Round 8 World Chess Championship
Kramnik gets to play with the white pieces after a two round gap. From what we saw, he was struggling just to draw yesterday. If Kramnik wants to go down blazing, his only chance is to start his fight now. Expect a fight from him today. If he does not choose an aggressive opening plan, it means that he has already given up. As for Anand, there is only suggestion - please don't feed the nay sayers.
Match Score
V Anand ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ Total - 5.0
Kramnik ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ Total - 2.0
V Kramnik vs V Anand
Round 8
World Chess Championship
Bonn, Germany
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10 Bxf6 Bxb5 11 Ndxb5
Anand does not play the Slav this time. It's a Queen's Gambit for a change, with the Vienna variation. It looks like Anand will open up his g file again.
11 ... gxf6 12.O-O Nc6
There it is. The position is proceeding on known lines right now and is well balanced. Expect another exciting game!
13 a3 Bxc3 14 Nxc3 Rg8
Has Kramnik learnt his lesson? I'd say he's spending too much time too early in the game, again!
15 f4
Is the Kramnik agression that we anticipated?
15 ... Rd8 16 Qe1
For once, Anand takes his time.
16... Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Rd3
Probably not sound.
18.Qe2 Qd4
Another follow up move that is not that strong.
19.Re1
On analyzing, it appears that Kramnik's only chance in this game was the 19. Nb5 try, after which 19 ... Qd8 20 e5 Kf8 21 Nd6 Rd5 22 Raf1 is promising for white. It is the kind of position where Kramnik can press.
19 ... a6 20.Kh1 Kf8 21.Ref1 Rg6 22.g3 Kg7 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Kh8
25.Nc3 Rg8 26.Kg2 Rd8 27.Qh5 Kg7
Wasn't Kramnik a bit too late? He's sure to rue his missed chances if he does not win today.
28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31 Qh4 Kg7
No, that's not even close to a draw. Kramnik repeats move to try and make it to the first time control fast.
32 e5 f5
While that objective is being achieved, can he come up with a plan? The position does not show much promise though.
33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2 Qc4 37.Qg5+ Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8
1/2-1/2
Draw again. Kramnik is playing at a high level, but isn't it too little, too late? Add to it, the fact that Anand is playing very accurately, and Kramnik is not able to break through.
Match Score
V Anand ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ Total - 5.0
Kramnik ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ Total - 2.0
V Kramnik vs V Anand
Round 8
World Chess Championship
Bonn, Germany
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10 Bxf6 Bxb5 11 Ndxb5
Anand does not play the Slav this time. It's a Queen's Gambit for a change, with the Vienna variation. It looks like Anand will open up his g file again.
11 ... gxf6 12.O-O Nc6
There it is. The position is proceeding on known lines right now and is well balanced. Expect another exciting game!
13 a3 Bxc3 14 Nxc3 Rg8
Has Kramnik learnt his lesson? I'd say he's spending too much time too early in the game, again!
15 f4
Is the Kramnik agression that we anticipated?
15 ... Rd8 16 Qe1
For once, Anand takes his time.
16... Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Rd3
Probably not sound.
18.Qe2 Qd4
Another follow up move that is not that strong.
19.Re1
On analyzing, it appears that Kramnik's only chance in this game was the 19. Nb5 try, after which 19 ... Qd8 20 e5 Kf8 21 Nd6 Rd5 22 Raf1 is promising for white. It is the kind of position where Kramnik can press.
19 ... a6 20.Kh1 Kf8 21.Ref1 Rg6 22.g3 Kg7 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Kh8
25.Nc3 Rg8 26.Kg2 Rd8 27.Qh5 Kg7
Wasn't Kramnik a bit too late? He's sure to rue his missed chances if he does not win today.
28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31 Qh4 Kg7
No, that's not even close to a draw. Kramnik repeats move to try and make it to the first time control fast.
32 e5 f5
While that objective is being achieved, can he come up with a plan? The position does not show much promise though.
33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2 Qc4 37.Qg5+ Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8
1/2-1/2
Draw again. Kramnik is playing at a high level, but isn't it too little, too late? Add to it, the fact that Anand is playing very accurately, and Kramnik is not able to break through.
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