Linares 1998 - The Strongest Chess Tournament in History

In Round 7 at Linares, Anand has drawn Kramnik, Kasparov has drawn Shirov and Ivanchuk lost to Topalov. This means that Shirov has 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 x 1 x x x x 3.5-2.5 2-4
2 Kramnik RUS 2790 x x x 1 x x 3.5-2.5 2-4
3 Anand IND 2770 0 x x x 1
1 3.5-2.5 2-4
4 Ivanchuk UKR 2740 x x x 0 0 0 1.5-4.5 7
5 Topalov BUL 2740 x 0 x 1 0 x 2.5-3.5 5-6
6 Shirov ESP 2710 x x 0 1 1 1 4-2 1
7 Svidler RUS 2690 x x 0 1 x 0 2.5-3.5 5-6









[Final Position, Anand-Kramnik]

[Event "Linares"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.03.01"] [Round "7"] [White "Anand,V"] [Black "Kramnik,V"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2790"] 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. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O e4 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19. Nfd5 Qg5 20. f4 exf3 21. Qxf3 Bh5 22. Qf2 f4 23. h4 Qd8 24. Nf5 Bg6 25. Nd4 Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bxc2 27. dxe5 dxe5 28. Qc5 Rf7 1/2 - 1/2

In Round 6 at Linares, Shirov defeated Svidler and led the tournament with 3.5-1.5! Kasparov drew Kramnik and Anand drew Topalov. Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand followed with 3-2, Svidler has 2.5-3.5 and Ivanchuk and Topalov were tied for last with 1.5-3.5.









[Final Position, Shirov-Svidler]

[Event "Linares"] [Site "Linares ESP"] [Date "1998.02.22"] [Round "6"] [White "Shirov"] [Black "Svidler"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2690"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. f3 h5 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. g3 O-O 16. Bh3 Ra8 17. Rhe1 a5 18. a4 Qc7 19. Bf1 Rfc8 20. Bb5 Bf8 21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Qb6 23. Re2 Ne8 24. f5 Nc7 25. f6 g6 26. Bd7 Rd8 27. Be6 Re8 28. Qg5 1 - 0

In the first round: Kasparov drew Svidler. Anand as black defeated Shirov. Ivanchuk drew Kramnik. Topalov had the bye.

In round 2, Anand defeated Svidler, Ivanchuk lost to Shirov and Topalov lost to Kramnik.

In round 3, Kasparov defeated Anand, Shirov beat Topalov and Svidler defeated Ivanchuk.

In round 4, Ivanchuk drew Kasparov, Kramnik drew Shirov and Topalov drew Svidler.

In round 5, Anand drew Ivanchuk, Kasparov drew Topalov and Svidler drew Kramnik.

Luis Rentero, who became notorious by fining Zsuzsa Polgar and Xie Jun in their match for the Woman’s World Championship for playing two draws in a row, is the organizer of this tournament in Linares and has just announced the formation of a World Chess Council, which will arrange a contest for the World Chess Championship between Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand, the three highest rated players in the world. Here is the announcement (in Spanish): Rentero Announces Formation of World Chess Council.

Svidler launched a dangerous attack, clearly trying to defeat Kasparov, but did not quite do so. Ivanchuk violated just about every known opening principle of chess but still drew Kramnik.

Shirov played a Hari-Kari Attack against Anand and got over-extended, as often happens in the Hari-Kari. Anand won a long but probably not very difficult endgame.

Here are the games:









[Final Position, Shirov-Anand]

