"I’m really happy that the Crown remains in Russia,” Kramnik said a few minutes after the victory.
Photo: Vasily Deryugin
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Vladimir Kramnik Sweeps the Board
Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik has become World Chess Champion in the first unified chess match since 1993, beating Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov in tie break games 2.5 – 1.5. Russia has been holding the World Champion title for 30 years.
The world has got a new champion in the first unified World Chess Championship game since 1993.
The regulation time of the match ended in a draw – 6-6, and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had to suggest a tie break. Winning tie break games 2.5 – 1.5, Russia’s Vladimir Kramlin crushed Veselin Topalov in the World Championship Match 8.5 – 7.5.
“I’m really happy that the Crown remains in Russia,” Kramnik said a few minutes after the victory. “I can compare this achievement only to a win over Garry Kasparov. Taking into account the environment that my rivals have created, the victory was a matter of principle for me.”
Indeed, Kramnik simply had to defeat the Bulgarian rival whose team tried to accuse the Russian of cheating in what came to known as a toilet scandal. The Bulgarians said Kramnik was using the restroom too often. In case of Topalov’s victory, some national chess federation and masters would probably decline to recognize the Bulgarian as the champion.
Russian chess players keep on holding the chess crown for three decades, since Bobby Fischer pulled out of the match with Anatoly Karpov.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 14, 2006
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