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Sergey Karjakin vs Veselin Topalov
World Championship Candidates (2016), Moscow RUS, rd 12, Mar-25
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. Adams Attack (B90)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-25-16  Sokrates: Powerful played by Karjakin. Reminds me of the days, when Keres crushed those who dared play the Sicilian against him. Another disaster for Topalov in this tournament.
Mar-25-16  david p: interesting that Karjakin makes it look so easy to win, yet anand loses and everybody is crying. anand is mediocre at best. anand Will NEVER be great
Mar-25-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: We are talking about an ex-World Champion
Mar-25-16  Vyrak: Finally someone plays the sicilian it this tournament even though without success. I started to get tired of watching only Ruy lopez Berlin defense. David P, haven't you seen Anand's masterpiece in this tournament, with this amazing Exchange pseudo-sacrifice
Mar-25-16  thegoodanarchist: I wish Black had played 35...Rxf2, just for a lark, to see what would have happened.
Mar-25-16  peltonen: Najdorf English attack with g- and h-pawns rushing forward brings certain and imminent threat for Black castled king-side.
Mar-25-16  Virgil A: If 35...Rxf2

36.Rxg6+ Kf7
37.Rf6 Rxf6
38.Qxf6+ Ke1
39.Nc7#

If 38...Kg8
39.Rg1+ mate next move

Mar-25-16  peltonen: 18 ... fxg6 seems to be a blunder, the same is with 35...Rxf2
Mar-25-16  Virgil A: If you're wondering

35...Rxf2
36.Rxg6+ hg
37.Rh8+ Kf7
38.Rh7+ mate in 1

Mar-25-16  peltonen: 35 ... Qg7 is the only move
Mar-25-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: <sokrates> '...never be great...> His games and results are pretty good: playing over his games one encounters some of the most brilliant and complex attacking and tactical games, and his games to beat Kramnik were very good...

Anand is one of the greatest chess players ever! But lately his form has declined which is what happens as players get older.

Mar-25-16  dehanne: 17...Rc8 looks losing.
Mar-25-16  iking: <david p: interesting that Karjakin makes it look so easy to win, yet anand loses and everybody is crying. anand is mediocre at best. anand Will NEVER be great> ... it lacks substance.
Mar-26-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Anand is one of the greatest chess players ever! But lately his form has declined which is what happens as players get older.>

His form was not good on March 25th, I agree. But it was pretty good on the 24th....

Mar-26-16  Jim Bartle: <His form was not good on March 25th, I agree. But it was pretty good on the 24th....>

Exactly. He was older on March 25 than on March 24.

Mar-26-16  dynamica: After move 18........f7xg6
19.Nd4xe6!!
20.Ne6xf8!
21.hxg7!
Mar-26-16  Chatu Ranga: This game reminds me of Adams vs Kasparov, 2005. In a similar structure, Kasparov found the saving move 18...Be7-f6! and won, while Topalov missed 17...Be7-f6! here and lost.
Mar-27-16  peristilo: I suggest we all ignore statements like 'Annand is mediocre'. Let's keep this forum intelligent and mature.
Mar-28-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  MKD: Why Black didn't play 9...Bg5? He was winning a pawn!
Mar-28-16  Ulhumbrus: After 18 h6 there is one cause for doubt: Black has not disturbed his king side pawns whereas White has by a3.

Instead of 24 ...Re8, 24...b4 starts Black's own pawn attack eg 25 Qe6+ Kh8

Instead of 25...Bc6, 25...b4 starts Black's attack

Topalov's neglect of his own pawn attack may have cost him the game

Mar-28-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <MKD: Why Black didn't play 9...Bg5? He was winning a pawn!>

A strong rejoinder is 10.Nxe6.

Mar-29-16  nieslojnioum: MKD: 9...Bxg5 is not a good idea: the knight on d5 is too dangerous...
Apr-12-16  PJs Studio: 27.b3... Wow. Kind of a ballsy move(?) it's fine but seems like Karjakin may have had the move stuck in his head and spent time on the clock on its justification. NOT saying it's unsound but...wow. Ballsy
May-11-17  Saniyat24: Karjakin plays a bit like Karpov, no big fireworks, but methodical and solid...when on song he can restrict his opponent's movement...

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