Round 5 big matchups:
Topalov, V : Kamsky, G
Nisipeanu, LD : Sasikiran, K
Adams, M : Mamedyarov, S
Kamsky did not do well against Topalov last year at Mtel. Can he reverse the trend or will Topalov start to put together a winning streak? Can Adams stop Mamedyarov? Can the early leaders get back in their winning ways? What are your predictions?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
nah – Topa will win
My predictions:
Topalov 1-0 Kamsky
Nisipeanu 1-0 Sasikiran
Adams 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov
I think Kamsky is the desigated scapegoat this year. Topov’s bluetooth problems seem to be sorted out and barring electronic interference he should win this one.
At first I thought it would be Sasikiran, but he seems to have found his feet now. Maybe Nisipeanu with White will be too good for him, it depends if Sasikiran’s swapping all the pieces off technique works again.
Adams is a very under-rated player. When he is playing well he is one of the best in the world, but people tend to overlook him in favour of Leko, Svidler, Ivanchuck and of course Anand, Topov and Kramnik.
Mamedyarov, however, is my favourite player at the moment. He has just a great imagination and unbelievable tactical skills. If he continues to improve for the next year or so he will be unstoppable!
Topalov is expected to win. Great pressure on him, he has no excuses: Kamsly is having a lousy form and Veselin score against the American is overwhelming. If Gata offers some resistance, Topalov might get nervous and either blunder or set up for a bad plan.
(Wishful thinking may be playing a role on my reasoning).
My prediction is that if Kamsky does not win some games very quickly he will retire after the Candidates Matches this month. I can only imagine he is very discouraged right now.
Adams just sacrificed the exchange in the endgame. Probably a draw, but it would be lots of fun to play this one out…