Monday, February 28, 2005

Linares Round 6

Anand (2786) - Kasparov (2804) [B33]

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 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. O-O f5 19. Qa4 [TN] Bd7 20. Bb5 Rxb5 21. Qxb5 Nb4 22. Qxa5 Nxa2 23. Qxa2 fxe4 24. b4 Be6 25. c4 Qc8 26. Qb3 Kg7 27. Rb1 Rf7 28. Rd1 h5 29. Qc2 Qa8 30. h3 Bh4 31. Rf1 Qf8 32. b5 Bc8 33. Nc3 Bb7 34. Ned5 Qc8 35. Qe2 Bxd5 36. Nxd5 Qc5 37. b6 Qd4 38. Qc2 Kh7 39. Kh2 Rxf2! 40. Rxf2 Bxf2 41. Qc1 e3 42. b7 Qa7 43. Qb1 e2 44. Ne7 Bg3+ [45.Kxg3 Qe3+ 46.Kh2 Qf4+ 47.Kg1 Qe3+ 48.Kh2] 1/2-1/2

Topalov (2757) - Vallejo Pons(2686) [B90]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3 Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5 a4 16. fxe6 axb3 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Kb1 bxc2+ 19. Kxc2 Nb6 20. Nc1 d5 21. exd5 Nd6 22. Kb1 Rf3 23. h4 Na4 24. Qe2 Rg3? 25. Bf2 Rc3 26. Qxe5 Nxb2 27. Bd4 Bf8 28. Kxb2 Rf3 29. Bd3 Kh8 30. Qe2 Rf4 31. Qh5 Nf5 32. g6 1-0

Leko (2749) - Kasimdzhanov (2678) [C89]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Qh5 18. a4 Re6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Rfe8 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. h3 Bf5 23. Qg2 Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 R6e7 25. b3 f6 26. Ra2 Be6 27. c4 Bb4 28. Rc1 Bf5 29. g4 Bd3 30. Nf1 Be4+ 31. Kg1 f5 32. Ng3 fxg4 33. Nxe4 Rxe4 34. hxg4 Rxg4+ 35. Kf1 Bd6 36. Ra6 Bf4 37. Bxf4 Rxf4 38. Rxc6 Rxd4 39. cxb5 Rb4 40. Rb6 h5 41. Rc7 Re5 42. Rg6 Rexb5 43. Rgxg7+ Kh8 44. Rgd7 Rb8 45. Rh7+ Kg8 46. Rxh5 Rxb3 47. Rg5+ Kf8 48. Rf5+ Kg8 49. Rff7 Rh3 50. Rg7+ Kh8 51. Kg2 Rh6 52. Rgf7 Rg6+ 53. Kf1 Kg8 54. Rfe7 Rf8 55. Rcd7 Rg5 56. Rd3 Rf7 57. Re8+ Kg7 58. f3 Ra5 59. Kf2 Ra2+ 60. Kg3 Ra1 61. Re4 Rg1+ 62. Kf2 Rg5 63. f4 Rg4 64. Rdd4 Rh4 65. Kg3 Rh1 66. Re5 Rg1+ 67. Kf2 Rg4 68. Kf3 Rg1 69. Re2 Rf1+ 70. Kg3 Rg1+ 71. Kf2 Rg4 72. Kf3 Rg1 73. Rf2 Ra7 74. Rd5 Kf6 75. Rd6+ Kf5 76. Rd5+ 1/2-1/2

Standings: Kasparov (+2). Anand, Topalov (+1). Leko, Kasimdzhanov (0). Adams (–1). Vallejo (–3).

Ilyumzhinov's latest scheme

Under the latest Ilyumzhinov plan for reunification, current FIDE Champion Kasimdzhanov and Grandmasters Kasparov, Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Leko, Morozevich and Adams (ranked #1-7) will play a double-round-robin tournament to decide the world title. All the participants would have to agree by March 15. If any of them refuse, they will be substituted by their follow-ups in the FIDE rankings. Ilyumzhinov said that the likely venue for the event would be Kalmykia's central city of Elista, but several other options are also being considered. "The minimum prize-money for the event is set at $500,000, but it will most likely rise," he said.

Source:Associated Press

Some random comments on this news
1. "Scheme" somehow seems a much more appropriate word than "plan."
2. I'm assuming they didn't write what they meant, and that if Kasimdzhanov (#25) is a no-show, he would be replaced by Svidler (#8) and not Sakaev (#26).
3. Heck, with the exception of Kramnik and Morozevich, all these players are currently playing in Linares. Why not just declare Linares the world championship and get it over with?
4. A $500,000 prize fund? I guess they'll use all the money which didn't get spent on the Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov match. I mean, after all, back in November Ilyumzhinov said, "I have the bank's guarantees on my desk." And he wouldn't lie, would he?

