Speelman on chess : Veselin Topalov v Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu analysis

Jonathan Speelman
Sunday November 18, 2007
The Observer

The "Chess Champions League - Playing for a Better World" tournament took place in Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain from November 1st to 15th.

This six player double rounder was originally conceived as consisting solely of ex-world champions plus Judit Polgar. Unfortunately, however, on the very eve of the tournament, Alexander Khalifman had to go into hospital (I still don't have many more details) and was replaced by Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu. Nevertheless, since Nisipeanu is currently rated above Khalifman this didn't affect the strength of a very powerful event which contained (in current rating order) Veselin Topalov, Polgar herself, Ruslan Ponomariov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Anatoly Karpov and Nisipeanu.

They were "Playing for a Better World" by raising funds to send equipment to a Hospital in Mbuji-Mayi, one of the poorest regions in the Congo and a number of charity side events took place alongside. The Moscow Orchestra played at the opening and appeared several times during the tournament. There were auctions of fashion items from Madrid and items from Spanish sportsmen including Rafael Nadal. While the chess players themselves helped with Topalov donating his World Junior Championship gold medal from Puerto Rico 1989.

When battle got underway on Friday November 2nd, Nisipeanu was still on his way and his first round game with Kasimdzhanov was postponed until the second rest day on November 8th. The tournament table therefore remained incomplete for a week but it was clear from early on that Ponomariov, Polgar and Topalov were close to the top, Nisipeanu in the middle and the other two in bad shape.

With three rounds to go, Ponomariov led by a full point but Topalov then began a charge defeating first Nisipeanu (below) and then Ponomariov himself to lead by half a point before the final round.

Topalov still had to negotiate Black against Polgar, against whom he'd blundered catastrophically in their first game as White. He did so with style, winning a good game. Meanwhile Ponomariov lost to Kasimdzhanov to leave Topalov well clear on 7/10 ahead of Ponomariov 5.5, Nisipeanu and Polgar 5; Kasimdzhanov 4.5 and Karpov 3.

This tough game fluctuated constantly before Topalov finally emerged victorious.

Veselin Topalov v Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu

Vitoria Gasteiz 2007 (round 8)

Queen's Gambit Accepted

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e4 This is one of the most critical lines with oodles of theory.

3...e5 4 Nf3 exd4 5 Bxc4 Nc6 6 0-0 Be6 7 Bb5 7 Bxe6 fxe6 8 Qb3 has also been played many times.

7...Bc5 8 b4 Bb6 9 a4 a6 10 Bxc6+ bxc6 11 Bb2 Nf6 12 a5 Ba7 13 Nbd2 Both 13 Bxd4 and Nxd4 had been played previously with immediate melees which are supposed to be reasonable for Black. Instead this new move maintains the tension. Topalov agrees to remain a pawn down for the moment but has much the better pawn structure.

13...0-0 14 Qc2 Ng4?! Presumably played with the intention of answering 15 h3 with Ne3. However then 16 fxe3 dxe3 17 Nb3 e2+ 18 Rf2 looks rather better for White and Nisipeanu thought better of it. 15 h3 does weaken g3 but the loss of tempo is surely more important.

15 h3 Nf6 16 Ne5 Bd7 17 Rfe1 Not 17 Nxc6? d3! 18 Qc3 Bxc6 19 Qxc6 Bd4 when Black has jumped out.

17...Qe7 18 Ndf3 c5 19 bxc5 Qxc5 20 Qd2 Qe7 21 Ba3 c5 22 Qxd4! Regaining the pawn. 22...cxd4 23 Bxe7 now drops the exchange but as played Black is quite active after the bishop goes to b5.

22...Bb5 23 Qc3 Rfd8 24 Bb2

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Black to play)

Veselin Topalov (White)

24...Nh5?! It was very hard to judge in the heat of battle but 24...c4 was better since if 25 Ng4 Rd3 26 Nxf6+ gxf6! (26...Qxf6?! 27 Qxd3) 27 Qc1 c3! 28 Bxc3 Qd6! (not 28...Rc8? 29 Bxf6) there are threats not only along the c file but also against the White king - ...Rxf3 followed by ...Qg3+.

