Topalov-Kramnik 1-0, no handshake
22 January 2008 13:49 PM CET | Last modified: 13:46 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
It’s actually pretty ridiculous that it’s the news of the moment, but we know you want to hear about it, so here it is: there was no handshake between Topalov and Kramnik (and neither of them protested about it). Two videos added.
Update 15:23h
Update 14:56h
We briefly talked to GM Sipke Ernst & GM Jan Gustafsson online, and this is their opinion about the current positions:
- Leko has a nice, pressing position against Carlsen;
-Van Wely’s position is a little bit passive. Probably something went wrong.
- Radjabov has a totally understandable position.
-The position in Topalov-Kramnik is about equal. The piece sacrifice seems to have practical chances. It has been analysed but never taken seriously. The idea is known from some games by IM Manuel Bosboom. Perhaps with a well-timed Rfd1, White can claim a small advantage.
Mr Karpov has just arrived in Wijk aan Zee. Here he watches the games, shown on tv screens in the press room, together with Hans Böhm (l.) and Ulf Andersson.
Update 15:41h
Short has played a quick draw, with Black against Movsesian. He’s a frequent visitor of the press room and he thinks Black’s position in this Anti-Moscow line is always looking a bit shaky. “But I don’t really understand these positions,” he added. 
A moment later, Short found the nice and probably winning queen sac 27. cxd5!? Rxf7 28. Rxc6+ Kb8 29. Nxf7 Rc8 30. dxe6 Nb6 31. e7 Re8 32. a5 Nd5 33. Nd6. Now that he does understand! (And it’s played now! What a game!)
Update 16:10h
Meanwhile, both Polgar-Radjabov and Gelfand-Anand have ended in a draw. Polgar is the first top player who against the Schliemann/Jänisch is trying it with the most important move 4.Nc3. She couldn’t prove an advantage, though. Gelfand played the novelty 11.Te1, compared to Kramnik-Carlsen, Tal Memorial 2007. Anand didn’t have any trouble reaching a dead equal position.
Update 16:10h
Meanwhile, both Polgar-Radjabov and Gelfand-Anand have ended in a draw. Polgar is the first top player who against the Schliemann/Jänisch is trying it with the most important move 4.Nc3. She couldn’t prove an advantage, though. Gelfand played the novelty 11.Te1, compared to Kramnik-Carlsen, Tal Memorial 2007. Anand didn’t have any trouble reaching a dead equal position.
Update 19:27h
All games in A have finished and we can safely say it was the best round so far. Topalov beats Kramnik, in a deeply prepared hodgepodge of moves that started with a knight sac on f7. It was all found by Cheparinov, who was given all credits by Topalov, during the press conference which we’ll publish later tonight.
Adams has finally put an end to his series of draws, by beating Van Wely. Since he doesn’t play 6.Bc4 against the Najdorf that often, it might well have been a little Fischer tribute, the former world champion who once stated that he would have a good chance for a draw against God with this move. Adams played a for him typical, positional game in which Black went down almost without a chance.
Not many people paid attention to Ivanchuk-Mamedyarov today, but it was quite an interesting draw, and the tactical phase was of a very high level. The leader, Carlsen, went down today. With Black against Leko he tried his Breyer, with Kamsky’s new idea 15…a5!?. Shirov & Svidler did 16.a4 in Khanty-Mansyisk, but Leko had prepared 16.Bd2. Soon afterwards, Carlsen went for a forced series of moves which he might have misjudged, because after it the white a-pawn quickly decided the game. An interview with Leko:
Aronian is the third dog walking away with the bone today. After his draw against Eljanov, nobody has seen him anymore, but this result was enough to catch Carlsen: the two now lead with 5.5 out of 9.
Update January 23, 11:55h
Movsesian, participating in Wijk aan Zee for the first time, but possible playing in sweaters for the last time. He has good chances to promote to A, where suits are more common (except for Ivanchuk, who hasn’t changed his sweater thus far…)
In C, Caruana seems to be going for the tournament victory after all. An impressive win over Van der Wiel made his intentions clear once more, and he’s now a half point clear with 7 out of 9. Braun missed his GM-norm after scoring zero points in the last three rounds, but he still has a slight chance when he gets himself together and starts collecting poinst again.
