2000 Sarajevo Tournament Book (first 5 rounds only )

Running from May 16-29, this year’s third super tournament is in many ways reminiscent of the first one, which was held in Wijk aan Zee. There are as many participants, and they are as varied. It is only Garry Kasparov who represents the three top players at the tournament, his opponent Vladimir Kramnik having made a decision to go deep into the process of the preparation for the match against Kasparov. So Kramnik refused to participate in the tournament. But Kasparov is going to meet Nigel Short (his long-standing match opponent) at the competition. The political and chess opposition of Alexei Shirov (who within reason considers himself a legitimate candidate) and Garry Kasparov is of particular interest at the forthcoming tournament. Left out of the struggle for the world leadership, Alexei will do his best to prove that he is apt to withstand Garry successfully. So I will try to forecast the performance of all the participants of the “Sarajevo – 2000” tournament.

GARRY KASPAROV He is an unconditional favorite. There are two circumstances, however, which are going to interfere with Garry. Firstly, he spends too much of his time on the development of his internet site. During all the recent tournaments there have been his express comments on the site. Thus, instead of resting and preparing for the next game, Garry has to analyze the games, which have already been played, and literally hang on the phone. Secondly, in the interests of the preparation for the match against Kramnik, Garry is likely to muddle around in the opening, at least in the parts of the opening which might come in handy at the match. It’s not that easy to do it, especially as far as the Grunfeld Defense (as played with Black) or the Sicilian Defense (as played with both White and Black) are concerned. I doubt if Vladimir will risk playing the latter with White, though! Forecast: He will share first place with one

of his opponents. ALEXEI SHIROV. He is Garry’s main contender. After his relatively unsuccessful performance in Linares, Alexei won the Monaco tournament, his style really bright. He showed excellent universal play there. I am sure he is in good form at the moment, and therefore he is able to beat anyone whatsoever! Forecast: He is sure to be one of the three prize winners, but to all appearances he is going to fight for the first place. ALEXANDER MOROZEVICH. Another super chess-player. He took part in neither the Linares tournament, nor the Monaco one, playing a few games in the team competitions. I believe Alexander will once again please his fans with bright and unconventional game. I am sure that he has prepared some impressive opening novelties in the last few months, and maybe he has once again brought back to life a couple of old long-forgotten chess lines. Forecast: He will fight for first place, but anyway he is very likely to be one of the three prizewinners. MICHAEL ADAMS. A powerful spider-man, he as a rule demonstrates good performance in tournaments with players of very different styles participate. Michael’s strong embrace won’t be to the outsiders’ taste. Forecast: He will gain some positive score, and he is sure to get on the favorites’ nerves (so to say, Michael will put them out!). EUGENY BAREEV. Sarajevo is a traditionally happy city for Eugeny. Playing for the local team in Europe Cups, he always showed good play, and last year he participated in the round robin event, demonstrating bright performance and scoring “+3” with no defeats whatsoever. Unfortunately the Muscovite’s play is scarce, which makes it impossible to try any guesses concerning his present form. In any case, he is an accurate

and strategically thinking man, so he will definitely do his best to prepare for the tournament. Forecast: He will gain half a point or a larger positive score. Eugeny is likely to draw most of the games. VESELIN TOPALOV. Veselin’s success fluctuates with the weather. His performance in the “Monaco – 2000” tournament was brilliant. But I don’t think that after that bound upwards he is likely to lose in Sarajevo. For better or worse, Veselin is a top class chess-player, who can even withstand Kasparov. Forecast: He will have some positive score. NIGEL SHORT. He who is included in the competition at the last minute is always lucky –- it’s a big sport law. He didn’t prepare for the tournament, but no one expected him to take part in it, either. I believe, Nigel experiences positive emotions caused by the strong tournament which has all of a sudden turned up, and these emotions will enable him to show good play. Forecast: Half a point. IVAN SOKOLOV. Failing in the Hastings tournament, Ivan has not been a success at the beginning of this year. He was not a success last year, either. It seems to me that last year’s victory over Kasparov in Wijk aan Zee played a bad trick on him. A spell of fame gave way to a prolonged series of misfortunes. Forecast: Misfortunes will continue, and Ivan will find himself among the outsiders. KIRIL GEORGIEV. We haven’t seen Kiril among such a company of celebrities for a long time! He is a very accurate chess player, but unfortunately his best years have passed. Therefore, he is unlikely to have outstanding results. Forecast: The lower part of the tournament table. MICHAEL GUREVICH.

Another old friend! Michael came to big chess at quite an old age, but by now he has come through an excellent school of the Soviet championships and a series of games with Garry Kasparov. A few years ago it seemed that Michael (who had settled down in Belgium) abandoned chess for that matter; but recently he has begun to play rather actively and successfully again. He has won a few games, playing the Swiss Defense, and his performance in the round robin event in Belfort was excellent. But those competitions were nothing compared with a super tournament, considering the opponents and the strain. Forecast: A small negative score. ETIENNE BACROT. He is the youngest among the members of the competition, and whole France sets its hopes on him. He was a success in the match against Karpov not long ago. I could even say that Bacrot won the match, because victories in rapid chess are more significant than Karpov’s victories in blitz. It seems to me that after a short pause the young Frenchman will go on conquering chess Olympus with steadfastness. The forthcoming tournament will prove an excellent school and a real examination for him. Forecast: The examiners will be stronger, and Etienne is going to find his name in the lower part of the table. SERGEI MOVSESSIAN. A young Armenian chess-player (living in the Czech Republic now), he greatly surprised the chess world last year in Las Vegas. Having beaten Leko with much sensation in the match, he went as far as the quater-final. Sergei plays clear-cut combinational chess, and he is particularly strong in the Sicilian Defense. In case he comes through the start, he can once again surprise everybody with unexpected victories. Forecast: Many victories and defeats, and he is likely to occupy a place somewhere in the middle of the table.

Round 1 (Shipov, Belov) May 17, 2000 Sokolov - Bareev 1/2 Short - Topalov 0-1 Morozevich - Gurevich 1-0 Shirov - Adams 1/2 Kasparov - Bacrot 1-0 Georgiev - Movsesian 1-0

Kasparov,G. - Bacrot,E. [C45] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT Immediately in round 1 Etien has to play against the great and horrible with black pieces! It will be difficult for him not to lose today, but I believe in him... 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Scotch opening is Garry’s old and tested weapon. 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.f4 Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qb6 Kasparov: Since my match with Short (1993) I haven’t decided yet what is better 12.Qe4 or 12.Qf3. 12.Qe4 f5! This considered to be the strongest move. 13.Qf3 [Of course, not 13.exf6+ Kf7 , with initiative for Black.] 13...Qd4 [Not bad seems 13...Nb4 ] Kasparov: Sharp and unclear is 13...Nb4 14.Kd1 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Novelty. [The Queens’ exchange is harmless for Black: 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.Bxc3 Bg7 17.0-0-0 c5 18.Kc2 0-0-0 19.Bd3 Bb7 20.Rhg1 d6 21.exd6 1/2-1/2 Ivanov,VMishuchkov,N/Cherepovets 1993/(21)] 15...Bb4 16.Rc1 Bxc3+ 17.Rxc3 It is all shifting into the endgame better for White... Kasparov: White wins the battle in the opening. Q-side castling doesn’t look great but Black doesn’t have real alternatives. 17...0-0-0 18.c5 Kasparov: (!) Stronger than 18.Rd3 Qc5 19.Qf2 Qxf2+ 20.Kxf2 d6, and Black has

good chances to equalize. 18…Bb7?! Does Etien really thinks that his Bishop is better than the white one? He should trade him off on f1. 19:00 GMT Kasparov: This move is maybe dubious but to trade bishops can hardly be better. Bacrot said that he hadn’t liked it at all. For Black all the following endgames are nothing but boring and very difficult struggles for a draw: 18...Bxf1 19.Rxf1 g5 (In case of 19...d6; or 19...d5 White gets the advantage after 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.exd6 Rxd6 22.Rf2 Rd5 23.g3 Rhd8 24.Kf1 and the King escapes via g2. White is definitely better.) 20.Rc4 (20.Qd3 is also good) 20...Qa1+ (20...Qb2 21.Qe2±) 21.Kf2 Qxa2+ 22.Kg1± 19.Qe3 Qxe3+ Kasparov: 19...Qb4!? Nikitin [Bacrot’s trainer; in the past - Garry’s main coach KC news team] recommended this move as the only way of active defense. He is probably right but White is still better after 20.Kf2 d6 21.Rc4 20.Rxe3 d6 An attempt to open the diagonal for the b7-Bishop. Garry should not touch his c5-pawn, continuing the development instead. 21.Bc4 Kd7 Kasparov: The only move, otherwise the advance of White’s e-pawn would be decisive. 22.h4 d5 Kasparov: If 22...dxe5 23.Rxe5 Rhe8 24.Rxe8 Rxe8+ 25.Kf2, and the remaining rooks will be traded soon. The bishop endgame is completely lost for Black. 23.Bd3 Kasparov: Much more precise is 23.Be2! h5 24.Rg3 Rh6 25.b4 without wasting time. 23…h5 Kasparov: Trying to block the position. Black obtained just bad position. His last hope is building a fortress, but it is hardly probable... 24.Rg3 Rh6 A pretty move! Kasparov: Worse is 24...Rhg8 25.Rg5 with a further g2-g4 25.b4 [Now bad is 25.Rg5 Ke7 26.g4 due to the simple 26...hxg4]

Kasparov: This was necessary; otherwise Black would play a6-a5. 25...Ke6 Kasparov: Bad is 25...a5 26.b5 cxb5 27.Bxb5+ and Black is going to collapse on the Q-side. Bacrot preferred passive defense. It was relatively better: before the time control I had to choose a winning strategy. One opportunity was step-by-step to prepare b4-b5 but I preferred a breakthrough on the K-side. After some maneuvers I managed to do it. It was important to move the king to d4, as is shown below. 26.Kd2 Ra8 27.Rb1 a6 28.Rb3 Kf7 29.Ra3 Rhh8 30.Rg5 Rh6 31.Kc3 Rb8 32.Ra5 Ra8 Black defends himself with his last ounce. White must somewhere break through with b4-b5 and win... 33.Kd4 Rhh8 34.Bc2 Rab8 35.Bd3 Ra8 36.Be2 Rhb8 37.Ra3 Rh8 Kasparov: [37...Bc8 38.Rag3 Rxb4+ 39.Kc3 Rxf4 40.Rxg6+-] 38.Rag3 Rag8 Kasparov: Or 38...Rh6 39.Rxg6 Rxg6 40.Bxh5 Rag8 41.Rxg6 Rxg6 42.e6+ Kf6 43.e7, and White wins here. However, if I had left my king on d2, Black would have checked me with Rxg2! 39.Bxh5!

