Kramnik Hits Back at Topalov in Chess Challenge
By DYLAN LOEB McCLAIN
Published: October 8, 2006
New York Times
One day after suffering a devastating loss that left him trailing in the world chess championship for the first time, Vladimir Kramnik struck back today by beating Veselin Topalov in Game 10.
The best-of-12 match is now tied 5-5. A win is worth one point and a draw is worth one-half point. If the match, which is being played in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, a Russian republic on the Caspian Sea, should remain tied after 12 games, the players would play four fast games to break the deadlock.
The match has been marred by protests, arguments over access to bathrooms and a forfeit. But over the last several days, as the match has approached the finish line, Mr. Topalov, of Bulgaria, and Mr. Kramnik, of Russia, have settled down to simply playing chess. The results have been tense and entertaining games, if hardly error-free.
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Weekend wins keep world championship all square
Leonard Barden
Monday October 9, 2006
The Guardian
Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik and Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov notched up a win apiece over the weekend to leave the $1m (£535,000) world championship in Elista, southern Russia, still deadlocked at 5-5 with only two rounds remaining.
Topalov won Saturday’s ninth game in a 39-move Slav Defence when his opening novelty and attacking flair overwhelmed Kramnik’s passive defence. But the Bulgarian blundered badly in yesterday’s 10th game, a Catalan Opening, lost decisive material, and resigned at move 43.
Game 11 is scheduled for tomorrow and game 12 for Thursday. If the score reaches 6-6, the schedule calls for speed chess tie-breaks at increasingly fast time limits.
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