Bilbao R5: three draws, Topalov keeps lead
6 September 2008 21:12 PM CET | Last modified: 21:15 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
After all the excitement of yesterday, the players took a semi rest day and all drew relatively quickly in the fifth round of the Bilbao Grand Slam.
With two rest days, you’d normally do a 4-3-3 schedule, but the organizers decided on 5-3-2, so only after today there will be a rest day. The players really seem to need it, as a few of them today mentioned they are tired. And on a Saturday night, I didn’t hear a journalist complain either. 
The first game that ended was also the most interesting, but this was mainly the result of another blind spot in Anand’s calculation: he totally missed 20…Be3 which cost him an exchange, but luckily for the Indian not the game.
The new world’s number two had a narrow escape against the nuevo numero uno
This time it was Carlsen using an opening Radjabov recently revived
There’s not much to say about Ivanchuk-Topalov, and those are actually the words of the Bulgarian who played Black today. In this well-known Nimzo ending White is always slightly better and usually only draws, just like today. Some interesting remarks by the players can be found under the moves of the games.
Vassily Ivanchuk, not satisfied about his first half - “I need to do better”
Veselin Topalov, still the leader after five rounds
Radjabov tried the Scotch again, and after Aronian’s 4…Bc5 another “well-known ending” was reached. White looked a tiny bit better but after the d6 pawn was protected adequately and the d5 square well covered, there was nothing left for White to play for.
The only player on fifty percent after the first half: Levon Aronian
Like Anand, four draws and a loss for Radjabov
Ivanchuk - Topalov 1 - 1
Anand - Carlsen 1 - 1
Radjabov - Aronian 1 - 1
Bilbao Grand Slam Final Round 5 Standings
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1 | Topalov,V | 2777 | +137 | * | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9.0/5 | |
| 2 | Carlsen,M | 2775 | +62 | 0 | * | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8.0/5 | |
| 3 | Aronian,L | 2737 | +38 | 1 | 0 | * | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6.0/5 | |
| 4 | Ivanchuk,V | 2781 | -85 | 1 | 1 | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | 4.0/5 | 5.25 |
| 5 | Radjabov,T | 2744 | -40 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 4.0/5 | 5.00 |
| 6 | Anand,V | 2798 | -105 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | 4.0/5 | 4.75 |
After three draws it’s no surprise that, like yesterday, there isn’t a difference between the “football” and the “classical” system:
Bilbao Grand Slam Final Round 5 Standings (classical system)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1 | Topalov,V | 2777 | +137 | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 3.5/5 | |
| 2 | Carlsen,M | 2775 | +62 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3.0/5 | |
| 3 | Aronian,L | 2737 | +38 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | 2.5/5 | |
| 4 | Ivanchuk,V | 2781 | -85 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | 2.0/5 | 5.25 |
| 5 | Radjabov,T | 2744 | -40 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 2.0/5 | 5.00 |
| 6 | Anand,V | 2798 | -105 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 2.0/5 | 4.75 |
Tomorrow is a rest day. Pairings Round 6, Monday:
Ivanchuk - Anand
Topalov - Radjabov
Carlsen - Aronian
Links:
There is a slight difference though. If Carlsen had won today against Anand, he would have had 10 points against Topalov’s 9. According to the classical system both would have had 3 1/2.
3 parties zero is quite normal, tomorrow is the day baby foot.
I call the day of rest day baby foot, since the Amber tournament in Nice Aronian and Carlsen have played football against a baby? Since that day I called the day’s rest day baby foot, lol
Topalov !!
According to commentators, including Chessvibes, Anand made two bad moves (Re2 and f5) but still he managed to draw. So where did Carlsen go wrong? Maybe …Lxf5 was an inaccuracy, better …Re5 and Rxf5?
@ulrik leth poulsen
If Carlsen had won today, both Carlsen and Topalov would be on +2.
Equal with classical scoring. With Bilbao scoring Carlsen would be ahead because of most wins.
If Carlsen is really going to be one of Anand’s seconds in his match witch Kramnik, I wonder if he’s already helping him playing the off-beat Schliemann not likely to be a topic of discussion in the upcoming match.
It also seems like he’s saying to Radjabov: what you can do, I dan do. Will he play the KID?
@Ron
After I’ve seen the press conference again, during editing the round 5 video, I might have an answer on that.
Did Magnus missed a win? I don’t understand why Magnus gave up the exchange later….. Anyone has idea? What does the computer say? draw?
Did Magnus missed a win? Why did Magnus give back the exchange afterward?
What does the computer think about this game?
Personally I don’t understand the computer evaluations. Waiting for Peter to enlighten us!
Fritz8 gives: 25..Qe7 26 Nf2 d5 27 exd5 Bxf5 28 dxc6 Be4 29 Nc3 Bxc6 30 Nd5 Bxd5
31 Qxd5+ R8f7 32 Qd2 as possibly winning
after 26 g4 hxg3 27 Nxg3 Rh6 Black has clear advantage
Can anyone explain to me how the computer evaluates a position? I was using shredder and sometimes it would say something like + 1.75, but then the commentators were saying that it still wasn’t won. I thought that once the computers evaluation was + 1.00 then it was a won game, but it doesn’t seem like that. I’d appreciate if someone could explain, thanks!
Thanks for the computer analysis…… I think Magnus definitely missed a win……… it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about the game afterward…… Anand’s blunder definitely should have cost him the game I think.
@Buri
Chess at the highest level +1.00 (1 pawn advantage) doesn’t mean winning advantage yet. It could be, depending on the end game and how many pieces left and also the position of the pawns.
But usually winning an exchange (hence +1.75) in a relatively open position with queens on the board means winning I think. Especially given Magnus’ pieces were breathing down the king’s neck of his opponent.
@TC: Ahh I see, thanks for explaining!
Unfortunately after watching the press conference once more, I cannot add much to your analysis. As you can see in the video, Anand did mention 25…Qe7 as a possible improvement but that’s all.
Nick de Firmian also mentioned 25…Qe7 as well as 29…Re5 as possible improvements.
By the way, I wonder why Radjabov constantly plays the Scotch with Qf3. Neither does it suit his style nor has he ever won a game with it!
Can’t you figure out a way to publish games without at least half of the last game being chopped off on your web page? I get Ivanchuk-Topalov down to move 11, and that’s it. There’s no way to scroll down.
But I can get the complete game, with better graphics, plus a DAILY PUZZLE and an interesting game of the day, at http://www.chessgames.com. which is where I’m going now. Goodbye!
Hey, Peter! No puzzle means less traffic–in English AND in Dutch!
@ anon
I get the games all normal and not chopped off, so it’s probably not a problem of the website, but of your Browser or Computer. Or maybe of browser and the website working together. But you’re right, in doubt blame the others first and uniquely instead of just asking “Hey, I see only half of the games, anybody else has that problem?” .
Goodbye then.
@ Peter
Don’t worry for the traffic, you’ve got a great website.