The decisive strike! Black has vainly took his Rook away from the K-side on his move 36. Now the white e5-pawn advances to queening with checks... Etien played too passively in general and vainly avoided trading off the Bishops. Apparently, he failed to cope his excitement. Kasparov: Black resigned. If 39...Rxh5 then 40.Rxh5 gxh5 41.e6+ Kf8 42.e7+ and White

wins. 1-0 Shirov,A. - Adams,M. [C42] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT The main encounter of the round! Two potential favorites must decide the issue. Apparently, Alexei does not want to waste the white color of pieces and we expect the struggle to take place. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Petrov defense. Though it may seem strange, it is the most popular opening in the super tournaments nowadays. 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 9.Qc2 Na6 10.a3 Bg4 11.Ne5 Bf5 Novelty. [Leko played against Shirov in Linares: 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nac5 13.f3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Nc5 15.Qd4 Nb3 , and so on, but he failed to equalize.; the Bishop’s retreat to h5 also happened: 11...Bh5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Re8 15.Bf4 Nc7 16.Qf5 (16.Qxb7!?) 16...Bg6 , and Black obtained compensation for the pawn, Timoshenko,G-Makarichev,S/Moscow 1990/1/2-1/2 (19)] 12.b4 White restricts the a6-Knight, but he is getting behind in development at the same time... 19:00 GMT 12...Qh4 13.Nc3 Nc7 Michael is slightly afraid of Alexei. [When playing against some other opponent, he could have braught himself to start the complications: 13...Nxc3!? 14.Bxf5 Qxd4 15.Nd7 Rfe8 16.Bb2] 14.Nf3! Now Black loses the pawn on e4. It seems that Michael erred... 14...Qh5 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Rfe8 18.Qd3 Ne6 19.Be3 Rad8 20.Rfe1 White obtained a healthy extra pawn and good chances to convert it. Having avoided the sharp play, Michael is losing slowly... 20...a6 21.Rad1 h6 22.h3 b5 An attempt to weaken the light squares in White’s camp. However, a player of Shirov’s class would never play c4-c5...

23.Qc2 bxc4 24.Qxc4 Qb5 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Nd2 Nf4 27.Qxb5 axb5 [Bad is 27...cxb5 due to 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Ne4] 28.Rc2 Black occupied the d5-point, but loses his c6-pawn. 28...Nd5 29.Nb3 Ra8 30.Rxc6 [After 30.Na5 Black has an unpleasant strike 30...Bxb4!] 30...Bf4! Michael defends perfectly; to be more precise, he is counter attacking! 31.Na5 Nxe3 32.g3 Nf5! 33.Rxe8+ Rxe8 34.gxf4 Black is all right: he obtains a severe initiative for the pawn! 34...Nxd4 35.Rc5 Re1+ 36.Kg2 Ra1 37.Nc6 Ne6 38.Rxb5 Rxa3 39.Ne7+ Kh7 40.Nd5

The position is even and the draw is inevitable. Very insulting result for Alexei! He obtained an extra pawn after the opening, he had the better position, but failed to win! Michael is well known for his persistence; however, he could have not saved himself, if his opponent played with his usual strength. 1/2-1/2 Short,N. - Topalov,V. [B20] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT The Sicilian defense is inevitable. 1.e4 c5 As it was expected. 2.b3 Surprise-surprise! Nigel usually plays 2.Nc3. 2...a6 3.Bb2 Nc6 4.f4 e6 Strange, but this is a novelty. [Previously happened 4...d6 ; and 4...d5 ] 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.d3 d5 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.g3 Some

hybrid of the Sicilian defense and Chigorin’s version of the French defense arose. 8...0-0 9.e5 Nd7 10.Bg2 b5 11.0-0 c4! A good method of opening the play: in the end of the variation the white b2-Bishop is getting under attack of the black b6-Queen. 12.Kh1 cxd3 13.cxd3 a5 From the "French" point of view, Black is OK: he is going to activate his lightsquared Bishop and intercept the initiative... 14.Qe2 a4 19:00 GMT 15.Rfc1 Qb6 16.a3 b4!? A very militant move! Black could exchange on b3 first. It seems that White is worse now. This is quite just, one should play some normal openings! 17.axb4 Ba6 18.bxa4 Nxb4 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.Qe3 Nxd3 21.Rcb1 Qc7 22.Bf1 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 N3c5 The position is about even. White has a potentially dangerous passed pawn, while Black has some chances to start attack against the white King. 24.Bb5 g6 25.a5 Rfb8 26.Bxd7 Rxb1+ 27.Rxb1 Qxd7 28.Kg1 Rc8 29.Rc1 Nd3 30.Rxc8+ Qxc8 The position’s evaluation doesn’t change. Black has sufficient counter play with the Queens on the board. 31.N2f3? [Íàäåæíåå 31.N2b3 Qc3 32.Qd2] 31...Qc3 32.h4 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Qxa5 Suddenly it all changed! Veselin won a pawn and obtained a big advantage. 34.h5 Qa2+ 35.Kh3 Qb1 36.Qg1 Qb2 37.Kh4 Nc5 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Qh2 Qa1 The Queens’ exchange makes the defense easier for White. 20:00 GMT Black must activate his Bishop or trade him off for the white Knight. 40.Kg4 Ne4

The white King himself takes part in the counter attack. But this won’t help him much. I think, Black has good winning chances. 41.Qg1 Qb2 42.Qh2 Qc1 43.Qg1 Bf1 An interesting way to bring the Bishop into the play! 44.Kh4 Qd1 45.g4 Nigel is tired of passive defense. [After 45.Kg4 Black can transpose into the Knight endgame by 45...Be2!?] 45...Kh8 An interesting move. Perhaps, Veselin provisionally takes his King away from the center, having concieved some sharp pawn moves. 46.Qh2 Qc1 White is in zugzwang! 47.g5 White has no other move. 47...Kg8 48.Kg4 Bd3 Now Black obtains a perfect f5-square for the Bishop. 49.Qg1 Qb2 50.Qh2 Qa3 51.Kh4 Nc5 52.Qg1 Be4 53.Nh2 Bf5 54.Nxf5 exf5 It’s all over, Black is winning. 55.Qg2 Ne4 56.Qf3 Qc1 57.Nf1 d4 58.Kh3 d3 59.e6 fxe6 60.Ng3 Qe1 61.Nxe4 fxe4 62.Qg2 Nigel should resign long ago. 62...Qe2 Topalov’s brilliant victory! He demonstrated a perfect play in this game. It seems that Nigel is not ready for the tournament...0-1.

Sokolov,I. - Bareev,E [A57] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT A robust pair. Ivan and Eugeny are in business not for a single year. I expect some firm positional play in this game. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 Volga gambit! My

prognosis was wrong. 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.a4 Qa5+ 6.Bd2 b4 7.Qc2! Precise move, which is aimed on fortification of the d5-point. Now after 7...e6 White plays 8.e4!. 7...g6 8.e4 d6 9.Bd3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bf4 Qc7N Novelty. [11...Nh5 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Nbd2 Nd7 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nfd2 e5 16.g3 Rf8 17.Be3 Rae8 18.Be2 += Ionescu,C-Scetinin,A/Pardubice 1999/1-0 (78)] 12.Nbd2 Black, apparently, has only one piece that is posed lamely - his b7-Bishop. However, it all is not so simple! If Black manages to conduct e7-e6 and trade off pawns on d5, then he obtains a quite good position from the Modern Benoni. If he puts the pawn on e5, then the King’s Indian defense arises. 12...Nbd7 13.h3 e5! Right done! Black must obtain extra space. 14.Be3 Rae8 It seems that Black is OK. In the regular King’s Indian White plays on the Q-side, while here it is impossible. 19:00 GMT 15.Nh2 Bc8 16.Rfe1 Both opponents encounter problems with selecting the plan. Conducting the f2-f4 and f7-f5 thrusts leads to big problems. 16...Nh5 17.Qd1 Nf4 18.Bc2 Nf6 19.Ndf1 h6 20.Ng3 It seems that Ivan is going to play on the safe side. The white g3-Knight looks ugly... 20...Nh7 21.Qd2 h5 This is quite natural, when the white Knight is on g3. It is not in White’s favor to win the pawn on f4. 22.Rab1 h4 23.Ngf1 Bh6 24.Nf3 Qd8 It seems that Eugeny is gradually outplaying Ivan. 25.N1h2 Ng5 26.b3 Kg7 27.Kh1 Nxf3 28.Nxf3 Rh8 29.Rg1 White has to defend himself passively. Black must try to conduct f7-f5 somehow. 29...Nh5!

Trading off the darksquared Bishops is definitely in Black’s favor. White is in trouble. 30.Ng5 f6 Draw? This is very strange. Balck has an apparent advantage. Eugeny should continue the struggle. 1/2-1/2

12.Ndxe4 d5 13.Ng3 Black has no compensation for the material. 13...e5 14.0-0 exd4 15.Bxd4 Qf4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Bg4 f5 18.gxf6+ Nxf6 19.Nce2 Qd6 Black obtained some positional compensation for the piece. Had it been blitz, the outcome would have been unclear. But Black is doomed, because it is regular chess... 20.Bf3 Rae8 21.c4 Qd7 22.cxd5 Qxh3 Black’s last dying movements. 23.Nf4 Qh4 24.Ne6+ Rxe6 25.dxe6 c5 26.e7 Re8 27.Re1

Morozevich,A. - Gurevich,M [B07] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT It will be difficult for Mikhail to play against his young opponent. Definitely, he prepared some trick in the opening, in order to avoid the Muscovite’s prepared schemes. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 Pirc-Ufimtsev defense. Apparently, it is the very surprise. One could expect the French defense here. 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 Qc7 7.a4 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 A calm variation, very far from the main lines. 9.Nd2 A mysterious move in Morozevich’s style. Is it the white Knight that moves to c4, or the path is cleared for the white f-pawn? 9...b6 10.g4 Novelty! The younger player starts combat immediately! White is attacking with his King on e1. [Previously happened 10.f4 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.f5 gxf5 13.exf5 Nd5 14.Nc4 N7f6 , and Black is already slightly better, Kharlov,AAgrest,E/Metz 1999/1/2-1/2 (70)] 10...Bb7 11.g5 19:00 GMT 11...Nxe4?! I do not understand this sacrifice! Black should simply retreat with the Knight to e8.

What a sad game! Mikhail failed to understand the opening, then he suddenly sacrificed the piece and lost infamously... 1-0 Georgiev,K. - Movsesian,S. [D15] Sarajevo,2000 16:00 GMT Sergei Movsesian takes part in the super tournament for the first time and it will be difficult for him to fight against such prominent players as Kasparov, Shirov and Morozevich. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 a6 5.c5 Bf5 6.Bf4 Nbd7 7.e3 e6 8.Nd2 Be7 9.Be2 h6 [9...Bg6 10.b4 Qc8 11.0-0 Bd8 12.Rc1 Bc7 13.Bxc7 Qxc7 14.f4 Ng8 15.e4 Ne7 16.f5! , with initiative, Kramnik,VTopalov,V/Dortmund 1999/1-0 (40)] 10.b4N White must advance his pawns on the Q-side and prevent the e6-e5 thrust. [10.Rc1 Bh7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Bg3 Ne8 13.b4 f6 14.Nb3 g5 15.Na5 Qc8 16.e4! Bxe4

17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qb3 Ng7 19.Bc4± Mikhalevski,V-Van der Wiel,J/Vlissingen 1999/1/2-1/2(45)] 10...0-0 11.0-0 Re8 The e8-Rook supports the e6-e5 advance, while the f8-square is reserved for some other black piece. 12.h3 Qc8 The idea of this move is to trade off the derksquared Bishops after Bd8-c7. 13.Re1 White combines attack on the Q-side with the e3-e4 pawn breakthrough in the center. 13...Bd8 Black realizes his plan consequentially. 14.Bf1 e5 A correct move. After 14...Bc7 15.Bxc7Qxc7 16.f4 White establishes control over the e5-point. 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.e4 Nxe4 Deserving attention is 16...dxe4 with the idea to play 18...Qf5 (after 17.Ndxe4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4) with unclear consequences. 19:00 GMT 17.Ncxe4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Bf6 The center is opened and White has a clear advantage thanks to his pair of Bishops. 20.Rc1 Qf5 21.Qc2 Re7 22.Bg3 Rd8 23.Kh1 Rd5 Strange move. More logical is 23...Rde8. 24.Rce1 Now logical seems the variation 24...Rd4 25.Qb1 Rxe4 26.Qxe4 Qxe4 27.Rxe4 Ng6 28.f3!?, with advantage for White. 24...Rd4 25.a3 This is much stronger than 25.Qb1 which I proposed. 25...Rxe4 26.Rxe4 h5 27.Re2 Qxc2 28.Rxc2 h4 29.Bf4 Rd7 30.Be2 g5 31.Be3 Kg7 32.Kg1 The Queens are traded off, but the Rooks are still on the board. Therefore, White has a serious advantage. 32...Kg6 33.Kf1 Bg7 34.g3 Good move. White create a passed pawn on the K-side. 34...hxg3 35.fxg3 f5 36.Rd2 Now it is very difficult to attack the white pawns on the Qside. Therefore, White trades off his passive Rook. 36...Rxd2 37.Bxd2 Bf6 38.Kg2 Kf7 39.Bd1 Ke7 40.Bb3 Nd7 41.Bc2 Ke6 White has a big advantage. The black b7pawn is weak and the struggle proceeds on both flanks, when the Bishops are particularly strong.

