Essent 2006

Mamedyarov beats Topalov at Essent Tournament
22.10.2006 – Just eight days after the end of the World Championship in Elista Veselin Topalov in back at the board, at the 2006 Essent tournament in the Dutch city of Hoogeveen. The other players are Shakhryar Mamedyarov, Judit Polgar and Ivan Sokolov. Mamedyarov beat Topalov in round one, Polgar took a point from Dutch number one Sokolov. Report with pictures and video.

Essent 2006: Judit Polgar beats Veselin Topalov
23.10.2006 – Round two of the Essent tournament in Hoogeven, Holland, brought more drama: Judit Polgar outplayed former world champion Veselin Topalov to take her second point in a row. Shakhryar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan also scored a second victory, this time over Ivan Sokolov and with the black pieces. Full report.

Essent 2006: both games drawn, Polgar, Mamedyarov lead
24.10.2006 – Mamedyarov vs Polgar and Topalov vs Sokolov were both fighting draws in round three of the Hoogeveen tournament in Holland. That leaves Judit Polgar and Shakhryar Mamedyarov in the lead with 2.5/3 at halftime, while Veselin Topalov and Ivan Sokolov languish at 0.5 points each. New with videos by Peter Doggers and pictures by Fred Lucas.

Essent 2006: Judit!
27.10.2006 – What more can one say? This lady has come out of her second maternity leave to completely dominate the Hoogeveen super-GM so far. In this category 20 tournament, with an average rating of 2730, Judit Polgar has scored 3.5/4, which translates to a rating performance of 3058 Elo points. Today she and Topalov won their games. Report with photos by Frits Agterdenbos.

Essent 2006: Judit loses, Veselin wins
28.10.2006 – Instead of going for a draw and a sure tournament victory Judit Polgar remained true to character and went for the jugular. However a pugnacious Shakhryar Mamedyarov fought back and delivered her first defeat in Essent. Veselin Topalov outplayed Ivan Sokolov for his second win in a row. Report with video by Peter Doggers.

Essent 2006: Mamedyarov, Judit Polgar are the winners
29.10.2006 – After some very tense roller-coaster periods in their final games both Shakhryar Mamedyarov with white and Judit Polgar with black were able to win their games against Ivan Sokolov and Veselin Topalov respectively. They are the joint winners of Essent 2006. Congratulations Judit and Shak! Full report with a disturbing video.