Novy Bor: Topalov and Laznicka tied 1-1

The traditional Sachova Corrida Novoborska is taking place in Prague, Czcech Republic. The main attraction of the event features the match between Veselin Topalov against Viktor Laznicka. Laznicka has played this event both previous years, once losing to Navara and once beating Shirov. The players will play a six game match regardless of whether one side achieves a winning match score before the sixth round.

As a side event IM Thaddeus Kriebel is playing the legendary GM Oleg Romanishin in the same match format.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony featured a life performance by the band Buty. The band has been playing since 1986 and the name of the group means "shoes" in a local dialect. Many of the members of the band are chess fanatics and even had a chance to play against Topalov!

Milan Straka is a flute and clarinet specialist who teaches music in Ostrava...

...and he is also a fearless chess player!

After Topalov won his game, the band played some of their songs

Part of the opening festivities was a series of simlutaneous exhibitions. Here IM Simacek in action.

Grandmaster Cvek also gave his own simlutaenous exhibition

First and second rounds

Topalov started the match with the White pieces. The Bulgarian started things in a sharp manner as he sacrificed two pawns straight out of the opening. Laznicka accepted the first gift but declined the second, and although Topalov was able to mound some threats eventually the Czech player was able to push him back and obtain a comfortable advantage. Topalov fought back and equalized, eventually simplifying into an endgame in which White had the pair of bishops but nothing else going for him. Laznicka strangely sacrificed his knight to reach an endgame he thought was an easy draw, but Topalov clearly showed that it was quite the contrary.

A focused Topalov was able to take advantage of Laznicka's endgame mistake

In the second game Topalov was able to equalize comfortably against Laznicka's English set-up. However he became a little to anxious and sacrificed an exchange for very little compensation with the move 18...Nd4?! After 19.Qd3! there was no choice for the Bulgarian but to sacrifice on h4 as all his pieces are hanging - he must have estimated that between the pawn that he receives for the exchange and the exposed position of White's king he would have enough compensation. But that was not the case and Laznicka proved this by slowly pushing Black's pieces back.

Eventually White was able to create an initiative of his own, and with a powerful attack backed by extra material he won the game without any problems.

The match takes place in the Restaurant Ajeto. The players are behind soundproof glass and customers can literally come in, order a meal and watch the games unfold.

Afterwards the players do a little post-mortem

Jana Marikova is the reigning u18 girls champion of the Czech Republic
and an important guest of the tournament

Currently Romanishin is one game ahead as he beat Kriebel with the white pieces.

The side match also does its post-mortem.

The commentary team: GM Marek Vocak, IM Pavel Simacek and GM Robert Cvek

Photos by Vladimir Jagr

Replay the games

Scores

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games will be broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.