10/18/2004 - This is it. I got to wonder what kind of strategy
will Kramnik play. He has been taking it to Leko these last few games.
Clearly the momentum is with Kramnik. How many miracle saves does
Leko have left? I got to wonder if Kramnik will use the same kind of
strategy that Kasparov used back in 1987. Kasparov was in a similar
situation during the 1987 World Championship match with Karpov. Kasparov
was trailing by one game. He lost the 23rd game. There was only one game
left and Kasparov trailed 11-12. Kasparov decided to play in the same
style as his opponent. Kasparov played an opening that gave him a slight,
but lasting positional advantage. He nursed this advantage for 64 moves.
Kasparov took home the full point and tied the match with a 12-12 score.
Since he was the World Champion, he had draw odds.
Several other matches have
ended in ties. Botvinnik retain his title with tied matches against Bronstein
in 1951 and also against Smyslov in 1954. As mentioned above Kasparov
retained his title in a tied match with Karpov in 1987. Will Kramnik go
for a speculative attack, like the one he used against Deep Fritz? That
one failed, it was an exciting game. The attack would have beaten most
humans. However it was the wrong strategy against a Silicon Beast. I have
got to wonder if Kramnik will go back to his bread and butter opening. He
has not played it all match long. That's 1.d4. Maybe Kramnik needs to get
back to his strength. I believe he should have played a few games with
this opening. Even GM Larry Christiansen is surprised Kramnik did not use
it yet.
|
Kramnik again opens with 1.e4. Leko goes back to the Caro-Kann
that’s we saw in game 12. Kramnik
goes for the advanced variation with e5. It’s a good way for Kramnik to
make something happen. GM Joel Benjamin, who will be refer to as JB for this article,
states " We are definitely going to see some action. Both plays will stand
up and fight." This is it. Their backs are against the corner. Hey
Kramnik pushes g4. This is a bold advanced. In five moves
Kramnik has not even moved a
piece. Kramnik got the space advantage on the kingside.
This game is
going at a snail's pace. Kramnik giving move 6 a deep think. He used 20
minutes already. Leko has a 10 minute lead in time. JB says " With Physical sports
you run around a lot. You use your muscle memories. But not with chess.
You are thinking about the situation. I think a world championship
match is like taking your final exams in high school or college."
On more 6 Kramnik finally moves a piece with Nd2. Leko is attacking
Kramnik’s pawn base with 6.. C5 . Leko is offering the c5 pawn. Both players
must be nervous. This game is proceeding at a snail's pace. Only 6 moves
played and Leko has 97 minutes and
Kramnik with 98 and ticking. Kramnik decides to accept Leko’s
gift with 7 dxc5. JB says " Kramnik should not try to hold the pawn with b4.
He could try to play Nb3. Kramnik is going all out to win this
position. He
must play to the death. Kramnik needs to maintain the
pressure and keep the
tension going. You want to make your opponent work. You want to build on
something. It hard to get anything in the beginning. The GMs know the
open so well. If a GM wants a draw , its hard to stop them. Kramnik has
made things happen." JB says "Leko can get the pawn back right away. it’s a
temporary suffice, Bxc5, Nxc5 qa5 check. Then Qxc5."
As mentioned Leko grabs the pawn back. Kramnik does have the bishop
pair and kingside space.
Neither player has castled yet and it's getting late.
On the 11th
move. Kramnik finally moves another piece and plays 11 Nf3. It’s the only piece
that he has developed.
Kramnik is certainly cooking at the board today. Move 16 Bd3 is played. Kramnik
has 87 minutes on the clock Leko
is giving it a deep think here. He has to decide which side to castle. If
he caste kingside. Kramnik would have a vicious attack. At move 14 Qd2
Kramnik has 60 minutes on the clock, Leko has 73 minutes. Neither player has
castle yet. By move 17 a
pair of
knights, bishops and queens came off the board. Leko decides to go for
simplifications. Leko has an aggressive knight posted on f4. JB thinks
Leko can't hold this position. Leko has a
bad bishop. JB thinks black can't do much. If the rooks come off, white can win
this game. It will be extremely difficult to hold this ending. White has a
concrete plan. He will advance the pawns on the kingside. He will try to
create a passed
pawn. JB says "white has serous chances." Rook c1 is an annoying
move. It threatens
Rc7. But the rook could be trapped with Bc6. Leko plays 18.. h5. JB say
" Leko trying to grimly hang on without any counter play.
On move 19 Kramnik
plays Rhg1. Kramnik opens the g-file with
20 gxh5. Leko
responds with 20. Nxh5. Kramnik plays 21 b4.
He Plays on both sides of the board. Kramnik will stretch the
defense. Kramnik is saying to Leko, the action is not all on the kingside.
