Akopian evens score in chess finals

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 9:09 a.m.

With his back against the wall, Vladimir Akopian of Armenia evened the score Tuesday in the finals of the World Chess Championship with the defeat of Alexander Khalifman of Russia.

This was the victor's first triumph in 10 lifetime games against his adversary. The game lasted 84 moves and nearly seven hours.

Akopian, 27, played his best game of the tournament to tie the score halfway through the six-game match. A loss would have left him in an impossible situation, while a draw would have left Khalifman, 33, as a strong favorite.

Since Khalifman will play white, an advantage at this level, in two of the remaining games, he remains a slight favorite.

The fourth game will be played Thursday.

The Federation Internationale des Echecs organized this seven-round elimination tournament at Caesars Palace. The monthlong event started with 100 players.

The first player to score three points will receive the $660,000 and the title of World Champion. The loser will earn $396,000. Total prizes of $3 million will be distributed.

Playing the white pieces, the Armenian emulated Bobby Fischer's strategy in his 1972 title match with Boris Spassky.

Like Fischer, he surprised his opponent by choosing an initial move that he seldom plays and a series of opening moves that he had not played before.

When Khalifman didn't find the correct plan, Akopian forced a large advantage.

Commenting grandmasters, Valery Salov of Russia and Walter Browne, six-time champion of the United States, believed that Akopian was winning fairly comfortably.

After most of the pieces were traded, however, they thought that Khalifman could probably draw.

Akopian impressed spectators with his extraordinary play in the final moves of the game. Khalifman finally made another misstep and his opponent secured the victory.

Salov said it was "absolutely incredible" that the Armenian could find the necessary moves in such a complex position under the pressure of trailing in the championship finals.

With Akopian seeded 31st and Khalifman 36th, both players were expected to be eliminated several rounds ago.

Instead, Akopian was undefeated before his loss to Khalifman in the first game of the finals.

Khalifman was upset in the first game of his initial two matches by the unheralded Dibyendu Barua of India and the fourth seed, Gata Kamsky of the United States. He fought back to win both matches and has played excellent chess since.

Garry Kasparov, the world's top player, and current World Champion Anatoly Karpov did not participate here due to disputes with federation.

The score of game 3 of the finals between Akopian, playing white, and Khalifman:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 a6 7. Ba4 c4 8. d4 cxd3ep 9. Bg5 Ne5 10. Nbd2 Bxa4 11. Qxa4+ b5 12. Qd4 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. a4 Rb8 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Qa7 Ra8 17. Qb7 Qc8 18. Qd5 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qxd3 h5 21. Nf1 Qd7 22. Qe2 e6 23. h4 Bc5 24. Ng3 Ke7 25. Red1 Qc6 26. Rd3 Rbd8 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Nxh5 Rg8 29. Ra5 b4 30. Qb5 Rc8 31. Ng3 bxc3 32. bxc3 Qxb5 33. Rxb5 Ba3 34. Ne2 Bc5 35. g4 Kd6 36. Kg2 Kc6 37. Rb2 f5 38. f3 Rh8 39. Kg3 Be7 40. h5 fxe4 41. fxe4 f5 42. Kf3 fxg4+ 43. Kxg4 Rg8+ 44. Kh3 Rh8 45. Ng3 Bg5 46. Rh2 Kc5 47. Kg4 Bf4 48. Rh3 Kc4 49. Nf1 Rf8 50. Nh2 Rg8+ 51. Kf3 Bxh2 52. Rxh2 Kxc3 53. h6 Kd3 54. h7 Rf8+ 55. Kg3 Rh8 56. Rh4 Ke3 57. Kg2 Kd3 58. Kf3 Kd4 59. Ke2 Kc5 60. Kd3 Rd8+ 61. Kc3 Rh8 62. Rh5 Kd6 63. Kb4 Rb8+ 64. Kc4 Rh8 65. Rh1 Kc6 66. Rh2 Kd6 67. Kb4 Kc6 68. Kc4 Kd6 69. Ra2 Ke7 70. Kc5 Rc8+ 71. Kb6 Rh8 72. Rh2 Kd6 73. Rd2+ Ke7 74. Kc7 Kf6 75. Rh2 Kg5 76. Kd6 Kf6 77. Kd7 Kf7 78. Rh3 Kf6 79. Rh1 Kf7 80. Rh4 Kf6 81. Rh1 Kf7 82. Rf1+ Kg7 83. Ke7 Ra8 84. h8Q+ 1-0