20:00 GMT 42.Kf3 Ne5+ 43.Ke2 Nd7 Black has no active plan. 44.Bb3+ Kirill does not take a risk to start some active actions. Deserving attention is an immediate 44.g4 with the idea of transferring the Bishop to f5 and tying down the black King and Knight with defense of his b7-pawn. [44.g4 fxg4 45.hxg4 Ke7 46.Bf5 Kd8 47.Bc1 Kc7 48.Kd3±] 44...Ke7 45.Bg8 Ne5 46.Bc1 Kd7 47.a4 Ke7 48.Bh7 Ke6 49.a5 Nd7 Strange decision. Sergey takes his Knight away from the center and lets White the possibility to conduct g3-g4. Better is 49...Be7 50.Bg8+ Ke7 51.Bh7 Ke6 52.Bd2 Kirill tries the commentator patience: obviously, the g3-g4 advance would finish the struggle. 52...Nf8 53.Bg8+ Ke7 54.g4

Hurray! White found the main winning idea at last. I think, Black’s position is lost... 54...fxg4 55.hxg4 Ng6 56.Bb3 Nf4+ 57.Kf3 Be5 58.Bc2 Kf6 59.Bf5 Ne6 60.Ke4 Bb2 Kirill could obtain an analogous position with his Knight on d7. Now it all is not so simple. 61.Kd3 Nd8 Not an apparent decision. Black lets the white Bishop to c8, which defines the outcome finally. Better is 62...Ba1. 62.Bc8 White’s winning plan is simple. He should transfer his Bishop to d4, after which Black is in zugzwang. 62...Be5 63.Ke4 Bb2 64.Be3 Ba3 65.Bd4+ Kg6 66.Bc3 Bc1 67.Be5 Kf7 68.Kd3 The most precise way. Black has no defense against Bc7, Bxd8 and after Bxb7 the black pawns

on the Q-side are lost. 68...Ke7 69.Bc7 Ba3 70.Kc3 Black must resign. 1-0

Round 2 (Shipov, Belov) May 18, 2001 Sokolov - Short 1/2 Topalov - Morozevich 1/2 Gurevich - Shirov 0-1 Adams - Kasparov 1/2 Bacrot - Georgiev 1/2 Bareev - Movsesian 1/2

Adams,M - Kasparov,G [B90] It is the main combat of the round. Garry has always had difficulty when playing Michael, the results being in his favor, though. The succession 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 is unbelievable, but true enough! Michael accepts the basic lines of Sicilian Defense, playing the most competent player of the world… 6...e6 7.Be2 7.f3 might lead to English Attack and 7.g4!? - to the piece sacrifice. Michael is not ready! Nothing but ordinary Scheveningen Variation comes of it. Though, with 7...Qc7 8.a4 b6!? One can’t call it ordinary! Black at once moves his Bishop right to b7. I also like to play so with Black. The ordinary succession is 8...Nc6 9.f3 9.f4 Bb7 10.Bf3 Nbd7 leads to ordinary positions, and there appears typical Sicilian Hedgehog. White should seek the e4-e5,f4f5 or g2-g4-g5 blows, but Black advances along the "c"-file and, the opportunity presenting itself, Black might blow up the center playing d6-d5. 11.f5 is played at once! Thus Michael weakens white squares in Black’s camp. After 11.0–0 White had to take into consideration the 11...Nc5 move. Perhaps we can expect 11.Qe2!? Kasparov: Adams avoided the main line (11.Qe2), no more home preparation...

11...e5 12.Nde2 The struggle is concentrated around d5. The attack g2-g4-g5 accords with White’s plot, but first it is necessary to be through with the development. 12...h5!?N A move containing an idea. It prevents the g2-g4 move completely. Earlier it used to be played 12...Nc5 Kasparov: Looking for complicated play with chances for both sides. I’m content that I found this move. 13.h4 I am not sure if it’s a good move. The weakness of the g4-square can have consequences later on. [The sacrifice of the pawn by means of playing 13.0–0 Nc5 14.Ng3 h4 15.Nh5, followed by strong play.] Kasparov: I think, White had to try 13.Ng3 h4 14.Nh5 Nxh5 15.Bxh5 with tense struggle after 15...Qc4 15...Qc4 13...Rc8 Kasparov: I thought quite a bit about immediate 13...d5. It is probably dubious due to 14.exd5 e4 (14...Bb4 15.d6) due to 15.Bxe4! and Black doesn’t get anything here. 14.Ng3 The advantage of the h2-h4 lunge consists in the fact that White’s g3-Knight enjoys a safe position now. 14...Qc4! The h5 and e4 pawn exchange is advantageous for Black. When the opportunity presents itself, the Black’s Queen can move to the b4-square. 15.Bd2 Kasparov: A sturdy move. Adams was trying to cut off my chances to develop an initiative. 15...g6 More promising than 15...d5 16.exd5 Bb4 17.Qe2 Kasparov: [15...Be7 wouldn’t be bad, with an eye on the h4-pawn.] 16.fxg6 Kasparov: (?!) Better is 16.Qe2 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 with approximately equal chances. 16… fxg6 17.Qe2 Be7 Kasparov: [I liked it more than 17...Qxe2+ 18.Kxe2 Be7 19.Bg5 Nc5 20.Rhd1 18.Qxc4 Rxc4 19.0–0–0 As it usually happens with Sicilian Defense, the ending is rather favorable for Black. I

would prefer to play this position with Black, as his pieces are more active. 19...0–0 20.b3 Kasparov: [20.Be2 is worth attention] 20…Rc7 21.Kb2 Rfc8 22.Rc1 Both counter-parts stand well enough, and it is difficult for them to be active. 22...Nc5 The Knight makes his way to d4 or f4 via e6. 23.Nd5?! It looks strange: Hasn’t Michael slipped one subtlety? It would be more safe to play 23.Be3 Kasparov: A blunder. Acceptable is 23.Be3 Ne6 24.Nd5 Nxd5 25.exd5 Nd4 26.Be4 Rc3 27.Nf1 with an unclear position. 23...Bxd5 24.exd5 e4! Of course! He is giving a lot of care and attention to the d5pawn. 25.Be2 Nxd5 26.Kb1 A sad necessity. The 26.Bc4 move would have lost owing to 26...Nxa4+! 27.Ka3 Rxc4 28.bxc4 Rxc4 29.Nxe4 Rxe4 30.c4 Ne3 31.Bxe3 Rxe3+ 32.Kxa4 d5! Kasparov: Adams missed that he can’t play here 26.Bc4 Nxa4+! 27.Ka3 Rxc4 28.bxc4 Rxc4 with a decisive advantage for Black. 26...b5 A return surprise! Why not play simply 26...Kh7 with Black having the odd pawn? Kasparov: (?!) Unconsciously I ignored a simple win: 26...Kh7!-+ 27.Bc4 Nf6 and Black is just up a pawn without any compensation for White. I missed it because I was impressed with the idea 26...e3 and I calculated a lot of lines here before I finally decided that first I had to play b6-b5 and then e4-e3. 27.axb5 axb5 28.Bxb5 I can’t make out so far why Garry surrendered the pawn. 28...e3 29.Bc4 Kasparov: Somehow I counted only on 29.Ba5 Ra7 and Black wins. 29…exd2 30.Bxd5+ Kg7 Kasparov: It was much better to preserve g7 for the bishop. The last chance to go for a win was the subtle 30...Kh8 31.Rcf1 Bf8 32.Ne4 (32.Ne2 Bg7 33.c3 Re8 34.Nd4 Bxd4 35.cxd4 Nd3 and White is lost) 32...Nxe4 33.Bxe4 Bg7 34.c4 Ra7 35.Rd1 Rb8 with big advantage.

31.Rcf1? A mistake! The position would be still unclear after the succession 31.Rcd1 Bf6 32.Ne2! 31...Bf6 Kasparov: Drawish is 31...Rf8 32.Rxf8 Kxf8 33.Rd1 Bxh4 34.Ne4 Nxe4 35.Bxe4 Bg5 36.Bxg6= After 31…Bf6 White has to sacrifice exchange (otherwise Black would mate on a1) but surprisingly it is good enough for him. 32.Rxf6 There is nothing else to be done: Michael is not going to be mated on a1. If he had played 32.Ne2, the 32...Re7! move would have been quite unpleasant 32...Kxf6 Kasparov: I still believed that I had to win. However, after a series of moves just before the time control I found that my position was even worse. 33.Rd1 Re7 [33...Ke5 34.Rxd2 Kf4!? would be strong] 34.Rxd2 Re1+ 35.Kb2 Rb8 36.Ka2 Rb6 37.Ne2 Rb4 38.g3 g5 The activity is much greater when time-trouble is near. 39.hxg5+ Kxg5 40.Nd4 [It looks like White could stick out playing 40.Bf3!] 40...Kg4 41.Bf3+ The situation has cleared up! The position is roughly equal. Being in time-trouble, Garry overlooked a considerable advantage. 41...Kxg3 42.Bxh5 Kf4 43.Rf2+ [Michael doesn’t let Kasparov entrap him, playing 43.Nc6 Rb6 44.Rxd6? Ne4 45.Rg6 Ra6+ 46.Kb2 Raa1. Black poses decisive threat.] 43...Ke4 [43...Ke3 44.Rf3+ Kd2 (44...Kxd4 45.c3+) 45.Rf2+ would have lead to a draw] Kasparov: It was worth to go for perpetual check after 43...Ke3 44.Rf3+ Kd2 (44...Kxd4 45.c3+) 45.Rf2+ Kc3 (45...Kc1 46.c4+-) 46.Rf3+ 44.c3 Rb6 45.Bg6+ Ke3 46.Rf3+ Kd2 47.b4 Re7 Here comes the last trap. And a draw! It represents a poor result for Garry. Outplaying his counter-part, he was too nervous when playing in time-trouble and lost a safe point. Kasparov: Final position is slightly better for White but Adams was really tired and he

accepted my draw offer. 1/2-1/2

White has no advantage. 13.Qg2 Nxd4 This leads to thorough exchanges. 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bxb7 Qd7 16.Nf3 Rab8 17.c3 Rxb7 18.Nxd4 Qd5 The game is still even. A draw is going to come of it. ½-½

