[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2

Nc6 9. h3 Bd7 10. f4 Rc8 11. O-O Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bc6 13. Qf3 Qa5 14. Qf2 e5
15.
Bb6 Qb4 16. Rab1 Nd7 17. Be3 exf4 18. Bxf4 Be7 19. Bd2 Qc5 20. Be3 Qc4 21.
Ne2
O-O 22. Nd4 Bf6 23. b3 Qb4 24. Nf5 Rce8 25. Rbd1 Rxe4 26. Nxd6 Re6 27.
Bxc6
bxc6 28. Nf5 Qb7 29. c4 c5 30. Rd5 Be5 31. Rfd1 Nf6 32. Rd8 Ree8 33. R8d3
Ne4
34. Qg2 Qc7 35. Rd7 Rd8 36. Rxd8 Rxd8 37. Rxd8+ Qxd8 38. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]

[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8.

Rg1 b5 9. g4 Bb7 10. f3 g6 11. Be3 Nbd7 12. g5 Nh5 13. Bh3 h6 14. gxh6 e5
15.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Nb3 Be7 17. Qd2 Bh4+ 18. Bf2 Bxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Nf4 20. O-O-O
Rc8
21. Qb6 Qc7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. Na5 b4 24. Rxd6 bxc3 25. Rg5 cxb2+ 26. Kxb2
Rxh6
27. Rxe5+ Ne6 28. f4 Rxh2 29. f5 gxf5 30. exf5 Rhxc2+ 31. Ka3 R2c5 32. Rxc5
Nxc5 33. Kb4 Ke7 34. Nxb7 a5+ 35. Kb5 Nxb7 36. Rd5 Rd7 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Comp Fritz 6"]

[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O

Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Be7 12. Rd1 O-O 13. Nd2 Nxd4 14.
Bxd4
Rfd8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Qe5 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qe4 Qe7 19. Rd4 g6 20.
Rad1
b6 21. c4 h5 22. b3 Rac8 23. R1d3 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Qa3 25. Qd7 Rf8 26. Rd2
Qc1+
27. Rd1 Qa3 28. Qd2 Rc8 29. Qe2 Qe7 30. Qd3 Qa3 31. Rd2 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qa3
33.
Qd7 Qc5 34. Qxa7 h4 35. Qb7 Qe5+ 36. g3 Rb8 37. Qf3 Rc8 38. a4 hxg3+ 39.
fxg3
Qc7 40. Qf6 Re8 41. Rd4 Qe7 42. Qxe7 Rxe7 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rb8 Rd7 45.
Rxb6
Rd2+ 46. Kg1 Kf6 47. a5 Ke5 48. Kf1 Ra2 49. b4 Kd4 50. c5 e5 51. a6 Ke3 52.
h4
f5 53. Rxg6 Kf3 54. Ke1 e4 55. Rf6 Ra1+ 56. Kd2 e3+ 57. Kd3 Rd1+ 58. Kc4 e2
59.
Rxf5+ Ke4 60. Rf8 Rd4+ 61. Kb5 Rxb4+ 62. Kc6 Kd3 63. a7 e1=Q 64. Rd8+
Kc4 65.
a8=Q Qe4+ 66. Kc7 Qe7+ 67. Rd7 Qe5+ 68. Rd6 Qe7+ 69. Kc8 Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4

8.
Ne2 Bg4 9. f3 O-O-O 10. Nxd4 Nf6 11. Qa4 Qg5 12. Nxc6 Qxe3+ 13. Be2 Rhe8
14.
Ne5 Bf5 15. Rd1 Rxd1+ 16. Qxd1 Rxe5 17. Bd4 Qf4 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. O-O
Qxb2 20.
Bc4 Be6 21. Qd3 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qe6 24. Qb4 Qd6 25. Qxd6 cxd6
26.
Kg1 Kd7 27. Kf2 Nd5 28. Ke2 Nf4+ 29. Kf2 b5 30. g3 Nd5 31. Ke2 a5 32. Kd2 a4
33. a3 Nb6 34. Kc3 Kc6 35. Kb4 Nd5+ 36. Ka5 Ne3 37. Rc1+ Nc4+ 38. Kb4 d5
39.
Rd1 Ne3 40. Rc1+ Nc4 41. f4 d4 42. Rxc4+ bxc4 43. Kxc4 d3 44. Kxd3 Kd5 45.
Kc3

Kc5 46. g4 f6 47. f5 h5 48. gxh5 Kd5 49. Kb4 Ke5 50. Kxa4 Kxf5 51. Kb4 Kg4
52.
Kc3 f5 53. Kd2 f4 54. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1 b5 7. g4 Bb7 8. Bg2

Nfd7 9. a4 bxa4 10. Rxa4 Nb6 11. Rb4 e6 12. Be3 N8d7 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bxb6
Nxb6 15. Qd4 Nd7 16. Rxb7 Nc5 17. Rb4 Qg5 18. Qd2 Qxg4 19. Na4 Qh5 20.
Nxc5
dxc5 21. Rb6 Rd8 22. Qe2 Qxh2 23. Kf1 Qh6 24. Bf3 Be7 25. Bh5+ g6 26. Bg4
O-O
27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Bd5 Qh3+ 29. Ke1 Rxf2 30. Qxf2 Bh4 31. Rf6 Rb8 32. b3
Bxf2+
33. Rxf2 Qh6 34. Ke2 Rf8 35. Rxf8+ Qxf8 36. Rf1 Qd6 37. Rf7 h5 38. Ra7 g5 39.

Bc4 Qh2+ 40. Kd3 Qg3+ 41. Ke2 h4 42. Ra8+ Kg7 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. Rxa6+ Ke5
45.
Re6+ Kd4 46. c3+ Qxc3 47. Rd6+ Kxe4 48. Re6+ Kf4 49. Bd3 Qb2+ 50. Ke1 g4
0-1

[Event "Frankfurt-West Masters"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
d6 9. Qd3 Bd7 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Bc4 exd4 12. cxd4 g5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5
Kg7
15. Nb3 Ne7 16. Rae1 Nh7 17. Bh4 f6 18. Re3 Ng6 19. Bg3 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21.
Qd2 Nf6 22. Rfe1 Nh5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Be4 Qd7 25. Bxf5 Qxf5 26. f3 Nxg3 27.
hxg3
Rf7 28. Qc3 Rh8 29. Nc5 Bxc5 30. dxc5+ Qf6 31. Qb4 Ne5 32. cxd6 cxd6 33.
Re4
Rh6 34. Rd1 Kg8 35. Qb3 Rg6 36. g4 Rh6 37. Qe3 Qh4 38. Re1 Nxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8.

Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 hxg4 12. Nd5 Nc6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5
Bxb2
15. Rb1 Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Bd4 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. Nc7+ Kd7 19. Nxa8 Rxa8 20.
Kd1 Bc3
21. h4 gxh3 22. Rxh3 Rc8 23. f4 gxf4 24. Bxf4 b5 25. Rf3 Rc4 26. Bd2 Bxd2 27.
Kxd2 Ra4 28. Ra1 f6 29. g3 Nc4+ 30. Ke2 d5 31. c3 Kd6 32. Rd3 Ra3 33. Rf3 a5
34. Rd3 Kc5 35. g4 Ra4 36. Rg3 Nd6 37. a3 Ne4 38. Re3 Rc4 39. Kf3 Kd6 40.
Rae1
Ra4 41. Ra1 Rc4 42. Rae1 Kd7 43. R1e2 Kc6 44. Re1 Kd6 45. R1e2 Nxc3 46.
Re6+
Kc5 47. Re1 Ra4 48. Rxe7 Ne4 49. Rc1+ Kd4 50. Rd1+ Kc5 51. Rc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Stohl"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 $5 {An old line,
mentioned
already in 15-th century manuscripts, which has become currently very
popular.}
5. c3 {The most principled continuation.} ({The more direct} 5. Nxe5 Nxe4 {
promises less:} {The more solid} 6. Qe2 ({Extremely risky is} 6. Nxf7 $6 Kxf7 (
6... Nxf2 $2 7. Qe2+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ $18) 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qd5+ Kg7 9. Qxe4 d5
10.
Qa4 Rf8 $5 $44 {P.Keres} (10... Nd4 11. c3 Nxb5 12. Qxb5 Bd6 13. d3 Rf8 14.
Be3
Qh4 15. Bd4+ Kh6 16. g3 Qh5 17. Nd2 a6 18. Qb3 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Qf5 20. c4 Bf4
21.

Qc3 g5 22. Bg7+ Kg6 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Nf3 $16 {
Ulibin,M-Vasiukov,E/RUS-ch Elista/1996/}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qxc6 Bxf2+ $1 (
12... Qe7 $143 13. d4 Bxd4 14. Bd2 $1 {/\Bc3+/-}) 13. Rxf2 Rxf2 14. Kxf2
Qh4+
$40 {Black has a dangerous attack with a draw always guranteed.}) 6... Nxe5
7.
Qxe4 (7. d4 Be7 8. dxe5 Nc5 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Nc3 c6 11. Bd3 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 f6
$132
13. Qg3 {1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Leko,P/Linares/1999/}) 7... Qe7 8. d4 Nc6 9. Qxe7+
(9.
Qg4 h5 $1 10. Qxg7 Bxd4 11. Qg3 h4 12. Qd3 Qf6 13. Qe2+ Kf8 14. c3 Bb6 15.
Be3
d6 16. Nd2 Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Ne5 19. Qe2 Re8 20. Bxb6 axb6 21.
Rae1 Qf4
22. Qe3 Qxe3 23. Rxe3 Ra8 $11 {Renet,O-Akintola,F/Novi Sad olm/1990/}) 9...
Bxe7 10. c3 a6 11. Bd3 O-O {leads to an endgame, in which careful play should
enable Black to neutralize White's slight initiative.} 12. Bf4 d6 13. Nd2 Bd7
14. Rfe1 Rfe8 15. d5 Na7 16. Re2 Bf8 17. Rae1 Rxe2 18. Rxe2 Nc8 19. c4 Nb6
20.
b3 g6 21. f3 Re8 22. Kf1 Rxe2 23. Kxe2 Be7 24. Ne4 h5 25. a4 Bf5 26. a5 Nd7
27.
Ke3 Kf8 28. Bg3 Ke8 $11 {Huebner,R-Gulko,B/Biel/1987/}) (5. d3 $6 d6 {
can't threaten Black's setup, d3 systems in the Ruy Lopez can give White
something only if Black's B is shut in on e7 by d6.}) 5... O-O (5... Nxe4 $6 6.
Qe2 $16 {is too risky.}) (5... Bb6 6. d4 O-O {-5...0-0 only transposes.} (6...
Nxe4 $143 $6 7. Qe2 f5 8. dxe5 O-O 9. Nbd2 $36)) 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 {[+] White
mu
st keep the tension in the [+], if he wants to retain an advantage. Therefore
premature are moves like} (7. dxe5 Nxe4 8. Qd5 Nc5 9. Bg5 Ne7 $5 10. Qd1
Ne4
$11 {/\d5}) (7. d5 Ne7 8. Nxe5 Nxe4 $11 (8... d6 $5 9. Nc4 Nxe4 10. Nxb6
axb6
11. Be2 Nf6 12. c4 b5 $1 $132 {Jackson,S-Garcia,N/Dubai olw/1986/})) ({
Another topical line is} 7. Re1 d6 8. h3 Qe7 (8... Bd7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Nxd4

$6 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Bxd7 dxc3 13. Nxc3 Qxd7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qe6 16.
Qf3
c6 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 18. Nh5+ Kh7 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Ng3 Rfe8 21. b3 Bc5 22.
Nh5 Rf8
23. g4 Qe5 24. Kg2 Kh8 25. Ng3 Rde8 26. Nf5 Re6 27. h4 $40 {
Movsesian,S-Leko,P/Las Vegas k.o./1999/}) 9. Na3 Bd7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6
Qxf6
12. Nc4 Rad8 13. a4 exd4 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. cxd4 Nb4 16. Qd2 c5 17. Bxd7
Rxd7
18. a5 $6 (18. d5 Ra8 $132) 18... bxa5 19. dxc5 Rfd8 $1 $15 (19... Nc6 $2 20.
e5 Qf5 21. cxd6 Re8 22. Qc3 f6 23. exf6 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Rxd6 25. Qe8+ Kh7
26.
fxg7 Kxg7 27. Re1 Qf6 28. Re4 {1-0,Polgar,J-Svidler,P/Frankfurt act/1999/}))
7... h6 8. Bh4 ({Black would welcome the impatient} 8. Bxf6 $6 Qxf6 9. Bxc6
Qxc6 10. Nxe5 Qxe4 11. Nd2 Qf5 12. Nec4 d5 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Re1 Qg6 $11
15.
Re5 $6 Bd7 16. Nf1 Rfe8 17. Ne3 c6 18. a3 Qd6 19. Qh5 Rxe5 20. dxe5 Qe7 21.
Nf5
Qg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5 23. Nd6 Kf8 24. c4 Ke7 $17 {
Rozentalis,E-Beliavsky,A/Groningen/1992/}) 8... d6 (8... g5 $143 $2 {
fails to the standard} 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 {/\Bc6,de5} Qe7 11. Qf3 Kg7 12.
Qg3 $1 $40 Nxe4 13. Bxe7+ Nxg3 14. Bxf8+ Kxf8 15. hxg3 $16) 9. Qd3 {
The most usual on the highest level.} (9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qa4 Qd6
12. Rd1 Qe6 13. Nbd2 Nd7 14. b4 a5 15. Qb3 Re8 16. Qxe6 Rxe6 17. Nc4 f6 18.
a3
Ba6 19. Nfd2 axb4 20. axb4 Ree8 21. Nxb6 Nxb6 22. f3 $11 {
^-,1/2,Topalov,V-Leko,P/Linares/1999/}) (9. a4 a5 10. Re1 exd4 $1 (10... Bg4
$143 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. Nxe5 g5 15. Bg3 h5 16.
Nxc6
Rde8 17. Nd2 $1 Bd7 18. e5 Nd5 19. c4 Bxc6 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. h4 $16 {
Gonzalez,R-De la Paz,F/Santa Clara/1996/}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxd4 Re8 13.
Nd2
c5 $5 (13... g5 14. Bg3 c5 15. Nb5 Bb7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nc4 Qd5 18. Qxd5 Nxd5

