08.10.2006
Game 9: Analysis by GM Vladimir Belov
Slav Defense D12
Topalov-Kramnik
It transpires that Topalov (and his team) approached the match with
greater stock of interesting and fresh ideas. Maybe Kramnik is just
being unlucky, coming into one opening surprise after another. As
Vladimir himself put it, "it is difficult to play good chess and
achieve favorable results by getting bad opening positions". Let us
not rush with conclusions there are three games left to play.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3. Veselin is satisfied with the course
of events in the Game 7, and he is ready to repeat the variation.
4...Bf5 (being led by the opponent is depressing, and Vladimir is
first to change the tune) 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4. The only way to get an
advantage in this line.
6...Bg6 (sometimes Black plays 6...Be4 to provoke 7.f3, but it is
difficult to say who benefits from it) 7.Nxg6 hxg6. This position is
well-studied and not uncommon in practice of the leading players.
There are a number of plans in it, but Topalov again finds a fresh idea.
8.a3. First mysterious pawn move, and it is not a novelty. White
prepares to build a pawn chain by с5-b4. Other continuations are also
plausible. Here is how Kramnik handled this position as White: 8.g3
Nbd7 9.Bg2 dxc4 10.Qe2 Nb6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rd1 Nfd5 13.e4 Nb4 14.Be3 0-0
15.a3 Na6 16.d5 exd5 17.exd5 Qe8 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.Re1 Bf6 20.Qxc4 b5
21.Rxe8 bxc4 22.Rxa8 Rxa8, and a draw was agreed soon, Kramnik-Anand,
Frankfurt 2000).
8...Nbd7 9.g3. At the first Russian Superfinal, two strong
grandmasters with rhyming surnames discussed the difference between
9.g3 and 9.h3 after their game. Of course, Topalov's idea requires the
pawn on g3.
9...Be7 10.f4.
Formally White played a novelty on the previous move, but the only
conceptual innovation in this game is 10.f4. With this move he shows
fresh approach to the position. As we found out at the press
conference, the idea was invented by Francisco Vallejo. White gains
space and prevents a standard e6-e5 break. Veselin wants now to play
c4-c5 to establish greater control over the situation. Black must open
the game but how?
10...dxc4. According to all chess laws, opening the game favors the
side with the bishop pair, but here we have an exception Black
should clearly avoid falling under positional pressure.
11.Bxc4 0-0 12.e4 b5?!
Neither spectators nor the players liked this move. Kramnik said he
suspected it being wrong, but could not find anything satisfactory.
One could recommend the following: 12...Nb6 13.Be2 c5 14.Be3 Qc8!?
(14...Rc8 leads to an inferior ending after 15.0-0 cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc5
17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Rfd1) 15.Rc1 Rd8, and the position is
difficult to assess.
13.Be2 b4 14.axb4 Bxb4 15.Bf3 (there is no reason to sacrifice more:
15.0-0 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nxe4, although White's compensation is obvious)
15...Qb6?
This looks like the only mistake in the game. And this was enough!
After the game I got an impression that Vladimir was too pessimistic
assessing his chances after the opening. White's novelty had a
tremendous psychological effect. Meanwhile, there was no reason to
throw the towel, and even more, the complications after correct
15...c5 are by no means fruitless for Black. For example, 16.e5 (the
Russian was worried about this move) is strongly met by 16...cxd4! (an
interesting intermediate move overlooked by mighty Kramnik) 17.Qxd4
Nd5 18.Bxd5 (maybe White should go for irrational 18.Ke2) 18...Bc5.
White will have to suffer for a pawn, e.g., 19.Qe4 exd5 20.Qxd5
(20.Nxd5 Nf6!) 20...Qe7 21.Kf1 Nb6 22.Qe4 Rad8 with lively game.
16.0-0 e5?! This is Kramnik's point. However, White confidently holds
his center, after which his strategic advantage becomes even more
significant. Better is 16...Rfd8 17.Be3 c5 this line favors White,
but his advantage is incomparable to what happened in the game 18.e5
Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nd5 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Qg4, etc.
17.Be3 Rad8. Maybe Vladimir just missed that after 17...exd4 White has
an intermediate 18.Na4, preventing the bishop trade on c5.
18.Na4. After the game Kramnik said that he continued to resist only
because it was inconvenient to resign so early. Is such a mood at the
decisive stage of the world championship match acceptable? Although
the position is indeed difficult...
