Live reporting: the last round
28 January 2007 13:55 PM | Last modified: 22:50
Last update: 18.57 CET
Enjoy it while you can, because today is already the last round of the Corus Chess Tournament. (For the Chessvibes-team it will be a new experience as well tomorrow!) Naturally, all attention is focussed on Radjabov-Topalov, the two leaders who accidently face each other in their last game. The follow the tenth match game Kramnik-Topalov, Wch (Elista) 2006, which was won by Kramnik after Topalov blundered on move 24. Apparently the Bulgarian has something in store. If they draw, Aronian can join them winning the tournament, and he’s really trying. He sac’ed a pawn and has attacking chances comparable to those in his game against Navara. There’s a drama going on in group C where Nepomniachtchi is being smashed by Nadezhda Kosintseva and the young Russian tournament leader has been sitting with his head in his hands for ten minutes now.
Here’s some footage of the start of the round:
Update 14.51 CET: Topalov deviated from his earlier game with 19…Nxe5. Actually I was writing “After 20.dxe5 d4, I think Black is planning 21.Be3 dxe3! 22.Rxd8 exf2+ 23.Qxf2 Bxd8 with good compensation.” and then I had a short interview with Macauley Peterson and Mig on ICC. When I returned to my laptop, the queen sac was played. 
However, Radjabov plays it safe with 22.Qxe3 which seems about equal now. While I wrote that Aronian was attacking, suddenly Tiviakov sacrificed a rook just to be the one who’s attacking. It was not correct; Rybka comes with 28.Bxh7+ winning, but what Aronian did seems winning for White as well. Van Wely has an excellent position with Black against Kramnik (20…Bxe3+ 21.Kh1 Nf4 is now possible).
Update 15.25 CET: RADJABOV-TOPALOV DRAW. Veselin used his Elista homework to secure shared first at Corus, Teimour simply played a fantastic tournament and Aronian is winning against Tivi to join the guys in the final standings. We just taped a joined press conference by Radjabov and Topalov, both handling the demo board and both answering questions afterwards. Soon online!
Update 16.07 CET: since the last update it went downwards with Van Wely. Kramnik, for a change, sacrificed and got a winning kingside attack. The move e3-e4, blocking the long diagonal and keeping all the threats, was an important one. Ponomariov-Motylev are having a tough ending, with two minor pieces against a rook for White, and an extra pawn for Black, Navara ended a fine tournament with a draw with Black against Anand, Svidler is still unstable this second week and ends with a zero with White against Karjakin and Carlsen-Shirov are still having fun, playing quite an interesting position.
Update 18.57 CET: just a quick note, while the videos are being uploaded: Carlsen was quite disappointed that he didn’t win his game against Shirov. Alexei was in a better mood after the game, stating ‘we have to learn chess from these fifteen years-old from now on’. “for my generation it’s absolutely impossible nowadays to use any kind of experience… Basically it’s youngsters who have to teach us chess, not the other way around.”
Related article: “Welcome new visitors”
Who wins the tournament if Topalov and Radjabov draw ? (and Aronian doesn’t win)
stil theory Nf6..
Don’t worry!
Topalov will win the tournament
He played Nxe5 (not Nf6) looks less strong?!
I don’t think so Aronian wil win
Topalov wil draw or lose?!
I don’t understand Nepomniachtchi: he plays all his game in blitz tempo, which already went almost wrong against Negi yesterday. Now he moves his pieces to the king’s side where there is nothing to do. The whole game in 1 hour! Very strange…
what is ribka saing about aronian, any frights left ?
I don’t think Nepom prepares with rybka
[Who wins the tournament if Topalov and Radjabov draw ? (and Aronian doesn’t win)]
Aronian is going to win.So I bet 3 persons are going to win.
Rybka thinks Aronian is winning. Score 1.58 after 31.Qa7.
And now Topalove is sacrificing his Queen.
No dull last round
I will probably be missing something, but in Topalov’s game, what will follow on Dxe3? After Dc7 Pd5, or Lg5, f4, it seems to me white is better.
HUH? why wasn’t 22.Rxd8 possible at Raja-Topalov???? explain please
Well, and so Radjabov played Qxe3, but after Bg5 he played Qc5…I missed f4? Bxf4 gxf4 Rg6+. However, isn’t white better here?
