Ivanchuk-Topalov Contest the Najdorf

The M-Tel Masters is held every year since 2005 in Sofia, Bulgaria with six to grandmasters playing a double round robin. Veselin Topalov won the first three in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, the winner was Vassily Ivanchuk. Topalov came in second. In 2009, the winner was Alexei Shirov. He had 3 wins and 7 draws (6.5/10.0). Topalov was a half point behind with 3 wins, 6 draws, and 1 loss to Magnus Carlsen. If Topalov had drawn with Carlsen he would have tied for first. If he had won that game, he would have been in clear first. However, Carlsen scored 6.0/10.0 and tied for second with Topalov. Carlsen's only loss was to Shirov. Had Carlsen just drawn that game with Shirov, he would have been in clear first. The game shown from M-Tel is Ivanchuk-Topalov. Veselin Topalov is a grandmaster from Bulgaria who was born March 15, 1975. He won the FIDE World Championship Tournament in 2005 in San Luis, Argentina. He lost a title match to Vladimir Kramnik in 2006. Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine was born March 18, 1969. He was the World Blitz champion of 2007-2008. The opening played is the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense. The line chosen is the not so benign B99, which features 6.Bg5.