Movsesian shocks Shirov

CHENNAI, MAY 28. In a dramatic penultimate round encounter on Saturday, Sergei Movsesian of Czech Republic shocked leader Alexei Shirov of Spain to add the latest twist to the Bosna 2000 chess tournament at Sarajevo.

Russian World No.1 Garry Kasparov, the beneficiary of the above act, put it across Kiril Georgiev of Bulgaria with ease to move into sole lead with 7.5 points from 10 games. Both Shirov and Michael Adams of England are in joint second place with seven points each.

It was defeat number one for Shirov who had played very well thus far. He went wrong from the 24th move and his king's side attack against the Scheveningen Sicilian was repulsed by Movsesian. Fighting with his back to the wall, Shirov lost a bishop missing a pawn promotion by black. Movsesian won in 40 moves.

Movsesian who had lost four games and drawn four to be out of contention for a place in the top has woken up. He beat Morozevich and Shirov with the black pieces in successive rounds and faces Kasparov in Monday's final round with the white pieces. Sunday is a rest day. Kasparov dominated the Sicilian Najdorf game and quickly won the black queen for two minor pieces. Georgiev gave up on the 34th move when he had to cede more material. In sole lead, Kasparov is now the favourite to defend his title. It will be a unique hat-trick to repeat in 2000 if he does it as he won the Corus Tournament at Wijk aan Zee, and Linares and now this one for the second time.

Adams figured in a short 18-move draw against his countryman Short. Short played the Evans gambit as white and proposed a draw with his 18 move that was accepted. Morozevich too played the Evans gambit against Bacrot. That game was also drawn but after a full extended 43-move battle.

The results (10th round): A.Shirov lost to S.Movsesian, A.Morozevich drew with E.Bacrot, G.Kasparov bt K.Georgiev, E.Bareev drew with V.Topalov, N.Short drew with M.Adams, I.Sokolov drew with M.Gurevich.

The standings (after 10 rounds): 1 G.Kasparov (Rus) 7.5/10, 2-3 M.Adams (Eng), A.Shirov (ESP) 7 each, 4 A.Morozevich (Rus) 6, 5 V.Topalov (Bul) 5.5, 6 E.Bareev 5, 7-9 K.Georgiev (Bul), S.Movsesian (Cze), I.Sokolov (Bih) 4 each, 10-11 M.Gurevich (Bel), N.Short (Eng) 3.5 each, 12 E.Bacrot (Fra) 3.

The moves: GM A.Shirov-GM S.Movsesian, round 10, Sicilian Scheveningen, B85: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Qe1 O-O 11.Qg3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Kh1 Bc6 15.Rae1 Qb7 16.Bd3 b4 17.Nd1 bxa3 18.bxa3 Rac8 19.Nf2 Nh5 20.Qf3 g6 21.Ng4 f6 22.f5 exf5 23.Nh6+ Kh8 24.Nxf5 gxf5 25.Qxh5 fxe4 26.Qg5 Rf7 27.Bc4 Rg8 28.Qe3 d5 29.Bb3 Qd7 30.Rf4 Rg4 31.Rf2 Kg8 32.c4 Qe6 33.cxd5 Bxd5 34.Bd1 Rg5 35.h4 Rgg7 36.Bb2 Bd6 37.Rd2 Rg3 38.Bf3 Rxf3 39.Qxf3 exf3 40.Rxe6 Bxe6 0-1.

- Our Chess Correspondent

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