[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 $132 {White's Ng5
will jump to e6 and will be exchanged by Bc8. Pe6 will be rather more of
weakness than a powerful P. White will not be able to protect the Pe6 and
therefore the opening results are in Black's favour.} 13. Rb1 {A new move.
However, the evaluation of the position doesn't change.} h6 ({Postny,E} 13...
Nh5 14. c5 Nf4 15. Bc4 fxe4 (15... dxc5 16. bxc5 Nexd5 {was tested in the game
van Wely-Stellwagen/Maastricht 2005}) 16. Ngxe4 Nf5 17. g3 Nh3+ 18. Kg2 Nd4 19.
Rf1 a5 20. Ne2 $14 {1-0 Landa,K (2608)-Chevelevitch,E (2422)/Hamburg GER 2007/
The Week in Chess 656 (36)}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 {Ftacnik: 'The pawn on e6
can become weak, but also a very unpleasant factor depending on the results of
the play with the other pieces. '} fxe4 ({Postny,E} 15... Nc6 16. Nd5 fxe4 17.
fxe4 {leads to the same position as in the game.}) 16. fxe4 Nc6 17. Nd5 Ng8 ({
Not} 17... Nxe4 $2 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Qxg6 $16) 18. Bd3 (18. Rf1 Rxf1+ 19. Bxf1
Nd4 20. Qg4 c6 $15 {[%csl Re6]}) 18... Nd4 19. Qg4 g5 ({Bad is} 19... c6 $2 {
in view of the obvious piece sacrifice:} 20. Qxg6 cxd5 21. exd5 Nf6 22. Bxh6
$16 {[%csl Rh8][%cal Ge1f1]}) (19... Kh7 $6 {Ftacnik} 20. Be3 Nf6 21. Qh3 $16)
20. Qh3 {'?!' Ftacnik.  Ftacnik: 'Ponomariov was really suffering in Wijk and
it was not only because of the feud with FIDE. In a chess sense he was clearly
out of form and was often choosing weaker solutions.'} (20. h4 $1 {Ftacnik}
gxh4 ({Postny,E} 20... Nf6 $1 21. Qg3 Nxe6 (21... gxh4 $2 22. Qxh4 Nxe6 23.
Bxh6 Nh7 24. Bxg7+ Kxg7 25. Qg4+ Nhg5 26. Rf1 c6 27. Ne3 $16) 22. hxg5 Nxd5 23.
exd5 (23. gxh6 $2 Bf6 24. exd5 Bh4 $17) 23... Nxg5 {White has sufficient
compensation for the pawn thanks to the light-squared bishop, but hardly more.}
) 21. Be3 Nf6 $1 (21... c6 {Ftacnik} 22. Bxd4 exd4 (22... cxd5 {Ftacnik} 23.
exd5 exd4 24. Qg6 Nf6 25. e7 $18) 23. e5 $18) 22. Qxh4 Nxe6 23. Bxh6 Kg8 $14)
20... c6 21. Ne3 Qf6 22. Ng4 ({Probably better was} 22. Nf5 Nxe6 23. Rf1 Nf4
24. Bxf4 exf4 (24... gxf4 {Ftacnik} 25. c5 $11) 25. c5 $1 {It is very easy to
be wiser after the event, and to evaluate this position wasn't easy. The g5-g4
threat looks dangerous, but it isn't.} Ne7 26. Nxd6 a5 (26... g4 $2 27. Qxg4
Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Qxd3 29. Qd7 $1 $18 {[%csl Rd3,Re7][%cal Gd6f7]}) 27. bxa5 (27. a3
axb4 28. axb4 Ra3 $17 {[%cal Ga3h3]}) 27... Rxa5 28. Qd7 Ng6 29. Rxb7 Ne5 {
[%csl Rd3][%cal Ge5d3]} 30. Qc7 $132 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gc7a5]}) 22... Qe7 ({An
approximately equal position after} 22... Qxe6 23. Bxg5 Nf6 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25.
Nxf6 Qxh3 26. gxh3 Nf3+ $11) 23. Be3 $6 (23. Ne3 $142 Qxe6 24. Qxe6 Nxe6 25.
Nf5 Rad8 26. Be3 $44) 23... Nxe6 24. g3 Qd7 (24... Nd4 {[%cal Gd4f3]} 25. Rf1
Qe6 $15 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. Rf5 $11) 25. Rf1 d5 $6 $44 {This move allows the
pair of BB to play.} (25... Nd4 $142 $15) 26. Rf5 $2 $17 {Ftacnik: 'The real
reason behind white's loss, any other solution to the  problems in the center
was stronger.'} ({Why not} 26. cxd5 $1 cxd5 27. Rxf8 (27. Rbc1 $5 $44) (27.
Rbd1 {Ftacnik} Rxf1+ 28. Bxf1 d4 29. Bc4 $13) 27... Rxf8 28. Bxa7 Rf3 {[%csl
Rd3][%cal Ge6f4,Gf4h3]} 29. Ne3 (29. Be2 Nf4 $19) (29. Nf2 Nf6 30. exd5 Qxd5
$17) 29... d4 30. Bc4 Rxe3 31. Bxe6 Qc7 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Gb7b6]} 32. Rf1 $44) (
26. exd5 $5 {Ftacnik} cxd5 27. Nf2 Rae8 28. Rbd1 $11) 26... dxc4 27. Bxc4 Nd4
28. Rxf8 Rxf8 {White BB still aren't dangerous, Qh3 is passively placed.[%csl
Rh3]} 29. Qh5 $6 $19 ({More stubborn was} 29. Kg2 Qe8 $17 {[%csl Rh3]}) 29...
Qd6 30. Kg2 b5 {Ftacnik: 'An excellent move, after which Radjabov will
definitely start a decisive counter attack.'} 31. Bf7 Nc2 32. Bc5 Qd2+ 33. Nf2
({Loses} 33. Kg1 Ne1 34. Nf2 Nf6 35. Qg6 Ng4 36. h3 Nxf2 37. Bxf2 Nf3+ 38. Kg2
g4 39. h4 Qe2 $19 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gf3d2]}) 33... Nf6 34. Qg6 ({In case of} 34.
Rd1 Ne3+ {Black eventually wins:} 35. Bxe3 Qxe3 36. Qg6 Qe2 37. h3 Qb2 $1 {
[%cal Gb2e5]} 38. a3 g4 $1 ({Not} 38... Nxe4 39. Qxe4 Rxf7 40. Rd8+ Bf8 41. Qe3
Kg7 $17) 39. hxg4 Nxg4 40. Qxg4 Rxf7 41. Rf1 Qxa3 42. Qc8+ Rf8 43. Qxc6 Qxb4
$19) 34... Ng4 $1 {Better than} (34... Nxe4 $2 35. Rd1 Qe2 36. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 37.
Nxe4 Rxf7 $17) 35. Kg1 Nce3 36. Bxe3 Nxe3 37. h4 Qe2 38. Qh5 g4 0-1

[Event "Maastricht m"]
[Site "Maastricht"]
[Date "2005.05.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Stellwagen, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2532"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2005.05.10"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Nh5 13. c5 Nf4 14. Bc4 Kh8 {A
natural reaction to White's last move.} (14... a5 15. bxa5 (15. b5 $1 h6 16.
Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 dxc5 18. Qd7 $14 {Tsesarsky}) 15... Rxa5 16. cxd6 Qxd6 17.
Qb3 Kh8 18. Nb5 Qf6 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Ne6 Bxe6 21. e5 Qh4 22. dxe6 Nc6 23. Rad1
Nxe5 24. Bf1 {1/2-1/2 Goloshchapov,A (2550)-Golubev,M (2526)/Ordzhonikidze
2001/CBM 086}) 15. Rb1 $5 {White is waiting for h7-h6 before putting his
knight on e6. Meanwhile he moves his rook off the potentially dangerous
diagonal h8-a1. With this move, however, White is ready to sacrifice a pawn.
It seems that van Wely came with a well prepared idea.} (15. Ne6 Bxe6 (15...
Nxe6 16. dxe6 Nc6 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Nb5 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 Qb6+ 20. Be3 Qxb5 21.
Qxd6 fxe4 22. fxe4 Nd4 23. a4 Qd3 24. Bxd4 exd4 $11 {0-1 Mihajlovic,V (2314)
-Popovic,D (2496)/Vrnjacka Banja 2006/CBM 112 ext (36)}) 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. fxe4
Nc6 18. Be3 (18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. Qxd6 Qg5 21. Qd2 (21. g3 Nh3+ 22.
