Sergei Ionov GM Sergey Ionov annotates the games of the 8th round:




Round 8
Adams - Topalov
Vallejo - Kasimdzhanov
Kasparov - Leko
Free day: Anand


Good evening, dear chess friends.
Kasparov - Leko 1/2
Of course this a central game of the round. White declined the offer of Leko to play Cheliabinsk variation - 3.Nc3, an answer was 3...e5. Opponents followed their own game they played in the last year Linares tournament. Today Kasparov has preferred 9.0-0 (before that he played 9.Bg5, but he did not advantage then). This move has brought quick success in the recent game Svidler-Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2005. Leko has replied by the same plan, but he has played 9...Be6 immediately instead of 9...Bg4 and Be6. Certainly Kasparov analysed this position and he has directed the game into to the long positional way - 12.f5.
After practically forced 12. ...Ng4 (otherwise Bg5) 13.f6! the struggle became sharp.
It looks like we see a homepreparation, at least Kasparov is playing very quickly. Now one should to understand where leads this homepreparation to a win or to a draw. For example, 18. ...Qe4 19.Qd6 Qe3(19. ...Qf5? 20.Bc5 with dangerous attack) 20.Kh2 f6 21.Qe6 Ne7 22.Qf6 Rg8 (22. ...0-0-0!?)23.Qf7 Kd8 24.Rd1 Kc8 and White has at least a perpetual check, but maybe even more. Black has chosen more reliable 18...Qe7.
In the position after 21th move Kasparov is looking for the ways to develop his initiative, but it's not easy to do that. Black has not real weaknesses, pawn structure of White is not good and only position of the Knight g8 gives White the hopes for domination.
Leko has to solve the problem of defence of the only weakness - pawn f6.

Adams - Topalov 1/2
Opponents repeated their game from Wijk aan Zee 2005, in which White has got a win, but not because of the opening. That's why Adams deviated by first - 10.h3 (instead of 10.f5).
Adams by break 12.e5 seized an initiative. The further course of the game depends on whether Black can finish his development successfully.
Topalov has finished development and now if White won't be able to make real threats then Black will improve the position of his pieces and the game will be equal.
By g5 Adams has spoilt the Black's pawn structure on K-side and has got the square e4 for his Knight. So, Black did not solve the problems.
It looks not bad for White 28.Nf2 - to transfer the Knight on e4.
After Queens exchange there no more the threats to Black King, now the movement of the pawns of Q-side cann worry Black, but it's not easily to do that.
Topalov made his forces more active and his passed(isolated though) pawns are moving ahead. Position looks equal.
Adams can force the draw by 42.Nge4 Ne4 43.Rg6 Kh7 (43. ...Kf7? 44.Rg7 Kf6 45.Ne4 Re4 46.R1g6 and Rg5 with taking of the Knight) 44.Ne4 Re4 45.Rg7=.
As we predicted the draw followed very soon.

Vallejo - Kasimdzhanov 1-0
On the 7th move Vallejo has used relatively rare 7.Qc2. The most reliable answer is 7...dc4 8.e3 c5 and White cannot get anything real. After the move in the game White has got the chances to seize initiative.
Vallejo has used a novelty 11.Qe4 (before that was played 11.e3 Be3 12.fe3 Qg5 and Black gets back the pawn, and the weakness e3 gives him a counter-play) and so far he has an extra-pawn. The ending after 15.Qe3 Qe3 16.fe3 Ne5 17.Be2 promises him good chances to win the game, although Black has some counter-play against weak pawn structure of White on K-side, besides the Knight has good position on e5.
Advantage of Vallejo is clear, the pawns of Q-side make an impression.
Probably 23. ...f4 lets Kasimdzhanov to hope for a good result in this game. Another opportunity is 23. ...b6 24.c6 g5.
Due to the threats to e6-pawn Black had to transfer his Knight from active position on e5 to defend at first on f8 and then on f6. The question - whether can White improve position of his King?

After the pawn b6 has fallen down the win of Vallejo is the matter of time only.

In view of the unlucky opening's choice Kasimdzhanov was defeated for the 1st time, and Vallejo has won the 1st game and now his tournament position is not so hopeless.