|
|
2007 Mexico World Championship starts in two weeks
28.08.2007 – Are you ready for it? On Wednesday, September 12th is the opening ceremony, on Thursday at 14:00h (2 p.m.) local time the first round. The event is a double round robin with eight players – Anand, Kramnik, Morozevich, Leko, Aronian, Svidler, Gelfand and Grischuk. ChessBase will report extensively and provide live broadcasts with commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan. Prepare for the feast! |
|
|
Big press conference – live broadcast in doubt
10.09.2007 – The players have all arrived and settled down in Mexico City, the world championship starts on September 13 (round one), and today all eight participants are scheduled to give a press conference. This takes place at 1:30 p.m. Mexican time. A live broadcast was planned, but now is in doubt. In case it happens we give you all available information on how and where you can catch it. |
|
|
Mexico countdown: preparations and technical meeting
12.09.2007 – With just two days left to the first round of the World Championship tournament
in Mexico City, preparations are in full swing, with the stage being built and
decorated, and the players briefed on the technical aspects of the match. Watching
it all unfold is our friend Ali Nihat Yazici, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, who has sent us a big pictorial report. |
|
|
Mexico R01: All games drawn, comments by Seirawan and Kasimdzhanov
13.09.2007 – The first round of the World Championship ended with four draws. Transmission
of the moves from Mexico to the rest of the world went smoothly. There are 7500+
visitors on Playchess, watching the games
and listening to live commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan and former FIDE world
champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Express report with videos and pictures. |
|
|
Mexico countdown: Openings Ceremony, pairings
13.09.2007 – It starts today, at 14:00h local time in Mexico City, probably quite a bit
later where
you are located. Yesterday was the opening ceremony and drawing of lots,
which lets us to create a full schedule and pairings of the world championship.
The games will be broadcast on the
official site and on Playchess. To
get you in the mood here is another big pictorial report by our Mexico reporter Ali Nihat Yazici. |
|
|
Mexico R02: Anand draws first blood, Kramnik beats Morozevich
14.09.2007 – Round two is under way, with 7000+ visitors on Playchess,
watching the games, and many listening to live commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan.
Anand drew first blood in this world championship by beating Aronian with the
black pieces. Vladimir Kramnik soon followed suit with a white victory over Alexander Morozevich.
Express report with videos and pictures. |
|
|
Mexico Round one: Analysis of the games by GM Mihail Marin
14.09.2007 – Four draws – sounds boring. But there was a fair amount of tension during the first round of the World Championship in Mexico. And a lot to learn from the games played there yesterday. Mihail Marin dissects the games in his usual instructive style, giving chess amateurs and tournament players alike an insight into grandmaster thought and plans. An analytical lesson you will not want to miss. |
|
|
Anand: 'We found ...c5 here, just three days ago'
15.09.2007 – "The game revolved around this move 17...c5," says Vishy Anand in an interview with Indian TV journalist Vijay Kumar. "Sometimes if you can surprise your opponent it is worth almost as much as making a lot of good moves, because he has to deal with a lot of problems over the board." We bring you this video interview and, of course, the highly instructive comments of GM Mihail Marin. |
|
|
Mexico R04: Aronian beats Leko, Anand and Kramnik lead
16.09.2007 – It was a long night, with Vishy Anand pressing hard with the black pieces against Alexander Morozevich, and Vladimir Kramnik trying to win a pawn endgame against Alexander Grischuk. In spite of the fight it was, in the end, only Levon Aronian who scored a full point against Peter Leko. Meanwhile outside the country was celebrating Independence Day – Grito de Dolores. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin: 'A day of curious moments'
16.09.2007 – Morozevich fell behind against Svidler, who allowed his opponent to come back and win. Aronian tried to sacrifice a pawn against Grischuk, but found himself a pawn up and under attack. Anand got nothing out of the opening against Kramnik and had to fight for a draw. Leko vs Gelfand went for 100 moves. Here are comments by GM Mihail Marin and postgame video interviews by Vijay Kumar. |
|
|
Mexico R03: Morozevich beats Svidler, Anand and Kramnik draw
16.09.2007 – Another very tense round, with Alexander Morozevich outplaying Peter Svidler in a Scotch Game, and Vladimir Kramnik causing some problems for Anand in a rook ending. Leko vs Gelfand is still running (at 2:45 a.m. European time), with the latter trying to win a Q+P ending. We close down our news service for the night with an Express report with videos and pictures. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin on missed opportunities in Mexico
17.09.2007 – Kramnik showed excellent home preparation in an almost non-existent variation, gaining a decisive advantage. But Grischuk defended accurately and managed to draw. Anand won a pawn and was more or less winning against Morozevich. But he could not bring home the point. Leko lost his patience, a piece and the game against Aronian. GM comments and video interviews. |
