Saturday, February 28, 2009

Linares Round 8

Carlsen,M (2776) - Aronian,L (2750) [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 h6 8.Bd2 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.e4 Be7 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 b4 14.Na4 c5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Rc8 17.Qa4+ Bc6 18.Bb5 Bxb5 19.Qxb5+ Qd7 20.Qxd7+ Nxd7 21.Ke2 Rh4 22.Rac1 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 Bxc5 24.f4 e5 25.h3 exf4 26.Nf3 Rh6 27.Bxf4 Re6 28.Nd2 Bd4 29.Rb1 Ra6 30.a3 bxa3 31.bxa3 Rxa3 32.Nc4 Ra2+ 33.Kd3 Bf2 34.Bd6 Nb6 35.Bb4 Nxc4 36.Kxc4 Bb6 37.Kd5 Rg2 38.Rb3 Rg5+ 39.e5 Bc7 40.Bd6 Bxd6 41.Kxd6 Rg6+ 42.Kd5 Rb6 43.Rc3 Kd7 44.Rf3 Ke7 45.Rc3 Rb7 46.Rc6 g6 47.Ra6 Kf8 48.Ke4 Kg7 49.Kf4 Re7 50.Ra5 Kh6 51.Kg4 a6 52.Rxa6 Rxe5 53.Rb6 Re3 54.Ra6 f5+ 55.Kh4 Re4+ 56.Kg3 Kg5 57.Ra3 Re2 58.Kf3 Rh2 59.Kg3 Rb2 60.Ra8 Rb3+ 61.Kg2 Kf4 62.Ra4+ Ke3 63.h4 Rb6 64.Kg3 Rd6 65.Rf4 Rd1 66.Rf3+ Ke4 67.Rf4+ Ke5 68.Ra4 f4+ 69.Kg2 Rd2+ 70.Kf3 Rd3+ 71.Kg2 Rg3+ 72.Kh2 Kf5 73.Ra6 Re3 74.Ra5+ Re5 75.Ra2 Kg4 76.Rg2+ Kh5 77.Kh3 Ra5 78.Rg1 Ra3+ 79.Kh2 Ra6 80.Kh3 Ra5 81.Rg2 Rc5 82.Rg1 f3 83.Kg3 Rf5 84.Rf1 f2 85.Kh3 Rf3+ 86.Kg2 Kg4 87.h5 Rg3+ 88.Kh2 Kf3 89.Ra1 Rg2+ 90.Kh1 Rg5 91.Ra3+ Kf4 92.Ra4+ Kg3 93.Ra3+ Kh4 0-1

Standings:
Grischuk at +3
Aronian, Ivanchuk at +1

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Topalov Wins Match 4.5-2.5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nb3 Nc6 10.Nbxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 0-0 12.c3 Bd7 13.Qf3 Qb6N (13...Qc7) 14.Bb3 a5 15.Be3 Bc5 16.Rad1 a4 17.Bc2 Qxb2 18.Bg5 Nd5 19.c4 Bxd4 20.Qd3 f5 21.Qxd4 Qxc2 22.cxd5 Qxa2 23.Qb6 a3 24.Be7 (24.dxe6 Bc6) Rfe8 25.Qd6 Ba4 (25...Kf7!? 26.Rxe6) 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 27.Ra1 Qc4 28.Rec1!? (28.Rxa3 Bb3 29.Rxa8 Rxa8 30.Qxf5 Qxd5=) Bc2! 29.Qd7 a2 30.d6 b5 31.Qb7 Reb8? (31...b4! 32.d7 Reb8! 33.d8Q+ Rxd8 34.Bxd8 Rxd8) 32.Qc7! Rc8?! (32...Bd3!! 33.Rxc4 bxc4 34.Qxb8+ Rxb8 35.h4 Rb1+ 36.Kh2 Rxa1 37.d7 Rh1+ 38.Kg3! h5 39.d8Q+ Kh7 40.Bf6! gxf6 41.Qe7+=) 33.Qxc4 Rxc4 34.d7 Bb1 (34...b4 35.Rxa2!) 35.Rd1 Kg8 36.d8Q+ Rxd8 37.Bxd8 Bc2 38.Rdc1 b4 39.Rxa2 b3 40.Ra8 Kf7 41.Rb8 Ke6 42.Re1+ Kd5 43.Be7 Ra4 44.Bf8 Ra7 45.h4 1-0

So we've had Kramnik-Topalov and Anand-Kramnik matches. A match between Anand and Topalov will round things out. And if Anand wins, perhaps we can get away from all the silly special privileges that FIDE has vested upon Topalov since 2006.

