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World Championship 2007 Round 14: Anand is undisputed world champion, Kramnik finishes second

admin — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:40:40 +0000

Anand has a peaceful draw against Leko. Kramnik defeats Aronian to secure second place. Svidler improves significantly on his loss against Topalov from San Luis, and Grischuk suffers another defeat. Gelfand curbs Morozevich for a well earned draw.

Anand – Leko

Anand faces Leko’s Marshall Attack and swops off Black’s dangerous dark-squared bishop. At the end of the variation black regains his pawn and there’s not much to play for, so a draw is agreed.

Kramnik – Aronian

Kramnik improves on Radjabov – Karjakin from Corus Wijk Aan Zee earlier this year in the modern variation of the Queen’s Indian. Kramnik invests an exchange as his more active pieces start to dominate. As the exchanges happen Kramnik, with two bishops for a rook, takes control of the a-file, and Black’s weak pawns are exposed. Backed by the two bishop, Kramnik’s d-pawn advances, wreacking Black’s flimsy defences. Aronian resigns.

Svidler – Grischuk

Grischuk follows Topalov’s game against Svidler from San Luis, which allows Svidler to play a strong improvement (20. Rc1!). This exchange sacrifice allows the White queen to enter Black’s kingside and put the Black king under pressure. In the ensuing slugfest Svidler has the upperhand, and he is well on his way to winning with his three minor pieces against Grischuk’s rook.

Morozevich – Gelfand

Gelfand deviates first from an old Polgar-Shirov game in the modern Petroff. Through the tactical complexities Gelfand gains an exchange for a pawn and shattered kingside pawn structure. Morozevich gains the advantage through two outside passed pawns, so Gelfand forces the draw by perpetual check with his pair of rooks.

World Championship 2007 Round 13: Anand holds lead after mammoth struggle against Grischuk

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:02:43 +0000

A draw between Gelfand and Kramnik virtually assures Anand of first place. Anand comes from behind to secure a draw in a lengthy tense struggle against Grischuk. Leko beats Morozevich in a neat positional game. A wild opening sees a balanced finish in Aronian’s game against Svidler.

Gelfand – Kramnik

Gelfand revisits the Topalov-Kramnik World Championship match, game 4 with a Semi-Slav, but Kramnik deviates first with 12…. Nf6, but White still has excellent compensation for the pawn. Kramnik slowly improves his position, while Gelfand tries to drum up play on the open b-file. As the game reduces into a double rook endgame a draw is agreed.

Grischuk – Anand

Grischuk is the next player up to test Anand’s adherence to the Anti-Moscow Gambit Semi-Slav. Grischuk plays a new move 15. d5 and the queens quickly disappear. Grischuk seizes the initiative to create a strong pin down the d-file, keeping Anand’s king right in the firing line. Grischuk keeps the upper hand in the rook and knight endgame thanks to his more active pieces. Anand is forced into a difficult defence in the ensuing endgame as Grischuk pokes and prods for a further advantage. In a tense finish all the pieces disappear, leaving Anand with a well deserved half-point.

Leko – Morozevich

Morozevich opts for a Sicilian Richter Rauzer while Leko attempts a transposition to the English Attack. They follow a Wijk Aan Zee 2007 game between Kosintseva and Atalik until Leko deviates with 12. Nxc6. Leko damages Morozevich’s pawn structure and sets to work exploiting it. He wins the Black h-pawn and thereafter his own passed h-pawn is unstoppable.

Aronian – Svidler

Its a wild Four Knights English and Aronian has to artificially castle his king. But he comes out of the opening well and makes decent use of the semi-open f-file, while Svidler does likewise on the semi-open e-file. The culmination of Svidler’s buildup is the …d5 break which suits Aronian’s purposes. The game dissolves into a queen and pawns ending with Aronian holding the initiative. But there’s very little to play for in the position, so a draw is agreed.

World Championship 2007 Round 12: Kramnik deposes Leko cutting into Anand’s lead

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:00:29 +0000

Kramnik takes advantage of a momentary lapse from Leko to cut into Anand’s lead. Aronian’s novelty brings out the best in Gelfand who grabs the full point. Morozevich snares Grischuk’s king into a mating net. Anand secures a quiet draw against Svidler.

