[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Re1
c6 9. Ba4 Bb6 10. d4 Ng6 11. h3 exd4 $146 {This seems an important novelty and
looks to equalise for black.} (11... Re8 12. Bc2 Bc7 13. Nf1 d5 14. exd5 e4 15.
d6 Qxd6 16. N3d2 Bf5 17. Nc4 Qd7 18. Bg5 Nd5 19. Ng3 Be6 20. Bxe4 Nxc3 21. bxc3
Bxc4 22. Qf3 Qd6 23. a4 Bd5 24. Bd2 Nf8 25. Rab1 b6 26. Qg4 Nd7 27. Bd3 g6 28.
Qh4 f5 29. c4 Bf7 30. Bc3 Qf6 31. Qxf6 Nxf6 32. d5 Nd7 33. dxc6 Nc5 34. Bc2
Bxc4 35. Rbd1 Rxe1+ 36. Rxe1 Kf7 37. Nf1 Bd5 38. Ne3 Bxc6 39. a5 Be4 40. g4
Bxc2 41. Nxc2 {Robson,R (2628)-Dominguez Perez,L (2757) St Louis 2014 0-1 (65)}
) 12. cxd4 d5 {"I can chicken out here and play something like 13.Bc2 but this
is not why we play this line." - Svidler said this was an unpleasant situation
for him and that the 40 minutes he used here wasn't a personal lifetime record
but was probably a record for the millennia.} 13. e5 (13. Bc2 {recognising
white not be better at all might indeed be the best move here.}) 13... Nh5 14.
Nf1 (14. Bc2) 14... Nhf4 15. Bc2 $6 {As a result of the game the preliminary
assessment is that this is an error but this was very difficult for Svidler to
get right.} (15. Bxf4 Nxf4 16. Qd2 Ne6 17. Bc2 $6 (17. Qc3 f6 18. Bc2 fxe5 19.
Rxe5) 17... f6 (17... f5 $6 18. Ng3 g6 19. Ne2 {doesn't seem as accurate for
black but was a line Svidler feared at the board.}) 18. Ng3 fxe5 (18... g6 {
Svidler when white doesn't have "any squares" may also be good.}) 19. Rxe5 Rxf3
$1 20. gxf3 Nxd4) 15... f6 {"Very, very critical, if I don't have what I
played in the game then I'm probably in trouble." Svidler.} 16. Ng3 fxe5 17.
Bxg6 {Svidler decided that the hope of landing a bishop on e5 meant he had to
give up the light square bishop rather than the dark squared one.} (17. Nxe5
Nxe5 (17... Qf6 $5) 18. Bxf4 (18. Rxe5 Qh4 19. Be3 g6 20. Qd2 Bd7 21. Re1)
18... Rxf4 19. Rxe5 {"and I couldn't persuade myself to believe this position.
" Svidler.} g6 {black seems better.} (19... Bxd4 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Re2 {"and
the game continues" Svidler. "If I miss something here I'm going to get killed.
"})) 17... Nxg6 18. Bg5 {White needs this bishop developed. Svidler said he
felt he was operating on "only moves" at the moment and "que sera, sera".} (18.
Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Qf6 20. Be3 Bc7 {"and I simply cannot do this." Svidler.})
18... Qc7 {Anand's move seems the best and most likely to give an advantage.} (
18... Qd6 19. Nxe5 $2 (19. dxe5 {"And this becomes a huge mess." Svidler.
Although black still remains better according to Houdini. "I wouldn't be
surprised if someone told me black was better here." Svidler who admitted he
had no idea what was going on.} Qc5 20. Be3 Qe7 21. Rc1 (21. a3)) 19... h6 20.
Nxg6 Qxg6 21. Be7 Rf7) 19. Nxe5 (19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Rxf3 21. Re7 Bxf2+ 22.
Kh1 Qxg3 23. Qxf3 Qxf3 24. gxf3 h6 {is a more or less forcing line.}) 19...
