Vladmir Kramnik dominates CEZ match against Navara

5/15/2008 – Their rating difference is just 116 points. But former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik is dominating the rapid chess match against top Czech GM David Navara. Kramnik won the first three of eight games, drawing the fourth for a halftime stand of 3.5:0.5. A big gala event kicked off the CEZ Chess Trophy, with blindfold chess and (you believe it) hacky sack displays. Illustrated report.

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CEZ Chess Trophy 2008

14th-18th May 2008, in Prague

The event is an eight-game rapid chess match between the world's second highest ranked player, former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and the top grandmaster of the Czech Republic, David Navara.

The rate of play is 25 minutes per player per game, with a five second increment per move. Two games are played per day from Wednesday, May 14th and Sunday, May 18th, starting at 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Friday is a free day with simultaneous exhibitions by the 2008 Czech champion Vlastimil Babula and by Vladimir Kramnik.

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the Playchess server.

The event is also host to an exhibition of humorous chess drawings and cartoons.

Results of the first four games

Players
Rtng
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
Total
Vladimir Kramnik
2788
1
1
1
½
3.5
David Navara
2672
0
0
0
½
0.5

Click to replay the games


Vladimir Kramnik at Prague airport


The opening ceremony with a sumptuous buffet


Vladimir Kramnik speaks with match commentator Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek


... and with GM Sergei Movsesian (perspective distortion – Sergei is not a Hobbit)


A blindfold chess exhibition with GM Marek Vokac playing against WGM Katerina Nemcova, with the great blindfold master GM Vlastimil Hort executing the moves on the sensor board and referee Pavel Votruba watching.


A demonstration by Vasek Klouda, world champion in hacky sack


Curious? Here's what a Vasek Klouda performance looks like. There is plenty more in YouTube


Press conference with David Navara and Vladimir Kramnik


After the first half Vladmir Kramnik leads by 3.5:0.5 points

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Video

The Elephant Gambit

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.

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