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Both players mirror their opponent’s opening schemes - following the previous game and game 9. This suits Topalov perfectly, since it sidesteps any Kramnik preparation in the last game of the match.

Kramnik is the first to divert.

and into new territory.

Topalov is in a provocative mood.

But Kramnik is cautious. He choses against plans of castling queenside and playing against the weakened black kingside pawn structure.

Sensibly keeping the c-file closed.

Kramnik opts for a minority attack against Black’s queenside - by creating weaknesses in Black’s queenside, Kramnik will then be able to apply pressure right across the board.. The alternative was a central break with a prepared e3-e4 (perhaps even with f2-f3), which would expose all of Black’s weak pawns. Topalov’s plan is to lock down the centre, and expand on the kingside. First he needs to get his knight into a better osition.

Although Topalov’s knight is well placed, White’s proposed breakthrough on the queenside is enough to encourage him his king is safer on the kingside.

Re-centralising the queen, which now threatens entry on a6 as well as keeping watch on the kingside.

Topalov aims to lock down the pawn structure around the White king - preventing the White queen from entering the position, so he can concentrate on fending off the queenside pressure.

White has a free hand on the queenside, and Kramnik plans to infiltrate via the b-file, taking aim at the b7 square.

Topalov hasn’t given up all hope of a kingside attack. The h-file is the most obvious option of applying a little pressure, especially when combined with …Qd7-f7-h4. White can’t protect his h2 pawn very easily.

The feint on entering the seventh rank forces Topalov to conceed the back rank.

Threatening entry at f8.

White has temporarily run out of steam, and Topalov takes over the initiative.

Threatening Nd2 first, locking off the White king’s escape route. The h2-pawn is dead.

Only move

Black’s initiative has also fizzled, and now he needs to draw back and defend again.

Defending the f5 pawn which holds the Black kingside together.

37. Rxc6?? Qh1+ Forks the king and rook.

Threatening to bring his rook in via the now-vacated h-file, and the White king is then trapped in a mating net, as well as defending the f5 pawn.

Bringing the queen back in defence of the king, Kramnik also directly threatens the f5-pawn, and with it the Black king.

Topalov steers directly towards the draw by perpetual check.

1/2 - 1/2

Another Topalov novelty. Topalov played 8.a3 in game 9 and won an impressive game against Kramnik using an idea conjured up by his second, Vallejo Pons.

Closing the centre. Black has the thematic plan of countering with an …e5 break. White could take this opportunity to expand on the queenside.

If White expands on the queenside it will leave Black controlling the a-file.

The immediate centre-break gives Black equality and balanced play in the centre.

Preventing the use of the … e5 square from becoming a jumping off point for the Black pieces, White ensures he’ll have a pawn exerting pressure.

Rerouting the knight to …e6 where it exerts pressure on the White pawns, particularly the f4-pawn.

Preventing Black from exploiting the pin on the f4-pawn by …g5, followed by …Qxh2+ with a very strong kingside attack.

Black switches play to the weakened light-squares around the White kingside position, there’s also another more subtle reason for this queen manoeuvre.

Kramnik heads for the exchange of queens, which leaves White with the better placed minor pieces.

Kramnik has some compensation for Whites better pieces. He controls the a-file, has a strong knight on …d4, and his dark squared bishop is more useful that its White counterpart. Kramnik has a temporary initiative, but Topalov has a better position thanks to his more active rooks, the potential pawn thrusts f4-f5 and b4-b5, and the two bishops give him an edge.

The bishop takes up an active post and also prevents the entry of the Black rooks on …a2.

There’s no for the Black rook down the h-file, and no easy way of entering play via … h8-h5, so Kramnik decides to castle, and bring the king rook to the d-file.

Covering the weak f3 light-square, and thus freeing the rook for more active duties.

Trying to tie White down on the queenside - preventing Bb2 for the moment, thus keeping the Black knight on …d4 for a bit longer. Black could also have gone for play down the d-file with

Fritz 8: 23… Rfd8 24. Rd1 Bf6 25. Rd2 Nf5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. g4 Ne7 28. g5 Bd4 29. Kf3 [0. 53/16]

Slowly White is regrouping, and slowly his advantage is growing. The initiative is with White, Black doesn’t have an active plan at his disposal.

24… Bxc5 is a sharper alternative, but White has a clever trick up his sleeve. Fritz 8: 25. Be3! (25. Bxf7+!? Rxf7 26. bxc5 Kh7 27. Be3 Nf5 28. Rd3 g5 29. fxg5 Nxe3+ 30. Rxe3 Ra2+ [0.41/16]) 25… Ne6 26. Bb3!! A superb tactical intermezzo that forces Black to ditch the exchange, leaving White with a substantial advantage. 26… Rxb4 27. Bxc5 Rxb3 28. Bxf8 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Kxf8 30. Rxb7 c5 31. h4 [1.19/16]

Kramnik has managed to hold on to the …d4 square, and still has the White queenside tied down, but his pieces are also now tied down. The Black rook also now has the a3-square as an entry point into the White position.

