Corus R8: Anand catches Topalov

by ChessBase
1/22/2006 – While there are still a few other players in range, Corus is shaping up to be the predicted battle between the top two unretired players in the world, FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov and Viswanathan Anand. The Indian star mistreated Bacrot's misguided winning attempt to rejoin the Bulgarian in the lead at +3. Big photo report.

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The Corus Chess Tournament 2006 is being held from 13-29 January 2006 in Wijk aan Zee, Holland. The venue is the De Moriaan Community Centre (Dorpsduinen 4, 1949 EG Wijk aan Zee) and the nearby bar de Zon. Commentary is available in the Corus Chess Pavilion, on the Village Green in Wijk aan Zee.

Round eight

Grandmaster Group A
Grandmaster Group B
Grandmaster Group C
Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006
I. Sokolov
½-½
G. Kamsky
M. Adams
½-½
P. Leko
E. Bacrot
0-1
V. Anand
L. van Wely
½-½
V. Ivanchuk
Mamedyarov
0-1
L. Aronian
S. Tiviakov
½-½
S. Karjakin
V. Topalov
½-½
B. Gelfand
Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006

K. Humpy

1-0

J. Smeets

B. Jobava

½-½

E. L’Ami

D.Stellwagen

1-0

K. Lahno

A. Beliavsky

1-0

I. Cheparinov

A. Naiditsch

0-1

A. Motylev

G. Vescovi

0-1

Z. Almasi

D. Navara

½-½

M. Carlsen

Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006

L. Shilong

1-0

Y. Visser

K. Bischoff

½-½

K.v.d. Weide

K. Atalik

1-0

Y. Afek

M. Bensdorp

½-½

P. Hopman

S. Atalik

½-½

A. Adly

J. Werle

½-½

J.v.d. Wiel

H. Jonkman

½-½

C. Marcelin

Grandmaster Group A

All games in PGN

Grandmaster Group B

All games in PGN

Grandmaster Group C

All games in PGN


Round Eight Report


David Navara waiting for his opponent at the start of round eight

After Ivanchuk faded it looked like Anand might run away with it. Then he ran into a suddenly inspired Kamsky and was caught up and passed by Topalov. Vishy bounced back into a share of the lead today thanks to a win with black (his third from four wins!) over France's Etienne Bacrot. Anand and Topalov have 5.5/8 with Karjakin in clear third a half-point back.


Back in the lead: Anand in his game against Bacrot

Bacrot-Anand: Etienne Bacrot gets an "A" for effort but a zero on the crosstable. He tried to play for win against Anand in an endgame only to see it turn into a loss. White's passed a-pawn didn't make any progress while Black stirred up trouble around Bacrot's king. Anand's pieces seemed to coordinate magically. A strange and difficult game. Bacrot dropped back to join Kamsky in the cellar with 2.5/8, a rare display of Franco-American unity.

Bacrot-Anand after 52...Ra4

Things have already turned sour for White after Black developed a surprising kingside initiative. Here Bacrot's natural attempt to hang on to his a-pawn 53.Nb3 was met with the annoying 54...Bg2+! 55.Kg3 (the h-pawn is attacked) 55...f4+ 56.Kh2 Bd5 and now the defense is much more difficult because the white king is boxed in and vulnerable to mate threats.

The game finished 56.Kg1 Ng2 57.h5 Nh4 58.Bd1 Ra3 (58..Re4! ends things immediately) 59.Kh2 Nf5 60.Rd3 Nd6 61.Rd4 Ne4 62.Bc2 (62.Bf3) 62...Ng5 0-1 The knight is a monster and the white king finds itself in traffic. (63.Rb4 Nf3+ 64.Kh3 Ne1 65.Bd1 Nd3)

White would have had much better drawing chances in the diagrammed position after 53.f3! Rxd4 (53...Bd5 54.Rc1 Rxd4 55.Rxe1 Ra4 56.a6; 53...e5 54.Nb5=) 54.fxe4 fxe4 55.Rc4 (55.Bc4 Rd7 56.a6 Rc7 57.Ra3 Rxc4 58.a7 Rc8 59.a8Q Rxa8 60.Rxa8 f5 61.Kg3=) 55...Rd5 56.Ra4 Nd3 57.Kg3 f5 58.a6 Rd8 59.a7 Ra8 60.Bxd3 exd3 61.Kf3 e5 62.Ke3 e4 63.Ra6=


Anand discussing the game in the press center

The only other decisive game of the round in the A Group was Mamedyarov's second consecutive loss. His defensive exchange sacrifice against Aronian looked promising but he was outplayed and couldn't hold the endgame. The other games had much of the combative but steady feel we've seen much of in the past few rounds.Tense, often long, but balanced and with few fireworks. Sokolov-Kamsky was exception, sharp and short.


