1.Nf3
Nf6
2.c4
c6
3.Nc3
d5
4.d4
e6
5.Bg5
h6
6.Bxf6
Topalov decided not to go to the razor-sharp Anti-Moscow Gambit, which arises after 6.Bh4.
6...Qxf6
7.e3
Nd7
8.Bd3
dxc4
9.Bxc4
g6
10.0-0
Bg7
11.e4
e5
12.d5
Nb6
13.Bb3
Here we get one of the main lines of the Moscow Variation.
13...0-0
[13...Bg4
is another main move. After something like 14.Rc1
0-0
15.h3
Bxf3
16.Qxf3
Qxf3
17.gxf3
Rfd8
18.dxc6
bxc6
we get a more pleasant endgame for White. Recently Aronian won this endgame with white against Gelfand. ]
14.Rc1
Rd8
15.h3!
A strong and logical novelty. [15.Qe2
was played before. Recently 15...Bg4
happened in Bacrot-Aronian Jermuk 2009]
15...Bd7
16.Qe2
Be8
17.Rfd1
Bf8?!
An innacuracy. [17...Rac8!
was better, first improving the rook. The bishop can be developed a bit later.]
18.dxc6!
18...Bxc6
[18...Rxd1+
was not the solution to all problems either: 19.Rxd1
Bxc6
20.Nd5
Bxd5
21.Bxd5!
and White is better.]
19.Nd5
Bxd5
20.exd5!
Bd6
21.Nd2
Qe7
22.Ne4
Kg7
[22...Rac8!
]
23.Re1
Re8
[23...Bb4
was possible, but after 24.d6!
Bxd6
25.Nxd6
Rxd6
26.Qxe5+
Qxe5
27.Rxe5
White gets a better ending, thanks to his bishop against Black's knight.]
24.h4!
A strong idea by Topalov. Now White wants to weaken some squares around Aronian's king.
24...Rad8?
[24...h5!
was much better. I guess Levon didn't like that from now on Black wouldn't be able to play f5 (due to Ng5). But perhaps he can just play Rac8, change some rooks and hold the position.]
25.h5
f5
26.Nxd6
Rxd6
27.Rc5
e4
28.hxg6
Now White is better, and Levon's agressive try
28...f4?
only makes things worse. [28...Kxg6
was better.]
29.Qd2
Qe5
30.Rc7+
Rd7
31.Rxd7+
Nxd7
32.Ba4
Rd8
33.Qa5!
Now White is simply winning...
33...Nb6
Hoping that opponent doesn't see an easy winning trick...
34.Bb3??
And he doesn't! [34.Rxe4!
was a simple BAM, that a player with 2800 can normally find in couple of seconds. 34...Qxe4
35.Qc3+
Kg8
36.Qc7
and White threatens Qh7+ and Qxd8, so the game could have finished like this.]
34...e3
Now Black get's counterplay and easily manages to make a draw.
35.fxe3
fxe3
36.Qb4
Rd6
37.Re2
Rxg6
38.Qc3
Qxc3
39.bxc3
Rg5
40.Rxe3
Nxd5
41.Bxd5
Rxd5
42.Re7+
Kf6
43.Rxb7
Ra5
44.Rb2
White's pawn is not enough for anything, due to Black's activity and White's passivity.
Topalov played the game pretty well and he quickly got a winning position (I should also mention that Levon helped him energetically). I don't know what happened on move 34. Perhaps Topalov is not in shape in this event.. However he still leads it by a full point! 1/2-1/2