.0-0-0 was more popular.) 17...Ng6 19...Nxa2+!? also deserves attention. 20.Kb1
18.Rh3 h4 19.Bxg4 hxg3 20.Rxh8+ Bxh8 Bxc3 21.Qxe3 Nxe3 22.Kxa2 Nxd1 23.Bxd1
21.Qe3 gxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Qxe3+ 23.Kxe3 Ne5 Bf6÷) 20.fxg4 Qxg3³] 17...Qxd2+ 18.Rxd2
24.Be2 Kd7 25.Nd2 Rg8 26.Rh1 Bf6³ and White takes his rook away from a fork on f2.
Black is better thanks to a more compact [In case of 18.Bxd2 Bf6! White would have
pawn structure. 0-1 Topalov,V-Kasparov,G to give up an exchange since Nf2 is coming.]
Geneve 1996 (64)] 15.0-0-0 [Black won a 18...Nge5 The knight goes to c4 creating on
nice game after 15.Qg5? Bf6! 16.Rxh5 Kd7! the way a threat of Ng6. White has to move
17.Nc5+? (17.Rxh8 Qxh8 18.Qd2 Nb4 is either rook or bishop. [18...Bf6 was
also very dangerous for White, but that's what interesting with the idea 19.Rh1 Bxc3
White had to do.) 17...dxc5 18.Qd2+ Nd4 20.bxc3 Nge5 and Black compensates
19.Bxg4 Bxg4! 20.Rd5+ Ke8 21.Qf4 (It weakness of the h-pawn by White's
turns out that after 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8-+ White weaknesses on the queenside.] 19.Be3 Bf6
can't stop Rh1.) 21...Bd7-+ 22.0-0-0 e6 and 20.Rh1 Nc4 Forcing an angel of one of the
White resigned in 0-1 Smikovsky,I- white bishops Black obtains an advantage of a
Yudasin,L, Chigorin mem 1997.] 15...Qb6!? bishop pair. 21.Bxc4 Bxc4 22.Na4! Just in
Only this move is new. Black attacks the f2- time. Otherwise Black would play b5 herself.
pawn and thus provokes exchange of the 22...b5! Anyway. The bishop on c4 will be
queens. [The only previous game saw untouchable. 23.Nb6 Rb8 24.Kb1!? White
15...Bf6 16.Rhh1 h4 17.Nd5! Bxd5 18.exd5 wants to bring his passive knight into play by
Nce5 19.Bxe5 Nxe5 20.Qb4 Qc7 21.c3 Rg8 means of Nc1-e2-f4. [24.Nxc4 bxc4
and Black should be OK. Movsesian,S- 25.Nd4 c3! 26.bxc3 Ne5! with very strong
Kalod,R After GP Mladi 1997.] 16.f3 compensation for a pawn.] 24...h4 Judit fixes
the g-pawn on g2. 25.f4 White has in mind
playing Nd5 and so he restricts black pieces
The older I grow, the more I value Pawns. and may at some point to break through with
Keres e5. 25...Rb7 26.Nc1 White creates a hidden
threat of f5 followed by b3, but in fact it's not
really a threat because even after capturing
-9-
the bishop the knight will be pinned on the b- Bxe2] 31.Nd5 Ne5? A risky from the
file and most likely lost. [26.Nd5 White could positional point of view continuation. There
try to exploit weakness of the h-pawn by was no point in destroying her own pawn
means of 26...Bxd5 27.exd5 Nb8 28.Bd4 but structure. [The position after 31...Be5
Black is just in time to counterattack the 32.Rxh4 e6 33.Ndf4 is close to equality.]
centre. 28...Nd7 29.g3 h3 30.Rdh2 Bxd4 32.Nxf6+ exf6 33.Nc3! Suddenly the knight
31.Nxd4 Nf6 32.Rxh3 Rxh3 33.Rxh3 Nxd5 finds a very nice square on d5. Now it's
and Black should be able to retain the getting clear that Black misplayed her nice
balance.] 26...Rg8! 27.Rh3 Covering the g3- position. [Certainly not 33.Rxh4? Nf3
square. [27.f5 Rg3] 27...Rg4! Black's position 34.Rh8+ Ke7 and White loses an exchange.]
looks very comfortable while White has to 33...Rg3 [33...Rxd2 34.Bxd2 Bc6 35.a3! and
find a way how to unpin his pieces. 28.b3 the position is already slightly better for
Be6!? [28...Bf1!? deserved serious attention. White.] 34.Rxg3 hxg3 35.Nd5 [35.Bf4!?
29.Rh2 b4! Preparing to meet Rf2 with Bb5. looks better.] 35...Bc6! 36.Nxf6+ Ke7
30.Nd3 A) 30...Bxd3 31.cxd3 (31.Rxd3? 37.Nh5 f6 Black gives up a pawn which
Rxb6! 32.Bxb6 Rxf4 and Black picks up the wasn't necessary. [37...Bxe4? would be a
e4-pawn and obtains a clear advantage.) blunder in view of 38.Bg5+! and suddenly
31...Nd4! 32.Nd5 Bg7 with the idea of e6 the king can't find a good square. 38...Kf8
and the initiative is on Black's side.; 39.Rxd6! and in view of the threat of mate in
B) 30...Rg3 ] 29.Ne2 Rxg2 30.f5 It starts to one Black loses also the g3-pawn.;
seem that White's position is getting better. After correct 37...Nf3 38.Re2 g2! 39.Rxg2
he's going to play Nd5, to exchange Black's Bxe4 40.Ng3 Bc6 Black is not worse.]
darksquared bishop and to win back the h- 38.Nxg3
pawn. 30...Bd7
38...Rb8! As some compensation for the