Fritz 8: 25… Nf5 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Bf2 Bf6 28. h3 g5 29. Bd3 g6 30. fxg5 Bxg5 31. Bxf5 gxf5 32. b5 Ra2 [0.72/16]

Aiming to take advantage of his two bishops by taking control of the space on the kingside. The threat of 27. g5 is met by 27… Nc2 (threatening …Nxe3+ and …Na3), where the exchange of rooks on d8 gives Black the opportunity to move the harrassed bishop. Fritz 8:

• 26. Rd2 Nf5 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bf2 Bf6 29. h3 g5 30. Bd3 g6 31. fxg5 Bxg5 32. Bxf5 gxf5 33. b5 Ra2 [0.78/16]
• 26. Bf2 Fritz 8 reckons this is the more accurate move order. (….Ra3 is harmless because White hasn’t committed a tempo to g3-g4 and thus can reply to the threat of …Rc3 with a useful rook move like Rd2) 26… Kf8 27. g4 Ne6 28. Rxd8+ Nxd8 29. Rb3 Ke7 30. Re3+ Kd7 31. Be1 Ne6 32. Bxe6+ fxe6 33. h4 [0.87/16]

Removing any potential discovered attack threats beginning with Bxf7+.

26… Ra3! Fritz 8 regards this move (with the follow up of …Rc3) as cutting across White’s plan, which is why it prefers 26. Bf2 before progressing with g2-g4.

• 27. Bf2 27… Rc3 28. Rbc1 Nc2 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30. Be2 Bc7 31. f5 gxf5 32. gxf5 Ne3+ 33. Bxe3 Rxe3 34. Bc4 b5 [0.19/17]
• 27. Bxd4 is the more promising continuation 27… Bxd4 28. Bb3 Kf8 29. Rd3 Bf6 30. Rbd1 Rxb3 31. Rxd8+ Bxd8 32. Rxd8+ Ke7 33. Rd4 Ra3 34. h4 Ra2+ 35. Kf3 Ra3+ [0.44/17]

27. g5 Still gives White an advantage. 27… Nf5 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Bf2 Bc7 Black gets another temporary initiative 30. Kf3 Ra3+ 31. Rb3 +/-

28. Bxe6 isn’t as strong 28… Rxd1 29. Rxd1 fxe6 30. Be1 g5!? 31. fxg5 Bxg5 += and White retains a fraction of his previous advantage.

Fritz 8: 28… Nxd8 29. Be1 Ne6 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. h4 g5 32. hxg5 Bd4 33. Kf3 [0.81/16]

Allows a lot of the tension of the position to dissipate, but White retains a slight edge.

Fritz 8: 29. Bxe6 Smashing Black’s kingside pawn formation into three isolated pawns seems to be the smoothest path to victory. 29… fxe6 30. h4 Ra3 31. b5 Ke8 32. Rb4 Bf6 33. Re4 Ke7 34. b6 Ra8 35. Kg3 [0.97/16]

30… Ng5 is marginally better.

The bishop takes up a useful diagonal, and provides some stability for his knight companion.

Fritz 8: 34. Bd4 Bd8 35. Be5 Be7 36. Bg3 Bxc5 37. bxc5 Rxc4 38. Bd6+ Kg8 39. Rxb7 Rc3+ 40. Ke2 Nd5 [0.25/16]

Alternatives were to go for the b4 pawn with (White holding compensation for the pawn in the form of the two bishops). Fritz 8:

• 34… Be5 35. Bb1 Nd5 36. Be4 Nxb4 37. h5 Ke8 38. Be3 Bf6 39. Bf2 Kf8 40. Be3 Ke8 [0.06/16]
• 34… Nd5 35. Be4 Nxb4 36. Bd4 Bd8 37. h5 Bf6 38. Be3 Ke8 39. Bf2 Kf8 40. Be3 [0.06/16]

35. Bd4 and if Ba5 exploiting the pin on the b4-pawn 36. Bc3 Bd8 +=

Trying to keep the game alive, but the initiative is with Black again.

36. Ke3 Ng4+ 37. Kf3 Ne5+ draw by repetition

Kramnik activates his rook that’s done a sterling job keeping the White queenside in check.

The rook takes up a spendid post on the d-file.

Only move to hold the balance of the position.

40. Bxh2 allows Black to demolish White’s kingside pawns 40… Rxh2 -/+ with …Rxh4 to follow

40. Be3 Nxe3+ 41. Rxe3 Rb2 -/+ And White’s b4-pawn drops.

Fritz 8: 40… Rg2!? 41. Bd4 Be5 42. Be4 Rh2 43. Bg1 Rxh4 44. b5 Nf6 45. Bf3 Rh3 46. Ke2 Ne4 [-0.34/16]

The king has a useful role to play in neutralising White’s kingside pawns.

The Black king is safe here unless he contrives to lose control of the d-file.

White tries to activate his rook by liquidating the queenside pawns.

With the h-pawn certainly dropping, Black’s chances of winning lies in keeping the rooks on. Exchanging rooks would be the simplest path to a draw.

Aiming to get to the seventh rank where the rook can harrass the two Black pawns.

One more check to push the White king further from the defence of his pawns.

