GM Einar Gausel
annotates the WCC
Sutovsky (2609) - Nataf (2526)
FIDE WC New Delhi (1.1), 2000
1.e4
c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7
6.h4
The idea behind this move is to pounce with
h5 when the knight arrives on g6. In light
of Black's next move, however, 6.0-0 looked
more sensible.
6...h5! 7.Qe2 f6 8.e5 fxe5 9.Qxe5 Nf5 10.Qe4
I'm not sure I understand this move. The queen
has a nice retreat on e2 if and when Black
chooses to harass her.
10...Rb8 11.Ne5 Rb4 12.c4 d5 13.Qf3
13...Qf6!
Black has too many weaknesses to play quietly.
The text costs a couple of pawns, but his
lead in development and actives piece must
be worth something.
14.Nxc6 Rb6 15.Nxa7 Bb7 16.Qd1
16.Qf4 Bd6 17.Qg5 Qe5+ was no improvement.
16...dxc4
17.Bg5?
Weakens b2 and drives the black queen to a
more active square. After this careless move,
White's position would appear to be beyond
salvation.
17...Qe5+ 18.Kf1 Qd5
18...Qxb2 19.Nd2 cxd3 was also very good for
Black, but I can understand Nataf's desire
to keep it simple.
19.Rh2
Unfortunately for White, 19.f3 runs into 19...Ng3+.
19...Bd6 20.Nc3 Qxd3+ 21.Qxd3 cxd3 22.Rh3
22...Rxb2
This ending must be a technical win for Black.
In addition to having the two bishops and
a massive passer on d3, he's a pawn up!
23.Nab5 c4 24.Nxd6+ Nxd6 25.Re3 Kd7 26.Na4
Rb5 27.Rae1 Re8 28.Bf4 Bc6 29.Nc3 Rb2 30.Re5
Rc2 31.Rc1 Rxc1+ 32.Bxc1 g6 33.f3 Nf5 34.Rc5
Bd5 35.Bf4
35.Nxd5 exd5 36.Rxd5+ Kc6 37.Ra5 Re2 was equally
hopeless for White.
35...Rc8 36.Ra5 Nxh4 37.Ra7+ Kc6 38.a4
In terms of counterplay, this is simply too
little too late.
38...Kc5 39.Bg5 Nf5 40.g4 hxg4 41.fxg4
Ng3+ 42.Ke1 Kb4 43.Bd2 Kb3 44.Kd1 Rh8 45.a5
Rh1+ 46.Be1
46...Rxe1+ and White resigned.
46...Rxe1+ 47.Kxe1 Kxc3 and the d-pawn queens.
0-1
|
 Discuss and analyse these games on our Message
Board
Back
to round 1 results.
Back to WCC index.
|
|
