John Henderson Mainz Reports

Round 3-4 27th June 2001

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

IT’S a tradition in the Chess Classic that popular pop songs are used to introduce each round of the various competitions, icon groups such as QUEEN and ABBA being a particular favourite.

Whilst the organisers disappointed me this year by not opting for Van McCoy’s “Do the Shuffle” for the Leko-Adams match, at least the Kramnik-Anand match was predictable: the late, lamented Freddie Mercury belting out “We Are The Champions” followed by that other QUEEN “hit”, “Big Hammer” (I think this had something to do with Hans-Walter Schmitt’s idea of giving both Vlady and Vishy the sledgehammers during the opening ceremony.

Both Vishy and Vlady were “in harmony” during the opening ceremony when quizzed if the schism in the chess world would cease following the often-taunted reunification match between the two. Although only a rapid play match here in Mainz, many in the chess world would dearly love to see the chess world crown back to pre Kasparov-Short of 1993 with just one undisputed (Bobby Fischer aside – he always manages to creep in there, doesn’t he?) world champion.

However, despite the initial hype when both won their crowns, the two players readily agreed that it was not likely to happen. They both readily agreed that a reunification match in theory was “not a bad idea” with both willing to take part - unfortunately it was just good copy for hacks looking to write an easy story (as if we would stoop as low as that, boys).

Politics, not money, is the obstacle according to the new world order. Reunification requires an agreement on the future of the championship afterwards, and the two organizations have very different visions of the world championship. Also, chipped in big Vlady, “such a match would involve either Fide or Brain Games giving up any rights in the future to a world title if either of their champions losses.” “I agree with Vladimir,” said Anand. “It’s gone on for a long time and nothing has changed in the last six months.”

So there you have it, as another apt ABBA song gets blasted out over the sound system at the Rheingoldhalle playing venue, the main reason for us not getting a reunification match: “The Winner Takes It All.”

Anand,V - Kramnik,V [C67]

Chess Classic (3)

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 0–0 Nxe4 5 d4 Nd6 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 dxe5 Nf5 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 Well, here we go again - another attempt at breaking down the Berlin Wall. Ever since Kramnik used this defence to good effect against Kasparov last year, it's seen resurgence in the game. The trouble is that now its likely that club players will start playing the Berlin also. However, unlike, say something like the Marshall Attack with active piece play, the Berlin is all about nuances and subtle maneuvers - not exactly the club players forte. 9 Nc3 h6 10 h3 Bd7 11 b3 Kc8 12 Bb2 b6 13 Rad1 Ne7

14 Rd2N [Anand comes up with a new plan: doubling on the d-file. 14 Ne2 Ng6 15 Ne1 (15 Ng3 Nf4 16 Nd4 a5 17 a4 b5 18 Kh2 bxa4 19 bxa4 Nd5 20 Rd3 Nb6 21 Re1 Nxa4 22 Ba1 c5 23 e6 fxe6 24 Nxe6 Bd6 25 Nxg7 Rf8 26 Kg1 c4 27 Rdd1 Bb4 28 Re3 Ra6 29 Ne4 Rc6 30 Nh5 c3 31 Nhg3 Re6 32 Rde1 Rfe8 33 Nh5 Rf8 34 Nxc3 Rc6 35 Nxa4 Bxe1 36 Rxe1 Rxc2 37 Bd4 Bxa4 38 Re5 Bd7 39 Rxa5 Rf5 40 Rxf5 Bxf5 41 Be3 Bg6 1/2–1/2 Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Astana KAZ 2001/The Week in Chess 343 (41).) 15 ..h5 16 Nd3 c5 17 c4 a5 18 a4 h4 19 Nc3 Be6 20 Nd5 Kb7 21 Ne3 Rh5 22 Bc3 Re8 23 Rd2 Kc8 24 f4 Ne7 25 Nf2 Nf5 1/2–1/2 Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/London ENG 2000/The Week in Chess 309 (25).] 14 ..c5 15 Rfd1 Be6 16 Ne2 Heading for f4, so... 16 ..g5 17 h4 g4 18 Nh2 h5 19 Rd8+ As in most Berlin's, white holds an edge here but it's near impossible to breakdown the black position - especially as the bishop pair come into their own with the game opening up. 19 ..Kb7 20 Nf4 Rxd8 21 Rxd8 Ng6 22 g3 [The weakness on e5 makes any knight exchange certain for the draw. 22 Nxe6 fxe6 23 g3 Bg7 24 Rxh8 Bxh8 25 f4 gxf3 26 Nxf3=; 22 Nxg6 fxg6 23 c4 Bg7 24 Rxh8 Bxh8=] 22 ..c4!

