Kramnik makes timely sacrifice for safety

Extreme tension categorised the opening of Game 7 in the world championship match at Bonn. The players concluded an interesting and hard-fought draw in the game. World champion Viswanathan Anand holds a 5-2 lead in the best-of-12 match and challenger Vladimir Kramnik will try especially hard to pull back by scoring his first win in Game 8, where he has the white pieces. In fact, Kramnik must score at least one win inside Games 8-10 to keep the match alive.

Anand moved away from the razor-sharp Bonn Variation of the Meran that he invented for this match after scoring two successive wins. However, he opted for yet another unbalanced system with the Vienna Variation of the Queens Gambit declined. Anand also played the first new idea with 10. Bxb5 but it immediately transposed back into known channels.

After move 18, both players appeared to be out of home analysis and they have each spent about 55 minutes. It appears to be yet another completely unclear position, though not quite as tactically violent as the two Meran Defences that preceded it.

Black has refused to castle yet again. This is the sixth time Anand has eschewed castling during this match and it is becoming a trademark. White has space and a better pawn structure. Black has a compact central pawn mass, and open lines such as the d and g files and the b6-g1 diagonal to try and work up an attack. Both sides have reasonably active pieces. Material is balanced.

The programmes say white is somewhat better but it is a very dynamic position where any of the three theoretical results currently appears to be possible. Anand seems to be sticking to his game plan to stir up complications, despite being well ahead. Kramnik may have to take risks and sacrifice material to exploit what advantage he may possess.

Game 7 suggested that Anand was playing for a tactical KO rather than trying to coast through with a three-point lead. The Indian GM refused an early draw in the game and gradually worked up an apparent advantage. However, Kramnik made a timely pawn sacrifice to steer safely into a “fortress”. Anand had no means of king-penetration within Kramnik’s defensive structure and after simplification, the peace treaty was signed.