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Anatoly Karpov vs Veselin Topalov
FIDE GP (2002) (rapid), Dubai UAE, rd 4, Apr-07
Benko Gambit: Declined. Main Line (A57)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Oct-29-04  ReikiMaster: Wow! A 17-move winning combination with multiple sacrifices!
Oct-29-04  skakmiv: I wonder if it was correct? And what about the line Karpov played? Is it the refutation of the Benko gambit?
Oct-22-05  alexandrovm: this is a memorable and great game by both players, in the Benko Gambit line...
Oct-22-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Open Defence: The final position is one to be seen .. the King at g4
Jun-17-06  Confuse: hm, im not sure i understand the ending. what if topalov goes 31. Qh6?
Jun-17-06  KingG: <Confuse> 31...Qh6 32.Rxe5
Jun-17-06  Confuse: doh. thanks <KingG> : P
Jul-27-06  woodenbishop: Even at the age of 51, Karpov plays beautifully against the strong soon-to-be FIDE World Chess Champion, Topalov.
Jun-29-07  ganstaman: <Confuse: hm, im not sure i understand the ending.> I'm not sure I understand any of the game. They kept playing the moves I least expected.
Jun-29-07  Kublo: authum.
Jun-29-07  newton296: <confuse> If 31...Qh6? then karpov wins with the simple RxB 32)...QXQ 33) NxQ+ and karpov is up a piece and winning a pawn next move to boot. This game is amazing and shows u that karpov can accomodate any style of play. karpov goes tactical and comes up with one shocking move after another. Karpov was feeling it!!
Jun-29-07  newton296: both players came up with shocking moves to be fair!
Jun-29-07  newton296: Is there any doubt after seeing this game that karpov would have pounded fisher in 72? NOT !!
Jun-29-07  newton296: fisher new that it was smart to quit when your ahead. So he didn't give karpov the chance to dethrone him.
Jul-13-07  M.D. Wilson: In '72, no. In '75, maybe. In '78, yes.
Apr-19-08  deadlyduck: What would the sequence be for Karpov if Topalov had played 17.. Bxa1? I can vaguely see the idea of 18. gf, intending Rg1 then Rg4 then Rf4 etc but surely there must be a defence for Topalov?
May-13-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Cinco: <M.D. Wilson: In '72, no. In '75, maybe. In '78, yes.> Agreed.

But the real question isn't who would have won between Fischer and Karpov. Instead, ask: how much better would Karpov have been (win or lose) after having played Fischer for the world title? It's a shame the chess world never got to see it happen.

Jan-07-09  M.D. Wilson: <Cinco> <But the real question isn't who would have won between Fischer and Karpov. Instead, ask: how much better would Karpov have been (win or lose) after having played Fischer for the world title? It's a shame the chess world never got to see it happen.> I agree with that position. Spassky also said as much. Karpov said he felt like a child about to grasp a new toy, when, suddenly, the toy is taken away. I see no reason why Karpov could not have grown stronger from these encounters, win lose or draw. The 40 free chess lessons Karpov gave Kasparov in 1984 only increased the latter's strength. Look how Botvinnik learnt from his title loses against Smyslov and Tal. Spassky gained in strength after his match with Petrosian in 1966, only to come back and claim the title on the second attempt. Iron sharpens iron, as they say.
Jan-07-09  Lt.Surena: White's pawn to e3 is the sharpest response to Benko in several variations of the gambit. 22.Rxd5!! is a crushing blow to Black's control of center squares. Excellent game by Karpov.
Feb-13-09  KERESOV: 31... Qh6 32. Rxe5 Qxh7 33. Nxh7+ and White will gobble all Black's pawns. A fantastic game of Karpov ! probably one of his best attacking effort in recent years.
Aug-11-09  WhiteRook48: Karpov still has the attack
Jan-25-10  Meisner: Rybka3 says Topalov was winning at move 16. Then he blundered the game away on moves 17 and 18.
May-14-12  yiotta: What a fight! It seemed they were both lost at all times. This is the chess!
Jul-13-14  Travis Bickle: What an attacking game!!
Aug-22-14  johnkr: Agree DeadlyDuck-- my nose felt funny around move 17 h4!? I thought, does White have a good move here, 17...Bh1 just grabbing tons of material. I try to look at 18 gxf3. After a while I could not see any good White attack, so I checked Fritz. Fritz just gives position after 17 h4 as for Black, giving 17 h4 Bxh1 18 gxf3 Ke7 as winning. But maybe there is something deepeer, I don't know. Too bad if Topalov achieved a winning position vs. Karpov WITH THE BENKO and he missed a win. Most likely he calculated that his ... Rf5 was winning too but seems it was not!
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