Topalov still hanging on

For a while it seemed that Kramnik would easily increase his lead in the match to an almost irreconcilable 3-0 score today. But Topalov, who had to endure so much already in just two games, defended skilfully and held the draw superbly.



Kramnik-Topalov Wch match (03), 2006

Kramnik had chosen the Catalan, just like the first game. Topalov was the first to deviate by playing 5...Nc6 instead of?Ǭ†5...Bb4+. His new move 15...Rc8 didn't work out very well and White was able to build up a promising position.

Black just took on d5. Many of us would have gone for 32.exd5, which gives White two connected free pawns (and which is also the chess engines' choice). However, Kramnik is of the cautious kind and the match score doesn't make him?Ǭ†the slightest more reckless. He went for the safer 32.cxd5 when Topalov showed an impressive final phase: 32...Qxa2 33.Qf3 Rf8 34.Qd3 a3 35.Rb3

and now the move of the game 35...f5!. Taking on a3 is bad because of fxe4 and Black's threats are becoming quite serious so White decided to make a draw with 36.Qxa6 Qxb3 37.Qxg6+.

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