During the 3+ hours of game 5, about 20,000 unique users logged into this blog to follow the analysis. In the 4.5 hours of game 6, about 49, 500 unique users logged in for this game from 109 countries. The record still belongs to Kramnik – Topalov (last 2 games) Elista match. If Kramnik can make a mini comeback, I think a lot more chess fans will tune in. If it continues to be a blowout, not a chance.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
So we can assume that only 0.25% of the visitors leave a comment. People are shy 😉
Thanks for your great covering, Susan!
I went on record saying that I thought it was unlikely that either of these closely-matched players could win this short of a match by more than one point. Looks like I was wrong.
It seems that FIDE is smart for using Susan’s live analysis while the USCF website is way behind the curve.
This match is effectively over. Kramnik is the next Nigel Short and a laughingstock of the chess world. Possibly Anand will do him a favor and only play for draws these next 6 games, otherwise, if Kramnik loses anymore games he will be right in there with Bogolubov as far as world championships go. And this shows why Kramnik tried to avoid re-playing Kasparov for the crown. I expect Kramnik will retire after this match and go to university for a degree. He will make no more money in chess, that is for sure. Maybe they will that B-b2 in the Slav will be known as the Kramnik variation? That would be fitting. It is obvious that Danialov was correct, Kramnik was getting computer help in the bathroom. Too bad Topalov did not win, he would have given Anand a challenge.
Payback time.!.
this match is over…
Vladi has lost it emotionally/psychologically.
When Kasparov had crushed Anand, a young Kramnik was in Kasparov’s team and Yusupov & Speelman were in Anand’s (I don’t remember when but this was the title match in New York City a few years ago).
Anand’s in full flow now (although I wouldn’t have bet on this showing going by what I saw of his performance a few weeks ago). He’s a confidence+momentum guy. It’s taken a while but it has come by at a nice time. All of us in India have waited a long time for this. A win is not very important … a crushing blow is and he’s delivered gracefully.
🙂
And Susan: You are doing a wonderful job. Please keep it going … we’re desperate for the insights you provide. Thank you.
…dv
If more people in India knew about your website, you’d have a tough time handling all the hits!
Putin should revoke Kramnik’s citizenship over this. If this were the good old days of Brehznev this would be Kramnik’s last time traveling abroad until maybe his funeral. If I were Kramnik I would stay in Paris with my young chicky wife and hang out with Boris Spassky and Victor Korchnoi.
There are more blogs etc with GM analysis now. For example, chessdom has GM Dimitrov. So it is possible more people are watching this match than in 2006, but you are not getting the hits because there are more sites covering the match(es).
-Seth
Danailov’s hysterics may not seem so over the top in hindsight. There could be a grain of truth in those allegations(of Kramnik receiving some outside help during the Kramnik-Topalov match), after all.
Kudos to both players that we are not getting the off the board histrionics of previous matches.
Thanks for your live commentary Susan. It makes life easier for the non-GMs. 🙂
I think if word get around that Anand is whooping Kramnik’s ass, people might tune in to see if this Anand guy really is that good.
I think, from here on. . . excitement is nil, unless of course, Kramnik wins two games to close the gap!
Topalov, had he won his match againts Kramnik would have been a better opponent for Anand. You can just go over some of Topalov’s games this year, they are really high caliber.
Maybe, there is some truth to the suspicion of computer cheating – I do not know? What do you think guys? Really . . . in retrospect?
I think it is important that the Topalov-Kamsky match should push thru. The winner of this match might be the one to give an exciting match againts Vishy Anand.
Hopefully. . .
Many comments literally jump and fall over to conclusions. Cannot Kramnik be in bad form? Can Anand not have had the luck of the draw in that he hasn’t yet faced a Kramnik home preparation?
Personally, I find it extremely creditable that Kramnik could – over the board, mind you – find nearly the best continuations to Anand’s preparations. Alas, he’s been let down by one not-so-great move in Game 3 and a blunder in Game 5.
Please, let’s give these champions the respect they deserve.
Is the match over?
If we look into the history of World Championship matches then we see that some players did manage to come back after being down by 3 games.
First one to do it was Steinitz in the first WCC match in 1886. He was 1-4 down after 5 games, but nevertheless won convincingly 10-5 in wins after 20 games.
The second one to do it was Max Euwe in 1935. He was 2-5 down after 7 games, but managed to win 15.5-14.5 at the end.
In 1954 Smyslov was 0.5-3.5 down after 4 games, but managed to equalise to 12-12 in the end (Botvinnik kept the title by virtue of being the defending champion).
In 1978 Karpov was already leading 4-1 and 5-2 in wins, but Korchnoi managed to equalise to 5-5 (Karpov won the next game to clinch the match with 6-5 in wins)
In 1984 Kasparov was 0-4 down after just 9 games, and 0-5 down after 27 games, but he nevertheless managed to hang on until the match was terminated without a result after 48 games (with Karpov leading 5-3 in wins).
In 1986 Karpov was already 6.5-9.5 down after 16 games, however by the end of game 19 the score was tied at 9.5-9.5 ! (Kasparov ended up winning 12.5-11.5)
So things are still not over. It happened in the past, it can happen again.
Oh my god, how many stupid comments can there be?! Kramnik is in bad shape, that’s it. While sad for this encounter there is no reason to slander.
Also a few facts here:
(1) Anon @1:06, there will not be six draws because after 4 draws Anand would have reached the decisive total 6.5 points to retain his title.
(2) Topalov and Danailov are the only ones to blame for losing the match against Kramnik. Look at the games! In the frist few games Kramnik was virtually dead a couple of times but Topalov just did not put him away – unlike Anand today.
(3) Susan, thanks for the commentary, really enjoyed it.
DV
Can someone, please, get me the link to the post game press conference?
Thanks!
To all those referring to past matches to argue that Kramnik can come back. there is a mathematical possibility of that happening. but comparing this with previous matches is wrong mainly for two reasons.
1. They were long matches, Kramnik doesn’t have that much time in this match now.
2.Now a days each chess game is more perfect and less error prone. So its a herculean task for Kramnik to win this match.
Remember he needs to win four games in all probability as three wins and tie may not be good for him.
Well, it is not really over until it is over! Of course, you have to win majority out of 12 games, right? Besides, one made about a comment about comebacks in the past – which is a valid argument.
In the past, I am not sure if before 1970’s those players are as well prepared as our players in our modern chess era. However, nowadays, with computers, coaches, and most of all, high caliber of players and the so called “home preparations” that these players do before the match, I doubt if there will be so many surprises out there. Also, this match is limited to 12 games.
Mathematically, it is still possible. Statistically speaking with the way Anand is playing, Kramnik’s chance is getting next to improbable.
Well, 1986 is not so far away. And do you think anyone believed that Karpov will win 3 games in a row against none other than Kasparov?
Nobody believed that, but nevertheless it happenend.
It can happen again. It probably won’t, but it can.
Kramnik is no Karpov!
I know that, but the fact that it can happen remains unchanged.
It can happen – it probably, or better said it most likely wont happen, but it can happen.