25 Nc4 Rab8 26 Ne3! Seizing the initiative. Nisipeanu decided he wanted a pawn for his pains.

26...Qxe4 27 Ng4 Qg6 Black's defence is very difficult here and within a few moves, Topalov was all over him.

28 Nh4 Qd3 29 Qe5 Qd5 30 Nh6+ Kh8 31 Qe7 Bc4 32 Rad1 A sensible practical decision. With so many loose pieces the queen is rampant though in fact after 32 N4f5! Qd7 33 Bxg7+ Nxg7 34 Qf6 Rg8 35 Rad1 White should win quickly.

32...Qxd1 33 Rxd1 Rxd1+ 34 Kh2 Ra8 35 N4f5 35 Nxf7+ Bxf7 36 Qxf7 Bb8+ 37 g3 Bxg3+ 38 fxg3 Rd2+ 39 Ng2 Rxb2 40 Qxh5 ought to be winning.

35...f6 36 f4 Missing a clear win with 36 Ng3! Nxg3 37 fxg3! (threatening 38 B or indeed Qxf6) 37...Rf1 38 Qe4

36...Bd5 37 Nf7+ And here 37 37 Qe2! Rb1 38 Qxh5 Rxb2 39 Nf7+ was clean.

37...Bxf7 38 Qxf7 c4 39 Qxh5 Bg1+ 40 Kg3 Rd3+ Reaching the time control in a real mess. It's more than possible that Topalov wasn't certain how many moves had been played after such excitement but in any case his 41st move was a mistake.

41 Kg4? It should go to h4 when ...Bf2+ is met by g3.

41...Rf8 42 Ne7 Natural but apparently 42 Kh4 was still correct, answering 42...c3 with 43 Qe2! Rd5 44 Ba3

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Black to play)

Veselin Topalov (White)

42...Bf2? The final mistake, After 42...f5+! 43 Nxf5 c3 it would remain hugely unclear. One crucial line is 44 Qg5 Bd4 45 Nxd4 cxb2 46 Qe7 h5+! 47 Kxh5 Rb8 48 Nf5 Rg3!! 49 Nxg3 b1=Q with chaos though White's king looks safer than Black's.

43 Ng6+ Kg8 44 Ne7+ Kh8 45 Ng6+ Kg8 46 Nxf8 Rg3+47 Kf5 g6+ 48 Nxg6 hxg6+ 49 Qxg6+ Rxg6 50 Kxg6 Be1 51 Bxf6 Now after 51...c3 52 f5 c2 (or 52...Bd2 53 Be7) 53 Bg5 wins so Nisipeanu surrendered.

The Chess Champions League enters in a decisive stage

Ponomariov leading, Topalov getting closer

The category 19 tournament "Chess Champions League", that is currently taking place in Vitoria, enters in a decisive phase. Two rounds before the end the top 3 players are 1 point apart. The race between Ponomariov (5,5/8), Topalov (5,0/8), and Polgar (4,5/8) will be an exciting clash with direct matches. But no matter who grabs the title, the real winner is a hospiatal in Congo. All money collected from the event will be donated to it.

Ponomariov leading, Topalov getting closer

Round 8 started with a full point advantage of Ruslan Ponomariov over Judith Polgar and Veselin Topalov. Ponomariov had white against Karpov in the battle of "the youngest against the veteran". Ponomariov chose a quiet opening. The Ukranian played the whole game for a secure draw and in spite of Karpov's efforts to find a way to victory the points were split in the end.

The game between Kasimdzhanov and Polgar followed a similar scenario. The Uzbek played for a secure draw. However, as it happens many times with Judith, after a quiet beginning she found a way to launch a counter attack on the opponent. Kasimdzhanov passed through some difficult stages of the game and in the end draw was agreed.

The exciting game of the day was between Topalov and Nisipeanu. In a game full of sharp moves and keen tactics, both players managed to launch various attacks on the opponent's king. In the end it was Topalov who with constant pressure managed to break through Nisipeanu's defense and get the full point.

Round 8 standings

Only two rounds before the end, Ponomariov is leading in front of Topalov and Polgar. Karpov and Kasimdzhanov are not particularly happy with the tournament since they have not managed to score a full point so far.

