Linares Round 6

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

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. O-O f5 19. Qa4 [TN] Bd7 20. Bb5 Rxb5 21. Qxb5 Nb4 22. Qxa5 Nxa2 23. Qxa2 fxe4 24. b4 Be6 25. c4 Qc8 26. Qb3 Kg7 27. Rb1 Rf7 28. Rd1 h5 29. Qc2 Qa8 30. h3 Bh4 31. Rf1 Qf8 32. b5 Bc8 33. Nc3 Bb7 34. Ned5 Qc8 35. Qe2 Bxd5 36. Nxd5 Qc5 37. b6 Qd4 38. Qc2 Kh7 39. Kh2 Rxf2! 40. Rxf2 Bxf2 41. Qc1 e3 42. b7 Qa7 43. Qb1 e2 44. Ne7 Bg3+ [45.Kxg3 Qe3+ 46.Kh2 Qf4+ 47.Kg1 Qe3+ 48.Kh2] 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

Ilyumzhinov's latest scheme

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

Source:Associated Press

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

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

Linares Round 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linares Round 4

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

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

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

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

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

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 0-0 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 Bh4+ 22. Kd2 Ne7 23. Kc1 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Be6 25. Qd4+ Kg8 26. Ra2 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 Qf6 28. Qd2 Bg3 29. Rf1 h5 30. Rxa5 Ra8 31. e5 Qf5 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Kb2 h4 34. Qxd6 Re8 35. Bb5 Rf8 36. Bd3 Qe6 37. Qd4 Qe7 38. Bc4 Kh7 39. b4 h3 40. Qd3 Qh4 41. f5 Bf4 42. e6 fxe6 43. Qd7+ Kh6 44. fxe6? [44.fxg6! Rf6 45.Bd3 (or 45.Qh7+) Rxg6 46.Bxg6 Kxg6 47.Qxe6+] Bc1+ 45. Rxc1? [45.Kxc1! h2 46.Rh1 48.Qd6+ (or 48.Qd2+) Kg7 49.Bd5] Qxc4 46. e7 Ra8 47. Qxh3+ Kg7 48. e8N+ Kg8 49. Nf6+ Kf7 50. Qd7+ Kxf6 51. Qd4+ Qxd4 52. cxd4 g5 53. Rc6+ Kf5 54. b5 g4 55. Kb3 g3 56. Rc1 Ke4 57. Rg1 1/2-1/2

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

Linares Round 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linares Round 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linares Round 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Georgian Peach Open sucked

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

Not playing

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

Two Book Recommendations

Reshevsky's Best Games of Chess - 110 of Reshevsky's best games, chronologically arranged and carefully annotated.

The Art of Positional Play - 61 deeply annotated games, each one illustrating a different positional theme.

In my humble opinion, Reshevsky had the same intuitive mastery of the board as Capablanca, but unlike Capa he was a masterful annotator. Capablanca's notes were always WAY too sparse for the amateur to learn much from reading over the games. Reshevsky on the other hand provides marvelously insightful, as well as entertaining, annotations to his games.



Best Games of Chess

Corus Round 13 (Final) Results

Round 13 Results
I. Sokolov - V. Anand ½-½
P. Leko - J. Polgar ½-½ (22 moves)
P. Svidler - V. Topalov ½-½ (24 moves)
R. Ponomariov - L. Bruzon ½-½
V. Kramnik - A. Morozevich ½-½ (11 moves! Kramnik sucks!)
L. van Wely - N. Short 1-0
M. Adams - A. Grischuk ½-½ (23 moves)

Final Results [you can follow the links to the games on www.chessgames.com website]
1st. Peter Leko 8.5/13 (+4 -0 =9) [Leko was the only participant to finish the tournament undefeated.]
2nd. Viswanathan Anand 8/13 (+4 -1 =8)
3rd. Veselin Topalov 7.5/13 (+4 -2 =7)
4-7. Vladimir Kramnik 7/13 (+2 -1 =10)
4-7. Alexander Grischuk 7/13 (+2 -1 =10)
4-7. Michael Adams 7/13 (+2 -1 =10)
4-7. Judit Polgar 7/13 (+3 -2 =8)
8-10. Ruslan Ponomariov 6.5/13 (+3 -3 =7)
8-10. Loek Van Wely 6.5/13 (+1 -1 =11)
8-10. Lazaro Bruzon 6.5/13 (+3 -3 =7)
11. Peter Svidler 6/13 (+2 -3 =8)
12. Nigel Short 5.5/13 (+2 -4 =7)
13. Alexander Morozevich 4.5/13 (+2 -6 =5)
14. Ivan Sokolov 3.5/13 (+0 -6 =7)

