[Event "FIDE World Cup 2021"] [Site "Sochi"] [Date "2021.07.30"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2757"] [BlackElo "2709"] [Annotator "Ftacnik,L"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2021.07.12"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 11,79,12,18,23,35,24,25,27,34,18,53,57,97,99,123,75,204,189,245,246,245, 242,234,175,177,178,201,192,228,228,228,228,225,210,259,246,246,203,197,183, 171,180,320,312,339,347,349,343,422,422,506,492,583,579,673,665,640,627,809, 660,632,632,601,638,29984,29985,29985,29986,29994,29995]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 Nc6 7. g4 {[%csl Gc2,Gd3,Ge4,Gf3,Gg2][%CAl Ge4f5,Gg6h7,Gg6h5,Gf5g4,Gh3g4,Gd4f5,Rf5e6,Re6f7,Ge4d5,Gc6b7,Gc6b5,Gd5c4,Gc3d5, Gc3b5,Gf1b5,Gd4c6,Rd5e6,Re6d7] B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5.} g6 (7... Qb6 8. Nde2 $146 {The new move in this sharp line represents the novelty, but it definitely is not the most exciting part of the fascinating fight. The knight hopes to get more quickly to the kingside from the e2-square.} (8. Nb3 e6 9. Be3 (9. Bg2 Be7 10. Be3 Qc7 11. g5 Nd7 12. f4 b5 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. h4 b4 17. Ne2 a5 18. Nbd4 a4 19. Kb1 Qc5 20. h5 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 a3 $15 {1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A (2689)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009 (47)}) (9. g5 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qc7 11. Qd2 b5 12. O-O-O Nce5 13. Bg3 Rb8 14. f4 Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Nd4 Nc5 17. Rhe1 Qb6 18. b3 cxb3 19. axb3 Bb7 20. f5 Rc8 21. Kb1 Be7 22. f6 gxf6 23. gxf6 Bf8 24. Qe3 Nd7 25. Nd5 Qc5 26. Nxe6 Qxe3 27. Ng7+ Bxg7 28. fxg7 Qxb3+ 29. cxb3 Rg8 30. Ne3 Bxe4+ 31. Ka1 Kd8 32. Nc4 d5 33. Nd6 Rxg7 34. Rxd5 Rxg3 35. Nxe4 Rg6 36. Red1 Rc7 37. Nc5 Rxc5 38. Rxc5 Rb6 39. Kb2 Rb7 40. Rc6 Ke7 41. Ka3 f5 42. Rd4 Ne5 43. Rxa6 Ng6 44. h4 Nf8 45. Rd5 {1-0 (49) Yu,Y (2715)-Dominguez Perez,L (2746) Havana 2015 CBM 167 [Yu,Yangyi]}) 9... Qc7 10. Qe2 (10. g5 Nd7 11. f4 b5 12. a4 b4 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Bg2 Na5 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. O-O Be7 17. f5 exf5 18. exf5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rc8 20. Ng3 Ne5 21. f6 gxf6 22. gxf6 Bf8 23. Nf5 $14 {0-1 Pikula,D (2513)-Damljanovic, B (2590)/Vrsac 2007 (42)}) (10. f4 b5 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Be7 13. g5 Nd7 14. Qe1 Nb6 15. Rd1 b4 16. Ne2 Nc4 17. Bc1 e5 18. Kh1 a5 19. fxe5 dxe5 $17 { 1-0 Magem Badals,J (2531)-Fluvia Poyatos,J (2469)/Lleida 2009 (35)}) 10... b5 11. f4 Bb7 12. Bg2 Be7 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Qf2 Na5 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Kb1 Rc8 17. Bd4 O-O 18. e5 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 