Alex Baburin Annotates Endgames from the Bulgarian Finals

The interest towards the Bulgarian Finals around the world grew after the famous GM Alexander Baburin annotated the most interesting of them in his “Endgame Kaleidoscope” section in the online paper Chess Today. Alex now lives in Ireland, and was the first one to start an online chess paper. I received his special permission to use a couple of his analyses here. Chess Today is highly useful for all chess players (from amateurs to professionals) and I strongly recommend it to all of you. More about the paper here: http://www.chesstoday.net/

Radulski,Julian (2511) - Petkov,Vladimir (2434) [C66]
72nd Men Championship Plovdiv, Bulgaria (7.5), 19.03.2008
[Alex Baburin (http://www.chesstoday.net/)]

White's active pieces should compensate for a one-pawn deficit. 59.Ke6 [One way to proceed was to play 59.Be5! Bxe5 (59...Rf2+? 60.Ke6 Re2 61.Rxb5) 60.Kxe5 b4

61.Rb8! b3 62.Ke4 Rb1 63.Kf3 g5 (or 63...b2 64.Kg2 g5 65.hxg6+ Kxg6=) 64.hxg6+ (White can also draw after 64.Ke4 b2 65.Kd3 Rg1 66.Rb7+ Kg8 67.Rxb2 Rxg4 68.Rb6) 64...Kxg6 65.Rb6+ Kf7 66.Kg2] 59...Bc3 60.Kf5 b4 61.Ke4 b3 62.Kd3 Bf6

63.Kc4? [63.Be7 Bxe7 (63...Be5 64.Ke4 Bc3 65.Kd3) 64.Rxe7 Rg2 65.Re4 b2 66.Rb4 Rxg4 67.Rxb2 Rg5 68.Rh2 Kg8 69.Ke4 Kf7 70.Rh1 and I don't see how Black can win.] 63...Rc2+ 64.Kd3 Rc3+ 65.Ke4 Rc4+ 66.Kf5 b2 67.Ba3 Rc2 68.Ke4 Kg8 69.Kf5 Kh7 70.Ke4 Rd2 71.Kf5 Rd1 72.Bxb2 Rb1 73.Bxf6 Rxb7 74.Be5

Black has made a lot of progress, but he still can't win! White's plan is simple: to target the g7-pawn with his bishop. Sooner or later Black will have to play ...g6 - and any reduction in pawn material helps the defender. 74...Rf7+ 75.Ke4 Rf1 76.Bf4 Kg8 77.Be5 Kf7 78.Bd4 Rb1 79.Kf5 Rb4 80.Bc3 Rb5+ 81.Be5 Ra5 82.Kf4 g6 83.hxg6+ Kxg6

According on 6-piece tablebase (one place to find it is http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/endgame-database.html) this position is a draw, though some caution is required. White should try to get his bishop to f4 or e3, from where it will target the h6-pawn. 84.Bc7! [There were only two other moves keeping the balance 84.Bd4! ; and 84.Bd6! ] 84...Rd5 85.Kg3?? This is where White made the main mistake! He had to get his bishop either to f4 or e3. That could be done with [85.Kf3; 85.Ke4; 85.Ke3; or 85.Bb6 ] 85...Rd3+! 86.Kf4 Rd4+! 87.Kf3 Kg5 Now White loses the pawn. 88.Bb6 Rf4+ 89.Kg3 Rxg4+ 90.Kh3

Black's win isn't trivial here - he must not advance his pawn too eagerly. Putting the pawn to h4 too soon could be a huge mistake, as the black king may need that square. 90...Rb4 91.Be3+ Kh5 92.Kg3 Rb3 93.Kf2 Ra3 94.Bf4 Kg6 95.Kg2 Ra6 96.Kg3 Kf5 97.Bc1 Rg6+ 98.Kh3 Rg1 99.Be3 Re1 100.Bf2 Rb1 101.Kg3 Rb3+

