NEWS for APRIL 2004

 

BEER SHEVA: KORCHNOI WINS!

 

This strong rapid tournament (time control: 25 minutes + 10 seconds a move) shows that age doesn’t have to mean the end of one’s competitive edge. The legendary Viktor Korchnoi – the old man of the event – took clear first with a fine 8-3 score. Other scores: 2^{nd &} 3^rd Dvoirys and Erenburg (7 pts), 4^th Roiz (6.5 pts), 5^th Greenfeld (6 pts), 6^th Huzman (5.5 pts), 7^th Vydeslaver (5 pts), 8^th & 9^th Tyomkin and Avrukh (4.5 pts), 10^th – 12^th Golod and Khmelniker and Tseitlin (4 pts).

 

 

FIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: MORE FIDE MADNESS

 

The following extract, from the new player's association headed by French GM Joel Lautier, was recently published in Chess Today and illustrates how FIDE continues to act in a very unsavory manner.

 

The FIDE World Championship will be held from June 18 until July 13 in Tripoli (Libya) and Valetta (Malta). Qualified players have been asked by the FIDE Secretariat to sign a copy of the "Player's Undertaking", before the 21st of April 2004, as presented on the FIDE website. This document does not constitute a proper contract between the participants and FIDE, for the simple reason that it only describes the player's obligations towards FIDE, whereas no mention is made of FIDE's obligations toward the players. Moreover, the undertaking is to be signed only by the participant and bears no signature from any FIDE representative, thus relieving FIDE of any legal responsibility. This means that should a dispute arise, FIDE will have a signed commitment from the participant to produce in court, while the latter is left empty-handed.

 

Among several contentious points, we would like to draw your attention to the obligation for the players to stay in the official hotels, either in Libya or in Malta. Although highly unpopular, this compulsory measure is once more imposed on the participants, and this time without any mention of the expected prices for accommodation.

 

The answer from FIDE once again demonstrated their concern for the player’s well being:

 

FIDE Announcement

 

Athens - April 14, 2004

 

Announcement to all chess media & participants of the 2004 World Chess Championship

 

Dear chess friends,

 

It has come to the attention of FIDE that the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) has published a message to qualified participants of the 2004 World Chess Championship, not to hurry to sign the Players Undertaking and furthermore that the ACP has developed its own contract for the Championship.

 

To avoid any misunderstandings, FIDE emphasizes that:

 

1) the deadline for  return of the Players Undertaking (April 21, 2004) will not be extended, and

 

2) only those players who, within the deadline, sign and return to  FIDE the Players Undertaking which is published and distributed by FIDE will be accepted to participate in the WCC.

 

FIDE is asking all the qualified and reserve players to meet the above requirements.

 

Released by the FIDE Secretariat Athens, 14-04-2004

 

 

FOXWOODS OPEN: ILDAR IBRAGIMOV WINS ON TIEBREAKS

 

REPORT BY JOHN DONALDSON: Grandmaster Ildar Ibragimov, formally of Kazan, Russia, and now representing the United States, was the winner of the 2004 Foxwoods Open on tiebreak. Ibragimov, whose 7-2 score was matched by fellow GMs Julio Becerra, Jan Ehlvest and, I believe, Giorgi Kacheishvili (the CCI report on Foxwoods is down as I write). Ibragimov was a deserving winner as he played the top seeds facing by far the strongest opposition, but even he needed a little luck in round 3 as Berkeley's David Pruess had him completely beat with an extra piece and a big time advantage to boot, before letting things get out of hand. It would have been a fantastic double-header for Pruess had he converted because in the previous round he beat GM Yury Shulman.

 

 

COGAS MATCH: VAN WELY BEATS TIMMAN

 

Held April 8^th – 10^th, the four game match saw a 1-1 tie in the first two games (both rapid), and 2-0 for Van Wely in the final two (standard time control).

 

Van Wely - Timman [D54]

Cogas Energy Match (game 1), 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0–0 6.Rc1 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Bd3 c5 12.Ne2 Nd7 13.0–0 Nf6 14.b3 Bb7 15.Rc2 Rfc8 16.Qc1 a5 17.a4 g6 18.h3 Rc7 19.Qa3 Rac8 20.Rfc1 Ne4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Nc3 Bc6 23.d5 Be8 24.d6 Qxd6 25.Nxe4 Qe6 26.Nd2 Rd8 27.Nc4 Rcd7 28.Qb2 Rd3 29.Rc3 R3d5 30.Qe2 Bc6 31.e4 Rd4 32.f3 Bb7 33.Qe3 Kg7 34.Qf4 Ba6 35.Ne3 h5 36.h4 Bb7 37.R1c2 R8d7 38.Kh2 Ba6 39.g4 hxg4 40.Nxg4 Qd6 41.Qxd6 R7xd6 42.Ne3 f5 43.exf5 Rxh4+ 44.Kg3 Rh5 45.fxg6 Kxg6 46.Ng4 Bc8 47.Re2 Bxg4 48.fxg4 Rhd5 49.Rce3 Rd3 50.Kh4 Rxe3 51.Rxe3 Kf7 52.g5 Rd1 53.Kg4 Rg1+ 54.Kf5 Rf1+ 55.Ke5 Rd1 56.Rf3+ Kg6 57.Rf6+ Kxg5 58.Rxb6 Rd3 59.Rb5 Kg6 60.Ke6 Rc3 61.Rxa5 Rxb3 62.Rxc5 Kg7 63.a5 Ra3 64.Ke7 Ra1 65.Kd7 Kf6 66.Rb5 Kf7 67.Kc7 Ke7 68.Kb7 Kd7 69.a6, 1–0.

 

Timman - Van Wely [B30]

Cogas Energy Match (game 2), 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.Qe2 Ng6 7.h4 h5 8.e5 f6 9.Qe4 Kf7 10.Na3 d5 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.Nc4 Qd5 13.Ne3 Qxe4 14.dxe4 Ba6 15.Bd2 Bd6 16.Ba5 Ke7 17.Nd2 Ne5 18.f4 Ng4 19.Nxg4 hxg4 20.g3 e5 21.f5 Rab8 22.0–0–0 c4 23.Nf1 Bc5 24.Rh2 Rb5 25.Bc3 Rhb8 26.b3 R5b7 27.h5 cxb3 28.axb3 Rd7 29.Rxd7+ Kxd7 30.Nd2 Be3 31.Kd1 Bg5 32.Nb1 c5 33.Bd2 c4 34.Bxg5 fxg5 35.h6 cxb3 36.hxg7 Bc4 37.Rh8 Rg8 38.cxb3 Bxb3+ 39.Kd2 Rxg7 40.Rb8 Bf7 41.Rb7+ Ke8 42.Nc3 Rh7 43.Nb5 Rh6 44.Rxa7 Bc4 45.Nc7+ Kd8 46.Ra4 Kxc7 47.Rxc4+ Kd6 48.Rc3 Rh3 49.Rd3+ Ke7 50.Kc3 Rh1 51.Rd5 Kf6 52.Rd6+ Kf7 53.Kc4 Ra1 54.Re6 Ra3 55.Kd5 Rxg3 56.Rg6 Ra3 57.Rxg5 g3 58.Kxe5 Rf3 59.Rg4 Ke7 60.Rg7+ Kf8 61.f6 Ra3 62.Kf5, 1–0.

 

Van Wely - Timman [E32]

Cogas Energy Match (game 3), 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Nh3 c5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 15.Bh4 Nd5 16.Bb5 g5 17.Bf2 Red8 18.e4 N5f6 19.0–0 Rac8 20.Rad1 a6 21.Be2 Kf8 22.Be3 Ke7 23.Nf2 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Rc2 25.Rd2 Rxd2 26.Bxd2 Rc8 27.Nd1 Ne8 28.Ne3 a5 29.b4 axb4 30.Bxb4+ Kf6 31.Bb5 Nb8 32.Nc4 Ba6 33.Nxb6 Rd8 34.a4 Nc7 35.Bc3+ e5 36.Rb1 Bxb5 37.axb5 Rd3 38.Ba5 h5 39.Rc1 Nxb5 40.Nd5+ Kg7 41.Rb1, 1–0.

 

Timman - Van Wely [B31]

Cogas Energy Match (game 4), 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Ne4 Ne6 10.d3 0–0 11.Be3 b6 12.Qd2 f5 13.exf6 exf6 14.c3 Ba6 15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Bh6 Rad8 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qc2 Nf4 19.c4 Bc8 20.Re3 Bg4 21.Rde1 Bxf3 22.Rxf3 Ne6 23.Qd2 Nd4 24.Rfe3 Nf5 25.Rh3 h5 26.Ng3 Nh6 27.Re4 Rfe8 28.Qe2 Qf7 29.Nf1 Nf5 30.Nd2 Qd7 31.Kf1 Rxe4 32.Nxe4 Re8 33.Qc2 Re6 34.Qc1 Qc7 35.Qd2 Qe5 36.Ng3 Nh6 37.f4 Qd4 38.f5 Re5 39.fxg6 Ng4 40.Nxh5+ Kxg6 41.Nf4+ Kf7 42.g3 Ne3+ 43.Kg1 Nxc4+ 44.Qf2 Re1+ 45.Kg2 Ne3+ 46.Kf3 Rf1 47.Rh7+ Kg8, 0–1.

 

 

DANISH CHAMPIONSHIPS: PEDERSEN WINS

 

Held April 4^th - 12^th, this sixteen-player knockout was won by Steffen Pedersen.

 

El Kher – S Pedersen [D00]

Denmark, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 f6 3.Bh4 c5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.e3 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Bd3 Qd7 9.h3 0–0–0 10.Nge2 e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bg3 d4 13.Bxe5 fxe5 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Ne4 Qc6 16.Qd3 Nf6 17.f3 Bb4+ 18.Kf2 Nd5 19.Rac1 Kb8 20.Kg3 Be7 21.h4 Qb6 22.c3 dxc3 23.bxc3 Nf4 24.Qc2 Rxh4 25.Nxf4 exf4+ 26.Kg2 Rxh1 27.Rxh1 a6 28.Rd1 Rc8 29.Rd7 Bf6 30.Rd3 g5 31.Qd2 Qb1 32.Rd7 Rh8 33.Nf2 Qb6 34.c4 Rc8 35.Qd5 Rc5 36.Rxb7+ Qxb7 37.Qxc5 Qb2 38.Qd6+ Kb7 39.Qd5+ Ka7 40.Qc5+ Kb7 41.Qd5+ Ka7 42.Qc5+ Kb7 43.Qd5+, 1/2-1/2.

 

S Pedersen - Sorensen [C01]

Denmark, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 c5 5.exd5 exd5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Nf3 Bxc5 8.0–0 Nge7 9.Bf4 0–0 10.h3 a6 11.a3 Ba7 12.Re1 d4 13.Ne4 Ng6 14.Bd6 f5 15.Bc4+ Kh8 16.Nfg5 Nce5 17.Qh5 h6 18.Bxf8 fxe4 19.Nf7+ Nxf7 20.Qxg6 Qxf8 21.Bxf7 Qc5 22.Qxe4 Bf5 23.Qxb7 Rb8 24.Re8+ Rxe8 25.Bxe8 d3 26.cxd3 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Bd4 28.Bf7 Kh7 29.Qb8 h5 30.Qg8+ Kh6 31.Qh8+ Kg5 32.Qxh5+ Kf6 33.Bc4 Bxb2 34.Rd1 Bxa3 35.Qf7+ Kg5 36.Qxg7+ Bg6 37.Qe5+ Kh6 38.Qh8+ Kg5 39.Qe5+ Kh6 40.d4 Bb2 41.Qh8+ Kg5 42.Qe5+ Kh6 43.Bxa6 Bc2 44.Rf1 Qxd4 45.Qxd4, 1–0.

 

 

BANGLADESH CHAMPIONSHIP: RAHMAN DOMINATES

 

This fourteen-player event was held March 28^th - April 10^th. Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman destroyed the competition with an overwhelming 11.5 - 1.5 score.

 

Reefat - Rahman [B06]

Bangladesh, 2004

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.Be3 Nf6 6.Qd2 b5 7.Bd3 0–0 8.Bh6 Bg4 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.Ng5 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.h3 Bc8 13.Ne2 Nbd7 14.a4 Nc5 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Qc3 Nxd3+ 17.cxd3 b4 18.Qxb4 h6 19.Nf3 Qxd3 20.Ng3 a5 21.Qd2 Qb5 22.Qe2 Qb6 23.0–0–0 Be6 24.Qe3 Qc6+ 25.Kb1 Rfb8 26.Rd3 Qb5 27.Qd2 Qa4, 0–1.

 

 

Rahman - Uddin [A30]

Bangladesh, 2004

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0–0 Be7 6.Nc3 0–0 7.Re1 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.e4 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nd7 13.Bf4 b5 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Bf6 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.d6 Rc4 18.Qb3 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Qb6 20.Rc7 Bc8 21.Qc2 Qb8 22.Ng5 g6 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.Bh6 Rd8 25.Qb3+, 1–0.

 

 

(83) Hossain,E (2446) - Ahmed,S (2280) [B53]

Bangladesh, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.c4 Nc6 6.Qd2 Nf6 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.b3 Qc7 11.Bb2 b6 12.h3 Bb7 13.Qe3 Rfd8 14.Rac1 Rac8 15.Nd5 exd5 16.cxd5 Qd7 17.dxc6 Rxc6 18.Nd4 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 g6 20.Nf5 gxf5 21.Qg5+ Kf8 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Qxf6 Bxe4 24.Bxa6 Ra8 25.Bc8 Qe8 26.Qh8+, 1–0.

 

 

MILLENNIUM OPEN: NAKAMURA & IBRAGIMOV  TIE FOR FIRST

 

GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Ildar Ibragimov tied for first in the 5th Millennium Open held April 2 - 4 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The two winners, who scored 4.5 from 5, each received $1850. Tying for third through seventh at 4-1 in the 67 player open section were GMs Alex Wojtkiewicz and John Fedorowicz, IM John Donaldson and NMs Alex Stamnov and Boris Zisman. Among those on 3.5 were GMs Jaan Ehlvest and Julio Becerra. This year’s edition of the Millennium Open, organized by Tom Braunlich and directed by Ernie Schlich and Michael Atkins, attracted 270 players and maintained its reputation as one of the best-run tournaments in the United States.

 

Donaldson - Reichstein [A34]

5th Millennium Open, 2004

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0–0 Nxc3 8.bxc3 e5 9.d3 Be7 10.Nd2 0–0 11.Rb1 Be6 12.Qa4 Qc7 13.Nc4 Bd7 14.Ne3 Qc8 15.Nd5 Bd6 16.Qh4 Qd8 17.Bg5 f6 18.Be4 h6 19.Bxh6 gxh6 20.Qxh6 f5 21.Nf6+ Rxf6 22.Bd5+ Be6 23.Bxe6+ Rxe6 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.Rxb7, 1–0.

 

 

77^th CHAMPIONSHIP OF ST PETERSBURG: LOGINOV & POPOV WIN

 

This event took place April 1^st to the 11^th. Valery Loginov and Valery Popov tied for first with 7-3 scores.

 

Final Standings: 1^st - 2^nd Loginov & Popov (7 pts), 3^rd - 4^th Lugovoi & Yemelin (6 pts), 5^th - 7^th Solovjov, Ionov, Yevseev (5.5 pts), 8^th - 9^th Klimov & Matlakov (4.5 pts), 10^th Chepukaitis (2.5 pts), 11^th Feofanov (1 pt).

 

 

Yemelin - Chepukaitis [B06]

St Petersburg, 2004

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.e5 f5 8.a4 b4 9.Ne2 e6 10.0–0 Ne7 11.c4 a5 12.Be3 Bb7 13.Nc1 Nb6 14.Nb3 0–0 15.Qe2 Re8 16.Bf2 Nec8 17.Rfe1 Qd7 18.exd6 cxd6 19.d5 Qc7 20.dxe6 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Nd7 22.exd7 Rxe2 23.dxc8Q+ Qxc8 24.Rxe2 Qd7 25.Nd4 Re8 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.b3 Bf6 28.Re1 Qf8 29.Kg2 Qh6 30.Ne6 Bh4 31.Bg3 Kf7 32.c5 dxc5 33.Bc4 Kf6 34.Nxc5 Kg7 35.Ne6+ Kh8 36.Rd1 Bf6 37.Rd7 Qh5 38.Rf7, 1–0.

