Kramnik overpowers Topalov, wins chess title

ELISTA (Russia): Russian grandmaster Viktor Kramnik overpowered Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in a series of timed tie-break matches to win the World Chess Championship on Friday in a tournament billed as the reunification of long-divided international chess competition.

Topalov resigned in the fourth 25-minute tie-break match after Kramnik, playing white, checked the black king on the 45th move of the match with a well-protected rook, leaving both black rooks open to attack.