1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Be3
Ng4
7.Bg5
h6
8.Bh4
g5
9.Bg3
Bg7
10.h3
Ne5
11.Nf5
Bxf5
12.exf5
Nbc6
13.Nd5
e6
14.fxe6
fxe6
15.Ne3
Qa5+
16.c3
Nf3+
In San Luis, Topalov managed to surprize and defeat Svidler with this slightly exotic variation. Grischuk's decision to repeat the experiment looks a bit risky, because Svidler had obviously analyzed the position himself, disposing over the invaluable advantage of having faced the variation in a practical game.
17.Qxf3
Bxc3+
18.Kd1
Qa4+
19.Nc2
Bxb2
20.Rc1!?
[Here comes the novelty! The aforementioned game went 20.Qb3
Qxb3
21.axb3
Bxa1
22.Nxa1
Ke7
and White's pieces were more passive than in the present game.]
20...Bxc1
21.Qf6
Kd7
[Another possibility would be 21...Bb2
22.Qxb2
e5
, but after 23.Bd3
White's position looks preferable anyway.]
22.Kxc1
Qxa2
[I suppose that this move was not so much dictated by grediness as by the concern about the e6-square. However, the developing move 22...Rac8
might have offered better chances for counterplay.]
23.Bd3
Rac8
24.Rd1
White has completed his development (true, not in a very ortodox way) and is the first to create strong threats against the enemy king.
24...d5
[For instance, the tempting 24...Nb4?
, threatening mate in two, loses to 25.Bb5+!
followed by Rxd6+.]
25.Bf5
Rhe8
26.Qf7+
Kd8
It might seem that Black has defended and can think about finally launching his counterplay against the c2-knight.
27.Re1!!
A very strong move, increasing the pressure against the e6-pawn.
27...Qa3+
[The simplifications initiated by this move will not bring Black any relief, but it is hard to suggest an improvement. The key point is that Black is still slow with his counterplay. For instance, 27...Nd4?
loses the knight to 28.Qf6+
; while 27...Nb4
allows an attack with checks: 28.Qf6+
Re7
29.Qf8+
Kd7
30.Bxe6+
Rxe6
31.Qf7+
Kd8
32.Qg8+!
]
28.Nxa3
Ne5+
29.Kd2
Nxf7
30.Bxe6
Rc6
31.Bxf7
Rxe1
32.Kxe1
b5
33.Kd2
White has a decisive material advantage, maintaining an acceptable coordination. The rest is easy.
33...b4
34.Nc2
b3
35.Nd4
Rb6
36.Kc1
a5
37.Bxd5
a4
38.Be5
b2+
39.Kb1
a3
40.Ba2
Rb7
41.Bd6
Rd7
42.Nb5
1-0