ContentLEKO CHALLENGES KRAMNIK
Like good old Julius Caesar, Vladimir Kramnik used to come to Dortmund to see who was playing and then go on to win. But this time the sixfold winner had merely come to see who would earn the right to challenge him in the Einstein classical world championship match early next year. Local hero Peter Leko (the only participant with a positive score against Kramnik in classical chess!) played sharp and ambitious chess and made an old dream come true. THE DRAGON STRIKES AGAIN
The second China-USA summit in Shanghai was a real cliffhanger. Despite a shaky start the hosts claimed victory by the smallest of margins in the final round. All credit went to the Chinese women, who scored no fewer than 8 points from 10 games, including 1,5 out of 2 from a pregnant Xie Jun on one of the men’s boards. INTERVIEW: BU XIANGZHI
Former prodigy Bu Xiangzhi seems to have all the assets to become the first male Chinese player to join the absolute world top. Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam spoke to an eminently sane youngster, who gladly lets others speculate about his potential. SMIRIN DEFENDS POLE POSITION
A win against one of his idols gave Ilya Smirin an early lead that proved decisive at the 35th Biel Chess Festival. S.O.S: SOKOLOV’S SURPRISE
Find out why putting a bishop in front of a pawn isn’t necessarily bad. A SCOTSMAN IN PHILLY
At the World Open in Philadelphia, Jonathan Rowson was one of the nine players who tied for first. But that isn’t where his story ends. YOUTH ON TOP IN BATUMI
From a field of 101 players that lacked clear favourites, Poland’s Bartlomiej Macieja emerged as the new European champion.
‘SIMPLICITY AND ELEGANCE’
As we’ve come to know him, Viktor Kortchnoi neither spares himself nor his opponent in the new notes that he wrote to his loss against Bobby Fischer at the 1962 Stockholm Interzonal. SADLER ON BOOKS JAN TIMMAN: TWO ROOK ENDINGS JUMPING AT THE EGG MARKET
Hans Ree mourns the loss of a tournament that was a joy for amateurs and professionals. JUST CHECKING
Any idea who is Irina Krush’s favourite player of all time? Plus our regular features NIC'S Cafe and Your Move. Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Rowson-Yermolinsky, by Rowson
Shahade-Wang Pin, by Wang Pin
Zhang Zhong-Gulko, by Zhang Zhon
Sutovsky-Van Wely, by Van Wely
Shirov-Leko, by Leko
Shirov-Leko, by Leko
Topalov-Leko, by Lautier French
Stripunsky-Yusupov, by Rowson
Ivanov-Akobian, by Rowson
Topalov-Bareev, by Lautier Petroff
Leko-Adams, by Leko Ruy Lopez
Macieja-Sturua, by Macieja
Fischer-Kortchnoi, by Kortchnoi King's Pawn
Jonkman-Sokolov, by Bosch Queen's Gambit Declined
Xu Jun-Seirawan, by Xu Jun
Kaidanov-Bu Xiangzhi, by Bu Xiangzhi Slav
Kortchnoi-Vallejo, by Pelletier
Krush-Zhu Chen, by Krush Queen's Gambit Accepted
Zhu Chen-Krush, by Zhu Chen Nimzo-Indian
Milov-Chiburdanidze, by Milov
Summerscale-Ehlvest, by Rowson
Gurevich-Marin, by Krasenkow Queen's Indian
Tkachiev-Kortchnoi, by Pelletier Grünfeld-Indian
Kortchnoi-Smirin, by Smirin King's Indian
Bareev-Topalov, by Lautier
Shabalov-Xie Jun, by Xie Jun
Goldin-Ye Jiangchuan, by Goldin Benoni
Miton-Rowson, by Rowson English Opening
Pelletier-COMP Shredder, by Pelletier Réti
Socko-Volkov, by Volkov | 