 

Popov - Yemelin [D34]

St Petersburg, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Bf4 Re8 12.Ncb5 Nh5 13.Be3 Bg4 14.h3 Bd7 15.Nc3 Nf6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxh3 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Bxc6 Bxf1 20.Qxf1 Bf6 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Rb1 Qb7 23.b3 h5 24.Rc1 Qa6 25.Rc2 Be5 26.Qh3 Re6 27.Qxh5 Bxg3 28.Qc5 Be5 29.Qxa7 Rg6+ 30.Kf1 Qe6 31.Qa8+ Kh7 32.Qh1+ Kg8 33.Rc4 Bf6 34.Qa8+ Kh7 35.Qh1+ Kg8 36.Ke1 Be7 37.Qa8+ Kh7 38.Qh1+ Kg8 39.Qa8+ Kh7 40.Qe4 Qd7 41.Ra4 Bd8 42.Ra7 Qd6 43.Ra8 Qf6 44.Kd1 Qa1+ 45.Kc2 Bf6 46.Bc1 Qc3+ 47.Kd1 Qh3 48.Ra5 Bd8 49.Rd5 Bb6 50.Rg5 Bxf2 51.Rxg6 fxg6 52.Qf3 Qd7+ 53.Bd2 Bc5 54.a4 Qd4 55.Kc2 Ba3 56.Qh1+ Kg8 57.Bc3 Qe3 58.Qa8+ Kh7 59.Qf3 Qe6 60.Qh1+ Kg8 61.Qa8+ Kh7 62.Qh1+ Kg8 63.Qf3 g5 64.e4 g4 65.Qf5 Qxf5 66.exf5 g3 67.Bd4 Bb4 68.Kd3 Kf7 69.Ke2 g6 70.fxg6+ Kxg6 71.Bb6 g2 72.Kf2 Kf5 73.a5, 1–0.

 

Loginov - Chepukaitis [B40]

St Petersburg, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 g5 6.Bg2 h6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.exd5 exd5 9.Re1+ Nge7 10.Nb3 b6 11.c3 a5 12.a4 Bf5 13.d4 c4 14.Nbd2 0–0 15.h4 g4 16.Nh2 Qd7 17.b3 cxb3 18.Qxb3 Rfb8 19.Ba3 Be6 20.Nhf1 Nf5 21.Ne3 Nxe3 22.Rxe3 Rc8 23.Rae1 Rab8 24.Rxe6 fxe6 25.Rxe6 Qxe6 26.Bxd5 Qxd5 27.Qxd5+ Kh8 28.Ne4 Nd8 29.Be7 Nc6 30.Bf6 Bxf6 31.Nxf6 Kg7 32.Nh5+, 1–0.

 

Lugovoi - Klimov [D99]

St Petersburg, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0–0 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3 c5 10.d5 Na6 11.Nd2 e6 12.d6 Bd4 13.Nb5 e5 14.h3 Be6 15.Bc4 Bxc4 16.Nxc4 Qh4 17.0–0 Qxe4 18.Rfe1 Qf5 19.Nc7 Rab8 20.a3 Kg7 21.Qb5 Rfd8 22.Bxd4 cxd4 23.Nxe5 Nxe5 24.Rxe5 Qd7 25.Re7 Qxb5 26.Nxb5 Nc5 27.Rd1 Kf8 28.Rxd4 Ne6 29.Rd3 a6 30.Nc3 b5 31.Ne4 Rxd6 32.Rxf7+ Kxf7 33.Rxd6 a5 34.Rd7+,1–0.

 

Popov - Loginov [E92]

St Petersburg, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Na6 8.d5 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 Qe8 11.h3 Nh6 12.Nd2 Bd7 13.f3 Nf7 14.a3 c5 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Bd3 Bh6 17.Ke2 Nc7 18.b4 b6 19.Qc2 Ne8 20.bxc5 dxc5 21.a4 Nc7 22.a5 Na6 23.axb6 Nb4 24.Qb2 axb6 25.Ra1 Nd6 26.Ndb1 Rxa1 27.Qxa1 b5 28.cxb5 c4 29.Bxc4 Nxc4 30.Bf2 Be3 31.Bxe3 Nxe3 32.Qa7 Nxg2 33.d6 Nf4+, 0–1.

 

 

EUROPEAN WOMAN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: KOSTENIUK VICTORIOUS

 

Held between March 21^st and April 2^nd, this twelve round Swiss System ended in a tie for first place between Alexandra Kosteniuk and Peng Zhaoqin (each having 9.5 pts). In their two-game playoff, Kosteniuk took the title by winning the first game and drawing the second.

 

Makropoulou - Cramling [B42]

Dresden, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.0–0 d6 8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 b6 10.f4 Nbd7 11.Qe2 Bb7 12.Rf3 Qc7 13.Kh1 Rc8 14.Bd2 h5 15.Raf1 Ng4 16.Rh3 Ngf6 17.Rg3 g6 18.f5 Ne5 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Nd4 h4 21.Rh3 Nxd3 22.Rxd3 e5 23.Bg5 exd4 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Rxf6 Qe7 26.e5 dxe5 27.Rxb6 Rf8 28.Nd5 Bxd5 29.cxd5 Rc2 30.Rb8+ Kd7 31.Rb7+ Kd6 32.Rb6+ Kxd5 33.Qd1 Qg5 34.Qg1 Rff2 35.Rb4 Qf4 36.Rd1 h3, 0–1.

 

Sedina - Kosteniuk [B51]

Dresden, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0–0 Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.d4 Bxe4 9.Bg5 Bd5 10.Nbd2 b5 11.b3 c4 12.bxc4 bxc4 13.Nf1 e6 14.Ne3 Qa5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nd2 Rg8 17.Ndxc4 Bxc4 18.Nxc4 Qb5 19.Ne3 Bh6 20.Rb1 Qa5 21.Qf3 Rd8 22.Nd5 Kf8 23.Nxf6 Rg6 24.Rb7 Qf5 25.Qxf5 exf5 26.Nd5 Re6 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Rxh7 exd5 29.Rxh6 Ke7 30.Rh7+ Ke6 31.h4 Rc8 32.h5 Kf6 33.h6 Kg6 34.Rd7 Kxh6 35.Rxd6+ Kg5 36.Rxd5 Rxc3 37.Ra5 Rd3 38.g3 Rxd4 39.Rxa6 f4 40.Kg2 Kg4 41.gxf4 Kxf4 42.a4 Kf5 43.a5 Rg4+ 44.Kf1 Ke5 45.Ra8 Kd6 46.f3 Ra4 47.Kf2 Kc6 48.a6 Kb6 49.Kg3, 1–0.

 

Peng Zhaoqin - Sedina [D17]

Dresden, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Bd2 Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.Kc2 Na6 15.Nxc4 0–0 16.Qf3 Qc5 17.Kb1 Rad8 18.Be2 Nb4 19.Rc1 Rd4 20.Ra3 Qg5 21.Qf2 Rf4 22.Rf3 Rg4 23.g3 c5 24.Qe3 Qg6+ 25.Bd3 Nxd3 26.Qxd3 Qg5 27.Qd7 Qg6+ 28.Ka2 Qe4 29.Ra3 Qe2 30.Rac3 Qe4 31.a5 h5 32.Rb3 Qe2 33.Qd2 Qxd2 34.Nxd2 Rd8 35.Nc4 Rdd4 36.Ne5 Ra4+ 37.Ra3 Rge4 38.Rxc5 f6 39.Ng6 Rxa3+ 40.Kxa3 Kf7 41.Nf4 e5 42.Rc7+ Kg8 43.Nxh5, 1–0.

 

Arakhamia - Sedina [C19]

Dresden, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.a4 h6 9.Bd3 b6 10.0–0 Ba6 11.a5 Qc6 12.Ba3 Bxd3 13.cxd3 Nd7 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.d4 Rc8 16.Qe2 0–0 17.Rfb1 Rfe8 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Nd4 Qa8 20.a6 Ne4 21.Rb7 Ng6 22.Bd6 Rxc3 23.Nb5 Rc6 24.Nc7 Qc8 25.Nxe8 Rc2 26.Qe3 d4 27.Qe1 d3 28.Nf6+ gxf6 29.Rb8 Nxd6 30.Rxc8+ Nxc8 31.exf6 Nf4 32.Qe3 d2 33.Qxf4 Nb6 34.Qxh6, 1–0.

 

Cramling - Slavina [D31]

Dresden, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4 b4 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.0–0 0–0 15.Nd2 Qc7 16.f4 a4 17.Rb1 Rfd8 18.Qe2 b3 19.Ba1 Nb8 20.e4 Nc6 21.d5 Nb4 22.Rf3 exd5 23.exd5 Qb6+ 24.Qf2 Qxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Nfxd5 26.Be4 Ne7 27.Bxb7 Rxd2+ 28.Kg3 Rb8 29.Bc3 Rd7 30.Bxb4 Rdxb7 31.Ba3 Nf5+ 32.Kg4 Nd4 33.Rd3 Nc2 34.Bd6 Rc8 35.c5 b2 36.Rc3 a3 37.c6 Rxc6 38.Rxc6 h5+ 39.Kxh5 a2, 0–1.

 

Foisor - Peng Zhaoqin [A20]

Dresden, 2004

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.a3 a5 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.e3 d6 7.Nge2 0–0 8.d4 Ba7 9.0–0 Bf5 10.h3 Re8 11.d5 Nb8 12.g4 Bd7 13.Ng3 h6 14.e4 Nh7 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5 Nd7 17.Ne4 Bd4 18.Qb3 Ra7 19.Qg3 Nc5 20.Kh1 a4 21.h4 Qd7 22.Nxc5 dxc5 23.Be4 Nf6 24.f3 Ra6 25.g5 Nh5 26.Qg4 Nf4 27.Bxf4 exf4 28.Qxf4 Qd6 29.Qg4 Rb6 30.Rab1 h5 31.Qh3 Qf4 32.Rfe1 Rb3 33.Bc2 Rbe3 34.Rxe3 Rxe3 35.f6 g6 36.Rf1 Kh7 37.Bd1 Be5 38.Kg2 Rd3 39.Be2 Rd2 40.Rf2 Rxb2 41.Bf1 Rb3 42.Kg1 Bd4 43.Kg2 Bxf2 44.Kxf2 Rb2+ 45.Kg1 Qe3+ 46.Kh1 Qf2 47.Bg2 Qe1+ 48.Kh2 Qe5+ 49.Kg1 Rb1+ 50.Bf1 Ra1 51.Qg2 Rxa3 52.Qf2 Ra1 53.Kg2 b6 54.Bd3 Qe1 55.Qc2 Qh1+ 56.Kf2 Ra2, 0–1.

 

Peng Zhaoqin - Kosteniuk [D27]

Dresden, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 a6 6.a4 c5 7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Qd3 0–0 10.Rd1 cxd4 11.exd4 Nb4 12.Qe2 b6 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Ra3 Nbd5 15.Rb3 Qc7 16.Bg5 Rfe8 17.Re1 Bd6 18.h4 Nd7 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Ne4 Bc7 21.Ra1 Qc6 22.Bd3 f5 23.Rc1 Qxa4 24.Ra3 Qd7 25.Nc3 Nf4 26.Bxf4 Bxf4 27.Rd1 b5 28.Raa1 Qc6 29.d5 exd5 30.Qf1 d4 31.Nxb5 Qf6 32.Bc4+ Kh8 33.Nxd4 Qxh4, 0–1.

 

 

OPEN LETTER FROM RUSLAN PONOMARIOV

 

Comment from Silman: Though I never considered Mr. Ponomariov World Champion (FIDE – a mockery of an organization – has turned the Championship into a mockery of a title.), I tip my hat to him for having the guts to stand up to FIDE’s self-serving dictates.

 

Open Letter from Ruslan Ponomariov to the ACP Board - 7th April 2004.

 

To the Members of the ACP

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

I would like to inform you about my views on the most important issues of chess life.

 

The latest FIDE decisions regarding the World Championship granted exclusive privileges to GM Garry Kasparov. This is unprecedented, not only in chess history, but probably in the complete Olympic history as well. Mr. Kasparov bestowed on himself the title “Strongest chess player of the world”, even though there isn’t any mention of such a title in FIDE Statutes or in any other official papers. I view this situation as contrary to all the rules of fair play.

 

FIDE is constantly trying to put the blame on me for canceling  the Ponomariov – Kasparov match. I hereby want to officially state that neither I nor the Organizing Committee of the match had any authority to cancel it. The match was unilaterally cancelled by the FIDE president, Mr. Ilyumzhinov. Unfortunately, starting with the General Assembly in Bled, the FIDE board exclusively defended the interests of Mr. Kasparov, although, as an international organization, it should have been taking a neutral position, and should have guaranteed that the conditions are fair and equal for all participants.

 

It concerns me greatly that the players’ opinions are getting less and less consideration, and that the players are becoming mainly just a source of income for all kinds of officials who sponge on chess. The prize fund for the World championship is reduced by half, choosing Libya as a venue will result in dividing the participants into first-rate and second-rate groups. If we stand by and do nothing, the chances are it will keep getting worse.

 

I am not trying to hold on to my title whatever it takes, but I can’t put up with the absolute dictatorship of FIDE. I am ready to defend my title on the conditions that were clearly set at the time I won it. I ask you, my colleagues, for understanding. I hope that the Association of Chess Professionals will be able to change this complicated situation.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Ruslan Ponomariov, World Champion.

 

 

SHAKEUP ON THE APRIL FIDE RATING LIST

 

The names remain the same, but the rankings were slightly shuffled about as Anand returned to the number two spot and Leko, who had tumbled from number 4 to 10 this last year, returned to his number 4 perch.

 

Top 15: 1^st Kasparov (2817), 2^nd Anand (2774), 3^rd Kramnik (2764), 4^th Leko (2741), 5^th Topalov 2737, 6^th Svidler (2733), 7^th Morozevich 2732, 8^th Adams (2731), 9^th Judit Polgar (2728), 10^th Ponomariov (2722), 11^th Grischuk (2719), 12^th Ivanchuk (2716), 13^th Gelfand (2714), 14^th Shirov (2713), 15^th Short (2712).

 

 

13^th AMBER BLINDFOLD & RAPID: MOROZEVICH & KRAMNIK TIE

 

This wonderful event, usually held at the Metropole Hotel, has been moved (due to construction) to the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel. Every year the fine location, excellent prizes, and unusual format brings together many of the World’s strongest players who will face off in two game mini-matches against each other – one game being blindfold (they can look at an empty board on a computer screen) and the other a “normal” rapid game (30 minutes each).

 

The event is broken down into three events (Rapid, Blindfold, Combined), and a player can do horribly in two (Blindfold and Combined, for example) but still win the other (Rapid).

 

OPENING CEREMONY: Opening ceremonies are almost always opulent affairs in Europe, and this was no exception. I’ve (Silman) witnessed some really original drawing of lots while playing there, and the custom continued when all twelve participants were asked to put pen to paper and draw a picture of one of the Van Oosterom family dogs (Onyx and Whoopy). After this was done, a local artist judged each one, and this artistic ranking became their pairing number.

 

ROUND ONE:

In his first Amber, Svidler had no problem splitting the point against Amber-veteran Anand in both formats. The other Amber “virgin,” Vallejo, fared less well and lost two - zip to the always formidable Bareev.

 

Perhaps the most impressive result of the day was Kramnik’s 2-0 whitewash against the usually rock-solid Gelfand. Other scores:

Van Wely 1 - 1 (two draws) vs. Topalov

Leko 1.5 - .5 vs. Shirov

Morozevich 2 - 0 vs. Ivanchuk (The blindfold game was a hard fought affair, but he came late to the second game and played very badly)

 

Kramnik - Gelfand [B90]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0–0–0 Qc7 11.g4 Nb6 12.g5 Nfd7 13.Na5 Rc8 14.Kb1 Be7 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxa5 18.Bd3 Qc7 19.h4 Qc6 20.Be4 Qxd5 21.Bxd5 Rc7 22.h5 h6 23.g6 fxg6 24.hxg6 Nf6 25.Be6 Rc6 26.f4 Bd8 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Bf7+ Ke7 29.Bd2 Bb6 30.Rde1 e4 31.Bg5 hxg5 32.Rxh8 g4 33.Rb8 g3 34.Rb7+ Kd6 35.Bb3 Bc7 36.a4 Kc5 37.axb5 axb5 38.c4 bxc4 39.Ba4 e3 40.b4+ Kd6 41.Rd1+ Nd5 42.Rb5 Ke6 43.Rbxd5 Rd6 44.Rxd6+ Bxd6 45.Bb5 Bxb4 46.Bxc4+ Ke5 47.Kc2 Bd2 48.Rg1 Kf4 49.Bd5, 1–0.