19. Bxe5 Bc6 20. f3 f6 21. Bg3 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {
Polgar,J-Spasskij,B/Prague Polka/1995/}) 14. Nc2 Bb7 15. f4 c4+ 16. Nd4 Rb8
17.
Re3 Ba8 18. Qc2 Nd5 $5 19. Bxd8 Nxe3 20. Qb1 Rbxd8 21. h3 f5 22. Qa2 Bxe4
23.
Nxc4 Bd5 24. b3 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Nxg2 $40 {Bologan,V-Piket,J/Biel/1999/}) 9...
Bd7
({Very few have mustered the courage to play} 9... g5 $6 {
although the immediate sacrifice is far from clear:} 10. Bg3 $142 (10. Nxg5
hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 $13 12. Bxc6 (12. f4 exd4 13. Kh1 Rh8 14. Bxc6 Ng4 $1 15.
h3
f6 $19) 12... bxc6 13. f4 exd4 14. cxd4 Qd7 15. f5 $44) 10... exd4 11. Nxd4 $1
$36 {><K} (11. cxd4 $6 Nh5 $13)) ({Therefore possibly playable is} 9... exd4
$5
10. cxd4 g5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Kg7 14. a4 a5 15. Ra3 Qd7
16.
e5 Nh7 17. Qd2 Rg8 18. Re1 dxe5 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Rxe5 f6 21. Bxf6+ Nxf6 22.
Qf4
Nh7 23. Rh5 Rxg3 24. hxg3 Qg7 25. Rxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh4+ Kg8 {
0-1,Renet,O-Ninov,K/Ostend/1989/}) ({A more sedate alternative is} 9... Qe7
10.
Nbd2 Nb8 $5 (10... Nd8 11. Nc4 c6 12. Ba4 Bc7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Ne3 g5 15.
Bg3
Nh5 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. Qd1 Ng7 18. Nxg7 Kxg7 19. Nd4 Ne6 20. Nf5+ Kh7 21.
Qh5 Ng7
22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Rad1 Be6 24. Bb3 Rad8 $11 {
1/2,Adorjan,A-Sydor,A/EU-chT Bath/1973/}) 11. Rfe1 c6 12. Ba4 Nbd7 13. Nc4
Re8
14. Bb3 Bc7 15. Ne3 Qf8 16. Nf1 Nh5 17. Rad1 Ndf6 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Ne3 Be6
20.
Bxe6 $11 {1/2,Luther,T-Maric,A/Hastings/1994/}) 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Bc4 (11. Ba4
Nb4 $5 $132) 11... exd4 $5 {We have already mentioned a similar operation a
few times. Black gives up his central outpost on e5 in exchange for active
piece play.} ({After} 11... Qe7 12. Rfe1 Kh8 13. Bd5 $5 g5 14. Bg3 $36 {

he has problems holding e5 anyway and would have to concede the [+] in less
favourable circumstances.}) 12. cxd4 (12. Nxd4 $6 Ne5 $15) 12... g5 13. Nxg5
$5
{'N!?' Wedberg. A positional piece sacrifice is nowadays a recurrent topic in
high-level chess. Here White will have 2 pawns for his N and Black's K will be
permanently under pressure. What Topalov probably underestimted is the fact
White must be very accurate to preserve his initiative. Wedberg: 'This
sacrifice had to be tried. Two P:s and an open K is a lot of compensation for
a mere N.'} ({White was also motivated to sacrifice by the fact} 13. Bg3 Nh5
14. e5 {/\Qg6} Kg7 15. exd6 Nxg3 16. dxc7 (16. hxg3 cxd6 $11) 16... Qxc7 17.
fxg3 {'~~' Wedberg. Wedberg: '1-0 Svidler,P-Leko,P/Linares 1999/CBM 70/
[Wedberg] (40)'} (17. hxg3 g4 18. Ne5 (18. Nh4 Nxd4 $36) 18... Nxd4 19. Nxd7
Qxd7 $11 {[+]<=>}) 17... g4 18. Nh4 {/\Rf7!} Ne5 $1 19. Nf5+ Bxf5 20. Qxf5
{
Svidler,P-Leko,P/Linares/1999/} Rad8 $1 21. Kh1 Rxd4 22. Qf6+ Kh7 (22... Kg8
23. Rf5 Nxc4 24. Rg5+ $11) 23. Qf5+ $11 Kg8 $2 24. Ne4 $1 Rxe4 25. Qxe4
Nxc4
26. Rac1 $18 {leads only to a draw. As Leko willingly repeats the line, he
certanly wasn't afraid of 13.Bg3.}) (13. e5 d5 $1 $132) 13... hxg5 14. Bxg5 Kg7
$8 (14... Bxd4 $2 15. e5 $1 Bxe5 16. Qg6+ Kh8 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Ne4 {
'+-' Wedberg.} Nxe4 19. Bxd8 Raxd8 20. Qg6+ $18) (14... Nxd4 $2 15. e5 Bf5
16.
Qg3 Nh5 17. Qh4 $16 {->} (17. Qh4 {Wedberg} Qd7 18. Qxh5 $18)) 15. Nb3 {
'!?' Wedberg. Not a very aesthetic move, the N will be off-side later on. But
this moment is still far away and the alternatives promise less: Wedberg: 'The
positional method. White just wants to guard his centre and then advance on
the K-side.'} ({Komplikovanejsie je to po} 15. e5 dxe5 16. Ne4 (16. Qg3 Nh5
17.
Qh4 f6 {odrazi cierny hladko.}) 16... Bf5 $1 17. dxe5 (17. Bxf6+ $2 Qxf6) 17...
Nxe4 {'!!' Wedberg.} 18. Bxd8 Raxd8 19. Qf3 Bg6 {Formalne ma biely dokonca
materialnu prevahu, ale lahke figury cierneho su vyborne zohrate a pesiaci e5
a f2 vazne ohrozeni. Po dalsej serii logickych tahov '~~' Wedberg.} 20. Rae1

