Linares Round 7

Bacrot-Aronian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Ne4 6.Qd3 Qa5 7.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Nxd2 Nc6 10.dxc5 b6 11.Bg2 Bb7 12.Qf4 bxc5 13.Qd6 Qb6 14.Ne4 Nd4 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Nd6+ Ke7 17.Bxb7 Nc2+ 18.Kd2 Nxa1 19.Nxf7 Rxa2 20.Nxh8 Rxb2+ 21.Kd3 Rb3+ 22.Ke4 Nc2 23.e3 b5 24.Kf4 bxc4 25.Be4 Nb4 26.Bxh7 Nd3+ 27.Kg5 Nxf2 28.Rf1 Rb2 29.h4 d5 30.Ra1 Kd7 31.Nf7 c3 32.Kg6 Ng4 33.Rg1 Re2 34.Kxg7 Rxe3 35.h5 d4 36.h6 c4 37.Bc2 Nxh6 38.Nxh6 d3 39.Ba4+ Kd6 40.g4 Kc5 41.g5 Kb4 42.Ng4 Re4 43.Nf6 Re5 44.Bd1 d2 45.g6 Re1 46.Kf7 Rxg1 47.g7 Ka3 48.Bg4 Rxg4 49.Nxg4 d1Q 50.g8Q Qd7+ 51.Kf6 Qd4+ 52.Kxe6 c2 53.Qa8+ Kb2 54.Qb8+ Kc1 55.Qg8 Kd1 0-1

Leko-Topalov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 h5 8.Bc4 Nc6 9.Qd2 Na5 10.Bb3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Bd7 13.Rhe1 b4 14.Nce2 g6 15.Nc1 e5 16.Nde2 Nxb3 17.Nxb3 a5 18.Bg5 a4 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nbc1 Rb8 21.Qxd6 Rb6 22.Qc5 Qb8 23.Nd3 Rb5 24.Qf2 Be6 25.f4 0-0 26.fxe5 Bxe5 27.Nxe5 Qxe5 28.Nd4 Rc5 29.Qg3 Qxg3 30.hxg3 Bg4 31.Rd3 Re8 32.Rde3 f6 33.a3 bxa3 34.bxa3 Bc8 35.Kc1 Bb7 36.Nf3 Rec8 37.R1e2 Rc4 38.Kb2 Rb8 39.Kc1 Rbc8 40.Kb2 Rb8 41.Kc1 1/2-1/2

Svidler-Radjabov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0-0 Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Be2 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bf3 Qc7 12.g3 0-0 13.Nd2 e5 14.c4 Nf6 15.Qc2 Rb8 16.b3 Bc5 17.Bb2 Bd4 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.c5 Rd8 20.Nc4 Nd7 21.Rfe1 Nxc5 22.Ne5 Ne6 23.Qxc6 Bb7 24.Qxc7 Nxc7 25.Bxb7 Rxb7 26.Nc6 Rd6 27.Rac1 Kf8 28.Na5 Ra7 29.Red1 Ne8 30.Rc8 Rc7 31.Ra8 Rc2 32.Nc4 Re6 33.Rxd4 Rxa2 34.Rdd8 h5 35.Nd6 Ke7 36.Nf5+ Kf6 37.Ne3 Nd6 38.Nd5+ Kg5 39.Nf4 Re1+ 40.Kg2 Nf5 41.Re8 Rxe8 42.Rxe8 1/2-1/2

VallejoPons-Ivanchuk was a 25 move draw. And with that the Morelia leg of the tournament comes to an end, with Leko on top and Bacrot at the bottom.



On to Linares...

Linares Round 6

Topalov loses again!

