Independent Pursuits: Chess
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Your support makes all the difference."LIKE apes in a zoo performing for the spectators." That was how Viktor Korchnoi dismissed the current Chess Classic tournament in Frankfurt. For many spectators, Rapid Chess, in which each player is allowed only 30 minutes, is the most thrilling way to present the game, forcing the players to rely on their wits and ensuring that games do not drag on too long. For Korchnoi, it is a pale reflection of the real game, in which players may think for an hour or more delving the subtleties of a position.
After the preliminary rounds of the event, Garry Kasparov must be edging towards Korchnoi's side in this argument. Instead of routing the opposition in his usual style, he now finds himself involved in a play-off for third and fourth place with Vassily Ivanchuk, while Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik battle out the top two places.
Scores at the end of six rounds saw Kramnik in the lead with 4 points, ahead of Anand 31/2, Kasparov 21/2 and Ivanchuk 2. After losing his first two games, Kasparov was unable to fight his way back into contention. Indeed, he could have done even worse. he was fortunate to survive this sixth round encounter with Ivanchuk.
White: Vassily Ivanchuk
Black: Garry Kasparov
1 d4 Nf6 25 Bc3 Re2+
2 c4 e6 26 Kg3 Kf7
3 Nc3 Bb4 27 Rh7+ Ke6
4 Qc2 0-0 28 Rah1 Bc4
5 a3 Bxc3+ 29 R1h6 Rg8+
6 Qxc3 b6 30 Kf4 Rf8
7 Bg5 Bb7 31 g4 Bd5
8 f3 h6 32 g5 Rf2
9 Bh4 d5 33 Rh3 Rg2
10 e3 c5 34 Rg3 Rxg3
11 cxd5 g5 35 Kxg3 Kf5
12 Bf2 Nxd5 36 Rg7 Bf7
13 Qd2 cxd4 37 Kf2 a5
14 exd4 e5 38 Ke3 Nd8
15 h4 exd4 39 g6 Bxg6
16 hxg5 Re8+ 40 Rd7 Bf7
17 Ne2 d3 41 Rd6 Re8
18 Rxh6 dxe2 42 Kf2 Ne6
19 Bd4 f6 43 Rxb6 a4
20 gxf6 exf1Q+ 44 Ra6 Nf4
21 Kxf1 Ne3+ 45 Ra5+ Kg6
22 Kf2 Nc6 46 Rxa4 Nd3+
23 Bxe3 Qxd2+ 47 Kg3 Be6
24 Bxd2 Ba6 48 Ra7 draw
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