Below is the commentary from the official site:
The match starts anew!
October 6, 2006
One of the most popular models of historical development is spiral. Some of the turns of this spiral, however, smack mystery. Brissago, 2004, Kramnik-Leko match, Game 8. Vladimir, who had everything under control, plays White, and suffers a crushing defeat almost without making a single original move. Despite being obviously discouraged, Kramnik fulfills his contract obligations and shows up at the press conference. With poker face he tells the journalists that this can happen to any player: nobody is perfect. Only enormous effort helped him leveling the match in the last game…
Explaining the events of the Game 8 today, Vladimir smiled ironically and light-heartedly admitted: “I played sluggishly, and nothing was working out. One cannot play the whole match on equally high level. Occasional failures are inevitable. It simply was not my day!” But only Vladimir himself can tell about his true feelings, either two years ago, or today.
Just yesterday the match situation was completely different: Kramnik not only was ahead, winning two and being forfeited on one, but also owned undisputable moral advantage, having parried three White ‘services’ of the opponent. After the Game 7, he even displayed indulgence: “If Veselin manages winning a simple game…’
Veselin won at once despite having Black, luring Kramnik out of his favorite positional chess to optically attractive tactical skirmish. Of course, this can be written off on bad day or bad luck, but it transpires that Topalov outplays his opponent in positions demanding much calculation. The Bulgarian acts braver and leads the play; his opening preparation also makes better impression.
Let us see what proves more important for the concluding part of the match – Kramnik’s rationalism or Topalov’s zeal. The score is even after eight games. The match starts anew!
The last i heard Kramnik was up by 2 points with Topolov winning in the bathroom. I would hope this gets fixed or chess is going to have zero credibility.
This is well said. Reminds me of Justin Hayward’s eloquence from one of his songs: “…arms around the future…back up against the past…”
(Moody Blues…Days Of Future Past)
Perhaps if we all would put the past of this match behind and approach it with Sting’s attitude of “A Brand New Day” there will be peacefulness on the scence instead of this discord. Let the confrontational mindset be on the board only and settle this on the 64 squares. Namaste Chessistic Ones…
Wow…that sure shows FIDE bias…
I wished I could also get a new start every time I fuck up. Makes life real easy and seems to please everyone. So why not?
Isn’t FIDE supposed to be neutral or at least pretending to be neutral? This seems a totally inappropriate statement on the official site. If Kramnik has to play constantly in hostile conditions, he will collapse, however good his chess is.
This statement is ompletely inappropriate.
What sort of creditibility does this lend to a ‘nonbiased’ entity, such as the FIDE?
This action is more subtle, as one would expect from organizations that are more experienced in diplomatic style methods, but in my opinion this statements are similar in nature to Danailov’s tactics.
FIDE intends to subtlely increment the pressure on Kramnik.
As you can tell, I am very disappointed.
hi susy, i really have no idea what the result of the match can be
a)Top, b)Kram , c)suspend it.
Before Kram lost his first (real gme), i had thought the following:
The guy who won the first game (after g5 onwards) would have if not a definitive opportunity a great opportunity to win the match.
if Topalov did -like he did- he´s moral would rock to heaven, he was low on that afterr everything u know already:; and if it was Kramnik -which hasnt been- then it could of been the coffin for Topalv, Now the score is even -whatev. happns afterwards regard g5. and if Kramnik´s experience helps him he should like he said recover from a bad game.
i tunned on that g around the 40th move and i didnt like his situation (even from his 7th g, if y´ve been reading my posts) and of course he lost, from viewing it alive and just as a quick scope befere he moved his rook to a1 to push for a5 i guess, i dont know if that was a blunder but he lost afterwards, but a move or two before, maybe (needs full analysis) he should of pushed the a pawn directly whilst topalov tried to finish him, it was his only ass and he just might of made it.
Also maybe before that when the position was getting unbearable, it was risky i know but he lost anyway, why not try to exchange a knight for a rook at least he would not die out of nothing.
well ive extended to much, my fault but taking a guess just for the record is that _____, i really dont know, well being negative about it, i guess C) MATCH SUSPENDED.
u do remember my very first comment dont you_?
bye and its rest day today,je hi to the true fans of chess.
bye from jb.
For reasons of convenience FIDE forgets they’re going to be sued for their decision regarding game five.
Will someone please show me how FIDE’s statement is biased? The match is now tied, that’s what they say. There is mention of bathroomgate, but there is a description of the dignity and grace with which Kramnik accepted the result of Game 8.
The fact that a loss hurts is no secret. And it was a real loss, no one-move blunder. Many were saying that Kxg3 was the losing move (even calling it a simple oversight!) but Kramnik says it was lost after he played f3 — nobody can even pin down the losing move which is a sign that white was generally outplayed.
This quote sounds pretty rude: “If Veselin manages winning a simple game …” If Kramnik said it, then it’s OK for FIDE to repeat it.
J’adoube the typo: There is NO mention of bathroomgate …
Veselin won at once despite having Black, luring Kramnik out of his favorite positional chess to optically attractive tactical skirmish. Of course, this can be written off on bad day or bad luck, but it transpires that Topalov outplays his opponent in positions demanding much calculation. The Bulgarian acts braver and leads the play; his opening preparation also makes better impression.
The FIDE statement was just good journalism – a reasonable point of view. Topalov plays more attractive chess.
Kramnik hasn’t won since he was called on his bizarre toilet habits.
FIDE biased or not?
None so blind as they who won’t see.