Kramnik Keeps Hope Alive With First Win

Needing a win to prolong the match, Vladimir Kramnik came up big with the White pieces today. In just 29 moves, Kramnik gave himself a slim lifeline with just two games to play, as he now trails 6-4. Anand's resignation seemed a bit sudden to many observers, but facing imminent loss of material and an ugly position, his decision not to play on was understandable.

White: Vladimir Kramnik
Black: Viswanathan Anand
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1 c5 19.Qa5 Rfc8 20.Be3 Be2 21.Bf4 e5 22.Be3 Bg4 23.Qa6 f6 24.a4 Qf7 25.Bf1 Be6 26.Rab1 c4 27.a5 Na4 28.Rb7 Qe8 29.Qd6 Black resigns.

Anand is still a huge favorite to win the match. While Kramnik would have reasonable chances in Game 12 on Friday with the White pieces, he'll need to win with Black on Wednedsay to even force a final game, and that might prove to be an impossible task. What will we see Kramnik play when he knows he needs to win with Black: a Benoni, the Leningrad Dutch, or something wilder?