Topalov,V - Morozevich,A [C11] This is the game of the leaders! Taking into account the fact that both opponents are quite dashing fellows, one of them is going to gain 2 out of two… The 1.e4 e6 move suggests French Defense! The succession 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 represents Morozevich’s favorite line. After that the succession a7-a6, b7-b5 and Bc8-b7... 7.Qd2 is most likely to be played. Usually 7.Nf3 was played. 7...b6 In this way the black Bishop reaches b7 quicker. It wouldn’t be realized after 7...a6 8.g3! 8.g3 Bb7N That’s a novelty. After the 8...f5 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.d5 Bxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Qxd5 exd5 13.0–0–0 c6 14.f4 Nd7 15.Bd3 succession White used to gain the upper hand. Gross,D-Pcola,P/Germany 1998/GER-chT2 1/2–1/2/ (24) 9.Bg2 Qc8 There is a threat of the white Knight’s jumping back with a check. 10.f4 0–0 A brave decision. However, Black has no easy ways here. 11.Bf3 A shrewd move. A long side castling would have been more natural. 11...Nc6 Evidently, Alexander dreams of playing Rf8-d8, creating more tension around the d4-square. 12.0–0–0 Rd8 Black is through with the development, though not all of his pieces are positioned well enough. I have a feeling that

Gurevich,M - Shirov,A [A29] Michael’s fiasco in the first round is bound to make him play with scrupulous care today. The succession 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 suggests English opening, which implies a slow, positional game. The succession 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.d3 is quite modest. Now, the pawn occupying the d2-square, everyone is after playing Ra1–b1 with a further b2-b4. 7...Be7 8.a3 Be6 9.0–0 It’s also possible to play 9.b4 at once. 9...0–0 10.b4 Nd4 A standard lunge. Black intends to move his pawn to the c6-square, so as to make things more difficult for White’s g2-Bishop. 11.Bb2 [It would be bad to play 11.Nxe5 Bf6 12.f4 (12.Bf4 g5) 12...Nb3 with the loss of the material.] 11...Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 c6 The position is roughly even. The development is completed, both parties have no weaknesses. 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bd5 15.Bc3 Michael provokes Alexei to make the active f7-f5 move. I believe it to be dangerous tactics. It would be more cautious to play 15.Nd2 15...Rc8 16.Qb2 Re8 [However, the succession 16...f5 17.Nd2 Qc7 did deserve

attention, with Black’s slight further advantage in the center.] 17.Bg4! Great use is being made of the absense of Black’s f8-Rook. 17...Rc7 18.f4!? Michael captures the initiative! 18...Bxe4 19.dxe4 Bf6 20.Rad1 Qe7 Black fights for the e5-square with all his power not to surrender any space whatsoever. So much the better for him! 21.Bxd7 [To my mind, it would be stronger to play 21.e3, keeping the tension in the center.] 21...Rxd7 22.Rxd7 Qxd7 23.fxe5 Bd8 The situation has greatly changed. Now it’s White’s turn to take care of the equality in spite of the odd pawn. His pawns are quite weak. 24.Kg2 Bc7 25.Bd4 a6 26.Qc3 Re6! 27.Rf3 Qe8! A strong maneuver. White cannot retain the e5-pawn for love or money. 28.Rd3 h6 29.Qd2 Kh7 30.Bc5 Rxe5 Black has won the pawn back, and he has an opportunity to win. 31.Rd7 Rd5 What a move!! It would also be reasonable to play 31...b6 32.Rxc7 bxc5, with Black’s further slight advantage. 32.exd5 Qxd7 33.Qd3+ Kg8 34.d6 [It would have been nice to play 34.e4, followed by White’s slight advantage.] 34...Bd8 35.h3 Qe6 36.e4 [The 36.d7 move being made, Black would have responded with the succession 36...f5 37.Kf3 h5, followed by equal chances.] 36...b6 37.Bf2 Kf8 38.g4 Ke8 Black has gained control over the d7-square. Black is out of danger again. 39.Kf3 b5 40.Be3 Qf6+ 41.Ke2 Kd7 With Black’s appearance on d7, it is only Black who can play aiming to win. 42.Bd4 Qg6 [42...Qxd6 43.Bxg7 would be profitable for White] 43.Be5 h5 44.Qf3 hxg4 45.hxg4 [Surely the Queen exchange disagrees with White, the succession of moves being 45.Qxg4+? Qxg4+ 46.hxg4 Bf6!–+] 45...Bf6! All the exchanges are in Black’s favor, that’s why White has to retreat. 46.Bxf6?! The decision is not obvious. I would have played 46.Bg3 46...Qxf6 47.Qe3 Qxd6 48.Qa7+ Ke6

49.Qxa6 Ke5 It stands to reason that Michael traded off the Bishops in vein. The Queen’s ending is not desirable at all. 50.Qa7 Qe6 51.Kf2 Qa2+ 52.Kg3 Kxe4 53.Qc5 Qd5 54.Qc1 g5 55.Qe1+ Kd3 56.a4 Despair. 56...bxa4 57.Qd1+ Kc3 58.Qxa4 Qd3+

The Queen exchange is inevitable. White has resigned. The class of the chess-player is self-evident! Shirov all of a sudden won the position which was even, catching up with the leaders. 0–1 Bareev,E - Movsesian,S [A35] Yesterday Eugeny’s draw accorded with his plan, but today he definitely counts on a win. Sergey should hold his own: Everyone is eager to gain points at outsiders’ expense. In spite of the 1.c4 move, we came across the 1.d4 move more often in Bareev’s games earlier. Perhaps he would like to keep his main lines for the tournaments’ topplayers… After the succession 1...c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5, Black weakens the d5 square, but on the other hand he prevents the d2-d4 move. 4.g3 g6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 Nge7 7.Rb1 0–0 8.Ne1N A move containing an idea. White gains full control over d5. The Knight moves from e1 to c2 and supports the b2-b4 breakthrough, and then moves to e5 provided there is an opportunity to pass via e3. 8...d6 9.Nc2 Be6 10.Nd5 Exactly. Black threatened to occupy the space in the center by means of playing d6-

d5. 10...a5 11.d3 Formally speaking, it’s a novelty. Weaker players used to make the 12.a3?! move. 11...Rb8! Black not only prevented White from performing the b2-b4 breakthrough, but prepared his own b7-b5. It looks like he is OK. 12.Bd2 b5 Black’s strategy is quite successful. So White should be careful. 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.cxb5 a4! Sergei is really doing a good job today. His play has been irreproachable so far. 15.Na3 Bxa2 16.Qxa4! Eugeny feels that the standard methods of fighting bring no results. He changes his play’s character drastically. As a result of sacrificing exchange, White has the chances to capture the initiative. 16...Bxb1 17.Rxb1 d5 18.b4 cxb4 19.Bxb4 Re8 [Perhaps it would be stronger to play 19...Bf6 20.Qb3 h5] 20.Qb3 Bf8 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Nc2 Such play aims at winning! Eugeni exploits simple play on the white squares. After the 22.Bxd5 Qxa3 23.Bxf7+ Kg7 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Qxa3 Bxa3 26.b6, the end-game would be roughly equal. 22...d4 23.Bc6 After playing 23.b6 Rec8 24.b7 Rc3 25.Qb2, White would have stood no worse, to say the least. Once again Eugeni was quick to sign the peace deal! White could have played a bit longer. My estimate is justified: Bareev is quite peaceful at this tournament.] ½-½ Bacrot,E - Georgiev,K [E13] Etienne must reveal all his talent today. He is the one who can play. After the succession 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 Bb7, Nimzo-Indian Defense was transposed to a line of Queen’s Indian Defense. 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Black plans to develop the Queen’s Knight and put it to d7, but Black shouldn’t directly play d7-d6 because of the White Queen’s lunge on the a4-square. 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 [I like 9...g5 10.Bg3

Qe7 better] 10.f3 Qe7 11.Bd3 g5 12.Bf2 With the order of moves Kirill had chosen, White’s Bishop moved to f2 before one could say Jack Robinson. 12...Nh5 White has two Bishops and the excellent center. But Black has no weaknesses and his Knights can successfully withstand White’s Bishops in a closed position. The estimate is as follows: White stands slightly better. 13.a4 a5 It is not profitable to let White play a4-a5... 14.Rb1 ...but now the b6-square is weakened and it is necessary to beware the c4-c5 blow. 14...f5 15.h4 Kf7 [There being White’s Rook, it would be frightening to play 15...0– 0–0, but Black’s King won’t feel at ease on f7 either.] 16.Qc2 Ndf6 There was a threat of the g2g4 move. 17.c5! A classical breakthrough. White’s Knight gets the c4-square. 17...dxc5 18.Nc4 Nd7! Kirill is surely on the defensive. It is no good letting White’s Knight occupy the e5-square. 19.g4!? A real hurricane sets in! 19...Bxf3 20.Rg1 Nhf6 [I don’t think it would be nice to play 20...Bxg4 21.Rxg4 fxg4 22.Bg6+] 21.gxf5 exf5 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Nd2 Be4 24.Rxg5 Rh1+ 25.Ke2 Rah8 Swimming in a rough sea, Black still retains the extra pawn. Therefore it is White who must show what he has in store. 26.Rxh1 Rxh1 27.Nxe4 fxe4 28.Qb3+ Kf8 29.Bb5 cxd4 [It would be strong to play 29...Rh2 ] 30.cxd4 Qb4 Two white Bishops are supposed to compensate for the absence of the pawn in the ending. I think the position to be roughly equal. 31.Bc4 Etienne agrees to the Queen exchange, but he doesn’t want to provide his opponent with a passed pawn. 31...Rc1 32.Bg8! Qxb3 33.Bxb3 And he had his way. 33...Rc3 His white-square Bishop is not happily positioned, though. 34.Be6 Rc6 35.Bb3 Rc3 36.Be6 Rc6

37.Bb3 Rc3 The game has ended in a draw. It is not an unexpected result. ½-½

square. 19...a4 White as well as Black has no shrewd plan. My estimate is as follows: The game is going to end in a draw. ½-½

Sokolov - Short [D35]

Round 3

1.d4 After his yesterday’s fiasco suffered from Topalov (Nidgel played with White), Short will try to win back today. 1...e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Bf5 Short’s favourite continuation. In the ensuing endgame after 7.Qf3 Bg6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 Nigel hasn’t faced great problems so far. 7.Qf3 Bg6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 Key position of the line. Black’s spoilt pawn structure of the kingside is compensated with the two Bishops advantage. Now Black has a clear-cut plan of transposing the Knight to e4. 10.h4 [10.g3 Nd7 11.Bh3 Nb6 12.Nf3 Nc4 13.0–0–0 Bb4 14.Nh4 a5 15.Bf5 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nd6= Tal,M-Spassky,B/Sochi 1973/½–½ (57)] 10...Nd7 11.Nge2 Ivan is going to put the Knight on the f4-square, strengthening it with the g3-pawn. [11.h5 Bf5 12.0–0–0 0– 0–0 13.Nf3 Bg4?! 14.Be2 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 f5 16.Be2 Nf6 17.Rh3 +/=Volkov,SKharlov,A/St. Petersburg 1998/1–0 (58)] 11...Bd6N Black is trying to interfere with White’s plot. Now on Nf4 he is going to capture with the Bishop, and after capturing with the “e”pawn Black has no problem at all. So now 11.g3 deserves attention, so as to capture the f4-square with the g-pawn. 12.h5N Bf5 13.Nc1 Rg8 14.g3 a5 15.Bd3 White has chosen a plan implying the exchange of Bishops, and from my point of view it’s a harmless plan. After Bxd3 Nxd3 f5 followed by Nf6 and Ne4, Black can feel at ease. 15...Bxd3 16.Nxd3 f5 17.Ke2 Ke7 Black’s King strives to move to e6, protecting the weak f5-pawn. 18.Rac1 h6 19.Nb1 The c3-square was not a happy square for the Knight, that’s why White transposes this piece to a better

