Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 TWIC Coverage Wijk aan Zee Round 1 15th January 2005 Michiel Abeln is on the spot in Wijk aan Zee. He is sending photos, analysis and some comments. The report is compiled by Mark Crowther who is LCC Home adding additional editorial comment and some analysis. TWIC Home Volume 4 Out Chess Shop Now Chess Express Kasparov to visit LCC Fritz8 Champ. ed./Deep Fritz8 Play Chess in Gibraltar Betting Exchange Email TWIC Judit Polgar. Photo © Michiel Abeln Email LCC ChessBase 9 Wijk aan Zee sees the return of Judit Polgar to competitive chess after the birth of her first child, Oliver. She hadn't played since the Hotel Bali New Books tournament in Benidorm in November 2003. She got a nagging advantage New Software in a simplified position and after just a few moves Svidler's position fell apart. Polgar,Ju (2728) - Svidler,P (2735) [C89] Corus A (1), 15.01.2005 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0- New Books and 0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.g3 Bd6 13.Re1 DVDs TWIC Message Qd7 14.d3 Qh3 15.Re4 Nf6 16.Rh4 Qf5 17.Nd2 Re8N [The old move Board g5 has been experiencing some problems lately: 17...g5 18.Rh6 Ng4 19. Ne4 Nxh6 20.Nxd6 Qg6 21.Ne4. - 17. ...Qxd3 18.Rd4 wins Malcolm Pein] 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 Rxe4 20.dxe4 Qxe4 21.Bc2 Qe7 [According to LINKS Svidler he should probably try 21. ...Qd5. 21...Qe6 It seems a bit illogical to put the queen here, but maybe black can survive after Bf8 followed by Internet Poker - completing development.] 22.Bg5 According to Svider the position is Online poker already rather unpleasant. 22. ...f6 [22...Qxg5 23.Qxd6+/-; 22...Qc7 was New Software room reviews an alternative hoping to avoid the weakening f6.] 23.Be3 Be6 Kingpin Book archive Book Reviews Dvoretsky Sale £5/$7.50 Sale Chessbase9 Bridge December Issue Go Backgammon Poker LCC Links Special Events http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (1 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report Chess DVD Chess White is slightly better here, but it is remarkable to see how quickly Judit Express converts this small advantage. 24.Qf3 Qd7?! [it was certainly better for black to play: 24...Rc8 25.Re1 c5; 24...Bd5? 25.Bb3+/-; 24...Qc7? 25. Qe4] 25.Rd1! Rd8 [25...Bg4 26.Rxd6] 26.Be4 Bxa2? Novag Computers Game Over: Region 2 DVD. [26...Rc8 27.Bc5 (27.Bf4 Bg4 28.Rxd6 Bxf3 29.Bxh7+ Kxh7 30.Rxd7 Re8) Bg4 28.Bxh7+ (28.Rxd6 Bxf3 29.Bxh7+ Kxh7 30.Rxd7) 28...Kxh7 29.Qd3 + g6 30.Qxd6 with some chances to hold.] 27.Bb6 Bb3 28.Rd4 c5 28. ... Re8 loses to 29.Bc5 Re6 30.Bf5 Re1+ 31.Kg2 Qf7 32.Rxd6 Bd5 33.Rxd5 Qxd5 34 Qxd5+ cxd5 35.Bc8 MP 29.Bxc5 Qe6 30.c4 1-0 Message Board Giant Chess Sets Chess Computers Alexander Grischuk and Viswanathan Anand tested the pieces in round 1. Photo © Michiel Abeln Anand is the clear favourite for the event. He started with black against Alexander Grischuk and after they played 22 moves of theory in an Open Ruy Lopez peace was agreed. After the game Alexander Grischuk complained of a severe headache which is why he did not try (this whole http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (2 