102.Kh4?! From a practical point of view it would be better to keep the king in the corner, forcing Black to show some technique. We already analysed such positions in Chess Today. [102.Kg2 Kg4 103.Bc5 Rb2+ 104.Kh1 Kh3 (104...h5 105.Bd6 h4?? 106.Bc7 Kh3 107.Kg1!=) 105.Kg1 Rg2+ 106.Kh1 h5 107.Bb6 h4 108.Bc7 Rc2 109.Bf4 Rc4 110.Be3 Kg3 111.Ba7 Rc1+ 112.Bg1 Kg4 113.Kg2 h3+ 114.Kh1 Rd1 115.Kh2 Rd2+ 116.Kh1 Kg3 117.Bb6 h2 118.Bc7+ Kh3–+] 102...Kf4 103.Be1 Rd3 104.Ba5 Rd1 105.Bc7+ Kf3 106.Kh5 Rh1+ 107.Kg6 Kg4 0–1

Iotov,Valentin (2485) - Nikolov,Momchil (2500) [E15]
72nd Men Championship Plovdiv, Bulgaria (10.6), 21.03.2008
[Alex Baburin (http://www.chesstoday.net/)]

53.f6! It makes sense to undouble pawns while you can. Remember, reducing pawn material always helps the defender! [White could also play 53.Rb7 Ke8 54.Kf3! Kd8 55.Ke3 Kc8 56.Rb4 Rc2 57.f3 Black Black would maintain better chances, for example: 57...Kc7 58.Kd3 Rh2 59.Kc3 Kd6 60.Rb5 h5 61.Kd3 Kc6! 62.Rb8 Kd5 63.Rb5+ Kd6! 64.Kc3 Rf2 65.f4 Ke7] 53...gxf6 54.Rxf6+ [54.Kg3 Ke7 55.f3 Kd7 56.Kf4 Kc7 57.Rb3 Kc6–+] 54...Ke7 55.Rb6 Kd7

56.Kg3?? White's f-pawn will not have a chance. [He had to play 56.Kf3! Kc7 57.Rb4 Kc6 58.Ke3 Rc2 59.Kd3 Rxf2 60.Kc3 Kd5 61.Rxb2] 56...Kc7 57.Rb4 Kc6 58.f4 Kc5 59.Rb8 Kc4 60.Rc8+ Kd3 61.Rb8 Kc2 62.Rc8+ Kd1 63.Rb8 Kc1 64.Kg4 b1Q 65.Rxb1+ Kxb1 66.f5 Rd6 67.Kf4 Rd4+ 0–1

