Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

BARNET CHESS CLUB http://www.chessclub.demon.co.uk/topplayers/kasparov/ kasp_topalov_hoogovens99g0.htm

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Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Barnet Chess Club
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 ""Barnet Chess Club""] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {BARNET CHESS CLUB http://www.chessclub.demon.co.uk/topplayers/kasparov/ kasp_topalov_hoogovens99g0.htm } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 {A rather crude setup by Kasparov, designed to exchange the dark squared Bishops off with Bh6. } 6... b5 { Topalov stirkes out on the queens wing. } 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 9... Bb7 {Topalov is a bit put off castling king side - as well as being an illegal move, and so he hastens to find safety for his King on the queenside. } 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 14... exd4 { releasing a bit of the tension in the centre. } 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 {Preparing to put the Bishop on an agressive diagonal. } 17... Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 { A real shocker!! } 24... cxd4 25. Re7+ Kb6 ( {If now} 25... Qxe7 {there follows } 26. Qxd4+ {with a mate in 4!} 26... Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 (27... Qb7 28. Nc6#) 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# { Topalov is therefore forced to make his King more of an active piece!}) 26. Qxd4+ 26... Kxa5 {The King muches Kasparov's Knight but is slowly being sucked towards Kasparov's position! } 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 { With the not so subtle idea of Qb3 mate!} 28... Qxd5 ( { If now black replies with} 28... Bxd5 {then Kasparov has} 29. Kb2 { with the idea of Qb3+ forcing mate.} 29... Qe5 30. Rxe5 h6 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# {mate!}) 29. Ra7 Bb7 30. Rxb7 Qc4 31. Qxf6 31... Kxa3 { Had Kasparov seen all this!? Most definitely! } 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ { A nice little pawn sacrifice!} 33... Kxc3 ( {If now} 33... Qxc3 { then there follows a mate in 3 with} 34. Qxb5+ Ka3 35. Ra7+ Qa5 36. Rxa5#) 34. Qa1+ {A wonderful little move from an aestheic perspective if nothing else! } 34... Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 ( {If} 35... Ke3 {then} 36. Re7+ {is unpleasant, eg Kxf3 Qg2 mating. Therefore black would have to give up his Queen with} 36... Qe6 { when white would have a decisive material advantage.} 37. Bxe6 Rd1+ 38. Ka2 Ra8+ 39. Kb3) 36. Bf1 {A wonderful little decoy move. } 36... Rd2 {Is Kasparov worried by this move? NO! he has planned the brilliant Rd7!! with the threat of Qxd2 mate! } ( {The bishop is immune due to} 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ {mating.}) 37. Rd7 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 {How very cruel! That Queen on a1 had materialistic intentions as well as threatening to mate the black King! } 39... Rd3 40. Qa8 40... c3 { Kasparov has still a little bit of mopping up to do. } 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {Black has nothing left but to resign now.} 1-0