The countdown has begun again. Kramnik's standing appeal regarding the game five forfeit was rejected, so there shouldn't be anything more about it after he shows up for game seven. Kramnik's agent Hensel appears to confirm that the matter will rest until the match is over. Yeah, right. Anyway, it's effectively Topalov's third white in a row and if he doesn't break through for his first real win it's a serious boost for Kramnik on the scoreboard and psychologically. Actually, the main event page says Topalov-Kramnik and the live game page currently says Kramnik-Topalov, which should be wrong because of the usual mid-event reversal of colors. (Which ensures an equal number of whites after a rest day.)
I just heard from an excellent Russian source that the break for the game five mess included a phone call to Kramnik from Vladimir Putin. Wasn't there also something about a call to Topalov from the Bulgarian prez or prime minister? I can't find it now, only a Reuters item that mentions that the Bulgarian president was asking for hour-by-hour updates on the crisis. Links?
How about we follow the lead of the other thread and talk about, y'know, chess? Will Topalov switch to e4? It might be a little late to test out Kramnik's Petroff preparation and Berlin expertise. He's been getting interesting positions with 1.d4 and that's what he needs, play. But he has three whites and only needs to score one win now, so no need for desperation yet.
Update: Game 7 drawn in 60 moves. Instant karma's gonna getcha. If someone at the press conference asks Topalov about Danailov's accusations about computer cheating I may start believing in a supreme being. If Topalov then turns to Danailov and gives him a brisk slap I'll go to church daily for the rest of my life.
According to Misha Savinov, on the scene in Elista, the players gave separate press conferences and Topalov only took questions about game seven. God is dead.
Kramnik has a real countdown clock to game 7 on his web site. The clock is off by 6 hours though.
Go, Kramnik, go! Crush Topalov 6 hours earlier!
Putin: "Volodya, you are our hero, don't worry, everything is taken care of..."
Go Kramnik ! Win the game !
Go Topalov ! Fire Danailov !
Danailov is desperately trying to bring in the Russian Machine conspiracy theory because he has nothing else to hide behind. Hopefully Topalov will fire him at least now!
This relates to the point I was making a couple of days ago about how irrelevant protests are after the fact. It's just about impossible to have any sporting-event decision overturned post-mortem. The filing of a grievance after the fact is basically a formality that says, "I'm mad. Thanks in advance for denying my request."
Not that I'm complaining, and I don't need a rehash of the right vs. wrong argument. But it's worth mentioning that Roy Jones still has a silver medal from the Olympics finals bout he won in Korea, after dishing out a hilariously dominant beating of his opponent, who won the gold because a judge felt sorry for the home team---and ADMITTED doing that.
Trivia buffs might recall what happened in a game between Denker and Reshevsky from the US Championships in '42, where director Walter Stephens incorrectly forfeited Denker for running out of time. It was Reshevsky who ran out of time, but the tournament director got confused and gave the point to Sammy. And what did Reshevsky do? In the Bitch Move of the Century, he refused to disagree with the call and let the director give the point to the wrong player. "I'm not the tournament director," was what he said.
LOL. This happened over 60 years ago, I wasn't even born yet, and I still get pissed every time I think about that.
1.e4 and Petroff can be expected.
I think it's time to concentrate on real chess issues.
In game 6 Topalov was clearly out of book early and as a result he repeated Kasparov's blunder of an early queen exchange. As the 2000 match showed this is the wrong way to meet Kramnik when you have the advantage of the white pieces.
In order to win and to make the match interesting Topalov has to find ways to keep the queens on board and to keep the position complicated. As game 2 proved complicated positions are perhaps the only weakness of Kramnik's chess skills. Even in game 4 where Kramnik had the advantage he made several suboptimal moves due to his "fear of complications".
Dr X
A minor correction: Instead of game 4 I of course meant game 3 where Kramnik had white.
how is it that Topalov has 3 whites in a row? Do they switch in the middle? So its BWBWBW and WBWBWB for Topalov?
Btw, an article which is RIGHT on the button by Seirawan in Chessbase. All you hysterical Topalov haters, have a look.
In Muay Thai there have been overturns of decisions, and Muay Thai is a very popular sport. So Kramnik will sue FIDE, and FIDE accepts this, because they believe they're in a situation where either way they'll get sued, either by Topalov or Kramnik. It seems Topalov's manager is better than Kramnik's. Topalov's manager threatened to not play, and FIDE caved in. Kramnik threatened to not play, and FIDE held still. Topalov threatened if the score remained 3-1, and FIDE caved in. Kramnik threatened if the score turned into 3-2, and FIDE held still. So clearly Topalov's team has better out-of-the-board skills.
