Sergei Ivanov GM Sergei Ivanov annotates the games of the 10th round:


Wijk an Zee,
January, 24, 2002


For the beginning the games of the leaders.

Grischuk - Gelfand
Gelfand plays in this tournament unsuccessfully, therefore to prefer superreliable (is especial in light of the last games) Russian to favourite Naidorf it is quite clear. On the 6-th move Black selects 6... Bd6, so now Shirov likes to play, ponomariov in the 6-th game just finished match with Ivanchuk played 6... Nc6. On the 10-th move Gelfand chooses strengthening e4-knight 10... f5, Shirov in the sensational game with Kasparov(Wijk aan Zee, 2001) played 10... Bg4 11. Ne5 Bh5 12.cd5 cd5, and after a novelty 13. Nc3! White have received advantage.
On the 12-th move White applys new, but quite logical continuation: 12. Re1 ( was tested 12.c5 and 12. Ne2), he yet does not lock Q-side, deducing the pieces on active positions. By 14 move Gelfand makes a decision to offer the pawn (14... Ne6), probably to hand over the foundations at the centre ( 14... dc4 or 14... Nc3) he would not like. Black made actives the pieces, but concrete threats while is not present, and at White, all the same, healthy extrapawn. Now, for example, is well looked 18. Ne5.
The nearest moves show, what Gelfand had in view.
After 18. Ne5 seems, that Black has no any compensation for pawn, but in this moment Gelfand begins direct attack with sacrifices: 18... Nh3!, 20... Be5! ( destroying strong knight), 21... Bc6. Black's threats have appeared, to reflect which not so it is simple. After 22. Bc1 practically is forced the drawn game by perpetual check has turned out, from which White evade could not. Instead of it the following computer variation was possible: 22. Ne3 Qf4 23. Be4 fe4 24. Ng4 h5 25. Nf6 Bb5 26. Kg1 Qg5 27. Kh1 gf6 28.ef6, and White keeps advantage, but it's not so simple to play so at the board.
Very interesting and important for the theory game!

Bareev - Dreev
Bareev did not begin to get involved in theoretical debate and has prefered quiet 4.e3 to sharp antimeran gambit: 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dc4 etc., in which Dreev is the recognized expert. All is clear: Bareev divides the first place, and to risk to him, certainly, would not be desirable.
The variation is played which recently became unexpectedly popular: Black not at once remove the bishop, and move 6... Be4 cause White on weakening 7.f3. On the 10-th move the game has gone on original ways, to used 10. Rc1, White has preferred a usual developing move 10. Be2. By the move 11.g3 White has prepared a capture on g6 with subsequent castling, but Black has decided to keep the bishop from exchange: 11... dc4 and 12... Bh5. By opportune 14... c5 Dreev attacked the centre of White, similar, that Black has no problems, and at White too "friable" pawn's structure. 16.g4 - certainly, one more weakening, But lightsquared bishop of the contender is strong. And it is necessary to exchange it.
White and further moved on the "g"pawn to push aside the black knight. But at Black there is a tactical resource: 20... Nb6!? On 21.gf6, naturally, will follow 21... Rd2! 22. Rd2 Be3. But also White in a duty does not remain, playing 21. Na4! Na4 22.gf6. Now on 22... gf6 will follow "brutal" 23. Kh1!, and Black loses material. But is 22... Rd5!, and the voltage in the position is kept.
After a series of the optional moves (so, instead of 23... Rg5 it is better 23... Qe5) the contenders passed into the sharp ending. White could win exchange: 29.f4 Re4 (29... Re3 30. Bb5!) 30. Bf3 Re3 31. Bb7 etc. (for which Black, truth, received quite good compensation), but has preferred to offer the pawn, but is sharp to make active the pieces. White rook has intruded on the seventh line, and the bishops began to shoot at black pawns.
The long time black was possible successfully to hold a defense. He even could in any moment to exchange of one of the bishops (for example, 42... Ne4), but in this case he could be "squeezed" in his camp. There was a moment, when Dreev could exchange the rook, then Black in any way did not risk to lose, for example: 46... Rc7 47. Rc7 Nc7 48. Bb7 Bb2. Apparently, Black was mistaken on 48-th move, instead of 48.. Rc3 49. Ra6 Nc7 50. Ra7 Na8 51. Ra8 Kf7 52. Ra7 Rc7 with chances for the win he has played 48... Bd4 49. Ra6 Nc7 and has missed a strong retort 50. Rd6!, in combination with 53.a4! on 53... ba4 would follow 54. Ra8 Kf7 55. Bc5, and the knight is lost. However, soon all the same it was necessary to give back the knight. The advantage has passed on the side of White.
Nevertheless small quantity of the stayed pieces made chances of Black on a drawn game high, as at presence of the rooks his pawns could be rather dangerous. And Dreev long time evaded from the rook's exchange, and when all the same them has changed ( after 75. Rg6 Kf5), arisen ending has appeared lost, that Bareev convincingly also has shown.
Very difficult game, after which Bareev became the sole leader of the tournament.

