ChessBase Magazine Online

Aeroflot Open 2009 – photographic impressions
24.02.2009 – What was missing from our reports on the Aeroflot Open? Why pictures, visual impressions of the action. Not a single one was on the official site, and so it was a pleasant surprise when a colleague sent us a very nice bunch from Moscow. The include some critical shots of the contentious game Mamedyarov-Kurnosov from round six. From Moscow here is Misha Savinov's big pictorial report.
 

Sofia R5: Topalov wins game five, leads 3:2
23.02.2009 – Gata Kamsky played the French with an isolated d-pawn, but was holding out well until move 35, when disaster struck in form of a blunder with a pawn loss. Veselin Topalov did not let the opportunity pass and netted a full point. The Bulgarian is now in the lead at 3.0:2:0, with three rounds to go. Our report today has tidbits from Sofia and GM commentary by Mihail Marin.
 

Anand on chess as a profession and on computers
23.02.2009 – World Champion Viswanathan Anand was one of the pioneers in the use of computers for chess. He started using chess database just months after Kasparov, and stuck with information technology ever since. In part two of his indepth interview Anand also speaks about books, professional chess and sporting heros. We have dug up some unique historical pictures.
 

Solodovnichenko wins 69th Daniël Noteboom Tournament
23.02.2009 – Daniël Noteboom was a very promising Dutch player who had an Semi-Slav Variation named after him. Unfortunately he died of pneumonia in 1932 (before the age of medicine) at the age of just 21. This year the 69th memorial tournament was held, a 48-hour six-round Swiss, won by Ukrainian GM Yuri Solodovnichenko. Illustrated report by Frits Agterdenbos.
 

Top seed Mamedyarov withdraws from Aeroflot Open
23.02.2009 – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is the top seed in the 2009 edition of the Aeroflot Open in Moscow (February 17–26). After five rounds he was leading, together with Alexander Moiseenko and Igor Kurnosov. In round six he was crushed by Kurnosov in 21 moves. Mamedyarov filed an official complaint, essentially accusing his opponent of cheating, and withdrew from the event. Breaking news.
 

Linares R4: Aronian, Grischuk, Anand win
23.02.2009 – Vishy Anand outplayed Wang Yue with 1.d4, Alexander Grischuk punished the creative but over-optimistic play by Teimour Radjabov, while Levon Aronian laboured for 92 moves to overcome Leinier Dominguez' resistance an hour before midnight. After four rounds and before the free day Aronian and Grischuk lead with 3.0 points. Server statistics and annotations by GM Dorian Rogozenco.
 

Corus Study Day – solution and new puzzles
22.02.2009 – Last week we had a report on the Corus Studies Day, where some of the world's best problem and study solvers were gathered and given nine tough studies to crack. The winner was 18-year-old Twan Burg ahead of double world champion John Nunn. In our report we gave you a sample of the studies they had to tackle. Today we bring you the solution and two incredible new studies to solve.
 

Linares R3: All games well-fought draws
21.02.2009 – The results may seem desolate, but the games of round three were by no means boring. In each the players worked hard in an attempt to score a point. In fact one last until late in the evening, with Vassily Ivanchuk pushing in vain for 65 moves to overcome Alexander Grischuk. Rooky Leinier Dominguez did well to hold Anand to a draw. Illustrated report with annotations by GM Dorian Rogozenco.
 

Sofia R4: Kamsky strikes back – wins in 73 moves
21.02.2009 – Gata Kamsky used the white pieces in game four to grind down his opponent Veselin Topalov and equalise the score in the FIDE Candidates match in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was an impressive performance by the American GM, who thwarted Topalov's attempts to complicate the position and punished them when the Bulgarian went too far. GM commentary in English and Romanian.
 

Linares R2: Aronian wins after Anand's blunder
20.02.2009 – A shocking turn of events: Vishy Anand was coasting to what looked like a sure victory against Levon Aronian, who kept creating little problems. Suddenly the World Champion cracked and Aronian took the full point. Alexander Grischuk ground down Chinese GM Wang Yue in a Slav. The other two games were drawn, Aronian and Grischuk lead. Full report with annotations by GM Dorian Rogozenco.
 

Sofia R3: Game three drawn in 37 moves
20.02.2009 – Gata Kamsky was not afraid to repeat his Grünfeld opening from round one. This time it was a Botvinnik with a black pawn sacrifice with tremendous complications. That got Veselin Topalov thinking and once again Kamsky had the initiative with the black pieces. But he seemed to play it safe and the game ended in a draw. Full commentary by GM Mihail Marin.
 

New: ChessBase Magazine 128
20.02.2009 – The Chess Olympiad with over 5500 games and more than five hours video analysis and interviews with top players like Carlsen, Caruana, Van Wely and others takes center stage in the new issue. Other highlights include the FIDE Grand Prix in Elista, and Topalovs triumph in Nanjing. 12 topical opening articles provide new opening and repertoire ideas for you. Read about it and order now.