Mtel 2008 Round 9 : Ivanchuk Win MTel 2008!?

Tonight is a critical round for the top leaders of the Mtel 2008. Ivanchuk (left) who slow down after 5 consicutive win were followed closely by the three time champs Veselin Topalov who are ½ points behind. Ivanchuk meet Aronian where as Topalov meet the tail ender Bu Xianqi.

GM Ivanchuk (2740) - GM_Aronian (2763)
Mtel Master 2008, Round 9, 17.05.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Bd6 9.Nc3 0–0 10.Bd2 Re8 11.Qd1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 a6 Fritz theory book give 12...Nb6 13.Be2 e5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Qc2 Qe7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Bc1 g6 18.Rxd8 13.a4 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Rac1 Rc7 18.Be1 Rec8 19.Be2 h6 20.Bf3 Ncd7 21.Qb3 Ne5 22.Be2 Bb4 23.Rc2 Nc6 24.Bf3 Ne5 25.Be2 Nc6 26.Bf3 Ne5 1/2 - 1/2 A quik end. Probably Ivanchuk doesn't want to gamble his lead and want put the pressure on Topalov to take over the leading position. Meanwhile, Aronian want to end his worst campaign quickly.


GM_Bu_Xiangzhi (2708) - GM_Topalov (2767)
Mtel Master 2008, Round 9, 17.05.2008

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qc2 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 Nbd7 7.Bg2 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Nc3 0–0 10.Re1 h6 Fritz theory book suggest 10...Ne4 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Nh4 Bxh4 13.gxh4 Nef6 14.e4 Bg6 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Bf4 Rfe8 17.Rad1 b5 18.Bd6 e5 19.d5 Nh5 20.Bf1 f6 11.e4 Bh7 12.Bf4 Rc8 13.Qe2 Re8 14.Rad1 b5 15.a3 a5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Qb6 18.a4 Nd7 19.Bf4 b4 20.Nb1 Nf6 21.Be5 c5 22.Nd2 cxd4 23.Nb3 Qc6

the first critical point has occur. White can now play 24.Bxf6 gxf6 (24...Bxf6 25.e5 Qc2 26.Nxd4 Qxe2 27.Rxe2 Bd8) 25.Nxd4 black has weaken his pawn structure but he has the bishop pairs. 24.Qb5?! A weird desicion. Why not 24.Bxf6 ? 24...Qxb5 25.axb5 a4 26.Nxd4 Ng4 27.Bf4 g5 28.Bf3 white is in dilemma. If 28.Bc1 Bc5 29.h3 Red8! 28...Nxf2 29.Kxf2 gxf4 30.Nc6 fxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Bf8 32.Rd7 Bg6 ? 32..a3 is the correct move. White can play 33.e5 now and white's knight on c6 will now protected by the Bf3 bishop so white can advance his dangerous passed pawn on the b file! 33.e5! Black is in trouble. The built in chess programme on ICC- Crafty start shows white advantage increasing (photo above). Now white knight on c6 is protected by the Bf3 bishop so white can advance his dangerous passed pawn on the b file! 33...Bc5? Topalov probably plan to block the b pawn with 34...Bb6 but white has simple refutation 34.Rc1!

34...Be3 Probably Topalov noticed that his intended move 34...Bb6 will be punish by tactical combination 35.Ne7+ Rxe7 36.Rxc8+ Kg7 37.Rxe7; 35.Rc4 [35.Ne7+ Kh7 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.Nxc8] 35...a3 36.bxa3 bxa3 37.Ra4 [37.Ne7+ Kg7 (37...Rxe7 38.Rxc8+) 38.Nxc8 a2 39.Ra4 Rxc8 40.Rxa2] 37...Bc5 38.Ra6 a2 39.Rxa2 Kg7 40.Ra6 Rb8 41.Nxb8 Rxb8 42.Bc6 h5 43.Ra8 Rb6 44.Rdd8 h4+ 45.Kf4 Bh7 46.Be4 Be7 47.Rdb8 1-0

Topalov shocking lost to tail ender Bu Xianqzhi gave Ivanchuk sure share of first place before the final round tommorow ( round 10). If Ivanchuk lost tommorow and Topalov win, they will have the same point ( 7 ) but if the tie break use the head to head encounter- Ivanchuk will be the New Champion of MTel Master. Stoping Topalov three consecutive years winning streak!