ChessWorld champion Vladimir Kramnik won an elite round robin in Dortmund, Germany. Kramnik scored 5-2, winning three games as White. He has now taken first prize in eight of the annual Dortmund tournaments.

Next at 4-3 were Evgeny Alekseev (Russia), Viswanathan Anand (India) and Peter Leko (Hungary). Others: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), 3 1/2-3 1/2; Magnus Carlsen (Norway), 3-4; Boris Gelfand (Israel), 2 1/2-4 1/2; and Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), 2-5. Naiditsch won the 2005 event in a memorable upset.

#1: <1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 d5 4 d4 Be7 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 dxc4 7 Qc2 a6 8 Qxc4 b5 9 Qc2 Bb7> Black solves one problem (activating his QB) but creates another (backward c-pawn). <10 Bd2 Nc6> Inferior is 10…Nbd7?! 11 Ba5, but 10…Be4 has a good reputation. <11 e3 Nb4 12 Bxb4 Bxb4 13 a3 Be7 14 Nbd2 Rc8 15 b4> White must squelch c7-c5, and 15 Nb3 allows Black to equalize with 15…Be4 16 Qc3 Qd5 17 Nbd2 c5! 18 Nxe4 Nxe4 19 Qa5 Qd6. <15…a5 16 Ne5! Nd5?> Black should investigate 16…Bxg2 17 Kxg2 c6. Note that 17…Qd5+ 18 e4! Qxd4 19 Nc6 Qd7 20 Nf3 axb4 21 axb4 gives White excellent compensation for the pawn. <17 Nb3!> A terrific idea, almost instantly decisive. <17…axb4 18 Na5 Ba8 19 Nac6 Bxc6> If 19…Qd6 20 Bxd5 exd5 21 axb4 f6 22 Nxe7+ Qxe7 23 Nd3, the pitiful Bishop is no match for the Knight. <20 Nxc6 Qd7 21 Bxd5 exd5 22 axb4 Rfe8> Black must drop a pawn. For example, 22…Ra8 23 Rfc1 Bd6 loses to 24 Rxa8 Rxa8 25 Qe2. <23 Ra5 Bf8 24 Ne5 Qe6 25 Rxb5 Rb8> The clever 25…Bxb4!? 26 Rxb4 c5 won't save Black after 27 dxc5 Qxe5 28 Rc1. <26 Rxb8 Rxb8 27 Qxc7> Welcoming 27…Rxb4 28 Ra1. <27…Bd6 28 Qa5 Bxb4> Nor will 28…Bxe5 29 dxe5 Qxe5 save Black. White gains a second pawn by 30 Rd1 Qb2 31 Rxd5, and trading Rooks with Rd5-d8+ will clinch victory. <29 Rb1!> Black must give up another pawn to escape this pin. <29…Qd6 30 Qa4, 1-0.> If 30…Bd2, then 31 Rxb8+ Qxb8 32 Qd7 Qf8 33 Qxd5 wins easily.