The Honorary Group saw two more draws. Timman-Portisch was one of the most boring Berlin Draws we’ve ever seen, but Ljubojevic-Korchnoi was actually a great game with piece sacrifices, counter-attacks and, unfortunately, a sudden liquidation to a drawn rook ending.
| Grandmastergroup A M. Adams - L. van Wely 1-0 L. Aronian - P. Eljanov ½-½ V. Ivanchuk - S. Mamedyarov ½-½ J. Polgar - T. Radjabov ½-½ V. Topalov - V. Kramnik 1-0 B. Gelfand - V. Anand ½-½ P. Leko - M. Carlsen 1-0 |
Grandmastergroup B S. Movsesian - N. Short ½-½ J. Smeets - W. Spoelman Nepomniachtchi - Stellwagen 1-0 E. L’Ami - Y. Hou H. Koneru - P. Harikrishna ½-½ G. Sargissian - E. Bacrot ½-½ I. Cheparinov - M. Krasenkow 1-0 |
Grandmastergroup C Z. Peng - I. Krush ½-½ M. van der Werf - P. Negi ½-½ D. Ruijgrok - F. Nijboer 1-0 D. Reinderman - A. Ushenina 1-0 E. Grivas - S. Li 0-1 F. Caruana - J. van der Wiel 1-0 P. Carlsson - A. Braun 1-0 |
Schedule/results Honorary Four:
| Round 1 - Saturday the 19th L. Ljubojevic - J. Timman 0-1 V. Kortchnoi - L. Portisch 1-0 |
Round 2 - Sunday the 20th V. Kortchnoi - J. Timman ½-½ L. Portisch - L. Ljubojevic ½-½ |
Round 3 - Tuesday the 22nd J. Timman - L. Portisch ½-½ L. Ljubojevic - V. Kortchnoi ½-½ |
Round 4 - Wednesday the 23rd J. Timman - L. Ljubojevic L. Portisch - V. Kortchnoi |
Round 5 - Friday the 25th L. Portisch - J. Timman V. Kortchnoi - L. Ljubojevic |
Round 6 - Saturday the 26th J. Timman - V. Kortchnoi L. Ljubojevic - L. Portisch |
New photos by forest:
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External links:
How childish can you get. Grow up.
I’m disappointed that Kramnik didn’t offer to shake hands. He’s the king, he beat Topalov in his WC match, he should have shown magnanimity.
I think it would be ridiculous if they *had* shaken hands…
I guess the arbiter did not ask them to hake hands then, or else both would have lost according to the rule:
“Any player who does not shake hands with the opponent (or greets the opponent in a normal social manner in accordance with the conventional rules of their society) before the game starts in a FIDE tournament or during a FIDE match (and does not do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game”.
Gaan we nu weer over tot de interessante schaakverslaggeving? En dan bedoel ik de schaaktechnische kant. Voor de mensen die het niet meer weten: met de hand waarmee je je tegenstander wel of geen hand kunt geven kun je ook zetten op het zogenaamde schaakbord uitvoeren. Daarmee kun je het doel van het spel proberen te bereiken: het verslaan van je tegenstander.
I can understand why they wouldn’t want to shake hands, but I think they could show a little courtesy to the tournament organisers. They obviously have it high on their agenda given how they handled Short-Cheparinov. They did show up in suits, so they obviously feel that chess and style are linked.
Well surprise, couldn’t see that coming! Shame to see chess being poorly represented by two of its leading representatives (Topalov’s crowd in particular if they were engineering yesterday as a trial case and given the number of distainful scandals they have been involved in of late).
Hey guys, have you had a look at the game? What a bomb (12.Kxf7) from Topalov! For me it is interesting that he uncovered such a novelty in this tournament, he didn’t try to preserve it for later.
