The playoff format is 4 rapid chess games (25 minutes per player + 10 seconds increment per move). If the score is still tied after the 4 rapid games then the players will play 2 blitz games (5 minutes per player + 10 seconds increment per move). If the score still remains tie then a sudden death “armageddon” game (White has 6 minutes vs. Black has 5 minutes) with Black having draw odd. What that means is if the “armageddon” game ends in a draw, Black would win the World Championship.
I will do my best to blog as fast as I could since this is rapid and the actions will be fast! This will be RAPID BLOGGING 🙂
Topalov – Kramnik
Game 1 – Playoff
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Qe2 O-O 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Re8 (This is where Kramnik deviated from game 2.)
15.Ne1 Rc8 16.f4 Bxe1 17.Rxe1 Bg6 18.Bf1 Rc2 19.b3 (Hot actions by both sides. The game started out similarly to game 2 where Topalov missed the win. The game is pretty much equal. Black has control of the open file. White has a pair of Bishop.)
19…Qa5 20.Bb5 (14…Be4 is an interesting move.)
20…Rd8 (White needs to play 15.Rd2 now. Cannot allow that Rook to sit on the 7th ranked. 15.Ba3 is also playable. This is a dynamic position where both sides have weaknesses. I still think that this is roughly equal.)
21.Re2 (As predicted. Too dangerous to allow Kramnik’s Rook on the 7th rank. Trading Rooks now is in order.)
21…Rcc8 (Shocking move. Now I like White. I think Kramnik needed to trade Rooks.)
22.Bd2 Qb6 23.Rf2 a6 24.Bf1 Rc6 (White may be able to start with g4 soon but Black is not lost at all. Black is OK but I prefer White and the space advantage.)
25.b4 Rc2 26.b5 (I like White very much with the space advantage and the Bishop pair.)
26…a5 27.Bc3 Rxf2 28.Qxf2 (Black’s pieces are very inactive. There is no immediate winning line for White. White should just continue to press.)
28…Qa7 29.Qd2 Ra8 (Black has Knight to b6 coming. Black is still fine but I somehow like the space in White’s position.)
30.Rc1 Nb6 31.Bb2 Nxa4 32.Ba3 h6 33.h3 Be4 34.Kh2 Nb6 35.Bc5 a4 36.Ra1 (I am not sure if Topalov will have enough for the Pawn sacrifice. Black is up a pawn but is stuck in an ugly pin. White has compensation for this pawn. Black is also down by 5 minutes on the clok. Time WILL be an issue since this is rapid chess.)
36…Nc4 37.Bxc4 b6 38.Qe3 Rc8 (Amazingly, this position is still even.)
39.Bf1 bxc5 40.dxc5 (Now Black has to take back with 40…Qxc5. Taking back with the Rook will lose because of 41.Rc1)
40…Qxc5 41.Qxc5 Rxc5 (This should be a draw. If White wants to win, 42.Kg1 may be the only shot.)
42.b6 Rc6 43.b7 Rb6 44.Ba6 (Now it will be a draw. It will end up with something like R and 4 Pawns on the same side.)
44…d4 45.Rxa4 Bxb7 46.Bxb7 Rxb7 47.Rxd4 (OK, 100% draw.) 1/2
Well, we did have an exciting game but Kramnik managed to hold. Now, the advantage has shifted to Kramnik since he will have 2 Whites in the final 3 rapid playoff games.
>> RAPID BLOGGING 🙂
Susan! LOL!
You are the best!
Have a nice typing… I will do my reading here with you. Thanks for the opportunity to learn some good chess.
Beco.
It will be a dark day for chess if Kramnik wins.
Topalov must win for the good of chess.
Then Kramnik can go to his toilet and cry his heart out and continue his spoilt brat routine saying he does not recognise Topalov as the world champion. It is so unfair that Topalov can win without visiting the toilet 18 times in one hour spending one to two minutes each time out of sight of the CCTV cameras.
Go Topalov, the true lovers of chess are behind you.
Only the fans of some mysterious, obscure, unseen and in all likelihood, non-existent “contractual obligation” supports Kramnik.
I think they will deviate from d4 in the rapid… get ready for a Ruy Lopez or Sicilian… would love to see some sick tactics…
Topalov to WIN!!
What’s the point of Topalov winning the rapid, considering he’s one game behind after the first 11 actual games?
