Veselin Topalov scored what may prove to be a decisive victory over Gata Kamsky in the second game of their world title final eliminator at Sofia. The world number one, playing in his home city, surprised his opponent as early as move four and caught him unprepared.

Kamsky sank into thought and sacrificed a pawn. It was an excellent idea but the resulting time pressure made it hard for him to play the best moves later on. After Kamsky chose to play for the attack instead of regaining the pawn with equality, Topalov missed the best continuation but an inspired piece sacrifice in the endgame proved to be a decisive psychological blow.

Kamsky should have accepted the offer and would have stayed in the game but with little time on the clock he chose instead to remain a pawn down and was soon in a hopeless position.

The score is Topalov 1.5-0.5 Kamsky with six to play.

G Kamsky - V Topalov

World Chess Challenge Sofia (2)
Ruy Lopez Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5

4...Nxe4 leads to the Berlin Wall

5.Nxe5

5.c3 0-0 6.d4 Bb6 7.Bg5 is the sharpest line

5...Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.d4

7.Qxe4 Qe7 8.d4 Nc6! saves the piece and leads to a roughly equal position 9.Qg4!? is possible

7...Qe7

7...Bxd4?? 8.Qxe4 wins a piece

8.dxc5 Nxc5

The Black king is in danger in the centre

9.Nc3 Ng6

Very risky but since it was played instantly we can assume Topalov had it all worked out

10.Qh5

10.Be3!? Ne6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.f4

10...c6 11.Bg5 f6 12.Rae1 Ne6 13.Bd3 0-0! 14.Bd2 d5 15.f4

Winning the pawn back is just level after 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Qxg6 Qf7

15...Qc5+ 16.Kh1 d4 17.Bf5!?

Topalov

Kamsky

Position after 17.Bf5!? threatening Bxe6+ winning the queen.

17...Rf7!!

A brilliant idea which bamboozles Kamsky. However, there was a better move 17...Nexf4!! 18.Rxf4 dxc3 19.Bxc3 .Bxf5 20.Rxf5 Qc4 with a clear extra pawn or here 19.Be6+ Bxe6 20.Qxc5 cxd2 21.Rd1 Nxf4 with too much for the queen

18.Ne4 Qd5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxd5 cxd5 21.Nd6 Rc7

21...Re7 22.Bb4 is very strong but Topalov has foreseen a piece sacrifice

22.c4?

Panic, 22.Nxc8 Raxc8 23.Rxe6 Rxc2 24.Bb4 Rxb2 gives Black more than enough compensation for the piece but White should not lose after 25.a3 b6 26.Rd1 Rcc2 27.h3 whereas now he is a pawn down for nothing

22...dxc3 23.Bxc3 d4 24.Bb4 Bd7 25.Rf2 a5 26.Ba3 b5 27.b3 b4 28.Bb2 Ra6 29.Ne4 Rac6 30.Kg1 Rc2 31.g3 d3 32.Rd1 f5 0-1

Final position after 32...f5, when the knight moves Black plays Rxf2 followed by Rc2+ winning a piece

Play through the game.