It’s kind of strange that Kramnik doesn’t shake hands, when he himself was on the committee that decreed, about Short-Cheparinov, that “[b]oth players must shake hands at the start of the game.”
http://www.coruschess.com/article.php?s=n157
Wonderful! No one is interested in the game itself, but only in some disgusting things it…
Actually, I’m interested in both.
The one handshake thing probably guarantees fireworks on the board.
Topalov has obviously prepared a lot.
@~~~~:
So, what you think about the Topalov “bomb”. It seems to be correct!? Unbelievable, people had been playing this position for ages, but no one found the sacrifice on the move 12!
I think that Kramnik withstood the attack quite well. Now (after 20. … Kc8) Topalov’s attack doesn’t look so dangerous, black is a pawn up and may be able to develop a K-side initiative.
He still has to finish it before you can call it a novelty. It looks far from over.
Clever guys!!!!!!! Nobody protested, no circus!
@~~~~:
the (c-)pawn will be captured back in few moves… Right?
@vasil__:
no doubts, they negotiated the problem on Monday.
“the (c-)pawn will be captured back in few moves… Right?”
It looks pretty weak, yes.
seems it not so bad for blacks, till they have this K on d5. If Topalov knows how to take him away it will be clear that Kxf7 was right
White are winning
21.a4 b4 22.Rd1 Qh5 (с идеей 23…Kxb7 24.Qxd7+ Nc7 25.Rd6 Qe8!)
23.Nd6 Kc7 24.Rxd5! cxd5 25.Qe7 Re8 (пытаясь откупиться материалом)
26.Nb5! Kc8 27.Qxb4! , и черным плохо.
Will Topa see Rd1 - Rd5!!
@~~~~:
more specific, White is going to place rooks on d1 and c1…
Hmm, yes. Perhaps my sympathy for Kramnik clouded my judgment, it does look like Black is in trouble….
Rc1 is more natural. And to be honest nothing is still so deadly after Rd1-d5, Black king is exposed but they have two rooks to blow up white kings castle. But… that is the game of the Corus 2008 i think. And Topalov is the one that played. Kramnik is just a partner…
Hahahaha, cool photo.
@Sanja:
Does it make a sense to add to the picture 2 parallel lines going from arrows to under the table?
thx vibes,
the video is fantastic (the backgrounf music is rather good as well). It shows nicely how ridiculous the whole thing is.
btw.: Is Gustafsson commenting somewhere? If yes, please tell us where….
@chris, actually Gusti just gave some loose comments… for serious chess analysis, please check out the press conferences after the games
After 23…b3 position seems Topalov is winning!
Radjabov has a “totally understandable position”?
Finally! So much of this stuff goes over my head!
Danailov’s gambit seems to be winning after the novelty “Cheparinov sacriface”!!!
Your video made me laugh so hard with the music, thank you Chessvibes
I also had a good laugh when I could see the disappointed look on Topalov’s face when Kramnik didn’t even try to shake his hand.
Considering even boxing, K1, MMA and such fighters salute before the match (while they utterly destroy each other afterwards), I hope our ego monsters will come back to a more sportive behaviour one of these days.
Whoa, a Queen sac!
It seems to me that Topalov just missed a clear win! 27.h3 and soon it would be shake or not to shake, but over. I’m not so sure now after he played 27.cxd5 , Kramnik gets some fighting chances with the pawn on b3 and the queen on the board.
queen sac was no good. Kramnik just missed 29…Qe2!! with the threat of Qxf1+ and b2!
Well, Maradonna sniffs coke, Mike Tyson is in jail and Topalov wears a pink tie, has a strange accent and doesn’t shake hands. What the hell, this is a great game. I think a lot of energy is unloaded here - no need to fuss over if 27 h3 wins easier, as boring old Fritz suggests.
I cannot see any obstacles for Black
Sorry, for White
i think it’s all over now… great game by topalov. it’s a shame it will be remembered for their childish attitude.
will kramnik offer a handshake as a resignation???
