FIDE WCH Kramnik vs Topalov

  

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Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-06)
FIDE WCH : Kramnik vs. Topalov

Do you believe it ? .. now it's most probably almost sure :-)

We'll have a new FIDE-Classical world champion in a few weeks !

A reminder : This will be a 12-games match, taking place from September 21 to October 13 in the capital of Kalmykia (whose president is FIDE president : Kirsan Ilyumzhinov himself), Elista. In case of equality, four rapid games will be played, if equality again two blitz games will be played and finally a sudden death blitz game. The prize fund of one million US dollars will be equally divided between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov, whatever the result. The looser won't play the next world championship tournament (quite strange).

Anyway, that's a great thing for chess, even if I'm not very optimistic for the next FIDE world championship cycles, particularly if the world champion has to play a knockout tournament, instead of a classical 12 or 24 games match...

My favourite in this match is still Kramnik because of his style, but Topalov is really getting stronger IMO... It will be a hard match !

Any predictions about the result & games ? .. Will Vladimir Kramnik play his Berlin defense in the Ruy Lopez again...


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-09-06 18:07:31)
Re:

I don't think Kram. will repeat it again. He's a very shrewd, master strategist. He'll keep Top. guessing. He would have found a weak point in Top. by now & aim to exploit it to the hilt. Experience in this sort of stage is on Kram.'s side because he has already faced the likes of Kasp. in lengthy battles. He even had the tenacity to win a last crucial game against Leko, if you remember. Kram. fears no one.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-06 23:44:33)
Vladimir Kramnik vs. Peter Leko

Hi Dinesh.

I still can't explain myself this incredible outcome in Brissago. First, this "extraordinary" Marshall gambit, Leko leading the whole match... At last Kramnik winning the very last game. Then Peter Leko smiling, just saying (~) : "I'm glad about my play." .. and that's finished.

It just reminded me the second match Kasparov vs. Deep Blue ...

Anyway, it's always time to be paranoid :-)


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-09-07 06:40:18)
Re:

I'm almost certain that Kram. will dump the 1.e4 opening, as his only Achille's Heel seems to be all out tactics (which Top. is brilliant at), and some blunders (but that was when he was ill). Regarding Leko.......he might fancy his chances if he meets Kram. again, but I don't see any sorta match up, as Anand is waiting in the wings to have a shot at either Kram. or Top.


Charlie Neil    (2006-09-07 09:02:54)
Krammik vs Topalov

Krammik will play 1.Nf3 with his 1st 5 games with white and as Topalov is dozing off.....POW! It's going to be a tense match. A clash of styles I'd say. But it is all good for chess. We need an undisputed OTB champion again, it can only be good for chess. ( A million dollars for the best of twelve games.....I think I'll go and buy myself a database....:-)


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-20 01:55:46)
First blitz game (draw)... 1.d4 f5

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3351

Topalov plays dutch defense... ? :)


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-23 21:19:51)
Kramnik wins Game 1

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 1)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 13.Qa4 Qb6 14.0-0 Qxb2 15.Nbd2 Bb5 16.Nxc4 Bxa4 17.Nxb2 Bb5 18.Ne5 Ra7 19.Bf3 Nbd7 20.Nec4 Rb8 21.Rfb1 g5 22.e3 g4 23.Bd1 Bc6 24.Rc1 Be4 25.Na4 Rb4 26.Nd6 Bf3 27.Bxf3 gxf3 28.Nc8 Ra8 29.Ne7+ Kg7 30.Nc6 Rb3 31.Nc5 Rb5 32.h3 Nxc5 33.Rxc5 Rb2 34.Rg5+ Kh6 35.Rgxa5 Rxa5 36.Nxa5 Ne4 37.Rf1 Nd2 38.Rc1 Ne4 39.Rf1 f6 40.Nc6 Nd2 41.Rd1 Ne4 42.Rf1 Kg6 43.Nd8 Rb6 44.Rc1 h5 45.Ra1 h4 46.gxh4 Kh5 47.Ra2 Kxh4 48.Kh2 Kh5 49.Rc2 Kh6 50.Ra2 Kg6 51.Rc2 Kf5 52.Ra2 Rb5 53.Nc6 Rb7 54.Ra5+ Kg6 55.Ra2 Kh5 56.d5 e5 57.Ra4 f5 58.Nxe5 Rb2 59.Nd3 Rb7 60.Rd4 Rb6 61.d6 Nxd6 62.Kg3 Ne4+ 63.Kxf3 Kg5 64.h4+ Kf6 65.Rd5 Nc3 66.Rd8 Rb1 67.Rf8+ Ke6 68.Nf4+ Ke5 69.Re8+ Kf6 70.Nh5+ Kg6 71.Ng3 Rb2 72.h5+ Kf7 73.Re5 Nd1 74.Ne2 Kf6 75.Rd5 1-0


