Veselin Topalov Wins Dos Hermanas

He won the first game against Vallejo, the remaining three were drawn

Veselin Topalov beat Paco Vallejo 2.5-1.5 in the Dos Hermanas final match this Sunday and claimed the winner's trophy. After Topalov won the first game, Vallejo started to play very aggressive in the remaining three but Topalov was able to hold the balance and draw all the games for the cumulative win in the match.

Topalov insisted on playing 1. e4 e5 with black pieces through the event. He said at the press conference that he wants to hide his opening preparation from Gata Kamsky, whom he has to meet in the World Championship semifinal later this year in a match that is not arranged yet. He also added that he has no particular interest in making peace with Vladimir Kramnik because there there is no rule obliging him to do so.

Paco Vallejo said that he mixed moves order in the first game, allowing Topalov to "slaughter" him. He later displayed exact order in the third game. He is happy with his play in this tournament, "but simply (his) opponent was better and there is nothing to argue about". Vallejo also used the opportunity to say that his relations with FEDA (Spanish Chess Federation) were very bad at some point, but now they have substantially improved.

Vallejo is immediately heading to the European Individual Chess Championship that takes place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, hoping to have a bye in the Monday first round because he probably won't make it on time, "I think tonight I will sleep at the airport", he added.

Paco Vallejo Knocked Alexei Shirov in Dos Hermanas Semifinal

Veselin Topalov Eliminated Judit Polgar From Dos Hermanas