[Event "Superstars Hotel Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm ESP"]
[Date "2002.12.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "San Segundo Carrillo, P."]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[ECO "E63"]
[EventDate "2002.11.29"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[WhiteElo "2523"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. Re1 Rb8 { This is the first deviation from Psakhis-Shirov, of round 7 (two rounds earlier) , where Shirov played 8...Na5. } 9. Rb1 { Clearly Black wouldn't like to face b2-b4-b5. } 9... Na5 10. Qa4 b6 11. c5 { It would appear this is something especially prepared for Shirov. By preventing ...c7-c5 he undermines Black's plan and still can play b2-b4. } 11... Bd7 12. Qa3 Nc4 { The knight would seem to be a little too far afield. } 13. Qxa6 { But, perhaps the same can be said of White's queen! If she had just retreated the game would be interesting, but now it's a walk on a razor's edge. } ( 13. Qb3 b5 { and Nc4 has a5 to retreat to } ) 13... b5 14. Nh4 { guarding square a8 to prevent ...Rb8-a8 which would trap Qa6 } ( 14. Nd2 { might do better, but would let Nc4 off the hook, leaving only Qa6 in dire straits } ) 14... dxc5 15. dxc5 c6 { again threatening ...Ra8 } 16. Bxc6 Qc7 17. Bxd7 ( 17. Bh1 Qxc5 { and Black can develop with alarming freedom while White has to continue worrying about threats to the immobile Qa6 } ) 17... Nxd7 { Black has sacrificed two pawns, but will soon regain one by capturing Pc5. So, is the stuck Qa6 good compensation for a one-pawn sacrifice? } 18. Nxb5 Qxc5 { How about for a two-pawn sacrifice? It's not at all clear Black can forcibly regain the material or win Qa6. At least there's the immediate threat to Nb5. } 19. a4 Qb4 { threatening Re1 and probably preparing ...Nd7-c5-b3xc1 to undermine all of White's queen-side pawns. How Black might do all this and somehow switch the play toward Kg1 is as yet unclear. } 20. Ng2 ( 20. Bf4 e5 { and by preventing White's complete development Black can maintain his superior piece activity, and perhaps regain the material to have a completely superior position. } 21. b3 Nc5 22. Qa7 Nxb3 23. Bg5 f6 24. Be3 Ra8 ) 20... Nc5 21. Qc6 Nxa4 ( 21... Rfc8 22. Qf3 Qxa4 23. Nc3 { and though Black is alright, White appears to be walking away from the worst problems } ) 22. Nc7 Rfc8 23. Bf4 ( 23. Ra1 Naxb2 24. Bxb2 Nxb2 $15 ) 23... e5 { All of White's pieces are targets and they can't coordinate to do anything together! } ( 23... Ne5 24. Qc2 Rb7 25. Ra1 Nb6 26. Na6 Rxc2 27. Nxb4 Rxb2 $11 ) 24. Be3 Rb7 25. b3 { providing a support point where Qc6 can escape (a4 or c4) } 25... Nc3 { Shirov is keeping White's queen tied to Nc7 and blocking the c-file to prevent the queen from retreating or being supported by a rook. That he threatens Rb1 is also good. } ( 25... Nxe3 26. Qxa4 Nxg2 27. Qxb4 Rxb4 28. Rec1 Bh6 29. Nd5 Rxc1+ 30. Rxc1 Bxc1 31. Nxb4 Ne1 $17 ) 26. Qxc4 ( 26. Bc5 Rbxc7 27. Bxb4 Rxc6 28. Bxc3 Na3 29. Ra1 Nc2 $17 ) 26... Qxc4 27. bxc4 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 Nxb1 { But, it cost White an exchange to clear the board and he's surely lost in the ending. } 29. Bb6 Nc3 30. Kf1 Na4 31. Ba5 ( 31. c5 Nxc5 ) 31... f5 32. Ne3 e4 33. Ned5 Kf7 34. f3 exf3 35. exf3 Bd4 ( 35... Nb2 36. c5 Nd3 37. c6 Ne5 38. Bc3 Nxc6 $17 ) 36. Nb5 { threatening ...Nd6+ } 36... Bc5 { Black threatens ...Na4-b2xc4 and it is probably going to be very difficult or impossible for White to defend the pawn when his bishop can't help directly. } 37. Ke2 { It's a little unusual for someone to make a move and then resign (not unheard of, just unusual) , so I don't know whether White resigned here or perhaps lost by time forfeit. But, Pc4 is weak, so he may have forseen a concrete variation where it's lost. Without that pawn White can't hold back Black. } 0-1