Here are the standings after 4 rounds:
Group A:
1. T. Radjabov 3½
2. V. Topalov 3
3-7. D. Navara, V. Anand, L. Aronian, P. Svidler, V. Kramnik 2½
8-9. S. Karjakin, R. Ponomariov 2
10. A. Motylev 1½
11. L. van Wely, S. Tiviakov, M. Carlsen 1
14. A. Shirov ½
Which players have impressed you most? Which players are most disappointing so far? Are your predictions still the same? Which players will finish in the top 3?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Of course Radjabov has had an impressive tournament start but he has in front the “monsters” awaiting…let’s see if he can manage to achieve a good score in such field….if so he will be for sure in the top three.
On the other hand I’d like to remark Navara’s start too, since he has scored 2.5/4 facing Kramnik, Svidler and Aronian. He’s showing he doesn’t have 2719 by “coincidence”.
I think Topalov is speeding up so he will be in top three.
The rest is unpredictable… Anand, Kramnik, Radjabov and Aronian are the favorites for me to join Topalov.
Radjabov has been the most impressive, with Topalov being close behind. One must note that Radjabov had an advantage in his draw against Karjakin, while Topalov fought for his draw against Karjakin.
Carlsen has continued his disappointing streak, while Shirov is doing pretty bad.
Actually, when you have the current standings, it is pretty easy to figure out who is impressive and who is disappointing 🙂
I don’t know about all the top three, but I am pretty sure Radjabov and Topalov will be in. Anand, Kramnik, Aronian and Karjakin will be fighting for the other top-three finish.
Radja for sure – but also Karjakin has been doing pretty fine. It will be nice to have a world champ match between them in the future.
I forgot to talk about disappointing players but I’d only mention Shirov. I agree with Susan that the open defense he played against Topalov was a mistake. He needs to adapt his repertoire to different styles and strengths of players and not to be shooting always.
Just look what the boy Carlsen did after a poor start, a quite draw against Anand just to take a breath and to improve physcologically. It is smart.
this is a 13 round tournament and only 4 rounds are complete- i don’t know if radjabov can keep this up especially when he plays the heavyweights- topalov looks good right now- i hope carlsen can turn things around and at least get 1 win- he missed 1 against navarra and that’s the difference between saying he’s having a good trnmt vs a bad one
I was definitely impressed by Radjabov’s win in game 4. He simply kept the pressure up in what I thought would be a draw. I think his opponent got tired and felt everything was a draw and Radj suddenly jumped all over black and it was then a quick crush. Great fighting spirit. Just what chess needs.
Topalov looks like he is getting back to a good form.
Karjakin is in good form.
Magnus is disappointing so far. Of course if he had seen 32 c6 then it would be fine right now. Chess is a game of tiny differences becoming big difference. Reminds me of the butterfly effect in chaos theory.
I think Anand is holding back his best and setting up for Mexico. I am sure he will be in fighting form in Mexico. Why should he show his opening ideas now.
Being a Topalov’s fervent supporter and from what I saw so far I’think he’ll be in the top 3 for sure. I’m dissapointed in…. Anand. I did not expect much from Carlsen – he’s a teenager – could be the pressure, the overwhelming expectations, a girl with impressive chest that spun his mind or whatever. It would be unrealisic to expect consistent superb form at his age. For a reson other than the Elista match – a dull, Leko style play I don’t like Krapnik in general and I don’t think he’ll be in the top three. I root for Topa, Navara and Aronian.
Смениха банката-гарант за мача Топалов-Крамник
17 януари 2007 | 16:48 | Агенция “Фокус”
София. Банка ДСК е новият гарант на сумата от 2 млн. долара, необходима за мача-реванш между Веселин Топалов и Владимир Крамник. Документът е изпратен вчера до централата на ФИДЕ в Швейцария, съобщи на пресконференция в Пресклуб “България” президентът на родната шахматна федерация Стефан Сергиев на снимката). Първоначално гаранцията бе дадена от банка D Сommerce, но международната федерация отказа с мотива, че признава у нас ОББ, Булбанк и ДСК, съобщава pressclubbg.com. Въпреки промяната, Сергиев е песимистично настроен за вероятността срещата да се състои.
“Просто няма време този мач да бъде насрочен и да завърши 6 месеца преди началото на турнира в Мексико, който започва на 11 септември и ще излъчи новия световен шампион. В момента Топалов и Крамник играят в турнира във Вайк ан Зее, а досега няма прецедент претендентите за световната титла да участват в едно и също състезание месец или два преди техния двубой за шахматната корона”, поясни г-н Сергиев.
