ContentTOPALOV WINS MADRID IN PERPLEXING PLAY-OFF
In a highly exciting finish that took him all the will-power and stamina he could muster Alexey Shirov pulled level with the uncontested leader from Day One, Veselin Topalov. The blood-thirsty Madrilenians wanted a play-off and they duly got one. ENGLAND PULLS IT OFF IN PULA
With four top players at the first four boards, it was hard to find a weak link in the English team at the European Team Championship in Croatia. Comfortably the pre-tournament favourites seemed to be coasting to the gold medals when suddenly, in the final round the weakened Russians posed a nasty threat. Jan Timman reports. Game notes by Bareev, Beliavsky, Sadler, Speelman and Timman. INTERVIEW: YURY AVERBAKH
In 1950 Yury Averbakh `temporarily' gave up his work to have a go at the GM title. Little could he have expected that he embarked on a road that would not only make him a GM, but also USSR Champion, an authoritative endgame specialist, an opening innovator, editor-in-chief of Shakhmaty, President of the Soviet Chess Federation, coach of several World Champions, a FIDE official, a chess historian... in short, a wonderful subject for an interview. THE PROPHECY THAT ALMOST CAME TRUE
Gennady Nesis celebrates twenty-five years of correspondence chess with a warm tribute to his old friend Genna Sosonko and a unique selection from his best games. THE LATEST WORD IN FASHION
Viktor Gavrikov presents a quick guide to one of the most popular variations against the King's Indian. PLUS: Jan Timman returns to Karpov-Kamsky and Hans Ree writes about his post-Deep Blue depression. | 