Linares Round 7

Aronian,L (2750) - Ivanchuk,V (2779) [E92]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 c6 8.d5 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 c5 11.0-0 h5 12.Ne1 Nh6 13.f3 Nf7 14.Rb1 Bh6 15.Bf2 Na6 16.a3 b6 17.b4 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 Bxf4 20.Bxh5 Bd7 21.Rb3 Qg5 22.b5 Nc7 23.Bxf7+ Rxf7 24.Ne2 Rg7 25.Nxf4 Qxf4 26.Bxc5 Qh6 27.Be3 f4 28.Bc1 Bg4 29.Qd2 Rf8 30.Nd3 Ne8 31.Nxf4 Rxf4 32.Rxf4 Qxf4 33.Qxf4 exf4 34.Bxf4 Rf7 35.g3 Re7 36.h3 Bxh3 37.Kf2 Nf6 38.g4 Bxg4 39.Re3 Ne4+ 40.Ke1 Kf7 41.a4 Nc5 42.Kd2 Rxe3 43.Kxe3 Ke7 44.Kd4 0-1
Standings:
Grischuk at +3
Ivanchuk, Carlsen at +1

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Linares Round 6

Carlsen,M (2776) - Anand,V (2791) [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Nxg4 8.Rg1 Qf6 9.Rxg4 Qxf3 10.Rxg7 Nf6 11.h3 Qf5 12.Qxf5 exf5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Nb5 Bb4+ 15.Bd2 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Ke7 17.Bd3 Be6 18.Nc7 Rag8 19.Nxe6 Kxe6 20.Rxg8 Nxg8 21.Ke2 Ne7 22.Kf3 Rc8 23.a4 Rc7 24.a5 h6 25.h4 Kf6 26.h5 Nc8 27.Kf4 Nd6 28.Rg1 Rc8 29.f3 Ke6 30.Rg7 Rh8 31.Bc2 Rc8 32.Bb3 Rh8 33.Rg1 Rc8 34.Rg7 Rh8 35.Rg2 Rc8 36.Rg1 Ne8 37.e4 fxe4 38.fxe4 Nf6 39.e5 Ne4 40.Ke3 b6 41.axb6 axb6 42.Kd3 Nf2+ 43.Ke2 Ne4 44.Ke3 f6 45.Rg6 Rc1 46.Rxh6 Rh1 47.Bc2 Rh3+ 48.Kf4 Rh4+ 49.Kf3 Nd2+ 50.Ke2 Rh2+ 51.Kd1 Nc4 52.Rxf6+ Ke7 53.Bg6 Rd2+ 54.Kc1 Rxd4 55.b3 Nxe5 56.Rxb6 Rh4 57.Bf5 Nf3 58.h6 Nd4 59.h7 Nxf5 60.Rb8 Nd4 61.Kb2 Kd6 62.h8Q Rxh8 63.Rxh8 Kc5 64.Rh5 Nc6 65.Rh4 Nb4 66.Ka3 d4 67.Rh5+ Nd5 68.Kb2 Kc6 69.Ka3 Kc5 70.Rh4 Nb4 71.Rh8 Nc6 72.Rh5+ Kd6 73.b4 d3 74.Rh3 Ne5 75.Kb3 d2 76.Kc2 Nc6 77.Rh4 Kd5 1-0

Grischuk,A (2733) - Aronian,L (2750) [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5 h5 10.h4 g4 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.b3 0-0 16.bxc4 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Rad1 Qxh4 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.Nxb5 Rac8 21.Qd3 Rfd8 22.d5 exd5 23.Qd4+ Kg8 24.Qxa7 Qe7 25.e5 Qxe5 26.Qxb7 Rb8 27.Qc7 Qxe2 28.Nd4 Qc4 29.Qe5 Re8 30.Qxh5 Rb6 31.Nf5 Rbe6 32.Ne3 Qxa2 33.Nxg4 Qe2 34.Qh4 Qc4 35.f4 Rg6 36.Rf3 Qc5+ 37.Kh1 Qe7 38.Qh3 Qd6 39.f5 Rg5 40.Nh6+ Kf8 41.Nxf7 Qf6 42.Nxg5 Nxg5 43.Qh4 Re7 44.Rh3 Qxf5 45.Qh8+ Kf7 46.Rh5 Re8 47.Qh6 Rg8 48.Qd6 Rg6 49.Qxd5+ Qxd5 50.Rxd5 Ne4 51.Rhf5+ Kg7 52.Rd7+ Kh6 53.Rf4 Ng3+ 54.Kh2 Nh5 55.Ra4 Nf6 56.Rdd4 Rg5 57.Rf4 Rg6 58.Rf3 Nh7 59.Rh3+ 1-0

