After that was Svidler with 5.5-6.5, Ivanchuk with 5-7 and Topalov with 4-8.

The FIDE World Champion, Karpov, did not play in this event, because the organizer here, Luis Rentero, refused to apologize for the insulting remarks Rentero made last year concerning the fact that Karpov, who was running for the Russian Parliment at the time, did not reply to an invitation to that event.

One of the best games at Linares was: Ivanchuk - Anand from Round 12.

Here are the last round games, all of which ended in draws:

Kramnik - Anand 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O - O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. d4 Bb7 8. Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 d5 11. e3 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Bd3 Qb6 14. O - O h6 15. Bh4 a5 16. Bf2 a4 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Rab1 Ba6 19. Qc2 Ne5 20. Bf1 Qc6 21. Bg3 Ned7 22. Bf2 Ne5 23. h3 Nfd7 24. f4 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Qxc4 Rab8 28. Re2 Rb3 29. Rd1 Nb6 30. Qc1 e5 31. e4 exf4 32. Qxf4 Nc4 33. e5 Qe6 34. Bxc5 [1 : 50 : 49] [1 : 26 : 55] [1/2 - 1/2]

Shirov - Kasparov | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5 9. Nf5 h5 10. gxh5 exf4 11. Bxf4 Nxh5 12. Nxd6+ Bxd6 13. Bxd6 Qh4+ 14. Kd2 Qg5+ 15. Ke1 Qh4+ 16. Kd2 Qg5+ 17. Ke1 Qh4+ [0 : 35 : 27] [0 : 25 : 59] [1/2 - 1/2]

Topalov - Ivanchuk 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. a4 b6 9. f4 Bb7 10. Bf3 Nbd7 11. Qe2 e5 12. Nf5 g6 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg5 Qd8 15. Ne3 Bg7 16. O - O h6 17. Bh4 O - O 18. Ncd5 g5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bg4 Qd8 21. Bg3 Nxg4 22. Qxg4 Qe7 23. Nf5 Qxe4 24. Qxe4 Bxe4 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Bxd6 Rfe8 27. c3 f5 28. a5 Re6 29. Bc7 b5 30. Rad1 Kg6 31. Rd6 Rxd6 32. Bxd6 h5 33. Rd1 Rd8 34. Rd4 h4 35. Kf2 h3 36. g4 f4 37. Be7 Rxd4 38. cxd4 Bd5 39. b4 Bb3 40. Ke2 Be6 41. Kf3 Bd5+ [1 : 42 : 11] [1 : 27 : 53] [1/2 - 1/2]

In Round 13, Svidler has defeated Shirov, thereby knocking Shirov out of clear first place.

It is being reported that the organizer, Luis Rentero, has fined Kasparov for drawing two games in a row!!

Here are the games in Round 13, including those still in progress:

Svidler - Shirov 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 Bg4 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 O-O 13. Re1 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nh5 15. Kh1 Qf6 16. Rg1 Nf4 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Qd3 exd4 21. cxd4 e5 22. d5 Ne7 23. Bxb6 Rxb6 24. Nxc7 Rxb2 25. Ne6 Rg8 26. Kg1 Ng6 27. Qa3 Rb6 28. Kh1 Nf4 29. Nxg7 Ne2 30. Nf5 Rgb8 31. Qd3 Rb2 32. Rf1 Ra8 33. Qc4 Nxg3+ 34. hxg3 Qd8 35. Qc1 Rb3 36. Kg2 Qf8 37. Qc7 [1 : 54 : 34] [1 : 46 : 40] [1 - 0]

