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Publisher: New In Chess, 2005
Edition: Magazine
ISBN: 90-5691-144-9
Pages: 96
Language: English

Veselin Topalov: fabulous finish in MTel Masters. Vasily Ivanchuk: more popular than ever in chess-crazy Cuba. With $500,000 in prizes the HB Global Challenge in Minneapolis set a new standard for massive Opens. Alexandra Kosteniuk won the Russian Women’s Championship. In a match to promote his new book Jan Timman beat Lazaro Bruzon 5-3.

Content TOPALOV TRIUMPHS IN SOFIA Halfway through the MTel Masters the chauvinists in Sofia had little to cheer about when after four draws and one loss Veselin Topalov was languishing in last place. In spite of his modest start, the local favourite himself faced the second half with ambitious optimism. Yet, even he could not have foreseen that he would tear the field apart with 4½ points from his last 5 games to win the first Bulgarian super-tournament. INTERVIEW: VESELIN TOPALOV He doesn't seek interviews as a platform to vent his grievances or views. That's for other players to do. Which doesn't mean that Veselin Topalov shrinks back from giving his opinion if asked – as Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam found out when he visited the most successful player of the past 12 months in his hometown of Salamanca. 'CHUKY' HONOURS 'CAPA' With a record score of 9½ points out of 12, Vasily Ivanchuk won the 35th Capablanca Memorial in Havana. MILLION DOLLAR DREAM There was one dominant theme at the HB Global Challenge in Minneapolis – money. And why not? With $500,000 in prizes, the event offered the highest prize-fund in the history of open chess tournaments. Zviad Izoria claimed the $50,000 first prize and also took home a glittering watch worth a further $7,000. THE FIGHTER AND THE DARK-HAIRED Victor Bologan presents the 35th Bosna tournament in Sarajevo as a play in nine acts 'based on real events and chess games'. After a lively performance Bologan shared first place with local favourite Ivan Sokolov. DR JEAN MENNERAT The greatest French chess book collector cherishes the peace and quiet of his paper fortress, surrounded by 27,500 books. THREE TURK MYSTERIES SOLVED DARE-DEVIL IN DISGUISE She's taken part in more photo-shoots than all living women players combined, but the first and foremost passion of brand new Russian champion Alexandra Kosteniuk remains chess. A BOOK, A MATCH AND MORE Jan Timman returned to Curaçao for the presentation of his book on the 1962 Candidates' tournament and a match against Lazaro Bruzon. ROWSON'S REVIEWS A NOSE FOR ATTACK Hans Ree read a new book on Miguel Najdorf and reminisces about a unique chess personality. CHESS 2.0 Garry Kasparov sheds his light on recent events and expresses his delight that wherever his beloved Najdorf is played, chess is blossoming. JUST CHECKING What does Ruslan Ponomariov have to say about the forthcoming world championship? Did they play your opening? In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian Kosintseva-Kosteniuk, by Kosteniuk Kosteniuk-Pogonina, by Kosteniuk Anand-Topalov, by Anand Timman-Bruzon, by Timman Shirov-Movsesian, by Shirov Gonzales-Ehlvest, by Ehlvest French Bruzon-Timman, by Timman Caro-Kann Yudasin-Benjamin, by Yudasin Slav Sokolov-Shirov, by Sokolov Queen's Indian Jobava-Ivanchuk, by Vera Ponomariov-Topalov, by Ponomariov Beliavsky-Izoria, by Izoria Topalov-Ponomariov, by Topalov Van Wely-Beliavsky, by Beliavsky Topalov-Anand, by Topalov Grünfeld Indian Bologan-Volokitin, by Bologan Benoni Vera-Flores, by Vera Queen's Pawn Bruzon-Jobava, by Vera Ivanchuk-Jobava, by Ivanchuk