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RAPID CHESS MATCH KRAMNIK VS ARONIAN BEGINS TODAY
ChessBase, Germany
May 4 2007
04.05.2007 - After beating Peter Leko in Hungary Vladimir Kramnik
is taking on the world number five player Levon Aronian in his home
country of Armenia. A six-game rapid chess match will be played in
the Yerevan Opera House, from May 4th to 6th, 2007. Games start at
15:00h and 16:45 CEST. We bring you full information and a pre-match
interview with Lev Aronian.
The Aronian-Kramnik Rapid Chess Match takes place in Yerevan, Armenia,
from May 4th to 6th, 2007. I goes over six games, played at the rate
of 25 min for the entire game with a increment of 10 seconds per
move. The match will be played over three days, in the Yerevan Opera
House, with the games beginning at 18:00 hrs and 19:45 hrs local time
(GMT + 4). That is 15:00h CEST, 14:00h London and 09:00 a.m. New York
for the first game; 16:45h, 15:45h and 10:45 a.m. for the second. Click
on the Yerevan times above to get your own local time.
Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was born on June 25, 1975. He is currently
the World Champion, rated 2772 (third in the world). By any measure he
has already achieved legendary status: for over a decade and a half he
has been at the top of the ratings list, and in 2000 he wrested the
World Championship crown from Garry Kasparov, who had carried it for
fifteen years. In 2004 he defended it against Peter Leko and in 2006
won the Unification World Championship against Veselin Topalov. He
is an excellent rapid chess player, having recently won the Amber
Blindfold and Rapid tournament and an eight-game rapid chess match
against Peter Leko in Miskolc, Hungary.
Kramnik is renowned as an extremely solid player who loses rarely,
even when not at his best. A testament to his unyielding performance
is his streak in 1999 and 2000 where he played 86 games at classical
controls without a single defeat.
Levon Aronian of Armenia was born on October 6, 1982 and was a two
time World Junior Champion (under-12 in 1994 and under-20 in 2002).
He currently is ranked fifth in the world with a rating of 2759. The
latest in the long line of Armenian chess stars, the 24 year old
Levon Aronian has recently catapulted himself into very top circle
of the chess elite with victories in the Category 20 Morelia/Linares
Super-GM 2006 tournament. Aronian also lead his Armenian compatriots
to a deserved gold medal at the Turin Chess Olympiad in 2006.
Aronian's playing style is difficult to characterize and easy to
misunderstand. His games are unconventional and exciting, while his
attitude is engaging and uncompromising. In his non-professional life
he maintains a light, positive attitude under all circumstances.
Pre-match Interview with Levon Aronian Conducted by Aram Hajian Aram
Hajian: Hi Levon - nice to talk to you again and welcome back to
Yerevan. Tomorrow you square off against the World Champion Vladimir
Kramnik in a 6 game rapid chess match. How would you assess him as
a player?
Levon Aronian: Well, it is well known that Kramnik rarely loses, a
solid positional player in the classic sense. In fact, I have to say
that I like to play in a similar style - I like his games. Of course,
he has had his ups and downs, but when he is at his best you could
say that he is almost unbeatable.
I am sure you were following the Leko-Kramnik match [won by Kramnik
4.5-3.5]. What were your impressions of the games?
Actually, I didn't have time to follow the games as I was at a
training camp here in Armenia. I did have a chance to briefly
look at the games after the fact, but can't give you a really
deep assessment. Nevertheless, it seems that his victory was fairly
convincing, an opinion shared by several of my colleagues who followed
the games more carefully.
Much has been discussed about your meteoric rise to the very top of
chess over the past two years. If there was a single factor that you
would attribute to this rise, what would it be?
LA: [some hesitation] Pure luck. [Laughter]
Well, OK, I guess everyone is entitled to his opinion. Levon, you
mentioned that you were at a training session recently. Who do you
work with?
It has become customary for me to study chess with friends. And once
again, in the resort town of Jermuk, I was with several of my "usual
suspects," GMs Gabriel Sargissian, Arman Pashikian, and Ara Minasian.
Regarding this session, I am quite satisfied from the time spent with
them and think that it was a successful effort. I'd like to underscore
that I enjoy training with my friends.
Armenians have cemented their reputation as a strong chess-playing
nation. Is there a so-called "Armenian style" of chess? If so, how
would you describe it?
Generally, you could say that Armenians have had a lack in opening
preparation, leading to positions out of the opening where they
haven't enjoyed much of an opening advantage. Maybe the Informants
[compendiums of opening theory and analysis] didn't reach far-away
Armenia because of the unreliable postal service [smiling]. Seriously
though, one could characterize Armenians by their fighting spirit,
often playing long games, striving for victory to the very end. But
it's possible that I am not so typical in this regard. My recent
experience playing in many high level tournaments has compelled me
to improve my opening preparedness.
Levon, you are well known as a strong player in all kinds of formats.
What do you have to say about the 25 minute game time control?
I like playing chess. It doesn't matter if it is 5 minute blitz, 25
minute rapid, or a two hours per side classical match. Quite simply,
I enjoy playing chess.
Any closing thoughts?
Just a warm greeting to all my friends and fans!