dxe5 20. fxe5 Nc5 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 $11 { 0-1 Dominguez Perez,L (2719)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009 (44)}) 8... e6 (8... Bxg4 $5 9. hxg4 Nxg4 10. Nd4 $1 (10. Be3 Nxe3 11. fxe3 Qxe3 12. Rh3 $16) 10... Nxd4 11. Nd5 Qc5 12. c3 Nxf2 13. Kxf2 Ne6+ 14. Be3 $16) 9. Bg2 Be7 10. b3 (10. O-O O-O 11. a3 Re8 12. Kh1 Qc7 13. f4 b5 14. f5 Nd7 15. Nf4 Bf8 16. Nh5 Nce5 17. Bg5 Bb7 18. Qc1 Kh8 19. Rf2 Rac8 20. Bh4 Qc5 21. Re2 a5 22. a4 b4 23. Nb5 Ba6 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Qg5 Bxb5 26. axb5 g6 27. Bf2 Qxb5 28. Ng3 Bg7 29. Bd4 a4 30. Qd2 Kg8 31. b3 a3 32. Nf1 Bh6 33. Qd1 Nc6 34. Bg1 Bg7 35. Ra2 Nde5 36. Rd2 Nf7 37. Ne3 Nce5 38. Rd4 Nc6 39. Rd3 Nce5 40. Rd4 Rc3 41. Qd2 Bh6 42. Qe1 Rec8 43. h4 Bxe3 44. Bxe3 Nxg4 45. Bg1 Qe5 46. Rd3 Rxc2 47. Rxc2 Rxc2 {0-1 (47) Vallejo Pons,F (2700)-Dominguez Perez,L (2768) Havana 2014 CBM 161 [Ftacnik,L]} ) 10... h6 11. Qd2 {Topalov playes a clever move avoiding the problems lurking in the knight move to c4 after the obvious 13.Bb2.} (11. Bb2 Ne5 12. Qd2 Nc4 $1 13. Na4 Qc6 14. Nd4 Qxa4 15. bxa4 Nxd2 16. Kxd2 Bd7 $11) 11... g5 $5 {Grischuk is a very gifted man, with a healthy confidence in his own abilities. The radical prevention of the f2-f4 advance weakens the position forever. The modest castling seems timid in comparision.} (11... O-O 12. Bb2 Nd7 13. Nf4 $13 ) 12. Ba3 Ne5 (12... O-O 13. f4 Nd7 14. O-O-O Qf2 15. Rhg1 gxf4 16. Nxf4 (16. Bxd6 Bxd6 17. Qxd6 Qe3+ 18. Qd2 Qxd2+ 19. Rxd2 e5 20. Rgd1 Nf6 $11) 16... Qxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Nc5 18. Kb1 $14) 13. O-O-O Qxf2 {At first glance Black's courage is quite breathtaking. The conflict in the centre starts at the moment, when White is much better prepared for the complications.} (13... Bd7 14. Bxd6 Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Qxd6 16. Rxd6 h5 17. f3 $14) 14. Bxd6 Bxd6 (14... Qxg2 $2 15. Bxe7 Nfd7 16. Bd6 $18) 15. Qxd6 Nfd7 16. Nd4 Qf6 (16... Qxg2 17. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 18. Qxe6+ Kd8 19. Qxe5 Rf8 20. Qg7 Rf2 21. Nd5 Qxe4 22. Qh8+ Qe8 (22... Rf8 23. Qxf8+ Nxf8 24. Nf6+ $18) 23. Qxe8+ Kxe8 24. Nc7+ Kf7 25. Nxa8 $18) 17. Qa3 { The great critical moment of the game. Topalov must have realised, that getting serious advantage is not so easy. Objectively speaking his initiative is good only for a moderate plus.} (17. Na4 $5 Rb8 (17... Qe7 18. Qc7 Qd8 19. Qc3 O-O 20. Qg3 $16) 18. Rhf1 Qe7 19. Qc7 b5 20. Nf3 Nxf3 21. Rxf3 (21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22. Qxb8 Qd2+ 23. Kb2 O-O 24. Bxf3 bxa4 $11) 21... bxa4 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxb8 O-O 24. Rd3 Qc6 $14) (17. Rd2 Qe7 18. Qc7 Qd8 $1 19. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $14) (17. Kb2 Qe7 18. Qc7 Qd8 19. Qxd8+ Kxd8 20. a4 Ke7 21. a5 h5 $14) 17... Qe7 18. Qb2 O-O (18... b5 19. Nc6 (19. Nd5 exd5 20. Nf5 Qd8 21. exd5 (21. Rxd5 f6 22. Qc3 Rb8 $13) 21... Qb6 22. d6 Bb7 $15) (19. Nf3 O-O 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Kb1 f6 $11) 19... Qc5 (19... Nxc6 20. Nd5 exd5 (20... Qf8 21. Nc7+ Ke7 22. Nxa8 Bb7 23. Rxd7+ Kxd7 24. Rd1+ Kc8 25. Nb6+ $16) 21. Qxh8+ Qf8 22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. exd5 Nce5 24. d6 Rb8 $11) 20. Nd5 Qxc6 21. Nf6+ Ke7 (21... Nxf6 $2 22. Qxe5 Ke7 23. Rhf1 $18) 22. Nxd7 Bxd7 23. Qxe5 Rac8 24. Rd2 Rhd8 $11) 19. Nf5 $6 {The Bulgarian star must have prepared for the event psychologically with a goal to play with maximum sharpness and risk. The knight sacrifice is spirited, but objectively speaking not good enough.} (19. Nce2 b5 20. Ng3 b4 (20... Bb7 21. Ngf5 exf5 22. Nxf5 Qd8 23. Nxh6+ Kh7 24. Nf5 $40) 21. Ndf5 exf5 22. Nxf5 Qc5 23. h4 Qc3 24. hxg5 Qxb2+ 25. Kxb2 Re8 $13) 19... exf5 20. Nd5 Qc5 21. exf5 a5 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Excellent defence by a Grischuk in splendid form. The rook will help the black king from the 6th rank.} (21... Re8 22. Kb1 (22. h4 $2 gxh4 23. Rxh4 Nd3+ 24. Rxd3 Re1+ $19) 22... a5 (22... b5 23. h4 Qf2 24. Ne7+ Rxe7 25. Bxa8 $13) (22... f6 23. h4 Kg7 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rh5 Rh8 26. b4 Qd6 27. Rxh8 Kxh8 28. Nc3 Qf8 29. Nd5 $13) 23. h4 Nxg4 24. hxg5 Nde5 25. Bh3 $1 Bxf5 26. Bxg4 Nxg4 27. gxh6 $13) 22. h4 gxh4 23. Rxh4 Ra6 (23... Qf2 $2 24. Rxh6 Qxg2 25. f6 $18) 24. Kb1 (24. Rdh1 $2 Nd3+ $19) (24. f6 Rxf6 25. Nxf6+ Nxf6 26. Rxh6 Nd3+ (26... Bxg4 27. Qd4 Qa3+ 28. Kb1 Bxd1 29. Qxd1 Qe7 30. Qh1 Kg7 $17) 27. Rxd3 Qg5+ 28. Kb1 Qxh6 29. Rd6 Kg7 $17) 24... Qf2 25. Ne7+ {The crisis is reaching its maximum as White is facing near oblivion with his scattered pieces and only murky attacking chances.} (25. Rh2 Nxg4 26. Ne7+ Kh7 27. Nxc8 Nc5 28. Rf1 Qd2 29. Rg1 Rxc8 30. Bxb7 Qxh2 31. Rxg4 Rg8 32. Rxg8 Kxg8 33. Bxa6 Qg1+ 34. Qc1 Qxc1+ 35. Kxc1 Nxa6 $19) 25... Kg7 (25... Kh7 $1 26. Rdh1 Qxg2 27. Qc1 Nxg4 28. Ng6 fxg6 29. Rxg4 (29. Rxh6+ Kg7 (29... Nxh6 $2 30. Qxh6+ Kg8 31. Qh7#) 30. Qg5 Nxh6 31. Qxg2 Nxf5 $19) 29... Qxh1 30. Qxh1 Rxf5 31. Re4 Ne5 $17) 26. Rh2 f6 $2 $138 {The following phase of the game is truly imperfect. Grischuk was seriously short of time and Topalov could not find the patience in his heart..} (26... Qg3 27. Nxc8 Qxh2 28. Bxb7 Rf6 29. Qc3 Qe2 $19) 27. g5 $2 (27. Qc1 $1 Nxg4 (27... Rh8 28. Nxc8 Qg3 29. Rdh1 $18) 28. Nxc8 Nc5 (28... Nxh2 29. Rxd7+ Rf7 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. Bxb7 Ra7 32. Nxa7 Qxa7 33. Qxh6 $18) 29. Rd2 Qxf5 30. Bh3 Rxc8 31. Bxg4 Qxg4 32. Rdg2 Qg5 33. Qe1 $16) 27... fxg5 28. Nxc8 Raf6 $1 29. Ne7 (29. Qc3 Qc5 30. Qxc5 Nxc5 31. Ne7 Ng4 32. Rhh1 Nf2 $17) 29... R8f7 (29... Qg3 $1 30. Rhh1 (30. Rdh1 Ng4 $17) 30... Qxg2 31. Ng6 Re8 $19 ) 30. Nd5 Nf3 $2 (30... Ng4 31. Nxf6 Ndxf6 32. Bd5 Qxh2 33. Bxf7 Kxf7 34. Qc3 Qe5 $17) 31. Bxf3 Qxh2 32. Nxf6 (32. Qd4 Qe5 33. Nxf6 Qxf6 $11) 32... Nxf6 33. a4 {The smoke has nearly cleared and White is back in the game with his potentially strong bishop.