Grand Slam dates announced; Masters Final in Shanghai and Bilbao

This year’s Grand Slam Masters Final will be split into two parts. One will be held in Shanghai, China (just before the Olympiad) and one in Bilbao, Spain (just after). This was announced last week in Wijk aan Zee, were the board of the Grand Slam had a meeting to discuss matters. All dates for the coming year were announced. Read more

Nanjing R6: first win for Topalov as Jakovenko blunders

A terrible blunder by Dmitry Jakovenko allowed Veselin Topalov to score his first win in round 6 of the Pearl Spring tournament. Magnus Carlsen was under pressure throughout the game with Black against Peter Leko, but held a worse ending to a draw, while Teimour Radjabov and Wang Yue drew quickly. Read more

Carlsen also beats Radjabov, 2-point lead at half time

The story doesn’t change, but gets all the more amazing by the day: Magnus Carlsen beat Teimour Radjabov in just 25 moves in round 5 of the Pearl Spring tournament and now leads by a 2-point margin at half time as Topalov-Wang Yue and Leko-Jakovenko ended in a draw. Read more

Carlsen strikes again, increases lead even further

Using Kasparov’s favourite defence against Jakovenko’s 1.e4, Carlsen won his third game today, with the black pieces. The Norwegian increased his lead at the Pearl Spring Grand Slam tournament in Nanjing to 1.5 points as both Radjabov-Topalov and Wang Yue-Leko ended in a draw. Read more

Three draws in third round Nanjing

Three combative games ended in a draw in today’s third round of the Pearl Spring Grand Slam tournament in Nanjing. Carlsen keeps his one-point lead ahead of Jakovenko, Radjabov and Wang Yue. Read more

Nanjing R2: Carlsen beats Topalov, increases lead

When announcing his cooperation with Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen made his goal clear: to become the world’s number one in the near future. In Nanjing the Norwegian is “still on schedule” with a second victory, this time over the current number one, Veselin Topalov. Read more

Carlsen starts with a win in Nanjing

In the first round of the Pearl Spring tournament in Nanjing, Magnus Carlsen defeated Peter Leko to grab an early lead. With the white pieces Veselin Topalov couldn’t break through Dmitry Jakovenko’s stubborn defence while Wang Yue and Teimour Radjabov also split the point, in a quiet King’s Indian. Read more

Grischuk beats Aronian in 1st round Bilbao

In the first round of the Grand Slam Masters Final in Bilbao, Alexander Grischuk defeated Levon Aronian with White in an Anti-Moscow Gambit. Alexei Shirov played the Dragon against Sergey Karjakin and drew easily. Read more

Bilbao Grand Slam Final Masters starts tomorrow

In the second edition of the Grand Slam Final Masters, which starts tomorrow in Bilbao, Spain Levon Aronian, Alexander Grischuk Sergei Karjakin and Alexei Shirov will compete for a € 110,000 prize fund. The 4-player, double round-robin runs September 6-12. Read more

Breaking: Topalov says no to Bilbao, Aronian replaces

Veselin Topalov won’t play in the 2nd edition of the Grand Slam Masters Final, which will take place September 6-12 in Bilbao, Spain. The reduced budget and prize fund don’t meet the expectations of the world’s number one, according to a press release sent by the Spanish organizers. As the runner-up of the Nanjing Grand Slam, Levon Aronian replaces Topalov. Read more

Next Page »