[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik"]
[ECO "B07"]
[EventDate "1999.01.20"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "TaL's Chess"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.20"]

{ KASPAROV CHESS http://www.kasparovchess.com/serve/templates/folders/show.
asp?p_docID=608&p_docLang=EN Pursuit of Perfection The quest for
perfection is a difficult theme in chess, since all humans make mistakes. The
following game is surely one of the best creative achievements ever, a
fascinating fight with many surprising twists and breath-taking sacrifices.
Kasparov played supremely well, but even he missed the best line, starting
with 28.Ra7!! at the critical moment. Please, do not be too critical of the
number of moves marked with the sign of excellence (!!). In my humble opinion
this game sets such a high standard that it will remain "as good as it gets"
for some time. If some great player proves me wrong with another splendid game
of genius, I will be delighted. My notes were improved by the ideas of
great chess minds, notably Kasparov and Kavalek. I just hope they will not
distract you from the pleasure of following one of the immortal games of the
20th century. The following game is a great chess adventure, a sheer
triumph of fantasy and imagination. Despite its small inaccuracies, it
demonstrates the most attractive side of chess - playful, aggressive, and
loaded with sacrifices and ideas. GM Lubomir Ftacnik: } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 { Dealing with the intruder is not easy. } ( { One miserable attempt was } 8... O-O 9. h4 b4 10. Nd1 a5 11. h5 Nxh5 12. Rxh5 Qb6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Qh6+ Kf6 15. Rf5+ { in Kosmac,B-Jelen,A/Maribor 1997/ } ) 9. Qxh6 Bb7 ( { Theory doesn't have much to say about } 9... Qa5 10. g3 ( { Or } 10. g4 c5 11. Qd2 cxd4 12. Nxd4 b4 13. Nd1 Qc5 14. a3 Ne5 15. Be2 bxa3 16. Rxa3 O-O 17. g5 Nh5 18. Rc3 Qb6 19. Rb3 Qc5 20. Rc3 Qb6 21. Rb3 { with repetition, in Nicula,M.-Pavlov,M./ROM-chT/1992/ (21) } ) 10... b4 11. Nd1 c5 12. d5 Ne5 13. Bg2 Ba6 14. Qe3 b3+ 15. Ndc3 bxc2 16. O-O Nd3 17. f4 c4 18. h3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 { was good for Black in Oggier, C-Fulgenzi, E/Neuquen/1986/0-1 (48) } ) 10. a3 ( { White doesn't want too much action in the center, even though } 10. g4 e5 11. Bg2 Qb6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nd1 Qc5 14. Rc1 O-O-O 15. Qe3 Qxe3 16. Nxe3 a5 17. h4 h5 18. g5 Ne8 19. Rd1 Ng7 20. Bh3 { favored White in Blatny, P-Belotti, B/Groningen/1984/1-0 (60) } ) ( { Cautious would have been } 10. Nc1 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nb3 a6 13. O-O-O Qc7 14. Qg7 Rf8 15. g3 O-O-O 16. Bh3 Kb8 17. Bxd7 Nxd7 18. Qxh7 a5 19. Kb1 a4 { as in Moroz,A-Yurasov,A/Simferopol/1991/ (37) } ) 10... e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 { In retrospect, an unnecessary precaution; } ( { better was } 12... O-O-O 13. Nc1 exd4 14. Rxd4 Ne5 { with chances for both sides. } ) ( { Much worse would have been } 12... a5 $6 13. Nc1 b4 14. dxe5 $1 dxe5 15. Na4 bxa3 16. b3 { with a big plus for White. } ) 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 $1 ( { Or } 14... Nb6 15. Na5 Ba8 16. g3 { developing the Bishop with some advantage. } ) 15. Rxd4 { Such an unusual
capture deserves an explanation: the white Knight on b3 actually aims to
occupy the a5-square! } ( 15. Nxd4 Ne5 { was unclear. } ) 15... c5 { Black felt that his Knight belongs closer to the King. } ( 15... Ne5 16. Be2 { was slightly in White's favor. } ) 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 { Breaking up the pawn structure. } ( 16... b4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Na2 { would need a better excuse. } ) 17. g3 $1 ( { In comparison with the dubious } 17. a4 $6 b4 18. a5 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nbd7 { when Black is better } ) ( { and the less exact } 17. Na5 d5 18. Nxb7 Kxb7 19. exd5 Nbxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Bd3 f5 22. Rhe1 Qc7 { the text offers the best chances to play for an edge. } ) 17... Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 { The Bishop is important. } ( 18... Rhe8 19. Nxb7 Kxb7 { would promise White the advantage in any endgame. } ) 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 { White has managed to mobilize all his pieces. } ( { The dangers for Black become clear in the lines after } 21... dxe4 22. fxe4 ( 22. Bd7 Rxd7 23. Rxd7+ Qxd7 24. Qxf6 Re8 25. fxe4 { is not very dangerous for Black } ) 22... Rhe8 ( { Too optimistic is } 22... Nxe4 $2 23. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxe4 25. Re1 Re8 26. Rxe4 $1 Qxe4 27. Qc7+ Ka8 28. Nc6 { and Black would be duly punished } ) ( { Even easier was } 22... Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Nxe4 24. Rd7+ $1 { mating } ) 23. Nd5 Nbxd5 24. exd5 Qd6 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. Qxf7+ { and Black suffers badly. } ) 22. Nd5 $1 ( { Better than } 22. Na2 Rhe8 { with unclear play. } ) 22... Nbxd5 ( { There is no other way, since } 22... Nfxd5 $2 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Qxf7+ ) ( { and } 22... Bxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nc6+ Ka8 25. Re7 { were worse. } ) 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 $3 { The Rook returns to the central square with a bang, } ( { while the obvious } 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Re7+ Kb6 26. Nb3 Bxd5 { would have given Topalov a dream position. } ) 24... cxd4 $2 { A brave move that misses the best defense. } ( { The direct } 24... Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Rd6 26. c4 Kb6 27. b4 { looks poor } ) ( { and } 24... Bxd5 25. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 ( 25... Qxf4 26. Rxd8 $1 { is not good for Black } ) 26. Qxf7+ Nc7 27. Re6 Rd7 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4 { feels a bit better for White. } ) ( { The best move was } 24... Kb6 $1 { when White has a plethora of choices:
 
The best idea by far is } 25. Nb3 $1 { as } ( { He can try the tempting } 25. Qd2 $6 cxd4 $6 ( { Unfortunately the situation is even more serious, as } 25... Nxd5 $1 26. Rd3 c4 27. b4 Ka7 { is clearly better for Black } ) 26. Qxd4+ Qc5 ( { Topalov would have had to refrain from } 26... Kxa5 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qe3 $1 Qxd5 ( { Since } 28... Bxd5 29. Kb2 Rhe8 30. Qb3+ Bxb3 31. cxb3# { introduces the main mating idea } ) 29. Qb6 { and Black is mated. } ) 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Qd4+ ( { It seems sad, but Garry would have had to accept a draw by repetition, since } 28. Qxf7 $2 Bxd5 ) ( { and } 28. Qc3 Bxd5 29. b4 Ka7 { are not candidates to win } ) 28... Qc5 { with a draw. } ) ( { The aggressive } 25. b4 Qxf4 ( { and he also has the line } 25... Nxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Nb3+ Kb6 29. Kb2 Rhd8 30. Red1 Bc6 31. f4 Kc7 { with safe equality } ) 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rd6 { might well be better for Black. } ) 25... cxd4 ( { Also, } 25... Nxd5 $2 26. Qxf7 Rhf8 27. Qg7 Rg8 28. Qh6 Qf8 29. Rh4 { is not quite sufficient for the defender } ) ( { but the precise } 25... Bxd5 $1 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 { would be rewarded with even chances } ) 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Qb6 ( { Or } 28... Rb8 29. Re7+ $1 ) 29. Re7+ Rd7 30. d6+ Kc6 31. Qxb6+ Kxb6 32. Nxd7+ { wins for White. } ) 25. Re7+ $1 { This key check is even more surprising than the central break. } ( 25. Qxd4+ $2 { is not the right shot } 25... Qb6 26. Re7+ Nd7 27. Nb3 ( { Or } 27. Rxd7+ Rxd7 28. Qxh8 Bxd5 { and Black dominates } ) 27... Qxd4 28. Nxd4 f5 { and White is worse. } ) 25... Kb6 { Black finds it hard to believe that what he sees could be true. } ( 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# { was easy to comprehend. } ) ( { but } 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 { would have been a much tougher nut to crack.
