Spanish Chess Battle - Anand vs Shirov in Leon

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

We've received this news about a special event in Leon. The world champion, Viswanathan Anand, will play six rapid games against Alexei Shírov in Leon.

GM Miguel Illescas, eight times Spanish champion, recalled that the score between Anand and Shirov so far is very favorable to Anand, who is also a very tough opponent, because his play has no weak points, and even less so in rapid games. "However”, Illescas added, "the highly creative style of Shirov always leaves some room to surprise”. He concluded: "In any case, it is very likely that we shall see a duel of great interest, a clash of different styles”.

Anand and Shirov will play six games (Friday to Sunday, two per day) with 60 minutes per side plus ten seconds increment after each move in the magnificent León Auditorium. Illescas and IM Michael Rahal will make the live commentary, and the Castilla and Leon TV has scheduled a special coverage, including live broadcasting of some games.

The Leon organisers, whose director is Marcelino Sion, maintain that social and professional chess should function like communicating doors. The parallel activities include simuls by Shirov, a lecture by Illescas on the Kasparov-Deep Blue historic match, another lecture class for the local young talents by the IM Sergio Estremera, a chess cinema week and the traditional Young Talents tournament. You can find more details at this link.

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