18...Qb8. Maybe Black should have placed his queen more actively:
18...Qb5 19.Qc2 exf4, although after 20.Be2 Qb7 21.Rxf4 Rde8 22.Bf3 he
is in trouble.
19.Qc2 exf4 20.Bxf4 Qb7 21.Rad1. One cannot but note practical
attitude of the Bulgarian grandmaster. Having got a dream position,
get does not try hard finding objectively strongest moves. His play
can be called good, confident and quick. This allows him putting
Kramnik into time pressure.
21...Rfe8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Kh1 Nh7. The following maneuver did not bring
Black any relief. Despite his position already being quite desperate,
23...Nf8 24.Nc3 Ne6 25.Be3 Bb4 is clearly more tenacious.
24.Be3. Played at lightning speed. Veselin is not tempted by the
c6-pawn 24.Bxe7 Rxe7 25.e5 Rc8 26.Rc1.
24...Bg5 25.Bg1 Nhf8 26.h4! (questioning the bishop) 26...Be7 27.e5
Nb8 28.Nc3. There was another self-suggesting idea 28.Qc4, planning to
hit on f7 and announce a killing double-check by Bd5. The attack on
the h-file deserved attention on the next moves, too.
28...Bb4 29.Qg2. During the game it looked like Topalov prepares to
attack the king: 29.Ne4 Ne6 30.h5 gxh5 (30...g5 31.h6) 31.Qh2! Nd7
32.Qxh5, and Black is defenseless.
29...Qc8. 29...Ne6 loses to 30.d5 cxd5 31.Nxd5 Qb5 32.Be2 Qa5 33.Bc4
followed by Ra1, and the Black's queen faces severe difficulties.
30.Rc1 Bxc3 31.bxc3 Ne6 32.Bg4 (the Bulgarian arranges his pieces for
a decisive battle with predictable outcome) 32...Qc7 33.Rcd1 Nd7
34.Qa2! Nb6 35.Rf3 Nf8 36.Rdf1. It looks like Black is more impatient
to see this game ending
36...Re7 37.Be3 Nh7 (37...Ne6 is also replied by 38.Rxf7) 38.Rxf7!
38...Nd5 (38...Rxf7 39.Rxf7 Qxf7 40.Be6) 39.R7f3. One could display
computer cruelty: 39.Be6! Kh8 40.Bg5! and Black collapses. However,
quoting a famous joke, `this was also good'. Black resigns.
Concluding, one can say the match situation has reversed. Had I not
witnessed the game, I would never believe it was Vladimir Kramnik who
played Black. I don't think such play can be explained by Topalov's
team being more efficient is cooking opening surprises. As we saw,
Kramnik had a couple of interesting ideas at the early stage of the
game
Now we can only hope for some real struggle at the finish.
Game 9: Strong novelty, weak play
A single point gap with two Whites out of three remaining games does
not look insurmountable. However, the course of the recent games is
troubling for Vladimir. Topalov won the Game 9 al-most without
resistance. Having faced an opening `mine', Kramnik suddenly became
frustrated and ruined his position in a few moves. It is difficult to
believe that such move as 10.f4 can refute the Slav Defense.
It is just Vladimir who got tired of facing new ideas of the opponent,
exhausted his reserve of patience and objectivity, which are so
important for defending, and cracked under Veselin's pressure. He
displayed dissatisfaction by his opening preparation today, but hadn't
he selected the team himself? One can ascertain that Topalov's team,
despite their notorious lack of match experience, worked more efficiently.
It is difficult to disclose Vladimir's true feelings behind his
impenetrable mask, but it is easy to read Veselin's face. After his
second consecutive victory Topalov's growing confidence banished the
earlier frustrations of his two defeats. "I have caught my rhythm,
said the Bulgarian to the journalists, I play quickly and strongly!'
Big negative score against Kramnik does not influence him history is
not important as long as he leads in the match and plays better chess.
And still, there are few those equal to Kramnik in collecting his
strength at critical moments. Fans of the Russian pin their hopes on
this reserve as well as recall the concluding game of the Brissago
match. Vladimir's situation had also been considered hopeless back then
Game 9: Veselin TOPALOV: «The match is not over»
For the first time in the history of split press conferences Topalov
enjoyed more attention from the media than Kramnik. Of course - the
Bulgarian has clearly seized the match initiative, and everybody
wanted to know his secret. Vladimir came first, as usual. Looking at
the Russian, one could hardly tell he just lost two games in a row,
and is losing the match with three games to go...