Anand - Topalov | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Bc4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. h4 Qb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. hxg5 O - O - O 15. Qd2 hxg5 16. Rxh8 Rxh8 17. O - O - O Ne5 18. f3 Qa5 19. Kb1 Bf6 20. Qe3 Kb7 21. Bf2 Rb8 22. g3 Kc8 23. Qe2 Ng6 24. Be1 Qb6 25. Na4 Qb5 26. c4 Qb7 27. Ba5 c5 28. Nb6+ Qxb6 29. Bxb6 Rxb6 30. Rd2 Be5 31. Qh2 Kc7 32. Rf2 Rb8 33. f4 Rh8 34. fxe5 Rxh2 35. exd6+ Kxd6 36. Rxh2 Bc6 37. Bc2 Ne5 38. b3 Nf3 39. Rh7 f6 40. Kc1 a5 41. Kd1 Ke6 42. Bd3 Kd6 43. Ke2 Ne5 44. Kd2 Bb7 45. Kc3 Nc6 46. Rh8 Kc7 47. Bf1 Ne5 48. Bg2 Bc6 49. a3 Bb7 50. Rh7 Kd7 51. b4 axb4+ 52. axb4 cxb4+ 53. Kxb4 Ba6 54. Bh3+ g4 55. Bf1 Bb7 56. Bg2 Ba6 57. Rh5 Ke6 58. Kc3 Kd6 59. Bf1 Bb7 60. Bd3 Bc6 61. Rh7 Bd7 62. Be2 Be6 63. Bf1 Bf7 64. Bd3 Be6 65. Rh8 Nc6 66. Bc2 Kc5 67. Bb3 Bf7 68. Ba4 Ne5 69. Rc8+ Kb6 70. c5+ Kb7 71. Rh8 Bg6 72. Kd4 Bf7 73. Rh7 Kc7 74. Bb5 Nf3+ 75. Ke3 Ne5 76. Rh8 Bg6 77. Ra8 Kb7 78. Ra6 [2 : 35 : 41] [3 : 17 : 23] [1 - 0]

Kasparov - Kramnik 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O - O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 h6 11. Bh4 Rc8 12. e4 c5 13. Bd3 d5 14. exd5 exd5 15. O - O cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nc5 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Bf5 Rcd8 20. Rfe1 Ba6 21. Rac1 dxc4 22. Nxc4 Nb3 23. Rc3 Nd4 24. Bh3 Rfe8 25. Kf2 Rxe1 26. Kxe1 Re8+ 27. Kd2 Ne2 28. Re3 Rd8+ 29. Kxe2 Bxc4+ 30. Ke1 Kf8 31. Bf5 Re8 32. Rxe8+ Kxe8 33. Kd2 Ke7 34. Ke3 Bd5 35. Kd4 Kd6 36. Be4 Be6 37. Bd3 Bc8 38. Bc4 Ke7 39. Ke4 Bb7+ 40. Bd5 Bc8 41. Kd4 Bd7 42. Kc4 Be8 43. b4 Bd7 44. f4 f5 45. Bf3 Kd6 46. Bh5 f6 47. Bd1 Bc6 48. g3 Bd7 49. Bc2 Ke6 50. a4 Kd6 51. a5 Ke6 52. Kd4 [2 : 47 : 58] [1 : 59 : 48] [1/2 - 1/2]

In Round 12, Kramnik defeated Svidler, Ivanchuk lost to Anand and Topalov drew Kasparov. Anand defeated Ivanchuk with a brilliant rook sacrifice.

After 12 Rounds, Shirov leads with 6.5-3.5, followed by Anand with 6-4, Kasparov and Kramnik with 5.5-4.5, Svidler and Ivanchuk with 4.5-6.5 and Topalov with 3.5-6.5. Here are the games from Round 12:

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.07"] [Round "12"] [White "Kramnik,V"] [Black "Svidler,P"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2790"] [BlackElo "2690"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bf4 Nd5 11. Nc3 Nxf4 12. gxf4 Nd7 13. Rfd1 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Rb8 15. e3 Nf6 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. Ne2 Rfc8 18. e4 Qd7 19. d5 exd5 20. e5 Ne8 21. Rxd5 Qh3 22. Bg2 Qh4 23. Nd4 Qxf4 24. Nc6 Bh4 25. Rcd1 Rb6 26. R5d4 Rxc6 27. Bxc6 Qxe5 28. Bd7 Rd8 29. Rxh4 1-0

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.07"] [Round "12"] [White "Ivanchuk,V"] [Black "Anand,V"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B63"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2770"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 a6 11. h4 b5 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. h5 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. Ne2 Rac8 16. Qd2 Rfd8 17. Re1 e5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nc3 Bg5 20. Qd1 Qa5 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rxc2 23. Kxc2 Qxa2 24. f4 Rc8+ 25. Kd2 Bxf4+ 26. Ke2 Qxb2+ 27. Kf3 Rc1 0-1

