¡Viva Petrosian!
Round 5 (June 14,
2004) |
| |
Petrosian Team |
4 - 2 |
World Team |
| Kasparov |
½-½ |
Svidler |
| Leko |
1-0 |
Anand |
| Gelfand |
½-½ |
Adams |
| Akopian |
½-½ |
Bacrot |
| Vaganian |
½-½ |
van Wely |
| Lputian |
1-0 |
Vallejo |
Overall score: World
Team: 16 – 14 Petrosian Team |
| |
Peter Leko made a statement and scored an important point for the Petrosian
team in round five. The world #4 from Hungary defeated #2 Viswanathan Anand
of India in a tremendous display of technique. He added a subtle twist against
Anand's favorite Sicilian line and worked magic to reach a superior rook endgame.
Even Anand's legendary defensive acumen couldn't hold out and Leko converted
the win in 68 moves. Great chess.
Didn't we tell you not to count out Smbat Lputian? It wasn't pretty, in fact
it was a bit ugly, but his win over Vallejo was still sweet for Lputian and
the embattled Team Petrosian. The Spaniard won a pawn in the opening, sacrificed
the exchange to get good winning chances with set of connected passed pawns,
but then blundered it away against Lputian's tireless defense.
Adams-Gelfand and Bacrot-Akopian finished drawn in 20 moves. Vaganian was on
the defensive again, this time against van Wely, and he worked his way to his
fifth straight draw. The Russian duel between Svidler and Kasparov was an interesting
battle. It was Svidler's knights versus Kasparov's bishops and various pawn
blows and counters were played. It wasn't clear who was playing for a win, but
that usually makes for the best chess! Kasparov pressed, perhaps hoping for
another endgame blunder like the one Bacrot made against him in round three.
Svidler did not oblige and held the draw down to bare bones.
Going into the final round the World has a two point lead and white on board
one, Anand-Kasparov. Van Wely, Vaganian, and Gelfand have yet to win a game
and would surely like to make amends.
 Leko
– Anand after 12.Bf4
Leko didn't get much against Anand's Taimanov this year
in Corus Wijk aan Zee with the usual 10.Nb3. This time he innovated with
10.Kb1 and left his knight in the center. One surprising point came a
few moves later with 12.Bf4! (diagram).
This ruins Black's development scheme because the 12...e5
fork runs into 13.Nf4 exf4 14.e5! and White has a powerful attack. Anand
dodged with 12...Qb6 and then tried to break in the center immediately,
perhaps too immediately! Leko later ignored a chance to win a pawn with
16.Bxb5+ and gained a strong central passer.
|
| Lputian
– Vallejo after 18...Qc5+
This was a game of many phases and only the final one
went well for Lputian, but that's the one that counted. It wasn't going
so well in the opening, and he got into trouble here. He met the check
and dropped a pawn with 19.Qe3 Qxe3+ 20.Bxe3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Bxe4.
He had an interesting alternative in 19.Kh1. If Black
plays 19...Rhd8 White can get good compensation for the queen with 20.fxe5
Rxd2 21.exf6+ gxf6 22.Rxd2.
|