The only way we’ll get an undisputed champion after 13 years is if Kramnik confirms today what he’s shown over the past couple of weeks and wins under FIDE’s rules as well as commonsense ones.
Saying that, I’m hoping for some exciting chess too. And we can all agree on that, and on the wonderful service Susan is doing all of us and the chess community with this blog and her commentary.
@anonymous 1:46
No, it is unfair for Topalov to get a point without having played for it.
Other Kramnik supporters:
1) CHESSBASE because Kramnik is their Fritz spokesman. Remember the Kramnik-Fritx match where Krmanik went 4-0 up then surprisingly lost the next 4 allowing Fritz to tie 4-4. How much has Kramnik received so far for the Fritz matches played and to come??
2) RUSSIANS like Karpov, Korchnoi, Bareev and Svidler. Why, because Kramnik is Russian. Nothing more need be said.
3) KASPAROV, an Azerbaijani who wants to be Russian and who is trying to get Russian public support for his political ambitions. So he must be seen to be more Russian than the natural Russians. And also the little detail that the basis of Kramnik’s dubious “World Champion” title is Kasparov’s PCA and later Braingames. It doesn’t go earlier than the Kasparov-Short match no matter what Kramnik fans may argue.
4) ACP because the rationale for ACP’s existence is to fight FIDE. So it must be true to itself and fight Topalov, the champion of FIDE, no matter how unprincipled its (ACP) stand is.
5) ANAND because he had come off second best to Topalov in recent times. Did you notice how Anand broke down at the Turin Olympiad immediately after yet another debacle against Topalov? Kramnik is a lesser threat to Anand.
6) SEIRAWAN for the same reasons as ACP above but also because he is anti-Kirsan. Anything Kirsan or FIDE (while Kirsan is head) do must be wrong no matter how right it is. So Seirawan uses his considerable writing skills to twist the facts in order to influence public opinion against FIDE/Kirsan.
7) MIG for the same reasons as Seirawan but not that bad. Mig has shown a bit of conscience and has recently acknowledged the correctness of Topalov’s position.
8) SHEEPLE ANTI-FIDE CHESS FANS who blindly (and unthinkingly) takes in whatever chessbase (and its agents) publicises.
9) KIRSAN because he must please Putin. Did you notice how Kirsan reversed his own decision and returned to Kramnik his beloved toilet? He also tried to give Kramnik a Game 5 replay but could do so not because that would bring down FIDE completely.
Here’s an idea: the real playoff should be one game of FischerRandom, the players draw lots to determine who’s White.
Toss out the opening books: nothing but Chess-skill counts.
To Anonymous 2:09
How can Topalov win at the board if Kramnik refused to turn up and play?
Toplaov was there ready to play Game 5 as scheduled.
It is totally unfair to ask Topalov to replay a game that he has already won fairly when Kramnik refused to play without any legitimate reason.
To the anonymous poster who talks about Kramnik as a “spoiled brat”:
Big hug, bro, and may God speed Topa against the devious, cheating forces of darkness. You use exactly my words from a few days ago. This means that my posts are noticed by the people who are not blindfolded by the green and stinky smoke screen thrown by the mass media with ChessBase in the lead.
this blog has become a Rats Nest for the insane Topalov radicals. what a shame. this used to be a nice place.
while the entire world supported Kramnik, Susan had to support Topalov and condemn Kramnik. well birds of a feather flock together.
“…the entire world supported Kramnik…”
but why?
Kramnik is a moron. He didnt play a game because his private toilet is closed. He is an idiot. And you support this idiot.
“his blog has become a Rats Nest for the insane Topalov radicals. what a shame. this used to be a nice place.
while the entire world supported Kramnik, Susan had to support Topalov and condemn Kramnik. well birds of a feather flock together.”
Only a representative of the insane anti-Topalov radicals could say such a thing:)
I’d like to say that this blog will do just fine without any insanity on both sides, but this is impossible off course.
Even that being the case, this blog is an excellent place to view and share different opinions on the current events.
And the live comments by Susan are priceless!
Thank you Susan!
>Susan had to support Topalov and >condemn Kramnik. well birds of a >feather flock together.
Thats not true. Susan Polgar does a great job on this blog and tries to remain as objective as possible, but some people somehow interpret this as rooting for Topalov and against Kramnik because they cannot understand how it is possible that someone can have a different, more balanced opinion from that of the herd.
Is there a fixed interval between successive games, e.g. 15 minutes from one game to the next? Or is the starting time for each game fixed?
