Novy Bor Final: Topalov clinches

by ChessBase
9/26/2013 – Topalov was able to very successfully wrap up his match against Laznicka. He was held easily to a draw in his last white game, he came back with a vengeance in the final round as he destroyed his opponent in a beautiful positional game. From the beginning it was clear that Laznicka's dark squares were going to be a problem, and the Bulgarian exploited it beautifully. Analysis of the last game.
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The traditional Sachova Corrida Novoborska is taking place in Prague, Czcech Republic. The main attraction of the event features the match between Veselin Topalov against Viktor Laznicka. Laznicka has played this event both previous years, once losing to Navara and once beating Shirov. The players will play a six game match regardless of whether one side achieves a winning match score before the sixth round.

As a side event IM Thaddeus Kriebel is playing the legendary GM Oleg Romanishin in the same match format.

Rounds five and six

Laznicka switched to a more solid Slav in game five and it gave him a comfortable draw

The fifth round of the match was not the most exciting. Laznicka went for a more solid line of the Slav instead of taking the gambit that got him in some trouble in rounds one and three. He was never in any real trouble and although Topalov kept expanding on the kingside he was unable to do much with it. Topalov obtained the better pawn structure but Laznicka struck back by obtaining counterplay against the pawn center and by having a powerful and annoying knight. Eventually a repetition was forced and the game ended in a draw.

Analysis didn't show much for either side

The last round, however, was a totally one sided affair. Topalov showed why he is one of the best players of the world and positionally annihilated his young Czech opponent. Here are the full annotations of this game:

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1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 There's always a lot to be said about the Orthodox type of position in the Queen's Gambit. Obviously Black isn't aiming for an utlra-aggressive setup the way that the King's Indian or Benoni deal with the opening, and it's even more solid than a Queen's Indian or a Slav, so why isn't it more popular? The reason really is that it is quite passive and if White doesn't do anything special he should retain the slightest of edges. However, once in a while, specially lately, White goes for immediate aggression to try to punish Black for trying to develop so harmoniously. 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 6...Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 is also a popular line. 7.g4!? Nothing new under the sun. This idea has been around since the age of Botvinnik, but only lately has White really explored all of its potential. Be6 8.Bd3 8.h4!? Nd7 9.g5 h6 10.g6 was seen just yesterday in the game Stefanova-Kosteniuk, Tashkent Grand Prix 8...Nd7 9.Bf5!? Not entirely new. Volkov tried it unsuccessfully against Grachev last year, but whenever Volkov essays something grandmasters look at it with interest. Bxf5 already new, Gracehv chose Nf8. 10.gxf5 Bb4 11.Nge2 Ne7 12.Qc2 White's pawn on f5 is very weak, but it is hard to get to. The open f-file and the potential to set up a strong pawn center compensate. Nb6 13.f3? Strangely we will see that this move is the source of all of White's problems from now on. Of course, hindsight is 20/20. 13.Rg1 g6 14.Be5 was certainly more to the point. 13...g6!? Black takes advantage of the fact that the f3 move has somewhat weakened dark squares, specifically the h4-e1 diagonal and the e3 square. Topalov's idea is very strong. 14.fxg6 Nxg6! Topalov's idea. 15.0-0-0 Qe7 16.Rd3 Nc4 The pressure on e3 is ramping up, and Laznicka decides to kick out this knight from c4, but at the cost of further weakening his dark squares. 17.b3 Na3 18.Qb2 Nxf4 19.Nxf4 Rg8 With white's discoordinated rooks, it is suddenly Black that takes advantage of the open g-file. 20.Qf2 0-0-0 21.Kb2 Kb8 22.Nb1 Rde8 23.Nxa3 Bxa3+ 24.Kb1 Bd6 White's position is very discoordinated, and oh did he wish his pawn on f3 was back on f2... 25.Ne2 Qe6 26.Nc3 Qf5 27.Rhd1 Rg6 28.R1d2 Qh3 29.f4 Qf5 30.Ne2 h5 31.Ng3 Qg4 32.Qe2 h4 33.Qxg4 Rxg4 34.Nf5 Bb4 White hasn't lost material yet, but his position keeps becoming worse and worse. His rooks are horrible compared to their counterparts and specially h2 will be hard to hold on to. 35.h3 35.Rf2 Rh8! Suddenly puts the question to the knight on f5: how exactly are you going to go back? The threat is Rh5. 35...Rg6 36.Re2 36.Nxh4 Rg1+ 37.Rd1 Rxd1+ 38.Rxd1 Rxe3 is hopeless as White is about to lose a pawn or two. 36...Rh8 37.e4 Rf6 38.Ng7 Rg8 The lone knight on g7 perishes as his rooks are unable to support him. Topalov played a positionally brilliant game to conclude this match. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27690–12013D31Topalov-Laznicka m 20136

Topalov showed in Novy Bor he is a master with the Black pieces

The other match ended in a 3-3 tie between GM Romanishin and IM Kriebel

Topalov receives his prize, which is being examined by Silvio Danailov, his manager and ECU President

The artist Ludmila Zilkova, was the designer and creator of these beautiful trophies

The man with his deserved prize: Topalov beat Laznicka quite convincingly

Photos by Vladimir Jagr

Replay all match games

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Topalov started the match with the White pieces. The Bulgarian started things in a sharp manner as he sacrificed two pawns straight out of the opening. Laznicka accepted the first gift but declined the second, and although Topalov was able to mound some threats eventually the Czech player was able to push him back and obtain a comfortable advantage. Topalov fought back and equalized, eventually simplifying into an endgame in which White had the pair of bishops but nothing else going for him. Laznicka strangely sacrificed his knight to reach an endgame he thought was an easy draw, but Topalov clearly showed that it was quite the contrary. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.0-0 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Bf4 Nd7 11.Rad1 Nf6 12.Rfe1 b6 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Re3 Nd5 15.Rh3 f5 16.Bc1 Bf6 17.Re1 c5 18.g4 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qd7 20.dxc5 Rae8 21.gxf5 Rxf5 22.Rxf5 exf5 23.Bd2 Re4 24.Qd3 bxc5 25.Re3 Qe6 26.f3 Rxe3 27.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 28.Bxe3 Kh8 29.Bxc5 Nxc3 30.Bd4 Nxa2 31.Bxa2 Bxf3 32.Bb1 Bg4 33.Kg2 a5 34.Kg3 Bd1 35.Bxf5 Bb3 36.Kf4 Kg8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Bxh7 g6 39.Kf4 Bc2 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V26771–02013D37Topalov-Laznicka m 20131
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27691–02013A29Topalov-Laznicka m 20132
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V2677½–½2013D37Topalov-Laznicka m 20133
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27690–12013E21Topalov-Laznicka m 20134
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V2677½–½2013D17Topalov-Laznicka m 20135
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27690–12013D31Topalov-Laznicka m 20136

Scores

Players Rtng
1
2
3
4
5
6
 Total
Veselin Topalov 2769
1
0
½
1
½
1
4
Viktor Laznicka 2677
0
1
½
0
½
0
2
Players Rtng
1
2
3
4
5
6
 Total
Thaddeus Kriebel 2365
½
0
1
½
½
½
3
Oleg Romanishin 2499
½
1
0
½
½
½
3

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