Topalov scored 1/2 point in 3 games at Essent. His rating is free falling. He is in danger of losing his #1 ranking.
– Did he play too soon after Elista?
– Is he burned out?
– What would you advice him to do? 
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Cause and effect?
I am not sure if he played too soon after Elista or not. I think that
a. his choice of defense in game 1 was rather audacious – perhaps trying to make a point?
b. I wonder (and I would be VERY interested to hear other opinions) how much his recent run of victories had to do with players being intimidated by his success and odd playing style. Now that he’s lost the match, that has perhaps run its course?
c. he may be in some kind of odd transition. He has gone from being the top player to…who knows what? It’s hard to lose – you have to reorganize yourself a great deal. No doubt, he was hoping to run away with this tournament and prove to everyone he deserved the title…
d. Its become almost axiomatic that Topalov starts poor and finished well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins 2 out of the next 3! Yet, I am not so sure if this is possible because of b and c above.
I would advise him to retun to the kind of play that has won him numerous tournaments: trying new opening ideas, pressing hard, and trying to play a bit more accurately than he has been in the past few weeks.
I do think that he played too soon after Elista, but he has to keep his image, mabey he was trying to show that this hasn’t paze him, although his results show otherwise.
It is just his style. If he plays a tournament and wins, his recovery will be self re-enforcing and he will come back quickly. If he loses it will be a downward spiral. It sounds like Topolov throwing the dice again.
Topolov should fire his manager, throw out his parapsychologist he brought along for the Kramnik match, and get focused again. Just after San Luis, you commended him for his class. I think Danilov was a distraction not only for Kramnik but for Topolov, and unfortunately it earned him the enmity of the chess world as well. Topolov needs to get rid of the distractions, take some time off, and get back to being the classy yet aggessive player he was at San Luis.
I don’t think anyone can play chess in a vacuum. There was a great deal of pressure at the World Championship, which is still a recent memory. Objectivity increases in direct proportion to distance from an emotional attachment. I just think he may be having a tough time refocussing his lens.
As long as he plays behind a glass wall (which was the case in Elista and is the case in Essent) he will keep on losing points until he is back to 2700.
I would advise him not to participate in any tournaments where there is a glass wall between him and his team.
I would advise Vesko to stop tournament play for a few months, take a good rest and, above all, not to read anything written about him in the media, especially that in the ChessBase. All those lies and hatred poured in the media by the Russian mighty-of-the-day former-KGB-men will die down in a few months. Then Vesko will wake up and sweep the chessboard with Kramnik and likes.
Everyone gets burned out at times. He should just a short break. With .5 million dollars or something like that from Elista, he can afford it.
Topalov should get some rest, then prepare to play in Mexico City.
Just let him play, he is not coward, what you expect to stop playing for a year after he won Championship /like someone/. That wouldnt be Topalov, loses are not good for him, but begin hidding it would be catastrofic. i am sure he hit back soon.
1. Take a dose of humility capsules.
2. Fire Danailov.
3. Take a 1 month vacation from chess.
4. Then concentrate on chess instead of mind games.
I lost respect for Mr Topalov, although I had a high regard for him once.
I was shocked to see him playing in a big tournament only a few days after the WC match, but then again it’s something you would expect Topalov to do. He hasn’t been afraid to lose games or rating points in the past.
As far as advice goes, Essent is only half over and there’s still time. It might be a good idea to dial back the aggression just a tad until top form returns. IMO he wasn’t in good form in Elista either.
He still has time to retire as number 1. better do it today.
After Toiletgate, this is the best thing that could have happen to Topalov – he gave away everything people accused him to hold undeservedly – his rating, his title etc.
He also learned a lot about the shortcomings of his approach and his state of mind from the Elista match and also from this tournament – well, I hope so.
Whether he will get back where he was I dont know, good luck to him and speedy recovery. Hopefully he will become a wiser person after all this.
My simple advise: Dont patz around!
No player, who makes such a lot
of simple mistakes deserves
the title “world champion” or a
number 1 rating.
He will bounce back it takes a little time to come to terms of the shocking manipulated crap he just went through…and then blame him in the end…the real truth will surface sooner than later
Get a better wristwatch
One thing that maybe contributed to the present “downfall”, even though it is “just” two games he lost, is that he had to prepare very intense on the style of one man, Kramnik.
Now all of this preparation does not do him any good, because he faces other opponents with other styles. Maybe it takes him some time to adjust to the variety of opponents again. The main ideas he tried to play against Kramnik may not be of value against other players.
I know that in itself is not a reason to lose.
Maybe he also temporarily lost the total will to win games after he lost the match to Kramnik. One has to remember that he played 11 games with the total will to win in a row, under a pressure he never had before.
I’ll say this: he will need some time to refesh and then he will be his old self.
So to my opinion: Topalov underestimated the impact the match with Kramnik had on him and YES, he played to early after the match.
Alex
http://www.alex4u.blogspot.com
1. Quite simply, yes. While all the opening prep he did for Elista will stand him in good stead for future tournaments, one also has to consider the mental exhaustion.
