Both games were hard-fought draws, with World Champion Vishy Anand pressing, but unable to overcome Peter Leko's defence. In the end Anand had won 5-3. We bring you games with GM analysis and pictures of the final day in Miskolc. For his victory Anand received an equisite crystal glass trophy (and Peter Leko a smaller one). We used the opportunity to visit the artist who made them.
This is definitely his tournament: Vladimir Kramnik won it eight times previously, and after an inauspicious start the former World Champion mopped up in the second half to finish a full point ahead of his nearest rivals. They were Peter Leko, Magnus Carlsen and Dmitry Jakovenko, all at 5.5/10 points. Kramnik's performance: 2848. Final report with statistics.
It starts in the evening at 20:08h local time with a big opening gala which has show stars and musical performances. Over 500 persons are involved in the show.
Peter Leko, who was in the lead after the penultimate round, drew his game in 31 moves. Since his closest rivals, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Jan Gustafsson drew their game (in 22 moves) Leko became the sole winner with his plus two score. The shocker came when Vladimir Kramnik stumbled against Ivanchuk to end in seventh place.
Today it was all about one player. After Grischuk and Kramnik drew their game in 35 minutes and 13 moves; and after Gelfand and Svidler ceased hostilities after 22; and the Leko vs Aronian battle ended peacefully after 56 moves; we saw Anand going for the kill against Morozevich. His win leaves him a point and a half ahead of his nearest rival.
The summit game was sharp – heart-stoppingly so. Anand uncorked some deep preparation in a Semi-Slav, Kramnik fought back with ambitious intentions, Anand defended well and in fact took the initiative. The game ended after 41 moves in a draw, which left Anand a point ahead of the field. Aronian drew first blood, beating Grischuk in 42 moves of a QGD.
It was quite a shocker, first with Alexander Morozevich beating Vladimir Kramnik to relegate the world champion to fifth place; and then, late in the evening, Alexander Grischuk, who had lost his previous two games, bounced back with a victory over Boris Gelfand. This left Vishy Anand, who drew against Aronian, with a one-point lead on the table.
The duel of the leaders, Gelfand vs Anand, ended in a draw, which left Anand still in the lead in the world championship in Mexico. Peter Leko defeated Alexander Grischuk to get to 50% and move to fourth place on the table. The other two games were drawn. Saturday is a free day.
