Ivanchuk beats them all
12 May 2008 20:26 PM | Last modified: 17:17
The story isn’t really changing but nonetheless getting more exceptional by the day: in the fifth round Vassily Ivanchuk also beat Levon Aronian and this way he already made history by winning the first leg of the M-Tel Masters with a 100% score.
But making history isn’t yet the same as setting new records, of course. And clearly it’s about time to have a look at chess history when it comes to winning streaks.
The first that comes to mind is Karpov’s finest victory of his career: Linares ‘94, which he won 11/13. In this tournament the great Anatoly won his first six games, before being halted by Kasparov (who else), who “managed” to draw.
Five years later, Garry Kasparov himself won the Wijk aan Zee tournament (the last one that was called “Hoogovens”) 8/11, where he won 7 games in a row in rounds 2-8, after which he couldn’t remember a line in the Nimzo-Indian and was defeated by Ivan Sokolov in round 9.
We have to mention Bobby Fischer of course, who scored a winning streak of 20 games in different events 1970-1971, including his famous match victories against Larsen and Taimanov. But there was also the 1963-64 US Championship where he won all his 11 games, a record Ivanchuk can’t break in Sofia (where they play just 10 rounds…).
But the most impressive result ever scored in a single chess tournament, has to be Alexander Beliavsky’s outer-space victory at a tournament in Alicante (Spain) in 1978. There he won all of his 13 games, the only 100% win in a GM tournament ever.
A nice shot from round 5…
So what happened today? Well, Ivanchuk was Black against Aronian, and because his 4/4 also included bits of luck, who would have thought he’d also win that one? In the 4…Bf5 Slav the players followed the game Wang Yue-Bobras, Cappelle la Grande 2007, in which Black’s queen got to b2 where it is being annoying as well as potentially in danger. Levons pawn sac 15.d5!? (a novelty) prevented Black from castling but after 18…e4! White had to look hard for compensation.
…with Levon Aronian’s turn…
He managed to trap the Black queen but the price was high: two rooks and a bishop. His only hope was his queenside majority but just in time Black could castle artificially and simultaneuously put a hold to White’s passed b-pawn. In the end he didn’t fall for the Armenian’s stalemate trick and thus Vassily the Great beat ‘em all!
…to get beaten by Vassily Ivanchuk
In the second leg Ivanchuk even has three White games and two with Black, so who knows…
Thanks to Topalov’s win against Bu the tournament isn’t over yet. With his manoeuvre Nc1-d3 the Bulgarian proved that White has a slight edge in this classical Slav line. It seems Bu’s 20…e5 was a mistake - he might have missed 22…exf4? 23.e5! - as White got a deadly attack.
The draw in Cheparinov-Radjabov wasn’t bad either: another King’s Indian that involved a follow-up to the theoretical debate Radjabov had with Van Wely and Shirov at the 2007 Corus Chess Tournament. Cheparinov’s 16.exf5!? was a novelty (in the two mentioned games 16.c5 was played) and the players kept on following Rybka’s recommendations until move 23.b5, which included an exchange sacrifice by White. Radjabov reacted well to White’s activity and even seems to have missed a chance for an advantage with 34…Re3! 35.Bg2 (35.Rf3? Ne4!) 35…Qxc4. Black’s last chance to play for a win was 41…Rg8.
M-Tel Masters 2008 Round 5 Standings
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1 | Ivanchuk,V | 2740 | +797 | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.0/5 | |
| 2 | Topalov,V | 2767 | +111 | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5/5 | |
| 3 | Radjabov,T | 2751 | -86 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 2.0/5 | 4.00 |
| 4 | Cheparinov,I | 2696 | -20 | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 2.0/5 | 2.75 |
| 5 | Aronian,L | 2763 | -177 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1.5/5 | |
| 6 | Bu Xiangzhi | 2708 | -205 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 1.0/5 |
Pairings round 6 (Wednesday):
Topalov, V - Aronian, L
Xiangzhi, Bu - Cheparinov, I
Ivanchuk, V- Radjabov, T
Videos by Europe-Echecs:
Links:
You missed one of the all-time great tournaments, Peter…. Sofia Polgar’s “Sack of Rome” in 1989. A 2928 performance rating after going 8.5/9 against mostly grandmasters. Not too shabby for a 14-year-old girl. The “other Polgar” and the “other Sofia” too!
5/5 !!!!!
Chucky 4 President!!! :O
What a genius!!!
@blisscoach OK thanks! That’s the good thing about comments under articles - in the end the viewers can always complete such trivia lists!
Hi
A great tournament with great results,
congratulations to IVANCHUK ,
And thanks for the fast and good coverage chessvibes!! appreciate it..
I noticed Topa didn’t shake Bu’s hand when he sat down. Did he shake his hand when the arbiter started the clock?? What’s with these Bulgarians? Why don’t they like to shake hands. Poor attitude if you ask me.
maybe they already did, another handshake scandal is the last thing Danailov needs with the Chinese now: since they are in the process of negotiating for a Grand Slam leg in China
Radjabov’s interview: In summery he said: ”OK”.
lol
the deadline for the kamsky-topalov match is extended another 3 days. at the request of Kamskys manager.
interesting.
Topa and Bu shaked ofcourse, stop this crap!