2. No, just exhausted.
3. Go home and rest for a couple of months. Take a couple of weeks off chess at least.
I agree with most of the comments posted here. In my opinion its not our right to dispute about his manager. Topalov choose him and that`s it.
Vesko`s decision to play so early is admirable. I think that to be N1 is an obligation to play to proove that u r a real good.
He is not in shape – that`s obvious. I think that his level of play is much higher compairing the other players on this tournament due to the reasons all of u mentioned above.
I realy hope that Vesko will step on his feet soon and will show the what he is capable of.
I don`t know a player with such desire to victory, ready to give all to win the match.
Good luck Vesko! Proove u r a real chamion!
Yes, he played too soon after Elista. I dont think he is burned out yet, he is just in an auto pilot mode.
Anyway, the guy did something really exeptional in 2005, so even if he is done he would have achieved more than 99,99% of all people who ever played chess at a professional level.
Advice? Think twice what he is saying during an interview and in private, think twice when he is not sure what he is doing on the board and feels tired or nervous, fire Danailov (though that wont happen), take a rest, try to analyze why he is in the situation he is and put a strategy to overcome this slump.
Maybe Kramnik show how to beat Topalov?
This tournament is much to early. I guess he expected to come here as WC (yes yes, double meaning), and he is now not, and thus needs to pop up his winning energy again, but being depressed he cannot. Now. But he will be back as a top-player soon. Maybe yesterdays draw was all he needed.
He needs to take some time to relax, re-focus and re gain his chess strength again before he destroys his rating that took a lifetime to build.
I would probably say a month without even bringing up the word chess at all! Just a vacation and normal every day life.
Then settling back into his game and working on his tendency to blunder and take risks greater than the position will allow.
it’s topalov’s way of playing chess!
Last year he used to have a bad start then turn on his powerful mind to win the race in the last games!
So let’s wait and see: essent is not over!
But, IMO, he should have had a rest after his match versus kramnik to recover his mind, and to better his play.The match has showed some weak points in his play, he would have be better for him to correct these weak points .
Judging from his play in the first 2 games, I would say he does look slightly burnt out.
He’ll probably recover in the second half but not enough to catch up and win.
I think most (including myself) have no clue as to how much pressue a player is in when in a world title match!
GM Polgar knows what this is like. I imagine that it is intense and emotionally draining.
Should Topalov have come back? That isn’t up for us to decide. He chose to play. He could have waited. So, logic dictates that he thought he could win. Why else would one play?
The point is that it was his choice. No one coerced him nor forced him to play at the moment.
So, Yes, if he chose to play…then he certainly should play and (as he has done) accept the results.
I do not think that he played too soon after the match with Kramnik. He lost. Yet, he has lost matches before. Topalov must have (deep within his heart and soul) thought about what life would be like if he lost (which he did) to GM Kramnik. Surely he prepared for the emotinal consequences beforehand and, if not, then still chose to play in the Essent tournament.
I do not think that his defeat against Kramnik is “causing” him to lose now. I don’t think he would purposely make himself look bad. Yet, “bad” is such a subjective adjective.
For example, Topalov is competing against some of the best chess players on Earth. Losing to any of them is not a “bad” thing. No person can win or draw every chess game ad infinitum.
We all go through periods of turmoil. We are human. We are not emotionless computers.
I am not a good enough chess player to judge whether Topalov is playing “out of form” or is playing “badly.” He could beat me every time for the rest of my life!
Was the loss to Kramnik an emotional loss, too? Yes. I’m sure he was not happy to lose the FIDE title. Again, though, I’m sure a part of him was prepared for this outcome.
His subsequent play, as a result, cannot, in my opinon, be an effect of his loss to GM Kramnik.
Topalov is simply being outplayed by some of the best chess player in the world. I see no shame in this.
To lose to those that are considered the best is nothing to be ashamed of. Again, it was by choice (no force was used) that Topalov is playing in the current tournament.
Other than being a GM at chess, he is really no different than anyone else. He just wants to make a living and make himself a good life.
His life, nor no other GM’s, should be under a microscope for the world to see. It is too personal.
I see no cause and effect here. He is just not winning at this moment. It will either continue or not continue. We shall see.
Charlemagne
Oh, and regarding ratings, they cascade up and down as does an airplane. He would say that he’ll not be #1 next month. But, to even be in the top 20 is a dream to 99.9% of all chess players.
As a result, if he isn’t number 1 any longer, then it is merely a fact. And, as we all know, “facts” can change with circumstances. Time will be the ultimate arbiter.
Charlemagne
Topalov’s play was never higher class than Karpov,Kasparov,Anand, Kramnik or even Leko. Far from it.
2005 was an exceptional year for the man but it will be very difficult for him to receate this success.
I honestly feel the man received “hints” from an inner circle within his team in these prior events.
Before anyone is outraged by this thnk about athletics or cycling. In these sports household name competitors have consistently denied doping …even when caught…but all the while have teams of doctors helping them cheat. It happens.Why not in chess?
I think this is one reason why Topalov’s camp accused Kramnik of cheating-they themselves had done so before so it was easy to accuse Kramnik of doing the same.
