Linares 12: Leaders draw, Radjabov scores first win

Linares Round 12

Standings: Kramnik +2, Kasparov and Leko +1, Topalov =, Shirov and Radjabov -1, Vallejo -2 (Kramnik will be off in round 13, Radjabov in round 14.)

Radjabov's fast hands scored their first win in Linares 2004, beating Vallejo.

The only change in the seating arrangements today took place over at the kid's table. Teimour Radjabov, a week shy of his 17th birthday, defeated 21-year-old Paco Vallejo. In the day of the prepubescent Grandmaster these two can hardly be considered youngsters anymore. Former fetal champion Peter Leko is also in Linares, now a wizened veteran at 24.

He played like an old man today, and had for compatriots in enfeeblement the rest of the big guns in action on Wednesday. Kramnik and Kasparov swapped queens, spent some time trying to remember their analysis, and then drew on move 17. Kramnik leads the tournament and wasn't going to risk anything; Kasparov wasn't about to tempt the fates by trying to force something against Big Vlad with black.

Topalov and Leko did a little better. They played another of the stodgy closed anti-Sveshnikov Sicilians with Bc4 we've seen so many of lately. This is the fourth in Linares, and it's no surprise that three have come against Sveshnikov maestro Leko. It's more of a surprise that two have come with Kasparov on the white side. He's usually not one to back down from a theoretical fight. His playing these tepid lines we take as a tacit endorsement of the Sveshnikov, much as how Kasparov's avoiding the Marshall Gambit in the Ruy Lopez is seen by many to mean it must be okay.

Topalov-Leko livened up briefly when the Hungarian introduced a new move in a well-known position. 11...h6 led to exchanges and a draw on move 21.

Topalov-Leko after 11...h6

12.Nf3 [12.Nxf7? Rxf7 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.h3 Bh5 15.Nd5 Kg8 –+] 12...Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Be6 14.Rae1 Kh7 15.Kh1 Nh5 16.Bg3 Bh4 17.Rg1 Nxg3+ 18.hxg3 Bf6 19.Kg2 Qa5 20.Re2 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 ½-½

These two short draws left Kramnik in clear first place with two wins and no draws, although he has played one game more than his pursuers, Leko and Kasparov. They will both have white while Kramnik has the bye.

When every sporting consideration points toward a short draw it is perfectly clear that some legislative solution is required to stop the players from destroying the game with short draws. The ability to draw like this needs to be taken out of their hands. "I had black and my position was worse and when he offered a draw on move 12, of course I accepted." True, but take the excuses away! They complain about a lack of serious sponsorship, but who would want to pay to see something like this? Without interested spectators, where will sponsors come from?

Most online chess fans wouldn't mind paying a quarter-dollar a day for quality live transmission (webcams, audio analysis, no web server problems, etc.) or the equivalent of that amount by way of their annual membership to the various online playing sites like Playchess.com. Put some advertising into the mix and you've got a very nice pot of money to organize events, especially if combined with local sponsors. But you'd better believe fans and advertisers won't put up good money to watch short draws. Next time a GM complains about the lack of good events, look up how many draws of under 30 moves he has in the MegaBase and tell him to get to work!

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