Nxe5 (20... Nd2 21. Qf6+ Kh7 22. e6 {alebo}) (20... Rd4 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22.
Qf6+
{s dalsim Sd5, ci Sd3 je slabsie.}) 21. Qf4 Nxc4 22. Rxe4 Bxe4 (22... Nd2 $6
23. Qe5+ f6 24. Qe7+) 23. Qxe4 Rd4 24. Qxb7 a5 $5 {dojde k dalsej
metamorfoze
materialu. Sance bieleho na uspesny utok sa rovnaju nule a musi bojovat o
remizu.}) (15. Qg3 $2 Bxd4 $142 $1 (15... Nxd4 $6 16. Bh4+ Kh7 17. e5 $16) (
15... Nh5 16. Qh4 (16. Qe3 Bxd4 $1 $17) 16... f6 $17) 16. e5 (16. Nf3 Nxe4
$19)
16... Bxe5 17. Bxf6+ Kxf6 18. Ne4+ Ke7 $17 {and Black's K escapes.}) (15. Nf3
{
stops the f-pawn and blocks the Q's road to the >>.} Ne7 $5 (15... Qe8 16. Qe3
Ng4 17. Bf6+ $1 Nxf6 18. Qg5+ Kh7 19. Qxf6 $40) (15... Re8 16. Rae1 {/\e5>})
16. e5 Nh7 {gives Black good chances to beat off the attack, e.g.} 17. Bf6+
Nxf6 18. exf6+ Kxf6 19. Qh7 Bf5 20. Qh6+ Bg6 21. Ng5 Nf5 $1 22. Nh7+ Ke7
$17)
15... Ne7 {A logical move, Leko brings another piece closer to the >>. But
playable was also} (15... Qe8 $5 16. Rae1 (16. Bxf6+ Kxf6 17. Qf3+ Ke7 {
only chases the K to safety.}) 16... Nh7 $13 {/=/+}) 16. Bxf6+ $1 $146 {
Only this move is new. A few days ago in Frankfurt the Topalov against the
same opponent played Wedberg: 'Drawing the K out, but keeping the B was a
serious alternative.'} (16. Rae1 $6 Nh7 17. Bh4 f6 18. Re3 (18. e5 $5
{Wedberg}
) 18... Ng6 19. Bg3 (19. Rg3 Ng5) 19... f5 $1 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Qd2 Nf6 {
Wedberg: 'White had little to show for his investment. 0-1 Topalov,V-Leko,P/
Frankfurt 1999 (38)'} 22. Rfe1 Nh5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Be4 Qd7 25. Bxf5 Qxf5 $17
{
Topalov,V-Leko,P/Frankfurt act/1999/}) (16. Qg3 $2 Nxe4 {loses immediately.})
(
{An interesting try would be} 16. e5 $5 {
Wedberg The idea is to pressure Black on the diagonal g5-d8.} Nh7 (16... dxe5
$2 {Opening the d-file is very dangerous for Black.} 17. dxe5 Nh7 (17... Ng4

18. Qg3 $40) 18. Bf6+ $1 Nxf6 19. exf6+ Kxf6 20. Rad1 Nc6 21. Rfe1 $40) 17.
Bh4
f6 (17... d5 18. Bxd5) (17... dxe5 18. Rfe1 $1 {Ra1 will go to d1.} f6 19. dxe5
Ng6 20. Qg3 $40) (17... Bb5 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Bf6+ Nxf6 20. exf6 Ng6 21. Qg5
$18
) (17... Be6 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Bf6+ Nxf6 20. exf6 Nf5 21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Qg4+
Kh8
23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. Bd3 $18) 18. Rfe1 (18. Rae1 {is also possible,
but the R:s are at their best on e1 and d1 in this position, since f4 is less
likely to be of value.}) (18. e6 $6 d5 $1 $17) 18... Ng6 (18... Be8 19. Qg3+
Bg6 20. exf6+ Nxf6 21. Bd3 $18) (18... Nf5 19. e6 Bxe6 (19... Nxh4 20. Qg3+
Ng6
21. e7 Qc8 22. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 23. h4 $40) 20. Bxe6 Nxh4 21. g3 Ng6 22. Bf5
$16) (
18... d5 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. Bd3 $40) 19. e6 Be8 20. d5 $44) 16... Kxf6 {
An interesting position. Although White has exchanged another pair of minor
pieces, Black's K is seriously exposed and consolidation will cost him a lot
of time and possibly material.} 17. f4 $2 {Very logical, but not best.} (17.
Qg3 $142 $1 {/\e5} Ng6 $142 (17... Nc6 18. Rfe1 {
retains the dangerous threat e5, e.g.} (18. e5+ dxe5 19. dxe5+ Nxe5 20. Qf4+
Bf5 21. Rad1 Qc8 $17) (18. Rad1 $5 $44) 18... Ke7 19. e5 dxe5 20. d5 $1 Rg8
21.
Qf3 $16 {/\d6}) 18. f4 (18. h4 $5 $44) 18... Kg7 $5 ({
Now analogy with the game is insufficient:} 18... Be6 $6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. f5
exf5 21. exf5 $1 (21. Rxf5+ $2 Kg7 22. Raf1 Qh4 $19) 21... Nh8 (21... Ne5 22.
Kh1 $18) 22. Rae1 $40 {with a tremendous attack.}) (18... Ba4 $2 19. f5 $16
{->
}) (18... Rg8 $5 19. Kh1 $44) (18... Ke7 19. Kh1 $1 (19. f5 $143 $6 Ne5 $17)
19... Ke8 20. f5 Ne7 21. f6 Nf5 $5 (21... Nc6 $2 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23. Qg7+
Ke6
24. Qg4+ Kf7 25. Qh5+ $18) (21... Ng6 22. e5 $40 {/\e6}) 22. exf5 (22. Qg5
Nxd4
23. Bxf7+ Rxf7 24. Qg8+ Rf8 $11) 22... Qxf6 23. Rae1+ $14 {/+/-}) 19. f5 Qh4