"there shouldn't be anything more about it after he shows up for game seven"
Wrong. His manager is quite clear in his words. Kramnik is still playing under protest and if the "result" of the game 5 isn't reversed they have decided to definitely sue FIDE.
I think Ilyumzhinov decided the score in Topalov's favour, cos Topa is the FIDE-guy. Maybe the prospect of being sued by their own guy in the future appeared too pathetic even for FIDE? Surely Kramnik will go to court after the match so the issue is far from settled yet. The end of the match will be played 'under protest' I am sure.
I meant during the match, not after it. Anyone can sue anybody for anything at any time. That's why lawyers make so much money. Kramnik might be able to seek compensation for losses and such afterwards, but as of this point the matter of game five is over.
I understand your point Mig, but I definitely believe the matter will be raised up if the "official" result of the match after game 12 is 6-6. Kramnik will not play the tiebreaks. Playing the tiebreaks would present an agreement with the match score. So in that sense it will be during the match. FIDE say tiebreak games, Kramnik says game 5 re-played and if Topalov beats him only then tiebreaks. Otherwise he is the World Champion. One win for Topalov and this is what we will probably see.
I hope that Kramnik holds today and then just wins one of his 3 remaining white games.
Kramnik is playing everything under protest, but his protest about gave five was just written into stone. It's not going to change. He can protest everything he likes, but that point isn't coming back. If he feels so strongly about it, he may as well stop playing now. The appeals committee's response made it clear he can't play "with protest in hand" and decide he wants that point later if things don't go well. He can't go back and forth.
As for suing FIDE, that's a different matter. But as far as the match score goes, that's it. It doesn't matter if he agrees with it. Obviously he can leave any time he likes. Kirsan isn't always keen on rules and could wave his wand and reverse everything, but I'm talking rules as currently in force, not magic.
Another biased article in Chessbase. Seirawan says that the appeal comitee could not make a desicion because only on arbiters desicions they are allowed to comment. That is false. I copy from the regulations of the match:
"The Appeals Committee may decide on the following matters:
a) an appeal against a decision by an arbiter,
b) a protest against a player's behaviour,
c) a complaint alleging false interpretation of the regulations,
d) a request for the interpretation of specific regulations,
e) a protest or complaint against any participant, or
f) all other matters which the Committee considers important."
Ofcourse people need to remeber that Kramnik-Fritz match is sceduled after the WC and it would be nice for chessbase and fritz to have Kramnik as a world champion...
In 2000 Kasparov probably spent hours preparing for Petroff, Kramnik's reknown favored D up to that point. Then he shockingly walked into a Berlin wall. My prediction is a similar stunt. So, hey, when is the last time we saw French Defense seriously used at the WC level?
I agree that Seirawan’s article is very poor. He deals with what should be the situation and not what is in the regulations for this particular match. I see no reference in the regulations to anyone called an organising committee or a match director.
As to what is in the contract for this particular match, it seems that nobody knows, because the documents are not available.
However, derida, you cannot have it both ways. If this matter was indeed within the appeals committee’s jurisdiction, then the rule about protests to the appeals committee having to be made within two hours applies, and Topalov’s was indeed out of time and should have been filed straight in the waste paper basket.
And of course people need to remember that the Topalov-Radjabov match is sceduled (sic) after the WC and it would be nice for FIDE and the Azeri chess federation (Azmai, anyone?) to have Topalov as a world champion....
If think Mig is wrong: if Kramnik sues, he will surely seek a declaration that the result of the match be changed and that he be awarded the title of champion, and if he wins that is what he will surely get. In that sense game five is certainly not over. Let us hope though that Topalov is routed in the remaining games and the matter does not come up: enjoyable though it would be to see Azmai lacerated by a judge and interesting though the case would be to lawyers like me, it doesn’t do the game any good.
http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_239096317
Another press release by the Bulgarean team. The cheating scandal is far from over.
I hope for a good English translation soon.
In brief: 78 percent (!!) of Kramnik's moves coincide with first line of Fritz 9.
Game 1 - 41 out of 64 moves after end of theory on move 12 coincide with the first line (63 percent).