Interview with the ECU President Boris Kutin

Mr. Kutin, were there any discussions about Plovdiv’s candidature to host the ІХ EICC for men and women?
No, there were no discussions at all. Plovdiv’s candidature was unanimously voted. I would like to underline that Plovdiv is an original record-holder. Two European Team Championships were organized here, and now the individual championships are coming as well. No other city in Europe can praise with that. Moreover-here were organized and took place many tournaments on high level.
You were here in 2003 as well. What are your impressions about that Championship?
I know Plovdiv very well. I was here at the Championship from 1983. My impressions are excellent. You have very good fundaments for conducting chess (and not only chess) events of highest rank. I cannot add anything. For us, as ECU, and for you, as organizers, the most important thing is the opinion of the players. And their attitude is quite positive.
What are your impressions about what you have seen now, during your last visit?
I think that the preparation of the championships is going fine. It is wonderful that every player would receive the tournament bulletin on his email address, that there will be a life-transmission of the top 36 men and 12 women boards. The venues are very good. For the prestige of Plovdiv, and Novotel hotel speaks the fact that 450 players from 40 countries already announced their participation.
What are your expectations about the coming Individual Championships that will start within a month?
Most probably we will not be able to break the record from Dresden 2007 in number of participants, but we can break the record of participating nations. We already took a decision to send an additional invitation to those countries that did not declare yet their participation. We shall do that, and I hope that we will beat the record.
What do you think about the system of the qualification, the quotas given to them, the way that the players qualify for the World Championships? In the last few years these criteria differed. Probably your last decision caused so many hectic debates.
The system is clear- Swiss tournament, eleven rounds, one free day, and finally tie-breaks for determining the winner. The main problem is not the number of the qualifiers, but the fact that until two years ago FIDE was taking part in formation of the price fund of the EICC every second year. Thus the Championships in even and odd years were incomparable. In the years when World Championships and later World Cups were conducted our championships were much stronger, with good price funds, and naturally the quotas were higher. This was very good, but unfortunately does not exist anymore. After FIDE stopped their financial support we had a tough time to think seriously. Why should one of the Championships be different than the other then? There were no reasons. That is why we decided that quotas for the championships are equal. This meant that their price funds should be approximately equal as well. By doing this our Championships have now absolutely equal rights. Some people did not want to understand that, I mean the reasons for the decision to equal the quotas, and unnecessary discussion started. I think that they are wrong, and this is not in favor of chess.
What do you think about the new system in determining the World Champion?
Personally I think that this system is too complicated. It is not popular. In the system we counted on the Grand-Prix tournaments. The expectations were that the best players will take part in the Grand-Prix series. But now, when the first tournament in Baku is coming we see that they are not playing, and FIDE had to face major difficulties in determining the participants. Why are not the best players there when all considered the idea very interesting?
At the President’s FIDE Board in Istanbul, which finished a couple of days ago a decision in organizing a Master-Tournament, was taken. This should be tournament where all the top-rated players can play. The idea is that the winner of the tournament plays a match against the World Cup’s winner. Grand-Prix tournaments are too expensive, unpopular, and the system in determine the world champion’s opponent-too clumsy. They tried to resemble it to the Candidate tournaments in the past.
It is well known that Veselin Topalov was the first World Champion who did not receive the right for a return-match. Much later a decision was taken that he starts into the next world cycle for a World Championship from the semi-finals. It was decided that he will play a match against the winner of the World Cup (Gata Kamsky) and that this match will be played in Bulgaria. Our Federation responded positively, and as far as I know started concrete actions in providing the required price-fund and in undertaking all the expenses in its organization. But in the meanwhile FIDE changed their decision.
Well, the things are not exactly this way. It was never on the agenda that Topalov will have the right of a return-match. The main mistake was made in San Luis (Argentina), when FIDE decided to democratize the fight for the world title by providing all 2700+ rated players the right to challenge the world champion if, they can assure the required price fund of 2 000 000 dollars, but admitted to assure to the champion the possibility (in case of a loss of the title) the right to play in the next cycle for a world championship. When this decision was approved it was still unclear who will be the future champion. This was a huge mistake, and it appeared later that is very difficult to be correct. Still, I think that comparatively good solution was found. Topalov received the chance to participate in the new cycle and will play against the World Cup’s winner Gata Kamsky in September or October. My personal opinion is that the match should be in Bulgaria. FIDE tried to find another country to organize the event and raised the requirements about the price fund, but I am not optimistic that candidates will be found. Kamsky should sign the match contract within a few days. If he does not, he will be replaced by Alexei Shirov. Everything will be clear until 11 April.
Thank you, Mr. Kutin.
Interview by GM Venzislav Inkiov

Test Yorself 6

Who wants the lady?1.Qd3+ [1.Qe5? Bg2+–+] 1...g3! [1...Qg3 leads to perpetual- 2.Ng5+ Kh4 3.Qh7+ Kxg5 4.Qf5+ Kxf5=] 2.Qf5+ Qg4 3.Ng5+ Kh4 4.Nf3+ [4.Qh7+? Qh5 5.Nf3+ Kg4+–+] Now Milady will sacrifice herself in the name of her King!4...Qxf3+! 5.Qxf3 But why was that all?

Bg2+!! 6.Kg1!! And the King will Sacrifice Milady as well! [6.Qxg2? e1Q+ 7.Qg1 Qe4+ 8.Qg2 Qd3 9.Qg1 Qf3+ 10.Qg2 Kg4 11.Kg1 Qd1+ 12.Qf1 Qxf1+ 13.Kxf1 Kf3–+; 6.Kxg2? e1N+–+] 6...Bxf3 Ѕtalemate! Pogosiants

