[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Kasparov"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "B07"]
[EventDate "1999.01.20"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "TaL's Chess"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.20"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]

{ KASPAROV CHESS http://www.kasparovchess.com/serve/templates/folders/show.
asp?p_docID=1463&p_docLang=EN CLUB KASPAROV http://www.clubkasparov.ru/
club/int5_e.htm GM Garry Kasparov: } 1. e4 { Nothing betokened a storm
when I made this move. Topalov who is always eager to fight no matter if he
has Black or White, if he plays me or any other adversary answered with } 1... d6 { I was sincerely surprised. Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense is not a usual one for
Topalov, and this opening is hardly worth using in the tournaments of the
highest category. White has too many opportunities for anybody's liking: one
can lead an acute or a positional game, one can vary different ways of
developing the initiative. Nevertheless, Topalov obviously counted on surprise,
as he thought that I would play worse in a situation I was not ready for, and
besides, he hoped to avoid my opening preparation, which he had faced before. } 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 { That was when I began to think. I was actually
engrossed in thoughts on the third move, I had often played 3.f3 threatening
with King's Indian Defense. However, this opening couldn't scare Topalov off
as he was used to it, moreover, that was what he reckoned on. That is why I
decided to play at sight. I went for a position I had a definite idea about
but never met in practice and, frankly speaking, had never seriously analyzed. } 4. Be3 Bg7 ( 4... c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 Bg7 ) 5. Qd2 c6 { As far as I
know, Black usually plays c6 and b5 before the move Bg7, but I don't think
that this shift changes something seriously. } 6. f3 ( { It was also possible to play } 6. Nf3 b5 7. Bd3 { probably it was even
better, but here I have to repeat that in this opening both adversaries relied
not on exact knowledge but on common sense. } ) 6... b5 7. Nge2 { A strange move.
 Generally speaking, the move 7.Nge2 has no sense, its
reason is purely psychological. I remembered that before the game, when we
discussed the strategy with Yury Dokhoian, he said suddenly looking through
Topalov's games: "You know, Garry, he does not like when the opponent makes
the moves he can not predict. This affects him strangely." That is why I
played 7.Nge2 and surprised Topalov. This move does not contain any threats
but continues the development. However, it seemed to me that he did not like
the character of the fight, as it did not correspond the ideas he had before
the game. } ( { If White wanted to play } 7. Bh6 $5 { he could do it at
once, leaving the e2-square free for the other Knight and providing an
opportunity to develop the other Bishop on d3. Theoretically this Knight could
move to h3 one day. } ) 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 { Better late than never. It is useful to exchange the Bishop. } 8... Bxh6 9. Qxh6 { White achieved some sort of success as Black can not castle in a
shorter direction. However, this achievement is rather ephemeral because the
King can hide on the Queen-side as well. White King will also castle there as
a result. Maneuverable fight is waiting ahead and White can not count on
significant gains. } 9... Bb7 ( { Actually, if Black shows activity } 9... Qa5 { then there is a move } 10. Nc1 { and then the Knight moves to b3 with tempo.
White will manage to stabilize the game and he will devoid Black of the
opportunity to use the diversion of the white Queen on h6. } ) 10. a3 $146 { I did not want to castle at once, because it was not clear how to defend the
King after Qa5 from the b4 threat. That is why White makes a wait-and-see move
that prepares a long castling and again, on Qa5 there is a move Nc1 that
repulses the b4 threat. } ( 10. O-O-O Qa5 11. a3 ( 11. Qd2 b4 12. Nb1 ) 11... b4 12. axb4 ( 12. Nb1 ) ) 10... e5 { Topalov, after thinking for 11 minutes,
decided to strengthen the position in the center and to prepare to castle long.
