Teen rubs Vaselin wrong way

Ponomariev holds the record of being the youngest-ever chess GM. He was in full cry against Topolov from the white side of Sicilian defence. The Ukrainian teenager cleverly mixed attack and counter attack to overcome his highly-fancied opponent in 53 moves.

The queenside assault launched by Korchnoi belied his age. The 68-year-old veteran attacked Dolmatov’s Dutch defence right from the word go and suffocated the black queen’s wing. Thereafter Korchnoi’s knight entered the black position to signaldestruction. Dolmatov took the clue and resigned after 22 moves.

GM Gata Kamsky US had left chess to study medicine three years ago. His smooth victory in 37 moves from the white pieces in Sicilian defence was evident of his genius since Kamsky is playing after a considerable gap. Once again Khalifman requires a win in the next round with white pieces to stay in the match.

GM Judith Polgar is the only woman in the field after former world women champion Maya Chidburdanidze’s departure in the 1st round. Judith crushed P Nielsen from the white side of Russian defence in 38 moves.

The top two seeds, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Alexy Shirov of Spain could not maintain their reputations. Kramnik was held to a draw by fellow-Russian Sergei Tiviakov in Russian defence while Shirov went down to Bosnian GM Ivan Sokolov.

Important results (game one of second round)

Tiviakov drew with Kramnik, Korchnoi bt Dolmatov, Ponomariev bt Topolov, Dreev bt Kotronias, Timman bt Aronian, Ivanchuk bt Wahls,Gelfand bt Speelman, Short bt Freidman.