Sergey Ivanov GM Sergey Ivanov annotates online the game 6:


World Chess Championship, Moscow,
January, 22, 2002


Hello, dear chess friends! We continue the annotations of the very interesting match Ivanchuk-Ponomariov. Now the intrigue is twisted to the limit after yesterday's inexplicable tragedy when Ivanchuk obtaining a completely overwhelming position literally in a few moves missed first winning and then also a draw. Everybody would like to have an answer to a question: will Vassily be able to "rise from the ashes". Today he has white color and practically the last chance to improve the situation in the match.
So, Ivanchuk refused 1.d4 (although he can't complain of the opening results in two previous "white" games) and chose 1.e4. Ponomariov replied with a super-stable Russian game which was exceptionally popular on the Moscow Championship. Played was one the most fashion variation. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3
On 10th move Ponomariov chose 10...Be6, an alternative is - 10...Bf5 11.a3 Nc3 12.bc3 Nc6.
10...Be6 11. Ne5 f6 12. Nf3
White has spent two tempos but caused an essential weakness of thr rival's position. However is it possible to use this weakness. Nothing gives a straightforward 12.Bg4 Bg4 13.Ng4 dc4! 14.Ne4 f5 15.Nd2 fg4 16.Nc4 c5! 17.a3 Nc6 18.dc5 Qd1 19.Rd1 Bc5 20.Be3 Be3 21.Ne3 h5 22.Rd5, and the rivals agreed on a draw (Anand-Kramnik, Frankfurt 1998).
12...Kh8 - a useful preventive move. In case of 12...c5 White got the advantage with simple means: 13.Be3 Rc8 14.dc5 Bc5 15.Bc5 Rc5 16.Qb3 a5 17.Rad1 (Khalifman-Karpov, Bali 2000).
12...Kh8 13. h3
To all appearances a novelty but looking on the results of the opening battle not very successful. The sense of this move I think will be able to explain only Ivanchuk by himself after the match is over. Such as Black was not going to place the Bishop on g4...
More logically looks 13.Qb3 Nc3 14.bc3 dc4 15.Bc4 Bc4 16.Qc4 Qd5 17.Qb3 Qb3 18.ab3 Nd5 19.Re1 Rfe8 20.Bd2 (Adams-Timman, Wijk-aan-Zee 2000) or 13.Re1 c6 (better perhaps 13...Bg8) 14.a3 Nc6 15.cd5 cd5 16.Bd3 f5 17.Bf4 Re8 18.Qb3 (Khalifman-Timman, Hoogeveen 2000) - in both cases with a slight White's advantage. Black naturally use a gifted tempo and activate his forces.
13...f5 14. a3 Nc6
After the obvious moves White has played:
15. Nxd5
With such a way White avoid the continuation 15.cd5 Nc3 (15...Bd5 16.Bf4) 16.bc3 Bd5 (lose 16...Qd5? 17.c4 followed by 18.d5+-), although after 16.Re1 or 16.Bf4 the position in my opinion promise him more than the one which happened in the game
Further followed
15...Bd5 16.cd5 Qd5 17.Qa4 Bf6 18.Rd1 Rad8
One can see with the naked eye that Black suffered no any difficulties. All his pieces are marvelously developed and e4-Knight takes up an excellent position in the center. White in opposite still need to finish the development.
19.Be3
White forced to play so because of the d4-pawn is under the blow. In case of a pseudo-active 19.Bc4 Qd6 20.d5 a6! White's difficulties are be aggravated. But now Black with a temporary pawn's sacrifice
19...f4
provides the profitable for him exchange and open f-file where begins to act his Rook.
The nearest moves are forced for both sides. 20. Bxf4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 (21.Bc4 Qf5!) 21...Bxd4 22. Be3 c5
Certainly the Queen's sacrifice: 22...Be3 23.Rd5 Bf2 24.Kh1 Ng3 25.Kh2 Rd5 there is no need to Ponomariov who leads in the match (there more that after 26.Bf3 White has the advantage). Now threatened 23...Nf2, this why White is obliged to trade the dark-squared Bishop, but after that Black get a strong passed d-pawn which is supported with all pieces. In case of 23.Bf3 could follow a naturally 23...Rf3! 24.gf3 Ng5 25.Bg5 Qg5 26.Kh2 Rf8 with a very strong attack.
19... f4 20. Bxf4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Be3 c5 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. f3
White is forced to make such a "homely" move otherwise one can't see how to defence f2-pawn. And 24.Bf3 lose at once: 24...Rf3! 25.gf3 Ng5, and the white King will be mated.
24...d3
Force the pass to an equal endgame. And draw in this game significantly approach Ponomariov to a Champion crown.
Possible was also 24...Nc5 25.Qc4 d3, but as they say let well alone
25. Qxe4 Qxe4 26. fxe4 dxe2 27. Rd5 1/2-1/2
Now the draw is obvious: after 27...Rd5 28.ed5 Rd8 the score-sheets could be signed. The other way is longer - 27.Rd8 Rd8 28.Re1 Rd2 29.b4 Ra2 30.Kf2 Ra3 31.Re2 Rb3 32.Rd2 h6 33.Rd4, but don't change the estimation.

So, Ivanchuk failed to tie a big battle. And the initial chaos is in my opinion the obscure move 13.h3. With the simple and natural moves Ponomariov got a competent play and already White was forced to think how to keep the balance. In two rest games for Ponomariov it is enough to gain only half a point to become the World Champion FIDE for the nearest two years. And only a wonder could save Ivanchuk. But still if there is one chance from 100 he should continue to fight. And maybe the wonder will become...?