After Veselin Topalov refused to attend press conferences together with his opponent, they lost much of their appeal. There are neither questions to both players, nor contradicting opinions leading to debates… In order to make the press meetings more diverse, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov joined each of the players this evening. First he was assisted by Vladimir Kramnik (due to seniority?), and then – by Veselin Topalov.
Q: Vladimir, your supporters anticipated this game for about a week. A week and two days, to be more precise: your last game as White was played on September 26. What happened? Why such long-awaited game ended so unsatisfactory?– Maybe because it was anticipated too long…
VK: Actually, I played very sluggishly. It happens. I know from my experience at the World championships that one cannot always play at one’s best. From time to time there are bad days. Today I was not playing like myself, handing the whole game poorly. There is nothing to fear: I’ll relax tomorrow, and everything will be okay at the finish. Bad days just happen…
Q: Could it be caused by complacency after three Black draws?
VK: I don’t believe I lost because I was complacent. On the contrary, I played aggressively today, trying to win. But the game developed unsuccessfully – the opponent was lucky to see all his pieces arriving at proper locations sharp on time. His position did not fall apart almost by a miracle. Then I overpressed, and ended up in an unpleasant endgame. In addition, I defended in the worst possible way. I considered the position drawish, but it wasn’t so simple. After 37…g3 I see no saving chances for White.
Q: How do you plan to recover from such psychological blow as losing as White? Will you rest, or analyze the game to find all the mistakes?..
VK: I do not analyze my games during matches. And there is no psychological blow: a loss is a loss, no big deal. I am not going to cry to my pillow because of that; I am too old for it. We will play on. I’ll try making the best use of the rest day. The match situation is quite acceptable.
Q: Vladimir, you said it was not your day. Had you come across any unpleasant parallels: Brissago, game 8, White pieces…
VK: I did not think about it. And yes, indeed… Hmm… Well, something similar happens in almost every match. It is important to avoid such failures occurring more than once.
Q: Veselin, if I remember correctly, after the Game 2 you visited church, but failed to win. However, you won immediately after stopping to attend joint press conferences with Kramnik…
VT: To be honest, I don’t think there is direct relation between these two events. I just was lucky in the opening, managed to catch him on my preparation. I will abstain from judging his play, but the ending is very complex. Maybe I also made a couple of second-best moves, but generally I am happy with this game.
Q: Don’t you think the match develops in a non-standard way: when you attack, you lose, and the same happens when the initiative is in Kramnik’s hands…
VT: Actually, I don’t think the initiative in today’s game was in Vladimir’s hands. I won two pieces for a rook – only Black can be better after it. Generally, I don’t believe Vladimir imposed his will on me – we both went for a decisive battle, and… so it happened.
Q: Kramnik is an expert in the Meran. Have you chosen this opening on purpose, in order to affect your opponent psychologically?
VT: There is no psychology, I just like the opening. I also studied it. Kramnik played the Meran a lot with both colors about ten years ago, but we are playing today…
Q: A question to the FIDE President. How do you assess the current match situation?
KI: The most important is to have decisive games. Chess fans, and I speak on their behalf at the moment, are usually afraid to see dull struggle and weak intrigue. They want to see bloodshed, so to speak. And I am glad the plot is becoming more exciting! The score is equal with just four games let, two Blacks and two Whites. Public interest to the match is rising. Neither Volodya nor Veselin are hiding in bushes – they go to hand-to-hand fight. Chess fans like it, and I like it too, as chess player and FIDE President.
VT: In case you haven’t noticed, we are playing by Sofia rules: there were no draws without playing. This is the only way to make tournaments more exciting. In my opinion, FIDE should introduce this rule in all major tournaments.
Q: Veselin, do you think if the level of play was higher, there would have been more draws?
VT: There were many draws in recent matches (Kasparov-Kramnik and Kramnik-Leko) because the players did not want taking risks, and not because the level of play was higher. Draw is a normal result by itself, but quick draws is a big problem for chess, and we must take measures against them.
Q: What are your plans for the next game: take Kramnik nice and warm, win the match in classical chess, or play a tie-break?
VT: Anyhow. The result is of course important, but I arrived in Elista not to win in the match, but to show champion’s play. People must enjoy our games, otherwise what are we playing for?
I would like to see the sportsmanship of a true champion.
The result is of course important, but I arrived in Elista not to win in the match,…
Uh, yeah. Right.
People must enjoy our games, otherwise what are we playing for?
A half-million bucks apiece?
