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| Kramnik vs Leko Mark Crowther Round 13 Report   After game 13. Photo © Mark Crowther The final games of this match may turn it into a classic. Kramnik clearly did not come to draw with black in round 13 when he played the Benoni against Peter Leko.  A hard day at the office for Kramnik. Photo © Mark Crowther Leko was not a 1.d4 player before this match and so the Benoni was a good option. Kramnik said he was very happy with the choice. He wasn't sure of the objective strength of pushing the King side pawns but at least it put Leko under pressure, he also wasn't sure about 25. ...Bd4 but it was difficult to find other continuations for him.  Leko contemplating the Benoni. Photo © Mark Crowther The endgame he said was more easily drawn in a number of ways according to Kramnik at least three or four. Around first time control it was clear that Leko was under severe pressure. It may prove that Kramnik missed something simple but he said that he certainly couldn't find anything but he did find several miracle saves for Leko. In the end it went down to King vs King but the position was already clearly drawn for some time. Leko's play throughout was extremely determined and he is clearly going to be hard to beat on Monday. The light notes below are some very light notes of a heavyweight and enjoyable game. Kramnik now has to win with white on Monday to retain his title if todays game is anything to go by he will be aggressive.  Underway in game 13. Photo © Mark Crowther Leko,P (2743) - Kramnik,V (2760) [A73] Kramnik - Leko Brissago, Switzerland (13), 16.10.2004 [Mark Crowther] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.Nd2 Bg7 8.e4 0-0 9.Be2 Na6 10.0-0 Ne8 [ 10...Nc7] 11.Nc4 Nac7 [ 11...f5] 12.a4 f5 [ 12...b6] 13.exf5 [13.Bf4 has been played before and this position has been reached by transposition by Kramnik before in the game:; 13.f3 Qe7 14.Bf4 g5 15.Bg3 f4 16.Bf2 b6 17.Re1 Ba6 18.e5 Bxc4 19.exd6 Nxd6 20.Bxc4 Qd7 21.Ba2 Rae8 22.Qd3 Kh8 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Rd1 Bf6 25.Bb1 Re7 26.h3 Nce8 27.Bc2 Be5 28.Re1 Nf6 29.a5 Bd4 30.Re2 Bxf2+ 31.Kxf2 b5 32.b4 Rxe2+ 33.Qxe2 cxb4 34.Qe5 Nde8 35.Ne4 Qxd5 36.Qe7 Nxe4+ 37.Bxe4 Qd4+ 38.Kf1 Qd1+ 39.Kf2 Qd4+ 40.Kf1 Nf6 41.Qf8+ Ng8 42.Qa8 b3 43.Bd5 Qg7 44.Bxb3 Qa1+ 45.Kf2 Qd4+ 46.Kf1 Qa1+ Kramnik,V (2730) - Ivanchuk,V (2740) [A73]Belgrade (3), 16.11.1995] 13...Rxf5 [ 13...Bxf5; 13...gxf5] 14.Bg4 Rf8N  [ 14...Rf7 15.Bf3 b6 16.Ne4 h6 17.Re1 Bb7 18.Ng3 Nf6 19.Ne3 Qf8 20.Qd3 Nd7 21.Qxg6 Ne5 22.Qh5 Rxf3 23.Nef5 Rxf5 24.Nxf5 Kh7 25.Ra3 Qe8 26.Nxg7 Nf3+ 27.gxf3 Qxe1+ 28.Kg2 Qxc1 0-1 Socha,C-Yudasin,L/Gdynia 1987] 15.Bxc8 Rxc8 16.Qb3 b6 17.Nb5 Opening the a-file and relieving some pressure on d5. 17...Nxb5 18.axb5 Rc7 19.Bd2 Rcf7 20.Bc3 Qd7 21.f3 g5!? 22.Ne3 Rf4 23.Rfe1 h5!? 24.Qc2 Qf7 25.h3 Bd4 26.Bxd4  26...Rxd4 [ 26...cxd4 is another game entirely but Kramnik couldn't find anything at the board.] 27.Nf5!  Completely equalising. 27...Qxf5 28.Qxf5 Rxf5 29.Rxe8+ Kf7 30.Rb8 Rdxd5 31.Rxa7+ Ke6 32.Re8+ Kf6 33.g4?  Probably the move that puts Leko back under pressure. [ 33.Rh7] 33...hxg4 34.hxg4 Rd1+ 35.Kf2 Re5 36.Rh8 Rd2+ 37.Kg3 Ree2 38.Rf8+ Kg6 39.Rg8+ Kf6 40.Rf8+ Ke6 41.Re8+ Kd5 42.Rxe2 Forced. 42...Rxe2 43.Rg7 Re5 This seems the best. 44.Rb7 c4 45.Rxb6 Re2 46.f4 Re3+ 47.Kf2 gxf4 48.Rb8 Rb3 49.b6  49...Ke4 [ 49...Rxb2+ must have been considered strongly by Kramnik.] 50.Re8+ Kd3 51.Re2 d5 52.Kf3 Now this position seems to be a draw. 52...d4 53.g5 c3 54.bxc3 dxc3 55.Rg2 Rb2 56.b7 Rxb7 57.Kxf4 Rb2 58.Rg1 c2 59.Rc1 Rb1 60.Rxc2 Kxc2 61.g6 Kd3 62.Kf5 Rb5+ 63.Kf6 Rb6+ 64.Kf7 Rxg6 65.Kxg6 1/2-1/2 |
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