Dec-18-16
 | | JointheArmy: Topa!
Computers said this was even for the longest time. Had to leave a little after move 40-something, but knew it was much harder to play white and wouldn't be surprised if Aronian botched it when I came back to the game later. Sure enough... |
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| Dec-18-16 | | Kaspablanca: 47.gxh4 the losing move that allowed ...47 Bh6 where white problems started |
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| Dec-18-16 | | WorstPlayerEver: Non of us would even consider a silly move like gh4. Everyone can see it's a nonsense move. But the show must go on, r-r-right? |
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Dec-18-16
 | | Clement Fraud: AT LAST!!! My hero wins - and he did it in style too! |
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| Dec-18-16 | | BOSTER: This is the great game by Topalov. |
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| Dec-18-16 | | starry2013: Aronian's score helped by the gift in the first game. |
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| Dec-18-16 | | catlover: The mighty passed pawn carries the day again. |
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Dec-18-16
 | | Domdaniel: <Clement Fraud> I'm pleased for Vesko, and for you. |
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Dec-18-16
 | | An Englishman: Good Evening: During the game, Topalov seemed busted after his piece sacrifice, but Aronian made a long of series of moves to let Black back into the game. The commentators preferred 21.Qa3, then 24.Bc3. Later, Topalov missed 48...R8b4, which does seem to win quicker. So a flawed game, but this time fortune did favor the bold. |
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| Dec-19-16 | | luzhin: I don't think Topalov was ever 'busted'. If anything Aronian overestimated his own winning chances for too long: if he had reconciled himself to a draw, he would surely have played 42.Ra8 forcing a pair of rooks off the board. But I agree with your concluding observation. |
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| Dec-19-16 | | Ulhumbrus: After 43 Rc7 Black has the d file, the long diagonal and pawns on e4 and d3. How is he to attack? With 43...h5!! Topalov plays the choice of the computer and shows his strength, recognizing and making use of yet another asset, White's weak white squares, threatening to advance the pawn to h3 and place his queen on f3. |
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| Dec-19-16 | | ChessHigherCat: Really beautiful game with a fantastic speculative knight sacrifice by Topalov, but I don't understand the counter-sacrifice of the pawn 23. c4 unless Aronian wanted to stop the advance of black's a pawn at all costs. It almost seemed liked an act of bravura to show who could be more contemptuous of material. |
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| Dec-19-16 | | Robyn Hode: Adams and Topalov played the most interesting chess. Everyone else was afraid to try anything, content to hold onto their places in the standings. |
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| Dec-20-16 | | Amulet: What? Aronian lost to Topa?
Overall, who do you think was the biggest loser in this tournament? The punching bag or the one that got hit by the punching bag? |
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| Dec-22-16 | | grasser: I had no idea Avatar's could be shared. |
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Kibitzing
sac: 16...bxc4