|
|
Mexico R05: Anand, Grischuk and Gelfand win
19.09.2007 – We have made our way to Mexico, successful on our second day of trying. We arrived late in the evening, to learn that Anand had beaten Svidler to take the sole lead; Gelfand had beaten Aronian, who does not appear to be quite well, and Leko vs Kramnik had ended in a draw. We bring you the games and results, together with first impressions after our arrival in Mexico. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin comments round six games
20.09.2007 – Gelfand-Morozevich featured an interesting confrontation of different styles. White's advantage of space and initiative prevailed over Black's stability on dark squares. Grischuk sacrificed two pawns against Svidler and got a dangerous attack. After a far from obvious mistake from Svidler, he could have won with a simple manoeuvre. Instead, he only obtained a draw by perpetual. Comments. |
|
|
Mexico R06: Gelfand beats Morozevich, joins Anand in the lead
20.09.2007 – The two oldest players in this tournament are in the lead. Israeli GM Boris Gelfand, 39, beat Alexander Morozevich, 30, to join Vishy Anand, 38, in the lead at the World Championship in Mexico. The other games were drawn. Vladimir Kramnik, 32, and Alexander Grischuk, 23, are half a point behind. Illustrated report with games, results and lots of new pictures. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin annotates the round five games
20.09.2007 – Anand managed to neutralize Svidler's initiative in the Marshall Attack, then initiated a queenside diversion, which led to a winning attack on the opposite wing. Grischuk elegantly refuted Morozevich' strategically over-ambitious opening plan. Gelfand came up with a new plan that yielded him a favourable version of the Benoni against Aronian. Comments by GM Marin and videos by Vijay Kumar. |
|
|
GM commentary: Mihail Marin on round seven
21.09.2007 – Morozevich-Leko ended in a draw after a long but relatively uneventful struggle. Leko missed his chance to complicate the fight by accepting a piece sacrifice. Svidler-Aronian could not question the peaceful reputation of the Exchange Ruy Lopez. Kramnik-Gelfand was a typical Anti-Moscow variation of the Semi-Slav. Anand won a fine positional game against Grischuk. Commentary and video. |
|
|
Mexico R07: Anand beats Grischuk, takes sole lead
21.09.2007 – Vishy Anand, the hightest ranked player, defeated Alexander Grischuk in a remarkably exciting game. Vladimir Kramnik and Boris Gelfand drew their encounter, which left Anand in the sole lead at half time, with a 2900+ performance and half a point ahead of the field. Full analysis will follow tomorrow, for now we bring you an express report with the games, results and
lots of pictures. |
|
|
Mexico R08: Gelfand-Anand drawn, Leko beats Grischuk
22.09.2007 – The duel of the leaders, Gelfand vs Anand, ended in a draw, which left Anand still in the lead in the world championship in Mexico. Peter Leko defeated Alexander Grischuk to get to 50% and move to fourth place on the table. The other two games were drawn. Saturday is a free day. Express report from Mexico. |
|
|
Mexico: GM Mihail Marin annotates round eight
23.09.2007 – Despite the relatively early draw, Svidler-Kramnik featured rich strategic content. Morozevich tried to remount the variation that led him to defeat against Gelfand, and failed, but was helped by Aronian's imprecise play that led to a draw. Gelfand-Anand was also drawn without too much fight. Leko's win with White against Grischuk was a rather one-sided affair. Analysis and videos. |
|
|
Mexico World Championship: a walk around the city
24.09.2007 – Visiting the chess championship is exciting, but it also affords us an opportunity to see and experience a vibrant city, whose population of 19.2 million make it the largest in the western hemisphere and the second largest in the world. Mexico City is also a place filled with the remains of ancient civilizations and historical events. Here is the first edition of our Mexico journal. |
|
|
Mexico R09: Morozevich beats Kramnik, Anand leads
24.09.2007 – It was quite a shocker, first with Alexander Morozevich beating Vladimir Kramnik to relegate the world champion to fifth place; and then, late in the evening, Alexander Grischuk, who had lost his previous two games, bounced back with a victory over Boris Gelfand. This left Vishy Anand, who drew against Aronian, with a one-point lead on the table. Express report. |
|
|
Mexico R10: Kramnik vs Anand drawn after long fight
25.09.2007 – The summit game was sharp – heart-stoppingly so. Anand uncorked some deep preparation in a Semi-Slav, Kramnik fought back with ambitious intentions, Anand defended well and in fact took the initiative. The game ended after 41 moves in a draw, which left Anand a point ahead of the field. Aronian drew first blood, beating Grischuk in 42 moves of a QGD. Express report. |
|
|
Mexico round nine: GM Mihail Marin annotates
25.09.2007 – Anand-Aronian was a 21-move draw, while Leko-Svidler was also drawn, but after an intense fight. Grischuk obtained a minimal but persistent advantage against Gelfand and won when Gelfand's nerves cracked. The most remarkable game of the evening was Morozevich-Kramnik, which transposed to a curious version of the Benoni. Morozevich won convincingly. Analysis, video and new pictures. |
|
|
World Championship Mexico, Round 11 – Anand!!