sacrificed pawn she activates the rook and
[With a fantastic positional blow creates some threats to the e4-pawn. 39.Rh2
30...Rxb6! 31.Bxb6 Bd7 preparing d5! Black [It's hard to believe that the passive 39.Bf4
could maintain the initiative although White Rg8 40.Rd4 Rg4 41.Ne2 can promise any
seems to be able to escape to a draw. 32.Be3 advantage.] 39...Rg8 40.Rh7+ Nf7 41.Bf4
d5 (32...e6!?) 33.exd5 Bxf5 34.Rf3 Bg4 Rg4 42.Nh5 [In case of 42.Bxd6+ Kxd6
43.Rxf7 Rxg3 44.Rxf6+ Kc7 Black at least
A) 35.dxc6 Rxe2!! 36.Rd1 (36.Rxe2 Bxf3 shouldn't be worse.] 42...Bxe4 Judit still
37.c7 Kd7 38.Rf2 Bb7 39.Bf4 Kc8³)
looks for initiative. [42...Rh4 leads to a forced
36...Re1! 37.Rxe1 Bxf3 38.c7 Kd7³;
draw. 43.Bd2 Bxe4 44.Nxf6 Rxh7 45.Nxh7
B) 35.Rxf6! 35...exf6 36.dxc6 Rxe2 37.Rxe2 Bxf5 46.Ng5] 43.Bxd6+! Kxd6 44.Rxf7
- 10 -
Rg2! The idea behind 42...Bxe4. 45.Rxf6+ tedious game between Michael Adams and
Ke5 46.Re6+ [The immediate 46.Rxa6 Peter Leko, where the position was blocked in
Bxc2+ 47.Ka1 Bxf5 doesn't change much. a Sicilian. Trades followed and a draw was
Black compensates a pawn by better placed agreed on move twenty-five. The third game
pieces.] 46...Kxf5 47.Rxa6 Bxc2+ 48.Kc1 to finish was Viswanathan Anand against
Be4 49.Ra5 Bd3 50.a4 Rc2+ 51.Kd1 Ra2 A Alexander Morozevich. Anand needed a win
threat of Be2+ forces White to repeat the but Morozevich got a satisfactory position
moves. 52.Kc1 Rc2+ 53.Kd1 Ra2 54.Kc1 in the French Classical. Anand forced things
Rc2+ An interesting fighting draw.1/2-1/2 with a bishop sacrifice to open up
Morozevich's king but it never looked to be
worth more than a draw. Anand ended things
Standings after round 12: by sacrificing his queen to obtain perpetual
1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2788 9.0; check. With first place wrapped up there are
2. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 7.5; only two issues tomorrow. It's not clear, apart
3. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738 7.5; from the money, whether finishing in second
4. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707 6.0; or third place is particularly important, as
5. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2670 5.0; both players will be seeded play in the
6. Leko, Peter g HUN 2763 5.0; following championship cycle.
7. Adams, Michael g ENG 2719 4.5;
8. Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735 3.5; Adams - Leko 1/2
Anand - Morozevichn 1/2
Round Thirteen – OCT 13th, 2005 Polgar - Svidler 1/2
Kasimdzhanov - Topalov 1/2
In what was a foregone conclusion, Veselin
Topalov has won the world championship [B30] - Sicilian
with both Vishy Anand and Peter Svidler
conceding early draws in round thirteen. The
only problem left was Rustam Kasimjanov.... Adams,M (2719)
Topalov chose the Berlin Defence against the Leko,P (2763
Ruy Lopez, and set his position up to hold the WCC (13), 13.10.2005
light squares with pieces and pawns. Kasim
played hard to try and keep the title for by GM Alex Finkel
another day, and in fact achieved the better
position. But Topalov found a spectacular
save by sacrificing the exchange to even
up the endgame. It was nice touch that this
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Harmless
game was the last to finish so that Veselin
continuation, which was tried by Adams
was able to cross the finish line for the title by
against Leko on a couple of occasions in their
his own efforts. The first game to finish was recent rapid chess match in Miskolc.
a thirty-nine move draw between Judit Polgar [3.Bb5!?] 3...e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.Nd2
and Peter Svidler. They blasted through their Nf6 7.Nf1 Bg4 8.f3 Be6 9.Ne3 0-0 10.0-0
preparation in a Ruy Lopez Marshall straight Nh5!? Clearing a way for a bishop to come to
to an ending where Svidler had to exercise g5. [10...Rb8 11.a3 (11.Bd2 Ne8 12.a4 Bg5
some care, but in which the draw was never 13.Ned5 Bxd2 14.Qxd2 Nc7 15.f4 exf4
really in doubt. Next to finish was the fairly 16.Qxf4 Ne5 17.Ba2 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5
- 11 -
Adams,M-Leko,P/Miskolc 2005) 11...Nd4 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.Nb3!? This rare move is
12.Ba2 b5 13.Ncd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bg5 a pet line of Dutch grandmaster Nijboer.
15.Bxe6 Nxe6 16.a4 Bxe3+ 17.Bxe3 bxa4 White's idea is to avoid multiple trades on d4
Adams,M-Leko,P/Miskolc 2005] 11.Ned5 trying to keep more pieces on the board for
[White didn't succeed to get anything also the kingside attack. [11.Kb1; 11.Qf2]
after 11.Ncd5 Bg5 12.g3 Bxe3+ 13.Bxe3 11...Bb4 [11...Be7] 12.Bd3 [12.a3? Be7
Na5 14.Qd2 Nxc4 15.dxc4 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 13.Bd3 b5 14.Ne2 b4] 12...b5 13.Rhf1
Qe7 Movsesian,S-Eljanov,P/Merida 2005] Preparing Rf1-f3-h3. [13.g4 Nb6 (13...Bb7
11...Bg5 12.Bxg5 Qxg5 13.Qc1 Qd8!? It's 14.Rhg1 Rc8 15.Rg3 Re8 16.Rh3 g6 17.Qf2
probably safer for Black to keep the queens, Bf8 18.g5 Nb4 19.Kb1 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bc6
but also after [13...Qxc1 14.Raxc1 Nd4 21.Ne2± Nijboer,F-Glek,I/France 2003)
15.Kf2 Rab8 the position remains balanced.] 14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Ne4 Be7 16.g5 dxe4 17.Bxc
14.a4 h6 15.Rf2 Ne7 All black has to do is to 4 Qc7 18.Bb6 Qb8 19.Be2 Nb4 Nijboer,F-
trade a couple of minor pieces to neutralize Stellwagen,D/Leeuwarden 2002] 13...Nb6
White's pressure. 16.Qd2 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 [13...f6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Nd4²; 13...Bb7
14.Rf3 Rc8 15.Rh3 f5 16.exf6 Nxf6 17.Bc5
Rf7 18.Bxb4 Nxb4 19.a3 Nxd3+ 20.Rxd3
Qb6÷ Gallagher,J-Brynell,S/Gausdal 2001]
14.a3!? Very committing move, as Black gets
a chance to break through on the queenside by
b4. [14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Bxc4!? (15.Bc5 Bxc5
16.Nxc5) 15...bxc4 16.Nd4 Ne7! 17.Nb1
(17.g4 f6 18.exf6 Rxf6 19.Nde2 Rb8
20.Ne4!ƒ Cabrilo,G-Bareev,E/Belgrade, 88)
17...Rb8 18.c3 Bc5 19.Nc2 Bxe3+ 20.Qxe3
Qb6 21.Qxb6 Rxb6 22.Nd2 f6 23.Nf3²
Rowson,J-Hoang Thanh Trang/Budapest
1996] 14...Be7 15.Nd4 Qc7 16.Nxc6 Qxc6
It's obvious that a draw agreement will be 17.Bd4!? [Immediate 17.f5 doesn't seem to
signed pretty soon! [‹17.Bxd5?! Nf4 be sufficient for advantage due to 17...f6
18.Bxe6 fxe6³] 17...Nf6 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 (17...b4? 18.axb4 Bxb4 19.Bxb6 Qxb6
19.b3 b6 20.Raf1 Rad8 21.Qc3 [21.f4 exf4 20.f6±) 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Bf5
22.Rxf4 Qe5] 21...Qg6 22.a5 Rb8 23.f4 exf4 Rad8] 17...Nc4 [17...b4!?] 18.Qe2 Rb8
24.Rxf4 Qg5 25.axb6 Not a very exciting Black is ready to push b4, so Anand is forced
game to annotate, but I can understand both to sacrifice on h7. 19.Bxh7+
players who had no motivation and nothing to
fight for in the tournament. 1/2-1/2
[C11] - French Classical
Anand,V (2788)
Morozevich,A (2707)
WCC (13), 13.10.2005
by GM Alex Finkel
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2
- 12 -
[19.Rf3?! g6ƒ] 19...Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
21.Rd3 It's not so clear what rook white 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 Let's make
should've transferred to h3, but it seems that the first stop for some statistics. This position
his attack is sufficient only for a draw in any was rather popular in San Luis with not less
case. [21.Rf3 f5 22.Rh3 Bc5 (22...b4?! than nine games played. All the players
23.axb4 Bxb4 24.Qg6 Rf7 25.Rh7 Qc7 excluding Morozevich had it on the board
26.Qh5 Kf8 27.Rh8+ Ke7 28.Bf2±) while Svidler played it not less than 5(!)
23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.Rg3 Rg8 25.Qg6+ Ke7 times, 4 of them with the black pieces. 8.c3
26.Nxd5+ Qxd5 27.Bxc5+ Qxc5 28.Qg5+ The brave lady accepts the challenge.
Kf7] 21...f5 22.Rh3 Bc5 23.Rff3 By playing Nowadays most of the players are trying to
this move Anand actually accepts a draw. He avoid the sharp and well-explored variation of
could've tried to play on with [23.Qg6!? Rf7 Marshall. This tournament hasn't become an
24.Rh7 Qc7 25.Qh5 Kf8 26.Rh8+ Ke7 exception and only two more games featured
27.Qg5+ Kd7 28.Nxd5 exd5 29.e6+÷ with the Marshall. [White deviated from 8.c3 six
quite messy position.] 23...Bxd4 24.Rfg3 times, three times each 8.h3 scoring 2.5 out of
Rb7 25.Qh7+ Kf7 26.Qxg7+ Ke8 3; and 8.a4 with all three games drawn.]
27.Qxf8+! 8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5
c6 12.d3 A novelty for this tournament.
Usually White makes this move to take
control over the e4-square. In some lines
White sacrifices a piece on e4 and recaptures
by the d-pawn. [In two earlier Marshalls
White played d4, which is the main
alternative to 12. d3. 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4
14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 (15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3
Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5
20.Qf1 Rfe8 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.h3 Bh5
23.Qg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 f5© 1/2-1/2
Polgar,J-Adams,M/San Luis ARG 2005 (37))
15...g5 16.Qf1 Qxf1+ 17.Kxf1 Bf5 18.f3 h6
[27.Qxf8+ Kxf8 28.Rh8+ Kf7 29.Rh7+ Kf8]
19.Nd2 Bxe4 20.fxe4© 1/2-1/2 Anand,V-
1/2-1/2
Svidler,P/San Luis ARG 2005 (39). (38)]
12...Bd6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.g3
[C89] - Spanish Marshal Qh3 16.Nd2 A very uncommon
continuation, which seems to lead to almost a
Polgar,J (2735) forced draw. [16.Bxd5 is the main line. Here
Svidler,P (2738) are a few recent examples: 16...cxd5
WCC (13), 13.10.2005 A) 17.Bf4 was tested several times without
big successes. 17...Bg4 18.Qg2 Bxf4
by GM Victor A1) 19.gxf4 d4 20.Qg3 (20.Qxh3 transposes
Mikhalevski to 19.Qxh3.) 20...Rad8 21.c4 Rd6 22.Re5 f5
23.Nd2 Rg6 24.Kh1 Qh5 25.f3 Bh3 26.Qf2
Bg2+ 27.Qxg2 Rxg2 28.Kxg2 bxc4 29.dxc4
The game was played in the penultimate Qh4-+ 0-1 Kotronias,V-Grischuk,A/Tripoli
round. While Svidler had to win to retain LBA 2004/The Week in Chess 503 (37);
some theoretical chances for the title, Polgar
had a bad tournament and brought up the rear.
A2) 19.Qxh3 19...Bxh3 20.gxf4 d4 21.cxd4
- 13 -
(21.Nd2 dxc3 22.bxc3 Rfd8 23.Re3 Bf5 Aronian. Black needs white king on g2 in
24.Ne4 Rac8 25.a4 g6 26.axb5 axb5 27.h4 order to have a check on f3 after exchange on
Rc6 28.Ra5 Rb6 29.Ra7 h6 30.Kh2 b4 e4. [In case of 18...f5 Black experiences
31.cxb4 Rxb4 32.h5 Rbd4 33.hxg6 1/2-1/2 problems. 19.Qxh3 Bxh3 20.Bd2 After
Bauer,C-Adams,M/Senat FRA 2003.) exchange on g2 neither this move nor
21...Rfd8 22.Re3 Bf5 23.a4 b4 24.Nd2 Rxd4 (20.c4!? possible.) 20...fxe4 21.dxe4 Bc5
25.Ne4 g6 26.Rc1 Rad8 27.Rc4 Rxd3
(21...Be6 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Rxe8 Rxe8
28.Rxd3 Rxd3 29.Rxb4 Bh3 with more than
24.Be3± 1-0 Pariente Lopez,F-Rubio
sufficent compensation for a pawn.
Doblas,R/Malaga 1995.) 22.Be3 Rxe4
Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/Prague CZE 2002.; 23.Bxc5 Rfe8 24.Rxe4 Rxe4 25.Be3! Kf8
B) 17.Be3 The latest fashion in the 12.d3- 26.Re1 and White ends up a pawn for nothing
line. 17...Bxd3 18.Qxd5 Rad8! 19.Qf3 in both cases. 1-0 Kotronias,V-
(19.Qg2 provides a nice square on f5 for the Nakamura,H/Port Erin IOM 2004.] 19.Kxg2
black queen. 19...Qf5 20.Nd2 b4 21.Bd4 f5
bxc3 22.bxc3 h6 23.a4 Rfe8 24.Qc6 1/2-1/2
Grischuk,A-Khalifman,A/Rethymnon GRE
2003.) 19...Qf5 (Black can also play with the
queens: 19...Bc4 20.Nd2 Be6 21.Bd4 h6
22.a3 Bb8 23.Qg2 Qf5 24.f3 Rfe8 25.Ne4
Bd5 26.Re2 Re6 27.Rae1 1/2-1/2 Kasimdzha
nov,R-Adams,M/Linares ESP 2005.) 20.Qxf5
Bxf5 21.Nd2 Rfe8 22.Bd4 f6 23.Nb3 (23.f3
b4 24.Ne4 Bc7 25.Kf2 bxc3 26.bxc3 Rb8
27.Re2 Kf7 28.Rd1 h5 29.Bc5 Kg6 30.Bd4
1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M-Anand,V/Leon ESP
2005/The Week in Chess 553 (30)) 23...Kf7
24.Bb6 Rc8 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Rd1 Bf8
27.Nd4 Be4 28.f3 Bd5 29.a3 Rb8 30.Bc7 20.Bf4 Formally this is a novelty, but in fact
Rb7 31.Bf4 Bc5© 1/2-1/2 Kasimdzhanov,R- the difference is only in the position of the h-
Onischuk,A/Calvia ESP 2004. All these pawn which doesn't seem to matter. [20.h3
games show that a pair of bishops is usually a Bh5 (20...fxe4? is bad in view of 21.hxg4
sufficient compensation for a pawn.] exd3 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Be3! Preparing Rd1.
16...Rae8 17.Ne4 Bg4 23...Re5 24.Bf4! Re6 25.Bxd5 cxd5 26.Bxd6
Rxd6 27.Rd1±) 21.Bf4! Bxf4 22.gxf4 fxe4
23.dxe4 Bf3+! A nice tactical trick, which
allows Black to restore material equality.
24.Kxf3 Rxf4+ 25.Kg3 Rfxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4
27.f3 Re2 28.c4 bxc4 29.Bxc4 Rxb2 30.Bxa6
g5 and Black successfully compensated
White's passed a-pawn by counterplay on the
kingside. 1/2-1/2 Nakamura,H-Aronian,L/
Caleta ENG 2005.;
Now 20.Bd2? would be a blunder in view of

