Blindfold
match Topalov vs PolgarFrom 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.
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
