Jan-24-02 knight : The final move of this game opens a diagonal for White's bishop and a combination on the square f7 is unstoppable. Jan-24-06 Whitehat1963 : I hate it when they stop just before carrying out at least part of the decisive combination. Oct-29-07

whiteshark : <Whitehat1963: <I hate it when they stop just before carrying out at least part of the decisive combination.> > There is no defence against the double threats of 24.Nxe6 and 24.Ngxf7. Even the desperate exchange offer <23...Rd5> could be declined with <24. Bc2 g6 25.Ne4 Bg7 26.g5>

click for larger view e.g. 26...Ne7 27.Nf6+ Bxf6 28.Qxf6 Jan-31-08 sitzkrieg : wow this is terrible ..

only 23 moves. Is it that Ivanchuck got nervous or just the passive burn variation? Feb-19-08 acirce : As we know Topalov was a second of Ponomariov in this match. Ivanchuk apparently did not know about this before the press conference preceding it. Ponomariov said <Probably, Ivanchuk was surprised having learnt that among my supporters were Topalov and Danailov. For this reason he made changes in his preparation and chose the French Defence. And when Ivanchuk plays it he usually loses it. This game made its impact on the whole match.> ("64" 1/2002, translated in "Super Tournaments 2002" from Chess Stars) Jan-09-09 dwavechess : 18/22 concur with rybka 3 for Ponomariov at 3 min. per move. Jan-09-09 anandrulez : This is amazing resignation , c5 resigns ! Gotta be one of the best outplaying at this level. Pono was really a upcoming player , bit like carlsen ,however he seems to have slowed down a bit now . Oct-10-09 tentsewang : Vassilly Ivanchuk had been brought to a position known as Zugzwang position! Nov-11-09 JohnBoy : UP, 'chuk!

This great effort by Pono has never been GoTD??? That's a mistake which is easily corrected. Oct-11-10

NM JRousselle : What was the time control on this game? Oct-11-10

Sastre : 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move according to http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/twic377.... Jun-19-11

FSR : Ground Chuk. May-29-12 talisman : 2 captures apiece. Feb-03-19

plang : 9..Nd7 is the main line; Ivanchuk's 9..Qd5 is rarely played. In the draw Ehlvest-Khalifman Bali 2000 White played 11 Ne5; 11 a3 was new. 14..Nd5 15 Qf3..Nxc3+ 16 Qxc3..c5 would have been the safer play than the game continuation. 19..c6? was a very strange move; Black would still have been in the game after 19..Nxc3+ 20 Qxc3..a5. Black lost quickly after 21..Ne7? but White would have had a winning attack after 21..Nb6 22 g5..Nd7 23 Nxd7..Bxd7 24 Nf6+..gxf 25 gxf..Bh6 26 Re4. Ivanchuk resigned due to 23..Qe7 24 Nexf7..Bxf7 25 Nxf7..Qxf7 26 Bxe6. A poor game by Ivanchuk - he has an unfortunate knack for performances like this in high profile games.