Vasil Spasov Claims Sixth National Title

Men section saw three people competing for the gold. GM Vasil Spasov and IMs Krasimir Rusev and Milen Vasilev started very well and were leading the tournament constantly. Spasov did not play for a long time, but came well prepared, and managed to win some games due to a superb home preparation. Well prepared was Krasimir Rusev as well. He developed his opening repertoire, and now uses the French Defense. Milen Vasilev scored 7 points in the first nine games and concluded his GM title. He had to receive the title one year earlier, but some bureaucratic problems did not give him this chance. After his flashy start he lost in the next round to Rusev, and had chances only for second place. He was very lucky in the final round, managing to turn the tables against the youngest participant Valeri Lilov. This gave him the silver, since Rusev tried too hard to overcome against Radulski, had excellent winning chances; but later on burned all the bridges and failed even to draw, and was left third. A win in this game will give him the title due to his better tie-break. At the same time the experienced Spasov won his final game, and won the tournament solely. This is his sixth national title! Good words can be said about GM Vladimir Petkov’s desire to win all the games-usually he was the last player to finish his games, and the performance of the youngest player-Valeri Lilov, who recovered from his poor start, and showed excellent tactical skills.

Nikolov,Momchil (2500) - Spasov,Vasil (2579) [E81]
72nd Men Championship Plovdiv BUL (5.5), 17.03.2008
[Dejan Bojkov]
Probably the most interesting game in the tournament was played in round 5. As a devoted KID player I could not stand including it into the report. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Bg5 a6 7.Qd2 Nbd7 8.Nh3 c5 9.d5 b5 Benko ideas are quite effective against White's set-up, since he loses too much time for the moves f2-f3, and the maneouver Nh3-f2(d1). 10.Nf2 Qa5 11.cxb5 Nb6

12.Nfd1 Nikolov is no stranger to the arising position. Our game from the final in Svilengrad continued: [12.Be2 axb5 13.Nxb5 Bd7 14.Nc3 Rfb8 15.Nfd1 (15.0–0 probably is better- 15...Ne8 16.Rfb1 Na4 17.Nfd1

17...Rxb2!? 18.Rxb2 Nxc3 19.Nxc3 (19.Bc4 Na4 20.Qxa5 Rxa5 21.Rbb1) 19...Bd4+ 20.Kf1 Bxc3 equalized in the game Benitah,Y (2413)-Bojkov,D (2482)/Vandouver 2006 (29)) 15...e6 16.dxe6 Bxe6

And took the pawn here as well! 17.Qxd6 Na4 Black had a tremendous initiative after: 18.0–0 Nxb2 19.Rc1 Rd8 20.Qf4 Nh5 21.Qh4 Rdb8 22.Qe1 Nxd1 23.Bxd1 Rb2 24.Be3 Bd4 25.Rf2 Rxf2 26.Kxf2 Nf4 27.Qf1 Bxc3?“ but here I failed to conclude the game in stile with: (27...Qd8!–+

28.g3 Bxe3+ 29.Kxe3 Qd4+ 30.Kxf4 g5+ 31.Kxg5 Qe5+ 32.Kh4 Qf6+ 33.Kh5 Qg6+ 34.Kh4 Qh6#) 28.Bxf4 Bd2 29.Bxd2 Qxd2+ 30.Be2 Rxa2? One more mistake, after which I had to struggle for the draw. (30...Qd4+ 31.Kg3 Rxa2–+) 31.Qd1 1/2–1/2 Nikolov,M (2446)-Bojkov,D (2475)/ Svilengrad BUL 2006/The Week in Chess 591 (104)] 12...axb5 13.Nxb5 Bd7 14.Nbc3 e6 15.dxe6 Bxe6

16.Qxd6N A greedy novelty. Safer is: [16.Be2 though Black experienced no problems here as well. 16...d5 17.exd5 Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.0–0 Rfb8 20.Bc4 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Qxd2 22.Bxd2 Bxb2 23.Nxb2 Rxb2 24.Bh6 Ne3 25.Bxe3 1/2–1/2 Socko,B (2435)-Spisak,C (2320)/Krynica 1997/CBM 061 ext] 16...Na4 17.Qd2 For some time computer advocates: [17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Nb5 Rxd6 19.Bxa5 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rxa5 21.Rd8+ Bf8 but Black is obviously better here.] 17...Rfd8 18.Qc2 c4 Black is two pawns down, but is much better developed. All his pieces are involved in the pressure he puts on White's position. No wonder that he soon starts a very dangerous attack. 19.Bd2