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-09-24 20:41:53)
2:0

I just heard that it's 2:0 now.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-24 20:53:32)
Kramnik wins Game 2

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 2)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 0-0 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Bg6 15.Ng5 Re8 16.f4 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 f5 18.Be3 Nf8 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.g4 Qd7 21.Rg1 Be7 22.Nf3 Rc4 23.Rg2 fxg4 24.Rxg4 Rxa4 25.Rag1 g6 26.h4 Rb4 27.h5 Qb5 28.Qc2 Rxb2 29.hxg6 h5 30.g7 hxg4 31.gxf8Q+ Bxf8 32.Qg6+ Bg7 33.f5 Re7 34.f6 Qe2 35.Qxg4 Rf7 36.Rc1 Rc2 37.Rxc2 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qxc2+ 39.Kg3 Qe4 40.Bf4 Qf5 41.Qxf5 exf5 42.Bg5 a5 43.Kf4 a4 44.Kxf5 a3 45.Bc1 Bf8 46.e6 Rc7 47.Bxa3 Bxa3 48.Ke5 Rc1 49.Ng5 Rf1 50.e7 Re1+ 51.Kxd5 Bxe7 52.fxe7 Rxe7 53.Kd6 Re1 54.d5 Kf8 55.Ne6+ Ke8 56.Nc7+ Kd8 57.Ne6+ Kc8 58.Ke7 Rh1 59.Ng5 b5 60.d6 Rd1 61.Ne6 b4 62.Nc5 Re1+ 63.Kf6 Re3 0-1


Great game, great match, real chess !


Benjamin Aldag    (2006-09-25 17:20:58)
????

Great Game ???? Both games are filled up with blunders !!! I've never sawn so bad games in a WM-Match !!! Benny


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-25 18:15:04)
Kramnik vs. Topalov

Benny, what did you think about the match Kramnik vs. Leko (with such fantastic games, ie. Marshall gambit) ? What about Kasparov vs. Deep Blue.. (only examples).. I prefer to see human chess with blunders at top level than to doubt.

Anyway, the match is not over yet, but Kramnik probably won the psychological battle already. Now Topalov must prove he plays the best chess...


Benjamin Aldag    (2006-09-25 20:51:27)
ERROR

Hey,

this is a WM-Fight !!! And i dont want to see !7! Questionmark-moves in 2 games. This is not a man vs. machine game and the blunders are no openingblunders. Here are the two best chessplayers at work and blunders like 57..f5?? in the first game are absolutly lame ! Get well back Topa ! Benny


Rodrigo Jaroszewski    (2006-09-26 08:38:26)
...f5?? > ...f5!!

The fact that Topalov had the guts to not simply go for a draw in a game against Kramnik made my opinion on him go up by 100%. 57...f5?? will be on my memory as the move that didn't let the first WC I was able to see live become a dull, drawish face-off.


Elmer Valderrama    (2006-09-26 09:15:06)
..f5?? > ...f5!!

..100% agreed.. they are (especially Topalov) playing variations which make sense to enter only in engine-assisted chess (CC)... (as a result they are tired after calculating the first set of 8 variations with 18 non-forced plies each ;)

Regarding the match, fingers crossed Topo will pull a Phoenix as in other tournaments when he was -2 after the first round...




