Essent 2006

Mamedyarov and Polgar are the winners.

Top Ten Games of Informant 95

1.	DREEV, A. - BAREEV, E.	329	7	10	2	9	8	9	2	-	47
2.	VOLOKITIN, A. - NAKAMURA, H.	198	8	3	-	5	10	10	10	-	46
3.	BACROT, E. - RUBLEVSKY, S.	127	9	8	4	8	7	-	-	10	46
4.	BRUZON, L. - CARLSEN, M.	105	10	5	-	3	3	3	9	8	41
5.	GALKIN, A. - YEMELIN, V.	177	6	4	10	7	4	2	6	-	39
6.	GRISCHUK, A. - KAMSKY, G.	253	-	9	-	6	9	8	-	7	39
7.	DREEV, A. - MINASIAN, ART.	56	4	-	-	10	5	5	5	2	31
8.	VAN WELY, L. - RADJABOV, T.	405	-	7	9	4	6	1	-	-	27
9.	JOBAVA, BA. - BELIAVSKY, A.	367	-	-	6	-	2	-	7	-	15
10.	NI HUA - MCHEDLISHVILI, M.	376	-	-	5	1	-	7	-	-	13

It's interesting that not one of the ten winners is from among the top 15 players in the world. Grischuk is the highest ranked player on this list.

By contrast, the nine best games of Informant 54 (nothing special about this issue, just had it handy) consisted of 3 Kasparov wins (#1), 2 Karpov wins (#2), 1 Short win (#4), 1 Anand win (#5) and 2 Kamsky wins (=#7). And the losers were equally impressive: Kasparov once, Karpov twice, Short three times, Gelfand (#6), Shirov (=#7), Bareev (#11).

That is what I expect to see as the best games in Informant - fighting chess by the best players in the world. That's what made these guys not just the highest rated, but the best. Nowadays, the highest rated players are just not producing any interesting games. That's why Kasparov and Karpov were the kings of chess, and these guys are just schmucks. No wonder interest in professional chess is waning so drastically even as the number of players is increasing.

Topalov having a tough time

Only one draw in three games in the first half at Essent.

Long Live the King!

Kramnik undisputed champion!

Kramnik wins tiebreak 2-1 with one draw.

Player	Rating	R1	R2	R3	R4	Tot.
Veselin Topalov	2813	½	0	1	0	1.5
Vladimir Kramnik	2743	½	1	0	1	2.5

Analysis by GM Marin

Topalov-Kramnik Game 1
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15. Ne1 Rc8 16. f4 Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2 19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Re2 Rcc8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Rf2 a6 24. Bf1 Rc6 25. b4 Rc2 26. b5 a5 27. Bc3 Rxf2 28. Qxf2 Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Rc1 Nb6 31. Bb2 Nxa4 32. Ba3 h6 33. h3 Be4 34. Kh2 Nb6 35. Bc5 a4 36. Ra1 Nc4 37. Bxc4 b6 38. Qe3 Rc8 39. Bf1 bxc5 40. dxc5 Qxc5 41. Qxc5 Rxc5 42. b6 Rc6 43. b7 Rb6 44. Ba6 d4 45. Rxa4 Bxb7 46. Bxb7 Rxb7 47. Rxd4 1/2-1/2

Kramnik-Topalov Game 2
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 13. Bd3 e5 14. e4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 g6 17. Qd2 Rcd8 18. Qg5 a6 19. h3 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 22. Nc2 g5 23. Bc1 h6 24. Be3 c5 25. f3 Bf8 26. Bf2 Bc8 27. Ne3 Be6 28. Ned5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ned7 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. a4 b4 32. Ne4 Nxe4 33. fxe4 Nf6 34. d6 Nxe4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Bxa6 f5 37. a5 Bg7 38. Bc4+ Kf8 39. a6 Nxf2 40. Kxf2 Bd4+ 41. Rxd4 cxd4 42. a7 Ke7 43. Bd5 Kxd7 44. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0