May 19, 2000 Morozevich - Sokolov 1-0 Short - Bareev 0-1 Shirov - Topalov 1-0 Kasparov - Gurevich 1-0 Georgiev - Adams 1/2 Movsesian - Bacrot 0-1 Shirov,A - Topalov,V [C11] 1.e4 e6 Surprise! Veselin has “betrayed” his favorite Sicilian and opted for French defense. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.Nf3 a6!? I am under impression, that Alexander Morozevich is playing on the black side! This is his favorite system. 8.c4 f5 9.Nc3 Bf6 This is a novelty After the moves transposition 9...c5 10.d5 Bf6 White placed his Queen on c2 and obtained some advantage, but lost anyway 11.Qc2 e5 12.0– 0–0 0–0 13.Nd2 Bg7 14.f3 Qf6 15.Bd3 b5!? 16.h3 b4 17.Na4 a5 18.Kb1 Na6 19.Nb3 Re8 20.Rhf1 +/- Wang ZiliDreev,A/Shenyang 1999/ 0–1 (73) 10.Qd2 c5 11.d5 0–0 12.0–0–0 e5 13.h4 b5!? I guess this game will be the scoring one! 14.d6 This position is very sharp. Since white is slightly up in development, I evaluate this position in Shirov’s favor. 14...Nc6 15.d7 Somewhat risky move. [15.Nd5! looks very strong because 15...Qxd6? fails to 16.Qh6] 15...Bb7 Black is about to complete the development. Topalov has good chances to contend for the key squares at the center. 16.Qd6! [If 16.Qh6 Bg7 17.Qd6, then 17...e4! 18.Ng5 Nd4 with good position for Black. After the move White made the same idea 16...e4

does not work in view of 17.Nd5!] 16...e4 17.Nd5 Here we go! I see a very beautiful variation leading to Black being checkmated. 17...Bg7 18.Ng5 I am looking forward to seeing the variation 18...h6 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Nd4 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Qg6!!! with checkmate... 18...Nd4 Veselin has not desire to be a co-author of the above mentioned short game. 19.Ne7+ Kh8 It looks like Alexey is calculating the consequences of the blows on f5 and f8. 20.Rh3 Reserved continuation. [Shirov missed the combination 20.Nxf5! Nxf5 21.Qxf8+! Qxf8 22.d8Q didn’t he? I think he disliked the variation 21...Bxf8! 22.Nxf7+ Kg7 23.Nxd8 Rxd8 and Black’s minor pieces are very active] 20...f4 21.Kb1! Only a great maestro can combine subtle preventive moves and elegant positional maneuvers with sharp blows! Shirov is one of such players 21...b4 [On 21...h6 highly unpleasant for Black is 22.f3!, opening up the diagonal for dissecting the diagonal for the f1 Bishop. Though this move is good for White on any Black’s continuation.] 22.Be2!? Such Shirov’s move are difficult to guess! 22...f3 [On 22...Nxe2, White conceived 23.Qxc5 with an idea of Qc5-f5h7 checkmate.] 23.gxf3 Nxe2 24.Qxc5 The only difference from the last variation is that the black e2 Knight can return to his camp through f4. Though, it will not help Black much. 24...Nf4 25.Qf5 Ng6 26.h5 Well, it looks like Black can’t excape the checkmate! 26...Qxe7 27.hxg6

Quick Topalov’s downfall! He had not got in the details of Morozevich’s variation and

was swept by White’s crushing attack. 1–0

Kasparov,G - Gurevich,M [C11] The Belgian GM is having hard time. Outsiders are under tremendous both chess and psychological pressure in such supertournaments. 1.e4 e6 Right! Pirc defense is too unsafe. Old good French defense has always served faithfully to Michail. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.Nf3 a6 Morozevich’s variation occured for the second time in this round! 8.g3 b5 9.Bg2 Logical move. White has counterweighted the black b7 Bishop. 9...Bb7 10.Qe2 Nd7 11.0–0 0–0 12.Rfd1 Novelty. 12...Bd5 13.c3 f5 14.Ned2 c5? 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nf1! Kasparov: The knight goes to e3. This maneuver essentially improves this line in White’s favor. 16…Qc7 17.Rxd5! Kasparov: After this move I considered that Black was completely destroyed. As usual, this made me a little bit distracted and stepby-step my advantage was reduced to an equal position. 17…exd5 18.Ne3 Bf6 19.Nd4 Garry has not decided yet which pawn d5 or f5 his e3Knight will snatch. His last move opened up the diagonal for both his Queen and Bishop. Kasparov: An inaccuracy. Stronger is 19.Rd1 Rad8 (19...Rae8 20.Qc2) 20.Nd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Qe5 22.Qh5 followed by Rh4 with a dangerous attack. 19...Bxd4 20.cxd4 Ne4 21.Nxd5! White is going to capture the f5-pawn later, in order to deprive Black of the e4-outpost. [This is better than 21.Nxf5 Kh8!] Kasparov: There was a wide choice. Probably, 21.Nxd5 is not the best. First I was thinking about 21.Qh5 but Black is OK after 21... 21...Qd6 22.Qxf5 (22.Nxf5 Qf6) 22...Rad8; Another try was 21.Nxf5 Kh8 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.Qxe4 - White has two pawns for the exchange, the d-pawn is strong while the

Black king’s position is dubious. However, White’s advantage is not decisive, of course... Now I think the best alternative was the positional 21.Bh3 Rfe8 22.Bxf5 Nf6 23.Qd1 with idea Rc1. The position is quite unpleasant for Black. 21...Qd6 [If 21...Qd8 than 22.Ne3. White should make this move anyway] 22.Ne3 Qf6 [In case of 22...Qg6 White has an interesting trick in store - 23.g4 fxg4 24.Nd5!, though it is not so clear...] Kasparov: Black has almost equalized. 23.Qh5 Kasparov: Better is 23.Nxf5 Qxf5 24.Bxe4 Rfe8 25.Re1 Qd7 26.Qh5 f5 27.Bd5+ Kh8 28.Rxe8+ Qxe8 29.Qd1 with a drawish endgame. Maybe White is slightly better (the plan is Bf3, Kg2, d5). 23…Rad8 24.Nxf5 I am not sure, that it was a good move [White could have transpose into much better endgame after 24.Qxf5! Qxf5 25.Nxf5] Kasparov: Logical continuation of adventurous strategy. Objectively better is 24.Qxf5 Qxf5 25.Nxf5 Nd6 26.Ne7+ Kg7 27.Nc6 - White has some initiative but it can hardly be sufficient for a win. 24...Nd6! 25.Ne3 [After 25.Qg4+ Kh8 26.Ne3 Rg8 Black captures the d4-pawn anyway.] 25...Qxd4 Black is OK now. 26.Rd1 Qg7 somewhat apprehensive move. It is common story with Garry’s opponents. After stubborn 26...Qxb2! only White could have been in danger.] Kasparov: (?!)Of course, better is 26...Qxb2 27.Qg5+ (27.Qh6 f6 and White’s attack is over.) 27...Qg7 28.Qxg7+ Kxg7 29.Rxd6 Rxd6 30.Nf5+ Kf6 31.Nxd6 Ke5 and the endgame can be dangerous for White. 27.Rd5 Kh8 Surprisingly enough, Black could have grabbed the b2-pawn even at this point, though it was much stronger on the previous move. 28.Qd1 Kasparov: [28.b3 is worth attention] 28…Nb7 29.b4! The survivor is coming into play. Whtie has good compensation for exchange. 29...Rxd5? Mikhail lost the tread! [Much better was 29...Qf6 with an unclear position.] 30.Qxd5 Nd8 31.Qd6

Kasparov: Going for the black a-pawn. Further developments show that this idea is maybe dubious. Probably 31.Bh3 (with idea Bf5) is better. 31…Ne6 32.Qxa6. White is on the top again. 32...Nd4 33.h4 Somewhat dubious move. [More logical was 33.a4; or 33.Qd6 ] 33...f5! 34.Nd5 Ne2+ 35.Kf1 f4! Black launches a dangerous counterattack employing the white Queen’s absence on the kingside. Kasparov: Well played. (Less dangerous was 35...Re8 36.Nf6=) Gurevich organized some nice counterplay in time trouble. I had to defend very precisely. 36.Kxe2 The only move. 36...fxg3 [More promising was 36...Qe5+! 37.Kd3 f3 38.Bxf3 Rxf3+ 39.Ne3 Rxf2] Kasparov: More unpleasant for me would be 36...Qe5+ 37.Kd3 f3 38.Bxf3 Rxf3+ 39.Ne3 Rxf2 40.Qc8+ Kg7 41.Qg4+ Kh6 42.Qd7 should be drawn but the defending side is White. 37.Qd6 [The continuation 37.Qxb5 Rxf2+ 38.Kd3 Rxg2 39.Qe8+ Qg8 40.Qe5+= leads to the perpetual.] 37...Qb2+. Strange decision. The time trouble has taken its toll. [Why not 37...Rxf2+ 38.Kd3 Rxg2 39.Qd8+ with draw?] Kasparov: (?)In time trouble Gurevich misses a simple draw: 37...Rxf2+ (Not 37...gxf2 38.Ne3 with better chances for White) 38.Kd3 Rxg2 (38...Qg6+ 39.Qxg6 hxg6 40.Ne3 Rxa2 41.Ke4 Rb2 42.Kf4 Rxb4+ 43.Kxg3=) 39.Qb8+ Qg8 40.Qe5+=; 38.Kd3 Rxf2 Kasparov: Now it’s White’s turn to check. If Black can escape here it should be quite difficult. Not better is 38...Qb1+ 39.Kd4 Qb2+ 40.Kc5 Qxf2+ 41.Kxb5+39.Qb8+ Kg7 40.Qxg3+ Kh8 The time scramble is over. White emerged with some extra material. If Garry finds the way to escapre with his King from the checks, he will win this game. 41.Qb8+ Just in case Garry decided to give a few checks. [Worth considering is 41.Bf3!?, with an idea to escape with the King to d6.] 41...Kg7 42.Qc7+ Kf8 [If 42...Kh6 43.Qd6+ Kh5 then 44.Nf4+ Kxh4 45.Ke3! wins] 43.Qe7+ Kg8 44.Qg5+ Garry transferred his Queen

to g5 in order to control the d2 square. 44...Kh8 45.Be4! Qc2+ 46.Kd4 Qd2+ 47.Kc5 Qxg5 48.hxg5 The rest is smooth sailing. 48...Rxa2 49.Kxb5 Re2 50.Nc3 Re3 51.Kc4 Rg3 52.b5 Rxg5 53.b6

Dramatic battle! Mikhail was last to make mistake. The evaluation of the critical positions during the games changed in a very wide range. 1–0

Morozevich,A - Sokolov,I [C34] 1.e4 e5 2.f4 King’s gambit! Another good old opening which Sasha (together with Alexey Fedorov) revitalized. [English players, particularly Nigel Short, deserve much of the credit. -ed.] 2...exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7 Rare continuation. 4.d4 d5 5.Qe2 This is a novelty. [Boris Vasilievich opted for another move - 5.Nc3 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Ng6 7.h4 Qe7?! 8.Kf2! Bg4 9.h5 Nh4 10.Bxf4 Nc6 11.Bb5 0–0–0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Qd3 Nxf3 14.gxf3 Bf5 15.Qa6+ Kb8 16.Nc5 Bc8 17.Qxc6 Rxd4 18.Rae1 +- Spassky,BSeirawan,Y/Montpellier 1985/Candidates/1– 0 (32)] 5...Ng6! 6.h4 [the continuation 6.exd5+ Be7 favors Black, because he gets upper hand in development] 6...dxe4 [The symmetrical 6...h5!?, securing the black Knight’s position on g6.] 7.Qxe4+ Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Nxe7 [On 8...Bxe7 Ivan feared 9.h5] 9.Nc3 White is better developed. Morozevich is going to get the f4 pawn back pretty soon. The conclusion suggests itself – White is better.

