Painting by my sister Sofia
With just two rounds to go, the importance of each game magnifies by ten fold. Coming to round 12, Topalov lead a just 1/2 point with 3 players lurking closed behind:
Group A after 11 rounds:
1. V. Topalov 7½
2-4. L. Aronian, P. Svidler, T. Radjabov 7
5-6. V. Anand, V. Kramnik 6½
With the White pieces against Kramnik, Topalov pushed all the way until he has just a single Knight.
Svidler on the other hand got an easier opponent in Van Wely as one would think that he has a chance to catch up with the leader. But it was not meant to be as he lost in just 22 moves.
Aronian faced Shirov with the Black pieces and he obtained a huge advantage in a Rook and Knight endgame. He played inaccurately, allowing Shirov to escape with a draw.
That left Radjabov with a chance to catch up with Black against Motylev. He made magic once again with Black and scored a full point to pull into a tie for first with Topalov. The irony is he will have White against Topalov in the last round!
Anand could not muster anything against Tiviakov and accepted a draw in a worse position.
Therefore, after 12 rounds, here are the standings:
1-2. V. Topalov, T. Radjabov 8
3. L. Aronian 7½
4-6. V. Anand, P. Svidler, V. Kramnik 7
7. D. Navara 6
8-9. S. Karjakin, R. Ponomariov 5½
10. L. van Wely, S. Tiviakov 5
12. A. Motylev 4½
13-14. A. Shirov, M. Carlsen 4
Here are the crucial pairings for round 13
T. Radjabov – V. Topalov
L. Aronian – S. Tiviakov
V. Kramnik – L. van Wely
V. Anand – D. Navara
P. Svidler – S. Karjakin
R. Ponomariov – A. Motylev
M. Carlsen – A. Shirov
Susan, have you read newly released chessbase article regarding cheating allegation on Topalov and his manager?
susan what happens if Rad vs Tlv make a very fast draw, would they be called cheaters? even if Aro won they wouldnt loose agaist the other three.,