वेसली सो :: लंदन क्लासिक और ग्रांड चैस टूर विजेता

[Event "London Chess Classic 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.12.18"]
[Round "9.5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Aditya Mittal"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:20:35"]
[BlackClock "0:00:40"]

{Finally, a break for Topalov! Wesley drew his game and won the London Chess
Classic. Today Topalov finally played a successful sac. Let's look at this
extremely interesting game!} 1. c4 g6 {0} 2. Nc3 {0} c5 {0} 3. g3 {0} Bg7 {0}
4. Bg2 {0} Nc6 {A symmetrical structure has arisen.} 5. Nf3 {0} d6 {0} 6. O-O {
0} e6 {0} (6... e5 {is the reverse of Veselin's style. He plays completely
different than positional chess. Aggressiveness is in his blood!}) 7. e3 {0}
Nge7 {0} 8. d4 {0} O-O {0} 9. Re1 {0} a6 {0} 10. Bd2 {0} Rb8 $5 {Topalov is
known for sacs, not accepting them!} (10... cxd4 11. exd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4
13. Bg5 $1 Bxc3 14. bxc3 $13 {and White has good compensation because of the
bishop pair.}) 11. Rc1 {0} b6 {334} (11... b5 $5 {was very well expected. I
was surprised to not see him play this.} 12. dxc5 (12. cxb5 axb5 13. a4 cxd4
14. Nxb5 dxe3 15. Bxe3 Bxb2 $10 {is comfortable.}) 12... dxc5 13. Ne4 b4 $5 14.
Nxc5 Bxb2 $13 {and it's an interesting position.}) 12. Ne2 e5 $1 {This is
different than the e5 mentioned earlier. Here it creates 'tension' in the
centre.} 13. Bc3 {0} h6 {612} 14. d5 {173} Nb4 {103} 15. Ra1 $1 {Now looks at
that! And it is the best move!} (15. a3 Na2 $15 {looks so aesthetically
pleasing!}) 15... b5 $5 {893 Completely fitting into Topalov's bill! Just what
the doctor ordered! After a passive draw in round 8, Topalov livens things up!}
(15... e4 {is what the engines have to say. White retains a slight pull after}
16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd2 Nd3 18. Nxe4 Nxe1 19. Qxe1 {with good compensation.}) 16.
a3 {400} bxc4 {46} (16... a5 $5 {was another way but I think the text is more
precise and more unclear as we shall see!}) 17. axb4 {35} cxb4 {41} 18. Bd2 {35
} Nxd5 {Black has three pawns for the piece but it is not enough as Aronian
will get one pawn soon, but of course....} 19. Qc1 {44} c3 $1 {653} (19... Nf6
{is the engine choice but I don't understand it.} 20. Qxc4 $16) 20. bxc3 b3 {
Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona hota hai! To get something, you need to give
something! Over here Topalov gets a big big passer.} 21. Qb1 $6 {955} (21. Qa3
$1 {or}) (21. Qb2 $1 {were good giving White good edge.}) 21... Nf6 22. Qb2 {
What was the point of the subtle Qb1-Qb2, may I ask, Mr Aronian?} Qc7 $1 {
Again a good move in contrast to the engine. Topalov is really getting on here!
} (22... Ne4 $6 {I don't like this. After} 23. Nxe5 Nxd2 24. Nxf7 $1 $14 {
You could say White has a safe edge.}) 23. c4 {537} Qxc4 {1055} 24. Nc3 $5 {
After this Topalov starts to become extremely precise.} (24. Ba5 $5 {was an
interesting option to activate the bishop.}) 24... Be6 $1 {303 From now on
Veselin develops his pieces quickly and shows the importance of it.} 25. Rec1 {
162} Nd7 {There is no good discovered attack!} (25... Rfc8 {directly is also
possible.}) 26. e4 {286} (26. Ra4 {At first this seemed to be very strong but
after} Rb4 27. Ra3 Nc5 28. Nb1 Qe2 $1 29. Re1 Qb5 $1 $13 {would Bea took down
for three pawns but very active pieces!!!}) 26... Nc5 {765} 27. Bf1 {373} (27.