OK. Thanks Levon and best of luck in the upcoming match.
ChessBase, Germany
May 4 2007
04.05.2007 - After beating Peter Leko in Hungary Vladimir Kramnik
is taking on the world number five player Levon Aronian in his home
country of Armenia. A six-game rapid chess match will be played in
the Yerevan Opera House, from May 4th to 6th, 2007. Games start at
15:00h and 16:45 CEST. We bring you full information and a pre-match
interview with Lev Aronian.
The Aronian-Kramnik Rapid Chess Match takes place in Yerevan, Armenia,
from May 4th to 6th, 2007. I goes over six games, played at the rate
of 25 min for the entire game with a increment of 10 seconds per
move. The match will be played over three days, in the Yerevan Opera
House, with the games beginning at 18:00 hrs and 19:45 hrs local time
(GMT + 4). That is 15:00h CEST, 14:00h London and 09:00 a.m. New York
for the first game; 16:45h, 15:45h and 10:45 a.m. for the second. Click
on the Yerevan times above to get your own local time.
Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was born on June 25, 1975. He is currently
the World Champion, rated 2772 (third in the world). By any measure he
has already achieved legendary status: for over a decade and a half he
has been at the top of the ratings list, and in 2000 he wrested the
World Championship crown from Garry Kasparov, who had carried it for
fifteen years. In 2004 he defended it against Peter Leko and in 2006
won the Unification World Championship against Veselin Topalov. He
is an excellent rapid chess player, having recently won the Amber
Blindfold and Rapid tournament and an eight-game rapid chess match
against Peter Leko in Miskolc, Hungary.
Kramnik is renowned as an extremely solid player who loses rarely,
even when not at his best. A testament to his unyielding performance
is his streak in 1999 and 2000 where he played 86 games at classical
controls without a single defeat.
Levon Aronian of Armenia was born on October 6, 1982 and was a two
time World Junior Champion (under-12 in 1994 and under-20 in 2002).
He currently is ranked fifth in the world with a rating of 2759. The
latest in the long line of Armenian chess stars, the 24 year old
Levon Aronian has recently catapulted himself into very top circle
of the chess elite with victories in the Category 20 Morelia/Linares
Super-GM 2006 tournament. Aronian also lead his Armenian compatriots
to a deserved gold medal at the Turin Chess Olympiad in 2006.
Aronian's playing style is difficult to characterize and easy to
misunderstand. His games are unconventional and exciting, while his
attitude is engaging and uncompromising. In his non-professional life
he maintains a light, positive attitude under all circumstances.
Pre-match Interview with Levon Aronian Conducted by Aram Hajian Aram
Hajian: Hi Levon - nice to talk to you again and welcome back to
Yerevan. Tomorrow you square off against the World Champion Vladimir
Kramnik in a 6 game rapid chess match. How would you assess him as
a player?
Levon Aronian: Well, it is well known that Kramnik rarely loses, a
solid positional player in the classic sense. In fact, I have to say
that I like to play in a similar style - I like his games. Of course,
he has had his ups and downs, but when he is at his best you could
say that he is almost unbeatable.
I am sure you were following the Leko-Kramnik match [won by Kramnik
4.5-3.5]. What were your impressions of the games?
Actually, I didn't have time to follow the games as I was at a
training camp here in Armenia. I did have a chance to briefly
look at the games after the fact, but can't give you a really
deep assessment. Nevertheless, it seems that his victory was fairly
convincing, an opinion shared by several of my colleagues who followed
the games more carefully.
Much has been discussed about your meteoric rise to the very top of
chess over the past two years. If there was a single factor that you
would attribute to this rise, what would it be?
LA: [some hesitation] Pure luck. [Laughter]
Well, OK, I guess everyone is entitled to his opinion. Levon, you
mentioned that you were at a training session recently. Who do you
work with?
It has become customary for me to study chess with friends. And once
again, in the resort town of Jermuk, I was with several of my "usual
suspects," GMs Gabriel Sargissian, Arman Pashikian, and Ara Minasian.
Regarding this session, I am quite satisfied from the time spent with
them and think that it was a successful effort. I'd like to underscore
that I enjoy training with my friends.
Armenians have cemented their reputation as a strong chess-playing
nation. Is there a so-called "Armenian style" of chess? If so, how
would you describe it?
Generally, you could say that Armenians have had a lack in opening
preparation, leading to positions out of the opening where they
haven't enjoyed much of an opening advantage. Maybe the Informants
[compendiums of opening theory and analysis] didn't reach far-away
Armenia because of the unreliable postal service [smiling]. Seriously
though, one could characterize Armenians by their fighting spirit,
often playing long games, striving for victory to the very end. But
it's possible that I am not so typical in this regard. My recent
experience playing in many high level tournaments has compelled me
to improve my opening preparedness.
Levon, you are well known as a strong player in all kinds of formats.
What do you have to say about the 25 minute game time control?
I like playing chess. It doesn't matter if it is 5 minute blitz, 25
minute rapid, or a two hours per side classical match. Quite simply,
I enjoy playing chess.
Any closing thoughts?
Just a warm greeting to all my friends and fans!
OK. Thanks Levon and best of luck in the upcoming match.