24 octobre 2006

Rien ne va plus pour Topalov


Est-ce le contrecoup de sa défaite au championnat du monde ? Le numéro un mondial au classement par points Vesseline Topalov est en mauvaise posture au tournoi néerlandais de Hoogeveen. C'est un double ronde à 4 joueurs qui rassemble, outre le Bulgare, la meilleure joueuse du monde Judit Polgar (16e au classement FIDE, photo ci-contre), le numéro un néerlandais Ivan Sokolov (39e) et une des étoiles montantes des échecs, l'Azerbaïdjanais Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (12e). Et, tout comme il était très mal parti à Elista contre Vladimir Kramnik, Topalov vient de perdre coup sur coup ses deux premières parties, avec les Noirs.
Cela a commencé, dimanche 22 octobre, par une défaite contre Mamedyarov. Topalov a voulu reprendre le système qui lui avait rapporté un point dans sa 8e partie contre Kramnik mais c'était sans doute une erreur stratégique car, bien évidemment, tous les grands maîtres qui se respectent à la surface de la Terre ont disséqué, décortiqué cette partie. De plus, le favori bulgare n'a pas eu son dynamisme habituel, laissant son adversaire coloniser la colonne "c". Quant au roi noir, il se retrouvait un peu esseulé derrière un roque-gruyère. Il n'en a pas fallu plus à Mamedyarov pour lancer une attaque. Après le 27e coup des Noirs (voir diagramme ci-contre), l'Azerbaïdjanais jouait l'étonnant sacrifice Fg5 ! Et Topalov l'acceptait par 28... hxg5. Suivait évidemment 29. Dh5+ Rg8 30. Df7+ Rh7 et l'on pouvait se dire que la nulle par échec perpétuel allait suivre. Après 31. Dh5+ Rg8 32. Df7+ Rh7, Mamedyarov tentait sa chance par 33. hxg5. A ce moment, Topalov aurait pu essayer de rendre un peu de matériel pour affaiblir l'attaque blanche, par exemple par 33... Fe8 34. Dxe6 (forcé) Dd7 proposant l'échange des dames. En cas de refus des Blancs, par exemple par 35. Db3 ou Dc4, les Noirs lâchent la qualité en prenant l'encombrant cavalier d6 avec leur tour : 35... Txd6 36. exd6 Dxd6 et on peut se dire que le matériel est égal. Mais la nature de Topalov ne tend pas aux aplanissements. Au lieu de 33... Fe8, il a joué Cg6, rendant la pièce tout en se lançant dans un hypothétique contre.
C'était oublier que le roi noir était bien moins à l'abri que son homologue blanc. Même après l'échange des dames,
Mamedyarov n'eut aucun mal à conserver l'initiative. Après le 45e coup des Noirs (voir diagramme ci-contre), il planta une combinette pour simplifier la position, que je vous laisse découvrir. Les Blancs jouent 46. Cf7 ! Txe6 (pour ainsi dire obligatoire, la menace étant Cg5+ suivi de Te8 mat) et 47. Cg5+ ramasse la tour au coup suivant. Topalov a abandonné avant de voir son adversaire, doté d'un pion de plus, passé qui plus est, lui montrer l'étendue de sa technique. Il faut noter la totale inutilité du cavalier h5, qui n'a aucune case sur laquelle sauter. Pendant que Topalov se faisait étriller, Judit Polgar se débarrassait d'Ivan Sokolov.

