Is she Mrs. Topalov ?

As we already know, former World Champion - Veselin Topalov has married last year. However there's no coverage about the wedding accept that few comments in the net from his manager - Silvio Danailov about Veselin performance ...(chess performance of course :)) ... drop after his marriage.

Danailov, mentioned in an  interview last year  that Topalov married and was “enjoying life a little bit,” adding, “He is not motivated to play tournaments right now.”

In the recent SuperGM tournament - Amber, Topalov was spot with a beautiful lady and i belief  the lady is his wife. I did some googling and found that his wife is a Spanish name Christina.

Anand-Topalov World Championship Match Start With a Volcano!?

The long awaited Anand-Topalov 2010 World Championship Match start with a volcano!? Ok I just exaggerated, however the volcano did effect the start of the match . What I mean is the eruption of the  Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland on April 15, 2010  which  threw ash up in the European atmosphere and led to air travel disruptions  resulting to  the closure of airspace over most of Europe.

The funniest thing is on the same day when the volcano explode, I’ve read in many chess website that Anand has safely landed in Sofia. However a few days later, Chessbase.com publish an article mentioning that Anand and his team is officially ask for postponement because they are stranded in Frankfurt on their way to Sofia.

The question is who saw Anand in Sofia few days ago? Could it be his double? Is this part of Anand psychological gimmick?

You can follow the latest update about the controversy at Chessdom.com 

Anand-Topalov 2010 FIDE World Championship Match in Singapore?

Chessdom.com revealed that Singapore along with Bulgaria and Turkey has bid to host the Anand-Topalov 2010 FIDE World Championship Match . The bidding process is still open till 30th September 2009 and on 9th October 2009, FIDE will announced the country which win the bid. The match is scheduled to be held in April 2010. More about the bidding procedure at FIDE.com

I really hope that Singapore will win and probably local fan and i can be at Singapore to watch the historic world championship match!?

Anand is the Undispute World Champion but..."only"no 2. in the top live rating behind... Topalov!

Na,na,na,na,na...You are not that great Anand !

Every chess fan know that Viswanathan Anand from India has won the World Chess Championship yesterday. However, refering to today live chess rating, he is "only" no.2 behind Veselin Topalov! ...Topalov is no.1 with 2791.0 where as Anand is in the second place with 2790.8 . It means that Anand is 0.2 rating short then Topalov !

Ivanchuk Win MTel Master 2008

Yes. Ivanchuk (left) show his nervous stability when he beat Cheparinov in the final round to comfirm the first place of the 2008 MTel Master. Topalov result against Radjabov can't help him to win the title for the 4th time in a row .

Last night there's much talk about the possiblity of Topalov winning the tournament if Ivanchuk lost and Topalov win because they will have the same points ( 7 points). The tie break implemented in this tournament favour the player who won the most game, which in this case will belong to Topalov. However all that has become academic after Ivanchuk convincingly beat Cheparinov ( Topalov second!) in 33 move and undisputely won the tournament with 8 points .

Ivanchuk photo from the official site

Ivanchuk Not Yet Win The Mtel Master 2008 ?

Many fans on the internet mentioned that Ivanchuk has already won the Mtel Master 2008 after Topalov lost against Bu Xianqzhi in the 9 round. However, after refering to the tournament official regulation, I think the winner can only be decide tomorrow. If Ivanchuk lost his last round game tomorrow and Topalov win, they will both have 7 points. According to the tournament regulation, the tie break criteria is

TOURNAMENT RULES

The final standing of the players will be determined according to points. In case of sharing of places - the following criteria will be decisive for the tie-break:

· A greater number of wins.

· The result of the direct mini-matches between contenders.

· Berger.

· A greater numbers of moves played.