23 bxc4?? [23 Nxg6! fxg6 24 Kg2 (24 Re8 Bd7 25 Rd8 Be6=) 24 ..Bg7=] 23 ..Nxf4 24 gxf4 g3! 25 Nf1 gxf2+ 26 Kh2 Bxc4 [All roads lead to Rome - or even Berlin - now for Kramnik: 26 ..Bxc4 27 Rd1 (27 Kg2 Rg8+ 28 Kxf2 Bc5+) 27 ..Rg8 28 Ng3 Bc5 easily winning.] 0–1

Kramnik,V - Anand,V [D27]

Chess Classic (4)

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 The battlegrounds seem to be well defined now: Berlin Defence and QGA. Will Vishy change after his horrific defeat in game 3? 3 Nf3 a6 4 e3 Nf6 5 Bxc4 e6 6 0–0 c5 7 Bb3 Nc6 8 Nc3 cxd4 9 exd4 Be7 10 Bg5 0–0 11 Qd2!? h6 12 Bf4 [A much better move than what has been seen before: 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 Rad1 Na5 14 Bc2 b5 15 b3 Bb7 16 Ne4 Rc8 17 Bb1 Bxe4 18 Bxe4 Nc6 19 Rfe1 Ne7 20 Bb1 Nd5 21 Qd3 g6 22 Rc1 Qd6 23 g3 Ne7 24 Qe3 Kg7 25 Be4 Rxc1 26 Rxc1 Rd8 1/2–1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,A/New Delhi IND 2000/The Week in Chess 318 (72). (71)] 12 ..Re8 13 Rad1 [The immediate advance of the d-pawn is too risky: 13 d5 exd5 14 Nxd5 Nxd5 15 Bxd5 Bb4! 16 Qd1 (16 Qd3 Be6! 17 Rad1 Bxd5 18 Qxd5 Qf6 19 Bc1 Rad8) 16 ..Qf6 with easy play for black.] 13 ..Bf8 14 Ne5!? [14 d5 exd5 15 Nxd5 Nxd5 16 Bxd5 Be6=] 14 ..Ne7

15 Qd3! Ned5 16 Bc1 [A sure sign that Kramnik expects more - much more - from the direct assault on the kingside, as: 16 Nxd5 Nxd5 17 Bc2 f5 18 Bd2² would have given him an advantage.] 16 ..b5 17 Qg3 Bb7! After the disaster of the previous game, Anand resilience in coming up with a resourceful defence under difficult circumstances has to be acknowledged. 18 Bxh6 Nxc3 19 bxc3 Ne4 20 Qg4 Nf6 [20 ..Nxc3? 21 Rd3 Rc8 22 Bd2! Nd5 23 Rh3 f6 (23 ..Nf6 24 Qh4 soon mates.) 24 Rh8+!! Kxh8 25 Nf7+ Kg8 26 Nxd8 Rcxd8 27 Re1 with a big advantage.] 21 Qg5

21 ..Qe7!! Bravo Vishy! After about six minutes thought (and the commentary team expecting black to collapse), Anand comes up with the only defence. [21 ..Ne4 22 Qh5! Qc7 23 Bf4 and black's position is coming apart at the seams.] 22 Rd3 Ne4 23 Qg4 Nf6 24 Qg5 [Nothing now can be found to continue the white assault: 24 Qh3 gxh6 25 Rg3+ Kh8 26 Rg6 Be4!; 24 Qh4!? gxh6 25 Rg3+ Kh8 26 Bc2! Bg7 (26 ..Ne4? 27 Bxe4! Qxh4 28 Nxf7#) 27 Bg6! Rf8 28 Bxf7! Be4! 29 Re1 (29 Bg6 Qb7!=) 29 ..Bh7! 30 Bxe6 Rae8 31 Bb3 Qb7 with an unclear position: white has three pawns for the piece, but the attack has gone thanks to some wonderful saving resources.; 24 Qf4 gxh6 25 Rg3+ Kh8 26 Bc2 Bg7 27 Bg6 Rf8 28 Bxf7 Be4 29 Re1 Bh7 30 Bxe6 Nh5 31 Nf7+ Rxf7 32 Qxf7 Qxf7 33 Bxf7 Nxg3 34 hxg3 Rc8³] 24 ..Ne4 25 Qg4 [25 Qxe7? Rxe7 26 Bc1 Rc7 27 Bb2 Rac8 28 Rc1 Bb4! 29 c4 Bd6³] 25 ..Nf6 ½–½

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