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report line has been known to be a simple draw for black) Vishy commented with humour "it was really rough today" he added that he was happy because "first rounds are always difficult, you have to get used to the environment, which is very different than the study room". Also he said that in this line he had tried to figure out the difference between Be7 and Bg7, which took him about 5 hours, and the next day he saw it all explained in a magazine. As he said, what a waste of time, he could have watched a nice movie! Grischuk,A (2710) - Anand,V (2786) [C80] Chess Assistant Corus A (1), 15.01.2005 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 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Ng5 Qxg5 12. Qf3 O- O-O 13. Bxe6+ fxe6 14. Qxc6 Qxe5 15. b4 Qd5 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. bxc5 dxc3 18. Nb3 d4 19. Ba3 g6 20. Bb4 Bg7 21. a4 d3 22. axb5 1/2-1/2 Books 2000/1/2/3 Lazaro Bruzon vs Vladimir Kramnik Photo © Michiel Abeln Vladimir Kramnik got a very comfortable position straight out of the opening with a reverse Zuckertort Colle setup. His Kingside demonstration looked dangerous but in the end there was nothing clear and the game was quickly drawn. Bruzon,L (2652) - Kramnik,V (2754) [E14] Corus A (1), 15.01.2005 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.b3 a6 10.Bb2 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Ne2 Ne4 13.Ng3 f5 [13...g6 14.Rc2 Rfc8 15.Qe2 f5 16.Rfc1 c6 17.Nf1 a5 18.a4 Bb4 19.Ne1 Bd6 20.Qd1 Rf8 21.f3 Ng5 22.f4 Ne4 23.Nf3 Nb8 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.dxe5 Qe6 26.Bxe4 fxe4 27.g4 Nd7 28.Ng3 Qe7 29.Rxc6 Bxc6 30.Rxc6 Rad8 31. Qxd5+ Kh8 32.Rd6 1-0 Harikrishna,P-Hoeksema,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2001/ The Week in Chess 324] 14.Rc2 Rf7 15.Re1 g5 16.Nd2 [16.Nf1 g4 17. N3d2 Qh4 with the attack according to notes in ChessBase Megabase.] 16...Raf8 17.Qe2 I like black here (MC) but black's next doesn't seem like a winning try. 17...g4 18.Bxe4! http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (3 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report White needs to play this before black really gets going. 18...fxe4 19.Qxg4 + Kh8 20.f4= white has no problems now 20. ...Bc8 21.Qg5 Qxg5 22. fxg5 Rg7 23.Rec1 Kg8 [23...Rxg5 24.Ndxe4 dxe4 25.Nxe4 Rgg8 26.d5+ Be5 27.Bxe5+ Nxe5 28.Rxc7 () with not much in it.] 24.Nb1 [24.Ndxe4 dxe4 25.Nxe4 Bb7 26.Nxd6 (26.d5 Re7) 26...cxd6 27.Ba3 (27.Rc7) ] 24... b5 25.Nc3 Nb6 26.Nce2 Rxg5 1/2-1/2 Alexander Morozevich is the crowd favourite. He got into a bit of trouble against Van Wely but managed to escape. Morozevich,A - Van Wely,L [A34] Corus A (1), 15.01.2005 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.Nf3 b6 5.e4 Bb7 6.d3 Nc6 7.Bg2 d6 [7... Be7 8.0-0 0-0 (8...d6 9.d4 (9.a3 0-0 10.Rb1 d5 11.Bg5 d4 12.Ne2 Nd7 13. Bd2 a5 14.h3 a4 15.Ne1 e5 16.f4 f6 17.Nf3 Ncb8 18.g4 Bc6 19.g5 fxg5 20. fxe5 Rxf3 21.Bxf3 Nxe5 22.Ng3 Nxd3 23.Bg4 Nd7 24.Be6+ Kh8 25.Qh5 Nf6 26.Rxf6 Bxf6 27.Bf5 Qg8 28.Bxg5 Be8 29.Qh4 Ne5 30.Rf1 Ng6 31. Bxg6 Bxg5 32.Qxg5 Bxg6 33.Nf5 Bxf5 34.exf5 Rf8 35.Kh1 Qxc4 