It has been said that the course of a championship match follows the
law of communicating vessels: the better plays one, the worse plays
the other one. The last games of this match seem to confirm it. What's
going on?
I have no idea. Let us hope it is just temporary. Actually, it would
be nice to come out of the opening with better positions. It is
difficult to play well in positions such as the one I got today.
Topalov's novelty turned very strong at least for one game. I didn't
manage to find adequate response to it. Already 12
b5 was played
because I could not find anything satisfactory, especially bearing in
mind that it was all opponent's preparation. After the opening, I
continued resisting because it was inconvenient for me to resign that
early, but the game was basically decided by the move 17. One could
play brilliantly afterwards, but it wouldn't change anything. So far
my openings are disastrous. It is easy to play good in good positions,
and vice versa. If I manage solving my opening problems, everything
should be different.
Topalov managed to lure you on his territory in the recent games
Yes, he did. I have to draw some conclusions for my opening
preparation in order to obtain at least acceptable positions
Looking at recent tournaments, one can see that Topalov always
starts slowly, and then increases his speed to a maximum. Is there a
chance to alter this in the remaining games?
I realize that the situation has worsened for me, but it is too
early for raising an alarm there are three games to play, and I'll
have White in two of them. I'll keep playing and fighting, and let us
discuss general trends after the match. I'll do my best to return the
lead.
So, you don't feel any desperation?
I don't. Why it has to be desperate? After all, two games back
Topalov was in the same situation. I had been in a worse position
against Leko two years ago, with only a game to play
Vladimir, how did you spend your day off?
I visited the Khurul, but somehow it didn't help
After the Game 4 you were in a hurry for the Champions League match.
Today Russian national team is playing and you finished just on time
to watch it. Are you happy?
I didn't know about this game, to be honest. But okay, in this
situation I'll probably watch the game.
Topalov followed his ritual and appeared in the press room only after
Kramnik left it. There was a broad smile on his face. His manager
Silvio Danailov was shining, too.
Veselin, how could you explain this sudden change of décor in the match?
The main thing I did is calmed down. If one forgets the score, it is
obvious that the initiative was mine during the whole match. I did not
deserve losing in the first and especially in the second game. It
deprived me of confidence to some extent, but I did not lose the
desire to win. I saw that I played well, so it was important to
continue going in the same direction.
You won the previous game in light jacket and light tie, but changed
your suit today. Aren't you superstitious?
I don't remember what I wore for the Game 8. And yes, I am not
superstitious it is a bad habit.
You got an overwhelming advantage with surprising ease
Black's trouble started after he pushed the b-pawn; probably he
should have played differently. I used a good novelty, but one cannot
say it gives White a decisive advantage. The move 10.f4 is invented by
my second Vallejo he specializes on this variation and worked a lot
in Elista. So, you see the fruits of our work!
Veselin, do you think the match is over after your two wins?
No, I don't think so. Vladimir has two Whites in his possession. Let
us not forget that he recovered from the same situation against Leko.
I have to continue playing as before there is no room for complacency.
But you are not Leko!
Yes, I am not Leko. Nevertheless, having two Blacks against Kramnik
is not easy.
All the recent supertournaments followed the same scenario you
start poorly, then gain enormous speed and win. It seems the match in
Elista follows the same path, too. Is there any reasonable explanation
to it?
I don't have any clear idea. Endurance? I also get tired
The most
important is that I catch my rhythm in the middle of the distance. I
begin playing quickly, confidently and strongly. So, my strength
multiplies at the finish, and hope it will happen in Elista, too.
I want to repeat: I won two games, but this is not the end. The match
will end only after the last game.
You showed novelties in most of your games. How does it affect the
course of the match?
Constant opening advantage is a big asset. So far I had no reasons
to complain about the pre-match preparation. We made a high-quality
job; albeit I'd prefer to discuss it only after the match.
Kramnik said he is not satisfied with the work of his team. Could
you tell about your helpers? Also, how did Francisco Vallejo and
Alexander Onischuk appear in your team?
I am very happy with their work. Vallejo is a very original player,
full of ideas, and today's game reveals that his understanding is also
quite decent. It is interesting to work with him. In addition, Paco is
experienced trainer, he worked with Anand. Alexander Onischuk is a
very good grandmaster who also helps me understanding local mentality.
