The Corus Chess Tournament

Wijk aan Zee, 9th-25th January 2004



Sergey Ivanov GM Sergey Ivanov annotates the games of the 6th round:




Kramnik - Zhong 1-0
Sokolov - van Wely 1/2
Topalov - Bologan 1-0
Anand - Shirov 1-0
Timman - Svidler 1/2
Leko - Akopian 1/2
Adams - Bareev 1-0

Hello, dear chess lovers all over the world! We continue to transmit and annotate the 1st supertournament of the New Year in Wijk-aan-Zee. Today I GM Sergey Ivanov will be your guide.
Yesterday on the tournament was a rest day, so hope GMs will rush into the fight openly and show a beautiful play. The most interest presents the game Anand - Shirov: their meetings always proceed in a very tense struggle.
Probably Kramnik who plays with Zhong will want to strengthen his position in the leaders group. Generally speaking the situation in the tournament is very tangled. All the participants keep one's distance of 1 point. So, everything is possible!

Anand - Shirov
Shirov deceided to use his favorite Russian game, which gained him a success in the match with Kramnik in 1998. He has chosen a system with 6...Bd6, which played lately very rare, after a hard defeat from Kasparov in Wijk-aan-Zee 2001. Anand replied a rare plan 10.cd5. Usually in this position one played 10.Nc3 at once, without an exchange on d5. On 11th move Shirov decided to play more reliable and traded a couple of light pieces. In an only known to me games in this position it was played 11...Bb4, and after 12.Ne4 Be1 13.Neg5! White remained with an extra-material (Grischuk - Lautier, Cap D'Adge 2003). Few moves later Anand launched a rather sharp attack on the kingside (17.g4), which is frankly speaking hardly could lead to a success taking into account a backwardness in development. Shirov replied very calm and exchanged the Queens. Desired the attention also 17...Qf6!? 18.gh5 Rfe8, gaining an active game for a pawn. Black temporarily has sacrificed a pawn but White's pawns are weak and the position is approximately equal. Now the position is slightly sharped, there is possible a line: 25.Ng5 f6 26.Ne6 Na2 and both sides has his own trumps.
Shirov nevertheless underestimated the danger of the active white Rook. White managed to keep an extra-pawn although the arisen Rook endgame (even after that Shirov gave away his second pawn for the sake of Rook's activization) carried out rather drawn character. But Black ought to play very accuracy. The main way of defence in such endgame is the 'defence by a flank blow' and for that reason the Rook transfers on 6th rank. I have found only one moment when Black played incorrect - instead of 50...Kf5 he should play 50...Rf4!, in order to take the pawn with the Rook and to leave the King on g7. For example: 51.a5 Kg7 52.a6 Rf5, and arice a theoretical draw. After that I failed to find a way how Black could gain a draw. As well as Kramnik Anand shows an excellent endgame technics and reach Vladimir.

Kramnik - Zhong
According to chosen opening Kramnik todays deceided to play 'on a long fight" and on a difference in class. He used his favorite schem 'Anti-Nimzo' and at that with Bishop's development on e2, where he has a huge experience. Black placed his heavy pieces slightly not traditionally. Usually one put Queen on e7 and the Rooks on d8 and c8. But till the forces didn't touched this doesn't matter. Kramnik also lost several tempos: he played first Rad1 and Nd2 to turn out the Knight from e4 and then rearrange the Rooks Rc1 and Rfd1. Zhong correctly has placed his pawns on black squares and now Kramnik has to determine with the pawn structure in the center. Usually in such positions White exchanges the pawns on c5: dxc5 - dxc5 and plays b4-b4. All the strugle is yet to come.
Seems Vladimir's strategical plan in this game are justified. He slightly 'lulled' his opponent with unhurried maneuvers and Zhong relaxed his vigilance. Kramnik decided to play no 23.b5, and preffered to transfer the Knight on this square (23.Nb1!?). This gave Black the possibility to place on c5 his Knight, but nevertheless he didn't get rid of some problems since the weakness of b6-pawn (White's move 26.Rb1!? has undermined this). 28...Rd8?! is an inaccuracy (better 28...Ra8), which allowed White transform the position in his benefit. Black turned out to be pressed to 2 last ranks without any counterplay. Meanwhile White could calmly strengthen the position. When he provoked a weakness f7-f5 Black's position became very dangerous. It is clear now that there are possible 2 results, in my opinion White's chances on a win approximately are equal to Black's chances on a draw.
In spite of Queens exchange Black didn't get rid of the difficulties. White moved the King toward the center and on the Queenside and Zhong decided once more to transform the position passing to the endgame 'Bishop against Knight with pawns (4 vs 3) on a flank'. It seemed that it is rather difficult to win such a endgame. But the black Knight has been forced to occupe an unhappy position on g6-square and appeared the motives of zugzvang. In case of Black didn't move h-pawn White put the Bishop on e8, pushed ahead his pawn till h5 and breaked with the King on 8th rank. In one moment Black wouldn't have the moves. It is obviously that 68...Nh8? is a decisive mistake. Black should not put his Knight in the corner. I still have not find a win after 68...Nh4 69.f6 Kf4!, for example 70.f7 Ng6 71.Ba4 h4 72.Bc2 Nf8 73.Ke7 h3. Meanwhile after the text move Kramnik easily wins transferring the King on f6. An excellent Vladimir's victory who showed a perfect technics in the endgame.

