Game one

A very tense game. Topalov repeated the same variation as in the second classical game but Kramnik deviated with 14…Re8 (instead of 10…Bg6). Topalov sensed that he couldn’t play for a kingside attack anymore and play was transferred to the queenside. Veselin sacrificed the a4 pawn for a strong initiative but Kramnik was able to bail out with his excellent 36…Nc4! only move.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15. Ne1 Rc8 16. f4 Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2 19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Re2 Rcc8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Rf2 a6 24. Bf1 Rc6 25. b4 Rc2 26. b5 a5 27. Bc3 Rxf2 28. Qxf2 Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Rc1 Nb6 31. Bb2 Nxa4 32. Ba3 h6 33. h3 Be4 34. Kh2 Nb6 35. Bc5 a4 36. Ra1

Position after 36. Ra1

36...Nc4 37. Bxc4 b6 38. Qe3 Rc8 39. Bf1 bxc5 40. dxc5 Qxc5 41. Qxc5 Rxc5 42. b6 Rc6 43. b7 Rb6 44. Ba6 d4 45. Rxa4 Bxb7 46. Bxb7 Rxb7 47. Rxd4 (1/2-1/2 )

Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik defeated GM Veselin Topalov 2.5-1.5 in the four-game tiebreak after a tough twelve-game match, which ended 6-6. Kramnik demonstrated his excellent nervous system by grinding down his opponent in two very well-played endings in game two and four.

With this victory in the tie-break there will be no discussion at all regarding the famous fifth game, which everyone remembers was won by Topalov after Kramnik forfeited in protest to the decision of the Appeals Committee to close his bathroom, following Topalov’s protest.

Although maybe not playing the best chess, Kramnik has demonstrated once again his excellent match game technique, by winning three classical games (Topalov only won two on-the-board games) in addition to his first class approach to the tie-break games, a series of four 25 minute games with a ten-second increment.

After defeating Garry Kasparov in 2000 and Peter Leko in 2004, Kramnik will definitely go into the history books as one of the few champions who have defended the WC title twice in a row successfully, whereas this match in Elista will also be sorrowfully remembered as the “Toilet and Computers” match.

Two other items will still have to be discussed. Will Vladimir defend his title next year in the Mexico City 2007 championship? Topalov will not play now that he has lost. Also, we shall see if Kramnik will take over the challenge that Radjabov had put forward to Topalov before this match, with a 1-milion euro prize fund.

A World Chess Championship game between Russia's Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria was called off on Saturday pending talks to overcome the crisis over cheating allegations against the Russian.

Kramnik, who was leading 3-1, was deemed to have forfeited the fifth game after not showing up for the match on Friday. Protesting against the decision, the Russian argued that the match should resume from game five, while Topalov insisted he was now one point behind and it was game six that should to be played.

World Chess championships have quite often been marred by controversies, tantrums and wild accusations. This time the reunification match, which finally got underway last week after 13 years, went through a serious crisis after FIDE champion Veselin Topalov indirectly accused Classical champion Vladimir Kramnik of cheating and objected to his numerous visits to the bathroom. After negotiations the championship continued with Kramnik forfeiting one game.

The game which follows is the second one in the 12-game series and ironically changes fortunes after blunders by both players.

Incidentally, this is the game where Kramnik first blundered after a bathroom visit. Incredibly, Topalov missed a two-move winning continuation and ultimately and thereafter ended up losing the game.

White: Veselin Topalov (2813) – Black: Vladimir Kramnik (2743). World chess championship, Elista 2006, Slav Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6

The Slav Defence

3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3

On previous occasions Kramnik had opted for 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 while playing with White but here Topalov opts for a different line

6. ..e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 0-0

If 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe4 12.Ba3 and Black has to castle on the queen side right into the attack

11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3

Black has a solid position, while White enjoys space advantage and can think of initiating an attack on the King side

14...Bg6 15.Ng5 Re8 16.f4 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 f5

Trying to close the King side. 18.Be3. If 18.g4 h6 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.gxf5 Re7 leads to an unclear position

18. ..Nf8 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.g4 Qd7 21.Rg1 Be7 22.Nf3 Rc4 23.Rg2

Topalov stays true to his aggressive style

23. ..fxg4 24.Rxg4 Rxa4 25.Rag1 g6 26.h4 Rb4 27.h5 Qb5. A cursory glance reveals that Black stands better but White is just about to get going

28.Qc2

A good move. If 28.hxg6 Qxd3 29.gxh7+ Kxh7 30.Rg7+ Kh6 31.f5+ the bishop is hanging.

28...Rxb2 29.hxg6! But now, the previous variation leads to mate, so Black has to keep the g-file closed, at least for a while. 29...h5 30.g7! hxg4 31.gxf8Q+

31...Bxf8

If 31...Kxf8 32.Qg6 Qe2 33.Qxg4







32.Qg6+

Chess blindness? Topalov misses a simple winning continuation with 32.Rxg4+ Bg7 33.Qc7 Qf1+ 34.Ng1 and it is all over for Black

32...Bg7 33.f5 Re7

If 33...exf5 34.Bh6 Qd7 35.Ng5 Rb6 36.e6 Rexe6 37.Qh7+ Kf8 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxg7+ Kd8 40.Nf7+ Kc8 41.Rc1+ Kb8 42.Bf4+ Ka8 43.Nd6 Qxg7

34.f6 Qe2 35.Qxg4 Rf7

If 35...Qxe3 36.fxe7 Qh6+ 37.Nh4 Kf7 38.Qxg7+ with a win for White

36.Rc1.

Computers suggest 36.Qh5 as stronger

36...Rc2 37.Rxc2 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qxc2+ 39.Kg3 Qe4

Black desperately tries to simplify the position by an invitation to swap queens

40.Bf4. He could have tried to capture the bishop and play on 40...Qf5 41.Qxf5 exf5 42.Bg5.

Falling short of time to make the moves he wants. Kramnik’s two passed on the queen side are soon going to be troublesome

42...a5 43.Kf4 a4 44.Kxf5 a3 45.Bc1 Bf8 46.e6 Rc7 47.Bxa3 Bxa3 48.Ke5 Rc1 49.Ng5 Rf1.

Here 49...Rg1 looks better.

50.e7 Re1+ 51.Kxd5 Bxe7 52.fxe7 Rxe7 53.Kd6.

The position does appear drawish at this point but the computers show advantage to Black

53...Re1

Analysis show 53...Re3, as the winning move

54.d5 Kf8 55.Ne6+.

55.Kd7 might perhaps have saved the game

55...Ke8 56.Nc7+ Kd8 57.Ne6+ Kc8.

Black is winning now

58.Ke7 Rh1 59.Ng5 b5 60.d6 Rd1 61.Ne6 b4 62.Nc5 Re1+ 63.Kf6 Re3 and White resigned.