Chess

Garry Kasparov took first prize in Linares after one of the best finishes seen in an international tournament for many years. With four rounds left to play, Kasparov and Kramnik were sharing the lead, but in round eight, Kasparov lost an extraordinary game against Ivanchuk. Kramnik drew with Shirov to go half a point ahead. They both won in round nine, but in round 10, Kasparov caught up, winning against Shirov while Kramnik had a quick draw with Anand. In the last round the leaders met. In many previous events, Kramnik has given Kasparov a good deal of trouble, but on this occasion the world champion reminded us who is in charge. As White in a Nimzo-Indian, he played perfect, riskless chess to give a powerful example of how to make the best of two bishops against two knights. Black's liquidation of most of the Q-side pawns seemed to give good hopes of a draw, but once 36.a5 had been played, Black's a-pawn was doomed.

White: Kasparov Black: Kramnik

1 d4 Nf6 30 Qc5 Nd6

2 c4 e6 31 Bd3 Nd7

3 Nc3 Bb4 32 Qa3 Nf8

4 e3 0-0 33 Rb1 Qc7

5 Bd3 c5 34 Rc1 Qd8

6 Nf3 d5 35 a6 Ng6

7 0-0 Nc6 36 Qc5 Re7

8 a3 Bxc3 37 f3 Ne8

9 bxc3 dxc4 38 Bf1 Rc7

10 Bxc4 Qc7 39 Qe3 Rd7

11 Ba2 b6 40 Kh2 Re7

12 Re1 e5 41 Rc6 Kh7

13 e4 Bg4 42 Qc1 Ne7

14 dxc5 bxc5 43 Qc3 Qd7

15 h3 Rad8 44 Rc5 Qd6

16 Qe2 Bxf3 45 Bf2 Ne6

17 Qxf3 Rd6 46 Rd5 Qb8

18 Bg5 h6 47 Rb5 Qd6

19 Bh4 Rfd8 48 Rb7 Nd4

20 Rab1 Ne7 49 Qb4 Qf6

21 Bc4 Nc8 50 Qc5 Nc6

22 Bg3 Nb6 51 Be3 Re6

23 Bb5 Re6 52 Bc4 Re7

24 a4 c4 53 Bd5 Nd4

25 Qe2 Rd3 54 Rxa7 Rxa7

26 a5 Nc8 55 Qxa7 Ne7

27 Rb4 Rxc3 56 Bc4 h5

28 Rxc4 Rxc4 57 Qc5 resigns

29 Qxc4 Qb8