Adams - Bareev
The partners played a well-known variation of the Tarrash system in French defence with an earlier black Queen's appearance. A popular several years ago a continuation 12.Re1 Bd6 13.Nf5 Bh2 etc. now is used rare: in main lines everything is analysed till the forced draw. On 13th move Adams has chosen a sly move 13.Kh1!? In compare with natural 13.h3 the difference is that h3-square could be used for the Queen and in some cases also for Rook's transfer along the 3rd rank for an attack on the King. Bareev decided not to be hurry with the castle, in case of 13...0-0 14.Bg5 Nd7 15.c3 Ne5 16.Qh5 Ng6 17.Bc2 (which was met many times) White possess slight initiative. Black first strengthen the Knight on f6 (14...Be5), throws back white Bishop (15...h6) and then castle. For the sake of unload the position Bareev changed the e5-Bishop on d4-Knight and let the opponent an advantage in two Bishops but in this situation where all Black's pieces and pawns are rather active this advantage carry out a minimal character. The game as approximately equal.
Events which is difficult of explain happened in this game. In a calm position Bareev lost literally in two moves. Slightly false looks already the move 22...Qd8, it was possible simply to go away with the Knight, for example 22...Nd7.
But the capture on f6 with the Queen is a decisive mistake. Necessary was 23...gf6, and Black stands not so bad. In case of 24.Qf4 Kh7 25.Rd1 he rescue by 25...Qg8! 26.f3 Qg5 with equalization. Probably Bareev simply blundered the blow on e6 and after that didn't want to play a difficult endgame without a pawn (25...Kg7 26.Re7 Rf8) and simply resigned. An offencive defeat and Adams now is a leader. And how are our persecutors?

Topalov - Bologan
Partners played Ruy Lopez, White has chosen a system called between chessplayers 'Anti- Marshall'. Now very few players in the tournaments of the top level are ready to go on complicated lines such as Counter-attack Marshal! Topalov has used a well-known but slightly forgotten move 10.Bd2, in our days White usually plays 10.Nc3. Bologan has replied with more rare 11...Nd4, it was met 11...Nc5 12.Bd5 b4 13.Ne2 Bf6 14.Be3 Ne7=, Geller - Tal, La Habana 1963. 14.Ng3 - a new and quite a logical plan, using the absence Black's e-pawn White liven up on kungside. Earlier was played mainly 14.ab5. Later on Black managed to annihilate a dangerous lightcolored Bishop but White concentrated on a powerful group on the kingside meanwhile Black had problems with counterplay. On 26th move instead of a spectacular (but ineffective) move 26.fg6, which didn't bring something special to White it was possible to take c4-pawn. But not at once (on 26.bc4 there is a reply 26...ba4), but after a preliminar exchange on b5. Here is an example: 26.ab5 ab5 27.bc4 bc4 28.dc4 Bg2 (What else?) 29.Qg2 Qc5 30.fg6 hg6 (badly 30...fg6 31.Qf3+-) 31.Rf7 d3 32.Kh1, and Black needs a good advice. Topalov missed this possibility and the position slightly equalized. The further play was in a mutual time trouble. The move 29...cd3 which destroys black pawns looks doubtfully. Deserve the attention 29...Be5 30.Bf4 Bg7 or even 29...f5!? White could several times after that to win d4-pawn, for example on 34th move: 34.Nd7! Qe7 35.Rd4. At last one arrived an endgame where White kept an advantage also a sharpness still remained. In the position after 41th move White should play simply 42.Nb5 Rb2 43.Rd4 and he should win.
As we predicted White's position turned out to be easily winning. He simply pushed ahead his passing pawns and Black was not able to oppose something to this. In final position there is no defence from 53.b7 Bb7 54.Rb7 or 53...Rb7 54.a8Q. Topalov join to Adams and becomes one of leaders meanwhile Bologan suffers a second defeat in a row.