One needs to understand Kramnik a little in order to put his “the opponent was lucky” comment in true perspective. He considers chess much deeper than he is. Presumably, this applies to all humans as well. Any experienced tournament player can tell you of many occasions where he has been in a game where he or his opponent “fell” into a winning position. La Rochefaud said something to the effect that : “Men confuse the success of their grand designs with chance.” Kramnik’s other comments, along with the one that I have alluded to, were, on the whole philosophical. This should prepare him for sound play, regardless of the results, in the future games.
We particularly enjoyed Game 5…
People must enjoy our games, otherwise what are we playing for?
Yes, topalov’s play in it was perfect, since that game too!
But all in all: since the beginning, he should have be on top(^^),but with all intricacies, he is very low…
i wonder about that “good boy – bad boy” behavior of Topalov and Danailov – in the order of their comments – after Topalov’s win everything seems nice and comfortable again – as we use to say in germany (i could not find an english expression – please excuse):
Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen …
let’s see what will happen next… my guesses are:
we won’t see any 1.e4 game …
the match will finish 6:6 (game 5 fortified)
Topalov will win the tie break
Kramnik will sue FIDE and will declare his “carry on the reign in the traditon of Steinitz”
the schism of the chess world will become deeper than it was before the so called reunification match (we germans have special experiences in reunification affairs 🙂 …)
chess will become even more a schmuck’s sport, than it is today.
still sad – your’s Vohaul
Susan, it’s the first time a think your post is inappropriate – “the opponent was lucky” is taken out of context and comes across as arrogant, while in context is was a typical chess talk.
i ran fritz over topalov’s moves to see how high a percentage he had, and found out he was 100% in game 5
In game8 move 28 Bxe7??? that lost the game…I always hear GM say don’t trade down if your already down…on ICC live ..the kabitz comments were ” I could win with black now ” it has nothing to do with miracles or luck..kramnick just made some bad unlucky miracles
The lucky miracle was that Kramnik managed to win the first two games, or rather that Topalov managed to lose them. Game 5 was interesting because Kramnik was so obsessed with the toilet that he did not care about chess then.
It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed chess this much I just hope the FIDE don’t spoil it..Susan’s postings can’t be to everybodys flavour…I give her at least 99%AAA++
“hoddy said…
In game8 move 28 Bxe7??? that lost the game…I always hear GM say don’t trade down if your already down…on ICC live ..the kabitz comments were ” I could win with black now ” it has nothing to do with miracles or luck..kramnick just made some bad unlucky miracles
Friday, October 06, 2006 10:27:40 AM”
On the other hand, one of the GMs on the live commentary though black would play his bishop to b6, rather than e7 and exchange. If white retreated, maybe the road to b6 would be open.
White had an extra rook, maybe it belonged on the h file to keep black’s rook off there.
Black’s pieces didn’t fall into the right positions by accident or luck. The main causes were home preparation and Topalov’s supreme tactical skill which seems to be so far above Kramnik’s tactical skill (not to criticize; on that scale of course my own skill is pathetic) that the latter is getting superstitious about it.
By the way I am sure the quality of play is not lower than the Kramnik-Kasparov match.
Kramnik (the player whose play could be compared) appears to play worse. But actually it’s because Topalov is playing better than Kasparov did. Or maybe just by accident his pieces happen to fall into the right locations in game after game. 🙂
Agreed.
In 2000 match ,Kasparov was the shadow of himself.
Kramnik played a stable on his ELO 2770 level,but Kasparov oscillated.
I’m a great fan of 13th chess champion,but I must say : he got what he deserved!
And do you know why?
It wasn’t Kramnik who deserved to be Kasparov’s challenger in 2000.
It was Shirov who defeated Kramnik in their candidate match. Kasparov from unknown reason picked Kramnik.
That was highly unethical, and for good reason Shirov didn’t want to shake hand with him afterwards.
Price to pay for Kasparov : his title as we know.
Even worse:Kramnik avoided rematch
with Kasparov in quite unethical manner ;like Kasparov did to Shirov.Of course,Kramnik knew he would probably loose to Kasparov.Since 2000 on Kasparov had a positive score vs Kramnik.Kramnik was holding the title avoiding participating in FIDE WCs.
I remember that he stated in public :”I will wait untill Garry and Vishy get a bit older…”
Kramnik is very arrogant :”Opponent was lucky to see all his pieces arriving at proper locations”.
He wasn’t wasn’t lucky in first 2 games?
There is a lot of history going on here.Now,circle is closing and Kramnik is facing his determined opponent on rampage.
We will see who gets “lucky” in next 4 games.