Topalov/Danailov resorted to dirty tricks once the bulgarian was down 0-2. It was the only way they could have come back from that position. By fabricating lies, by making a serious insinuation at the start of a game, and by locking the opponent’s toilet without providing evidence that he was cheating. Kramnik completely right in his stance by not playing game 5 in that situation.
Don’t worry, me along with a billion Indians are with you on this against the axis of evil. Chin up.
The whole strategy of Kramnik in this match is to win by contract. His managers hired very good lawyers who made a contract with super favourable conditions for him. The match played in Russia, with timing to Kramnik’s liking, private unmonitored bathroom … No wonder that Kramnik wants the match to be decided in court. The basic standpoint for him and the organisation that supports him (ACP) is to make chess a business, complete with contracts and law suits. Kramnik is an outstanding proponent of business chess, a philosophy that Kasparov follows for over 15 years. However, Kramnik proved better than Gary in this off-the-board contractual business battle.
1. d4 …. that’s a good one!
To save time you can also already enter 1. … d5 2. c4 c6 I think 🙂
Vaseline! Toiletlov! Go a-w-a-y!
Susan, you always state that you are not taking sides in the Kramnik-Topalov dispute. As much as I admire your play, your site, and the great job you are doing for the chess community with this tremendous work, I have to disagree with you on this point. Many places in your writings and comments make me think that you are taking slightly pro-Kramnik and definitely anti-Topalov position. For instance, let me quote of your comment:
“I understand that Topalov made this interview for the Bulgarian fans and he may want to please them. I also understand that some of the translations may be off. However, the timing is rotten and the context does not help his image either. That’s a double whammy! I would certainly ask these questions: “Why?” and “What does he have to gain by attacking Kramnik or ChessBase?””
The answer to those questions is obvious even to the small children: Topalov is defending himself from the slanderous campaign waged by Kramnik against him with the help of ChessBase.
Also, in this comment you have included a link to the site of Kramnik but not a link to the site of Topalov. This might not be entirely your fault, though. In the list of links on the ChessBase, Topalov’s site is conspicuously missing. Which shows once again how “objective” is ChessBase.
Playing in Kalmykia actually suits Topalov better than Kramnik. FIDE champion playing on FIDE territory. No wonder the Appeals Committee ruled in Topalov’s favour.
Susan, did you really write and sign the letter in support to Kramnik published by ChessBase? I ask this question because I believe you, and not the ChessBase.
“Topalov is defending himself from the slanderous campaign waged by Kramnik against him with the help of ChessBase.”
Are you for real? It’s evil Danailov that started the slander campaign by insinuating cheating!
“Susan, did you really write and sign the letter in support to Kramnik published by ChessBase?”
Also a blind git. The letter is available on this blog for everyone to see. Susan modified the letter that was sent to her by some GMs and then signed it. By the way she took a diplomatic stand.
This whole talk of Kalmykia as something separate from Russia is also a part of the Kramnik media campaign. Kalmykia is just a region of Russia with a very limited autonomy. Look at the map, blinky.
Kalmykia is the fiefdom of the mysteriously dominant and rich Kirsan, president of FIDE. In Elista, its capital, he has built a ‘chess city’ and invited the champion of FIDE, Topalov, to play Kramnik. The appeals committee, central to the incompetence that has seen us get to where we are today, was (and still is) stacked with FIDE people as opposed to experienced and independent workers.
The fact that Kalmykia is Russian-speaking is about as relevant as the fact that more Icelanders knew English than Russian in the Fischer-Spassky encounter. The actual RUNNING of this supposed unification match by ONE side (FIDE) who provided all the officials is another matter, especially as it has already resulted in them breaking their contractual obligations.
Thanks for the fantastic coverage Susan 🙂
Maybe we will see some BLITZ BLOGGING too? ?
“Kalmykia is just a region of Russia with a very limited autonomy.”
Listen tosspot, now when did I say Kalmykia isn’t part of Russia? All I said was that the fact it is FIDE territory hosting the FIDE champion it neutralises the home-away factor. And it is quite apparent in the manner the Appeals Committe dealth with the pottygate fracas. Otherwise, the wicked witch Danailov would have never agreed to have the match played in Elista if he even had the slightest inhibitions regarding the venue.
Hello Susan
How much traffic can your website handle. During the 12th game I was unable to access the site.
