World Championships
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WCC 2010-3: Match stays level after draw
Would Veselin Topalov come out blazing after taking one on the chin in Game #2? It just so happened that he attempted to take the initiative, but Viswanathan Anand was more than willing to take up the fight. Anand took a page out of Vladimir Kramnik’s book by introducing the…
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WCC 2010-2: Anand storms back… evens match
India’s Viswanathan AnandPhoto © Chessvibes. After Viswanthan Anand’s crushing loss in game #1, many were wondering if the “Ashgate” ordeal he faced was affecting him. In fact that question was raised in the press conference. Anand did not offer his harrowing 40-hour trip as an excuse, but he certainly was…
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WCC 2010-1: Topalov breaks out on top!
Veselin Topalov and Viswanathan Anand begin the 2010 World Championship. Photo © ChessVibes. The match was finally underway. Fans and pundits wondered what Veselin Topalov would play in the first encounter against Viswanathan Anand… 1.e4, 1.d4 or 1.Nf3. The Bulgarian played 1.d4 and the World Champion offered the Grunfeld. What…
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2010 World Chess Championship (Anand vs. Topalov)
World Champion Viswanathan Anand will defend his crown against Challenger Veselin Topalov in a highly-anticipated Championship match. This match will features two exciting players likely to bring many exciting theoretical battles. The match will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria and will serve as the final event of the current cycle.…
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2009 World Cup: Semi-Finals
Will Ruslan Ponomariov win another knockout tournament? Photo by Galina Popova courtesy of FIDE. Gallery link, ugra-chess.ru. Only four players remaining. The top-seed is still playing, two Ukrainians stars and one unsung Russian will fight for the crown. Boris Gelfand has played solidly and has lost only one game thus…
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2009 World Cup: Quarterfinals
Dmitri Jakovenko vs. Boris Gelfand… will the veteran hold off the young lion? The 2009 FIDE World Cup gets serious. Eight 2700-rated players will vie for a chance at qualifying for the World Championship cycle. The balance of power lies in the former Soviet-bloc players with Boris Gelfand, originally of…
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2009 World Cup: Round #4
Round #4 will feature a healthy dose of 2700 battles. We can expect shorter draws and perhaps longer matches. A few marquee matches are on tap including Svidler-Shirov, but Ruslan Ponomariov may be lurking in the wings hoping the field has forgotten that he has won this tournament back in…
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2009 World Cup: Round #3
Photo by Galina Popova courtesy of FIDE. Gallery link, ugra-chess.ru. Pivotal Round today in Siberia. Boris Gelfand will try to hold onto the board #1 position against Judit Polgar in what may be the marquee matchup of round #3. A deep field means that Polgar is the #32 ranked player…
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2009 World Cup: Round #2
Key matchups are on tap for the FIDE World Cup. While most of the top seeds moved on, they will face stiffer tests in round two. Judit Polgar will start her first match today against Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania. This tournament may see the rise by a number of young…
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2009 World Cup: Round #1
Eshan Ghaem Maghami (Iran) chats with fellow-GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines) before action starts. Photo by Galina Popova courtesy of FIDE. Gallery link, ugra-chess.ru. The opening round of the 2009 World Cup had few surprises, but it is clear that the balance of power is shifting. Certainly the Russians still have…
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