Publisher: New In Chess, 2007
Edition: Magazine ISBN: 978-90-5691-198-0 Language: English
Extensive Wijk aan Zee coverage
Pavel Eljanov wins B-group
Michal Krasenkow wins C-group
The traditional Wijk aan Zee pea soup
Gibraltar Gibtelecom Masters
The Buried Bishop
Jan Timman remembers David Bronstein
Content
NIC'S CAFÉ
CORUS 2007: ARONIAN, RADJABOV & TOPALOV True, in 1989 there were even four, but for the first time in the rich history of the Corus tournament three players shared first prize. Levon Aronian, Teimour Radjabov and Veselin Topalov all expressed their happiness about their victory, even though all three of them could have complained that they had missed an excellent chance to claim the trophy alone. In the wake of their conflict-ridden match in Elista, Topalov's encounter with Vladimir Kramnik caused a veritable media frenzy in Wijk aan Zee. In a chilly atmosphere (no handshake) their game only ended in a draw when two kings, a pawn and a knight were left. The World Champion played a solid tournament, remaining unbeaten and finishing half a point shy of the winners. An extensive report by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam with lots of fantastic analysis by the main protagonists.
THE WINNER'S TALE ‘Until the thunder sounds, a peasant doesn't cross himself – I think that this Russian proverb gives a very true reflection of my play in this tournament. Only defeats forced me to mobilise all my strength for the subsequent battles. With four rounds to go I realised that only super-human efforts would give me chances in the fight for first place.' In a vivid blow-by-blow account Pavel Eljanov relates how he won the Corus B Group and earned the right to play in the top group next year.
PIPPED AT THE POST The Corus C Group followed a dramatic scenario that we've seen before in Wijk aan Zee. With the pluck and confidence of youth, 16-year-old Ian Nepomniachtchi beat one opponent after the other, spilling only half a point from his first eight games. No one doubted that the Russian promise was steering for undisputed first place. No one? An impression by the ultimate winner, Michal Krasenkow.
CLOSE RACE IN GIBRALTAR The fifth Gibtelecom Masters tournament saw Vladimir Akopian deservingly earn the 10,000 pounds first prize. Right behind him with 7 points were Areschenko, Sutovsky and Nakamura each taking home slightly more than 4,000 pounds. Thirteen players shared 6½ points, including top seed Mickey Adams, earning 550 pounds each. Kevin Spraggett was our man on the spot.
THE BURIED BISHOP Efstratios Grivas discusses an unusual strategic theme.
ROWSON'S REVIEWS Jonathan Rowson muses about a few opening books while ‘reflecting on the causes of a modern malaise called opening theory addiction'.
IN PRAISE OF THE KID The small band of King's Indian devotees rejoiced when Teimour Radjabov made a near-perfect score with this opening in the Corus tournament. Hans Ree is happy to join them.
BRILLIANT INNOVATOR Jan Timman pays tribute to the unique creativity of the late David Bronstein.
OLD OPENINGS, NEW HORIZONS ‘A few rounds into this year's Corus event nearly convinced me the players were trying to tempt me into a return to the board!' Garry Kasparov tells you why.
JUST CHECKING Does Pavel Eljanov have a dream?
Did they play your opening?
In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players:
Sicilian: Shirov-Van Wely, by Van Wely Karjakin-Anand, by Anand Navara-Van Wely, by Navara Zhu Chen-Ehlvest, by Ehlvest Akopian-Kuzubov, by Spraggett Karjakin-Shirov, by Karjakin
French: Nepomniachtchi-Brynell, by Nepomniachtchi
Vienna Game: Hou Yifan-Negi, by Negi
Queen's Gambit Declined: Sokolov-Rogers, by Sokolov
Slav: Kaidanov-Milov, by Milov Sargissian-Smeets, by Smeets
Catalan: Aronian-Karjakin, by Aronian Kramnik-Anand, by Kramnik
Nimzo-Indian: Atalik-Eljanov, by Eljanov
Queen's Indian: Topalov-Anand, by Topalov
Grünfeld Indian: Motylev-Svidler, by Svidler
King's Indian: Shirov-Radjabov, by Radjabov Ponomariov-Topalov, by Ponomariov
English Opening: Krasenkow-Spoelman, by Krasenkow Werle-Vachier-Lagrave, by Vachier-Lagrave
