Bilbao R3: Topalov beats Carlsen, takes lead
4 September 2008, 21.55 CET | Last modified: 13:34 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
Veselin Topalov defeated Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Grand Slam Final in Bilbao and in doing so, the Bulgarian took over the lead from his opponent. Aronian-Anand and Radjabov-Ivanchuk were drawn.
It was only the second decisive game of the tournament, and yet it was another win for the black pieces. Topalov reacted very well to an interesting pawn sacrifice by Carlsen, and after the Norwegian decided to win it back immediately, instead of going for active play, he soon was a pawn down again but this time it meant a lost ending.
Carlsen had looked at various possible plans after his 15.b4 (”a very interesting move” - Topalov) but after the game he said 16.Bc7 was probably not the best. “But I wanted to play it safely. My 21.Nd2 was a blunder - I missed 24…Bd8.”
Topalov played a solid game to score the second win of the tournament
After a Slav turned into a Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Aronian and Anand soon left the theoretical waters. Anand’s 19…Bb4 was based on 21.Bd6 when Black will sacrifice an exchange, but after 21.Bxa7! it was White who could bring a promising exchange sac. It wasn’t enough to get real winning chances, though.
Many spectators at just three meters from the board
In yet another Queen’s Gambit Accepted Radjabov gained the initiative with White, but Ivanchuk defended accurately. In timetrouble there suddenly appeared a move repetition on the board.
“Final Chess Masters” must have been the result of a bad translation…
Radjabov - Ivanchuk
Aronian - Anand
Carlsen - Topalov
Bilbao Grand Slam Final Round 3 Standings
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1 | Topalov,V | 2777 | +95 | * | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5.0/3 | |||
| 2 | Carlsen,M | 2775 | -10 | 0 | * | 1 | * | 3 | 4.0/3 | 1.75 | |
| 3 | Radjabov,T | 2744 | +41 | 1 | * | 1 | 1 | 3.0/3 | 2.50 | ||
| 4 | Ivanchuk,V | 2781 | -8 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 3.0/3 | 2.25 | ||
| 5 | Anand,V | 2798 | -44 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 3.0/3 | 2.00 | ||
| 6 | Aronian,L | 2737 | -74 | 1 | 0 | 1 | * | 2.0/3 |
If the classical system would have been applied, Carlsen would have dropped to 5th place:
Bilbao Grand Slam Final Round 3 Standings (classical system)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1 | Topalov,V | 2777 | +95 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2.0/3 | |||
| 2 | Radjabov,T | 2744 | +41 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1.5/3 | 2.50 | ||
| 3 | Ivanchuk,V | 2781 | -8 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1.5/3 | 2.25 | ||
| 4 | Anand,V | 2798 | -44 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1.5/3 | 2.00 | ||
| 5 | Carlsen,M | 2775 | -10 | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | 1.5/3 | 1.75 | ||
| 6 | Aronian,L | 2737 | -74 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1.0/3 |
Pairings Round 4
Aronian - Ivanchuk
Carlsen - Radjabov
Topalov - Anand
The tent, covering the glass cube, at the Plaza Nueva
Quite a lot of spectators every day, watching the players - it does feel a bit like a zoo sometimes
The journalists sitting right next to it (left: Macauley Peterson; right: GM Javier Moreno, who is also the Technical Assistent to the arbiters)
The fathers: Radjabov’s (left) and Carlsen’s (right)
Links:
- Official website
- Photos by John Henderson (ICC): round 1, round 2, round 3
- Games in PGN
Interesting to see the difference between the old and the new scoring system. I like it like that, Carlsen deserves to stay in a second place for his courages play.
Congratulations to Topa, he showed a great patience and used his chances.
Thanks for the webcam and best pictures I’ve seen so far.
Cheers.
the bilbao table is incorrect, now it shows Topalov winning against Anand (nr. 5)!
thanks, corrected now
Excellent coverage. Would love to be down in Bilbao and the Basque country but can’t make it owing to work commitments.
I am really enjoying your coverage of the tournament with live games to follow, webcams and video shots of the games with post match interviews.
Keep it up!!
I just realized that both Radjabov and Ivanchuk don’t have their actual fide ratings on one of the pictures above. Are they using the “live ratings” right before the start of the tournament instead? Or did I miss something?