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| Chess by Malcolm Pein of the Daily Telegraph   Malcolm Pein writes for the Daily Telegraph (telegraph.co.uk) you can read his chess columns along with those of Nigel Short and David Norwood at their Chess Club (to read the columns you need to register which is free).  Vladimir Kramnik with the winner's trophy. Photo © Jesús J. Boyero Gabarre Round 14 March 5, 2004 Another anti climactic round at Linares saw the Classical Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik scrape home by half a point in a tournament characterised by too many draws and a catalogue of missed opportunities for Garry Kasparov. Kramnik ended on his now traditional score of plus 2; two wins and the rest draws, a score of 7/12. Kasparov and Peter Leko were half a point behind. Kramnik retained a half point lead going into the fourteenth and final round and there were some hopes that with two of the 'fighters' playing white; Veselin Topalov and Alexei Shirov, the destination of the most highly prized tournament victory in Classical Chess might still be in doubt more most of the afternoon.  Vladimir Kramnik at the final press conference. Photo © David Llada However there was a collective groan across the internet from thousands of spectators when after some very sharp play involving a pawn sacrifice, Topalov agreed a draw with Kramnik which ensured the latter was the winner on tie break. At first sight it appeared that Topalov had the edge but to be fair to the Bulgarian it now seems that he had sufficient compensation but no more. Kasparov played some good chess to secure the advantage against Francisco Vallejo but once again he could not convert his superiority into a win and he endured a most frustrating event with one win and eleven draws. Although the world number one should have won at least five of his games he did survive a lost position against Alexei Shirov. Perhaps the only player who could take any satisfaction from this tournament apart from Kramnik was the sixteen year old prodigy Teimour Radjabov. He survived two lost positions against Kasparov and won his last two games to finish on 50%. Scores: 1 Kramnik (Russia) 7/12; 2-3 Leko (Hungary), Kasparov (Russia) 6.5; 4-5 Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Topalov (Bulgaria) 6; 6-7 Shirov (Spain), Vallejo Pons (Spain) 5; Last round results: Vallejo draw Kasparov, Sicilian Najdorf 6.Be3, 54; Topalov draw Kramnik, Sicilian Defence 3.Nc3 e5, 20; Shirov draw Leko, Sicilian Defence 3.Nc3 e5, 25. There were six draws in this line. Vallejo Pons,F (2663) - Kasparov,G (2831) [B90] XXI SuperGM Linares ESP (14), 05.03.2004 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 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Rg1 Qc7 [ 14...g6 is a common choice.] 15.Qf2 Nc4 [ 15...Bd8 16.h4 g6 was a draw in an earlier round between Leko and Topalov.] 16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.h4 [ 17.Nd5; 17.Nd2; 17.f4] 17...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  42...Rxc2+ [ Kasparov may have missed a win with: 42...Ra3 43.Qxb4 ( 43.f4 b3 44.fxe5 bxa2 45.Qb8+ Kg7; 43.Nxb4 Qb5+ 44.Kf2 Bd4+ 45.Kg3 Qe5+ 46.Kg4 h5+! 47.gxh6 Qh5+ 48.Kh3 Qxf3+ 49.Kh2 Qh3#) 43...Qxc2+ 44.Qd2 Qxd2+ 45.Kxd2 Rxa2+ 46.Ke3 Rxg2] 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  1/2-1/2 |
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| Fritz8/Deep Fritz |
 Kasparov Books |
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