Kramnik defeats Leko in Game 1 of World Chess Championship

[Jack Rabbit]

World Champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia defeated challenger Peter Leko of Hungary in the first game of their world title match in the resort town of Brissago, Switzerland today (Saturday).

The game was completed minutes ago at 12:31 pm PDT (19:31 GMT).

Leko, playing White, resigned a hopeless King and Pawn ending after 65 moves. Had the game continued, Black (Kramnik) would have brought his King down and snapped up White's two remaining Pawns at the expanse of only one of his own; the Black King then would have escorted one of the remaining Pawns to coronation.

Official Match Site
Kibbitzing (including some of my own) on chessgames.com.

[Endangered Specie]

1. Have they posted the moves?

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Yes

You can view the game, move by move, at either of the links provided.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. More news:

The second game of the scheduled 14-game match will begin tomorrow at 3 pm Swiss time (6:00 am PDT/13:00 GMT). Kramnik will play White.

The winner of the match will be the first play to obtain 7 1/2 points, with a victory counting as a full point and a draw as half a point. In the event of a 7-7 tie, Kramnik will retain the title.

[lazarus]

4. That was good

But for some reason, I didn't get the thrill I used to get replaying the moves of the old Kasparov/Karpov battles of the 80s. Particularly the Worlds in 85 (?).

Those always had the spark of genius to them.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. That could be because it was then Kasparov

Kasparov compares in style to Alekhine and Tal, while both Kramnik and Leko are more like Capablanca. Still, it is unfair to say that these are just a couple of dull "drawing masters", a bad rap both carry. Like Capablanca, neither will risk overextending himself in a risky move to create an opportunity; however, when either is given the opportunity, he will uncork a brilliant game.

Nevertheless, for a crowd pleaser, nothing beats the fighting style of someone like Kasparov.

[lazarus]

6. Amen

Kasparov is the one who got me (overly) hooked on the Sicilian opening.

I play everything the same way: I "turtle up". I'm addicted to strong defense, long, drawn out games, that sort of thing.