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World Championship 2007 Mexico

The World Championship 2007 will take place fromSeptember 12 to 30 in the Sheraton Centro HistricoHotel in Mexico City. Eight players are qualified thetournament will be a double round robin. The prizefund is US $1.3 million.

First stop: El hemiciclo de Juarez the monument to Benito Jurez, hero of the country

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Commentary by GM Mihail Marin

GM Mihail Marin in his analysis kitchen at home inRomaina

The following express commentary was provided byRomanian Mihail Marin, who is the author of anumber of very popular ChessBase training CDs andarticles for ChessBase Magazine. GM Marin will

study the games of the World Championshiptournament in much greater detail and provide the fullresults of his analysis in the next issue ofChessBaseMagazine

Round one commentary by GM Mihail Marin

A slightly dissapointing start of the World Championship. True, in all the games the position after the openingpromissed a sharp and spectacular fight, but after the 20th move the players' fighting mood suddenly dropped downand all the games ended peacefully before the 30th move was reached. In one case, one of the player would havebeen entitled to play on at least for a while; in another game the position was simply too complicated to beadjucated as "drawn". Let us hope that it was all about fatigue after the long trip and problems of aclimatization andthat we shall see longer games in the next rounds!

Morozevich (2758) - Aronian (2750)World Championship Mexico (1), 13.09.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3. The so-called Petrosian (or Petrosian-Kasparov) Variation, played for the first time

in the game Sultan Khan-Capablanca. The mysterious Indian player won in great style, but we cannot know whetherhe was aware of the subtle character of his invention, since he used to play a3 or ...a6 in the opening quitefrequently. (This was how the so called Chebanenko Slav was born, too). 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3

Morozevich is known as one of the most creative and original players of the moment. Some 10 years ago, he usedto deviate from the approved paths as soon as possible (for instance, on the second move; just think of the almostforgotten Chigorin Defence and Albin Countergambit). Lately, he has changed his attitude a bit, by producingstunning novelties in well-established openings. Let us see what he has in mind for today. 7...g6 This move,transposing to some sort of Gruenfeld, came into the limelight after Korchnoi used it to defeat a young player namedKasparov in the first game of their Candidates' match in 1983. 8.h4 So, this was his idea. However, this slightlyextravagant move is not really new. Among others, it has been tried by Polugajevsky against Korchnoi. 8...Bg7 9.h5Nd7 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 e5

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A counter-action in the centre is the best answer to anattack on the wing. However, White's centre is solidenough yet. 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 0-015.hxg6 hxg6. Aronian correctly evaluates that Whitecannot create dangerous threats along the h-file.Capturing with the other pawn would have meant a

significant structural concession. 16.a4 c5 17.Ba3Rfe8

In one of the two Gruenfelds Aronian lost with Whiteagainst Svidler, the structure was almost identical.Now, he shows that he learned something from theunpleasant experience. White cannot maintain hisstability in the centre for too long. 18.Rc1 exd419.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.cxd4 Re4 21.Kf1 cxd4 22.exd4Nf8 23.g3 Rd8 24.Rc7. A curious situation. White isnot fully developed yet, but the hyper-activity of someof his pieces allows him maintain the balance even.24...Ree8 25.Rxa7 Ra8 After exchanges on a8 anf f8,followed by Kg2 and Rb1, the game will transpose toa dead drawn rook + 2 pawns vs rook + 2 pawnsending. For once in this round, the draw agreement

looks entirely well timed. 1/2-1/2.

Kramnik (2769) - Svidler (2735)World Championship Mexico (1), 13.09.2007

1.Nf3. This is precisely the starting move that led Kramnik to the highest peaks of his carrier. He abandoned it forthe slightly more aggressive 1.d4 only with the occasion of his match against Kasparov. Later, he experimented with

1.e4, without too much success. Now, the cycle seems to start again. 1...d5. Svidler occasionally employed thismove as an emergency exit after losing three games with the Gruenfeld in Morelia/Linares 2006. His overall result int e closed openings was not really satisfactory either, but we can assume that for the World Championship he isbetter prepared. 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3

No big surprises from White's part yet. This position made part of Kramnik's repertoire in his chess youth. Althoughin more recent years he has flirted with the ultra-sharp 6.Bh3, too. 8...g6. Of course. A Gruenfeld specialist wouldtake the first opportunity to develop his king's bishop in fianchetto. 9.e4 dxc4 10.e5 Qe7 11.Bxc4 Bg7 12.0-0 0-0.The structure vaguely resembles a Gruenfeld, indeed. We just have to remove the b2- and c6-pawns. However, thepresence of these pawns gives the game a rather closed character, without the possibility of active piece play as in

Svidler's favorite weapon. On the other hand, White cannot crush his opponent by advancing his central pawns ,which is a permanent danger for Black in the Gruenfeld. 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Qe2 b6 15.Rad1

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White is the first to have completed his development,but the relatively closed character of the centreprevents him to take immediate advantage of thiscircumstance. 15...a5 16.Bd3 Bb7 17.Be4 b5 18.h4.Since there is not much to do in the centre, Whitestarts a typical operation on the kingside, aiming to

weaken the light squares from the neighborhood ofthe enemy king. 18...Nb6 19.Bb1. Clearing the e4-square for the knight (in view of ...b4), but releasingthe pressure along the e4-a8 diagonal. 19...c520.Nxb5 Ba6 21.h5 g5 22.Nh2 Rxd4 23.Rxd4

It looks as if Black has adequate counterplay in thecentre, but the position is anything but drawish. Onthe other hand, travelling from Europe to Mexico musthave been quite tireing and the opponents knoweachother so well since childhood, so that the abruptend is not completely illogical. 1/2-1/2.

Grischuk (2726) - Leko (2751)World Championship Mexico (1), 13.09.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Rfe8

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12.a4. If the game was played during the pre-computer era, I would have thought that there mustbe a misprint in the newspaper. White had just played10.a3 and now advances the pawn again. However,since the game is transmitted live, I suppose there isno mistake at all. I will have to understand the

subtleties behind this apparent loss of time beforewriting my "final" notes for CBM 120. 12...b4 13.Ne2d5. Strategically, this is a double-edged decision.Black wins space in the centre, but leaves the c4-square chronically weak. 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Ng3 Bf8.Black has regrouped just in time to defend his centralpawn without the necessity of weakening his kingsidewith ...f6. 16.a5. An important decision. White did notwant to live with the permanent threat of ...Na5 (and ifBa2, then ...b3!?). On the other hand, the a5-pawn iscut off his brothers and could become weak in certaincases, but this also applies to the black a6-pawn.16...Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4

Suddenly, it appears that Black is better developed.White's defensive resources rely on his solid positionand his stability on light squares. 18.Bd2 Nf619.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Bg5 Qc6 21.Qf1 Qd6. The pointbehind this apparent loss of time (less difficult tounderstand than a3-a4) is to prevent the enemyqueen from developing naturally to d2. 22.Re1.

However, the tempo offered to White proves useful.He can simplify the position further, neutralizingBlack's advance in development. 22...Re5 23.Rxe5Qxe5 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qe2 g6 26.Qg4 Bd6 27.Ne4

The position has changed to White's favour. All his pieces are more active than their rivals. 27...Qf4 28.Qxf4 At firstglance, White's decision to offer a draw looks premature. Grischuk (2726)-Leko (2751)/Mexico 2007 [After 28.Qxf4Bxf4 29.Nc5 Bc8 30.Bc4 Black loses a pawn. However, after 30...Bd6 31.Bxa6 (31.Nxa6offers Black a choicebetween 31...Bxa6 32.Bxa6 b3 33.cxb3 Bb4 with a dead draw and 31...c5, trying to trap the knight.) 31...Bxa6(Black can obtain an opposite coloured bishops ending with 31...Bxc5 32.Bxc8, but the structure is complex and thea-pawn rather advanced. It is not easy to be 100% sure this is a draw.) 32.Nxa6 c5 the knight is trapped.]

1/2-1/2.

Anand (2792) - Gelfand (2733)World Championship Mexico (1), 13.09.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Gelfand is a renowned Najdorfspecialist. However, for sich important events heseems to prefer more solid openings. He defeated

Kasimdzhanov with the Petroff Defence in the third

and last game of their play-off in Elista, but it shouldbe said the result of the opening was anything butencouraging for Black. 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3

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Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Qd2 Ne5 9.0-0-0 0-010.h4

White starts advancing his kingside pawns, openly declaring his intentions to mate the enemy king. His own king isout of any immediate danger. 10...Re8 11.h5 Bf6 12.Nh2 h6 13.Be2 Be6 14.f4. However, this might be a bitexaggerated. Black did not do anything wrong yet (he just developed in natural way) to deserve such a treatment.White weakens his central squares, while his centralisation is far from optimal. Just look at his knight. 14...Nc415.Bxc4 Bxc4 After the elimination of White's light-squared bishop, Black can regroup easier. 16.b3

16...Bb5. This is the kind of move one plays without too much thinking. However, Black had here the stunning16...c5!! (suggested by Frederic Friedel onPlaychess during the live broadcast) at his disposal. The idea is simple:to clear the queen's way to a5 and deprive the white bishop's access to d4. With his knight on h2 and his bishoprelatively inactive and slightly hanging, White would have faced serious problems of coordination. He could get outof trouble with 17.Ng4 Be6 18.Nxf6+ (unfortunately, forced) 18...Qxf6 but this would leave his light squaresdesperately weak. 17.Rhg1 Re4. Yummy! What a square... 18.Ng4 Qe7 19.Rde1 Re8 20.Bf2 Qd8. Just in time. Tobe compared with the way Grischuk exchanged rooks, keeping his kingside defended at the same time. 21.Rxe4Rxe4 22.Re1 Rxe1+

Personally, I would prefer Black's position. The lightsquared bishop looks sooo powerful! He could retreatwith his bishop to f8 and then make some progress inthe centre. But it is around 2 a.m. in Romania and myjudgment might be wrong, so I must give credit to theplayers. If they agreed to a draw, it must be a forceddraw, or something alike.

1/2-1/2.

All results of the round

Round 1: Thursday, Sept. 13th 2007, 14:00h

Vladimir Kramnik - Peter Svidler

Alexander Morozevich - Levon Aronian

Viswanathan Anand - Boris Gelfand

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Alexander Grischuk - Peter Leko

Round two commentary by GM Mihail Marin

A very exciting round, with sharp battles and two decisive games. Grischuk employed a relatively rare opening planwith Black against Gelfand, who found nothing better than carrying out a tactical operation resulting insimplifications and a peaceful result. Svidler delivered a surprisingly early novelty against Leko's Marshall Attack,but later failed to take advantage of what seemed to be a favourable situation.

Anand also opened a new theory file against Aronian, by exploiting in creative way the dark side of a well approvedwhite plan. The Armenian star tried to solve his problems by tactical means, but Anand's accurate reaction left himin a joyless position. Aronian resigned after the first time control.

The star game of the evening was Kramnik-Morozevich. The World Champion gradually tempted his opponent tograb material at the cost of neglecting his development. Morozevich abstained himself on the first occasion, but then

kindly obliged and the position became highly irrational. Kramnik emerged out of the complications with a clearadvantage, but immediately after that offered to his opponent a chance to come back into the game. Morozevichmissed his chance and went down quickly.