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.07"] [Round "12"] [White "Topalov,V"] [Black "Kasparov,G"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2825"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Na5 12. dxc5 Nc4 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bg5 Bd7 15. Bb3 Na5 16. Bxe7 Re8 17. Bd6 Rxe4 18. Nd4 Nxb3 19. axb3 Bxd4 1/2-1/2

In Round 11, Shirov won a wonderful game from Kramnik and is in first, a point and a half ahead of the field. Kasparov drew Ivanchuk and Svidler beat Topalov.

The result of Shirov is surprising. He got into the tournament in part as a result of being the "local patzer" (every international tournament is required to include a home town boy, who usually finishes last) and nobody would have imagined him running away with the tournament.

On the other hand, a year ago Topalov, still 21, was winning the big events and seemed to be the best player in the world. Topalov is now last

However, all of these players are very strong and evenly matched, so these results do not mean that much.

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.06"] [Round "11"] [White "Shirov,A"] [Black "Kramnik,V"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2790"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. dxe5 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. Nbd2 Bf5 10. Nc4 Bb4 11. c3 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bc5 13. Be3 Ne7 14. Re1 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Nd6 16. Nxf5 Nexf5 17. Ba4 g6 18. Re2 b5 19. Bc2 Rfe8 20. Rae1 Rxe2 21. Rxe2 a5 22. Re5 b4 23. Rc5 bxc3 24. Rxc3 Nb5 25. Rc4 Rd8 26. Kf1 Ne7 27. a4 Nd6 28. Rxc7 Nd5 29. Rc5 Nb4 30. Bb3 Nd3 31. Rxa5 Nxb2 32. Rd5 Rb8 33. Nd2 Rb6 34. Ke2 Ra6 35. Rd4 Nb7 36. Ne4 Rb6 37. Bd5 Kg7 38. Kd2 Nd6 39. Nc3 Nf5 40. Rf4 Kf6 41. a5 1-0

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.06"] [Round "11"] [White "Kasparov,G"] [Black "Ivanchuk,V"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C92"] [WhiteElo "2825"] [BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2 Nc5 15. Bc2 c6 16. b4 Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Nb6 20. Ne3 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. Qxd5 Bxd5 24. Bb3 Be6 25. Bxe6 Rxe6 26. a4 bxa4 27. Rxa4 Rc8 28. Bd2 Rd6 29. Ra2 f6 30. Re4 g6 31. c4 f5 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Rxe5 Rxc4 34. Rxf5 Bh6 35. Bxh6 Rxh6 36. Rc5 Rxb4 37. Rc8+ Kg7 38. Rc7+ Kg8 39. g3 Rbb6 40. Ra7 Rhg6 41. Kg2 Rbf6 42. Ra3 Kh8 43. f3 Kg8 44. Kf2 Rb6 45. f4 h5 46. Kf3 Rbc6 47. Rd7 Rg7 48. Rxg7+ Kxg7 49. Kg2 Kh6 50. Kh3 Rg6 51. Ra5 Kg7 52. Rc5 Kh6 53. Rc8 Kh7 54. Ra8 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.06"] [Round "11"] [White "Svidler,P"] [Black "Topalov,V"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2690"] [BlackElo "2740"]

