Anand recovered and beated Carlsen with Black. Topalov grabbed the sole lead by beating Ivanchuk with White. Aronian-Radjabov and Leko-Shirov ended in a draw. The Bulgarian is leading with 2.5 points out of 3, the world champion has half a point less. Together they scored 4 wins so far. No one else has a plus score after the first three rounds.

Games with coments round 3

Morelia-Linares is just two rounds ahead, but so much has happened already. Two decisive games today: Aronian defeated Anand with Black in a Marshall and Ivanchuk beat Leko in a rare line of the Ruy Lopez. Topalov and Radjabov seemed to be blundering a pawn one after another, and then drew their Berlin Wall, Shirov-Carlsen in a solid Paulsen drew their game.

The game of the day was Anand vs Aronian, in which the Armenian got a very strong attack after sacrificing a second pawn in the Marshall. It looked like Anand blundered terribly on move 30, but in reality his position was already hopeless

Tournament standing after round 2,

No	Name	Fed	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pts
1	Alexei Shirov	ESP	2755	**	1/2	-	-	-	-	-	0	0.5
2	Magnus Carlsen	NOR	2733	1/2	**	-	-	-	-	1/2	-	1.0
3	Peter Leko	HUN	2753	-	-	**	-	-	1	0	-	1.0
4	Veselin Topalov	BUL	2780	-	-	-	**	1	1/2	-	-	1.5
5	Levon Aronian	ARM	2739	-	-	-	0	**	-	-	1	1.0
6	Teimour Radjabov	AZE	2735	-	-	0	1/2	-	**	-	-	0.5
7	Vassily Ivanchuk	UKR	2751	-	1/2	1	-	-	-	**	-	1.5
8	Viswanathan Anand	IND	2799	1	-	-	-	0	-	-	**	1.0

 Morelia.

Games with coments round 2

Morelia/Linares is an eight-player, double round-robin and is held from February 14 till March 8. Participants are Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Ivanchuk, Leko, Radjabov, Shirov and Topalov. The first part takes place 14-23 February in the Mexican city of Morelia, after which the players fly to Spain for the second part of the tournament: February 28 - March 8 in Linares.

Video tour to Morelia-Linares!

Report Round 1

Morelia-Linares has had a promising start. Anand defeated Shirov with Black in Najdor with a typical sacrifice of exchange on c3, Topalov beat Aronian in home preparation a Nimzo-Indian, Leko won  as well, against Radjabov who tried a Sveshnikov, and Carlsen-Ivanchuk was a quiet draw in Najdorf)

Games with coments round 1

Many games ended in draws as always in these last rounds. One of them was Polgar-Aronian they smashed 27 moves of Marshall theory onto the board in no time. 27…Re5 was new compared to Nakamura-Aronian, Gibraltar 2005, and the ending was drawish.

Another important game was between Anand and Kramnik, was played as usual Petroff's defence. They followed Svidler-Kramnik, Mexico 2007, until Black brought a novelty with 23…hxg4. Vishy was winning… until he missed 51.Rd1!, which is winning according to the engines. Anand could shared the 1-3 places with Aronian and Carlsen! In the end of game followed draw agreement.

Leko finished his tournament with a victory against Mamedyarov, who disappointed this year. Out of the opening Black got some troubles and after he missed 22…Ne5, it was over already.

Michael Adams was a bit surprised today by Veselin Topalov’s choice of opening today. Most of the moves were known theory, including the temporary pawn sac by black, and the well-advised returning of it by white. In the post mortem, Adams said that maybe 22.f3 wasn’t necessary, but in any event black was doing well, and a draw was agreed one move later.

Finally a win for Boris Gelfand, at the expense of Pavel Eljanov. After the game Boris said he already played this opening “before my opponent was born” :-). Black’s hanging pawn formation makes it hard for him to find an active plan, and when he tried anyway, his weaknesses started to tell. Gelfand managed to provoke 23...f6, with a softening of the kingside, and soon won a pawn. Black’s 33...d4?  gave up a second pawn, hoping to get some counterplay, but the Israeli carefully defused it. After 37.f3, massive material losses were inevitable for black, and so he had to resign shortly thereafter.

