[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Annotator "Coleman,J / Pein,M"]
[PlyCount "130"]

{Comments by James Coleman with addition comments by Malcolm Pein (MP).
Defending champion Vladimir Kramnik has got off to a flying start in his
defence of the title, winning the first game with the Black pieces. Playing
the ultra solid Petroff Defence, the game livened up when Kramnik was forced
to sacrifice his Queen for Rook and Bishop. Most spectators, including myself
thought that White had some advantage, but it quickly became clear that the
Black position was very solid, and in the post game press conference the
players agreed that result of the game should be a draw. Leko said that one of
his problems was that the position after twenty-seven moves reminded him of a
Grunfeld which he loves to play as Black and he found this psychologically
difficult.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8
14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 {So far,we are still well inside theory. 16
h3 is an interesting psychological choice by Leko, as it was Kramnik's own
choice when he played against Anand in Corus 2003.} 16... Be4 (16... Bf6 {
was Anand's choice but after} 17. Nh2 Qa5 18. Bd2 Rcd8 19. Bf3 h6 20. Ng4 Bxg4
21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 {
and then according to Huzman White could have got a clear advantage by} 23. Qc1
Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Kf8 25. Rb1 Re8 26. Qc1) 17. Be3 Na5 {As Leko said after the
game, this move is provocative, and White takes up the challenge.} 18. c4 ({
The most direct.} 18. Nd2 {
was also possible as the g pawn could not be captured:} 18... Bxg2 19. c4 Qc6
20. d5 $18 Qg6 21. Bh5 Bf3+ 22. Bxg6 Bxd1 23. Bf5 $1 {MP}) 18... Nxc4 19. Bxc4
Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qd5 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Bg5 Qxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Bxg5 24. Qa5 Bf6 {
This looked very dicey for Black but now it looks as if Kramnik had obviously
predicted it all. He has a solid enough structure and if he can somehow secure
his queenside pawns he might have a blockade. However at this stage most
people thought that White looked to have the better chances.} (24... Bf4 25.
Qxa7 b6 {was an alternative suggestion, aiming for a complete blockade. At
first sight move observers figured this was the plan. After all Kramnik is now
famous for sacrificing his queen for a blockade. Kramnik had used very little
time and it seems the whole idea had been prepared at home.-MP}) 25. Qxa7 c5 {
But no, this method causes White far more problems because Black gets a passed
c pawn. The down side is the White passed a pawn but this is more than
outweighed by the mobility of the c pawn and a nice 'anchor square' for the
bishop on d4. Good stuff from Kramnik he could have played safe and made a
draw with black.-MP} 26. Qxb7 Bxd4 27. Ra2 c4 28. Re2 Red8 ({
Kramnik naturally saw that} 28... c3 {was not a good idea for example} 29.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Qd7 Rb8 31. Qxd4 c2 32. Qd2 $1 {
when Black's back rank problems stop him from playing Rb1+ and c1Q.}) 29. a4 {
Played instantly by Leko.} (29. Rd2 {
Threat Rxd4 looks safer but Leko must have been playing for the win} 29... c3 (
29... Bf6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qc6 c3 32. a4 h6 33. a5 Rd2 34. a6 Bd4 (34... Ra2
35. Kf1 $1 c2 (35... Bd4 $2 36. Qe8+ Kh7 37. Qe4+ g6 38. Qxd4 c2 39. Qc3 $18)
36. a7 Rxa7 37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Qxc2+ {should be a draw}) 35. a7 Bxa7 36. Qxc3
Rxf2 {Will be drawn}) 30. Rxd4 c2 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8 32. Qc7 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 c1=Q 34.
Qb8+ {is similar to the above note -MP}) 29... c3 30. Qe4 Bb6 31. Qc2 {
Well, I was probably wrong about White being better and now the position is
starting to look quite pleasant for Kramnik. The Queen does not look happy
blockading the c-pawn and there are ideas such as ...Ba5 and Rd2, possibly
after some prophylaxis like g6 and Kg7. Clock times at this point : Leko - 11
minutes to reach move forty, Kramnik - just over half an hour.} 31... g6 32.