Game 2: 40 out of 46 after move 17 (87 !! percent).
Game 3: 20 out of 24 after move 10( 86 !!percent)
Game 4: 30 out of 40 after move 14 (75 percent)
Game 6: 14 out of 18 after move 13(78 percent)
superfreaky,
And FIDE bias towards Topalov really has nothing to do with the decisiions they made?
I guess reality is simply a wisp of clouds in superfreaky world.
Incidentally, these press conferences. I take it they’re pretty staged? Or is it just that there aren’t any decent journalists in Elista? Presumably any decent journalist’s first question to Topalov would have been: Mr Topalov; millions of chess fans feel that your decision to keep the free point awarded to you by a ludicrously incompetent FIDE team was dishonourable to the highest degree and that even if you win the match you will not be a true world champion. What have you got to say about that?
So what’s the story? Does anyone who asks such a question simply get shot and left in a ditch in Kirsan’s usual fashion? Or is it understood that they will just get thrown out of the press conference? Press conferences in Russian and Russian journalists not accustomed to such questions? Or is it that such questions are asked and they just don’t get translated and put up on the official website?
Anyone know? Mig?
About Seirawan.
In 2005 he was official commentator of MTel masters. He spent two weeks in Sofia on organizer's (read Danailov's) expenses and he was also paid for his services. In 2006 commentator was Ermenkov and Seirawan received nothing of Danailov's money.
Money make the world goes round :))).
Do your homework rdh.
Azmai is not from Azeri, he is from Georgia. So your new anti-FIDE conspiracy theory is groundless. As usual...
If they change the result of game 5, they would have to cancel all following games, because both players' match strategy is related to current match score.
Jeez, bobo. Is that really a release by Topalov's team?? If so they need to be thrown out of the match right now. But surely it's not: just some loons pissing about on their laptops?
bobo it would be interesting to see topalov's % of "fritz" moves just to compare.
Giannis: you are right about Azmai of course. My mistake.
My intention though was not to produce my own conspiracy theory but to illustrate the absurdity of others doing so.
Kramnik being suspected for playing computer moves is the most disgusting lie. Those ppl are just morons.
Seirawan is well known for attacking anyone who refuses to pay him. A couple of years ago he even applied for a job to FIDE as "commissioner" or some other strangely named position! When he was turned down he immediately started launching articles against Ilyumzhinov. So no surprise here...
2 rdh
To be thrown out? For providing statistics?
d,
You asked three questions about color reversal in an earlier post. Mig answers the first one in the last sentence of his first paragraph. The answers to your second and third questions are "yes" and "yes".
Another press release by the Bulgarean team. The cheating scandal is far from over.
I hope for a good English translation soon.
In brief: 78 percent (!!) of Kramnik's moves coincide with first line of Fritz 9.
Game 1 - 41 out of 64 moves after end of theory on move 12 coincide with the first line (63 percent).
Game 2: 40 out of 46 after move 17 (87 !! percent).
Game 3: 20 out of 24 after move 10( 86 !!percent)
Game 4: 30 out of 40 after move 14 (75 percent)
Game 6: 14 out of 18 after move 13(78 percent)
and these figures compare to what? Has anyone done any analysis of any other top players games to compare it with? With Capablanca? who I'm reliably informed used Fritz 1 in all his later games.
This is precisely why people need to pause for thought before accusing people of computer cheating, at the elite level there is no evidence at all for cheating but it will be the death of the game if this rubbish continues.
So much for 1.e4. It's a Slav again.
bobo, Topalov has stated in press conferences he believes Kramnik is not cheating. If his team are still peddling these statistics, then there can only be one motive, distracting Kramnik. That's illegal. Out they go.
Seriously, can anyone tell us anything about this site and/or who is quoted on it? I can’t believe even Danailov would be so stupid as to be associated with this sort of thing.
If someone plays computer moves and in the same time spends large periods of time during a game in the toilet, then his behavior is suspicious. What next? Someone to take a laptop with him on the scene and say his doing that just to watch movies while his oponent is thinking?
That’s what you think! Looks like a QGA to me…….
Could someone just remove Dainalov.
rdh,
it's up at chessbase:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3401
I like Topalov as world champion, since his games are aggresive. Not the 20-moves-let's-draw type of player.
For simplicity sake, I hope Kramnik wins this event without tie-breaks and unify the title.
Then Topalov will just win it back in the next WC (no pun intended) round. Easier said than done, though.