Standings:
Grischuk at +3
Carlsen, Aronian at +1

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Topalov-Kamsky Game 6

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2 Nbc6 9.N2f3 Bg4 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 g6!? 12.c4?! (12.Qd2 Bg7 13.Bf4 0-0 14.Rfe1 Qc7 15.Bd3 Rac8 16.h4) Bg7 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bc5 Bf8 15.Qc1 Rc8! 16.Bxf8 Nd4 17.Qd1 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Kxf8 19.Rac1 Kg7 20.h4 Qb6 21.g3 h6 22.a3 Rc5 23.Rc2 Rhc8 24.Rfc1 a5 25.Qd2 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Rc5 27.Qc1 Rxc2 28.Qxc2 Ne7 29.Qc3 Nc6 30.b3 Qd8 31.a4 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qe2 33.Qe3 Qd1 (33...Qxe3 34.fxe3) 34.Nd2 Nb4 35.Nc4 Nc2 36.Qd2 Qb1 37.Qf4 Ne1+ 38.Kh2 Qxb3 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.Qd8+ Kh7 41.Qf6 Kg8 (41...Qf3 42.Qxf3 Nxf3+ 43.Kh3 Nd4 44.Nxa5 b5=) 42.Qd8+ Kh7 43.Qf6 Kg8 draw

Linares Round 5

All games drawn

Monday, February 23, 2009

Topalov-Kamsky Game 5

Topalov leads 3-2

1.e4 e6 [Kamsky had never played the French opening in a recorded game. - Marin] 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Nxc6 Bxc6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.c4 Bd6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 exd5 12.0-0 Ne7 13.Nf3 0-0 14.Qd3 Qd7 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Be3 [16.Nd4 Be5; 16.Bg5 f6 17.Be3 Be5] a5 [16...Nf5 17.Bg5! f6? 18.Qxd5+ Kh8 19.Bf4] 17.g3 h6 18.Bb6 Rdc8 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.Bc3 Bb4 21.Be5 Bd6 22.Rd2 Bxe5 23.Nxe5 Qd6 [23...Qb7 24.Qf3 Rf8 25.Re1 Ra6] 24.Re1 Rc7 25.Qf3 Rf8 26.Kg2 [26.h4!?] Rb7?! [26...g6!? 27.h4 h5] 27.h4! Qb4 28.Ree2 Qa4 29.b3 Qb4 30.Nd3 Qd6 31.h5 Rc7 32.Nf4 d4? [32...Rd8] 33.Re4 Nc6 34.Nd3 Rd8 35.Rc2 Nb4? [A terrible blunder. - Marin] 36.Nxb4 axb4 37.Rxd4! Qf8? [37...Rxc2? 38.Rxd6 Rxd6 39.Qa8+ Kh7 40.Qe4+; 37...Qxd4 38.Rxc7 Qd5] 38.Rxd8 Qxd8 39.Rxc7 Qxc7 40.Qa8+ Kh7 41.Qe4+ Kg8 42.Qxb4 Qc6+ 43.Kg1 Qc1+ 44.Kh2 Qc2 45.Qe1 Kf8 46.a3 Qb2 47.Qb4+ Kg8 48.Kg2 Qe5 49.Qg4 Qb2 50.Qc8+ Kh7 51.Qc4 Qxa3 52.Qxf7 Qb4 53.Qc4 Qb7+ 54.Kg1 Qf3 55.g4 1-0

