3/6/2005 -
After watching Anand, with the black pieces, take apart
Kasimdzhanov in round 11, I could not help but think about the Joe Frazier vs. George Forman title fight. If was in
January 22, 1973. I will never forget Howard Cosell's call of that fight.
In the first round the Champion Joe "Smokin" Frazier would get knocked down three
times. Well In the 2nd round, Joe came out smokin again, but would suffered three more
flash knock downs at the big hands of George Foreman. Frazier's style was tailor
made for Foreman. I recall Howard Cosell screaming "Down Goes
Frazier, Down Goes Frazier, Down Goes Frazier. Joe did not get up
after the third Knockout in round 2. George Foreman would keep his title
until he fought Ali in 1974.
Kasimdzhanov, with the black pieces, was staggered in round
8, when he lost to Vallejo Pons. Kasimdzhanov was staggered in round 9 ,
with white, when he was taken apart by Garry Kasparov. Well in round 11,
from the black side of the board, Anand knocked Kasimdzhanov out.
This is the third knock down of the FIDE KO Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov
in 4 days. He suffered back to back KO's in round 8 and 9. In
an inferior position, he drew with Michael Adams in round 10. But
basically he just never recovered from his lost to Vallejo Pons, then he
had Kasparov, Adams and Anand. That's a tall order for any player
recovering from a loss.
Kasimdzhanov just played poorly today, he was still suffering from
the devastating
blows in the last few rounds. He never finished developing his pieces. His
c1-bishop would remain on its original square until move 37 Bd2. By
that time it was too late. Just like in his failed effort against
Kasparov, Kasimdzhanov was defending against a dangerous advanced
central pawn. Anand would also shove a bone down Kasimdzhanov's throat
with 32 .. f3. This bone would go deeper with 33.. f2 check. Anand doubled
the pressure along the half open f-file with his queen-rook battery.
Kasimdzhanov was stuck with a bad bishop on c1 and an out of play rook on
a1. There wasn't many pieces on the board, but Anand made better use of his
queen, rook and bishop than Kasimdzhanov did.
On move 36, Anand showed that he knows how to treat a
lady, when he move his queen to h6. From this position, Anand took
advantage of the power of mobility of the strongest piece, the
queen. Anand had dual threat of Qh3+ or Qa6+. Anand played 37
Qh3+. This forced Kasimdzhanov to divert his only defender, his queen to
the f2
square to stop the check. Anand simply recentralized his queen with 38..
Qf5. From this position Anand's queen was going to give mate at d3 or
eventual mate at b5. With Kasimdzhanov's queen, bishop and rook helplessly
baring witness, he resigned. This is a great victory for Anand, his 2nd of
this tournament. However with 3 rounds to go, Anand, at +2, might not have enough
time to catch Kasparov, who is sitting in first with +4. As for
Kasimdzhanov, he's hit rock bottom, it can't get any worse than this. Lets
remember he
is the FIDE KO champ.
Kasimdzhanov, when asked to describe chess in five words, he said: " Fight, test, suffering, pain, patience."
Well, he failed the test
by Vallejo Pons. Now with two more losses, Kasimdzhanov is in pain and suffering. But
it's all
because he has not put up a tough fight against Kasparov and Anand. Lets
not forget that even Garry Kasparov suffer a similar fate, when he lost
three games in a row in the
1986
world championship. With
three rounds to go, there is no time for patience. At the Libya KO,
Kasimdzhanov defeated Ivanchuk, Grischuk, Topalov, Adams. Kasimdzhanov must
fight. He must FIGHT!!!
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A few years back, in Edison, New Jersey, I met Joe Frazier, his
son Marvis Frazier, who fought for the heavy weight title, and is
daughter Jacqui, who also boxed. He has a nice family and it was a
pleasure to meet them.
gh
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