Round 5. Game 2
Only one semi-finalist is defined (12.12.2000)

Adams extinguished Topalov’s initiative without particular difficulties. The Bulgarian grandmaster may go home. This draw meant his defeat. Khalifman also made a draw with Anand, and very short one. Tkachiev’s reputation as a master of blitz allows him to hope for a positive result in the tie break. Bareev and Shirov fought a great struggle, and Shirov won. We give this interesting game. As the result, the opponents proceed to the tie break. One Chinese player will take part in the Women’s final after she won the first game of the present round and made a draw in the second. Kovalevskaya and Xie Jun will play rapid and perhaps blitz games. A victory of Xie Jun can disprove our prognosis totally.

Shirov - Bareev
Round 5. Game 2

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bc4 Nf6 11. Rhe1 Nd5

White is fully developed, whereas Black’s bishop on c8 and rook on a8 still occupy their initial squares. Shirov needs a victory, so we can hope to see an attack on the king here.

12. Ne5 f5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nc5 Bg5

This move is hard to understand. White’s knights already feel good in the centre, and Bareev allows his opponent to support them even better. Perhaps Black should have tried 14... f4.

15. f4 Bf6 16. h3 Qd6 17. Ncd3 b6 18. g4 c5 19. g5 Bd8 20. Qg2 Rb8 21. g6 c4

Will Shirov really put his knight on f2? No, nothing of the kind. He chooses a strange attacked square for the knight. The next diagram is given to emphasise the brilliance of the knights’ dominance over two bishops.

22. Nb4

The knight cannot be taken because of the simple trick 23. Qxd5+ Kh8 24. Nf7+, threatening with a mate if Black does not take the knight. 24... Rxf7 25. gxf7. Now there’s no escape. Mate threats are numerous. Of course Bareev did not take the knight, but lost anyway.

22... Bb7 23. gxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rg1 Qh6 25. Qf3 Bf6 26. Nd7 Rbd8 27. Nxf8+ Rxf8 28. Nxd5 Kh8

d5-knight is bound, no doubt. But the end is close, Shirov made only one more move.

29. Qa3

1-0

Draws, made by other participants, seem dull beside this game.