Black had alternative plans, but this one looked most logical. } 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 { It was probably possible to castle at once, but
Topalov defends his King from the potential threat of d5 just to be on the
safe side. I doubt that this threat was that real, but Black found this move
desirable. } ( { White did not have a lot of opportunities either; he had to
unravel the tangle of his pieces. That was why I decided to transfer the
Knight to b3, taking advantage of the fact that now Black's attempt to play
actively with a7-a5 would be repulsed: } 12... a5 $6 13. Nc1 b4 14. dxe5 $1 dxe5 ( 14... Ng8 15. Qg7 Qxe5 16. Qxe5+ dxe5 17. Na4 $16 ) 15. Na4 bxa3 16. b3 $16 ) 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 { The development of both sides is coming to
its end. However, Black has to show some enterprise, as he is under some
pressure. If White develops with g3, Bh3, and Rhe1, then it won't be easy for
Black. Black's King is slightly weakened and, of course, he should have
considered playing c6-c5, but then White would have a choice: close the
position by playing d5, or even to exchange. It is probably more
promising to close the center. White's space advantage lets him push for an
attack. Then I hoped to make use of Black's weaknesses on the Queen-side. It
was possible to move the Queen from h6 to b6 or to a7. This was an absurd
thought: it flashed across my mind and immediately disappeared, but
subconsciously I formed the idea that the Queen on b6 together with the Knight
on a5 could make a lot of trouble, especially if the white Bishop appears on
h3. This did affect the calculation of variations, but, the mere fact that
such an idea surfaced served as a prologue to a wonderful combination. } 14... exd4 $1 { A very good decision: relief in the center. Taking advantage of the
fact that White is a bit backward in development, Black does not hesitate to
open the game and relies on the possibility that active pieces will compensate
for the weakened position of the King. } 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 { A good move. Black prepares d6-d5, and I had to think hard for 10 minutes. 
Now we already have dim contours of a combination. I still could not imagine
how it would look like but I realized that the moves g3 and Bh3 could not be
bad. } 17. g3 { Now the Bishop will move to h3, the Queen will return to f4,
the Knight will go to a5, and the blow will take place somewhere in that area.
At that moment, however, I did not know exactly what this blow would be like.
Nevertheless, the idea to dispose the pieces in such a way already reigned
over my mind. } ( { What does White do next? Let's say if } 17. a4 $6 { then Black gets a good position after } 17... b4 18. a5 bxc3 19. axb6 Nd7 ) ( { And in case of } 17. Na5 d5 18. Nxb7 ( 18. g3 d4 ) 18... Kxb7 19. exd5 Nbxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Bd3 f5 22. Rhe1 Qc7 23. Bf1 c4 { we have a complicated
position with mutual chances. Of course, the black King is out in the open,
but the white Bishop is hemmed in by the pawns. Black is sound in the center,
and it is most likely that the position is in a state of dynamic balance. } ) 17... Kb8 { Topalov thinks that he has some time and can calmly prepare for d6-d5. } 18. Na5 ( { It is important to say that if White had not played the Knight to a5 on
the 18th move but immediately played } 18. Bh3 { then the white Knight would not have reached the a5-square after Nb3. } ) 18... Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 { So, both sides have fulfilled what was planned: White
has finished the development and Black has played d6-d5. Though, generally
speaking, there was such an opportunity and it was possible to play Rhe1, but
that would have been another game. I tried to systematically fulfill the plan
that I expected to end in a sacrifice. The move 24.Rxd4 was already clear
in my mind, though I had not yet realized the possibility of a draw by
repetition of moves. I just saw the outline of an attack. } 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 { That was when I saw the possibility of a draw. Moreover, I felt
that there was a possibility to continue the game, to play without the Rook,
though I could not imagine what it would lead to. However, the image of the
black King on a5 comforted my heart and intuition given to every man from
birth, intuition of an "attacker" (let's call it that way), told me that there
would be decision and a mate net around the black King would be spun in spite
of the huge material advantage of the adversary. Besides, I was whipped up
by curiosity of unexplored. Will there ever be another opportunity to lure out
the black King into the center of my own camp!? In the long run, Lasker's
ancient game [Lasker, Edward - Sir Thomas, George. London 1912.] with a
sacrifice on h7 and King's move g8-g1 was like a myth to us. Such a thing
could happen only in those distant times, we assume. And suddenly, this
opportunity! Topalov looked quite confident. He played } 21... d4 ( { Certainly, after } 21... dxe4 $2 22. fxe4 { the game is open and now the threat
23.Nd5 gives Black a lot of trouble: the black King is too weak. } ) 22. Nd5 { Frankly speaking, this move is not the strongest but it serves as a prologue
for a further combination. } ( { White, of course, could have played } 22. Na2 { but after } 22... Rhe8 { or h7-h6 the game would have become very complicated.
