The 2009 World Cup: Gelfand Watch
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Polgar, Ju – Gelfand, B
28/11/2009.
25… gxf5?! Unnecessary. Rybka thinks 25… Nd2! is better. 26. Bxh5
Now the Rook can take the g-file. Boris’ game falls apart quickly now
28…Kh8 29. Rg1 Rf7? 30. Bxf7 Qxf7
31. Qh6! Rf8 32. Rg6! Ouch! Black resigns…
Merciless! There is no defence to Bf6.
Boris Gelfand has got past Judy Polgar and has advanced to the 4th round!
It was not easy. God was not around this time…
After winning the first game with relative ease and then gaining a winning advantage in the second game, it looked that Boris had found his form:
Polgar, Ju – Gelfand, B
28/11/2009.
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Qe2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. c3 a5 9. a4 b5 10. Bc2 Ba6 11. axb5 cxb5 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d4 a4 14. Bd3 Rfb8 15. Nh4 g6 16. f4 exf4 17. Ndf3 Nh5 18. Bd2 Nb6 19. g4 fxg3 20. Ng5 Nc4 21. Nf5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 f6 23. Bh4 gxh2 24. Qxh2 Rf8 25. Be2
Polgar has played fast and loose up to this point. And she is completely lost! Black has a solid position and has many ways to proceed. Probably Gelfand was short of time…
25… gxf5?! Unnecessary. Rybka thinks 25… Nd2! is better. 26. Bxh5
Now Boris should continue with 26… Qg7! 27. Kh1 (27. Kf2 Qh6) 27… Bb7! 28. d5 Qe7 and his advantage should eventually be sufficient to win . Instead, he blunders and the advantage changes sides: 26…fxe4?! 27. Qf4 (27. Bxf6! Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Qg7 29. Qg2 is also strong) 27… f5 28. Kh1
28…Kh8 29. Rg1 Rf7? 30. Bxf7 Qxf7
31. Qh6! Rf8 32. Rg6! Ouch! Black resigns…
This unfortunate defeat meant that Gelfand and Polgar had to go to tie-break the next day! But not before Gelfand was chewed out for sloppy play:
”I hope you have learned your lesson!”
The tie-break games went well for Boris. Time and again Polgar found herself on the ropes, tried desperately to attack and counter-attack, but to no avail. Gelfand has found his form!
Judit could not break Boris’ Petroff
A tense fight, but Gelfand always on top
Determination and precision!
The match was successful and Gelfand can feel satisfied. Boris won the tie-break 2.5-0.5
Gelfand’s next opponent will be the Frenchman Vachier-Lagrave. It should be a great match! I have known Boris for quite a while, and in my mind I have always considered him a young man, but the next match will be against someone half of his age! Good luck, Boris! Show us that experience is worth something, please!