I believe Topalov has the same logic as these world famous doped athletes…they tell themselves they are only doing what everyone else doing.Level the playing field.
These athletes do not even consider that they are doing anything wrong.
I suggest that over 2-3 years Topalov will descend to c.2730-2750-maybe even winning some supertournaments with a 2800+ performance as he is a very strong player-BUT he will not dominate.
I am c.2400ELO but surely anyone looking at Topalov’s play against Kramnik and now here cannot imagine that this is a player of the calibre of a 31 yr old Karpov or Kasparov yet he has an impossible 2800+ raing!!!
What was Topalov’s motivation to cheat? At the age of 30 he put himself in a position to make more money over a 2-3 year period than he would otherwise make in his entire career. Simple.
Finally , the s a damn good player BUT look at facts i.e he plays into wild, forcing positions ideally suited to computer assistance but when does not have the back-up he makes critical errors and loses.
Oh, and regarding ratings, they cascade up and down as does an airplane. He would say that he’ll not be #1 next month. But, to even be in the top 20 is a dream to 99.9% of all chess players.
As a result, if he isn’t number 1 any longer, then it is merely a fact. And, as we all know, “facts” can change with circumstances. Time will be the ultimate arbiter.
Charlemagne
Yes. Hints could have been passed to him. If one considers this cheating then it can occur (and probably does) at every level of play.
But, if you are amongst the best in the world at chess…who can qualify to give you hints? Seems that only an elite few could.
And, I think GM’s can tell whether or not their opponents moves are from a computer or not. I feel quite comfortable in saying the the top 50 players in the world own the best chess software. Hence, they know how they play.
If he were receiving hints, then who who they come from? It would have to be someone that is not as good as Topalov in chess…unless it was a computer. And, the problem with this hypothesis is that a GM opponent could probably tell clearly the difference between a human and computer opponent.
1. yes
2. yes
3. Take up checkers
Guys, guys, cool down.
He has played TWICE with black pieces against 2 super GMs! He also couldnt deliver with white pieces contra Sokolov, ok thats true. But hey, Sokolov aint some patzer like me, he has 2670 rating!
Personally i like the kind of his play, we never now will he win or lose! Thast kinda cool. Would you rather watch Karpov-Kasparov drawing seances? Or Leko-Kramnik for that matter?
Почему вы писать на русском языке? Я могу написать и поговорить русскому немногая. Не каждое может! Будьте благорассудительн в ваших столбах. Не предположите каждое может прочитать ваш язык. Карл Великий.
Charlemagne
P.S. I never was very good at writing Russian. Excuse the terrible grammatical errors.
to: Serenity
Dont be jealous! Topalov is just overplayed. He need looooong vacation and a lot of relaxing. Topalov can beat anyone anytime.
Μπορείτε να διαβάσετε αυτό.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
He lost two games, so it isn’t a trend yet
However it is possible that players are aware of his recklessness more now and wait for him to overextend himself.
He is always going to be a streaky player with that style of playing too fast.
to Charlemagne : На какво се дължат загубите на Топалов на турнира в Хоогенвеен? – i think this is bulgarian.
to Anonymous said…
Μπορείτε να διαβάσετε αυτό.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:51:20 AM
greek maybe, please translate it
We are talking here about assisting a c.2730-50 player.
A GM/IM working with Fritz would outplay or at worse equalise Kasparov in a complicated tactical position. Easy.
Topalov would only need hints in some games and in some positions.
It would only take one, two at most, interventions to tip the balance.
The stronger the player the less assistance needed but the more valuable that assistance is.
It would be enough even to catch a signal that said- “you are winning, there is a decisive continuation” for a 2700 player to marshall their resources and look for the kill.
Look at the game Judit played and missed Nf5-if she had been told that there was a very strong continuation she would find the idea in a second or two.
In Topalov’s case I do not know how it was done but it is the equivalent of Linford Christie becoming the best sprinter in the world at age 33 or Ben Johnson going from Olympic 4th place to running 9.76 with his eyes popping out of his head.
look at the games and his errors behind the glass screen!
“danger of losing his #1 ranking…”
One is not in danger of losing anything if one does not perform to the expectations of the position.
Typical reckless play by Topalov. Difference here is that his opponents were not intimidated by this play and defeated his unsound ideas.
as i pointed out BEFORE the Elista match – Topalov is over- and Kramnik underrated.
Things drop back to normal now – Topalov had a peak flight since St. Louis, but he is not the type of player to hold a 2800+ performance over years (Kasparov was, but even Anand and Kramnik failed to hold on above 2800+)
of course Essent came too soon for Topalov (remember, as the contracts were signed Topalov felt invincible, the greatest, the no.1, the world champ, simply the best…)
things went different, a little… (with a clear 5-6 loss OTB in match play and an even clearer loss in rapid – oh boy – there is always a guy beeing better than yourself…)
so, Topalov will “alight” at his normal 2740+ level, Anand will take over no.1 – Mexico City will be without him (and without his lively manager) – the Radjabov match – millions will end in smoke – and why?
because hubris more often than not is ending in debris…
never ever there was any campaign against the bulgarian national hero (not by former KGBs, not by the CIA or the Mossad – and even Secret Service or german BND never ever tried to affect Topalov. It was Topalov (and the deamon within – Danailov) himself to cause his downfall – or as we say in germany:
Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall!
amazingly in english it is just the same:
Pride goes before a fall!
sincerly
The modern world has a very short attention span and thinks that Now is always indicitave of everything. In fact, no real conclusions at all can be drawn from a mere two games.
