1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 h5 12. O-O Nh7 13. Qd2 h4 14. Nh1 f5 A main line in the King's indian. Topalov chose 14..f5 instead of the more popular 14..g5.
15. Nf2 Bd7 16. Rab1 Qf6 Rb1 was a bit strange, with central files to be opened soon. Kazimjanov has an advantage though, Topalov's knights are passive.
17. f4 Nf7 Kasimdzhanov is ready for b4 and will have the initiative. His minor pieces are better placed.
18. Kh1 Rfe8 19. Nb5 Qd8 Topalov went into a deep think and chose Qd8, which looks best. Now it is time for b4!
20. b4 b6 21. bxc5 bxc5 22.Nxd6!! is really strong, followed by e5.
22. Bd3 Nf6 Kasimdzhanov is still thinkingover the opportunity. White's strong central passed pawn will return the piece very soon and white is better prepared for the open position that will arise.
23. Nc3 Qa5 Kasimdzhanov chose the calm Bd3 instead heading for a small advantage. Topalov is OK now.
24. Qc2 A position of balance has been reached. the fight is around the e4 point. The big problem for Topalov is the Nf7, which has little perspective.
24... Ng4 24...Ng4 is interesting now, opting for complications. And Topalov loves complications, so he tries it.
25. Ncd1 Ba4 26. Qe2 Bxd1 27. Nxd1 Nfh6 Kasimdzhanov's pieces aren't placed very well and black has the initiative now. He should have tried 22.Nxd6, it was the "book" move.
28. Bd2 The fight for the central squares continues. Kasimdzhanov has good chances after 28.Rb7. He decided to play Bd2 first, which may be even better.
28... Qxa2 29. Rb7 Qa3 Kasimdzhanov has some attacking chances based on his two bishops and active rook. e5 is interesting.
30. e5 dxe5 31. d6 He risked it! Now a very complicated position arises, white's d-pawn is very dangerous.
31... Kh8 And Kasimdzhanov's two bishops are very powerfull 32.Bc3 is good now.
32. d7 d7 looks premature, for it closed the seventh rank, Bc3 was much better.
32... Re7 Re7! was good.
33. fxe5 But still Topalov is in danger. a pawn on the seventh rank is always dangerous. Rxe5 is best, not to be pinned. Nf7 is also a good possibility.
33... Rxe5 34. Qf3 Rd8 35. Bb5 Qa2 36. Bg5 Bf6 Bb5 was a good move. Kasimdzhanov is better.
35...Qa2 was aslo best. Kasimdzhanov chose Bg5 instead of Bf4.
37. Bf4 a6 Time is ticking and soon both players will be down to seconds.
38. Bc6 And the position is getting more and more complicated... now there are pieces hanging also. 38.Ra7 was better then 38.Bc6.
38... g5 38...g5!! is very beautiful and strong. A typical Topalov move! he is better now
39. Bxe5 Nxe5 40. Bd5 Qd2 41. Qb3 Looks like Veselin is winning again in these wild complications.
41... Kg7 But Kasimdzhanov still holds on, a series of best moves for both players despite the time trouble.
42. Be6 Qe2 43. Rg1 43...Nc6 is strong for Topalov.
43... f4 44. h3 c4 45. Qb6 f3 46. Qf2 Nd3 45...f3 was good, Topalov has a winning attack.
47. Qxf3 Qxe6 48. Rf1 Nf4 49. Ne3 Topalov won a piece, it's over now.
49... c3 50. Rd1 Nf5 51. Re1 Ng3+ 52. Kh2 No chances for Kazimjanov against the well coordinated black pieces. 52...Bd4 finishes it.
52... Be5 53. Ng4 Nfe2 54. Qd3 Bf4 But everything wins here...the white king is in a mating net.
55. Qxc3+ Kf7 56. Qd3 Nf5+ 57. g3 hxg3+ 58. Kg2 Nh4+ 59. Kf1 g2+ 60. Kf2 Bg3+ 61. Qxg3 Nxg3 Topalov missed mate, but it doesn't matter... Kazimjanov resigned. Another great game! The way Topalov grabbed the initiative from a seemingly defensive position with moves like Re7, Rxe5 and especially g5!! showed what a great player he truly is! A key moment in the game was move 32, when Kazimjanov played 32.d7? instead of 32.Bc3! He underestimated 32...Re7 and should have relied on his activity and attack, not his passed pawn, which was eventualy blockaded.
0-1
Kasimdzhanov