IM Mashafizul - GM Anatoly Karpov

Not every day you got the chance to play against former World Champion. IM Mas got it when GM Anatoly Karpov pay a visit to Malaysia for his FIDE Presidential campaign recently. The game progress quite well but Mas who was behind on time and probably nervous, blunder a whole rook in the end.

IM Mashafizul Helmi vs GM Anatoly Karpov
Exhibition Blitz Game,  20.7.2010

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Ne4 Ngf6 

IM Mas before playing 15.g3 against GM Anatoly Karpov (left)

15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 17. Kb1 Rhe8 18. Qh7 Bf8 19. Qe4 Bd6 20. c4 c5  21. dxc5 Theory recommend  21.Bc3 21...Qxc5?!  22. Be3  Qc7 

23. Qc2  Mas can win a pawn with 23. Qd4! Bc5 24. Qxg7 Bxe3 25. fxe3 and black's h and f pawn are weak. If white can capture black'c h pawn then his own h-pawn can be a real threat.  23... Bc5  24. Nd4 a6 25. Qh7 Bf8 26. Rd2 Nf6  27. Qc2 Qe5 28. Bf4  Qe4 29. Re1?? Mas was behind on time and blunder a whole rook. Mas mentioned that he somehow thought that his rook on e1 was protected by his Bishop on f4.  Karpov suggest 29. f3 and after 29... Qxc2+ 30. Nxc2  Rxd2 31. Bxd2 with equal chance  29... Qxe1+  0-1