Great chess at Corus was mixed with one of the daftest scandals ever, when Ivan Cheparinov refused to shake hands with Nigel Short at the start of their game in the B group. Apparently, Cheparinov – Veselin Topalov's second – was protesting at comments that Short had made which the Bulgarians felt amounted to an accusation of cheating by Topalov at the 2005 World Championship tournament. Some felt that Silvio Danailov, manager of both Topalov and Cheparinov, was behind it all, trying to find out how the organisers would react if something similar to occur in the Topalov–Kramnik game to be played two days later.

Anyway – Short, never one to back down in such situations, called in the arbiter after Cheparinov twice failed to shake hands, citing a FIDE recommendation that players who don't shake hands should lose by default. The arbiter eventually agreed and awarded the game to Short.

Cheparinov appealed and was awarded a replay on a technicality, provided he apologised in writing, which he duly did. Short was adamant that he wouldn't play, but did finally appear. After the now mandatory handshake, the Englishman outplayed Cheparinov in fine style.

And then there was Topalov–Kramnik (ironically, Kramnik was on the appeals committee that reprieved Cheparinov). Neither player offered his hand, so the handshake issue didn't arise. Then, at move 12, Topalov unleashed an amazing piece sacrifice discovered three years previously by Cheparinov and kept under wraps by Team Topalov for a suitable occasion. He went on to win what might well be the game of the year, featuring as it did not just the amazing novelty, but also a wonderful queen sacrifice.

While all this was going on, Magnus Carlsen took the sole lead in the tournament, only to be pegged back in Round 9 when he was caught by Lev Aronian. Kramnik, Adams, Radjabov and Anand are just half a point behind.