T. Radjabov (8) – V. Topalov (8)
L. Aronian (7.5) – S. Tiviakov (5)
P. Svidler (7) – S. Karjakin (5.5)
V. Kramnik (7) – L. van Wely (5)
V. Anand (7) – D. Navara (6)
R. Ponomariov (5.5) – A. Motylev (4.5)
M. Carlsen (4) – A. Shirov (4)
What are your predictions? Will Topalov go for the in as Black or will he be content with a tie for first? Will Aronian join them at the top spot?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Topalov complicating the game, Danailov getting the best moves via telephone and transmitting them to Topalov using body language. It was working nice. It did not work at Elista because of the screens. Now they are busted big time and are under spotlight, I expect a relatively calm game from “Topa”.
What rubbish.
There have been plenty of uncalm Topa games since round 3. Indeed Topa has done better since round 3, not worse.
Given that Topa quite unnecessarily went for a win with black against Svidler, I would expect him to do the same against Radjabov if the opening is sharp. However if Radjabov plays a Kramnik type drawing opening, it is very difficult to go for a win as black.
If Aronian does happen to luck into first equal place, he certainly won’t have deserved it on the quality of his play.
What a rubbish. Are you paid for that ?
That what were you wrote is telling about you.
My prediction is draw but it will be the play more then 25 moves ‘GM draw’
P.
Topalov will try hard for a win to win the tournament outright, to justify his position as the #1 ranked player in the world.
Kramniks fans seems to go bananas. He-he, i love it. I guess they even themselves cant understand why his champ is playing so miserable result of 2 wins and 10 draws. Thats just not worthy any champ from the past. Kramnik knew he had to score a full point with black against Topalov, and he lost a psihological battle there. He went for the dead draw, thinking Topalov will overpush once more. Nice try, better luck next time. And Corus lost. I dont even care if Radjabov and Aronjan share the first place, they deserved it, nice attacking play from both guys.
Tournament and duel, is 2 things. Topalov will be never able to beat Kramnik in duel. And this is why Kramnik (like Petrossian before), is the real WORLD champion.
Hard to beat, talent, nerves, he has tons of patience. In tournament Kramnik don’t show all his talent, but fans love him. Topalov’s fan look always agressive, trying to find excuses etc …
IMHO, if Danailov really behaved in the way described in the article, it is a scam, meant to destabilize other players. I doubt Topalov would cheat. Of course, I could be wrong.
If Topalov and Radjabov draw, and Aronian wins, so that the three are tied for first, who wins on points ? Will it be based on games won as black on rainy Tuesdays ?
“IMHO, if Danailov really behaved in the way described in the article, it is a scam, meant to destabilize other players. I doubt Topalov would cheat. Of course, I could be wrong.”
“Your humble opinion” might be and is most likely wrong. According to the following paraphrase from the article, Van Wely learnt all about this after the game. GMs concentrate on the game, not on suspicious behaviour of spectators/managers. If what is written in the article is true, then there is a REAL possibility that Topalov is cheating :
“Later it turned out that all the moves that Topalov had played in this decisive phase are also the first choices of the popular chess programs. “During the game I did not at all have the impression that anything was fishy, but I was also told that Danailov was behaving in a very suspicious fashion,” said van Wely.”
If I were a GM playing against Topalov I would ask a friend of mine (or would hire somebody) to spare half a day for me, take a video camera, and record Danailov for the whole game period. They might start using other people, but that is too dangerous, because eventually other people who are involved in the scam will want more money not to talk about it. Remember, if something is known by 3 or more people it is not a secret anymore.
Therefore I expect Topalov to decline rapidly to where he belongs.
chesss44,
It is not rubbish. Yes,there have been plenty of uncalm Topa games since round 3, but it was the first game after suspicious behaviour of Danailov was publicly known via a respected newspaper. Suddeutsche Zeitung is not a tabloid afterall. There has been lots of discussions on chess related web sites about the possibility of Topalov cheating. We all know that at least one GM at San Luis was also suspicious of Topa cheating. But this is the first time, it is being discussed at a well respected news source.
Why are you so naive? It is obvious whre this shit accusation came from. Just before the game Topalov-Kramnik. Having in mind that these are observations from 2nd and 3rd round which did not repeat afterwards why should this appear just befor round 12?
Think on it. Some people still cannot bear the fact that Topalov is the best player currently with the highest rating and the WC Kramnik is below him on the ELO table.
This is what I call dirty play and I can’t understand why people are so inclined to believe all this rubbish against topalov and be so blinded as related to the fake Kramnik.
“Why are you so naive? It is obvious whre this shit accusation came from. Just before the game Topalov-Kramnik.”
I’m not naive. You are biased. You call the accusation as “shit”. A newspaper like “Suddeutsche Zeitung” does not print “shit”. They have a reputation to protect. Most probably they have taken the names and addresses of other spectators who have witnessed what was going on.
Why do call Kramnik as “fake” ? What is his relationship with all these ? Do you think that this is big KGB-German conspiracy agains Topalov ? Have you ever considered that the suspicious behaviour of Danailov migth be something real and that they are actually cheating big time ?
