The tournament is over! As usual, everyone deserved his position in the final standings. Anand demonstrated a higher class than the other participants. Summing up, three top players played more stable chess. Viorel Bologan produced a noteworthy performance. If not for the hitch at the start, he could have fought for first prize. Vladimir Kramnik was struggling throughout the event. He tried to play active chess, but it did not work for him.

Fans expected much more from Peter Svidler, taking into account his results from last year. Akopian and Sokolov merited higher positions at the finish. Both GMs played in a good, aggressive style. Zhang Zhong disappointed. It is impossible to have a success in a super-tournament playing typical chess with no revelations in the opening, hoping only for perseverance.

V.Anand (2766) - J.Timman (2578) [B67]

The result of this game was predictable. Interestingly Anand decided to gain a point in an open fight.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f3 Be7 10.Be3

This move can be interpreted as Anand's desire to transpose into his pet English attack setup. In this way, a somewhat strange transformation from the Rauzer into the Najdorf comes into effect. This position usually emerges with White to move. However, the leader of the event does not worry about losing a tempo. Compared to the encounter Anand – Akopian from the second round, the black bishop occupies the d7-square, which could be useful for the f6-knight in case of g4-g5. The most common continuation is 10.h4. White waits for the reaction 10...h6 to retreat his bishop to å3.

10...Rc8

Black has a good record playing 10...h5, preventing White's activity on the kingside. On the other hand, there are only a few games (by low rated players) in the sample. Black also should analyze standard plans with the exchange on d4 followed by b7-b5.

11.g4 Na5 12.Kb1

White is in no hurry with 12.g5 Nh5

12...b5 13.Bd3

Anand has spent one more tempo! Vishy does not want to prevent b5-b4 with à2- à3. Since the knight needs the e2-square for retreat, the bishop moves to d3 to be immediately traded.

13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4

15.Nce2!

With this move Anand reveals all the drawbacks of Timman's plan. White is fully prepared to play g4-g5 in a very favorable situation.

15...0-0

There are no useful moves in sight. Black has not succeeded on the queenside. The continuation 15...h6 16.h4 is no solution; in case of 15...Qc8 (after 15...Qc7 Black should keep an eye on his rook) 16.g5 Nh5 17.Ng3 Nxg3 18.hxg3, White easily puts pressure on the h7-pawn.

16.g5 Ne8

Here 16...Nh5? is simply bad . White responds 17.Ng3, opening the files for a mating attack. Although the knight is safe on e8, it disrupts the coordination of Black's pieces. Meanwhile White unfolds his straightforward attack.

17.h4 Qc8?!

With this move Timman offered Anand some extra tactical options. Black could have tried 17...Qa8 to meet 18.h5 (if 18.b3 then 18...Rc8 19.Nf4 Bd8) with 18...f5 (nothing good awaits Black after 18...e5 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Qxf3 21.Rdf1 followed by f5-f6). White has a wide range of attacking options, although the position remains complicated. For example,19.exf5 (19.g6!?) 19...e5 20.f6 gxf6 21.Rdg1 f5 22.g6!?.

18.b3 Rc7

19.Nf4!

From this square the knight will support the advance of the pawn to g6. Black can't dislodge the pesky piece immediately, in view of Nd5-e7-c8.

19...Rc3

19...e5? fails to 20.Nd5; on 19...Kh8 White has the nice move 20.g6!? (actually, the reserved 20.Bf2 is no worse, because after 20...e5 21.Nd5 the bishop is no longer on e3) 20...e5 (20...fxg6 21.h5 g5? 22.Ng6+ hxg6 23.hxg6+ Kg8 24.Qh2) 21.Nd5 exd4 22.Bxd4 Be6 23.Nxc7 Qxc7 24.h5

20.Rdg1 b4

Black's counterplay is way overdue. Anand's pawns are quickly running to the rendezvous with the black king.

