Ivanchuk, Krasenkov agree to a draw

CHENNAI, MAY 15. Leaders Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Michal Krasenkov of Poland drew their mutual third round encounter to stay in joint lead in the Leonid Stein chess tournament at Lviv in Ukraine on Sunday.

Ivanchuk and Krasenkov have 2.5 points from three points and are ahead of the rest by at least one point.

After exchanging queens early on the 14th move, Ivanchuk's tiny advantage was never sufficient for any breakthrough against the Ruy Lopez opening by Krasenkov. Ivanchuk's draw offer was made on the 59th move in a rook and pawn versus rook and pawn ending.

Defeated twice, Alexander Beliavsky played it safe with the white pieces, taking a short 19-move draw against Boris Gelfand from a Slav defence game.

Although draws were more in this round at 2-1, overall this event has produced six decisive games to three draws, which is excellent for this high category event among all Russian speaking players.

Former world championship challenger and veteran Viktor Korchnoi scored his first victory by forcefully winning a bishop for two pawns against Romanishin on the 25th move. Romanishin resigned on the 45th move pulling an inferior position for long.

This is a six-player category 17 tournament, the strongest ever on Ukrainian soil.

The results (third round): V. Ivanchuk (Ukr) drew with M. Krasenkov (Pol), V. Korchnoi (Swz) bt O. Romanishin (Ukr), A. Beliavsky (Slv) drew with B. Gelfand (Isr).

The standings: 1-2 V. Ivanchuk, M. Krasenkov 2.5/3 each; 3 V. Korchnoi 1.5; 4-5 B. Gelfand, O. Romanishin 1 each; 6 A. Beliavsky 0.5.

- Our Chess Correspondent.

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