1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.Nxe5 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.d4 Be7 8.Qxe4 Ng6 9.f4 c6 10.Bd3 d5 11.Qe2 f5 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nf3 Nh8 14.Bd2 a5

This prophylactic measure does not seem particularly relevant here.

15.c4 Nf7 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Rac1 Bf6 18.b4 a4 19.b5 Re8 20.Ne5 Nd6 21.Bb4 Ne4 22.Bxe4



22...dxe4?!

Presenting White with a mobile passer. 22...fxe4 was preferable.

23.Rfd1 Be6?

Inviting White to start walking his d-pawn.

24.d5! Bd7

24...Bxd5 was out of the question because of 25.Rc5.



25.Nc6! Qc8

25...Bxc6 26.dxc6 Qc7 may have been a better try, but Black would still be clearly worse.

26.Ne7+ Bxe7 27.Rxc8 Raxc8 28.Bxe7 Rxe7 29.d6 Rf7 30.Rd5 Rc1+ 31.Kf2 Rf8 32.Re5 Rfc8



33.Re7!?

Certainly not the only winning method, but probably the least complicated. White's advanced d-pawn will be decisive in the ensuing rook ending.

33...R1c2 34.Rxd7 Rxe2+ 35.Kxe2 b6 36.Rb7 Rc2+ 37.Ke3 Rc3+ 38.Kd4 Rd3+ 39.Ke5 e3



Black's e-pawn is suddenly looking dangerous, but Shirov has it all worked out.

40.Ke6!

Threatening Rb8 mate.

40...h6 41.Re7!

With the simple idea of going Kd7, Kc7 and d7.

41...Rd4 42.Kd7 Re4

Black was losing in any case.

43.Rxe4 fxe4



44.Ke7! resigns.

44.Ke7 e2 45.d7 e1Q 46.d8Q+ Kh7 47.Kf7! with mate to follow.

1-0