LAS VEGAS, AUGUST 14: Liveu Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania scored the biggest upset by knocking out hot favourite Grandmaster Alexy Shirov of Spain from the quarter-finals of the World Chess Championship being played at Hotel Caesars Palace today.Twenty-three-year-old Nisipeanu, who is 150 Elo international rating points below Shirov, has assured himself of $ 1,40,000 with this win.Grandmaster Judit Polgar drew her game from white side against Russian Grandmaster Alexander Khalifman and lost the match 0.5-1.5.The Kramnik-Adams and Movsezian-Akopian encounters will be decided through tie-breakers on Sunday morning.The Latvian-born Shirov was given 11-10 odds by the official bookies Victor Chandler in Las Vegas after the Grandmaster's win over Nigel Short in the fourth round. On the other hand, Nisipeanu was rank outsider with 25-1 odds. Garry Kasparov had brushed Nisipeanu aside as ``tourist'' alongwith Movsezian and Akopian on Garry's website. On this background, young Nisipeanu played the bestdefensive chess against Shirov's violent play.Shirov employed advance variation against Nisipeanu's Caro Kann defence and soon started throwing his King side paws forward. The spectators were baffled by Shirov's decision to give up a pawn on ninth move. However, the Latvian-born Shirov managed to find some compensation with his dare devil play.The general opinion was that Shirov should have agreed for a draw after the queens were exchanged on 24th move. But he made a horrifying blunder on 27th move losing his rook for Nisipeanu's knight. Thereafter, the Romanian sealed the match with perfect play in 41 moves.Khalifman employed Caro Kann defence like Nisipeanu did. Polgar avoided her pet Panov-Botwinnik attack but still managed to find advantage in end-game. Her 16th move of a pawn was particularly impressive. However, Khalifman rose to the occasion. He defended accurately and knocked Polgar out. The highly-rated pair of Adams and Kramnik drew their game after just 17 moves and decided to leave theirfate to the tie-breakers called by lottery by GMs. Results (5th round): Polgar drew Khalifman, Adams drew Kramnik, Shirov lost to Nisipeanu, Movsezian drew Akopian.
