Topalov tried very hard with the Black pieces against Svidler but only came away with 1/2 point. Ponomariov had a slightly better position against Kamsky but it was not enough for a full point. In the mean time, Anand on the Black side of the Queen’s Indian came away with a full point against Bacrot. It was an amazing game. This is typical Anand style, so versatile yet so powerful.
Bacrot, E. (2708) – Anand, V. (2803) [E12] Mtel Masters Sofia, BUL (1), 05.11.2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 7.e3 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bg3 d6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Nd7 12.e4 Bf6 13.Rc1 g5 14.Bb1 h5 15.h3 Rg8 16.b4 g4 17.hxg4 hxg4 18.Nh2 Bh4 19.Bf4 Bg5 20.Qxg4 Qf6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Qxg8+ Ke7 23.Qxa8 Bxa8 24.fxe3 Qg6 25.Rf4 e5 26.Rf5 Qh6 27.Re1 exd4 28.exd4 Qd2 29.Nf3 Qxb4 30.Rc1 Bb7 31.Rb5 Qa3 32.Re1 Qc3 33.Rb3 Qxc4 34.Bd3 Qa4 35.Rc3 c5 36.Bc4 Qb4 37.Rcc1 cxd4 38.Nxd4 Ne5 39.Nf5+ Kd7 40.Bd5 Bxd5 41.exd5 Qf4 42.Rf1 Nf3+ 43.gxf3 Qxf5 44.f4 Qxd5 45.f5 Qd2 46.f6 b5 47.Rce1 Kc6 48.Ra1 Qd4+ 49.Kg2 Qb2+ 50.Kg3 b4 51.Kg4 d5 52.Kg5 Qg2+ 53.Kh4 Kd6 54.Kh5 a5 0-1.
1 1.0 GM Anand (India 2803)
2-5 0.5 GM Kamsky (USA 2671), GM Ponomariov (Ukraine 2738), GM Svidler (Russia 2743), GM Topalov (Bulgaria 2804)
6 0.0 GM Bacrot (France 2708)
After one round, who do you think will win Mtel? 
Anand all the way.
Topalov-Anand today! I have no more fingernails left!
I think it would be tough fight between Topalov and Anand with Anand having an edge.
I was impressed with Kamsky’s end-game, the knight went from defensive to full offence on King side! I would expect Kamsky to put a decent show here.
The kind of position Anand created is very deep, his judgement on exchanging 2 rooks and a pawn for a queen is too much I thought. But he made full use of the powerful queen. He refused to take the “a-file” pawn till the last moment and kept the pressure, while hogging the center pawns. It is amazing.
What’s with Kamksy? He played that very passively. The only time he got any activity was with his knight towards the end, setting traps that Ponomariov did not fall for. Tomorrow is his best chance for a win and I want to see him coming out agressive and have some open pastures for his pieces to roam instead of confined to a pen hoping not to get slaughtered.
Vishy! Vishy! Vishy!