Kramnik Overall Champ,Anand Takes Rapid Title

Vladimir Kramnik is the proud winner of the 16th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament. In the last round the World Champion coasted home with two draws against Paco Vallejo to finish two points ahead of Vishy Anand.Kramnik won the prestigious blindfold and rapid event for the sixth time, following earlier victories in 1996, 1998 (shared with Shirov), 1999, 2001 (shared with Topalov) and 2004 (shared with Morozevich).

Kramnik’s superior performance in the blindfold competition was the basis of his success. His score of 9 out of 11 was the second highest in the history of the tournament, half a point short of the record that Morozevich set last year.



The rapid competition was an easy prey for Anand. The Indian grandmaster finished with 8½ points from 11 games, two points ahead of a group of four players, Carlsen, Ivanchuk, Kramnik and Leko.

In the blindfold game between Paco Vallejo and Vladimir Kramnik obviously all eyes were on the World Champion. Would he try to equal the blindfold record that Alexander Morozevich set last year (9½ out of 11) or would he play it safe and simply secure tournament victory? Funnily, Kramnik explained after the game had been drawn that before the game he had been satisfied with a draw, but that in the final position he was already better and could have played on with 23…d4. Why he didn’t he couldn’t say exactly. The main reason was that he found it hard to motivate himself when overall victory was within reach with a draw.

The same applied to the rapid game that wasn’t too exciting. Kramnik got a slight pull with the white pieces, but Vallejo was up to the task and defended well. Kramnik ceased his efforts after 36 moves and then it was time to celebrate!

Final Standings Combined


1.Kramnik, Vladimir 15.5
2.Anand, Viswanathan 13.5
3.Ivanchuk, Vassily 13.0
4.Aronian, Levon 12.0
Svidler, Peter
6.Gelfand, Boris 11.5
Morozevich, Alexander
8.Carlsen, Magnus 10.5
Leko, Peter
10.Radjabov, Teimour 9.0
11.Van Wely, Loek 6.5
Vallejo, Francisco

Final Standings Rapid


1.Anand, Viswanathan 8.5
2.Carlsen, Magnus 6.5
Ivanchuk, Vassily
Kramnik, Vladimir
Leko, Peter
6.Aronian, Levon 6.0
7.Svidler, Peter 5.5
8.Gelfand, Boris 4.5
Morozevich, Alexander
10.Radjabov, Teimour 4.0
Vallejo, Francisco
12.Van Wely, Loek 3.0

Final Standings Blindfold


1.Kramnik, Vladimir 9.0
2.Gelfand, Boris 7.0
Morozevich, Alexander
4.Ivanchuk, Vassily 6.5
Svidler, Peter
6.Aronian, Levon 6.0
7.Anand, Viswanathan 5.0
Radjabov, Teimour
9.Carlsen, Magnus 4.0
Leko, Peter
11.Van Wely, Loek 3.5
12.Vallejo, Francisco 2.5