Ivanchuk-Svidler
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 Be6 8.Qb1 c5 9.Qxb7 Bd5 10.Qb5+ Nd7 11.Nf3 Rb8 12.Qa4 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qc8 14.Rc1 e6 15.Bxc4 Rb4 16.Qa6 Bb7 17.Qa5 f6 18.Nd2 Bxg2 19.Rg1 Qc6 20.Rxg2 Qxg2 21.Bxe6 Bd6 22.Rc8+ Ke7 23.Rxh8 Kxe6 24.Qd8 Qg1+ 25.Ke2 1-0

Radjabov-Bacrot
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 e6 6.b3 Bb4 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Bd6 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Rad1 h6 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 c5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.b4 Bf8 17.c5 Qc7 18.Bc3 a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 f5 21.Bd3 b6 22.Rfe1 Bb7 23.Bc4 Be4 24.Qb3 Kh8 25.Bxe6 Nf6 26.Nh4 bxc5 27.Bxf6 c4 28.Qxc4 Qxc4 29.Bxc4 gxf6 30.f3 Bxb4 31.Rd7 Rg8 32.Rf1 Rg7 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 34.fxe4 Bc5+ 35.Kh1 fxe4 36.Nf5+ Kg6 37.Ng3 e3 38.Bd3+ Kf7 39.Ne2 Ke7 40.g3 Ra2 41.Kg2 Rd2 42.Bc4 Bb6 43.Kf3 Kd6 44.Ke4 Ke7 45.Rb1 Rd6 46.Kf3 Rc6 47.Bd5 Rd6 48.Be4 Ke6 49.Rb5 Kd7 50.Nf4 Bd4 51.Rd5 Ba7 52.Rxd6+ Kxd6 53.Ng2 Ke5 54.Nxe3 h5 55.h4 1-0

Topalov-VallejoPons
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.f3 Qe7 15.a4 a6 16.Qc2 Rd8 17.Rad1 Nd7 18.Bc7 Rc8 19.Bg3 e5 20.d5 b4 21.dxc6 Rhxc6 22.Nd5 Qe6 23.Qd2 h4 24.Bf2 c3 25.bxc3 bxc3 26.Qxg5 c2 27.Rc1 h3 28.g3 Qh6 29.Qf5 Qd2 30.Rfe1 Ba3 31.f4 Bxc1 32.Bh5 Rg6 33.Bxg6 Bxd5 34.exd5 Qxe1+ 35.Bxe1 Be3+ 36.Kf1 c1Q 37.Qxf7+ Kd8 38.Ke2 Bb6 39.Bd2 Qc4+ 40.Kf3 e4+ 41.Kg4 Kc7 42.a5 Bd4 43.Bf5 Rg8+ 44.Kh4 Rh8+ 45.Kg5 Qb5 46.Be6 e3 47.Be1 e2 48.g4 Rf8 49.Qh7 Be3 50.Kh4 Bxf4 51.g5 Qa4 52.Kh5 Bxh2 53.Bxh3 Be5 54.Qd3 Rh8+ 55.Kg6 Nf8+ 56.Kf7 Kd8 0-1

Aronian-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Re1 c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Rc1 Nf6 16.e3 Bb7 17.Rc2 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Qd7 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Qb1 h5 21.Rd1 Qe6 22.Rc1 g6 23.h3 Rxc1+ 24.Qxc1 Qc6 25.Qb1 Ne4 26.Nf3 Ba3 27.Be5 Qc1+ 28.Qxc1 Bxc1 29.a4 Ba3 30.Bb8 a6 31.Ne5 Be7 32.Bc7 b5 33.axb5 axb5 34.Ba5 Bd6 35.Nd3 Kf8 36.Bb4 Ke7 37.Bxd6+ Kxd6 38.b4 Bc8 39.Ne1 Nc3 40.Nc2 Na2 41.Bf1 Bf5 42.Nd4 Bd7 43.Nxb5+ Bxb5 44.Bxb5 Nxb4 45.Kg2 Na2 1/2-1/2

Standings:
Leko - 4.5
Aronian, Svidler - 3.5
Ivanchuk, Radjabov - 3
VallejoPons - 2.5
Bacrot, Topalov - 2

Linares Round 5

Ivanchuk-Topalov (Topalov scores first win.)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 Nc6 7.Bg5 e6 8.e3 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Bd3 Bd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rac1 b5 13.Bb1 Bd7 14.Qc2 g6 15.Qd2 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Rc7 17.Qe1 b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Qd2 Rfc8 20.Ne1 a4 21.Nd3 Na5 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Rc1 Nc4 24.Qe1 Qd8 25.g3 Bb5 26.h4 g5 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Kg2 Qc8 29.Ng1 f6 30.Qd1 Be8 31.Nf3 Bh5 32.Rc2 Bg6 33.Re2 g4 34.Nh4 Be4+ 35.Kh2 f5 36.Ne1 Nxe3 37.Rxe3 Rc1 38.Qd2 Rxb1 39.Rxe4 dxe4 40.Qg5+ Kf7 0-1

