2008 World Championship (Anand vs. Kramnik)

2008 World Chess Championship (Bonn, Germany)

The big downdown will commence in Bonn, Germany in a few days. World Champion Viswanathan Anand will play in perhaps the biggest match of his life and a chance to cement his legacy among the world’s greatest players in chess history. His opponent… Vladimir Kramnik, who defeated Garry Kasparov in a match to become the disputed World Champion. Kasparov had broken away from FIDE which resulted in two disputed crowns.

Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik in Game #1.
Photo by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

Over the past few years, a cycle has been devised to unify the crown and Anand is currently the undisputed champion after winning the 2007 World Championship in Mexico City, Mexico. FIDE had designed a structure for the World Championship cycle and this is the second phase. The other part of this phase is a match between Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky. The winners of the two matches will meet in 2009.

This 12-game match will begin on October 14th and end on October 31st with tiebreaks on November 2nd if needed. The prize fund is a handsome 1.5 million euro (US$2.35 million) and sponsored by Evonik Industires AG. The tournament will be covered on many chess sites live with the use of Foidos new game presentation interface. It features videocast and live game feeds from five different cameras. It’s impressive.

Foidos Chess is offering two free passes for the first two games on October 14th and 15th if you send a request to office@foidoschess.tv. There are daily rates available as well as tournament packages. Check out their website and watch the interface demo at https://www.foidoschess.tv/.

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Official Site: https://www.uep-worldchess.com/
ChessBase: https://www.chessbase.com/
Europe-Echecs.com: https://www.europe-echecs.com/
ICC: https://www.chessclub.com/
TWIC: https://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html
Chessdom: https://www.chessdom.com/
Chessvibes: https://www.chessvibes.com/
The Daily Dirt: https://www.chessninja.com/dailydirt/
Susan Polgar Blog: https://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/

Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/

WCC 2008: Anand retains title! (29 October 2008)
WCC 2008: Kramnik crushes Anand, closes gap (27 October 2008)
WCC 2008: Anand escapes, holds +3 (26 October 2008)
WCC 2008: Kramnik has failed to break through (25 October 2008)
WCC 2008: Anand wins again… lead widens (21 October 2008)
WCC 2008: Anand powers ahead of Kramnik! (18 October 2008)


Videos by Macauley Peterson!

53 Comments

  1. GM Robert Fontaine interviews Albert Vasee, CEO of DGT Products about the new chess presentation system, Foidos. The system is innovative and will certainly revolutionize the way chess events are covered. FoidosChess will be offering a gamecast package throughout the games. Click on image below for details.

    foidoschess.tv

  2. Both players are in Bonn on a site inspection. Frederic Friedel of ChessBase gets some very interesting shots of the venue including a sheer curtain dividing the players from the audience. You can see in the curtain from the audience, but the players cannot see out.

    Anand checking out the board view. Photo © Frederic Friedel, ChessBase.
    Anand checking out the board view.

    Seat needs some adjusting. Photo © Frederic Friedel, ChessBase.
    Seat needs some adjusting.

    Both players decide on a particular set. Photo © Frederic Friedel, ChessBase.
    Both players decide on a particular set.

    The stage with the sheer curtain. Photo © Frederic Friedel, ChessBase.
    The stage with the sheer curtain.

    Both players play and mock game 1.g4!? b5!? 1/2-1/2. Photo © Frederic Friedel, ChessBase.
    Both players play and mock game 1.g4!? b5!? 1/2-1/2.

    All photos by Frederic Friedel of ChessBase.

    Video by Macauley Peterson (ICC).

