After 10 games of pure battle plus a controversial game 5 forfeit in favor of Topalov (a total of 11 games), the match stands even at 5.5 points apiece. The 12th and final game is scheduled on Thursday (Kalmykia time).
What impressed me about this match is either players are resolved to win. Excluding the controversial game 5, which was never played anyway, there were 5 draws of the total 10 games, (only 50% draw instance). No one seems to settle for a draw.
It has got to be the spirit of a reunification fight. After 13 years of schism over the World Chess Crown, the two players are really giving us fans a great, big show! How I only wish that contestation over the game 5 forfeit didn’t happen. I hope FIDE and Kirsan Ilyumshinov will be able to resolve the matter so that the world can indeed recognize only one true master, one champion.
Go Topalov!
Summary of the match follows:
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Tot. | Perf. |
| Topalov | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ |
(1) |
½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ |
|
5.5 | 2709 |
| Kramnik | 1 |
1 |
½ | ½ |
(0) |
½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 5.5 | 2847 |
- Resources:
Official Website of the Match(Update: Oops! The official website has been hacked by some video poker slot machine site.)- Chessbase