(9) Kasparov,G (2830) - Kramnik,V (2751) [C67]
BGN World Chess Championship (9), 22.10.2000
[Khodarkovsky; Shakarov; Mig]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 h6 The Berlin again, after a break in games 5 and 7, Kasparov returns to the opening of games 1 and 3. It's hard to say in which game he got less from the opening! 10.Rd1+ Kasparov varies from the other games with this check, but the basic facts of the game don't change. Black has a solid position, White has more space, and it's damn near impossible for White to make progress even with precise play! 10...Ke8 11.h3 a5 12.Bf4 Be6 13.g4 Ne7 14.Nd4 Nd5 15.Nce2 Bc5 Yet again Kramnik was far ahead on the clock. His preparation in this line is obviously tremendous. Until this point they were following a game of the current world junior champion, Galkin. There his opponent played 15...h5. Kramnik's move looks better. [15...h5 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.c4 Nb4 18.b3 favors white] 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.c4 Nb6 18.b3N Up to there the players were following the game Vuchkovich-Sakaev, 2000. (Sakaev has been one of Kramnik's coaches.) [18.Bg3 a4 19.Rac1 Kf7 20.h4?! h5 with initiative for black] 18...a4 19.Bd2 Kf7 [19...Rf8 20.Nf4 Bd4? 21.Nxe6! Bxa1 22.Nxc7+ Kf7 23.e6+ Kg6 24.e7! Rfe8 25.Nxa8 Nxa8 26.Rxa1 white is winning] 20.Bc3 Rhd8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Kg2 Rd3 After a few maneuvers things haven't changed a great deal. Kramnik has a rock-solid rook on d3 and Kasparov is hoping to drum up something on the kingside. But after Kramnik takes on b3 Kasparov gets distracted by some queenside activity. 23.Rc1 g5 24.Rc2 This passive move was criticized. Shifting to the kingside with 24.Rh1 or the immediate 24.h4 were suggested, but don't promise any more. [24.h4? gxh4 25.Rh1 h3+; 24.Rh1 axb3 25.axb3 Be7] 24...axb3 25.axb3 Nd7 26.Ra2 Be7! This looks sufficient. Former world champion Vassily Smyslov honored the KasparovChess.com Moscow offices with his presence during the game and suggested 27.Bf8. Kramnik's move has the added advantage of preventing h4 and stopping a check on the 7th rank. 27.Ra7 In the press conference Kasparov admitted that this was an immediate draw. There doesn't appear to be anything stronger at this point. [27.b4 c5 28.b5 Nb6 29.Ra7 Nxc4 30.Rxb7 Nb6 equal chances; 27.f3? b5] 27...Nc5 28.f3 [28.b4 Ne4 29.Be1 Rd1 30.Bc3 Nxc3 31.Nxc3 Rc1 32.Ne2 Rxc4 33.Rxb7 Rxb4 34.Rxc7 c5 35.Ng3 with the idea Kf3 and Nh5 and the game is even] 28...Nxb3! 29.Rxb7 Nc1! Now it's crystal clear. Another draw! Kramnik has held back the "White" Kasparov in five consecutive match games, no small achievement! Kramnik continues to lead the match, the score is now 5-4 in his favor. He will have white in game 10 on Tuesday, October 24. 30.Nxc1 [30.Rxc7?? Nxe2 31.Bb4 Nf4+ 32.Kf2 Ng6 and Black wins] 30...Rxc3 1/2-1/2