Morozevich Is Unofficial New World Number 1
The official FIDE world ratings are updated and published every quarter, but since the advent of a daily updated unofficial 'live rating' list, chess fans have been able to see for themselves how the ratings of the 2700+ elite change with every game.
During the recent Biel tournament Magnus Carlsen got close to catching Vishy Anand, but he fell just short, and now it is Alexander Morozevich (pictured) who passes Anand to claim the unofficial number 1 ranking.
Morozevich achieved his ratings boost by demolishing Ponomariov in the 6th round at the Tal Memorial. Still hot on his tail in the tournament is Vassily Ivanchuk who also impressed with a win with the Black pieces over the normally solid Peter Leko.
Boris Gelfand completes the list of winners in round 6, as he beat Mamedyarov in an extremely complex game.
The results in round 6:
| Morozevich, Alexander | - Ponomariov, Ruslan | 1-0 | 37 | E32 | Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2 |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Gelfand, Boris | 0-1 | 37 | D43 | Anti-Meran Gambit |
| Kramnik, Vladimir | - Kamsky, Gata | ½-½ | 38 | D93 | Gruenfeld 5.Bf4 |
| Leko, Peter | - Ivanchuk, Vassily | 0-1 | 43 | C92 | Ruy Lopez Chigorin |
| Shirov, Alexei | - Alekseev, Evgeny | ½-½ | 31 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin |
The standings after round 6:
| 1 | Morozevich, Alexander | RUS | 2788 | 4½ |
| 2 | Ivanchuk, Vassily | UKR | 2781 | 4 |
| 3 | Gelfand, Boris | ISR | 2720 | 3½ |
| 4 | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | AZE | 2742 | 3 |
| 5 | Ponomariov, Ruslan | UKR | 2718 | 3 |
| 6 | Kramnik, Vladimir | RUS | 2788 | 3 |
| 7 | Alekseev, Evgeny | RUS | 2708 | 2½ |
| 8 | Leko, Peter | HUN | 2741 | 2½ |
| 9 | Kamsky, Gata | USA | 2723 | 2½ |
| 10 | Shirov, Alexei | ESP | 2741 | 1½ |
