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Vladimir Kramnik wins World Championship in Rapid Playoff

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Vladimir Kramnik wins World Championship in Rapid Playoff

Vladimir Kramnik won both of his white games in a rapid playoff, including the final game, to win the unified World Chess Championship over Veselin Topalov. Kramnik emerged victorious by the score of 2.5-1.5 in the playoff, after a 6-6 tie in the main championship match.

The victory by Kramnik averted a potential dispute in the wake of this highly controversial match - in more ways than one.

Had Topalov won the match, Kramnik - and much of the chess world - may not have recognized him as champion, as he won one point from a Game Five forfeit. Although he vowed to finish the match no matter what, Kramnik stated repeatedly that he was doing so under protest - and that he wouldn't accept a Topalov victory if the forfeited game was a factor in the final result.

Chess fans may have been just as happy that Kramnik - or anyone - won the title in the rapid tiebreaks, rather than the match continuing further. Had the rapid match ended in a 2-2 tie, the players would have moved on to blitz tiebreakers - certainly not what most observers wanted to see decide the World Championship.

Topalov drew white in the first game of the tiebreaker, but was unable to break through, securing just a draw. Kramnik won the second game, putting him on the verge of clinching the championship. However, Topalov tied the match at 1.5-1.5 by convincingly winning with white in Game Three.

With the score tied and just one game left, Kramnik was still in good position, as he held the white pieces for the final game. Topalov seemed to have good drawing chances, but Kramnik pressed, slowing increasing his advantage and increasingly putting pressure on Topalov's position. With the position still in doubt, Topalov played 44...Rxc5 - blundering away the game, and the match.

Topalov has suggested that he would like a return match with Kramnik in the spring; however, Kramnik has shown no interest in such a match thusfar.

The match featured an interesting first: it was the first World Championship match in which every game began with the same move, 1. d4.

Here is Kramnik's clinching victory in Game Four of the rapid playoff.

White: Vladimir Kramnik (2743)
Black: Veselin Topalov (2813)
World Chess Championship, Rapid Playoff Game 4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 20. Bf1 Na4 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 33. Ra3 Rc2 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3 40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxc5 45. Rb7+ 1-0