@Frits Fritschy: Of Fritz suggests the move, ’cause it simply was a good move! Nd5 and pawn on e6 were hanging…. We don’t need Fritz to tell us that.
Firstly thx for all your great work with video which i truly dig.
I think all this about handshaking is a bit over the top. The most important thing is that the players don’t try subtle forms of gamesmanship e.g. smelling bad, having a whispering campaign against a player, etc. After all they are playing for a lot of money.
On Sunday I played in a minor league chess match in Germany. my oppponent wanted to shake my hand twice. I refused the second time pointing out (in German) we had already shaken hands. “Ah”, he said, “that was to say hullo ”
Still I didn’t offer my hand; once is enough. I won in less than an hour anyway.
After 43.e7 Black is going to resign, I bet
Although I thought Kramnik’s Rg8 was a little weak, I have the feeling Topalov is losing his edge. He seems to be winning, but keeps making these slow moves.
I lost my bet, few moves more needed…
nice work from Topalov. Ultimate way to put someone down. Brilliant preparation.
So happy Topalov beat Kramnik. What a bold, creative player Topalov is!
What is the computer thinking of Ne6 now?
The trajectory of Topalov’s knight remind me the well known problem about going with knight over all squares
Atomic novelty and nice game, although White could win much faster. BTW, I’m a Kramnik fan 
TOPALOV RULEZ!!!!
The worst thing now is we have to listen to that idiot Danailov who will be gloating big time. By the way Topalov is still behind Kramnik in the standings.
Maybe Carlsen will win this Corus after all.
When will people accept that V. Topalov is the best active player right now? His achievements after Kasparov retirement are huge. I´ve been following him since the 90´s, when he was one of the few players that beated Kasparov repeteadly…. and he beated him in his last game in Linares. He stayed being #1 in the world for quite some time, not until FIDE updates the list like Kramnik and Anand… those two stay in the #1 spot only for 3months and that´s it. Topalov is not rude, he had the right to complain. We shouldnt be “satanizing” that.
Ahh, and he would still be number 1 if FIDE and the chess community were less harsh with him! You think that only affects Short and Kramnik? Come on, people! It seems the other GMs are jealous because he took Kasparov´s place and they thought they were going to take it…
As mentioned by Andrei Devjatkin, Topalov won somehow similar game against Ktamnik in 1999 (Linares). Today he played for “win or death” and succeeded. Well, let’s see what is going to happen over a long distance. As for Rubinstein comment, I entirely agree.
A very good day for Bulgarian chess: Cheparinov’s game against Krasenkow (commented on chessdom.com) was also fine.
What is all this nonsense about Danailov?
How can you be forced to listen to him? This is very suspicious in my opinion, there seems to be a systematic attempt at character assassination / mobbing against him (mostly from de facto poison pens i.e. anonymous Email writers)
@joe justice answer
Can’t you choose a different name?
@Dominicanchess:
Who is #1 in chess world is determined by results, not by elections.
@joe justice answer on 22 January 2008 3:51 PM posted
“Danailov’s gambit seems to be winning after the novelty “Cheparinov sacriface”!!!”
I agree cheparinov did sacrifice his face by his deplorable behavior.
Pressconference just given and pretty impressive preparation!
@Wolf Gray
#1 Player should be the representation of chess, its highs, lows, and the war that it represents. #1 player should be ashamed to draw a game shortly just because he thinks the position offers chances for both sides to win. So he draws in 17 moves. Also, if he is really to be #1, shouldnt he be confident when playing any other player in the world? Topalov said before the “Toilet match”: “I have to play this match no matter that my advantage in rating is so much more than my opponent. It should be another player, but I have to show I´m #1 and world champion, so I have to play”.
“TO AVOID DRAWS IN TOP CHESS TOURNAMENTS AN OFFICIAL FIDE RULE SHOULD BE TO INVITE TOPALOV, SHIROV AND MOROZEVICH TO ALL TOP TOURNAMENTS” Chessbase.com
Correction: the game in Linares 1999 was draw; but it is very similar (4.Nxf7!?) by intrigue.