Michael Adams was a bit surprised today by Veselin Topalov’s choice of opening today. Most of the moves were known theory, including the temporary pawn sac by black, and the well-advised returning of it by white. In the post mortem, Adams said that maybe 22.f3 wasn’t necessary, but in any event black was doing well, and a draw was agreed one move later.

In Vassily Ivanchuk - Loek van Wely, the Dutchman confused his move order (10...Nbd7?! instead of 10...dxc4) and so had to allow his opponent to weaken his kingside pawn structure. Later, after black had sacrificed a pawn, the Ukrainian should have tried 20.f3!  getting rid of the centralized knight and reactivating his passive bishop, instead of the game’s 20.Na5?. Once white had missed this, black managed to tactically hold his position, and after a few moves in the knight ending, a draw was registered.

Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen drew their games today, and are the joint winners of the 70th Corus Chess Tournament Grandmaster Group A!

Final tabale:

Games round 13

Press conference Aronian and Carlsen

Interview winer Group "B"  Movsesian

Interview winer Group "C" Caruana

Magnus Carlsen played a magnificent game against Vladimir Kramnik, beating the former World Champion with the black pieces. Levon Aronian could not overcome Ivanchuk's defence and only drew, so that now, before the final round, Aronian and Carlsen are in the lead. Judit Polgar outplayed Michael Adams on the black side of a Petroff. And sensationally Veselin Topalov went down against Pavel Eljanov in a Modern Benoni.

In last round Carlsen has white against Radjabov, who would desperately like to move into the top, but will probably be fairly cautious against the obviously in-form Norwegian. Aronian is Black against Judit Polgar, who is probably in an optimistic mood and will be seeking to improve her position on the final table. Naturally the big match is Anand vs Kramnik, where anything might happen. Anand might try to set the tone for the September World Championship match with a fine victory; Kramnik might strike out for once with the black pieces to climb to a less embarrassing position on the table.

Video analysis Kramnik vs Carlsen (Part 1)

Video analysis Kramnik vs Carlsen (Part 2)

Kramnik vs Carlsen (Part 3)

Games round 12

Round 11 was a very hot! Almost all games were effective. The curent World champion has outplayed the junior Magnus in a very dangerouse position for him. The young choose unexpect e4 for this game. Anand offered line of sicilian, where he was feeling like a fish in a water.

The exciting game was Aronioan vs Van Wely. Levon has chosen a line with white which he was played with black against Gelfand in round 2 and was successful. This time he had a white colour and has got a full point. Aronian has took over Carlsen relay-race of leader with 7 points!

Another runner up Radjabov played with black against Gelfand. The favour Old Indian defence of Radjabov gave him progress. Now he and Anand are sharing 2-3 places with 6.5pts.

The first win for outsider Eljanov, who's defeated Polgar in Ray Lopez variant. Another important game was Ivanchuk vs Adams. Both players played sharp but carefully and followed draw.

In game Topalov vs Mamedyarov there was unexpected Old Indian defence (Radjabov's influence). The game finished with draw agreement in dynamic position!?

One more time Petroff's defence was met in game Leko vs Kramnik. the game finished with a perpetual check. 

Video analysis Carlsen vs Anand (Part1)

Video analysis Carlsen vs Anand (Part2)

Interview Aronian

Games round 11

The leader of the tournament has choosen "Volzhyn" Gambit  against Van Wely. A terribly tragic finish of the game, for Loek van Wely. He had reached a completely winning position, but without much time on the clock, but Carlsen had even less, and in a ridiculous timescramble, White's position went from plus 5 something to minus 5 something. A stroke of unexpected luck for Carlsen, who’s now clear first again with 6.5 out of 9. And, to be honest, his defeat against Leko yesterday was highly unfortunate, so now the scales are in balance again. Some short comments by Carlsen.

Kramnik couldn’t get through a solid Gelfand today and Topalov managed to create enough counterplay to hold the draw despite being an exchange down. Ivanchuk beat Eljanov and it took longer than it was expected. He outplayed his opponent and won a pawn, but then Eljanov started to defend quite well - but to no benefit.

In game Adams vs Aronian: Adams played is not very dangerous for Black, when he knows what he’s doing, and so this game has already ended in 21 moves. Understandable for Aronian, who’s on shared first and played Black, but Adams could have shown some more fighting spirit.

