Anand ½-½ Topalov
This was supposed to be the epic battle. This was supposed to be the game where Anand would be making his move. This was supposed to be the game where Topalov would be sweating profusely. None of it happened.
Topalov was doing his part. In a Berlin, he dangerously played g5 on move 7 exposing his King. Surely he must be crazy to take that kind of a chance?
On move 13, Anand decided to sacrifice a piece to create a very dangerous pin on the f6 Knight. However, Anand shockingly decided to force a draw by repetition instead of trying for a win with moves such as 15. dxe5 or 15. Nc4. He basically resigned from the tournament and handed the World Championship to Topalov.
J. Polgar ½-½ Adams
Adams decided to employ the extremely sharp Marshall, an opening full of deep theories. Unfortunately, not much serious fireworks took place. Even though they tried to make the game interesting, a lot of pieces were exchanged and the game ended in a Bishop opposite color dead draw endgame.
Svidler ½-½ Kasimdzhanov
Kasim once again played the Najdorf and launched a serious attack on the Queenside immediately. Before Svidler even had a chance to do anything on the Kingside, Kasim’s pawn was at b3 already. Kasim was very determined and his attack was incredibly dangerous. It was very hard to calculate all the lines out unless you are Fritz. On move 24, Kasim made an incredible move with Bc3.
It may have not been the best move. It may have not been the most accurate move. However, it was a move that is very hard for any human to handle. Kasim eventually sacrificed a Rook and Bishop for some wild unsound attack.
In time pressure, Svidler offered a draw on move 34. Rd3 after allowing a repetition. Svidler could have tried 34. Be4 with some chances. Kasim had to continue perfectly in time pressure just to have some chances to save the game. 34. Be4 was a hard move to find and I am not even sure if Svidler saw it.
Morozevich 1-0 Leko
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.c4 b4 12.Nc2 Rb8 13.b3 Bg5 14.g3 0–0 15.h4 Bh6 16.Bh3 Be6 17.Kf1 a5 18.Kg2 Rb7 19.Bf5 Kh8 20.Qd3 Nb8 21.Rad1 Na6 22.Qf3 g6 23.Bh3 f5 =+ 24.h5?! [24.exf5 Bxf5 25.Bxf5 Rxf5 26.Qe2 =+] 24…fxe4µ 25.Qxe4 Nc5 26.Qe2 Bxd5+ 27.Rxd5 Rbf7 28.Rf1 gxh5 29.Qxh5 Qf6 30.Bg4 Ne4 31.f3 Qg7 Black is doing very good here 32.Rdd1 Nf6 33.Qh3 Nxg4 34.Qxg4 Qf6 [34…Qxg4 35.fxg4 Rxf1 36.Rxf1 Rxf1 37.Kxf1 Kg7 38.Ke2 Kf6] 35.Qe4 Bf4 [35…Rg7 36.Rh1 Qg5 37.Rh3 Black is still maintaining an edge] 36.Kf2 Qh6? [36…Bg5 37.Kg2 Rg7 =+] 37.gxf4 += 37…Rxf4 38.Rh1 Qg7 39.Qd5 e4 [39…Qg4 40.Ne1 e4 41.Qd4+ R8f6 Black has compensation for the sacrifice] 40.Rdg1 Rxf3+ 41.Ke2 Rf2+ 42.Kd1 Qe5 43.Rh5 [43.Rg5! Qf6 44.Qxe4+- White is completely winning] 43…Rf1+ 44.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 45.Ke2 Qf4 46.Qd4+ Kg8 47.Rg5+ [47.Qe3! Qg4+ 48.Kxf1 Qxh5 49.Qxe4+- White wins easily] 47…Qxg5 48.Kxf1 Qc1+ 49.Ne1 Qf4+ 50.Kg1 Qg5+ 51.Ng2 Qc1+ 52.Kh2 Qh6+ 53.Kg3 Qg5+ 54.Kf2 1–0
Leko played extremely well and had a great game. He managed to bust open Morozevich’s Kingside. Even though Morozevich defended very well, Leko had the upper hand. Unfortunately, Leko blundered in time pressure on move 36. Morozevich fully capitalized on this mistake and scored his third straight win. He went from last place to a tie for third. This is typical Morozevich.
I hope that in this chess champion tournament not only the best chess player win but also one that can play chess until the end without not fear of being playing chess to everyone.
R. Armagnac
6 wins for Topolov
6 wins for Svidler and Anand COMBINED
I think he’s gonna cross that line
I don’t understand why Anand didn’t try 16.Qd3 followed by f4? Risky, yes, but according to Fritz, there’s compensation. For instance 16…Rg8 17.f4 Rg4 18. fxe5 Rxh4 19. Rxf6 and now for instance 19…dxe5 20.Rxf7+ Kh8 21.Nf3. Or 19…Be6 20.Raf1.
Yes, a bit tame from Anand, but then again he is not showing top form, so I understand that he was not willing to push his luck.
I am suprised by Lekos trouble with the clock. Blowing positions both in round 1 against Topalov and now against Morozevich. Well, bad time management is also a sign of bad form.
I was personally disappointed. I started this tmt rooting for Anand and Judit. but Anand does not seem to have that fire in his belly to become the champion. I suspect he thought that the title was his once Kasparov retired. it must be disappointing to spend his entire career as number 2. I hope Anand can get back onto the winning track.
But for now I consider Topalov to be the Best Chess Player in the World and therefore the World Champion. I hope he stays in form and continues to do well in many tmts after this one. that will be good for chess. to show he deserves to be considered the world champ.
Kramnik. I hope he just fades away. He never impressed me as the Best Player in the World. Yep. he did win one match. big deal. he got lucky with his Berlin Defense. and then again I will admit that Kramnik had his best elo at that time some 5 years ago. but it has been a slide down hill. he never was rated number one on elo. most people still considered Kasparov the world champ even after he lost the match. and that was because he was number one on elo. winning tmts every year. all the while Kramnik was languishing and avoiding strong players. certainly a rematch would have been interesting. and given Kramnik an opportunity to show that the match win was not a fluke. but everyone always thought Kasparov would have crushed Kramnik in a rematch.
Tommy