Qb3 Rd6 33. Rc2 {After the game, Leko was critical of his play around this
time, and said that once he reached this position, he began to immediately
look for ways to bring his queen back to e4.} 33... Ba5 34. g4 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcd8
36. Rxc3 {giving some material to free himself. But now Black can aim to
double up against the a pawn, and win it - he should be able to do this. Then
the two rooks against queen ending is nice for Black, although maybe White can
hold as it will be difficult for Kramnik to infiltrate with his rooks without
allowing a perpetual.} (36. Rc1 $5 Rb2 37. Qc4 Rdd2 38. Qc5 {Is very scary but}
38... Bb6 39. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 40. Kg3 {Seems OK - MP} (40. Kh1 Rh2#)) 36... Bxc3 37.
Qxc3 R2d5 38. Qc6 Ra5 39. Kg3 Rda8 40. h4 R5a6 41. Qc1 {An ending, with
exactly the same material balance as this one, and with all the pawns on the
same files, occurred in Gurgenidze-Averbakh USSR Championship 1961, and it saw
the rooks triumph over the queen. However in that game the defending side's
pawns were placed worse than here. Thanks to Susan Polgar for pointing this
out on ICC.} 41... Ra5 42. Qh6 Rxa4 43. h5 R4a5 44. Qf4 $2 {
Probably the decisive mistake.} (44. hxg6 {
was necessary to prevent what happens in the game.}) 44... g5 45. Qf6 h6 $1 46.
f3 (46. Qxh6 {is not possible because of} 46... R8a6) 46... R5a6 {Kramnik's bas
ic plan is to get a position with his king on g7 and rooks on squares such as
f6 and f4, winning the f3 pawn and the game. It is incredible to watch the
inexorable way which the World Champion carries out the idea.} 47. Qc3 Ra4 48.
Qc6 R8a6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qb5 R4a5 51. Qb4 Rd5 52. Qb3 Rad6 53. Qc4 Rd3 54. Kf2
Ra3 55. Qc5 Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Rf6 57. Qb4 Raa6 58. Kg2 Rf4 59. Qb2+ Raf6 {And there 
we have it. Leko could safely resign now but plays on for a few moves to see
if it is really true.} 60. Qe5 Rxf3 61. Qa1 Rf1 62. Qc3 R1f2+ 63. Kg3 R2f3+ 64.
Qxf3 Rxf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kf6 {It goes without saying that the is is the worst
possible start from Leko. Needing to win the match, as Kramnik retains the
title in the event of a tie, after the champions convincing display today,
it's clear that the Hungarian has a mountain to climb.} 0-1

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.09.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[PlyCount "35"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 ({RR} 10. a3 Bc5 11. Nc3 d6 12. Nd5 h6 13. c3 Ba7 14. Be3
Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nd7 16. Ba2 Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Ng4 {
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Dortmund GER 2004/The Week in Chess 508 (19)}) 10...
Bb4 ({RR} 10... h6 11. a3 ({RR} 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 Bc5 13. a5 Rb8 14. Be3 Bxe3
15. fxe3 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 d6 17. Rf1 {
1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Tkachiev,V/New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 80 (17)}) 11... Bc5 12.
Nd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. c3 Ba7 15. Qf3 Nxd5 16. exd5 d6 17. Kh1 Bc8 18. Qg3
Kh7 19. a4 b4 20. cxb4 Bd4 21. Rb1 f5 22. Bd2 f4 23. Qf3 Qh4 24. Kg1 Rf8 25.