Anand-Leko was even quieter than we thought, and they are already back in their hotel rooms as well. And so another White game is gone for Anand, right when he started to have some chances for the tournament victory too, but perhaps he has faith in his coming Black games against Van Wely and Carlsen. In the last round he’s White against Kramnik...

Games round 10

The high tension duel was between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik. The two did not shake hands before the game, as neither one offered his first, but they would have obliged if one would have been offered. Topalov beats Kramnik, in a deeply prepared hodge-podge of moves that started with a knight sacrifice on f7. It was all found by Cheparinov, who was given all credits by Topalov

Adams has finally put an end to his series of draws, by beating Van Wely. Since he doesn’t play 6.Bc4 against the Najdorf that often, it might well have been a little Fischer tribute...

Leko was pressed Carlsen. In the end of the first control Magnus blundered and lost the game.

The game Aronian vs Eljanov finished with draw agreement. Aronian has joined Carlsen in the lead with 5½ points.

Games round 9

Standing after 9th round:

Will play Short or not? Short has announced on TWIC not to play. Well, 15 minutes to go...

 Probably, they still shaking hands?! ;-) ....maybe this will take a few minutes (feel good)

Oh! the game started!

Silvio “The Toilet” Danailov does it again! ;-)

...

Shaking hands

The soap dispute around the game Short vs Cheparinov has finished! Nigel was controled all the game,  and won but with some difficulties.

More and more people bilieve that this scandal may precede to one in game Topalov vs Kramnik. We shall wait...

Game Short, N vs Cheparinov, I

video about incedent

The Appeals Committe have decided:

Decision of the Appeals Committee in the dispute between Grandmasters Ivan Cheparinov and Nigel Short (8th round Grandmastergroup B) on January 20th 2008.

The Appeals Committee (GMs Vladimir Kramnik, Michal Krasenkow, Judit Polgar) agrees that refusal to shake hands with one’s opponent before the game is an obvious violation of the behavioural norms of players in chess events.

According to the decision of FIDE Presidential Board taken in June 2007, any player who doesn’t shake hands with his/her opponent (and doesn’t do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) will immediately lose the game.

However, according to the information obtained by the Appeals Committee, in the relevant case GM Cheparinov, after his initial refusal to shake hands with GM Short, didn’t clearly reject the arbiter’s request to do so.

Therefore:

1. We declare that GM Cheparinov must make a public excuse to GM Short in a written form before 11.00 hours January 21st 2008 for his refusal to shake hands.
2. Then the game between Ivan Cheparinov and Nigel Short has to be replayed on Monday January 21st 2008 at 13.30 hours.
3. Both players must shake hands at the start of the game.
4. Any player failing to comply with the present decision forfeits the game.

In order to avoid any conflicts in future we suggest the following procedure in similar cases: if one of the players deliberately refuses to shake his/her opponent’s offered hand at the start of the game, the arbiter shall officially warn him/her and demand him/her to do so. Only if the player again refuses to shake hand, he/she automatically forfeits the game.

Round 8

One of the most interesting events on the tournament has happened today. This accident took a place in group B in game Nigel Short vs Ivan Cheparinov. The Bulgarian GM has refused to shake hand twice. Nigel has informed the main arbiter, who has decided to adjudge forfeit to Cheparinov.

Nigel Short about eccident

Silvio Danailov about accident

Behavioural norms of players in chess events. PB decision. June 25, 2007

Having discussed several recent cases in different chess tournaments where the attitude of players toward their opponent or officials, journalists etc. was not acceptable under conventional social behaviour, the FIDE Presidential Board –at the suggestion of President Ilyumzhinov- decided on setting up strict rules regarding such behaviour.

Any player who does not shake hands with the opponent (or greets the opponent in a normal social manner in accordance with the conventional rules of their society) before the game starts in a FIDE tournament or during a FIDE match (and does not do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game.

Regarding a more comprehensive set of behavioural and ethical norms to be followed, FIDE Ethics Commission and the Arbiter’s Council are to elaborate guidelines for the players. The guidelines will be published on the FIDE website.

What do you think about this decision? Please leave a comment.