 

Vallejo Pons - Bareev [C10]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 c5 8.Ne5 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Qa4+ Nd7 11.0–0–0 cxd4 12.Bxd4 f6 13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Qb3 b5 15.Be2 Bd6 16.Bg4 Kf7 17.Be3 Rad8 18.Rd2 Bc8 19.Re1 Rhe8 20.g3 Qc6 21.Qc2 g6 22.h4 Qc4 23.Bf3 Qxa2 24.Bc6 Rg8 25.Red1 Qa1+ 26.Qb1 Qxb1+ 27.Kxb1 Bc7 28.Bd7 Bb7 29.Bf4 Bxf4 30.Bxe6+ Kxe6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Rxd8 Bd6 33.Rh8 h5 34.Rh7 Be4+ 35.Kc1 Bc5 36.f4 Bf2 37.Kd2 Bxg3 38.Ke3 Kf5, 0–1.

 

Bareev - Vallejo Pons [E35]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 h5 10.Bd3 h4 11.Be5 f6 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.d5 Qe7 14.a3 Ba5 15.Qa4+ Nd7 16.Qxa5 Nxe5 17.Qa4+ Kf7 18.Qxe4 h3 19.g3 Bg4 20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4 Nf3+ 22.Kf2 Qxe4 23.Nxe4 Nh4 24.Rc1 Rac8 25.Rc4 Rhg8 26.Ng3 c6 27.dxc6 Be6 28.Rc3 Bd5 29.e4 Bxc6 30.Nxh3 Rcd8 31.Re1 Rh8 32.f5 Rd2+ 33.Re2 Rxe2+ 34.Kxe2 Ng2 35.Kf2 Rxh3 36.Kxg2 Rh4 37.Rc4 Ke7 38.Rd4 a5 39.h3 Rf4 40.Rd3 Rh4 41.Kh2 Rf4 42.Kg1 Rh4 43.Kg2 Rf4 44.Kg1 Rh4 45.Nf1 Rxe4 46.Re3 Kd6 47.Rxe4 Bxe4 48.Ng3 Ke5 49.Nxe4 Kxe4 50.Kf2 Kf4 51.b4 a4 52.b5 b6 53.Kg2 Kxf5 54.Kf3 Kg5 55.Kg3 f5 56.Kf3 Kh4 57.Kf4 Kxh3 58.Kxf5 Kg3 59.Ke4 Kf2 60.Kd5 Ke3, 1–0.

 

Morozevich - Ivanchuk [B31]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7 5.0–0 e5 6.d3 Nge7 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Ne1 a6 9.a3 d6 10.Ba2 b5 11.Rb1 Rb8 12.Be3 h6 13.Qd2 Kh7 14.b4 f5 15.f3 cxb4 16.axb4 a5 17.bxa5 Qxa5 18.Rb2 f4 19.Bf2 g5 20.Nb1 b4 21.Qd1 d5 22.Nd2 Be6 23.Bb3 Qc7 24.Qe2 Rfd8 25.d4 Bg8 26.Nd3 exd4 27.h4 Re8 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.Ra2 Nf5 30.Nc5 Rbc8 31.Qb5 Ng3 32.Re1 Na7 33.Qxb4 Nc6 34.Qb5 Na7 35.Qb7 Qxb7 36.Nxb7 Nb5 37.Ra5 dxe4 38.Bxg8+ Kxg8 39.Bxg3 e3 40.Ne4 Na3 41.Rxa3, 1–0.

 

Ivanchuk - Morozevich [D11]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Be2 Bf5 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nh4 Be4 8.f3 Bg6 9.Bd2 Be7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.0–0–0 dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Be2 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Kb1 0–0 17.Bc1 Qb8 18.g4 Rc8 19.g5 Nfd7 20.h4 b4 21.Ne4 b3 22.axb3 Nxb3 23.Bc4 Na5 24.Rxd7 Nxc4 25.Qd1 Ba3 26.Qe2 Qb5, 0–1.

 

Leko - Shirov [B32]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Nc2 Nf6 11.Ne3 Be6 12.g3 Rc8 13.Bg2 Na5 14.0–0 0–0 15.Ned5 Nxc4 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxb7 Rc7 18.Bg2 Kh8 19.Nd5 Rc8 20.Nxf6 gxf6 21.b3 Na5 22.Ba3 Nc6 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Bxd6 Rfd8 25.Rad1 Kg7 26.f4 exf4 27.Bxf4 Nd4 28.Rd2 Bg4 29.Kf2 Nb5 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Rc1 Bf5 32.Rc6 Rd1 33.Rxa6 Rb1 34.Bd2 Rb2 35.Ke3 Bb1 36.Bf1 Nd4 37.Bd3, 1–0.

 

ROUND TWO:

Shirov 2 - 0 vs. Gelfand (Poor Gelfand hung a Rook in the blindfold game. An 0 - 4 start for a player of Gelfand’s strength is astounding)

Kramnik 1.5 - .5 vs. Ivanchuk (The mighty Ivanchuk with an .5 - 3.5 start? Impossible!)

Leko 1.5 - Morozevich .5

Svidler 1.5 - .5 vs. Bareev  (Bareev was winning the first game when he suddenly hung a Rook)

Anand 1 - 1 Topalov (In the first game, an endgame occurred where Anand forgot where he placed his Bishop! He played several illegal moves before finally pushing a pawn in despair. The move hung the pawn and the game. In the second game he avenged himself by winning a very hard battle.)

Van Wely 1.5 - .5 vs. Vallejo

 

Gelfand - Shirov [D45]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 dxc4 8.Bxc4 e5 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd2 exd4 11.Nxd4 0–0 12.Ne4 Ne5 13.Be2 Bb4 14.0–0–0 Bxd2+ 15.Rxd2 Nb4 16.Qb3 Qe7 17.a3 c5 18.axb4 cxd4 19.exd4 Ng6 20.f3 Bf5 21.Bd3 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Qxg5 23.Kb1 Qxd2, 0–1.

 

Leko - Morozevich [C61]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.0–0 Bc5 6.d3 c6 7.Ba4 d6 8.Nd2 Ne7 9.a3 a5 10.b4 Ba7 11.Bb3 0–0 12.Bb2 Be6 13.f4 c5 14.bxc5 Bxb3 15.cxb3 dxc5 16.a4 f5 17.Nc4 Bb8 18.Bc1 Bc7 19.Bd2 Qd7 20.Qf3 fxe4 21.dxe4 b5 22.axb5 Qxb5 23.Qh3 Ra6 24.Ra4 Rb8 25.Rb1 Nc8 26.e5 Ne7 27.f5 Qd7 28.e6 Qd5 29.Rf1 Rf8 30.g4 d3 31.Qg2 Rb8 32.Qxd5 Nxd5 33.Ra3 h5 34.h3 hxg4 35.hxg4 Nf6 36.Bf4 Bxf4 37.Rxf4 Rd8 38.Nd2 Rad6 39.Rxa5 Rd4 40.Ra4 R4d5 41.Kg2 g6 42.e7 Re8 43.Ra6 Kg7 44.fxg6 Rxe7 45.Rfxf6 Re2+ 46.Rf2 Rd4 47.Kf1 Re7 48.Rf7+ Rxf7+ 49.gxf7 Kxf7 50.g5 Rg4 51.g6+ Rxg6 52.Rxg6 Kxg6 53.Kf2, 1–0.

 

Bareev - Svidler [A48]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 0–0 5.Be2 d6 6.0–0 Nc6 7.h3 Nh5 8.Bh2 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Rfd1 a6 13.g4 Nf6 14.Nxe5 Nb4 15.a3 Nbd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Nd3 Rac8 18.Bf3 c6 19.Rab1 Bf8 20.Rbc1 Nb6 21.Be2 Bc4 22.Be5 Re8 23.Bf6 Nd5 24.Bh4 Bg7 25.Bf1 b5 26.c3 a5 27.Nc5 Bxf1 28.Kxf1 a4 29.Nb7 Ra8 30.Nd6 Re6 31.Nxb5 Nxe3+ 32.fxe3 cxb5 33.Rd3 Rae8 34.Re1 Bh6 35.Kf2 f5 36.gxf5 Re4 37.Rd8 gxf5 38.Rxe8+ Rxe8 39.Bf6 Kf7 40.Bd4 Re4 41.Rd1 Rh4 42.Kg3 Re4 43.Kf3 Rh4 44.Kg3 Re4 45.Rd3 Bf8 46.Ba7 Ke6 47.Rd8 Bd6+ 48.Kf3 Rh4 49.Kg2 Rh5 50.Bd4 Rg5+ 51.Kf2 Rh5 52.Re8+ Kd7 53.Re5 Bxe5, 0–1.

 

Topalov,V (2735) - Anand,V (2766) [B48]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0–0–0 Bb4 9.f3 Na5 10.Nb3 d5 11.Bf4 Nxb3+ 12.cxb3 Qa5 13.e5 Nd7 14.a3 Be7 15.Kb1 b5 16.b4 Qd8 17.Ne2 Nb6 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.b3 0–0 20.Ka2 Qb8 21.Rc1 Qa7 22.Be3 Rac8 23.Bd3 Qb8 24.f4 Rfd8 25.Qf2 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Nxc8 28.Qc2 h6 29.Nc6 Qb7 30.Nxe7+ Nxe7 31.Qc5 Nf5 32.Bd4 Qc6 33.Kb2 Qxc5 34.Bxc5 Bc6 35.a4 h5 36.g3 f6 37.exf6 gxf6 38.Bxf5 exf5 39.a5 Kf7 40.Kc3 Ke6 41.Kd4 Be8 42.Ke3 Kf7 43.Bb6 Ke6 44.Kd4 Kd6 45.Bd8 Ke6 46.Kc5 Bd7 47.Bb6 Be8 48.Ba7 d4 49.Kxd4 Kd6 50.Bc5+ Kc6 51.Be7 Bf7 52.Bxf6 Kd6 53.Be5+ Kc6 54.Bg7 Bxb3 55.Ke5 Bc2 56.Kf6 Kd7 57.Kg5 Bd1 58.Kxf5 Bg4+ 59.Kg5 Ke6 60.f5+ Kf7 61.Bd4, 1–0.

 

Anand - Topalov [B33]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.0–0 0–0 14.c4 f5 15.Qf3 d5 16.cxd5 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Qd7 18.d6 Rb8 19.Rad1 Rb6 20.Qc3 Rxd6 21.Bf5 Rxd1 22.Bxd7 Rxd7 23.Nc2 Rfd8 24.Ne3 Rd2 25.h4 Be6 26.a3 f5 27.Qc6 R2d6 28.Qc2 Rd2 29.Rd1 Rxd1+ 30.Nxd1 Bf6 31.g3 Rc8 32.Qd2 Rd8 33.Qe2 Bc4 34.Qc2 f4 35.Nc3 Bd3 36.Qd1 fxg3 37.fxg3 e4 38.Qg4+ Kh8 39.Qe6 Bd4+ 40.Kh2 Rf8 41.Nxe4 Bxe4 42.Qxe4 Bxb2 43.Qb4 Bg7 44.g4 h6 45.Qe4 a5 46.g5 b4 47.axb4 axb4 48.Qxb4 Kh7 49.Qe4+ Kh8 50.Kg3 Rd8 51.Qe6 hxg5 52.hxg5 Rd4 53.Kf3 Kh7 54.Qf5+ Kh8 55.Kg3 Kg8 56.Kf2 Kh8 57.Ke2 Kg8 58.Qg6 Kh8 59.Qf7 Kh7 60.Kf3 Kh8 61.Qe7 Kh7 62.Qe6 Kh8 63.Qc6 Kh7 64.Qb6 Rd3+ 65.Kg4 Rc3 66.Qe6 Rc7 67.g6+, 1–0.

 

Kramnik - Ivanchuk [C67]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 a5 10.h3 a4 11.Rd1+ Ke8 12.a3 h6 13.Bf4 Be6 14.Ne4 Ra5 15.g4 Bd5 16.Re1 Ne7 17.e6 Bxe4 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Rxe4 Ng6 20.Bxc7 Rb5 21.Ne5+ Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Bc5 23.Bc3 Ra8 24.Rd1 Bf8 25.Rd7+ Kg8 26.Kg2, 1–0.

 

ROUND THREE:

Kramnik 1-1 (two draws) vs. Leko

Anand 2 – 0 vs. Vallejo (The Indian genius won both games convincingly.)

Svidler 1.5 - .5 vs. Topalov

Bareev 2 - 0 vs. Van Wely (The Dutchman was losing the second game, then winning, then blundered and lost.)

Morozevich 1 - 1 vs. Shirov (Both attacking maniacs clubbed each other to death in their respective wins.)

Ivanchuk 2 - 0 vs. Gelfand (hmmm…Gelfand, 0 from 6? A sure sign that the Apocalypse is upon us!)

 

Anand - Vallejo Pons [B90]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3 Be6 9.Qd2 0–0 10.0–0–0 a5 11.Qe1 Qc8 12.a4 Nc6 13.g4 Nb4 14.g5 Nh5 15.Kb1 Qc7 16.Qf2 Nf4 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.N3d4 Bd7 20.Rg1 g6 21.Bc4 Qc8 22.Bb3 Qc5 23.Qd2 Qe5 24.h4 Rac8 25.h5 Kg7 26.Qh2 Bxg5 27.Nxd6 Bf6 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.N6f5+ Kh8 30.Qxh7+ Kxh7 31.Rh1+, 1–0.

 

Vallejo Pons - Anand [B80]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 Be7 8.Qd2 0–0 9.0–0–0 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.c4 Qe5 13.f4 Qc7 14.Nb5 Qb8 15.Be2 Rd8 16.Qc2 Bd7 17.g3 a6 18.Nd4 Nb4 19.Qb3 a5 20.Kb1 e5 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Bf4 Qe4+ 23.Ka1 Bf6 24.Bf3 Qg6 25.Bxb7 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Nc2+ 27.Qxc2 Qxc2 28.Bxa8 Rxa8 29.Rxd7 Qxc4 30.Rc1 Qe4 31.Ra7 h5 32.Rxa8+ Qxa8 33.h4 a4 34.a3 Qd5 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Rb8 f6 37.Rb4 g5 38.Bb8 Kg6 39.Kb1 Qd1+ 40.Ka2 Kf7 41.Rb7+ Ke8 42.Rb4 Kd7 43.Ba7 Qf3 44.Bb8 Kc8 45.Ka1 Qh1+ 46.Ka2 Qd1 47.Ba7 Qd5+ 48.Ka1 Qd6 49.Bf2 Qd1+ 50.Ka2 Qd5+ 51.Ka1 Qf3 52.Rc4+ Kd7 53.Rd4+ Ke6 54.Rd2 Kf5 55.Kb1 Kg4 56.Kc1 Qc6+ 57.Kd1 Kf3 58.hxg5 fxg5 59.Be1 Qe4 60.Rf2+ Kg4 61.Rd2 Qb1+ 62.Ke2 Kh3 63.Kf1 Qe4 64.Bf2 Qc4+ 65.Ke1 Qe4+ 66.Kf1 g4 67.Be1 h4 68.gxh4 g3 69.Bxg3, 0–1.

 

Svidler - Topalov [C42]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Nc3 Bf5 9.Qe1 Bb4 10.Qe3 0–0 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bxe4 Re8 13.Bxf5 Rxe3 14.fxe3 Ne7 15.Bd3 f6 16.e4 Kh8 17.e5 c5 18.exf6 gxf6 19.a3 Ba5 20.dxc5 Bc7 21.b4 Nc6 22.Bb2 Ne5 23.Be4 Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Rb8 25.Bxb7 Bxh2+ 26.Kxh2 Qc7+ 27.Kg1 Qxb7 28.Rxf6 Kg8 29.Raf1 Rd8 30.R1f3 Qc7 31.R6f4, 1–0.

 

Morozevich - Shirov [C77]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 g6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.Re1 Nh5 10.Nf1 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Ng5 Kh8 13.Bb3 d5 14.g4 Nf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Nxh7 Kxh7 17.gxf5 Rxf5 18.d4 Qh4 19.Kh1 Qxf2 20.Qg4 Qxb2 21.Rac1 Raf8 22.Bc2 f3 23.Ne3 f2 24.Bxf5 fxe1Q+ 25.Rxe1 Rf6 26.Rg1 Ne7 27.Nxd5 Nxd5 28.Bxg6+ Kg8 29.Bh5, 1–0.