Lundi 23 octobre, la joueuse hongroise, avec les Blancs, affrontait le numéro un mondial, dans une partie très animée. Dans cet affrontement de deux attaquants, le Bulgare allait se montrer une nouvelle fois peu inspiré et peu précis.
Son 19e coup, Cc5, aurait pu signifier la fin de la partie, si toutefois Polgar avait trouvé sa réfutation. Saurez-vous faire mieux qu'elle en examinant le diagramme ci-contre ? Il faut se baser sur la faiblesse du pion f7 et la non-protection de la tour h7 pour jouer Cf5, menaçant le pion d6. Les Noirs sont pour ainsi dire obligés d'accepter le sacrifice parce qu'après le coup de défense 20... Tc6, suit 21. Chg7 + ! Fxg7 22. Cxg7+ Txg7 23 Fxe5 Th7 24. Dg3 et l'attaque blanche est très difficile à stopper. Par conséquent, si l'on revient au diagramme, après Cf5, les Noirs prennent le cavalier. Suit 21. Fxe5 Fxe5 et Dxf5 ! Et où va la tour h7 qui "tient" le pion f7 ? Nulle part, elle est perdue. Avec cette qualité de moins, un roi englué au milieu de l'échiquier, les deux tours blanches sur des colonnes semi-ouvertes, même un numéro un mondial ne pourrait résister longtemps...
Mais Judit Polgar n'a pas vu 20. Cf5 ! A la place, elle a joué Fg3, qui est loin d'être extraordinaire, d'autant que les Blancs vont perdre le pion e4. Topalov ne va cependant pas tarder à se rater de nouveau.
En omettant de développer sa tour de l'aile-roi, le Bulgare va manquer de carburant pour alimenter sa tentative de contre-attaque sur le grand roque de la Hongroise. Celle-ci ne va, en revanche, pas louper sa cible, avec une mise à mort que je vous propose de rejouer à l'aide du diagramme ci-contre. Les Blancs jouent et gagnent. Comment ? Débutons par l'évident 32. De7 +. La "meilleure" réponse est de loin Rb6. Suit 33. Db7 + Ra5 34. Da7 (un coup à la fois calme et fort, qui dégage la place pour le cavalier) b4 (le plus résistant) 35. Tfe1 (attaquant le cavalier) Cf3 (une erreur) 36. Tc1 (plus fort était 36. Cb7+ Rb5 37. Td6 ! qui menace Dxa6 mat : les Noirs sont obligés de lâcher la dame et vont être rapidement matés) Cxe1 38. Txc2 Cxc2 39. Rb1 et les Noirs abandonnèrent. Comme à Elista, Topalov part avec deux défaites mais à la différence du championnat du monde qui se jouait sur 12 rencontres, il ne lui reste que 4 parties pour se refaire...

3 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

Tres belle analyse encore une fois! Et tres pertinente!

Anonyme a dit…

Essent 2006: Judit Polgar beats Veselin Topalov
23.10.2006 Round two of the Essent tournament in Hoogeven, Holland, brought more drama: Judit Polgar outplayed former world champion Veselin Topalov to take her second point in a row. Shakhryar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan also scored a second victory, this time over Ivan Sokolov and with the black pieces.
Essent Chess Tournament 2006
The 10th edition of the Essent Chess Tournament is taking place from October 20 to 28, 2006 in Hoogeveen, Holland. As in the past years there are a number of competitions: a Crown Group, a strong Essent Open, an Amateur Tournament, a pub tournament and an event for youth. The games are being broadcast live on the official site and on Playchess.com. Full details on the event are available on our first Essent report.
Round two
Judit Polgar and Veselin Topalov, both supreme attacking players, were at each others throats in a super-sharp Sicilian Najdorf. But it was the Hungarian's day, and Judit took her second full point in a convincing display powerhouse tactics. Ivan Sokolov was confronted with a surprising sacrifice on move 19, and although he was not lost it required just a few inaccuracies to set him on the path to defeat. That came once again with a blunder in a fairly hopeless position.
So the first four games in this super-strong tournament have all ended with a decision – no draws so far, even though there are no special rules in place to prevent them. We are trying to remember when we last saw a quick GM draw in top-level events. Hmmm, perhaps things are really improving and the news of the demise of chess were greatly exaggerated?

