SB K S A L G N A J Perf
------------------------------------------------
1: Kramnik 2743 4.5 14.50 X = = 1 = = = 1 2818
2: Svidler 2742 4.5 13.50 = X = = = = 1 1 2818
3: Adams 2732 4.0 14.00 = = X = 1 = = = 2768
4: Leko 2738 4.0 12.50 0 = = X = 1 1 = 2767
5: Gelfand 2729 4.0 11.75 = = 0 = X = 1 1 2768
6: Naiditsch 2664 3.5 11.00 = = = 0 = X = 1 2728
7: Aronian 2761 2.0 = 0 = 0 0 = X = 2556
8: Jobava 2651 1.5 0 0 = = 0 0 = X 2499
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
July 1 FIDE Rating List
1 Topalov, Veselin 2813 (broadened the gap with Anand from 1 point to 34 points)
2 Anand, Viswanathan 2779
3 Aronian, Levon 2761
4 Kramnik, Vladimir 2743
5 Svidler, Peter 2742
6 Leko, Peter 2738
7 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2734
8 Adams, Michael 2732
9 Morozevich, Alexander 2731
10 Gelfand, Boris 2729
11 Radjabov, Teimour 2728
12 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2722 (added 23 points and climbed 7 slots)
13 Ponomariov, Ruslan 2721
14 Navara, David 2719 (new 2700 club member, added 61 rating points and climbed 36 slots)
15 Shirov, Alexei 2716
16 Akopian, Vladimir 2713
17 Polgar, Judit 2710
18 Grischuk, Alexander 2709
19 Bacrot, Etienne 2707
2 Anand, Viswanathan 2779
3 Aronian, Levon 2761
4 Kramnik, Vladimir 2743
5 Svidler, Peter 2742
6 Leko, Peter 2738
7 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2734
8 Adams, Michael 2732
9 Morozevich, Alexander 2731
10 Gelfand, Boris 2729
11 Radjabov, Teimour 2728
12 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2722 (added 23 points and climbed 7 slots)
13 Ponomariov, Ruslan 2721
14 Navara, David 2719 (new 2700 club member, added 61 rating points and climbed 36 slots)
15 Shirov, Alexei 2716
16 Akopian, Vladimir 2713
17 Polgar, Judit 2710
18 Grischuk, Alexander 2709
19 Bacrot, Etienne 2707
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Ratings of World Championship Players
An interesting observation from the FIDE rating lists immediately prior to each world championship match since ratings were started in 1970.
July 1972 Rating List
1 Fischer Robert 2785
2 Spassky Boris 2660
May 1974 Rating List
1 Fischer Robert 2780
2 Karpov Anatoly 2700
3 Kortchnoi Viktor 2670
January 1978 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2725
2 Kortchnoi Viktor 2665
July 1981 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2690
2 Kortchnoi Viktor 2650 (tied with Portisch)
July 1984 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2715
2 Karpov Anatoly 2705
July 1985 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2720
2 Kasparov Gary 2700
July 1986 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2740
2 Karpov Anatoly 2705
July 1987 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2740
2 Karpov Anatoly 2700
July 1990 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2800
2 Karpov Anatoly 2730
All seems right with the world. Every championship match from 1972 to 1990 was played between the #1 and #2 rated players in the world, and the Candidates Final in 1974 was between the #2 and #3 players. Now things seem to get somewhat confused starting with the 1993 match.
July 1993 Rating List
1 Kasparov, Gary 2815
2 Karpov Anatoly 2760
10 Short Nigel 2665
July 1995 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2795
2 Karpov Anatoly 2775
6 Anand Viswanathan 2725
Not offering this as being of any value, just something to think about.
July 1972 Rating List
1 Fischer Robert 2785
2 Spassky Boris 2660
May 1974 Rating List
1 Fischer Robert 2780
2 Karpov Anatoly 2700
3 Kortchnoi Viktor 2670
January 1978 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2725
2 Kortchnoi Viktor 2665
July 1981 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2690
2 Kortchnoi Viktor 2650 (tied with Portisch)
July 1984 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2715
2 Karpov Anatoly 2705
July 1985 Rating List
1 Karpov Anatoly 2720
2 Kasparov Gary 2700
July 1986 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2740
2 Karpov Anatoly 2705
July 1987 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2740
2 Karpov Anatoly 2700
July 1990 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2800
2 Karpov Anatoly 2730
All seems right with the world. Every championship match from 1972 to 1990 was played between the #1 and #2 rated players in the world, and the Candidates Final in 1974 was between the #2 and #3 players. Now things seem to get somewhat confused starting with the 1993 match.
July 1993 Rating List
1 Kasparov, Gary 2815
2 Karpov Anatoly 2760
10 Short Nigel 2665
July 1995 Rating List
1 Kasparov Gary 2795
2 Karpov Anatoly 2775
6 Anand Viswanathan 2725
Not offering this as being of any value, just something to think about.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
USCF Website Not Up Yet
The live date for the new website was moved back to June 30th. Not an encouraging sign for the quality of the site.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Player Plaza
www.PlayerPlaza.com is a new online gaming marketplace where individuals can challenge each other in head-to-head competition for fun or money. Check it out.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Changes in Chess Life
Just got this month's Chess Life magazine. There are a lot of changes; I'm still trying to absorb some of them and decide how I feel about them. First of all, the graphic layout of the magazine was completely revamped. I'm not sure if it's better or not; I tend to be rather conservative and have not adjusted to the change yet, but I think it actually might look better now.
On a more substantive note, there were a number of content changes. Daniel Lucas's editor's note states that the goal was to reduce the number of columns in order to make space for more feature articles.
The biggest change is that the Larry Evans Q&A column is gone. I didn't think it was great, but it was one of the first things I turned to in the magazine because it did not require me to break out the board in order to read it. (And I once got an opening question published in his column.) I'm sorry to see it go. It will been replaced (starting June 15) with an online Q&A discussion thread on www.uschess.org led by Joel Benjamin.
The key crackers column (which I haven't glanced at more than once or twice in twenty years of getting Chess Life) is gone. No loss there. The correspondence chess column "Check is in the Mail" is gone. I occasionally read those games, but there was nothing particularly fascinating about those games that I can't get by reading games elsewhere in the magazine.
Michael Rohde's "Game of the Month" column is gone, but now there's "Polgar's Pick", so that's a net wash. Susan Polgar's analysis of Onishuk-Shulman was good, but I'm not sure why the change in name. I have fond memories of Gligoric's "Game of the Month" column in the 1970s, but I guess they were trying to stress that it's Susan's column. There seems to be some interest in pushing the women in chess theme; next month's issue "will be a celebration of women's chess in America."
The columns by Soltis (Chess to Enjoy), Benko (Endgame Lab) and Alburt (Back to Basics) are all still there. Pandolfini's Solitaire Chess has been substantially reformatted; I read that column and I definitely think the new format is easier to use.
Overall, the changes in the magazine seem to be neutral to slightly positive, but if they are expecting great things from the new format they will probably be sadly disappointed. Possibly of more importance to the USCF will be the changes they are rolling out on www.uschess.org on June 15th. Hopefully, those are the solid improvements that the website desperately needs rather than a mixed bag of tweaks like the changes to the magazine.
On a more substantive note, there were a number of content changes. Daniel Lucas's editor's note states that the goal was to reduce the number of columns in order to make space for more feature articles.
The biggest change is that the Larry Evans Q&A column is gone. I didn't think it was great, but it was one of the first things I turned to in the magazine because it did not require me to break out the board in order to read it. (And I once got an opening question published in his column.) I'm sorry to see it go. It will been replaced (starting June 15) with an online Q&A discussion thread on www.uschess.org led by Joel Benjamin.
The key crackers column (which I haven't glanced at more than once or twice in twenty years of getting Chess Life) is gone. No loss there. The correspondence chess column "Check is in the Mail" is gone. I occasionally read those games, but there was nothing particularly fascinating about those games that I can't get by reading games elsewhere in the magazine.
Michael Rohde's "Game of the Month" column is gone, but now there's "Polgar's Pick", so that's a net wash. Susan Polgar's analysis of Onishuk-Shulman was good, but I'm not sure why the change in name. I have fond memories of Gligoric's "Game of the Month" column in the 1970s, but I guess they were trying to stress that it's Susan's column. There seems to be some interest in pushing the women in chess theme; next month's issue "will be a celebration of women's chess in America."
The columns by Soltis (Chess to Enjoy), Benko (Endgame Lab) and Alburt (Back to Basics) are all still there. Pandolfini's Solitaire Chess has been substantially reformatted; I read that column and I definitely think the new format is easier to use.
Overall, the changes in the magazine seem to be neutral to slightly positive, but if they are expecting great things from the new format they will probably be sadly disappointed. Possibly of more importance to the USCF will be the changes they are rolling out on www.uschess.org on June 15th. Hopefully, those are the solid improvements that the website desperately needs rather than a mixed bag of tweaks like the changes to the magazine.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Olympiad Final Round
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia - Gold
China - Silver
USA - Bronze (on tiebreak over Israel)
Interesting facts:
Ukraine - Gold
Russia - Silver
China - Bronze
Interesting facts:
Results this round:
- Armenia (which went into this round 2.5 points ahead), made four quick draws against Hungary, securing Gold less than an hour after the start of round.
- China beat the Netherlands 2.5:1.5 to take Silver
- Russia lost to Israel 1:3 causing them to drop out of the top three slots
- The USA beat Norway 3.5:0.5, to draw even with Israel
Armenia - Gold
China - Silver
USA - Bronze (on tiebreak over Israel)
Interesting facts:
- Armenia was the only undefeated team +10 =3
- #1 seed Russia ended up in 6th place, losing four matches (to France, the USA, Israel and the Netherlands)
- #2 seed India ended up in 30th place with a record of +6 -4 =3
- Sierra Leone and Somalia ended up not fielding teams
- Israel was fourth (losing on tiebreak to the USA), and Hungary was fifth
Women:
Results this round:
The results in this round did not change any of the standings.
- Ukraine (which went into this round 2 points ahead), made three quick draws against Armenia
- Russia beat India 2:1
- China beat Belarus 2.5:0.5
Ukraine - Gold
Russia - Silver
China - Bronze
Interesting facts:
- Ukraine was the only undefeated team +12 =1
- #1 seed Russia ended up in second place due to their loss to Ukraine. Had they won that match, they would have taken the gold by a half point
- The USA, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Georgia tied for fourth place, but they were 3 points behind China
- Afghanistan, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan ended up not playing
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Olympiad Round 12
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia drew France 2:2
China defeated the Czech Republic 3:1
Russia defeated Cuba 3:1
Israel defeated the USA 2.5:1.5
Standings:
Armenia - 34
China - 31.5
Russia - 31
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine defeated India 2.5:0.5
Russia drew France 1.5:1.5
China drew the USA 1.5:1.5
Standings:
Ukraine - 28
Russia - 26
China - 25
Results this round:
Armenia drew France 2:2
China defeated the Czech Republic 3:1
Russia defeated Cuba 3:1
Israel defeated the USA 2.5:1.5
Standings:
Armenia - 34
China - 31.5
Russia - 31
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine defeated India 2.5:0.5
Russia drew France 1.5:1.5
China drew the USA 1.5:1.5
Standings:
Ukraine - 28
Russia - 26
China - 25
Saturday, June 03, 2006
USA-Russia Match
Kamsky (USA) - Kramnik (Russia)
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Qc1 Bf5 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3Nbd7 8. c5 Qd8 9. Be2 Be7 10. h3 Ne4 11. O-O g5 12. Be5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5Bf6 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Qc3 Bg7 16. b4 O-O 17. b5 cxb5 18. Bxb5 Qc7 19.Rac1 f6 20. Nd7 Rfd8 21. c6 bxc6 22. Qxc6 Qxc6 23. Bxc6 Rac8 24. Bb5Bg6 25. Nc5 Rd6 26. a4 Bf8 27. Na6 Rc2 28. Rxc2 Bxc2 29. Nc5 e5 30.Rc1 Bf5 31. g4 Bg6 32. Nd7 Be8 33. Nxf8 Bxb5 34. axb5 Kxf8 35. dxe5fxe5 36. Rc7 d4 37. exd4 exd4 38. Kf1 d3 39. Ke1 Rd5 40. Rxa7 Rxb5 41.Rxh7 Rb1+ 42. Kd2 Rf1 43. Kxd3 Rxf2 44. Ke4 Rf4+ 45. Ke5 Rf3 46. Ke6Kg8 47. Rh5 Kf8 48. Rxg5 Rxh3 49. Kf6 Ra3 50. Kg6 Kg8 1/2-1/2
Svidler (Russia) - Onischuk (USA)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 h6 11. a3 Bc5 12. Ba2 Nd4 13. Be3 d614. b4 Bb6 15. Bxd4 exd4 16. Ne2 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Nf4 Nf8 19. c3 dxc320. d4 a5 21. Qc2 Ne6 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 23. Qxc3 g6 24. Bb1 axb4 25. axb4Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Qf8 27. Qb2 Bc8 28. Re3 Re8 29. h4 Kh8 30. h5 g5 31. Nd2Bg4 32. Nf1 Bxh5 33. Ng3 Bg6 34. Nf5 Re6 35. Rf3 Bh7 36. Bd3 Qe8 37.g4 Qc6 38. Qd2 Kg8 39. Kg2 Kf8 40. Ng3 Be4 41. Bxe4 dxe4 42. Re3 Qd543. Nf5 Rxe5 44. Kg1 Rxf5 45. gxf5 Qxf5 46. Qc2 Bxd4 47. Rxe4 Bxf2+48. Kg2 Kg7 49. Qc3+ Kg6 50. Re5 Qf4 51. Qd3+ Kf6 52. Re4 Qf5 53. Qc3+Kg6 54. Re5 Qf4 55. Qd3+ Kf6 56. Re4 Qf5 57. Qc3+ Kg6 1/2-1/2
Nakamura (USA) - Grischuk (Russia)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h68. h3 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bg2 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. O-O Nc5 13. Bd2 e5 14.Nb3 Be7 15. f4 Ne6 16. f5 Nd4 17. Qd3 O-O 18. Rfe1 Nd7 19. Be3 Nc5 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21. Nd5 Bh4 22. Rf1 c4 23. Qd1 Bxd5 24. exd5 Bg5 25. Bf2 c326. b3 Bd2 27. Be4 Re8 28. f6 gxf6 29. Bh4 Bg5 30. Bg3 Rc5 31. h4 Be3+32. Kh2 Bd2 33. g5 f5 34. Qh5 Qd6 35. Bxf5 Nxf5 36. Rxf5 Qg6 37. Qg4h5 38. Qe4 Rxd5 39. Raf1 Rd4 40. Qb7 Bf4 41. Rf6 Qxc2+ 42. Kh3 Rf8 43.g6 fxg6?? (43....Bxg3!-+) 44. Bxf4 exf4 45. Rxf8+ Kxf8 46. Qb8+ Ke7 47. Qe5+ Kf7 48.Qxd4 Qf5+ 49. Kh2 1-0
Bareev (Russia) - Kaidanov (USA)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 7. Qxe4Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 O-O 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Bg2 Nc6 12. O-O b613. Qf4 Ba6 14. Rac1 Rab8 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Ne4 f5 17. Nd6 e5 18. Qe3Rf6 19. Nb5 Rc8 20. Qd2 e4 21. Nd6 Rb8 22. b4 Nd8 23. Qd5+ Qe6 24. g4g6 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. f3 exf3 27. Qxf3 Nf7 28. Qf4 Rg6 29. Nxf7 Kxf730. Qxb8 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Qxe2+ 32. Kg1 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kf1 1/2-1/2
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Qc1 Bf5 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3Nbd7 8. c5 Qd8 9. Be2 Be7 10. h3 Ne4 11. O-O g5 12. Be5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5Bf6 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Qc3 Bg7 16. b4 O-O 17. b5 cxb5 18. Bxb5 Qc7 19.Rac1 f6 20. Nd7 Rfd8 21. c6 bxc6 22. Qxc6 Qxc6 23. Bxc6 Rac8 24. Bb5Bg6 25. Nc5 Rd6 26. a4 Bf8 27. Na6 Rc2 28. Rxc2 Bxc2 29. Nc5 e5 30.Rc1 Bf5 31. g4 Bg6 32. Nd7 Be8 33. Nxf8 Bxb5 34. axb5 Kxf8 35. dxe5fxe5 36. Rc7 d4 37. exd4 exd4 38. Kf1 d3 39. Ke1 Rd5 40. Rxa7 Rxb5 41.Rxh7 Rb1+ 42. Kd2 Rf1 43. Kxd3 Rxf2 44. Ke4 Rf4+ 45. Ke5 Rf3 46. Ke6Kg8 47. Rh5 Kf8 48. Rxg5 Rxh3 49. Kf6 Ra3 50. Kg6 Kg8 1/2-1/2
Svidler (Russia) - Onischuk (USA)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 h6 11. a3 Bc5 12. Ba2 Nd4 13. Be3 d614. b4 Bb6 15. Bxd4 exd4 16. Ne2 d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. Nf4 Nf8 19. c3 dxc320. d4 a5 21. Qc2 Ne6 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 23. Qxc3 g6 24. Bb1 axb4 25. axb4Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Qf8 27. Qb2 Bc8 28. Re3 Re8 29. h4 Kh8 30. h5 g5 31. Nd2Bg4 32. Nf1 Bxh5 33. Ng3 Bg6 34. Nf5 Re6 35. Rf3 Bh7 36. Bd3 Qe8 37.g4 Qc6 38. Qd2 Kg8 39. Kg2 Kf8 40. Ng3 Be4 41. Bxe4 dxe4 42. Re3 Qd543. Nf5 Rxe5 44. Kg1 Rxf5 45. gxf5 Qxf5 46. Qc2 Bxd4 47. Rxe4 Bxf2+48. Kg2 Kg7 49. Qc3+ Kg6 50. Re5 Qf4 51. Qd3+ Kf6 52. Re4 Qf5 53. Qc3+Kg6 54. Re5 Qf4 55. Qd3+ Kf6 56. Re4 Qf5 57. Qc3+ Kg6 1/2-1/2
Nakamura (USA) - Grischuk (Russia)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h68. h3 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bg2 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. O-O Nc5 13. Bd2 e5 14.Nb3 Be7 15. f4 Ne6 16. f5 Nd4 17. Qd3 O-O 18. Rfe1 Nd7 19. Be3 Nc5 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21. Nd5 Bh4 22. Rf1 c4 23. Qd1 Bxd5 24. exd5 Bg5 25. Bf2 c326. b3 Bd2 27. Be4 Re8 28. f6 gxf6 29. Bh4 Bg5 30. Bg3 Rc5 31. h4 Be3+32. Kh2 Bd2 33. g5 f5 34. Qh5 Qd6 35. Bxf5 Nxf5 36. Rxf5 Qg6 37. Qg4h5 38. Qe4 Rxd5 39. Raf1 Rd4 40. Qb7 Bf4 41. Rf6 Qxc2+ 42. Kh3 Rf8 43.g6 fxg6?? (43....Bxg3!-+) 44. Bxf4 exf4 45. Rxf8+ Kxf8 46. Qb8+ Ke7 47. Qe5+ Kf7 48.Qxd4 Qf5+ 49. Kh2 1-0
Bareev (Russia) - Kaidanov (USA)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 7. Qxe4Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 O-O 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Bg2 Nc6 12. O-O b613. Qf4 Ba6 14. Rac1 Rab8 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Ne4 f5 17. Nd6 e5 18. Qe3Rf6 19. Nb5 Rc8 20. Qd2 e4 21. Nd6 Rb8 22. b4 Nd8 23. Qd5+ Qe6 24. g4g6 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. f3 exf3 27. Qxf3 Nf7 28. Qf4 Rg6 29. Nxf7 Kxf730. Qxb8 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Qxe2+ 32. Kg1 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kf1 1/2-1/2
Olympiad Round 11
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia defeated the Czech Republic 3:1
France defeated China 2.5:1.5
USA defeated Russia 2.5:1.5
Standings:
Armenia - 32
China, France - 28.5
Russia, USA - 28
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine defeated Bulgaria 2.5:0.5
Russia defeated Georgia 2:1
China defeated Greece 3:0
Standings:
Ukraine - 25.5
Russia - 24.5
China - 23.5
Results this round:
Armenia defeated the Czech Republic 3:1
France defeated China 2.5:1.5
USA defeated Russia 2.5:1.5
Standings:
Armenia - 32
China, France - 28.5
Russia, USA - 28
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine defeated Bulgaria 2.5:0.5
Russia defeated Georgia 2:1
China defeated Greece 3:0
Standings:
Ukraine - 25.5
Russia - 24.5
China - 23.5
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Olympiad Round 10
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat China 2½:1½.
France and USA tied 2-2.
Russia beat Ukraine 3-1.
Czech Republic beat Slovenia 3½:½.
Standings:
Armenia - 29
China - 27
Russia, Czech Republic - 26.5
It has no impact on the standings, but it is worth noting that there are four undefeated teams so far:
Armenia (+9 =1)
USA (+7 =3)
Czech Republic, France (+6 =4)
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat Georgia 2-1.
