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.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
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)
Friday, December 23, 2005
Two wins by Black
RMD-ALD, 12/23/2005 [B53]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Qc4 {6.Bxc6 (B53 / 5-7) is the only move played with any regularity here.} a6 {6...Rc8, Uhlarova-Havlickova, Zilina 1997; 6...Nf6, Fisher-Croft, USA 1992} 7.Bxc6 {7.Ng5, Marabaoglu-Steinmann, Altenholz 1994} Bxc6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.O-O g6 10.Ng5 e6 11.f4 Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Ng4 13.Qe2 h5 14.f5 gxf5 15.Nxe6? {I don't see the point.} fxe6 16.exf5 e5 -+ 17.a3 O-O-O 18.f6 Bh6 19.b4 Bxc1 20.Raxc1 Ne3 21.Rf2 Rdg8 22.Rg1 Nxg2 23.Rfxg2 Bxg2+ {23...Rxg2!} 24.Rxg2 Qc6 25.Ne4 Rxg2 26.Kxg2 d5 27.Ng5 Qxf6 28.h4 Qf4 29.Qe1Rg8 30.Qg3 Qxg3+ 31.Kxg3 e4 32.Kf4 Kd7 33.Ke5 Rxg5+! {It's all over.} 34.hxg5 e3 35.g6 e2 36.g7 e1Q+ 37.Kf6 Qc3+ 38.Kg6 Qxg7+ 39.Kxg7 h4 0-1
ALD-RMD, 12/23/2005 [D06]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 h5 {Pointless; 5...e5 is relatively best.} 6.Bc4 Bd7 7.Nf3 e6 8.Bf4 {Creating a very classical looking center, but probably not best; 8.e5 seems better.} Bb4! 9.O-O {9.Bg5 keeps more of White's advantage.} Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qd3 Bc6 12.Ne5= {12.Rfe1! Nd6 13.Rxe6+ fxe6 14.Qg6+ Nf7 15.Qxe6+ Qe7 16.Qc8+ Qd8 17.Bxf7+Kxf7 18.Ne5+ Ke8 19.Qxd8+ Kxd8 20.Nf7+ Ke7 21.Nxh8 +/-} Nd6 13.Nxc6 Nxc6 14.Rab1 Qf6 15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Rxb7 O-O 17.Bb3 d5 18.Bc2 g6 19.Rfb1 Na5 20.R7b5 Nc4 21.Bb3? Na3! -/+ 22.Bc2 Nxb5 23.Rxb5 a6 24.Rb6 a5 25.Qb5 Qe7 26.Qb1 a4 27.Bxg6!? Qg5 {27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Qg7 29.Qxe6+ Qf7 held no dangers for Black, but my wife refused my attempt to complicate matters.} 28.Bc2 h4 29.h3 Kg7 30.Qe1 a3 31.c4 {Risky.} Rfb8 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.cxd5 Qxd5 34.Qe5+? {Trading queens leaves White with absolutely no hope.} Qxe5 35.dxe5 Kh6 36.f4 Rb2 37.Bb3 Kg6 0-1 {38.Bc4 Kf5 39.Kf1 Kxf4 40.Kg1 Kxe5}
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Qc4 {6.Bxc6 (B53 / 5-7) is the only move played with any regularity here.} a6 {6...Rc8, Uhlarova-Havlickova, Zilina 1997; 6...Nf6, Fisher-Croft, USA 1992} 7.Bxc6 {7.Ng5, Marabaoglu-Steinmann, Altenholz 1994} Bxc6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.O-O g6 10.Ng5 e6 11.f4 Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Ng4 13.Qe2 h5 14.f5 gxf5 15.Nxe6? {I don't see the point.} fxe6 16.exf5 e5 -+ 17.a3 O-O-O 18.f6 Bh6 19.b4 Bxc1 20.Raxc1 Ne3 21.Rf2 Rdg8 22.Rg1 Nxg2 23.Rfxg2 Bxg2+ {23...Rxg2!} 24.Rxg2 Qc6 25.Ne4 Rxg2 26.Kxg2 d5 27.Ng5 Qxf6 28.h4 Qf4 29.Qe1Rg8 30.Qg3 Qxg3+ 31.Kxg3 e4 32.Kf4 Kd7 33.Ke5 Rxg5+! {It's all over.} 34.hxg5 e3 35.g6 e2 36.g7 e1Q+ 37.Kf6 Qc3+ 38.Kg6 Qxg7+ 39.Kxg7 h4 0-1
ALD-RMD, 12/23/2005 [D06]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 h5 {Pointless; 5...e5 is relatively best.} 6.Bc4 Bd7 7.Nf3 e6 8.Bf4 {Creating a very classical looking center, but probably not best; 8.e5 seems better.} Bb4! 9.O-O {9.Bg5 keeps more of White's advantage.} Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qd3 Bc6 12.Ne5= {12.Rfe1! Nd6 13.Rxe6+ fxe6 14.Qg6+ Nf7 15.Qxe6+ Qe7 16.Qc8+ Qd8 17.Bxf7+Kxf7 18.Ne5+ Ke8 19.Qxd8+ Kxd8 20.Nf7+ Ke7 21.Nxh8 +/-} Nd6 13.Nxc6 Nxc6 14.Rab1 Qf6 15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Rxb7 O-O 17.Bb3 d5 18.Bc2 g6 19.Rfb1 Na5 20.R7b5 Nc4 21.Bb3? Na3! -/+ 22.Bc2 Nxb5 23.Rxb5 a6 24.Rb6 a5 25.Qb5 Qe7 26.Qb1 a4 27.Bxg6!? Qg5 {27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Qg7 29.Qxe6+ Qf7 held no dangers for Black, but my wife refused my attempt to complicate matters.} 28.Bc2 h4 29.h3 Kg7 30.Qe1 a3 31.c4 {Risky.} Rfb8 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.cxd5 Qxd5 34.Qe5+? {Trading queens leaves White with absolutely no hope.} Qxe5 35.dxe5 Kh6 36.f4 Rb2 37.Bb3 Kg6 0-1 {38.Bc4 Kf5 39.Kf1 Kxf4 40.Kg1 Kxe5}
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Two games
I haven't posted any of the games between my and my wife in a while. Here's a couple of recent ones.
