What are some of the biggest surprises so far after 5 rounds in Bilbao?

Special note: Topalov, Carlsen, and Ivanchuk had 3 Black and 2 White in the first half. They will have an extra White in the second half.

Round 6 matchups:

Vassily Ivanchuk - Vishy Anand
Veselin Topalov - Teimour Radjabov
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian

Standings at the half way point:

Veselin Topalov 5 2 3 0 9
Magnus Carlsen 5 2 2 1 8
Levon Aronian 5 1 3 1 6
Vassily Ivanchuk 5 0 4 1 4
Teimour Radjabov 5 0 4 1 4
Viswanathan Anand 5 0 4 1 4

Traditional scores:

Veselin Topalov 3.5
Magnus Carlsen 3.0
Levon Aronian 2.5
Vassily Ivanchuk 2.0
Teimour Radjabov 2.0
Viswanathan Anand 2.0

Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/en_index.asp

Visitors are "shocked by the color" of polar bears at a zoo in Japan! They're GREEN!

GM Pia Cramling is the most experience player left in this Women's World Championship. She became the third woman in history to earn the GM title in 1992 through traditional qualification (after me in January 1991 and my sister Judit in December 1991). Is this her year to win the most illustrious title?

QF - Game 1

Top bracket

Stefanova, Antoaneta - Cramling, Pia 0-1
Kosteniuk, Alexandra - Ushenina, Anna ½-½

Lower bracket

Mkrtchian, Lilit - Hou Yifan ½-½
Koneru, Humpy - Shen Yang 1-0

Official website: http://nalchik2008.fide.com

Photo by chessdom

GM Kosteniuk (2510) - WGM Ushenina (2476) [B12]
Women's World Championship, 07.09.2008

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0–0–0 Qa5 12.Nxf5 Nxf5 13.Qxa5 Nxa5 14.Bb6 Nc6 15.f4 Rc8 16.g4 Nh4 17.Bxc4 Be7 18.Bb3 g5 19.f5 Nxe5 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Bd4 Nhf3 22.Bxe6 Rd8 23.Bd5 Nxd4 24.Rxd4 h5 25.gxh5 Rxh5 26.Re1 g4 27.Re2 Kf8 28.Kc2 b5 29.Rf4+ Kg7 30.Bb7 Rdh8 31.Kb1 R8h6 32.Nd5 Bd6 33.Ne3 Kh8 34.Nxg4 Rh4 35.h3 Nxg4 36.Rxg4 Rxg4 37.hxg4 a5 38.Re8+ Kg7 39.Ra8 Bc7 40.Bd5 Kf6 41.Rg8 Rg6 42.Rf8+ Ke5 43.Bf3 Rf6 44.Re8+ Kf4 45.Be2 b4 46.b3 Be5 47.Kc2 Rc6+ 48.Kd3 Rd6+ 49.Kc2 Rc6+ 50.Kd3 Rd6+ 51.Kc4 Rd2 52.Bd3 Bf6 53.Rf8 Kg5 54.Rg8+ Kf4 55.Rf8 Kg5 56.Rg8+ Kf4 57.Bb1 Rb2 58.Bf5 Rxa2 59.Ra8 Ra1 60.Kd5 Re1 61.Be6 Be7 62.Bf5 Re3 63.Re8 Bf6 64.Rf8 Kg5 65.Rg8+ Kf4 66.Rf8 Kg5 67.Rg8+ Kf4 Game drawn ½–½

Click here to replay the game.