Shakhriyar Mamedyarov with two losses in a row

A sanguinary day in Group B nevertheless left the top of the standings unchanged. Almasi and Motylev joined Navara a point behind the leader Carlsen, who held Navara to a draw without adventures.

Picture gallery


Gelfand vs Topalov about to start


Veselin Topalov in his round eight game against Boris Gelfand


... looking for chances against his Israeli opponent


Etienne Bacrot in his game against Anand


Sergey Karjakin, preparing to face Sergey Tiviakov


... and facing his Dutch opponent – the game was a draw


Ivan Sokolov vs Gata Kamsky – also drawn


Vassily Ivanchuk in a typical pose


Gata Kamsky, former world number three


In an all-time slump: Kateryna Lahno, reigning European Women's champion

Playchess boadcasts


WIM Olena Boytsun helping GM Yasser Seirawan start a Playchess broadcast


The president of the Turkish Chess Federation visits the Playchess boadcast studio


Wonderboy Magnus Carlsen stops by to pick up his ChessBase goodies

Report by Mig Greengard,
Photos by Olena Boytsun and Frederic Friedel


Schedule, results and reports

Grandmaster Group A
Grandmaster Group B
Grandmaster Group C
Round 1 – Saturday 14.1.2006
L. van Wely
½-½ I. Sokolov
Mamedyarov
½-½ E. Bacrot
S. Tiviakov
½-½ M. Adams
V. Topalov
 1-0 G. Kamsky
B. Gelfand
½-½ P. Leko
S. Karjakin
 0-1 V. Anand
L. Aronian
 0-1 V. Ivanchuk
Round 1 – Saturday 14.1.2006

A. Beliavsky

½-½

K. Humpy

A. Naiditsch

 1-0

D.Stellwagen

G. Vescovi

 1-0

B. Jobava

D. Navara

 1-0

J. Smeets

M. Carlsen

 1-0

E. L’Ami

Z. Almasi

 1-0

K. Lahno

A. Motylev

 1-0

I. Cheparinov

Round 1 – Saturday 14.1.2006

M. Bensdorp

1-0

L. Shilong

S. Atalik

 1-0

K. Atalik

J. Werle

½-½

K. Bischoff

H. Jonkman

 1-0

Y. Visser

C. Marcelin

½-½

K.v.d. Weide

J.v.d. Wiel

 1-0

Y. Afek

A. Adly

 0-1

P. Hopman

Round 2 – Sunday 15.1.2006
I. Sokolov
 0-1 V. Ivanchuk
V. Anand
½-½ L. Aronian
P. Leko
½-½ S. Karjakin
G. Kamsky
 1-0 B. Gelfand
M. Adams
 1-0 V. Topalov
E. Bacrot
 1-0 S. Tiviakov
L. van Wely
½-½ Mamedyarov
Round 2 – Sunday 15.1.2006

K. Humpy

 1-0

I. Cheparinov

K. Lahno

½-½

A. Motylev

E. L’Ami

½-½

Z. Almasi

J. Smeets

 0-1

M. Carlsen

B. Jobava

½-½

D. Navara

D.Stellwagen

 0-1

G. Vescovi

A. Beliavsky

 0-1

A. Naiditsch

Round 2 – Sunday 15.1.2006

L. Shilong

 1-0

P. Hopman

Y. Afek

½-½

A. Adly

K.v.d. Weide

½-½

J.v.d. Wiel

Y. Visser

 1-0

C. Marcelin

K. Bischoff

 1-0

H. Jonkman

K. Atalik

 0-1

J. Werle

M. Bensdorp

 0-1

S. Atalik

Round 3 – Monday 16.1.2006
Mamedyarov
½-½ I. Sokolov
S. Tiviakov
½-½ L. van Wely
V. Topalov
 1-0 E. Bacrot
B. Gelfand
 1-0 M. Adams
S. Karjakin
 1-0 G. Kamsky
L. Aronian
½-½ P. Leko
V. Ivanchuk
 0-1 V. Anand
Round 3 – Monday 16.1.2006
A. Naiditsch
 1-0