Kg2 Rf2+ 23. Kh1 Qf6 24. Qd1 Rd8 25. Bd5 Nxb4 $17) 21... a6 22. Nc7 (22. Nc3
Nd4 23. Kh1 Rac8 24. Bf1 Qe7 $17) 22... Nd4 23. Kh1 Rac8 $19 {0-1 Berkvens,J 
(2444)-Efimenko,Z (2495)/Hengelo 2001/CBM 083 ext (33)}) 18... Nd4 19. Rc1 dxc5
20. bxc5 Nfxe6 21. c6 bxc6 22. Bxe6 Nxe6 23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $17 {1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,
V (2604)-Efimenko,Z (2439)/Lausanne 2001/CBM 082 ext (37)}) (15. g3 h6 16. Ne6
(16. gxf4 exf4 17. e5 hxg5 18. exd6 cxd6 19. Bb2 Bd7 (19... dxc5 20. bxc5 Qa5
21. Qb3 Qxc5+ 22. Kg2 $16 {[%cal Gb2a3]}) 20. Qd2 Ng8 (20... dxc5 $142 21. bxc5
Qa5 {[%csl Rc5]} 22. Qf2 Rae8 $13) 21. b5 dxc5 22. d6 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Nf6 24. Re7
Qa5 25. Rae1 a6 26. Qg2 g4 27. Qd2 g5 28. h4 gxf3 29. hxg5 f2 30. Kg2 fxe1=N+
31. Qxe1 f3+ 32. Kxf3 Nh5 33. Qh4 Be8 34. Rxe8 {1-0 Korobov,A (2554)-Bogner,S 
(2361)/Aarhus 2005/CBM 107 ext}) 16... Nxe6 17. dxe6 Nc6 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nb5
Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Qb6+ 21. Be3 Qxb5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. a4 Qxb4 24. Rb1 Qa3 25. Rxb7
Nd8 26. Bc1 Qc5+ 27. Be3 Qa3 28. Bc1 Qc5+ 29. Be3 Qa3 {1/2-1/2 Najer,E (2579)
-Voitsekhovsky,S (2513)/St Petersburg 2002/EXT 2003}) 15... dxc5 {Stellwagen
accepts the challenge.} (15... a6 {This is too slow.} 16. Kh1 h6 17. Ne6 Nxe6 (
17... Bxe6 18. dxe6 fxe4 19. fxe4 Nc6 20. cxd6 cxd6 21. b5 Nd4 22. bxa6 bxa6
23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Ne2 Nxe2 25. Qxe2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Liang Chong (2524)-Ye
Jiangchuan (2648)/Xiapu 2005/CBM 106 ext (34)}) 18. dxe6 Nc6 19. b5 Nd4 (19...
axb5 20. Nxb5 dxc5 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Nxc7 $14) 20. bxa6 bxa6 21. Ba3 Re8 22.
Bd5 c6 (22... Ra7 23. Rb8 {[%csl Gb8][%cal Gb8h8]} Nxe6 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Qb3
$16) 23. cxd6 $1 Bxe6 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Bc5 $1 $16 {1-0 Bareev,E (2729)
-Radjabov,T (2624)/Wijk aan Zee 2003/CBM 093 (32)[%csl Gd6]}) (15... fxe4 $6
16. Ngxe4 Nf5 17. g3 Nh3+ 18. Kg2 Nd4 19. Rf1 g5 20. Ne2 Nxe2 21. Qxe2 $16 {
1-0 Gyimesi,Z (2553)-Brustman,A (2360)/Cappelle la Grande 2004/CBM 099 ext (43)
}) (15... Nexd5 $2 16. Nxd5 Qxg5 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nxc7 Rb8 19. cxd6 $18 {1/
2-1/2 Van Wely,L (2685)-Mutschnik,I (2410)/Kuppenheim 2005/EXT 2006 (48)}) 16.
bxc5 (16. d6 $6 cxb4 17. Nb5 (17. dxe7 $6 Qxe7 18. Nf7+ Rxf7 19. Bxf7 bxc3 $17)
17... Nc6 18. Nf7+ Rxf7 19. Bxf7 cxd6 20. Nxd6 Nd4 21. Bxf4 Qxd6 22. Be3 Bd7
$15) 16... Nexd5 17. Nxd5 (17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nb5 h6 $3 (18... Qe7 $2 19. exd5
Qxc5+ 20. Kh1 Qxc4 21. Re7 $16) (18... Qxg5 $2 19. exd5 Qd8 20. d6 cxd6 21.
Nxd6 $16) 19. exd5 hxg5 20. d6 cxd6 21. Nxd6 Kh7 {and Black is not worse.})
17... Qxg5 18. Nxf4 exf4 19. e5 {White has certain compensation for the pawn.
Black has difficulties developing his queenside pieces.} Qe7 20. Qb3 Re8 (20...
Qxc5+ 21. Kh1 {[%cal Gc1a3]} Qe7 22. e6 g5 23. Ba3 c5 24. Bd5 {and White will
crash through soon.[%csl Rc5][%cal Gb1c1]}) 21. Bxf4 b6 {Trying to open the
"a" file for the queenside rook.} 22. Qe3 (22. cxb6 axb6 23. e6 Ra3 24. Qb4
Qxb4 25. Rxb4 Bc3 26. Bxc7 $1 {Both rooks are taboo in view of 27.Be5.} Ba6 $1
27. Be5+ Bxe5 28. Rxe5 Bxc4 29. Rxc4 Rxa2 $11) (22. e6 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 Bb7 24.
Rbd1 Bc6 {and Black develops somehow.}) 22... Be6 23. Bb5 Rec8 24. Bc6 Rab8 25.
Rbc1 Bf8 26. Bg5 $4 {A pity that van Wely should spoil the game by this one
move blunder.} (26. Qf2 {would keep the position approximately balanced.})
26... Qxc5 $1 27. Rxc5 $2 (27. Qf2 $17) 27... Bxc5 28. Kf2 Bxe3+ 29. Kxe3 b5
$19 30. Kd4 b4 31. Kc5 b3 32. axb3 Rxb3 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. Kxd5 Kg7 35. Ke6 c5
36. Bf6+ Kf8 37. Kd7 Re8 38. Bg7+ Kf7 39. e6+ Rxe6 40. Rxe6 Kxg7 41. h4 Kh6 0-1

[Event "NED-ch"]
[Site "Leeuwarden"]
[Date "2005.09.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Stellwagen, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2005.09.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 c6 13. Kh1 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6
Ne8 16. Qb3 ({Postny,E} 16. b5 c5 $6 (16... Qc8 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Qb3 Qxe6 19.
Qb7 Nf6 $15) 17. Nd5 Nc7 18. Nxc7 Qxc7 19. exf5 gxf5 20. g4 $1 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rf6
22. gxf5 Nxf5 23. Bd3 {with strong play on the light squares. 1-0 Lima,D (2440)
-Romero Holmes,A (2425)/Leon 1996/CBM 054/[Hazai] (37)}) 16... Nc7 17. c5 ({
Postny,E} 17. Be3 Kh7 (17... fxe4 18. fxe4 Nxe6 19. c5 d5 20. exd5 cxd5 21.
Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bc4 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Kh7 24. Bxe6 a5 $11) 18. c5 d5 19. exd5 cxd5
20. Rad1 d4 21. Nb5 Ncd5 22. Bg1 a5 23. a3 axb4 24. axb4 Nc6 25. Bc4 Ndxb4 26.
Nxd4 exd4 27. e7 Nxe7 28. Qxb4 Qc7 29. Rb1 Rab8 30. Qb6 Rfc8 31. Bf7 Nc6 32.
Bd5 Qxb6 33. Rxb6 Bf8 34. Bxc6 Rxc6 35. Bxd4 Rxb6 36. cxb6 $11 {1/2-1/2
Degraeve,J (2410)-Howell,J (2525)/Groningen 1995/CBM 050 ext (42)}) 17... d5
18. exd5 cxd5 19. Bb2 Qe8 {A very unfortunate position for Van Wely. It's
interesting that also in his two previous games which reached this position he
sacrificed a piece on d5 in different versions, but scored only half a point
in three games. Nevertheless the sacrifice on d5 is very interesting,
especially in the current game.} ({Postny,E  A worthy alternative for Black is
} 19... b6 $5 20. c6 (20. cxb6 axb6 21. Rad1 Qe8 (21... d4 $5 22. Nb5 Ncd5 23.
Bc4 f4 $132 {black's knight will be very strong on e3.}) 22. Nxd5 Ncxd5 23.
