Shirov Wins Mtel 2009!
After a thrilling last round at Mtel, Alexei Shirov (pictured) was rewarded for his skill and bravery when Magnus Carlsen slipped up in a complex position and had to concede defeat. Carlsen had sacrificed pawns to set up an attack but faltered at a crucial moment and all was lost.
So Shirov leapfrogged over Carlsen to win Mtel with a score of 6.5/10, with Carlsen and Topalov finishing on 6 points. Carlsen is awarded second place because he beat Topalov in their 'mini-match' 1.5-0.5.
Topalov could manage no more than a draw against Yue with the black pieces, but spare a cheer for Ivanchuk who finally won his first game of the tournament in the last round against Dominguez. Despite this, he finished dead last on 3/10 - what a contrast to last year's 8/10 score!
At least Ivanchuk has the consolation of creeping back over 2700 Elo and so reappears on the live rating list - for now. In contrast, Shirov now rises up to number 5 in the live rankings!
The final standings were:
|
SNo.
|
Name
|
Rtg
|
FED | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Pts |
|
1
|
Shirov Alexei |
2745
|
ESP | * * | ½1 | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | 11 | 6½ |
|
2
|
Carlsen Magnus |
2770
|
NOR | ½0 | * * | 1½ | ½1 | ½1 | ½½ | 6 |
|
3
|
Topalov Veselin |
2812
|
BUL | ½½ | 0½ | * * | 1½ | ½½ | 11 | 6 |
|
4
|
Wang Yue |
2738
|
CHN | ½½ | ½0 | 0½ | * * | ½½ | 1½ | 4½ |
|
5
|
Dominguez Perez Leinier |
2721
|
CUB | ½½ | ½0 | ½½ | 3½½ | * * | ½0 | 4 |
|
6
|
Ivanchuk Vassily |
2746
|
UKR | 00 | ½½ | 00 | 0½ | ½1 | * * | 3 |