K. Humpy

G. Vescovi

½-½

A. Beliavsky

D. Navara

 1-0

D.Stellwagen

M. Carlsen

½-½

B. Jobava

Z. Almasi

 1-0

J. Smeets

A. Motylev

½-½

E. L’Ami

I. Cheparinov

 1-0

K. Lahno

Round 3 – Monday 16.1.2006

S. Atalik

 1-0

L. Shilong

J. Werle

½-½

M. Bensdorp

H. Jonkman

½-½

K. Atalik

C. Marcelin

 1-0

K. Bischoff

J.v.d. Wiel

½-½

Y. Visser

A. Adly

 1-0

K.v.d. Weide

P. Hopman

 1-0

Y. Afek

Round 4 – Tuesday 17.1.2006
I. Sokolov
½-½ V. Anand
P. Leko
½-½ V. Ivanchuk
G. Kamsky
 0-1 L. Aronian
M. Adams
½-½ S. Karjakin
E. Bacrot
 0-1 B. Gelfand
L. van Wely
 0-1 V. Topalov
Mamedyarov
½-½ S. Tiviakov
Round 4 – Tuesday 17.1.2006

K. Humpy

 1-0

K. Lahno

E. L’Ami

½-½

I. Cheparinov

J. Smeets

½-½

A. Motylev

B. Jobava

 1-0

Z. Almasi

D.Stellwagen

½-½

M. Carlsen

A. Beliavsky

½-½

D. Navara

A. Naiditsch

½-½

G. Vescovi

Round 4 – Tuesday 17.1.2006

L. Shilong

 1-0

Y. Afek

K.v.d. Weide

 1-0

P. Hopman

Y. Visser

 0-1

A. Adly

K. Bischoff

½-½

J.v.d. Wiel

K. Atalik

 0-1

C. Marcelin

M. Bensdorp

 0-1

H. Jonkman

S. Atalik

½-½

J. Werle

Wednesday 18.1.2006 – Free day
Round 5 – Thursday 19.1.2006
S. Tiviakov
½-½ I. Sokolov
V. Topalov
½-½ Mamedyarov
B. Gelfand
½-½ L. van Wely
S. Karjakin
 1-0 E. Bacrot
L. Aronian
½-½ M. Adams
V. Ivanchuk
 1-0 G. Kamsky
V. Anand
 1-0 P. Leko
Round 5 – Thursday 19.1.2006

G. Vescovi

½-½

K. Humpy

D. Navara

½-½

A. Naiditsch

M. Carlsen

 1-0

A. Beliavsky

Z. Almasi

 1-0

D.Stellwagen

A. Motylev

 1-0

B. Jobava

I. Cheparinov

½-½

J. Smeets

K. Lahno

 0-1

E. L’Ami

Round 5 – Thursday 19.1.2006

J. Werle

 1-0

L. Shilong

H. Jonkman

 0-1

S. Atalik

C. Marcelin

 1-0

M. Bensdorp

J.v.d. Wiel

 ½-½

K. Atalik

A. Adly

 0-1

K. Bischoff

P. Hopman

 0-1

Y. Visser

Y. Afek

 0-1

K.v.d. Weide

Round 6 – Friday 20.1.2006
I. Sokolov
½-½ P. Leko
G. Kamsky
 1-0 V. Anand
M. Adams
 1-0 V. Ivanchuk
E. Bacrot
½-½ L. Aronian
L. van Wely
½-½ S. Karjakin
Mamedyarov
½-½ B. Gelfand
S. Tiviakov
½-½ V. Topalov
Round 6 – Friday 20.1.2006