1 GM PONOMARIOV, Ruslan 5,5
2 GM TOPALOV, Veselin 5,0
3 GM POLGAR, Judit HUN 4,5
4 GM NISIPEANU, Liviu-Dieter 4,0
5 GM KARPOV, Anatoly 2,5
6 GM KASIMDZHANOV, Rustam 2,5

Pairings round 9

TOPALOV - PONOMARIOV
NISIPEANU - POLGAR
KASIMDZHANOV - KARPOV

Champions League Chess Tournament Round 8:Tania Sachdev takes sole lead.

The tournament has finally found a sole leader. Defending Champion Woman Grandmaster Tania Sachdev of Indian Airlines today beat P Priya of Tamil Nadu to take lead while the top two boards witnessed fighting draws at the end of the 8th round of the 34th Women’s National A Chess Championship organized by Symbiosis Spa Chess School at Symbiosis Center for Health Care Campus, Range Hills Road, Kirkee, Pune. Five players share the second spot on 5.5 points

P Priya playing White chose the exchange variation of the Spanish Opening against Asian Individual Women’s Champion Tania. Priya made a questionable 8th move after which her pawn structure was severely weakened. Tania slowly maneuvered her pieces to build up pressure on White’s weak f5 pawn and soon gobbled it up. After a couple of exchanges the game steered into a Rook pawn ending where Tania used her advantageous Rook position to win another pawn and forced Priya to resign.

Game Ananysis

P, Priya vs. Sachdev, Tania



1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd6 8. Nf5 Bxf5 9. exf5 Qd7 10. Re1 Be5 11. Qh5 Qf7 12. Qd1 Ne7 13. a4 O-O 14. Qg4 Rad8 15. c3 Rd5 16. g3 Bd6 17. Nd2 Nxf5 18. Ne4 Qg6 19. Qe2 Kh8 20. Nxd6 cxd6 21. Bf4 h6 22. Kh1 Qf7 23. Qe4 g5 24. c4 Rc5 25. Bxd6 Nxd6 26. Qd4 Rf5 27. Qxd6 Rxf2 28. Qd4 Rc2 29. Rac1 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Qe7 31. Rd1 Re8 32. a5 Kg7 33. Qg4 Kg6 34. h4 Qe4 35. Qxe4 Rxe4 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. b3 Re3 38. b4 Rxg3 39. Rd7 Rh3 40. Kg2 Rh7 41. Rd1 Kf5 42. Rf1 Ke5 43. Re1 Kd4 0-1


On the top board WGM Swati Ghate of LIC, playing White chose the Be2 variation in the Sicilian Classical Opening but Harika transposed the game into Sicilian Dragon Classical variation. Swati did not get much out of the opening and very soon Harika maneuvered her Queen to a strong position. She then started to push her pawns on the Queenside to create a breakthrough. Swati sensed the danger and started a counter attack on Harika’s King, also sacrificing an exchange in the process. Harika did not play the most accurate moves after that and Swati was relieved to get a perpetual check and force a draw.

ary Ann Gomes played the Rosolimo variation from the White side of the Sicilian against Kiran Mohanty. Mary had an advantage in the Rook-Bishop endgame that arose and even got a deadly passed pawn on 6th rank. But she failed to find the best moves. After the Bishops got exchanged the game reached a Rook Pawn ending where Kiran played accurately to force a draw.

WGM R Aarthie playing White side of the Sicilian scheveningen against Pune’s WIM Soumya Swaminathan went for a typical attack against Soumya’s king. Soumya created counter play in the center and established her Knight on the strong e4 square. In the complex position where a small mistake would prove costly Aarthie blundered an important pawn and literally handed over Soumya the full point.

Amruta Mokal playing Black against WGM Nisha Mohota played inaccurately in the opening and then blundered a piece to give Nisha a simple win. Nimmy George beat Pon. Krithika in an Alekhine’s defense game. Krithika playing Black lost an exchange early in the game and Nimmy converted her advantage in the endgame. WGM Eesha Karavade finally scored a much desired victory. She beat her city-mate Anuprita Patil quite comfortably from the White side of the Slav Defense.

With three rounds to go the tournament is still wide open and as the top three finishers will make it to the Indian Olympiad team it is time for some exciting and fighting chess in the remaining rounds.