Kramnik – Leko

Kramnik finds a new move (13. Qf4) in a typical Open Catalan. Leko manages to equalise, but Kramnik retains some niggling pressure. Leko grabs an exchange but Kramnik’s piece activity gives him adequate compensation. Leko stumbles and misses a key Kramnik move, and a dynamic equality quickly becomes a serious advantage for Kramnik as his queen infiltrates the Black position. With the advance of his pawn centre Kramnik converts the advantage into a winning position.

Aronian – Gelfand

Aronian springs an aggressive novelty in the Moscow Variation of the Semi-Slav, but Gelfand quickly adapts to the new situation and exposes the weaknesses in Aronian’s position. Gelfand brings his pieces into promising positions against the White king, and Aronian is bust. Aronian extricates himself by giving up a piece, but Gelfand converts the material advantage into the full point.

Svidler – Anand

The players continue their theoretical discussion in the Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez, but the players swapping roles and following Svidler’s game against Ivanchuk from Linares 2007. Anand deviates first with 13… Bf8. Both players play solidly and inevitably a draw is agreed.

Morozevich – Grischuk

Morozevich offers up a Four Knights English Opening, and Grischuk equalises quickly, his strongly posted knight compensates for Morozevich’s two bishops. Grischuk builds pressure against White’s backward d-pawn. This causes Morozevich to part with his bishop pair in reclaiming the temporary pawn deficit, and his rooks start to assert their dominance. Grischuk misplays his knight, and in trying to activate his pieces he falls into serious trouble. Morozevich liquidates the central pawns leaving him with two connected passed pawns on the queenside. Grischuk’s pieces look dangerous, but Morozevich finds the nail that hinders Black’s piece activity. In a flurry of tactics Morozevich snares the Black king into a mating net.

World Championship 2007 Round 11: Anand outguns Morozevich, extends his lead.

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:25:48 +0000

Anand extends his lead by beating Morozevich in a tremendous battle and an exquisite finish. Kramnik has an easy draw against Grischuk. Leko’s edge against Aronian isn’t enough for a decisive result. Svidler holds Gelfand with very little trouble.

Anand – Morozevich

Morozevich plays into a well-trodden path of the Sicilian Najdorf. Anand takes control of the d5-square after removing Morozevich’s light-squared bishop. Morozevich counters with a break down the f-file. Anand finds a clever manoeuvre to regroup his remaining knight, with a slight advantage. Anand manages to hold Black’s kingside threats, and creates his own initiative on the queenside. Anand avoids the proffered repetition of position and breaks through on the queenside, whilst conceding the battle for the h-file. Anand’s knight on d5 dominates the position, and he uses that to infiltrate with his queen and remove Black’s central pawns. In the race of passed pawns its Morozevich’s pawn that queens, but Anand finishes off with an exquisite domination of the queen by his own rook and knight.

Leko – Aronian

Aronian emerges from a Queen’s Indian with a Sicilian-like Hedgehog, and a balanced position. Leko gets an advantage thanks to his passed and advanced d-pawn, but Aronian manages to blockade it with a bishop. Aronian sacrifices a pawn to activate his rook, which neutralises Leko’s immediate threats. Aronian rounds up and removes the isolani at the cost of allowing a White rook on the backrank. Aronian takes over the initiative, but the game heads into a rook and bishop ending. Draw agreed.

Grischuk – Kramnik

Out of a slightly unusual 3.d4 Petroff, Grischuk follows a misanalysed idea and finds his plan of keeping the Black king in the centre miscarries after an obvious exchange. Grischuk offers a draw.

Gelfand – Svidler

Svidler is goaded into a Russian Grunfeld via an English opening move order, but its not enough to throw Svidler off as he holds the balance. A draw agreed.

World Championship 2007 Round 10: Anand holds off Kramnik.

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:22:33 +0000

Anand secures his hold of first place with a tough draw against Kramnik. Aronian struggles but overcomes Grischuk in a well calculated finish. Svidler’s enterprising play is almost enough to dispatch Morozevich, but in the tense struggle, Svidler misses the winning continuation. Leko allows a perpetual check.

Kramnik – Anand

The Anti-Moscow Gambit appears again, Anand seemingly comfortable on the Black side after a brilliant win against Aronian in round 2. Kramnik unveils a new move (17. b3), and gets a knight into d6. This convinces Anand to sacrifice the exchange. In the intricate semi-endgame, Kramnik tries to prise open Black’s king. Anand defuses that initiative, so Kramnik switches to exploiting the weak pawns on the kingside, while Anand activates his pieces against the White kingside position. The position returns to balance, and with Anand holding a slight advantage, Kramnik offers a draw.

