Sujatha Srinivasan reports from the venue (Hyatt Regency, New Delhi)

12 Dec 2000 New Delhi

Women's Final Xie Jun vs Qin Kanying

Qin holds Xie.

Qin Kanying today drew her game with white pieces against defending champion Xie Jun.

There were around 100 odd spectators inside the playing hall with their eyes glued to the seven television screens kept in there. Occasionally they too turned their attention towards the players for they also provide some sort of entertainment with their facial expressions. Adams may top the list for facial expressiveness. Everyone apart from Anand is wearing a suit. Anand is seen in the sponsors shirt. The display boards outside the playing hall also draw spectators and there they can also discuss the possibilities and weigh the positions. There are four arbiters present and they seem to possess extra energy for they keep moving around monitoring things from 12.00 in the afternoon till the end of the day.

Men's Semi-Final Michael Adams vs. Viswanathan Anand

Vishy Anand continues to win with White

Vishy Anand continued from where he left off before the match against Khalifman. He won the second game with the white pieces to go one up in this four game semi-final match against Michael Adams. Anand today played confidently and according to him, "after opening phase it was a slight advantage for me".

Vishy’s second Ubilava said, "Rare variation, I expected another opening" when asked about the opening played by Adams.

Men's Semi-Final Alexei Shirov vs Alexander Grischuk

Alexei Shirov blundered horribly against Alexander Grishchukto put the match back level.

Grishchuk bounces back.

Grishchuk who lost to Shirov in the first game bounced back to defeat him in a very enterprising manner today in the second game. Two more games remain and with such a change in form Grishchuk will not easily allow Shirov to advance to the finals.

Grishchuk on a contrary was seen glued to his seat till the last few moves. He is usually seen roaming around and today the seen was very different. He later in the press conference said, "after yesterdays game I had no choice but to win today".

Shirov who has usually arrived late in the playing hall continued to do so. Today he played the opening part quickly and was taking strolls inside the playing hall.

Grishchuk meanwhile was following his plan to sit at the board and concentrate. However as a typical teenager started roaming around once his position started looking convincing and overwhelming.

Grishchuk really held on to the initiative rather than grabbing pawns and played an absolute combination to force a mate. Shirov who seemed very likely a candidate for the finals after his convincing win yesterday was brought down to earth. He visibly looked better during the game but then all his confident looks were only distracting the spectator's opinion of the game but not the one’s of his opponent in young and confident Grishchuk.

Grishchuk later said, "I have scored 10.5 / 11 with this opening so far" and looked very confident talking about it. The opening was the Scheveningin Variation of the Sicilian Defense where Grishchuk played the English attack.

Grishchuk about his next game said, I will "try to play a bit better than yesterday".