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Linares Round 4

Anand,V (2791) - Wang Yue (2739) [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 e6 6.g3 dxc4 7.Bg2 c5 8.dxc5 Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1 Bxc5 10.Ne5 Nd5 11.Ne3 Nxe3 12.Bxe3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 c3 14.b4 Nd7 15.Nd3 Rb8 16.0-0 b5 17.axb5 Rxb5 18.Rfc1 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.Rxc3 0-0 21.Bc6 Rd8 22.e4 Kf8 23.Kf2 Ke7 24.b5 axb5 25.Ra7+ Kf6 26.Rf3+ Kg6 27.Rfxf7 Rg8 28.Rfc7 Rh5 29.h4 Kf6 30.Ra8 Rc5 31.Rcxc8 Rxc8 32.Rxc8 b4 33.Bd7 1-0

Radjabov,T (2761) - Grischuk,A (2733) [E17]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.d5 exd5 7.Nh4 c6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nf5 0-0 10.e4 Nc7 11.Bf4 d5 12.Qg4 Ne6 13.Nc3 Kh8 14.Be5 Bf6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.0-0-0 Nd7 17.f4 Ndc5 18.e5 Qg6 19.Qh3 f6 20.Nh4 Qh6 21.Nf3 Qxh3 22.Bxh3 Nc7 23.b4 N5a6 24.b5 cxb5 25.Rhe1 b4 26.Ne2 Bc8 27.Bg2 Bf5 28.Nfd4 fxe5 29.fxe5 Be4 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.Nf4 Nc5 32.h4 Rae8 33.e6 a5 34.Kb1 N7xe6 35.Ndxe6 Nxe6 36.Nd5 Nc5 37.Nxb6 h6 38.Nc4 Rf2 39.Rd5 Na4 40.Rxa5 Nc3+ 41.Ka1 0-1

Aronian,L (2750) - Dominguez Perez,L (2717) [D27]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.0-0 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nbd2 Ke7 10.b3 Nbd7 11.Be2 b6 12.Ne1 a5 13.Bb2 Rd8 14.a4 Ba6 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Nd3 Ne5 17.Nxc5 bxc5 18.Bc3 Rd3 19.Rac1 Ned7 20.e4 c4 21.b4 axb4 22.Bxb4+ Kd8 23.a5 Ne5 24.Nxc4 Nc6 25.Bc3 Nxe4 26.Bxg7 Ke7 27.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 f6 29.Bh6 e5 30.Kf1 Nd4 31.Rb1 Rc6 32.Rb4 Nf5 33.Nb6 Nc5 34.Bd2 Na6 35.Rb3 Ke6 36.g4 Nd4 37.Rh3 Rc2 38.Be3 Ra2 39.Rh6 Nc5 40.Nc4 Ra4 41.Nd2 Rxa5 42.Rxh7 Ra4 43.h4 Nd3 44.Rh6 Ra1+ 45.Kg2 Ne1+ 46.Kh3 Ke7 47.Ne4 Nef3 48.Ng3 Ne6 49.Rh7+ Kf8 50.Rh6 Ke7 51.Nf5+ Kf7 52.Rh7+ Kf8 53.Rb7 Ra3 54.Rb6 Kf7 55.Nh6+ Ke7 56.Rb7+ Kd8 57.Nf7+ Ke8 58.Nd6+ Kf8 59.Rf7+ Kg8 60.Rxf6 Nf4+ 61.Kg3 Nd2 62.g5 Nf1+ 63.Kg4 Nxe3+ 64.fxe3 Rxe3 65.Nf7 Re1 66.Nxe5 Nd5 67.Rg6+ Kh7 68.Rh6+ Kg7 69.Nf3 Re4+ 70.Kg3 Ne3 71.Rf6 Rg4+ 72.Kh3 Re4 73.Rc6 Nf5 74.h5 Rf4 75.Kg2 Rg4+ 76.Kf2 Kg8 77.Rc8+ Kg7 78.Rc6 Kg8 79.Rb6 Kh7 80.Ra6 Kg8 81.h6 Re4 82.Rf6 Ne3 83.Kg3 Nd5 84.Rf5 Ne7 85.Re5 Rxe5 86.Nxe5 Kh7 87.Kg4 Nd5 88.Nd3 Ne7 89.Nf4 Ng8 90.Kh5 Kh8 91.Nd5 Kh7 92.Nf6+ 1-0

