Position after 15.h3
This game can decide the top standing of the Bilbao Grand Slam Final and the World #1 ranking!
If Ivanchuk wins, he will be the #1 player of the world as of October 1 and he has a chance to win this tournament as well (if Aronian and Carlsen draw or lose).
If Topalov wins, he will win the Bilbao Grand Slam Final and has a chance to regain his world #1 ranking (if Carlsen draws).
GM Topalov (2777) – GM Ivanchuk (2781) [D47]
13.09.2008, Bilbao Grand Slam Final
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Qc2 h6 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.h3 = a6 16.Be3 c5 17.Bxc5 Re8 += Even though Black is down a pawn, he has excellent compensation. White’s advantage is minimal. White cannot defend the e4 pawn with f3 because of Black’s Nh5. Then White has many weaknesses on the Kingside.
18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Nd5 White is trying to make an issue in the center. Black can take the Knight with either the Bishop or Knight.
19…Nxd5 20.exd5 Bxb2 21.d6 Qc3 22.f3 += Even though Black got the pawn back, he has to be very careful. The d6 pawn is becoming quite dangerous.
22…Rec8 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Be4 Qxc5+ 25. Qxc5 Rxc5 26. Bxb7 += White still maintains a small advantage. But with correct play, Black should be able to hold this.
26… Rd8 27. Rfe1 Be5 28. d7 a5 29. f4 Bc7 30. Bd5 Kh7 31. Bxf7 Rf5 32. Ba2 Rxf4 33. Bb1+ Kg8 34.Bg6 Bb6+ 35. Kh1 Bc5 36. Rc1 Bf8 37. Red1 Bxa3 38. Rc8 Rff8 39. Be8 Be7 40. Re1 Bg5 41. g3 a4 42. h4 Bf6 43. Re6 {White wins} 1-0
An amazing game with great patience by Topalov.
Click here to replay the game.
How was Carlsen-Anand allowed to be an agreed draw at this stage?
All games drawn
Anand is a trojan horse in this tournament. He shouldn’t have played, he took 1 game of 3 almost every round which wasn’t worth looking at. My mother can exhange pieces at symmetrical positions.
He hasn’t learned a thing and certainly didn’t teach anything.
Only Anand – Carlsen drawn for now. Others still playing.
“How was Carlsen-Anand allowed to be an agreed draw at this stage?”
It was threefold repetition of the position being draw by FIDE rules whatever the no draw rules say.
That’s why it _is_ draw but I can’t understand why they (especially Calrsen) _did_ this with Magnus still having chances in this tournament and/or in reaching number 1 spot on the coming list.
Where has his fighting spirit gone?
Indeed, this is a farce! As an employee you wouldn’t be paid on days you don’t appear at work. Can Anand explain his performance for a committee of sponsors?
And yeah, he’s got a match coming up, bla, bla. If you’re a popstar and sing one number at a concert and go home because you have a new live-aid-project coming up. Well … fill in yourself.
Topa play very well all the tournament.congrats !
Topa rulez!!!!
Topalov is back to official world number 1!
So no new world number 1 yet- poor Ivanchuk having come so close to securing it yesterday but for time.
Topalov is the only player above 50%- he won this tournament of tournaments easily.
He is clearly the best player this year after this. Ivanchuk and Carlsen just didn’t produce when it mattered most.
Kramnik and Anand are both out the top 4 now- their match for the title will look funny with world number 1 Topalov playing a qualifier with Kamsky at the same time.
1 Topalov 2791 2 Morozevich 2787 3-4 Ivanchuk, Carlsen 2786 5 Anand 2783 6 Kramnik 2772 is the next official list.
topalov is a cheat. We have a # 1 who cheats? I wonder why the others agree to play with Topalov.