09.24.06 Vladimir Kramnik has hit the ground running. Playing the white pieces in the first round of the World Chess Championship Match in Elista, Kalmikia he let Veselin Topalov know that he was ready to play. The game was an Open Catalan that lasted six and a half hours. Rather than repeat the position and settle for a draw, Topalov pressed for a win, made a serious inaccuracy on move 57 and lost.

World Chess Championship Match Elista, Kalmikia 2006

Veselin Topalov vs Vladimir Kramnik

12 games played September 23 - October 12, 2006
All games begin at 7:00 a.m. Eastern

The games will be broadcast here via a LIVE Game Link. Watch Game 2 on Sunday, September 24 at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. See full match schedule below.

Round 1 September 23, 2006
Vladimir Kramnik (2743) - Veselin Topalov (2813) 1-0

Click here to replay.

1. d4 Nf6

Vladimir Kramnik

Schedule
(All times are Eastern time zone)

OPENING CEREMONY 21 September 2006, 11.00 a.m.

DAY 2 22 September 2006 REST DAY

DAY 3 23 September 2006, 7.00 a.m GAME 1

DAY 4 24 September 2006, 7.00 a.m GAME 2

DAY 5 25 September 2006 REST DAY

DAY 6 26 September 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 3

DAY 7 27 September 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 4

DAY 8 28 September 2006 REST DAY

DAY 9 29 September 2006, 7.00 a.m GAME 5

DAY 10 30 September 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 6

DAY 11 1 October 2006, Reversal of Colours REST DAY

DAY 12 2 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 7

DAY 13 3 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 8

DAY 14 4 October 2006 REST DAY

DAY 15 5 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 9

DAY 16 6 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 10

DAY 17 7 October 2006 REST DAY

DAY 18 8 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 11

DAY 19 9 October 2006 REST DAY

DAY 20 10 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. GAME 12

DAY 21 11 October 2006 REST DAY

DAY 22 12 October 2006, 7.00 a.m. TIE BREAKS

CLOSING CEREMONY 13 October 2006, 11.00 a.m.

Images are courtesy of ChessBase.com