Artur Yussupow:

Learn from the champions.
Problems of Calculations.

In this article I want to return to the World
Championship match in Elista between
Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov.
Everybody remembers it, because of the
controversy arround the match and the
acusations about the use of computers. But
the following game and the big mistakes
commited there just prove, that the players
were only human.

Topalov V. : Kramnik V.
WCC Match, Elista 2006

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Sc3 Sf6 4.Sf3 dc4 5.a4
Lf5 6.e3 e6 7.Lc4 Lb4 8.0–0 Sbd7
8...0–0.
9.De2 Lg6
9...0–0 10.e4 Lg6.
10.e4!? 0–0
10...Lc3 11.bc3 Se4 12.La3©.
11.Ld3 Lh5
11...Te8 ; 11...Da5.
12.e5
12.Lf4.
12...Sd5 13.Sd5
13.Se4.
13...cd5 14.De3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+n+pzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+l0
9Pvl-zP-+-+0
9+-+LwQN+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

14...Lg6

14...De7? 15.Sg5 h6 (15...Lg6 16.Lg6 fg6
17.Dh3) 16.Dh3! g6 17.g4! ; 14...h6
15.Se1! Lg6 a) 15...Le1 16.Dh3!?
(16.Te1˛) ; b) 15...f5 16.ef6 (16.Dg3; 16.f4
) 16...Df6 17.Lb5 Sb8 (17...Sb6 18.a5 Le8!
19.Le8 Sc4 20.Db3 Le1) 18.Sd3 a6 19.Sb4
ab5 20.a5 ; 16.Lg6 fg6 17.Sc2 La5
(17...Le7!? ) 18.Dd3 Kh7 19.f4 (19.b4!?˛)
19...a6˛; 14...Le7 15.Ld2 Lg6 16.Tfc1 Sb8
17.Lg6 fg6 18.b4 a6 19.Tab1 Dd7 20.Dc3
Sc6 21.b5±.
15.Sg5 Te8

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9zpp+n+pzpp0
9-+-+p+l+0
9+-+pzP-sN-0
9Pvl-zP-+-+0
9+-+LwQ-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

A useful move with an aim to protect the
king's side with Sf8.
16.f4
16.Lg6 fg6 17.a5 La5 (17...Sf8 18.a6 Db6
19.Dd3 Tac8 20.h4 Tc4 21.ab7 Db7
22.Ld2 ; 17...Tc8 ) 18.Df3 Te7?! 19.Se6!
Te6 20.Dd5+-.
16...Ld3
16...Tc8 17.g4 f6 (17...Ld3 18.Dd3 Sf8!? )
18.f5 ef5 19.gf5 Se5 20.Dh3‚; 16...Sf8
17.g4 (17.f5!? ef5 18.Lf5 f6 19.Db3÷)
17...Ld3 18.Dd3 Dc7 (18...Tc8!?).
17.Dd3 f5!?
It looks like black has solved his problems,
but Topalov finds some recources.
[17...Sf8 18.f5±.
18.Le3
18.Db5 a5 19.Db7?! h6 20.Sf3 Sb6 21.Dc6
Sc4 22.b3 Tc8 23.Da6 Tb8 (23...Ta8= )
24.bc4 Tb6 …25.Da7 Te7; 18.ef6 Sf6
19.Ld2 Ld2 20.Dd2 h6 21.Sf3 Se4; 18.g4
h6 19.Se6 Te6 20.gf5.
18...Sf8

Kramnik consolidates the positions on the
king's side and waits for the openent to
show his plans.
19.Kh1!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrsnk+0
9zpp+-+-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzPpsN-0
9Pvl-zP-zP-+0
9+-+QvL-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