 but } 28. c4 $1 ( { Completely wrong, } 28. Rxf7 $2 Ba2+ 29. Kxa2 Qxd4 30. Nc6+ Kc7 31. Nxd4 Rxd7 { was dangerous for White. } ) ( { Much smarter would have been } 28. Qe3 Bc4 29. Nxc4 ( { Or } 29. Nc6+ Qxc6 30. Bxc6 Rd1+ 31. Qc1 Ba2+ 32. Kxa2 Rxc1 33. Rb7+ Kc8 34. Rxf7 { with advantage } ) 29... bxc4 30. Bb5 Qd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Bxa6 { varies the theme with R+B against the 2 R. } ) ( { A good idea is } 28. Nc6+ Qxc6 29. Bxc6 Ba2+ 30. Kxa2 Rxd4 31. Rb7+ Kc8 32. Rxf7 { and Black suffers. } ) 28... Qxe7 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ Bxc6 33. Nxc6 { given by Kasparov, should win safely. } ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 { Topalov crosses the point of no return and the King does so literally! } ( { Interesting was } 26... Qc5 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 { and White would have to choose between:
 It took Kasparov's genius to reveal } 28. Be6 $3 ( 28. Rxf7 Bxd5 ( { But not the greedy } 28... Kxa5 29. Qc3+ b4 ( { Or } 29... Kb6 30. Qe3+ { winning } ) 30. axb4+ Qxb4 31. Qc7+ Ka4 32. Rf4 { and Black can resign. } ) 29. Qd4+ Kxa5 30. b4+ Ka4 31. Rf6 Be6 32. Qe3 $1 ( { Too smart by half, } 32. Rxe6 Qxe6 33. Bxe6 Rxd4 34. Kb2 { is met with } 34... Rc4 $1 { and Black wins } ) 32... Rc8 33. Bxe6 Qd1+ 34. Qc1 Qxc1+ 35. Kxc1 Kxa3 36. Bxc8 Rxc8 37. Rxa6+ Kxb4 38. Ra7 { and the endgame is poor for Black. } ) ( { The second move is } 28. Qxf7 Rhf8 ( { Black must play very carefully; if } 28... Bxd5 29. b4 $1 Rb8 30. Qg7 { he can forget the resistance } ) ( { or } 28... Kxa5 29. Re6 Qxd5 30. b4+ Ka4 31. Rxa6# { mate } ) 29. Qg7 Rde8 30. Qd4+ ( { White has a great choice } 30. Rd7 Qe5 ( 30... Re1+ 31. Ka2 Bxd5+ 32. c4 Qf6 33. Rb7+ { wins for White in attack } ) 31. Qxe5 Rxe5 32. b4 Rxd5 33. Rxh7 { is better, but may be not enought. } ) ( { Another move, } 30. b4 $5 Qxd5 ( { Better than } 30... Qxe7 31. Qd4+ Kc7 32. Qa7+ Kd6 33. Qc5+ Ke5 34. d6+ { and the Queen goes } ) 31. Be6 Rxe7 32. Qxe7 Qd1+ 33. Kb2 Qd4+ 34. Ka2 Rxf3 { fails because there is no follow up to the attack. } ) 30... Qc5 ( { It is advisable to stay clear from the edge almost in any line } 30... Kxa5 31. b4+ Ka4 32. Ka1 Qxe7 33. Qd3 Qf6+ 34. Ka2 { and Black is mated on b3 } ) 31. Qxc5+ Kxc5 32. Nb3+ Kxd5 33. Rxh7 { White has pleasant edge in the endgame. } ) 28... Bxd5 ( { since } 28... Rde8 29. b4 $1 { mates } ) 29. b4 Ba8 30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 32. Bf5 { and the black King will be mated on b6. } ) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 { It is nearly unjust that this natural move is