Picture by Frits Agterdenbos from ChessVista.com
In the picture of the Opening Ceremony, I counted only 13 players. The one missing is Kramnik. I am not sure why.
Title – Name – Country – Rating – World Ranking
GM Veselin Topalov BUL 2783 1
GM Viswanathan Anand IND 2779 2
GM Vladimir Kramnik RUS 2766 3
GM Levon Aronian ARM 2744 7
GM Teymour Radjabov AZE 2729 11
GM Peter Svidler RUS 2728 12
GM Ruslan Ponomariov UKR 2723 14
GM David Navara CZE 2719 15
GM Alexey Shirov ESP 2715 17
GM Magnus Carlsen NOR 2690 24
GM Loek van Wely NED 2683 26
GM Sergey Karjakin UKR 2678 29
GM Sergey Tiviakov NED 2667 36
GM Alexander Motylev RUS 2647 58
The average rating of group A is 2718 and it is a category 19 event.
There are a few important notes about the top 4 seeds. After the drawing today, it has been determined that Topalov will have 7 games with White and 6 with Black. Anand, Kramnik and Aronian all have 6 games with White and 7 with Black.
Another important note is Topalov will have White against both Kramnik and Anand while Kramnik has White against Anand. Anand is the unlucky one with 2 Blacks against his main rivals. Aronian has White against Kramnik and Topalov and Black against Anand.
Knowing these facts, what is your prediction? Who will win this tournament? Topalov may have a great shot with an extra White and having White against both Anand and Kramnik.
Make sure you check in tomorrow for LIVE Blogging 🙂
Round 1 – Saturday the 13th
V. Topalov – A. Motylev
L. van Wely – T. Radjabov
S. Karjakin – V. Kramnik
A. Shirov – P. Svidler
S. Tiviakov – M. Carlsen
D. Navara – L. Aronian
R. Ponomariov – V. Anand
What is your prediction for round 1?
hard to tell but i cant wait to see how magnus does.
Don’t worry Susan, Kramnik attended the opening ceremony just like everyone else. Here’s proof:
http://chesspro.ru/_images/materials/2007/weik12.jpg
Not sure why the URL didn’t come right — there should be “weik12.jpg” at the end.
Doesn’t Mamedyarov play in Corus?
I send my positive thoughts to Radjabov !!!
Everyone else also !
Feeling like Kramnik will be the 2nd. I don’t know who will win, but I feel like not Topalov, don’t know why..
Montrealer
Believe me! ANAND will win this category 19. He has many new weapon and surprises now. Please dont tell the other participant.
This is a great opportunity for Magnus. He’s never played Anand with classical time control and has never played Topalov or Kramnik at all. In total he’s only played a total of 10 classical games against Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Aronian, Radjabov, Ponomariov, and Svidler combined with a score of +0-2=8. This is his first intensive glimpse at the top of the chess world. What a thrill it must be for him. If he can pull 7/13 it will be a great result. In any case, it’s much better to lose in the A group than win the B group.
As identified by other posts, in my opinion, this is where reality begins for Carlsen.
Here are my predictions…
V. Topalov – A. Motylev 1/2
L. van Wely – T. Radjabov 0-1
S. Karjakin – V. Kramnik 1/2
A. Shirov – P. Svidler 0-1
S. Tiviakov – M. Carlsen 1/2
D. Navara – L. Aronian 0-1
R. Ponomariov – V. Anand 1/2
Yes, black will have nice games !
