GM Ivanchuk Wins 2007 Torre Memorial!

The XX Carlos Torre Memorial took place in Mérida, Yucatán, México 15th-23rd December 2007. GM Vassily Ivanchuk has won the event after defeating GM Pentala Harikrishna in a Rapid playoff 2-0. GM Ivanchuk now has 3 titles from this event after winning in 2004 and 2006.

GM Ivanchuk defeated GM Graf in the semi final match to advance to the final while GM Harikrishna beat GM Nogueiras in the semi final match to advance to the final.

After splitting the first two games, the final match was taken to a 2 game rapid tie-break playoff. Lets take a look at these two playoff games which would lead GM Ivanchuk to the 2007 Torre Memorial title. 

Here is the first tie-break game, GM Ivanchuk - GM Harikrishna with full annotations and commentary: 

So after an impressive win in the first game of the rapid tie-breaks Ivanchuk only needed a draw with the black pieces to secure the 2007 Torre Memorial title. Now lets take a look at the second rapid tie-break game, GM Harikrishna - GM Ivanchuk with full annotations and commentary:

In the end GM Vassily Ivanchuk had to defeat GM Lazaro Bruzón, GM Omar Almeida, GM Alexander Graf, and GM Pentala Harikrishna in match play. Congratulations to Ivanchuk for such a feat!