Kramnik lose on purpose?

I mean no disrespect to Kramnik, his play, or Anand's great play, but I wonder if Kramnik finished second on purpose. Even if he didn't actively try to lose, I wonder if he is almost glad that Anand won.

Here is why I think this might be the case. When Kramnik and Topalov had they're crazy match before, it was agreed that whoever lost would not be allowed to play in Mexico. It was also agreed that whoever won in Mexico would play Kramnik for the title.

Then Topalov lost and started complaining that he should be able to play in Mexico or challenge Kramnik again.

It was then decided that if Kramnik won in Mexico, Topalov would get to play Kramnik for the title. If Kramnik didn't win, whoever did would then play Kramnik for the title. So Topalov got in only if Kramnik won.

We are all aware of what a fiasco the Kramnik vs. Topalov match was and I wonder if Kramnik wanted to avoid this happening again so soon. He also might still hold some animosity towards Topalov and wanted to shut him out.

I'm certainly not saying that Kramnik did play conservatively in order to get second place. I just saying there might have been a lot of motivation for him.

What do you think?

Originally posted by AProdigy
I mean no disrespect to Kramnik, his play, or Anand's great play, but I wonder if Kramnik finished second on purpose. Even if he didn't actively try to lose, I wonder if he is almost glad that Anand won.

Here is why I think this might be the case. When Kramnik and Topalov had they're crazy match before, it was agreed that whoever lost would not be al . I just saying there might have been a lot of motivation for him.

What do you think?

It is my understanding that Topalov will get a match no matter what. So if Kramnik wins the match against Anand, he will anyways have to face Topalov. If Anand wins the match, Topalov will play him instead. (for the record, I think this rule is quite ridiculous).

Although now that I think about it, with one million dollars per match (as was the Kramnik-Topalov one), I can see a bit of motivation in playing two matches (vs Anand and then eventually vs Topalov), than only one....

Originally posted by AProdigy
I mean no disrespect to Kramnik, his play, or Anand's great play, but I wonder if Kramnik finished second on purpose. Even if he didn't actively try to lose, I wonder if he is almost glad that Anand won.

Here is why I think this might be the case. When Kramnik and Topalov had they're crazy match before, it was agreed that whoever lost would not be al ...[text shortened]... . I just saying there might have been a lot of motivation for him.

What do you think?

Poor old Topalov, I bet he feels like Fischer back in the days when the russians kept screwing him out of his title shot.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Kramnik tried very hard to defeat Anand in their second game, so I hardly think he "tanked" the tourney. I don't think he fears Topalov or anybody else.

Topalov is not "shut out"; he'll play the winner of the 2007 World Cup for the right to challenge the winner of the Kramnik-Anand match.

I expect by that time Magnus Carlsen will have gained enough power to be able to start his campaign for the world championship.

Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschex
Poor old Topalov, I bet he feels like Fischer back in the days when the russians kept screwing him out of his title shot.

But now he will be kept from another one for a long time.

Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschex
Poor old Topalov, I bet he feels like Fischer back in the days when the russians kept screwing him out of his title shot.

Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschex
But now he will be kept from another one for a long time.