Leon, Spain saw Gary Kasparov and Veselin take part in match described by Kasparov as "Chess of the Future".

For the 6 game match, both players were assisted by the computer programs Fritz 5 and Chessbase 7.0. They were allowed to use the programs during the games, being able to play possible lines against the program before playing the moves on the board.

The time limit for the games were 1 hour each, forcing each player to decide how much time was to be devoted computer analysis and how much to playing.

The match ended in a 3-3 draw with Kasparov winning games 2 and 4, and Topalov winning games 1 and 5. In a non computer assisted lightning playoff Kasparov was victorious +2=1-1

In keeping with the spirit of the match The King chess program helped write this article, providing much of the analysis for the games.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 0-0 13. a4!

A move that meets with the approval of The King.

13. ... bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. 0-0 Bd7 18. Qd3 f5!

White controls the d5 square and the queenside, so Black plays this important break on the kingside.

19. exf5 Quite correctly my silicon partner did not look at this move as it hands the advantage to Black. 19. ... Ne7 20. Ra2 Bxf5 21. Qe2 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 After this forcing sequence Black stands slightly better as the b and c pawns are weaker than the d and e pawns.

19. ... g6

The King wanted to capture on f4 at this point and play in a manner similar to the previous note. However the pawn duo on e5 and f5 is quite strong and Black wants to maintain it, by planning to recapture on f5 with the g pawn.

20. f3

and White sensibly maintains the tension by declining the capture.

For the last few moves The King has wanted to exchange pawns (for both sides) but at least it agreed with Kasparov on this move.

23. Bd5 Rbf8 24. Nf1 Ne7 25. Nce3

25. Rxa5 The King goes for material, ignoring the growing danger on the kingside 25. ... Nxd5 26. exd5

25. ... Nxd5 26. Nxd5 fxe4?

Kasparov decides to open the f file but The King favours Topalov's position by 0.85 of a pawn.

27. Qxe4 Qxe4 28. fxe4 R6f7

The result of Black's decision to trade pawns is loss of his advantage (the pawn duo on e5,f5) while leaving White with his (control of the d5 square). He also drops the a pawn although he is able to regain it in the next few moves.

Although Black has material equality his bishop is in danger of being trapped and his d pawn is very weak.

Kasparov (or his computer) miscalculates and drops the d pawn for nothing.

36. ... Bxc4 37. Rd2! wins the bishop.

If Black wasn't already in trouble on the queenside, White now creates a mating net.

39. ... Bxc4 40. Nf6

40. c5 Rf8 41. c6 Rb2 42. h4 Bd3 43. Rxe5

43. Nf6!! Although the move played ended the game, The King preferred this more dynamic way of finishing off Kasparov ie 43. ... Rxf6 44. c7 Rf8 45. c8Q

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 0-0 5. Bg2 c6 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5 e6 9. 0-0 Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 f6 12. Nf3 f5?!

Not only does this move allow White to reoccupy e5 it also rules out the possibility of pawn breaks on e5 or f5. Consequently Black is left with an inflexible position, making it harder for him to generate counterplay.

13. Ne5 Nb6 14. b3 Bd7 15. Qd3 Nc8 16. Bc1 Nxe5 17. dxe5

The King preferred to capture with the f pawn, opening the diagonal for the bishop. Kasparov instead decides his advantage lies on the queenside and the g1-a7 diagonal is more important than the c1-h6

17. ... Rf7 18. Be3 Bc6 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. a3

Whites advantage begins to grow with the king assessing the position as 0.67 of a pawn in favour of White.

20. ... a6 21. Bd4 Bf8 22. e3 Be8 23. Qd2 Qd8

The passive nature of Black's pieces demonstrates the problems with f5

24. Bf1 Rc7 25. Qb2 Rc6 26. Na4 Rxc1 27. Rxc1

There are a number of celebrated games where one player retreats his pieces to the back of the board before exploding to life, sweeping all before him. This isn't one of them.

27. ... Bc6 28. Nc5 Qe8 29. a4 a5 30. Qc3 Qf7 31. Bb5

A move that The King disapproved of. With the Black bishop serving as a large pawn, it believed that White should hang onto his "good" bishop. However, Kasparov realises that to win the game he needs to open the c file and the Black bishop is in the road.

While looking good at first, this move loses on the spot. The King took 5 seconds to realise it's shortcomings.

