Kramnik Channels Tal and Blows Away Carlsen

(Photo of the ceremonial first move. Kramnik plays white while Carlsen has black.)

Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik frequently faces criticism from chess fans about his boring approach and far too many short draws in the Catalan or Petroff openings. At the Dortmund tournament in Germany, Kramnik defied his usual style and demonstrated that even a positional genius can entertain with a flurry of tactics when the position warrants. His opponent was none other than Magnus Carlsen, the 18 year old Norwegian superstar whom most pundits pick to soon become world champion.

The action begins with a simple pawn sacrifice 18. f5 to weaken the king and culminates with a decisive rook sacrifice on e6. Your silicon monster may demonstrate that black seems to survive with 25... Qc5, but no human would find the variation 25... Qc5 26. Ne4 Qxc4 27. Nf6 and now Ke7!?!? Amazingly, white can't exploit the discovered check.

Enjoy the game below! I most certainly did.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund
Kramnik vs. Carlsen

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h 0

(white to move) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nh5 13. O-O Nxf4 14. exf4 g6 15. g3 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17. Rd1 Bd7 18. f5 gxf5 19. Qd2 Qb6 20. Qh6 Be8 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kf8 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rd6 Qc7 26. Qh6+ Ke7 27. Qh4+ Kf8 28. Qh6+ Ke7 29. Nb5 Qa5 30. b4 Nxb4 31. Rxe6+ fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kd8 33. Qf6+ Kc8 34. Qxf5+ Kd8 35. Qf6+ Kc8 36. axb4

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