Reports | October 26, 2008 19:42

World Championship: 9th game drawn

Anand-Kramnik, game 9Update: video added.
He came very close to winning today, but in the end Vladimir Kramnik had to accept that his ending agains Viswanathan Anand was a draw. After the 9th game the Indian is now leading the World Championship match 6-3, and just needs a draw to retain his title.

While many expected a not too interesting game today (Anand was supposed to play ultra solid and cruise to match victory by drawing twice, and Kramnik would have no energy left to put up serious resistance) it was completely the other way around: Kramnik invited Anand to a sharp fight in the Semi-Slav, and the Indian went for it by retreating his bishop to h4 after Black's h6, allowing the complicated lines of the Anti-Moscow Gambit.

At first it looked like Anand took his opponent by surprise yet again, by going for a rare side-variation, but this time Kramnik had done his homework and soon obtained a small advantage. His position got better and better, and at some point the world champion decided to sacrifice a pawn, but still there was one moment where Kramnik could have reached an almost winning position.

But in timetrouble the Russian almost missed a mate in one and was so shocked by it that he decided to exchange queens and in the resulting ending it was not too difficult for Anand to avoid the last few traps Kramnik put up.

And so chances are high that tomorrow will be the last match day in Bonn, although Kramnik stated that he will ?¢‚Ǩ?ìfight till the last draw.?¢‚Ǩ?

zaal

As the end of the match is getting closer, the theatre seats are sold out now

partie9

The chess board says which day the game is played

handshake

The players shake hands for their ninth encounter

photographer2

The number of photograpers is going up again?¢‚Ǩ¬¶

photographers

?¢‚Ǩ¬¶because a photo of a potentially decisive game is always good to have

g9_03

Kramnik: What about a nice Semi-Slav today?

anandzet

Anand: Yeah, why not

board

And so there was soon an Anti-Moscow on the board

kramnikkijkt

Close, but no cigar

Here's the 9th match game:



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
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
6
Kramnik RUS 2772
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
0
?Ǭ?
0
0
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
?Ǭ?
3



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(Note that the comments below this article started during our live coverage of the game)

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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

Bharat's picture

Bharat

4 years 7 months ago

Why not Kg2 now and what are blacks threats?

Alexander's picture

Alexander

4 years 7 months ago

Now 42. Rc6, with Bb5 in mind. Then black would have to play 42. ... Rc2.

M R Ali's picture

M R Ali

4 years 7 months ago

he waht is happening some one said its a draw, and another guy said anand won what is it h5 move by kramnik

Karthik's picture

Karthik

4 years 7 months ago

Its a draw

Willem's picture

Willem

4 years 7 months ago

After 41. ... h5 42. Kg2 the game is very difficult for black. White has now the best chances, allthough a draw seems to be most probable.

M R Ali's picture

M R Ali

4 years 7 months ago

is it a draw or what ?

vishal's picture

vishal

4 years 7 months ago

if anand manages a draw, he would be lucky,,, i.e he is in a loosing condition after 42 moves

Karthik's picture

Karthik

4 years 7 months ago

Score is perfect zero in Rybka

KK's picture

KK

4 years 7 months ago

43. Rc6 to escape with Bishop for Anand?

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

to Sander,
thanks i missed 43.Bxe6!?

Bharat's picture

Bharat

4 years 7 months ago

hmm not sure about forced lines in this situation but the engines must have white ahead by now

Theo's picture

Theo

4 years 7 months ago

Poor Vlad...

Who would have guessed Anand would bulldozerize him like this!?

This was 'without a fight'

Anand deserves the title now.

bas's picture

bas

4 years 7 months ago

popuscu lol .. your line is forced but kramniks plays something different

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

to bas,
because he is stupid

Sander's picture

Sander

4 years 7 months ago

Let's give our compliments to Kramnik. He's fighting in great style.

Krishna's picture

Krishna

4 years 7 months ago

After a4, it is Anand who is going to win this game and championship.....It is going to be Diwali toast to Anand....................

mamc's picture

mamc

4 years 7 months ago

i totally agree with this person from bulgaria... i think kramnik should retire...its high time...his neurons are getting degenerated...