So naturally, my hand led the Knight to the center. } ) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 { (White to move) It seemed to me that Topalov was a bit
surprised, as he thought that attacking resources had dried out. A check on c6
was senseless, the Knight will be beaten, the King will go to b6, and there is
hardly any opportunity for White to move his Rooks toward the black King. The
d4-pawn safely protects the d-rank, and there are no squares for intrusion on
the e-rank. Actually, this was not quite right, and my next move, made without
any hesitation, turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for Topalov. } 24. Rxd4 $3 { When I made this move, I saw only the repetition of the moves and
the opportunity to continue the attack, though the whole picture of the
combination was not yet clear. I already saw the idea 30...Rd6 31.Rb6, but I
still could not get rid of the thought that all lines should be checked to the
very end. Maybe black will find some opportunity for defense. Topalov spent
about 15 minutes thinking. I walked around the hall - rather, I fled - and
at these feverish moments it seemed to me that there were very few
participants and that most of the games had already been finished. My mind
worked only in one direction, and one of these moments brought me the image of
the whole cluster of various lines. I saw the move 37.Rd7. I don't even
remember how this line was formed in my head, but I saw the whole line up to
the end. I saw the journey of the black King after 36.Bf1, 37.Rd7 and I could
no longer suppress my excitement, because at that same moment I realized that
the move 24...Kb6 ruined the whole construction. The mere thought that I
could spoil such a combination drove me crazy, and I only prayed that Topalov
would capture on d4. I still was not sure that this would win, but the beauty
of the combination I saw impressed me. I could not believe my own eyes
when Veselin twitched abruptly and grabbed the Rook. As he explained after the
game, he was exhausted by the tense fight and he thought that White would have
to force a draw by the repetition of moves after the Rook was captured. He saw
the main idea of the combination, but it did not occur to him that White would
play without the Rook, trying to make use of the King's forward position on a4. } 24... cxd4 $6 { This move loses the game, but it is worth an exclamation
mark, as great combinations cannot be created without partners. If Topalov had
not taken the Rook, the game could have finished in a draw: Veselin would have
had half a point more, I - half a point less. He would have win a little bit,
I would have lost a little bit, but chess and chess amateurs would have lost a
lot. However, Caissa was kind to me that day... I do not know what I was
rewarded for, but the development of events became forced after the capture on
d4. } ( { Maybe, if Topalov had played } 24... Kb6 $1 { then I could have found the move } 25. Nb3 $1 { which again makes it impossible to capture the Rook: } ( { I was intending to play } 25. b4 { as I underestimated the fact that after } 25... Qxf4 ( 25... Nxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Nb3+ Kb6 29. Kb2 Rhd8 30. Red1 Bc6 31. f4 Kc7 $11 ) 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rd6 { Black's position is better. } ) 25... Bxd5 $1 ( 25... cxd4 $2 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Re7+ $18 ) ( 25... Nxd5 $2 26. Qxf7 Rhf8 27. Qg7 Rg8 28. Qh6 Qf8 29. Rh4 $16 ) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 $11 { and White keeps equality, but not more. } ) ( 24... Bxd5 $6 25. Rxd5 Nxd5 26. Qxf7+ Nc7 27. Re6 Rd7 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4 ) 25. Re7+ $1 { I made this move with lightening speed. And there was nothing to think about.
The Rook was inviolable. Such moves are always made with pleasure, and all I
have said before (that the d-rank is closed by the d4-pawn and that there are
no squares for intrusion on the e-rank) turned out to be ruined. Two white
Rooks sacrifice themselves, and thus, the way to the black camp is opened for
White's pieces. The construction I dreamt of - Queen on b6, Knight on a5 - has
suddenly come true, because of the Bishop on h3. } ( { I have to say that } 25. Qxd4+ $2 { did not achieve the goal because of } 25... Qb6 26. Re7+ Nd7 { and White's attack fades away. } ) 25... Kb6 ( { If Black moves } 25... Kb8 $2 26. Qxd4 $1 { then after } 26... Nd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 28. c4 $1 Qxe7 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ $1 Bxc6 33. Nxc6 { Black loses by force. } ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 ( { Some of the participants, including Anand, asserted that the move } 26... Qc5 { saved the game. However, after } 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Be6 $3 { White closed the
rank but left the opportunity to vary threats and to force Black into a
desperate position. For example } 28... Bxd5 ( 28... Rhe8 29. b4 $1 $18 ) 29. b4 $1 Ba8 30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 32. Bf5 { would be the simplest way, as
all the lines are closed and mate threats become inevitable. } ) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 { I made the last move without hesitations. Frankly speaking, I
could not make myself think as I strove for the end. I already saw it, and it
seemed to me that it was the way to finish the game, that Black could not
avoid it, and that there were no other defenses. Veselin gave me time when he
was thinking himself, but I could not make myself look for another opportunity.
