tag: Tal Memorial 2007 - Page 1

Tal Memorial R9: all games drawn, Kramnik triumphs

11/19/2007 – We knew the result already yesterday, and with all final round games drawn nothing basically changed. Vladimir Kramnik stayed 1.5 points ahead of the field, and ended with a 2901 performance, one of the finest of his career. Only one other player had a plus score: Alexei Shirov, who won three and lost two games. The drawing average was high, but most games were hard-fought. Final report.

Tal Memorial: Kramnik leads by a full point

11/18/2007 – Vladimir Kramnik increased his lead when he beat Evgeny Alexseev in round six. Top US grandmaster Gata Kamsky lost with white to Jakovenko in round six, only to come back with a black-piece win over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in round seven. Alexei Shirov beat Magnus Carlsen and Evgeny Alekseev to advance to second place. Exciting games.

Vladimir Kramnik wins the Tal Memorial with a round to spare

11/18/2007 – Former world champion wrapped up this event in impressive style, beating Shakhriyar Mamedyrov in the penultimate round and taking a 1.5 point lead over his closest opponent. Kramnik has not lost a game and won four of his five white games. His rating performance so far: 2920. In second place is Alexei Shirov with three wins and two losses. Games, results and videos.

Tal Memorial R5: Kramnik beats Shirov, takes lead

11/15/2007 – Four draws and one decided game – but tremendous fighting chess: A slugfest between Jakovenko and Leko which ended after 61 moves in a tense draw; a 93-move draw between Ivanchuk and Carlsen in which when the world's number two could not overcome the teenager's resistance; and a grudge game in which Kramnik ground down Shirov in a trade-mark Catalan. Results, games and videos.

Tal Memorial R4: All five games drawn – again

11/14/2007 – After nine draws in the first ten games the Tal Memorial category 20 tournament in Moscow hotted up, with a fast and furious third round (four wins, two by Black). However, that was apparently just a flurry. In round four it was five draws again, two short ones and two long ones. Tomorrow is the last round before the rest day, and we hope things heat up again. Results and games.

Tal Memorial: Four spectacular wins in round three

11/12/2007 – Round two was disappointing – all games were (hard-fought) draws, bringing the drawing percentage to ominous 90% for the first two rounds. But then round three made up for everything: no less than four decided games, with two wins for Black. Especially exciting the deadly tactical strike by Shak Mamedyarov against Vassily Ivanchuk. Big report with video interviews by Europe Echecs.

Tal Memorial starts in Moscow – Leko draws first blood

11/11/2007 – For the second time this event is being staged in Moscow, with ten players, all rated over 2700 and including heavyweights like Ivanchuk, Kramnik (appearing for the first time since "lending" his title to Anand), Leko, Mamedyarov, Shirov, Gelfand and Kamsky. In round one it was Peter Leko who scored the only victory, against Alexei Shirov. Illustrated report with games, pictures and videos.
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