Topalov has always been a little worse than Kramnik head to head, and he still is. No big shocks there. Then he loses his first two at the next tournament. It’s bad for him, but it’s only 2 games. It means nothing long-term, especially when talking about a player with a gambling style anyway.
Same with the idea that it’s “axiomatic” that Topalov starts slow and finishes well. A year ago nobody had heard of that axiom. But he does it a couple of times, and suddenly people think it’s his trademark. It says more about the short attention span of the public than anything else.
Topalov has 3 more games, and two of them Whites. This tournament is short enough as it is that one could at least wait for the end of it to try to draw conclusions.
The only thing we can learn from this so far is the facileness of his recent idea that the Number 1 rating is more important than the world title. Ratings are transitory and can change quickly. He probably won’t lose the #1 spot here, but it’s possible. If he does, a bad performance in a small tournament here would not represent any kind of “changing of the guard”, the way world title matches do.
To “Anon,”
No. It’s not Bulgarian. I guess I’m just really bad at typing (writing) Russian.
I think, though, if you knew the language, then you would undertand clearly what I was saying.
You do not speak nor read the Russian language.
Charlemagne
Can’t anyone read Greek?
Just wondering?
“Topalov should get some rest, then prepare to play in Mexico City.”
Since he’s not playing in Mexico City, that would be a waste of his time.
To the Greek writing Anon…
Yes.. I can read this, too.
This is what you said.
But, I’m an American. Greek and Russian are second languages. So, excuse my incorrect grammar.
Just wanted to practice since I have a computer keyboard that allows me to type with a non-English alphabet.
Charlemagne
“Topalov will “alight” at his normal 2740+ level, Anand will take over no.1 – Mexico City will be without him (and without his lively manager) – the Radjabov match – millions will end in smoke”
Ahhh, another person that can “see” into the future! Can you also see next weeks lottery numbers from Australia?
Glad there is a super-human aboard that can predict future occurances and know what is going to happen before it actually does.
Must be nice to have such supernatural abilities…ehhh, Vohal. Or, have you been reading too many comic books again?
–Charlemagne
charlemagne, На какво се дължат загубите на Топалов на турнира в Хоогенвеен? is in Bulgarian, not in Russian, believe me;)
“looking at the development of Korchnoi, we can say that he is the greatest cheater of all time because he became a much stronger player in his late 30s than he was when he was younger.
I simply dont think…”
I couldn’t agree more…you SIMPLY DON’T THINK!
Korchnoi is a grat chess player. But, nothing coming close to even qualifying as the “best of all time.”
If you’re wanting to judge whom the best of “all time” is, then you must compare the player with his/her contemporaries.
The best player of all time…NOT Korchnoi but rather Paul Morphy. Again…compare those these two champions played against. That’s all we have to allow us to “judge” anyone else.
He was just way OVERRATED!!!
And the surprise-effect of his Berserker-style attacks is now gone. He will drop to about 2650-2750, where he belongs.
Почему вы писать на русском языке? – russian
На какво се дължат загубите на Топалов на турнира в Хоогенвеен? – bulgarian
and please stop argue !
май станахме много анонимниците 🙂
>He was just way OVERRATED!!!
Not way, but a little bit. Topalov belongs to the top 7 players since oct. 2001 and his rating can be anything between 2730 and 2800, depending on many factors but still definitely in this range.
Charlemagne, I am Bulgarian. If you want proof – I can translate in Bulgarian what you said in Russian.
Russian language (somewhat broken)
Почему вы писать на русском языке? Я могу написать и поговорить русскому немногая. Не каждое может! Будьте благорассудительн в ваших столбах. Не предположите каждое может прочитать ваш язык. Карл Великий.
In Bulgarian language
Защо пишете на руски език? Аз мога да пиша и да говоря малко на руски. Не всеки може! Бъдете по-разсъдливи във вашите стълбове (?столбах – probably wrong word in the Russian text). Не предполагайте, че всеки може да чете Вашия език. Карл Велики.
To quote the words of Georgi Dimitrov (another Bulgarian) said in the Nazi Court of Law in Leipzig in 1933: “Sirs (Herren), you who state the the Bulgarian people is savage and barbarian should take into account that at the time when Charlemagne (Charles the Great) wrote in Latin and spoke in German only to his horses, the Bulgarian people spoke in Bulgarian language and wrote in its own alphabet.”
This alphabet is the Cyrillic alphabet that came to Russia 5 centuries later than in Bulgaria, together with the Bulgarian literature and culture.
Georgi Dimitrov made this speech in German. I don’t know, however, that language and quote in English which, although very imperfect compared to Bulgarian, unfortunately became universal.
lantonov comes from Lyudmil Antonov (Людмил Антонов), not anonymous, not a nick name.