My hopes were in vain! However, it is difficult to judge. It seems to me that
the beauty of this combination is not inferior to a side line. Though in order
to be objective from the point of view of chess truth, it would be stronger to
play 28.Ra7! } ( 28. Ra7 $1 { This move was found by Lubomir Kavalek, probably
with the help of a computer, as it is impossible to look through all the lines
independently. Nevertheless, the idea found by Kavalek provided the
opportunity to realize all problem motives in a clearer way, keeping Black
from using new defensive resources. Such resources could appear in the game as
played, though, frankly speaking, they were not enough. 
The strongest move, as in the game itself, is } 28... Bb7 ( { So, after 28.Ra7! both captures on d5 lose quickly: } 28... Nxd5 29. Rxa6+ $3 Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 $18 { (Black to move) and we
approached the position when there was no defense from the threat of Queen's
self-sacrifice on b3. Black can not attract another piece to control the a2-g8
diagonal, as the white Bishop controls the e6-square. } ) ( { The Bishop's capture on d5 also loses: } 28... Bxd5 29. Qc3 Rhe8 30. Kb2 Re2 { Black linked the c2-pawn and defended from the Qb3 threat. And here the
Queen suddenly changes its route - } 31. Qc7 $1 { threatening with a mate from a5. And after } 31... Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ { the King turn
s out to be mated by the white Rook. A wonderful scheme of mating pieces! } ) 29. Rxb7 { The continuation after } 29... Qxd5 ( { After } 29... Nxd5 { White finds a new mating construction } 30. Bd7 $1 { threatening with Bxb5+ to
expose the black King and to mate it again with the Rook, and after } 30... Rxd7 { White varies the threats by the move } 31. Qb2 { threatening with a mate on from b3. The only move is } 31... Nxb4 { and then } 32. Rxd7 { attacks the Queen again. And there is a mate from b4 after } 32... Qxd7 {  } ( 32... Qc5 33. Rd4 { threatens to capture on b4 and on h8. And after } 33... Rc8 { White plays } 34. Qb3+ Ka5 35. axb4+ { and Black suffers crucial material losses. } ) ) 30. Rb6 a5 { It seems that after } ( { In case of } 30... Ra8 { White restores the material balance after } 31. Qxf6 { and continues the crucial attack } 31... a5 32. Bf1 Rhb8 33. Rd6 { driving away the black Queen and the white Queen comes back and mates. } ) 31. Ra6 { Black can defend himself playing } 31... Ra8 { but then a sudden change of a mating construction follows: } 32. Qe3 $3 { Right here, as after } 32... Rxa6 { goes } 33. Kb2 { (which threatens mate on a3), and after } 33... axb4 34. axb4 { the a3-square is open for a new mating construction. The only defense is } 34... Qa2+ ( { A capture on b4 } 34... Kxb4 { postpones the mate by one more move. } 35. Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3# { checkmate. } ) 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 { Black has rat
her good material - two Rooks for the Queen - but White continues the attack
and there is no escape from it: } 36... Rc6 37. Bf1 { threatening with a mate from a3. } 37... Ra8 38. Qe7+ Ka5 39. Qb7 { A mate threat on b5 results in the win of the Rook. } ) 28... Qxd5 { Here, Topalov had less than half an hour, I had 32 minutes. } ( { It would be even weaker to play } 28... Bxd5 { because of } 29. Kb2 $1 { with inevitable mate. } ) 29. Ra7 $1 Bb7 30. Rxb7 { It is important that there is no checkmate on d1, because the
white King suddenly goes to a2 and it turns out that the threat Qb3 can be
also supported by the King from the a2-square. That is why the black Queen
has to be on d5 (one has to understand this very important moment), in order
to control the b3-square and to be able to play Qd4 if the white King is on b2.