  3. Kramnik,V (2772) – Anand,V (2783) [D14]
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (1), 14.10.2008

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nf3 e6 8.Qb3 Bb4 9.Bb5 0-0 10.Bxc6 Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Rc8 12.Ne5 Ng4 13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14.Qb4 Rxc6 15.Qxb7 Qc8 16.Qxc8 Rfxc8 17.0-0 a5 18.f3 Bf5 19.Rfe1 Bg6 20.b3 f6 21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 Rd8 23.Rad1 Rc2 24.e5 fxe5 25.Bxe5 Rxa2 26.Ra1 Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Rd5 28.Rc1 Rd7 29.Rc5 Ra7 30.Rc7 Rxc7 31.Bxc7 Bc2 32.Bxa5 Bxb3 ½-½

    (See game with annotations from IM Malcolm Pein)


    Video by ChessVibes.com.

  4. Anand,V (2783) – Kramnik,V (2772) [E25]
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (2), 15.10.2008

    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 f5 9.Qc2 Nd7 10.e4 fxe4 11.fxe4 N5f6 12.c6 bxc6 13.Nf3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Ba6 15.c4 Qc5 16.Bd3 Ng4 17.Bb4 Qe3+ 18.Qe2 0-0-0 19.Qxe3 Nxe3 20.Kf2 Ng4+ 21.Kg3 Ndf6 22.Bb1 h5 23.h3 h4+ 24.Nxh4 Ne5 25.Nf3 Nh5+ 26.Kf2 Nxf3 27.Kxf3 e5 28.Rc1 Nf4 29.Ra2 Nd3 30.Rc3 Nf4 31.Bc2 Ne6 32.Kg3 Rd4 ½-½

    (See game with annotations from IM Malcolm Pein)

    Video by Europe-Echecs.com.

  5. Hey,
    What a fine start to this great battle of great minds……….Kramnik has got a poor record against Anand as black and a Remarkable one as white….lets hope he has worked on his black play and also avoid time trouble while defending against Anand!! – CHESSGURU (AKINSEYE)

  6. The second game was exciting. I thought Kramnik had a good position after 16…Ng4, but it appeared he lost his way and had to sacrifice a pawn to get a blockade. Very interesting idea! In the end he had compensation. Looking forward to some Sicilians, but Kramnik will no doubt play the Petroff.

  7. Anand seems to be in good spirits. Perhaps a sign of a surprise.

    Viswanathan Anand seems to be in good spirits. Perhaps a sign of a surprise.
    All photos by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

    Kramnik,V (2772) – Anand,V (2783)
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (3), 17.10.2008

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.Bxb5 Bd6 16.Rd1 Rg8 17.g3 Rg4 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Nxd4 h5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxd7 Kf8 22.Qd3 Rg7 23.Rxg7 Kxg7 24.gxf4 Rd8 25.Qe2 Kh6 26.Kf1 Rg8 27.a4 Bg2+ 28.Ke1 Bh3 29.Ra3 Rg1+ 30.Kd2 Qd4+ 31.Kc2 Bg4 32.f3 Bf5+ 33.Bd3 Bh3 34.a5 Rg2 35.a6 Rxe2+ 36.Bxe2 Bf5+ 37.Kb3 Qe3+ 38.Ka2 Qxe2 39.a7 Qc4+ 40.Ka1 Qf1+ 41.Ka2 Bb1+ 0-1

    (See Game with annotations from IM Malcolm Pein)

    Two titans battle it out as time pressure looms near. Photo by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

    Two titans battle it out as time pressure looms near.

    Success for the Tiger of Chennai! Photo by Frederic Friedel of ChessBase.

    Success for the Tiger of Chennai!

  8. i see a bit of aggression and intention to win from kramnik…………i hope he does not lose in the process……being too daring…….well time will tell

  9. He’s a bit more aggressive this game. I’m not sure on Anand’s Bh3 as opposed to Bf3. Perhaps he wanted to stop Rc8. Now that Kramnik has committed the rook to d8, he can play g3 (idea of Bg2).

