Kramnik Moves To Lead
By Arvind Aaron
Unexpected it may seem but challenger and underdog Vladimir Kramnik pulled off a sensational victory over Garry Kasparov in 40 moves with the white pieces to take the 1.5-0.5 lead in the best of 16 series at London on October 10.
Preferring his known choice of 1.d4, Kramnik faced the Grunfeld defence from Kasparov. In the exchange variation, Kramnik's choice of 8.Be3 was new. Thereafter he embarked on a risky 11.Rxb7 move which was analysed in New In Chess magazine as trouble for white. Kasparov responded with 12...Nc6 which was a recommendation of that magazine but thereafter Kramnik had a solid position and an extra pawn. In a pawn down, queen, rook and opposite colour bishop ending, Kasparov's eagerness to exchange queens allowed white to obtain a dominating position with his rook, bishop. When Kramnik started to roll his extra pawn, Kasparov lost patience and blundered to lose a bishop or rook on the 40th move. He was also short of time from the opening.
The score is 1.5-0.5 for Kramnik. Importantly, the personal score between the players is 4-3 for Kramnik which excludes the 18 draw which they played. Kasparov will have the advantage of making the first move in game three on Thursday.
The result is sure enough to drive further interest in this match. Now, Kramnik will have to watch out for Kasparov's resilience. It is also Kasparov's weakest moment and Kramnik can win one more game after which he will have to be doubly careful. If he wins the third game too, one can expect Kasparov to sack one second for `spying' a la Leningrad 1986.
Expect Kasparov to bounce back. That's his style of doing things.