21.h5 Nc7 22.g6 Bf6

The black king quickly perishes in the lines 22...e5 23.gxh7+ Kh8 (23...Kxh7 24.Ng6!) 24.Nfe2 Rxe3 (24...exd4 25.h6 g6 26.Qxd4+ f6 27.Nxc3 bxc3 28.Rxg6) 25.Qxe3 exd4 26.h6 Bf6 27.hxg7+ Bxg7 28.Nxd4

23.h6! fxg6

If 23...hxg6 then 24.Qh2

24.hxg7 Rf7

On 24...Bxg7 White creates the same deadly threat with 25.Qh2

25.Rxh7!

This elegant blow crowns the game.

25...Kxh7 26.Qh2+ Kxg7 27.Nxg6 Rxe3 28.Ne7+ Kf8 29.Nxc8

White eliminates the black rooks after a check from h6. Timman resigned .

1-0

Zhang Zhong (2639) - P.Leko (2722) [B23]

One tactical subtlety was enough for Peter Leko to win the game. Having grabbed the initiative right after the opening, he quickly converted it into an extra pawn. The technical stage saw impeccable work by the Hungarian GM.

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Qf3 Nh6 8.Ne2 0-0 9.c3

Black demonstrated the main tactical idea of this line in the game Najer – Tiviakov (Groningen , 1999): 9.d3 Ng4!; Facing Shirov (Wijk aan Zee) Morozevich nipped this option in the bud with 9.h3.

9...dxc3 10.bxc3

The Chinese GM is building a Grunfeld-like pawn center.

In the game Degraeve – Gagunashvili (Plovdiv , 2003) Black solved all the opening problems after 10.dxc3 Ng4 11.Bxf7+ Rxf7 12.Qxg4 d5 13.Qh4 Bf6 14.Qh6 dxe4

10...d6 11.d4

If 11.h3, then 11...Kh8 è f7-f5

11...Ng4 12.0-0 Qc7 13.Bb3 Nf6

The situation clarified. It is time for both opponents to outline their plans. Zhang decided to launch a massive pawn attack.

14.Qd3 b6 15.f4 a5!? 16.Re1?

After 16.e5 Ba6 the most consistent continuation is a pawn sacrifice with 17.Qe3 (on 17.Qf3 Black reacts with 17...Bb7 and then, depending on White's move, either Ne4 or the in-between Qc6, attacking g2 ; if 17.c4 , then 17...Nd5!) 17...Ng4 (Black can also insert the exchange on å5) 18.Qf3 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Qxc3 20.Bb2 Qe3+ 21.Qxe3 Nxe3 22.Rfe1 Nf5 23.g4.

White gets some compensation thanks to his pawn screen. Another option is the prophylactic 16.Qe3, although with this move White indirectly admits that he could have found a better square for his queen. After White's mistake his bishop has to take up an awkward position.

16...a4!

17.Bd1

The normal 17.Bc2 is taboo in view of 17...Nxe4! 18.Qxe4 Bf5; the continuation 17.Bc4 Bb7 18.d5 (18.e5 Qc6) 18...Rfc8 19.Bb5 Nxe4! 20.Qxe4 Qc5+ instills no optimism either.

17...Ba6

By a continuous attack on the opponent's pieces Peter obtains an overwhelming position.

18.Qe3 Rfc8 19.Bd2 d5! 20.Ng3 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Nd5 22.Qf2

After 22.Qf3 Bb7, tactical opportunities with a blow on ñ3 arise; better was 22.Qg3, preventing Black's next move.

22...Bd3 23.Ng5 h6

Black could have snatched the pawn with 23...Nxc3, because the weakness of d4-square does not allow White to use the pin of the knight. For example, 24.Bf3 (24.Rc1 Nxd1) 24...Rab8 25.Rac1 (25.Qe3 Qc4) 25...Qd8! 26.Bxc3 Rxc3. Peter wants to win material with no troubles at all and his opponent cooperates.

24.Nf3?

