Round 8 Russian Superfinal ; Moro beat Svidler !

Alexander Morozevich extended his lead in round 8 by beating another top seed Peter Svidler. He just beat GM Grischuk in the previous round. This guys is really on top form!

Svidler,P (2732) - Morozevich,A (2755) [B90]
60th ch-RUS Superfinal Moscow RUS (8), 27.12.2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4 Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.0–0–0 Be7 13.Kb1 0–0 14.Rg1 g6 In 2007 Mexico World Championship, Moro tries unsuccessfully with 14... Qc7 15.h4 Qc7 16.Rg2 a Novelty. Probably Svidler want to extra guard the c2 square and have a possibility to double his rook on g file later. But looking at the game progress it show no success because later this rook was attack by Nf4 and it have to move to g4. . The most popular continuation in this position is – 16. Qf2. 16... f6 17.Qf2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.Bb6 Qd7 20.Nc5 Qc6 21.Nd3

Morozevich considering his 21st move. Should I take the knight on d3 or not?

21...Bxd3 why not! 22.cxd3 Nf4 23.Rg4 fxg5 24.hxg5

Moro: You know, 24...d5 may be better then 24...Bxg5

The first critical moment. 24...Bxg5!? Moro later comment that he was to greedy eating pawns! (24...d5 breaking white center at once would probably be much better) 25.Rh1 Morozevich doesn’t have to worry about white attack on h file because he can always defend the vulnerable h7 square with move like ...Qd7 and Rf7 Ne6 26.Qh2 Qd7 27.Qh3 Rf7 28.Be3 According to the commentator in ChessPro. 28. Nd5 would be anybody games .Moro now delivered a beautiful sacrifice with at least will give him a drawn game by perpectual check.28... Rxc3 29.bxc3 Qb5+

30.Kc2 The second critical moment. Moro said that white could probaly force a draw with 30. Ka1 Bxe3 (30...Qxd3 31.Bxg5 Qxc3+ 32.Kb1 Qd3+ 33.Ka1 draw ( but not 33.Kc1 Rc7+ 34.Kb2 Nxg5 35.Rxg5 Rc2+ 36.Kb1 Rh2+ 37.Ka1 Qc3+ 38.Kb1 Qb2#checkmate) ) 31.Rxg6+ Kf8 (31...Rg7 32.Qxe6+; 31...Ng7 32.Qxh7+ Kf8 33.Qh8+ Ke7 34.Rxg7; 31...hxg6 32.Qh8#; 31...Kh8 32.Qxe6) 32.Qxe6 hxg6 33.Qxd6+ Kg7=] 30...Nd4+ 31.Bxd4 The only is 31.cxd4? just lost to 31... Rc7 32. Kd2 Qb4 33. Ke2 Rc2 34. Kf1 Qb1 31....exd4 32.c4?? the real culprit. Svidler blunder in this critical point. His idea is right but he should protect his vulnerable second rank with 32. Rg2! Qc5 33.c4! and should gave him equal chance. 32...Qa4+ 33.Kb1 Qb4+ 34.Ka1 Qc3+ 35.Kb1 Qxd3+ 36.Ka1 Qc3+ 37.Kb1 Qb4+ 38.Ka1 Bf6 0–1 White resign. On 39.e5 with hope to prolonged the game with 39... Bxe5 40.f4 can be avoided by the simple but effective 39... dxe5!


Photo from ChessPro