Chess Training

WCh Elista RUS (12), 12.10.2006 [IM Malcolm Pein] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 Unexpected but a back handed compliment to Kramnik. Topalov uses his opening line. Its solid and so it suits for thisgame 8.g3 Nbd7 9.Bd2 Bb4 10.Qb3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4 12.Bg2 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 f5 Like in the Stonewall the white squared pawns act as a barrier against the white bishop. Black must be slightly worse and it feels like the players have swopped roles [ 13...dxc4 14.Qxc4 Qa5+ 15.Qc3+/=] 14.0-0 [ 14.0-0-0!? Fritz, would never have occurred to me] 14...Qe7 15.cxd5 Kramnik opts for clarity and the plan of a minority attack on the queenside 15...exd5 16.b4 Nf6 Diagram 17.Rfc1 [ 17.b5 cxb5 18.Qb3 Qd7 19.Rfc1 Actually look quite good as d5 is very weak because of Rc1-c5 and a2-a4 might be good later. However its too risky for the circumstances 19...a6 20.Rc2 0-0 21.Rac1©] 17...Ne4 18.Qb2 0-0 19.b5 Rac8 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Qe2 Nice move with many points. Black's only count...

Question:Vladimir, what is your score against Topalov in rapid chess, and will it affect the outcome of the tiebreak in any way? Vladimir Kramnik: The match booklet states it is +4 in my favor. However, it counts rapid and blindfold games together. Will the score matter? I hope it will, but actually the tiebreak is a lottery. A lot will depend on small details: luck, the night’s sleep, etc. It is impossible to predict the result. In principle, I have already won the match from my point of view, so I think this will make playing easier for me. What can you say about today’s [the 12th] 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 detailed 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 a...

So, here we are. After 13 years of pitted confusion in the chess world, brought on by Gary Kasparov's breaking away from FIDE, we have come full circle. Will Kramnik remove all doubt with a victory here today? Or will Topalov be able to further expand the schizm in the elite chess world with a Victory himself, careening Top-Level chess into the courts? Or, will we have - what probably everyone in the chess world wants - a drawn game today so that the combatants can battle it out on Friday in tiebreaks? My personal feeling is this: Kramnik was definitely attacked by the Topalov team in a manner that has been regarded as a 'dirty trick' by most chess journalists, patzers, and titled players. Being a Kramnik supporter, I have to hope that there is justice in the stars and that Kramnik defeats Topalov today outright. We will know in about 6 or so hours.