1.e4 c5 Kramnik is tied for the lead in this event with Kasparov. Here he sticks with the Sicilian which has done well for him so far. 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Timman was tortured by Leko in the King's Indian Attack so today he gives this treatment to Kramnik. 3...Nc6 4.g3 Nge7 In Leko - Timman, Black played 4 ... d5, but here Kramnik is deliberately holding the d-pawn back to give Black a little more flexibility. 5.Bg2 g6 6.h4 Very early for such a direct move but with the static center this is ok. 6...h6 Best.

Black would be in a jam if he was not prepared to meet h4-h5 with ... g6-g5. 7.c3

Timman is ready to react to 7 ... d5 with 8 Qe2 without allowing the extra possibility of ... Nd4. 7...Bg7 8.0-0 e5 A neat idea by Kramnik. He figures that with White's pawn on h4, Black will have the move ... Bg4 later, and also White is less able to plan for f2-f4. 9.a3 The idea of a3 and b2-b4 is not particularly scary. But Timman was not satisfied with 9 Be3 d6 10 d4 cxd4 11 cxd4 Bg4, so he keeps the position closed. 9...a5 I would have just developed with 9 ... d6 but Kramnik decides to shut down the b2-b4 idea.

Now White may play 10 a4 and get his knight out via a3. 10.Be3 d6 Now, with the addition of a3 and a5, White may very well play 11 d4 cxd4 12 cxd4 Bg4 13 d5. 11.d4 As advertised. Black did not need to play 9 ... a5?! 11...cxd4 11 ... b6 12 d5 would be good for White. 12.cxd4 Bg4 Forcing White to move his d-pawn. 13.d5 White would have nothing on 13 dxe5 dxe5 13...Nd4 13 ... Nb8 would be too passive. 14.Bxd4 exd4 Kramnik believes that he will secure enough counterplay by the time White is able to mount an attack against d4. 15.Qd3

It is a good idea to place the queen here, out of the pin before developing the b1 knight. Black probably has to snap on f3 right now. 15...Qb6 Dynamic. Kramnik decides he does not need to play ... Bxf3. 16.Nbd2 0-0 17.Nc4 This is clearly the critical continutaion for Black's risky 15 ... Qb6. 17...Qc5 The idea is to meet 18 Rac1 with 18 ... Rac8 and Black will be ready to trade in his queen for two rooks. 18.Rac1 Bxf3 A safe move. The idea of Nf3-d2 was annoying, and the Black bishop did not have any other possibilities.

19.Bxf3 Now the position seems about even. d4 is secure but the knight on e7 is passive. Black may try later for ... g6-g5 and ... Ne7-g6. 19...a4 Kramnik preserves the option to later play ... b7-b5 and then get his own knight via g6 to e5. 20.h5 Trying to make sure Black does not steal a kingside initiative as well. 20...Rac8 21.Qd2 Ready to answer 21 ... b5 with 22 Na5 without giving up two rooks for the queen. 21...d3

A very sharp move! Kramnik was not in trouble, but here he seeks to improve the scope of the g7 bishop, hitting b2 and potentially a3. 22 Qxd3 would be answered by 22 ... b5. 22.Ne5 Picking up the d3 pawn with his knight. 22...Qd4 23.Nxd3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 gxh5 Mainly to try to get the knight to g6. 25.Bxh5 He does not want to allow ... Ng6 and ... h4. 25...Qxe4 With the better bishop, Black has the advantage. 26 Re1 Qxd5 must still be good for Black. 26.Nf4 Establishing some coordination. Black will probably have to settle for 26 ... Qd4.

26...Nf5 To bring the knight to d4. 27.Qc2 Qe5 Keeping the position complicated. 28.b4 Black is way too active on 28 Qxa4 Qxb2. 28...axb3 29.Qxb3 b5 Another nice idea from Kramnik. If 30 Qxb5 Nxg3! and otherwise the b5 pawn can be securely defended by a knight on d4. 30.Qd3 Nd4 31.Kg2 Qg5 32.Rh1 Qf5 33.Qxf5 Nxf5 34.Rb1 Nd4 35.Ne2 This boils the position down to a draw. 35...Ra8 36.Nxd4 The opposite-colored bishops with pawns all on the same side after the queenside pawns are exchanged assures the draw. 36...Bxd4 37.Rxb5 There is no point dragging this out. Both sides go in for the exchanges. 37...Rxa3 38.Rb7 Technically White wins a pawn but it is of no significance. 38...Ra7 39.Bxf7+ Kg7

A rook trade is forced and there will be no breaking the dark-squared blockade.