I do believe that the remaining 22% merely show that chess programs still have lot to learn from human players.
Jeesh, Topalov should really distant from Danailov; this clown is not really up to Topalov's level.
I only takes a few minutes to show those statistics are complete BS. First off, recaptures and other practically forced moves always raise the correlation to around 40% just to start. Second, if you cherry pick when the move appears as first on the list (at two seconds, five seconds, two minutes, ten minutes, etc.) you can choose between four or five non-horrible moves, or at least two or three. One of these is bound to be the move the GM made.
But the most ridiculous part is that Kramnik made three very serious blunders in the so-called 87% game 2, moves a computer pick up very quickly. I seriously hope this isn't from Topalov's team, they have disgraced themselves enough already. I'd say 99% of what Danailov says comes out of his ass.
DANAILOV IS A DISGUSTING PIECE OF HUMAN TRASH!
Would someone do Topalov a favour and feed this slime to the wolfs!
Seriously, this moron shouldnt be aloud to reproduce, hes just to much of a burden to humanity.
i'd love it if kramnik asked in the press conference if topalov agrees with and supports danailov's antics. If he does then shame on him. If he doesn't then he needs to get rid of his manager...
These statistics are irrelevant, because what is called "Fritz's first line" is not unique. Is it impossible to ban Danailov for unfair behavior ?
I think I'm reading an absurd east-european targicomedy here.
Besides, if Kramnik had used anything, it would be Rybka.
Thanks to all who give game info on the blog. Remember some of us are at work and cannot have chess diagrams displayed all the time :-)
Come on Kramnik...........
unusualy high % of fritz moves, unusualy high of number of rest room visists. hmm.
giles why do you think the % of moves is unusually high? please post your statistical analysis of 1000s of superGM games.
And after Topalov said in the press conference he didn't believe Kramnik was cheating, too. You do have to wonder how much control Topalov has (or wants to have) over these events. The interesting question is what Kramnik's team will do in reply. My guess is nothing.
Mig, what's with the tame press conferences? Do you know?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a huge psychological call from Kramnik, allowing a very sharp position which both sides are bound to have prepared in a big way, and Topalov in turn has called Kramnik by using the line Kramnik uses and has developed himself. We might see more than 87% Fritz moves today.....
At least I had a good laugh reading Danailov's stupid comment.
How about comparing Topalov in the same games with Fritz, Rybka or Junior? I'm sure the percentage of agreement could be made quite high as well...
topa played a4. is this still theory or new move?
RE-Fritz "statistics." (1) Danailov is not a reliable source, per his bogus 50. (2) As gilles points out, the meaning is unclear without a basis for comparison. (3) Conclusion - more BS.
Technical : agreement with Fritz depends on these factors at least : (1) number of moves (2) scoring of opening phase (3) choice of opening (4) tactical vs. strategic character of position. (5) time/plies used by Fritz
Technical point : Even an objective statistical analysis would provide minimal information. WITHOUT such analysis, the figures appear uninteresting except for one point : the move cutoffs "after move X" vary and thus appear to have been chosen only to "stir the pot."
COUNTER: While I followed the first two games, there were many comments about moves that differed from computer opinions (Rybka etc.). These are far more interesting than the agreements!
Frank M
Statistician/Analyst
Long series of ridiculous posts. Bottle of Ripple missing from the local liquor store shelf. Hmm.
passarino i dont have time for that. and besides i'm sure some of kramnik's angry fans will post those numbers soon :P
Conspiracy theory:
All this is a setup
Frederick of chessbase is paying Danailov to promote Fritz.
Joking aside, did you notice that Topalov said that he is concentrating on chess and only Danailov is dealing with off the board matters. Is this an "escape clause"? So when all is over, Topalov becomes aware of what happened and conveniently sacks his manager. The becomes a victim and the lost sheep are on his side again.
And Mr. Danailov, why don't you concentrate your efforts in helping Topalov play like Fritz9 like Kramnik does!
Duncan
On the tame press conferences with reporters not asking the tough questions we want them to: just like the White House Press Corps! :-)
Seriously, analogizing this to American politics: "anything to win" Danailov is Karl Rove, "screw you guys, I'm going home" Kramnik as John Kerry (though to everyone's surprise Kramnik is now playing after all, so he is not quite as immediately-concede-defeat-even-though-you're-really-ahead as Kerry was), the incompetent and hapless Appeals Committee is "heck of a job Brownie", Ilyumzhinov is "Emperor Palpatine" Dick Cheney, and, last but not least, Topalov is "Prexy" George W. Bush. No? :-D
Danailov is clearly an idiot.
