Kramnik saved by the clock!

A Chessbase report of what happened in the Kramnik - Radjabov playoff

While this last game (Aronian vs. Grischuk) was taking place, Kramnik and Radjabov were already into their blitz tiebreaks. The reason is that they started their rapid games one game before Aronian and Grischuk. In other words, Aronian and Grischuk started their first game at the same time Kramnik and Radjabov started their second. Unfortunately, the significant dullness of the first four classic games, continued into the rapids, and a further lot of draws were presented to the spectators. The blitz games were another story though.

The structure of the blitz games was a mini-match of two games played at five minutes with a three second increment per move. Each match is potentially decisive, and up to five such matches could be played to decide a winner. In the first game, Kramnik went down in flames badly, and resigned one move before being mated. This essentially meant that he had an absolute must-win situation if he wanted to stay in the match. Things didn’t seem to be going his way as the position seemed headed for a draw. The pieces went off, no weaknesses appeared, and it went down to a rook and opposite-colored bishop ending where all considered the match a done deal. Kramnik understandably meant to play to the very end, and with fifteen seconds left each (remember they received a three second increment per move though), this is what happened:

It took a good thirteen minutes for the game to resume, during which the players strolled about waiting – with ample time to study the position (one would think). When the game continued, Radjabov quickly collapsed with a series of decisive mistakes and lost. This meant a second blitz mini-match, and this time Kramnik won the first, while in the second Radjabov was caught in a perpetual, which ended the match. The two players shook hands and proceeded to the press conference.

Full article here: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7206

Clock issue

Both Russian are in semi-final
Monday, 09 May 2011
http://kazan2011.fide.com/

Kramnik and Grischuk eliminated their opponents and will play for the ticket to the final on Thursday.

In the tie-break matches of the Candidates Matches-2011 Round 1 Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grischuk have eliminated their opponents Timur Radjabov and Levon Aronian and qualified for the semi-final match. One of them will definitely play in the final, the other finalist will be determined in the match Gelfand – Kamsky.

Aronian and Grischuk played just four games in rapid chess, while Kramnik and Radjabov took almost all chances to make their match extremely dramatic. After four draws in rapid, they continued in blitz and decision has been made literary in the last seconds of the fourth game.

Radjabov won the first blitz, outplaying Kramnik in a beautiful style. In the second game, when Kramnik needed to win to proceed fighting, the opponents positions were equal. A few seconds left, and Vladimir was trying his best to find the way out. The draw seemed to be inevitable, when the clock condescended. In accord to the Attachment 1 of the Candidates Matches Regulations (Article 6.10), the Arbiter changed the clock, returned the time, guided by live broadcasting of the game, and the grandmasters resumed playing. In the end, Kramnik won the game.

Aronian played first rapid game as white very badly, he lost without fight. But he recovered in game two, winning it with black pieces in great style. He continued his high performance in the third game and reached completely winning position, having also much better time. But the story of very first game of the match has been repeated. Instead of finishing the job, he started with mistakes, and finally was happy to escape to draw. Obviously, top seeded player was under too big psychological pressure. In the fourth game he was not even a shadow of himself.

Candidates Matches-2011. Round 1. Tie-breaks. Results: Kramnik : Radjabov 4,5:3,5, Grischuk : Aronian 2,5:1,5.

Semi-finals will start on 12 May, 2011. The games are scheduled to start at 03.00 p.m. local time.

...And the broken clock took center stage

Radjabov speaks about the match with Kramnik
Interview about the tiebreak
Provided by Chessdom

Q: The victory was very close. How much were you influenced by the incident with the clock?

A: I try to remain calm. Indeed, I was 5-10 seconds away from the next round, but now what to think about this? In the first blitz game I was successful, it really lifted my spirit, the second game was also developing in my favor. Well, you know what happened next.

Q: This worked in favour of the opponent?

A: With all due respect to Kramnik, this incident was more in his favor than in mine. One can argue on this subject. I think I had done everything that depended on me, I cannot say that I played badly, moreover I felt the victory is close, just no luck. After the incident I immediately remembered the footage of basketball finals at the Seoul Olympics, when USSR beat USA with a direct hit in the last second. In sport, anything can happen.

