Round 2. Tiebreak.

13 June 2007

Rublevsky
Grischuk 18.Ee3
Scotch Game Possibly, an inaccuracy. The immediate queen
Notes by Ruslan Scherbakov retreat 18.Ia3 deserved attention.
18...Gfd8 19.Ic5 a5!?
1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Cxd4 Ec5 Black starts the queenside action. His kingside is
Once again the Scotch. safe. White must play accurately.
5.Cxc6 If6 6.If3 bxc6 7.Ig3 h5!? 8.h4 Ch6 20.Kb1
9.f3 d5 10.Cc3 Ed4! 20.a3!? deserved attention.
In the Game 4, Grischuk could not survive after 20...a4
10...Eb4 11.Ed2 dxe4 12.0–0–0 e3 13.Exe3 XIIIIIIIIY
Exc3 14.bxc3. 9-tr-tr-+k+0
11.Ed2 Gb8 12.0–0–0 Ee5 9+-zp-+pzp-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+p+q+-sn0
9-trl+k+-tr0 9+-wQpzP-+p0
9zp-zp-+pzp-0 9p+-+-zPlzP0
9-+p+-wq-sn0 9+-+-vL-+-0
9+-+pvl-+p0 9PzPP+-+P+0
9-+-+P+-zP0 9+K+-tRL+R0
9+-sN-+PwQ-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPPvL-+P+0 21.Ed3?!
9+-mKR+L+R0 Developing the bishop is premature, as Black has
xiiiiiiiiy yet to develop his knight to f5. More precise is
13.f4 21.a3, and if 21...Ef5, then 22.Ee2.
A new move, prepared during the last night. 21...Ef5 22.Gc1?
White is not concerned that Black can utilize the This move creates real problems for White.
g4
and f5
squares, planning to block the However, it is always tough to acknowledge one’s
opponent’s queenside pawns. In the last game of mistakes by 22.Ee2.
the classical match Rublevsky went for 13.Ig5, 22...Exd3 23.cxd3 Cf5
and Black got the initiative after 13...Id6! 23...Ig6!? also looked good.
14.exd5 0–0. 24.Ef2 Gb5
13...Ed4 14.Id3 Eg4 15.e5 Exc3 16.Ixc3 XIIIIIIIIY
Ie6 17.Ge1 0–0 9-+-tr-+k+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zp-+pzp-0
9-tr-+-trk+0 9-+p+q+-+0
9zp-zp-+pzp-0 9+rwQpzPn+p0
9-+p+q+-sn0 9p+-+-zP-zP0
9+-+pzP-+p0 9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-+-zPlzP0 9PzP-+-vLP+0
9+-wQ-+-+-0 9+KtR-+-+R0
9PzPPvL-+P+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-mK-tRL+R0 25.Ixc6?
xiiiiiiiiy This recapture leads to huge problems. 25.Ic3
The pluses and minuses of the sides seem Gdb8 26.Gc2 is better, although Black enjoys a
balanced. However, Black has a simple plan, and clear plus.
semi
closed nature of the position favors the 25...Gdb8 26.Ixe6
knight. His chances can rise even more if the White is unlikely to hold after 26.Ic2 Ig6, but
light
squared bishops are exchanged, because 26.b3!? axb3 27.a3 is more tenacious, although
the tandem Q+N can become very strong. 27...Cd6! (weaker is 27...b2 28.Gc3) gives
Black a very strong attack. Rublevsky struggled somewhat after 12...Ed7
26...Gxb2+ 27.Ka1 fxe6 28.Gb1 a3! 13.Cb3 b6 14.g4 in the game 3.
The endgame is hopeless for Black. White has 13.Id2 Gb8
many weaknesses and his pieces are passive – XIIIIIIIIY
Black is dominating.
29.Ec5 9-trl+rvlk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+pwq-+pzpp0
9-tr-+-+k+0 9p+nzppsn-+0
9+-zp-+-zp-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0 9P+-sNPzP-+0
9+-vLpzPn+p0 9+-sN-vLL+-0
9-+-+-zP-zP0 9-zPPwQ-+PzP0
9zp-+P+-+-0 9tR-+-+R+K0
9Ptr-+-+P+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9mKR+-+-+R0 14.Gad1!?
In the Game 5 Grischuk played 14.If2 e5
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Cde2 b5!? 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5!?, and
Perhaps 29.Gxb2 Gxb2 30.Ec5 Gd2!? 17...Cb4 gave Black counterplay. The text

(30...Gxg2) 31.Exa3 Gxd3 32.Eb4 Ce3!? Is move is aimed against such ideas – White is not
better, while after 29.g3 d4 White has no moves. rushing to retreat his queen from d2.
29...Cxh4! 14...e5
Collecting the harvest. Rublevsky made this move instantly, although
30.Gxb2 axb2+ 31.Kb1 Cxg2 32.f5 Black has many options.
White aims for counterchances, but only 15.Cde2
facilitates his loss. Here comes Grischuk’s novelty. In Yang Xian

