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

{ INSIDE CHESS ONLINE http://www.insidechess.com/annotate/YasKaspTop99.html 
 The following analysis is really a joint effort. While I take a lot of
credit for the prose and many of the variations I was considerably assisted by
GM's Lubosh Kavalek, Lubomir Ftacnik, Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov. IM
Gert Ligterink had the most incredible find for which I'm also very
appreciative. Michael Greengard (MIG) on the popular web site, The Week In
Chess (TWIC) collected a large number of lines from many sources including
computers and went to town. While I found some of the analysis at the TWIC
site to be pleasure seeking and trimmed accordingly, it was extremely useful
and I'm grateful to Michael for his prodigious efforts. I've tried to give
credit to the players and sources involved but this wasn't easy and apologies
in advance for not giving the credit or the blame to whom it was due! I
believe the analysis below is sound and features the most germane lines of
play. GM Yasser Seirawan: } 1. e4 d6 $5 { At the highest levels the
Pirc Defense is a rare guest as White has a large number of combative systems
to choose from. We must already admire Topalov's courage. } 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 $6 { Against this particular move order by White, Black has
to be very careful with how he uses his tempi. } ( { I think the text is a mistake and that } 4... c6 $1 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 Nbd7 { is required. In the first place, White is quickly forced into playing f2-f3
thereby ruling out other options such as Bf1-e2 and f2-f4 or g2-g4 and in the
second placeafter } 7. g4 Nb6 8. g5 Nfd7 { is convenient for Black as the
b8-Knight has already been evacuated. Finally, with the Bishop having moved to
g7, the move Be3-h6 is more attractive as Black has used a tempo. } ) 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 $6 { The same criticism as before also applies here. Kasparov
fails to take advantage of the opportunity offered by his opponents inaccurate
move order. For instance both d4-d5 and h2-h4 are serious alternatives to the
text. } ( { After } 7. O-O-O Na6 8. Bh6 $1 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 e5 { give's White more opportunities to use his tempo more constructively. } ) 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 $5 { Kasparov is
about to embark on a long maneuver to get his Knight to the a5-square. } ( { It seems more promising to me to play } 12. g3 O-O-O 13. Bh3 { immediately.
In this way, White could also quickly double Rooks on the d-file. On the other
hand, Kc1-b1 is a useful move. } ) 12... a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Na5 { White has spent a lot of time getting this
Knight to the a5-square, but, I don't know what it does. } 18... Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ { In his post game comments, Garry explains that the up-coming
double Rook sacrifice had just been spied by himself. Greatly encouraged by
the lack of something else in the position, he decided to go for it. } 20... Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 { At first blush Kasparov looks to be in trouble. Kasparov plunges ahead. } 22. Nd5 ( { After a lame retreat of the c3-Knight, } 22. Ne2 Nc4 $5 23. Nxc4 bxc4 { for instance, it is obvious that Black has seized the initiative
having pried open the b-file. } ) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 { Once more,
the surface of things, Black appears to be in great shape. A line like 24.Nc6+
would just become a lost ending for White. Garry now uncorks his shot. } 24. Rxd4 $3 { Born of necessity the combination is none the less stunning. } ( { After } 24. Qxd6 $2 Rxd6 25. Re7+ Kb6 { White is in serious trouble. } ) 24... cxd4 $2 { A bad move which is completely
understandable. If we go back a diagram or two, it is easy for Black to get
caught up in the euphoria of the moment. Veselin was undoubtedly thinking,
that somewhere, somehow, Garry has gone wrong. Perhaps it was that Knight trek
to the a5-square? Who cares, I like my position! White is obviously desperate
and is sacrificing material. 
