NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Leko, Lautier bow out

Paul Eriksen in Las Vegas

The hugely talented Peter Leko, who came into the World Championships armed with a Super Grandmaster's title from Dortmund, crashed out in the cruel tie-breakers, while Alexei Shirov and Boris Gelfand just about survived and moved into the round of 16.

Two other good names to fall by the wayside were Evegeny Bareev, who went out to Akopian of Armenia, and Joel Lautier, who lost to Boris Gelfand in the blitz session.

Nigel Short and Michael Adams are the only non-east European players left in the fray from amongst the 16 who moved into the fourth of the FIDE World Chess Championships at the Ceasar's Palace here in Las Vegas. The two Englishmen Bareev crashed out in the nerve-wracking tie-breaker after losing the first game. The game was done in half an hour, as Bareev lost a piece.

In the second game, Bareev did not make headway against Akopian, who kept his cool. Bareev did seem to have a chance at one stage, but Akopian got into a rook ending and playing perfectly despite being a pawn down and got the much-need draw and a place in the fourth round.

The tie-breaker took away in its wake another talented player, the Hungarian, Peter Leko, one of Super Gms, who has had a good season this year, including the title at Dortmund before the World Championships. Leko was knocked out by the Czech player Sergei Movsesian in the first game of the tie-breaker. No matter how hard Leko tried in the second, he was unable to equalize though he had white.

Getting into the round of 16 was a great occasion for Movsesian, who had not been given much chances against Leko. Movsesian, 20, immeidately got in touch with his parents back home to convey the good news.

Milos played an exciting first game against Alexei Shirov. Shirov missed what seemed an obvious win with 23...Nc6 but 24.c5! would have kept Milos in the match. The game came abrupt to an end when Gilberto spoiled his chances by opening up the pawn formation around his King. He got mated quickly. Tension and the clock winding down can have strange effects. While only needing a draw in the second game, Alexei played like his life was depending on it. His 26.Kb3 was outrageous but he never was in any danger. The Brazilian couldn't find anything, had to give material and the point.

Liviu Nisipeanu was fortunate to get away with a draw in the first game as Rafael Leitao had a comfortable position being a pawn up. In the second game the the Romanian youngster had the better nerves and moved on.

Joel Lautier and Boris Gelfand went right into the blitz session, before the tenacious Gelfand came through. Their fight was very exciting. In lot of time trouble the Frenchman proved to be the better blitz player as he defended a horrible position well. The second game was intense, as Lautier sacrificed an exchange for two Bishops and a pawn. When Gelfand returned the material back the game ended in a draw by perpetual check.

In the first blitz game over 15 minutes, Gelfand outplayed Lautier, after the latter made one mistake on the 21st move. In the second game Gelfand went in for the Petroff defence with the clear intent of drawing and winning the match. Lautier, put into a must-win situation, tried various tricks but in the bargain ended being attacked by Gelfand, which ended the tournament for Lautier.

Pairings for Round 4
1. Topalov BUL vs Kramnik RUS
2. Adams ENG vs Dreev RUS
3. Movsesian CZE vs Fedorov RUS
4. Georgiev BUL vs Akopian ARM
5. Polgar HUN vs Zvjaginsev RUS
6. Khalfiman RUS vs Gelfand ISR
7. Nisipeanu ROM vs Ivanchuk UKR
8. Shirov ESP vs Short ENG