 

Shirov - Morozevich [C11]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Be3 b6 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.c3 0–0 10.Ng3 c4 11.Ng5 h6 12.h4 b5 13.Qc2 Bxg5 14.hxg5 b4 15.Be2 bxc3 16.bxc3 Rb8 17.Kf2 Re8 18.Nh5 Ne7 19.g4 Rb5 20.Nf6+ gxf6 21.gxf6 Nxf6 22.exf6 Ng6 23.g5 hxg5 24.fxg5 e5 25.Rh6 e4 26.Rah1 Re6 27.Bh5 Rxf6+ 28.gxf6 Qxf6+ 29.Ke1 Be6 30.Bxg6 Qf3 31.Kd2 Bg4 32.Bh7+ Kg7 33.R6h2 f5 34.Bxf5 Qxf5 35.Qa4 Rb2+ 36.Kc1 Rxh2 37.Qxa7+ Kg6 38.Rxh2 Bh3 39.Qb6+ Kh5 40.Qh6+, 1–0.

 

ROUND FOUR:

Kramnik 1 - 1 vs. Morozevich

Leko 1.5 - .5 vs. Gelfand (After losing the first game with Black to fall to a mind-numbing 0 from 7, Gelfand decided that enough was enough and used the White pieces to secure a safe draw and his first half point. At last the bleeding had stopped!)

Ivanchuk 1.5 - .5 vs. Shirov

Topalov 1.5 - .5 vs. Bareev

Vallejo 1.5 - .5 vs. Svidler (Vallejo’s win was praised highly by all the other grandmasters.)

Anand 1.5 - .5 vs. Van Wely

 

Leko - Gelfand [C42]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0–0 0–0 8.c4 c6 9.Qc2 Na6 10.a3 Bg4 11.Ne5 Bf5 12.Be3 f6 13.Nf3 Qe8 14.Nc3 Bg4 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Bxe4 Qh5 18.h3 Bxh3 19.gxh3 Qxh3 20.Bd5+ Kh8 21.Qe4 Nc7 22.Bxb7 Rab8 23.Bc6 g5 24.Ne5 fxe5 25.dxe5 Be7 26.Qg2 Qh5 27.Bd7 Rxb2 28.Rac1 Na8 29.e6 Kg8 30.Bc5 Rf4 31.Qxa8+ Kg7 32.Bc6 g4 33.Be8 Qe5 34.Qxa7 Rfxf2 35.Qxe7+, 1–0.

 

Topalov - Bareev [C11]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0–0–0 Be7 10.Bd3 b6 11.h4 Bb7 12.c3 c5 13.Neg5 h6 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bc2 Qc7 16.Qd3 Nf6 17.Ne5 Bd6 18.Rde1 cxd4 19.Ng4 Ba6 20.Qxa6 Nxg4 21.Qd3 Bf4+ 22.Kb1 g6 23.g3 Be5 24.h5 Nxf2 25.Qf3 Nxh1 26.hxg6 fxg6 27.Qxh1 Bg7 28.Nxe6 Qd6 29.Qb7 Rg8 30.Nf4 Rae8 31.Rxe8 Rxe8 32.a3 g5 33.Ng6+ Kg8 34.Qa6 Qd5 35.c4 Qh1+ 36.Ka2 d3 37.Bxd3 Qc6 38.c5 Qxc5 39.Qa4 Rd8 40.Qb3+ Kh7 41.Ne7+ Kh8 42.Ng6+ Kh7 43.Bb1 Qd4 44.Ne5+, 1–0.

 

Svidler - Vallejo Pons [B90]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Qd2 0–0 10.0–0–0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.Kb1 a5 15.Nbc1 a4 16.f4 exf4 17.Bxf4 Nc5 18.Bg2 b3 19.cxb3 axb3 20.a3 d5 21.Nd4 Nd6 22.exd5 Bg4 23.Rde1 Qd7 24.Qb4 Bf5+ 25.Ka1 Rfb8 26.Qxc5 Nc4 27.d6 Rxa3+ 28.Qxa3 Nxa3 29.dxe7 Nc2+ 30.Nxc2 Qa4+, 0–1.

 

Anand - Van Wely [B33]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Nxe7 Nxe7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.c4 Bb7 13.Bd3 bxc4 14.Nxc4 d5 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Qa4+ Kf8 17.0–0–0 Qxg2 18.Rhg1 Qxf2 19.Qb4 Bf3 20.Rgf1 Qg2 21.Ne3 Qh3 22.Bf5 Qh5 23.Rd7 Re8 24.Bc2 e4 25.Kb1 Qb5 26.Qd6 Qe5 27.Qd2 Qf4 28.Ba4 Ng6 29.Bb3 Ne5 30.Qd6+ Kg7 31.Rxf7+ Kg6 32.Rg1+ Kh5 33.Rxf6 Qxe3 34.Rf5+ Kh4 35.Qf6+ Kh3 36.Rg3+, 1–0.

 

ROUND FIVE:

Anand 1 - 1 vs. Bareev (Two well played draws.)

Svidler 1 - 1 vs. Van Wely (Two messy draws.)

Topalov 1 - 1 vs. Vallejo (Two draws, though Topalov was most likely winning the second game.)

Kramnik 1 - 1 vs. Shirov (The first game was interesting, the second less so.)

Morozevich 1 - 1 vs. Gelfand (When players at this level see a fellow grandmaster having a bad tournament, they tend to target him for assassination. With Black, the wild swinging Morozevich played the Albin Counter Gambit against his “wounded” foe and blew him off the board! Gelfand now had half a point from nine games, and many players would just cave at this point. Instead, the hunted turned into the hunter and finally scored his first win of the event.)

Ivanchuk 2 - 0 vs. Leko (Leko, who had been one of the joint leaders before this round, was diced up by a focused Ivanchuk.)

 

Ivanchuk - Leko [B33]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 0–0 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 17.Qe2 Bd7 18.Ra1 Ne7 19.Nxe7 Bxe7 20.0–0 Be6 21.Na3 Bxc4 22.bxc4 f5 23.exf5 Rxf5 24.Rfd1 Rc8 25.Rd5 Rf6 26.Nc2 Qc7 27.Rdxa5 Qxc4 28.Qxc4 Rxc4 29.Ne3 Rc8 30.Nd5 Re6 31.Ra8 Rg8 32.c4 e4 33.R1a6 Re5 34.Kf1 e3 35.fxe3 h6 36.Ke2 Bf8 37.Rc8 Rf5 38.Raa8 Rf7 39.Nf4 Rf6 40.Rxf8, 1–0.

 

Morozevich - Gelfand [A25]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e3 Nc6 4.a3 g6 5.b4 Bg7 6.Bb2 0–0 7.Nge2 d6 8.Nd5 Ne7 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6 10.Nc3 Bg7 11.Be2 c6 12.e4 d5 13.d3 d4 14.Nb1 a5 15.Nd2 b6 16.c5 bxc5 17.bxc5 a4 18.0–0 Qa5 19.Rc1 Be6 20.f4 Rab8 21.Ba1 exf4 22.Nc4 Qxc5 23.Qxa4 g5 24.Qd1 Bxc4 25.Rxc4 Qxa3 26.h4 h6 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Bh5 Rb3 29.Qg4 Rxd3 30.Qxg5 Qa2 31.Qc5 Rd2 32.Bf3 Ng6 33.Bxd4 Nh4 34.Bf2 Nxf3+ 35.gxf3 Re8 36.Rfc1 Re6 37.R4c2 Rg6+ 38.Kf1 Rxc2 39.Qxc2 Qa3 40.Ke2 Rg2 41.Rg1 Qa6+ 42.Ke1 Qa1+ 43.Ke2 Qxg1, 0–1.

 

Leko - Ivanchuk [B08]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Nf3 0–0 8.h3 Nbd7 9.0–0 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Ne2 a6 12.a4 Bb7 13.Ng3 Qe7 14.Bh6 Rfe8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.b4 Rad8 17.Rfe1 Nb6 18.Qg5 Kh8 19.axb5 cxb5 20.Nd2 Rd4 21.Qe3 Na4 22.Nf3 Rxb4 23.Qg5 Nc5 24.Nd2 Nd5 25.Qh6 Nf4 26.Bf1 f6 27.c4 Rb2 28.Nf3 b4 29.Rad1 a5 30.Ne2 Nfd3, 0–1.

 

ROUND SIX:

 

Anand 1.5 - .5 vs. Kramnik (A quick draw resulted in the first game. In the second, Kramnik [as Black] equalized easily, but then spoiled his position with 16…Qe8.)

Leko 2 - 0 vs. Vallejo (Leko played well, Vallejo didn’t. That alone explains the two easy victories by the Hungarian super-grandmaster.)

Van Wely 1.5 - .5 vs. Morozevich (Morozevich decided to give the Albin Counter Gambit another try in the rapid game, this time getting into trouble in the opening. A blunder by White [28.Ne5??] put Black on top though, and subsequent blunders by Black turned things around again.)

Svidler 1.5 - .5 vs. Gelfand

Ivanchuk 1 - 1 vs. Topalov (Both players showed their skills in their respective victories.)

Bareev 2 - 0 vs. Shirov (A huge result [Shirov blundered a pawn in both games at key points] that catapulted Bareev into an overall tie with Anand.)

 

Kramnik - Anand [B83]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Be3 0–0 9.f4 d6 10.Qe1 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 e5 12.Be3 exf4 13.Bxf4 Be6 14.Qg3 Rfd8 15.Kh1 Ne8 16.Bb5 Nf6 17.Be2 Ne8 18.Bb5 Nf6, 1/2-1/2.

 

Anand - Kramnik [B30]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.0–0 Nf6 7.Bd2 0–0 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 Kh8 10.a3 f5 11.h3 a5 12.Rb1 a4 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.b4 axb3 15.Rxb3 Ra7 16.Be3 Qe8 17.Qb1 Nd8 18.Nd2 Be6 19.Bxe6 Nxe6 20.Rxb7 Rxa3 21.Qb6 Nd8 22.Rb8 Ra2 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qb3 Ra8 25.Rb6 Qc7 26.Rb1 Nc6 27.Rb7 Qc8 28.Qd5 Ra6 29.Nxd6 Bxd6 30.Qxd6 Qf5 31.Qxc5 Nd8 32.R7b6 Ra8 33.Rb8 Rxb8 34.Rxb8 h6 35.Qd5 Ne6 36.Rxf8+ Nxf8 37.c4 Ng6 38.Qe4 Qf6 39.c5 Ne7 40.d4 exd4 41.Bxd4 Qg5 42.f4 Qh4 43.Qe5, 1–0.

 

Leko - Vallejo Pons [C10]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bc4 a6 10.0–0 b5 11.Be2 Bb7 12.c4 Qb6 13.Qb3 cxd4 14.cxb5 Bd6 15.bxa6 Qxb3 16.axb3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Ra7 18.b4 Bxb4 19.Ra4 Bd6 20.b4 Ke7 21.b5 Rb8 22.Bc6 Bc5 23.Bg3 Rd8 24.Bb7 Bb6 25.Rc4 Nd5 26.Be5 d3 27.Bxg7 Rxb7 28.axb7 Rb8 29.Rd1 Rxb7 30.Rxd3 Ra7 31.g3 f6 32.Bxh6 Ra1+ 33.Rc1 Ra2 34.Rd2 Ra5 35.Rb2 Bd4 36.Rb3 Ra2 37.Be3, 1–0.

 

Vallejo Pons - Leko [E12]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.d4 e6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.e3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 0–0 7.Be2 Be7 8.0–0 Nh5 9.Ne5 Nxf4 10.exf4 d6 11.Bf3 c6 12.Ng4 Nd7 13.Rc1 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Be2 f5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qd7 18.Qb3 Rfc8 19.Bb5 Qd8 20.Nf3 a6 21.Be2 b5 22.Qe3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Bxc8 25.Qa7 Qd7 26.Qxd7 Bxd7 27.g3 Bc5 28.Kf1 Kf8 29.h4 Ke7 30.Bd3 a5 31.Ke1 b4 32.b3 Be8 33.Ng1 Bh5 34.Be2 Be8 35.Nh3 h6 36.Kd2 Bd4 37.Ke1 Kd8 38.Kd2 Kc7 39.g4 fxg4 40.Bxg4 Kd7 41.f5 Bxe5 42.fxe6+ Kd6 43.h5 g6 44.hxg6 Bxg6 45.f4 Bc3+ 46.Kc1 h5 47.Bf3, 0–1.

 

Ivanchuk - Topalov [C45]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Qe2 d6 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Nc3 0–0 9.0–0–0 Re8 10.f3 Ne5 11.Qd2 Be6 12.Be2 Bc4 13.g4 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 c6 15.g5 Nh5 16.f4 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Nc4 18.Qf3 g6 19.Ng3 Ng7 20.h4 a5 21.h5 Qb6 22.Qc3 Qb4 23.Rd3 Qxc3 24.Rxc3 d5 25.Nd4 Ne6 26.exd5 cxd5 27.Nge2 Nxd4 28.Nxd4 Re4 29.Nb5 Rxf4 30.Nc7 Rd8 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Rch3 Kf8 33.Ne6+ fxe6 34.Rh8+ Ke7 35.R1h7+ Kd6 36.Rxd8+ Ke5 37.Rh1 Ne3 38.Re1 Ke4 39.Rd6 e5 40.Rxg6 Rf2 41.c3 Rc2+ 42.Kb1 Rg2 43.Rg8 Kd3 44.g6 d4 45.cxd4 exd4 46.g7 Kd2 47.Rc1 d3 48.Rf8, 1–0.

 

Topalov - Ivanchuk [B07]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 Qc7 7.Qd2 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0–0 Bg7 10.Ne2 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Ng3 0–0 13.c4 a6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Qc2 Ne8 16.b4 Nb6 17.c5 Nd7 18.a4 Nf8 19.Nd2 Rd7 20.Nb3 Rad8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Be2 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Bc8 25.Qd2 Be6 26.Na5 Nd7 27.Bg4 Bxg4 28.hxg4 Bf8 29.g5 Ng7 30.Nf1 Ne6 31.Nh2 Be7 32.g3 Bd8 33.Nb3 Nb8 34.Nf3 Be7 35.Nc1 Nd7 36.Nd3 Bf8 37.Qa2 Bg7 38.Qa8+ Ndf8 39.Kg2 f6 40.gxf6 Bxf6 41.Bh6 Kf7 42.Bxf8 Nxf8 43.Qxc6, 1–0.

 

Shirov - Bareev [C10]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 Be7 8.Bd3 0–0 9.Bg5 b6 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.0–0–0 Qd5 12.Kb1 c5 13.Bc2 Rfd8 14.h4 h6 15.c4 Qd6 16.Be3 cxd4 17.Rxd4 Qc7 18.Rhd1 e5 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Bc1 e4 22.Nd2 e3 23.fxe3 Qg3 24.Nf3 Qg4 25.Bd2 Ne4 26.Be1 Bf6 27.Kc1 g6 28.Bd1 Nd6 29.b3 Nf5 30.Qd2 Be7 31.Nd4 Ba3+ 32.Kb1 Qe4+ 33.Nc2 Bc5 34.Bf3 Qe7 35.Bxb7 Qxb7 36.Qd8+ Kh7 37.Bc3 Ng7 38.Qf6 Bf8 39.g4 Kg8 40.h5 gxh5 41.gxh5 Qh1+ 42.Kb2 Qxh5 43.a4 Qg6 44.Qd8 Ne6 45.Qb8 Nc5 46.Bd4 a5 47.Ne1 h5 48.Bxc5 bxc5 49.Kc1 Qf6 50.Kd1 Kg7 51.Qg3+ Kh7 52.Nf3 Qf5 53.e4 Qg6 54.Qxg6+ fxg6 55.Ke2 Kg7 56.Kf2 Kf6 57.Ne1 Ke5 58.Kf3 g5 59.Ke3 Ke6 60.Nd3 Be7 61.Kf3 Bd6 62.e5 Bxe5 63.Nxc5+ Kf5 64.Nd3 g4+ 65.Kg2 h4, 0–1.

 

Bareev - Shirov [E05]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Bb7 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.a4 c5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Nc3 Bc6 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 b4 20.Na2 Qb7 21.Nc1 Nbd7 22.Nd3 Rb8 23.Qd4 h6 24.Ra1 Be4 25.Ra7 Qb5 26.Nfe5 Bxd3 27.Nxd3 e5 28.Qd6 e4 29.Bxe4 Nxe4 30.Qxd7 Qxd7 31.Rxd7 f5 32.f3 Ng5 33.Rd4 b3 34.Rb4 Re8 35.Nf4, 1–0.

