Game 11: Draw ties match at 5½-5½; Kramnik reiterates his protest
By Dylan Loeb McClain
The New York Times
What may have been the penultimate game of the world chess championship ended in a draw Tuesday, setting up a potentially dramatic encounter in the 12th and final game Thursday.
The match between Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia is now tied 5½-5½. If the last game is also drawn, there will be four fast games on Friday to try to break the deadlock.
The match, being played in Elista, capital of the Russian republic of Kalmykia, has been dogged by bizarre protests and a forfeit. While the game went off without a hitch Tuesday, Kramnik, through his manager, sent a letter to the World Chess Federation and to journalists, reiterating his promise to sue the federation if the forfeit against him in Game 5 is not overturned and if that costs him the match. The federation, which posted Kramnik’s letter on its Web site, has not responded to his threat.
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Kramnik should play for a draw tomorrow. You know why.
Game 5 should be played OTB, the decision behind the forfeiture by Kramnik is flawed. FIDE should fully acknowledge their mistake/s and reschedule the game. I have thoroughly enjoyed the games between these two players and would rather see whoever claims the WC title do so on the basis of OTB results, not Courtroom results.