Nxe5 20. Rxe5 {This is the most critical position in the game.} h6 $6 {This
move also seems promising and most probably seemed safer to Anand but in the
final analysis is weaker than Rxf2.} (20... Rxf2 21. Re8+ Rf8 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8
23. Qh5 (23. Kh2 {seems the best white can manage but black is winning. The
problem is that white has pinned his own knight so it can't join the attack.})
(23. Qe2 Bd7 (23... Bxd4+ 24. Kh1 Bd7 (24... Qe5 $2 25. Qf1+ Kg8 26. Re1 {and
suddenly it is white who wins.}) 25. Qe7+ Kg8 26. Rf1 Qc8 27. Ne2 Bxb2)) 23...
Bxd4+ 24. Kh1 (24. Kh2 g6 25. Qh6+ Qg7 (25... Kg8) (25... Bg7 $2 26. Qxh7))
24... Qxg3 {Svidler realised black is winning by simply taking the knight
which he thought was a hugely important line.} (24... g6 {was the line Anand
spent his time on.} 25. Qh4 Be5 26. Re1 (26. Bh6+ Kg8 27. Re1 Be6 (27... Bxg3
28. Re8+ Kf7 29. Rf8+ Ke6 30. Qf6+ Kd7 31. Rh8 Bd6 32. Rxh7+ Ke8 33. Qh8+ Bf8
34. Qxf8#)) (26. Nh5 gxh5 27. Bh6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Re1 Bf5 {"then toss my
bishop somewhere" Anand who needs to break the back-rank.} 30. Qxf5 Bxb2 {and
black has a lot of pawns although he still has to take care of his king.})
26... Be6)) 21. Bh4 Qf7 (21... g5 $2 {"I wanted to play g5 and just take the
draw." Anand, but in fact it not only isn't a draw, it's a loss for him.} 22.
Bxg5 hxg5 {"I know I'm not worse here which is a huge improvement." Svidler.}
23. Qd2 $1 {and suddenly it is white who is winning.} (23. Qh5 {Anand is just
equal after:} Qh7 (23... Bxd4 24. Rxg5+ Bg7 25. Qh6 {Anand} Qe7 {only move.}
26. Nh5 Rf7 27. Rd1 Bf5 28. Nxg7 Rxg7 29. Rxf5 Qe4 30. Rg5 Rxg5 31. Qxg5+ Kf7 {
and only white is playing for a win.}) 24. Rxg5+ Kh8 25. Qe2 Qf7 26. Rh5+ Kg7
27. Rg5+ Kh6 28. Rh5+ Kg7 29. Rg5+)) (21... Rxf2 22. Re7 Qf4 $2 (22... Qd6 23.
Re8+ Kf7 24. Re7+ Kg8 25. Kxf2 Qf4+ 26. Qf3 Bxd4+ 27. Kf1 Qxf3+ 28. gxf3 g5 29.
Re8+ Kh7 30. Nf5 Bxb2 31. Rae1 gxh4 {and white is on top.}) 23. Rxg7+ {Svidler
and Anand saw this.} (23. Re8+ $1 Kh7 (23... Kf7 24. Qh5+ g6 25. Re7+ Kf8 26.
Qxg6 {also wins.}) 24. Qb1+ Bf5 25. Nxf5 Rxg2+ 26. Kxg2 Rxe8 27. Nd6+ Kh8 28.
Nxe8 {wins.}) 23... Kh8 24. Qd3 Bf5 25. Qxf5 Qxf5 26. Nxf5 Rxf5 27. Rxb7 $11)
22. Nh5 {"I was momentarily very, very optimistic." Svidler.} Be6 (22... g5 23.
Bxg5 Qxf2+ (23... hxg5 24. Rxg5+ Kh7 (24... Kh8 25. Nf6 $1 Bd8 26. Rh5+ Kg7 27.
Rh7+ Kxf6 28. Qf3+ Bf5 29. Rxf7+ Rxf7 30. g4) 25. Rg7+ Qxg7 26. Nxg7 Kxg7 27.
Qh5 {is probably equal.} (27. Qd2 {"and I have so many pawns on the kingside I
should never be worse here." Svidler.})) 24. Kh1 hxg5 (24... Bxh3 25. gxh3 Rf3
26. Nf4 $1 (26. Re3 $1 {Svidler.} Rxe3 27. Bxe3 Qxe3 28. Qg4+ Qg5 29. Qe6+ Kh8
30. Rg1 {wins for white.})) 25. Rxg5+ Kf7 26. Qd3 {and in practice you'd want
to avoid this as black even if Houdini thinks black is better.}) 23. Re3 {"My
next move was a bit of a blunder but I'm not sure I have anything better"
Svidler. "If not for 23...Bd8 I'm much better here." was Svidler's
over-optimistic assessmement here.} (23. Qe2 $6 Rfe8 24. Re1 Ba5 (24... Bd7 25.
