Novy Bor: Topalov and Laznicka tied 1-1

by ChessBase
9/21/2013 – The Novoborska chess corrida has started in the Czech Republic. The event features two matches of six game with the main one being between Veselin Topalov and Viktor Laznicka. Two decisive games opened the match and so far both players have been able to convert their white pieces. Pictorial report and analysis.

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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

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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. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.0-0 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Bf4 Nd7 11.Rad1 Nf6 12.Rfe1 b6 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Re3 Nd5 15.Rh3 f5 16.Bc1 Bf6 17.Re1 c5 18.g4 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qd7 20.dxc5 Rae8 21.gxf5 Rxf5 22.Rxf5 exf5 23.Bd2 Re4 24.Qd3 bxc5 25.Re3 Qe6 26.f3 Rxe3 27.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 28.Bxe3 Kh8 29.Bxc5 Nxc3 30.Bd4 Nxa2 31.Bxa2 Bxf3 32.Bb1 Bg4 33.Kg2 a5 34.Kg3 Bd1 35.Bxf5 Bb3 36.Kf4 Kg8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Bxh7 g6 39.Kf4 Bc2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V26771–02013D37Topalov-Laznicka m 20131
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27691–02013A29Topalov-Laznicka m 20132
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V2677½–½2013D37Topalov-Laznicka m 20133
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27690–12013E21Topalov-Laznicka m 20134
Topalov,V2769Laznicka,V2677½–½2013D17Topalov-Laznicka m 20135
Laznicka,V2677Topalov,V27690–12013D31Topalov-Laznicka m 20136

Scores

Players Rtng
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Veselin Topalov 2769
1
0
       
1
Viktor Laznicka 2677
0
1
       
1
Players Rtng
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Thaddeus Kriebel 2365
½
0
       
Oleg Romanishin 2499
½
1
       
½

Links

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.


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