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Morozevich and Anand Win Amber Melody Tournament!
report by John Lee Shaw
The 15th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament, has
been won jointly by Russia's Alexander Morozevich, and Viswanathan
Anand of India. The Amber Tournament must be one of the most exciting
tournaments on the chess calendar, combining rapid and blindfold play
instead of the more classical style of chess. As always, the event was
held at the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco, and was sponsored by the
Dutch billionaire J. J. Oosterom, after whose eldest Daughter the event
is named.
Always a strong tournament, this year was no exception. All competing
were: Topalov, Anand, Svidler, Leko, Grischuk, Morozevich, Aronian,
Ivanchuk, Vallejo, Gelfand, van Wely, and Nielsen. It was a close
finish, and the excitement was maintained right up to the last moment.
Morozevich won his mini-match against Dutchman Loek van Wely, and Anand
shared the points with Topalov in their last round encounter. This left
Morozevich and Anand each on 141/2 points in the
combined scores -- two and a half points ahead of Vallejo of Spain, who
finished on a very impressive score of 12 points overall.
In the process of joining Anand at the top, Morozevich set a new
tournament record in winning the blindfold section. On fire right the
way through, his score of 9.5/11 will be an extremely difficult score
to equal, let alone beat! Anand proved his dominance in the rapid
section, true to form, not losing a game and finishing on a score of
8/11.
As for the other 'big guns', well there will probably be some
dis-satisfaction. Leko and Topalov finished joined at the hip
mid-way down the scores on 11 points, half a point ahead of Aronian and
Gelfand who finished on 101/2.
Vallejo and Grischuk put in fine performances, finishing 3rd and 4th
respectively; while van Wely, Svidler, Ivanchuk, and Nielsen, all
brought up the rear. Vassily Ivanchuk's confidence will not be aided by his
11th
place finish, one would think. Finishing mid-range in the rapid
section, it was clearly the blindfold event that let him down, where he
finished in last place. He must pick himself up
now in time for the European Championships starting in a couple of days
time. Of course, it is a completely different setting of play than
rapid or blindfold, but still, these players don't just enter
tournaments to make up numbers, whatever the nature. Ivanchuk, going in
to the event as its top seed, will certainly have the other competitors
snapping at his heels, and he can not afford to be caught napping.
Final Standings Combined:
1. Anand, Viswanatha | Morozevich, Alexander -- 141/2
3. Vallejo, Francisco -- 12
4. Grischuk, Alexander -- 111/2
5. Leko, Peter | Topalov, Veselin -- 11
7. Aronian, Levon | Gelfand, Boris -- 101/2
9. van Wely, Loek -- 10
10. Svidler, Peter -- 91/2
11. Ivanchuk, Vassily -- 9
12. Nielsen, Peter Heine -- 8
Final Standings Blindfold:
1. Morozevich, Alexander -- 91/2
2. Anand, Viswanathan | Vallejo, Francisco -- 61/2
4. Grischuk, Alexander | Leko, Peter -- 6
6. Gelfand, Boris | Svidler, Peter -- 51/2
8. Topalov, Veselin | van Wely, Loek -- 41/2
10. Aronian, Levon | Nielsen, Peter Heine -- 4
12. Ivanchuk, Vassily -- 31/2
Final Standings Rapid:
1. Anand, Viswanatha -- 8
2. Aronian, Levon | Topalov, Veselin -- 61/2
4. Grischuk, Alexander | Ivanchuk, Vassily | Vallejo, Francisco, van Wely, Loek -- 51/2
8. Gelfand, Boris | Leko, Peter | Morozevich, Alexander -- 5
11. Nielsen, Peter Heine | Svidler, Peter -- 4
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