  10. Anand,V (2783) – Kramnik,V (2772) [D37]
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (4), 18.10.2008

    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf5 12.Be2 Bf6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nd4 Ne6 15.Nxf5 Qxf5 16.0-0 Rfd8 17.Bg4 Qe5 18.Qb3 Nc5 19.Qb5 b6 20.Rfd1 Rd6 21.Rd4 a6 22.Qb4 h5 23.Bh3 Rad8 24.g3 g5 25.Rad1 g4 26.Bg2 Ne6 27.R4d3 d4 28.exd4 Rxd4 29.Rxd4 Rxd4 ½-½

    (See Game)


    Video by Europe-Echecs.com.

  11. I visited foidostv for the 1-3 minute live feed. Nice! I heard some audio commentary, but Seirawan’s feed was not active. I can see where this can be a good development for chess. The commentary is done in four languages: English, German, Russian and Spanish. Below is my desktop and you can see the live feed.

  12. too bad for Kramnik. he is now in a tight corner. and Anand seems to be on rampage with the black pieces.
    I wonder if he will win a game if he continues with the 1.d4…..
    1. e4 should be his ultimate weapon now to turn the table.
    VIVA Kramnik

  13. Kramnik has choosen 1.d4 with same slav line he lost in game 3.
    l hope he can squeeze a win here to equal. after 27 moves ….seems the win is still far away.
    VIVA kranmik.

  14. Kramnik resigned after 29 moves game 5.
    he has lost as white again against a raging and untamed black piece in the hands of Anand.
    Can our compatroit rise again and make the moves that makes him Kramnik?
    1.e4 must be the next white choice to neutralise Anands sicilian and get the vital points we need.
    VIVA Kramnik……VIVA Kramnik

  15. point of correction ..Kramnik resigned after 35 moves.
    i hope to see better chess in the next games.
    well done Anand V …….VIVA Kramnik

  16. Thanks!

    I had a relay problem with my network. Sorry to all who came looking for the live feed.

    I’m not sure why Kramnik chose the same line. He should know that the Anand team has looked at this line thoroughly and should not test his preparation.

    I don’t believe in advantage of first move, but I believe this is a psychological blow for Kramnik because HE believes you should win with white and draw with black.

  17. Game 3
    Daaim, Kramnik’s 33 Bd3 was indeed a blunder, however, Anand returned the favor with 33…Bh3? This is clearly not the best move. Better would have been the stunner, 33…Bxd3!! If 34. Rxd3, black simply forces resignation with Qc4+! Or, if 34. Qxd3, he will be soon forced to resign after 34… Rg2+ followed by too many mate threats on the back rank.

    William Morrison

  18. Kramnik,V (2772) – Anand,V (2783)
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (5), 17.10.2008

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.Bxb5 Rg8 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Bg3 f5 18.Rfc1 f4 19.Bh4 Be7 20.a4 Bxh4 21.Nxh4 Ke7 22.Ra3 Rac8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Ra1 Qc5 25.Qg4 Qe5 26.Nf3 Qf6 27.Re1 Rc5 28.b4 Rc3 29.Nxd4 Qxd4 30.Rd1 Nf6 31.Rxd4 Nxg4 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7 Rc1+ 34.Bf1 Ne3 35.fxe3 fxe3 0-1

    (See Game)

    Video by Chessvibes.com.

  19. William,

    I saw that continuation. I still think is was a great win for Anand as well as the win today. I believe Anand’s team has proved to have understood Kramnik’s weaknesses. The opening preparation in the Meran was excellent. Anand may push this to +3.

    Kramnik will need a win in the next three rounds to have a reasonable chance to win. He will have to do something he’s never done before… beat Anand with black. I see a flawed rationale in Kramnik’s thinking… win with white and draw with black. I am surprised at how may Grandmasters speak of this flawed strategy. Of course it is backfiring with Kramnik. On another blog, one poster noted the following stats:

    According to the FIDE website, in his last 76 games before this match, Kramnik had scored:

    Color Percentage:
    37 games with White :
    Win: 49% Draw: 49% Loss: 2%
    (18-18-1)
    36 games with Black :
    Win: 0% Draw: 86% Loss: 14%
    (0-31-5)

  20. vlady miscalculated the last game. he should have never taken the bishop and instead secure his first rank which turn down to be a sacrificial pond of death with the spellbinding knight sac….