Sokolov-Anand
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bb7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. b4 Qe7 14. Qb3 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Qb1 g6 18. O-O Qd6 19. Bc3 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Be5 21. Rfd1 Qe7 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Rd7 Rc7 24. Rd2 Qe7 25. Bf3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qb2 Rd7 28. Kg1 Rd2 29. Qc3 Qd6 30. a3 Rd3 31. Qa1 h5 32. a4 a6 33. axb5 axb5 34. Qa7 Qd7 35. Qb8+ Kg7 36.Qe5+ f6 37. Qb8 Rd6 38. Ra1 Qe7 39. Ra7 Rd7 40. g3 Bc8 41. Ra1 Rc7 42. Rc1 Bb7 43. Rc5 Qd6 44. Bd5 Bc8 45. Qb6 Bb7 46. Rxb5 Rd7 47. Rc5 cxd5 48. Qxd6 1/2-1/2

Van Wely - Short
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. g3 Nb6 13. f3 a5 14. Kf2 a4 15. Rc1 Nc8 16. Be2 Nd6 17. Rhd1 O-O 18. Bd3 Rfe8 19. g4 Bf8 20. Ne2 Bh6 21. f4 Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Bf8 23. Ng3 Ra5 24. Rc2 Rb5 25. Nhf5 Nc4 26. b3 axb3 27. Rxb3 Rxb3 28. axb3 Na5 29. Nh5 Re6 30. Ra2 b6 31. Ra4 1-0

Next stop: Linares
Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, Peter Leko, Michael Adams, Francisco Vallejo Pons and Rustam Kasimdzhanov will be the 7 players at this year's event. The event takes place 22nd February - 10th March 2005.

Corus Round 12 Results

Results
V. Anand - M. Adams 1-0
A. Grischuk - L. van Wely ½-½
N. Short - V. Kramnik ½-½
A. Morozevich - R. Ponomariov 0-1
L. Bruzon - P. Svidler ½-½
V. Topalov - P. Leko ½-½
J. Polgar - I. Sokolov 1-0

Leaders
Leko - 8
Anand - 7½
Topalov - 7

Anand-Adams
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 O-O 12.O-O Nf6 13. e4 b5 14. exd5 cxd5 15. c5 b4 16. Bxb4 Bxf1 17. Bxf1 e5 18. Bc3 a5 19. a3 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Qd5 24. dxe5 Ra8 25. Qc1 Ra2 26. Qe3 Rc2 27. Qd4 Qxd4 28. Bxd4 Kf8 29. h4 Ke8 30. e6 fxe6 31. Bxg7 Rc1 32. Bd4 Kd7 33. Be3 Rc3 34. Bd4 Rc1 35. Kg2 Kc6 36. Be3 Rc2 37. Ba6 Kc7 38. Kh3 Rc3 39. Bd4 Rb3 40. b5 Rd3 41. b6+ Kc6 42. Bb5+ 1-0

Morozevich-Ponomariov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. f3 a6 11. g4 Rd8 12. Bf4 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. Be3 Qc7 15. f4 b5 16. Qf2 Rb8 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc5 19. Kb1 b4 20. Ne2 a5 21. Ng3 a4 22. Bd3 b3 23. cxb3 axb3 24. a3 Qa5 25. Nh5 Ne4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Bc3 Qc7 28. f5 Ba6 29. Nf4 Bg5 30. h4 Bxf4 31. Qxf4 Bd3+ 32. Ka1 Ra8 33. Bb4 Rd4 34. Qd2 Qxe5 35. Qc3 Qd5 36. fxe6 fxe6 37. Qc5 Rc4 38. Qe7 Rac8 39. h5 R4c7 40. Qd6 e3 41. Qxd5 exd5 42. Bc3 Be2 43. Rd4 Rc4 44. Rxc4 Bxc4 45. g5 d4 46. Bxd4 e2 47. h6 Rd8 48. g6 Rxd4 0-1

