Overview
- After play on September 12, Veselin Topalov leads Garry Kasparov 8.5–3.5 following two blitz wins that extended his advantage from the first day.
- Topalov opened the match with a 2.5–1.5 edge after day one using Chess960 starting position 742 and then used position 668 on day two to win both blitz games.
- The event scores wins with escalating value so the four games on the final day are worth three points each and carry rolled-over bonus money, leaving 12 points still at stake.
- Kasparov repeatedly ran into severe clock pressure and missed winning continuations, a pattern of time-management errors that reporters cite as a key reason he squandered advantages.
- The Saint Louis Chess Club is livestreaming post-game analysis and the match continues on September 13, with viewers watching to see whether Kasparov can deliver the decisive results he now needs.