Jack Rabbit Chess Report for October 1: Reunification match in the toilet?

I know the lead story reads like satire, but, unfortunately, these are grown men, a world governing sports body and actual events of the last week.

Crisis in Elista: Reunification match may be in the toilet



Classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia forfeited the fifth game of the world championship reunification match in Elista, Kalmykia (Russia) Wednesday in a dispute over restrooms.

The dispute began Tuesday, a rest day in the match, when FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov's manager, Silvio Danailov, issued a formal complaint to match appeals committee about the number of times Kramnik visited the restroom in the first four games. In other chess tournaments, unscrupulous players have been known to retreat to the restroom to consult with confederates using illegal elect ionic communications devices. One player was expelled form the World Open in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July weekend over suspicion of cheating and his refusal to be searched.

The appeals committee was composed of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos, FIDE Vice President Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Jorge Vega, FIDE's Continental President for the Americas. Many chess players and followers of chess have little confidence in the integrity of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov or other FIDE board members.

The appeals committee ruled the the private restrooms would be closed and a common restroom only for the two players would be open. Neither Kramnik nor members of his team were consulted about the changes in the match facilities, as stipulated in the contract for the match signed by each player.

When Kramnik came to the playing for the fifth game on Wednesday, he found his restroom locked and refused to play. After the allotted elapsed, Topalov was declared the winner of the game by forfeit.

Kramnik and the other members of his team became outraged when they also discovered that the appeals committee made restroom videotapes available to Team Topalov without consulting them.

Kramnik's manager, Karsten Hensel, in a letter to Kirsan (in the chess world he is generally referenced by his first name, but not always affectionately), argued that the appeals ruling violated the match rules and supported his argument by citing specific clauses in the players' contract. Hensel's letter requested that the forfeit of game 5 be repealed, revisiting the toilet issue, replacing the appeals committee in which Team Kramnik expressed no confidence, restricting the viewing of video recordings to match officials and a written apology to Kramnik from Danailov.

Yesterday (Saturday), Kirsan announced that the toilet issue had been resolved, the appeals committee replaced (for the time being, Kirsan will be responsible for appeals) and that negotiations are continuing on the others points in dispute.

Rumors are flying that the match will be resumed tomorrow, but that Topalov will not accept the repeal of Kramnik's forfeit of the fifth game.

If any one's interested, Kramnik was leading the match 3-1 (two wins and two draws) after four games.

Opinions on the situation, generally critical of FIDE's handling of the matter, have been expressed by British grandmaster John Nunn, American grandmaster Yasser Seirawan and former FIDE presidential candidate Bessel Kok.



Areshchenko and Volkov win Isle of Man Open



Ukrainian grandmaster Alexander Areshchenko and Russian grandmaster Sergey Volkov shared first place in the 15th Annual Isle of Man International Open Tournament in Port Erin.

Both Areshchenko and Volkov scored 7 points in nine rounds, each winning 5 and drawing 4 without a loss.

Five players, all grandmasters, tied for third with 6½ points each: Mateusz Bartel of Poland; Israel's Vitali Golod; Russians Mikhail Kobalia and Yuri Yakovich; and Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine.

Of non-grandmasters, the top finishers were international masters Richard Pallaster and Craig Hanley of Britain and Elli Pähtz of Germany with 5½ points each.

Alexander Shabalov was the leading American with 5½ points.

Eight-four players participated in the event.

Press release from FIDE
Dateline Elista, Kalmykia (Russia) Sunday, October 1


I'll believe it when the game starts.

Live game here. The game starts at 15:00 in Elista (4 am PDT; 7 am EDT).

The good news is that it was played.

FIDE world champion Veselin Toplaov knotted the world championship reunification match at 4 points apiece by defeating classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik in 52 moves.

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.


Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Veselin Topalov vs. Vladimir Kramnik
Mathch for the World Title, Round 2
Elista, Kalmykia (Russia), Spetember 2006

Queen's Gambit: Slav Defense (Dutch Variation)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 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

• White's attack was never intended to checkmate Black, but simply to provoke weaknesses in Black's position. Blsack's e-pawn is weak; the question is whether or not White can exploit the weakness.
• If 12. Bf4 then:
• 12. -- e5 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Qc2
• 14. -- Qe8 15. Be2 Bg6 16. Na2 Ba5 with equality.
• 14. -- Qa5 15. Na2 Rfe8 16. Be2 give White a small edge in space.
• 12. -- Qe7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nxd5 cxd5
• 15. Rac1 Nb8 16. Qe3 with a level game.
• 15. Qe3 Rac8 16. a5 Bg6 with equality.

12. -- Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Bg6

• 14. -- Qb6 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh3 Bg4 17. Nf4 f6 18. Ng6 and White's occupation of the hole at g6 is balanced by Black's active pieces.

15. Ng5 Re8 16. f4

• The text move is smart chess. Black proposes to exchange his bad Bishop for White's good one.
• 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Bd2 Be7 18. a5 Rc8 19. Rfc1 and White has a slight edge as he will win any battle over the c-file.

16. -- Bxd3 17. Qxd3 f5 18. Be3

• White's plan for now is to launch a kingside attack.
• If 18. Qb5 Qe7 19. Qxb7 a6 20. Qc6 h6 then after the Knight retreats, Black will enjoy better piece activity.

18. -- Nf8 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. g4?!

• White still has aggressive intentions.
• If 20. Bd2 Qa5 21. Bxb4 Qxb4 then:
  • 22. Qb5 22. -- Qxd4 23. Qxb7 h6 24. Qf7+ Kh8 and White must retreat and give Black the initiative,
  • 22. b3 b6 then:
  • 23. g3 23. -- Re7 24. Rac1 Rec7 and Black has command of the c-file and the more active Queen.
  • 23. Nf3 Qc3 24. Qd1 Ng6 and Black has a slight edge with the active Queen.
• Nevertheless, Black need not fear White's aggression: 20. -- fxg4 21. f5 be7 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. fxe6 Qb6 has chances for both sides.

20. -- Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7 22. Nf3 Rc4 23. Rg2?

• This move doesn't defend any important point under attack and leaves the pawn at a4 undefended.
• Correct is 23. b3 Rcc8 24. Rg2 Ng6 25. Rag1 Rc7 26. gxf5 exf5 27. Bd2 Bd8 wiht a balanced game.

23. -- fxg4 24. Rxg4 Rxa4 25. Rag1

• White continues his attack.
• 25. Rxa4 Qxa4 26. f5 exf5 27. Qxf5 Qd7 28. Qh5 Ng6 gives Black more mobility.

25. -- g6 26. h4

• If 26. Ng5 Bxg5 then:
• 27. fxg5 Rc8
• 28. Rf4 28. -- Qe7 29. Rf3 Qb4 and Black's pieces are clearly more active.
• 28. Rf1 Qe7 29. Rgf4 Rac4 30. R4f2 Nd7 and Black's command of the c-file is more stable than White's of the f-file.
• 27. Rxg5 Ra2 28. Qb1 Ra6 and Black's pieces are much more active.

26. -- Rb4 27. h5 Qb5 28. Qc2

• 28. Ne1 Qxd3 29. Nxd3 Rb3 30. Rd1 Kf7 31. hxg6+ Nxg6 and Black's active pieces give him an overwhelming advantage.

28. -- Rxb2

• Also good is 28. -- Rb3 29. hxg6 h5 30. g7 Nh7 31. Qg6 then:
• 31. -- Bd8 32. R4g3 +-
• 31. -- Qd7 32. Qxh5 Rxe3 33. R1g2 +-

29. hxg6!?

• The text is better than 29. Qc1 Qe2 30. R4g3 Rc2 31. Qb1 Rb2 32. Qa1 Bh4 33. Rh3 Be7 giving Black a strong attack.