[Event "Linares"] [Site "Spain"] [Date "1998.22.02"] [Round "1"] [White "Shirov"] [Black "Anand"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2770"] [WhiteCountry "ESP"] [BlackCountry "IND"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. c4 Nbc6 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nc6 12. Bb5 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Ne2 c5 16. Bc3 Qb6 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Qg4 Rad8 19. h4 h6 20. h5 Bh7 21. f4 c4+ 22. Kh2 Bb4 23. f5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Bxf5 25. Rxf5 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Qe6 27. Raf1 Rfe8 28. R1f4 Rd5 29. Re4 Re7 30. Qf4 Rc7 31. Rxc4 Qxf5 32. Qxf5 Rxc4 33. Qb1 Rd8 34. Qb7 Rxc3 35. Qxa7 Rcc8 36. a4 Ra8 37. Qc7 Rdc8 38. Qb7 Re8 39. Qc6 Rac8 40. Qd7 Rcd8 41. Qc7 Rd5 42. a5 Rdxe5 43. a6 R5e7 44. Qc6 Rf8 45. Kh3 Ra7 46. g4 Rfa8 47. Kh4 Rxa6 48. Qb7 Ra5 49. Qc6 Rf8 50. Qb6 Rg5 51. Qb3 Kh8 52. Qb4 Re8 53. Qa4 Rd8 54. Qe4 f5 55. gxf5 Rf8 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1998.22.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik"]
[Black "Ivanchuk"]
[Result "1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[WhiteCountry "RUS"]
[BlackCountry "UKR"]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 e6 5. c4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Rc1 O-O 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qe7 10. Bg5 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Qb4 12. Bxf6 Qxb2 13. Rb3 Qc1+ 14. Qd1 Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 dxc4 16. Rxb7 gxf6 17. Kd2 Rab8 18. Rxc7 Na5 19. Kc2 Rb4 20. Rxa7 Ra4 21. Rxa5 Rxa5 22. Bxc4 h5 23. h4 Rc8 24. Kd3 Rxc4 25. Kxc4 Rxa2 26. Rf1 f5 27. d5 Kf8 28. dxe6 fxe6 29. Kd4 Ke7 30. Ke5 Ra4 31. f3 Ra5+ 32. Kf4 Ra2 33. Rb1 Kf6 34. Kg3 Re2 35. Rb3 e5 36. Rb6+ Kg7 37. Rb3 Kf6 38. Ra3 Kg6 39. Kh3 Kf6 40. g4 hxg4+ 41. fxg4 fxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Kg6 43. h5+ Kh6 44. Ra6+ Kh7 45. Ra3 Kh6 46. Kf5 e4 47. Kxe4 Kxh5 48. Kf5 Rf2+ 49. Ke6 Re2 50. Kf5 Rf2+ 51. Ke5 Kg6 52. e4 Rb2 53. Ra7 Rb5+ 54. Ke6 Rb6+ 55. Ke7 Rb5 56. Ra6+ Kg5 57. Re6 Kf4 58. Kf6 Rh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1998.22.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[WhiteCountry "RUS"]
[BlackCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. g4 Nd7 14. Bg2 b6 15. g5 Bb7 16. Qg4 Bf8 17. f5 exf5 18. Qxf5 Nde5 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nb3 Ne7 21. Qf4 Rc8 22. Nd4 Nxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. b3 g6 25. c4 Re7 26. Bg1 Rce8 27. Rae1 Bg7 28. Qg3 Qc7 29. Rd1 Nd7 30. Rde1 Nc5 31. Nc6 Rxe1 32. Rxe1 Rxe1 33. Qxe1 Nxb3 34. Qe8+ Bf8 35. Bh3 Na5 36. Qd8 Qxd8 37. Nxd8 Ba8 38. Bf1 Nb7 39. Nxb7 Bxb7 40. Bxb6 h6 41. h4 hxg5 42. hxg5 Be7 43. Bc7 Kf8 44. Kh2 Ke8 45. Bh3 Bxg5 46. Bxd6 Be7 47. Be5 Bc5 48. Bf6 a5 49. Kg3 Ba6 50. Bf1 Bc8 51. Bd3 Kd7 52. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "02"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Svidler,P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2690"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. e5 Bb7 8. e6 fxe6 9. Ng5 Nf8 10. O-O Nf6 11. Re1 Qd7 12. Bd2 h6 13. Nf3 Rb8 14. a4 b4 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 Qc6 18. Re3 Qc4 19. c3 b3 20. Re1 g5 21. Be3 Qd5 22. Qd3 a5 23. Ra3 Kf7 24. Nd2 Ng6 25. Qe2 Nh4 26. f3 Ng6 27. c4 Qf5 28. Ne4 Kg8 29. Qd1 Rb4 30. Rxb3 Rxc4 31. Rb5 Qf7 32. Rxa5 Kh7 33. Rb5 d5 34. Nc5 Qf5 35. b3 Rc3 36. Qd2 Rc2 37. g4 Nh4 38. gxf5 Nxf3+ 39. Kh1 Nxd2 40. Re2 Nc4 41. Rxc2 Nxe3 42. Re2 1-0