36.Re1 Qd5+ 37.Kg1 h6 38.Qg3 Qxf5 39.Rd1 Rf6 0-1 Timon Piote,S-Gallego Jimenez,V/Palencia ESP 1999) 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Rc8 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Bf4 0-0 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Rac1 Qb7 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.Rcd1 Rcd8 17.h3 h6 18.Qf1 a6 19.a4 Qb8 20.Be3 Nd7 21.f4 Nc5 22.Qf2 Nxa4 23.Nxa4 Bxa4 24.Bxb6 Bxd1 25.Bxd8 Bxd8 0-1 Skalkotas,N-Nikolaidis,I/Athens GRE 2004/The Week in Chess 524) 9.h3 a6 10.b3 Qc7 11.Bb2 Rfd8 12.Qe2 d5 13.e5 Ne8 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Rae1 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Qe6+ Qf7 18.Qxf7+ Kxf7 19.g4 Nb4 20.Rd1 Bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxa2 22.Be5 Kg8 23.Ng5 Rd7 24.f4 d4 25.Ne4 Bd5 26.f5 Nb4 27.g5 Bxb3 28.Nxc5 bxc5 29.Bxa8 Bxd1 30.Rxd1 Nc7 31. Be4 Ncd5 32.f6 g6 33.Bf3 Ne3 34.Rd2 c4 35.dxc4 Nxc4 36.Bf4 Nxd2 37. Bxd2 Nd5 38.Bg4 Rd6 39.Bc1 a5 40.Ba3 Nb4 41.Bc1 d3 42.Bf4 Rd4 43.Be6 + Kf8 0-1 Sperdokli,E-Gesos,P/Ano Liosia GRE 2001/The Week in Chess 322] 8.0-0 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Rc8 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qe2 Be7 13. Rd1 Qc7 14.Bf4 Nd7 15.Rac1 Bb7 16.Na4 Qc6 17.b3 0-0 18.Qf1 Qc7 19.b4 Ne5 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.c5 bxc5 22.Nxc5 Bg5 23.Rc3 [It seems that white had here the better: 23.f4 exf4 24.Rd7 (24.Nd7 Bc6 25.Nxf8 f3 26.Bxf3 Qa7+ 27.Kh1 Bxc1 28.Nxe6 Bb2) 24...f3 (24...Qxd7 25.Nxd7 f3 26.Rc4 Be3+ 27.Kh1 fxg2+ 28.Kxg2) 25.Rxc7 Be3+ 26.Kh1 fxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Rxc7 28.Rc4 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Bxe4+ and the big question is whether black has enough compensation] 23...Rfd8 24.h4 Bd2 25.Rc4 Qb6 26. a3 Bc6 27.Nd3 Bh6 28.Nxe5 Bb5 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Qe1 Ba4 31.Rb1 Bc2 32.Ra1 Qd4 33.Nf3 Qxe4 34.Ng5 Qxe1+ 35.Rxe1 g6 36.Bf1 Rc3 37.Bxa6 Rxa3 38.Rc1 Ra2 39.Bc4 Rb2 40.b5 Ba4 [ ƒ http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (4 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report With about 40 seconds left Van Wely had to make a difficult decision. The conclusion seems to be that white can hold in all lines. 40...f6 41.b6 (41. Bxe6+ Kf8) 41...fxg5 42.Bxe6+ Kf8 43.b7 Be4 (43...Ke7 44.Bd5=) 44.Rc8 + Ke7 45.b8Q Rxb8 46.Rxb8 Kxe6 47.Rh8 gxh4 48.Rxh7 Bg5 49.gxh4 Bf4 50.h5] 41.Ra1 Rb4 42.Bd3 Bf8 43.b6 h6 44.Ne4 Bc6 45.Rb1 Rxb1+ 46.Bxb1 f5 47.Nd2 Bc5 48.Ba2 Kf7 49.Nc4 Ke7 50.Ne5 1/2-1/2 Ivan Sokolov vs Peter Leko. Photo © Michiel Abeln. Peter Leko got the advantage but Ivan Sokolov managed to hold on even in time trouble. Sokolov,I (2685) - Leko,P (2749) [D47] Corus A (1), 15.01.2005. [Notes: Abeln,Michiel] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.h3 A new move at the top level, and in this game not a great success. [10.Bd2 Bb7 11.Rc1 Rc8 12.Ne2 b4 13.e4 c5 14. e5 Bxf3 15.exd6 Bd5 16.Ba6 Rb8 17.dxc5 Qa5 18.Bd3 Nxc5 19.Bc4 Nce4 20.a3 Nxd2 21.Qxd2 Qd8 22.Bxd5 Qxd6 23.Qd4 Nxd5 24.Qxa7 Ra8 25. Qc5 Qxc5 26.Rxc5 bxa3 27.bxa3 Rxa3 28.Rfc1 g6 29.Nc3 Nf4 30.Rc7 e5 31.Re1 Rfa8 32.g3 Ra1 33.Kf1 Rxe1+ 34.Kxe1 