Qd1 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Re8 27. Bg3 Bd8 28. a3 Bg5 29. Qe2) 25. Rf1 Bf5) (23. a4 Rae8
24. Bg3 g6 25. Nf4 Bc7) 23... Bd8 $5 (23... g5 {I don't understand the line
but Houdini claims black is a bit better here.} 24. Bg3 Bd7 25. Rf3 Bf5 26. Bd6
Qxh5) 24. Rf3 {Only move so Svidler plays it.} (24. Bg3 Bg5 25. Rb3 (25. Rf3
Bf5 (25... Qg6 26. Nf4 $1 {and white is a bit better.})) 25... Rae8 {and black
is a bit better.} (25... g6 26. h4 $1 Bd8 (26... gxh5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Qd2 {
and white is much better.}) 27. Nf4 Bxh4 28. Bxh4 Qxf4 29. Bg3 Qf7 30. Rc1))
24... Qxf3 25. gxf3 Bxh4 26. Kg2 {"Unless I have something immediate maybe I
don't have anything." Anand. "I was briefly optimistic but then I couldn't
really see a plan because in every line somehow the queen gets out." Anand. "I
started off thinking I'm slightly worse and then asked myself "Why?"" -
Svidler.} Rf7 27. Rc1 Raf8 28. Rc3 {Anand thought he might have an advantage
here but he doesn't.} Bg5 29. Ng3 Re7 30. b4 a6 31. a4 {"I offered a draw here
because I felt I should be fine and I still think I am." Svidler.} Bd7 32. Qb3
Kh8 33. b5 cxb5 34. axb5 Bxb5 35. Qxd5 {The activity of white's pieces
guarantee him at least the draw. His knight now is threatening to enter the
game.} Rd7 36. Qe4 (36. Qe6 Rxd4 37. Rc8 Rdd8 38. Rxd8 Bxd8 39. Nf5 Bf6 40. Ne7
Re8 41. Ng6+ Kh7 42. Qf7 Rd8 43. Nf8+ Kh8 44. Ng6+ $11) 36... Bc6 (36... Rfd8
37. Rc5) 37. Rxc6 bxc6 38. Qxc6 Rxd4 {And white removes the last pawn after
which neither side can make any progress at all.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 {Prepared by Andreikin for his game
against Kramnik in Dortmund last year.} h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nbd2 ({Relevant:} 6.
Nc3 Bb4 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 Qd8 9. a3 Be7 10. Qc2 a6 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13.
Ba2 Bd6 14. Bb1 g6 15. h4 f5 16. h5 g5 17. Ba2 Nb6 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qe8
20. Ne2 c6 21. f4 Nd5 22. Qd2 Bd7 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. e4 f4 25. exd5 exd5 26. Qd4
Rf5 27. Kd2 Qe6 28. Rce1 Re8 29. Nc3 Rxe5 30. h6 Qf6 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Qxe5
Rxe5 33. Bb1 c5 34. Re1 Rxe1 35. Kxe1 Bc6 {Melkumyan,H (2630)-Lenic,L (2651)
Austria 2014 1-0}) 6... Be7 {Developing and more logical than Kramnik's g6
according to Andreikin.} (6... g6 7. Qb3 dxc4 8. Qxc4 Qe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. e4 Bg7
11. e5 O-O 12. Bd3 b6 13. O-O Rd8 14. Qb3 Bb7 15. Be4 Rd7 16. Rfd1 c5 17. dxc5
bxc5 18. Qa4 Rd8 19. Nb3 Na6 20. Rd6 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Rxd6 22. exd6 Qf8 23. Qb7
Nb4 24. d7 Nd3 25. Rd1 c4 26. Na5 Rd8 27. Nc6 Qc5 28. Nxd8 Qxf2+ 29. Kh1 Bd4
30. h3 Qe3 31. Nxf7 Bb6 32. N7e5 Nf2+ 33. Kh2 Nxd1 {1-0 (33) Andreikin,D (2727)
-Kramnik,V (2784) Dortmund GER 2013}) 7. Qc2 $146 ({Predecessor (6):} 7. a3 c5
8. e4 cxd4 9. cxd5 exd5 10. exd5 O-O 11. Ne4 Qf4 12. Qxd4 Re8 13. Be2 Bxa3 14.
