Bilbao 2007

Blindfold Chess World Cup in Bilbao
18.10.2007 – An unusual tournament is under way in the Basque city of Bilbao: six players – Topalov, Carlsen, Polgar, Bu, Karjakin and Harikrishna – are facing each other in a blindfold rapid chess double round robin. No draw offers are allowed ("Sofia rules") and the scoring system awards three points for a win and one for a draw. The first four rounds were marred by one-move blunders. Illustrated report.

Bu leads in the Blindfold Chess World Cup
20.10.2007 – Four more rounds have been completed in Bilbao, with Chinese grandmaster Bu Xianghzi scoring heavily (3.5/4) to take a commanding lead. Only Magnus Carlsen, who is in second place, can catch Bu – who would have to lose both his final games to allow this. In third place behind these two former child prodigies is the ultimate child prodigy Sergey Karjakin. Report and games.

Bu Xiangzhi wins Blindfold Chess World Cup in Bilbao
21.10.2007 – He led the event from start to finish, and until the last round had not lost a single game (performing, incidentally, at almost 3000 Elo). But even the last-round loss to Judit Polgar could not stop the remarkable Chinese GM from taking first. Meanwhile Sergey Karjakin overtook his great rival Magnus Carlsen to win Silver. Final report.

Bilbao vs Durban – Rapid Chess over 8800 km
26.10.2007 – Until a few years ago encounters between chess teams from different cities were fairly expensive – prohibitively so if they were many thousands of kilometers apart. Today that has changed. The organisers of the Bilbao Blindfold World Cup, using Playchess.com, were able to stage an eight-board match between the Basque city and the South African Durban. How things have changed!