Bc3 {Aarthie,R-Vijayalakshimi,S/India 2000/0-1 (36)}) ({RR} 10... d6 11. a4 Na5
12. Ba2 b4 13. Ne2 c5 14. Ng3 Bc8 15. Ng5 Rf8 16. f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 b3 18. cxb3
Rb8 19. Nf3 Be6 20. Nd2 Nc6 21. Nc4 Bxc4 22. dxc4 g6 23. Bb1 Nd7 24. Bc2 Nde5
25. Ne2 {Lukin,A-Jenni,F/Biel SUI 2004/The Week in Chess 508/0-1 (82)}) ({RR} 
10... b4 11. Ne2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Ba4 Qd6 15. Ne4 Qd7 16. Be3
Nxe3 17. Rxe3 Rad8 18. Nfg5 Be7 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Bb3+ Kf8 21. Qf3+ {
1-0 Ramesh,R-Joshi,G/Calcutta 2000 (21)}) 11. Ng5 $146 (11. Bd2 Na5 12. Nd5
Nxb3 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. axb3 Bf8 15. c4 b4 16. Nh2 Qe6 17. Qf3 a5 18. Ng4 Ra6
19. Ne3 Bc5 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Ne3 Bc5 22. Nd5 Qd6 23. Be3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 c5 25. f4
exf4 26. Qxf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Ivanchuk,V/Monte Carlo 2003 (54)})
11... Rf8 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 15. f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Bxd5
Qxg5 18. Bxb7 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.07.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 ({Kamsky, Gata -
Yusupov, Arthur (1-0) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6
7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6} 13. cxd5 Qxd5
14. Bf4 Bd6 15. c4 Qe4 16. Be3 Rad8 17. Ra2 b6 18. Re1 Bg6 19. Qc1 Rfe8 20. h3
h6 21. Rd2 Bf8 22. Bd3 Qxd3 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 24. Qc3 Be4 25. Nd2 Bg6 26. Nf3 Be4
27. Bf4 Bxf3 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. gxf3 Bd6 30. Be3 Re6 31. Kf1 Ne7 32. Qd3 c6 33.
c5 Bc7 34. Qa6 b5 35. Qxa7 Nd5 36. Bd2 g5 37. a4 bxa4 38. Qxa4 Kg7 39. Qa8 Bf4
40. Ba5 Bc7 41. Be1 h5 42. Bd2 Bf4 43. Ba5 h4 44. Qc8 Ne7 45. Qd7 Nd5 46. Qb7
Kg8 47. Qb1 Kg7 48. Qc2 Re8 49. Bd2 Kf6 50. Bxf4 Nxf4 51. Qa4 Re6 52. Qa8 Ke7
53. Qc8 Nd5 54. Qg8 f6 55. Qh7+ Ke8 56. f4 Nxf4 57. Qc7 Nd5 58. Qc8+ Ke7 59.
Qb7+ Kf8 60. Qd7 Re4 61. Qxc6 Rxd4 62. Kg1 Rd1+ 63. Kh2 Rd2 64. Qd7 Ne3 65.
Qc8+ Ke7 66. Qb7+ Kd8 67. Qa8+ Ke7 68. Qa7+ Kd8) ({Dvoirys, Semen I - Egin,
Vladimir (1/2-1/2) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6} 13. Nd2 Na5 14.
cxd5 Qxd5 15. Re1 Rad8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Nf1 Rfe8 18. Ne3 Bg6 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. a4
c5 21. d5 c4 22. Ba3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Bd3 24. g3 Qd6 25. Ra2 Qf6 26. Be2 Bxe2 27.
Raxe2 Qxc3 28. Nxc4 Rxe2 29. Qxe2 g6 30. Ne5 Rxd5 31. Nxf7 Kg7 32. Qe8 Qc6 33.
Qh8+ Kxf7 34. Qxh7+ Kf8 35. h4 Nc4 36. Qh8+ Kf7 37. Qh7+ Kf8) ({Altounian, n -
Saulespurens, Valdis (1/2-1/2) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6} 13.
Be3 Bf6 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Nd2 Rfe8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Re1 Na5 18. Nb3) ({
Manca, Federico - Forintos, Gyozo V (1-0) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3
Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.Bd3 d5 7.O-O Nc6 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.
bxc3 Nc6} 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bg5 Be7 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Ne5 Ng6 18.
Bc4 Qa5 19. Re1 Qxc3 20. Rc1 Qxa3 21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Qh5 Be4 24.
Rxc7+ Kg8 25. Qg4 Re8 26. Rc8 Rxc8 27. Qxc8+ Kf7 28. Qc4+ Kf6 29. Rxe4 Qa1+ 30.
Qf1 Qa2 31. h4 Qc2 32. Qe1 h5 33. Qe3 Qd1+ 34. Kh2 Kf7 35. Qg5) 13... Re8 ({
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir - Yusupov, Arthur (1/2-1/2) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.
Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3
12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1} 13... Bf6 14. Bf4 Rc8 15. Qa4 a6 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qb4 c5 18.
dxc5 Nc6 19. Qb3 Na5 20. Qb4 Nc6 21. Qb3 Na5 22. Qb4) ({Ljubojevic, Ljubomir -
Yusupov, Arthur (1/2-1/2) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3
Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1} 
13... dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bd6 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Nh4 Na5 17. Ba2 Bg4 18. Qc2 Rae8 19. h3
Be6 20. c4 Be7 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Nf3 Qd8 23. d5 Bc8 24. c5) 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15.
Bf4 Rac8 16. c4 Qe4 17. Be3 Qc2 18. d5 Na5 19. Nd4 Qxd1 20. Rexd1 Bd7 21. Bd2
Bf6 22. Bxa5 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nd4 12. Ba2 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Bg5 14. Bxg5 Qxg5
15. Nd5 c6 16. Ne3 g6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. c3 c5 19. Bd5 Bc8 20. b4 Nb6 21. c4
Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Be6 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. Rb1 Rb8 25. cxb5 Bxd5 26. exd5 axb5 27. d6
b4 28. a4 Rfd8 29. Qd5 Qf6 30. Qxc5 Qxd6 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. Rxe5 b3 33. Rb5 Ra8
34. R1xb3 Rxa4 35. Rb6 Rd7 36. Rf6 Ra1+ 37. Kh2 Rd1 38. Rf3 h5 39. h4 Rd2 40.
g3 Kg7 41. Kg2 Rd1 42. Re3 Kh7 43. Kf3 Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[PlyCount "137"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8
15. Rc1 a6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. b5 Rxa3 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Ra7 (19... Re6 20.
Rxe6 fxe6 21. Qc1 Qa8 22. Qb2 Bxf3 23. Qxb6 Ra6 24. Qc7 Be4 25. Be5 Ra7 26. Qb6
Ra6 27. Qb5 Ra7 28. Rc1 h6 29. f3 Bg6 30. Qb6 Re7 31. Ra1 Qc8 32. Qd6 Qd7 33.
Ra8+ Kh7 34. Qb8 Qe8 35. Qb4 Qxa8 36. Qxe7 Qg8 37. h4 Qf7 38. Qxf7 Bxf7 39. g4
{1/2-1/2 Atalik,S-Short,N/Ohrid 2001/CBM 84 (39)}) 20. Rd6 (20. Qb3 Bxf3 21.
gxf3 Bc7 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Qxd5 Qe5 25. Rd1 Qxd5 26. Rxd5 g6 27.
Kg2 Kg7 28. e4 Re6 29. Kg3 Re7 30. h4 Ra7 31. f4 Ra3+ 32. f3 Ra7 33. e5 Ra2 34.
Rc5 Re2 35. Rc7 h5 36. Rb7 Kf8 37. Rc7 Kg7 38. Rc5 f5 39. Rc1 Kf7 40. Rf1 Ra2
41. Rf2 Ra4 42. Rc2 Rb4 43. Rc7+ Kf8 44. Rd7 Rb2 {
1/2-1/2 Malakhatko,V-Pigusov,E/Ohrid 2001/CBM 84 (44)}) 20... Rd7 21. Qxd5 Rxd6
22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxd6 Bxf3 (23... Rd8 24. Bg3 Bc5 25. Rc1 Bf8 26. Nd4 Bg6 27.
Rc7 h6 28. h4 Re8 29. Nb5 Rb8 30. Nc3 Re8 31. Kh2 Bf5 32. Nb5 Rc8 33. Ra7 Bc5
34. Ra1 Rd8 35. Rc1 Rc8 36. Rd1 Bc2 37. Rd2 Bb4 38. Rd7 Bf5 39. Rd5 Be6 40. Rd1
Be7 41. Nd4 Bd7 42. e4 Rd8 43. Rb1 Bc5 44. Ne2 Be7 45. f3 Bc6 46. Rb6 Bd7 47.
Nf4 Bf8 48. h5 Rc8 49. Nd5 Be6 50. Nc7 Bc4 51. Bf4 Rd8 52. Rc6 Bb3 53. Rc3 Ba2
54. Nb5 Be6 55. Nc7 Ba2 56. Kg3 Be7 57. Nb5 Be6 58. Rc7 Bf8 59. Rc1 Bb3 60. Be5
f6 61. Bf4 Bf7 62. Kg4 Be6+ 63. Kh4 Bf7 64. g4 Be6 65. Kg3 Bf7 66. Rc3 Bb4 67.
