Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa vs Veselin Topalov (2020)

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Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa vs Veselin Topalov
Gibraltar Masters (2020), La Caleta GIB, rd 6, Jan-26
French Defense: Steinitz Variation (C11) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Jan-26-20		Whitehat1963: Impressive win for the 14-year-old!!!

Jan-26-20		Marksen: Unbelievable that Topalov missed Nf6+

Jan-27-20		OhioChessFan: "Praggmatic Decision"

Jan-28-20		Andrew Chapman: Oddly, the engine gives 23.Qf4, - less than +1. But it evaluates 23.Nf6+ as more than +3.

Jan-28-20		Andrew Chapman: Topalov didn't miss Nf6+ for sure. gxf6, e5Xf6 is winning for Black. He may have missed Rd1 perhaps?

Jan-28-20		Clement Fraud: 7... b6 was a terrible choice. I have always appreciated Topalov's style of play, but I don't recognize the person behind these moves at all: after 12... Nb8 he might as well have sneaked out of the venue and gone sight seeing.

Jan-30-20		FSR: <Andrew Chapman: Oddly, the engine gives 23.Qf4, - less than +1. But it evaluates 23.Nf6+ as more than +3.> I am equally perplexed by this.

Jan-30-20		Caissanist: When you get to Topalov's age you have your good days and bad days. He can no doubt still play brilliantly, but the Topalov of ten years ago would not have played like this even on his worst days.

Jan-30-20		SChesshevsky: <...but I don't recognize the person behind these moves at all...> Guessing that Topalov knew he was playing some 14 year old kid and either took RP way too lightly or may not have even heard of him. Knowing even kid GM's are booked up today, he went for the French, which I don't think has been a main line for him recently, figuring to get a decent position and maybe an unprepared opponent. Looks like Topalov was hoping for a draw, possibly quickly, and went to exchange at every opportunity. Maybe thinking to be able to draw even in a worse position but with equal and few pieces on the board. Seems 22...Qd8 shows that intent. Could be a late night, not feeling well, or just general fatigue played a part also. But whatever, the mix of all that ended up in a really ugly game for Topalov.

Jan-30-20		perfidious: The worm has turned: once it was Topalov in the role of young gun, while now, many years on he is defending his honour, earned on many, many fields of battle vs the elite.

Feb-01-20		wordfunph: changing of the guards..

Jul-21-21		Gaito: click for larger view BLACK TO MOVE 22...Qd8?? Topalov did not see what was coming, or maybe he just played too quickly and overlooked the winning sacrifice 23.Nf6+!! (evaluation by SF14: +4.87). But Black was worse even after the best continuation 22...Kh8 23.Rad1 Qe6 24.Nf4 Qe7 25.Qxe7 Nxe7 26.e6! fxe6 27.Nxe6 Rfe8 (computer evaluation by engine SF14: +1.16) (See diagram below): click for larger view

Jul-21-21		Gaito: <Andrew Chapman: Topalov didn't miss Nf6+ for sure. gxf6, e5Xf6 is winning for Black. He may have missed Rd1 perhaps?> You are right. Topalov might have overlooked 24.Rad1! After that move Black is forced to part with his queen in exchange for some material that amounts less than a queen's value, or else he would have been mated presently. He might have played 24...Qxd1, but he would have lost all the same.

Jul-22-21		beatgiant: <Clement Fraud> <after 12... Nb8 he might as well...> A quick check in the opening explorer shows that 12...Nb8 has been played several times before with decent results. Praggnanandhaa's 13. Bf2 is new (in our db at least), White having played 13. Nd1 in the previous games.

Jul-22-21		beatgiant: Maybe 15...exf5 was a slight mistake, weakening the d-pawn, where <15...Nc7> instead would shore it up.

Jul-22-21		beatgiant: And 21...Qd7 is a serious mistake. I think he had to drop a pawn with 21...Re8 22. Qxf5 Ne7 and try to hold the resulting heavy piece ending.

Feb-24-22		ColeTrane: "Now it is Babu's turn to mock...."

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