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Ivanchuk blunders, Nisipeanu plunders

Paul Eriksen in Las Vegas

Vassily Ivanchuk was the big casualty in the fourth round tie-breakers of the FIDE World Chess Championship, as Liviu Nisipeanu, the lowest seed among the 16 in the fourth round, benefitted from a great blunder by the Ukrainian.

As Ivanchuk blundered, Nisipeanu took advantage of the offer on a platter and entered the quarter-fnal, a great achievement for him.

There was another blunderous match-up as Veselin Topalov gave Vladimir Kramnik little trouble even while in an advantageous position. He failed to capitalise on Kramnik's lapse in first game of the tie-breaker and then cracked in the second.

Kramnik moves into quarters, but Alexi Shriov, one of the only two players - other being Akopian - to make the last eight after the classical games itself, is still the favourite with the bookies.

Judit Polgar absolutely devastated Zvjaginsev with Black in the first game and then coasted to an easy victory in the second game to claim a berth in the quarter-finals. This was probably one of the mis-matches of the tie-breaker as Zvjaginsev was never able to recover from the shock of the loss with white.

Two blunders in a short while saw Topalov crash out unceremoniously. Kramnik was the beneficiary. He won in a rook and pawn ending, after the Bulgarian blundered badly in the first game.

The reverse perhaps shattered the Bulgarian, as in the second game he went from a one move win (39.Ke1) to a one move loss (39.Kg1). Topalov was shaking all over after the blow 40...Qxe2 had appeared and left with a raging but sad expression..

Just as tragic was Ivanchuk's exit from the championships. He misplayed his position with White in the first game but was very lucky to draw. In the second game, his nerves must have gotten the better of him. In a stunning blunder, that doesn't happen at this level, the Ukrainian, after having had a long think, captured a pawn and lost a Bishop. Ivanchuk shook his head in disbelief, resigned and left the playing hall. That one move may have cost him at least $40,000.

Alexander Khalifman, who has grown from strength to strength, won his third tie-breaker in four rounds. This time he crushed Boris Gelfand in the first game. In the second game, Gelfand had some initiative but couldn't put it together and had to agree to a draw. That put Khalifman into the quarter-finals and set up a meeting with Judit Polgar, something the Russian can once again pull off.

From a close first round against India's Dibyendu Barua, Khalifman may well go all the way on the strength of his play in this round.

The struggle between Fedorov and Movsesian went into the 15 minute games after Movsesian held the balance in the first game. The second game was all theory. After 20 moves and five minutes, a rook ending appeared that quickly ended in a draw.

In the first game of the second tie-break session, Movsesian was flat out, winning when White wasn't able to complete his development. In the second game, it was all Movsesian again after Fedorov made a mistake that cost him a valuable pawn. In an overwhelming position, the young Czech player went for move repetition to clinch the match.

Dreev - Adams played two bloodless games, the first with lots of exchanges. In the second, Dreev was unable to convert the small advantage. It looked briefly that Adams was on top but a tough defense by Dreev secured a draw forcing the second tie-break session. The second set of tie-breakers were much more exciting. The first encounter was a test for everyone, not only the players but also the commentators. It seemed Dreev was doing fine with Black. Adams showed great nerves to sacrifice the exchange. In time trouble things changed. Dreev missed an obvious fork and got into a lost ending. With little time on the clock, the Englishman was able to convert it to a win. It was a draining affair. Dreev tried very hard with White in game 2. He went all out for a win but ended up empty handed.

So, Adams remains the only Englishman and the only player from outside the Eastern bloc in the last eight.

Results of the fourth round:
Topalov lost to Kramnik 0.5-0.5/0.5-0.5/ 0-1/0-1. Kramnik won in tie-breaker
Adams beat Dreev 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 1-0/1-0. Adams won in tie-breaker.
Movsesian beat Fedorov 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5 1-0/ 0.5-0.5. Movsesian won in tie-breaker.
Georgiev lost to Akopian 0.5-0.5/0-1.
Polgar beat Zvjagisev 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 1-0/ 1-0. Polgar won in tie-breaker.
Khalifman beat Gelfand 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 1-0/ 0.5-0.5. Khalifman won in tie-breaker.
Nisipeanu beat Ivanchuk 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 0.5-0.5/ 1-0. Nisipeanu won in tie-breaker.
Shirov beat Short 1-0/ 0.5-0.5

Round 5 pairings: Kramnik-Adams, Movsesian-Akopian, Polgar-Khalifman, Nisipeanu-Shirov

Summary:
The most exciting game: Shirov versus Short in the first game of the fourth round. Shirov won and advanced as the second game ended in a draw.

Shock of the round: Ivanchuk falling to 16th seed Nisipeanu.

Destroyer in the tie-breaker: Judit Polgar, who outplayed Zvjaginsev Blunderbuss in the tie-breaker:

Out straight: Short and Georgiev
Out after playoffs: Topalov, Dreev, Federov, Zvjaginsev, Gelfand and Ivanchuk.
Through clean: Akopian and Shirov. After play-offs.
Through after play-offs: Movsesian, Adams, Kramnik, Polgar, Khalifman and Nisipeanu.