Rc7 Be6 68. Rb7 Bc5 69. Nc7 Bc4 70. Rb2 Be7 71. Rc2 Bf7 72. Rc6 Bb3 73. Kf2 Rd3
74. Ke2 Rd4 75. Ke3 Rc4 76. Nd5 Bf8 77. Rxc4 Bxc4 78. Kf2 Kf7 79. Be3 Bd6 80.
Bd4 Bb3 81. Ne3 Bf8 82. Nf5 Bd1 83. Be3 Ba4 84. Bf4 Bc5+ 85. Kg3 Bd7 86. Bc7
Bb4 87. f4 Bc6 88. Kf3 Bd2 89. Bd6 Bc1 90. Bc5 Ba8 91. Bd4 Ba3 92. Be3 Bc6 93.
Bd2 Bc5 94. Ba5 Ba4 95. Bc7 Bd1+ 96. Kg3 Bc2 97. e5 fxe5 98. fxe5 Bb3 99. Bd6
Bb6 100. Bb4 Be6 101. Kf4 Ba2 102. Bc3 Be6 103. Nd6+ Kg8 104. Ne4 Bg1 105. Be1
Bb6 106. g5 hxg5+ 107. Nxg5 Bc8 108. Bb4 Bd8 109. Nf3 Be6 110. Nd4 Bf7 111. Kg4
Bb6 112. Nf3 Be6+ 113. Kf4 Bf7 114. Ke4 {
1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Anand,V/Moscow 2002/CBM 91 (114)}) 24. gxf3 Bd8 25. Rb1 Bf6
26. Kg2 (26. Rb5 g6 27. f4 Rd8 28. Bb4 h5 29. Kg2 Rd1 30. Ba5 Kg7 31. f5 gxf5
32. Rxf5 Kg6 33. e4 Bd8 34. Bc3 Rd3 35. Be5 Bh4 36. Bf4 f6 37. Rd5 Rb3 38. Be3
Bg5 39. Bd4 Rd3 40. Bb6 Rb3 41. Bc5 Rc3 42. Bd6 Rc4 43. e5 fxe5 44. Bxe5 Bf4
45. Bd4 Bg5 46. Kf3 Rc2 47. Ra5 Rc4 48. Ra6+ Kf5 49. Rd6 Rc2 50. Rd7 Ra2 51.
Rf7+ Kg6 52. Rf8 Ra4 53. Ke4 Be7 54. Rg8+ Kf7 55. Rg7+ Kf8 56. Rh7 Bc5 57. Rd7
Bxd4 58. Rxd4 Ra2 59. f4 Kf7 60. Ke5 Ra7 61. Rd5 Kg7 62. h4 Ra1 63. Rd7+ Kg6 {
1/2 Gritsak,O-Kruppa,Y UKR-chT Alushta 2002}) 26... g6 27. f4 Kg7 28. Rb7 Re6
29. Rd7 Re8 30. Ra7 Re6 31. Bc5 Rc6 32. Ra5 Bc3 33. Rb5 Ra6 34. Rb3 Bf6 35. Rb8
h5 36. Rb5 Bc3 37. Rb3 Bf6 38. e4 Ra5 39. Be3 Ra4 40. e5 Be7 41. Rb7 Kf8 42.
