1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 Bd7 The confidence that I saw on my opponent's face made me deviate from my usual e6, knowing that he has prepared something special. 7. f3 a6 8. Qd2 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Kb1 Nxd4 10... Qc7 11. h4 h6 12. Be3 h5 13. Bg5 Ne5 10... b5 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Rc8 Ivanchuk played this position himself with Black against Kramnik. 11. Qxd4 Bc6 11... Rc8 is also possible. 12. h4 h6 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. Bd3 b5 14... O-O 15. g4 Nd7 16. g5 h5 17. f4 Qb6 18. Qxb6 Nxb6 White's chances look slightly better. 15. g4 Nd7 15... Qa7 16. Qxa7 Rxa7 17. Ne2 Rc7 18. Nd4 Bb7 is a possible alternative, but it is hard to find a plan for Black. 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Ne5 19. Be3 f6?! In this position I felt very comfortable, this feeling went away when my opponent made his next move. 19... Nxd3 20. cxd3 (20. Qxd3 O-O-O 21. Qd4 Bf8) 20... Bf8 Two bishops do not fully compensate for lack of space and a weaker king.(20... e5 21. Qb4 d5 22. Bc5 d4) 19... O-O-O 20. Be2 d5 21. exd5 Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. Qe4 Bc5 24. Bf4 Bd6 is a very playable alternative for Black. 20. Nd5! A very strong move backed up by a lot of calculation. 20... exd5 21. exd5 Bb7 22. Rh8+ Bf8 22... Kf7?? 23. g6+! Nxg6 24. Bxg6+ Kxg6 25. Qg4+ Kf7 26. Qh5+ g6 27. Qh7# I missed this idea for white when I played f6. 23. gxf6 gxf6 24. Bh6 O-O-O 24... Qc5! is the best chance to try to save a draw. 25. Qxc5 dxc5 26. Bxf8 (26. Rxf8+ Ke7 27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. Be4 Nf7 29. Bf4 (29. Be3 Kd6) 29... Nd6 30. b3 Nxe4 (30... c4 31. bxc4 bxc4 32. Kb2 Kd7) 31. fxe4 f5 32. d6+ Kf7 33. exf5 (33. e5 Ke6 34. Kb2 Bd5 The blockade seems to fix the draw.) 33... Be4 34. Be3 c4 Forcing a draw.) (26. Be4 Nd7 27. Bg6+ Kd8 28. d6 (28. Bxf8 Kc7 29. Bg7 Rxh8 30. Bxh8 Bxd5) 28... Bxf3 29. Bxf8 Nxf8 30. Rxf8+ Kd7 31. Rxf6 Bg4 Another drawn position because the d6 pawn will be recovered for Black.) 26... Nxd3 27. cxd3 O-O-O Drawn position. 25. Bf5+ Kb8 26. Bxf8 Now white has a clear upper hand. 26... Nf7?! 26... Ka8! 27. Rh7 Qc4 28. Qxc4 Nxc4 29. Bh6 Re8 This would of given me more practical chances. 27. Rg8 Nh6 28. Bxd6! Goes into an endgame up a pawn. 28... Qxd6 29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Qf4+ Ka8 31. Qxh6 Qxd5 32. Be4 Qd1+ 33. Qc1 Qe2 34. Qh1 Bxe4 34... f5 35. Bxb7+ Kxb7 36. f4+ Kb6 37. b3 b4 38. Qg1+ Kb5 39. Qd4 Black is still on the verge of losing. 35. fxe4 Ka7 My opponent did not have problems converting his extra pawn. 36. a3 Kb6 37. Qg1+ Kc6 38. Qd4 Qf3 39. b3 Kb7 40. Kb2 Qf4 41. Qd5+ Kb6 42. a4 bxa4 43. bxa4 Qf1 44. a5+ Ka7 45. Qd7+ Kb8 46. Qd3 Qe1 47. Qd8+ Kb7 48. Qb6+ Kc8 49. Qc6+ Kb8 50. Qb6+ Kc8 51. Qxa6+ Kb8 52. Qb6+ Ka8 53. Qc6+ Ka7 54. a6 Ivanchuk demonstra ted to me in this game why he has been one of the top players in the world for years. 1-0 [Mark Bluvshtein]