 

Van Wely - Morozevich [D09]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nge7 6.Bg2 Ng6 7.Bg5 Qd7 8.e6 fxe6 9.0–0 e5 10.Qa4 Bd6 11.Nbd2 h6 12.c5 Bf8 13.Bh4 a5 14.a3 Ra6 15.Rfe1 Qf5 16.Rac1 Be7 17.Bxe7 Ngxe7 18.e3 0–0 19.exd4 exd4 20.b4 axb4 21.Qb3+ Kh8 22.axb4 b5 23.cxb6 Rxb6 24.Qa3 Qf7 25.Rc5 Nd5 26.b5 Ncb4 27.Ne4 Bf5 28.Ne5 Qe7 29.f4 Bxe4 30.Rc4 Nxf4 31.Rxe4 d3 32.Ng6+ Nxg6 33.Rxe7 Nxe7 34.Qxb4 Rd6 35.Rxc7 Nf5 36.Rd7 Rff6 37.Rxd6 Rxd6 38.Bf3 d2 39.Bd1 Rd8 40.Qc5 Nd6 41.Qc7, 1–0.

 

STANDINGS AFTER SIX ROUNDS

 

BLINDFOLD: 1^st - 5^th Svidler, Morozevich, Leko, Bareev, Ivanchuk (4 pts), 6^th Kramnik, (3.5 pts), 7^th Anand (3 pts), 8^th - 10^th Van Wely, Topalov, Shirov (2.5 pts), 11^th Vallejo (1.5 pts), 12^th Gelfand (.5).

 

RAPID: 1^st Anand (5 pts), 2^nd Bareev (4 pts), 3^rd - 5^th Topalov, Kramnik, Leko (3.5 pts), 6^th - 8^th Svidler, Ivanchuk, Van Wely (3 pts), 9^th Shirov (2.5 pts), 10^th Morozevich (2 pts), 11^th & 12^th Vallejo and Gelfand (1.5 pts).

 

COMBINED: 1^st & 2^nd Anand and Bareev (8 pts), 3^rd Leko (7.5 pts), 4^th - 6^th Svidler, Kramnik, Ivanchuk (7 pts), 7^th - 8^th Topalov, Morozevich (6 pts), 9^th Van Wely (5.5 pts), 10^th Shriov (5 pts), 11^th Vallejo (3 pts), 12^th Gelfand (2 pts).

 

 

ROUND SEVEN:

Ivanchuk 1.5 - .5 vs. Bareev

Gelfand 1.5 - .5 vs. Topalov (Gelfand’s first match victory of the event!)

Shirov 1 - 1 vs. Svidler (Two draws)

Kramnik 2 - 0 vs. Vallejo (The World Champion decisively won both games with powerful, accurate play.)

Leko 1.5 - .5 vs. Van Wely (Van Wely tortured Leko in the blindfold game for 88 moves before agreeing to a draw. In the rapid, Leko, who had White, outplayed the Dutchman in a Sveshnikov Sicilian.)

Morozevich 2 - 0 vs. Anand (This match drastically affected the final placings. In the blindfold game Anand unleashed a brilliant attack and was winning easily. He could have iced the game several times, but it seems to me that he finally lost control on move 31 with Rb1+ when 31.Qb1+ Ka7 32.Rc1 Qb4 33.Qc2 would have done the job. In the rapid game Anand got slightly the worst of the black side of a Rossolimo Sicilian, but should have held without too much trouble. Instead he began weakening his queenside pawns and things fell apart very quickly thereafter.)

 

Vallejo Pons - Kramnik [B80]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 b4 9.Nce2 e5 10.Nf5 g6 11.Nfg3 h6 12.Bg2 Be6 13.h3 h5 14.Qd2 Nbd7 15.0–0 d5 16.g5 h4 17.gxf6 d4 18.Bg5 hxg3 19.Nxg3 Nxf6 20.f4 d3 21.Qxd3 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Rd8 23.Bxf6 Rxd3 24.cxd3 Rxh3+ 25.Bxh3 Bxh3 26.fxe5 Qe3, 0–1.

 

Kramnik - Vallejo [B90]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.f3 0–0 10.0–0–0 Nbd7 11.g4 Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.g5 Nh5 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nb6 16.Rg1 Rac8 17.Na5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Qxa5 19.Rg4 Qc7 20.Bd3 Qc6 21.Qxc6 Rxc6 22.a4 bxa4 23.Rxa4 d5 24.Rxa6 Rc7 25.c3 g6 26.Ra5 Rb8 27.Rxd5 Rxc3 28.Rxe5 Ba3 29.Bd4 Rcb3 30.Rd2 Nf4 31.Bc4 R3b4 32.Rc2 Nd3 33.Ree2 Ra4 34.b3 Bf8 35.Re3 Nf4 36.Be5 Rba8 37.bxa4, 1–0.

 

Anand - Morozevich [C11]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.h4 b4 10.Ne2 Be7 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Ng3 h5 13.Be2 g6 14.0–0 Na4 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 Qa5 17.Rac1 Bd7 18.Rc2 Na7 19.Ng5 Nb5 20.f5 gxf5 21.Nxf7 d4 [21...Kxf7 22.Nxf5 Nbxc3 23.Nxe7+ Kxe7 24.Bg5+ Ke8 25.Qf4] 22.Nxf5 exf5 23.Nxh8 dxe3 24.Qd5 0–0–0 25.c4 Kb8 26.e6 [26.cxb5 Bxb5 27.Qe6] 26...Nac3 27.Rxc3 Bc8 28.Qxf5 Qxc3 29.cxb5 Rxh8 30.bxa6 Rf8 31.Rb1+ [31.Qb1+ Ka7 32.Rc1 Qb4 33.Qc2] 31...Ka7 32.Qe4 Qc7 33.Qd4+ Qc5 34.Qe4 Qc7 35.Qd4+ Bc5 36.Rc1 Rf5 37.Qc4 Re5 38.Qb3 Rxe6 39.a4 Re5 40.Qb5 Qb6 41.Rb1 Qxb5 42.axb5 Bg4 43.Kf1 Rf5+ 44.Bf3 Bxf3 45.gxf3 Rxf3+ 46.Ke2 Rf2+, 0–1.

 

Morozevich - Anand [B31]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 0–0 7.e5 Ne8 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.h3 Nc7 10.Be3 b6 11.Qd2 Ne6 12.Bh6 Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Ne4 c5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Rae1 a5 17.a4 Ra7 18.b3 f5 19.exf6+ exf6 20.Qf4 Rd7 21.Re2 Bb7 22.Rfe1 Bd5 23.h4 Qb8 24.Qxb8 Rxb8 25.Nd2 Kf7 26.Kf1 h5 27.f3 Rc7 28.Kf2 Rd7 29.Nc4 Kf8 [29...Bxc4 30.bxc4 Rbb7 31.Re6] 30.g4 Bf7 31.Kg3 b5 32.axb5 Rxb5 33.Ra1 Ra7 34.Nd6 Rb8 35.Ne4 f5 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.Nxc5 Kg7 38.Kf4 Rb5 39.Re5 Kh7 40.Nd7 Rbb7 41.Nc5 Rb5 42.Rxf5 Bg6 43.Rg5 Rb6 44.Ne4, 1–0.

 

Gelfand - Topalov [A40]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d5 e6 6.h3 Ne7 7.Nc3 h6 8.Bd3 g5 9.0–0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.h4 Bg4 12.Be2 Nd7 13.hxg5 Ng6 14.g3 Qe7 15.gxh6 0–0–0 16.Nh4 Bxe2 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Qxe2 g5 19.Qg4 Rdg8 20.Kg2 Rxh6 21.Be3 Kc7 22.Rh1 Rhg6 23.Rh2 Nb6 24.Rah1 Nxc4 25.Bc1 R6g7 26.Rh8 Qd7 27.Qxd7+ Kxd7 28.R1h7 Rxh7 29.Rxg8 g4 30.Rxg4 b5 31.Rg8 Kc7 32.g4 Rd7 33.g5 Rd8 34.Rg6 a5 35.Rf6 b4 36.cxb4 cxb4 37.g6 Rg8 38.Bh6 Nb6 39.g7 Nd7 40.Rf3 a4 41.Kf1 Kb6 42.Ke2 a3 43.Kd1 Kb5 44.Kc2 Rc8+ 45.Kb1 Ka4 46.Rf8, 1–0.

 

Ivanchuk - Bareev [C10]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qe2 Be7 12.dxc5 0–0 13.0–0 Bxc5 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Ne5 Be7 16.Bg3 Qb6 17.Nc4 Qa6 18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 b6 20.b3 Rad8 21.Qe5 Nd5 22.a4 Qc8 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.h3 Nb4 25.Ne3 Rd2 26.a5 Nc6 27.Qc3 Rd8 28.axb6 axb6 29.Ra4 Qd7 30.Ra1 Nd4 31.Kh1 Qc8 32.Qd3 Nf5 33.Nxf5 exf5 34.Qe2 Qc3 35.Rd1 Rc8 36.Rd2 f4 37.Qd1 Kh7 38.Qe2 Rc5 39.Kh2 Re5 40.Qd1 Rc5 41.f3 g6 42.Re2 Kg7 43.Qd6 Qf6 44.Qd2 b5 45.Re4 g5 46.c4 bxc4 47.bxc4 Rc6 48.Qb4 Rb6 49.Qd2 Rb1 50.Re1 Rxe1 51.Qxe1 Qd4 52.Qc1 Qc5 53.Qc2 Kf6 54.Qe4 Qf2 55.Qe8 Qc5 56.Qh8+ Kg6 57.Qc3 Kf5 58.Qd3+ Ke6 59.h4 Qf2 60.Qd5+ Kf6 61.Qd6+ Kg7 62.Qe5+ Kg6 63.hxg5 hxg5 64.c5 Qe3, 1–0.

 

Leko - Van Wely [B33]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.0–0 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 14.Qh5 e4 15.Be2 Bg7 16.c3 0–0 17.Nc2 Re8 18.Rad1 Ng6 19.f4 b4 20.Nxb4 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 a5 22.Nc2 Qxb2 23.Ne3 Qxc3 24.Nxf5 Qf6 25.Bb5 Rec8 26.Rde1 Rc2 27.a4 Qb2 28.g3 Qb4 29.Re2 Rac8 30.Bc6 Rxe2 31.Qxe2 Kf8 32.Qg4 h5 33.Qxh5 Qd2 34.Qd1 e3 35.Qxd2 exd2 36.Nxd6 Rb8 37.Rd1 Rb2 38.Nc4 Rc2 39.Nxd2 Ne7 40.Nb3 Nf5 41.d6 Rxc6 42.d7 Bf6 43.d8Q+ Bxd8 44.Rxd8+ Kg7 45.Nxa5 Rc3 46.Kg1 Ra3 47.Rd5 Ne3 48.Rg5+ Kh6 49.Nc6 Rxa4 50.Ne5 f5 51.Kf2 Ra3 52.Rg6+ Kh7 53.Rc6 Nd1+ 54.Ke2 Nc3+ 55.Kd3 Ne4+ 56.Kd4 Ra4+ 57.Rc4 Ra2 58.Nf3 Rf2 59.Rc7+ Kh6 60.Nh4 Kh5 61.Nxf5 Nf6 62.Rg7, 1–0.

 

ROUND EIGHT:

Leko 1 - 1 vs. Anand (Two draws. The blindfold game was interesting theoretically but the second was quick and forgettable.)

Morozevich 2 - 0 vs. Vallejo (There were lots of crazy ups and downs in both games, but it seems Morozevich lives for this kind of thing while his opponents often wilt in the face of “Moro-madness”.)

Kramnik 2 - 0 vs. Van Wely (After losing the blindfold game, Van Wely had real chances in the rapid to avenge himself. Sadly, disaster struck: he obtained a clear advantage in the opening, frittered it away to a drawn position, and then continued trying to win and managed to lose.)

Svidler 1 - 1 vs. Ivanchuk (After blundering the blindfold game away, Svidler managed to gain revenge in the rapid when Ivanchuk tossed away a drawn Rook endgame.)

Topalov 1.5 - .5 vs. Shirov (In the blindfold game things were anything but exciting. However, Topalov tried a bit too hard to get something going and, when the players finally agreed to peace, White had real chances and should have played on. Shirov blundered and lost the rapid game after achieving an equal position from the opening.)

Gelfand 1 - 1 vs. Bareev (Two draws.)

 

Morozevich - Vallejo Pons [B12]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bf4 Ne7 6.Qd3 b6 7.Nge2 a5 8.0–0–0 Ba6 9.Qe3 Nd7 10.h4 0–0 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 c5 13.Bd6 Rc8 14.Kb1 Re8 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.exd5 exd5 17.Nf4 c4 18.g3 Nf6 19.Bh3 Ra8 20.Rhe1 Qd6 21.Re5 Bc8 22.Bxc8 Rexc8 23.g4 b5 24.Qe3 b4 25.g5 Nd7 26.Rxd5 Qc6 27.Qe7 Nb6 28.Rf5 Rc7 29.d5 Qb7 30.Qe5 Nd7 31.Qd4 bxa3 32.d6 Rc5 33.Nh5 f6 34.Rxc5 Nxc5 35.gxf6 Rb8 36.Qxc4+ Qf7 37.Qxc5 Rxb2+ 38.Kc1 Qa2 39.Qc8+ Kf7 40.Qd7+ Kg6 41.Qxg7+, 1–0.

 

Vallejo Pons - Morozevich [C03]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 h6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.c3 c5 7.a3 Be7 8.Bd3 a5 9.b3 b6 10.Bb5 Na6 11.0–0 Nc7 12.Be2 a4 13.b4 Ba6 14.Bb2 0–0 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Qe2 cxb4 17.cxb4 b5 18.Ne1 Nb6 19.Nd3 Nc4 20.Nf3 f5 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Rad1 Rc6 23.Bc1 Qe8 24.Rfe1 Qh5 25.Nc5 Qf5 26.h3 Rf7 27.Rd3 Na6 28.Nh2 Nxc5 29.dxc5 Qe5 30.Qf1 Qh5 31.Ng4 Bh4 32.Qe2 Qg6 33.Rf3 e5 34.g3 Bf6 35.Ne3 Qe4 36.Qd1 Rd7 37.Nf5 Qb1 38.Rd3 d4 39.Qe2 Rc8 40.Bxh6 Qb2 41.Qg4 Rcc7 42.Bg5 Qc2 43.Red1 e4 44.Qxe4 Bxg5 45.Qe6+ Kh7 46.Nxd4 Rxd4 47.Rxd4 Re7 48.Qg4 Ne5 49.Qh5+ Bh6 50.Kg2 g6 51.Qh4 Rf7 52.R1d2 Qb3 53.Rf4 Nf3 54.Rxf7+ Qxf7 55.Qd8 Nxd2 56.c6 Ne4 57.f4 Bxf4 58.gxf4 Qxf4 59.Qd4 Qg3+ 60.Kf1 Qxh3+ 61.Ke2 Qh2+ 62.Kd3 Nd6 63.c7 Qg3+ 64.Ke2 Qg2+ 65.Ke1 Qg3+ 66.Ke2 Qh2+ 67.Kd3 Qh3+ 68.Ke2 Qe6+ 69.Kf2 Qf7+, 0–1.

 

Kramnik - Van Wely [B30]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.0–0 Nf6 7.a3 0–0 8.h3 a6 9.Ba2 Be6 10.Nd5 Nd4 11.Ne3 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxe5 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qd5 16.Nc4 b5 17.b3 bxc4 18.dxc4 Qd7 19.exd4 cxd4 20.c3 Bc5 21.b4 Ba7 22.c5 d3 23.Rd2 Rad8 24.Rf3, 1–0.