20...fxe4 21.dxe4 Bf3+! That's why
18...Qxg2 was played!] 20...Bxf4 21.gxf4
18.Qg2 Qxg2+! A precise move fxe4 22.dxe4
demonstrated earlier this year by Levon
- 14 -
question where to look for an advantage in the
12.d3-line open.1/2-1/2
[C67]- Spanish Berlin
Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
Topalov,V (2788)
WCC (13), 13.10.2005
Bf3+! Coping Aronian's play in the above- by GM Petar Genov

mentioned game. 23.Kxf3 Rxf4+ 24.Kg3
Rfxe4 25.Rxe4 Rxe4 26.f3 Re5 Only now
Svidler deviates from Aronian's Re2.
Probably he considered the position which 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4
arose in Nakamura-Aronian dangerous for 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+
Black. 27.c4! The only try to play for a win. Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ne7 10.h3 Ng6 11.Be3 Be7
This way White succeeds to destroy Black's 12.Rad1+ Ke8 13.a3 [13.Ne2 h5 14.Rd2 h4
pawn structure on the queenside. [27.a4 Kf8 15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 c5 17.Ng5 Rh5
28.axb5 axb5 29.Ra6 (or 29.h4 Ke7) 29...c5 18.Ne4 Be6 19.Nc3 Rd8 20.Rfd1 Rxd2
with equality in both cases.] 27...bxc4 The 21.Rxd2 Bd8 22.Bh2 Rg5 23.f4 Rg6 24.Kf2
knight can't move in view of a discovered f6 25.Nd5 fxe5 26.fxe5 Rg5 27.b3 c6 28.Ne3
check. 28.Bxc4 a5 29.Rc1! I believe Judit is Bc7 0-1 Negi,P-Karjakin,S/Kirishi RUS
still in her home preparation. White wants to 2005 (47)] 13...h5 [13...Be6 14.Rfe1 h5
exploit weakness of the c6-pawn by means of 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Bc1 Nf8 17.Ne4 c5 18.Ne2
Bb3. 29...Kf8! Unpinning the knight. Bc6 19.Nf4 Ne6 20.Nd5 h4 1/2-1/2
30.Bxd5 Probably too tired of the tournament Parligras,M-Postny,E/Budapest 2004 (20)]
Judit forces a draw. [30.Bb3 Ne7; 14.Rfe1 h4 Blocking white's king's side while
at the same time not allowing Kasim to create
If White wanted to set some problems she had a passed pawn there. It expands the range of
to try to cover the g5-square and take her h- the rook on h8- with focus primarily on the h5
pawn away from the second rank with 30.h4!
square- from which the rook, with the help of
though even in this case White chances for a
the light-squared bishop, could control the
win are not big.] 30...Rg5+!? An interesting
weak squares f5,e6 and d5. 15.Nd4 a6
intermediate move, which forces White to
leave the h-pawn unprotected. [I believe there [15...Nxe5?! 16.Bf4 Falling behind in
was also nothing wrong with 30...cxd5 development in the opening of the game like
31.Rc5 a4 32.Kf2 Rh5 33.Kg3 Re5 with an this would lead to rough consequences for
obvious draw.] 31.Kf4 [Certainly the passive black.] 16.f4 Rh5 17.Ne4 At first site white is
31.Kf2 Rxd5 32.Ke1 Rh5 is fine for Black.] looking good. But what from now on? After
31...Rxd5 32.Rxc6 Rd2 33.Ra6 Rxh2 The Topalov's four prophylactic moves,
point of the intermediate check on the 30th Kazimdzhanov's active possibilities are
move. 34.Rxa5 Rxb2 Now it's a dead draw. exhausted and the game is going into a calm
35.a4 Kf7 36.Kf5 g6+ 37.Ke5 With a and maneuvring phase. 17...Bd7 18.c4 a5
positional threat of Ra7+. So 37...Re2+ [18...c5 Seems to be a natural reaction, but
38.Kf4 h5 39.Ra7+ The game leaves a this move would weaken the d5 square; the
- 15 -
Nd4-e2, and then on to c3, eyeing d5. If black Kg6 31.Rxb7 Rb5 As a result of the forcing
covers that point with c6 they will weaken d6 game white has won a pawn but black could
for the knight on e4. In both cases white is activate the bishop and get an object to attack-
getting a central outpost for one of their the pawn on g2 and white's king.
knights.With the maneuvre a5-a4, Vesko 32.Rb6?! [32.Rxb5 cxb5 33.Re3 This
activates his second rook without allowing endgame is definitely in white's favour with a
any weak points in the center.] 19.c5 a4 pawn advantage, and preparing to react to
20.Rc1 f5 33...Rg5 with 34. g4. Despite this, black could
have saved good chances for a draw because
of the bishops.] 32...Rg5 33.Re2 Rb3 34.Kh2
[34.Rxb3 Bxb3] 34...Re3 At first sight this
looks like a beautiful rook sacrifice in the
style of "mill". Practically this is an
introduction to a quality sacrifice aiming to
use the bad position of the rook on b6. 35.Rd2
21.exf6 The withdrawal of the white knight

looks suspicious because black has the
maneuvre Ng6-f8-e6, and Ra5 with pressure
upon the weak pawn on c5. [21.g4!? hxg3
(21...fxg4 22.e6 Bc8 23.hxg4±) 22.Nxg3
Rxh3 23.Ngxf5 Kf7÷ The position has
mutual chances. White has an extra center
pawn but their king doesn't look good. After [35.Rxe3?! Rxg2+ 36.Kh1 Rg3+ 37.Kh2
opening up the game black's bishops will have Rxe3µ A very difficult position for white.
the final say, especially the light-squared Black has a promising attack against the king
bishop on d7 which doesn't have a black and a passed pawn, while the bishop on d6 is
counterpart.] 21...Bxf6 [21...gxf6?! 22.f5 ineffective.] 35...Reg3! 36.Bxg3 hxg3+
Ne5 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Bf4± With white 37.Kh1 [37.Kg1 Re5 38.Rd1 (38.Kf1?
obviously dominating the forcoming Bc4+-+) 38...Re2 This is a very dangerous
endgame.] 22.f5 [22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Rc4 This position for white, while black is risking
endgame is the other alternative for white nothing.] 37...Rf5 38.Rd1 [38.Kg1 Re5
because they have the better pawn structure. 39.Rd1 Re2] 38...Rf2 39.Rb8 [39.Rg1?! f5
But black could win control of the centre 40.Rb4 f4 41.Rxa4 Kf5-+ Taking in mind the
(squares d5 and f5) as well as a chance for threat 42...f3. White has a losing position.]
pressure on the weak pawn on g2. The bishop 39...f5 40.Rd8 Bxg2+ 41.Kg1 Bd5
from d7 ( already gone to d5) is better than
his colleague on e3 which is decisive in such
positions.] 22...Ne7 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Bf4 In chess, only the attacker wins.
Kf7 25.Bxc7 Nxf5 26.Rc4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Alexander Kotov
Be6 28.Bd6 Ra5 29.Rde4 Bd5 30.Re7+
- 16 -
$160,000). The planned idea for the next
cycle was that the top four players would
have a place in a round of candidate’s
matches. Finishing second would probably
have conferred some advantage to Anand but
now that seems less likely. As it was, Anand
found another important drawing novelty in
the Petroff, and Svidler was forced to concede
the draw. The winner was and is Veselin
Topalov, whose draw against Judit Polgar left
him 1.5 points ahead of the field, with a 2890
42.R8xd5! [42.R1xd5 cxd5 43.Rg8+ rating performance. After many years as a top
(43.Rxd5 f4) 43...Kf6 44.Rxg3 Rxb2µ] player but not one of the absolute best, he has
42...cxd5 43.Rc1 Rxb2 44.c6 Rb8 45.Kg2 f4 completely broken through. His 2004 was a
46.Kf3 Kg5 47.h4+ 47...Kh4 48.Kf4 g2 real success, and he has been by far the
49.Ke5 Kg3 50.Kd5 Kh2 51.c7 Rc8 52.Kc6 dominant figure in chess in 2005. Here's
g1Q 53.Rg1 Kg1 54.Kd7 Rh8 55.c8Q Rc8 hoping that he continues to play this same,
56.Kc8 Kf2 57.Kc7 Ke3 58.Kc6 Kd4 aggressive brand of chess now that he's
59.Kb5 Kd5= leads to a forcing drawish champion. That said, there was nothing
endgame 1/2-1/2 aggressive about his last-round game with
Judit Polgar, but under the circumstances
Standings after round 13: there was no reason to fish: a quick draw
1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2788 9.5; suited both players, and that's just what
2. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 8.0; happened. The mercurial Alexander
3. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738 8.0; Morozevich finished at 50% but only after
4. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707 6.5; escaping the clutches of Michael Adams who
5. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2670 5.5; was still looking for his first victory in the
6. Leko, Peter g HUN 2763 5.5; event. Adams took the initiative with black
7. Adams, Michael g ENG 2719 5.0; and even won a piece but the resulting ending
8. Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735 4.0; was not easy to win, and in the end the game
was drawn giving Morozevich the final
qualification place. The only decisive game of
Round Fourteen – OCT 14th, 2005
the round was Peter Leko's win against
Rustam Kasimdzhanov in a Sicilian Kan.
A nineteen move draw between Peter Svidler
Leko got the initiative all over the board and
and Vishy Anand in the final round left
used it to attack black's king. Kasimdzhanov
Anand in second place, according to the
is a resourceful player and probably kept
tiebreak system used for this championship.
going longer than most would manage but in
Svidler had won less games and so needed a
the end he was a piece for pawn down and
win to capture second place. It was however
resistance was futile. After three intense
not clear how much of an advantage it was to
weeks in Argentina one of the most exciting
finish second, as Svidler qualified for the
world championships in memory comes to an
quarter-finals of the next cycle's elimination
end! In an interview with the Russian
matches and split the second and third place
magazine "64" Topalov's manager Silvio
money with Anand (approximately
Danailov suggested that the idea for the next
- 17 -
cycle with the top four players having a place events produce serious play and a guaranteed
in a round of candidates matches will be cycle is bound to be for the good of the game.
abandoned. Mui accolades to all the contestants for this
superior event!
Group photo of the participants.

Instead, he believes that the world cup and
final chance qualifiers producing four players Topalov -Polgar 1/2
will be added the four top finishers in San Svidler - Anand 1/2
Luis, resulting in the same style of Morozevich - Adams 1/2
tournament in two years time. In addition, Leko - Kasimdzhanov 1-0
Danailov raised the possibility of a unification
match against Vladimir Kramnik, clearing up [E15] - Queen's Indian
all claims for the world championship title in
November 2006. Topalov (and by extension
FIDE) are in a strong position to make this Topalov,V (2788)
happen. Topalov won a credible event, and Polgar,J (2735)
will be the world number one with the WCC (14), 14.10.2005
retirement of Kasparov. Added to which
Kramnik, Topalov and FIDE should all make by GM Alex Finkel
good money. If this match happens then we
will finally be able to move on from the split
of the last decade, but already we are hearing
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
the rumblings of dissent towards this end. The Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5
tournament in San Luis showed that serious
- 18 -
9.Nbd2 By playing this harmless move opposite wing castling. Such setup doesn't
Topalov shows his intentions to settle for a lead to a sharp play automatically. Since the
draw as soon as possible. Of course he finds a center is wide open it's quite difficult to avoid
full understanding by his opponent! exchanges which decrease an attacking
[9.Ne5 0-0 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Nd2 Na6 12.e4 potential of both sides. 10...Re8
Rc8 13.Re1 Rc7 14.Nd3 dxe4 15.Nxe4 c5
Topalov,V-Leko,P/San Luis ARG 2005]
9...Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 Bb7 12.e4 dxe4
13.Ne5 c5
This move appears to be a novelty. Black's