20. Qxh4 (20. fxg6 Qxg3 21. hxg3 fxg6 $11) 20... Nxh4 21. Rf4 Ng6 $5 (21...
Rh8
$143 22. g3 Ba4 23. Rd1 $36 {
White will regain his piece under better circumstances.}) 22. fxg6 fxg6 23.
Raf1 Ba4 $132 {and Black has every chance to save the game.}) (17. e5+
{Wedberg
} Kg7 (17... dxe5 18. dxe5+ Kg7 19. Rad1 Ng6 20. Qc3 $44) 18. Qg3+ Ng6 19.
f4
Bf5 $17) 17... Be6 $1 {
Very cool! From now on Leko demonstrates superlative defence.} (17... Kg7 $2
18. f5 $1 $40 (18. Qg3+ Ng6 19. f5 Qh4 $132 {-17.Qg3 Kg7!?})) 18. Kh1 $6 {
Loses a tempo and enables Black to evacuate his K.} (18. Bxe6 fxe6 (18... Kxe6
{Wedberg} 19. Qh3+ f5 20. g4 fxe4 21. f5+ Kd7 (21... Kd5) 22. f6 Rh8 23. fxe7
Qxe7 $17) 19. e5+ (19. Qg3 Rh8 {/\Qg8-/+}) (19. g4 Rh8 20. g5+ $40) 19...
Kg7
20. Rf3 Nf5 $17) (18. f5 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nc6 {
/\Ke7-/+ also doesn't further White's attack.} (19... Rh8 {Wedberg} 20. Kh1
Nc6
21. Rae1 $17 {this might possibly give chances for a svindle with e5+ at some
point. But no doubt Black is better.})) ({Necessary was the immediate} 18. Rf3
$142 Bxc4 (18... d5 $2 19. f5 $1 dxe4 (19... dxc4 20. e5+ Kg7 21. f6+ Kh8 22.
Qe3 $1 $18) 20. Qxe4 Nxf5 21. Raf1 $18) 19. Qxc4 Ng6 (19... d5 20. e5+ Ke6
21.
Qd3 $132) 20. Kh1 $15 {
White's strong and elastic [+] still gives him practical chances.}) (18. e5+ {
Wedberg} dxe5 19. fxe5+ Kg7 20. Qg3+ Ng6 $19) 18... Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Kg7 {
Wedberg: 'The black K glides back. White's compensation is beginning to look
thin.'} 20. f5 (20. Rf3 d5 $5 (20... Rg8 $5 $17) (20... Rh8 $17) 21. Rg3+ Ng6
22. Qc3 f5 23. e5 Qh4 24. Nc5 Rae8 $17) 20... f6 21. Rf3 Rh8 {
Modesty is still necessary-} (21... d5 $2 22. Qe2 $36 {/\Rg3,e5}) 22. Rg3+ Kf8
{/\d5} 23. Qe6 Ng8 {'-/+' Wedberg. Wedberg: 'White's attack is stopped.'} 24.
Re1 Qe8 $17 {Now it's already clear Black will gradually push off White's

pieces and consolidate his position. Wedberg: 'White has to retreat hoping for
tactics or play a difficult ending.'} 25. Qc4 (25. Qd5 $6 Ne7 $1 (25... Qc6 26.
Qe6 Re8 $2 27. Rxg8+ $1 $18) 26. Qxb7 (26. Qe6 Qf7 $19) 26... Nxf5 $40 {
only helps Black.}) 25... Qf7 26. Qc3 Re8 27. Rg4 $6 {Not a very good move,
but even the alternatives enable Black to activate his pieces.} (27. Nd2 Qd5 $1
{/\Qd4,Qf5}) (27. a4 Rh4 28. Rge3 (28. a5 Rhxe4 $1 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. axb6
Qxb3
31. Rxg8+ Qxg8 32. bxc7 Ke7 $19) 28... Qh7 $17 {|^}) 27... Qh5 28. Qg3 Ne7
29.
h3 (29. Rf1 d5 $19) 29... Nxf5 $1 $19 {'-+' Wedberg.} 30. Qf4 (30. Qf3 Rh6) (
30. exf5 $2 Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Qxg4 $19) 30... Rg8 ({Black had also other
moves:}
30... Rh6 $5 $19) 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Rf1 Ng7 33. Qxf6 Rxe4 34. Kh2 {Topalov
is
a piece down and his N is misplaced, but he continues to resist hopelessly.} (
34. Qf8+ Kh7 35. Rf7 Re1+ 36. Kh2 Bxd4 $1 37. Nxd4 Qe5+ 38. Rf4 Re4 $19 {
is even worse.}) 34... Qe8 35. Qg5 c6 36. Qg3 Qe6 37. Nd2 (37. Qd3 Re3 $19 {
is very passive.}) 37... Rxd4 38. Nf3 Rd5 39. Re1 (39. Ng5 Qe5) 39... Qf7 40.
Qg4 Bd8 (40... Rf5 $19 {/\} 41. Ng5 Qg6) 41. Qc8 Qc7 42. Qxc7 (42. Qg4 Rf5
$19)
42... Bxc7 43. Re7 Bb6 44. g4 (44. Rxb7 Rb5 45. Rb8+ Kf7 46. Rc8 Rxb2 47.
Rxc6
Nf5 $19) 44... Rb5 45. b3 Kf8 46. Rd7 (46. Rxb7 $2 Bg1+ $19) 46... Ne6 47.
Nh4
Ke8 48. Rh7 Nf8 (48... Nf8 49. Rh6 Be3 $1 50. Rh8 Bd4 51. Rh6 Bg7 $19 {
forces further exchanges.}) 0-1

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]

[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. d4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 c5 4. c3 Qa5 5. d5 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1

Re8 9. Na3 Nbd7 10. h3 b5 11. e4 a6 12. Nc2 Bb7 13. Bf4 h6 14. h4 e5 15. Bd2
c4
16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Qc7 18. Nh2 Nc5 19. Rb1 a5 20. b4 axb4 21. cxb4 Ncxe4
22.
Rxe4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 f5 24. Bg2 Qf7 25. Bc1 e4 26. Bb2 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 Qxd5 28.
Qxd5+ Bxd5 29. Nf1 h5 30. Nfe3 Bc4 31. Bf1 d5 32. Kg2 Reb8 33. Nd4 Rb6 34.
Rd2
Kf7 35. Ndc2 Ra2 36. Bxc4 dxc4 37. Rd5 Rb2 38. Kf1 Ra6 39. Rxb5 Raa2 40.
Rb7+
Kg8 41. Rc7 Rxc2 42. Nxc2 Rxc2 43. b5 Rb2 44. Rxc4 Rxb5 45. Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]

[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. e3 Nge7 8.

