Kramnik - Leko 1/2 Vallejo - Ponomariov 0-1 Hello, chess friends! It's interesting that the casting of the tournament brought throw together in the last round the leaders quartet - as well in this tournament and altogether today. A special interest presents the game Kramnik - Leko . First, this game for sure will decide the fate of the 1st place, and second they have to play soon a semifinal match for the title "absolute world champion". The game Anand - Kasparov also could be very interesting since Kasparov for sure will aspire to win over a suitable for him opponent, to continue his series of victories in the super-tournaments and to increase a impressive score against Anand. In the game Vallrjo - Ponomariov the fight is going for the 5-6 places. The Champion of the World certainly would like to go away from the last place, which he takes during all the tournament. And today he has a chance in case of victory to gain 5th place which would be not so bad for the total result, taking into account how he played on the start of the tournament and that ahead of him would be all chess players with rrating more than his. Meanwhile Vallejo accustom himself to this company which proves the last rounds: a defeating Leko and a draw with Kasparov which was made by the latter. And today he has a chance to obtain the 50% level which would be a big achivment for the master of the tournament. Kramnik - Leko It is strange that Leko went on a wittingly worse position. In my opinion stronger 8...Bg4, as it was in the game Ponomariov - Radjabov on this tournaments, where Black decided his opening problems. In the arose position White sacrificed a pawn, but instead of this he passed ahead Black in the development. A very strong is the Queen on d5, which assoult at once on three points: b7, d6 and f7. Also is very not bad the dark colored White's Bishop, who is much stronger than his opponent. It is clear that the compensation for the pawn is more than sufficient and Black should think how to fight for a draw. Black possibly should defence the pawn by way of 16...Be7, and here White has an interesting plan, connected with the move 17.Rd3 with idea to go Rg3 or Rdf3 with attack. Anand - Kasparov It's wonderful that Anand once more (which time?) is afraid of Kasparov and doesn't go on the main openings, all the time turning off the road somewhere. How many games he lost to Kasparov with such a play and nevertheless continue to play in such spirit. And Kasparov just needs this. In confirmaition of this - on 9th move instead of common 9.f3 with the main idea of Dragon variation to make a long castle and attack on the kingside by way of g4, h4 etc. Anand has chosen a rare move 9.h3 and castled in a short side. Kasparov probably today is in the fight mood which shows the choice of the opening - the Dragon variation, which he seems never used. Playing 16...e5 Kasparov as would say that today he will play only for a victory. As it happened in the Kasparov's games his pieces are located outwardly activly but the position is not dangerous for the opponent. Similarly it was in this game. Probably one should not sacrifice the pawn, which practically forced the Queen exchange. In the endgame Black certainly had a compensation for the pawn but he couldn't expect something more than a draw. In result all overed in a drawn endgame with the different colored Bishops. Vallejo - Ponomariov The Nimzo defence was played. White has an advantage in space. Black has a not bad Bishop on g7. It seems to me that White has a slight advantage. Forthcoming will be a tough, maneuver fight and all is yet to come. Vallejo had a certain advantage but he hurried up with 23.c5. Instead of this he should play 23.Kg2 and gradually prepare this movement since Black is very difficult to creat any counterplay. After the Rook exchange on the d7 White temporarly wins the pawn and probably Vallejo has not thought that he should fight for a draw. Perhaps for him was a surprise the move 33...Kd6, which pointed Black's advantage. White should play 33.Ra6, letting no the King, and then the opponents soon agree on a draw. With 43.e4 Vallejo probably wanted as sson as possible to make a draw, but in such positions one should suffer, the active moves often are punished and this probably will happen here after the strong maneuver 46...Rh7 with idea 47...hg 48.Kg3 Rh4. After 53...Kh7 54.Kh4 Kh6 55.Kg4 g5 56.Kf5 Kh5 57.Ke5 g4 58.Kf4 Kh4 59.e5 g3 60.e6 g2 61.e7 g1Q 62.e8Q Qf2+ 63.Ke5 Qe2+ Black wins the Queen and the game. It's obviously that the decisive mistake was in this game 43.e4. If White would stand passively Black was difficultes to win. But the desire to make soon a draw let down Vallejo. Several words about the results of the tournament. Leko is the winner, he played fightly, winning 4 games, and that helped him to take the first place (it determined on the number of wins). The decisive round in the determination of the winner turned out to be the 13th one. In the game Leko - Anand, where in the position close to a draw Anand has made several mistakes and Kramnik couldn't defeat Radjabov although he had good chances. In the last round usually it's difficult to win against an equal opponent. Kramnik played carefully, trying to risk no and almost had not any problems. He could gain more points but played with a big reserve of durability. Kramnik was right saying after Wijk-aan-Zee that in Linares he will play better than in Wijk-aan-Zee. Kasparov who considered as a favorite of the tournament has been unsettled by a lost from Radjabov and although seemed that he soon rehabilitate oneself gaining in the next 3 rounds 2.5 points just this "misfire" allowed no him really to pretend on the 1st place as he lost white color and a point. Anand played not bad till the "misfire" with Kasparov but after that slightly has been taken aback since he usually plays not very successfully after the defeat. |
