1.e4 Ftacnik 1...c5
2.Cf3 d6 3.d4
cxd4 4.Cxd4 Cf6
5.Cc3 a6 6.Ae3
e5 7.Cb3 Ae6
8.f3 Cbd7 9.Dd2
b5 10.a4 b4
11.Cd5 Axd5
12.exd5 Cb6 13.Axb6
Dxb6 14.a5 Db7
15.Ac4 g6 16.Ta4
Tb8 17.Dd3 Ta8
18.Dd2 Tb8 19.Cc1 Ambitious
pl ay from Shirov, as White can choose to continue alternating his attack between the a6/b4 pawns, with
a draw.
19...h5 '!?' Ftacnik.
20.Cd3
Ah6
|
|
[20...Cxd5 Ftacnik 21.Axd5
|
| |
(21.Cxe5 dxe5
22.Axd5 Dd7
23.Ta1 Ac5 ) |
|
21...Dxd5 22.Cxb4
Db5 23.b3 ] |
21.De2 O-O 22.Cxb4 White
has won a pawn and looks to be winning another on a6. But practice shows that Black will gain dangerous
compensation on the dark squares, particularly on the kingside. White's king will have difficulty finding
a comfortable home.
22...Dd7!? 'N'
Ftacnik. The first new move of the game. Several top level clashes have seen 22...e4 recently, which
is also razor-sharp. Ftacnik: 'Kasparov is always very well prepared, but even he can not change the
verdict of the given position. Black is hopinhg the get sufficient counterplay for the fatally weak a6
pawn. '
23.Cc6
|
|
[23.b3 Ftacnik 23...Dxa4!?
|
| |
(23...e4 ) |
|
24.bxa4 Txb4
25.Ab3 Ta8 26.O-O Cd7] |
23...Txb2 24.O-O h4 '!'
Ftacnik.
|
|
[24...e4 Ftacnik] |
25.Ab3 Boxing in the rook and preparing
to swing the other rook over from a4, but now Kasparov begins his counterplay in earnest.
|
|
[25.Axa6? Ftacnik 25...Cxd5 ] |
25...h3 26.g3
e4! A thematic sacrifice to create weaknesses
in White's position. But if the counterplay peters out and Shirov can grab the a6 pawn, Black will be
lost.
27.fxe4 Ftacnik: 'The
choice in the future will probably be more ambitious approach with 27.f4!? '
|
|
[27.f4!? Ftacnik 27...Te8
28.Dxa6 Ag7
29.De2 ] |
27...Dg4! '!?' Ftacnik.
|
|
[27...Cg4!? Ftacnik 28.e5!
Ae3+ 29.Rh1
Cf2+! 30.Rg1!
|
| |
(30.Txf2 Axf2
31.Ta1 Ac5
32.Dxa6 dxe5)] |
28.Dd3 '!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Shirov
is careful and avoids devilish traps after alternative moves.'
|
|
[28.Dxg4 Ae3+!
29.Rh1 Cxg4 and
with Ng4-f2+ to follow, Black will have at least a draw.] |
|
|
|
[28.De1 Ftacnik 28...Tb1!!
29.Dxb1 Ae3+
30.Tf2 Df3
31.Df1 Cg4] |
|
|
|
[28.Dxa6? Ftacnik 28...Ae3+
29.Rh1 Tb1!
30.Txb1 Df3#] |
28...Dg5 29.e5!? '!'
Ftacnik.
29...dxe5 30.Th4
|
|
[30.d6 Ftacnik 30...e4
31.Dd4 De3+
|
| |
(31...Cg4!?) |
|
|
| |
(31...Ag7!?) |
|
32.Dxe3 Axe3+
33.Rh1 Cg4
34.Taa1
|
| |
(34.d7? Cf2+
35.Rg1 Cd1+
36.Rh1 Tb1!!) |
|
34...Cf2+ 35.Rg1
|
| |
(35.Txf2 Axf2
36.d7 e3 ) |
|
35...Cd3+ 36.Rh1
Cf2+] |
|
30...e4 31.Dd4
|
|
[31.Txe4 Ftacnik 31...Cxe4
32.Dxe4 De3+] |
|
|
|
[31.Dd1!? Ftacnik] |
|
31...Cg4
|
|
[31...De3+ Ftacnik 32.Dxe3
Axe3+ 33.Rh1
Ad2!
|
| |
(33...Rg7 34.Ce5
g5 35.Txh3
g4 36.Th4
Ag5 37.Txg4
Cxg4 38.Cxg4) |
|
34.d6 Rg7
|
| |
(34...e3 35.Ac4
Rg7 36.Axa6) |
|
35.g4 e3
36.g5 Ch7
37.Cd4 Cxg5] |
32.Txh6 '!' Ftacnik. Simplifying
to a draw by perpetual. Ftacnik: 'Kasparov has a magical ability to create very original and dangerous
tactical fireworks on the board. The very tempting 32. Ne7+ might have ended tragicaly for white.'
|
|
[An incredible variation given by Jon Speelman goes
32.Ce7+
Rh7! 33.Dxe4
Dxh4!! 34.Txf7+
|
| |
(34.gxh4 Ftacnik 34...Ae3+
35.Dxe3 Cxe3
36.Tc1 Tb8) |
|
34...Rh8! 35.Cxg6+
|
| |
(35.Dd4+ Ftacnik 35...Df6!!
36.Txf6 (36.Dxf6+
Cxf6 37.Cxg6+
Rg8 38.Txf8+
Axf8) 36...Txf6) |
|
35...Rg8 36.d6
Tb1+ 37.Tf1+
Rg7 38.Txb1
Dg5 and Black is winning.
39.Cf4 Ftacnik 39...Dc5+] |
|
|
|
[32.Te1 Ftacnik 32...De3+!!
33.Dxe3 Axe3+
34.Rh1 Cf2+
35.Rg1 Cd3+
36.Rf1 Cxe1
37.Rxe1 Tb1+ ] |
32...Cxh6 '!' Ftacnik.
|
|
[32...Dxh6 '?' Ftacnik.
33.d6! rather
than 33.Qxb2 Qe3+, leaves Black with problems stopping the advance of the d-pawn.
33...De3+ Ftacnik 34.Dxe3
Cxe3 35.Tc1] |
|
33.Dxb2
|
|
[Here 33.d6 Txb3!
|
| |
(33...Cf5 Ftacnik 34.Dxb2
Cxg3! 35.Axf7+
Rh7 36.Ag8+
Txg8 37.Tf7+
Rh6) |
|
34.cxb3 Cf5 gives
Black enough play.] |
|
33...De3+ 34.Tf2
|
|
[34.Rh1? Ftacnik 34...De2] |
|
34...De1+
|
|
[34...Cg4 was possible, but after
35.Dd4
|
| |
(35.c3 Ftacnik 35...Cxf2
36.Dxf2 Dxc3
37.Ad1) |
|
35...De1+ '=' Ftacnik.
36.Tf1
De2 37.Tf2 Black
would risk a lot in playing on with 37...Nxf2] |
35.Tf1 De3+
1/2-1/2 |