tried many different moves in this position:
[10...Be6 11.Qe1 (11.Nd4 Nc4 12.Bxc4
From now on each move leads to trade of the Bxc4 13.h4 Qd7 14.b3 Ba6 15.g4 Rfe8
pieces until they succeed to eliminate nearly 16.Nf5 Bf6÷ Tseshkovsky,V-Motylev,A/
all of them and agree upon a draw! [13...Qc7 Moscow 2005) 11...Nxf3 12.gxf3 Bf6
14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Nxe4 Rad8 16.Qc2 Qc7 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Rg1 c5 15.Qd2ƒ Delgado,N-
17.Rad1 Rd7 18.Ng5 h6 19.Nf3 c5 Van Sega,C/Dos Hermanas 2004;
Esch,S-Rind,B/Dieren 1991] 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 10...a6 11.Be2 Be6 12.Nd4 Nc4 13.Qd3
15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Nxe5 [16...Bf6 Nxe3 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qxe3 e5 16.Bd3 c6
17.Ng4 Qe7 18.Ne3 Rfd8 19.Qc2 cxd4 17.h4ƒ Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo
20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Ne5 Hawelko,M- 2005;
Dejkalo,S/Lubniewice 1981] 17.dxe5 Qxd1+ 10...Bf6 11.Nd4 Nc6 12.h3 Nxd4 13.cxd4
18.Rxd1 Rfd8 1/2-1/2 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Re8 16.Rhe1
Qd7 17.g4 g6 18.g5 Bg7 19.h4 Qg4 20.Rh1
[C42] - Petroff Qe4 21.Qf1 c5 22.dxc5 dxc5 23.Qd3
1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A-Bacrot,E/Dortmund, 05]
Svidler,P (2738) 11.Nd4 a6 Appearently intending to play c5
Anand,V (2788) on the next move. [11...c5 12.Nf3
WCC (14), 14.10.2005 (12.Nb5?! Be6 13.Nxd6 Bxd6 14.Qxd6
by GM Alex Finkel Qa5µ) 12...Nxf3 13.gxf3 Be6 14.Rg1 Qa5
15.a3 d5 16.Bg5 Kh8÷] 12.f4 Ng4 13.Bd3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 It's true that white doesn't really need his
5.Nc3!? Svidler failed to get an opening bishop for the future play on the kingside, but
advantage in the main lines facing Adams and may be he should've played [13.Bg1!?
Morozevich in the previous rounds, so he anyway, keeping more pieces on the board.]
decides to opt for quite a fashionable side- 13...d5 14.Rhe1 Bh4!? Initiating some trades
line. 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 over an e-file. 15.g3 Nxe3 16.Rxe3 Rxe3
0-0 9.0-0-0 Ne5 10.Kb1 A well-known 17.Qxe3 Bf6 18.Nf3 Qe7 19.Qxe7 After a
opening position of the Petroff defense with long struggle within Svidler didn't manage to
- 19 -
convince himself to play on, so he offered a with counterplay in the centre. 16.axb5 axb5
draw which secured Anand a second place in 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.h3 [White should have try to
the tournament. 1/2-1/2 prevent c5-c4 by 18.Qe2 ] 18...c4 19.dxc4
[¹19.Bc2 cxd3 20.Qxd3] 19...bxc4 20.Bc2
[C77] - Spanish Be6
Morozevich,A (2707)
Adams,M (2719)
WCC (14), 14.10.2005
by GM Viktor
Gavrikov
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6

5.d3 White wants to avoid theoretical
discussion in main lines and chooses a quiet
way of development. 5...d6 6.c3 g6 The In result of White's wrong strategy his knight
logical reply because on g7 black bishop can on a5 is out of play and Black is ready for the
be more active. 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Bg5 advance of d-pawn.. 21.Nd2? [White fails to
[After 9.Nbd2 Black can react with 9...Nd7!? find a correct continuation 21.Be3! (/\ Ng5)
(or 9...b5 10.Bc2 Bb7 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Ng3 21...h6 22.Qd2 Kh7 23.Red1 Nc8
Nb8 13.a4 Nbd7 0-1 Sawatzki,F-Klinger,J/ (23...Rfd8?! 24.b5) 24.Ra3! (/\ Nxc4)
Dortmund 1987/TD (40)) 10.Nf1 Nc5
A) 24...d5? 25.exd5 Bxd5 (25...Nxd5
11.Bc2 Ne6 12.Ng3 (12.Ne3 Kh8 /\f5)
12...Qf6 13.h3 Nf4 14.d4 h5 1/2-1/2 26.Bc5) 26.Nxe5! Qxe5 27.Bd4;
Kholmov,R-Kortschnoj,V/Yerevan B) 24...Rb8 25.Qe2 Ne7 26.Nd2 Rfc8 27.f4
1962/URS-ch (31)] 9...b5 [An alternative is which allowed to neutralize the positional
9...h6 10.Bh4 Bd7 11.Nbd2 Qe8 12.Nf1 threat d6-d5.] 21...Nfd7 [Stronger was the
Nh5 e.g. 13.Ne3 Nf4 14.Bg3 b5?! (better is immediate 21...d5! ] 22.Nb1 Planning
14...Nh5 ; or 14...Ne6 ) 15.Bb3 Ne7 16.d4² Na3-b5. 22...Bf6?! [22...d5!] 23.Be3 d5
1-0 Smyslov,V-Ingbrandt,J/Stockholm 1996/ 24.Na3 Rac8? [24...Bg7!] 25.Qf3? [Missing
CBM 057 ext (26)] 10.Bc2 Bb7 11.Nbd2 a chance to punish Black for his mistake by
Nb8 The manoeuvre Nb8-d7 is typical for 25.Re2! with the idea Rd2.]
such positions. [Also possible is 11...Qd7 25...Bg7 26.Rad1 f5! 27.Nb5? The knight is
12.Nf1 Rfe8 13.Ne3 Nd8!? 14.Nd2 Ne6 hanging here. [Necessary was 27.exf5 (not
15.Bh4 h6 16.a4 c6 17.Nb3 1/2-1/2 27.exd5?! e4) 27...Bxf5 28.Bxf5 Rxf5
Palac,M-Rogic,D/Pula 2000/CBM 075 (17)] 29.Qe2 with playable position.] 27...Qb8
12.a4 Nbd7 13.b4?! The beginning of 28.exf5 Bxf5 29.Bxf5 Rxf5 30.Qe2
dubious plan. [However even after the best
13.d4 h6 14.Bh4 c5 Black has no any
problems.] 13...c5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Na5 Modern chess is too much concerned with
[Perhaps was preferable to exchange the things like pawn structure. Forget it -
rooks on a-file - 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Rxa8 checkmate ends the game.
and only then play 17.Na5 Bc8 18.Bb3 Nb6 Nigel Short
19.Qe2] 15...Bc8 Black simply relocates his
bishop to another diagonal and will soon start
- 20 -
[B42] - Sicilian Kan
Leko,P (2763)
Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
WCC (14), 14.10.2005
by IM Roussel-Roozmon
Thomas
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 The

30...d4! 31.cxd4!? [White decided to sacrifice Kan Sicilian, a slightly surprising opening
a piece for 2 pawns because in case of choice from the Uzbek GM since he had been
31.Bd2 unpleasant is 31...Na4! (31...Nd5 cheering for the Najdorf all tournament long
32.Nxd4 exd4 33.Qe6+ Kh8 34.Qxd7 dxc3 (5 games with black!). 5.Bd3 The main line
35.Bc1 Nxb4 36.Nxc4) 32.Na3 A) but not and the most critical move. [5.Nc3 b5!?
32...dxc3?! 33.Be3 …Qxb4? 34.Rxd7 Qxa5 6.Bd3 Qb6÷ is the other sharp variation.]
35.Ra7! Qb4 36.Nc2 Qb5 37.Nd4! exd4 5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 [6...Be7 leading to
38.Rxg7+ Kxg7 39.Bxd4+ Re5 (39...Kh6 Hedgehog type of position is also very
40.Qe3+ Rg5 41.h4) 40.Bxe5+ Kg8 41.Bd4 popular.] 7.Qe2 The logical follow-up. White
Qd5 42.Qe7 Qxd4 43.Qe6+ Kg7 44.Qxc8 is intending to play a quick Be3 in order to
c2 45.Re7+ Kh6 46.Qf8+ Kg5 47.h4+ Kxh4 neutralize the black bishop on a7 and
48.Qh6+ Kg4 49.Re4+ Qxe4 50.f3+; therefore to be able to play f4 and 0-0 after.
B) 32...Nb2! 33.Rb1 dxc3 34.Bxc3 Nd3 7...Nc6 8.Be3 d6 9.f4 [9.Nc3 is more
35.Rf1 Nf4 36.Qd1 Qa8 37.f3 Nb6µ popular, in order to keep open the option of
(/\ Rg5)] 31...Nd5 32.Nxc4 Qxb5 33.Nd6 queenside castling. 9...Nge7 10.0-0-0 b5
Qxe2 34.Rxe2 Nc3 35.Nxc8 White retains 11.f4 b4 12.Na4 0-0÷ E.Shaposhnikov-
good drawing chances due to the reduced A.Iljin/ch-RUS Semi-Final, Kazan 2005]
number of pawns. 35...Rf8 [Probably better 9...Qc7 That appears to be a novelty, though
was 35...Nxe2+ 36.Kf1 Nc3 although is not not a very significant one; 9...Nf6 or
easy to realize Black's extra piece after 9...Nge7 are the normal moves. [9...Nf6
37.Rd3! (37.Rc1? Nd5-+; 37.Ne7+? Kf7 10.Bxa7 Rxa7 11.c4 0-0 12.Nc3 b6 13.0-0
38.Nxf5 Nxd1 39.Nxg7 Nxe3+ 40.fxe3 Nd7 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.Bb1 Rd7 S.Karjakin-
Kxg7-+) 37...Nd5 38.dxe5 Nxe3+ 39.Rxe3 S.Rublevsky/Mainz Ordix rpd 2004] 10.0-0
Rxe5 40.Rxe5 Bxe5 41.Ke2] 36.dxe5 Nxd1 Nf6 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Nc3 b5 13.a4! A deep
37.Ne7+ Kf7 38.Nc6 Nxe5 39.Nxe5+ Bxe5 and very good move. Leko is fixing the
40.Bc5 Re8 41.Kf1 Nb2 [41...Nc3?! queenside structure before regrouping his
42.Rxe5! Rxe5 43.Bd4] 42.f4 Bc3 43.Rxe8 pieces to start an attack on the other wing.
Kxe8 44.Ke2 Kd7 45.Ke3 Na4 46.Ke4! 13...b4 14.Nd1 This knight is heading to g4
Nxc5+ 47.bxc5 Now for save the game is in order to be traded for his counterpart on f6.
enough to exchange Black's g-pawn. 47...Kc6 14...a5 15.Ne3 0-0 16.Kh1 Bb7 17.Ng4!ƒ
[Or 47...Ke6 48.g4 Bd2 49.f5+ Kf6 50.fxg6
hxg6 51.h4] 48.h4 Kxc5 49.f5 Kd6 50.fxg6 ___________________________________
hxg6 51.h5 gxh5 52.g4 hxg4 [52...h4
53.Kf3] 53.Kf4 g3 54.Kxg3 1/2-1/2 Bishops for attack, knights for defense.
Source Unknown
- 21 -
play as black, but for the moment he is
restricted to passive defence. 26.f6±
White is starting some concrete actions on the