Topalov-Kramnik Game 3
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O Bd6 9. g3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 e5 14. f4 exd4 15. Qxd4 Qe7 16. Kg2 Bc5 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Qc2 Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 20. Rf3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Bc5 22. Bd2 Rd7 23. Re1 Rfd8 24. Bd3 Qe6 25. Bc1 f5 26. Qe2 Kf8 27. Rd1 Qe7 28. h4 Rd5 29. Qc2 Nc4 30. Rh1 Na3 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rd1 b5 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rg3 Ke7 35. f5 gxf5 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37. e6 Qd6 38. Bxf5 Rxd1 39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. e7+ Qxe7 41. Bxe7+ Bxe7 42. Bd3 Ra1 43. Qb2 Rd1 44. Qe2 Ra1 45. Qxg4 Rxa2+ 46. Kh3 Bf6 47. Qe6 Rd2 48. Bg6 R2d7 49. Rf3 b4 50. h5 1-0

Kramnik-Topalov Game 4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 20. Bf1 Na4 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 33. Ra3 Rc2 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3 40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxc5 45. Rb7+ 1-0

Match Ends 6-6

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bd2 Bb4 10. Qb3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bg2 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 f5 14. O-O Qe7 15. cxd5 exd5 16. b4 Nf6 17. Rfc1 Ne4 18. Qb2 O-O 19. b5 Rac8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Qe2 g5 22. Rab1 Qd7 23. Rc2 Rf6 24. Rbc1 g4 25. Rb2 Rh6 26. Qa6 Rc7 27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Qa3 Rb7 29. Qf8 Rxb8 30. Qxb8 Qf7 31. Qc8 Qh5 32. Kf1 Nd2+ 33. Ke1 Nc4 34. Bf1 Rf6 35. Bxc4 dxc4 36. Rxc4 Qxh2 37. Ke2 Qh1 38. Rc5 Qb1 39. Qa6 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qb1+ 41. Ke2 Qb2+ 42. Kf1 Rh6 43. Qd3 g6 44. Qb3 Rh1+ 45. Kg2 Rh2+ 46. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Marin
Analysis by GM Belov

It's worth noting that Kramnik overperformed relative to his rating...

Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Tot.	Perf.
Veselin Topalov	2813	0	0	½	½	(1)	½	½	1	1	0	½	½	6.0	2702
Vladimir Kramnik	2743	1	1	½	½	(0)	½	½	0	0	1	½	½	6.0	2844

I still think he might smoke Topalov in the tiebreak, making any talk of lawsuits moot. Tomorrow might see a new (?) world champion.

Game 11 Drawn

It all comes down to the last game.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Rb1 Nbd7 9. c5 a5 10. a3 e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 13. f4 exf4 14. exf4 Be7 15. Be2 Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Be3 Bf6 26. g4 Kf8 27. Bf2 Ne6 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. f5 gxf5 30. gxf5 Nf4+ 31. Kf3 Nh5 32. Rb3 Bc7 33. h4 Nf6 34. Bd3 Nd7 35. Be4 Ne5+ 36. Kg2 Ra2 37. Bb1 Rd2 38. Kf1 Ng4 39. Bg1 Bh2 40. Ke1 Rd5 41. Bf2 Ke7 42. h5 Nxf2 43. Kxf2 Kf6 44. Kf3 Rd4 45. b5 Rc4 46. bxc6 bxc6 47. Rb6 Rxc5 48. Be4 Kg5 49. Rxc6 Ra5 50. Rb6 Ra3+ 51. Kg2 Bc7 52. Rb7 Rc3 53. Kf2 Kxh5 54. Bd5 f6 55. Ke2 Kg4 56. Be4 Kf4 57. Bd3 Rc5 58. Rb4+ Kg3 59. Rc4 Re5+ 60. Re4 Ra5 61. Re3+ Kg2 62. Be4+ Kh2 63. Rb3 Ra2+ 64. Kd3 Bf4 65. Kc4 Re2 66. Kd5 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Belov
Analysis by GM Marin

From a sporting point of view, Topalov needs to win this last game. Otherwise the free point will taint his victory. A drawn match will lead to a moral victory for Kramnik, even if he loses the tiebreak.

