Ciudad de Linares – Round 1:
The battlefield |
As expected, the match ups of Kramnik
versus Kasparov were going to be the pinnacle of this already super strong
event, but as fate had it, the first encounter of the two came in round 1! Last
night at the opening ceremony, the excitement started about 5 seconds after the
large TV screen revealed the draw. After the customary speeches and applause to
the sponsors, organizers and players came an ear pleasing performance by a
local musical trio on guitars and drums with an awesome Andalusian repertoire.
Then it was time to draw for the traditional 'tournament for the blind' that is
held concurrently with the main event, and then the draw for the elite group.
Each player climbed up to the stage and turned over an olive Green, very large
Rook to reveal their draw number. When all players completed their part, and an
entire schedule appeared on the monitors, a loud buzz was heard across the
room. The world's number 1 and 2 will entertain us all and will serve as round
1's appetizer for the tournament. Well… You know the feeling when you order
what seems to be a great appetizer in a restaurant and get a dud? That is what
happened today, read below in the game synopsis. At the hotel lobby, waiting
for the bus to the theater where the opening ceremony was to be held, the
topics of conversation were as numerous as the people waiting. The possible war
with Iraq was on the agenda obviously with mixed opinions from the speakers.
The semi final matches for the world title reunification were an even hotter
topic, since of course all 4 players are here. After some agonizing months,
there is finally an agreement signed between Kasparov and Ponomariov
and even a venue and dates are set: Buenos Aires, Argentina in June/July. A 1
Million dollar prize fund was announced and now the ball is passed to the other
match: When and where (and if!) will the match between Kramnik
and Leko be played? The Einstein group who has rights
to the title had a falling out with their main sponsor, Madame Ojeh and approached
FIDE for some help. While I can't opine
not knowing all the little details, I am perplexed at how they weren't more
careful with such a benefactor and sponsor. So now while the players seem
pretty ok and everyone is hopeful, it is quite unclear as for when, where,
under whose auspices or if the match will be played. Theories include some of
these scenarios: A. FIDE will throw in a small prize fund for the match, the players
then would have to decide if they want
it. B. CarstenHensel, the
Dortmund agent of both players and organizer of no small measure will find a
sponsor, maybe the gas company that sponsors Leko to
foot the bill. C. Einstein, after realizing they can't go ahead relinquish their rights to the
title after which Madame Ojeh offers to step in. My (total guess!) theory is that it
will happen alongside the other match, at the same venue with a little help of
all who are involved. I suppose we will all know soon!
The games:
Kramnik – Kasparov: All the hype,
GM Kramnik vs GM Kasparov |
GM Kramnik and GM Kasparov getting ready |
all the excitement, all the hopes for 'chess blood' and which game ended first
today?! You guessed it… The main event! So what to say about this game you ask?
It wasn't anything to write home about. 14 moves of known QGA
theory, then Kasparov 14…0-0 which looks like a new move. Can white
generate an attack? Is it just a safe new move for black? Well, we will never
know because 4 moves later, a draw was agreed. I am starting to regret having
such an important game happen in round 1, the time when all are still 'checking
each other out' and are (too!) cautious.
Anand – Ponomariov:
A Ruy Lopez Berlin defense, OF COURSE! This has
become Pono's 'weapon of choice' against the very
GM Anand and GM Ponomariov |
best. Anand has prepared a new try of 14.Nf3 instead
of the 14.Ne4 we witnessed in Grischuk – Ponomariov in Corus 2003. White
was nursing his small edge for much of the game, as usual, trying to make the K
side pawn advantage count. Slowly and
patiently he made progress and although he felt that black
could have held, things got critical. At first black was very stubborn,
correctly liquidating his half pawn on the Q side with 23…c4 and 24….cxb3.
Unfortunately, soon after he played 25…c5?! Where 25…Rd8 or the plan with h5
with hxg4 and then Rd8 were much more stubborn although white retains his
nagging edge. The point is that relinquishing the d6 square eases white's plan
to go f5 (with a N on d6) As Vishy said, it was a
very pleasant position to play and he was figuring his plans as he saw his
opponent's reactions. On move 35 black missed his last chance to fight when he
went for 35…Ne8?!. 35…Ne6! Was a lot
more to the point. After 36.f5 Nd4 37.Kg5 Kg7! Not taking on f5, would
have forced white to prove he can cash in. The ending after time control was
quite lost and some were surprised Ruslan kept
playing for as long as he did. Either way the result was the
same andAnand looks like his Corus' form is following him to Linares!
Radjabov – Leko:
GM Radjabov vs GM Leko |
This was clearly the most violent of today's games! The young Azari came prepared today with a nice, new aggressive idea
of 16.h4 to which Leko didn't seem to respond well.
Only a few moves after the novelty, white had an awesome position, with good
attacking chances and less in counter play from black. 25.d5!
was an awesome thrust and 27.Nxf7! got a lot of
justifiable wows in the pressroom. Now, with everyone expecting radja to finish in style he started to falter. 28. Qd3!
Looks very strong, and is clearly better for white. Instead Teimour
must have missed the strong defense 29…Qd5! Worse yet, he reacted wit the poor
30.Qg3? and got sank with the ship quickly… The final
stage was brilliantly played by Leko, cashing in. A
lucky break for Peter and a sad miss for Teimour.
Analysis by GM Alterman (PGN) format.
EVENT REPORTS Top