Thanks for the fantastic site.
anyone have a link to a free live broadcast?
Tendai,
during the 12th game the entire blogger/blogspot service crashed (its owned by Google and it hosts millions of pages). Google claimed some network problems to be a reason.
You know why these Topa supporters are so rude and aggressive?
Because they want to hide the fact that their man has lost 3 – 2 at the chessboard.
No doubt about that score, or else?
I am glad to see some pro Topalov coomments — having been following most of this on Chessbase, I was starting to doubt my sanity, so pro Kramnik has everyone been.
I like Chessbase a lot and I browse it several times a week. But this time I have to say they are disappointing. They missed G. Makropoulos letter which was quite interesting (primarily with respect to players contract). I think this is not acceptable.
FIDE is badly shipped, no doubt. But this is not the devil, and G. Makropoulos statements were balanced and fair. The anti-Topalov campaign makes me sick.
Too much emotion and not enough logic in chess is a strange thing, isn’t it?
chris said: “You know why these Topa supporters are so rude and aggressive?
Because they want to hide the fact that their man has lost 3 – 2 at the chessboard.
No doubt about that score, or else?”
Do you think if Topalov was 1 point back, he would play the same as he did in the last 2 games?
İf he was back 1 point he would win at least one of the last 2 games and at least he would equal the match.
Topalov and Danailov make one sick. If one ‘sees’ a campaign against Topalov get your head examined: it’s only people who know the diference of wrong and right saying what they think. If one manages justifying any of the crap Topa’s team has tossed about, I feel sorry for you: you probably aren’t a friend of justice.
If one manages justifying any of the crap Topa’s team has tossed about, I feel sorry for you: you probably aren’t a friend of justice.
Justice requires to listen to all participants. Hiding explanations from FIDE is not fair.
Justice requires you not to make statements too fast. Wait and see for court decisions regarding Kramnik position. You may realize you know little about justice.
Do they start as usual (15.00 Elisa time)?
Then it will be a long day.
Regarding techie issues, the whole of Blogspot seemed to be down for a period during Game 12, so unless that happens again, there shouldn’t be any problems accessing this site today 🙂
to run behind a team who stole one point , it is beyond everything !!! poor devils …
Anonymous said: “Remember the Kramnik-Fritx match where Krmanik went 4-0 up then surprisingly lost the next 4 allowing Fritz to tie 4-4. How much has Kramnik received so far for the Fritz matches played and to come??”
I don’t remember that at all.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia!
Triskaidekaphobia is a fear of the number 13. It is usually considered to be a superstition. A specific fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Let’s hope these fears do not manifest in Elista today. I’m sure we all are looking forward to some great chess. It is my hope that Kramnik wins, if for no other reason than to put the unification debate to rest.
http://chess-training.blogspot.com
Game 12 press conference here: http://chess-training.blogspot.com/
“The official site of the WC seems to be down since yesterday. Or can someone access”
Now I can.
Susan,
your good will is greatly appreciated but I think you have no chance. Better make a thorough analysis after the game and enjoy watching it yourself.
They are on move 16 already and we have no commentary.
I’m quite outraged by the slanderous accusations made by Topalov/Danailov. And I’m not a Kramnik fan. Having said that, legally both sides probably have a case.
Anyway, fans from both sides should now move on and focus only on the chess.
Also I’m not a a fan of tie-breaks. Particulalry in chess where time-control is integral to how the game is played. To borrow a cricket analogy, a drawn test series getting decided by an ODI game. Completely different formats. Similarly, rapids/blitz is altogether different formats of chess. Think they should share the trophy.
1. Please everybody, suspend the “Topalov should win, because….”, “Kramnik should win because….”
Let’s concentrate on the chess itself.
2. Use names to post. Doesn’t need to register. Just click on “other”, type in any name to “username”, no need for type in any password,then click on “Login and Publish” and it works like that. You can even change the username with each post, but why would anyone do that?
Gabor
I suppose we will have some comments when the game reaches a critical point or one player starts thinking more that 1 minute
Is it me or did they sneakily start early?! There is already 15 mins or time used, and it’s only 9 past the hour. Looks like Vlad is having a go with black – rook on c2 already…
I hope you don’t get carpal tunnel syndrome. Rapid and blitz commenting must be considered a health hazard.
Thanks for the best coverage of this event.
Go on, Vesko, all your Bulgarian fans are with you as ever. Forget dirty Kramnik lies, and smash the cheater.
