XXVI Linares 2009

This year the Linares 2009 tournament is being staged only in Spain – in the previous three years the first half was in Morelia, Mexico, and next year the first half will probably be in the Arab Emirates. The 2009 event goes from February 19th to March 7th, with three rest days. The prize fund is 314,000 Euros, with the winner getting 100,000 Euros, followed by 75,000 and 50,000 Euros for second and third place. There are no appearance fees for the players, so the motivation to fight for points may be unusually high. The venue is el Teatro Cervantes de Linares, the starting time of the games is 16:00h (4 p.m.) Spanish/European time.

Pictorial impressions from Linares

By Frederic Friedel



The Hotel Anibal, where it all started and where, until today, the players traditionally stay. For some unknown reason we are always reminded of liver with fava beans and Chianti when we arrive at this hotel.



The lobby of the hotel – with the owner and originator of the event Luis Rentero in the picture



All over the hotel lobby you have pictures of previous Linares tournaments

It is not easy to photograph these portraits, some of which have faded with age. Most are hung fairly high up, some in dark areas, and all of behind glazed frames, which reflect the hotel lights. But we found a method and bring you a small selection of interesting historical pictures.



Garry Kasparov at Linares 1991

Guess who won the event in 1991: this young man, Vassily Ivanchuk

Vishy Anand in 1991, eighteen years ago, had just turned 21

Anatoly Karpov, who finished eighth in 1991

Ljubomir Ljubojevic, who still visits the tournament today

Boris Gelfand, 22 years old, rated 2650

In 1991 Gata Kamsky was sixteen and rated 2640



In 1992 Garry Kasparov won the tournament with a plus seven score

Jan Timman, who won seven games and lost four to finish third



The long-haired Vladimir Kramnik, aged 18, came fifth

Gata Kamsky in 1993, finished in tenth place

Ljubomir Ljubojevic fifteen years ago



Karpov with his record performance in Linares in 1994

In that year Anatoly Karpov scored an incredible plus nine – he won nine games and lost none – to finish two and a half points ahead of the next players on the final table, Garry Kasparov and Alexei Shirov.



Garry Kasparov, who scored plus four and finished equal second

Our friend Vishy in 1994 at the age of 24

Still sporting the hair: Vladimir Kramnik in 1994, aged 19

Still the glasses: Gata Kamsky in 1994

Her first appearance in Linares in 1994: Judit Polgar



In 1995 Vassily Ivanchuk won the tournament, a full point ahead of...

Anatoly Karpov, who was second (Kasparov did not play)

Alexei Shirov, aged 22, finished equal third

Nigel Short in 1995, veteran and former WCh challenger at 29



Our favourite picture: IM (!) Peter Svidler, who won the Open in 1994 (aged 17)

And this is Peter in 1998, when he played in the main tournament

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