Black just played 1… Nf6 2. Qe3 Kg7 3. Be4 3… Kf7 4. Bc2 Rad8 5. Qh6 Rg8 6. Ba5 Qd4 {6… Rdf8 is a better option 7. Rg5 Ke8 8. Rxg6? =+ (8. Bxg6+ Rxg6 9. Qxg6+ Rf7 +=)} 7. Bc3 Qc4 8. Bb3 Qd3 9. Bxe6+ Ke8 10. Kg2 Rf8 11. Qg7 Rd5 12. Bf5 Rf7 13. Rxe7+ 1-0 if Kxe7 14. Bxf6+ Ke8 15. Qg8+ Rf8 16. Qe6#
Now, Anand (drew Svidler today) and Kamsky are tied for first at the halfway mark with 3.5 / 5. Svidler and Topalov are 1 point behind with 2.5 / 5. Ponomariov and Bacrot occupy the last two spots.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Very good game by Topalov. But at half way mark it is amazing and I am sure no one expected Gata Kamsky to be tied with Anand for first place while Topalov is a point behind. The whole chess world awaits the second half. One thing is for sure, Gata Kamsky is definately going to be one of the top ten GM’s from now on.
I’m rooting for Kamsky too, but I would be wary of drawing too many conclusions from a string of 5 games. In two of his three wins, he was quite lucky. Obviously he had the skill to capitalize on his opponents’ blunders, but over a longer period of time it’s unlikely that his opponents will always be so generous.
Who did Topalov play against? I could not find in the intro.
Kamsky!
Gata played in this game at least seven moves which are opposite to the teachings of good chess, from books I mean. Many Knight jumps to the corner of the board, gave a Bishop for a Knight, then pushes a Pawn next to his weakened King, etc. Modern chess is not played from the classical books. I doubt many can understand many Black’s moves.
As for Topalov, I wouldn’t even begin to understand his moves, they were from another planet.
Except for the opening moves, where Topalov played two times with the c-pawn, instead of developing pieces! It’s not at all easy to grasp.
Go Kamsky!
I hope for the best from Kamsky, but let’s not get carried away. After his Corus showing, I was hoping for an even score here, and +2 at the halfway point is great. Even finishing with a + score would be awesome IMO.
Isn’t white’s queen hanging in the diagram? Why cant black take it? I dont see it.
No, because in the diagram it is White to move.
Ahhhh…the tiger takes the gloves off at last!
Ah, I didnt see that dutchdunce.
Thanks. 🙂
6 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2708 0. 0. =. =. =. ** 1.5 2602
Bacrot, although last, has a grandmaster performance (>2600), as given on the TWIC site! If he continues like this, with six draws and four losses he will make a GM norm!!
Rating inflation vs old norm requirements.
Can’t White play R*h5 + , trade queens and be a pawn up ?
Patzer.
Ask Chessbase Light.