As you know, he helped Karpov here in Elista in 1996 this was
another important factor. Some of his advices were very useful and
helpful.
Have you considered inviting Ruslan Ponomariov?
We discussed it. We worked together a lot, and this work helped us
both. The same could be said about Kramnik, who helped Kasparov, or
Svidler, who assisted Kramnik. Intensive work with Ponomariov during
the training for his match against Kasparov, which unfortunately was
cancelled, made me stronger. In particular, we ran out of opening
novelties prepared for Kasparov only a year ago
But inviting him for this match? I don't know whether Ponomariov would
have agreed to cooperate again. I know from experience that long and
fruitful cooperation of two persons does not last for long.
Veselin, there are three games left to play. Will you try playing
calmer, or stick to your style?
I don't want to comment my plans. The only thing I can say is that
this is my first long match, so I have no experience in match strategy.
Kramnik,V (2743) - Topalov,V (2813) [E08]
WCh Elista RUS (10), 08.10.2006
Analysis by GM Vladimir Belov
Catalan Opening E08
1.d4 Nf6 (Topalov rejects traditional Slav Defense) 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5
4.g3. I will not shock you saying that the Catalan is one of the
favorite openings of Vladimir.
4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7. Veselin plays it safe the lines associated with
taking on c4 and holding an extra pawn are sensible under different
match circumstances (although the opinions on the subject may vary).
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 a5. It is not easy to assess
pluses and minuses of this move. Earlier Black continued 9...Nh5 and
9...b6.
10.Rd1 Nh5 11.Bc1 b5. With a couple of pawn advances, Topalov once
again forces his opponent consuming time in the opening. However, in
this case I am not sure about objective strength of his idea. Vladimir
reacted confidently and strongly.
12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e4 dxe4 (otherwise the e-pawn moves forward, puzzling
a poor knight on h5) 14.Qxe4 Rb8. The alternative 14...Ra7 looks
weaker, because after 15.Qe2 the b5-pawn is attacked.
15.Qe2 Nhf6. Black loses a pawn after 15...Bb7 16.Ne5! Nhf6 (16...Bxg2
is even worse 17.Kxg2 Nhf6 18.Nc6) 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Nc6 Qe8 19.Nxa5.
16.Bf4! It is difficult to abstain from making such move, especially
with tempo. Actually, 16.Ne5 looks even more tempting, albeit it is
not obvious whether White can claim any advantage in this case:
16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 18.Nd2 (18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 d4 20.Be3 Bc5 21.Ne4
Ba7 leads nowhere) 18...Bb7 Black arranges his pieces with comfort,
and meets 19.Qxb5 with 19...Ne3!
16...Rb6 17.Ne5 (the knight licks his lips in anticipation of coming
to c6) 17...Nd5. The only sensible move. One wants to add another
adjective, `sufficient', but White's reply revives the struggle.
18.Bxd5! It is scary to part with a bishop, having his kingside
weakened, but in this case Kramnik shows concrete approach to the
position.
18...exd5 19.Nc3 Nf6. It is late for Black to care about even amount
of pawns at the board. However, obtaining decent compensation is
realistic. For instance, interesting is 19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 d4 21.Be3
(21.Nxb5? Qd5 22.Nxd4 Bb7 23.f3 Bc5) 21...dxe3 22.Rxd8 exf2+ 23.Qxf2
Bxd8, and the bishop pair combined with White's weakened king give
Black good counterchances.
20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4!? 22.Rdc1 Qe8 (Veselin prepares to regain a pawn
by capturing on b5, but will it solve Black's problems?) 23.Rc7. For
conscience sake, let us examine other possibilities. 23.f3 Nd6 24.Qd2
Nxb5 (24...Bxb5 25.axb5 Rxb5 26.Rxa5 Ne4 fails to 27.fxe4 Bb4 28.Qe2
Rxa5 29.Nc6 Ra4 30.Qb5+) 25.Qxa5 Bd8 (it is early to give away the
material: 25...Nxd4 26.Qxb6 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 Nxc1 28.Qxa6) 26.axb5 Bxb5,
and Black's compensation is obvious. It is interesting to consider a
cultured-looking 23.Rc2!?, protecting the b2-pawn, which becomes
important after mass exchanges on b5: 23...Bxb5 (more tenacious is
23...Nd6 24.Nxd6 Bxd6 25.Qf3 Bxe5 26.Bxe5, and drawing tendencies of
opposite-colored bishops improves Black's mood) 24.axb5 Qxb5 25.Qxb5
Rxb5 26.Nc6 with clear advantage.