White should have played 24.Bf3 Ra5!? 25.Bxd5 (25.c4? Qxc4) 25...Rxd5 26.Nf3 and put up stubborn resistance as Zhang did in a poor position vs. Bareev.

24...Nxc3 25.Ne5 Nxd1 26.Raxd1 Bc2 27.Rc1 Qd6

There is nothing to annotate at the technical stage. I just draw your attentions to Black's moves 38...Qa2 and 40...h4

28.Qe3 Bf5 29.a3 Qd5 30.Bb4 Bf6 31.h3 h5 32.Kh2 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Rc8 34.Rxc8+ Bxc8 35.Nf3 Qd7 36.Ne5 Qd5 37.Nf3 Be6 38.Ne5 Qa2 39.Qd2 Qxd2 40.Bxd2 h4 41.Bb4 Kg7 42.Kg1 Bd5 43.Kf2 g5 44.fxg5 Bxg5 45.Nd7 b5 46.Nb6 Bb7 47.Nd7 Bc6 48.Nb8 Bd5 49.Na6 e6 50.g3 hxg3+ 51.Kxg3 Be3 52.Bc5 Kg6 53.Nc7 Bc6

54.h4

If 54.d5 Bxc5 55.dxc6 then Bd6+ - check!

54...Kh5 55.Na6 f5 56.Kh3

Tactics don't work here - 56.d5 f4+ 57.Kh3 exd5

56...f4 0-1

V.Topalov (2735) - V.Anand (2766) [B90]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.g4

The English Attack !

8...Nfd7 9.Qd2 Nb6 10.a4

This relatively fresh continuation was introduced by Anand. In this game, Vishy has to defend against his own weapon…

10...bxa4 11.Nxa4 Nxa4 12.Rxa4

The a6-pawn is a good target for White's pressure.

12...Be7 13.g5N

A novelty. It looks like Veselin disliked a possible check from a4. In the primary-source game the opponents did not notice this subtlety - 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Rfa1 Nd7 16.Nb3 Rb8 17.Ba7 Rc8 18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bxa6 Ne5 20.Be2 f5! and the complications ended in a draw (Anand – Kasparov , Iceland 2000)

13...0-0 14.h4

Since Black has not completed his development yet, White will launch an attack on the kingside.

14...Bd7

A standard setup for Black with 14...Bb7 and Nb8-d7 also should be analyzed.

15.Ra1 Nc6!?

Anand has solved his problems in the most radical way. Indeed, with a pawn off the board it's easier to play for Black!

16.Rxa6 Qc7?!

This is an obvious inaccuracy. Black has good counterplay after16...Rxa6 17.Bxa6 Qa8 18.Nxc6 (in the line 18.Bd3 Qa1+ White can play Qc1 because d4 is unprotected) 18...Bxc6 19.Be2 d5. Opening the center is dangerous for the white king. 20.e5 is certainly met with , 20...d4!

17.Kf2 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 e5 19.Be3 Rxa6 20.Bxa6

Although Black has no real compensation for a pawn, the fight is not over yet.

20...f5!

The only way to complicate the position.

21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.Qd5+

Veselin is fighting for the d5-square.

22...Kh8 23.Bc4 Be8!

Vishy is on the alert.

24.Be2 Bf7 25.Qd2 Bh5

The breakthrough in the center with 25...Qd8 26.h5 d5 leads to mass exchanges so desirable for White - 27.exd5 Bxd5 28.c4; useless is 25...Rd8 in view of 26.c4! and Black can't capture on c4.

26.b3 Qe7 27.Kg2!

Tactics is at the service of strategy!

27...Qf7

Inferior is 27...Bxh4? 28.Rxh4 Qxh4 29.Bg5, trapping the black queen.

28.Rh3

This move looks ugly, but it is solid enough.

28...Be7 29.b4!

White has led with his main trump.

29...h6 30.b5 Qg6+ 31.Kh2 Qe6 32.Qd3 Be8!