 

Van Wely - Kramnik [A17]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6 7.b4 a5 8.Bb2 axb4 9.axb4 Rxa1+ 10.Bxa1 c5 11.g3 cxb4 12.Qxb4 Nc6 13.Qc3 Ba6 14.Bg2 b5 15.cxb5 Bxb5 16.d3 Qa5 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nd4 Ba4 20.Kd2 Rc8 21.Ra1 Nb3+ 22.Nxb3 Bxb3 23.Ra3 Rc2+ 24.Ke3 Ba2 25.f4 e5 26.f5 d5 27.Bf3 Rb2 28.h4 h6 29.Ra7 Kg7 30.Ra5 d4+ 31.Kf2 Bb1 32.Be4 Bc2 33.Ra7 Bd1 34.Bf3 e4 35.Bxe4 Bxe2 36.Ke1 Bg4 37.Ra4 Rb1+ 38.Kd2 Rd1+ 39.Kc2 Rg1 40.Rxd4 Rxg3 41.Rd8 Rh3 42.Kd2 Rxh4 43.Ke3 Rh2 44.d4 h5 45.d5 Re2+ 46.Kf4 Rf2+ 47.Kg3 Rf1 48.d6 Bxf5 49.d7 Bxe4 50.Re8 Rf3+ 51.Kh2 Rf2+ 52.Kg3 Rf3+ 53.Kh2 Rd3 54.d8Q Rxd8 55.Rxd8 Kh6 56.Rg8 Bg6 57.Kg3 Kg5 58.Kf3 h4 59.Rb8 f5 60.Rb4 Bh5+ 61.Kg2 f4 62.Rb8 Kg4 63.Rg8+ Bg6 64.Rh8 Be4+ 65.Kf2 h3 66.Rg8+ Bg6 67.Rh8 Bh5 68.Rg8+ Kh4 69.Rb8 f3 70.Rb4+ Bg4 71.Kg1 Kg3 72.Rb2 Bf5 73.Rg2+ Kf4 74.Rb2 Ke3 75.Kf1 Bd3+ 76.Ke1 Kf4 77.Rd2 Kg3, 0–1.

 

Ivanchuk - Svidler [E81]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0–0 6.Bg5 a6 7.Rc1 Nbd7 8.b3 c6 9.Bd3 b5 10.Nge2 bxc4 11.Bxc4 d5 12.exd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 e5 14.0–0 Bb7 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Bb1 Re8 17.Qd2 Rc8 18.Rfd1 Qb6+ 19.Qd4 Qxd4+ 20.Nxd4 Nc6 21.Nce2 h6 22.Bh4 Ng4 23.Rxc6 Bxc6 24.fxg4 Bb5 25.Kf2 Bd7 26.h3 a5 27.Bd3 a4 28.b4 a3 29.b5 Bf8 30.Kf3 Bc5 31.Bf2 Rb8 32.Rc1 Rec8 33.Nc6 Bxc6 34.Rxc5 Bxb5 35.Rxc8+ Rxc8 36.Bxb5 Rc2 37.Ba4 Rxa2 38.Bd4, 1–0.

 

Svidler - Ivanchuk [B31]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Qe2 0–0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.dxc5 Qb8 12.Re1 Re8 13.Bd4 Bg4 14.Nbd2 Qxb2 15.Nxe4 Qxe2 16.Rxe2 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Be6 18.Ree1 Reb8 19.a4 Rb2 20.Be3 Bd5 21.Nd4 Rc8 22.Bc1 Rb7 23.Bf4 e6 24.Rac1 Bf8 25.Be3 Bxc5 26.c4 Be4 27.Nxe6 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 fxe6 29.Rxe4 Rb4 30.g3 Rxa4 31.Rd1 Rf8 32.Rd6 Ra2 33.Rf4 Rxf4 34.gxf4 Kf7 35.Rxc6 h6 36.Rc7+ Kf8 37.Kg2 a5 38.c5 Rc2 39.c6 a4 40.Ra7 Rxc6 41.Rxa4 Rc3 42.Ra6 Kf7 43.Ra7+ Kf8 44.Rh7 h5 45.f3 Rc1 46.Ra7 Rb1 47.Rh7 Ra1 48.f5 exf5 49.Kg3 Ra4 50.f4 g5 51.fxg5 Rg4+ 52.Kf3 Rxg5 53.Kf4 Rg2 54.h3 Rf2+ 55.Kg5 f4 56.Kf6 Kg8 57.Rg7+ Kh8 58.Rg5 f3 59.Kf7, 1–0.

 

Topalov - Shirov [C88]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Nb8 11.Nbd2 Nbd7 12.Nf1 Re8 13.Ng3 c6 14.Nf5 Bf8 15.Nh2 d5 16.Qf3 dxe4 17.dxe4 c5 18.c4 Qb6 19.Ng4 Nxg4 20.hxg4 b4 21.Ba4 Red8 22.Bg5 f6 23.Be3 Qe6 24.g5 Nb6 25.Bb3 a5 26.axb4 axb4 27.Qg4 fxg5 28.Bxg5 Qg6 29.Nh4 Qf7 30.Bxd8 Rxd8 31.Nf5 g6 32.Rad1 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 Qf6 34.Ne3 h5 35.Qf3 Qxf3 36.gxf3 Kf7 37.Ra1 Nc8 38.Ba4 Nd6 39.Bd7 Ke7 40.Bh3 Kd8 41.Be6 Kc7 42.Bd5 Bh6 43.Bxb7 Bxe3 44.fxe3 Kxb7 45.b3 g5 46.Kg2 g4 47.Rh1, 1–0.

 

 

ROUND NINE:

Kramnik 1 - 1 vs. Bareev (Kramnik calmly reeled in the point in the blindfold game. Perhaps feeling unbeatable, Kramnik pushed too hard in the rapid, ended up in trouble, and watched as Bareev masterfully ground him down.)

Morozovich 2 - 0 vs. Topalov (In the blindfold win Moro used a line of the Slav that had brought him a draw against Kasparov and a win over Kramnik. Once again, he did well in the opening and steadily outplayed the world’s fifth ranked player. In the rapid he treated to crowds to more “Moro-madness” by introducing unfathomable complications that eventually drowned his opponent.)

Svidler 1 - 1 vs. Leko (Two draws.)

Anand 1 - 1 vs. Shirov (Two draws. Anands chances to win this event are dwindling. Will he make a final run in the last two rounds?)

Gelfand 1.5 - .5 vs. Vallejo (In the blindfold game Gelfand managed to draw a lost position. In the rapid he sacrificed a pawn for pressure and had full compensation, thought I don’t know if he really had more than that. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he caved in and Gelfand rolled over him.)

Ivanchuk 1.5 - .5 vs. Van Wely (After a draw in the blindfold, Chucky showed his strength with a convincing win in the rapid.)

 

With two rounds to go, Kramink and Morozevich are tied for first, while one point behind are Ivanchuk and Leko. That event is still up for grabs!

 

Topalov - Morozevich [D17]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nd5 8.g3 e5 9.Bg2 exd4 10.Qxd4 Qf6 11.Qxf6 N7xf6 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Ne3 Bb4+ 14.Bd2 Bxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Be4 16.Bf3 0–0–0 17.Rhd1 d4 18.Ng4 Bxf3 19.exf3 Nd7 20.f4 f6 21.f3 Kb8 22.Nf2 Rhe8 23.Re1 Nc5 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Ra3 Re3 26.Nd3 Na6 27.a5 Kc7 28.Ra1 Kd6 29.Rc1 Rxf3 30.Rc8 Kd5 31.b4 b6 32.Ra8 Kc4 33.Ne1 Rf2+ 34.Kd1 Nxb4 35.Rxa7 bxa5 36.Rxa5 d3 37.Ra7 Nd5 38.Ra4+ Kb3 39.Rd4 Nc3+, 0–1.

 

Morozevich - Topalov [B90]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 b5 9.0–0–0 Nbd7 10.f4 Be7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.f5 Bc4 13.g4 Nxg4 14.Rg1 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 g6 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Nd2 Nf6 18.Qh3 Qd7 19.Nf1 gxf5 20.Ne3 Nxe4 21.Ncd5 Nf2 22.Qh5 Nxd1 23.Rxd1 Rc5 24.Nxe7 Qxe7 25.Nxf5 e4 26.Ng7+ Kf8 27.Qh6 Qe5 28.Nf5+ Ke8 29.Nxd6+ Ke7 30.Nf5+ Ke8 31.Qg5 Qc7 32.Ng7+, 1–0.

 

Kramnik - Bareev [C10]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nf6 9.Bc2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Bc5 11.Ba4+ Bd7 12.Bg5 Bxa4 13.Qxa4+ Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.0–0–0 h6 16.Bh4 Be7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Rhe1 Rhd8 19.Nf5+ Kf8 20.Nd6 Rab8 21.Re4 Nf6 22.Red4 Ne8 23.Nc4 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Rc8 25.Ne5 f6 26.Nd3 Ke7 27.Ra4 a6 28.Rb4 Nd6 29.a4 Rc7 30.Kc2 e5 31.a5 g5 32.b3 e4 33.Nb2 Rc5 34.Rd4 Rf5 35.Rd2 e3 36.fxe3 Ne4 37.Re2 Rxa5 38.g4 Ra1 39.Kd3 Nc5+ 40.Kc4 Nd7 41.Nd3 Rd1 42.Nc5 Nb6+ 43.Kb4 Nd5+ 44.Ka3 Nxc3 45.Rc2 Nb5+ 46.Kb4 Nd6 47.Ka5 Rg1 48.e4 Rxg4 49.Re2 Nb5 50.Rd2 Nc3 51.Rd7+ Ke8 52.Rxb7 Nxe4 53.Nxa6 Rg2 54.b4 Rxh2 55.b5 g4 56.Rg7 Ra2+ 57.Kb6 Ng5 58.Nb4 Rd2 59.Kc6 Kf8 60.Ra7 g3 61.b6 Rb2 62.Kb5 Ne4 63.Rd7 Nc3+ 64.Kc4 Na2 65.Nxa2 g2 66.Rd1 Rxa2 67.Rb1 Rc2+ 68.Kd3 Rb2 69.Rxb2 g1Q 70.b7 Qg3+ 71.Kc4 Qb8 72.Rb3 Ke7 73.Kd5 Kd7 74.Ke4 Qe5+ 75.Kd3 Qd5+ 76.Kc2 Qxb3+ 77.Kxb3 Kc7, 0–1.

 

Gelfand - Vallejo Pons [D47]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 bxa3 12.0–0 Be7 13.b3 Nf6 14.Bd3 Qa5 15.b4 Bxb4 16.Bxa3 Bxa3 17.Qb3 0–0 18.Rxa3 Qc7 19.Qc2 Rfc8 20.Rfa1 a5 21.Rc3 g6 22.Ne5 Nd7 23.Nxd7 Qxd7 24.Rc5 Ba6 25.Bxa6 Rxa6 26.Raxa5 Rb6 27.g3 Rcb8 28.Ra1 Rb2 29.Qe4 R8b5 30.Rxc6 Rf5 31.Rc2 Rxc2 32.Qxc2 h5 33.Ra8+ Kg7 34.e4 Rb5 35.Qc3 Rb1+ 36.Kg2 e5 37.dxe5 Qe6 38.Qc5 Kh7 39.Qf8 Qxe5 40.Qxf7+ Kh6 41.Qf8+, 1–0.

 

 

ROUND TEN:

Morozevich 1 - 1 vs. Bareev (As in the previous round, Bareev bent [lost] in the blindfold but refused to break in the rapid, again coming back to even the score. A smooth win for Morozevich was followed by even more insanity than usual: the tournament leader hung material on the eighth move, sacrificed more, and somehow created his favorite brand of complications [better or worse, he often turns out to be the victor]. However, on this occasion science overwhelmed superstition and Bareev got through the minefield with his head intact and finally reeled in the fully point.)

Kramnik 1 - 1 vs. Svidler (Kramnik followed Bareev in reliving the previous round: He won nicely in game one, but lost nicely in the second.)

Gelfand 2 - 0 vs. Van Wely (Having gained his footing after his horrendous start, Gelfand played hard [and well!] in both games in an effort to end the event with a respectable score.)

Shirov 2 - 0 vs. Vallejo (The young Spaniard’s pain continued as he fell in both games to Shirov. It was reported that Vallejo was very depressed by this point. Long ago, when I was suffering through a similar debacle, the late Mednis told me, “The only cure for a tournament like this is the next tournament!”)

Topalov 1.5 - .5 vs. Leko (A correct draw in the blindfold was followed by a horrible time pressure blunder by Leko, which ended his first place aspirations.)

Anand 2 - 0 vs. Ivanchuk (In the blindfold game, Anand was losing until Ivanchuk simply hung a Rook. In the rapid game Anand offered a draw on the 17^th move but Ivanchuk, still far from happy about the gift in the first game, refused. He pushed and pushed and…blundered again! Who says there isn’t luck in chess!?)

 

Gelfand - Van Wely [B33]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Nb3 Bb4 7.Bc4 0–0 8.0–0 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Nxe4 10.Ba3 d6 11.Qe1 Nc5 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.f4 Be6 14.Bb5 exf4 15.Rxf4 Rad8 16.Qf2 Ne5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Re1 Ng6 19.Bxc5 Qg5 20.Rfe4 Rd2 21.Be2 Rfd8 22.Be3 Qf5 23.Qxf5 Bxf5 24.Rb4 Rxc2 25.Rxb7 Be6 26.Rxa7 Rxa2 27.Rxa2 Bxa2 28.c4 Ne5 29.Rc1 Bb3 30.c5 Ba4 31.Ra1 Bc6 32.Bf4 Re8 33.Ra6 h6 34.Bf1 Be4 35.Bb5 Re7 36.c6 Bd3 37.c7 Rxc7 38.Bxd3, 1–0.

 

Van Wely - Gelfand [E34]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qxf5 exf5 8.a3 Be7 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 Nb6 11.Bd2 h6 12.Ke2 Be6 13.Rhc1 c6 14.b4 0–0 15.Rab1 Nc4 16.a4 Na3 17.Ra1 Nc4 18.Rcb1 Rad8 19.Be1 Rfe8 20.g3 g6 21.Nd2 Nxd2 22.Bxd2 Bd6 23.f3 Kg7 24.Kf2 Bb8 25.Rc1 g5 26.f4 Ng4+ 27.Ke2 Nxh2 28.Rh1 Ng4 29.Raf1 gxf4 30.gxf4 Rxd4 31.exd4 Bc4+ 32.Kf3 Bxd3 33.Re1 Rd8 34.Be3 Bd6 35.Rd1 Bc4 36.d5 Bxb4 37.dxc6 Rxd1 38.Rxd1 bxc6 39.Rc1 a5 40.Bb6 Kg6 41.Ne2 Bd5+ 42.Kg3 Nf6 43.Nd4 c5 44.Nf3 Nh5+ 45.Kf2 Nxf4 46.Ke3 Ne6 47.Ne5+ Kg7 48.Nd3 f4+ 49.Ke2 c4 50.Nxb4 axb4 51.a5 f3+ 52.Ke3 b3 53.Bd4+ Nxd4 54.Kxd4 b2 55.Rg1+ Kf6 56.Kc3 Bb7 57.Kxb2 Ke5 58.Kc3 Kf4 59.Rb1 Be4 60.Ra1 f2 61.a6 Ke3 62.a7 Ba8 63.Kxc4 Ke2 64.Ra2+ Kf3, 0–1.

 

Ivanchuk - Anand [C88]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nbd2 Bc8 13.Nf1 Be6 14.Bg5 Nd7 15.Bd2 Nc6 16.Ne3 Nb6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd4 19.Nh2 a5 20.Ng4 Nf5 21.Qf3 Bg5 22.Bxg5 Qxg5 23.c3 Nh4 24.Qg3 h6 25.Ne3 f5 26.Qxg5 hxg5 27.Kf1 f4 28.Ng4 Rac8 29.Rad1 Rfe8 30.g3 Nf5 31.Kg2 Kf7 32.Nh2 c4 33.Nf3 Kf6 34.Nd2 cxd3 35.Ne4+ Kg6 36.Rxd3 Red8 37.Re2 Ne7 38.Kf3 Ng8 39.h4 fxg3 40.hxg5 gxf2 41.Rxf2 Ne7 42.Kg4 Rc7 43.Rdf3 Nbxd5 44.Bb1 Nf5 45.Nd2 Rf8 46.Rd3 e4 47.Rxd5 Ne3+ 48.Kh4 Rxf2 49.Rxd6+ Kf7 50.Bxe4 Ke7 51.Rd4 Rd7 52.Rxd7+ Kxd7 53.Nb3 a4 54.Nc5+ Kd6 55.Nd3 Rd2 56.Ne5 Kxe5 57.Bc6 Rxb2 58.Kh5 Rb3 59.Kg6 Rxc3 60.Bxb5 Rxa3 61.Kxg7 Nf5+, 0–1.

 

Anand - Ivanchuk [C10]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Bb5+ c6 10.Bd3 Bd7 11.c3 Bd6 12.Qe2 c5 13.0–0 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qe7 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Bc6 17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 0–0 19.Rad1 Rfd8 20.g3 Rac8 21.Rd6 Rxd6 22.exd6 Qxd6 23.Qxb7 Rb8 24.Qxa7 Rxb2 25.a4 Qd5 26.Ra1 Rb7 27.Qe3 Qa5 28.Qd3 Rb8 29.Qd7 Ra8 30.h4 h5 31.Qc6 Ra7 32.Qe4 g6 33.Kg2 Kh7 34.Ra3 Ra8 35.Qf4 Ra7 36.Qf6 Qd5+ 37.Kh2 Rc7 38.a5 e5 39.a6 Rc1 40.Qf3 e4 41.Qe3 Rc8 42.a7 Ra8 43.Qb6 Qd2 44.Qc5 Qd7 45.Ra5 Qb7 46.Qd4 Qc7 47.Rxh5+, 1–0.