Ra1+ 35.Kd2 Ne6 36.Rb7 g5 37.Ne4 Ra4 38.Nc3 Ra1 39.Ne4 Ra4 40.Nc3 Ra6 41.Rb5 Nd4 42.Rd5 g4 43.Ke3 Re6 44.Nb5 Nf5+ 45.Ke4 Ne7 46.Rd7 f5+ 47.Ke3 Kf7 48.Nd6+ Kg6 49.Kd3 Ng8 50.Rd8 Nf6 51.Ke3 Re7 52.Rf8 Rd7 53.Nc4 f4+ 54.Ke2 f3 + 55.Ke3 Kg7 56.Ra8 Rd4 57.Ra7+ Kh6 58.Nb6 Rb4 59.Ra6 Kg5 0-1 Lautier,J-Zvjaginsev,V/Tilburg NED 1998] 10...b4 [10...a6 Less precise because of 11.e4 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Be3 and white's pieces work nicely together 14...Bb7 15.Qc2 Re8 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Ne2 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 1-0 Mensch,E-Lassabe,N/France 2002/EXT 2003] 11.Na4 [11.Ne4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Bb7 13.Bd2 Only leads to equality] 11...c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5! A normal response for experienced Meran players [Less good is 12...Nxc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.e4 and white has a clear edge] Normally white would now take on c5 and play Bb5+, but here black has already castled! Leko expected white to play b3 here with a normal position. 13. Qc2 Be7 14.e4 Qa5! http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (5 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report A move with which Leko was quite happy after the game 15.a3? A mistake after which black gets an advantage. Sokolov had seen the normal b3, but wanted to do something about his knight on a4 immediately, which is why he played the "terrible" a3. [15.b3 Ba6 16.Qe2 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 In the post mortem Leko tried to show an advantage for black here as well, but he failed: 17...Rfd8 18.Qe2 Nb6 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.Bb2 Qa6 21.Rfe1 Qxe2 22. Rxe2 Bc5 23.Ne5=] 15...Ba6 Now black is better 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.axb4 Rfc8 18.Qb1 Qb7 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nc5 [20.Bd2 Bxb4 21.Ng5 After the game both players looked at some wild variations, thoug Sokolov stated that Leko would never have allowed a white queen on h7 in a real game, but would simply play Nf8 21...Bxd2 (21...Nf8) 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Ne4 Bh6 24.Nd6] 20...Nxc5 21.bxc5 Rxc5 22.Bd2 Leko had the feeling that although he had the advantage, Sokolov made no more mistakes and the game was always just in balance. 22...Rb8 23.Ra2 Rc7 24.Rc1 h6 25. Rxc7 Qxc7 26.Ra4 Threatening Rg4 with a dangerous attack 26...Bb4 27.Bxb4 Nxb4 28.Ra3 Nd5 29.Qa1 Qc2 Leko played this because he wanted to complicate matters for Sokolov who was down to his last minutes. Sokolov was quite happy to see Qc2, because now play was all forced and he didn't have to think about alternatives. [29...Rb7 30.b3 and it is not clear how black can improve his position] 30.b3 Nf4 31.Rxa7 Rxb3 32.Qa4 Only move 32...Nxh3+? Leko should have played 32...Qc1+. http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (6 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report He did see this move but missed something further down the line. 33.Kh2 Rb1 34.Ra8+ Kh7 35.Qe4+ g6 36.Nd2 [36.Ne1 Nxg2 37.Kxg2 Qxe1 38. Qxe1 Rxe1] 