Every time Topalov seemed to be down for the count, he got up and fought valiantly. He scored a victory in game 3 of the Rapid Playoff to pull the match even. Now Kramnik will have White in the last Rapid Playoff game. If this is a draw then they will go to 2 games Blitz (5′ 10″) playoff. Are you ready??
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.O-O Be7 (He play 9…b4 in game 8 where he won with the 2 Knights versus a Rook.)
10.e4 b4 11.e5 bxc3 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.bxc3 c5 (I play this line many times with White.)
14.dxc5 Nxc5 (Some of you questioned my description of the game. Well, it is simple. Topalov is a head hunter. He goes all out for the win. He is a one man wrecking machine. If he succeeds, he wins. If he does not, he crashes and burns. Kramnik on the other hand is the minister of defense. It is much harder to describe a defensive victory. Ooooh, he found the best defensive move and made his opponent say: “Uncle”. You are welcome to try to follow the game, analyze rapid games LIVE, type, and check ALL comments from the readers at the same time. I am only human 🙂 Believe me, my style is closer to Kramnik so it is a lot easier for me to understand him than Topalov.)
15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Ba3 Rc8 (This position is somewhat equal.)
18.Nd4 Be7 (I see this game going to the Blitz playoff.)
19.Rfd1 a6 (I like 19…Ne4 better.)
20.Bf1 Na4 21.Rb1 (A good move. White is slightly better. Black needs to be very careful due to the Rook on h8 being stuck. White’s weakness is the c3 pawn. 21…Bd5 or Be4 are both possible.)
21…Be4 22.Rb3 (Now Black should be played to provoke c4. White is still slightly better in my opinion. The other option is Bxa3 then Nc5. White’s position is certainly easier to play. Kramnik is doing the right thing in this game. He is trying cautiously, playing for 2 results.)
22…Bxa3 23.Rxa3 Nc5 24.Nb3 (Black SHOULD be able to hold if he does not do something crazy. Ke7 is must to wake the other Rook up from his nap.)
24…Ke7 (Some of you asked why the logo for this blog? 🙂 Well, ask President Kirsan 🙂 It’s his logo. It looks like Bambi to me and not a baby antelope. Maybe because I have 2 young kids so I am more familiar with Bambi.)
25.Rd4 Bg6 26.c4 Rc6 (This is a mistake. 26…Nxb3 would have been better.)
27.Nxc5 Rxc5 28.Rxa6 Rb8 (White is now clearly better. 24.Rc6 was clearly a mistake.)
29.Rd1 (This is the kind of position where Kramnik is far superior to Topalov. I am not sure if Topalov can hold this in normal time control. Of course in rapid, anything can happen.)
29…Rb2 30.Ra7+ Kf6 (White is up a pawn but Black has some activities.)
31.Ra1 Rf5 32.f3 Re5 (Very strange plan for Topalov. White is clearly better.)
33.Ra3 Rc2 34.Rb3 Ra5 (This is very hard for Topalov to hold. Kramnik is marching on with his endgame technique.)
35.a4 Ke7 36.Rb5 Ra7 (a5 is coming. The match may end here.)
37.a5 Kd6 38.a6 Kc7 39.c5 (This position looks horrible for Black.)
39…Rc3 40.Raa5 Rc1 41.Rb3 Kc6 42.Rb6 Kc7 43.Kf2 Rc2+ 44.Ke3 (Setting a trap. If 44.Rxc5 then 45.Rb7 wins a Rook)
44…Rxc5?? 45.Rb7+ Game over! Black hung a Rook! (If Rxb7 then Rxc5+ followed by axb7.) A shocking ending to the most bizzare match! Unification has been achieved! Congratulations to Kramnik! Well done! 
I’m glad we have Susan. 🙂 The official site is in a complete tilt.
Susan, after looking at your comments to the two decided games so far, is it any wonder that people think you’re biased toward Topalov? Your comments of Topalov’s win say things like:
“Topalov found it!”
“The best continuation!”