Should the decision of FIDE regarding the fifth game have any influence on the awarding of the World Championship title, with Mr Topalov receiving the title after being granted a free point for the unplayed game, Mr Kramnik declares unequivocally: “I will not recognize Mr Topalov as World Champion under these conditions, and I will take legal action against FIDE at the end of the World Championship.”

Kramnik wins, Match at 5-5

Third decisive result in a row.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 Nbd7 9. Qc2 a5 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Rb8 15. Qe2 Nhf6 16. Bf4 Rb6 17. Ne5 Nd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Nxb5 Ba6 21. a4 Ne4 22. Rdc1 Qe8 23. Rc7 Bd8 24. Ra7 f6 25. Nd7 Rf7 26. Nxb6 Rxa7 27. Nxd5 Rd7 28. Ndc3 Rxd4 29. Re1 f5 30. Qc2 Rb4 31. Nd5 Rxb5 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Nc7 Qc4 34. Qd1 Bxc7 35. Qd7 h6 36. Qxc7 Qb4 37. Qb8+ Qxb8 38. Bxb8 Nd2 39. Ra1 g5 40. f4 Nb3 41. Ra3 Bc4 42. Bc7 g4 43. Bxa5 1-0

Analysis by GM Marin
Analysis by GM Belov

Topalov Wins Again

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3 Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. f4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. e4 b5 13. Be2 b4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bf3 Qb6 16. O-O e5 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Na4 Qb8 19. Qc2 exf4 20. Bxf4 Qb7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 22. Bg5 Be7 23. Kh1 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. Bg1 Nhf8 26. h4 Be7 27. e5 Nb8 28. Nc3 Bb4 29. Qg2 Qc8 30. Rc1 Bxc3 31. bxc3 Ne6 32. Bg4 Qc7 33. Rcd1 Nd7 34. Qa2 Nb6 35. Rf3 Nf8 36. Rdf1 Re7 37. Be3 Nh7 38. Rxf7 Nd5 39. R7f3 1-0

Analysis by GM Belov
Analysis by GM Marin

Topalov's First Win, Match Now Even

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O b4 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ Ncd7 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Bd2 Qa5 16. Bc6 Be7 17. Rfc1 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1 Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ke8 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 30. Rc6 Nd5 31. h4 h6 32. a4 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 g4 35. Ke2 N5f6 36. b3 Ne8 37. f3 g3 38. Rc1 Nef6 39. f4 Kd6 40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Kxg3 Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44. Kf3 Ne4 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ 47. Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 Rf2+ 0-1

Analysis by GM Mihail Marin
Analysis by GM Vladimir Belov

Game 7 Drawn

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3 cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Re1 O-O 12. a4 Bd7 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Rc1 Nb4 16. Qf3 Bc6 17. Qh3 Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nbxd5 19. Rcd1 Rc7 20. Bg5 Qc8 21. Qf3 Rd8 22. h4 h6 23. Bc1 Bb4 24. Rf1 Bd6 25. g3 b6 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Rfe1 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nfd5 30. Bd2 Rc5 31. Qg4 Nf5 32. Qe4 b5 33. h5 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Rb5 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Bc2 Nb6 37. Qg4 Rxb2 38. Be4 Qd7 39. Be1 Nd5 40. Bd3 Nb4 41. Bf1 Nd3 42. Qd1 Nxe5 43. Qxd7 Nxd7 44. Rc8+ Kh7 45. Rc7 Rb1 46. Rxd7 Rxe1 47. Rxf7 a5 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. Ra7 Re5 50. g4 Nd6 51. Bd3 Kf8 52. Bg6 Rd5 53. f3 e5 54. Kf2 Rd2+ 55. Ke1 Rd5 56. Ke2 Rb5 57. Rd7 Rd5 58. Ra7 Rb5 59. Bd3 Rd5 60. Bg6 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Marin
Analysis by GM Belov

