2008 M-Tel Masters: Sofia, Bulgaria
May 7th - May 18th

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KHollister,

Player Standings



Official Site

You can download the games here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KHollister,

It was just announced that the bank that sponsors the event will award the tournament winner BGN 100.000 (about 51.000 Euros)!

The downside is that this only applies if the winner is Bulgarian -- meaning only Topalov or Cheparinov have a chance of winning...

http://www.mtelmasters.com/en/news&article_id=60.html

Perhaps this is a trick to lure others to become Bulgarian citizens and represent Bulgaria in the next Olympiad


It started with a bang and 3 decided games (two with black pieces). I wonder if or when the fatigue is going to show by Cheparinov and Radjabov. When it's finish they will have a really murderious month behind them. One month of playing on the highest level - I don't think it has ever been done before. Even Kasparov and Karpov in their marathon match didn't play so many games in one month.

Perhaps someone will defect during the tournament. After all, they are being kept in a cage... even if it is a nice one!

http://www.mtelmasters.com/uploads/Gallery/0000000087.jpg

Wow


I didn't know that. Looks like a very large smoking chamber

What is this place where they play? Somekind of theater? You think it's sound proof?

It's a specially constructed glass cage to eliminate distraction; but as you can see, Vassily Ivanchuk doesn't appear to be too happy...

http://www.mtelmasters.com/uploads/Gallery/0000000099.jpg

But it's very cool. The guy with a camera is standing practically next to the table where Topalov is playing. You can't come any closer than this.

The six participants:



I'll let you figure out who is who

I don't know if anyone has been watching, but Ivanchuk is doing very well...

He is certanly showing his muscles, doesn't he?

Ivanchuk does it again and is now leading with 5/5 in the rest day. Topalov is practically the only one who can catch him, but he would need a similar run or if Ivanchuk starts a negaitve run.

Yes, just think how well Ivanchuk will do after a day's rest!

It looks like Corporate Commercial Bank will be keeping the BGN 100.000 award...

And this time he will have white pieces versus Topalov, Aronian and Radjabov. He needs at least 8.5/10 to eclipse Karpov's record performance from Linares 1994 where he scored 11/13.

So much for Ivanchuk's winning streak... but he's still a point ahead, so you can't count him out yet...

Everybody is of course talking about Ivanchuk, but Topalov is playing a great tournament also. 4.5/6 would be enough for a lead in any normal tournament. It means that the first place is still open.

Hmm... a draw for Ivanchuk and Topalov today.

Ivanchuk is still ahead by a point, but it looks like he didn't have a good day...

http://www.mtelmasters.com/uploads/Gallery/0000000476.jpg

Well, Topalov lost to Bu today, so he's still behind a point. So right now, the tournament could go to Ivanchuk or Topalov... but we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

Well, it was very close -- Cheparinov lost to Ivanchuk; but then Topalov drew with Radjabov.

Ivanchuk wins the tournament!

Congratulations to Ivanchuk for one of the best performances in history
His rating performance of 2977 is numerically one rating point better than Karpov's 2976 rating performance from Linares 1994. But I rate Karpov's performance higher because ratings got inflated over the years and Karpov had a much harder opposition (7 of the top 10 players in the world)