Tags:
Journalism of Courage
LAS VEGAS, Aug 20: Grandmaster Alexander Khalifman Russia entered the final of the World Chess Championship defeating Romanian GM Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu in a closely-contested tie-breaker today.
Khalifman will meet Armenian GM Valadimir Akopian in the six-game finals after a rest of two days for the title of world champion and a prize of 6,60,000.
In the second game, Khalifman apparently ran into Nisipeanu8217;s home analysis. The game followed Nisipeanu8217;s earlier game against GM Alexander Khasin played at Kochalin. Khalifman missed 20th move played by Khasin then and got into difficulties. Suddenly the Romanian was in the driver8217;sseat.
Khalifman gave a pawn to confuse Nisipeanu. Now it was the Romanian8217;s turn to fumble under pressure after surviving 20 days of intense chess. He missed wins on 36th and 39th move. Khalifman was short of time too. He played a weak move on his 41st turn. There was a deafening silence in the hall.
Whether Nisipeanu would play the pawn push tieing the match once again was a question on everybody8217;s mind. But the Romanian was too exhausted to take the chance. He could only draw the game after 59 moves and bowled out of the race. It was the end of a terrific performance from a player who was not in the top 100 of the Fide list. Nisipeanu defeated World No 15 Azmaiparashvilly before knocking out the top tens 8212; Ivanchuk and Shirov.
He would have been the youngest champion had he won the World Championship here. 8220;He is playing the chess for next millenium,8221; admired his conqueror Alexander Khalifman.