36...Qg1+ 37.Kg3 Nh5+ 38.Kf3 Rb5 39.Rd8 Qd1+ 40.Qe2 Qxe2+ 41.Kxe2 Rxe5+ 33.Kh2 Nxf2 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qxf7 Qg6 [35...Ng4+ 36.Kh3 and black has nothing better than to return to f2] 36.Qxg6+ Kxg6 37.Re7 Rb6 38. Nd4 Ng4+ 39.Kh3 Nxe5 40.Rxe6+ Rxe6 41.Nxe6 Kf6 42.Nd4 h5 43. Kh4 g6 [Leko had an alternative idea that also leads to a draw: 43...Kg6 44.Ne6 Kh6 45.g4 Nxg4 (45...hxg4 46.Kg3=) 46.Nxg7=] 44.Ne2 Kg7 45. Kg5 Nf7+ 46.Kh4 Kh6 47.g4 g5+ 48.Kh3 h4 49.Nd4 Nd6 50.Nf3 Ne4 51.Nxh4 1/2-1/2 Nigel Short said a number of years ago he was giving up playing the elite events and this is the strongest tournament he has participated in since 2000 when he played Wijk aan Zee and in Sarajevo. He had white against http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (7 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report fellow Brit Michael Adams and the two players repeated position as soon as they left theory. Vesselin Topalov vs Ruslan Ponomariov. Photo © Michiel Abeln Vesselin Topalov obtained a big advantage but was forced to work hard by Ruslan Ponomariov for the win in the last game to finish. Topalov,V (2757) - Ponomariov,R (2700) Corus A Wijk aan Zee (1), 2005 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 11.Kb1 Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nc1 Qb7 14.N1e2 0-0 [Topalov had previous experience with this line: 14...Rb8 15.b3 0-0 16.Bf4 Ra8 17.Bd6+/- Topalov-Lutz, Sparkassen GP 2002 17...Bxd6 18.Qxd6 cxb3 19.axb3 a5 20.Rd4 Ra6 21.Qa3 d5 22.exd5 exd5 23.Nf4 Be6 24.Rhd1 h6 25.Ncxd5 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Rb8 27.Nf6+ gxf6 28.Rd8+ Rxd8 29.Rxd8+ Kh7 30.Qf8 Kg6 31.Qg8+ Kh5 32.Qg7 f5 33.Rd4 Bc8 34.g3 1-0 Topalov,V-Lutz,C/Dortmund GER 2002/The Week in Chess 400] 15.Qd4 Rb8 16.Bc1 16...d6 [After the game Ponomariov proposed 16...Ba3 17.b3 Bxc1 18. Rxc1 cxb3 19.cxb3 Rd8 20.e5 Ne8 21.Ne4 but also here white is clearly better] 17.Qxc4 Bd7 18.b3 Rfc8 19.Qd3 a5 20.a3 Bc5 21.a4 Be8 22. Bb2 Bb4 23.Na2 [During the game Topalov felt he should have played 23. Nd4 d5 but after this move in the post mortem all lines were very messy] 23...Bc5 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Nec3 Bc6 26.Rhe1 Qb6 27.f4 Kh8 28.Re2 Rg8 29.g3 Rbd8 30.Qc4 Rd7 31.Red2 Bb7 32.Qe2 Qc6 33.Qh5 Qb6 34.Qh4 Qd8 35.f5 exf5 36.exf5 Rg5 37.Qf4 Re7 38.Nd5 Re5 39.g4 Bxd5 40.Rxd5 Rxd5 41.Rxd5 Qe7 42.Qf3 Qe1+ 43.Rd1 Qh4 44.h3 h5 45.Nc3 hxg4 46.hxg4 Rxg4 47.Nd5 [After the game Topalov indicated the following winning line: 47.Ne2 Kg7 48.Rh1 Qg5 49.Qh3 Kf8 50.Qh8+ Ke7 51.Qc8] 47...Kg7 48.Rh1 Rg3 49.Qd1 Qd4 50.Qxd4 Bxd4 51.Kc1 Rg5? http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (8 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 1 Report The losing move, black should have played: [51...Rf3 52.Rh5 Bc5 53.c3 and black has some chances of survival] 52.Rf1 Rg2 53.c3 Be5 54.Rd1 Kf8 55.Rd2 Rg1+ 56.Kc2 Ke8 57.b4 Kd7 58.bxa5 Kc8 59.Nb4 Rg5 60.Rd5 Rxf5 61.Rb5 Rf2+ 62.Kb3 Rf3 63.Nd5 Rd3 64.Kc4 1-0 Magnus Carlsen was promoted to the B event after demolishing last years C tournament he drew with black against Alejandro