San Luis R10: Kasimdzhanov beats Polgar

The FIDE World Chess Championship is taking place in the Hotel Potrero de los Funes Complex, in the Province of San Luis, Argentina, from September 27 to October 16, 2005.

Round Ten Summary

Current standings at the World Championship in San Luis

• All games so far in PGN

World Championship Diary: Round 10

By Nigel Short – on site in San Luis

What will Alexander Morozevich do? Three wins in a row and today he faces Topalov with Black. With his extraordinarily fecund mind it is almost irrelevant which colour the Russian has. If on form, absolutely anything is possible. That said, even if he were to produce an upset today it would be unlikely to affect the destination of first prize – so great is the Bulgar’s lead.

Toalov vs Morozevich in round ten

3.30pm: The hand of Alexander Belyavsky, the second of Morozevich, is readily discernible in the choice of the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Perhaps a touch surprised, but nevertheless not unduly perturbed, Toppy makes a small deviation from his regular repertoire. He will want to keep it tight at the back and not allow anything too chaotic to happen.

Leko-Svidler is an Anti-Marshall. It evokes painful memories of my first ever game in a World Championship Final – one which I lost on time in a better position, after having struggled my way back from inferiority. It looks as if White holds the advantage here too. Leko is rather good in this type of structure: he likes nothing more than to be in control.

Adams-Anand is another Anti-Marshall. The Tamil sage has organized his forces rather more efficaciously than Svidler, in my view, as the pin on White’s c4 knight is a little awkward for the Englishman.

4.30pm: Kasimjanov-Polgar follows patterns similar to the historic game 24 of the 1985 Karpov-Kasparov match, the one which made young Garry World Champion, although (and I can be very wrong here) White seems to have a turbo-charged version through not having wasted time with his king.

5.00pm: I have not been writing as much as usual because I have chatting with the recently retired Garry Kasparov himself who is watching the games from his home in Moscow. Morozevich appears to be doing fine, and the great oracle predicts a draw by repetition before too long. He appended the somewhat cynical remark “and everyone is happy” to his little variation. Probably quite true though.

An outbreak of pandiculation greets the end of Adams-Anand, which finishes tamely in an agreed draw. One gets the feeling that Vishy has given up the race for first place and is just content to accumulate a few more points and finish on a modest plus score. Given that Adams is having a torrid time of it here, it is perhaps a bit surprising that Anand did not chose to continue in the final position, as he in no way stood worse. Mind you, the oldest players in the tournament are probably beginning to tire.

Kasimjanov’s Attack is looking rather menacing against Polgar. She is a good tactician, but she will need all the tricks she can muster to save this one. The very popular woman has really struggled with her Black repertoire against 1.e4 in San Luis. Essentially she employs the same variety of sharpish Sicilian systems which have suited her well over the years. However, those that live by the sword also die by the sword, and when slightly below par, as she certainly is here, the losses flow in abundance.

I am glad to see that Garry’s jaundiced prognostication did not materialize: Toppy and Moroz are fighting hard. It looks though that the Bulgar has slightly the better of it due to his active rooks. Nevertheless Black’s position is resilient and his passed d-pawn, blockaded though it is at the moment, potentially a great asset.

5.50pm: Second-placed Svidler appears to have overcome the worst of a somewhat rancid-smelling opening and has more or less equalized. Whether he can now go onto the offensive, I have my doubts. Early in the tournament he confided “Look at (the physical condition of ) Topalov. Look at me. By round 10 I know I will be starting to tire, but Topalov will still going strong.” No doubt Peter will try his best, but if his fears of exhaustion prove accurate, he might lack the necessary strength to force proceedings.

Peter Leko in his round ten game against Peter Svidler

6.10: Perhaps I am wrong about his ambition. He has sacrificed a pawn to obtain activity. Should he recoup the modest investment, he will most likely stand better.

6.20pm: Leko-Svidler, draw agreed. There was an interesting moment just before the end when Svidler could perhaps have sacrificed the exchange and obtained a passed pawn on the seventh rank as compensation. It entailed some risk though, and I am not surprised that he chose to let the opportunity slip gently by.

A distinguished visitor: Governor of San Luis Dr. Alberto Rodriguez Saa

6.45: Topalov continues to pound Morozevich’s fissiparous defences. The White pawns are poised for the sudden assault on the Black king. In time pressure Topalov advances his e-pawn posing serious, insurmountable problems for his opponent. Soon a rook occupies the seventh rank and White obtains a powerful bishop against a humble knight. The White forces are now flooding in. I think it is all over. White goes a pawn, nay, two pawns ahead – and has a monster passer on f7.

Meanwhile Kasim has conducted his attack competently enough to have fair prospects for victory, although he did miss a couple of simple and indeed devastating blows on move 31. With the time control now reached he must guard his own king, which is rather more draughty than he would like it to be. It is not over yet - not by any means. Judit is very tricky when she has espies tactical chances; the modest one pawn advantage which the Uzbek now enjoys could disappear in the blink of an eye.

Morozevich’s knight has gone on a mission deep into outer-space. Looks like this probe will not be returning to Earth. No! I can’t believe it. Toppy has blundered the exchange! Ok, he still stands better – perhaps even much better – but Morozevich is back from the dead.

The venue, idyllically located on the banks of a lake surrounded by mountains

8.10pm: Kasim wins! He did that very nicely, and rather quickly, in fact. His f-pawn was jettisoned to allow queen and rook to combine together elegantly in an attack on the king, Mate could only be prevented by the loss of the queen. Polgar will now have her work cut out to avoid finishing in last place. Kasim recovers some lost ground.

8.40: In an escape that would have made Houdini proud, Moroz saves the game – his rook performing wonders. Even White had to be careful towards the end. The considerable audience show their appreciation by applauding warmly. That was a flawed but heroic battle, in which tenacity and luck played their part. Topalov edges closer to victory. The rest of the field though still have much to play for.

A Short glossary

All photos: Word Chess Championship Press, Nadja Woisin, Frederic Friedel

Full schedule

Links

• Official World Chess Championship web site
• All ChessBase World Championship reports so far