Anand – Kramnik World Championship Match 2008

dates: 14–29 October 2008
location: Art and Exhibition Hall, Bonn, Germany
score: 6½–4½ (Anand–Kramnik)
winner: Viswanathan Anand

Anand and Kramnik at the 2008 World Championship in Bonn, 23 October 2008. Photo: Ygrek.

Viswanathan Anand defended the world championship against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany, from 14 to 29 October 2008. Anand had taken the title in the eight-player championship tournament in Mexico City the previous year. The Bonn contest gave Kramnik, the former champion, a chance to regain it in a head-to-head match.

The format allowed twelve classical games, with 6½ points needed to win. Anand reached that target after eleven games: three wins, seven draws and one defeat. His two victories with Black in the Meran Semi-Slav, in games 3 and 5, were central to the result. He added a White win in game 6 to build a three-point lead at the halfway stage.

Kramnik continued to press in the second half and won game 10 with White, keeping the match alive. Anand then switched to a king’s-pawn opening for game 11. A draw against the Sicilian brought the contest to an end, with the scheduled twelfth game unnecessary.

The games offer contrasting exercises in sharp preparation and practical consolidation. Follow the Meran attacks from either side, then compare them with the quieter positions Anand used to protect his lead. Every draw is included, so you can study the entire match rather than only the decisive combinations.

Viswanathan Anand's Profile Vladimir Kramnik's Profile

Match results

Anand – Kramnik World Championship Match 2008 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Points
Viswanathan Anand	½	½	1	½	1	1	½	½	½	0	½	6½
Vladimir Kramnik	½	½	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	1	½	4½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 11.

Completed 0 / 11

Game 1: A Slav to begin the match

Kramnik opened with a queen’s pawn and Anand answered with the Slav. Early exchanges led to an ending in which neither player broke through. The draw left the championship level after the first game.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Anand tests the Nimzo-Indian

Anand had White for the first time and met the Nimzo-Indian Defence. The game continued for 32 moves before the players agreed a draw. Two different queen’s-pawn structures had now appeared without either player taking the lead.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: The Meran attack strikes first

Anand chose a sharp Meran Semi-Slav with Black. His active pieces and kingside play gave Kramnik difficult defensive decisions, and the challenger could not hold the position. The first decisive game put Anand one point ahead.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Viswanathan Anand 0-1	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Kramnik steadies the position

Anand returned to a queen’s-pawn opening with White. Kramnik held the resulting Queen’s Gambit position and the game was drawn. The result kept the deficit at one point before their next Meran encounter.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: A second victory with Black

The players revisited the sharp Meran line from game 3, with Anand varying his rook play. A tactical sequence led to a dangerous passed pawn and another Black victory. Kramnik now trailed by two points despite having had White in both decisive games.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Viswanathan Anand 0-1	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Anand widens the gap

Anand gained a pawn in a Nimzo-Indian and carried the advantage into the later stages. Kramnik’s active pieces did not provide enough compensation. Anand’s third victory in four games made the score 4½–1½.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1-0	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	47	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: A rook ending preserves the lead

The color sequence gave Anand White again after the halfway point. The players reached a rook ending and shared the point. For Kramnik, a draw stopped the run of defeats but left the three-point gap intact.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	37	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Kramnik seeks a breakthrough

Kramnik tried again with White in a queen’s-pawn opening. Anand kept the position under control and the game ended in a draw. With four scheduled games left, the champion remained three points ahead.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Anand holds another White game

The ninth game brought a sharp Semi-Slav with Anand playing White. Kramnik could not turn the encounter into the win he needed. The draw took Anand to six points, just half a point from retaining the title.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	45	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Kramnik keeps the match alive

Kramnik finally broke through with White against Anand’s Nimzo-Indian. The challenger won in 29 moves and reduced the deficit to two points. Anand still needed only a draw, but the match would continue to game 11.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: A Sicilian draw secures the title

Anand changed direction with a king’s-pawn opening and Kramnik answered with the Sicilian Defence. The game was drawn after 24 moves. Anand reached 6½ points to retain the championship with one scheduled game unused.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match	2008	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-08

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