1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
g6
3.Nf3
Bg7
4.g3
d5
Grischuk is not known for playing the Gruenfeld, but it makes sense when you consider the Gruenfeld master, Peter Svidler, is acting as one of his seconds.
5.cxd5
Nxd5
6.Bg2
Nb6
7.Nc3
Nc6
8.e3
0-0
9.0-0
Re8
10.Re1
a5
11.Qe2
Bg4
An unusual subtlety, normally the bishop goes directly to e6, but for some reason Black wishes to provoke h3. Wang Yue used this idea successfully against Leitão in 2010.
12.h3
Be6
13.b3N
Not the most common reply to Be6, the game now enters unknown waters.
13...a4
14.Rb1
axb3
15.axb3
Qc8
16.Kh2
16...Ra5
Grischuk targets the kingside in a powerful and threatening manner. Black's rook swing to the kingside seems to be strong; but Gelfand pays no heed to it!
17.Rd1
Gelfand simply develops, hoping to beat back Grischuk's attack with normal moves and banking on the strength of his center pawns.
17...Rh5
18.Nh4
Bf6
19.f4
[19.Bf3
Rxh4
20.gxh4
Bxh3
and Black has compensation for the missing exchange; his pieces are better coordinated and White's king is somewhat exposed.]
19...Rd8
20.Qf2
20...Bxh4?
This exchange is premature. The bishop loses its influence on the a1-h8 diagonal which was preventing the d5 advance. Black doesn't get anything tangible in return, as the knight on h4 was somewhat misplaced. However, it is not so easy to come up with a good move. In a way, White has an easier time finding moves. He still hasn't finished development and wants to get his central pawns rolling. Although Black's pieces seem to be very active, they are also quite vulnerable. [20...Nd5
immediately was stronger. 21.Nxd5
Rdxd5!
and the position is quite complex.]
21.gxh4
Nd5
22.Nxd5
Rhxd5
[22...Rdxd5?
Or Bxd5 were now impossible because 23.e4
wins a lot of material. This wouldn't have been possible with the bishop still on f6.]
23.Bb2
White's development is almost finished, which means the pawns will start to roll. Grischuk must defend against this, but it is not clear how to do it. [23.Bxd5?
Bxd5
gives Black a permanent grip on the light squares and leaves White in a planless position.]
23...Rb5?!
[23...Qd7
was maybe a better attempt, but after 24.e4?!
(24.Rd2!
playing it slow, with the idea of Rbd1. Black still has problems.) 24...Rxd4
25.Bxd4
Nxd4
it's complicated, but White is better.]
24.Qe2
Rh5
25.e4
Bxb3
26.Rdc1
Black may have an extra pawn, but his position is almost lost. He has lost all coordination and White's bishops, supporting the strong pawn center, will steamroll through.
26...Na5
27.d5
b6
28.Be5
c5
29.dxc6
f6
30.Ba1
Rc5
31.Rxc5
bxc5
32.Qb5
Qc7?
Losing quickly, but the position was probably already beyond saving. [32...Ba2
33.Rb2
Qc7
and f4 is under attack, which gives Black time to save his pieces. However after 34.e5
Be6
35.Qb6
Black is still lost.]
33.Rxb3
Nxc6
[33...Nxb3
34.Qxb3+
Kf8
35.e5
and Black has no useful moves.]
34.e5
Nd4
35.Qc4+
Gelfand kept an amazingly cool head when faced with Grischuk's unorthodox but seemingly dangerous attack on the kingside. The Russian misplayed his attack by trading his important dark squared bishop, a mistake that Gelfand punished ruthlessly. Interestingly, this coup de grace was the only White victory in all of the classical time controls in this tournament! 1-0