Aronian – Grischuk

Aronian plays an unorthodox Queen’s Gambit Declined and heads into a Catalan. Grischuk comes out fighting, but the game quickly settles down into a typical Queen’s Gambit structure. Grischuk sacrifices a pawn to fire up his kingside attack, but Aronian’s knights keep the position under control, allowing him to pursue his central ambitions. That gives Grischuk the opportunity to push forward against Aronian’s kingside. Grischuk misses an opportunity to push forward with his hanging pawns, handing the initiative back to Aronian. Grischuk parts with the exchange to hang onto his pawn centre, but Aronian quickly returns it to break it up. In the endgame with seven isolated pawns Aronian cleans up with an elegant mating attack.

Gelfand – Leko

In the well-trodden paths of the Catalan, the players reach a balanced and solid position. Leko’s queenside pawn expansion goes to naught, and he provokes a piece sacrifice on the kingside that enables Gelfand to force a perpetual check.

Svidler – Morozevich

Against Morozevich’s Caro-Kann, Svidler opts for the modern 5. Ng5 treatment. Morozevich produces the first new move by adopting a sideline continuation (15… c5) that hasn’t been seriously tested before. Svidler tries to use his slight advantage to open up kingside operations against the uncastled Black king. This allows Morozevich some counterplay and a space advantage on the queenside which equalises the position. Morozevich manages to untangle his kingside and complete his development. Svidler neutralises Morozevich’s queenside space and prepares to engage the now (artificially) castled Black king, but he misses the most direct continuation by playing an intermezzo which forces Morozevich into a slightly better position. Svidler’s initiative fizzles, and Morozevich emerges with a clear advantage. Svidler sacrifices a pawn to activate his pieces and open lines for an attack, but misses a winning continuation, and has to give back his extra pawn. There’s no more to play for and a draw is agreed.

World Championship 2007 Round 9: Kramnik and Gelfand lose ground to Anand.

admin — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:32:52 +0000

Grischuk outplays Gelfand in a double rook endgame. Kramnik’s Modern Benoni crashes and burns against Morozevich. Svidler’s counterplay neutralises Leko in the Sicilian Najdorf. Anand’s Marshall Attack novelty defuses any threats from Aronian.

Leko – Svidler

Svidler plays the first Sicilian Defence of the tournament opting for a Najdorf. Leko goes for the popular English Attack, following an idea (12. Rg1) from Anand in the Melody Amber tournament, which allows the immediate advance of the g-pawn without needing to advance the h-pawn. Svidler centralises and breaks in the centre with 16… d5 and gains the initiative. Leko fights back with 19. Bh3 and Svidler opts for the exchange of light squared bishops. Leko forces a liquidation of pieces into an endgame, where a draw is agreed.

Grischuk – Gelfand

The position is roughly equal out of a Romanishin Queen’s Indian. Black’s pressure on c3 and activity sufficient for equality. Grischuk’s queen gets kicked a number of times, but he manages to create some pressure and forces the exchange of queens and minor pieces to leave a double rook endgame. Grischuk stands better thanks to his more active rooks, and has a marked advantage. His two rooks take up strong positions that tie down Black’s rooks. This allows Grischuk to open up the kingside with his king and pawns. Grischuk’s control of both open files and the queenside combined with his hold of the light squares pushes Gelfand’s pieces back, Grischuk threatens to infiltrate the kingside with his king. Grischuk swaps off a pair of rooks creating a central passed pawn, this diverts Gelfand’s rook long enough for Grischuk to create an outside passed pawn on the queenside, and with that Gelfand’s position collapses and he resigns.

Anand – Aronian

Anand allows the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez, and adopts the rare 13. Re2 followed by the novelty 15. g3 which snaffles most of Black’s natural attacking moves. Aronian is convinced enough to take the proffered draw.

Morozevich – Kramnik

Kramnik surprises everyone by transposing a symmetrical English Opening into a Modern Benoni. Morozevich takes the initiative on the kingside with an aggressive pawn expansion, Kramnik’s counterplay on the queenside is limited. Kramnik embarks on an unusual rook manoeuvre, the position plays into Morozevich’s unique abilities and Kramnik’s rook is snared. Kramnik’s main problem is that his knight and rook are paralysed, which leaves Morozevich with more pieces in play. Morozevich forces through a passed pawn and manages to create a second which leaves him in a winning position. With the opposite coloured bishops and Morozevich creating play in all quarters of the board he is dominating the position and forces Kramnik to capitulate.

