Mexico City, Round 2: The favorites win
Today, the fight was on. Gelfand-Grischuk ended quickly, a Queen's Indian with a Bogo-Indian twist that was drawn in 23 moves, but the remaining games were fascinating struggles.
In Kramnik-Morozevich, the world champion played a gambit variation of the Catalan, and that was just the beginning. On move 8 he introduced a novelty offering two more pawns, and then a few moves later followed things up with a piece sacrifice to boot. ("Boring Kramnik" - riiiiiiight.) His conception appears to have been correct, and he continued forcefully, increasing his advantage until his most unfortunate 21st move. Had Morozevich played correctly, he could have escaped with a draw, but working everything out with the little time he had left was too difficult. Kramnik didn't give him a second chance, and he brought home the full point in the mostly brilliant game.
Aronian-Anand was a Moscow Variation, and unlike Kramnik against Svidler yesterday, Aronian went in for the sharp main line with 6.Bh4. He achieved a reasonable position, too, but after his poor 19th move the game went from better and promising to worse and uncomfortable. In fact, it seems he had only one more chance, on move 25, to keep things interesting, and after missing it he was ground down horribly.
The last game to finish was Svidler-Leko; amazingly, the only game the first two rounds to make it to the first time control. Svidler braved Leko's Marshall Gambit, grabbing and keeping the extra pawn, but the game was drawn just the same. I think he did have some winning chances, but maybe his play in the ending was a bit too straightforward.
Standings after round 2:
1-2. Kramnik, Anand 1.5
3-6. Svidler, Leko, Gelfand, Grischuk 1
7-8. Morozevich, Aronian .5
Games here.
In Kramnik-Morozevich, the world champion played a gambit variation of the Catalan, and that was just the beginning. On move 8 he introduced a novelty offering two more pawns, and then a few moves later followed things up with a piece sacrifice to boot. ("Boring Kramnik" - riiiiiiight.) His conception appears to have been correct, and he continued forcefully, increasing his advantage until his most unfortunate 21st move. Had Morozevich played correctly, he could have escaped with a draw, but working everything out with the little time he had left was too difficult. Kramnik didn't give him a second chance, and he brought home the full point in the mostly brilliant game.
Aronian-Anand was a Moscow Variation, and unlike Kramnik against Svidler yesterday, Aronian went in for the sharp main line with 6.Bh4. He achieved a reasonable position, too, but after his poor 19th move the game went from better and promising to worse and uncomfortable. In fact, it seems he had only one more chance, on move 25, to keep things interesting, and after missing it he was ground down horribly.
The last game to finish was Svidler-Leko; amazingly, the only game the first two rounds to make it to the first time control. Svidler braved Leko's Marshall Gambit, grabbing and keeping the extra pawn, but the game was drawn just the same. I think he did have some winning chances, but maybe his play in the ending was a bit too straightforward.
Standings after round 2:
1-2. Kramnik, Anand 1.5
3-6. Svidler, Leko, Gelfand, Grischuk 1
7-8. Morozevich, Aronian .5
Games here.
Related Posts (on one page):
- Mexico City, Round 2: The favorites win
- Mexico City, Round 1: Four Quick Draws
Posted by Dennis Monokroussos on
Saturday September 15, 2007 at 2:47am