Be2 O-O 9. Rc1 Bd6 10. Bg3 a6 11. O-O Nc8 12. Qb3 Nb6 13. Nd2 Re8 14. Bf3
Bxg3
15. hxg3 Ne7 16. Be2 Nec8 17. Bf3 c6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Ndxe4 Be6 20. Qc2 Nd6
21.
Nc5 Bf5 22. Qb3 Rb8 23. d5 Nbc4 24. g4 Bg6 25. Rfe1 Nd2 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.
Qd1
Nxf3+ 28. Qxf3 Rc8 29. Qf4 Qf8 30. Re1 Qd8 31. dxc6 Rxc6 32. Nd5 Kh8 33. b4
b6
34. Ne7 Rc7 35. Nf5 bxc5 36. Nxd6 Re7 37. Rxe7 Qxe7 38. bxc5 Qc7 39. Qe5 f6
40.
Qd5 h6 41. c6 Bc2 42. Ne8 Qe7 43. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bf5 6. Bf4 Nbd7 7. e3 e6 8. Be2

Be7 9. Nd2 (9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. h3 Re8 12. Bh2 Bd8 13. Rfd1 h6 14.
Rac1
Bc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Na4 Re7 17. Qb4 Rae8 18. Nb6 e5 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20.
dxe5
Nxe5 21. Nd4 Be4 $11 {geschah in der Partie Yudasin,L-Magem
Badals,J/Pamplona
1995/CBM 46 (51). Der Textzug leitet eine wesentlich wirksamere Idee ein:
nach
Abtausch der schwarzfeldrigen Lufer verhindert Wei den Vorsto e6-e5 mit
f2-f4.}) 9... Bg6 10. b4 Qc8 11. O-O Bd8 12. Rc1 {
Dieser Zug sieht berflssig aus.} (12. a4 $5) 12... Bc7 $6 {
Meines Erachtens ist es genauer, mit} (12... O-O {fortzufahren, um im
folgenden Tf8-e8 und e6-e5 zu spielen; nur auf diese Weise kann die
Schattenseite des Zuges Sf3-d2, die in der Minderung der Kontrolle des Feldes
e5 besteht, blogelegt werden.}) 13. Bxc7 Qxc7 14. f4 Ng8 {Schwarz gestattet
den Vorsto e3-e4, doch sind andere Fortsetzungen nicht angenehmer:} (14...
Ne4
15. Ncxe4 Bxe4 (15... dxe4 16. Nc4 {ist ebenfalls nicht erfreulich fr Schwarz.
}) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. f5 {mit erklecklichem Vorteil fr Wei.}) (14... O-O 15.

g4 h6 16. f5 exf5 17. gxf5 Bh7 18. Bd3 {nebst Dd1-f3 gefolgt von Druck auf der
g-Linie; der Lufer auf h7 bleibt begraben.}) 15. e4 Ne7 16. f5 $1 {Nur mit der
Durchfhrung dieses Konzeptes kann Wei auf Vorteil hoffen: Er verschafft sich
die Bauernmehrheit am Damenflgel, und der Bauer des Schwarzen auf d5 wird
verteidigungsbedrftig. Der Lufer auf g6 bleibt auer Spiel. Der Mehrbauer
des Schwarzen ist bedeutungslos, denn er kann die Bauernmehrheit am
Knigsflgel nicht wirksam einsetzen. Dennoch ist Schwarz natrlich
keineswegs
verloren; es gibt aber fr Wei keine andere Art, dem Spiel Wrze zu verleihen.
Nach} (16. e5 $2 Nf5 {mu Wei Material abgeben.}) 16... exf5 17. exd5 cxd5
({
Die Fortsetzung} 17... Nxd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bd3 {
berlt dem Weien ohne weiteres deutlichen Vorteil.}) 18. b5 O-O 19. b6
Qd8
$6 {Strker ist} (19... Qc8 {, welcher Zug das wichtige Blockadefeld c6 im
Auge behlt (D. Poldauf nach V. Topalov, "Schach" 8/1999, S.36):} 20. Nb3 Nf6
21. Na5 Nc6 {usw.}) 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5 Rb8 {
Dies entzieht dem Bauern auf a6 die Deckung.} (21... Qd7 {gefllt mir besser:}
22. Qa4 (22. a4 Nc6 23. Nxc6 Qxc6 24. Na2 (24. a5 Rfe8 25. Na2 Qe6 {
verspricht dem Schwarzen ebenfalls reichliches Gegenspiel.}) 24... a5 25. Bb5
Qe6 {mit unklarem Spiel.}) 22... Nc6 23. Nxc6 bxc6 {
Die Lage ist mir nicht deulich.}) 22. a4 Ne4 23. Na2 f6 $2 {Jetzt strebt
Schwarz danach, das Feld c6 in die Hand zu bekommen, aber dazu ist es zu
spt.
Zu recht schlgt D. Poldauf in "Schach" 8/1999, S.36,} (23... f4 {vor:} 24.
Rxf4 Nf5 25. Nxb7 ({Nach} 25. Qd3 Qg5 26. Rcf1 Rfe8 {hindern die
Gegendrohungen des Schwarzen den Weien daran, seine Initiative am
Damenflgel
krftig zu verfolgen.}) 25... Qg5 ({Nach} 25... Rxb7 26. Bxa6 Rb8 27. a5 Qg5
28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 Nxd4 30. c6 {hat Wei eine Gewinnstellung.}) 26. Rxe4
dxe4 27. Bxa6 Bh5 28. Qf1 Nxd4 {Schwarz hat ausreichendes Gegenspiel.})
24. Nb4

Be8 25. Qc2 g6 26. Rb1 Rf7 27. Nxb7 Rxb7 28. a5 Nc6 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Bxa6
Rb8
31. Bb5 Qc8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33. a6 Kg7 34. Rb4 Nd6 35. Qa4 Qxa4 36. Rxa4
Nc8 37.
Rb4 Na7 38. bxa7 Ra8 39. c6 Raxa7 40. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5

9. Nf5 h5 10. Qd2 Nxg4 11. O-O-O g6 12. Nd5 Nxe3 13. Nfxe3 Bh6 14. Kb1 Nc6
15.
Qc3 O-O 16. f5 Kh7 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Ndb6 Nd4 19. Bh3 g5 20. Qd3 g4 21. Bg2
Bd7
22. c3 Nb5 23. h3 g3 24. Qxg3 Bc6 25. Bf3 Rg8 26. Qf2 Qg5 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28.
Rxd5

Rbd8 29. Qe2 Nc7 30. Rdd1 Qf6 31. h4 Rg3 32. Nb6 d5 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. exd5
b5
35. a3 a5 36. Qe4 Bf8 37. Rhg1 Rxg1 38. Rxg1 b4 39. cxb4 axb4 40. a4 b3 41.
Be2
Rb8 42. Bb5 Kh8 43. Rg3 Bh6 44. Rxb3 Rg8 45. Be2 Bf4 46. Bxh5 1-0

[Event "Dortmunder Schachtage"]

[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bg2 Be4 8.

