Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match (2008)

MATCH STANDINGS
Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match

Viswanathan Anand	6.5/11	(+3 -1 =7)	[view games]
Vladimir Kramnik	4.5/11	(+1 -3 =7)	[view games]

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Anand vs Kramnik, 2008
Bonn, Germany

After Viswanathan Anand's victory in the 2007 World Championship Tournament, preparations were made to stage a title contest with former champion Vladimir Kramnik to be held in Bonn, Germany.

This match was a one-off event in which the previous world champion (Vladimir Kramnik) has been given the right to challenge to regain his title. Its origin lies in the complications of re-unifying the world title in 2006.¹

Vishy Kramnik 2008
The State Art Gallery in Bonn, Germany
This event is especially significant because Anand did not win the 2007 FIDE World Championship in the traditional manner, by defeating the standing champion in a head-to-head match, but instead by winning a tournament. By winning this match, Anand cemented the legitimacy of his World Championship status beyond reproach.

The match format was a best of 12 games. In the event that the 12 games end in a 6-6 tie, the match is decided by a short series of rapid games, then blitz (if necessary), and finally, if needed, a single decisive "Armageddon game."²

In the game 3, Anand scored a stunning victory from the black side of the Meran variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, giving him the lead. In game 5 the same variation was tested again, and once more Anand triumphed with the black pieces. Anand then won the 6th game (playing White against the Nimzo-Indian Defense) giving him a commanding three point lead in the first half of the match. Kramnik scored his first victory in game 10, but Anand needed only one draw in the remaining two games to secure victory.

After a draw in the 11th game, Viswanathan Anand defended his title and became the undisputed 15th World Chess Champion.

¹ Wikipedia article World Chess Championship 2008
² Official Website of the 2008 World Chess Championship

page 1 of 1; 11 games

Game Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening
1. Kramnik vs Anand ½-½ 32 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D14 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation

2. Anand vs Kramnik ½-½ 32 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match E25 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch

3. Kramnik vs Anand 0-1 41 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D49 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran

4. Anand vs Kramnik ½-½ 29 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D37 Queen's Gambit Declined

5. Kramnik vs Anand 0-1 35 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D49 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran

6. Anand vs Kramnik 1-0 47 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match E34 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation

7. Anand vs Kramnik ½-½ 37 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D19 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch

8. Kramnik vs Anand ½-½ 39 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D37 Queen's Gambit Declined

9. Anand vs Kramnik ½-½ 45 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match D43 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav

10. Kramnik vs Anand 1-0 29 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights

11. Anand vs Kramnik ½-½ 24 2008 Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match B96 Sicilian, Najdorf

REFINE SEARCH: White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 10 OF 445 · Later Kibitzing>
Oct-01-08		SetNoEscapeOn: <SPIEGEL: There are rumours that he is your second for the World Championship against Kramnik. Anand: That's a rumour I have heard as well. Perhaps there is some truth in it. Perhaps not. Let Kramnik figure it out, let him occupy his mind with this question. That is part of the psychological game before this kind of match. When you know who is part of your opponent's team you can imagine what he is planning. So I will not reveal anything.> So this is now a major subplot of the match- where art thou, Magnus?

Oct-01-08		dx9293: Yes, this Carlsen rumor is really something! I hadn't heard it until I read the cited ChessBase article--can someone provide the original source? There is some recent precedent for such a collaboration: Ponomariov recruiting Topalov to help him against Ivanchuk in 2002.

Oct-01-08		SetNoEscapeOn: <dx9293> It actually came out in one of the press conferences in Bilbao. Both Carlsen and Anand refused to comment on it, which indicates that they had at least discussed how to handle the question beforehand.

Oct-01-08		you vs yourself: Anand: <I have been studying Kramnik since the end of April, up to ten hours a day, here at home in my cellar, where I have my office. I have a database and construct game plans. I try to neutralise positions in which Kramnik is strong. He is doing the same thing with my game, which I must of course take into consideration. Let me put it this way: I must remember that he is thinking about what I am thinking about him.> http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp...

Oct-01-08		Aspirador: Anand: <I have been thinking about Kramnik for a long time here in my cellar where I have my knife-and-dagger-collection. I have guns and construct plans. I must try to neutralize Kramnik. He is doing the same thing with me, which I must take into consideration. Let me put it this way: I must remember that he is out there thinking that I am out there.>

Oct-01-08		Jim Bartle: Reminds me of Rupert Pupkin in his basement "studio" in "The King of Comedy."

