Topalov to play after 41...Rf7
After a great string of victories at the MTel Super-GM tourney in Sofia, Bulgaria, U.S. GM Gata Kamsky lost today in Round 5 to World Champion Veselin Topalov. But what a great game by Topalov! You can download the PGN of all games through Round 5 from The Week in Chess website.
Anand and Kamsky are now tied for the lead, but based on Topalov's come-from-behind performances at other tournaments over the past year, I predict that this is the beginning of a "Topa Tear." It is great to see such great games from Kamsky, though, and I expect to see more great games in the second half. As usual, the best notes to games have been those of GM Mihail Marin for ChessBase, on Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3 . They also have a report and games from Round 4.
Kamsky's stunning 24-move Round 4 stunner over Svidler is annotated today by Lubomir Kavalek for the Washington Post (in what must be the most timely chess column in a U.S. newspaper). It is also annotated online by Jorge Luis Fernandez at the excellent Spanish-language InforChess website, where you can also find a game from Round 3 and Round 2. Now that I am hooked on this event, I will likely return with a list of annotated games at the end of it.
3 comments:
I don't think Topalov can make it up this time. He's even, while Kamsky and Anand both sit at +2, with only five rounds left. Plus, I believe that Anand has a better draw in the second half than he did in the first, with regard to colors.
Well, I'm not usually one to say "I told you so," but today the final results for M-Tel are in: Topalov wins with 6.5, Kamsky second with 6, Anand third with 5.5. Topalov had a streak of wins in the second half.
I was just coming over here to eat my hat. I see you have already got a "Tolf ya so" in. Ah, well, I deserve it! And congratulations on your skills as a prognosticator!
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