Linares R9: Grischuk beats Topalov
23 February 2010, 21.46 CET | Last modified: 13:33 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
Alexander Grischuk defeated Veselin Topalov in round 9 of the Linares super-tournament. The two are leading with just one round to go. Gashimov-Vallejo and Gelfand-Aronian were both drawn. Big pictorial report.
The 27th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez “Ciudad de Linares” takes place February 12-25 in Linares, Andalucia, Spain.
A six players, double round-robin, with Veselin Topalov (2805), Levon Aronian (2781), Boris Gelfand (2761), Vugar Gashimov (2759), Alexander Grischuk (2736) and Francisco Vallejo Pons (2705).
Rounds start at 16:00 CET, with rest days on the 17th and the 22nd. The rate of play is 2 hours for 40 moves, then 1 hour for 20, then 20 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds increment starting from move 61. The Sofia rules for offering a draw apply in Linares for the first time.
Round 9
Just two rounds ago Veselin Topalov seemed sure of his first tournament victory in Linares, but two days later this picture has changed dramatically. Alexander Grischuk defeated the tournament leader with the white pieces in round 9 and should now be considered favourite for victory, since this year the first tiebreak rule is the individual enounters. Update: Here I forgot that Grischuk lost to Topalov in the first stage. The tiebreak rules are:
1. Individual result.
2. Highest number of victories.
3. Highest sum of points against players who scored 50% or more.
4. Remove the points scored against the player/group of players at the bottom of the standings. If still equal, do the same for the player/group of players above.
5. If still equal, blitz games will be played (but only to decide the 1st place).
Grischuk was ‘pretty much happy’ with his play, as he said after the game. And he had all the reason, since he had simply played a good game, and certainly better than Topalov. Slightly under pressure, the Bulgarian continued to play quickly, to try to create complications; a strategy we also saw for example during his match against Kamsky a year ago. This time his opponent kept his calm and didn’t give away the advantage. During the last phase Topalov didn’t defend optimally and so Grischuk won the ending with RBN vs Q easily, where it should have been more difficult.
Gashimov-Vallejo was drawn, and way before move 40, before which officially one is not allowed to agree to a draw. However, an exception is made in clearly drawn positions, and this was one of them.
Later Gelfand and Aronian also split the point and for the Armenian this was the 9th consecutive draw. His comment after the game: “A personal record! I once had eight, but never nine!”
Tomorrow we’ll have a video with Grischuk’s reaction after the game as well as a video on ‘the draw’, with comments by Gashimov, Vallejo, Aronian and Gelfand. Unfortunately the Hotel Anibal’s internet speed is too slow to upload.
Games round 9
Game viewer by ChessTempo
Linares 2010 | Pairings and results
Linares 2010 | Round 9 Standings
Calle Cervantes (Cervantes Street)...
...where Teatro Cervantes, the venue, is located
Only three boards fill the stage this year...
...and just 10-20 spectators showed up on Tuesday
But the press room is crowded as always...
...with, amongst others, Ljubojevic and Topalov's two Dutch seconds, Erwin l'Ami and Jan Smeets
As always, the games shop across the street of Hotel Anibal is dedicated to chess again...
...with the flags of all the participants...
...and all kinds of chess sets....
...creating a beautiful picture
The January issue of the Spanish chess magazine Jaque
Does that cover photo look familiar? Sharp vision! It’s by yours truly, also published over here; the report on the London Chess Classic for Jaque was done by me. 
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Hmmm. So the great Topalov helps Grischuk make time control, and then goes pffft.
“No animals were injured during the filming of this movie.”
Great ,Alexander great great! I ´m simply happy because of the result , because he works so incredibly hard on his moves.
Hope he will finish well tomorrow and can become a real rival to the “Big Five” talents.
What a wonderful fighter and gifted player Grischuk is: a jewl in and to the chessworld. Love to see him next year in Corus…JEROEN vd BERG.
He takes risks no other top-10-player would dare even think about. Nemozyne you seem to mean that Topalov helped him to win and maybe that’s just ment to make a “funny” first comment to start a discussion…so here you are: in my opinion all the compliments must go to Grischuk who seems to make Linares 2010 not the dullest supertournament in this millennium.
Besides my comment above i think that Grischuk was always better in the game after his cunning 18 c5!? en cooly picking up the pawns on c7 and a7! Topalov just had no compensation and his rooks on the second row did not disturb white. Grischuk just played great chess in time trouble AND had the far better position!
Topalov got what he deserved.
What Nemozyne may have meant: Topalov went for a move repetition just before the time control, and in this respect was “helping” Grischuk.
Not saying that he subsequently “lost on purpose” – indeed Topalov was already significantly worse and Grischuk could win if only he wanted to (i.e., if he declines the repetition on move 41, with an additional hour on the clock), but one or two Bulgarians might like potential consequences of the new tournament situation for Shanghai/Bilbao: Carlsen already qualified twice (Nanjing + Corus), and the Grand Slam organizers stated that “one of his spots” will go to the best non-winning performance in any of the GS tournaments. If Topalov and Grischuk remain tied for first after tomorrow’s final round, there may be no “need” to invite Kramnik !?
