Challenger Leko takes lead over Kramnik in chess match

[Jack Rabbit]

EDITED for typing

Peter Leko of Hungary took a one-point lead today in the match for the world chess title over Russian Vladimir Kramnik, the reigning world champion, with an impressive victory in the Swiss resort of Brissago.

Kramnik, playing White, resigned after 32 moves. It was the shortest decisive game of the match.

The game began as a Spanish Opening, which Leko defended with a venerable line known as the Marshall Gambit. The line, named for Frank Marshall, the perennial American champion during the first half of the twentieth century, is considered an aggressive defense. It is favored by those who prefer swashbuckling chess, although neither competitor in this match is known for a no-holds-barred style.

Leko steered into a dubious-looking line with 15 -- g5, which could have created a target for White's pieces. However, Kramnik failed to find the best line. After an exchange of Rooks on move 20, Leko took command of a diagonal with his Bishop and Queen while Kramnik created a passed Pawn on the a-file. Leko used his open lines to invade White's home position. Kramnik sacrificed his Queen for a Rook on his 24th move, taking the chance that his passed Pawn would compensate for the material deficit incurred. However, Leko found some fine sacrificial continuations of his own, most notably 26 -- Bxf3.


Position after White's 26th move.

When the game ended, Leko still enjoyed an overwhelming material advantage. Two of Kramnik's remaining pieces were en prise.

It was Leko's second victory of the scheduled 14-game match, which he now leads 4.5-3.5. Kramnik won the first game on September 25. The winner of the match will be the first player to obtain 7.5 points with each victory counting as a full point and each draw as half a point. Kramnik will retain the title in the event of a 7-7 tie.

The next game is scheduled for Saturday at 3 pm Swiss time (6 am PDT). Leko will play White.

Official match website.
Kibitzing on chessgames.com
Analysis on ChessBase.

Diagram from ChessBase.com

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Hey JR, are you a serious player? What's your rating? I love chess but

suck at it!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. I suck at it, too.

Don't feel bad.

I like ot describe myself as just good enough to know after the game is over which move I shouldn't have made and why.