34. Qxc8+!! Rxc8 35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36. b6 1-0

Black cannot save the Queen.

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4

Topalov decides to force the pace in the opening.

7. Qd3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc5 9. Qd1 Nc6 10. e3 Ne6 11. 0-0

11. Nxe6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 fxe6 13. Qb3 leads to a position that both sides wouldn't like to play.

11. ... Qc5

Black tries for a risky pawn grab.

12. Ndb5 a6

12. ... Qxc4?? 13. Bd5 Qc5 14. Bxe6

13. Na4!

Dynamic play by White.

13. ... Qxc4 14. Nbc3

14. Nb6 The King's materialistic choice 14. ... Qxb5 15. Nxa8

14. ... Rb8 15. Nb6 Qc5 16. Ncd5 0-0 17. b4!

White continues the torture of Black's Queen.

17. ... Qd6

17. ... Qb5 18. a4 traps the queen; 17. ... Nxb4 18. Ba3 a5 19. Rc1 Qd6 20. Qa4 traps the knight.

18. Rb1

18. Nc4 nets the Queen but at the cost of various bits of wood.

18. ... Nc7

Only move. Now Black manages to get the Queen to safety and establishes an inferior, but certainly not losing, position.

20. ... b5 The King suggested this move, giving a slight advantage to Black.

21. Be3 Qd7 22. Ncb6 Qd8 23. f4 Nxd5 24. exd5 Na7 25. Rc1 Bf5 26. g4 Nc8 27. Nc4 Bd7

Although White is down a pawn, the normally materialistic computer believes this is compensated by White's extra space and control of key squares.

28. Qe2 Bb5 29. Qf2 e6 30. Rfd1 e5 31. f5 gxf5

The King was happy to see this move played.

32. gxf5 Qf6 33. a4

33. h4 The King prefers to work on the other side of the board 33. ... h6 34. Nd2 Bd7 35. Bh3 and after Ne4 White's kingside attack gets into full swing

33. ... Bxa4 The King still likes to grab pawns when offered and this one seemed risk free 34. Rf1 Bb5 35. Qg3 h6 and White's kingside attack isn't that fearsome).

34. Rxc4 Ne7 35. Rf1 Kh8 36. Qg3 b5 37. Rh4! Nxf5

37. ... e4 The King thought this was a better defence, giving the Black queen an escape route through the centre of the board. However it still regarded this position as favouring White 38. Bg5 Qd4+ 39. Kh1 Nxd5 40. Rxe4 Qb2 41. Qxd6

At first The King thought this was losing but after 30 seconds thought that the position was a forced draw. 38. Rxf5 Again a difference of opinion between Kasparov and the King 38. ... Qxf5 39. Be4 Qxe4 40. Rxe4 bxa4 with a 1.23 pawn advantage to White.

39. ... Kh8 This is the line The King saw after Rxh7. Although the Black King looks more exposed on h8 it avoids the checks of the bishop on h7, an important consideration as it turns out 40. Bxf5 Bh6 41. Qh3 Kg7 42. Qg3+ Kh8 and a draw by repetition.

Black cannot avoid ruinous material loss. 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. Qd2 Be7 10. g4 h6 11. 0-0-0 b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bxb6

Giving up the two bishops didn't make The King happy and he thought Black's advantage was worth half a pawn.

14. ... Qxb6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. h4 b4?!

A move that weakens Black's queenside pawns.

18. Nc6! Bxc6 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxb4 d5

20. ... Qxf3 21. Qa4+ Kf8 22. Bxa6 is a wild alternative.

21. Qb3

White now begins to pressure Black's central pawns.

22. ... dxc4 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Bxc4 0-0 leaves White with an edge ; 22. ... d4 23. Re1 Qf6 24. Qa4+ Kf8 is Black's best. The King thought it favoured Kasparov by 0.21 pawns.

Attacking the a pawn but really intending the crude plan of Qe4, Bd3, h5 with a mating attack on the king.

25. ... e4 26. Qxe4 Rb8 27. Bd3 g6 28. h5 Qf6 29. Rh2 Ba3 30. b3

The King successfully predicted Black's plan of attack but thinks that Rc8 would be better here.

However after 15 seconds of thought it spots a Kasparov trap 31. hxg6? Re7 32. gxf7+ Kf8!! and White has to surrender the queen to avoid checks on e1