When did professional chess become such a joke? No need to answer; that's just a rhetorical question; I know the answer. When FIDE Presidents GM Max Euwe (1970-1978) and GM Fridrik Olafsson (1978-1982) were followed by Florencio Campomanes (1982-1995) and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (1995-). Seriously, I'd rather see Don King run the world championship.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Linares Round 5

Kasimdzhanov (2678) - Topalov (2757) [E94]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1 Qe8 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. d5 Nb4 11. Be2 a5 12. Rb1 [12. Be3 is more common. Topalov-Motylev, Corsica 2003, went 12. h3.] Na6 13. Bg5 Bd7 14. Nd2 Kh8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bg4 Bg5 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 18. Nf3 Bh6 19. a3 Nc5 20. b4 axb4 21. axb4 Na4 22. Qd3 Nxc3 23. Qxc3 f5 24. c5 Qb5 25. h4 fxe4 26. Rxe4 Ra2 27. Rbe1 Qa4 28. cxd6 cxd6 29. Qc7 Qc2 30. Qb6 Bg7 31. Qe3 b5 32. Rc1 Qb2 33. Rf1 Ra1 34. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 35. Kh2 Qb1 36. Qe2 h6 37. Rg4 h5 38. Re4 Bh6 39. Ng5 Bxg5 40. hxg5 Rxf2 1/2-1/2

Vallejo Pons (2686) - Anand (2786) [E15]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 d6 11. Bf4 Qb6 12. Qb3 Rd8 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Nb5 Ne8 15. a3 h6 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Bd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nc6 20. e4 Na7 21. Nc3 Nc7 22. a4 Nc6 23. b3 Bf6 24. Nc2 Kf8 25. h4 h5 26. Rb1 Ke7 27. Re1 Nd4 28. Nxd4 Bxd4 29. Ne2 e5 30. f4 f6 31. Rh1 g6 32. Rbf1 Ne6 33. g4 exf4 34. Nxf4 Nxf4+ 35. Bxf4 hxg4 36. Kg3 Rh8 37. Kxg4 Rh5 38. Rh3 Rah8 39. Rfh1 Ke6 40. Bd2 Be5 41. Be3 R8h7 1/2-1/2

Kasparov (2804) - Adams (2741) [E37]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 8. cxd5 Qxd5 9. f3 [Kramnik-Adams, FIDE Championship 1999, went 9. e3.] Nd6 [Kramnik-Kasparov, Moscow 1998, went 9....Nf6.] 10. dxe5 Qxe5 11. e4 Nc6 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Bf4 Qa5+ 14. Nc3 O-O-O 15. O-O-O f5 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. Rxd6 cxd6 18. Bb5 Nd4 19. Qd3 Nxb5 20. Nxb5 fxe4 21. Qxd6 Qxb5 22. Qxe6+ Kb8 23. Qxe4 Re8 24. Qf4+ Ka8 25. Kb1 g5 26. Qf7 h6 27. h4 a6 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Qf6 Qd3+ 30. Ka1 Qd2 31. Qf7 Re5 32. Qc7 Re8 33. Qf7 Re5 34. Qf6 Re8 35. g4 Ka7 36. Qf5 Ka8 37. Kb1 Rd8 38. Rc1 Rd5 39. Qe4 Ka7 40. Rc3 Qd1+ 41. Ka2 Qd2 42. Rc2 Qd3 43. Re2 Rd4 44. Qe3 a5 45. Re1 Ka6 46. Qxg5 Qxf3 47. Qg6+ Ka7 48. Re5 Ra4 49. Qh5 b6 50. Qe8 Rc4 51. g5 Rc7 52. Qe6 a4 53. Re4 Qd1 54. Rb4 1-0

Standings: Kasparov (+2). Anand (+1). Leko, Kasimdzhanov, Topalov (0). Adams (–1). Vallejo (–2).

