Shirov & Kasparov in lead

CHENNAI, MAY 24. Alexei Shirov of Spain and Garry Kasparov are jointly leading the Bosna 2000 chess tournament after six rounds with an identical pattern of results at Sarajevo on Tuesday.

Three victories and three draws each including the last one on Tuesday has placed these two players on top with 4.5 points. Five rounds remain to be played in this category 19 tournament at Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the five rounds will include a Shirov-Kasparov clash.

Kasparov made a computer-like bishop move to win a pawn and Short responded well to win it back with a tactic. In a Sicilian Najdorf opening, Kasparov was looking for his first victory with the black pieces in the rook ending. His advantage was nullified by Short's precise play after 55 moves.

Mikhail Gurevich who is a former trainer of Kasparov and Anand was the only player to win a game on Tuesday. After starting with three zeroes, he has nicely started off to reach 2.5 points.

Gurevich's win came with the white pieces after 58 strategic moves from an English opening. Youngster Bacrot who is 100 Elo points below Gurevich was not recognisable.

Topalov played on in a drawn ending and nearly lost to Movsesian with the white pieces.

His trapped bishop was a severe handicap and black promoted his pawn. Topalov drew the two bishops against queen ending after 84 moves.

The Morozevich-Shirov draw came from a Petroff defence and the players did not waste their time playing on after reaching a major pieces endgame.

Adams' winning attempt folded when he exchanged his passed queen side pawn on the 54th move. Bareev who had a rook for bishop and pawn advantage as white had to take a draw on the 62nd move of their Marocze Bind game.

In Wednesday's seventh round, Kasparov has sacrificed two pawns already and has given up a third pawn against Morozevich to live dangerously. It is a clear make or break game and the tournament heat is up.

lThe results (Sixth round): A.Morozevich (Rus) drew with A.Shirov (ESP), E.Bareev (Rus) drew with M.Adams (Eng), V.Topalov (Bul) drew with S.Movsesian (Cze), I.Sokolov (Bih) drew with K.Georgiev (Bul), M.Gurevich (Bel) bt. E.Bacrot (Fra), N.Short (Eng) drew with G.Kasparov (Rus).

The standings: 1-2 G.Kasparov, A.Shirov 4.5/6 each, 3-4 E.Bareev, A.Morozevich 4 each, 5-6 M.Adams, K.Georgiev 3.5 each, 7 V.Topalov 3, 8 M.Gurevich 2.5, 9 I.Sokolov 2, 10-12 E.Bacrot, S.Movsesian, N.Short 1.5 each.

- Our Chess Correspondent.

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