} (33. Qd4 Re7 $15) 33... Qf4 (33... Re7 34. Qd4 Qe5 35. Qb6 Qxf5 36. Bxb7 h5 $13) 34. Bd5 Rd7 35. Re1 Qxf5 36. Bc4 (36. Be6 Qf2 37. Qe5 Re7 38. Qxa5 g4 39. Qb4 Rc7 $11) 36... Qf2 {The last nervous move shortly before the time control. The queen should have aimed for the c5 square.} (36... Qc5 $1 37. Qc3 (37. Re6 Qg1+ 38. Ka2 Qd4 39. Re7+ Kh8 40. Qxd4 Rxd4 41. Rxb7 g4 $17) 37... g4 38. Ka2 b6 $15) 37. Qe5 Qd4 38. Qf5 Qg4 39. Qxa5 Rd1+ 40. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 41. Kb2 Qd6 (41... Qd4+ 42. Ka2 g4 43. Qc7+ Qd7 44. Qe5 Qe8 45. Be6 h5 $11) 42. Qa7 $1 {White can claim some small chances with his long range bishop in an exciting ending.} Qe5+ 43. Ka2 Qe4 (43... Qc7 44. a5 Ne4 45. Qd4+ Nf6 46. b4 g4 $13) 44. Bd3 Qc6 45. a5 Nd5 46. Qd4+ $1 Nf6 {Unfortunately for the defence the knight has to retreat.} (46... Kf7 $2 47. Bc4 Ke6 48. c3 Kd6 49. b4 h5 50. Kb3 g4 51. Qd2 $16) (46... Kf8 47. Qh8+ Ke7 48. Qg7+ Kd8 49. Qf8+ Kc7 50. c4 Nf4 51. Bf5 $16) 47. Qe5 Kf8 (47... Kf7 48. Bc4+ Kg6 49. Qe6 Qc7 $1 ( 49... Qxe6 50. Bxe6 Ne4 (50... g4 51. Bc8 $18) 51. Bc8 Nd6 52. Bxb7 Nxb7 53. a6 $18) 50. Bd3+ Kg7 51. Qf5 Qf7 52. Qe5 $14) 48. c4 (48. Kb2 g4 49. Bc4 Kg7 50. Qe7+ Kg6 51. Be6 $16) 48... g4 49. Bf5 Kf7 50. Qb8 Ne8 $2 {The permanent struggle is finally bearing fruits for the inventive Topalov as his opponent is finally showing signs of wear and tear.} (50... Ke7 $1 51. Bc8 Qc5 52. Qxb7+ Kd8 53. Qa6 (53. a6 Qxc8 54. Qb6+ Ke7 55. c5 g3 56. Qb7+ Qxb7 57. axb7 g2 58. b8=Q g1=Q $15) 53... Qf2+ 54. Ka3 Qc5+ 55. b4 Qe3+ 56. Ka4 Ne4 $11) 51. Qf4 ( 51. Qh2 Qc5 52. Qh5+ Ke7 53. Bxg4 Qxh5 54. Bxh5 Kd8 55. b4 $18) 51... Qc5 $2 { Shocked and in disbelief Black gives in and loses the unbelievably complex fight.} (51... Nf6 $1 52. Qxh6 Qd6 53. Bxg4 Qe5 54. Qd2 Nxg4 55. a6 bxa6 56. Qd7+ Kf6 57. Qxg4 $16) 52. Bxg4+ Nf6 53. Qf5 Qd4 54. Bf3 Qf2+ 55. Ka3 Kg7 56. Ka4 {The advance of the white king represents the proverbial last straw in the position. Black is helpless.} b6 (56... Qa2+ 57. Kb4 Qf2 58. Kb5 Qe3 59. b4 $18 ) 57. axb6 Qxb6 58. c5 Qa7+ 59. Kb5 Qb8+ 60. Kc4 Qg8+ 61. Kc3 Qe8 62. b4 Qe1+ 63. Kc4 Qf1+ 64. Kb3 Qb5 65. Bd1 Qc6 66. Bc2 Kf7 67. Bd3 {1-0 (69) Topalov,V (2805)-Grischuk,A (2736) Linares 2010 CBM 135 [Ftacnik,L]}) (7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 e5 9. Qd3 Be7 10. g5 Nd7 11. Be3 Nc5 12. Qd2 Be6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. f3 Rc8 15. Kb1 Nd7 16. h4 b5 17. Bh3 Bxh3 18. Rxh3 Nb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. f4 