Oct-24-06 Albertan: Here is some analysis I have done of this game:
Polgar,Judit (2710) - Topalov,Veselin (2813) Opening:Sicilian Defense:Scheveningen variation:Keres Attack ECO:[B81] Essent Crown Group Hoogoveen NED (2.2), 23.10.2006
[Analyzed by: Albertan,Shredder 8, Hiarcs 8 and Junior 9]

1.e4 c5 The Sicilian Defense. 2.Nf3 She begins to develop her kingside minor pieces to facilitate castling early in the game. 2...d6 Gaining influence over the important e5-square and opening up the diagonal for his light-squared bishop. 3.d4 She attacks in the center. 3...cxd4 By capturing his influence over the key d4 square is eliminated. 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Beginning to develop his kingside minor pieces and winning a tempo by attacking her unprotected d-pawn. 5.Nc3 The lost tempo, however she used it wisely to develop another minor piece. 5...a6 Preventing her from playing a knight to b5 and creating the chance to play ... .b5 for queenside counterplay. 6.Be3 The main continuation in this position, overprotecting her knight.She develops this bishop before her king's bishop because she intends to castle on the queenside. 6...e6 He faciliates the development of his king's bishop. By playng this move we can define the variation of Sicilian defense being played...it is the Scheveningen variation. The Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of Black's most ambitious lines in the Open Sicilian. Championed by Garry Kasparov, among many other distinguished Grandmasters, it offers excellent counterchances and considerable scope for creativity.The d6-e6 pawn center affords Black control of the critical d5 and e5 squares and retains flexibility to break in the center with either ...e5 or ...d5.
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 7.g4 This move defines the variation of Scheveningen being played:it is known as the Keres attack (named for deceased Russian GM Paul Keres)This move takes advantage of the fact that 5...e6 cut off the Black Bishop's control of g4 and plans to force the knight on f6, Black's only developed piece, to retreat and force black into passivity. 7...h6 The main continuation for Black in this position, guarding the g5 square which stops her from playing g4-g5. 8.Bg2 Overprotecting her e-pawn. 8...g5 A rarely played move (only 2 games in my database), he prevents her from playing g4-g5 in the future (at the cost of weakening his kingside pawn structure). 9.Qe2 Allowing her to castle on the queenside. [Analysis:In one game in my database play continued: 9.h4 ] 9...Nbd7 He develops another minor piece, intending to immediately move the knight to e5 next move. 10.0-0-0 According to the chessbase online database this move was first played in the game Guenther-Bilsel. 