Action from the Elista battlefield

World Chess championships have quite often been marred by controversies, tantrums and wild accusations. This time the reunification match, which finally got underway last week after 13 years, went through a serious crisis after FIDE champion Veselin Topalov indirectly accused Classical champion Vladimir Kramnik of cheating and objected to his numerous visits to the bathroom. After negotiations the championship continued with Kramnik forfeiting one game.

The game which follows is the second one in the 12-game series and ironically changes fortunes after blunders by both players.

Incidentally, this is the game where Kramnik first blundered after a bathroom visit. Incredibly, Topalov missed a two-move winning continuation and ultimately and thereafter ended up losing the game.

White: Veselin Topalov (2813) – Black: Vladimir Kramnik (2743). World chess championship, Elista 2006, Slav Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6

The Slav Defence

3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3

On previous occasions Kramnik had opted for 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 while playing with White but here Topalov opts for a different line

6. ..e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 0-0

If 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe4 12.Ba3 and Black has to castle on the queen side right into the attack

11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3

Black has a solid position, while White enjoys space advantage and can think of initiating an attack on the King side

14...Bg6 15.Ng5 Re8 16.f4 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 f5

Trying to close the King side. 18.Be3. If 18.g4 h6 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.gxf5 Re7 leads to an unclear position

18. ..Nf8 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.g4 Qd7 21.Rg1 Be7 22.Nf3 Rc4 23.Rg2

Topalov stays true to his aggressive style

23. ..fxg4 24.Rxg4 Rxa4 25.Rag1 g6 26.h4 Rb4 27.h5 Qb5. A cursory glance reveals that Black stands better but White is just about to get going

28.Qc2

A good move. If 28.hxg6 Qxd3 29.gxh7+ Kxh7 30.Rg7+ Kh6 31.f5+ the bishop is hanging.

28...Rxb2 29.hxg6! But now, the previous variation leads to mate, so Black has to keep the g-file closed, at least for a while. 29...h5 30.g7! hxg4 31.gxf8Q+

31...Bxf8

If 31...Kxf8 32.Qg6 Qe2 33.Qxg4







32.Qg6+

Chess blindness? Topalov misses a simple winning continuation with 32.Rxg4+ Bg7 33.Qc7 Qf1+ 34.Ng1 and it is all over for Black

32...Bg7 33.f5 Re7

If 33...exf5 34.Bh6 Qd7 35.Ng5 Rb6 36.e6 Rexe6 37.Qh7+ Kf8 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxg7+ Kd8 40.Nf7+ Kc8 41.Rc1+ Kb8 42.Bf4+ Ka8 43.Nd6 Qxg7

34.f6 Qe2 35.Qxg4 Rf7

If 35...Qxe3 36.fxe7 Qh6+ 37.Nh4 Kf7 38.Qxg7+ with a win for White

36.Rc1.

Computers suggest 36.Qh5 as stronger

36...Rc2 37.Rxc2 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qxc2+ 39.Kg3 Qe4

Black desperately tries to simplify the position by an invitation to swap queens

40.Bf4. He could have tried to capture the bishop and play on 40...Qf5 41.Qxf5 exf5 42.Bg5.

Falling short of time to make the moves he wants. Kramnik’s two passed on the queen side are soon going to be troublesome

42...a5 43.Kf4 a4 44.Kxf5 a3 45.Bc1 Bf8 46.e6 Rc7 47.Bxa3 Bxa3 48.Ke5 Rc1 49.Ng5 Rf1.

Here 49...Rg1 looks better.

50.e7 Re1+ 51.Kxd5 Bxe7 52.fxe7 Rxe7 53.Kd6.

The position does appear drawish at this point but the computers show advantage to Black

53...Re1

Analysis show 53...Re3, as the winning move

54.d5 Kf8 55.Ne6+.

55.Kd7 might perhaps have saved the game

55...Ke8 56.Nc7+ Kd8 57.Ne6+ Kc8.

Black is winning now

58.Ke7 Rh1 59.Ng5 b5 60.d6 Rd1 61.Ne6 b4 62.Nc5 Re1+ 63.Kf6 Re3 and White resigned.

Category: Chess , Elista