Carlsen, Magnus (2801) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2772) [E32]
Tal Memorial 2009 (1), 05.11.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.cxd5 Ne4 8.Qc2 exd5 9.Bf4 Nc6 10.e3 Re8 11.Nf3 g5 12.Bg3 g4 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 c5 15.Bd3 Bf5 16.Qe2 f6 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Bg3 Qa5+ 19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 c4 21.f3 gxf3 22.gxf3 Bg6 23.h4 Bh5 24.Ke2 Re6 25.Be1 Kf7 26.Kf2 Rae8 27.Bd2 Rb6 28.Bc3 Rb3 29.a4 b6 30.Rhe1 Bg6 31.e4 dxe4 32.d5 a6 33.fxe4 Bxe4 34.d6 f5 35.Rg1 Ke6 36.Rg7 Kxd6 37.Rxh7 Bd3 38.Kf3 Re4 39.h5 Rh4 40.Rg1 Be4+ 41.Ke3 Rh3+ 42.Kf4 Rf3+ 43.Kg5 b5 44.axb5 axb5 45.Kf6 Rbxc3 46.bxc3 Rxc3 47.Rg8 Rh3 48.Rc8 c3 49.Rhc7 c2 50.Kg5 Rh2 51.Rc3 Ke6 52.Re8+ Kf7 53.Rb8 Rg2+ 54.Kf4 Ke6 55.Re8+ Kd7 56.Rb8 Ke6 57.Re8+ Kf6 58.Rf8+ Ke6 ½–½
 
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Great game…especially for Black who pushed and pushed…Fritz here gave me a -+ in the final position but how to win this….be curious to see what further analysis uncovers.
With 28…Rb3, was Kramnik gambling that Carlsen wouldn’t see the threat of …b5? Or is Rb3 justified because it ties down White’s bishop, even at the cost of immobilizing Black’s rook?
This proves that there is no one out there that can beat Kramnik in a match, when his hands are not penalized or tied by FIDE. This is why so many of people regard Kramnik as true World Champion in the line of Karpov – Kasparov – Kramnik. What happened in Mexico City was a travesty of injustices.
True, Kramnik could impossibly lose a match against some other chess player. Oh, wait a minute – did he not only recently lose in miserable fashion against Anand?!
Funny how people only remember the things they choose to. While I agree that Kramnik (usually) is an excellent match players comments a la Anon @ 12:54 are just ridiculous.
haha See Susan if they cant analyze the game correctly with the “old chess” then we will get statements like wild chess, monkey chess , crazy chess all theses things!! haha. dont worry i havent even started on them yet! hehe.
To Anonymous 12:54:- Injustice? Can you define injustice or list some of them meted out to Kramnik at Mexico?
Everyone does not suffer from selective memory just because you do. He got a sound beating at the hands of Anand and possibly once again at Tal.
How many times have I read a comment as by Anon 12:54PM here – almost exactly the same words? Just don’t take it seriously … . [says someone who likes Kramnik as a player, and hopes and expects he will do well at the Tal Memorial]
Anonymous said…
“This proves that there is no one out there that can beat Kramnik in a match, when his hands are not penalized or tied by FIDE. This is why so many of people regard Kramnik as true World Champion in the line of Karpov – Kasparov – Kramnik. What happened in Mexico City was a travesty of injustices.”
Thursday, November 5, 2009 12:54:00 PM CST
Maybe, but Anand did beat him fair and square in Bonn. Having said that, I like Kramnik a lot, and I feel he has improved his game since the Bonn match. I do feel he will do well in the Tal Memorial.
Kamalakanta
I like Kramnik’s play a lot. I hope he or Anand win this tournament. I hope Carlsen gets stomped.
Nice game this is, why did they all half the game in the first round? Its so funny and interesting…We are watching!
I guess having to play Anand is an example of having your hands tied.
What is the expert analysis on the final position?
My naive gut feel is that Black can win this, no?
Carlsen will win this tournament. Kramnik will draw too many games as usual. Mark my words!
Todays game was exciting, but for me, a Norwegian, it was too much of a scare to my liking. Of course I want MC to make the most of any game, and of course to beat Kramnik with the white pieces. As todays game went, however, I was really happy to see it end with a draw.
Kramnik is, regardless of ELO ratings, one of the hardest opponents to beat. And when he get an edge, as he did today (as far as my limited chess understanding can see), he is very, very dangerous.
About Kramniks play, which seem to get a lot of bad publicity, I don’t really feel that it is in any way deserved. He plays solid and enjoys squeeeezing out the win from a small edge.
Carlsen has said on several occasions that Kramnik is one of the players he admires.
Sorry, the facts:
a] Kramnik forced to give up the title for a tournament in Mexico City. Not defeated in the match.
b] Kramnik is the only person to best Kasparov in the match, the best player to ever play the game of Chess gone by Kramnik.
c] Kramnik is given a crumb in return by FIDE by being allowed to challenge for his own title back again as the CHALLENGER.
d] Anand has pathetic losing record against Kasparov, maybe a few coffeehouse wins in blitz. And Topalov is not much better.
e] Now FIDE stages a match between Anand and Topalov and calls it a World Championship. Plus everyone was a FIDE champion with idiot tournaments.
f] FIDE finally gets the title away from Karpov-Kasparov-Kramnik line who they hate.
When will people see clearly through such delusions? When will the wake up happen?
Kramnik seemed to be winning this game despite showing poorly on the clock. Given the pressure he mounted, I think Carlsen did a wonderful job. I had given up completely for white. “Wit mot Kramnik … what to do?” must have worked on his mind 🙂
I love this guy. Young, talented and super cooool. A true viking. I am rooting for him although I’m voting Anand (being Indian).
Enjoy.!.
and Susan, I forgot to add – you have the correct title for this post. It was WILD indeed. In the six hours that the game lasted there wasn’t a single boring phase.
and you should do some live commentary, Susan. Chessok and Chessbomb are sadly lacking… even their clocks were messed up.
Without the NUMBER ONE(VESELIN TOPALOV)nuthin’happens!