San Luis R13: Veselin Topalov is World Champion

The FIDE World Chess Championship is taking place in the Hotel Potrero de los Funes
Complex, in the Province of San Luis, Argentina, from September 27 to October 16, 2005.

Round Thirteen Summary

Current standings at the World Championship in San Luis

• All games so far in PGN

Videos to watch

• Round 13 press conference with Topalov and Kasimdzhanov
• Round 12 press conference with Topalov and Svidler
• Round 12 press conference with Morozevich and Polgar

World Championship Diary: Round 13

By Nigel Short – on site in San Luis

Lunchtime: Upon entering the room we beheld the heinous crime. What foul odious act! What dastardy! For twelve long days the team of Veselin Topalov and its talisman – yours truly – has taken its place on a table in the corner of the dining room before each game. This sacred union has given spiritual strength to “La Topadora Topalov” (Toppy the Bulldozer) and allowed him to surge to his commanding lead. Now we witnessed Morten Sand, Vice President of FIDE, sat smugly before us in the great Bulgarian’s chair, gluttonously gobbling down his prandial comestibles. This interloper, this Norwegian Goldilocks, appeared oblivious to his felony, perhaps on account of having arrived only yesterday. He was reprimanded sternly. Chastened, he apologized profusely – but the damage had already been done. Shaken, Toppy took his place at another table as Danailov tried to console him. Today is the thirteenth round. Not for nothing do they call it “unlucky for some.”

The daily routine: Nigel tries to take dinner with the event translators

Then Topalov and his team ask their mascot to please join them for lunch

Duty calls – after all there is a world championship title at stake

Please take your seat Nigel, Veselin indicates, while Silvio Danailov dusts off the chair

And that's how lunch must be taken, if Topalov is to continue his winning streak

4.00pm: One day it will doubtless be proven that the Berlin is not a very good opening, but for now its reputation remains intact . A misplaced king and poor development do not seem to matter when one has a firm grip of the f5 square. Topalov will be hoping to repeat his success against Judit Polgar in the same variation from earlier on in the tournament, but he will not find it so easy against Kasimjanov whose reign will end in a few hours and who will be intent upon reminding the world of his subtle and oft underestimated strength.

Polgar-Svidler is heavy Marshall theory and a draw already looks likely. It is my view that, when White, either one should have some interesting new ideas up one’s sleeve or avoid facing it altogether. When preparing for me back in 1993 Garry Kasparov entrusted the surveyal of this opening to Efim Geller. The renowned Soviet analyst, after a thorough perusal of the main lines of play, returned to Kasparov with the conclusion that that White had no real advantage anywhere. He advised ducking it by playing 8.a4, which the great man duly did – and most successfully too.

Polgar was probably influenced in her choice by her victory against Svidler at the Corus tournament but today she had no luck. A draw has been agreed this very moment. That has put paid to Svidler’s minuscule chances of becoming World Champion. Only Anand can hope to catch Topalov now.

Anand's game against Morozevich looks like a fascinating fight. The Russian has reverted to his beloved French Defence after dabbling with other ancient openings. With kings castled on opposite wings, in the Classical Variation, time will be of the essence.

5.15pm: The Indian has sacrificed his bishop. His queen and rook are bearing down upon the Black king. I would not have thought that he is taking a big risk because there is usually a perpetual check available if one needs to bale out.

Adams-Leko is tight manoeuvring game of unremitting tedium. If the Englishman wins he will move up a place or even two is he is lucky, as well as salvaging some pride. In the grander scheme of things this battle for the lower places is not very important though.

Topalov, meanwhile, would appear to stand worse. Faced with the prospect of his a-pawn being slowly annexed he had little choice but open up the center in a bid for counterplay. This turn of events is favourable to White, but whether he will obtain enough of an advantage to win is less clear. The presence of opposite coloured bishops always gives the inferior side some hope of survival in the endgame.

6.10pm: Adams and Leko spared us from narcolepsy by agreeing to a draw. At the start of the tournament I was critical of a couple of games that finished prematurely (although in general the tournament has been remarkably hard-fought) but since then either I have become exhausted or a hypocrite or perhaps both. Seriously though, there was nothing to suggest either side had any prospects of winning the final position, played out to its conclusion though it was not.

Anand-Morozevich has ended in a spectacular perpetual check – although not at all in the way I had anticipated. The White queen impaled herself to allow her two rooks to keep the Black king hopping ad infinitum. I think both sides can be praised for their uncompromising play. A draw was a very fair result. This means that unless Topalov loses today, he will be seriously celebrating tonight – and Morten Sand will escape being burnt in effigy.

6.40pm: Veselin Topalov has just sacrificed the exchange in the endgame! This guy is amazing! He has been suffering for most of the game. He had to shed a pawn to avoid any even worse fate but manoeuvring his bishop to d5 it seemed as if he would create just about enough threats to save himself. Then came the daring sacrifice. This is bold indeed because if he has misjudged the position he will surely be lost – so great is his material deficit. It would appear though that his judgment is spot on. White is driven to passivity and has to be very careful to avoid losing himself.

7.15pm: The time control has been reached safely. The Black kingside pawns are most ominously poised and white will surely have to return the exchange soon. He has. The White rook supports the passed c-pawn, but the Black rook scurries back just in time. The king advances upon the g-pawn. It is defended. White pushes his h-pawn and…. draw! Veselin Topalov is the new World Champion! What a brilliant performance!

The governor congratulates the new world champion: Veselin Topalov

His tournament was won in the first half with a blistering Fischeresque series of victories. He was in serious trouble in only one game – the first – against Peter Leko. Michael Adams had him under pressure as did Rustam Kasimjanov today, but neither player missed anything concrete. On the other hand Topalov could and indeed should have defeated both Anand and Morozevich. He has outclassed everyone here and has deserved his success. Congratulations! Let us hope that he continues to thrill us with his exuberant brand of chess and not rest on his laurels – not that I think he will.

A Short Glossary

Full schedule

Links

• Official World Chess Championship web site
• All ChessBase World Championship reports so far