At the prize-giving ceremony, as Vladimir Kramnik was presented with the trophy by Garry Kasparov, he looked like the cat who finally got the cream: The former world champion's comeback year ended on a high, as he not only won the London Chess Classic title but he also secured his passage into the next Candidates cycle.
Kramnik sealed the deal with a final round draw with Levon Aronian; his victory in large can be attributed to his clean sweep of beating the English quartette of Mickey Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane and David Howell. His performance also vindicated his new, risker style of play, where - instead of his über-safe, usual game - he's now more willing to gamble on unclear position to get more wins.
The plan is obviously working, and he now adds the London title to his record-breaking tenth Dortmund title during the summer. The top Russian's performance in London also had the added bonus of seeing him leapfrogging the slumping World Champion Viswanathan Anand in the unofficial live ratings, which, in the process, means he's set to claim the world #3 spot in the official FIDE January 2012 rating list that will guarantee him a spot in the next Candidates cycle.
And after his disaster last month at the Tal Memorial, the American No.1 Hikaru Nakamura also ended the year on a high as he gambled the house on beating a dispirited Adams in the last round to take second spot ahead of world #1 Magnus Carlsen - and it paid off big-time for Nakamura.Adams was consigned to last place in the tournament with a cruel reversal of fortunes seeing the English #1 uncharacteristically missing an open goal with 36...Qb6!, with 37 Bxc5 Rxc5 38 Qd4 R5xc6! easily winning.
This game featured in GM Suat Atalik's final Game of the Day from the London Chess Classic, and as a special treat for everyone, we've opted to make it free for everyone to view.
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