Russia beat Bulgaria 2-1.
China beat Armenia 2-1, avenging the men's team.
Standings:
Ukraine - 23 (Has won all ten of its matches.)
Russia - 22.5
China - 20.5
Results this round:
Armenia beat China 2½:1½.
France and USA tied 2-2.
Russia beat Ukraine 3-1.
Czech Republic beat Slovenia 3½:½.
Standings:
Armenia - 29
China - 27
Russia, Czech Republic - 26.5
It has no impact on the standings, but it is worth noting that there are four undefeated teams so far:
Armenia (+9 =1)
USA (+7 =3)
Czech Republic, France (+6 =4)
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat Georgia 2-1.
Russia beat Bulgaria 2-1.
China beat Armenia 2-1, avenging the men's team.
Standings:
Ukraine - 23 (Has won all ten of its matches.)
Russia - 22.5
China - 20.5
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Olympiad Round 9
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat Ukraine 2½:1½.
France beat Russia 2½:1½.
China beat Georgia 4-0.
USA and the Czech Republic tied 2-2.
Standings:
Armenia - 26.5
China - 25.5
France - 24
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat USA 2½-½.
Russia and China tied 1½:1½.
Georgia beat Hungary 2½:½.
Standings:
Ukraine - 21
Russia - 20.5
Georgia - 19
Results this round:
Armenia beat Ukraine 2½:1½.
France beat Russia 2½:1½.
China beat Georgia 4-0.
USA and the Czech Republic tied 2-2.
Standings:
Armenia - 26.5
China - 25.5
France - 24
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat USA 2½-½.
Russia and China tied 1½:1½.
Georgia beat Hungary 2½:½.
Standings:
Ukraine - 21
Russia - 20.5
Georgia - 19
Olympiad Round 9
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat Ukraine 2½:1½.
France beat Russia 2½:1½.
China beat Georgia 4-0.
USA and the Czech Republic tied 2-2.
Standings:
Armenia - 26.5
China - 25.5
France - 24
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat USA 2½-½.
Russia and China tied 1½:1½.
Georgia beat Hungary 2½:½.
Standings:
Ukraine - 21
Russia - 20.5
Georgia - 19
Results this round:
Armenia beat Ukraine 2½:1½.
France beat Russia 2½:1½.
China beat Georgia 4-0.
USA and the Czech Republic tied 2-2.
Standings:
Armenia - 26.5
China - 25.5
France - 24
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine beat USA 2½-½.
Russia and China tied 1½:1½.
Georgia beat Hungary 2½:½.
Standings:
Ukraine - 21
Russia - 20.5
Georgia - 19
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Olympiad Round 8
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat Cuba 3-1 to increase their lead to two points.
Russia drew with the Czech Republic 2-2.
Ukraine beat Sweden 3-1.
China beat the Phillipines 3½:½.
Georgia beat Uzbekistan 2½:1½.
USA beat Denmark 3-1.
France beat the Netherlands 3-1.
Standings:
Armenia - 24
Russia, Ukraine - 22
China, Georgia, USA, France - 21.5
Women:
Results this round:
Russia and USA tied 1½:1½.
Ukraine beat Hungary 2-1.
China beat Latvia 3-0.
Standings:
Russia - 19
Ukraine - 18.5
USA, China - 17
Results this round:
Armenia beat Cuba 3-1 to increase their lead to two points.
Russia drew with the Czech Republic 2-2.
Ukraine beat Sweden 3-1.
China beat the Phillipines 3½:½.
Georgia beat Uzbekistan 2½:1½.
USA beat Denmark 3-1.
France beat the Netherlands 3-1.
Standings:
Armenia - 24
Russia, Ukraine - 22
China, Georgia, USA, France - 21.5
Women:
Results this round:
Russia and USA tied 1½:1½.
Ukraine beat Hungary 2-1.
China beat Latvia 3-0.
Standings:
Russia - 19
Ukraine - 18.5
USA, China - 17
Monday, May 29, 2006
Olympiad Round 7
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat The Netherlands 3-1.
Russia beat Belarus 3-1.
Cuba beat Indonesia 3½:½ to climb in the standings.
Standings:
Armenia - 21
Russia - 20
Cuba - 19.5
Women:
Results this round:
Russia skunked Slovakia 3-0.
Ukraine beat Romania 2½:½.
Cuba beat India 2½: ½ to climb in the standings.
Standings:
Russia - 17.5
Ukraine - 16.5
USA - 15.5
Results this round:
Armenia beat The Netherlands 3-1.
Russia beat Belarus 3-1.
Cuba beat Indonesia 3½:½ to climb in the standings.
Standings:
Armenia - 21
Russia - 20
Cuba - 19.5
Women:
Results this round:
Russia skunked Slovakia 3-0.
Ukraine beat Romania 2½:½.
Cuba beat India 2½: ½ to climb in the standings.
Standings:
Russia - 17.5
Ukraine - 16.5
USA - 15.5
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Olympiad Round 6
Men:
Results this round:
Armenia beat Uzbekistan 2.5:1.5 to take first.
The Netherlands upset Russia 2.5:1.5 to leap ahead of them in the standings.
Belarus beat Span 3-1 to join Russian in third.
Standings:
Armenia - 18
Netherlands - 17.5
Russia, Belarus - 17
Women:
Results this round:
Russia beat Hungary 2-1 making them fall in the standings.
Slovakia beat Lithuania 3-0 to jump into the gap.
Standings:
Russia - 14.5
Ukraine - 14
Slovakia - 13.5
Results this round:
Armenia beat Uzbekistan 2.5:1.5 to take first.
The Netherlands upset Russia 2.5:1.5 to leap ahead of them in the standings.
Belarus beat Span 3-1 to join Russian in third.
Standings:
Armenia - 18
Netherlands - 17.5
Russia, Belarus - 17
Women:
Results this round:
Russia beat Hungary 2-1 making them fall in the standings.
Slovakia beat Lithuania 3-0 to jump into the gap.
Standings:
Russia - 14.5
Ukraine - 14
Slovakia - 13.5
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Spassky over Karpov, 1.5-0.5
The time control was 15 minutes + a 3 second increment per move.
Karpov (2672) - Spassky (2548) [E11]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Nc3 0-0 7.e3 Qe7 8.Rc1 Rd8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Qc2 c6 11.Bd3 Bg4 12.Ne5 Bh5 13.Qb3 Bg6 14.Be2 a5 15.a3 Na6 16.0-0 Bf5 17.Qb6 Qc7 18.Na4 Ne8 19.Rc3 Nd6 20.Qxc7 Nxc7 21.Nb6 Ra7 22.g4 Be6 23.Rfc1 Ncb5 24.Rc5 f6 25.Nd3 Bf7 26.R5c2 Nc7 27.Nc5 Ne6 28.Nca4 g5 29.f3 Kg7 30.Kf2 h5 31.h3 Rh8 32.Bf1 hxg4 33.hxg4 Nc8 34.Bd3 Nxb6 35.Nxb6 Nc7 36.Kg3 Na8 37.Na4 Nc7 38.Bf5 Nb5 39.Nc5 Nd6 40.e4 a4 41.Re2 dxe4 42.fxe4 Nb5 43.Rd2 Rd8 44.Rcd1 b6 45.Ne6+ Bxe6 46.Bxe6 Re7 47.d5 c5 48.Kf3 Nd4+ 49.Rxd4 cxd4 50.Bf5 Rc7 51.Rxd4 b5 52.Ke3 Rc4 53.Rd1 Rc2 54.e5 Rc5 55.exf6+ Kxf6 56.d6 Ke5 57.d7 Rd5 58.Rc1 Kd6 59.Rc8 Ke7 60.Rc6 R8xd7 61.Bxd7 Kxd7 62.Rb6 ½-½
Spassky (2548) - Karpov (2672) [B17]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.h3 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.0-0 Be7 11.c4 0-0 12.b3 c5 13.Bb2 cxd4 14.Rfd1 Qa5 15.Bxd4 Rfd8 16.Qe2 Qf5 17.Rd3 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rad1 Kf8 20.Kf1 f6 21.Be3 Rxd3 22.Rxd3 Ke8 23.Nd2 Nxd2+ 24.Rxd2 a6 25.Ke2 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Kxd8 27.c5 Kd7 28.Kd3 Bd8 29.b4 Bc7 30.Kc4 h5 31.a4 Be5 32.b5 axb5+ 33.axb5 Kc7 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Kd7 36.f4 Bb2 37.f5 e5 38.Kd5 Ba3 39.g5 fxg5 40.Bxg5 Bb2 41.Bh4 1-0
Karpov (2672) - Spassky (2548) [E11]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Nc3 0-0 7.e3 Qe7 8.Rc1 Rd8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Qc2 c6 11.Bd3 Bg4 12.Ne5 Bh5 13.Qb3 Bg6 14.Be2 a5 15.a3 Na6 16.0-0 Bf5 17.Qb6 Qc7 18.Na4 Ne8 19.Rc3 Nd6 20.Qxc7 Nxc7 21.Nb6 Ra7 22.g4 Be6 23.Rfc1 Ncb5 24.Rc5 f6 25.Nd3 Bf7 26.R5c2 Nc7 27.Nc5 Ne6 28.Nca4 g5 29.f3 Kg7 30.Kf2 h5 31.h3 Rh8 32.Bf1 hxg4 33.hxg4 Nc8 34.Bd3 Nxb6 35.Nxb6 Nc7 36.Kg3 Na8 37.Na4 Nc7 38.Bf5 Nb5 39.Nc5 Nd6 40.e4 a4 41.Re2 dxe4 42.fxe4 Nb5 43.Rd2 Rd8 44.Rcd1 b6 45.Ne6+ Bxe6 46.Bxe6 Re7 47.d5 c5 48.Kf3 Nd4+ 49.Rxd4 cxd4 50.Bf5 Rc7 51.Rxd4 b5 52.Ke3 Rc4 53.Rd1 Rc2 54.e5 Rc5 55.exf6+ Kxf6 56.d6 Ke5 57.d7 Rd5 58.Rc1 Kd6 59.Rc8 Ke7 60.Rc6 R8xd7 61.Bxd7 Kxd7 62.Rb6 ½-½
Spassky (2548) - Karpov (2672) [B17]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.h3 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.0-0 Be7 11.c4 0-0 12.b3 c5 13.Bb2 cxd4 14.Rfd1 Qa5 15.Bxd4 Rfd8 16.Qe2 Qf5 17.Rd3 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rad1 Kf8 20.Kf1 f6 21.Be3 Rxd3 22.Rxd3 Ke8 23.Nd2 Nxd2+ 24.Rxd2 a6 25.Ke2 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Kxd8 27.c5 Kd7 28.Kd3 Bd8 29.b4 Bc7 30.Kc4 h5 31.a4 Be5 32.b5 axb5+ 33.axb5 Kc7 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Kd7 36.f4 Bb2 37.f5 e5 38.Kd5 Ba3 39.g5 fxg5 40.Bxg5 Bb2 41.Bh4 1-0
Friday, May 26, 2006
Olympiad Round 5
Men:
Results this round:
Uzbekistan and The Netherlands drew 2-2.
Armenia and Russia drew 2-2.
Standings:
Russia, Armenia - 15.5
Netherlands - 15
Uzbekistan - 14.5
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine upset Russia 2-1, but is still 1/2 point behind.
Hungary defeated China 2½:½ to take over third place.
USA and Bulgaria drew 1½:1½.
Standings:
Russia - 12.5
Ukraine - 12
Hungary - 11.5
Results this round:
Uzbekistan and The Netherlands drew 2-2.
Armenia and Russia drew 2-2.
Standings:
Russia, Armenia - 15.5
Netherlands - 15
Uzbekistan - 14.5
Women:
Results this round:
Ukraine upset Russia 2-1, but is still 1/2 point behind.
Hungary defeated China 2½:½ to take over third place.
USA and Bulgaria drew 1½:1½.
Standings:
Russia - 12.5
Ukraine - 12
Hungary - 11.5
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Olympiad Round 4
Men:
Results this round:
Russia beat China, 3-1.
The Netherlands beat Greece, 3-1.
Uzbekistan and Ukraine tied 2-2.
Armenia beat Norway, 4-0.
Standings:
Russia, Armenia - 13.5
Netherlands - 13
Uzbekistan - 12.5
Women:
Standings:
Russia - 11.5
Ukraine - 10
USA, China, Bulgaria - 9.5
Results this round:
Russia beat China, 3-1.
The Netherlands beat Greece, 3-1.
Uzbekistan and Ukraine tied 2-2.
Armenia beat Norway, 4-0.
Standings:
Russia, Armenia - 13.5
Netherlands - 13
Uzbekistan - 12.5
Women:
Standings:
Russia - 11.5
Ukraine - 10
USA, China, Bulgaria - 9.5
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Olympiad Round 3
Men:
Russia, China, Uzbekistan - 10.5
Greece, Ukraine, Netherlands - 10
Bulgaria, Armenia, Spain, Norway, Brazil, Iceland - 9.5
Women:
Lithuania - 9
Russia, China - 8.5
Romania, Ukraine - 8
Russia, China, Uzbekistan - 10.5
Greece, Ukraine, Netherlands - 10
Bulgaria, Armenia, Spain, Norway, Brazil, Iceland - 9.5
Women:
Lithuania - 9
Russia, China - 8.5
Romania, Ukraine - 8
Monday, May 22, 2006
Olympiad Round 2
MEN:
Russia - 8
Poland, Greece, Serbia & Montenegro, Germany - 7.5
Netherlands, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Iceland, Turkey, Slovakia, Vietnam, China, Australia - 7
WOMEN:
China, Lithuania, France, Latvia - 6
Russia, Hungary, Poland, Italy-A, Romania, Mongolia, Israel - 5.5
Cuba, Ecuador, Ukraine, USA, Germany, Georgia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Mexico - 5
Russia - 8
Poland, Greece, Serbia & Montenegro, Germany - 7.5
Netherlands, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Iceland, Turkey, Slovakia, Vietnam, China, Australia - 7
WOMEN:
China, Lithuania, France, Latvia - 6
Russia, Hungary, Poland, Italy-A, Romania, Mongolia, Israel - 5.5
Cuba, Ecuador, Ukraine, USA, Germany, Georgia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Mexico - 5
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Olympiad Round 1
Men's teams with a score of 4-0
Albania, Andora, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy-B, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Paraguay, Phillipines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam
Women's teams with a score of 3-0
Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy-A, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Albania, Andora, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy-B, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Paraguay, Phillipines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam
Women's teams with a score of 3-0
Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy-A, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
M-Tel Round 10
Topalov wins with last round victory over Bacrot.
Topalov-Bacrot
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 e5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Na4 Nxe5 12. Bc3 f6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14.Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 Qd7 16. h4 Qf7 17. Bh3 Nd7 18. b4 Rd8 19. f4 Be7 20. h5 g621. Qb3 Rg8 22. e4 gxh5 23. exd5 cxd5 24. Kf2 h4 25. Bxd7+ Rxd7 26. Rxh4 d427. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Bd2 Rg7 29. Rh5 Bf8 30. c6 bxc6 31. Rxc6 d3 32. Rxa6 Kg833. Rh1 Rde7 34. Kf3 Re2 35. Rd1 h5 36. Rxf6 h4 37. gxh4 Rgg2 38. Be3 Be739. Ra6 Rxa2 40. b5 Rab2 41. Rxd3 Bxh4 42. Rd7 1-0
Ponomariov-Anand and Svidler-Kamsky were drawn.
An incredibly hard-fought tournament; each player lost at least twice. And 1st-4th were only a 1/2 point apart each.
Topalov-Bacrot
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 e5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Na4 Nxe5 12. Bc3 f6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14.Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 Qd7 16. h4 Qf7 17. Bh3 Nd7 18. b4 Rd8 19. f4 Be7 20. h5 g621. Qb3 Rg8 22. e4 gxh5 23. exd5 cxd5 24. Kf2 h4 25. Bxd7+ Rxd7 26. Rxh4 d427. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Bd2 Rg7 29. Rh5 Bf8 30. c6 bxc6 31. Rxc6 d3 32. Rxa6 Kg833. Rh1 Rde7 34. Kf3 Re2 35. Rd1 h5 36. Rxf6 h4 37. gxh4 Rgg2 38. Be3 Be739. Ra6 Rxa2 40. b5 Rab2 41. Rxd3 Bxh4 42. Rd7 1-0
Ponomariov-Anand and Svidler-Kamsky were drawn.
An incredibly hard-fought tournament; each player lost at least twice. And 1st-4th were only a 1/2 point apart each.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
M-Tel Round 9
Anand-Svidler
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. Nf1 Bd7 14. Ne3 bxa415. Nd2 Rb8 16. c3 Bb5 17. Nf5 Ne8 18. Nc4 Nb3 19. Bxb3 axb3 20. Qxb3 Bf621. Qd1 g6 22. Nfe3 Nc7 23. Nd2 Bg5 24. c4 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Bc6 26. Nf1 f5 27.exf5 gxf5 28. Rg3+ Kh8 29. f4 Qf6 30. Qh5 Rg8 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Bg5 Qe6 33.Re1 Rxb2 34. Nh2 f4 35. Rg4 Qf5 36. Qh6 Rg6 37. Rxe5 Rb1+ 38. Kf2 Rb2+ 39.Kg1 Rb1+ 40. Kf2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2
Bacrot-Ponomariov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg2 Bd6 8.O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Qe7 11. Re1 Rfe8 12. Rc1 c6 13. Qc2 Bb4 14. Bg5h6 15. Bd2 c5 16. a3 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Ne4 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nd2 f5 20. b4 Nb621. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Bh3 Bc8 23. bxc5 Qxc5 24. Bb2 Qe7 25. f3 exf3 26. Qb3+Be6 27. Qxf3 Nc4 28. Bd4 Rad8 29. Qf2 Nd2 30. Qf4 Rxd4 31. Qxd4 Nb3 32. Qb4Qxb4 33. axb4 Nxc1 34. Rxc1 Rb8 35. Rc7 Rxb4 36. Rxa7 Kf8 37. Kf2 h5 38.Bg2 h4 39. Ra8+ Kf7 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41. Ra6 hxg3+ 42. hxg3 Ke5 43. Ra5+ Kf644. Ra6 Ke5 45. Ra5+ 1/2-1/2
Kamsky-Topalov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8.Nb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bd3 b5 12. Rhe1 Bb7 13. Qh3 b4 14.Nb1 e5 15. N1d2 a5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nc1 O-O 18. Ne2 Rfc8 19. Ng3 g6 20. Nc4Ba6 21. b3 axb3 22. cxb3 Nc5 23. Ne2 Nfxe4 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26.Nb6 Qa7 27. Nxa8 Rxa8 28. a4 Bxe2 29. Rc1 Qf2 0-1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Bc8 13. Nf1 Bd7 14. Ne3 bxa415. Nd2 Rb8 16. c3 Bb5 17. Nf5 Ne8 18. Nc4 Nb3 19. Bxb3 axb3 20. Qxb3 Bf621. Qd1 g6 22. Nfe3 Nc7 23. Nd2 Bg5 24. c4 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Bc6 26. Nf1 f5 27.exf5 gxf5 28. Rg3+ Kh8 29. f4 Qf6 30. Qh5 Rg8 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Bg5 Qe6 33.Re1 Rxb2 34. Nh2 f4 35. Rg4 Qf5 36. Qh6 Rg6 37. Rxe5 Rb1+ 38. Kf2 Rb2+ 39.Kg1 Rb1+ 40. Kf2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2
Bacrot-Ponomariov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg2 Bd6 8.O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Qe7 11. Re1 Rfe8 12. Rc1 c6 13. Qc2 Bb4 14. Bg5h6 15. Bd2 c5 16. a3 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Ne4 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nd2 f5 20. b4 Nb621. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Bh3 Bc8 23. bxc5 Qxc5 24. Bb2 Qe7 25. f3 exf3 26. Qb3+Be6 27. Qxf3 Nc4 28. Bd4 Rad8 29. Qf2 Nd2 30. Qf4 Rxd4 31. Qxd4 Nb3 32. Qb4Qxb4 33. axb4 Nxc1 34. Rxc1 Rb8 35. Rc7 Rxb4 36. Rxa7 Kf8 37. Kf2 h5 38.Bg2 h4 39. Ra8+ Kf7 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41. Ra6 hxg3+ 42. hxg3 Ke5 43. Ra5+ Kf644. Ra6 Ke5 45. Ra5+ 1/2-1/2
Kamsky-Topalov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8.Nb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bd3 b5 12. Rhe1 Bb7 13. Qh3 b4 14.Nb1 e5 15. N1d2 a5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nc1 O-O 18. Ne2 Rfc8 19. Ng3 g6 20. Nc4Ba6 21. b3 axb3 22. cxb3 Nc5 23. Ne2 Nfxe4 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26.Nb6 Qa7 27. Nxa8 Rxa8 28. a4 Bxe2 29. Rc1 Qf2 0-1
Friday, May 19, 2006
M-Tel Round 8
Topalov-Ponomariov
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 Nd7 13.Nf1 Nb6 14.Bd2 b4 15.c3 bxc3 16.Bxc3 Nc6 17.a5 Nc8 18.Ne3 N8a7 19.Nf5 Bc8 20.Nd2 Rb8 21.f4 Bxf5 22.exf5 exf4 23.Qg4 Nd4 24.Ne4 Nab5 25.Bd2 Nc2 26.Bxf4 Kh8 27.Qh5 Nxe1 28.Rxe1 Qxa5 29.Ra1 Rbd8 30.f6 gxf6 31.Kh2 d5 32.Nxf6 Bxf6 33.d4 Qxa2 34.Rxa2 Nxd4 35.b4 Ne6 36.Be5 Bg7 37.bxc5 Rc8 38.Bd6 Rfd8 39.Ra5 Kg8 40.Rxa6 Rd7 41.Qxd5 Bf8 42.Qf3 Bxd6+ 43.cxd6 Rcd8 44.Qd5 Ng7 45.Ra8 Ne6 46.Rxd8+ Rxd8 47.g4 h6 48.h4 Rb8 49.Kg3 Re8 50.Kf3 Nf8 51.Qd2 Kg7 52.Qd4+ Kg8 53.Qf6 Re6 54.Qe7 Kg7 55.Qc7 Kg8 56.d7 Nxd7 57.Qxd7 Kg7 58.Qd4+ Kg8 59.Kf4 Rg6 60.Kf5 Re6 61.Qd7 Rg6 62.h5 Rg5+ 63.Kf6 Kh8 64.Qe8+ Rg8 65.Kxf7 1-0
Svidler-Bacrot and Kamsky-Anand were drawn.