exf4 22. Qxf4 Qd7 23. Qf5 Rcd8 24. Ra3 Qa7 25. Rc3 g6 26. Qg4 Qd7 27. Qf3 Qe6 28. Rc7 Rde8 29. Nf4 Qe5 30. Rd5 Qh8 31. a3 h6 32. gxh6 Qxh6 33. h5 Bg5 34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Qb3 Rxf4 36. Re5+ Kf8 37. Rxe8+ {1-0 (37) Fischer,R-Bolbochan,J Stockholm 1962 IZT [Ftacnik,L]}) (7... e5 8. Nf5 h5 9. Bg2 hxg4 10. hxg4 Rxh1+ 11. Bxh1 g6 12. Nh6 Bxh6 13. Bxh6 Nxg4 14. Bd2 Qh4 15. Qf3 Nd4 {0-1 (15) Libens,M (2080)-Edouard,R (2565) Paris 2009}) (7... e6 8. Bg2 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Be3 h5 11. gxh5 Qc7 12. Qe2 Nf6 13. Rad1 Rxh5 14. Nf5 Bf8 15. Rxd6 g6 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. Rfd1 gxf5 18. e5 Bxd6 19. exf6 Rh4 20. Rxd6 Rxf4 21. Nd5 Nd4 22. Qe5 Qc5 23. b4 Ne2+ 24. Kh1 Rxb4 25. Nc7+ Qxc7 26. Rxe6+ Bxe6 27. Qxc7 Rb1+ 28. Kh2 Kf8 29. Qc5+ Kg8 30. Qe3 f4 31. Qxe2 Rb5 32. Be4 Rc8 33. Qf3 Kf8 34. Qxf4 Rh5 35. h4 Ke8 36. Qd6 Rxh4+ 37. Kg1 Rg4+ 38. Bg2 {1-0 (38) Rodriguez Vila,A (2518)-Vescovi,G (2604) Caxias do Sul 2012 CBM 147 Extra [Silver,A]}) 8. Be3 ( 8. Bg2 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Bg7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qd2 Be6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rab1 Qa5 14. Nd5 Qxd2 15. Bxd2 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rfc8 17. c3 Rc7 18. Rfe1 Kf8 19. Re2 b5 20. a3 Rb8 21. f4 Nb6 22. Bf3 Nc4 23. Be1 a5 24. Kg2 Rb6 25. h4 Rb8 26. g5 Re8 27. h5 e5 28. dxe6 Rxe6 29. h6 Bh8 30. Bf2 a4 31. Bg4 Rxe2 32. Bxe2 Re7 33. Bxc4 bxc4 34. Rd1 Rd7 35. Rd5 f6 36. Bd4 {1-0 (36) Slobodjan,R (2525)-Szekely,P (2435) Kolkata 1996 CBM 050 Extra [Dolmatov,S]}) 8... Nxd4 9. Qxd4 {Hoping for g5. White has an edge.} Bg7 $1 {[#]} 10. O-O-O $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] New and interesting.} ({Predecessor:} 10. Qb4 O-O 11. O-O-O b5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Bg2 Rb8 14. Ba7 a5 15. Qd4 Bb7 16. Bxb8 Bxg2 {1/2-1/2 (57) Karthikeyan,M (2606) -Sardana,R (2437) Caleta 2020}) 10... Be6 11. f4 Qa5 12. f5 $36 {[%mdl 2048] Black is under strong pressure.} Bxa2 13. Bd2 {Strongly threatening Nd5.} O-O { [#]} (13... Rc8 $16 {might work better.}) 14. Nd5 $1 $18 {[%CAl Rd5e7]} Nxd5 ( 14... Qc5 {is a better defense.} 15. Qxc5 (15. Nxe7+ Kh8 $16) 15... dxc5) 15. Bxa5 Bxd4 16. Rxd4 Ne3 17. Kd2 Nxf1+ 18. Rxf1 Rfc8 {[#]} 19. b3 Rc6 { Threatening ...Rac8.} 20. Ra1 Bxb3 21. cxb3 Rac8 22. Ke3 Rc2 23. f6 exf6 24. Rxd6 Rh2 25. Rxf6 Rxh3+ 26. Rf3 Rh2 (26... Rxf3+ $142 27. Kxf3 Rc5) 27. Rd1 Rb2 28. Rd3 h6 29. Kf4 g5+ 30. Kf5 Re2 31. Bd8 Kh7 32. Bf6 b5 33. Rd7 Kg8 34. b4 Ra2 35. Rd8+ Rxd8 36. Bxd8 Rd2 37. Bf6 Kf8 38. Rc3 {White mates.} Rf2+ 39. Ke5 {[%CAl Rc3c8]} Ke8 40. Rd3 {[%csl Gf6][%CAl Rd3d8] White took control after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.12/Black=0.48} 1-0