Exciting Tal Memorial decided today

First the most topical of events, which is of course round eight of yesterday. All the games ended in a draw, except one. Peter Svidler beat Alexander Morozevich in a long and funny Ruy Lopez where he kept on using all the tactics the position offered him.

Svidler-Morozevich Tal Memorial (08), 2006

A pawn up and two rooks for a queen, but still the position isn't easy to win. Svidler finds a tactical solution in this position: 70.b6+! Bxb6 71.Rc6+! Kb7 72.Rh7+ Ka8 73.Rxh6 and the rest was easy.

Although you've probably seen the position already somewhere, I'd like to return to the following game from the fourth round, which Aronian won by using a fantastic idea.

Shirov-Aronian Tal Memorial (04), 2006

43...Ke6!! Most commentators in Moscow and online thought it would be a draw because of 44.h6 Kxd6 45.Kh5, but no... 44.h6 Kxd6 45.Kh5 f5! 46.h7 Rh8 47.Kg6 Ke7 48.Kg7 Ke8!! White cannot take the rook because his king will be locked up on h8. His little pawn on b2 will then be his death. White played 49.Kg6 but this did not help either.

Here you'll find the most interesting games so far. Like Leko-Gelfand from round 4: a great ending by Leko. And Aronian-Leko, where Black uses the new idea 10...Nc6!? to ensure a quick, nice draw. And Svidler-Grischuk, a typical Sicilian where Black gets a decisive king's attack. Or Aronian-Carlsen, where Black blunders terribly with his last move (73...Kg6 is a draw). Or Grischuk-Shirov, a nice example of an ending where three pawns are stronger than a minor piece.