Rxd5 Nxd5 24. Qxd5 Qe7 {White has enough for the exchange, but not more.})
20... Kh7 21. Rad1 Nxc6 22. Nxd5 Nxe6 23. Nxb6 Qxb6 24. Qxe6 Rfe8 {1/2-1/2 Van
Wely,L (2655)-Nijboer,F (2584)/Hilversum 2006/CBM 113} 25. Qb3 Nd4 26. Bxd4
exd4 $11) 20. a4 (20. Nxd5 Ncxd5 21. Rad1 Kh7 $1 22. Bc4 Nf6 23. Bxe5 b5 24.
Bf1 a6 25. g3 Ra7 26. Bd6 Qa8 27. Bg2 a5 28. a3 Re8 29. Qd3 axb4 30. axb4 Ra2
$1 $17 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Kotronias,V/Gothenburg SWE 2005/ CBM 109[Mikhalevski,V].
(45)}) (20. Rad1 Rd8 21. a4 a6 {led to the text in the game Bareev,E-Topalov,V,
Candidates 2002. See 20.a4.}) 20... a6 21. Rad1 (21. Nxd5 Ncxd5 22. Rad1 Qc6
23. Bc4 Rfd8 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 Nf6 26. Ree1 b5 27. Qc3 Nfd5 28. Bxd5 Rxd5
29. axb5 axb5 30. Qf6 Qe8 31. Qh4 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Rd8 33. Rd6 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van
Wely,L-Kotronias,V/Warsaw POL 2005/The Week in Chess 555 (45).  (44)}) 21...
Rd8 {Now the game transposes to Bareev,E-Topalov,V, Candidates 2002. See below.
} 22. Nxd5 $5 {Probably Loek didn't like either his games against Kotronias or
the original game with 22.b5 and so he prepared this interesting sacrifice in
a new version. It turns out that Black can't prevent the penetration of the
white rook to d7 without sacrificing an exchange.} (22. b5 {led to big
complications after} Kh7 23. Ba3 Nxe6 24. bxa6 Nd4 25. Qxb7 Rb8 26. Qc7 Nc2 27.
Nb5 $13 {in Bareev,E-Topalov,Candidates semifinal2 2002/CBM90[Ftacnik].}) 22...
Rxd5 $1 {Black correctly exchanges a pair of rooks, otherwise his rook on d8
would be very passive.} (22... Ncxd5 $6 23. Bc4 Nf6 (23... Qc6 24. b5 axb5 25.
axb5 Qxc5 (25... Qxe6 26. Bxe5 $1 Bxe5 27. f4 $16 {[%csl Rd5,Re5]})) (23... Nf4
24. Rd7 $1 Kh7 25. Red1 $16) (23... e4 24. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Qe7 26. Bxg7
Kxg7 27. fxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $16) 24. Bxe5 $16) ({White's idea behind the
sacrifice can be seen very clearly after} 22... Nexd5 $6 23. Bc4 Qxe6 24. Bxe5
$1 {White sacrifices another piece and then recovers everything and eventually
ends up with an extra pawn.} Bxe5 25. f4 {[%csl Rd5,Re5][%cal Ge1e5]} b5 $1 26.
cxb6 Qxb6 27. Rxe5 $16 {[%csl Rd5]}) 23. Bc4 $1 Rxd1 {Black decides to keep
his extra material and try to stop White's initiative.} ({After} 23... Rd4 $5 {
preventing the penetration of the white rook to d7} 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. b5 axb5
26. axb5 {Black's position is passive, but defensible.}) 24. Rxd1 {[%cal Gd1d7]
} Qb8 {[%cal Gb7b5]} 25. Rd7 $36 {White's compensation for the sacrificed
piece can be seen by the naked eye, though White has only one pawn for it.
Black is very passive and can hardly move, but he has one idea of counterplay
which was missed by Van Wely.[%csl Re7,Rg8]} Bf6 $6 ({In case of} 25... Re8 $5
{White can play[%cal Gb7b5]} 26. b5 $1 {preventing Black's counterplay
connected with b5! Though still it looks better than the game.}) 26. f4 $5 {
This move allows Black to obtain some counterplay, but eventually White is on
top anyway. I wonder whether Van Wely was still in his home preparation.} (26.
Qe3 $1 {with a double attack on e5 and h6 and also preventing b5 was strong.
[%csl Rb6,Re5,Rh6]}) 26... b5 $1 {The only possible counterplay.} 27. cxb6 Qxb6
28. fxe5 Qf2 $5 {A good practical chance, which eventually brought Black the
victory, however it shouldn't have changed the evaluation of the position as
good for White.} ({After} 28... Bg5 29. Bd4 Qc6 30. Bc5 Re8 31. Qf3 $1 $16 {
Black has to solve serious problems.}) 29. Qd1 $6 {It's hard to believe that
this natural move is an inaccuracy.} (29. Qf3 $1 {was correct and now after
[%csl Rb2,Rc7,Rf6]} Qxb2 (29... Qe1+ 30. Qf1 $18 {is hopeless for Black.}) 30.
exf6 Qc1+ 31. Qf1 Qxf1+ 32. Bxf1 Ned5 33. Bxa6 $1 Nxa6 $1 (33... Rxf6 34. Bc4
$1 Rxe6 35. Kg1 Kf8 36. Bxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5 Re4 38. Rb5 $18 {and eventually
White wins.}) 34. Rxd5 Nc7 (34... Rxf6 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. e7 $18) 35. f7+ $1 Kg7
36. e7 Rxf7 37. Rd7 (37. Re5 $5 Ne8 38. b5 $1 Kf6 39. b6 $1 Kxe5 40. b7 Rxe7
41. b8=Q+ {and White wins thanks to the passed a -pawn.[%csl Ga4]}) 37... Ne8
38. b5 $1 (38. a5 Kf6 $1 39. a6 $140 Rxe7 $1 40. Rxe7 Kxe7 41. a7 Nc7 42. b5
Na8 $1 $19) 38... Rf6 39. a5 Re6 40. Kg1 $16 {and the b and a-pawns are very
dangerous.[%csl Ga5,Gb5]}) 29... Bg5 30. Bd4 $1 Qh4 31. Rxc7 {Now it may seem
that White is clearly better, but Black still has an important resource of
counterattack.} Rd8 $1 {[%csl Rd4]} 32. Rd7 Rc8 $1 33. Bf1 $1 (33. Bc5 Rxc5 34.
bxc5 Qxc4 35. Rc7 {[%cal Gd1d8]} Kg7 $1 {looks good for Black.}) 33... Rc1 {
Now Black's rook also penetrates to White's camp and starts to create problems.
} 34. Qe2 $6 {White prevents penetration of the black queen to e1, but allows
her centralization.[%csl Ge1]} ({White would still maintain an advantage with} 
34. Qf3 Qe1 35. Kg1 Qxb4 36. Qa8+ $1 Kg7 37. Qxa6 $16) 34... Qe4 $1 35. Bg1 $2
{This is already a serious mistake.} ({After the correct} 35. Qxa6 $1 f4 $1 (
35... Qe1 36. Kg1 Be3+ 37. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 38. Kh1 Qe1 39. Qa8+ $1 Rc8 40. Qf3 Rc1
41. g3 $16) 36. Bg1 f3 $1 37. Qb6 Rxf1 38. Qd8+ Kh7 39. Rxe7+ Bxe7 40. Qxe7+
Kg8 41. Qf7+ Kh8 {White forces a perpetual.}) 35... Qb1 $1 {Wins a piece.[%csl
Rf1,Rg1]} 36. Qxa6 Rxf1 37. Qb6 {Even though Black has won a piece the
position remains unclear thanks to White's passed pawns.[%cal Gb6d8]} Kh8 $1 {
Black prepares to meet Qd8+ with Ng8.[%cal Ge7g8]} (37... Rxg1+ 38. Qxg1 Qxb4
39. Qa1 Qa5 $1 {leads to an approximately equal position.}) 38. a5 Re1 {
Renewing the threat of Be3.[%cal Gg5e3]} (38... Qe4 $1 39. Rd8+ Kg7 40. Re8
Qxe5 $19 {and Black prepares Be3.[%cal Gh6h5]}) 39. Qc5 (39. Rd8+ $5 Kg7 40.
Re8 h5 $13 {leads to the game. See 41.Rd8+.}) 39... Rc1 40. Qb6 Re1 {Black has
decided to force a draw.[%cal Gg5e3]} 41. Rd8+ $2 {Loek can't believe that he
spoiled his great position and eventually loses.} Kg7 42. Re8 h5 $1 43. Qc5 Rc1
$1 44. Qd4 (44. Rxe7+ $2 {loses to} Kh6) 44... Qe4 $5 {A good practical
solution.} ({Black had a brilliant idea at his disposal.} 44... Nd5 $1 {Now
after} 45. e7 {he allows White another queen!} Be3 $3 46. Rg8+ $1 Kh7 $1 (46...
