Saturday, October 09, 2004

Leko-Kramnik 2004 Match Game 9

Match Game 9 – 10/9/2004
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Queen's Indian Defense [E15]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Na6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Ne5!? [14. Qb2, Salov-Hjartarson, Rotterdam 1989] h6 15. a3 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 1/2-1/2
This position was reached in Van der Sterren - Epishin, Newark 1995. I know this happens in professional chess on occasion, but in a world championship match and with a game nine years old?! Come on now! And Leko again let himself get into trouble with only 36 minutes left until the time control on move 40; Kramnik had 1 hour 40 minutes. How could Kramnik NOT push forward given that he's a point behind? Ridiculous! I have followed the match with some interest, but this game in particular is disgusting!

Leko keeps his lead 5-4; the next game is tomorrow Sunday 10/10/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).

[edited to add Van der Sterren - Epishin game]

In Spanish - if I try to change the notation I'll probably fubar it. So, I'll just give you the following handy-dandy translation guide.
T=Rook, A=Bishop, C=Knight, D=Queen, R=King

17.Ae3 Tc8 18.b4 dxe4 19.Cxe4 Cd5 20.Db3 f6 21.Cg6 f5?! 22.Cc3 Af6 23.Cxd5 cxd5 24.Dd3+/= Tc4 25.Ce5 Axe5 26.dxe5 Te4 27.Axe4?! fxe4 28.Db3 Rh8 29.Db2 Te7 30.h4 Td7 31.Ad4 De8 32.De2 Tf7 33.Dh5 Rh7 34.a4 g6 35.Dg4 h5 36.De2 Tf3 37.Ae3 g5 38.hxg5 h4 39.gxh4 Dh5 40.Rf1 Dg4 41.Re1 d4 42.Txd4 Cxd4 43.Axd4 e3 44.Axe3 Dg1+ 45.Df1 Txe3+ 46.fxe3 Dxe3+ 47.De2 Dc3+ 48.Rf2 Dxa1 49.Dd3+ Rg7 50.Dd7+ Rg6 51.Dxb7 Dd4+ 52.Re2 Dc4+ 53.Re3 Dc3+ 54.Rf4 Dd2+ 55.Rf3 Dc3+ 56.Re4 Dc4+ 57.Re3 1/2-1/2

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