19...Rxd2!! [19...Nc5 with initiative was the positional approach, but the combination that Spasov chooses gives him dangerous attack, and excellent practical chances.] 20.Qxd2 Rd8 21.Qc2 Nxb2! 22.Qxb2 Nxe4! The point. Black opens the diagonal for the "Monster". Gufeld would be delighted to see that. 23.fxe4 Obviously weaker is: [23.Rc1 Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Nxc3+ 25.Rxc3 Bxc3 26.Qc1 Qe5–+] 23...Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Bxc3 25.Qb8+ only move [25.Qc1

loses on the spot after: 25...Bg4+ 26.Kc2 (26.Be2 Qa4+ 27.Qc2 Bxe2+) 26...Be5 27.Bxc4 Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qxa1+ 29.Kc2 Qc3+ 30.Kb1 Qb4+ 31.Bb3 Qxe4+ 32.Qc2 Qd4 and Bf5 is inevitable.] 25...Kg7 26.Rc1

[26.Bxc4 is a move by Fritz, and he finds a draw here: 26...Bxc4 27.Rc1 Bd3 28.Rxc3 Qxc3 29.Qb3 Qa1+ 30.Kd2 Qxh1 31.Qc3+=] 26...Bg4+ 27.Kc2! After: [27.Be2 Qa4+ 28.Rc2 Bxe2+ 29.Kc1 Qa3+ 30.Kb1 Bd3 White is pinned all over the board. Bishops are obvously better (this position reminds me of one of Gligorich's wins), but White can still fight here: 31.Rd1

31...Bxe4!? there is no sense to relief White's deffense with: (31...Bd4 32.Rxd3 cxd3 (32...Qxd3 although White is struggling here as well.) 33.Rc8 is double-edged.) 32.Rd8 h5 33.Rh8 Qa4 34.Qf8+ Kf6 35.Qd6+ Kf5 36.Qc5+ Be5 37.Qf2+ Ke6 and I doubt that human can stand the pressure here.] 27...Be5

28.Qxe5+! Again only move. Momchil Nikolov is famous for his stubborness in defense. 28...Qxe5 29.Bxc4 Qxe4+ 30.Kb3 Qb7+ 31.Kc3 Qxg2 Black won back a queen for his sacrificed rooks, and a pawn, but defensive resources of White are not yet over. 32.a4 Bf3 Probbaly better is: [32...Qc6 33.Kb4 Qd6+ 34.Kb3 Qb6+ Black stops White's counterplay and then advances the pawns on the King's flank. 35.Ka3 g5] 33.Rhf1 f5 The same plan, but with an inactive queen lets White slip. 34.Rc2 Qh3 35.Kb4 Be4

36.Ra2 [36.Rd2 activating the rook would be more appropriate.] 36...Qh4 37.a5 White advances the pawn, but gives yet one more chanse for his rival. Better was: [37.Rd1] 37...Bd5 38.Rc1 Qe7+ 39.Kb5

[39.Ka4 Qc5 40.Bxd5 Qxc1 41.Kb5 Qf1+ 42.Bc4 Qb1+ 43.Kc5 Qg1+ 44.Kb5 f4 45.a6 Qa7 should be winning for Black, although with difficulties.] 39...Qe5 Missing the last chanse to play for a win. After: [39...Qd6 …40.a6? White has to go for the line above- (40.Ka4 Qc5 41.Bxd5 Qxc1 and so on.; 40.Rcc2 Bc6+ 41.Kb6 Ba4+–+) 40...Bc6+ 41.Kb6 Bd7+ 42.Kb7 Qc6+ 43.Kb8 Qb6+ 44.Ka8 Bc6#] 40.Kb4 Qd6+ 41.Kb3 f4 42.Rcc2 Qb8+ 43.Kc3 Qe5+ 44.Kb3 Qe3+ 45.Kb4 Qe7+ 46.Kb3 Qb7+ 47.Kc3 Qc6 48.Kb4 Qd6+ 49.Kb3

Draw agreed! Wonderful game!

