1. LEKO +1=1-0
= KASPAROV +0=3-0
= KRAMNIK +0=3-0
= SHIROV +0=3-0
5. TOPALOV +0=2-0
= VALLEJO PONS +0=2-0
= RADJABOV +0=2-1
--LEKO, TOPALOV and VALLEJO PONS have had byes--
The second round produced another three draws, but was not devoid of action. Other then the usual drawmaster antics from Kramnik it was excitment for sure.
Kramnik and Radjabov played out to a draw in 24 moves when Kramnik opted to use the Petrov's Defense against Radjabov's 1.e4 2.Nf3. When the draw was agreed all six major pieces were still on the board.
Kasparov and Leko was a great game, pitting the last official World Champion against tournament leader. Leko had the White pieces and Kasparov defended with the Sicilian Najdorf. Around move 23 Kasparov gave up a Rook for a Knight and two pawns and things got interesting. Leko's pawn storm against Kasparov's castled king eventually fizzeled out and the Rooks were exchanged off allowing Leko to claim a draw on Triple repitition.
But by far the most exciting (and longest) game of the round was Shirov versus Topalov. Shirov had the White pieces and the game was a Bogo-Indian Defense, one of the hypermodern defenses to 1.d4. Shirov got a nice attack going, but when it died off Topalov's passed pawn forced some defence from Shirov. The draw was forced by triple repitition. Here is the PGN to the best game of the round.
[Event "21st Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2004.02.21"]
[Round "3"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Topalov"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8.
Qb3 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Rac1 Nc6 13. Nb5 Nxe5 14.
dxe5 Nd7 15. Qe3 Nc5 16. Bb4 a5 17. Ba3 Qd7 18. Nd4 Rac8 19. f4 b5 20. Bxc5
Rxc5 21. f5 Rxc1 22. Qxc1 exf5 23. Nxf5 g6 24. Nd4 Qd8 25. h4 b4 26. Qf4 f6
27. Bh3 fxe5 28. Qxe5 Bf6 29. Qe6+ Kh8 30. e3 Bg7 31. Rxf8+ Qxf8 32. Qd7
Bh6 33. Ne6 Qc8 34. Qe7 d4 35. e4 Bxe4 36. Nc5 Qxh3 37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. Qe7+
Kg8 39. Qe8+ Bf8 40. Nxe4 Qf5 41. b3 d3 42. Qc6 Kh8 43. Kg2 h6 44. Qc4 Qd7
45. Nf6 Qg7 46. Ne4 Qb2+ 47. Kf3 Qe2+ 48. Kf4 Bg7 49. Qc8+ Kh7 50. Qd7 Qf1+
51. Ke3 Qe2+ 52. Kf4 Qf1+ 53. Ke3 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2
Good Luck to all the players as they go into Round 4 of the tournament tomorrow, hopefully a win will be forthcoming!