  21. after further analysis, I think mr. kramnik would have still have a vulnerable position with three pieces lingering on his third rank. one piece operating on short range and two long range pieces either menacing to take pawns on the king side and at the same time watching his possible passed pawns. an outstanding eagle eye for mr. annand. congratulations from the DarkKnight666

  22. Soto,

    I think the U.S. needs to get the U.S. Championship under control before hosting a World Championship match. The U.S. Chess Federation has been on the verge of collapse a few times due to financial issues and political infighting. There has been a FIDE Knockout in the U.S. such as the Las Vegas 1999 tournament. The safest way for the U.S. to have a match here is for a player like Kamsky to win the match against Topalov and then challenge Anand-Kramnik winner.

  23. Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov (beige jacket)
    playing the first move of Game 6. Photo by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

    Anand,V (2783) – Kramnik,V (2772)
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (6), 21.10.2008

    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 Nc6 8.Bd2 0-0 9.h3 b6 10.g4 Qa5 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Qd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.Bd2 Nf6 16.Rg1 Rac8 17.Bg2 Ne7 18.Bb4 c5 19.dxc5 Rfd8 20.Ne5 Bxg2 21.Rxg2 bxc5 22.Rxc5 Ne4 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd3 Nd5 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Bc1 f5 27.Kd1 Rc8 28.f3 Nd6 29.Ke1 a5 30.e3 e5 31.gxf5 e4 32.fxe4 Nxe4 33.Bd2 a4 34.Nf2 Nd6 35.Rg4 Nc4 36.e4 Nf6 37.Rg3 Nxb2 38.e5 Nd5 39.f6 Kf7 40.Ne4 Nc4 41.fxg7 Kg8 42.Rd3 Ndb6 43.Bh6 Nxe5 44.Nf6+ Kf7 45.Rc3 Rxc3 46.g8Q+ Kxf6 47.Bg7+ 1-0

    (See Game)

    Video by chessvibes.com.

  24. Is this match really only 12 games?
    It should be atleast twice as long.
    I like both players but I haven’t found the games very interesting.
    I guess being an oldschooler I was spoiled by the Kasparov vs Karpov matches.
    Sicilians, Gruenfelds, Ne2 instead of Nf3, sacs on f7!
    Man, I couldn’t wait to get my copy of the NY Times and check those game out.

    After Kasparov eloped with Short the title just doesn’t seem as prestigest anymore.

    History really missed the Kasparov vs Shirov match.
    It may has been a shutout put it probably would’ve had some fireworks.

    I guess I have enjoyed a few moves in this match.
    What was that Ne3!
    I’m too lazy to go look it up!
    If Kramnik can’t find some way to compete, this is going to get real ugly!

  25. sudic,

    I have the same view of the games. No Sicilians or classic openings. However, I must say I have enjoyed the dynamism in Anand’s games 3 and 5. In game 6, he played efficient chess like Karpov. I agree that the match should be longer. Even 16 games would have been more acceptable. However, it may not make a difference. Kramnik appears to be overmatched here. This can go up to +4 or +5 it will be the most dominant victory since Fischer’s +4 over Spassky.

    I find the arguments by Kramnik fans appalling. They are making the case of why Kramnik is losing as opposed to why Anand is winning. They are also making the point that Anand is not really the World Champion from the tournament last year. Perhaps they will find a way to say Kramnik is still World Champion because he beat Kasparov. Kasparov has retired, so people need to get over it! They also need to realize that Russian domination of chess is over.

    Anand is good for chess and shows the broad appeal for the game.

  26. I do enjoy Anand’s Slav.
    I think his 1.d4 has totally put Kramnik in a state of flux.

    He probably was going to Petroff us to death.
    I know they both play either side of the Slav, but Kramnik seems overmatched in its fine points.

