1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Once again Radjabov's favorite French defense in which he scored a surprising win over #1 ranked Chess player Garry Kasparov in the 2nd round. This time the Classical World Champion decides to check out Radjabov's home preparation in the 7...a6 variant. However this time Teimour selects an old and well know line 7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2!? A rare follow-up. I am sure Vlady had something in mind. Usually white plays 11. h4 here with some advantage.The text move prepares Bd3! Typically the best place for the light squared bishop in the French defense. 11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 b5 This is Radjabov's last opportunity to exchange the Queens off and to jump into slightly worse endgame. 13... Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qc5 15. Ne2 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 White has a better bishop, a classical knight on d4- so especially against Kramnik this is not so easy to draw such an endgame. 14. Qh4! This is white's idea - to create a couple weaknesses on the King side and to push pawns to intercept once the target is created. 14... h6 15. Ne2 f6?! 15... Bb7 The idea of Qh4 in the next variation. 16. g4! and thanks to the pawn on h6, white's attack develops very fast with g5! to follow. 16. Qg4 Kramnik wins the theoretical discussion. White has developed a pleasant initiative on the King-side, while Radjabov is deplete of any counterplay. The threats of Qe6 and Qg6 are forcing black to forget about any actions on the Queen-side. 16... Bxd4 16... f5 17. Qf3! better then 17.Qg6 Qb6! 17... Qb6 18. Qe3! Important to keep control over the d4 square! Next g2-g4 will be coming soon to a theatre near you! 17. Nxd4 Nc5 18. Qg6 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Qc4 20. Rhd1 Ra7 It is fruitless to attempt to win a pawn after.... 20... fxe5 21. fxe5 Qxa2 22. Ra3 Qc4 23. Rg3! but not(23. Rc3 Qa2 24. Rc7 Qa1+ 25. Kd2 Qa5+!) 23... Qc7 24. Nxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rc3 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxd5 with a pawn up and a better position. 21. Kb1 Qc7 22. f5 Nice and simple. Kramnik just decisively demolishes black's e6-d5 pawn structure. 22... Qb6 22... Qf7 Was probably the only response. After... 23. Qxf7+ Raxf7 24. fxe6 Re7 25. Re3 Bxe6 26. Rde1 White is still much better. 23. Rh3 Preparing a Rh6 ballistic launch. Black has no any defense against white's mating attack. 23... fxe5 24. Rxh6 Rf6 24... exd4 Hopeless also 25. Qh7+ (25. Rf1!? is also interesting, with the idea of Qh7+ and fxe6+ winning the rook and a mating attack.) 25... Kf7 26. f6 Ke8 27. fxg7 winning 25. Qe8+ Rf8 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qxf8+ Kh7 28. Nf3 More exciting was 28. Rd3! exf5 29. Qxc8 exd4 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 31. Qc8+ and the Black King has no escape - Rf3 or Rh3 is coming next. 28... Qc7 29. fxe6 The Queen with the knight is the best combination of pieces in the mating attack. Black's King decides to go for a final voyage. 29... e4 30. Ng5+ Kh6 31. h4 Kh5 32. Qf5 g6 33. g4+ Kxh4 34. Rh1+ Kg3 35. Rg1+ Kh4 36. Qf6 and black resigned. Kramnik joins Anand for share of the lead! 1-0 [GM Alterman and J.Doss]