Vladimir Kramnik vs Veselin Topalov (2006) Playing for the Throne

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Vladimir Kramnik vs Veselin Topalov
"Playing for the Throne" (game of the day Mar-29-2022)
Kramnik - Topalov World Championship Match (2006), Elista RUS, rd 1, Sep-23
Catalan Opening: Open Defense (E04) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Given 23 times; par: 125 [what's this?]

Annotations by Malcolm Pein. [3 more games annotated by M Pein]

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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 63 OF 63 · Later Kibitzing>
Dec-01-11		HeMateMe: Playing through this endgame, WC match game 1, I kept wondering how Kramnik would win this, up a pawn, but having to baby sit the weak pawn on f2. Then, I remembered this was the game that Topalov blew, the one he could have drawn by repetition, but he tried to force a win. Vesco, we hardly knew ya....

Apr-06-14		LIFE Master AJ: Some one (recently) asked me if I annotated this game. (yes) Since the link is posted above ... I won't repeat it.

Nov-28-16		RookFile: What a fantastic game. I understand Topalov's active play, but Kramnik seems otherworldly with his maneuvers in this game.

May-26-17		HeMateMe: Do the late, great AJ's game notes live on, in cyber space?

May-26-17		Sally Simpson: He still pops on from time to time. User: LIFE Master AJ last visit was a few weeks ago

Mar-29-22		offramp: This is my 20,000th post here at chessgames. And it is my birthday! Hooray! Greetings to all kibitzers.

Mar-29-22		boz: Watched this one live right here on cg. Couldn't believe it when Topalov declined to force the repetition. Echos of Game 1 Spassky-Fischer when Fischer threw the game away.

Mar-29-22		Brenin: Happy birthday, <offframp>! I look forward to the next 20,000.

Mar-29-22		Teyss: Apologies, children looking at this site. Greetings and happy birthday <offramp>! 🎂 And congrats on your longevity. Member since August 2003, you're a relic. OK the game has been largely commented but it's still interesting to go through and apparently <MissScarlett> wanted to follow up on yesterday's game and jokes.

Mar-29-22		goodevans: <boz: Watched this one live right here on cg. Couldn't believe it when Topalov declined to force the repetition. Echos of Game 1 Spassky-Fischer...> Absolutely. The first game of the match and Topolov playing like it was a must-win situation.

Mar-29-22		MissScarlett: I'm tempted to go for the hat-trick by <Flushed With Success> for Kramnik vs Topalov, 2006, but for the sake of the children, let's move on.

Mar-29-22		Teyss: <MissScarlett> That would be pushing it.

Mar-29-22		goodevans: Poor <AJ> did used to come in for a lot of stick, much of it way over the top. The last time I had any interaction with him was about A E Franklin vs A J Goldsby, 2011. It's actually a really good game including a little section with four queens, which is always exciting. AJ and I were having what I believe to be a civilised debate about whether his opponent missed a draw by perpetual on move 77 in this position (I'm not absolutely certain but I'm pretty sure he did). click for larger view All the sudden two of his detractors waded in with some pretty unpleasant abuse, kibitzing on the game got suspended and he and I never did get to finish our discussion. I believe that that was one of the first of his games where kibitzing got suspended but now that's the case for all of his games and all the old comments have been deleted. Bit of a shame. Some of the things AJ said were guaranteed to wind folk up but on the whole his contributions were interesting and are sorely missed.

Mar-29-22		moronovich: <goodevans> In the diagram above, Qe4+ is a draw.

Mar-29-22		paavoh: Happy birthday, <offramp>! Always interesting to read what you have come up with :-)

Mar-29-22		goodevans: <moronovich> If Black takes 77...Qxe4 then it would be but he can play 77...Qe3+ winning in similar vein to the game. Close, but no cigar!

Mar-29-22		Teyss: <moronovich> 77.Qe4+ Qe3+ (not Qxe4?? draw) 78.Qxe3+ (forced) Kxe3 79.Kg2 Ke2 and a BP will promote 0-1. <goodevans> I don't know AJ but noticed ALL his games were blocked from posting. He must have done something serious. His profile is, well, special, but I didn't see anything offensive. FWIW SF gives -6.5 at 37 ply in your position: after a series of check the BQ wins the g4 P and then it should be a matter of technique with Q + 3 connected Ps vs Q+P.

Mar-29-22		moronovich: Ouch ;) You are completely right, <goodevans> !

Mar-29-22		goodevans: <Teyss> AJ was the victim rather than the perpetrator of the offensive posts. He was never afraid to speak his mind and could be annoying at times (can't we all) which is probably why he made enemies but, as I said earlier, on balance his positive contributions put him in credit. SF is much more powerful than it was back then and I gather from its 37-ply analysis that White will eventually run out of checks. Seems that AJ was right after all but without the aid of a powerful engine I'm not sure if we'd have ever reached that conclusion.

Mar-29-22		OhioChessFan: <AJ was the victim rather than the perpetrator of the offensive posts. > Help! My eyes are bleeding!

Mar-29-22		goodevans: <OCF> Okay, what I meant was I don't recall him resorting to personal abuse like some of his enemies. But, yes, some did take offence to what he posted which is what got him enemies in the first place!

Mar-29-22		perfidious: Though I agree that, amidst all the hyperbole, <AJ> offered some positives here, to cast him as a victim is a bit of a stretch.

Mar-30-22		keypusher: Happy birthday, offramp!

Mar-30-22		offramp: Thanks to everyone for their good wishes🎉🤪😊.

Feb-25-24		Schwartz: 15. Ra2 Bb5 16. Qa3 Qxa3 17. Rxa3

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