“White is completely winning now. Amazing!”
While for Kramnik’s win you said things like:
“He took a good position and created a losing game.”
“Very poorly played middlegame for Topalov.”
“Now, I am not sure if Black can hold this position. It looks very bad!”
Again, the number of times you mention each player is vastly different – just count the number of times you say “Topalov” as in “Topalov is doing something”, compared to how few times you mention Kramnik. It all adds up to commentary that feels more than a little biased. =(
Let the rollercoaster continue! Ready Susan 🙂
I am ready!
Are you kidding? No one’s ready for this kind of excitement!
I’m glad I’m only 26 and EXTREMELY unlikely to die of a heart attack.
I’m sure that, at some point in the future, I’m going to regret that the World Championship came down to rapid games — but for now it’s just non-stop action.
I hope this is the last game. I’m getting tired of both players …
Have they really been playing only Slav games?
James, my interpretation of Susan’s commentary is that it is Topa who tends to influence the game more than Vlad, one way or the other. Anyway, lett’s just enjoy the mayhem. It’s a lousy way to decide a classical chess title, but then a penalty shotout is just as bad in the world cup final, but for a neutral, it ain’t half exciting!
Yes, James – the reason is that Topalov is playing and Kramnik is defending. It doesn’t take being biased in order to like the better chess played. 😉
I think the question is “Are YOU ready, Susan?” You might have to ‘Blitzingly blogging’ soon.
I have faith that you’ll be able to do that though. You have proven many times that you were able to do things that might sound impossible (or very hard to do)
Well this is at least a little different!
James, Susan is clearly in flavor of Kramnik. His comments were unambiguous in several of her posts (but not while analyzing games).
One has to recognize the strength of a player when it is there. Topalov has often raised strong positions with his fighting style. This is the reason for the comments of Susan.
Thank God we’ve got at least a different variation of this opening… if I see another Slav, my head will explode.
Lost all my links again – if anyone can see some more moves than Susan has posted, I would be hugely grateful if you could post them – I can’t bear not knowing what is happening!!
I like white especialy the c3 pawn 😀 (but I think that the position can be defended for black even if the king is on f8 …)
D.K.
5.e3 Nd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Be2 An unhappy variation for Vladimir, where he lost the 8th game. It may become happy now though…
8… Bb7 9.0-0 Be7 As I remember, in the 8th game 9…b4 10.Na4 c5 was played.
10.e4 b4 11.e5 bxc3 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.bxc3 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 Black seems fine. The only thing is that he hasn’t castle yet.
15.Bb5 Yes, that’s the sence. Now 15…Kf8 is the only move.
15… Kf8
Where do you get the moves from?? the official site is down
http://www.chesspro.ru/match/ but you will need a free account
Thanks for the clarification – you doing a cracking job – thanks again from someone who can barely understand what either player do most of the time!
Clearly better position for Kramnik. But he needs a Fischer move to slam Topa.
Thank you Susan, we really appreciate.
Come on Topalov, show tjis boring Kramnik who is the real champion!
I’m only human? Don’t put yourself down dear.
I agree. If Kramnik plays right, he’s got this.
There is definitely some big – global or not – problem with the “bandwith” or whatever they call it…
During game 3 of the tie-break I posted here the web-address of a Bulgarian web-site which also broadcasted the game … and only in 5-20 minutes it went down…
It seems this match get some really heavy traffic!
Thanks susan. Without out you we don’t see the game.
xx
Fritz says game is equal
wow… most servers that cover the games have experienced breakdown.. blogger yesterday, playchess (when?), now the official website. I can still follow it on the ICC.
try this one:
http://chess38.free.fr/parties/direct/
after 21.Rab1! black must find Be4 22.Bxa6 Bxa3 23.Bxc8 Nxc3 24.Nb5 Nxd1 25.Rxd1 Ke7 26.Rd7+ Kf6…
You do an excellent job in commentary….I think this widely appreciated.
I am looking forwards to your comments during armaggedon!