This Topalov and Bulgaria bashing goes on and on by brainwashed people believing every piece of propaganda thrown in their media.
@charlemagne (Karl der Große – how humble … ^^)
you have two ways to order the next lottery numbers from my small futuretelling company:
we accept VISA, MASTER and AMERICAN EXPRESS
we accept: transfer funds
our conditions are: 50 percent of the total amount of money win, if 4 out of six numbers given by our approved fortunetellers will be “hauled” (^^ what the heck did you think “Vohaul” does mean?).
40 percent if there were 5 out of six
30 percent if there were 6 out of six
to give away a secret (please don’t tell anyone!): we trustfully work together with people like
Bill Gates
Karl Aldi
Kirsan IIjumchinov
King Saud
Michael Schumacher
they all made their way – maybe it is on to you, to make your way, too?
dear Karl der Große, please give us your date of birth, your date of crowning, and the date your parents endowed you that nice greek key board…
we appreciate further contacts…
wholeheartedly spoken: you have chosen the wrong idol – and you struggle hard, but break even … ^^
don’t feel THAT disappointed …
sincerly yours… ^^
Dear Vohaul,
Great response! Do you take money orders?
Just kidding. 🙂
I like your humor.
Charlemagne
Dear Vohaul,
Great response! Do you take money orders?
Just kidding. 🙂
I like your humor.
Charlemagne
“This Topalov and Bulgaria bashing goes on and on by brainwashed people believing every piece of propaganda thrown in their media.”
Maybe because nobody defends him. Including you! You just get mad that people won’t forget that he did something that would get him kicked out of almost any tournament in the world.
You can get mad all you want, but it’s still perfectly fair and reasonable that Topalov’s name has become an icon of bad sportsmanship. If even Bulgarian GM’s don’t condone his conduct, you can’t blame us for criticizing it.
@Charlemagne – to be honest – dear friend – my employeed fortunetellers are far from being that good … and i – myself i am lousy in fortunetelling :((
so – keep your money orders – keep your idol (Topalov will return somewhen – there is no doubt about it – in my eyes!) – and – PLEASE – do not tell anyone that Vohaul’s fortunetellers are for “hauling” only … otherwise i’ll be in Queer Street
(ooops, british english – but i like the expression… ^^)
sincerly your’s Vo”haul”
I think it is quite common for grandmasters to lose. If we review games, we can see that strong grandmasters can even lose to weaker ones, so I don’t see why people kick up a fuss over topalov’s loss.
Anonymous, evidently you haven’t read anything of the postings and letters in support of Topalov by me and other people. Also, the official letter in support of Topalov issued by the Bulgarian Chess Federation and signed by all Bulgarian GM’s. Unlike the fake letter in support of Kramnik in ChessBase under which names were added at will. Or maybe you go with the herd and you are blind for everything in support of Topalov.
@lantonov – bad enemies all around?
just remember the capture:
“well, i’m paranoid, but this does not mean, that they do not track me!”
no offense meant, but you overact. you might be caged in your “sun-glassed bulgarien chess world” – but be sure: no one is hunting you and your idol… and no one hunts the bulgarians, a full member of the EC from 1.1.2007 …
so – let’s return to facts:
– there was no accuse to Topalov to use chess software by the Kramnik team
– there was no offense by the FIDE to poor Topalov whilst sitting to wait for the cruel Kramnik on match 5…
– there was no protest against the glass wall BEFORE the Elista match …
– there was not even a doubt by the Topalov /Danailov team to WIN Elista …
hubris – @lantonov… hubris … and indeed – as outlined elswhere:
“Pride will have a fall.”
your Vohaul
“Anonymous, evidently you haven’t read anything of the postings and letters in support of Topalov by me and other people.”
Anonymous fans blindly supporting their hero? Sure, I’ve seen lots of that. They don’t have to stand behind it. But titled players willing to lend their name to an endorsement of Topalov’s behavior? Nope. Not a single one. Not even Bulgarian players. And you don’t endorse it either, you just try to talk around it.
“Also, the official letter in support of Topalov issued by the Bulgarian Chess Federation and signed by all Bulgarian GM’s.”
You mean this letter?
http://tinyurl.com/ya6yyd
The one that, despite claiming to be signed by top Bulgarian GM’s, didn’t actually have a single such signature on it?
And even if it had, even this letter doesn’t support any of Topalov’s behavior. It simply talks vabuely about non-specific plots and atatcks Bareev and Svidler.
Busted!
“Unlike the fake letter in support of Kramnik in ChessBase under which names were added at will. Or maybe you go with the herd and you are blind for everything in support of Topalov.”
We’re talking about Topalov’s behavior, and how even you don’t defend it. Not how you don’t like the support for Kramnik and so rationalize that it must be fake.
This is quite simple. Rather than assuring me that such support exists somewhere, try to find some. Show one link to one GM, Bulgarian or otherwise, saying that it’s okay to accuse your opponent of cheating in the public press without supplying evidence, and you’ve made your case.
If you can’t do something as simple as that, then you’re just blowing smoke and know it. You may support Topalov, but you don’t support his behavior. Neither do I. Neither does anyone. I’m just less willing to ignore it than you are. That’s the only difference.
