Sigeman 2007: Cheparinov ahead of Hillarp-Persson

The Sigeman & Co Chess tournament is taking place from April 18 to 26 in central Malmö, Sweden. The participants include veteran Jan Timman, who won the tournament three times in the past, and some newcomers, like 20-year-old Bulgarian Ivan Cheparinov, second of Veselin Topalov, Dutch star Erwin L’Ami, 22, and the world’s youngest grandmaster, 14-year-old Parimarjan Negi, India.

Round five

Top seed Ivan Cheparinov leads the field in Malmö with 4.0/5 and a rating performance so far of 2769 (compare this to Magnus Carlsen leading in Gausdal with 4.0/5 and a 2733 performance).

1.e4 and what have you got – Ivan Cheparinov in round four

Second on the cross table is Tiger Hillarp-Persson, who lives in Malmö and is one of Sweden's strongest grandmasters. Hillarp is known for his uncompromising fighting spirit and his sometimes uncanny talent for finding moves that no one else sees. He has represented Sweden several times in the Chess Olympics. Hillarp-Persson was the subject of last Thursday's Playchess lecture by Dennis Monokroussos.

Parimarjan Negi, at 14 India's biggest new talent

The youngster in this tournament, 14-year-old Parimarjan Negi, suffered two losses and two wins, to perform 40 points above his nominal 2515 rating. In round five he took the full point from a nervous Jan Timman.

Portrait of a lady – last year's Sigeman winner Jan Timman in round four

Parimarjan Negi - Jan Timman
Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament Malmö (5), 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Nb8 11.Nbd2 Nbd7 12.Nf1 Nc5 13.Ba2 Ne6 14.Ng3 Re8 15.c3 c5 16.d4 c4 17.b3 exd4 18.cxd4 d5 19.e5 Ne4 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.Qc2 Rc8 22.bxc4 bxc4 23.Nh2 Qa5 24.Be3 g6 25.f3 gxf5 26.fxe4 dxe4 27.Qf2 Red8 28.Qxf5 Nxd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Ng4 Bg7 31.Rab1 Rc7 32.Re3 Qc5 33.Kh2 Rd6 34.Rc3

After starting off well Timman has let his position steadly deteriorate and now is struggling to survive. But not with 34...e3?? which ignores the threat from White's previous move. 35.Rxc4. Black cannot maintain the pin of the white e5-pawn: 35...Qa5 36.Rxc7 Qxc7 37.exd6 (or even more devastating: 37.Rxb7 Qxb7 38.exd6). Timman's continuation was spirited but ultimately just as hopeless: 35...Rd2 36.Rxb7 Rxg2+ 37.Kxg2 Qd5+ 38.Kg3 Qxb7 39.Rd4! Qb8 40.Nf6+ 1-0.

Spotted in the "audience": GM Elisbar Ubilava, trainer of Parimarjan Negi

Standings after round five

• Click to download all games in PGN

Swedes – natives in their traditional red costumes

Where the action is – the commentary area manned by GM Stellan Brynell

Postgame analysis of the games – PG rated, if you please

Kaffe/Te for 7 Kroners, Keschoklad for 8, Kakau for 7

• Official web site
• First round ChessBase report
• Timman wins Sigeman 2006