Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

THE WASHINGTON TIMES (01/23/1999) http://library.northernlight.com/ BM19990125010301299.html?cb=0&dx=0 A CHAMP ROARS BACK IN STYLE A rusty Garry Kasparov is still better than just about anybody on the planet. The Russian world champ, coming off months of relative inactivity, is matching the blistering early pace of Indian archrival Viswanathan Anand at the Category 17 Wijk aan Zee invitational in Hoogovens, Holland. — Kasparov silenced any whispers of his declining strength or appetite for adventure with his amazing king hunt against Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in Round 4. — David R. Sands:

Metadata » Click to open.

Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Sands
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "?"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "1999.01.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [Annotator "Sands"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {THE WASHINGTON TIMES (01/23/1999) http://library.northernlight.com/ BM19990125010301299.html?cb=0&dx=0 A CHAMP ROARS BACK IN STYLE A rusty Garry Kasparov is still better than just about anybody on the planet. The Russian world champ, coming off months of relative inactivity, is matching the blistering early pace of Indian archrival Viswanathan Anand at the Category 17 Wijk aan Zee invitational in Hoogovens, Holland. --- Kasparov silenced any whispers of his declining strength or appetite for adventure with his amazing king hunt against Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in Round 4. --- David R. Sands: } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 { Out of a Pirc, Black makes what looks like a premature attempt to open up the game and rid himself of a weak d-pawn with} 18. Na5 18... Ba8 19. Bh3 19... d5 { and White ignites a glorious sacrificial bonfire to smoke out the enemy king:} 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 21... d4 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 { neat, but the follow-up is just as brilliant} 24... cxd4 (24... Qxf4 25. Rxf4 { just loses a pawn}) 25. Re7+ {- the key to Kasparov's conception. } { But White is obliged to relinquish one more piece to lure Black's king into a nasty mating box:} 25... Kb6 ( {Black's king has to saddle up, since} 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# {mates}) ( {and} 25... Rd7 26. Qxd6 {loses a queen.}) 26. Qxd4+ 26... Kxa5 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 ( 28... Bxd5 29. Kb2 29... Qxe7 30. Qb3+ 30... Bxb3 31. cxb3# {mate!}) 29. Ra7 { It will cost Topalov all his ill-gotten gains and more to prevent regicide.} 29... Bb7 { After} 30. Rxb7 30... Qc4 31. Qxf6 {White has sliced his material deficit to an exchange, and he's still not out of surprises -} 31... Kxa3 ( 31... Ra8 32. Qb6 a5 33. Bd7 Kxa3 34. Qe3+ Kxb4 35. Bxb5 {and wins}) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ {again giving up material to expose the Black king. } { There follows} 33... Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 (34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Qb3 36. Rxb5+ ) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 36... Rd2 (36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ { leads to mate}) 37. Rd7 { and the unusual pin finally leads to material loss for Black. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 ( { The advanced c-pawn presents some swindling chances (e.g.} 42. Qc2 42... Rd1+ 43. Ka2 43... Rd2 { and Black wins), but White doesn't let the point slip away.}) 42... f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {Topalov resigned.} (44. Qa7 {In the final position,} 44... h5 45. Qe3+ Kf1 46. Qxc3 {removes the passed pawn and leaves White with a won ending.} ) 1-0