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Alexander Grischuk vs. Alexei
Shirov 6.2
White has made a series of rather aimless moves, h4 and Rg1 being two fairly mysterious decisions. Black has lined his guys up, and now strikes. 15...b4! 16.Na4 Nxf3! 17.Qxf3 Qc6! - See next diagram.
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17...Qxc2+?! is less accurate: 18.Ka1 Qc6 19.Na5. 18.Nac5!? Now 18.Na5? fails to 18...Qxc2+ 19.Ka1 Bxe4 winning for black. 18...Nxc5? 18...dxc5 should leave black a much healthier pawn ahead. 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.Na5 Qc7 21.Nxb7 Qxb7 22.Bc4 Now white has excellent compensation - a solid outpost on c4 that stymies black on this flank, and attacking chances on the kingside. 22...Be7 23.Qe2 Qc6 24.g5 0-0 25.h5 Rcd8 - See next diagram. |
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Black must exchange pieces before white's simple attack lands hard. 26.g6 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 fxg6 28.hxg6 Rf4?? A horrible mistake. 28...hxg6 29.Qg4 Rf6 gives white a dangerous attack, but black still has plenty of defensive resources. 29.Qh2! 1-0 29...Rh4 is the only way to defend f4 and h7 but then 30.Qb8+ Bf8 31.Rf1 leads to mate. |
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Vishwanathan Anand - Michael Adams 6.2
White's advantage is enormous - Adams can hardly move and his pawns, particularly the one on a6, are long-term weaknesses. Now an interesting moment: 33...Ne7 34.Kg2! 34.Rxe7 is good, and must have been very tempting. White wins material after 34...Qxe7 35.Qxg6 but 35...Qc7!? and black has at least rid himself of his most passive pieces and can eliminate white's a-pawn. The move in the game shows sophisticated confidence - white has absolute faith in his grip on the position. 34...Ng8 35.Nd5 Qe6 36.Bd1 - See next diagram. |
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And here Adams resigned in disgust. R1b6 is one looming threat and black has no moves that avoid exchanges or further weaknesses, neither of which he can afford. 1-0 |
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