Veselin Topalov finally managed to get on the board in the third game of his match with Vladimir Kramnik. On the black side of another Catalan Topalov made a draw in 38 moves. This was no grandmaster draw, however. Topalov fought hard as always to generate chances, and at one point might have pressed too hard. Kramnik had chances to play for win, but the variations were difficult to analyze and Kramnik predictably went for the safe draw. Up two points, there's no reason for him to take chances.
Three exciting, hard-fought games so far. If Topalov can win with white in game four I think he will be right back in the match. Stay tuned!
More like this
Two games down in the big World Chess Championship and two wins for Kramnik. But that doesn't tell the whole story.
Only have time for a quick post today, so let me just mention that Game Seven of the big chess match ended in a draw in 60 moves. Topalov once again had white, and once again failed to get anywhere against Kramnik's Slav Defense.
A dramatic turn of events in the big chess match. Topalov won game nine in convincing fashion, his second win in a row. Topalov now has a one point lead in the match (including the point he got when Kramnik forfeited game five).
The big chess match continues apace. In Game Five the players plowed down the same line of the Slav Defense they explored in Game Three. No doubt Topalov had an improvement in mind, but Anand varied first. Topalov pressed, but in the end he was the one who was happy to call it a draw.
Well, don't keep us in suspense about the best part! Who's doing the halftime show?
~David D.G.