After Rxd8 xf2+ and Rxd8 black has got more compensation than after Qxe3, provided of course that he wins the rook on b6 or the queen.
thx Jeroen, very interesting round
Johan what are you thinking about Radjabov-Topalov ?
ok thank you!!! i think i understand.
draw?!
They thinking about a draw…
it is a draw
Yes it is a draw after all, cleverly played by Topalov. Has anyone looked at Bosboom’s game. It seems to me he is going to win after Qxb1+ Kd2 Ne4+ Ke1.
Excuse me, of course: first Bxe4 Nxe4 and only then Ke1 of course
Why didn’t Topalov play 26..Qc7 27.Nd5 Bc5?
im really disapointed by radjas behaviour now ..nigel short in “schach.de” (dont know the english page) told something that he thinks it was pr arranged and that there are connections between both managers of radja and topa
would be sad for chess and this tourney…
Willemzes last move, I dont understand. What was wrong with Qb2+ and then: c3?? Qf2X or Nc3 Rfd8+ Kxc5 Qxc3X or Ke3 Qxc3+ Rd3 Qxe5+ and Qf5+xg6 covering the mate?
22.Rxd8 exf2+ 23.Qxf2 etc..
Bxd8 looks stronger for white.
Bosboom partij is weer erg leuk!
after the new move they made 6 moves!!!!!!
what would bobby fisher say!?! sad that they arent
both from russia
i dont understand how u can just make 6 moves knowing that u will share first place with 2 other players…
its clear now that all 3 will have 8,5 - who wins the tournament than?
It is a shame of cours, such a short draw but it is called ‘professionalism’ I suppose.
Yes Sven (- the great bakker?), Bosboom’s gema is fun, but I think he was lucky, Qb2+ in stead of Nxb3+??? is ok for black I think (one route being: Kzc5 Qxe5+ Kb4 a5+ and Qa1 mate.
but how can topalov and also radja bee fighting every game (a thing everyone loves them for)
and than chooseto be first with 2 others
ok they get money and they dont have to work
but how can u be a so cold fighter and an agressive player and than this
i would expect such an behaviou from krammnik but topalov???
I think neither of them wanted not to be the (joint) winner - wouldn’t you feel bad if you’d been leading the tournament all the way, only to spoil it in the last round? I think it is a normal human feeling
If Db2, then maybe c3? In the Bosboom game. Is that not finished then?
Oops Df2
No c3?? Qf2 is finished, but black checkmates, in one move, not white!
Indeed…
game over for tivakov, and van veli in trouble
Topalov, Aronian and Rajabov all 8.5 points!!!!
Who is the winner???? Who has more point’s with black??!!!!
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3635
Seems to me Radjabov has more wins with Black, does that make him the true winner then?
Wouldn’t Rxf6 gxf6 Bxf6+ Bxf6 Bg6 win for Kramnik against Van Wely? In view of Rc8 Nd6?
From the silly comments around here, maybe Kramnik offers a draw?
When do I learn to type:
Kramnik-Van Wely
1.Rxf6 gxf6 2.Bxf6+ Bxf6 3.Qxf6+ Rg7 4.Bg6 Rc8 followed by 5.Nd6 - f7+ -xh6+ -f5 1-0?
Or: after Bg6 4…Rxb5! 5.Rd8+! Qxd8 6.Qxd8+ Rg8 7.Qf6+ Rg7 8Qf8+! Rg8 9Qxh6 mate
It seems to be over for Van Wely…
Family Kosintsevi are the players of this tournament in my opinion
I love when Kramnik tries to find the mate and the mate just doesn’t exist and he again will make draw(as usual)
( i speak for the world champion Kramnik,not for someone else)
nope ,game over
Que dicen las bases del torneo en caso del triple empate que hay ahora. A quien se le proclama ganador?.
Por favor chessvibes respondan esto ya.
I appoligize, my mistake.But Kramnik have to play quite more games like this to change my attitude toward him.
What say the bases (regulations) on the case of Aronian, Topalov and Radjabov. Who win the tournament?
More how much the prize monet for winner?
What say the bases (regulations) on the case of Aronian, Topalov and Radjabov. Who win the tournament?
More how much is the prize money for winner?
well i see it’s quite controversial, i would like to see a poll: Kramnik,Topalov, neither. to see who of the two is actually most favoured.
Rocade you know that taking draws before 30 moves were only Kramnik did not want to force games, he may be did not care to win tournament. He is the stronger player of anyone else in this tournament. Topalov was so aggressive and won some games but not because of his perfect attacks! How he won against ponomariov and anand we all saw. Both pono and vishy was playing horrible in both games!
