Candidates – Vladimir Kramnik (2810 – World #2)

Vladimir Kramnik (2810 – World #2)

One-time Champion of the USSR (1990), Vladimir Kramnik joins this year’s candidates as a veteran Top-3 player with a list of accomplishments that seems to run on for miles. As but one example, Dortmund, a marquee event on the calendar for decades, is “his” tournament, with ten titles to his credit. That, however, has hardly encumbered his results in a plethora of additional super-tournaments over the years. Even more importantly, this is the man who ripped the classical crown from the hands of Kasparov in the year 2000. Throw in his unwavering dependability as a teammate and what more could you want in a player competing to fight for the world title?

Starting out young, in Botvinnik’s famed chess school, Kramnik quickly rose to an elite standard of play, culminating in his first notable success as first reserve for the Russian team at the 1992 Manila Olympiad. As a 16-year-old upstart, his selection was much-criticized leading up to the event, but Kasparov’s support of the decision, coupled with Kramnik’s 8.5/9 score, served to handily silence the critics.

Kramnik during the 1992 Manila Olympiad...

... and discussing a game there in his ChessBase DVD My Path to the Top

Early on in his professional career, the World Champion’s title proved elusive to Kramnik, but, after a series of disappointing results on both the FIDE and PCA sides of the universe, including a 4.5-3.5 match loss to Boris Gelfand (whom he will soon be facing again), he was eventually granted an opportunity to play for Kasparov’s classical world title in the year 2000. His loss in a Candidates match with Shirov in 1998 made some question the legitimacy of the selection process for this subsequent World Championship match, but, nonetheless, after leaving the chess world dumbstruck by grinding out an undefeated 8.5-6.5 match victory over Kasparov, Kramnik was ushered in as the new classical world champion.

Kramnik vs Kasparov in the 2000 World Championship match

A successful, albeit nail-biting, title defense against Peter Leko in 2004, followed by his reunification of the chess world in 2006 with the defeat of Topalov, left few in doubt that Kramnik might hold on to his title for a long while. Then, a resurgent Anand upset the applecart, wresting the title from Kramnik and successfully defending it to this day. It started with the 2007 World Championship tournament, where Kramnik finished tied with Gelfand for 2nd through 3rd, was followed by Anand’s surprisingly healthy 6.5-4.5 victory in a return match, and, to date, ended with Kramnik’s elimination in the second round of the 2011 Candidates matches at the hands of Grischuk.

With Kramnik’s former claim that he was merely loaning the world title to Anand, he continues to have something to prove and, despite the depth of the field at this event, as we will see, he stands a reasonable chance of success.

Kramnik's opponents at the Candidates

Boris Gelfand (2740 – World #18)

Overall: 6 Wins, 34 Draws, 3 Losses
White: 5 Wins, 16 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 1 Win, 18 Draws, 3 Losses

Gelfand and Kramnik are both old veterans these days and they have 43 classical encounters against one another to speak to that longevity. Both have been in these circumstances before, but it is Gelfand who has the better results when the stakes are high, having eliminated Kramnik in their semi-final match of the 1994 Candidates tournament, while holding him to two draws at the 2007 FIDE World Championship tournament. With the Catalan making a reappearance between these two, after its first successful deployment in Astana in 2001, do not be surprised to see Gelfand reach back into their pre-history to pull out an opening like the Rossolimo.

Peter Svidler (2747 – World #14)

Overall: 6 Wins, 14 Draws, 3 Losses
White: 6 Wins, 4 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 0 Wins, 10 Draws, 3 Losses

As a many-time Russian Champion, Svidler is a notably pesky opponent for any elite player to face. That proves to be no different for Kramnik, as, although Vladimir holds an edge in their lifetime series, Svidler has claimed victory in both of their two most recent encounters and held Kramnik to two draws at the 2007 World Championship tournament, an additional victory for Peter at the 2005 Russian Superfinal simply being a cherry on the sundae. The Petrov may make a return, but do not disclude the possibility of a return to explorations of the Sicilian.

