After a day off today, Topalov and Kramnik will face each other again tomorrow. Kramnik will have White in game 3. There are 10 games left to play.
The match is far from over. If I am Topalov’s second, I would advise him to forget about the first two games and continue to stick to what he does best. He showed that he could beat Kramnik with this style. He had a win in his hands in the second game and he could have drawn at several instances in the first game.
Kramnik on the other hand is doing what everyone expects him to do. He is rock solid and remains one of the toughest players to beat. He proved that against Kasparov by not losing a single game. He proved that by having the longest non-losing streak in chess.
What is your opinion? Should Topalov change his game or should he stick to his gun? How should Kramnik play being up 2 to 0?
As a Kramnik fan, nobody is giving this guy any credit. All the talk of Topalov choking and Topalov should be winning the match. I think Kramnik is just better. Topalov is not out of the match but Kramnik is playing better chess than Topalov right now.
I think topalov shud stick to his guns and play aggressively. A draw with black would settle him down a bit. With white he should go for a win.
He has no choice but to play aggresively since he is down so significantly
He still has five whites, so there’s no need for desperation.
What about this non-losing streak ?
Does anyone know how many games that was ?
I think Tal (the late Tal :-)) had a similar streak of about 80 games.
That picture of Topalov looks like a deer in headlights! Come to think of it, he often looks like that!?
10 remaining games is an extremely short span to make up 2 points – especially against someone as solid as Kramnik.
I agree that Kramnik has not been given too much credit for having iron nerves and impeccable technique, but perhaps once the match is over he may get some good reviews.
Best of luck to both of them… more games of the same calibre would be awesome!
I think he should stick to his game because it’s what he does best and because he had winning chances playing this way. But I have a feeling he is a bit to eager. He doesn’t have to prove he is a good player. Perhaps he should be a bit more relaxed.
Topalov will bounce back. This match is far from over.
If I had any, I would bet on Topalov for Tuesday’s game, despite him having black.
Good advice for Topalov. It’s too late to change his style now. In fact, I think that would be suicidal for his chances. He just needs to steady himself.
Meanwhile, that picture looks like he’s thinking “I can’t believe I missed *that* move!” 🙂
I think Topalov should play his same game, but just a bit more time at those critical points to analyze correctly. Easier said than done, I’m sure, as I’m not the one sitting across from Kramnik.
I’m guessing he’s suffering from nerves. With the day of rest and a couple of rough games behind him, I think he will be able to score 1.5-0.5 for the next two games.
Its over. Topalov should just feign injury the way Justine Henin Hardene did in the Australian Open Final. Kramnik is liable to pull out the Berlin Defense soon, and then its snoozeville. Topalov is lost. Plain and simple. The match is over. All hail Kramnik, the undisputed World Chess Champion!!
I WONDER: Will Kramnik go into hardcore “play for a draw” mode, attempting to ride out the remaining 10 games?
If he does, I think Topalov would have success, and Kramnik would regret the strategy. Topalov is even stronger now than Leko was in 2004.
Topalov is not going to fall for “rope a dope” every time Topalov gets a positional advantage.
If Topalov wins the next decisive game (non-draw), then either player could win the match.
But if Topalov loses the next decisive game, that would be too big a deficit against a sitting World Chess Champion.
BTWay, all WCC title matches have their share of blunders.
Topalov has to keep playing very aggressive chess. In the first place, it’s his nature, and whatever you may think of it, he has to stick with what got him here. In the second place, he’s behind 0-2. He has to create complications and hope for more opportunities like the one he blew in Game 2.
No one can be happy with an 0-2 score. But the fact is he had totally equalized (and was perhaps marginally better) in Game 1, and missed a clear win in Game 2. His match strategy, in other words, created precisely the kinds of opportunities he needed.
This is not meant to take anything away from Kramnik. But the fact is that Topalov gave away both games with errors that, for a player on his level, are unusual. With just *reasonable* play, Topalov would be 1.5-0.5 right now. His *strategy* worked, and it’s only due to blunders that he’s in the position he’s in. It’s not much consolation, but when you’re 0-2, you need to take your bright spots where you find them.
I don’t see Kramnik changing his strategy either, because Kramnik so far has played his game, and it has worked. Obviously he won’t take any big risks now, but Kramnik isn’t a big risk-taker to begin with.
I think Topalov simply has no choice. Playing placid, non-aggressive chess isn’t going to get him anywhere against Kramnik.. I don’t think he can compete in that style with him. He has no choice but to attack. The key for him will be not to go hog wild and keep a handle on the positions which he failed to do in the first two games.
