Doesn't 24 Rd6 Bf8 repeat? Shirov was obviously trying to win since he avoided the repetition a couple of moves later, but it looks like Kamsky's at least fine to me. This is normally a sign that I understand nothing, though.

micawber, looks like you've already analysed this interesting endgame..

(just a hint )

Shirov's winn was nice indeed. But I don't think it refutes the Marshall.
First of all, black can choose another move-order with 13...Qh4 when 14.g3,Qh3 15.Qf3 is bad because of 15...Bg4 at once. 
Instead 15.Re4! is another main line.
Secondly black can diverge into a variation, that's probably easier to defend after 13...Bf5 14.Qf3,Re8 is worth a look. 
Finally, I dont think the endgame was lost after the exchange of
queens. But Karjakin permitted himself a number of small errors, that cumulated in a lost position.
People tend to forget that Shirov is an outstanding endgame player. He showed it in this game, patiently enlarging his endgame advantage.
Further analyses will probably show that Shirov could have finished the game somewhat quicker by playing f5 earlier. But under rapid-game conditions it was a very practical decision to improve his position without committing himself to risky pawn-moves.

By the way I think the critical position occured after 31.Nb7!
I doubt that after Karjakin"s reply 31....Rc7 black can save himself
Instead I think maybe the strange 31...Kg6 is a good idea, in order
to force white's rook from the 8th rank (if white himself exchanges rooks black can practically force the exchange of his black squared bishop, leaving opposite coloured bishops).

Bibs wrote on 12/11/07 at 13:47:26:

I have the impression Kamsky's behaviour is a lot better since he came back to chess (maybe due to his father's absence?)

Inn2
Yes Cox's Sveshnikov book is impressive. Worth purchasing. Am a relative novice in the line, but feel I can spot conscientious writers, solid research, lucid explanatory prose and well-put-together texts fairly well.

A humdinger of a game. Never seen such an endgame before. Anyone with an endgame Nalimov care to comment?

Shirov delivering some hammer blows to the Marshall as he did to the Najdorf PP. Quite a workshop he must have there. Wonder if he uses Santa's elves when there is non-festive downtime.

The first game of the rapid tie break between Shirov and Karjakin was a fantastic fight in the Sveshnikov!!    

John: thanks to that game you have now one more customer for your sveshnikov book 

Gosh, who's the anti-Kamsky ranter?

I must say I can't quite understand Kamsky's popularity in some circles, except perhaps for the point that he's American and there's a lot of Americans about. It seems to me that he behaved terribly back in the day and that rather than undignified rowing about it with Short on the internet he'd do better to stand up and apologise. Until he does then personally I'll be rooting for his opponents - unless they're Topalov, of course.

thibdb13 wrote on 12/11/07 at 12:46:32:

Hmm, quite interesting. 

The 2 players who beat Kramnik in a match have to decide who plays against the player that lost his match against Kramnik....

I'll be rooting for Shirov, though Kamsky has made a big impression on me.