Saturday, May 23, 2009

My 60 Memorable Games

Is back in print.

Sofia R10 (Final)

Shirov wins, 1/2 point ahead of Carlsen and Topalov

Shirov,A (2745) - Carlsen,M (2770) [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.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.c4 f5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qh5 Rb8 16.exf5 e4 17.Rae1 Bb7 18.Qg4 Rfe8 19.cxb5 d5 20.bxa6 Bc6 21.b3 Kh8 22.Nc2 Be5 23.Be2 d4 24.Bc4 Rg8 25.Qh3 Rg7 26.g3 Rbg8 27.Qh6 Qc7 28.Nb4 Ba8 29.Nd5 Qd8 30.Rxe4 1-0

Ivanchuk,V (2746) - Dominguez Perez,L (2717) [D74]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Nc3 Nb6 9.e3 Re8 10.Re1 e5 11.d5 Na5 12.e4 c6 13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 cxd5 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nxd5 Be6 17.Qe2 Bxd5 18.exd5 f5 19.b4 e4 20.Rac1 exf3 21.Qxe8+ Qxe8 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Bxf3 Be5 24.bxa5 bxa5 25.Rc5 b6 26.Rc6 Kf7 27.h4 h5 28.a4 Rd8 29.Rxb6 Rb8 30.Ra6 Rb1+ 31.Kg2 Rb2 32.d6 Rd2 33.Rxa5 Bxd6 34.Rb5 Kf6 35.a5 Be5 36.Kf1 Bd4 37.Be2 Ra2 38.Rd5 Ba7 39.Rd6+ Ke5 40.Rxg6 Rxa5 41.f4+ Kd5 42.Rf6 Ke4 43.Re6+ Kd4 44.Bxh5 Bc5 45.Kg2 Bb4 46.Bg6 Bd2 47.h5 Ra2 48.Re2 Kd3 49.Kf3 Ra5 50.h6 Bc3 51.h7 Ra8 52.Bxf5+ Kd4 53.g4 Rf8 54.g5 Kd5 55.Kg4 Bh8 56.Re6 1-0

Friday, May 22, 2009

Sofia R9

Topalov,V (2812) - Ivanchuk,V (2746) [C97]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 Bd7 13.b3 c4 14.Ba3 Bd8 15.Nbd2 Ne8 16.Bb4 cxb3 17.axb3 Nb7 18.Qe2 Qb8 19.Ba3 Bb6 20.b4 Nc7 21.Bd3 a5 22.Nf1 axb4 23.cxb4 f6 24.Ne3 g6 25.Bb2 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Nd8 27.Nd2 Nf7 28.Kh2 Qd8 29.Rf1 Qe7 30.Bc1 Ra8 31.Nb1 Bd4 32.Nc2 Bb6 33.Nc3 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.f4 Rc8 36.Be3 Bxe3 37.Qxe3 Ne8 38.Be2 Qf6 39.Qd2 exf4 40.Nd4 Qe5 41.Bxb5 f3+ 42.Kg1 Bxb5 43.Ncxb5 fxg2 44.Rxf5 Qe4 45.Nc3 Qh4 46.Qxg2+ Kh8 47.Nce2 Nf6 48.Rf4 Qh6 49.Nf5 Qf8 50.Ned4 Ne5 51.b5 Qg8 52.Ne7 Rc1+ 53.Kh2 Qxg2+ 54.Kxg2 Nfd7 55.Ndf5 Nc4 56.Rg4 Nf6 57.Rg3 Rc2+ 58.Kg1 Rc1+ 59.Kh2 Rc2+ 60.Rg2 Rxg2+ 61.Kxg2 Ne4 62.Nc8 Nc3 63.Ncxd6 Nb6 64.Ne3 Kg7 65.Kf3 Kf8 66.Kf4 Ke7 67.Ndc4 Nxc4 68.Nxc4 Nxd5+ 69.Kg5 Kd7 70.h4 Ne7 71.Kf6 Ng6 72.Ne5+ Nxe5 73.Kxe5 Kc7 74.h5 Kb6 75.Kf6 Kxb5 76.Kg7 Ka4 77.Kxh7 Kb3 78.h6 Ka2 79.Kg6 Kb1 80.h7 Kc2 81.h8Q 1-0

