Keys to victory
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Advantage
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Why
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match experience
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Even
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Both players have match experience, Adams has played in some interesting
matches. He lost to Anand and Gelfand in 1994 candidate matches. He did
defeat Tiviakov in a close match back in 1994..Adams also has FIDE KO match
experience. He ousted Kramnik in the 1999 KO, but was finally ousted by
Akopian in the semifinal. In the 2000 FIDE KO, Adams was ousted in the
semifinal match against Anand. In 2004 Adams lost the final KO match against
Kasimdzhanov. Peter Leko does not have as much match experience, but he made
up for it in the 2004 world championship match against Vladimir Kramnik.
Leko came with in one game of becoming the 15th world champion. He took the
lead in the match with his heroic game 8 effort. A game that could go down
as the greatest world championship game every played. Leko did not become a
champion, but he drew a match with the champion. Even though Adams has
played more matches, he has always fell a little short, he has come close
many times, but always seems to fall short. Leko can be bolstered by his
successful drawn match with Kramnik.
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Difficulty being defeated
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Even
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Both players are tough to defeat, but Leko is as solid as they come.
Both players have defeated Kramnik and Anand in the past year. At tough
tournaments in Linares and Corus.. Leko never suffered a loss. At Linares he
drew all his games. At Corus, Leko won in grand style by defeating Anand
Adams has suffered defeats this year, he was unable to handle Topalov and
Kasparov at Linares. .Adams also had trouble with Anand at Corus. However in
rapid match play, Leko has been beaten. He has lost to Anand and Shirov at
Amber rapids.
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Better Chess Knowledge
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Even
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Leko probably has the best theoretical knowledge in the world. Adams
realize more on his natural talents. But for a rapid match, natural talent
could rule the day.
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Head to head match ups
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Even
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According to www.chessgames.com.
Adams leads the head to head match up with 7 wins, 5 loses and 23 draws. But
since 2000, Leko holds the edge with 2 wins and 13 draws and no loses. Not
included in this total was a Fischer random match. Back in 2001 Peter
Leko defeated Michael Adams for the Fischer Random world championship by a
score of 5-3.
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Match preparation
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Even
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Leko is won of the best prepared opening players in the world. However
in a rapid match, he might not want to use his opening secrets and would
want to save them for classical matches. Match preparation might not be a
factor.
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Current playing trends
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Leko
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Both players have had successful 2004's. Adams all most won the 2004
FIDE KO. He also had solid Corus and Linares tournaments, only losing
to Topalov, Anand, and Kasparov. Recently Adams had a tough time in Sofia,
He finished last by losing to Topalov, Polgar and Anand. Leko also had
a great 2004, he finished strong by drawing Kramnik in the 2004 world
championship. Leko took Corus in grand style, but he also has cooled off and
drew all his games at Linares. Leko finished in 4th at the Amber combined
tournament.
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Player psychology - wild card
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Adams
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In a rapid match, I have got to favor the player who relies more on his
natural talents. Plus in a rapid match, anything can happen in a time
scramble. Opening knowledge might not be too important a factor in a rapid
match. Leko might have trouble in a time scramble, he might not be able to
play as solidly as he wants to.
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Home field Advantage
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Leko
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The match is being played in Miskolc, Hungry. Peter Leko also hails from
Hungry.
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Who is going to win
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Adams
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Leko inability to play up to his high solid standards in a rapid match
will have an adverse psychological impact. Adams with his natural talent and his overall
head to head match up will rule the day. Adams wins 5-3.
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