Rxa3 Rxe4 15. Qd2 Nd7 16. Qxf4 Rxf4 17. O-O Rb4 18. b3 Nf6 19. Rd1 Bf5 20. Nd4
Be4 21. d6 a6 22. Bf3 Rd8 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Nf5 Rb5 25. f3 Nc3 26. Ne7+ Kf8 27.
Rd3 Ne2+ 28. Kf2 Nc1 29. Rd1 Nxb3 30. g4 g6 31. h4 Nc5 32. Rc3 Ne6 33. Re3 Kg7
34. Kg3 Rb6 35. Red3 a5 36. h5 a4 {Ivanchuk,V (2703)-Karjakin,S (2717) Jermuk
2009 1/2-1/2 (82)}) 7... O-O 8. e3 c5 9. dxc5 Nd7 (9... Na6 $5 10. cxd5 exd5 (
10... Nxc5 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Bc4 Bf5) 11. Nb3 (11. Bxa6 Qxa6 12. Nd4 {is about
equal.}) 11... Bf5 {is already possible.}) 10. cxd5 {"Black has no special
problems here." Andreikin.} exd5 {The first key moment according to Andreikin.}
(10... Nxc5 {"Safer for black. White has an extra pawn but black has enough
compensation." Andreikin.} 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Bc4 Rac8 $5 (12... Bf5 {according
to Houdini gives black the chance of an advantage.} 13. e4 {according to
Houdini gives black the chance of an advantage.} Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Qg6 15. Bd5 Rfd8
16. Bxb7 Qxg2) 13. Bxe6 Nxe6 14. Qb1) 11. Nb3 a5 12. a4 b6 13. c6 {"This
variation is more complex [than 10...Nc5 discussed in the last note]. White
can't castle but has kept a dangerous passed pawn on c6.} Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Nc5 15.
Nbd4 Ne4 {Topalov said that this position was already easier to play for white
because it's clear what he has to do but for black he really has to decide on
the correct plan around here.} (15... Re8) (15... g5 {Topalov suggested that
if he has to play g5 then now might be the moment.} 16. h3) 16. Bb5 {"I
thought black should be fine with the Kd1, just good for me but it's not so
simple. I underestimated the plan of the King slowly going to a2. In fact
white is solid and it's not too easy to make counterplay." - Topalov.} (16. Kc1
{is also possible straight away.}) 16... g5 $2 {"16...g5 is not a very good
move." Andreikin. White has kept his extra pawn and black has to decide where
his compensation is going to come from.} (16... Bf5 17. Nxf5 Qxf5 18. Kc1 Rac8
19. Rg1) 17. h3 h5 18. Kc1 $1 Bc5 (18... g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. Kb1 $1 {and
black can't take the knight.} gxf3 21. gxf3 Ng5 22. f4 Ne4 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. f3
Nd2+ 25. Ka2 Rg8 26. Rxg8+ Kxg8 27. Rg1+ Kf8 28. Qh7) 19. Kb1 Re8 20. Ka2 Ra7
21. Rad1 Kf8 22. Rhf1 Kg7 23. Ka1 {Now Andreikin goes about realising his
winning advantage. He does this extremely quickly.} Bf8 $2 (23... h4) 24. Ne2
$1 Rd8 (24... Qd8 25. Bc4 $1) 25. h4 g4 26. Nf4 $1 Kg8 (26... Qf5 27. Bd3 Be7
28. c7 Rd7 29. Nd4 Qh7 30. Nxd5 Rxd5 31. Bxe4) 27. Nxd5 {Complete domination.}
1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Karjakin admitted that this isn't the
most ambitious line against the Berlin.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Nbd2 ({
Relevant:} 7. b4 Bb6 8. Bc4 d6 9. a4 a6 10. Qb3 Qe7 11. a5 Ba7 12. Be3 Be6 13.
