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Veselin Topalov vs Garry Kasparov
PCA-GP Credit Suisse Rapid (1996) (rapid), Geneva SUI, rd 2, Aug-31
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. English Attack Anti-English (B90)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-07-04  yoozum: this is a prime example of a technical win by kasparov. basically, kasparov completely outcalculated topalov in the endgame.
Dec-08-04  drukenknight: Oh please. This is most elementary endgame pattern in chess and these are professionals, surely there must have been some egregious mistake. What if 63 Rg6?
Dec-08-04  who: <drukenknight> 63.Rg6 Ra5 64.Kg7 d2 65.Kf7 Rc5 66.Rd6 Kc1 67.a7 Rc7+ 68.Ke6 Rxa7 69.Rc6+ Kd1 70.Rd6 Ra2 71.Ke5 Kc1 72.Rc6+ Rc2 73.Ra6 D1=Q 74.Ra1+ Kd2 75.Rxd1+ Kxd1
May-31-06  spirit: who says this is <elementary> endgame???
Jan-16-07  aazqua: Fantastic stuff;. Love the way Kasparov elbows Topa's king completely out of the game at the end. Topa is a chump.
Dec-20-07  JamesBJames: 63... Rd6/Rf6 should both be completely drawn.
Apr-16-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <JamesBJames: 63... Rd6/Rf6 should both be completely drawn.> No, black is still won though the win would be less easy and not so quick. But 63...Ra3 64.Kg7 d2 65.Kf8 Rd3 is not so hard to find.

Topalov's decisive mistake was 54.Ra8. Instead of that 54.Ra7! with idea 54...Rg1+ 55.Kh4! d4 56.a5 d3 57.Rd7 Ke4 58.a6 Ra1 59.a7 would have saved draw for him. Already 51.Kf6 should lose the game but Gazza returned white the favour by playing 52...Rf1?! instead of accurate and winning 52...Rf8.

Apr-16-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <But 63...Ra3 64.Kg7 d2 65.Kf8 Rd3 is not so hard to find.> Of course, that is after 63.Rf6.
Sep-09-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  Clement Fraud: Topalov's play in this game is uncharacteristically passive?? 12.Rh4 seems silly since it places his Rook on a very vulnerable square; and once the Rook has to move, the g3 Bishop then becomes a target of black's KR Pawn. Also, 15.Nd5 can't possibly be right: 15.Bg4 Bg4 16.f3; or 15.Bg4 hg4 16.Rh8+ Bh8 17.O-O-O both seem better options for white (perhaps)?
Sep-09-17  Nerwal: <12.Rh4 seems silly since it places his Rook on a very vulnerable square; and once the Rook has to move, the g3 Bishop then becomes a target of black's KR Pawn. Also, 15.Nd5 can't possibly be right: >

This was all theory back then. Only 17. c3 was new.

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