Timman - Grischuk 1/2 Bareev - Radjabov 1-0 Ponomariov - Kramnik 1-0 Ivanchuk - Krasenkov 1/2 Karpov - Shirov 1/2 Topalov - Anand 0-1 Van Wely - Polgar 1/2 GM Mark Taimanov annotates: Although the Corus-2003 tournament gained an exclusively strong and rather equal stuff of participants in each round there are duels which excite a speciaal interest primordially. Today to these intriguing meetings one can refer the games by high-titled R.Ponomariov and V.Kramnik and sharply distinctive in chess ideology A.Karpov and A.Shirov. To 3 p.m. GMT in the 1st game of favourites the opening strategy of the Nimzo defence didn't bring bright imaginations. Ponomariov has chosen a restrained plan of development connected with phianketto of the light-colored Bishop and the game gained calm "queen-indian" motives. In the middlegame it were exchanged almost all light pieces and appeared rather simple position where White keep the pressure on the c-file but hardly it will be sufficient for real achivments. More excited and in principle flamed the opening battle Karpov-Shirov . The partners outplayed one of the duble-edged variation of the Accepted Queen gambit, where Black takes under control the white squares in the center but let the black ones. Besides in White's disposition turns out to be half-opened files "c" and "e" and this probably determine in middlegame his perspective to own the initiative. By the way in such position both partners have the experience. In 1992 Karpov played similarly with Short (true instead of 13. Nh3 it was 13. Ne2) and Shirov with black tested this variation last year against Dreev, where on 13. Nh3 he played 13...Qd7 preparing the long castle. In short the basis for a creative conference has been created. But alas the strategical strain kept not long. In the complicated middlegame the partners prefered simplifications. And literally in several moves there disappeared major of pieces from the board. Has been arose an endgame with 4 Rooks with a probable draw. A principle theoretic discuss took place also in the game A.Bareev - T.Radjabov , where has been met one of the mostly popular and far investigated variation of the King- Indian defence. In fact the dramatical crux of the appeared complicated middlegame comes to a counter activity of pieces' play on the opposite flanks under the close center. White's bridgehead here the queenside, Black's the kingside one. And the success depends of the energy of providing the strategical plans. When it have been made 20 moves and it seems that Bareev significantly pass ahead his rival in the initiative development. The theoretical duel Topalov - Anand has been marked with a bright opening surprise. Ina well known position in the Russian game where after 16 moves usually were tested modest mobilized moves 17.a3, 17.Bd2 or more active 17.Ne5 Topalov "in kind old style" suddenly sacrificed the exchange (17.Rxe6!?) for only positional profits - two bishops, the activity of pieces and some weakness of rival's pawn structure on the kingside. Not more... And now he will need to find new arguments to prove his brave decision. Nevetheless hurrah to Veselin! In the "open" variation of Ruy Lopez V.Ivanchuk managed gradually to overdo Krasenkov in positional style and own important points in the center of the board. His chances in forthcoming maneuver fight looks obviously preferred. Faster than in rest games the circumstances have been developed in the game Van Wely - Polgar . It was outplayed the Queen-Indian defence and the partners early went on the way of simplifications. Already to 25th move has been appeared the endgame with 4 rooks where White although keeps certain space advantage nevertheless the Black's position is rather firm. To the 4 p.m. GMT has been appeared first leader on the tournament - E.Bareev realized confidently his positional advantage vs T.Radjabov and obtained the second victory in a row. In this game he showed clear condact of the active operations on the queenside and a correct calculation of the tactical operations (22-25 moves) and a high technic. An excellent start of our grandmaster! Probably the sensational should be recognised the result of the duel between two champions - the young R.Ponomariov and more experienced V.Kramnik . And the essence is not only in the sport significance of a principal duel. More surprised is the character of the Ponomariov's victory. In a calm position White had only a small positional advantage and it seemed that Kramnik has not any problems with the defence. He need only a clear plan for the defence and a perseverance, i.e. just the features which are peculiar to him. But it has been happened something incredible. Kramnik step by step let his position, allowed White to invade white pieces in his camp, seeking an ephemeral attack moved away his Queen from the center of the event and then even blandid a simple tactical strike. Maybe this happened in the time truble but anyway we should pay the honours to the winner. The technical part of the game he condacted "under the classic" masterly! But probably the most excited game of the round was a tacticl duel V.Topalov-V.Anand where after an original sacrifice of the excange the partners as if competed in wit of intentions and quickness. Both in attack (Topalov) and counterplay (Anand). All the peripeteias of dramatical events need a special analysis (maybe with computer). Just now paid attention the idea of the counter-attack in the center 24...c5!?, a tactiacl reply 26...Ne3!? and the maneuver 32...Qh7 from Anand's side. The drave of the strike 28.Bxh6!? Instead of possible moves repeatition 28.Ne5 Ne3 29. Nf3 from Topalov's side. Both 4 rooks endgames which happened in the games L.van Wely - J.Polgar and A.Karpov - A.Shirov developed similarly. Those who played White and have some space advantage Van Wely and Karpov perseveringly tried to fight through in the rival's camp with their pieces and to develop the offensive but they managed in this only partly. The partners as it is usually happened in the rook endgames have appeared a couterplay when the files have been opened which was sufficient for a neutralization of rivals initiative. As a result the appropriate and fighting draws. The meeting V.Ivanchuk - M.Krasenkov also finished with draw. In my opinion Ivanchuk had not enough energy to realize obtained positional advantage One more draw happened in the game J.Timman - A.Grischuk Nevertheless reckoning up one can note that the second round turn out well! |
