Strange looking things in Ivanchuk`s face ?

I  noticed a strange looking things in Ivanchuk cheek who is playing in the prestigious Melody Amber  2010 in Nice. Could it be that he accidentally cut himself during shaving?

Anyway, Ivanchuk and world no.1 - Magnus Carlsen is leading the tournament after round 4.

Photo source - Melody Amber 2010 Official site

Ivanchuk - Grischuk, 2009 FIDE Grand Prix, Round 11

Below are the Round 11 game between Vasilly Ivanchuk vs Alexander Grischuk in the 2009 FIDE Grand Prix at Nalchik.



Ivanchuk (2746) - Grischuk (2748) [A40]
2009 FIDE Grand Prix, Nalchik (11), 27.04.2009

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 The Bayonet Variation of the King's Indian Defense 9...Nh5 10.c5 Nf4 11.Bxf4 exf4 12.Rc1 h6 13.Nd4 a6 14.h3 Kh8 15.Qd2 Ng8 16.Rfd1 h5 17.Qxf4 Bh6 18.Qg3 h4 19.Qd3 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Qg5 21.Re1 Bd7 22.c6 bxc6 23.dxc6 Be6 24.Bg4 Bxg4 25.hxg4 Ne7 26.Qd1 Rab8 27.a3 Kg7 28.Re3 Qf6 29.Nf3 Nxc6 30.Nd5 Qe6 31.Nxc7 according to Fritz , black should protect the d6 pawn with 31...Qd7 but Grischuk decided to not defend passively and play 31...Qxg4?
32.Qxd6 and now black is in trouble because his knight on c6 is en prise 32...Rbd8 32...Nd8 33.Ne5 threatening to play Nd7 forking black rooks 33.Qxc6 33.Qxc6 Rd1+ 34.Ne1 h3 35.Qc3+ f6 36.Rxh3 Rc8 37.e5 1-0

Bilbao Master 2008 Round 7 : Carlsen lost to Ivanchuk.

Someone in chessvibes.com found the mistake in the players rating - both were rated the same - 2787. Actually Magnus official FIDE rating now is 2775 where as Ivanchuk is rated 2781. photo from chessvibes.com

Vassily Ivanchuk - my favourites player beat the leader of the tournament -Magnus Carlsen in round 7. Vassily control the game from the begining when Magnus made a mistake on move 13. The game is more one sided from that point although there's risk that Ivanchuk would lost on time in the end but he eventually managed to win the game quite easily.

Former World Champ - Veselin Topalov suffered his first defeat to the resurgent - Levon Aronian. Meanwhile World Champion Vishy Anand seems to play caoutisly in this tournaments when he setteled down for another draw against Radjabov.

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!

Ivanchuk nearly lost against Bu Xianqi !

I’m following live on the Internet Chess Club (ICC) the game between the leaders of the Mtel 2008 – Vassily Ivanchuk against the tail enders Bu Xianqzhi (left) .

Below are the game .


GM Bu Xiangzhi (2708) - GM Vasilly Ivanchuk (2740)
MTel Master 2008. Round8. 16.05.2008

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0–0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.e4 Qc8 12.Bb2 0–0 13.Qe3 Re8 14.Rac1 Qc7 15.h3 Rac8 16.Nh2 Qb8 17.Ng4 Ba8 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Na4 Be7 20.e5 Bxg2 21.exd6 Bxd6 22.Kxg2 Nc5 23.Nc3 Be5 24.b4 Nb7 25.Qxb6 Rxc4 26.Na4 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Bxb2 28.Nxb2 Qa8 29.Qc6 Nd6 30.Qxa8 Rxa8 31.Rc6 Nf5 32.Rc7 h5 33.Nd3 h4 34.g4 Nd4 35.a4 f6 36.Nc5 e5 37.a5 Ne2 38.Ne6 below are the position from the ICC online telecast

