Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 2

Another Day and another draw. This time round it was Anand who showed no difficulty moving the black pieces in a precisely played Semi-Slav. This, of course was not do to Gelfand playing for a draw. The line he chose to use against Anand’s defense he has used twice and won twice with. It isContinueContinue reading “Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 2”

Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 1

Round 1 of the 2012 World Chess Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand was a spectacular contest. My only disappointment with the game is that it did not last longer. Anand, as I had predicted, played 1. d4 to kick things off. It was Boris Gelfand’s choice of the Grunfeld Defense which surprised chess enthusiasts the world over. Gelfand,ContinueContinue reading “Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 1”

Anand-Gelfand 2012: Preview 2

The match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand should be a real “nail biter.” Anand’s over all record against Gelfand is very convincing with 16 wins, only 6 losses and 44 draws. Based on these figures, a Vegas odds maker would probable make Anand a 3-1 favorite to retain the title. However, the Anand-Gelfand match of 2012 will be played at “classical” time controls whichContinueContinue reading “Anand-Gelfand 2012: Preview 2”

Anand-Gelfand 2012: Preview 1

As I stated in my last post, most chess players figure that Anand will easily defend his title in the upcoming World Chess Championship. I guarantee you that Viswanathan Anand knows that it will be no easy task to stop his challenger from taking the title from him. In fact, the last time Anand playedContinueContinue reading “Anand-Gelfand 2012: Preview 1”

World Chess Championship 2012: Anand-Gelfand

In a few days, Boris Gelfand of Israel will  attempt to strip the crown off of reigning world chess champion Viswanathan Anand in a highly publicized match to determine the new king of chess. The Israeli challenger’s task of defeating Anand will be the most difficult of his long career and likely the last chanceContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2012: Anand-Gelfand”

Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 1

Game one of the 2011 Women’s World Chess Championship concluded in a draw. Koneru Humpy played the Catalan with the white pieces and demonstrated a great understanding of a Catalan middle game. Hou Yifan blunted Humpy’s attack by sacrificing a pawn at the perfect moment to reach an endgame she could play into a draw.ContinueContinue reading “Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 1”

Anand Is Still World Champion

Viswanathan Anand has secured his historic position among the greatest chess players who have ever lived by defeating Topalov and retaining his World Champion title.  It seemed at times as if the unfriendly venue and team Topalov’s psychological ploys  might be too much for Vishy to overcome. Anand uncharacteristically missed several opportunities to put Topalov behind him and ended up going into the final gameContinueContinue reading “Anand Is Still World Champion”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess

The championship chess board in Bonn has become a form of torture for Vladimir Kramnik. After loosing game 6, Kramnik has just six games left and is down three full points. A loosing streak against a world champion is very hard to fix. In Kramnik’s case, achieving a win against Anand must seem like aContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess

Kramnik must be feeling miserable. Anand has beaten him with the black pieces once again. Now down two full points with 7 games to go, Kramnik must take considerable risks if he is to have any chance at becoming world champion again. Taking these risks could easily backfire and have the effect of causing thisContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”

Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858

“Morphy…I think everyone agrees…was probably the greatest of them all.” (Bobby Fischer) This years chess match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik takes place 150 years after one of the greatest world championship matches in history. In 1858, the two best chess players in the world, Paul Morphy and Adolph Anderssen, battled in Paris toContinueContinue reading “Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess

It was back to the “drawing” board in game 4 from Bonn, Germany.  Defending champion Viswanathan Anand played the white side in the solid Queen’s Gambit Declined. Kramnik ended up with the ubiquitous isolated queen’s pawn and allowed Anand no opportunities for victory. 3. Nf3 Anand decides to avoid a repeat of game 2’s Nimzo-Indian.ContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

 In game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championships, Viswanathan Anand put on a tactical display using his fiery attacking style to beat Vladimir Kramnik into submission. Below is the game that has put Anand ahead in the match:    2…c6 Anand chooses the Slav again. 4. Nc3 Kramnik chooses not to play the exchange Slav asContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

The second game from the 2008 World Chess Championship ended in a draw. In an attempt to show off some of his preparation for playing white against the Slav(1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), Anand decided to use 1.d4 instead of his favorite 1.e4. Kramnik avoided the technical Slav lines in game 1 and chose to use theContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”

Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

Kramnik faced off against Anand in Game 1 of the World Chess Championship Match on October 14, 2008. The “Battle of Bonn” began with little surprise as Anand chose to play one of his main weapons referred to as the Slav Defense to the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The game concluded after move 32 when aContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”

Team Kramnik

For the 2008 World Chess Championship match in Bonn, Germany, Vladimir Kramnik has selected these players as his “Seconds.” I hope my readers will visit again tomorrow to view my coverage for game 1 of the 2008 World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik.   Name: Peter Leko Date of birth: 09-08-1979 Country:ContinueContinue reading “Team Kramnik”

Team Anand

For the 2008 World Chess Championship match in Bonn, Germany, Viswanathan Anand has selected these players as his “Seconds.” I will review Vladimir Kramnik’s team in a later post. Name: Peter Heine Nielsen Date of birth: 05-24-1973 Country: Denmark Current Rating: 2652 Description: A grandmanster with a very aggressive style who has won the Denmark Chess  ChampionshipContinueContinue reading “Team Anand”

My Friends are Better Than Yours… Anand and Kramnik Get Seconds

   The upcoming 12 game World Championship match between Anand and Kramnik is creating internet rumors faster than Alexandra Kosteniuk makes blitz moves in China. Most of these rumors seem to be speculation on opening choices and who is going to be the “Second” for Anand and Kramnik. A “Second” refers to a chess playersContinueContinue reading “My Friends are Better Than Yours… Anand and Kramnik Get Seconds”

Rybka Proves It Is Still The Best

Rybka finished first in the 16th ICGA World Computer Chess Championship held in Beijing, China with a score of 8/9 with no losses. For much of the tournament Hiarcs was keeping pace with Rybka but when the two engines played, Rybka was victorious. The other key game for Rybka was against  Junior (2006 World Computer Chess Champion.)ContinueContinue reading “Rybka Proves It Is Still The Best”

Kramnik vs. Anand

Just ten days until the Anand vs. Kramnik World Chess Championship match of 2008! Tonight I present another preview game for the upcoming World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. The game I chose is a recent example of the two contenders going head to head in a major event.  My analysis is aboveContinueContinue reading “Kramnik vs. Anand”

India in the Chess Spotlight

   The sub-continent that invented the game of chess in the sixth century is now becoming the focus of chess in the twenty-first century. Viswanathan Anand, the current World Chess Champion, has ignited a nationalistic enthusiasm for the “Game of Kings” not seen since the Soviet era. Anand has received rock star status in hisContinueContinue reading “India in the Chess Spotlight”