GM Topalov (2767) – GM Aronian (2763) [D47]
Mtel – Round 6, 14.05.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0–0 0–0 10.a3 Bb7 11.h3 e5 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Bd2 Qe7 14.Ng5 h6 15.Nge4 Bc7 16.Rfe1 Bb6 17.Ng3 Rad8 18.Rad1 Qf8 19.Nce2 a6 20.b4 h5 21.Bc3 h4 22.Ne4 Nd5 23.Nc5 Nxc5 24.dxc5 Bc7 25.Bb2 Bc8 26.Bh7+ Kh8 27.Bf5 Bxf5 28.Qxf5 Qe7 29.Nc3 Nxc3 30.Bxc3 Kg8 31.Qe4 Qe6 32.Qxh4 Qb3 33.Rc1 Qxa3 34.Qe4 a5 35.Qxc6 axb4 36.Bxb4 Qxb4 37.Qxc7 Rc8 38.Qa7 Re6 39.Red1 Qe4 40.Qd7 Rec6 41.Qb7 b4 42.Rd7 Qf5 43.Rd5 Rg6 44.Kf1 b3 45.Qxb3 Qg5 46.g3 Qf5 47.Kg2 Rf6 48.Rd2 Qf3+ 49.Kh2 Rd6 50.Qa2 Rxd2 51.Qxd2 Rc6 52.Kg1 Rh6 53.Qd1 Qc6 54.h4 Rf6 55.Qg4 g6 56.h5 Kg7 57.e4 Kh6 58.hxg6 fxg6 59.Kg2 Kg7 60.Qe2 Rf7 61.Rc4 g5 62.Qh5 Qf6 63.Rc2 Qd8 64.c6 Qd3 65.Qxg5+ Kf8 66.Qh6+ Kg8 67.Rd2 Qxe4+ 68.Kh2 Rf8 69.c7 Qf5 70.f3 White wins 1–0
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Topalov still just 1 point behind with 4 rounds left- Ivanchuk got draw his way to the finish line and be sure of victory.
Interestingly- Topalov and Ivanchuk have done just as well as each other against the other players- 90% with 3100 performances- the difference is the vital win Ivanchuk scored with black over Topalov. Topalov has a chance to put them all square next round- and even if he only draws- with his form he might pull off a 2.5/3 finish.
Performance rating of Topalov is 2930, while for Ivanchuk it is 3140.
Virtual rating list is now 1.Anand 2798, 2 Kramnik 2788, and within 10 points is 3.Topalov 2779, then 4. Ivanchuk 2776. (with Morozevic and Carlsen also over 2770)It is getting crowded at the top.
With two more wins Topalov will be back to number 2 in the world. For this Ivanchuk needs 3 more wins. If Topalov wins his last 4 games he could be world number 1 again.
This is getting very excitning with two top players in such great form.
As I said before: Ivanchuk can’t coast with draws to the finish with certain victory when Ivanchuk is on his tail.
I meant to end ‘when Topalov is on his tail.’ at the end of the post before. Sorry for this careless mistake.
Chessbase repost:
…His performance has dropped to a dismal 3155.
I wonder how u can consider that dismal
Chessbase is talking tongue in cheek of course.
Ivanchuk played the wrong opening. He should have smashed Radjabov’s Kings Indian Defence!
6 players now over 2770. This shows that FIDE ratings are continuing to inflate.
Soon there will be 6 higher than Fischer’s all-time high of 2785. Absurd!
Soon there will be 6 higher than Fischer’s all-time high of 2785. Absurd!
nothing absurd about it. fischer should have stuck to playing instead of playing up and he’d break 2800 easy. he didnt, and others did. no big deal.