Results-: round 8

Swati Ghate 5.5 drew with Harika Dronavalli 5.5;
Mary Ann Gomes 5.5 drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty 5.5;
P Priya 4.5 lost to Tania Sachdev 6;
Aarthie Ramaswamy 4 lost to Soumya Swaminathan 5.5;
Nisha Mohota 5 beat Amruta Mokal 4;
Nimmy George 5 beat Pon. Krithika 4;
Eesha Karavade 4.5 beat Anuprita Patil 3.5;
Divyasri Ch 4.5 beat S Nabeela Farheen 3.5;
Padmini Rout 4 beat Rucha Pujari 3;
S Harini 3 lost to Sai Meera 4;
P Uthra 4 beat Swati Mohota 3;
Dhyani Dave 3 drew with R Preethi 3;
S Athirai 2.5 lost to M R Sangeetha 3;
C H Sevitha had a bye

Chess Books Click Here!

Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts	BH.	RtgØ
1	3	WGM	Tania Sachdev	2413	IND	6	34½	2269
2	6	WGM	Swathi Ghate	2316	IND	5½	34½	2270
3	7	WIM	Kiran Manisha Mohanty	2263	IND	5½	34	2276
4	1	IM	Harika Dronavalli	2480	IND	5½	34	2275
5	8	WIM	Gomes Mary Ann	2262	IND	5½	32½	2208
6	9	WIM	Soumya Swaminathan	2244	IND	5½	31	2230
7	2	WGM	Mohota Nisha	2416	IND	5	32½	2213
8	12		Nimmy A G	2196	IND	5	29½	2166
9	4	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2331	IND	4½	35½	2265
10	15		Priya P	2129	IND	4½	31	2229
11	25		Divyasri Ch	2050	IND	4½	24½	2102
12	5	WGM	Ramaswamy Aarthie	2317	IND	4	35½	2258
13	11	WFM	Meera Sai	2205	IND	4	35½	2248
14	13		Amrutha Mokal	2159	IND	4	31½	2184
15	14	WFM	Pon N Krithika	2140	IND	4	31½	2177
16	10		Padmini Rout	2226	IND	4	27½	2166
17	24		Uthra P	2055	IND	4	22	2072
18	22		Anuprita Patil	2060	IND	3½	32½	2224
19	20		Syed Nabeela Farheen	2093	IND	3½	28½	2129
20	23		Harini S	2060	IND	3	28½	2153
21	21	WFM	Pujari Rucha	2061	IND	3	27½	2128
22	17		Sangeetha M R	2118	IND	3	27½	2126
23	26	WFM	Dave Dhyani	2002	IND	3	27	2109
24	18		Swati Mohota	2112	IND	3	26	2089
25	16		Preethi R	2125	IND	3	25	2100
26	27		Athirai S	2000	IND	2½	22½	2091
27	28		Savetha C H	1968	IND	2½	21½	1959
28	19		Baisakhi Das	2101	IND	1	22½	2090

Champions League Chess Tournament, - Round 7

Karpov,Ana vs. Polgar,Ju


Chess Champions League Vitoria Gasteiz ESP (7), 10.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.e4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 Ne4 11.0-0 Nb4 12.Qb1 c5 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Rd1 Rad8 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.a3 Nba6 17.b4 Ne6 18.Ra2 Nac7 19.Rad2 Rfe8 20.Qb3 Qc8 21.Nd4 Bf8 22.f4 g6 23.h4 Ng7 24.Bf2 Qa8 25.Ndb5 Nxb5 26.Nxb5 Ne6 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.Rxd5 Bxd5 29.Qxd5 Qb8 30.Qe4 Qc8 31.Rd3 Qc2 32.Re3 Qc1+ 33.Kg2 Rd8 34.Nxa7 Rd2 35.Nb5 Qb2 36.Qf3 Qc2 37.Rc3 Qa2 38.Kf1 Qb1+ 39.Be1 Nc5 40.Qe3 Rh2

Karpov has been piling up the pressure on Judit Polgar's Queen's Indian, and is two pawns up. Judit has been seeking compensation with counterplay on White's second rank, but is still in quite a lot of trouble. Now comes the fatal mistake: 41.Rc1?? How long does it take you to find the refutation that led to Karpov's resignation two moves later? This game goes to show that even in a bad or lost position it is always important it is to give your opponent a fair chance to chance to mess things up.