10...Ne5 He double-attacks her weak g-pawn winning a tempo. 11.h3 The lost tempo. 11...Nfd7!?N He coordinates his knights at the cost of blocking in his light-squared bishop.This move appears to be a theoretical novelty for the position. [In the game Guenther-Bilsel game play continued 11...Qc7 and the game reverted back to known theory.] 12.f4 She forces him to either capture on f4 or lose a tempo moving his attacked knight. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 12.h4!? Bg7 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.Rxh8+ Bxh8 15.Nb3 Nb6 16.Na5 Bf6 17.Rh1 Nbd7 18.Nb3 b5 19.a3 Bb7 20.Rh6 Ng6 21.Bd4 Bxd4 22.Nxd4 Nde5=] 12...gxf4 [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 12...gxf4 13.Bxf4 b5 14.a3 Rb8 15.Rhf1 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.Kb1 Bb7 18.Nb3 Be7 19.Qf2 h5 20.gxh5 Rxh5 ] 13.Bxf4 b5 Continuing with his queenside counterplay and creating the threat of 15...b4 displacing her knight. 14.Rhf1 Placing her rook on the semi-open file which allows her to double her rooks on this file near his king in the future. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 14.a3 Be7 15.Rhf1 Bg5 16.Kb1 Bxf4 17.Rxf4 Rb8 ] 14...Bb7 Developing another minor piece and contesting control of the diagonal.. Black should quickly conclude development. [Analysis:(a)Hiarcs 8: 14...h5 15.g5 b4 16.Nb1 h4 17.Nf3 Qc7 18.Qf2 Ng6 19.Be3 Be7 20.Nh2 Nde5 21.Ng4 Bb7 22.Nf6+ Bxf6 23.Qxf6 Rc8=; (b)Shredder 8: 14...b4!? 15.Nb1 a5 16.Qe1 Qc7 17.Rf2 Bb7 18.Bf1 Rd8 19.Nd2 Be7 ] 15.Qf2 She creates the threat of 16.Bxe5 and after 16...Nxe5 (forced) she would have great pressure against his f-pawn. 15...Rc8 He spends a tempo to give his rook more mobility on the half-open c-file. 16.Nce2 Coordinating her knights. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 16.Kb1 Be7 17.Nb3 b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Nbd4 Qc7 20.Ng3 Ba6 21.Rfe1 Ng6 22.Bf1 Nxf4 23.Bxa6 Ra8 ] 16...Bg7 Developing his last minor piece to faciliate kingside castling. This move also results in overprotection ot his knight. 17.Ng3 She intends to move the knight to h5 to harrass his bishop on g7. 17...Rh7 He spends a tempo in order to free up a square for his bishop to retreat to in case she plays Nh5. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 17...Bf8 18.Nh5 Nc4 19.Kb1 Rh7 20.Nb3 Qc7 21.Rd3 a5 ]