Standings:
Aronian and Grischuk at +2
Anand at +1

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Topalov-Kamsky Game 4

Kamsky strikes back; match tied 2-2

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 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Ng5 Re7 13.d5 Nb8 14.Nf1 Nbd7 15.Ng3 g6 16.Bc2 h6 17.Nf3 Nb6 18.h4 Qd7 19.Nh2 Bg7 20.h5 Rf8 21.Nhf1 c6 22.dxc6 Qxc6 23.Ne3 Kh7 24.Qf3 Bc8 25.Rd1 Be6 26.b3 Qxc3 27.Bd2 Qc7 28.Ba5 Qb8 29.Rd2 Nc8 30.Rad1 b4 31.Qe2 Kh8 32.Bd3 Na7 33.Rc1 Nb5 34.Bxb5 axb5 35.Bxb4 Rd7 36.Rc6 Rfd8 37.Qd1 Bf8 38.Qc2 Kh7 39.Ba5 Re8 40.hxg6+ fxg6 41.Bc7 Qb7 42.Bxd6 Bf7 43.Bb4 Bxb4 44.Rxd7 Qxd7 45.Rxf6 Re6 46.Nd5 Bf8 47.Rf3 Kg7 48.Rc3 Ra6 49.Rc7 Qd6 50.Qe2 Kg8 51.Qxb5 Rxa2 52.Qb7 Ra1+ 53.Kh2 Bxd5 54.exd5 Qf6 55.Qc8 Qh4+ 56.Qh3 Qxh3+ 57.Kxh3 Rd1 58.Ne4 Ba3 59.Ra7 Bb4 60.Rb7 Ba3 61.f3 Kf8 62.Rb5 h5 63.Kg3 Rc1 64.Rb8+ Kf7 65.Rb7+ Kf8 66.Kf2 Rc2+ 67.Kf1 Rc1+ 68.Ke2 Rc2+ 69.Kd3 Rxg2 70.Ra7 Be7 71.d6 Bd8 72.Nc5 Ke8 73.Rh7 1-0

Linares Round 3

All games drawn; Aronian and Grischuk in lead at +1

Friday, February 20, 2009

Linares Round 2

Anand,V (2791) - Aronian,L (2750) [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qc2 Bb7 11.a3 a6 12.Ng5 Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Ng4+ 14.Kg1 Qxg5 15.f3 Ngf6 16.e4 Qh4 17.Be3 e5 18.Ne2 Nh5 19.Qd2 h6 20.Rfd1 Rae8 21.Bc2 Re6 22.Bf2 Qe7 23.g4 Rg6 24.Kf1 Nhf6 25.Ng3 Nxg4 26.fxg4 Qh4 27.Nf5 Qxg4 28.Qc3 Re8 29.Qg3 Qh5 30.Qh4 Qf3 31.Rd3 Qg2+ 32.Ke2 exd4 33.Rg3 Rxg3 34.Qxg3 Rxe4+ 35.Kd2 Rg4 36.Qxg2 Rxg2 37.Ke2 c5 38.Rg1 Ne5 39.Rxg2 Bxg2 40.Kd2 h5 41.b4 Nc4+ 42.Kc1 Nxa3 43.Bd1 cxb4 44.Bxh5 g6 45.Ne7+ Kf8 46.Nxg6+ fxg6 47.Bxg6 Ke7 48.Bxd4 Kd6 49.Bd3 Nc4 50.Bg7 a5 51.Be2 Be4 52.Bf6 a4 53.Bg7 Kd5 0-1

Grischuk,A (2733) - Wang Yue (2739) [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.e3 g6 10.Bd3 Be6 11.0-0 Bg7 12.f4 Nfd7 13.Nf3 c5 14.Ng5 cxd4 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Ne4 0-0 17.Qg4 Rf5 18.Qh3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Rxc5 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.e4 Rac8 22.e5 R8c6 23.Qf7 Nd5 24.Bd2 Qf8 25.Qxf8+ Bxf8 26.Rac1 e6 27.Kf2 b6 28.Kf3 Kg7 29.g3 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Rxc1 31.Bxc1 Kf7 32.Bc4 Ne3 33.b3 Bc5 34.Ke2 h5 35.Bb2 g5 36.fxg5 Ng4 37.Bd3 Nxe5 38.Be4 Ng4 39.h3 Ne3 40.Bc1 e5 41.Bxe3 dxe3 42.h4 Kg7 43.Kf3 Kf7 44.Bd3 Bd4 45.Be2 Kg7 46.Ke4 Kg6 47.Bd1 Bc3 48.Kxe3 Kf5 49.Bxh5 Be1 50.Kf3 e4+ 51.Kg2 Bc3 52.Be2 Be1 53.Kh3 Bf2 54.Bb5 Be1 55.Bd7+ Ke5 56.Kg4 e3 57.Bb5 Kd5 1-0