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Linares Round 4

Adams (2741) - Vallejo Pons (2686) [B90]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. Be2 Nbc6 12. b3 b5 13. Nd5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15. Nd2 Bxb2 16. Rb1 Be5 17. Nxc4 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Be6 19. 0-0 Rb8 20. Rb3 Rb5 21. Kh2 0-0 22. Nce3 Ne5 23. c4 Rc5 24. Qh5 Kh7 25. Rb7 Re8 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27. exf5 Rf8 28. Nxe7 Qa8 29. Rfb1 Rb5 30. cxb5 Qxb7 31. f6 Qe4 32. Rf1 Rh8 33. Nf5 Kg8 34. bxa6 1-0

Anand (2786) - Kasimdzhanov (2678) [C88]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Nd7 14. Ne3 Nb6 15. Nf5 Bc8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Bg5 Qc7 18. Nh4 Be6 19. Nf5 c4 20. dxc4 Nxc4 21. b3 Nb6 22. c4 bxc4 23. bxc4 Nd7 24. Qxd6 Qxd6 25. Nxd6 Nc5 26. Be3 Nd4 27. Rad1 Rab8 28. Bb1 Nxa4 29. Bxd4 exd4 30. Rxd4 Rb2 31. e5 Nc5 32. Bf5 a5 33. Bxe6 1/2-1/2

Topalov (2757) - Leko (2749) [B33]

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 0-0 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 Bh4+ 22. Kd2 Ne7 23. Kc1 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Be6 25. Qd4+ Kg8 26. Ra2 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 Qf6 28. Qd2 Bg3 29. Rf1 h5 30. Rxa5 Ra8 31. e5 Qf5 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Kb2 h4 34. Qxd6 Re8 35. Bb5 Rf8 36. Bd3 Qe6 37. Qd4 Qe7 38. Bc4 Kh7 39. b4 h3 40. Qd3 Qh4 41. f5 Bf4 42. e6 fxe6 43. Qd7+ Kh6 44. fxe6? [44.fxg6! Rf6 45.Bd3 (or 45.Qh7+) Rxg6 46.Bxg6 Kxg6 47.Qxe6+] Bc1+ 45. Rxc1? [45.Kxc1! h2 46.Rh1 48.Qd6+ (or 48.Qd2+) Kg7 49.Bd5] Qxc4 46. e7 Ra8 47. Qxh3+ Kg7 48. e8N+ Kg8 49. Nf6+ Kf7 50. Qd7+ Kxf6 51. Qd4+ Qxd4 52. cxd4 g5 53. Rc6+ Kf5 54. b5 g4 55. Kb3 g3 56. Rc1 Ke4 57. Rg1 1/2-1/2

Standings: Anand, Kasparov (+1). Adams, Kasimdzhanov, Leko, Topalov (0). Vallejo (-2).

Friday, February 25, 2005

Linares Round 3

Leko (2749) - Anand (2786) [C42]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. Ne5 Bh5 14. b4 Nc6 15. Ndf3 Re8 16. Bb2 Qf6 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. Be2 Rxe5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Bxh5 Bxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Qh4+ 23. Kg1 Qxf2+ 24. Kh2 1/2-1/2

Kasimdzhanov (2678) - Adams (2741) [C89]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Bxd3 18. Qxd5 Rad8 19. Qf3 Bf5 20. Nd2 Be6 21. Bd4 h6 22. a3 Bb8 23. Qg2 Qf5 24. f3 Rfe8 25. Ne4 Bd5 26. Re2 Re6 27. Rae1 1/2-1/2

Vallejo Pons (2686) - Kasparov (2804) [D02]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e4 b5 5. a4 c6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 Bb7 8. bxc4 Bxe4 9. cxb5 Nf6 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Bf4 [Anand-Karpov, Las Palmas 1996, went 13. Bf3] Bb4 14. Na4 Nbd7 15. Qb3 Nd5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bd2 a6 18. b6 Bc6 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nxb6 21. Nxb6 Qxd2 22. Nxa8 Qxe2 23. Nc7 Qxe5 24. Qg3 Qf5 25. Rxa6 Be4 26. Ra7 Bc5 27. Ra5? [27. Ra4!] Bxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Qxa5 29. Nxe6 Bxg2 0-1

Standings: Anand, Kasparov (+1). Kasimdzhanov, Leko, Topalov (0). Adams, Vallejo (-1).

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Linares Round 2

Anand (2786) - Topalov (2757) [B90]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 b4 10. Na4 Nbd7 11. 0-0-0 Ne5 12. b3 d5 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxb4 dxe4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4 a5 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. fxe4 h5 26. gxh5 Nxe4 27. Rd4 Nf6 28. Be2 Nxh5 29. Rh4 g6 30. Rg1 Ke7 31. Ra4 Ra8 32. Bf3 Ra7 33. Rg5 f5 34. Rxg6 Kf7 35. Rg2 Nf6 36. Re2 Rh3 37. Bh1 Ng4 38. Kb2 Kf6 39. Bg2 Rxh2 40. Bf3 Rxe2 41. Bxe2 Ne3 42. c4 e5 43. c5 e4 44. b4 Rc7 45. bxa5 Rxc5? [45...Ke5! 46.a6 Ra7 47.c6 Nd5 48.Bc4 Nc7] 46. a6 Nd5 47. a7 Nc7 48. a8Q Nxa8 49. Rxa8 f4 50. Rf8+ Ke5 51. Bg4 f3 52. Rf5+ Kd4 53. Rxc5 Kxc5 54. Kc3 Kb5 55. Kd2 f2 56. Be2+! [56.Ke2? e3 57.Be6 Kb4 58.Bd5 Ka3] Kb4 57. Kc2 Ka3 58. Kb1 e3 59. Ka1 1-0