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 18.Nh5 [Analysis:Shredder 8: 18.Kb1 Nc4 19.c3 Qb6 20.Nh5 Bf8 21.Bd2 Nxd2+ 22.Qxd2 b4 23.cxb4 Be7 ] 18...Bh8 The Shredder evaluation program evaluates this position as . 19.Kb1 She spends a tempo to take her king off the same file as his rook. 19...Nc5? The Shredder 8 evaluation assigned this move the ? [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better is ...Qb6: >=19...Qb6 20.Bh2 (20.Nb3 Nc4 21.c3 Qxf2 22.Rxf2 Nde5 ) 20...Nc4 21.Bg1 Qa5 22.Bh2 Nc5 23.Nb3 Nxb3 24.cxb3 Nxb2 25.Qd2 Nxd1 26.Qxa5 Nc3+ 27.Kc2 Nxe4+ 28.Kd1 Nc3+ 29.Ke1 Bxg2 30.Qxa6 Ra8 31.Qb6 Rxa2=] 20.Bg3= The Shredder evaluation program evaluates this position as equal. [Analysis:I n this position Polgar missed a move which would have allowed her to have a decisive advantage. >=20.Nf5! Nc4 (20...exf5 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Qxf5 Qg5 23.Qxh7 Qg6 24.Qxg6 fxg6 25.Nf4 Kf7 26.Nd5+ Ke8 27.c3 a5; 20...Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Nxd6+ ; 20...Ned3 21.cxd3 exf5 22.Be5 Qe7 23.Bxh8 Rxh8 24.Ng7+ Kd7 25.Nxf5 Qe8 26.Ng7 Qe7 27.Qxf7 ) 21.Bxd6 exf5 22.Bxc5 Qc7 23.exf5 Bxg2 (23...Qxc5 24.Bxb7 Qxf2 25.Rxf2 Rb8 26.Re2+ Be5 27.Nf6+ Kf8 28.Nd7+ Kg7 29.f6+ Bxf6 30.Nxb8 Nxb2 31.Rf1 Nc4 ) 24.Rfe1+ Ne5 25.Bd6 Qc6 26.Bxe5 Bxe5 27.Rxe5+ Kf8 ] 20...Nxe4 He grabs the free pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 20...Qc7 21.Bh4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Rfe1 ] 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Bh4 She attacks his queen winning a tempo for her pawn. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8: 22.Rfe1 d5 23.Nxe6!? fxe6 24.Rxe4 dxe4 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.a4 Nf3 (26...Nc4 27.Nf6+ Bxf6 28.Qxf6 Rd1+ 29.Ka2[] Nd6 30.Qxe6+ Re7 31.Qxh6 Kd7 ) 27.Qb6 Re7 28.Ka2 Rd4 ] 22...Qc7 The lost tempo. Shredder evaluates this position as . [Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8: 22...Qc7 23.Rfe1 (Shredder 8: 23.Bf6 Bg6 24.Bxh8 Rxh8 25.Nf4 Bh7 26.Nh5 Bg6 27.Nf4 Be4 28.Rfe1 Bh7 ) 23...Bf3 24.Rd2 Bb7 25.Nf6+ Bxf6 26.Bxf6 h5 27.gxh5 Nc4 28.Rd3 Qc5 29.Qg3 Kd7 30.h6 Qh5 31.b3 Rb8 ] 23.Bf6 She offers to exchange bishops, which would result in her winning the exchange after ...Bxf6?? Nxf6+ +_ [Analysis:(a)Hiarcs 8: 23.Rfe1 d5 24.Bf6 Nd7 25.Bxh8 Rxh8 26.Ng7+ Ke7 27.Qh4+ Nf6 28.Rf1 Bxc2+ 29.Nxc2 Qxc2+ 30.Ka1[] Qg6 31.Rxf6!? Qg5 32.Qxg5 hxg5 33.Rdf1 Rhf8 ; (b)Shredder 8: 23.Rd2 Qc4 24.Nf6+ Bxf6 25.Qxf6 Ng6 26.Bg3 Bd5 27.Nb3 Kd7 28.Rfd1 Ne7 29.Qf2 Qc7 ] 23...Bg6 Attacking his knight so that if she plays Bxh8 he can reply ....Bxh5. 24.Bxh8 Rxh8 25.Nf6+ Kd8= The Shredder 8 evaluation program evaluates this position as equal.