Dinesh De Silva    (2006-09-26 16:49:51)
2 1/2: 1/2

3rd game was drawn. So it's 2 1/2: 1/2


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-26 17:11:57)
Kramnik vs. Topalov (Elista)

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 3)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bd7 7.Qxc4 Na5 8.Qd3 c5 9.0-0 Bc6 10.Nc3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bc5 12.Rd1 Bxg2 13.Qb5+ Nd7 14.Kxg2 a6 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Bg5 Be7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Rac1 Nc4 19.Na4 b5 20.b3 0-0 21.bxc4 bxa4 22.Nc6 Rxc6 23.Qxd7 Qc5 24.Rc3 g6 25.Rb1 h5 26.Rb7 e5 27.e4 Rf6 28.Rc2 Qa3 29.Qd1 Rd6 30.Rd2 Rfd8 31.Rd5 Rxd5 32.cxd5 Qxa2 33.Qf3 Rf8 34.Qd3 a3 35.Rb3 f5 36.Qxa6 Qxb3 37.Qxg6+ Kh8 38.Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-09-27 18:23:24)
4th Game Drawn., It's now 3:1

4th game drawn. Top. slips again in a decisive moment of calculation, when he could have gone into a line where his knight could have outgunned Kram.s Bishop. After that chance went abegging, Kram. counter-attacked to steer the game into a clear draw. His subtle Queen manouevres were noteworthy.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-27 18:31:56)
Topalov vs. Kramnik

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 4)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 bxa3 12.0-0 Bd6 13.b3 Nf6 14.Nd2 Qc7 15.Bf3 Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 Bd6 17.Nc4 Be7 18.Bxa3 0-0 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Ra5 Rfd8 21.Kg1 c5 22.Rxc5 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qg4 Bd3 25.Ra1 Rac8 26.Raa5 Rb8 27.Qd1 Be4 28.Qa1 Rb7 29.Nd2 Bg6 30.Qc3 h6 31.Ra6 Kh7 32.Nc4 Be4 33.f3 Bd5 34.Nd2 Rdb8 35.Qd3+ f5 36.Rc3 Qh4 37.Ra1 Qg3 38.Qc2 Rf7 39.Rf1 Qg6 40.Qd3 Qg3 41.Rfc1 Rfb7 42.Qc2 Qg5 43.Ra1 Qf6 44.Qd3 Rd7 45.Ra4 Rbd8 46.Rc5 Kg8 47.Nc4 Bxc4 48.Raxc4 f4 49.Rc6 fxe3 50.Qxe3 Rxd4 51.Rxe6 Qh4 52.Rxd4 Qxd4 53.Re8+ Kh7 54.Qxd4 1/2-1/2


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-02 16:03:25)
FIDE vs. Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 5)

0-1


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-02 16:06:15)
After toilet gate...

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 6)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 a6 14.Ke2 Rg8 15.Rhd1 Rc8 16.b3 Bc5 17.a5 Ke7 18.Na4 Bb4 19.Nb6 Nxb6 20.Bxb6 f6 21.Rd3 Rc6 22.h4 Rgc8 23.g4 Bc5 24.Rad1 Bxb6 25.Rd7+ Kf8 26.axb6 Rxb6 27.R1d6 Rxd6 28.Rxd6 Rc6 29.Rxc6 bxc6 30.b4 e5 31.Bxa6 1/2-1/2


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-06 11:57:32)
Game 7 : Draw

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 7)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3 cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Re1 O-O 12. a4 Bd7 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Rc1 Nb4 16. Qf3 Bc6 17. Qh3 Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nbxd5 19. Rcd1 Rc7 20. Bg5 Qc8 21. Qf3 Rd8 22. h4 h6 23. Bc1 Bb4 24. Rf1 Bd6 25. g3 b6 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Rfe1 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nfd5 30. Bd2 Rc5 31. Qg4 Nf5 32. Qe4 b5 33. h5 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Rb5 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Bc2 Nb6 37. Qg4 Rxb2 38. Be4 Qd7 39. Be1 Nd5 40. Bd3 Nb4 41. Bf1 Nd3 42. Qd1 Nxe5 43. Qxd7 Nxd7 44. Rc8+ Kh7 45. Rc7 Rb1 46. Rxd7 Rxe1 47. Rxf7 a5 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. Ra7 Re5 50. g4 Nd6 51. Bd3 Kf8 52. Bg6 Rd5 53. f3 e5 54. Kf2 Rd2+ 55. Ke1 Rd5 56. Ke2 Rb5 57. Rd7 Rd5 58. Ra7 Rb5 59. Bd3 Rd5 60. Bg6 1/2-1/2