ФИДЕ пак отряза Топалов
12 януари 2007 | 20:45 | Агенция “Фокус”
Международната шахматна федерация (ФИДЕ) отказа да признае банковата гаранция за мача между водача в световната ранглиста Веселин Топалов и световния шампион Владимир Крамник. Това съобщи за Агенция “Фокус” пресаташето на Топалов Живко Гинчев. “На 15 декември 2006 година щабът на българския гросмайстор изпрати официално предложение за двубой с руснака, след което ФИДЕ поиска банкова гаранция за 2 милиона долара (разходите за награден фонд и организация). Според правилника на ФИДЕ, всеки шахматист с ЕЛО над 2700 или бивш световен шампион може да предизвика първенеца на планетата в мач за короната. В Организационния комитет на мача се включиха Румен Петков, министър на вътрешните работи, Весела Лечева, председател на ДАМС, Николай Николов, изп. директор на «Мобилтел», Мартин Батков, член на Съвета на директорите на в. «Стандарт» и съветниците на президента Георги Първанов – Анатолий Пазийски и Ертан Кара. Преди Нова година D Commerce bank изпрати писмо в централата на ФИДЕ, че има готовност да издаде банковия документ. В ответното писмо от международната федерация бе посочен само примерен текст на гаранцията. Вчера, 11 януари, обаче, ФИДЕ отказа да приеме гаранцията с мотив, че банката на федерацията признава само четири банки в България – ДСК, ОББ, Булбанк и International Asset bank”, заяви Живко Гинчев. “Удивени сме от това решение, защото ние трябва да започнем преговори с нова банка, а това изисква време”, пише в писмото си до централата на ФИДЕ мениджърът на Топалов Силвио Данаилов. “Вече е ясно, че се прави всичко възможно мачът да бъде провален, защото според правилата на ФИДЕ няма никакви изисквания за банката”, коментира той. Днес Веселин Топалов пътува за Холандия, където във Вайк ан Зее стартира първият голям шахматен турнир за годината – „Корус”. Следобед е официалното откриване, на което ще бъде изтеглен жребият. На 16 и 17 януари във Вайк ан Зее са заключителните преговори за стартирането на „Големия Шлем” в шахмата. Засега във веригата влизат турнирите „Корус”, МорелияЛинарес, и „М-Тел Мастърс”-София. За 18 януари е предвидена официална пресконференция, на която ще бъдат съобщени правилата на веригата.
Топалов ще играе с Крамник в 7-ия кръг на турнира “Корус”
Българският шахматист Веселин Топалов изтегли №1 на днешния жребий за супертурнира “Корус”, което му отреди да играе с белите фигури срещу Александър Мотильов от Русия, съобщи за Агенция “Фокус” пресаташето на българския гросмайстор Живко Гинчев. Мачът срещу Владимир Крамник, който се очаква с голям интерес ще бъде в предпоследния, 7-ми кръг, на състезанието, а Веско Топалов ще бъде с белите фигури. Турнирът “Корус”, който ще се проведе в холандското градче Вайк ан Зее, започва утре.
Мениджърът на Крамник: Партията с Топалов във Вайк ан Зее няма да има специален подтекст
Мениджърът на световния шампион по шахмат Владимир Крамник Карстен Хензел заяви пред руския вестник “Известия”, че предстоящата партия с Веселин Топалов във Вайк ан Зее няма да има специален подтекст. “Комисията по етика във ФИДЕ ще се произнесе по нашата жалба за действията на българския гросмайстор. А за нас предстоящата партия във Вайк ан Зее няма да има специален подтекст. Това ще бъде поредната среща между двама много силни шахматисти”, заяви германецът. Крамник и Топалов са сред 14-те участници в започващия утре супертурнир “Корус” в холандското градче Вайк ан Зее.
Yes, Kramnik absolutely did take part in the opening ceremony. However, he did keep quite a low profile. Mamadyarov did not get in to Wijk this year, I guess when you have such quality some have to miss out with only so many places. I have an opening ceremony report on Chess Gateway with quite a few photo’s taken by myself for anyone who is interested.
enjoy the tournament!
My predictions:
Round 1 – Saturday the 13th
(a)V. Topalov – A. Motylev
These two have only played once,at Bastia, in the 2003 Corsia Masters rapid tournament.The opening was a King’s Indian Defense (Topalov was White and won in 49 move).Motylev prefers to play the Slav,Nimzo-Indian and Queens’ Indian Defenses against 1.d4 2.c4 (although he also plays the King’s Indian Defense and Grunfeld Defense) and plays Classically against 1.e4 (ie. 1..e5). However he also plays the Sicilian and Caro-Kann Defenses against 1.e4) This year Topalov has been playing everything with his first move ie. 1.e4,1.d4 and even 1.Nf3
Prediction:Topalov will play 1.d4 and the game will be a Slav or Semi-Slav, a Nimzo-Indian Defense or Queen’s Indian Defense. I predict this game will be a draw.
(b)van-Wely-Radjabov
Van Wely plays 1.d4 and Radjabov favors the King’s Indian Defense against the Queen’s Gambit (However, he has played the Dutch Defense against Van Wely at Corus 2003,he has also played the Benoni Defense and Benoni Defenses against Van Wely Prediction:The opening will be a King’s Indian Defense Classical variation Predicted result: Van Wely will win.
