FIDE World championship, 1/8 final, december 5 2001. In the game Morozevich - Ponomariov was played classical Chigorin's variation of the Ruy Lopez. On the 15th move Black, wishing to recover the pieces of the Q-side - knight a5 and bishop b7, has undertaken the change operation, but after precise move Bg5 he did not manage to overcome all difficulties and to enter into game idle minor pieces. Careless 21... b4 has added of problems and after sharp play, having lost the knight a5, Ponomariov has resigned. In the game Svidler - Adams White has evaded from theoretical dispute in Marshall variation in Ruy Lopez. After quiet manoeuvring on 16th move White has undertaken approach by move d3-d4, then pawn's structure in the centre has changed, and the situation on a board sharply has become aggravated. Followed the opening of the game was finished by mass exchanges, and though in the final position White has an extra-pawn, after 23... B:f3 the chances for a win are not present. In the game Shirov - Topalov as well as in the 1-st game, in which Topalov played by White, Russian was played. And again Black has not overcome opening difficulties, because of that that it was not possible to find worthy application for knight b4. It should be note the manoeuvre of the White knight from the centre to the Q-side on the route e5-c4-a3-b5, after which the forces of Black have appeared held down and his position inspired serious fears. But it was possible for Topalov to keep the position by an excellent defence. Whether the further analysis will show was at Shirov a win. In particular deserved attention 28. Q:e4 N:c7 29. Bd3. |