Qd1
Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 O-O 10. O-O a5 11. b3 a4 12. Ba3 d6 13. Rfd1 Nbd7 14. Bf1
Re8 15.
Nh4 Bb7 16. f3 d5 17. Qc2 c5 18. Bb2 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc7 20. Rac1 e5 21. Bf2
axb3
22. axb3 d4 23. Qb2 Nc5 24. e3 dxe3 25. Bxe3 e4 26. Bf4 Qc8 27. fxe4 Nfxe4
28.

Be5 f6 29. Bd4 Ng5 30. b4 Nce4 31. Bg2 Qg4 32. Qb3 Kh8 33. Bxb6 Nh3+ 34.
Bxh3
Qxh3 35. c5 g5 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rxc6 gxh4 38. Bd4 hxg3 39. hxg3 Rg8 40. Rd3
Rg6
41. Rxf6 Nxf6 42. Rf3 Rf8 43. b5 Rh6 44. Qc3 Kg7 45. Be5 Qh2+ 46. Kf1 Qh1+
47.
Kf2 Rh2+ 48. Ke3 Qg1+ 49. Kf4 Qb1 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]

[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8.

Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Bc4 $5 {Quite a rare move in this position, which is getting
increasingly popular in the modern practice.} Nc6 (10... Ne5 11. Bb3 Nbc6 12.
Nxc6 bxc6 13. h4 g4 14. h5 Qa5 15. Qd2 Be6 16. Na4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Rb8 18.
Rad1
Rb4 19. Rhe1 Bf6 20. Kc1 O-O 21. Bf4 Kh7 22. Bd2 Bg5 23. Nc3 {

1/2-1/2 Heiduczek,J-Kargoll,B/Passau 1998/EXT 99 (61)}) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. h4

({
Other options are:} 12. Qf3 Rf8 13. Bb3 Ne5 14. Qe3 Rb8 15. O-O Qb6 16. Qe2
Rh8
17. Kh1 h5 18. f4 gxf4 19. Bxf4 Bg4 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Rad1 Qa5 22. Qe1 h4 23.
h3
Nc4 24. Bc1 Kd7 25. Qf2 Rb7 {
1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext (36)}) ({and} 12. Qd2
Qa5
13. Bb3 Be6 14. Nd1 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 d5 16. f3 Nf6 17. Nf2 Nh5 18. exd5 Bxd5
19.
Nd3 Nxg3 20. hxg3 O-O-O 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rae1 e6 23. Kc1 Kc7 24. g4 Kd6
25.
Re4 Rd4 26. Rxd4+ Bxd4 27. Kd2 f5 28. gxf5 exf5 {
1/2-1/2 Turzo,A-Avrukh,B/Szeged 1994/TD (42)}) 12... Qa5 $5 ({
In his game with Anand in Linares 1998, Topalov opted for} 12... Qb6 {
, but after} 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. hxg5 O-O-O 15. Qd2 hxg5 16. Rxh8 Rxh8 17. O-OO
Ne5 18. f3 Qa5 19. Kb1 Bf6 20. Qe3 Kb7 21. Bf2 Rb8 22. g3 Kc8 23. Qe2 Ng6
24.
Be1 Qb6 25. Na4 Qb5 26. c4 Qb7 27. Ba5 {
Anand got an advantage in the middlegame.}) {
The text move yields Black good counterchances.} 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6
15.
hxg5 (15. Qxg4 {allowed Balck to force draw after} Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qxc3+ 17.
Ke2
Qc4+ 18. Kd2 Qd4+ $11) 15... hxg5 (15... Rb8 $5 {
would more suit Topalov's style.} {Now} 16. O-O-O $5 {
leads to interesting complications:} (16. gxh6 $6 {
yiedls Black excellent play after} Rxh6 ({Premature} 16... Rxb2 {loses to} 17.
hxg7 Rxh1+ 18. Kd2 Rxa1 (18... Qg5+ 19. Bf4) 19. g8=Q+ Kd7 20. Qfxg4 $18)
17.
Rxh6 Nxh6 18. e5 Rxb2 19. Qxc6+ Kf7 20. O-O-O Qa3 $36) 16... Rxb2 $5 (16...

hxg5 $2 17. Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Qxg4 Bxc3 (18... Rxb2 19. Qh5+ (19. Kxb2 $4
Bxc3+
$19) 19... Kd7 20. Rxd6+ exd6 21. Qh7+) 19. bxc3 $18) (16... Qb4 17. Kd2
Qxb2
18. Rb1 Bxc3+ 19. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 20. Kxc3 Rxb1 21. Rxb1 Kf7 22. gxh6 Rxh6 23.
Rb6)
17. e5 $1 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Qxc6+ Kf7 20. Rd3 $40) 16. Rxh8+ Bxh8 17.
Kf1
$1 {The strongest response. On the kingside White's king is placed most safely.
} Ne5 18. Qe2 Kd7 19. Nd1 {White is planning to bring his currently passive
knight into play via e3 and restrict activity of the opponent's bishop by
c2-c3.} Rb8 20. c3 Qa4 $6 ({After} 20... Qb5 21. b3 {
White keeps a minimal advantage.}) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. g3 Bf6 $6 {
After this passive reply White gets a durable advantage.} ({
After the appealing move} 22... Qb5 $1 {it is unclear, whether White has
anything better than trading quens, as other continuations are quite risky for
him, e.g.:} 23. c4 (23. Rc1 $2 Rh8 $1 24. c4 $2 Qa5 25. a3 Rh1+ 26. Kg2 Qe1
$1
$17) (23. b3 Rh8 $1 24. c4 Qa5 $17) 23... Qa4 24. Kg2 (24. b3 Rxb3) 24... Rb4
{
><c4, ><b2.}) 23. Kg2 a5 24. f3 {White hss a slight but durable advantage
due
to the superirority of his knight over the black bishop and good pawn
structure.} c5 25. Ne3 Kc7 26. Qd2 Qb5 27. b3 a4 28. Rb1 axb3 (28... Qa5 {
is met by} 29. b4) 29. Rxb3 Qa4 30. Rxb8 Kxb8 31. Ng4 Kc7 32. e5 $1 {The
strong
est continuation. The pawn sacrifice augments White's advantage and
complicates Black's defensive task.} Bxe5 33. Nxe5 dxe5 34. Qe2 Kd6 35. c4
e4
$1 {Correct decision. Advancing his tripled e5-pawn in the appropriate
moment,
Black forces its exchange for the much more valuable a2-pawn, as 36.fe4 falls
short after 36...Ke5.} 36. Qxe4 Qxa2+ 37. Kh3 Qb2 38. Kg4 Qf2 $4 (38... Qf6
$1

{was the only defence.} 39. Kh5 Qf5 $1 {, and if} 40. g4 {then} Qf7+ 41.
Kxg5
Qf6+ 42. Kh5 Qh8+ $11) (38... Qd4 $2 {loses to} 39. Kxg5 Qxe4 40. fxe4 Ke5
41.
g4 Kxe4 42. Kh6 $18) (38... Qd2 $2 {fails to} 39. f4) 39. f4 $1 $18 {
After this decisive pawn advancement Black is defenseless, as} Kd7 (39... gxf4
{39...gf4 leads to the entirely los for Blak pawn ending.} 40. Qxf4+ Qxf4+ 41.
Kxf4) 40. fxg5 Qb2 41. g6 Qf6 42. Qb7+ Kd6 43. Qb8+ Kd7 44. Kh5 e5 45.
Qb7+ Kd8
46. Qd5+ Ke8 47. Qg8+ Kd7 48. Qf7 Qh8+ 49. Kg4 Qh1 50. g7 Qe4+ 51. Kg5
Qe3+ 52.
Kh4 Qe4+ 53. g4 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]

[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Huzman"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8.

