Game Two: October 10th Sensation!
The mighty Kasparov took an early and unexpected tumble, losing the second game of his BrainGames Network's world championship match against challenger Vladimir Kramnik. Kasparov once again appeared outdone in the opening stage of the game - another shocking development really - and fell behind on the clock as he aimed to neutralize his opponent's home-cooking against the Grünfeld Defence.
Kasparov strove to avoid a prospectless endgame and offered a pawn to reach a position that appeared to give good prospects for defence, but Kramnik was showing fine technique when a blunder near the end of the first time control meant that the world number one had to resign on the spot.
Interest in the match should now skyrocket. Kasparovites may console themselves that when Anand took the lead in their title match in 1995, Garry struck back with a series of victories that ended the contest.
There, Kasparov managed to launch one of his patented opening rockets from the secret laboratory and land a splattering hit. Here, Kramnik has looked the better prepared, but the odds are high that he will have to face Kasparov's best stuff before long.
Best to be well ahead when that happens. Suddenly, that thought doesn't sound half as shocking as it would have a few days ago.
White Vladimir Kramnik (2770) 1-0 Black Gary Kasparov (2849)
Current score: Kramnik 1-1/2 - Kasparov 1/2
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