Nbd2 h6 14. Bxa7 Nxa7 15. Rfe1 Rad8 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. c4 Nc6 18. b5 Ne7 19. d4
exd4 20. Nxd4 Qd7 21. Rab1 Ra8 22. Qc3 c6 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. c5 dxc5 25. N4b3
Rab8 26. Nxc5 Qa7 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. Ndb3 Nd7 29. Nxd7 Qxd7 30. h3 Qd6 31. Re3
Ng6 32. g3 h5 33. Nd4 Ne5 34. Kg2 Qb4 35. Nxc6 Nxc6 36. Qxc6 Qxa5 {Kryvoruchko,
Y (2696)-Harikrishna,P (2709) Germany 2014 1/2-1/2}) 7... a6 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9.
Nc4 Nd7 10. b4 Bd6 11. Qb3 $146 ({Predecessor (4):} 11. Bg5 f6 12. Be3 Nf8 13.
Nfd2 Be6 14. Nb3 Qd7 15. Qe2 Ng6 16. Rfd1 Bf8 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 f5 19. f3
Bxc4 20. dxc4 Qe6 21. exf5 Qxf5 22. Qd3 e4 23. Qd7 Nh4 24. Bf2 Qg5 25. Bxh4
Qxh4 26. fxe4 Qxe4 27. Qd4 Qe7 28. h3 Rad8 29. Qf2 Rf8 30. Rxd8 Qxd8 31. Qd4
Qxd4+ 32. cxd4 Rd8 33. Rd1 b6 34. cxb6 cxb6 35. Kf2 Kf7 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. a4 b5
38. Kd3 bxa4 39. Ra1 a5 40. Rxa4 Ra8 {Rublevsky,S (2693)-Kurnosov,I (2660)
Eilat 2012 1/2-1/2}) 11... Nf8 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. Be3 Ng6 14. Nfd2 Bf8 15. d4 Qe7
{"This is maybe the critical moment of all the game, maybe ." Karjakin.} 16.
dxe5 $6 {This might not objectively be bad for white but he didn't enjoy the
resulting position very much.} (16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. f4 Qe6 19. f5
Qxb3 20. axb3 b6 {"this endgame is probably balanced and white is not worse
for sure and it could be another game." Karjakin.}) 16... Be6 {"After 16...Be6
it is already unpleasant, probably with some precise moves white is not worse
but ...." - Karjakin.} 17. Qc2 Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Nxe5 19. Nd2 a5 20. a3 axb4 21.
axb4 Qe6 22. f3 (22. Bd4 Nc4 23. Nxc4 Qxc4 24. Qd2 c5 25. bxc5 Bxc5 26. Bxc5
Qxc5 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. g3 c6 {leaves black a bit better.}) 22... Nc4 23. Bf4 $6
{"I actually felt 23.Bf4 was a bit of a mistake. I felt you had to stablise
here with a bishop on f2 perhaps." Aronian and it seems he is right.} (23. Bf2
Bd6 {"I didn't like some Bd6 you know." Karjakin. "It's actually pleasant for
black but I thought with some precise play it should [equalise]." - Aronian.})
23... c5 24. b5 Nd6 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Rb1 b6 {"Of course it is slightly better
for black but with some precise moves I think it should be a draw but maybe e5
is a mistake I don't know." - Karjakin.} 27. e5 (27. g4 {"just to put the
bishop on g3" was a little joke of Karjakin's.}) (27. g3 {Is a Houdini
suggestion.}) 27... Nc4 $1 {Karjakin didn't expect that the "knight would come
back to c4".} 28. Qe4 (28. Nxc4 Qxc4 29. Qe4 Qxe4 30. fxe4 {were the moves
Aronian was expecting "but that's an unpleasant ending."} c4 {"I didn't like
it but maybe it should be checked." Karjakin.}) 28... Ra4 29. Rc1 {"I was very
proud that I found Rc1" - Karjakin} h6 (29... Nb2 30. c4 {is the idea which
Karjakin thought would hold.}) 30. h4 Nb2 31. c4 {Karjakin was very pleased to
find this idea but it doesn't solve any of his problems.} Qd7 {Here Karjakin
was behind on the clock and admitted "I didn't find the way to play."} 32. Rb1
(32. Kh2 Nd3 (32... Qd4 $1) 33. Rc3 Nxf4 34. Qxf4 Qxb5 $1 35. e6 Qe8 $1 {was a
typically nice Aronian line.}) 32... Ra2 33. Be3 (33. Nb3 Nd3 34. Bg3 {is
maybe the right way.}) 33... Na4 {Karjakin thought these moves were logical
but "somehow the tactics didn't work out in my favour."} 34. Rb3 $6 {Now
everything is more or less forced up to 42.g3 according to Aronian.} (34. Re1)
34... Rxd2 35. Bxd2 Qxd2 36. Rd3 Qc1+ 37. Kh2 Nb2 38. Rd8 Qxc4 39. Qa8 Qxh4+
40. Kg1 Qe1+ 41. Kh2 Qxe5+ 42. g3 {Giri said on twitter "Karjakin is about to
grischuk Aronian!" a comment that's obscure to me but obviously he thought
Karjakin would escape but Aronian even makes winning this position which looks
very hard quite easy.} Qe2+ 43. Kh3 Nd3 44. Rxf8+ Kh7 45. Re8 (45. Rh8+ Kg6 46.
