Blindfold
match Topalov vs Polgar
From December 7–9, 2006, there will be a blindfold match between former
FIDE world champions Veselin Topalov and the strongest female player in the
history of the game, Judit Polgar. Billed as "Blind Chess World Duel"
it will take place in the world famous Gugenheim Museum in the Basque city
of Bilbao.
The event was introduced this week by the Mayor of Bilbao, Iñaki Azkuna,
in the "Arabian Room" of the city hall. Veselin Topalov, who lives
in Spain, was present and gave the visitors a taste of blindfold chess. He
played three simultaneous blindfold games, against a soccer star from Athletico
Bilbao, Julen Gerrero, the cyclist Antxon Luengo und the Basque director of
ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España = Blinfold National
Organization of Spain) Cristino Burgoa. Gerrero managed to get a draw from
Topalov.
Impressions from Bilbao
By Nadja Woisin

El Ayuntamiento – the town hall – of Bilbao

The Mayor of Bilbao Iñaki Azkuna greets the guests

Veselin Topalov receives a greeting gift from the Mayor

The setup of the exhibition blindfold simul to be given by Veselin Topalov

The simultaneous master is blindfolded...

... and "faces" (actually turns his back on) his three opponents

We tend to feel that soccer star Julen Guerrero is not playing all by himself

ONCE director Cristino Burgoa, who is genuinely blind

Afterwards a stroll through the city (Topalov with Basque journalist Leontxo
Garcia)

"El puente de Calatraba" – the Calatrava bridge

The Guggenheim Museum, the venue of the blindfold match Topalov-Polgar
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