In main group there were not many changes. The main person of the day was Anand, who has defeated Topalov and now he has came near the leaders! Other games were also interesting but they are finished peacefully. Magnus tried to beat Gelfand in hopelessly equal position.He is still leading. Kramnik got some advantage against Polgar, but it wasn't enough for a win. Mamedyarov against Aronian introduced novelty in Meran variant, but the opponent probably was ready to this, followed draw. The games Van Wely vs Leko and Eljanov vs Adams ended with draw egreement without any ambitions to play for a win. 

Video analysis by Anand (part1)

Video analysis by Anand (part2)

Games round 8

Round6:

Round six has started from a minute silence in a memory of Bobby Fischer. We all are very sorry for Fischer death.

Carlsen is the big hero of course, leading the field with a half point clear after he beat Polgar yerstaday. Kramnik eventually won a drawn f and h rook ending against Aronian but wasn’t happy when he left.(This ending we will study in the nearest week!) Aronian knew he had screwed up before and had scored the full point mainly because Aronian ran out of time. Topalov is back, after a fine victory with Black against Leko.

Video analisis

Carlsen vs Polgar (part1) Carlsen vs Polgar(part2)

Games round 6

Round 7:

This round was one of the hotest in this tournament, probably all. Carlsen protected his leading against Veselin Topalov. this was one of the sharpest game today. The calm game was Ivanchuk vs Kramnik. Draw agreement in Petroff variant.  World champion Anand had to wait seven rounds before scoring a victory. Today he beat Polgar with Black. Her 28th, 29th and 30th move were slightly dubious and resulted in the loss of a pawn. Black’s queen and knight cooperated well, as they always do, and Vishy finished the game without difficulty. Another two favorites of the Wijk show us excellent battle where Aronian beat Radjabov and has came back. Aronian played a good game, except for one idea (40.Qb2 was played with the intention to play 40…Na4 41.Qa1 Nb6 42.Qa7, but Black plays 41…c3! 42.Qxa4 Rxf2!) but he was still winning. In his press conference you will learn more about this game.

Interview Magnus about his game against Topalov

Video analysis Aronian vs Radjabov (part1)

Video analysis Aronian vs Radjabov (part2)

Video analysis Aronian vs Radjabov (part3)

Games round 7

Standing after 7th round:

After the rest day players looks fresh and ready make fire on the board!

Unfortunatly in favorit's games we saw short draws. Ivanchuk vs Carlsen, Aronian vs Anand, Adams vs Kramnik.

The most interesting games were Mamedyarov vs Van Wely already on the second move 1.e4 c5 he has played b3!? he puts Van Wely home preparetions to the litter bin! :-) and clearly outplaying him... 1-0

The game of two bottom's players ended 1-0 for Topalov. Veselin in good mood. Poor start excellent finish, is it his formula of success tournament?!

The second win in this tournament is collecting Radjabov over Eljanov Pavel. Radjabov get his favor Old indian defence, patterns of which find to Morden Benoni. Now he has joined to the leaders.

Polgar vs Leko has played Marshal line. Judite make some pressure, won a pawn, but the game ended with draw agrement in view of opposite collored bishops.

Radjabov analysis(part1)

Radjabov analysis (part2)

Live games

Tournament standings after Round 5

The round 9 start in 10:00 local time

Postny has lost his game against Khenkin, Smirn drew against Rodshtein. They have devided 1-2 places. 3rd place took Michael Roiz, The only player which went through the tournament without loosing!

Live games

Final standings

Day of peace! 7 games has been finished with draws. The most interesting was the game Radjabov vs Van Wely. Van Wely played like Anand through the Slav defence. Radjabov used a move, which was played in game Kramnik vs Anand in Mexico 2007 WCH- 13.Bh5. The Van Wely's openning preparation was more deeper. First 21 moves he played in blitz style in 19 minutes! He had advantage but choose not the best way to realize it and went down to a draw.

Anand has choosen not enough fighting line against Eljanov. The result only a draw.

Polgar pressed Topalov in Najdorf's variant, but opposite collored bishops decided the game result, draw.

Adams vs Carlsen played interesting Ruy-Lopez variant, but only draw.