White is preparing the opening of lines on
the king's side with g4.
19...Tc8?
19...Le7 20.Sf3 Tc8=.
20.g4!
White lookes for his chances for attack. If
20.Tg1 Le7 21.Sf3 Db6=.
20...Dd7!
A good defensive move. 20...fg4 21.f5 ef5
(21...Le7 22.Se6 Se6 23.fe6ƒ ) 22.Df5
(22.Tf5 ) 22...Dd7 23.e6 Te6˛ 24.Se6 De6
25.De6 Se6 26.Tf5˛; 20...g6 21.gf5 ef5
22.Db5 Da5 23.Db7 Tc7 24.Db5 Db5
25.ab5 Tb8 26.Tfc1; 20...h6 21.Se6 Te6
22.gf5 Tec6 23.Tg1.
21.Tg1
White keeps his options open on the king's
side. 21.gf5 ef5 22.Tg1 Le7 (22...Tc6
23.Tg2) 23.Sf3 Tc6 24.Tg2 Tg6=.
21...Le7 22.Sf3
22.Se6!? De6 (22...fg4 23.Sg7 Kg7 24.f5
h5 25.h3‚) 23.gf5 Da6 24.Dd2! (24.Da6
ba6 25.f6 Lf6 26.ef6 Te3 27.Tg7 Kh8
28.Tag1 Se6÷) 24...Ted8 25.Dg2! Dh6
26.Taf1.
22...Tc4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rsnk+0
9zpp+qvl-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzPp+-0
9P+rzP-zPP+0
9+-+QvLN+-0
9-zP-+-+-zP0
9tR-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy

23.Tg2!?
23.b3 Tc6 24.gf5 (24.Tg2 Tec8 25.Ld2 Sg6
26.Tag1 Tc2÷) 24...ef5 25.Tg2 Tec8
26.Tag1 Kh8 27.Tg7 Sg6.
23...fg4
23...Tec8!? 24.Tag1 Sg6 25.h4 Lf8 26.gf5
ef5 27.h5 Se7; 23...Sg6 24.h4 Lf8!?
24.Tg4 Ta4 25.Tag1 g6
25...Sg6 26.h4 Lf8 27.Sg5+-.
26.h4! Tb4! 27.h5 Db5 28.Dc2!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rsnk+0
9zpp+-vl-+p0
9-+-+p+p+0
9+q+pzP-+P0
9-tr-zP-zPR+0
9+-+-vLN+-0
9-zPQ+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy

28.Tg6 hg6 29.Tg6 Kf7–+.
28...Tb2
28...Tb3!? 29.hg6 h5 30.T4g2!? (30.g7 hg4
(30...Sd7 31.Dg6+-; 30...Sh7 31.Dg6+-)
31.gf8D Kf8 32.Dg6 Dd3! 33.Dh6 Kf7
34.Tg4 Tg8 35.Dh5 Kf8 36.Dh6= (36.Tg8
Kg8 37.De8 Lf8 38.De6 Kh8 39.Df6 Kg8=)
30...Dd3 (30...Te3 31.g7 Dd3 (31...Sh7
32.Dg6 Dd7 33.Dh5+-) 32.gf8D Kf8

33.Tg8

Kf7

34.T1g7#)

31.g7

Sd7

(ą31...Sh7!? 32.Dc7 Dc4 33.Dc4 dc4
34.Te2˛) 32.Dd3 Td3 33.Th2 (33.Te2 Sb6)
33...Kf7 (33...Te3 34.Th5 Kf7 35.Sh2!!+-
Tg8 36.Sg4 Tg7 37.Se3+-)34.Te2 (34.Th5
Tg8) 34...Kg8 (34...Tg8 35.f5! ef5 36.e6
Ke6 37.Lg5+-) 35.f5! (35.Tg6!? ) 35...ef5
36.Th2 Te3 (36...Kf7 37.Th5 Tg8 38.Tf5
Ke6 39.Tf4 ) 37.Th5 Kf7 38.Tf5 Ke6
(38...Kg8 39.Th5 Kf7 40.Sh2!+-) 39.Tf4±.
29.hg6!! h5!
29...Sg6? 30.Dg6!! (30.Tg6? Kh8! 31.Dd1
hg6–+) 30...hg6 31.Tg6 Kh7 32.T6g3 Lh4
(32...Lf8 33.Th3 Lh6 34.f5+-) 33.Th3+-;
29...Tc2? 30.gh7 Kh7 31.Tg7 Kh8 32.Tg8
Kh7 33.T1g7 Kh6 34.f5 Lg5 35.Tg5+- De2
(35...Df1 36.Sg1+- (36.Tg1 Kh7) ) 36.T5g6
Kh7 37.T6g7#.
30.g7! hg4!
30...Tc2? 31.gf8D Kf8 32.Tg8 Kf7
33.T1g7#; 30...Sd7? 31.Dg6+-; 30...Sh7?
31.Dg6 hg4 (31...Ld8 32.Dh5) 32.De6 Kg7
33.Dg4+-.
31.gf8D Lf8??