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 Nd7 13.Nf1 Nb6 14.Bd2 b4 15.c3 bxc3 16.Bxc3 Nc6 17.a5 Nc8 18.Ne3 N8a7 19.Nf5 Bc8 20.Nd2 Rb8 21.f4 Bxf5 22.exf5 exf4 23.Qg4 Nd4 24.Ne4 Nab5 25.Bd2 Nc2 26.Bxf4 Kh8 27.Qh5 Nxe1 28.Rxe1 Qxa5 29.Ra1 Rbd8 30.f6 gxf6 31.Kh2 d5 32.Nxf6 Bxf6 33.d4 Qxa2 34.Rxa2 Nxd4 35.b4 Ne6 36.Be5 Bg7 37.bxc5 Rc8 38.Bd6 Rfd8 39.Ra5 Kg8 40.Rxa6 Rd7 41.Qxd5 Bf8 42.Qf3 Bxd6+ 43.cxd6 Rcd8 44.Qd5 Ng7 45.Ra8 Ne6 46.Rxd8+ Rxd8 47.g4 h6 48.h4 Rb8 49.Kg3 Re8 50.Kf3 Nf8 51.Qd2 Kg7 52.Qd4+ Kg8 53.Qf6 Re6 54.Qe7 Kg7 55.Qc7 Kg8 56.d7 Nxd7 57.Qxd7 Kg7 58.Qd4+ Kg8 59.Kf4 Rg6 60.Kf5 Re6 61.Qd7 Rg6 62.h5 Rg5+ 63.Kf6 Kh8 64.Qe8+ Rg8 65.Kxf7 1-0
Svidler-Bacrot and Kamsky-Anand were drawn.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
M-Tel Round 7
Anand-Topalov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Na4 Nbd7 10.c4 bxc3 11.Nxc3 Bb7 12.Be2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.0-0 Qb8 16.Nf5 Qe5 17.Ng3 Bb4 18.Qxb4 Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Rb8 20.Qd6 Rb6 21.Qc7 Rc6 22.Qb7 Rc2 23.Qxa6 0-0 24.b3 Ne5 25.Rae1 Qd2 26.Rd1 Qf4 27.Bb5 h5 28.Ne2 Qe3 29.a4 Rb2 30.Qd6 Rc8 31.Rde1 Nxf3 32.gxf3 Bxf3+ 33.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kf1 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 Qxb3 37.Qe5 Rd8 38.Qc3 Qxc3 39.Nxc3 h4 40.Re4 Rb3 41.Ne2 g5 42.Re5 Rd5 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Bc6 Ra3 45.Nd4 Kg7 46.Bxd5 Rd3 47.Nf5+ Kf6 48.Be4 Rd1+ 49.Kg2 Rd2+ 50.Kf3 Rxh2 51.Ne3 Ra2 52.Bc6 Ra3 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.Bd7 Ke5 55.Kf3 Ra3 56.Kf2 Ke4 57.Bc6+ Kf4 58.Ng2+ Ke5 59.Ne3 Ra2+ 60.Kf3 f5 61.Bd7 h3 0-1
Ponomariov-Svidler
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 Qc7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.Bf4 Nc6 12.Rac1 Nd7 13.Qe3 Nce5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Be2 b6 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Qd2 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Qxd6 Bb7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 Rad8 22.f3 b5 23.Kf2 Qc6 24.Ne2 Qb6+ 25.Rd4 Rd7 26.b4 Red8 27.Ke3 Rxd4 28.Nxd4 Rd6 29.Qf6 Rd7 30.Rc5 Qd6 31.g3 a5 32.a3 axb4 33.axb4 Qa6 34.Ne2 Qd6 35.Qc3 h5 36.Qd4 Qe7 37.Qe5 f6 38.Qb8+ Kg7 39.Nc3 e5 40.Nd5 Bxd5 41.exd5 f5 42.Qxb5 f4+ 43.Kf2 e4 44.fxe4 fxg3+ 45.hxg3 Qf6+ 46.Kg2 Qb2+ 47.Kh3 Rf7 48.Qd3 Qxb4 49.Qc3+ Qxc3 50.Rxc3 Re7 51.Rc4 Kf6 52.Kh4 Ke5 53.Rc6 1-0
Bacrot-Kamsky
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Qb6 5.c5 Qc7 6.g3 Bg4 7.Ne5 Be6 8.Bf4 Qc8 9.Bg2 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.b4 0-0 12.Re1 Nh5 13.e3 Nd7 14.Bf3 Nxf4 15.exf4 Nxe5 16.fxe5 f6 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Bh1 g5 19.Qd2 Qd7 20.Re3 Bf5 21.Rae1 e6 22.Bg2 Qg7 23.Ne2 Kh8 24.Rd1 Rae8 25.Nc1 Re7 26.Nb3 h5 27.Qe2 h4 28.g4 Bg6 29.b5 e5 30.bxc6 bxc6 31.Re1 e4 32.Qd2 Be8 33.f3 exf3 34.Bxf3 Bd7 35.Bd1 Rxe3 36.Rxe3 Bd8 37.Rf3 Rxf3 38.Bxf3 Qg6 39.Bd1 h3 40.Qe3 Kg7 41.Qxh3 Qb1 42.Qf1 Be8 43.Qe2 Bg6 44.Kf2 Kf7 45.Nd2 Qxa2 46.Nf3 Qxe2+ 47.Kxe2 Bf6 48.Ba4 Be4 49.Bxc6 Ke6 50.Nd2 Bxd4 51.Nxe4 dxe4 52.Bxe4 Bxc5 1/2-1/2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Na4 Nbd7 10.c4 bxc3 11.Nxc3 Bb7 12.Be2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.0-0 Qb8 16.Nf5 Qe5 17.Ng3 Bb4 18.Qxb4 Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Rb8 20.Qd6 Rb6 21.Qc7 Rc6 22.Qb7 Rc2 23.Qxa6 0-0 24.b3 Ne5 25.Rae1 Qd2 26.Rd1 Qf4 27.Bb5 h5 28.Ne2 Qe3 29.a4 Rb2 30.Qd6 Rc8 31.Rde1 Nxf3 32.gxf3 Bxf3+ 33.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kf1 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 Qxb3 37.Qe5 Rd8 38.Qc3 Qxc3 39.Nxc3 h4 40.Re4 Rb3 41.Ne2 g5 42.Re5 Rd5 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Bc6 Ra3 45.Nd4 Kg7 46.Bxd5 Rd3 47.Nf5+ Kf6 48.Be4 Rd1+ 49.Kg2 Rd2+ 50.Kf3 Rxh2 51.Ne3 Ra2 52.Bc6 Ra3 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.Bd7 Ke5 55.Kf3 Ra3 56.Kf2 Ke4 57.Bc6+ Kf4 58.Ng2+ Ke5 59.Ne3 Ra2+ 60.Kf3 f5 61.Bd7 h3 0-1
Ponomariov-Svidler
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 Qc7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.Bf4 Nc6 12.Rac1 Nd7 13.Qe3 Nce5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Be2 b6 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Qd2 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Qxd6 Bb7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 Rad8 22.f3 b5 23.Kf2 Qc6 24.Ne2 Qb6+ 25.Rd4 Rd7 26.b4 Red8 27.Ke3 Rxd4 28.Nxd4 Rd6 29.Qf6 Rd7 30.Rc5 Qd6 31.g3 a5 32.a3 axb4 33.axb4 Qa6 34.Ne2 Qd6 35.Qc3 h5 36.Qd4 Qe7 37.Qe5 f6 38.Qb8+ Kg7 39.Nc3 e5 40.Nd5 Bxd5 41.exd5 f5 42.Qxb5 f4+ 43.Kf2 e4 44.fxe4 fxg3+ 45.hxg3 Qf6+ 46.Kg2 Qb2+ 47.Kh3 Rf7 48.Qd3 Qxb4 49.Qc3+ Qxc3 50.Rxc3 Re7 51.Rc4 Kf6 52.Kh4 Ke5 53.Rc6 1-0
Bacrot-Kamsky
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Qb6 5.c5 Qc7 6.g3 Bg4 7.Ne5 Be6 8.Bf4 Qc8 9.Bg2 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.b4 0-0 12.Re1 Nh5 13.e3 Nd7 14.Bf3 Nxf4 15.exf4 Nxe5 16.fxe5 f6 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Bh1 g5 19.Qd2 Qd7 20.Re3 Bf5 21.Rae1 e6 22.Bg2 Qg7 23.Ne2 Kh8 24.Rd1 Rae8 25.Nc1 Re7 26.Nb3 h5 27.Qe2 h4 28.g4 Bg6 29.b5 e5 30.bxc6 bxc6 31.Re1 e4 32.Qd2 Be8 33.f3 exf3 34.Bxf3 Bd7 35.Bd1 Rxe3 36.Rxe3 Bd8 37.Rf3 Rxf3 38.Bxf3 Qg6 39.Bd1 h3 40.Qe3 Kg7 41.Qxh3 Qb1 42.Qf1 Be8 43.Qe2 Bg6 44.Kf2 Kf7 45.Nd2 Qxa2 46.Nf3 Qxe2+ 47.Kxe2 Bf6 48.Ba4 Be4 49.Bxc6 Ke6 50.Nd2 Bxd4 51.Nxe4 dxe4 52.Bxe4 Bxc5 1/2-1/2
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
M-Tel Round 6
Kamsky-Ponomariov
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Rfe8 12.Nf1 Nd8 13.Ng3 Ne6 14.c3 c5 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Be3 Rac8 20.dxc5 N6xc5 21.N5d4 Nxb3 22.Qxb3 Nc5 23.Qd1 a5 24.Qb1 Ne4 25.Rd1 b4 26.axb4 Bxb4 27.Nc2 Qe7 28.Nxb4 Qxb4 29.Qa2 Ra8 30.Rd4 Qb5 31.Ra4 Bc6 32.Rxa5 Rxa5 33.Qxa5 Qxb2 34.Rc1 Ba8 35.Rc7 d4 36.e6 Qb1+ 37.Kh2 fxe6 38.Qh5 Nd6 39.Bxd4 Bxf3 40.Rxg7+ Kf8 41.Qh6 1-0
Anand-Bacrot
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5 16.Qe1 Bf5 17.Nd2 h6 18.f3 Kg7 19.a4 Bxe4 20.fxe4 Rae8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nf1 Qg4 23.Bc2 Re7 24.Bd2 Rfe8 25.e5 f6 26.h3 Qxh3 27.Qe4 Kh8 28.Ra6 fxe5 29.Rxc6 Rf8 30.Bd3 Ref7 31.Qg2 Qxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Rf6 33.dxe5 Bxe5 34.Rc5 Rd6 35.Be4 Rfd8 36.Rxb5 Bg7 37.Bc1 Nf6 38.Bf3 g4 39.Be2 Re8 40.Bc4 Rd1 41.Bf4 Ne4 42.Be2 Nxc3 43.Bxd1 Nxb5 44.Bxg4 Re1 45.Ne3 Nd4 46.Nc4 Rb1 47.Bd2 Nb3 48.Be3 Nd4 49.Bd2 Nb3 50.Be3 Nd4 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Svidler
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 Qc7 11.Rc1 Rd8 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 b5 15.Rb1 a6 16.c4 e6 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Qd2 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.d6 Bb7 21.Qe3 f6 22.Bh4 g5 23.Bg3 f5 24.Qxg5 Bxe4 25.Rb6 Qd8 26.Qxd8 Raxd8 27.Rd1 Rd7 28.f3 Bc2 29.Re1 Bd3 30.Rxa6 c3 31.Ra3 Bxe2 32.Rxe2 Rb8 33.Rb3 Rxb3 34.axb3 Kf7 35.Kf1 Rb7 36.Ra2 Bf6 37.Ke2 c4 38.b4 Rxb4 39.Ra7+ Kg6 40.Rc7 c2 41.Kd2 f4 42.Be1 Rb1 43.Rxc4 Rd1+ 44.Kxc2 Rxe1 45.Rxf4 Re2+ 46.Kd3 Re5 47.Rg4+ Kf7 48.Ra4 Rd5+ 49.Ke3 Rxd6 50.Ra7+ Kg6 51.Kf4 Rd4+ 52.Kg3 Bh4+ 53.Kh3 Bf2 54.g3 Rh4+ 55.Kxh4 Bxa7 56.Kh3 Kf5 57.Kg2 Be3 58.Kh3 Ke5 59.Kg4 Bg1 60.h4 Bf2 61.h5 h6 0-1
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Rfe8 12.Nf1 Nd8 13.Ng3 Ne6 14.c3 c5 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Be3 Rac8 20.dxc5 N6xc5 21.N5d4 Nxb3 22.Qxb3 Nc5 23.Qd1 a5 24.Qb1 Ne4 25.Rd1 b4 26.axb4 Bxb4 27.Nc2 Qe7 28.Nxb4 Qxb4 29.Qa2 Ra8 30.Rd4 Qb5 31.Ra4 Bc6 32.Rxa5 Rxa5 33.Qxa5 Qxb2 34.Rc1 Ba8 35.Rc7 d4 36.e6 Qb1+ 37.Kh2 fxe6 38.Qh5 Nd6 39.Bxd4 Bxf3 40.Rxg7+ Kf8 41.Qh6 1-0
Anand-Bacrot
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5 16.Qe1 Bf5 17.Nd2 h6 18.f3 Kg7 19.a4 Bxe4 20.fxe4 Rae8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nf1 Qg4 23.Bc2 Re7 24.Bd2 Rfe8 25.e5 f6 26.h3 Qxh3 27.Qe4 Kh8 28.Ra6 fxe5 29.Rxc6 Rf8 30.Bd3 Ref7 31.Qg2 Qxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Rf6 33.dxe5 Bxe5 34.Rc5 Rd6 35.Be4 Rfd8 36.Rxb5 Bg7 37.Bc1 Nf6 38.Bf3 g4 39.Be2 Re8 40.Bc4 Rd1 41.Bf4 Ne4 42.Be2 Nxc3 43.Bxd1 Nxb5 44.Bxg4 Re1 45.Ne3 Nd4 46.Nc4 Rb1 47.Bd2 Nb3 48.Be3 Nd4 49.Bd2 Nb3 50.Be3 Nd4 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Svidler
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 Qc7 11.Rc1 Rd8 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 b5 15.Rb1 a6 16.c4 e6 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Qd2 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.d6 Bb7 21.Qe3 f6 22.Bh4 g5 23.Bg3 f5 24.Qxg5 Bxe4 25.Rb6 Qd8 26.Qxd8 Raxd8 27.Rd1 Rd7 28.f3 Bc2 29.Re1 Bd3 30.Rxa6 c3 31.Ra3 Bxe2 32.Rxe2 Rb8 33.Rb3 Rxb3 34.axb3 Kf7 35.Kf1 Rb7 36.Ra2 Bf6 37.Ke2 c4 38.b4 Rxb4 39.Ra7+ Kg6 40.Rc7 c2 41.Kd2 f4 42.Be1 Rb1 43.Rxc4 Rd1+ 44.Kxc2 Rxe1 45.Rxf4 Re2+ 46.Kd3 Re5 47.Rg4+ Kf7 48.Ra4 Rd5+ 49.Ke3 Rxd6 50.Ra7+ Kg6 51.Kf4 Rd4+ 52.Kg3 Bh4+ 53.Kh3 Bf2 54.g3 Rh4+ 55.Kxh4 Bxa7 56.Kh3 Kf5 57.Kg2 Be3 58.Kh3 Ke5 59.Kg4 Bg1 60.h4 Bf2 61.h5 h6 0-1
Monday, May 15, 2006
M-Tel Round 5
Topalov-Kamsky
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 g6 9.h3 Qc7 10.g3 Bg7 11.Bf4 Qd8 12.Bg2 Nh5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bd2 0-0 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nhf6 17.Nc3 Re8 18.0-0 Nf8 19.Qb3 Ne6 20.Be3 Nc7 21.Ne5 Nfd5 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Bd2 Bxe5 24.dxe5 h5 25.Rfe1 Qc7 26.e6 Bxe6 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Re1 Qd7 29.Qd3 Kh7 30.Re5 Nf6 31.Qe3 Kg7 32.Be4 Kf7 33.Bc2 Rad8 34.Qh6 Rg8 35.Ba5 Qd4 36.Bc3 Qc4 37.Bb3 Qd3 38.Bxe6+ Ke8 39.Kg2 Rf8 40.Qg7 Rd5 41.Bf5 Rf7 42.Rxe7+ 1-0
Ponomariov-Bacrot
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.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.b3 Nd7 14.Nf1 Bf6 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb2 Bxc4 17.Nxc4 Re8 18.d4 exd4 19.Nxd4 Nce5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Rb1 Qb7 22.f3 Nf6 23.Qd2 c5 24.Nf5 Bxb2 25.Rxb2 Rbd8 26.Rbb1 Qc7 27.Qh6 Nh5 28.Ne3 Nf6 29.Nf5 Nh5 30.Rbd1 gxf5 31.Qxh5 fxe4 32.Qg5+ Kf8 33.Rd5 Re6 34.Rxe4 Rde8 35.Qh5 Qxa5 36.Qxh7 Qa1+ 37.Kf2 Rxe4 38.fxe4 Re6 39.Rd3 Rf6+ 40.Rf3 Rxf3+ 41.gxf3 Qc1 42.Kg3 Qxc2 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qg5+ Kh7 45.Qh5+ Kg7 46.Qg5+ Kh7 47.Qh5+ 1/2-1/2
Svidler-Anand was a 38 move draw.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 g6 9.h3 Qc7 10.g3 Bg7 11.Bf4 Qd8 12.Bg2 Nh5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bd2 0-0 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nhf6 17.Nc3 Re8 18.0-0 Nf8 19.Qb3 Ne6 20.Be3 Nc7 21.Ne5 Nfd5 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Bd2 Bxe5 24.dxe5 h5 25.Rfe1 Qc7 26.e6 Bxe6 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Re1 Qd7 29.Qd3 Kh7 30.Re5 Nf6 31.Qe3 Kg7 32.Be4 Kf7 33.Bc2 Rad8 34.Qh6 Rg8 35.Ba5 Qd4 36.Bc3 Qc4 37.Bb3 Qd3 38.Bxe6+ Ke8 39.Kg2 Rf8 40.Qg7 Rd5 41.Bf5 Rf7 42.Rxe7+ 1-0
Ponomariov-Bacrot
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.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.b3 Nd7 14.Nf1 Bf6 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb2 Bxc4 17.Nxc4 Re8 18.d4 exd4 19.Nxd4 Nce5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Rb1 Qb7 22.f3 Nf6 23.Qd2 c5 24.Nf5 Bxb2 25.Rxb2 Rbd8 26.Rbb1 Qc7 27.Qh6 Nh5 28.Ne3 Nf6 29.Nf5 Nh5 30.Rbd1 gxf5 31.Qxh5 fxe4 32.Qg5+ Kf8 33.Rd5 Re6 34.Rxe4 Rde8 35.Qh5 Qxa5 36.Qxh7 Qa1+ 37.Kf2 Rxe4 38.fxe4 Re6 39.Rd3 Rf6+ 40.Rf3 Rxf3+ 41.gxf3 Qc1 42.Kg3 Qxc2 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qg5+ Kh7 45.Qh5+ Kg7 46.Qg5+ Kh7 47.Qh5+ 1/2-1/2
Svidler-Anand was a 38 move draw.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
M-Tel Round 4
Kamsky-Svidler
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.f4 e5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Kh1 exf4 12.Bxf4 Be6 13.Bf3 Qb6 14.b3 Rfd8 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.exd5 Bg4 18.Qxe7 Bxf3 19.Rxf3 Nf6 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Rxf6 gxf6 22.Qxf6 Re8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Bd2 1-0
Bacrot-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qa5 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0-0 Qa6 10.Ne5 d5 11.Qc2 Re8 12.Bf4 cxd4 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.cxd4 b6 15.Rfc1 Ba6 16.cxd5 Qxc2 17.Rxc2 Nxd5 18.Bd6 Rac8 19.Rac1 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Rd8 21.Ba3 f5 22.e3 Rc8 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Bd6 Kf7 26.Bb8 a6 27.Bc7 b5 28.a3 g5 29.f4 g4 1/2-1/2
Anand-Ponomariov
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 0-0 19.Ne5 Bd6 20.f3 Ng3 21.Rh3 Nf5 22.Bf2 Rad8 23.g4 Ne7 24.Nd3 b5 25.b3 Bc7 26.Rhh1 Bb6 27.Nc5 Rfe8 28.Kc2 bxc4 29.bxc4 Bxc5 30.dxc5 e5 31.Rd6 Rb8 32.Rhd1 Rb7 33.Rd8 Rxd8 34.Rxd8+ Kh7 35.Rf8 f6 36.Be1 Rd7 37.Bc3 Ng8 38.a4 g6 39.a5 gxh5 40.gxh5 Kg7 41.Rb8 Ne7 42.a6 Kf7 43.Ba5 Nf5 44.Bb6 Ne3+ 45.Kc3 Ke6 46.Rc8 Kf5 47.Rxc6 Nd1+ 48.Kb4 Rd2 49.Bxa7 Rb2+ 50.Ka3 Rb1 51.Rb6 Ra1+ 52.Kb3 e4 53.fxe4+ Kxe4 54.c6 Kd3 55.c7 Rb1+ 56.Ka3 1-0
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.f4 e5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Kh1 exf4 12.Bxf4 Be6 13.Bf3 Qb6 14.b3 Rfd8 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.exd5 Bg4 18.Qxe7 Bxf3 19.Rxf3 Nf6 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Rxf6 gxf6 22.Qxf6 Re8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Bd2 1-0
Bacrot-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qa5 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0-0 Qa6 10.Ne5 d5 11.Qc2 Re8 12.Bf4 cxd4 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.cxd4 b6 15.Rfc1 Ba6 16.cxd5 Qxc2 17.Rxc2 Nxd5 18.Bd6 Rac8 19.Rac1 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Rd8 21.Ba3 f5 22.e3 Rc8 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Bd6 Kf7 26.Bb8 a6 27.Bc7 b5 28.a3 g5 29.f4 g4 1/2-1/2
Anand-Ponomariov
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 0-0 19.Ne5 Bd6 20.f3 Ng3 21.Rh3 Nf5 22.Bf2 Rad8 23.g4 Ne7 24.Nd3 b5 25.b3 Bc7 26.Rhh1 Bb6 27.Nc5 Rfe8 28.Kc2 bxc4 29.bxc4 Bxc5 30.dxc5 e5 31.Rd6 Rb8 32.Rhd1 Rb7 33.Rd8 Rxd8 34.Rxd8+ Kh7 35.Rf8 f6 36.Be1 Rd7 37.Bc3 Ng8 38.a4 g6 39.a5 gxh5 40.gxh5 Kg7 41.Rb8 Ne7 42.a6 Kf7 43.Ba5 Nf5 44.Bb6 Ne3+ 45.Kc3 Ke6 46.Rc8 Kf5 47.Rxc6 Nd1+ 48.Kb4 Rd2 49.Bxa7 Rb2+ 50.Ka3 Rb1 51.Rb6 Ra1+ 52.Kb3 e4 53.fxe4+ Kxe4 54.c6 Kd3 55.c7 Rb1+ 56.Ka3 1-0
Saturday, May 13, 2006
M-Tel Round 3
Bacrot-Svidler
