Topalov 5-Simul Opponents 3

In late April Veselin Topalov played a simul in Vienna, Austria against eight opponents under the age of 18. (Only four of the youngsters were themselves Austrian.) He won pretty comfortably with a 5-3 score, winning four games, drawing two and losing two. Ironically, the losses came in the same opening (the Classical King's Indian) - once with each color - and to the highest and lowest-rated players in the event. GM Richard Rapport defeated him with Black, while Martin Huber beat him on the white side. Those games, along with what was possibly his nicest win, over Tadeas Kriebel, can be replayed here, with brief notes.

[HT: ChessVibes Openings]

Topalov Interview

ChessVibes' series of pre-Wijk aan Zee interviews concludes with a chat with former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov. He seems surprisingly mellow - almost a little too mellow and unambitious. Maybe he's just trying to stay under the radar; we'll see, starting tomorrow, when Wijk aan Zee gets underway!