(1) Svidler,P (2747) - Topalov,V (2735) [B90]
GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (7), 18.01.2004



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3
The English attack has been often used in this event

8...Nbd7 9.g4 Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Be7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.Rg1 Rc8 14.Qf2
Diagram

14...Rxc3 15.Bxb6 Bxg5+ 16.Kb1 Bh4
If the Qf2 moves, ...Qxb6

17.Rg3! Bxg3 18.hxg3 Rc7 19.Nc5! Qe7 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bxc7 Qxc7 22.Bh3
Black emereges up a pawn, but it is the backward e6-pawn

22...Re8 23.Rd3 Nf6 24.Qa7
A real entry square and with the threat of Rc3

24...Kf7 25.Rc3 Qd7 26.Qb6
Aiming for c7

26...Re7 27.Rd3 d5
[27...Ne8!? ]

28.exd5 Nxd5 29.Qc5 Qb5 30.Qd6 Nb4 31.Rd2 Qc4 32.b3 Qc3 33.f4
Black is up a pawn, but his king remains badly exposed. f4 opens up the f-file for operations by the rook.

33...Qxg3 34.Qxb4 Qxh3 35.fxe5 Qe3
[35...Qh1+ 36.Kb2 Qc6 ]

36.Qd6 h5?!
too optimistic

37.Rd1
With the idea of Rf1+

37...Qf2
[37...Qf3! ]

38.Qd3
renewing the threat

38...Qg2 39.Rf1+ Kg8
[39...Ke8 ]

40.Qd8+ Kh7
Diagram

41.Rf8
[41.Qxe7? Qxf1+ 42.Kb2 Qf5-+ ]

41...Qg1+
[41...Qg5 42.Qd3+ g6 (42...Kh6 43.Rh8# ; 42...Qg6 43.Rh8+ Kxh8 44.Qxg6 ) 43.Qd8+- ]

42.Kb2 Qg5 43.Qd3+ g6 44.Qd6 Kg7 45.Qb8 Qh6 46.Qd8!
[46.Qd8 Qh7 (46...Qg5 47.Rg8+ Kh7 48.Rh8+ Kg7 49.Qf8# ) 47.Qxe7+ ] 1-0