1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
Grischuk goes for Najdorf again!
6.Be3
Ng4
A move that was popularized by Kasparov and now is being ocassionally employed by Magnus Carlsen (get the link?).
7.Bc1
Not offering a draw, but just showing that Veselin is not ready...to show what he has against the line.
7...Nf6
8.h3
Nc6!?
A rare reply, which however was already employed by Grischuk a couple of times before.
9.g4
Qb6
10.Nde2
The new idea. White's knight is usually quite good on e2 in the g3 systems (h3, g4 is very similar to that line).
10...e6
11.Bg2
Be7
12.b3
A creative move, which is pretty unusual for the Najdorf. White develops his bishop on a3, but I have some doubts if that's good. [12.Be3
Seems more logical. However after Black goes 12...Qc7
and it is not clear whether the knight on e2 is better than on b3. Position is very complex of course. (12...Qxb2?
loses to 13.a3!
) ]
12...h6
Preparing the g5 idea that secures the e5 square for the knight and kills bishop on g2 forever (as long as you are not playing against Topalov, as you will see).
13.Qd2!?
Strange, very strange, but well, it is just a follow-up to the strange 12.b3.
13...g5
14.Ba3
Ne5
15.0-0-0!?
[15.Rd1
would win a pawn, but after for example 15...h5
16.f3
Nfd7
17.Bxd6
Bxd6
18.Qxd6
Qxd6
19.Rxd6
Ke7
20.Rd1
b5
Black get's compensation, thanks to his strong knight on e5 and White's stupid bishop.]
15...Qxf2
16.Bxd6
Bxd6
17.Qxd6
Nfd7
Now if White is not able to create some concrete threats Black will be better, thanks to his strong knight on e5 and the dead guy on g2.
18.Nd4!
A very strong move, but Grischuk has seen it too... [The tricky looking 18.Rhf1
makes little sense, since Black can simply play 18...Qc5
(and even if 18...Qxg2
19.Nd4
Qg3!
White's compensation after let's say Nxe6 or first Kb1 is probably only enough for draw.) ]
18...Qf6!
[18...Qxg2?
is losing too 19.Nxe6!
fxe6
20.Qxe6+
Kd8
21.Qxe5
and you don't even have to be Topalov to mate the black king here.]
19.Qa3!?
[A move that ordinary chess player would make, 19.Na4
cannot so bad. The idea is to answer 19...Qe7
with 20.Qc7!
In this case however, then knight on a4 would be a bit oddly placed.; 19.Rhf1
however would be too simple 19...Qe7
20.Qc7
Qc5!
and in ending, it is White who will have trouble.]
19...Qe7
20.Qb2!!
Genius idea. White has finally fullfiled the purpose of his extravagant b3 in the opening and is hoping that the queen will make a home run to g7 one day.
20...0-0
21.Nf5!?
Topalov has probably had enough of his bishop on g2 and now he wants to give it a new life by giving up his knight. [I am not sure some consevative methods could work in this position, although move like 21.Nce2!?
with the idea Ng3-f5 made sense. However White is taking some strategic risk with this plan, since if there is no mate on g7, he will be lost.]
21...exf5
22.Nd5
Qc5
23.exf5
Here, after looking at the position closely, I finally realized that while I was thinking about mate on g7, Topalov just gave a piece for pawn, and everything has changed. Now the g2 bishop is a killer, and White just wants to slowly squeeze Black with h4, Kb1, etc.
23...a5!
A strong, human move that made me realize that it was not a zugzwang for Black and that it would not be an easy win for Topalov. Black wants to go Ra6 and maybe one day disturb White with a4.
24.h4
gxh4
25.Rxh4
[Computer move 25.Kb1!
was stronger. It was, however, too difficult for the human Topalov (yes, even though he has 2800 he is still a human!) to see why it is more precise than the immediate Rxh4. 25...Ra6
26.Qc1!
is the point ,and White just keeps Rxh4 for later. Black would have hard times here (especially with Grischuk's twenty minutes), although the computer says it's equal.]
25...Ra6
26.Kb1
But now Black has...
26...Qf2!
Oops, in fact it looks like Black can also threat something in this game...
27.Ne7+
27...Kg7
[27...Kh7!