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 26.h4 Creating the threat of 27.h5. [Junior 9: 26.Rfe1 Qc5 27.a3 a5 28.Ne4 Bxe4 29.Rxe4 Ke8 30.Qe2 Kf8 31.Rf1 Qd5 32.Nxb5!? Nc4 33.Nc3 Nd2+ (Worse is 33...Qc5?! 34.Rxe6 Rb8 35.Re4 d5 36.Nxd5!? Nxa3+ 37.Ka2 Qxd5+ 38.Kxa3 Qb7 39.b3 Rg8 ) ] 26...Qc5 He pins her knight against her queen. If she moves his knight he could reduce her attacking potential by exchanging queens. [Analysis:(a)Junior 9 and Shredder 8:: 26...h5 27.Rfe1 (Shredder 8: 27.gxh5 Bxh5 28.Rde1 Qc4 29.Qd2 Kc7 30.b3 Qc5 31.Nxh5 Rxh5 32.Rxf7+ Kb8 33.Nxe6 Qxc2+!? 34.Qxc2 Rxc2 35.Kxc2 Nxf7 ) 27...Ke7 28.g5 b4 29.Rd2 Qc4 30.Qf4 Rhd8 31.Ne4 Kf8 ; (b)Fritz 8: 26...Rb8 27.h5 Bh7 28.Qf4 Kc8 29.Ka1 Qd8 30.Rf2 Rb7 31.Qxh6 Bf5 32.Qg5 Bxg4 33.Rh1 b4 ; 26...h5 27.Rfe1 Ke7 28.gxh5 Bxh5 29.Rd2 (29.Nxh5?! Rxh5 30.Rf1 Rh6=) ] 27.h5 Attacking his bishop forcing him to move it to h7. 27...Bh7 Now his h-pawn is no longer protected by his rook. [Analysis:Shredder 8 and Junior 9:Better is: >=27...Bxc2+!? 28.Qxc2 (28.Nxc2 Qxf2 29.Rxf2 Ke7 30.b3 a5 31.Nd4 b4 32.Rdf1 (32.Nb5 d5 33.a3 Rhd8 34.Rd4 Rc5 35.a4 Rdc8 36.Rd1 ) 32...Rc3 33.Rc2 Rcc8 34.Kc1 d5 35.Rxc8 Rxc8+ 36.Kd2 Rc3 37.Ke2 Rc8 ) ] 28.Qh4 She threatens to win his bishop on h7 next move by playing the discovered check Nxh7 disck. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 28.Qg2 Qc7 29.g5 Bxc2+ 30.Nxc2 Qc6 31.Ne4 Qxc2+ 32.Qxc2 Rxc2 33.Kxc2 hxg5 34.Rxd6+ Ke7 ] 28...Bxc2+ 29.Nxc2 [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better is >=29.Ka1!? Qa7 (29...Kc7 30.Nxc2 Kb8 31.Nd4 Rhd8 32.Ne4 Qc7 33.g5 Nc4 ) 30.Nxc2 Rxc2 31.Ne4+ Qe7 32.Rxd6+ Ke8 33.Qg3 Qc7 34.Rdd1 Rc6 ] 29...Qxc2+ Leaving Topalov two pawns up in material. 30.Ka1 the only move 30...Rc4 He pins her g-pawn against her queen which ties down her queen and knight to defend this pawn. [Analysis: Shredder 8:: 30...Ke7 31.Nd5+ Kf8 32.Ne7 Nc4 33.Rb1[] Rc7 34.Qf6 Rh7 35.Nc6 Rc8 (35...Rxc6? 36.Qd8+ Kg7[] 37.Rxf7+! Kxf7 38.Rf1+ Qf5 (38...Kg7?? 39.Qf8#) 39.gxf5 Nb6 40.f6 Nd5 41.Qd7+ Kf8 42.f7 Rh8 43.Qe8+ Kg7[] 44.f8Q+ Rxf8 45.Qg6+ Kh8[] 46.Rxf8#) 36.Nd4 Qe4 37.g5 Qe5 38.Qg6 Qxd4 39.Qxh7 Qg7 40.Qe4 Re8 ] 31.Ne4+ Threatening to win his d-pawn by Nxd6. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 31.Nd5+ Kc8 32.Ne3 Qe2 33.Nxc4 Nxc4 34.Qf6 Qe5 35.Qxe5 Nxe5 36.Rxd6 Rg8 37.Rf6 Rxg4 38.Rd1 Rh4 39.Rxh6 Rh2 ] 31...Kc7 He has to spend a tempo to prevent the loss of his d-pawn.Even though his d-pawn is double-attacked obviously she cannot win this pawn immediately due to the back rank threat of checkmate against her king.