Svidler,P (2735) - Leko,P (2751) [C89]WCh Mexico City MEX (2), 14.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3. A principial duel between two Marshallspecialists is always interesting to watch. 8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4

14.g3 Qh3.

15.Qe2!? Astonishingly, this seems to be a newmove. In the main line, White hurries to place hisbishop on the exposed e3-square. With his last move,Svidler expresses his belief that the higher priority isto expel the enemy queen from its threateningposition. 15...Bg4 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 18.Rxe8Rxe8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne4. In some other lines, Whitegladly places a rook on this square, offering anexchange sacrifice which Black accepts only rarely.Installing a knight here is a great achievement forWhite. 20...Bc7. A fine tactical point is that Blackcannot win the pawn back with 20...Bxe4? 21.fxe4Rxe4 because after 22.Bd1 Qg6 (forced) 23.Bc2 heloses an exchange. An impressive demonstration ofthe force of two bishops. 21.Bd2 Qg6

22.Re1. White hurries to complete his development. Actually, it is not entirely clear whether the modestly looking22.Bc2 , consolidating the knight, was entirely wrong. 22...Bxe4 23.Rxe4. White had several tempting continuationsat his disposal and Svidler's choice might not be the best. For the author of the express report is not much easier todecide which is the best way to maintain a stable advantage and he kindly passes the responsibility of digging in forthe truth to the Chessbase Magazine 120 commentator. 23...Rxe4 24.Bc2 f5 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.Qg2 Nf6 27.Qh3 Ng428.Bb3+ Kf8 29.Bd1 e3 30.Bc1 h5 31.Bxg4 hxg4 32.Qf1+ Ke8 33.Bxe3 Kd7 34.Qe2 Qf5 35.b3 g6

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White has won a pawn, but Black's centralized armyas well as the firm control on light squares offers himgood saving chances. Besided, the white king ispassive and slightly exposed. 36.Bf2 Bd6 37.c4 bxc4

38.bxc4 Bc7 39.d5 cxd5 40.cxd5 Bd6 41.a4 Qb1+42.Kg2 Qf5 43.Kg1

1/2-1/2.

Gelfand,B (2733) - Grischuk,A (2726) [E15]WCh Mexico City MEX (2), 14.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb7. From the spectator's point of view, a refreshing deviation from theultra-fashionable 5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7. 6.Bg2 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 c5. The other possible attempt to take advantage of theslight weakness induced by the move b3 is 7...a5. 8.Bxb4 cxb4

The only difference if compared to a popular Bogo

Indian tabyia consists of White's extra-move b3. Thisapparently insignificant detail not only leaves the c3-square weak, but also deprives the white queen fromthe important b3-square. An old game between twohistorical rivals, Karpov - Kortschnoj, Amsterdam1987, where a genuine Bogo Indian was played,continued 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qb3 a5 10.a3 Na6 11.Nbd2 andBlack could not activate his a6-knight underfavourable circumstances. 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qd3 Be411.Qe3 Nc6 12.Nbd2 d5

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A very interesting position, played on severaloccasions by Romanischin (with black). White has apawn majority in the centre, but the weakness of thec3-square offers Black unexpected ideas for

counterplay. 13.Rfc1 Rc8 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Qd3Bxf3 16.Nxf3 Nd5 17.Rc4. Aiming to keep the rookalive before the knight jumps to c3. 17...Nc3 18.a3

18...b5!? Grischuk refrains from the standard way of ensuring stability to his knight, 18...a5 , because this wouldhave allowed White to activate the other rook as well. Instead, the tactical operation initiated with his last move willlead to mass simplifications and a comfortable position for Black. 19.Rxc6. Forced. The generally desirable 19.Rc5?, installing the rook on an apparently comfortable square, would lose material to 19...Nxd4! attacking not only therook, but also the queen (in view of the threat Ndxe2+). 19...Rxc6 20.Ng5 Qxg5 21.Bxc6 Rc8 22.Bb7 Rc723.axb4. After 23...Nxe2+ 24.Qxe2 Rxb7 25.Qe4, White's piece activity compensates for his slightly worse pawnstructure.

1/2-1/2.

Aronian,L (2750) - Anand,V (2792) [D43]WCh Mexico City MEX (2), 14.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5. An excellent way to play for a winwith Black, although it should be said that White's cooperation is needed, too. In case of 6.Bxf6 (as played just oneday earlier by Kramnik against Svidler), play takes a positional course. However, Aronian is not the kind of player torefrain from a sharp battle, especially when he has the white pieces. 9.Ne5 h5 10.h4 g4

Black is a pawn up, but White has a strong centreand better prospects of transferring his king to a safelocation. In the next phase of the game, both playershave to permanently take into account the standardpawn moves (White's) d5 or f3 and (Black's) ...b4 or...c5. For a while, however, play continues withnatural developing moves. 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd713.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bg3 Nd7

17.f3. This move is almost unanimously played here. White finally establishes a centre of pawn tension and aims toopen the f-file for his king's rook. The only (but significant) drawback of this move is that it weakens the king's

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residence. 17...c5!? An interesting novelty. Previously, 17...Qb6 was considered best. Anand decides that the bestway of taking advantage of the vulnerability of the enemy king is to keep the queen on her initial square. 18.dxc5.The generally desirable 18.d5 can be strongly met by 18...Be5! when White is in some sort of trouble: 19.Bxe5?!(After19.f4 Bd4+ the black dark-squared bishop is much more active than his direct rival.) 19...Nxe5 20.f4? Qxh4!with decisive attack. 18...Qe7 19.Kh1 a6 20.a4 Bc6. Black has stabilized the position and threatens to win the c5-pawn with ...Nxc5. Since 21.Rd6 can be strongly met by 21...Be5!, White is forced to resort to radical measures.

1.Nd5!? exd5 22.exd5. Normally, this kind ofoperation would yield White an advantage... 22...Be5!... but only with a safer king's position! With thisalready familiar to us move, Anand forces hisopponent to release the kingside tension andconsolidates his advantage. 23.f4 Bg7 24.dxc6 Nxc5Both White's bishops are very passive. The c6-pawnin conjunction with certain rook activity along the d-filewill prove insufficient to level the balance. 25.Rd5Ne4 26.Be1 Qe6 27.Rxh5 f5

White has temporarily won a pawn, but his rook is miserably placed. Anand went on winning convincingly. 28.Kh2Rac8 29.Bb4 Rfe8 30.axb5 axb5 31.Re1 Qf7 32.Rg5 Nxg5 33.fxg5 Rxc6 34.Bf1 Rxe1 35.Bxe1 Re6 36.Bc3Qc7+ 37.g3 Re3 38.Qg2 Bxc3 39.bxc3 f4 40.Qa8+ Kg7 41.Qa6 fxg3+

0-1.

Anand: "The game revolved around this move 17...c5. It's a very interesting idea. We found it just here Nielsensuggested it about three days ago. Sometimes if you can surprise your opponent it is worth almost as much asmaking a lot of good moves, because he has to deal with a lot of problems over the board. He played 21.Nd5 fairlyquickly, and I think he missed this plan of 22...Be5 and 23...Bg7, or he underestimated it, I don't know which. As youcan see, in the whole game I am playing against this bishop on e2 my pawns on h5 and g4, and b5 and c4 controlthis bishop. This turned out to be the deciding factor in the game."

Kramnik,V (2769) - Morozevich,A (2758) [E04]WCh Mexico City MEX (2), 14.09.2007 [Marin,Mihail]

1.Nf3. When Kramnik played this move in the previous round, I thought he might have just wanted to avoid Svidler'sGrnfeld. Now, it seems that he really switched back to the favourite weapon of his youth. 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d54.d4. However, the Catalan is a relatively recent "discovery" of Kramnik and his results with it have been excellent.Apparently, the subtle combination of tactical and strategic motifs suits his talent quite well. This game is anexcellent illustration. 4...dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5. The more ambitious continuation is supposed to be 6.0-0 . The textmove is considered to offer Black an equal game after 6...c5, but both Morozevich and Kramnik seem to have adifferent opinion... 6...Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nd5

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Morozevich aims to put his mighty opponent underdirect pressure from an early stage of the game. Thispolicy will soon turn against himself as a boomerang.8.0-0!? A novelty. White simply ignores Black'sapparently strong threat and continues hisdevelopment. The move is simple and logical, but its

consequences are not easy to evaluate. This oftenhappens in the sharp lines of the Catalan: you knowexactly what you have to do, but cannot always trustyour judgement, because of the irrational character ofthe position. 8...0-0. This looks like some sort ofconcession, after which Black's ambitious play in theprevious phase of the game loses part of its meaning.Morozevich might have feared Kramnik's famouslydeep home preparation, but I must say that at firstsight it is not easy to see the danger for Black after8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 . Obviously, he is stronglyunderdeveloped, but for the time being he is twopawns up. Proving White's compensation is beyond

the scope of the express report, but I shall do my bestto make some adequate suggestions in CBM 120.9.Qc2 b5 10.Nxd5 exd5

The first optical sensation is that a massive migration of Black's pieces from the kingside to the opposite wing hastaken place. Paradoxically, White will not try to attack the slightly vulnerable king's position, but will hit precisely onthe side where Black has such an apparently strong group of forces. This is enabled by the fact that all thequeenside pieces are undeveloped yet, while the b4-bishop is vulnerable. 11.b3 c6 12.e4. Three of Black's pawnsare under serious pressure now. Morozevich puts more wood into the fire with 12...f6 13.exd5!! Further analysismight prove that the objective merits of this move are debatable, although I very much doubt it. (Refer to the final

part of the comment after 8.0-0). However, for the time being, I will limit myself to saying that the enthusiasticevaluation refers to White's courage, in the best spirit of the good old romantic times. From practical point of view,Black's position is very difficult to play. 13...fxe5 14.bxc4. It is not easy to understand what happens on board afterthese three consecutive pawn captures. Black has won a piece for a pawn, but is strongly underdeveloped and hasto avoid dxe5 somehow. 14...exd4. Four. 15.dxc6. Five. 15...Be6.

Morozevich finally starts developing his queenside.Books recommend to develop knights and only thenbishops, but how to accomplish that in this position?16.cxb5! Kramnik is not interested in winning theundeveloped a8-rook. He just carries out his "plan".The immediate threat is c7; in the meanwhile, White

has created two connected pawns. 16...d3 17.c7 Qd418.Qa4 Nd7 19.Be3 Qd6 20.Bxa8 Rxa8

White has retrieved his material investment with

some interest and preserves his passed pawns. Still,the position remains complicated and certainaccuracy is still required. 21.Bf4? Kramnik cold havecrowned his logical play by just completing the

mobilisation of his forces with 21.Rac1! which

"incidentally" threatens to promote the pawn. After21...Rc8 22.Rc6 followed by Rxe6, White obtains adecisive material advantage. 21...Qf8? Kindlyreturning the favour. Black misses his chance to

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change the course of the game with 21...Qd5!! , when22.Qxb4? is impossible because of 22...Qf3-+ , withthe decisive threats ..Bd5 or ...Bh3. 22.b6!

Now it's all over. These pawns cannot be stopped. 22...Nxb6 drops a piece to 23.Qc6, while Morozevich' desperate(but delayed!) counterplay cannot change anything. 22...Ne5 23.Bxe5 Qf3 24.Qd1 Qe4 25.b7 Rf8 26.c8Q Bd527.f3

1-0.