Ne1 $5 {was also an interesting way but here also} Qb4 $1 $13) 27... Qb4 {300}
(27... Nd3 $5 {was another move to look at but I think Qb4 is more precise.}
28. Bxd3 Qxd3 29. Ne1 Qc4 30. Ra4 Rb4 31. Ra5 $1 {is complicated.}) 28. Be3 {
489} Rfc8 {164} 29. Nd2 $6 {A big inaccuracy! Better was} (29. Bxc5 $1 Rxc5 30.
Ra4 Qb7 31. Ne1 $1 $13 {with all three results in contention!}) 29... a5 30.
Bxc5 {Better late than never!} Rxc5 {242} 31. Ra4 {231} Qb7 {130} (31... Qb6 {
Many said this was better, but it doesn't really make much of a difference.})
32. Bc4 $6 {82 Aronian goes wrong! What great pressurising chess by Veselin!} (
32. Ncb1 $1 {was more precise. After} Rbc8 33. Rxc5 Rxc5 $10 {The game is
roughly balanced.}) 32... Qc6 $1 {166} 33. Bd5 {431} Bxd5 {58} 34. exd5 {
35 A crucial decision. Black has a number of options at his disposal. Topalov
finally goes wrong!} Qd7 $6 {55 Actually, not wrong! It is just an inaccuracy.
The best option was} (34... Qc7 $1 35. Nde4 Rc4 $15 {and Black is already
better. Whereas the most interesting line was....}) (34... Rxd5 $6 35. Nxb3 e4
36. Nxa5 Rxb2 37. Nxc6 Rc5 38. Nd4 $13 {with a very unclear ending!}) 35. Ra3 {
110} a4 $1 {215 But Topalov wasn't going to back down. He came back with full
force!} (35... e4 $5 {could also be considered.} 36. Rxb3 Rxb3 37. Qxb3 Qc7 38.
Ndxe4 Rc4 39. Rd1 Bxc3 40. Nxd6 $1 Rb4 41. Qc2 Qxd6 42. Qxc3 {After a long
forced sequence this is a completely drawn position.}) 36. Nxa4 {41} Rxd5 {127}
37. Nxb3 {209} e4 {55} 38. Qa2 {194} Qf5 $1 {90 Topalov is simply playing
amazing! How come this sudden change?} (38... Rd3 {was what I was seeing but
after} 39. Nd2 $1 Rxa3 40. Qxa3 $14 {White has a safe and stable edge.}) 39.
Re1 {441} Rdb5 {78} 40. Rc1 {0} d5 {0 Topalov described this position as "just
equal".} (40... Rb4 {is the engine top choice and might be better.}) 41. Nac5 {
0} d4 $1 {0 Practical chess at its best. Everyone will be scared on seeing
this pawn avalanche.} 42. Ra7 {0} (42. Ra5 $1 {was better.} Rxa5 43. Qxa5 Qd5
$13 {is extremely unclear.}) 42... d3 {0} 43. Rc7 $6 {0 Now Topalov goes back
to how he played in Saint Louis! Such strong chess!} (43. Ra5 {was still
better though Black already has the initiative.}) 43... h5 $3 {0 It does feel
like Topalov is back. What a way to win!} 44. Qa4 {0} h4 {0} (44... e3 $5 {
was possible.} 45. fxe3 Bh6 {with the initiative.}) 45. Qxe4 {83} Qxe4 {0} 46.
Nxe4 {3} Rxb3 $15 {0 Black has reached a better endgame.} 47. gxh4 $4 {75 The
decisive mistake.} (47. Rd7 $1 {was the best chance.}) 47... Bh6 {0} 48. Rf1 {
235} R3b4 {0} 49. f3 {169} Rb2 {0} 50. Nf6+ {693} Kg7 {0} 51. Ng4 {5} d2 {0}
52. Rd7 {308} Re8 {0} 53. Nf2 {116} Re1 {0 What a game by Topalov! We must
give him credit. Elsewhere we had draws and with it finished the London
Classic!} 0-1