Move 1 Nf3 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/5N2/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 1 1
Comment: After getting stomped on by Anand in the previous round it now appears Ponomariov wants a quieter and more closed position.

Move 3 Nc3 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/2P5/2N2N2/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 1 3
Comment: It's impossible to know the intentions of someone who uses this move-order. He might want to play e2-e4 and then d2-d4 to achieve the full pawn center without allowing a Gruenfeld Defense or he might intend to play g2-g3 in any case.

Move 4 Bg7 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqk2r/ppppppbp/5np1/8/2P5/2N2N2/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 2 4
Comment: Some players are still comfortable with a standard-issue King's Indian Defense.

Move 7 e5 (white to move)
FEN: rnbq1rk1/ppp2pbp/3p1np1/4p3/2PPP3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 7
Comment: This is most common, but there are alternatives. With this move Black aims to pressure White's pawn center, perhaps to play ...exd4 to open the g7-a1 diagonal for Black's Bg7. White can aim for an end-game with the Exchange Variation (7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8) or he can block the center with the Petrosian Variation (7. d5) or he can maintain the tension and see what develops; keeping an eye on Black's threats of course.

Move 8 d5 (black to move)
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp2pbp/2np1np1/3Pp3/2P1P3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 8
Comment: In some lines White doesn't mind a pawn trade, but he rarely wants to allow a knight exchange along with it. It's considered much better to push Black's Nc6 back to keep Black cramped.

Move 9 b4 (black to move)
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp1npbp/3p1np1/3Pp3/1PP1P3/2N2N2/P3BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 9
Comment: Bayonet Variation - feared for a time, it's now considered strong, but not overwhelming. White aims for c4-c5 and holds off on maneuvering pieces.

Move 10 Nh5 (white to move)
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp1npbp/3p2p1/3Pp2n/1PP1P3/2N2N2/P3BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 1 10
Comment: preparing ...f7-f5 and in some cases ...Nh5-f4

Move 11 Ng5 (black to move)
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp1n1bp/3p2p1/3PppNn/1PP1P3/2N5/P3BPPP/R1BQR1K1 b - - 1 11
Comment: This is one of the unusual features of the Bayonet Variation. As far as I know, it's the only King's Indian Defense variation where the knight goes on this adventure.

Move 12 f3 (black to move)
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp1n1bp/3p1np1/3PppN1/1PP1P3/2N2P2/P3B1PP/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 12
Comment: secures e4, but allows ...Nf6-h5, weakens Kg1 and fixes the pawn structure, so Black will have time to think about how to go around it.

Move 13 Kh8 (white to move)
FEN: r1bq1r1k/ppp1n1bp/3p1np1/3PppN1/1PP1P3/2N2P2/P3B1PP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 1 13
Comment: This is an interesting approach: Black expects Ng5-e6 to be played eventually, so he just keeps his coordination good and considers ways to regain perfect control of e6 (...Ne7-g8, ...Qd8-e7 for example) .

Move 16 fxe4 (white to move)
FEN: r2q1r1k/ppp1n1b1/3pPnpp/4p3/1PP1p3/2N2P2/P3B1PP/1RBQR1K1 w - - 0 16
Comment: Black fixes White pawns on light squares to hinder Be2 and it also ends the possbility of e4xf5 to loosen-up Black's king-side.

Move 17 Nc6 (white to move)
FEN: r2q1r1k/ppp3b1/2npPnpp/4p3/1PP1P3/2N5/P3B1PP/1RBQR1K1 w - - 1 17
Comment: This is more aggressive than ...Ne7-g8 and Nc6 has square d4, so Black's position looks very good. It's up to White to show he can hold Pe6 or create an offense, somewhere on the board as compensation.

Move 17 Nd5 (black to move)
FEN: r2q1r1k/ppp3b1/2npPnpp/3Np3/1PP1P3/8/P3B1PP/1RBQR1K1 b - - 2 17
Comment: sort of threatening b4-b5 and e6-e7. Though Black could easily respond with ...Nc6-e7 it's not the move Black really wants to make.

Move 18 Ng8 (white to move)
FEN: r2q1rnk/ppp3b1/2npP1pp/3Np3/1PP1P3/8/P3B1PP/1RBQR1K1 w - - 3 18
Comment: So, Black redefends square e7, keeping Nc6 free to move Nc6-d4xe6. Nd5 has the effect of keeping Pe6 safe from Black's queen because it also threatens Pc7.

Move 19 Qg4 (black to move)
FEN: r2q1rnk/ppp3b1/3pP1pp/3Np3/1PPnP1Q1/3B4/P5PP/1RB1R1K1 b - - 6 19
Comment: More support for Pe6, just in the nick of time. Now Black can consider ...c7-c6 to kick Nd5 away, but he also has to consider how he will defend Pg6.

