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My first ever international tournament was Ruse Open, side event to a strong invitational round robin, where Veselin Topalov made his impressive
debut. After a good start, I was set to face one of the tournament favorites - Vladimir Bologan in round 4. Here is what happened!
1.e4
Nf6
My weapon of choice for many years (thanks to the indirect influence of Lev Alburt)
2.d3
e5
3.Nf3
Nc6
4.g3
d5
5.Nbd2
dxe4
6.dxe4
Bc5
7.Bg2
0-0
8.0-0
a5
9.c3
Be6=
Black solved opening problems [9...Qd3
10.Ne1
Qd6
1/2-1/2 Garcia Luque,A-Mellado Trivino,J/Dos Hermanas 2000/CBM 75 ext (10); 9...Qe7
10.Qc2
b6
11.Nb3
Bd6
12.a4
Ba6
13.Re1
Rfd8
14.Nfd2
Qe6
15.f3
Nd7
16.Bf1
Nc5
17.Nxc5
Bxc5+
18.Kg2
Bxf1+
19.Nxf1
Qc4
20.Re2
Qd3
21.Be3
Qxc2
1/2-1/2 Francsics,E-Galyas,M/Budapest 1999/EXT 2000 (21); 9...a4
10.Qc2
Be6
11.h3
h6
12.Nh4
Qd7
13.Nf5
Rfd8
14.Re1
Kh7
15.Nf3
Qd3
16.Qxd3
Rxd3-/+
Pejko,O-Brianski,D/Bratislava 1989/EXT 2001/0-1 (34)]
10.Qe2
Nd7
11.Nc4
f6
A multipurpose move.
The pawn f6 controls g5, defends Pe5.
12.Rd1
a4
Gaining more space on the Q-side
13.Be3
Qe7
14.Nh4
g6
15.Bxc5
Qxc5
16.Ne3
Nb6
17.Nd5
Ne7
18.c4
Nc6! Leaving Pc7
undefended. An accuracy in calculation was necessary to make this
move. In the end, Black forces favorable simplifications
19.Nxc7
Nd4
In-between move and discovery
at the same time. Note that this move was only possible because White
K was on g1. After 21.Nxe6?? (attacking Black Q) Nxe2+ wins for Black
20.Rxd4
Qxc7
21.Rdd1
Bxc4=/+
22.Qg4
Rad8
23.Rxd8
Rxd8
24.Rc1
[24.b3
Bf7=
]
24...Qf7
Another multipurpose move. Black Q adds more support to activities on
the Q-side, while making the K-side safer.
25.Nf5 White is not
ready to settle for a passive defense, but this pseudo-activity proves
costly. After Black calm defensive response White loses a pawn (if
25.a3 Rd2-/+)
25...Kf8
26.Rd1
Rd7
27.Ne3
Bxa2
28.Nd5
[28.Rxd7!?
another alternative, but Black should relatively easily defend the K-side 28...Qxd7
29.Qh4
Kg7
30.Ng4
Qd6
31.Qh6+
Kg8-/+
]
28...Nxd5
29.exd5
Bxd5
30.Qxa4
Bc6?!
With the time control approaching, I am trading down. [>=30...Kg7-/+
]
31.Bxc6
bxc6
32.Rc1
Rd6=/+
33.Qa8+!? White keeps
pressing instead of trading down into the endgame with passive position and
draw the likely outcome. [33.Rxc6
Qe8
34.Ra6
Qxa4
35.Rxa4
Rb6
36.b4
h5=/+
33...Qe8
34.Qb7
Kg8
35.Qc7
Qe6
36.Qb8+
Kg7
37.Qc7+
Kh6-/+ Black consolidated while keeping the extra pawn
38.Qb8
Qd7
39.Qf8+
Kh5
40.Rf1
f5
41.Qh8
e4
42.Kg2
Rd2
43.Re1
Qe7
44.Qc3
Qd6
45.Qg7
h6
46.g4+!? Bologan is still trying to break my defense at any cost
46...Kxg4
[>=46...fxg4
47.Rxe4
Re2!?
This picturesque resource was found by Fritz. 48.Rxe2
Qd5+
49.Kg1
Qd1+
50.Kg2
Qxe2-/+
]
47.Qxh6
f4
48.Qh3+
Kg5
49.Rxe4
Rxb2
This position is getting wilder with every move. Both Kings are out in
the open under assault from the heavy artillery.
50.Qf3
Rb5
51.h4+
51...Kf5
[51...Kxh4??
52.Rxf4+
Kg5
53.Qg3+
Kh6
54.Rh4+
Kg7
55.Qxd6
]
52.Kh3
[52.Rc4
c5
(52...Qd5
53.Rxc6=
) 53.Qa8©
]
52...Rd5
[52...Rb3!?
53.Qxb3
Kxe4
54.f3+
Ke5
55.Qc3+
Draw is almost certain]
53.Kg2?
Finally, he was the first to "crack" [>=53.Rc4=/+
]
53...Rd3!-+
Black gives back the pawn, but forces transposition into the winning pawn endgame
54.Rxf4+
Theme: deflection - Black Q must leave the Rd3 unprotected
54...Qxf4
OK, take my rook on d3...
55.Qxd3+
Qe4+
[55...Qe4+
56.Qxe4+
Kxe4-+
An outside pass pawn decides this wild game] 0-1
I went on to win this Open tournament by a good margin, defeating in the process Dgebuadze, another "very strong GM to become soon." But this is another story.