Topalov-Kamsky Game 3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.e4 0-0 7.Be2 [One of the points behind this move order is to avoid the possible structural damage after 7.Nf3 Nfd7 8.Be3 Nb6 9.Qb3 Bg4 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.d5 Ne5 - Marin] a6 8.Bf4 b5!? 9.Qxc7 Qxc7 10.Bxc7 b4 11.Na4 Nc6 12.d5 Nd4 13.Bd3 Bd7 14.Nb6 Bb5! 15.Be5 [15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Nxa8 is too risky because of 16...Nc2+ 17.Kd1 Nxa1 18.Nb6 Nxe4 - Marin] Nxe4 [15...Bxd3 would have offered him chances to fight for the initiative, for instance 16.Bxd4 Rab8 17.e5 Rxb6 18.Bxb6 Nxd5 19.Bd4 Rc816.Bxg7 Kxg7 - Marin] 17.Bxe4 Rab8 18.0-0-0 Nf5 19.Bxf5 gxf5 20.d6 Rxb6 21.dxe7 Re8 [It is difficult to say whether the intermediate 21...Rc8+ would have been better. - Marin] 22.Nf3 Rxe7 23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Rhe1 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Rh6! [25...Rd6 26.Rd1] 26.Re7 [26.h3 f4] Rd6! 27.Ne2 Kf6 28.Re3 Ba4 29.b3 Bc6 30.Nf4 a5 31.g3 Be4 32.f3 Bc6 33.h4 Rd4 34.Kc2 Bb5 35.Nh5+ Kg6 36.Nf4+ Kf6 37.Nh5+ Draw

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Linares Round 1

Anand,V (2791) - Radjabov,T (2761) [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 13.0-0 0-0 14.c4 f5 15.Qf3 d5 16.cxd5 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Rb8 18.Rfd1 f5 19.d6 Qf6 20.Bc6 Be6 21.Bd5 Rbd8 22.Qb3 Bf7 23.Nc2 Rxd6 24.Bxf7+ Rxf7 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Ne3 f4 27.Rd1 Qg6 28.Nd5 Bf8 29.f3 Kh8 30.Nc3 Rg7 31.Rd2 Bc5+ 32.Kf1 Bd4 33.Ne4 Rc7 34.Rc2 Rc6 35.Qd3 Kg7 36.b3 h6 37.g4 fxg3 38.hxg3 Qe6 39.Kg2 Qc8 40.Rxc6 Qxc6 41.Qd2 Qe6 42.g4 Qc6 43.Ng3 Kh7 44.Nf5 Bb6 45.Qd3 Kh8 46.Qe2 Bc7 47.Qd2 Kh7 48.Ne7 Qc5 49.Qd3+ Kh8 50.Qd7 e4 51.Qe8+ Kg7 52.Nf5+ Kf6 53.Qxe4 Bb6 54.Kh3 h5 55.g5+ Kxg5 56.Ne7 Kf6 57.Nd5+ Kg7 58.Qe5+ Kh6 59.Qf6+ Kh7 60.Qf7+ Kh6 61.Ne7 1-0

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Topalov-Kamsky Game 2

Topalov draws first blood with Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.Nxe5 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.d4 Qe7 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.Nc3 Ng6 10.Qh5 c6 11.Bg5 f6 12.Rae1 Ne6 13.Bd3 0-0 14.Bd2 d5 15.f4 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 d4 17.Bf5 Rf7 18.Ne4 Qd5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxd5 cxd5 21.Nd6 Rc7 22.c4 dxc3 23.Bxc3 d4 24.Bb4 Bd7 25.Rf2 a5 26.Ba3 b5 27.b3 b4 28.Bb2 Ra6 29.Ne4 Rac6 30.Kg1 Rc2 31.g3 d3 32.Rd1 f5 0-1

