by National Master Loal Davis

Bolris Gelfand

 

Gelfand Wins The Match with a crusher in the last round and earns the right to challenge Anand in 2012.  In this game Boris (White) shows the superiority of a central attack; Black was pushed back on all fronts.  The game was noteworthy in that there were several exchange sacrifices offered, but (again) the central charge won the day.   In the final position (DIAGRAM) White will soon play Rb7 – a crusher.  Congratulations to Gelfand.

3r2k1/2q1p2p/5pp1/2p1P3/2Qn1P1P/1R5P/6BK/B7 b KQkq – 0 351. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Re1 a5 11. Qe2 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. b3 a4 14. Rb1 axb3 15. axb3 Qc8 16. Kh2 Ra5 17. Rd1 Rh5 18. Nh4 Bf6 19. f4 Rd8 20. Qf2 Bxh4 21. gxh4 Nd5 22. Nxd5 Rhxd5 23. Bb2 Rb5 24. Qe2 Rh5 25. e4 Bxb3 26. Rdc1 Na5 27. d5 b6 28. Be5 c6 29. dxc6 f6 30. Ba1 Rc5 31. Rxc5 bxc5 32. Qb5 Qc7 33. Rxb3 Nxc6 34. e5 Nd4 35. Qc4+ 1-0690nob5c4

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Re1 a5 11. Qe2 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. b3 a4 14. Rb1 axb3 15. axb3 Qc8 16. Kh2 Ra5 17. Rd1 Rh5 18. Nh4 Bf6 19. f4 Rd8 20. Qf2 Bxh4 21. gxh4 Nd5 22. Nxd5 Rhxd5 23. Bb2 Rb5 24. Qe2 Rh5 25. e4 Bxb3 26. Rdc1 Na5 27. d5 b6 28. Be5 c6 29. dxc6 f6 30. Ba1 Rc5 31. Rxc5 bxc5 32. Qb5 Qc7 33. Rxb3 Nxc6 34. e5 Nd4 35. Qc4+ 1-0

Note:  Black’s 28th move was actually ‘c5′ and White responded with dxc6 enpassant.

Alexander Grischuk and Boris Gelfand have won their rapid playoff/tie-break min-matches to qualify for the Candidates Finals match which will determine who will get to cross swords with Viswanathan Anand for the World Championship in 2012.

 

Alexander Grischuk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boris Gelfand

 

Kamsky and Gelfand qualified earlier under Classical time controls;

Grischuk and Kramnik (not Rajabov as I posted earlier) won their Rapids Tie-Breakers.

 

The Semi-Finals pairings are: Kamsky versus Gelfand and Grischuk versus Kramnik.

 

 

by National Master Loal Davis

Draw ! !  Kamsky wins the Match.  Both Kamsky and Gelfand advance to the Semi-Final matches. Congratulations to them both for FIGHTING.  The other two matches go into ‘over-time’ or rapid tie-breaks; did anyone even ‘want’ to win?

Anyway – about the last Kamsky game – a rough and tumble affair.  Around move 37 or 38 Kamsky allowed Topalov to penetrate with his Queen.   I’m sure Kamsky was cooked after that invasion – BUT – Topalov misfired with the passive 40. Kg1 when 40. Qh6+ looked like a killer.  That ‘breather’ allowed Kamsky to exchange off the dominating Knight on ‘d5′ (move 45).  Once done, although it looked scarey, Topalov could fine nothing better than to harass Black’s King with checks.  A cute little dance ensued with Kamsky finally finding 51. ….. Qc2 (DIAGRAM).  After that Topalov had no checks and Kamsky had plenty.  To avoid getting mated, Topalov had to part with his Bishop on ‘f2′ (move 54).  Once captured, then Topalov could administer the series of perpetual checks that he dreaded – because a draw meant a loss of the match – and so it was.  Congratulation to Gata Kamsky.

Note:  Black’s move on 16 was ‘f5′ and White’s response was exf6 en-passant.

3Q4/p4k2/1p6/3PnP1p/3n4/P5PP/2q2B2/5BK1 w KQkq – 0 501. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qc2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. d4 O-O 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nc6 11. h3 Be6 12. Rd1 Qc8 13. f4 Rd8 14. b3 Nb4 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Qb1 f6 17. exf6 exf6 18. Be2 Qe7 19. O-O Bf7 20. Bf2 Rd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 c5 23. Bf1 Nc6 24. g3 Kg7 25. Bg2 h5 26. Nb5 Nc8 27. Qd2 c4 28. bxc4 Bxc4 29. Nd4 Qb4 30. Qc1 N8e7 31. a3 Qa4 32. Qb2 b6 33. Kh2 Kf7 34. Qc3 Ba2 35. f5 Qc4 36. Qb2 Ne5 37. Qd2 g5 38. Ne6 N7c6 39. Qd6 Ke8 40. Nc7+ Kf7 41. Nd5 Qe2 42. Qxf6+ Ke8 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Bf1 Bxd5 46. exd5 Nd4 47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Qxg5+ Kf7 49. Qd8 Qc2 50. Bg2 Qc1+ 51. Kh2 Qc2 52. Bg1 Ndf3+ 53. Kh1 Ne1 54. Bf2 Qxf2 55. Qc7+ Kf6 56. Qd6+ Kf7 57. Qc7+ Kf6 58. Qd6+ Kf7 980nod1c2