Polgar-Sokolov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 c5 13. d5 g6 14. Nf1 a5 15. a4 b4 16. Bd3 Qc7 17. Ne3 bxc3 18. bxc3 c4 19. Bc2 Ba6 20. Nd2 Rfc8 21. Ba3 Bf8 22. Qf3 Bg7 23. g3 Rab8 24. Kg2 Nb6 25. g4 Nfd7 26. h4 Nc5 27. Bxc5 Qxc5 28. h5 Nd7 29. Rh1 Nf8 30. g5 Rb2 31. Ng4 gxh5 32. Nf6+ Bxf6 33. gxf6 Ng6 34. Kf1 h4 35. Qh5 Kh8 36. Nf3 Rxc2 37. Rh2 Rxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Nf4 39. Qxh4 Rg8 40. Rh2 1-0

Going into the last round

• Leko is playing Polgar (who is at 6½). A win will give him clear first no matter what else happens; a draw will give him at least a share of first or all of it if Anand doesn't win.
• Anand is playing Sokolov (who is at 3 and will finish this tournament dead last even if he wins tomorrow). Anand must play for a win in this game to have a realistic chance of winning the tournament. A draw is good enough only if Leko loses and Topalov doesn't win either.
• Topalov is playing Svidler (who is at 5½). The only way he can win is if he wins, Leko loses and Anand does no better than a draw.

Appalling!

http://www.chesscenter.com/kingpin/Kingpin/confess1.htm

An international master thinks nothing about admitting

• Then, realizing that it was not the one I wished to make, I retracted the move (after first looking round to see that there were no observers) and played another.
• Clearly I had a good attack, but how was I to finish black off? So I went to Paul Durrant (my manager at the time) and asked him to go back to the hotel room and look up the article. Some time later Durrant returned, trailing the slip of paper guiltily in his hand, and tried to give it to me. ‘Go and look it up and find out what happens after 9 Nb5,’ I hissed. ‘That’s all it says,’ he said, ‘just 9 Nb5 with a good attack. The analysis stops there.’ Crestfallen, I returned to the board.
• One of my games was with George Dixon and after about 36 or so moves we were in an ending and the game had to be adjourned. I sealed a move and arranged to resume the game a week later. As the sealer of the move, I kept the scoresheet and on my way home realized that my sealed move, Kf7, was not the best and would quickly lose; Kf6, on the other hand, gave me slight drawing chances. Perhaps if I could steam open the envelope, extract the scoresheet and make the slight alteration, I would have a chance to stay in the game. This I duly did...

It's bad enough that he would even consider doing any of these things. Even worse that he did them, ... but confessing them publicly without the slightest hint of remorse? He doesn't seem even a little sorry; he seems to think it's all very amusing. I'm sure his opponents don't think it funny. Should punishment not be forthcoming?

Corus Round 11 Results

Results
J. Polgar - V. Anand ½-½
I. Sokolov - V. Topalov ½-½
P. Leko - L. Bruzon 1-0
P. Svidler - A. Morozevich ½-½
R. Ponomariov - N. Short ½-½
V. Kramnik - A. Grischuk ½-½
L. van Wely - M. Adams ½-½

Leaders
Leko - 7½
Topalov, Adams, Anand - 6½

Leko-Bruzon
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Rac8 15. Re2 Nc6 16. a3 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rfe8 18. Ng3 d5 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. e5 Ne4 21. Bf4 g5 22. Nf5 gxf4 23. Rxe4 Kh8 24. Re1 Bd7 25. e6 1-0

Notes

• Chessbase has been posting a series of articles on the Wijk aan Zee tournament.
• Leko and Adams are the only two players still undefeated. That can still change, as both of them still have to face tough opponents. Leko has to play Topalov and Polgar, and Adams has to play Anand and Grischuk.
• As the dust clears, Leko now seems to be the favorite to win it all.

Roberto Grau

Roberto Grau (1900-1944), the Argentine master whom I've already mentioned in this blog as the author of the Tratado General de Ajedrez, never reached grandmaster status. However, he was six-time champion of Argentina (1926, 1927, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1938) and managed a few memorable results against some of the leading players of his day:

• win against Max Euwe at Paris 1924
• win against Richard Reti at Buenos Aires 1924
• win against E. Colle at San Remo 1930
• win against Reuben Fine at the Warsaw Olympiad 1935
• draw against Alexander Alekhine at the Warsaw Olympiad 1935
• draws against Paul Keres and Jose Capablanca at the Buenos Aires Olympiad 1939

Keene v Levy

This is not about a chess game, but rather a business deal ...