Therefore, the Rook should be on d8. It leaves enough opportunities for most
various problem motives that are more vivid in this particular line. Both
adversaries saw the line and Topalov, having spent some of his precious
minutes, played } ( { White refuses the last opportunity to force a perpetual checkmate playing } 30. Qc7 { I was sure that White would achieve more. } 30... Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qd4+ 32. Kb1 $11 ) 30... Qc4 { This is the most natural defense, and I
counted on it, too. Moreover, this is the defense that leads to the most
effective mating end that I had no rest from for the last 15-20 minutes, ever
since its image mysteriously arose in my mind. Actually, Black had two other
defenses, and each of them could have ruined the delicate conception that I
had in mind. } ( { The first one was } 30... Rhe8 { the move Topalov showed on
the next day before the round started. Thus he drove me into a tight corner in
my game with Reinderman, where I was deep in thought calculating various lines
after 30...Rhe8 and, not being able to find the way out. I was very careless
in the opening, making two slips and mixing everything up. Fortunately, I
rethought quickly, got rid of all these fixed ideas and nightmares and played
a marvelous game. However, Topalov's idea was not likely to live a long life,
because everyone was interested in this game and the statement that the move
Rhe8 could refute White's brilliant composition must have caused inward
protest. So, at the end of the round, Lichterink proudly showed a brilliant
victory for White. 
Thus, White plays } 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 $3 { Objecting to ...Qc4, White creates a quiet threat Rd6, which is crucial in the
case of Nd7. Lichterink, most likely with the help of computer, found a unique defense.
This is a counter-sacrifice that faces a marvelous, though probably also
computer, denial. This is } ( { It is important to note that the move } 32. Be6 { which suggests itself, does not achieve the goal: } 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 { And Black, of course, can not capture the rook on e6, as after Kb2 there is no
defense from the mate, butplays } 33... Qc4 { This is the very counter-sacrifice that I told you about. 
White has to beat c4: } 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 { and then } 36. Rxf7 Re8 { Black starts a counter-attack and, strange as it may seem,
keeps good chances to win the ending. White cannot allow such exchanges
and, as we can see, the c4-square is now crucial. Black could change the
defense, playing 30...Rhe8. In this case one Rook would defend the a6-pawn
from a8, and the move Kb2 faces Qe5. The Rook controls the e5-square, and the
Queen is ready to move to c4. That is why the key move is 32.Bf1!! } ) 32... Re1+ { (after 32.Bf1) } ( 32... Nd7 33. Rd6 $1 Rec8 34. Qb2 ) ( { If } 32... Re6 { then White simply makes an exchange on e6 } 33. Rxe6 fxe6 { and plays } 34. Kb2 ) ( { If } 32... Red8 { White plays } 33. Rc6 { and creates a threat Rc5, now we have Rd6 anyway after } 33... Nd7 { as the d-rank is closed. } ( { And after } 33... Nh5 { we can, for instance, play } 34. Rc5 Rac8 35. Kb2 { And there is no way out again! } ) 34. Rd6 {  } ) 33. Qxe1 Nd7 { White Rook is captured, but the most important thing is that the
black Knight tries to go to b6. 