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-06 11:59:22)
Topalov wins game 8

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 8)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O b4 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ Ncd7 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Bd2 Qa5 16. Bc6 Be7 17. Rfc1 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1 Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ke8 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 30. Rc6 Nd5 31. h4 h6 32. a4 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 g4 35. Ke2 N5f6 36. b3 Ne8 37. f3 g3 38. Rc1 Nef6 39. f4 Kd6 40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Kxg3 Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44. Kf3 Ne4 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ 47. Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 Rf2+ 0-1


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-07 16:45:18)
Kramnik loses 9th game too.......

Kramnik loses another game in quick succession with the Black pieces this time. His 10th move of ....., dxc4?! was anti-positional, allowing White to expand in the centre with the Bishop pair backing it. Aftre some more mistakes, White broke through the f file by aiming at the weak f7 square.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-07 20:20:04)
Topalov takes the lead

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 9)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.a3 Nbd7 9.g3 Be7 10.f4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 0-0 12.e4 b5 13.Be2 b4 14.axb4 Bxb4 15.Bf3 Qb6 16.0-0 e5 17.Be3 Rad8 18.Na4 Qb8 19.Qc2 exf4 20.Bxf4 Qb7 21.Rad1 Rfe8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Kh1 Nh7 24.Be3 Bg5 25.Bg1 Nhf8 26.h4 Be7 27.e5 Nb8 28.Nc3 Bb4 29.Qg2 Qc8 30.Rc1 Bxc3 31.bxc3 Ne6 32.Bg4 Qc7 33.Rcd1 Nd7 34.Qa2 Nb6 35.Rf3 Nf8 36.Rdf1 Re7 37.Be3 Nh7 38.Rxf7 Nd5 39.R7f3 1-0


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-08 16:42:04)
Kramnik wins ultra sharp 10th game

Kram. won the 10th game just now. It was a very sharp, complicated game. A real tactical melee! Top. resigned as he was exchange down in an ending.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-08 17:36:39)
Kramnik wins Game 10

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 10)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 a5 10.Rd1 Nh5 11.Bc1 b5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rb8 15.Qe2 Nhf6 16.Bf4 Rb6 17.Ne5 Nd5 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4 22.Rdc1 Qe8 23.Rc7 Bd8 24.Ra7 f6 25.Nd7 Rf7 26.Nxb6 Rxa7 27.Nxd5 Rd7 28.Ndc3 Rxd4 29.Re1 f5 30.Qc2 Rb4 31.Nd5 Rxb5 32.axb5 Qxb5 33.Nc7 Qc4 34.Qd1 Bxc7 35.Qd7 h6 36.Qxc7 Qb4 37.Qb8+ Qxb8 38.Bxb8 Nd2 39.Ra1 g5 40.f4 Nb3 41.Ra3 Bc4 42.Bc7 g4 43.Bxa5 1-0


Rodrigo Jaroszewski    (2006-10-10 18:37:31)
g11

Is it my impression or Kramnik wimped out of a rook exchange by 60...Ra5 and missed a good position with a passed pawn?

Most of the people should know my low degree of skill by now, so I'm just asking for help here to understand this. Why was so important for him to keep his Rook on the board over real winning chances?


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-10 18:39:24)
Game 11 : Draw

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (game 11)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Rb1 Nbd7 9.c5 a5 10.a3 e5 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 Qc7 13.f4 exf4 14.exf4 Be7 15.Be2 Nf8 16.0-0 Ne6 17.g3 Qd7 18.Qd3 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21.Qxd4 Nxd4 22.Bc4 0-0 23.Kg2 Ra4 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.Be3 Bf6 26.g4 Kf8 27.Bf2 Ne6 28.Rxd8+ Bxd8 29.f5 gxf5 30.gxf5 Nf4+ 31.Kf3 Nh5 32.Rb3 Bc7 33.h4 Nf6 34.Bd3 Nd7 35.Be4 Ne5+ 36.Kg2 Ra2 37.Bb1 Rd2 38.Kf1 Ng4 39.Bg1 Bh2 40.Ke1 Rd5 41.Bf2 Ke7 42.h5 Nxf2 43.Kxf2 Kf6 44.Kf3 Rd4 45.b5 Rc4 46.bxc6 bxc6 47.Rb6 Rxc5 48.Be4 Kg5 49.Rxc6 Ra5 50.Rb6 Ra3+ 51.Kg2 Bc7 52.Rb7 Rc3 53.Kf2 Kxh5 54.Bd5 f6 55.Ke2 Kg4 56.Be4 Kf4 57.Bd3 Rc5 58.Rb4+ Kg3 59.Rc4 Re5+ 60.Re4 Ra5 61.Re3+ Kg2 62.Be4+ Kh2 63.Rb3 Ra2+ 64.Kd3 Bf4 65.Kc4 Re2 66.Kd5 1/2-1/2


