Three decisive games and the leaders were falling like my internet stocks in round six. First place Mamedyarov had his Pirc pierced and pricked by Kamsky. Nisipeanu's favorite offbeat Najdorf got a serious offbeatdown at the hands of Topalov. Adams blundered an exchange against Sasikiran and quickly had to exchange his seat on the stage for a bar stool.
All three games developed quite slowly and Joel Benjamin and I feared we were looking at a slow day at the ICC Chess.FM office. But it soon became clear that Topalov had cooked up a strong plan against Nisipeanu's lame 7.Nde2 Najdorf with ..g6 and ..h5 and even when the queens came off Black had the better prospects. (Topalov also was quickly better in this line against Nisi last year in their Bucharest match.) Kamsky effortlessly gained a comfortable attacking position against Mamedyarov, who was too impatient. And just as those battles were starting to take shape, Adams hung an exchange out of a clear blue Queen's Indian, just two moves out of very topical theory. Weird.
Macauley Peterson brought Sasikiran and his trainer Lev Psakhis (a truly wonderful sort) on for a few minutes after Adams trudged on for a little while and resigned. They were both pleasantly surprised, of course, both with the game and Sasi's having a share of the lead at +1. Psakhis on how his protege spent 15 minutes to take the hanging material: "Adams doesn't blunder every year, maybe only every two or three years!" The easiest win you'll get over a top-tenner in a lifetime, that's for sure. Mickey said he simply missed 20.Qxc4 or he wouldn't have played 17..Nf6 in the first place. (Carlsen played 17..Nb6 and Karjakin tried 17..Bb4.) I asked Sasikiran, who has been playing very conservatively, if he'd made a conscious decision to be more cautious in this, the strongest event he's ever been in. He said yes, definitely, but didn't think it would affect him in the long term. He said everyone aspired to become a universal player and this was part of that effort for him. Psakhis added, "I'm the perfect coach for anyone who wants to become a boring player!" I heart Lev.
Topalov steadily ground Nisipeanu into the dirt in a well-played rook endgame. It's always nice to see a game in which all the general advantages -- better king, active rooks -- actually convert into a tidy win. In trademark Topalov fashion he has jumped back to an even score. He also got help on the other boards, as Adams was dragged down to even and Mamedyarov cut down to +1 by Kamsky. The American beat Mamedyarov in a completely one-sided effort. It was almost as bad as Mamedyarov-Topalov. We've seen some good games at Mtel this year, but most of the decisive encounters have been blowouts, which is strange. Benjamin, a Pirc/Modern player himself on occasion, was critical of Mamedyarov for allowing a line that is known to be thoroughly unpleasant for Black. White didn't have to do anything spectacular to gain a great deal of pressure. Then when he got his chance, Kamsky pounced without hesitation. Just as in the fifth round, Kamsky played with much more speed and confidence than in the early days of the event. He banged out the attack practically a tempo and it was Mamedyarov who reached the control with just 18 seconds on the clock -- and a totally lost position on the board. Viva Brooklyn!
Kamsky has been battling his own laptop during his free time and couldn't prepare for this game at all. But he said he instead felt fresh and ready for the game. It probably wouldn't have been as much fun to face Topalov and a Najdorf without preparation though. The Pirc is one of those defenses that invites the direct logical attacking play that Kamsky specializes in. Just consider it Gata doing the job the organizers hired him to do, just like last year when he beat Anand but lost to Topalov twice. He beat the leader and now Topalov is only a point behind. The perfectly symmetrical crosstable persists but tightened up considerably. Now it's two at +1, two at even, and two at -1.
Round 7: Kamsky-Nisipeanu, Mamedyarov-Sasikiran, Adams-Topalov. Three more decisive games?
[I took down the laptop item because enough channels have been opened already. Thanks all.]
Hmm.. since we love conspiracies here, maybe Topalov is actually hustling. Lose the first few rounds, push the odds up, bet a tidy sum and then storm back to win the second half of the tournament. (Possibly with outside help ? ;) )
Hmm.. since we love conspiracies here, maybe Topalov is actually hustling. Lose the first few rounds, push the odds up, bet a tidy sum and then storm back to win the second half of the tournament. (Possibly with outside help ? ;) )
If anybody feels like helping out a poor uncomprehending patzer, can you please explain 34.Rd6 1-0 in Sasikiran-Adams? Is it a typo or am I missing something major? What is wrong with ... Nxd6?
