Vishy was better in this match: Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik may have rubbed Anand the wrong way when he made statements that he does not consider Anand's World Championship title at Mexico last year as a real one, and that he had just loaned the title to Anand and intended to take it back in this Match.

Anand had preferred to ignore him and let his chess do the talking. However, after losing in the finals of the Format he favours, Kramnik was gracious in defeat and rather sporting in answering questions from the media. Excerpts:

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Q: How did you come to the press conferences in a good mood even when you lose?

I look like I am in a good mood. I was in a fighting mood from the beginning, but everything went wrong in the first six games. After that, I could fight. As for press conferences, we're professionals. We don't feel good, but it is not the journalists' fault.

And it's only a game - yes, an important game for the world title, money - but only a game. It is not a reason to be depressed. And people lose games, especially against such an opponent as Vishy. I think you are responsible for the quality of your work, not the results. Vishy is a great player and was better in this match.

Q: Are you disappointed or relieved that the Match is over?

Relieved? No. You're relieved when you win, disappointed when you lose. But life goes on. I made mistakes in preparation which I am eager to improve. I will make serious changes to my preparation for tournaments and even to my play.

It was a harsh lesson, but I will work. For the moment, I will relax. I hope someday to fight for the world championship again. I'm happy to have played the match and to play with Anand.

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Q: Today after Anand switched to King pawn opening, you paused for a long time .Was that a bit of a show?

(laughing.) I was trying to concentrate, since I had just come to the board. I expected 1.d4, but had ideas for 1.e4 as well. I wasn't unsure, just trying to concentrate.

Q: Do you feel you were always playing a moving target with Anand switching openings?

Not really. We were both preparing. Anand's team's preparation was maybe more clever and we couldn't keep up in the first half of the match. But in the second half, I got more of what I wanted. Changing openings is just modern chess, everyone knows a lot, and I switched too. Maybe repeating the same line in game 5 was a mistake but we're human, we make mistake