1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
Preparing Nc3 and e4
2...g6
The King's Indian, a Radjabov favorite
3.Nc3
Threatening e4
3...Bg7
Black welcome the breoad white pawn center and will counter-attack with d6 and e5
4.e4
d6
5.Be2
0-0
6.Nf3
e5
7.0-0
Nc6
One of Fischer's favorite opening lines. Inviting d4-d5 Nc6-e7
8.d5
Ne7
9.b4
The battle lines are drawn. White will usually attack on the queenside... black on the kingside with ...f7-f5
9...Nh5
10.Re1
f5
11.Ng5
A frequent recent visitor and no surprise to Radjabov. The database shows that he has faced this several times before.
11...Nf6
12.Bf3
Overprotecting e4
12...c6
Unlike many King's Indian lines, the battle is joined in the center
13.Bb2
Countering black's strong dark-squared bishop
13...h6
14.Ne6
Bxe6
15.dxe6
All still book. The e-pawn will fall, but white expects counter-play in the center and on the kingside.
15...fxe4
16.Nxe4
Nxe4
17.Rxe4
d5
18.cxd5
cxd5
19.Rxe5
Even this exchange sacrifice has been played before.
19...Bxe5
20.Bxe5
For the exchange, white expects compensation against the weakened Black kingside.
20...Qb6
21.Bb2
Here's Shirov's new move. Qd2 to protect the b4-pawn had been previously played.
21...Kh7
Seeking safety behind the pawns [21...Qxe6
22.Qd4
; 21...Qxb4
22.Rb1
]
22.Qe2
d4
Attempting to block the Bb2 on its very strong diagonal.
23.h4
Charge. The idea is to break apart the black kingside with h4-h5
23...Rf6
Aiming to capture the advanced e-pawn.
24.Re1
Defending e6
24...Qxb4
Black judges his position sound enough to grab a pawn.
25.a3
or Qe5... Shirov first forces the black queen to retreat
25...Qd6
26.h5
Blowing open the kingide. If gxh5?, white will gain anoher diagonal for the light-squared bishop.
26...Raf8
Bringing up the reinforcements. If necessary, black can return the exchange with Rxf3
27.Qe4
Pinning the g-pawn and adding to the pressure upon d4
27...Nc6
28.hxg6+
Kg7
Black can't take... Rxg6 Bh5
29.Bc1
Turning his attention now to the isolated h-pawn
29...Qe7
Diagram
30.Bxh6+!
The Fire's Back on Board, a reference to Shirov's book. This guy is in his element!
30...Kxh6
31.Qh4+
Kxg6
Re4 and Be4+ are interesting alternatives... but if Re4, black will sacrifice the exchange with Bxf3... so white first exchanges the bishop. [31...Kg7
32.Qh7#
]
32.Bxc6
bxc6
33.Re5
Qxe6
[33...Rxe6
34.Qh5+
Kf6
35.Rf5+
Kg7
36.Rg5+
Qxg5
(36...Kf6
37.Qg6#
) 37.Qxg5+
With a similar endgame to the game]
34.Rxe6
Rxe6
35.Qg4+
Kf7
36.Qxd4
The smoke has cleared and white has a winning endgame. Shirov's technique is careful and instructive
36...a6
37.g4
NO rush to take the a-pawn with Qa7+... first, Shirov gets the kingside pawns rolling. The passers need to be pushed.
37...Rg8
38.f3
With a home on g3 for the king
38...Rf6
39.Kf2
Re8
40.Qc4+
Kg7
41.Qxa6
Ref8
42.Qd3
c5
[42...Rxf3+
43.Qxf3
Rxf3+
44.Kxf3
With an easy win thanks to the outside a-pawn]
43.a4
Ra8
44.Qc3
Kg6
45.Qxc5
Rfa6
46.Kg3
Rxa4
47.Qd6+
Kf7
48.g5
R8a6
49.Qd7+
Kg6
50.f4
Ra1
51.Qd3+
Kg7
52.Qd4+
Kg8
53.Kg4
R1a2
54.Qd8+
A pleasing bounce off the 8th rank
54...Kg7
55.Qc7+
Kg8
56.f5
Ra7
[56...Rg2+
57.Kf3
]
57.Qd8+
Kg7
58.f6+
Kh7
[58...Kg6
59.Qg8+
]
59.Qd3+
Kh8
60.Kf5
Heading right into g6
60...Ra8
61.Qh3+
First force the king to g8, eliminating Rg8+
61...Kg8
62.Kg6
R2a7
Stopping Qh7#
63.Qe6+
Kf8
64.Qd6+
Kg8
65.Qd5+
Kh8
66.Qh1+
[66.Qh1+
Kg8
67.f7++-
Rxf7
68.Qxa8+
] 1-0