Leko - Akopian
An unusual round - only one Sicilian game (or it is such a fashion now?). And the events in this meeting carried out surprisely calm. In Naidorf system the opponents played a line with an early Black's move Nb6 (without b7-b5). Due to Anand's efforts this variation became quite popular. In the meetings Leko and Anand last year this continuation met twice: in Monako Leko played at once 17.Qd2, and in Dortmund realized this manever on 19th move (19.Qd2 Rc6 20.Nd5). Both times Leko didn't win laurels thus in this game he decided to avoid this move. On 22nd move White used a novelty 22.Nd2, earlier has been met 22.Qg2 (an unintelligible move) 22...fg5 23.hg5 Qf7 24.Nd2 1/2-1/2, Pavlov - Styrenkov, Alushta 2003.
But after this logical strengthen of position in my opinion the position didn't went out of the equalization. Black has chained White's forces pressing on f3-pawn. He doesn't let White to develop on the opposite flank. In case if White try to activate his Knight for example by way of 34.Nc4, then after 34...Qf7 35.Rg3 Rh4 Black get a serious counterplay. After the Queens exchange White failed to arrange a passing pawn on a-file. The weak pawns on the kingside required a constant care thus both partners were suitted by repetition of moves.

Timman - Svidler
Timman has chosen a 'ferroconcrete' 'Anti-Grunfeld' against expected Grunfeld Defence in Svidler's interpretation. He builded a real pawn's 'fortress' in the center (c3-d4-e3). In this round were popular different 'anti-system' - Anti-Marshall, Anti-Grunfeld... And the result as one can see quite not bad.
We have to admit that Svidler failed to equalize. Timman made a natural and logical move 14.Qb3!?, which turned out to be a novelty. Earlier has been met 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Qd2 e6=, Korchnoi - Kamsky, Tilburg 1991. Petr probably didn't like the reply 14...Bb7 since 15.Ng5!? e6 16.e5 Nd5 17.Ne4 with White's initiative. But after the move in text White got an obvious advantage with simple moves and won a pawn. Instead of 18...Ne7 it was possible to try to play more active 18...Nf4, but here also after a simple 19.Rad1 Black has big problems.
But the most difficult in chess as it is well-known to win a winning position. Svidler all the time put problems to his opponent finding the least chances. The partners passed to the endgame and Black managed to arrange a pressure on c4-pawn. Probably White ought to block the kingside by 32.h4 and further to transfer the King in the center. One more perspective possibility was concluded in 34.Nd2!? followed by Ne4. Meanwhile after the opening of g-file Black suddenly created a counterplay on it. But in this case as well White could strengthen the position for example 38.Rb4 Bb6 39.f5. Even in final position it was a possibility to play on a win: 45.f5 Bf8 46.Rg4. But possibly Timman was very tired since he spent a lot of forces and he preferred to fix a draw.
So, Svidler fortunately avoid unpleasantnesses according to principle: if you don't 'score a goal' (in the previous game with Anand) one 'score a goal' to you (in today's game with Timman).

Sokolov - van Wely
The game from the first moves moved away from the main ways and got a very original turn. With 7.e4!? White temporarely sacrificed a pawn in order to the quickest development of his pieces. Soon White returned the pawn but his Queen was forced to draw away on the flank. Nevertheless Sokolov kept a constant pressure on the opponent's position. In my opinion White kept the advantage by way of 23.Ra2!? (instead of 23.Rb1), for example: 23...Ba3 24.Nd7 Qd7 25.Qb6 Nc7 26.Ra1. Black was able to equalize the position at once with a temporarely piece's sacrifice: 24...Qc5 25.Qc5 Bf5 26.Rb2 Ra1 27.Bf1 Bd3, but preffered a very sharp play, depending on his main trump a passing b-pawn. As a result the pawn passed to a Queen but just after this White could win by 33.Bh6! The line 33...Rf2 34.Qe5 f6 35.Qe7 Qb8 36.d6 didn't give up to van Wely any chances. After the move in the game he managed to defence (and this with an extra-Rook!).
A very interesting game although finished in a draw. Ivan Sokolov plays in this tournament very creatively. The fate should give him his due for the labour!