· A tie-break match will be played in case of a tie for the first place in the tournament between the first two players in the final standing (according to points, or the additional criteria). The match will consist of two games with a time-control of 15 minutes per player + 3 seconds added for every move played. In case of a tie, another match of two blitz-games will be played with a time-control of 5 minutes per player + 3 seconds for every move played. In case of another tied result – there will be played a last "sudden-death" decisive game with a time-control 6 minutes for the whole game for the White-player and 4 minutes for the whole game for Black-player. The White-player will only need a victory in this game to win the tournament, whole the Black-player will win the tournament by just not losing that final decisive game.

· In case the first place might be shared by more than two players – the final standing will be determined according to the criteria that have been mentioned above.

So if Ivanchuk lost and Topalov win tommorow, Topalov will win the tournament because he will have the greater number of win (6) compare to Ivanchuk (5) !!!

Mtel 2008 Round 9 : Ivanchuk Win MTel 2008!?

Tonight is a critical round for the top leaders of the Mtel 2008. Ivanchuk (left) who slow down after 5 consicutive win were followed closely by the three time champs Veselin Topalov who are ½ points behind. Ivanchuk meet Aronian where as Topalov meet the tail ender Bu Xianqi.

GM Ivanchuk (2740) - GM_Aronian (2763)
Mtel Master 2008, Round 9, 17.05.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Bd6 9.Nc3 0–0 10.Bd2 Re8 11.Qd1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 a6 Fritz theory book give 12...Nb6 13.Be2 e5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Qc2 Qe7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Bc1 g6 18.Rxd8 13.a4 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Rac1 Rc7 18.Be1 Rec8 19.Be2 h6 20.Bf3 Ncd7 21.Qb3 Ne5 22.Be2 Bb4 23.Rc2 Nc6 24.Bf3 Ne5 25.Be2 Nc6 26.Bf3 Ne5 1/2 - 1/2 A quik end. Probably Ivanchuk doesn't want to gamble his lead and want put the pressure on Topalov to take over the leading position. Meanwhile, Aronian want to end his worst campaign quickly.


GM_Bu_Xiangzhi (2708) - GM_Topalov (2767)
Mtel Master 2008, Round 9, 17.05.2008

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qc2 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 Nbd7 7.Bg2 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Nc3 0–0 10.Re1 h6 Fritz theory book suggest 10...Ne4 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Nh4 Bxh4 13.gxh4 Nef6 14.e4 Bg6 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Bf4 Rfe8 17.Rad1 b5 18.Bd6 e5 19.d5 Nh5 20.Bf1 f6 11.e4 Bh7 12.Bf4 Rc8 13.Qe2 Re8 14.Rad1 b5 15.a3 a5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Qb6 18.a4 Nd7 19.Bf4 b4 20.Nb1 Nf6 21.Be5 c5 22.Nd2 cxd4 23.Nb3 Qc6

the first critical point has occur. White can now play 24.Bxf6 gxf6 (24...Bxf6 25.e5 Qc2 26.Nxd4 Qxe2 27.Rxe2 Bd8) 25.Nxd4 black has weaken his pawn structure but he has the bishop pairs. 24.Qb5?! A weird desicion. Why not 24.Bxf6 ? 24...Qxb5 25.axb5 a4 26.Nxd4 Ng4 27.Bf4 g5 28.Bf3 white is in dilemma. If 28.Bc1 Bc5 29.h3 Red8! 28...Nxf2 29.Kxf2 gxf4 30.Nc6 fxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Bf8 32.Rd7 Bg6 ? 32..a3 is the correct move. White can play 33.e5 now and white's knight on c6 will now protected by the Bf3 bishop so white can advance his dangerous passed pawn on the b file! 33.e5! Black is in trouble. The built in chess programme on ICC- Crafty start shows white advantage increasing (photo above). Now white knight on c6 is protected by the Bf3 bishop so white can advance his dangerous passed pawn on the b file! 33...Bc5? Topalov probably plan to block the b pawn with 34...Bb6 but white has simple refutation 34.Rc1!

