Elsewhere on the Web : World Champion Topalov - "I am proud to be Bulgarian"

Saturday October 29, 2005

Everyone loves a winner and the Bulgarian press has been having a field day with new World Chess Champion Veselin Topalov. Here is a selection of English language reports from the Sofia News Agency [novinite.com], Bulgarian Focus News [focus-fen.net], and Sofia Echo [sofiaecho.com].

• Bulgaria's Topalov World's New Chess Champion • 'Bulgaria's chess master Veselin Topalov has emerged the New World Chess Champion, 2005, with his unsurpassable score of 9.5 points out of 13 games.' [14 October 2005; novinite.com] • Topalov drew the final game to finish with 10 points out of 14 games.
  
  
• WHO IS WHO: Veselin Topalov • 'The World Chess Champion Veselin Topalov was born March 15, 1975 in the Danube city of Rousse.' [14 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• PM Stanishev Sent Congratulations to World Chess Champion • '"With your victory Bulgaria has turned into an absolute dominant in the world championship", [Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev] writes.' [14 October; focus-fen.net] • The phrase 'absolute dominant in the world championship' refers to the fact that Antoaneta Stefanova is the current Women's World Chess Champion.
  
  
• Bobby Fischer, Topalov Alone Able of "Thorough Annihilation" • 'Veselin Topalov’s virtuosity drew comparisons with Bobby Fischer, the only modern giant capable of "thorough annihilation".' [15 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• Bulgaria's Topalov Leaves San Luis as Chess King, Unbeaten • 'Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov, 30, wrapped up his games at the World chess championship at San Luis with 6 victories and 8 draws, making for a total of 10 points in his record.' [15 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• Bulgaria's Chess Giant Drops World Cup in Russia • 'Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, the new king in world's chess, has announced he will not participate in the World Cup championship to be held at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.' [15 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• President of FIDE Says Bulgaria Is "Most Clever Nation in the World" • '"We should admit that Bulgaria is the most clever nation in the World as both the World male and female chess champions live there", Ilyumzhinov said.' [17 October; focus-fen.net]
  
  
• The Return of the King - Bulgarian Style • 'Veselin Topalov, king of the squared board, returned triumphantly in Bulgaria, clutching the trophy that he announced most important in his career.' [24 October; novinite.com; also photos]
  
  
• Topalov, the chess king • 'In an interview with Argentinian television after his victory, Topalov said: "This is the happiest day in my life. This year is unquestionably the most successful for me".' [24 October; sofiaecho.com]
  
  
• Sofia May Host Next World Chess Championship • 'Bulgaria may be the next host of the world chess championship, it appeared upon the arrival of the President of the International Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in Sofia.' [25 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• Lucky Tie Helped Bulgaria's Topalov with Chess Title • 'Bulgaria's world chess king Veselin Topalov admitted in an interview Tuesday that he had a secret weapon during the tournament that crowned him - a lucky necktie.' [25 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• World's Chess King Proud to Be Bulgarian • 'Amid hearty congratulations and acclaims, World Chess Champion Veselin Topalov received the keys of the latest Volvo S40. "I am proud to be Bulgarian," he told Bulgarian lawmakers in Parliament' [26 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• Bulgaria Invites Kasparov for Champ Duel • 'World champion Veselin Topalov was showered with presents and attention as he announced plans for next year’s MTel Masters tournament.' [27 October; novinite.com] • Like the 2005 edition, which Topalov won, The 2006 MTel event will be held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
  
  
• Interview: I Am Definitely Very Aggressive • 'Q: What personal qualities have made you a world chess champion? A: Mainly persistency. You must never give up if you want to be world champion.' [27 October; novinite.com]
  
  
• Veselin Topalov Granted his World Chess Cup to the Bulgarian Museum of National History • '"I believe this is the place where this cup should be displayed. I won this for Bulgaria".' [28 October; focus-fen.net]
  
  

For more About Chess coverage of the San Luis event, see ChessChrono : 2005 FIDE World Championship.

Index of all World Championship blog posts