Yes, we miss Malthrope. Starting a thread on Amber. Home page for the event: amberchess

Of the games the first day, notable is Van Welys decision to grab material with 17 g4?, and Ivanchuck's convincing refutation.

[Event "Amber 2007 Blindfold"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely"]
[Black "Ivanchuk"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.Be2 d6 9. O-O a5 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qc2 f5 14. Ne1 Qg5 15. Qc1 Rf6 16. f3 Qh5 17. g4 fxg4 18. fxe4 Rh6 19. Rf2 Bxe4 20. Qd2 Qh4 21. Bd3 g3
22. Rg2 gxh2+ 23. Kh1 Rf8 24. Nc2 Rhf6 25. d5 e5 26. Qe1 Bxg2+ 27. Kxg2 h1=Q+
0-1

I am not sure how to post a diagram (working with ChessBase 9).

Nice play by Ivanchuk

It is Anand versus Kramnik today in Monaco. Anand has been having some problems in blindfold and lost again today against Kramnik. They are now playing rapid. Since this is not a serious tournament, they are testing some things out and it looked like Kramnik was ready to try out Marshall, but Anand didn't go for it. Anyway, this rapid game turns out to be very exciting. Anand sacked a rook and it looks rather wild (move 29).

Wow, Anand sacrificed a full rook in each of the games against Kramnik!

proloy, you have a great sense of humour!

btw, that rapid game is really great. it showcases what happens when titans clash.

it is aptly put on the official page "it was hard to decide who deserved more praise, the attacker or the defender."

kudos to both.

I know that I do!!


Chess Fan

"it was hard to decide who deserved more praise, the attacker or the defender."

50-50 praise is not bad for Anand from Kok or Kramnik supporters. I know it will be hard for them to give credit to Anand. Especially to support anything that undermines Kramnik's "champion" (dubious) status, for now.

Anand's attack is not just out of a opening novelty. It is an original attack. It came from him opting to complicate things and going for a bold rook sacrifice against a "champion". Also, defending some one's opening novelty OTB requires some special skills. But that is not the case. Kramnik just did whatever he had to defend his position. So you decide who deserve more credit!

Anand's class is different as you can see from this game and the time he took to play out his moves and he is just way above!!

Seems there are some having an equally hard time giving Kramnik credit...

Yes, what does VK need to do? Hr is #4 in the world soon to be #3. He has won numerous super tournaments, and he defrated Kasparov and Topalov in a match. Gee Alekhine defeated Capa, and really did nothing after that and is a chess god.

"Gee Alekhine defeated Capa, and really did nothing after that"


Ummmm........ San Remo 1930?? Bled 1931??

Kramnik's world champion status is without any quotes now. There was a case for qualifying it as such before Elista, but after beating Topalov, Kramnik is beyond question the one and only WC. No one else has any rights to arraign that.

My take:

Kramnik "a world champion" 2000-2006

Kramnik "the world champion" 2006(post-Elista) onwards