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

"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

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