1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. d2d4  3... c5d4  4. f3d4  4... g8f6  5. b1c3  5... a7a6  6. f2f3  6... e7e6  7. c1e3 An  interesting fact. The Najdorf was Topalov's bread and butter on the road  of the world championship title before switching to more quite lines,  whereas Vachier-Lagrave constantly uses the sharp Sicilian. 7... b7b5  8. d1d2  8... b8d7  9. g2g4  9... b5b4  10. c3e2  10... h7h6  11. e2f4 With this strange-looking move Topalov clearly  indicates his intentions. What else can the knight do on f4, if not  sacrifice itself on e6?! 11... c8b7 Tempting the queen to snatch a  free pawn, with a tempo. 12. d2b4 In the brief after-game interview Topalov said he studied the  position before and believed it to be promsing for him, but could not  remember the correct way. 12... d8c8 Besides the fork threat e6-e5 Black wants to strike in  the center with d6-d5. The b4 pawn was not sacrificed in vain. 13. b4d2 Probably not he best square for the queen. There are many options for both sides. 13... e6e5  14. d4f5  14... e5f4  15. e3f4  15... d7e5  16. f1e2  16... c8c7  17. e1c1  17... e8c8 The  forced sequence of moves is over. White practically sacrificed a pawn, but enoys the better pawn structure and the more active pieces in return. 18. c1b1  18... g7g6  19. f5e3  19... f8e7  20. c2c4  20... c8b8  21. d1c1 Forced according to Vachier-Lagrave. 21... f6e4 The trades should favor Black who receives more squares  for his rooks. Furtheron MVL was afraid of the possible queenside  expansion. 22. f3e4  22... b7e4  23. b1a1  23... e4h1  24. c1h1  24... e7g5 If it was not for  this move Black's whole idea would be plain wrong and White would have  launched huge attack on the diagonals. 25. e3d5  25... g5f4  26. d2f4  26... c7a7  27. h1c1 Technically speaking Black increased his material  advantage but now White's compensation is even more obvious- the black  king does not have enough bodyguards. 27... h8e8  28. a2a3  28... e5c6 "A sign that (my position) is not so great. "(MVL) 29. e2f3  29... g6g5  30. f4g3 Topalov misses a good chance. 30... a7c5  31. f3h1  31... e8e2  32. d5c3  32... e2e3  33. g3g2  33... d8c8 Now Black consolidates. 34. c3d5  34... e3b3 And  finds an anamiznge defensive maneuver! 35. a1a2  35... b3b7  36. b2b3  36... a6a5  37. d5c3  37... c5e3  38. c1c2  38... e3d3 The black queen is too strong and Topalov decided to trade  it: 39. g2d2  39... d3d2  40. c2d2  40... b7e7 Another excellent decision. Black was  happy to trade the queens and he will be even happier to trade the last  major piece by his opponent. 41. d2d6 "At least a practical mistake."  (MVL) 41... c8d8 