Topalov 1/2 – 1/2 Svidler
Inching one step closer toward the FIDE World Championship crown, Topalov is using common sense and played “safely”. Through the Ruy Lopez, the Queens came off the board on move 19 and Topalov offered a draw in a slightly better position on move 21. Svidler, just like Anand, for some reason is content to fight for second place and agreed to a draw. Topalov maintains his 1.5 points lead with only 2 games to go. The crown is just about all locked up.
Morozevich – J. Polgar
Morozevich started the game with 1. Nc3! The players had a good sense to transform it to a Najdorf Sicilian. Once again, Judit never castled and she went on the offensive in the Queenside. However, with the Queens off the board, it was not very affective. On move 30, she should have sacrificed the exchange with 30…Rxb6 31.Bxb6 Bc8 32.Be3 e6. She would have had good compensation because of the Bishop pair. After 30…Bd7, Morozevich got a small edge in the endgame. Judit defended well and the game ended in a draw.
1.Nc3 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Be2 h5 11.h4 gxh4 12.Rxh4 Nc6 13.Nb3 Be6 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.0-0-0 Qb6 16.f3 Qe3 17.Bf4 Qxd2+ 18.Rxd2 Nge5 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Rh1 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Bxc4 22.Na4 b5 23.Nb6 Rb8 24.Kb1 h4 25.f4 Rb7 26.Nc1 Rg8 27.Rh3 Rg4 28.b3 Be6 29.Ne2 Rxg2 30.f5 Bd7 [ 30…Rxb6!? 31.Bxb6 Bc8 32.Be3 Rg4 33.Nf4 Be5 34.Rg2 Rxf4 35.Bxf4 Bxf4 36.Rxh4 Be5] 31.Nd5 Ne5?! [31…Bg7] 32.Nxf6+ exf6 33.Nc3 [33.Rxh4? Nf3 34.Rh8+ Ke7] 33…Rg3 34.Rxg3 hxg3 35.Nd5 [35.Bf4!] 35…Bc6 36.Nxf6+ Ke7 37.Nh5 f6? [37…Nf3 38.Re2 g2 39.Rxg2 Bxe4; 37…Bxe4? 38.Bg5+ Kf8 39.Rxd6 Rd7 40.Rh6] 38.Nxg3 Rb8 39.Rh2 Rg8 40.Rh7+ Nf7 41.Bf4 Rg4 42.Nh5 Bxe4 [42…Rh4] 43.Bxd6+ Kxd6 44.Rxf7 Rg2 45.Rxf6+ Ke5 46.Re6+ Kxf5 47.Rxa6 Bxc2+ 48.Kc1 Be4 49.Ra5 Bd3 50.a4 Rc2+ 51.Kd1 Ra2 52.Kc1 Rc2+ 53.Kd1 Ra2 54.Kc1 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2
Leko 0 – 1 Anand
An opening gone bad? That is how I would describe this game. Leko was cranking out the opening moves at lightning pace. Unless the transmission clock was wrong, it seemed to me that Leko only started to think with any length of time after Anand played 25…Ne7. That led me to believe that he thoroughly analyzed this at home.
However, I am completely puzzled! Why would one play a line that involves sacrificing a pawn as White for no advantage or initiative what so ever? That is exactly what happened. Anand simply played well from that point on to slowly enhance his advantage and score a full point with the black pieces. Now, Anand is in a tie (with Svidler) for 2nd place, 1.5 points behind Topalov with 2 rounds to go.
Kasimdzhanov – Adams
Kasim played this game very well. On the White side of the Ruy Lopez, he basically maintained a fair advantage through out most of the game. He continued to keep the pressure on Adams all the way until the endgame. Even with a pawn up endgame, Kasim could not capitalize on the advantage as Adams defended very well to earn a draw. Both players fought very hard even though they were out of the running for top placements.
Hello,
Any chance of GM Topa losing one and drawing one, giving GM Anand and GM Svidler a chance ?
Vinay,
I would hate to see Topalov lose the tournament, Its aggressive players like Topalov,Shirov and Anand that make chess an interesting game for lay people like myself. With all due respect for Anand and his awesome career that has single handedly created Chess movement in India. I should say after the crucial game 9-14 slump Vs Kaspy in PCA C’ship in ’95 I have seen Vishy crack @ Crucial moments, time & again especially W’ship scenario. I somehow expected him to excel in this tournament coz its in Masters Tournament format like Dortmund/Linares/W’jee which Vishy is more adept to but Morozevich & Kasim losses didn’t do him gr8 here
95’s Anand was way more immature than, let’s say, last year’s. Of course, one has to admit how impressive has Topalov been playing this whole tournament. He definitely deserves the World Champion title (and so does Dvoretsky and so does Yusupov for that matter).
I think Topalov is playing beyond Kasparov’s level nowadays. He’s just amazing, challenging, fearless. Everything you would expect from a world champion.
I dunno. I truly thought this was Anand’s greatest chance to become WC. Life is turning him down. He’ll probably become another Keres: Tough dog without bones to chew.
And Topalov definitely deserves a huge broad and unlimited applause. He has completely redefined the meaning of GUTS.
Chess is full of surprises. Otherwise we all would be bored by now.