64th Russian Championship – Svidler beats Kramnik in round one

This year's Russian championship marks its 64th edition, yet also marks the shortest championship in history with a mere seven rounds to determine the winner. It makes up for it somewhat with a stellar field including Kramnik, Karjakin, Grischuk and more, and fantastic video coverage. Svidler beats Kramnik in the very first round, staking a strong claim on the title.

Round one

In such a short tournament, a strong start or a weak one can decide the event from the beginning as there is little time to play catch-up. Astonishingly, the only decisive result came from Vladimir Kramnik, fresh from a fantastic tournament in Dortmund just weeks ago, but it was a shock loss to Peter Svidler. All other games ended in draws.

Svidler, Peter2739–Kramnik, Vladimir27811–0A0764th ch-RUS108.08.2011

1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.bd2 bd7 6.h3h5 7.g4 g6 8.h4 e6 9.e3 d6 10.e2 c7 11.0-00-0-0 12.b1N An interesting and flexible novelty by Svidler. Though the rook is now positioned to push b4, there is no immediate hurry, and this useful move forces Kramnik to show his hand first.12.f4 h6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.f3 e5 15.h4 exf4 16.exf4he8 17.f2 c5 18.d4 b6 19.b4 e4 20.xe4 xe421.c3 de8 22.xg6 c5 23.bxc5 xc5 24.f3 a425.d2 xc3 26.xc3 e3 27.xd5 xc3 28.ae1 d829.f5+ b8 30.h2 xd4 31.e2 a6 32.fe1 a733.e4 b6 34.e5 d4 35.f5 g5 36.fxg5 dd3 37.g2g3+ 38.f1 g1# 0-1 (38) Morozevich,A (2755)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008 12...a5?! It is often noted that when outside their known territory, GMs play weaker, and it seems even Kramnik is not above this rule. Kramnik chooses an odd plan with almost beginner-like directness (Bb8-Qc7... Qh2 mate?), but that doesn't really do a lot for the rest of his position. There is little way the bishop is better behind the queen. 13.a3 b8 14.f4 e5? Really not his day. It is a red flag to box in his bishop with ...f5 so the question beckons: what is preventing Svidler from doing exactly that? 15.f5 e416.dxe4 c7 17.f4! de8 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.hf3 b620.e5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.f3 White has some work to do, but the extra piece should be decisive. h7 23.c4? A flawed idea that nearly throws the win away.Instead 23.h4! preventing Ng5 and threatening Rxf7 was best.f523...f6 24.g5 h5 25.xf7 24.gxf5 f6 25.fxg6 xh4 26.b4!+- 23...g5 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.f1 b8 26.b4 d4 27.d2 e728.c1 dxe3? A pity for the winner of Dortmund. After climbing out of the hole with the help of his opponent, Black errs and is once again in deep trouble.28...d3! 29.xd329.f2 d6 29...xf3+ 30.xf3 xh3 31.g2 h8 32.e1 d8 and White may be better, but it is far from won. 29.xe3 d4? Last chance to grab the exchange. 30.g3!xe3+ 31.xe3 he8 32.c3 a6 33.f2 f6 34.c2 xf2+35.xf2 e2+ 36.f1 d2 37.gd3 ee2 38.xd2 xd239.e3 e6 40.c4 d1+ 41.f2 f4 42.f3 a1 43.h4g5 44.h51–0
(YOU CAN SEE THIS NOTATION BY USING CBASE)[Event "64th ch-RUS"][Site "Moscow RUS"][Date "2011.08.08"][Round "1"][White "Svidler, Peter"][Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"][Result "1-0"][ECO "A07"][WhiteElo "2739"][BlackElo "2781"][PlyCount "87"][EventDate "2011.08.08"]
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4 e6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Rb1 Qa5 13. a3 Bb8 14. f4 e5 15. f5e4 16. dxe4 Qc7 17. Rf4 Rde8 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Nhf3 Qb6 20. e5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5Bxe5 22. Rf3 Nh7 23. c4 Ng5 24. cxd5 cxd5 25. Nf1 Kb8 26. b4 d4 27. Bd2 Re7 28.Rc1 dxe3 29. Bxe3 Bd4 30. Rg3 Bxe3+ 31. Nxe3 Rhe8 32. Rc3 a6 33. Qf2 f6 34. Nc2Qxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Re2+ 36. Kf1 Rd2 37. Rgd3 Ree2 38. Rxd2 Rxd2 39. Ne3 Ne6 40. Nc4Rd1+ 41. Kf2 Nf4 42. Bf3 Ra1 43. h4 g5 44. h5 1-0