But you and Don Morris had an entirely different idea. You decided to set up a new company [Braingames Network plc] in which the two of you would have shareholdings but not the rest of us. You decided that to provide the 50,000 pounds needed to set up that company, rather than to use your own money you would use ours - the money in the bank account of Mind Sports Olympiad Ltd. And why not? After all, the bank statements are sent only to your house and no-one else in the company sees them because we all trust you. After you had "borrowed" the company's money you continued to pretend that your efforts to secure sponsorship for the world chess championship were being made on behalf of our business, but all along they were being made on behalf of your business. And all during this time you were being paid 10,000 pounds per month to work for our company.

Keene's defense is solely that he believes his actions were "legal, ethical, covered by board mandate and for the good of MSO." They may be legal, but he doesn't actually dispute any of the facts claimed by Levy and the facts as presented seem sleazy to say the least. So perhaps Keene is not just a crappy author, but a crappy human being too.

Corus Round 10 Results

Results
V. Anand - L. van Wely ½-½
M. Adams - V. Kramnik ½-½
A. Grischuk - R. Ponomariov 1-0
N. Short - P. Svidler ½-½
A. Morozevich - P. Leko ½-½
L. Bruzon - I. Sokolov 1-0
V. Topalov - J. Polgar 0-1

Leaders
Leko - 6½
Topalov, Adams, Anand- 6

Grischuk-Ponomariov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3Qb6 9. g4 Nc6 10. Nb3 e6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Be3 b5 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Qf2 Be7 15.g5 Nce5 16. a3 Rb8 17. Rg1 Nb6 18. f4 Nec4 19. Bxc4 Nxc4 20. Bd4 O-O 21. Bf6Bb7 22. Rd3 Rfc8 23. Rh3 Kf8 24. Rxh7 Ke8 25. Bxg7 Kd7 26. g6 a5 27. gxf7 Bf828. Bxf8 Rxf8 29. Rd1 Bc8 30. f5 e5 31. Nd5 1-0

Bruzon-Sokolov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. d5 Rc8 14. Nbd2 Nd7 15.Nf1 Nc4 16. b3 Ncb6 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Ba5 Qb8 20. Qd2 Bd8 21. Rec1 Nf622. Qb4 Nbd7 23. Bxd8 Rfxd8 24. Qe1 Rc7 25. b4 Rdc8 26. Bd3 Nb6 27. Nd2 Rc3 28.Rxc3 Rxc3 29. Qe2 Nh5 30. g3 Qd8 31. Kh2 Bc8 32. Nf3 Na4 33. Qd2 Bd7 34. Ne1Qc8 35. h4 Rc7 36. Be2 Ng7 37. N1g2 f5 38. exf5 Bxf5 39. f4 Qe8 40. Rc1 Rxc141. Qxc1 Bd7 42. Qc7 exf4 43. gxf4 Nf5 44. Nxf5 Bxf5 45. Bf3 Qd7 46. Qc6 Nb2 47.Qxa6 Nd3 48. a3 Bh3 49. Qc6 Qf5 50. Qe8+ Kg7 51. Qe7+ Kg8 52. Qe4 Bxg2 53. Qxf5 gxf5 54. Kxg2 Ne1+ 55. Kf2 Nc2 56. Be2 Nxa3 57. Bd3 Kg7 58. Ke3 Kg6 59. Kd4 Kh5 60. Kc3 Kxh4 61. Kb2 Nb1 62. Kxb1 Kg4 63. Bxb5 Kxf4 64. Bf1 Ke5 65. Bg2 Kd4 66. Kb2 1-0

Topalov-Polgar
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 12. Rc2 Bd6 13. Bg5 Bb4+ 14. Kf1 f615. Bf4 Nd7 16. Ne1 c6 17. Nd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Rc8 19. Bh3 g6 20. a3 Bf8 21. e3Qe7 22. Bg4 g5 23. Qf5 gxf4 24. gxf4 Kh8 25. Rg1 Rc7 26. Bf3 Nb8 27. Rg3 Qd628. b4 b5 29. Rc1 a5 30. bxa5 Qxa3 31. Rc5 Rg7 32. Bh5 Rd8 33. Qxf6 Qxa5 34.Rc2 b4 35. Ra2 Qc7 36. Be2 Qe7 37. Qf5 Qe4 38. Qxe4 dxe4 39. Ra8 b3 40. Bc4 b241. Ba2 c5 42. dxc5 b1=Q+ 43. Bxb1 Rd1+ 44. Kg2 Rxb1 45. Ra4 Re7 46. Rg5 Nc647. Ra6 Re6 48. h4 Be7 49. f5 Rf6 50. Rg4 Rb4 51. Ra8+ Rf8 52. Rxf8+ Bxf8 53. f6 Ne5 0-1

