chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Peter Leko vs Veselin Topalov
Dortmund Candidates (2002), Dortmund GER, rd 3, Jul-20
Sicilian Defense: Kan. Polugaevsky Variation (B42)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 69 more Leko/Topalov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: To flip the board (so black is on the bottom) press the "I" key on your keyboard.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-06-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: Topalov woke up from the dead! Leko only needed a draw to win the match (he was leading 2-0 with 2 games remaining), so after 19.e5 and the following exchanges he must have counted on 26...Kxb5 27.Nc7+ Kb6 28.Nxa8+ Ka7 29.Nc7 with a draw after 29...Kb6 30.Na8+ etc.

I don't understand Leko's 49.Kf1. Isn't something like 49.Bxf3 gxf3 50.Rxd5 exd5 51.b5 d4 52.Kf1 e3 53.fxe3 dxe3 a draw?

Oct-07-06  aw1988: No - Black would win.
Feb-18-20  qkxwsm: Wow, the winning idea in <TheAlchemist>'s line is actually pretty nice: instead of 53...dxe3, black plays 53...d3!, and after 54. Ke1 (forced) h5 white eventually falls into zugzwang.
Feb-18-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: The other point is that, in the continuation given by <qkxwsm>, White must, nolens volens, play fxe3, even if he does not go in for it straight away, as 53.Ke1 d3 forces 54.fxe3.
Mar-21-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: In Shirov-Agrest Leon 2001 Black played 9..Bb7 and White went on to win; 9..Bf6 was new. Leko must have felt pretty comfortable in the ending with connected passed pawns but Topalov was able to cleverly hold up the pawns while creating kingside counterplay. Leko perhaps should have made more of an effort to activate his king. 42 f3?..e3! 43 Rxf4..Rd1 44 Rb4+..Ka7 would have been winning for Black. A clever variation offered in British Chess Magazine was 49 Bxf3..gxf 50 Rxd4(50 h3..Rd1+ 51 Kh2..e3 and wins) 50..exd 51 b5..Ka7 52 Kf1..d4 53 Ke1..h5 54 Kd2..h4 55 Kd1(55 gxh..f4 wins easily) 55..e3 56 Ke1..d3 57 fxe..h3 and wins.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
Chesnutt's favorite games
by Chesnutt
Russian Game: Classical Attack. Jaenisch Variation (C42)
from Topalov! by larrewl
Kan. Polugaevsky Variation
from World Champion on Sicilians by Queens Gambit
Recent Sicilians, Kan
by AbhinavAsthana
Match Topalov!
by amadeus
Match Leko!
by amadeus
Sicillian Kan, 5.Bd3, B42
by Memethecat
Polugaevsky
from A A Anti-Sicilian.Najdorf (Kan) [Black] by chess.master
Sicilian Def: Kan. Polugaevsky Var (B42) 0-1 Notes by Stockfish
from Kan Do Attitude of Fredthebear &Friendz by fredthebear
Recent Sicilians, Kan
by Patca63
Kan Do Attitude of Fredthebear
by Patca63
Final Game 3 July 20
from Dortmund Candidates 2002 by Tabanus
Match Leko!
by docjan
Match Topalov!
by docjan

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC