The Gods must be Crazy

The fifth Jubilee tournament M-Tel Masters takes place in Sofia. It is from the ultra-prestigious 21 Category. Two rounds are already played, and the audience could witness (live from the glass cage in front of the National Theater!) full-blooded battle, excellent chess, and high quality...blunders.
Have a look at these two:
Wang Yue (2738) - Dominguez Perez,L (2717)
5th MTel Masters Sofia BUL (1), 13.05.2009

64.b5?? Insted White was easily winning after- [64.Kd3! e1Q 65.Rxe1 Kxe1 66.Ke3! Kf1 67.Kf4

and even the Reti idea to win a tempo and catch the pawn does not work- 67...Kf2 68.Kxg4 Ke3 69.b5] 64...e1Q 65.Rxe1 and draw was agreed since both players promote-[65.Rxe1 Kxe1 66.b6 g3 67.b7 g2 68.b8Q g1Q] Ѕ–Ѕ

Ivanchuk,Vassily (2746) - Wang Yue (2738)
5th MTel Masters Sofia BUL (2), 14.05.2009

Ivanchuck’s will to win is remarkable, but here it backfires:

44.Bxg5?? White could make a draw, instead, for example- [44.Bxe6 Kxe6 45.Bxg5 hxg4 46.Kxg4 d5= and the opposite-coloured bishops secure Black the half point] 44...Bxd5 45.f4+ [45.cxd5 Nxg5 46.f4+ Ke4 transposes to the game] 45...Ke4 46.cxd5 Nxg5 47.fxg5

47...h4+!! Otherwise it is White who wins. 48.Kxh4 Kf3 The king is trapped. Soon the useful moves will be over, and White will have to give away a pawn. 49.b4 b5 50.a5 Kg2 51.h3 Kh2

[51...Kh2 52.c3 Kg2 53.c4 bxc4 54.b5 c3 55.bxa6 c2 56.a7 c1Q 57.a8Q Qe1#] 0–1

Important Draw

The following game was played in round six of the Bulgarian Individual Championship. Krasimir Rusev was one of the favourites, a player who has a strong white colour. He did not start very impressively, and he needed to win for sure if he still wanted to chase the title. In my turn I had not to lose and keep him in distance. However, a possible win would be quite desirable, in order to keep the lead together with Boris Chatalbashev.
Rusev,Krasimir (2546) - Bojkov,Dejan (2477) [E81]
Blagoevgrad BUL, 73rd Men Ch r_6 Blagoevgrad BUL (6.5), 16.02.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 The first surprise. He did not play like this for about two years. 5...0–0 6.Be3 c5 This was already a surprise for him, since I do not have games on this subject in Magabase. 7.Nge2 Qa5 8.Qd2 [8.d5 b5 9.cxb5 a6 10.Ng3 (10.Nc1? is not working due to

10...Nxe4! 11.fxe4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qxc3+–+) 10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.0–0 Nd7 14.Rc1 Ne5 15.Qe2 c4і 16.a3 Nd3 17.Rc2 Nac5 18.Nd1 Qb5 19.Bd2 Na4 20.Bc3 Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Qb3 22.Nd1 Rab8 23.f4 e6 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.Rf3 Nxf4 0–1 Bogdanovski,V (2483)-Kempinski,R (2587)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092; 8.Nc1 cxd4 9.Nb3 (9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Nb3 Qd8 11.Be3 Be6 12.Rc1 Ne5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.cxd5 e6 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Be2 (16.Qd2 d5) 16...Nxe4 17.fxe4 Qh4+ 18.Kd2 Qxe4 19.Rc3 Qxg2 was rather unclear and soon after a draw was agreed in Bischoff-Stelvagen, Germany, 2004(19...d5! however would have given Black strong initiative) ) 9...Qh5 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Qd2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Be6=] 8...Nc6 9.d5 [9.dxc5 is somewhat antipositional exchange. 9...dxc5 10.Nd5 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Nd7 and Black has an excellent position; 9.0–0–0 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.b3 a6 14.Nd5 Qxd2 15.Rxd2 Bxd5 16.cxd5 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Be2 a5= or maybe even slightly more pleasant for Black.] 9...Ne5 10.Ng3

