Topalov vs Kramnik

The World Chess Championship match has started on September 23rd. WorldChessNetwork is providing live audio broadcast for this event. GM Larry Christiansen, IM Irina Krush, GM Alex Finkel and GM Victor Mikhalevski are planned as commentators.

Final result: Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov 8.5-7.5

Update:
WorldChessNetwork has annotated game Topalov-Kramnik, Belgrade 1995
Kramnik - Topalov, Mtel Masters 2005



September 23rd Update:
Vladimir Kramnik won the first game of the World Chess Championship match! Veselin Topalov was pawn down but he had opportunity to repeat the moves because of White's weak f2 pawn. He decided to play on and as someone in WCN audience pointed out "Kramnik's patience will win the game".


Vladimir Kramnik 2743 - Veselin Topalov 2813
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 O-O 12. Qxb5 Ba6 13. Qa4 Qb6 14. O-O 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

September 24th Update:
Vladimir Kramnik wins the 2nd game as well! Amazing cold-blooded defence on the Black side of accepted Slav opening. Kramnik smacked 2 pawns on the Queen side while Topalov was trying to develop attack on the King. After huge complications and couple of missed winning moves for Topalov, those two pawns proved to be decisive factor. Topalov is in knockdown, I doubt Kramnik will drop this huge advantage.

GM Alex Finkel about 2-0 result: "Quite incredible I have to say. Match is pretty much over for Topalov"



Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. e4 O-O 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. gxf8=Q+ 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

"In two important ways, this line is very counter-intuitive. Not only is White relinquishing control on the f1 square by playing 32.Rxg4, on the next move he has to make a move along the c-file and away from the b1-h7 diagonal, along which all the action up to this point has been concentrated. Of course, once you spot 33.Qc7, you immediately realize that Black only has one check, and the bishop on g7 is defenceless - but even looking in that direction seems completely unnatural. Another important thing to note is that the position in front of you does not come with a caption at the bottom: 'White to play and win in two moves' - I am quite certain Veselin would have found the solution if he was sure it was there. This is where the computer has an overwhelming advantage over humans - the silicon is of course completely impervious to the kind of psychobabble I have just offered as explanation" - GM Peter Svilder about missed 32.Rg4



September 26th Update:
Third game was drawn. Kramnik played calm during the entire game while Topalov was trying to avoid trade of the pieces and keep some chances for attack. This brought him into trouble but Kramnik missed 32.ed5 Qa2 33.Qf3 with probably decisive advantage, and decided to go for perpetual check.

Position after possible 32.ed5 Qa2 33.Qf3

Vladimir Kramnik 2743 - Veselin Topalov 2813
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. O-O 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 O-O 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 draw


– Have you lost or gained half a point today?
Kramnik: I do not think about the score, I just play game after game. When you are leading, every draw brings you closer to the success. But this is not the case. Of course, I did not plan making a draw, and I think it is Veselin who earned half a point. I obtained serious chances during the game: Black has to make a long series of the only moves. I do not exclude a possibility that my play can be improved – it has to be analyzed in detail. The victory was close, but I failed achieving it. No problem; I am satisfied with the match situation.



September 27th Update:
In 4th game Kramnik comes back to his old love - Meran Slav defence. He was basically forced to use this opening after Topalov stopped exchange variation by playing 4.e3. Topalov seemed well prepared for the pawn sacrifice but Kramnik gave that pawn back as soon as he felt danger. Topalov didn't push too hard, game was mostly equal and it ended with a draw in rook ending.


Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
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. O-O Bd6 13. b3 Nf6 14. Nd2 Qc7 15. Bf3 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. Nc4 Be7 18. Bxa3 O-O 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 draw



September 28th Update:
Veselin Topalov's manager Silvio Danailov used rest day to accuse Kramnik of possible cheating. Source - VeselinTopalov.net

Photo: FIDE

September 29th Update:
Kramnik forfeited today's game! He refused to play because The FIDE Appeals Committee has apparently violated his contract with FIDE. Looks like manipulator Silvio Danailov managed to move the play from chess board to the press conferences...

Related items:
Danailov looking for excuse
Topa, quit your whining I saw a mate you missed



September 30th Update:
Today's game (5th? 6th?) has been postponed. Kirsan is back from Sochy and he has invited players for a meeting. Both players are ready to continue the match but the stumbling point is the current score (3-1 or 3-2). Looks like Topalov desperately wants to win, at least over the green table if it's not possible on the chess board.