Van Wely - Adams
Adams plays with the main loser of tournament, and, despite of black pieces, for certain will try to delay the rival in long, viscous, "spider's" game, in with which he feels, as "a fish in water". Then there is a chance to get the leaders.
And it is. Contenders have played one of variations of the English opening, in which the forces of the rivals long time do not come in contact, and it is possible slowly to maneuver in the camp. All this on a hand Adams. Black on 11 move has designated the intentions on Q-side (11... a6, 12.. Rb8, 13... b5), and White, in turn - on K-side (12. Nh4, 13.f4). Let's look, whose play will appear is more effective.
After 16-th move - on the board a position of dynamic balance. But it is boring for Van Wely, he should "to sow the storm".
All is correct, by 19 move Loek undertakes lunge 19. Ng5, and Michel goes towards to the contender - takes the knight (though it was quite possible to recede - 19.. Bd7). Apparently, 21.fg5 - the unsuccessful decision, was necessary to recede by the bishop - 21. Bg2. After a strong move 22... Re6! Black intercept the initiative: king of White is opened, the pieces are not coordinated, black bishop on c6-square is very strong. 23. Rb1 - that though to get rid of pressure on a line "b". But and after exchange all rooks Black keeps obvious advantage in the ending - The stayed pieces at him are considerably more active.
In case of 25... Rf6 white can by 26.e4 put the bar on the ways of black bishop , therefore he play 25... d5!, expanding sphere of its influence. Black temporarily has given back the pawn, but has intruded by queen and bishop in the camp of White also has begun prosecution of the white king. Before the control Black instead of winning back pawn (34... Qd5) endow one more (34... a5!?), more and more complexing the position. Whether is at Adams something greater, than perpetual check? Yes, he decides to continue game - 42... Bf5. Now threatens 43... Bh3 and 44... Qe1- +, therefore following the move of White (43.h4) is compelled. "h"pawn is lost, but thus white it is possible to consolidate forces and to centralize the king, having transferred it in safe place. The chances of Black now can be connected only to move the passed pawn "g", but it is easily blocked by Nd2-f3. The partners did not begin to tempt destiny and have agreed to a drawn game.

Timman - Khalifman
Both chess players very battle, and we can expect next basic opening duel.
Is not present, duel has failed: from the English opening the position was transformed in one of variations of the Tarrasch defence. Now so play seldom.
On the 10-th move White has preferred to pass into ending - 10.dc5, another continuation - 10.d5. The white pieces are more active and are better developed, but position of Black is strong and has no weaknesses.
Further Timman has selected harmless continuation - 14. Nd5, promises 14. Nb5 more ef4 15. Rc5 fg3 16.hg3 Bg4 17. Rd2 Rad8 18. Nd6 (Korchnoi - Brunner, Zurich 1996). Khalifman simply has taken the bishop - 14... ef4, to equality conducts also 14... Bd4 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Rd2 Be3 17. Ne3 =.
By exchange knights on the 18-th move and exact move 19... Be6! Black completely has balanced the chances: he is going to take by bishop on d5 and to transfer knight on d6 (Nb6-c8-d6). Through some moves there was simply nothing to play, and contenders have agreed to a drawn game.

