Elista Tiebreak: Vladimir Kramnik is unified World Chess Champion! 13.10.2006 Vladimir Kramnik of Russia has won against Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in tie break games with the score 2.5 to 1.5. The total score of the Match is Vladimir Kramnik (8.5), Veselin Topalov (7.5)
[Date "2006/10/13"] [Round "Rapid 1"] [White "Veselin Topalov"] [Black "Vladimir Kramnik"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 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 Date "2006/10/13"] [Round "Rapid 2"] [White "Vladimir Kramnik"] [Black "Veselin Topalov"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. O-O 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. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0 [Date "2006/10/13"] [Round "Rapid 3"] [White "Veselin Topalov"] [Black "Vladimir Kramnik"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O Bd6 9. g3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 e5 14. f4 exd4 15. Qxd4 Qe7 16. Kg2 Bc5 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Qc2 Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 20. Rf3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Bc5 22. Bd2 Rd7 23. Re1 Rfd8 24. Bd3 Qe6 25. Bc1 f5 26. Qe2 Kf8 27. Rd1 Qe7 28. h4 Rd5 29. Qc2 Nc4 30. Rh1 Na3 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rd1 b5 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rg3 Ke7 35. f5 gxf5 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37. e6 Qd6 38. Bxf5 Rxd1 39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. e7+ Qxe7 41. Bxe7+ Bxe7 42. Bd3 Ra1 43. Qb2 Rd1 44. Qe2 Ra1 45. Qxg4 Rxa2+ 46. Kh3 Bf6 47. Qe6 Rd2 48. Bg6 R2d7 49. Rf3 b4 50. h5 1-0 [Date "2006/10/13"] [Round "Rapid 4"] [White "Vladimir Kramnik"] [Black "Veselin Topalov"] [Result "1-0"] 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 Be7 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 20. Bf1 Na4 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 33. Ra3 Rc2 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3 40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxc5 45. Rb7+ 1-0 Game 12: Analysis by GM Vladimir Belov Kramnik Topalov [D12] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3. Vladimir was impressed by the way his opponent handled this variation, and he decides to give it a try with colors reversed. 4...Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6. This position suits ideally for the last game. White enjoys a comfortable plus, but Black's position is solid, and his play is simple. 8.g3 (Kramnik is not trying to surprise the opponent the g-pawn push is one of the most popular continuations) 8...Nbd7 9.Bd2 Bb4 10.Qb3. Immediately asking the opponent to reveal the point of his last move. 10...Bxc3 (bishops don't retreat! the b7-pawn is behind) 11.Bxc3. 11...Ne4! (Black uses tactics to exchange one of the bishops, at the same time protecting on b7) 12.Bg2. Kramnik correctly avoids both 12.Bb4 Qf6 13.Qc2 Qf3 14.Rg1 Rxh2, and 12.Qxb7 Rb8 13.Qxc6 Rxb2! 14.cxd5 (14.Bxb2 Qa5+ 15.Ke2 Qd2+ 16.Kf3 Qxf2+ 17.Kg4 f5#) 14...Rb6 15.Qc4 exd5 16.Qd3 Qf6, and White's position is ruined. 12...Nxc3 13.Qxc3 (the game looks boring) 13...f5!? Veselin doesn't like sitting still, so he builds a stone wall, albeit without bad c8-bishop. Black's position is rock-solid after 13...Nf6, but we'll leave it for Peter Leko. 14.0-0 (White should not worry about the attack on the h-file, because Black's pieces are completely unprepared for any activity) 14...Qe7. I failed to decipher the idea behind this move, but noted all the disadvantages. Vladimir also found them. A standard 14...Nf6 looks better. 15.cxd5! (White eagerly uses the fact that the recapture with the c-pawn is unsuccessful) 15...exd5. A typical Carlsbad structure arose on the board (screen). It is well known that White's most popular plan consists in queenside minority attack, which creates a weakness on c6. Black has to rely on the kingside counterplay. White is much better after 15...cxd5 16.Qc7 Nf6 17.Rfc1. 