Topalov vs Kramnik: The match begins!

The twelve-game match for the world title between Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion and Veselin Topalov, FIDE World Champion started on Saturday, September 23rd at 3 pm local time in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. The opening ceremony was on the September, 21st 2006 where it was established that Kramnik will have white in game one.

The duel begins!

Topalov and Kramnik have already arrived to Elista with their delegations. In the words of FIDE: "Both participants have expressed their full satisfaction with the conditions for accommodation and meals, and the organization is perfect, as well as the weather in Elista". The members of the delegations of both teams have already been announced. Topalov is being seconded by International GM's Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), Alexander Onischuk (USA) and Francisco Vallejo (Spain), whereas Kramnik is backed by International GM's Miguel Illescas (Spain), Alexander Motylev (Russia) and Sergei Rublevsky (Russia). Unconfirmed rumors indicate that Spanish GM Alexei Shirov has also given Topalov a hand before the match (Shirov defeated Kramnik in the Cazorla match in 1998, prior to the Kasparov-Kramnik match in 2000).

Opening ceremony at the National Football Stadium in Elista, Kalmykia
(Photo: Kramnik.com)

Kramnik has changed two of his 2004 Leko-Kramnik team members: Motylev and Rublevsky substitute Svidler and Bareev, while Illescas has been working with Kramnik since his win over Kasparov in 2000. In addition to Miguel Illescas, Kramnik's physiotherapist Valeri Krylov was also in the 2000 London team.

With regard to Topalov, he is again working with young Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov, who helped him to win his FIDE World Championship title in San Luis. However, the inclusion of GM Francisco "Paco" Vallejo on his team can only be explained by the excellent score that Paco has against Topalov. He has already defeated the Bulgarian on three occasions in 2006. The best way of finding out why is including him on his team!

Andy McFarland - Zek - will be in charge of the LIVE relay of the match.
(photo: by John Henderson. Andy in action in the last US Championship)

Live coverage on the ICC

ICC offers, only for members, an extraordinary LIVE COVERAGE of the World Chess Championship Match. Your favorite grandmasters will commentate on every game during the ICC Webcast: WGM Jennifer Shahade, GM John Fedorowicz, GM Larry Christiansen, GM Roman Dzindzichashvili, GM Joel Benjamin, GM Gregory Kaidanov, IM Elliot Winslow, IM Dr. Danny Kopec, and anchored by IM Bill Paschall. Also, the Spanish ICC Webcast will feature: GM Am. Rodriguez, GM Viktor Moskalenko, IM Michael Rahal and IM Angel Martin.

ICC Webcast schedule for match Topalov vs Kramnik All times are US eastern. Add 4 hours for GMT. Add 6 hours for CET   07:00   GAME 1 Kramnik vs Topalov Saturday, September 23    IM Elliot Winslow and GM Roman Dzindzichashvili    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   07:00   GAME 2 Topalov vs Kramnik Sunday, September 24    WGM Jennifer Shahade and GM Roman Dzindzichashvili    GM Amador Rodríguez (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY  Monday, September 25   07:00   GAME 3 Kramnik vs Topalov Tuesday, September 26    IM Bill Paschall and GM Joel Benjamin    GM Amador Rodríguez (spanish)   07:00   GAME 4 Topalov vs Kramnik Wednesday, September 27    IM Bill Paschall and IM Dr. Danny Kopec    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY  Thursday, September 28   07:00   GAME 5 Kramnik vs Topalov Friday, September 29    IM Bill Paschall and GM John Fedorowicz    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   07:00   GAME 6 Topalov vs Kramnik Saturday, September 30    IM Bill Paschall and WGM Jennifer Shahade    GM Amador Rodríguez (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY  Sunday, October 1 - Reversal of Colors   07:00   GAME 7 Topalov vs Kramnik Monday, October 2    IM Bill Paschall and GM Gregory Kaidanov    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   07:00   GAME 8 Kramnik vs Topalov Tuesday, October 3    IM Bill Paschall and GM Gregory Kaidanov    GM Amador Rodríguez (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY  Wednesday, October 4   07:00   GAME 9 Topalov vs Kramnik Thursday, October 5    IM Bill Paschall and GM Larry Christiansen    GM Viktor Moskalenko (spanish)   07:00   GAME 10 Kramnik vs Topalov Friday, October 6    IM Bill Paschall and GM John Federowicz    IM Angel Martín (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY Saturday, October 7   07:00   GAME 11 Topalov vs Kramnik Sunday, October 8    IM Bill Paschall and GM Joel Benjamin    GM Viktor Moskalenko (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY Monday, October 9   07:00   GAME 12 Kramnik vs Topalov Tuesday, October 10    IM Bill Paschall and GM Larry Christiansen    IM Michael Rahal (spanish)   Replay   REST DAY  Wednesday, October 11   07:00   TIEBREAKS Thursday, October 12    IM Bill Paschall and GM Larry Christiansen    IM Michael Rahal (spanish)   View this week's entire Webcast schedule

On-site illustrated report by Spanish GM Miguel Illescas

Many guests, including the Vice-president of Vietnam (Photo: Kramnik.com)

The ceremony culminated in a tasting of the Kalmyk kitchen (Photo: Kramnik.com)

Related information:

• ICC Newsletter XVII: Topalov vs. Kramnik is on!
• ICC Newsletter XXXV: Kramnik and Topalov Re-unification match.
• ICC LIVE COVERAGE webpage.
• ICC Webcast weekly schedule.
• World Chess Championship official website.