Akopian stages Palace coup top ten in field by beating Adams

The only Russian remaining in the field, GM Alexander Khalifman, won emphatically against Romanian GM Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu in the third game of the other semi-finals to lead with 2-1 margin.

Nisipeanu, who is not in the top 100 of the Fide rankings, has to win the last game against world No 46 to reach the tie-breakers. After witnessing a dull pair of draws, the spectators were happy to see two decisive and absorbing encounters.

Akopian changed his opening and opted for French defence which was a favourite weapon of Armenian Tigran Petrosian — the ninth world champion. Adams was hardly surprised as he had faced the same from Akopian seven years ago in an international tournament in Greece. However, Adams wasted one important move to equalise the position.

By 26th move, the GMs analysing the game had no doubt that the position offered no chances for the Englishman. However, desperate Adams tried hard to get a breakthrough during Akopian’s time shortage. He was in for a nasty jolt. Akopian came up with a wonderful 36th move capturing an open file and thereby snatching an initiative.

Around 42nd move, GM Sergel Shipov predicted a victory for Akopian, Shopov, analying the game on Internet for Garry Kasparov’s website, was impressed by the onrushing black central pawns. Adams tried to sacrifice his rook for the black knight but had to give up the hopeless battle after 65 moves.

GM Khalifman took a decisive lead by defeating Romanian Nisipeanus in an impressive display of agression. The Russian launched Kasparov’s pet Petrisuab system against the queens Indian defence of Nisipeanu. The Romanian interestingly employed a move played by Khalifman’s friend Solojenkin against Konstantin Sakaev in a game played in Kalmykia in 1995.

Khalifman gained a slight advantage by 15th move and developed an initiative by mixing aggression and patient manoeuvering of his pieces. The experts bailed his pawn pushes on 21st and 24th move as decisive moves. The 33-year old Russian missed a quicker win on 34th move but did not losen his grip.

Nisipenu levied his best in the end game but could do little to halt the March of Khalifman a pawns. He resigned the game after 38 moves when the lost for knight in a combination. Nisipeanu had a light advantage of white pieces in the last pame.

Results (3rd game, semi-finals): Michael Adams lost to Vladimir Akopian; Alexandra Khalifman bt Dieter Nisipeanu.