[10.Nc1 a6 11.Be2 (11.a4 e6! 12.Ra3 (12.Be2 exd5 13.cxd5 b5) 12...exd5 13.cxd5 Nh5! 14.Be2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Bh6 Qb4 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 (17...Qh4+ 18.g3 Nxg3 19.Bxe5! Ne4+ (19...dxe5 20.Rg1) 20.Bg3 Nxg3 21.Rg1 f4 (21...Qxh2 22.Qg5+ Kf7 23.Rxg3+-) 22.Bd3+-) 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.a5 Bd7 21.N1e2 Rae8 1/2 Spassky,B (2565)-Polgar,J (2595)/Budapest 1993/CBM 033/[Ftacnik] ) 11...Bd7 12.f4?! a) 12.a4 Qb4 13.b3 e6 14.N1a2 Qa5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Qxd6 Nfd7 17.Kf2 Nc6 18.Rac1 Nd4 19.b4 Qb6 20.Qxb6 Nxb6 21.bxc5 Nxe2 22.Nxe2 was quite messy in Kramnik,V (2685)-Gelfand,B (2690)/Linares 1993/CBM 034 (53); b) 12.h3? b5 13.b3 Nh5!µleads to big advantage for Black (13...Ne8! is also good) ; 12...Neg4 13.Bg1 b5 14.Bf3 Nh5 (14...Bh6! is already an edge for Black) 15.N1e2 0–1 Lehtivaara,P (2337)-Gallagher,J (2531)/Neuchatel 2004/CBM 100 ext (32)] 10...Qb4 [10...a6 is the main continuation 11.f4?! (11.Be2 is more solid.) 11...Ned7 12.h3 h5 (12...b5! 13.cxb5 h5 14.bxa6 h4 15.Nge2 Bxa6 gives strong initiative to Black as Dautov pointed out) 13.Bd3 b5 14.0–0 1–0 Dautov,R (2595)-Kempinski,R (2530)/Bad Wiessee 1997/CBM 061 ext (34)] 11.a3 [11.b3? Nfg4! 12.Rc1 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 b5 14.cxb5 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qd2 Qh4 17.Qf2 a6 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Qe2 c4 21.0–0 Nd3 22.Nb5 Nxc1 was great for the second player 0–1 Gupta,A (2470)-Jones,G (2567)/Yerevan 2007/CBM 120 ext (64)] 11...Qb3 12.Qd1 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 Nfd7

[or 13...e6 14.Be2 exd5 15.cxd5 a6 16.f4 1/2 Maiwald,J (2500)-Kempinski,R (2613)/Dresden 2008/CBM 125 Extra] 14.Kd2 Nb6 15.b3 e6 16.Kc2 White could sacrifice a piece with: [16.Nb5!? exd5 17.exd5 f5 18.Nxd6 f4 19.Bxc5 fxg3 20.hxg3 Nbd7 21.Bf2 with compensation] 16...exd5 17.exd5?! [Better was 17.Nxd5 Be6 (17...Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Nc6 19.Rxd6 Nd4+ 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Ne2 Bg7 and nice compensation on the black squares) 18.Nc7 (18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Rxd6 Rxa3 is excellent for Black) 18...Rad8 19.Nxe6 fxe6=] 17...f5

The opening battle is in favour of Black. I managed to develop harmoniously my pieces, and can try to press on both flanks. 18.f4 Ng4 19.Bg1 Bh6 20.Nge2 Bd7 21.h3 Nf6 22.Be3 Rae8 23.Bd2 Na8!?

