Radjabov with first win, Bu sinking deeper

Derby match between Ivanchuk and Topalov ended in fighting draw

Mtel Masters 2008: General page / Photos from Mtel

Mtel Masters live: Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 / Topalov - Ivanchuk / Radjabov - Aronian

Report: Round 1 / Round 2 / Round 3 / Round 4 / Round 5 / Round 6

Round 7 results:

Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR ½ - ½ Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL
Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 1 - 0 Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN
Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL ½ - ½ Aronian Levon 2763 ARM

Friday (14 CET): Live game commentary by GM Vladimir Dimitrov and live blog with the Chessdom team. See you there!

Teimour Radjabov scored his first victory at the 2008 Mtel Masters by beating already downhearted Bu Xiangzhi. The pawn structure was reminiscent of yesterday's Bu-Cheparinov and Radjabov seized strong initiative after a series of energetic moves (25. Rf7, 26. Bf6!). Bu tried to build a fortress in the endgame, but white's precise maneuvering soon brought him into another zugzwang.

The games are taking place inside the soundproof glass aquarium

The game between Vassily Ivanchuk and Veselin Topalov was an exciting battle even if Ivanchuk started with "dull" version of the Semi-Slav instead of nowadays popular gambit. Topalov tried to make use of his pair of Bishops and attack white King after the temporary piece sacrifice, but Ivanchuk timely exchanged the Queens and forced black to repeat the moves. With three rounds to go, the distance is still one point in Ivanchuk's favor.

Current standings:

1. Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR - 6.0
2. Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL - 5.0
3-4. Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL and Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE - 3.5
5.Aronian Levon 2763 ARM - 2.0
6. Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN - 1.0

Round 8 pairings:

Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN - Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR
Aronian Levon 2763 ARM - Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE
Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL - Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL

Radjabov observing Ivanchuk-Topalov

Bu and Radjabov during the press conference

Boris Spassky on the commenting post

Besides commenting games live from the playing hall, former World Champion Boris Spassky is also meeting with many Bulgarian celebrities. Bellow is photo of Spassky with former FC Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov, joined with Deputy Chief arbiter of the tournament Faik Gasanov and director Silvio Danailov.

Spassky, Stoichkov, Gasanov and Danailov

Author's copy of the ancient Bulgarian icon "St. Trinity" will be the special prize of the winner in the super chess tournament M-Tel Masters 2008. The author of the icon is the famous Bulgarian painter Katya Bajlekova the size if the icon is 62 x 46 cm and the image is aged with the help of special technology.

As a three-time winner of M-Tel Masters, Veselin Topalov already has in his collection copies of "Entering Jerusalem", "St. George the Winner" and "Four Saints – Warriors" by the same painter.

St.Trinity icon