Kramnik – Topalov (Game 1)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 13.Qa4 Qb6 14.0-0 Qxb2 15.Nbd2 Bb5 16.Nxc4 Bxa4 17.Nxb2 Bb5 18.Ne5 Ra7 19.Bf3 Nbd7 20.Nec4 Rb8 21.Rfb1 g5 22.e3 g4 23.Bd1 Bc6 24.Rc1 Be4 25.Na4 Rb4 26.Nd6 Bf3 27.Bxf3 gxf3 28.Nc8 Ra8 29.Ne7+ Kg7 30.Nc6 Rb3 31.Nc5 Rb5 32.h3 Nxc5 33.Rxc5 Rb2 34.Rg5+ Kh6 35.Rgxa5 Rxa5 36.Nxa5 Ne4 37.Rf1 Nd2 38.Rc1 Ne4 39.Rf1 f6 40.Nc6 Nd2 41.Rd1 Ne4 42.Rf1 Kg6 43.Nd8 Rb6 44.Rc1 h5 45.Ra1 h4 46.gxh4 Kh5 47.Ra2 Kxh4 48.Kh2 Kh5 49.Rc2 Kh6 50.Ra2 Kg6 51.Rc2 Kf5 52.Ra2 Rb5 53.Nc6 Rb7 54.Ra5 Kg6 55.Ra2 Kh5 56.d5 e5 57.Ra4 f5 58.Nxe5 Rb2 59.Nd3 Rb7 60.Rd4 Rb6 61.d6 Nxd6 62.Kg3 Ne4 63.Kxf3 Kg5 64.h4+ Kf6 65.Rd5 Nc3 66.Rd8 Rb1 67.Rf8+ Ke6 68. Nf4+ Ke5 69.Re8+ Kf6 70.Nh5+ Kg6 71.Ng3 Rb2 72.h5+ Kf7 73.Re5 Nd1 74.Ne2 Ke6 75.Rd5 Black resigns
I think most grandmasters would have taken the draw back before move 40 with Nd2 then Ne4. I am amazed that Topalov was willing to take such risk. I admire his fighting spirit. That’s typical of Topalov and this is precisely the reason why he’s such an exciting player.
However, I think he made a huge blunder for taking this kind of unnecessary risk. This is going back to Topalov of some years ago and it is not a good thing. The Topalov in San Luis knew when to push and when not to. That Topalov became World Champion. I hope to see more of that Topalov in this match.
This is a very bad loss for Topalov, a totally silly loss. His team will have a heck of a time consoling and getting him back on track mentally, emotionally and psychologically!
I agree. Hopefully, they both play with this much tenacity throughout. Makes it more fun for the chess fan, as opposed to agreeing to quick draws.
Looks like Kramnik may have regained a small edge after 59.) Nd3
This was a very exciting game. It started well and ended very strongly for Kramnik. One of the ICC kibs said that Vlad had offered a draw in the 40s. If so it would appear that Topalov may be underestimating Kramnik. I agree with your comment that this is the worst possible way to start a match for Topalov. I couldn’t help feel a little bad for Topalov when he opened up the box of sitting pigeons. Did they ever fly? What an omen. Happy New Year.
JK Sci-Tech Chess
Well! if chess is a fight, Topalov was, in this first game, the winner because he is not afraid to take risks.
Therefore, he is in much better mental state than Kramnik
Well! if chess is a fight, Topalov was, in this first game, the winner because he is not afraid to take risks.
Therefore, he is in much better mental state than Kramnik
I think I would disagree with Mr. Anonymous here. Losing the first game will make it much harder for Topalov to win the second and fourth games. The psychological punch of losing the first game will take away much of Topalov’s focus and energy, advantages that Kasparov had attributed to Topalov. If Kramnik can keep the games relatively sedate, he will win. However, he is not to be underestimated, even in complications, as his record with Topalov indicates (10 wins, 5 losses of the decisive games). I agree with Susan that this was a very bad blunder for Topalov. My favorite is Kramnik.
Yes it’s a mistake but its better to make the mistake early on.
The main thing is not to repeat it.
In a short match such as this, he can’t afford to make another one.
I don’t think he will.
regards.
Nigel Short in the first game of his match for the world championship against Kasparov, he had a winning position and was offered a draw and declined. his time was short and his flag fell as he was making his 39th move. he lost. he never recovered from that loss. at that time there were using analog clocks. probably the last time they used an analog clock for a WC match. Nigel thought he had a little more time on the clock.
this is not the exact same thing. But Topalov maybe declined a draw and lost. he certainly had a forced draw by repition if he wanted it.
Topalov has come back in his last 2 tournaments. this reminds me of Linares first half in Mexico. Topalov did a lot of appearances and then lost badly in Mexico. Everyone moved to Spain where Topalov then went on to recover. It seems to me that Kirsan and Danilov had him doing a lot of appearances this past week. not a good idea for him. he needs to settle down and play chess.
Well Mr. Baggins,
searching and looking for victory with a fighting spiritu is what really is important, in my view Topalov will gain more fighting force and will create more chances for himself.We all knew before this match, that Kramnik is the stronger Chess thinker and chess player but Topalov have the chances of reaching that level too.
Where else can we read the best free online detailed game commentary of this match?
Mr. Anonymous, I agree that if Topalov wins this match, he will certainly have proved that he has achieved the topmost level of chess-thinking. I think he relied a bit too much on his charisma, energy, and attacking abilities. I wonder, though, if this loss will make him too aggressive tomorrow, wanting equalisation. He might overlook something, a very dangerous thing to do against Kramnik. To Sunshine, I would say that a tournament is a *very* different thing from a match. One of the most interesting things I have ever read on this is the Kasparov-Karpov 1990 match book, where Kasparov describes the grueling, marathon-like nature of a match. Of course, this match is shorter. However, it is still quite a marathon. The pressure is on Topalov to equalise.
I don’t see anything wrong with Topalov playing on instead of taking the draw by repetition with 38…Ne4 39. Rf1 Nd2, but wow, what a blunder on move 57! Was he in time trouble at that point?
There’s an interesting forced draw on that move. Black could have played 57…Nxf2 58. Kg3 e4 59. Kxf2 Rb2+, and White has to retreat the king and give Black perpetual check, or else White has to give up his rook to stop Black from queening the pawn (60.Kg3?? Rg2+ 61.Kf4 f2 etc. That would have been a nice way for Topalov to end the game.
Alas, instead Topalov blundered a pawn and it’s going to be tough to recover in such a short match. Then again, other world-class players (including Topalov) have blundered early on in a match or tournament and come back to win, so we’ll see what happens!
His team will have a heck of a time consoling and getting him back on track mentally, emotionally and psychologically!
You obviously know Topalov far better than I, but the onus for “righting himself” after this loss is solely on him, himself. His team can only do so much: It’s Topalov who hs to show the strength of character to put this behind him and show that he’s truly a champion, not just a good chessplayer. He has to be like Bobby in 1972, after he went 0-2 in his match with Spassky.