An interesting plan of protecting the kingside pawns from the White rook

Fritz 8: 54. Ke2 Kg5 55. Kd2 Ba5 56. Ra7 Ra3+ 57. Kc2 Kf4 58. Bd3 Rc3+ 59. Kd2 Rc5+ 60. Kd1 Bc7 61. Ke2 [-0.22/16]

Black’s extra pawn is immaterial.

54… Kg5 55. Bxf7 Kxf5 56. Rb5+ Be5 =+

55… g5 56. fxg6 Kxg6 =+

60. Kd1 =

Fritz 8: 60… Bb6! 61. Rxe5 fxe5 62. Bb5 Kf4 63. Bd7 e4 64. Be6 Bd4 65. Bd7 Ke5 66. Bc8 Bg1 67. Bd7 Bb6 [-0.59/18]

Fritz 8: 61… Kg4 62. Re4+ Bf4 63. Rc4 Re5+ (63… Rd5 64. Rb4 Rxd3!? 65. Kxd3 Kxf5 =+ And Black has two passed pawns for the exchange, but the endgame is not straightforward.) 64. Kf2 Rd5 65. Be4 Rd2+ 66. Ke1 Kg5 67. Rc2 Rd4 68. Rg2+ Bg3+ 69. Rxg3+ Kf4 70. Rxg7 Rxe4+ 71. Kf2 [-0.38/19]

Draw agreed

A virtually untried move in this position. 8. Qb3 is the popular continuation. It stops the natural development of Black’s dark-squared bishop to b4.

Another unusual pawn move in the early stages. White is holding back on developing his bishops, but Black isn’t in a position to take advantage of it.

Yet another pawn move - this time trying to bind the centre and prevent Black’s freeing …e5. After the game, Topalov credited this opening idea to Vallejo.

Shredder 7: 10… Nb6!? with the idea of rerouting the knight Nb6-c6-d6-e4, taking advantage of White’s weak e4-pawn.:

• 11. c5 This gives Black a target to play against, particularly the …b6 break, opening up the queenside files. 11… Nc8 12. Bg2 b6 13. Qa4 Qd7 14. cxb6 Nxb6 15. Qd1 Rc8 16. g4 c5 17. dxc5 Nc4 18. b3 Qd6 [-0.34/15]
• 11. b3 Nc8 12. c5 b6 13. Ba6 Qc7 14. b4 Bd8 15. g4 Nd7 16. g5 Ne7 17. Bb2 Nf5 [-0.54/15]

Kramnik allows Topalov a free hand to finish setting up his powerful pawn center. Topalov doesn’t need to be asked twice.

11… Qc7 12. e4 =

Shredder 7: 11… Nb6 12. Be2 Nbd5 13. O-O Qa5 14. Bd2 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Rd8 16. c4 Qf5 17. g4 Qe4 18. Qb3 a6 [-0.23/15]

White has a long term advantage in his pawn centre.

Kramnik lashes out, but this pushes the White light-squared bishop to a better position, heading for f3, where it exposes this last move as a serious weakening of Black’s queenside. Black needed to stay solid, but he has no positive plan of action at his disposal.

Allowing White to open the a-file. Black’s queenside is effectively demolished, but there’s no easy way to halt the slide toward a substantial White advantage.

Shredder 7: 15… c5 is more stubborn, immediately harassing the White centre. 16. Be3 Qe7 17. O-O cxd4 18. Bxd4 e5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Nd5 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxd5 22. exd5 Bc5 23. Qf2 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Qe2 25. Rxa7 Qe3+ 26. Qxe3 [0.33/15]

White has effectively caught up in development, and thanks to his centre he has a rather sizable advantage.

An enterprising option, taking advantage of the pin down the b6-f1 diagonal.

In the press conference after the game, Kramnik admitted that the game was basically already decided at this point. 17… exd4 18. Na4 an important zwigenzug that dismantles Black’s pressure down the b6-f1 diagonal.

The queen has no real prospects here.

Moving out of the pin on the d-file, now the pawn on …e5 is forced to declare its intentions. White has a very strong position.

Threatening to exploit the pinned knight with e4-e5.

Stepping out of the firing line - a typical Topalov prelude to an attack on the Black king.

23… Qb5 24. Be3 +/-

Preserving the two bishops, another common theme to Topalov’s games. Black is making no headway against the White centre, and his pieces are falling further and further back up the board.

24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25. e5 Rc8 +-

Like a spring tightly coiled, White is building up the energy in his position. The f-file is slowly opening up.

Advanced at the moment Black can’t react by putting a knight on d5, and so the c6-pawn is now under fire which provokes another Black retreat. White has a space advantage and threats on both sides of the board, not to mention he has the further advance of his centre as potential threats.

Or 28. Qc4 Bb4 29. d5 with a co-ordination of attacks on the c6-pawn, the f7-square and threatening to overrun Black’s position with his centre pawns.}

Also there’s 28. h5 Bb4 29. hxg6 Nxg6 30. Be4 with co-ordinated attacks against the c6-pawn, down the f-file and against Black’s king. If the g6-knight moves away, White has the manoeuvre Qc2-h2 at his disposal which hits the Black king down the h-file.

Not the most direct of moves, but it still keeps the pressure on. Black is in no position to launch any counterplay. 29. Ne4

unpinning the c-pawn, and opening up the possibility of …c5.