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 32.Nxd6 Polgar regains a pawn leaving Topalov up a pawn in material..She now attacks his rook which wins a tempo for her. 32...Rf4 Taking advantage of the fact that she cannot play 33.Rxf4 due to her weak back rank Topalov does not have to worry about her playing 34.Rc1?? because then he can play 34...Rxd1 which would result in the exchange of rooks after 35.Rxf1 and then 35....Nd3 would threaten checkmate with 36...Qxb2#. [Analysis:Shredder 8:(a) 32...Rf4 33.Qe7+ Kb6 34.Qb7+ Ka5 35.Qa7 b4 36.Nb7+ Kb5 37.Rfe1 f6 38.Rc1 Rf2 39.Rxc2 Rxc2 40.Nd6+ Ka5 41.a3 bxa3 42.bxa3 Rc3 43.Rb1 Rxa3+ 44.Kb2 the only move 44...Nc4+ 45.Nxc4+ Ka4 46.Kc2 Ra2+ 47.Kc1 Rc2+ 48.Kxc2 Rc8 49.Qxa6#; (b) 32...Rc5 33.Qe7+ Kb6 34.Qb7+ Ka5 35.Qa7 b4 36.a3 Nc6 37.axb4+ Nxb4 38.Nb7+ Kb5 39.Nxc5 Qxc5 40.Qb7+ Qb6 41.Qxb6+ Kxb6 ] 33.Qe7+ Winning a tempo. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 33.Qe7+ Kb6 (33...Kc6?? 34.Qb7+ Kc5 35.Qc7+ Nc6 36.Nb7+ Kb4 37.Qd6+ Qc5 (37...Ka4 38.Qa3#; 37...Kc4 38.Qc5#) 38.Qxc5+ Ka4 the only move 39.Qa3#) 34.Qb7+ Ka5 35.Qa7 b4 36.Rfe1 Re4 37.Nxe4 Nd3 38.Rxd3 Rc8 which threatens 39...Qc1+ 40.Rxc1 Rxc1 checkmate 39.Nd2 Qxd3 40.Re5+ Qb5 (40...Ka4?? 41.b3+ Ka3 the only move 42.Ra5# checkmate) 41.Rxb5+ Kxb5 42.Qb7+ Kc5 43.Qxc8+ ] 33...Kb6 [Analysis:Shredder 8: (a) 33...Kb8?? 34.Qb7#; (b) 33...Kc6 34.Qb7+ Kc5 the only move 35.Qc7+ Kb4 the only move 36.Qxc2 Now White threatens:37.Qc3+ Ka4 38.Qa3# 36...Rc4 (the only move to prevent 37.Qc3+) 37.Nxc4 Nxc4 38.a3+ Kc5 (38...Ka5 39.Rd6 Nxa3 40.Qc7+ Kb4 (40...Ka4 41.Rxa6+ Kb4 (41...Kb3 42.Qc3#) 42.Qc3#) 41.Qc3+) 39.b4+ Kb6 (39...Kc6 40.Qe4+ Kb6 (40...Kc7 41.Rxf7+ Kb6 (41...Kc8 42.Qb7#; 41...Kb8 42.Qb7#) 42.Qb7#) ) 40.Rxf7 Rc8 41.Rd6+ Nxd6 42.Qf2+ Kc6 43.Qc5#] 34.Qb7+ She forces his king to a5. 34...Ka5 [Analysis:Shredder 8: 34...Kc5?? 35.Qc7+ Kb4 (the only move) 36.Qxc2 Ka5 37.Qc5 Rb8 38.Rxf4 f5 39.Ra4+ Kxa4 40.Qa3#] 35.Qa7 Creating the game ending threat of: 36.Nb7+ Ka4 37.Qxa6+ Kb4 38.Qa3+ Kc4 39.Qc5# 35...b4 [Analysis Shredder 8:(a)Worse is: 35...Rb8?? 36.Qxb8; (b)Worse is 35...Rxf1 36.Nb7+ Kb4 (36...Ka4?? 37.Qxa6+ Kb4 38.Qa3+ Kc4 39.Na5#) 37.Qd4+ Nc4 38.Qc5+ Ka4 39.b3+ Qxb3 40.axb3+ Kxb3 41.Rxf1 ; (c)Worse is 35...Rxg4 36.Nb7+ Kb4 (36...Ka4 37.Qxa6+ Kb4 38.Qa3+ Kc4 39.Na5#) 37.Qxa6 Qxb2+ 38.Kxb2 Nc4+ 39.Ka1 Rg3 40.Rf4 Ra8 41.Rxc4+ bxc4 42.Qb6+ Ka3 43.Qc5+ Ka4 44.Qxc4+ Ka3 45.Qc5+ Ka4 46.Rd4#]
