Kasparov escapes with a draw

As the match ran into the fourth hour, it appeared that Kasparov, playing with black, had technically lost to Kramnik but the former displayed tenacious defence thereafter to force a draw.

Kasparov employed the Queens Gambit Accepted from game four. Kramnik who looked confident, innovated on move 13 by advancing his `h’ pawn.

Till move 40, Kramnik looked all set to win the board. Two moves later, Kramnik had the choice of either forcing a draw or continuing. After spending some time on planning a strategy, he decided to play on.

As the game progressed, it seemed the position was strongly in favour of Kramnik. He deftly used threats of checkmate to win a pawn and force a minor piece endgame.

However, at the most crucial stages that followed, Kramnik failed to find the exact moves to exploit them in his favour. He managed to win a second pawn, little realising that in doing so he allowed Kasparov’s queen and knight to create serious threat to his king.

Kramnik, realising he was now in a no-win situation, took a perpetual check on move 63. On move 66, both players agreed to a draw.

The Moves
Kramnik (White) vs Kasparov (Black)
1. d4 d5, 2. c4 dxc4, 3. Nf3 e6, 4. e3 c5, 5. Bxc4 a6, 6.0-0 Nf6, 7. a4 Nc6, 8. Qe2 cxd4, 9. Rd1 Be7, 10. exd4 0-0, 11. Nc3 Nd5, 12. Bb3 Re8, 13. h4 Ncb4, 14. h5 b6, 15. Ne5 Bb7, 16. a5 b5, 17. h6 g6, 18. Ne4 Nc7, 19. Nc5 Bd5, 20. Ra3 Nc6, 21. Bxd5 Qxd5, 22. Ncd7 Rad8, 23. Nxc6 Rxd7, 24. Nxe7+ Rexe7, 25. Rc3 F6, 26. Be3 Kf7, 27. Rdc1 Qb7, 28. Rc5 Nd5, 29. Qf3 Nb4, 30. Qe2 Rc7, 31. Bf4 Rxc5, 32. dxc5 E5, 32.dxc5 E5, 33. Qd2 Nc6, 34. Qd5+ Kf8, 35. Be3 Qd7, 36. Qf3 Kf7, 37. Rd1 e4, 38. Qe2 Qf5, 39. Rd6 Re6, 40. Rd7 Re7, 41. Rd6 Re6, 42. Qd1 g5, 43. Qh5+ Ke7, 44. Qd1 Kf7, 45. Rd7+ Kg6, 46. Rg7+ Kxh6, 47. Qd7 Re5, 48. Qf7 Rd5, 49. Kh1 Nd8, 50. Rxh7+ Qxh7, 51. Qxd5 Kg6+, 52. Kg1 Qc7, 53. Qg8+ Kf5, 54. Qd5+ Kg6, 55. Qxe4+ Kg7, 56. Qa8 Qd7, 57. Kh2 Qd3, 58. G3 Nf7, 59. Qb7 Kg6, 60. Qxa6 Ne5, 61. Qa8 Ng4+, 62. Kh3 Qf5, 63. Qg8+ Kh6, 64. Qh8+ Kg6, 65. Qe8+ Kh6, 66. Qh8+ draw.