Veselin Topalov - Sample Games

Sample Games

Topalov vs. Ponomariov, 2005

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

After 17 moves, Topalov (White) initiates a series of strong tactical blows with the sacrifice of a knight and a rook.

On the way to winning M-Tel Masters in 2005, Topalov defeated former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov with the white pieces in a Queen's Indian defense. (Analysis by Rybka 1.2n.)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 0-0 8. Rc1 c6 9. e4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Bd3 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. h4 h6 15. Bb1 f5?

Needlessly weakening the position. Better is 15...Nd7 16.Bxh6!? f5 (16...gxh6? 17.Qc2 f5 18.exf6 Rxf6 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Ng5! mates in 8 moves) 17.Bf4 Qa5, which may have given Black good chances for equality.

16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qc2! d4

17...Bxc3? leads to defeat after 18.Qh7+ Kf7 19.Bxc3, with an overwhelming attack, for example: 19...d4 20.Qg6+ Ke7 21.Nxd4! But Topalov found a way to break Black's defenses in Ponomariov's chosen line, too. (See diagram.)

18. Ng5!! hxg5 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4 Kf7 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22. gxf6+ Rxf6 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Bg5+ Kd6 25. Qxf7 Qxg5 26. Rh7 Qe5+ 27. Kf1 Kc6 28. Qe8+ Kb6 29. Qd8+ Kc6 30. Be4+! 1–0

Black resigned, because if Black took the white bishop with 30...Qxe4, then White mates with 31.Qc7+.

Topalov vs. Kramnik, 2008

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after Topalov's 12th move. Reputedly Topa had analysed this line at home all the way to move 40

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1482320 Topalov unleashes a heavily prepared knight sacrifice against Kramnik on move 12 in a very theoretical line and the Russian was always on the ropes afterwards.