It is typical of Alexey Shirov that the finest tournament victory of his career should be followed by one of the worst. Following his triumph at the 5th MTel Masters in Sofia and his invitation to the big money Grand Slam Final in Bilbai this September Shirov travelled to Siberia for the 10th Karpov Poikovsky tournament and lost four a row before a limp fifth round draw with white got him off the mark.

A Motylev - A Shirov

10th Karpov Poikovsky (3)

Four Knights

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nxd4 exd4 7.Nd5 Nd7 8.0-0 g6 9.c3 Bg7 10.cxd4 Bxd4 11.d3 c6 12.Ne3

(A new move but I am not sure it improves on 12.Nc3 Ne5 13.Ne2 Bg4)

12...0-0 13.Kh1 Nc5 14.f4 d5

(14...b5 15.Bb3 Nxb3 16.axb3 f5 looks comfortable for Black with two good bishops but this is also fine)

15.exd5 cxd5 16.Bb3 Re8 17.Qf3 Nxd3?

(It is unlike Shirov to miss a tactical idea 17...Nxb3 18.axb3 f5 19.Qxd5+ Be6 20.Qxd8 Raxd8 is very good for Black. He will regain the pawn and control files and diagonals)

18.f5!! Kh8?

(18...Nxc1 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Raxc1 Bxe3 21.Qf7+ Kh8 22.Rc7 wins but 18...Nxc1 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Raxc1 Kh8 seems to hold)

19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Qd1!

20...Bxe3

(20...Nxc1 21.Qxd4+ Kg8 22.Bxd5+ Be6 23.Ng4 Bxd5 24.Nh6#)

21.Qxd3! d4

(21...Bxc1 22.Qd4+ Kg8 23.Raxc1! Be6 24.Rce1! Intending Rxe6 and Bxd5)

22.Bxe3 Rxe3 23.Rf8+ Kg7

(23...Qxf8 24.Qxd4+ Qg7 25.Qd8+ Re8 26.Qxe8+ Qf8 27.Qxf8#)

24.Rg8+!

A brilliant finish, the winning lines are 24.Rg8+ Qxg8 25.Qxd4+ Kh6 26.Qxe3+ Kg7 27.Bxg8 or 24.Rg8+ Kh6 25.Qxe3+ dxe3 26.Rxd8

Black's attempt to breakout loses rook for bishop and soon the game. 9...Qc7, 9...h6 and 9...Re8 or 11...Ne6 are possible improvements.

V Gashimov - V Bologan

10th Karpov Poikovsky (1)

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.a4 c6 8.Re1 a5 9.h3 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 Ne8 12.Be3 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 d5 14.Ng3 dxc4 15.Ndf5! Be6

(15...Bf6 16.Qxd8 Bxd8 17.Bc5; 15...Bxf5 16.Nxf5 Nc7 17.Qg4 Bf6 18.Rad1 Nd5 19.Bh6)

16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Ne4 Qd8

(17...Rd8 18.Bc5 Rxd1 19.Bxe7)

18.Bc5 Nf6 19.Bxf8 Qxf8 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qd4 Qd8 22.Qf4 f5 23.Qg3+ Kf8 24.Qe5 Qg5 25.Re3 Qg7 26.Qd6+ Ke8 27.Rae1 1-0

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