24.e5!? Opening the position for
Kramnik's bishops is a risky decision, but it is unclear whether White has any
other productive plan. The position now simplifies significantly, but Black
soon wins a pawn. 24...Bb7 25.Rdd2 Qa8 26.exd6 Rxe2
27.Rxe2 Rxd6 28.Ne5 [28.Re3 might have
been more sensible] 28...Bxg2 29.Rxg2 Bxe5 30.fxe5 Re6 31.Re2 Qf3 32.Qd2 Qxb3
33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qxc7 Qf3 35.Rg2 Qe3 36.Qa7 h5 37.h4 Rxe5 38.Qa1 Kh7 39.Qb2 Rf5
40.Re2 Qf3 41.Qc2 Qf1 42.Qd2 Rf6 43.Qc2 Rf3 44.Qb2 Rf5 45.Qc2 Rf6 46.Rd2 Kg7 47.Qc3
Kh7 48.Qc2 Qa1 49.Rf2 Despite being a clear pawn down and having a vulnerable
king, Nakamura has defended very well and most commentators seemed to think the
draw was in sight... [49.Re2 Rf1 was to be avoided.] 49...Kg7 50.Rxf6 Qxf6
51.Qe2 Qd4 52.Kg2 Kf8 53.Kh2 Qg4 54.Qd3 Ke7 55.Qe3+ Kd6 56.Qd3+ Qd4 57.Qe2 Qe5
58.Qd3+ Ke6 59.Kg2 g5! Black has to try something! 60.hxg5 Qxg5 61.Qe4+ Qe5
62.Qc6+ Ke7 63.Qb7+ Kf8 64.Qa8+ Kg7 65.Qf3 Kg6 66.Qd3+ Qf5
67.Qd6+? Nakamura finally cracks.
[67.Qc3 was not ideal, but would at least have held on to the c4-pawn.]
67...f6! Suddenly the c4-pawn is nearly lost. White's queen, despite being
centralised, can no longer find a decent square. 68.Qe7 [68.Qa6 would have held
the pawn, but is a horrible square for the queen. For example: 68...Qe4+ 69.Kf2
Kg5 and the win is in sight.] 68...Qc2+ 69.Kh3 Qxc4 The rest is straightforward
for a player of Kramnik's calibre. 70.Qe8+ Qf7 71.Qe4+ Kg7 72.Qf5 c4 73.Kg2
Qb7+ 74.Kh2 Qb2+ 75.Kh3 Qe5 76.Qc8 c3 77.Qc4 Qe1 78.Qc7+ Kg6 79.Qc6 Qf1+ 80.Kh4
Qe2 81.Kh3 c2 82.g4 Qe3+ 83.Kh4 Qg5+ 84.Kg3 Qxg4+ 85.Kf2 Qf4+ 86.Kg2 c1Q
87.Qe8+ Kg5 0–1
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