Setting up another potential pin against the c6-pawn. 30. Ne4 was still playable as a precursor to an increase in kingside activities after h4-h5.

30… Qb7 31. Be3 +/-

31. Rxc3 wins the c6 pawn outright.

31… c5 32. Be3 +-

Topalov switches his focus to the e6-square, and now starts building some pressure on the f-file.

The pressure on th e6/f7 complex of light squares brings the Black king into the target range.

This exposes Black’s kingside to the White queen’s pressure down the a2-f7 diagonal. Better is 35… Qd7 +- but Black still has a difficult position to defend.

With the threat of Bg5 winning the exchange.

37… Rde8 38. Bg5 Qb7 39. Bxe7 Rxe7 +-

Demolishes the pawn shield around the Black king.

38… Rxf7 39. Rxf7 and the rook is untouchable because of Bg4-e6 exploiting the pin.

A smooth victory for Topalov, finished with a Topalov flourish: 39. R7f3 c5 40. Bc1 cxd4 41. cxd4 +-

Better is 39. Be6 which secures the win, the Black rook on e7 has its hands full as the pinned piece along the seventh rank to his queen, and thus the e6-square is undefended. The idea behind this move is to win the f7-square as an entry point for the other White rook - by pushing the Black king away from the defence of the square. 39… Kh8 and now the f7-square is safeguarded, White can now exploit the seventh rank pin by 40. Bg5 +-

A more active continuation than Topalov’s 6.e3 from game 2. Perhaps an aggressive line chosen to milk the advantage of the tension over the last few days.

Playing to push Black’s pieces off the board as directly as possible. But this line is well known to Kramnik - he used to play the White side of this line.

Kramnik plays a side-line that defuses much of the danger in White’s position.

7… Bb4 is the main line.

An unusual looking retreat, but helpful in Kramnik’s cause to reduce the pressure on his position. It keeps the option of the queenside knight going to …c6.

12. Nxc4 Nc6 13. Be3 Bc5 14. Kf2 Ke7 15. h4 f6 16. h5 Bf7 17. Rd1 Bxe3+ 18. Nxe3 Rhd8 And White is getting nowhere fast. Nielsen - Hracek, Bundesliga 2006, 1/2 (45)

Preventing Bb5 which would tie up Black’s position.

13… Rc8 14. Ba2 (14. Bb5!) 14… a6 15. Ke2 Nb8 16. Rhd1 Nc6 17. Bb6 Bb4 18. Rd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 Nb8 And Black has a satisfactory position. Cramling - Smyslov, Veterans vs Ladies 1999, 1/2 (60)

Holding the g7-pawn so that the bishop can develop. Black is slowly unravelling his position, and sapping White of his advantage.

An important chain in Black’s development. The king takes the duty of protecting the e6-pawn, that opens the way for …f6 and bringing his light squared bishop back into play via …f7.

Compelling the White knight to occupy b6, where Black immediately chops it off with his own knight. Kramnik is playing a refined game, exchanging the pieces best suited for him reaching equality.

and Black has equalised - rather comfortably.

shutters down, and Topalov has nothing.

10… Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxe4 12. Ba3 stops Black castling kingside, so Black tends to castle queenside, where the open lines give White sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawns.

An old, and rarely tried, continuation

• 14… h6 15. Ne1 (15. Bd2 is innocuous. Iljushin - Kupreichik, IECC 2003, 1/2 (20))
  • 15… Bxe1 16. Rxe1 Bg6 Both retreats 17. Bf1 and 17. Be2 leave both sides with a solid position. Beliavsky - Ribli, Bled 2000, 1/2 (50) and Kramnik - Bareev, ECC Final 1999, 1/2 (26)}
  • 15… Bg6 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Nc2 Ba5 18. Qd3 Kh7 19. f4 a6 20. b4 Bb6 21. g4 White is pushing aggressively on all fronts. 21… Qh4 22. Ne3 Rac8 23. Bd2 h5 24. Rae1 a temporary pawn sacrifice, Black can’t hold his extra pawn. 24… hxg4 25. Re2 Rf7 26. Rg2 Nf8 27. Rxg4 Qe7 28. a5 Ba7 29. Rf3 Kg8 30. Rh3 The White rooks are majestic. 30… Qe8 31. Rgh4 +- Rfc7 32. f5! Kf7 33. Rh8 Qb5 34. fxg6+ Ke7 (34… Nxg6 35. Rf3+ And the knight is lost.) 35. Rf3! Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Bacrot - Gustafsson, Bundesliga 2004, 1-0 (36)
  • 15… f5 Trying to drum up counter-play down the f-file to compensate for the weakened kingside. 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Qg3 (17. Bb5 roughly equal chances. Gelfand - Lautier, Horgen 1994, 1-0 (58)) 17… Rac8 18. Bb5 Nb8 19. Nd3 a6 with a balanced position. van Wely - Pelletier, 49th Spanish Team Ch 2005, 1-0 (84)
• 14… Be7 is another lid continuation for Black. Beliavsky - Ribli, Slovenian Team Ch 2001, 1-0 (69)
• 14… Re8 Berkes - Portisch, 53rd Hungarian Ch 2003, 1-0 (47)

15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Ng5 Re8 17. Qh3 Nf8 18. Qb3 Petrosian - Smyslov, Bar 1980, 1/2 (18)

A very committal move. But the solid alternatives 16… Nf8 and 16… Rc8 are both aggressively met with 17. g4.

