[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "E93"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "157"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 Nd7 12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Nf6 14. Nde4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxf5 16. Bd3 g4 17. O-O Qe8 18. c5 Qg6 19. Re1 Nf7 20. Bh4 Rae8 21. Rc1 dxc5 22. Rxc5 Nd6 23. Qa4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Qh6 25. Bg3 Qd2 26. Rcc1 Re7 27. h4 Qxb2 28. Qd1 Qxa2 29. h5 Nxe4 30. Rxe4 Qa6 31. Qb3 Kh8 32. Rce1 Qb6 33. Rb4 Qc5 34. Rxb7 Ref7 35. Rb5 Qd6 36. Qc4 Rf5 37. Qxg4 Qh6 38. Rb8 Rxf2 39. Rxf8+ Rxf8 40. Rxe5 Qd6 41. Rf5 Qe7 42. Rxf8+ Bxf8 43. Bf2 h6 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. Qc4 Qf7 46. Bxa7 Bg7 47. Be3 Kh8 48. Bd4 Bxd4+ 49. Qxd4+ Kh7 50. Qe5 Qg7 51. Qf5+ Kh8 52. Kh2 Qe7 53. Kh3 Qd6 54. Qf7 Qe5 55. g3 Qe4 56. Qf1 Kh7 57. Qd1 Qe5 58. Qf3 Kg7 59. Qg4+ Kh8 60. Qg6 Qxd5 61. Qxh6+ Kg8 62. Qg6+ Kh8 63. Qf6+ Kh7 64. Kh4 Qe4+ 65. g4 Qe1+ 66. Kg5 Qd2+ 67. Qf4 Qd8+ 68. Kf5 Qf8+ 69. Ke4 Qb4+ 70. Kf3 Qc3+ 71. Qe3 Qf6+ 72. Kg3 Qd6+ 73. Kh4 c5 74. g5 Qh2+ 75. Kg4 Qg2+ 76. Kf5 Qd5+ 77. Kf6 Qd6+ 78. Qe6 Qd4+ 79. Ke7 {Both young players showed a very high level of play, but this time Levon was better and deservedly won. The opening line requires further tests although, I believe, White maintains a slight edge.} 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "E16"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "131"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bf4 d5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Na6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rc1 Ne4 13. h4 Nd6 14. a4 Nc4 15. Ne5 Na5 16. Bh3 Qe8 17. h5 Nc6 18. h6 g5 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxc6 Bxc6 21. Bxg5 Bxg5 22. Qg4 Qe7 23. Rxc6 f5 24. Qh5 Kh8 25. d5 exd5 26. Nd4 Bf6 27. Nxf5 Qe8 28. Qxe8 Raxe8 29. Rd1 Nb4 30. Rc7 a5 31. Ng7 Re7 32. Rxe7 Bxe7 33. Ne6 Rc8 34. Nf4 Rd8 35. Be6 Bg5 36. Kf1 Rd6 37. Bf5 Bxf4 38. gxf4 Rxh6 39. Ke2 Rf6 40. Bg4 Rxf4 41. Rg1 Nd3 42. Be6 Rxf2+ 43. Ke3 Rf8 44. Bxd5 Nb4 45. Bxe4 Rd8 46. Rc1 h5 47. Kf4 Nd3+ 48. Bxd3 Rxd3 49. Kg5 Kg7 50. Rc7+ Kf8 51. Kxh5 Ke8 52. Kg5 Rd4 53. b3 Kd8 54. Rc6 Rb4 55. Rc3 Ke7 56. Kf5 Kd6 57. Rd3+ Kc5 58. Ke5 b5 59. Rc3+ Kb6 60. Kd5 bxa4 61. bxa4 Rxa4 62. Rb3+ Ka6 63. Kc5 Rh4 64. Rb6+ Ka7 65. Rg6 a4 66. Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "C67"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "133"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Nd4 h6 14. Be3 h5 15. f4 h4 16. f5 Nxe5 17. f6 Rh5 18. Ne4 g6 19. Bf4 c5 20. Nf3 Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 Be6 22. Rfd3 c4 23. R3d2 c6 24. Ng5 Bc5+ 25. Kh2 Bd5 26. Re2+ Kf8 27. Rde1 b5 28. c3 a5 29. a3 Rc8 30. g4 hxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Be6 32. h4 Kg8 33. Re5 Bf8 34. Nxe6 fxe6 35. Rd1 Rh7 36. Rxe6 Rb7 37. Re4 Kf7 38. Bg5 Re8 39. Rxe8 Kxe8 40. Kg4 Rh7 41. Re1+ Kd7 42. a4 bxa4 43. Re5 c5 44. Bf4 Rh8 45. Bg3 Bh6 46. Re7+ Kc6 47. Bf4 Bxf4 48. Kxf4 Rh5 49. Re5 Rxh4+ 50. Kg5 Rh5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxe5 52. f7 Re6+ 53. Kg5 Re5+ 54. Kg4 Re4+ 55. Kg3 Re3+ 56. Kf2 a3 57. f8=Q axb2 58. Qc8+ Kb5 59. Qb7+ Ka4 60. Kxe3 Ka3 61. Qb5 a4 62. Qxc5+ Kb3 63. Qb4+ Kc2 64. Qxa4+ Kxc3 65. Qa5+ Kc2 66. Qf5+ Kc1 67. Qf1+ {Perfect endgame technique by Svidler!} 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E32"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. Ne2 cxd4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. f3 Nxc3 13. Nxd4 Ne4+ 14. Ke2 f5 15. Be3 Nc6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Rhc1 Rb8 18. Kd1 Rd8 19. Bd4 Be6 20. Rab1 Rxb1 21. Rxb1 c5 22. Rb5 Qxa3 23. Bb2 Qa2 24. Be2 Bd7 25. fxe4 Bxb5 26. Bxb5 Rb8 27. Bc6 Qxb2 28. Bxd5+ Kh8 29. Qxb2 Rxb2 30. exf5 Rb4 31. Kc2 Rd4 32. Bf7 Re4 33. e6 h5 34. Bxh5 Kg8 35. g4 Kf8 36. g5 Ke7 37. h3 a5 38. Bg4 a4 39. f6+ gxf6 40. g6 Kf8 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "A30"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "89"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 Rc8 11. b3 a6 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Qd2 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Ne1 Nf6 16. Bh3 Rb8 17. Nd3 Ba8 18. f3 e6 19. Bf2 Re8 20. Nb4 a5 21. Na6 Rc8 22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 Nd5 24. Rd1 Nc3 25. R1d2 b5 26. Rd7 Be5 27. cxb5 Nxb5 28. Bf1 Bc6 29. R7d3 Na3 30. f4 Bf6 31. Nc5 Be7 32. Rd1 Nb5 33. Na4 Be4 34. Rd7 Bb4 35. Bg2 Bxg2 36. Kxg2 Rc2 37. Rb7 Na3 38. Rdd7 Rf8 39. Kf3 Nb1 40. Be3 Rxa2 41. Bc5 Nd2+ 42. Kg2 Bxc5 43. Nxc5 e5 44. Ne6 exf4 45. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "B33"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "89"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 Be6 18. h4 Bf4 19. Nf5 g6 20. Nfe3 Kg7 21. g3 Bh6 22. Ng4 f5 23. Nxh6 Kxh6 24. h5 g5 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. Ne3 Bc8 27. Ra2 Ne7 28. O-O Rf6 29. Qe2 Qb6 30. Rfa1 Qc6 31. Rxa5 Bb7 32. Bd5 Nxd5 33. Rxd5 Qxc3 34. Ng4+ Kg7 35. Ra7 Re6 36. Qc4 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 Re7 38. Rxb7 Rexb7 39. Rxd6 Rf8 40. h6+ Kh8 41. Qd5 Rbb8 42. Qd3 Qb4 43. Rd7 e4 44. Qd5 Rb5 45. Nf6 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "107"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Ng5 g6 14. Qh3 h5 15. Qg3 Qf6 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Nh3 Rae8 18. Qf4 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Kg7 20. Qg3 Qf5 21. Nf4 b5 22. h4 Rd8 23. Qg5 Qxg5 24. hxg5 b4 25. cxb4 Nxb4 26. c3 Nxa2 27. Nxd5 Rb8 28. Re2 Nc1 29. Re7 a5 30. Ra7 Rc8 31. Rxa5 Ne2+ 32. Kh2 Nxc3 33. Nf6 Rb8 34. d5 Nb5 35. Ra4 Nc7 36. Ne4 Ne8 37. Ra7 Rd8 38. f3 Kf8 39. g4 hxg4 40. fxg4 Rb8 41. Kg3 Rb3+ 42. Kf4 Rb4 43. Ke3 Rb3+ 44. Kd4 Rb4+ 45. Kd3 Rb3+ 46. Kc4 Rf3 47. Rd7 Rf4 48. Kd3 f6 49. Nxf6 Nxf6 50. gxf6 Rxg4 51. Rxd6 Kf7 52. Re6 Ra4 53. Re4 Rxe4 54. Kxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D85"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8. h4 Nc6 9. e5 Bf5 10. Be2 Nb4 11. g4 Nc2+ 12. Kf1 Nxe3+ 13. fxe3 Be6 14. Nh3 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Kg1 Bf7 17. Ng5 e5 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Ne4 Bxb2 21. Rb1 Qe7 22. Bf3 Bg7 23. Ng5 Rff8 24. Qb3+ Kh8 25. Bxb7 Rab8 26. Be4 Bf6 27. Qc2 Rbe8 28. Rf1 Qd7 29. Bf3 Rxe3 30. Rh3 Bd4 31. Kg2 Nd5 32. Kh1 Nf4 33. Bc6 Rxh3+ 34. Nxh3 Qxg4 35. Bg2 Nxg2 36. Rxf8+ Kg7 37. Qxc7+ Kxf8 38. Qd6+ Kg7 39. Qe7+ Kh6 40. Qg5+ Qxg5 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "E55"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "246"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 9. a3 cxd4 10. axb4 dxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Be2 Nd5 13. Bd3 Qxc3 14. Ra3 Qf6 15. Qc2 h6 16. b5 Nb4 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Qb1 a5 19. Be4 Nc5 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Bxb4 axb4 22. Qxb4 Rxa3 23. Qxc5 Rfa8 24. Ne5 b6 25. Qc7 Bxb5 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. Rd1 Ba4 28. Rd4 Be8 29. g3 Kh7 30. Kg2 Ra5 31. Nc4 Ra2 32. Rf4 Qc3 33. Qxb6 Ra1 34. Qb7 Qc1 35. Kh3 f6 36. Rg4 Bg6 37. Rxg6 Kxg6 38. Qe4+ Kf7 39. Nd6+ Ke7 40. Nf5+ Kd7 41. Nxg7 Qf1+ 42. Kh4 Qxf2 43. Qxe6+ Kc7 44. Qc4+ Kb7 45. Qe4+ Kb8 46. Qf4+ Qxf4+ 47. exf4 Ra2 48. h3 Kc8 49. Kh5 Ra3 50. Nf5 Kd7 51. Kxh6 Ke6 52. Kg6 Ra5 53. Ng7+ Ke7 54. h4 Ra6 55. Nh5 Ra8 56. Ng7 Ra6 57. g4 f5+ 58. Kxf5 Kf7 59. Nh5 Ra5+ 60. Ke4 Ra3 61. g5 Rh3 62. Kf5 Rxh4 63. g6+ Kg8 64. Kg5 Rh1 65. Nf6+ Kf8 66. Nh5 Rg1+ 67. Kh6 Rh1 68. f5 Kg8 69. Kg5 Rg1+ 70. Kf6 Rg4 71. Ng7 Ra4 72. Ne6 Ra5 73. Nc7 Kf8 74. Ke6 Ra7 75. Nb5 Re7+ 76. Kf6 Rd7 77. Nc3 Rd6+ 78. Kg5 Kg7 79. Nb5 Rd5 80. Nc7 Re5 81. Ne6+ Kg8 82. Kf6 Ra5 83. Nc7 Rc5 84. Ne8 Rc1 85. Nd6 Kf8 86. Ne4 Rc6+ 87. Kg5 Rc4 88. Ng3 Rc3 89. Ne4 Rc4 90. Nf6 Rc1 91. Nd7+ Kg8 92. f6 Rf1 93. Ne5 Rg1+ 94. Kf5 Rf1+ 95. Ke6 Re1 96. Kd6 Re2 97. Nc6 Rg2 98. Ke6 Re2+ 99. Kd7 Kf8 100. Kd6 Rg2 101. Ne5 Rd2+ 102. Ke6 Re2 103. Kf5 Rf2+ 104. Kg5 Rg2+ 105. Kh4 Rf2 106. Ng4 Rg2 107. Ne5 Rf2 108. Kg5 Rg2+ 109. Kf4 Rf2+ 110. Nf3 Rf1 111. Ke3 Kg8 112. Kf4 Kf8 113. Ke4 Kg8 114. Ke3 Ra1 115. Kf4 Rf1 116. Kg4 Rf2 117. Kg3 Rf1 118. Kf4 Rf2 119. Ke4 Rf1 120. Ke3 Ra1 121. Kd4 Rf1 122. Ke4 Rf2 123. g7 Rg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "E49"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "36"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 c5 9. Ne2 Bg4 10. f3 Bh5 11. Nf4 Bg6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. h4 h5 14. O-O Ne7 15. dxc5 Qa5 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Rb1 Qxc5 18. c4 dxc4 {#This does not look like a typical drawish position. While it is easy to understand the players reluctance to embark in an irrational fight, from the spectator's point of view it is a bit dissapointing that they didn't play on. White's pair of bishop is compensated by his inferior development and I suspect that in principle the position is balanced indeed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "D84"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxc7 Na6 9. Bxa6 Qxg2 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 bxa6 12. Rg1 f6 13. Rc1 Rf7 14. Ke2 Bd7 15. Nd2 e5 16. d5 Bb5+ 17. Kf3 f5 18. b3 e4+ 19. Kg2 Bb2 20. Rc2 Bd3 21. Rc6 Bb5 22. Rc2 Bd3 23. Rc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "B90"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "42"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. c3 