All results of the round

Round 2: Friday, Sept. 14th 2007, 14:00h

Peter Svidler - Peter Leko

Boris Gelfand - Alexander Grischuk

Levon Aronian 0-1 Viswanathan Anand

Vladimir Kramnik 1-0 Alexander Morozevich

Round three commentary by GM Mihail Marin

This was a day with several curious moments. Playing with White against Svidler, Morozevich quickly fell behind indevelopment and his position looked highly suspicious. Svidler might have been surprized by the ease with whichhe had obtained an advantage or just confused by the wide choice of tempting continuations; in any case, he firstallowed to his opponent to equalize and then take over the initiative. Shortly before the time control, he resigned.

Anand's opening experiment against Kramnik did not yield him anything concrete. His attempt to maintain theinitiative led to a rook endgame with a pawn down, which, however, he defended quite confidently. The game endedin a... stalemate!

In Grischuk-Aronian it was not entirely clear who tricked whom in the opening. Aronian intended to sacrifice a pawn,

but eventually found himself with a pawn up and... defending. After 27 moves Grischuk had obtained a decisiveattack, which he converted into an immediate draw by repetition.

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In the longest game of the evening, Gelfand struggled for a long while with Black against Leko. The situationchanged abruptly when the Hungarian GM retreated with his queen on the back rank shortly before the 40th move.Play simplified to a queen ending with winning chances for Black, but Leko defended well and squeezed a draw onthe 100th move.

P.S. My special thanks to Knut Johnsen, who highlighted a mistake in my comments to Svidler-Leko, from the

previous round: "The move 15.Qe2 is not new! I have five games with this variation in my database: Apicella-Boudre0-1, 1987; Schrlank-Perlega 1/2-1/2, 1998; Rousar-Smutny 1/2-1/2, 2001; Nolan-Watson 0-1, 2002; and Nemkova-Bobras 1-0 from 2007. After move 16...Qh5 we have reached the same position as in the game Kapengut-Malaniukfrom 1985, but this game was on move 16 instead of 17!"

Morozevich,A (2758) - Svidler,P (2735) [C45]WCh Mexico City MEX (3), 15.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 Ne5

9.Bb3!? Morozevich remains faithful to his style.Instead of the approved 9.Be2, he plays a move thathas been only rarely seen in games between strongplayers. 9...d6 10.f3. But this is "almost" a novelty. Inmost of the games, White preferred to develop hisqueen's knight, ignoring the threat ...Ng4. 10...Be611.Kh1 Bc4 12.Rf2 d5

White's opening experiment seems to have ended into a complete fiasco. He is behind in development and hisadvantage of space is just about to vanish. 13.Bc2 dxe4. Black had a wide choice of tempting moves. The mostlogical seems to be 13...Rad8 , but then White could consider playing f4, immediately or after driving the bishopaway with b3.; Maybe 13...Qh4 is best, preventing f4 in view of ...Ng4 and planning to place his rooks on the openfiles. It would not have been easy for White to complete his development. 14.Nd2! White hurries to bring his piecesinto play. The point behind his last move is that 14...exf3? loses a piece to 15.Nxc4 Nxc4 16.Qd3, atacking c4 andh7. 14...Bd3?! After this move White is back in the game. Once he cleared the d5-square with his previous move,Black should have used it with 14...Nd5 for instance 15.Nxe4 Qb6 and White is still under pressure. 15.Nxe4 Bxe416.fxe4 Qg6 17.Rf4

White has a normal position now; chances are aboutequal. Svidler must have ben still under theimpression of his missed advantage, because in thenext phase of the game he effectuates a series ofpseudo-active moves, completely losing coordination.17...Nc4 18.Bg1 Qh6 19.Rf3 Qd2 20.Qb1 Bb621.Bb3!

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Suddenly, Black is in trouble. If the knight moves, Be3wins the queen. 21...Bxd4 22.cxd4. But now, White'spair of bishops and his mobile centre offers him ahuge advantage. 22...Na5 23.Bc2 Rad8 24.Rc3Nac6 25.d5 Nb4 26.Bb3 Na6 27.Be3 Qe2 28.Bc4Qg4 29.h3 Qh4 30.Bxa6 bxa6 31.Rxc7 f5 32.Bc5Rfe8 33.d6 Ng6 34.exf5 Nf4 35.Qc2 Re2 36.Qb3+Kh8 37.Rg1

1-0.

Anand,V (2792) - Kramnik,V (2769) [C42]WCh Mexico City MEX (3), 15.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8

16.Qa4. A rare continuation, aiming to take Kramnik "out of book". 16...Bd7 17.Qc2. This seems to be a new move.17.Rab1 was played a couple fo times. 17...Qf5 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 19.Bb5 Bd7 20.d5 Ne5 21.Bxd7 Nxd7

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Anand's experiment did not work out too well.Kramnik played relatively quickly and obtained anentirely satisfactory position. White's centre couldbecome more of a weakness if Black is allowed toinstall his minor pieces on c5 and d6. 22.Bxc7!?

White tries to maintain his initiative, but furthersimplifications will turn the position slightly dangerousfor him. 22...Rxc7 23.d6 Rxc3 24.dxe7 f6

With queens on board, the e7-pawn would most probably ensure White's win, but in the endgame it is more of asource of worries. 25.Rad1 Rc7 26.Nd4 Ne5 27.f4 Nc6 28.Nxc6 bxc6 29.Rd6 c5 30.Ree6 c4 31.Rc6 Rexe7

32.Rxc4 Rxc4 33.Rxe7 Ra4 34.Rb7

White will lose a pawn, but the drawish tendency ofthis type of ending is well-known. In the "theoretical"position, White's f-pawn stands on its initial square.The way it is, it could easily become a weakness, butalso ensure White a stable advantage of space on thekingside. 34...h6. 34...h5!? looks more active. 35.f5Rxa3 36.Kf2 h5 37.g3 a5. 37...h4!? would haveoffered more chances to keep White under pressure,by keeping the king's access to the f5-pawn open.38.Ra7 a4 39.h4!

White is out of any danger now. The kingside is practically frozen and the huge advantage of space prevents thestandard plan: push the pawn to a3, in order to leave the a2-square available for the transfer of His Majesty. If Blacktries to do so, he would lose the g7-pawn, after which White's counterplay (for instance g4) is much moredangerous than in the standard position (pawns on f2, g3, h4 and symmetrical for Black). 39...Ra2+ 40.Kf3 a341.Ke3 Ra1 42.Kf2 Kf8 43.Kg2 a2. This move somewhat restricts the activity of White's pieces (Kf2? loses to...Rh1 and things like that), but there is no place to hide for the black king either. 44.Kh2 Ke8 45.Kg2 Kd8 46.Kh2Kc8 47.Kg2 Kb8 48.Ra3 Kb7 49.Ra4 Kb6 50.Ra8 Kc5 51.Ra7 Kd5 52.Ra4 Ke5 53.Ra5+ Ke4 54.Kh2. Actually,this move is not forced. decades ago, Kholmov has proven that even without the f5-pawn White can hold a draw.The only winning chance for Black is to create a passed pawn on the f-file, but this is impossible in case of accuratedefence from White. 54...Kf3 55.Ra3+ Kf2 56.Ra4 Kf1

57.Kh1. But this is an important move. In case of a neutral move such as 57.Ra5? , Black can simplify to a wonpawn ending with 57...Re1 58.Rxa2 Re2+ 59.Rxe2 Kxe2 , for instance 60.Kg2 Ke3 61.g4 Kf4! 62.gxh5 Kg4 and it isall over. 57...Ke1 58.Kg2. But now, there was no need to get back on the second rank. 58...Kd1 [58...Rd1 is very

much the same as in the game. 59.Ra7 Rc1 60.Rxa2 Rc2+ 61.Rxc2 Kxc2 62.Kf3. This is the difference. The whiteking is active enough now. Curiously, he will have to use this acitivity for getting... stalemated!! 62...Kd3 63.g4hxg4+ 64.Kxg4 Ke4

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Did Anand miscalculate anything? 65.Kh5! Not really!65...Kxf5 and, entirely in accordance with the Sofiarule, players had to split the point. 1/2-1/2.

Grischuk,A (2726) - Aronian,L (2750) [C88]WCh Mexico City MEX (3), 15.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3

Nothing really new or thrilling so far... 9...d5!? But thislooks quite unexpected! Aronian wants to play in thespirit of the Marshall Attack irrespective of White's

cautious opening choice. At this level, the move hasnever been played before. 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.c3!?Grischuk played this move after a long thought. Heprobably did not feel ready to check Aronian'sanalysis. The whole variation had been successfullyemployed with Black earlier this year by Ivan Sokolovand Peter Heine Nielsen. The main point is that after11.Nxe5 Black does not capture on e5 (as he does inthe genuine Marshall Attack), but takes advantage ofthe fact that the d4-square is not under white controlwith 11...Nd4! The idea is not new in fact, previously itwas seen in an under 16 girl competition (1996)...After the text move, it was Aronian's turn to sink into

deep thought. It appears that play has just transposedto a different variation, where the moves c3 and d3are effectuated in reversed order...

11...Bf6. In the most recent example at high level wher this position occured (with reversed move order, though),Black prefered 11...Qd6 12.Nbd2 Rad8 13.Ne4 Qd7 , with an acceptable position for Black, although he later wentdown abruptly, Kamsky-Bacrot, Elista (m) 2007. 12.Nbd2 Nf4. 12...g6 is more cautious. 13.Ne4 Nxd3 14.Nxf6+gxf6 15.Re4 Nxc1 16.Rg4+ Kh8 17.Qxc1

White's compensation for the sacrificed pawn is beyond any doubt. The chronic weakness of the enemy kingsideoffers him excellent atacking chances. Imagine Black's frustration: he intended to sacrifice a pawn himself, in orderto take over the initiative and all he got is the opposite situation! 17...Ne7 18.Bc2 The start of a massive migration ofWhite's pieces towards the enemy kingside. 18...Rg8 [Avoiding the trap 18...Bxf3?? 19.Qh6 Ng6 20.Rh4!! with mate

to follow.] 19.Qh6 Ng6 20.Nh4 Qf8 21.Qh5 Qe8 22.Re1 Rd8 23.Bf5 Bc8 24.Bxc8 Rxc8 25.Nf5 Qd7 26.Ree4 Rcd827.Kh2 Qd1

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White has completed his regroupment, but,unexpectedely, Grischuk decides to force a draw.28.Nh6?! Instead, he could have obtained anoverwhelming advantage with 28.Qh6! , threateningRh4, and if ...Nxh4, then Qxf6+ followed by mate ong7. 28...Qd2 The only try. 29.f4! Rd6 (Defending f6. If

29...exf4 30.Rh4 , Black is forced to sacrifice thequeen with 30...Qxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Nxh4+ 32.Kf2 Nxf5,but after33.Qxf6+ Ng7 34.Rd4 he is too passive tocount on saving the game.) 30.fxe5 Qxh6 (30...fxe5?!shortens Black's suffering because of31.Rg5!, withthe terrible threat Qxh7+ followed by Rh5+ and mateon h6.) 31.Nxh6 Rb6 32.exf6!? The most ambitiouscontinuation, although the g8-rook was not poisonedeither. 32...Rf8 33.Ref4! White calmly defends hisimportant f6-pawn and Black is helpless in view of thethreat h4-h5. The point is that 33...Nxf4 allows matein 2 with 34.Rg8+! Rxg8 35.Nxf7#. 28...Rg7 29.Nf5Rgg8 30.Nh6?? Rg7 31.Nf5

