GM Einar Gausel annotates the
Corus tournament
Van
Wely (2700) - Leko (2745)
Wijk aan Zee (5), 2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0
Nc6 8.e3 e5 9.Nc3 0-0 10.d5 Ne7 11.e4 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 c6
14.Rd1 cxd5 15.exd5 Nf5 16.d6
16...Rb8?
The first new move of the game, and not a very good one. Getting
rid of the annoying d-pawn with 16...Nd4 17.Qxb7 Qxd6, looked like
the only sensible thing to do.
17.Qd3 Nd4 18.Nb5 Nd7 19.Nxd4 exd4
Which d-pawn is strongest?
20.Bd2 Re8 21.Rac1 Qf6
22.Bb4
White's bishops, combined with the passer on d6, gives him a serious
edge. The primary threat is Rc7.
22...Ne5?
This loses by force, more or less.
23.Qxd4!
Leko had clearly underestimated this sacrifice.
23...Nf3+ 24.Bxf3 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 Bxd4
Being the exchange up brings Black no joy whatsoever in this ending.
26.d7 Red8 27.Bd6 Ra8
28.Rc7!
Note that the opposite-coloured bishops would provide Black with
excellent drawing chances after 28.Bxb7 Rxd7 29.Bxa8 Rxd6.
28...Bb6 29.Rxb7 Kg7
30.Rxb6! axb6
30...Rxd7 31.Be5+ amounts to the same thing.
31.Bxa8 Rxd7
If 31...Rxa8 then 32.Bc7 picks up the remaining rook.
32.Be5+ resigns.
No reason to test Van Wely's technique in such an elementary ending.
1-0
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Einar Gausel