Topalov vs Kramnik: Game 8

Kramnik,V (2743) - Topalov,V (2813) D47
WCC Elista (Game 8), 2006.10.05
Notes by GM Amador Rodríguez

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.0-0 b4 10.Na4 c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 The natural recapture. However, 11...Bxc5 has been played more. 12.Bb5+ The most direct of the many alternatives, but not necessarily the best [12.Nxc5 Bxc5 13.Qa4+ led to a safe play for White.] 12...Ncd7 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Qd4 Rd8 White's position seems very good, but his knight on a4 is poorly placed in the long term, so he needs to act quickly 15.Bd2 Topalov had played his moves instantly so it was too risky to take on a7. Trading knights on d7 was also not that impressive. [15.Nxd7 Nxd7; 15.Qxa7 Bd6] 15...Qa5! A novelty. An old game had continued [15...a6 16.Rfc1 Qa5 17.Bc6 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 Qxa4 19.Nxd8 Kxd8 20.a3 Qb5 21.axb4 Nd5 22.Ra5 Qb6 23.Qc4 Nc7 24.Bc3 f6 25.Bd4 With a powerful initiative for White, Cvetkovic-Bagirov, Vrnjacka Banja 1974]

Position after 15...Qa5!

16.Bc6 Be7 The best move, otherwise Black would have to play a position like the one quoted in the note to the previous move. 17.Rfc1 Bxc6!? [Instead 17...0-0? was worse because of 18.Nc4! and White is better] 18.Nxc6 Qxa4 Here Kramnik was thinking for a while 19.Nxd8 [After 19.Nxe7?! Kxe7 20.Bxb4+ Ke8 White would have some slight attacking chances, but it would hardly compensate for his piece] 19...Bxd8 Thanks to his 16th move, Black can now safely recapture with his bishop on d8, keep his right to castle.

Position after 19...Bxd8

20.Qxb4 A surprising decision. [The more obvius choice was 20.b3 Qa6 21.Bxb4 but Black has 21...Nd5] 20...Qxb4 21.Bxb4 Nd5 22.Bd6 f5 23.Rc8 N5b6 24.Rc6 Be7 25.Rd1 Kf7 26.Rc7 [ 26.Bxe7 Kxe7 27.Rc7] 26...Ra8 [ 26...Rc8 27.Rxc8 Nxc8] 27.Rb7 Ke8 28.Bxe7 Kxe7 29.Rc1 29.Kf1 followed by 30.Ke2 looked normal 29...a5 With good criteria, here and at a later stage, Topalov avoids to play Rc8 to exchange rooks. 30.Rc6 Nd5 At his point the position looked dynamically balanced, with chances for both sides. Black has two minor pieces but White has good rooks, an extra pawn and no weaknesses.

Position after 30...Nd5

31.h4?! A dubious move, since White cannot prevent Black from playing g7-g5 31...h6 32.a4 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 The position has changed in Black's favour. Now he has threats in the king side, that he never had before 34.Kf1 g4 35.Ke2 N5f6 36.b3 Ne8 37.f3 g3 38.Rc1 Nef6 39.f4? Kd6 40.Kf3 Nd5 41.Kxg3? [41.Rb5 was more solid] 41...Nc5! 42.Rg7? Losing without any resistance. [42.Rxc5 After 42...Kxc5 43.Kf3 Kc6 44.Rb5 Nf6 White should lose but he can hold on for a while. Now it's a masacre] 42...Rb8 43.Ra7 Rg8+! 44.Kf3 Ne4 45.Ra6+ Ke7 46.Rxa5 Rg3+ 47.Ke2 Rxe3+ 48.Kf1 Rxb3 49.Ra8 Nxf4 50.Ra1 Rb2 51.a5 Rf2+ 0-1 What's really surprising about this game is how an ultra solid player as Kramnik deteriorated his position so quickly arround moves 30 to 40 to finally lose without putting up a hard fight.

Topalov defeated Kramnik with black to level the match 4-4
(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