    I didn’t expect that!
    I thought he was the master of “Exploiting Small Advantages”.
    Not a bad book by the way.
    Has he been “exposed”?

    They both were in terrible form leading up to the match, match preparation I guess, Anand has shaken off the rust and Kramnik hasn’t.

    Kaspy was thrilled when Topalov was on top of the chess world for a bit, because he never liked Kramnik’s style of play, has he commented on the match yet?

  27. From reading the blogs, it appears as if Kasparov was favoring Kramnik. However, he has been impressed with Anand’s play. Certainly Kasparov will normally go with his compatriot, but here is a statement that I read from Mig Greengard, who runs “The Daily Dirt”. He is a personal assistant to Kasparov and has speaks to him frequently.

    Kasparov doesn’t think Kramnik plays to win with black in game six. Says he should just worry about surviving tomorrow after such a blunder in game five, then decide on a game plan for the final six games. Sounds like pretty good advice since the chances of going too far and losing with black when in bad shape must be much greater than pulling off your first ever win with black against Anand. He also figures Anand should stick with 1.d4 since he doesn’t want to run into any surprises and playing for two results suits his match situation.

    I still don’t buy this white/black issue since the strategy has failed miserably. Kramnik was trying to win with white and draw with black, but is losing with both colors! That’s the real problem. It shows a gap in the level of skill and preparation.

  28. Anand,V (2783) – Kramnik,V (2772) [E25]
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (7), 23.10.2008

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 0-0 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Re8 15.Ne1 Bg6 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Nd3 Qb6 18.Nxb4 Qxb4 19.b3 Rac8 20.Ba3 Qc3 21.Rac1 Qxe3 22.fxe3 f6 23.Bd6 g5 24.h3 Kf7 25.Kf2 Kg6 26.Ke2 fxe5 27.dxe5 b6 28.b4 Rc4 29.Rxc4 dxc4 30.Rc1 Rc8 31.g4 a5 32.b5 c3 33.Rc2 Kf7 34.Kd3 Nc5+ 35.Bxc5 Rxc5 36.Rxc3 Rxc3+ ½-½

    (See Game with annotation by IM Malcolm Pein)

    Video by chessvibes.com.

    Analysis Room. Photo by Frederic Friedel.

    Analysis Room

    Draw Agreed. Photo by Frederic Friedel.

    Draw Agreed!

    Press Conference. Photo by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

    Press Conference
    All Photos by Frederic Friedel (ChessBase).

  29. Another draw today, but there was some dynamism here. Anand seemed to have a more dynamic position and developed fluid piece play. Kramnik tried to counter with a kingside assault, but there was not enough firepower to conjure up winning chances. In the final position, they were analyzing f5!?

    Anand maintains the three-point bulge and Kramnik’s chances are probably nil. I must admit that Kramnik is taking this result with class.

    Kramnik,V – Anand,V
    WCC2008 Bonn (8), 2008

    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 gxf6 12.0-0 Nc6 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 Rg8 15.f4 Rd8 16.Qe1 Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Rd3 18.Qe2 Qd4 19.Re1 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 28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh4 Kg7 32.e5 f5 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re2 Qc4 37.Qg5+ Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kh8 ½-½

    (See Game with annotations from IM Malcolm Pein.)

    Video by chessvibes.com.

  30. Your Oct 25th article. What is this Kramnik was the slight favorite? Kramnik was the total underdog, Anand was higher rated, is the current world Champion, and Kramnik, has been hanging out at around 5 or 6th place on the rating list forever. While Anand has Basically just sat on # 1 until very recently. Mostly Kramnik has just never been as good as Anand. Poltics is the only Reason Anand wasn’t World champion before last year.

  31. Thanks Shaun.

    I agree with your statements, but I’m reporting what the sentiment was. Kramnik was considered a slight favorite due to his reputation as a match player and his plus score against Anand. I have disputed this notion many times, but this was the widely-held view that Kramnik was a slight favorite in the match despite Anand’s stellar results in past years. However as I said, Kramnik’s match results are umimpressive at best. He lost to Kamsky, Gelfand and Shirov before being seeded into a match with Kasparov. Also he lost to Deep Fritz!