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qd3 Qc7 12.d5 Nd7 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Bh6 Bg7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.a4 e6 18.dxe6 Nf6 19.Ng5 h6 20.Nxf7 Bxe4 21.Qb3 Rxf7 22.exf7 Bxb1 23.Rxb1 Qxf7 24.Qxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bc4+ Kf8 26.f3 Rd2 27.a5 bxa5 28.Ra1 Rc2 29.Bd3 Rd2 30.Bc4 Rc2 31.Bd3 Rd2 32.Bc4 1/2-1/2
Anand-Kamsky
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Nd8 12.c3 Ne6 13.d4 Rad8 14.d5 Nf4 15.Nf1 Ng6 16.Ng3 c6 17.Bg5 cxd5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxd5 Nf4 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Qc2 g6 22.Rad1 d5 23.exd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Qxd5 25.Rd1 Qe6 26.Qe4 Rb8 27.Ne2 Nxe2+ 28.Qxe2 Re8 29.Qe4 h6 30.g4 Bg5 31.Nxg5 hxg5 32.Qd5 Kg7 33.Qxe6 Rxe6 34.Rd7 Kf6 35.Kf1 Rc6 36.Ke2 Ke6 37.Rd8 e4 38.f3 exf3+ 39.Kxf3 Rd6 40.Re8+ Kd5 41.b3 Rf6+ 42.Kg2 Rc6 43.Re3 f5 44.gxf5 gxf5 45.Rg3 Ke4 46.a4 bxa4 47.bxa4 Kf4 48.Rf3+ Ke5 49.Re3+ Kf6 50.Rd3 f4 51.Kf3 Ke5 52.Kg4 Rd6 53.Rxd6 Kxd6 54.h4 gxh4 55.Kxh4 Kd5 56.Kh3 Ke4 57.Kg2 Ke3 0-1
Ponomariov-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 a6 6.c5 b6 7.cxb6 Nbd7 8.Na4 Nxb6 9.Bd2 Nxa4 10.Qxa4 Bd7 11.Ne5 Ne4 12.Ba5 c5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.f3 Nf6 16.Rc1 c4 17.b3 Rb8 18.bxc4 Bb4+ 19.Bxb4 Rxb4 20.c5 Rb2 21.a4 Ra8 22.Be2 Kc7 23.Rf1 Rab8 24.Rf2 R8b3 25.Bxa6 Rxe3+ 26.Kf1 Rb4 27.Ra2 Reb3 28.Rd1 Ng8 29.a5 Ne7 30.Be2 Nc6 31.a6 Kb8 32.Rad2 Ra3 33.Kf2 g5 34.h4 gxh4 35.Rh1 Rxd4 36.Rb2+ Kc7 37.Rhb1 Ne5 38.Rb8 Kc6 39.Rc8+ Kd7 40.Rg8 Ke7 41.Rb7+ Kf6 42.a7 Rda4 43.c6 Nxc6 44.Bb5 Ra2+ 45.Kg1 Rxa7 46.Bxc6 Rxb7 47.Bxb7 h5 48.Kh2 Ra1 49.Bc6 Rc1 50.Bb5 Rb1 51.Be2 Re1 52.Ba6 Ra1 53.Bd3 Rd1 54.Bh7 d4 55.Rb8 Kg7 56.Rb1 Rd2 57.Be4 f5 58.Bb7 e5 59.Rb5 Kf6 60.f4 e4 61.Bc8 d3 62.Rxf5+ Kg7 63.Rg5+ Kf6 64.Rf5+ Kg7 65.Rg5+ Kf6 66.Rf5+ Kg7 1/2-1/2
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qd3 Qc7 12.d5 Nd7 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Bh6 Bg7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.a4 e6 18.dxe6 Nf6 19.Ng5 h6 20.Nxf7 Bxe4 21.Qb3 Rxf7 22.exf7 Bxb1 23.Rxb1 Qxf7 24.Qxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bc4+ Kf8 26.f3 Rd2 27.a5 bxa5 28.Ra1 Rc2 29.Bd3 Rd2 30.Bc4 Rc2 31.Bd3 Rd2 32.Bc4 1/2-1/2
Anand-Kamsky
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Nd8 12.c3 Ne6 13.d4 Rad8 14.d5 Nf4 15.Nf1 Ng6 16.Ng3 c6 17.Bg5 cxd5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxd5 Nf4 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Qc2 g6 22.Rad1 d5 23.exd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Qxd5 25.Rd1 Qe6 26.Qe4 Rb8 27.Ne2 Nxe2+ 28.Qxe2 Re8 29.Qe4 h6 30.g4 Bg5 31.Nxg5 hxg5 32.Qd5 Kg7 33.Qxe6 Rxe6 34.Rd7 Kf6 35.Kf1 Rc6 36.Ke2 Ke6 37.Rd8 e4 38.f3 exf3+ 39.Kxf3 Rd6 40.Re8+ Kd5 41.b3 Rf6+ 42.Kg2 Rc6 43.Re3 f5 44.gxf5 gxf5 45.Rg3 Ke4 46.a4 bxa4 47.bxa4 Kf4 48.Rf3+ Ke5 49.Re3+ Kf6 50.Rd3 f4 51.Kf3 Ke5 52.Kg4 Rd6 53.Rxd6 Kxd6 54.h4 gxh4 55.Kxh4 Kd5 56.Kh3 Ke4 57.Kg2 Ke3 0-1
Ponomariov-Topalov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 a6 6.c5 b6 7.cxb6 Nbd7 8.Na4 Nxb6 9.Bd2 Nxa4 10.Qxa4 Bd7 11.Ne5 Ne4 12.Ba5 c5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.f3 Nf6 16.Rc1 c4 17.b3 Rb8 18.bxc4 Bb4+ 19.Bxb4 Rxb4 20.c5 Rb2 21.a4 Ra8 22.Be2 Kc7 23.Rf1 Rab8 24.Rf2 R8b3 25.Bxa6 Rxe3+ 26.Kf1 Rb4 27.Ra2 Reb3 28.Rd1 Ng8 29.a5 Ne7 30.Be2 Nc6 31.a6 Kb8 32.Rad2 Ra3 33.Kf2 g5 34.h4 gxh4 35.Rh1 Rxd4 36.Rb2+ Kc7 37.Rhb1 Ne5 38.Rb8 Kc6 39.Rc8+ Kd7 40.Rg8 Ke7 41.Rb7+ Kf6 42.a7 Rda4 43.c6 Nxc6 44.Bb5 Ra2+ 45.Kg1 Rxa7 46.Bxc6 Rxb7 47.Bxb7 h5 48.Kh2 Ra1 49.Bc6 Rc1 50.Bb5 Rb1 51.Be2 Re1 52.Ba6 Ra1 53.Bd3 Rd1 54.Bh7 d4 55.Rb8 Kg7 56.Rb1 Rd2 57.Be4 f5 58.Bb7 e5 59.Rb5 Kf6 60.f4 e4 61.Bc8 d3 62.Rxf5+ Kg7 63.Rg5+ Kf6 64.Rf5+ Kg7 65.Rg5+ Kf6 66.Rf5+ Kg7 1/2-1/2
Friday, May 12, 2006
M-Tel Round 2
Topalov-Anand
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 Re8 10.c3 h6 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a3 d6 13.Ba2 Nb8 14.b4 c5 15.Nb3 Nc6 16.Rb1 Bc8 17.Be3 Be6 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qb2 c4 20.dxc4 Bxc4 21.Nbd2 Bxa2 22.Qxa2 d5 23.Rbd1 d4 24.cxd4 exd4 25.Nb3 Nxe4 26.Bxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Ng5 28.Ne5 Nxh3+ 29.gxh3 Qg5+ 30.Kh2 Qf5 31.Rde4 Rxe5 32.Rxe5 Bd6 33.Nc5 Bxe5+ 34.Kg2 Rc6 35.Qb3 Rg6+ 36.Kf1 Bg3 0-1
Svidler-Ponomariov
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.g4 Be7 10.Qd2 0-0 11.g5 Nh5 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 f5 15.gxf6 Bxf6 16.Na5 Nf4 17.Nc6 Qc7 18.c4 Nb8 19.Qa5 Rc8 20.Kb1 bxc4 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Bxc4 Kf8 23.Na5 Nd7 24.Rc1 Bg5 25.h4 Bh6 26.Bb3 Rac8 27.Rc6 Ne2 28.Bxh6 gxh6 29.Bc4 Nd4 30.Bxa6 Nxc6 31.dxc6 Rxc6 32.Nxc6 Rxc6 33.Bb5 Rc7 34.Rc1 Nc5 35.Bc4 e4 36.b4 Rb7 37.a3 exf3 38.Rf1 Na4 39.Rxf3+ Kg7 40.Bb3 Nb6 41.Kb2 Re7 42.a4 Re4 43.Ka3 1-0
Kamsky-Bacrot
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.a3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nc3 Nc6 13.Rb1 Rc8 14.Bd2 Nd4 15.b4 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 c4 17.dxc4 bxc4 18.Qe2 Qc7 19.Bg5 Ne8 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Bxc4 Nf6 22.Rbd1 a5 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 axb4 25.axb4 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Qc7 27.Rc1 Qc3 28.b5 Rfd8 29.Qd1 h6 30.Kh2 Rc5 31.Rxc5 Qxc5 32.Qe2 Rc8 33.c4 Qd4 34.Rc2 g6 35.f3 Kg7 36.Rd2 Qxc4 37.Qxc4 Rxc4 38.Rxd6 Rb4 39.b6 h5 40.h4 f5 41.Rd7+ Kf6 42.b7 fxe4 43.fxe4 g5 44.g3 Rb2+ 45.Kg1 gxh4 46.gxh4 Ke6 47.Rh7 Kd6 48.Rxh5 Rxb7 49.Kg2 Rb4 50.Kf3 Rb1 51.Rg5 Ke6 52.h5 Rf1+ 53.Ke2 Rf4 54.Ke3 Rh4 55.Rf5 Rh3+ 56.Kf2 Rh4 57.Kf3 Rh3+ 58.Kg4 Re3 59.h6 Rxe4+ 60.Kg5 Re1 61.Rf6+ Kd5 62.h7 Rg1+ 63.Kh6 Ke4! 64.Rf8 Rh1+ 65.Kg6 Rxh7 66.Kxh7 Kd3 67.Rd8+ Ke3 68.Kg6 e4 69.Kf5 Kf3 70.Rh8 e3 71.Rh3+ Kf2 72.Kf4 e2 73.Rh2+ Kf1 74.Kf3 e1N+= [74...e1Q?? 75.Rh1#] 75.Kg3 Nd3 76.Rd2 Ne1 77.Rf2+ Kg1 78.Rf8 Ng2 79.Kf3 Kf1?? [79...Nh4+=] 80.Kg3+? Kg1 81.Kf3 Kf1?? 82.Rf7+- Ne1+ 83.Ke3+ Kg1 84.Ke2 Ng2 85.Rh7 Nf4+ 86.Kf3 Nd3 87.Rh4 Ne5+ 88.Ke2? [88.Ke3] Kg2= 89.Re4 Nf7? [89...Nd7] 90.Re7!+- Nd6 91.Rg7+ Kh3 92.Kf3 Kh4 93.Kf4 Kh5 94.Re7 Nc4 95.Re6 Nd2 96.Rc6 Nb3 97.Ke3 Kg4 98.Rc4+ Kg3 99.Rc3 Na5 100.Ke4+ Kf2 101.Kd5 Nb7 102.Rb3 Nd8 103.Rb8 1-0
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 Re8 10.c3 h6 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a3 d6 13.Ba2 Nb8 14.b4 c5 15.Nb3 Nc6 16.Rb1 Bc8 17.Be3 Be6 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qb2 c4 20.dxc4 Bxc4 21.Nbd2 Bxa2 22.Qxa2 d5 23.Rbd1 d4 24.cxd4 exd4 25.Nb3 Nxe4 26.Bxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Ng5 28.Ne5 Nxh3+ 29.gxh3 Qg5+ 30.Kh2 Qf5 31.Rde4 Rxe5 32.Rxe5 Bd6 33.Nc5 Bxe5+ 34.Kg2 Rc6 35.Qb3 Rg6+ 36.Kf1 Bg3 0-1
Svidler-Ponomariov
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.g4 Be7 10.Qd2 0-0 11.g5 Nh5 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 f5 15.gxf6 Bxf6 16.Na5 Nf4 17.Nc6 Qc7 18.c4 Nb8 19.Qa5 Rc8 20.Kb1 bxc4 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Bxc4 Kf8 23.Na5 Nd7 24.Rc1 Bg5 25.h4 Bh6 26.Bb3 Rac8 27.Rc6 Ne2 28.Bxh6 gxh6 29.Bc4 Nd4 30.Bxa6 Nxc6 31.dxc6 Rxc6 32.Nxc6 Rxc6 33.Bb5 Rc7 34.Rc1 Nc5 35.Bc4 e4 36.b4 Rb7 37.a3 exf3 38.Rf1 Na4 39.Rxf3+ Kg7 40.Bb3 Nb6 41.Kb2 Re7 42.a4 Re4 43.Ka3 1-0
Kamsky-Bacrot
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.a3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nc3 Nc6 13.Rb1 Rc8 14.Bd2 Nd4 15.b4 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 c4 17.dxc4 bxc4 18.Qe2 Qc7 19.Bg5 Ne8 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Bxc4 Nf6 22.Rbd1 a5 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 axb4 25.axb4 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Qc7 27.Rc1 Qc3 28.b5 Rfd8 29.Qd1 h6 30.Kh2 Rc5 31.Rxc5 Qxc5 32.Qe2 Rc8 33.c4 Qd4 34.Rc2 g6 35.f3 Kg7 36.Rd2 Qxc4 37.Qxc4 Rxc4 38.Rxd6 Rb4 39.b6 h5 40.h4 f5 41.Rd7+ Kf6 42.b7 fxe4 43.fxe4 g5 44.g3 Rb2+ 45.Kg1 gxh4 46.gxh4 Ke6 47.Rh7 Kd6 48.Rxh5 Rxb7 49.Kg2 Rb4 50.Kf3 Rb1 51.Rg5 Ke6 52.h5 Rf1+ 53.Ke2 Rf4 54.Ke3 Rh4 55.Rf5 Rh3+ 56.Kf2 Rh4 57.Kf3 Rh3+ 58.Kg4 Re3 59.h6 Rxe4+ 60.Kg5 Re1 61.Rf6+ Kd5 62.h7 Rg1+ 63.Kh6 Ke4! 64.Rf8 Rh1+ 65.Kg6 Rxh7 66.Kxh7 Kd3 67.Rd8+ Ke3 68.Kg6 e4 69.Kf5 Kf3 70.Rh8 e3 71.Rh3+ Kf2 72.Kf4 e2 73.Rh2+ Kf1 74.Kf3 e1N+= [74...e1Q?? 75.Rh1#] 75.Kg3 Nd3 76.Rd2 Ne1 77.Rf2+ Kg1 78.Rf8 Ng2 79.Kf3 Kf1?? [79...Nh4+=] 80.Kg3+? Kg1 81.Kf3 Kf1?? 82.Rf7+- Ne1+ 83.Ke3+ Kg1 84.Ke2 Ng2 85.Rh7 Nf4+ 86.Kf3 Nd3 87.Rh4 Ne5+ 88.Ke2? [88.Ke3] Kg2= 89.Re4 Nf7? [89...Nd7] 90.Re7!+- Nd6 91.Rg7+ Kh3 92.Kf3 Kh4 93.Kf4 Kh5 94.Re7 Nc4 95.Re6 Nd2 96.Rc6 Nb3 97.Ke3 Kg4 98.Rc4+ Kg3 99.Rc3 Na5 100.Ke4+ Kf2 101.Kd5 Nb7 102.Rb3 Nd8 103.Rb8 1-0
Thursday, May 11, 2006
M-Tel Round 1
Bacrot-Anand
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 7.e3 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bg3 d6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Nd7 12.e4 Bf6 13.Rc1 g5 14.Bb1 h5 15.h3 Rg8 16.b4 g4 17.hxg4 hxg4 18.Nh2 Bh4 19.Bf4 Bg5 20.Qxg4 Qf6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Qxg8+ Ke7 23.Qxa8 Bxa8 24.fxe3 Qg6 25.Rf4 e5 26.Rf5 Qh6 27.Re1 exd4 28.exd4 Qd2 29.Nf3 Qxb4 30.Rc1 Bb7 31.Rb5 Qa3 32.Re1 Qc3 33.Rb3 Qxc4 34.Bd3 Qa4 35.Rc3 c5 36.Bc4 Qb4 37.Rcc1 cxd4 38.Nxd4 Ne5 39.Nf5+ Kd7 40.Bd5 Bxd5 41.exd5 Qf4 42.Rf1 Nf3+ 43.gxf3 Qxf5 44.f4 Qxd5 45.f5 Qd2 46.f6 b5 47.Rce1 Kc6 48.Ra1 Qd4+ 49.Kg2 Qb2+ 50.Kg3 b4 51.Kg4 d5 52.Kg5 Qg2+ 53.Kh4 Kd6 54.Kh5 a5 0-1
Ponomariov-Kamsky
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Nd8 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5 Ne6 15.Qf3 Bf8 16.Be3 c5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Nc7 20.Bd2 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Re8 22.Rxe8 Nxe8 23.b3 g6 24.Nh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 f6 26.c4 Kf7 27.Qd3 Ke7 28.g4 Kd8 29.Kg2 Kc8 30.Bd2 Nc7 31.Bc3 Qf7 32.Qf3 Ne8 33.Qe4 Nc7 34.Kg3 Kd7 35.Ba5 Qe8 36.Kf3 Qxe4+ 37.Kxe4 bxc4 38.bxc4 Ne8 39.Bd2 Ke7 40.Kd3 Kd7 41.Kc3 Kc7 42.Kb3 Kb6 43.Bh6 Kb7 44.h4 f5 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Bg5 Kc8 47.h5 Kd7 48.Kc3 h6 49.Bxh6 Nf6 50.Kb3 Nxh5 51.Ka4 Nf6 52.Bf4 Ng4 53.Bg3 f4 54.Bxf4 Nxf2 55.Bg3 Ne4 56.Bf4 Kc7 57.Kb3 Kd7 58.Kc2 Nf2 59.Kd2 Ne4+ 60.Kd3 Nf2+ 61.Ke2 Ne4 62.Kd3 Nf2+ 63.Ke2 Ne4 64.Kd3 1/2-1/2
Svidler-Topalov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Nce2 e5 10.Nb3 Nc6 11.Ng3 Be6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.f4 h5 14.h4 a5 15.f5 Bd7 16.Kb1 Rb8 17.Be2 Na7 18.Bxa7 Qxa7 19.Qd3 Bb5 20.Qf3 Bc6 21.Nd2 Qc5 22.Nb3 Qb6 23.Nd2 Be7 24.Nc4 Qc5 25.Ne3 a4 26.Bc4 Bd8 27.b3 Bb6 28.Rd3 axb3 29.cxb3 Ra8 30.Rc1 Qa5 31.Rc2 Ke7 32.Nd5+ Bxd5 33.Bxd5 Rac8 34.Rxc8 Rxc8 35.Bc4 Rh8 36.Rd2 Qc5 37.Qd1 Ba7 38.Rc2 Qe3 39.Bd3 Bc5 40.Qf3 Rd8 41.Be2 Qf4 42.Nxh5 Qxh4 43.Nxf6 gxf6 44.g3 Qg5 45.Qg4 Rh8 46.Qxg5 fxg5 47.Bg4 Kf6 48.Rc1 Rh2 49.Rc2 Rh6 50.Rc1 Bf2 51.Rd1 Kg7 52.Rd3 Bd4 53.Kc2 Kf6 54.Rd2 Rh1 55.Rd1 Rh8 56.Kd3 Rc8 57.Ke2 Rc3 58.Rd3 Rc5 59.Bf3 Ke7 60.Rd2 Rc3 61.Rd3 Rc8 62.Rd2 Rh8 63.Kf1 Rc8 64.Ke2 Rg8 65.Kf1 Rh8 66.Rc2 Bc5 67.Kg2 Kf6 68.Be2 Rh7 69.Rc1 Rh8 70.Rc2 Rh7 71.Rc1 Rh8 1/2-1/2
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 7.e3 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bg3 d6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Nd7 12.e4 Bf6 13.Rc1 g5 14.Bb1 h5 15.h3 Rg8 16.b4 g4 17.hxg4 hxg4 18.Nh2 Bh4 19.Bf4 Bg5 20.Qxg4 Qf6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Qxg8+ Ke7 23.Qxa8 Bxa8 24.fxe3 Qg6 25.Rf4 e5 26.Rf5 Qh6 27.Re1 exd4 28.exd4 Qd2 29.Nf3 Qxb4 30.Rc1 Bb7 31.Rb5 Qa3 32.Re1 Qc3 33.Rb3 Qxc4 34.Bd3 Qa4 35.Rc3 c5 36.Bc4 Qb4 37.Rcc1 cxd4 38.Nxd4 Ne5 39.Nf5+ Kd7 40.Bd5 Bxd5 41.exd5 Qf4 42.Rf1 Nf3+ 43.gxf3 Qxf5 44.f4 Qxd5 45.f5 Qd2 46.f6 b5 47.Rce1 Kc6 48.Ra1 Qd4+ 49.Kg2 Qb2+ 50.Kg3 b4 51.Kg4 d5 52.Kg5 Qg2+ 53.Kh4 Kd6 54.Kh5 a5 0-1
Ponomariov-Kamsky
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.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Nd8 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5 Ne6 15.Qf3 Bf8 16.Be3 c5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Nc7 20.Bd2 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Re8 22.Rxe8 Nxe8 23.b3 g6 24.Nh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 f6 26.c4 Kf7 27.Qd3 Ke7 28.g4 Kd8 29.Kg2 Kc8 30.Bd2 Nc7 31.Bc3 Qf7 32.Qf3 Ne8 33.Qe4 Nc7 34.Kg3 Kd7 35.Ba5 Qe8 36.Kf3 Qxe4+ 37.Kxe4 bxc4 38.bxc4 Ne8 39.Bd2 Ke7 40.Kd3 Kd7 41.Kc3 Kc7 42.Kb3 Kb6 43.Bh6 Kb7 44.h4 f5 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Bg5 Kc8 47.h5 Kd7 48.Kc3 h6 49.Bxh6 Nf6 50.Kb3 Nxh5 51.Ka4 Nf6 52.Bf4 Ng4 53.Bg3 f4 54.Bxf4 Nxf2 55.Bg3 Ne4 56.Bf4 Kc7 57.Kb3 Kd7 58.Kc2 Nf2 59.Kd2 Ne4+ 60.Kd3 Nf2+ 61.Ke2 Ne4 62.Kd3 Nf2+ 63.Ke2 Ne4 64.Kd3 1/2-1/2
Svidler-Topalov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Nce2 e5 10.Nb3 Nc6 11.Ng3 Be6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.f4 h5 14.h4 a5 15.f5 Bd7 16.Kb1 Rb8 17.Be2 Na7 18.Bxa7 Qxa7 19.Qd3 Bb5 20.Qf3 Bc6 21.Nd2 Qc5 22.Nb3 Qb6 23.Nd2 Be7 24.Nc4 Qc5 25.Ne3 a4 26.Bc4 Bd8 27.b3 Bb6 28.Rd3 axb3 29.cxb3 Ra8 30.Rc1 Qa5 31.Rc2 Ke7 32.Nd5+ Bxd5 33.Bxd5 Rac8 34.Rxc8 Rxc8 35.Bc4 Rh8 36.Rd2 Qc5 37.Qd1 Ba7 38.Rc2 Qe3 39.Bd3 Bc5 40.Qf3 Rd8 41.Be2 Qf4 42.Nxh5 Qxh4 43.Nxf6 gxf6 44.g3 Qg5 45.Qg4 Rh8 46.Qxg5 fxg5 47.Bg4 Kf6 48.Rc1 Rh2 49.Rc2 Rh6 50.Rc1 Bf2 51.Rd1 Kg7 52.Rd3 Bd4 53.Kc2 Kf6 54.Rd2 Rh1 55.Rd1 Rh8 56.Kd3 Rc8 57.Ke2 Rc3 58.Rd3 Rc5 59.Bf3 Ke7 60.Rd2 Rc3 61.Rd3 Rc8 62.Rd2 Rh8 63.Kf1 Rc8 64.Ke2 Rg8 65.Kf1 Rh8 66.Rc2 Bc5 67.Kg2 Kf6 68.Be2 Rh7 69.Rc1 Rh8 70.Rc2 Rh7 71.Rc1 Rh8 1/2-1/2
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Mikhail Botvinnik
Botvinnik was undoubtedly a very strong and talented player and probably the first truly modern grandmaster. However, he made a lousy champion, not once winning a match as champion and often losing by wide margins. Let's examine the record...
1951 - drew a match with Bronstein
1954 - drew a match with Smyslov
1957 - lost to Smyslov by 3 points (only to win the title back through the patently unfair rematch clause - where was champion Smyslov's rematch?)
1960 - lost to Tal by 4 points (again relying on the rematch clause to win the title back)
1963 - lost to Petrosian by 3 points
1951 - drew a match with Bronstein
1954 - drew a match with Smyslov
1957 - lost to Smyslov by 3 points (only to win the title back through the patently unfair rematch clause - where was champion Smyslov's rematch?)
1960 - lost to Tal by 4 points (again relying on the rematch clause to win the title back)
1963 - lost to Petrosian by 3 points