Eli Raeva-First Time Bulgarian Champion!

Female tournament was dominated by the young players. Elitza Raeva and Iva Videnova were joint leaders until round eight. Then Elitsa took half a point lead. Their game from the penultimate round had to be decisive (see the game after the text).
Elitsa wins the championship for the first time. Last year she participated at the ETCC in Crete and made a very good result, achieved an IM norm. If you remember from my last-year’s report for the Bulgarian Finals in Pernik she also shared the first place, but was the unlucky fourth. In this championship she decided the things within a spare round. Nevertheless she fought in the last game won, and finished with style. Iva Videnova achieved and IM norm as well and won a bronze medal. Together with Adriana Nikolova (fourth place, IM norm, and with chances for medals if she had won the last round) these three girls are Bulgaria’s best hopes for the moment. The latter two are students in National Sports Academy (profile chess) and all they are devoted to the play in this period of their life. At the same time a new generation is coming in the faces of Mariya Vladimirova and Sandra Trifonova-novice players at the finals, who did well. Experienced player Mariya Velcheva took the silver with successful final efforts.

Videnova,Iva (2188) - Raeva,Elitsa (2258) [C91]
57th Women Championship Plovdiv BUL (10.2), 23.03.2008

The decisive game of the tournament was played in the penultimative round. Iva Videnova and Elitsa Raeva were leading the field a whole point in front of the others. Neverthless Elitsa managed to go half a point in front of her rival, so Iva needed only a win. For some moment everything looked glorious for her. She won a pawn, and started gradually to convert it. But Elitsa showed the best fo her stubborness: 29.Nxc6 Qxc6 30.Ba2 Qc7 31.c4

More accurate is first to activate the rook: [31.Rd1 Qb7 and now the bishop: 32.c4 bxc4 33.Qxc4+- in the meanwhile black queen is chased away from its active position, as well as white's rook levaes the vulnerable e1 square.] 31...Ndf4! Best chance. 32.Bxf4 Critical moment for the whole tournament. One more innacuracy, and white loses her advantage. Better was the computer suggestion: [32.cxb5 Bc5 33.Bxe6

33...Nd3 this looks extremely risky, especially in the time-trouble, but does not work either: (33...Nxe6 34.Ne4; 33...Nxh3+ 34.Bxh3 Qxg3 35.Qxc5) 34.Bxf7+! Qxf7 35.Qg5 counterattacking the rook wins a decisive tempo 35...Qxf2+ (35...Rd7 36.Rf1 Bxf2+ 37.Kh2 …Bxg3+? 38.Qxg3 Qxf1 39.Qb8++-) 36.Kh2 Qd4 37.Rd1+-] 32...Nxf4 33.cxb5 Bc5 Now Black had achieved much! 34.Re3 There was a perpetual after: [34.Qc4

34...Nxh3+ 35.Kf1 Nxf2 36.b6 Qxb6 37.Re8+ Rxe8 38.Qxf7+ Kh8 39.Qxe8+ Kg7 40.Qf7+ Kh6 41.Qf4+=] 34...Qa7 35.Ne4 Probably Iva had to change the course of the game by the sharp sacrifice: [35.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 36.Qc4+ Nd5 37.Rf3+ Kg7 38.Ne4 Be7 39.Nc3 White has three pawns for the piece, and now she posses the initiative.] 35...Bxe3 36.Qxe3 Qxe3 37.fxe3 Nd3 38.b4 Ne5 [38...axb3 39.Bxb3 Kg7 40.a4 f5 with counterplay] 39.Nf6+?!