Qc6+ {definitely looks like the tougher defence.} Qe6+ 47. Qxe6+ fxe6 48. Kg2 {
and maybe white can fight.} (48. Rc8 c4 49. Rxc7 Nc5 50. Rxc5 bxc5 51. b6 c3
52. b7 c2 53. b8=Q c1=Q {and Aronian wins.} 54. Qe8+ Kh7 55. Qxe6 Qh1+ (55...
Qf1+ 56. Kg4 h5+ 57. Kg5 (57. Kf4 Qc1+ 58. Kf5 Qh6 59. Qe8 Qf6+ 60. Ke4 Qd4+
61. Kf5 Qd5+ 62. Kf4 c4) 57... Qxf3) 56. Kg4 Qb1 {was Aronian's winning line.})
) (45. Qe4+ Qxe4 46. fxe4 c4 47. Rd8 Nf2+ 48. Kg2 (48. Kh2 Nxe4 {and the king
is never in time.}) 48... c3 {"This is very, very exact." Aronian.} 49. Rd7 c2
50. Rxc7 Nd3) 45... Nf2+ 46. Kh4 Qxb5 {Taking away the c6 square and adding
many more winning chances.} (46... g5+ {"This looks to be winning for black"
Aronian} 47. Kh5 $1 {and now white is winning. "Not a very safe way to play
for a win." Aronian} Qb2 48. Qc6 {only move.} Qg7 49. Re7 c4 50. g4 c3 51. Rxc7
Kg8 (51... Nh3 52. Qe4+ Kh8 53. Rc8+) 52. Qxh6) 47. g4 {As a practical try
this seems quite good. Aronian only has one move for the advantage, all other
lines are dead equal but that probably helped him find his next.} Qc4 $1 {The
point is that black absolutely must stop f4.} 48. Qc8 (48. Rh8+ Kg6 49. Qc6+
Qe6 50. Qxc7 c4 51. Rb8 Kh7 52. Rf8 Qe1 53. Rh8+ Kg6 (53... Kxh8 54. Qc8+ Kh7
55. Qf5+ $11)) (48. Kh5 g6+ 49. Kh4 Qd4 50. Rf8 Qf6+ 51. Kg3 Nd3 52. Qe8 {and
it's extremely important I have Qe5+ - Aronian.} Qd6+ (52... Qe5+ 53. Qxe5 Nxe5
54. Rc8 c6 55. f4 {and there's still work to be done.}) 53. Kg2 Ne5 {is much
more convincing.}) 48... Qf4 {Now it's completely hopeless and Karjakin goes
into an ending but after this Aronian hardly even forced to think.} 49. Qf5+
Qxf5 50. gxf5 c4 51. Re7 c5 52. Rxf7 c3 53. f6 Kg6 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2014"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 (13. Bh3 Kg7 14.
Rae1 Ne4 15. Ndxe4 dxe4 16. Bh4 Nb6 17. Bxc8 Raxc8 18. f3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qd5 20.
