World Cup: Four Russians in Last Eight

Four Russians, one French, one American, one Italian and one Ukrainian Grandmaster has made it to the last-eight at the World Chess Cup 2013 being played in Tromso, Norway. Also in the last-eight is defending champion Peter Svidler. 

Round 5 pairings:
Tomashevsky Evgeny RUS 2706 – Kamsky Gata USA 2741

Vachier-Lagrave Maxime FRA 2719 – Caruana Fabiano ITA 2796

Kramnik Vladimir RUS 2784 – Korobov Anton UKR 2720

Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2716 – Svidler Peter RUS 2746

In the Round 4 tiebreaks, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave knocked out Gelfand Boris and Andreikin Dmitry pulled off a major upset by knocking out Sergey Karjakin. Peter Svidler got the better of Le Quang Liem ending Vietnam's challenge at the World Cup. Evgeny Tomashevsky ground out Alexander Morozevich in an exciting tiebreak where fortunes swung both ways.

Gata Kamsky qualified in the classical games with super attacks against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov along with Fabiano Caruana who got the better of Julio Granda Zuniga. Valdimir Kramnik beat Vassily Ivanchuk and Anton Korobov got the better of Hikaru Nakamura, 

Watch live the World Chess Cup 2013 from India time 6.30 pm.

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'Secret' Clause in World Chess Match

World Chess Championship 2013 Contract Controversy: Indian television news channel Times Now aired this section of a press conference held recently during World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen's visit to inspect the venue in Chennai. Sources from Viswanathan Anand's team told Times Now that the "illness clause" was against the spirit of the championship. You can watch the video below from the Times Now news cast. (www.worldchesschampionship2013.com)

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Best Carlsen Quotes from Chennai

World Championship 2013 Challenger and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen just visited Chennai, the venue of the match. He was swamped by journalists and cheered by fans. Here are top-five quotes from his visit (For the full list of best comments by Carlsen in Chennai, check out www.worldchesschampionship2013.com): 

-- I can speak for myself, and I am not part of the computer generation. I grew up with a chess board and books. (When asked if younger players such as Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Luigi Caruana, Sergey Karjakin and he are more computer-centric, as regards preparation and the way they approach the game as compared to Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Gelfand and others.)

-- The Russians are still a force in chess! (The last time two non-Russian-speaking players played for the World title was in 1921 with Jose Raul Capablanca versus Emmanuel Lasker in Havana, Cuba.)

-- I respect Anand. But I don’t fear him. Am pleased with all the arrangements here.

-- Of course, I should recognise that Anand is the World Champion. He is a great player. But the kind of form he is in now gives me confidence. I have been successful in the last few outings with him.

-- As along as I am in top shape and work on the game, I think, I have every chance to win. I am sure anyone will go into a world championship with a supreme belief that you will win. I also will come back to Chennai with the belief that everything is in my favour.

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