Kxg8 47. Qxd5+ Kg7 48. Qg8+ $3 Kxg8 49. e8=Q+ Kg7 50. Qe7+ Kh6 51. Qf8+ Kg5 52.
Qf6+ Kh6 (52... Kf4 $6 53. Qh4+ Kxe5 54. Qe7+ Kd5 55. Qxe3 {is dangerous for
Black.}) 53. Qh8+ $11 {with perpetual.}) 47. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 48. e8=Q+ Kg7 $1 (
48... Kh7 49. Qf7+ $11) 49. Qxe3 Nxe3 50. Qe7+ Kh6 51. Qf8+ Kg5 52. Qf6+ Kf4 (
52... Kg4 $4 53. Qxg6+ Kf4 54. Qg3+ Ke4 55. Qxe3+ Kd5 56. a6 $18) 53. Qh4+ Ng4
54. Qg3+ Ke4 55. Qf3+ Kxe5 56. Qe2+ Kf6 57. Qa6+ Kg5 {and Black escapes the
checks.}) 45. Qa7 (45. Qxe4 fxe4 {also looks hopeless for White.}) 45... Qxb4 {
[%csl Ge7]} 46. a6 f4 47. Qf2 (47. h3 $5) 47... Qb5 $1 48. Ra8 Rf1 $1 49. Qd4
f3 $1 $19 {Black finishes the game by a direct attack on the white king.} 50.
gxf3 Qe2 (50... Qe2 {[%csl Rh1][%cal Ge2f3,Gg5e3]} 51. Qe4 Qf2 $19) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2005.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2005.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 {This is already not the first
time Radjabov makes this prophylactic move taking his king away from the a2-g8
diagonal and freeing the g8-square, but this time he will face a very
unpleasant surprise.} ({After the following recent game the move} 12... c6 {
doesn't look too convincing.} 13. Kh1 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Ne8 16. Qb3 Nc7
17. c5 d5 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Bb2 Qe8 20. a4 a6 21. Rad1 Rd8 22. Nxd5 $1 {with a
very strong initiative in Van Wely,L-Stellwagen,D, NED-ch Leeuwarden 2005/CBM
110 [Mikhalevski,V].}) 13. Ne6 $1 {A surprising novelty from van Wely, which
worked very well. Usually White is not in a hurry with this move and prefers
to win a tempo, so he plays Ne6 only after the knight was attacked.} ({Other
possible moves} 13. Be3) (13. Rb1) 13... Bxe6 14. dxe6 fxe4 {Maybe later it
will be discovered that this exchange is not necessary, but right now I can't
offer anything better.} (14... Qc8 $6 {is senseless in view of} 15. Nd5 $1 {
[%csl Re7]}) ({Postny,E:  One year later Radjabov unleashed an improvement} 
14... Nh5 $1) 15. fxe4 Nc6 {Black intends to jump to d4 in order to attack the
e6-pawn, which is very annoying.[%cal Gc6d4]} 16. Nd5 $1 {Not allowing 16...
Nd4, but temporarily sacrificing a pawn.} Nxe4 $1 {Radjabov accepts the
challenge bravely. He's ready to check Loek's home preparation.} (16... Nd4 $4
17. e7 $18 {[%csl Rd8,Rf8]}) 17. Bf3 $1 {The h1-a8 diagonal was opened and so
with the last two moves White exploits weakness of the b7-pawn.[%csl Rb7]} Nf6
18. b5 $1 Nxd5 $1 ({Black correctly rejects} 18... e4 {which seems to lose in
all lines.} 19. Bxe4 (19. bxc6 Nxd5 {could transpose to the game if Radjabov
played 19...e4 instead of 19...Nb6.}) 19... Nxd5 (19... Nxe4 20. Rxe4 $1 Bxa1
21. bxc6 {Creating a threat of e7.[%cal Ge6e7]} Qb8 22. Bh6 Be5 23. Rxe5 $1
dxe5 24. Qa1 $1 Rf5 25. g4 $1 $18 {with a decisive advantage for White.[%csl
Re5,Rh8]}) 20. Bxd5 Bxa1 (20... Ne7 21. Rb1 Nxd5 22. cxd5 $16) 21. bxc6 Be5 (
21... Qe7 22. cxb7 Rab8 23. Be3 Bc3 24. Bd4+ Bxd4+ 25. Qxd4+ Kg8 26. Qxa7 $18 {
and Black is doomed as all his pieces are tied to defense and White's passed
pawns are extremely dangerous.}) 22. cxb7 $1 Bxh2+ $1 {The only practical
chance.} (22... Qh4 23. g3 Qd4+ ({Even worse is} 23... Bxg3 24. Bb2+ Be5 (24...
Kg8 25. e7+ Rf7 26. bxa8=Q#) 25. Bxe5+ dxe5 26. bxa8=Q Qf2+ 27. Kh1 $18) 24.
Be3 Qxd1 25. Rxd1 Rae8 26. Bxa7 $18 {with Rb1 or a4 to follow.[%cal Gd1b1,
Ga2a4]}) 23. Kh1 $1 (23. Kxh2 $2 {leads to perpetual.} Qh4+ 24. Kg1 Qf2+ 25.
Kh2 $11) 23... Be5 (23... Qh4 {changes nothing.} 24. Bg5 $1 Qxg5 25. bxa8=Q
Rxa8 26. Bxa8 Be5 (26... Qh4 27. Qd4+ $1 Qxd4 28. e7 $18) 27. Re4 $1 $18) 24.
Qg4 $1 {Preventing Qh4+.[%csl Gh4]} (24. Rxe5 $2 {leads to a draw after} Qh4+
25. Kg1 Qf2+ 26. Kh2 $11) 24... Rb8 25. Bg5 $1 Qe8 26. e7 Rf2 27. Rxe5 $1 dxe5
28. Qe2 $3 $18 {and White wins in style.[%csl Rh8][%cal Gg5f6]}) 19. bxc6 $1 {
The b-pawn aims at b7.} ({The position after} 19. cxd5 Nd4 (19... e4 20. Rxe4
$1 Bxa1 21. dxc6 $1 {[%cal Ge6e7]} Qe7 22. cxb7 Rab8 23. Be3 $1 Bg7 24. Qd5 $1
Rf5 25. Qc6 d5 26. Bc5 $1 Qf6 27. Re1 $18 {and I doubt Black can save the
position.}) 20. Be4 {is less clear than the game, though I believe White is
still better thanks to his protected passed pawn on e6 and the pair of bishops.
[%csl Gd5,Ge6]}) 19... Nb6 $2 {A loss of an important tempo, after which I see
no escape.} ({Probably Radjabov doesn't like geometry, otherwise he would
definitely play} 19... e4 {,which creates "x" letter in the c4-c6-e6-e4 square,
even if it's bad:).} 20. cxd5 (20. Bxe4 $5 Nc3 (20... Bxa1 21. Bxd5 {
transposes to 18...e4.}) 21. Qc2 b6 $1 {and thanks to the idea of a discovered
check on e2 Black has chances to escape.[%csl Ra1,Rg1][%cal Gc3e2]} (21... Nxe4
22. cxb7 Bd4+ 23. Be3 Bxe3+ 24. Rxe3 Qf6 25. Rae1 Rab8 26. Rxe4 $16 {with a
big advantage for White.[%csl Ge6]})) 20... exf3 21. gxf3 (21. e7 $4 f2+ 22.
Kh1 fxe1=Q+ 23. Qxe1 Qxe7 $1 $19 {[%csl Rh1]}) 21... Qc8 (21... Bxa1 22. e7 Qe8
23. cxb7 Rb8 24. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 25. Bh6 $1 Qxh6 26. Qxa1+ Kg8 (26... Qg7 27.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 28. Re7+ Kf6 29. Rxc7 $18 {with a decisive advantage for White.})
27. Qf6 $16 {and Black can hardly breathe.}) 22. cxb7 Qxb7 23. Be3 $14 {and
White is better thanks to his strong protected passer on e6.[%csl Gd5,Ge6]}) (
19... Nc3 $1 {was necessary.} 20. cxb7 Rb8 (20... Nxd1 $4 {loses a rook for
nothing.} 21. bxa8=Q Qxa8 22. Bxa8) (20... e4 21. Qd2 Rb8 (21... exf3 22. e7
f2+ 23. Qxf2 $1 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 {and Black can't avoid material losses.})) 21.
