Bu Xiangzhi clearing the way for Ivanchuk

Bu beat Topalov in Mtel Masters round 9, other two games drawn

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 / Round 8

Round 9 results:

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

Sunday (13 CET): Live game commentary by GM Vladimir Dimitrov and live blog with the Chessdom team. See you there!

Bu Xiangzhi is playing better and better as the tournament is nearing its end. Today he stood a bit worse against Veselin Topalov, but then started spilling excellent moves to confuse the opponent and finally force him to make a mistake in the time trouble. This loss leaves Topalov full point behind Vassily Ivanchuk as we head into the last round. Still, Ivanchuk has an important test with black pieces tomorrow because Ivan Cheparinov is very aggressive player.

The games are taking place inside the soundproof glass aquarium

The games Teimour Radjabov - Ivan Cheparinov and Vassily Ivanchuk - Levon Aronian finished with moves repetition in equal positions. Perhaps they decided to save the energy for tomorrow's important games. Cheparinov will try to avenge his loss in the first leg, while Bu and Aronian will fight to avoid the last place.

Current standings:

1. Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR - 7.0
2. Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL - 6.0
3. Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE - 5.0
4. Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL - 4.0
5-6. Aronian Levon 2763 ARM and Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN - 2.5

Round 10 pairings:

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

Bu Xiangzhi and Veselin Topalov

Vassily Ivanchuk and Levon Aronian