26.09.2007 – Today it was all about one player. After Grischuk and Kramnik drew their game in 35 minutes and 13 moves; and after Gelfand and Svidler ceased hostilities after 22; and the Leko vs Aronian battle ended peacefully after 56 moves; we saw Anand going for the kill against Morozevich. His win leaves him a point and a half ahead of his nearest rival. Express report with lots of pictures. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin annotates the games of round ten
26.09.2007 – A fighting round, featuring several sacrifices – one piece, three exchanges and numerous pawns – but only one decisive game. Anand-Kramnik was enormously complicated and ended in a very tense draw. In Aronian-Grischuk play took an original course from a very early stage. Gelfand with white could not achieve anything against Leko's excellent preparation. Analysis and videos. |
|
|
Mexico 2007: The Pyramids of Teotihuacán
27.09.2007 – A free day at the World Championship means more hard work for the players. But not for journalists and dignitaries, who are given the opportunity to visit places of interest. So for instance the famous pyramids, just 40 km from the city. The Pyramid of the Sun is 246 feet high, making it the third largest pyramid in the world. Teotihuacán was, as our photo report shows, a spiritual experience. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin annotates the games of round eleven
27.09.2007 – Grischuk-Kramnik was a quick draw. Gelfand-Svidler and Leko-Aronian lasted longer, but also ended in draws. Anand could have repeated moves against Morozevich, which would have suited his tournament position, but he bravely decided to play on, although the position was quite irrational. Caissa smiled on the courageous and Anand could increase his lead. GM analysis. |
|
|
Mexico R12 – Gelfand, Kramnik and Morozevich win
28.09.2007 – Things are becoming exciting: Anand drew against Peter Svidler; his nearest rival, Boris Gelfand beat Levon Aronian with black to narrow the gap to the leader to just one point. Vladimir Kramnik beat Peter Leko to step into the slot half a point behind. So there are upset possibilities in the final two rounds on Friday and Saturday. Express report with pictures. |
|
|
Mexico 2007: Vishy Anand is world champion!
29.09.2007 – An effortless 20-move draw against Peter Leko clinched it: Indias's Viswanathan Anand won the World Championship in Mexico City 2007 to become the undisputed World Chess Champion. The other games are still in progress, but nobody can catch Anand, who finishes undefeated with 9.0 points out of 14 games. Kramnik beat Aronian to move to second place. Express report. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin: Tension to the end
29.09.2007 – The only relatively short game in round 13 was Gelfand-Kramnik, with the draw agreed in a position where there was practically nothing left to play for. Anand carried out a risky opening experiment against Grischuk and had to suffer in a rook ending before reaching a draw. Aronian-Svidler was a tense positional fight. Leko employed a new idea to defeat Morozevich. Analysis and video. |
|
|
Mexico R13 – Leko wins, Anand squeaks by to retain lead
29.09.2007 – Fans of the Indian grandmaster were sweating blood, when Vishy Anand got into a seemingly lost rook endgame against Alexander Grischuk. But in the end iron defence paid off and the game ended in a draw. Boris Gelfand drew against Vladimir Kramnik, so Anand's lead in the final round is a full point. Peter Leko beat Alexander Morozevich to move into fourth place. Express report with pictures. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin: A spectacular round, with big fights...
29.09.2007 – ...and three decisive games. Anand, playing with black against Svidler, annihilated White's initiative with relative ease and drew. Morozevich was once again successfull with an original opening experiment against Grischuk. Kramnik produced another impressive Catalan performance to beat Leko. And Gelfand beat Aronian to narrow the gap to the leader. GM analysis and video. |
|
|
GM Mihail Marin: Anand's triumph in the final round
30.09.2007 – Anand chose a safe plan against Leko's Marshall Attack and had little trouble to reach the draw that ensured him the supreme title. In a sharp line of the Najdorf, Svidler defeated Grischuk. Morozevich-Gelfand was an interesting hard-fought game. Aronian reacted badly against Kramnik's novelty and went down without too much fight. GM analysis and video interviews with Anand. |
|
|
World Championship Mexico: the closing ceremony
01.10.2007 – After his win on Saturday night Vishy Anand was treated to a fine victory dinner by his hosts. Then, on Sunday, a long day of activies followed, crowned by the celebrations and festivities of the closing ceremony, in which the new world champion was crowned. Now it is Sunday night, muy tarde – very late. Before we embark on our return trip we bring you pictorial impressions. |