RMD-ALD, 10/23/2005 [C50]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.a3 Bg4 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Qd7 10.Qe1 {10.Qd2, Mazziotti Irigoyen Gabriel 2139 - Martinez Daniel 2193, Buenos Aires 2001} Ne7 11.Nd5 Nexd5 12.exd5 e4 13.Nd4 exd3 14.Bxd3? Rae8? {14...Nxd5} 15.Bb5! Qe7 16.Bxe8 Rxe8 17.c4 Qxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Rxe3 19.Nb5 Rb3 {I don't know why I left the c7 pawn undisturbed for so many moves. - ALD} 20.Rf2 Ne4 21.Rf4 Nf6 22.Rb1 a6 23.Nc3 {23.Nxc7 +/-} Bh5 24.Rf2 Ng4 25.Rd2 Ne5 26.Rd4 {26.Re1!} Bg6 27.Ne4?{27.Rc1} Re3! -/+ {Black handles the remainder of the game very well. - ALD} 28.Nf6+ gxf6 29.Rf1 Kg7 30.Rf2 Re1+ 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Bd3+ 33.Kf2 Bxc4 34.g3 Bd3 35.b3 Bf5 36.Kg2 Kf8 37.h3 Ke7 38.g4 Bc8 39.Kg3 c6 40.Kf4 Ng6+ 41.Kg3 cxd5 42.Rxd5 Be6 43.Rd3 Ne5 44.Rc3 Kd7 45.b4 b5 0-1 {My wife doesn't usually resign until the win is obvious, but in this case she decided she did not want to play on in this hopeless position. - ALD}
RMD-ALD, 12/11/2005 [C50]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 O-O 6.Qf3 d6 7.Nc3 Nd4 {7...Re8, Egold-Dietzel, Verden 2002; 7...Bg4, Mueller-Friess, Hassloch 1997; 7...Bb4, Strasser-Brehm, Bad Duerkheim 1993} 8.Qd1 {8.Qg3, Thomas-Thomas, Sebnitz 1998} Bg4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Bh5 11.Be3 Bb4 12.Qd2 Bxf3 13.Rg1 Ng4 14.h3 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qh4+ 16.Qf2 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qxh3 18.Kd2 Bg4 19.d4 exd4 20.cxd4 Rae8 21.Kd3 c6 22.Rg3 Qh4 23.Qf4 Be2+? 24.Kxe2 Qxf4 25.exf4 Rxe4+ 26.Kd3 Rxf4 27.d5 c5 28.Re3 a6 29.Re7? b5! 30.Bb3 {forced} c4+ 31.Kc3 cxb3 32.axb3 Ra8 33.Rd7 Rf6 34.Rc7 g6 35.Kb4 Rf5 36.c4 bxc4 37.bxc4 Rf2 38.Rc6 a5+ 39.Kb5 Rb2+ 40.Ka4 Rb4+ 41.Ka3 Kf8 42.Re1 Re8 43.Rc1 Re3+ 44.Ka2 a4 {44...Ke7} 45.Rxd6 a3 46.Rc2 Reb3 47.Rd8+ Ke7 48.Rc8 Rb6?= {This turns a game with very good winning chances into a dead draw; 48...Rd3! -/+. - ALD} 49.c5 R6b5 50.Rc7+ Kd8 51.d6 Rb2+ 52.Rxb2 axb2 53.Kb1 h5 54.c6 Rb8? {And this turns a dead draw into a lost endgame; 54...Rb6=. - ALD} 55.Rxf7 Ke8 56.Rb7 Rd8 57.Re7+ Kf8 58.Rd7 {58.Re6!} Rc8 {58...Ke8} 59.Rc7 Ra8 60.Rb7 61.d7+ Kd8 62.Kxb2 h4 63.Kc3? {63.c7+! +-} g5 64.Kd4 h3 65.Ke5 h2? {65...Ke7 with (slim) drawing chances. - ALD} 66.Kd6! 1-0 {66...Rc8 67.Rb8 h1Q 68.dxc8Q#}
RMD-ALD, 10/23/2005 [C50]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.a3 Bg4 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Qd7 10.Qe1 {10.Qd2, Mazziotti Irigoyen Gabriel 2139 - Martinez Daniel 2193, Buenos Aires 2001} Ne7 11.Nd5 Nexd5 12.exd5 e4 13.Nd4 exd3 14.Bxd3? Rae8? {14...Nxd5} 15.Bb5! Qe7 16.Bxe8 Rxe8 17.c4 Qxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Rxe3 19.Nb5 Rb3 {I don't know why I left the c7 pawn undisturbed for so many moves. - ALD} 20.Rf2 Ne4 21.Rf4 Nf6 22.Rb1 a6 23.Nc3 {23.Nxc7 +/-} Bh5 24.Rf2 Ng4 25.Rd2 Ne5 26.Rd4 {26.Re1!} Bg6 27.Ne4?{27.Rc1} Re3! -/+ {Black handles the remainder of the game very well. - ALD} 28.Nf6+ gxf6 29.Rf1 Kg7 30.Rf2 Re1+ 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Bd3+ 33.Kf2 Bxc4 34.g3 Bd3 35.b3 Bf5 36.Kg2 Kf8 37.h3 Ke7 38.g4 Bc8 39.Kg3 c6 40.Kf4 Ng6+ 41.Kg3 cxd5 42.Rxd5 Be6 43.Rd3 Ne5 44.Rc3 Kd7 45.b4 b5 0-1 {My wife doesn't usually resign until the win is obvious, but in this case she decided she did not want to play on in this hopeless position. - ALD}
RMD-ALD, 12/11/2005 [C50]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 O-O 6.Qf3 d6 7.Nc3 Nd4 {7...Re8, Egold-Dietzel, Verden 2002; 7...Bg4, Mueller-Friess, Hassloch 1997; 7...Bb4, Strasser-Brehm, Bad Duerkheim 1993} 8.Qd1 {8.Qg3, Thomas-Thomas, Sebnitz 1998} Bg4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Bh5 11.Be3 Bb4 12.Qd2 Bxf3 13.Rg1 Ng4 14.h3 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qh4+ 16.Qf2 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qxh3 18.Kd2 Bg4 19.d4 exd4 20.cxd4 Rae8 21.Kd3 c6 22.Rg3 Qh4 23.Qf4 Be2+? 24.Kxe2 Qxf4 25.exf4 Rxe4+ 26.Kd3 Rxf4 27.d5 c5 28.Re3 a6 29.Re7? b5! 30.Bb3 {forced} c4+ 31.Kc3 cxb3 32.axb3 Ra8 33.Rd7 Rf6 34.Rc7 g6 35.Kb4 Rf5 36.c4 bxc4 37.bxc4 Rf2 38.Rc6 a5+ 39.Kb5 Rb2+ 40.Ka4 Rb4+ 41.Ka3 Kf8 42.Re1 Re8 43.Rc1 Re3+ 44.Ka2 a4 {44...Ke7} 45.Rxd6 a3 46.Rc2 Reb3 47.Rd8+ Ke7 48.Rc8 Rb6?= {This turns a game with very good winning chances into a dead draw; 48...Rd3! -/+. - ALD} 49.c5 R6b5 50.Rc7+ Kd8 51.d6 Rb2+ 52.Rxb2 axb2 53.Kb1 h5 54.c6 Rb8? {And this turns a dead draw into a lost endgame; 54...Rb6=. - ALD} 55.Rxf7 Ke8 56.Rb7 Rd8 57.Re7+ Kf8 58.Rd7 {58.Re6!} Rc8 {58...Ke8} 59.Rc7 Ra8 60.Rb7 61.d7+ Kd8 62.Kxb2 h4 63.Kc3? {63.c7+! +-} g5 64.Kd4 h3 65.Ke5 h2? {65...Ke7 with (slim) drawing chances. - ALD} 66.Kd6! 1-0 {66...Rc8 67.Rb8 h1Q 68.dxc8Q#}
Ludek Pachman
GM Ludek Pachman, who passed away in March 2003, is in my opinion THE best chess writer ever ... hands down, bar none! Unfortunately, many of his books either were never published in English or are long out of print. Among my favorite Pachman books are ...
