Kramnik - Topalov Unification Match : Week 2
Friday October 6, 2006
Veiled accusations of cheating, an unscrupulous Appeals Committee, locked toilets.
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The
first week
of the World Championship Unification Match, held in Elista, Kalmykia, ended in crisis after GM Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria was awarded a forfeit point over GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in game five. Kramnik's commanding 3-1 lead had been reduced without a fight to 3-2.
To avoid a further increase in tension between the two players, match arbiter Geurt Gijssen and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov agreed that game six would be postponed. The day following that game, Sunday, 1 October, was a scheduled rest day, giving Ilyumzhinov extra time to negotiate a solution with the players.
Ilyumzhinov quickly met two of Kramnik's demands. The three-man Appeals Committee resigned and two of its members were replaced. The toilets were reopened. Kramnik's third demand, that the match be continued with game five, was much trickier. Replaying game five would risk provoking Topalov's withdrawal from the match; not replaying it would risk Kramnik's withdrawal. At the end of the day, unable to negotiate an agreement, Ilyumzhinov imposed one.
1 October 2006, Elista • Press Release - WCC Match Tomorrow • The FIDE President has made several proposals for further continuation of the match, which unfortunately were not accepted. After the detailed study of the current situation and the consultation with the FIDE Legal Advisor, the FIDE President decided: Tomorrow, 2 October 2006, at 15.00, the 6th Game of the World Chess Championship Match Topalov-Kramnik will take place.
This meant the forfeit would stand as a point for Topalov. But would Kramnik appear at the board at the appointed time and would he play? The chess world held its collective breath.
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At the hour appointed for the start of game six, both players appeared and the chess world heaved a collective sigh of relief. Playing Black, Kramnik defended 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 for the second straight game. The players agreed a draw on the 31st move in a dead equal endgame with same-color Bishops and five Pawns each. While less exciting on-the-board than the previous games, there had been enough off-the-board suspense during the two days preceding it.
Although Kramnik played, he did so under protest. Excerpts from his statement:
2 October 2006, Elista • Official statement and protest of Vladimir Kramnik on the decision made by FIDE • To FIDE President H.E. Kirsan Iljumshinov; To the WCC Appeals Committee • I inform that I am ready to proceed playing the match by reserving all my rights. My further participation will be subject to the condition to clarify my rights regarding game five at later stage. I do not agree with the decision made by FIDE and I formally protest against it. The decisions made on my requests, especially the resignation of the Appeals Committee, opening the toilets to the restrooms again, are crystal clear admissions of FIDE of having taken a false decision. • By deciding just a couple of hours ago I had to assess between my personal interests and the interests of the entire chess world. It is very difficult to play under these circumstances. But I came to the conclusion to proceed under protest because I do not want to disappoint the overwhelming majority of the chess fans which are hoping for the unification since so many years. • Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion
Kramnik's decision to play gained the admiration and respect of most of the chess world. Although no one had provided any reasonable evidence that he had cheated, he had been stomped on by the Appeals Committee and had lost a precious point demanding fair treatment. Even if Topalov should win the match, the Bulgarian would always have an asterisk, a black star, against his name.
Kramnik 3.5 - Topalov 2.5 (+2-0-1F=3)
After another rest day, the match continued with game seven, two days behind the original schedule. As had been previously agreed, the players kept the same colors as in game six. This switch was to avoid the same player having the White pieces after every rest day, but it meant that Topalov would have White for the third consecutive game.
Kramnik again defended 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6, beat back a half-hearted Kingside attack by Topalov, and won a Pawn in the middle game. The game simplified into an ending of Rook, Bishop, and three Pawns vs. Rook, Knight, and four Pawns. Topalov kept Kramnik's King confined to its back rank and Black was unable to make progress. The game was agreed drawn on the 60th move.
The next day Kramnik played White for the first time in over a week. Being the darling of the chess public didn't entitle him to an easy game. Somewhere in the middle game he misjudged the position, giving Topalov the chance to show why he is the world's highest rated player. Kramnik resigned on his 53rd move.
Kramnik 4.0 - Topalov 4.0 (+2-1-1F=4)
Would the last four games of the match proceed normally? The prospect was unlikely. Just before the start of game seven, Topalov's manager continued to raise suspicion of cheating by Kramnik. Excerpts from his press release:
4 October 2006, Elista • Coincidence Statistics of the moves of GM Kramnik with recommendations of the chess program Fritz 9 • After very detailed analyze of all games of the match we would like to present to your attention coincidence statistics of the moves of GM Kramnik with recommendations of chess program Fritz 9. [...] Out of 5 games -- 78% of GM Kramnik’s moves match with the first line of Fritz9. • Sincerely, Silvio Danailov
Most knowledgeable observers shrugged off the data as having no real importance. What would the third and final week of the match bring?
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For more about the Unification Match, see our ChessChrono on the