Today’s game has revived sporting intrigue of the competition, pleasing all the independent spectators in Elista and all over the world. Kramnik managed to recover and celebrated his first victory since the second game of the match. The score has been tied, and as for psychological initiative… Well, one cannot say that Veselin lost it under Vladimir’s desperate pressure. It seems the initiative is split evenly between the players.
This match stuns by immediate changes of décor. First Kramnik takes the lead and keeps everything under control, but suddenly he suffers two defeats, and bravura music in his camp changes to well-concealed panic. Rising Topalov gives indulgent comments about the match: ‘Kramnik has two Whites, and he is capable of gathering his strengths for decisive battles’. The 10th game confirms this immediately… The closer the finish, the harder is the swing!
And yet – was it Kramnik who won the game, or it was Topalov who lost it? Yesterday the Bulgarian surprised everybody talking about his lack of match experience, but I don’t think he could fall into underestimating his opponent, no matter how shaken the opponent appeared. Such experienced team as the one gathered by Silvio Danailov, could not be misled by Topalov’s playing initiative or Kramnik’s inability to come out of the opening with decent position…
…Kramnik had no advantage in today’s game, too, but unlike other games, he looked unperturbed by this fact – it seemed he just wanted to obtain a playable position, in which he could impose his will on the Bulgarian. White had an extra pawn, but the chances were almost even (as both players admitted afterwards), when Topalov suddenly slipped, blundering the whole game in a single unlucky move. Veselin’s impatience was one of the factors Vladimir planned to utilize before the match. But who could expect it telling so evidently at such an important moment, when the fate of the match was at stake? Or maybe the Bulgarians were let down by their strategy of not allowing Kramnik to visit the relaxation room at all costs? But Topalov spent more than 10 minutes on 24…f6…
Riddles, riddles… At the same time, it is obvious that none of them will entertain both teams for a day at least. Everybody is focused on the coming two games, the most important games of the match. Will the swing go on?
Source: Official website
Topalov Interview October 7th:
” The majority draws information from the Chessbase site, which is apparently on Kramnik’s side. “
oh, he forgot about a blog that apparently is in Topalov’s side.
All of FIDE should be canned. What a biased presentation of facts they consistently give in favor of Topalov.
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/event/kratop06/kratoppress8.html
Interview with Veselin Topalov, Trud daily, Saturday, 7 October 2006
Is the match changing now after the 4:4 draw?
– Yes. For me it was important to achieve a draw. The victory with the black pieces was of special significance because Kramnik rarely loses when he plays with the white pieces. There is nothing to do but feel sorry about my omissions in the first, second and fourth games.
– So far there have been numerous battles outside the chess board. What will be the main thing from now on?
– I believe that my manager Silvio Danailov did an extraordinary job and won all the legal battles outside the board quite convincingly, and in the enemy field, too. Now it is my turn to do the same on the chess board.
– What is your psychological disposition at the moment?
– I have not been worried or anything like that because Silvio kept all the problems away from me but after yesterday’s (Thursday) victory my self-confidence is naturally increasing.
– When was the hardest part of all?
– During the third game when I had to defend a very difficult position at 0:2. I remembered my omissions from the previous two games and I felt like crying.
– Do you think that your games are spectacular for the chess fans?
– The match follows the “Sofia rules” although this makes many people unhappy. However, that is the future. Every game continues until all chances are exhausted and the millions of fans of the chess game are finally happy.
– Don’t you think that your agreement to play on Russian territory, be it in Kalmikia, was a mistake?
– No. I enjoy challenges and I am not afraid of anything. Defeating the opponent on his own territory is the sweetest victory, provided the fair play is guaranteed,of course.
– Apparently, Kramnik feels very much at home…
– He also has his negatives because the pressure and responsibility are very tough on him.
– Do you think that players of his type are a good advertisement of chess?
– One thing I can say: the place of the sportsman is in the field or on the stage in front of the audience, and not in rest rooms or toilets.
– Do you think that this game will remain in history as uniting?
– It is early to say. Let’s wait until the end.
– But don’t you think that by threatening to sue FIDE Kramnik leaves an open door to proceed with the battle beyond the sport?
– That is his decision but in my opinion he couldn’t seriously believe that his chances will be high in court.
– After all, Kramnik was one of the “break away’s” and stayed away from the FIDE tournaments.
– True. He has never adhered to any principles and has always been led by his current personal interests. Kramnik tried several times to play in the FIDE championships and when it did not work, Kasparov offered a match to him as a gift, together with a virtual title of world champion.
– Kramnik said in one of the press conferences that he was more anxious about the football Champions League. Have you ever heard anything more insulting than that?
– This is not an insult to me but to the organizers, the audience, the media and the millions of fans all over the world.
– What do you think of the name “The Toilet Match”?
– It’s humorous.
– Could you count your friends in the chess sport by their responses to the events in Elista?
– I think very few people actually know what is going on here. The majority draws information from the Chessbase site, which is apparently on Kramnik’s side. I would like to make it clear that this site is a shame for a developed European state like Germany.
– Did you like the book on Buddhism?
– Very much. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gave me two books that I read with great pleasure. This philosophy definitely appeals to me.
– Would you ever go back to Kalmikia?
– I will answer with the lyrics of our technical expert:
Elista is a nice town
Kalmikia is the land of wonder
And from here I don’t want to depart.
Are both players still to blame? Is Kramnik to blame for this mess?