Modern Chess Strategy
A one-volume condensed version of the earlier (and long out-of-print) three-volume Complete Chess Strategy.
Tactica Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Tactics)
A two-volume follow-up to Modern Chess Strategy covering tactics. Lots and lots of examples, followed by lots of exercises and several illustrative full games, on each topic.
Teoria Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Theory)
A 4-volume opening treatise (Open Games, Semi-Open Games, Queen's Pawn Games, Closed Games). It doesn't cover quite the same amount of ground as ECO in terms of raw number of lines, but it still manages to cover an impressively immense amount of material while also including lots of textual discussion of the theory and strategy behind each opening and its major lines.
Decisive Games in Chess History
Pachman analysis 65 pivotal games from 1870 to 1972, looking not just at the actual chess moves on the board but also the competitive and psychological aspects of the situation.
Modern Chess Strategy
A one-volume condensed version of the earlier (and long out-of-print) three-volume Complete Chess Strategy.
Tactica Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Tactics)
A two-volume follow-up to Modern Chess Strategy covering tactics. Lots and lots of examples, followed by lots of exercises and several illustrative full games, on each topic.
Teoria Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Theory)
A 4-volume opening treatise (Open Games, Semi-Open Games, Queen's Pawn Games, Closed Games). It doesn't cover quite the same amount of ground as ECO in terms of raw number of lines, but it still manages to cover an impressively immense amount of material while also including lots of textual discussion of the theory and strategy behind each opening and its major lines.
Decisive Games in Chess History
Pachman analysis 65 pivotal games from 1870 to 1972, looking not just at the actual chess moves on the board but also the competitive and psychological aspects of the situation.
FIDE World Cup Round 7 (Final)
All the games of the World Cup are available in PGN format.
The first ten places, who move on to the next phase of the FIDE World Championship. All five 2700-rated players among the sweet 16 ended up at the top of the list:
1. Aronian, Levon (ARM, 2724) - in tiebreak
2. Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR, 2704)
3. Bacrot, Etienne (FRA, 2725) - in tiebreak
4. Grischuk, Alexander (RUS, 2720)
5. Bareev, Evgeny (RUS, 2717) - in tiebreak
6. Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
7. Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
8. Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL)
9. Kamsky, Gata (USA) - in tiebreak
10. Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - the lowest rated (2570) and of course youngest of the sweet 16
The remaining players are:
11. Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
12. Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
13. Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - in tiebreak
14. Van Wely, Loek (NED)
15. Lautier, Joel (FRA) - final score was tied, but Lautier had Black in the drawn seventh Sudden Death game
16. Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS)
If Kasparov and Kramnik decline to play in the 2006 Candidate Matches as is widely expected, then Shirov (based on his rating) and Malakhov (based on his #11 place finish) would take their places, as explained extremely well by ChessBase.
Ivanchuk (UKR, 2748) lost out because (a) he was not rated one point higher on either the July 2004 or January 2005 rating lists as that would have been enough to move him ahead of Bacrot on the rating list and (b) he lost in the second round to Cheparinov of the World Cup tournament.
The two other 2700-players were Shirov (ESP, 2710) and Radjabov (AZE, 2704) who both lost in round 3, to M. Gurevich and L. van Wely, respectively.
The first ten places, who move on to the next phase of the FIDE World Championship. All five 2700-rated players among the sweet 16 ended up at the top of the list:
1. Aronian, Levon (ARM, 2724) - in tiebreak
2. Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR, 2704)
3. Bacrot, Etienne (FRA, 2725) - in tiebreak
4. Grischuk, Alexander (RUS, 2720)
5. Bareev, Evgeny (RUS, 2717) - in tiebreak
6. Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
7. Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
8. Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL)
9. Kamsky, Gata (USA) - in tiebreak
10. Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - the lowest rated (2570) and of course youngest of the sweet 16
The remaining players are:
11. Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
12. Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
13. Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - in tiebreak
14. Van Wely, Loek (NED)
15. Lautier, Joel (FRA) - final score was tied, but Lautier had Black in the drawn seventh Sudden Death game
16. Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS)
If Kasparov and Kramnik decline to play in the 2006 Candidate Matches as is widely expected, then Shirov (based on his rating) and Malakhov (based on his #11 place finish) would take their places, as explained extremely well by ChessBase.
Ivanchuk (UKR, 2748) lost out because (a) he was not rated one point higher on either the July 2004 or January 2005 rating lists as that would have been enough to move him ahead of Bacrot on the rating list and (b) he lost in the second round to Cheparinov of the World Cup tournament.
The two other 2700-players were Shirov (ESP, 2710) and Radjabov (AZE, 2704) who both lost in round 3, to M. Gurevich and L. van Wely, respectively.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 6
For 1-4 places
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) in tiebreak
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Bacrot, Etienne (FRA), 1.5-0.5
For 5-8 places
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) in tiebreak
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 2-0
For 9-12 places
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) in tiebreak
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) in tiebreak
For 13-16 places
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Lautier, Joel (FRA) in tiebreak
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) in tiebreak
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Bacrot, Etienne (FRA), 1.5-0.5
For 5-8 places
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) in tiebreak
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 2-0
For 9-12 places
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) in tiebreak
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) in tiebreak
For 13-16 places
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Lautier, Joel (FRA) in tiebreak
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Sunday, December 11, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 5
To determine Places 1-8
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Bareev, Evgeny (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 1.5-0.5
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Gelfand, Boris (ISR) in tiebreak
To determine Places 9-16
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Lautier, Joel (FRA), 1.5-0.5
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Dreev, Alexey (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Van Wely, Loek (NED) in tiebreak
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Bareev, Evgeny (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 1.5-0.5
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Gelfand, Boris (ISR) in tiebreak
To determine Places 9-16
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Lautier, Joel (FRA), 1.5-0.5
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Dreev, Alexey (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Van Wely, Loek (NED) in tiebreak
Thursday, December 08, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 4
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Kamsky, Gata (USA), 1.5-0.5
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Van Wely, Loek (NED), 2-0
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties, with the blitz tiebreak winner indicated in bold:
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Aronian, Levon (ARM)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) - Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS)
Note that for the remaining rounds, nobody is eliminated. They simply keep playing in winners and losers brackets until places 1-16 are decided. Places 1-10 continue to the next stage of the FIDE Championship cycle. So Aronian, Bacrot, Bareev, Gelfand, Grischuk, Gurevich, Ponomariov and Rublevsky have qualified for the 2006 Candidate matches (but of course, the little matter of the winner of the $100K first prize still needs to be determined). The other eight players are still fighting for the last two qualification slots.