kingside. First of all, Leko trades the main
black defender in that area, the Nf6.
17...Nxg4 [17...Nd7!? in order to keep the Now that guy is really a pain in the ass for the
knights on board was also to be considered, black king. 26...Qf8 As if it was not enough,
but after 18.f5!‚ white's attack looks very the black queen is now paralyzed on f8 in
dangerous, with the pawn-ram soon going to order to prevent mating threats on g7. 27.Qf4
f6, and the black king is starting to feel h6?! A somewhat weakening move played
slightly uncomfortable.] 18.Qxg4 Raa8 without being forced to. Maybe black should
19.Rae1! This rook is about to join the attack just try to improve his pieces, put some
via the 3rd rank. 19...Qe7 20.Re3 [20.e5!? pressure on the c-file and wait to see what
was also interesting, but black could probably white's plan is. Of course that is all very easy
neutralize white's initiative with 20...dxe5 to say. But still, as long as the black queen
21.fxe5 Ba6! trading the dangerous Bd3.] stands f8, it doesn't seem so simple for white
20...g6 21.Qg3 Rfe8 22.Bb5 A very good to finish it off on the kingside. And if white
square for the white bishop. From there it puts goes for Rh3 followed by Qh4, then it will
some pressure on black's queenside while always be time to play h6, but with white
keeping the a4-pawn protected. 22...Rac8 having lost a few tempos in order to provoke
23.c3! Once again very good prophylactics it. [27...Ne5!? might have been a better
move from Leko. He is placing his weak c- defensive try. 28.Rh3 (28.c4!? intending c4-
pawn on the 3rd rank so that it is strongly c5 to force the knight away from e5 is also
protected by his rook and queen. It is interesting) 28...Rdc8 29.Qh4 h6! 30.Qf4
interesting to note the accurate defensive and white had to spend two extra tempos with
pawn moves (13.a4! and 23.c3!) that Leko his queen in order to force the same
played on the queenside, making sure his weakening as in the game.] 28.Rh3 g5
opponent would not have any counterplay, [Forced, since if black tries to protect the
before starting his attack on the kingside. pawn with 28...Kh7 then white goes 29.Qg5!
23...Red8 24.f5!‚ With this move white is threatening a deadly rook lift Rf1-f4-h4.
clearly taking over the initiative. The arrival After the subsequent only move 29...e5 white
of this pawn on f6 is definitely some bad can proceed with the execution: 30.Rh4!
news for the Uzbek GM. 24...bxc3 25.bxc3 followed by Rf3-h3 and black can resign (any
[25.Rxc3 was the other option, but white's ...Bc8 try will simply be met by g4).] 29.Qe3
plan is clearly to keep a pawn on c3 in order Ne5 30.Rh5! We can now see the
to control the critical b4-d4 squares and to consequences of black's inaccuracy on move
block the c-file from an eventual black rook 27 ; with the newly weakened black kingside,
invasion.] 25...Ra8 Not a very joyful move to white is able to create strong threats very
- 22 -
quickly. For now 31.h4 and 31.Qh3 are the Looked more to the point, considering that
most serious ones. 30...Ng6 31.Qh3! The e4- black could have taken that pawn two moves
pawn is not of any significance, white is just later. Following: 35...d5 36.Rxg5 dxc4
focusing on his mating attack. 31...Bxe4 37.Rxc5 Qxc5 38.Nxc4 Rd4 39.Qh6 Qf8
32.Nd2 Bc2 [32...Bf5 wouldn't help black, 40.Qc1 Bb3 41.Nb6± white is still enjoying
since after 33.g4! (white is not afraid of an extra pawn and a strong initiative thanks to
weakening his position, as black is nowhere his powerful f6-gem.] 35...g4 The only move,
near creating any threats on his king) otherwise the bishop was lost. [35...Bf5
33...Bc2 34.Rxh6 Nh4 35.Rh5+- the g5- 36.g4+-] 36.Qxg4
pawn falls next and black is completely lost.]
33.Rxh6 Rac8! That rook is going to c5 in
order to defend the crucial 5th rank. [Black
could try to take advantage of the awkward
placement of white's rook on h6 by playing
33...g4!? but that wouldn't change much of
the result as after 34.Qe3 Rdc8 35.Nc4!
(threatening Nb6) 35...Rc7 36.Rc1 Bf5
37.Rh5! (threatening Nxd6 followed by Qh6
with forced mate) 37...Rd8 38.Nxa5+- white
is winning.] 34.Rh5 [34.Be2!? is a very
interesting move, intending to play Rh7-g7,
since with the bishop on e2 there's no g5-g4
36...Bf5? The decisive mistake. [Black could
problem after the rook moves to h7. 34...Nh4
still fight on after the courageous 36...Rxc3!
The only plausible defence, otherwise black
37.Qd4 Rcc8 38.Ba6 Rc5! amazingly these
would just have to give up his queen in order
strange rook moves are just enough to save
to avoid mate. A) The exchange sacrifice black from disaster (the rook goes to c5 once
35.Rxh4!? is interesting, but most likely not the a4-pawn isn't protected anymore).
enough. 35...gxh4 36.Qxh4 (36.Rf4? Qh6!-+ 39.Rxc5 dxc5 40.Qe3 Bxa4 41.Ne4 Bc6
(followed by ...Kf8 and black wins)) 42.Nxc5 Qd6÷ and black is right back in the
36...Rxc3 37.Qg5+ Kh8 (37...Bg6?! game.] 37.Qg3+- Now that the c3-pawn is
38.Ne4! Rc7 39.Bh5!ƒ) 38.Rf4!? (38.Qh5+ strongly protected, white is just enjoying an
forces a draw.) 38...Bh7 39.Qh5!? extra pawn and a huge positional advantage.
(threatening Rh4) 39...Rc5 The only defence, From now on it is just a matter of technique,
but it is enough for black to survive. 40.Qh3! which won't be a problem for the Hungarian
White still has some pressure, coming with GM. 37...d5 [37...Rdc8 38.Nb3+-] 38.Nb3
Rh4 and Bd3. 40...Qg8 41.Bd3 Rc1+ 42.Nf1 Rcc8 39.Nd4 [39.Nxa5+- was also an easy
Rd1! 43.Rh4 Rxd3! 44.Qxd3 d5÷ and the win.] 39...Be4 40.Nc6 Winning an exchange
position is anything but clear.; B) 35.Rh5! and clearly enough to clinch the game, but
The simplest. 35...Rc5 36.Qg4! Bf5 white could have forced mate with some fritz-
(36...Ng6 37.Rh3!+- (followed by Qh5 and accuracy ! [40.Rf1!!+- would have won much
white wins)) 37.Qg3! Ng6 38.Nb3! Re5 more elegantly; white is intending Rh3,
39.Nd4 Be4 40.Rxg5 Qh6! 41.Rxe5 dxe5 followed by a queen transfer to h5 and then
42.Nb3 Qh4 and black is getting some mate on h7. Strangely enough, Black seems to
counterplay, although white should still be be completely helpless against this rather
somehow winning because of his extra pawns slow but powerful threat. The point of playing
on the queenside.] 34...Rc5 35.Rc1 [35.c4!?± Rf1 before Rh3 is to keep control over the f4-
- 23 -
square and thus to prevent black from Final (round 14) Standings:
defending with the Qd6-f4 manoeuver.] 1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2788 10.5;
40...Rxc6 A desperate exchange sacrifice. 2. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 8.5;
[40...Rd7 wouldn't help much, though. 3. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738 8.5;
41.Ne5! Rdc7 42.Nd7! Qa3 43.Qg5 Qxc1+ 4. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707 7.0;
44.Qxc1 Rxc3 45.Qg1 Rc1 46.Bf1 R8c2 5. Leko, Peter g HUN 2763 6.5;
(46...Rb1 47.h3! Rcc1 48.Kh2 Rxf1
49.Qa7+-) 47.Rg5! Rb2 48.h3! Rbb1 6. Adams, Michael g ENG 2719 5.5;
49.Kh2 Rxf1 50.Rxg6+! Bxg6 51.Qc5+-] 7. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2670 5.5;
41.Bxc6 Qd6 42.Qg5! Threatening 43.Qh6; 8. Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735 4.5;
so white is forcing a queen swap under good
conditions for him. 42...Qf4 43.Qxf4 Nxf4 (Frank Kolasinski is
44.Rg5+ Kh7 45.Bb5 the author of the
weekly chess column
The endgame an exchange down is "Chess Madness",
completely hopeless for black. a regularly featured
45...Kh6 46.h4 Nxg2? Kasim has seen column in the Athol
enough, and he decides to give up his knight Daily News for the
before going back home. [46...Rc8 would past thirty
allow black to fight a few more moves, but years, promoting
after 47.c4!+- the opening of lines will soon chess coverage in
tell with white enjoying an extra exchange.] the US and world
arena. He is
47.Rxg2 Rg8 48.Rcc2
currently the vice president of the Western
Massachusetts Chess Association.)
A very impressive display of technique and
accuracy from the Peter Leko. His opponent
didn't make any obvious mistakes in the
middlegame, but Leko just slowly improved
his advantage with accurate positional moves
and converted convincingly without allowing "Chess is a foolish expedient for making idle
any counterplay. 1-0 people believe they are doing something very
clever, when they are only wasting their time"
George Bernard Shaw
“From my close contact with artists and chess