16.b4 Nf6 17.Rfc1. After the game the Russian grandmaster said he liked his position after the opening, and he wasn't sure whether he had to show impatience by 17.b5!?, although it is an interesting try: 17...cxb5 18.Qb3 Qd7 (maybe it is better for Black to concede a pawn by 18...a6 19.Bxd5 19.a4!? 19...Nxd5 20.Qxd5, although White enjoys certain advantage) 19.Rfb1 Rc8 (19...a6 20.a4! bxa4 21.Qxb7) 20.a4! (not 20.Qxb5 20 Rc1+!) 20...Ne4 21.Qxb5 Rc7, and it is not clear how White should proceed, although his initiative is doubtless. 17...Ne4 18.Qb2 0-0. Topalov figures that preventing b4-b5 is unreasonable, and concentrates on protecting his future weakness on c6, at the same time creating counterplay by g5-f4. An attempt to slow down White's offensive by 18...Qd7 is interesting: 19.Rab1 Nd6, occupying an ideal d6-square with the knight. 19.b5 Rac8. More active is 19...Rf6, but this plan of immediate attack also has its drawbacks: 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Rab1 g5 22.Qb7 Qe8 23.Qc7 f4 24.Rb7 Qg6, and the position is unclear. 20.bxc6 bxc6. 21.Qe2! Kramnik makes a timely prophylactic move. Now Black's offensive g5 and f4 is met by taking on f4 followed by f2-f3, using the queen opposition on the e-file. White's attempt to penetrate leads nowhere: 21.Rab1 g5 22.Qb7 Rc7 not welcome! 21...g5 22.Rab1. 22.Rc2 is not good as Kramnik said at the press conference, Black has a tactical resource 22...f4 23.exf4 gxf4 24.f3 Qf6! 22...Qd7 23.Rc2 Rf6 24.Rbc1 (24.Qa6 f4 25.Rb7 Qf5 26.Qxa7 fxe3 27.Rxg7+ Kh8) 24...g4. Each player assessed this position in his favor after the game, and one couldn't help feeling they were talking about different games. Vladimir "exerted pressure for the whole game, but was a bit unlucky, as the opponent found the sequence of saving moves". Veselin even considered his position being won, but was deprived of the title by Vladimir's saving sequence. While each player dreamed about laurels, the truth was somewhere in the middle. This position has to be assessed as approximately even. 25.Rb2 (the only chance to claim an advantage is seizing the b-file) 25...Rh6. Hinting about future problems on the h-file. 26.Qa6 Rc7 (safe 26...Nd6 should not be ruled out completely, too) 27.Rb8+ Kh7 28.Qa3 Rb7! It is useful to trade one rook. Unprepared attack ends ruefully: 28...Qf7 29.Qf8 Qh5 30.Qg8+ Kg6 31.Qe8+ Rf7 32.Rxc6+ Nf6 33.Rb7 Qxh2+ 34.Kf1, and White wins easily. 29.Qf8 (keeping the scout is more sensible: 29.Ra8 or 29.Rf8) 29...Rxb8 30.Qxb8 Qf7 31.Qc8 Qh5. Looks scary, but White finds a clear-cut way to equality. 32.Kf1! (32.Rxc6 is obviously wrong: 32 Qxh2+ 33.Kf1 Rxc6 34.Qxc6 Nd2+ 35.Ke2 Qxg2) 32...Nd2+ 33.Ke1. Elegant 33.Ke2 would please a chess gourmet: 33 Nc4 34.Rxc4 dxc4 35.Bxc6, and White obtains a pawn and activity for an exchange. Black can force a draw by 35...Qf7 36.Bb5 Qd5 37.Bxc4 Qf3+ 38.Ke1 Rxh2 39.Qg8+ Kg6 40.Qe8+. But I am sure Topalov would have invented something more interesting than allowing 40...Kg5 41.Qd8+ or 41.Qe7+ Kh6. 33...Nc4 34.Bf1 Rf6! 35.Bxc4 (35.Bd3 loses to 35...Qxh2 36.Bxf5+ g6 37.Rb1 Nd6) 35...dxc4 36.Rxc4 Qxh2 37.Ke2 Qh1 38.Rc5. The rook moved to a protected square, and Black's hyperactive queen lost its last serious object of attack. 38...Qb1 39.Qa6 (Black must bring the rook into the attack in order to achieve something serious, but White makes everything just on time) 39...Qb2+ 40.Kf1 (it was not late to lose by 40.Ke1 Rh6) 40...Qb1+ 41.Ke2 Qb2+ 42.Kf1 Rh6 43.Qd3! g6. The Bulgarian could win a pawn: 43...Qa1+ 44.Ke2 Qxa2+, but after unavoidable queen trade 45.Qc2 Qxc2+ (45...Qa6+ 46.Qd3) 46.Rxc2 the advantage belongs to White. 44.Qb3 (Veselin called this resource `the only saving move', and he was almost right. 44.Qc4 also draws) 44...Rh1+ 45.Kg2. 45...Rh2+ (another perpetual is given after 45...Qa1 46.Qf7+ Kh6 47.Qf8+ etc.) 46.Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47.Kh1 Qf1+. Draw. Unfortunately, the champion will be determined in rapid chess, and this is just like penalty shootout a lot depends on sheer luck. Let us see who is supported by Fortune 13.10.2006 Game 12. Waiting for a lottery The regulation time of the match ended in a draw 6-6. This result was probably highly anticipated by chess fans. Why? It's simple everybody wants to see a real battle between Kramnik and Topalov, especially scheduled on Friday, 13th. The fact that the owner of the unified title will be determined in a quickplay is also very symbolic chess is not stagnating, it is speeding up. And still, I am sure Kramnik wanted to finish everything in the regulation time. Regardless of the match trends and most experts agree with Topalov, who said he had a clear advantage Vladimir did not deserve losing the Game 5. So he said at the press conference without hesitation that he considers himself a match winner. Had he won the Game 12, these words would have coincided with the reality When the Russian was in must-win situation against Leko, he played differently. Even if some of his moves were inaccurate, the play in general was highly consistent, energetic and determined, and he simply smashed the contender. This time, however, Vladimir just came to test the opponent, ready to pick up a win on occasion, but having nothing against a draw. After all, the Russian has significant advantage over the Bulgarian in rapid chess. Topalov, as if he sensed Kramnik's mood, started playing very ambitiously in the middlegame, although the position did not seem to permit Black such a risky activity. Vladimir, instead of pro-voking crisis, preferred to create a dead calm. After the game Veselin suddenly began to complain about missing a forced victory somewhere, but could not support his claim with a single variation, which is very unusual for him So, we are going to see four rapids, and maybe a couple of blitz games. Talking about individual scores is pointless: old scores do not count! It is not by accident that both Kramnik and Topalov called the forthcoming tiebreak a lottery. Who pulls the lucky ticket? 13.10.2006 Game 12. Vladimir KRAMNIK: `I did my best, but alas ' To our surprise, it was the first time when the players' assessment of the situation on board was diametrically opposite. Both claimed an advantage maybe because both wanted to win the game and the match. However, it ended in a draw by perpetual, thus postponing the match conclusion by one day. Vladimir, what is your score against Topalov in rapid chess, and will it affect the outcome of the tiebreak in any way? The match booklet states it is +4 in my favor. However, it counts rapid and blindfold games to-gether. Will the score matter? I hope it will, but actually tiebreak is a lottery. A lot will depend on small details: luck, night's sleep, etc. It is impossible to predict the result. In principle, I already won the match from my point of view, so I think this will make playing easier for me. Could you do without tiebreak? What can you say about today's game? It is a very interesting and combative game. I exerted pressure, but the opponent managed to create counterplay and made a draw. Maybe I could play more accurately, I cannot tell without de-tailed analysis. But the draw is generally logical. And yet, you had White, which means something at the WCC Modern chess theory develops in such direction that it is very difficult to find sharp positions with advantage. So it is not surprising that both opponents were satisfied with a complex position. Maybe my advantage wasn't big, but playing White was more pleasant. Veselin was lucky to or-ganize his defense on time, but there was a chance for me, too! I did my best, but alas I played for a win, but did not want to go too far. My attitude in the Game 10 was the same and that time it worked. Are you superstitious? The tiebreak is scheduled on Friday, 13th Also, tomorrow is 13th, 10th month, year 2006, and the sum of all digits gives 13. Kasparov would have been very pleased, and what about you? Fortunately I am not playing against him tomorrow. So I am alright! All these horrors are applicable to my opponent as well, so I do not feel any discomfort Which color is better to have at the start of the tiebreak? I think it doesn't matter. Tiebreak is decided by nerves. You wrote an