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 Ke8 10. Rd1 Ne7 11. Nd4 Ng6 12. f4 Bc5 13. Ne4 Bxd4+ 14. Rxd4 b6 15. Be3 h5 16. Re1 Be6 17. Ng5 Bf5 18. Rc4 Ne7 19. Rd1 a5 20. Bf2 c5 21. Rc3 Ng6 22. Re1 Rg8 23. a3 a4 24. e6 f6 25. Ne4 h4 26. Rc4 Ke7 27. Nxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Nxf4 29. Rxf5 Nxe6 30. Bxh4 Rgb8 31. Rc5 Kd6 32. Rc3 Rxb2 33. Bg3+ Kd7 34. Rd1+ Ke8 35. Rc6 Kf7 36. Rd7+ Ke8 37. Rd1 Kf7 38. Re1 Re8 39. Re4 Ra2 40. Rxa4 Rd8 41. Re4 Rd1+ 42. Kf2 Nd4 43. Rxc7+ Kg6 44. Rg4+ Kf5 45. Rc5+ Ke6 46. Re4+ Kf7 47. Rc7+ Kg6 48. Rg4+ Kf5 49. Rc5+ Ke6 50. Rxg7 Nxc2 51. Rc6+ Kf5 52. Rc5+ Ke6 53. Kf3 Nd4+ 54. Kg4 Rxa3 55. Rc8 Ra4 56. Re8+ Kd5 57. Rd7+ Kc4 58. Bf2 Kc3 59. Bxd4+ Rdxd4+ 60. Rxd4 Kxd4 61. Kf5 Ra2 62. g4 Rf2+ 63. Kg6 Rf4 64. Kh5 f5 65. g5 Re4 66. Rf8 Ke5 67. Kg6 1-0

In Round 10, Anand drew Kasparov, Ivanchuk beat Svidler and Topalov lost to Shirov.

Shirov is now back in undisputed first place with 5.5-3.5. Anand is next with 5-4 followed by Kasparov and Kramnik with 4.5-3.5. By winning two games in a row after 8 winless rounds, Ivanchuk is no longer in dead last place but has moved up to fifth with 4-5. Next is Svidler with 3.5-5.5 and last is Topalov with 3-5.

Today was Gruenfeld day. Although Anand-Kasparov was a fairly uninteresting draw, the other two games were wild and exciting. I believe that Svidler had a win against Ivanchuk and that his exchange sacrifice with 45. ... Rxe5 was wild and unnecessary. I suspect that Svidler overlooked the counter-sacrifice of 49. Bxe5+ which won for Ivanchuk.

Here are the games:

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.04"] [Round "10"] [White "Anand,V"] [Black "Kasparov,G"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2825"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 Nge5 12. f3 b5 13. Bf2 Rb8 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Rb1 Rg8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. h3 h5 20. Bd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qb6 22. Qxb6 Rxb6 23. b4 cxb3 24. axb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.04"] [Round "10"] [White "Ivanchuk,V"] [Black "Svidler,P"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2690"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O b6 13. Qc1 Bb7 14. Bc4 Qa4 15. Bb5 Qa2 16. Bc4 Qa4 17. Bb5 Qa2 18. Re1 Rc8 19. Qd1 e6 20. h4 h5 21. Qe2 Nc6 22. Bc4 Qa4 23. Ra1 Qc2 24. Bd3 Qb2 25. Ra4 b5 26. Bxb5 Rd8 27. Bg5 Qxe2 28. Bxe2 Rd7 29. Rb1 Nd8 30. Bd3 f5 31. d5 fxe4 32. Bxe4 Bxd5 33. Bxg6 Rb7 34. Rxb7 Nxb7 35. Be3 a5 36. Bxh5 Bc6 37. Rg4 Bxf3 38. Rxg7+ Kxg7 39. Bxf3 Rb8 40. Bf4 Rd8 41. Bxb7 a4 42. Be5+ Kg8 43. h5 Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Re1 45. f4 Rxe5 46. fxe5 a3 47. Bc8 Kf7 48. h6 a2 49. Bxe6+ Kxe6 50. h7 a1=Q 51. h8=Q Kd5 52. Qg8+ Ke4 53. Qg6+ Kd5 54. Qf7+ Ke4 55. Qg6+ Kd5 56. Qf7+ Ke4 57. e6 Qh8+ 58. Kg3 1-0

