The third edition of the supertournament Mtel Masters is awaited with excitement from the chess fans all around the world because of the ruthless game style of the six players, which in combination with the “Sofia Rule” (no agreed short draws) promises many meaningful fight-style chess matches. At the center of our attention every day will be one of the games, and we will try to portray the originality and character of the chess GrandMasters. From the first round we chose the match between the favorite Veselin Topalov and the Romanian number one Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 c6 6. d4 Nisipeanu is trying to surprise Veselin with a rarely seen debut - a Center Counter - and the moderately rare move 3...Qd6 Topalov differed from the usual 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 , which leads to a complicated, even though risky, game for the black. This made his opponent to really start thinking in the debute 6... g6 7. Bf4 Black's position requires undivided attention as the balance in the development of the white may soon lead to tactical motives. And these are Topalov's key strength 7... Qb4 8. Nge2 Bg7 The capturing of the pawn was risky 8...Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.Bb8 Rb8 11.Bc6+ A plan featuring 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 seems attracting and black are really uncoordinated. 9. Qc1 O-O 10. O-O Veselin prefers to rely on his spatial superiority and doesn’t allow any complications after 9.Qd2 Qb2 10.0-0 10... Bg4 11. a3 Qa5 12. h3 White quickly played the preventive a3 and h3 and are forcing the exchange on e2. 12... Bxe2 13. Nxe2 Nbd7 The Bh6 threat is neutralized with the sacrifice of the pair of bishops, but now Topalov has a definite space advantage. There is a possibility for a pawn’s advancement on the the queen’s flank. 14. c4 e5 The only chance for counterplay. 15. b4 Qc7 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Qc2 A precise move that coordinates the white rooks. 17... a5 The normal development of this is 18.Rad1 ab4 19.ab4 and the black queen doesn’t have any comfortable fields. The pawn at b7 is a potential weakness. Topalov’s explotation of the current situation will be interesting. 18. Rae1 axb4 19. axb4 Rfe8 20. c5 Interesting decision, which 20...Nd5, but solidifies the pawns’ structure. 20... Nd5 21. Bd2 Nd7 Fortifying the d5 square against threatening exchange after 22.Nf4 The logical continuation for the white is 22.Nf4 N7f6 23.b5 Red8 24.Rb1 22. Qc4 Worthy of attention 22...Qd8 with idea for Nc7-b5 and if 23.Bd5? cd5 24.Qd5 Ne5 22... N7f6 23. g4 Topalov increases the tension in his position without taking concrete actions yet - effective strategy against an opponent in zeitnot. 23... h5 24. Ng3 hxg4 25. hxg4 Qd7 Strong move including the black queen in the game and freeing c7 square for a knight. After 26.g5 Re1 27.Re1 Ng4 the position remains complicated. 26. g5 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Ne8 28. Bf3 Nec7 The black successfully rearrange, but fell into light zeitnot. 29. Bg4 Qd8 30. Kg2 Nb5 31. Rd1 Ra1 Nisipeanu is trying to simplify the position and solve his time problems by an exchange of the rooks. 32. Rxa1 Bxa1 33. Bf3 Be5 34. Ne2 Ndc7 35. Be3 Ne6 36. Bg4 Nbc7 37. Qe4 Bg7 38.f4 looks risky after 38.Qd1 , but how else could one sustain the tension? 38. f4 Qd1 39. Kf2 Bc3 40. b5 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Nd5 Black made the moves necessary to pass the time control and now are trying to take the initiative The option 42.bc6 bc6 43.Nc3 Ne3+ 44.Kf3 Qh1+ 45.Ke3 Qg1+ 46.Kd2 Qg4 47.Ne2 seams to lead to a draw. 42. bxc6 bxc6 43. Qd3 Big mistake, losing after 43...Bd4 43... Bd4 44. Bxe6 Nxe3+ 45. Kh2 Qf2+ 46. Kh3 Qf3+ 46...Qg2+ was checkmate in 5 moves 47. Ng3 Qg2+ After 48.Kh4 Qh2+ 49.Bh3 Ng2+ 50.Kg4 Qh3+ 51.Kh3 Nf4 the black will have a piece more. 0-1 [Dimitrov Vladimir]