World Championship: Anand does it again
20 October 2008, 14.53 CET | Last modified: 12:14 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags: Live games, Match, Rapid chess, Videos
Update: Video added.
Viswanathan Anand increased his lead today in the World Championship match after Vladimir Kramnik blundered on move 29. The score is now 3.5-1.5 for Anand.
Who would have thought that Vladimir Kramnik would lose not just one, but two games with the white pieces in this match? It’s a rare thing for someone who’s considered one of the most solid players around. But it happened today; in what was probably already a slightly worse position for him, he took a pawn that was poisened but the reason why only became clear 11 half-moves later.
By then most journalists in the press room had already rushed downstairs and into the playing hall, to witness the final moments of this game. Not just because our engines had started blinking on our screens, but rather because we had seen the tactic already before – it was the reason why White couldn’t take on d4 on move 27.
Soon after one of us actually said that Kramnik “had another chance to make that blunder”, the Russian… did it. Somehow it felt not right, but it happened. And there we went, to immortalize the moment Kramnik would resign on photo or video. Which means that on the video of game 5 you too can watch the horror… But first the report on the fifth game:
After resting on Sunday, the players are back, and so is the Semi-Slav...
...and Kramnik confidently re-enters the complicated territory of game three
After 12.exf6 Kramnik's right hand presses the clock...
...and Anand replies with 12...gxf6
Sometimes you accidently catch someone else's flash...
...which might leave an interesting shade
Here's the fifth game of the match:
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
|
3?Ǭ?
|
|||||||
| Kramnik | RUS | 2772 |
?Ǭ?
|
?Ǭ?
|
0
|
?Ǭ?
|
0
|
1?Ǭ?
|
Here's our playlist of videos:
Links:
- Official website
- Foidos
- Game commentary at TWIC, Crestbook, Chesspro and Chessdom
- Videos by Europe-Echecs
- Mig Greengard blogging
- GM Ian Rogers blogging
- Dennis Monokroussos blogging
- Games in PGN provided by TWIC
(Note that the comments below this article started during our live coverage of the game)
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Hmm….The same setup but an early Rg8. Wonder how much time Kramnik took to come up with Bf4
Yes, and again Kramnik has to check if Nxd4 is possible.
Kramnik is more than 30 min behind in time. 3rd game revisited?
Anand has used just 7 minutes, Kramnik more than 40. Apparently Kramnik has stumbled into another Anand home preparation like in game 3.
Where do you c the time?
Bas, I don’t see time here but on another connection. Kramnik has been thinking for 20 minutes about his current move and has used a full hour now. Apparently 17. – , f5 has taken him by surprise.
can Kramnik pull a rabbit out of the hat
hmm. The times are pretty essential. Chessvibes rules. Its suck a good site i get spoiled and want it even better. I NEED TIMES PETER.
lol just kidding.
Hope kramnik will bring up something good in response
Indeed 18.Rfc1 was played after about 40 minutes thinking.
How is the position at move 19. I don’t understand it.
Kramnik has to play a4 after the forced exchange of black-squared bishops
My Fritz says this position is advantageous to white, better than +1. Kramnik’s 20.a4 was also the silicone suggestion.
The machine sees a castled white king, two passed pawns and a doubled f-pawn for Black. It probably underrates Black’s activity.
Even if Fritz would be right, it doesn’t say that much in this very complicated position, with both kings potentially in danger. I’d rather have 30 minutes extra, like Anand.
this is a Fritz situation very double edged what happens after — Bxh4 Nxh4 Rg4 with threat for black of Ke2, Rg1?
I think that Kramnik will go for Nf5+
Kramnik again caught by surprise, again Anand was better prepared. But this time there is no excuse for his seconds because this is the same opening as in game 3 and they should have analysed it better.