The story hits mainstream media.



October 1st Update:
12:30 CET - Kirsan makes some progress in negotiations. Bathrooms are open again and The Appeals Committee has resigned. Which brings us to the most important, still unresolved matter - what is the current score? 30 minutes before the game start we still don't know if it will be played.

13:05 CET - Today's game has been postponed. Another press release on the official site. Pay attention to "The 1st of October, the day when the 6th game was supposed to be played, was announced as a technical time-out..."

23:00 CET - Kirsan decided that next game will be played tomorrow. Score is 3-2, Kramnik's reaction still unknown. Pathetic compromise, Topalov lost all of my respect.

"Ground rules for chess tournaments involving international grandmasters are often the subject of protracted negotiations and are agreed in minute detail. Scandals over similar issues are a regular feature of top-level chess tournaments." - DNA Sport

October 2nd Update:
01:00 CET - GM Larry Christiansen says this is big PR blunder by FIDE and Topalov and is advising Kramnik to continue the match because he is already moral winner, no matter of the final result.

From Standart News:
Danailov - ...We had meetings with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Vladimir Kramnik. Kramnik was very arrogant.
"Standart" - What do you mean by "arrogant?"
Danailov - He is convinced that he has political backing. He behaved like a man who knew that everybody does what he tells them to.
"Standart" - What does Topalov think?
Danailov - He wants to play but he is shocked by Kramnik's behavior because he is impudent and constantly insults him. He always offers draws and does everything to make Topalov nervous.

WTH???


8:30 CET - While we are waiting to see if Kramnik will accept the score imposed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, I have emailed FIDE Vice President Geoffrey D. Borg asking about his opinion.

"This debacle in the World Championship match should have never been allowed to go so far, since either there should have been a clear accusation with proof by Topalov’s team, or else the whole claim should have been thrown immediately out of the window..."

9:30 CET - Chesspro.ru author Yuri Vasilev is reporting that GM Peter Svidler has arrived in Elista yesterday and that GM Evgeny Bareev is on his way to arrive today. Is Kramnik preparing for the final battle?

12:50 CET - Kramnik issued protest letter. Sharp words but he decided to play on. Go Vladimir!

13:00 CET - 6th game started with a handshake and Slav defence.

22:00 CET - Late update, I was sleeping :-) Game was drawn on move 31, annotations by IM Miodrag Perunovic have been posted on WorldChessNetwork. Topalov had guilty look, I think the man just wants to play chess. Get rid of Danailov, for God's sake!


Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
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 draw

Next game on Wednesday, Topalov has white pieces.



October 3rd Update:
Topalov: ...there is nothing for me to be proud of. I shook hands with Kramnik, and the match continued. I believe that his play is fair, and my decision to continue the match proves it. We are humans, and sometimes we make mistakes.
Kramnik: The only thing I know for certain is that I will sue FIDE in this case.

Many Grandmasters are expressing their support to Vladimir Kramnik. See the letters on WorldChessNetwork and ChessBase. The only GM talking trash is Kotronias from Greece, but I suspect he has personal issues with Kramnik.

Meanwhile, people like Garry Kasparov and Susan Polgar are using the situation for their PR business. Garry wrote an article for Wall Street Journal, whining about Soviets, Karpov, Danailov, Kramnik, FIDE and about everyone else. Poor fella, forgets how he mistreated Shirov or kicked Yugoslav team from Manila 1992 Olympiad...

Susan is smart, while other GMs were sending emails to ChessBase, she made sure to scan her letter along with header and links. Branding continues...

Mig from ChessNinja said it well: "I'm only interested in things relevant to the chess and the rules. The support of the "Russian machine" certainly never manifested itself. Topalov is the FIDE champion and the first appeals committee bent or broke several rules of protocol and logic to support him. If Ilyumzhinov and Zhukov were really conspiring to support Kramnik, the match would have started again at 3:1. Conspiracies without results don't interest me!
Of course both players - or at least their agents - are going to cry underdog and foul and mistreatment. It's their job. So we have to look at the actions we CAN see. We can't see any proof of Kramnik cheating. We can see some unusual behavior that might have warranted a calm complaint, but no rules were being broken even according to Topalov's side. All the BS about water and plane trips have the specific purpose of clouding the issue and creating suspicion for free. The bottom line is that it's not illegal or improper to spend a lot of time in the bathroom."



