The Anna Politkovskaya slaying – is Kasparov in danger?

10/13/2006 – On October 7th the US born Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in the elevator of her apartment block in central Moscow. Her writings were very critical of the Russian government and army, she was a fervent supporter of human rights and the rule of law. The same can be said about Garry Kasparov, who now himself feels threatened.

Elista 2006: Before the tiebreak showdown

10/13/2006 – Armageddon. Friday the 13th. This is going to be one of the tensest days in modern chess history. The World Chess Championship will be decided in four rapid chess tiebreak games, with two blitz games to follow if necessary, and then a sudden-death final. Before the action begins here are excerpts from the game 12 press conference.

Fresh and entertaining into strategy and tactics

10/12/2006 – The famous British grandmaster Peter Wells was one of the very first authors who made a training course in the new Chess Media format. The content of his CD is however agelessly valid and fascinating. For "Strategy and Tactics" is what probably every chess player deserves to improve at any time of his career. Buy it now! or read this review.

Elista 2006: game 12 drawn, match ends 6:6

10/12/2006 – The twelfth game of the World Championship match between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov ended after 3h 50 min in a 47-move draw, with Topalov harboring slight hopes to win. This leaves the final score at 6:6. The tiebreaks will be played tomorrow, Friday the 13th (oops!). Full report and analysis of game 12.

Andrew Martin – Chess in Bulgaria

10/11/2006 – It is doubtlessly thriving, and doubtlessly thanks to the Bulgarian World Champion Veselin Topalov. Our Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin pulls out a fascinating Old Indian from the national team championship this week's show. See you on the server!

Elista 2006: Game eleven drawn, score 5.5:5.5

10/11/2006 – The eleventh (penultimate) game of the World Chamionship match between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik was a fighting draw and ended after five hours and 66 moves. In the last part of the game it was Kramnik with black who was pressing for a win. Wednesday is a free day, the final drama will be played out on Thursday. Full report with analysis by GM Mihail Marin

News and views on the World Championship

10/10/2006 – A letter of support by "famous Bulgarian grandmasters" for Veselin Topalov. What did the President of Bulgaria say to the President of FIDE? Is the new Appeals Committee in Elista really neutral? Could Topalov sue FIDE if the result of game five were reversed? And look who's calling for a boycott of the Topalov team. Here's a collection of news items from different countries.

Elista 2006: Scandalous and unscandalous impressions

10/10/2006 – The match was not abandoned and the biggest meltdown in chess history averted. Games eight and nine brought a turn-around for FIDE champion Veselin Topalov. Game ten turned it back again in classical champion Vladimir Kramnik's favour. Our correspondent in Elista, Misha Savinov, send us his latest impressions.

Vladimir Kramnik: We will sue FIDE!

10/10/2006 – After being forfeited on game five Vladimir Kramnik reluctantly agreed to play game six and thus allow the World Championship match to continue. But will he accept the result, and play a tie-break if the match ends 6-6 according to FIDE counting (6-5 according to Kramnik's)? In a press release he iterates his immediate and postgame plans and intentions.

Boris Spassky recovering from minor stroke

10/9/2006 – During a lecture tour in San Francisco the legendary tenth world champion Boris Spassky, 69, suffered a mild stroke. He was taken to hospital where he is recovering completely, with no loss of physical or mental abilities. Before the incident Spassky gave a simul (+20 =5) and spoke about the current world championship crisis, comparing it to the 1972 problems with Fischer.

Topalov: My manager Danailov did an extraordinary job

10/9/2006 – The Bulgarian daily TRUD has published a candid interview with Veselin Topalov. In it the national hero praises the work of his manager Silvio Danailov, who "won all legal battles", criticises Kramnik for never adhering to any principles, and the ChessBase newspage as a shame for a developed European state. Hot stuff.

Vladimir Kramnik: I deserved this victory

10/9/2006 – The classical chess world champion was satisfied, the FIDE champion despondent. Vladimir Kramnik answered questions with enthusiasm at the press conference after game ten, Veselin Topalov was subdued. Interesting: what Kramnik felt when he saw 24…f6 and why Topalov played this game-loser. Transcript.

