This event in Vitoria-Gazteiz, Spain, exhibits the popular attempt by organizers to add some sort of theme to their tournament. This one is a steal from the traditional Essent event, inviting only players who are world champions of one stripe or another. It's a double round-robin with six players: Topalov, Karpov, Ponomariov, Polgar, Kasimdzhanov, and Nisipeanu. The Romanian was a last-minute replacement for Alexander Khalifman, who was hospitalized a few days ago. Any word on his status? I wish him well. Nisipeanu hasn't won any world championships I'm aware of, but he did win the European championship in 2005. Polgar hasn't won any world championships either (junior titles in 88 and 90), but the "best woman ever" title has gotten her into better events than this over the years, which is no crime.
It's great to see Topalov in action again after a long layoff and he looks to be back in devastating form. He crushed a couple of overmatched opponents at the Euro Team event in Crete before coming straight to Spain and winning his first two games against Karpov and Kasimjanov. Nisipeanu slowed him down in the third round with his trademark 7.Nde2 against Topalov's Najdorf. I was also happy to see Karpov continue to get out there after it looked like he was going to limit himself to occasional rapid forays. This is his second classical round-robin this year, but it's much stronger than the Gorenje tournament in June where he was in the running for first place for a while. He's already lost two out of three and is being kept out of the cellar by Kasimjanov, who has two losses and a postponed game with Nisipeanu.
Ponomariov isn't letting Topalov run away with the tournament. He pulled even with the Bulgarian on 2.5/3 with an impressively smooth win over Karpov with black in the third round. Karpov has played this 6.Nh4 line before lately, with g3 was well, but if Nxg6 and Kf2 are the best White has against 6..a6 it's time to hang it up. Pono finished nicely with a knight sacrifice when Karpov tried to go on the attack. More subtle was the pawn offer 22..Nc4, seizing the d5 square for the black knight if White takes the pawn. Polgar beat Kasimjanov after a Marshallesque 14..d5 in a topical line of the Ruy.
Monday is a rest day. Meanwhile, Russia is walking away with the Euro Team Ch after beating France thanks to another win from Morozevich, who now has 6/7. The Russian team has yet to lose a game. Don't miss the wild game Sargissian-Tratar that finally slowed down the underdog Slovenian team. Socko won with a fun piece sac against Shirov, who is having a miserable event.
Cool photo selection from the Euro Ch in Greece: http://allsportsblog.gr/?page_id=1174
Is Shirov in "no water" mood again?
Karpov may be doing better than his score indicates. According to chessbase, he had a substantial edge most of the game against Topalov, until he let it slide towards equality in time trouble, then lost on time.
"Meanwhile, Russia is walking away with the Euro Team Ch after beating France thanks to another win from Morozevich, who now has 6/7. The Russian team has yet to lose a game. Don't miss the wild game Sargissian-Tratar that finally slowed down the underdog Slovenian team. Socko won with a fun piece sac against Shirov, who is having a miserable event."
Nice "Trifecta", Mig!
1) Shirov won in Round 8, having defeated....
2) Morozevich (who now has 6.0/8), which means....
3) The Russian Team has now lost its first game in the event, and was only able to Draw its match vs. Spain (the first Match point that Russia has ceded).
Jakovenko beat Ibragim S Khamrakulov (2604) (Spain's newest GM, whoever He is!) to even the Match.
Shirov is still having a poor event, but now not quite so miserable. The drawn match vs. Spain clinched the European Team Title for Russia, with the 9th and Final round yet to be played...
As for the Slovenian Team: It has dropped down to 7th Place, after losing its match to Israel, =3-1
Slovenia will still get a pair-up against Spain, but no matter what happens, it is still a grat result for the #19 Seed in the Tournament. In aggregate, the members of the team stand to gain nearly 50 ELO points.
"The Romanian was a last-minute replacement for Alexander Khalifman, who was hospitalized a few days ago. Any word on his status? I wish him well."
He was online just a yesterday on http://kasparovchess.crestbook.com forum, so he is probably out of the hospital. He wasn't optimistic about his participation in the World Cup though.
"Jakovenko beat Ibragim S Khamrakulov (2604) (Spain's newest GM, whoever He is!) to even the Match."
As far as I heard, he was born in Kazakhstan but lives in Spain since childhood(?).
Khalifman is back home for a week, and then he will have to go under surgey again (he didn't explain what exactly happen to him, but looks like something serious).
As for Khamrakulov, I don't think he moved to Spain "since childhood" (I met him some 7 years ago when he still didn't speak any Spanish), but he has been living here for quite long, more than enough to became Spaniard.
Regards,
David
Anyone have results for Round 4? Thanks.
Topalov lost to Polgar. Other two games drawn. Ponomariov leads.
World Cup starts in ~ 2 weeks. Haven't heard too much about it... Is there going to be chessFM?
"As far as I heard, he (Khamrakulov) was born in Kazakhstan but lives in Spain since childhood(?)."
He is from Uzbekistan, hails from Samarkand, born into a family of chessplayers. I played him once in a tournament in Tashkent, in 1997 i think. I lost. He was 15 and a master (born in 1982). He doesn't live in Spain since childhood. Last time I saw him play in Tashkent in 2000 or 2001 in "Universiad", he was playing for Samarkand University team. We played on different boards, but we went to the finals instead of his team. Then suddenly the organizers changed the rules (like Ilyumzhinov), and they were allowed to the final. It was because of Khamrakulov's father's (who was his team's trainer) interference. So much for the sportsmanship.
Hello, Alisher
This is Tony Nichols. We have missed you at the Lansing Mini Swiss. Are you still in lansing? If so check out www.lansingchessclub.blogspot.com for tourney dates. I think you still owe me game:)
Regards
Tony
Congratulations by ACP to the Greek organisers: http://www.chess-players.org/eng/news/viewarticle.html?id=674
I guess once you subscribe to the Ninja newletters, it's impossible to get removed. I've tried and tried and tried and sent at least 5 emails to cancel my subscription to Black Belt over the past THREE (3) months and yet, once again, this month I get hit for the $5. Why? Anybody else having this same problem?
You have my eamil address in this message submission. Please find out why I am unable to cancel and email me personally. It's unfortunate I have to do this in a public forum, but I am getting ZERO response from the usual channels.
Regards.
ahahha
looks like youre going to lose $5 every month for life!!!
Hello Tony,
I will play there next year. This year has been hectic. And I am going to Uzbekistan for Christmas break.
Regards,
Alisher