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.04"] [Round "10"] [White "Topalov,V"] [Black "Shirov,A"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2710"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 Nd7 10. O-O e5 11. f3 Qe7 12. Be3 Rd8 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Rad1 Nc4 16. Bc1 b5 17. f4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Bg4 19. Rde1 Qc5 20. Kh1 a5 21. h3 Bd7 22. a4 bxa4 23. Ba2 Be8 24. e5 Nb6 25. f5 Nd5 26. Bd2 Nb4 27. Qxa4 Nxa2 28. Qxa2 Bxe5 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Bg5 Rd5 31. Re3 Qd6 32. Qe2 Bd7 33. c4 Bxd4 34. cxd5 Bxe3 35. Qxe3 Re8 36. Qc3 Qxd5 37. Bh6 Re5 38. Rf3 Qc5 39. Qa1 Bf5 40. Re3 f6 41. Rxe5 Qxe5 42. Qa2+ Qd5 43. Qxd5+ cxd5 44. Bd2 a4 45. Bc3 Kf7 46. h4 Ke6 47. Kg1 Bh3 48. gxh3 Kf5 49. Kf2 Ke4 50. Bxf6 d4 51. Be7 Kd3 52. Bc5 Kc4 53. Be7 Kb3 0-1

[Final Position, Shirov-Ivanchuk] [Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Shirov,A"] [Black "Ivanchuk,V"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B17"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2740"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ndf6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 Bd6 8. Bd2 Qc7 9. O-O-O b6 10. N1f3 h6 11. Nh3 Ne7 12. Ne5 c5 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Nc4 cxd4 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bf4 Qd5 17. Be5 Nf5 18. c4 Qc5 19. Qf3 Qxe5 20. Qxa8 Qc7 21. Qc6 Qb8 22. Qf3 Bb7 23. Qa3+ Kg8 24. f3 g5 25. Ba4 e5 26. Rhe1 Kg7 27. Bc2 Nh4 28. Rd2 Rc8 29. Kb1 Rxc4 30. Ng1 Rc5 31. g3 Ra5 32. Qd3 Ng6 33. Bb3 Qd6 34. Rc2 e4 35. Qc4 Ne5 36. Qc7 Qb4 37. Rd1 Bd5 38. Bxd5 Rxd5 39. fxe4 Nxe4 40. a3 Qb5 41. Ka2 d3 42. Rcc1 d2 43. Rc2 Nd3 44. Rcxd2 Rc5 45. Qd8 Qc4+ 46. b3 Nc3+ 47. Ka1 Ra5 0-1

All three games featured an odd curiosity. In each game, Black got a bad, almost losing position in the opening, and then sacrificed the exchange just to stay alive.

Normally, an exchange sacrifice without significant compensation would be fatal, but in this case the players who sacrificed the exchange got two draws and a win. The game Shirov-Ivanchuk was especially exciting.

I Have shifted all the games and commentary from the first half of Linares over to: Linares - Part One

Although Round 8 resulted in three draws, all of the games were exceptionally hard fought. Svidler showed that he was not afraid of Kasparov and chased his king around for a while. Svidler, as black, clearly had the advantage and Kasparov was lucky to draw.

Ivanchuk, winless thus far in the tournament, attacked strongly against Kramnik but could not quite win.

Anand and Shirov continued to fight in a clearly drawn position and only agreed to a draw when Shirov had nothing but a lone bishop and Anand had a lone king!

One wonders: Does this have something to do with the contract the players signed before the tournament not to agree to quick draws? Clearly, it was ridiculous seeing grandmasters Anand and Shirov play on in a position which any Class C player can see was a draw.

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.02"] [Round "8"] [White "Anand,V"] [Black "Shirov,A"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2710"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3 O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Nxb5 dxe4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Re1 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Rb8 19. Nc3 Bc2 20. Rc1 Bxb3 21. Nc6 Re8 22. Nb5 Bc5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Ncd4 Ba4 25. Kf1 Re5 26. Rc4 Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Bxf2 28. Nxc7 Bb6 29. b4 Rf5+ 30. Ke1 Bf2+ 31. Ke2 Bg1 32. h3 Rf2+ 33. Kd3 Rxg2 34. Rg4+ Rxg4 35. hxg4 Kg7 36. Nd5 Kh6 37. Nxf6 Kg5 38. Nxh7+ Kxg4 39. Nf6+ Kf5 40. Ne4 Kg4 41. Nd6 f5 42. Nxf5 Kxf5 43. b5 Ke5 44. b6 Bxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.02"] [Round "8"] [White "Kasparov,G"] [Black "Svidler,P"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C92"] [WhiteElo "2825"] [BlackElo "2690"]