Vishy is resourcefully looking for an escape hatch.

33.Qb3 Qc8!

In the line 33...Qxb3 34.cxb3 Bd7, White can sacrifice his insignificant h4-pawn. Besides, there is a promising exchange sacrifice - 35.b6!?

34.b6!

But not 34.Bc4? Bd7

34...Bf7

A strong passer protects White against Black's diagonal attack - 34...Bd7 35.b7 Qb8 (35...Qc7 36.Ba7!) 36.Rg3 (it looks like the sequence 36.h5 Bxh3 37.Kxh3 also wins) 36...Bc6 37.Ba6 Bxh4 38.Rg4 Bf6 (38...Be7 39.Qe6!) 39.Rg1 Qe8 40.Kg2! and it is all over for Black.

35.Qb1 Qc3

Taking into account White's time trouble, the move 35...Qc6 with the idea of d6-d5 could have been a good chance.

36.Bd3 Rb8 37.Qg1

37...Bc4?

Vishy's desire to pose some problems to his time-pressured opponent is quite understandable, but after the move made Black's position collapses. Any other continuation would have been better. White still had a lot of work to do. After all, his h3-rook is out of play.

38.Qg6! Bxd3 39.Rg3 Bf6 40.cxd3!

It makes no sense to figure out whether Black builds a fortress or not after 40.Bxh6 Qxc2+ 41.Rg2 Qxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Rxb6

40...Rxb6

No better was 40...Qxd3 41.Bxh6 Rb7 in view of 42.Bg5 (the simplest solution) Qe2+ 43.Kh3 Qf1+ 44.Kg4

41.Bxb6

Flashiness is inappropriate here - 41.Bxh6 Rb2+ 42.Kh3 Qc8+ 43.Rg4 Qf8

41...Qb2+ 42.Rg2 Qxb6

It is not a fortress, it's a jail for the black king

43.Rc2! Bd8 44.h5

1-0

I.Sokolov (2706) - V.Kramnik (2777) [E12]

A creative inspiration sometimes comes out of the blue. Ivan can meekly crumple, but sometimes he conducts a game in one go with interesting sacrifices and non-standard maneuvers. In the latter case it does not really matter WHOM he plays.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5

The Petrosian variation of the Queen's Indian Defense.

6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c5 9.e4 Nc6

This is one possible setup for Black. Sometimes he develops the knight to d7, but only after castling.

10.Be3

10.Bb2 is a reasonable alternative. Sokolov placed his bishop on this square in the game with Leko. Apparently fearing Vladimir 's opening preparation, Ivan deviated. He failed to avoid a surprise, but this one was pleasant for White!

10...Be7?!

This move does not look particularly good. Better is 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 and Black has good chances to equalize. For example, 12.Qa4 Be7 13.Ne5 0-0 14.Ba6 b5!? (the variation 14...Nxe5 15.Bxb7 Nd3+ 16.Ke2 Rc3 also should be analyzed) 15.Bxb5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bc5 17.Bxc5 and the opponents sealed a draw in the game Solozhenkin – Ionov (St. Petersburg , 2003).

11.d5!

This spectacular break is a novelty. An old game, Shamkovich – Morris (1982), saw 11.Bd3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Rc8 13.Qe2 0-0 14.0-0 with a standard position.

11...exd5 12.Rd1 d4

Vladimir engages in battle! In case of 12...0-0 13.exd5 Na5 14.Bd3 followed by c3-c4, White is clearly better.

13.cxd4 0-0!

Leaving the king in the center is laden with consequences - 13...cxd4 14.Bb5 Rc8 15.Bxd4 Bf6 16.Bc5!; or 13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Bxd4 Qc8 17.Qb2 f6 18.0-0 with a strong attack.

14.d5!

After 14.dxc5 Qc7 White does not win material because his own a3-pawn is handing.

14...Nd4! 15.Qb2!