Game 6 Drawn

Game 5 is still a win to Topalov. Kramnik has agreed to continue the match (under protest of course). Kudos to him. When this match started, I was rooting for Topalov over Kramnik; that has definitely changed given his highly unsportsmanlike conduct.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. Ke2 Rg8 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 19. Nb6 Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 21. Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 Bc5 24. Rad1 Bxb6 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. axb6 Rxb6 27. R1d6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Rc6 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. b4 e5 31. Bxa6 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Marin
Analysis by GM Inarkiev

Top US Chess Players

	Title	FIDE Rank	FIDE Rating	USCF Rank	USCF Rating
Kamsky, Gata	g	1	2705	1	2753
Onischuk, Alexander	g	2	2668	3	2702
Nakamura, Hikaru	g	3	2640	2	2709
Seirawan, Yasser	g	4	2638	N/A	N/A
Ibragimov, Ildar	g	5	2616	5	2682
Shulman, Yuri	g	6	2614	6	2679
Akobian, Varuzhan	g	7	2598	10	2654
Ehlvest, Jaan	g	8	2597	7	2666
Stripunsky, Alexander	g	8	2597	11	2650
Kaidanov, Gregory S	g	10	2595	4	2692
Ivanov, Alexander	g	11	2587	15	2640
Goldin, Alexander	g	12	2577	17	2613
Polgar, Zsuzsa	g	12	2577	21	2597
Shabalov, Alexander	g	14	2575	11	2650
Christiansen, Larry M	g	15	2572	8	2663
Gulko, Boris F	g	16	2570	9	2661
Novikov, Igor A	g	17	2568	11	2650
Benjamin, Joel	g	18	2565	14	2646
Finegold, Benjamin	m	19	2543	19	2603
Becerra Rivero, Julio	g	20	2542	18	2605
Perelshteyn, Eugene	g	21	2540	20	2601
De Firmian, Nick E	g	22	2539	25	2581
Kudrin, Sergey	g	23	2532	23	2592
Fishbein, Alexander	g	24	2529	16	2616
Yermolinsky, Alex	g	25	2520	22	2594
Dlugy, Maxim	g	26	2518	24	2586
Serper, Grigory	g	27	2513	26	2574
Gurevich, Dmitry	g	28	2510	27	2573

October 2006 Rating List

1	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2813	0	1975
2	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2779	0	1969
3	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2750	7	1975
	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2750	7	1976
5	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2747	10	1977
6	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2741	12	1969
	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2741	7	1982
	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2741	7	1979
9	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2735	18	1971
10	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2733	11	1968
11	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2729	10	1987
12	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2728	12	1985
13	Navara, David	g	CZE	2725	22	1985
14	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2720	11	1972
15	Akopian, Vladimir	g	ARM	2713	0	1971
16	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2710	0	1976
	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2710	11	1983
18	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2705	1	1983
	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2705	9	1974
20	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2703	11	1983

More ridiculous news from Elista

World Championship Chess Dead?

Game 5 was not played today.

The start of the game was delayed to settle the controversy between the two sides. The game was started at 15:22. Topalov is sitting at the board, Kramnik's clock is running. Kramnik is in his restroom and is waiting for his toilet to be opened. It seems the game is not going to start unless the toilet is opened. Kramnik lost game five on time after 1 hour. Chief Arbiter Geurt Gijssen confirmed that Kramnik has forfeited the 5th game.

Here's the sequence of events that led up to this ridiculous scene...