Ivanchuk is clearly lost here. The built in chess programme on the ICC - Crafty evaluate that white is 1.53 pawns better!. White has a great chance to create a passed pawn on the queenside. White rook and knight is very active. Black rook is passively guarding his pawn on a6 and now white is threatening to capture the g7 pawn so Ivanchuk has to exchange his knight with...Nf4+ 39.Nxf4 exf4 40.Rc6? Bu mistakenly leave the 7th rank and let black king to proceed to the center. He should remain at the 7th rank and guard his b pawn with 40.Rb7!± 40...Kh7 Black has to defend his weak f4 pawn . 41.Rb6 Now if black rook move from a file, his a6 pawn will lost. 41...Kg6 42.Kf3 Kg5 43.b5 axb5 44.Rxb5+ Kg6 45.Kxf4 two pawn up and with outside pased pawn is an easy win for white! 40...Kf7 41.g5 Kg6 42.gxf6 gxf6 43.Kf3 Kg5 44.Rc5+ f5 45.Rc6 Rb8 46.Rb6 Ra8 47.Ke2 Re8+ 48.Kd3 Re4 49.Kc3 Re2 50.Rxa6 Rxf2 51.Rd6 f3 52.Rd1 Kf4 53.Kb3 Re2 54.a6 Re3+
things looking not so good for Bu. Ivanchuk is repairing his position and creating drawing chance!55.Kc4 f2 56.Rf1 Kg3 57.b5 Ra3 58.Kb4 Ra2 59.Kb3 Ra5 60.Kb4 Ra2 61.Kb3 Ra5 ½–½

Ivanchuk Trick Bu Xianqi

Vassily Ivanchuk (right) crushed Chinese GM Bu Xianqi in the 3rd round of the 2008 MTel Master last night. The Ukraine managed to “trick” Bu in the opening that many commenter including "Mr. Fritz" said that Bu is already lost in 9 moves. The super GM from China headed for Slav opening right from the start but were shocked that Ivanchuk actually is playing the English opening!

After 3 round, Ivanchuk lead with full points and now he’ll surely be the tournament favourite to win this tourney and end ex world champion and local boy – Veselin Topalov hope to win the MTel Master for 4 straight year! Meanwhile Bu Xianqi (left) would probaly go all out to prove he is worth the invitation to play in this ellite tournament.

GM Vassily Ivanchuk - GM Bu Xianqi [A11]
MTel Master 2008, 10.05.2008, Round 3

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 Bu show his intention that he's willing to go for the Slav opening. 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 a6 5.Qc2 b5 5...e6 and 5...g6 is recommended by theory 6.b3 Bg4?! I think the problem start here. 6...g6 7.Bb2 dxc4 8.bxc4 Bg7 Is suggest by Fritz theory book 7.Ne5 Bh5?! black should admit he has misplayed the opening and play 7...Be6 8.Bb2± 8.cxb5 cxb5?? Lesser evil would be 8...Bg6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.bxa6 Nxa6±

9.Bxb5+! Ivanchuk start to rock n roll 9...axb5 alternative 9...Nbd7 wont change the torture after 10.Nxd5! Rc8 (10...Nxd5 11.Bxd7+) 11.Nxf6+ exf6 12.Qxc8 Qxc8 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.Nxd7 Kxd7 10.Nxb5 e6 11.Nc7+ Ke7 12.Nxa8

In top level chess, there’s no chance for black to escape from this position. Bu should probably resign here but hey...who want to resign after only 12 move! Bu played another 20 more moves before call it a day 12...Nfd7 13.Ba3+ Kf6 14.Bb2 Nxe5 15.f4 Nbd7 16.Nc7 Bg6 17.Bxe5+ Nxe5 18.fxe5+ Kxe5 19.Qc3+ Kf5 20.0–0+ Kg5 21.a4 Kh6 22.Rf3 Bf5 23.Raf1 Bd6 24.Nb5 Bb8 25.Nd4 Be4 26.Rh3+ Kg6 27.d3 Bf5 28.Rhf3 Be5 29.Qe1 Bxd4 30.Rg3+ Kh6 31.exd4 g6 32.Rgf3 1–0

Ivanchuk Lead Mtel Master 2008

Vassily Ivanchuk (right) lead the Mtel Master 2008 in Sofia after beating the three times Champion- Veselin Topalov. Topa who play in his home country couldn’t achieve any advantage in their 2nd round encounter. The worst thing is he lost with white. Ivanchuk the most eccentric top ellite chess players now have full score ( 2 point) after beating Azerbaijani - Tiemur Radjabov in the 1st round. Ivanchuk has won all his game so far playing with black pieces!

Photo and logo from the official site

Ivanchuk Pink Pant!

Above is another photo of Vassily Ivanchuk wearing the famous pink pants . See my previous article and photo about his pink pants here

Ivanchuk is autistic?

I’ve read an interesting article in chess improvement blog about Kim Peek a savant -

a photographic or eidetic memory and developmental disabilities, resulting from congenital brain abnormalities.

