ODT061107

=**Kramnik becomes unified World Champion**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 3.

Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was victor both on and off the board over Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in their match for the unified title of world champion which finished in Elista, Russia last month. Gamesmanship threatened to overshadow the chess when Kramnik forfeited with the White pieces in game five in protest over the changing of the agreed conditions by the match disputes committee. Topalov's delegation had complained of frequent visits to the toilet by Kramnik during the games with the clear implication of cheating by receiving computer assistance. The committee comprised of FIDE officials ineptly upheld the complaint causing the ensuing debacle. FIDE president Kirsan Illyumzhinov was forced to intercede, sacking the committee and reversing their decision. But when the default had to stand many thought the match would be abandoned.

Kramnik then displayed outstanding sportsmanship by resuming the match, which was eventually tied 6-6 after the scheduled 12 games, with three wins apiece and six draws. The rules then called for a four-game rapid time-limit playoff match which Kramnik won 2½-1½, winning games 2 and 4 to add Topalov's title of FIDE World Champion to his existing Classical World Champion title. In doing so Kramnik gained many more fans through his conduct during the match under the most trying circumstances, and the chess world was spared the controversy of legal action if Topalov had won.

Because the atmosphere of the main match was extremely tense, most of the decisive games featured mistakes that would ordinarily be rare at the highest level. By contrast, the faster time-limit of the playoff seemed to ease some of the tension and the games were very high quality for their type, reflecting each player's different strengths: Kramnik's deep positional understanding, and Topalov's razor-edged attacking flair. Today's game is the second of the playoff and features vintage Kramnik with the white pieces outplaying his opponent from a balanced position with a delicate touch. media type="custom" key="27029948" This world championship was unusual in that all the games started 1d2 d5 2 c4 and most continued with the Slav Defence – a solid yet double-edged choice for Black. This being a Rapid game Kramnik avoids the sharpest lines 6 Bd3 or here 7 g4!? in favour of a comfortable middle game position. Cat-and-mouse play, inviting Black to make the typical Slav ...e5 counterthrust while keeping tension in the position. Since Black's active plan involves a future ... exd4 folowed by a queenside pawn advance, this move prevents a white knight coming to f5 after the reply Nxd4. However White immediately targets the weakened kingside dark squares. White threatened 21 Nf5 and if 20 ... Qf8, then 21 Nf5 Be5 (else 22 Nxb5!) 22 f4 Qc5+ 23 Re3 Bxc3 24 Bxc3 Nxe4 25 Qh6! and to avoid mate Black must give up the queen with 25 ... Qxe3+ 26 Nxe3 Nxc3 leaving White with the marginal material advantage of Q vs R + N + P and the attack. So Topalov forces the exchange of queens to a level position. Unfortunately for him Kramnik is the recognised world expert in the kind of queenless middlegame that results. Each side's plan is advance their respective pawn majority, so this prevents 23 f4. White now maneouvres subtly to take control of the d5 square with his pieces. The knight on d5 was too strong to be allowed to stay, but in return White gains a powerful passed d-pawn. If 33 ... Rxe4 34 Bxa6 Bd6 35 a5 threatening Bc8, a6 etc. Or 33 ... a5 34 Bb5 Rd8 35 Bg3 Nf6 36 Bc7 Rc8 37 d6 and wins material. The last hope to stop the two passed pawns – but it is refuted by an exchange sacrifice. At this level White will make no mistake in converting this won ending – even at a fast time limit, so Black resigned.
 * 1.d4 d5**
 * 2.c4 c6**
 * 3.Nf3 Nf6**
 * 4.Nc3 e6**
 * 5.e3 Nbd7**
 * 6.Qc2 Bd6**
 * 7.b3 ---**
 * 7. --- O-O**
 * 8.Be2 b6**
 * 9.O-O Bb7**
 * 10.Bb2 Re8**
 * 11.Rad1 Qe7**
 * 12.Rfe1 Rac8**
 * 13.Bd3!? ---**
 * 13. --- e5**
 * 14.e4 dxc4**
 * 15.Bxc4 b5**
 * 16.Bf1 g6**
 * 17.Qd2! Rcd8**
 * 18.Qg5 a6**
 * 19.h3 exd4**
 * 20.Nxd4 Qe5**
 * 21.Qxe5 Nxe5**
 * 22.Nc2! g5**
 * 23.Bc1 h6**
 * 24.Be3 c5**
 * 25.f3 Bf8**
 * 26.Bf2! Bc8**
 * 27.Ne3 Be6**
 * 28.Ned5 Bxd5**
 * 29.exd5 Ned7**
 * 30.Rxe8 Rxe8**
 * 31.a4 b4?!**
 * 32.Ne4! Nxe4**
 * 33.fxe4 Nf6**
 * 34.d6 Nxe4**
 * 35.d7 Rd8**
 * 36.Bxa6 f5**
 * 37.a5 Bg7**
 * 38.Bc4+ Kf8**
 * 39.a6 Nxf2**
 * 40.Kxf2 Bd4+**
 * 41.Rxd4! cxd4**
 * 42.a7 Ke7**
 * 43.Bd5 Kxd7**
 * 44.a8=Q Rxa8**
 * 45.Bxa8**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:**1 ... Ne2+! 2 Rxe2 (2 Nxe2 Qg2#) Qh1+! 3 Kxh1 Rf1#.