Draws forbidden in Super-GM tournaments
01.04.2005 When a bunch of world class players get together for a tournament the danger is that there will be a lot of draws. A new organiser who is staging a Super GM event in Sofia, Bulgaria, has come up with a new idea: ban draw offers. The participants have to play on until the arbiter says they can stop. Will this become a fixed feature in chess events?

Super-GM tournament in Sofia starts
12.05.2005 On Thursday, May 12th the strongest tournament of the year, the M-Tel Masters in Sofia, begins. It is a category 20 with an Elo average of 2744, brought to the Bulgarian capital by the likes of Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Adams, Judit Polgar, Ponomariov. A special rule is in place: no draw offers! Info and links.

Mtel R1: Kramnik beats Ponomariov
13.05.2005 150 years ago it was common for the world's best players to give pawn odds and still win. Today former FIDE champ Ponomariov learned you can't do that to Vladimir Kramnik. The classical chess world champion smoothly converted the endgame to take the early lead. Meanwhile Anand and Topalov gave the Bulgarian public a sharp adrenalin boost.

Mtel R2: Bad luck strikes
13.05.2005 You might not be superstitious, but it was bad luck for fans and organizers when all three games were drawn today, Friday the 13th. Kramnik-Anand was a drowsy Petroff. Ponomariov and Polgar drew a rook endgame. We also saw the first GM draw, a quick repetition between Topalov and Adams. Games, results and tables.

Mtel R3: Adams beats Kramnik to take lead
14.05.2005 There's a new leader in Sofia, and it's England's Mickey Adams, who seems to have some voodoo against Vladimir Kramnik. He defeated Kramnik in a thrilling battle today, his third straight win over the classical world champ. The other two games were interesting draws, leaving Adams alone atop the crosstable. Games, analysis and pictures.

Mtel R4: All games drawn
15.05.2005 Judit Polgar had the world's top-rated active player on the run today, but he quickly turned the tables. Anand had an extra bishop, but couldn't hold on to his pawns. Adams-Ponomariov ended in a quick perpetual check. Kramnik got a small endgame plus against Topalov but not enough to win. Read more about the tablebase tournament.

Mtel R5: Kramnik and Ponomariov win
16.05.2005 In spite of an innovative anti-draw rule the results in Sofia were far from encouraging. In the first four rounds 83% pf the games were undecided. Today, in round five, the world champions Vladimir Kramnik and Ruslan Ponomariov drew blood, bringing the average down to 73%. Flash report.

Mtel R6: Three wins in Sofia – what a day!
18.05.2005 Well, well, well. The Mtel Masters is turning into a slugfest after all. Topalov and Kramnik both sacrificed a knight, on moves 14 and 15 respectively. Topalov beat Anand in a wild, exiciting game, Kramnik lost to young Ponomariov. And Judit Polgar beat Mickey Adams. We bring you a heavily illustrated report.

Mtel R7: Anand beats Kramnik, Topalov wins with black
19.05.2005 Round seven of the Super-GM tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, has ended with two decided games: Vishy Anand defeated Vladimir Kramnik in just 20 moves, Veselin Topalov beat Michael Adams with the black pieces. Here's a full report with great pictures and an ananlysis of Kramnik's loss.

Mtel R8: All games drawn in Sofia
20.05.2005 After two very exciting rounds, with only one drawn game, today the players in Sofia had a more peaceful day. But of course bare results can be deceptive: Topalov vs Judit Polgar was a bitter 68-move struggle. We bring you an (updated) full report with lots of beautiful pictures by Valery Zahov.

Mtel R9: Topalov on the top of the world
21.05.2005 With a third win in four games (this time over Ruslan Ponomariov) Bulgarian star Veselin Topalov quite appropriately took the sole lead in the Super GM tournament in Sofia. Vishy Anand won his black game against Michael Adams to take second place, with one round to go. Here's our updated Illustrated report.

Mtel R10: Topalov wins Mtel by a full point
22.05.2005 Local hero Veselin Topalov won the Mtel Super GM after Vladimir Kramnik blundered incredibly in their last-round game. Since Vishy Anand drew against Judit Polgar, Topalov is a full point ahead of the field. The Bulgarian GM will probably top the next FIDE rating list. Full illustrated report.

Mtel wrap-up: looking back at Sofia
26.05.2005 The Mtel Masters in Sofia, one of the most interesting Super GM tournaments of the year, ended last Sunday with a resounding victory for local hero Veselin Topalov. Our photo reporter Valery Zahov provides his impressions of the closing ceremony and of the Bulgarian capital in a spectacular pictorial report.