Ivanchuk nearly lost against Bu Xianqi !

I’m following live on the Internet Chess Club (ICC) the game between the leaders of the Mtel 2008 – Vassily Ivanchuk against the tail enders Bu Xianqzhi (left) .

Below are the game .


GM Bu Xiangzhi (2708) - GM Vasilly Ivanchuk (2740)
MTel Master 2008. Round8. 16.05.2008

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0–0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.e4 Qc8 12.Bb2 0–0 13.Qe3 Re8 14.Rac1 Qc7 15.h3 Rac8 16.Nh2 Qb8 17.Ng4 Ba8 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Na4 Be7 20.e5 Bxg2 21.exd6 Bxd6 22.Kxg2 Nc5 23.Nc3 Be5 24.b4 Nb7 25.Qxb6 Rxc4 26.Na4 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Bxb2 28.Nxb2 Qa8 29.Qc6 Nd6 30.Qxa8 Rxa8 31.Rc6 Nf5 32.Rc7 h5 33.Nd3 h4 34.g4 Nd4 35.a4 f6 36.Nc5 e5 37.a5 Ne2 38.Ne6 below are the position from the ICC online telecast

Ivanchuk is clearly lost here. The built in chess programme on the ICC - Crafty evaluate that white is 1.53 pawns better!. White has a great chance to create a passed pawn on the queenside. White rook and knight is very active. Black rook is passively guarding his pawn on a6 and now white is threatening to capture the g7 pawn so Ivanchuk has to exchange his knight with...Nf4+ 39.Nxf4 exf4 40.Rc6? Bu mistakenly leave the 7th rank and let black king to proceed to the center. He should remain at the 7th rank and guard his b pawn with 40.Rb7!± 40...Kh7 Black has to defend his weak f4 pawn . 41.Rb6 Now if black rook move from a file, his a6 pawn will lost. 41...Kg6 42.Kf3 Kg5 43.b5 axb5 44.Rxb5+ Kg6 45.Kxf4 two pawn up and with outside pased pawn is an easy win for white! 40...Kf7 41.g5 Kg6 42.gxf6 gxf6 43.Kf3 Kg5 44.Rc5+ f5 45.Rc6 Rb8 46.Rb6 Ra8 47.Ke2 Re8+ 48.Kd3 Re4 49.Kc3 Re2 50.Rxa6 Rxf2 51.Rd6 f3 52.Rd1 Kf4 53.Kb3 Re2 54.a6 Re3+
things looking not so good for Bu. Ivanchuk is repairing his position and creating drawing chance!55.Kc4 f2 56.Rf1 Kg3 57.b5 Ra3 58.Kb4 Ra2 59.Kb3 Ra5 60.Kb4 Ra2 61.Kb3 Ra5 ½–½