The knight is heading to c7 (b4) and wants to support the b7-b5 advance. However, the computer recommends: [23...Ne4!? 24.Nxe4 fxe4 25.Be3 but in this line I did not appreciate- 25...a5 with the idea-26.a4?! Nxc4! I considered this blow during the game, but could not find an appropriate moment for it... 27.bxc4 Bxa4+ 28.Kd2 Bxd1 29.Kxd1 a4 and Black is close to win] 24.a4 Nc7 25.g3 Na6 26.Bg2 [26.Nb5 Ne4 27.Re1 Nxd2 28.Kxd2 Bxb5 29.axb5 Nb4 30.Ra1 a6 31.bxa6 bxa6 is advantageous for Black.] 26...Nb4+ 27.Kb1 a6 The patient [27...b6 was suggested by my opponent after the game.] 28.a5 Re7 29.Bf3 Rfe8 30.Nc1 Bg7 31.N3a2 Nxa2 32.Kxa2 [32.Nxa2? loses on the spot- 32...Re3 33.Bxe3 Rxe3 34.Rhf1 Rxb3+ 35.Kc2 Ra3 36.Nc3 Ng4

] 32...Ne4 33.Bxe4 fxe4 34.Ne2 e3 35.Bc1 Bf5 36.Bb2 Bf8 [36...h5!?] 37.Rh2 b5 I decided to open a second front in the time-scramble. Not very practical decision, indeed. [37...Be4 38.Ng1 h5 39.Re2 Bf5 40.Bc3 looks solid for White.] 38.axb6 Rb7 39.Re1 Rxb6 40.g4 Bd7 The last move before the control is a serious inaccuracy. I was afraid to place the bishop on a vulnerable position, and went back passively. Correct was: [40...Be4! 41.Nc1 (41.Ng1 a5 42.Rxe3?? Bb1+) 41...Bf3 42.Bc3 Bg7

for example: 43.Bxg7 Kxg7 44.Ne2 a5 45.Ng1 Be4 46.Rhe2 Reb8 47.Rxe3 Bc2 48.Re7+ Kf8 49.Rxh7 Bxb3+ 50.Ka1 Bxc4 51.Ra7 Bxd5 52.Rxa5 Rb4 and Black is clearly on top.] 41.Ng3 a5 42.Rhe2 a4 There is no other way for me anymore. 43.Rxe3 axb3+ 44.Kb1

The tables have turn in White's favour now. 44...Kf7 45.Rxe8 Bxe8 46.Bc3 White wants gradually to improve his position. Before the second time-limit I correctly decided to sacrifice my passer in order to liquidate in seemingly drawish position. However, I did not foresee all the aspects of white ideas. 46...b2!? 47.Ne4 Ba4 48.Re2 h6 49.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 50.Kxb2 Bd1 The bishop hits the enemy pawns and does not let him to improve his knight and king. I believe that this is a draw with precise play. 51.g5 Bf3 [51...hxg5 is more precise.] 52.Nd2 Be2 53.h4 hxg5 54.hxg5 Be7 55.Ba5 Ke8 56.Kb3 Bd1+ 57.Kc3 Be2 58.Kb3 Bd1+ 59.Ka3 Bf8 60.Bc3 Kd7?? 61.Nf1?? We both played carelessly and missed half point each. I did not occupy the vital diagonal at one, and could be punished severely- [61.f5! Bc2 62.f6+-

after this White's plan is simple- he goes with his knight on e6, exchanges the dark-squared bishop, transfers the bishop on c7 and simply wins both the pawns, since my king is busy guarding the f6 passer.] 61...Be2 White tries now various set-ups, but finally, in vain.62.Ne3 Bd3 63.Bf6 Bb1 64.Kb3 Be4 65.Kc3 Ke8 66.Kd2 Kf7 67.Kc1 Bd3 68.Kb2 Ke8 69.Kb3 Kd7 70.Ka4 Be4 71.Ka5 Bd3 72.Kb5 Be4 73.Nf1 Bd3 74.Ng3 Ke8 75.Nh1 Kd7 76.Nf2 Bc2 77.Kb6 Bb3 [77...Bf5] 78.Kb5 Computer defends after the straightforward: [78.f5 Bxc4 79.fxg6 Bxd5 80.g7 Be7 81.Ng4 Be6 82.Kb5 d5 (82...Ke8 83.Nh6) 83.Nh6 d4 84.g8Q Bxg8 85.Nxg8 d3=

] 78...Bc2 79.Ng4 Bf5 80.Ne3 Bd3 81.Kb6 Be2 82.Kb5 [82.f5 gxf5 83.Nxf5 Bxc4=] 82...Bd3 83.f5 Bxf5 84.Ka4 1/2