Was just winning according to the computer. The point is that after 28.Rh2
Qg3
29.Rdh1
fails to 29...Nxg4
when the king is not on g7! Well, but to the human eye it is not obvious why Kh7 is better than Kg7.]
28.Rh2
f6?
[28...Qg3
here would make no sense since after 29.Rdh1
the knight on e5 is pinned.; 28...Re8
would be better 29.Nd5
Rf6!?
and Black is holding on the dark squares, although White still has some compensation after let's say Qc1!?.]
29.g5
[29.Qc1!
gave White an advantage. I have no clue what Topalov missed here. Maybe he overlooked some idea like 32.Bh3!? 29...Nxg4
30.Nxc8
Nc5
31.Rd2
Qxf5
32.Bh3!
The whole point! 32...Qxc8
33.Bxg4
and White is better, thanks to his strong bishop and Black's weak king.]
29...fxg5
30.Nxc8
Raf6
31.Ne7
Now Black is winning again, but Grischuk was already short of time..
31...R8f7
[The logical move was also the good one: 31...Qg3!
32.Rdh1
Ng4
with a winning advantage.]
32.Nd5
Nf3
Again a mistake, but the position was too complicated for a time trouble. [32...Ng4
was still better for Black.]
33.Bxf3!
Qxh2
34.Nxf6
[34.Qd4!
with the idea Re1 would be stronger.]
34...Nxf6
35.a4
Qf4
36.Bd5
Rd7
37.Re1
Qxf5
38.Bc4
Black is better, but White has some threats, and there are still two moves before the time control.
38...Qf2
[38...Qf4
keeping an eye on e5 was better. Black would then have a clear advantage (a pawn is a pawn).]
39.Qe5
Qd4
40.Qf5!
Now Black has to defend against Bd3.
40...Qg4
41.Qxa5
The time control has passed, and White is slightly better thanks to his bishop against Black's knight. As we learnt in primary school: if there are pawns are on both flanks, than the bishop is better.
41...Rd1+
42.Rxd1
Qxd1+
43.Kb2
43...Qd6
From here on, Grischuk slowly gets outplayed. [43...Qd4+
was not only better looking, but probably also better. 44.Ka2
g4
45.Qc7+
Qd7
46.Qe5
Qe8
and Black should survive. 0.00 in all lines is what my engine says. Practically, I think White would still be better.]
44.Qa7
Qe5+
45.Ka2
Qe4
46.Bd3
Qc6
47.a5
Nd5
48.Qd4+
Nf6
49.Qe5!
Taking control all over the board and stopping the black pawns from advancing.
49...Kf8
[49...Kf7
is said to be better by my chess engine, but I don't feel the big difference.]
50.c4
[50.Kb2
slowly improving was more unpleasant. Now Black is not only lacking a move, but Bb5 is a threat.]
50...g4
51.Bf5
Kf7
52.Qb8!
Now Bc8 is a threat. [52.Bxg4
is nice, but only leads to a draw after 52...Nxg4
53.Qh5+
Qg6
54.Qd5+
Ke7
55.Qxb7+
Kd8
and someone will give perpetual.]
52...Ne8
[52...h5
53.Bc8
and even though my engine gives 0.00 (as it almost always gives) it seems dead lost for Black to me. But okay, I am just a human, as Grischuk is.]
53.Qf4!
Winning g4.
53...Qc5
[53...Nf6
was his last chance: 54.Qxh6
Qa6
and even though it must be lost too, Black's g4 pawn is clearly more dangerous than the one back there on h6.]
54.Bxg4+
The rest was easy.
54...Nf6
55.Qf5
Qd4
56.Bf3
Qf2+
57.Ka3
Kg7
58.Ka4
b6
59.axb6
Qxb6
60.c5
Qa7+
61.Kb5
White is not only a pawn up, but his bishop is clearly superior.
61...Qb8+
62.Kc4
Qg8+
63.Kc3
Qe8
64.b4
Qe1+
65.Kc4
Qf1+
66.Kb3
Qb5
67.Bd1
Qc6
68.Bc2
Kf7
69.Bd3
A very crazy game, thanks to Topalov's Nf5!?. It was, however, Grischuk, who was winning a couple of times before the control. But his time trouble didn't allow him to find some precise moves, and after the time control Topalov managed to outplay Grischuk in a slightly better and very tricky ending! 1-0