Perhaps Dainalov knows he will be sacked, so this is his last attempt to save himself.
funny how everybody waits for Danailov's move. and then the shocked comments start. i've a suspiscion - Danailov is a troll!
Please move cheating accusation chat to the new item on that and keep this one to game 7, thanks.
Rc8,and Rc1..anyone who can throw light on whats happening here? What each side is trying to achieve?
thks
To rdh:
1.Azmai is Georgian not Azerian.
2. The rules of the match say that if the appeal ihas to do with the desission of the arbiter, has to be within two hours of the end of the game. If it is for general behaviour of the players can be at any time (and not within the two hours).
3. They are in Russia, and Kirsan position depends on Putin who has clearly taken Kramnik side. So he would not be (unreasonably) favoring Topalov(if there were no legal basis).
It's a typical isolated-pawn position, although 12 a4 is somewhat unusual in this setup. White has a spacial advantage and should normally try to prop up a kingside attack (or a well-timed center brekathroguh) in the middlegame, whereas Black wants to exchange to the endgame where he would be ahead due to White's isolated d-pawn.
derida:
1. indeed, yes.
2. That's what Seirawan says, certainly. But I can't see it in the rules. Help me out - where is it?
Topalov's moving very quickly and has clearly caught Kramnik out in some way I'm too ignorant of QGA theory to describe. I fear for Kramnik here. ...Rc8 is a normal developing move. Rc1's a tiny bit unusual in this set-up I would have thought, and isn't ...Be8 with the rook still on ...f8 also a bit unusual?
Interesting that Kramnik should take on this position in a key game of the match. White has plenty of attacking chances here.
Here's an embarrassingly basic question on Game 7: is Kramnik playing White or Black? It says "Kramnik-Topalov", suggesting White, but I thought Kramnik would be Black again?
The regulations are not hidden anywhere, they are on the official website: http://www.worldchess2006.com/main.asp?id=903 article 3.17.1
Topalov's clearly in his preparation here. Just 17 minutes for 17 moves, as opposed to almost an hour for Kramnik. But there's no clear weakness yet in the Black armor.
Now 19 moves in 17 minutes.
RJ,
Kramnik is black.
I still don't see the point of 12 a4. Weakening the quuenside, making b4 into a hole.
Anyone with access to super-gm-analysis can shed a light on this?
"I still don't see the point of 12 a4."
Yasser Seirawan said that 12.a4 was a mistake. I assume the point was to discourage b5, at a cost of allowing Nb4.
I don't have super-GM analysis, but a4's a normal enough move, no? Takes any sting out of the common ...Na5, for example, prevents ...b5, etc. Commoner on move 7, obviously.
Giannis: indeed; those are the regulations, but where is the contract? And 3.17.1 - exactly. No support there for derida's (and Seirawan's) idea that protests against general behaviour may be submitted at any time.
It can't have been a mistake if it was preparation, can it? Or Topalov should hire Seirawan to help him.
It could be against b5, but it doesn't seem to fall in line with White's other moves.
Is Vladimir is getting himself into time trouble here? After 21 moves he has used an hour more than Topalov!
Again your homework rdh.
The rules say clearly that
"two (2) hours after the relevant playing session, or the particular infringement complained against".
The toilet was always there "wired" or "unwired" so Topalov could make his appeal anytime within 2 hours when he understood something is wrong there. So derida is absolutely right. Seirawan is not.
Eh? You're crazy. He was complaining about visits to the toilet, not the very existence of it. What infringement are you suggesting occurred in the two hours before the protest was made?
Yes, but the real issue with Kramnik's visits to the toilet is whether the toilets were connected with the outside, either by wire or wireless. An appeal for such a suspicion can be made within two hours after they initially realized it. Clear now?
It doesn't matter what the real issue was. It matters what the protest is about. And it is not true that the provision says a protest can be made within two hours of recognising an infringement: it says within two hours of the infringement.
A protest which says 'we suspect the toilets are wired' would be meaningless.
When everyone expected Topalov to play 25.g4 with an at least optically dangerous Kingside attack, Topalov meekly played 25.g3!