Rb8+ Kg7 43. Kf3 Rc4 44. Ke2 Ra4 45. Kd3 Bh4 46. Bd4 Ra3+ 47. Kc2 Ra2+ 48. Kd3
Ra3+ 49. Kc4 Ra4+ 50. Kd5 Ra5+ 51. Kc6 Ra4 52. Kc5 Be7+ 53. Kd5 Ra5+ 54. Ke4
Ra4 55. Rc8 Bh4 56. e6+ Bf6 57. e7 Rxd4+ 58. Ke3 Bxe7 59. Kxd4 Bh4 60. f3 f5
61. Rc7+ Kf6 62. Kd5 Bg3 63. Rc6+ Kg7 64. Ke5 h4 65. Rc7+ Kh6 66. Rc4 Kg7 67.
Ke6 Bh2 68. Rc7+ Kh6 69. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[PlyCount "40"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. c3 Qd7 {
13...Bc8 Svidler-Anand, Dortmund 2004, 1/2 (19)} 14. Nf1 d5 15. Bg5 {22 min}
15... dxe4 16. dxe4 c4 17. Ne3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Qe6 19. Qe2 Bf8 20. Bb1 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[Annotator "GM Rainer Knaak"]
[PlyCount "41"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Be3 (10. Qe2 Nxd4 $6 11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Nb5 Qc5 13. Be3 Qe5
14. f4 Qb8 $16) 10... O-O 11. Ne5 $14 Nb4 (11... Nd5 $6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qe2
Rb8 14. Rfc1 Nxe3 15. fxe3 c5 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Bd6 18. Rf1 Be6 19. Rad1 Qg5
20. Rd2 Rbd8 21. Nf4 Bxf4 22. exf4 Rxd2 23. Qxd2 Qf6 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qe3 Qd4
26. Qxd4 cxd4 27. Rf3 Rc8 28. Rd3 Rc1+ 29. Kf2 Rc2+ 30. Kf3 Rxb2 31. Rxd4 Rb7
32. Rd6 Kf7 33. Ra6 Kf6 34. g4 g6 35. g5+ Ke7 36. h4 Rc7 37. Kg4 Rb7 38. h5 Rc7
39. h6 Kd7 40. Kf3 Ke7 41. Ke3 Rc3+ 42. Kd2 Rc7 43. Kd3 Kd7 44. Ra5 Ke7 45. Rb5
Kd6 46. Kd4 Rf7 47. Ke4 Rc7 48. Ke3 Rc3+ 49. Kd4 Rf3 50. Ke4 Rc3 51. Ra5 Rc4+
52. Ke3 Rc7 53. Kd4 Ke7 54. Rb5 Kd6 55. Rb8 Rf7 56. Ke4 Rc7 57. Rd8+ Ke7 58.
Rg8 Kd6 59. Rg7 Rc4+ 60. Ke3 Rc7 61. Kd4 Rd7 62. Kc4 Kc6 63. Kb4 Rd4+ 64. Ka5
Rxf4 65. Rxh7 Rg4 66. Rh8 Kb7 67. Re8 Rxg5+ 68. Kb4 Rg4+ 69. Kc5 Rh4 70. Re7+
Ka6 71. h7 g5 72. Rxe6+ Ka5 73. Re7 a6 74. Ra7 g4 75. Kd4 Kxa4 76. Rxa6+ Kb5
77. Ra7 Kc6 78. Ke4 Kd6 79. Kf4 Rh1 {
1-0 Ubilava,E-Matulovic,M/Belgrade 1988 (81)}) (11... Nxe5 $2 12. dxe5 Qxd1 13.
Rfxd1 Ng4 14. Bd4 $16) (11... Bd7 $5 {is an option.}) 12. a5 {(1) reduces
Queen range (a5, b6); (2) frees a4 square; (3) stops ...a5 to keep knight
outpost.} (12. Qf3 Nc2 13. Rad1 Nxe3 14. fxe3 $40) (12. Qe2 Bd7) 12... Bd7 (
12... Bd7 13. Qf3 (13. a6 $144 Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 $11) (13. Nxd7 $143 $2 Qxd7
$15) (13. Qb3 $144 {also possible} 13... Bc6 14. a6) (13. d5 $5 exd5 14. Nxd5
Nfxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bc8 (16... Bc6 $2 17. Nxc6 $18) 17. Qf3 $14)) (
12... a6 $144) 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bc8 (16... Bc6
$2 17. Nxc6 $18) 17. Rfd1 ({GM Jonathan Rowson:} 17. Qe4 Bd6 18. Rfd1 Re8 19.
Nxf7 $1 (19. Qd5 {! is winning the game whereas 19.Sxf7 is useless})) 17...
Qxd5 18. Rxd5 Be6 19. Rb5 Bf6 ({Options:} 19... b6 20. axb6 axb6 21. Rxa8 Rxa8
22. f4 Bd8 {IM Merick}) (19... Bf6 20. Nf3 {keeps winning chances} (20. f4 Bxe5
(20... Rfb8) 21. fxe5 $11 {GM Rowson}) (20. Bf4 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 f6 {
GM Matthew Turner}) 20... a6 21. Rxb7 (21. Rb6 Bxb2 22. Rb1 {GM Rowson}) 21...