As I posted just now at chessninja, with 14…Bb7, Anand seems to have done to Kramnik in this WCC what Kramink did to Kaspy with Berlin. Kramnik is in a damned-if-you-do and damned- if you dont, situation. If he now abandons Slav his strongest suit, he has to either play weaker openings in 1.d4 or shift to 1.e4 which is Anand’s strong suit. Down 1, he can’t do it. So he HAS to stick to Slav and butt his head against the Bb7 novelty, and here is pathetically out-prepared by months
So if he abandons 1. d4 and moves elsewhere his chances of scoring a a definite win (which he absolutely needs) are practically NIL, and if he continues playing Slav, his supporters (always sore-losers!) will complain loudly, “WHY is he running into Anand’s preparation with every white”!!!!!
Well, Kramnik is at the receiving end of the same kind of thing he was able to successfully hand out to Kaspy
White I think is actually better here. Especially with the nice rook swing protecting the 3rd rank. If white isnot going to get mated he will take this home, and as i dont see how anand going to crack this position i think kramnik will win this one.
Kramnik is down to 32 minutes for 18 moves. Not much in a pretty complicated position.
I don’t agree that Kramnik has nothing against the Bb7 novelty. It is not that onobvious an improvement and there is still plenty of life left in the Slav. Also, without computer to help, Kramnilk appears to have a much more solid position here. Can he survive?
I agree…I think the position is rather clear and double edged. It all boils down to who keeps their cool…white is “slightly” better…and any loose play by Anand could doom him..he needs to keep it on the knife edge
Very double edged. I like Kramnik’s possible a5 and a6.
Interesting, Anand has abandoned the G-file for the C-file.
ne5 and d3?
No…Qc1+ wins the b pawn and keeps the attack; or Nf6
Defendend by Qg5 and Qxf4, c1 is now protected.
I am thinking Kramnik may be going for perpetual…but could be wrong
Defended by Qg5+ and Qxf4, and c1 is protected.
I don’t think that this position can be correctly evaluated by Fritz or any computer. The position raises a very fundamental question: what will prevail: the two passes pawns for white or the black pawn majority in the center. Anyway, very interesting position, if you ask me.
Qf6…sounds like a really good move!
26. …, Qf6 !! creates again lots of danger for white.
the last move I have seen on The Week in Chess is 25 Qg4 has anything happened since?
nxd4 ?
26. – , Qf6 definitely means Anand is not interested in any kind of perpetual, he wants to fight this through to the end.
the moment of truth!! Rook takes bishop?
I wonder if Anand is gonna play 28. – , Ne5?
What does Rybka say of this position??? Anyone?
I don’t understand Nd4…more and more like an effort at a “perpetual”
34. – , Ne3! I think Kramnik must have missed that.
DAMN!
Kramnik lost again…………………………………………………..
unbelievable – did he just miss Ne3?
Anand New World Champion !?
its all over..wow
Kramnik resigns. 29.Nxd4 was a serious blunder!
mr happy( is what anand means) must be very happy winning again.
somewhere maybe any improvement for white?
2 points back has happened before for Kramnik but not against Anand
must be an enormous blow, lozing same opening twice
2 wins as black as well! Match over clearly! This is why matches should be 24 games as of old not 12!
its bye bye Kramnik……!!!
a real gift…sort of bad for this match, I want to see great wins, not unfortunate losses…
but I’m sure anand wont mind.
Well, as a Dane I’m not complaining. Anand’s second Peter Nielsen is Danish, so I know who I’m cheering for
Peter is an opening expert. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the Slav ideas are coming from him.
Ok, Vishy?Ǭ¥s strategy is to attack with black and to play positionally with white. I think it?Ǭ¥s a brilliant way of playing against somone as Kr?ɬ°mnik, don?Ǭ¥t you think?
What a sudden collapse?
Kramnik actually seemed to better after Anand missed Qc2, but then it is now clear that he had seen further than I (and, perhaps Kramnik) in laying that devilish Nxd4 trap.
