Topalov "The New World Chess Champion"
by Andrew Zito
 
 
San Luis, Argentina, Oct 15, 2005

 
Poster Banner for the 2005 San Luis Tournament in Argentina
Though the headlines read "Topolov The New World Champion" The real story of heart breaking proportions was once again that which was behind the headlines, and beyond common perceptions where Anand [footnote1] finished second, and failed to become World Champion.
 
On the FIDE website the headlines announced "Topalov Undefeated World Champion, Anand Second", and on the Navind Times of India the headlines stated the home town favorite "Anand finishes second, Topolov is new world champion".
 
Though Garry Kasparov has for all intents and purposes quit chess for Russian politics, in an instance specifically affording GM Anand a great opportunity to win the world championship, as he entered as top contender. This has become a terrible series of events for Anand, for quite possibly it results to forever prevent him from ever becoming the World Chess Champion, for which we express our disappointment.
 
Viswanathan Anand who would of been a great World chess champion, secured a draw playing black in the final round game against Russian Peter Svidler, to the disappointment of his many fans he finished second in the World Chess Championship.
 
"The Navhind Times" of Bombay India, attempted to soften the blow of Anand's bitter defeat for his many Indian fans by stating Anand finished second in a "commendable" showing, which otherwise his fans found little consolation in his defeat.
 
Especially since Anand was seen as the Great Bright Star of India (the Great Indian native son favorite), on the international chess scene for years struggling to depose Garry Kasparov and take the crown only to be disappointed when he finally got his chance.

 

Newly Crown World Chess Champion
GM Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria
 
Viswanathan Anand
 
 
Ex-world chess champion Garry Kasparov currently still the highest rated chess player in the world.
Anand was often viewed as a great source of national pride, as the great Indian challenge to Kasparov, and Kramnik, but now that he is over 36 years of age in a sport is seen as important, he may have seen his last chance to capture the world championship.
 
His current performance of coming in second in this instance, must have been seen as a great loss and bitter disappointment to not only his fans, but all of us, where his career has often only been overshadowed by the chess genius of Garry Kasparov.
 
Kasparov has very much over shadowed Anand, thorough out Anand's career, just as Bobby Fischer's career overshadowed the late great Samuel Reshevsky [footnote.2] , where due to the circumstances related to World War II where competitions were not held, GM Reshevsky was prevented from competing when he was at his peak, and as only fate seemed to have denied Samuel Reshevsky the World Chess Title.
 
Knowing the right lines of play are not enough as also timing, circumstances and fate, rule the board, that after World War II anointed Bobby Fischer chance and opportunity where Reshevsky had none, that also here, could of been seen if Kasparov was never there in that Viswanathan Anand probably would of secured the title.
German cartoon of Anand laughing
"Ha Ha Ha I am a Master of� Strategy and Tactics"
 
Veselin Topalov
 
Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria completed the formalities and claimed the championship with a draw against Judit   Polgar of Hungary. The Bulgarian scored an impressive 10 points out of a possible 14
in a complicated competition. A long ways from the early days of chess where competitions by the likes of Emanuel Lasker [footnote.3] must of seemed restricted, controlled and perhaps even fixed when those masters often were more or less able to pick and choose whom would become, or be their competitors, and whom they would defend their titles against.
 
With barely 10 put of 14 Topalov's surprising victory came after a blazing start of six victories in the first seven games after which drawing the remaining games proved more than enough for him to claim the title. While I hardly congratulate GM Topalov as my Balkan Brother for his great victory, for like Tesla he is the pride of all the Balkans, as I as well state my sincere regrets to the other seven world class competitors who participated and lost.
 
The question that remains is as to whither, or not, what Topalov and FIDE did was sufficient so as to justify/ warrant GM Topalov being considered "World Champion". The question is as to what constitutes and qualifies a "World Champion" to be "World Champion". This issue persists eternally as to what constitutes a "World Champion", for after all there is no magic formula that is not, or can not be bettered, improved upon, or also attacked and smashed, though today we have a better idea than years past, and a clearer idea.
 
Seemingly there was no dramatic overwhelming victory by Topalov over the others in a field of eight extremely great chess masters. Though FIDE should be happy that they have a champion (unlike past years) to point to and proclaim to the world as "World Champion". No doubt GM Topalov will enjoy more prominence as a poster boy for chess, and an iconic staple in the promotion of chess, the question is as to whither (or not) what any of the candidates did is sufficient to clearly adjudge who is the best chess champion in the world he should enjoy the publicity.
 