Black needs nerves of steel to defend this sort of position.

18. Qb5 a5 Taking the b-pawn is too risky

18. exf6 Nxf6 += and taking advantage of the weak e6-pawn and e5-square is no easy matter.

Vacating the g1-square for the rook and preparing the way for g4. Its quite possible Rf1-f3 will happen first, followed by a later Rag1.

Shredder 7: 19. Qb5 Be7 20. Qxb7 Qb8 21. Qxb8 Raxb8 22. Ra2 Rb3 23. Bd2 Reb8 24. Bc3 Bxg5 25. fxg5 Kf7 [0.62/14]

19. h3

After long thought. Bolstering protection for the f5-square, as well as hitting the a4-pawn, which hopefully should slow down White’s other rook from entering the fray. Shredder 7:

• 20… h6 21. Nxe6! Rxe6 22. gxf5 Rec6 (22… Re7 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. Rg3 Nh7 25. f6 gxf6 26. Rag1 Qe8 27. Qf5 Rec7 28. b3 Qc6 [0.59/14]) 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. f6 gxf6 25. f5 h5 26. Qe2 Qc7 27. Qg2 Qf7 [0.59/15]
• 20… Qd7 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Rac1 g6 23. b3 Ba3 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Bd2 Be7 26. Rg1 Bxg5 27. Rxg5 Kh8 28. Qh3 Rc2 29. Qh6 [0.73/15]
• 20… fxg4 21. f5 Be7 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. fxe6 Qb6 24. Qf5 g3 25. Rac1 Qxb2 26. hxg3 Kh8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Bg5 g6 29. Bf6+ Kg8 30. Qh3 [1.09/15]
• 20… g6 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Qb5 a5 23. Qxb7 Be7 24. Nf3 Rb8 25. Qc6 Rxb2 26. Rab1 Re2 [1.41/15]

Black has stemmed the tide of White’s kingside attack.

The sting behind this move only becomes apparent two moves later. What looks like desparation to commentators is part of an exceptionally beautiful manoeuvre that breathes fire into White’s attack.

With the threat of …Qb5 swopping off White’s perfectly position queen.

Grandmaster commentators at this point were noting that Topalov had lost his head, and Kramnik would steamroller to another win.

By shifting from the queen exchange, White’s threats on the kingside suddenly flair to life again.

Only move to avoid the immediate crushing mating attacks. Shredder 7:

• 29… Nxg6 30. Qxg6+ hxg6 31. Rxg6+ Kh7 32. R6g3 Qf1 33. Rxf1 Rg8 34. Rh3+ Kg7 35. f5 exf5 36. Rg1+ Kf8 37. Bh6+ Kf7 38. e6+ Kxe6 39. Rxg8 a5 40. Rg6+ Kd7 41. Ne5+ Kc7 42. Rc3+ Kb8 43. Rc1 [5.46/14]
• 29… Rxc2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. Rg8+ Kh7 33. R1g7+ Kh6 34. f5+ Bg5 35. Rxg5 Qf1+ 36. Ng1! +-

31… Kxf8 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 +/- Threatening mate on g7 and g8.

32. Rxg4+ Bg7 33. Qc7! +-

33. Ng5 and White has at least a draw by perpetual check

33… exf5 34. Ng5 Qc6 35. e6 +-

34. Ng5 is not good enough 34… Qe2 -+

Black is walking a tightrope.

Shredder 7: 36. Qh5 b5 37. Rg3 Qd1+ 38. Bg1 Rc2 39. fxg7 Qxf3+ 40. Rxf3 Rc3 [1.18/13]

Smothering White’s attack. Now the play switches into a complicated endgame.

37… Qxc2 = Perhaps its preferable to keep the White king cut off from his pieces.

The king has a big part to play in the resulting endgame. Its amazing Topalov is still retains his composure and will to win even after the previous set-backs he’s faced in this game.

Overprotecting the f6-pawn. The perennial threat is the advance of the e6-pawn, and the connected passed pawns can easily outmatch even a rook

Black has to divert one of the White minor pieces - and this passed pawn is the key.

Pulling the knight away from behind the White pawn centre.

Shredder 7: 45. Nd2 Rc7 46. Nb3 Rc3 47. Nc1 b5 48. fxg7 b4 49. e6 Kxg7 50. Na2 Rf3+ 51. Kg4 b3 52. e7 Kf7 [-0.34/17]

Covering the important dark-squares, and protecting the a-pawn to prevent the White bishop from decisively entering via the queenside.

Shredder 7: 45… a2 46. Bb2 b5 47. Ng5 Ra7 48. fxg7 a1=B 49. Bxa1 Rxa1 50. Kf6 Rf1+ 51. Kg6 Re1 52. Ne6 b4 53. Nf4 [-1.07/18]}

47. e7 Bxe7 48. fxe7 Rxe7 The a-pawn is untouchable because of …Re3!

Topalov’s final throw of the dice is three connected passed pawns versus the rook.