От свои източниции шефовете на родната централа са разбрали, че на своето заседание от 26 до 29 януари в Анталия президентският борд на ФИДЕ ще обсъжда нова система за провеждане на Световното индивидуално първенство по шахмат за мъже. Това е причината Българската федерация по шахмат да предложи свой вариант, който е съгласуван с Веселин Топалов и неговия мениджър Силвио Данаилов.
Сергиев мотивира предложенията си с това, че ако бъдат приети предлаганите промени, те ще дадат възможност на всеки силен шахматист (достигнал супергросмайсторската граница от ELO 2750) да играе мач за титлата. По този начин всяка година може да има мач за титлата и ще бъде премахнат монополът върху нея. Ще се облекчи и демократизира излъчването на световния шампион. Ще отпадне необходимостта от организирането и провеждането на турнир, а всичко ще се решава в директен двубой.
Пред журналистите шефът на БФ Шахмат изложи най-важните точки от нашето предложение до ФИДЕ:
– Турнирът в Мексико през 2007 година излъчва световния шампион.
– Следващият световен шампион се определя в мач между настоящия световен шампион и претендента.
– Претендентът може да бъде:
– Всеки шахматист с индивидуален коефициент ЕЛО, не по-малък от 2750, който успее да осигури необходимия награден фонд и средствата за организирането и провеждането на мача за титлата в размер на 2 000 000 долара (два милиона щатски долара).
– Носителят на световната купа от турнира в Ханти-Мансийск през 2007 година в случай, че успее да осигури необходимите средства.
– ФИДЕ определя сроковете за подаване на заявки от претендентите за провеждането на мачовете за световната титла. Срокът не може да бъде по-късно от 3 месеца след завършването на турнира в Мексико.
– В случай, че заявки за участие в мача за титлата подадат 2 или повече шахматисти с ELO над 2750 и носителя на световната купа за 2007 година, правото да играе мача получава шахматистът с най-високо ELO.
– Мачът за титлата да е от 16 партии, като при равенство в резултата (8:8), световният шампион да запазва титлата си.
– Наградният фонд на мача да се разпределя пропорционално на крайния резултат, затова 16-те партии да се играят задължително, дори и единият от двамата шахматисти да спечели 8.5 т.
На пресконференцията стана ясно, че заради клауза в договора в мача между Топалов и Крамник и изявлението на най-добрия ни шахматист, че повече няма да играе в Русия, вероятността той да се бори за възвръщането на световната си титла в близките години е много малка.
ФИДЕ: Президентският борд ще разгледа искането за реванш на Топалов срещу Крамник
17 януари 2007 | 16:51 | Агенция “Фокус”
Елиста. От световната шахматна федерация ФИДЕ уведомиха с официално писмо мениджъра на бившия световен шампион Веселин Топалов Силвио Данаилов, че желанието им за среща-реванш за световната титла по шахмат в София ще се обсъди на заседанието на шахматната централа другата седмица, съобщи за Агенция “Фокус” пресаташето на Топалов Живко Гинчев. “Желанието за реванш на Веселин Топалов срещу Владимир Крамник в София ще се разгледа на срещата на Борда на директорите на ФИДЕ следващата седмица. Искаме официално да ви уведомим, че не е заложено в правилата на шаха, че трябва да имате гаранции от банките, с които работи ФИДЕ, това са просто нашите бизнес-отношения с тях. За съжаление ние работим само с четирите по-рано посочени ви български банки и вие трябва да намерите финансови гаранции за провеждането на срещата от тях. Банковите гаранции са валидни за ФИДЕ, само ако се признават от нашите банкови партньори. Все пак в края на следващата седмица ще обсъдим желанието ви за среща-реванш в София. Нашите поздравления за това ваше желание”, се пише в официалното писмо на председателя на ФИДЕ Кирсан Илюмжинов към мениджъра на Веселин Топалов Силвио Данаилов.
Just to help blog readers…to be able to read the last post in Russian just purchase online the Translate2005 RussianPro under a Christmas special discount in only 449.99 US. LOL….
You’ll be charged with “flooding the blog in Bulgarian” – a misdemeanor punishable with 20hrs community service. Just post the link and briefly explain what is it about.
Topalov’s team have gotten a new bank (recognized by FIDE) to guarantee for the money and they’ve resubmitted the request – a decision is pending due by next week. A new system for conducting the WC matches will be discussed by FIDE January 26th – 29th in Antalia, Turkey.
