Ivanchuk wins after Topalov blunders
19 February 2007 22:39 PM CET | Last modified: 23:51 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
Update 22.39 CET: comments to round 2 games
Who would have thought? Vassily Ivanchuk has joined Magnus Carlsen and together they lead the Morelia/Linares Tournament after two rounds! The way it happened was something you would only expect in a blindfold game in the next elite tournament on the calendar: Melody Amber in Monaco, next month. Topalov blundered a full piece yesterday.
In another excellent game by Ivanchuk, the Ukrainian had won a pawn but Topalov had some drawing chances, after he suddenly missed a tactical blow based on a pin. After meeting the Marshall yesterday, Svidler chose the same defence against Anand. The Indian declined but later Black sacrificed a pawn anyway for obtaining the bishop pair. Quite an interesting game which ended in a draw. Just like the other two games; two more great fights that proved there’s nothing wrong with the result ‘draw’ in itself! (Just very short ones we do not like…) Especially Aronian-Carlsen is recommended for replay. The games with comments:
According to Magnus Carlsen’s blog, “Aronian offered a draw after 23.Qh3″, which Magnus declined. I think it is great to see chess players who make an effort to win (even though it may still end up with a draw, as in this case)!
Topalov’s blunder was zet 40. Was het tijdnood?
Brilliant!!! Ivanchuk had a knight hanging in the centre for five moves… psychologically this would bring anybody down. Nice one Vassily.
Carlsen is great!!! Well done, you can go on.
At this time http://www.veselintopalov.net reports that Cheparinov won the open group. Was it really with Tiviakov???
Round 3 results: Anand defeated Carlsen; all the others made draws.