Round 3 at M-Tel Masters
More boo-hoo's for Bu
Sometimes it's just not your lucky day. Today was just one of those days for poor Bu Xiangzhi of China (pictured) who suffered the ignominy of reaching a resignable position as early as move 9 against the unstoppable Vassily Ivanchuk. He struggled on hopelessly until move 32 before finally throwing in the towel.
In the clash of the Bulgarians, Topalov clashed with his second, Cheparinov, in an exciting game where both players had chances, but the former world champion came out on top with the Black pieces.
The third game was also interesting, as Radjabov and Aronian fought all the way to bare Kings in an Anti-Meran Gambit.
Vassily Ivanchuk now leads on a perfect score of 3/3 and will take on Cheparinov in the next round.
The results in round 3:
| Ivanchuk, Vassily | - Bu Xiangzhi | 1-0 | 32 | A11 | Reti Opening |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | - Topalov, Veselin | 0-1 | 38 | C11 | French Defence |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 56 | D43 | Anti-Meran Gambit |
The standings after round 3:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Ivanchuk, Vassily | UKR | 2740 | * | * | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | 1 | . | 3 | |
| Topalov, Veselin | BUL | 2767 | 0 | . | * | * | 1 | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | 2 | |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | BUL | 2696 | . | . | 0 | . | * | * | ½ | . | . | . | 1 | . | 1½ | |
| Aronian, Levon | ARM | 2763 | . | . | 0 | . | ½ | . | * | * | ½ | . | . | . | 1 | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | AZE | 2751 | 0 | . | . | . | . | . | ½ | . | * | * | ½ | . | 1 | |
| Bu Xiangzhi | CHN | 2708 | 0 | . | . | . | 0 | . | . | . | ½ | . | * | * | ½ | |