49. Kxd5 is slightly better, but Black is still on top. 49… Rf1 50. e7 Bxe7 51. fxe7 Kf7 -+

Now the White king can’t approach the black pawn.

The rook is splendidly placed, and White can make no further progress.

A new move, forcing White to declare his intentions before developing the dark-squared bishop. The old move was 8… Be7, with the following continuations:

• 9. Bd3
  • 9… b5 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rfc1 O-O 12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nbd2 e5 16. Bf5 e4 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Qd1 Nb6 19. Rc5 Nac4 20. a5 Nxb2 21. Qb3 N6c4 22. Nxc4 Nxc4 23. Qxb4 Rfe8 24. Bh3 g6 25. Nc2 Kg7 26. g3 h5 27. Bf1 Nd6 28. Qb6 h4 29. Rc7 +/- Qe6 30. Ne1 hxg3 31. fxg3 Rab8 32. Rb1 (Shredder 7: 32. Ng2! g5 33. Bxa6 Bxa6 34. Qxa6 Rb2 35. Ne1 Rh8 36. Nc2 Qh3 37. Qe2 Ra8 38. Qf1 [1.63.12]) 32… Bc6 33. Rxc6 Rxb6 34. Rbxb6 Rd8 35. Ng2 Qe7 36. Bxa6 Nf5 37. Rc5 Rh8 38. Rb7 (38. Nf4! +-) 38… Qf6 39. Rb6 Qg5 40. Rxd5 Qh5! 41. h4 Qf3 42. Rxf5 gxf5! 43. Rb5 Qxg3 44. Rxf5 Rxh4 45. Bc8 Rg4 46. Rf2 Rg5 Bareev - Shirov, Tilburg 1993, 0-1 (46)
  • 9… O-O 10. O-O
    • 10… Bd7
      • 11. Rac1 Na5 12. Qd1 b5 13. Ne5 Nc4 14. Bb1 Rc8 15. b3 1/2-1/2 Alvarez,J-Perez,R/Villa Clara 1995/EXT 97 (15)
      • 11. Rfc1 b5 12. Ne5 Na5 13. Qc2 Rc8 14. Qb1 (also good is14. Bxf6! Bxf6 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxh7+ +-) 14… h6 15. Bh4 Nc4 16. b3? Nxe5 17. dxe5 Ng4 18. Bg3 Bh4 19. a4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Qb6 21. Qb2 Nxe3 22. Qe2 d4 23. Ne4 Nf5?! 24. g4 Ne7 25. g5 hxg5? (25… Nf5 +=) 26. Qh5 +- Nf5 (26… Ng6 27. Nf6+! gxf6 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. exf6 +-) 27. g4 +- Rc3 Returning the material to slow down White’s attack 28. Nxc3 dxc3 29. gxf5 exf5 30. Rxc3 Qd4 31. Rc7?? (31. Rac1 +-) 31… Qxa1+ 32. Kg2 Be6 33. Qe2 bxa4 34. bxa4 Qxa4 35. Bxa6 Bd5+ 36. f3 g4 37. Kf2 Bxf3 38. Qd3 Qa2+ 39. Rc2 Qe6 40. Qd6 Re8 41. Rc5 Qa2+ 42. Ke3 Qh2 43. Bd3 f4+ 44. Kd4 Qb2+ 45. Kc4 Rb8 46. Rc7 Be2 47. e6 Qc2+ 48. Kd4 Qxd3+ 49. Ke5 f6+ Colombo - Barlocco, Robecchetto 1997. 0-1 (49)
    • 10… h6 11. Bh4 b5
      • 11… b5 12. Rac1 (12. Rfc1 Bb7 13. Qd1 Rc8 14. h3 Re8 15. Ne2 Ne4 Olzem - Eilers, Germany 2004, 1/2 (15)) 12… Bd7 13. Bb1 Ne8 14. Bg3?! (14. Qc2 +/-) 14… Bd6?! (14… Rc8) 15. Ne5 +/- Na5 16. Qc2 f5! (16… g6 fails to the brutal 17. Nxg6 +-) 17. Nxd7 (Shredder 7: 17. Ng6 Rf6 18. Bh4 Qb8 19. Bxf6 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Nxf6 21. Ne2 Bd6 22. Nef4 Nc4 23. Kg1 Be8 24. Qb3 Bxg6 25. Nxg6 [0.81/13]) 17… Qxd7 18. Ne2 Rf7 19. Nf4 Bxf4?! Swopping off his strong bishop 20. Bxf4 Nd6 21. Qc3 Nab7 22. Bxd6? Nxd6 23. Qc6 Ra7 24. Qxd7 Rfxd7 25. Rc6 Kf7 26. Rfc1 Ne8 27. Kf1 Rdc7 28. Ke2 Ke7 29. f3 Kd7 30. R6c5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Nf6 32. Kd3 e5 33. f4 Ke6 34. a3 a5 35. Ba2 Ne4 36. Bb1 b4 37. Ke2 exf4 38. exf4 Rc7 39. axb4 axb4 40. Bxe4 dxe4 41. Rc4 Kd5 42. Rxb4 Rxc5 43. Kd2 g5 44. Ke3 g4 45. Rd4+ Wild - Taeger, Germany 1996, 1/2 (45)
      • 11… g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Be5 f6 14. Bg3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 f5 16. Rac1 g4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 b5 19. Ne2 Bd7 20. Nd4 Qb8 21. Bxf5! (21. Nxf5!! +- exf5 22. Qxd5+ Check and an attack on the d7-bishop) 21… Qxe5 22. Bxg4 Rac8 23. Qd3 Qf6 24. Qd2 Bd6 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. Rc1 Bd7 27. Nf3 Kg7 28. Bh3 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Bxc8 30. Nd4 Bd7 31. f4 b4 32. Qd3 Bc8 33. Bg4 Bc5 34. Nf3 Bd7 35. Ne5 Bb5 36. Qd2 a5 37. Kf2 Bd6 38. Qd4 Bxe5 39. Qxe5 Qxe5 40. fxe5 Kf7 41. a3 bxa3 42. bxa3 Bd3 43. Bh5+ Ke7 44. Be2 Bc2 45. g4 Bg6 46. Kg3 Kf7 47. Kh4 Be4 48. Bf3 Bd3 49. g5 hxg5+ 50. Kxg5 Bb5 51. Kh6 Bd3 52. Bh5+ Kf8 53. Bg6 Bb5 54. Bh5 Bd3 55. g4 Kg8 56. Bg6 Be2 57. g5 Bg4 58. Bh7+ Avetisyan - Buxade Roca, Mallorca 2004, 1-0 (58)
