Kramnik to Start with White


Anand Kramnik Live Coverage

The lots have been drawn and Kramnik will play with the white pieces on the first day.

It is usually good to have the white pieces since the player can choose to start aggressively and get the psychological edge. Also, since opening preparations are of the highest quality during such matches, Kramnik has a chance to strike with deadly effect. Anand would have prefered the white pieces definitely since he likes to attack.

From our observations of most matches, we see that the first game is usually drawn since the players are more than happy to play a solid game and calm the dangling nerves. As both Anand and Kramnik mentioned in yesterday's press conference, they are very keen to start playing. Prepartion for World Class matches is brutal and this keeness is understandable.

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