Corus Round 9 Results

Results
V. Topalov - V. Anand ½-½
J. Polgar - L. Bruzon ½-½
I. Sokolov - A. Morozevich 0-1
P. Leko - N. Short 1-0
P. Svidler - A. Grischuk 1-0
R. Ponomariov - M. Adams ½-½
V. Kramnik - L. van Wely ½-½

Leaders
Topalov, Leko - 6
Adams, Anand - 5½

Sokolov-Morozevich
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Nge7 6. Nb3 Nf5 7. a3 Be7 8. g3 a5 9. Qd3 a4 10. Nbd2 h5 11. Bh3 g6 12. Ne4 h4?! 13. Bf4? [13. g4! Ng7 14. Bd2 Ne6 15. O-O-O] hxg3 14. hxg3 Ng7 [14. ... Nxg3? 15. Bd7 Kd7 16. Rh8 Qh8 17. Ng3] 15. Bg2 Rxh1+ 16. Bxh1 Bf5 17. Nfg5 Na5 18. Qf3 Ne6 19. Nh7 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 c6 21. e3? [21. O-O-O =] Nb3 22. Rd1 Qa5+ 23. Ke2 Nec5 24. Qg2 Qa6 25. Kf1 Qxc4+ 26. Kg1 Qc2 27. Qf3 d3 28. Bg5 Ne4 29. Bxe7 Nxf2 30. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 31. Kg2 Qc2 32. Bd6 O-O-O 33. Kg1 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rh8 0-1

Leko-Short
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 Bg7 16. d5 Qe7 [16. ... Polgar-Short, Corus 2005 Round 7; 16. ... Nb6, Leko-Beliavsky, Bled 2002] 17. c4 c6 18. Be3! Rec8 19. Rc1 a5 20. Qd2 bxc4 21. bxc4 cxd5 [21. ... Ba6? 22. Ba4!; 21. ... Nc5 22. Bxc5 dxc5 23. Ba4] 22. cxd5 Nc5 23. Bd3! h5?! [23. ... Nfd7 24. Bb5! Ba6 25. Bc6; 23. ... Bd3 24. Rc8! (24. Qd3 Rc1 25. Rc1 Bd5!) Bc8 (24. ... Rc8 25. Qd3) 25. Qd3 Ba6 26. Qa3 Qd8 27. Rb1] 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Qg5! Rc7 [25. ... Qc7!? 26. Rc2!; 25. ... Qf8 26. Ne5 Nh7 27. Qf4 Bh6 28. Qf3 Bc1 29. Rc1] 26. Nf1! [26. Qe5? Nd5!; 26. Bc4 Ne8 27. Qg6 fxg6 28. d6 Kf8 29. dxe7 Kxe7 30. Nh4 Kf6!] Rac8 27. N1d2 Ne8 [27. ... c4 28. Rxc4 (28. Nxc4? Nd5!) Qa3 29. Ne5] 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Nc4 Ba6 30. Nfxe5! Bxe5 31. Nxe5 c4 32. Bxc4 Rxe5 33. Bxa6 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Rxe4 35. f3 Re5? [35. ... Re7] 36. Rc5 h4 37. d6 [37. ... Rc5 38. d7] 1-0