World Championship 2007 Round 8: Leko beats Grischuk in a positional game

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:18:11 +0000

Leko outmanoeuvres Grischuk in an Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez. Morozevich sparks fireworks against Aronian and succeeds in defending the resulting rook endgame. Svidler gets nothing against Kramnik’s solid Petroff.

Svidler – Kramnik

Svidler repeats his 6. Nc3 Petroff that he tried earlier against Gelfand, but Kramnik deviates with 15… Qc4 (improving over Gelfand’s 15… Nf8) which forces White to lose some time guarding his a-pawn. Kramnik erects a pawn barrier on the kingside light-squares followed by a manoeuvre to exchange queens. Svidler prefers to keep the queens on. Kramnik has a solid position, Svidler can make no progress and the game is drawn by repetition of position.

Aronian – Morozevich

Morozevich repeats his Queen’s Indian / Dutch set-up and improves on his play against Gelfand with the variation 9… Na6 introducing a two-pawn sacrifice. Morozevich has great compensation in the activity of his minor pieces, the potential activity of his rook and queen and the precarious position of Aronian’s king – right in the firing line of Morozevich’s pieces. Aronian finds a clever way of throwing a spanner in the works. The game dissolves into a double rook endgame, and Morozevich gets his rooks in the right place – behind the passed pawns – and after a long manoeuvring effort, its a draw.

Gelfand – Anand

Gelfand repeats his Catalan, Anand deviating with 10… Bd6, which allows him to break in the centre with 13… e5. Anand manages to follow up with a 16… c5 break, and a draw is agreed shortly thereafter.

Leko – Grischuk

Its another anti-Marshall, Grischuk exchanging light-squared bishops which results in doubled e-pawns. Leko opens the centre with an e4 break, which allows Grischuk to mobilise his queenside pawns. The position remains balanced, neither side gains the upperhand. Leko creates a pawn bind in the centre and reforms his pieces behind the bind preparing a pawn-break. The break comes with 30. f5, forcing Grischuk to block the centre. This leaves Leko free to concentrate on building up a pawn storm on the kingside, and Leko has the clear advantage. His threats on the kingside continue to mount, and Grischuk’s position collapses when his d-pawn falls. And Leko wins his first game of the tournament.

World Championship 2007 Round 7: Anand beats Grischuk to lead the tournament at the halfway stage

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:57:06 +0000

Morozevich and Leko draw in a long struggle where neither side could build a strong enough advantage to draw clear. Anand bests Grischuk in a pawn-chain fevered Anti-Marshall. Gelfand puts the question to Kramnik, and for the first time Kramnik looked to be in a spot of trouble before getting stuck in to gain a draw.

Morozevich – Leko

Its Leko’s turn to deal with Morozevich’s Scotch game, he opts for a quieter line that keeps the position balanced with Leko taking a slight edge. Morozevich stifles out this edge and gains a tiny edge of his own. In the drawn out middle game Leko grafts to improve his position and he has a stronger advantage going into the endgame. In the queen and minor piece ending Leko forces a draw by repetition.

Anand – Grischuk

Anand dives into the Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez again, this time against Grischuk. Grischuk gets a temporary initiative on the queenside pushing back Anand’s light squared bishop. Anand gradually pushes Black’s pieces backward as he gains space on the kingside and in the centre. The queens get exchanged, leaving Anand with a massive kingside pawn structure, and Grischuk has to stop to defend the weak points in his position. Anand breaks through on the kingside and uses it to get his passed d-pawn rolling. Grischuk tries to throw up a defence, but White’s seventh rank rook keeps Black’s king holed up on the kingside. Anand wins by combining his passed d-pawn with mating threats against the Black king.

Svidler – Aronian

Svidler surprises Aronian with an exchange Ruy Lopez and gets an advantage. Aronian finds an unusual freeing manoeuvre, and Svidler plays a careless move which dissipates his advantage, and a draw is agreed on move 20.

Kramnik – Gelfand

More play in the Anti-Moscow Semi Slav where Kramnik concentrates on pure development rather than initiating an early tactical battle as with Anand’s game against Aronian in round 2. Gelfand whips up a kingside attack bolstered by his knight and rook, and indirectly by his fianchettoed light squared bishop. Kramnik tries to defuse it by keeping tight control of the light squares around his king. Gelfand emerges with an advantage. Kramnik holds tight as Gelfand’s advantage slides away and the game heads into a rook and minor piece endgame where both sides agree to a draw.

