|
 Russia's Vladimir Kramnik
took his second Linares title, holding Bulgarian Veselin Topalov to a
draw in the final round, here today. A plus two score, 7.0 points from
twelve rounds, was sufficient for Kramnik to clinch a clear title.
Kramnik had shared
the title in 2000 with Kasparov, and had tied for the top spot last
year along with Leko.
With his title match
against Leko slated later this year, this big tournament victory
should come as a shot in the arm for the Russian giant.
Coming up from a
moderate start in Wijk Aan Zee, Kramnik has gathered momentum for the
coming season, clinching the all important "Wimbledon of
Chess" title in Spain.
Defending Champion Peter
Leko of Hungary clinched the second spot with 6.5 points, arising out
of two wins, nine draws
and a lone defeat. Seven times Linares
Champion Gary Kasparov finished third. Kasparov defeated tail ender Vallejo Pons with
white pieces, and drew the rest.
Rajdabov and Topalov
finished with even score. Spanish hopes Shirov and Vallejo completed
the line-up with a minus two score.
Final
Standings
| Rank |
Player |
Points |
|
1
|
Kramnik
|
7.0
|
|
2-3
|
Leko, Kasparov
|
6.5
|
|
4-5
|
Rajdabov, Topalov
|
6.0
|
|
6-7
|
Shirov, Vallejo Pons
|
5.0
|
Final
Round Results
| White |
Country |
Result |
Black |
Country |
|
Veselin Topalov
|
Bulgaria
|
drew
|
Vladimir Kramnik
|
Russia
|
|
Alexei Shirov
|
Spain
|
drew
|
Peter Leko
|
Hungary
|
|
Francisco Vallejo Pons
|
Spain
|
drew
|
Gary Kasparov
|
Russia
|
|
Teimour Radjabov
|
Azerbaijan
|
Bye
|
|
|
Shirov
- Leko
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8.
f4 Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 h6 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Be6 14.
Kh1 Kh7 15. Qg2 d5 16. Rg1 g6 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Qh3 h5 20.
Rae1 Bf6 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. b3 Rad8 23. Re4 Qd7 24. Qxd7 Rxd7 25. Kg2 Rfd8 0.5-0.5
Topalov
- Kramnik
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8.
f4 Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 h6 14. gxh5
hxg5 15. Bxg5 Qxh3 16. Qg2 Qxg2+ 17. Kxg2 Nxc2 18. Rac1 Nd4 19. h6 Rae8 20.
Bd2 0.5-0.5
Vallejo
Pons - Kasparov
1. e4 c5 2. Ne2 Nf6 3. Nbc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8.
Be3 Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Rg1
Qc7 15. Qf2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. h4 g6 18. Qd2 Qc7 19. Na4 b5 20. Nb6 Rb8
21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 a5 23. Rd3 a4 24. Rc3 Qd8 25. Nc1 b4 26. Rc4 Qd7 27.
Rg4 Rb5 28. Rc7 Qxc7 29. Qxb5 a3 30. Nd3 Rb8 31. Qd5 axb2 32. Bd2 Nf4 33.
Bxf4 exf4 34. Rxf4 Bf8 35. Kxb2 Bg7+ 36. Kc1 Rc8 37. Qb3 Qa7 38. Kd2 Bc3+
39. Ke2 Be5 40. Rg4 Rc3 41. Qb1 Qa4 42. Rg2 Rxc2+ 43. Kf1 Rc3 44. Rd2 Bg3
45. Qxb4 Qxb4 46. Nxb4 Rxf3+ 47. Kg2 Ra3 48. Nc2 Rc3 49. Nd4 Bf4 50. Rc2
Rd3 51. Nb5 h6 52. gxh6 d5 53. h7+ Kxh7 54. Rf2 g5 0.5-0.5
|