Topalov is in a difficult position now. Grischuk faces Vallejo and Topalov faces Gelfand…
great game by Grischuk … I wasn’t expecting Topalov to lose but this time went too far. Thank god it’s those two to make the tournament more interesting. But I am wondering what is going on with Aronian … I can’t remember the last time he finished a tournament without a single decisive game.
@junior…
but topa has white, grischuk black. should be a quite interesting round.
so…aronian is the only undefeated player!
Nice thinking Thomas…but i hope the one or two Bulgarians are not as calculated or paranoia as one could imply after your words. Danialov may have deserved his place as(s) a big elohssa in the chessworld but Topalov seems a compatitive guy who will battle on the board and just maybe hoped Alexander would go for a threefold repetition. Besides that i don’t think Topalov fears Kramnik but Danialov does! Last night i dreamed about the Topalov team but this consisted of Topalov , Jan Timman as second , Vlastimil Hort as second and campaignleader and Nigel Short as second and handling the press(confrences). It gave Veselin an edge aigainst Vishy because he only had highly intelligent aides and he won the match. Proclaming afterwards, like in Oscar speeches, that his team pushed him up to perform at a 2900 level without quarrels and mediahypes. UTOPIA! Learn from your enviroment Veselin!!!!
I am really happy because of this decisive game!!! Grishcuk proved that he is capable of playing top five! Such courage, such strength!!!
“Alexander Grischuk defeated the tournament leader with the white pieces in round 9 and should now be considered favourite for victory, since this year the first tiebreak rule is the individual enounters.”
Is that relevant? Isn’t the individual encounter score between Topalov and Grischuk now 1-1?
p.s. very striking portrait photography!
Topalov’s missed win against Aronian in the previous round looks now heavily expensive.
wait I thought Cheparinov was Topalov’s second.
@ shane
You’re right. I updated the article and included the tiebreak rules:
1. Individual result.
2. Highest number of victories.
3. Highest sum of points against players who scored 50% or more.
4. Remove the points scored against the player/group of players at the bottom of the standings. If still equal, do the same for the player/group of players above.
5. If still equal, blitz games will be played (but only to decide the 1st place).
After 9 rounds Grischuk would win because of rule 3.
@Peter Doggers: As you are in Linares, I assume this info comes directly from the tournament organizers. Number of wins with black – favoring Grischuk should he beat Vallejo today – was mentioned “here and there” as a tiebreaker, but apparently isn’t.
Currently, Grischuk is ahead based on rule 4 (actually +- the same as Sonneborn-Berger) because Topalov’s win against tailender Vallejo “doesn’t count” – some sort of higher justice since Topa was really lucky in that game? But rule 3 doesn’t apply: besides Topalov and Grischuk, Aronian (who drew all his games) is the only one with 50% or more.
Let me see if I understand:
- If Topalov and Grischuk both win today, there will be blitz games?
- If both draw, Grischuk wins based on rule 4
- If both lose, Grischuk wins based on rule 3 (because Gelfand will have 50%).
@Paul: I didn’t say that Topalov lost on purpose, but still he/they may be happy with the consequences … . I don’t subscribe to the idea or concept “Topalov is OK, only Danailov is a bad guy” – didn’t they declare themselves “one and the same person”? And Topalov never distanced himself from his manager who serves him well – maybe not his reputation, but still his wallet. I don’t think they are afraid of Kramnik, but they simply hate him.
In any case, already after Corus CAL|Daniel and I suggested that the new rule might be an attempt to avoid or exclude Kramnik from Shanghai/Bilbao. Methinks it doesn’t make sense in the light of the following:
- If Carlsen is _the_ dominant player at the moment, the Linares participants already have an advantage because he doesn’t participate.
- Kramnik showed that he can compete with Carlsen, not only at Corus but also at several events that aren’t part of the Grand Slam (Dortmund, Tal Memorial, London), regarding both the final tournament score and the games between them.
BTW, even if we “forget about Kramnik”, in two out of three scenarios I just described the new rule would favor Topalov – who would otherwise have just one more chance (MTel) to qualify for Shanghai/Bilbao. Of course even if he doesn’t qualify he would be a logical candidate for a wildcard, so would Kramnik … . [This assumes that Topalov will be happy with the prize fund this year - presumably more than in 2009 as the event is split between two organizers]
After round 9 Grischuk is indeed ahead based on rule 4, not 3.
Is it just me or do some of the game shop photographs (especially the ‘…and all kinds of chess sets….’ photo – the doll in the middle!) look like their taken from a horror movie? lol
Indeed, my little niece tells me, someone looks a fright, i don´t agree
game over guys … Topalov is God
D
More likely an acting demigod.