Also, what is the winning line in Nisipeanu-Topalov? How does Black win after Kc1?
Thanking you in advance for any enlightenment you can bring me...
Jean-Michel, I wondered about that too. Maybe 34.Bh3 Ne7 then 35.Rd6
J-M, that was indeed a typo...its 34.Rd5 that Sasi played...
Jean-Michel,
If 55. Kc1, Ra6 should win. White can't both protect the c pawn and keep Black's e pawn from promoting. Once White's c pawn falls, the kingside passers win easily. That's the whole key to 54. ... Ra2+. White has to move his King away from controlling the e1 square, since 55. Ke1, Rc2 wins easily. Black can play the same idea if White plays 55. Kd3 or 55. Kc3.
I'm just a patzer, so there's probably something even stronger that I'm missing -- but this idea seems an easy win.
By the way, Mig, I don't think it's very big or clever calling Nisipeanu's 7 Nde2 'lame'. This is a line devised by a 2700 player which he's had a fair bit of success with lately against other players ranked in the world top hundred. It may be that Topalov has found the flaw in it, but that remains to be seen.
Hi Mig,
Is this a typo?
"Mamedyarov cut down to -1 by Kamsky"
Isn't Mamedyarov at +1?
The point of 54...Ra2+ seems to be 55. Kc1 h3!
(55...Ra1 is just a waste of time after 56.Kd2 eventhough it still wins of course.)
But after 54...Ra2+ 55.Kd3 it's back to 55...Ra6, so the fastes win is probably just 54...Ra6 immediately anyway.
But if 54. ... Ra6 immediately White can just play 55. Rc4, can't he? And will win the Black rook, I think, although I'm too lazy to figure out if Black's kingside pawns could salvage a draw.
If the White king is still covering e1, White can afford to move his Rook from the e file, and put it behind the c pawn. That's why Black plays 54. ... Ra2+ first, to force the White king away from the e1 square. After 55. Kd3, Ra6 White can't play 56. Rc4 because of 56. ... e1=Q. And if 54. ... Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Ra6 56. Re6+ Kf5 the threat of ...e1=Q forces 57. Rxe2, after which 57. ... Rxc6 and will win easily.
Yah, lots of typos in that draft. I was sprinting to get to dinner and didn't proof.
The last move of Sasikiran-Adams was Rd5, not Rd6. I asked Sasikiran to be sure.
I forgot to mention that Topalov got a superior position with Black against Nisipeanu and his Nde2 Najdorf in their match in Bucharest last year, too. Similar ..g6, ..h5 plan. It has its points, and Black has to be careful about not trying to break too early with ..d5. But I think "lame" is a good word for trying to get a decent endgame against the Najdorf.
This is beyond a joke now. The same pattern is repeated. Every time. First it is the 2680-2710 rated Topalov of a few years back playing like the player he is, then it is all of a sudden the all seeing, all conquering, near faultless, superhuman chess entity.
Something is a miss here.
Topalov is recieving outside assistance.
Look at Morozevich's tactical brilliancy. Full of mistakes that the computer can spot. Topalov, on the other hand, is like a machine.
His tactical strenght isn't very creative, it's rather brutal.
In some games... in phases.
When he is recieving assistance.
What a disgrace he is to chess.
The sooner he is caught and banned from chess the better.
Another, far more likely explanation, is that Topalov has better stamina than other players. For them 10 long rounds in 11 days, with a football match on the restday, may be harder to cope with than for him. One of the strengths of Topalov is that he always plays, he always tries to push the opponents from the board. When they are fresh and rested, it is far harder, and he may not succeed. But at the end of a tournament they are tired, and he is still playing with the same energy.
Topalov having more stamina than other players is very likely explanation. He is very fit - apparently he works out every day. Other players (e.g. Svidler) do not.
In many of Topalov's wins/survives even when he makes mistakes. Corus (??) win as white against Morozevich is an excellent example. Every dork was screaming at the top of his voice how he missed a win on several occasions. Similarly, when he missed a draw that all geniuses sitting in front of their Fritz 'recognized' instantly.
The man cannot win - when he loses he 'plays to his strength; when he wins 'he is receiving outside assistance'.
That never-ending clown show, (--there is no such thing as bad publicity, --I present to the Bulgarian President a plastic toilet) Team Topalov, long ago forfeited any moral right to complain of cheating accusations.
Team Kramnik, on the other hand, deals with the problem in a professional manner:
--in WCC-related events, ask for the best possible anti-cheating protections.