Nbc3 (8. f3 Bf5 9. Nbc3 e6 10. Be3 (10. O-O Qd7 11. Be3 Nb4 12. Ne4 N4d5 13.
Bf2 Be7 14. Rc1 O-O 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qd2 $14 {
0-1 Kisseleva,N-Semenova,L/Kishinev 1995/EXT 95 (60)}) 10... Qd7 11. g4 Bg6
12.
Nf4 O-O-O 13. h4 Nxd4 14. h5 Nxb3 15. Qxb3 Qc6 16. hxg6 Qxf3 17. Rh3 Qxg4
18.
gxf7 Nd5 19. Ncxd5 exd5 20. Qd1 $18 {
1-0 Schroll,G-Volkmann,F/Aschach 1992/TD 92\04 (38)}) 8... e6 9. O-O (9. a3
Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Qd7 11. Be3 Na5 12. Ba2 Nac4 13. Qc2 Qb5 14. Rb1 c5 15. O-O
Rc8
16. Qe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Be7 18. Nc3 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc5 $11 {
1-0 Litinskaya,M-Nutu Gajic,D/ROM-chT 1994/EXT 94ch (69)}) (9. Be3 Bxe2 10.
Nxe2 Bb4+ 11. Nc3 Nd5 12. Rc1 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qh4+ 14. Ke2 O-O 15. g3 Qe7
16. Ne4
$14 {0-1 Oosterom,E-Duyn,R/NLD-chT9495 1994/EXT 97 (30)}) 9... Qd7 (9...
Nb4
10. h3 Bh5 11. f4 Bg6 12. d5 Qd7 13. dxe6 Bc5+ 14. Kh2 fxe6 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7
16.
Rd1+ N4d5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. b4 Bxb4 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5+ Kc6 21. Rd1
Bc5 22.
Bb2 Rad8 23. Bd4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Adianto,U-Barua,D/Dubai 1992/EXP 32 (62)})
(9...
Bf5 10. a3 Qd7 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. f4 Ned5 14. Qf3 c6 15. Bf2 Be7
16.
Nge4 O-O 17. g4 $36 {1-0 Mohr,S-Osmanovic,K/Zuerich 1987/EXT 87op (34)})
(9...
Be7 10. f3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. f4 Na5 13. f5 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 exf5 15. gxf5 Bh5
16.
Ng3 Qxd4+ 17. Kg2 Qh4 18. f6 gxf6 19. exf6 Bg4 20. Qb5+ $16 {
1-0 Matveeva,S-Nutu Gajic,D/Subotica 1991/TD 93\02 (28)}) 10. h3 (10. Be3 OO-O
(10... Be7 11. a3 Rd8 (11... O-O 12. Ba2 Bh5 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. f3 Bg6 15. Qe1
Bf8 16. Rd1 Ne7 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Bxe7 Bxe7 19. Nf4 c6 20. Ne4 {
1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Yakovich,Y/Kujbyshev 1986/MCL 05 (20)}) 12. f3 Bf5 13.
Qc1

Na5 14. Ba2 Bd3 15. Bf2 Qc6 16. b4 Nac4 17. Rd1 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 a5 19. Rb1
axb4
20. axb4 Qb5 21. Nc3 Qa6 22. b5 $16 {
1-0 Savchenko,S-Brady,S/Erevan 1996/EXT 96ch2 (60)}) 11. f3 Bf5 12. Bf2 Be7
13.
Rc1 Kb8 14. Na4 Nb4 15. Nc5 Qe8 16. Ng3 Bxc5 17. Nxf5 Bf8 18. Ng3 N4d5 19.
Ne4
$14 {1-0 Giorgadze,G-Gonzalez Garcia,J/Ubeda 1997/EXP 56 (47)}) 10... Bxe2
$6 (
10... Bf5) (10... Bh5) 11. Nxe2 Be7 12. Be3 Nb4 13. Ng3 $1 O-O-O (13... O-O
14.
Qg4 $40) 14. Qe2 N4d5 15. Ne4 Kb8 16. Rad1 (16. Rac1 $5) 16... h5 (16... f5
$140 17. Nc5 $16) 17. a3 Qe8 18. Bd2 a6 (18... f6 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Nc5 Bxc5
21. dxc5 Nd7 22. c6 Nc5 23. Qb5 Qxc6 24. Qxc6 bxc6 25. Bc2 $16) 19. Rc1 Qg8
20.
f4 $1 f5 21. exf6 $1 (21. Nc5 Qf7) 21... gxf6 (21... Bxf6 22. Nxf6 gxf6 23. f5
$16) 22. f5 $1 $16 Rh7 (22... exf5 23. Rxf5 Qg6 24. Qf3 $16) 23. Nc5 Bd6 $2 (
23... exf5 24. Ne6 Rd7 25. Rxf5 $16) 24. Nxe6 Qg3 25. Qf3 $1 $18 Qxf3 (25...
Qh2+ 26. Kf2 Rg8 27. Bxd5 Nxd5 28. Qxd5 $18) 26. Rxf3 Re8 27. Re1 h4 28.
Re4
Bg3 29. Kf1 c6 30. Rg4 Kc8 31. a4 $1 Nc7 32. Nxc7 Bxc7 (32... Kxc7 33. Ba5
Rhe7
34. Be6 $18) 33. Be1 $1 Nd5 34. Bxd5 cxd5 35. Bxh4 Rhe7 36. Rc3 Kb8 37.
Bxf6
Rf7 38. Rg6 Ref8 39. Rxc7 $1 Kxc7 (39... Rxc7 40. Be5 Rxf5+ 41. Ke1 Rxe5+
42.
dxe5 Rc2 43. h4 Rxb2 44. h5 $18) 40. Be5+ Kd7 41. g4 Rc8 42. Rb6 Rc1+ 43.
Kg2
Ke8 44. h4 Rc6 45. Rxc6 bxc6 46. h5 Rb7 47. h6 Rxb2+ 48. Kg3 1-0