Svidler-Grischuk
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. O-O Qe7 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Be6 14. Rf2 O-O-O 15. Raf1 Nd7 16. Ne2 f6 17. Qa5 Kb8 18. b4 f5 19. bxc5 fxe4 20. d4 Bc4 21. Qa4 Bxe2 22. Rxe2 Qe6 23. c4 Ka8 24. Rb1 Nb8 25. Rd2 Qf7 26. Ng4 Rd7 27. Qb3 Rhd8 28. Rbd1 g5 29. Nf2 Qf5 30. d5 h5 31. dxc6 Nxc6 32. Rd5 Be5 33. Qb1 g4 34. hxg4 hxg4 35. Qxe4 Qf7 36. Nxg4 Bb8 37. Bg5 Re8 38. Rxd7 Qxd7 39. Rxd7 Rxe4 40. Ne3 a5 41. Kf1 Re8 42. a4 Ka7 43. g4 Rg8 44. Bh6 Rg6 45. Rh7 Be5 46. Kg2 Bd4 47. Kh3 Bxc5 48. Bf4 Re6 49. Nd5 Re4 50. g5 Ne7 51. Kg4 Nxd5 52. cxd5 Rxa4 53. g6 Bd6 54. Rf7 Be5 55. Kg5 Bb2 56. d6 Rd4 57. Be3 1-0

Corus Round 8 Results

Results
V. Anand - V. Kramnik ½-½
L. van Wely - R. Ponomariov ½-½
M. Adams - P. Svidler ½-½
A. Grischuk - P. Leko ½-½
N. Short - I. Sokolov 1-0
A. Morozevich - J. Polgar 1-0
L. Bruzon - V. Topalov 0-1

Leaders
Topalov - 5½
Leko, Adams, Anand - 5

Short-Sokolov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Bf4 Kc8 12. Rad1 Bb4 13. Ne4 Be6 14. c3 Be7 15. b3 b6 16. g4 Nh4 17. Nxh4 Bxh4 18. Bg3 Be7 19. f4 h5 20. f5 Bd5 21. Rd4 hxg4 22. hxg4 Ba3 23. Kf2 a5 24. c4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 a4 26. Kg2 axb3 27. axb3 Bc5 28. Re2 Ra3 29. e6 Re8 30. Rf3 Ra1 31. Bf2 fxe6 32. Bxc5 bxc5 33. fxe6 Rd1 34. Rf7 Rd6 35. Rxg7 Rdxe6 36. Rxe6 Rxe6 37. Rf7 Kd8 38. Kg3 Re1 39. g5 Rg1+ 40. Kh4 Rh1+ 41. Kg4 Rg1+ 42. Kf5 Rg3 43. g6 Rf3+ 44. Ke6 Re3+ 45. Kf6 Rf3+ 46. Kg7 Rxb3 47. Kf8 Re3 48. Rf4 1-0

Morozevich-Polgar
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. O-O e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. Nc3 h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Qd3 Qd7 12. Rad1 d4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bd6 15. f4 Bxb3 16. axb3 Qe7 17. Qxb7 Qxb7 18. Bxb7 Rd8 19. Bc6+ Ke7 20. fxe5 Bxe5 21. Ra1 Bb8 22. Ra4 h5 23. Rb4 Rc8 24. Be4 Bd6 25. Rc4 Rxc4 26. bxc4 g6 27. Bd5 Rf8 28. Ra1 Bc5 29. Kf1 f5 30. Ra5 Bb6 31. Ra6 f4 32. Ke1 fxg3 33. hxg3 Rf6 34. Kd2 Bc5 35. Ra4 a5 36. Kd3 Bb6 37. c5 Bxc5 38. Rxa5 Bb6 39. Rb5 Bc7 40. Rb7 Kd8 41. Kxd4 Bxg3 42. c4 h4 43. e4 Rf1 44. Rh7 Rb1 45. e5 Rd1+ 46. Kc5 Bxe5 47. b4 Bg3 48. b5 Rb1 49. Kc6 Bf2 50. Rd7+ Ke8 51. Bf7+ Kf8 52. Bxg6 Rb2 53. Rf7+ Kg8 54. Rxf2 Rxf2 55. b6 Kg7 56. b7 Rb2 57. Be4 Kf6 58. c5 Rb4 59. Bh1 1-0

Bruzon-Topalov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. c3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 e5 9. Na3 d6 10. Be3 b6 11. Qd2 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qd7 14. Bg2 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Rad8 17. Re2 Qe6 18. Qc2 Qg6 19. Kh2 Kh8 20. Qa4 d5 21. fxe5 Bxe5 22. Bf4 Qf6 23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. d4 N5g6 25. dxc5 bxc5 26. Rf1 f4 27. gxf4 Nf5 28. Qxa7 Qh4 29. Qxc5 Nxf4 30. Rd2 Nxh3 31. Qc7 Rd6 32. Nc2 Qg3+ 33. Kh1 Rh6 0-1

(next round is Tuesday)