Anand-Kramnik: preview by Artur Jussupow
The Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match will start in a few days and GM Artur Jussupow, who is part of the official team of commentators, wrote a preview on the chess philosophy, playing style and strengths of the players, which was kindly provided by the organizers for publication.
Attack vs. Technique
Preview by GM Artur Jussupow
After a long period of waiting the time has come at last: we are to witness the World Championship contest between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn! Like many other chess friends I am hoping for exciting games. This hope is well founded because this is a meeting of two completely different types of players with different chess philosophies.
At first glance the differences could not be greater: the “tactical god” Anand meets the “endgame god” Kramnik. Anand, the enthusiastic player and world champion from India, feels in his element when he finds himself in a complicated position. Kramnik, however, prefers a systematic, strategic game where he can keep control of his position. So are they two opposites like fire and water? It is not quite that easy in modern chess.
In top chess the preparation for the opening has by now gained such great importance that it might be compared with the service in tennis. And therefore the player who prepares more skilfully and can provide more surprises in the opening game may be the winner.
Of course, the top players must be good at all phases of a game – they must master any situation and be able to act in a versatile way. Consequently the best players are becoming more and more universal. So someone like Anand will not be “at a loss” in the endgame, and someone like Kramnik will also hold his own in a confusing position. But still: if there is a “long rally“ – to stay with the tennis analogy – the stylistic differences gain in importance.
Anand is an attacking player by nature, he can calculate very quickly and will never overlook his own tactical advantage. He also has a good positional instinct and cultivates an aggressive but at the same time natural manner of playing. In the course of the years he has improved in many fields, especially in the defence. He is strong in the opening game, plays some aggressive variations with black, thereby winning many games “following up”. And he can play solid systems. Anand has found the necessary inner balance – and he is at the peak of his chess career.
Kramnik has developed in a different direction. Since his historic victory against Kasparov in London in 2000 the Russian has concentrated more and more on his strengths: deep preparation for the opening, a unique positional instinct, excellent technique in the endgame. In almost all his winning games he played white, with black he pragmatically plays for a draw. Kramnik achieves most victories in the end-game, for him an attacking game is a rare exception. He is very strong on defence – and he very rarely loses.
In the following comparison chart I would like to outline my – naturally personal – opinion about the strengths of the players in the various components. The maximum number of points in each category is 10. This is not an “absolute value”, it is intended to indicate the player’s position and his strength in this segment among the top ten players in the world ranking.
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| Opening: | 9 | 10 | ||
| Tactics: | 10 | 8 | ||
| Calculation of variations: | 10 | 9 | ||
| Attack: | 10 | 7 | ||
| Defence: | 9 | 9 | ||
| Positional game: | 9 | 10 | ||
| Strategy: | 8 | 9 | ||
| Endgame technique: | 8 | 10 |
Of course, and this must be emphasized strongly, a contest for the world championship is not decided by chess-playing abilities alone. Other factors will play an important part: good physical condition, clever match strategy, motivation, the right team of seconds, better preparation – not least of all, their form during the contest. The player who manages to manoeuvre the duel into a favourable direction for him to achieve “his” position may thereby possibly gain the decisive advantage.
[Universal Event Promotion. Preview World Chess Championship. October 09, 2008]
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Hi Peter,
happy birthday to you on this beautiful day in The Netherlands!
Wish you all the best, also for ChessVibes and your coverage in the upcoming ‘hot’ months with so many important events.
What a ballanced review by Artur! Gives us an idea for the coming interesting match.
Clear advantage for Anand: 73 to 72!
Thanks Ardjan, and don’t worry - now I’m going into town to celebrate. You enjoy the rest of your wedding da.y
“Clear advantage for Anand: 73 to 72!”
This would become clear to everyone if they would play a 145-game match.
I think that nerves may pay a big part and here i Think Kramnik will have the advantage.
I certainly respect Yusupov’s chess knowledge which dwarf’s mine, but I’m going to go with Kramnik in this match.
I think psychological Kramnik is a very tough opponent. Especially in a match. He learned a lot of his loss years ago from Shirov, did beat Kasparov in a match and not to forget hit match against Topalov.
Did Anand ever play and win such an important match? In cannot remember. Once he lost form Kasparov in New York. He became worldchampion in a knock-out tournament and in a double roundrobin.
I hope he will surprise me and win!
I guess Jussupow really knows what he is writing about. Was`nt he in Anand`s team in New York against Kasparov?
But I think Rubinstein has a very good point. Kramnik has nerves of steel, and this may decide the match. He was up against the wall against Leko, and all he mess with Toiletov …
I also read the interview with Kramnik at the chessbase site. Leko is in his team!
Very exciting match coming up!
“Kramnik: Tactics: 8″
Hopefully Jussupow didn’t take 35.Qh7# into account when he made this evaluation.
Don’t worry James, since Jussupow is the co-author of the brilliant Ivanchuk-Jussupow 1991 fiësta, we can rely on his judgement regarding tactics.
James,
Looks like he did; otherwise, as far as I know, Kramnik is known as excellent tactician.
goooooooooooooooooooooooo vishyyyyyyyyyy anandddddddddd..u can do it..u are simply the best!!!!!!!!!!!we indians are al by your side……………al the best vey best!!!
An excellent article to add to the build up before the match ! I can’t wait !!
Whichever team and their computers that found the best defense with the Black pieces will win. Most likely both teams’ strategy is to play ultra solid to just hold the regular games and then play their more risky novelties in the tie-breaks. I smell sudden-death decision, shiver.
Come random chess…
I don´t care 4 Kramnik very much, but in my opinion he is clearly the favourite here.
Anand seems more naif in his aproach to this match.
“I smell sudden-death decision, shiver.
Come random chess…”
Oh, don’t tell. Sincerely, I would prefer draw odds.
jussu wrote: “Sincerely, I would prefer draw odds.”
Generally, I would agree, but not in THIS match! Many of us are waiting to see the world championship definitively resolved through match play. This contest is going to put the matter to rest.
Here’s to some exciting games! Cheers!
best of luck to both of them, worthy contendors for this world championship match.
but going by recent statistics anand looks to be a favourite.
In overall games, Anand has a 19-13 lead over Kramnik with 82 games ending in draws. In rapid and blitz, they have played 65 games, Anand winning 15 and losing 7.
source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3584881.cms
seems like Mr. Artur Jussupow has got his analysis bang on target, after what has transpired after the first 6 games.
So far so good according to his analysis.