Judit Polgar won her game against Karpov with the move 41...Qb2!, which threatens 42...Qg2 mate. White cannot abandon the defence of the rook on c1 with 42.Qf3. Karpov tried his luck with 42.Bf2, but Superwomen had it all figured out: 42...Ne4 43.Kg1 Nxf2 0-1.

"Chess Champions League"

Ponomariov leads by a point after round 6.

Results
Ponomariov, Ruslan 1-0 Polgar, Judit
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter 1-0 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam
Topalov, Veselin ½-½ Karpov, Anatoly

Games
Ponomariov,R vs. Polgar,Ju





Topalov,V vs. Karpov,Ana



Nisipeanu,LD vs. Kasimdzhanov,R



Standings
Ponomariov, Ruslan 4½
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter 3½
Topalov, Veselin 3½
Polgar, Judit 3
Karpov, Anatoly 2
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 1½

Chess championship hangs in the balance

Nov 7 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool 800th Anniversary chess tournament at St Georges Hall. Picture: Colin Lane


THE staging of Europe’s most prestigious chess championship in Liverpool appeared in doubt last night after the Culture Company reneged on a deal to contribute £100,000.

It was hoped the European Individual Chess Championship, due at St George’s Hall in September 2008, would be a highlight of the city’s culture year.

Organisers understood they would receive £100,000, but yesterday it emerged that had been cut to £60,000.

Last night, the North West Development Agency said it was confident – but did not confirm – it could find £40,000.

But those behind the event feel “very annoyed” about the episode, and said they believed the Culture Company had failed to grasp the importance of the event.

Leaders from the European Chess Union (ECU) warned that if Liverpool cancelled, it may be too late to find an alternative venue.

Chief organiser Prof David Robertson, of Liverpool John Moores University, said: “I'm delighted the NWDA recognise the strategic importance of what we are attempting.

“Liverpool's future prosperity will come from high skills and high quality achievement. It won't come from a provincial parade of gigs, gags and shopping.

About 200 players will attend, with about 20m internet viewers.

Liverpool beat off Budapest, Dresden and Turin to stage it.

In many countries, chess enjoys a huge following.

The Culture Company last night confirmed it had decided to give just £60,000.

Bernice Law, chief operating officer, said: “The programme for 2008 is constantly evolving and growing and the Culture Company is constantly reviewing how to ensure the people of Liverpool and visitors to the city get the best possible return for the money from the way we invest.

“As a result, instead of just the chess championship, we will be able to announce another event in the future.”

Steve Broomhead, of the NWDA said: “We realise the importance of the chess cham- pionship, which increases visitor numbers to Liverpool.”

Day tables in the Tournament of Champions

The fifth day of the tournament ended with a triple tie in the three games involved, which keeps intact the classification: Ruslan Ponomariov continues to head the table with Judit and Topalov as only half a point

The fifth day of the tournament "Playing Champions League-for a better world" resulted in a triple tie in the three games involved, which keeps intact the classification: Ruslan Ponomariov, 24 years old, continues to head the table with Judit Polgar and Veselin Topalov as immediate pursuers just half a point.








The leader was aware of the importance of their clash today with whom undoubtedly will be one of its direct rivals facing the final triumph, and also of what it can be dangerous if allowed Topalov give free rein to its aggressiveness. Therefore, Ponomariov decided to take advantage of playing with white lead to the departure of the quietest possible paths.Topalov was trying to force things with a sacrifice pawn, which, however channeled directly to a line position forced tables. A result that appears to satisfy the interests of most young Ukrainian prodigy, to enable it to end as winner of the first round of the tournament.

In his departure face Judit Polgar, Nisipeanu followed the same strategy used to contain Kramnik Kasparov in his historic duel of the year 2000: Berlin raised a defense in which, as is typical, white obtained a microscopic advantage, but where timing Romanian countered in the flank Ladies and ensured a draw after 27 moves.

