GM Ruslan Ponomariov Vs GM Boris Gelfand 1/2-1/2
All the previous classic games between these two players ended with a draw. Ponomariov is one of the most successful knockout system players: he won the World Championship in 2001-2002 and played World Cup final against Aronian in 2005. Commentary by GM Valeriy Aveskulov
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 Petrov's defence. There is no big surprise from Gelfand. But what has Ponomariov prepared for the decisive match? Both played this position many times before.
7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 18 games for Gelfand with 10...Bf5. It will be difficult for Ponomariov to surprise his opponent - just once he played this position, in 1998!
11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 13.cd Qxd5 14. Bf4 Na5 15. Bxc7 etc, Ponomariov-Sulypa, Donetsk, 1998
13... Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 h6 17.Qc1 Akopian played this move against Kasimdzhanov (Jermuk, 2009). Queen goes to b2, attacking on b7 and supporting Bb5 in some moments. Also rooks are being connected. 17...Bf6 18. Qb2 Na5 19. Be5 Qd8 20. Rad1 and white is better - this is how a mentioned game was continued. Square d2 could be useful for the knight probably (Nd2, Bf3). c1 square is definitely useful for Queen only.
Gelfand knows about Akopian's move. I think he is recollecting his analysis right now.
17... Bf6 18.Qb2 Na5 Knight is going to c4 and sometime opponents prevent it masterfully. Many variation are hidden during the game... we just see the moves that are being played and sometime we are not able (without a deep analysis) to realize why some was played...
In this case Na5 was necessary cause b7 was hanging...So the players still follow the game Akopian-Kasimdzhanov, Jermuk, 2009.
19.Be5 19...Bxe5 20. Nxe5 c5 is possible...decreasing the pressure
19... Bxe5 20.Nxe5 c5 20...c5 21.Qb5 b6 22.Rad1 Bc2! 23. Rc1 (23.Rd2 is bad because of 23...Rxe5) 23...Be4 and Black is fine.
Black is supposed to be ok. All the pieces are developed. No pawn problems. Lines are being opened up.
Probably 21.Bf3 (pushing black queen away from the center) Qb3 22.Qd2 could give White something.
It is strange that Ponomariov started thinking so early. 19...Be5 and 20...c5 were the main line (not considering Kasimdzhanov's Qd8)
21.Bf3 I don't see a reason to put the queen on d8. So, Qb3 or Qd6 - let's wait and see what Gelfand does think about this. (21.Qb5 b6 22.Rad1 Bc2 23.Rc1 Be4) and Black is fine.
21... Qd6 22.Rad1 (22.Bxb7 Rb8 23.Qa2 Rxb7 24.Nxf7 Rxe1 25.Rxe1) and White is better I guess. But Black can play 23...Be6 and after 24.d5 reply with 24...Bxh3.
22...f6 looks attractive now. To push Ne5 back and to take the control over c4 square. But in the same time this is a weakness for the future, white plays 23.Ng4 (knight goes to e3) and Black has some problems.
22...b6 is an option for sure. A possible line is 22...b6 23.Qa2 Be6 24.d5 Bxh3! 25.Nxf7! Kxf7 26.gxh3 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rxe8 Kxe8 and Black is ok. In the final position Q+N is not worse than Q+B (especially with a pawn on d5 that restricts White bishop).
22... b6 It seems that White has a choice between the more aggressive Qa2 and more positional Qb5 increasing the pressure.
23.Qa2 (23.Qb5 Bc2 24.Rd2 Bb3) with a normal position.
23... Be6 Now 24.d5 is the only logical.
24.d5 Probably Ponomariov wants to look for an advantage in the line 24...Bxh3 25.Nxf7 Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Kxf7 27.gxh3 Re8 28.Be4!?
After 24...Bf5 25.Nc6 Nxc6 26.dxc6 this pawn can be dangerous (there is no way to take it off)
I guess, a capturing on h3 is the best move.
There is a good chance to bring the knight to d6 (in the end of variation) and to get a comfortable position. We remember that Bf3 is restricted with its own pawn d5.
24... Bxh3 25.Nxf7 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Kxf7 27.gxh3 Re8 28.Be4 and then Qe2-a6 somewhere. Example 28.Be4 Re5 29.Qe2 (with idea Bg6) Kf8 30.Qa6.
28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Qe2+ White has some time while black knight is coming back. He can bring the bishop to e6 at some moment.
29... Kd8 30.Qa6 I guess Black can play...30...Qg6 31.Bg2 Qb1 32.Kh2 Qc1 33.Qa7 Qf4 34.Kg1 Qc1 35.Bf1 (the only way to escape perpetual) Qg5 36.Kh2 Qe5 37.Kh1 Qd5 38.Bg2 Qd1 39.Kh2 Qd6 40.Kg1 Qf6 defending both b6 and g7. White can do nothing to get more pressure.
30... Qg6+ Perpetual is coming.
31.Bg2 Qb1+ 32.Kh2 Qf5 33.Qxa7 Qf4+ 34.Kg1 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Qf4+ 36.Kg1 Qc1+ 37.Kh2 1/2-1/2
Rules for Round 7 Final in the World Cup 2009 Event.
The time control shall be 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one.
If the scores are level after the regular games, after a new drawing of colours, two tie break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes on the clock for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move. If the scores are level after the games in paragraph 3. 8. 1, then, after a new drawing of colours, 2 five-minute games shall be played with the addition of 10 seconds after each move.
If the score is still level, the players shall play one decisive sudden death game. The player, who wins the drawing of lots, may choose the colour. White shall receive 6 minutes, Black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared as winner. (Often referred to in chess parlance as an Armageddon game).
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