The Media Market

Remarkable action in San Luis, Argentina. Former World Champions Kasimdzhanov and Anand are having obvious difficulties, getting 3 and 3.5 points after the fifth round. With a few exceptions (Kasparov and Karpov - the old days with Lassker, Alekhine and Botvinnik don't count...) it has been proven an almost impossible task to defend a modern World champion title in Chess. And that made the rivalry game Veselin Topalov and Peter Svidler in round five even more interesting. The full round five game can be followed here (in Java mode). Svidler, with white, opened with a Sicilian Najdorf (the homepage says B90 but I think it's a B93 given 6. Nc3 a6) and Topalov beat him in 44 moves! Topalov beating Svidler with black - what where the odds for that? OK, so it's a long way, still, but the Bulgarian seems to have a nice little lead for himself.