'Blind Chess World Duel' Topalov-Polgar

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

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

Links

• Official web site of the match
• Video impressions of the presentation in Bilbao