Hiarcs gives the position after Rab1 +0.41. Random observation – the bishop has returned to f1 in the last three games for white – a thematic move I suppose!
Susan what’s with the cute Doe on the Blog page ? 🙂
Anon – thanks for the french site – this seems to be abit more reliable than FIDE one. Hiarcs gives +0.57 a ce moment.
wha an excitment rapid games, although i cant follow it completely, good think i can take the rush; will we have 5m blitz,
maybe not, but in ºase of them ,
geet ready and recharge batteries,
bye.
j.b.
I’ve also felt the same. That Susan’s comments are usually from Topalov’s perspective. And she seems to express more glee when Topalov wins.
0-1. It’s over!
0-1 how? heart attack, stroke or what?
is 24 the last played?
http://chess38.free.fr/parties/direct/
“how heart attack? stroke ?” no oilet break….
Looks very drawish. Blitz games!!
With that nose! Looks more like a tapir or something… Vlad looks solid here – Hiarcs gives 0.57 after 26.c4
it drives me crazy how Topalov can’t go 2 games without dropping a pawn or 2… and it ends up costing him the game….
I say he loses it here…. unfortunately
Bambi obviously got smacked around the mouth a bit…thats one hell of a swollen nose!
Susan (or anyone else who might know),
In rapid chess, is it a good strategy to keep your time close to that of your opponent?
I have noticed that both players try to keep their times very close.
The animal in the logo looks more like an elk.
Now Vlad’s a pawn up 🙂
Kramnik is a pawn up, now he has to play the most critical endgame of his life.
I think Topalov’s coach must forbid him to exchange queens in any game played with Kramnik… it’s an endgame again and Topa is in a shaky situation… again.
Yup, eval gives 0.85 after Ra1 – could we have a clean(ish) result?
33.Ra3 looks a bit odd – wouldn’t advancing the a pawn have been simpler. Hiarcs is still happy though, giving 0.98 to just about any response.
the fide side is still unavailable to me and my janitor colleges – so we feel free to publish the e-mail letter we received recently:
_______________________________
Dear Sir,
we have notified the inflaming insults you and your colleges have put on FIDE and the ongoing World Championship Competition of professional chess(WCCpc).
We inform you, that we have put legal action on yours and your janitor colleges attitudes, to claim following issues:
1. FIDE never recommended the use of little pocket chess sets in lavatories.
2. FIDE never authorized the distribution of little pocket chess sets which have been used by FIDE titled chess players in lavatories or elsewhere.
3. Your bias to one of the players in the current FIDE WCCpc made us block your IP from watching the tie break games on the offical FIDE site.
Further more you are enjoined to affirm, that
4. The president of FIDE, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumshinov, has never been abducted by aliens (he went by free will, instead)
5. The president of Kalmykia, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumshinov, has never negotiated with extraterrestial living forms to get a brain implant recalibrated and has never paid any money for such attendance.
6. Offical Staunton Chessmen Sets are inapropriate for secret game analysis.
Regards
(xxxxx)
_______________________________
It’s a shame, isn’t it?
Susan, your numbering just got out by 10. Looks good for Vlad – eval continues to rise – now 1.56 after 36…Ra7.
If you ask me the position is won for Kramnik. But I’m only master of arts, and not grandmaster.
Kramnik has showed, and is showing, to
have a far superior handling of the endgame.
Yes, I would back Vlad in a match of just endgames! But under so much pressure, can he finish it off. He really should from here – eval 1.67
It’s all over. Rb7+ 1-0
Game Over. CONGRATS to Vladdy. Well done!! 🙂
YES!!!!!!!
The only result which can possible lead to anything remotely resembling unification. Topalov can have no legitimate beef. Kramnik is champ, game 5 notwithstanding.
Mike D.
great endgame! Rb7+!
Thanks a lot Susan for the greatest World Championship commentaries and blogs EVER!
Kramnik the great! Great game! 2 succesfull defence of his title!
Let not be to hard on Topalov that did nothing illegal in this match.
