2003 City of Linares Tournament

There is an amazing post script to yesterday's saga game between Leko and Kasparov: As if we didn't see

after 71. Qd5?

enough opportunities come and go in time trouble, a look at the Table Bases oracle of 5 piece endings reveals that Kasparov was winning as late as move 71 Qd5? (Kc7 was correct) and now in place of 71…Qc2+? The paradoxical 71…Qxd5+! 72.Kxd5 g1=Q 73.Kxe5 Qg5+! And mate in 61 more moves! How could Kasparov miss that!? He had so many… seconds! So, ok, no one can blame him for not seeing this line, but it was winning! If find it hard to believe and don't have the 5 piece Table Bases here is a link to a page that will 'show you': http://chess.jaet.org/cgi-bin/dtmc?fen=Q7/5pk1/8/4K3/8/8/8/6q1+b

This year we have a few changes and a few repeats in the 'assistance department': Kasparov, true to the

GM Reinaldo Vera

GMs Malakhov and Razuvaev

saying that you "don't change a winning team" is here with his mother Klara, and of course GM Yuri Dokhoian, his sphinx-faced coach and confidant. Kramnik, who in Corus had his IM friend Belikov with him has 'upgraded'! He has brought 2 seconds: Spaniard GM Miguel Illescas and Russian GM Vladimir Malakhov to help him here. Aruna Anand is here as usual, to support her husband Vishy. Last year GM Elizbar Ubilava was here full time and then GM San Segundo dropped in for extra help - perhaps they would come later in the tournament. Leko's entourage includes the familiar faces of his wife Sofie and her dad, Peter's coach GM Arshak Petrosjan. Ponomariov has a new/old face (new for him, old as in

Press Chief Paco Albalate

veteran player and coach) Russian GM Yuri Razuvaev. His manager GM Danailov was here for a few days but left for home (He lives in Spain now) but is expected to return. Young Radjabov is here with both his parents, but without a coach as I can see. Paco Vallejo also made a change from last year, and this time around Cuban GM Reinaldo Vera accompanies him.

Many of the players and their companions/seconds spend time in the pressroom. They avail themselves for quotes and comment on games in progress and most appreciate the journalists' job of bringing publicity to them and this event. Much like in many other sports, it is nice to get a first hand outlook from the very best of their profession.

Games synopsis:

Anand - Kramnik:

GM Anand vs GM Kramnik

Anand chose a a strange sideline in the Sicilian 4 Knights/Rossolimo. Perhaps after this game the entire 7.e5 line would need to be reviewed, since in the game black looked like a million bucks quite early. Vishy didn't look so happy even after his try to go a new path with 12.a4 and after 4 more moves than included a trade of a minor piece and the Queens, the opponents decided to call a truce. I am seeing a pattern of the big 3 conserving energy against each other and going for more against the rest. Of course now that Kasparov is in the minus he might try harder against anyone.

Vallejo - Radjabov: As expected, the French MacCutchun appeared on the board, but Vallejo had prepared a sideline of it. Rather than the almost automatic 6.Bd2 he went for 6.Bc1, which is much less used. Radja didn't seem too surprised and they followed theory for a bit. 7…Kf8!? Is a move to consider here as it discourages the b4 lines for white since Nb5-d6 is no longer a check, nor an option. 13…Na4?! was the deviation from the known book and it seems like a dubious attempt since 13.Nf4! threatens Bb5+ with Nxe6 ideas and eyes g6. After 13…a6 14.c4!? was interesting (of course the B is immune cause of Rc1) and white's initiative developed to serious measures. Most expected 19.Bd3 instead of 19.Nd3(!) after which Teimour decided to risk it all by grabbing a pawn and hoping to 'live to tell' about it.

GM Vallejo vs GM Radjabov

That should have been punished strongly with 20.Nf2-e4! Black would be on the ropes then! After 20.Ra1? it may have been possible that black could have curtailed white's compensation, but he went for a win of a second pawn with 24…Nc3 and 24…Nxd4?! And now the white attack was rejuvenated! Black reluctantly played 29….f5 (else Ne4!) and white kept utilizing his dark square domination. Opinions were that white's initiative is worth more than his material deficit. Alas, once again time pressure raised its ugly head to harm Paco. 36.Rfc1?! and 37.h3?! were lukewarm. Why not play Bc5! And to d6 if need be?! Worse yet: 39.Bf2? was simply awful! Luckily for the Spaniard, Radja was also short of time and rushed with 40...Qe7?! where 40…Qf6! Was much better. Now white won the e6 pawn and his initiative certainly sufficed for one pawn minus. On move 48, exhausted it was time to split the point. Another exciting game, full of life and possibilities!   Alterman-Doss Analysis in pgn format.

Ponomariov - Leko:

GM Ponomariov vs GM Leko

This Rossolimo Sicilian repeated a line that even Kasparov and Shirov used before for white. Pono introduced a new idea with 12.Qe3!? but Leko nicely reacted by advancing his Queenside pawns and holding his Kingside intact. When Pono passed on Rg1 and doubling ideas, black's position looked quite promising, 21…c4! Signaled the changing winds. All of a sudden in a wave of events, black managed to get rid of his double pawn, activate his dormant Ng7, and give new life to the light squared B of his! Ruslan quickly realized the severity of his situation and wisely liquidated the Queenside pawns, at the cost of losing a pawn. As endings with an extra pawn, with pawns on the same side are tough to win, this was his best chance. For 63(!) long moves Peter tortured Pono and actually was winning before he played 107… f5? But had no time. I can tell you that right next to me, GM's Anand, Ljubo, Razuvaev and others coming and going, were analyzing and throwing many suggestions, changing the evaluation quite often, but indeed agreed that 107…Rg2+ was winning. As it was, at the end, with 16 seconds(!) left in sudden death and a draw in the horizon, Leko had to concede the draw. A remarkable winning try and defensive effort by the two!!