29. -- h5

• This is the best move. Other get Black is serious trouble.
• If 29. -- Rxc2? 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 then:
• 31. Rg7+ Kh6 32. f5+ Kh5
• 33. f6 Bxf6 34. exf6 Rc3 35. R1g5+ Kh6 36. R5g6+ Kh5 37. Rh6#
• 33. R7g3 Qf1 34. Rxf1 and Black's King is very vulnerable.
• 31. f5? throws away the winning opportunity: 31. -- Qf1 32. Rg7+ Kh8 33. Rg8+ Kh7 34. R8g7+ and White has nothing but to force a draw with perpetual check
• 29. -- Nxg6? 30. Qxg6+ hxg6 31. Rxg6+ Kh7 32. R6g3 Qf1 33. Rxf1 Rg8 +-

30. g7 hxg4 31. gxf8Q+ Bxf8?

• Susan Polgar, among others, point to this horrible move as evidence to refute charges that Kramnik is cheating; if he were, he would never have made such a boneheaded mistake.
• 31. -- Kxf8 is the only move made in order to survive: 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 Bg5 34. Re1 Qc2 with equality and a probable draw.

Black: Name
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White: Name
Position after 31. -- Be7xf8

32. Qg6+??

• White returns the favor with an even worse move; some commentators give this move three queries (usually, I think one is sufficient, but this one is really bad). Black now equalizes at least.
• The winning line is 32. Rxg4+!, which would give Black immediate cause to resign: 32. -- Bg7 33. Qc7 Qf1+ 34. Ng1 and now:
• 34. -- Qg2+ 35. Rxg2 Rxg2 36. Kxg2.
• 34. -- Rb1 35. Qxg7#

32. -- Bg7 33. f5

• If 33. Ng5 Re7 34. Rxg4 then:
• 34. -- Rb1+ 35. Bg1 Qb6 36. Nh7 Rf7 37. Nf6+ +/-
• 34. -- Qa6 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qg6 Qe2 37. Nh7+ Kg8 38. Nf6+ Kf8 with perpetual check.

33. -- Re7 34. f6 Qe2 35. Qxg4 Rf7 36. Rc1

• White's kingside attack is almost spent, so he switches to the c-file.
• 36. Qh5 Rb3 37. Rxg7+ Rxg7 38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 Kxg7 40. Qg5+ and White will capture Black's e-pawn and begin advancing his own.

36. -- Rc2 37. Rxc2 Qd1+

• Black has fully equalized.
• If 37. -- Qxc2 38. Ng5 Qb1+ 39. Kh2 Qc2+ 40. Kh1 then Black can implicitly propose a draw by repetition and would obtain a strong position if White declines.

38. Kg2 Qxc2+ 39. Kg3 Qe4 40. Bf4?!

• Topalov, the master of attack, is by nature reluctant to exchange Queens, but it was the best thing for White to do where.
• If 40. Qxe4 dxe4 41. Ng5 then:
• 41. -- Bh6 42. Nxf7 Bxe3 43. Nd8 a5 44. Nxe6 and White's three connected passed pawns give him at least a small edge.
• 41. -- Bh8? imprisons the Bishop: 42. Kf4 a5 43. Kxe4 a4 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 and Black's Bishop is of little use.

40. -- Qf5 41. Qxf5

• If 41. Ng5 then:
• 41. -- Qxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Bxf6 43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. exf6 Kxf6 45. Bd6 and the Bishop will likely stop Black's passed pawns, drawing.
• 41. -- Re7? 42. Qxf5 exf5 43. fxe7! Bf8 44. e8Q Kg7 45. Qf7+ Kh6 46. Qh7#

41. -- exf5 42. Bg5

• For the time being, Black's Bishop is taboo: 42. fxg7 Rxg7+ 43. Bg5 a5 44. e6 a4 45. e7 Kf7 46. Kf4 a3 and the a-pawn will coronate.

42. -- a5

• Black's hopes lay in pushing his queenside pawns.
• 42. -- Bxf6 43. Bxf6 Rxf6 44. exf6 Kf7 45. Ne5+ will likely result in a draw.