Paul Keres
Paul Keres is one of the two strongest players never to become world champion (Korchnoi being the other). On the ChessMetrics 20-year peak rating list Keres is #7 (with a peak period from 1944 to 1963), ahead of world champions Petrosian, Botvinnik, Spassky and Tal.
1938 - He won (on tiebreak over Fine) the AVRO tournament to determine the challenger to Alekhine's crown. However, World War II interrupted, and a title match never took place.
1948 - He won 3rd prize (tied with Reshevsky) in the World Championship match tournament held in The Hague and Moscow, 1/2 point behind 2nd place Smyslov and 3.5 points behind winner Botvinnik, and ahead of Euwe.
1950 - He placed 4th in the Budapest candidates tournament behind joint winners Bronstein (who won the play-off and went on to draw a match with Botvinnik) and Boleslavsky and 3rd placed Smyslov, his weakest showing ever in a candidates event, which should say it all.
1953 - He placed 2nd (tied with Reshevsky and Bronstein) in the Zurich Candidates tournament, behind Smyslov (who went on to draw a match with Botvinnik), and ahead of Petrosian and Euwe.
1956 - He placed 2nd in the Amsterdam Candidates tournament, behind Smyslov (who went on to take the title from Botvinnik only to lose it back a year later), and ahead of Petrosian and Spassky.
1959 - He placed 2nd in the Candidates tournament in Yugoslavia, behind Tal (who repeated Smyslov's story by taking the title from Botvinnik and losing it back a year later), and ahead of Petrosian, Smyslov and Fischer.
1962 - He placed 2nd (tied with Geller) in the Curacao Candidates tournament, just 1/2 point behind winner Petrosian (who went on to wrestle the title from Botvinnik), and ahead of Tal and Fischer.
1965 - He lost a quarter-final candidates match against Spassky (who went on to win the candidates cycle) 4-6.
During his long career, he played every world champion from Capablanca to Karpov, beating all but Karpov at least once. He was the only player who had a plus record against Capablanca over more than one game. He also had plus records against Euwe and Tal, and equal records against Smyslov, Petrosian and Karpov.
1938 - He won (on tiebreak over Fine) the AVRO tournament to determine the challenger to Alekhine's crown. However, World War II interrupted, and a title match never took place.
1948 - He won 3rd prize (tied with Reshevsky) in the World Championship match tournament held in The Hague and Moscow, 1/2 point behind 2nd place Smyslov and 3.5 points behind winner Botvinnik, and ahead of Euwe.
1950 - He placed 4th in the Budapest candidates tournament behind joint winners Bronstein (who won the play-off and went on to draw a match with Botvinnik) and Boleslavsky and 3rd placed Smyslov, his weakest showing ever in a candidates event, which should say it all.
1953 - He placed 2nd (tied with Reshevsky and Bronstein) in the Zurich Candidates tournament, behind Smyslov (who went on to draw a match with Botvinnik), and ahead of Petrosian and Euwe.
1956 - He placed 2nd in the Amsterdam Candidates tournament, behind Smyslov (who went on to take the title from Botvinnik only to lose it back a year later), and ahead of Petrosian and Spassky.
1959 - He placed 2nd in the Candidates tournament in Yugoslavia, behind Tal (who repeated Smyslov's story by taking the title from Botvinnik and losing it back a year later), and ahead of Petrosian, Smyslov and Fischer.
1962 - He placed 2nd (tied with Geller) in the Curacao Candidates tournament, just 1/2 point behind winner Petrosian (who went on to wrestle the title from Botvinnik), and ahead of Tal and Fischer.
1965 - He lost a quarter-final candidates match against Spassky (who went on to win the candidates cycle) 4-6.
During his long career, he played every world champion from Capablanca to Karpov, beating all but Karpov at least once. He was the only player who had a plus record against Capablanca over more than one game. He also had plus records against Euwe and Tal, and equal records against Smyslov, Petrosian and Karpov.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Topalov-Kramnik
Maybe it's for real this time. It's now on Kramnik's official website.
Also, Illumzhinov gave Russia's Sport Express correspodnent a few more details on the match.
The prize fund of one million dollars will be split equally between the participants, regardless of the outcome of the match. This was decided in order to show the equal status of both participants in the unification match.
The match will be held over twelve games, with classical time controls. In case of a draw there will be four games with shorter time control – 25 minutes per side.
(If the match is still tied at this point, there will be a blitz playoff.)
The winner of the Topalov-Kramnik match will play in the next FIDE World Championship in 2007. The loser, even if it is the current FIDE title holder Topalov, will have to start from scratch and play in the World Cup.
(The article doesn't explicitly state this, but the loser would be playing to qualify for the 2009 cycle and would be left out in the cold for the 2007 cycle.)
If true, this is a very exciting development. It would mean the first time that we have a universally recognized world chess champion since Kasparov fubar'ed everything back in 1993. (Yes, people forget or gloss over the fact that this mess is mostly to blame on his split with FIDE over the 1993 world championship match.)
Also, Illumzhinov gave Russia's Sport Express correspodnent a few more details on the match.
The prize fund of one million dollars will be split equally between the participants, regardless of the outcome of the match. This was decided in order to show the equal status of both participants in the unification match.
The match will be held over twelve games, with classical time controls. In case of a draw there will be four games with shorter time control – 25 minutes per side.
(If the match is still tied at this point, there will be a blitz playoff.)
The winner of the Topalov-Kramnik match will play in the next FIDE World Championship in 2007. The loser, even if it is the current FIDE title holder Topalov, will have to start from scratch and play in the World Cup.
(The article doesn't explicitly state this, but the loser would be playing to qualify for the 2009 cycle and would be left out in the cold for the 2007 cycle.)
If true, this is a very exciting development. It would mean the first time that we have a universally recognized world chess champion since Kasparov fubar'ed everything back in 1993. (Yes, people forget or gloss over the fact that this mess is mostly to blame on his split with FIDE over the 1993 world championship match.)
Friday, April 14, 2006
Topalov v Kramnik 2006?
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is pleased to announce that the World Championship match Topalov vs Kramnik will be held 21 September - 13 October 2006 in Elista. Both players and their managers have agreed with all the technical details of the match, which will consist of 12 games, and the prize fund will be a guaranteed minimum amount of 1 million US dollars.
Seems to me we've heard this before. I'll withhold judgement until September 20.
Seems to me we've heard this before. I'll withhold judgement until September 20.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
April 2006 FIDE Rating List
1 Topalov, Veselin 2804
2 Anand, Viswanathan 2803 (first time rated over 2800)
3 Aronian, Levon 2756 (a meteoric rise from #91 in April 2003)
4 Svidler, Peter 2743
5 Leko, Peter and Ponomariov, Ruslan 2738
7 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2731
8 Morozevich, Alexander 2730
9 Kramnik, Vladimir 2729 (down 12 points and 3 slots from the January 2006 list)
10 Gelfand, Boris 2727
11 Adams, Michael 2720
12 Grischuk, Alexander 2719
13 Radjabov, Teimour 2717 (up from #46 in April 2003)
14 Polgar, Judit 2711
15 Bacrot, Etienne 2708 (up from #37 in April 2003)
16 Akopian, Vladimir 2706
17 Bareev, Evgeny 2701 (up 3 points from the January 2006 list)
Mamedyarov and Shirov both dropped from 2709 to 2699. Kasparov is rated higher than Topalov but fell off the list after one year of inactivity after his March 2005 retirement at Linares.
[Updated based on new list released by FIDE, where Ivanchuk had 8 points restored which had been incorrectly subtracted from his rating. - ALD 4/12/2006]
2 Anand, Viswanathan 2803 (first time rated over 2800)
3 Aronian, Levon 2756 (a meteoric rise from #91 in April 2003)
4 Svidler, Peter 2743
5 Leko, Peter and Ponomariov, Ruslan 2738
7 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2731
8 Morozevich, Alexander 2730
9 Kramnik, Vladimir 2729 (down 12 points and 3 slots from the January 2006 list)
10 Gelfand, Boris 2727
11 Adams, Michael 2720
12 Grischuk, Alexander 2719
13 Radjabov, Teimour 2717 (up from #46 in April 2003)
14 Polgar, Judit 2711
15 Bacrot, Etienne 2708 (up from #37 in April 2003)
16 Akopian, Vladimir 2706
17 Bareev, Evgeny 2701 (up 3 points from the January 2006 list)
Mamedyarov and Shirov both dropped from 2709 to 2699. Kasparov is rated higher than Topalov but fell off the list after one year of inactivity after his March 2005 retirement at Linares.
[Updated based on new list released by FIDE, where Ivanchuk had 8 points restored which had been incorrectly subtracted from his rating. - ALD 4/12/2006]
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Nimzowitsch-Systemsson, 1927
Anderssen started the sacrificial style, Morphy and Gruenfeld the pure attacking style, Steinitz the positional style, Tarrasch the scientific style, Lasker the style of styles, Capablanca the mechanical style, Alekhine a style as brilliant as sunlight. But it is a generally known fact that originality and modernism were introduced by me as my own personal inventions and enthusiastically imitated (without being fully understood) by the whole world of chess. Before my time, chess was so naive and undistinguished! One or two brutal opening moves, each one involving a vulgar, obvious threat, a common, banal sacrifice, a painfully elementary, bestially raw checkmate such, more or less, was the course of chess games before my heyday set in. Then I appeared on the scene and the chess world paid heed. The hegemony of matter was shattered at a stroke and the era of the spiritual began. Under my creative guidance, the chessmen, hitherto nothing but highwaymen, pirates and butcher boys, became sensitive artists and subtle instruments of immeasurable profundity. But why waste words? Accompany me, dear reader to the dizzy heights of the following game.
French Defense, Copenhagen, 1927
1 e4 e6 2 h4!
My very oldest and latest thought in this opening. To the chess addict nurtured on spineless convention, this move comes like a slap in the face--but calm down, dear reader; after all, you cannot be expected to understand such moves. (Forgive me - it is not your fault, until now no one has opened your eyes and ears.) Wait just a little while, and there will pass before you a miracle of overprotection of more than earthly beauty. (I assume that I rightly surmise that you are quite familiar with my great theory of overprotection.)
2...d5
Black of course has no suspicion of what is coming and continues serenely in classical style.
3 e5!
A move of elemental delicacy. (We detest, as a matter of principle, such words as "power" and "strength"; in the first place, such banal expressions make us uncomfortable; and, in the second place, we like even less the brutalizing tendency which such words imply.) Wherein lies the beauty of 3 e5? Why is this move so strong? The answer is as simple as it is astonishing. The move is strong because it is weak! Weak, that is, only in the traditional sense! In reality, that is to say, it is not the move but the Pawn on K5 that is weak--a tremendous difference! In former times, it is true, it was customary to reject any move which created a weakness. Today, thanks to me, this view is obsolete. For, look, my dear reader, the fact that the Pawn on e5 is weak obliges White to protect the Pawn more and more until at last the state of overprotection arises as it were of itself. But, as we have seen (cf. My System), overprotection is practically equivalent to victory. Hence it follows automatically that the "weak" move, 3 e5, is a certain road to triumph. The rest is more or less a matter of technique.
3...c5
All according to a famous precedent.
4 d4
Here it is quite clear that it is more profitable for White first to provoke c5 and then play d4, rather than the other way round, which is the customary course. For, if White first plays d4, there follows c5 and White's d-pawn is under attack. But my clever transposition of moves changes the situation completely. For now Black's c-pawn is suddenly attacked by White's d-pawn!
4...cxd4
What else can Black do?
5 h5!
All very clever, original and decisive! Of course the ordinary run of people who envy my every spark of genius but cannot follow my line of reasoning for even three paces, outdo themselves in sneering at me with the poison-dripping epithet, "bizarre." The text move creates confusion in the whole Black army and prepares for the annihilating invasion by the Queen 18 moves later.
5...Qb6
Naturally not 5...Nc6 6 Bb5! etc. Why should Black play the French Defense only to allow the Ruy Lopez Bishop move after all?!
6 h6!
An avaricious dullard would never hit on this deeply conceived Pawn sacrifice.
6...Nxh6
After 6...gxh6, White has an even more comfortable game.
7 Qh5!!
The reason for this becomes clear after next move.
7...g6
Black threatens to begin a successful siege of the weakling at e5 with Bg7. But White forestalls this.
8 Qh2!!
To every fair-minded observer, this move must come as a revelation! All the previous maneuvers now become clear! White has completed his development brilliantly and proceeds to overprotect e5. Against this, Black is helpless.
8...Nf5 9 Bd3
Note the splendid cooperation of White's forces: while the e-pawn and the King Bishop completely blockade Black's position, the development of the overprotective forces takes place behind the broad backs of these sturdy blockaders.
9...Nc6 10 Nf3
As a rule this is a routine move. But here it is strikingly original and as such occupies a place in the treasury of my intellectual property.
10...h5
Old stuff!
11 b4!
A deep trap, as will soon become apparent!
