Chess

After looking sure to romp away with first prize in the Monte Carlo "Amber" tournament, Vladimir Kramnik has lost two matches in a row and has now be caught by Alexei Shirov. Full Scores: Kramnik and Shirov 101/2; Ivanchuk 10, van Wely, Ljubojevic and Karpov 81/2; Topalov and Anand 8; Lautier 71/2; Piket 7; Sadler and Nikolic 41/2.

Here is the eighth-round rapidplay game in which Kramnik was beaten by Karpov. The end came with a nice combination: After 27.Qc8! Rxc8 28.Rxc8+ Kg7 29.Nf5+ Kg6 30.Rg8+ Kh5 31.g4 Black is mated.

White: Karpov Black: Kramnik

1 d4 Nf6 16 Bg5 Nxf3+

2 c4 e6 17 Bxf3 Be5

3 Nf3 d5 18 Bxf6 gxf6

4 Nc3 c6 19 Bg4 Rad8

5 e3 Nbd7 20 Bf5 Bc8

6 Qc2 Bd6 21 Bxc8 Qxc8

7 Bd3 0-0 22 Rac1 Qe6

8 0-0 dxc4 23 Rxd8 Rxd8

9 Bxc4 a6 24 Nd1 c5

10 Rd1 b5 25 Qxc5 Qb3

11 Be2 Qc7 26 Ne3 Qxb2

12 e4 e5 27 Qc8 Rf8

13 g3 Re8 28 Qg4+ Kh8

14 a3 Bb7 29 Rc8 resigns

15 dxe5 Nxe5