1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.g3
d5
Frankly speaking, it seems to me that entering the Catalan paths against Kramnik nowadays is a bit like playing with fire. This subtle opening seems to suit the World Champion's present personality and style perfectly. In this game, he will once again prove his deep opening preparation and only a time trouble miracle will save Grischuk.
4.Bg2
Be7
5.Nf3
0-0
6.0-0
dxc4
7.Qc2
a6
8.Qxc4
b5
9.Qc2
Bb7
10.Bd2
Ra7
11.a3!?
A very rare move. White usually develops his king's rook to c1 or d1, waiting for Black to develop his knight, in order to play Ba5. Kramnik seems to believe that the modest advance of the a-pawn, keeping the enemy pawns under control, is a more useful waiting move.
11...Nbd7
12.Ba5
Qa8!?
[Grischuk aims for rapid activation of his pieces, probably with the secret hope to surprize his well prepared opponent. If the latter is true, a bitter dissapointment awaited him... A more common continuation would have been 12...Be4
13.Qc1
Qb8
14.Nbd2
Ba8
15.b4
White has stabilized the queenside and could think about gradual central expansion.]
13.Qxc7
Played without too much thinking.
13...Rc8
14.Qf4
Rc2
15.Nbd2
Rxb2
16.Rfc1
Nd5
17.Qe4
Up to this moment, Kramnik had spent less than a quarter of an hour. Quite suggestive for the degree of successfulness of Grischuk's surprize...
17...b4
18.Qd3
bxa3
19.Nc4
Bc6
20.Nxa3
Bb5
21.Nc4
Bb4
22.Qd1
Bxc4
23.Rxc4
Bxa5
24.Rxa5
White has the more compact pawn structure and a very strong light-squared bishop. However, this position might have caused Kramnik contradictory feelings. To a certain extent, the position is similar to the first game of his match against Topalov. On that occasion, he had to defend for a long time on the edge of the precipice, but eventually won.
24...Qb8
25.Nd2
N5b6
26.Rc1
g6
27.Ne4
Rb5
28.Ra2
a5
29.Nc5
Qd6
30.Nb7
Qb8
31.Qd3
Rh5
32.Nc5
Nd5
33.Qc4
N5b6
34.Qc3
Nd5
35.Qa1
Nxc5
36.Rxc5
The pawn cannot be saved anymore.
36...Nb4
37.Raxa5
Nc2
38.Rxa7?
[This spectacular move lets the advantage slip away. 38.Qa2!
would have won the pawn and, most probably, the game.]
38...Nxa1
39.Ra8
Qxa8
40.Bxa8
Rxc5
41.dxc5
Kf8
42.c6
Ke7
43.c7
Kd7
44.Bc6+
Kxc7
45.Ba4
White still has some winning chances. The knight is isolated in the corner, while the black pawns are vulnerable. A new miracle is needed...
45...Kb6
46.Kg2
Kc5
47.Kf3
Kb4
48.Be8
f6
49.Bf7
Nb3
Indirectly defending the pawn and winning an essential tempo.
50.e3
Nc5
51.h4
Kc3
52.Bg8
h6
53.Bf7
g5
54.Kg4
Ne4
55.hxg5
hxg5
56.Bxe6
Nxf2+
57.Kf5
Kd3
The incredible has just happened. Black's pieces came back into play just in time.
58.Kxf6
Ne4+
59.Kg6
Nxg3
60.Kxg5
Kxe3
1/2-1/2