9...c6 10.Bc4 [10.Bxf4!? +=] 10...Nf5 11.0– 0 Sasha plays in the spirit of King’s gambit. Development is above all! The f4-pawn will be captured anyway. 11...f6 It looks like Ivan did not get into details of this opening. His position is dubious. The main opening principles should not be neglected. 12.Bxf4 Bd6 13.Rae1+ Kd8 14.Nd2 Bxf4 15.Rxf4 Nd6 Surprisingly enough, despite only one and half pieces developed Black still holds. 16.Bd3 Nd7 17.h5! Fixing the Black’s kingside weaknesses. [After 17.Rg4 Black holds the position by 17...g6] 17...h6 18.Re3 Re8 Ivan has put up stubborn resistance. Finally his other pieces came into play. 19.Rg3 Re7 20.Nce4 Ne8 21.c4 Nf8 Although all Black’s pieces are arranged on the eighth rank, it is not so clear how White can win. 22.d5 very aggressive thrust. The Rook’s retreat to f1 also deserved consideration. 22...cxd5 23.cxd5 Re5 Three results can’t be ruled out in this game. White has his own weaknesses. 24.Nc3 Rxh5 25.Re3 Nd6 26.Nf3 Nf7 Black let the white Rook penetrate to his camp through e4. [More natural was 26...f5 with an idea of g7g5 è f5-f4. Though, in this case the black h5 Rook looks a little bit ridiculous.] 27.Rfe4 Ne5 Forced. Black will not survive the white Rook infiltration on e7. 28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.Rxe5 fxe5 30.Rf3! The positional nuances turned out to be more important than extra material one more time! [After 30.Rxe5 Nd7 31.Re2 Nf6 32.d6 Ne8 Black has some drawing chances.] 30...Ke7 31.d6+ Ke8 32.Nb5 White has a strong attack; Black did not have time to bring his Rook into action. 32...Ne6 33.Bg6+ Kd8 34.Rf7 Bd7 35.Bf5 Be8 36.Re7! Nd4 37.Nc7! Bc6 [37...Nxf5 38.Rxe8+] 38.Bh3

11.Bc2 Qc8 12.h3 Bd7 13.Nbd2 c6 14.dxc6 [Sergey used to play 14.b4 Nb7 15.dxc6 Qxc6 16.Bb2 before] 14...Qxc6 This is the correct way to capture on c6. Black’s lightsquared Bishop will be very well placed on e6. 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.Ng3 g6 17.Qe2 Logical novelty. In this line White should put some pressure on the e5-square in order to prevent Black from breaking through at the center by d6-d5 e5. [White had other options 17.Bh6 ; and 17.Nh2 ] 17...Rfe8 18.a4 Bf8 Brilliant final touch! The black King is surrounded. If 38...Rb8 then simple 39.Rxg7 wins. Sasha punished Ivan for latter’s dubious opening strategy. 1–0

Georgiev,K - Adams,M [E34] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 Romanishin variation has become extremely popular lately. 6.e3! [On 6.Nf3 strong is 6...Qf5!] 6...c5 7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 cxd4 9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Bc3 In order to preserve two Bishops White should try hard. 10...0–0 11.Nf3 Qc5 12.Rc1 Nd5 13.Bd2 Qxc2 14.Rxc2 Rd8 [Greed is a sin! After 14...Ndb4 15.Rc4 Nxa2? 16.Ra4 White traps this greedy Knight.] 15.a3 h6 16.b4N [White is better after 16.Bb5 Bd7 17.Bc4 Nb6 18.Bb3 Ne7 19.0–0 Rac8 20.Rxc8 Nbxc8 21.Rc1 Bc6 22.Ba5 b6 23.Be1 Dreev,A-Adams,M/Las Vegas 1999/1/2–1/2 (51)] 16...a6 17.Bc4 e5 18.0–0 Bf5 19.Rcc1 It is a typical position of this variation. White has slight advantage thanks to the pair of Bishops. 19...e4 20.Nd4 There is not other move. White has to loosen his pawn structure. 20...Nxd4 21.exd4 Rac8 22.Bxd5 Ups! White is not hiding his drawing intentions. [22.Bb3 was stronger and more consistent] ½–½

Movsesian,S - Bacrot,E [C91] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ruy Lopez. 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.d4 This line (without prior h2h3) is also well-known. 9...Bg4 10.d5 Na5

The position is about equal. It long way to fight. It looks like both parties will maintain the tension at the center for some time. 19.Nh2 Typical Lopez way to take control over the d5 square. The white Knight is heading for g4 aiming to remove Black’s f6 Knight. 19...Be6 20.Qf3 Bg7 21.Rd1 Black is fine. It is time to calculate a typical break through d6-d5. 21...h5 Everybody likes such moves. Both White’s Knights found themselves in trouble. 22.Bg5 Nh7 [Interesting complications arise after 22...Nxb2!?, for example, 23.Bxf6 Nxd1 24.Nxh5!? Qxc3 25.Qxc3 Nxc3 26.Nxg7 Rec8 leads to an endgame which is hard to evaluate]. 23.Bc1 Nf6 24.Bg5 The game is going to be drawn in the middle of the battle, isn’t it? 24...Nd7 No way! Etien is young and ambitious. If not to play chess at 17, and accept any draw being 17, what will happen with such a player in the future? 25.b3 Na5 26.b4 Nc4 Having spurned a draw, Black lost control over the d5 square. Etien might regret it. 27.a5 Sergey is consistent in his efforts to take control over the d5 square. The b6 square is taboo for the black Knights. 27...Rac8 28.Nhf1 Nb2 Black is first to engineer some active play. White’s c3 pawn is weak. 29.Rdb1 Na4 30.Bxa4 bxa4 31.Rc1 d5! White has come one tempo short (to place his Knight on e3). Black is better now! 32.c4 Dubious attempt to confuse the issue. 32...dxc4 33.Ne2 Rb8 34.Rcb1 f6 35.Bd2 f5 36.Nc3 Nf6 37.Qg3 Kh7 38.exf5 Bxf5 39.Rb2 Red8 40.Qe3 Rd3 41.Qe1 Ne4 Young French star’s triumph! Black’s pieces are swarming. Movsesian lost the battle at the center. 42.Nxe4 Bxe4 43.f3 Bd5

44.Rc2 e4 45.Bc3 Bxc3 [45...exf3 46.Bxg7 fxg2 47.Be5 gxf1Q+ 48.Qxf1 Re8 also wins] 46.Rxc3 Re8 Etien is afraid selling too cheap. [Active 46...exf3 deserved attention again] 47.Rxd3 exd3 48.Qf2 Re2 The evaluation of the positions has not changed much. White is doomed. 49.Qa7+ Qb7 50.Qc5 Bxf3! Impressive final blow!. 51.gxf3 Qxf3 52.Qc7+ Kh6 53.Qg3 Qxg3+ 54.Nxg3 Re5 55.Kf2 c3 56.Nf1 Re2+ It is noticable that Etien is flustering up. Otherwise this game would have been over a few moves earlier. [More simple was 56...c2 ] 57.Kf3 Rb2 58.Ke3 c2 59.Nd2 a3! 60.b5 [60.Kxd3 Rb1!] 60...Rxb5 61.Kxd3 Rb1!

White resigns. 0-1 After 62.Rxb1 cxb1Q 63.Nxb1 a2 the black pawn queens. Good win of the French chess prince! I would like to draw your attention to his competent positional play right after the opening. He completely outplayed his opponent at the center and gradually converted. Short,N - Bareev,E [B15] 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 dxe4 4.Bc4 Rare move. White sacrifices the pawn, in order to outdistance Black in development. 4...Nf6 5.f3 This is the main idea of this variation. After 5...exf3 6.Nf3 White has good compensation for a pawn. 5...b5N [5...exf3 6.Nxf3 Bf5 7.0–0 e6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qe2 0–0 10.Rad1 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Bxd5 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 exd5 17.Rxd5 Rad8

18.Rfd1 Rxd5 19.Rxd5 Rd8 ½–½ Alexander,C-Golombek,H/Nottingham 1946/ (19)] 6.Bb3 e6 Interesting decision. Now if 7.fxe4 then 7...b4 followed 8...Nxe4; the capturing on e4 with the Knight is 7.Nxe4 is met by 7...Nxe4 8.fxe4 Qh4 and White is in trouble. 7.fxe4 b4 8.Nce2 Nxe4 9.Nf3It looks like Bareev refuted Short’s dubious experiment. Black is a pawn up, whereas White has no trace of compensation. 9...Ba6 10.0–0 Bd6 11.c4 Nigel’s best chance. Since the black b4 pawn hampers White’s queenside, Short is quick to exchange it 11...bxc3 12.bxc3 Nd7 13.Qc2 Nef6 A few last moves have not changed the evaluation of this position much. Black has still an extra pawn. His postition is safe. 14.c4 0–0 15.c5 Bc7 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Qc8 18.Rfe1 Logical move. The pin along the diagonal f1–a6 inhibited White’s play. 18...Bxe2 After the white Knight’s retreating from e2, the black Bishop’s position on a6 would be useless. 19.Rxe2 Nd5 20.Rf1 Qa6 21.Re4 A strange position emerged. White has no active play; on the other hand Black has problems finding a plan of converting his extra pawn. The game will be decided in the time trouble. 21...Rae8 22.Rfe1 N7f6 23.Bxf6 Nxf6 24.Rh4 Qa5 25.Re2 Black has made much better job for last several moves. Now Euvgeny stands much better due to his extra pawn and the misplaced White’s Rook on h4 25...Re7 26.g3 Rb8 27.Kg2 Rbe8 28.Qd3 Nd5 29.Ne5 Qc3 30.Qxc3 Nxc3 31.Rd2 Bxe5 32.dxe5 Nd5 33.Ra4 Rb8 34.Ra5 Kf8 35.Kf3 Reb7 36.h4 Ke7 37.Rd4 f6 38.exf6+ gxf6 39.Rda4 Nc3 40.Ra3 Nb5 41.R3a4 Rd7 The time scramble is over. Black has a winning position. 42.Bc4 Nc3 43.Ra3 Nb1 44.R3a4 Nd2+ 45.Ke3 Rg8 46.Be2 Rxg3+ 47.Kf2 Rc3 48.Rxa7 Ne4+ 49.Kg2 Nxc5 50.Rxd7+ Kxd7 51.Ra7+ Kd6 The complications are over. White has only one passer (the a pawn), whereas Black has tree ones! This uneven battle won’t last long...

