 "Chess (#1060)")
The World Cup (WC) final features a top star versus a rising Grandmaster (GM) in a four-game match beginning Friday evening. The old warhorse, Vladimir Kramnik, has played good chess all through, slogging efficiently along. He disposed of one dark horse in Anton Korobov in the quarter-finals and he consistently applied pressure through the semi final against Vachier Lagrave and ultimately that paid off. Kramnik missed a very difficult technical win in game 2, with R+Kt Vs R. But the Frenchman blundered horribly in the first rapid game. There is little one needs to say about Kramnik's chances except that his results vary according to his physical stability, and his ambition.
The other finalist, Dmitry Andrekin, has pulled himself into the first rank in the past year. The 23-year-old reigning Russian national has disposed of (in reverse order) Evgeny Tomashevsky, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin, Alexey Dreev, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, and Pouria Darini. Andreikin is also unbeaten in classical games during the WC and he has a 2-0 plus score against Kramnik. Andreikin is very solid and apparently rather unambitious. He is also very difficult to beat. He went unbeaten through the Tal Memorial where he faced 11 Super GMs. He is unfortunately not averse to taking quick draws in classical games and trying his luck in the rapids. This isn't pretty. But it works for Andreikin.
In most circumstances, one would back Kramnik on class alone. However, the two are likely to be tired and that favours the younger man. Also, both have now clinched qualification for the 2014 Candidates. So Kramnik might find it a little more psychologically difficult to gather his resources for a final effort. Apart from these two, the candidates will include Veselin Topalov and Levon Aronian. Karjakin also qualifies by rating. Topalov has won the Grand Prix. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov occupies second place in GP standing but Alexander Grischuk or Fabiano Caruana could overtake if either wins the final GP in Paris. In addition the organisers will nominate one player.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Vachier-Lagrave Vs Kramnik World Cup 2013) is roughly equal. White embarks on a dreadful plan. 17.Re4?! Normal could be 17.Ne4 or 17. Be2 17...Qh5 18.Be2?! Qg6 19.Qd1 Bh3! White self-pins and chase the black queen to a strong square.Play continued 20.Bf3 Bf5 21.Rh4? White has only one move in 21.Rf4 defending the f3 bishop when he's struggling after 21...Bc2 22.Qc1 Bd3 23.Rd1. But this is not lost.After 21...Bc2 22.Qxc2 giving up but 22.Qe2 Bd3 is also lost. 22...Nxf3+ (0-1). Next move black will take the queen. A terrible loss even allowing for the fact that it was a rapid game and that both players would have been tense.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
The other finalist, Dmitry Andrekin, has pulled himself into the first rank in the past year. The 23-year-old reigning Russian national has disposed of (in reverse order) Evgeny Tomashevsky, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin, Alexey Dreev, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, and Pouria Darini. Andreikin is also unbeaten in classical games during the WC and he has a 2-0 plus score against Kramnik. Andreikin is very solid and apparently rather unambitious. He is also very difficult to beat. He went unbeaten through the Tal Memorial where he faced 11 Super GMs. He is unfortunately not averse to taking quick draws in classical games and trying his luck in the rapids. This isn't pretty. But it works for Andreikin.
In most circumstances, one would back Kramnik on class alone. However, the two are likely to be tired and that favours the younger man. Also, both have now clinched qualification for the 2014 Candidates. So Kramnik might find it a little more psychologically difficult to gather his resources for a final effort. Apart from these two, the candidates will include Veselin Topalov and Levon Aronian. Karjakin also qualifies by rating. Topalov has won the Grand Prix. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov occupies second place in GP standing but Alexander Grischuk or Fabiano Caruana could overtake if either wins the final GP in Paris. In addition the organisers will nominate one player.
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Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player