MTel R5 Express: Topalov beats Kamsky

by ChessBase
5/16/2006 – Finally someone was able to stop Gata Kamsky. It was Veselin Topalov, with his trademark exchange sacrifice. The other games were drawn. At half time, Kamsky and Anand lead, a point ahead of Topalov and Svidler. Results and wrap-up.

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Round five express

Round 5: Monday, May 15, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
1-0
 Gata Kamsky
Peter Svidler 
½-½
 Vishy Anand
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Etienne Bacrot

All games so far in PGN

Standings

Round 5 wrap-up: World #1 Veselin Topalov ended his winless streak and Gata Kamsky's dream run with an excellent attacking game. The FIDE champ came out of the opening with a solid plus and then played a powerful exchange sacrifice to rip away at Kamsky's king. It's very hard to find a long-term defense for Black after 26.e6! Bxe6 27.Rxe6 fxe6. The black rooks are out of play and the white bishops bring terrible pressure. We cravenly suggest running the king to the queenside with, say, 33...Rg8 followed by by ..Rdf8, Ke8, Kd8, etc.

The attacking exchange sac is the trademark of some of Topalov's best games during his rise in the past year or so. He has now won three consecutive games against Kamsky. The last was at Corus in January. Before that, he beat him at Dos Hermanas in 1996!

With the other games drawn in unspectacular fashion, Kamsky and Anand share the lead on 3.5/5 at the halfway point. Svidler and Topalov are still in contention with even scores and Topalov is a notoriously strong closer. Last year in this event he was on -1 at the half and finished by scoring 4.5/5 to take clear first place! So maybe he's right where he wants to be. Ponomariov and Bacrot are out of the medal hunt on -2 but won't want to leave winless. Tuesday is an off day.

Games annotated by GM Mihail Marin will appear in separate article


Picture gallery


The game of the day, where Gata Kamsky met his match


Vishy Anand and Peter Svidler at the start of round five


What does he have in store for me? Ruslan Ponomariov vs Etienne Bacrot

Schedule and results

Round 1: Thursday, May 11, 2006

Peter Svidler 
½-½
 Veselin Topalov
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Gata Kamsky
Etienne Bacrot 
0-1
 Vishy Anand

Round 2: Friday, May 12, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
0-1
 Vishy Anand
Gata Kamsky 
1-0
 Etienne Bacrot
Peter Svidler 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov

Round 3: Saturday, May 13, 2006

Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Veselin Topalov
Etienne Bacrot 
½-½
 Peter Svidler
Vishy Anand 
0-1
 Gata Kamsky

Round 4: Sunday, May 14, 2006

Etienne Bacrot 
½-½ 
 Veselin Topalov
Vishy Anand 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov
Gata Kamsky 
1-0
 Peter Svidler

Round 5: Monday, May 15, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
1-0
 Gata Kamsky
Peter Svidler 
½-½
 Vishy Anand
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Etienne Bacrot

Round 6: Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
 
 Peter Svidler
Gata Kamsky  
   Ruslan Ponomariov
Vishy Anand 
   Etienne Bacrot
GamesReport

Round 7: Thursday, May 18, 2006

Vishy Anand 
 
 Veselin Topalov
Etienne Bacrot 
   Gata Kamsky
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Peter Svidler
GamesReport

Round 8: Friday, May 19, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
 
 Ruslan Ponomariov
Peter Svidler 
   Etienne Bacrot
Gata Kamsky 
   Vishy Anand
GamesReport

Round 9: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Gata Kamsky 
 
 Veselin Topalov
Vishy Anand 
   Peter Svidler
Etienne Bacrot 
   Ruslan Ponomariov
GamesReport

Round 10: Sunday, May 21, 2006

Veselin Topalov 
 
 Etienne Bacrot
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Vishy Anand
Peter Svidler 
   Gata Kamsky
GamesReport

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