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Van Wely, Loek (NED), 2-0
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties, with the blitz tiebreak winner indicated in bold:
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Aronian, Levon (ARM)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) - Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS)
Note that for the remaining rounds, nobody is eliminated. They simply keep playing in winners and losers brackets until places 1-16 are decided. Places 1-10 continue to the next stage of the FIDE Championship cycle. So Aronian, Bacrot, Bareev, Gelfand, Grischuk, Gurevich, Ponomariov and Rublevsky have qualified for the 2006 Candidate matches (but of course, the little matter of the winner of the $100K first prize still needs to be determined). The other eight players are still fighting for the last two qualification slots.
Monday, December 05, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 3
The following matches were decisive:
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR), 1.5-0.5
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Shirov, Alexei (ESP), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Xu, Jun (CHN), 2-0
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Tiviakov, Sergei (NED), 2-0
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Sokolov, Ivan (NED), 1.5-0.5
The following matches went to tiebreaks:
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Sutovsky, Emil (ISR)
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL)
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Shulman, Yuri (USA)
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Radjabov, Teimur (AZE)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Smirin, Ilia (ISR)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Lautier, Joel (FRA) over Najer, Evgeniy (RUS)
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB)
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR), 1.5-0.5
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Shirov, Alexei (ESP), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Xu, Jun (CHN), 2-0
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Tiviakov, Sergei (NED), 2-0
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Sokolov, Ivan (NED), 1.5-0.5
The following matches went to tiebreaks:
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Sutovsky, Emil (ISR)
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL)
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Shulman, Yuri (USA)
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Radjabov, Teimur (AZE)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Smirin, Ilia (ISR)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Lautier, Joel (FRA) over Najer, Evgeniy (RUS)
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB)
Friday, December 02, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 2
Ivanchuk (#1) upset by Cheparinov (#64)!
The following matches had decisive results:
Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) - Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL): 0.5-1.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Kempinski, Robert (POL): 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): 2-0
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM): 2-0
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): 2-0
Lane, Gary (AUS) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO): 0.5-1.5
Sokolov, Ivan (NED) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN): 2-0
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR): 0-2
Lautier, Joel (FRA) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): 1.5-0.5
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER): 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA): 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Nikolic, Predrag (BIH): 2-0
Cao, Sang (HUN) - Xu, Jun (CHN): 0.5-1.5
Balogh, Csaba (HUN) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0.5-1.5
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK): 1.5-0.5
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties and were decided in blitz tiebreaks:
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Felgaer, Ruben (ARG)
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) over Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ)
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Motylev, Alexander (RUS)
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) over Korneev, Oleg (RUS)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Paragua, Mark (PHI)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) over Onischuk, Alexander (USA)
Najer, Evgeniy (RUS) over Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) over Wang, Yue (CHN)
Harikrishna, Pentala (IND) over Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA)
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) over Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) over Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)
Shulman - Khalifman ended in a 3-3 tie, and the sudden death seventh game also ended in a draw so Shulman who had the Black pieces advanced to the third round.
The following matches had decisive results:
Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) - Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL): 0.5-1.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Kempinski, Robert (POL): 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): 2-0
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM): 2-0
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): 2-0
Lane, Gary (AUS) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO): 0.5-1.5
Sokolov, Ivan (NED) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN): 2-0
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR): 0-2
Lautier, Joel (FRA) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): 1.5-0.5
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER): 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA): 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Nikolic, Predrag (BIH): 2-0
Cao, Sang (HUN) - Xu, Jun (CHN): 0.5-1.5
Balogh, Csaba (HUN) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0.5-1.5
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK): 1.5-0.5
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties and were decided in blitz tiebreaks:
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Felgaer, Ruben (ARG)
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) over Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ)
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Motylev, Alexander (RUS)
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) over Korneev, Oleg (RUS)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Paragua, Mark (PHI)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) over Onischuk, Alexander (USA)
Najer, Evgeniy (RUS) over Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) over Wang, Yue (CHN)
Harikrishna, Pentala (IND) over Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA)
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) over Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) over Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)
Shulman - Khalifman ended in a 3-3 tie, and the sudden death seventh game also ended in a draw so Shulman who had the Black pieces advanced to the third round.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
FIDE World Cup Round 1
The 2005 FIDE World Cup is under way. The official website is here. Unlike the ones in 1999-2004, this World Cup will not determine the FIDE Champion but is only the first step in the 2005-2007 FIDE Championship cycle. The field consists of 114 GMs (including eight 2700+ players), 7 IMs, 3 FMs and 3 untitled players.
The first 10 places in this World Cup tournament will join five players with the highest ratings who do not otherwise qualify for the cycle (that would be Leko, Adams, Polgar plus Kasparov and Kramnik - I suspect we will need two substitutes) and the former FIDE champion (Kasimdzhanov) in two rounds of candidate matches. The four survivors of this elimination will join the first 4 places in the 2005 San Luis FIDE Championship tournament (Topalov, Svidler, Anand, Morozevich) for the 2007 FIDE Championship tournament.