Bf6+ Kg8 21. Be5 Nd7 22. fxe4 Qe6 23. Rb1 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Rc7 25. Rb5 Rd7 26. Rd1
a6 27. Rbd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Qg4 29. h3 Qh4 30. Kh2 b5 31. a4 Qe1 32. axb5 axb5
33. Rxb5 Qxe3 34. Rd5 Rxe5 35. Rxe5 Qf4+ 36. g3 Qxe5 37. Kg2 h5 38. h4 Kf8 39.
Kf3 Qf6+ 40. Kg2 Qe5 41. Kf3 Qf6+ 42. Kg2 Ke7 43. Qd2 Qd6 44. Qe2 Qc6 45. Qe3
Qd6 46. Qe2 Qc6 47. Qe3 Qd6 48. Qe2 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 (48) Beliavsky,A (2646)
-Mamedyarov,S (2752) Heraklio 2007}) 13... Nxd7 14. h4 ({Relevant:} 14. f3 Nb6
15. e4 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 Bd7 18. Rab1 Rab8 19. Kf2 f5 20. exd5 Nxd5
21. Nxc4 Nxc3 22. Rbe1 b5 23. Ne5 Be6 24. a3 Rbc8 25. Rc1 a5 26. Rfe1 Nd5 27.
Rxc8 Bxc8 28. Rc1 b4 29. Rc5 Be6 30. Rxa5 b3 31. Rb5 Nc3 32. Rb7 b2 33. Bf6
b1=Q 34. Rg7+ Kf8 35. Rxh7 Qc2+ 36. Kg3 f4+ {0-1 (36) Korobov,A (2671)-Wang,H 
(2733) Rogaska Slatina 2011}) 14... b5 $6 {"Here I think b5 is not a very good
move. I think Shakhriyar already played like this but I think Nb6 is a better
move." Kramnik.} (14... Nb6 15. f3 Bf8 16. e4 Bg7 17. Be3 Be6 18. a4 Bd7 19. h5
Rac8 20. Rfe1 Bc6 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. e5 Na8 23. Nf1 Nc7 24. f4 Bd7 25. Ng3 Qb6
26. a5 Qe6 27. f5 gxf5 28. Nh5 Qg6 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Bf4 Ne6 31. Qf2 Rh8 32.
Re3 Rh5 33. Rg3 Rch8 34. Rxg6+ fxg6 35. Qf3 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 Rxa1 37. Qxd5 Bc8 38.
Ne2 g5 39. Bc1 f4 40. Qxc4 b6 41. d5 Nc5 42. e6 Ra4 43. Qc3+ Kg8 44. Kg1 Re4 {
1-0 (44) Cheparinov,I (2670)-Mamedyarov,S (2752) Khanty-Mansiysk 2007}) 15. a4
$146 ({Predecessor:} 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3 Na4 18. Rac1 Nb6 19. Ra1
Na4 20. Rac1 f6 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. e4 f5 23. Bg5 Qd6 24. Ra1 Qf8 25. Bf4 Bb7 26.
e5 a5 27. h5 Bc6 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Kf2 Ra7 30. Rh1 Ree7 31. Bg5 Rh7 32. e6 Rxh1
33. Rxh1 Qxa3 34. Bf6 Rg7 35. Bxg7 Kxg7 36. Nb1 Qb2 37. Rc1 b4 38. Kg3 Qxc2 39.
Rxc2 Kf6 40. Re2 Be8 41. e7 b3 42. f4 Nb6 43. Re5 a4 44. Kf2 Nc8 {Lekic,D 
(2390)-Mikhalevski,V (2608) Budva 2009 0-1 (62)}) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 b4 17.
cxb4 Qxb4 18. Nb1 {"Black just has a strategically difficult position."
Kramnik.} Qd6 19. Nc3 Qc6 20. Rfb1 Ba6 21. Qd1 f6 22. Bf4 Rad8 23. Qf3 Nf8 24.