FIDE, on the other hand, is not shining brightly…
sweet melody
kram kram champ champ kram kram champ champ
What an exciting match!
Thanks Susan!
Gregory
Topolov has resigned. Thank God we have a unified champion!
Much better that the match ended in rapid instead of blitz.
Chess, sadly, has made a big leap backwards.
Wow, what a match. I just hope that we can have more in the future – by which I mean one on one matches. A tournament is so different. Thanks for all your commentary Susan – I bet you are slight relieved not to have to do the blitz games!!
Woohoohoo!!!!!! Kramnik is the new and legitimate World Chess Champion!!!!! Woohoo!!! The rightful heir and more moral champion. Congratulations! This silly match is finally over!!! NEXT!!!!!!
SUsan… many, many thanks for the live blog! The usual sites were useless (likely they did not anticipate the load).
Thanks to you, we were immediately up to date!
ToiletMatch is over with a just result!
now what about the math with Radjabov ? does Kramnik have to play that or is that erm down the “toilet?”
Thanks Susan for your comments !!!
Bravo Kramnik and for Topalov, two great players and a fantastic world champion
hoooooray
He won the match.
He won the rapids.
Without bathroom breaks.
He is the undisputable champion.
Congratulation Vladimir Kramnik,
Minister of Defense and
Chess Champion of the united Chess world.
Who would have thought that a year ago…
Thank you, Susan!
One problem…Kramnik wasnt the FIDE Champ at the start of this match…Will FIDE respect him as sole World Champion? oh man, that feels good just saying it!
There is a Santa Claus!
Thanks a lot Susan. Wonderful coverage! Congratz to new Unified Champion Kramnik. Hope he plays in Mexico 2007 like a true champion.
Very thrilling games!
Susan thanks for your clear comments of the games and for having hosted this blog!
CONGRATS KRAMNIK ! well he deserved to win ! in my opinion he had won it 6-5 ! more importantly the game was decided on the board n not in the courts !
Thank you Susan. I think you made it quite exciting with your updates and comments. You’re great.
Collin
Malaysia
Fantastic match. The chess world deserved a champion like Kramnik. No dirty tricks, just playing good chess.
Congrats for your blog, too. I think you should be exhausted by now… 🙂
Nuno, from Brazil.
Thanks, Susan, for all the hard work you did covering the match.
Topalov 0
Pocket Chess Set (portable) 1
Those Janitors are going to make a bundle selling them!
Now Topa needs docta.
Great work Susan ! Amazing blog, excellent coverage and wonderful comments and analysis ! Thanks a lot !
Volodya — That was bloody brilliant! You kept us hanging till the very end, but we knew you had it in you.
Veselin, Silvio — Watch and learn what class is!
Kirsan, FIDE — Could we have no more Mickey Mouse WChs, please?
Hensel, chess world — Can we now put the whole Toiletgate thing behind us?
Susan — You’re simply the best. Thanks a million for the good times!
Kramnik is King. Long live the King!
Congratulations Kramnik!!! You did it, man! Thank you Susan for excellent blog, with it you make chess to be as exciting as Football World Cup. Topalov should know that there are no losers in match like this – because chess is spreading positive vibrations and goodwill, like Olympic games. All politicians in the world – play chess and make no war. Chess for Peace – Joy to All! Greetings from Serbia.
Good points vvchess
Topalov never wanted to take chances with his openings with White or Black. .He should have tried playing the Benoni Defense as Black against the Queen’s Gambit (at least once or maybe a King’s Indian Defense). I guess he didn’t play 1.e4 because he thought Kramnik would play into a Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense like he did against Kasparov.
Susan,
Thank you so much! When the other servers jammed up, you were here!
Wooohooo, the mess of 13 years is finally over!
Congratulations to Kramnik for this well deserved victory !
And thank you Susan : i discovered your website at the beginning of the Championship, but it’s now on my favoties list. Great comments !!!