Rab8 $14 {GM Sergey Kudrin}) (19... Rfb8 $6 {(Deep Fritz 8)}) (19... Bd6 {
GM Turner} 20. Nf3) 20. Nf3 b6 (20... Rfb8 $2 21. Bf4) 21. axb6 (21. Bd4 Be7)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Re4 g5 16. Qf1 Qh5 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a4 Qg6
22. axb5 Bd3 23. Qf2 Re2 24. Qxe2 Bxe2 25. bxa6 Qd3 26. Kf2 Bxf3 27. Nxf3 Ne4+
28. Ke1 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Qxc3+ 30. Kf2 Qxa1 31. a7 h6 32. h4 g4 0-1

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[PlyCount "32"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Bg2
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Na6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Ne5 h6 15.
a3 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 8. exd5
Qxd5 9. a4 b4 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb3 Qd8 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4
15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. g3 Rd8 20. Rac1 Rd7 21.
Nc4 Rg5 22. Ne3 Kf8 23. h4 Ra5 24. d5 Rc5 25. Rcd1 c6 26. Nf5 cxd5 27. Rd4 Rdc7
28. Red1 Rc1 29. Bxd5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bc8 31. Be4 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 b3 33. Rd3 Rc4
34. Bd7 Rb4 35. Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[PlyCount "34"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Rac1 Rd8 14. Qd2 Nh5 15.
Bg5 Nf6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Bg5 Nf6 1/2-1/2[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[Annotator "Gracie Clan"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.??.??"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Ne4
O-O-O 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 17. Kb1 Rhe8 18. Qh7 Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. d5 Nf6
21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 23. Bc3 Rde8 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qd3 f5 26. Nd2 b5 27.
Rhe1 Kb8 28. Qc3 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 c4 30. Nf3 f4 31. g4 Bc7 32. Qd4 Qxg4 33. Qe4
Qxh5 34. Nd4 Qg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Ne4
O-O-O 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 17. Kb1 Rhe8 18. Qh7 Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. d5 Nf6
21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 23. Bc3 Rde8 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qd3 f5 26. Nd2 b5 27.
Rhe1 Kb8 28. Qc3 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 c4 30. Nf3 f4 31. g4 Bc7 32. Qd4 Qxg4 33. Qe4
Qxh5 34. Nd4 Qg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A73"]
[PlyCount "129"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be2 Na6 10. O-O Ne8 11. Nc4 Nac7 12. a4 f5 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. Bg4 Rf8 15.
Bxc8 Rxc8 16. Qb3 b6 17. Nb5 Nxb5 18. axb5 Rc7 19. Bd2 Rcf7 20. Bc3 Qd7 21. f3
g5 22. Ne3 Rf4 23. Rfe1 h5 24. Qc2 Qf7 25. h3 Bd4 26. Bxd4 Rxd4 27. Nf5 Qxf5
28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Rdxd5 31. Rxa7+ Ke6 32. Re8+ Kf6 33. g4
hxg4 34. hxg4 Rd1+ 35. Kf2 Re5 36. Rh8 Rd2+ 37. Kg3 Ree2 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+
Kf6 40. Rf8+ Ke6 41. Re8+ Kd5 42. Rxe2 Rxe2 43. Rg7 Re5 44. Rb7 c4 45. Rxb6 Re2
46. f4 Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rb8 Rb3 49. b6 Ke4 50. Re8+ Kd3 51. Re2 d5 52. Kf3
d4 53. g5 c3 54. bxc3 dxc3 55. Rg2 Rb2 56. b7 Rxb7 57. Kxf4 Rb2 58. Rg1 c2 59.
Rc1 Rb1 60. Rxc2 Kxc2 61. g6 Kd3 62. Kf5 Rb5+ 63. Kf6 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rxg6 65.
Kxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch"]
[Site "Brissago SUI"]
[Date "2004.10.18"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nd2 c5 7. dxc5 e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5
9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3 Ne7 12. Bd3 Nbc6 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 Ng6 15.
Bd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nf4 18. Rac1 h5 19. Rhg1 Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21.
b4 a6 22. a4 Kd8 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 Nf4 25. b6 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8
28. Rc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4
34. f4 Ra2+ 35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3 37. f5 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40.
Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+ 1-0

