The match had a promising start: 75 moves of uncompromising fight, abrupt changes in the course of the game and... a decisive result. It could have all ended in an "interesting draw" right after the first control if any player other than Topalov had been playing with Black. For Kramnik, the general pattern must be quite familiar. Two years ago in Brissago, he also won the first game of his match with Leko after his opponent overstepped the limit of admissible risk. It will be interesting to follow the way Topalov will overcome this cold shower untill tomorrow.
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.g3
dxc4
5.Bg2
Bb4+
[A relatively rare continuation. More topical is 5...Nc6
]
6.Bd2
a5
7.Qc2
Bxd2+
8.Qxd2!?
This move is in slight contradiction with the general rules of development: White moves for the second time in a row with an already developed piece. Even more paradoxical is the justification of such a decision: White intends to effectuate a new series of 3 consecutive moves with the queen in order to win the pawn back! In fact, moving around with the queen before the development of the other pieces has been completed is quite typical for the Catalan, the most recent example in Kramnik's practice being his game against Naiditsch from Dortmund 2006. The explanation why such radical deviations from the normal course of the game are viable is probably connected with what I would call "The quality of development". Indeed, the Catalan bishop is sometimes so strong that it can compensate for a delay in the mobilization of the other forces.
8...c6
9.a4
b5
10.axb5
cxb5
11.Qg5
0-0
12.Qxb5
Ba6
13.Qa4
Qb6
14.0-0
Qxb2
15.Nbd2
Bb5
16.Nxc4
Bxa4
17.Nxb2
Bb5
Finally, the piece in which White has invested 5 tempi has been exchanged. White has a nice structure of pawns and, after the next move, strong pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. However, Black's a-pawn should not be underestimated. In order to block it or simply capture it, White will need to concentrate considerable amount of resources on the queenside, leaving the other wing slightly weakened.
18.Ne5
Ra7
19.Bf3
Nbd7
20.Nec4
Rb8
21.Rfb1
g5
22.e3
g4
23.Bd1
Bc6
24.Rc1
Be4
25.Na4
Rb4
26.Nd6
Bf3!?
This certainly looks like a double-edged decision: will the pawn be a strength or a weakness? The further course of the game offers us partial answers in both ways. The pawn kept White passive for a long time but then perished without glory after Black's first slip.
27.Bxf3
gxf3
28.Nc8
Ra8
29.Ne7+
Kg7
30.Nc6
Rb3
31.Nc5
Rb5
32.h3
Nxc5
33.Rxc5
Rb2
34.Rg5+
Kh6
35.Rgxa5
Rxa5
36.Nxa5
Ne4
37.Rf1
Nd2
38.Rc1
Ne4
39.Rf1
f6
40.Nc6
Nd2
41.Rd1
Ne4
42.Rf1
Kg6
With such a perfect coordination of pieces (R + N + P), Topalov correctly assumes that he can play for a win without too much risk. He might have also thought that even if White would hold a draw, it would useful to take the psychological initiative from the very first game of the match. However, he might have underestimated the strength of the enemy knight, which, in spite of being cut off his colleagues, is able to restrict Black's activity by attacking the enemy pawns from behind.
43.Nd8
Rb6
44.Rc1
h5
45.Ra1
h4
46.gxh4
Kh5
47.Ra2
Kxh4
48.Kh2
Kh5
49.Rc2
Kh6
50.Ra2
Kg6
51.Rc2
Kf5
52.Ra2
Rb5
53.Nc6
Rb7
54.Ra5+
Kg6
55.Ra2
Kh5
After subtle maneouvers, Black has managed to create the deadly threat ...Rg7-g2. However, White's (possibly) unexpected answer will mark the turning point in the game.
56.d5!
e5
[For the time being, Topalov reacts correctly. 56...exd5
loses the pride of Black's position after 57.Nd4
; but 56...Rg7
also seems to keep Black in the game after 57.dxe6
Rg2+
58.Kh1
Nxf2+
59.Rxf2
Rxf2
60.e7
Rf1+
61.Kh2
Rf2+
62.Kg3
Rg2+
63.Kxf3
Rg8
and only further analysis will show whether White has any winning chances after transfering the knight to f5 and defending it with the e-pawn.]
57.Ra4
Now, Black loses stability in the centre and has to prove certain inventivity in order to save the game.
57...f5?
[Probably surprised by the unexpected course of events, Topalov fails to find his last saving possibility, consisting of 57...Nxf2
58.Kg3
e4
and if 59.Kxf2
then 59...Rb2+
with perpetual.]
58.Nxe5
Rb2
59.Nd3
The rest is easy.
59...Rb7
60.Rd4
Rb6
61.d6
Nxd6
62.Kg3
Ne4+
63.Kxf3
Kg5
64.h4+
Kf6
65.Rd5
Nc3
66.Rd8
Rb1
67.Rf8+
Ke6
68.Nf4+
Ke5
69.Re8+
Kf6
70.Nh5+
Kg6
71.Ng3
Rb2
72.h5+
Kf7
73.Re5
Nd1
74.Ne2
Kf6
75.Rd5
1-0