1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
a6
4.Ba4
Nf6
5.0-0
Be7
6.Re1
b5
7.Bb3
0-0
8.h3
Bb7
9.d3
d6
10.a3
Qd7
Kamsky does not mind playing this variation with both colours. This is the third time in this tournament that he reaches this very position. The first time it happened against the same opponent, but with reversed colours.
11.Nbd2
[But now he deviates from Ponomariov's 11.Nc3
]
11...Rfe8
[Ponomariov shows that he has his own ideas, too. 11...Nd8
was succesfully tried in Anand-Kamsky, Sofia 2006.]
12.Nf1
Nd8
13.Ng3
Ne6
14.c3
c5
15.d4
If we compare with the game Anand-Kamsky, Black cannot hold his e5-pawn here, because White is much better developed and the threat of winning a pawn is quite real.
15...exd4
16.cxd4
d5
17.e5
Ne4
18.Nf5
Bf8
19.Be3
Rac8
20.dxc5
N6xc5
21.N5d4
The almost absolute stability on the d4-square offers White the more pleasant position.
21...Nxb3
22.Qxb3
Nc5
23.Qd1
a5
24.Qb1
Ne4
25.Rd1
b4
26.axb4
Bxb4
27.Nc2
Qe7
28.Nxb4
Qxb4
29.Qa2
Ra8
30.Rd4
Qb5
31.Ra4
Bc6
32.Rxa5
Rxa5
33.Qxa5
Qxb2
34.Rc1
Ba8
35.Rc7
In spite of simplifications, White maintains unpleasant pressure. With his next move, Ponomariov tries to solve his problems by unblocking the d4-square and activating the a8-bishop (something Nimzovich would certainly recommend from general point of view) but misses Kamsky's spectacular reply.
35...d4?
36.e6!!
This successive pawn moves are very much related to each other regarding their basic ideas but differ enormously from the point of view of their objective merits. White cleares the fifth rank for his queen and the long dark diagonal for his bishop, forcing Black to weaken his seventh rank at the same time. Can we ask for more from a modest pawn?
36...Qb1+
[Removing the queen from the exposed b2-square. The immediate 36...fxe6
would have been met by 37.Rxg7+!
]
37.Kh2
fxe6
38.Qh5
The Black king is helpless against the combined action of the white pieces.
38...Nd6
39.Bxd4
The bishop captures this pawn 3 moves later than Ponomariov might have expected and with devastating effect we must say.
39...Bxf3
40.Rxg7+
Kf8
41.Qh6
[After 41.Qh6
Re7
(What else?) 42.Qf6+
Black has a choice betwen two echo-variations: 42...Rf7
(In case of 42...Nf7
43.Rg8+
Kxg8
the mate is delivered on a different square: 44.Qg7#
) 43.Rg8+
Kxg8
and now 44.Qh8#
] 1-0