Linares Topalov-Kamsky Moscow Aeroflot Nigel Short Nice Amber Istanbul Women's Grand Prix Rowson's Reviews  European Championship Just Checking Vlastimil Hort

Content NIC’S Café Your Move Eighteen Days of Solitude After three years of sharing the spotlight with the Mexican city of Morelia, the 26th Ciudad de Linares was played in its entirety in Spain again. Well rested after a three-and-a-half months’ break, Vishy Anand looked like a strong candidate to repeat his victories of the past two years, but an uncharacteristic trip-up in the second round essentially wrecked the World Champion’s chances. Instead, seventh seed Alexander Grischuk dominated the proceedings and went on to claim the 100,000 euro first prize. The 25-year-old Muscovite scored three wins in the first half and tenaciously clung to his lead. In the very last round Vasily Ivanchuk drew level with the leader, but the Linares tie-break decided that 20 years after his first Linares triumph the Ukrainian phenomenon had to settle for second place. Topalov Defeats Kamsky to Challenge Anand After many months of negotiating, bickering and uncertainty the FIDE World Championship Qualifier between Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky finally took place. For lack of an alternative the venue was Sofia, Bulgaria, and the prize-fund, to be split equally between the contestants, was $ 250,000. Topalov won and earned the right to challenge World Champion Vishy Anand, but the 4½-2½ final score belied the real tension of the contest. A report by Zhivko Ginchev, Topalov’s public relations manager and the author of  On the Edge in Elista. Let Bacrot Fly The 2009 Aeroflot Open picked up the challenge of its new rival, the Moscow Open, made headlines with a widely publicized scandal and remained exciting till the very last round, when Etienne Bacrot emerged from a fierce fight to claim the 21,000 euro first prize and a ticket to the Dortmund super-tournament in July. San Lorenzo de El Escorial Revisited Nigel Short relives the World Championship Candidates’ Final that he played against Jan Timman in 1993. ‘Cocky as it may sound, I did not for a moment disagree with Kasparov’s judgment that, in the normal course of events, I would win.’ Daydreaming of Coltrane His closest rivals Anand, Kramnik and Carlsen were all leading at some point, but when the prizes were distributed, Levon Aronian’s balanced excellence in both the rapid and the blindfold competition brought the Armenian star overall victory in the 18th Amber tournament. Humpy Koneru Prevails in Istanbul Although she had almost given up all hope to fight for first place after a loss to her Chinese rival Hou Yifan, India’s Humpy Koneru claimed victory in the first leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Istanbul. Amateur: One Who Loves ‘There is a lot to be learned and enjoyed by looking at the game through the eyes of an insightful amateur’, writes Jonathan Rowson. Mourning the Great Dead On ChessBase’s DVD Facing the World Champions Vlastimil Hort pays tribute to his great contemporaries. Though historical accuracy is often lacking, Hans Ree enjoyed the stories. Returning to Montenegro Jan Timman shows highlights and blunders from the European Individual Championship that was won by Evgeny Tomashevsky. No Grey Hairs Garry Kasparov gives his unique and highly personal take on recent top events. ‘The great Vasily’s games rarely fail to provide pleasure and inspiration. But occasionally he just goes bleeping nuts.’ Just Checking Any idea what’s Vlastimil Hort’s greatest fear? Did they play your opening? In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian Kurnosov-Anisimov, by Timman Carlsen-Grischuk, by Carlsen Motylev-Nijboer, by Timman French Topalov-Kamsky, by l’Ami Caro-Kann Volokitin-Jobava, by Timman Leko-Morozevich, by Nunn Petroff Grischuk-Ivanchuk, by Grischuk Ruy Lopez Kamsky-Topalov, by Topalov Hou Yifan-Koneru, by Hou Yifan Anand-Leko, by Nunn Kamsky-Topalov, by Kamsky Hou Yifan-Zhao Xue, by Zhao Xue Slav Wang Yue-Anand, by Nunn Grischuk-Wang Yue, by Grischuk Pashikian-Bacrot, by Bacrot Anand-Aronian, by Aronian Tarrasch Defence Pashikian-Naiditsch, by Pashikian Catalan Aronian-Morozevich, by Aronian Queen's Indian Aronian-Leko, by Nunn King's Indian Radjabov-Ivanchuk, by Ivanchuk Tomashevsky-Shomoev, by Tomashevsky English Opening Koneru-Danielian, by Koneru