But what made the article interesting for me is he gave another example of autistic savant which is well known for all serious chess player – Vassily Ivanchuk! Below are axcerpt from te article.

….'Widely understood by Grandmasters that Vassily Ivanchuk is probably autistic. He also loves poetry, and has memorized one hundred Russian poems. I asked his wife,'why did it not last? Were you both too young?' 'No. That wasn't it at all. With Vassily, all there was chess, chess, chess, and more chess'…..

Read the full article here here

I search on the internet about autistic. Below are my findings.

An autistic savant (historically described as idiot savant) is a person with both autism and savant syndrome. Savant syndrome describes a person having a severe developmental or mental handicap with extraordinary mental abilities not found in most people. This means a lower than average general intelligence (IQ) but very high narrow intelligence in one or more fields. Savant syndrome skills involve striking feats of memory and arithmetic calculation and sometimes include unusual abilities in art or music. Savant syndrome is sometimes abbreviated as "savantism", and individuals with the syndrome are often nicknamed savants. This can be a source of confusion since a savanter is a person of learning, especially one of great knowledge in a particular subject.

Quick definitions (autistic)

· adjective: characteri tic of or suffering from autism

· See autism

Quick definitions (autism)

· noun: (psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people

Below are previous ICC interview with Ivanchuk

Source: Onelook dictionary

Wikipedia

2nd ACP Rapid: Ivanchuk Miss Mate In 5 !

In the quarterfinal of the 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup , Vassily Ivanchuk was eliminated by Radjabov (photo right) after a dramatic tie break where Ivanchuk (photo left) miss mate in 5 with about second left of his remaining time whereas Radjabov got about 3 second left.

Radjabov,T (2735) - Ivanchuk,V (2751)
2nd ACP World Rapid Cup Odessa UKR (2.5), 06.01.2008

Radjabov play 49. Qc3 but Ivanchuk who was holding the advantage but have second only miss the mate in 5 when he played 49...Rg8 ? [49...Qe3+ 50.Kg3 Rg8+ 51.Kh2 Qf2+ 52.Kh1 Qxf1+ 53.Kh2 Qg2# mate ! no luck this time Chucky! 1–0 Radjabov have 3 second left!!

Ivanchuk Eliminated By Chess Tourist In Round 3!

Vasily Ivanchuk (photo left) the recent World Blitz Champion failed to repeat his performances in Moscow after being eliminated by the pony tail hair style Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu (photo right) in round 3 World Cup. Ivanchuk probably have some physcology problem facing Nisipeanu in this knock out event because the same guy eliminated him in the same event in Las Vegas 1999.

The 23-year-old (back in 1999) Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu from Romania, who given his ranking of over 100 was not given a chance to go past the second or third round. He was famaously ridiculed as a tourist by none less than former World Champion-Garry Kasparov. Nisipeanu as a clear outsider made it to the semifinals of the FIDE World Chess Championship by beating Vasily Ivanchuk in round 4 and Alexei Shirov in the quarterfinals only to succumb to the eventual champion Alexander Khalifman. Nisipeanu won the European Individual Chess Championship 2005 in Warsaw with 10 points out of 13 games, half a point ahead of runner-up Teimour Radjabov from Azerbaijan.