Na5 15. Re1 Rc8 16. h3 b5 17. Nh2 Nc4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. b4 cxb3 20. axb3 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rxc3 {Mutual weaknesses compensate each other in the final position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "C88"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 Bc8 13. c3 Bd7 14. Ne3 Qc7 15. axb5 axb5 16. b4 Nb7 17. Bd2 Nd8 18. Bb3 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Re8 20. bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qa2 h6 22. h3 Ne6 23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Qc8 25. d4 Bf6 26. Qb3 Bc6 27. Qb4 exd4 28. cxd4 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ng5 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Bxg5 hxg5 32. Qxd6 Qe2 33. Qc5 Qc4 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Kf1 Kf8 36. d6 Ke8 37. Ne5 Bxe5 38. dxe5 Kd7 39. g3 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "117"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14. Qd3 Qa4 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Qd5 Bxg5 17. hxg5 Qe4 18. c4 Qxd5 19. cxd5 Nd7 20. Rd3 f6 21. Rc3 Rac8 22. Rh4 Re7 23. Rhc4 Nb6 24. Bxb6 axb6 25. gxf6 gxf6 26. a4 Kf8 27. Kd2 Rg7 28. g3 Ke8 29. Rf3 Rg6 30. Rh4 h6 31. Re4+ Kd7 32. Re6 Rf8 33. c4 h5 34. Rf5 Rg4 35. b3 h4 36. gxh4 Rxh4 37. Rfxf6 Rxf6 38. Rxf6 Ke7 39. Re6+ Kf7 40. Re3 Rh1 41. Rf3+ Ke7 42. Ke3 Re1+ 43. Kf4 Kf6 44. Rh3 Re2 45. Rh7 Rxf2+ 46. Ke3 Rb2 47. Rxc7 Rxb3+ 48. Kd4 Rb4 49. Rd7 Rxa4 50. Rxd6+ Ke7 51. Rxb6 Ra7 52. c5 Kd8 53. Ke5 Kc7 54. Rh6 Ra5 55. Rh7+ Kb8 56. Rh8+ Ka7 57. d6 Rxc5+ 58. Ke6 Rc6 59. Ke7 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "E70"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. h3 exd5 9. exd5 Nfd7 10. f4 f5 11. O-O Na6 12. Be3 Nc7 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Bf2 Nf6 15. a3 a5 16. Bh4 Bd7 17. Kh1 Qe7 18. Rae1 Qf7 19. a4 Na6 20. g4 Nb4 21. Bb1 fxg4 22. f5 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Rxf5 Qg6 25. Ref1 Rf8 26. Ng3 Nh5 27. Nce4 Nxg3+ 28. Nxg3 gxh3 29. b3 Rae8 30. Kh2 Rxf5 31. Rxf5 Re5 32. Qg5 Qxg5 33. Bxg5 Nc2 34. Bd8 Nd4 35. Rf4 Re3 36. Rg4 Kf7 37. Re4 Rxb3 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "A30"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 Rc8 11. b3 a6 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. g4 h6 15. Bxh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Nxg4 17. Qh4 Ngf6 18. Qh6 Ng4 19. Qh4 Ngf6 20. Qh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 c5 6. cxd5 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Qxd5 8. e3 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Qxd4 10. cxd4 e6 11. Rb1 Be7 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Nf3 b6 15. Ke2 Bb7 16. Rhc1 Rhc8 17. g4 h6 18. h4 Na5 19. g5 hxg5 20. hxg5 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 22. Rxc8 Bxc8 23. Ne5 Bb7 24. a3 Nc6 25. Ng4 Nb8 26. Kd2 Bc6 27. Kc3 Nd7 28. f4 a5 29. e4 b5 30. Bc2 f5 31. exf5 exf5 32. Ne5 Nxe5 33. dxe5 b4+ 34. axb4 axb4+ 35. Kxb4 Bd7 36. Bb3 Bc6 37. Kc5 Be8 38. e6 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 b5 14. Re1 dxe4 15. Bxe4 bxc4 16. bxc4 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bf6 19. Ne4 Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Nb6 21. Re4 Re8 22. Qf3 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Re6 24. Rd1 Qe8 25. Rg4 Kh8 26. Qc3 f6 27. Rf4 Bb7 28. Rf3 h6 {White can hardly make any progress against Black's well organized defence.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "D15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Bg5 e6 8. e3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 b5 13. Bb1 Bd7 14. Qc2 g6 15. Qd2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Rc7 17. Qe1 b4 18. Ne2 a5 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Ne1 a4 21. Nd3 Na5 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Rc1 Nc4 24. Qe1 Qd8 25. g3 Bb5 26. h4 g5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Kg2 Qc8 29. Ng1 f6 30. Qd1 Be8 31. Nf3 Bh5 32. Rc2 Bg6 33. Re2 g4 34. Nh4 Be4+ 35. Kh2 f5 36. Ne1 Nxe3 37. Rxe3 Rc1 38. Qd2 Rxb1 39. Rxe4 dxe4 40. Qg5+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "D43"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "102"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Rh6 14. f4 g4 15. Qc2 c5 16. d5 b4 17. f5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxc4 h4 22. Bb5+ Kf8 23. Bc6 Rd8 24. Rac1 h3 25. gxh3 Rxh3 26. Qxc5 g3 27. Qxd6+ Rxd6 28. hxg3 Ng4 29. Kg2 Ne3+ 30. Kf3 Nxf1 31. Rxf1 Rh2 32. b3 Rxa2 33. Ke4 Ke7 34. Rh1 Rg2 35. Kf4 Rf2+ 36. Kg5 Rd8 37. Re1+ Kd6 38. Kf6 Rg8 39. Re3 Rg2 40. Kxf7 R8xg3 