(1) Korobov,Anton (2657) - Smith,Axel (2416) [A00]
CZECH OPEN 2010 Pardubice (CZE) (6.1), 28.07.2010



1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.f4 f6 17.f5 Qd6








If the position looks familiar, it is because it is almost identical to the opening in the first game of the World Championship, in which Anand infamously forgot his preparation. Almost identical, but not quite, as in the aforementioned game, White had inserted Rac1 a couple of moves earlier.

18.Nf4 gxf5? This goes against the classic adage to not open lines when your opponent is better developed. Especially around the king. [Though 18...g5 did not look fun for Anand, it still seems the safest route even here with the slight difference. 19.Nh5+ Kh8 etc.]

19.exf5 Nc6?! [Black should really be trying to develop extra quick now with 19...Bd7 and has seriously underestimated the danger.]

20.Rae1 Ne5










21.Rxe5!! The Ukrainian demonstrates the form and energy that brought him the title a full point ahead of the field.

21...Qxe5 [If Black had taken with 21...fxe5 22.f6+! Kf7 (22...Rxf6 23.Nh5+ Kf7 24.Rxf6+ ) 23.Bc4+ Ke8 24.f7+ Kd8 25.Nd5! Be6 26.Qh6 Pinning the bishop. 26...d3 27.Ne3 And the bishop falls, since 27...Kd7 28.Rf6 d2 29.Bxe6+ Kc7 30.Bg4 Qc5 31.Bf3 Qc1+ 32.Nd1 Qc5+ 33.Kh1 Kd7 34.Rc6+- ]

22.Re1 Qc7 23.Qf2 Qf7 24.Qg3+ Kh6 [24...Kh8








was no better since White would continue with 25.Ng6+!! Kg8 (25...hxg6 26.fxg6 Qd7 (26...Qg7 27.Qh4+ Kg8 28.Bc4+ ) 27.Qh4+ Kg8 28.Bc4+ Kg7 29.Qh7# ) 26.Nxf8+ Kxf8 27.Qd6+ Kg8 28.Bc4 Qxc4 29.Re8+ Kg7 30.Qf8# ]

25.Re6! Qc7 26.Qh4+ Kg7 27.Nh5+ Kh8










28.Qxf6+!! Rxf6 29.Re8+ Rf8 30.Rxf8# Some players are quite touchy about getting mated, but it is obvious that Black was so impressed by his opponent's flawless gem that he saw no point in denying it to him. And who can blame him? 1-0