A fantastic performance by Ivanchuk, but let’s give a little credit to Aronian for the funny stalemate trick he tried in the end. It’s amazing that his creativity was still working in such a miserable position!
I don’t like radjabov’s attitude so much. He hardly looks to the interviewer, only likes his own lengthy words, there’s no real conversation. He’s so proud of himself I find him rather arrogant. Aronian and Ivanchuk are real gentlemens I think because their hearts are always speaking, vividly.
I wouldn’t be so harsh on Radjabov. True, he’s not looking much at GM Robert Fontaine, but that’s probably because he’s playing the moves in his mind as he tells them. I’m more annoyed at the rather dismissive attitude of Topalov towards Ivanchuk’s amazing performance. Understandably Topalov would like people to acknowledge that he plays like the number 1 in the world he once was, but unfortunately for him at the same time Ivanchuk plays like god.
Looks like that snotty arrogant ahole punk Aronian is getting reamed and yes its fun to watch this punk get his dues. Remember what he said about Vishy Anand at monaco ??… he said ” that was a really horrible move ..” etc etc, he was rude , he was totally obnoxious while Anand did’nt say an unkind word about anyone.
that terrible f6+ was more embarassing to Aronian than ‘creative’
jerkoff,
you’re a lying jerk
aronian is a real gentleman
I see friendly attitude among all the players in this torney!
Firstly, congratulations to Ivanchuk and Topalov for some fantastic chess. Ivanchuk has not done credit to his potential, but better late than never. He deserves his success!
Secondly, Topalov remains at his best, but the fact is that he makes more mistakes than other GM’s, and the really good players know that if they can weather his initial storm, he will give them an opportunity around moves 30-40 to capitalise on. Also, wouldn’t it so good if he were to start behaving better!
Surprised to see Aronian getting crushed…quite unlike him. I initially also thought Radjabov will be a front-runner in this tourney, but how mistaken was I! Wish them both all the best for the second half.
And, lastly, hope Vishy hammers Kramnik in the world championship. We know Kramnik’s engine…What engine(s) do you think Vishy is using for his preparation?
Well, after Elista I am not so fond of Topalov either, His games are always interesting, but when he speaks I can hear his egocentricness in every word, which goes always at the cost of other people. With radjabov it’s about the same. never smiling openheartedly (contrary to Mamedyarov!!), never granting succes to others. But as a chessfan I enjoy their games.
CAL|Daniel: Yes I’m sure even you wouldn’t take that f6-pawn. Personally I think Aronian should’ve resigned after 24. … Rxd1+, anyone above, hm, let’s say 2150, clearly saw it was a win for black then. Poor Aronian is not very strong at calculation. What’s your rating?
@Cal: why was that move ‘terrible’? It was the best try in the position, and it showed Aronian hadn’t at least lost his sense of humour. But then again, many people on this forum don’t seem to know what a ’sense of humour’ is at all
Nah, sense of humour is when you blunder after 9 moves, then play to 32.
But facing Topalov and getting crushed, you play to 31.
More respect for Topalov than Ivanchuk?
lol, Ivanchuk was not the winner in the polls, BUT they bolded him anyway
I fully agree with arne. There was nothing disrespectful in Aronian’s f6+. He just made a small joke in a forced mate position. His last move and his genuine smile are clearly intended as a silent: “Oh I so wish my pawn had been on g5 instead of g4…”
In 1998, Kasparov played a clock simul against the Israeli national team, beating 4 2600+ GMs 7-1 over two rounds (+6 =2). That beats everything in my opinion.
Kramnik did the same (beating them in a clock simul) against the German national team. It is completely incredible but it happened. These players could individually compete in the Olympiad and end in top 10.
arkansaw: humm now we know who you voted for
You can see in bold type the player you’ve voted for in the poll.
Well, I think they are all very nice people, basically. How anybody can not like Aronian is beyond me.
@Eiae, don’t you think some people may consider some of these guys just a little *too* nice? I mean come on, have you ever heard Anand say anything even remotely surprising?Or Aronian *without* his irony ‘mask’? These are nice guys, and they play great chess, but I myself sometimes wish they would drop their guard from time to time and say what they really think.
well ivanchuck had some luck but it wasnt all luck he is a great player and he played well and had some luck
@arne, don’t bet on that. Look what happened to Topalov after he dropped the mask … now he is the Antichrist lol. No, I think most of the GMs will just continue being “nice” .
Truth to be told though, I think Anand is honest in his niceness :).
re: the football game, I can’t say I’m surprised to see Topalov dive for a penalty kick…
Ivanchuk…has been playing with astonishing accuracy and deserves every single point at this tournament. He is a true chess genius and a simple guy at the same time. I mean, who else in the world top-10 would go to his local town club and analyze games with amateurs…well, Chucky does!
Those punks who consider Aronian or Anand rude, you guys are either dumb or out of touch with reality. OK I’ll admit I am Armenian, but the vast majority of sane people will agree with me on this issue. To not sound biased, I’ll also admit that Mamedyarov (unlike Radjabov) is a very nice guy, too.
Aronian…is having one of his worst tournaments, but stuff happens
Topalov…well he’s got his chance today. With a win he ties for first with Chucky with three rounds to go.
A great fighting chess in this tournament! Congratulation to both Chucky and Topa for the thrilling game yesterday!