41. Re6+ Kc5 42. f6 Rxb3 43. Ke7 Rd3 44. f7 Rf2 45. f8=Q Rxf8 46. Kxf8 Rxd5 47. Bxd5 Kxd5 48. Ra6 Kc4 49. Rxa7 b3 50. Rb7 Kc3 51. Rxb3+ Kxb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Rc1 Nf6 16. e3 Bb7 17. Rc2 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Qd7 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Qb1 h5 21. Rd1 Qe6 22. Rc1 g6 23. h3 Rxc1+ 24. Qxc1 Qc6 25. Qb1 Ne4 26. Nf3 Ba3 27. Be5 Qc1+ 28. Qxc1 Bxc1 29. a4 Ba3 30. Bb8 a6 31. Ne5 Be7 32. Bc7 b5 33. axb5 axb5 34. Ba5 Bd6 35. Nd3 Kf8 36. Bb4 Ke7 37. Bxd6+ Kxd6 38. b4 Bc8 39. Ne1 Nc3 40. Nc2 Na2 41. Bf1 Bf5 42. Nd4 Bd7 43. Nxb5+ Bxb5 44. Bxb5 Nxb4 45. Kg2 Na2 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxc4 7. e3 Be6 8. Qb1 c5 9. Qxb7 Bd5 10. Qb5+ Nd7 11. Nf3 Rb8 12. Qa4 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qc8 14. Rc1 e6 15. Bxc4 Rb4 16. Qa6 Bb7 17. Qa5 f6 18. Nd2 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Qc6 20. Rxg2 Qxg2 21. Bxe6 Bd6 22. Rc8+ Ke7 23. Rxh8 Kxe6 24. Qd8 Qg1+ 25. Ke2 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "D45"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 e6 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1 h6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. b4 Bf8 17. c5 Qc7 18. Bc3 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. axb4 f5 21. Bd3 b6 22. Rfe1 Bb7 23. Bc4 Be4 24. Qb3 Kh8 25. Bxe6 Nf6 26. Nh4 bxc5 27. Bxf6 c4 28. Qxc4 Qxc4 29. Bxc4 gxf6 30. f3 Bxb4 31. Rd7 Rg8 32. Rf1 Rg7 33. Rxg7 Kxg7 34. fxe4 Bc5+ 35. Kh1 fxe4 36. Nf5+ Kg6 37. Ng3 e3 38. Bd3+ Kf7 39. Ne2 Ke7 40. g3 Ra2 41. Kg2 Rd2 42. Bc4 Bb6 43. Kf3 Kd6 44. Ke4 Ke7 45. Rb1 Rd6 46. Kf3 Rc6 47. Bd5 Rd6 48. Be4 Ke6 49. Rb5 Kd7 50. Nf4 Bd4 51. Rd5 Ba7 52. Rxd6+ Kxd6 53. Ng2 Ke5 54. Nxe3 h5 55. h4 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "D43"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "112"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Rh6 14. f3 Qe7 15. a4 a6 16. Qc2 Rd8 17. Rad1 Nd7 18. Bc7 Rc8 19. Bg3 e5 20. d5 b4 21. dxc6 Rhxc6 22. Nd5 Qe6 23. Qd2 h4 24. Bf2 c3 25. bxc3 bxc3 26. Qxg5 c2 27. Rc1 h3 28. g3 Qh6 29. Qf5 Qd2 30. Rfe1 Ba3 31. f4 Bxc1 32. Bh5 Rg6 33. Bxg6 Bxd5 34. exd5 Qxe1+ 35. Bxe1 Be3+ 36. Kf1 c1=Q 37. Qxf7+ Kd8 38. Ke2 Bb6 39. Bd2 Qc4+ 40. Kf3 e4+ 41. Kg4 Kc7 42. a5 Bd4 43. Bf5 Rg8+ 44. Kh4 Rh8+ 45. Kg5 Qb5 46. Be6 e3 47. Be1 e2 48. g4 Rf8 49. Qh7 Be3 50. Kh4 Bxf4 51. g5 Qa4 52. Kh5 Bxh2 53. Bxh3 Be5 54. Qd3 Rh8+ 55. Kg6 Nf8+ 56. Kf7 Kd8 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "E20"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "110"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. Qf4 bxc5 13. Qd6 Qb6 14. Ne4 Nd4 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Nd6+ Ke7 17. Bxb7 Nc2+ 18. Kd2 Nxa1 19. Nxf7 Rxa2 20. Nxh8 Rxb2+ 21. Kd3 Rb3+ 22. Ke4 Nc2 23. e3 b5 24. Kf4 bxc4 25. Be4 Nb4 26. Bxh7 Nd3+ 27. Kg5 Nxf2 28. Rf1 Rb2 29. h4 d5 30. Ra1 Kd7 31. Nf7 c3 32. Kg6 Ng4 33. Rg1 Re2 34. Kxg7 Rxe3 35. h5 d4 36. h6 c4 37. Bc2 Nxh6 38. Nxh6 d3 39. Ba4+ Kd6 40. g4 Kc5 41. g5 Kb4 42. Ng4 Re4 43. Nf6 Re5 44. Bd1 d2 45. g6 Re1 46. Kf7 Rxg1 47. g7 Ka3 48. Bg4 Rxg4 49. Nxg4 d1=Q 50. g8=Q Qd7+ 51. Kf6 Qd4+ 52. Kxe6 c2 53. Qa8+ Kb2 54. Qb8+ Kc1 55. Qg8 Kd1 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "B80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. Qd2 Na5 10. Bb3 Be7 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. Rhe1 b4 14. Nce2 g6 15. Nc1 e5 16. Nde2 Nxb3 17. Nxb3 a5 18. Bg5 a4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nbc1 Rb8 21. Qxd6 Rb6 22. Qc5 Qb8 23. Nd3 Rb5 24. Qf2 Be6 25. f4 O-O 26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. Nxe5 Qxe5 28. Nd4 Rc5 29. Qg3 Qxg3 30. hxg3 Bg4 31. Rd3 Re8 32. Rde3 f6 33. a3 bxa3 34. bxa3 Bc8 35. Kc1 Bb7 36. Nf3 Rec8 37. R1e2 Rc4 38. Kb2 Rb8 39. Kc1 Rbc8 40. Kb2 Rb8 41. Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "B30"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Be2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bf3 Qc7 12. g3 O-O 13. Nd2 e5 14. c4 Nf6 15. Qc2 Rb8 16. b3 Bc5 17. Bb2 Bd4 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. c5 Rd8 20. Nc4 Nd7 21. Rfe1 Nxc5 22. Ne5 Ne6 23. Qxc6 Bb7 24. Qxc7 Nxc7 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Nc6 Rd6 27. Rac1 Kf8 28. Na5 Ra7 29. Red1 Ne8 30. Rc8 Rc7 31. Ra8 Rc2 32. Nc4 Re6 33. Rxd4 Rxa2 34. Rdd8 h5 35. Nd6 Ke7 36. Nf5+ Kf6 37. Ne3 Nd6 38. Nd5+ Kg5 39. Nf4 Re1+ 40. Kg2 Nf5 41. Re8 Rxe8 42. Rxe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Morelia MEX"]