11...Bg7
How Black must have rejoiced when he anticipated his formidable opponent in the occupation of the long diagonal. But...
12 Bf4!!
...how bitterly disappointed he must have been to realize that 11 b4 had only been a trap. The position of Black's Bishop at g7 is now quite pointless. 11...Be7 would have been relatively better.
12...Bd7 13 Nbd2 Rc8
Black no longer has any good moves!
14 Ke2!!
Again, an extraordinarily deep move. White sees through Black's plans, and in addition he prepares a particularly powerful continuation of his strategy of overprotection.
14...Nxb4
Just what White was waiting for.
15 Ne1!!
This was the point of his previous move! Black is now forced to exchange off the attacking Bishop at d3. But, with that, even White's King Knight enters the fray with fearful effect at d3, while the square f3 becomes available to the Queen Knight. Surely a grandiose piece of strategy. The fact is that I'm a marvelous player, even if the whole chess world bursts with envy.
15...Nxd3 16 Nxd3!
Naturally not 16 cxd3? which would have been quite inconsistent. The Pawn on c2 is unimportant, and Black only wastes precious time by capturing it.
16...Rxc2 17 Rae1!!
White continues his overprotection without much ado.
17...a5
This counterattack has no punch. Black would naturally like to get a passed Pawn plus a Rook on the seventh, but it is too late for that.
18 Kd1!
Now the menaced Rook must scurry back, for capture on R7 would be much too dangerous.
18...Rc6!!
At last, Black gets the right idea: overprotecting his Pawn at e6. But it is already too late.
19 Re2 Ke7
Introduced into tournament play by myself. See note to White's 14th move. The King overprotects e6.
20 Rhe1 Re8! 21 Nf3!
Completing the overprotection of e5 and thus deciding the fate of the game. Black has no defense. Note the esthetic effect created by White's position.
21...Bf8
Now Black threatens to complete the overprotection of e6 by playing Ng7. But White has prepared a brilliant combination.
22 g4!
Much stronger than the obvious Bg5+ etc.
22...hxg4 23 Qh7!!
Now one clearly realizes the masterly understanding of position which went into White's eighth move (Qh2!!).
23...gxf3
Had Black continued overprotecting by 23...Ng7 there would have followed 24 Bg5+ f6 25 Bxf6+ Kf7 26 Ng5#. Black's basic error was that he started overprotecting much too late.
24 Bg5#
One of my best games! I am proud of it if only because Systemsson is one of the strongest Scandinavian players. The game made an overwhelming impression on the players and spectators as well as on my opponent. The game has become famous in Denmark as "the immortal game of overprotection."
(Published by Hans Kmoch in the February, 1928, issue of Wiener Schachzeitung)
French Defense, Copenhagen, 1927
1 e4 e6 2 h4!
My very oldest and latest thought in this opening. To the chess addict nurtured on spineless convention, this move comes like a slap in the face--but calm down, dear reader; after all, you cannot be expected to understand such moves. (Forgive me - it is not your fault, until now no one has opened your eyes and ears.) Wait just a little while, and there will pass before you a miracle of overprotection of more than earthly beauty. (I assume that I rightly surmise that you are quite familiar with my great theory of overprotection.)
2...d5
Black of course has no suspicion of what is coming and continues serenely in classical style.
3 e5!
A move of elemental delicacy. (We detest, as a matter of principle, such words as "power" and "strength"; in the first place, such banal expressions make us uncomfortable; and, in the second place, we like even less the brutalizing tendency which such words imply.) Wherein lies the beauty of 3 e5? Why is this move so strong? The answer is as simple as it is astonishing. The move is strong because it is weak! Weak, that is, only in the traditional sense! In reality, that is to say, it is not the move but the Pawn on K5 that is weak--a tremendous difference! In former times, it is true, it was customary to reject any move which created a weakness. Today, thanks to me, this view is obsolete. For, look, my dear reader, the fact that the Pawn on e5 is weak obliges White to protect the Pawn more and more until at last the state of overprotection arises as it were of itself. But, as we have seen (cf. My System), overprotection is practically equivalent to victory. Hence it follows automatically that the "weak" move, 3 e5, is a certain road to triumph. The rest is more or less a matter of technique.
3...c5
All according to a famous precedent.
4 d4
Here it is quite clear that it is more profitable for White first to provoke c5 and then play d4, rather than the other way round, which is the customary course. For, if White first plays d4, there follows c5 and White's d-pawn is under attack. But my clever transposition of moves changes the situation completely. For now Black's c-pawn is suddenly attacked by White's d-pawn!
4...cxd4
What else can Black do?
5 h5!
All very clever, original and decisive! Of course the ordinary run of people who envy my every spark of genius but cannot follow my line of reasoning for even three paces, outdo themselves in sneering at me with the poison-dripping epithet, "bizarre." The text move creates confusion in the whole Black army and prepares for the annihilating invasion by the Queen 18 moves later.
5...Qb6
Naturally not 5...Nc6 6 Bb5! etc. Why should Black play the French Defense only to allow the Ruy Lopez Bishop move after all?!
6 h6!
An avaricious dullard would never hit on this deeply conceived Pawn sacrifice.
6...Nxh6
After 6...gxh6, White has an even more comfortable game.
7 Qh5!!
The reason for this becomes clear after next move.
7...g6
Black threatens to begin a successful siege of the weakling at e5 with Bg7. But White forestalls this.
8 Qh2!!
To every fair-minded observer, this move must come as a revelation! All the previous maneuvers now become clear! White has completed his development brilliantly and proceeds to overprotect e5. Against this, Black is helpless.
8...Nf5 9 Bd3
Note the splendid cooperation of White's forces: while the e-pawn and the King Bishop completely blockade Black's position, the development of the overprotective forces takes place behind the broad backs of these sturdy blockaders.
9...Nc6 10 Nf3
As a rule this is a routine move. But here it is strikingly original and as such occupies a place in the treasury of my intellectual property.
10...h5
Old stuff!
11 b4!
A deep trap, as will soon become apparent!
11...Bg7
How Black must have rejoiced when he anticipated his formidable opponent in the occupation of the long diagonal. But...
12 Bf4!!
...how bitterly disappointed he must have been to realize that 11 b4 had only been a trap. The position of Black's Bishop at g7 is now quite pointless. 11...Be7 would have been relatively better.
12...Bd7 13 Nbd2 Rc8
Black no longer has any good moves!
14 Ke2!!
Again, an extraordinarily deep move. White sees through Black's plans, and in addition he prepares a particularly powerful continuation of his strategy of overprotection.
14...Nxb4
Just what White was waiting for.
15 Ne1!!
This was the point of his previous move! Black is now forced to exchange off the attacking Bishop at d3. But, with that, even White's King Knight enters the fray with fearful effect at d3, while the square f3 becomes available to the Queen Knight. Surely a grandiose piece of strategy. The fact is that I'm a marvelous player, even if the whole chess world bursts with envy.
15...Nxd3 16 Nxd3!
Naturally not 16 cxd3? which would have been quite inconsistent. The Pawn on c2 is unimportant, and Black only wastes precious time by capturing it.
16...Rxc2 17 Rae1!!
White continues his overprotection without much ado.
17...a5
This counterattack has no punch. Black would naturally like to get a passed Pawn plus a Rook on the seventh, but it is too late for that.
18 Kd1!
Now the menaced Rook must scurry back, for capture on R7 would be much too dangerous.
18...Rc6!!
At last, Black gets the right idea: overprotecting his Pawn at e6. But it is already too late.
19 Re2 Ke7
Introduced into tournament play by myself. See note to White's 14th move. The King overprotects e6.
20 Rhe1 Re8! 21 Nf3!
Completing the overprotection of e5 and thus deciding the fate of the game. Black has no defense. Note the esthetic effect created by White's position.
21...Bf8
Now Black threatens to complete the overprotection of e6 by playing Ng7. But White has prepared a brilliant combination.
22 g4!
Much stronger than the obvious Bg5+ etc.
22...hxg4 23 Qh7!!
Now one clearly realizes the masterly understanding of position which went into White's eighth move (Qh2!!).
23...gxf3
Had Black continued overprotecting by 23...Ng7 there would have followed 24 Bg5+ f6 25 Bxf6+ Kf7 26 Ng5#. Black's basic error was that he started overprotecting much too late.
24 Bg5#
One of my best games! I am proud of it if only because Systemsson is one of the strongest Scandinavian players. The game made an overwhelming impression on the players and spectators as well as on my opponent. The game has become famous in Denmark as "the immortal game of overprotection."
(Published by Hans Kmoch in the February, 1928, issue of Wiener Schachzeitung)
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Martin-Tlingel, 1981
Another chess game from a work of fiction. This one is from "Unicorn Variations", a short story by Roger Zelazny published in 1981. (The story background does not provide a year for the story.)
Martin (Human) - Tlingel (Unicorn)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. o-o Nxe4 5. d4! Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 d6 8. e6 fxe6 9. axb5 Ne7 10. Nc3 Ng6 11. Ng5 Be7 12. Qh5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Qd7 14. b6 cxb6 15. Nd5 exd5 16. Rfe1 Kf8 17. Ra3 Ne5 18. Rxe5 dxe5 19. Rf3 Kg8 20. Bh6 Qe7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rg3 Kf8 23. Rf3 Kg7 24. Rg3 Kf8 25. Rf3 Draw
(Alexander Halprin - Harry Nelson Pillsbury, Munich 1900 or 1901)
Martin (Human) - Tlingel (Unicorn)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. o-o Nxe4 5. d4! Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 d6 8. e6 fxe6 9. axb5 Ne7 10. Nc3 Ng6 11. Ng5 Be7 12. Qh5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Qd7 14. b6 cxb6 15. Nd5 exd5 16. Rfe1 Kf8 17. Ra3 Ne5 18. Rxe5 dxe5 19. Rf3 Kg8 20. Bh6 Qe7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rg3 Kf8 23. Rf3 Kg7 24. Rg3 Kf8 25. Rf3 Draw
(Alexander Halprin - Harry Nelson Pillsbury, Munich 1900 or 1901)
Monday, March 13, 2006
MGP5 Released
The last volume of MGP, My Great Predecessors Part 5: Kasparov on Karpov, is out.
One beef: Korchnoi, as much as I admire his play, should not be pictured on the cover or named on the spine of the book. He was never world champion. Reshevsky et al, who were the subject of chapter 1 of volume 4, did not receive this honor.
One beef: Korchnoi, as much as I admire his play, should not be pictured on the cover or named on the spine of the book. He was never world champion. Reshevsky et al, who were the subject of chapter 1 of volume 4, did not receive this honor.
A Final Act in the Farce
that was the 2006 US Championship.
Due to an error in an Excel spreadsheet formula used to calculate the prize fund distribution, the itemized prizes added up to around $20,000 more than the prize fund of $253,600. So, they cut all prizes other than the top four by 11% to make up the shortfall.
And people wonder why professional chess is in trouble?
Due to an error in an Excel spreadsheet formula used to calculate the prize fund distribution, the itemized prizes added up to around $20,000 more than the prize fund of $253,600. So, they cut all prizes other than the top four by 11% to make up the shortfall.
And people wonder why professional chess is in trouble?
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Some Observations on the U.S. Championship
1. It is absurd that because of the provision that a certain number of slots go to women, a player with a rating of 1660 got to play in the U.S. Championship. She scored 0/9. What is the point of that?
2. The number of foreign players was oddly high. Of course, the former USSR was the most heavily represented foreign country, but the 30 players from there far outnumbered players from the US (only 21 of the players were US-born). Three more players were from Cuba, and ten other countries were also represented.
2. The number of foreign players was oddly high. Of course, the former USSR was the most heavily represented foreign country, but the 30 players from there far outnumbered players from the US (only 21 of the players were US-born). Three more players were from Cuba, and ten other countries were also represented.
U.S. Championship Rapid Match Finals
I cannot believe that the final of the U.S. Championship is decided by rapid chess games, but it is, so here are the results...
Onischuk defeated Shulman 1.5-0.5 to become U.S. Champion, and Zatonskih defeated Goletiani by the same margin for the women's title.
Onischuk defeated Shulman 1.5-0.5 to become U.S. Champion, and Zatonskih defeated Goletiani by the same margin for the women's title.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
U.S. Championship Results
Men: GM Alexander Onischuk won group A with a score of 7/9 (+5 =4) and GM Yury Shulman narrowly won group B with a score of 6.5/9 (+5 =3 -1) on tiebreak over GM Gata Kamsky and GM Larry Christiansen.
Women: WGM Rusudan Goletiani and WGM Anna Zatonskih were the highest scoring women in groups A and B, respectively, both with scores of 5/9 (+3 =4 -2).
They will face off tomorrow for the title.
Women: WGM Rusudan Goletiani and WGM Anna Zatonskih were the highest scoring women in groups A and B, respectively, both with scores of 5/9 (+3 =4 -2).
They will face off tomorrow for the title.
Linares Round 14
Aronian wins by beating Leko with Black.
Leko-Aronian
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.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 Qc8 12.Nc4 Rb8 13.Bg5 Kh8 14.h3 Ng8 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 f5 17.Ba4 fxe4 18.Bxc6 exf3 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Bxf3 Ng6 21.Bg4 Nf4 22.Ra2 Qb7 23.Bf3 Qb3 24.Rc2 Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Qxc4 26.Qxc4 Bxc4 27.Bc6 Rb3 28.g3 g5 29.Re3 Ra3 30.Be4 Rxa5 31.g4 Bd5 32.f3 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Ra1+ 34.Kg2 Rff1 35.Ree2 Rg1+ 36.Kh2 Rh1+ 37.Kg3 Rag1+ 38.Rg2 Re1 39.Rgf2 Re3+ 40.Kg2 Rexh3 0-1
Svidler-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 b4 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 cxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc8 17.Ba3 Qc7 18.Red1 Nb7 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Re8 21.Rab1 Ra7 22.Rb6 Na5 23.Bf1 Nd7 24.Rbb1 Nc5 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.Nxe5 g6 27.f4 Be6 28.f5 Bb3 29.Rxb3 Nxb3 30.Bc4 Bg5 31.Nxf7 Be3+ 32.Kh1 Nd2 33.Nd6+ Nxc4 34.Nxe8 Kf7 35.Nd6+ Nxd6 36.Rxd6 Rb7 37.fxg6+ hxg6 38.h4 Bf4 39.Rd3 Ke6 40.Kh2 Rb3 41.Kh3 c4 42.Rf3 Ke5 43.Nf1 a5 44.Kg4 Bh6 45.h5 gxh5+ 46.Kxh5 Bc1 47.Rf5+ Kxe4 48.Ng3+ Kd3 49.Rf3+ Kc2 50.Ne2 Bd2 51.Nd4+ Kb2 52.Nb5 Bxc3 53.Rf2+ Kb1 54.Rf4 Bb4 55.Rxc4 1/2-1/2
VallejoPons-Topalov and Bacrot-Radjabov were drawn in 30 and 20 moves, respectively.
Leko-Aronian
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.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 Qc8 12.Nc4 Rb8 13.Bg5 Kh8 14.h3 Ng8 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 f5 17.Ba4 fxe4 18.Bxc6 exf3 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Bxf3 Ng6 21.Bg4 Nf4 22.Ra2 Qb7 23.Bf3 Qb3 24.Rc2 Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Qxc4 26.Qxc4 Bxc4 27.Bc6 Rb3 28.g3 g5 29.Re3 Ra3 30.Be4 Rxa5 31.g4 Bd5 32.f3 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Ra1+ 34.Kg2 Rff1 35.Ree2 Rg1+ 36.Kh2 Rh1+ 37.Kg3 Rag1+ 38.Rg2 Re1 39.Rgf2 Re3+ 40.Kg2 Rexh3 0-1
Svidler-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 b4 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 cxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc8 17.Ba3 Qc7 18.Red1 Nb7 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Re8 21.Rab1 Ra7 22.Rb6 Na5 23.Bf1 Nd7 24.Rbb1 Nc5 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.Nxe5 g6 27.f4 Be6 28.f5 Bb3 29.Rxb3 Nxb3 30.Bc4 Bg5 31.Nxf7 Be3+ 32.Kh1 Nd2 33.Nd6+ Nxc4 34.Nxe8 Kf7 35.Nd6+ Nxd6 36.Rxd6 Rb7 37.fxg6+ hxg6 38.h4 Bf4 39.Rd3 Ke6 40.Kh2 Rb3 41.Kh3 c4 42.Rf3 Ke5 43.Nf1 a5 44.Kg4 Bh6 45.h5 gxh5+ 46.Kxh5 Bc1 47.Rf5+ Kxe4 48.Ng3+ Kd3 49.Rf3+ Kc2 50.Ne2 Bd2 51.Nd4+ Kb2 52.Nb5 Bxc3 53.Rf2+ Kb1 54.Rf4 Bb4 55.Rxc4 1/2-1/2
VallejoPons-Topalov and Bacrot-Radjabov were drawn in 30 and 20 moves, respectively.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Linares Round 13
Topalov has had an amazing run on the Linares leg of the tournament. From being at the bottom (with Bacrot) at the end of round 6, he has scored 5 points in the last six rounds and is now at the top (with Leko, Radjabov and Aronian). Since they are 1.5 points ahead of Ivanchuk and Svidler, one of these four player will be the winner after the last round tomorrow.
Topalov-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.Nf3 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e3 Re8 13.Be2 Rc8 14.0-0 Qe7 15.Bb5 c6 16.Ba4 h6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Rfe1 b5 19.Bc2 c5 20.Bf5 Rc7 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd4 a6 23.a4 bxa4 24.Rxa4 Rc6 25.b4 Qe5 26.Qxe5 Rxe5 27.Bd3 Rb6 28.Kf2 Bc8 29.Rb1 Bf5 30.Bxf5 Rxf5 31.Ra5 g6 32.Ke2 h5 33.g3 Kg7 34.h3 Nd7 35.g4 hxg4 36.hxg4 Re5 37.Kf2 Rc6 38.Rb3 Rb6 39.f4 Ree6 40.g5 Red6 41.e4 Rb5 42.Rxb5 axb5 43.Rd3 Nb6 44.Nb1 Rc6 45.exd5 Rc4 46.Kf3 Rxb4 47.Nd2 f6 48.Ne4 fxg5 49.Nxg5 Kf6 50.Kg4 Nc4 51.Ne4+ Ke7 52.d6+ Kd8 53.Kg5 Nb2 54.Re3 Rd4 55.Nf6 Rxd6 56.Re8+ Kc7 57.Re2 Rd1 58.Rxb2 Rg1+ 59.Kh6 Kc6 60.Ne4 Kd5 61.Rb4 Kc6 62.Rd4 Rg4 63.Nf2 Kc5 64.Rd1 Rg2 65.Nd3+ Kc4 66.Ne5+ Kc3 67.Rc1+ Kb2 68.Rc6 Kb3 69.Rxg6 Rf2 70.Rg3+ Kc2 71.Nd3 1-0
Radjabov-Svidler
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Re1 h6 12.Bf4 Nb4 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Bxh6 Rc8 15.Bb3 gxh6 16.Qxh6 Nh7 17.Re5 f5 18.Rxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Bxc8 Rf6 21.Qh5 Qxc8 22.Re1 Bf8 23.Ne5 Kg8 24.Qd1 Ng5 25.Qb3+ Kg7 26.h4 Nf7 27.Ne2 Nxe5 28.dxe5 Rc6 29.Nf4 Be7 30.Qg3+ Kh7 31.Qf3 Qe8 32.g3 Qf7 33.e6 Qf6 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Qe8+ Qf8 36.Qg6+ Qg7 37.Qxf5 Rc5 38.Qe4 Nc6 39.Nd5 Qxb2 40.Qf5 Rc1 41.Nxe7+ 1-0
Ivanchuk-VallejoPons
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.a4 c6 8.e5 h6 9.exf6 hxg5 10.fxg7 Rg8 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 c5 13.0-0 g4 14.Nh4 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 Rxg7 16.axb5 cxd4 17.Ne4 f5 18.Nf4 Kf7 19.Rc1 fxe4 20.Rxc4 Bc5 21.Rxc5 Nd7 22.Rh5 Nf6 23.Re5 Qd6 24.Rxe6 1-0
Aronian-Bacrot was drawn.