See the full result of the Round 3 World Cup 2007 here

World Blitz 2007 . Ivanchuk - Adams : 0-1

Video from europe-echecs.com

Vassily Ivanchuk were ground down by England top GM Mickey Adams in round 31

Analysis by hairulov and Fritz

Ivanchuk,V (2787) - Adams,Mi (2729) [E18]World Blitz Moscow RUS (31), 22.11.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 Nowadays top GMs prefer 4...Ba6 as the main line. 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.0-0 [7.Qc2 aiming for 8.e4 is an alternative but black has a good reply with 7...c5! 8.d5! exd5 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nxd5 Setting a small trap. 10...Bxd5= (10...hxg5?? Would be a blunder 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Bxb7 Black will down material.) ] 7...Ne4 This move prevent white from dominating the center. 8.Bd2 At first this move looks like a passive bishop move but white is willing to trade his passive dark square bishop for black active knight at e4! [8.d5?! is bad because after 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 white will have weak double pawn.] 8...f5 [8...Nxc3?! Just helped white development. 9.Bxc3; 8...Nxd2?! 9.Qxd2 Black has lost control over e4.] 9.Qc2 Bf6 10.Rad1 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qc1 d6 I noticed that Mickey always like to play the hedghong formation e6-d6-b6 and later break with c5. Joshua Waitzkin famaous American IM said that he once have to play against Michael Adams and when he study Adams games, he noticed that he often seemed to play obsolutely no heed to the center. Usually the first principal a young chess player learns is "control the center" and here was a world class GM Ignoring it altogether! After many days of studying his games, Waitzkin began to understand that Adams was controlling the center with complete detachment. He had made the circles so small, you couldn't see them...but they were there.In fact, Adams often had complete central domination while seeming to ignore it al together.13.Ne1 Ivanchuk is willing to trade his light square bishop to increase his chance for e4 break later. 13...Qe8 14.f3 Bb7 15.e4 Nd7 [15...Qa4!? Would win a pawn on c4 or a2. Maybe Adams will play it in longer time control but in blitz the initiatiave is far more important then material advantage!] 16.Nd3 fxe4 17.fxe4 e5 18.d5 White gets more space. 18...Bc8 Adams relocate his light square bishop. On b7 it's doesn't have much prospect due to white center blocked. 19.Bh3 Ivanchuk decide to trade black light square bishop and exploite black weaness on light square. 19...Nc5 20.Bxc8 Nxd3 21.Rxd3 Rxc8 22.Rdf3 Qg6 23.Rf5 h6 24.Qd1 Be7 25.Qa4 Ivanchuk decided to go for black abandond quenside. 25...Rxf5 26.exf5 Qe8?! [26...Qg5 Is more active. 27.Be1 Rf8 28.Qc2+/=] 27.Qxa7+/- Bg5 28.Kg2? A mistake by Ivanchuk and gave Adams initiative with 28...Qh5 [28.Qb7!] 28...Qh5! 29.Qb7 Qe2+ 30.Rf2 Qe4+ 31.Kh3 [31.Rf3!? should not be overlooked 31...Qe2+ 32.Rf2 Qe4+ 33.Rf3 Qe2+ 34.Rf2=] 31...Rf8-/+ 32.Qxc7 Be3 [32...Rf6=/+] 33.Rf1?? A blunder. Ivanchuk should have played 33.f6 gxf6 And now black rook can't joint the attack because th f file is close. (33...Rxf6 34.Qc8+ Kh7 35.Rxf6 gxf6 36.Qd7+) 34.Re2 Qf5+ 35.Kg2 Qd3=] 33...Qd3? [33...h5! and Black takes home the point 34.Be1 Qg4+ 35.Kg2 h4-+] 34.Rf3= Qe4 35.Rf1?? releasing the pressure on the opponent [35.f6 gxf6 36.Rxe3 Qxe3 37.Qxd6 Qf3=] 35...Qd3? [35...h5 and Black can celebrate victory 36.Be1 Qg4+ 37.Kg2 h4-+] 36.Rf3= Qe4 37.Rf1?? Ivanchuk taught Mickey would go for a draw by repeating move. [37.f6 would bring relief 37...gxf6 38.Rxe3 Qxe3 39.Qxd6=] 37...h5-+ At last Mickey found the winning move ! 38.Re1 [38.Be1 otherwise it's curtains at once 38...Qg4+ 39.Kg2 Qe2+ 40.Bf2 Rxf5 41.Qc8+ Rf8 42.Qxf8+ Kxf8 43.a3-+] 38...Qxf5+ 0-1

Ivanchuk beat Anand to become World Blitz 2007 Champion!

What a tremendous ending. No director can create a better drama ending when Ivanchuk meet Vishy Anand in the final round of the World Blitz 2007 Champion in Moscow. Both have same points but Anand was the favourites as he has to play white but Ivanchuk silence his critics -amongst them from Garry Kasparov-about his nerve stability by winning the final game against the World Classical Champion-Anand!

