The big story that is dominating the national press at the
moment—bigger than Steve Irwin, bigger than the failures
of Iraq, bigger than the footy finals—is the
match for
the chess world championship between Veselin Topalov and
Vladimir Kramnik currently being played in the Russian republic
of Kalmykia.
Topalov, after cutting down on the clubbing and partying, has been in blistering form over the last year or two and Kramnik may be returning to the quality of play that saw him defeat Kasparov back in 2000. I suspect it is the contrast of styles—the aggressive Bulgarian against the Stalingrad-style defence of the Russian—that has the Australian press so enthralled.
This morning Melbourne time the pair played the second game of the 12-game match and saw Kramnik take a 2:0 lead. The public fervour that met Kramnik's second lucky escape after Topalov was playing all over his ass (and even had a forced mate in three he didn't spot at one point) was almost electric.
The entire nation awaits the third round on Wednesday with the kind of anticipation not seen since Armstrong's moon walk. Topalov has black. Stay tuned.
¶ 10:55 am
I am really enjoying this blog of yours. Can I link to it next time I update my blogroll?
Yours in anticipation, etc
You're very kind to say such things. You can certainly do whatever you like with your own blogroll and I would be honoured if this blog was included on it. I, you will notice, have no links section I'm afraid. I still haven't decided what to do with the whitespace available there on the right side of my page and prefer to leave it blank for the moment.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1756444.htm
Stranger than fiction.
I mean, seriously.
He would never play such a move against a human — playing against a computer is psychologically quite different — but still, you'd think he'd never play such a move against a computer either.
Blunder of the century? Blunder of the last two as well.
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