Super Final R10: Grischuk loses, Kasparov clinches title

57th Russian Championship Super Final November 14th – December 1st 2004

The Super Final of the 57th Russian is being held in the Festive Hall of the Hotel Rossija (“Rociya”), directly adjacent to the Red Square. The prize sum is US $125,000, to be paid out in rouble equivalent. The winner takes $50,000. The participants of this round robin tournament are Garry Kasparov, Alexander Morozevich, Alexander Grischuk, Peter Svidler, Evgeny Bareev, Alexey Dreev, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Alexander Motylev, Vladimir Epishin, Artem Timofeev and Alexey Korotylev. Originally Vladimir Kramnik and Anatoly Karpov were included, but both withdrew at the last moment.

Round ten – Friday, November 26, 2004

Garry Kasparov needed just a draw with the white pieces against Alexander Morozevich to clinch the title of 2004 Russian Champion. But true to his nature and character he was not satisfied with the title. Instead he worked tirelessly against a Slav to try and bring in the whole point. And he almost succeeded, winning a pawn in a rook and bishop ending. But Morozevich, currently the world's number four player, defended well and took the first half-point off the leader in the last five games.

The oldest participant, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, was probably quite demoralised by his minus four score in this event. In his final game against Alexey Dreev he offered little resistance and went down in a Pirc, with a mate in five on the board when he resigned on move 39.

Epishin vs Svidler was a Grünfeld and drawn in 30 moves, the Sicilian Sveshnikov between Motylev and Timofeev lasted just 26 moves. Alexander Grischuk was doing fine in a Nimzo Indian, in fact pressing for a win against Alexander Korotylev, when this is what happened:

Korotylev,A (2596) - Grischuk,A (2704) [E58]
57th ch-RUS Moscow RUS (10), 26.11.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a4 Re8 12.Ba3 c4 13.Bc2 Qa5 14.Qc1 Ne4 15.Bxe4 Rxe4 16.Nd2 Re8 17.e4 Be6 18.e5 Qxa4 19.f4 Bf5 20.Rf2 f6 21.Qb2 Nd8 22.Nf1 Qd7 23.Ne3 Bd3 24.h3 b6 25.Qd2 Kh8 26.f5 fxe5 27.dxe5 Rxe5 28.f6 Ne6 29.Be7.

Can you spot why 29...h5 is a game-losing error? After for instance 29...a5 30.fxg7+ Nxg7 31.Bf6 Re6 Black is still pressing for a win. With the text move Korotylev could play 30.fxg7+ Nxg7 31.Bf6 Re6 (as in the previous variation). But now he had 32.Nxd5!, the move Grischuk had certainly overlooked when he played 29...h5. Unfortunately Black cannot play 32...Qxd5 because of 33.Qh6+ Kg8 and 34.Qxg7 mate! Grischuk had to go for 34...Kg8 and Korotylev could end the game with fireworks: 33.Qg5 Rf8 34.Bxg7 Qxg7 35.Rxf8+ Kxf8 36.Qd8+ Re8 37.Qd6+ 1-0.

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