FIDE though may fair better than any others in presenting a case for their argument that they are the best at deriving fair well balance results thru championship qualifying tournaments and a world network of affiliated organizations the issue is as to whither it is technically the most optimal of choices.
 

# Player   Fed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
1 Leko, Peter
26
 HUN   � 0 1 � 1 � 0   0 � � 0 � 1 � 6.5
2 Morozevich, A.
28
 RUS �   0 � 1 � � 0 1   0 � � � 1 � 7
3 Svidler, Peter
29
 RUS 1 1   1 � � � 0 � 1   � � � � � 8.5
4 Polgar, Judit
29
HUN 0 � 0   0 � 1 0 � � �   0 � 0 � 4.5
5 Anand, Viswanathan
36
 IND � 0 � 1   1 0 � 1 � � 1   � 1 � 8.5
6 Adams, Michael
34
 ENG 0 � � � 0   � 0 � � � � �   � � 5.5
7 Kasimdzhanov, R.
26
 UZB � � � 0 1 �   0 0 0 � 1 0 �   � 5.5
8
 Topalov, Veselin
30
 BUL 1 1 1 1 � 1 1   � � � � � � �   10

# Player Fed Title Rtng 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rnk
1 Leko, Peter HUN g 2763 0 0.5 0.5 1.5 2 2.5 3.5 4 4 4.5 5 5 5.5 6.5 5th
2 Morozevich, A. RUS g 2707 0.5 1 1 1 1.5 2 3 4 5 5.5 5.5 6 6.5 7 4th
3 Svidler, Peter RUS g 2738 0.5 1 2 3 3 3.5 4.5 5 5.5 6 7 7.5 8 8.5 3rd
4 Polgar, Judit HUN g 2735 0 0.5 1.5 1.5 2 2 2 2 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 8th
5 Anand, Viswanathan IND g 2788 1 1.5 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 3.5 4.5 5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8 8.5 2nd
6 Adams, Michael ENG g 2719 0.5 1 1 1 1.5 2 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 7th
7 Kasimdzhanov, R . UZB g 2670 0.5 1 1 2 2.5 3 3 3 3.5 4.5 4.5 5 5.5 5.5 6th
8 Topalov, Veselin BUL g 2788 1 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 1st

Officially the FIDE on its website reported that:
 
With the title already in hand, Veselin Topalov drew quickly with Judit Polgar in the last round of the World Championship Tournament in San Luis, Argentina. Topalov invited an exchange of� Queens and the two agreed to draw on the following 18th move. Topalov finished the tournament undefeated with 10 points, a convincing 1.5 points ahead of second placers Viswanathan Anand and Peter Svidler, tied at 8.5 points each.

Viswanathan Anand used the Petroff defense to get a draw against Peter Svidler and win the silver medal. Anand and Svidler tied at 8.5 points each but Anand won the tie break with the more number of wins. Svidler gamely tried to get an attack going but after a flurry of exchanges including the Queens on the 19th move, agreed to a draw and the bronze medal.

Alexander Morozevich drew with Michael Adams to score a total of 7 points for fourth place. In their Ruy Lopez game, Morozevich entered the endgame a piece down with two panws up in compensation. The game went on until the bitter end with all pieces and pawns off the board except for the extra Bishop of Adams on the 53rd move.

In the only decisive game of the last round, Peter Leko smashed the Sicilian defense of Rustam Kasimjanov in 48 moves to finish 5th with 6.5 points. Leko mustered a kingside attack with Queen and Rook on the h-file. Kasimjanov had to surrender the quality exchange on the 40th move giving up his Rook to prevent a Knight check. A desperate combination led to further loss of material and Kasimjanov resigned on the 48th move.

Kasimjanov finished with 5.5 points prevailing in the tie-break with more wins than Michael Adams, also with 5.5 points for 7th place. Judit picked up the rear with 4.5 points for 8th place.

Dr. Jana Bellin, chairperson of the FIDE Medical Commission, arrived in San Luis to supervise the doping tests conducted by the Hygenic Institute, the Olympic Committee accredited agency recommended by the Argentine National Olympic Committee. `The players were very cooperative and the agency very professional,` she said. Dr. Bellin is herself a Woman Grandmaster since 1980 and twice Olympiad medalist during her years as a top player, bronze medal in 1968 with the Czechoslovak team and silver medal in 1976 with the English women`s team. Fifty percent were tested. After the top three, the other players drew lots and Kasimjanov was the `lucky` one. `Why always me?` he asked Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos after the games. Kasimjanov was also a lucky lottery winner for doping test during the Bled and Calvia Olympiads. `You should buy a lottery ticket,` FIDE Secretary General Ignatius Leong advised Kasimjanov.