Navara, Radjabov, Karjakin;
these 3 are the ones who impresses me most. I root for Radjabov long before this tournement but I didn’t expect him to do this good. Very accurate in calculations, has a great fighting spirit, psychologically strong.. Perfect Radjabov, GO RADJABOV !
I agree with the comments about D. Navara, his being there is not a coincidence, he is a great player. And I expect a lot from him in this tournement and in the future.
Karjakin; he is in a very good form as well. The game against Topalov, I wanted him to win, but this draw impressed me almost as if he won. He was confident, pressing hard. I guess he will even do better in this tournement, he already played against 2 giants-topalov and Kramnik and got draw from both. I definitly expect + result from him. Young generation is great. Magnus is great too. He did a few mistakes this time and critisized a lot, which is natural at this level. However I’m sure he will remind how he’s getting there in the last games of this tournement or in near future. Happens, no worries Magnus, cheer up !
Topalov and even Kramnik did fine so far. Kramnik is still effortless but I feel like he wants more wins but his style. It would be very nice for him to win most of the tournements he plays in as a world champion but not easy. Being a Botvinnik, Kasparov, Karpov is not for everybody. But he tries, so far fine. Topalov is in good shape so far. He may be the champion of this tournement.
1. Topalov
2. Radjabov
3. Kramnik
Once again: GO RADJABOV !!!
Melody, Montreal
1.Aronian
2.Topalov
3.Anand
Still a lot to play for. I think that Radjabov and Karjakin are playing well. The big guns may be keeping something back for Mexico. Topalov has had a good start but Radjabov has had a better one and the have played a similar range of players. The last round could be good Radjabov -Topalov. Aronin and Navara are also in good shape. Still a long way to go
Gearoid
my guess:
1.Kramnik
2.Aronian
3.Radjabov
4/5 Anand Topalov
why? indeed, thus far Topalov’s play impressed me very much, followed by the play of Radjabov – but there is still a long way to go for the young gun. I’m afraid Topalov is “good for a loss”, as is Anand. Radjabov may take Corus for Mexico City and i predict a backdraw after round 6 or 7. and Aronian is Aronian…
so, why did i chose Kramnik? Kramnik in the shape demonstrated so far, will not lose any game at all – that’s my prediction!
i think he is BACK – fully recovered – and remember, he is still the highest rated player ever, next to Kasparov.
on Vlad’s chess style opinions are divided over, that’s quite possible (or quite sure! :)) but there is the flair of the genius around him, that makes me think: Kramnik’s understanding of chess is so much higher, than my own understanding of chess (even so much higher than the understanding of chess by the main pride of 2500 ELO GM’s), that i’m not the one, to criticize his play, his match strategies, his tournament strategies, his strategies at all.
there is a reason, why Vladimir is WCC, the one and undisputed only.
GO VLAD!
PS: knight forks rule!
vohaul… youre halucinating and need to wake up!!!
Anonymous:
I found his explanations pretty logic, what is wrong with Vohaul’s opinions? (To me topalov will do better than Kramnik, but Kramnik can win strong tournements, Dortmund !)
Melody
1. Anand
2. Topalov
3. Radjavob
4. Kramnik
5. Aronian
vohaul: “i think he (Kramnik) is BACK – fully recovered – and remember, he is still the highest rated player ever, next to Kasparov”
Wrong. Topalov is the highest rated player ever, next to Kasparov. He reached 2813. Kramnik is third with 2812.
>> there is a reason, why Vladimir is WCC,
The reason is WC
im usually one to like attacking chess but i do enjoy watching how kramnik can simplify a game and make it look easy. ive seen kramnik get into shootouts with hyper agressive players like ivanchuk or kasparov and come out ahead so i think its a myth that kramnik isnt a tactical wizard. kramnik will mix it up if push comes to shove. the way he can see so many moves ahead and trade to an end game adavntage is impressive. theres a cool style to kramnik that i think some people call defensive. i consider kramnik more of a player that can do anything he wants on the board but prefers simplified easy end game wins. why break a sweat if you dont have to. i think i learn more from kramniks games than any other players because theres always a definite strategy to his games. im picking the big guy kramnik to take home the victory at this tournament.
wolverine
I have said 4-5 days ago that Kramnik will continue to get easy draws, because he did not aim to win this corus and he won’t get show for kids! He is so higher player that sits on the chair comfortable and opponents are very happy to get draw with him 19-20 moves kramnik giving gifts to kids.
You some Kramnik enemies must know that Mr Champion doesn’t care Corus, you must try to win champion title topalov fans if you can or (topalov can) do!
Kramnik will not show his power in any tournament before WCC games and title games. He is the best of all times!
Best regards from Turkey