ODT070925

=**Kramnik puts title on the line**=


 * Problem:** White to play and mate in five.

The World Championship tournament in Mexico City got under way on 14 September. Eight players are contesting the double round-robin, which differs from the San Luis World Championship in 2005 in that the winner will become the uncontested World Chess Champion. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), the winner of last year's unification match with the San Luis winner, Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), is taking part this time and risking his title.

The other seven players are Vishwanathan Anand (India), Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Peter Svidler (Russia), Boris Gelfand (Israel) and Alexander Grischuk (Russia). On rating, world number one Anand is top seed, but many pick a resurgent Kramnik as favourite. The fact that Topalov is missing from the tournament is a disappointment, but a consequence of the conditions of the match with Kramnik. However, both players have a preferential path to challenge the eventual winner of Mexico in a very complex deal negotiated with FIDE to re-establish a match-based regular World Championship cycle hereafter.

Today's game is the exciting battle between Kramnik (White) and Morozevich from the second round at Mexico City. media type="custom" key="26777260" Kramnik has had great results with the Catalan Opening and here he uncorks a novelty to combat Morozevich's typically aggressive approach. White ignores Black's threat to win a second pawn and simply develops. Black in turn shies away from 8 ... Nxc3!? 9 bxc3 Bxc3 10 Rb1, when White has compensation in the form of a long lasting initiative, expecting strong home preparation by the Champion. Hitting at the apparently strong Black pawns, which are vulnerable because of Black's undeveloped queenside and undefended bishop on b4. Initiating a bizarre sequence of pawn captures that defy computer analysis, White sacrifices a piece for a pawn. Otherwise 15 dxe5 gives White two connected passed pawns, as the d-pawn is immune. Black's next stops other potential forks along the a2-g8 diagonal. White creates two connected passed pawns another way! This is much stronger than 16 c7 Qxc7 17 Bxa8 throwing away the advanced pawns and initiative for the undeveloped rook. If 17 ... dxc2 18 cxd8=Q Rxd8 19 Bxa8 and White's material advantage of the exchange should tell. The position is a maelstrom of tactics with both side leaving pieces en-prise. Black manages to avoid 18 ... Qxa1? 19 Qxb4 Nd7 20 Bxa8 Rxa8 21 Qe4 Re8 22 c8=Q! winning the bishop on e6. White has regained the sacrificed material and has rook and two passed pawns for two bishops in a still very complex position. White now gives Black a chance when he could have brought up the reserves with 21 Rac1 Ne5 (else 22 Rc6 wins the bishop on e6) 22 b6 and the pawns will win. Black misses his chance to fight back with 21 ... Qd5!! when if 22 Qxb4? Qf3! winning as White must lose his queen to stop mate on g2 after 23 ... Bd5. White exploits Black's hanging pieces to advance his pawns unstoppably. Not liking his chances after 22 ...Nxb6 23 Qc6 Bh3 24 Qxb6 Bxf1 25 Rxf1 d2 26 Rd1, Morozevich goes in for a desperate counter attack. Since 25 ... Qxb7 26 Qxd3 Bh3 27 f3! Bxf1 28 Rxf1 is hopeless.
 * 1. Nf3 Nf6**
 * 2. c4 e6**
 * 3. g3 d5**
 * 4. d4 dxc4**
 * 5. Bg2 a6**
 * 6. Ne5 Bb4+**
 * 7. Nc3 Nd5**
 * 8. O-O! ---**
 * 8. --- O-O**
 * 9. Qc2 b5**
 * 10. Nxd5 exd5**
 * 11. b3! ---**
 * 11. --- c6**
 * 12. e4 f6**
 * 13. exd5!! ---**
 * 13. --- fxe5**
 * 14. bxc4 exd4**
 * 15. dxc6 Be6**
 * 16. cxb5! ---**
 * 16. --- d3**
 * 17. c7! Qd4**
 * 18. Qa4! Nd7!**
 * 19. Be3 Qd6**
 * 20. Bxa8 Rxa8**
 * 21. Bf4? Qf8?**
 * 22. b6! Ne5!?**
 * 23. Bxe5 Qf3**
 * 24. Qd1 Qe4**
 * 25. b7 Rf8**
 * 26. c8=Q Bd5**
 * 27. f3 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qa8+ Rc8 2 Rxd7+! Kxd7 3 Qd5+ Kc7 4 Re7+ Kb6 (or b8) 5 Qb7#.