32...Cf4 33.fxe6 Cxd3 34.Ea3 Cxe5 35.Kc2 Liang Jinrong (China 1987) Black equalized after
Cc4 36.Ec5 15.Cxc6?! bxc6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.b3 Ee6.
XIIIIIIIIY 15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 b4 18.Cd5 Cxd5
9-tr-+-+k+0 19.Ixd5 Ea6

9+-zp-+-zp-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+P+-+0 9-tr-+rvlk+0
9+-vLp+-+p0 9+-wq-+pzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0 9l+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+QzpP+-0
9PzpK+-+-+0 9-zp-+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+R0 9+-+-vLL+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zPP+N+PzP0
36...Cd2 37.a4 b1I+ 38.Gxb1 Cxb1 39.a5
9+-+R+R+K0
Gb5 xiiiiiiiiy
White resigns. By this point Sergey gained about a minute on his
clock, so one can guess that the opponent’s plan
did not surprise him.
20.Id2
Grischuk
Rublevsky Probably not the best move – such retreat cannot
Sicilian defense give White an advantage. Interesting is 20.Ga1!?
Notes by grandmaster Ruslan Scherbakov or even 20.f6!?
20...Cd4 21.Exd4 exd4 22.Gfe1 Exe2
1.e4 c5 2.Cf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Cxd4 Cc6 23.Ixe2 Ee7
5.Cc3 a6 6.Ee2 Ic7 7.0–0 Cf6 8.Ee3 Ee7 The Black’s bishop is more active than its
9.f4 d6 10.a4 0–0 11.Kh1 Ge8 12.Ef3 counterpart – White must demonstrate accuracy.
Continuing the Scheveningen discussion. 24.Gxd4
12...Ef8 The simplification attempt 24.e5?! runs into
24...Eh4, and Grischuk did not want defending
passively. XIIIIIIIIY
24...Ef6 25.Gc4 Ia5
9-+-+-mk-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-zpp0
9-tr-+r+k+0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9+-+-trP+-0
9-+-zp-vl-+0
9-tr-+-+-+0
9wq-+-+P+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zpR+P+-+0
9-+-+-mK-zP0
9+-+-+L+-0
9+-tRR+-+-0
9-zPP+Q+PzP0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-tR-+K0 47.Gc8+ Ke7 48.Gc7+ Kf6 49.Gd6+ Kxf5
xiiiiiiiiy 50.Gf7+ Ke4 51.Gxg7 Gf5+ 52.Ke2 Gb2+
26.c3?! 53.Gd2 Gxd2+ 54.Kxd2 Gf2+ 55.Ke1 Gxh2
In the case of 26.b3?! d5! 27.Gc6 Ec3 28.Gd1 56.Kf1
dxe4 29.Exe4 Ixf5 Black wins a pawn. The best Draw.
is 26.Gd1!? Exb2 27.Gxd6, and White must
gradually neutralize Black’s activity.
26...bxc3 27.bxc3 d5 28.Gc6 Exc3 29.Gd1
Ef6! Rublevsky
Grischuk
29...d4 is met by 30.Ic4. Scotch Game
30.Ic2 Ib4!? Notes by grandmaster Ruslan Scherbakov
There is also 30...d4!?, but White is supposed to
hold this position. Sergey tries playing for a win. 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Cxd4 Ec5
31.e5!? 5.Cb3
Alexander was already in time trouble, and he Rublevsky deviates from the theory well analyzed
tries to force simplifications. by the opponent.
31...Exe5 32.Exd5 Ih4 33.g3 Exg3 5...Eb6 6.Cc3 Cf6 7.Ie2
34.Exf7+! Kxf7 35.Ia2+ Kf8 36.Ia3+ Ge7 XIIIIIIIIY
Black could win a pawn by 36...Kg8 37.Ixg3
Ie4+ 38.Ig2 Gb1 (on 38...Ixf5 there is 9r+lwqk+-tr0
39.Gc7) 39.Gcc1 Gxc1 40.Gxc1 Ixf5, but the 9zppzpp+pzpp0
position is drawish. 9-vln+-sn-+0
37.Ixg3 Ie4+ 38.Ig2 Gb1 39.Gcc1 Ie1+
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mk-+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-tr-zpp0 9+NsN-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9PzPP+QzPPzP0
9+-+-+P+-0 9tR-vL-mKL+R0
9-+-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
7...d6
9+-+-+-+-0 Sergey already tested this line in Rublevsky–
9-+-+-+QzP0 Anand (Bastia 2004): 7...0–0 8.Eg5 h6 9.h4?!
9+rtRRwq-+K0 (better is 9.Eh4) 9...d6 10.f3?! hxg5! 11.hxg5
Cg4! 12.fxg4 Ixg5 with a big advantage to
xiiiiiiiiy Black.
40.Ig1 8.Eg5 h6 9.Eh4 g5 10.Eg3 Ie7 11.h4 Gg8
Grischuk had only 4 seconds left before making A new move. Varga–Acs (Budapest 2004) gave
this move! Of course, bad is 40.Gxe1?? Gxe1+ Black an acceptable game after 11...Eg4 12.f3
