KRAMNIK WINS THE TAL MEMORIAL!
Vladimir Kramnik has just won the strongest event of 2009, the Tal Memorial after
drawing against Ivanchuk in the last round. It was an extremely difficult game,
where Vladimir had to defend carefully to neutralize the very many threats that
Ivanchuk was posing to him.
Current World Champion Anand lost quickly as White against Aronian.
Previously on this event:
Kramnik pressed hard as Black against Carlsen in the first round. He played energetically
from the very opening, trying to get his first win. However, Carlsen defended very
well and finally the game was drawn after 58 moves. It was overall a fantastic game
where both players were at a very high level.
In the second round Kramnik played aggressively too against Anand, sacrificing
his queen on move 20, but Anand played well, gave back the queen a few moves later
and finally they agreed to a draw after 29 moves.
In the third round Kramnik made another excellent impression by beating Morozevich
as Black in 45 moves. Kramnik played again full of energy in a very tense game where
he outplayed his strong opponent.
Kramnik won a splendid game against Svidler on round 4 and he is now leading in
solitaire.The outcome took place after 37 moves of a Grunfeld Defense, when Kramnik
penetrated with his rooks forcing a winning endgame.
Kramnik was close to another win in the 5th round when he was pressing hard against
Gelfand for 81 moves, when they finally agreed to a draw.
Anand was the only winner in this round. They both share first with 3.5 out of 5.
Kramnik scored an excellent win against Ponomariov in a long ending. Anand drew
against Carlsen, so he is now half point behind after 6 rounds have been completed.
Kramnik kept in the pole position after the 7th round came to an end. He drew a
correct game, as Black, against Aronian after 23 moves. Anand and Ivanchuk are close,
only half point behind.
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