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 36.Rfe1 Which threatens 37.Rxe5+ Qc5 38.Rxc5+ Ka4 39.Qxa6# 36...Nf3? This leads to a forced checkmate in 8,however Topalov's time has run out as there are no good continuations for him. [Analysis:Shredder 8:(a) 36...f6 37.Nb7+ Kb5 (37...Ka4?? 38.Qxa6#) 38.Rc1 Ra8 ((1) 38...Qa4?? 39.Qc5#; (2) 38...Qd3?? 39.Qc5+ Ka4 the only move 40.Qa5#) ; (b) 36...Nd3?? 37.Rxd3 Re4 (37...Qxd3 38.Re5+ Qd5 (38...Ka4 39.b3+ Qxb3 (39...Ka3 40.Ra5#) 40.Qxa6#) 39.Qc7+ Ka4 the only move 40.b3+ Ka3 the only move 41.Qc1#) 38.Nxe4 Rc8 39.Nd2 Qc1+ (39...Qa4 40.Nb3+ Qxb3 (40...Kb5 41.Re5+ Rc5 42.Rxc5#) 41.axb3 (41.Re5+ Qd5 (41...Ka4 42.axb3#) 42.Rexd5+ exd5 43.Rxd5+ Rc5 (43...Ka4 44.Qxa6#) 44.Rxc5+ Ka4 the only move 45.Qxa6#) 41...f6 42.Rd6 Rc1+ 43.Rxc1 Kb5 44.Qxa6#) 40.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 41.Nb1 the only move 41...b3 (41...Kb5 42.Rd6 Rc6 43.Qb7+ Ka5 44.Rxc6 e5 45.Rxa6#) 42.Rxb3 Rc6 43.Qb7 Rc4 44.Qb6+ Ka4 the only move 45.Qxa6#]
Oct-24-06 Albertan: 37.Rc1 Attacking Topalovs' queen and threatening 38.Rxc2 Rc8 39.Rc5+ Rxc5 40.Nb7+ Ka4 41.Qxa6+ Ra5 42.Qxa5# [37.Nb7+ Kb5 38.Rd6 Qc6 39.Rxc6 Kxc6 40.Qxa6+ Kc7 41.Rc1+ Rc4 42.Rxc4+ Kd7 43.Qd6+ Ke8 44.Rc8#] 37...Nxe1 [Analysis:Shredder 8:(a) 37...Re4 38.Red1 Rd4 39.Nb7+ Kb5 (39...Ka4?? 40.Qxa6#) 40.a4+ bxa3 41.Rxc2 Rxd1+ 42.Ka2 threatening: 43.Qc5+ Ka4 44.Qa5# which forces: 42... 42...Ra1+ a) 42...Rd5 43.Rc5+ Ka4 (43...Rxc5 44.Qxc5+ Ka4 45.Qc4#) 44.Qxa6+ Kb4 45.Qxa3#; b) 42...Ka4 43.Qxa6+ Kb4 44.bxa3#; c) 42...Rd7 43.Qc5+ Ka4 44.Rc4#; ; (b) 37...Nd2 38.Re5+ Qc5 (38...Ka4 39.Qxa6#) ; (c) 37...Qa4?? 38.Qc7#] 38.Rxc2 Nxc2+ 39.Kb1 the only move and Topalov resigned before making his 39th move. One continuation is: [39.Kb1 Na3+ 40.bxa3 bxa3 41.Qc7+ (41.Nxf7 is a weaker possibility 41...Rc8 42.Qg1 Rxf7 ) 41...Kb4 (41...Ka4 42.Qc6+ Kb4 43.Qb6+ Kc3 44.Qe3+ Kb4 45.Qxf4+ Kc5 46.Ne4+ Kc4 47.Ng3+ Kd5 48.Qe4+ Kc5 49.Qe5+ Kc6 50.Qxh8 ) 42.Kc2 ] 1-0

Slavian34 a dit…

Je ne pense pas que ce soit un contre-coup d'Elista, Topalov ne joue pas bien parce que... Danailov, son manager, n'est pas la!!

Si je ne m'abuse, il devrait arriver aujourd'hui a Essent et les choses vont changer! vous verrez!

Plus serieusement, je voulais rappeler que ce n'est pas parce que le championnat du monde est fini qu'il faut oublier ce que ces 2 lascars ont fait (car personne ne me fera croire que Topalov est completement innocent sur ce coup la). De plus, pour cerner le personnage de Danailov, lisez le 4eme commentaire de http://www.chessninja.com/dailydirt/2006/07/moro_on_a_mission.htm Bref, ce mossieu n'a rien a faire dans le monde des echecs...

Sinon, je pense vraiment qu'apres Elista, la pression, motivation, etc, Topalov subit le contre coup et ce fut p-e une erreur d'avoir programme ce tournoi si tot apres le match mondial...

Kramnik lui aura un peu plus de temps pour decompresser avant son match contre fritz... et puis il est champion du monde, ca aide!