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NIC’S Café YOUR MOVE ‘LOOK! IT’S SOFIA-MAN!’
With a rejuvenated and slightly less glamorous cast the big question was if Sofia-Man 3 could match the spectacle and sensation of its successful prequels. Would Veselin Topalov once again claim the MTel Masters and would his bumpy road to victory again fill his fans with protracted fears and hopes? For sure, the script was less bombastic and the special effects less over-the-top, but all in all the spectators in the Bulgarian capital were once again treated to a captivating adventure with a stunning end.
A review by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam. SHABA TO THE RESCUE
Seattle 2003: Eight players were tied for the lead going into the final round. Three games were drawn quickly, but Alexander Shabalov triumphed over Varuzhan Akobian in a long, hard-fought struggle. Some said that Shabalov’s courage and determination saved the U.S. Championship. Fast forward to 2007. In a year the U.S. Championship lost its sponsor and almost didn’t happen, Shaba gave the event a shot in the arm with an even more heroic performance. Joel Benjamin, who was absent from the championship for the first time since he was 16, reports. KOSINTSEVA AND TKACHIEV EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
In the strongest field ever, Vladislav Tkachiev and Tatiana Kosintseva claimed gold at the eighth European Championship in Dresden. TOTAL TOMSK
Never before did a team enjoy such a total superiority at the Russian team championship. Led by an awesome Alexander Morozevich, Tomsk-400 won all their matches to claim the title for the third time. CHEPARINOV’S ONE-MAN SHOW
Top-seed Ivan Cheparinov, better known as ‘second of’, left little doubt as to who was the best player at the 15th Sigeman & Co tournament in Malmö. The young Bulgarian led the field from the word go and won with a score of 7 out of 9, leaving a 1½ point gap between himself and his nearest pursuers. BADEN-BADEN, WHO ELSE?
When in the autumn of 2006 the Bundesliga saw a further influx of foreign top players, most experts predicted a season full of drama. However, the race was practically decided after 13 out of the 15 rounds when title defender OSC Baden-Baden was leading their only serious contender, Hamburger SK, by four match points. THE ART OF LEARNING
Garry Kasparov’s How Life Imitates Chess and Josh Waitzkin’s The Art of Learning invite a comparison. Jonathan Rowson read both books twice. THE MAN BEHIND THE MOVE
Chess history remains mainly fascinated with the greats and their great battles, turning a blind eye on the ranks of lesser known players. Olimpiu Urcan tells the remarkable life story of E.E.Colman, the inventor of an aggressive variation in the Two Knights’ Defence. REVOLUTION IN THE 70s
Jan Timman took a look at Garry Kasparov’s latest chess book on the developments in opening theory in the 1970s, which in the author’s view is actually the sixth volume in his Predecessors series. JUST CHECKING
What is Vlad Tkachiev’s greatest fear?
Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Moser-T.Kosintseva, by T.Kosintseva
Shabalov-Kudrin, by Benjamin
Negi-Hermansson, by L'Ami
Luther-Popovic, by Luther
Karjakin-Grischuk, by Karjakin
Stripunsky-Nakamura, by Benjamin
Cheparinov-Kotronias, by Cheparinov
Topalov-Mamedyarov, by Mamedyarov
Motylev-Lutz, by Motylev French
Shabalov-Ibragimov, by Shabalov
Morozevich-Lputian, by Kuzmin
Langer-Smith, by Benjamin Caro-Kann
Kaidanov-Ivanov, by Benjamin Scandinavian Defence
Topalov-Nisipeanu, by Nisipeanu Italian Game
Areschenko-Shirov, by Shirov King's Pawn
Nakamura-Onischuk, by Benjamin
Nakamura-Becerra, by Benjamin Vienna Game
Nakamura-Yermolinsky, by Benjamin Queen's Gambit Declined
Shabalov-Kaidanov, by Benjamin Slav
Hillarp Persson-Timman, by Timman
Timman-Hector, by L'Ami
Van Wely-Pavasovic, by Pavasovic
Onischuk-Shabalov, by Benjamin Queen's Gambit Accepted
Shulman-Krush, by Benjamin Catalan
L'Ami-Negi, by L'Ami Nimzo-Indian
Topalov-Sasikiran, by Topalov Grünfeld Indian
Tkachiev-Iordachescu, by Tkachiev
Akobian-Perelshteyn, by Benjamin English Opening
Mamedyarov-Sasikiran, by Sasikiran
Yakovenko-Moiseenko, by Yakovenko
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