[Date "2006.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nd4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Ne5 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rae1 Rfe8 14. Bd1 Nc6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bd2 Bf8 17. Re3 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. b3 Re7 20. a4 Rae8 21. Rfe1 b6 22. Kf1 a5 23. Bf3 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxe1+ 25. Bxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "D43"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2 dxc4 9. O-O Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Rfd1 e5 12. d5 Nc5 13. Nd2 Bf5 14. Qc1 Rad8 15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Nxc4 Qe6 17. Ne3 Bg6 18. b4 Na6 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. a3 Nc7 21. Na4 e4 22. Nc5 Qe5 23. Nb7 Rd7 24. Na5 Bf6 25. Bh3 Ne6 26. Ra2 Rc7 27. Bxe6 Qxe6 28. Rc2 Bh5 29. Ng2 Bg5 30. Nf4 Qd6 31. Kg2 Qd7 32. h4 Bxf4 33. Qxf4 Rc8 34. Rd2 Qe6 35. Nb7 Re8 36. Nc5 Qc4 37. g4 Bg6 38. h5 Bh7 39. e3 a5 {#Just when having obtained a dream position, Ivanchuk unexpectedely overstepped the time limit, which suddenly deprived him of any chances to win (to quote Eduard Gufeld). After 40.Qc7 (threatening Rd8 with mate) 40...Kh8 41.Qxa5 he would have won an esential pawn, maintaining the positional superiority.} 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "B90"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "48"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. Qd2 b5 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Qa5 Qb7 16. Qb4 Be7 17. h4 Rb8 18. Na5 Nxd5 19. Qe4 Qb6 20. Rxd5 Qxa5 21. Kb1 h5 22. f4 exf4 23. g5 O-O 24. g6 Bf6 {#} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "D38"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "57"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. O-O c4 10. Bf5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Ne4 12. Qc2 Ndf6 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rfb1 b6 16. Rb4 Qa6 17. Nd2 O-O 18. f3 Nh5 19. g3 Rce8 20. e4 b5 21. Re1 Qg6 22. Rxb5 dxe4 23. fxe4 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Qxg3+ 25. Kf1 Qf4+ 26. Ke2 Qg4+ 27. Kf2 Qh4+ 28. Ke2 Qg4+ 29. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D87"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rc1 e5 13. dxc5 Be6 14. c4 bxc5 15. Bxc5 Re8 16. Be3 Re7 17. Qc2 Rd7 18. Rfd1 Nc6 19. a3 Qa5 20. Nc3 Qxa3 21. Nd5 Rc8 22. Ra1 Qf8 23. Ra6 Nb4 24. Nxb4 Qxb4 25. Rb1 Qf8 26. c5 Bh6 27. Bxh6 Qxh6 28. c6 Rdc7 29. Rb5 Rd8 30. Rb7 Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Qc1+ 32. Qf1 Rxc6 33. Ra1 Qf4 34. Qe1 Rc4 35. Rb4 Rc2 36. Rbb1 Bg4 37. h3 Be2 38. Ra3 a6 39. Re3 Bb5 40. Rc1 Ra2 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Rc7 Be8 43. Rf3 Qg5 44. Qc3 {This has been my last game annotated for the Gruenfeld section of the ChessBase Magazine. I would like to thank all our readers for 7 years we spent together. From the next issue CBM changes its format. I hope for our new meetings within a new formula!} 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "E15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O Na6 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Ne5 h6 14. Nb5 c5 15. Nc4 Bc6 16. Ncd6 Rf8 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Nd4 cxd4 19. Rxc6 Nb4 20. Nb7 Qe8 21. Rc7 Na6 22. Rc1 Qb5 23. Nd6 Qd7 24. Qd3 Bxd6 25. Qxa6 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Qg4 27. Qd3 Qxf4 28. Rcd1 Rfe8 29. Rfe1 Rac8 30. Qxd4 Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rc2 32. a4 Rexe2 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Bxd5 Nxd5 35. Rxd5 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "D11"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. b3 c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bb2 Be7 11. Qb1 cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bf6 13. Rc1 Bh5 14. Rc4 Qe7 15. h3 Rd8 16. Be4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 N7f6 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qb2 O-O 20. Rac1 Bg6 21. N4f3 f6 22. g3 e5 23. a3 Qe6 24. e4 Ne7 25. Rc7 Rd7 26. h4 Rfd8 27. b4 h6 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. b5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Nc6 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 Rd3 34. a4 Ra3 35. Nb1 Ra2 36. Nc3 Rc2 37. Rc5 Nb4 38. Ne1 Rc1 {The apparent simplicity of this game is induced by the fact that Topalov won mainly by parrying White's one- or two- move threats. The difficult (and instructive) part consisted of combining this prophylactic play with the permanent improvement of his own position.