not the best. } ( { White could have tried } 28. Qe3 $2 Qxd5 ( { but not } 28... Bxd5 $2 29. Kb2 { wins } ) 29. Ra7 Bb7 ( { Again } 29... Rd6 30. Kb2 { is mate } ) 30. Rxb7 Rhe8 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Qc3 Qc4 $1 ( { Too slow would have been } 32... Nh5 33. Bd7 $1 ) 33. Qxf6 Kxa3 { but Black survives and even wins! } ) ( { The best move was discovered by GM Kavalek } 28. Ra7 $3 { Black has three relevant defenses:
 The last defence is } 28... Nxd5 { The idea of your humble annotator is very similar } ( 28... Bxd5 $2 29. Qc3 Rhe8 ( { Or } 29... Bc4 30. Kb2 Ra8 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# { with the famous mate } ) 30. Kb2 Re2 31. Qc7 $1 { and the black Queen is fatally overworked. } ) ( { Much better would be } 28... Bb7 29. Rxb7 Qxd5 ( { and Black again has three attempts: } 29... Nxd5 30. Bd7 $3 Ra8 ( { Since } 30... Rxd7 31. Qb2 Nc3+ ( { Or } 31... Nxb4 32. Rxd7 Qc5 33. Rd4 Rc8 34. Qb3+ Ka5 35. axb4+ { winning the Queen } ) 32. Qxc3 Qd1+ 33. Kb2 Rd3 34. Ra7 { mates along the a-file. } ) 31. Bxb5+ axb5 32. Ra7+ Qa6 33. Qxd5 Qxa7 34. Qb3# { and the mating square is well known. } ) ( 29... Rhe8 30. Bf1 Re1+ 31. Kb2 Rxf1 32. Qc3 Rb1+ 33. Kxb1 Qxd5 34. Ra7 Rd6 35. Kb2 { and Black is unable to prevent 36.Qb3 with mate. } ) 30. Rb6 Ra8 ( { Black can fight the inevitable also with } 30... a5 31. Ra6 Ra8 32. Qe3 $3 Rxa6 ( { Or } 32... Rhe8 33. Rxa8 Rxa8 34. Kb2 { mating } ) 33. Kb2 axb4 34. axb4 Kxb4 ( { Since } 34... Qa2+ 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 Rc6 37. Bf1 Ra8 38. Qe7+ Ka5 39. Qb7 { is also decisive } ) 35. Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3# { and the mate is a bit different here. } ) 31. Qxf6 a5 32. Bf1 $1 Rhb8 33. Rd6 { and Black is lost. } ) 29. Rxa6+ $3 ( { White has two false shots in } 29. Kb2 $2 Rhe8 30. Bf1 Ne3 { winning for Black. } ) ( { and } 29. Qb2 $2 Nxb4 30. Qb3+ ( { Or } 30. axb4 Qd1+ 31. Ka2 Bd5+ $1 ) 30... Ka5 31. axb4+ Kb6 { with the King slipping away. } ) ( { Surprisingly enough, there are two beautiful solutions: 3a) } 29. Bd7 $3 { comes from Kavalek } 29... Rxd7 ( { Or } 29... Rc8 30. Qd3 Nc3+ 31. Kb2 Qf6 32. Qd4 $1 Nd1+ 33. Kc1 Rc6 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Qd3 Nc3 36. Qxc3 Qxc3 37. Rxa6# { finally breaking on the a-file } ) 30. Qb2 Nc3+ ( { Now } 30... Nxb4 31. Rxd7 Qf8 32. axb4 Qxb4 33. Rd4 { is dead lost } ) 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 Qe6 33. Rxa6+ Qxa6 34. Qb3+ Bxb3 35. cxb3# { and the famous mate is home and dry. } ) 29... Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 Qe6 33. Bxe6 fxe6 34. Qb3+ $1 Bxb3 35. cxb3# { and White mates though all his pieces have vanished from the board! } ) 28... Qxd5 ( { We already know that } 28... Bxd5 29. Kb2 Qxe7 30. Qb3+ Bxb3 31. cxb3# { is no fun for Black. } ) 29. Ra7 $1 { Kasparov has to play smart, } ( { since } 29. Kb2 $2 Qd4 $1 ) ( { or } 29. Qxf6 $2 Qd1+ 30. Kb2 Qd4+ { would quickly end the fight in Black's favor. } ) 29... Bb7 { Forced, } ( { since the overworked Rook after } 29... Rd6 { would cause a disaster } 30. Kb2 $1 Qd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxa6# { mate! } ) 30. Rxb7 ( { Kasparov would not even dream of } 30. Qc7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qd4+ { with a draw by repetition. } ) 30... Qc4 $2 { Topalov pays back with his own
mistake; he had two tougher moves at his disposal. } ( { Naturally, } 30... Qxb7 31. Qb3# { is mate } ) ( { and } 30... Qd1+ 31. Kb2 $1 Rd3 ( { Or } 31... Qd5 32. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 33. cxb3# { mate } ) 32. Ra7 $1 Rxc3 33. Rxa6# { is also doomed. } ) ( { The only chance was } 30... Rhe8 $1 31. Rb6 ( { Not } 31. Ra7 Rd6 ) ( { or } 31. Bf1 Rd7 ) 31... Ra8 { Kasparov would have had to find } 32. Bf1 $3 { with a win in all lines: This is relatively the best line: } ( 32. Be6 $5 { (Since 32.Kb2 Qe5 prevents the worst.) } 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 $1 ( { Now } 33... Qxe6 34. Kb2 { leads to same mate } ) 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 36. Rxf7 Re8 { and Black is even better. } ) 32... Re1+ $1 ( 32... Nh5 33. Rd6 Re1+ 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Rd4 Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxf1 37. Qd3 { mates. } ) ( 32... Nd7 33. Rd6 Re1+ ( 33... Rec8 34. Qb2 { wins } ) 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Rd4 { and Black is helpless. } ) ( 32... Rec8 33. Qxc8 Qd1+ 34. Ka2 Qd5+ 35. Bc4 Qxc4+ 36. Qxc4 bxc4 37. Rxf6 { gives Black a miserable rook endgame. } ) ( 32... Red8 33. Rc6 $1 Nh5 ( { Or } 33... Nd7 34. Rd6 $1 { with well-known ideas } ) 34. Rc5 Rac8 35. Kb2 $1 { and mate on b3 beckons. } ) ( 32... Re6 33. Rxe6 fxe6 34. Kb2 { with Qb3 blues. } ) 33. Qxe1 Nd7 ( { Since } 33... Qd4 34. Rd6 Qxd6 35. Qc3 Qd5 36. Kb2 { repeats the central idea } ) 34. Rb7 $3 Qxb7 ( { Or } 34... Ne5 35. Qc3 Qxf3 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4 { toying with the Qb3 ambition } ) 35. Qd1 $1 Kxa3 36. c3 { and the Black King will be mated. } ) ( { A slightly more lightweight idea is } 30... Rd6 31. Rb6 $3 Rxb6 32. Kb2 { with mate } ) ( { but the smart defense given by Kasparov } 30... Ne4 $1 31. fxe4 Qc4 { is also quite tough.
