Sujatha Srinivasan reports.

Sujatha Srinivasan reports from the venue

Hyatt Regency, New Delhi

04 Dec 2000 New Delhi World Chess Championship in its birth place The third Knockout World chess championship is being held in the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Chess earlier called chathuranga originated in India and traveled to the west changing into its current rules on the way. The Women's championship is also organized simultaneously and this is the first time the knockout format is applied. The women seem to enjoy this tournament and continue to fight till the end inspite of the change in format. Their games are the last to finish every round. They seem to have more energy in fighting for a win. The men’s section on the other hand has witnessed lot of upsets. Much was expected of Short, Ivanchuk, Akopian, Nisipeana, Krasenkov and Almasi all of whom have already been eliminated from the tournament. The favorites in Anand, Adams, Leko, Topalov are still in the fray, some with easier outings in the earlier rounds. The tournament has received wide attention in India and with people in every home seeming to follow it. The media is also covering this championship in a big way. Vishy Anand has been an excellent Ambassador for India and the people simply adore him. He is as popular as Sachin Tendulkar (a cricketer) or maybe even more especially in the down south. Indians are expecting Anand’s victory, which will give them ‘Anandham’ (which means ‘joy’ in Tamil).

Playing hall

Vishy Anand enters the fourth round. His reverse game against Lputian was a double-edged one. Vishy played confidently and put up an excellent resistance and was at his defensive best. His entry into the fourth round was very well received by the audience.

Leko-Khalifman and Anand-Lputian from round 2 day 2.

Rafael Leitao of Brazil is progressing in great style. This championship is going to be in his mind for a long time. Today he drew with Nataf in their second game to reach the fourth round. He is only the 66th seed here but his progress so far is tremendous and he has entered the last 16.

Rafael Leitao and Peng Xiaomin. Two rising stars

As expected Veselin Topalov entered the fourth round. Today he drew with Bulgarian Kiril Georgiev to close out the match in his favour after having won yesterday. Dreev, Morozevich and Gelfand have entered the fourth round stage and have proved their superiority over comparatively lower rated opponents in Van Wely, Vladimirov and Piket respectively.

Alexei Dreev. Through to the fourth round

Bareev from Russia blanked Alexandrov (2-0) to reach the fourth round. Bareev has quite a following from the Indians. America’s Boris Gulko drew his game today, to easily advance to the next round. The presence of experienced player like him will definitely be a learning experience for the present generation and it also shows the positive side of this Knockout format. Peter Svidler bounced back today against Peng Xiaomin to force a tiebreak. Svidler with more experience should make the next round.

Grischuk drew with Serper in the reverse game to move into the next round. The matches between Shirov and Gurevich, Ehlvest and Movsesian, Kasimdzhanov and Tkachiev, Yermolinsky and Adams, Leko and Khalifman, Beliavsky and Macieja are into the tiebreak and will be eagerly followed tomorrow.

Women

Peng, Zhaoqin of Netherlands thrashed Russian Demina, Julia (2-0) to reach the Quarterfinals. Peng who had her own set of problems in the first round game against Indian Bhagyashree Thipsay is cruising towards the top quietly.

Xu Yuhua vs Natalia Zhukova two draws and a playoff for them.

Defending champion Xie Jun moved into the fourth round with a victory over Elena Zayac with the black pieces. Qin Kanying (CHN) and Alisa Maric, Alisa (YUG) have also moved into fourth round. Maric actually has defeated a young player who produced her career best in the Olympiad by winning the first board gold medal. Qin defeated Kachiani of Germany. Galliamova was defeated today by GM Lautier’s wife Skripchenko and the match now moves into the tiebreak. Galliamova known for her aggressive play is surely a better bet for reaching the next round. Zhukova and Xu Yuhua drew their two regular games. This pairing occurred in the final of the women's World Cup in China and on that occasion Xu Yuhua was the winner. Corina Peptan and Kovelevskaya are through to the next round with (1.5-0.5) margin against Ioseliani and Vasilevich respectively.