tag: Dortmund 2007 - Page 1

Dortmund R7: all games drawn, Kramnik wins for the eighth time

7/1/2007 – Vladimir Kramnik and the Dortmund Super-GM seem to be a marriage made in heaven. For the eighth time the current world champion took first place, after all games in the final round were drawn. They were, we must add, fighting draws, especially the 107-move marathon Leko-Mamedyarov. Alekseev, Leko and Anand shared 2nd-4th place, a point behind the winner. Illustrated report.

Dortmund R6: Kramnik, Leko win, Kramnik takes full point lead

6/30/2007 – By beating Arkadij Naiditsch in round six world champion Vladimir Kramnik has taken a one-point lead, and a draw against Alekseev in tomorrow's final round will give him yet another tournament victory in Dortmund. Leko scored his first full point, with a long grind against Gelfand, but Anand failed to convert a highly promising-looking position against Alekseev. Report and games.

Dortmund R5: all games drawn

6/29/2007 – Today's fifth round in Dortmund saw all four games drawn, and none of them terribly exciting. The drawing average is now exactly 75% (15 out of 20 games) with five white and no black wins. Vladimir Kramnik retains the lead on 3.5/5, followed by Vishy Anand and Evgeny Alekseev at 3.0/5. Report and games.

Dortmund R4: Kramnik, Anand win, Kramnik leads

6/27/2007 – Vladimir Kramnik defeated Magnus Carlsen in convincing style to chalk up a second victory in four games. Vishy Anand outplayed Arkadij Naiditsch to join Alekseev at 2.5/4 points. With Alekseev drawing against Leko, and Gelfand doing the same against Mamedyarov, the World Champion now leads alone on 3.0/4.

Dortmund R3: all games drawn

6/26/2007 – The two favourites, Anand and Kramnik, played unmemorable 21-move draws, both with the black pieces. Leko got nothing out of Naiditsch's rare Nimzowitsch Variation – the game was drawn in 38 moves. Carlsen tried a long squeeze against Alekseev in an anti-Queen's Indian line, but the Russian's defences held. A fairly calm day in Dortmund.

Dortmund R2: Kramnik and Alekseev win

6/24/2007 – Dortmund newbie Evgeny Alekseev (picture), rated 2679, systematically outplayed first round winner Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, rated 2757 and score his first full point. Vladimir Kramnik ground down the stubbornly defending Boris Gelfand to join Alekseev in the lead with 1.5/2 points. The other games – Anand vs Leko and Naiditsch vs Carlsen – were both drawn. Full report with games and pictures.

Dortmund R1: Shak Mamedyarov beats Naditsch

6/23/2007 – Top Azerbaijani GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, rated 2757 and number six in the world, defeated to German GM Arkadij Naiditsch, 2654, in a tense 44-move battle. Kramnik-Anand was a Slav which Anand held comfortably in 35 moves. Gelfand-Alekseev, a Symmetrical English was drawn in 23. Carlsen-Leko was an Anti-Marshall that ended in a 29-move draw. Report , games and pictures.

Dortmund starts today – with Vladimir Kramnik

6/23/2007 – You can uncross your fingers: world champion Vladimir Kramnik has recovered sufficiently to play in the Super-GM tournament in Dortmund. This is a Category 20 event which includes the world's top ranked player, Viswanathan Anand, and other stars like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Leko, Boris Gelfand and 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen. Details.
1