Carlsen,M (2770) - Wang Yue (2738) [D15]
1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Bf5 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.h3 b6 10.cxb6 Qxb6 11.Rb1 e6 12.e3 c5 13.a3 Bd6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Qa4+ Ke7 19.Bd3 a5 20.Ke2 Rhc8 21.Rhc1 Qxc1 22.Rxc1 Rxc1 23.b4 Kf8 24.bxa5 Kg8 25.a6 Rc7 26.Qf4 Rca7 27.Qd4 Ne4 28.Qb6 e5 29.Ke1 Ng5 30.Bb5 Ne6 31.a4 d4 32.a5 Rc7 33.Bc6 1-0

Standings:
Carlsen at +3
Topalov and Shirov at +2
Dominguez and Wang at -1
Ivanchuk at -5!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sofia R8

All games drawn

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Sofia R7

Carlsen,M (2770) - Dominguez Perez,L (2717) [D97]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Nc6 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4 c6 12.d6 Nd5 13.Qd3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qf6 15.Bb2 Rd8 16.Rd1 Qe6 17.f4 Qxa2 18.Rd2 Qa5 19.Qe3 Bd7 20.Kf2 Re8 21.Ra1 Qd8 22.c4 Bxb2 23.Rxb2 b6 24.Bf3 Qh4+ 25.Kg1 Qf6 26.Qd2 g5 27.g3 gxf4 28.gxf4 Kh8 29.Kh1 Rg8 30.e5 Qh4 31.Qd4 Rg7 32.Rg2 Rag8 33.e6 Bxe6 34.Rxg7 Rxg7 35.Bxc6 f6 36.d7 Bxd7 37.Bxd7 Re7 38.Be6 Rxe6 39.Qd8+ Kg7 40.Rg1+ Kf7 41.Qg8+ Ke7 42.Rg7+ Kd6 43.Qf8+ 1-0

Standings:
Carlsen and Shirov at +2
Topalov at +1

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Sofia R6

Shirov,A (2745) - Ivanchuk,V (2746) [C80]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Re1 Nc5 11.c3 d4 12.Bc2 0-0 13.cxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Nf3 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Rfd8 17.Nd4 Bd5 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Ne7+ Bxe7 21.Bxe7 Rxe7 22.Rxd5 Ne6 23.g3 g6 24.f4 c5 25.Kf2 Kg7 26.Rad1 c4 27.Ke3 f6 28.Rd7 Kf7 29.Be4 Rae8 30.Rxe7+ Rxe7 31.exf6 Kxf6 32.Rd6 Kg7 33.f5 gxf5 34.Bxf5 Nf8+ 35.Kd2 Re5 36.g4 a5 37.Ra6 a4 38.Rb6 Ng6 39.Kc3 Ne7 40.Rb7 Kf6 41.Bxh7 Kg5 42.h3 Kf4 43.Rd7 Re2 44.a3 Nc6 45.Rf7+ Kg3 46.g5 Re3+ 47.Kd2 Rb3 48.g6 Rxb2+ 49.Kc1 1-0

Standings:
Shirov at +2
Topalov and Carlsen at +1
Wang and Dominguez even at 3/6
Ivanchuk at -4

Sunday, May 17, 2009

US Championship R9 (Final)

Nakamura wins!

IM Robert Hess (6) ½-½ GM Varuzhan Akobian (5½)
GM Hikaru Nakamura (6) 1-0 GM Joshua Friedel (5)
GM Alexander Onischuk (5½) 1-0 IM Ray Robson (4½)
GM Jaan Ehlvest (4) ½-½ GM Gata Kamsky (5½)
GM Yury Shulman (4½) ½-½ GM Gregory Kaidanov (4)
IM Enrico Sevillano (4) 0-1 GM Larry Christiansen (4)
GM Joel Benjamin (4) ½-½ GM Alexander Shabalov (4)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (4) 1-0 IM Michael Brooks (4)
IM Samuel Shankland (3) 0-1 GM Boris Gulko (3½)
GM Julio Becerra (3½) ½-½ GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½)
Tyler Hughes (3) 1-0 FM Doug Eckert (2)
IM Irina Krush (3) ½-½ Charles Lawton (½)