In fact, I was perplexed by Rc3 (although a pretty good square to occupy), given that he was losing the d4 pawn, and ultimately leaving Kramnik with 2 remote connected passers…and then, Ne3!! happened.
I can see here shades of the stunts that Kaspy pulled on Anand in 1995.
Well, what is Kramnik going to respond with now? If he has a hidden weapon, he better show it now. Kramnik’s biggest problem is that, with Carlsen on Anand’s side, Anand also perhaps has a few mighty weapons still hidden away.
Ooh! What a salivating next few games we are in for?
Bravo, combination worthy of a world champ!
Woaw..
Great trick!
I
You mean, a Danish Slav? Sounds like a rich ethnic mixture!
Let me say this Kramnik supporters. (1) the match is not over; and (2) just looking at these games, it is clear that Anand has succeeded in getting Karmnik into tactical skirmishes which is not the latter’s forte. (3) If kramnik is to win, he needs to either be like Topalov, or get into strategic battles like Karpov…(4) and if he does lose, please do not offer pathetic excuses…so far this seems pretty one sided…
1) Anand will now be unofficial #1 on the live rating list again.
2) He is looking good to join the lineage of Steinitz at long last.
Despite te blunders by Kramnik, one should give credit to Anand for drawing out Kramnik to such Double edged positions (Which obviously is not to Kramnik’s liking.). These sharp positions compel Kramnik to spend more time on his clock. If you check Anand’s moves you can see that he keeps the complexity of the position meticulously – each move. More over, Kramnik is not comfortable when his King is attacked . In that sense, Anand has induced Kramnik to make mistakes . I think Anand will repeat 1.d4 since he doesnt want to run into Sveshnikov.
@Sunil: Yes you are right, Kramnik lost not because he blundered, it’s because Anand is better prepared for this mach. Kramnik insulted Anand many times before the mach. (like lending the crown, or that Anand can’t win against him with black and similar bs).
So that was even bigger stimulation for Anand to prepare well, and kramnik might even started to believe his bs and was too confident before the mach.
In retrospect, the exchange variation that Vladimir used in the first game was a good choice. At least he didn’t lose that game.
i think it’s all over can he really win 3 out of 7 against anand?not a chance!
1) Kramnik has asked that Leko’s toilet should be examined for the presence of any cables that may have been hidden there
2) Kramnik has also asked the arbiters that he will not play any more whites in this match.
I think this is going to be a one man show.
Hmm….
36. Rc7!?, Rxc7 37. g3, Rc2 38. Bd3, e2 39. Kf2, Rb2 40. b5, Ra2 42. Bxh7, Rxa4
not so easy (for an amateur like me).
maybe better: 38. …, Rd2! 39. Bc4, Rb2 40. b5, h6 but for an amateur like me it would still not be so easy to win this.
I guess there must be better continuations against Rc7/g3…
Next 2 games, (Game 6 and 7) Anand has white, so if Kramnik has to survive in this match then he has to something in next 2 games else he would be staring at winning 2 games out remaining 5!
3 things are clear:
- Kramnik is a human, Anand is a computer.
- The only human who could beat Anand in the whole world now no longer plays chess.
- Atleast we know now that Kramnik does not use Fritz in his restroom.
I hope the press conference video will be posted soon. For those who can’t wait that long here is audio-only version:
http://www.64thsquare.com/pc.mp3
Black can play: 37. … Rxc7 38 g3 Rc1 39 Kg2 Rc2+
Then after 40 Kf3 Rf2+ or after something else 40… e2
I think the Russian empire is unraveling. the might of the Russian machine and governmental resources is no longer as weighty as it seems. The Tiger of Madras, with his crack team of a Danish GM, Indian GM, and Rustam has shown the world that dedication, hard work, and intelligence will prevail over everything else. All the rubbish and arrogance spewed by Kramnik before the match, including his refusal to accept Anand as the WC from Mexico City last year was dishonorable. Now he has learnt a lesson. I hope that Anand and his seconds finish up the series with a well-deserved win. Then Kramnik, in all his arrogance, will know who is the better player in a match situation. Give credit to Vishy, you idiot.
