Content
YOUTH REVOLT
'A few seconds before the clocks are started in crucial games, while his opponents are concentrating and absorbed in themselves, serious reflections darkening their faces, Levon strolls around the stage, chortles spontaneously and pesters all and sundry with teasing questions. And now you'll say that this man could have lost? Never!' As he set off for the 'edge of the world', Khanty Mansiysk, our reporter Evgeny Atarov was completely sure that 23-year-old Levon Aronian would become the holder of the World Cup. ANOTHER LEAP FORWARD
Apart from Aronian's superb victory, easily the greatest sensation in Khanty-Mansiysk was Magnus Carlsen's performance. Simen Agdestein, author of <I>Wonderboy</I>, takes a look at Magnus' results in the past year that culminated in yet another leap forward. RUBLEVSKY & SON
The names of the favourites were known and, no, we would certainly not see a surprise winner at the Super Final of the 58th Russian Championship. Fortunately, such dead certainties do not exist and reality was quite different once the games got underway in the thoroughly renovated Central Chess Club. Sergey Rublevsky had less than one day to recover from the World Cup in Siberia, but that couldn't stop him from becoming the new Russian champion. Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam reports from Moscow. INTERVIEW: BESSEL KOK
During the Turin Olympiad the FIDE Congress will elect a new President. One of the candidates to challenge Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is Bessel Kok, co-founder of the legendary Grandmasters Association and architect of the Prague Agreement. 'No leadership can continue to transform and improve, if you're sitting in the same seat for 15 years.' WORLD JUNIORS
In Istanbul, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Elisabeth Pähtz became the new junior world champions. They both annotated their best game. PONO STRIKES IN PAMPLONA
'The spectators were especially eager to see Ponomariov at work', writes Jan Timman. And right they were. BOUNDLESS LOVE OF CHESS AS AN ART
Viktor Kortchnoi, usually not one to mince his words, tells us what he thinks of some of the greatest promises of the new generation. TWO AGAINST ONE
Genna Sosonko investigated the sometimes troubled relations between chess and religion. CHESS AND POKER
'I never expected to get hooked on poker', Jennifer Shahade confides. ROWSON'S REVIEWS
Jonathan Rowson wouldn't review a book he wrote himself, would he? OLD AND NEW STUDIES
Jan Timman found some more studies with totally natural starting-positions. JOHN NUNN AT 50
Like the author himself, Hans Ree regrets that the third collection of John Nunn's best games will be the final volume of the series. A YEAR FOR CHANGES
At the start of a new year Garry Kasparov notices that a generation shift is well under way. JUST CHECKING
Guess who's Elisabeth Pähtz's favourite chess player of all time.
Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Malakhov-Vallejo, by Malakhov
Pähtz-Vasilevich, by Pähtz
Carlsen-Kamsky, by Carlsen Caro-Kann
Ponomariov-Timman, by Timman
Motylev-Bareev, by Motylev
Ponomariov-Izoria, by Ponomariov Petroff
Rublevsky-Motylev, by Rublevsky
Svidler-Kramnik, by Svidler Ruy Lopez
Morozevich-Khalifman, by Morozevich
Grischuk-Kamsky, by Grischuk
Ponomariov-Aronian, by Notkin
Motylev-Yakovenko, by Yakovenko Italian Game
Malakhov-Carlsen, by Carlsen
Harikrishna-Sokolov, by Harikrishna King's Pawn Opening
Sutovsky-Bacrot, by Bacrot Queens' Gambit Declined
Aronian-Ponomariov, by Notkin
Aronian-Ponomariov, by Ponomariov
Volkov-Zviagintsev, by Zviagintsev Slav
Carlsen-Grønn, by Agdestein Nimzo-Indian
Gurevich-Aronian, by Notkin Queen's Indian
Grischuk-Gelfand, by Grischuk King's Indian
Wely-Radjabov, by Wely English Opening
Alekseev-Mamedyarov, by Mamedyarov
Aronian-Areschenko, by Notkin | 