“Why do call Kramnik as “fake” ? What is his relationship with all these ?”
Because it is obvious that his team is standing behind this errand article! Just before his game with Topalov.
Did you se the live coverage at chesvibes – if you notice Topalov looks really influenced and angry on these accusations and this for sure affected his play.
“Kramnik knew he had to score a full point with black against Topalov, and he lost a psihological battle there. He went for the dead draw, thinking Topalov will overpush once more.”
Use a dictionary next time to correct the naive English you learnt in Bulgaria. It is “psychological” not “psihological”.
There was no battle lost. Kramnik was playing with black. Topalov did not attack because he knew that Danailov and himself were under the spotlights after Suddeustche Zeitung made what was going on worldwide known, and would not be able to use the same tactics (make some aggressive moves, complicate the game and use computer assistance).
Topalov had 7 whites and 6 blacks in this tournament, while Kramnik had 6 whites and 7 blacks.
I’m undecided. These are strong accusations coming at a time that is suspiciously connected to the newest game between Kramnik and Topalov in Wijk.
Accusations are easy to make. All the article really states is that Topalov and his manager behaved suspiciously. That Topa played moves also suggested by the strongest programs is no surprise. Of course he does. All the good guys do: They play brilliant chess and that often means finding the best continuation.
By comparing their moves to those of some strong program none of the top players can ever be shown to be cheating.
(What’s more: Van Wely himself said (in the press conference published on chessvibes) that he had a lost position after the opening. He asks why anybody should be cheating in a won position.)
So the real accusations lie in the suspicious behaviour. Unfortunately the evidence cited is rather thin.
No names of witnesses, no photos, no film material.
I’d say we delegate this back to all the fans present in Wijk. If the accusations are true, it is most probable that many people in the playing room have seen Danailov do his dance. So these people should speak up and either confirm or undermine the accusations.
Until then let’s watch the games and enjoy chess.
“Use a dictionary next time to correct the naive English you learnt in Bulgaria. It is “psychological” not “psihological”.”
At least he can speak a language which is different from his native one. And you?
By the way – why is it so difficult for everyone to accept the top ranked player to be a Bulgarian?
It looks like racism all this stuff. Do you think bulgarians are inferior? And they can do only by cheating?
To anonymous@5:06:00 AM
“Later it turned out that all the moves that Topalov had played in this decisive phase are also the first choices of the popular chess programs. “During the game I did not at all have the impression that anything was fishy, but I was also told that Danailov was behaving in a very suspicious fashion,” said van Wely.”
Please don’t make stuff up. Loek didn’t say that
Kramnik is not a world champion who stands head and shoulders above the other players of his era. If anything, he is only marginally better in matchplay situations and not as good as others in a tournament play. He has failed to dominate like a Karpov or Kasparov, so I don’t understand people on this forum going on and on about Kramnik, as if the real Joe. He isn’t and that is that.
“At least he can speak a language which is different from his native one. And you?”
Of course. Not a problem. Now I’ll start talking in my native language :
Senin gibi salaklar bu sitenin kalitesini dusuruyorlar.
Let’s see if you can translate that.
“Do you think bulgarians are inferior? And they can do only by cheating? “
Yes Bulgarians are known for their notorious cheating techniques. Look at weightlifting for example. Back in 90’s they had very advanced drug production and usage techniques.
1. the turks will never get to EU
2. everybody in weightlifting uses drugs, not only the bulgarians
Sanctas Simplicitas
Turks do not really care about EU. EU is for losers and cheaters like Bulgarians.
These computer cheating allegations are about as credible as Danailov’s in Elista. Van Wely himself dismissed them as ridiculous. While Topalov deserve censure for his behaviour, his enemies have just demonstrated that they are no better by descending to the same level.
Is it not true that Topalov’s aggressive and attacking style is very spectacular to watch? Is it not true that Kramnik plays as if his life depends on it?
Whoever watched the games in Elista knows that Kramnik did not win the world title, but Topalov gave it to him. Topalov made a few mistakes and his lack of experience in long battles like that costed him. Kramnik did nothing extraordinary to persuade viewers he deserves the title world champion. Therefore lets watch the best and highest ranked player currently and hope he will not deviate from his interesting aggressive style.
Kramnik give 1 point without playing, and won the title. Nuff said about lames excuses.
“Kramnik did nothing extraordinary to persuade viewers he deserves the title world champion.”
A world champion need not persuade patzers like you. All he needs to do is to win matches against worthy opponents.
Kramnik won the title from great Kasparov in a match where he did not loose a single game (thanks to rock solid Berlin defense (or should we call “wall”)).
Then he defended his title against Leko.
And then he beat Topalov by giving an extra (white) point. Among Kasparov, Leko and Topalov, Leko was the closest to beating him. Kasparov and Topalov was no match for him in match play.
I understand that you don’t like Kramnik style. Kramnik does not care about a patzer’s idea.