Good show by Kramnik

By Arvind Aaron

MAINZ, JUNE 25. Brain games world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia celebrated his 26th birthday with an undefeated performance in his warm up

simultaneous display in the Mainz chess classic festival at the Hilton International Hotel here on Sunday evening.

Taking five hours and thirty-five minutes to complete his 40 games, Kramnik won 33 games and drew seven for an unbeaten score of 36.5/40, half a point below what his rival champion, Viswanathan Anand achieved on Saturday.

Arriving in formal suit, Kramnik received a birthday gift from the Mayor Mr. Jens Beutel and started his campaign swiftly but was slow within the first five rounds and needed to remove his jacket as the 32C heat was catching up on him.

The Mayor was the first to finish his game. After he obtained a good position, the Mayor accepted what seemed to look like a ``diplomatic offer'' from Kramnik after just 17 moves with the black pieces. Kramnik played all his games with the white pieces. Having got the draw, Mr. Jens Beutel said, ``I am yet to lose to a world chess champion!''

Last year he drew Garry Kasparov and is one of the principal persons behind bringing the event to Mainz from Frankfurt. Organiser Mr. Hans-Walter Schmitt on whom there was big hope by locals was defeated by Kramnik. Overlooking a tactic, he lost two pawns and thereafter Kramnik nursed the advantage to win easily and quickly against an opponent who drew Kasparov last year.

Nobody really threatened him in his games. Kramnik, the Russian who said he was ``tired'' after the 40 games finished after the stroke of midnight after commencing the games at half past six in the evening. Taking his own time to finish the games, Kramnik made sure he did not make tactical errors in his games to remain undefeated.

The tall Kramnik looked severely tired after this exhibition and should be lucky that the match against Anand is starting only on Tuesday. ``They had severe fights on 15-16 games,'' his trainer Miguel Illescas told The Hindu.

Anand favourite

Greater match experience and rapid titles in Germany should make World chess champion Viswanathan Anand the natural favourite to win the 10-match series starting here tomorrow. Both players will talk to the press after which the drawing of lots for the match will take place.

Meanwhile, Viswanathan Anand and his trainer GM Elizbar Ubilava are working hard in Mainz and are preparing from Sunday for the ten game rapid match which is starting on Tuesday. The popular opinion is ``it will be a close match''. The events and preparation and freshness at the board will matter as the most prestigious match between the two champions takes place this week.

There are several classical chess lovers who call it as a match that will plagued with draws. Some believe that what they will do in Dortmund in the next fortnight will have a greater bearing than in this rapid match.

The chess world is keeping its fingers crossed about the possible outcome. Not often you get such a match. Anand's rapid record against Kramnik is good and he even has a slight edge in head-to- head encounters. They drew their last three encounters and hence draws should be seen in majority of the games.

Anand has been enjoying his time in Mainz. The day he arrived he took the ``Break Dance'' ride as the festival was on beside the river Rhine. The NIIT sponsored Global Brand Ambassador likes these rides so much that even if it is a bumpy aeroplane ride, he enjoys the air pockets which could force other fellow travellers into religious thoughts. ``Not me, I would die if I take this ride,'' said his trainer Elizbar Ubilava who stood to the ground along with Aruna Anand as the champion was entertaining himself in these rides.

Kramnik hasn't had much time in Mainz really. He arrived on Saturday and is now tired. One hopes that his energy levels will help him to play error-free in the ten 25-minute rapid games. There is big local interest and the Rheingoldhalle, which is the venue should be full as commentators led by GM Helmut Pfleger keep the audience informed as to what is happening at the board.

A vast majority of grandmasters think Anand would win but nobody is willing to take bets as the players are well matched and all results are capable. They drew both their games here in the Chess Classic last year.

Since the Kasparov and Karpov encounters, this pair has stood out as the greatest rivals and it is likely to remain so for sometime. This is not a world championship or a reunification match but a rapid match. It can give an indication as to who is strong at the moment in speed chess, nothing more.

Adams wins

World No.4 Michael Adams who won the Ordix Open on Sunday and who would be facing Peter Leko of Hungary in the Fischer Random games here said, ``I think the match will be very close, but perhaps Vishy is a slight favourite in rapid chess.''

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