What a psycho carryover from games 1 and 2, no wonder Danailov tries offboard compensation, not that I condone that of course
After 27. ..Bxe5 28. dxe5 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 seems like Topalov is a bit better with 2B vs 2K.
How is topalov going to get his pawn back...?
Before the match I was pulling for Topolav to win, believing that it would be a good victory for the future of chess. Now, because of the behavior of Topolav and his team, it is clear that a victory by Topolav would be the worst thing for chess. The latest salvo by Danailov is in incredibly poor taste. His "analysis" may actually prove that Kramnik is definitively not using Fritz. Following Fritz only 60-70% of the time would be worse than not using it at all ... especially for a GM of Kramnik's strength.
The latest Fritz story is a nonsense purely timed to further increase the psychological pressure on Kramnik.
If anything, the psychological pressure has worked the opposite way. By and large, Kramnik is the one who has played more cool and precise chess. Topalov is practically denuded.
The more I think about latest complain from Danailov, the more I understand Topalov's frustration.
Kramnik plays ONLY 72% of moves like Fritz 9. This is just not enough for Rybka to win over him!
The next demand from Danailov should be to force Kramnik play only Fritz favorite moves!!!
:-D
Marc S, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise if Topalov plays badly. Once you start thinking your opponent might be cheating, it’s very hard to play well. This was a feature of the Reese-Schapiro bridge scandal (where two British players were accused by the Americans of cheating in the World Championships in the 1960’s, in case anyone doesn’t know).
how is topalov gonna get two pawns back ?
I agree the psychological pressure seems to be working the opposite way but that is all credit to Kramnik. He must have tremendous self belief. IT must help knowing you kept Garry at bay.......
omigawd, what is Topy playing????????? I came back after a meeting, and before i left there was a promising middlegame position. Now its the endgame a pawn down with the remaining all on one side. I think he's the one suffering from Danailov's assininities. Probably he's thinking about the questions at the post game press conference. Bet Danailov is in the pay of the "enemy" camp! This is like a Le Carre thriller.
Poor poor victim Topy :-(
Go all the way 'd' - Topalov him self probably paid by Kramnik to give up!
gentleman and loonies, please grant the possibility of facetiousness. Not every comment is serious, and humour though poor is still humour.
Dear d,
I was joking, too :-)
I got a Sci-Fi wish: a match Fischer-Topalov. Can you imagine limitless fireworks both over and under the board?
Why didn't Topa didn't call it a day, play 53.f4 and take some repetitive checks with the rook from a8 and a7.
It's not like he's going to get the full point today.
Ville - perhaps Topalov needs to push it right over the brink, take another duck egg on the face and order Danailov to look for Kramnik in the Zapruder film.
what about this Vlad Kosulin: two cloned Lekos face to face in a 24 match
It would be nice to see a few posts assessing the chess for what it is, discounting the overlay of our personal feelings about the participants.
In today's game, Topalov was once again better out of the opening — as he has been several times — but it wasn't enough of a margin against Kramnik's accurate defense.
This has not been a dominating performance by Kramnik. He defends the position and waits for his opponent to make the big mistake, as Topalov did in Games 1 & 2. That strategy has served him well through three WC matches, so why should he stop now?
The GM reactions to Topalov's moves suggest that he is still thunder-struck at his opening losses, and he is now playing too passively. He is going to have to step it up in the remaining five games.
Marc. A true champion could step it up even in the last game. That's what Kramnik did vs. Leko, and others such as Karpov and Lasker (vs. Schlechter) have had their moments. After the first 2 games I had hopes that this match would be one of the better WC series, but Danailov turned it into a tabloid event with chess as a sideshow. Otherwise, it would have been exciting to watch a brave attempt to come back by Topalov.
Brilliant.
Three Black games in a row, and Kramnik EASILY holds them all.
Even counting Topalov's stolen point, Kramnik leads the match, has 3 whites vs 2 blacks left, and doesn't seem to be too affected by the off-board rubbish - perhaps it's Topalov who suffers the most from it.
"A true champion could step it up even in the last game."
This is one of the old saws, and quite incorrect. I don't know what a "true" champion is. Of Kramnik's 13 predecessors, which one(s) would you label "false"? The greatest champions are so dominating that they have no need to come from behind to save the match.
The players gave separate press conferences. Topalov only answered questions about the game 7.
Mig, was it Ilya Gorodetsky telling you about Putin?
I heard rumors that Danailov was in close contact with Bulgarian president during the eye of the crisis. Nothing is confirmed.