‘I remember that he stated in public :”I will wait untill Garry and Vishy get a bit older…” ‘
Kramnik said that!?!? Can you find a reference to it? Has anyone else heard that?
Opponent was lucky that Kramnik couldn’t go to the toilet so much.
From the style of the games, I think Kramnik is in great danger. He might even lose a couple more times. However, unless Topalov give back game 5 willingly (if it’s allowable), many people might not consider him as a true champion.
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@Vohaul
I couldn’t find that either. How much richer is the Dutch (of which I reckon the German being a somewhat antiquated subdivision ;o)##) than the English! In Dutch the saying is almost the same as in German, litteraly as wel as metaphorically: Oude jongens krentenbrood.
But, while looking for an English equivalent, I chanced upon quite a number of other old English sayings that, without much phantasy, could be thought of as pertaining to the proceedings of this match.
The list I was searching in, comprised 776 entries, of which I thought 88 (I’m not really sure about the exact count, but it can’t be far off) where more or less relevant; that’s about 11,3%. Whatever this might signify, I don’t know, but to be on the safe side, I state here that I think it’s very suspicious!
Anyway, enjoy!
Clubs are trumps.
Accidents will happen.
After a storm comes a calm.
All are not saints that go to church.
All is fair in love and war.
All is grist that comes to the mill.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Blood is thicker than water.
A bully is always a coward.
Company in distress makes sorrow less.
Courtesy costs nothing.
Crime does(n’t) pay.
Curses like chickens come home to roost.
Desert and reward seldom keep company.
Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.
The devil looks after his own.
A door must be either open or shut.
Empty barrels make the most sound.
The end justifies the means.
To err is human; to forgive divine.
Every ass likes to hear himself bray.
Every law has a loophole.
Every man for himself, God for us all and the devil take the hindmost.
Every man has his faults.
Every man has his price.
Every man must eat a pack of dirt before he dies.
Evil to him who evil thinks.
The fat is in the fire.
Finders keepers.
Fine words butter no parsnips.
The first blow is half the battle.
Fling dirt enough and some will stick.
Give a thief enough rope and he’ll hang himself.
God is always on the side of might.
A good name is sooner lost than won.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Hard words break no bones.
He should have a long spoon that sups with the devil.
He that touched pitch shall be defiled.
He who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.
History repeats itself.
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
It’s a foolish bird, that soils its own nest.
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
It’s easy to be wise after the event.
It’s easy to bear the misfortunes of others.
It takes all sorts to make the world.
It takes two to make a quarrel.
It will be all the same in a hundred years.
Judge not, that ye not be judged.
Like master, like man.
Like will to like.
The love of money is the root of all evil.
Man does what he can and God what he will.
Men are known by the company they keep.
Much cry and little wool.
The nearer the church, the farther from God.
No man is infallible.
Nothing is as good as it seams.
Nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Once a thief, always a thief.
One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
Pleasant hours fly fast.
Possession is nine points of the law.
Put the saddle on the right horse.
The receiver is as bad as the thief.
Right or wrong, my country.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Stolen pleasures are sweetest.
There are lies, damned lies and statistics.
There’s none so blind as those who won’t see.
There’s nothing new under the sun.
A tree is known by it’s fruit.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
What can’t be cured, must be endured.
What’s done, cannot be undone.
Why keep a dog and bark yourself.
Wood half burnt is easily kindled.
A word spoken is past recalling.
Worse things happen at sea.
In case of 6:6 I don’t think that Topalov will be favoured because he’s stronger in the rapid play, but because the physical condition of Kramnik might hinder a good perforance in the last stages of the match.
To the contrary, in case of a tie, Topalov is not particularly an extraordinary rapid chess player. Kramnik would have some edge in rapid, but I would like to see this decided in the classical games … Otherwise, why they played a classical chess match?
I think that deciding this match by blitz is a disgrace. But then I’m one of those fossils who thinks 40 / 2.5 hours is the right time limit and there should be more games too.
I mean what’s the hurry? It’s not as if there’s a rock concert or a boating show that needs the venue right after Game 12! I guess the problem is that the players would have demanded even more money for a longer match?
[“To the contrary, in case of a tie, Topalov is not particularly an extraordinary rapid chess player. Kramnik would have some edge in rapid, but I would like to see this decided in the classical games …”
I’m not judging on the base of their rapid chess games in the past but on the rate they play in this match.
Each time you can see that Kramnik wastes almost twice as much time as Topalov in the middle game.
Therefore,status of favourite in rapid game is quite obvious to me.
-my 2 cents