The winners in round 1 were:
Sibriaev, Aleksandr (RUS) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR): ½-1½
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Chumfwa, Stanley (ZAM): 2-0
Frhat, Ali (EGY) - Aronian, Levon (ARM): 0-2
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Needleman, Gaston (ARG): 2-0
Kobese, Watu (RSA) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR): 0-2
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kuderinov, Kiril (KAZ): 1½-½
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) - Flores, Diego (ARG): 2-0
Ahmed, Adly (EGY) - Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR): ½-1½
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) - Belkhodja, Slim (TUN): 2-0
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) - Sokolov, Ivan (NED): ½-1½
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Charbonneau, Pascal (CAN): 2-0
Zhao, Yun (CHN) - Kamsky, Gata (USA): ½-1½
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Matamoros, Carlos (ECU): 2-0
Rodrigo, Vasquez (CHI) - Bareev, Evgeny (RUS): ½-1½
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Wang, Hao (CHN): 1½-½
Lima, Darcy Gustavo (BRA) - Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS): 0-2
Volokitin, Andrei (UKR) - Cao, Sang (HUN): ½-1½
Kuzubov, Yuriy (UKR) - Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND) - Iljushin, Alexei (RUS): 1½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru (USA) - Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND): 0-2
Stripunsky, Alexander (USA) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) - Milov, Vadim (SUI): 1½-½
Dao, Thien Hai (VIE) - Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS): ½-1½
Van Wely, Loek (NED) - Minasian, Artashes (ARM): 2-0
Xu, Jun (CHN) - Ye, Jiangchuan (CHN): 1½-½
Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA) - Adianto, Utut (INA): 1½-½
Wang, Yue (CHN) - Asrian, Karen (ARM): 1½-½
Ghaem, Maghami Ehsan (IRI) - Najer, Evgeniy (RUS): ½-1½
Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER) - Kotsur, Pavel (KAZ): 1½-½
Popov, Valerij (RUS) - Onischuk, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Granda-Zuniga, Julio (PER) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Smirnov, Pavel (RUS) - Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS): ½-1½
Paragua, Mark (PHI) - Movsesian, Sergei (SVK): 1½-½
Motylev, Alexander (RUS) - Roiz, Michael (ISR): 1½-½
Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ) - Alekseev, Evgeny (RUS): 1½-½
Ni, Hua (CHN) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): ½-1½
Felgaer, Ruben (ARG) - Kaidanov, Gregory S (USA): 1½-½
Milos, Gilberto (BRA) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): ½-1½
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties. The subsequent winner of the blitz tiebreak (Nov 29) is indicated in bold.
Pridorozhni, Aleksei (RUS) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) - Kabanov, Nikolai (RUS)
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE) - Ibraev, Nurlan (KAZ)
Li, Shilong (CHN) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) - Arencibia, Walter (CUB)
Yu, Shaoteng (CHN) - Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kudrin, Sergey (USA) - Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Shulman, Yuri (USA) - Zvjaginsev, Vadim (RUS)
Karjakin, Sergey (UKR) - Balogh, Csaba (HUN)
Agrest, Evgenij (SWE) - Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (GEO) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK) - Krasenkow, Michal (POL)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) - Hamdouchi, Hichem (MAR)
Khalifman, Alexander (RUS) - Inarkiev, Ernesto (RUS)
Gurevich, Mikhail (TUR) - Markus, Robert (SCG)
Izoria, Zviad (GEO) - Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Nikolic, Predrag (BIH) - Navara, David (CZE)
Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA)
Macieja, Bartlomiej (POL) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Kobalia, Mikhail (RUS) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN)
Korneev, Oleg (RUS) - Miroshnichenko, Evgenij (UKR)
Beliavsky, Alexander G (SLO) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Ftacnik, Lubomir (SVK) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM)
Vaganian, Rafael A (ARM) - Kempinski, Robert (POL)
Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL) - Fedorov, Alexei (BLR)
Akopian (#7 seed) was unable to participate due to ill health, so his scheduled opponent (Lane) got a bye straight into round 2.
The first 10 places in this World Cup tournament will join five players with the highest ratings who do not otherwise qualify for the cycle (that would be Leko, Adams, Polgar plus Kasparov and Kramnik - I suspect we will need two substitutes) and the former FIDE champion (Kasimdzhanov) in two rounds of candidate matches. The four survivors of this elimination will join the first 4 places in the 2005 San Luis FIDE Championship tournament (Topalov, Svidler, Anand, Morozevich) for the 2007 FIDE Championship tournament.
The winners in round 1 were:
Sibriaev, Aleksandr (RUS) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR): ½-1½
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Chumfwa, Stanley (ZAM): 2-0
Frhat, Ali (EGY) - Aronian, Levon (ARM): 0-2
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Needleman, Gaston (ARG): 2-0
Kobese, Watu (RSA) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR): 0-2
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kuderinov, Kiril (KAZ): 1½-½
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) - Flores, Diego (ARG): 2-0
Ahmed, Adly (EGY) - Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR): ½-1½
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) - Belkhodja, Slim (TUN): 2-0
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) - Sokolov, Ivan (NED): ½-1½
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Charbonneau, Pascal (CAN): 2-0
Zhao, Yun (CHN) - Kamsky, Gata (USA): ½-1½
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Matamoros, Carlos (ECU): 2-0
Rodrigo, Vasquez (CHI) - Bareev, Evgeny (RUS): ½-1½
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Wang, Hao (CHN): 1½-½
Lima, Darcy Gustavo (BRA) - Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS): 0-2
Volokitin, Andrei (UKR) - Cao, Sang (HUN): ½-1½
Kuzubov, Yuriy (UKR) - Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND) - Iljushin, Alexei (RUS): 1½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru (USA) - Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND): 0-2
Stripunsky, Alexander (USA) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) - Milov, Vadim (SUI): 1½-½
Dao, Thien Hai (VIE) - Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS): ½-1½
Van Wely, Loek (NED) - Minasian, Artashes (ARM): 2-0
Xu, Jun (CHN) - Ye, Jiangchuan (CHN): 1½-½
Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA) - Adianto, Utut (INA): 1½-½
Wang, Yue (CHN) - Asrian, Karen (ARM): 1½-½
Ghaem, Maghami Ehsan (IRI) - Najer, Evgeniy (RUS): ½-1½
Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER) - Kotsur, Pavel (KAZ): 1½-½
Popov, Valerij (RUS) - Onischuk, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Granda-Zuniga, Julio (PER) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Smirnov, Pavel (RUS) - Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS): ½-1½
Paragua, Mark (PHI) - Movsesian, Sergei (SVK): 1½-½
Motylev, Alexander (RUS) - Roiz, Michael (ISR): 1½-½
Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ) - Alekseev, Evgeny (RUS): 1½-½
Ni, Hua (CHN) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): ½-1½
Felgaer, Ruben (ARG) - Kaidanov, Gregory S (USA): 1½-½
Milos, Gilberto (BRA) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): ½-1½
The following matches ended in 1-1 ties. The subsequent winner of the blitz tiebreak (Nov 29) is indicated in bold.