Standings:
Topalov, Leko, Radjabov, Aronian - 7.5
Ivanchuk, Svidler - 6
Bacrot - 5.5
VallejoPons - 4.5
Topalov-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.Nf3 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e3 Re8 13.Be2 Rc8 14.0-0 Qe7 15.Bb5 c6 16.Ba4 h6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Rfe1 b5 19.Bc2 c5 20.Bf5 Rc7 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd4 a6 23.a4 bxa4 24.Rxa4 Rc6 25.b4 Qe5 26.Qxe5 Rxe5 27.Bd3 Rb6 28.Kf2 Bc8 29.Rb1 Bf5 30.Bxf5 Rxf5 31.Ra5 g6 32.Ke2 h5 33.g3 Kg7 34.h3 Nd7 35.g4 hxg4 36.hxg4 Re5 37.Kf2 Rc6 38.Rb3 Rb6 39.f4 Ree6 40.g5 Red6 41.e4 Rb5 42.Rxb5 axb5 43.Rd3 Nb6 44.Nb1 Rc6 45.exd5 Rc4 46.Kf3 Rxb4 47.Nd2 f6 48.Ne4 fxg5 49.Nxg5 Kf6 50.Kg4 Nc4 51.Ne4+ Ke7 52.d6+ Kd8 53.Kg5 Nb2 54.Re3 Rd4 55.Nf6 Rxd6 56.Re8+ Kc7 57.Re2 Rd1 58.Rxb2 Rg1+ 59.Kh6 Kc6 60.Ne4 Kd5 61.Rb4 Kc6 62.Rd4 Rg4 63.Nf2 Kc5 64.Rd1 Rg2 65.Nd3+ Kc4 66.Ne5+ Kc3 67.Rc1+ Kb2 68.Rc6 Kb3 69.Rxg6 Rf2 70.Rg3+ Kc2 71.Nd3 1-0
Radjabov-Svidler
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Re1 h6 12.Bf4 Nb4 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Bxh6 Rc8 15.Bb3 gxh6 16.Qxh6 Nh7 17.Re5 f5 18.Rxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Bxc8 Rf6 21.Qh5 Qxc8 22.Re1 Bf8 23.Ne5 Kg8 24.Qd1 Ng5 25.Qb3+ Kg7 26.h4 Nf7 27.Ne2 Nxe5 28.dxe5 Rc6 29.Nf4 Be7 30.Qg3+ Kh7 31.Qf3 Qe8 32.g3 Qf7 33.e6 Qf6 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Qe8+ Qf8 36.Qg6+ Qg7 37.Qxf5 Rc5 38.Qe4 Nc6 39.Nd5 Qxb2 40.Qf5 Rc1 41.Nxe7+ 1-0
Ivanchuk-VallejoPons
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.a4 c6 8.e5 h6 9.exf6 hxg5 10.fxg7 Rg8 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 c5 13.0-0 g4 14.Nh4 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 Rxg7 16.axb5 cxd4 17.Ne4 f5 18.Nf4 Kf7 19.Rc1 fxe4 20.Rxc4 Bc5 21.Rxc5 Nd7 22.Rh5 Nf6 23.Re5 Qd6 24.Rxe6 1-0
Aronian-Bacrot was drawn.
Standings:
Topalov, Leko, Radjabov, Aronian - 7.5
Ivanchuk, Svidler - 6
Bacrot - 5.5
VallejoPons - 4.5
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Linares Round 12
All four games were drawn this round
VallejoPons-Radjabov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nd5 d6 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 Rb8 10.a4 b6 11.Re1 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.b4 Qd7 14.Bd2 Kh8 15.h3 Rf7 16.a5 b5 17.a6 cxb4 18.cxb4 Bd8 19.Qe2 Bb6 20.Rab1 Rbf8 21.Be3 Qd8 22.Rec1 Bxe3 23.fxe3 Qb6 24.Ng5 Rf6 25.Rf1 Qd8 26.Qg4 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qf6+ 29.Ke2 Nd8 30.Qh5 Qg6 31.hxg6 32.d4 exd4 33.exd4 d5 34.Kd3 Kg8 35.h4 Kf8 36.exd5 exd5 37.Kc3 Ke7 38.Nf3 Kf6 39.Ne5 g5 40.h5 Kf5 41.Kd3 Kf4 42.Ng6+ Kg3 43.Ne7 Kxg2 44.Nxd5 Kf3 45.Ne7 g4 1/2-1/2
Leko-Bacrot
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 Rfe8 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.Bd3 Qd7 17.Rb1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 b6 19.d5 Bf6 20.c4 h6 21.h3 Ne7 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Nf5 24.Bb2 f6 25.Bc3 Nd6 26.Bd2 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rc1 Qf5 29.Qxf5 Nxf5 30.Bf4 Re7 31.g4 Nd4 32.Kf1 Kf7 33.Be3 Nb3 34.Rc3 Na5 35.c5 Rd7 36.Bf4 b5 37.Rd3 Nc6 38.Bxc7 Rxc7 39.dxc6 Rxc6 40.Rd7+ Kg6 41.Rxa7 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Ivanchuk was drawn in 37 moves, and Svidler-Aronian was a 20-move grandmaster draw.
Commentary on the games by GM Mihail Marin can be found on Chessbase's website.
Standings:
Leko - 7.5
Aronian - 7
Topalov, Radjabov - 6.5
Svidler - 6
Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 5
VallejoPons - 4.5
VallejoPons-Radjabov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nd5 d6 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 Rb8 10.a4 b6 11.Re1 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.b4 Qd7 14.Bd2 Kh8 15.h3 Rf7 16.a5 b5 17.a6 cxb4 18.cxb4 Bd8 19.Qe2 Bb6 20.Rab1 Rbf8 21.Be3 Qd8 22.Rec1 Bxe3 23.fxe3 Qb6 24.Ng5 Rf6 25.Rf1 Qd8 26.Qg4 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qf6+ 29.Ke2 Nd8 30.Qh5 Qg6 31.hxg6 32.d4 exd4 33.exd4 d5 34.Kd3 Kg8 35.h4 Kf8 36.exd5 exd5 37.Kc3 Ke7 38.Nf3 Kf6 39.Ne5 g5 40.h5 Kf5 41.Kd3 Kf4 42.Ng6+ Kg3 43.Ne7 Kxg2 44.Nxd5 Kf3 45.Ne7 g4 1/2-1/2
Leko-Bacrot
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 Rfe8 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.Bd3 Qd7 17.Rb1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 b6 19.d5 Bf6 20.c4 h6 21.h3 Ne7 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Nf5 24.Bb2 f6 25.Bc3 Nd6 26.Bd2 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rc1 Qf5 29.Qxf5 Nxf5 30.Bf4 Re7 31.g4 Nd4 32.Kf1 Kf7 33.Be3 Nb3 34.Rc3 Na5 35.c5 Rd7 36.Bf4 b5 37.Rd3 Nc6 38.Bxc7 Rxc7 39.dxc6 Rxc6 40.Rd7+ Kg6 41.Rxa7 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Ivanchuk was drawn in 37 moves, and Svidler-Aronian was a 20-move grandmaster draw.
Commentary on the games by GM Mihail Marin can be found on Chessbase's website.
Standings:
Leko - 7.5
Aronian - 7
Topalov, Radjabov - 6.5
Svidler - 6
Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 5
VallejoPons - 4.5
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Linares Round 11
Annotations taken from the ChessBase website. I urge you to check out their website where much more detailed commentary can be found.
Aronian-VallejoPons
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Na6 (The most logical continuation.) 9.Bd6 e5!? (Theory holds 9...b6 as the main line. For the sake of rapid development, Vallejo's choice looks more appropriate, although it will most likely cause him to lose his extra pawn back.) 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.0-0 (11.Nxe5 is not likely to offer White any advantage.) 0-0-0 12.Bd3 Qf4 13.Bxe5 Qxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxd1 15.Bf5+ (Removes the bishop from its exposed position in order to prepare the following tactical sequence. In case of 15.Raxd1 Nh6 White would have little chance to prove the superiority of the bishop over the knight.) Kc7 16.Nxf7!? Bh5 N (16...Ne7 17.Bxh7! Bg4 18.Nxh8 Rxh8 19.Rfe1 was better for White in Tal-Dorfman, Tbilisi 1978; 16...Nh6 17.Nxh6 Bh5 18.Bg4 Bxg4 19.Nxg4 Rd2 and Black's activity was sufficient for a draw in Bacrot-Tregubov, Corsica 2005.) 17.Nxd8! (The best way of maintaining the initiative.) Kxd8 18.g4 Nh6 (Best.) 19.Rad1+ Kc7 20.Rd7+ Kb6 21.Rxg7 Nxf5 22.gxf5 Rf8 23.Re1 Nc5? (The decisive mistake. It was essential to eliminate the f5-pawn at once with 23...Rxf5 in order to ensure stability to the bishop on g6 after 24.Ree7 Bg6. Play could become very sharp after 25.Rxb7+ Kc5 26.b3 Nb4 27.Rxa7 Kd4. At the cost of considerable material losses, Black would finally get all his pieces together, which would put the enemy king in a slightly uncomfortable situation.) 24.b4! Nd3 25.Ree7 Nxb4 (Forced.) 26.Rxb7+ Kc5 27.Rg5!! (Vallejo must have overlooked or underestimated this move.) Bf3 (27...Be2 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.f7 and the pawn would be unstoppable; 27...Bf7 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.Rg4+.) 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.Rf5! (The fight is over.) Bd5 (29...Rg8+ 30.Rg7) 30.Rf4+ Kc3 31.Rbxb4 Bxa2 32.Ra4 Bf7 33.Rxa7 c5 34.f3 c4 35.Kf2 Kb3 36.Rb7+ 36.Rb7+ 1-0
Bacrot-Svidler
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 Bf5!? (The main line is 5...b5.) 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Be3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Nd7 13.Rad1 (White has obtained a stable advantage of space.) Qa5 14.a3 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.h3 Nf8 17.Qc2 Ng6 18.Bd2 Qh5 (Double edged decision, but correct.) 19.Bc3 Rd7 20.Qe4 Red8 21.Rd3 Bf6 22.g4 Qh6 23.Bd2 Qxh3 (White has no simple way of getting an advantage.) 24.Ng5 (24.g5?! Bxd4 25.Nxd4 Qh5 followed by ...c5, and Black recuperates the sacrificed material with a splendid position; even worse would be 24.Ne5? Qxd3 followed by ...Rxd4, with more than sufficient compensation for the queen; White's most consistent way to maintain the tension consisted of 24.Ree3.) 24...Qxd3!? (24...Qh4 leads to a repetition of moves.) 25.Qxd3 Rxd4 26.Qh3 Rxd2 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Nxe6+ fxe6 29.Qxg6 Bd4 (Black's activity ensures him reasonable compensation for the queen.) 30.Rf1 Ke7 31.Qg5+ Bf6 32.Qc5+ Kf7 33.g5 Bxb2 34.Rb1 R8d3 35.Qb6 Bd4 36.Qxb7+ Kg6 37.Rf1 Rg3+ 38.Kh2 Rxg5 39.Qxc6 Kf6 40.Kh3 Rh5+ 41.Kg4 Rg5+ 42.Kh3 Rh5+ 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Ne5 Be7 8.Qa4+ c6 9.Bg2 Bb7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1 Re8 12.Ndf3 h6 13.Bf4 Bf8 14.Rac1 c5 15.h4 Na6 16.Bh3 Bd6 17.e3 Qe7 18.Ng4 Ne4 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 (After the exchange of the bishops Black gets almost perfect stability on dark squares.) 20.Bg2 Nc7 21.Nge5 Qf6 22.Qc2 Ne6 23.b3? Rac8? (Leko missed an unexpected tactical resource, 23...cxd4 24.exd4 Nxd4!! 25.Rxd4 Rac8 26.Qb2 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1 Rxe5 winning a pawn.) 24.Qb2 cxd4?! (24...a5!) 25.exd4 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 28.Ng4 Qe7 29.Ne3 (White's position is more pleasant and Leko had to struggle for 35 more moves, although he never got into concrete danger of losing.) Bb7 30.Bh3 Nc7 31.Nf5 Qd8 32.Ne5 Nb5 33.a4 Nbd6 34.Qc2 a5 35.Ne3 Nf6 36.f3 Nde8 37.Kf2 Qc7 38.Bf5 Qxc2+ 39.Bxc2 Nd6 40.g4 g5 41.Nf5 Nxf5 42.Bxf5 gxh4 43.Nd3 Ba6 44.Nf4 b5 45.axb5 Bxb5 46.Ng2 a4 47.bxa4 Bxa4 48.Nxh4 Ne8 49.Ke3 Kf8 50.Kf4 Ke7 51.Bd3 Ng7 52.Ke5 Bc6 53.Bh7 f6+ 54.Kf4 h5 55.Nf5+ Nxf5 56.gxf5 Be8 57.Bg8 Bf7 58.Bxf7 Kxf7 59.Kg3 Kg7 60.Kh4 Kh6 61.f4 Kh7 62.Kxh5 Kg7 63.Kh4 Kh6 64.Kg4 Kg7 1/2-1/2
Radjabov-Topalov was drawn in 26 moves.
Standings:
Leko - 7
Aronian - 6.5
Topalov, Radjabov - 6
Svidler - 5.5
Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 4.5
VallejoPons - 4
Aronian-VallejoPons
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Na6 (The most logical continuation.) 9.Bd6 e5!? (Theory holds 9...b6 as the main line. For the sake of rapid development, Vallejo's choice looks more appropriate, although it will most likely cause him to lose his extra pawn back.) 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.0-0 (11.Nxe5 is not likely to offer White any advantage.) 0-0-0 12.Bd3 Qf4 13.Bxe5 Qxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxd1 15.Bf5+ (Removes the bishop from its exposed position in order to prepare the following tactical sequence. In case of 15.Raxd1 Nh6 White would have little chance to prove the superiority of the bishop over the knight.) Kc7 16.Nxf7!? Bh5 N (16...Ne7 17.Bxh7! Bg4 18.Nxh8 Rxh8 19.Rfe1 was better for White in Tal-Dorfman, Tbilisi 1978; 16...Nh6 17.Nxh6 Bh5 18.Bg4 Bxg4 19.Nxg4 Rd2 and Black's activity was sufficient for a draw in Bacrot-Tregubov, Corsica 2005.) 17.Nxd8! (The best way of maintaining the initiative.) Kxd8 18.g4 Nh6 (Best.) 19.Rad1+ Kc7 20.Rd7+ Kb6 21.Rxg7 Nxf5 22.gxf5 Rf8 23.Re1 Nc5? (The decisive mistake. It was essential to eliminate the f5-pawn at once with 23...Rxf5 in order to ensure stability to the bishop on g6 after 24.Ree7 Bg6. Play could become very sharp after 25.Rxb7+ Kc5 26.b3 Nb4 27.Rxa7 Kd4. At the cost of considerable material losses, Black would finally get all his pieces together, which would put the enemy king in a slightly uncomfortable situation.) 24.b4! Nd3 25.Ree7 Nxb4 (Forced.) 26.Rxb7+ Kc5 27.Rg5!! (Vallejo must have overlooked or underestimated this move.) Bf3 (27...Be2 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.f7 and the pawn would be unstoppable; 27...Bf7 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.Rg4+.) 28.f6+ Kxc4 29.Rf5! (The fight is over.) Bd5 (29...Rg8+ 30.Rg7) 30.Rf4+ Kc3 31.Rbxb4 Bxa2 32.Ra4 Bf7 33.Rxa7 c5 34.f3 c4 35.Kf2 Kb3 36.Rb7+ 36.Rb7+ 1-0
Bacrot-Svidler
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 Bf5!? (The main line is 5...b5.) 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Be3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Nd7 13.Rad1 (White has obtained a stable advantage of space.) Qa5 14.a3 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.h3 Nf8 17.Qc2 Ng6 18.Bd2 Qh5 (Double edged decision, but correct.) 19.Bc3 Rd7 20.Qe4 Red8 21.Rd3 Bf6 22.g4 Qh6 23.Bd2 Qxh3 (White has no simple way of getting an advantage.) 24.Ng5 (24.g5?! Bxd4 25.Nxd4 Qh5 followed by ...c5, and Black recuperates the sacrificed material with a splendid position; even worse would be 24.Ne5? Qxd3 followed by ...Rxd4, with more than sufficient compensation for the queen; White's most consistent way to maintain the tension consisted of 24.Ree3.) 24...Qxd3!? (24...Qh4 leads to a repetition of moves.) 25.Qxd3 Rxd4 26.Qh3 Rxd2 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Nxe6+ fxe6 29.Qxg6 Bd4 (Black's activity ensures him reasonable compensation for the queen.) 30.Rf1 Ke7 31.Qg5+ Bf6 32.Qc5+ Kf7 33.g5 Bxb2 34.Rb1 R8d3 35.Qb6 Bd4 36.Qxb7+ Kg6 37.Rf1 Rg3+ 38.Kh2 Rxg5 39.Qxc6 Kf6 40.Kh3 Rh5+ 41.Kg4 Rg5+ 42.Kh3 Rh5+ 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Ne5 Be7 8.Qa4+ c6 9.Bg2 Bb7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1 Re8 12.Ndf3 h6 13.Bf4 Bf8 14.Rac1 c5 15.h4 Na6 16.Bh3 Bd6 17.e3 Qe7 18.Ng4 Ne4 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 (After the exchange of the bishops Black gets almost perfect stability on dark squares.) 20.Bg2 Nc7 21.Nge5 Qf6 22.Qc2 Ne6 23.b3? Rac8? (Leko missed an unexpected tactical resource, 23...cxd4 24.exd4 Nxd4!! 25.Rxd4 Rac8 26.Qb2 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1 Rxe5 winning a pawn.) 24.Qb2 cxd4?! (24...a5!) 25.exd4 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 28.Ng4 Qe7 29.Ne3 (White's position is more pleasant and Leko had to struggle for 35 more moves, although he never got into concrete danger of losing.) Bb7 30.Bh3 Nc7 31.Nf5 Qd8 32.Ne5 Nb5 33.a4 Nbd6 34.Qc2 a5 35.Ne3 Nf6 36.f3 Nde8 37.Kf2 Qc7 38.Bf5 Qxc2+ 39.Bxc2 Nd6 40.g4 g5 41.Nf5 Nxf5 42.Bxf5 gxh4 43.Nd3 Ba6 44.Nf4 b5 45.axb5 Bxb5 46.Ng2 a4 47.bxa4 Bxa4 48.Nxh4 Ne8 49.Ke3 Kf8 50.Kf4 Ke7 51.Bd3 Ng7 52.Ke5 Bc6 53.Bh7 f6+ 54.Kf4 h5 55.Nf5+ Nxf5 56.gxf5 Be8 57.Bg8 Bf7 58.Bxf7 Kxf7 59.Kg3 Kg7 60.Kh4 Kh6 61.f4 Kh7 62.Kxh5 Kg7 63.Kh4 Kh6 64.Kg4 Kg7 1/2-1/2
Radjabov-Topalov was drawn in 26 moves.
Standings:
Leko - 7
Aronian - 6.5
Topalov, Radjabov - 6
Svidler - 5.5
Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 4.5
VallejoPons - 4
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Linares Round 10
Topalov-Aronian (Topalov is 3/3 in the Linares leg of the tournament)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Bh3 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.f3 Qc4 15.Kf2 Be6 16.Qxc4 dxc4 17.Rhd1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 b6 19.Rd4 Rfd8 20.g4 Rd5 21.g5 Rad8 22.h4 Kf8 23.Rb1 Ke7 24.Rb2 R8d6 25.Rxd5 Rxd5 26.Bd4 f6 27.e4 Ra5 28.f4 Bd7 29.Ke3 Rb5 30.Rg2 Kf7 31.h5 fxg5 32.fxg5 g6 33.Rf2+ Ke8 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Bf6 Rb1 36.Kd4 Rd1+ 37.Kxc4 Be6+ 38.Kb5 Ra1 39.Rh2 Rxa2 40.Rh7 Bd7+ 41.Kc4 Rd2 42.Bd4 Be6+ 43.Kb5 Bd7+ 44.Ka6 Bc6 45.Kxa7 Bxe4 46.Kxb6 Rb2+ 47.Kc5 Rb7 48.Rh4 Rc7+ 49.Kb4 Rb7+ 50.Kc4 Bf5 51.Kc5 Rc7+ 52.Kd6 Rd7+ 53.Kc6 Re7 54.Bf6 Re4 55.Rh8+ Kf7 56.Rh7+ Kg8 57.Rg7+ Kf8 58.Kb5 Re8 59.c4 Rb8+ 60.Ka5 Ra8+ 61.Kb4 Rb8+ 62.Kc3 Rc8 63.Ra7 Be6 64.Be7+ Kg8 65.c5 Bd5 66.Kd4 Bg2 67.Ke5 Ra8 68.Rc7 Ra1 69.Kf6 Be4 70.Rc8+ Kh7 71.Rd8 Ra6+ 72.Kf7 Bf5 73.Rd4 Be6+ 74.Kf8 Ra8+ 75.Bd8 Bg4 76.c6 1-0
VallejoPons-Bacrot
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nc3 a6 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.a4 e6 8.axb5 Nb6 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nge4 axb5 11.Rxa8 Nxa8 12.Nxb5 Nb6 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Be2 Bb4+ 15.Nbc3 0-0 16.g4 Bb7 17.0-0 Ne7 18.Nd2 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Ned5 20.Qc1 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Qg5 22.Rf4 Nd5 23.Re4 Ne7 24.Rf4 Ng6 25.Rf2 Qxe3 26.Nb3 Qxc1+ 27.Nxc1 c5 28.Bxc4 cxd4 29.Rb2 Bf3 30.cxd4 Rc8 31.Rc2 Be4 32.Nd3 Nf4 33.Rd2 Nh3+ 0-1
Ivanchuk-Radjabov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 exd4 8.Nxd4 c6 9.f3 Re8 10.Bf2 d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Nc6 13.c5 Nh5 14.Qd2 Be5 15.g3 Ng7 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.Bb5 Qd7 18.Rac1 a6 19.Ba4 Rad8 20.b4 Bh3 21.Qh6 Be6 22.a3 Qc8 23.Qg5 Qc7 24.Qd2 Rf8 25.Bc2 Bc8 26.Bb3 Ne6 27.Nde2 d4 28.Nd5 Qb8 29.f4 Bg7 30.Qd3 Nc7 31.Nb6 Bf5 32.Qd2 d3 33.Nc3 Nd4 34.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 35.Kg2 Rfe8 36.Re1 Bxc3 37.Qxc3 Be4+ 38.Kf2 d2 39.Rxe4 Rxe4 40.Rd1 Red4 41.Bc4 Ne8 42.Qe3 Kf8 43.Qe5 Qxe5 44.fxe5 Nc7 0-1
Leko-Svidler was drawn in 30 moves.