I think the first thing Topalov should do is equalize the score.
He should focus totally on first gaining 1 point, then 2 and then breakthrough…
Here are five things I would tell him.
1. Topalov first needs to believe in himself. If he’s lost hope because of the score or the blunders then it doesn’t matter how he plays or what strategy he has. This is the biggest hurdle to overcome.
If he can overcome this hurdle (few can) then he will surely go on to win.
2. He needs to try to take each game into dynamic double edge positions. The kind he plays best. He should avoid technical positions. He should force Kramnik to make the absolute best move at every turn and severely punish him for the slightest blunder. It might be good to introduce openings that have never been played in world championship games before.
3. He needs to retain his sense of objectivity. He cannot play moves in Game 2 like 23. Rg2 (giving counterplay with fxg4 and Rxa4) or 26. h4 (instead of 26. Ng5). He needs to play good solid chess. He needs to find his game – when to play for a win, when to wait, when to take a draw.
4. He can’t afford to miss opportunities like 32..Bxf8. He needs to close out big games and capitalize immediately on any opportunities. There will be very few at this level.
5. He should force Kramnik to fight every game. Every game should be played out for 100 moves if necessary. Eventually Kramnik will tire and make a mistake. He has to win the battle of wills.
Its tough but not impossible
Hi Susan, and all …
I think this is a very exciting match, and as I have said in my report on game two for Chess Gateway, if I was Kramnik I would be far from happy at this stage. The score could (and should) have been very different.
Objectively, what is Topalov doing so wrong? Fact is, he should have drawn game one, and won game two. He blundered in both games, and is 2-0 down. It would be quite a different story were it not for those blunders! Is Kramnik the better player? I don’t know, I think there are some games left yet in this match for that to be shown one way or the other.
If I was on team Kramnik, I would be a little bit unhappy that we have needed two Topalov blunders to help us to a 2-0 lead. (I am not being disrespectful to Kramnik there, it is fact.) If I were on team Topalov, I would be disappointed with the score, yes, but I would tell him to keep going how he is, because it is presenting him with chances — and let’s face it, it is Topalov so far who has had the chances. However, I would also tell him, that he has to control his adrenaline rushes better and settle down!
I hope this match continues to produce the exciting chess it has so far … and I really do not think it is over yet!
Best Regards,
John Lee Shaw
PS — Susan, I have a game of yours v Judit as my Game of the Week this week, a rapid event in Spain 1993. It is not a win for you unfortunately, (you wont hold it against me I hope!), a great game though, I enjoyed analysing it 🙂
Topalov should play any way he wants, but he should remember that this is not Sofia, draws are allowed. It seems he created a new code of honor for himself – no draws, and pushes himself into losing rather than draw.
I think there is too much talk about Topalov’s troubles. He already showed twice this year that he can catch up with the winners even after disastrous starts. I am sure Kramnik is not relaxing, it’s not over yet.
Without question Topalov needs to remain true to his style. But he also needs to calm down. Two to three major errors a game are totally uncharacteristic of a player rated 2800. Appearances suggest Topalov is very prepared and expects to be the best player in the world. To assume that mantle he must not take Kramnik for granted and be a little humble about the enormous challenges chess gives to us all. If he can do that he’ll beat Kramnik even down two games.
Generally speaking, I think an aggressive style of play is better for tournaments and solid play is better for matches. However, given this situation, I agree with you that Topalov should continue what he’s doing. Kramnik’s health is a possible issue and his play might decline as a result of it.
Maybe the two losses will have had a sobering affect on Topalov. Maybe now he can settle down and focus on “his game” – which he should never abandon.
He has done this before – bouncing back after losing a few games. Fischer did it against Spassky – though of course the format was very different!
So this is Topalov’s opportunity. He can choose to see it as such. If he is now able to turn the tide in his favor and win the match, then there will be no doubt that he deserves to be considered as the World Champion – for this is something that a “Champion” does. He never gives up and he ultimately prevails even in the face of adversity!
Plus I should add – kudos to Kramnik and his superlative play. Though Topalov has so far NOT been playing up to his potential, we should not minimize the excellence of Kramnik’s play!
Dr. O
It’s time for Veselin to trade that darn pink tie for his power blue tie and begin the Deep Thought.
He also needs a good breakfast today.
The ice is broken, now it’s time to roll out the big guns (the heavy hitting preparation).
Vladimir must not let up, as well.
Veselin (and his team) should concentrate on exploiting Vladimir’s minor weakness.