[Event "GMA, Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2003.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ponomariov,R"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Boris Alterman and Jason Doss"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[ECO "D44"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 { This is interesting, but most certainly a dubious
choice by Ruslan. Shirov is a well known specialist of the Botvinnik variation,
and this is the first time Ponomariov has played it in his life. } 10... Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. exf6 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 exd5 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Be3 ( 19. h4 Nc5 20. Qg4+ Qd7 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxd7+ Rxd7 23. Bh3 d4 $1 ) 19... Nc5 20. Qg4+ Rd7 21. Qg7 $5 { This brilliant Qg7
sacrifice was first played in a game between Ivanchuk and Shirov in the same
tournament in Wijk ann Zee only 7 years ago. The theory still has no clear
answer as to whether or not white has enough compensation for such a sacrifice.
This time Alexey demonstrates a new idea which will probably reanimate the
variation . } 21... Bxg7 22. fxg7 Rg8 23. Nxc5 Rxg7 { Novetly .... } 24. Nxd7 ( 24. Bh3 f5 $1 25. Bxf5 d4 $1 26. Bxd4 Qc6 $1 27. Nxb7 Kxb7 $11 ) 24... Qxd7 ( 24... Kxd7 25. Rxa7 $16 ) 25. Rxa7 Rg6 $1 { Activating his last piece and threatening
Ra6! ,exchanging the rooks .Less accurate but still playable is: } ( 25... f5 $5 26. Rfa1 ( 26. h4 Qe6 27. Bf4 d4 28. Rfa1 Bxg2 29. Rxg7 Bd5 ) 26... Re7 $1 { With the idea of Re3! } ) ( 25... Qf5 $6 26. h4 Qc2 27. Re1 Qxb2 ( 27... Rg6 ) 28. Bb6 { with the dangerous threats of Re8 and Re7! } ) 26. Rfa1 Re6 $3 { This move so
lves all of black's problems. Now it is White who should play carefully to
keep the balance! Shirov is ready for the exchange sacrifice Re3!, which will
eliminate whites attacking potential. } ( 26... Qf5 27. h4 c3 ( 27... Qe5 28. Bf4 Qxb2 29. R1a5 Bc6 30. Bxd5 Qb1+ 31. Kh2 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 $18 ) 28. bxc3 bxc3 ( 28... b3 29. Kh2 b2 ) 29. Kh2 $16 ) 27. Bd4 $2 { Ruslan over estimates his position . Still unclear was: } ( 27. h4 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qe6 29. Kh2 Qxe3 30. Rf1 ) ( 27. Ra8+ { or } 27... Kc7 28. Bf4+ Kb6 $13 ) 27... Re2 28. h4 { Another failed attempt would be: } ( 28. Bf3 Rd2 $1 29. Ra8+ Bxa8 30. Rxa8+ Kb7 31. Ra7+ Kc6 32. Rxd7 Kxd7 $17 ) ( 28. Rd1 $5 { However, this move deserves attention. } ) 28... Rd2 $1 ( 28... Qg4 29. Rxb7 Kxb7 30. Bxd5+ Kc8 $2 ( 30... Kc7 31. Bc5 Qc8 32. Ra7+ Kd8 33. Ra8 Qxa8 34. Bxa8 c3 35. bxc3 b3 36. Be3 f5 $19 ) 31. Bc5 $11 ) 29. Be3 { Ruslan offers another pawn ,
but black's pawn majority on the Queen side becomes much more convincing than
Ponomariov's counter-attacking chances against the black's King . } 29... Rxb2 30. R1a5 b3 $1 31. Rc5+ ( 31. Rxb7 Qxb7 32. Rc5+ Kb8 ) 31... Kd8 32. Rxb7 { The last chance. Ponomariov wins back a Queen and bishop for two rooks. The
resulting material situation of two Bishops and 3 pawns vs. a Rook and 3 pawns
seems to be good enough for white ,unfortunately white is still lost! Black's
passed pawns are too far advanced and black immediately benefits from this by
winning one of white's bishops. } 32... Qxb7 ( 32... Rb1+ 33. Kh2 Qxb7 34. Rxd5+ Qxd5 35. Bxd5 b2 36. Be4 Rd1 37. Bc2 c3 $19 ) 33. Rxd5+ Qxd5 34. Bxd5 Rb1+ 35. Kg2 b2 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37. Be4 Rd1 $1 { with the idea Rd3! } ( 37... Re1 38. Bf6 b1=Q 39. Bxb1 Rxb1 ) 38. Bf6 b1=Q 39. Bxb1 Rxb1 40. h5 Kf8 41. g4 Rd1 $1 { White's position is hopeless - } 42. Bb2 { Matters don't change if: } ( 42. Kf3 c3 $1 43. Bxc3 Rd3+ { capturing the bishop } ) 42... Kg8 0-1