2/2/26/2005 -
When you talk about championship teams, you always talking
about great defenses. In football it was the Pittsburgh Steelers of the
70's. No team's defense was more feared than the Steel Curtain. Football
and chess have much in common. Well there is no question Peter Leko's team
has a great defense. His team has made numerous great stops this past
year. It all started at Dortmund against Anand. Leko held a dangerous
position consisting of two rooks, open king, and pawn vs. Anand's
queen, protected king, and 3 pawns. Leko had to circle the wagons to stop the
Indian Tiger's attack. Leko made another incredible save in game 13
of his world championship match with Kramnik. The world champion had
created a dangerous central passer. This passer was well escorted by the
king and rook and adjacent pawn. Leko put up an incredible effort to stop
it. The game end with only kings on the board.
Well, Peter Leko's team made another great goal line
stand against team Topalov at round 4 in Linares. Topalov played a
great game, he got a winning position with two connected outside
passers. The middle game developed into Topalov's queen, rook,
bishop, and 4 pawns, two of which were outside passers, versus Leko's
queen, rook, bishop, and three pawns. A tenacious Leko, with his king
dangerously exposed, was able to pry open the a-file and create a
dangerous mating attack with his queen and rook. This forced Topalov to
exchange queens and split his outside, connected passed pawns. This was enough for
Leko to push his only passer and stop Topalov at the goal line. Leko ,
coming off a successful world championship match and a spectacular first
place finish at Corus, saved his tournament today. Leko has
developed a great offense to go along with his incredible defense. Leko is
one cool customer, I liken him to fellow Hungarian and Football great Joe
Willy Namath. Both Peter Leko and Joe Namath were cool customers under
pressure. Both could work their magic under fire.
Peter Leko has done well at Linares. He won it in 2003 and finished
2nd in 2004 behind the 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. A great
defensive stand can reenergize a team. It can be a momentum changer and
builder. I expect Peter Leko to come out swinging in the next round he
plays at Linares.
|