Hunt

Oleg Pervakov
1992

White is a pawn ahead, but it is under attack. The material is reduced, and he needs to co-ordinate all his pieces in order to achieve the win. First he starts a hunt for the rook. 1.Bc2 White loads the gun. The rook is in danger. 1...Rxa3+ White will realize the extra pawn prosaically in the line: [1...Kh6 2.a4 Ne6 (2...Rb2 3.Rb1!) 3.Kc3 Nc5 4.Rg4] 2.Kc4+ Kh8 [2...Kh6 3.Rg6+ Kh7 4.Rxa6+] 3.Rh1+ The move transposion is impossible: [3.Bb3? Ra5 4.Rh1+ Rh5=] 3...Kg8 4.Bb3!

The gun is loaded again. Black must give away the rook. Instead he goes for the last white pawn. 4...Ne6 5.Kb4 Rxb3+ 6.Kxb3 Nd4+ 7.Kc4 Nxe2

However, the knight is far away from his monarch, and another hunt starts... 8.Rf1! Kh7 9.Rf2 Ng3 [9...Nc1 10.Rc2+-] 10.Rh2+ Kg6 11.Rg2 1–0

Concentration till the End

I try to teach my students how to avoid the mistakes of my poor experience, and to save them precious time. This recent game reminded me of some of the most common ones that I did:
Lupulescu,C (2608) - Abasov,N (2397)
Victor Ciocaltea Mem Bucharest ROM (6), 28.03.2009

29.Rf6!! What made White discover this move? Let us try to follow his thinking process. [White is a pawn ahead, and he has more active pieces. Various tactical ideas can be seen for him. The first one is the weak eight rank: 29.Qf7!? (Not 29. Qf5 because of 29...g6 30.Qe5+ Bg7) 29...g6 30.Rd8 Black must defend with only moves- 30...Qa3 (30...Rxd8 will either lose both rooks or lead to mate as in the line- 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Qxd8+ Kf7 33.Bd5+ Kg7 34.Qe7+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Bg7 36.Qd8+ Bf8 37.Qxf8#) White is at crossroads, should he win a second pawn with- 31.Qf6+ or should he better proceed with the development- (31.Rfd1!

This option is in fact much better. Bringing more forces into the attack is never a mistake. Even the tricky computer move- 31...Qd6!? would not save Black- 32.Qxh7+ Kxh7 33.R8xd6 Rxc4 34.Bxg6+ Kg7 35.Rxa6+-) At the same time the win of the second pawn makes White's task more difficult- 31...Bg7 32.Rxf8+ Qxf8 33.Qxa6±

True, he emerged two pawns ahead. However, the presence of the opposite coloured bishops, active black pieces, and last but not least-the fact that black king is now in safety should make us abandon this line. I missed many wins like this in my life. Remember, when you realize your advantage there is always a moment in which you must calculate precisely the win till the end. Any prolonging of the battle increases the possibility of your further mistakes.

Another interesting tactical idea is: 29.Rxh6?? With the idea to pick up the rook in case of- …29...gxh6 (However, this rushy continuation may cost you a well deserved win, since White's back rank is also weak. The cold shower- 29...Qxf2+!!

30.Rxf2 Rc1+ 31.Rf1 Rfxf1# will follow. We must never forget that the opponent has his own, creative ideas!) 30.Qe5+; Finally, we reach the move made in the game. It is both attacking and prophylactic, excluding the Black's counter attacking options. 29.Rf6!! gxf6 30.Qxh6 Rf7 31.Bxh7 White's attack is enough to take back the material with interest- 31...Qa3 32.Be4+ Kg8 33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Bd5 Qe7 35.Rb1 Rb3!?

