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Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2004)
Last time, we discussed FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov. This time, we turn our attention to the player who won the next FIDE knockout tournament two years later. The event, held in Tripoli, Libya, stirred significant controversy in the West due to its location. The choice of Tripoli was influenced by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, known for his connections with controversial leaders. From a Western perspective, Libya was seen as a country rife with human rights violations, prompting top players like Viswanathan Anand (then ranked world #2) and Peter Svidler (ranked world #6) to boycott the tournament.
Despite the political tensions, 128 players participated, including the Bulgarian star Veselin Topalov. The event was fiercely competitive, with Topalov, Teimour Radjabov, Michael Adams, and Rustam Kasimdzhanov advancing to the semifinals. The final match was a dramatic showdown between British Grandmaster Michael Adams and Uzbek Grandmaster Rustam Kasimdzhanov. After six classical games, the score was tied at 3-3. In the tiebreak, Adams stumbled, and Kasimdzhanov clinched the title, bringing pride to Uzbekistan.
Rustam Kasimdzhanov, born on December 5, 1979, is an Uzbek chess grandmaster best known for winning the FIDE World Championship title in 2004. His victory was extraordinary, as he defeated several top-ten players, including Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexander Grischuk, and Veselin Topalov.
Kasimdzhanov’s talent had already been evident in 1998 when he won the Asian Chess Championship. Beyond his individual successes, he became a highly sought-after second for elite players. He assisted Viswanathan Anand during his World Championship victories in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Later, he served as a second for Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana during their World Championship campaigns. Additionally, Kasimdzhanov contributed to chess education by producing instructional videos for ChessBase.
Opening expert and former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov shows you the secrets in the McCutcheon (3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4). He shows why Bd2 is no longer the main line and which continuation will be the theory of tomorrow.
The 2004 championship marked the last time FIDE used the knockout format for the World Championship. This format faced substantial criticism, especially from top contenders, prompting FIDE to adopt a double round-robin format for the 2005 championship in San Luis, Argentina. That event, dominated by Veselin Topalov, was covered in detail in a previous installment, "Understanding before Moving #196".
In this critical position from the game Kasimdzhanov-Kramnik, 2014, White played Bf5-d7, which is not a bad move. However, modern engines suggest another brilliant possibility. What move could White have played here? Can you analyze the position and provide a few lines to support your answer? I must admit, finding the main line is a "hell of a job"!
Key Concepts of Chess - Pawn Structures Vol.1 and 2
In this two-part course the emphasis will be on typical pawn-structures.
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
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