GM Bu Xiangzhi (2708) – GM Ivanchuk (2740) [A05]
16.05.2008 – Mtel round 8
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0–0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.e4 Qc8 12.Bb2 0–0 13.Qe3 Re8 14.Rac1 Qc7 15.h3 Rac8 16.Nh2 Qb8 17.Ng4 Ba8 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Na4 Be7 20.e5 Bxg2 21.exd6 Bxd6 22.Kxg2 Nc5 23.Nc3 Be5 24.b4 Nb7 25.Qxb6 Rxc4 26.Na4 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Bxb2 28.Nxb2 Qa8 29.Qc6 Nd6 30.Qxa8 Rxa8 31.Rc6 Nf5 32.Rc7 h5 33.Nd3 h4 34.g4 Nd4 35.a4 f6 36.Nc5 e5 37.a5 Ne2 38.Ne6 Nf4+ 39.Nxf4 exf4 40.Rc6 Kf7 41.g5 Kg6 42.gxf6 gxf6 43.Kf3 Kg5 44.Rc5+ f5 45.Rc6 Rb8 46.Rb6 Ra8 47.Ke2 Re8+ 48.Kd3 Re4 49.Kc3 Re2 50.Rxa6 Rxf2 51.Rd6 f3 52.Rd1 Kf4 53.Kb3 Re2 54.a6 Re3+ 55.Kc4 f2 56.Rf1 Kg3 57.b5 Ra3 58.Kb4 Ra2 59.Kb3 Ra5 60.Kb4 Ra2 61.Kb3 Ra5 Game drawn ½–½
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2 more rounds to go. My prediction is that not Ivanchuk but Topalov, who has managed to close the gap to .5 pt, is going to win the tournament.
Topalov definitely seems to have the momentum having 2.5/3 in the second half so far while Ivanchuk has drawn all 3 this half so far.
Topalov has been ruthless with 5.5/6 against those below- just Ivanchuk has he had trouble with (0.5/2) in his results. Well his last two opponents aren’t Ivanchuk so based on the record he should get 1.5 or 2 in the last 2 games- but who knows- Bu held Ivanchuk last round and Radjabov is getting his form back. Unpredictable!
Well, egaion, Topa made a mes of it today, but Toparinov both still stand a chance of winning the tournament. I’m impressed too by the split personality in these. It’s a bloody shame.