Qc2 Qe8 $1 22. Bd2 Na4 $1 {aiming to come back to c5.[%cal Ga4c5]} 23. Be3 $14
{and though Black retained material equality White's position is  better.}) 20.
cxb7 Rb8 21. c5 $1 {Very energetic play by Van Wely so far. I wouldn't be
surprised if he was still in his home preparation.} e4 {Finally Black opens up
his dark-squared bishop, but his position is already bad.} (21... dxc5 22. Qxd8
Rfxd8 23. Bb2 Nc4 24. Bc3 $16 {and two passed pawns on b7 and e6 ensure White
a clear advantage.[%csl Gb7,Ge6]}) 22. Rxe4 $1 dxc5 $1 {The only move.} (22...
Bxa1 $2 {loses to} 23. e7 Qe8 24. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 25. cxb6 $18) 23. Qxd8 $1 ({In
case of} 23. e7 Qxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Rfe8 $14 {Black is still alive.}) 23... Rfxd8
24. Bg5 $5 {It's curious that starting from move 17 every White move creates a
threat.} (24. Rb1 $5) 24... Re8 $1 {Black has to make one only move after
another to keep playing, but his position remains very difficult.} (24... Bxa1
$2 {loses to} 25. Bxd8 Rxd8 26. e7 Re8 27. Re6 $18 {with Bc6 to follow.}) 25.
Rd1 Bd4+ ({Nor does} 25... h6 26. Bf4 Rxb7 27. e7 Kg8 (27... Bd4+ 28. Rexd4
cxd4 29. Bxb7 $18) 28. Re2 $1 $18 {save the game.[%csl Rb7][%cal Gf3c6]}) 26.
Rexd4 $1 {Simple and strong. White eliminates the only active piece and
obtains a decisive advantage.} (26. Be3 Bxe3+ 27. Rxe3 Nc4 28. Ree1 Na5 {[%cal
Gc7c6,Ge8e7]}) 26... cxd4 27. e7 {White intends to pick up the d4-pawn, play
Bc6 and penetrate to d8 with the rook.} h6 ({In case of} 27... c5 {White has a
number of promising options. F.e.} 28. Bc6 h6 29. Bf6+ Kg8 30. Bxe8 Rxe8 31.
Bxd4 $1 cxd4 32. Rxd4 $18 {with Rd8 to follow.[%csl Gb7,Ge7][%cal Gd4d8]}) 28.
Bf6+ ({Also} 28. Bc6 {is good enough for a win.} hxg5 29. Bxe8 Nd5 30. Rxd4
Nxe7 31. Rd7 $18) 28... Kg8 29. Rxd4 $18 {Black can't stop Rd8 followed by Bc6.
[%cal Gd4d8,Gf3c6]} Kf7 30. Rd8 Nd7 $1 {Black defends resourcefully, but
unfortunately his position is too bad.} ({or} 30... Kxf6 31. Rxe8 $1 Rxe8 32.
Bc6 Rb8 33. e8=Q Rxe8 34. Bxe8 {and eventually White promotes the b-pawn.[%csl
Gb7]}) 31. Bh4 $1 ({Certainly not} 31. Rxd7 $4 Kxf6 {and Black survives.}) ({
Also} 31. Rxe8 $2 Kxe8 32. Bc6 {would be wrong in view of} Rxb7 $1 33. Bxb7
Nxf6 $17) 31... g5 32. Rxd7 Ke6 (32... gxh4 33. Bh5+ Ke6 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 35. Rd8
$18 {Promoting the b-pawn.[%csl Gb7]}) 33. Bg4+ (33. Rd8 $1 {would be more
precise.} Rbxd8 (33... Kxe7 34. Rxe8+ Kxe8 35. Bf2) 34. exd8=Q Rxd8 35. Bg4+
Ke7 36. Bf2 $18 {and White wins.}) 33... Kf6 34. Be1 Rxb7 (34... Rxe7 {is
hopeless as well.} 35. Bc3+ Kf7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37. Bc8 $18) 35. Bc3+ $1 Kg6 {
Black succeeded in not losing by force, but his position remains hopeless. The
e7-pawn will decide the game.} (35... Kf7 36. Bh5+) 36. Bf3 Rb1+ 37. Kf2 {
White prepares Rxc7 followed by Bc6.[%cal Gd7c7,Gf3c6]} Rc1 38. Rxc7 {There is
no defense against Bc6.} Kf5 39. Bh5 Rc2+ 40. Kf3 {I was really impressed by
the way Van Wely smashed a 2700+ player. Moreover his opening novelty is a
serious blow on the 12...Kh8-line.} 1-0

[Event "Rilton Cup 2006-7"]
[Site "Stockholm SWE"]
[Date "2006.12.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Brynell, Stellan"]
[Black "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2502"]
[BlackElo "2587"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2006.12.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 c6 13. Be3 (13. Kh1 {seems to be a
safer alternative.}) 13... Bh6 $1 (13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Qc7 16. Rb1
Rfd8 17. b5 Qc8 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Qa4 Kh7 20. Red1 Qxe6 21. Rb7 Rd7 22. Qa6 $14
{1/2-1/2 Komljenovic,D (2499)-Kuzmin,A (2571)/Benasque 1999/EXT 2001 (42)}) (
13... Ne8 $6 14. c5 cxd5 15. exd5 e4 16. cxd6 Nxd6 17. Bd4 h6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19.
Qd4+ Kg8 20. Ne6 Bxe6 21. dxe6 $16 {1-0 Timoshenko,G (2537)-Motylev,A (2601)/
Ohrid 2001/CBM 084/[Hecht] (44)}) 14. h4 {A risky move, as it weakens the
shelter of the white monarch, but in case of 14.Bd2 White will have to go
backwards.} (14. Bd2 f4 $1 (14... cxd5 $6 15. cxd5 fxe4 16. fxe4 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 {
and now it's bad to win Pb4:} Bxg5 (17... Qxb4 18. Nb5 Qc5 19. Qb3 $16 {[%csl
Rc5][%cal Gd2e3]}) 18. Bxg5 Qxb4 19. Qc1 $16 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gc3b5,Ge1f1]}) (14...
Kg7 $6 15. Qb3 Nh5 16. Rad1 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. dxc6 Nf4 20.
g3 bxc6 21. Rxd6 $14 {0-1 Pogorelov,R (2465)-Avrukh,B (2520)/Linares 1997/CBM
058 (43)}) ({Obviously, nobody tried to win the Pb4:} 14... Qb6+ $2 15. Kh1
Qxb4 16. Rb1 (16. Na4 $2 Qa3 17. Bf1 f4 18. Rb1 Bxg5 19. Bb4 Qxa2 20. Rb2 Qxb2
21. Nxb2 c5 $15) 16... Qa3 (16... Qa5 17. Nb5 Qd8 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. Bxh6 Re8 20.
dxc6 Nxc6 21. Nxd6 $18) 17. Rb3 Qa5 18. Nb5 Qxa2 19. Ra3 Qb2 20. Bc3 Qxa3 21.
Nxa3 Bxg5 22. dxc6 Nxc6 23. Nb5 $16) 15. Nh3 (15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 {Here
White won't get enough for the sacrificed pawn.}) 15... g5 (15... Bxh3 16. gxh3
cxd5 17. cxd5 g5 18. Kh1 Qd7 19. Bf1 Ng6 20. Qe2 Rfc8 21. Rec1 Bf8 22. Be1 $14
{Gutman,L}) 16. Nf2 Kh8 17. a4 Rg8 18. a5 cxd5 19. cxd5 Bf8 20. Rc1 h5 21. h3
Ng6 ({Black's play should be more energetic in this kind of position.} 21... g4
22. fxg4 hxg4 23. hxg4 Bh6 $132 {[%cal Gd8e8,Ge8g6]}) 22. Nb5 Ne8 23. Rc3 Rg7
24. Qc2 Bd7 25. Rc1 Nh4 26. Nc7 Nxc7 27. Rxc7 $16 {1-0 Lobron,E (2585)
-Barcenilla,R (2450)/Yerevan 1996/EXT 1997/[Gutman] (54)}) (14. c5 $5 f4 ({A
lot of messy and spectacular lines arise after} 14... cxd5 $5 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16.
