GM Einar Gausel annotates the
Corus tournament
Shirov
(2718) - Van Wely (2700)
Wijk aan Zee (6), 2001
1.e4 e6
Van Wely is apparently tired of getting thrashed by Shirov in the
Najdorf.
2.d4 d5 3.e5
In his notes, Shirov claims that he normally plays 3.Nc3, but he's
been using the text a lot lately.
3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Nc2
Qb6
10.g4!?
10.0-0 is the main line. Shirov's pawn thrust dislodges Nf5, but
only at the cost of weakening White's kingside.
10...Nfe7 11.0-0
11...h5
An understandable reaction, but it turns out that Black will be
unable to get anything serious going on the h-file. The main drawback
of this move is the weakening of the g6-square. 11...f6 may have
been preferable.
12.h3 hxg4 13.hxg4 f6 14.Bd3 0-0-0 15.b4
15...Nxd4?
A common enough sacrifice in the French, but here it exposes Black's
king to a raging attack.
16.Ncxd4 fxe5 17.Qe2!
Black gets his piece back, but his king turns out to be more than
a little exposed.
17...e4
17...exd4 18.Bf4 and it's hard to see a good defence to the threat
of Rc1+.
18.Bf4! Ng6 19.Rac1+ Bc6 20.Bg3 Bd6
If 20...exd3 then 21.Qxe6+ Rd7 22.Nxc6 with total destruction.
21.b5 Bxg3 22.fxg3
22...exf3?
22...Ne5 was the only way to fight.
23.Qe3!
Now, on top of everything else, Black loses a piece.
23...Qc7 24.Rxf3 Ne5
25.bxc6! Nxf3+ 26.Qxf3 Qe5
26...b6 27.Nxe6 Qd6 28.Ba6+ Kb8 29.c7+ and White wins the house.
27.cxb7+ Kxb7
27...Kd7 28.Qf7+ with mate to follow.
28.Nc6 resigns.
1-0
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Einar Gausel