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Mexican Start Injects Life into Linares Tournament

Linares, Spain has long been the site of one of the world's most prestigeous chess tournaments, with small fields of the world's greatest players battling for large prizes in a double round-robin format. This year's version is no different, with one exception - the first half of the tournament is being held in Morelia, Mexico.

The change in venue has led to a surprising amount of fighting chess in the first two rounds, as six of the first eight games were decisive. The third round was quieter, with all four games leading to draws.

After three rounds, Peter Svidler and Peter Leko share the lead in the Morelia/Linares tournament, each with 2.5/3 scores. Vassily Ivanchuk is alone in 3rd with 2 points.

Even the "quiet" third round had a remarkable game. Levon Aronian took on FIDE Champion Veselin Topalov in a game that only ended after 123 moves. Topalov, who seemed fortunate to secure a draw in the endgame, has struggled thusfar in the tournament. With just 1 point, he is currently 6th in the eight player field.

Here are the complete standings so far:

Leko, Peter 2.5/3
Svidler, Peter 2.5
Ivanchuk, Vassily 2.0
Aronian, Levon 1.5
Bacrot, Ettienne 1.5
Topalov, Veselin 1.0
Radjabov, Teimour 0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco 0.5

We will continue to provide coverage of Linares 2006 in the coming weeks. For now, here is Svidler's first round win over Topalov.

White: Svidler, P (2765)
Black: Topalov, V (2801)
Morelia/Linares, Round 1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Nd4 h6 14. Be3 h5 15. f4 h4 16. f5 Nxe5 17. f6 Rh5 18. Ne4 g6 19. Bf4 c5 20. Nf3 Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 Be6 22. Rfd3 c4 23. R3d2 c6 24. Ng5 Bc5+ 25. Kh2 Bd5 26. Re2+ Kf8 27. Rde1 b5 28. c3 a5 29. a3 Rc8 30. g4 hxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Be6 32. h4 Kg8 33. Re5 Bf8 34. Nxe6 fxe6 35. Rd1 Rh7 36. Rxe6 Rb7 37. Re4 Kf7 38. Bg5 Re8 39. Rxe8 Kxe8 40. Kg4 Rh7 41. Re1+ Kd7 42. a4 bxa4 43. Re5 c5 44. Bf4 Rh8 45. Bg3 Bh6 46. Re7+ Kc6 47. Bf4 Bxf4 48. Kxf4 Rh5 49. Re5 Rxh4+ 50. Kg5 Rh5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxe5 52. f7 Re6+ 53. Kg5 Re5+ 54. Kg4 Re4+ 55. Kg3 Re3+ 56. Kf2 a3 57. f8=Q axb2 58. Qc8+ Kb5 59. Qb7+ Ka4 60. Kxe3 Ka3 61. Qb5 a4 62. Qxc5+ Kb3 63. Qb4+ Kc2 64. Qxa4+ Kxc3 65. Qa5+ Kc2 66. Qf5+ Kc1 67. Qf1+ 1-0