Shirov wins again, suddenly second behind Kramnik

In top level tournaments like the Tal Memorial, with their high drawing percentages, things can go pretty fast. After five rounds, Shirov occupied the ninth spot in the standings, but after winning twice in a row he’s now clear second, with 4 out of 7, a point behind Kramnik who drew with Jakovenko today. Kamsky was awarded today for his enterprising play thus far, when Mamedyarov played for a win a bit too long.

Standings after seven rounds:

  1. Kramnik                      5
  2. Shirov                       4
3-7. Carlsen, Jakovenko,
     Mamedyarov, Gelfand, Leko   3,5
8-9. Kamsky, Ivanchuk             3
 10. Alekseev                    2,5

The schedule:

10 November 2007               11 November 2007
Leko       - Shirov     1-0    Leko       - Kamsky     ½-½
Kamsky     - Gelfand    ½-½    Gelfand    - Kramnik    ½-½
Kramnik    - Carlsen    ½-½    Carlsen    - Alekseev   ½-½
Alekseev   - Ivanchuk   ½-½    Ivanchuk   - Jakovenko  ½-½
Jakovenko  - Mamedyarov ½-½    Shirov     - Mamedyarov ½-½

12 November 2007               13 November 2007
Kramnik    - Leko       1-0    Leko       - Alekseev   ½-½
Kamsky     - Shirov     0-1    Kamsky     - Kramnik    ½-½
Alekseev   - Gelfand    ½-½    Gelfand    - Jakovenko  ½-½
Jakovenko  - Carlsen    0-1    Carlsen    - Mamedyarov ½-½
Mamedyarov - Ivanchuk   1-0    Shirov     - Ivanchuk   ½-½

14 November 2007               16 November 2007
Jakovenko  - Leko       ½-½    Leko       - Mamedyarov ½-½
Alekseev   - Kamsky     ½-½    Kamsky     - Jakovenko  0-1
Kramnik    - Shirov     1-0    Kramnik    - Alekseev   1-0
Mamedyarov - Gelfand    ½-½    Gelfand    - Ivanchuk   ½-½
Ivanchuk   - Carlsen    ½-½    Shirov     - Carlsen    1-0

17 November 2007               18 November 2007
Ivanchuk   - Leko       ½-½    Leko       - Carlsen    .-.
Mamedyarov - Kamsky     0-1    Kamsky     - Ivanchuk   .-.
Jakovenko  - Kramnik    ½-½    Kramnik    - Mamedyarov .-.
Alekseev   - Shirov     0-1    Alekseev   - Jakovenko  .-.
Carlsen    - Gelfand    ½-½    Shirov     - Gelfand    .-.

19 November 2007
Gelfand    - Leko       .-.
Carlsen    - Kamsky     .-.
Ivanchuk   - Kramnik    .-.
Mamedyarov - Alekseev   .-.
Jakovenko  - Shirov     .-.

Two videos by Robert Fontaine & Gérard Demuydt of Europe-Echecs:

Start of round 7

Interview with Kamsky