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Vladimir
Kramnik Wins World Title
By Arvind
Aaron, Press Officer - AICF
Russia's Vladimir Kramnik won the World Chess
Championship Reunification Match defeating Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria 6-6
(classical chess), 2.5-1.5 (tie-break) on Friday the 13 at Elista, Russia.
The long period of confusion with two world champions is behind us now.
In the best of four play off finals, Kramnik won both his white games
while Topalov failed to win the first game. The first game was a draw and
Kramnik took the lead winning the second game. Topalov equalised in the
third with a big attack. Kramnik hit back in the fourth using the
advantage of outside passed pawns in the rook and bishop ending. Topalov's
blunder also helped the big Russian to retain his match.
The rapid chess play off was played with 25 minutes per side and ten
second increment. It was relayed live in some sports channels across
Eastern Europe and most of the chess world witnessed the event live.
Kramnik first won the World Title in 2000 when he wrested it from Garry
Kasparov at London by 8.5-6.5. Four years later he retained it at Brissago
(Swz) by coming from behind to beat Peter Leko in the last game and keep
the title at 7-7.
Kramnik's manager Carsten Hensel of Dortmund, Germany had said Kramnik
played the match after game five under protest and would sue FIDE. Later,
Kramnik plays Fritz in a Man v Machine match after which Fritz10 will be
released in the middle of Nov 10.
Kramnik first made a mark in international chess when he gave a splendid
performance for Russia in the Chess Olympiad at Manila 1992. In the 1995
match against Anand, Kasparov made the mistake of inviting Kramnik to be
his trainer. Working together with the best player, Kramnik became the
No.1 ranked player in the FIDE rating list in 1996.
Kramnik has won all the three major events at Linares, Wijk aan Zee and
Dortmund events. He made a comeback to chess at the Turin Olympiad this
May-June where he won the best player of the Olympiad award although
Russia failed to win the gold medal.
The chess world has one champion from October 13, 2006 for the first time
since two champions were crowned in 1993. The 13-year confusion in the
chess world should be over and FIDE has won a major victory and now
recognises Kramnik as the new world champion.
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Photos
Published on 16.10.2006
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