Based on his belief that he was playing from a position of strength, Topalov
took the Rook. Who can blame him? } ( { Black can equalize the position by } 24... Kb6 $1 { (Kasparov) } 25. Nb3 Bxd5 { or Black can clip a whole Rook. } ) 25. Re7+ $3 { The key follow up. Black's King is forced to march up the board. } 25... Kb6 ( { Taking the second Rook is a second bite of the poisoned apple: } 25... Qxe7 $4 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# { Checkmate. } ) ( { Dropping back is also losing: } 25... Kb8 $2 26. Qxd4 Nd7 ( 26... Rd7 $4 27. Rxd7 { and the h8-Rook drops. } ) ( { While } 26... Qxe7 $4 { just transposes into the mate given above. } ) 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 { As White's
-Bishop can't be captured and the threat of Na5-c6+ is winning, the d5-pawn
must go. At the same time, Black has the trick of ...Bd5-a2+ in order to bail
out. } 28. c4 $1 { A fiendishly clever move. The trick of ...Bd5-a2+ is just stopped. } ( { White had to avoid } 28. Nc6+ $4 Qxc6 29. Bxc6 Ba2+ 30. Kxa2 { and } 30... Rxd4 { when Black has survived the crisis. } ) 28... Qxe7 ( 28... bxc4 29. Nc6+ { is now winning for White. Once more the d7-Bishop is immune due to the h8-Rook. } ) 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ Bxc6 33. Nxc6 Rd7 ( { Now, despite the lopsided material count, Black has to part with his Queen } 33... Qb7 $4 34. Qa5+ { and mate next move. } ) 34. Nxe7 Rxe7 35. Qxb5 { winning. Thus the text is forced. } ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 { In the apt words
of IM Nikolay Minev, "If Black is going to die, he will die with a full
stomach!" It's interesting to ask if either
Kasparov or Topalov saw the move 30.Be6(!!)? I suspect that Topalov only
realized that 26...Qc5 27.Qxf6+ Qd6 28.Qd4+ gave White at least a repetition
and he wasn't about to let Kasparov off the hook! After he took the Rook,
Topalov was likely set on taking the Knight as well. } ( { The capture is forced: } 26... Qc5 $2 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Qd4+ Qc5 ( { Now: } 28... Kxa5 $4 29. b4+ Ka4 30. Qc3 { makes no sense as we are right back
in the game but Black is missing his f6-Knight. } ) 29. Qf6+ Qd6 { Now White avoids the repetition and finds the winning move: } 30. Be6 $3 { A marvelous move. White's Queen needs a rest in order to set up a mating net. Black would have to play: } 30... Bxd5 ( { Naturally the Bishop is invulnerable as } 30... fxe6 $4 31. Rxe6 Qxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kxa5 $2 33. b4+ { and mate next move. } ) 31. b4 $3 { This is White's magnificent point. He merely wants to play Qf6-d4+ winning. } 31... Bc6 ( 31... Ba8 $5 ) 32. Qxf7 Qd1+ 33. Kb2 Qxf3 34. Rc7 Qxf7 35. Rxc6+ Ka7 36. Bxf7 { With a winning ending. } ) 27. b4+ Ka4 { Okay, so far it was easy to calculate. Black's King has been driven up the
board and is securely locked in. But what's going on? The extra Rook and
Knight are certainly nice for Black. Its easy to see that White's Queen wants
to deliver mate on the b3-square, but, this can be covered. How to proceed? } 28. Qc3 { (?!) A natural move or an inaccuracy? It depends on your point of
view. According to GM Lubomir Kavalek in his column from the Washington Post,
the text is dubious and nearly allows Topalov to escape. Immortality could
have been had as follows, I quote Lubosh: "Kasparov is usually very good
at weaving mating nets, but he loses the golden thread here. The most elegant
and efficient way to finish the game starts with the subtle combining mating
threats on the a-file and on the square b3." According to Kavalek, Black
has three defenses: A) 28...Nxd5, B) 28...Bxd5 and C) 28...Bb7 all of
which fail. While the above is a fine piece of analysis it turns out that the
move Kasparov chose was also winning, so any criticism is misplaced as we'll
see. } ( { "The most complicated finale comes after } 28. Ra7 $3 { "
 
"If after 28.Ra7!! Black plays } 28... Bb7 { all defenses fail to } ( { "The defence, } 28... Nxd5 { loses in a staggering way to } 29. Bd7 $3 { "
Okay, this is a bit freakish. I mean my goodness what a move!
