1.Nf3
c5
2.c4
Nc6
3.Nc3
e5
Grischuk relies on this defence against the English for a second time in this event. He had used it successfully against Levon Aronian in his first series.
4.g3
g6
5.Bg2
Bg7
6.a3
Gelfand takes a completely different approach then Aronian. Whereas Levon tried to use the weakness of the d5 square in a slow way, Gelfand tries to immediately rip apart the queenside.
6...Nge7
[6...a5
Makes Black's lightsquares look like swiss cheese, but it is definitely a playable alternative.]
7.b4
7...d5
[7...cxb4?!
8.axb4
Nxb4
9.Ba3
gives white too much compensation, and scores horribly.; 7...d6
is the solid choice, but White basically gets his queenside advance for free.]
8.cxd5
[8.bxc5
dxc4
is a complex game that is hard to assess.]
8...Nxd5
9.Ng5!?
The new move of the game, and the computers recommendation. This move is extremely aggressive.
9...Nc7
[9...Nxc3?!
10.dxc3
Qxd1+
11.Kxd1+/=
gives white a comfortable edge in the endgame.]
10.d3
cxb4
11.axb4
11...e4!
a counter sacrifice, if you will. [11...0-0
12.0-0
Nxb4
13.Nge4
gave white a fair amount of compensation. Grischuk takes up the gauntlet instead.]
12.Ngxe4
This piece sacrifice cannot be calculated all the way. Intuitive, at the very least, White is relying on his initiative and Black's exposed king to balance the material deficit. [12.Qb3
0-0
13.Ngxe4
Be6
14.Qb2
Nd5
and black has the initiative, although white should be ok.]
12...f5
13.Bg5
Bxc3+
[13...Qd4!?
Deserves analysis as well.]
14.Kf1
Qd4
15.Nxc3!
[15.Bf6
Bxa1
16.Bxd4
Bxd4
17.Nd6+
Ke7
18.Nxc8+
Rhxc8
and black has a serious material advantage, although his coordination does not exist. White may be able to survive this, but I doubt he can achieve more than that.]
15...Qxc3
16.Bf4
It's not easy to see how black can defend the knight.
16...Nb5
[16...Ne6
17.Rc1
and the queen can't defend c6. 17...Qxb4
18.Rxc6!
with a very messy position.]
17.Rc1
Qf6
18.Rc5!
a6
19.Bxc6+
bxc6
20.Be5
Qf8
21.Qc1
Bd7
22.Bxh8
Qxh8
23.Qe3+?
[23.h4
forcing 23...h5
24.Kg2
and bringing the rook out made sense.]
23...Kf7
24.Re5
Black has slightly more material than white, but his king is exposed and his pieces uncoordinated. However, white still has the issue of the h1 rook being far from play, and cannot allow black to regroup.
24...Qf8
25.h4
h5
26.Qf4
The Qe3-f4 maneouvre was a little clumsy, and Grischuk uses this time to force some trades.
26...Qd6!
27.Kg2
Kf6
28.Re4
Qxf4
29.Rxf4
Be6
The endgame is favorable to black, but is by no means winning.
30.Rc1
Ke7
31.f3
Kd6
32.Kf2
Rb8
33.e4
Nc7
34.g4!
white's rook had no prospects, so Gelfand hurries to free it, even at the cost of a pawn. [34.Ra1
Bc8
35.Ra5
Ne6?
(35...Rb5!
retains a strong advantage) 36.e5+
Ke7
37.Rc4
holds]
34...fxg4
35.Rf6
gxf3
36.Rxg6
Rxb4
37.Rh6
a5
38.Rxh5
a4
39.Rhc5
Bd7
40.Kxf3
Ne6
41.R5c4?!
This move is too passive, but it seems it barely holds. [41.Ra5
following the old maxim: "rooks belong behind passed pawns!"]
41...c5
42.h5
Rb2
43.Rh1
Nd4+
[43...a3
44.h6
a2
45.Ra1
Bb5
46.h7
and white will successfully trade the h pawn for the doomed a2 pawn, with a probable draw.]
44.Ke3
Be6
45.e5+!
[45.Rxa4!
was also good 45...Ke5
46.Rxd4
cxd4+
47.Kf3
Rb8
(47...Rb7
48.h6
Rf7+
49.Kg3
Rh7
50.Rh5+
Kf6
51.Kf4=
) 48.h6
Rh8
49.h7
Bf7
50.Rh6=
]
45...Kxe5
46.Rxc5+
Bd5
47.Rxd5+
Kxd5
48.h6
Black can't comfortably stop the pawn, and the rook endgames are all drawn.
48...Re2+
49.Kf4
Ne6+
50.Kg3
Nf8
51.h7
Nxh7
52.Rxh7
a3
53.Kf3
Re1
54.Ra7
Ra1
55.Ke3
a2
56.Ra5+
Kc6
57.Kd4
Kb6
58.Ra8
Kb7
An exciting game to say the least! Grischuk might have had chances, but at no point could it be said that he had a clear win. 1/2-1/2