Veselin Topalov on toiletgate: “Silvio Danailov did an extraordinary job”
Veselin Topalov on chess world’s reaction which has not been favourable to him: “I think very few people actually know what is going on here. The majority draws information from the Chessbase site, which is apparently on Kramnik’s side. I would like to make it clear that this site is a shame for a developed European state like Germany.”
Think about it. Are both players still to blame? There’s no room for neutrality here. The chess world NEED to take a stance AGAINST Veselin Topalov.
Yes, Kramnik started this mess with his arrogance.
The world doesn’t need an arrogant selfish paper champion like Kramnik.
What a bastard this Topalov fellow is. And how disgraceful that FIDE never quits taking digs at Kramnik in its ridiculously tardy comments.
What an arrogant person this Kramnik is. He deserved to win? How arrogant? He never won the candidates tournament. He was crushed by Shirov and Kamsky in matches. He was given a chance by another arrogant jerk Kasparov. And now the world owes him? I can’t stand this SOB.
I think Kramnik should have been a better person and should have played game #5 regardless of his dispute with the arbiters. A forfeit is a forfeit. It could have been the other way around–Topalov refusing to play because he was dissatisfied with the decision. The situation would be the same. A forfeit is a forfeit, and this is a world championship match. As for the match, Kramnik will win unless Topalov regains his psychological composure. It is clear from his comments that he is more given to emotion, like Kasparov, and he can lose against someone like Kramnik who is less emotional whether he is winning or losing. Topalov is learning his lesson for saying that playing someone like Kramnik would be humiliating because of their rating difference. I wonder what he would think now about those statements! I hope Topalov will be able to stop the Russian chess machine; it is time to have some diversity after Karpov, Kasparov, and MAYBE Kramnik.
You need to question the moral sense and ethics of those who still can side with Topalov in this. In fact you need to question the morality of those who do NOT side with Kramnik.
I think only paranoid and racist americans are left to support Topalov. The Bush voting right-wing lunatics with their Jesus bumper stickers and Fischeresque “it’s a Russian conspiracy” mad ravings. Even though they frequent this blog, the world of chess doesn’t care about them or their “opinions”.
I side with the KGB. They wanted to cheat Topalov. Krammik’s explanation of going to the bathroom 30-40 times is not sufficient. Polgar is the only fair one so far.
KGB, eh? Point proven. Only mad raving right-wing americans left to support Topalov.
American right-wing can’t get anything right. What a bunch of lunatics.
Hello Susan Polgar. Even the ever modest and reserved and polite Viswanathan Anand is taking a side here. Anand is siding with Kramnik and against Topalov and FIDE. Please publish this news items and take a stance. The world of chess need to stand united against the unfair methods of Veselin Topalov. So that we can rid this shame from our noble game.
Anand:
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/09/stories/2006100906301800.htm
I do not understand your post. How many times have I said the same thing? I repeated countless times that the actions by Mr. Danailov was inexcusable. I said his words and tone was absolutely unprofessional. I am not sure how I can make it more clear.
However, I added that the entire mess could have been avoided if all three sides would have sat down and resolve things at the table and NOT through unprofessional press releases and open letters.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
WOW Even ANand thinks it was ALL Topalov’s fault. That is remarkable coming from him
“Chennai: For a man whose sport permits eccentricity as a professional hazard, Viswanathan Anand’s humility and straightforwardness are striking.
Speaking to The Hindu after playing chess with 20 enthusiasts (20 more were to follow) at the programme `Vishy versus Everybody’ to raise funds for `Vidya Sagar’, an NGO working for the differently abled, he was clear and articulate, as always.
The World Championship fiasco has not gone down too well with the 36-year-old (Veselin Topolov accused Vladimir Kramnik of taking too many bathroom breaks, suggesting that he was cheating). “It’s great entertainment, no doubt. But there is no place for such things in sport.
He (Kramnik) was accused not of something he actually did, but something he could have done, and losing a game was
extremely unfair to Kramnik.
To say that it could have been handled better would actually be putting it mildly. The event is tainted now,” he said. “
Here’s the whole link
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/09/stories/2006100906301800.htm
stories/2006100906301800.htm
Kramnik has made many insulting comments (“his pieces arrived at the right place by chance”, “he was lucky”, etc.) but his fans do not like to be reminded of this facet of their champion. The most revealing act by Kramnik (as a reflection of his true character) was his stabing in the back of Kasparov. After Kasparov helped him trough all his career, chose him undeservedly (after Kramnik lost to Shirov in the candidates) for the title match, etc., Kramnik refused to give him the rematch. Topalov, on the other hand, sticks with his friends (even when they damage him over and over again like Dainalov), he could have distanced himself from them but instead (even knowing how unpopular this is) he backs them up. This is a show of true character and principle. Topalov’s characterization of Kramnik as a selfish scoundrel is right in the money.
Wow. This blog is infested with Bush supporters who can’t tell right from wrong.
You seriously make a comparison between a comment on a certain game and accusing the other player of using computer assistance?
It’s like a basketball player saying that “they were lucky to beat us”. Then the other one replies “they are all using steroids and stimulants and you need to lock their locker room.”
How come America has come so corrupted morally? In every other country in the world chess players are supporting Kramnik, but not in USA where the brainwashed right-wingers are still living the cold war with their racist stereotypes about “Russians” and “KGB”.
The actions of Danailov and Topalov show them like a non ethical people.Why the Fide is not defending the Kramnik rights?Must be the 5th game a full victory in prize to them dirty accusation?
Fide must expel Topalov and his team of the match an to sanction him during a year without playing others championships, so he will learn who he must behave.
Keep chess clean.
Kramnik rules!!!
Bush for prez!!!!!!