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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). Round 5 February 23, 2004  Kasparov vs. Kramnik Round 5. Photo © Jesús Boyero The twenty first Linares tournament came to life in the fifth round with three fighting games but for the third day running there were three draws. The highlight was the clash between world number one Garry Kasparov the 13th world champion who played white against his successor and former protoge Vladimir Kramnik. This was a fascinating struggle which started slowly and in a roughly level position and only half an hour to go to the time control Kramnik offered a repetition of moves. Despite being well behind on the clock Kasparov bravely avoided the draw and played for the win not once but twice as another possibility to repeat appeared. Kasparov had barely five minutes left when he played on yet again but he soon had cause to regret his decision as Kramnik avoided another possible draw and went on the attack with Kasparov having seconds left on the clock. Suddenly all Kramnik's pieces were cooperating against the white king and Kasparov had to make a crucial decision on his fortieth move but he found the right defence. After another bewildering tactical sequence which saw Kramnik sacrifice a knight the game was drawn with Kasparov again playing the only move in the position to avoid immediate defeat. The other two games were also hard fought after starting quietly. Peter Leko just managed to stay in the lead after a pawn sacrifice was followed by the loss of a second pawn for inadequate compensation. For the second time in the tournament Veselin Topalov held queen, bishop and an extra pawn but could not break free of the pressure exerted by his opponent's queen and knight. Leko held on in the fifth hour and remains the only player to have won a game. Fourteen out of fifteen games have been drawn. Scores: Leko (Hungary) 2.5/4; Kramnik (Russia) 2.5/5; Kasparov (Russia) 2/4; Shirov (Spain) 2/4; Vallejo Pons (Spain) 2/4; Topalov (Bulgaria) 2/4; Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2/5; Round five results Kasparov draw Kramnik, Queen's Indian Defence, 44 Leko draw Topalov, Sicilian Najdorf, English Attack, 50 Radjabov draw Vallejo-Pons, Semi Slav, 43; The youngster appeared to be much better but then was lucky to survive a huge time scramble. Kasparov,G (2831) - Kramnik,V (2777) [E12] XXI Linares ESP (5), 23.02.2004 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Qe2 Nd7 13.Bb2 Rac8 [ 13...c4 14.Bc2 b5 has been played a number of times before.] 14.Nd2 [ 14.Rad1 Rfd8 1/2-1/2 Gershon,A-Psakhis,L/Ramat-Aviv/Modiin ISR 2000/The Week in Chess 322 (14). ] 14...Rfd8 15.Rfd1 Nf6 16.a4 cxd4 17.cxd4 Bb4 18.Nf3 Qe7 19.h3 h6 20.Qe3 a5 21.Rdc1 Ne8 22.Ne5 Nf6 23.Nf3 Ne8 24.Ne5 Nf6 25.Nc4 Kasparov avoids the draw on moves 25, 28 and 33. 25...Rc6 26.Qg3 Nh5 27.Qe3 Nf6 28.Rc2 Rdc8 29.Rac1 Qd8 Playing for the win by exploiting the weak dark squares on the kingside. 30.Qe2 Bf8 31.Qe3 R8c7 32.Qe2 Rc8 33.Ne5 R6c7 34.f3 Nh5 35.Rxc7 Rxc7 36.Rxc7 Qxc7 37.Qc2 [ 37.Bb5 was perhaps better making Black worry about Be8.] 37...Qd8! 38.Bf1 Bd6 39.Qf2 Qg5 40.h4! Qf4 41.g4! Ng3 42.Nd3! Nxe4!  [ 42...Qf6 43.g5! followed by e5 is strong. ( 43.e5 Qxh4 is unclear.) ] 43.fxe4 Qxe4 [ 43...Qxg4+ 44.Qg2 Qxh4 45.Nf2 consolidates for white.] 44.Qg2  44. ..Qe3+ 45.Qf2 holds. 1/2-1/2 |
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| Fritz8/Deep Fritz |
 Kasparov Books |
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