Aronian-Svidler
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 c5 6.cxd5 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Qxd5 8.e3 cxd4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.cxd4 e6 11.Rb1 Be7 12.Bxe7 Kxe7 13.Bd3 Nc6 14.Nf3 b6 15.Ke2 Bb7 16.Rhc1 Rhc8 17.g4 h6 18.h4 Na5 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rc8 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.Ne5 Bb7 24.a3 Nc6 25.Ng4 Nb8 26.Kd2 Bc6 27.Kc3 Nd7 28.f4 a5 29.e4 b5 30.Bc2 f5 31.exf5 exf5 32.Ne5 Nxe5 33.dxe5 b4+ 34.axb4 axb4+ 35.Kxb4 Bd7 36.Bb3 Bc6 37.Kc5 Be8 38.e6 1-0

Radjabov-VallejoPons
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.f4 g4 15.Qc2 c5 16.d5 b4 17.f5 exd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Bxc4 h4 22.Bb5+ Kf8 23.Bc6 Rd8 24.Rac1 h3 25.gxh3 Rxh3 26.Qxc5 g3 27.Qxd6+ Rxd6 28.hxg3 Ng4 29.Kg2 Ne3+ 30.Kf3 Nxf1 31.Rxf1 Rh2 32.b3 Rxa2 33.Ke4 Ke7 34.Rh1 Rg2 35.Kf4 Rf2+ 36.Kg5 Rd8 37.Re1+ Kd6 38.Kf6 Rg8 39.Re3 Rg2 40.Kxf7 R8xg3 41.Re6+ Kc5 42.f6 Rxb3 43.Ke7 Rd3 44.f7 Rf2 45.f8Q Rxf8 46.Kxf8 Rxd5 47.Bxd5 Kxd5 48.Ra6 Kc4 49.Rxa7 b3 50.Rb7 Kc3 51.Rxb3+ Kxb3 1/2-1/2

Bacrot and Leko drew in 28 moves.

Standings:
Leko - 4
Svidler - 3.5
Aronian - 3
Ivanchuk, Bacrot, Topalov, Radjabov - 2
VallejoPons - 1.5

Linares Round 4

Leko and Svidler on top; Topalov at the bottom with Vallejo Pons.

Leko-Ivanchuk
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 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nf1 Bc8 13.c3 Bd7 14.Ne3 Qc7 15.axb5 axb5 16.b4 Nb7 17.Bd2 Nd8 18.Bb3 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Re8 20.bxc5 Qxc5 21.Qa2 h6 22.h3 Ne6 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Qc8 25.d4 Bf6 26.Qb3 Bc6 27.Qb4 exd4 28.cxd4 Bxd5 29.exd5 Ng5 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Bxg5 hxg5 32.Qxd6 Qe2 33.Qc5 Qc4 34.Qxc4 bxc4 35.Kf1 Kf8 36.d6 Ke8 37.Ne5 Bxe5 38.dxe5 Kd7 39.g3 1-0

Topalov-Radjabov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.Nge2 c5 7.d5 e6 8.h3 exd5 9.exd5 Nfd7 10.f4 f5 11.0-0 Na6 12.Be3 Nc7 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Bf2 Nf6 15.a3 a5 16.Bh4 Bd7 17.Kh1 Qe7 18.Rae1 Qf7 19.a4 Na6 20.g4 Nb4 21.Bb1 fxg4 22.f5 Bxf5 23.Bxf5 gxf5 24.Rxf5 Qg6 25.Ref1 Rf8 26.Ng3 Nh5 27.Nce4 Nxg3+ 28.Nxg3 gxh3 29.b3 Rae8 30.Kh2 Rxf5 31.Rxf5 Re5 32.Qg5 Qxg5 33.Bxg5 Nc2 34.Bd8 Nd4 35.Rf4 Re3 36.Rg4 Kf7 37.Re4 Rxb3 0-1