Both opponents insist on not capturing material. They are both right. In the line 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxa3 17.Bd3 Bb4+ 18.Kf1 a5 Black has good counterplay.

15...Re8?!

In my opinion at this point Black missed a good chance. He could have harassed the opponent's center with 15...f5!? I see no refutation of this idea. For example, 16.Nxd4 (16.Bxd4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Bf6) 16...Bf6!

16.Bxd4 cxd4 17.Bb5

White has just one move left to complete his development.

17...Bxa3! 18.Qxd4!

Accepting the sacrifice drastically changes the course of the battle - 18.Qxa3?! Rxe4+ 19.Kf1 Qxd5 20.Bd3 Rf4 Black has three pawns for a piece and a strong attack.

18...Bc5 19.Qd3 Bb4+ 20.Kf1 Rf8

Vladimir did not want to expose himself to d5-d6.

21.Nd4 Qc8

White has an overwhelming advantage in the center. However, his h1-rook is out of play. With this in mind, Ivan proceeded with

22.h4!

This job placement for a lazy rook leads to a victory. White has launched a decisive attack. Black is in big trouble. His b7-bishop is more dead than alive; his other pieces are also utterly passive.

22...Bc5 23.h5 Qg4

Probably Black should have played a7-a6 at some point, provoking White to trade the bishops on c6. On the other hand, Ivan would have retreated his bishop to c4.

24.Nf3!

Dislodging the unwanted witness.

24...Rad8 25.Rh4 Qc8 26.Bc4!

Having protected his d5-pawn, White is preparing to play e4-e5 when the opportunity presents itself. Meanwhile, both opponents ignore the option. Black refrains from h7-h6 because after Bc4-a2, e4-e5 and Ba2-h1, the white queen penetrates to h7.

26...b5

Nothing to lose, they say. Vladimir is trying to muddle his opponent in the coming time trouble.

27.Bxb5 Bb6 28.h6 g6 29.Qb3!

Ivan is transferring his queen to the big dark-squared diagonal.

29...Qc5 30.Qb2 f6

It became clear at this point that the white rook might be offside in some lines. Ivan is quick to bring this piece into play.

31.Rf4! Bc7 32.Rc1 Qb6 33.Rxc7! Qxc7 34.Rxf6

The black king is at death's door. An extra exchange is no comfort for Black.

34...Rxf6 35.Qxf6 Rf8

After 35...Qc1+ 36.Ne1 Qc7 White closes out the game with the elegant maneuver 37.d6 Rxd6 38.Qe5!! and Black has no defense against the mating threats.

36.Qb2 Rc8 37.d6!

Did Black really want White to play this move?

37...Qc1+ 38.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 39.Ke2 Rc8

On 39...Bc6 the simplest way to victory is 40.Bxc6 Rxc6 41.e5 Rc5 42.Kd3 and White is first to promote his pawn.

40.Ng5

The combination of the g5-knight and the h6-pawn paralyzes Black.

40...a6 41.Ba4!

The time trouble is over; the white pawns are swimmingly advancing. Black resigned. Good job, Ivan!

1-0

V.Bologan (2679) - P.Svidler (2747) [D76]

Something was wrong with the Russian champ. He should not play the way he did at this event!

1.d4

When did Viorel have time to study closed openings and to invent several new ideas? Previously I have seen him play 1.e4.

1...Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c5

The main discussion revolves around 12...c6. Apparently fearing the opponent's preparation, Peter took another path.

13.Nf3 Nbc4 14.Qc2 b5 15.b3 b4 16.bxc4 Bxc3

17.Bd2!

With this aggressive novelty Viorel lays claim on refuting the whole variation! White is ready to sacrifice an exchange for the initiative. In case of the bishop exchange, White does not lose his c4 pawn. The usual continuation, 17.Bb2 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Nxc4, leads to an unclear position. For example, the game Rogozenko – Vlassov (FIDE, 2001) went 19.Qc1 Bb5 20.Qh6 f6 21.Rfc1 Qb6 22.Bh3 e5 23.dxe6 Rxe6 24.Bxe6+ Qxe6 and Black got good compensation for the exchange.