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "02"]
[White "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Qe2 Bb6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Qe7 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Bg3 Bg4 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Bb5 Nf4 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. N1d2 Rg8 15. g3 fxg3 16. fxg3 O-O-O 17. a4 Nb8 18. a5 Bc5 19. Bc4 a6 20. h3 Be6 21. g4 Nd7 22. Bxa6 bxa6 23. d4 Nb8 24. dxc5 dxc5 25. O-O-O Qe8 26. Nxe5 Qa4 27. Rhf1 Rge8 28. c4 Rd4 29. Kb1 Red8 30. Rf3 Rxe4 0-1

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.23"]
[Round "02"]
[White "Topalov,V"]
[Black "Kramnik,V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. O-O a5 13. b5 c5 14. Re1 Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. g3 Nf8 17. Na4 c4 18. Bf1 Qd6 19. Bg2 Rad8 20. h4 Ne6 21. Nc3 g6 22. Nd2 Ba8 23. h5 g5 24. Nf1 Be7 25. g4 Qd7 26. Ng3 Ng7 27. a4 Bb4 28. Bh3 Bb7 29. Qc2 Bd6 30. Nf5 Nxf5 31. gxf5 Bb4 32. Kg2 Qd6 33. f3 Re7 34. Re2 Rde8 35. Rce1 Qf6 36. Bg4 Bd6 37. Qd1 Bb4 38. Qc2 Rd8 39. Rd1 Bc8 40. e4 Bxc3 41. e5 Rxe5 42. dxe5 Bxe5 43. Rde1 Bc7 44. Re8+ Kg7 45. Rxd8 Bxd8 46. Rd1 Bb7 47. f4 d4+ 48. Bf3 d3 0-1

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.24"]
[Round "03"]
[White "Shirov,A"]
[Black "Topalov,V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Qb6 6. Nb3 Qc7 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Nc3 d6 9. f4 Be7 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nfd7 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. O-O Ndxe5 14. Rae1 Qb6+ 15. Kh1 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 O-O 17. Qg3 Kh8 18. Bc7 Qa7 19. Na4 f6 20. Bb6 Qb8 21. Bc7 Qa7 22. Nb6 e5 23. Nxa8 Qxa8 24. Rd1 Re8 25. Bd6 Bd8 26. Nc5 b6 27. Ne4 Nd4 28. Bxe5 Nf5 29. Qg4 Ne3 30. Qh5 Rg8 31. Qf3 Nxd1 32. Nd6 Qa7 33. Nxc8 Qd7 34. Nd6 1-0

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.24"]
[Round "03"]
[White "Kasparov,G"]
[Black "Anand,V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2770"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Rg8 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Qf3 e5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc4 Be6 16. Bd2 O-O-O 17. O-O-O Nd7 18. Rhe1 Rge8 19. Kb1 g5 20. h4 Bf4 21. Bxf4 gxf4 22. Bf5 Nf8 23. Qh5 Kb8 24. Bxe6 Nxe6 25. a4 Qe7 26. Qe5+ Qc7 27. Qh5 Qe7 28. b3 Qf6 29. Ne5 Re7 30. Ng4 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Qg7 32. f3 Re8 33. Qf5 Ka8 34. h5 Rf8 35. Rd7 1-0

