1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Bc4 Nf6 11.Rhe1 Nd5 12.Ne5



12...f5?

This forces White to trade off his second bishop (if the knight retreats, then Bf4), but it creates a rather serious hole on e5. Furthermore, the closed centre will make it extremely hard for Black to derive any pleasure from his two bishops.

13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Nc5 Bg5

A waste of time.

15.f4 Bf6 16.h3 Qd6 17.Ncd3 b6 18.g4 c5 19.g5 Bd8 20.Qg2 Rb8



21.g6!

After this, White must have a strategically winning position. In addition to the monster on e5, he has excellent attacking chances on the kingside.

21...c4

Black's situation looks equally depressing after 21...h6 22.Nf7 Qc6 23.Nde5 Qa8 24.Nxd8 Rxd8 25.Nf7 Rf8 26.Re5.

22.Nb4 Bb7 23.gxh7+ Kxh7 24.Rg1 Qh6?

24...Bf6 must have been preferable.



25.Qf3!?

Shirov ignores the gift and calmly protects his f-pawn.

25...Bf6

Yes, Black would probably still be lost after 25...Rc8, but being the exchange down hardly makes life easier for him.

26.Nd7 Rbd8



27.Nxf8+ Rxf8 28.Nxd5 Kh8



29.Qa3! resigns.

1-0