17...Bg7

The position that emerges after 17...Bxa1 18.Rxa1 is very complicated. White has several attacking resources: chipping away with a2-a3, the pawn attack in the center, and, of course, mating ideas on the kingside. Black should focus on opening the position on the queenside and the center. According to my rough estimation, White has sufficient compensation for the exchange, to say the least.

18.Rac1 Qb6

Black could not close the position with 18...e5 for two reasons. First, at this particular moment White is clearly better after 19.a3! Second White obtains a real advantage with the maneuver 19.Ne1!, followed by 20.Nd3! The pressure on the c5-pawn coupled with an eventual f2-f4 are highly unpleasant for Black.

19.Rfe1

Note that the e1-square is occupied.

19...Rad8

Here the move 19...e5!? was quite appropriate. Black is just in time to place his knight on d6 and to deliver the preemptive blow f7-f5. For example, 20.a3 b3 21.Qc3 (21.Bxa5) 21...Nb7 22.Rb1 Ba4 23.Rec1 Nd6 24.Ne1 f5!

20.h3

An interesting idea. White will deprive the black bishop of the f5-square. Another natural continuation was 20.e5!? Bf5 21.Qd1

20...e6!

This is the normal instinct of any experienced expert in the Grunfeld Defense.

21.g4 exd5 22.cxd5

After 22.exd5 Qa6! Black also has counterchances.

22...c4 23.Be3 Qc7 24.e5

The position has become very complicated. Both opponents are attacking! I think at this point Peter committed a grave mistake.

24...Bxe5?

By trading his Grunfeld-bishop Black not only loosened the position of his king, but also left his knight out of work on a5. As chess classic players say, if one piece is poorly placed, the entire position is bad. Much better was 24...c3! followed by Na5-c4.

25.Nxe5 Qxe5

If 25...Rxe5 then 26.Qb2 Qd6 27.Rb1 Rb8 28.Qd4 +/-

26.Bc5!?

Here is another interesting solution by Viorel. The white queen eliminates her vis-à-vis at the cost of two rooks to take total control over the dark-squares in the opponent's camp. By the way, the move 26.Rb1 was worse.

26...Qxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 28.Kh2 Rde8

The infiltration of the black rook to the second rank is inefficient. It looks like more stubborn was 28...b3! 29.axb3 (29.Qd2 bxa2!) 29...Nxb3 30.Qc3 (30.Bb4 Rc1!) 30...Nxc5 31.Qxe1 Rc8, with some chances for salvation. Peter tried to transpose into positions of this kind later on, but his opponent did not cooperate.

29.Bxb4 R1e2 30.Qc3 Rxf2 31.Kg3 Rxa2

If 31...Ree2 then 32.Bf3

32.Qf6

White is very close to his goal, but the fight is not over yet.

32...Nb7

The sequence 32...Nb3 33.Bc3 Re3+ 34.Bf3 Rxc3 35.Qxc3 Nd2 36.Bg2! is no picnic for Black either. His knight still can't get into the action.

33.Bf3!

White has protected against the check in advance. Now Bb4-c3 is on the menu.

33...Rc2

Black is going to trade his poor rook for White's precious bishop. If 33...Re3 then 34.Kf4!+-

34.Qa6!

In the mutual time scramble Viorel does not forget about the pawns.

34...Nd8 35.Qxa7 Bb5 36.Qd4!

Full domination! Peter's attempt to confuse his opponent with a few seconds on the clock resulted in a blunder.

36...f5 37.gxf5 Nf7 38.fxg6 hxg6 39.Qb6!

Black resigned. This was a spectacular victory by the Moldavian GM!