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qc2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. d4 O-O 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nc6 11. h3 Be6 12. Rd1 Qc8 13. f4 Rd8 14. b3 Nb4 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Qb1 f6 17. exf6 exf6 18. Be2 Qe7 19. O-O Bf7 20. Bf2 Rd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 c5 23. Bf1 Nc6 24. g3 Kg7 25. Bg2 h5 26. Nb5 Nc8 27. Qd2 c4 28. bxc4 Bxc4 29. Nd4 Qb4 30. Qc1 N8e7 31. a3 Qa4 32. Qb2 b6 33. Kh2 Kf7 34. Qc3 Ba2 35. f5 Qc4 36. Qb2 Ne5 37. Qd2 g5 38. Ne6 N7c6 39. Qd6 Ke8 40. Nc7+ Kf7 41. Nd5 Qe2 42. Qxf6+ Ke8 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Bf1 Bxd5 46. exd5 Nd4 47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Qxg5+ Kf7 49. Qd8 Qc2 50. Bg2 Qc1+ 51. Kh2 Qc2 52. Bg1 Ndf3+ 53. Kh1 Ne1 54. Bf2 Qxf2 55. Qc7+ Kf6 56. Qd6+ Kf7 57. Qc7+ Kf6 58. Qd6+ Kf7 draw

by National Master Loal Davis

Mamedyarov

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gelfand

 

Wow – what a beautiful game by Gelfand.  This guy is strong.  Mamedyarov appeared to have ‘everything’ one wants on the White side of a Sicilian.  After move 17 (DIAGRAM) White pitched a Pawn for what first appeared to an overwhelming attack on Black’s King.   How many players would have succumbed on the Black side of this game?  First there was an exchange sacrifice by Gelfand on move 20 then a Knight sacrifice on move 32.   In the final position Gelfand is ‘down’ a Rook; alas he has 6 (count ‘m SIX) Pawns.  Mamedyarov saw the avalanche descending on his head and resigned.  In retrospect take a good look at the Diagram again at move 17.  Black has just played 17. ….. d5; a swift strike at the center for which White was not prepared.  Wow – this game deserves study.

r4r1k/2qbbppp/p3pn2/1p1p1P2/3RP3/1BN1B2Q/PPP3PP/5RK1 w KQkq – 0 181. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. f4 Nc6 14. f5 Nxd4 15. Rxd4 Kh8 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Qh3 d5 18. e5 Qxe5 19. Rh4 Rfc8 20. Kh1 Rxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc3 22. Rd4 a5 23. Rd3 Qc6 24. c3 a4 25. Bc2 e5 26. Bg5 b4 27. Qh4 bxc3 28. Rh3 Kg8 29. Re1 e4 30. g4 Kf8 31. Be3 Qc4 32. g5 Bxf5 33. gxf6 Bxf6 34. Qh5 Bg6 35. Qg4 Qxa2 36. Bb1 Qc4 37. Qg2 a3 38. Ba2 Qc6 39. Rg3 Rb8 0-1340nod6d5

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. f4 Nc6 14. f5 Nxd4 15. Rxd4 Kh8 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Qh3 d5 18. e5 Qxe5 19. Rh4 Rfc8 20. Kh1 Rxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc3 22. Rd4 a5 23. Rd3 Qc6 24. c3 a4 25. Bc2 e5 26. Bg5 b4 27. Qh4 bxc3 28. Rh3 Kg8 29. Re1 e4 30. g4 Kf8 31. Be3 Qc4 32. g5 Bxf5 33. gxf6 Bxf6 34. Qh5 Bg6 35. Qg4 Qxa2 36. Bb1 Qc4 37. Qg2 a3 38. Ba2 Qc6 39. Rg3 Rb8 0-1

by National Master Loal Davis

Veslin Topalov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gata Kamsky

 

Kamsky wins a beauty – or Topalov ‘self-destructs’.  You decide.  Kamsky definitely had the better of the opening (Topalov’s 5. Qb3 smelled of fish) and by move 22 was prying open the ‘c’ file to White’s King combined with quickly opening Bishop diagonals.  At this point (DIAGRAM) Topalov sacrificed the exchange (Rook for Bishop).  Kamsky accepted, defended, and attacked with precision – with some sacrifices of his own.  By move 30 Topalov was crushed.