Photo by chessdom

GM Stefanova (2550) - GM Cramling (2544) [D10]
Women's World Championship, 07.09.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Bf5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 Qc7 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd2 Nc6 8.Rc1 Nf6 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.Nh4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.e4 Nxd4 13.Qa4 Nc6 14.exd5 exd5 15.Bf4 Qd8 16.Nxd5 Nc5 17.Qc4 Ne6 18.Be3 Bd6 19.Rd1 0–0 20.b4 Rc8 21.Qb3 Qh4 22.Bd3 Nxb4 23.Bb1 Nxd5 24.Rxd5 Bb4+ 25.Kf1 Rc3 26.Qd1 Qc4+ 27.Kg1 Bc5 28.Rxc5 Nxc5 29.h4 Ne6 30.h5 Rd8 31.Qe1 Nf4 32.g3 Ne2+ 33.Kh2 Rd5 34.Kg2 Rxh5 35.Rxh5 gxh5 36.Qd2 g6 37.Qd8+ Kh7 38.Bxg6+ fxg6 39.Qe7+ Kg8 40.Qe8+ Kg7 41.Qe7+ Qf7 42.Bh6+ Kg8 43.Qxe2 Kh7 44.Be3 Qc4 45.Qd2 Rd3 46.Qe2 Qd5+ 47.f3 Ra3 48.Bf2 Qf7 49.Qe4 Rxa2 50.Kg1 Qc7 51.g4 Qc1+ 52.Be1 Qc5+ 53.Kf1 Qb5+ 54.Kg1 Re2 Black wins 0–1

Click here to replay the game.

Photo by chessdom

IM Mkrtchian (2436) - WGM Hou (2557) [E12]
Women's World Championship, 07.09.2008

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bd2 Nf6 8.Rc1 c5 9.Bf4 a6 10.dxc5 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Bxc5 12.Na4 Nbd7 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.Ne5 Nd5 15.Bd2 b5 16.f3 f6 17.Ng4 Nb3 18.e4 Nxd2 19.Rxd2 Nb6 20.Bd3 Ke7 21.Ke2 Rac8 22.Ne3 Rhd8 23.Bc2 Rxd2+ 24.Kxd2 Rc7 25.b4 Rd7+ 26.Kc3 Rc7+ 27.Kd2 Rd7+ 28.Kc3 Rc7+ Game drawn ½–½

The dynamic duo - Photo by chessdom

Upper bracket (bold = higher rating)

Ushenina (2476) vs. Kosteniuk (2510)
Stefanova (2550) vs. Cramling (2544)

Lower bracket

Koneru (2622) vs. Shen Yang (2445)
Yifan Hou (2557) vs. Mkrtchian (2436)

Official website: http://nalchik2008.fide.com/?lang=eng

61st Higher League Russian Championship

The 61st Higher League Russian Championship is taking place in Novokuznetsk from September 3 to, 2008. The event serves as a qualifier for the superfinals which will be held later on in October. The format is an 11 round Swiss system.

Here are the leaders after 5 rounds:

1. Nepomniachtchi, Ian g RUS 2602 4

2. Landa, Konstantin g RUS 2615 3½
3. Riazantsev, Alexander g RUS 2617 3½
4. Motylev, Alexander g RUS 2674 3½
5. Grachev, Boris g RUS 2640 3½
6. Lastin, Alexander g RUS 2639 3½

7. Smirnov, Pavel g RUS 2592 3
8. Vitiugov, Nikita g RUS 2616 3
9. Maletin, Pavel g RUS 2545 3
10. Sakaev, Konstantin g RUS 2635 3
11. Najer, Evgeniy g RUS 2670 3
12. Maslak, Konstantin g RUS 2521 3

Official website: http://www.rcc2008.org/eng/index.htm

This is an old game from the late Grandmaster Miles. It is Black to move. What is the best continuation for Black?

5rk1/8/p4nP1/5PK1/8/P7/4p3/4R3 b - - 0 0

Standings at the half way point:

Veselin Topalov 5 2 3 0 9
Magnus Carlsen 5 2 2 1 8
Levon Aronian 5 1 3 1 6
Vassily Ivanchuk 5 0 4 1 4
Teimour Radjabov 5 0 4 1 4
Viswanathan Anand 5 0 4 1 4

Traditional scores:

Veselin Topalov 3.5
Magnus Carlsen 3.0
Levon Aronian 2.5
Vassily Ivanchuk 2.0
Teimour Radjabov 2.0
Viswanathan Anand 2.0

Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/en_index.asp

Stop the insanity

Chess Today had the following today in its newsletter:

Video of the scandalous Round 1 Armageddon tiebreak Socko-S.Foisor was posted at Youtube by the Russian journalist Evgeny Surov. This game looks not much better than the famous chaotic Armageddon between Krush and Zatonskih at the US women's championship.