Svidler-Bacrot
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc5 10.Be3 Re8 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd3 Qa4 15.Ng5 Nf8 16.Qd5 Bxg5 17.hxg5 Qe4 18.c4 Qxd5 19.cxd5 Nd7 20.Rd3 f6 21.Rc3 Rac8 22.Rh4 Re7 23.Rhc4 Nb6 24.Bxb6 axb6 25.gxf6 gxf6 26.a4 Kf8 27.Kd2 Rg7 28.g3 Ke8 29.Rf3 Rg6 30.Rh4 h6 31.Re4+ Kd7 32.Re6 Rf8 33.c4 h5 34.Rf5 Rg4 35.b3 h4 36.gxh4 Rxh4 37.Rfxf6 Rxf6 38.Rxf6 Ke7 39.Re6+ Kf7 40.Re3 Rh1 41.Rf3+ Ke7 42.Ke3 Re1+ 43.Kf4 Kf6 44.Rh3 Re2 45.Rh7 Rxf2+ 46.Ke3 Rb2 47.Rxc7 Rxb3+ 48.Kd4 Rb4 49.Rd7 Rxa4 50.Rxd6+ Ke7 51.Rxb6 Ra7 52.c5 Kd8 53.Ke5 Kc7 54.Rh6 Ra5 55.Rh7+ Kb8 56.Rh8+ Ka7 57.d6 Rxc5+ 58.Ke6 Rc6 59.Ke7 1-0

VallejoPons-Aronian was a 20 move draw.

Standings:
Leko, Svidler - 3.5
Ivanchuk, Aronian - 2
Bacrot, Radjabov - 1.5
Topalov, VallejoPons - 1

Linares Round 3

Standings (unchanged since all four games were drawn):
Leko, Svidler - 2.5
Ivanchuk - 2
Aronian, Bacrot - 1.5
Topalov - 1
Radjabov, VallejoPons - 0.5 (they finally got on the scoreboard)

Aronian-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nbd7 9.a3 cxd4 10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Be2 Nd5 13.Bd3 Qxc3 14.Ra3 Qf6 15.Qc2 h6 16.b5 Nb4 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Qb1 a5 19.Be4 Nc5 20.Bd2 Bd7 21.Bxb4 axb4 22.Qxb4 Rxa3 23.Qxc5 Rfa8 24.Ne5 b6 25.Qc7 Bxb5 26.Bxa8 Rxa8 27.Rd1 Ba4 28.Rd4 Be8 29.g3 Kh7 30.Kg2 Ra5 31.Nc4 Ra2 32.Rf4 Qc3 33.Qxb6 Ra1 34.Qb7 Qc1 35.Kh3 f6 36.Rg4 Bg6 37.Rxg6 Kxg6 38.Qe4+ Kf7 39.Nd6+ Ke7 40.Nf5+ Kd7 41.Nxg7 Qf1+ 42.Kh4 Qxf2 43.Qxe6+ Kc7 44.Qc4+ Kb7 45.Qe4+ Kb8 46.Qf4+ Qxf4+ 47.exf4 Ra2 48.h3 Kc8 49.Kh5 Ra3 50.Nf5 Kd7 51.Kxh6 Ke6 52.Kg6 Ra5 53.Ng7+ Ke7 54.h4 Ra6 55.Nh5 Ra8 56.Ng7 Ra6 57.g4 f5+ 58.Kxf5 Kf7 59.Nh5 Ra5+ 60.Ke4 Ra3 61.g5 Rh3 62.Kf5 Rxh4 63.g6+ Kg8 64.Kg5 Rh1 65.Nf6+ Kf8 66.Nh5 Rg1+ 67.Kh6 Rh1 68.f5 Kg8 69.Kg5 Rg1+ 70.Kf6 Rg4 71.Ng7 Ra4 72.Ne6 Ra5 73.Nc7 Kf8 74.Ke6 Ra7 75.Nb5 Re7+ 76.Kf6 Rd7 77.Nc3 Rd6+ 78.Kg5 Kg7 79.Nb5 Rd5 80.Nc7 Re5 81.Ne6+ Kg8 82.Kf6 Ra5 83.Nc7 Rc5 84.Ne8 Rc1 85.Nd6 Kf8 86.Ne4 Rc6+ 87.Kg5 Rc4 88.Ng3 Rc3 89.Ne4 Rc4 90.Nf6 Rc1 91.Nd7+ Kg8 92.f6 Rf1 93.Ne5 Rg1+ 94.Kf5 Rf1+ 95.Ke6 Re1 96.Kd6 Re2 97.Nc6 Rg2 98.Ke6 Re2+ 99.Kd7 Kf8 100.Kd6 Rg2 101.Ne5 Rd2+ 102.Ke6 Re2 103.Kf5 Rf2+ 104.Kg5 Rg2+ 105.Kh4 Rf2 106.Ng4 Rg2 107.Ne5 Rf2 108.Kg5 Rg2+ 109.Kf4 Rf2+ 110.Nf3 Rf1 111.Ke3 Kg8 112.Kf4 Kf8 113.Ke4 Kg8 114.Ke3 Ra1 115.Kf4 Rf1 116.Kg4 Rf2 117.Kg3 Rf1 118.Kf4 Rf2 119.Ke4 Rf1 120.Ke3 Ra1 121.Kd4 Rf1 122.Ke4 Rf2 123.g7 Rg2 1/2-1/2

