FIDE rejects Topalov's challenge bid

1/28/2007 – The FIDE Presidential Board has formally rejected the two million dollar challenge bid by Veselin Topalov to play against Vladimir Kramnik in the coming months. The time constraints made it impossible to stage such a prestigious event in a form that it warrants. Press release.

Wijk R11: Topalov falters against Svidler

1/27/2007 – Once again he had a winning position, and that with black. But in his eleventh round game against Peter Svidler former world champion Veselin Topalov started to go astray, spoiled the win to a draw and then actually lost the full point. Levon Aronian beat Sergey Karjakin to join Svidler and Radjabov at second place. Report, pictures and videos.

Danailov accused of signalling Topalov

1/27/2007 – This is a very grave question to ask, but it was posed in today's issue of one of Germany's largest and best respected newspapers, the Süddeutsche Zeitung. In the story IM Martin Breutigam, a longtime contributer to this and other major broadsheets, reports what he observed in rounds two and three of the current Wijk aan Zee tournament. Translation.

Karpov: Chess and the Art of Negotiation

1/25/2007 – This book by twelfth world champion Anatoly Karpov originally appeared in French and sees Karpov, Jean-Francois Phelizon (CEO of Saint-Gobain Corporation) and GM Bachar Kouatly discuss the similarities and differences between chess play and business negotiation. In-depth review by Howard Goldowsky.

The Topalov-Kramnik challenge match – will it happen?

1/25/2007 – The FIDE rules allow anyone with a 2700+ rating and enough money to challenge the reigning world champion. Veselin Topalov has done so, and provided a bank guarantee, and FIDE is deliberating. But the proposed match would run into scheduling problems, and it is unclear whether Kramnik would agree to play it in Bulgaria. Current status.

Wijk R9: Anand beats van Wely, leaders draw

1/24/2007 – The top of the table in Wijk aan Zee remains unchanged, with the leaders drawing their games in 21 to 28 moves. Only Anand played a super-sharp line against van Wely, one that gives three pawns for the attack. Anand had successfully defended this line against Motylev with black and now beat van Wely with white. Full report with games, statistics and videos.

Marie-Laure Germon marries Vladimir Kramnik

1/24/2007 – She is a French journalist who writes lead stories for Le Figaro and other newspapers. Two years ago she did an interview with chess world champion Vladimir Kramnik, and later the two started dating. On December 31st they married in Paris. It was a private ceremony, but Vladimir's mother Irina Fedorovna has released details to a Russian magazine. Summary and links.

Wijk R10: Anand beats Karjakin, Topalov unstoppable

1/24/2007 – Veselin Topalov has won yet another game, against Norwegian junior star Magnus Carlsen, to pull a full point ahead of the field. Vishy Anand in the meantime is staging a gritty comeback with a second win in succession, this time with black against Karjakin, to join the top group. Full report with pictures and videos.

Andrew Martin – Wijk aan Zee treasures

1/23/2007 – In this week's Radio ChessBase Show on Playchess.com Andrew Martin stays with the Super-GM tournament in Holland, where the temperate climate, he feels, is yielding particularly attractive and aggressive chess. Be there and feel the heat.

Wijk R8: Topalov beats Anand, takes lead in Wijk

1/22/2007 – Veselin Topalov is now at the top in Wijk aan Zee, having beaten Vishy Anand fairly convincingly, while Teimour Radjabov, the previous leader, lost to Levon Aronian. Topalov is now at 6.0/8 points with a 2892 performance, and five rounds to go. After returning from Wijk to Hamburg we bring you an extended report with pictures, portraits and videos.

More reader comments on 'Chess on TV'

1/22/2007 – Is Rapid Transit chess really the best form for chess telecasts? Our readers continue to voice their opinions. The latest batch of e- mails on the subject can be found in the new ChessBase Workshop. ChessBase Workshop.

Wijk R7: Topalov wins, moves to second place

1/21/2007 – Former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov beat former FIDE world champion Ruslan Ponomariov to jump to second place, half a point behind Teimour Radjabov and half a point ahead of Vladimir Kramnik. David Navara was victorious over Loek van Wely while Peter Svidler beat Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces. Big pictorial report.