After seeing all this, one may only conclude that these armageddons are not a great idea at all. To play two blitz games with increment is saner.

'Armageddon game', 'Sudden Death' – these terms may attract the attention of the general public - but what a let-down when they find that no physical violence is involved. John Saunders, editor of British Chess Magazine, looks back at two cases that raised controversy and searches for less frenzied alternatives. Could chess even be the powder-keg for real-life Armageddon? Be very afraid...

After a furious round four, with all games decided, round four brough three draws – but none of them were your unfought, GM agreements. Anand got into trouble against Magnus Carlsen, dropping an exchange, but escaped with a draw; Ivanchuk-Topalov was a standard Nimzo Indian that was drawn in 44 moves; and Radjabov played another Scotch, drawing with Aronian in 34 moves. Express report.

Two Chinese girls, Hou and Shen, one Russian, one Ukrainian, an Armenian, Bulgarian, Swede and an Indian remain in the Women's World Championship in Nalchik. Both the high-rated Konsintseva sister were eliminated in round three, reigning junior world champion Harika is out as well, so is Svetlana Matveeva, who eliminated World Champion Xu Yuhua in round two. Pictorial report.

Roger Federer did his job to earn a spot in the final. He defeated Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. However, world's #1 Rafa Nadal is trailing Andy Murry by the score of 2-6, 6-7, 3-2.

Radjabov, T (2744) - Aronian, L (2737) [C45]
Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, (5), 06.09.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Nd2 d6 8.Nb3 Bb6 9.a4 a5 10.Bd2 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Ne7 12.Rg1 Ng6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Ne5 15.Be2 g6 16.f4 Nd7 17.Bf3 c5 18.e5 Ra7 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Nd2 Nb6 21.Ne4 Ke7 22.Nc3 Bd7 23.Kf2 Rb8 24.Rgd1 Na8 25.Nd5+ Ke6 26.b3 Nc7 27.Nc3 Ke7 28.Rd2 Be6 29.Rad1 Ra6 30.e4 Rb4 31.Na2 Rb8 32.Nc3 Rb4 33.Na2 Rb8 34.Nc3 ½–½

Click here to replay the game.

Ivanchuk, V (2781) - Topalov, V (2777) [E34]
Grand Slam Final, Bilbao (5), 06.09.2008

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.Bg5 c6 10.e3 Be6 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.Bc4 Nd5 13.Bxe7 Kxe7 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.f3 Rhc8 16.Kf2 Rc6 17.a4 Rb6 18.Ra2 a5 19.b3 Rc8 20.Ne2 Nb8 21.Rc1 Rbc6 22.Rxc6 Rxc6 23.Nb1 Na6 24.Na3 Nb4 25.Rd2 b6 26.Nb5 Bd7 27.h3 h6 28.h4 g6 29.f4 Rc8 30.Nbc3 Kd6 31.Na2 Na6 32.Nec3 Nc7 33.Rc2 Ne8 34.Nb5+ Ke7 35.Rxc8 Bxc8 36.Nbc3 Nf6 37.b4 Ba6 38.b5 Bc8 39.Nc1 h5 40.N1e2 Kd6 41.g3 Ne4+ 42.Ke1 Be6 43.Kf1 Bc8 44.Ke1 Be6 ½–½

Click here to replay the game.

Photo by John Henderson

Round 5 matchups:

Vassily Ivanchuk (3) - Veselin Topalov (8)
Vishy Anand (3) - Magnus Carlsen (7)
Teimour Radjabov (3) - Levon Aronian (5)

Click http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/en_retransmision.asp then LIVE video to view and listen to my commentary with Mr. Leontxo Garcia during the games.

There is a special treat today. Former World Champion Boris Spassky is joining us in the commentary booth. Then on Monday, Boris will be doing the commentary with Leontxo while I will be heading back to the U.S.