1/2-1/2

Leko,P (2751) - Gelfand,B (2733) [C42]WCh Mexico City MEX (3), 15.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Qd2 Ne5 9.0-0-0 0-0

10.h3. A very rare move. We are familiar with 10.h4 from the game Anand-Gelfand, played just two days earlier.10...Nxf3 11.gxf3 Bf5 12.h4 Re8 13.h5 Bf6

Optically speaking, White's position does not look tooappealing. He has several structural deffects, whileBlack has a normal development. However, one of

the first (if not the very first) criteria of evaluating aposition is the situation of the kings. White's pressurealong the g-file could become unpleasant for theblack king, meaning that Black has to overcomecertain difficulties before entering a long-dreamedbetter ending. 14.Rg1 Qe7 15.Kb1 d5 16.Bd3 Bxd317.Qxd3 Rad8 18.Rg4 Kh8 19.a3 b6 20.Rdg1 h621.Qd2 Kh7 22.Bd4 Rg8 23.Re1 Qd6

24.Bxf6 gxf6. Forced, because 24...Qxf6 loses thef7-pawn to 25.Rf4 , for instance 25...Qg5 26.Qd3+

Kh8 27.Rf5 Qh4 28.Rxf7 with advantage to White. .After the text move, we can conclude that White has

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converted hislong-term pressure into something ofmore stable nature, by chronically weakening Black'skingside. Besides, the pressure persists. 25.Qd3+Kh8 26.Qa6 Rxg4 27.fxg4. Ironically, it is White whohas the better structure on the kingside now.However, the black king starts feeling slightly more

secure. 27...Qc6 28.Re7 Qd6 29.Re3 Qc6 30.Qd3Kg7 31.Re7 Kf8 32.Re1 Kg7 33.f4 Qd6 34.Qf3 c5Facing the permanent threat of g5, Black decides toreact in the centre. 35.Qf2 d4 36.Rd1 Qe6 37.Re1Qd5 38.Rd1 Qe6 39.Qg1

From here, the queen sustains the planned break g5 and keeps the d4-pawn under pressure. However, placingsuch an important piece far from the centre hardly offers chances for an advantage. 39...Qe4. Gelfand's majorpieces are familiar with this square from his game against Anand. I assume that this time he would not refrain fromgrabbing the f4-pawn, if only given a chance. 40.g5 fxg5 41.fxg5 d3 42.cxd3 Rxd3 43.Rxd3 Qxd3+ 44.Ka1 Qf5

Suddenly, the situation has changed very much toBlack's favour. Both his remaining pieces (yes, theking IS a piece in the endgame) are more active thanWhite's. Soon, Black will get a dangerous kingsidepassed pawn. 45.g6 fxg6 46.hxg6 h5 47.Qg3 Qf1+48.Ka2 Qc4+ 49.Ka1 Qf1+ 50.Ka2 Qc4+ 51.Ka1

Qg4 52.Qc7+ Kxg6 53.Qxa7 Qd1+ 54.Ka2 Qd5+55.Ka1 Qd1+ 56.Ka2 Qd6 57.Qa8 Qe6+ 58.Ka1Qe1+ 59.Ka2 Qe6+ 60.Ka1 h4 61.Qg2+ Kh562.Qf3+ Kg5 63.Qg2+ Kh5 64.Qf3+ Kg5 65.Qg2+Qg4 66.Qd2+ Kf5 67.Qd5+ Kf4 68.Qd6+ Kf369.Qf6+ Kg2 70.Qc6+ Qf3 71.Qg6+ Kf1 72.Qxb6

In queen endings, the number of pawns is less relevant than the degree of danger they are posing. Obviously, theh3-pawn is a very serious candidate to promotion, but the part played by White's queenside pawns should not beunderestimated. Without them, Black would probably find a form to parry the checks with a counter-check, or by

pining the enemy queen. 72...h3 73.Qd6 Qf2 74.Qd3+ Kg2 75.Qd5+ Kg1 76.Ka2 Qf4 77.Qxc5+

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For instance, in the absence of the b2-pawn, ...Qf2+would win now. 77...Kf1 78.Qb5+ Ke1 79.Qd5 h280.c4 Qh4 81.Qe5+ Kd1 82.Qd5+ Ke2 83.Qe5+ Kd184.Qd5+ Kc1 85.Qh1+ Kd2 86.Qd5+ Ke3 87.Qe5+

Kf3 88.Qf5+ Qf4 89.Qd3+ Kf2 90.Qd5 Kg1 91.Qg8+Kf2 92.Qd5 Qf3 93.Qd2+ Kg1 94.Qg5+ Kf1 95.Qc1+Kf2 96.Qd2+ Kg3 97.Qg5+ Kh3 98.Qh6+ Kg399.Qg5+ Qg4 100.Qd5 Qf3 and, having reached the100th move, Gelfand decided to call it a day.

1/2-1/2.

All results of the round

Round 3: Saturday, Sept. 15th 2007, 14:00h

Alexander

Morozevich1-0 Peter Svidler

Viswanathan Anand - Vladimir Kramnik

Alexander Grischuk - Levon Aronian

Peter Leko - Boris Gelfand

Round four commentary by GM Mihail Marin

There have been many missed opportunities in this World Championship so far and this round is no exception.Playing with white against Grischuk, Kramnik once again proved his excellent home preparation in an almost non-existent variation. Later, he converted his slight advantage into a decisive one, but during his opponent's time

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trouble transposed to an endgame which offered him only slim chances for success. Grischuk defended accuratelyand obtained a draw.

Anand won a pawn with Black relatively quickly in his game against Morozevich. His position remained more or lesswinning for a long time, but he missed several favourable possibilities. Even in the moment when he forced a drawby repetition, White was still far from equality...

Svidler-Gelfand was a relatively uneventful game which ended with a draw. The Israeli GM seems to be quiteconfident in the Petroff defence... Aronian-Leko developed as a slow manoeuvring game, typical for the Hedgehogstructure. At some point Leko seems to have lost patience and sacrificed a piece without obtaining realcompensation. Aronian won without any difficulties.

Kramnik,V (2769) - Grischuk,A (2726) [E06]WCh Mexico City MEX (4), 16.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5. Frankly speaking, it seems to me that entering the Catalan paths against Kramniknowadays is a bit like playing with fire. This subtle opening seems to suit the World Champion's present personalityand style perfectly. In this game, he will once again prove his deep opening preparation and only a time troublemiracle will save Grischuk. 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Ra7

11.a3!? A very rare move. White usually develops hisking's rook to c1 or d1, waiting for Black to develophis knight, in order to play Ba5. Kramnik seems tobelieve that the modest advance of the a-pawn,keeping the enemy pawns under control, is a more

useful waiting move. 11...Nbd7 12.Ba5 Qa8!?Grischuk aims for rapid activation of his pieces,probably with the secret hope to surprize his wellprepared opponent. If the latter is true, a bitterdisappointment awaited him... A more commoncontinuation would have been 12...Be4 13.Qc1 Qb814.Nbd2 Ba8 15.b4 White has stabilized thequeenside and could think about gradual centralexpansion. 13.Qxc7. Played without too muchthinking. 13...Rc8 14.Qf4 Rc2 15.Nbd2 Rxb216.Rfc1 Nd5 17.Qe4

Up to this moment, Kramnik had spent less than a quarter of an hour. Quite suggestive for the degree ofsuccessfulness of Grischuk's surprize... 17...b4 18.Qd3 bxa3 19.Nc4 Bc6 20.Nxa3 Bb5 21.Nc4 Bb4 22.Qd1 Bxc423.Rxc4 Bxa5 24.Rxa5

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White has the more compact pawn structure and avery strong light-squared bishop. However, thisposition might have caused Kramnik contradictoryfeelings. To a certain extent, the position is similar tothe first game of his match against Topalov. On thatoccasion, he had to defend for a long time on the

edge of the precipice, but eventually won. 24...Qb825.Nd2 N5b6 26.Rc1 g6 27.Ne4 Rb5 28.Ra2 a529.Nc5 Qd6 30.Nb7 Qb8 31.Qd3 Rh5 32.Nc5 Nd533.Qc4 N5b6 34.Qc3 Nd5 35.Qa1 Nxc5 36.Rxc5

The pawn cannot be saved anymore. 36...Nb4 37.Raxa5 Nc2 38.Rxa7? This spectacular move lets the advantageslip away. 38.Qa2! would have won the pawn and, most probably, the game. 38...Nxa1 39.Ra8 Qxa8 40.Bxa8 Rxc541.dxc5 Kf8 42.c6 Ke7 43.c7 Kd7 44.Bc6+ Kxc7 45.Ba4

White still has some winning chances. The knight isisolated in the corner, while the black pawns arevulnerable. A new miracle is needed... 45...Kb646.Kg2 Kc5 47.Kf3 Kb4 48.Be8 f6 49.Bf7 Nb3.Indirectly defending the pawn and winning anessential tempo. 50.e3 Nc5 51.h4 Kc3 52.Bg8 h6

53.Bf7 g5 54.Kg4 Ne4 55.hxg5 hxg5 56.Bxe6 Nxf2+57.Kf5 Kd3 The incredible has just happened.Black's pieces came back into play just in time.58.Kxf6 Ne4+ 59.Kg6 Nxg3 60.Kxg5 Kxe3

1/2-1/2.

