Posted on 10/13/2006 3:19:45 PM PDT by kenn5
Kramnik crowned world chess champion
By MIKHAIL SAVINOV Associated Press Writer © 2006 The Associated Press
ELISTA, Russia — Russia's Vladimir Kramnik on Friday became the first universally recognized world chess champion since 1993, winning a series of timed, tiebreaking games over Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov to take a tournament that reunified the title.
Kramnik secured his victory over Topalov in a fourth tiebreaker of the turbulent, three-week tournament that was fraught with protests and appeals by both sides.
His team erupted in joyful shouting after Kramnik's win gave him an edge of 8 1/2 to 7 1/2 points, and he rose to his feet and clutched his hands over his head before shaking hands with Topalov.
Kramnik and Topalov, both 31, will each receive $500,000 for taking part in the tournament, which was arranged to heal a 13-year-old schism in the chess world dating back to World Champion Garry Kasparov's withdrawal from the World Chess Federation.
"We are planning to get drunk with my friends today," said Kramnik, usually a picture of calm and elegance.
Topalov, who is known for aggressive play, won his title of World Chess Champion in October 2005. Kramnik, whom enthusiasts liken to a boa constrictor for his slow but deadly play, has been the classical world champion since 2000, when he defeated Kasparov.
Now the two championships have merged under the aegis of the World Chess Federation, known by its French acronym FIDE.
"Life goes on, I am 31, and I still have a chance to fight for the champion's title," Topalov said.
The tournament had ended at 6 points apiece, setting up the tiebreakers,
The event was close to collapsing after Kramnik failed to show for Game 5, protesting a FIDE decision to lock the players' private bathrooms. The organization insisted that each use a common bathroom for the rest of the tournament.
Topalov's manager had accused Kramnik of taking too many bathroom breaks _ apparently suggesting that he was secretly using a computer or some other device to help him with his moves.
A tournament-saving agreement was eventually reached, with FIDE ruling that private bathrooms would be assigned to each player on a permanent basis and inspected by the opposite side before each game.
I guess they worked out the bathroom thing.
While being a serious nutjob bobby Fisher is the real champ
Suspicion was raised after Kramnik took around 40 bathroom breaks per game. ....more than a bit strange. Then again chess grandmasters are an odd lot. ....to understate the matter.
Too bad Fischer didn't have the guts to take on Karpov in '75; it would've been a helluva match.
Well, to be champion you have to actually play. If the Steelers decided not to play in the NFL any more, they don't get to retain the Lombardi Trophy in perpetuity. ;)
I like Topalov's play better than Kramnik's, but it's good to finally resolve the schism...for a while.
Kramnik will need quite an impressive bathroom setup to beat that thing...
Greetings Professor Falkin...how about a nice game of chess?
I agree that Topolov's game is more exciting, but personality wise, I like Kramnik and I am glad he won. Topolov's accusations were unfounded and most grandmasters supported Kramnik during the "Bathroom Crisis". Topolov was just trying to stir things up because lost the first two games of the match.
True.
But in his day Bobby Jones quit playing competitively and still was by far better then anyone in his game. And everyone understood that too.
Mojo, I think he had the guts, he just didn't like the attention. Sort of like many of us that would rather not be bothered by folks.
Hard to say for sure what went on in that nutball's head back in those days. The only thing we know for sure is that his decision to quit deprived the chess world of seeing two of the greatest grandmasters ever go at it. (Karpov held the undisputed title for 10 years).
Yep
question: what's half a point... the queen???
A draw.
thx...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.