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Round 9 (March 9)
Leko-Kasparov 1/2-1/2
Shirov-Kramnik 1/2-1/2
Anand-Khalifman 1-0
Although Kasparov is the world's leading
expert on the Najdorf Sicilian, he failed to equalise against the young
Hungarian's fairly straightforward opening strategy. After being forced
into an inferior endgame, Kasparov blundered (his own words) on move 20
when he apparently missed a simple fork which won Leko a pawn.
The critical point arose two moves later, when
Leko had to choose between two natural continuations. As "luck" would
have it, he chose the wrong one and Kasparov was able to escape. A close
call for Garry, I'd say.
View Leko-Kasparov
Shirov vs Kramnik
Yet again Kramnik chose to take matters into
his own hands, throwing anything resembling caution to the wind. In his pet Sveshnikov
Sicilian, he uncorked a novelty on move 17, the point of which became
apparent three moves later when he sacrificed his d-pawn for the attack.
Too bad he took time out for 22...a5,
which turned out to be too slow. After this, Shirov was able to sac the
pawn back to force an equal ending.
View Shirov-Kramnik
Anand vs Khalifman
What goes up, must come down. At least
that's what Newton's Law of Gravity tells us. And Khalifman never came close to
breaking the law in his second encounter with Anand.
After beating Leko in impressive fashion, the
FIDE Champ obediently rolled over and let World no 2 walk all over him,
thus allowing the rest of the "pack" to catch up with him.
View Anand-Khalifman
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