Appeal of the Head of the Bulgarian Delegation (Danailov)

Apparently Danailov feels that Kramnik (get ready for this) has been going to the bathroom too many times during games. He claims 50 times a day, which is an exaggeration, but nonetheless it probably is "too many" times. But so what? My guess is that it's related to Kramnik's recent illness, and Kramnik feels under no obligation to explain. But Topalov implies cheating.

The bathroom is the only place without video surveillance. [...] We would like to once again remind you that the bathroom is the only place without video or audio surveillance.

Danailov's proposed solution?

To stop the use of the rest rooms and the adjacent bathrooms for both players. If a player needs to go to the bathroom, he can use the public bathroom, but only with permission from the Arbiter and accompanied by an assistant arbiter.

Decision of the Appeals Committee to the appeal of Danailov

The Appeals Committee decided: (a) To close both the toilets in the players’ rest rooms and to open another toilet that will be available only to the two players and (b) Not to accept the request of Danailov, to stop the use of the rest rooms by the players.

Apparently this turned out to be unacceptable to both Topalov's camp and Kramnik.

Open Letter of Kramnik to FIDE President Ilyumzhinov

The WCC Committee is clearly violating both the rules and regulations of the WCC match and the rights of Kramnik. [...] Therefore Kramnik requests to exchange the mentioned persons [Makropolous, Azmaiparashivili] immediately. [...] Our team does not trust the objectivity of the Appeals Committee anymore. [...] Kramnik will stop playing this match as long as FIDE is not ready to respect Kramnik’s rights.

Answer of the Head of the Bulgarian Delegation on the Decision of the Appeal Committee

The ruling in its present form is not satisfactory to us. [...] Topalov is outraged by the suspicious behavior of his opponent. [...] Topalov is willing to continue his participation in the match provided that measures to guarantee fair play are taken. If the match were to continue, the World Champion would refrain from shaking hands with Kramnik before the games.

Topalov will play "provided that blah blah blah" = Topalov will not play.

Not shaking hands? Wow! Time travel back to Karpov-Korchnoi 1981 ... except that back then Korchnoi's family was being held in Karpov's USSR. Hell, even Fischer and Spassky shook hands.

Open Letter of Ilyumzhinov to Kramnik

Open Letter #2 of Kramnik

FIDE President decision to postpone Game of 30 September

There will be no game tomorrow. The next game is rescheduled for October 1. No word on whether that would be game 5 or game 6.

Ilyumzhinov Interview

Now of course, the players and organizer have an actual match-related problem on their hands, Kramnik's technical loss. So before the two sides can negotiate toilets or anything else, they have to work out whether the score of the match is 3-1 or 3-2. I don't see them getting them over this stumbling block. I think the match is dead.

I continue to be appalled at the state of professional chess. Not even Fischer about his most petulant never behaved like this. This match has been 4 years in the planning, and it's going to be cancelled ... over Kramnik's use of the toilet!? Add to this the fiasco over the 2007 candidates cycle, and I don't think world championship will ever recover.

Once again chess has shot itself in the foot; who will want to sponsor a top-level chess match if the whole thing can grind to a halt over a dispute about a toilet? - GM Nunn

What a freakin' joke

I am of course speaking about FIDE. It was announced back in January that the 16 candidates were to meet in two rounds of matches. I was skeptical even back then. Sure enough. Less than a month before these matches were supposed to have started, FIDE tells us that "there were difficulties in organising the Candidate matches" and that the challenger will instead be determined by a round robin tournament including all the candidates. One more punch line: in April 2007.

How can there be professional chess players if they can't plan for even the most basic components of world championship competition?

(In related news, the Masters Golf Tournament will take place in Seattle in December and Wimbledon will be played in France this year.)