23...Bd8 24.Ra7. It is difficult to find adequate reply to 24.Rd7. In
my opinion, the best try is 24
Re6. Bad is 24...f6 25.Qg4 g6 26.Qh3 h5
27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Nxg6 with undisputable advantage to White. He is also
much better after 24...Nf6 25.Ra7 Bxb5 26.axb5 Rxb5 (26...Qxb5 27.Qxb5
Rxb5 28.Nc6 Bb6 29.Rb7 Rxb2 30.Bc1 Rb3 31.Ba3 Bxd4 32.Rxb3 Bxa1
33.Bxf8 Kxf8 34.Ra3) 27.Ra8.
After 24
Re6 one may continue 25.Qf3 (25.Rxd5? Nf6 26.Rc5 Nd7 27.Rcc1
f6+, and if 25.Ra7, then 25...Bxb5 26.Qxb5 Bb6) 25...Rxe5 26.Rxd8
Qxd8 27.Bxe5 Qd7, and White's extra pawn does not tell.
24...f6?? We have come to the most astonishing and exciting moment of
today's encounter. After the game Topalov was unable to explain this
huge blunder, which immediately determined the outcome. Kramnik was
also perplexed. He had several ways of refuting the Bulgarian's
careless pawn push.
As both grandmasters pointed out, Black should play 24...Bxb5 25.axb5
Qxb5 26.Qxb5 Rxb5, and White enjoys slight initiative in the ending.
It evaporates after a couple of accurate moves: 27.Nd7 Re8 28.Ra8 (on
28.Re1 Black must see 28...g5! 29.Bc1 g4) 28...Rxb2 29.Re1 (29.Bc7 is
useless due to 29...Rb7) 29...Rb7 30.Nc5 Rbe7 31.f3 Nd6! 32.Rb1 Bc7
33.Bxd6 Bxd6 34.Rxa5, and the game ends in a logical way.
25.Nd7. White can also play 25.Qg4 Bb7 26.Bh6 Qe7 27.Nd7 Rf7 28.Nxb6
Bxb6 29.Rxb7 Qxb7 30.Be3 Black is a pawn down in an inferior position.
25...Rf7 26.Nxb6 Rxa7 27.Nxd5 Rd7 28.Ndc3.
28...Rxd4? A banal blunder Black loses a piece! On the other hand,
the move was played instantly! White's progress could be slowed down a
bit by 28...Re7.
29.Re1. Prolonging the pleasure. Primitive 29.f3! wins a piece:
29...Bb6 (29...Nd6 30.Qxe8+ Nxe8 31.Nxd4, and White's extra rook gives
him reasonable winning chances) 30.Kg2, and Black's activity lasted
exactly one move.
29...f5 30.Qc2. Taking two: 30.f3! Bb6 31.Kg2 with the only difference
that Black can play two more moves: 31...Rxa4 32.fxe4 Rb4 33.Nd6, and
the story ends.
30...Rb4 31.Nd5. For the third time Vladimir refuses winning a piece
(31.f3! Bb6+ 32.Kg2), preferring to sharpen his technique in
converting an extra exchange.
31...Rxb5 32.axb5 Qxb5 33.Nc7 Qc4.
34.Qd1. An elegant move which pleased the crowd, albeit 34.Qxc4+ Bxc4
35.Ra1 Bf6 36.Rxa5 Bxb2 37.Rxf5 was simpler.
34...Bxc7 35.Qd7 h6 36.Qxc7 Qb4 37.Qb8+ Qxb8 38.Bxb8 Nd2 39.Ra1 g5
40.f4! (confidently utilizing the advantage) 40...Nb3 41.Ra3 Bc4
42.Bc7 g4 43.Bxa5. Black resigns.
It is hard to explain such a breakdown of Topalov, who looked playing
at full capacity recently. Let us give Kramnik his due for breaking
his sad streak with a win.
09.10.2006
The classical chess world champion was satisfied, the FIDE champion
despondent. Vladimir Kramnik answered questions with enthusiasm at the
press conference after game ten, Veselin Topalov was subdued.
Interesting: what Kramnik felt when he saw 24
f6 and why Topalov
played this game-loser.
