Final round results:
Topalov, Veselin – Ivanchuk, Vassily 1-0
Carlsen, Magnus – Anand, Viswanathan ½-½
Aronian, Levon – Radjabov, Teimour 0-1
Final Standings:
1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2777 17
2-3. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2737 13
2-3. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 13
4. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2781 12
5. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2744 10
6. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2798 8
Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Congrats to El Topador for an absolutely deserved tournament win! Now let’s move on to the world title match between players #5 and #6 in the world.
I quite agree with anon@01:44.
Even more, to win the strongest tournament in the history of chess is an honor by its own.
I’m patiently waiting for a reply by Topalov’s non-fans who would (beyond any doubt) notice a suspicious coincidence in Topalov’s playing strength and the recent/newest release of Rybka 3.0. And while those people never get tired I’m sure Topalov is after 10 rounds of playing. Besides, he proved that great games can be played even in the very last round.
Congratulations!
Topalov : This tournament is very important for you.
I congratulate you
I am totally impressed from your play in this tournament and from your gradual recovery after the match you lost to Kramnik.
Just an overwhelming performance here in Bilbao.
Welcome to your sit a the top. Keep your head. You are made of real champion material. You proved it. Nothing that will happen in the future can take that away from you. Remember: Ups and downs are natural.
Big impression on the chess world
Impressive superb play.
Although there are many players vying for the top spot, the official number 1 has basically been shared between Topalov and Anand since Kasparov came off the list- in the next 11 lists they are both first 5 times each, there only one list with someone else- Kramnik- who tied with Anand’s rating but played more games.
So through all the chaos Topalov and Anand are clearly the best since Kasparov retired by this criteria.We aren’t getting a new official number 1 just yet- still only 6 of them since 1970, with Kramnik scraping in by a couple of ties.
“Even more, to win the strongest tournament in the history of chess is an honor by its own.”
Get your facts straight.
The strongest tournament ever was won by Paul Keres, way back in 1938.
The second strongest tournament of all time was won by Kasparov in Las Palmas.
The third strongest was won by Karpov in Linares
Bilbao “only comes” in at 4th place (if I didn’t forget something).
I hope Topalov can restore order and save us from the #1 Musical Chair.
Simply enough, I based my post on this Bilbao, the strongest ever tournament
Also according to this Grand Slam Chess Final Masters Bilbao well trusted source the tournament was Category XXII (22) event with Elo’s average of 2775,63.
If we had those numbers for the other tournaments we could compare them.
Please, don’t tell me that I shouldn’t compare them because the swimming styles and bathing suites were very different at the time.
The current best is always that.
Long and boring explanations are irrelevant.
BTW, discussion following the “Bilbao, the strongest ever tournament” article is between anonymous people so I’m not sure how much we can trust it.
“So through all the chaos Topalov and Anand are clearly the best since Kasparov retired by this criteria.”
I have to disagree. Topalov only reached first on the very last day. So, yes he is no 1, and not undeserved, but not clearly the best.
Kaparow was clearly the best. He left no doubt in provisional rankings also.
I doubt it objectively is the strongest tournament ever – in my opinion it is not – but it definately was too strong for Anand!
Clarity is not by how much they were number 1 by- but that of the 11 lists since Kasparov left the list- Topalov and Anand were official number 1 in 10 of them- that is it keeps getting repeated by those two even if the margin is small.
Well, it the list was made today in stead of tomorrow Ivanchuk would have been clearly no 1. The day after tomorrow perhaps Carlsen. For that reason I do think the margin, or better the lack of margin, gives the right to call ‘clearly first’ invalid.
Yeah, the number one spot shifted daily for crying out loud. How can this be termed “clarity”?
Long term clarity, short term chaos.
I feel sorry for Ivanchuk- he should have put away Aronian in the penultimate round and secured the number one ranking, but got into severe time trouble ending with a very dissapointing draw.
I just saw a video on it show that he didn’t attend the press conference at first as he was so dissapointed- and when he attended he was clearly not wanting to play anymore or prepare he was so upset.
I wonder if he had beaten Aronian, would we have seen a different Ivanchuk today who may have drawn Topalov and tied for first in the tournament?
The number one changed daily on the virtual list- yet we have not ended up with a new number 1
The evidence is there for all to see: Since Kasparov was no longer listed on the Official lists, either Anand or Topalov have had the highest rating on all 11 lists since. Once Kramnik also had the highest rating with Anand.
If it was really so random you wouldn’t have 2 players sharing all the official number one positions would you? Anand and Topalov have proved something above the rest since Kasparov retired don’t you agree? Atleast in consistency at number 1. These virtual number ones Morozevcih, Carlsen and Ivanchuk have neve had the official numbr one yet, so some sort of order does seem to continue in the official list.
I would have preferred Ivanchuk to be number one officially, but my point is out of chaos we end up with a familiar top dog.
There is no doubt Ivanchuck is a most talented player. Moreover: He can beat anybody in the world when he is at his sharpest day.
And I also agree that the situation today at the highest level is that there is a group of players with hardly any difference in skill between them.
Yet, Topalov emerged the winner and I do not believe it is a matter of chance. One has to commend Topalov for this impressive feat. To win Bilbao takes nerves(I am referring to Ivanchuck especially) and skill and more, maybe some would add luck.
So again I am really impressed and I send Topalov my best wishes. May he learn the path how to use his great gift for the benefit of the game and for the benefit of other causes , may they be personal or general. Amen
A. Weiler
Israel
It is a shame to the chess world to have a cheater as #1 in the ranking. He won the San Luis FIDE World Championship in 2005 receiving computer assistance. He used all sorts of tricks to win against Kramnik in his match for the World Championship. Now he wins Bilbao using computer assistance. He and his manager Danailov should be banned from chess, they are the most disonest people, they will use anything in their reach to achieve victory. Kamsky should watch out for his upcoming match against the cheater as he will have to play flawlessly to have any chance to win the match.
If he is that good as a chess player, why doesn’t he play in blitz championships? Maybe then he will be on his own and he will show his true chess strength?
“The evidence is there for all to see: Since Kasparov was no longer listed on the Official lists, either Anand or Topalov have had the highest rating on all 11 lists since. Once Kramnik also had the highest rating with Anand.
If it was really so random you wouldn’t have 2 players sharing all the official number one positions would you? “
You don’t get it and apart from that, was is your point.
Fact is: it is random now! As we live, here and now. Past is behind us. OK. But if we look at the past we see Kasparow as the real undisputed no 1. After his reign, number one spot shifted. That means: no clarity! Even if 2 players divide this spot: no clarity, no real no 1 the last few years, and certainly not now and probably some time to come. That’s the point.