Elista 2006: Kramnik wins game ten, score now 5:5

10/8/2006 – Garry Kasparov, watching the game on Playchess and analysing 24...Bxb5!?, took all of fifty milliseconds to react to Topalov's 24...f6?? "But doesn't that lose? Of course it loses!" Right he was, the game, which had brought Kramnik advantages out of the opening, was now a clear win. With two games to go the score is now 5:5. Report and analysis.

You want a war? How about Karpov-Korchnoi 1978?

10/8/2006 – If you think the Kramnik-Topalov match is acrimonious, you should look at the 1978 match between Anatoly Karpov and Soviet defector Viktor Korchnoi. They battled over yogurt, visitors in the audience, but also viciously on the chessboard. In his Monday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos looks at game 17.

Makropoulos on the World Championship Crisis

10/7/2006 – He was in the middle of the events that led to the interruption of the World Championship, the forfeiting of game five, protests of both players, and the resumption of play. But the Sept. 29 report of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos did not receive the attention it deserved. Here's an audio excerpt from the press conference and the full Makropoulos statement.

Korchnoi: 'I would have walked out!'

10/7/2006 – Actually, if we were sensationalist our headline would have been: Viktor Korchnoi: "I agree with Karpov!" For once the great chess veteran of three world championship matches joins his arch-opponent – in these matches and life in general – in supporting Kramnik in the World Championship crisis. Viktor is also worried about chess being dragged into the toilet. How will we find sponsors?

Elista 2006: Topalov wins game nine

10/7/2006 – The ninth game of the World Chamionship match between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik was won by FIDE Champion Veselin Topalov. The Bulgarian now leads by 5:4 points, with three games left. A recordbreaking 8,500 visitors logged in simultaneously on the Playchess server, with GM Yasser Seirawan providing live audio commentary. Report and analysis.

The role of the Appeals Committee

10/6/2006 – In his "Layman's Guide to Match Officials" Yasser Seirawan restricted the duties of the Appeals Committee to appeals concerning a decision made my the Chief Arbiter of a match. But their powers and duties go further, says GM Bartlomiej Macieja, who had a close encounter with the Appeals Committee during the FIDE world championship in Las Vegas in 1999. Here is his harrowing tale.

Open letter by GMs Bareev and Svidler

10/5/2006 – With the crisis of the World Championship in full bloom, two friends, colleagues and former seconds of Vladimir Kramnik flew down to Elista to provide moral support. Grandmasters Evgeny Bareev and Peter Svidler spent two days with Kramnik, trying to get his spirits up. Now, back home again, they call for consequences – and sackings.

Elista Express: Topalov wins game eight with black

10/5/2006 – The eighth game between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov, a Semi-Slav Meran, ended after four and a half hours and 52 moves with the first over-the-board victory for FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov in this match. The official score is now 4:4, with four games to go. Full report with commentary by Mihail Marin and a remarkable Kramnik interview after game seven.

Silvio Danailov accuses Kramnik of using Fritz 9

10/4/2006 – "After very detailed analysis of all games of the match," the manager of Veselin Topalov writes this morning (15 minutes before the start of game seven), "we would like to present to your attention coincidence statistics of the moves of GM Kramnik with recommendations of chess program Fritz 9." What's going on?

Elista 2006: Game seven drawn, Kramnik leads 4:3

10/4/2006 – Topalov could not get any significant advantage from his third white gamein a row, a Queen's Gambit Accepted. He sacrificed two pawns in order to get some activity, but his initiative was just sufficient to maintain the balance even. The game ended after 60 move in a draw by repetition. Full report.

Hensel: 'They may try to plant a device in Kramnik's room'

10/4/2006 – After game seven we received a letter written by Kramnik' manager Carsten Hensel to the head of the World Championship Committee (the correct addressee!) expressing concern that a member of the Topalov team might try to place an electronic device in Kramnik's room to provoke a new scandal. The Elista War continues.

A Layman's Guide to Match Officials

10/4/2006 – The crisis in Elista was sparked off by a protest by Topalov, a decision of the Appeals Committee, its rejection by Kramnik and the subsequent forfeit of game five. But was the Appeals Committee empowered to decide on the matter, or take receipt of the protest in the first place? An experienced grandmaster explains the situation comprehensively in this important document.