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Moving to Morelia
15.02.2006 – As often in recent years your faithful ChessBase news team is undertaking a perilous trip to an exotic chess location. This time it is to Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán in Mexico. There a major chess event is taking place – with the likes of Topalov, Svidler, Leko and Ivanchuk. It is the first leg of the yearly Linares tournament. Curious? |
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Morelia: spectacular opening of the chess festival
17.02.2006 – The big opening ceremony of the Linares-Morelia chess tournament took part in the city theatre, and included the drawing of lots. The games start tomorrow, Saturday, at 15:30h local time (=22:30h CEST, 4:30 p.m. NY). We bring you the full pairings and a report on the festivities that preceded the event. With new pictures. |
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Morelia at last, let the games begin
17.02.2006 – Were you beginning to worry? After a 23-hour odyssey, your ChessBase team has arrived safely and set camp in a charming Mexican town. After some glitches involving (would you have guessed?) Internet access we are now all set to report on the second big chess event of the year – live from Morelia. |
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Morelia R1: Svidler beats Topalov
19.02.2006 – The Ciudad de Linares-Morelia tournament began with high drama, with
Peter Svidler defeating the reigning world champion Veselin Topalov's Berlin
Defence. Peter Leko beat Francisco Vallejo with the black pieces and Levon Aronian
won against Teimour Radjabov with white. Full report with games, pictures and commentary. |
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Morelia R2: Svidler and Leko win
20.02.2006 – This Mexican Super-GM continues to produce fighting chess. Both the Peters, Svidler and Leko, won for the second time in a row. And Vassily Ivanchuk was able to defeat Levon Aronian, after the veteran Ukrainian missed a sure win in round one. Topalov drew against Bacrot. We bring you a big report with games, annotations and videos. |
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Morelia R3: Aronian-Topalov 123-move battle
21.02.2006 – Reigning FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov played a fine game, with the black pieces, taking his Armenian opponent Levon Aronian to the brink of defeat. But then the tables turned and suddenly Topalov found himself in a lost endgame, which he managed to save. All four games were drawn. Full report with analysis and videos. |
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Morelia – overview of a Mexican town
22.02.2006 – What, no report on round four of the Linares/Morelia Super-GM? That is because Tuesday was a free day. For the players, not for the ChessBase news team, which continues to explore this beautiful town in the Michoacan region of Mexico. Such is our dedication that we will climb towers to give you an overview. Not for the acrophobic. |
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Morelia R4: Topalov implodes, Svidler and Leko skyrocket
23.02.2006 – Reigning FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov is in deep trouble. Today he lost with white against tail-ender Teimour Radjabov, to take his place at the bottom of the table. Meanwhile the two Peters, Leko and Svidler, won their games with sterling 3000+ performances. We bring you a full updated report with pictures, video and annotated games. |
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Morelia R5: Topalov beats Ivanchuk
24.02.2006 – The first win in this event for FIDE champion Veselin Topalov came with the black pieces against veteran Vassily Ivanchuk. Peter Svidler ended his winning streak with a loss to Levon Aronian. This leave Peter Leko on top of the tables with 4/5 points. We bring you a full updated report with pictures, videos and analysis. |
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Morelia – Topalov vs the Monarcas
25.02.2006 – Veselin Topalov is not having a good tournament. But as FIDE world champion he has duties, which include attending functions organised by the hosts. On a free day Topalov paid a visit to the Morelia soccer club, played an exhibition game against the goalkeeper, and fired three penalty shots at him.
Guess who was good at what. |
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Morelia – ChessBase goes to the Market
25.02.2006 – The chess is great, we must admit. There is chess all over the town. But much, much more. Like the big market that sells vegetables, spices and animal parts. Your intrepid ChessBase team explored this aspect of Mexican life and, with the help of an expert culinary advisor, has put together a big illustrated report. Tasty but not tasteful. |
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Morelia R6: Vallejo defeats Topalov
26.02.2006 – Another shock day at the Linares-Morelia Super-GM: FIDE champion Veselin Topalov went down to tail-ender Francisco Vallejo, with the white pieces! Peter Svidler continued his losing streak, this time against Ivanchuk. Peter Leko drew Aronian to climb a full point ahead of the field. Updated with pictures, video and analysis. |
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Morelia R7: Peter Leko leads at halftime
27.02.2006 – The final round of the first half of the Linares-Morelia Super-GM saw Peter Leko draw Veselin Topalov to retain the lead at halftime. The ambitious Armenian Levon Aronian beat Etienne Bacrot with black to come within striking distance of Leko. The event continues on Friday, March 3rd, in Linares, Spain. Updated analysis and photos. |
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Morelia – A Treck to the Volcano
01.03.2006 – Chess is great, especially in Mexico. But there are other things in life that are equally important. Like an outing to a recently formed volcano, which is best reached on horseback. The beauty of the landscape, when viewed from unnecessarily precipitous heights. Or the food, prepared in a simple Mexican rest place. It's all described in our Morelia travel blog. |
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Linares: Topalov on the rebound?
03.03.2006 – He left Morelia in Mexico with a shocking minus two score. In the first round of the Linares (Spain) half of this Super-GM Veselin Topalov scored a fine victory over second seed Peter Svidler. Is this the start of a big comeback? Etienne Bacrot beat Vassily Ivanchuk with black. Now with pictures and full annotation. |
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Linares R10: Topalov marches on
05.03.2006 – Veselin Topalov appears unstoppable in Linares. The second half of the Super-GM has brought him three wins in three games so far. Today it was an endgame victory over Levon Aronian. Vassily Ivanchuk is in the dumps with a second loss in three games, this time to Radjabov. Now updated with pictures and very instructive commentary by GM Mihail Marin. |
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Linares R9: Topalov's great comeback
05.03.2006 – After dismal results in Morelia – he ended up with minus two – Veselin Topalov seems to have found back to old form in Spanish Linares. He won his second game in a row, with black against Bacrot, narrowing the gap to the leading Peter Leko to 1.5 points. Updated report with commentary by GM Mihail Marin. |
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Linares R11: Aronian defeats Vallejo
07.03.2006 – Armenian GM Levon Aronian was the only player to draw blood in round eleven, doing it to the local boy Francisco Vallejo. The other games were drawn, all more or less well fought out. Peter Leko remains in the lead, followed by Aronian, the rejuvenated Topalov and Azeri Radjabov. Updated full report with annotated games. |
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Linares R12: All games drawn, Leko remains in the lead
08.03.2006 – Four draws in round twelve, one unfought, left Hungarian GM Peter Leko in the lead, but with the toughest battles ahead: on Friday with black against FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov, and on Saturday in the last round with white against his nearest rival Levon Aronian. Full report with instructive commentary by GM Mihail Marin |
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Linares R13: The incredible Topalov comeback
10.03.2006 – Remember two weeks ago in Morelia? After the first half of the Super-GM FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov was at the bottom of the table, with 2.5/7. Now, one round before the end, he is at the top, sharing the lead with three other players. This he achieved with a win over the leader Peter Leko today. Full report with pictures, videos and commentary. |
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Linares R14: Levon Aronian wins Morelia/Linares Super-GM
11.03.2006 – This prestigious event was won not by FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov, nor by the other favourites Svidler and Leko, but by 23-year-old Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian, who after all is number five in the world rankings. Aronian achieved this by beating Peter Leko with the black pieces in the final round. Full report with pictures, video and commentary. |