Dear Ranajeet,
Saying that Anand is a computer is a big insult to him even if you are both indians.
Anand is an universal player, he can play double edges positions as well as he is able to defend inferiour positions a la Petrosian. Kramnik likes safety, and accumulating slight advantages.
There should be a match between Kasparov and Anand. Kramnik has lost his power. I think next year the championship fight will be a match between Gata Kamsky and Vishwanathan Anand.
Good point by Katata,
Anand plays a kind of advanced chess that is both human-like when needed and fierce like the computer when he wants to – Kramnik needs a Fritz by his side to compete
All hail to Anand – the cyborg (or the Terminator)
P.S – Kramnik had once said, Anand plays like the 23rd century chess.
now guys, come on, relax!
Anand knows Kramnik is an outstanding player. If my guess is right he is not going to think for a second that the match is “over” – while certainly (and deservedly) he should be feeling quite pleased with the position he has earned for himself thus far in this match.
Lets wait for an early finish of this match by Anand, while not trashing Kramnik. Perhaps he was just playing a few mind games hoping they would work in his favor. But I’m full of respect for the gentleman that he is just as much as Anand.
peace!
It’s finished for Kramnik! It’s fine to prepare … Despite qu’Anand had his game against Kramnik he was not afraid to participate in the Final Chess Master Bilbao
The game was lost due to blunder, right.
But let me state how BAD Kramnik was prepared for this most important game. After Game 2, he had surely asked his team the task: work your socks off and find something that makes me play this line with confidence and speed, since there must be chances for white ! But after a really simple flip of moves (Rg8 first) Kramnik had obviously to do the whole job on the board.Let ?Ǭ¥s see what Peter Leko can do
I guess with more of Heines & Kasims shots to come, Kramnik can be more than happy to play 10 games in hope. Topalov blunders won`t save him this time.
Kramnik has suicidal tendencies when playing under tense situations. His best moment was his match against Kasparov whom he won. But Anand had always caused him to have jitters.
“Anand had always caused him to have jitters.”
Kramnik’s record against Anand before this match was quite okay — I think 6 wins, 5 losses, and a whole lot of draws. I’d be interested to know what it is if you eliminate the early games and start around 1997…before that it is a matchup of a mature (albeit not peak) Anand against a juvenile Kramnik.
@piet: Thanks!
Now the interesting question is, does Anand go back to e4? He has White for the next two games. It would be very hard for Kramnik to win as Black against e4, and Kramnik has only three more Whites.
I wonder if Kramnik has something prepared in case he really HAS to win a game as Black. He probably must’ve prepared something, but I have a feeling it might have been kind of an afterthought within his preparation…gunning for the win as Black is just not his style. Anyway, Vishy knows all the drawing lines for White in the Spanish and Petroffs, which are hard to avoid for Black, and he rarely loses to the Sicilian either.
…And on the other hand, maybe Anand will instead reason, “Why not try to go up 3-0 and make him defend Black twice in a row?”, play d4, and really try to put the pressure on. That would be riskier but more interesting.
Let’s not over-react to two results – however exciting the Vishy wins have been (we are not used to fireworks this early in the match!). It is easy to start drawing amateurish conclusions (this seems to be a very typical chess-player strait), but I believe that Vlad knew exactly what he was doing today, trying to gain a psychologic advantage by confidently re-entering the same variation. And did the god-like engines not confirm that white was OK until right before the blunder? I think Vishy would be the first to admit that there is very little between these two players, he has just had the lucky breaks thanks to his excellent preparation. But Vlad is perhaps even more dangerous now, with his back against the wall. Vishy has been known to revert to a semi-paralysed state when confronted by a determined player who manages to manouver the position to his strenghts. So let’s see Pjotr Leko earn his compensation and come up with some imaginative opening choices for Vlad to start squeezing the life out of Vishy, and perhaps evening the match out at the death (we have seen this before…)! Here’s to a fantastic finish, with a fired-up Kramink coming ack with a vengeance!
