Kasparov-Ponomariov 1-0 8...Nd7 - a logical Ponomariov's novelty. Earlier happened only 8...Qa5 9.Be3 cd4 10.Bd4 Nd7 11.Nc4 with White's advantage, Magem Badals-Schreuder,2001 How much dangerous is a bunch after played 9.Bb5 will show the further course of the game. It seems that the move made by Ponomariov 9...Bd6 is an only possible. Threatened 10.Qf3, and in case of 9...Be7 strong was 10.dc5 10...Kf8- it seems that this is again an only move for Ponomariov but possible his things are not so bad as could be showed oneself after a first glance on the position. It looks prospective for Kasparov now 11.Qh5 11.Qh5 looked excellent but imagines Kaparov's decision 11.0-0!! wich was not obvious. White has a srongest initiative. 18...Kf7 now strong is 19.f4 21.Bd3 - now in case of 21...Bd7 22.Qh7 Rh7 23.Rh7 Kf8 24.Re7 Ke7 25.Bg6 White has a winning endgame. Ponomariov should play 21...f5, and it's interesting 22.g4!? (only to a draw leads 22.Qh7 Rh7 23.Rh7) 22...Qf6 23.Rd1 b5 - an excellent defence! Ponomariov repulse the attack. Kasparov should force a draw by way of 22.Qh7 25...Ra7 (interesting was 25...fg4) Now is possible 26.Rd8 Rd8 27.Rd8 Qd8 28.Qh7 with a possible draw, although here take a risk to lose only White. Kasparov approachs to a time trouble and the position is very complicated. 25...Ra7 probably was a mistake. From far away Ponomariov has not noted 28.a4! , White again captured initiative. 33.Qf4 - Kasparov wins. A wonderful Kasparov's victory. A play on a large scale gives a strong impression. Ponomariov defended excellent for a long time but as a result has not stand the strain. The game seems is not a faultless but nevertheless a beautiful. Anand-Adams 1/2 Here is still a repetition of the game Kasparov-Adams from 5th round. 26...Qc6 - a novelty prepared by Adams. With Kasparov he played 26...Qd5, and after 27.Bf4 Re2 28.Qe2 admitted in Kasparov's opinion a decisive mistake 28...А6? Judging to the long Anand's meditations for White now is more complicated to develop initiative. The c7-pawn is defended and also for White is unpleasant a "roentgen" along d-file. 27.cb6 - a confession that Black is Okay. I think that now already Black fights for initiative. It seems to me that the draw is quite logical. the game continuation promised nothing to Anand and Adams has solved the task to keep the black color. Although in my opinion Black had the reasons for the game's continuation. Vallejo Pons - Shirov 1-0 Shirov has a very prospective position. Possible is for example 11...a5 followed by Ba6 and b5-b4. It is very difficult for White to develop initiative on the Kingside. The decision taking by Shirov seems to me a disputable. White can with 12.a3 to prevent the movement b5-b4 After 13.Ba4 Rc8 14.Bc6 Rc6 15.cb4 Bf1 (deserved attention a double-edged 15...cb4 16.Ng3 with unclear play) 16.Rf1 cb4 the position is copletely equalised. Perhaps the draw will follow soon. It's not clear why Vallejo gave away a pawn. White's initiative on the kingside is not sufficient. Shirov is close to a victory. Vallejo managed to return the pawn and even save initiative. Nevertheless a limited material makes chances for a draw the most possible. |