--do not accuse any player of cheating,
--when accused, issue a denial and shut up.
sasikiran does seem to be a universal kinda player who is difficult to prepare for.
Also, the other players seem to have been guilty of underestimating him. He has capitalized on three gross blunders. Kamsky's Ne2, when Bc5 drew easily, Adams' horrible nd5 and then d7 by Mamedyarov.
>Team Kramnik, on the other hand, deals with the problem in a professional manner:
>--in WCC-related events, ask for the best possible anti-cheating protections.
e.g. by hiding in an obviously unsupervised yet internet enabled toilet FOR HOURS DURING THE GAME
ROFLMAO
--do not accuse any player of cheating,
Oh no, of course not, just send your henchman do the dirty work, in this case a systematic character assassination since San Luis '05 tournament.
Anyway, what have this kind of brainless rants to do in a round sum up from a tournament Kramnik isn't even participating in ??
'I am sane' -- ?? Kenny, is this you again?
D.
Mr K, in all those 3 games, it was the shear pressure put on by sasikiran paid off. Kamsky's Ne2 might be a slight inaccuracy, but sasikiran would have won slowly. The other two games, he was just winning so it didn't matter what Adams or Mamedy played. Against Kamsky and Mamedyarov, it was more of original play and so sasikiran proved he was better OTB. I don't think no GM would agree, Sasikiran was lucky in all these games.
In short, Sasikiran is World Champion in the making!
Rubbish, Adams just blacked out in the opening and put a piece en prise.
Hahahahahahahaha:)
http://fun.chessdom.com/around-mtel
Nice :) i hope these are the scandals from now on in chess ;)
I was a bit surprised yesterday that Topalov seemed to equalise so easily and then even become a pawn up against the mighty positional master "spidey" Adams, who does very well usually in these kinds of positions. I mean Topalov seemed to be busted right out of the opening. Any analysis anyone, did Adams miss an obvious win anywhere? Or was it a case of a position that promises much, but delivers little?
Topalov played around 20 consecutive Rybka first choices in a very complex game today against Mamedyarov.
Which moves (numbers) and what were the settings on Rybka?
>I am sane
Well, not so sure about that... Because anyone sane should be able to comprehend that the fact that Topa strives for dynamic positions with concrete tactical lines - e.g. through his opening prep - in order to out-calculate the oponent could naturally explain a higher match rate with engine evals compared to players with a more quiet positional style (if statistics where that way in the first place - I have not yet seen any such analysis one could take seriously).
>'I am sane': Topalov played around 20 consecutive Rybka first choices
Yes loonie, you've been noticed. Get back to treatment now.
D.
So what just happened in Round 8 at M-Tel? It seems that Topalov beat Mamedyarov, with all this talk of Rybka-quality moves on Topalov's part.
No, Shak escaped with a fortress (Q+1P vs. R+2P), Adams & Sasi lost, results & games already on official site: http://www.mtelmasters.com/en/results.html
"So what just happened in Round 8 at M-Tel? It seems that Topalov beat Mamedyarov, with all this talk of Rybka-quality moves on Topalov's part.
Posted by: gmnotyet at May 18, 2007 14:05"
Rybka fell into the classic computer trap of missing a fortress position... still insisting it was 3 pawns up until Danailov finally pulled the plug. There's still hope for humanity ;)
p.s. the only Danailov scheming I really see here is the crazy schedule
@poisoned pawn: Thanks
Whether uttered by Topalov, Danailov, or "I am sane", vague, reckless accusations of computer-move-matching are contemptible. To set himself apart from the clown-show realm, an accuser must surely identify the problematic moves and the accompanying Rybka settings and results.
superb effort by Nisi against Adams, I drew this guy...when he was 12 yr old :)
Round 7-8 item up on Mtel now. Sorry for the delay. Busy day in Moscow-Samara. Garry was detained again, this time held at the airport with a dozen others so they couldn't attend their rally. Always makes for a busy day. Nothing like answering media requests while doing live Chess.FM radio!
What is rubbish rdh? Adams' play?
Look at this chess dom report. This is about the other game.
Today the Indian played on the Black side facing Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's unorthodox English opening. Krishnan displayed deep positional understanding as first he obtained a pair of Bishops, and then sacrificed a pawn to take White's pieces into passivity. Still, the position demanded accurate play as Mamedyarov was threatening to attack with his Queen and Rook parked on the 7th rank. After the Queens have went off, Krishnan used power of his Bishops to force Mamedyarov to resign.