ICC, Playchess, Chessdom, and Chessvibes all cover this event.

IM KosintsevaN (2460) - WGM Shen (2445) [C54]
Women's World Championship - Blitz playoff - Game 2, 06.09.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.Bb3 Ba7 7.h3 h6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Nbd2 Re8 10.Re1 d6 11.Nf1 Be6 12.Bc2 d5 13.Bd2 b5 14.N3h2 d4 15.Qf3 Rb8 16.Red1 dxc3 17.bxc3 b4 18.Ba4 Bd7 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.cxb4 Ba4 21.Re1 Bc2 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Nxe3 Qxd3 24.Rac1 Ba4 25.Rxc7 Qxe4 26.Qxe4 Nxe4 27.Nd5 Nf6 28.Nxf6+ gxf6 29.Ng4 Kg7 30.a3 Rec8 31.Rec1 Rxc7 32.Rxc7 Rd8 33.Ne3 Kg6 34.g4 Rd3 35.h4 Rxa3 36.Kg2 h5 37.gxh5+ Kxh5 38.Rxf7 Kg6 39.Rc7 Bb5 40.Nd5 Rd3 41.Ne7+ Kh5 42.Nf5 Kg4 43.Ne3+ Kxh4 44.Rg7 Kh5 45.Ng4 Rd6 46.f3 Bd3 47.Kg3 Bg6 48.Rg8 Kg5 49.Rb8 Rd2 50.Rb6 f5 51.Nf2 Ra2 52.Nh3+ Kh5 53.f4 Ra3+ 54.Kh2 e4 55.Rb8 Ra2+ 56.Kg3 Ra3+ 57.Kg2 Ra2+ 58.Kg3 Ra3+ 59.Kg2 Ra2+ 60.Nf2 Bf7 61.Rh8+ Kg6 62.Kg3 Bd5 63.Rd8 Rd2 64.Rd6+ Kf7 65.Rxa6 e3 66.Nh3 Rg2+ 67.Kh4 e2 68.Ra1 Kg6 69.Ng1 Rg4+ 70.Kh3 Rxf4 71.b5 Re4 72.Re1 Bc4 73.b6 Re7 74.Nf3 Kf6 75.Rb1 Bd5 76.Ne1 Rg7 77.Rb2 Re7 78.Kg3 Kg5 79.Kf2 Kf6 80.Rb5 Bb7 81.Nd3 Ba6 82.b7 Rxb7 83.Rxb7 Bxb7 84.Nf4 Ba6 85.Nxe2 Bxe2 86.Kxe2 Ke5 Game drawn ½–½

Upper bracket (bold = higher rating)

Ushenina (2476) vs. Kosteniuk (2510)
Stefanova (2550) vs. Cramling (2544)

Lower bracket

Koneru (2622) vs. Shen Yang (2445)
Yifan Hou (2557) vs. Mkrtchian (2436)

Photo by chessdom

WGM Shen (2445) - IM KosintsevaN (2460) [E32]
Women's World Championship - Blitz Playoff - Game 1, 06.09.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 d6 9.Nh3 h6 10.Bh4 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.e3 Nbd7 13.Be2 a5 14.Qc2 a4 15.0–0 Qb6 16.Rfd1 d5 17.Bf2 Rfc8 18.Nf4 Ne5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Qc3 Re8 21.Rd2 Rac8 22.Rad1 Qb3 23.Qc1 Red8 24.Nd3 Nc4 25.Rc2 Qb6 26.e4 dxe4 27.Rxc4 exd3 28.Bxd3 Rd5 29.Rxa4 Rcd8 30.Bc2 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 Qb5 32.b3 Qd3 33.Bc2 Qe2 34.Ra7 Ba6 35.Bxc5 Ne4 36.Re7 f5 37.Be3 Bd3 38.Bxd3 Qxd3 39.h4 Qxb3 40.Kh2 Nf6 41.Qc7 Qb8 42.Rxg7+ Kh8 43.Qxb8 Rxb8 44.Ra7 Nd5 45.Bd4+ Kg8 46.a4 Rb4 47.Be5 Rxh4+ 48.Kg3 Rb4 49.a5 Ra4 50.a6 Nb4 51.Ra8+ Kf7 52.a7 Nc6 53.Rh8 Nxa7 54.Rxh6 Ke7 55.Rf6 Ra5 56.f4 Nb5 57.Rxf5 Ke6 58.Rh5 Ra2 59.Kf3 Na7 60.Rh6+ Kd5 61.Rd6+ Kc5 62.g4 Nc6 63.Rd1 Ra3+ 64.Ke4 Ra4+ 65.Kf5 Ne7+ 66.Ke6 Ng6 67.Bd6+ Kb6 68.Kf5 Kc6 69.Kxg6 1-0