Bc4 Qxb4 (16... b6 17. f4 Bxg5 (17... fxe4 $1 18. Ngxe4 Nxe4 19. Nxd5 (19. Nxe4
$2 Qe6 20. Bb3 Bxf4 $17) 19... Kg7 20. fxe5 Bxe3+ 21. Rxe3 Qxe5 22. Nxe7 Bb7
$15) 18. fxg5 Nxe4 19. Nxd5 Kg7 20. Nf6 Qxd1 (20... Qxb4 21. Bb3 Ba6 22. Qd7
Bb5 23. Qe6 Qd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6 25. Bf4 Nc6 26. Rxe5 Nxe5 27. Bxe5 Nf7 28. Ne8+
Kg8 29. Nf6+ Kg7 $11) 21. Raxd1 Nxf6 (21... Rxf6 $142 22. gxf6+ Kxf6 $14) 22.
gxf6+ Rxf6 (22... Kxf6 $2 23. Bh6 $1 $18 {[%cal Gd1d6,Gh6f8]}) 23. Bg5 e4 24.
Rd8 $16) 17. Nxd5 Qxc4 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. Rc1 Qxa2 20. Rc2 Qa6 21. Nxc8 f4 22.
Bc5 Rfxc8 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Nxh6+ Kg7 25. Ng4 Rxc5 26. Rxc5 Qb6 27. Qc2 Nd7 $17)
15. cxd6 fxe3 16. dxe7 Qxe7 17. d6 Qd8 18. Bc4+ Kg7 19. Ne6+ Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Qb6
21. Ne2 Rad8 22. Qd3 Qxb4 (22... Ne8 23. d7 Nc7 24. Bg4 Qxb4 25. Rab1 Qd2 26.
Qa3 Bg5 27. Qc5 $14) 23. Red1 Ne8 24. d7 Nf6 25. Rab1 Qe7 26. Qc4 Rb8 27. Rd3
Rfd8 28. Rbd1 $44 {1-0 Bareev,E (2702)-Balcerak,J (2413)/Germany 2001/CBM 082
ext (50)}) 14... cxd5 {It is important for Black to make this exchange,
otherwise c4-c5 might be crushing.} (14... f4 $2 15. Bf2 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Nh5 17.
c5 $1 cxd5 18. cxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc5 Qd8 20. Nxd5 $18 {1-0 Polak,T (2481)-Rajlich,
V (2330)/Paks 2001/EXT 2002 (44)}) 15. cxd5 (15. exd5 $2 {This recapture loses
nearly by force!} f4 16. Bf2 Bxg5 17. hxg5 Nh5 18. c5 Nf5 19. Ne4 Nfg3 20. Bxg3
fxg3 21. Bc4 (21. Qd2 Bf5 22. Nxd6 Nf4 $19 {[%cal Gd8g5,Gg5h4,Gh4h2]}) 21...
Bf5 22. Nxd6 Qxg5 {Black's attack is as smooth as the Mediterranian sea on a
quiet day!} 23. Nxf5 Rxf5 24. d6+ Kg7 25. Re4 (25. Qd5 Qh4 $19) 25... Nf4 26.
d7 Qh4 27. Rxf4 Qxf4 28. Be6 Qe3+ 29. Kh1 Qh6+ 30. Kg1 Qh2+ 31. Kf1 Qh1+ 32.
Ke2 Qxg2+ 33. Kd3 Rf4 34. Kc3 Rd4 {0-1 Kotanjian,T (2559)-Kotronias,V (2612)/
Thessaloniki 2007}) 15... Bd7 {Black should not be in a hurry to push f5-f4.
Completing his development, Kotronias keeps all the possibilities open.} (15...
f4 16. Bf2 Bxg5 17. hxg5 {It is rather difficult for Black to capture Pg5,
since the Ne7 is misplaced.} Ne8 (17... Nh5 18. Rc1 (18. Bd3 Bd7 19. Qd2 Nc8
20. Nb5 a6 21. Na3 Qxg5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Orso,M (2346)-Berczes,C (2189)/Budapest
2000/CBM 078 ext (51)}) 18... Ng3 (18... Bd7 19. Bb5 Bc8 20. Bd3 Bd7 21. Bb5
Bc8 22. Ba4 a6 23. b5 Kh8 24. bxa6 Rxa6 25. Bb5 {1/2-1/2 Berkvens,J (2444)
-Smirnov,P (2530)/Patras 2001/CBM 083 ext}) 19. Qd2 Bd7 $6 (19... Nxe2+ $142
20. Qxe2 Bd7 21. Nb5 $14) 20. Bb5 $1 Bc8 {Black recognizes his mistake made on
the previous move.} 21. Ne2 $16 {1-0 Radjabov,T (2483)-Nijboer,F (2578)/Wijk
aan Zee 2001/CBM 081 (69)}) 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. Bb5 Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Nc8 21. Qa4 Rf7
22. Rc2 Qxg5 23. Rec1 Ne7 24. Nc7 Nxc7 25. Rxc7 $18 {1-0 Astrom,R (2425)
-Degerman,L (2500)/Linkoping 1996/EXT 1999 (32)}) (15... Nh5 $6 16. Rc1 Ng3 17.
Qd2 Bd7 18. Bb5 Bxb5 19. Nxb5 fxe4 20. fxe4 Qd7 21. Nc7 Rac8 22. Nce6 $18 {1-0
Savchenko,S (2519)-Volokitin,A (2469)/Cappelle la Grande 2001/CBM 080 ext (29)}
) 16. Rc1 (16. Qd2 a6 $1 (16... f4 17. Bf2 Bxg5 18. hxg5 Nh5 19. Rec1 a6 (19...
Nc8 20. Bb5 $1 {and Black is not in time to capture the Pg5.}) 20. b5 $1 Nc8
21. bxa6 bxa6 22. Rab1 Qxg5 23. Rb7 Rf7 {[%csl Rb7,Rg2][%cal Gd7h3]} 24. Bf1
Qd8 25. Qe1 g5 26. Nd1 Nf6 $132 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L (2670)-Nijboer,F (2580)/
Leeuwarden 2001/CBM 084 (38)[%cal Gg5g4]}) 17. a4 $2 (17. b5 fxe4 18. fxe4 axb5
19. Rab1 Rc8 20. Bxb5 Ng4 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 $11) 17... f4 18. Bf2 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Nh5
20. b5 Nc8 21. b6 Qxg5 22. Rec1 Qd8 23. Qe1 Ng3 24. Bxg3 fxg3 25. Qxg3 Qxb6+
26. Qf2 Qa5 $17 {0-1 Murzin,L (2274)-Kotronias,V (2573)/Linares 2003/CBM 093
ext (33)}) 16... a6 17. b5 (17. a4 f4 18. Bf2 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Nh5 20. b5 Ng3 21.
bxa6 bxa6 22. Bd3 Nc8 23. Qb3 Qxg5 24. Qb7 Bg4 $1 $40) (17. Qd2 f4 18. Bf2 Bxg5
19. hxg5 Nh5 20. b5 Nc8 21. bxa6 bxa6 22. Rb1 Qxg5 23. Rb7 Rf7 24. Reb1 Ng3 25.
Bxg3 Qxg3 26. Bf1 g5 27. Qf2 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 Bb5 $1 (28... h5 29. Rb8 Ra7 30.
R1b7 Rxb7 31. Rxb7 $16 {0-1 Markus,R (2477)-Rajlich,V (2377)/Budapest 2002/CBM
089 (40)}) 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Bxb5 axb5 31. Rxb5 h5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Flumbort,A 
(2437)-Radziewicz,I (2407)/Budapest 2002/CBM 089 ext (51)[%csl Gf4,Gg5,Gh5]
[%cal Gg5g4]}) 17... Bxb5 $6 (17... f4 $2 18. Bf2 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Nh5 20. Qb3 a5
21. b6 Nc8 22. Bb5 Rf7 23. Bxd7 Rxd7 24. Nb5 Qxg5 25. Nc7 Rb8 26. Ne6 Qe7 27.
Rc7 $18 {1-0 Ivanov,S (2556)-Rudolf,H (2328)/Panormo 2001/CBM 084 ext (32)}) (
17... axb5 $1 18. Bxb5 fxe4 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. fxe4 Ng4 $132) 18. Bxb5 axb5 19.
Nxb5 fxe4 20. fxe4 Nxe4 $2 {I guess that this idea was planned before 17...
Bxb5, but both players overlooked something...} (20... Bxg5 21. hxg5 Nxe4 22.
Nc7 Nf5 23. Nxa8 Qxa8 {Even here Black has reasonable compensation for the
exchange.}) 21. Qg4 $2 {The wrong choice, as a result of miscalculation.} (21.
