The Week in Chess

Vladimir Kramnik comfortably held Dmitry Andreikin to a draw in the final game of the FIDE World Cup in Tromso to win the match 2.5-1.5. Andreikin played what turned out to be a Symmetrical English and did manage to generate an imbalance but never seemed seriously worse. Improvements for Andreikin should be sought around move 15-16 (maybe 15.Re1!?). 18.Ne2 was complicated but all the complications seem in black's favour. Andreikin remained reasonably confident until 26...Qd6 after which he suddenly understood he was in trouble. Andreikin offered a draw on move 34 which was almost immediately accepted. Kramnik was much better but there was enough in the position to take the match win straight away.

This was only Kramnik's second appearance in this format having been eliminated by Michael Adams in the quarter finals of the FIDE World Championship of 1999. Kramnik played quality chess throughout and was very pleased with the level of his play. Kramnik never came close to elimination and only against Korobov was he probably lost, but even this game he eventually held. Definitely a worthwhile addition to his vast list of achievements.

Andreikin revealed that he was never in such bad shape for an event. He said he had given priority to the Tal Memorial and Dortmund and he didn't have time to prepare for this event at all and in particular his openings were seriously deficient. He laughed at the success of the Torre and Trompowsky he had used to get through in earlier rounds. Andreikin said he would be better prepared for the Candidates.