The decisive game in round 9:
Nakamura-Friedel
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Rb8 11. h3 c5 12. b3 Rb4 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Ba3 Rf4 15.g3 Rd4 16. Nf3 Rxd3 17. cxd3 Qxd3 18. Nxe5 Qf5 19. g4 Qf4 20. d4 Rd8 21. Qe2Rxd4 22. Bc1 1-0

Final results:
1st - GM Hikaru Nakamura - 7
2nd/3rd - GM Alexander Onischuk and IM Robert Hess - 6½
4th/5th - GM Varuzhan Akobian and GM Gata Kamsky - 6

Sofia R5

Ivanchuk,V (2746) - Topalov,V (2812) [B99]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.Bd3 h6 11.Qh3 Nc5 12.Rhe1 Rg8 13.Bh4 g5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Bg3 Ncd7 17.Nxe6 Qb6 18.Bc4 g4 19.Qh6 fxe6 20.Bh4 Bf8 21.Qd2 Qc6 22.Bd3 b5 23.Ne4 Nd5 24.Rf1 Bb7 25.Rxf8+ Nxf8 26.Qh6 Rg6 27.Nf6+ Rxf6 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.Bg6+ Nxg6 30.Qxg6+ Ke7 31.Qg7+ Ke8 32.Qxf6 Rc8 33.c3 b4 34.Qg6+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Ke8 36.Rf1 Qc5= 37.Qxb7? Qe3+ 38.Kc2 Qe2+ 39.Kb3 Qc4+ 40.Kc2 b3+ 41.Kd2 Rd8+ 42.Ke1 Rd1+ 43.Kxd1 Qxf1+ 44.Kd2 Qf4+ 45.Kd1 bxa2 46.Qc8+ Kf7 47.Qd7+ Kf6 48.Qd8+ Kf5 49.Qf8+ Ke4 50.Qa8+ Kd3 51.Qxa6+ Qc4 52.Qa7 g3 53.h3 Qb3+ 54.Ke1 Kc2 0-1

Standings (at the halfway point):
Topalov, Carlsen, Shirov at +1
Wang, Dominguez even
Ivanchuk at -3

Saturday, May 16, 2009

US Championship R8

GM Gata Kamsky (5) ½-½ GM Alexander Onischuk (5)
IM Robert Hess (5) 1-0 GM Yury Shulman (4½)
IM Michael Brooks (4) 0-1 GM Hikaru Nakamura (5)
GM Varuzhan Akobian (4½) 1-0 GM Joel Benjamin (4)
GM Joshua Friedel (4) 1-0 GM Jaan Ehlvest (4)
IM Ray Robson (3½) 1-0 IM Enrico Sevillano (4)
GM Gregory Kaidanov (3½) ½-½ GM Ildar Ibragimov (3½)
GM Larry Christiansen (3) 1-0 Tyler Hughes (3)
GM Boris Gulko (3) ½-½ GM Julio Becerra (3)
GM Alexander Shabalov (3) 1-0 IM Irina Krush (3)
GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) 0-1 FM Doug Eckert (1)
Charles Lawton (0) ½-½ IM Samuel Shankland (2½)

Sofia R4

Topalov,V (2812) - Wang Yue (2738) [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.f3 Nfd7 10.e4 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1+ 12.Kxd1 Be6 13.Kc2 f6 14.Rb1 Nd7 15.b4 Nxe5 16.bxa5 Bc8 17.a6 bxa6 18.a5 Nd7 19.Na4 e5 20.Bc4 Bc5 21.Rd1 Bd4 22.Ba3 c5 23.Rb3 h5 24.Rdb1 Ke7 25.Bd5 Ra7 26.Rb6 Rc7 27.Re6+ Kd8 28.Nb6 Nxb6 29.axb6 Rb7 30.Rd6+ Ke7 31.Rc6 Rd7 32.Re6+ Kf7 33.b7 1-0

