Short draw in game 3
Saturday, 21 May 2011
In the third final game of the Candidates Matches for FIDE World Championship in Kazan, Grischuk, playing white, and Gelfand drew after 14 moves and two and a half hours. On the half way the score is 1,5:1,5.
It was the same opening as in game 1, and after five moves there was just one small difference. Grischuk tried to avoid theory as soon as possible, and he took “almost a novelty”. Only once such move had been played before. However, it was Gelfand who surprised with something completely new. Still deep in the opening, he sacrificed a pawn. This was a real small bomb.
Grischuk took the pawn and several moves later, when black solved the only problem of his, the position became absolutely equal. Gelfand had a full compensation for the pawn down and for the both sides it was too risky to play on for a win.
Tomorrow the finalists of the Candidates Matches will have a day-off. The final clashes will resume on Monday, 23 May, 2011.
http://kazan2011.fide.com/
Why did Grischuk offer a draw with white?
This is why Sofia rules need to be mandatory.
And why should sponsors fork over cash for this crap
It was an even position with dangers for both sides. The draw was OK imo. However, if the WC challenger is chosen for their skill at rapid or blitz, they will be crushed by Anand in a classical match.
I think in the highest level events that the Sofia rules should be applied. Short draws after 8 and 14 moves are not good for the sport. Some players will fight, like Topalov and Kamsky, but others, Grischuk and Kramnik etc, seem to draw too easily. The rules worked well in the last WC I thought.