Last
week we talked about the comfortable lead Vladimir Kramnik had
taken when the tournament was thrown into chaos with allegations
of cheating. With the resumption of play came a series of draw
games until Veselin Topalov managed to win two games in a row,
games 8 and 9, thrusting the Bulgarian into the lead by one
point.
Several
questions then arose, one of them manifest. The forfeit point
that Topalov undeservedly won in game 5 was the principal concern
as Kramnik accepted to play only after lodging a protest with
FIDE, which has not yet issued a decision. If this forfeit point
decides who the next undisputed world champion will be, a huge
new scandal will be upon us in short order.
Out
of historical context, chess observers envisaged a comeback
from Topalov in the second half of the tournament as that is
Topalov’s style. He made it to the top by winning the main tournaments
in the second half, and in actuality, the world championship
that he took in Argentina provides a great example of his signature
play. There he occupied last place at several points in the
first half, but then in the second, he won out to attain victory.
Kramnik’s
performances are very different. It is no secret that Kramnik’s
health is ailing. That means in the long tournaments such as
this world championship, he usually begins to wane in the second
half.
While
the predictions came true, the Oct. 9 game contradicted the
players’ tendencies. Kramnik triumphed and the score was tied
again at 5‑5. What a surprise. This is even stranger when
one analyzes the game. Topalov had staked a comfortable position
where he needed not take risks in order to draw. But move 24
turned the game upside down. Topalov made a terrible
mistake and Kramnik showed him no mercy.
One
would not have expected to see so many blunders in a world championship,
but chess sometimes plays out in unforeseen ways. Undoubtedly,
the scandals have negatively affected the play of the contenders.
But after a draw leaving the two knotted at 5 ½ points each,
the twelfth and final game on Oct. 12 brings us to as exciting
a conclusion as chess fans could hope for. Who knows? Perhaps
we’ll even see a historic playoff to top off this controversial
tournament.
