The Candidates had a sequence of shocking results. Two of the least-fancied players, Boris Gelfand and Alexander Grischuk, are now battling for the right to challenge Anand. In the semis, Grischuk took out Kramnik 1.5- 0.5 in a blitz tiebreaker after tying the rapids and making short draws in the normal controls. Meanwhile, Gelfand beat Kamsky in the other match, which also went to a blitz tiebreaker.
Both "Super Gs" deserve their spot in the sun. But this is a shock to the rating system and frankly, it is difficult to see either of them beating Anand in a title match. The final will commence over this weekend and it's very difficult to call. One would have to be foolhardy to try, given earlier results.
Grischuk is a little higher-rated and younger so the energy quotient should favour him. However, Grischuk also mishandles the clock and some of his prep is shady. Gelfand is a rock solid technician, well prepared in openings, and a super blitz player.
Both have showed some nerves, understandable, given the stakes. Grischuk, who is well known in the poker players' universe as well, tried a strategy of taking quick draws at normal controls against both Aronyan and Kramnik. Gelfand has just played chess throughout, doing what he thinks the position demands at every stage, without getting overly concerned about psycho dynamics.
Meanwhile there are several other interesting events in play across the globe. Nigel Short and Sergei Tiviakov are playing an Open in Luanda, Angola. Ponomariov leads in an exhibition match versus Nakamura in St. Louis. Le Quang Liem leads a strong field in the 46th Capablanca Memorial in Havana. This is a double-rounder with Ivanchuk, Navarra, Perze Dominguez, Dmitry Andreikin, and Bruzon. There are several other events tied together in Havana including two Opens (with rating restrictions).
The Diagram (Kamsky Vs Gelfand, 2nd rapid game, Kazan Candidates semi-finals), WHITE TO PLAY, illustrates how easily things could have gone differently. Kamsky led 1-0 and a draw would have meant qualification for him. White is better and the practical 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Qc4+ would leave black with little hope of pulling the full point and indeed, struggling.
Instead, play went 25.Qh5?! Qc7 26.Bd5 Bxd5 27.exd5 Ne4 28.Bg1 Qc4! Suddenly black is better and Gelfand doesn't let go from here. 29.Raa1 Qxd5 30.Rad1 d3 31.Qf3 Rad8 32.Rfe1 Nf6 33.Qxd5 Rxd5 34.c4 Rd7 — black wins the rook endgame, with or without minors.
More From This Section
The wrap up came with 35.Bb6 e4 36.c5 Rc8 37.h3 h5 38.Kg1 h4 39.Bxa5 Rxc5 40.Bc3 Rc4 41.Bxf6 gxf6 42.b3 Rb4 43.Kf2 Rd5 44.Ke3 Rxf5 45.Rc1 Rg5 46.Rc4 Rxc4 47.bxc4 Rxg2 48.c5 Re2+ 49.Rxe2 dxe2 50.Kxe2 Kf8 (0-1). Gelfand went onto take the blitz playoff 2-0.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