Vladimir Kramnik: "I deserved this victory"
And once again, at the post-game press conference, everything was
reversed a satisfied Kramnik, and a despondent, preoccupied Topalov.
Vladimir answered the questions with enthusiasm, even down to those
about the "still" and "sparkling" bottles of water that he had during
the previous game. Veselin, on the other hand, had both players not
been contractually obliged to appear before the press after every
game, regardless of the result, would probably have preferred to avoid
all questions...
Question: Vladimir, you have already been asked several times about
yesterday, so I will ask you something different how did you spend
last night?
Vladimir Kramnik: The day was not good, but I slept OK last night. I
have already said many times that I am a professional. OK, yesterday's
game was not the best I have ever played, but so what it is not a
reason to fall to pieces. As you see, today I played normally again.
Was there applause in the hall at the end of the game? In general,
when was the last time you were applauded after a game?
There was applause. The last time I heard this was probably at
Dortmund, after I beat Leko in the last round, to win the tournament.
After my games, they more often boo, but occasionally they applaud
(smiles). Chess players get applauded most often in Belgrade this,
of course, is great. They usually get over a thousand people at each
round, and after every game finishes, if it wasn't a bloodless draw,
there is tumultuous applause. It's like being in a theatre.
How did you feel when Veselin played 24
f6?
I admit that this move was a big surprise for me. At first, I was
dazed there is both Qg4 and Nd7, and I didn't know which to choose!
Why did Veselin play this? The tension was enormous, and he is not
made of wood, he also makes mistakes...Yesterday I gave Veselin a
present, today he returned the compliment. As far as the position is
concerned, I think that with correct play, Black could hold and the
game would most likely be a draw. I was so deeply absorbed in
calculating the variations, that the move 24...f6 came as a shock to
me. At first, I thought it must be some sort of trap, and therefore I
spent some time, trying to work out what Veselin was up to, but in the
end, I couldn't see it, so I just played 25.Nd7.
Veselin made further mistakes after that. For example, the move
28
Rxd4 is a mistake, he should play the rook to e7, when White still
has to demonstrate some technique. After the capture on d4, absolutely
everything wins. I tried to play the position as simply as possible,
avoiding any risk. In principle, I could at several points have won a
piece by f2-f3, but I decided to quietly exchange queens and win the
ending.
You say that with the correct reaction from Black, the game would
probably have been a draw. Did you not feel that, in your penultimate
white, it was time to spring a big novelty and try to catch your
opponent, while there was still time?
I am not sure what to say. At the end of the day, I won the game
anyway. But, firstly, there was not an immediate draw the position
was still complicated. When going to the game, I just wanted to reach
a complicated, fighting position. It is extremely difficult to win a
game in the very opening, so it seems to me that in such a match
situation, the best thing is to aim for a complicated struggle,
maintain the tension, and wait for the opponent to make a mistake.
That is what happened today.
It is generally thought that when player continually falls into time
trouble, this is a clear sign that he is not in form. How do you
assess your form?
Time trouble is a loose concept. I would not call the sort of time
trouble that I have suffered real time trouble. Yes, today I thought a
bit longer than usual. Veselin adopted a new set-up, and at the board,
I had to find a way of neutralising it. But there was no real time
trouble. In any case, I did not suffer from serious time shortage.
But it seemed as though Veselin played for that...
Yes, he tried. But so far, fortunately, there has not been a single
game in which I have fallen into really serious time trouble. There
was pressure, but that is normal. Bad form is when you have a few
minutes for 20 moves, but when you have 5 minutes for 3 moves, as I
did today, this is a normal, everyday situation. Veselin always has
half an hour or so left by the time control, but that is his problem.
For me, it doesn't make a great deal of difference, whether I have 5
minutes or 30. The main thing is to play normal moves. Today I thought
longer, but, it turns out, more effectively.
What do you think generally of your opponent's tactic of trying to
play quickly, so as not to give you time to go to your rest room?
I don't know what their idea is. I think they just want to put me in
an uncomfortable position. Certainly, during world championship
matches, I am in the habit of going to my rest room when it is the
opponent's move. There is a demonstration board there, and I can
quietly think about the position; there it is less oppressive,
quieter, and nobody disturbs me. My opponent's "tactics" are designed
to force me out of my usual, comfortable routine and break my usual
rhythm. But in principle, I can sit quietly at the board as well. I
don't think the game is worth a candle firing moves out like
bullets, even if they are of only average quality, just to irritate
me. Not that I am applying this to Veselin.