[Event "World Blitz"Moscow RUS"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8.
Be3 d6 9. N1d2 Nf6 10. f4 O-O 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. g4 b5 13. O-O-O Rc7 14. Rhg1
Qe7 15. Kb1 Nd7 16. g5 Bb7 17. Rg3 Nb4 18. Rh3 g6 19. Qg4 Rfc8 20. Qh4 Nf8 21.
a3 Nxd3 22. cxd3 h5 23. gxh6 Qxh4 24. Rxh4 Nh7 25. Nd4 Nf6 26. N2f3 Re8 27. Ng5 e5 28. fxe5 dxe5

29. Ndf3

? Anand played this natural move quickly. If he spent some times he should probaly find the winning move 29. h7+ !Kh8 (29... Nxh7 30. Nxh7 exd4 31. Nf6+ Kf8
32. Rh8+ Ke7 (32... Kg7 33. Nxe8+ Kxh8 34. Nxc7) 33. Nxe8) (29... Kg7 30. Nge6+
fxe6 31. Nxe6+ Kh8 (31... Rxe6 32. h8=Q+) 32. Nxc7) 30. Rf1 exd4 31. Rxf6)
29... Nh5 30. Rg1 Kh8 31. Nh3 Bc8 32. Nf2 Nf4 33. Nxe5 Ne2 34. Re1 Nd4

35. Neg4 ? a mistake in difficult position (35. Nfg4 Bxg4 36. Nxg6+ fxg6 37. Rxg4 Kh7 is more resielence.) 35... Nf3 36. Nf6 Rd8 37. Nd5 Rb7 0-1

Tal Memorial 2007 Opening Ceremony: Ivanchuk Wear His Favourites Pink Pant!!!

Watch ( starting at point 40 seconds and then from 1 minutes 26 second) Ivanchuk famous pink pants during the drawing lots.

The Tal Memorial Tournament has kicked off. The 1st round produce only one decisive game that's Leko win over Shirov. Other games ended in a draw. However, Kramnik as white almost lost to the Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen but he managed to hold Carlsen mating attack and convert to a draw rook endgame. The event takes place in Moscow from 9th-19th November 2007. This event will be followed by the FIDE approved World Blitz Championship which will be a double round robin starting from November 21st-22nd 2007.

For me, the most interesting thing happen at the opening ceremony is about Ivanchuk - wearing his favourites pink pant. I've mention about his famous pink pant before. Is it his main secret behind his recent succes of being no. 2 in the world ranking behind the World Champion Vishy Anand?

You can see Ivanchuk wearing his favourite pants in others tournaments in my previous article here

Ivanchuk : The Pink Panther Show!

I noticed the world no.2 in the latest FIDE ratings - Vassily Ivanchuk (picture right) at the Europen Team Championship 2007 in Turkey wear the same pants (pink colour)that he had already wear at others tournament recently.

In my previous article, Ivanchuk wore the same pink pants and i wonder if he think the pants bring him some luck! May be he's fan of the famous cartoon - Pink Pather Show!!!

Ivanchuk playing against Karjakin in the 1st round of The Aerosvit tournament in Foros, Ukraine, took place from 17th-30th June 2007

Ivanchuk wearing the pink pants at the 37th Olympiad in Turin, Italy 2006. He is playing against Robert Markus (Scotland)

See my article about him wearing the famous pink pants here , and fascinating interview here

And info about The Pink Panther Show here

Ivanchuk Strange Behaviour!

Congratulation to Vassily ivanchuk for winning the The Aerosvit tournament in Foros, Ukraine, took place from 17th-30th June 2007. Vassily Ivanchuk took clear first with 7.5/11 half a point clear of Sergey Karjakin. He won this strong event which consist strong participants like Peter Svidler, Shirov and Karjakin.

.I noticed a "typical" behaviour of Ivanchuk during this tournament. In the opening ceremony, he wore a pink trousers (Ivanchuk seat behind Shirov- picture below!) where as others participant wore nice coat.




Ivanchuk at the opening ceremony seat behind Shirov


The famous pink pants he wore in the 1st round against Karjakin but .......
at the closing and price giving ceremony he wore a complete suite!



"Big Chucky", as Ivanchuk is called, has been described by Viswanathan Anand as the most eccentric player in the chess world. Anand, tongue-in-cheek, gave his view on Ivanchuk like this
....He’s someone who is very intelligent ... but you never know which mood he is going to be in. Some days he will treat you like his long-lost brother. The next day he ignores you completely.
The players have a word for him. They say he lives on 'Planet Ivanchuk'. ... I have seen him totally drunk and singing Ukrainian poetry and then the next day I have seen him give an impressive talk.
For a while he was trying to learn Turkish. Don’t ask me why ... Everyday is a surprise with him....

p/s : Latest news : Vassily Ivanchuk's hot streak continues as he wonThe Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup takes place in Odessa, Ukraine from 4th-6th July 2007 with 7/9 half a point clear of Alexander Grischuk!!!!