GM Sergey Ionov annotates the games of the 11th round: Hello, dear chess lovers. In my opinion the most interesting today's games are Polgar vs. Anand, Svidler vs. Morozevich and Kramnik vs. Grischuk. In the last one Grischuk unexpectedly chose Pirc defence, which is very rare used in the events of such level. I can recall only one game - the spectacular game Kasparov vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, which was won by White in a charming style, although to tell the truth Black had not opening problems then. I suppose that Kramink analysed this agressive variation during his preparation for the match with Leko. At least he is playing quickly and this says that the opening choice of Grischuk was not so unexpected for him. Moreover it seems that namely Grischuk is perplexed by rare way 6.e5 (much more often White plays 6.Bb5 or 6.dc5). The situation in the game became extremely sharp from the first moves. Instead of usual 7... 0-0 8. Be3 ed 9. Qd2 with following 0-0-0 and with mutual chances, Grischuk decided to sacrifice the Rook. Of course he takes back the Knight a8, but it takes the time and the estimation of the position will depend on whether White can use this factor in his favour. Grischuk got a good play due to his strong position in the center. White leads a flank attack, but there is not too much room for that, so, hardly this attack can be successful. Kramnik entertained a rather disputable piece sacrifice (it was possible to play simply 22.Be5 gh4 23.Qf2, but then after 23...Rd8 Black would have good position). On the 23th move deserved attention 23...Bf6 or 23...Kg6, but being in zeitnot, Grischuk decided to struggle with dangerous Knight f5 immediately and after forced moves the game came to the position where White has some advantage. Grischuk has found an interesting counter-play connected with a pawn sacrifice and now after the new Queens have appeared on the board there's not seen the win for White despite of that he starts to check first. 57. ...Kg1 58. Qa7 Kf1 59.Ra1 Rd1 - white g3 pawn covers black King. By heroic defence Grischuk saved the game. Only detailed analysis will show where Kramnik lost his chances to win the game. Morozevich again is trying to astonish his opponent. According to theory the variation, which was played by opponents with machine-gun speed, is not good for Black. But as it is well-known Alexander has his own view on the theory of the game of chess. Only on the 22th move the novelty of White followed. In the game Ivkov-Trifunovic, Saraevo 1963, was played 22.Nc3, this game was drawn. Morozevich has fallen into deep thinking after white's novelty. If Black takes back the pawn after natural 23...Ne2 24.Kf1 Nc1 then White would set his Knight on e4 with sufficient advantage. Morozevich prefered to send his Knight to c2 from where now has no way to come back, but the e1-square is under control. At the cost of a pawn Morozevich could to liberate his Knight from the prison. And due to limitation of the material on the board and in view of the activity of his pieces he has chances for a draw. As it was predicted Morozevich, attacking the white pawns, forced White to set his Knight on the passive position d1 instead of desirable e4 and the drawn result became obvious. On the 21th move Polgar has used a new idea, she is intending to worry black Knight(which was going to transfer on g6) by h-pawn. Anand has stopped this march of white pawn by 23...h5 and now he is just waiting and holding his position, offering to White to look for the ways to improve position. Soon the devastation happened on the board. White has won the pawn, but Black had enough for a draw counter-play, due to his active Rook and weak pawn structure of White on K-side. Soon after Polgar had to confirm the drawn result of the game. Topalov against outsider Sokolov decided to play Kings-Indian. White responded not in principal way and Black equalized the chances. Of course Topalov will try to outwit his unlucky playing in this event opponent, although open e-file is a precursor of following changes of heavy pieces. Black will try to play b7-b5 - to threaten pawn c4. Sokolov prevented possible b5, but he had to exchange his important Bishop for the Knight and now Black has some advantage due to that. Topalov, not seeing the normal ways to break White's defence, found a pespective exchange sacrifice, now he has not even a pawn for that, but the kinetic energy of his pieces in my opinion compensates this sacrifice in full volume. Topalov tries to struggle for a win, but it seems the game is still equal. White lost the b3-pawn, but his forces had gained coordination and had good position in the center. As a result and this game, in which Topalov struggled for a win with an enviable persistence, finished by a draw. Leko playing Bruzon has used the novelty 21.Bf4 (formerly White took the pawn 21.Ne4, but then Black has a good counter-play on the open files c and d). Pawn move from the King 21. ...g5? had tactical refutation 22.Nf5! gf4 23.Re4 and the pawn structure of Black on K-side is ruined. The game without struggle - several own moves and opening defeat. Leko, who is the most stable player in this event, has made one more important step to the 1st place. Van Wely has used a novelty in Qeens Indian on the 7th move already - very rare event for modern chess practice. In the game between the very opponents in Kalvia, Olympiad was 7. Qc2 Nc6 with a very sharp play. This time the game was much calmer. In a result of a rather interesting struggle in the center the sufficient simplifications followed. And since both sides nad not any weaknesses the game came to the drawn result. Ponomariov has got some opening advantage due to the pawn weaknesses of Black on the Q-side, but then he has given his Bishop for the black Knight and position became equal. In the following struggle Black successfully fixed the pawn structure on the K-side and despite of that Short had to exchange one of his Bishops he had made the draw without especial problems.