Oct-01-08		peddagunnu: Nice interview! Hope Vishy backups his database frequently and has good physical and network security. We wouldn't want something like the stolen laptop incident that derailed Radjabov in Linares 2008, to happen at WCC '08.

Oct-01-08		moronovich: So Anand lives in "House of flying Daggers " ? , hmm - interesting. Sounds like he is wellprepared and ready to stab Kramnik :)

Oct-01-08		Jim Bartle: Also hints he's prepared the Bayonet Attack against the KID.

Oct-01-08		Dick Brain: But who in the hearts of most everybody is the true world champion at any given time: the winner of the last world championship match or the world #1 in ratings? It seems to me it's always the #1 these days, especially when there is a significant gap. That's what saps interest from this match, it's not the world championship.

Oct-01-08		klangenfarben: Sounds like Anand's Team will consist largely of mole people. Perhaps I can sell them my Lehman Brothers stocks.

Oct-01-08		square dance: <dick brain> i dont know if you're being ironic or not, but i would say that the vast majority of the chess world holds the polar opposite opinion to what you just wrote. have you forgotten all of the polls taken before elista? even kramnik at his lowest world ranking was still viewed as the legitimate world champion over #1 ranked and fide wc topalov. of course you're entitled to your opinion, but it is most definitely the minority.

Oct-01-08		Bobsterman3000: So, is this really a historic WC match of great importance? Or is this merely a semifinal between #5 and #6?

Oct-01-08		dumbgai: Concerning the world rankings, the players near the top are closely bunched. Number one Topalov and number six Kramnik are separated by only 19 rating points, so as far as ratings go the top players are all about the same. When Kasparov was most dominant he often had a 50 point lead over #2.

Oct-01-08		veigaman: <So, is this really a historic WC match of great importance? Or is this merely a semifinal between #5 and #6?> It is a chess match between the 2 strongest players in the world in this moment, 2 really heavyweighs

Oct-01-08		newton296: kramnik will win , when he has time to prepare for a match , he has been awesome ! kasparov vs kramnik = kramnik wins 2-0 leko vs kramnick = kramnik 2-2 drawn but k man holds title topalov vs kramnik = kramnik wins 3-2 kramnik just has this strange ability to find a great move in any position . especially the endgame ! kramnik main advantage may be his incredible ability to neutralize e4 , but I don't think anand can stop kramniks mastery of all things d4 ! kramnik takes it 2-1 imo

Oct-01-08		square dance: <Okay, then on to Bonn. The World Championship goes over <<eight games>>, with a possible tiebreak. You have known Kramnik for nineteen years. Can he still surprise you?> this is a mistake, right? i was under the assumption they were following the same format as elista, meaning 12 games and then tie breaks, if necessary.

Oct-01-08		hand banana: of course it's a mistake, 12 games + tie breaks. i think i read something about obligatory revealing of one's team 10 days before the match, did i get something wrong?

Oct-01-08		VaselineTopLove: Why is it required of players to reveal who their seconds are and who their team comprises of?

Oct-01-08		georgee53: Anand has to overcome himself - his self doubts, which have manifested themselves at critical times. This is why he has been a better tournament player than match player (different opponent; always another day). Kramnik is better at match play than he is in tournaments (his more solid style is part of it; confidence and ease with self is another). Both of these two are genuinely great players. Neither of them should suffer from any self doubts. This is the most eagely awaited chess match since Kasparov-Kramnik. I hope it does justice to the abilities of both players. My tip for the winner? The chess loving public. Cheers Pilgrims.

Oct-01-08		amadeus: My predictions: Kramnik 2-0 Anand. Kamsky 3-1 Topalov.

Oct-02-08		SetNoEscapeOn: It is interesting that Anand said <perhaps there is some truth in it> rather than <perhaps it is true>. If I had to guess, Carlsen has helped Anand train for this match but will not actually be his second in Bonn.

Oct-02-08		shintaro go: <georgee53> Excellent post.

Oct-02-08		Darth Lasker: I consider Anand to be a slight favourite. He understands dynamics better than Kramnik. If he doesn't blunder, he will win.

Oct-02-08		Paragua: I agree with amadeus!! Let's drink to that my friend..

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