Morozevich - Piket
And again Russian! Yes, this opening in tournaments top-level becomes most popular... Up to 11 move the opening developed similarly the game Grischuk - Gelfand, but then Morozevich has selected rare 11.c5 (instead of usual 11. Nc3). The answer of Black was rather logical: 11... Bb8, leaving for knight the c7-square and keeping the control above a diagonal h2-b8 (in one game there was less successful 11... Be7). And rook 8 has time to enter onto the game. Instead of 13. Ne2 deserved attention 13. Bf4, on b2 the white bishop has no prospects. By manoeuvre Bd7-e8-h5 Black has shown, that already it is necessary for White t o think of the equation.
18. Ne5 - looks as blunder, but anything best at White is not present, as to allow the capture on f3 he can not in no event. After forced 18.. Be2 19. Be2 Nd4! 20. Nd7 Qh4 it seems, the drawn game should turn out. 21. Nb8?! - is strange, really Morozevich without pawn is going to play for a win? After 21.g3 the drawn game by turned out by perpetual check: 21... Ng3 22.fg3 Bg3 23.hg3 Qg3 24. Kh1 Qh3 as to play 21... Ne2 22. Re2 Qh5 black can not: 23.f3 Rf7 24. Nb8 Rb8 25.g4!, and White wins a piece. Now Black has healthy extra-pawn - protected passedpawn at the centre. The truth, White controls the line "e", and his bishop is rather active, but hardly it is sufficient compensation.
It was possible for White well to be made active, but Black has kept extrapawn at strong position. But further have begun to occur difficult to explain events, Probably, has come zeitnot. 34... Rd7? - it is simple blunder, why not 34.. Qf5 or 34... Ne6? After White has exchanged queens (40. Qe4), the Piket's position at once became hopeless: the march of the white king in the centre and the movement of pawn "e" solves. Piket resigned at once.
This victory makes Morozevich by one of favorites - we shall not forget, that ahead he has the game with his favourite rival - Loek Van Wely.

Leko - Lautier
The contenders have played one of the versions of Scheveningen variation. Rearrangement of the moves: 10. Kh1 and only then 11.a4 has allowed for Black to exchange the knights and to remove the bishop on c6-square. This variation is considered harmless. Leko has tried to strengthen white play: 13.a5 in a combination with 14.f5 have not allowed Black to carry out liberating d6-d5. But all the same to speak about any serious advantage of White it is not necessary.
The long maneuverable game was not interesting. White all time kept a little bit best chances (because of more elastic pawn's structure), but Black gradually has exchanged majority of the pieces and quietly has come to the drawn game.

Gurevich - Kasimdzhanov
Mikhail Gurevich did not want to be involved in theoretical debate with the young rival and has selected the rare 7.Ba3(in the main variation of Grunfeld defence). It is considered that this variation gives for White nothing, but not all so simple.
Instead of concession of the center - 10...cd4 deserved attention 10...Rb8 with idea b7-b5-b4. Also had sense to include the move 12...Bg4, and after 13.Be2 Bd7 (let the e4-pawn be without defence).
And in the game after 15 moves White has got the clear advantage.
May be Kasimdzhanov should to play 16...f5 or even 16...Bd4 (here's no seen the right refutation), but after 16...Rc8 17.Bd6! the position became bad for Black. Incomprehensibly also why Black didn't play 19...ed5 20.ed5 Bd5 21.Bg6 fg6 or even 21...Ba2; obviously it was his last chance, after played 19...e5 White has decisive advantage.
And he easily realized the extrapawn, and the game has finished after blunder (39...Qa5 40.Nb1).