K. Humpy

 0-1

E. L’Ami

J. Smeets

 1-0

K. Lahno

B. Jobava

 1-0

I. Cheparinov

D.Stellwagen

½-½

A. Motylev

A. Beliavsky

 1-0

Z. Almasi

A. Naiditsch

 0-1

M. Carlsen

G. Vescovi

½-½

D. Navara

Round 6 – Friday 20.1.2006

L. Shilong

 1-0

K.v.d. Weide

Y. Visser

½-½

Y. Afek

K. Bischoff

½-½

P. Hopman

K. Atalik

½-½

A. Adly

M. Bensdorp

 0-1

J.v.d. Wiel

S. Atalik

 1-0

C. Marcelin

J. Werle

 1-0

H. Jonkman

Round 7 – Saturday 21.1.2006
V. Topalov
1-0
I. Sokolov
B. Gelfand
½-½
S. Tiviakov
S. Karjakin
1-0
Mamedyarov
L. Aronian
0-1
L. van Wely
V. Ivanchuk
½-½
E. Bacrot
V. Anand
½-½
M. Adams
P. Leko
1-0
G. Kamsky
Round 7 – Saturday 21.1.2006

D. Navara

1-0

K. Humpy

M. Carlsen

1-0

G. Vescovi

Z. Almasi

1-0

A. Naiditsch

A. Motylev

½-½

A. Beliavsky

I. Cheparinov

1-0

D.Stellwagen

K. Lahno

0-1

B. Jobava

E. L’Ami

½-½

J. Smeets

Round 7 – Saturday 21.1.2006

H. Jonkman

0-1

L. Shilong

C. Marcelin

½-½

J. Werle

J.v.d. Wiel

½-½

S. Atalik

A. Adly

0-1

M. Bensdorp

P. Hopman

½-½

K. Atalik

Y. Afek

1-0

K. Bischoff

K.v.d. Weide

½-½

Y. Visser

Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006
I. Sokolov
½-½
G. Kamsky
M. Adams
½-½
P. Leko
E. Bacrot
0-1
V. Anand
L. van Wely
½-½
V. Ivanchuk
Mamedyarov
0-1
L. Aronian
S. Tiviakov
½-½
S. Karjakin
V. Topalov
½-½
B. Gelfand
Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006

K. Humpy

1-0

J. Smeets

B. Jobava

½-½

E. L’Ami

D.Stellwagen

1-0

K. Lahno

A. Beliavsky

1-0

I. Cheparinov

A. Naiditsch

0-1

A. Motylev

G. Vescovi

0-1

Z. Almasi

D. Navara

½-½

M. Carlsen

Round 8 – Sunday 22.1.2006

L. Shilong

1-0

Y. Visser

K. Bischoff

½-½

K.v.d. Weide

K. Atalik

1-0

Y. Afek

M. Bensdorp

½-½

P. Hopman

S. Atalik

½-½

A. Adly

J. Werle

½-½

J.v.d. Wiel

H. Jonkman

½-½

C. Marcelin

Monday 23.1.2006 – Free day
Round 9 – Tuesday 24.1.2006
B. Gelfand
  I. Sokolov
S. Karjakin
  V. Topalov
L. Aronian
  S. Tiviakov
V. Ivanchuk
  Mamedyarov
V. Anand
  L. van Wely
P. Leko
  E. Bacrot
G. Kamsky
  M. Adams
Report – Games
Round 9 – Tuesday 24.1.2006

M. Carlsen

 

K. Humpy

Z. Almasi

 

D. Navara

A. Motylev

 

G. Vescovi

I. Cheparinov

 

A. Naiditsch

K. Lahno

 

A. Beliavsky

E. L’Ami

 

D.Stellwagen

J. Smeets

 

B. Jobava

Games
Round 9 – Tuesday 24.1.2006

C. Marcelin

 

L. Shilong

J.v.d. Wiel

 

H. Jonkman

A. Adly

 

J. Werle

P. Hopman

 

S. Atalik

Y. Afek

 

M. Bensdorp

K.v.d. Weide

 

K. Atalik

Y. Visser

 

