This is the picture of the beginning of game 2 (from the official FIDE website). I am not at the playing site so I cannot tell you how Topalov was during the game. However, from this picture, Topalov looks more intense and Kramnik looks more relax.
This may come down to nerve and experience. In my opinion, if it is a World Championship like San Luis and Mexico City next year, it would favor Topalov. However, when it comes down to a head to head match, I believe it favors Kramnik.
Why?
– Match experience: Kramnik has been involved in more big matches including his biggest win against Kasparov back in 2000. He was not very good earlier in his career, losing badly to Shirov and Kamsky. But he improved drastically. His experience will prove to be very valuable.
– Nerve: Both have very strong nerves. However, when one player is the aggressor, that player tends to be more volatile. When things go right, spectacular stuff can happen. When things go wrong, the first 2 games happened.
This match is far from over. Topalov should have scored 1.5 – .5 instead of 0-2. He made his chances and he lost the games. He controlled his own destiny. Therefore, if Topalov can pull himself together and get moving with a spectacular win, you may see a string of consecutive wins. The problem is you may also see a string of losses like the first 2 games.
The other big factor is Kramnik’s endurance. Can he survive 10 more games with this kind of intense attack? No matter what the score is, Topalov will continue to charge like the bulls in Pamplona.
This reminds me of matches between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, Ali and Foreman, Detroit Pistons and LA Lakers, etc. The contrasting styles make things much more exciting!
Don’t forget about LIVE commentary right here by me for the next game as well as daily news update and chess puzzles!
Susan,
What is disappointing for me is not that Topalov is down 0-2. Fischer too was down and so was Kasparov but how could Topalov miss a simple mate in 3.
I remember reading Kramnik’s interview of Fischer-Spassky 1972 and saying “Spassky made those incredible 2 move tactical blunders every other game”.
Well Guess what Kramnik?
Now we know why that happens now that you have added your own !
But, how could Topalov miss these simple things. Remember Fischer has never missed these opportunities in WCC games. Same for Kasparov.
At this point, the big question is “Can Topalov recover psychologically!?”
Only Topalov can decide!
Susan,
I expect Kramnik, with his nonpareil defensive skills and rock-like structures, will simply not give Topalov any real chances now that he is up 1.5-.5 in such a short match. I expect to see Topy try his best to break through K’s defenses, unsuccessfully. Although he is a great fighter, you cannot spot a player like Kramnik this advantage and expect to win. Unless K’s physical condition deteriorate — which I do not expect — Topalov is in dire straits.
Great commentary by you today 🙂
Mike D.
Ooops! I mean Kramnik leads 2-0! (even more unbelievable than 1.5-.5)….
Hopefully this match won’t end up yet another scar for chess with fans seen leaving tearing up their tickets and many speculating that everything was not kosher.
Anon — this match has thus far been a classic fighting duel — Topalov simply blundered twice. No way can this be a scar to anything. I hope all WCC go like this — the players fighting to win. Must WCC matches have more errors than other tournaments or matches, historically, and for obvious reasons.
Mike D.
Susan, I have just played over your excellent analysis of the second game. What could have been a classic game succumbed to horrible blunders by both sides. This could be the most forgettable championship match in Fide history! Also, I’m not a chess analyst by any means, but don’t you think that Kramnik offered a draw to early in game 1?
Susan, may I suggest using more pictures of the positions, I’m thinking of people not having a board handy. Maybe not one picture a move, but one every 5 or so.
Thank’s for the great comments!
Susan,
I think that Topalov is very badly advised if not at all and he should change his entire team and namely Silvio Danailov.They do nothing to solve his psychological problems.
Mentally he wasn’t prepared to play Kramnik.
And the unfair accusations made by Morozevich have shattered him profoundly and he doesn’t know what is he doing right now.
Topalov is a very fragile person and he should follow an appropriate treatment.
kenhensleys@yahoo.com
what accusations are you talking about. what did Morozevich say. I never saw anything.
Kasparov Vs karpov
karpov vs korchnoi
Fisher vs spassky
…
Alekhine Euwe ( also )
those were great players and matches, but today
kramnik vs topalov’s games, are full of blunders, kramnik is playing like 2650 elo and topalov 2150, Qg6????????????????? ( the bigest blunder of chess )
Interesting.
On the plus side for Topalov, Kramnik has underestimated his opponent’s resources in both the first two games. His activity in game one and then his attacking chances in game two. Even more remarkable that the difficult position in game two followed direct out of Kramnik’s opening preparation. Remember Kramnik’s loss to Leko in that Marshall? Perhaps this then is Kramnik’s weak spot: underestimation of his opponent’s resources.
But Kramnik is two games up and this is a huge blow. Topalov needs to be sure he calculates short lines super-accurately in the rest of the match. Failure to do so has already cost him two games. This has also been a weak spot of his in some tournament games as well; he is more intuitive than analytical.
Out of all this, I have no idea what will happen next. Any predictions Susan?