Click here to replay the game.

Greetings from Bilbao at the Grand Slam Final!

We have two major tournaments going on simultaneously. Six of the top eight male players in the world are competing in Bilbao. The only 2 missing from the top eight are Kramnik and Morozevich. After 4 rounds, Topalov is in clear first with Carlsen right behind him. In addition, Carlsen is now also the unofficial #1 player in the world after defeating Radjabov while Ivanchuk lost to Aronian and Anand lost to Topalov.

Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com

Click http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/en_retransmision.asp then LIVE video to view and listen to my commentary with Mr. Leontxo Garcia during the games.

Many of the top female players are in Nalchik for the Women's World (Knockout) Championship. There will be a new champion crowned as the defending champion was eliminated in round 2. The quarterfinals will start tomorrow.

Official website: http://nalchik2008.fide.com

It is Saturday Open Forum. The forum is yours!

Needing only a draw to move to the quarterfinal, N. Kosintseva shockingly lost a better endgame. The pair will now play a 2 blitz playoff game.

IM N. Kosintseva (2460) - WGM Shen (2445) [C68]
Women's World Championship - Round 3 playoff, 06.09.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0–0 Qf6 6.d4 exd4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Qxd4 f6 9.Be3 Bg4 10.Nbd2 Ne7 11.e5 Qxd4 12.Bxd4 Kf7 13.h3 Bf5 14.c4 Ng6 15.Rfe1 Rd8 16.Bc3 Nf4 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Ng3 Be6 19.exf6 gxf6 20.Re4 Nd3 21.Nd4 Bc8 22.b3 Bc5 23.Rd1 Ne5 24.Rde1 Rhe8 25.Kf1 Nd3 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Rxe8 Kxe8 28.Nge2 Kf7 29.Bd2 Bd7 30.Be3 Bd6 31.Nc3 b5 32.cxb5 cxb5 33.Ke2 Ne5 34.Ne4 Be7 35.Nc2 a5 36.f3 Be8 37.Bc5 Bd8 38.Nd4 Bd7 39.Nc3 b4 40.Nd5 f5 41.f4 Ng6 42.g3 h5 43.h4 Nf8 44.Bxf8 Kxf8 45.Ne3 Kf7 46.Nc4 Kf6 47.Ne5 Bc8 48.Ndc6 Be7 49.Nxe7 Kxe7 50.Kd3 Ba6+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Nf7+ Ke6 53.Nd8+ Ke7 54.Nc6+ Kd6 55.Nxa5 c5+ 56.Ke3 Kd5 57.Kf3 Kd4 58.Nc6+ Kc3 59.g4 Bb7 Black wins 0–1

Click here to replay the game.

Chinese phenom won both rapid playoff games against IM Sedina and she is now on to the quarterfinal. She will now face IM Mkrtchian.

Upper bracket

Ushenina (2476) vs. Kosteniuk (2510)
Stefanova (2550) vs. Cramling (2544)

Lower bracket

Koneru (2622) vs. N. Kosintseva (2460) or Shen Yang (2445)

Yifan Hou (2557) vs. Mkrtchian (2436)

Photo by chessdom: N. Kosintseva vs. Shen Yang in the rapid playoff and Yifan Hou preparing for her first playoff game

Both N. Kosintseva and Yifan Hou won their first game with the Black pieces.