With the victory, Topalov went home richer by $300,000 and if he does not lose any rating points before January, will also cross the 2800 Elo rating barrier for the first time ever. The Bulgarian will be the third player in history to achieve this feat after Russians Gary Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik.

Anand finished with a score of 8.5 points along with Svidler but the Indian finished second thanks to a better tie-break. Overall, Anand scored 5 victories in all compared to Svidlers four and that proved crucial in the final standings.

The fourth place went to Russian Alexander Morozevich who finished with 7 points, half a point clear of Peter Leko of Hungary
  
[foornote.1]

Viswanathan Anand bio info From Wikipedia
 
Viswanathan Anand (born December 11, 1969 ) is an Indian chess grandmaster. In the October 2005 FIDE Elo rating list, Anand has a rating of 2788, making him the number one in the world among active players (since Garry Kasparov recently retired). Anand has for years been the strongest "non-Soviet" player since Bobby Fischer , although recently the Hungarian Peter Leko� and the Bulgarian Veselin Topalov have rivalled him.
 
Chess career
Anand's rise in the Indian chess world was meteoric. National level success came early for him when he won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship with a score of 9/9 in 1983 at the age of fourteen. He became the youngest Indian to win the International Master's Title at the age of fifteen, in 1984. At the age of sixteen he became the National Champion and won that title two more times. He played games at blitz speed, earning him the nickname "Lightning Kid" ("Blitz chess" is known in India as "Lightning chess"). In 1987, he became the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship. In 1988, at the age of eighteen, he became India 's First Grandmaster.
 
"Vishy", as he is sometimes called, burst upon the upper echelons of the chess scene in the early 1990s, winning such tournaments as Reggio Emilia 1991 (ahead of Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov ). Playing at such a high level did not slow him down either, and he continued to play games at blitz speed. In 1991, he lost in a tie-breaker to Anatoly Karpov in the quarter finals of the world chess championship.
 
Anand qualified for the Professional Chess Association World Chess Championship final by winning the candidates matches against Michael Adams and Gata Kamsky . In 1995, he played the final against Kasparov in New York City 's World Trade Center . After an opening run of eight draws (a record for the opening of a world championship match), Anand won game nine using a splendid sacrifice on the queen side, but then lost four of the next five. He lost the match 10.5 - 7.5.
 
Anand won three consecutive Advanced Chess tournaments in Leon , Spain after Garry Kasparov introduced this form of chess in 1998, and is widely recognized as the world's best Advanced Chess player, where humans may consult a computer to aid in their calculation of variations.
 
Anand's recent tournament successes include the prestigious Corus chess tournament in years 2003 and 2004 and Dortmund in 2004. He has won the annually held Monaco Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Championships in years 1994, 1997, 2003 and 2005.
 
Anand has won the Chess Oscar in 1997, 1998, 2003, and 2004. His four Oscars ties him with Kasparov for the most ever, one better than Fischer 's three. The Chess Oscar is awarded to the year's best player according to a world-wide poll of leading chess critics, writers, and journalists conducted by the Russian chess magazine 64.

His superb game collection, My Best Games of Chess, was published in the year 1998 and was updated in 2001.

World Chess Champion
After several near misses, Anand finally won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000 after defeating Alexei Shirov 3.5 - 0.5 in the final match held at Teheran, thereby becoming the first Indian to win that title.
 
World Rapid Chess Champion
In October 2003, the governing body of chess, FIDE, organized a rapid time control tournament in Cap d'Agde and billed it as the World Rapid Chess Championship. Each player had 25 minutes at the start of the game, with an additional 10 seconds after each move. Anand won this event ahead of ten of the other top twelve players in the world with Kasparov being the only missing player. Anand is still deservedly considered to be the world's finest Rapid Chess player.
 
