WIM Irina Sudakova annotates the games of the 9th round: Hello, respected chess lovers! Today in Linares the 9th round and at least in 2 duels we could expect a fight with character of principal: Radjabov - Kasparov (I think everybody remember what happened in Linares last year) and Shirov - Kramnik (as well known Alexei won a match for the right to play vs Kasparov :). However soon we'll see how will develop the events in these games as well as in the game Vallejo - Topalov. Today in Linares is a 'Cheliabinsk' day. In 2 games was played just this variation. Vallejo - Topalov 17.0-0 White took the risk of going on an interesting sacrifice - 13.Nd5, which has been met rather not often. It's interesting what Vallejo prepared? 16...Nb8 - is a novelty. In two games which I have found in my data base Black played Kh8. 18...Qg5. Black should not take the bishop 18...Bb5 19.f6 Bh6 20.Ne7 Kh8 21.Qa8 Bf1 22.Rf1 and White has an obvious advantage. Meanwhile the computer without batting an eyelid suggests 18...е4 19.Qg3 Bf5, but it seems to me dangerous - perhaps Topalov has made the most natural move. In my opinion White's position is preffered. 23.b4 Black's pieces are not coordinated, White's pawns are on the offensive. There is possible also the development of the game on the kingside, for example in a variation 23...Bb5 24.ab Rb7 25. Rf3 (threatens Rg3) h4 26.g3 h3 27.g4 and so on. Black managed to take out the knight from the last rank and this allowed him to obtain a draw. Maybe White should go at once Ra6 (without Ra5), keeping some chances. Altogether it seems that White was able to obtain more in this game. Shirov - Kramnik 20...Kh8 A novelty in an known variation with Queen sacrifice: 20.Bс2 d5 21.Bb3 f4 22.Nd5 Rd7 23.Nb4 Rd1 24.Be6 Kh8 25.Rad1, as it was for example in the games Topalov - Leko, 2000 (a draw after a long fight), and Anand - Kramnik, 2003 (the partners agreed on a draw just in this position). Instead of 20.Bc2 tested was also 20.Bb5 d5 21.Bc6 or 21.Rа6, and 20.Bf5 Rf5 (it's impossible 20...Bf5 because of Qd5 and Rа8) 21.Nf5 Bf5 22.Qf3 Qd7 with unclear play, and also the exchange sacrifice 20.Rа6 d5 21.Rе6!? 23...Bс4 In case of pawn capture: 22.Rd6, Black probably could develop an initiative playing 22...Qb8 followed by Be5 and possible rooks doubling on g-file. I don't know how serious it is but Shirov rejected this opportunity. But I think after the moves in the game Black's position is better, for example after possible 24.Re1 Be5. Desired an attention 24.Qh5 28.fg The fight becomes more sharp. Now the Black Queen on the occasion could come from the rear: Qf6-f2 and take b2-pawn and then possibly also c3. But in this case White has his own counter-chances, associated with Qh5. 31.Kh1 I think Kramnik nevertheless hurried with pawn's sacrifice. Shirov has find a resource 30.Bd5, and Black has nothing essential. Radjabov - Kasparov 26...Bb7 Scottish game, variation 6.e5. Probably the 1st new move is 15...Nе2, till now in the game Rublevsky - Tseshkovsky (where White won) Black took on g2 - 15...Ng2 16.Kf2 Nf4 17.Bg4. Further Radjabov gave away a pawn by way of 18.Rae1 I don't understand why? Is it possible that he simply intended on a draw by moves repeatition? Black has an extra-pawn and slightly broken pawn structure and noticeably more passive position. And however Kasparov avoid draw and obviously wants to win. :) Nevertheless the position looks quite drawn. 41...Re8 Kasparov let the opponent's King on the queenside but meanwhile his Bishop has got a space for actions. Now he will be stronger than White's knight. Now White can't take a6-pawn: 42.Na6 Re6 43.Kb7 Rb6 44.Ka7 Ba6 (probably stronger Bd5) 45.Ra6 Rb4 with possible win. In principle Black could try to capture all 3 white pawns sacrificing the bishop for the b-pawn and then lead to Queen his pawns of the kingside. Kasparov was very close to a win and probably missed it at the last moment. As Fritz says instead of 55...Rf2 winning was Rb1, although this needs a more careful test. A dissection will show :) In any case Garry Kimovich has more will to win than anyone else.