@Dominicanchess:
I respect your emotions
Same here, Wolf!
Woow, Kramnik has lost!
unbelievble!
Keep in mind the in the Topalov’s preparation participates Chaparinov too.
I remember the Linares Cochrane very well. I was playing the gambit myself at every opportunity (with a very good result) and was hugely pleased for it to receive the Super-GM seal of approval.
I do hate Topalov but this win was really beautiful but everyone knows that this is a pre-prepared novelty of Topalov team which the team includes computers and some computer runner people (i.e, cheparinov)) and this win not came from Topalov’s mind.
There are sometimes such games (for example remember last year what Kramnik did against Carlsen by sacrificing his knight or bishop i don’t remember exactly which was. But it was a rapid game and surely such novelties are not being found during the game, generally they are results of long computer analysis)
Anyway congratulations to computer analysis! And remember Kramnik is still up to Topalov in every cases!
Topalov plays the more exciting chess, but Kramnik is ’stronger’ and will win a match every time imho.
Hayri,
To do a homework is part of the game. And computers are part of it. however, the original idea i.e. Nf7 cannot come from a PC but can only come from a briliant mind with deep understanding of the game and immense talent - either Topalov or Cheparinov. Then, the computers can be used to verfy the idea.
BTW, help me: I do not remember when was the last time that Kramnik came up with a novelty.
BTW, Fritz was giving -2.00 for 14.Nf7
” I do not remember when was the last time that Kramnik came up with a novelty”
Kramnik-Aronian last week, maybe?
fritz didn’t have a clue about topalov-kramnik
Neither Kramnik nor Topalov should be allowed to play as they violate the rule. FIDE should have zero tolerence to any misconduct. Top players should act as examples to follow the rules.
For last 5 years (since 2003), classical chess: Kramnik-Topalov +9-6=11
jj: Nf7 cannot come from a PC but can only come from a briliant mind with deep understanding of the game and immense talent - either Topalov or Cheparinov. Then, the computers can be used to verfy the idea.
I certainly dont mind Topalov but Kramnik is such a bloody bastard, I JUST HATE KRAMNIK !!!!
Cherney,
You filthy midget, can you explain why you hate Kramnik so much.
Did he screw your wife maybe ?
Are you actually interested in chess, or do you just use it
to spread your hatred and compensate for the frustrations in your life ?!
Topalov have the most spectacular style of play. He make a lot of lost, but his win games are a total pleasure for all chess fans. The Corus game Topalov-Kramnik was a fantastic! Congratulations to Veselin! Keep going in the same way plese…
BTW- why nobody speak about the Kramnik’s victory against Aronian? Acording the rules it must be draw - between 57 and 110 moves there are no piece exchanges. The rule is that if 50 or more moves in the game are not captures or moves of pawn -IT IS DRAW! Comment it please!
@steven
Steven, why do you love Kramik so much?
Maybe you like him because you like the way he screw you?
Stupid moron
Hayri — sure, computer preparation is a part of the game. Are you suggesting that Kramnik plays Fischer Random? Or, that kramnik has no preparation, going back decades in the typical debutes he utilizes? Or that Kramnik uses no computers, seconds, etc?
Oh, and that opening line “I hate Topalov” - wow!! Thanks for sharing! Now I know I’m dealing with a brainless midget of that pseudo-moralistic and dull crowd with very little original thought. Enjoy the safety of numerical superiority amongst similarly brainless dummies — the forums are full of them, the World is yours…
Good game. But both looked stupid by not shaking hands.
[quote]kostadinov on 22 januari 2008 21:51
[...]BTW- why nobody speak about the Kramnik’s victory against Aronian? Acording the rules it must be draw - between 57 and 110 moves there are no piece exchanges. The rule is that if 50 or more moves in the game are not captures or moves of pawn -IT IS DRAW! Comment it please![/quote]
Hmm, that’s most peculiar. I just had a look and it apears to me that you are right.