52.a4 Rc2 53.Kf1 Ke5 54.a5 Kf4 55.Rg7 Ne4 56.Bd3 Ra2 57.a6 Nd2+ 58.Kf2 Nf3+ 59.Be2 Nd4 60.Rg4+ Ke5

0–1 Summary: Nigel Short played originally in the opening, sacrificing a pawn on move four. Evgeny Bareev having the black pieces confidently accepted this sacrifices and competently transformed his advantage into the victory.

Round 4 (Shipov, Belov) May 20, 2000 Sokolov - Shirov 1/2 Short - Morozevich 1/2 Topalov - Kasparov 1/2 Gurevich - Georgiev 1/2 Adams - Movsesian 1/2 Bareev - Bacrot 1-0 Topalov,V - Kasparov,G [D43] This meeting of two faithful followers of the Sicilian Defense can turn into an acute fight. Let’s wait for the new revelations in the chess theory! 1.d4 Everything is clear. After yesterday’s defeat Veselin wants to play in a more effective way. Kasparov: What a surprise! I didn’t take 1.d4 seriously - I was preparing for our old discussion of principle in Sicilian. Topalov decided to play "a la Kramnik". Well, if he wanted to confuse me, I admit, he succeeded. I spent more than ten minutes for the very first move and this is my personal

record. 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 Sacrificing the c4-pawn White transposes the game into the Catalan positions. 5.Bg5 and 5.e3 are played more often Kasparov: When I played 1...d5 I had in mind the Meran variation of the Slav Defense. However, my adversary didn’t give me a chance to make correct predictions! 5...Nbd7 6.Bg2 dxc4! Right! This pawn had to be captured. 7.a4 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.e4 e5! A standard and very essential counter blow. Otherwise White would have completely captured the center. 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Bf4 Qa5 12.e6 White is unable to protect the e5-pawn for the 3rd time. Thus, he sacrifices it deforming the opponent’s pawn structure. All these tricks are well known. 12...fxe6 Kasparov: There was a game TopalovKramnik several years ago and I had a hazy recollection of what had happened there. 13.e5 White puts one more of his pawns under the opponent’s attack! He intends to use the opening files. Naturally, Veselin doesn’t want to repeat the following line 13.Qe2 Nge5 14.Nd4 Nd3 15.Nxe6 Rf6 16.Bc7 Qb4 17.Nd4 Bc5 18.Nc2 Qxb2 -/+ Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Linares 1997/0–1 (33) 13...Ndxe5 The pawn has to be captured or the c8-Bishop and g4-Knign would meet certain problems. Kasparov: Black must take this pawn, otherwise it is better to resign. 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qh5 Bd6 Well, Veselin, it’s time to draw the game by 16.Rae1 Rf5 17.Qe8+ Rf8 18.Qh5 - ? Black didn’t manage to remain on his feet after 15...Rf5 16.Qe8+ Bf8 17.Be4 Nf7 (17...Rxf4!?) 18.Bxf5 Qxf5 19.Rae1 e5 20.Bxe5 Qf3 21.Re3 Bh3 22.Qxf8+ Rxf8 23.Rxf3 Bxf1 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 25.Kxf1 +/- in the Mochalov,E-Yagupov,I game/Orel 1999/ 1–0 (37) Kasparov: Surprisingly I made a contribution to the theory of openings. 15...Bd6 followed by 16...Rf5 equalizes completely - this is a typical "improvised"

novelty. Other moves are bad for Black, e.g.: - 15...g5 16.Be4 Rf7 17.Bd2; - 15...Rf5 16.Qe8+ Bf8 16.Ne4 No! The Bulgarian fighter plays for the victory. 16...Rf5 In case of 16...Bc7 the following succession 17.Ng5 h6 18.Be4!? looks dangerous. Kasparov: There was a nice line with a queen sacrifice: 16...Bc7 17.Bd2 Qd5 18.Ng5 h6!? 19.Bxd5 exd5 threating Bc8g4. After 20.f3 or 20.h3 Black takes on g5 with a good compensation. Unfortunately, White could just play 18.Bb4! with a big advantage. 17.Qe8+ Kasparov: Now White has to force a draw. Other coninuations are good for Black: - 17.Ng5 h6 18.Be4 hxg5 19.Bxf5 Nf3+ 20.Qxf3 Qxf5 21.Qd1 Be7 22.Be3 e5; - 17.Bg5 Nf7; - 17.Qe2 Bf8 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Qxc4 Qb4 17… Rf8[17...Bf8 is not good due to 8.Nd6]

9.Bxe7 After 9.Ncxe4 dxe4 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 the e4-pawn is untouchable due to the loss of the piece. 9...Nxc3 10.Bxd8 Nxd1 11.Rxd1 Kxd8 12.c3 Nxd3+ 13.Rxd3 The position has become dry, and the game transposed into the absolutely equal endgame. 13...a5 14.Re3 Ra6 Obviously, Sasha won’t agree to a draw. It is quite possible to play for the victory in such a position because the Bishop is not at all better than the Knight in the closed position. 15.Kd2 Rf6 16.f3 Rg6 17.Rg1 Nigel liberates his Knight, which has a great choice where to move. 17...Rh6 18.h3 Re8 19.Rxe8+ Kxe8 20.Re1+ Kf8 21.Ne2 Rd6 22.h4 Nevertheless, it’s a draw! Even Morozevich failed to play for the victory in the French Defense.

18.Qh5 Rf5 19.Qe8+ Draw! The opening turned out to be insufficient for a serious fight for the advantage. 1/2 - 1/2 Short,N - Morozevich,A [C01] Obviously, Nigel doesn’t play well this time. Moreover, his first games played in this tournament showed that he is not good in the opening theory. Thus, Alexander has a real chance to take the lead in this tournament. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 The French Defense. There was no other choice. 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.exd5 Nigel steps aside of the main roads. 4...exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Nge2 Nb4 As usual, Sasha can’t resist the temptation to make the second move in the opening with the same piece! Formerly, he liked to exchange his Bishops for the Knights but now he does it vise versa. 8.Ng3 Ne4!? Suddenly, an acute position appeared in the even position!

1/2 - 1/2

Sokolov,I - Shirov,A [D18] Ivan entered the battle zone – yesterday he played Morozevich, today – Shirov, and tomorrow… 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 The Slav Defense. Alexei constantly plays this variation. 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.0–0 Bb4 9.Nh4 0–0 10.Nxf5 exf5 The rearrangement of moves caused the position from the 6.Nh4 variation to appear at the chessboard. 11.Qc2 g6 12.f3 An ordinary plan for such a

position – White opens the center by e3-e4. If he does it without any losses he will gain the advantage. 12...Rc8 For the time being it’s impossible to move e3-e4 due to the possibility of Nd7b6 with a double blow on c4 and d4. So, Alexei prepares c6-c5. 13.Kh1 A very useful prophylaxis. 13...c5 Now the b4-point is under pressure, and this disturbs White much. 14.Na2 Novelty. They also used to play 14.d5 Nb6 15.Ba2 c4 16.e4 fxe4 17.Bg5!? (The following line 17.fxe4 Ng4 18.Qe2 Ne5 19.Be3 a6 20.Bd4 Bd6 led to Black’s certain advantage in the Lautier,J-Sakaev,K game/Las Vegas 1999/1/2–1/2 (25)) 17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 e3 19.Bxe3 Nfxd5 20.Bh6 Re8 21.Rad1 a5 22.Rd4 with a compensation for White’s pawn. Sherbakov,R-Zontakh,A/Belgrade 2000/1/2–1/2 (38) 14...Ba5 15.dxc5 Qe7 Black’s forces are better mobilized and so, I think that he will gain the advantage when the game opens. 16.b4 Bxb4! 17.Nxb4 Qxc5 Black wins back a piece and gains the advantage. 18.Bb3!? Ivan sacrifices his pawn. [Black’s position is better in the following line 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Qb3+ Qc4] 18...Qxb4 19.Ba3 Qh4 20.Qa2 White found a pretty good compensation for the pawn. The pair of Bishops is very powerful. 20...Nc5 The sole defense. 21.Bc4 Nfd7 22.a5 b6 Alexei strengthened the position of his c5-Knight. Now White should better launch an attack along the main black diagonal. 23.Rac1 Ne5 24.axb6 axb6 25.Bd5 Rc7 The move is deliberately firm! He could also play 25...Ned3 26.Rb1 Qf6 , preventing White’s pieces from moving to b2. 26.Qb1 Rd7 27.Bxc5 It is not the most accurate way. Nevertheless, it’s a draw. It is a very interesting game that has certain theoretical importance. The opponents played well. 27.Qxb6 Rxd5 28.Bxc5 Re8 29.Bd4 would have led to White’s slight advantage insufficient for the victory. 1/2 - 1/2

Adams,M - Movsesian,S [B47] Michael has to start collecting points. I think that he will be able to do it in this game. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 The g2-g3 system is quite poisonous, and it’s difficult to display an activity playing with the black pieces. 7...d6 8.0–0 Bd7 [8...Nf6 is considered to be the main continuation of the position] 9.Re1 Now Black has to take into his consideration the possibility of Nc3-d5. 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Qg4 h5 12.Qe2 h4 13.a4 The position is widely used in the chess practice. It is not so easy for White to directly use his advantage in the development. 13...hxg3 Black could wait a little with the exchange. 14.hxg3 Nf6 15.Bf4 Rc8 I think that Sergei doesn’t have a clear plan yet. In my opinion, the King’s evacuation to the left - 15...0–0–0, also looked logic in order to develop an activity in the center and along the kingside. They also used to play 15...Nd7 16.Rad1 e5 The move was necessary because White could break through the center. 17.Bg5 The position became rather complicated. I consider it roughly even. 17...Kf8 Novelty. Black got a perfect position after 17...Qd7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.b3 Bd8 20.Rd3 Bb6 21.Red1 Rh6 22.R1d2 Bc5 23.Nd1 f5 in the Minasian,A-Tregubov,P game/Krasnodar 1997/1/2–1/2 (37), but White’s play can be obviously strengthened. 18.Bf3 g6 19.Bxf6 The right plan for White is to play on the light-colored squares. 19...Bxf6 20.Bg4 Then the Knight will move to d5 and after the exchange Black will no more be able to capture the c2-pawn. Due to this fact Michael drives Black’s Rook away from c8 first. 20...Ra8 21.b4!? Michael wants to drive the Black Bishop away from c6 and then to move his Knight to d5. 21.Qc4 looked good either. 21...Bg5 22.Qc4 Qe7 [After a hazardous 22...f5 White confidently plays 23.Bf3 and