"Because of the level of my chess game, I was players I have come to the personal
able - even against a weak opponent, such as conclusion that while all artists are not chess
my younger brothers or the dog - to get players, all chess players are artists.”
myself checkmated in under three minutes. I Marcel Duchamp, Cazenovia, 1952
challenge any computer to do it faster."
Dave Barry
(American Writer and Humorist best known Good positions don't win games,
for his weekly newspaper column. b.1947) good moves do.
Gerald Abrahams
- 24 -
Tactical Corner
by GM Alex Finkel
I
n this edition of ''Tactical Corner'' I'd like Anand,V (2788) - Adams,M (2719)
to bring to your attention a collection of [C92] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (3),
the most interesting tactical ideas of the 30.09.2005
World Championship (some of them occurred
in the games, and some of them could have
been played...) . Enjoy the show! We'll start
with the game Anand-Polgar from round one.
Polgar,J (2735) - Anand,V (2788)

[B17] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (1),
28.09.2005
White to move…
This game is just a great example of an

attacking chess. 23.Nxh6+!! Eliminating an
only defender of the king. 23...Bxh6
24.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 25.Kh2 Nxe1 [After
25...Bxe4 White gets a winning position quite
easily. 26.Be3 Nxe1 27.Bxf2 Nxf3+ 28.gxf3
Black to move… Bxb1 29.Bd4 Re5 30.f4+-] 26.Nh4!!
Intending to sacrifice the knight on g6. Black
It's more than obvious that Black's attack is is a rook up, but his king is far too weak to
very dangerous; however immediate handle White's attack. 26...Ned3?! [In case of
34...Qa2+ runs into 35.Kb1 Qa1+ 36.Bb1 26...Bxe4 White wins by immediate sacrifice
and white holds on. That's why 34...Nc3+! on g6. 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.Nxg6 fxg6
Exposing white king. 35.bxc3 Bxc3 36.Kc1 29.Rxg6+ Kf7 30.Rg7+ Ke8 31.Qh5++-;
This move is forced as Black was threatening More persistent was 26...Ra7!? ,but it's hardly
to deliver a mate on a1. 36...Qa3+?! [More enough to save the game: 27.Nf5! (27.exd5
accurate was 36...b2+! 37.Kc2 Qa2 winning Nbd3 28.Nxg6 Qxg3+ 29.Kxg3 fxg6÷)
on the spot as …38.Rb1 allows Black to delive 27...Qxg3+ 28.Kxg3 gxf5 29.Qf6 Re6
nice mate by 38...Qb3#] 37.Kd1 Qa1+ 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.exf5 Ree7 32.Bh6+ Kh7
38.Bc1 b2 39.Qe3 Bxd4 40.Qd2 bxc1Q+ 33.f6+ Re4 34.Qf8+-] 27.Nxg6 Qxg3+
41.Qxc1 Qa2 0-1 Otherwise Black is getting mated. 28.Kxg3
fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kf8 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Bh6
An only way to protect g7 is by playing
31...Ra7, but then just 32.Qg6+ winning a
rook on e8. 1-0
- 25 -
Svidler,P (2738) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2670) 18.h3! An excellent move, which was
[B90] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (9), probably underestimated by Uzbek
08.10.2005 grandmaster. 18...Nf6? [The point of 18.h3 is
best illustrated after 18...Rxb6 19.hxg4 Bxg4
(19...Bg7 20.f5+-) 20.Qf2 and Black can't
avoid material losses as his rook on b6 and
the bishop on h6 are hanging. 20...Rb8
21.Nxc4+-; 18...Nh2] 19.Bc5 exf4 20.gxf4
Rc8 21.Bxd6+- and Anand easily won this
position.
Anand,V (2788) - Morozevich,A (2707)

[C11] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (13),
13.10.2005
Black to move…
In my opinion this is the most beautiful
tactical idea of the championship! Black
manages to save the game by sacrificing rook
and a minor piece in the endgame. 29...fxe6!
30.Nxb5 Nxc7 31.Nxc7 Rf2!! 32.Nxa8
Na4! 33.Rd3 [An attempt to play for a win
by 33.Be4 would eventually lead to an equal
endgame after 33...dxe4 34.Rd8+ Kf7 35.Rc8
Rxb2+ 36.Kc1 Ra2 37.Re1 Ra1+ 38.Kd2 b2
39.Rb8 e3+! with a draw after 40.Rxe3 b1Q
41.Rxb1 Rxb1; White to move…
33.Rd3 Rxb2+ 34.Ka1 Ra2+ 35.Kb1 Rb2+
36.Ka1 (36.Kc1 Rc2+ 37.Kd1? Nb2+-+)] White sacrificed a bishop on h7 earlier on in
1/2-1/2 this game, but it looks like Black managed to
surpress White's attack. So Anand forces an
Anand,V (2788) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2670) elegant draw with the following queen
[B90] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (11), sacrifice. 24.Qh7+ Kf7 25.Qxg7+
10.10.2005 [25.Rxg7+? Ke8 26.Qg6+ Rbf7-+] 25...Ke8
26.Qxf8+! And a draw was agreed since
Black can't escape perpetual. [26.Qxf8+
Kxf8 27.Rh8+ Kf7 (27...Ke7 28.Rg7#)
28.Rh7+] 1/2-1/2
Chess is a sport. The main object in the

game of chess remains the achievement
of victory.
Max Euwe
White to move...
- 26 -
Leko,P (2763) - Topalov,V (2788)
[B90] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (1),
28.09.2005
White to move…
28.Kxg3? [28.Ne5 - is continuation which

was played by Judith in the game, which
Black to move… ended up in a draw shortly afterwards.]
28...Rg6+ 29.Ng5 h6 30.Kh4 Bringing the
18...Qc7 This is a famous position from the king to h3 is an only way not to lose a piece.
game which proved to have a huge impact on 30...Bd1 31.Nh7 Kxh7 32.Rxf8 Rg2µ and
the identity of the future winner of the Black has a very dangerous initiative due to
competition! Indeed had Leko played the position of white king on h4.
19.Nb6! things could have developed
differently for both players! [19.Nf5?! - was Kasimdzhanov,R (2670) - Polgar,J (2735)
played in the game...] 19...Rb8 [The most [B85] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (10),
beautiful line arises after 19...Qxb6? 09.10.2005
20.Nxe6!! Qxe6 (20...Qxf2 21.Nc7#)
21.Qa7!+- and Black is helpless against
numerous threats.] 20.Nf5 Threatening to
play 20.Rd7 20...Bc6 [20...g5 21.Qd4 Rg8
22.Nd7+-] 21.Qd4 Rg8 22.Nc4+-
Polgar,J (2735) - Adams,M (2719)