Topalov: Someone took away his fritz for the blitz.
thx a lot susan for your comments about the WCC, unfortunately the fide side was down, so your blog was the only and of course best site, to follow the games either – again a BIG BIG THANKS!
your Stefan
Thank you, Susan, for your tireless efforts. I had two windows open – one the http://www.playchess.com site showing the board and moves live, and the other window open with your blog, seeing your comments appear moments later. It gave me just enough time to look at the position and evaluate it, then see your comments.
Congratulations on having your analysis and match results available so quickly!
köszönjük 🙂
When Topalov wins, it is almost always because he made a lot of “!” and “!!” moves.
When Kramnik wins, it is usually because Topalov made a lot of “?” and “??” moves.
You can’t give an honest analysis of such a match without sounding biased toward Topalov, unless you’re willing to be openly sadistic. What would we think if Susan wrote something like “aha! Topalov blunders again! I love to watch him outplay his opponent and then give away half points!”?
Why did Topalov lose?
Look up
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdherp.htm
Topo’s chips short circuited!!
Kramnik should get the $1 million pot since he won the FIDE Championship twice!
Susan, why are so many chessplayers so stupid? A lot of them are complaining about how such a biased person (like you) can cover a match.
It pains me to see that you actually tried to do this (most impressive but ofcourse impossible!) because it would be much simpler to write whatever you want.
News on Israel is always pro Israel and never pro palestina. News on Iraq or Afghanistan is always pro soldiers and never pro citizens/terrorists. I could go on and on here….
Why don’t you just do the same? Sorry I forgot, 90% of the worlds population is retarded! 🙂 and you cannot risk your Rep… If that’s so have you succumbed to the American ways of hypocrisy?
With lots of Respect,
Matt
Kramnik won objectively speaking in classical and rapid games. His match experience determined the outcome. From the beginning, Topalov tried to match Kramnik’s style instead of finding interesting opening variations that challenged Kramnik’s repertoire, like Fischer did against Spassky when he played the Alekhine Defense as Black. Why did Topalov shy away from e4? I imagine that the Kramnik-Fritz match will be an arranged “tie” because that benefits chessbase and Kramnik.
Thanks a lot Susan for everything!
Best Regards
Susan, thank you so much for your incredible blog, which during the days of this championship match just kept getting better and better.
I do hope that in future championships, the rules will clearly exclude any possibility of even the appearance of conceivably inappropriate behavior by either competitor.
And I also hope the winner is decided by a much more robust rule: Draws are ignored, and the winner is the first player to have N wins, where N is at least 2 more than the number of wins of
the other player. (Probably N should be at least 6. In fact 6 would be fine.)
Hali Zsuzsi,
koszi szepen!
That is the stupidest looking logo I have ever seen! Lets have a fluffy wittle baby deer wiff a big nose, yeah, and cute stars all around cute wittle him…yeah…
>>
I’m sure that, at some point in the future, I’m going to regret that the World Championship came down to rapid games —
>>
It didn’t. Kramnik beat Topalov over the board for the Classical Title in regulation, 6-5, not counting the illegal forfeit, which was part of the FIDE score only.
The Blitz Playoff was only for the FIDE title, because of that forfeit. Classical Title was decided and retained yesterday.
A great idea, this speed blog. It was working even when the main WC site went down!
Lots of interesting comments, too. Except for the obviously ignorant (like the moron who insulted the “HAIL TO THE KING” poster, a few messages above this one), it’s probably just what you hoped for, Zsusa. A forum that gives people from all over the world a chance to voice their opinions on the WC.
Thanks for your work. Once again, you create something new that is very good for the chess community.
KRAMNIK IS CHESS…CHESS IS KRAMNIK!!HAIL THE NEW KING!LET US ALL UNITE NOW FOR THE BETTERMENT OF CHESS ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!CONGRATULATIONG VLADIMIR!!YOU DESERVE EVERY INCH OF THE TILE YOU JUST WON!!MORE POWER!!
THE ZABARTE CHESS CLUB
MANILA,PHILIPPINES
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