    If you read blogs and previews of the match on various websites, you will see this rationale. Kasparov also picked Kramnik as a slight favorite. Anand was the World Champion before this match and Kramnik has done nothing to deserve his status even after beating Kasparov… who abdicated his FIDE title (as did Fischer). He avoided a return match with Kasparov and was not convincing in his two title defenses. His tournament play has been spotty for the past five years. Nevertheless, all this will be moot in a few days.

  32. Very exciting game today! Anand went for another sharp line, but Kramnik received an advantage in the middlegame and had an extra pawn. The game got very tense and it appeared Kramnik had some chances. Anand kept it sharp, but at one point missed 35.Bxf5! to force liquidation. Then Kramnik missed 35…Bc7! and played 35…Qc7 forcing liquidation! 😕

    Both players were fighting time pressure. Kramnik sacrificed a bishop for a passed pawn, but Anand returned the piece and the game petered out to a draw. Kramnik now has to win three in a row, an unprecedented feat to save a match. Kasparov did beat Karpov three in a row in the ill-fated match, but it is nearly impossible here.

    Anand,V (2783) – Kramnik,V (2772)
    World Chess Championship, Bonn, Germany (9), 26.10.2008

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Bb4 12.Ne5 Qe7 13.0-0 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 0-0 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.f4 Qg7 17.e5 c5 18.Nxb5 cxd4 19.Qxc4 a5 20.Kh1 Rac8 21.Qxd4 gxf4 22.Bf3 Ba6 23.a4 Rc5 24.Qxf4 Rxe5 25.b3 Bxb5 26.axb5 Rxb5 27.Be4 Bc3 28.Bc2 Be5 29.Qf2 Bb8 30.Qf3 Rc5 31.Bd3 Rc3 32.g3 Kh8 33.Qb7 f5 34.Qb6 Qe5 35.Qb7 Qc7 36.Qxc7 Bxc7 37.Bc4 Re8 38.Rd7 a4 39.Rxc7 axb3 40.Rf2 Rb8 41.Rb2 h5 42.Kg2 h4 43.Rc6 hxg3 44.hxg3 Rg8 45.Rxe6 Rxc4 ½-½

    (See Game)

    Kramnik looking a bit nervous in Game Nine.
    Photo by chessvibes.com.

    Video by chessvibes.com.

  33. Kramnik,V – Anand,V
    WCC2008 Bonn (10), 2008

    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1 c5 19.Qa5 Rfc8 20.Be3 Be2 21.Bf4 e5 22.Be3 Bg4 23.Qa6 f6 24.a4 Qf7 25.Bf1 Be6 26.Rab1 c4 27.a5 Na4 28.Rb7 Qe8 29.Qd6 1-0

    (See Game)

    Video by chessvibes.com.

  34. Anand,V – Kramnik,V
    WCC2008 Bonn (11), 2008

    1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.f5 Qc5 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.Nb3 Qe5 12.0-0-0 exf5 13.Qe3 Bg7 14.Rd5 Qe7 15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Qf4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 f5 18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Nxc8 Rxc8 20.Kb1 Qe1+ 21.Nc1 Ne7 22.Qd2 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Bh6 24.Rf2 Be3 ½-½

  35. I learned today from my Indian friend that word “Vishwanathan” means conquerer of the of the world. What an appropriate name!!!

  36. Admission by Kasparov- Even he knew that Kramnik was the underdog, he might have wanted to claim Kramnik was great since he lost a match to him, but… The real is below.

    “This result ends the illusion that Kramnik is a great match player. London was a unique occurrence and I still stand with Leonid Yudasin as the only players Kramnik has ever beaten in a match! Kramnik now has some work to do. His overly-defensive play seems to represent a general decline in strength.” (Garry Kasparov)

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