In games Aronian vs Leko, Ivanchuk vs Gelfand all players were played too accurate and short! :-) Draws.

The result group B,C

Group B			Group C
White	Black	Result	White	Black	Result
Y. Houtd	N. Short	1-0	A. Ushenina	I. Krush	½-½
D. Stellwagentd	P. Harikrishna	½-½	F. Nijboer	S. Li	1-0
W. Spoelman	E. Bacrot	0-1	P. Negi	J. van der Wiel	1-0
S. Movsesian	M.Krasenkow	1-0	Z.Peng	A. Braun	0-1
E. L’Ami	H. Koneru	1-0	M.Van der Werf	P.Carlsson	½-½
J. Smeets	I. Cheparinov	0-1	D.Ruijgrok	F.Caruana	0-1
I. Nepomniachtchi	G. Sargissian	1-0	D. Reinderman	E. Grivas	½-½

Live games

E,Postny takes solo lead! In game against Gyimesi he sacrificed exchange for a pawn and get strong pawn center. He won after long game. The agreement draw followed in game Moiseenko vs Smirin after 23 moves in about equal position. The prize "boring game" got the game Avrukh vs Roiz in 12 moves draw.One of the sharpest game today was Rodshtein vs Kogan. Max took full point.

Tournament's standing

No	Name	Country	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Place
1	Roiz,Michael	ISR	2659	x		½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	4½	4-3
2	Moiseenko,Aleksander	UKR	2643		x	0	½	½	½	½	½	1	0	3½	8
3	Avrukh,Boris	ISR	2628	½	1	x	0	1	0	½		½	1	4½	4-3
4	Postny,Evgeny	ISR	2627	½	½	1	x	1	0	1	1		1	6	1
5	Macieja,Bartolmiej	POL	2617	½	½	0	0	x	0	½	½	0		2	9-10
6	Smirin,Ilia	ISR	2616	½	½	1	1	1	x		0	½	1	5½	2
7	Rodshtein,Maxim	ISR	2614	½	½	½	0	½		x	½	½	1	4	5-7
8	Gyimesi,Zoltan	HUN	2605	½	½		0	½	1	½	x	½	½	4	5-7
9	Khenkin,Igor	GER	2602	½	0	½		1	½	½	½	x	½	4	5-7
10	Kogan,Arthur	ISR	2591	0	1	0	0		0	0	½	½	x	2	9-10

Live games

Levon Aronian scored his second win, beating Boris Gelfand in a modern Slav - his first ever victory against Boris! Levon’s home preparation. 17-year-old Magnus Carlsenfollowed Aronian’s footsteps with a second victory.

The Norwegian Wonderboy had a pleasant endgame advantage out of the opening and gradually improved the activity of his pieces (compare the positions after 19...Bxc3, 31.Rdd6 and finally 48.Kc6 The screws on Pavel Eljanov were slowly tightened and when Magnus collected pawns on move 51 and 52, the battle was over.

Teimour Radjabov keep former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik ‘in check’ with the black pieces. Vladimir thought he got out of the opening with a pleasant advantage, but couldn’t find a convincing continuation. After 25...Nd5 he realized Teimour had dealt with most issues and although he lost a pawn later on, had no difficulty achieving a draw.The game between Veselin Topalov and Vassily ended draw.At around the same time Viswanathan Anand and Shakhryar Mamedyarov had fought their way to a tie, too. Vishy had a better position all along, but with accurate defence Shaq kept his own. In the final position the advance of white’s passed pawns has been stopped short and they will soon be captured.

Van Wely came very close to his first win, but an inaccuracy allowed Polgar, to tie the game

The longest game of the day ended as it begun, with a slight edge for White, but not enough to win. Peter Leko tried hard to win a queen endgame with an extra pawn against Michael Adams. The Englishman didn’t blink for 98 moves, when all efforts came to an end.

