[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Bilbao, Round 3: Topalov defeats Carlsen and takes over the lead

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Bilbao, Round 3: Topalov defeats Carlsen and takes over the lead
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1220558608.shtml


   Veselin Topalov hasn't fared well against Magnus Carlsen in the past,
   but he had no problems today. The game was a traditional Tartakower
   Queen's Gambit Declined and a line Topalov played before, but Carlsen
   seemed unprepared. Carlsen broke new ground with a pawn sac, but the
   followup left Black with an edge. With the right choice on move 21,
   Carlsen probably would have reached a position where he'd have to
   suffer for a while but would most likely achieve a draw; instead, he
   blundered a pawn. Topalov's technique was up to the task, and the
   Bulgarian is now in clear first. Note that Carlsen is in clear second,
   ahead of the three other even scores, because their scores were the
   products of draws while Carlsen has a win and a loss.
   The other games were drawn. Teimour Radjabov pressed against Vassily
   Ivanchuk, but the latter erected an unbreachable defensive wall.
   Thanks to the incredibly effective anti-draw rules, the players found
   a way to repeat the position: draw. Levon Aronian pressed against
   Viswanathan Anand, using a nifty exchange sac to keep Black tied down.
   Anand was almost placed in a fatal zugzwang, but his one spare move
   was enough to hold the game.
   Standings after Round 3:
   1. Topalov 5 (real score 2)
   2. Carlsen 4 (1.5)
   3-5. Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Anand 3 (1.5)
   6. Aronian (1)
   Tournament site [1]here; games, with my comments, [2]here.

References

   1. http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/
   2. http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/files/bilbao2008_rd3.htm