Chess News -
At $336K 17TH Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament, Nice, France

This time 12 leading grandmasters (8 GMs from top 10 list and 11 GMs from top 15 list) playing blindfold and rapid chess games for highest prize money of 216,000 Euro (US $336,000).
Also venue is changed from Monaco to the beautiful French seaside resort of Nice.

Participants of the 2008 Amber Rapid and Blindfold Tournament -
1. Vladimir Kramnik - Russia (Elo 2799)
2. Viswanathan Anand - India (Elo 2799)
3. Veselin Topalov - Bulgaria (Elo 2780)
4. Alexander Morozevich - Russia (Elo 2765)
5. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Azerbaijan (Elo 2760)
6. Peter Leko - Hungary (Elo 2753)
7. Vasily Ivanchuk - Ukraine (Elo 2751)
8. Levon Aronian – Armenia (Elo 2739)
9. Boris Gelfand - Israel (Elo 2737)
10. Magnus Carlsen – Norway (Elo 2733)
11.Sergey Karjakin - Ukraine (Elo 2732)
12. Loek van Wely – The Netherlands (Elo 2681)

Saturday March 15 Round I

Blindfold Chess -
Anand-Kramnik 1/2-1/2
Mamedyarov-Morozevich 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Leko 1-0
Gelfand-Karjakin 0-1
Aronian-Van Wely 1/2-1/2
Carlsen-Ivanchuk 0-1

Rapid Chess -
Kramnik-Anand 0-1
Morozevich-Mamedyarov 1/2-1/2
Leko-Topalov 1/2-1/2
Karjakin-Gelfand 1/2-1/2
Van Wely-Aronian 0-1
Ivanchuk-Carlsen 1/2-1/2

In the first round Anand started with bang beating Kramnik in 42 moves in Rapid event, before that they agreed draw in 23 moves in Blindfold event.

Sunday March 16 Round II

Blindfold Chess -
Ivanchuk-Gelfand 1/2-1/2
Van Wely-Carlsen 0-1
Karjakin-Aronian 1/2-1/2
Kramnik-Leko 1/2-1/2
Morozevich -Topalov 1-0
Anand-Mamedyarov 1/2-1/2

Rapid Chess -
Gelfand-Ivanchuk 0-1
Carlsen-Van Wely 1-0
Aronian-Karjakin 1-0
Leko-Kramnik 0-1
Topalov-Morozevich 1-0
Mamedyarov-Anand 0-1

Anand continued with his good form in Rapid scoring another victory over Mamedyarov in 42 moves but again managed to draw in 46 moves in Blindfold.

Standings Blindfold after 2 round -
1. Ivanchuk 1½
Karjakin 1½
Morozevich 1½
2. Anand 1
Aronian 1
Carlsen 1
Kramnik 1
Mamedyarov 1
Topalov 1
3. Gelfand ½
Leko ½
Van Wely ½

Standings Rapid after 2 round -
1. Anand 2
Aronian 2
2. Carlsen 1½
Ivanchuk 1½
Topalov 1½
3. Kramnik 1
4. Gelfand ½
Karjakin ½
Leko ½
Mamedyarov ½
Morozevich ½
5. Van Wely 0

Combined Standing after 2nd round -
1. Anand 3
Aronian 3
Ivanchuk 3
2. Carlsen 2½
Topalov 2½
3. Karjakin 2
Kramnik 2
Morozevich 2
4. Mamedyarov 1½
5. Gelfand 1
Leko 1
6. Van Wely ½

Today in third round Anand playing with black-pieces against Topalov in Blindfold and with white-pieces in Rapid.