Nxe4 Bxe3+ 22. Rxe3 Qb6 23. Qb3 Nf5 24. Rce1 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Rxa2 26. Nbxd6 Ra1+
27. Kh2 Qd8 28. Qxb7 (28. Ng5 Qxd6 29. Qxb7 e4+ 30. Rg3 Rff1 31. Qxh7+ Kf8 32.
Ne6+ Qxe6 33. Rf3+ exf3 34. dxe6 fxg2 35. Kxg2 Rg1+ $11) 28... Qxh4+ 29. Rh3
Qf4+ 30. Ng3 h5 31. Qe7 Ra4 $1 $11) 21... Bxg5 22. hxg5 Ra4 {Now White is just
a pawn down.} 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Bd4 exd4 $2 (24... Rxd4 $1 25. Nxd4 Nxg5 26. Qg4
Nxd5 $19) 25. Qxe4 Nf5 26. Nc7 d3 27. Qxd3 Rg4 28. Qf3 Rh4 29. g3 Rh3 30. Ne6
Qb6+ 31. Kg2 Nh4+ 32. Kxh3 Nxf3 33. Nxf8 Nxg5+ 34. Kg4 Qd8 35. Ne6 h5+ 36. Kf4
Qf6+ 37. Ke3 Qe5+ 38. Kf2 Qb2+ 39. Ke3 Qa3+ 40. Kf4 Nh3+ 41. Ke4 Qxg3 42. Kd4
Nf2 43. Rc3 Qg4+ 44. Ke3 Nd1+ 45. Rxd1 Qxd1 46. Rc8+ Kh7 47. Rc7+ Kh6 48. Rc8
Qe1+ 49. Kf3 Qe5 50. Kf2 h4 51. Rf8 g5 0-1

[Event "Corus A"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 Nh5 $1
15. g3 Bf6 16. c5 f4 17. Kg2 {An attempt to improve van Wely's play.} ({Just a
few rounds before Radjabov scored another point in this line.} 17. g4 Ng7 18.
Bc4 Nc6 19. cxd6 cxd6 20. Ne2 Rc8 21. Bd5 Nxb4 22. Rb1 Nc2 23. Rf1 b6 24. Rb2
Ne3 25. Bxe3 fxe3 26. Qb3 Bg5 {Black is just a pawn up. 0-1 Van Wely,L (2683)
-Radjabov,T (2729)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007/The Week in Chess 636 (40)}) 17... Nc6
({Worse is} 17... dxc5 $6 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. bxc5 $14) 18. cxd6 (18. Bc4 $5 {
This idea is worth testing in practice. White is protecting the Pe6 and
freeing the e2 square to be able to kick black's knight away from d4 by Nc3-e2.
Meanwhile, the Pb4 can be sacrificed for an initiative.} Nxb4 (18... Nd4 $6 19.
Ne2 $14) (18... dxc5 $6 19. bxc5 Qe7 20. Nd5 Qxc5 21. Qa4 {with promising
initiative for White.}) 19. Rb1 dxc5 20. Qxd8 (20. a3 Qd4 (20... Nc6 21. Qxd8
Raxd8 22. Rxb7 Na5 23. Rxc7 Nxc4 24. e7 Bxe7 25. Rxe7 Rd3 26. Nd5 $44) 21. Qxd4
cxd4 22. Rxb4 dxc3 23. Rxb7 Rfb8 24. Rxb8+ Rxb8 25. Re2 $14 {[%cal Ge2c2]})
20... Rfxd8 (20... Raxd8 21. Nd5 Nc6 (21... c6 22. Nxf6 Rxf6 23. e7 Re8 24. Rd1
Rxe7 25. Rd8+ Kg7 26. g4 Rf8 27. Rxf8 Kxf8 28. gxh5 b5 29. Bb3 Rd7 $13) 22.
gxf4 Bh4 23. Rd1 Nxf4+ 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Kh3 Bg5 26. Rxb7 Na5 27. Rxc7 Nxc4 28.
e7 Bxe7 29. Rxe7 $14) 21. Nd5 fxg3 (21... Nxd5 $6 22. exd5 b6 23. Bb2 $16) 22.
hxg3 c6 23. Nxf6 Nxf6 24. a3 b5 25. axb4 bxc4 26. Bg5 Kg7 27. bxc5 Rdb8 28.
Rxb8 Rxb8 29. Ra1 $14) 18... cxd6 19. Nd5 Nd4 20. Bb2 Nxe6 21. g4 Nhg7 22. Nxf6
Rxf6 23. Qd5 Qe7 {White has reasonable compensation for the pawn, but it's
very difficult to find a clear plan. Alexei Shirov was clearly out of form in
Wijk aan Zee and went astray soon.} 24. Red1 Rd8 25. Qa5 $6 ({Considering what
happened in the game later, the prophylactic move} 25. Kh1 {can be recommended.
}) 25... b6 26. Qd5 Rff8 27. Rac1 h5 $1 {The start of a ferocious attack,
which is brilliantly executed by Teimour Radjabov.} 28. gxh5 Qh4 $1 29. Rc6 g5
$1 30. Rxd6 g4 $1 31. Rxe6 (31. Bxe5 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 g3 $19) 31... Rxd5 32. Rh6+
Kg8 33. Bc4 gxf3+ 34. Kh1 Nxh5 35. Rg1+ Ng3+ 36. Rxg3+ fxg3 37. Rxh4 g2+ 38.
Kg1 f2+ 39. Kxg2 f1=Q+ 40. Bxf1 Rd2+ 41. Kg3 Rxb2 42. Bc4+ Kg7 43. Bb3 Rb1 44.
Kg2 Rc8 45. Kf3 Rc3+ 46. Kg4 Rf1 47. Kh5 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Bundesliga 2006-7"]
[Site "Muelheim GER"]
[Date "2007.03.17"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Volokitin, Andrei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2007.01.28"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. c5 h6 $6 {I think that
Black should not waste time on this move. The logical alternative 13...a5
seems to be almost forgotten...} (13... a5 $1 14. bxa5 (14. b5 dxc5 15. Be3 b6
16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 Nc8 $15) (14. Ba3 axb4 15. Bxb4 Bh6 16. h4 fxe4 17. fxe4
c6 {Black seems fine here. White's kingside is weakened by h2-h4.} 18. cxd6 $2
Qb6+) (14. Qa4 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 d5 17. exd5 Nfxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 $15) (
14. cxd6 cxd6 15. bxa5 Qxa5 16. Bd2 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qc5+ (18... Qb6+
19. Kh1 d5 20. exd5 Nfxd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bxh6 Qxe6 23. Bxg7+ Kxg7 24. Bc4
$14) 19. Kh1 d5 20. Rc1 fxe4 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 (22... Qd4 23. Nxf6
Rxf6 24. Bc4 $14) 23. Rxc5 Nf2+ 24. Kg1 Nxd1 25. Rxd1 Rxa2 26. Rc7 Nf5 27. Rxb7
e4 $11) 14... dxc5 15. a6 b6 16. a4 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qd4+ 19. Qxd4 exd4
20. e5 Ne8 21. Nb5 c6 22. Nd6 Nc7 23. Rb1 Rfb8 24. Nb7 Ned5 25. Bc4 Bf8 $17 {
0-1 Kotanjian,T (2387)-Voitsekhovsky,S (2527)/St Petersburg 2002/EXT 2003 (44)}
) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 d5 (15... fxe4 16. fxe4 dxc5 17. Qxd8 $1 (17. bxc5 $2
Qd4+ 18. Qxd4 exd4 19. Nb5 Nxe4 $15 {[%cal Gd4d3]}) 17... Rfxd8 (17... Raxd8
18. bxc5 Nc6 19. Rb1 Rb8 20. Bc4 $16) 18. bxc5 Nc6 19. Rb1 $40 {the e6-pawn is
very annoying for Black} Rab8 20. Rf1 $1 $16 {preventing Bg7-f8.}) (15... Nc6
16. cxd6 Qxd6 (16... cxd6 17. Be3 $14) 17. Qxd6 cxd6 18. Nb5 {[%csl Rd6]} fxe4
19. Nxd6 exf3 20. Bxf3 e4 $1 21. e7 Nxe7 22. Bb2 exf3 23. Rxe7 f2+ 24. Kf1 Nh5
25. Bxg7+ Nxg7 26. Rxb7 $14) 16. exd5 (16. Qc2 $2 dxe4 17. fxe4 (17. Rd1 Qc8
18. fxe4 Qxe6 $17) 17... Qd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxa1 20. Nc3 Nc6 $19 {
Avrukh}) 16... Nfxd5 17. Nxd5 ({Another interesting line pointed out by Avrukh:
} 17. Bb2 Nxb4 $1 (17... c6 {[%csl Re6][%cal Gd8c8]} 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bb5 $1 {
[%cal Gb5d7]}) 18. Qb3 {[%csl Rb4]} Nbc6 (18... Qd4+ $143 19. Kh1 Qxc5 20. Na4
Qa5 $140 21. Bc3 $16 {[%cal Gc3b4,Gb4a5]}) 19. Nb5 (19. Rad1 $143 Nd4) 19... a6
20. Rad1 Qb8 21. Nd6 $5 cxd6 (21... Qa7 22. Nf7+ Kh7 23. Kh1 $1 {with great
compensation[%cal Gd1d7]}) 22. cxd6 Ng8 $1 {and Black should be better,
because he will get an opportunity to give back a piece in good time.}) 17...
