Topalov’s late show
By Malcolm Pein

Daily Telegraph/UK
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 15/09/2008

Another storming finish from Veselin Topalov secured the 150,000 Euro
first prize in the inaugural Grand Slam Final at Bilbao. In the tenth
and final round Topalov overcome Vasily Ivanchuk with some dynamic play
from a position many players would have given up as drawn. The three
points for a win and one for a draw scoring system ensured Topalov’s
two wins in his last three games propelled him into first place. There
was another bonus for the former FIDE champion as he moved to number
one on the unofficial live rating list.

I was able to witness the innovative arrangements first hand at the
Plaza de Nuevo which hosted a unique chess festival for twelve days.
The glass aAquarium’ is a remarkable construction that allows the
players to concentrate undisturbed while outside there is live
commentary and a variety of chess tournaments for amateurs being played
during the round. The sound proofing is so effective that the Chief
Engineer told me that the players would not be disturbed if a light
plane were to land in the square during play.

Round nine results: Radjabov draw Carlsen, Caro Kann; Anand draw
Topalov, Caro Kann; Ivanchuk draw Aronian, Ruy Lopez Exchange.

Round ten results: Topalov 1-0 Ivanchuk, Slav Meran; Carlsen draw
Anand, Slav Exchange; Aronian 0-1 Radjabov, King’s Indian g3.

Players receive three points for a win.

Final scores: 1 Topalov (Bulgaria) 17; 2-3 Carlsen (Norway), Aronian
(Armenia) 13; 4 Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 12; 5 Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 10; 6
Anand (India) 8.

V Topalov ` V Ivanchuk
Grand Slam Final Bilbao (10)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3
Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.0`0 0`0 11.Qc2 h6!? (11…a6; 11…Qe7)

12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.h3 (Not 15.f4 Bd4+ 16.Kh1 Ng4
17.h3 Qh4)

15…a6 16.Be3 c5!? (Sacrificing a pawn but Re8 17.Rad1 Qe7 was
playable)

17.Bxc5 Re8 (Intending to take on c3 then e4)

18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Nd5! Nxd5 20.exd5 Bxb2 21.d6! Qc6 22.f3 Rec8 (22…Rac8
23.d7 Qxd7 24.Bh7+ Kh8 25.Rxd7)

23.Bh7+! Kh8 24.Be4 Qxc5+ 25.Qxc5 Rxc5 26.Bxb7 Rd8 27.Rfe1 Be5
(27…Bxa3 28.d7 Kh7 29.Re8)

28.d7 a5 29.f4 Bc7 30.Bd5! Kh7 (30…Rxd7 31.Re8+ Kh7 32.Be4+ f5
33.Rxd7)

31.Bxf7 Rf5 32.Ba2 Rxf4 33.Bb1+ Kg8 34.Bg6! Bb6+ 35.Kh1 Bc5 36.Rc1 Bf8
(36…Bxa3 37.Rc8 Rff8 38.Rxd8 Rxd8 39.Re8+)

37.Red1 Bxa3 38.Rc8 Rff8 39.Be8! Be7 40.Re1 Bg5 41.g3! (The bishop is
forced off the h4-d8 diagonal)

41…a4 42.h4 Bf6 43.Re6 1`0

Ivanchuk

Topalov

Final position after 43.Re6 and Rxf6 follows undermining the rook on
d8.

The Women’s World Championship Final will be between fourteen year old
Hou Yifan of China and Russia’s Alexandra Kosteniuk. Hou Yifan
elimin
ated Humpy Koneru of Indian in two Blitz Games after the
Classical Chess match and two Rapid games ended 1-1.

England number one Michael Adams was held to a draw by the French IM
Thal Abergel in the fourth round of the EU Championship taking place at
the Liverpool World Museum but remains a joint leader in a group of
twelve on 3.5/4.

Danny Gormally held the French Super GM Etienne Bacrot to a draw with
black. The European Individual champion Sergei Tiviakov lost and Nigel
Short’s woes continued as he just scrambled a draw against IM Lorin
D’Costa of Hertford.