Svidler-Leko, Bacrot-VallejoPons and Radjabov-Ivanchuk were drawn in 21, 18 and 23 moves, respectively. I will not soil this blog by displaying the games. Boo! Hiss!! Shame!!!

Death to the grandmaster draw!

Linares Round 2

Topalov - Bacrot
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nc3 Bf5 9.Re1 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 0-0 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Ng5 g6 14.Qh3 h5 15.Qg3 Qf6 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Nh3 Rae8 18.Qf4 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Kg7 20.Qg3 Qf5 21.Nf4 b5 22.h4 Rd8 23.Qg5 Qxg5 24.hxg5 b4 25.cxb4 Nxb4 26.c3 Nxa2 27.Nxd5 Rb8 28.Re2 Nc1 29.Re7 a5 30.Ra7 Rc8 31.Rxa5 Ne2+ 32.Kh2 Nxc3 33.Nf6 Rb8 34.d5 Nb5 35.Ra4 Nc7 36.Ra7 Ne8 37.Ne4 Rd8 38.f3 Kf8 39.g4 hxg4 40.fxg4 Rb8 41.Kg3 Rb3+ 42.Kf4 Rb4 43.Ke3 Rb3+ 44.Kd4 Rb4+ 45.Kd3 Rb3+ 46.Kc4 Rf3 47.Rd7 Rf4 48.Kd3 f6 49.Nxf6 Nxf6 50.gxf6 Rxg4 51.Rxd6 Kf7 52.Re6 Ra4 53.Re4 Rxe4 54.Kxe4 1/2-1/2

Vallejo - Svidler
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 0-0 8.h4 Nc6 9.e5 Bf5 10.Be2 Nb4 11.g4 Nc2+ 12.Kf1 Nxe3+ 13.fxe3 Be6 14.Nh3 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Kg1 Bf7 17.Ng5 e5 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.dxe5 Bxe5 20.Ne4 Bxb2 21.Rb1 Qe7 22.Bf3 Bg7 23.Ng5 Rff8 24.Qb3+ Kh8 25.Bxb7 Rab8 26.Be4 Bf6 27.Qc2 Rbe8 28.Rf1 Qd7 29.Bf3 Rxe3 30.Rh3 Bd4 31.Kg2 Nd5 32.Kh1 Nf4 33.Bc6 Rxh3+ 34.Nxh3 Qxg4 35.Bg2 Nxg2 36.Rxf8+ Kg7 37.Qxc7+ Kxf8 38.Qd6+ Kg7 39.Qe7+ Kh6 40.Qg5+ Qxg5 0-1

Leko - Radjabov
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 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 17.Nce3 Be6 18.h4 Bf4 19.Nf5 g6 20.Nfe3 Kg7 21.g3 Bh6 22.Ng4 f5 23.Nxh6 Kxh6 24.h5 g5 25.exf5 Bxf5 26.Ne3 Bc8 27.Ra2 Ne7 28.0-0 Rf6 29.Qe2 Qb6 30.Rfa1 Qc6 31.Rxa5 Bb7 32.Bd5 Nxd5 33.Rxd5 Qxc3 34.Ng4+ Kg7 35.Ra7 Re6 36.Qc4 Qe1+ 37.Kg2 Re7 38.Rxb7 Rexb7 39.Rxd6 Rf8 40.h6+ Kh8 41.Qd5 Rbb8 42.Qd3 Qb4 43.Rd7 e4 44.Qd5 Rb5 45.Nf6 1-0

