Topalov vs Kramnik: Game 9

Technically speaking, this is one of the worse games played at a World Championship during the last decades. Both opponents, and their seconds, had played this variation several times, so they knew it well. However, Kramnik reacted badly after the opening allowing Topalov to get a fantastic position. After that Topalov just had to play normal moves to increase his advantage, since Black could not create any counterplay at all. In short, a massacre.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 We are following a well known variation of the Eslav Defense. There are many alternatives for White at this early point of the game, with 8.g3 and 8.Bd2 being the most popular, with over 80 games played in each line. 8.a3 However, Topalov plays a move that had only been played one time. The move itself is not of a threatening time, so we had no reasons to believe that it would allow him to obtain a large opening advantage in just a few moves from now. [ 8.g3 Nbd7 9.Bg2 ( 9.Bd2 Be7 10.b3 (10.Rc1 a6 11.Bg2 Nb6 12.b3 dxc4 13.Ne2 cxb3 14.Qxb3~~ Topalov-Vallejo, Monte Carlo 2005) 10...0-0 11.Bg2 dxc4 12.bxc4 e5 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.0-0 Rfd8= Kramnik-Gelfand, Monte Carlo 2005) 9...dxc4 10.Qe2 Nb6 ( 10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Qxc4 e5 14.b4+/= Kramnik-Gelfand, Monte Carlo 2003) 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rd1 Nfd5 13.e4 Nb4 14.Be3 0-0 15.a3 Na6 16.d5|^ Kramnik-Anand, Frankfurt 2000; 8.Bd3 c5 9.Qb3 Qd7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Qb5 Qxb5 13.Nxb5+/= Kramnik-Gelfand, Saint Vincent 2005] 8...Nbd7 9.g3 Technically, the new move. It&aposs interesting to note that after 8.g3 (the normal course) Nbd7 (the usual reply) nobody had played 9.a2-a3 [ 9.h3 Be7 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 e5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bb1 Rc8 15.Ba2+/= Finegold-Zaremba, Philadelphia 2003] 9...Be7 [9...Bd6 was of course playable] 10.f4 This is the move that really marks a new course in this game. In this variation, Black usually plays dxc5 followed by e6-e5, a possibility that is ruled out after 10.f4. So Kramnik has to find another way to proceed.

Position after 10.f4

10...dxc4 [10...Qc7 was flexible, keeping the option to castle at both sides.] 11.Bxc4 0-0?! It looks like a careless decision [ 11...Nb6 was normal, trying to hit with c6-c5 next] 12.e4! The point. White now has a very strong center a the bishop pair, so he is about to build up a dream position. Black has to do something very quick to avoid it. 12...b5 [12...Nb6 was normal, keeping a compact position, but, without counterplay; 12...c5 was dangerous because of simply 13.e5] 13.Be2 b4?! [ after 13...Nb6 14.Be3 a5 White is better, of course, but Black is in the game.]

Position after 13...b4?!

14.axb4 Bxb4 15.Bf3 [ after 15.0-0 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nxe4 17.Qc2 followed by Ba3 White would get a very compensation for his pawn, but there is no need to give up the powerful pawn center.] 15...Qb6 16.0-0 e5 [ 16...Rad8 17.Be3] 17.Be3 Rad8 18.Na4 Qb8 19.Qc2 exf4?! [ 19...exd4 20.Bxd4 Nb6 21.Be3 Nxa4 22.Rxa4 a5 was possibly a better choice, although White keeps a large advantage] 20.Bxf4 Qb7 21.Rad1 Topalov was playing very quick while Black has absolutely no counterplay. 21...Rfe8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Kh1 Nh7 24.Be3 Bg5 25.Bg1 Nhf8 26.h4 Be7 27.e5 Nb8 28.Nc3 Bb4 29.Qg2 Qc8 30.Rc1 Bxc3?! Unexpected, as Black now gets and incredibly passive position, but there threats after Nc3-e4.

Position after 30...Bxc3?!

31.bxc3 Ne6 32.Bg4 [ 32.Be3!? followed by Be4-Rf2-Rcf1-Qh2-h5 was also a very logical plan. Black is hopeless anyway.] 32...Qc7 33.Rcd1 Nd7 34.Qa2 Nb6 35.Rf3 Nf8? Loosing by force. The last chance was [ 35...c5 trying to get some counterplay] 36.Rdf1 Re7 37.Be3 Nh7

Position after 37...Nh7

38.Rxf7 Nd5 39.R7f3 Topalov does not want to allow a defensive queen sacrifice, but it was also easy winning for White. [ 39.Be6 Rxf7 40.Rxf7 Qxf7 41.Bxf7+ Kxf7 42.Qxa7+ Kg8 43.Bd2] 1-0

Topalov wins Game-9 and leads match 5-4
(Photo: WCC Official site)

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ICC Webcast weekly schedule for match Topalov vs Kramnik All times are US eastern. Add 4 hours for GMT. Add 6 hours for CET   Replay   REST DAY Friday, October 6   07:00   GAME 9 Topalov vs Kramnik Saturday, October 7    IM Bill Paschall and GM Joel Benjamin    GM Viktor Moskalenko (spanish)   07:00   GAME 10 Kramnik vs Topalov Sunday, October 8    IM Bill Paschall and GM Larry Christiansen    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   View this week's entire Webcast schedule