However, after 33...Nd7 White makes a diverting Rook-sacrifice - } 34. Rb7 $1 { And after } ( { and after } 34. Qc3 Nxb6 35. Kb2 { this Knight checks the King from c4, } 35... Nc4+ { after } 36. Ka2 { he checks the King from d2, } 36... Nd2+ { controls the b3-square, and suddenly Black wins. } ) 34... Qxb7 { there is that very computerlike ending: } ( { It is necessary to beat the Rook, as after } 34... Ne5 35. Qc3 Qxf3 { the easiest way to the victory would be } 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4 ) 35. Qd1 Kxa3 36. c3 { and the white Queen mates in a stair-like way Qc1-c2-a2. Checkmate is
inevitable! I do not know if it is possible to find this line during a
game, but the beauty of the combination is absolutely irresistible. In essence,
we deal with a problem of changing mates, which, as far as I can remember,
have never been practiced by serious chess players. Such interchange of mates
is characteristic only of special chess problems. } ) ( { Black has another counter-opportunity: he can make a sudden Knight-sacrifice } 30... Ne4 $1 { and after } 31. fxe4 Qc4 { the idea becomes clear - if White
follows the line of the game absent-mindedly, then after the move Bf1 in the
very end of the line, Black will capture on e4 with check. The difference is
that the white pawn moves from f3 to e4 and now this square is clear for the
black Queen. After 31...Qc4 the right move would be } 32. Ra7 { as it threatens with a mate on a6 again. And after } ( { Of course, White does not have to play } 32. Qf6 { though after } 32... Kxa3 33. Qxa6+ Kxb4 34. Bd7 { he is not at risk. The game, however, would end in a draw } ) ( { The move } 32. Qe3 $2 { is not promising either. Black plays } 32... Rc8 { which is the same counter-sacrifice } 33. Bxc8 Rxc8 { approaching to the counter-attack: } 34. Qc1 Qd4 $1 { - the best way. And White has accept a draw. } ) ( { A capture on c4 gives Black chances to win and leads to a complicated ending: } 32. Qxc4 $6 bxc4 33. Kb2 { The best move is } 33... f5 { and after } 34. exf5 { Black has to play } 34... c3+ { and give an intermediate checkmate However, after } ( { as after } 34... Rd6 35. fxg6 c3+ { White plays } 36. Ka2 hxg6 37. Bf1 { and we come across mating constructions once again: either Bc4-Bb3, or Bb5-Ra7. } ) 35. Kxc3 Kxa3 36. f6 Rd6 37. f7 Rc6+ 38. Kd4 Rxc2 39. Bf1 { White has some chances to win. Maybe he will win the ending because of a
strong pawn and the opportunity to push the King to g7. However, White didn't
start this combination to win the ending. Fortunately, a detailed analysis
shows that White has a better opportunity. } ) 32... Rd1+ ( { Now after } 32... Ra8 { White wins playing } 33. Qe3 { in order to play Kb2 after } 33... Rxa7 ) 33. Kb2 Qxc3+ 34. Kxc3 Rd6 { we come to an ending,
but this ending if different from the previous one. The black King is still
threatened with a mate. The pawn has not yet left the b5-square and White can
continue forcing threats, in spite of the disappearance of the Queens: } 35. e5 Rb6 36. Kb2 Re8 ( { where else? if } 36... Rd8 { then } 37. Bd7 ) 37. Bg2 $1 { Thus, after } 37... Rd8 { Black controls the d5-square, and then } ( { in order to play } 37... Rxe5 38. Bb7 { and then } 38... Re7 39. Bd5 { and suddenly
the Bishop gets at b3. As we know, the result would be just as if the Queen
were there. } ) 38. Bb7 Rd7 39. Bc6 $3 { (Black to move)
 Now after } 39... Rd2 { the move } ( { And after } 39... Rd8 40. Bd7 { we receive the position in question.
Black is paralyzed and can do nothing but wait for a disgraceful end. } ) 40. Be8 { will decide. } ) ( { Of course, } 30... Rd6 31. Rb6 $1 { is an effective variant, but not very complicated. The black Rook on d6 can
not do two things simultaneously: defend the a6-pawn and control the d4-square,
as Black has to play Qd4 after Kb2. } 31... Rxb6 32. Kb2 Qd4 33. Qxd4 Nd7 34. Qd3 Nc5 35. Qb3+ Nxb3 36. cxb3# ) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 { Topalov still erred in
thinking that White had nothing better than 32.Qxa6 Kxb4 and 33.Bd7. Really,
White has no other possibilities as the King is under mate himself. Nevertheless, Topalov took on a3 with the King, and
the line I dreamt of came true! Once again, tried to check the lines, and,
afraid to believe my own eyes, I made sure that what I had thought of for so
long was just about to happen. It seemed to go on for ages, but in fact, it
took not more than two minutes. Then followed } ( { Black misses the best defense that let him continue the resistance in the
ending playing } 31... Rd1+ $1 { And then } 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 $1 { threatening a mate from a5. } 33... Qd4+ ( { At } 33... a5 34. Bd7 { is decisive } ) 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 { Technically, it is the most complicated decision.