October 4th Update:
It started like a Slav but quickly transposed to Queens Gambit Accepted. Topalov played 12.a4 novelty, but Kramnik gave away pair of Bishop's to reduce the pressure on e6 and f7. After Topalov's insecure and shy play, Kramnik even had better chances but the game ended with a draw. Danailov is issuing more allegations, not worth of quoting. Players gave separated press conferences.


Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
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 draw



October 5th Update:
This time Topalov played Meran defence with black pieces. Opening looked good for Kramnik until he traded queens with 20.Qb4 (diag 2). Later he made few inprecise moves and 39.f4 (diag 3) I can't understand at all. Topalov won after forcing his opponent into the mating net.


Vladimir Kramnik 2743 - Veselin Topalov 2813
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


16...Be7 17. Rfc1 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Bxd8 20. Qxb4


20...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 Nf6 36. b3 Ne8 37. f3 g3 38. Rc1 Nf6 39. f4


39...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



October 7th Update:
Looks like psychological war is finally taking victims. I can't recognize Vladimir in last two games. No ideas, time trouble, big blunder with 35...Nf8 today. I'm afraid if Topalov wins, other players might adopt Bulgarian "methods".

GM Viktor Korchnoi: I would have walked out!
GM John Fedorowicz: It makes us look like a bunch of morons


Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
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 O-O 12. e4 b5 13. Be2 b4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bf3


15...Qb6 16. O-O 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



October 8th Update:
Fantastic comeback by Vladimir Kramnik! Finally, we can recognize the man that took Kasparov down. Couples of neat positional solutions with 12.cd5, 13.e4, 18.Bd5 and 22.Rdc1 were good enough to won an exchange for White.

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.

GM Nigel Short: "The fat lady has taken her position on stage..."
IM Tomas Hutters: "Silvio probably had some issues with the Bulgarian mafia, so no time to mess with Kramniks mind today"



GM Vladimir Kramnik 2743 - GM Veselin Topalov 2813
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O 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


18...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


34...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

October 10th Update:
Veselin Topalov launched another novelty with 8.Rb1 but Vladimir Kramnik kept his head cool to finish the development with equal position. In spite of having pair of bishops, Topalov run into weaker position after 29.f5. Unfortunately, Kramnik dropped winning chances right after the time control.


Veselin Topalov 2813 - Vladimir Kramnik 2743
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Rb1


8...Nbd7 9. c5 a5 10. a3 e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 13. f4 exf4 14. exf4 Be7 15. Be2 Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Be3 Bf6 26. g4 Kf8 27. Bf2 Ne6 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. f5


29...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 draw



October 12th Update:
Last game of the match is also drawn, we're going for tiebreaks tomorrow. Kramnik had slight advantage but he didn't make any use of it. WCN will have IM Irina Krush to provide live audio commentary for the tiebreaks.


Vladimir Kramnik 2743 - Veselin Topalov 2813
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. O-O Qe7 15. cxd5 exd5 16. b4 Nf6 17. Rfc1 Ne4 18. Qb2


18...O-O 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+ draw

October 13th Update:
First rapid game ended with a draw. Kramnik wins 2nd game in nice fashion. Topalov strikes back in 3rd game, he simply demolished Kramnik's king side. But Kramnik wins the 4th game after being pawn up to secure the World Champion title. Congrats Vlad!!

IM Tomas Hutters: Poor Topalov, even though boss Silvio got him a cry baby point for free, he could not win!


Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik
1st tiebreak game
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 draw


Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov
2nd tiebreak game
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


Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik
3rd tiebreak game
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


Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov
4th tiebreak game
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





Which pieces to trade?
Which pieces to trade? (Part 2)
Block opponent’s weaknesses
Fight pair of bishops
Which pieces to trade? (Part 3)
Exchange sacrifice
Complex of weak squares
Methods Against Kings Indian
Exchange of Fianchettoed Bishop
Chess Evaluation
Benefits of Space
Spanish Structure
Provoking the Weakness
Endgame Methods
Complex of Squares II
Kasparov in action
Pawn Majority