} 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "160"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 Bf6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Ne4 Qg6 20. Qd6 Qxd6 21. Nxd6 Rcd8 22. Nf5 g6 23. Ne3 Rfe8 24. Bf1 Re5 25. bxc4 Rc5 26. Rec1 Rdc8 27. Rc2 Kg7 28. Rac1 R8c7 29. Rc3 Bc8 30. Nc2 Na4 31. Ra3 Bd7 32. Nd4 Re5 33. Rd1 Nb2 34. Rb1 Re4 35. Rxb2 Rxd4 36. f3 Be6 37. Kf2 Rd6 38. Rc3 Rdc6 39. Rbc2 Bf5 40. Rc1 Rc5 41. h4 h5 42. Ra3 Rd7 43. Be2 Rdc7 44. Rcc3 Be6 45. Rc2 Bf5 46. Rb2 Be6 47. Rc3 Kf6 48. Bd3 Bf5 49. Bf1 Ra5 50. Be2 Be6 51. Bd3 Bf5 52. Bf1 Be6 53. a3 Bf5 54. Be2 Rac5 55. Ke3 Re5+ 56. Kf2 Rec5 57. Rd2 Be6 58. Bd3 Bf5 59. Ke3 Bxd3 60. Kxd3 g5 61. Rh2 Rd7+ 62. Kc2 Rd4 63. hxg5+ Kxg5 64. Kb3 a5 65. Rh1 f6 66. Rh2 Rd1 67. Ka4 Rd4 68. Kb3 Rd1 69. Re2 Rg1 70. Ree3 Kf5 71. f4 Rh1 72. Re8 h4 73. gxh4 Rxh4 74. Rb8 Rxf4 75. Rb5 Rxb5+ 76. cxb5 a4+ 77. Kc2 Rd4 78. b6 Rd8 79. Rf3+ Ke6 80. Re3+ Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "C83"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nb3 Bg4 14. Qd3 Qd7 15. Bf4 Ne4 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bf5 18. Qd4 c5 19. Qe3 Rae8 20. f4 c4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Nd2 Qc6 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Rad1 Rd8 25. Bd4 Rfe8 26. Rd2 Bf6 27. Rfd1 Bxd4 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Qe6 30. a3 h5 31. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "E92"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 c6 9. f3 Re8 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Nh5 14. Qd2 Be5 15. g3 Ng7 16. Rfd1 Be6 17. Bb5 Qd7 18. Rac1 a6 19. Ba4 Rad8 20. b4 Bh3 21. Qh6 Be6 22. a3 Qc8 23. Qg5 Qc7 24. Qd2 Rf8 25. Bc2 Bc8 26. Bb3 Ne6 27. Nde2 d4 28. Nd5 Qb8 29. f4 Bg7 30. Qd3 Nc7 31. Nb6 Bf5 32. Qd2 d3 33. Nc3 Nd4 34. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 35. Kg2 Rfe8 36. Re1 Bxc3 37. Qxc3 Be4+ 38. Kf2 d2 39. Rxe4 Rxe4 40. Rd1 Red4 41. Bc4 Ne8 42. Qe3 Kf8 43. Qe5 Qxe5 44. fxe5 Nc7 {and eventually White realized that he has no compensation for the exchange and resigned.  The positions which arise from this line are very tense and one who wants to play it has to know to calculate variations very well. Each move is very essential and a price of each mistake is very high. Despite White's loss in this game Ivanchuk's idea 17.?b5 deserves further tests.} 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "B80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. f3 O-O 9. O-O-O a6 10. h4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Nd7 12. g4 b5 13. g5 Qc7 14. Kb1 b4 15. Na4 Bb7 16. b3 Bc6 17. Nb2 a5 18. h5 Ne5 19. Be2 f5 20. gxf6 Bxf6 21. Nc4 d5 22. Nb6 Rad8 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Qe3 Ng4 25. Nxd5 Nxe3 26. Nxc7 Bxd4 27. Nxe6 Nxd1 28. Rxd1 Bf6 29. Nxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Bxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "E20"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "151"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bh3 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. f3 Qc4 15. Kf2 Be6 16. Qxc4 dxc4 17. Rhd1 Bxc3 18. bxc3 b6 19. Rd4 Rfd8 20. g4 Rd5 21. g5 Rad8 22. h4 Kf8 23. Rb1 Ke7 24. Rb2 R8d6 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Bd4 f6 27. e4 Ra5 28. f4 Bd7 29. Ke3 Rb5 30. Rg2 Kf7 31. h5 fxg5 32. fxg5 g6 33. Rf2+ Ke8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Bf6 Rb1 36. Kd4 Rd1+ 37. Kxc4 Be6+ 38. Kb5 Ra1 39. Rh2 Rxa2 40. Rh7 Bd7+ 41. Kc4 Rd2 42. Bd4 Be6+ 43. Kb5 Bd7+ 44. Ka6 Bc6 45. Kxa7 Bxe4 46. Kxb6 Rb2+ 47. Kc5 Rb7 48. Rh4 Rc7+ 49. Kb4 Rb7+ 50. Kc4 Bf5 51. Kc5 Rc7+ 52. Kd6 Rd7+ 53. Kc6 Re7 54. Bf6 Re4 55. Rh8+ Kf7 56. Rh7+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ Kf8 58. Kb5 Re8 59. c4 Rb8+ 60. Ka5 Ra8+ 61. Kb4 Rb8+ 62. Kc3 Rc8 63. Ra7 Be6 64. Be7+ Kg8 65. c5 Bd5 66. Kd4 Bg2 67. Ke5 Ra8 68. Rc7 Ra1 69. Kf6 Be4 70. Rc8+ Kh7 71. Rd8 Ra6+ 72. Kf7 Bf5 73. Rd4 Be6+ 74. Kf8 Ra8+ 75. Bd8 Bg4 76. c6 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "D24"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5 Nb6 9. Ng5 h6 10. Nge4 axb5 11. Rxa8 Nxa8 12. Nxb5 Nb6 13. Be3 Nc6 14. Be2 Bb4+ 15. Nbc3 O-O 16. g4 Bb7 17. O-O Ne7 18. Nd2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Ned5 20. Qc1 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Qg5 22. Rf4 Nd5 23. Re4 Ne7 24. Rf4 Ng6 25. Rf2 Qxe3 26. Nb3 Qxc1+ 27. Nxc1 c5 28. Bxc4 cxd4 29. Rb2 Bf3 30. cxd4 Rc8 31. Rc2 Be4 32. Nd3 Nf4 33. Rd2 Nh3+ 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "D31"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 9. Bd6 e5 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Bd3 Qf4 13. Bxe5 Qxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxd1 15. Bf5+ Kc7 16. Nxf7 Bh5 17. Nxd8 Kxd8 18. g4 Nh6 19. Rad1+ Kc7 20. Rd7+ Kb6 21. Rxg7 Nxf5 22. gxf5 Rf8 23. Re1 Nc5 24. b4 Nd3 25. Ree7 Nxb4 26. Rxb7+ Kc5 27. Rg5 Bf3 28. f6+ Kxc4 29. Rf5 Bd5 30. Rf4+ Kc3 31. Rbxb4 Bxa2 32. Ra4 