World Championship 2007 Round 6: Gelfand joins Anand in the lead after a win against Morozevich.

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:17:36 +0000

Grischuk’s generosity creates a tense game but its only sufficient to force a draw. Gelfand beats Morozevich to join Anand in the lead. Other games are short draws.

Grischuk – Svidler

Its another anti-Moscow Semi-Slav, following Aronian-Anand from round 2 until Grischuk sacrifices the d4-pawn. Svidler’s two pawn plus is an ambitious target to play against, but Grischuk is undeterred by sacrificing a third pawn and then a piece. This brings in a White rook deep into Svidler’s position, and with Svidler’s king uncastled, the hunt is on. Grischuk gets Svidler’s queen for his rook, and the position is delicate. Grischuk sacrifices an exchange and another piece to force a perpetual check

Leko – Anand

Anand’s anti-Marshall opens up play on the queenside and gains an edge. But Leko’s counterplay is sufficient to balance things. Its a short draw, agreed after 21 moves.

Aronian – Kramnik

Kramnik finds himself on the other side of an Open Catalan and comes out of the opening a lot better than his previous opponents. Its an equal position. Kramnik takes over the centre with his bishops and pawns, Aronian has sufficient counterplay to balance the position, and its a draw after 22 moves.

Gelfand – Morozevich

Morozevich starts with a Queen’s Indian that rapidly transposes into a Dutch Defence. Its a battle between the classic centre against the hypermodern pressure from the pieces, Morozevich wielding his pieces in an elegant manner. Morozevich sacrifices an exchange to damage Gelfand’s pawn centre and dissipate his threatened attack against the king. Gelfand improves his position by activating his queenside rook and Morozevich’s position is under pressure. A tactical combination clears the kingside of Black pieces, and once the queenside pawns are neutralised Morozevich tenders his resignation.

World Championship 2007 Round 5: Anand, Gelfand and Grischuk win. Anand leads by 1/2 point

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:42:49 +0000

Anand downs Svidler in a Marshall Attack, Svidler’s compensation for the sacrificed pawn not so evident. Grischuk crashes through Morozevich’s kingside pawn structure to register a tense win. Leko’s Giuoco Pianissimo is sufficient for a draw against Kramnik. Gelfand defeats Aronian’s Modern Benoni.

Anand – Svidler

Anand allows the Marshall Attack, and varies with 13. g3 which staves off the immediate threats to White’s kingside. Svidler builds up strong central pressure. Anand’s manoeuvres compel Svidler to weaken his kingside. Anand’s invasion down the a-file starts to tie up Svidler’s pieces. Svidler blunders under the pressure, and Anand’s kingside activity forces a decisive result. Svidler resigns.

Grischuk – Morozevich

Its a Ragozin variation of the Queen’s Gambit, where Morozovich’s position seems optically convincing, but its Grischuk who emerges with a strong advantage. Morozevich is tempted by the two sacrificed queenside pawns which gives Grischuk a very strong kingside initiative. Morozevich returns material by sacrificing the exchange. Its a struggle between Black’s queenside pawns versus White’s central passed pawns, and White’s rook proves to be sufficient to demolish Black’s queenside pawns. Morozevich resigns.

Leko – Kramnik

Leko avoids Kramnik’s Petroff by transposing into a Giuoco Pianissimo, but gains no advantage out of the opening once Kramnik swaps off the light-squared bishops. Kramnik gets a slight advantage thanks to his presence on the d-file, but Leko trades the dark-squared bishops and a draw is agreed.

Gelfand – Aronian

Aronian adopts a Modern Benoni against Gelfand’s proffered Catalan. Aronian gets his queenside pawns moving really quickly, but this leaves weak squares that Gelfand occupies to exert pressure on the d6-pawn. Aronian sacrifices a pawn to gain the e5-square, and Gelfand uses that extra pawn to storm into Aronian’s kingside fortifications. Aronian’s king is rather exposed and instead of putting weight behind his queenside pawns he tries to stem the kingside threats, and Gelfand has a winning advantage. Aronian invests an exchange to alleviate the pressure, but Gelfand’s initiative keeps trundling along. Aronian gets his queenside play moving at last, but its too late. Gelfand’s rook enters the seventh rank and Aronian’s king is exposes. Aronian resigns.