Leko-Carlsen begins today
28 May 2008 15:30 PM | Last modified: 15:43
Today, in one hour to be exact, a rapid match between Peter Leko and Magnus Carlsen starts in Miskolc (Hungary).
In the National Theater of Miskolc, eight rapid games will be played May 28-June 1 (free day on May 30). The arbiter is WGM Zsuzsa Veroci.
Leko has been playing rapid matches in Miskolc since 2005. In that year he kicked off against Michael Adams, an exciting duel that ended in a 4-4 tie. In 2006, Leko’s opponent was the twelfth world champion Anatoly Karpov. This match was won by Leko 4,5-3,5.

Heroes’ Square, city of Miskolc
Last year, then World Champion Vladimir Kramnik travelled to Hungary, Leko’s opponent during the world championship match in 2004 in Brissago, Switzerland. In Miskolc, Kramnik won the third and fifth games, Leko could nevertheless close up in the sixth, however, the Russian GM won the duel 4,5-3,5.
The Miskolc National Theater
So this year it will be Magnus Carlsen - the current no. 5 in the world will be another tough match for Leko, although the Hungarian (currently no. 10 in the world) still has a very positive score against the young Norwegian.

His father Henrik has already started blogging, and so we know that Magnus will have Black in games 1,3,5 and 7 and will be rooting to his fellow Scandinavians (the Swedish) regarding the upcoming European Football Championship! (He picked Portugal as the favourite).
But… back to chess now. The schedule in Miskolc:
| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 | Game 1, 16:30 CET | |
| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 | Game 2, 18:00 CET | |
| Thursday, May 29, 2008 | Game 3, 16:30 CET | |
| Thursday, May 29, 2008 | Game 4, 18:00 CET | |
| Saturday, May 31, 2008 | Game 5, 16:30 CET | |
| Saturday, May 31, 2008 | Game 6, 18:00 CET | |
| Sunday, June 1, 2008 | Game 7, 16:30 CET | |
| Sunday, June 1, 2008 | Game 8, 18:00 CET |
Live games here on the official website.

RSS Feed







I hope Lékó will beat Carlsen.
It will not be… Carlsen will win this match.
Vassily
Why?
Nobody can deny that Carlsen is the NEW-Fischer. While I am Hungarian, I put my chips on Carlsen. Fresh new face and I firmly believe that the NEW KING has arrived. Long Live the New King.
you never know. he has just gone up and up and up for quite a while now, sooner or later there will most likely come a time when he loses form and does badly. There is no point in saying he is the best until he has played in the top for a much longer time.
And I think Leko will win, Leko and Anand are the two players Carlsen seems to have most difficulties with. But its not safe to bet any money against Carlsen.
I am Hungarian and Carlsen is the NEW-Fischer, but I just do not find this match interesting. Why does Leko keep having these mini matches. Should he not be working hard towards winning the world championship (somehow). What is the point of these matches?? Retirement fund for the players?
Sorry, can someone please explain?
And what is up with those BAD black and white, poorly photoshopped, photos of the players on the homepage!?? How about after Day 1 they take a picture of Leko playing his challenger (that year) and whip up some nice artwork for this strange match.
(gets off soapbox)
Cheers!
Carlsen shouldn’t be the new Fischer, he should be the new Carlsen.