Danailov's two million dollar bank guarantee

1/21/2007 – Last December former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov issued a challenge to his successor Vladimir Kramnik on the basis of a FIDE regulation that allows any player with a rating of 2700 or higher to do so, provided the challenger's side provides the prize fund. But FIDE rejected Topalov's bank offer. Now Danailov has provided a new guarantee.

Windswept Wijk – getting there in the century storm

1/20/2007 – The Dutch seaside resort of Wijk aan Zee lies on the North Sea, which is a raw and wind-battered place under normal winter conditions. But with the severest storm of the last decades raging over northern Europe it was an adventure – and a dangerous one at that – just getting there. With a slight delay for obvious reasons we bring you a big pictorial report.

Wijk aan Zee round six photo report

1/20/2007 – We gave you the games and analysis, but did not get around to illustrating it with photos. This was in part because of the stressful journey we had undertaken to the Dutch seaside resort, where the strongest tournament of the year is taking place. Now in partial compensation we bring you a giant pictorial report.

Fritz and chess wives

1/19/2007 – Have you ever wondered what your wife (or your husband) is up to while you are at a chess tournament? Islandic vice-champion Hedinn Steingrimsson is delighted to report what his wife was occupying herself with during his absence at the European Club Cup in Fügen. “She had a lot of fun for hours“ – with chess! Although she is not an active chess player herself. A paradox? Solution.

Wijk R6: Kramnik beats Anand, Karjakin wins

1/19/2007 – This was of course the news of the day. Although Vishy Anand defended with great resourcefulness he had to give up the struggle against world champion Vladimir Kramnik after 53 moves. 17-year-old Sergey Karjakin beat the completely out-of-form Alexei Shirov. Radjabov still leads, followed by Kramnik and Topalov. Report with analysis.

Wijk R5: Radjabov, Anand and van Wely win

1/18/2007 – The unstoppable Teimour Radjabov is, well, unstoppable. The Azerbaijani won his fourth game in this event (against Navara), for a current score of 4.5/5 and a performance of 3074. Anand beat an unlucky Svidler to catch up with Topalov, while Loek van Wely defeated the completely luckless Alexei Shirov. Report with games and commentary.

Wijk 2007: A zwischenbilanz

1/17/2007 – That means to take stock in the middle of an event – another German word that should enter the English language, together with zugzwang and zeitnot. After the first four of 13 rounds we bring you a summary of the games of round four, by Steve Giddins, as well as all necessary tables, schedules and statistics.

Dennis Monokroussos: my favourite game of 2006

1/16/2007 – It was a dazzling attacking masterpiece between Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen, played on a remote archipelago in Norway, that our Playchess lecturer has selected as his favourite for the past eventful year. It is the subject of his 9 p.m. ET Thursday night show.

Andrew Martin – the crowd expects

1/16/2007 – ...to see some action from Wijk aan Zee. The tournament is in full swing and as usual provides us with a feast of good chess. In his weekly Radio ChessBase Show on Playchess.com, which this week starts at 18:00h GMT, Andrew Martin looks at some of the more exciting and bizarre games. Be there and watch.

Wijk R4: Radjabov and Topalov win

1/16/2007 – A marathon 75-move game between the tournament leader Teimour Radjabov and Dutch GM Sergey Tiviakov ended with a victory for the Azerbaijani, who maintained his lead in the table. Veselin Topalov played another precision game to annihilate Alexei Shirov, Kramnik was unable to overcome Navara's defence. Games, pictures and videos.

Danailov: bank guarantee for Kramnik challenge rejected

1/15/2007 – According to a FIDE regulation any player with a rating of 2700 or higher can challenge the World Champion, providing he or she can provide a prize fund of one million dollars. Silvio Danailov, the manager of former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov, issued such a challenge, but FIDE did not accept the bank guarantee. Now Danailov has protested in an open letter.

Wijk R3: Radjabov and Ponomariov win

1/15/2007 – Another generally exciting day which produced two wins, one for Radjabov with the black pieces against Shirov, one a 30-move demolition of Magnus Carlsen by Ruslan Ponomariov. In the most exciting game, Sergey Karjakin had Veselin Topalov on the ropes, but the latter pulled off a miracle save. Full report with photos and videos.