Ranting about how unfair anyone who criticizes Topalov is won’t get you anywhere. If your claim is that even Alexei Shirov, who signed this letter:
http://chess-players.org/eng/news/viewarticle.html?id=565
was ‘brainwashed’ into supporting Kramnik, then give it up. You’ve devolved into absurdity.
whatever the “cause”, the effect is that it has definitely generated a lot of internet traffic so far — this can’t be bad. ESPN-style drama is much more appealing to the broader audience than two people staring at a chess board and that will bring more money into the game. sponsors also realize this and it’s not the end for topalov — it’s the beginning
ditto Chris Els.
Fire Danailov…
Vohaul, I respect your opinion in many of your postings, including this last one. You are right that I overact. I have to, in order to be at least 1/100 of the pro-Kramnik crowd.
You see that anon above me? Accusations of cheating, gosh! Kramnik started accusing Topalov of cheating 1 year ago in the media without a shred of evidence. Search of Topalov (not Kramnik) with mine detector before each game. Kramnik supporters are not only blind but deaf too. That’s why I have to SHOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUT! Sorry about your tender ears.
Your opinion is always worth listening though.
anonymous, that link that you give redirects to ChessBase. To see the original letter with the signatures go to the site of the Bulgarian Chess Federation. I won’t give you the link to it, you must wait for the ChessBase to put it in the list of its links to the chess fedarations. No link to the Topalov web side in ChessBase too. Only manipulated material.
Yes, no protest by Topalov about the glass wall, no protest about Kramnik’s accusations, no protest about search with mine detector, no protest about the insinuations for Topalov’s parapsychologist, no protest about the venue of the match (“the chess crown returned to its homeland” – words by the “impartial” Kirsan), how many more “no protests”. But the protest about the WC and the real cheating became a first-page news issue. How sweet. Bad Bulgarians involved in all evil things around the world.
“To see the original letter with the signatures go to the site of the Bulgarian Chess Federation. I won’t give you the link to it,”
I bet you won’t. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). In any case, the comment still stands. No GM’s support Topalov’s behavior, even those who support Topalov personally. And you don’t support it yourself, even when prodded to do so. That’s my only point.
“lantonov comes from Lyudmil Antonov (Людмил Антонов), not anonymous, not a nick name.”
If you’re going to post under your real name, you really should take a little more care to stick to the truth. Vague ramblings about lies against Topalov that you’re unable to name. Support for Topalov by GM’s who you’re again unable to name. Shrill assurances that everyone who disagrees with you is lying or brainwashed, in ways that (again) you can’t explain. Deviations from the truth whenever it pleases you (saying Kramnik accused Topalov of cheating, when in fact it was Morozevich and Kasimdzhanov). All this only makes you look like you don’t know or care what you’re talking about, you just want to support your countryman right or wrong.
You never actually make any kind of case for Topalov, all you do is keep assuring us that you could if you wanted to. Nobody’s buying it.
You’re not much of a Topalov fan. If you were, you’d be very interested in refuting all these lies told about him. But you don’t even seem very concerned about identifying them. Sounds like you’re afraid to look too deeply for fear of what you might find.
People who didn’t hate Topalov a month ago hate him now for one reason and one reason only. He disgraced the game by levelling public accusations without evidence. You admitted yourself that that behavior was wrong, when you criticized those who had done the same to Topalov in the past. Therefore, you admit Topalov was wrong. Sorry, that’s just simple logic.
So what if Topalov isn’t number one on the next ratings list? Topalov clearly isn’t the best player right now and he definitely isn’t the world champion.
Kramnik is rated #3 or 4 right now (though he’ll probably be number 2 or 3 on the next list) and hes the world champion, but no one cares!!
Listen up, this is a post-Kasparov era. There will be a lot of players near the top who play very strong chess and few of them run ahead of the pack for very long.
“So what if Topalov isn’t number one on the next ratings list? Topalov clearly isn’t the best player right now and he definitely isn’t the world champion.”
People put too much stock in ratings. They’re only approximations, though people treat them as exact. Anand fans were actually furious when Topalov was 1 point ahead of him a few months back, as though that 1 point really meant something. It doesn’t. Anand, Kramnik and Topalov collectively are a cut above the rest of the pack, but which one of them is the best depends on what day it is.
Ratings don’t really matter. Winning the world title means a lot more. Or has up to now. When the world championship means nothing more than winning 1 of the many supertournaments played each year, the title will become as meaningless as the ratings are. The way it’s looking now, Kramnik will be the last real World Champion.
Copyright © 2005 «ЗАО «Индепендент спорт».
Техническое обеспечение и техническая поддержка © 2002-2005 ЗАО Инфопроект .
Информационная поддержка © 2002-2005 «ЗАО «Индепендент спорт».