It would indeed be interesting if Anand switches to 1.e4 just for Game 6 and then back to 1.d4 for Game 7. This would really unsettle Kramnik and his team. It is too bad that Peter Leko has been of no use to the Kramnik team, since Ananda has only palyed 1.d4 so far. I think that Kramnik should switch to Catalan.
I was also wondering if the Bb7 and sacrifice of b5 pawn idea was due to Magnus Carlsen and not Peter Heines. Does anybody have any inside info on this?
Seeking for novelties is one thing. One might call 14. .. Bb7 the ‘Anand-variation’ from now on. But when was the last time that a ‘real’ opening was named after someone?
Another thing. Perhaps, Peter, you could ask both players the next press conference if according to them physical training is also important for such a match and what they have done to be physical in good shape?
that should be ‘physically’ of course…
I think it would be in Kramnik’s best interests to ditch the 6.Bd3 Meran for the 6.Qc2 Anti-Meran, which Morozevich used to beat…Vladimir Kramnik! After 6…Bd6 7.g4, White is slightly better and has good winning chances.
dear friends !
till now i’ve only read opinion of u people. i don’t know who plays better, but the style of anand’s play is like managing every thing and showing every thing hanging. he is directly going for the target without missing any chance to catch him in a net. only person who had designed such net was Kasparov, who trapped anand many times in such situation. this style of working out a normal position in to win and an inferior position in to a draw is in capability of anand only.
i would not write any thing what my engine says or what was the possibility, only thing i would say that i enjoyed the game 3 most, in which it was difficult to guess who’ll win, next was game 2 in which anand lacked in time to find a winning line, and then game 5 which was enjoying kramnik’s blunder (as people say)
12 games is not enough. This situation clearly shows it!
It’s simply impossible for Kramnik to bounce back already now!
(after only 5 games)
It’s a shame.
But credit to Anand his preparation!
It’s clearly going to be difficult for Kramnik to come back, but it isn’t impossible. I certainly agree that more games would have been preferable. +2 after 5 would be a much more interesting situation in an 18 or 24 game match. Going from parity to near-panic in 3 games is unfortunate. So much shouldn’t hinge on one blunder in game 5.
I dont know why people started to think 12 game match is not enough.
it is more than enough. Isn’t it the same format Kramnik have beaten Topalov.
Better player wins …. I think So… so did Kramnik….That’s why he won against Topalov , even after forfeiting a match …That was incredible……
In this level there is hardly difference between players…Kasparov humiliated Anand in 95. Does not mean that there is huge diff in there playing strength….it is always finding the correct recipe in a match ….. that’s how it works……
Anand got the beating from kasparov …..Kramnik did the same damage to kaspy …and now Anand probably returning the favor …….
Unlike past when One or 2 Man used to rule now we have actually multiple ….it is very hard to find the best ……….
But no matter what ….I am very happy with Anand’s win…..I like the aggression …..let’s see How Kramnik reacts now…… If he can turn around from this he would be all time best ..no doubt about that …beating Kaspy , Toplalov and Anand is no joke……. I hope that does not happen … Go ANAND ………
You people never stop: First in 2000 Anand was not considered a real champion because he won the FIDE knock-out (with ALL the best players present except Kasparov and Kramnik). Then he wasn’t the real champion because he only won the World championship tournament (with ALL the best players, except Topalov). Now he will not be the real champion because the match is too short???
What does Anand have to do that you will consider him the real and worthy champion? Play a simul against Kramnik, Carlsen, Topalov, Morozevich, Ivanchuk, etc. ???
Anand will be the only person who came on top in 3 completelly different World Championship formats. No other player comes even close to that.
