London, November 3: The inevitable finally happened. Garry Kasparov, the undisputed World champion for the last 15 years, lost his chess crown to fellow Russian challenger Vladimir Kramnik after failing to extract a win from the 15th encounter here.Kasparov, who has been unusually distractd throughout the series, looked pale in comparison to a young and determined Kramnik. Observers even remarked that the former champion lacked the ``fire of ambition'', which so characteristically fuelled Kasparov in his earlier stints.The usually stoic Kramnik, in a contrasting gesture lifted his fists in a victory signal just after Kasparov called it quits but he was quick to regain his compusure during the brief press appearance later.Playing with white pieces, Kasparov employed the same strategy he used against a match with Anatoly Karpov in 1987. Coincidentally, Kasparov needed to win the final game with white pieces which he did in 64 moves.Thus, Kasparov innovated from earlier games in this series and played 1. d4 with White. His unaggressive English Opening showed he had already resigned to defeat.After exchanges on the 22nd move, Kasparov found himself a position where his knight was superior to Kramnik's bishop.After the Queens were exchanged, Kasparov cautiously advanced his kingside pawn to counter the attack of black pieces. Kramnik, undeterred by Kasparov's advances, put his rook again on d5. This move from the challenger sealed the chances of white winning the game.On the very next 38th move, Kasparov proposed draw to which Kramnik agreed.Some 200-odd people who had collected to watch the farings of this revolutionary board between two geniuses, were not disappointed as some excellent play unfolded.Kasparov, whose pre-match preparations are legendary, was assisted by relatively young and inexperienced team this time.In his 1995 match with Indian Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, Kasparov had availed the expertise of none other but his then pupil Kramnik to defeat Anand.``This match has been dominated by Kramnik's superior preparation. I was just out-prepared,'' Kasparov admitted at the post-game conference.``It's very difficult to play without any openings. From game eight onwards, I had to work 10 hours a day to rebuild my opening preparation,'' he said.Kramnik responded, ``I had the same feeling about my openings.''Kasparov in his illustrious 15-year-career as a champion has lost only once - to an IBM's Deep Blue computer.Kasparov said he was prepared for another encounter with Kramnik, who with Friday result pocketed two-thirds share of the $2 million prize.MovesKasparov (white) Kramnik (black)1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 E6, 3. g3 d5, 4. Bg2 Be7, 5. Nf3 00, 6. 00 dxc4, 7. Qc2 a6, 8. Qxc4 b5, 9. Qc2 Bb7, 10. Bd2 Be4, 11. Qc1 Bb7, 12. Bf4 Bb6, 13. Nbd2 Nbd7, 14. Nb3 Bd5, 15. Rd1 Qe7, 16. Ne5 Bxg2, 17. Kxg2 Nd5, 18. Nc6 Nxf4+, 19. Qxf4 Qe8, 20. Qf3 E5, 21. dxe5 Nxe5, 22. Nxe5 Qxe5, 23. Rd2 Rae8, 24. e3 Re6, 25. Rad1 Rf6, 26. Qd5 Qe8, 27. Rc1 G6, 28. Rdc2 H5, 29. Nd2 Rf5, 30. Qe4 c5, 31. Qxe8 Rxe8, 32. e4 Rfe5, 33. f4 R5 e6, 34. e5 Be7, 35. b3 f6, 36. Nf3 fxe5, 37. Nxe5 Rd8, 38. h4 rd5, draw agreed.