Standings:
Leko - 6.5
Topalov, Aronian, Radjabov - 5.5
Svidler - 5
VallejoPons, Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 4
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Bh3 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.f3 Qc4 15.Kf2 Be6 16.Qxc4 dxc4 17.Rhd1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 b6 19.Rd4 Rfd8 20.g4 Rd5 21.g5 Rad8 22.h4 Kf8 23.Rb1 Ke7 24.Rb2 R8d6 25.Rxd5 Rxd5 26.Bd4 f6 27.e4 Ra5 28.f4 Bd7 29.Ke3 Rb5 30.Rg2 Kf7 31.h5 fxg5 32.fxg5 g6 33.Rf2+ Ke8 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Bf6 Rb1 36.Kd4 Rd1+ 37.Kxc4 Be6+ 38.Kb5 Ra1 39.Rh2 Rxa2 40.Rh7 Bd7+ 41.Kc4 Rd2 42.Bd4 Be6+ 43.Kb5 Bd7+ 44.Ka6 Bc6 45.Kxa7 Bxe4 46.Kxb6 Rb2+ 47.Kc5 Rb7 48.Rh4 Rc7+ 49.Kb4 Rb7+ 50.Kc4 Bf5 51.Kc5 Rc7+ 52.Kd6 Rd7+ 53.Kc6 Re7 54.Bf6 Re4 55.Rh8+ Kf7 56.Rh7+ Kg8 57.Rg7+ Kf8 58.Kb5 Re8 59.c4 Rb8+ 60.Ka5 Ra8+ 61.Kb4 Rb8+ 62.Kc3 Rc8 63.Ra7 Be6 64.Be7+ Kg8 65.c5 Bd5 66.Kd4 Bg2 67.Ke5 Ra8 68.Rc7 Ra1 69.Kf6 Be4 70.Rc8+ Kh7 71.Rd8 Ra6+ 72.Kf7 Bf5 73.Rd4 Be6+ 74.Kf8 Ra8+ 75.Bd8 Bg4 76.c6 1-0
VallejoPons-Bacrot
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nc3 a6 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.a4 e6 8.axb5 Nb6 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nge4 axb5 11.Rxa8 Nxa8 12.Nxb5 Nb6 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Be2 Bb4+ 15.Nbc3 0-0 16.g4 Bb7 17.0-0 Ne7 18.Nd2 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Ned5 20.Qc1 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Qg5 22.Rf4 Nd5 23.Re4 Ne7 24.Rf4 Ng6 25.Rf2 Qxe3 26.Nb3 Qxc1+ 27.Nxc1 c5 28.Bxc4 cxd4 29.Rb2 Bf3 30.cxd4 Rc8 31.Rc2 Be4 32.Nd3 Nf4 33.Rd2 Nh3+ 0-1
Ivanchuk-Radjabov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 exd4 8.Nxd4 c6 9.f3 Re8 10.Bf2 d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Nc6 13.c5 Nh5 14.Qd2 Be5 15.g3 Ng7 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.Bb5 Qd7 18.Rac1 a6 19.Ba4 Rad8 20.b4 Bh3 21.Qh6 Be6 22.a3 Qc8 23.Qg5 Qc7 24.Qd2 Rf8 25.Bc2 Bc8 26.Bb3 Ne6 27.Nde2 d4 28.Nd5 Qb8 29.f4 Bg7 30.Qd3 Nc7 31.Nb6 Bf5 32.Qd2 d3 33.Nc3 Nd4 34.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 35.Kg2 Rfe8 36.Re1 Bxc3 37.Qxc3 Be4+ 38.Kf2 d2 39.Rxe4 Rxe4 40.Rd1 Red4 41.Bc4 Ne8 42.Qe3 Kf8 43.Qe5 Qxe5 44.fxe5 Nc7 0-1
Leko-Svidler was drawn in 30 moves.
Standings:
Leko - 6.5
Topalov, Aronian, Radjabov - 5.5
Svidler - 5
VallejoPons, Ivanchuk, Bacrot - 4
A bit of Reshevsky & Fine trivia
Samuel Reshevsky played every world champion from Lasker through Karpov, a combined total of 112 games. Against Lasker and Euwe, he had plus results of +1 and +6 -2 =6, respectively. Against Capablanca and Karpov, he had even results of +1 -1 =4 and =1, respectively. Against the other champions he was less successful.
Reuben Fine of course had a much shorter career, but it was overwhelmingly successful on the international arena. He never played Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky or Karpov. However, in the 27 games he played against world champions, he achieved plus scores against Lasker (+1), Alekhine (+3 =4 -2) and Botvinnik (+1 =2 -0), and an even score against Capablanca (=5) and Euwe (+2 =3 -2). Only against Fischer did he have a minus score (they never met in official games, but Fischer beat Fine twice in Manhattan Chess Club games in 1963).
Reuben Fine of course had a much shorter career, but it was overwhelmingly successful on the international arena. He never played Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky or Karpov. However, in the 27 games he played against world champions, he achieved plus scores against Lasker (+1), Alekhine (+3 =4 -2) and Botvinnik (+1 =2 -0), and an even score against Capablanca (=5) and Euwe (+2 =3 -2). Only against Fischer did he have a minus score (they never met in official games, but Fischer beat Fine twice in Manhattan Chess Club games in 1963).
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Linares Round 9
Bacrot-Topalov
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.Nbd2 e6 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.b3 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bb2 Be7 11.Qb1 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Bf6 13.Rc1 Bh5 14.Rc4 Qe7 15.h3 Rd8 16.Be4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 N7f6 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Qb2 0-0 20.Rac1 Bg6 21.N4f3 f6 22.g3 e5 23.a3 Qe6 24.e4 Ne7 25.Rc7 Rd7 26.h4 Rfd8 27.b4 h6 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.b5 axb5 30.Qxb5 Nc6 31.Kg2 Kh7 32.Qc4 Qxc4 33.Rxc4 Rd3 34.a4 Ra3 35.Nb1 Ra2 36.Nc3 Rc2 37.Rc5 Nb4 38.Ne1 Rc1 0-1
Radjabov-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.e4 c5 14.exd5 exd5 15.dxc5 dxc4 16.cxb6 Nxb6 17.Re1 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Ne4 Qg6 20.Qd6 Qxd6 21.Nxd6 Rcd8 22.Nf5 g6 23.Ne3 Rfe8 24.Bf1 Re5 25.bxc4 Rc5 26.Rec1 Rdc8 27.Rc2 Kg7 28.Rac1 R8c7 29.Rc3 Bc8 30.Nc2 Na4 31.Ra3 Bd7 32.Nd4 Re5 33.Rd1 Nb2 34.Rb1 Re4 35.Rxb2 Rxd4 36.f3 Be6 37.Kf2 Rd6 38.Rc3 Rdc6 39.Rbc2 Bf5 40.Rc1 Rc5 41.h4 h5 42.Ra3 Rd7 43.Be2 Rdc7 44.Rcc3 Be6 45.Rc2 Bf5 46.Rb2 Be6 47.Rc3 Kf6 48.Bd3 Bf5 49.Bf1 Ra5 50.Be2 Be6 51.Bd3 Bf5 52.Bf1 Be6 53.a3 Bf5 54.Be2 Rac5 55.Ke3 Re5+ 56.Kf2 Rec5 57.Rd2 Be6 58.Bd3 Bf5 59.Ke3 Bxd3 60.Kxd3 g5 61.Rh2 Rd7+ 62.Kc2 Rd4 63.hxg5+ Kxg5 64.Kb3 a5 65.Rh1 f6 66.Rh2 Rd1 67.Ka4 Rd4 68.Kb3 Rd1 69.Re2 Rg1 70.Ree3 Kf5 71.f4 Rh1 72.Re8 h4 73.gxh4 Rxh4 74.Rb8 Rxf4 75.Rb5 Rxb5+ 76.cxb5 a4+ 77.Kc2 Rd4 78.b6 Rd8 79.Rf3+ Ke6 80.Re3+ Kd6 1/2-1/2
Aronian-Ivancuk and Svidler-VallejoPons were drawn in 35 and 31 moves, respectively.
Standings:
Leko - 6
Aronian - 5.5
Radjabov, Topalov, Svidler - 4.5
Ivanchuk, VallejoPons - 4
Bacrot - 3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.Nbd2 e6 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.b3 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bb2 Be7 11.Qb1 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Bf6 13.Rc1 Bh5 14.Rc4 Qe7 15.h3 Rd8 16.Be4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 N7f6 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Qb2 0-0 20.Rac1 Bg6 21.N4f3 f6 22.g3 e5 23.a3 Qe6 24.e4 Ne7 25.Rc7 Rd7 26.h4 Rfd8 27.b4 h6 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.b5 axb5 30.Qxb5 Nc6 31.Kg2 Kh7 32.Qc4 Qxc4 33.Rxc4 Rd3 34.a4 Ra3 35.Nb1 Ra2 36.Nc3 Rc2 37.Rc5 Nb4 38.Ne1 Rc1 0-1
Radjabov-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.e4 c5 14.exd5 exd5 15.dxc5 dxc4 16.cxb6 Nxb6 17.Re1 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Ne4 Qg6 20.Qd6 Qxd6 21.Nxd6 Rcd8 22.Nf5 g6 23.Ne3 Rfe8 24.Bf1 Re5 25.bxc4 Rc5 26.Rec1 Rdc8 27.Rc2 Kg7 28.Rac1 R8c7 29.Rc3 Bc8 30.Nc2 Na4 31.Ra3 Bd7 32.Nd4 Re5 33.Rd1 Nb2 34.Rb1 Re4 35.Rxb2 Rxd4 36.f3 Be6 37.Kf2 Rd6 38.Rc3 Rdc6 39.Rbc2 Bf5 40.Rc1 Rc5 41.h4 h5 42.Ra3 Rd7 43.Be2 Rdc7 44.Rcc3 Be6 45.Rc2 Bf5 46.Rb2 Be6 47.Rc3 Kf6 48.Bd3 Bf5 49.Bf1 Ra5 50.Be2 Be6 51.Bd3 Bf5 52.Bf1 Be6 53.a3 Bf5 54.Be2 Rac5 55.Ke3 Re5+ 56.Kf2 Rec5 57.Rd2 Be6 58.Bd3 Bf5 59.Ke3 Bxd3 60.Kxd3 g5 61.Rh2 Rd7+ 62.Kc2 Rd4 63.hxg5+ Kxg5 64.Kb3 a5 65.Rh1 f6 66.Rh2 Rd1 67.Ka4 Rd4 68.Kb3 Rd1 69.Re2 Rg1 70.Ree3 Kf5 71.f4 Rh1 72.Re8 h4 73.gxh4 Rxh4 74.Rb8 Rxf4 75.Rb5 Rxb5+ 76.cxb5 a4+ 77.Kc2 Rd4 78.b6 Rd8 79.Rf3+ Ke6 80.Re3+ Kd6 1/2-1/2
Aronian-Ivancuk and Svidler-VallejoPons were drawn in 35 and 31 moves, respectively.
Standings:
Leko - 6
Aronian - 5.5
Radjabov, Topalov, Svidler - 4.5
Ivanchuk, VallejoPons - 4
Bacrot - 3
Friday, March 03, 2006
Linares Round 8
Ivanchuk-Bacrot
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.g3 Nd7 8.Bg2 dxc4 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Rfd1 e5 12.d5 Nc5 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Qc1 Rad8 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Nxc4 Qe6 17.Ne3 Bg6 18.b4 Na6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.a3 Nc7 21.Na4 e4 22.Nc5 Qe5 23.Nb7 Rd7 24.Na5 Bf6 25.Bh3 Ne6 26.Ra2 Rc7 27.Bxe6 Qxe6 28.Rc2 Bh5 29.Ng2 Bg5 30.Nf4 Qd6 31.Kg2 Qd7 32.h4 Bxf4 33.Qxf4 Rc8 34.Rd2 Qe6 35.Nb7 Re8 36.Nc5 Qc4 37.g4 Bg6 38.h5 Bh7 39.e3 a5 0-1
Topalov-Svidler
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.Rc1 e5 13.dxc5 Be6 14.c4 bxc5 15.Bxc5 Re8 16.Be3 Re7 17.Qc2 Rd7 18.Rfd1 Nc6 19.a3 Qa5 20.Nc3 Qxa3 21.Nd5 Rc8 22.Ra1 Qf8 23.Ra6 Nb4 24.Nxb4 Qxb4 25.Rb1 Qf8 26.c5 Bh6 27.Bxh6 Qxh6 28.c6 Rdc7 29.Rb5 Rd8 30.Rb7 Rxd3 31.Qxd3 Qc1+ 32.Qf1 Rxc6 33.Ra1 Qf4 34.Qe1 Rc4 35.Rb4 Rc2 36.Rbb1 Bg4 37.h3 Be2 38.Ra3 a6 39.Re3 Bb5 40.Rc1 Ra2 41.Rc8+ Kg7 42.Rc7 Be8 43.Rf3 Qg5 44.Qc3 1-0
Radjabov-Aronian and Leko-VallejoPons were drawn in 29 and 2 moves, respectively.
Standings:
Leko - 5.5
Aronian - 5
Svidler, Radabov - 4
Topalov, Ivanchuk, VallejoPons - 3.5
Bacrot - 3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.g3 Nd7 8.Bg2 dxc4 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Rfd1 e5 12.d5 Nc5 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Qc1 Rad8 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Nxc4 Qe6 17.Ne3 Bg6 18.b4 Na6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.a3 Nc7 21.Na4 e4 22.Nc5 Qe5 23.Nb7 Rd7 24.Na5 Bf6 25.Bh3 Ne6 26.Ra2 Rc7 27.Bxe6 Qxe6 28.Rc2 Bh5 29.Ng2 Bg5 30.Nf4 Qd6 31.Kg2 Qd7 32.h4 Bxf4 33.Qxf4 Rc8 34.Rd2 Qe6 35.Nb7 Re8 36.Nc5 Qc4 37.g4 Bg6 38.h5 Bh7 39.e3 a5 0-1
Topalov-Svidler
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.Rc1 e5 13.dxc5 Be6 14.c4 bxc5 15.Bxc5 Re8 16.Be3 Re7 17.Qc2 Rd7 18.Rfd1 Nc6 19.a3 Qa5 20.Nc3 Qxa3 21.Nd5 Rc8 22.Ra1 Qf8 23.Ra6 Nb4 24.Nxb4 Qxb4 25.Rb1 Qf8 26.c5 Bh6 27.Bxh6 Qxh6 28.c6 Rdc7 29.Rb5 Rd8 30.Rb7 Rxd3 31.Qxd3 Qc1+ 32.Qf1 Rxc6 33.Ra1 Qf4 34.Qe1 Rc4 35.Rb4 Rc2 36.Rbb1 Bg4 37.h3 Be2 38.Ra3 a6 39.Re3 Bb5 40.Rc1 Ra2 41.Rc8+ Kg7 42.Rc7 Be8 43.Rf3 Qg5 44.Qc3 1-0
Radjabov-Aronian and Leko-VallejoPons were drawn in 29 and 2 moves, respectively.
Standings:
Leko - 5.5
Aronian - 5
Svidler, Radabov - 4
Topalov, Ivanchuk, VallejoPons - 3.5
Bacrot - 3
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
U.S. Championship starts today
This year, the 64 players have been sorted into two 32 player groups (lists available here). The top male and top female in each group after nine rounds will have each other in two games of rapid chess to determine the winner.
That's the dumbest format I've ever heard, even dumber than the FIDE knockout format!
That's the dumbest format I've ever heard, even dumber than the FIDE knockout format!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
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...
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...
Saturday, February 25, 2006
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
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
Thursday, February 23, 2006
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
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
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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
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
Monday, February 20, 2006
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!
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!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
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
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
Saturday, February 18, 2006
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
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
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Topalov and Anand win Wijk aan Zee
- Anand and Topalov tied for first 1.5 points ahead of Adams and Ivanchuk.
- Anand's rating passed 2800 for the first time.
- Nobody went through the tournament undefeated. Topalov lost to Kamsky; Anand lost to Adams.
- The best relative performance was Karjakin; the worst was Sokolov.
- Kamsky drew just one game, THANK YOU for the fighting chess. Unfortunately his score was +4 -8.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Wijk aan Zee Begins
This year's Wijk aan Zee (Corus) tournament started today.
The participants (Average rating 2716, Category 19):
Veselin Topalov 2801 - 2
Viswanathan Anand 2792 - 3
Levon Aronian 2752 - 5
Peter Leko 2740 - 7
Vassily Ivanchuk 2729 - 8
Boris Gelfand 2723 - 9
Etienne Bacrot 2717 - 12
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2709 - 15
Michael Adams 2707 - 17
Ivan Sokolov 2689 - 24
Gata Kamsky 2686 - 25
Sergey Tiviakov 2669 - 33
Sergey Karjakin 2660 - 42
Loek van Wely 2647 - 59
The participants (Average rating 2716, Category 19):
Veselin Topalov 2801 - 2
Viswanathan Anand 2792 - 3
Levon Aronian 2752 - 5
Peter Leko 2740 - 7
Vassily Ivanchuk 2729 - 8
Boris Gelfand 2723 - 9
Etienne Bacrot 2717 - 12
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2709 - 15
Michael Adams 2707 - 17
Ivan Sokolov 2689 - 24
Gata Kamsky 2686 - 25
Sergey Tiviakov 2669 - 33
Sergey Karjakin 2660 - 42
Loek van Wely 2647 - 59
Saturday, January 07, 2006
FIDE Candidate Match Pairings
As expected, Kasparov and Kramnik will not be participating in the FIDE candidate matches. They have been replaced by Shirov and Malakhov. Per the regulations, the pairings for round 1 are as follows:
Aronian - Carlsen
Leko - Gurevich
Ponomariov - Rublevsky
Gelfand - Kasimjanov
Bacrot - Kamsky
Grischuk - Malakhov
Polgar - Bareev
Shirov - Adams
Each match will consist of 6 games. There will be two rounds of matches, reducing these 16 players down to 4. The four finalists will join Topalov, Svidler, Anand and Morozevich in a FIDE world championship tournament next year.
Round 1 of the candidate matches is scheduled for October 2006 (assuming of course they can find sponsorship).
Aronian - Carlsen
Leko - Gurevich
Ponomariov - Rublevsky
Gelfand - Kasimjanov
Bacrot - Kamsky
Grischuk - Malakhov
Polgar - Bareev
Shirov - Adams
Each match will consist of 6 games. There will be two rounds of matches, reducing these 16 players down to 4. The four finalists will join Topalov, Svidler, Anand and Morozevich in a FIDE world championship tournament next year.
Round 1 of the candidate matches is scheduled for October 2006 (assuming of course they can find sponsorship).
Sunday, January 01, 2006
FIDE Rating List
1 Kasparov, Garry 2812 (retired)
2 Topalov, Veselin 2801 (the third player to break 2800 after Kasparov and Kramnik)
3 Anand, Viswanathan 2792
4 Svidler, Peter 2765
5 Aronian, Levon 2752
6 Kramnik, Vladimir 2741
7 Leko, Peter 2740
8 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2729
9 Gelfand, Boris 2723
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2723
11 Morozevich, Alexander 2721
12 Grischuk, Alexander 2717
Bacrot, Etienne 2717
14 Polgar, Judit 2711
15 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2709 (new member of the 2700 club)
Shirov, Alexei 2709
17 Adams, Michael 2707
18 Akopian, Vladimir 2704
19 Radjabov, Teimour 2700
(Nisipeanu fell off the 2700 list)
2 Topalov, Veselin 2801 (the third player to break 2800 after Kasparov and Kramnik)
3 Anand, Viswanathan 2792
4 Svidler, Peter 2765
5 Aronian, Levon 2752
6 Kramnik, Vladimir 2741
7 Leko, Peter 2740
8 Ivanchuk, Vassily 2729
9 Gelfand, Boris 2723
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2723
11 Morozevich, Alexander 2721
12 Grischuk, Alexander 2717
Bacrot, Etienne 2717
14 Polgar, Judit 2711
15 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2709 (new member of the 2700 club)
Shirov, Alexei 2709
17 Adams, Michael 2707
18 Akopian, Vladimir 2704
19 Radjabov, Teimour 2700
(Nisipeanu fell off the 2700 list)
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