Kasparov ambles across winning line with a draw

THE Professional Chess Association's world championship ended last night when Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short drew their 20th game to leave Kasparov with an unassailable lead of 12 1/2-7 1/2.

Kasparov had scored six wins to Short's one, with 13 games drawn. The winner will take home pounds 1.06m, while Short takes the consolation prize of pounds 640,000. The match, which lasted for seven weeks, was effectively decided in the early games when Kasparov led by 3 1/2-1/2 and later by 7-2.

In yesterday's game, the greatest excitement came when a light bulb exploded behind the stage, causing fire alarms to ring, the theatre to be evacuated and play to be suspended for 30 minutes. Otherwise, it was an uneventful game with Short unable to capitalise on a small advantage. At the 36th move he offered a draw which Kasparov accepted.

White: Short Black: Kasparov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6 7 Bb3 b5 8 0-0 Be7 9 Qf3 Qc7 10 Qg3 0-0 11 Bh6 Ne8 12 Rad1 Bd7 13 a3 Nc6 14 Nxc6 Bxc6 15 Bf4 Qb7 16 Rfe1 a5 17 e5 dxe5 18 Bxe5 Bf6 19 Rd4 Rd8 20 Rxd8 Bxd8 21 Ne2 a4 22 Ba2 b4 23 axb4 Qxb4 24 Bc3 Qb7 25 Nd4 Nf6 26 Nxc6 Qxc6 27 Rd1 Be7 28 h3 Ra8 29 Rd4 Ne8 30 Qd3 Bf6 31 Rc4 Qa6 32 Bxf6 Nxf6 33 Qd2 h6 34 Rd4 Qb6 35 c3 a3 36 bxa3 Draw agreed.