Q: You have been preparing for the Candidates for the last six months. Do you now feel that the time is wasted?

A: I have no regrets. What could I do? Today, a broken clock, tomorrow a chandelier will drop.

Q: Speaking of the supporting team, who were your assistants?

A: I would prefer not to disclose this and have it remain a mystery. I can only mention GM Igor Nataf with whom I worked for a long time.

Q: What is expected from semi-finals?

A: Now we have a somewhat unusual situation. For example, Kramnik might have expected to meet Aronian, but now he will face his compatriot Grischuk. Gelfand was probably thinking of Topalov, but he will now play against Kamsky. Their teams will probably have to make special preparation.

Interview in Russian in Azerisport

Both Azerbaijani Players Out of World Championship Candidates Matches

Two Azerbaijani chess players lose in FIDE Candidates Matches quarterfinals
Tue 10 May 2011 04:42 GMT | -1:42 Local Time

The tie-breaks in quarterfinals of the FIDE Candidates Matches were held in Tatarstan capital on Monday.

The winners were defined in the confrontation of Teymur Rajabov of Azerbaijan and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Levon Aronyan of Armenia and Alexander Grishuk of Russia. Following the four matches with the standard control of time played previously, the matched saw a draw 2-2.

In the confrontation between Rajabov and Kramnik, the four quick matches with 25-minute control ended in a draw. Under regulations, blitz of five mini-matches of two five minute parts was envisioned. Each of these matches might be the last.

In the first match Rajabov won with white pieces but the clock broke when he was playing with black. After the case was clarified, the grandmasters against sat at the board and Kramnik won.

The story with the clock had a negative impact on Rajabov. He started the second minimatch with the loss with black pieces. He had to win with white pieces but failed-Kramnik was stronger again. In the semifinal the Russian chess player will play Grishuk who managed to beat Aronyan in quick chess 2.5-1.5.

Shahriyar Mammadyarov lost to Israel’s Boris Gelfand 1.5-2.5 by results of the main matches.

Elmir Aliyev
News.Az

Kramnik - Radjabov intense games

Blitz 1



Blitz 2



Blitz 3



Blitz 4

Radjabov - Kramnik, The Insight

Make your pick

Who will win this match?
	V. Topalov
	G. Kamsky

Who will win this match?
	V. Kramnik
	T. Radjabov

Who will win this match?
	B. Gelfand
	S. Mamedyarov

Who will win this match?
	L. Aronian
	A. Grischuk

2 Azerbaijani in the world top 10

Two Azerbaijani chess players join top ten
02.05.2011 16:21

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 2 / Trend T. Hajiyev /

The International Chess Federation (FİDE) announced a new rating table.

Two Azerbaijani chess players Shahriyar Mammadyarov and Vugar Gashimov entered the top ten, FİDE official website said.

Besides Mammadyarov and Hashimov, Teymur Radjabov and Rauf Mammadov are among the top hundred players.

Mammadyarov received 2.772 points and ranked ninth, Gashimov ranked tenth with 2.760 points, Radjabov ranked thirteenth with 2.744 points and Mammadov ranked sixty second with 2.679 points.

Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand heads the rating list of the top chess players. He has 2.817 points. Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen (2.815 points) ranked second.

Source: http://en.trend.az

Bazna Kings

Magnus Carlsen, Vassily Ivanchuk, Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura, Teimour Radjabov, and local hero Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu.

Experience vs. Youth: Kramnik vs. Radjabov

Kramnik - Radjabov, Candidates 2011

Youth vs experience in Kazan

In the second preview for the Candidates Matches 2011 in Kazan, GM Henrik Danielsen takes a first look at Kramnik - Radjabov. Based on match experience, he considers GM Kramnik to be favorite in the encounter, but can youth prevail? All the answers will come in the live coverage with GM Naiditsch, GM Bacrot and the commentary team.