1.Nf3
Nf6
2.c4
c5
3.Nc3
Nc6
4.g3
d5
5.d4
cxd4
6.Nxd4
dxc4
7.Nxc6
Qxd1+
8.Nxd1
bxc6
9.Bg2
Nd5
10.Ne3
e6
11.Nxc4
Ba6
12.b3
This is the starting position of Kramnik's favourite variation. Formerly he successfully played 12. Na5.
12...Bb4+
13.Bd2
Bxd2+
14.Nxd2
Nb4
15.Kd1
0-0-0
16.a3
Nd5
17.Rc1
Kb7
18.Ke1!!
Grandiose innovation. White's not hurry with the development of the h1 rook but he tries to exchange the bishops first. If he succeeds then he will have great winning chances, thanks to Black's weak pawnstructure.
18...e5
19.e3!
[Occupying the c5 square too early would not ensure any advantage for White. 19.Ne4?!
Kb6
20.Nc5
Rd6
21.e4
Nc7
22.Bf1
Bxf1
23.Rxf1
Ne6=
]
19...Kb6
[19...f5
is another possibility, but 20.e4!
(20.Bf1?!
Bxf1
21.Rxf1
e4
22.Ke2
+/= is also better for white but black would obtain some spacial advantage on the kingside.) 20...fxe4
21.Nxe4
Kb6
22.Nc5
Rd6
23.h4!
(h5,Rh4 ) 23...h5
24.Nxa6
Kxa6
25.Ke2
Rhd8
26.Rc2
Kb6
27.Rhc1+/-
and the black position collapses.]
20.Bf1
Bb5?!
[Exchanging the bishops with 20...Bxf1
seemed somewhat better, but White would be still able to exert boardwide pressure. For example: 21.Rxf1
Rhe8
22.Ke2
e4
23.Rc4
f5
24.Rfc1
Re6
25.b4
Ne7
26.Nb3
Nd4,h4,a4]
21.Bc4!
The d2 knight is more valuable than the b5 bishop because it can exploit Black's weaknesses.
21...f6
22.Ke2
Rd7
23.Rc2
a5
Peter should have kept away from the a5 move as long as it was possible.
24.Rhc1
Ne7
25.Bxb5!?
Deep plan, but we think Kramnik hurries the implementation. [25.Ne4
Rhd8
26.g4
and White can improve his position easily (h4-h5, Kf3) beacuse Black can do nothing but wait patiently.]
25...cxb5
26.a4!
Touches the spot. Not only are the queenside pawns weak, but the black monarch can find himself in an awkward situation too, and the list is not over, because after
26...Rhd8
27.axb5
Kxb5?!
[27...h5!
28.Ne4
(28.Nc4+?!
Kxb5
29.Ra2
Nc6=
) 28...Nd5
29.Rc6+
Kxb5
30.h3!
g4]
28.Ne4
it is practically impossible to bundle off the white knight.
28...Ra7?!
29.g4
[The aggressive 29.Nc3+!?
is also possible. 29...Kb6
(29...Kc6
30.Nd5+!
Kd7
31.Rc7+
Rxc7
32.Rxc7+
Kd6
33.Rxe7
Kxd5
34.Rxg7
Rb8
35.Rd7+
Kc5
36.Ra7+/-
; 29...Kb4
30.Na4+/-
) 30.Na4+
Kb5
31.Rc7
Rd7
32.R7c5+
Kb4
33.Nb6!
Rdb7
34.R1c4+
Ka3
35.Rb5+/-
is also clearly better for White.]
29...h6
30.h4
Kb6
31.g5
[31.h5
looks promising too.]
31...hxg5
32.hxg5
fxg5
[32...f5
33.Nc5
e4
(33...Nd5
34.Nd3
e4
35.Rc6+
Kb7
36.Ne5+/-
) 34.Na4+!
Ka6
35.Rc7
Rxc7
36.Rxc7
Re8
37.g6!
Kb5
38.Nc3+
Ka6
39.Kd2
Rd8+
40.Kc2+/-
]
33.Rg1
Rc8
34.Rd2!
Nc6
35.Rxg5
a4?!
Inaccuracy, although there is no proper defence anyway. Moreover Peter's time has almost run out.
36.bxa4
Rxa4
37.Nd6
[37.Rb2+!
Rb4
38.Rxb4+
Nxb4
39.Rxe5
Rc2+
40.Kf3+-
]
37...Rc7
38.Ne8?
We consider this as a mistake because Black has neither time nor position. Kramnik wins the g7 pawn but lets his opponent out of the grip. [It would be better to exert the pressure with 38.Rg6!
In addition, taking the e5 pawn is better since organizing the defence of the g7 pawn looks impossible because is too far from the king.]
38...Rca7
39.Nxg7
Ra2!
Black has to exchange a pair of rooks by all means.
40.Rxa2
Rxa2+
41.Kf3
Kc5
42.Nf5
Nb4
43.Ng3
Kd5
44.Ne4
Ra8
45.Nf6+
Ke6
46.Ng4
Nd3
47.Rg6+
Kf5
48.Rf6+
Kg5
49.Rd6
[49.Re6
Kf5
50.Rd6
e4+
51.Kg3
Ra1
52.f3!
Rg1+
53.Kh3
(53.Kh2
Rf1!
) 53...Nf4+!!
54.exf4
exf3
55.Rf6+
Ke4=
]
49...Rf8+?
Peter's persistent and enduring defence might have reaped the harvest because the position is objectively drawn. Time, however, is everything, and Peter doesn't find the saving motif during the few seconds he has left. [49...Nc5!
50.Nxe5
Rf8+
51.Ke2
Rxf2+
52.Kxf2
Ne4+
53.Kf3
Nxd6=
draw!]
50.Kg3
e4
51.Rd5+
Rf5
52.f4+!
The game is over.
52...Kg6
53.Rd4
Nc5
54.Ne5+
Kg7
55.Rc4
Nd3
56.Nxd3
exd3
57.Rd4
A gorgeous game, in spite of the mistake in the 38th move. Kramnik's tremendous play lived up to his fame. 1-0