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. c3 Re8 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Nf1 Bf8 13. Ng3 Nb8 14. Nh4 d5 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Nhf5 Nbd7 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Qg4 Kh8 19. Qf3 N5f6 20. Ne4 Kh7 21. h4 Nxe4 22. dxe4 Qf6 23. g4 g6 24. g5 Qe6 25. Nxh6 Bxh6 26. gxh6 Nf6 27. Bg5 Ng4 28. Rad1 f6 29. Bc1 Nxh6 30. Bxh6 Kxh6 31. Rd3 Rad8 32. Red1 Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Rg8 34. b3 f5 35. Qg2 fxe4 36. Qxe4 Rf8 37. Rg3 Rf4 38. Qe3 Kh7 39. Rg5 Qd5 40. Rxe5 Rg4+ 41. Kf1 Qd1+ 42. Qe1 Qd3+ 43. Qe2 Qb1+ 44. Qe1 Qd3+ 45. Qe2 Qh3+ 46. Ke1 Qxc3+ 47. Kf1 Qh3+ 48. Ke1 Rg1+ 49. Kd2 Qd7+ 50. Kc2 Qc6+ 51. Kd3 Qd6+ 52. Kc2 Qc6+ 53. Kd3 Qd6+ 54. Kc2 Ra1 55. Re7+ Kg8 56. Qe6+ Qxe6 57. Rxe6 Rxa2+ 58. Kc3 Kg7 59. Kb4 Kh6 60. f4 Kh5 61. Re5+ Kxh4 62. Rg5 Rf2 63. Rxg6 Rxf4+ 64. Ka5 Rf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.02"] [Round "8"] [White "Ivanchuk,V"] [Black "Kramnik,V"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B57"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2790"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3 Qd8 9. Nd4 Ng4 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Qf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 e6 13. O-O-O Be7 14. Bd4 Qc7 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Na4 O-O 17. Rd3 Qa5 18. b3 Rb8 19. Qd2 Qxd2+ 20. Kxd2 g6 21. Rd1 Kg7 22. Ke2 a5 23. Rc3 Bb4 24. Rcd3 Be7 25. g3 h5 26. h4 f5 27. Rc3 Bb4 28. Re3 Kf6 29. f4 exf4 30. e5+ Kf7 31. gxf4 Be7 32. Red3 Bxh4 33. Nc5 Be7 34. Rd6 Bxd6 35. exd6 Rd8 36. d7 Ke7 37. dxc8=Q Rbxc8 38. Rxd8 Rxd8 39. Nxe6 Rh8 40. Ng5 h4 41. Nh3 Kf6 42. Kf2 Rd8 43. Bd3 a4 44. Ng5 a3 45. Nf3 c5 46. Ng5 Rd4 47. Kf3 Rd7 48. Ke3 Rd8 49. Nf3 Re8+ 50. Kf2 Rd8 51. Nxh4 c4 52. bxc4 Rb8 53. c5 Rb2 54. c6 Ke7 55. Nxg6+ Kd6 56. Ne5 Rxa2 57. Nc4+ Kc7 58. Kg3 Ra1 59. Nxa3 Rxa3 60. Kh4 Kxc6 61. Kg5 Ra5 62. Bxf5 Kd6 63. Kg4 Ke7 64. Bd3 Rc5 65. Kf3 Kd6 66. Ke4 Rh5 67. c4 Rh4 68. Kf5 Kc5 69. Ke5 Rh3 70. Ke4 Rh4 71. Be2 Rh2 72. Kf3 Kd4 73. Bf1 Rh1 74. Kf2 Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Shirov,A"] [Black "Ivanchuk,V"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B17"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ndf6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 Bd6 8. Bd2 Qc7 9. O-O-O b6 10. N1f3 h6 11. Nh3 Ne7 12. Ne5 c5 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Nc4 cxd4 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bf4 Qd5 17. Be5 Nf5 18. c4 Qc5 19. Qf3 Qxe5 20. Qxa8 Qc7 21. Qc6 Qb8 22. Qf3 Bb7 23. Qa3+ Kg8 24. f3 g5 25. Ba4 e5 26. Rhe1 Kg7 27. Bc2 Nh4 28. Rd2 Rc8 29. Kb1 Rxc4 30. Ng1 Rc5 31. g3 Ra5 32. Qd3 Ng6 33. Bb3 Qd6 34. Rc2 e4 35. Qc4 Ne5 36. Qc7 Qb4 37. Rd1 Bd5 38. Bxd5 Rxd5 39. fxe4 Nxe4 40. a3 Qb5 41. Ka2 d3 42. Rcc1 d2 43. Rc2 Nd3 44. Rcxd2 Rc5 45. Qd8 Qc4+ 46. b3 Nc3+ 47. Ka1 Ra5 0-1