    • 10… b5 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. Bb1 Na5 13. Qc2 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne5 Rac8 16. f3 Nf6 17. Qf2 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Ne2 b4 20. Nf4 Bc6 21. Nh5 f5 22. Nf4 Bb5 23. Rfe1 Nb7 24. Kh1 a5 25. Rg1 Nd6 26. g4 Qf7 27. gxf5 Nxf5 28. Rg4 Rc7 29. Rdg1 Qe8 30. Qg2 Rff7 31. Qh3 Qc8 +/- 32. Nxd5? (32. Bxf5 exf5 33. Rg5 +/-) 32… exd5 (Shredder 7: 32… exd5 33. Bxf5 Rxf5 34. Qh6 Rff7 35. Rh4 Qf5 36. Rf4 Qc2 37. Qe6 Bc6 38. Rxf7 Qxh2+ 39. Kxh2 [-2.79/13]) 33. Rg5 Rc1 -/+ (33… Bd7! -+) 34. Bxf5 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ 37. Kg3 Qe1+?! (37… h6!! 38. Qxh6 Qxe3 39. Qh4 Qg1+ 40. Kf4 Qxd4+ -+) 38. Kf4 Bd7?? 39. Qxh7+ Kf8 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Rxg7 Bxf5 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Kxf5 Qxe3 44. Qf6+ Kg8 45. Kg6 Qg1+ 46. Qg5 Deak - Papp, Hungary 2003, 1-0 (46)
• 9. Rc1 Na5 10. Qc2 b5 11. Bxf6? White seems intent on swapping into a two knights versus two bishops in a semi-open position. 11… Bxf6 12. b4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 dxc4 14. Ne4?! Bb7 15. Nc5?! Bxf3 16. gxf3 O-O 17. Qe4 Qc7 18. f4 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. axb4 Ra2 21. O-O Rfa8 22. Rc2 h6 23. Rb1 Ra1 24. Rcc1 -/+ Rxb1?? 25. Qxa8+ Gerbes - Smeyts, Germany 1998, 1-0 (25)
• 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. Rac1 Bb7 12. Rfd1 (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Na4? Na5! 14. Qb4 bxa4 15. Rc5 Be7 16. Qxa5 Bxc5 17. Qxc5 -/+ f6 Rausch - Pedersen, Germany 2003, 0-1 (54)) 12… Rc8 13. a4?! Na5 14. Qa2 b4 15. Nb1 b3 16. Qa1 Ne4?! Black’s minute advantage rests in the badly placed White queen, and so keeping his dark-squared bishop on the board at e7 is his way towards cementing that advantage. (16… Qd6 =) 17. Rxc8 Bxc8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ne5 Bb7 20. Qa3 Qxa3 21. Nxa3 Rc8 22. f3! Nd6 (22… Nf6 is better) 23. Kf2 f6 24. Nd7 Rc6 25. Nc5 +/- Black’s stranded b3-pawn is now a weakness, and his a5-knight is out on a limb trying to protect it. 25… Bc8 26. Rc1 Rb6 27. Rc3 Rb4 Black is in a semi-zugzwang, he can only hold the queenside against White’s threats. 28. Nxa6 A premature easing of pressure on the queenside. White had an ideal moment to expand on the kingside, and increase pressure on the centre. The flurry of exchanges that follows sees White’s advantage dissapate, forcing him to start from scratch again. (28. g4 +/-) 28… Bxa6 29. Bxa6 Rxa4 30. Ke2!? (30. Rc7!) 30… Ndc4 = Now Black is comfortably holding out on the queenside. 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Kd2 Kf7 33. Rc1 Ke7 (33… f5 +=) 34. Kc3 Kd6 35. e4 Kc6 36. Rd1 Kd6 37. f4 Suddenly the advantage swings decisively to White. His centre pawns are irresistable. 37… h6 38. d5! A decisive breakthrough that opens a file for white’s ‘extra’ rook. Black has too many weaknesses to cover. 38… e5 39. fxe5+ fxe5 40. Rf1 Nb7 41. Rf7 Rxa3 42. bxa3 Nc5 43. Kxc4 b2 44. Rf1 Nxe4 45. Kd3 Kxd5 46. Rb1 Nc5+ 47. Kc3 Ke4 48. Kc4 Na4 49. Kb4 Kd3 50. Kxa4 Kc2 51. Rxb2+ Kxb2 52. Kb4 e4 53. Kc4 Kxa3 54. Kd4 Kb4 55. Kxe4 g6 56. Ke5 Kc4 57. Kf6 g5 58. g4 Kd4 59. Kg6 Ke5 60. Kxh6 Kf6 61. h3 Kuhnen - Nitsche, Bad Wiessee 2000, 1-0 (61)