Mr. Andoni Madariaga and Mr. Juan-Carlos Fernandez BODY,.aolmailheader {font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:Arial;} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;}

Here are two of the key people responsible for organizing this highest-rated and richest (non-world championship) tournament in history with nearly $600,000 in prizes for the 6 players!

I had breakfast with Ivanchuk this morning. I have known Vassily for 20 years. We first met back in 1988 at the World Junior Championship in Adelaide, Australia, where I was representing Hungary and he the Soviet Union.

We met many times after that but not too often since I stopped playing actively. We did meet again at the 2004 Olympiad. It was nice to catch up after quite a few years. He encouraged me to come back and play in tournaments as he saw me do so well at the Calvia Olympiad in 2004.

I was quite impressed to learn how many languages he speaks (very well). He speaks Ukrainian, Russian (of course), English, Spanish, Turkish (some surprise there!) and Polish. I asked what motivated him to learn all these languages. He said he always needs to keep his mind busy with something…his brain needs to be in “constant training”.

He lives in his hometown Lvov with girlfriend and two (step) children.

I was surprised he knew I live in TX and work at Texas Tech University. I told him more about Lubbock and SPICE. I also invited him to visit us and told him we have one of the “great natural wonders of the world” near by in the “Carlsbad Cavern”. I believe that this natural wonder is one of the “best kept secrets”.

Vassily has never heard of it (I haven’t either until I moved to the area). He only knew of Karlsbad (formerly Karlovy Vary) in the Czech Republic (the site of many famous chess tournaments in the past) and of course the Karlsbad variation in the Queen’s Gambit…

Round 3 rapid playoff:

Yifan Hou (2577) versus Sedina (2344)
Shen Yang (2445) versus N. Kosintseva (2460)

Upper bracket

Ushenina (2476) vs. Kosteniuk (2510)
Stefanova (2550) vs. Cramling (2544)

Lower bracket

Koneru (2622) vs. The winner of Shen Yang (2445) and N. Kosintseva (2460) playoff match
The winner of Yifan Hou (2577) and Sedina (2344) playoff match vs. Mkrtchian (2436)

Official website: http://nalchik2008.fide.com

This is the final round in the first half. The three players with the least amount of points all have White this round. None of them has a win yet. But with the soccer scoring system, one win can tighten the gap right away.

Round 5 matchups:

Vassily Ivanchuk (3) - Veselin Topalov (8)
Vishy Anand (3) - Magnus Carlsen (7)
Teimour Radjabov (3) - Levon Aronian (5)

What is your prediction?

Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/en_index.asp

Standings after 4 rounds:

1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2777 8
2. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 7
3. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2737 5
4. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2744 3
5. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2781 3
6. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2798 3

So vs Torre chess match Feb ‘09

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 08:12:00 09/06/2008

THE much-anticipated chess duel between Asia's first grandmaster Eugene Torre and the world's youngest GM Wesley So, was finally sealed at the Sulo Hotel last Thursday night.

GMs So and Torre are currently ranked the country’s top 2 chess players.

Project director lawyer Sammy Estimo announced yesterday that the details of the match had been firmed up in the presence of Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor who agreed to bankroll the P1million prize, Torre and So's father, William.

The 14-year-old So and the 56-year-old Torre will slug it out over 12 games starting February 10, 2009 at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.
Two games each will be played in Quezon City, Davao and Iloilo, and if the match remains undecided, the protagonists will return to Quezon City to finish the series. A knockout game will be played if the duel ends up 6-6.

The winner will take home P600,000 while the loser will earn P400,000. Another P100,000 goes to the winner of each provincial leg while the loser will get P50,000.

The odds are about even in this dream encounter since the two GMs had split their three previous games with Torre nearly winning their recent match-up in Jakarta.

International arbiter Gene Poliarco will referee the series which will be rated as agreed upon by the players.

Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO
Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net

The animated Ivanchuk - photo by John Henderson

Can you create a clever caption?