 " } ( { In an exchange of e-mail's with Lubosh he confessed that } 29. Rxa6+ Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 { was a winner. But, he liked the spectacular
text even more. Well one win is good enough but the lines are simply
extraordinary and I hope the reader will enjoy the fruits of Kavalek's labors. } ) 29... Rc8 $5 ( { "On } 29... Rxd7 30. Qb2 { wins either after } 30... Nc3+ ( { or after } 30... Nxb4 31. Rxd7 Qc5 32. Rd4 Qe7 33. Rxb4+ Ka5 34. Qxh8 { with a decisive material advantage. } ) 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 Qe6 33. Rxa6+ Qxa6 34. Qb3+ Bxb3 { with the pretty } 35. cxb3# { " } ) 30. Qd3 Nc3+ 31. Kb2 Qf6 32. Qd4 $3 Nd1+ 33. Kc1 $1 { and the black Queen is out of squares on the 6th
rank to avert the mate on a6." } ) ( { "Perhaps the simplest win occurs after } 28... Bxd5 { with } 29. Qc3 $1 { and now White mates either on } 29... Rhe8 ( { Or after } 29... Bc4 30. Kb2 Ra8 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# ) 30. Kb2 Re2 31. Qc7 $1 Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ Qa5 33. Rxa5# { " } ) 29. Rxb7 { :" "And finally on } 29... Rhe8 ( { "For example, on } 29... Qxd5 { White does not
have to transpose into the game with 30.Qc3. Instead, he can use the extra
move for a direct assault with } 30. Rb6 $1 { " "Or } 30... a5 ( { "e.g. } 30... Ra8 31. Qxf6 a5 32. Rd6 Qc4 33. bxa5 Kxa5 34. Rc6 { winning." } ) 31. Ra6 $1 Ra8 32. Qe3 $3 { And after this quiet move black has no defense
despite being two Rooks up. After } 32... Rxa6 ( { On } 32... Rhe8 { comes } 33. Rxa8 $1 { winning. } ) 33. Kb2 $1 { (Threatening 34.Qb3+) } 33... axb4 34. axb4 Kxb4 {  } ( { [Black appears to be a bit too cooperative. He should try } 34... Qa2+ 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 { although he is still lost. -Seirawan] } ) 35. Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3# { " } ) ( { "Also after } 29... Nxd5 { White wins with } 30. Bd7 $3 { threatening 31.Bxb5." "Or } 30... Rxd7 ( { "For example } 30... Ra8 31. Bxb5+ axb5 32. Ra7+ Qa6 33. Qxd5 Qxa7 34. Qb3# { " } ) 31. Qb2 Nc3+ ( { On } 31... Nxb4 32. Rxd7 Qc5 33. Rd4 { wins. } ) 32. Qxc3 Qd1+ 33. Ka2 Qd5+ ( { Or } 33... Rd3 34. Ra7 $1 { winning. } ) 34. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 35. cxb3# { " } ) 30. Bf1 $3 Re1+ 31. Kb2 Rxf1 32. Qc3 Rb1+ 33. Kxb1 Qxd5 34. Ra7 Rd6 35. Kb2 { and White mat
es soon." - Analysis by GM Kavalek. This is a lovely piece of work
that was quite inspired. Such work deserves a reward and I'm sending Lubosh a
box of Pacific Northwest Smoked Salmon post haste. We want to keep Lubosh
strong. } ) 28... Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 ( { Black has to toss his Bishop as } 29... Rd6 $2 30. Kb2 Qd4 31. Qxd4 { wins. } ) 30. Rxb7 Qc4 { (?) Once more, according
to GM Kavalek, this is where Topalov goes astray. He could have punished
White's inaccurate twenty-eighth move [28.Qc3(?!)]. The inescapable
conclusion seems to be that Topalov's 30...Qc4 is a bad move, not because he
missed a save with 30...Rhe8, rather its a bad move because 30...Rhe8 can only
be overcome with extraordinary skill. This analysis was discovered only after
a few hundred man and silicon hours were spent on this position! } ( { I quote from the Washington Post:
"Topalov misses } 30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 Ra8 { and now after or } 32. Rxf6 ( { either } 32. Be6 Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 $1 ( { Not } 33... fxe6 34. Kb2 { with the threat 35.Qb3+ winning. } ) ) 32... Qc4 { he should be able to save the game." - GM Lubosh Kavalek } ) ( { Unquestionably
, 30...Rhe8 was a key defense. I too mistakenly thought that this defense
might be able to save the game but felt it would still be an up hill battle as
Black's great material bounty has all but disappeared: } 30... Rhe8 $1 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Qxf6 { [Seirawan] } 32... Re1+ 33. Kb2 Qe5+ 34. Qxe5 Rxe5 35. Bf1 Re3 36. Bd3 f5 37. f4 { with a rather quizzical position as Black's King is still
locked in a vault. White's winning try is to play Rb6-d6 and c2-c4 but there
is no guarantee of success here. } ) ( { Topalov had a similar thought with a
totally different twist. He too believed that } 30... Rhe8 $1 { saved his bacon: } 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Be6 { [Topalov] } 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 36. Rxf7 c3 { and Black holds. GM Ftacnik too had discovered this
line with 32.Be6 and thought that Black could have saved the game. } ) ( { What all of us Ftacnik, Kavalek, Topalov and I had missed is a lovely retreat: } 30... Rhe8 $1 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 $3 { [Ligterink] This appears to be the
tinkering of IM Ligterink who had been working on the lines and had analyzed
it the next day with Kasparov. White appears to win by taking a break in the
action! The key point is to 'keep' the position and to set up mating patterns
utilizing the Bishop. Black's Queen is denied the c4-square and Black seems to
be strangely paralyzed. Some of the lines involve a marvelous tactical feast
so do your best to plow your way through the lines. You're sure to enjoy them!
