In the first half of the FIDE world championship in San Luis, Veselin Topalov smashed the opposition with an unbelievable 6½ out of 7 to take a lead that allowed him to coast home in the second half.
Interview: In spite of his triumph, Veselin Topalov still feels very much the same person that he was before San Luis, but he has noticed that the world around him begs to differ.
In a direct encounter with their Chinese rivals the Russian team needed a sweeping 3½-½ victory to claim the gold medals in the World Team Championship.
Stepanakert, the capital of the unrecognised Nagorno Karabakh Republic, saw its second international chess tournament in two years. First place was claimed by Levon Aronian.
Georgian Baadur Jobava wins Samba Cup in Skanderborg.
Jonathan Rowson reviews Susan Polgar and Paul Truong’s Breaking Through and Chess Bitch by Jennifer Shahade.
Watching Japanese shogi champion Yoshiba Habu play chess, Hans Ree had happy memories of the time when he was taught shogi.
S.O.S.: Rubinstein’s Anti-Meran Variation
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TOPALOV'S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
He arrived in Argentina as one of several hot favourites and the race promised to be tight – but not for long. Seven rounds and an explosion of historic proportions later there was only talk of one new champion. In the first half of the FIDE world championship in San Luis, Veselin Topalov smashed the opposition with an unbelievable 6½ out of 7 to take a lead that allowed him to coast home in the second half.
An on-the-spot report by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam illuminated with wonderful analysis by Topalov, his second Cheparinov, Timman, Svidler, Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov, Polgar, Peter Heine Nielsen and a special guest. Garry Kasparov wrote the notes to the crucial first-round clash between Leko and Topalov. Or is it another tribute to his beloved Najdorf?INTERVIEW: VESELIN TOPALOV
'My approach was that to win this tournament the goal should be to win it convincingly.' Quiet and without a tinge of immodesty Veselin Topalov tried to explain his strategy in a talk about his sensational victory and the challenges ahead. In spite of his triumph, the soft-spoken Bulgarian still feels very much the same person that he was before San Luis, but he has noticed that the world around him begs to differ. RUSSIA BOUNCES BACK
All set to avenge their poor showing at the European Team Championship in Gothenburg, the Russians faced a formidable task in the last round of the World Team Championship in Beer-Sheva. In a direct encounter with their Chinese rivals they needed a sweeping 3½-½ victory to claim the gold medals. Alon Greenfeld watched a nail-biting finish. CHESS WITHOUT FRONTIERS!
Although the political disagreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan about the region persist, Stepanakert, the capital of the unrecognised Nagorno Karabakh Republic, saw its second international chess tournament in two years. First place was claimed by Levon Aronian. 'It is terrible to imagine what will happen when he improves his opening preparation', writes Victor Bologan. JOBAVA WINS SAMBA CUP COMPOSE LIKE A GRANDMASTER
Having hung around in the chess scene for the last four decades, Yochanan Afek has noticed that most strong players derive immense pleasure from solving a beautiful endgame study. Some grandmasters even compose them themselves. QUESTIONS, NOVELTIES AND QUESTIONS
Jan Timman spoke to Garry Kasparov about opening developments in the 70s and 80s and reveals that he already discovered Anand's spectacular novelty against Adams in San Luis back in 1989.
S.O.S.: Rubinstein's Anti-Meran Variation CAISSA'S TIME OF THE MONTH
Jonathan Rowson reviews Susan Polgar and Paul Truong's Breaking Through and Chess Bitch by Jennifer Shahade. SHOGI MEMORIES
Watching Japanese shogi champion Yoshiba Habu play chess, Hans Ree had happy memories of the time when he was taught shogi in Berkeley, California. AT THE CROSSROADS
Now that for the first time since 1993 the world's top player is also the FIDE champion, Garry Kasparov believes that the conditions are in place for the schism to be put behind us. JUST CHECKING
Guess what Suat Atalik would have liked to be if he hadn't been himself?
Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Morozevich-Topalov, by Timman
Svidler-Kasimdzhanov, by Svidler
Kasimdzhanov-Anand, by Kasimdzhanov
Svidler-Topalov, by Topalov
Morozevich-Polgar, by Morozevich
Polgar-Kasimdzhanov, by Polgar
Leko-Topalov, by Kasparov
Grischuk-Zhang Pengxiang, by Greenfeld
Ni Hua-Morozevich, by Greenfeld Petroff
Leko-Anand, by Nielsen Ruy Lopez
Polgar-Topalov, by Cheparinov
Ni Hua-Ibragimov, by Greenfeld
Bologan-Aronian, by Bologan
Svidler-Leko, by Svidler
Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, by Timman
Anand-Adams, by Nielsen Slav
Nakamura-Dreev, by Nakamura
Winants-Ernst, by Bosch
Wells Kenneth-Habu, by Ree Nimzo-Indian
Bareev-Zhang Zhong, by Bareev Queen's Indian
Jobava-Carlsen, by Carlsen
Miton-Nisipeanu-Dieter, by Miton
Ivanchuk-Bologan, by Bologan
Topalov-Anand, by Timman Grünfeld Indian
Jobava-Miton, by Jobava English Opening
Topalov-Adams, by Cheparinov Réti
Bruzon-Carlsen, by Bruzon
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