>>Marc S, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise if Topalov plays badly. Once you start thinking your opponent might be cheating, it’s very hard to play well.
>>
Of course Topalov says he DOESN'T think that, that his continuing to play proves that, and that he overreacted. The next day, his hired gun launches another attack.
So, which is the truth, and which is the lie?
How interesting about the press conferences.
Did someone have the balls to ask Topo about Danailov, I wonder.
My dream tournament:
1) Topa (with his manager Danailov)
2) Kamsky (with his Father, Rustam Kamsky)
3) Fischer (he is alone good enough)
4) Korchnoi (with his "Ananda Marga" tantriks)
5) ... Anybody you guys think, are "deserving" candidates
-Amit
>>In Muay Thai there have been overturns of decisions, and Muay Thai is a very popular sport. So Kramnik will sue FIDE, and FIDE accepts this, because they believe they're in a situation where either way they'll get sued, either by Topalov or Kramnik. It seems Topalov's manager is better than Kramnik's. Topalov's manager threatened to not play, and FIDE caved in. Kramnik threatened to not play, and FIDE held still. Topalov threatened if the score remained 3-1, and FIDE caved in. Kramnik threatened if the score turned into 3-2, and FIDE held still. So clearly Topalov's team has better out-of-the-board skills.
>>
"Clearly" FIDE supports its own champion, right or wrong. It's unfortunate, but to cite that s evidence of talent in a man who just took a hugely popular player and made him the most hated man in chess almost overnight is just ludicrous.
Clearly, Danailov is way out of his league here. This strong-arm thuggery might work in Bulgaria, but on a world stage, with everyone watching, it's a miserable failure. To cap things off, today's release removes any possibility that everyone just overreacted before in a moment of passion. Obviously, unsportsmanlike accusations without evidence are de rigueur with these people.
Once you play a line twice, it's in your repertoire.
Kramnik is well within his rights to complain to Gijssen about actions that disturb and distract him. There's something in the FIDE Laws about disturbing your opponent, and GG has mentioned it a few times in his Cafe column.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3402
Game 7 drawn in 60 moves. Instant karma's gonna getcha. If someone at the press conference asks Topalov about Danailov's accusations about computer cheating I may start believing in a supreme being. If Topalov then turns to Danailov and gives him a brisk slap I'll go to church daily for the rest of my life.
No, not Ilya, Misha. A Russian friend of someone in the Kramnik camp with no reason I can think of to give disinfo on the topic. But no confirmation. But hey, it's Dirt, not CNN.
"Instant karma's gonna getcha. If someone at the press conference asks Topalov about Danailov's accusations about computer cheating I may start believing in a supreme being. If Topalov then turns to Danailov and gives him a brisk slap I'll go to church daily for the rest of my life."
Good to see you getting back to some great jokes. this one has me laughing really hard. I can just see the headlines.
MIG BECOMES HOLY ROLLER.
Kramnik's first white game after "Game" 5, Game 8, is the instant karma/cheater's proof game.
Separate press conferences?! Who's idea was that?
"Separate press conferences?! Who's idea was that?"
Topalov's?
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3373
Well I'd seen that, but I thought they had done a joint press conference after Game 6. I was just wondering, if that was so, why they would avoid following that Danailov announcement after game 6, but then stick to it for game 7?
Yeah, that I don't know. Apparently they did shake hands this round as well.
Amit, you should also have:
5. Karpov (with Zhukar(?), his hypnotist)
and if we ignore time, space and death:
6. Alekhine (and his 'little friend')
7. the old Steinitz (with his imaginary phone to God)
Peace...
Clearly, Silvio Danailov is a cancer to the chess world and must be removed forthwith, although not as Kirsan might choose to deal with such agitators! He is clearly trying to leave the public with the impression that Kramnik is a cheater so as to justify the inability of his player to break through more than halfway through the match. Concurrently, he is trying to find a way to rattle Kramnik by timing such accusations to coincide with critical games in the match (Kramnik having white and up 2 points going into Game 5, Topalov in danger of being unable to equalize despite his 3rd consecutive game with white prior to Game 7). This man is trying to win the match for his player away from the board, and resounding rebuke is mandated for these abhorrent actions. A declaration needs to be made that he either stop trying to agitate using baseless claims or his team, and thus his player, will suffer penalties for violating ethical requirements of competition.
Hotep,
Maliq