But here is the reality noone could beat kramnik, beyond this noone “reached” a winning position against champion!!
ChessVibes is the future of the internet news chess community. On the next tournament email around if you can find a kindred spirit(…) and ask him/her if he can shoot some footage of the tournament and send it in. After witch edited would provide us with the latest in chess achievements…think about it!
All hail Vladimir Kramnik…pardon me, I meant “(W)ladimir (C)ramnik…
Aronian wins on SB and black games and score agains Topalov & Radjabov, but maybe there’s some other tie-breaker they’ve come up with.
Quite a lot of idiots on this board. Guess what.
Topailov cann watch the WC Tournament in Mexico on ICC.
Is Carlsen going to get his first Win in this tournament or can Shirov hold?
hold baby…do it for daddy !
I hate this situation in Corus, more players speak russian and they are team. For example Svidler and Kramnik. Topalov is alone. The most important game was Svidler Topalov. Winning but lossing. See the press-conference after the game by Svidler.
Thanks for this site !
Hey guys,
latest news on the possible re-match between Kramnik and Topalov: Ilumjinov will not allow it due to insufficient time; Topalov and his team will sue FIDE at Lausanne; Kramnik had been secretly promised a re-match in the future, in case he is dethroned in Mexico.
I read recently an analysis of the “re-match” debate, in case it reaches the court–the analyst was a jurist and said that if the court is governed by the FIDE regulations, then FIDE will lose by all means, as they MUST allow a re-match, in case everything else is being observed.
I said that Aronian is No 1
@ Chris: interesting, source?
I’m curious, what can exactly FIDE lose in court? Money, it’s president, forced decition … any ideas?
If there is no re-match, the least FIDE should do is allow Topalov to play in Mexico!
well I don’t know about a sure loss…corruption reaches the stranged places. But I have to admit they make a good case and should win the lawsuit…
But like already said…corruption is everywhere. They could do it of like an understandable error for wich they’ll get a warning for future reference on the part of FIDE for getting in time trouble with their schedule and anticipating these events
Ha, just read about:
http://www.veselintopalov.net/article/the-sports-court-in-lausanne-will-decide
and as it seems, it is all about money
http://www.veselintopalov.net/article/no-rematch-topalov-kramnik
btw, what happened with the so anticipated press conference video? Common guys
nobody wants to wait to see the Radja-Topa analysis 
right. When is it coming I’ve been on the site for an hour now and still haven’t seen it ?
Radjabov will be champion.
Aronian is No 1
Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov. Radjabov.
Carlsen diserved a win and I understand why he is disappointed. Nevertheless, I am sure a very bright future as a chess player is laying ahead of him.
Carla Amse made some photos of Silvio using his secret signals
http://wcn.tentonhammer.com
Thank you, Chessvibes, for your ground-breaking, spectacular vidoes and coverage of Wijk this year! Much appreciated by chess players around the globe.
http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/
good sense of humor 
Danailov’s photos are funny
yes ,thx chessvibes
could you please write how does the ELO changes after this turnament for topalov kramnik and anand
I know what it looks like but for all you little haters out there but I have to admit that the whole “secret signals” affair is funny..
Komen de filmpjes nog vandaag?
Radjabov is the best player of the championship
Yes, that’s a nice one. If you’re posting hate-mails, obviously you’re a very little person.
If M. Brautigam really saw what he reported, it casts shadows of suspicion much darker than those casted on Kramnik in Elista. A shadow of suspicion is no proof, however.
Perhaps next time all spectators should be relieved of their electronic equipment before entering the playing venue, to collect those items only if they’re leaving not to enter again.
In view of the possibilities of cheating it seems a sad necessity.
Fortunately, the advances made in the field of electronic equipment and software provide opportunities as well as drawbacks.
Peter Dogger and his crew deserve the highest praise for utilizing these the way they did. I truly hope they broke the ground for a new era in covering chess-events.
Cheers, Peter! Whomsoever has won Corus, you’ve won the hearts of many chess-enthousiasts with your reports.
Teymur supersen. Eslinde sen birinci yere layiqsen. Sen elave emsala gore birinci olmasan da konullerin cempionusan. Biz Azerbaycan xalqi seninle qurur duyuruq. Inaniram ki, sen novbeti il Dunyanin en guclusu olacaqsan, buna her kes inanir