Anatoli Karpov versus Kasimdzhanov won a position apparently calm, but held out dangerous subtleties. However, when the legendary champion was about to get some tangible advantage, committed a minor inaccuracy that land threw his good work so far, and opted for the division point after just 23 moves.

Veselin Topalov falls before Judit Polgar, allowing Ponomariov turn to solo lead

Judith did it !!!!!!!!!
The Hungarian Judit Polgar has been imposed on Veselin Topalov in a game that turns out to be the umpteenth example of the motto that says that in chess, wins the person committing the penultimate mistake. Judit had lost a pawn in exchange for practically nothing, and everything seemed to indicate that Topalov will score a new victory that will enhance definitely in the lead. But the Bulgarian returned the favor in a very advantageous position, was the victim of a kind of mental mirage, leaving their fate to one of his pieces and was immediately captured by Judit. La rendición fue inmediata. The surrender was immediate. "If there becomes this very serious mistake, Judit had to suffer a lot in the game and it had not been easy save," lamented a visibly affected Topalov.

The benefited from this setback is Ruslan Ponomariov, who tie with the black face Kasimdzhanov won lets you turn to lead the classification alone. But it was not exactly easy tables.



1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7
8. Nc3 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. c4 Bf6
14. c3 dxc4 15. Qxc4 Qd7 16. Bf4 Rbd8 17. h3 b6 18. Re4 Na5 19. Qxc7 Qd5
20. Rbe1 Nc4 21. Qxa7 Ra8 22. Qc7 Bd8 23. Re5 Bxc7 24. Rxd5 Bxf4 25. Re2
Ra3 26. Rc2 Rfa8 27. Kf1 Kf8 28. Ke2 Rxa2 29. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 30. Kd3 Nd2 31.
Ne5 Bxe5 32. Rxe5 Nb3 33. c4 Na5 34. c5 Nc6 0-1


The early Ponomariov, who for 13 years and was world champion U-18, and to 18 world champion all, embarked on a position and played in 1987 in one of the historical duels between Karpov and Kasparov, which showed that it was very bad for black. His opponent, a little more veteran, showed better understanding the historical background and enjoyed throughout the departure of a comfortable lead. But the defensive tenacity allowed Ponomariov escape from the difficult situation with a valuable half point it is worth the leadership.

The last of the items in the conclusion was that faced Dieter Nisipeanu with Anatoli Karpov, which ended with the distribution point. It was the first time in his career that the talented Romanian faced the great chess legend alive, and the advantage of driving the white pieces allowed to take the initiative. However, the skilful Karpov managed to neutralize all threats contained in the board, and its position gradually began to seem preferable. However, once again the troubles of time you were a handicap: with just 4 minutes on the clock, Karpov chose to offer the draw and not take risks, despite the slight advantage gained.

Results
Topalov, Veselin 0-1 Polgar, Judit
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter ½-½ Karpov, Anatoly
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam ½-½ Ponomariov, Ruslan

Standings
Ponomariov 3/4
Topalov 2.5/4
Judit Polgar 2.5/4
Nisipeanu 1.5 */3
Karpov 1/4
Kasimdzhanov 0.5 */4

Champions League Chess Tournament - Round 3

3 rd Round: Ponomariov gives scope to Topalov

Topalov maintains its leading position in the tournament, although tied with Ponomariov, who has given scope to defeat an Karpov who sinned optimistic.

The Bulgarian Veselin Topalov stays at the forefront with Ponomariov in the Tournament of Champions in Vitoria, after obtaining a draw with black in a complicated game before Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu. It was certainly the duel of the day, and a real battle to death: Topalov chose the Najdorf, and the departure led to a struggle enroques opposites, with each player
launched an attack against the king opponent.The outcome is worthy of tables to the ability of both chess players.

Judit Polgar won one of the victories of the day, imposed the Uzbek Rustam Khasimdzhanov.The Hungarian surprised entering the call or Spanish Opening Ruy Lopez, a variant that is not in his usual repertoire, but have proved well prepared. After breaking in the center with its move d5, the game took a course very favorable for her, and beset by the pressure Kasimdzhanov committed a grave error that precipitated its defeat.