36.Qh6+ Kg8 37.Bxf7+ Kxf7 38.Qh7+ Kf8 39.Qxe7+ Kxe7 40.Rxb3+-] 1–0

Afek's Best (3)

Yochanan Afek will present you another of his remarkable studies. The theme is my favourite-domination. In order to achieve it white will have to sacrifice..., but do better see it yourselves-
[2nd Comm. Themes 64 1977 , 1977]
Annotations by [Afek,Y]

The black knight is stuck and dominated in the corner, nevertheless both hanging white pieces make it hard to take a direct advantage of it: 1.Ba4? cxb4 2.c5 b3 3.Bxb3 Nxb3 4.c6 Na2 5.c7 Nc6+ 6.Kd6 Na7=and white is one tempo short from his goal while 1.Na6? Kxd1 2.Nxc5 Nc2 3.Na6 Ne3 4.c5 Nc4+ 5.Kd5 Na5 is a simple book draw. Much more creative thinking is therefore required here: 1.Nc2! Nb3 Hoping for 2.Ne3? Na5! 3.Ke4 Nxc4! however... 2.Na1!! The knights exchange places and the capture now is forced in view of 2...Na5 3.Nb3+! 2...Nxa1

What have we got here? it is in fact the initial position just with the absence of the hanging knight on b4! This tiny difference finally paves white's way to an easy victory. 3.Ba4 Kc3 4.Kd5 Kb4 5.Bd1!

And in this reciprocal Zugzwang it's black to play...and lose! 1–0

My first book-"A Course in Chess Tactics"

My first book (in cooperation ith GM Vladimir Georgiev) is going to be published this September. You can read the preview from the publisher "Gambit":
The advice frequently given to chess-players eager to improve their results is straightforward: study tactics! But there is often little useful guidance as to how this is best done. By solving puzzle positions? Or endgame studies? By dissecting the games of great tacticians?
Few books present a structured approach to tactics, so this book fills a valuable niche in the ambitious player's library. The authors present each major tactical theme in turn, explaining how it works and providing inspiring examples. They then explain how you can spot the idea in your own games and use it to your advantage. You immediately get a chance to put your knowledge to the test, as there are challenging exercises throughout the whole book, with detailed solutions.
The second part of the book offers more advanced material, and takes us inside the professional's tactics laboratory. Here we see how tactical themes are combined, and employed to achieve strategic goals. We are also shown how grandmasters spot the targets for their breathtaking combinations, which we thus come to see not as sheer witchcraft, but as the product of disciplined thought and training.
Bulgarian grandmaster Dejan Bojkov is an extremely active player and writer on chess, whose reports appear on Chessbase.com and in Chess Today, among many others. Vladimir Georgiev is also a grandmaster from Bulgaria, who now plays for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - he has won the national championship of both countries. He is the trainer of former Women's World Champion, grandmaster Antoaneta Stefanova.

Kaissa’s Gentle Touch

Kukov,Velislav (2373) - Bojkov,Dejan (2477) [E90]
Blagoevgrad BUL, 73rd Men Ch R-13 Blagoevgrad BUL (13.2), 22.02.2009
This game was played in the final round of the Bulgarian Individual Championship. Boris Chatalbashev was leading with 10/12, I was second with 9, third was Momchil Nikolov with 8, and the fourth- Julian Radulski had 7 points. The spiciness of the situation was the fact that in all the players that were chasing the one in front of them had better tie-breaks. This meant that in case of a win, I could hope for the title (in case that Chatalbashev loses). On the other hand, a possible loss could send me to the third place. I needed to play for a win with maximum stability. The exchanged line of the KID did not bother me.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.e4 d6 6.h3 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5 Na6 10.Nd5 Rd6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Rc1 Bd8 13.c5 Re6 14.a3 Kg7