Bh6 Kf7 25. Rb2 Ne6 26. Rab1 Ng7 27. g4 {After the game Kramnik questioned
this move as it weakens his king position and heavily contributes to the
problems he had later.} Kg8 28. Qf4 (28. Rb5 {Probably doesn't work either.}
Bxb5 29. Rxb5 Ne6 30. Nxd5 Rxd5 31. Qxd5 Qxd5 32. Rxd5 c3 33. Rd6 Nd8 34. Rd7
Ne6 $11) (28. a5) (28. Rb4) 28... Kf7 29. e4 $6 {Kramnik thought it was time
to win by force but this just allowed Mamedyarov to have an equal game. "I
just calculated that e4 wins on the spot so I just played it." Kramnik.} Ne6
30. exd5 (30. Qe3 {Kramnik.} Nc7 {Mamedyarov.} (30... Nc5 $1 $11 {Houdini.})
31. f3 $1 (31. Bf4 dxe4 $1 32. Bxc7 Qxc7 33. d5 $2 {Kramnik but this line
seems quite bad.} Qd7 {hitting lots of things.} 34. Qf4 Bc8 35. Qg3 Qd6 36.
Qxd6 Rxd6 37. Rb8 f5 38. Ra8)) 30... Nxf4 31. dxc6 g5 {A cold shower for
Kramnik who "blundered" this move. He was thinking everything won.} 32. hxg5 (
32. h5 $2) 32... fxg5 33. c7 (33. Rb7+ $11 {Kramnik started calculating this
line but couldn't make it to the end of the line.} Bxb7 34. Rxb7+ (34. cxb7 Kg6
) 34... Ke6 (34... Kg6 35. Bg7 Rc8 (35... Ne2+ 36. Nxe2 Rxe2 37. Kf1 Ra2 38.
Be5 c3 39. Rg7+ Kh6 40. Re7 Kg6 41. c7 Rc8 42. Rg7+ Kh6 43. Rd7 Kg6) 36. d5
Red8 37. c7 Rd7 38. Be5 Nxd5 39. Nxd5 Rxd5 40. Rb8 Rxc7 41. Bxc7 c3 42. Bb6
Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Rb1 44. Rc8 Rxb6 45. Rxc3 $11)) 33... Rd6 (33... Rxd4 34. Rb8 Ne6)
34. Bxg5 Nh3+ 35. Kg2 Nxg5 36. d5 Bc8 {This move is fine but Kramnik at the
time thought it might be an error.} (36... Rd7 37. f4 Rxc7 38. fxg5 Kg6 39. Rb8
Bc8) 37. Rb8 Rf6 38. Ra8 {Kramnik was critical of this move after the game.
"Any move is better than Ra8" - Kramnik. Mamedyarov was certain he was OK here.
He seems he was right.} (38. Rd1 Bxg4 39. d6 Bh3+ $3 40. Kh1 Rh6 41. d7 Bxd7+
42. Kg2 Bh3+ 43. Kg3 Rc8 44. f4 Rxc7 45. fxg5 Rh5 46. Nb5) 38... Rf4 39. f3 (
39. Rbb8 Rxg4+ {Kramnik admitted he'd missed that "there are some mates"} 40.
Kf1 Nf3) (39. Rxc8 Rxc8 40. d6 Ke6 $1 {He also overlooked.}) 39... Rxf3 $6 (
39... Nxf3 $1) 40. d6 (40. Rbb8) (40. Rxc8 Rxc8 41. Nb5 Ke7 42. d6+ Kd7 43. Re1
Rf7) 40... Bxg4 (40... Rxc3 41. Rxc8 {wins}) 41. Rxe8 (41. Rd8 $1) 41... Kxe8
42. Rb8+ Kf7 43. Rd8 Bh3+ $1 {and here it looked that Mamedyarov after a long
think had worked out a win.} 44. Kh2 Rxc3 45. d7 Rc2+ 46. Kg3 Rg2+ 47. Kh4 Be6
$1 {again the very best.} 48. Rf8+ Kxf8 $4 {Unbelievable. Just played
instantly and it seems to be just losing.} (48... Kg6) 49. c8=Q+ Kg7 (49... Kf7
{is the last try for a save.}) 50. Qb7 {Clearly this is the move Mamedyarov
missed. At first Kramnik didn't understand that this was winning either.} (50.
Qa8 $11 Rg4+ 51. Kh5 Nf7 52. d8=N Rg5+ 53. Kh4 Rg4+ 54. Kh5 {and perpetual so
it's important that the queen is on b7.}) 50... Nf3+ 51. Qxf3 Rh2+ 52. Kg5 h6+
53. Kf4 Rh4+ 54. Ke5 1-0

