The Chess Pavilion

Tobey Maguire?

After seeing The Aviator, I'd argued for DiCaprio.  But I could see Tobey Maguire.

Topalov-Gelfand annotated

On ChessBase.

Topalov wins Linares

Veselin Topalov wins clear first at Linares for the first time.  (He tied for first with Kasparov in 2005 in the latter's final event of his active career.)

His win against Gelfand is worth looking at! Amazing creativity in a "dead drawn" ending.

Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships this weekend!

It's the Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships (co-organized by Renaissance Knights and the Kasparov Chess Foundation) in Northbrook this weekend, February 27th and 28th!

Adamson on IM Norm #2 at the North American Masters

 Sevan Muradian & Robby Adamson

At Chess Life Online.

Topalov back on top

Veselin Topalov is +3 at Linares, and he may go to +4 shortly (he has Aronian on the ropes in a game going on right now).

Here are the top five according to the live ratings:

01     Topalov    2814,7
02     Carlsen     2812,9
03     Kramnik   2789,9
04     Anand       2788,7
05     Aronian     2779,8

Hmm, GM Sergey Zagrebelny at the Russian site ChessPro is saying that Topalov just blundered.

P.S.  Game drawn.