 So what is Black to do after 32.Bf1(!!)? Protect the f6-Knight? Move the
Knight? Hit White's Queen? Let's have a look: We are now gaining a healthy
respect for the problems that Black is facing. Hitting White's Queen,
protecting the Knight, moving the Knight all fail. It is time for desperate
measures! Black seems to be advised to sacrifice his Rook: } 32... Re1+ ( { Protecting the Knight by } 32... Re6 $2 33. Rxe6 Qxe6 34. Kb2 { is an easy
for White as Qc3-b3+ will be mate and Black has lost the key defensive ...
Qd5-e5 possibility. } ) ( { Hitting White's Queen by } 32... Rec8 $2 33. Qxc8 $1 { is a nasty surprise: } 33... Qd1+ 34. Ka2 Qd5+ 35. Bc4 Qxc4+ ( 35... bxc4 36. Rxa6+ Kb5 37. Qxa8 { wins. } ) 36. Qxc4 bxc4 37. Rxf6 { winning. Black seems
to be better off moving his Knight. He has two ways to go: C) 32...Nh5 and D)
32...Nd7. Let's take each move in turn. } ) ( 32... Nh5 { trying to save his skin
leaves it up to White to show his hand. Which he promptly does! } 33. Rd6 $1 { This is White's point. After Bh3-f1, he wants to push Black's Queen away from
controlling the b3-square: } 33... Rec8 ( { As: } 33... Re1+ 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Rd4 $1 { Block's Black's Queen and sets up Qc3-b3 checkmate. After } 35... Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxf1 37. Qd3 { White wins. } ) 34. Qb2 Rxc2 35. Rxd5 Rxb2+ 36. Kxb2 { When Black's King is in a mating net. } ) ( { It seems much more reasonable to keep Black's Knight in the action by: } 32... Nd7 33. Rd6 Re1+ 34. Kb2 Re3 ( { The same blocking line as above reappears after: } 34... Qe5 35. Rd4 $1 Qxd4 36. Qxd4 { winning. } ) 35. Qxe3 Qe5+ 36. Qxe5 Nxe5 37. f4 Nc4+ 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rd5 $1 { wins. } ) 33. Qxe1 ( 33. Kb2 $2 Qe5 { is what White must avoid. } ) 33... Nd7 ( { After, } 33... Qd4 { the mating net is impossible to overcome: } 34. Rd6 $1 Nd5 ( 34... Qxd6 35. Qc3 Qd5 36. Kb2 { with a favorite checkmate to come. } ) 35. Rxd5 Qxd5 36. Qc3 a5 37. Kb2 { and Black can choose how to lose. } ) 34. Rb7 $3 Ne5 { tries to mee
t this stunning Rook shot. Of course, with material equality now
re-established White is winning. } ( { The Rook can't be captured this time because of an unusual checkmate: } 34... Qxb7 $2 35. Qd1 $3 { Another brilliant move which keeps Black's Queen out of the defense. } ( { Our favorite checkmate } 35. Qc3 Qd5 36. Kb2 Qe5 { isn't reached this time. } ) 35... Kxa3 36. c3 $1 { Black will soon be mated. Due
to White's threat to capture the d7-Knight, it is forced to move. } ) 35. Qc3 Qxf3 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4 $1 { A familiar decoy sacrifice as we've seen with Rb6-d6. Black's Queen must move. } 37... Qc4 38. Qxe5 { Winning a piece and the game. } ) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 $2 { This is at least one of the moves that everyone seems to agree is a bad slip. } ( { Both Kavalek and I think that Black must play: } 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 { when White has winning chances. This line is
similar to the note with 30...Rhe8 and White has to be happy that he clipped
the f7-pawn. I suspect that Topalov has missed White's thirty-sixth move. } ) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ $3 { Another beautiful move which is marvelous in its
delivery. Black's King is lured forward this time into a different web. Now
White is winning. } 33... Kxc3 ( { The only move as } 33... Kb3 $2 34. Qa2+ Kxc3 35. Qb2+ Kd3 36. Bf1+ { wins easily. } ) 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 { Black's weary King seems to have settled down, it is precisely at this moment
that White has an incredible study like win! As if it was predetermined, Black
is denied a check on the e4-square. } 36. Bf1 $3 Rd2 { Allows a breath taking finish but what to do? } ( { Capturing the Bishop allows mate: } 36... Qxf1 $2 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ Qe2 39. Qxe2# { Checkmate. } ) ( { While } 36... Qd5 37. Qc1# { Checkmate is rather utilitarian. } ) 37. Rd7 $3 { Simply beautiful. Black is neatly pinned and must lose material. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 { There is no time to save the h8-Rook. The checkmate on
the c1-square hasn't gone away. } 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 $1 { A fantastic game. Garry was so moved as to crown
this game as his finest accomplishment. Destined for the hall of fame. Which
leaves me wondering how fleeting immortality truly is. After all, what would
have happened had Topalov thumbed his nose and played 24...Kb6 declining the
sacrifices? } 1-0