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Topalov-Kamsky Game 1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 exd4 16.f4 f6 17.e5 N [17.Rac1 ... Cheparinov-Kamsky] Bd7 18.exf6+ Qxf6 19.Ng3 Kh8 20.f5 gxf5 21.Bxf5 Bxf5 22.Rxf5 Qd6 23.Raf1 Nc6 24.Ne4 Qe7 25.Qh6 Rxf5 26.Rxf5 Ne5 27.h3 Ng6 28.Rh5 Rg8 29.Nf6 Rg7 30.Nxh7 Rxh7 31.Qxg6 Qe3+ 32.Kf1 Qc1+ 33.Kf2 Qd2+ 34.Kg3 Qe3+ 35.Kh2 Qf4+ 36.Kg1 Qc1+ Draw

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Wijk aan Zee Round 13 (Final)

Karjakin beats Dominguez, wins tournament!

Wang Yue (2739) - Carlsen,M (2776) [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 Be7 15.e4 0-0 16.Bg5 Re8 17.Rad1 Nf8 18.Qc4 Qe6 19.b3 h6 20.Bf4 Ng6 21.Bg3 Bf8 22.Nd2 Ne7 23.Rd3 Nc6 24.Qxe6 Rxe6 25.a4 a6 26.f3 b5 27.Bf2 Rc8 28.axb5 axb5 29.Nf1 Nb4 30.Rc3 Ra6 31.Ne3 Ra3 32.Be1 Nc6 33.Rb1 Rca8 34.Kf1 Nd4 35.Rd3 Ra2 36.b4 R8a3 37.Rbd1 Ne6 38.bxc5 Bxc5 39.Rxa3 Rxa3 40.Nd5 Rb3 41.h4 b4 42.f4 Rb2 43.f5 Nd4 44.Bxb4 Bxb4 45.Rxd4 Rb1+ 46.Ke2 Rb2+ 47.Kf3 Be1 48.h5 Rf2+ 49.Ke3 Rxg2 50.Ra4 Bh4 51.Ra8+ Kh7 52.Rf8 Bg5+ 53.Kf3 Rh2 54.Rxf7 Kg8 55.Ra7 Rxh5 56.e5 Rh3+ 57.Ke4 Rh1 58.e6 Re1+ 59.Kd4 h5 60.Kc5 Re5 61.f6 Bxf6 62.Kd6 Rf5 63.Nxf6+ Rxf6 64.Kd7 h4 65.e7 Rf7 66.Kd8 Kh7 67.Ra6 1-0

Dominguez Perez,L (2717) - Karjakin,Sergey (2706) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg7 12.h3 Nf6 13.Qe2 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 0-0 17.g4 a5 18.h4 Bxg4 19.f3 Bf5 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Qe3 a4 22.Qxg5 Bg6 23.Bd3 a3 24.b4 Qb6 25.Rh4 Nh7 26.Rxh7 Kxh7 27.0-0-0 Qxb4 28.Rh1+ Kg8 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Qh6+ Kf6 31.Ne4+ Ke6 32.Rd1 Qb2+ 33.Kd2 Kd7 34.Qf4 Rfd8 35.Ke2 Ke8 36.Rh1 Ra5 37.Qc7 Rad5 38.Ke3 Kf8 39.c3 Rxd3+ 40.Kf4 f6 41.Rh8+ Kf7 0-1

Morozevich,A (2771) - Ivanchuk,V (2779) [D10]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.Bd2 e6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Ba3 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.Qe2 Re8 14.c5 Bb4 15.a3 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf5 Ra8 19.Bd4 Qe7 20.Bb1 a5 21.Qb2 a4 22.f4 Ned7 23.b4 Qf8 24.g4 Ne4 25.g5 f5 26.gxf6 Ndxf6 27.Kh2 g6 28.Rg1 Kf7 29.Qg2 Qh6 30.Rdf1 Qh5 31.Qb2 Ra7 32.Rg5 Qh4 33.Qg2 Rae7 34.Bc2 Kf8 35.Re5 Rf7 36.Rxe8+ Kxe8 37.f5 g5 38.Bxe4 Nxe4 39.f6 h5 40.Rf4 gxf4 41.Qg8+ Rf8 42.Qe6+ Kd8 43.Qe7+ Kc8 44.Qxf8+ Kd7 45.Qe7+ 1-0

Final Standings:
1st - Karjakin at +3 with 8/13
2nd (tie) - Aronian, Radjabov, Movsesian at +2 with 7.5/13
5th (tie) - Carlsen, Dominguez at +1 with 7/13