Qxd5 (17... Nxd5 18. Qb3 $1 c6 19. Bc4 Qe7 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Qxd5 Rad8 22. Qb3
Rfe8 23. Bb2 Qxe6 24. Qxe6 Rxe6 25. Rad1 $14) 18. Qb3 $1 $146 {A strong
novelty. The exchange of queens will be now on favourable terms for White, he
will get an open "a" file at his disposal.} (18. Qxd5 Nxd5 19. Bc4 $1 Nxb4 20.
Rb1 Nc6 $1 21. Bd5 $44 Rfd8 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rb7 Re8 24. Rxc7 Rxe6 25. Rd1 {
1/2-1/2 Rechlis,G (2530)-Avrukh,B (2584)/Israel 2003/CBM 094/[Avrukh,B] (38)
White has sufficient compensation, but not more.}) 18... Qxb3 (18... Qd4+ $2
19. Be3) 19. axb3 $14 Nc6 (19... Nd5 20. b5 (20. Bb2 Nxb4 21. Ra4 Nc2 22. Rc1
Nd4 23. Bxd4 exd4 $11) 20... e4 21. fxe4 Bxa1 22. exd5 Bd4+ 23. Kf1 Bxc5 24.
Bxh6 $14) 20. Ra4 a5 21. b5 (21. bxa5 $1 Nxa5 (21... Rfe8 22. b4 $16) 22. Rd1
Rfe8 23. Rd7 (23. b4 $1 Nb3 (23... Nc6 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rd7 Nxb4 26. Bb2 Re8
27. Bc4 $16) 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Bb2 Nd4 26. Bc4 $14) 23... Nxb3 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. e7 (25. Be3 f4 26. Bf2 Bf8 27. e7 $140 $2 Bxe7 $1 28. Rxe7 Ra1+ 29. Bf1 Nd2
$17) 25... Bf6 26. Bb2 Nd4 $1 (26... Re8 $2 27. Rd8 Rxd8 28. Bxe5 Ra8 29. Bxf6+
Kh7 30. Bc4 Nxc5 31. Bf7 $18) (26... Nxc5 $2 27. Rxc7 Ne6 28. Rxb7 $18) 27. Bb5
Nxb5 28. Bxe5 Kg8 29. Bxf6 Re8 $11) 21... Nd4 22. Bc4 Rfe8 23. Be3 ({The last
chance to fight for some advantage was} 23. Bb2 $1 c6 (23... Nxe6 24. b4 $14)
24. Bxd4 exd4 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Kf1 Bf6 27. Ke2 Be7 28. Rea1 Bxc5 29. Rxa5 Rxa5
30. Rxa5 $14) 23... Nc2 24. Re2 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 e4 {Now the position is equal.}
26. Bd5 Rad8 27. fxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Rxe6 29. Rd3 Rxd3 30. Bxd3 Bf8 31. c6 bxc6
32. Rxa5 Bc5+ 33. Kf1 Rf6+ 34. Ke2 Bb6 35. Ra8+ Kg7 36. Be4 cxb5 37. Re8 Rf2+
38. Kd3 Rb2 39. Kc3 Re2 40. Bc6 Ra2 41. Kb4 Rc2 42. Re6 Bc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Biel GM"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2007.07.31"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2007.07.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 Nh5 15.
c5 Nf4 16. Bc4 fxe4 17. Rxe4 Nf5 18. g3 $5 {This move was definitely the fruit
of home preparation. The play becomes extremely sharp and Black is balancing
on the edge. It seems, however, that Radjabov knew how to deal with another
challenge to his pet line.} ({The previous encounter between the same
opponents went as follows:} 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Nd5 Re8 20. Nxf4 c6 21. e7 Rxe7
22. Ne6 Qb8 23. Nxg7 Rxg7 24. cxd6 Nxd6 25. Rd4 Nf5 26. Rd3 Re7 27. Qd2 Qe5 28.
Rd1 Rae8 $11 {0-1 Van Wely,L (2683)-Radjabov,T (2729)/Monte Carlo MNC 2007/The
Week in Chess 645 (74)}) 18... Nh3+ {Radjabov goes for the most principled
continuation. Now, immense complications begin.} ({Another playable idea for
Black is:} 18... d5 $5 19. Bxd5 (19. Nxd5 $6 Nxe6 $15 {[%csl Rf3][%cal Ge6g5,
Gf5d4]}) 19... Nxd5 20. Qxd5 (20. Nxd5 c6 21. Nc3 Nd4 $15) 20... Qxd5 21. Nxd5
c6 22. Nc7 (22. e7 cxd5 23. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 $44) 22... Rac8 23. e7 Nxe7 24. Ne6
Rxf3 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Bb2 Nd5 27. Rxe5 Kg8 $11) 19. Kg2 Ng5 20. Rg4 Nxf3 $1
21. Kxf3 $1 {Forced.} (21. Qxf3 $2 Nh4+ 22. Rxh4 Rxf3 23. Kxf3 e4+ $19) 21...
e4+ 22. Nxe4 (22. Rxe4 $2 Bxc3 23. Rb1 d5 $1 {and White loses a lot of
material.}) 22... Bxa1 23. Bg5 Ne7+ 24. Kg2 Be5 25. Rf4 $1 {A nice idea. The
rook on g4 is misplaced, so it's logical to exchange it for Black's key
defender.} ({After} 25. Qd2 Rf5 $1 {it's not easy for White to create serious
threats.}) 25... Bxf4 26. gxf4 $2 {Surprisingly enough, the recapture with the
bishop would have been stronger. In such a complicated position it is
impossible to foresee all the variations. At some point a player must rely on
his intuition, or... prepare all the lines at home!} (26. Bxf4 d5 (26... Rxf4
$2 27. Qa1+ Kg8 28. gxf4 dxc5 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Nd7+ Kg8 31. bxc5 {White is
totally dominating.}) (26... dxc5 27. Qa1+ Kg8 28. bxc5 Rxf4 29. gxf4 Qf8 30.
Nf6+ Kh8 31. Ne8+ Kg8 32. Nf6+ $11) 27. Qa1+ Kg8 28. Bh6 Nf5 29. e7 Qxe7 30.
Bxd5+ Rf7 31. Bg5 (31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Bxf7 Qxf7 33. Ne8+ Kg8 34. Nf6+ Kh8 $11)
31... Qf8 32. Qe5 h6 33. g4 Qg7 34. Bf6 Ne3+ 35. Kg3 Qf8 36. Be7 Qxe7 37. Qxe7
Nxd5 38. Qe6 Nf4 39. Qc4 Rd8 40. Nf6+ Kg7 41. Qxf4 Rd3+ 42. Kg2 Rxf6 43. Qxc7+
Rf7 44. Qe5+ Kh7 $11) 26... d5 27. f5 $2 (27. Qa1+ d4 ({There is another
perpetual check after} 27... Kg8 28. Bh6 Nf5 29. Bxf8 dxc4 30. Bd6 cxd6 31.
Nf6+ Kf8 32. Nxh7+ Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kh8 34. Nh5+ Kh7 35. Nf6+ Kh6 36. Ng4+ Kh5 37.
Nf6+ Kh6 38. Ng4+ $11) 28. Nd6 h6 29. Bxh6 Kh7 30. Bxf8 Qxf8 31. Nf7 {would
still keep the game exciting, though Black should be better.}) 27... h6 $1 $19
{This defensive resource was certainly overlooked or underestimated by van
Wely.} 28. Qd4+ Kh7 29. fxg6+ Kxg6 {White does not have enough resources to
harass the black monarch.} 30. Bxe7 Qxe7 31. Qxd5 Rad8 32. Qe5 Rf5 33. Qc3 Qg7
34. Qg3+ Kh7 35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. Kg3 Rd4 0-1