43. Kf4

• White's stake in the game is in his center pawns. The text move prepares to take on f5 and overprotect the f-pawn, allowing the Bishop to move to the Queen's wing for blockade duty.
• It is important now that each player not only implement his own plan, but frustrate his opponent's.
• If 43. fxg7 Rxg7then:
• 43. -- a4
• 44. Bf6 a3 45. Nd2 a2 46. Nb3 Rc7 47. e6 shows how White's minor pieces are at least equal to Black's Rook and extra pawn.
• 44. e6 a4 45. e7
• 45. -- Kf7
• 46. Kf4 a3 47. Ne1 a2 48. Nc2 Rh7 and Black's two extra pawns should triumph.
• 46. Kh4 a3 47. Bc1 a2 48. Bb2 Rg2 and Black will convert the material plus to a win.
• 45. -- f4+ 46. Kxf4 Kf7 47. Ne5+ Ke8 48. Nd3 is balanced.
• 44. Kf4 44. -- a4 45. Kxf5 a3 46. Bc1 a2 47. Bb2 Rg2 48. Ba1 Rf2 -+

43. -- a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1?

• The text is poor execution of the right idea. The Knight was better suited to block the a-pawn.
• 45. Nd2 a2 46. Nb3 Bh8 47. e6 Rh7 =

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Veselin Topalov
Position after 45. Bg5c1

45. -- Bf8!

• of course. What else?
• If now 46. Bxa3 Bxa3 47. e6 Rc7 48. Ne5 Bd6 49. Kg6 Kf8 White will not be able to make no further progress and Black's b-pawn becomes decisive.

46. e6 Rc7 47. Bxa3 Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5

• 49. Kxd5 Rf1 50. f7+ Kf8 51. Nd2 Ra1 52. Nc4 Ke7 53. Ke5 Re1+ and White's pawns fall.

49. -- Rf1

• 49. -- Rg1! 50. Nf7 Rf1 51. Ng5 Bc1 52. Nf7 Bf4+ 53. Kxd5 Bc7 and White can make no further progess with his pawns, while Black will advance the b-pawn.

50. e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Kd6 Re1

• 53. -- Re3 54. d5 Kg7 55. Ne6+ Kf6 56. Nd8 Re7 57. Ne6 b5 and Black's is simply to place the Rook behind the b-pawn pawn and advance.

54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ Ke8 56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 58. Ke7 Rh1 59. Ng5

• After 59. d6 Rh7+ 60. Kf6 b5 61. Nf8 Ra7 62. Ke6 b4 63. Ng6 b3 the b-pawn cannot be stopped.
• 59. Kd6 b5 60. Ke5 b4 61. Nc5 Rb1 is lights out.

59. -- b5 60. d6 Rd1 61. Ne6

• After 61. Ne4 b4 62. Nf2 Rd4 63. Ke6 b3 64. Ke5 Rd2 the Knight must give way or be taken, either allowing the b-pawn to sail home.

61. -- b4 62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 64. 0-1

• After 64. Kf5 b3 65. Na4 Re2 White's pawn can make no further progress while it will cost White his Knight to stop the b-pawn.
• Topalov resigns.

I've only run it through my mind, no board, so my study was of course very brief.

21 changed the tempo and the meat of the game was about 27-32 which guaranteed Korchnoi at least a draw. I think beginning on/around 32, Dr. Tatai's play appeared weak and unsure. This is the portion I want to study as I want to see how much tension Korchnoi was bringing to bear. I think it unnerved Tatai to the point that 43's bishop move broke him. In any vent, Bg6 was extremely well played and was the point in the game where Korchnoi controlled his own fate.

White's 28th move looks good to me. It caused Black to move his Bishop to a relatively unimportant square, giving White time to take the initiative.

White made good use of his initiative to open the a-file and put a Rook on a7, which he then supports on the 32nd move.

Black also finds the best defense in these moves and White in the end doesn't have enough.

The move 33. Ne7. while I made no comment on it, looks a littles suspicious to me. Fritz gives a short line that might be a better: 33. Qd3 Rg8 34. Rg1 Bxd5 35. exd5.

The alternate line on White's 36th move is superior to the text.

The move that really throws it away for White is his 43rd. He needed to support the e-pawn, therefore 43. Re1 should have been played. Doing that would take a lot of the sting out of -- Bg6 and keep the game level.