Morozevich,A (2758) - Anand,V (2792) [D47]WCh Mexico City MEX (4), 16.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5

There was a time when one could play the Reynolds Attack just by inspiration. Now, (almost) everything is deeplyanalyzed... 11...c4 12.Bc2 Qc7 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 16.Nf5 g6 17.Nh6 Bg7

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Strategically, Black is more than okay. He has amobile queenside majority and the d4-square at hisdisposal for the knights. Besides, all his pieces areactively placed; with one exception, the king: HisMajesty cannot be transferred to the kingside, whilethe long castle supposes certain dangers. 18.Qf3

Ne6 19.Qh3 Bc8 20.Qh4 Qe7 21.Rfe1

21...Nd5! The culmination of Black's defensive plan.After the exchange of queens, the king will feel muchsafer and Black would maintain the favourableaspects of his position. 22.Qxe7+ Nxe7 23.Nd5.Since the remote times when I played 1.e4, Iremember that it is always useful to play 23.a4 beforejumping with the knight to d5. However, there is asmall tactical detail here: after 23...Nf4 the h6-knightfeels uncomfortable. 23...Bb7 24.Ng4. Hoping to getsome counterplay against the e5-pawn in case of theimmediate double capture on d5. 24...Nd4 25.Bd1Nxd5 26.exd5 0-0-0 27.Bg5 Rxd5

White has lost an important pawn without any compensation. However, Black's kingside structure is far fromoptimal, which offers White chances to stay alive for a while. 28.b3 c3 29.Ne3 Rc5 30.Rc1 Rc7 31.b4 Kb8 32.h3h6 33.Bh4 Nf5 34.Nxf5 gxf5 35.Bc2 Rc4 36.Be7 e4 37.Bb3 Rd4 38.Bc5 Rd3 39.Be6 Bc8 40.Bb3 Re8 41.Bf7Re5 42.Be3 Re7 43.Bg6 Be6 44.h4 Bxa2 45.Bxf5 Bd5 46.Bc5 Re8 47.f3 Kb7 48.fxe4 Bc6

White has managed to win his pawn back, but hisking is very exposed. 49.Kf2 Rd2+ 50.Ke3 Be5. Notthe only good move. Black could have created asecond passed pawn with 50...a5!? since 51.bxa5? isimpossible because of 51...Rd5! winning one of thebishops. 51.Kf3 Red8 52.Re3 Rg8 53.g4 Rh2 54.h5Rd8 55.g5 Rxh5 56.Be7

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56...Re8?! Slowing down the rhythm. Black would have obtained a practically decisive attack with 56...Rd2 forinstance 57.Rcxc3 Rhh2 Threatening mate in two and practically forcing the next move. 58.gxh6 Be8! when the kingcannot survive the combined attack of all Black's pieces. Anand's failure to win this game might have been causedby the fact that he expected to achieve his goal by purely technical means, not by a sharp attack. If this is true,Morozevich' merit consists of having faced his mighty opponent with such a difficult psychological task. 57.Kg4 Rh258.Bf6

58...Rg2+. Anand's decision to force a draw lookspremature. he could have maintained his advantagewith 58...Rg8 59.Kf3 (After 59.Bxe5 Rxg5+ Blackwould win the f5-bishop because of the pin of thecentral pawn.) 59...Rxg5! 60.Bxg5 hxg5 with totaldomination. 59.Kh3 Rh2+ 60.Kg4 Rg2+ 61.Kh3

1/2-1/2.

Svidler,P (2735) - Gelfand,B (2733) [C42]WCh Mexico City MEX (4), 16.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bf4

Gelfand proved already his ability of defending thepositions where Black is allowed to install his knighton e5. For a change, Svidler takes this square underserious observation. 7...0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc510.Be3 Re8 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.h4 Qd714.Qd5 Qc6 15.Qf5 Nf8 16.h5 Qd7 17.Qd5 Qe618.c4 Qxd5 19.cxd5 Nd7

White retains an advantage of space, but this element loses part of its relevance because of the previoussimplifications. 20.Nd4 Nf6 21.Nf5 Bf8 22.Bd4 Nxd5 23.Bxg7 Ne7 24.Nxe7+ Rxe7

1/2-1/2.

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Aronian,L (2750) - Leko,P (2751) [A33]WCh Mexico City MEX (4), 16.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Nc6

6.a3!? This move was popularized by the eternallyyoung Viktor Korchnoi. White aims to obtain aHedgehog structure. The move a3 could prove a lossof time at a later stage, but the c6-knight is also farfrom optimally placed for the aforementionedstructure. 6...Be7 7.e4 0-0 8.Nf3 d6 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0Bb7 11.Bf4 Ne5 12.Nd2 Ng6 13.Bg3 Rc8 14.Re1 a615.Rc1 Qc7 16.b4

Both sides have carried out their plans in consequentway. Black's queen's knight occupies a "typical"square for this kind of positions, while the a3-pawnproves useful by sustaining his colleague from b4 forthe eventuality of a central break (...d5). We shall nowsee a long phase of slow maneuvering. 16...Qb817.Bf1 Rfd8 18.Qe2 Nd7 19.Qe3 h6 20.Nf3 Ba821.Red1 Nde5 22.Nd2 Ng4 23.Qe2 N4e5 24.f4 Nd725.Nf3 Bf6 26.Qe3. White's queen has been

constantly avoiding the opposition with the enemyrooks and the brutal attacks of the minor pieces. Thisdid not cause any concession from White's part, butalso prevented him from making significant progress.26...Re8

27.Be1 [For the moment, 27.e5 was not possible yet because of 27...dxe5! 28.Rxd7 exf4 winning back the piece]27...Bd8? [Playing with fire. 27...Rcd8 would have maintained the previous stage of the issue.] 28.e5! dxe529.Rxd7 exf4 30.Qe2 e5 31.Ne4 Be7 32.c5 bxc5 33.bxc5 Bc6 34.Rdd1

Black has no adequate compensation for the sacrificed piece. 34...Bb5 35.Qb2 Qa7 36.Bxb5 axb5 37.Bf2 Qa838.Nd6 e4 39.Nxe8 Rxe8 40.Nd4 Bf6 41.c6 e3 42.Be1 f3 43.gxf3 Nf4 44.Bg3 Ne6 45.Qb4

1-0.

All results of the round

Round 4: Sunday, Sept 16th 2007, 14:00h

Peter Svidler - Boris Gelfand

Levon Aronian 1-0 Peter Leko

Vladimir Kramnik - Alexander Grischuk

Alexander Morozevich - Viswanathan Anand

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Round five commentary by GM Mihail Marin

The free day seems to have had a refreshing effect over the players. For the first time from the start of thetournament, three of the games were decided! Anand managed to neutralize Svidler's initiative with an ease rarelyseen nowadays in the Marshall Attack. Later, he initiated a queenside diversion, which was eventually crowned by asimple attack on the opposite wing. Svidler resigned after losing two more pawns from his king's guard.

Grischuk found an elegant way to refute Morozevich' strategically over-ambitious opening plan. When thecomplications were over, White was an exchange up, with just vague chances for Black to mud the waters. Leko didnot take too much risks with white against Kramnik and a draw was agreed after mass exchanges in an almostsymmetrical position.

Playing with white against Aronian, Gelfand came up with a new plan that yielded him a favourable (for white)version of the Benoni. However, he delayed his castle unnecessarily and Aronian came back into the game.Premature activity in a complicated position left Black without compensation for the sacrificed material and Gelfandemerged as winner.

Anand,V (2792) - Svidler,P (2735) [C89]WCh Mexico City MEX (5), 18.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe511.Rxe5 c6

Earlier in this tournament, Svidler managed to put theMarshall Attack under strong pressure in his gameagainst Leko. Now, he finds himself on the other side.12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3!? This was one of Fischer'sfavourite move order. White prevents the standard

move ...Qh4. 13...Bf5. This move has been playedbefore, but it remains an open question what couldhave prepared Anand against 13...Qd7 followed by...Qh3, with probable transposition to the main lines.14.d4 Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 16.Nd2 Bg4 17.Qc2 Bf518.Qc1

18...Re7. Svidler deviates from 18...h5 , which had been played by Anand himself! In Leko - Anand, Cap d'Agde2003 Black won, but this was just a rapid game and Anand might have drawn his own conclusions despite thefavourable result.] 19.Nf3 [The first new move of the game. Previously, 19.Nf1 was played (Almasi-Gyimesi,Kazincbarcika (Hungary) 2005). Rather than placing it passively on the back rank, Anand uses his knight for puttingthe enemy kingside under some pressure, which will eventually cause some weaknesses in Black's camp. 19...Bg420.Nh4 Rfe8 21.Qd2 h6 22.Qd3

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Black exerts his usual pressure against the e3-bishop, but White is fully developed and retains hisextra-pawn. Anand's opening experiment has beencrowned by sucess. 22...g6 23.Bd1 Bh3 24.Bf3 g5. Ifnot followed by a concrete attacking action, this movewill just leave the kingside desperately weak. 25.Ng2

Bf5 26.Qd1 Nf6 27.a4 Since the e-file is undersevere Black control, Anand creates a queensidediversion. It is interesting that this will be just aprelude to a... kingside attack, one of Mikhail Tal'sfavourite methods. 27...Ne4 28.axb5 axb5 29.Ra6Qb7 30.Qa1 Bc8 31.Ra8 Bb8 32.Bc1 Nf6 33.Rxe7Rxe7 34.Qa3 Rd7 35.Ra5 Ba7

Black has managed to hold his own on the queenside, but his coordination is rather poor. 36.Ne3! Black has noadequate way to parry the simple threat Nf5. 36...Qc7. 36...Re7 37.Bxc6; or 36...Rc7 37.Qd6 are equally hopeless.37.Nf5 c5 38.Nxh6+ Kh7 39.Bxg5 1-0.

Grischuk,A (2726) - Morozevich,A (2758) [D38]WCh Mexico City MEX (5), 18.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4. Although 1.e4 is Grischuk's main weapon with white, he has successfully experimented with the queen's pawnduring the last years. It is hard to believe that he had prepared anything concrete for this game, given theunpredictable character of Morozevich' opening choice. It is more likely that he simply intended to avoid hisopponent's specific preparation. 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa59.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 13.Bh3

One of the main tabyias of the Westphalia variation ofthe Ragozin System. White has a better developmentand a generally promissing plan of opening play inthe centre with e4. However, Black's advantage ofspace and piece pressure on the queenside offershim good chances for counterplay. The finalevaluation of the positoon depends to a great extenton White's ability to find a useful job for his slightlyawkwardly placed h3-bishop. 13...Kg7 14.Rae1.Planning f3 and e4. Optically, White's pieceregroupment looks impressive, but the structuralmodifications induced by Black's next move are farfrom one-sided. 14...Ne4 15.Ndxe4 dxe4

Black has cleared the d5-square and if he will manage to transfer here his knight (or, eventually, the light-squaredbishop), he would obtain wonderful play. However, his delay in development makes it relatively difficult to stabilizethe position. White's main threat is f3, when his kingside positional attack would take alarming proportions. 16.Bf4f5. This ambitious move was not played before. Morozevich is famous for preparing at home interesting novelties in

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well-known positions, but in this case he seems to have worked it out over-the-board, judging from the time he tookbefore moving. Or maybe he just wanted to remember and check his analysis?! Black's intention is to cage the h3-bishop. If crowned by success, such a plan would offer him an advantage, but if it fails for some tactical reasons, thechronic weakening of the dark squares would leave Black in trouble. 17.f3 Nf6 18.a3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 h5.Consequent, but very risky. Black weakens his king's poition even more, delaying his quenside development at thesame time. Morozevich might have feared that in case of 19...Bd7 , White would open the position with g4, either

here or after the intremediate capture on e4.

20.Qf2!! Simple and very strong. White abandons hisqueenside pawns to the mercy of fate, in oder toconcentrate his forces against the poorly defendedblack kingside. 20...Bd7 21.Qg3 Qxc3 22.Be5 Qxa323.fxe4 Rxe5

It might seem that Black's risky strategy has been crowned by success. After 24. Qxe5 Re8 followed by either...Nxe4 or ...Rxe4, he would stabilize the position, retaining excellent compensation for the exchange. 24.exf5!Shattering all Black's ilusions. The weakness of the g6-square prevents Black from maintaining his temporarymaterial advantage. 24...Rxf5 25.Bxf5 Bxf5 26.Rxf5 White is close to winning. Black's pawns are not dangerous

yet, while the king has not reached absolute safety yet. 26...Re8 27.Re5 Qd6 28.Rxe8. Possibly not best. Bysymplifying the position, White reduces his attacking chances. 28.Rb5 cae into consideration, when 28...Qxg3?loses an important pawn to the intermediate 29.Rxb7+!+-. 28...Nxe8 29.Qf3 b5 30.Qb7+ Nc7 31.Qxa7 b4

The position has become optically unclear, but it ishard to say whether Black has real saving chances.In the game, he failed to prove that. 32.e4 c3 33.e5Qe7 34.Qb7 Kh6 35.Rf1 c2 36.Rc1 Qg5 37.Rxc2

Qe3+ 38.Rf2 Ne6 39.Qxb4 Qc1+ 40.Rf1 Qe3+41.Kh1

1-0.