1-0

E.Bareev (2714) - V.Akopian (2693) [E38]

An excellent finish by Bareev smoothed over his poor result at the start. After all, he can play without blunders!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 Qc7 6.Nf3 Bxc5 7.g3 Qb6 8.e3 Be7

9.g4

This is a very interesting novelty! Evgeny immediately manifests his intentions. Previously White automatically played 9.Bg2, followed by operations in the center.

9...d6 10.Rg1 Nc6 11.a3 Nd7 12.b4 Nde5

It looks like Black should have secured the c5-square for his knight with 12...a5!

13.Nd2!

Creatively played ! White is playing a la Philidor – the pawns are first to advance!

13...Bh4

Vladimir is trying to be a good match to his opponent . However, his play is not as logical.

14.Qe4 Qd8 15.Bb2 0-0

On 15...Qf6 White can even react with 16.0-0-0

16.g5!

It is time to open the file for attack.

16...Bxg5 17.Qg2 Bh6 18.0-0-0

White has excellent compensation for a pawn. Vladimir decided to immediately return his “savings” to develop the queenside pieces.

18...d5!?

Another good option is 18...f5, bringing the queen to the defense.

19.f4

After 19.b5 Ne7 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Bxe5 Ng6 22.Bc3 Be6 Black has good counterchances; Simply bad is 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Bg4!

19...Ng6

Passive defense does no good. The sharp thrust 19...d4!? is met with the no less aggressive 20.b5!, and the complications slightly favor White. Nevertheless, it was Akopian's best chance. For example, 20...dxc3 21.Bxc3 Qb6! 22.bxc6 Ng6 and opening up the queenside instills some hopes.

20.cxd5 exd5 21.Nxd5 Nce7 22.Nc4

White deployed all his pieces except the f1-bishop. This piece will make its presence felt pretty soon…

22...Nxd5 23.Rxd5 Qe8 24.f5

It is not victory yet.

24...Bxf5! 25.Rxf5 b5! 26.Kb1!

Right! The initiative is much more important than material…because it brings even more material!
If 26.Ne5? then Qc8+. After 26.Nd6 Qxe3+ 27.Kb1 Rad8, Black has a dangerous attack.

26...bxc4 27.Bxc4 Rc8 28.Qg4 Qxe3 29.Rgf1 Rc7

Black has an extra pawn again. However, it does not please Vladimir at all. White's bishops exert heavy pressure on the black king.

30.h4! Re7 31.h5 Nh8

This is how Black has to defend! His position is utterly passive.

32.Bc1 Qe4+

An interesting variation, 32...Re4!? 33.Qg2 Qd4 34.Bxh6 Rg4! 35.Qd5 Qxc4 36.Qxc4 Rxc4 37.Rg1 Ng6! 38.Be3! (38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Rf4 Rc3! 40.Bg5 f6) 38...Nh4 39.Ra5, gives White a clear advantage in the endgame.

33.Qxe4 Rxe4 34.Bd5 Rg4 35.Bxh6 gxh6

Thus the exchange of queens did not alleviate Vladimir 's pain. Black's position is virtually hopeless due to White's pawn advantage on the kingside and domination of his minor pieces.

36.Kb2!

The king is heading for the a7-pawn!

36...Kg7 37.Kb3 Rg5 38.Ka4! Rd8 39.Bc4 Rd4 40.Bb3 Rh4

Black's counterplay is doomed to failure.

41.Ra5 Rxa5+ 42.Kxa5 Rxh5+ 43.Ka6 Rh3 44.Rb1! Ng6 45.Kxa7 Ne5 46.b5

White has the upper hand in this pawn race.

46...Rd3 47.b6 Nc6+ 48.Ka6 h5 49.b7 h4 50.Kb6 Nb8

The knight moved from the jail on h8 to another prison.

51.a4 Rd4 52.Kc5 Rg4 53.Bc4! Nd7+ 54.Kd6 Nb8 55.Bb5!

The bishop demonstrates his prevalence over the knight. Black resigned.

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