Move 20 g5 (white to move)
FEN: r2q1rnk/ppp3b1/3pP2p/3Np1p1/1PPnP1Q1/3B4/P5PP/1RB1R1K1 w - - 0 20
Comment: It's really odd that Black would move this pawn near his king, but it does avoid Black having pieces on awkward squares. I suppose Black is thinking about ways to fight on the light squares and he can't be defending too much if he expects to play offense.

Move 20 Qh3 (black to move)
FEN: r2q1rnk/ppp3b1/3pP2p/3Np1p1/1PPnP3/3B3Q/P5PP/1RB1R1K1 b - - 1 20
Comment: threatening e6-e7 with Bc1xg5 to follow

Move 22 Qf6 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp4b1/2ppPq1p/4p1p1/1PPnP3/3BN2Q/P5PP/1RB1R1K1 w - - 2 22
Comment: Finally Black has Pe6 in mortal danger and there is the immediate threat of ...Qf2+, mating.

Move 23 Qe7 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp2q1b1/2ppP2p/4p1p1/1PPnP1N1/3B3Q/P5PP/1RB1R1K1 w - - 4 23
Comment: keeping an eye on Bc1xg5

Move 24 Nxe6 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp2q1b1/2ppn2p/4p1p1/1PP1P1N1/3BB2Q/P5PP/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 24
Comment: Black's plan is succeeding very nicely. He's kept his position intact and won Pe6. Now, in theory he should be able to start offering piece trades to win with his extra pawn. In practice it might take a bit more work than that.

Move 25 Qd7 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp1q2b1/2ppn2p/4p1p1/1PP1P1N1/3BB1PQ/P6P/1R2R1K1 w - - 1 25
Comment: It looks like he's aligning with Qh3, but it's possible he means to bring ...Ng8-e7-g6 (or somesuch) or to advance ...d6-d5.

Move 26 d5 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp1q2b1/2p1n2p/3pp1p1/1PP1P1N1/3BB1PQ/P6P/1R3RK1 w - - 0 26
Comment: Allowing Pe4 to move and release Bd3 can't be good.

Move 27 dxc4 (white to move)
FEN: r4rnk/pp1q2b1/2p1n2p/4pRp1/1Pp1P1N1/3BB1PQ/P6P/1R4K1 w - - 0 27
Comment: Black has to be careful of which lines he opens. It could be disastrous to open the wrong diagonals for White's bishops.

Move 29 Qh5 (black to move)
FEN: 5rnk/pp1q2b1/2p4p/4p1pQ/1PBnP1N1/4B1P1/P6P/1R4K1 b - - 1 29
Comment: ending the alignment with Qd7 and preparing to threaten Be3xg5. At the moment it's indirectly defended by ...Nd4-f3+.

Move 32 Nc2 (white to move)
FEN: 5rnk/p4Bb1/2pq3p/1p2p1pQ/1P2P1N1/4B1P1/P1n3KP/1R6 w - - 2 32
Comment: I think this is a critical position for both players. White has asserted some offense and Black has "stated" his position is impregnable. Then there is also the possibility for Black to play offense, but it's not clear whether it works. Black's first effort at an incursion occurs when White's Qh5 and Bf7 are amazingly out of position to respond in defense and Rb1 can't easily get into play. But are they needed?

Move 35 Ng4 (white to move)
FEN: 5r1k/p4Bb1/2p3Qp/1pB1p1p1/1P2P1n1/6P1/P1nq1NKP/1R6 w - - 8 35
Comment: Fritz7

Move 35 Kg1 (black to move)
FEN: 5r1k/p4Bb1/2p3Qp/1pB1p1p1/1P2P1n1/6P1/P1nq1N1P/1R4K1 b - - 9 35
Comment: If White can't continue the attack with Bc5xf8 then he's at a standstill and Black's attack will probably win. Apparently Radjabov has fended-off the FIDE champion's attack and has counter-attacked successfully. Ponomariov must have been shocked and dismayed to be dismissed so efficiently.

Move 36 Bxe3 (black to move)
FEN: 5r1k/p4Bb1/2p3Qp/1p2p1p1/1P2P1n1/4B1P1/P2q1N1P/1R4K1 b - - 0 36
Comment: After this dark squares remain "solid" and White's troops aren't perfectly aligned to invade on the light squares.

Move 39 g4 (white to move)
FEN: 5r1k/p4Bb1/2p4p/1p2p2Q/1P2P1pP/4n1P1/P3qN2/1R4K1 w - - 0 39
Comment: Ironically, White can't prevent Black from invading on the light squares (e.g. ...Qe2-f3-g2#) . Pono must have wondered why he wasn't able to involve Rb1 more. Radjabov had to be jubiliant to have succeeded so well.