White goes astray and loses the game a few moves. Better was: [39.Bd5! With the idea Ne4-c3, and e3-e4 building a strong cental construction, which together with her passed pawns on the queens flank guarentees white from lost.] 39...Kg7 40.Nd5 f5 41.Nc3 Rd3 42.Nd5? The ugly looking: [42.Nb1 was the only move, but Black is already obvously better here.] 42...Rd2 [42...Rxa3 43.b6 Rxa2 44.b7 Nd7 is simplier.] 43.b6 Rxa2 44.b7 Nd7 45.b5 Rxa3 0–1
More pictures supplied by Iva you can find here:

http://picasaweb.google.bg/videnova.iva/BULCh

Women Final

Ladies are more competitive as usual. So far there are no short draws at all. After six rounds Elitsa Raeva and Iva Videnova share the lead. You can follow two of their most important wins against dangerous and experienced opponents:Raeva,Elitsa (2258) - Velcheva,Maria (2266) [D17]
57th Women Championship 6 Plovdiv BUL (6.2), 19.03.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.f3 Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.e4 Bg6 12.d5 e5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Bc4 Qf6 15.0–0 Bb4 16.Kh1 Rd8 17.Qe2 0–0 18.Be3 Kh8 19.Rad1 e5 20.Na2 Be7 21.Nc1 Nc5 22.Qc2 b6 23.h3 Bf7

24.Bxf7! Qxf7 25.Bxc5 Bxc5 26.Nd3 Bd4 27.Qxc6 Qh5 28.Qb5 Rd6 29.b4 Rg6? Blunder in lost position. 30.Nf4 Qg5 31.Nxg6+ Qxg6 32.bxa5 bxa5 33.Qxa5 Qg3 34.Qb4 Rd8 35.f4 h6 36.Rf3 Qg6 37.fxe5 Qxe4 38.Rfd3 1–0

Videnova,Iva (2188) - Voiska,Margarita (2333) [C41]
57th Women Championship 4 Plovdiv BUL (4.5), 18.03.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.0–0 Nf6 5.Nc3 0–0 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Re8 8.f4 Bf8 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Ng5 Re7 11.h3 Bd7 12.Re1 h6

13.Nxf7!? Rxf7 14.e5 dxe5 [14...d5 was the only move, and after:15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Be8 17.Be3 Qxd5 18.Bxd5 Be7 the position is unclear] 15.fxe5 Nh7 16.e6 Re7 17.exd7+ Kh8 18.Be6 g5 19.Nd5 Rg7 20.Bd2 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Bd4 22.Qh5 Nf8 23.Bf5 Rxd7 24.Qxh6+ Rh7 25.Bxh7 Nxh7 26.Qe6 Bxb2 27.Rab1 Bg7 28.Rxb7 Nd4 29.Qf7 Qd6 30.Rxc7 Rg8 31.Ne7 1–0

Men Final- Middlegame

After 8 rounds three lead the field. Krasimir Rusev could not convert his advantage in round seven against Mladenov, but performed a stormy attck in the eight:
Milchev,Nikolay (2373) - Rusev,Krasimir (2521)

14...Nxh2! 15.Bf4 Neg4 16.axb5 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 g5 18.bxa6 gxf4 19.Qa4+ Bd7 20.Qxf4 e5 21.Qf3 h3 22.Bh1 h2+ 23.Kg2 Nf6 0–1
Vasil Spasov had to struggle in his game against youngster Valeri Lilov being an exchange down, but was successful at the end, as well as in the next round:
Spasov,Vasil (2579) - Arnaudov,G Petar (2345)

In this position, already on move 20 Black is totally hopeless and resigned. 1–0
Vladimir Petkov won two games, and now is only a point behind the leaders.
Radulski,Julian (2511) - Petkov,Vladimir (2434)

Black realized his matherial advantage on move 107. 0–1
Valentin Iotov was happy to perform a standart tactical stroke:

Iotov,Valentin (2485) - Kozhuharov,Spas (2456)

17.d5!± exd5 18.Nxd5 Rc8 19.Rc4 Re8 20.Qc2 g6 21.b5 Ne5 22.Rxc8 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Bxc8 24.Nc7 Bd7 25.Nxe8 Qxe8 26.a4 Bh3 27.Qe4 Qc8 28.Qc6 Qe6 29.Qxe6 Bxe6 30.Be4 Bb3 31.Rd7 Bxa4 32.Bd5 Bxb5 33.Rxf7 Bb2 34.Rf4+ 1–0
Today are the games from rond nine. One of the leaders Milen Vasilev is fighting for his final GM norm, and win today will assure it.