[Event "Final of Corsica Circuit 2011"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.10.31"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, S."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Elshan Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 {The Queen's Gambit Declined! One the
most solid variations against 1.d4. Now one wonders what Shak's reaction will
be. He needs to win...} 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. g4 $5 $146 {This aggressive
move has been tried by Mamedyarov in some other games with a similar "flavor".
For example, against Ponomariov if I am not mistaken. This "flank attack" is
becoming playable thanks to our Super GMs and engines!} dxc4 (7... c5 $5 {
could be another reasonable move following the known principle which states:
"in order to face a flank attack one must seek counter play in the center."})
8. Bxc4 c5 9. g5 Nh5 10. Be5 a6 ({The greedy} 10... Bxg5 {is possible but that
is the engines' taste, not the World Champion's!}) 11. Bd3 (11. dxc5) 11... g6
12. h4 Nxe5 13. dxe5 {White's arsenal is focused on Black's king, however,
lack of coordination and the well-placed knight on h5 which hinders White's
onslaught for several moves. In the meantime Black gets a strong initiative
thanks to his strategical advantages: his pair of bishops, and better pawn
structure.} b5 14. Nh2 $2 {Mamedyarov plays for the win at any cost and
gambles "all in" wtih his position. Unfortunately for him, he has to "bet" it
against Anand!} Ra7 $1 {Masterfully played! Black brings in his troops with
the highest amount of efficiency.} 15. Qe2 c4 $1 {This move wins a pawn by
force.} 16. Bc2 Qa5 17. O-O b4 18. Ne4 Qxe5 19. Ng4 Qc7 20. Rad1 a5 $6 (20...
Bd7 21. Rd4 Bb5 {was more accurate.}) 21. Rd4 Ba6 22. Rfd1 c3 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24.
R4xd3 $6 {I suppose Mamedyarov is still counting on a mistake by Anand,
otherwise he would have captured the Bishop with his Queen.} Qc4 25. Nef6+ Bxf6
26. gxf6 Qc5 $2 {Finally it comes! Anand makes a mistake, not only losing his
edge but even handing White a dangerous initiative.} (26... h6 $5 27. bxc3 (27.
Nxh6+ $4 Kh7 28. Ng4 Qxa2 {is winning for Black.}) 27... bxc3 28. Rc1 Rb7 29.
Rcxc3 (29. Nxh6+ $4 {is still a blunder.} Kh7 30. Ng4 Rb2 $19) 29... Rb1+ 30.
Kh2 (30. Kg2 $4 Qe4+ 31. f3 Nf4+ {loses the queen}) 30... Qe4 31. f3 Qb7 32.
Qg2 (32. Rc2 $2 Rh1+ 33. Kg2 (33. Kxh1 Ng3+ {loses the queen}) 33... Qb1 {with
a devastating attack for Black which would finish the game very soon}) 32...
Rb2 33. Rc2 Rxc2 34. Qxc2 Qxf3 {And Black still has the upper hand. One should
not forget that with the clock ticking away, all these accurate moves can fade
away in an instant!}) 27. bxc3 bxc3 28. Rd8 $2 {Mamedyarov returns the favor.
He could grab the dangerous c3 pawn and after consolidating his position on d
and c file try to invade Black's weak back rank.} (28. Rc1 Qb5 29. Rcxc3 Qb8
30. Qd1) 28... h6 {Anand reacts cautiously...} 29. Rxf8+ Qxf8 30. Qc4 Qb4 $1 {
Since the tables turned, Vishy does not give "Shak" a single chance to come
back.} 31. Qc8+ Kh7 32. f3 Qb7 33. Qf8 $2 {Mamedyarov stays close with the
threat of mate, nevertheless it remains just a "threat" until the end of the
game.} Ra8 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 {The dusts has settled, the back rank is covered and
the "dangerous" (remember?) c-pawn will triumph.} 35. Ne5 Nxf6 (35... c2 {was
even quicker}) 36. Qf4 Nd5 37. Qd4 Qb2 38. Nd3 Qe2 39. Re1 Qxf3 40. h5 {A
spectaculart game, but one has to switch off the engines and enjoy the
dramatic course of the game!} 0-1

