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Topalov Defeats European Champ, 3-1

Veselin Topalov won both of his games with white to defeat reigning European Champion Dieter Nisipeanu 3-1 in a short match.

The match was held in Bucharest, from April 6th through April 9th, with standard time controls.

Nisipeanu had white for the first game, but was unable to gain an advantage and the players agreed to a short draw. Topalov took advantage of having the first move in game 2, scoring a convincing win. After drawing the third game, he again scored a full point in the final round to finish off the match.

Nisipeanu's best chance of a victory, and possibly the best game of the match, came in game 3:

White: Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter (2693)
Black: Topalov, Veselin (2801)
Topalov-Nisipeanu Match, Game 3
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Nbd7 8. Ng3 g6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Qd3 Nc5 11. Qc4 Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Rc8 14. b4 Ncd7 15. Qxc7 Rxc7 16. c4 h5 17. f3 a5 18. bxa5 Bh6 19. Bb6 Nxb6 20. axb6 Rc5 21. Bd3 Be3 22. a5 Bd4 23. Ra3 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 Bc3+ 25. Ke2 Bxa5 26. Rb1 Nd7 27. Ne4 Ke7 28. c5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 dxc5 30. Ra1 Bxb6 31. Rb1 Bc7 32. Rxb7 Kd6 33. Ra7 Rb8 34. Bc4 f5 35. Kd3 Rb4 36. Ra6+ Bb6 37. Kc3 e4 38. fxe4 fxe4 39. Ra8 Kd7 40. Rg8 Ba5 41. Rg7+ Kc8 42. Rg8+ Kc7 43. Ra8 Ra4+ 44. Kb3 Rb4+ 45. Kc3 Ra4+ 46. Kb3 1/2-1/2

Kozul Leads European Individual Championship

Croation Grandmaster Zdenko Kozul leads the European Individual Chess Championships with a 6.5/8 score, a half-point ahead of Vassily Ivanchuk.

Behind Ivanchuk is a group of 17 players, all tied at 5.5 points and still within striking distance with three rounds to play. Besides the individual title, these players are competing for spots in the next FIDE World Cup cycle. In all, 16 players will earn spots in the next World Cup.

Along with the men's Championship, there is also a Individual Women's Chess Championship being contested. IM Lanchava Tea Bosboom of the Netherlands and Turkey's WGM Ekaterina Atalik currently share the lead, each with 6.5 points after 8 rounds. Both Yelena Dembo and Jolanta Zawadzka are a half-point back with 6 points. Twelve players from the Women's Championship will also qualify for the next World Cup cycle.

The tournament, which is being held in Kusadasi, Turkey, has a prize fund of 48,000 Euros.

We will have continuing coverage of the European Championships in next week's issue. For more information, the official site can be found by clicking here.