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The third and final week of the World Chess Championship Unification Match in Elista, Kalmykia, started with the score tied at four points each. Both players had won two games: GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia had won the first two games; GM Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria had won the controversial fifth game by forfeit and the eighth game with the Black pieces. Four more games at standard time controls were scheduled for the final week, and in case of a 6-6 tie, a series of tiebreak games at increasingly faster times would decide the winner.

Topalov scored his second consecutive full point in the ninth game. Playing White, he uncorked a novelty on move 8 of a Slav Defense. Kramnik failed to find an adequate continuation, found himself in trouble by move 20, and resigned on his 39th move. Topalov took the lead for the first time in the match.

Topalov 5.0 - Kramnik 4.0 (+2+1F-2=4) Read more...

Looking first at chess playing software, we'll start with an upcoming product for the Sony PlayStation®Portable. • Konami Online Chess Kingdoms • 'Online Chess Kingdoms is the definitive chess strategy title for the PSP® system and will be available in Fall 2006. Taking full advantage of the PSP® system's wireless connectivity, Online Chess Kingdoms will feature extensive multiplayer modes including gameplay over the Internet. In addition, the game will offer comprehensive single player modes that will challenge the skills of even the most experienced players.' • Compare Prices
_{(Photo © Konami)}

But that's not all. Read more...

For more about the Unification Match, see our ChessChrono on the

• 2006 World Championship Unification Match

• Before You Buy a Chess Computer
• Before You Buy Chess Playing Software for Windows
• Before You Buy Chess Playing Software (non-Windows)

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• Coverage of other chess events that took place before the match started.
• Coverage of match events from the arrival of the players in Elista through game four.
• Opinions on the cheating accusations and their aftermath.

The month ended with the match in limbo. Kramnik had forfeited game five and the arbiter had postponed game six. No one knew what would happen next. If the blogs are representative of overall sentiment, and we think they are, Topalov was the favorite going into the match. His many loyal fans groaned when he lost the first two games. But loyalty is a fickle friend, no one likes a sore loser, and Kramnik became the overwhelming favorite when the trouble started.

It was a rare blog that ignored the match entirely. Those that did were more interested in the U.S. Chess League (USCL). Here are a few blogs providing regular USCL coverage.

• JG's Master Quest • Match predictions. (chessquest.blogspot.com)
• Boylston Chess Club Weblog • Home team: Boston Blitz. (boylston-chess-club.blogspot.com)
• Globular's Chess Blog • Team manager: Boston Blitz (globularchess.blogspot.com)
• Shakmaty Bereolos • Home team: Tennessee Tempo. (knology.net/~bereolos; lacks a monthly archive: hint, hint)

Other news included the publication and first reviews of David Shenk's 'The Immortal Game', the World Senior Championship won by Viktor Korchnoi, the European Union Championship won by Nigel Short, and the World Blitz Championship won by Alexander Grischuk. • Russia has Kramnik and Bulgaria has Topalov, but Australia has Arianne Caoili. Aussie blog The Closet Grandmaster has been following WIM Caoili's progress on the Melbourne talent show 'Dancing With The Stars'. Start with Pronouncing "Caoili", then find out how she and her partner fared in their first appearance on the show: Scorching Arianne Takes Lead. There is sure to be more news in October.

The chess blogs offer a lot more than news. Here are a few more posts that caught our attention. Read more...

To avoid a further increase in tension between the two players, match arbiter Geurt Gijssen and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov agreed that game six would be postponed. The day following that game, Sunday, 1 October, was a scheduled rest day, giving Ilyumzhinov extra time to negotiate a solution with the players.

Ilyumzhinov quickly met two of Kramnik's demands. The three-man Appeals Committee resigned and two of its members were replaced. The toilets were reopened. Kramnik's third demand, that the match be continued with game five, was much trickier. Replaying game five would risk provoking Topalov's withdrawal from the match; not replaying it would risk Kramnik's withdrawal. At the end of the day, unable to negotiate an agreement, Ilyumzhinov imposed one.

1 October 2006, Elista • Press Release - WCC Match Tomorrow • The FIDE President has made several proposals for further continuation of the match, which unfortunately were not accepted. After the detailed study of the current situation and the consultation with the FIDE Legal Advisor, the FIDE President decided: Tomorrow, 2 October 2006, at 15.00, the 6th Game of the World Chess Championship Match Topalov-Kramnik will take place.

This meant the forfeit would stand as a point for Topalov. But would Kramnik appear at the board at the appointed time and would he play? The chess world held its collective breath. Read more...