It is still possible Kramnik walks out the match if next (and last) game is a draw too... :/


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-10 18:49:31)
Re: g11

With bishops on opposite colors, it's advised to keep a rook on each side to avoid a draw... Anyway, it seems to be a clear draw in all cases here.

If Kramnik doesn't win game 12, another battle will begin...


Rodrigo Jaroszewski    (2006-10-10 19:18:09)
Hmmm

Even with a pawn up, Thibault? I mean, after 60...Bb6 61.Rxe5 fxe5, White being uncapable of threatening both Black pawns or moving his King towards either Black's passed pawn or his own pawn... Of course, it might come to a lock later on, but it does seem more promising than allowing the Rooks to stay.

However, you did give me the answer to my question. Thanks!


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-10 19:49:12)
Opposite color bishops

These endgames are much easier than same color bishops or rooks endings.. The bishop & king can block the opponent's pawns (1, 2, 3 or more) in most cases, and the bishop can be exchanged against one or two pawns... In most cases the bishop has only to make aleatory moves and it's a draw.

There's a famous position with 8 pawns up... It's a draw too.

With rooks, it all depends... Sometimes it's harder to get a draw with opposite color bishops than same color ones.


See the 'endgames' Wikipedia article...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endgame#Bishops_on_opposite_colors


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-11 05:07:06)
Re:

Thibault, IF it goes to a tie break, what's the time limit per game, and how many games?


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-11 13:25:48)
Tie break

"In case of equality, four rapid games will be played, if equality again two blitz games will be played and finally a sudden death blitz game."

So I suppose it's 20/20 (rapid), then 5/5 (blitz), finally 5/4 for the sudden death blitz.


Rodrigo Jaroszewski    (2006-10-12 05:38:01)
Kramnik

Oh, forgot to say it, since you commented after posting the moves for g11. You probably read it already, but Kramnik's latest open letter says he'll play through the tiebreaks, even if FIDE doesn't go back on the g5 decision. But if he looses, he'll sue FIDE.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-12 14:27:47)
Re:

Game twelve is proceeding. Kram. (White) has a launched a minority attack on the queenside, while Top. (Black) is trying for a kingside attack. Because of the sharp, unbalanced characteristics of the position, this may well turn out to be the deciding game of the championship.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-12 16:57:29)
Re:

The 12th game ended in a very exciting! draw in 47 moves. It goes to a tie-break now.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-12 17:02:26)
Tie break

... I wouldn't like to be this world champion :/

Tie break with rapid games is definitely a bad idea IMO.

Former world champion should retain the crown in case of equality... Ok, this is particular case here as they're two world champions, but the result will be difficult to accept for everyone... In this case the match should continue until one takes a 1 or 2 points lead.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-12 17:15:04)
Re:

Thibault, what has been the rapid playing form of Kram. & Top. in previous tournaments?!?


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-12 17:21:24)
... rapid games

Huh.. I've no idea... All I know : They played a blitz game just before the match and it was a draw (dutch opening) :)

Maybe we'll have surprises (at last) in the openings, but the result will be so aleatory...