Anand may not be the greatest champion, but he certantly is the most versatile and most deserving champion in the history!!!
semipatz: “start around 1997?¢‚Ǩ¬¶before that it is a matchup of a mature (albeit not peak) Anand against a juvenile Kramnik.”
Actually in the January 1996 FIDE rating list Kramnik was tied at no 1 in the world together with Kasparov
@me
Who’s saying anything against Anand here? He’s a worthy, real champion now, and he will be if he wins the match. 12 games isn’t too short for a fair selection of a champion – it’s simply less interesting than a longer match. If Kramnik were at +2 at this stage it’d be a shame the match weren’t longer too.
I think Anand can go back to 1.e4 now since it will put pressure on Kramnik. I think if Kramnik will go for Petroff or Berlin wall then its just putting Anand closer and closer to victory.
I guess the truth is out, the toilet trips *do* make a difference!
Even as a die hard Anand supporter it makes me wonder if this is more due to the tactical errors of Kramnik rather than amazing play by Anand. In all the games upto a certain point both seemed to be playing well (apart from probably better opening preparation by Anand). In games 3 & 5 the game has decisively been won because of two major tactical errors. Bxd3 in game 3 and Nxd4 in game 5, both leading to an immediate loss. Should Kramnik go back to the basic rule that Chess is 99% tactics. Also the match ain’t over yet. Not until the fat lady sings.
Live Ratings pretty objective: 01 Anand 2792, Topalov 2791, Carlsen 2782, Ivanchuk 2781, Morozevich , Kramnik
The video of the final moves is priceless. The expressions of the two players, Kramnik trying to hold a poker face after Ne3! but not really managing to (it is clear that he had not seen it before Anand played it on the board), and also Anand itching to play Ne3 immediately in blitz tempo, but trying to convince himself to take a bit of time and check the variation one more time.
Anand can only play what is in front of him and if he wins then he’s WC period (in the line of WCs of Stenitz/Capa/Tal/Fischer/Kaspy etc etc). Having said that I don’t think many would have predicted that Kramnik would be two down after 5. 12 games is too short for any major changes in match strategy. Maybe something like 24 games in total but the winner can be decided any time after 12 if there is one of the competitors has a 3 game margin.
I know why Anand played well: he come with his wife, whearas Kramnik left his wife alone in Paris.
In 1990 the same thing happened for Karpov in Lyon: when he grought his wife (from the 13th game) he began playing very well.
A WCC of 24 games would have a lot of dull draws. Now I am sure we will only have fighting draws. So accept that in a fast world we have to be satisfied with a shorter WCC.
A true champion is one who is graceful in defeat. Anand in a recent interview was asked about his defeat to Kasprov and what he thought about the antics of Kasprov to distract him. Anand said ” He could have beaten me even without all that antics, at that time”. What a graceful way of accepting a defeat.
Let’s see what Kramnik will say at the end of this match.
Ne3!
What a nightmare move
I think it is rather stupid to say one person one only because of the other person’s mistakes/ blunders.
Let’s get this straight first: In Chess, if both players are to play perfect moves always, the game wil always result in a draw. What makes the game interesting is to see how one player can draw another player into making mistakes. This can be by getting into positions that the other person is uncomfortable with, making sacs with a deeper analysis, forcing the other person into time trouble etc.
I think that is what has precisely happened here. Anand has drawn Kramnik in territories that the latter is not really comfortable with and into positions that Anand probably calculates better. It is then to Anand’s credit that he has been able to take the game into that direction and force Kramnik into positions where the chances of his making a mistake are higher. Voila, that happened and Anand pocketed both games 3 & 5.
If anyone is looking for perfect, error-free chess, this is definitely not the place to find that!
DOUBLE STANDARDS: I think basically that any win by Anand will seek to be discredited by the Russian and/or Western system. True credit will not be provided for his remarkable accomplished by these people. Hence, we cannot look to them for support. Support will have to be from within, with morality and justice on our side.
That’s not true. Quite a few Russians and Westerners are admirers of Anand’s chess genius.