Karpov again bite the dust, and again after having enjoyed a favorable position. After displaying the talent to the strategy that has made him world famous, perhaps Karpov sinned an excess of confidence before Ponomariov, and he threw lose its advantage to embark on a dubious attack. The Ukrainian took advantage of his opportunity and launched a deadly counterattack, which favor in their favor this interesting duel between the most veteran player and the youngest in the tournament.

Round -3 Games
Karpov,Ana - Ponomariov,R



1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. g3
a6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Kf2 b5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bd2 Bd6 13. a4 b4 14. Na2 a5
15. Bb5+ Nbd7 16. Nc1 O-O 17. Nb3 e5 18. Rc1 g5 19. Kg2 e4 20. f4 gxf4 21.
exf4 Nb6 22. Be3 Nc4 23. Qe2 Nxe3+ 24. Qxe3 g6 25. Rhf1 Kg7 26. h3 Rh8 27.
f5 Nh5 28. g4 Qh4 29. gxh5 Rxh5 30. f6+ Kh7 31. Kh1 Bg3 32. Bd7 Rd8 33. Rg1
Bf4 34. Rg4 Bxe3 35. Rxh4 Rxh4 36. Rc7 Bf4 37. Rb7 Rxd7 0-1



Nisipeanu,LD - Topalov,V


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Be6
8. f4 Nbd7 9. f5 Bc4 10. Nc1 d5 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Qf3 b5 13. N1e2 b4 14.
Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nf6 16. O-O-O Bd6 17. g4 b3 18. cxb3 cxb3 19. Kb1 bxa2+
20. Ka1 e4 21. Qg2 Be5 22. Bd4 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 O-O 24. d6 Qb6 25. g5 Nd5 26.
g6 fxg6 27. fxg6 Qxd6 28. gxh7+ Kh8 29. Rhg1 Qf6 30. Qxe4 Rad8 31. Ne6 Rfe8
32. Rxd5 1/2-1/2


Kasimdzhanov,R - Polgar,Ju


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 Na5 13. Bc2 b4 14. Bd3 d5
15. exd5 exd4 16. c4 c6 17. dxc6 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Bxc6 19. Qd1 g6 20. Ne5 Bb7
21. Ndf3 Nd7 22. Bg5 Qc7 23. Nxd7 Qxd7 24. Ne5 Qd6 25. Ng4 Bg7 26. Nh6+ Kf8
27. Bd2 Re8 28. Rc1 Qc5 29. Qg4 Nc6 30. Qf4 Ne5 31. Be4 g5 32. Qf5 Bxe4 33.
Qxe4 Bxh6 34. h4 Ng6 35. Qb7 a5 36. Qb5 Re5 0-1



Results
Karpov,Ana 0-1 Ponomariov,R
Nisipeanu,LD 1/2-1/2 Topalov,V
Kasimdzhanov,R 0-1 Polgar,Ju

Standings
1: Ponomariov, R 2705 2.5 / 3
2: Topalov, V 2769 2.5 / 3
3: Polgar, Ju 2708 1.5 / 3
4: Nisipeanu, LD 2668 1.0 / 2
5: Karpov, Ana 2670 0.5 / 3
6: Kasimdzhanov, R 2690 0.0 / 2

Champions League Chess Tournament (2nd Round)

2 nd Round: Topalov takes command at the Tournament of Champions

The Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, World Champion in 2005, was put in front of the qualifying tournament chess Vitoria to get his second consecutive victory. His victim this time was Rustam Kasimdzhanov, and its strategy of the Trojan horse: Topalov allowed his opponent to capture a pawn, but in return obtained an initiative which ultimately proved decisive. The Uzbek player lamented after having overestimated their chances defensive, and admitted that he had made a wrong decision.

The duel between the two defeated yesterday, Anatoli Karpov and Hungarian Judit Polgar, ended in a draw. Although Karpov attempted surprise from the start using a rare opening therein, Judit knew take advantage of the white pieces to carry the weight of the game, but the hard fajador it Karpov managed to keep the balance up to a final line that is not he deparaba any serious threat.

Ponomariov also made tables with the white pieces, faced Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu. Despite being a last-minute inclusion as supplement to Khalifman-, and failure to adequately prepare for this tournament, the player will Romanian showed that size. Details showed high quality in the most delicate moments of the game, and reached the charts with the black pieces in all serenity.