 The best line features the same fascinating move } 32. Ra7 $3 ( { The natural } 32. Qxc4 $2 bxc4 33. Kb2 f5 ( { Better than } 33... a5 34. Bd7+ Rxd7 35. Rxd7 axb4 36. Ra7+ Kb5 37. Rb7+ { and White wins the Rook endgame } ) 34. exf5 c3+ 35. Kxc3 Kxa3 36. f6 Rd6 37. f7 Rc6+ 38. Kd4 Rxc2 39. Bf1 { is only better for white. } ) 32... Rd1+ ( { Or } 32... Ra8 33. Qe3 Rhb8 34. Kb2 $1 { with mate } ) 33. Kb2 Qxc3+ 34. Kxc3 Rd6 35. e5 Rb6 36. Kb2 Re8 37. Bg2 $1 Rd8 ( { Since } 37... Rxe5 38. Bb7 { ends in tears for Black } ) 38. Bb7 Rd7 39. Bc6 $3 Rd8 ( 39... Rd2 40. Be8 ) ( { or } 39... Rxa7 40. Bd5 { are both hopeless } ) 40. Bd7 { and White dominates the board and wins. } ) 31. Qxf6 ( { White had no time for } 31. Ra7 $2 Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Qxc3+ 33. Kxc3 Rd6 { and Black wins. } ) 31... Kxa3 { Not good, } ( { but } 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 $1 ( { Naturally } 33. Rxf7 $2 Rd2 34. Qc3 Qxc3+ 35. Kxc3 Rxh2 { is quite wrong } ) 33... Qd4+ ( { Quickly, since } 33... a5 34. Bd7 $1 { loses } ) 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 { What is more, White would have had one more idea leading to victory, with } 35. Bd7 $5 ( 35. Rxf7 a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Kb6 ( { The Rook is trapped on b4: } 38... Rxb4 39. c3 ) 39. Rxh7 { was also quite hopeless. } ) 35... Rd2 36. Bc6 f5 37. Rb6 Ra7 38. Be8 Rd4 39. f4 Rc4 40. Bf7 Rxb4+ 41. axb4 Rxf7 42. c3 Ra7 43. Re6 { with Re1 winnig. } ) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ $1 Kxc3 { The King's journey has to continue, } ( { since } 33... Qxc3 34. Qxb5+ Ka3 35. Ra7+ ) ( { or } 33... Kc5 34. Rc7+ Kd5 35. Qb7+ { were just unplayable. } ) 34. Qa1+ Kd2 { Topalov prays to save his Queen, } ( 34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Kc5 ( { Or } 35... Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+ ) ( { as well as } 35... Qb3 36. Rxb5+ { winning } ) 36. Rc7+ { would fail in this respect. } ) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 { The King came to lay down in the middle of the white pieces. } ( 35... Ke3 36. Re7+ Kxf3 37. Qg2# { is mate } ) ( { and } 35... Ke1 36. Re7+ Kd1 37. Bf1 Rd2 38. Rd7 $1 { leads to the game position. } ) 36. Bf1 Rd2 { The last try for Black, since anything else was only a choice of mate: } ( 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ ) ( { or } 36... Qe6 37. Qc1# { mate } ) ( { and finally } 36... Qd4 37. Qe2# { mate. } ) 37. Rd7 $1 ( { It is never late to throw everything out of the window: } 37. Qxh8 $2 Qc1# { mate (Or 37...Qa2 mate) would serve the purpose perfectly well. } ) 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 ( { Black has no time for tricks. } 38... Re8 39. Qc1# { is mate. } ) 39. Qxh8 Rd3 { The fascinating fight is over; } ( { Black had a minimal chance with } 39... Rb7+ 40. Ka2 Kc2 41. Qd4 Rb4 42. Ka3 ) 40. Qa8 ( { Or } 40. Qf6 c3 41. Qc6 { which seem a bit more difficult. } ) 40... c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 { Protecting the pawn, } ( { which goes after } 41... Kd2 42. Qa2+ Ke3 43. Qxf7 ) 42. f4 ( { There was no point in making the technical task more difficult with } 42. Kc2 Rxf3 43. Qh4 h5 ) 42... f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 ( { White is ready to annihilate the black kingside with } 44. Qa7 Kf1 45. Qxh7 { so Topalov resigned. Honestly, not even Kasparov wins in such a
great style against a 2700 player each day! This was a magnificent achievement. } ) 1-0