Pridorozhni, Aleksei (RUS) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) - Kabanov, Nikolai (RUS)
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE) - Ibraev, Nurlan (KAZ)
Li, Shilong (CHN) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) - Arencibia, Walter (CUB)
Yu, Shaoteng (CHN) - Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kudrin, Sergey (USA) - Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Shulman, Yuri (USA) - Zvjaginsev, Vadim (RUS)
Karjakin, Sergey (UKR) - Balogh, Csaba (HUN)
Agrest, Evgenij (SWE) - Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (GEO) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK) - Krasenkow, Michal (POL)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) - Hamdouchi, Hichem (MAR)
Khalifman, Alexander (RUS) - Inarkiev, Ernesto (RUS)
Gurevich, Mikhail (TUR) - Markus, Robert (SCG)
Izoria, Zviad (GEO) - Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Nikolic, Predrag (BIH) - Navara, David (CZE)
Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA)
Macieja, Bartlomiej (POL) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Kobalia, Mikhail (RUS) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN)
Korneev, Oleg (RUS) - Miroshnichenko, Evgenij (UKR)
Beliavsky, Alexander G (SLO) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Ftacnik, Lubomir (SVK) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM)
Vaganian, Rafael A (ARM) - Kempinski, Robert (POL)
Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL) - Fedorov, Alexei (BLR)
Akopian (#7 seed) was unable to participate due to ill health, so his scheduled opponent (Lane) got a bye straight into round 2.
Chess Championship History
Check out this fascinating site describing the history of the World, USSR and US chess championships. The World Championship section makes an excellent supplement to Kasparov's My Great Predecessors.
In an earlier post I had referenced another site that discussed the world chess championship and is also well worth looking through.
In an earlier post I had referenced another site that discussed the world chess championship and is also well worth looking through.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Friday, November 04, 2005
One final thought on Kramnik-Topalov
Kasparov thinks Topalov who won the FIDE championship ahead of the strongest active players in the world does not need to play Kramnik: "The schism in the chess world is over. It was brought about by the world champion not being the best player in the world. Now that he is, the matter can be closed."
I'm not clear on how Kasparov meshes this thought with page 9 of his own book My Great Predecessors I where he says that Kramnik is world champion 2000-? based on winning a match against him in London in 2000. Immediately following that match Kasparov declared that Kramnik was the real world champion and the FIDE rankings could be sent to the trash. So ... how exactly did the crown pass from Kramnik to Topalov?
I'm not clear on how Kasparov meshes this thought with page 9 of his own book My Great Predecessors I where he says that Kramnik is world champion 2000-? based on winning a match against him in London in 2000. Immediately following that match Kasparov declared that Kramnik was the real world champion and the FIDE rankings could be sent to the trash. So ... how exactly did the crown pass from Kramnik to Topalov?
Thursday, November 03, 2005
More on Unification
Topalov should stop being a pussy and just play him already. If he is as superior as he thinks, he should have no problem beating Kramnik. Kramnik should say "whatsa matta? Afriad of losing to someone who has 60 less points than you? Bok bok bok chicken, bok bok!!!"
I agree completely. The SOA (or CAS) are often asked if completing certain coursework exempts you from taking certain exams. The Society's response: "Individuals who claim competence in the areas covered by the examinations should not have difficulty demonstrating their competence by participating in the examination process."
A few things worth noting:
1. When Kramnik played Kasparov in 2000, Kasparov's rating was 79 points higher than Kramnik's. That didn't stop Kramnik from spanking Kasparov 2-0.
2. Kramnik’s record against Topalov is +19 -9 =34. Even this year (Topalov’s best and Kramnik’s worst), they have two wins apiece and two draws.
3. NOW Kramnik is rated 60 points lower. But in 2002 Topalov tried to qualify at Dortmund to play Kramnik for the title, when Topalov was rated (you guessed it) 60 points lower.
I am of the opinion that the WC should be won in a match. However, even if the title in the future were to be won in a tournament in the future, today Topalov still needs to play Kramnik to take his title from him. The problem is that Topalov knows he doesn't have the match experience necessary to beat Kramnik.
I agree completely. The SOA (or CAS) are often asked if completing certain coursework exempts you from taking certain exams. The Society's response: "Individuals who claim competence in the areas covered by the examinations should not have difficulty demonstrating their competence by participating in the examination process."
A few things worth noting:
1. When Kramnik played Kasparov in 2000, Kasparov's rating was 79 points higher than Kramnik's. That didn't stop Kramnik from spanking Kasparov 2-0.
2. Kramnik’s record against Topalov is +19 -9 =34. Even this year (Topalov’s best and Kramnik’s worst), they have two wins apiece and two draws.
3. NOW Kramnik is rated 60 points lower. But in 2002 Topalov tried to qualify at Dortmund to play Kramnik for the title, when Topalov was rated (you guessed it) 60 points lower.
I am of the opinion that the WC should be won in a match. However, even if the title in the future were to be won in a tournament in the future, today Topalov still needs to play Kramnik to take his title from him. The problem is that Topalov knows he doesn't have the match experience necessary to beat Kramnik.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Unification Dead
Kramnik: Generally speaking, I believe that the World Champion should be determined exclusively in a match. As for a candidates' qualification scheme it is quite acceptable to have it organized as in San Luis. For example, half of the participants according to their ratings, the other half through a qualification cycle. The knockout system proposed, actively agitated for, and imposed by FIDE has long since compromised itself. In accordance with the Prague Agreement of 2002 I am prepared to play in a reunification match. I've read comments in the press that Veselin does not believe I am a worthy contender for the title, given my relatively low rating as the basis for his argument. World championship and tournament performance are two entirely separate entities. I firmly believe that I am the real World Chess Champion. I won this title in a contest against Kasparov and later defended my title in a match against Leko. My title is legitimate and this was acknowledged even by FIDE in the Prague Accords. Should anyone, like Topalov, believe that he is stronger, let him beat me in a match.
Topalov: Topalov is not going to accept an unscheduled challenge by a player who is 60 points below him in the ratings list. Garry Kasparov agrees with Topalov and thinks the Bulgarian who won the FIDE championship ahead of the strongest active players in the world does not need to play Kramnik: "The schism in the chess world is over. It was brought about by the world champion not being the best player in the world. Now that he is, the matter can be closed." Topalov: "Kramnik is one of the best players of the last decade. However, he is currently number seven in FIDE world rankings, and I don’t think he has the right to challenge me. When I was the world's number seven player it never occurred to me that I had the right to challenge world's number one.” Topalov stressed that Kramnik had been invited to San Luis, but had refused to participate. Hence, in Topalov’s opinion, Kramnik has automatically lost the right to contend for the title. It is certainly true that five years ago Kramnik had defeated Kasparov. However, according to Topalov, Kramnik’s latest results do not provide sufficient grounds to have any claims for the title. Topalov: “There’s a big difference in our ratings. In chess 60 Elo points means a different class altogether. If Vladimir was offered to play against someone 60 Elo points below himself he’d simply burst out laughing. I do not believe we can play for the title because I’ve already won it here in San Luis. A Topalov-Kramnik match for the title is out of question, because FIDE has organised a two-year cycle for the world championship, analogous to the one we had in San Luis, where eight qualifiers will fight for the title. Thus the tournament shall determine the new holder of the Crown. That is the plan."