[C89] WCh-FIDE San Luis ARG (9),
08.10.2005
The following position emerged out of a well- White to move…

known variation of Marshall counter attack.
At this point Judith could take on g3, trying to White's attack is very dangerous, but his next
keep an extra pawn, but of course she didn't move, bringing the knight into play, is
fall for this simple (but a very nice!) trap. virtually a killer! 27.Nd4! Rf7 [27...exd4
28.Rxe7 Bxe7 29.Qxd4+ Bf6 30.gxf6 Rg8+
31.Rg3+-] 28.Qh4! b5 [28...exd4 29.Bxd4+
Kg8 30.g6+-] 29.Nxf5!+- and White went
on to win the game.
- 27 -
WCN - Predict A Move Three winners will be chosen by random
draw to each win one year of GOLD
membership at WCN.
Please email us your answers by November

10th 2005.
http://worldchessnetwork.com
White to play…
Pay attention to the position of a Black

king! Good luck guys!
When you play Bobby, it is not a question
Email us the correct move at if you win or lose. It is a question
chesschronicle@gmail.com if you survive.
Boris Spassky
Deaths of Chess Players by Bill Wall
• Boris Kostic (1887-1963) - blood poisoning from a scratch

• Nikolai Krylenko - executed in Stalin's purges in 1938.
• Leonid Kubbel (1891-1942) - executed by firing squad in Leningrad
• Salo Landau (1903-1944) - gassed by Nazis at a German concentration camp
• Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) - heart attack
• Paul Leonhardt (1877-1934) - died of a heart attack while playing chess at a chess club in
1934.
• George Mackenzie (1837-1891) - suicide: took an overdose of morphine
• Frank Marshall (1877-1944) - died of a heart attack after leaving a chess tournament
• Alexander McDonnell (1798-1835) - died of Bright's disease
• Edmar Mednis (1937-2002) - pneumonia and cardiac arrest
• Vera Menchik (1906-1944) - died in the German bombing of London
• Tony Miles (1955-2001) - died in his sleep at age 46; he was diabetic
• Johannes Minckwitz (1843-1901) - suicide: threw himself under a train
• Paul Morphy (1837-1884) - died of a stroke while taking a cold bath
• Miguel Najdorf (1910-1997) - heart attack
Special Thanks to Bill Wall: http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/death.htm
- 28 -
Chess Memorabilia Revisited
by Lawrence Totaro
Featured Item of the Month: Signed and inscribed
photo of Alexander Alekhine
From the private collection of Guy
Gignac comes Alekhine portrayed
apparently studying a chessboard,
resting his temple on the fingertips of
his right hand. He wears a dark suit,
lighter vest with a white shirt and
broad tie. Here is the description:
Signed in pencil Willi Pollak. From

studio W. Pollak. Ref: Chess Pie No.
3 page 18 Inscribed in black fountain
pen on the matte bottom in a
dramatic but clear hand, in French A
L. Piazzini en meilleur souvenir de
nos rencontres fortuites avec mes
voeux de complète réussite dans tous
les domaines de l’activité humaine. English translation: “To L. Piazzini as a memento of our
Signé, Très Sincèrement, A. Alekhine fortuitous meetings and with my wishes for complete
B.Aires 30/III 1938 . success in all area of human activity. Signed, Very
Sincerely, A. Alekhine B. Aires 30/III 1938.”
As you have seen on many websites, this is a famous and

well known portrait of Alekhine. There are only a handful of
Alekhine autographs but signed photos are very rare.
This photograph is posted on my Ultimate chess collecting
site with an interesting interview of Alekhine from 1938.
Listen to Alekhine and enjoy a very rare photo from a great
collector!
“This photograph was taken soon after Alekhine recaptured

the title of World Chess Champion in 1937. The size is
about 11” X 14” (photo 8” X 10”). The signature is slightly
smudged but otherwise in quite good condition.”
-Guy Gignac
- 29 -
Nottingham 1936 AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO
Nottingham 1936 AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO, Signed by all the participants. One of the greatest
signed tournament photos in the history of chess. I know many readers have seen the front but I’ll
bet many of you have never seen the back! This item is from Kenneth Rodgers. The following
scans were taken by the owner.
- 30 -
Here’s the magic one!
Look at those beautiful

autographs. Amazing!
We have 5 world chess
champions and many
more. An item like this
to have in any
collection is a real treat.
As a tradition with all
chess tournaments, the
players used to sign a
photograph, a postcard
and a book. The
following book is from
Andy Ansel pertaining
to the same event. At
the present moment, I
haven’t located the
signed postcard but I
am sure a private
collector has it. Here is
an autograph quiz:
three players did not
sign the following
book. Can you guess
who?
- 31 -
Last but not least…
USSR vs The Rest of the World signed postcard 1970
This was probably was one of the strongest tournaments ever held. It was the first of three
USSR vs. The Rest of the World matches. Held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in March and April
1970, grandmasters from around the world came together to challenge the supreme Soviet
domination. Since the Soviet Union joined the FIDE Olympiads in 1952, they won every one
of these biennial team tournaments. Max Euwe, former president of FIDE, suggested that a
team made-up of non-Soviets would provide a stronger challenge. In 1970, The Soviet Chess
Federation agreed to put a team up against the world's best.
The USSR wins only by a point to a final score of 20 1/2 to 19 1/2. The following photograph
I do not own but a great appreciation is given to the photographer.
- 32 -
The only substitutes were: Stein for Spassky and Olafsson for Reshevsky.
The match highlight was for the final overall result in which Portisch giving a draw to a totally lost
Korchnoi. Bobby Fischer had something to say about it at the time, but it is unknown what was said.
2nd reserves: Bronstein for the USSR and Darga (W.Germany) for The Rest of the World
______________________________________________________
This postcard is in my
collection.
Here is the translation:
“The 20 of the world’s best

players have come together
to join Rodolfo Pitchkov and
his wife to see Russia versus
the rest of the world.”
Your especially,
Miguel Najdorf
- 33 -
How come Bobby Fischer didn’t sign it?? I personally believe that Bobby couldn’t have
Good question. Some people have reason to signed it. He showed up late to the
believe that Bobby didn’t want to sign it tournament and was unaware that a postcard
because of the relationship between USA and was being autographed.
Russia.
The following is a scan from Alan Benson. It is a

facsimile copy of the autographs on the inside
cover of the book by Yudavich Moscow 1971:
USSR vs. ROTW, Yudavich, Moscow

1971
Thanks to our contributors:

Copyright © Chess Chronicle
GM Vassily Ivanchuk
All rights reserved. No part of this
GM Larry Christiansen-GM Karsten Mueller
publication may be reproduced or
GM Alex Finkel-GM Alexander Sulypa
transmitted in any form, by any means
GM Viktor Gavrikov-GM Mikhail Kozakov
(electronic, photocopying, recording, or
GM Victor Mikhalevski-GM Petar Genov
otherwise) without the prior written
IM Dejan Bojkov, IM Misa Pap
permission of “Chess Chronicle” For
IM Thomas Roussel-Roozmon,
authorization to reproduce for corporate,
IM Miodrag Perunovic - FM Dragan Drasko
personal, or educational use, please contact
NM Goran Urosevic – Frank Kolasinski
chesschronicle@gmail.com
Lev Khariton & James F. Holwell
- 34 -

Chess Magazine Chess Chro

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Chess Magazine Chess Chro

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chess Magazine Chess Chro

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Semi-Monthly Online E-Zine WCC-Special (03rd NOV) – Vol.

38...Rb8! As some compensation for the

[C11] - French Classical

Now 20.Bd2? would be a blunder in view of

[C67]- Spanish Berlin

Bf3+! Coping Aronian's play in the above- by GM Petar Genov

21.exf6 The withdrawal of the white knight

Group photo of the participants.

This move appears to be a novelty. Black's

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 The

White is starting some concrete actions on the

“From my close contact with artists and chess

Polgar,J (2735) - Anand,V (2788)

This game is just a great example of an

Anand,V (2788) - Morozevich,A (2707)

Chess is a sport. The main object in the

28.Kxg3? [28.Ne5 - is continuation which

Polgar,J (2735) - Adams,M (2719)

The following position emerged out of a well- White to move…

Please email us your answers by November

Pay attention to the position of a Black

Deaths of Chess Players by Bill Wall

• Boris Kostic (1887-1963) - blood poisoning from a scratch

Special Thanks to Bill Wall: http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/death.htm

Signed in pencil Willi Pollak. From

As you have seen on many websites, this is a famous and

“This photograph was taken soon after Alekhine recaptured

Look at those beautiful

USSR vs The Rest of the World signed postcard 1970

Here is the translation:

“The 20 of the world’s best

The following is a scan from Alan Benson. It is a

USSR vs. ROTW, Yudavich, Moscow

Thanks to our contributors:

You might also like