Великий комбинатор
ВЕСЕЛИНА ТОПАЛОВА ПОДОЗРЕВАЮТ В ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИИ ПОДСКАЗОК КОМПЬЮТЕРНЫХ ПРОГРАММ
Более полугода шахматный интернет гудит, как потревоженный улей: многие известные гроссмейстеры и мастера обвиняют чемпиона мира по шахматам болгарина Веселина Топалова в том, что во время официальных соревнований он пользуется подсказками компьютерных программ. После недавнего супертурнира в Софии, завершившегося очередным триумфом Топалова, подобные разговоры вспыхнули с новой силой. Выяснилось, что в партиях второго круга с основными конкурентами, Виши Анандом и Гатой Камским, почти все ходы чемпиона совпали с рекомендациями одной из сильнейших на сегодняшний день шахматной программы с нежным именем «Рыбка». Международный мастер Владимир Барский по заданию PROспорт изучил тему компьютерного допинга и вынес ее на суд широкой публики.
The russian campaign against Topalov is at full swing and it won’t stop any soon.
A complain about unethical behavior of Kramnik was turned upside down and dished out as unsporting behavior of Topalov. Naive people on one side and jealous GMs and IMs on the other went along with bashing Topalov.
As far as who is the best. Topalov lost a match by one game in absolutely one-sided hostile environment. Yes, Kramnik has the title, no dispute there, but has not proven that he really is better than Topalov.
Time will tell the truth.
Since Anand is weaker than Topalov the russians do not see him as a real treat to breaking their dominance of world chess and all their efforts are focused on destroying Topalov. Because if he were poor player they would not launch such an offensive.
Albert
I didn’t like what Topalov’s manager has done at Elista , but i find the bashing of Veselin and joy over his defeat really unhealthy ..
I was delighted to see Kramnik win , but i’m not sure that Topalov deserve this treatment , especially since his manager has a big influence on him and Topalov couldn’t disavow him in the middle of Elista , the biggest and most stressing event of his life .
I hope that Topalov will find his good form again , it was a stretgic mistake to play at Essent after deploying so much energy and suffering a moral blow at Elista , he under-estimated the effects probably . His style is very demanding and eats a lot of mental energy , it’s harder to recover in such circumstances , especially after a defeat .
I think that Topalov needs rest for a few weeks , to re-mobilize himself and evacuate Elista and the stress and fatigue occasioned , in order to play at full confidence and strength again in a few months . I hope so because he’s a fantastic offensive and creative chess player .
>>The russian campaign against Topalov is at full swing and it won’t stop any soon.
>>
With friends like Albert, Topalov doesn’t need any enemies. Remember, people will judge not only Topalov, but Bulgaria itself by your bad sportsmanship. It’s not fair but that’s the way it is.
Whining about how the deck was stacked against Topalov in ways you can’t begin to explain, just makes Topalov and Bulgaria look worse. He got an Appeals Committee willing to break the rules for him. He got a free point without play. What more do you want?
To the Anonymous that began with “The Modern World…”
I agree that it is not exactly “axiomatic,” perhaps I used too strong a word. However, one can say that since San Luis, Topalov has undergone some kind of transformation, however temporary. His recent style of play appears to be marked by such a trend (and I include the recent match in that figuration).
I absolutely agree with your statement on the inflated opinion of what being World #1 in ratings implies – perhaps a trend we’ve inherited from a decade+ with no clear champion?
I too was a bit taken aback by Topalov/Danailov’s behavior at the match, particular the letter released with the Fritz analysis on the morning of a match right before the game! However, I wouldn’t villify him. Such behaviour is hardly new to chess, a point that has been made over and over.
I ask this next question out of curiousity, not looking to pick any fights: people who demonize Topalov – are you Fischer fans?
bad karma
Well said Albert
First 4 games when Kramnik was allowed to go to the WC his moves are 78% equal to Fritz, the next games when Topalov played quickly and did not allow Kramnik to cheat on every move this percentage dropped to 23%. What stonger (though indirect) evidence for Kramnik cheating? Only destroying the building and finding the device in a wall.
This fact blinds Kramnik supporters because it shines too strong. In the Russian paper of 2005 cited above, the author accuses Topalov of cheating with Rybka on the basis of unspecified correspondence of his moves with Rybka, and this accusation is propagated to the public by Vladimir Barsky (Russian, of course). But Rybka, unlike Fritz, plays positional chess, assesing the position’s weaknesses like human players, and it is much more likely human moves to correspond to Rybka moves. Fritz plays machine chess and every experienced player can distinguish the style of play. Or you think that Topalov is so balmy as to not notice it?
Yes, Lyudmil Antonov (Людмил Антонов), and I stand by my words. I hate cheaters like Kramnik. Everybody who supports Kramnik, supports cheating, and his moral values are diametrally opposed to mine.
And sorry about my error, the Russian paper is from the spring this year, after the M-Tel tournament. The slanderous campaign of Kramnik was in full swing at that time.
And all you anonymous self-proclaimed shrinks who misanalyse my behavior, please, shut up. I am not going to pay you.
I agree…with friends like these guys, Topalov needs to enemy
I agree, too, Topalov has a lot of friends and no enemy worth speaking about.
Anonymous posters, I dare you to stand behind Kranmik with your real names. In that way people will know who supports cheating.