A very useful prophylactic move. The king goes away from the possible pin on the a2-g8 diagonal, thus preparing f7-f6 or f7-f5 advances. [14...c6 is also logical. However, after: 15.Bxa6 it is better for Black to capture the knight, rather than the bishop, as the following game shows: (15.Ne3 b6 Ѕ–Ѕ Grivas,E (2475)-Kotronias,V (2610)/Karditsa 1996/CBM 053 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Bc4 Re8 18.Bxa6 Bxa6 19.Rxc6 Bb7 20.Rc4і 1/2 Grivas,E (2505)-Mozetic,D (2585)/Karditsa 1994/CBM 043) 15...bxa6 (№15...cxd5 16.Bd3 Re7 17.0–0 Bd7=) 16.Ne3 see the game 1–0 Arnaudov,P (2195)-Urukalovic,R (2273)/Zadar CRO 2008 (48)] 15.b4 [15.h4?! does not promise anything for White- 15...c6 16.Bxa6 (16.Ne3 b6 17.Bc4 White wins a pawn, but the powerful bishops an the insecure position of the enemy king provide more than sufficient compensation to Black. 17...Re7 18.Bxa6 Bxa6 19.cxb6 axb6 20.Rxc6 Bb7 21.Rc4 b5 22.Rc5 Bxe4 23.Rxb5 (23.Rxe5 Ba5+ with the idea- 24.b4 Rxe5 25.Nxe5 Bc7 with big advantage for Black) 23...Rc8 and Black does not have to complain at all) 16...cxd5 17.Bd3 dxe4 (17...Re7!?) 18.Bxe4 f5 19.Bd5 Re7 20.Ke2 And White already experienced difficulties, since the line: (20.0–0 e4 21.Nd4 Re5 22.Bb3 Bxh4 loses a pawn (Ilincic)) 20...e4 21.Nd2 Re5 and Black was already better in Grivas,E (2505)-Ilincic,Z (2530)/Varna 1994/EXT 1997 (33); 15.Ne3!? is worth a try in a practical game. Now: 15...c6 can transpose, but (15...Nb8 is an interesting alternative- 16.Bc4 (16.h4 Nc6 17.Bc4 Re8 18.h5 Nd4ѓ) 16...Re8 17.0–0 f6 18.Rfd1 c6= should give good play to Black.) 16.Bc4 (16.Bxa6 bxa6 transposes to Arnaudov,P (2195)-Urukalovic,R (2273)/Zadar CRO 2008 (48), where the rook on e6 was a target for the white knights.) 16...Re7 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Nc4 Bc7 19.Kd2 a5 20.Kc3 Ba6 21.Nfd2 Rb8 22.Rhd1 a4= is a line given by Ilincic in the Chess Informant.] 15...c6 16.Bxa6 cxd5 17.Bd3 Re7 18.0–0 f5

This is better version of the game Kapnisis- Kotronias where Black had his king on g8, but still quite unclear. If Black wants save equality, he can opt for: [18...dxe4 19.Bxe4 f5 20.Bd5 e4 21.Nd4 Re5 22.Bb3 Bf6=] 19.exd5 e4 20.d6 Rd7 I felt that this is the best choice. [20...Rf7 21.Ne5 a) 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Ne5 Rf5; b) 21.Bc4! exf3 22.Bxf7 Kxf7 (22...fxg2? 23.Rfd1) 23.b5 Bg5 24.Rc2 Bd7 25.c6 bxc6 26.bxc6 Rc8 27.h4!

27...Bxh4 28.Rfc1 Be6 29.Rb1 fxg2 30.Rb7+ Kg8 31.d7+-; 21...exd3 22.b5 (22.Nxf7 Kxf7 23.Rfd1 Bg5 24.Rc3 Bd7 (24...d2 25.g3 Bd7 26.f4 Bf6 27.Rd3 a5) ) 22...Rf8 23.d7 d2 24.Rc2 Ba5 25.c6] 21.Ne5 During the game I mainly studied- [21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Ne5 Bf6 23.Nxd7 Bxd7 24.Rfe1 Bc6 when white passed pawns are blocked, and Black already threatens to start picking them up.; 21.Bb5 exf3 22.Bxd7 fxg2 23.Kxg2 Bxd7 is much better for Black] 21...exd3

