|
GM Evgeny Alekseev
annotates the games of the 8th round:
|
Kasparov - Kramnik 1/2
Ponomariov - Anand 1/2
Kasparov - Kramnik . The Ruy Lopez has been played. Kramnik decided to play no the Berlin variation which he liked in the London's match probably since the lost in Astana. Kasparov from the other hand didn't want to play the Marshall attack and has chosen a calm variation with 8.h3, counting on a long fight.
Playing no 14...g6, Kramnik didn't afraid of the King's invasion on f5, and Kasparov rushly sharped the fight by 16.d4 with idea of open the diagonal a2-f7. Kramnik's reply also was very sharp and the position now is very calculating and it's impossible at once to understand what is happened on the board and who has the better position.
After the relief in the centre it turned out that Black's pieces stands well and he has not any weaknesses. White tried to arrange an attack on the King but seems nothing happened from this and probably Black has a slight advantage on account of the better pawn structure and a good Bishop. White's pieces stands such as active but really don't present a danger.
With a piece's sacrifice Kasparov managed to make a perpetual check and thus to avoid the worse position.
Leko - Radjabov . Once more the French Defence in execution of Radjabov. This variation is slightly passive but rather firm for Black. White decided immediately to attack Black's kingside and White in opposite developed an activity on the queendside. Desired the attention 15.g6 0-0-0 16.Nf3 cd 17.Ke2, as it was in the game Koch - Goldewicht, Cannes 1995. This variation met rather long ago and it's wonderful how quickly the partners played the opening. In this variation according to Chess Base it was played 4 games and only in one of them White lost and just according to this game Leko played 15.dc. Th position arose after 18...Rg8 is double edged and complicated for evaluation.
Now it is clear that the variation turned out to be with "a hole". Probably Black should take c5-pawn in order that further if White would double his Rooks on b-file to have the move b6. In the game when White doubled on b-file and passed c6 White breaked to the black King. And the end of the game brilliantly was led by White especially beautiful was the final move 32.Qxf8 and since after 32...Qxf8 33.Nb5 Qc5 34.Nd6 Kd8 35.c7 Qxc7 36.Nf7 Kc8 37.Rc7 Kc7 38.h6 white pawn passes in the Queen Black resigned.
Ponomariov - Anand . In this game met the Sicilian Defence. With 3.Bb5 Ponomariov as all chess players last time decided to avoid Cheliabinsky variation. It seems to me that the maneuver Ng5-h3 followed by f4 in this position is not the best decision. Ponomariov who wins the previous game is in a slight ascent and he decided to try to play very active, there more that he has nothing to lose and probably he is hoping to manage to improve the situation as it was in Wijk-aan-Zee, where he managed to win 3 games in a row. But I think that in this game he hardly will success - a very risky is the position.
After the move 13.g4, which has been made not for a good life, it's good for Ponomariov that he managed to exchange the Queens, otherwise White's position could became very sad. In the arose position after 21...Rc8 Black stands slightly better. All the battle is yet to come.
When White captured the f7-pawn it seemed that the position has sharped and the result of the game is unclear but probably a slight advantage Anand had all the time and after 41.Nf2 the best move for Black I think is 41...Rc3 with idea not to let white Knight on the h3-square where he stands not bad attacking f4-pawn and threatening with a transfer Ng5-f3. After 41...Rc3 white pieces stands passively and the King is drive into a corner meanwhile black pieces stands very actively and interact harmoniously, creating the threats to rush in the 2nd rank all the time.
It's clear that 44...Bf2 was a blunder. Probably Anand has not noticed that after 45.b7 Bg3 46.Rf7+ Kg6 47.R1f6+ Kg5 48.hg there is no mate and a draw is inavitable. The draw also is in the variation 45...Rb2 46.R4f2 Rf2 47.Rf2 Rb7 In view of this variation the partners agreed in a draw. Ought to play simply 44...Rxa2 with idea 45...Rab2 or at once 44...Rb2. In both cases Black has a big advantage and excellent chances to win. Maybe Anand run after an effective final with a move 45...Bg3, but has not noticed that the Rook goes away from the 1st rank with a check and there is no mate.