 

Morozevich - Bareev [B12]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Be6 6.c3 Nf6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Bd6 9.Kh1 0–0 10.Bg5 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Rae8 12.Qe1 h6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bg1 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Rxf5 17.Qe2 Ngf6 18.Rae1 exd4 19.Qc4+ Rd5 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.Nxd4 Ndf6 22.Nf5 b5 23.Qe2 Qd7 24.Nxd6 Nxd6 25.Nf3 Nde4 26.Bd4 a6 27.Kg1 c5 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.Re1 Rd6 30.b3 Qf5 31.c4 Qd3 32.Qf2 bxc4 33.Ne5 Qd2 34.Nxc4 Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 Rd4 36.Re6 Ne4+ 37.Ke3 Nc3 38.Rxa6 Rd1 39.Ra5 Ra1 40.a4 Ra2 41.Rxc5 Rxg2 42.a5 Rxh2 43.a6 Rh3+ 44.Kd4 Ne2+ 45.Ke5, 1–0.

 

Bareev - Morozevich [D11]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 e6 5.Bg5 Qa5+ 6.Bd2 Qb6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 Ne4 9.c5 Ndxc5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.e3 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 Be7 13.e4 0–0 14.a3 Rd8 15.Bd3 dxe4 16.Nxe4 f5 17.Nc3 Bf6 18.0–0–0 Qc7 19.Qe3 b5 20.Bc2 Re8 21.Bxf5 b4 22.axb4 Rb8 23.Bb1 Rxb4 24.Rd2 Qa5 25.Re1 Qh5 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Nd6 Bxd6 28.Rxd6 Qa5 29.Qc3 Qa4 30.Rd4 c5 31.Qxc5 Rxd4 32.Qxd4 Qc6+ 33.Qc3 Qb6 34.Qd4 Qc7+ 35.Bc2 Bb7 36.Re3 Bd5 37.Rc3 Qb7 38.Qe5 Re7 39.Bxh7+ Kxh7 40.Qh5+ Kg8 41.Ng5 g6 42.Qxg6+ Kf8 43.Qh5 Kg8 44.Qg6+ Kf8 45.Qh5 Kg8 46.Nh3 Rf7 47.Qg5+ Rg7 48.Qd8+ Kh7 49.Nf4 Bxg2 50.Nxe6 Qe7 51.Qd3+ Kg8 52.Rc8+ Kf7 53.Qf5+, 1–0.

 

Kramnik - Svidler [B41]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nde2 0–0 9.0–0 Ne5 10.Bf4 d6 11.h3 Bd7 12.a3 Bc5 13.b4 Ba7 14.c5 Bb8 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nc1 b6 17.Nb3 Ba7 18.Bxa6 bxc5 19.bxc5 Qe7 20.Rc1 Bc6 21.Qe2 Rab8 22.Bb5 Bxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Na5 Bxc5 25.Nc6 Qg5 26.Qxe4 Rxb5 27.h4 Qd2 28.Qc4 Bxa3 29.Qxb5 Bxc1 30.Qc5 Bb2 31.Ne7+ Kh8 32.Ng6+ hxg6 33.Qxf8+ Kh7 34.Qxf7 Bd4 35.Qxe6 Qf4 36.Qh3 e4 37.g4 Bc5 38.h5 g5 39.Qg2 Bd4 40.Re1 e3 41.fxe3 Bxe3+ 42.Kh1 Qc4 43.Rxe3, 1–0.

 

Svidler - Kramnik [C65]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0–0 d6 6.Nc3 0–0 7.Na4 Nd4 8.Nxc5 Nxb5 9.a4 Nd4 10.Nxd4 dxc5 11.Nb5 Ne8 12.f4 c6 13.Nc3 exf4 14.Bxf4 Nc7 15.Be3 Ne6 16.Ne2 Nd4 17.Bxd4 cxd4 18.Qe1 Qd6 19.Qh4 Qe5 20.Rf3 Bd7 21.Raf1 c5 22.b3 Rae8 23.Nf4 f6 24.Nh5 Rf7 25.Ng3 Qd6 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.Rxf5 Rfe7 28.Rh5 h6 29.Qg4 Kh8 30.Qg6 b6 31.Rxf6 Qxf6 32.Rxh6+ gxh6 33.Qxf6+ Kh7 34.a5 Rb7 35.axb6 axb6 36.h3 Ree7 37.e5 Rf7 38.Qd6 Rfd7 39.Qc6 Re7 40.Qe4+ Kg7 41.Qg4+ Kf7 42.Qf5+ Kg7 43.Kh2 Rf7 44.Qg4+ Kh7 45.e6 Rg7 46.Qf5+ Kg8 47.g4 Rbe7 48.Qf6 Kh7 49.Kg3 Re8 50.Kf4 Reg8 51.Ke5 Rg5+ 52.Kd6 R5g6 53.Qf5 R8g7 54.Kd5 Re7 55.h4 Kg7 56.Kd6 Ra7 57.g5 h5 58.Qf3 b5 59.Qc6 c4 60.Qb6 Rf7 61.Qxd4+ Kh7, 1–0.

 

Vallejo - Shirov [D35]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bf5 8.Qb3 g5 9.Bg3 Qb6 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.e3 Qxb3 12.Nxb3 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Nd2 Bg6 15.h4 Rg8 16.Be2 Be7 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Nf3 f6 19.Nd2 Kf7 20.Bh5 a5 21.a4 Bxh5 22.Rxh5 Kg6 23.Rh2 c5 24.Ke2 cxd4 25.exd4 Rac8 26.Kd3 Nb6 27.f4 Bb4 28.Nf3 Nc4 29.b3 Nb2+ 30.Ke2 Rc2+ 31.Kf1 gxf4 32.Bxf4 Nd3 33.Be3 Re8 34.Nh4+ Kf7 35.Nf5 Rb2 36.Rd1 Rxb3 37.g4 Re4 38.Rh7+ Ke6 39.Rxb7 Ra3 40.Rb1 Rxg4 41.Ng7+ Kd6 42.Rf7 Ne1 43.Rxf6+ Ke7 44.Re6+ Kf7 45.Bh6, 0–1.

 

Topalov - Leko [B33]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.c3 Bg7 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Nc2 0–0 14.Nce3 Be6 15.Bd3 f5 16.0–0 Ra7 17.a4 Ne7 18.axb5 Nxd5 19.Bc4 Nf4 20.Bxe6+ Nxe6 21.Qd5 Qe8 22.Rxa6 Raf7 23.Qc4 f4 24.Nd5 e4 25.Rxd6 Ng5 26.h4 Qe5 27.Rc6 Ne6 28.b6 Kh8 29.Rc8 Rxc8 30.Qxc8+ Rf8 31.b7 Qxd5 32.b8Q Rxc8 33.Qxc8+ Bf8 34.Re1 Kg8 35.c4 Qe5 36.Qa8 e3 37.fxe3 fxe3 38.Qf3 Bc5 39.Kh1 Qxb2 40.Rf1 Qg7 41.Qa8+ Bf8 42.Qe4 Qh6 43.g3 Bc5 44.Qa8+ Bf8 45.Qf3 Kh8 46.Qe4 Bd6 47.Rf3 Bc5 48.Qe5+ Qg7 49.Qxe6 Qb7 50.Kg2, 1–0.

 

ROUND ELEVEN:

Morozevich 1.5 - .5 vs. Svidler (In the blindfold game a draw was agreed in time pressure with neither player knowing what was going on. In the rapid Moro turned yet another dubious position into a shootout and ultimate victory.)

Kramnik 1.5 - .5 vs. Topalov (Topalov came close to winning the blindfold game, but Kramnik hung tough and earned his half point. In the rapid, Topalov walked right into some vicious Kramnik preparation. The World Champion had everything worked out to move 26 when he had a clear advantage. Topalov blundered at that point, but it was clearly not his day.)

Anand 1.5 - .5 vs. Gelfand (I’m sure everyone who played Gelfand in the second half of the tournament cursed their luck that they didn’t get him in the first! To his credit, Anand won the blindfold game nicely. However, he never had any chances in the rapid and had to accept a draw.)

Bareev 1 - 1 vs. Leko (Two draws.)

Van Wely 1 - 1 vs. Shirov (Van Wely played a TN in the Botvinnik Slav and was winning but, after allowing his advantage to melt away into a drawn position, he overlooked a mate in two. Some stories, though, have a happy ending. In the rapid, the Dutchman played another new opening idea and again got a big advantage. This time is wasn’t so “kind” and he managed to effectively win his final game of this event.)

Ivanchuk 2 - 0 vs. Vallejo (Poor Vallejo’s torture reached new heights…err…lows. Ivanchuk, forgetting that the round started an hour early, showed up late for the days first game. When he was finally rousted from his room, he rushed to the board [clock ticking], bashed out his moves, and blew Vallejo away. In the second game a drawn position appeared but Ivanchuk, seeing his opponent’s destroyed state of mind, kept playing and playing…move after agonizing move passed by and finally, on the 96^th turn, Vallejo lost on time.)

 

Van Wely - Shirov [D44]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.exf6 Bb7 12.g3 c5 13.d5 Qb6 14.Bg2 0–0–0 15.0–0 b4 16.Na4 Qb5 17.a3 exd5 18.axb4 cxb4 19.Be3 Nc5 20.Qg4+ Rd7 21.Nxc5 Bxc5 22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.Rfe1 Kc7 24.h4 Rhd8 25.Re5 a5 26.h5 Bc6 27.h6 a4 28.Qf4 Qd6 29.Bh3 a3 30.bxa3 b3 31.Bxd7 Bxd7 32.Rd1 Be6 33.h7 Rh8 34.Qg5 Rxh7 35.Rexd5 Bxd5 36.Rxd5 b2 37.Rc5+ Kb6 38.Rb5+ Kc6 39.Rxb2 Qd1+, 0–1.

 

Shirov - Van Wely [B33]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.0–0 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 14.Qh5 e4 15.Be2 Bg7 16.c3 0–0 17.Nc2 Re8 18.Rad1 Ng6 19.f4 exf3 20.Qxf3 f4 21.Bd3 Qg5 22.Bxg6 Qxg6 23.Ne1 Re4 24.Qd3 Rae8 25.Nf3 Re3 26.Qxg6 hxg6 27.Rf2 a5 28.Kf1 b4 29.cxb4 axb4 30.b3 Bc3 31.Rc2 R8e4 32.Rdc1 Kg7 33.a4 Rd3 34.a5 Rxd5 35.Ra2 Re7 36.a6 Ra7 37.Ra4 g5 38.h3 Kg6 39.Rc2 f5 40.Re2 g4 41.Re6+ Kh5 42.hxg4+ fxg4 43.Ke2 gxf3+ 44.Kxf3 Kg5 45.Re8 Rd3+ 46.Ke2 Rg3 47.Rg8+ Kf5 48.Rxg3 fxg3 49.Kd3 d5, 0–1.

 

Anand - Gelfand [C42]

13^th Amber Blindfold, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Nbd2 Nxd2 9.Bxd2 Bg4 10.c3 0–0 11.Bf4 h6 12.Bb1 Bh5 13.Qd3 Bg6 14.Qb5 Rb8 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Bg3 Qd7 17.Rae1 a6 18.Qb3 Rf5 19.Re2 g5 20.h3 b5 21.Rfe1 Rbf8 22.a4 b4 23.Qc2 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bd6 25.Bxd6 cxd6 26.Nh2 R5f7 27.Qd3 Ne7 28.Qxa6 Ng6 29.g3 Qxh3 30.Qxd6 Qf5 31.Qe6 Qxe6 32.Rxe6 Kh7 33.Ng4 Ra7 34.Ra1 Rc8 35.Ra3 Rac7 36.a5 Rxc3 37.Rxc3 Rxc3 38.a6 Ra3 39.Ne3 Ra5 40.Kg2 h5 41.Rb6 Ne7 42.Rd6 g4 43.Rd7 Nc6 44.Rxd5 Rxa6 45.Rxh5+ Kg8 46.d5 Nb4 47.Nxg4 Ra2 48.d6 Rd2 49.Rb5 Nc2 50.Rb8+ Kh7 51.Rd8 Ne1+ 52.Kf1 Nd3 53.d7 Nc5 54.Ne5 Rd5 55.f4, 1–0.

 

Ivanchuk - Vallejo Pons [C11]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Qb6 8.Na4 Qa5+ 9.c3 c4 10.b4 Qc7 11.a3 Be7 12.Be2 f5 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.0–0 0–0 15.Qc2 b6 16.Nb2 Bd7 17.Ng5 h6 18.Nh3 Bd6 19.Rae1 Ne7 20.Nd1 Be8 21.Ndf2 Bg6 22.Qc1 a5 23.Bd1 axb4 24.axb4 Ra2 25.Re2 Rfa8 26.Rxa2 Rxa2 27.Ng4 Ne4 28.Ne5 Bf5 29.g4 Bh7 30.Bc2 Qa7 31.Bb1 Ra1 32.Qb2 Qa3 33.Bc1 Qxb2 34.Bxb2 Ra7 35.Bxe4 Bxe4 36.Ra1 Rxa1+ 37.Bxa1 Bxe5 38.fxe5 Bf3 39.g5 Bg4 40.Nf2 Bf5 41.gxh6 gxh6 42.Bb2 Kg7 43.Bc1 b5 44.Kg2 Ng6 45.Kg3 h5 46.Bg5 Kh7 47.Nd1 Kg7 48.Ne3 Be4 49.Kf2 Kf7 50.Nf1 Bf5 51.Ng3 Bg4 52.Kg2 Bd1 53.h3 Kg7 54.Kf2 Kf7 55.Ke3 Kg7 56.Bd8 Kf7 57.Bf6 Ke8 58.Nf1 Bc2 59.Kf3 Be4+ 60.Kg3 Bc2 61.Nd2 Bd1 62.Kf2 Nf4 63.Ke3 Ng6 64.Bg5 Kf7 65.Kf2 Ke8 66.Nf1 Bc2 67.Ng3 Bd1 68.Ke3 Kf7 69.Nh1 Bc2 70.Nf2 Bf5 71.Kf3 Ke8 72.Kg3 Bc2 73.Kh2 Kf7 74.Nh1 Bd1 75.Ng3 Ke8 76.Kg1 Kf8 77.Kf2 Kf7 78.Nf1 Bc2 79.Nd2 Bd1 80.Bh6 Ke7 81.Ke1 Bc2 82.Nf3 Bf5 83.Ng1 Be4 84.Ne2 Bf3 85.Ng3 Kf7 86.Kf2 Bd1 87.Nf1 Bc2 88.Ke1 Be4 89.Nd2 Bc2 90.Nf3 Bf5 91.Kf2 Ke8 92.Kg3 Be4 93.Ng5 Bf5 94.Nh7 Kf7 95.Nf6 h4+ 96.Kh2 Bc2, 1–0.

 

Kramnik - Topalov [C78]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 10.axb5 axb5 11.Na3 0–0 12.Nxb5 exd4 13.cxd4 Bg4 14.Ba4 d5 15.e5 Ne4 16.Be3 f6 17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Qb3 Ba5 19.Nd2 c6 20.Na7 Bf5 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.f3 Bg6 23.Qa3 fxe5 24.Nxc6 Nxc6 25.Bxc6 Bb4 26.Qa7 e4 27.Qa2 Kh8 28.Qxd5 Qc7 29.fxe4 Bf7 30.Qd7, 1–0.

 

Morozevich - Svidler [B31]

13^th Amber Rapid, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 0–0 7.h3 Nd4 8.Nxd4 cxd4 9.Ne2 Qa5 10.Bc4 d5 11.Bd2 Qd8 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 f5 16.c3 f4 17.Bh2 dxc3 18.Nxc3 e6 19.Qb3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Kh8 21.Kh1 e5 22.Bd5 Bf5 23.c4 Qd7 24.f3 Rae8 25.a4 Be6 26.Be4 Bf5 27.a5 h5 28.Rab1 Rf7 29.Qb5 Bxe4 30.dxe4 g4 31.Rfd1 Qc8 32.Rd6 Ref8 33.c5 gxf3 34.gxf3 Qxh3 35.Qf1 Qxf1+ 36.Rxf1 Rf6 37.Bg1 Kg8 38.Rfd1 a6 39.Rb6 R8f7 40.Rdb1 Rxb6 41.axb6 Rf6 42.Rd1 Bf8 43.Rd8 Rf7 44.c6, 1–0.