Chess titles
1983 National Sub-Junior Chess Champion - age 14
1984 International Master - age 15
1985 Indian National Champion - age 16
1987 World Junior Chess Champion, Grandmaster
2000 FIDE World Chess Champion
2003 FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion
Awards Anand has received many awards.
Arjuna award for Outstanding Indian Sportsman in Chess in 1985
Padma Shri , National Citizens Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1987

The inaugural Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India 's highest sporting honour in the year 1991-1992. British Chess Federation 'Book of the Year' Award in 1998 for his book My Best Games of Chess

Chess Oscar (1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004)

Further reading

Viswanathan Anand , My Best Games of Chess (Gambit, 2001 [new edition])

[footnotes.2]
Samuel Herman (Sammy) Reshevsky (born November 26, 1911, Ozorkow, Poland - died April 4, 1992, New York, USA) was a leading American chess Grandmaster.

Born Szmul Rzeszewski, he learned to play at age four, and was soon acclaimed a child prodigy. At age eight he was beating accomplished players with ease and giving simultaneous exhibitions.

In the 1920s his parents moved to the US, where they made a living from the talent of their child. As an adult, however, Reshevsky was never a professional chess player. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1933 with a degree in accounting, and worked as an accountant.

He won US championships in 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1969 and 1972. His international career began in 1935 at the Margate tournament, which he won, beating, among others, former world champion Jose Raul Capablanca. Here's the game (moves given in Algebraic chess notation):

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 c5 9. Nf3 c4 10. Bf5 Re8 11. O-O g6 12. Bh3 Nf8 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. b3 Qa5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Qa4 a6 18. b5 Re6 19. Rab1 Rb8 20. Rb2 Be7 21. bxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc2 Ne6 23. Rfb1 Ra7 24. a4 Nc7 25. Ne5 Qe8 26. f4 f6 27. Ng4 Qd7 28. h3 Kg7 29. Nf2 Ba3 30. Ra2 Bd6 31. Nfd1 f5 32. Nb5 Ra5 33. Nxc7 Bxc7 34. Nc3 Qd6 35. Qf2 b6 36. Qf3 Rd8 37. Rab2 Qe7 38. Rb4 Rd7 39. Kh1 Bd8 40. g4 fxg4 41. hxg4 Qd6 42. Kg1 Bc7 43. Kf2 Rf7 44. g5 Bd8 45. Ke2 Bxg5 46. Rxb6 Qa3 47. Kd2 Be7 48. Rb7 Rxa4 49. Qxd5 Ra5 50. Qxc4 Rh5 51. Kd3 Qa8 52. Qe6 Qa3 53. Rd7 Rhf5 54. Rb3 Qa1 55. Rxe7 Qf1+ 56. Kd2 1-0

A year later he shared third place at Nottingham. In 1937 he shared first at Kemeri, Latvia, and in 1938 shared fourth in the AVRO tournament, which featured arguably the eight strongest players in the world.

Reshevsky was one of the best players in the world, and a serious contender for the world championship, from roughly the mid-1930's to the mid-1960's. He was one of five chess grandmasters to compete for the World Championship in 1948, and finished in joint third place with Paul Keres. He then reached second place in a candidates' tournament in Zurich (1952). He also qualified from an interzonal tournament in Sousse, but lost in the quarterfinal to Viktor Korchnoi in 1968.

He was a regular top board for the USA at the Chess Olympiads. He won gold in 1937 and bronze in 1974 and an individual gold in 1950. Overall he played in eight Olympiads.

His books include Reshevsky on Chess (1948), How Chess Games Are Won (1962), and The Art of Positional Play (1978).

Reshevsky was a tough and forceful player who was superb at positional play, but could also play brilliant tactical chess when warranted. He used huge amounts of time in the opening, a dangerous tactic which sometimes caused him to play the rest of the game in a very short amount of time. That sometimes unsettled Reshevsky's opponents, but other times resulted in blunders on his part. Reshevsky's inadequate study of the opening and his related tendency to fall into time-pressure may have been the reasons that, despite his great talent, he was never able to become world champion.

footnote [3] 
 
Emanuel Lasker (December 24, 1868 January 11, 1941) was a German chess player and mathematician, born at Berlinchen in Brandenburg (now Barlinek in Poland ).

In 1894 he became the second World Chess Champion by defeating Steinitz with 10 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. He maintained this title for 27 years, the longest unbroken tenure of any officially recognized World Champion of chess. His great tournament wins include London (1899), St Petersburg (1896 and 1914), New York (1924).

In 1921, he lost the title to Capablanca. He had already offered to resign to him a year before, but Capablanca wanted to beat Lasker in a match.
 

 

 
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