Bf7 33. Rxa7 c5 34. f3 c4 35. Kf2 Kb3 36. Rb7+ 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. e4 O-O 10. Be3 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd7 13. Rad1 Qa5 14. a3 Rad8 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 16. h3 Nf8 17. Qc2 Ng6 18. Bd2 Qh5 19. Bc3 Rd7 20. Qe4 Red8 21. Rd3 Bf6 22. g4 Qh6 23. Bd2 Qxh3 24. Ng5 Qxd3 25. Qxd3 Rxd4 26. Qh3 Rxd2 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. Qxg6 Bd4 30. Rf1 Ke7 31. Qg5+ Bf6 32. Qc5+ Kf7 33. g5 Bxb2 34. Rb1 R8d3 35. Qb6 Bd4 36. Qxb7+ Kg6 37. Rf1 Rg3+ 38. Kh2 Rxg5 39. Qxc6 Kf6 40. Kh3 Rh5+ 41. Kg4 Rg5+ 42. Kh3 Rh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E15"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "128"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Ne5 Be7 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 Re8 12. Ndf3 h6 13. Bf4 Bf8 14. Rac1 c5 15. h4 Na6 16. Bh3 Bd6 17. e3 Qe7 18. Ng4 Ne4 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Bg2 Nc7 21. Nge5 Qf6 22. Qc2 Ne6 23. b3 Rac8 24. Qb2 cxd4 25. exd4 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Bxc8 28. Ng4 Qe7 29. Ne3 Bb7 30. Bh3 Nc7 31. Nf5 Qd8 32. Ne5 Nb5 33. a4 Nbd6 34. Qc2 a5 35. Ne3 Nf6 36. f3 Nde8 37. Kf2 Qc7 38. Bf5 Qxc2+ 39. Bxc2 Nd6 40. g4 g5 41. Nf5 Nxf5 42. Bxf5 gxh4 43. Nd3 Ba6 44. Nf4 b5 45. axb5 Bxb5 46. Ng2 a4 47. bxa4 Bxa4 48. Nxh4 Ne8 49. Ke3 Kf8 50. Kf4 Ke7 51. Bd3 Ng7 52. Ke5 Bc6 53. Bh7 f6+ 54. Kf4 h5 55. Nf5+ Nxf5 56. gxf5 Be8 57. Bg8 Bf7 58. Bxf7 Kxf7 59. Kg3 Kg7 60. Kh4 Kh6 61. f4 Kh7 62. Kxh5 Kg7 63. Kh4 Kh6 64. Kg4 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "C65"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Qe2 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Nxf3 Qe7 10. c3 O-O 11. O-O Rfe8 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Bd2 Nf8 14. Rad1 Bb6 15. Be3 c5 16. a3 Rd7 17. b4 f6 18. Qc2 Ne6 19. Qb3 Qf7 20. Qc4 Red8 21. Rd2 cxb4 22. axb4 h6 23. Kf1 c6 24. Red1 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Re8 26. Kg1 {White's only constructive plan would be to play d4, but this would seriously weaken the e4-pawn. Therefore, the decision whether to offer a draw does not really seem premature.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Bd3 Qd7 17. Rb1 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 b6 19. d5 Bf6 20. c4 h6 21. h3 Ne7 22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 Nf5 24. Bb2 f6 25. Bc3 Nd6 26. Bd2 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Re8 28. Rc1 Qf5 29. Qxf5 Nxf5 30. Bf4 Re7 31. g4 Nd4 32. Kf1 Kf7 33. Be3 Nb3 34. Rc3 Na5 35. c5 Rd7 36. Bf4 b5 37. Rd3 Nc6 38. Bxc7 Rxc7 39. dxc6 Rxc6 40. Rd7+ Kg6 41. Rxa7 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "C88"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Nc4 h6 13. h3 Rb8 14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 Bf8 16. Nfd2 Qb7 17. Qf3 Kh7 18. Nf1 Ne7 19. Ng3 Ng6 20. Nh5 {#With all the pieces on board, there is a lot of play left, of course, but the opponents seem to have decided to preserve their forces for the decisive rounds.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "C88"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a4 Nb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 c6 14. c4 bxc4 15. Nxc4 Nbd7 16. Bd2 Re8 17. Qc2 Bf8 18. Ba2 Qb8 19. Bc3 h6 20. Ne3 Bb7 21. b4 d5 22. Ng4 Bd6 23. Qb2 Nxg4 24. hxg4 c5 25. g5 hxg5 26. Nxg5 Qd8 27. bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bd2 f6 29. Be3 fxg5 30. Bxc5 Bxc5 31. Qxb7 Rf8 32. Qxd5+ Qxd5 33. Bxd5+ Kh7 34. Re2 g4 35. g3 Kh6 36. Kg2 Kg5 37. Rc2 {#White can hardly do anyhing more than move his rook along the second rank.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "B30"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nd5 d6 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. c3 O-O 9. O-O Rb8 10. a4 b6 11. Re1 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. b4 Qd7 14. Bd2 Kh8 15. h3 Rf7 16. a5 b5 17. a6 cxb4 18. cxb4 Bd8 19. Qe2 Bb6 20. Rab1 Rbf8 21. Be3 Qd8 22. Rec1 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Qb6 24. Ng5 Rf6 25. Rf1 Qd8 26. Qg4 Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Qf6+ 29. Ke2 Nd8 30. Qh5 Qg6 31. Qxg6 hxg6 32. d4 exd4 33. exd4 d5 34. Kd3 Kg8 35. h4 Kf8 36. exd5 exd5 37. Kc3 Ke7 38. Nf3 Kf6 39. Ne5 g5 40. h5 Kf5 41. Kd3 Kf4 42. Ng6+ Kg3 43. Ne7 Kxg2 44. Nxd5 Kf3 45. Ne7 g4 {#} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[ECO "D20"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Nbxd2 exd4 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Qf6 9. b4 Nge7 10. b5 Ne5 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. f4 Qd6 13. f5 Bd7 14. Nf3 f6 15. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 16. Nxd4 O-O-O 17. Be6 Kb8 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. Ne6 Nc8 20. e5 fxe5 21. Rae1 Nd6 22. Rxe5 Re7 23. g4 h5 24. g5 Rhe8 25. f6 gxf6 26. Rxf6 Nxb5 27. Rxb5 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Rxe6 29. Kg2 Kc8 30. Kg3 Re4 31. h3 Kd7 32. Rxb7 Ra4 33. a3 Ke6 34. Rb4 Rxa3+ 35. Kh4 Kf7 36. Rc4 a5 37. Rxc7+ Kg6 38. Rc6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[ECO "D44"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. a4 c6 8. e5 h6 9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 c5 13. O-O g4 14. Nh4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 Rxg7 16. axb5 cxd4 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nf4 Kf7 19. Rc1 fxe4 20. Rxc4 Bc5 21. Rxc5 Nd7 22. Rh5 Nf6 23. Re5 Qd6 24. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[ECO "D16"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. Bf4 Nb4 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. Bxh6 Rc8 15. Bb3 gxh6 16. Qxh6 Nh7 17. Re5 f5 18. Rxe6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Bxc8 Rf6 21. Qh5 Qxc8 22. Re1 Bf8 23. Ne5 Kg8 24. Qd1 Ng5 25. Qb3+ Kg7 26. h4 Nf7 27. Ne2 Nxe5 28. dxe5 Rc6 29. Nf4 Be7 30. Qg3+ Kh7 31. Qf3 Qe8 32. g3 Qf7 33. e6 Qf6 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35. Qe8+ Qf8 36. Qg6+ Qg7 37. Qxf5 Rc5 38. Qe4 Nc6 39. Nd5 Qxb2 40. Qf5 Rc1 41. Nxe7+ 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E32"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "141"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. Nf3 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. e3 Re8 13. Be2 Rc8 14. O-O Qe7 15. Bb5 c6 16. Ba4 h6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Rfe1 b5 19. Bc2 c5 20. Bf5 Rc7 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. Qd4 a6 23. a4 bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rc6 25. b4 Qe5 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rb6 28. Kf2 Bc8 29. Rb1 Bf5 30. Bxf5 Rxf5 31. Ra5 g6 32. Ke2 h5 33. g3 Kg7 34. h3 Nd7 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Re5 37. Kf2 Rc6 38. Rb3 Rb6 39. f4 Ree6 40. g5 Red6 41. e4 Rb5 42. Rxb5 axb5 43. Rd3 Nb6 44. Nb1 Rc6 45. exd5 Rc4 46. Kf3 Rxb4 47. Nd2 f6 48. Ne4 fxg5 49. Nxg5 Kf6 50. Kg4 Nc4 51. Ne4+ Ke7 52. d6+ Kd8 53. Kg5 Nb2 54. Re3 Rd4 55. Nf6 Rxd6 56. Re8+ Kc7 57. Re2 Rd1 58. Rxb2 Rg1+ 59. Kh6 Kc6 60. Ne4 Kd5 61. Rb4 Kc6 62. Rd4 Rg4 63. Nf2 Kc5 64. Rd1 Rg2 65. Nd3+ Kc4 66. Ne5+ Kc3 67. Rc1+ Kb2 68. Rc6 Kb3 69. Rxg6 Rf2 70. Rg3+ Kc2 71. Nd3 {The further resistance is senseless.} 1-0

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[ECO "E93"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 Nd7 12. Nd2 f5 13. f3 Nf6 14. h3 c5 15. Bf2 f4 16. a3 Nf7 17. b4 b6 18. Qb3 h5 19. O-O-O Bd7 20. Kc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[ECO "C88"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Nc4 Rb8 13. Bg5 Kh8 14. h3 Ng8 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 f5 17. Ba4 fxe4 18. Bxc6 exf3 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. Bxf3 Ng6 21. Bg4 Nf4 22. Ra2 Qb7 23. Bf3 Qb3 24. Rc2 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Qxc4 26. Qxc4 Bxc4 27. Bc6 Rb3 28. g3 g5 29. Re3 Ra3 30. Be4 Rxa5 31. g4 Bd5 32. f3 Bxe4 33. fxe4 Ra1+ 34. Kg2 Rff1 35. Ree2 Rg1+ 36. Kh2 Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Rag1+ 38. Rg2 Re1 39. Rgf2 Re3+ 40. Kg2 Rexh3 0-1

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "C88"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nf1 b4 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3 c4 15. Ng3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 Bc8 17. Ba3 Qc7 18. Red1 Nb7 19. Qc4 Qxc4 20. Bxc4 Re8 21. Rab1 Ra7 22. Rb6 Na5 23. Bf1 Nd7 24. Rbb1 Nc5 25. Bxc5 dxc5 26. Nxe5 g6 27. f4 Be6 28. f5 Bb3 29. Rxb3 Nxb3 30. Bc4 Bg5 31. Nxf7 Be3+ 32. Kh1 Nd2 33. Nd6+ Nxc4 34. Nxe8 Kf7 35. Nd6+ Nxd6 36. Rxd6 Rb7 37. fxg6+ hxg6 38. h4 Bf4 39. Rd3 Ke6 40. Kh2 Rb3 41. Kh3 c4 42. Rf3 Ke5 43. Nf1 a5 44. Kg4 Bh6 45. h5 gxh5+ 46. Kxh5 Bc1 47. Rf5+ Kxe4 48. Ng3+ Kd3 49. Rf3+ Kc2 50. Ne2 Bd2 51. Nd4+ Kb2 52. Nb5 Bxc3 53. Rf2+ Kb1 54. Rf4 Bb4 55. Rxc4 {A nice figthing game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "23rd Linares it"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[ECO "D39"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 O-O 13. O-O Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Nc6 15. c4 Rad8 16. Qg3+ Kh8 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Qh4 Kg7 20. f4 Qd2 21. e5 fxe5 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26. Rf3 Rd3 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qf6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2