Standings:
Carlsen, Shirov at +1
Topalov, Wang, Dominguez even at 2/4
Ivanchuk at -2

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Sofia R2

Ivanchuk,V (2746) - Wang Yue (2738) [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Be6 9.0-0-0 Qd7 10.Kb1 a6 11.Be2 Bf6 12.Ng5 Bxg5 13.Bxg5 f6 14.Be3 0-0-0 15.Rhe1 Rhe8 16.b3 Bg4 17.f3 Bf5 18.Bf1 Bg6 19.Kb2 Re5 20.Bf2 Qf5 21.Bg3 Rxe1 22.Bxe1 Qg5 23.Qxg5 fxg5 24.c4 Ne7 25.Bd2 h6 26.Bc3 Nf5 27.Re1 Re8 28.Rxe8+ Bxe8 29.Bd3 g6 30.Kc1 Nh4 31.Bf1 Kd7 32.Kd2 Ke6 33.Ke3 Nf5+ 34.Kf2 Kf7 35.Bd3 Ne7 36.g4 Nc6 37.Be4 Nd8 38.Bd5+ Ke7 39.Bg7 h5 40.Bd4 Bc6 41.Be3 Kf6 42.Kg3 Ne6 43.a4 Ke5 44.Bxg5 Bxd5 45.f4+ Ke4 46.cxd5 Nxg5 47.fxg5 h4+ 48.Kxh4 Kf3 49.b4 b5 50.a5 Kg2 51.h3 Kh2 0-1

Standings:
Carlsen, Shirov, Wang at +1

US Championship Round 7

GM Yury Shulman (4½) 0-1 GM Alexander Onischuk (4)
GM Hikaru Nakamura (4) 1-0 GM Varuzhan Akobian (4½)
GM Joel Benjamin (4) 0-1 GM Gata Kamsky (4)
GM Joshua Friedel (4) 0-1 IM Robert Hess (4)
IM Enrico Sevillano (3) 1-0 GM Gregory Kaidanov (3½)
IM Ray Robson (3½) 0-1 IM Michael Brooks (3)
GM Jaan Ehlvest (3) 1-0 IM Irina Krush (3)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (2½) 1-0 GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½)
GM Boris Gulko (2½) ½-½ GM Alexander Shabalov (2½)
IM Samuel Shankland (2½) 0-1 Tyler Hughes (2)
FM Doug Eckert (1) 0-1 GM Larry Christiansen (2)
GM Julio Becerra (2) 1-0 Charles Lawton (0)

Tomorrow is a rest day.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

US Championship Round 6

GM Varuzhan Akobian (4) ½-½ GM Yury Shulman (4)
GM Gata Kamsky (3½) ½-½ IM Robert Hess (3½)
GM Alexander Onischuk (3½) ½-½ GM Hikaru Nakamura (3½)
IM Michael Brooks (3) 0-1 GM Joshua Friedel (3)
GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) 0-1 GM Joel Benjamin (3)
GM Gregory Kaidanov (2½) 1-0 IM Samuel Shankland (2½)
IM Enrico Sevillano (2½) ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (2½)
GM Larry Christiansen (2) 0-1 IM Ray Robson (2½)
IM Irina Krush (2) 1-0 GM Julio Becerra (2)
Tyler Hughes (2) 0-1 GM Ildar Ibragimov (1½)
GM Alexander Shabalov (1½) 1-0 FM Doug Eckert (1)
Charles Lawton (0) 0-1 GM Boris Gulko (1½)

Sofia R1

Ivanchuk,V (2746) - Shirov,A (2745) [B52]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 0-0 10.Be3 Nc6 11.0-0 Rac8 12.b3 e6 13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.Qd2 d5 15.exd5 exd5 16.c5 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Ne4 18.Qe3 Nxc5 19.Rcd1 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qc6 21.Ne2 Ne6 22.Rd2 d4 23.Nxd4 Qb6 24.Rfd1 Rd5 0-1