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Kramnik,V"] [Black "Topalov,V"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2790"] [BlackElo "2740"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3 Nc6 14. d5 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Ne5 16. Be2 Nc4 17. Bg5 Nd6 18. Bxe7 Nxe4 19. Bf3 Nd2 20. Qe2 Rfe8 21. d6 Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bf8 23. Rxb7 a5 24. h4 a4 25. Rd1 Qe6 26. Bg5 h6 27. d7 hxg5 28. dxe8=Q Rxe8 29. hxg5 a3 30. g3 a2 31. Kg2 Rd8 32. Re1 Qc4 33. Ra7 Rd3 34. Qa8 Rd2 35. Qf3 Rd3 36. Qa8 Rd2 37. Ra4 Qc5 38. Rf1 Qc2 39. Ra7 Qb3 40. Qf3 Qxf3+ 41. Kxf3 Bc5 42. Ra8+ Kg7 43. Ra1 Rxf2+ 44. Kg4 Rd2 45. Ra4 Bb6 46. R1xa2 Rd5 47. Kh4 Bd8 48. Rg4 Rd1 49. Rh2 Kg8 50. Re4 Rd5 51. Re8+ Kg7 52. Rb2 Bxg5+ 53. Kg4 Rd4+ 54. Kh3 Rd7 55. Rbb8 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Svidler,P"] [Black "Anand,V"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B65"] [WhiteElo "2690"] [BlackElo "2770"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 18. Qg4 Nf8 19. Bd3 Rxd3 20. cxd3 Qd7 21. Bb4 Ng6 22. Bd6 f5 23. Qg5 Bd5 24. b3 Qc6+ 25. Kb2 Qb6 26. g3 Qd4+ 27. Kb1 Rc8 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. Rxe3 f4 30. gxf4 Nxf4 31. Rf1 Ng6 32. Rc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kxc1 Nh4 34. Re2 g5 35. Kd2 Kg7 36. Rf2 Nf5 37. Bc7 Kg6 38. Bd8 h6 39. Ke1 Kh5 40. Kf1 Kg4 41. Kg1 Kh3 42. b4 g4 43. a4 h5 44. Rf4 a6 1/2-1/2

Shirov won the first half of the tournament with 4-2, followed by Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand tied with 3.5-2.5, followed by Svidler and Topalov with 2.5-3.5. Ivanchuk finished in last place with 1.5 - 4.5.

Anand has analyzed the first round game, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, and has found a spectacular rook sacrifice which he believes to be a win for Kramnik. Check it out at Anand Analyzes Kramnik-Ivanchuk (This is the game where I said "Ivanchuk violated just about every known opening principle of chess but still drew Kramnik.")

	Name		ELO	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Place
1	Kasparov	RUS	2825		xx	1x	xx	xx	xx	xx	6.5-5.5	3-4
2	Kramnik	RUS	2790	xx		xx	xx	1x	x0	x1	6.5-5.5	3-4
3	Anand	IND	2770	0x	xx		x1	x1	1x	1x	7.5-4.5	1
4	Ivanchuk	UKR	2740	xx	xx	x0		0x	01	01	5-7	6
5	Topalov	BUL	2740	xx	0x	x0	1x		00	x0	4-8	7
6	Shirov	ESP	2710	xx	x1	0x	10	11		10	7-5	2
7	Svidler	RUS	2690	xx	x0	0x	10	x1	01		5.5-6.5	5

Here is a link: Official Linares Text-Only Web Site.

Here is an English language link which does not add much. I recommend that you learn Spanish instead. (These people have been drinking too much hot java.)