Black is in trouble.] 23.Kg2 Michael provokes f7-f5! In case of a hasty 23.b5 axb5 24.axb5 Bd7 25.Nd5? Black could “please” the opponent playing off the following combination 25...Bxg4! 26.Nxe7 Bf3, mate.; 23.Nd5 with White’s obvious advantage looked strong either. 23...Kg7 [Probably, he had better played 23...f5 24.Bf3 Kg7 , for example, 25.b5 axb5 26.axb5 Be8 27.Nd5 Qf7, and Black stands firm.] 24.b5 axb5 25.axb5 Bd7 [ 25...Be8 26.Nd5 Qd8 27.Nc7 doesn’t look strong due to White’s obvious advantage.] 26.Nd5 Qd8 27.Bxd7 Qxd7 28.Rh1 Just look at the chessboard! The position is like a dream – White’s Knight is stronger than Black’s Bishop. 28...Rxh1 29.Rxh1 Qg4 Sergei has to create a counter game in order to survive in this severe struggle. He can think over Ra8-c8 and f7-f5!? 30.c3 Rc8 31.Qd3 Ra8 [He could also think about 31...f5!? provided that White was in time trouble.] 32.Qc4 Rc8 33.Qd3 Ra8 34.Nb6 Ra2 35.Nc4 Qe2? Here Black has a good blow 35...d5! , for example, 36.Qxd5 Bf4 37.Rh3 Qe2 , and White has to escape by 38.Rh7+ or 36.exd5 e4 37.Qd1 Qf5 38.Rf1 Qf6! with Black’s initiative. In any case, White would have been in a deep trouble. 36.Qxe2 Rxe2 37.Nxd6 Rc2 38.Kh3 What a strange move! The following line 38.Nxb7 Be3 39.Rf1 Bb6 40.Nd6 looks stronger 38...Rxf2 38...b6 would have made the game even. 39.Nxb7 Rc2 40.Kg4 [40.Na5!? also deserved the attention but White had no time to think it over.] 40...Be7 41.Na5 Draw! Michael gradually outplayed the opponent in the opening but he spent too much time and couldn’t maintain the advantage being in time trouble. I don’t think that this draw is a good result for him. If Sergei had played 35...d5!, White would have probably lost the game. 1/2 - 1/2

Bareev,E - Bacrot,E [A26] Etienne has cheered up! After his brilliant victory over Movsesian he deserves everybody’s attention. 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 It’s quite strange – Eugeny plays off the English Opening, though, in my opinion, after 1.d4 he is more dangerous! 4...g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 0–0 7.d3 d6 8.Rb1 a5 9.a3 h6 10.b4 White’s standard plan is to attack along the queenside and play on the light-colored squares. 10...axb4 11.axb4 Be6 12.b5 Ne7 13.Qb3 c6 Etienne immediately puts an obstacle on the way of the g2-Bishop. Formerly, it was the transposing of the Knight to c5 - 13...Nd7 14.Nd2 Nc5 15.Qc2 Qd7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.cxd5 Bf5 18.Nc4 b6 19.e4 Bh3 20.Be3 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 h5 22.Bxc5! bxc5 23.b6 with White’s advantage, Hodgson,JJussupow,A/Tilburg 1993/1/2–1/2 (67); They also used to play 13...Qd7 14.Ba3 Eugeny correctly notices the disadvantage of Black’s move – the d6-point got weak. 14...Re8 15.Rfc1 Novelty. White’s pieces are better mobilized. In my opinion, his position is slightly better. The following line 15.Nd2 d5 16.Bxe7 Rxe7 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Rfc1 Rea7 19.h3 Kh7 20.Qd1 Rb8 21.Na4 led to a quick draw in Manor,I-Zilberman,Y/Israel 1999/ (21) 15...g5 Black starts his counter game on the kingside. In case of 15...c5 White can play 16.Nd2 (or 16.Ra1 Qd7 17.Bb2) 16...Qd7 17.Nd5, and in case of the exchange at d5 the c4-square becomes free for the d2Knight. 16.e3 A very careful move. 16.d4 also deserves the attention, though Bareev doesn’t like such moves. 16...Bf5 [16...g4 17.Nd2 d5 with a good play for White also looked reasonable.] 17.Ne1 Be6 Etienne got confused. Two tempos are spent in vain. 18.Nc2 Eugeny gradually pumps the pressure on the queenside. 18...d5

At last, Black made this move. It seems to me that Black has serious problems. White will undoubtedly find a way to develop the initiative having such a strong position. 19.Bxe7! Rxe7 20.Nb4 dxc4 Tension at d5 and c6 became unbearable. Black has to take the strain off. 21.dxc4 cxb5 22.Nbd5! A brilliant decision! Using a tactical stratagem White gets the better pawn structure. 22.Nxb5 Rd7 looks harmless 22...Bxd5[22.Nxb5 Rd7 seems to be harmless.] 22...Bxd5 23.Nxd5 [23.cxd5 e4 24.Rd1 led to a more interesting development of the events.] 23...Nxd5 24.cxd5 e4 25.Rc5 However, Black would have had certain problems in the position with the oppositecolored Bishops, as well. He has a great number of pawn weaknesses. 25...Rc8 26.Rxb5 Re5 27.Rd1! [Eugene decided not to simplify Black’s play 27.Rxb7 Qxd5 28.Qxd5 Rxd5 29.Bxe4. Etienne doesn’t have much time.] 27...Rc7 28.Bh3 Qf6? It was a mistake. He could continue to resist by 28...Qd6, and in case of 29.Rb6 there is a reasonable response - 29...Rc3! 30.Qb5 Qa3 31.Rxb7 Rd3 Anyway, White was winning. 29.d6 Rxb5 30.Qxb5 Rc2 31.Bf5 Bf8 32.d7 Be7 33.d8R+ White forcefully wins the game. 33...Bxd8 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Rxd8 Rc1+ 36.Kg2 Qxf5 37.Qf8+ Kg6 38.Rd6+ Bareev made a great positional progress! This game can serve an example of the English Opening. 1-0 Gurevich,M - Georgiev,K [D37] I think that after 3 lost games Mikhail Gurevich, being a professional chess player, is not going to run risks. So, it is quite possible that the game will end in a draw. 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Bb6 12.0–0 A typical position with an isolated pawn appeared at the chessboard. White plans to press on the d5-pawn, while Black’s main

task is to properly distribute his pieces in the center and prepare for the d5-d4 breakthrough. 12...Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.Rc1N [14.b4 Qf6 15.g4 Bg6 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qc4 Rc8 19.Qe2 Rfe8 20.Bg3 Re4 21.Rad1± 1–0 Gavrikov,VVaganian,R/Tallinn 1988/(48)] 14...d4 Black realized the main idea of the variation – the d5-d4 breakthrough, and I don’t think that he will meet any problems in the future. 15.e4 He plays for the victory. 14.g4 could have led to a draw with the exchanges at g6 and d4. 15...Re8 16.g4 Bg6 17.Re1 Rc8 18.e5?! A questionable move. White’s idea is to transpose his King to d6. However, 18.e5 has certain disadvantages: first, the e5-pawn needs to be continuously protected and second, the d5-square that is very important for White is under Black’s control. 18...Qd5 The Queen takes her stand at d5. 19.b4?! What a strange move! I can’t see the idea of this move while, at the same time, it has an obvious disadvantage - the c3-square gets weak. 19...Ne7 The right move! The Knight makes way for the Rook, which is going to capture the c3-square. 20.Nh4 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Ng6 Black has an obvious advantage. 23.Nxg6 hxg6 24.f4? is losing due to 24...Rc8 and 25...Rc3. 23.Nxg6 hxg6 24.Bf4 a5?! 24...g5 with the idea of moving 25...Rc8 in case of 25.Bg3 deserved the attention. 24...Rc8 is bad due to 25.e6. 25.bxa5 Bxa5 26.Rb1 b6 White has a chance to equalize the position. Weak e5pawn and the White King’s open position are compensated for by uncomfortable position of the opponent’s Bishop at a5. 27.Qb5 Mikhail plays more effectively. White will easily draw the game in the endgame.27...Qe6! Right! In the presence of the Queens Black has more chances to use the advantage of his position. 28.Rd1 Rd8 29.Kg2 Rd5 30.Qd3 Bc3

31.Bd2 Kh7!? Obviously, Kiril decided that it was not so easy to realize his extra pawn after 31...Bxd2 32.Rxd2 Qxe5. By the last move he made a sly trap that is used in a great number of different variations. 32.f4 An important decision. Now, the White King unprotected. On the other hand, there no way how to defend the e5-pawn because 32.Bf4 32...Ra5 is very unpleasant Sure, the following line 32.Bxc3? dxc3 33.Qxd5 Qxd5+ 34.Rxd5 c2 is impossible, and the Black Pawn queens. 32...Rc5 33.Bc1 Ba5 34.Bd2 Qa2! Reminding of the White King’s weakness. 35.Kg3 Bc3 36.h4 Qb3 37.Rb1 Qd5 38.h5 Bxd2 39.hxg6+ fxg6 40.Qxd2 Rc3+ 41.Kh4 Rxa3 It becomes clear that the game is won for Black. Moreover, the White King is in the mating net. 42.Qh2 Kg8? [It was also promising to use 42...Qd8+! 43.g5 Qd5 with numerous mating threats on the weakened light-colored squares.] 43.Qc2 Qe6 44.Qc7 It is not so easy to win now. 44...Qa2 45.Rh1 Qd5? [The following line 45...Qg2 46.Qc8+ Kh7 47.Qc1 Kh6 48.Qxa3 Qxh1+ 49.Kg3 seems stronger, though White has a chance to escape in this Queen’s endgame.] 46.Qc8+ [46.Qb8+! Kh7 47.Rh2 Ra2 48.Rh3 Qg2 49.Qxb6 led to a better position for White.] 46...Kh7 47.Rh2 Ra2 48.Rh3 Qg2 49.Qc1 The following line 49.Qd8 Ra1 50.Qxb6 Rg1 51.Kg5+ Qxh3 52.Qxg6+ Kg8 53.Qe8+ ended with the perpetual check. 49...g5+! 50.fxg5 Qf2+ 50...Qe4 51.Qf1! wouldn’t have led to the victory (but not 51.g6+? Kxg6 52.Qg5+ Kf7 53.Qh5+ Ke7 54.Qg5+ Ke6 55.Qxg7 Qe1+ 56.Kh5 Qxe5+–+) 51...Re2 (51...Kg6 52.e6! Qxe6 53.Qd3+ Kf7 54.Qxd4=) 52.Qf5+ Qxf5 53.gxf5, and White’s position is not worse than Black’s. 51.Rg3 Re2 with the idea of Re2-e3 52.Qb1+ Kg8 53.Qxb6! Re3 In case of 53...Qh2+ 54.Rh3 Qxe5 55.g6! would be the right answer; and after 53...Rxe5 54.Qb8+ Kf7 (54...Kh7 55.Qb1+)

55.Qb7+ it would be difficult for the Black King to run away from the opponent’s checks. 54.Qd8+ Kh7 55.g6+! It is a safe road to a draw! 55...Kxg6 56.Qe8+ Kh7 57.Qh5+ Kg8 58.Qe8+ Kh7 59.Qh5+ Kg8 60.Qe8+ Kh7 61. Qh5+ Kg8 62.Qe8+ At last, the opponents agreed to a draw. It seems that the opponents are tired though it is just the 4th round. A lot of mistakes were made in this duel but the game turned out to be very interesting and nervous. Although Kiril was close to win, he finally didn’t managed to outplay Mikhail who persistently defended his position. I think that this ½ point will raise the spirits of Gurevich. 1/2 - 1/2

Round 5 (Shipov, Belov)