Game 4 Drawn

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. a3 {9.0-0 is considered to be the main line, 9.e4 is also popular} b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 13. b3 Nf6 14. Nd2 {New. Pogorelov-Vera, Spain 2006, went 14.Bd3} Qc7 15. Bf3!? Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. Nc4 Be7 18. Bxa3 O-O 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Ra5 Rfd8 21. Kg1 c5 22. Rxc5 Ne4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Qg4 Bd3 25. Ra1 {It's unclear why Veselin declines the natural 25.Rc1} Rac8 26. Raa5 Rb8 27. Qd1 {27.Ne5 gives nothing) Be4 28. Qa1 Rb7 29. Nd2 Bg6 30. Qc3 h6 {White has very picturesque position, but Kramnik has no weakness} 31. Ra6 Kh7 32. Nc4 Be4 33. f3 Bd5 34. Nd2 Rdb8 35. Qd3+ f5 36. Rc3 Qh4 37. Ra1 Qg3 38. Qc2 Rf7 39. Rf1 Qg6 40. Qd3 Qg3 41. Rfc1 Rfb7 42. Qc2 Qg5 43. Ra1 Qf6 44. Qd3 Rd7 45. Ra4 Rbd8 46. Rc5 Kg8 47. Nc4 Bxc4 48. Raxc4 f4 49. Rc6 fxe3 50. Qxe3 Rxd4 51. Rxe6 Qh4 52. Rxd4 Qxd4 53. Re8+ Kh7 54. Qxd4 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Marin
Analysis by GM Inarkiev

Game 3 Drawn

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bd7 7. Qxc4 Na5 8. Qd3 c5 9. O-O Bc6 10. Nc3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Rd1 Bxg2 {Risky move} 13.Qb5+ Nd7 14. Kxg2 a6 15. Qd3 Rc8 {New. Seems to be invented at the board. Tkachev-Solezhenkin, France 2000, continued 15....Qd3. 15...Nf6!? is worth mentioning.} 16. Bg5 Be7 {16…Qg5? 17.Ne6! Qe7 18.Ng7 Kd8 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.b4} 17. Bxe7 {17.Ne4!? Bg5? 18.Nd6 Kf8 (18…Ke7? 19.Nc8 Qc8 20.Qa3! Qc5 21.Qc5 Nc5 22.b4) 19.Nc8 Qc8 20.Nf3 or 17....0-0? 18.Ne6 fe 19.Be7 Qe7 20.Qd7} Qxe7 18. Rac1 Nc4 {18…0-0? 19.Ne6!} 19. Na4 b5 20. b3 O-O 21. bxc4 bxa4 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. Qxd7 Qc5 24.Rc3 g6 25. Rb1 h5 26. Rb7 e5 27. e4 Rf6 28. Rc2 Qa3 29. Qd1 Rd6 30.Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rd5 Rxd5 32. cxd5 Qxa2 33. Qf3 Rf8 34. Qd3 a3 {35.Rb3? f5!} 35. Rb3 f5 36. Qxa6 Qxb3 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

Analysis by GM Mihail Marin
Analysis by GM Ernesto Inarkiev

Kramnik 2, Topalov 0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Bg6 15. Ng5 {Petrosian - Smyslov, Bar 1980, continued 15.Bg6} Re8 16. f4 Bxd3 {Pelletier-Deviatkin, Moscow 2003, continued 16...Rc8} 17. Qxd3 f5 18. Be3 Nf8 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. g4 Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7 22. Nf3 Rc4 23. Rg2 fxg4 24. Rxg4 Rxa4 25. Rag1 g6 26. h4 Rb4 27. h5 Qb5 28. Qc2 Rxb2 29. hxg6 h5 30. g7 hxg4 31. gxf8Q+ Bxf8 32. Qg6+ {What a mistake! White misses 33.Rg4! Bg7 34.Qc7!, cause on 34...Qf1 there is 35.Ng1.} Bg7 33. f5 Re7 34. f6 Qe2 35. Qxg4 Rf7 36. Rc1 Rc2 37. Rxc2 Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qxc2+ 39. Kg3 Qe4 40. Bf4 Qf5 41. Qxf5 exf5 42. Bg5 a5 43. Kf4 a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1 Bf8 46. e6 Rc7 47. Bxa3 Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5 Rf1 50. e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Kd6