K. Bischoff

Games
Round 10 – Wed. 25.1.2006
I. Sokolov
  M. Adams
E. Bacrot
  G. Kamsky
L. van Wely
  P. Leko
Mamedyarov
  V. Anand
S. Tiviakov
  V. Ivanchuk
V. Topalov
  L. Aronian
B. Gelfand
  S. Karjakin
Report – Games
Round 10 – Wed. 25.1.2006

K. Humpy

 

B. Jobava

D.Stellwagen

 

J. Smeets

A. Beliavsky

 

E. L’Ami

A. Naiditsch

 

K. Lahno

G. Vescovi

 

I. Cheparinov

D. Navara

 

A. Motylev

M. Carlsen

 

Z. Almasi

Games
Round 10 – Wed. 25.1.2006

L. Shilong

 

K. Bischoff

K. Atalik

 

Y. Visser

M. Bensdorp

 

K.v.d. Weide

S. Atalik

 

Y. Afek

J. Werle

 

P. Hopman

H. Jonkman

 

A. Adly

C. Marcelin

 

J.v.d. Wiel

Games
Thursday 26.1.2006 – Free day
Round 11 – Friday 27.1.2006
S. Karjakin
  I. Sokolov
L. Aronian
  B. Gelfand
V. Ivanchuk
  V. Topalov
V. Anand
  S. Tiviakov
P. Leko
  Mamedyarov
G. Kamsky
  L. van Wely
M. Adams
  E. Bacrot
Report – Games
Round 11 – Friday 27.1.2006

Z. Almasi

 

K. Humpy

A. Motylev

 

M. Carlsen

I. Cheparinov

 

D. Navara

K. Lahno

 

G. Vescovi

E. L’Ami

 

A. Naiditsch

J. Smeets

 

A. Beliavsky

B. Jobava

 

D.Stellwagen

Games
Round 11 – Friday 27.1.2006

J.v.d. Wiel

 

L. Shilong

A. Adly

 

C. Marcelin

P. Hopman

 

H. Jonkman

Y. Afek

 

J. Werle

K.v.d. Weide

 

S. Atalik

Y. Visser

 

M. Bensdorp

K. Bischoff

 

K. Atalik

Games
Round 12 – Saturday 28.1.2006
I. Sokolov
  E. Bacrot
L. van Wely
  M. Adams
Mamedyarov
  G. Kamsky
S. Tiviakov
  P. Leko
V. Topalov
  V. Anand
B. Gelfand
  V. Ivanchuk
S. Karjakin
  L. Aronian
Report – Games
Round 12 – Saturday 28.1.2006

K. Humpy

 

D.Stellwagen

A. Beliavsky

 

B. Jobava

A. Naiditsch

 

J. Smeets

G. Vescovi

 

E. L’Ami

D. Navara

 

K. Lahno

M. Carlsen

 

I. Cheparinov

Z. Almasi

 

A. Motylev

Games
Round 12 – Saturday 28.1.2006

L. Shilong

 

K. Atalik

M. Bensdorp

 

K. Bischoff

S. Atalik

 

Y. Visser

J. Werle

 

K.v.d. Weide

H. Jonkman

 

Y. Afek

C. Marcelin

 

P. Hopman

J.v.d. Wiel

 

A. Adly

Games
Round 13 – Sunday 29.1.2006
L. Aronian
  I. Sokolov
V. Ivanchuk
  S. Karjakin
V. Anand
  B. Gelfand
P. Leko
  V. Topalov
G. Kamsky
  S. Tiviakov
M. Adams
  Mamedyarov
E. Bacrot
  L. van Wely
Report – Games
Round 13 – Sunday 29.1.2006

A. Motylev

 

K. Humpy

I. Cheparinov

 

Z. Almasi

K. Lahno

 

M. Carlsen

E. L’Ami

 

D. Navara

J. Smeets

 

G. Vescovi

B. Jobava

 

A. Naiditsch

D.Stellwagen

 

A. Beliavsky

Games
Round 13 – Sunday 29.1.2006

A. Adly

 

L. Shilong

P. Hopman

 

J.v.d. Wiel

Y. Afek

 

C. Marcelin

K.v.d. Weide

 

H. Jonkman

Y. Visser

 

J. Werle

K. Bischoff

 

S. Atalik

K. Atalik

 

M. Bensdorp

Games

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