 

Final Blindfold Standings: 1^st Morozevich (8.5), 2^nd Kramnik (8.0), 3^rd Ivanchuk (7.0), 4^th Leko (6.5), 5^th & 6^th Anand and Shirov (6.0), 7^th & 8^th Svidler and Bareev (5.5), 9^th Topalov (4.5), 10^th Van Wely (3.5), 11^th Gelfand (3.0), 12^th Vallejo (2.0).

 

Final Rapid Standings: 1^st Anand (7.5), 2^nd Bareev (7.0), 3^rd Kramnik (6.5), 4^th - 7^th Svidler, Morozevich, Leko, Ivanchuk (6.0), 8^th & 9^th Topalov and Gelfand (5.5), 10^th Shirov (4.5), 11^th Van Wely (4.0), 12^th Vallejo Pons (1.5).

 

Final Combined Standings:  1^st & 2^nd Morozevich and Kramnik (14.5), 3^rd Anand (13.5), 4^th Ivanchuk (13.0), 5^th & 6^th Leko and Bareev (12.5), 7^th Svidler (11.5), 8^th Shirov (10.5), 9^th Topalov (10.0), 10^th Gelfand (8.5), 11^th Van Wely (7.5), 12^th Vallejo Pons (3.5).

 

 

3^rd PINAMAR INTERNATIONAL: Hellsten and LAFUENTE = FIRST

 

Held March 24^th to April 1^st in Argentina, Sweden’s Johan Hellsten and Argentina’s Pablo Lafuente tied for first with 8.5 out of 11. The legendary Danish superstar Bent Larsen, now residing in Buenos Aries, finished in 6^th place.

 

Lopez Silva - Larsen [B38]

Pinamar, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.c4 g6 3.Ne2 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be2 d6 9.0–0 Nd7 10.Qd2 Nc5 11.Rfd1 Bd7 12.f3 Re8 13.Rab1 Ne6 14.Nc2 b6 15.f4 Nc5 16.Bf3 Qc8 17.b4 Nb7 18.h3 e5 19.Be2 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne5 21.Ne3 Be6 22.Ncd5 Qc6 23.Bg5 Kh8 24.Nf6 Rec8 25.Ned5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Qc7 27.Rf1 Nd7 28.Bg4 Nxf6 29.Bxc8 Ne4 30.Qf4 f5 31.Bxb7 Qxb7 32.Qe3 b5 33.Rbc1 bxc4 34.Rxc4 Qxd5 35.Rfc1 Qe6 36.Bh6 Be5 37.Rc7 Qg8 38.Rxa7 Re8 39.Rcc7 d5 40.Re7 d4 41.Rxe5 dxe3 42.Bg7+ Qxg7 43.Rxe8+, 1–0.

 

Hellsten - Lafuente [E48]

Pinamar, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.0–0 cxd4 9.exd4 0–0 10.Bc2 Re8 11.a3 Bf8 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Be3 g6 14.Nc3 Qd8 15.Ba4 Bd7 16.Ne4 Nb8 17.Nc5 Bc6 18.Rc1 Qd5 19.f3 Bxa4 20.Qxa4 Nc6 21.Rfd1 Rab8 22.b4 a6 23.Qc2 Rec8 24.Qe4 Ne7 25.Bf4 Ra8 26.Nxb7 f5 27.Qxd5 Nxd5 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rc1 Rc3 30.Rxc3 Nxc3 31.Be5 Nb1 32.Nc5 Bxc5 33.dxc5 Nxa3 34.c6 Nb5 35.Kf2 Kf8 36.c7 Na7 37.Ke3 Ke7 38.Kd4 Kd7 39.Kc5 Nc8 40.h4 h6 41.g3 Ne7 42.Kb6 Kc8 43.Kxa6 Nc6 44.Bd6 Nxb4+ 45.Bxb4 Kxc7 46.Bf8, 1–0.

 

Lafuente - Soppe [D11]

Pinamar, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.a4 b5 5.g3 Bb7 6.Bg2 e6 7.0–0 Nd7 8.Nc3 a6 9.Ne5 Qc8 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.axb5 cxb5 12.d5 e5 13.f4 Bd6 14.Ne4 Nf6 15.fxe5 Bxe5 16.Bf4 Nxe4 17.Bxe5 f6 18.Bxe4 fxe5 19.e3 g6 20.Rf6 Rf8 21.Re6+ Kd8 22.Qd2 Kc8 23.Qb4 Rd8 24.Re7 Qd6 25.Qxd6 Rxd6 26.Rf1 Rd7 27.Rf8+ Kc7 28.Rxd7+ Kxd7 29.Rf7+ Kc8 30.Rxb7 Kxb7 31.d6+ Kb6 32.Bxa8 a5 33.Kf2 a4 34.Ke2 b4 35.Kd2, 1–0.

 

Larsen - Rodi [C24]

Pinamar, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 Qc7 5.0–0 d6 6.a4 Be7 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.Re1 h6 9.d4 g5 10.Qd3 Nf8 11.Ne2 Ne6 12.Ng3 Nf4 13.Qc3 Ng6 14.Qb3 Bf8 15.h3 g4 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.a5 Rh7 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Nh2 Bc5 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Qxe3 Nf4 22.Nxg4 Nxg4 23.Qc5 0–0–0 24.Red1 Rg8 25.Qxa7 Qb8 26.Qc5 Qc7 27.Nf5 Kb8 28.Rd6 Rg6 29.Rad1 Rxd6 30.Rxd6 Ne6 31.Bxe6 fxe6 32.Rxe6 Qf7 33.Qd6+ Ka7 34.f3, 1–0.

 

Lafuente - Giardelli [A58]

Pinamar, 2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.g3 d6 9.Bg2 0–0 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Rb1 Qa5 12.Bd2 Rfb8 13.Qc2 Qc7 14.b3 Nb6 15.Nh4 Nbd7 16.Rfd1 Rb7 17.Nf3 Rab8 18.a3 Ne8 19.e4 Qd8 20.Be1 Nc7 21.a4 Rb6 22.Na2 Ra8 23.b4 cxb4 24.Nxb4 Bf8 25.Bh3 Rb7 26.Nc6 Qe8 27.Rxb7 Bxb7 28.Na5, 1–0.

 

Larsen - Marques [E90]

Pinamar, 2004

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0–0 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Nd2 a6 8.Be2 c5 9.d5 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.Nxb5 Ba6 12.0–0 Ne8 13.Nc3 Nc7 14.Bxa6 Rxa6 15.Qc2 Qa8 16.a4 Rb8 17.b3 Rb4 18.Rab1 Ra7 19.h3 Nf8 20.Nc4 Nd7 21.Rfe1 Ra6 22.Bg5 Kf8 23.Na3 Rb8 24.Ncb5 Nxb5 25.Nxb5 Rb7 26.Bd2 Qb8 27.f4 Kg8 28.Kh1 Nf6 29.Qd3 Ra8 30.Na3 Qd8 31.Nc4 Nd7 32.e5 dxe5 33.fxe5 Nb6 34.Nxb6 Qxb6 35.Qc4 Rd8 36.Bc3 Rbd7 37.Rbd1 Qb7 38.d6 exd6 39.exd6 Qc6 40.Ba5 Ra8 41.Re7 Rxe7 42.dxe7 Rc8 43.Rd8+, 1–0.

 

 

COPA ENTEL: GRANDA ZUNIGA WINS EASILY

 

This event, held in Santiago, Chile, took place from March 21^st to the 28^th. Ruling the opposition, Granda Zuniga started with 7 from 8, and ended with a blistering 9.5 from eleven games!

 

Final standings: 1^st Granda Zuniga (9.5 pts), 2^nd Leitao (8 pts), 3^rd & 4^th Vasquez and Rodriguez (7.5 pts), 5^th Zambrana (6.5 pts), 6^th Cubas (5.5 pts), 7^th Panno (5 pts), 8^th & 9^th Valenzuela and Rojas (4.5 pts), 10^th Llorens (3 pts), 11^th Arancibia (2.5 pts), 12^th Velasquez (2 pts).

 

Rodriguez - Granda Zuniga [B40]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Qe2 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 d6 6.0–0 Nf6 7.d3 Be7 8.c3 0–0 9.a3 Nbd7 10.Nbd2 Rc8 11.b4 Rc7 12.Bb2 Qa8 13.Ne1 b5 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb6 16.e5 Bxg2 17.Nxg2 dxe5 18.dxe5 Nfd5 19.Rfc1 Rfc8 20.Qxb5 Rc2 21.Rxc2 Rxc2 22.Bc1 Qc8 23.Qf1 Nc3 24.Nb3 Ne2+ 25.Kh1 Qc3 26.Rb1 Nxc1 27.Nxc1 Qxa3 28.Ne3 Rb2 29.Nd3 Rxb1 30.Qxb1 Qc3 31.b5 g5 32.Qc2 Nd5 33.Kg1 Kg7 34.Qe2 Nc7 35.h4 Nxb5 36.hxg5 Nd4 37.Qd1 Bxg5 38.Nf4 Bxf4 39.gxf4 Qc1 40.Qxc1 Ne2+ 41.Kg2 Nxc1 42.f5 Nd3 43.fxe6 fxe6 44.Nc4 Kg6 45.Kf3 Kf5 46.Ke3 Nxe5 47.Nd6+ Kf6 48.f4 Nc6 49.Ne4+ Ke7 50.Kd3 h5 51.Kc4 h4 52.Kc5 Nd8 53.Nf2 Kf6, 0–1.

 

Rojas - Leitao [B19]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0–0–0 Ngf6 14.Ne4 0–0–0 15.g3 Be7 16.Kb1 c5 17.Bf4 Qc6 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.d5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Ne5 21.Qxc6+ Nxc6 22.c3 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Kc2 Kd7 26.Kd3 b5 27.Ke4 Ke6 28.g4 b4 29.g5 hxg5 30.Bxg5 Be5 31.Bd2 f5+ 32.Kd3 bxc3 33.bxc3 Kd5 34.c4+ Ke6 35.Nxe5 Nxe5+ 36.Kc3 Ng4 37.f3 Nf6 38.Kb3 Kd6 39.Ka4 Kc6 40.Ka5 Nxh5 41.Ka6 Nf6 42.Kxa7 Nd7 43.f4 Nb6 44.Bc3 g6 45.Ka6 Nxc4 46.a4 Nb6 47.a5 Nd5 48.Bd2 c4 49.Ka7 c3 50.Bc1 Nb4 51.Kb8 Kb5 52.Kc7 Nd3 53.Be3 c2 54.Kd6 c1=Q, 0–1.

 

Cubas - Rojas [C02]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Bd3 Be7 11.0–0 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Rc8 13.Nbd2 0–0 14.Qb1 h6 15.Nb3 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Nc5 Qc7 18.Ra2 b6 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Raf2 Qe7 21.Qb3 g5 22.h3 Qg7 23.Bb5 Nb8 24.Qd3 h5 25.g4 hxg4 26.hxg4 Be7 27.Rh2 Rf7 28.Kg2 Rcf8 29.Rh3 Bd8 30.Rfh1 Bc7 31.Qc2 Bd6 32.Bd3 Rc7 33.Qb1 Qf6 34.Rf1 Rff7 35.Rh5 Qd8 36.Bg6 Rf6 37.Rfh1, 1–0.

 

Arancibia - Panno [B42]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 d6 7.c4 g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Qe2 0–0 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.h3 b6 12.Nf3 Bb7 13.Bf4 Nh5 14.Bh2 Nd7 15.Rac1 Bh6 16.Rb1 Nf4 17.Qe1 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bf1 Rfd8 20.Kh1 Bf8 21.f3 Bc5 22.g3 Nh5 23.b4 Rxd1 24.Nxd1 Bd4 25.Kg2 f5 26.Bd3 Nf6 27.Rc1 Rd8, 0–1.

 

Rojas - Arancibia [C02]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 f6 7.0–0 fxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Qc7 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Na3 a6 12.c4 d4 13.Bd3 0–0–0 14.Nc2 Nc6 15.Qh5 Be7 16.Bd2 g6 17.Qe2 g5 18.a3 h5 19.b4 g4 20.b5 Nb8 21.Rab1 Rdg8 22.Be4 a5 23.b6 Qd8 24.Bxa5 Nc6 25.Bd2 h4 26.a4 Rh5 27.Bf4 Qf8 28.Qd2 Bg5 29.Bxg5 Rgxg5 30.Rb5 Rxe5 31.Bxc6 Bxc6 32.Ra5 Qd6 33.Rxe5 Rxe5 34.Qh6 Rf5 35.Ra8+ Kd7 36.Qh8 Ke7 37.Qxh4+ Rf6 38.Qxg4 Qf4 39.Qxf4 Rxf4 40.a5, 1–0.

 

Zambrana - Arancibia [B41]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nc2 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.Qg4 f5 10.Qxg7 Qf6 11.Qxf6 Nxf6 12.Ba3 Rg8 13.f3 Kf7 14.Kf2 Ne8 15.c5 Nc6 16.Be2 Na5 17.Rhd1 Kf6 18.Ne3 Rg6 19.Rab1 Nc7 20.Bc1 Rg8 21.a4 Ne8 22.Ba3 Nc7 23.Rd4 Rg7 24.Rh4 Kf7 25.Bb2 Kf8 26.c4 Rf7 27.f4 Ne8 28.Bh5 Re7 29.g4 fxg4 30.Rg1 Ng7 31.Bxg4 Nb3 32.Rxh7 Rf7 33.Rxg7, 1–0.

 

Leitao - Panno [B86]

Santiago, 2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.Bg5 Nc5 9.f4 Be7 10.Qf3 Qc7 11.0–0 b5 12.f5 b4 13.fxe6 bxc3 14.Nf5 Nxb3 15.Nxg7+ Kd8 16.cxb3 Qc5+ 17.Be3 Qb5 18.Bd4 cxb2 19.Bxb2 Ne8 20.Nf5 fxe6 21.Nxe7 e5 22.Qh5 Be6 23.Qh4 Kc7 24.Ng6 Rg8 25.Rac1+ Kb7 26.Nf8, 1–0.

 

Granda Zuniga - Rojas [D77]

Santiago, 2004

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0 5.0–0 d5 6.d4 dxc4 7.Na3 c3 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bb2 Nc6 10.e3 Qc7 11.Qe2 e5 12.Nb5 Qe7 13.Ba3 e4 14.Nd2 b6 15.dxc5 Bg4 16.Qc4 Ne5 17.Qd4 Rfd8 18.cxb6 Qe6 19.Nc7 Qf5 20.Nxa8 Rxd4 21.cxd4 Nf3+ 22.Nxf3 exf3 23.b7 Nd7 24.Rfc1 Bh6 25.Bf1 Bxe3 26.Rc3 Bxd4 27.Rd1 Bxc3 28.Rxd7 Be5 29.Rd8+ Kg7 30.Bf8+ Kf6 31.Rd6+ Bxd6 32.Bxd6, 1–0.

 

Granda Zuniga - Arancibia [D20]

Santiago, 2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Re1 Nb6 10.Bb3 c6 11.h3 Re8 12.Qd3 Nbd5 13.Bd2 Bf8 14.Rxe8 Qxe8 15.Re1 Qd8 16.Bg5 Be6 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nc5 Nf4 20.Qe4 Bxb3 21.axb3 b6 22.Qxf4 bxc5 23.dxc5 Bxb2 24.Ng5 Qf6 25.Qe3 g6 26.Ne4 Qe5 27.Qd2 Qd4 28.Qe2 Qe5 29.Rd1 Rb8 30.Rd7 a5 31.Qc4 Qf4 32.g3 Qf5 33.Qd3 Be5 34.Kg2 h5 35.Rd8+ Kg7 36.Rxb8 Bxb8 37.f4 h4 38.Qd4+ f6 39.g4 Qxf4 40.Qd7+ Kh6 41.g5+ fxg5 42.Nf2 Qg3+ 43.Kf1 Qf3 44.Qe8 g4 45.Qxb8 g3 46.Qh8+ Kg5 47.Qe5+ Kh6 48.Qe3+ Qxe3 49.Ng4+ Kg5 50.Nxe3 Kf4 51.Nc4 g5 52.Kg2 g4 53.hxg4 Kxg4 54.Ne5+ Kf5 55.Nxc6 Kg4 56.Ne5+, 1–0.