53....Re1? {53...Re3! wins because after 54.d5 Kf8 55.Kd7 b5 56.Ne6+ Kg8 57.d6 b4 58.Nc5 the rook controls b3 and is therefore ready to support the b-pawn without wasting a tempo. Then the continuation 58...Kf7 59.Kc6 Rc3 60.Kb5 b3 61.Na4 Rc2 62.d7 Ke7 leads to a clear win. - Nunn} 54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ Ke8? {55....Kd7! still draws} 56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 58. Ke7 Rh1 59. Ng5 b5 60. d6 Rd1 61. Ne6 b4 62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 0-1

Analysis by GM Ernesto Inarkiev
Analysis by GM Mihail Marin

Kramnik 1, Topalov 0

I am not surprised.

Kramnik (2743) - Topalov (2813) [E04]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2!? c6 9.a4 b5 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 13.Qa4 Qb6 14.0-0 Qxb2 15.Nbd2 Bb5 16.Nxc4 Bxa4 17.Nxb2 Bb5 18.Ne5 Ra7 19.Bf3 Nbd7 20.Nec4 Rb8 21.Rfb1 g5 22.e3 g4 23.Bd1 Bc6 24.Rc1 Be4 25.Na4 Rb4 26.Nd6 Bf3!? 27.Bxf3 gxf3 28.Nc8 Ra8 29.Ne7+ Kg7 30.Nc6 Rb3 31.Nc5 Rb5 32.h3 Nxc5 33.Rxc5 Rb2 34.Rg5+ Kh6 35.Rgxa5 Rxa5 36.Nxa5 Ne4 37.Rf1 Nd2 38.Rc1 Ne4 39.Rf1 f6 40.Nc6 Nd2 41.Rd1 Ne4 42.Rf1 Kg6 [With such a perfect coordination of pieces (R + N + P), Topalov correctly assumes that he can play for a win without too much risk. He might have also thought that even if White would hold a draw, it would useful to take the psychological initiative from the very first game of the match. However, he might have underestimated the strength of the enemy knight, which, in spite of being cut off his colleagues, is able to restrict Black's activity by attacking the enemy pawns from behind.]

43.Nd8 Rb6 44.Rc1 h5 45.Ra1 h4 46.gxh4 Kh5 47.Ra2 Kxh4 48.Kh2 Kh5 49.Rc2 Kh6 50.Ra2 Kg6 51.Rc2 Kf5 52.Ra2 Rb5 53.Nc6 Rb7 54.Ra5+ Kg6 55.Ra2 Kh5.

56.d5! e5 57.Ra4 f5? [Probably surprised by the unexpected course of events, Topalov fails to find his last saving possibility, consisting of 57...Nxf2 58.Kg3 e4 and if 59.Kxf2 then 59...Rb2+ with perpetual.] 58.Nxe5 Rb2 59.Nd3 The rest is easy. 59...Rb7 60.Rd4 Rb6 61.d6 Nxd6 62.Kg3 Ne4+ 63.Kxf3 Kg5 64.h4+ Kf6 65.Rd5 Nc3 66.Rd8 Rb1 67.Rf8+ Ke6 68.Nf4+ Ke5 69.Re8+ Kf6 70.Nh5+ Kg6 71.Ng3 Rb2 72.h5+ Kf7 73.Re5 Nd1 74.Ne2 Kf6 75.Rd5 1-0

Analysis by GM Ernesto Inarkiev
Analysis by GM Mihail Marin

ChessTheatre

ChessTheatre is a free program to view and publish PGN chess databases. You can use it to view your chess games on your own PC, but also share them with others on the internet by using the integrated publishing function. (I have not used it so cannot provide a review.)

http://www.dgtprojects.com/chesstheatre.htm