22.b5 d2 [Clearly worse is- 22...Ba5 23.Nc4 Bd8 24.c6 (24.Rfd1!?; If White wants a draw he can repeat the moves-24.Ne5=) 24...bxc6 25.bxc6 Rf7 26.Rfd1 Ba6 27.Ne5 and White is on top] 23.Rc2 Bf6 I disliked that in the lines starting with: [23...Bg5 24.f4?! (Better is 24.h4!? Bxh4 (24...Bf4? 25.Nxd7 Bxd7 26.c6 bxc6 27.bxc6 Be6 28.d7 Bc7 29.Rxd2+-) 25.Rxd2 with advantage) 24...Bxf4 25.Nxd7 Bxd7 26.c6 bxc6 27.bxc6 Rc8? (Instead of this Black must play 27...Be6 28.d7 Kf6 which leads to almost won position) 28.cxd7 the d8 square is not protected and Black loses an exchange.] 24.f4 This looks like a mistake to me now. In the line- [24.Nxd7 Bxd7 25.c6 Rc8! 26.c7 Bxb5 Black wins the pawn, but the computer shows that the things are far away from clear- 27.Rb1 Bg5 It looks like that Black should play the complicated position after: (27...Bd7 28.Rxd2 b5 and it is very unclear) 28.h4 Bf4 29.g3 Bxd6 (29...Ba4 30.d7 (30.gxf4 Bxc2 31.d7 Bxb1 32.d8Q leads also to an edge for White) 30...Bxd7 31.gxf4 Bc6 32.Rxd2 Rxc7) 30.Rxd2 Rxc7 31.Rxb5 Bxa3 32.Rbd5±] 24...Rd8 25.Rxd2 Bxe5 26.fxe5 Bd7

27.e6 [27.a4 Kf7 is simply bad] 27...Bxe6 28.c6 Rac8 [28...bxc6 29.bxc6 Rac8 30.Rc1 Bd7 31.c7 Re8 could have kept the bishop alive.] 29.Re1 [29.Rc1 Bd7 30.Rdc2 bxc6 31.bxc6 Be8 32.d7 Bxd7 33.cxd7 Rxc2 34.Rxc2 Rxd7 is also great for Black] 29...Kf7 And not: [29...Kf6? 30.d7 Rc7 31.Rd6+-] 30.d7 Rc7 31.Rde2 Bxd7 32.Re7+ Kf6 33.cxd7 Playing for mate fails- [33.Rxh7 bxc6 34.Ree7 cxb5 35.h4 Rc1+ 36.Kh2 Be6] 33...Rdxd7

I managed to emerge a pawn ahead from the complications. However, a rook endgame always gives a lot of drawing chances for the defender. 34.R7e6+ Kg5 35.b6?! White wants to exchange both the pawns on the queen's flank, but he lacks the time. [35.R1e2 securing the second rank should have been preferred.] 35...axb6 36.Rxb6 Rc2 37.Re3 [37.Rb3 Rdd2 38.Rg3+ Kf6–+] 37...Rd1+ 38.Kh2 f4–+

39.Rf3 Rdd2 40.Rb5+ Kh6 41.Rxf4 Rxg2+ 42.Kh1 Rh2+ 43.Kg1 Rxh3 44.a4 Rc7 45.Rfb4 Somewhere around here Chatalbashev resigned against his young opponent, which meant that a win will give me the title. This is the reason why the realization of the advantage took that long. 45...Ra3 46.Rh4+ Kg7 47.Rhb4 Rc1+ 48.Kg2 Rc2+ 49.Kg1 Ra1+ 50.Rb1 Rxa4 51.Rxb7+ Kh6 52.R7b5 Rg4+ 53.Kf1 Rg5 54.Rb7 Rf5+ 55.Kg1 Rfc5 56.R1b4 R2c4 57.Rb3 Rc1+ 58.Kg2 R5c2+ 59.Kg3 Rc3+ 60.Rxc3 Rxc3+ 61.Kf4 Rc4+ 62.Ke5 Rc5+ 63.Kf4 g5+ 64.Kg4 Rc4+ 65.Kg3 Rc6 66.Ra7 Kg6 67.Ra5 h5 68.Rb5 Rc3+ 69.Kg2 h4 70.Ra5 Kh5 71.Ra4 Rc2+ 72.Kh1 h3 73.Rb4 g4 74.Ra4 Kh4 75.Rb4 Re2 76.Ra4 Kg3 77.Ra3+ Kf4 78.Ra8 Kf3 79.Rf8+ Kg3 80.Rf1 Re4 81.Ra1 Kh4 82.Rb1 g3 83.Kg1 Kg4 84.Kh1 Rd4 85.Ra1 Rd3 86.Rb1 Kf3 87.Re1 Kf2 88.Rg1 Ke2 89.Ra1 Rd1+

0–1

And this was it, I claimed my first Bulgarian national title in the classical chess.