r1q4r/4pk2/1p2b2b/p1Pn1p2/1n2N1p1/Q3P1B1/PP1NBPPR/2KR4 w KQkq – 0 231. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8. Qa3 Nc6 9. O-O-O Nd5 10. Bg3 Bh6+ 11. e3 a5 12. h4 Ncb4 13. h5 c6 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Rd2 f6 16. Ne4 b6 17. Be2 Qc8 18. Rh4 Kf7 19. Rd1 g5 20. Rh2 g4 21. Nfd2 c5 22. dxc5 f5 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Ng5+ Kf8 25. Nxe6+ Qxe6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bf4 Rf6 28. e4 Rxc5 29. exd5 Qxd5 30. b3 Qd4 31. Be3 Qc3+ 0-1440nof6f5

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8. Qa3 Nc6 9. O-O-O Nd5 10. Bg3 Bh6+ 11. e3 a5 12. h4 Ncb4 13. h5 c6 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Rd2 f6 16. Ne4 b6 17. Be2 Qc8 18. Rh4 Kf7 19. Rd1 g5 20. Rh2 g4 21. Nfd2 c5 22. dxc5 f5 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Ng5+ Kf8 25. Nxe6+ Qxe6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bf4 Rf6 28. e4 Rxc5 29. exd5 Qxd5 30. b3 Qd4 31. Be3 Qc3+ 0-1

Aronian seemed to be close to a victory but his opponent (Grischuk) managed to reach a drawn pawn ending………

1r6/5pk1/3Rn1p1/7p/p1P1P3/2K5/P5PP/3N4 w KQkq – 0 381. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. Be2 bxc5 15. f4 Ng4 16. Bxc5 a6 17. Na3 Qc7 18. Bd4 e5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc1 Bg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. Rxf4 Ne5 24. Rb1 Rad8 25. Nc2 Nd3 26. Rff1 Rd7 27. Rfd1 Nf4 28. Kf2 Rc8 29. Ne3 h5 30. Rb6 Ne6 31. Bxg7 Rxd1 32. Nxd1 Kxg7 33. Ke3 Nc5 34. Rd6 a5 35. c4 a4 36. Kd4 Ne6+ 37. Kc3 Rb8 38. Rd5 Nf4 39. Rd2 Ne6 40. Rb2 Rd8 41. Nf2 a3 42. Rd2 Rb8 43. Nd3 Rb1 44. c5 Kf6 45. c6 Ke7 46. Nb4 Rc1+ 47. Kb3 Nc5+ 48. Kxa3 Nxe4 49. Rd4 Nd6 50. Ka4 Ke6 51. Ka5 Rc5+ 52. Ka6 g5 53. a4 Ke5 54. Rd2 Rc4 55. Ka5 f5 56. Rc2 Kd4 57. Rd2+ Ke5 58. Nd3+ Kf6 59. Kb6 Nc8+ 60. Kb7 Nd6+ 61. Kc7 Ne4 62. Ra2 Nc3 63. Rb2 Nxa4 64. Rb4 Rxb4 65. Nxb4 Nc5 66. Kb6 Ne6 67. Nd3 h4 68. h3 Ke7 69. Nc5 Nxc5 70. Kxc5 Kd8 1/2-1/2740noc8b8

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. Be2 bxc5 15. f4 Ng4 16. Bxc5 a6 17. Na3 Qc7 18. Bd4 e5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc1 Bg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. Rxf4 Ne5 24. Rb1 Rad8 25. Nc2 Nd3 26. Rff1 Rd7 27. Rfd1 Nf4 28. Kf2 Rc8 29. Ne3 h5 30. Rb6 Ne6 31. Bxg7 Rxd1 32. Nxd1 Kxg7 33. Ke3 Nc5 34. Rd6 a5 35. c4 a4 36. Kd4 Ne6+ 37. Kc3 Rb8 38. Rd5 Nf4 39. Rd2 Ne6 40. Rb2 Rd8 41. Nf2 a3 42. Rd2 Rb8 43. Nd3 Rb1 44. c5 Kf6 45. c6 Ke7 46. Nb4 Rc1+ 47. Kb3 Nc5+ 48. Kxa3 Nxe4 49. Rd4 Nd6 50. Ka4 Ke6 51. Ka5 Rc5+ 52. Ka6 g5 53. a4 Ke5 54. Rd2 Rc4 55. Ka5 f5 56. Rc2 Kd4 57. Rd2+ Ke5 58. Nd3+ Kf6 59. Kb6 Nc8+ 60. Kb7 Nd6+ 61. Kc7 Ne4 62. Ra2 Nc3 63. Rb2 Nxa4 64. Rb4 Rxb4 65. Nxb4 Nc5 66. Kb6 Ne6 67. Nd3 h4 68. h3 Ke7 69. Nc5 Nxc5 70. Kxc5 Kd8 1/2-1/2