2011 Candidates Cycle - Recap

Congratulations to Boris Gelfand on winning the 2011 Candidates Match Tournament, hosted in popular tourist destinationKazan, Russia.  Gelfand began his march to victory in the Quarterfinals against Azerbaijani super-GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, winning brilliantly in the third match game by sacrificing a rook to defend a complicated position.  In the Semifinals, Gelfand faced the determined GM Gata Kamsky.  The Israeli was on the brink of defeat, as the American only needed a draw in their 4th match game to move on to the finals.  Gelfand displayed amazing determination, won the 4th game, and proceeded to destroy Kamsky in the tiebreaker playoffs. 

The Finals

27-year old Russian Super-GM Alexander Grischuk was in great shape heading into the finals, as he had recently toppled heavyweights Teimour Radjabov and Vladimir Kramnik.  Normally a very aggressive and tactical player, Grischuk mixed it up this year by employing a more patient strategy.  Gelfand tried to press hard in their first 5 match games, however Grischuk had no problem maintaining the balance.  In the 6th and final regulation game of their finals match, Gelfand was pleased to face a defense he knows extremely well - The Grunfeld.  He surprised Grischuk with the novelty 14.  Rb1!?, forcing his opponent into a deep thought that cost him valuable time in the opening.  Grischuk sought counterplay in the form of an interesting rook lift to attack the white king (16. ...Ra5 and 17. ...Rh5).  Gelfand proved this idea to be flawed, as he combined active piece play with a dynamic pawn center to achieve decisive pressure.  After extreme complications, the Russian GM resigned in the face of an overwhelming attack.  Grischuk, a player of the highest class, extended a sincere congratulations to the 2012 World Championship Contender - Boris Gelfand.  

2012 World Championship?!

The Who, What, and Why have been answered - but Where and When?  London organizer Chess Promotions Ltd. backed out in a February 3rdPress Release, stating that FIDE was unable to agree to their terms and conditions in a timely fashion.  Chess Promotions Ltd. paid a € 50,000 deposit to enter negotiations with FIDE, and expressed sincere regret that London will not be hosting the 2012 World Championship Match.  FIDE Vice President Israel Gelfer responded in anopen letter, claiming that “It is clear, and was obvious to me and expressed specifically by you, that the withdrawal of GM Carlsen from the WC cycle meant that the sponsor was no longer interested in sponsoring the match”.  Interesting developments - who knows who’s wrong or right here - and who cares?  I’m hoping that FIDE can pull it together so the 2012 WC Match takes place in... 2012!  

Hosting a WC match implies a very high level of responsibility and financial cost.  FIDE expects the host country to replicate the 2010 match stipulations in Sofia, Bulgaria which offered an after-tax prize fund of 2 million euros.  Establishing a reliable venue and accommodations for the players is easier said than done, with regard to the extensive and necessary counter-cheating measures.  Before the WC Candidates Matches, FIDE stated expectations for the winner’s host country to bid for the 2012 WC Match.  However, Israel has declared no such intention.  To my knowledge, the only country that has publicly announced a bid to host the match is India - certainly agreeable for current world champion Anand “I would love to play in India, I hope something like that happens sooner rather than later.”  The current FIDE deadline for accepting host applications is June 30, 2011.  I’m excited to see Anand and Gelfand fight it out, as their respective styles dictate extremely tactical and aggressive play.

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