Clearing the way for the White queen to play a dominating role down the c-file and the b1-h7 diagonal.

13. Nxd5?? exd5 14. Rxc6 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Qxc6 -+

White seems a little listless while his opponent is energetically building up some queenside initiative.

22… Bxc7?! 23. Qxb4 Nc4 24. b3 axb3 25. axb3 +=

Closing the c-file. Its clear Black isn’t playing just for a draw.

Controls f4

This allows Black to open lines on the kingside, and with his better placed pieces he can play on both sides of the board.

As a result of the pawn exchanges, White has lost the f4-outpost for his knights.

Over ambitious. White doesn’t have the time nor space to take advantage of the h-file.

The pawn envelope constrains the White knights as well as opening the second rank for Black’s more mobile rook. White’s ambitions on the h-file are thwarted.

30… Bxg3 isn’t as strong as it looks. 31. Qf3 =+

Even though White has the good light-squared bishop, this move allows Black’s light-squared bishop to dominate the White position.

32. b3!? Na3 33. Rxc7 Qxc7 34. Nde1 -/+

A clever intermezzo. The White knights stumble around.

35… a3 36. b3 Nb2 37. Rxb2 axb2 38. Nxb2 Bxb1 39. Qxb1 -+

Better is 36. Qxa4 Rh7 37. Kg1 -+ (Shredder 7: Be7 38. b3 Na3 39. Nc5 Nxb1 40. Qxb4 Bxh4 41. gxh4 Rxh4 42. Nxe4 fxe4 [-3.20/12])

A temporary piece sacrifice to force entry down the c-file to c1.

Decoy to e3

37. fxe3 Rc1 {Theme: Double Attack}

White is tied up.

38… Bxb1?! 39. Rxe6 Qxe6 40. Qxc1 -/+

39. Re2 the only chance to get some counterplay Kf7 40. Qg5 -+

And Black can avoid the barrage of checks by escaping to the queenside, after which the White king can no longer resist Black’s attack.

40… Kf7 41. Qg6+ Ke7 -+

No doubt van Wely was aware of his compatriot’s play in 1999. This is an awkward looking move, preventing the light-squared bishop from developing quickly. The idea is to keep the knight active to ward off any initial tactical blows.

13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Ra7 (14. Ra1 Rg8 15. Be2 Rxg2 16. Kf1 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Qd5 18. f3 Qg5 19. h4 Qg6 20. d5 Nd7 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Rd1 Bc6 23. Bd3 +- Marovic - Pomar, Olot 1969, 1-0 (35) ) 14… Qb6 15. Ra1 e5 16. Be2? exd4 17. O-O castling right into Black’s attack 17… Rg8 18. Bf3? Bxd2 19. exd4 Bb4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. g3 Qd5 22. b3 c3 23. Qd3 Rg6 24. Rfe1+ Kf8 25. Qe3 Kg7 26. Qe8 Bd6 27. Qd8 Nc6 28. Qc8 Nxd4 29. Re8 Nf3+ 30. Kf1 Nxh2+ 31. Kg1 Nf3+ 32. Kf1 Qd3+ 33. Kg2 Nh4+ 34. Kg1 Rxg3+ 35. fxg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kf1 Qg2+ 0-1 Van den Doel,E-Van der Wiel,J/ch-NED, Rotterdam NED 1999 (36)

The White position is gradually being locked down. The only active piece left is the White knight on e5.

The knight intends Nb8-c6-a5-b3. 16… Bxg2? doesn’t work because of 17. Rg1 Bxf1+ 18. Qxf1 +- (18. Rxf1?! f6 19. Nf3 Rg2+ 20. Rf2 Rg4 +/=))

The black knight is well posted.

Black’s minor pieces are all actively placed and ready to combine. Its a matter of getting the Black queen into play now.

Starting to open up the lines to the White king.

22. exf4 Bxf3 -+ 23. gxf3 Bd2!

Shredder 7: 24. Rg1 Bd2+ 25. Kf2 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 27. Kf1 Qd3+ 28. Be2 Qf5+ 29. Bf3 Qd3+ 30. Be2 Qf5+ 31. Bf3 Qd3+ 32. Be2 [eval -6.9]

and the last piece comes into play. The opposite coloured bishops give Black a commanding grasp of the White kingside position.