2013 World Cup: Finals
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway) Match Scores (Finals) |
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| Flag |
-TIEBREAKS-
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Pts.
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| Kramnik |
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2½
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| Andrekin |
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1½
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| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | | Semifinals | Finals | |
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Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Friday, 30 August 2013
Kramnik squeezes point… takes 1-0 lead in best of four.
Kramnik unfurled a novel idea in Game One.
Photo by Paul Truong.
After an eventful “rest” day, action resumed in the 2013 World Cup. Vladimir Kramnik was hoping that the fresh fish he ate would provide him brain fuel for a maximum of 11 games. Meanwhile Dmitri Andreikin skipped the fishing trip to prepare for the biggest event of his life.
In this position, black plays 29…Re8 attacking the white queen. After deep thought, Kramnik played… 30.dxc6!
The game entered a Tartakower variation and Andreikin seemed to be doing quite well. In fact, Nigel Short stated that black had done well and had enough dynamic activity to possibly win the game. However, Kramnik had other ideas. The former World Champion came up with an enterprising idea of sacrificing his queen for a rook, bishop and strong passed pawn. After further inspection, black would be the one looking to win.
Andrekin now on the defense had to give back the exchange for the pawn resulting in his lone queen against two rooks with three pawns on the same side. Draw? Well… white rooks could win at least one pawn by piling up and simply taking, but Kramnik sought to weaken the king’s cover to simultaneously threaten mate and the winning of pawns. Black may have been better with 48…fxg5 since the weak pawn are now easier to attack.
Kramnik about to finish him off with 63.Re7.
Photo by Paul Truong.
Eventually Kramnik did win the pawns and in the final position, black is hopeless due 63.Re7. Black either loses a trivial ending two pawns down after 63…Qxe7, loses a queen for a rook or gets mated. Andreikin chose to resign.
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/09/2013-world-chess-cup-tromso-norway/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/assets/files/pgn/wcup13.pgn
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/official-info/rules-and-regulations
Gerard Demuydt (Europe-Echecs.com).
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART FOUR
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Andreikin presses, but doesn’t score… Kramnik hold one-point lead.
Are Dmitri Andreikin chances fading?
With what some may call a must-win for Dmitri Andreikin, he certainly had his chances. In another Queen’s Gambit the board exploded with Vladimir Kramnik’s 14…Bxa3!? but Andreikin did not play the sharpest retort with 15.cxd7! Apparently he had a chance to inflict the same pain that Kramnik inflicted on him yesterday. After 15. bxa3? Qe8+ 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O Qxc6 18. Bf3 Nce4 with equality. There was talk that the young Russian panicked, but he may have missed Kramnik’s shot. Despite a slight edge, Andreikin had nothing better than to shake hands.
Garry Kasparov called in via Skype and spoke for about an hour on a wide variety of issues including his latest books (i.e., My Predecessors), his famous matches and his assessment of the state of chess, “zero tolerance” rule and assessment of players. He also gave some analysis on some of the up-and-coming talents. He mentioned Evgeny Tomashevsky and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave as one he felt exerted themselves quite well.
Garry Kasparov gave a lengthy and insightful interview. He weighed in on the match and does not give Andreikin much chance unless it is carried to rapids and blitz.
While he lauds players like Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomanianchtchi he states that they are inconsistent and lack the proper frame of mind. He seemed particularly disgusted with Karjakin’s play, was not impressed with Daniil Dubov (who had been criticized for dismissive comments about Julio Granda) and was Anish Giri’s collapse against Granda. Interestingly, he gave Wei Yi praise by citing his “mature chess” at 14. Speaking of Chinese, he gave his opinion about Hou Yifan.
Kasparov talked about a number of issues including his retirement, the age of computers, the impending Carlsen-Anand match. Dirk Jan ten Geuzedem asked who he would like to see Joaquim Phoenix play him if a biography would be done on film. Must see dialogue!
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/09/2013-world-chess-cup-tromso-norway/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/assets/files/pgn/wcup13.pgn
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/official-info/rules-and-regulations
Gerard Demuydt (Europe-Echecs.com).
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
Skype Interview with Garry Kasparov
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Andreikin equalizes easily… needs win tomorrow.
Kramnik did not take any unnecessary risks since it almost cost him a point yesterday. Today he faced Andreikin’s Chebanenko once again and was unable to get anything from the opening and the pieces flew from the board. Andreikin has one more classical game and plays white. He will most likely try an ambitious opening. Will the normally rock-solid Kramnik crack under pressure. The rapid games lurking ahead, Kramnik wants to close the deal tomorrow.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Kramnik closes out match with draw… wins World Cup!
Tough task for Dmitri Andriekin.
Photo by Paul Truong.
The climax of the 2013 World Cup was reached today as Vladimir Kramnik dominated affairs and only his mercy prevented him from pushing the gap wider. Andreikin chose the English knowing that any wild or eccentric openings would most likely not yield any positive results given Kramnik’s solid play. However, even in the English Andreikin drew impatient to drum up complications and soon had a bad position. With black firmly on top and on the verge of collecting a full point, the young Russian offered a draw, ceding the match. Even with the loss Andreikin has qualified for the Candidates and this is his best result thus far.
Andreikin peers at his awful position.
Photo by Paul Truong.
Kramnik congratulated by Ignatius Leong.
Photo by Paul Truong.
It was a strong performance for Kramnik who was consistent throughout. Although Garry Kasparov does not believe that Kramnik can reach his championship form, this victory may provide some hope. Danish GM Lars Bo Hansen mentioned in an interview that the older generation is remaining resilient because they have combined the traditional methods of studying deeply along with the new way of computers. The younger generation may absorb material but not efficiently and Kramnik contemporaries such as Viswanathan Anand, Vassily Ivanchuk, and Boris Gelfand are still able to compete.
Nakamura said he likes to play Kramnik. That would’ve been a final that I would’ve watched much more closely! One can dream. Congrats to Vladimir.
Certainly. The final was uneventful. For some reasons when two Russians play each other there is not the intensity in the games. I suppose it is hard to play compatriots.