Fist pump

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
31st European Chess Club Cup; Skopje, October 22, 2015
Queen’s Indian Defence E14

As usual, Kramnik and Topalov both refuse to shake hands out of hate for each other. Furthermore, everyone here in Skopje says the playing hall is too dark, but Topalov didn’t let Kramnik use an extra table lamp, as he had been allowed two days ago. Vladimir Borisovich, however, just smiled and said: “That’s okay, I’m even better in blindfold!”. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3. “I played this in Rapid & Blitz but maybe he didn’t notice. It’s my new way of playing with White – just trying to get a game!”, then Kramnik said. 3. ... c5 4. Bd3 b6 5. 0-0 Bb7 6. c4 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nc3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 0-0 11. Qg4 f5 12. Qe2 Bf6 13. Bc4 Re8 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Bb5! Much more to the point than the colourless alternative 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Bf4 Nf8 17. Qd3 g5 18. Qg3 Ne6 19. Nd3 Bxd4 20. Re1 ½ : ½ Zsu. Polgár – Bischoff, 18th Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 1990. 15. ... Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qe7 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh6 Rec8 20. Bg5 Qf7 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Bf6 Qf7 23. b3 Qf8 24. Qf4 Rc2

25. h4! Now Vladimir Borisovich gets the initiative. 25. ... Rac8 26. h5 Qe8 27. Rd3! “Kramnik getting in a slo-mo Kingside assault on Topalov!”, Jaideep Unudurti said. 27. ... R2c3 28. Rad1 gxh5? A very nervous move – a serious blunder indeed – but Black’s task was not easy in any case. Whatever it is, now Kramnik storms in with: 29. Rxd5! exd5 30. e6! Poor Topalov! 30. ... R3c7 31. Rxd5 Qxe6 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Rxf5 Rf7 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Re5 Rc6 36. Qxh5 1 : 0. A magnificent display of chess talent by 14th World Champion Kramnik.

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik vs. Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
Photo: Chess-News.ru

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