Kramnik Wins Tal Memorial |
By Jennifer Shahade | |
November 19, 2007 | |
Vladimir Kramnik won the Tal Memorial with 6.5/9, one a half points
ahead of the field. American representative, Gata Kamsky,
finished with 4/9. The only decisive game of the final two rounds was Kramnik's impressive strategic victory over Shakiyar Mamedyarov. 1348 Tal Memorial Moscow, Russia, Nov.9-19 Final Standings 1. Vladimir Kramnik, RUS 2785- 6.5 2. Alexei Shirov, ESP 2739-5 3-6. Peter Leko, HUN 2755, Boris Gelfand ISR 2736, Magnus Carlsen, NOR 2714 and Dmitry Jakovenko- 4.5 7-9. Vassily Ivanchuk, UKR 2787, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, AZE 2752 and Gata Kamsky, USA 2714-4 10. Evgeny Alekseev, RUS 2716-3.5 Gata Kamsky's final two games against Ivanchuk and Carlsen were like mirror images of another. In both games, Black chose to sacrifice a pawn in opposite colored bishop endings to simplify slightly worse positions. 1349 1347 Although Gata's result is not earth-shaterring, American fans can hope this will prepare him well for the World Cup. (Nov.24-Dec.16) |