1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Be2
e5
7.Nb3
Be7
8.0-0
0-0
9.Be3
Be6
10.Nd5
Nbd7
11.Qd3
Bxd5
12.exd5
Nc5
13.Qd2
Nfe4
14.Qb4
a5
15.Qb5
Qc7
16.Qc4N
Though this novelty doesn't cause any major swings in the evaluation, it is not clear what White was trying to accomplish. The queen isn't about to jump to the kingside, and it now places itself on the c-file in the line of fire of a Rc8, which was coming anyhow. [16.Rfd1
b6
17.Qc4
f5
18.Bd3
Qd8
19.Nxc5
Nxc5
20.a3
Rc8
21.Qb5
e4
22.Bf1
Bf6
23.Rab1
Be5
24.b4
axb4
25.Rxb4
Nd7
26.Rc4
Rxc4
27.Qxc4
Qe8
28.Re1
Nf6
29.h3
Nd7
30.Qc7
f4
31.Bc1
e3
32.Bb5
exf2+
33.Kxf2
f3
0-1 Svidler,P (2713)-Polgar,J (2677)/Dos Hermanas 1999/CBM 071]
16...Rac8
17.Rfd1
[17.f3
was to be considered if only to prevent Black from playing f5 as in the game, which gave him a very good game. 17...Nf6
]
17...f5!
18.c3
Qd8
19.Qb5
Now it is clear that Ponomariov has squandered valuable tempi and Anand's prospects are starting to look mighty nice.
19...b6
20.Nd2
Nxd2
21.Bxd2
Bf6
22.Rab1
e4
23.b4
Nd7
24.Rb3
Be5
25.a3
The first inclination would be to complain this move is associated with a plan that seems too slow, but having no really constructive replacements to offer instead.... let's just agree White is in trouble.
25...Rf7
The purpose is simply to protect the knight, and free the queen up.
26.c4
axb4
27.axb4
Ra8
28.Bc3
Bxc3
29.Rxc3
29...Ra2!
It is somewhat ironic that it is Anand's rook that takes advantage of the Ukrainian's play to open lines on the queenside.
30.Re3
g6
31.Bf1
Qf6
32.Rde1
32...Kg7
[The unforgivable engines point out that the World Champion could have shortened resistance with 32...f4!
33.R3e2
(33.Rxe4
f3
34.g3
Qb2
) 33...Rxe2
34.Rxe2
f3!
35.Ra2
e3!
36.fxe3
Qc3
and White will not avoid heavy losses.]
33.R3e2
Ra3
34.Qc6
h5
35.Re3
Ra7
36.h3
h4
37.Rb3
Ra2
38.Rbe3
g5
[38...Rxf2!
39.Kxf2
Qd4!
threatening f4 obviously, and if 40.Ke2
to try and get out of the pin. Black finishes with 40...f4
41.Rb3
f3+
with mate to follow.]
39.R3e2
Ra7
40.Qc8
The truth is: what can Ruslan do? It is a bit like those Old West films where the victim is tied to the railway tracks and can only wait for the locomotive to end it all.
40...Ne5
41.Rc2
This already loses the queen, but the result was only a question of 'when' not 'if'.
41...Rf8
42.Qe6
Qd8
43.c5
bxc5
44.bxc5
Rf6
45.Qxe5
No resignation? Well, it isn't the first time Ponomariov does this, but it would seem to be more a case of self-torture than frustrating the opponent. Anand is hardly the type to get his feathers ruffled by this.
45...dxe5
46.d6
g4
47.hxg4
fxg4
48.g3
hxg3
49.fxg3
Qa5
50.Rec1
Qa3
51.Rc3
Qb2
52.R1c2
Qb4
0-1