Kasparov (2804) - Kasimdzhanov (2678) [C42]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 0-0 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Bf6 15. Bf4 Na5 16. Bf1 c5 17. Be5 cxd4 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nxd4 Bg6 20. h4 Rad8 21. Qa4 Qc5 22. Qb4 Rd5 23. g4 h5 24. Bg2 hxg4 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 26. Qe7 Qd8 27. Qb4 Qd5 28. Qe7 Qd8 29. Qxd8 Rxd8 30. Re7 Rc8 31. Rc1 Kg7 32. Rd1 f5 33. Ne6+ Kf6 34. Rc7 Rh8 35. Nf4 Rxh4 36. Kg2 Kg5 37. Nxg6 fxg6 38. Rh1 Rxh1 39. Kxh1 Kf4 40. Kg2 Ke4 41. Kg3 b5 42. Rxa7 Nc4 43. Ra6 Kd3 44. Kf4 Kxc3 45. Rxg6 Nxa3 46. Kxf5 Nc4 47. Ke4 Nd2+ 48. Ke3 Nc4+ 49. Ke2 b4 50. Rxg4 b3 51. Kd1 Nb2+ [Kasparov has the better position but had only 3 minutes and 9 moves to mak the time control.] 1/2-1/2

Adams (2741) - Leko (2749) [C88]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 Rb8 15. Qe2 Nh5 16. g3 Qe8 17. Ba3 Nb3 18. Ra2 Nxd2 1/2-1/2 [A grandmaster draw. I guess Leko was satisfied to draw as black and Adams was just happy not to lose again.]

Standings: Anand (+1). Kasimdzhanov, Kasparov, Leko, Topalov, Vallejo (0). Adams (-1).

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Linares Round 1

Topalov draws first blood.
Official website of the Linares 2005 tournament

Topalov (2757) - Adams (2741) [E37]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 8. e3 exd4 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Nf3 Nd6 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. f3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. a4 [14. Be2] Qh5 15. Be2 Qh4+ 16. g3 Qh3 17. Kf2 0-0-0 18. Ra3 Rhe8 19. Bf1 Qe6 20. Be2 g5 21. Rf1 g4 22. fxg4 Qh6 [22. Qd5 or 22. h5] 23. Kg1 Qh3 24. Bd3 Ne4 25. Rf4 Nxg3 26. Rc3! [White is threatening 27.Rxc6 bxc6 28.Ba6+ Kd7 (28...Kb8 29.Qb3+ Ka8 30.Qb7#) 29.Rxf7+ Ke6 30.Bc4+ Rd5 31.Qf2 (threat: Qf6#) Kd6 32.Bxd5 cxd5 33.Qf4+ and mate to follow.] Re6?? [The defence to was 26...Rxd3 27.Rxd3 (27. Rxc6 Rd7) Rg8 28.e4 Bxe4 29.Rxg3 Qxg3+ 30.hxg3 Bxc2 31.Rxf7 Bg6 32.Re7 Re8.] 27. e4! [Threatening 28. Bf1 Qh6 29. Rxg3.] Nh5 28. Bc4 Qh4 29. Bxe6+ fxe6 30. gxh5 Qxh5 31. Rd3 [Black is lost but struggled on for another ten moves.] Rg8+ 32. Rg3 Rd8 33. Be3 e5 34. Rf1 h6 35. b4 a6 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Bxb5 38. Rg7 c6 39. Qa2 Ba6 40. Qe6+ Kb8 41. Qd6+ [41. ... Rxd6 42. Rf8+ Qe8 43. Rxe8+ Rd8 44. Rxd8#] 1-0

Leko (2749) - Kasparov (2804) [B90]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. a4 Nc4 11. Bxc4 bxc4 12. a5 Bb7 13. Na4 [TN] Rc8 14. Qc3 Nd7 15. 0-0-0 Be7 16. h4 Bxh4 17. Ne2 [17.Qb4 or 17.Nb6] Bf6 18. Bd4 e5 19. Be3 Be7 20. Kb1 Qc7 21. Nb6 Nxb6 22. axb6 Qd7 23. Rh5 f6 24. Ng3 g6 25. Rh2 0-0 26. Rhd2 1/2-1/2

