That's one of my favorite photos of Shak!

There's something about a great black & white pic that
has no equal. Of course, it takes a great photographer
and so...

Fred Lucas

"Momentoo Photography"

See also in ChessBase, "Momentoo – chess in available light" (06.09.2004)

Shak caught my interest when he won the World Junior Chess Championship in 2005 (the 2nd time as he had already won it in 2003!). His positional understanding is just incredible!

If you haven't already checked it out the video that Dogger has placed on his website – you should do so now and it's quite well done!

Doggers schaak: "Video Mamedyarov-Topalov (and Polgar-Sokolov)" October 22, 2006.

Also featured on ChessBase: "Mamedyarov beats Topalov at Essent Tournament" (22.10.2006).

Runs just over 6½ minutes...

****************************************

Today's Chess Treat du' jour is...

Round 2, Monday October 23, 14.00 hours

Sokolov, Ivan vs. Mamedyarov, Shak
Polgar, Judit vs. Topalov, Veselin

Starting in about 15 minutes... Enjoy!


- Mal

PS: A Grouchoism: "It is better to remain silent
and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth
and remove all doubt."

Games are on already. A sharp Sicilian from the bulgarian.

Judit is very strong in these positions, but then again, so is Topalov. Someone will win.

Fun game to watch.

Update: Maybe even more exciting is the Soko vs Shak game. Shak just looks like he sacrificed a piece with 19...Nxe4! Wow.

Seems Polgar missed a crush against Topalov.


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 g5 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. h3 Nfd7 12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 b5 14. Rhf1 Bb7 15. Qf2 Rc8 16. Nce2 Bg7 17. Ng3 Rh7 18. Nh5 Bh8 19. Kb1 Nc5?? 20. Bg3? Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Bh4?! Qc7 23. Bf6 Bg6 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. h4 Qc5 27. h5 Bh7 28. Qh4 Bxc2+

20.Nf5! is what everyone is saying is a win. If she were in practice, she'd never miss such a shot. The rust shows a bit.

And 22. Bh4 wasn't so hot either.


EDIT: Polgar looking good, maybe winning! Gogogo!!

Webcam has shown Topalov looking very comfortable and Judit in deep thought (maybe frustration) for a while now. It looks like Topalov will now survive this game. Judit may have missed some chances earlier.

Shak is better after his sacrifice according to Kaidanov. He is definately gaining notches in my book (after this tourney).

Sokolov - Mamedyarov currently at


1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Re1 e5 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 b6 10. a4 a6 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nc4 Qe8 14. b4 Nh5 15. Ne3 Nf4 16. Bb1 Rd8 17. Nc4 Nf6 18. Qc1 g5 19. Bg3 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Qc6 22. Qc2 f5 23.Bxf4

!!!!!!!!
Mamedyarov is currently looking to see if he can place yet another piece en prise

Updated
23...fxe4 24. Nfxe5 Qe6 25. Bg3 b5 26. axb5 axb5

Must be a question of Judit's rust (she hasn't played for awhile just having her second child), the super tension of this game, and not expecting Topalov to play a double question mark move with 19... Nc5?? She must have been content to pursue her previous plans as she still has a very dangerous attack!

Shak is also looking good against Ivan. He's got a huge time edge too... :p

:laff:


- Mal

PS: A Yogiism worth repeating: "I don't know, I'm not
in shape yet." – In response to when asked what size baseball cap that he wanted...

Polgar missed yet another total crush.


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 g5 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. h3 Nfd7 12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 b5 14. Rhf1 Bb7 15. Qf2 Rc8 16. Nce2 Bg7 17. Ng3 Rh7 18. Nh5 Bh8 19. Kb1 Nc5?? 20. Bg3? Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 2. Bh4?! Qc7 23. Bf6 Bg6 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. h4 Qc5? 27. h5 Bh7 28. Qh4! Bxc2+ 29. Nxc2?? Qxc2+ 30. Ka1

Shak just won. great game. He may win the whole thing the way he is playing.

Yeah, agree Josh let's make that 90% rust, 5% tension and 5% 'El Topo's' 19th move...

Shak has cleaned up well a nice, smooth and fast game against Ivan.

Shak: 2
Ivan: 0


- Mal

PS: Grouchoism: "Now there's a man with an
open mind - you can feel the breeze from here!"