Leko,P (2751) - Kramnik,V (2769) [C24]WCh Mexico City MEX (5), 18.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

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1.e4 e5 2.Bc4!? Anything is preferable to a Petroff. 2...Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 Nc6

From the Bishop's Opening, play has transposed tothe Italian game, the Giuoco Pianisimo variation.Although there are more subtleties here than thequiet character of the position might suggest, I have

the feeling that it better suits Kramnik's style thanLeko's, which makes me doubt whether the openingchoice was really inspired. Or maybe Leko justwanted to takesome sort of additional day-off after hisdefeat from the previous round?! 6.Bb3 a6 7.0-0 Ba78.Re1 0-0 9.h3 h6 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.Nf1 Be6 12.N3h2Bxb3 13.axb3 Qd7 14.Qf3 Qe6 15.Ng3 Ne7 16.b4c6 17.Ng4

White builds up his typical kingside attack, but Black is slightly better developed and has the possibility of racting inthe centre. 17...Nxg4. This is probably better than 17...Nh7 , as played in Leko-Anand, Sarajevo 1999. Whitemaintained some pressure for a while, but later he lost a pawn and had to fight for a draw. 18.hxg4 d5 19.Nf5 Rad8Black has completed the mobilisation of his forces and has at least equal chances. 20.g3 f6 21.Kg2 dxe4 22.dxe4Nxf5 23.gxf5 Qc4 24.Be3 White decides to complete his development, practically giving up any hope of a sacrificialattack based on Bxh6 and tacitly offering a draw. 24...Bxe3. Black controls the only open file, but White has noweaknesses and his king has a safer residence. Therefore, the draw agreement is entirely justified. 1/2-1/2.

Gelfand,B (2733) - Aronian,L (2750) [E00]WCh Mexico City MEX (5), 18.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 b5

Aronian had some previous experience with thisslightly exotical continuation, in the spyrit of theBlumenfeld Gambit. In their rapid chess match earlierthis year, Kramnik played the unexpected 6.Nd2 andeventually emerged with a clear advantage after acomplicated sequence of moves. Generally, manyplayers who do not play the Benoni against iothermove orders prefer 5...d6 followed by ...g6 here,

because the fianchetto system is supposed to putBlack under less pressure than others. However,Aronian seems to be of a different opinion. In hissemi-final Candidates' match against Carlsen, heobtained one of his victories with White precisely inthe fianchetto Benoni... 6.Nf3!? White almostauthomatically develops his bishop with 6.Bg2 , butGelfand believes that the bishop can be useful on thef1-a6 diagonal still. 6...d6. This natural move is anovelty. In the few previous games where Whiteplayed 6.Nf3, Black reacted with 6...Bb7. 7.e4!? a6.

In case of the exchange of pawns, White would develop very quickly, which would suit Gelfand's entreprising stylequite well. 8.a4 b4 9.Bd3. Now that the c4-square has been weakened, the bishop belongs on this diagonal. Therelative weakness induced by the move g3 does not put White in danger, but could restrict his active possibilities ata later stage. 9...g6 10.Nbd2 Bg7 11.Nc4 0-0 12.Bf4 Ne8 13.a5 The further course of the game suggests that this

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generally desirable move should have been delayed until after castling. 13...Bh3 14.Ng5 The only way to getcastled, but the knight is awkwardly placed here. 14...Bd7 15.0-0 Bb5 16.Qd2 h6 17.Nf3 g5 18.Be3 At the cost ofweakening his kingside, Black has managed to eliminate the annoying pressure against the d6-pawn. 18...Bxc419.Bxc4 Qf6 20.Qd1 Nd7. Aiming to complete his development. 20...Qxb2 would be risky because of 21.e5 , whenchaos would be reigning in Black's army. 21.Rb1 Qe7 22.Nd2 Nef6 23.Re1 Rfe8 24.f3

White has managed to maintain his blockade on lightsquares, but his pawn centre is not easy to advance.In the meanwhile, Black has completed hisdevelopment and could think about ways to takeadvantage of the slight weakness of White's kingside.24...Qd8 25.Ra1 g4!? Aronian hurries to give furthermeaning to the previous advance of his g-pawn, but,with hindsight, his last move might be premature. Hecould also have strengthened his position with25...Ne5 26.Be2 Qc8 followed by ...Ra7-e7, keepingthe threat ...g4 in reserve. 6.fxg4 Ne5 27.Be2 Qd728.g5 Nfg4 29.Bf4 hxg5 30.Bxg5 f5 31.Rf1 Rf832.exf5 Rxf5 33.Bf4

White has the pair of bishops, a safe position of his king and an extra-pawn. The relatively exposed b2-pawn andBlack's queenside majority cause the position to be not entirely clear yet, but Aronian will fail to obtain adequatecounterplay. 33...Nf6 34.g4 Rxf4 35.Rxf4 Nf7 36.Nc4 Re8 37.Qd3 Qe7 38.Bf3 Ne5 39.Nxe5 Qxe5 40.Rf5 Qxb241.Rf1 b3 42.Kh1 Nd7 43.Bd1 c4 44.Qxc4 Nc5 45.Qf4 Ne4 46.Rf7 Bf6 47.Rb7 Qd2 48.Qxd2 1-0.

All results of the round

Round 5: Tuesday, Sept. 18th 2007, 14:00h

Viswanathan Anand 1-0 Peter Svidler

Alexander Grischuk 1-0 Alexander Morozevich

Peter Leko - Vladimir Kramnik

Boris Gelfand 1-0 Levon Aronian

Round six commentary by GM Mihail Marin

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Leko-Anand and Aronian-Kramnik ended in draws relatively quickly. It looked like the players had done most of theirwork at home. Gelfand-Morozevich featured an interesting confrontation of different styles. White's advantage ofspace and initiative prevailed over Black's stability on dark squares, but only after a significant inaccuracy fromMorozevich' part.

Playing with white, Grischuk sacrificed two pawns against Svidler and obtained a dangerous attacking position. He

increased his material investment by sacrificing a bishop, but quickly retrieved the material by winning the queen.He retained excellent attacking chances in mutual time trouble and, after a far from obvious mistake from Svidler, hecould have won with a simple manoeuvre. Instead, he sacrificed a knight and only obtained a draw by perpetual.

Grischuk,A (2726) - Svidler,P (2735) [D43]WCh Mexico City MEX (6), 19.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7

15.Bg3!? Anand's novelty from his game againstAronian, where 15.Rad1 was played, looksconvincing enough, making Grischuk's desire todeviate earlier quite understandable. 15...Qxd416.Rfd1 Qc5 17.Bd6 Qb6 18.a4 a6 19.e5 Nd7

White's compensation for the sacrificed pawns isobvious. Black's king cannot find a safe residenceeasily, while his pieces are more passive thanWhite's. 20.a5!? Releasing the queenside tensionmight look like a concession, but Grischuk intended todrive the enemy queen onto a more passive squarebefore initiating the following tactical operation.20...Qa7 21.Ne4 c5 22.Ng5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 Bxe5

24.Bxc4! bxc4 25.Qa4+ Kf8 26.Rd7 Bd5 27.Rd1 Bd4 28.Rxa7 Rxa7 29.b3 Kg7. 29...cxb3? would lose material to30.Rxd4. 30.bxc4 Ba8. Optically, Black has more than sufficient compensation for the queen. His bishops look quiteimpressive, while his structure is very compact. However, his pieces are not entirely coordinated yet, which is thetype of situations when the queen can be very dangerous. By this moment, both players were approaching severtime trouble. 31.Qc2 g3 32.Rxd4! Black's entire stability was based on this bishop. 32...cxd4 33.Qe2 gxf2+

34.Qxf2?! Slightly lowering the rhytm of attack. 34.Kxf2! looks more logical for two different reasons. The kingapproaches the enemy passed pawn in order to block it, while the queen remains close to the e5-square. 34...Rd8?Black needs at least wto tempi in order to reach optimal coordination and it is not easy to find the correct move

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order in time trouble. 34...Rd7 35.Qg3 Kf8; or 34...e5 35.Qg3 Kf6 would have been better tries, when it seems thatWhite has nothing better than force a draw by perpetual. 35.Qg3 Kf8 36.Qe5 Ke8 37.Nxe6? There is a strangecoincidence regarding the way Grischuk missed a win in the present game and in the second round againstAronian. By making a knight move he forces a draw, when a natural queen move would have won: 37.Qh8+! After37...Ke7 38.Qg7 Rf8 White has 39.Nxe6! 37...fxe6 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qg7+ Ke8. White cannot win because aftercapturing the a7-rook he would miss a tempo to block the d-pawn witht he king. 40.Qh8+ Ke7 41.Qg7+ 1/2-1/2.

Leko,P (2751) - Anand,V (2792) [C78]WCh Mexico City MEX (6), 19.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 It is refreshing to remember that in the Ruy Lopez thereare other playable lines than the Marshall Attack. 7.c3 d6 8.a4 Rb8 9.d4 Bb6 10.Na3 0-0 11.axb5 axb5 12.Nxb5Bg4 13.Be3 [Previously, Leko had tried 13.Bc2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.Kh1 , but against Anand he might haveconsidered that the weakening of the kingside was not really recomendable.] 13...exd4 14.cxd4 Nxe4 15.Qc2 Qe8Miraculously, Black managed to defend his pieces. White retains some initiative, but Black's better structure allows

him count with equality. 16.Ba4 Bd7 17.Rfe1 Nb4 18.Qc4 Ba5 19.Nc3 Bxa4 20.Rxa4 d5 21.Qf1 Nc6

1/2-1/2.

Aronian,L (2750) - Kramnik,V (2769) [E06]WCh Mexico City MEX (6), 19.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1

Qc8

If asked which line he consideres t be the safestagainst the Catalan, Kramnik would probably refuseto answer. The best method to find out hisopinion is toplay this opening against him and here is what hedecided to answer today. 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Nbd2 Bb714.Nb3 a5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nc5 Bd5 White is notsufficiently well developed to maintain the blockadeon c5. After a short phase of simplifications, the gamewill end in a draw, hopefully just in time to allowKramnik watch his favourite match from theChampion's League. 17.e4 Bc4 18.Nxd7 Qxd7

19.Re1 Bxd4 20.Rd1 c5 21.Qc2 e5 22.Nxe5

1/2-1/2.

Gelfand,B (2733) - Morozevich,A (2758) [E17]WCh Mexico City MEX (6), 19.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 The development of this knight before castling has for thefirst time been submitted to thorough investigation at high level during the final Candidates' match between Karpovand Kortschnoj, back in 1974. Playing with white, Kortschnoj managed to unearth several interesting ideas, butsuceeded in winning a game with this line only towards the end of the match. Sadly for him, this did not change thecourse of history and Karpov won the match with a minimal difference and was soon to be proclaimed WorldChampion after Fischer's refusal to defend his title. 6...Ne4 7.Bd2 f5 8.d5 Bf6 9.Qc2 We can see here a first

difference induced by this move order. In the position with the castles inserted, Black could win a pawn with ...Bxc3followed by ...exd5, but here this is impossible because the g7-pawn would be hanging. 9...Qe7 10.Nxe4 fxe411.Qxe4 Bxb2 12.Rd1 Bf6 We have reached a strategically unbalanced position, which seems to suit both players'style.

