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Veselin Topalov vs Peter Leko
Dortmund Sparkassen 2005 (2005), Dortmund GER, rd 9, Jul-17
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan. Sveshnikov Variation Chelyabinsk Variation (B33)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 13 times; par: 175 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
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Jul-18-05  DanRoss53: Very nice game by Topalov; making that one pawn advantage count. Topalov seems to like coming from behind (as he did in Linares if I remember correctly) winning his last two games to jump from the bottom half of the field to tie for second.
Jul-18-05  percyblakeney: 54. ... Kf8 does look strange, but it seems as if Leko must lose the pawn sooner or later. If Kh8 instead black's king will end up on h6 with white's queen on g8, and Be4 together with queen checks on the h-file will win the pawn eventually. If 54. ... Kh6 the immediate Be4 is very strong, says Fritz.
Jul-18-05  Calli: 54...Kh8 55.Qb8+ Kg7 56.Qg8+ Kh6 57.Be4 Qe7 *might* be better than what he played.
Jul-18-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: This was a wictory by torture.

Those who doubt that this game was an objective draw for a longest of times, those may consult the following study by M.Hanneberger, 1916:

W = [Kf4, Be2, Pf5 g5]; B = [Kf7, Bc3]; draw regardles of who moves.

Yet, Leko was practically doomed to lose the endgame. The reason was that he had some 10 minutes less on his clock and only a limited total time for the game was given. Thus, all Topalov had to do was to keep stirring thing up -- long enough, never allow 50-move rule to take place, and never completely resolving the difficulties -- soon or later, Leko would overstep time (or make a grave error).

Since White position was better, Topalov was the one setting traps and Leco had to keep checking for them and sidestepping them. On the other hand, Topalov had practically no way to lose the game. Black had to be more cautious and there was practically no way for Leko how to catch up on the clock. Each of White moves had to take some 5-6 seconds, plenty for Topalov to keep his time advantage intact.

It seems to me that Leko, realizing his predicament, tried to force a liquidation into something provably drawn, but failed.

Jul-18-05  PinkPanther: <AlChess>
Well...Adams has beaten Topalov (twice, and really should have beaten him more like 4 times), Kramnik, Anand, Leko (3 times if you count the rapid match, which I don't really but still) also...but still, I don't really assess Adams' chances as being that great since he just hasn't been able to put anything together this year.
Jul-18-05  AlChess: (Pink Panther)I have to agree with what you said it should have been 4 times Adams should of beaten Topalov.What is interesting about Adams it seems to me he is the only player who can consistly seem to show the Strategic defectives in Topalov positions as shown by the games he has played against him this year but always seems never be able to finish him off in these positions, nothing against Topalov he is a very good player but he certainly has had some doggy positions this year and being able to save them. I assume that because he is or has gone through purple patch of play he is riding a cress of a wave. As the saying goes " Fortune favours the bold"
Nov-18-05  aw1988: <I think he is the real reason why Kasparov retired this year!! ALL HAIL TOPALOV THE NEW KING OF CHESS.>

I'm sorry, not to start a hate-monger thread, but where do we get these idiots?

Nov-18-05  KingG: <aw1988> Bulgaria?
Nov-18-05  aw1988: Look, I'm from Russia, and I don't cheer everytime, say, Kramnik wins. Well, Kramnik is a bad example, I like him. Pick any example, there are lots.
Nov-18-05  KingG: <aw1988> Look how some(most?) Americans, Indians and Bulgarians react towards Fischer, Anand and Topalov respectively. Many of them share the same irrational attributes. They won't hear anything negative said against their 'hero', and will make completely over-the-top statements like the one above. In Russia you have a lot of choice, so perhaps it's not as pronounced as in certain other countries(besides the greatest player of all time is Russian, so you don't need to make ridiculous statements about Kasparov).
Nov-18-05  aw1988: Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones who isn't egotistical about everything. Sorry, it has nothing to do with choice.
Nov-18-05  aw1988: Americans?! And you say lack of choice?!
Nov-18-05  KingG: <aw1988> All this is meant in a light-hearted way, but judging from this website, the players with the most aggressive fans are Fischer, Anand and Topalov. I don't know anyone here who supports any of the Russian players in the same way(apart from a few crack-pots who say that Kasparov is the best because he has Jewish blood, etc). As for Americans, their only world champion is Fischer, and you'll notice that Fischer fans also tend to be fans of Reshevski, Fine, Morphy, etc.

What i'm saying is that some people feel the need to support their countrymen in whatever spot they follow, and for some reason they feel that the person they support should also be the best, therefore they make stupid statements.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense, i'm really tired right now, maybe i'll clarify this tomorrow.

Nov-18-05  aw1988: Sure, I can see what you mean. All the same, the roots of this can be extended to beyond just chess...
Nov-18-05  Ron: <KingG> I'm an American but I have been perhaps the most critical here of Fischer's behavior. I like what Korchnoi said, "Just because he's a clever chess player doesn't mean he's above the law."
Nov-19-05  KingG: <Ron> Of course, not all Americans, Indians, etc are are irrational fans, just some of them. My point is the most fanatical fans tend to come from the same country as the player they support.
Nov-19-05  gadfly: <I'm sorry, not to start a hate-monger thread, but where do we get these idiots?> <<aw1988> Bulgaria?>

I would not say that I am fascinated by the thread of your discussion. Generalizations like that tend to make me sick.

Nov-19-05  KingG: Some of you take things too seriously.
Nov-19-05  gadfly: Some of you take things too lightly.
Nov-19-05  KingG: If you had read everything you would have seen <All this is meant in a light-hearted way>.
Nov-19-05  euripides: <It means he has beaten beaten Kasparov,Anand,Kramnik,Leko and Adams all in this year so far and there is the world Championship still to go.What ever the result he is my choice for the chess oscar 2005.I think he is the real reason why Kasparov retired this year!! ALL HAIL TOPALOV THE NEW KING OF CHESS.> to be fair, this posting in July now looks quite prophetic.
Jan-25-06  Whitehat1963: Wow! A seriously long fight to the death. Good show. I wonder if there were any draw offers. Topalov and Leko are even in classical chess since 2000 with four wins apiece.
Feb-02-07  positionalgenius: Reminds me of Topalov's win over Aronian at linares 2006...
Nov-13-08  gambitfan: a nice bishop endgame !
Dec-20-15  Whitehat1963: What happens if 41...gxh5?
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