 
Black must play } ( { I planned to play 35.Bd7. Analysis showed that this was also enough for the
victory. White tries to dominate, to press the black pieces, and he prepares
to move the King-side pawns, taking advantage of the fact that the Rook should
be on a8. Black tries to defend himself from Bb5+ and not to let the Bishop go
to b3. Nevertheless, he does not succeed. After } 35. Bd7 $5 Rd2 36. Bc6 f5 37. Rb6 Ra7 38. Be8 Rd4 39. f4 { Black is nearly stalemated. } 39... Rc4 40. Bf7 Rxb4+ 41. axb4 Rxf7 42. c3 { After } 42... Ra7 { the only way is to play } 43. Re6 a5 44. Re1 { and we come across a new mating construction. This time it
is a front checkmate from a1; the Rook mates the black King on the a-rank. } ) 35... a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ { and it turn
s out that the Rook can not capture on b4 because after c3 this Rook is
trapped and the ending is technically won. Then after } 38... Kb6 ( 38... Rxb4 39. c3 ) 39. Rxh7 Rc8 40. h4 { White has to win this position without much
trouble. The Bishop and three pawns are much stronger than the Rook. White's
disposition is marvelous and his victory is a point of time. However, the
continuation 35.Bd7 was more effective, and I counted on it during the game
because, frankly speaking, I did not see that after 38.axb4+ Rxb4 the move 39.
c3 trapped the Rook. } ) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 { (White to move) } 33. c3+ $1 { Probably, that was when Topalov realized
everything. Of course, he saw the move 36...Rd2 and then, as it often happens
to chess players, he immediately saw 37.Rd7. Black has no choice, he has to
take with the King on c3. } 33... Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 ( { There is no way back: } 34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+ { winning the Queen. } ) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 { The black King has made the way to his Calvary - from e8 to d1 -
across the whole chessboard! And when it seems that he has reached a quiet
harbor (White has no more checkmates), the Bishop, which was on h3 and did
nothing but shot in the emptiness and defended the e6 square, made his move. } ( { Another change of mating constructions! In fact, we should not forget
another opportunity: in stead of 35...Kd1 } 35... Ke3 { can be played, then the continuation would be } 36. Re7+ Kxf3 37. Qg2# ) 36. Bf1 $1 { (Black to move) White attacked the Queen who can not escape: if he
retreats along the c-rank the move 37.Qe2 and a checkmate would follow, and
retreat to e6 will cause a mate from c1. } ( { This is one more of the innumerable mating finals. Thus, after } 36. Bf1 { the Bishop is also inviolable, as after } 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ { - I don't know who would like such a mate. This is a trifle in comparison with
all we had before. } ) 36... Rd2 { Black makes a counterblow and for another
second it seems that the worst is left behind, because White seems to have no
more resources. With one more
second to rest, Black will announce checkmate to the white King himself. But
this is where the white Rook enters. } ( 36... Qc5 37. Qe2# ) ( 36... Qe6 37. Qc1# ) 37. Rd7 $1 { (Black to move) The
weakness of the a1-h8 diagonal is the most important element of this
combination. Usually everything depends on such trifles. If only the black
Rook had been on g8, there would have been no combination at all... And after
37.Rd7 Black has nothing else to hope for. However, Topalov still continued
the fight mechanically. Black has to take the Rook on d7. } 37... Rxd7 $1 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 { This moves gives the illusion of activity. If
Black suddenly takes on h7, then after c3 he will queen the black pawn. But we
did not play draughts, it was not obligatory to capture, and now the Queen
could show her true strength. } 40. Qa8 { Moving closer to the battlefield. } 40... c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 { And thus Black is deprived of the last hope
to get a position of "the Rook against the Queen" that demands a certain
accuracy from the strongest side, if playing a computer. And still, as
practice has proved, a weaker side in the battle of two chess players is not
able to resist, as it is nearly impossible to make a "computer move" that
would take the Rook away from the King. However, it is not necessary to know
all these nuances. White keeps a lot of pawns so that Black could hope to win
them sometime. } 42... f5 43. Kc1 { Neutralizes any Black's hope connected with c-pawn. } 43... Rd2 44. Qa7 { The Queen starts attacking black pawns, and the h2-pawn is inviolablebecause of
Qg1+. Topalov resigned and this wonderful game was over. } 1-0