GM Einar Gausel
annotates the WCC
Speelman (2623) - Macieja (2536)
FIDE WC New Delhi (1.1), 2000
1.Nf3
Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c3
Speelman seems to have made a religion out
of denying his opponents the opportunity to
show off their theoretical knowledge.
3...c5 4.Bg5 cxd4 5.cxd4 Qb6 6.Qc2 Nc6
7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.e3 d5 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.Be2 Rc8 11.0-0
f5
Was e3-e4 really a threat?
12.Rfc1 Nb8
Very strange chess indeed. I guess "Mac" didn't
like 12...Bd6 13.Na4 Qc7 14.Nc5.
13.Ne5 Bd6 14.f4 0-0 15.Bh5 f6 16.Nxd7
Nxd7 17.Qe2 Bb4 18.Kh1
White plans to open the g-file with g4.
18...Kh8 19.Rab1 Qa5
20.Rg1 Qa6?
I much prefer 20...Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nb6, threatening
to take on c3. If White has to start defending
his c-pawn, he is bound to lose some of his
momentum on the kingside.
21.Nb5 Qb6
White certainly has an edge after 21...Qxa2
22.Ra1 Qc4 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.Rxa7, but this
may have been preferable all the same.
22.a3 a6
23.Na7!?
Leave it to Speelman to come up with a strange
move like this. 23.axb4 axb5 24.g4 was far
more natural.
23...Qxa7 24.axb4 Qb6
Now the b-pawn looks like it's ready to drop.
White has to get things going on the kingside,
and fast!
25.g4 fxg4 26.Qxg4 Rg8 27.Qh4
27...Qd6
Black's queen can drop back to e7 just as
fast after 27...Qxb4, but this wouldn't really
change the flavour of the position.
28.f5!
It's interesting how White's bishop is able
to work its way in after this break.
28...exf5
28...e5 29.Bf7 Rgf8 30.Be6 didn't look like
much fun for Black either. If nothing else,
White can double on the g-file and play Qh6.
29.Bg6 Qe7 30.Bxf5 Rxg1+ 31.Rxg1
Now Bxd7 is a huge threat.
31...Rf8 32.Qg4 Nb6 33.Be6
Threatens mate in two.
33...h5
Nice try, but no cigar!
34.Qf4!
Black can still fight on after 34.Qxh5+ Qh7.
34...Qh7 35.Bf5
resigns. 35.Bf5 Qxf5 36.Qh6+ Qh7 37.Qxf8+
Qg8 38.Qxg8 mate.
1-0 |
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Einar Gausel