World Cup R2.1: Live by the sword, die by the sword

by ChessBase
9/1/2011 – In the second round of the FIDE WC knock-out event, the current European Champion Vladimir Potkin was happy enough to perform an ideal attack against the well-known and fierce attacker Alexei Shirov, a top player who is famous for setting the board on fire. But the time always comes for those who live by the sword to die by it. Here is some very instructive analysis by GM Efstratios Grivas.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

The tournament is taking place in the Ugorian Chess Academy in the very heart of Khanty-Mansiysk, which has hosted three previous World Cups: 2005, 2007, and 2009. The 128 participants hail from 46 different countries, and are playing for a total prize fund of US $1.6 million. In addition the first three finisher get tickets to the Candidates tournament in the next World Championship cycle.

Round two game one – Live by the sword, die by the sword

By GM Efstratios Grivas


Alexei Shirov working hard in his game against Vladimir Potkin

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.a4 Alexei Shirov has long been faithful to the extremely aggressive Botvinnik Variation which is identified by 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 . An example of playing at very top level would be: 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.exf6 Bb7 12.g3 c5 13.d5 Qb6 14.Bg2 0-0-0 15.0-0 b4 16.Na4 Qb5 16...Qa6 17.a3 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Ne5 19.Qe2 Rxd5 20.axb4 cxb4 21.Nc3 Qc6 22.Nxd5 Qxd5 23.f3 Bc5+ 24.Kg2 Nd3 Ivanchuk,V-Shirov,A Novgorod 1994 17.a3 exd5 18.axb4 cxb4 19.Re1 19.Qg4 d4 20.Bxb7+ Kxb7 21.Qe4+ Qc6 22.Qxd4 Bd6∞ Carlsen,M-Shirov,A Sofia 2009 19...d4 20.Qxd4 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qxg5 22.Qxc4+ Kb8 23.Rac1 Bd6 24.Qc6 Qd2 25.Kg1 Rxh2 26.Re2 Qd3 27.Re3 Qd2 28.Re2 Qd3 29.Re3 Qd2 30.Re2 1/ 2-1/2 Topalov,V-Shirov,A (Sofia 2009). His opponent, not wishing to enter pre-game preparations, decides to go for a less explored line... 6...Bb4 The main move. 6...Nbd7 7.e4 Qa5 8.Bd2 Bb4 9.Bxc4 scores around 75% for White, which is not fun for Black. 7.e4 Qa5 Black's other main option is 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qa5 9.e5 Ne4 10.Bd2 Qd5 In the past, A. Shirov has tried both 11.a5 and 11.Qc2, so it should be expected that V.Potkin has done his homework... 8.Bd2 c5 9.Bxc4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 0-0 11.Nc2 A bit more popular seems to be 11.Qe2 Nbd7 12.0-0 Ne5 13.Ba2 Rd8 14.Nc2 b6 14...Nc6 15.Nxb4 Qxb4 16.Nd5 Qxb2 17.Rfb1 Qe5 18.Bc3 Qg5 19.Nxf6+ 19.f4!? 19...gxf6 20.Rb3 Vitiugov,N-Chadaev,N Taganrog 2011 15.Nxb4 Qxb4 16.Bg5 a5 17.Rad1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Ba6 19.Qc2 1/2-1/2 Shulman,Y-Potkin,V (Khanty Mansiysk 2011). The last game was played in the first round of this event and in this case V. Potkin was handling the black pieces! So, as the current European Champion wasn't 'satisfied' as White with 11.Qe2, he obviously tried an alternative. 11...Qc7 A novelty which I am not very fond of. Previously 11...Bxc3 or 11...Nc6!? (probably best) had been tried. 12.Qe2 Be7 13.e5! Natural and good; White should gain more space and harrass Black's harmonious development. Nfd7 14.f4 Nc6 15.0-0 White stands slightly better, due to his spatial advantage. If Black succeeds in developing and exchanging some pieces, he will be OK, but he needs time for that. So, in a sense, White's advantage is based on 'time', which of course is not permanent, as the pawn-structures are identical and there are no weaknesses to exploit in the long run. b6?! Black needed to first cover the b5-square with 15...a6! . White could then keep a small advantage with 16.Rfd1 b6 17.Ne4 Bb7 18.Nd6 Na5 19.Ne3 16.Nb5! Now Black is in trouble, as White is ready to activate and improve nearly all his army! Qb8 17.Ncd4 Nxd4 17...Bb7?! fails to 18.Nxe6! Ndxe5 18...fxe6 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Bxd7+- 19.fxe5 fxe6 20.Rxf8+ Bxf8 21.Bxe6+ Kh8 22.Bc3± . 18.Nxd4 Bc5 Again 18...Bb7?! 19.Nxe6! is not indicated. 19.Be3 Re8 Black tries to strengthen the e6-square, avoiding some nasty tactics which were seen in the previous notes. 19...a5 doesn't help as well, but maybe it was the lesser evil: 20.Rad1 Qc7 21.b3± and White is ready for various assaults on the centre and the kingside; his spatial advantage helps. 20.Rad1! a6 For the last several moves, Black has been trying to develop his lightsquared bishop on b7, but this is still not possible: 20...Bb7?! 21.Bb5 21.Nxe6 as well 21...Qc8 22.Nxe6+- . 20...a5 21.Rd3± looks like the only 'valid' alternative for Black. 21.b4! A nice touch, which gains further space and forces the retreat of the only well-placed black piece! Bf8 21...Bxb4? 22.Nc6 is out of the question, and Black could hardly consider 21...Bxd4 22.Bxd4 Bb7 23.f5 , which is more than pleasant for White. 22.f5! As Black's pieces are lying mostly on his first rank, the attack should be decisive. The attacker is obliged to do this as the strategic advantages (spatial advantage, better placed pieces, etc.) should lead to material gains or mate! Opening files and diagonals is a good road to a successful attack! Nxe5 The other capture 22...Qxe5 fails to 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Nxe6! Rxe6 25.Qf3 Nf6 26.Qxa8 Qxe3+ 27.Kh1 and White wins the house: b5 28.Bxe6+ Bxe6 29.Rd8+- . The waiting policy with 22...Kh8 also fails to 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Bf4! Bxb4 25.Nxe6 and Black will not last long: Qa7 26.Nxg7! Kxg7 27.Bh6+! as mate will follow. 23.Bf4 Bd6 There is no salvation anymore: 23...f6 24.Nc6 Qb7 25.Nxe5 fxe5 26.Bxe5 Qc6 27.Qg4 Ra7 28.f6 g6 29.Bd3!+- or 23...exf5 24.Nc6 Qb7 25.Nxe5+- . 24.Nc6! A nice and accurate way to force matters. Nxc6 25.Bxd6 Qa7 26.f6! The weak dark squares around the black king and the absence of any defending piece(s) are decisive factors. gxf6 After 26...g6 27.Qd2! is curtains: b5+ 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.Qh6 Rg8 30.Bf8! . 27.Rxf6 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qh4 was good as well. 27...Ne7 27...b5+ 28.Bc5 Qc7 29.Bd3 is sealing Black's fate anyway. 28.Rxf7! 28.Rxf7 A nice touch to end the game. Black resigned due to Kxf7 29.Rf1+ Nf5 30.Qh5+ and mate follows. 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Potkin,V2682Shirov,A27141–02011D44FIDE WC2.1


Peter Heine Nielsen and Alexander Morozevich kibitzing

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

Copyright ChessBase

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.