Gelfand has obtained considerable advantage ofspace and some initiative, while the b7-bishop is quitepassive. Morozevich relies on the fact that after theelimination of the b2-pawn, the c5-square hasbecome an excellent outpost for his knight. If in thelong run his stability on dark squares will allow himextinguish the first wave of white initiative, he mightobtan a pleasant endgame. As for the b7-bishop, it

can always come back into play via a6 or (after apreliminary ...d6) via c8-d7. 13.0-0 Na6 14.Nd4 Nc515.Qe3 exd5 16.cxd5 Qxe3 17.Bxe3 0-0-0 18.Rb1Rhe8 Both sides have completed their developmentand time has come for direct contacts. 19.Nb5Threatening Bxc5, when Black would be deprived ofone of his main trumps.

19...Rxe3!? An exchange sacrifice in the style of Petrosian and Anderson. Its main idea is to preserve the stabilityon dark squares. 20.fxe3 a6 21.Nd4 Re8 22.Nf5 d6 23.Rb4.

With his disrupted structure, White can hardly thinkabout a favourable pawn break. Therefore, his onlyconstructive plan is to activate his pieces. The mainthreat is Rg4. 23...h5?! We can suppose thatMorozevich was optimistic around this moment. If thisis true, he must have forgotten that he did not fulfill allhis programmed tasks yet. He still needs to activatehis light-squared bishop. From this point of view,more consequent would have been 23...Kb8preparing ...Bc8 and offering some indirect defence tohis kingside at the same time. 24.Rg4 Bc8 25.Nxg7!?The only way to maintain the initiative. In other cases,Black would exchange on f5, obtaining a reliable

fortress on dark squares. Later, he could consideradvancing his queenside pawns gradually, whichcould cause White certain problems. 25...Rg8 26.Ne6Rxg4 In this moment we understand why the kingcould not go to d8 instead of b8. 27.Rxf6 Ra4 28.Rf8Threatening Nxc5 followed by Bh3. 28...Nd7 29.Rh8Rxa2 White's position remains more active, but the a-and b-pawns will start running soon. The positionremains difficult to assess. 24.g4! a5 25.Rbf4 White'skingside initiative has become very dangerous now.25...Rh8 26.gxh5 Rxh5 27.Rg4 Rh7

28.Nxg7! An elegant tactical blow, crowning White's previous play and taking advantage of the fact that the b7-

bishop is a mere spectator yet. 28...Rxg7. Or 28...Bxg7 29.Rf7. 29.Bh3! Rxg4+ 30.Bxg4+ Kd8 31.Rxf6 Bxd532.a3. Both players were familiar with this scenario freom their yesterday's games. Black is an exchange down andsearches for some desperate counterplay based on the advance of his queenside pawns. 32...b5 33.h4 b4 34.axb4

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axb4 35.Rf4 b3 36.Bf5 Bf7 37.Kf2 Ke7 38.Ke1 Kf6 39.Bd3+ Kg7 40.Kd2 Be6 41.Kc3 Bf7 42.Bc4 Bxc4 43.Rxc4Kg6 44.e4 Ne6 45.Kxb3 Kh5 46.e5 d5 47.Rb4 Kg6 48.Rb8 Nd4+ 49.Kb2 Nf5 50.Rf8

1-0.

All results of the round

Round 6: Wednesday, Sept. 19th 2007,14:00h

Alexander Grischuk - Peter Svidler

Peter Leko - Viswanathan Anand

Boris Gelfand 1-0 Alexander Morozevich

Levon Aronian - Vladimir Kramnik

Round seven commentary by GM Mihail Marin

Morozevich-Leko ended in a draw after a long but relatively uneventful struggle. Leko missed his chance tocomplicate the fight by accepting the opponent's piece sacrifice and contented himself with a rather symbolicadvantage in a symmetrical position. Anand won a fine positional game against Grischuk. Black tried to solve his

problems of coordination by mass simplifications, but White's attack proved strong enough even after that.

In Svidler-Aronian White could not question the reputation of the Exchange Ruy Lopez as a peaceful variation.However, the draw agreement came precisely in the moment when the position became interesting. Kramnik-Gelfand was a complicated game, typical for the Anti-Moscow variation of the Semi-Slav. It is hard to evaluate whichof the players was better, but the final part saw Gelfand fighting for a draw, which he achieved.

Morozevich,A (2758) - Leko,P (2751) [C45]WCh Mexico City MEX (7), 20.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4 Ne5. Two rounds earlier, facing the samevariation against the same opponent, Svidler jumped with his knight only after castling. 8.Bb3 Despite theunsatisfactory result of the aforementioned game, Morozevich sticks to this unusual bishop retreat. 8...Qg6 9.0-0d5. An accelerated form of central counterplay. The tactical justification consists of the fact that the capture on d5would lose material to ...Bh3. 10.Bf4 Bg4 11.Qc2 f6 12.Ba4+ c6 13.Nd2 0-0 14.f3 Bd7 15.Kh1 Bb6 16.Rae1 Rae8

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We have reached a curious position. The pawnstructure is perfectly symmetrical if we take the centreof the board as a reference point. Both sides'development is just normal, which makes thechances about equal. In the next phase of the game,both players will manoeuvre in their own territory,

hoping to convince the opponent to release thetension in the centre and this way get some micro-initiative. 17.Re2 Kh8 18.Bg3 Qh5 19.Qd1 Bc720.Rfe1 Bb8 21.exd5. Finally! 21...Nxd5 22.Nf1 Nb623.Bc2 c5 24.Re4!? Rudolf Spielmann would call thisa passive sacrifice, because Black is not forced toaccept it.

24...Qf7. But maybe in this case he should accept it!After 24...cxd4!? 25.Rh4 Qf7 26.Bxh7 g5 27.Bg6+gxh4 28.Bxf7 Rxf7 Black would get more thansufficient material compensation for the sacrificedqueen, while the weakness of his king is not easy totake advantage of. 25.Nb3 Bf5 26.R4e2 Rd8 27.Rd2Bxc2 28.Qxc2 Rxd2 29.Nfxd2 c4 30.Nd4 Nbd731.Re2 a6 32.Ne4 b5 33.b4 Qd5 34.Nf2 Nb6 35.Re4Qd7 36.Bxe5 Bxe5 37.Ng4 Bb8 38.Ne3 Re8 39.g3g6 40.Kg2 f5 41.Rxe8+ Qxe8 42.Qd2 Be5 43.Ne2Kg7 44.Kf2 Qe7 45.f4 Bf6 46.g4 fxg4 47.Nxg4 Qd848.Qe3 Nd5 49.Qa7+ Qe7 50.Qxa6 Qd7 51.Nxf6

Nxf6 52.Qa8 Qh3 53.Ke1 Qd3 54.Qa7+ Kh6 55.Qd4Qb1+ 56.Kf2 Ng4+ 57.Kg3 Qxa2 58.h3 Qxe259.hxg4 Qe1+ 60.Kf3 Qh1+ 1/2-1/2.

Anand,V (2792) - Grischuk,A (2726) [C88]WCh Mexico City MEX (7), 20.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4. Two rounds earlier, Anand brokeSvidler's defence in the Marshall... Attack by seemingly simple means. Now, he wisely avoids his opponent'sspecific preparation, at the same time proving that there is some life left in the Anti Marshall systems, too. 8...b4

9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.c3 Nc6 13.d4 bxc3 14.bxc3 exd4 15.cxd4 Nb4

Black made certain concessions in the centre, obtaining the b4-square for his queen's knight in exchange. 16.Bb1Bg4. Chess history is full of examples where the Spanish pair of bishops delivered decisive blows against Black'skingside. Therefore, Grischuk decides to transfer his own bishop to g6, anticipating an eventual attack. 17.h3 Bh518.g4 Bg6. Black only needs to advance his d-pawn in order to establish a harmonious cooperation between all hispieces. 19.d5! After this well-timed move, Black's bishop will remain out of play for a long time. Considering also theimmobility of the otherwise beautifully placed b4-knight and White's advantage of space we can evaluate theposition as favourable for White. 19...Nd7 20.Nc4 Rb8 21.Bf4 Nb6 22.Nxb6 Rxb6 23.Nd2 Bg5 24.Bxg5 Qxg525.Nc4 Rbb8 26.Qd2 Qxd2 27.Nxd2 f6 28.Nc4.

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After the simplifications, Black finally managed tomake a diagonal available for his bishop. However,this is not enough yet to question the stability ofWhite's c4-knight. The bishop needs to be transferredto the remote a6-square... 28...Rfd8 29.f4 Bf730.Ra3. White's advantage is obvious, but it is not

easy to make further progress. Black's strongpressure against the d5-pawn makes the thematiccentral break e5 difficult to carry out, but a slowerplan based on Rg3, h4, g5 would be unpleasant forBlack. 30...g5. Grischuk aims to obtain a blockade ondark squares, but seriously weakens his king'sposition. The main defect of his plan is that the knightwill not be able to take advantage of the e5-square.31.h4 gxf4 32.Rf3 Be8 33.Rxf4 Kg7

Black only needs two tempi (...Bxa4-b5) in order toobtain a playable position... 34.h5!! [A fantastic move.All White's pieces (with the exception of the e1-rook)were placed on optimal squares already, but theattack did not seem strong enough yet. For instance,after the immediate 34.Ref1 Bxa4 35.Rxf6 Bb5 thesituation is not entirely clear. The intervention of themodest h-pawn radically inclines the balance toWhite's favour.] 34...Bxa4 [If Black blocks the h-pawnwith 34...h6 , the weakness of the g6-square wouldmake itself felt after 35.Ref1 Bxa4 36.Rxf6 Bb537.Rg6+ with decisive attack.] 35.h6+ Kxh6 36.Rxf6+Kg7 37.g5 The d6-pawn will perish soon and with it -

any hope of saving the game. 37...Rf8 38.Rxd6 Bc239.Ne5 Rf4 40.Rf6 Rh4 41.d6 Bxb1 42.Rxb1 Rxe443.Rf7+ Kg8 44.Re7 Rd8 45.Rd1 c4 46.d7 Rf447.Rf1 Rff8 48.Rxf8+ Kxf8 49.Rxh7 c3 50.Ng6+

1-0

Svidler,P (2735) - Aronian,L (2750) [C69]WCh Mexico City MEX (7), 20.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 An early deviation from the Marshall Attack. 4...dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 exd47.Nxd4 c5 8.Ne2 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd7 10.Nbc3 0-0-0 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rd2 Bc6 13.Rad1 b6 14.f3 Bd6 15.Bf4 Bxf416.Nxf4 Nh6 17.Kf2

Both sides have developed in harmonious way. White's advantage is more of optical nature. His domination alongthe d-file is rather sterile, while the kingside majority is not easy to promote, being submitted to strong pressure bythe enemy bishop. On the other wing, Black's structure is rock solid and provides him with outposts for his pieces(c6, d4). 17...f5 18.exf5 Nxf5 19.Re1 Rxe1 20.Kxe1 g5. The position can be evaluated as roughtly equal, butremains quite interesting. From the spectator's point of view, the abrupt end is slightly frustrating. 1/2-1/2.