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rvlk+0
9zpp+-+-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+q+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-zPp+0
9+-+-vLN+-0
9-trQ+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy

31...Kf8! 32.Dg6 De2 33.Dg4 Lg5!!
34.Te1 (34.f5 Te7–+) 34...Dc2 35.fg5
(35.Dg5 Te7 36.Tc1 Th7 (36...Dh7
37.Kg1˛) 37.Kg1 Tg7 38.Tc2 Tc2µ )
35...Kg7 (35...Ke7) 36.Tc1 Th8 37.Kg1
Tb1 38.Tb1 Db1 39.Kf2 Tf8.
31...Tf8?? 32.Dg6 Kh8 33.Dh5 Kg8
34.Tg4+-.
32.Dg6??
One of the critical moments of the game.
In many lines white played Łg6, so

probably Topalov only thought about this
move, missing rather simple alternative. It
is important not to jump to the conclusions
and to keep an open mind! Two more
lessons for us amateurs:
1) always look at the checks,
2) world champions are also only human.
In fact Topalov has more than enough time
here. The right approach would be to
double check the lines to be sure, that he
doesn't miss a strong candidate move here.
Of course You may ask, how he should
know, that this was a decisive moment of
the game? My answer would be that such a
great attacking player should guess it! The
winning line is quite simple: 32.Tg4! Lg7
33.Dc7! Df1 34.Sg1+-.
32...Lg7 33.f5!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9zpp+-+-vl-0
9-+-+p+Q+0
9+q+pzPP+-0
9-+-zP-+p+0
9+-+-vLN+-0
9-tr-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy

Topalov continues his attack. If he wanted,
he could here or later make an easy draw:
33.Sg5 Te7 34.Dh7 Kf8 35.Dg6 De2
36.Sh7=.
33...Te7!
33...ef5 34.Lh6 Dd7 35.Sg5 Tb6 36.e6
Tee6 37.Dh7 Kf8 38.Dh8 Ke7 39.Dg7 Kd8
40.Sf7 Kc8 41.Tc1 Kb8 (41...Tbc6 42.Df8
Te8 43.Tc6 bc6 44.Sd6) 42.Lf4 Ka8
43.Sd6!!+-.
34.f6! De2! 35.Dg4 Tf7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9zpp+-+rvl-0
9-+-+pzP-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+Q+0
9+-+-vLN+-0
9-tr-+q+-+0
9+-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy

36.Tc1?
Generally the defence are profiting from
the exchange of pieces. Here white could
win again but with some very difficult
moves. I am quoting an exellent analyses
of Svidler again: 36.Dh5! a5 (36...De3
37.Sg5+-; 36...Tb3 37.Tg7 Tg7 38.fg7 Tb1
39.Lg1 Kg7 40.Dg5 Kh7 41.De7 Kh8
42.Df6 Kg8 43.De6 Kg7 44.Df6 Kg8
45.e6+- ) 37.Tg3! De3 38.fg7 Tb1 39.Kh2
Tb2 40.Kh3 Tg7 41.Sg5 Df4 42.De8 Df8
43.Df8 Kf8 44.Se6+- Kf7 45.Sg7 a4
46.Sf5+-; 36.Lh6 Tb3!=.
36...Tc2!
The only move again.
37.Tc2
37.Te1 Dd3 38.Dh5 De4 39.Lh6 Dh7
40.Tg1 Tc1! 41.Tc1 Dh6=.
37...Dd1
37...Dc2!? 38.Sg5.
38.Kg2 Dc2 39.Kg3
Even this position looks better for white. I
give here just a very condenced comments,
for more information look at Svidler
comments in internet.
39...De4
According to Svidler, white has good
chances to win after 39...Df5 40.Df5 ef5
41.Sg5 Tc7! 42.Kf4 Tc3! 43.Ld2 Td3
44.Le1!
40.Lf4?
40.De4 de4 41.Sg5 Td7
a) 41...Lf8 42.Se6 a5 (42...b5 43.Kf4!+-)
43.Sg5±;
b) 41...Lh6 42.Sf7 Le3 43.Sd8 a5 44.d5!+-

