Cashes On Kasparov's Poor Play
By Arvind Aaron
When you go through this game, you will have an impression that it could well be the most lop-sided game in any world championship. All Vladimir Kramnik had to do was play 4.e3 and opt for the main line against the Nimzo-Indian defence that Garry Kasparov came up with for the second time.
It was an isolated queen pawn middlegame. Kramnik sacrificed a bishop to win two pawns. It looked like child's play. Kasparov tried without hope before losing in 25 moves. "I have not played so badly," Kasparov said while talking to the press. Kramnik looked fresh, obviously not been fully tested, although he collected the full point. Kasparov could have recaptured Bxf6 but he said he had no answer for white's Nb5. Incidently, the position after Nb5 was agreed drawn in Atanu Lahiri-Abhijit Kunte, 16th round game in the Mumbai National `A' this June.
The pressroom was closed as it was burgled the previous day and police were investivating for most part of this game. It was a historic day but are we seeing Kramnik as a winner or Kasparov collapsing? Perhaps both.
Arbiter Andrei Fillipowicz is waiting to start the game while
G.Kasparov is adjusting his pieces. Kasparov has a superstition: he touches
all his 16 pieces! Vladimir Kramnik waits for this drill to complete. He
beat Kasparov in this game to enlarge his lead to 6-4.
"I should have taken on c3 (for Be7)," Kasparov said after the game. He spoke positively of his ability, thereby giving hope for his team for the rest of the games. When I asked Kramnik if he was able to smell victory in the match, there was laughter from behind, coming from the audience. "Not yet," replied Kramnik adding a statement that only made Kasparov happy.