Vladimir, during the last game, you had not one, but two bottles of
liquid on your table. Your position, excuse me for saying so, was so
dreadful, that one couldn't help thinking about the comparison between
"dead" (still) and "alive" (sparkling) water. Can you say whether the
liquids were the same or different?
It was "Arkhis" mineral water!!
And why two bottles instead of one?
It was just a reserve. I drink a lot during the game. When I went to
my room, I forgot to take the bottle, and couldn't remember whether
there was any left there or not, so I took another back, just in case.
Sometimes your opponent moves, you sit thinking about your move, and
want a drink, but there isn't any water. So, I put a second bottle on
the table.
You're not worried about protests over your using two glasses?
I think two is still OK. But if it goes to three, maybe the Appeals
Committee will have to go back to work.
Vladimir, today you won. Does that mean that the drum-roll of the day
before yesterday was not for nothing?!
Yes, I played them the day before yesterday. I can't say that it did
me any good in yesterday's game. I hope that it is not a question of
drums, but how one plays the game. Then I still have hope.
Veselin Topalov, who lost after an unfortunate blunder
Veselin, can you explain your move 24
f6?
Veselin Topalov: It was just a bad mistake. When there are so many
pieces on the board, one can blunder. It happens.
What exactly did you miss? That the knight could come to d7, or
something further on?
A bit later, but that doesn't really matter. I should have taken on b5
and Black is not too badly off. This was my first idea, but then I
decided that 24
f6 was also interesting.
In the last few games, you have clearly had the initiative in the
match. Could it be that the move 24
f6 was the result of a certain
relaxation, or over-confidence?
No, it was a complicated position, it was necessary to calculate
concrete variations. There was no relaxation, I was simply playing
chess, but when you blunder...
And you did not underestimate your demoralised opponent?
It seems to me that 24
f6, compared with taking on b5, is the more
complicated move. If I play 24
Bxb5, we get an ending with slight
pressure for White. I looked at the clock, and since my opponent had
less time, I decided to play the more complicated line.
Did you expect Kramnik today to produce some strong novelty, and take
the bull by the horns, or to play quietly and settle for a small
initiative?
I had no concrete expectations. I chose this variation, we got a
complicated fight. I was ready for any type of situation Kramnik
chose quiet tactics. Everything would have been normal, if I hadn't
blundered everything away, virtually in one move...
09.10.2006
Game 10. Swing
Today's game has revived sporting intrigue of the competition,
pleasing all the independent spectators in Elista and all over the
world. Kramnik managed to recover and celebrated his first victory
since the second game of the match. The score has been tied, and as
for psychological initiative
Well, one cannot say that Veselin lost
it under Vladimir's desperate pressure. It seems the initiative is
split evenly between the players.
This match stuns by immediate changes of décor. First Kramnik takes
the lead and keeps everything under control, but suddenly he suffers
two defeats, and bravura music in his camp changes to well-concealed
panic. Rising Topalov gives indulgent comments about the match:
`Kramnik has two Whites, and he is capable of gathering his strengths
for decisive battles'. The 10th game confirms this immediately
The
closer the finish, the harder is the swing!
And yet was it Kramnik who won the game, or it was Topalov who lost
it? Yesterday the Bulgarian surprised everybody talking about his lack
of match experience, but I don't think he could fall into
underestimating his opponent, no matter how shaken the opponent
appeared. Such experienced team as the one gathered by Silvio
Danailov, could not be misled by Topalov's playing initiative or
Kramnik's inability to come out of the opening with decent position
Kramnik had no advantage in today's game, too, but unlike other
games, he looked unperturbed by this fact it seemed he just wanted
to obtain a playable position, in which he could impose his will on
the Bulgarian. White had an extra pawn, but the chances were almost
even (as both players admitted afterwards), when Topalov suddenly
slipped, blundering the whole game in a single unlucky move. Veselin's
impatience was one of the factors Vladimir planned to utilize before
the match. But who could expect it telling so evidently at such an
important moment, when the fate of the match was at stake? Or maybe
the Bulgarians were let down by their strategy of not allowing Kramnik
to visit the relaxation room at all costs? But Topalov spent more than
10 minutes on 24
f6
Riddles, riddles
At the same time, it is obvious that none of them
will entertain both teams for a day at least. Everybody is focused on
the coming two games, the most important games of the match. Will the
swing go on?
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