open letter before the 11th game. What further steps will you take, and do you think the unification idea works? I have nothing to add to the letter. As for the unification, you realize it is difficult to talk about reconciliation in such a heated atmosphere One could note certain rotation order of your suits during the match against Kasparov in London. Why did you alter it today? I began to experiment by the end of the match: wearing the same dress is boring. I changed trousers and jackets, and even combined a jacket with jeans in the Game 10. I am trying to catch my luck! Do you consider this research promising? I don't know; we'll see tomorrow. I have to consider my dress for tomorrow quite seriously! Did you feel any agitation during the game? I was a bit nervous in the end, as I felt I am winning the game and the match. The opponent made several saving moves to make a draw. As for agitation this is not my first game at the highest level How do you evaluate the course of the match in general? On the whole, I was better prepared, and obviously had more fresh ideas and winning opportu-nities. I had the initiative in most games, but only managed to convert two chances. Kramnik, on the contrary, utilized everything he had. It was a very strange match: after a false start I not only managed to tie the score, but even took the lead at some point. And then committed another blunder, making the score even again. Do you feel the burden of unforced errors? It is impossible to make an error if you agree to a draw after 15 moves. If each of your games lasts 50 moves, errors are unavoidable. Errors are natural consequence of struggle! If we always played at maximum effort, there would be more errors we are humans. You always play for a win, but if you were told before today's game that it is going to end in a draw, would you feel happy? That depends on the way this draw is achieved. I am not satisfied with the way I drew today, because I felt the victory is very near; but maybe the feeling was false, and the position was drawn. Veselin, how do you see the future of chess? For example, for the next 10 years How will it develop, and will it become unified? Unified? I have no idea why some people consider chess split! In my opinion, chess is unified since San Luis. The unification has already taken place! I don't know what will happen in 10 years. There is FIDE, and there is FIDE President and Ex-ecutive Committee; it's their business. The only thing I can do as champion is to try improving the image of chess. I cannot solve all our problems. Let us talk about tomorrow. What do you think about the tiebreak? You had a chance to play rapid against Kramnik in Monaco To be honest, I am still not sure whether we will play 25 or 15-minute games. In general, Kramnik has a small plus Actually, talking about the tiebreak, I'd rather blunder a queen or a mate in one than appear in the situation of Leko in 2004. He did not yield to Kramnik two years ago, but Leko is nobody now, and Kramnik is a world champion. Tiebreak is a good thing, and it doesn't matter for me how it ends. If I lose, it will happen because of my own fault, not because of the regulations. This match arose many suspicions. Don't you think such scandals will soon scare away everybody but fanatics? I don't think the popularity of chess suffered because of the misunderstandings that occurred during the match. Looking back at the history of chess, it enjoyed maximum popularity at times of political confrontation. First it was Spassky-Fischer match, then Karpov-Korchnoi, and then Karpov-Kasparov. A high point for 20 years straight! At the same time, only a small group of professionals was interested in pure chess content. Others are excited by scandals. So, `world peace' does not benefit chess in your opinion? No, I am against war! And we did not plan unleashing it. Our team just submitted a casual appeal Laymen do not always understand complicated maneuvers of pieces or players' ideas, but they like watching hand flicker in time trouble Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