@ lantonov – dear bulgarian friend – you are for sure a true Topalov fan – and i respect this!
you pointed out – i qoute
“First 4 games when Kramnik was allowed to go to the WC his moves are 78% equal to Fritz, the next games when Topalov played quickly and did not allow Kramnik to cheat on every move this percentage dropped to 23%. What stonger (though indirect) evidence for Kramnik cheating?”
this fact was completely new to me! so i went to the pgn-files of the Elista match – still on my laptop – and picked game 10 (the one Kramnik managed to win)
theory ended at move 11, game went up to move 43
i gave fritz9 10 seconds per move and declared line 1 and line 2 of 4 evaluation lines of fritz9 as a match, if the move was the same, played on the board (i looked foreward up to move 24, when Topalov blundered with f6):
Kramnik: 9 out of 11 (oops conspiracy….)
Topalov: 8 out of 11 (of course fritz did not play 24…f6??)
no evidence, no fact, no nothing … the proposed “23%” won’t even fit to my play (about 50 – 60 percent on my patzer level).
there was no cheating in Elista, neither by Topalov, nor by Kramnik (and btw – there were no “mine sweepers” on Topalov – another quaint accusation…)
sincerly
named posters, why try and bolster your positions behind your name? This is called using an argumentum ad hominem, i.e. you claim that your name , title, or position, of itself implies credibility…rather than the strength (or weakness) of your arguement itself.
The classic childrens fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes, tells the tale of an Emperor whom paraded about naked while proudly proclaiming his new clothing, and of how all the respected gentleman and ladies marveled at his attire, whence only a young boy pointed out the plain and simple truth, that: The Emperor was naked!
The moral: hide not behind pomp, yet rely on the arguement’s substance.
http://www.broadviewpress.com/tales/emperorsclothes.htm
@vohaul
dear friend – it is understandable that you do not have information on the drop to 23% and the search with mine detector. This is because those facts are very inconvenient for media like ChessBase and the Russian publications in Internet in English.
The drop to 23% was in the 6th game of the match (the one imediately following the forfeited 5th game). In it, Topalov played very quickly and the visits by Kramnik to the WC were reduced to 4. This game was analysed independently with 5 PC’s running Fritz9 and the number 23% +/- 4% is the average and SD of the 5 tests. In the following games, this percentage gradually increased to about 50% corresponding to the increased visits by Kramnik to the john. This study was published in the Bulgarian press (“24 hours” newspaper) and ignored, of course, by ChessBase-like sites.
As to the mine detector, Bulgarian TV even showed a footage of the actual search of Topalov with this large apparatus. All Bulgarian journalists in Elista reported this fact early on in the match, and also Danailov’s decision not to launch official complaint about this in order to not disturb the organisers. In the last interview of Topalov, quoted selectively by ChessBase, Topalov also spoke about this mine detector search, and the harm to him done by this procedure.
Oh, well, I am using “argumentum ad hominem” and you are using “argumentum ad anonymum” hiding your identity in order not to accept responsibilty for your words. Which is more credible?
Hide behind anonymoty not to “accept responsibility for your words”.
What a preposterous claim!
Why?
1) Because it has no bearing upon whether or not the proposal is true or has merit!
2) As most children know, you are not anonymous on the web. EVERY person (location) logged into the WWW has a unique IP address, something like 207.46.98.39 and is accountable.
3) It is Susan’s choice whether or not to require membership…and that is the rule…like it or not…take issue with her, she has an email address use it.
4) Your strategy reaks of old-world despotic tactics, “My way or the highway”
5) To borrow a line from the movies: “I could tell you who I am, but I’d have to kill ya.”
6) I have not posted under any other ID in this link.
7) have a nice day
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Oct-10-06 gogoto: Topalov is where he’s at in a tied match because he successfully knocked Kramnik out of his rhythm using garbage like throwing manure. It works. That’s the shame of it. What the hell are you talking about? Topalov breaking Kramnik´s rhythm? Man – please don´t embarrass yourself. What about the fact that Topalov agreed to play in a former Soviet Country – it´s like going into the enemy´s camp, with a sign “I´m stupid” on his head! Yes, this is a sure sign that he is trying to break Kramniks komfort… What about the fact that Kramnik went, on average 55 times a game to his toilet! The only place lacking a camera… Come on – 55 times a game! What is that? A small blatter? I don´t think so… I think Topalov had right to be suspicious of Kramnik, that´s no childish behavior, or an awful character. This is common sense. If you are playing a world champion title match – would you prefer to be in front of the board or walk in and out of the toilet like crazy? Kramnik spent over 2 hours a game in his locker room – then when they wanted the video recordings from the room, the Russians refused to show them… And then – of course, Topalov is trying to break Kramnik´s concentration… Get a job!
Chessbase and russian press campaign continues…it is true, but why.
Does Russian have shares in Chessbase ?
I have red in the russian internet that Kramnik fiancee name is Nadezdha Zhukowa, is it true, could sbd check that ? It was on Russian with cyrilic alphabet.
The minister of sport in Russia is Zhukow. If it is the family, it could explain sth.
PKF.
Topa, go home! Have a rest! Don’t forget to take Danailov and Kirsan with you …