"I don't understand. The position has a lot of play in it. Either Black is better because he is a pawn up, or White has very good compensation. This has to be played out. The only reason I can think of is that both players were afraid. Shirov once explained to me that there are draws which nobody understands, including the two players at the board. Even if we assume that the position is a perfect draw, it had dynamic equality. Still, it has not been played out. There is not a draw in sight. It is just a position that ends prematurely, a game which stops for no reason. It is a ludus interruptus, a prematurely terminated game." - Nigel Short

Kasimdzhanov (2678) - Vallejo Pons (2686) [E52]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 b6 7. 0-0 Bb7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Bd6 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 a6 12. a4 Qe7 13. Rb1 Rfd8 14. b5 Nf8 15. Bb2 Ne6 16. Rbc1 axb5 17. axb5 Ne4 18. Qc2 N6g5 19. Nxg5 Nxg5 20. Rfe1 h5 21. f4 Ne4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bc4 Ra5 24. Bc3 Ra3 25. Bb2 Ra5 26. Bc3 Ra3 1/2-1/2

Standings: Topalov (+1). Anand, Kasimdzhanov, Kasparov, Leko, Vallejo (0). Adams (-1).

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Complete History of the Linares Chess Tournament (1978-2004)

2004 (average rating 2731) – 1. Kramnik (7); 2-3. Kasparov, Leko (6.5)
2003 (average rating 2733) – 1-2. Kramnik, Leko (7); 3-4. Kasparov, Anand (6.5)
2002 (average rating 2732) – 1. Kasparov (8); 2. Ponomariov (6.5); 3-5. Anand, Ivanchuk, Adams (6)
2001 (average rating 2722) – 1. Kasparov (7.5); 2-6. Polgar, Karpov, Leko, Shirov, Grischuk (4.5)
2000 (average rating 2752) – 1-2. Kasparov, Kramnik (6); 3-6. Anand, Leko, Khalifman, Shirov (4.5)
1999 (average rating 2735) – 1. Kasparov (9.5); 2. Kramnik (7); 3. Anand (6.5)
1998 (average rating 2752) – 1. Anand (7.5); 2. Shirov (7); 3-4. Kasparov, Kramnik (6.5)
1997 (average rating 2701) – 1. Kasparov (8.5); 2. Kramnik (7.5); 3-4. Topalov, Adams (6.5)
1995 (average rating 2654) – 1. Ivanchuk (10); 2. Karpov (9); 3-4. Shirov, Topalov (8)
1994 (average rating 2685) – 1. Karpov (11); 2-3. Kasparov, Shirov (8.5)
1993 (average rating 2676) – 1. Kasparov (10); 2-3. Karpov, Anand (8.5)
1992 (average rating 2658) – 1. Kasparov (10); 2-3. Ivanchuk, Timman (8)
1991 (average rating 2658) – 1. Ivanchuk (9.5); 2. Kasparov (9); 3. Beliavsky (8)
1990 (average rating 2630) – 1. Kasparov (8); 2. Gelfand (7.5); 3. Salov (7)
1989 (average rating 2628) – 1. Ivanchuk (7.5); 2. Karpov (7); 3. Ljubojevic (6)
1988 (average rating 2603) - 1. Timman (8.5); 2. Beliavsky (7); 3. Yusupov (6.5)
1985 (average rating 2595) - 1-2. Ljubojevic, Huebner (7); 3-4. Portisch, Kortchnoi (6.5)
1983 (average rating 2598) - 1. Spassky (6.5); 2-3. Karpov, Andersson (6)
1981 (average rating 2568) - 1-2. Karpov, Christiansen (8); 3. Larsen (7)
1979 - 1. Christiansen (8); 2-4. Kortchnoi, Rivas, Castro (7.5)
1978 - 1-2. Eslon, Debarnot (6); 3. Ochoa de Echaguen (5.5)

Click here for a website dedicated to the Linares chess tournaments complete with all the tournament cross tables and a PGN file of all the games. Also ChessBase has a webpage dedicated to the Linares tournament here.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Georgian Peach Open sucked

I guess it's not a bad thing I didn't play in the Georgian Peach Open. According to one player who participated, the event sucked. Whose bright idea was it to hold a chess tournament on Super Bowl Sunday and on a day when a well-established monthly tournament series (Atlanta Chess Center G/45 tournaments) was taking place? Duh!

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Not playing

I'm skipping the Georgian Peach Open. Working too hard to be able to prepare for the tournament.