Reigning world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and his Hungarian challenger, Peter Leko, drew the tenth game of the their scheduled 14-game match for the world title in the Swiss resort of Brissago minutes ago.
The draw was agreed in lieu of Black (Leko) making his thirty-fifth move.
Most observers believe that Kramnik, playing White, had a strong winning advantage until playing the inferior
24 d5, blocking the maneuverability of his own pieces in the center. This allowed Leko to equalize after a few moves.
The winner of the match will be the first player to obtain 7½ points with a victory counting as a full point and a draw as half a point. Kramnik will retain the title in the event the match ends in a 7-7 tie.
The draw is only technically better than a loss for Kramnik, who trails in the match 5½-4½. Kramnik will need to score two points in the next three games or he will lose his title to Leko. Leko, like Kramnik, is regarded as a cautious player who relies on superior technical prowess to avoid losing games and only takes risks when there is a clear chance of winning. Such players are very difficult to beat in a single game. Kramnik's task is not made easier in that Leko will have the advantage of the first move in two of the next three games.
Kramnik won the title four years ago by defeating long-time champion Garry Kasparov, considered by many to be the greatest chess master of all time, in a match held in London.
The eleventh game of the match is scheduled for Tuesday at 3 pm Swiss time (6 am PDT). Leko will play White.
Official Match Site.
Some quality
kibitzing (including some of my own) on ChessGames.com.
Analysis of the game may be up later today on
ChessBase.com
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