1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4



5.Bd3!?

Morozevich has never been one for long theoretical discussions. The main body of Petroff theory deals with 5.d4.

5...Nf6

5...d5 is the other main alternative.

6.h3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 c5

8...d5 was more in keeping with the spirit of this solid defence.

9.Bc2 Nc6 10.d4 Be6 11.Re1 Qc8 12.Bg5 Nd5

I would have thought that 12...Bf5 was the natural follow-up to Qc8.

13.Na3



13...h6?

Clearly underestimating the strength of White's next move.

14.Qd3! Bf5

14...f5 may have been the lesser evil. The text leads to a clearly inferior endgame, something you definitely want avoid against a 2700-player.

15.Qxf5 Qxf5 16.Bxf5 Bxg5 17.Be4 Nc7

17...Nde7 was no better, in light of 18.d5! Nd8 (18...Ne5 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.d6) 19.Nxg5 hxg5 20.Bh7+ Kxh7 21.Rxe7 and there's no defence against Nc4 and Nxd6.



18.Bxc6

Shattering Black's queenside structure beyond recognition.

18...bxc6 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.Ne5

The endgame should be technically winning for White.

20...Rfd8 21.Nac4 Rd5 22.Nxc6 Kf8 23.a4 h5 24.a5 Nb5



25.Nb6! axb6 26.axb6

B6 is a scary fellow indeed.

26...Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Nd6 28.h4!

Black's chances of survival seem marginally better after 28.Ra8+ Ne8 29.b7 Bf4 (threatening mate) 30.g3 Rd7.

28...Ke8

White's point was 28...Bxh4 29.Ra8+ Ne8 30.b7 and the b-pawn queens.

29.hxg5 Kd7 30.Na5 Kc8 31.c4 Rxg5 32.Rd1 Rg6



33.Rd5 Nb7 34.Nxb7 Kxb7 35.Rxc5 Rxb6 36.Rxh5 Rxb2 37.Rh7 Kc6 38.Rxg7 Rb7 39.Rg5

Personally, I would have resigned here, but Vladimirov insists on prolonging the struggle.

39...Kd6 40.Rd5+ Ke6 41.Rd1 Rb2 42.Rc1 Kd6 43.c5+ Kc6 44.g3 Rb3 45.Kg2 f5 46.Rc4 Rd3 47.Kh3 Rd2 48.Rf4 Rd5



49.Kh4 resigns.

49...Kxc5 50.Kg5 Kd6 51.Rxf5 is completely hopeless for Black.

1-0