Ivanchuk - Aronian
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Bg7 8.Nc3 d6 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.Rac1 Rc8 11.b3 a6 12.Rfd1 0-0 13.Qd2 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Ne1 Nf6 16.Bh3 Rb8 17.Nd3 Ba8 18.f3 e6 19.Bf2 Re8 20.Nb4 a5 21.Na6 Rc8 22.Qxd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Nd5 24.Rd1 Nc3 25.R1d2 b5 26.Rd7 Be5 27.cxb5 Nxb5 28.Bf1 Bc6 29.R7d3 Na3 30.f4 Bf6 31.Nc5 Be7 32.Rd1 Nb5 33.Na4 Be4 34.Rd7 Bb4 35.Bg2 Bxg2 36.Kxg2 Rc2 37.Rb7 Na3 38.Rdd7 Rf8 39.Kf3 Nb1 40.Be3 Rxa2 41.Bc5 Nd2+ 42.Kg2 Bxc5 43.Nxc5 e5 44.Ne6 exf4 45.Rxf7 1-0

Standings:
Leko, Svidler - 2
Ivanchuk - 1.5
Aronian, Bacrot - 1
Topalov - 0.5
Radjabov, Vallejo - 0

Linares Round 1

The first half of the Linares tournament isn't in Linares at all this year. It's taking place in Morelia, Mexico, February 18-26.

The players are:
Veselin Topalov (BUL) 2812 - 2
Peter Svidler (RUS) 2765 - 4
Levon Aronian (ARM) 2752 - 5
Peter Leko (HUN) 2740 - 7
Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) - 2729 - 8
Ettienne Bacrot (FRA) - 2717 - 13
Teimour Radjabov (AZE) - 2700 - 19
Francisco Vallejo (ESP) - 2650 - 54
Only Anand and Kramnik are missing from the world's top 8 players.

Round 1 was today.

Svidler - Topalov
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ne7 10.h3 Ng6 11.Bg5+ Ke8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.Nd4 h6 14.Be3 h5 15.f4 h4 16.f5 Nxe5 17.f6 Rh5 18.Ne4 g6 19.Bf4 c5 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Rxf3 Be6 22.Rfd3 c4 23.R3d2 c6 24.Ng5 Bc5+ 25.Kh2 Bd5 26.Re2+ Kf8 27.Rde1 b5 28.c3 a5 29.a3 Rc8 30.g4 hxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Be6 32.h4 Kg8 33.Re5 Bf8 34.Nxe6 fxe6 35.Rd1 Rh7 36.Rxe6 Rb7 37.Re4 Kf7 38.Bg5 Re8 39.Rxe8 Kxe8 40.Kg4 Rh7 41.Re1+ Kd7 42.a4 bxa4 43.Re5 c5 44.Bf4 Rh8 45.Bg3 Bh6 46.Re7+ Kc6 47.Bf4 Bxf4 48.Kxf4 Rh5 49.Re5 Rxh4+ 50.Kg5 Rh5+ 51.Kxg6 Rxe5 52.f7 Re6+ 53.Kg5 Re5+ 54.Kg4 Re4+ 55.Kg3 Re3+ 56.Kf2 a3 57.f8Q axb2 58.Qc8+ Kb5 59.Qb7+ Ka4 60.Kxe3 Ka3 61.Qb5 a4 62.Qxc5+ Kb3 63.Qb4+ Kc2 64.Qxa4+ Kxc3 65.Qa5+ Kc2 66.Qf5+ Kc1 67.Qf1+ 1-0

Bacrot - Ivanchuk
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3 Bb7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bf4 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Nb5 Na6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rc1 Ne4 13.h4 Nd6 14.a4 Nc4 15.Ne5 Na5 16.Bh3 Qe8 17.h5 Nc6 18.h6 g5 19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Qg4 Qe7 23.Rxc6 f5 24.Qh5 Kh8 25.d5 exd5 26.Nd4 Bf6 27.Nxf5 Qe8 28.Qxe8 Raxe8 29.Rd1 Nb4 30.Rc7 a5 31.Ng7 Re7 32.Rxe7 Bxe7 33.Ne6 Rc8 34.Nf4 Rd8 35.Be6 Bg5 36.Kf1 Rd6 37.Bf5 Bxf4 38.gxf4 Rxh6 39.Ke2 Rf6 40.Bg4 Rxf4 41.Rg1 Nd3 42.Be6 Rxf2+ 43.Ke3 Rf8 44.Bxd5 Nb4 45.Bxe4 Rd8 46.Rc1 h5 47.Kf4 Nd3+ 48.Bxd3 Rxd3 49.Kg5 Kg7 50.Rc7+ Kf8 51.Kxh5 Ke8 52.Kg5 Rd4 53.b3 Kd8 54.Rc6 Rb4 55.Rc3 Ke7 56.Kf5 Kd6 57.Rd3+ Kc5 58.Ke5 b5 59.Rc3+ Kb6 60.Kd5 bxa4 61.bxa4 Rxa4 62.Rb3+ Ka6 63.Kc5 Rh4 64.Rb6+ Ka7 65.Rg6 a4 66.Kb5 1/2-1/2

Aronian - Radjabov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh6 11.d5 Nd7 12.Nd2 f5 13.exf5 Nf6 14.Nde4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxf5 16.Bd3 g4 17.0-0 Qe8 18.c5 Qg6 19.Re1 Nf7 20.Bh4 Rae8 21.Rc1 dxc5 22.Rxc5 Nd6 23.Qa4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Qh6 25.Bg3 Qd2 26.Rcc1 Re7 27.h4 Qxb2 28.Qd1 Qxa2 29.h5 Nxe4 30.Rxe4 Qa6 31.Qb3 Kh8 32.Rce1 Qb6 33.Rb4 Qc5 34.Rxb7 Ref7 35.Rb5 Qd6 36.Qc4 Rf5 37.Qxg4 Qh6 38.Rb8 Rxf2 39.Rxf8+ Rxf8 40.Rxe5 Qd6 41.Rf5 Qe7 42.Rxf8+ Bxf8 43.Bf2 h6 44.Qd4+ Kg8 45.Qc4 Qf7 46.Bxa7 Bg7 47.Be3 Kh8 48.Bd4 Bxd4+ 49.Qxd4+ Kh7 50.Qe5 Qg7 51.Qf5+ Kh8 52.Kh2 Qe7 53.Kh3 Qd6 54.Qf7 Qe5 55.g3 Qe4 56.Qf1 Kh7 57.Qd1 Qe5 58.Qf3 Kg7 59.Qg4+ Kh8 60.Qg6 Qxd5 61.Qxh6+ Kg8 62.Qg6+ Kh8 63.Qf6+ Kh7 64.Kh4 Qe4+ 65.g4 Qe1+ 66.Kg5 Qd2+ 67.Qf4 Qd8+ 68.Kf5 Qf8+ 69.Ke4 Qb4+ 70.Kf3 Qc3+ 71.Qe3 Qf6+ 72.Kg3 Qd6+ 73.Kh4 c5 74.g5 Qh2+ 75.Kg4 Qg2+ 76.Kf5 Qd5+ 77.Kf6 Qd6+ 78.Qe6 Qd4+ 79.Ke7 1-0

VallejoPons - Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bd3 Qa5 10.Ne2 cxd4 11.cxd5 exd5 12.f3 Nxc3 13.Nxd4 Ne4+ 14.Ke2 f5 15.Be3 Nc6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rhc1 Rb8 18.Kd1 Rd8 19.Bd4 Be6 20.Rab1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 c5 22.Rb5 Qxa3 23.Bb2 Qa2 24.Be2 Bd7 25.fxe4 Bxb5 26.Bxb5 Rb8 27.Bc6 Qxb2 28.Bxd5+ Kh8 29.Qxb2 Rxb2 30.exf5 Rb4 31.Kc2 Rd4 32.Bf7 Re4 33.e6 h5 34.Bxh5 Kg8 35.g4 Kf8 36.g5 Ke7 37.h3 a5 38.Bg4 a4 39.f6+ gxf6 40.g6 Kf8 0-1