To Kramnik: “Nashe delo pravoe, nasha ruka krepkaya, nash um vyshee.”
Do the have to note down the moves?
What kind of level of errors can we expect from GMs playing with 25 minutes? Will we see pawns dropped at any stage for example?
Similarly, what kind of errors can we expect at 5 mins.
(What level of lottery is this?)
Where is the commentary on the game? nothing is showing on main site?
Topalov will win this one – he can place the bishop on e4, move the Q to the KS, double the rooks on the C file – many options.
For anyone looking for a link to the live game it can be seen here:
http://www.worldchess2006.com/main.asp?id=1129
This is just a quick shot, but wouldn’t 21. … Rfc8 have been interesting, threatening R8c3?
Susan, u r messing up the move numbers. See the numbers please.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for rapid blogging. I’m in my office at work right now before I have to teach a class and can both prepare a lecture and read your comments.
You’re the greatest. Thanks.
Happy Chess!
Tim Harris, Ph.D.
Good luck to Topalov! He Much more creative and dynamic than Kramnik, whose mastery of dullard chess that blunts sharp attacks is legendary.
The games have shown that Topa takes all the chances while Kramnik plays to balance the games into sleepytime equality.
I think this is a drawn game…but someone might lose on time or, due to the time, make a terrible blunder and this could be either side.
Tim Harris
“This is just a quick shot, but wouldn’t 21. … Rfc8 have been interesting, threatening R8c3?”
Sorry, mixed up the move numbers, too! I meant 20. … Rfc8 instead of 20. … Rd8, covering the knight.
susan,
If this is rapid blogging.
I can’t wait for the blitz blogging 🙂
Thanks for the annotations. it really helps all of us
regards.
It will be interesting these guys blunders.
What the heck! they make blunders in normal time controls.
Bb2? – doesn’t that just lose the pawn on a4??
Susan,
just a little note regarding a few typos: A couple in the comments (move numbers), and it’s 20. Rd8, not Re8.
Topa gave the pawn, for nothing?
After 33 h3 though the eval. has moved in Vlads favour if Nb6 is played. Instead of h3, Hiarcs had Rc7 which looked risky…
How exciting!!!!!
This really is fun to watch! I don’t care whose “side” your on…we must all admit…this is great!
Tim Harris
I’m with you on that Tim! We can’t expect faultless play here, and this game is already unbalanced, and the advantage is ebbing and flowing – I expect a result of some sort for this one. I think they are more likely to go for a win in the first game…
Is there a place this game can be watched live for free? Perhaps without the commentary, but the game itself?
u blog is nice, i have just create a blog about free magazine,pls gv me comment&enjoy it. thank(mg8.blogspot.com)
watch the game at:
http://www.worldchess2006.com/main.asp?id=1129
Go Topalov
go to the fide site to watch the game for free.
http://www.worldchess2006.com/main.asp?id=918
here is the link
Chess has too many draws…
thanks for the analysis susan… you are great!
How much rest between two games?
Gabor
“How much rest between two games?”
Gabor,
There will be 10 minutes break between Tie-break games
I love the logic of the people who say Kramnik already won, 6-5. *laughs* Using that logic, he should have sat out the next 11 games after winning game one and claim, though FIDE thought it was 11-1 Topalov, the “true” score was 1-0 over the board in his favor and he is the moral victor and retains his title!
What a game!
To my mind it’s in fact the most beautiful game of the match with great strategical moves (eg 21…Rcc8, 23.Rf2 and many others) and some very deep tactical moves:
31.Bb2! Nxa4!! (I wrongly thought that was just a mystake as the pin after Nb6 Bc5 seemed to me simply winning)
32…h6! if you don’t understant this move, just look at the position after 41…Rc5: 42.Rxa4 doesn’t work just because of 42…Rc1! 43.Ra8 Kh7!
the idea to get out of the a7-g1 diagonal introduced by 33.h3! is also great.
But the greatest move of the game is of course 36…Nc4!!!
This was not just a good move, but the only move!
Indeed White was threatening to play… Qe1!! in order to keep the a5 square under control and to avoid Nc4.
For instance:
36…Rc8?? (all the moves execpted Nc4 lost for black) 37.Qe1!! Kh7 (what else?) 38.Be2 and there is no defence to Bd1-Rxa4!
but the 2nd game has started, see you.
K’s got game 2 in the bag!
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