c) 41...Lf6 42.Sf7 Kf7 43.ef6 Kf6
44.Kf4+-; 42.fg7 a5 (42...Tg7 43.Kf4±)
43.Se6±.
40...Df5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9zpp+-+rvl-0
9-+-+pzP-+0
9+-+pzPq+-0
9-+-zP-vLQ+0
9+-+-+NmK-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Reaching a time control. Although white
still has initiative, also Black got some
trumps: his pawns can be very strong. Here
Topalov starts to lose the track. Perhaps it
was better for him to look for a draw
already. 40...a5!? 41.Sg5 Dd4 42.De6
(42.Sf7 Dg1 43.Kh3 Dg4 44.Kg4 Kf7
45.fg7

b5)

42...Dg1

43.Kh4

Dh1

(43...De1? 44.Kh5! Dh1 45.Kg6 Db1
46.Df5+-) 44.Kg4 Dd1 45.Sf3.
41.Df5?
41.Sg5 Tc7 42.Se6 Tc3 43.Kh4 Dh7
44.Kg5 Lh6 45.Kh5 Lg7=.
41...ef5 42.Lg5?
The wrong plan. The bishop takes knight
place. The knight was much more
dangerous on g5. Better was 42.Sg5 Tc7
43.Se6 (43.fg7 a5 44.e6 Tg7 45.Lc1
(45.Kh4!?)

45...b5

46.Kf4)

43...Tc3

44.Kh4 Lf6 45.ef6 Kf7 46.Sc7 Tc6 47.Le5
a5 48.Kg5 a4 49.Sb5 f4 50.Kf4 Ta6.
42...a5 43.Kf4 a4 44.Kf5 a3 45.Lc1
45.Sd2 a2 46.Sb3 Tc7.
45...Lf8!?
45...a2! 46.Lb2 Lf8 47.e6 Tc7 48.Sg5 Ld6
49.Kg6 Tc6–+.
46.e6
46.La3 La3 47.Ke6 b5 48.Kd5 b4 49.Sd2
Td7 50.Kc4 Lb2–+.
46...Tc7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-vlk+0
9+ptr-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-+p+K+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zp-+-+N+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-vL-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

47.La3
47.e7 Le7 48.fe7 Te7 49.La3 Te3–+.
47...La3 48.Ke5 Tc1
48...Tc3 49.Sg5 Tg3!?
49.Sg5
49.Kd5 Tf1 50.f7 Kg7–+.
49...Tf1
49...Tg1 50.Sf7 Tf1.
50.e7 Te1 51.Kd5 Le7 52.fe7 Te7 53.Kd6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+p+-tr-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Some commentators used a last version of
the tablebases and proved that this position
was winning for black but very difficult
way. I just will try to explain couple of
their conclusions. 53...Te1?
53...Te3! 54.d5 Kf8 55.Kd7 b5 56.Se6 Kg8
57.d6 b4 58.Sc5 Kf7! 59.Kc6 Tc3 60.Kb5
b3–+.
54.d5 Kf8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0
9+-+P+-sN-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tr-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

55.Se6?
55.Kd7! b5 56.Se6 Kg8 (56...Kf7 57.Sd8
Kf6 58.Sc6 Tb1 59.Kd6 b4 60.Kc5=) 57.d6
b4 58.Sc5= Kf7 (58...Te3 59.Kc6 Kf7
60.d7) 59.Kc6 Tc1 60.Kb5.
55...Ke8 56.Sc7 Kd8 57.Se6 Kc8 58.Ke7
Th1 59.Sg5
59.Kd6 Td1–+.
59...b5 60.d6 Td1 61.Se6 b4 62.Sc5 Te1
63.Kf6 Te3–+ 0:1.