Carlsen,M (2770) - Topalov,V (2812) [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.e4 0-0 12.e5 Qe7 13.Qe2 b5 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Be4 Rfd8 16.Rac1 Rab8 17.Rfd1 a6 18.h4 Ba8 19.Rc2 Rdc8 20.Rdc1 Qf8 21.a4 c5 22.axb5 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Bxe4 24.Nxe4 Rxc2 25.Rxc2 axb5 26.Nc6 Rb6 27.f4 Qa8 28.Ne7+ Kh7 29.h5 Ra6 30.hxg6+ fxg6 31.Rc7 Ra1+ 32.Kf2 Qd8 33.Qd3 Qxe7 34.Rxd7 Qh4+ 35.Kf3 Qh5+ 36.Kg3 1-0

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

US Championship Round 5

GM Hikaru Nakamura (3) ½-½ GM Gata Kamsky (3)
GM Joshua Friedel (3) 0-1 GM Yury Shulman (3)
GM Jaan Ehlvest (2½) 0-1 GM Varuzhan Akobian (3)
IM Samuel Shankland (2½) 0-1 GM Alexander Onischuk (2½)
IM Robert Hess (2½) 1-0 GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½)
GM Julio Becerra (2) 0-1 IM Michael Brooks (2)
IM Ray Robson (2) ½-½ GM Gregory Kaidanov (2)
GM Joel Benjamin (2) 1-0 Tyler Hughes (2)
IM Irina Krush (1½) ½-½ GM Larry Christiansen (1½)
GM Alexander Shabalov (1½) 0-1 IM Enrico Sevillano (1½)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (1) ½-½ GM Boris Gulko (1)
FM Doug Eckert (0) 1-0 Charles Lawton (0)

FIDE Chaos Continues!

FIDE announces that the negotiations with Universal Event Promotion (UEP), the original bidder for organising the final stages of the World Championship cycle 2009-2011 (Candidates Tournament and Final Match), did not reach a final agreement. FIDE is already in contact with other organisers and sponsors interested in holding these events.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

US Championship Round 3

GM Yury Shulman (2) ½-½ GM Gata Kamsky (2)
GM Hikaru Nakamura (1½) 1-0 IM Robert Hess (2)
GM Alexander Onischuk (1½) ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (1½)
GM Joel Benjamin (1½) 0-1 GM Joshua Friedel (1½)
GM Julio Becerra (1) 1-0 Tyler Hughes (1)
GM Varuzhan Akobian (1) 1-0 IM Ray Robson (1)
IM Samuel Shankland (1) ½-½ GM Melikset Khachiyan (1)
IM Michael Brooks (1) ½-½ IM Enrico Sevillano (1)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (½) ½-½ GM Larry Christiansen (½)
IM Irina Krush (½) 1-0 GM Boris Gulko (0)
Charles Lawton (0) 0-1 GM Alexander Shabalov (0)

(Update) Anna Zatonskih was ill and GM Kaidanov, who could have taken a win by default, graciously agreed to postpone the game until the rest day. However, Zatonskih's illness will not allow her to return, so Kaidanov will get the forfeit win after all. FM Doug Eckert will replace Zatonskih starting with round 4.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

US Championship Round 2

BoardWhiteRatingResultBlackRating
1.GM Gata Kamsky (1)27981-0GM Varuzhan Akobian (1)2664
2.GM Jaan Ehlvest (1)2649½-½GM Hikaru Nakamura (1)2757
3.GM Melikset Khachiyan (1)26320-1GM Yury Shulman (1)2697
4.IM Robert Hess (1)25451-0GM Julio Becerra (1)2672
5.Tyler Hughes (1)22930-1GM Alexander Onischuk (½)2736
6.GM Joshua Friedel (½)25681-0GM Gregory Kaidanov (½)2662
7.GM Joel Benjamin (½)26501-0IM Irina Krush (½)2496
8.GM Larry Christiansen (0)2681½-½IM Samuel Shankland (½)2464
9.IM Ray Robson (0)25421-0GM Boris Gulko (0)2631
10.IM Anna Zatonskih (0)2503½-½GM Ildar Ibragimov (0)2628
11.GM Alexander Shabalov (0)26200-1IM Michael Brooks (0)2419
12.IM Enrico Sevillano (0)25491-0Charles Lawton (0)2350

Saturday, May 02, 2009