Elista Revisited

The much-anticipated Topalov - Kramnik game ended in a draw today. Veselin was the one pressing for the full point, but Kramnik played like....well, Kramnik. The draw was agreed on move 49.

Topalov, V (2783) - Kramnik, V (2766) [D37]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (12), 27.01.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.h4 Rd8 12.Nd2 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 14.Qxd1 Qd8 15.Qxd8+ Nxd8 16.Be2 Bd7 17.e4 Bc6 18.f3 Nh5 19.Bc7 Rc8 20.Be5 Bf6 21.Nd6 Ra8 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Rd1 Kf8 24.Kd2 Ne8 25.Nc4 f6 26.Ke3 b6 27.f4 Nf7 28.g4 h6 29.g5 hxg5 30.hxg5 Ke7 31.gxf6+ Nxf6 32.Rg1 Rg8 33.Rg6 Bb7 34.a4 Nh8 35.Rg1 Nf7 36.a5 g5 37.fxg5 Rxg5 38.Rxg5 Nxg5 39.e5 Nd7 40.Nd6 Bf3 41.axb6 axb6 42.Bxf3 Nxf3 43.Nc8+ Kd8 44.Kxf3 Nxe5+ 45.Ke4 Nc4 46.Kd4 Nxb2 47.Nxb6 Kc7 48.Nc4 Nxc4 49.Kxc4 1/2-1/2

Actually, the pregame antics from both players were much more entertaining than the game itself. Take a look at this 3 minute video shot by Chessvibes.



That looks more like the day after a nasty break-up with your girlfriend than the beginning of a top-class chess game. Those are two opponents who truly despise one another. No handshake, no talking, no smiling...even gazing into the general direction of the other player was taboo.

You really can't blame Kramnik. He has had to deal with more whining, complaining, and mud-slinging from the Topalov camp post-Elista than is warranted. I'm sure Vladdy couldn't hide a smile when the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung published allegations of cheating by Topalov and his (crazy) manager Silvio Danailov in rounds 2 and 3 at Corus. Chessbase has a nice english translation of this article. It is a fascinating and incriminating read.