Crosstable:

No	Name	Country	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Score
1	V. Kramnik	RUS	2799	x	½												½	1
2	T. Radjabov	AZE	2735	½	x											1		1½
3	S. Mamedyarov	AZE	2760			x									0	½		½
4	P. Eljanov	UKR	2692				x							½	0			½
5	M. Adams	ENG	2726					x					½	½				1
6	L. Aronian	ARM	2739						x			1	1					2
7	V. Ivanchuk	UKR	2751							x	½	½						1
8	J. Polgar	HUN	2707							½	x						½	1
9	V. Topalov	BUL	2780						0	½		x						½
10	B. Gelfand	ISR	2737					½	0				x					½
11	P. Leko	HUN	2753				½	½						x				1
12	M. Carlsen	NOR	2733			1	1								x			2
13	V. Anand	IND	2799		0	½										x		½
14	L. van Wely	NED	2681	½							½						x	1

Live games

In round 7 we saw very fight games. Two leaders dispute was decided in Smirin's favour, after he have get clear advantage in the opening. Postny is keeping eye on the Smirin also win his game against Macieja in very interesting line of Caro-Cann. Moiseenkolost his game to outsider of this Tournament Kogan, A, which collectid his first win!

Live games

Wijk aan Zee 2008 started. The Armageddon has occured at the first day! :-)

Anand,V lost to Radjabov,T with black pieces, Aronjan,L defeated Topalov,V. The young prodigy Magnus Carlsen took the full point from Shakhriar Mamedjarov. The games Adams-Gelfand, Ivanchuk-Polgar, Kramnik-van Wely and Eljanov-Leko all were drawn without great incident.

Live games

Today games are start in 19:00 local time.

Tornament is inflaming. tournament position is changing. Smirin got stuck on Gyimesi in exchange variant "Old Indian Defence". He went through the bad ending to him and lost. Postny vs Roiz hard fite which ended with peace. Avrukh suarely break Kogan in Queen's gambit. Rodshtein vs Macieja. Accurate play from both sides and draw agreement. Moiseenko, after is geting advantage in oppening +1 pawn  got a full point from Khenkin.

Live games

Games start in 10:00 local time.

Khenkin vs Avrukh 13 moves draw. Arthur Kogan was close to win, but Gyimesi Zoltan find a way out of 1/2. Mecieja,B could couple times to get huge advantage, but missed his chances. The only hero of the day was Evgeny Postny. He outplayed with black's pieces Max Rodshtein in interesting line of Slav-defence. Smirin vs Roiz short draw. Postny and Smirin leading with 3.5 out of 5 points.

Tournament table after round 5

live games

Gyimesi,Zoltan-Khenkin,Igor short 19 move draw. Avrukh,Boris outplayed Macieja,Bartlomeij 1-0. Michael Roiz showed his knowledge ending bishop against knightwith Queens in open position and won his game Roiz, Michael-Kogan, Arthur 1-0.
and the most interesting game was dispute of two leaders Postny,Evgeny vs Smirin Ilia in Old indian defence with one of the popular lines 9.b4 for white. Smirin get off the opening slightly better and take up to win. Postny, Evgeny-Smirin,Ilia 0-1

live games

Smirin catch up Postny. Today he has choosen a rare for nowdays sharp line of Polugaevsky in Najdorf variant of Sicilian.
Kogan, Arthur-Smirin, Ilia 0-1. Postny tried to outplay Moiseenko, Aleksandr in Slav defence with one pawn more, but white's conterplay was too strong and game finished by repetition of moves and draw. Other games were drawn.

Live games

Evgeny, Postny take a solo lead in tournament with second win over Kogan, Arthur in very sharp line of "accepted Queen's Gambit". Avrukh, Boris comes back after defeating over Moiseenko, Aleksander. other three games drawn.

live games

The Corus chess tournament 2008 will be held from 11-27 january 2008 in Wijk aan Zee. It has three mane tournaments: (A, B, C). They are played according to the "round robin" system. All three GM groups have 14 players. Group A is strongest, category 20 and 2742! average rating. This year tournament including almost all strongest GM's.

preview Wijk aan Zee 2008(video)

Round 1

The first round showed us all fighting games but only two were fruitful.
Avrukh, Boris - Postny, Evgeny 0-1 and Macieja, Bartlomiej - Smirin, Ilia 0-1
more information 
live games

Tournament takes place in Maalot (North Israel) 7-15 january 2008. This closed tournament with "round robin" system, which involve 10 players. Almost all players are higher than 2600 rating. Category: 15.
all games are starting in 15:00 local time.