The match between Topalov (2752) and Pons (2697) starts the 8th. The 6-game match looks like it is a rapid-ish event, with a time control of 45 mins + 15 second increment. We haven't seen Topalov in a while, so it will be good to see him play again.

Eh. Looks like a Squash Match. Someone he's sure he can beat even when out of practice. Couldn't even get a low 2700, just for show? I'll be more interested in his next one.

Well, I think when this match was set in place, Pons was a low 2700 (I think he was in the 2720 range for most of last year). But yeah, Topalov should be able to wrap this one easily. It doesn't look like Veselin is going to be playing in any of the major events of 2012, though it looks like he has an outside chance of being seeded into the 2013 Candidates if someone drops out. I guess we can consider him semi-retired?

Well, Vallejo is currently winning with the match 1.5-.5 after Topalov hung his queen in game two. Not a good sign!

We'll see. In the Topster's defense, there must be a certain difficulty in playing your own second.

But for famous Queen hang games, see these:

Petrosian-Bronstein, 1956

Korchnoi-Spassky, 1977

Both games from the Candidates. The Topster isn't alone here.

Vallejo wins again. Topalov resigned in view of having to give up his queen and rook, just to keep mate a few more moves away. Game 4 is underway, Vallejo leads 2.5-.5.

Vallejo beats Topalov in game 5 and with that wins the match. Hard to believe it, i don't know what to say, but if anything I am sorry that Topalov seems to totally disconnected from the type of Chess he used to play, these days he just seems to accept any result. I mean Topalov is a FAR better player than Vallejo and it just does not seem right that he is so out of touch with chess.

It would be nice to see these guys back in action before it is too late and the younger generation becomes impossible to beat..

It is a fairly rapid time control, isn't it? Something like 40+25, or something? The Topster has never been that great at rapid time controls. He even lost the 2004 FIDE title to Kasimdzhanov that way. Add that to the rust, and this isn't too shocking, and doesn't necessarily mean he's lost interest. Though I confess, I did expect him to win.

Yes, the time control was 45 minutes +15 second increment.

That seems to be right, he has never been good at rapid chess, and even believes it himself. I was thinking maybe 45min is not so rapid, and is a mix of classical and rapid, still tilting towards rapid chess, if we can say such a thing. I had expected him to win, and Vallejo is no easy prey, but still Topalov at his good strength should win.

He said there is some 'crisis' for him these days, That is ok, he acknowledges it. So we have to see when and how he decides to end that crisis. The older players need to act fast, they do not have much time on their side.