Kramnik,V (2769) - Gelfand,B (2733) [D43]WCh Mexico City MEX (7), 20.09.2007 [Mihail Marin]

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 No Catalan for Kramnik today! 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5. Earlier this year, against the sameopponent, Kramnik preferred 5.e3 . Remarkably enoguh, play transposed to a Catalan type of position anyway afterrather unusual play: 5...Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.e4 Nxe4 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Qxe4 c5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qa5+ 12.Ke2Kxe7 13.g3 (Better later than never! The bishop finally emerges on the long diagonal!) 13...cxd4 14.Bg2 Nf615.Qxd4 Rd8 16.Qf4 Bd7 17.Ne5 and White managed to convert his minimal advantage into a victory in Kramnik-Gelfand, Dortmund 2007. 5...h6 6.Bh4 More ambitious than the capture on f6, as played by Kramnik in the first

round. 6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Qc1 In the previousgames from this World Championhsip where this variation was played, White preferred to block the kingside withh4. It seems that Kramnik has his own views about it... 13...Rg8 14.Rd1 Bb4 15.Qe3 Qe7 16.h3 h4 17.Bh2 Bxc318.bxc3 g4. The logical reaction to White's kingside policy. Black threatens to take over the initiative. Theimmediate threat is gxh3, when the e4-pawn would be hanging. 19.Kh1. The decision to place the king on a squaresituated on the same diagonal with the enemy bishop looks at least risky. Safer would have been 19.hxg4 Nxg420.Bxg4 Rxg4 21.f3 , when the better structure, the more active bishop and the safer king's position would offerWhite excellent compensation for the pawn. 19...c5 20.hxg4

20...cxd4 Black decides to play for equality. Moreambitious would have been 20...Nxe4!? removing animportant pawn and open the diagonal towards theenemy king. For instance: 21.Bf3 (21.dxc5?!would

justify Black's main idea after21...h3!) 21...Nf622.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.f3 Nd5 24.Qe4 0-0-0 The positionremains very sharp. Black has an extra-pawn and awonderful knight on d5, ensuring him stability on lightsquares. However, the enemy bishop is quite strong,too, making the enemy king's life difficult. 21.Rxd4 e522.Rdd1 Nxg4 23.Bxg4 Rxg4 24.f3 Rg6 25.a4

Now, the position corresponds to the same evaluation as at the end of the line starting with 19.hxg4 (from thecomment to 19.Kh1). In mutual time trouble Black will eventually manage to simplify to a drawn ending. 25...a526.axb5 a4 27.Qe2 Qc5 28.Rab1 Rd6 29.Rxd6 Qxd6 30.Qxc4 a3 31.Ra1 h3 32.Qe2 hxg2+ 33.Qxg2 0-0-034.Qa2 f5 35.Qxa3 fxe4 36.Qxd6 Rxd6 37.fxe4 Bxe4+ 38.Kg1 Bd3 39.Bxe5 Rg6+ 40.Kf2 Bxb5 1/2-1/2.]

All results of the round

Round 7: Thursday, Sept. 20th 2007, 14:00h

Peter Svidler - Levon Aronian

Vladimir Kramnik - Boris Gelfand

Alexander Morozevich - Peter Leko

Viswanathan Anand 1-0 Alexander Grischuk

Round eight commentary by GM Mihail Marin

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Despite the relatively early draw, Svidler-Kramnik featured rich strategic content. Black countered White's attemptsto attack on the kingside with active central play. The final repetition of moves was quite logical from this point ofview.

Playing with Black, Morozevich tried to remount the variation that led him to defeat against Gelfand. He failed to dothat, but saved half a point, helped by Aronian's imprecise play during the transition to the ending. Curiously, the

final phase featured a theoretical ending that I had mentioned in my notes to a previous round.

Gelfand-Anand ended in a draw without too much fight. Anand employed a rare plan and obtained adequate play,but the final position was far from dead drawn yet.

Leko's win with White against Grischuk was a rather one-sided affair. Grischuk missed some possibilities of an earlycounterplay and was gradually squeezed. After two losses in a row, he must feel how true it is that missed wins(against Aronian and Svidler) tend to turn back as boomerangs.

Svidler,P (2735) - Kramnik,V (2769) [C42]WCh Mexico City MEX (8), 21.09.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc5 10.Be3 Re811.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd5 Qc6 15.Qf5

15...Qc4. A novelty over 15...Nf8 as played in thefourth round game Svidler-Gelfand. The knight retreatlooks like a solid option and eventually led to a quickdraw, but has the drawback that it leaves White freehands for developing his initiative. If Svidler wasready to repeat the variation, he obviously hadprepared some improvement. The idea behindKramnik's move is to question the enemy queen's

domination over the right wing as soon as possible.This will be the main theme of the next phase of thegame. 16.Kb1 g6 17.Qh3 h5 18.Nd2 Qe2 19.Rde1Qg4 20.Qh2 d5 21.f3 Qa4 22.g4

Finally, White has managed to start a kingside attack which bears some similarity with the sharp lines of the SicilianDragon. It should be noticed that his own king finds himself in absolute safety, because of the absence of open fileson the queenside. 22...Bd6 23.Qf2 Ng7

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We can also notice some differences if compared tothe Dragon, which favour Black. We have here anopen file, which can always be used by the defendingside for transposing to an ending by exchanging allrooks. This could happen if White tries to undermine

Black's kingside fortress with Bd4, threatening Bxg7and gxh5. Another aspect is Black's advantage ofspace in the centre (something unthinkable in theDragon). Concretely, the presence of the d5-pawnrestricts the activity of the white knight. 24.c4!? dxc425.Bd4. Svidler has cleared the e4-square for hisknight, which can make a lot of difference after theaforementioned solution 25...Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Re8because of 27.Ne4! However, the structuralmodifications in the centre have also opened the d-file and the h1-a8 diagonal, which will offer Blackadditional possibilities for Defence and counterattack.

25...Qc6! Indirectly defending the f6-square. 26.Bc3. Threatening Qd4. 26.Ne4 was not dangerous because of26...Be5 revealing the idea behind Black's previous move. There was no time for slow increase of the pressure with27.Re2 because of 27...Rad8 the d-file serves Black quite well for starting his counterplay. 26...Bc5 27.Qg3 Bd628.Qf2. The only reasonable way to avoid an immediate draw was 28.Qg2 , but after the opening of the longdiagonal the white queen would feel dominated by her rival. Just think about Leko's uninspired queen retreats in hisgame against Gelfand! 28...Bc5 29.Qg3 Bd6 1/2-1/2.

Aronian,L (2750) - Morozevich,A (2758) [E17]WCh Mexico City MEX (8), 21.09.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 Ne4 7.Bd2 f5 8.d5 Bf6 Despite his defeat in the gameagainst Gelfand, Morozevich seems to maintain his faith in this variation. 9.Qc2

9...Na6. Deviating from 9...Qe7 , as he played in theaforementioned game. 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Qxe4 Nc512.Qe3 0-0!?

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Instead of retrieving the sacrificed pawn, Morozevichopts for rapid development. Optically speaking, hiscompensation looks obvious, but the absence ofsignificant weaknesses in White's position will allowhim neutralize Black's initiative in the next phase ofthe game. 13.dxe6 Re8 14.Qa3 Qe7 15.Be3 Qxe6

16.Rc1 Ne4 17.0-0 Nd6 18.Bd4 Be7 19.c5 Ne420.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Bxb7 Rab8 22.Rfd1 Rxb7 23.Rxd2Reb8 24.Qe3 bxc5 25.Qxe6+ dxe6

26.Bxc5 (?!) It is hard to refrain from "winning" the pawn again, of course, but the drawish tendency of rook endingsis well known. One important alternative was 26.Bc3 , maintaining White's advantage intact, because of his betterstructure, more active bishop and the control over the only open file. 26...Bxc5 27.Rxc5 Rxb2 28.Rd7. Threateningto invade the seventh rank. 28...Rc8

29.a4?! The ending resulting after this move offers White no winning chances at all. A slightly more promissingending could have been obtained with 29.Re5 Rb6 30.Rg5! Forcing Black to weaken his seventh rank. 30...g631.Rc5 Rb2 32.e3 Rxa2 33.Rdxc7 Rxc7 34.Rxc7 Despite material equality, Black's position is not easy to defend,because of his numerous weaknesses. In his days, Akiba Rubinstein was a great expert in this kind of positons. Amore recent example where this structure arised is Karpov - Hort, Waddinxveen 1979, in which White won.29...Rxe2 30.Rcxc7 Rxc7 31.Rxc7 a6 32.Ra7 Ra2 33.Rxa6 e5 34.a5 e4 35.Ra7 h5 36.h4

The importance of the lack of flexibility induced bythis move will become obvious at a later stage.36...Kh7 37.a6 Ra1+ 38.Kg2 Ra2 39.Kf1 Kg640.Ra8 Kh7 41.a7 g6 42.Ke1 Kg7 43.Kd1 Ra1+44.Kc2 Ra2+ 45.Kb3 Ra1 46.Kc4 Ra2 47.Kd4 Ra1!An important moment. Maintaining the central pawndefended with 47...Ra4+ 48.Kd5 Kh7? would loseafter 49.Kc6! (Threatening Kb6) 49...Ra1 50.Rd8Rxa7 51.Rd7+ Rxd7 52.Kxd7 with an easily wonpawn ending. 48.Kxe4

As I have mentioned in my comments to the earlier game Anand-Kramnik, this ending is drawn. Time has come toexplain my comment on White's 36.h4. With the pawn on h3 or h2, White could have created a passed pawn on thef-file, which would ensure an easy win. However, Black could have prevented this undesirable outcome byadvancing his g-pawn to g4, immediately after White's 41.a7. 48...Ra4+ 49.Kf3 Ra3+ 50.Kg2 Ra2 51.Kh3 Ra352.f3 Kh7 53.Kg2 Ra2+ 54.Kf1 Ra1+ 55.Ke2 Ra2+ 56.Kd3 Kg7 57.Kc4 Ra1 58.Kc5 Rc1+ 59.Kd6 Rd1+ 60.Ke5Ra1 61.Kf4 Ra4+ 62.Ke5 Ra1 63.f4 Ra2 64.f5 gxf5 65.Kf4 Ra5 66.Re8 Rxa7 67.Kxf5 Rf7+ 68.Ke4 Rf1 69.Re5Kg6 1/2-1/2.

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Gelfand,B (2733) - Anand,V (2792) [E06]WCh Mexico City MEX (8), 21.09.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Bd6!?

This move was played only once before. Since for the time being both sides are playing a watch and wait game,Black prepares in advance the thematic central break ...e5. 11.Rd1. White will fail to prove an advantage with thisneutral move. We can only try to guess which was Anand's novelty over the game Speelman-Browne, Wijk aan Zee1983, where White obtained the better chances with 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.Rd1. 11...Nbd7 12.Ba5 Qb8 13.b4 e514.Nbd2 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 c5 17.bxc5 Bxc5 18.N2b3 Ba3 19.e4 Ne5 20.