Corus 13: Peter Leko wins Wijk aan Zee 2005

Corus Chess Tournament Wijk aan Zee 14 – 30 January 2005 Official web site – Live coverage – All ChessBase reports

Round thirteen

Wijk aan Zee – easily the most exciting chess event in many months. Where chess fans appeared in greater numbers than ever before, and left with a feeling of satisfaction, having seen the stars at their best. Wijk aan Zee, a beautiful summer resort, which at this time of year is cold (just a few degrees above freezing), wet and windy. It drizzles or rains all the time, and just the few hundred metres from the Zeeduin Hotel to the playing hall can become a bone-chilling experience.

Oh yes, the Virus. With players coming in from all over the world, somebody was bound to import a bug that loved this climate and spread with great enthusiasm from player to player, from visitor to visitor. Hardly anyone was spared. Each day someone did not appear in the press room, and players would turn up redeyed and haggard. During the last round Vladimir Kramnik was in influenza mode and had no fight left in him. Sofia Leko, Peter's wife, could only react to congratulations in a whisper. Your reporter at the scene was also badly hit, which, coupled with the fact that the Zeeduin did not allow FTP uploads on their excellent (free!) wireless network, contributed to the fact that our reports were sometimes delayed.

But let us turn to the last round of this event, which was memorable for everybody in spite of coughing and fever. Naturally the key games were Sokolov vs Anand and Leko vs Polgar. Before the final round Peter Leko was leading the field by half a point, so everything was possible: he could win and take victory independent of what happened on the other board; he could draw and watch anxiously how Anand did with black against tail-ender Ivan Sokolov. A victory in this game would make Anand the joint winner. Or Peter could actually lose and Anand could win, taking the title at the very last minute from the Hungarian superstar.

Anand (middle) anxiously watching the start of the key game Leko vs Polgar

Leko-Polgar: the Hungarian summit ended in a professional 22-move draw which guaranteed Peter at least the joint first place in Wijk. Immediately after it was over he appeared in the press conference, which was broadcast live on Playchess.com, trying not to glance over his shoulder at the monitor with the Sokolov-Anand game. Peter was very gratified to have added this one missing "Grand Slam" victory to his record, having won Dortmund (in 2002) and Linares (2003) but never before Wijk aan Zee. He also revealed his secret for success in this tournament: "You have to stop Vishy. You have to win your game against him, otherwise he will win his share of the games and will be hard or impossible to catch."

Sokolov-Anand was the game to watch, after Leko had drawn his game against Polgar. And with Anand a pawn up and pressing things looked very interesting right to the end. But Ivan Sokolov, who had so far had such a miserable tournament, seemed to revel in his role as the decider of its ultimate outcome. He defended well, regained the pawn and simplified to a drawn ending. Leko was first, Anand second.

Ended with a bang: local boy Loek van Wely

Van Wely-Short saw a first victory for the local boy, who demolished a watery-eyed Nigel Short (whose second Suat Atalik had been completely taken out by the flu). Nigel was deeply disappointed, even though he had played almost exactly according to his rating expectation.

Kramnik-Morozevich was an unsurprising eleven-move draw. The classical chess world champion had obviously caught the bug and was feeling miserable. Alexander Morozevich had been in a similar state all through the tournament, not due to a viral attack but for a monumental lack of form. He was glad to get a quick draw with the black pieces, pack his bags and head for the hills.

After the event there was a closing ceremony in the giant tent which had been used for commentary. With hundreds of guests present the prizes were handed over to the winners of each group.

The prize giving ceremony at the end of the event

"Thank heavens I did not win this tournament," said Ruslan Ponomariov after the prize-giving was over. "I did not have a speech ready!" Next time the wry Ukrainian promises to have one prepared, "just in case."

Dinner for the players, journalists and VIP guests at the Zeeduin

All results

Final standings

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Groups B and C

Group B was taken convincingly Ukrainian prodigy Sergey Karjakin, who scored a fine victory in the last round against Dutch hopeful Daniel Stellwagen. Sergey ended a full point ahead of the field and will be playing in the A Group next year. That will start a few days after his 16th birthday.

Runner-up Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, with the two remarkable female participants Antoaneta Stefanova and Alexandra Kosteniuk

Colleagues: 14-year-old Magnus Carlsen, who scored a respectably 7/13, with Sergey Karjakin

All results

Final standings in Group B

Final standings in Group C

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  Group A – Group B – Group C

All results and schedule

Groups B + C