Ramirez. http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r1.html (9 of 9)30/01/05 13:59:25 Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 Round 2 Report Corus Wijk aan Zee 2005 TWIC Coverage Wijk aan Zee Round 2 16th January 2005 Michiel Abeln is on the spot in Wijk aan Zee. He is sending photos, analysis and some comments. The report is compiled by Mark Crowther who is LCC Home adding additional editorial comment and some analysis. TWIC Home Volume 4 Out Chess Shop Now Chess Express Kasparov to visit LCC Fritz8 Champ. ed./Deep Fritz8 Play Chess in Gibraltar Betting Exchange Email TWIC Vladimir Kramnik was demolished by Vesselin Topalov. Photo © Michiel Email LCC Abeln. ChessBase 9 The first game to finish in round 2 was a shocking demolition of Vladimir New Books Kramnik by Vesselin Topalov in only 20 moves. There have been questions New Software about Kramnik's form in recent times, the annointed successor to Kasparov has sometimes not quite lived up to his talent. Although Kramnik pulled out the stops to draw his match with Leko, he lost rating points and allowed Vesselin Topalov to take his number three FIDE ranking. Just as for Kasparov at the Russian Championship, there will be a lot of scrutiny of Kramnik's result here. Round two was an unmitigated disaster for Kramnik. New Books and Faced with a novelty by Topalov (11...Ne5) Kramnik played the most DVDs TWIC Message principled line. Usually this also means the most dangerous line and after Board two inaccuracies Kramnik resigned in a position where he was going two pawns down. Topalov explained after the game that he was not feeling very happy. He compared it to his loss last year at Corus against Bareev where he had not put up any resistance at all. So he knew all too well how LINKS Kramnik felt and stated that this will not happen again to Kramnik in the next ten years! Internet Poker - Online poker The game produces a quiz question. Has a reigning world chess champion New Software room reviews ever lost in less than 20 moves? The answer appears to be at least once. Kingpin See the end. Book archive Kramnik,V (2754) - Topalov,V (2757) Book Reviews Corus A Wijk aan Zee (2), 2005 Dvoretsky Sale £5/$7.50 Sale 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Topalov has Chessbase9 had this postion before and with not very good results against Kramnik. This time Topalov went for e6 where in previous games against Kramnik Bridge he played e5. 6...e6 [6...e5 7.Nf3 (7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0- December Issue Go 0 h5 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 g6 13.Kb1 Nb6 14.Qc3 Be7 15.Qc6+ Nbd7 16. Backgammon Bb6 Qxb6 17.Qxa8+ Nb8 18.Na5 Nfd7 19.Nc6 Bg5 20.Qa7 Nxc6 21.Qxb6 Poker Nxb6 22.dxc6 Ke7 23.Rd3 Rc8 24.Ra3 Na4 25.c4 Rxc6 26.Be2 Rb6 27. cxb5 axb5 28.Bxb5 Rxb5 29.Rxa4 f5 30.Rd1 Be3 31.a3 d5 32.b4 d4 33. LCC Links Ra5 Rxa5 34.bxa5 Kd6 35.Kc2 e4 36.fxe4 fxe4 37.Re1 1-0 Kramnik,V- Special Events Topalov,V/Linares ESP 2004/The Week in Chess 486 (37)) 7...Be7 8.Bc4 0- 0 9.0-0 Be6 10.Bb3 b5 11.Qe2 h6 12.a3 Nbd7 13.Nh4 Re8 14.Nf5 Bf8 15. http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/wijk05/r2.html (1 of 9)30/01/05 14:05:07