2/21/2005-
Round one of Linares starts on Wednesday 2/23/2005. This
should prove to be an interesting tournament. Seven of the world's top chess
players will be competing. A lot of questions might be answered. Garry
Kasparov, the 2005 Russian Champion, will take on Vishy Anand. This will
be only the 4th time the number one and number two rated players have met
since 2003. Kasparov holds a 2-1 lead since 2003. It will be
interesting to see Kasparov take a ride on the Indian Express. This match
up might help decide who the best player in the world is. Kasparov has
much to prove, mainly that he deserves the number one rating spot. Also
can Kasparov hold his 2800+ rating, where he stands alone? Back in late
2002, this reporter asked Kasparov how much longer he could stay at the
top. Kasparov said, its getting harder all the time, maybe a few more
years. Well Kasparov will be tested in this tournament.
Anand returns to
Linares after bypassing this tournament last year. Anand was stunned early
by Peter Leko at Corus last month. However, Anand made a great comeback
and finished 2nd. Anand will be looking to take revenge on
Leko. Anand also has much to prove. Will he continue his chess
dominance? Does Kasparov still have Anand's number? When Kramnik
defeated Kasparov in the 2000 world championship, there was only a partial
changing of the guard. Kramnik has not dominated like past champions such
as Karpov and Kasparov. Kasparov still holds the number one rating spot.
Anand has a great opportunity to finish the changing of the guard, by
knocking Kasparov out of the number one rating spot. Will Anand
reach his goal and go above the 2800 plateau?
Peter Leko also has much to
prove. Last October Peter Leko came with in one game of being the 15th
world champion. Leko proved that he was the 14th world champion's equal,
when Leko drew his match with Vladimir Kramnik. At Corus Peter Leko ratcheted
his game up a notch by shocking Anand and taking first prize from a very
tough field, consisting of all the top 10 players with the exception of
Kasparov. Peter Leko is a man on a mission. His world championship
experience has reenergized his play. Leko hadn't won a tournament in all
of 2004. Last year, he played 2nd fiddle to Kramnik and Anand. Leko has an
opportunity to establish himself as the best in the world by adding to
his victory at Corus with a victory at Linares. Will Leko's momentum
continue?
Rustam Kasimdzhanov, the 2004 FIDE KO Champion, has much to
prove as well. Last August, Kasimdzhanov showed he could handle the bottom
half of the top 10 in the world, when he defeated all the top seeds in the
FIDE KO. Kasimdzhanov has been gaining momentum since then by jumping 22
rating spots and is currently ranked 25th in the world. Kasimdzhanov can
help his stalled match with Kasparov by winning Linares or finishing in
the top 3 spots. Can Kasimdzhanov handle the top half of the top 10?
Can he handle Kasparov? Can Kasimdzhanov elevate his play further to entice sponsorship for his match with
Kasparov?
Michael Adams also has much to prove. He lost to
Kasimdzhanov in the 2004 FIDE KO Final in Libya. Has Adams gotten over the
agony of defeat, after all he came with in one move of winning the 2004
FIDE KO. Will Adams seek his revenge on Kasimdzhanov? Will Adams, the 6th
rated player in the world, Jump into the top half of the top
10? Veselin Topalov, rated number 3 in the world, has a great
opportunity to seek revenge against Kasimdzhanov. It was Kasimdzhanov who
knocked Topalov out of the Fide KO in the semi final match. Topalov would
have won Corus had he not suffered defeats to Judith Polgar and Michael
Addams. However Topalov's third place finish, behind Leko and Anand isn't
bad. Does Topalov belong in the top half of the top 10? Francisco
Vallejo Pons,
rated 18th in the world, will play in front of his home town crowd.
That can be a blessing or a curse. Vallejo has the chance to show
the world and his home town fans that he is a contender.
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