Results

Games


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Ne4 10. O-O Nxc3 11. Nxc3 O-O 12. Rc1 Bb4 13. e3 Qe7 14. Re1 f6 15.
Nd3 Ba3 16. Rc2 dxc4 17. bxc4 Bxc4 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Nxa3 Qxa3 20. Nf4 Re8 21.
Qh5 Nd7 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Qxa2 24. Rc7 Re7 25. Rec1 e5 26. Qf3 Rd8 27. Nd5
Rf7 28. Nc3 Qb3 29. Rb1 Qe6 30. d5 Qe8 31. Rxa7 f5 32. Kg2 Ra8 33. Rc7 Nc5 34.
d6 e4 35. Qd1 Nd3 36. Qb3 Rd8 37. Ra1 Kf8 38. Rxf7+ Qxf7 39. Qxb6 Rc8 40. Ne2
Qh5 41. Nd4 Nxf2 42. d7 1-0




1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. a3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bg5 Bc5 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Bxd4 11. exd4 h6 12. Bh4 Qd6 13. Bg3 Qe7 14. Qd3 Re8
15. O-O Bf5 16. Qd2 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Qxe4 18. Bb5 Qxd4 19. Qxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxe8 Ne2+
21. Kh1 Rxe8 22. Rad1 d4 23. Rd2 d3 24. Rfd1 Nd4 25. h3 Nb3 26. Rxd3 Bxd3 27.
Rxd3 Nc5 28. Rd5 Ne4 29. Rd7 Nxg3+ 30. fxg3 b5 31. Rxa7 Re3 32. Rb7 Rb3 33. a4
b4 34. a5 Rxb2 35. a6 Ra2 36. a7 Kh7 37. Rxf7 b3 38. Rb7 b2 39. Rxb2 Rxa7 40.
g4 1/2-1/2




1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Qe2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. Nd4 Nxd2
15. Qxd2 Qd7 16. f4 c5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Qd3 g6 20. Qg3 Rf7 21.
h4 Rg7 22. Qh3 c4 23. Kh1 a5 24. h5 Bc5 25. Rf3 Qe8 26. Rg3 gxh5 27. f5 Rxg3
28. Qxg3+ Kh8 29. Qh4 Qe7 30. f6 Qf7 31. Rf1 Rg8 32. Bd1 Qg6 33. Qh3 Qd3 34.
Qxd3 cxd3 35. f7 Rf8 36. Bxh5 Kg7 37. Rd1 Be3 38. Rxd3 Bf4 39. a4 bxa4 40. Rd4
a3 41. bxa3 Bxe5 42. Rg4+ Kh6 43. Rg8 Bd6 44. Rxf8 Bxf8 45. Bg4 e5 46. a4 Kg6
47. Be6 d4 48. cxd4 1/2-1/2


Round -2

PONOMARIOV Ruslan 2705 ½ - ½ NISIPEANU Liviu-Dieter 2668
TOPALOV Veselin 2769 1 - 0 KASIMDZHANOV Rustam 2690
POLGAR Judit 2708 ½ - ½ KARPOV Anatoly 2670

Standings

1 GM TOPALOV Veselin 2769 2
2 GM PONOMARIOV Ruslan 2705 1½
3 GM NISIPEANU Liviu-Dieter 2668 ½
GM POLGAR Judit 2708 ½
GM KARPOV Anatoly 2670 ½
6 GM KASIMDZHANOV Rustam 2690 0

Champions League Chess Tournament 2007- Vitoria, ESP

The “Champions League" Chess Tournament (Liga de campeones) will take place in Vitoria (Spain), November 1-15, 2007. This event starts right away after World Chess Championship Mexico 2007.

Participants are Anatoly Karpov, Judit Polgar, Alexander Khalifman, Ruslan Ponomariov, Veselin Topalov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov. All players are former World Chess Champions.

Participants will play 10 rounds (2 games against each other with random color), the time control is 90 Minutes + 30 additional ones.

Place: Great Hotel Lakua (5 stars), Vitoria (Spain).

Official site: http://www.ajedrez-hotelakua.com/