41.Gxe1 Gxe1+ 42.Ig1 Gxg1+ 43.Kxg1 Kf7 Ch5 13.Ef2 (13.Eh2!?) 13...Ee6.
with a winning pawn endgame. 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.0–0–0 Ee6
40...Ie4+ 41.Ig2 Ixg2+ 42.Kxg2
A draw now.
42...Gb2+ 43.Kg3 Gb3+ 44.Kf4 Gb4+
45.Kg3 Ge3+ 46.Kf2 Ge5
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+r+0 9-mk-+-+r+0
9zppzp-wqp+-0 9zppzp-wqp+-0
9-vlnzplsn-+0 9-vl-tr-sn-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0 9+-+PzpQzpR0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+NsN-+-vL-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+QzPP+0 9PzPPsN-zPP+0
9+-mKR+L+R0 9+-mKR+L+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black develops, he has no weaknesses – so the 22.Gh6
openings problems are solved. Overstepping the risk limit. 22.Gxg5 Gxg5
14.Gh6 23.Ixg5 Cxd5 is harmless for Black.
White relies on activity. The ending after 14.Cd5 22...Ce8?!
Exd5 15.exd5 Ixe2 16.Exe2 Ce7 looks good Black had the tactical trick 22...Ce4!, and now
for Black. In the event of 14.Ib5 Black can reply 23.Gxd6 Cxd6 gives him ad edge.
14...Ed7. 23.Ih7 If8
14...0–0–0 Taking the pawn by 23...Gg7?! 24.Ih8 Gxd5 is
On 14...Cg4 White planned 15.Cd5 (15.Gh7 unsafe – White develops strong activity by
Cf6) 15...Exd5 16.Ixg4 Ee6 17.Ih5, but 25.Ec4 Gd8 26.Ce4.
Black is very solid after 17...0–0–0. 24.Gh1 Cf6 25.If5 Cxd5
15.Cd5 Exd5 16.exd5 Ce5 XIIIIIIIIY
Of course bad is 16...Ixe2?? 17.Exe2 followed
by capturing on f6. 9-mk-+-wqr+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zppzp-+p+-0
9-+ktr-+r+0 9-vl-tr-+-+0
9zppzp-wqp+-0 9+-+nzpQzp-0
9-vl-zp-sn-tR0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+Psn-zp-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9PzPPsN-zPP+0
9+N+-+-vL-0 9+-mKR+L+R0
9PzPP+QzPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-mKR+L+-0 26.Ce4?
The mistake leading to a bad position – White
xiiiiiiiiy overlooks the strong reply. Necessary was
17.Exe5 26.Ec4 with mutual chances.
An crucial decision. Both 17.a4!? and 17.Cd4!? 26...Ce7! 27.Ih7?!
fail to pose any problems for Black. White is reluctant to retreat.
17...dxe5 18.If3 Gd6 27...Gxd1+ 28.Kxd1 f5?!
18...Ce8!? 28...Cg6! wins simpler, threatening to trap the
19.Cd2 Ce8 20.Gh5 queen.
White avoid swapping the queens 20.If5+ Id7. 29.Ec4 fxe4 30.Exg8 Cxg8 31.Ixe4
20...Cf6 21.If5+ Kb8 White obtained some chances, but alas his king is
very insecure.
31...a6
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-+-wqn+0
9+pzp-+-+-0
9pvl-+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-zp-0
9-+-+Q+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9+-+K+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The further play occurred under very strong time
pressure – both players had less than 5 second
left. Playing on the Black’s side is much simpler,
and objectively he has an advantage.
32.Gh8 Ka7 33.Ixe5 If7 34.Ixg5 Cf6
35.f3 Id7+?
One should have limited himself to 35...Ie6.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mkpzpq+-+-0
9pvl-+-sn-+0
9+-+-+-wQ-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9+-+K+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
36.Id2?
White consolidates by 36.Kc1! as 36...Cd5??
fails to 37.Gd8!
36...Ib5
Now Black starts the decisive attack.
37.c3 Cd5 38.Gh1 Ee3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9mkpzp-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+q+n+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-vlP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+P+0
9+-+K+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
After 38...Ee3 White lost on time before playing
39.Ie2 (which allowed Black to checkmate by
39...Cxc3+!). In tense struggle Grischuk won the
last ticket to Mexico!