Topalov: Topalov is not going to accept an unscheduled challenge by a player who is 60 points below him in the ratings list. Garry Kasparov agrees with Topalov and thinks the Bulgarian who won the FIDE championship ahead of the strongest active players in the world does not need to play Kramnik: "The schism in the chess world is over. It was brought about by the world champion not being the best player in the world. Now that he is, the matter can be closed." Topalov: "Kramnik is one of the best players of the last decade. However, he is currently number seven in FIDE world rankings, and I don’t think he has the right to challenge me. When I was the world's number seven player it never occurred to me that I had the right to challenge world's number one.” Topalov stressed that Kramnik had been invited to San Luis, but had refused to participate. Hence, in Topalov’s opinion, Kramnik has automatically lost the right to contend for the title. It is certainly true that five years ago Kramnik had defeated Kasparov. However, according to Topalov, Kramnik’s latest results do not provide sufficient grounds to have any claims for the title. Topalov: “There’s a big difference in our ratings. In chess 60 Elo points means a different class altogether. If Vladimir was offered to play against someone 60 Elo points below himself he’d simply burst out laughing. I do not believe we can play for the title because I’ve already won it here in San Luis. A Topalov-Kramnik match for the title is out of question, because FIDE has organised a two-year cycle for the world championship, analogous to the one we had in San Luis, where eight qualifiers will fight for the title. Thus the tournament shall determine the new holder of the Crown. That is the plan."
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Kronsteen – McAdams, 1963
Continuing my theme of fictional chess scenes based on real chess games.
In the famous chess scene at the beginning of the Bond movie "From Russia With Love" we see Kronsteen of SPECTRE playing the Canadian McAdams. The score is 11½–11½. The scene is based on Spassky-Bronstein from the 1960 USSR Championship.
Spassky-Bronstein
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.d4 0-0 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.0-0 h6 9.Ne4 Nxd5 10.c4 Ne3 11.Bxe3 fxe3 12.c5 Be7 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Qd3 e2 15.Nd6 Nf8 16.Nxf7 exf1Q+ 17.Rxf1 Bf5 18.Qxf5 Qd7 19.Qf4 Bf6 20.N3e5 Qe7 21.Bb3 Bxe5
This is the starting position in the movie, except that the two White pawns on d4 and c5 were removed. Both the real and movie games continued...
22.Nxe5+ Kh7 23.Qe4+ (1-0)
However, what's odd is that in the original game, 22....Kh7 was not a blunder as Black had no defense. But in the movie, McAdams could have defended with 22....Ne6, which would not have worked in the position facing Bronstein.
So my question is WHY would the movie producers change the board position? Were they TRYING to make the point that Kronsteen could have been held off with calm defense, or am I giving them too much credit?
In the famous chess scene at the beginning of the Bond movie "From Russia With Love" we see Kronsteen of SPECTRE playing the Canadian McAdams. The score is 11½–11½. The scene is based on Spassky-Bronstein from the 1960 USSR Championship.
Spassky-Bronstein
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.d4 0-0 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.0-0 h6 9.Ne4 Nxd5 10.c4 Ne3 11.Bxe3 fxe3 12.c5 Be7 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Qd3 e2 15.Nd6 Nf8 16.Nxf7 exf1Q+ 17.Rxf1 Bf5 18.Qxf5 Qd7 19.Qf4 Bf6 20.N3e5 Qe7 21.Bb3 Bxe5
This is the starting position in the movie, except that the two White pawns on d4 and c5 were removed. Both the real and movie games continued...
22.Nxe5+ Kh7 23.Qe4+ (1-0)
However, what's odd is that in the original game, 22....Kh7 was not a blunder as Black had no defense. But in the movie, McAdams could have defended with 22....Ne6, which would not have worked in the position facing Bronstein.
So my question is WHY would the movie producers change the board position? Were they TRYING to make the point that Kronsteen could have been held off with calm defense, or am I giving them too much credit?
Friday, October 14, 2005
FIDE Championship (Final) Round 14
Results:
Topalov-Polgar, ½-½
Svidler-Anand, ½-½
Morozevich-Adams, ½-½
Leko-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
The games
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch14.htm
Final Standings:
Some things to note:
Topalov-Polgar, ½-½
Svidler-Anand, ½-½
Morozevich-Adams, ½-½
Leko-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
The games
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch14.htm
Final Standings:
Some things to note:
- Topalov was the only player to go undefeated, beating every other player except Anand by 1.5-0.5. His performance rating was 2890. At the end of the first half, he had scored +6 =1 for a performance of 3177 and was well positioned to break Karpov's record performance at Linares 1994, but in the second half he drew all seven games.
- Judith Polgar had a horrible tournament, losing 6 times and turning in a 2610 performance
- Morozevich and Polgar were the only players to get skunked (by Svidler and Anand, respectively).
- Adams (-3 =11) was the only player to go through the tournament without a single win.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 13 - It's All Over
Topalov the winner with one round to go!