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.24"]
[Round "03"]
[White "Svidler,P"]
[Black "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4 O-O 9. f4 Qc7 10. Kh1 Rd8 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. Be3 Ne5 13. Be2 b6 14. Qe1 Nc4 15. Bc1 Bb7 16. b3 Na5 17. Bf3 Nd7 18. Bb2 Bf6 19. Rd1 Rac8 20. f5 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Nc6 22. Rd2 Nce5 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Be2 Nc5 25. Qg3 Rf8 26. Rfd1 Rcd8 27. Qe3 Bc6 28. Ba3 a5 29. h3 h6 30. Rd4 Rf6 31. Bb2 Nb7 32. R4d2 Rff8 33. Kg1 Nc5 34. Rd4 Kh7 35. Bh5 Rd7 36. Nb5 Bxb5 37. axb5 Qd8 38. Qg3 Qe7 39. Kh2 Kg8 40. Bc1 Qf6 41. Be3 Kh8 42. R1d2 Kh7 43. Bd1 Qe7 44. Bh5 Qf6 45. Bd1 Qe7 46. c3 Rf6 47. b4 Nb7 48. Qxe5 dxe5 49. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.25"]
[Round "04"]
[White "Kramnik,V"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Be3 cxd5 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2 b6 20. Qg4 Rf6 21. Bb3 Qd6 22. Rad1 Rd8 23. b5 Qxe6 24. Qxe6+ Rxe6 25. Bc1 Kf7 26. Ba3 e4 27. g3 Rd7 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Bxd5 Bc3 31. Re2 Re5 32. Bxe4 g5 33. a4 Kd6 34. Kg2 Kc5 35. f4 gxf4 36. gxf4 Re6 37. Kf3 Rd6 38. Kg4 Rd2 39. Rg2 Kd4 40. Bc6 Rxg2+ 41. Bxg2 Bd2 42. Bf3 Bc1 43. Bd1 Bd2 44. Bc2 Bc1 45. f5 Ke5 46. Kh5 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.25"]
[Round "04"]
[White "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Black "Kasparov,G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2825"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Nd2 f5 10. Ndxe4 dxe4 11. Qb3+ Kh8 12. Rd1 Nc6 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Rac1 Rc8 15. Qa3 Qa5 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17. b3 Nc6 18. f3 exf3 19. exf3 f4 20. Bf2 e5 21. Ne2 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 25. Rxd4 Rc1+ 26. Kf2 Rc2+ 27. Ke1 Bc6 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Kxd2 g5 30. gxf4 gxf4 31. Kc3 Kg7 32. Kd4 Kf6 33. b4 b6 34. a3 Bb7 35. Bh1 Ba8 36. Bg2 Bc6 37. Bh1 Ke6 38. Bg2 Kd6 39. Bh1 a5 40. bxa5 bxa5 41. Bg2 a4 42. Bh1 Ba8 43. Bg2 Bb7 44. Bh1 Ke6 45. Bg2 Kf6 46. Bh1 Kg5 47. Ke5 h5 48. Bg2 h4 49. h3 Ba6 50. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.25"]
[Round "04"]
[White "Topalov,V"]
[Black "Svidler,P"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[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. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Na5 12. Rb1 Nc4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 b6 15. Bc6 Rb8 16. Bd5 Ba6 17. Qd3 b5 18. a4 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. cxd4 Nd6 21. Rfc1 Rb6 22. a5 Rb8 23. Rc6 Bb7 24. e5 Nf5 25. Rxg6+ Kh8 26. Bxf7 Rxf7 27. e6 Rf8 28. Bg3 Kh7 29. Rg4 Rc8 30. Be5 Rc5 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. dxc5 Nxg7 33. Qg6 Rf6 34. Bxf6 exf6 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Re1 Nxe6 37. h4 Ng7 38. Qf4 Qd5 39. Qg3 Kf7 40. Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qg3+ Kf7 42. Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.26"]
[Round "05"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5 Nxe4 5. cxd6 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Nxd6 7. Nc4 e5 8. c3 f6 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Be2 Nf5 12. O-O Be6 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Qb5 Bd7 15. Qd5 b5 16. Ncd2 Nce7 17. Qd3 Bc6 18. c4 bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qb6 21. Kh1 Rc8 22. e4 Bd7 23. Qd3 Ng6 24. g3 Bc5 25. Rfd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.26"]
[Round "05"]
[White "Kasparov,G"]
[Black "Topalov,V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Nbd7 8. a4 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. h3 Be7 11. g4 Nc5 12. Ng3 g6 13. Bh6 Ne6 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. O-O-O Rc4 16. Kb1 Qc7 17. Rhe1 Rd4 18. Qc1 Rb4 19. Bd2 Rd4 20. Bh6 Rb4 21. Bd2 Rd4 22. Bh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "It"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.26"]
[Round "05"]
[White "Svidler,P"]
[Black "Kramnik,V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2790"]