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-12 18:24:22)
Game 12 : Draw

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (game 12)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.g3 Nbd7 9.Bd2 Bb4 10.Qb3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4 12.Bg2 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 f5 14.0-0 Qe7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.b4 Nf6 17.Rfc1 Ne4 18.Qb2 0-0 19.b5 Rac8 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Qe2 g5 22.Rab1 Qd7 23.Rc2 Rf6 24.Rbc1 g4 25.Rb2 Rh6 26.Qa6 Rc7 27.Rb8+ Kh7 28.Qa3 Rb7 29.Qf8 Rxb8 30.Qxb8 Qf7 31.Qc8 Qh5 32.Kf1 Nd2+ 33.Ke1 Nc4 34.Bf1 Rf6 35.Bxc4 dxc4 36.Rxc4 Qxh2 37.Ke2 Qh1 38.Rc5 Qb1 39.Qa6 Qb2+ 40.Kf1 Qb1+ 41.Ke2 Qb2+ 42.Kf1 Rh6 43.Qd3 g6 44.Qb3 Rh1+ 45.Kg2 Rh2+ 46.Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47.Kh1 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2


Rodrigo Jaroszewski    (2006-10-12 20:16:30)
Rapid & Blitz

http://members.aon.at/sfischl/rapid.txt
http://members.aon.at/sfischl/blitz.txt

Amazing as it might be, it looks Kramnik has more chance of snatching the title if it goes past the rapid games.

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/event/kratop06/kratop0.html has a sumary of their encounters and a PGN containing all of them, classical, rapid, and blitz.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-13 13:54:02)
Tie Break Game No. 1 Is A Draw

Top. (White) & Kram. (Black) drew their 1st tie break game in 47 moves just now.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-13 14:57:27)
Kram. Wins Tie Break Game No. 2

Kram. (White) strategically outplayed Top. (Black) in tie break game no. 2 in 45 moves just now. After Top. conceded the bishop pair, he was forced on the backfoot in an ending, and went down a bishop for just two pawns, at which point he resigned.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-13 14:59:59)
Rapid games : Kramnik leads...

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik (rapid 1)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Re8 15.Ne1 Rc8 16.f4 Bxe1 17.Rxe1 Bg6 18.Bf1 Rc2 19.b3 Qa5 20.Bb5 Rd8 21.Re2 Rcc8 22.Bd2 Qb6 23.Rf2 a6 24.Bf1 Rc6 25.b4 Rc2 26.b5 a5 27.Bc3 Rxf2 28.Qxf2 Qa7 29.Qd2 Ra8 30.Rc1 Nb6 31.Bb2 Nxa4 32.Ba3 h6 33.h3 Be4 34.Kh2 Nb6 35.Bc5 a4 36.Ra1 Nc4 37.Bxc4 b6 38.Qe3 Rc8 39.Bf1 bxc5 40.dxc5 Qxc5 41.Qxc5 Rxc5 42.b6 Rc6 43.b7 Rb6 44.Ba6 d4 45.Rxa4 Bxb7 46.Bxb7 Rxb7 47.Rxd4 1/2-1/2


Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov (rapid 2)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 Re8 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.Rfe1 Rac8 13.Bd3 e5 14.e4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 b5 16.Bf1 g6 17.Qd2 Rcd8 18.Qg5 a6 19.h3 exd4 20.Nxd4 Qe5 21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.Nc2 g5 23.Bc1 h6 24.Be3 c5 25.f3 Bf8 26.Bf2 Bc8 27.Ne3 Be6 28.Ned5 Bxd5 29.exd5 Ned7 30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.a4 b4 32.Ne4 Nxe4 33.fxe4 Nf6 34.d6 Nxe4 35.d7 Rd8 36.Bxa6 f5 37.a5 Bg7 38.Bc4+ Kf8 39.a6 Nxf2 40.Kxf2 Bd4+ 41.Rxd4 cxd4 42.a7 Ke7 43.Bd5 Kxd7 44.a8Q Rxa8 45.Bxa8 1-0


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-13 16:23:31)
Re: Top. beats Kram in tie break no. 3

Top. attacked and won tie break game no. 3.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-10-13 17:29:48)
Kram. is World Champion!

Kram. won the decisive tie break game no. 4, and with it the world championship! A fitting end. Hail king Kram. !!! My predictions came true after all.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-13 17:57:26)
Kramnik world champion !

Congratulations to Vladimir Kramnik ! .. I was to say "this is a great day for chess" but I think I'll wait to see how FIDE will manage it... At least this is a great day for Kramnik :)

The story "ends well" at first sight, but can Topalov sue Fide as I read it already...

To be continued.