Results:
Kasimdzhanov-Topalov, ½-½
Adams-Leko, ½-½
Anand-Morozevich, ½-½
Polgar-Svidler, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 9.5
Anand, Svidler - 8
Morozevich - 6.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5.5
Adams - 5
Polgar - 4
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch13.htm
Results:
Kasimdzhanov-Topalov, ½-½
Adams-Leko, ½-½
Anand-Morozevich, ½-½
Polgar-Svidler, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 9.5
Anand, Svidler - 8
Morozevich - 6.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5.5
Adams - 5
Polgar - 4
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch13.htm
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 12
Results:
Topalov-Svidler, ½-½
Morozevich-Polgar, ½-½
Leko-Anand, 0-1
Kasimdzhanov-Adams, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 9
Anand, Svidler - 7.5
Morozevich - 6
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5
Adams - 4.5
Polgar - 3.5
Topalov-Svidler, ½-½
Morozevich-Polgar, ½-½
Leko-Anand, 0-1
Kasimdzhanov-Adams, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 9
Anand, Svidler - 7.5
Morozevich - 6
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5
Adams - 4.5
Polgar - 3.5
Monday, October 10, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 11
Results:
Adams-Topalov, ½-½
Anand-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Polgar-Leko, ½-½
Svidler-Morozevich, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 8.5
Svidler - 7
Anand - 6.5
Morozevich - 5.5
Leko - 5
Kasimdzhanov - 4.5
Adams - 4
Polgar - 3
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch11.htm
Adams-Topalov, ½-½
Anand-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Polgar-Leko, ½-½
Svidler-Morozevich, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 8.5
Svidler - 7
Anand - 6.5
Morozevich - 5.5
Leko - 5
Kasimdzhanov - 4.5
Adams - 4
Polgar - 3
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch11.htm
Sunday, October 09, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 10
Results:
Topalov-Morozevich, ½-½
Leko-Svidler, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Polgar, 1-0
Adams-Anand, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 8
Svidler - 6
Anand, Morozevich- 5.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 4.5
Adams - 3.5
Polgar - 2.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch10.htm
Topalov-Morozevich, ½-½
Leko-Svidler, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Polgar, 1-0
Adams-Anand, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 8
Svidler - 6
Anand, Morozevich- 5.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 4.5
Adams - 3.5
Polgar - 2.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch10.htm
Saturday, October 08, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 9
Results:
Anand-Topalov, ½-½
Polgar-Adams, ½-½
Svidler-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½
Morozevich-Leko, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 7.5
Svidler - 5.5
Morozevich, Anand - 5
Leko - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3.5
Adams - 3
Polgar - 2.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch09.htm
Anand-Topalov, ½-½
Polgar-Adams, ½-½
Svidler-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½
Morozevich-Leko, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 7.5
Svidler - 5.5
Morozevich, Anand - 5
Leko - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3.5
Adams - 3
Polgar - 2.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch09.htm
Thursday, October 06, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 8
Results:
Topalov-Leko, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Morozevich, 0-1
Adams-Svidler, ½-½
Anand-Polgar, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 7
Svidler - 5
Anand - 4.5
Leko, Morozevich - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Adams - 2.5
Polgar - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch08.htm
Topalov-Leko, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Morozevich, 0-1
Adams-Svidler, ½-½
Anand-Polgar, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 7
Svidler - 5
Anand - 4.5
Leko, Morozevich - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Adams - 2.5
Polgar - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch08.htm
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 7
Topalov wins 6 out of 7!
Topalov won every game except against Anand. His performance rating stands at an amazing 3177!
Results:
Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Leko-Adams, 1-0
Morozevich-Anand, 1-0
Svidler-Polgar, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 6.5
Svidler - 4.5
Leko, Anand - 3.5
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov - 3
Polgar - 2.5
Adams - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch07.htm
Topalov won every game except against Anand. His performance rating stands at an amazing 3177!
Results:
Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Leko-Adams, 1-0
Morozevich-Anand, 1-0
Svidler-Polgar, 1-0
Standings:
Topalov - 6.5
Svidler - 4.5
Leko, Anand - 3.5
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov - 3
Polgar - 2.5
Adams - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch07.htm
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 6
Results:
Polgar-Topalov, 0-1
Anand-Svidler, ½-½
Adams-Morozevich, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Leko, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 5.5 (very impressive!)
Anand, Svidler - 3.5
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Leko - 2.5
Adams, Morozevich, Polgar - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch06.htm
Polgar-Topalov, 0-1
Anand-Svidler, ½-½
Adams-Morozevich, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Leko, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 5.5 (very impressive!)
Anand, Svidler - 3.5
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Leko - 2.5
Adams, Morozevich, Polgar - 2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch06.htm
Monday, October 03, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 5
Results:
Svidler-Topalov, 0-1
Polgar-Morozevich, ½-½
Anand-Leko, ½-½
Adams-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 4.5 (nice lead)
Anand, Svidler - 3
Kasimdzhanov - 2.5
Leko, Polgar - 2
Adams, Morozevich - 1.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch05.htm
Svidler-Topalov, 0-1
Polgar-Morozevich, ½-½
Anand-Leko, ½-½
Adams-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½
Standings:
Topalov - 4.5 (nice lead)
Anand, Svidler - 3
Kasimdzhanov - 2.5
Leko, Polgar - 2
Adams, Morozevich - 1.5
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch05.htm
Saturday, October 01, 2005
FIDE Championship Round 4
Four decisive games again.
Results:
Topalov-Adams, 1-0
Kasimdzhanov-Anand, 1-0
Leko-Polgar, 1-0
Morozevich-Svidler, 0-1
Standings:
Topalov - 3.5
Svidler - 3
Anand - 2.5
Kasimdzhanov - 2
Leko, Polgar - 1.5
Morozevich, Adams - 1
Aside from the chess, a great deal of entertainment can be had from reading the English version of the website, which is translated from the Spanish original either by a computer program or by someone with limited command of English. For example, in commenting on the Leko-Polgar game, the site says, "Leko changed his face and won, replacing himself on the race track." If you read the Spanish comments, this should have been translated as, "Leko about faced and won, placing himself once gain on the race track."
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch04.htm
Results:
Topalov-Adams, 1-0
Kasimdzhanov-Anand, 1-0
Leko-Polgar, 1-0
Morozevich-Svidler, 0-1
Standings:
Topalov - 3.5
Svidler - 3
Anand - 2.5
Kasimdzhanov - 2
Leko, Polgar - 1.5
Morozevich, Adams - 1
Aside from the chess, a great deal of entertainment can be had from reading the English version of the website, which is translated from the Spanish original either by a computer program or by someone with limited command of English. For example, in commenting on the Leko-Polgar game, the site says, "Leko changed his face and won, replacing himself on the race track." If you read the Spanish comments, this should have been translated as, "Leko about faced and won, placing himself once gain on the race track."
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch04.htm
FIDE Top 20
1 Kasparov, Garry g RUS 2812
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788
3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2782
4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2751
5 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2748
6 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2740
7 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2739
8 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735
9 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2725
10 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2724
11 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2720
12 Adams, Michael g ENG 2718
13 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2717
14 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2710
15 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROM 2707
16 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2707
17 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707
18 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2704
19 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2704
20 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2700
Notes:
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788
3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2782
4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2751
5 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2748
6 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2740
7 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2739
8 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735
9 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2725
10 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2724
11 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2720
12 Adams, Michael g ENG 2718
13 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2717
14 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2710
15 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROM 2707
16 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2707
17 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707
18 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2704
19 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2704
20 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2700
Notes:
- The top five are unchanged, although Topalov dropped 6 points, allowing Anand to claim the #2 slot by himself.
- Kramnik drops another slot, as he and Svidler trade places because Kramnik lost 5 points and Svidler gained 2 points.
- There's three brand new names in the 2700+ list: Nisipeanu, Radjabov and Tiviakov. And two players fell off: Kamsky and Bologan. So the 2700 club is up to 20 members.
- The top rated US player is Kamsky, at #23 with a rating of 2690 (down 4 slots and 10 points from the July 2005 list).
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