Sport, Art and Science according to Botvinnik

The Scientific Method
Chess
By BORIS GULKO and GABRIEL SCHOENFELD
November 16, 2007

The long-reigning world champion Mikhail Botvinnik once memorably described chess as a combination of sport, art, and science. In examining the playing styles of the world’s top grandmasters, we can see elements of each of these three components. Usually, in a given player, one element predominates. Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko, who faced each other in the 2004 match for the world championship, both have a decidedly scientific approach to the game.

It was demonstrated again most recently in their eight-round rapid-game match in the Hungarian city of Mishkolc. In this round, the struggle was fought over a deeply analyzed opening variation. Mr. Kramnik won the game and the match by a score of 4. 5 to 3.5.

Click here to view the full analysis of the game.