Commentary on game 8 is brought to you by GM Neil McDonald, IM Malcolm Pein and FM Chris Duncan

Once again Kramnik has been allowed a 'rest' with the black pieces before attempting to exploit the advantage of White. I expect him to try to increase his lead today, but also not to take any great risks. The Challenger has only suffered one defeat in over 90 games and never lost in a serious game with White against Kasparov: therefore a win today for the World Champion would be sensational.

1.d4

Offering Kasparov another torture session in the QGA.

1... Nf6

The World Champion wisely declines. Will it be a King's Indian or Grunfeld?

2.c4 e6

Neither! Kasparov wants a quieter life in an Indian set up or the Queen's Gambit Declined.

3.Nc3 Bb4

So it will be a fight after all! The Nimzo-Indian leads to complex positional battles.

4.Qc2

This is the most solid response avoiding doubled pawns.

4... 0-0 5.a3

Kramnik has also played the sharper 5.e4 here. Of course, Kasparov's team would have paid particular attention to that move.

5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7

White has the two bishops but in return Black has a lot of influence over the important e4 square.

8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.cxd5

Kramnik simplifies to an endgame in which he hopes to exploit the advantage of the two bishops. This line has already been played between the two protagonists in their blitz match at the hotel Kosmos, but with Kasparov playing White. He won that game!

11... Nxd5 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 13.Bh4

After 13.Bxc7 Nd5 14.Bd6 Nxe3 Black has no problems.

13... Nd5 14.Bf2 c5 15.Bb5 Rfd8

Up until here play has followed Kramnik's game against Michael Adams, Linares 1999, which ended in a convincing victory for White after 15...N5f6

This is Kasparov's improvement after which Kramnik has began to think. He is offering White the chance to win a pawn but it looks hazardous.

16.e4 Nc7 17.Bxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 f5

Kasparov must have worked out at home that he gets ample play for the pawn.This strong move opens lines in the centre and increases the scope of his bishop. Kramnik has to play carefully here. For the first time in the match Kasparov has got one of his famous tactical melees. It doesn't matter if his pawns are dropping if he mates the white king! If now 19.exf5 exf5 and with 20...Re8 coming White looks defenceless. So I expect 19.cxb6 axb6 20.Ne2 returning the pawn. But then 20...fxe4 seems at least equal for Black.

19.cxb6 axb6

As predicted. Now the weakness on b6 could become important in the long term, but Black's pieces are so active that the priority for White at the moment is the evacuation of his king from the centre.

20.Ne2

This is probably the only move, as

20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 fxe4 22.fxe4 Bxe4 23.Nf3 Nd5 would leave the king exposed in the centre in the face of the threatened 24...Nf4.

20... fxe4 21.fxe4 Bxe4

Black regains his pawn with fully equal chances. The opposite coloured bishops and paucity of pawns now suggest a draw

22.0-0

Kramnik hasn't gained any advantage but at least he has survived Kasparov's opening surprise.

22... Rd2

The rook swoops down to the second rank. For the first time in the match Kasparov has enjoyed a stress free day with the black pieces.

23.Nc3 Bb7

Now 24.Bxb6?? Rxg2+ 25.Kh1 Rg3+ 26.Rf3 Bxf3+ mate is unlikely to happen! I imagine White will play 24.b4 when 24...Nd5 25.Nxd5 Bxd5 looks very drawish. Or perhaps he can challenge the rook with 24.Rfd1, as 24...Rxb2 25.Rd7 looks nasty for Black. However, 24...Rad8 maintains the rook on its dominant square.

24.b4

White has the queenside pawn majority but this is balanced by Black's active pieces. The indirect pressure on g2 is highly irritating for White.

24... Rf8

With the intention of 25...Ba6 which would win some material.

25.Ra2

White has to get rid of the black rook, but it means conceding the d5 square to Black's knight. Clock times are now Kramnik 31 minutes left, Kasparov 1 hour 23 minutes left.

25... Rxa2 26.Nxa2 Nd5

White's pieces are somewhat disorganised and there is the threat of 27...Nf4 when 28.g3?? Nh3 mate would be a sad end for White.

27.Bd4 Ra8

Black keeps up the pressure by returning to the a file to attack the backward pawn. Now 27.Rf3 Nxb4 is a sharp continuation, when 28.Nxb4 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Rxa3 looks in Black's favour, but 28.Rg3! would be a good response by White attacking g7, as 28...Nxa2 29.Rxg7+ regains the piece.

28.Nc3

Kramnik elects to give up a pawn to free his position.

28... Nxc3 29.Bxc3 Rxa3 30.Bd4 b5

The opposite coloured bishops strongly suggest a draw as White can set up a blockade with his bishop on c5 and rook on the second rank.

31.Rf4

Kramnik chooses a different plan. He intends 32.Rg4 which would win the g7 pawn for if 32...g5 33.h4. It's difficult to see what Kasparov can do about this. Kasparov now has one hour 14 minutes on his clock- Kramnik a mere 15 minutes!

31... Rd3 32.Rg4 g5 33.h4 Kf7

This prevents White from taking on g5 with check and so keeps the tension in the position.

34.hxg5 hxg5

If Black can bring his king to f5 he will have some winning chances. It seems Kramnik was wrong in letting the black king slip out along the f file. He should have kept his rook on the f line and played Bc5.

35.Kf2

The king hurries to the centre.

35... Rd2+ 36.Ke3 Rxg2 37.Rxg2 Bxg2

An interesting moment. Now assuming there were no b pawns this is a known theoretical draw as the white king and bishop can blockade Black's pawns on the dark squares: the pawns aren't far enough apart to cause White's problems. The question is whether the presence of the b pawns changes this verdict.

38.Be5

Evidently not, as a draw was agreed here. White puts his king on f2 and bishop on c5, when Black can make no progress. Kasparov would have gained a lot of encouragement from this game and is bound to come out fighting tomorrow. This could be the moment when his fortunes in the match change for the better!