Reports | October 21, 2008 21:32

World Championship: third win for Anand

Anand-Kramnik, Game 6Update: video added.
After winning the 6th match game today, reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand increased his lead even further. Three points down, challenger Vladimir Kramnik finds himself in a hopeless situation half-way the match.

Before the game Anand was leading 3.5-1.5 and everybody wondered: would Kramnik go for a win, or would he follow the advice of Kasparov, who said "he should just worry about surviving [...] after such a blunder in game five, then decide on a game plan for the final six games"?

Following the opening of the sixth round, it appeared that Kramnik was having similar thoughts as Kasparov's, when he went for the Classical Nimzo-Indian with 4?¢‚Ǩ¬¶d5 and 6?¢‚Ǩ¬¶Qf5. However, it turned out that Anand himself was in the mood for more than just a quiet ending.

The Indian avoided the ending with 7.Qb3 and two moves later he brought an interesting novelty, again taking the initative as it comes to opening theory. This time Kramnik reacted quicker than in previous games, but still he found himself in a slightly worse ending around move 15.

And then Anand just outplayed Kramnik. His advantage got bigger, he won a pawn, he won another one and easily countered his opponent's threats that weren't really serious threats anyway. His pieces seemed to lack coordination, but Anand managed to untangle and convert his material quite elegantly.

And so we're suddenly left with the second half of the match still to be played, but nobody believes it will be a real fight anymore ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú the general consensus is that Anand has won the match today. For the first time he actually smiled several times during the press conference.

spectators

About half of the seats already filled at about around 14:50

g6_03

Kramnik grabbing his bishop to go for a Nimzo-Indian again...

anand_moves

...and Anand playing 5.cxd5

press

There were a few more photographers than in game 2-5, because...

karpov2

...former world champion Anatoly Karpov (left to UEP President J. Resch)
came up on stage today to play the first move

Here's the sixth game of the match, co-commented by IM Merijn van Delft and by your editor-in-chief:



Match score:

Name Nat. Rtg
G01
14/10
G02
15/10
G03
17/10
G04
18/10
G05
20/10
G06
21/10
G07
23/10
G08
24/10
G09
26/10
G10
27/10
G11
29/10
G12
31/10
Anand IND 2783
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
1
?Ǭ?
1
1
4?Ǭ?
Kramnik RUS 2772
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
0
?Ǭ?
0
0
1?Ǭ?



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Peter Doggers's picture
Author: Peter Doggers

Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.

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Comments

joan's picture

joan

4 years 7 months ago

Yes, kamal, I think it wins quicker

ajay's picture

ajay

4 years 7 months ago

I like this...Kramnik is fighting till the bitter end! There are still some bloackading possibilities

bac's picture

bac

4 years 7 months ago

umm, if 38.Bc3, then 38...Nh5 :)

bac's picture

bac

4 years 7 months ago

oohh maybe not. there is Rg5. Sorry.

DoctorSpock's picture

DoctorSpock

4 years 7 months ago

Maybe your retarded grandfather, but I am afraid you couldn't.
Please, mind your language !

ajay's picture

ajay

4 years 7 months ago

I predict N6d5 next

Andy's picture

Andy

4 years 7 months ago

looks like its going to be a draw... :?

ajay's picture

ajay

4 years 7 months ago

Ne7 is actually a good move....the trick for anand is to avoid blundering...if no bungles, this will be a draw

arunakirinathan's picture

arunakirinathan

4 years 7 months ago

I expected K pawn opening which would suit Anand when he plays white.But did not do it since he would have thought that Kramnikscamp also would expect the same.Any how the depth of his opening preparation is visible.dispite the position seems to be equal when I have seen it after the first few moves. But I feel that the psychological state of K after those two losses would take its toll.

tommy's picture

tommy

4 years 7 months ago

As Kremnicks ah Kramnik?Ǭ¥s strength is to squeeze his opponent in positional play, it was wise to get rid of the queens. He should try to avoid too sharp lines where Anand seems to play like a machine and where Anand is making less errors than him.

Andy's picture

Andy

4 years 7 months ago

I hope Anand wins again.. :)

val's picture

val

4 years 7 months ago

Kramnik is playing like they used to do in railway coaches. He is asking for trouble.

ajay's picture

ajay

4 years 7 months ago

Looking at the game...kramnik looks quite solid, even tho I do not like the position of his queen.

basu's picture

basu

4 years 7 months ago

hi.. what is the position

Zenman's picture

Zenman

4 years 7 months ago

Hello

Anand excellent! It's very bad for Kramnik party. Today, despite the 26th time (I saw at the time) a "better development" Kramnik failed back in the position of Anand. The match is not finished but ....
For info I made the video of Round 6 in 3D the game, it is available for all ... for what interested ... Good evening.

Q's picture

Q

4 years 7 months ago

Good coverage Peter & Co. Thanks.

Perhaps it's worthwhile to mention that even Re3+ Kd2 Rxe5 fails to Qh6+ winning the knight on b6, which is the main point of Qxh7+ (aside from winning another pawn).

Keep up the good work.

willem van dalen's picture

willem van dalen

4 years 7 months ago

the following statement is not correct because the possibility of 49.....Re3+ !

(47. Bg7+ Kf5 48. Qxh7+ Ke6 49. Bxe5 and Black cannot take the bishop because of Qh8+.) [Doggers/Van Delft]

peter's picture

peter

4 years 7 months ago

willem, it is correct. after 50.Kf2 Rxe5 Whiet has 51.Qg6+ winning the knight on b6.

Katata's picture

Katata

4 years 7 months ago

1/Are the seconds useful or useless ???? Bobby Fisher managed to prepare alone !!!

tommy's picture

tommy

4 years 7 months ago

I am still asking if, and I mean IF Kramnik has really health problems with his rheumatism. IF it would be the case that would explain why he is not able to concentrate very well, maybe had problems to prepare so well etc.

AND he has not been able to admit his health problems before the match because it would have tremendously raised Anand?Ǭ¥s confidence.

AND IF he would admit probable health problems after the match than everybody would disregard him for that cheap accuse and will not accept it.

So maybe we will not know the real circumstances why Kramnik is in bad shape.

I surely must admit that Anand has done his homework very very well!!! Also his strategy playing d4 and "forcing" Kramnik to play sharp lines and challenge him to attack by not castling was just BRILLIANT!!

It is a pity that Kramnik is obviously not in his best shape so that we are not able to see a tight match...

Ash's picture

Ash

4 years 7 months ago

I am still asking if, and I mean IF Kramnik has really health problems with his rheumatism. IF it would be the case that would explain why he is not able to concentrate very well, maybe had problems to prepare so well etc.

AND he has not been able to admit his health problems before the match because it would have tremendously raised Anand?Ǭ¥s confidence.

AND IF he would admit probable health problems after the match than everybody would disregard him for that cheap accuse and will not accept it.

So maybe we will not know the real circumstances why Kramnik is in bad shape.

I surely must admit that Anand has done his homework very very well!!! Also his strategy playing d4 and "forcing" Kramnik to play sharp lines and challenge him to attack by not castling was just BRILLIANT!!

It is a pity that Kramnik is obviously not in his best shape so that we are not able to see a tight match...

semipatz's picture

semipatz

4 years 7 months ago

Kramnik has a health problem, a rare kind of arthritis that can make his whole body hurt. It's best for him not to sit still for too long. He's not "absent too often," he has a perfect right to walk around.

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