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

C'mon people, everyone has there downs in chess. Just because Kramnik didn't play at his best in this match doesn't mean he should suddenly retire.

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

They've started to play faster now...

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

Unfortunatly, the end game is in favor of Black.

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

Fortunately, the end game is in favor of Black.

Sander's picture

Sander

4 years 7 months ago

All you folks are so negative about Kramnik, and his chances in this game.

Is your level of play so poor that you don't understand the beauty and merits of positional chess? Black has a plus here...

John (The Very Amateur Chess Player)'s picture

John (The Very Amateur Chess P...

4 years 7 months ago

Let me be the first to call it a draw. :-)

There are always those folks eager to call it a draw anyway. :-)

It will be up to Kramnik to offer it as Anand is ahead in the match and has white and has a slightly poorer position in this game, though it could go a while still.

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

@Sander: A comment which was very much needed in here. Thanks :-)

sundararajan ganesan's picture

sundararajan ganesan

4 years 7 months ago

the game is intriguingly poised .....will there be an exchange of queens? will kramnik roll down his pawns?

bas's picture

bas

4 years 7 months ago

Come on guys, Give me please some info about the time controls !

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

@bas: Look here:

http://87.230.38.140/apache2-default/toma/tfd_neu.htm

jos's picture

jos

4 years 7 months ago

Both 18 minutes

Krishna's picture

Krishna

4 years 7 months ago

I see some fluctuation in prospects in favour of Kramnik......Am I correct?

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

Unfortunatly, it is Kramnik now who put on the pressure. If he manage to push his pawns in the center, he gets winning chances.
My frinds tells me that his engine gives - 0.50 (in favor of Black)

Willem's picture

Willem

4 years 7 months ago

I think Anand missed 22. Lxa8 Dxe5 23. Lc6 Tc8 24. a4 with winning advantage. 21. ... La6?? and 22. a4?? are blunders.

Willem's picture

Willem

4 years 7 months ago

Correction:
I think Anand missed 23. Lxa8 Dxe5 24. Lc4 Tc8 25. a4 with winning advantage. 22. ... La6 and 23. a4 are blunders.

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

White is playing on the white squares and Black is playing on the black squares. The engines are verry weak here. may be Shredder (the positional engine) would give the correct assesment.

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

@krishna: Black has had a slight advantage for some time now.

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

What do you guys think of 31...Rc3?

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

31) Bd3 is it a blunder???? 31)... Rc3 without thinking ...

Buri's picture

Buri

4 years 7 months ago

Very nice game :-)

Bharat's picture

Bharat

4 years 7 months ago

The game must be drawn now I think Qf6 was almost surely a draw so this must be even more a draw

Sander's picture

Sander

4 years 7 months ago

Yes, great game. Regardless of the outcome, both Anand and Kramnik deserve deepest respect.

bas's picture

bas

4 years 7 months ago

Kramnik is winning!

John (The Very Amateur Chess Player)'s picture

John (The Very Amateur Chess P...

4 years 7 months ago

Anand and Kramnik are both pretty bright. It's almost like watching computers play.

Krishna's picture

Krishna

4 years 7 months ago

Qb6!!

KK's picture

KK

4 years 7 months ago

Any win for Kramnik now? 34. Qb6 looks good

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

with 34 ... Qe5 Black (kramnik) is winning ...

KK's picture

KK

4 years 7 months ago

Even with Re1?

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

Re1 is a blunder

Willem's picture

Willem

4 years 7 months ago

35. ... Lc7! [Sorry for my last 2 comments, had the wrong position]

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

Re1 is a blunder for instance:
[35.Rfe1 Rxd3 36.Rxe5 Rxd1+ 37.Kg2 Bxe5]
[35.Rde1 Qd5+ 36.Be4 Qd6 37.Qxd6 Bxd6 38.Bb1]

Popuscu (Bulgaria)'s picture

Popuscu (Bulgaria)

4 years 7 months ago

What about 37.a4 ???

Bharat's picture

Bharat

4 years 7 months ago

Kramnik is trying but it is a draw

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