(c)S. Karjakin – V. Kramnik:
The two have played two games against each other where Karjakin was white (at Dortmund in 2004) a draw in 86 moves :Najdorf Variation and a win by Karjakin in a playoff (Ruy Lopez:Berlin Defense:73 moves). Prediction: The opening will be a Petroff’s Defense with the result being a draw.
(d)Shirov-Svider:The two have played 9 games against each other.Shirov has won 3 games,Svidler 1 and there have been 5 draws. Shirov has played 1.e4 against Svidler 7 of the 9 games the two have played agaisnt each other. Prediction:The opening will be a Sicilian Defense (Kan,Schevenigen or Taimanov variation) Shirov will win.
(d)Tiviakov-Carlsen:The two have only played one game:at Gausdal 2005, the opening was a Sicilian Defense,Alapin variation: 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Tiviakov won that game in 44 moves. Prediction:The game will be another Sicilian Defense ,Alapin variation; Tiviakov will win.
(e)D. Navara – L. Aronian:The two have played twice before with Navara as white,Aronian won the first game (as black in 2001), the other game was a draw Navara favors the Queen’s Gambit with White, and Aronian favours playing the Nimzo-Indian Defense and the Queen’s Indian Defense against the Queen’s Gambit (Depending if his opponent plays 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 or 3.Nf3): Prediction:The game will be a Queen’s Indian Defense or Ragozin Defense against the Queen’s Gambit). Navara will win.
(f)Ponomariov-Anand:The two have played 9 games in which Ponomariov has had white (each player has won one game and 7 games have been drawn). Prediction:The opening will be either 1.e4,1.d4, or 1.c4 Result:draw
Long live king Topalov!!!!!
And we will have some fun with Kramnik getting mated in 1 by Carlsen and Navara.
Qh7#
Can anyone provide the live games link on the main website please?
Topalov 1st.
Anand 2nd.
Any of Aronin, Radjabov, Svidler could be 3rd.
Kramnik’s pathetic +2 won’t be good enough for more than about 4th= in this tournament. He is a worse World Champion even than Petrosian.
To Chesss44:
How many times do you have to be told to act like an adult on Susan’s Chessblog? This is her blog not yours.Keep your prejudical personal judgements to yourself we don’t want to hear them.The world is full of enough prejudice as it is. Post your prejudices on your own blog,if you have the guts to…not on Susan’s.
I plea to everybody who visits this blog and writes comments: please, this time don’t turn every single blog entry into a Kramnik-Topalov love-hate issue. It is now history and should remain as such.
Gabor
I think Topalov has good opportunities for a good start this weekend. In the first round white against Motylev and in the second round white against Van Wely. That is not a heavy program to start with.
To Anonymous 6:21:07 AM:
It is easy to make anonymous personal attacks; you are too cowardly to give yourself an identification.
Regarding what I said:
(1) Kramnik very often gets about ‘+2’, usually something like +2,=10 with most of the draws being short effortless, ‘grandmaster’ ones. For a WORLD CHAMPION (especially considering what he gets paid), this is not good enough. I don’t think the description ‘pathetic’ is unreasonable (especially in terms of effort and spectator pleasure).
(2) If you take the trouble to compare the records of Kramnik and Petrosian as World Champions, I think you will find Kramnik’s to be worse. At least Petrosian won a couple of tournaments with a bit more than ‘+2’!
If you disagree with my opinions, then please debate what I said instead of issuing an unsubstantiated, anonymous attack.
Can anyone provide the live games link on the main website please?
Here you go
http://www.coruschess.com/livegames.php
canadian chess addict: Games are started now, and your opening predictions are breathtaking. Respect.
…Anonymous said… Saturday, January 13, 2007 8:05:45 AM
said:
canadian chess addict: Games are started now, and your opening predictions are breathtaking. Respect.
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Anonymous
Thanks for telling us the games have been and and thank you for the kind words :)I looked at the past games of the players at the chessbase.com website and in my database.
I missed the opening of the Shirov-Svidler game…a Grunfeld Exchange.Of course Shirov played the Grunfeld against Kramnik in their 1998 match with great results.
Ponomariov-Anand is a Catalan Opening:Open variation I thought GM’s would never play this opening again after the Kramnik-Topalov match:)
Why doesn’t Leko play this year ?