That would be (another) blow to the arbiters at Corus,
as long as you don’t claim there is no draw!
@slibbe:
Isn’t the rule formulated “no exchanges and CHECKS”?
rule is no pawnmoves or exchanges, and pawnmoves have been made in that period.
forest is right, no discusion
afcourse if aronian not clamed the traw he lost the game, but i’m very surprised that all sites congratulates kramnik for this victory and nobody speak about that THIS MUST BE DRAW if aronian was call the arbiter. i think kramnik must be not proud with this “victory”…
p.s. sorry for my bad english
to much credit to Topalov, Cheparinov (and even Fritz..) for the novelty. As Chessvibes already wrote in the introduction, it was played several times before by the Dutch IM Manuel Bosboom, who some of us might remember from several years ago as the IM who beat Kasparov in a blitz game. He is a very inventive player and deserves the credit too.
El torneo esta abierto, lo pueden ganr 6 jugadores disfrutemos de las partidas comentadas
This is a fenomenal effort on your part.great site ,great fortos great everything Congratulations Canomd
I think, these grand masters are very bad examples for young chess players. They need to be punished for not shaking the hands. The worst was on EU championship 2007, when Teimur Radjabov, giving interview told “Armenian chess players are my enemies and I hate them ”. I think, you have to respect your opponent, in case you don’t, just don’t play with him!
@kostadinov:
Aronian couldn’t claim the draw, because there were PAWN MOVES in between
@kostadinov:
more specific: 66.h6+,68.f4,72.f5,100.f6,107.h7
@mayadi
The exact play in Bosboom-Maenhout was: 9 h4 g4 10 Ne5 h5 11 Le2 Lb7 12 0-0 Pbd7 13 Nxf7, which makes quite a difference. A brilliant idea by Bosboom, but compared to Topalov-Kramnik the Bishop is still at f8 and the f-file can be opened more easily. (By the way, my earlier posting wasn’t a reaction on yours; I hadn’t read it yet.)
@the rest
Bad relations between top players are as old as chess itself. In the 16th century Paolo Boi is rumoured to be poisoned; Staunton and Steinitz made mincemeat of their colleagues in their newspaper columns; Aljechin didn’t speak for years with Bogoljubow (and might have kept him out of tournaments); Botwinnik said something like that he had to hate his adversary; Kortsnoi and Petrosjan kicked each other under the table, and anyone can find more examples. Chess can be an intense game, and that effects relations. This tension can lead to beautiful games, as it did yesterday. I cannot help feeling that Topalov refrained from 27 h3 because it was just not enough in an emotional sense.
FIDE should do something to the effect that games can be played in a normal way. No physical harm, no distraction of the opponent. But you can’t force people to like each other. Forcing them to shake hands is forcing them to make an empty gesture. (And if people are without solid proof saying I have committed a crime and a friend says that I was in a position to do it, after first stating nothing happened, I would think twice to shake his hand again.)
And, thinking of Short, the same applies to what chessplayers write about each other (or about FIDE officials): FIDE should keep out of it.
There is no need for rules about just anything people don’t like or can’t handle.
very well said Francis ,thank you !!
kostadinov - are you toshko ?
Regarding the kind of chess both play- Topalov is 6 times in the public prize winner offers in 9 rounds, Kramnik is in 3 !!!
@gogomil:
who drawn these “public prize lists”? Why they offer to vote only for certain games, not giving opportunity to choose from all games played? That’s how (fake…) publicity is being created.
have to agree on this :]
Werkelijk te gek voor woorden dat Topalov vandaag de expertprijs kreeg van Sokolov voor zijn huiswerk tegen Kramnik, ook nog gemaakt door Cheparinov. Had niets met schaken te maken.
Kramnik didn’t have a chance against a so strong preparation.
Topalov didn’t want to shake hands with Kramnik, because he noted the Russian did not wash his hands in the toilet before the match…