This is a not a game boy. There is action going on the queenside too. There is a
lot of play here for white. Leko responds with 21.. a6 to prevent b5. Kramnik plays 22 a4 to force issues here . JB says "Kramnik wants
to keep the pressure up. Kramnik’s goal is to get a pig on the 7th
rank." Leko can play bxa4, but
Kramnik gets the initiative. Kramnik playing on both sides of the board
today. Leko is defending as best as he can. Leko plays 22 .. Kd8 to cover his c7 square and
prevent Kramnik's rook from penetrating.
Kramnik
plays 23 Ng5 and Leko plays Be8 to protect the f7 pawn. Leko is just hanging on. This
is a very passive position.
Kramnik on move 25 pushes b6. At this move
Kramnik has 21 minutes left. Leko has 16 minutes left. JB says Leko underestimated
b6. Kramnik’s h4 is hanging . JB says black has a back rank
weakness. Sveshi feels things look awful. JB thinks things are going to start
falling off soon. Can Leko hold this together? Kramnik has two
hanging pawns, one on a4 and the other on h4. Leko
forces the exchange of rooks 26 .. Rc8 . Kramnik follow with Rxc8 and Leko
plays Kxc8. Move 28 Kramnik plays Rc1 check. Leko plays Bc6 this leaves the f7
pawn unprotected.
Leko has 11 minutes on the clock. Kramnik has 29. Kramnik plays Nxf7 and Leko responds with
Rxh4. Kramnik plays 30 Nd6 check, the knight is
placed in the center. It has a support point and can't be dislodged. A
knight on the 6th is like a nail in the knee.
On move 31 rg8,
Kramnik
putting on the pressure. Leko is in a very passive position. Both ChessFmers
feel it's really gloomy for Leko. Is Leko fresh out of miracles? Leko goes for
activity by allowing Kramnik to play Rxg7. Leko did not want to play the
very passive Rh7.
Leko plays Rxa4. JB is talking about mating net with f4. Leko is in very
difficult shape today. Kramnik has knight on the 6th and a
wild pig on the 7th. This looks losing for Leko and wining for
Kramnik. Kramnik plays f4 .
This would allow white to queen and mate. This is so dangerous for Leko.
Is the Leko dream slipping through his hands? Does Leko have another
miracle in his pocket? Did Leko miss out on game 12? Could he have
won that game? He had a two pawn advantage. JB says "Leko will question trading the
queens". He could have held this if he did not let the pawn get to b6.
Kramnik plays 36 Kg4. Leko counters with Rd3. Leko going for
counter play. By move 37 Leko has 3 minutes and Kramnik has 8 minutes on
the clock.
On move 37 Kramnik pushes f5. Leko plays
Rxd4. JB says "almost any move
wins." On move 41 Kramnik plays Nf7 check. A forced mate is on the board. The game
will end with a mate in two on the board. This is over. Kramnik has done it.
He will retain the title, by drawing the match. A fantastic win in Game
14.
|
Post Game Comments:
Joel Lautier : What a day , an incredible fight. one of the high
lights of chess history.
Leko's experts: I am disappointed. This was not the best game of this
interesting match. I want to congratulate Vladimir Kramnik. I have
mixing feelings about the drawn match. The 7-7 score with the world
champion. This is a very good result, but it is not enough to win. I
want to thank my team. It was hard to fight Vladimir Kramnik. I
want to thank my friends and Hungary for support . It was a
hard fight to the end. It wasn't enough for me to win the title. I'm
disappointed, but I am looking forward to the future, I am just 25. It
was good experience. I hope i get a new chance to become World
Champion
|
Kramnik's excerpts: I'll try to be short. I am so tired I can hardly
speak. I want to thank the sponsors and the organizers of the event, and Dannemann
company. I really liked everything they did. It was a better organized
match. Everything was to my taste better than the 2000 world championship
match. I was happy to play here. I felt at home here. Everyone was
kind. Before the start of the match, I understood how difficult it
was going to be. I know Peter for a long time. I know how strong he is, especially
in the match. He's as tough an opponent as you can get now. I am
absolutely sure, this is not just words. He is more difficult than Garry
Kasparov now. He is really, really strong. I am happy to win, and keep
my title. This match was more difficult than the match with Garry
Kasparov. I had to give it absolutely everything I had, especially at the
end. Finally I had a little luck, without this you can't win against
such a an opponent. I congratulate Peter. I was impressed with his preparation
and play. He is an incredible defender. I never seen such a defense,
absolutely amazing. But not only his only defense, absolutely amazing
player. I wish Peter big success in the future. I think Leko will be
challenger for the title again. I need some rest now. I want to
thank everyone who rooted for me. I need some time to recover from this
difficult match.
|
|
|