GM Einar Gausel annotates the
Corus tournament
Shirov
(2718) - Topalov (2718)
Wijk aan Zee (1), 2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4
7...e5
A word to the wise: Don't play this line unless you've found a
forced win for Black! I mean, even if you manage to beat off White's
first wave off attack, it'll be a very long time indeed before
you can develop and enjoy your material advantage. All Topalov
manages to do in this game, is add his name to the casualty list.
8.Nf5 g6 9.g5! gxf5 10.exf5 d5 11.Qf3 d4 12.0-0-0 Nbd7
13.Bd2!
Arrogant, but extremely strong.
13...Qc7 14.gxf6 dxc3 15.Bxc3 Qc6
16.Qg3! Bh6+
Grabbing the rook has also been tried: 16...Qxh1 17.Bg2 Bh6+ 18.Bd2
Bxd2+ 19.Kxd2 Qxg2 20.Qxg2 a5 21.f4 exf4 22.Qg7 Rf8 23.Re1+ Kd8
24.Re7 Kc7 25.Qxf8 1-0 Shirov-Van Wely, Istanbul (ol) 2000.
17.Kb1 Bf4
Black's king looks like a sitting duck after 17...Qxh1 18.Bxe5
Qe4 19.Bc3. For example 19...Qf4 20.Qd3 Kf8 21.Qd5! and it's hard
to see how Black defends against the threat of Bc4.
18.Qd3
18...Rg8
The first new move of the game. 18...0-0 19.Rg1+ Kh8 20.Bb4 Rg8
21.Rxg8+ Kxg8 22.Be7 h6 23.Be2 Nxf6 24.Qd8+ Kh7 25.Qf8 Be6 26.Qxa8
Bxf5 27.Ka1 Nd5 28.Qf8 Qe6 29.Bc5 Bxc2 30.Rg1 Bg6 31.h4 Bh2 32.Rd1
Nf4 33.Rd8 1-0 Shirov-Van Wely, Polanica 2000.
Incidentally, 18...Qxh1 would now run into 19.Qd6, mating by force.
19.Bh3
19...Kd8
If you have to play a move like this, there's something seriously
wrong with your position. Sure, Black's a piece up, but what good
is it when his queenside remains undeveloped?
20.Bb4!
Black's position is already beyond salvation. Topalov's king quickly
succumbs to Shirov's active pieces.
20...Qxf6 21.Qc4 Rg5 22.Rd6 Qg7
23.f6! Rg1+ 24.Bf1 resigns.
24...Qg2 (24...Qg8 25.Ba5+ b6 26.Bxb6+ Ke8 27.Qc7) 25.Ba5+ b6 26.Bxb6+
Ke8 27.Re6+ fxe6 28.Qxe6+ Kf8 29.Bc5+ Nxc5 30.Qe7+ Kg8 31.Qe8 mate.
1-0
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Einar Gausel