Linares Round 4

[ruymoultor]

STANDINGS after 4 Rounds
1. LEKO +1=2-0
= SHIROV +0=4-0
= KRAMNIK +0=4-0
4. KASPAROV +0=3-0
= VALLEJO +0=3-0
= TOPALOV +0=3-0
= RADJABOV +0=3-1

--LEKO, KASPAROV, VALLEJO and TOPALOV have had byes--

Well it was another disapointing round with another three draws. Leko retains the lead with a game in hand, while Kasparov is 0.5 points back after his bye. Radjabov is still considered last because he has played one more game than the Kasparov, Vallejo and Topalov.

Leko played Black against Kramnik in a game that might have been decisive, but the opening played out (a closed Sicilian) had an 80% draw rate. It looked for a moment like they might produce some fireworks, but after only 18 moves they called it a day.

Vallejo Pons (with White) versus Shirov was also a draw, this one not going much longer. The game played out as a Ruy Lopez, Closed Defense with both players going by the book. It should be noted that Shirov had played this line from both sides of the boards 3 times since 1998. Vallejo Pons introduced a novelty on move 13, but after trading pawns, both Bishops and a Knight off they agreed to a draw on move 20.

Ordinarily this game wouldn't take the cake, but this round's most exciting game is Veselin Topalov vs. Teimour Radjabov. Radjabov responded to 1.e4 with the Sicilian Defense and went aout a line he'd played against Kramnik last year (though he lost the game). At move 16 he shook things up, taking the e-pawn with the f-pawn. 10 moves later Topalov had a passed pawn knocking on the door to promotion, but a mate threat meant he had to give up a Knight. After misplaying a bit Radjabov got himself a passed pawn on the 2nd rank, but the two agreed to a draw on move 39. Here is the PGN.


[Event "21st Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2004.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Topalov"]
[Black "Radjabov"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2656"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7
11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14.O-O O-O 15. Qf3 d5
16. cxd5 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Rb8 18. Rfd1 Qh4 19. g3 Qg5
20.Qb3 Bg4 21. Bf3 f5 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23. d6+ Kh8 24. Qd5 f4
25. Nc2 Qg6 26. Nb4 Qg4 27. Nc6 f3 28. Nxe5 Qh5 29.Nxf3 Qxf3
30. Qxf3 Rxf3 31. d7 Rd8 32. Rd2 Kg8 33.Kg2 Rf5 34.Rc1 Kf7
35. f4 b4 36.Rc4 Rb5 37.Kf3 b3 38.Ra4 bxa2 39.Rxa6 Rxb2 1/2-1/2

Well, tomorrow's the last day before the rest day, will anyone go all out and **heaven forbid =D** win a game? Good Luck to everyone in that endeavour.