34...Be3 Probably Topalov noticed that his intended move 34...Bb6 will be punish by tactical combination 35.Ne7+ Rxe7 36.Rxc8+ Kg7 37.Rxe7; 35.Rc4 [35.Ne7+ Kh7 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.Nxc8] 35...a3 36.bxa3 bxa3 37.Ra4 [37.Ne7+ Kg7 (37...Rxe7 38.Rxc8+) 38.Nxc8 a2 39.Ra4 Rxc8 40.Rxa2] 37...Bc5 38.Ra6 a2 39.Rxa2 Kg7 40.Ra6 Rb8 41.Nxb8 Rxb8 42.Bc6 h5 43.Ra8 Rb6 44.Rdd8 h4+ 45.Kf4 Bh7 46.Be4 Be7 47.Rdb8 1-0

Topalov shocking lost to tail ender Bu Xianqzhi gave Ivanchuk sure share of first place before the final round tommorow ( round 10). If Ivanchuk lost tommorow and Topalov win, they will have the same point ( 7 ) but if the tie break use the head to head encounter- Ivanchuk will be the New Champion of MTel Master. Stoping Topalov three consecutive years winning streak!

Topalov Beat his Second - Cheparinov !

An interesting encounter occur in the 3rd round of the 2008 Mtel Master. Ex World Champion – GM Veselin Topalov (right) meet his famous second GM Ivan Cheparinov (below left) which surely attract interest among all chess fan. Every chess fan know Cheparinov has contributed many successful opening novelty for Topalov and it is fun to know what opening will they choose because they know each other well!

Both players have spent many hours analysing together and they surely know each other strong and weakness. Another things to watch is whether there will be a “arrangement” made by both player because they have the same manager Silvio Danaliov and came from the same country- Bulgaria!

GM Ivan Cheparinov (2695) - GM Veselin Topalov (2767)
MTel Master 2008, 10.05.2008, Round 3

The position below arise after white 35.Re1 and clearly black has clear advantage from the material and position point of view. The ex world champion , true to his style play the queen sacrifice with .....

35... Rxd4 ! 35...Qxd4?! would be a terrible blunder after 36.Rxe8+ Kg7 37.Qxd4+ Rxd4 38.Rxc8 Rd2+ 39.Kg3 Rxb2 40.Rc7+ Kf8 41.Bf1= (41.Rxh7? is no good because of 41...c3 42.Bxf5 gxf5–+; ) 36.Rxd1 Rxd1 37.Bf1 Bf7 38.Be2 1-0 Cheparinov resign because after 38...Rd2 39.Qe3 Rxb2 or 39...Rc2 is too much to handle!

cartoon and logo from the official site

Topalov done it again!

photo from M-TelMaster Website

Veselin Topalov emerged as the 2007 M Tel Master champion and he has done it for the third consecutive time ! Usually the winner can keep the trophy if he win three times and i believe he deserve it.

I watched the game live on the Internet Chess Club (ICC) and the final round was a very thrilling episode…almost all participant except Adams had a realistic chance to win the event. Sasikiran the leaders have 5 points where as , Topalov, Kamsky, Mamedyarov and Nisipeanu all have 4 ½ ponts . Adams the tail enders have 4 points only. The game Mamedyarov and Nisipeanu end early and peacefully. This leave Sasikiran, Topalov and Kamsky a chance to win this event if they win and others lost.

Topalov-Sasikiran was an interesting game. Topalov sacrifice a piece and obtain three connected passed pawn on the kingside and Sasikiran black bishop can’t do much because it was paralyzed by his bad pawn formation in the centre and queenside.

Adams – Kamsky game was quite balanced although the computer gave Adams a slight advantage. Adams knowing he didn’t have the chance to win this tournament choose to sit tight and let Kamsky to press hard.The game ended peacefully.

Topalov has repeat the tale story of come back. He has a bad result in the first phase of the event and manage to catched up with the leaders at the second phase. He shows that he still a force to be reckon.