Vassily Ivanchuk (2757 – World #13)

Overall: 8 Wins, 26 Draws, 4 Losses
White: 4 Wins, 16 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 4 Wins, 10 Draws, 4 Losses

In team events, where results matter to more than just the individual, Ivanchuk and Kramnik have tended to draw. The implications of a shot at the world title have never been a theme in their encounters, however, so the resultant changes in their approach will be interesting to observe. The two may dispense with recent efforts and return to sharp Sicilian lines, although the temptation to play the Slav or Semi-Slav will be strong.

Alexander Grischuk (2764 – World #10)

Overall: 1 Win, 11 Draws, 0 Losses
White: 1 Win, 6 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 0 Wins, 5 Draws, 0 Losses

As leading players in the world’s leading chess nation, it is surprising to see that Grischuk and Kramnik have not met more than a dozen times at standard time controls. By and large, draws have been the order of the day, but Kramnik did manage to take a maiden victory in their most recent game at the 2012 Tal Memorial. The 2007 World Championship tournament saw the two draw both games, one in 13 moves, while the 2011 Candidates tournament saw a 16-move draw to start and ended with Kramnik’s elimination in the tiebreak games. Grischuk will prove resilient, but count on Kramnik to attempt to use his momentum to advantage. The Petrov has been a common tool for Kramnik, but expect for it to be dropped in his games against Grischuk.

Teimour Radjabov (2793 – World #4)

Overall: 2 Wins, 13 Draws, 0 Losses
White: 2 Wins, 5 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 0 Wins, 8 Draws, 0 Losses

As one of a handful of leading members in the younger generation, Radjabov seems to have had fewer opportunities to face Kramnik up to this point. All told, however, Kramnik is +2 against the Azerbaijani and should hang tough again. Their 2011 Candidates match saw Radjabov controversially eliminated, but fortune may yet swing Teimour’s way. Expect a Queen’s Gambit Declined between these two.

Levon Aronian (2809 – World #3)

Overall: 6 Wins, 17 Draws, 2 Losses
White: 5 Wins, 5 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 1 Win, 12 Draws, 1 Loss

Kramnik has shown little love to Aronian in OTB play, although they are on good terms off it. Their training match in Zurich last year was a landmark event that may shape their approach to this all-important tournament, while the 1.5-0.5 margin secured by Kramnik over Aronian in their two games at the 2007 FIDE World Champion speaks to what he is capable of doing. Count on fighting play, with the Ruy Lopez and Semi-Slav possibly making a return as a means of resolving those conversations.

Magnus Carlsen (2872 – World #1)

Overall: 4 Wins, 10 Draws, 3 Losses
White: 3 Wins, 5 Draws, 2 Losses
Black: 1 Win, 5 Draws, 1 Loss

While Carlsen has been busy ascending the chess ladder, building his resume at a pace like few before him, Kramnik has maintained an edge in their lifetime score. They have yet to meet in an event of the magnitude that the Candidates tournament represents, but, even in lesser events, they are inclined to fight. Expect Carlsen’s repertoire to have been shaken up for this event. Kramnik may, therefore, stick with the English as white.

Overall Stats Against Field

Repertoire white

Kramnik can hardly be considered to be misfortunate in any opening as White, but his success against the Sicilian may speak to a preference to avoid it. He may, instead, continue to primarily employ various Queen’s Gambit lines in this tournament.

Repertoire black

Kramnik’s success in playing Anti-Nimzo Indian and Old Sicilian lines has been relatively poor. The Petrov, on the other hand, has been extraordinarily good to him, while the Berlin has been a favourite as well. For the most part, expect for him to stick with what works.

The Candidates Tournament in London

The London Candidates 2013 will be the strongest tournament of its kind in history. The Prize Fund to be shared by the players totals €510,000. The winner of the Candidates will become the Challenger to Viswanathan Anand who has reigned as World Champion since 2007.

Full information on the Candidates – pairings and commentary schedule

Links

• World Chess Web Site
• FIDE Web Site