World Chess Championship 2008: Total History

October 30, 2008 World Chess Championship 2008: Statement by the organizer Universal Event Promotion The Universal Event Promotion (UEP) would like to state herewith that the World Chess Championship 2008 was a great success. The resonance that followed this Championship was worldwide enormous. The battle for the highest chess title, taking place in Germany first time after 74 years, between Viswanathan Anand from India and Vladimir Kramnik from Russia, has attracted a huge attention and interest in Germany and all over the world. The venue: Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn.

October 30, 2008 Statement by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov on the closing of the World Chess Championship 2008 Text by: FIDE I did follow with great attention the World Championship contest between Viswanatan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. I have many reasons to be proud of the World Chess Championship that took place in Bonn , Germany . October 29, 2008 World Champion: Viswanathan Anand! Viswanathan Anand ( India ) is the winner of the World Chess Championship 2008! The World Champion from India defended his title with a 6,5:4,5 victory against Vladimir Kramnik ( Russia ). Anand got the half point today in game eleven of the Championship. After three hours and 24 moves the draw and Anand’s triumph was perfect! The old and new World Champion: Viswanathan Anand after game 11 at the press conference. After the decisive game, the trophy giving was held on stage of the Art and Exhibition Hall, by FIDE Honorary President Florencio Campomanes and Josef Resch, UEP president and match director of the World Chess Championship. The national anthem of India and the FIDE anthem concluded the trophy giving. Here is the photo gallery of game eleven and the trophy giving. All photos: Torsten Behl. October 27, 2008 Kramnik wins first game - Anand now leads by 6:4 Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) won today his first game at the World Chess Championship 2008. World Champion Viswanathan Anand (India) had to resign the game after 29 moves. Anand now leads by 6:4. After the rest day tomorrow the next game of the Championship will start on Wednesday, October 29, 3 p.m. Read here later the annotations of game 10 by GM Amador Rodriguez. All photos by: Torsten Behl. October 26, 2008 Game 9: After five hours a hard fight ended draw Game 9 of the World Chess Championship 2008 today was a very hard fight. With the black pieces Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) put pressure on Viswanathan Anand (India). Finally the World Champion Anand could hold his defence, and the exciting game ended draw after five hours and 45 moves. Anand needs now one half point to win the World Championship, Kramnik has to win the remaining three games to achieve the tie-break. The Championship is decided in that moment one player has achieved 6,5 points (further games will then not be played). Game 10 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. Read here later the annotations of game 9 by Grandmaster and official commentator Amador Rodriguez. Pictures of the day All photos by: Torsten Behl October 24, 2008 Game 8 draw in 39 moves: Anand leads by 5,5 to 2,5 Game 8 of the World Championship ended with a draw after 39 moves - and Anand now leads by 5,5 to 2,5. German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, who is the patron of the event, today made the opening move. After tomorrow's rest day the Championship will continue on Sunday, 3 p.m., with game 9. Later you read here the analysis by the official commentator Grandmaster Amador Rodriguez. Pictures of the day All photos: Torsten Behl German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, Patron of the World Chess Championship 2008, with the first move of game 8. October 23, 2008 Draw in game seven: Anand leads by 5:2 The seventh game of the World Chess Championship between World Champion Viswanathan Anand (India) and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) ended in a draw after 36 moves. After he had lost two games in a row, Kramnik today got a half point, and Anand now leads by 5:2. The Championship will continue tomorrow, Friday, with game 8 (3 p.m.). German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, who is the patron of the event, will make the opening move. Grandmaster Amador Rodriguez analyses game seven here. Handshake at the beginning of game seven. Left: Chief Arbiter Panagiotis Nikolopoulos. All photos by: Torsten Behl.