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Short Pulls Away on Final Day to Win EU Championship

Kramnik and Topalov Set to Reunite Chess Title

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Short Pulls Away on Final Day to Win EU Championship

Nigel Short defeated Mark Hebden in the final round of the European Union Chess Championship to finish clear first with 7.5/10 points. Short entered the final round as part of a seven-way tie for first, but was the only one of the leaders to win in the final round.

Eight players tied for second with 7 points, including young English GM Luke McShane.

The EU Championship was held in Liverpool, England, from the 6th to the 15th of September. It was a 10 round, swiss system event featuring a field of 85 players.

Here is Short's round 10 victory which propelled him to the championship:

White: Short, N (2676)
Black: Hebden, M (2532)
EU Championship, Round 10
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 h6 9. Ne4 Nd5 10. Ba4 Be7 11. d3 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Re1 Bd6 15. c4 Ne7 16. Bd2 c5 17. Nc3 a6 18. Nd5 Nac6 19. Bxc6 Nxc6 20. Bc3 Qe8 21. h3 Rd8 22. Re2 Bb8 23. Rae1 a5 24. a3 Nd4 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Nb6 e4 27. dxe4 f4 28. Nf1 Qc6 29. Nd5 Qxc4 30. Nd2 Qb5 31. Qb3 Qxb3 32. Nxb3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Rxd5 34. Rd2 Be5 35. Nc1 a4 36. Nd3 Bd6 37. Rc2 f3 38. g3 h5 39. Rc4 h4 40. g4 Ra5 41. Rxd4 Rf6 42. Ree4 Bc7 43. Kf1 Rc6 44. Rxa4 Rxa4 45. Rxa4 Rd6 46. Ne1 Rd1 47. Re4 Rb1 48. Re8+ Kh7 49. Rf8 Bd6 50. Rxf3 Rxb2 51. Rc3 Be5 52. Rd3 Bb8 53. Nf3 Ba7 54. Rd2 Rb3 55. Kg2 Rxa3 56. Nxh4 Bb8 57. Nf3 Bf4 58. Rd4 g5 59. h4 1-0

Kramnik and Topalov Set to Reunite Chess Title

Thirteen years after Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short played their title match outside of FIDE's control, the divided championship that has plagued the chess world is on the verge of being reunited again.

Starting on September 23rd, FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov is set to take on Classical Chess World Champion Vladimir Kramnik in a 12-game match that will leave the world with just one world chess champion.

The match is being held in Elista, Kalmykia. If the match goes the distance, the 12th game will be played on October 10th. If the match ends in a 6-6 tie, there will be rapid tiebreakers, with blitz tiebreakers beyond that if needed. The winner of the match will become the unified world champion, and will be seeded into the 2007 World Championship tournament; the loser will have to wait until the next cycle for a chance at the title.

As the top-ranked player in the world, Topalov comes into the match as the favorite in the eyes of many. However, Kramnik has proven to be especially resiliant in match play, even against players who have outplayed him in tournaments. In tournament games between the two players, Kramnik holds a 10-5 advantage, with 24 draws.

Regardless of the outcome, both players will take home a prize of $500,000.

We will have complete coverage of this historic match in the coming weeks.