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. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Qh5 Raf7 18. g4 e4 19. Bc2 fxg4 20. Bxe4 Be5 21. Qh6 Kh8 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 Ne7 24. Qh4 Nxd5 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Bxd5 Rf5 27. Rad1 Rdf8 28. Kg2 Rh5 29. Rh1 Rf6 30. Rd3 Rhf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov,V"]
[Black "Anand,V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2770"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 e6 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. Re1 b6 14. c3 Bb7 15. h4 Re8 16. h5 Bd5 17. Bd2 Rd8 18. Re2 Kg8 19. Qh3 Qc6 20. Re3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Nf6 22. Qh4 Be7 23. Rh3 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qd6 25. Be3 Kf8 26. Rc1 Qb4 27. b3 Nd5 28. Qe4 Bf6 29. Bc4 Qd6 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Qxd5 Rxd5 32. Rc7 a5 33. a4 Kg8 34. Rb7 Kh7 35. Rxf7 Rb8 36. Ra7 b5 37. Bf4 Rf8 38. Be5 Bxe5 39. dxe5 bxa4 40. bxa4 Rxe5 1/2 - 1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik,V"]
[Black "Kasparov,G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2825"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 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. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Nc6 15. d5 Ne5 16. Rxb7 e6 17. Re1 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rfd8 19. d6 Qa5 20. Rf1 Bf8 21. d7 Qa2 22. Re1 Qa5 23. Rf1 Qa2 24. Bb5 a6 25. Bd4 Bg7 26. Bxe5 1/2 - 1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.02.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Svidler"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2690"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. f3 h5 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. g3 O-O 16. Bh3 Ra8 17. Rhe1 a5 18. a4 Qc7 19. Bf1 Rfc8 20. Bb5 Bf8 21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Qb6 23. Re2 Ne8 24. f5 Nc7 25. f6 g6 26. Bd7 Rd8 27. Be6 Re8 28. Qg5 1 - 0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Kramnik,V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]

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. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O e4 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19. Nfd5 Qg5 20. f4 exf3 21. Qxf3 Bh5 22. Qf2 f4 23. h4 Qd8 24. Nf5 Bg6 25. Nd4 Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bxc2 27. dxe5 dxe5 28. Qc5 Rf7 1/2 - 1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov,G"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[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. Nc3 O-O 9. d3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Nxb5 dxe4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Re1 h6 19. Bf4 Bb4 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. Qxg4 Re8 22. Rxe8+ 1/2 - 1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Black "Topalov,V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rc8 17. b4 O-O 18. h4 Rc7 19. Bh3 Nh7 20. Bg2 Rfc8 21. Nc6 Nf6 22. f4 Nxg4 23. Bh3 h5 24. Rhg1 f5 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Rgf1 Rf8 27. Nxe7+ Rxe7 28. d6 Ref7 29. Bxg4 hxg4 30. Qd5 f4 31. Qxe5 g3 32. Qd5 Qb7 33. Qxb7 Rxb7 34. d7 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 f3 36. Rdd1 f2 37. Rg1 fxg1=Q 38. Rxg1 Rf3 39. Kc1 Kh7 40. Kd1 Kh6 41. Ke2 Rc3 42. Kd2 Ra3 43. c3 g2 44. Ke2 Rxa2+ 45. Kf3 Kh5 46. Kg3 Rc2 47. Ra1 Rxc3+ 48. Kxg2 Rc4 49. Rxa6 Rxh4 50. Ra7 g6 51. Rh7+ Kg5 52. Rxh4 Kxh4 0 - 1

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.)


Contact address - please send e-mail to the following address: Sloan@ishipress.com