Chess crowns Khalifman as new king

Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 | 8:53 a.m.

Khalifman drew with Vladimir Akopian, 27, of Armenia Saturday to win the championship finals 3 1/2-2 1/2.

The closing ceremonies attracted nearly 100 spectators, four times the daily attendance during the final match.

Khalifman, 33, of Russia was relaxed Sunday and smiled more than he has during the entire month-long knockout event. He displayed a sharp, dry wit and few traces of a strong ego.

Both players said the turning point of the six game finals, where Khalifman won twice and his opponent once, came in the fourth game.

With the score tied, Khalifman had pressed hard for the whole game and seemed near victory. After more than six hours of play, Akopian, who Khalifman regards as one of the world's top defensive players, missed a move that would have forced a draw.

Khalifman allowed no further chances and attained a lead that he never relinquished.

Akopian blamed his error on fatigue. Each player said he will now take a long break from tournament chess.

When asked what he would do with the $660,000 he earned here, Khalifman said he did not know, but said that his wife "is a practical woman and will not spend it all in one month." The loser takes home $396,000.

Ilyumzhinov, who set up and funded the World Chess Foundation, which provided the $3 million prize fund, said he expects corporate sponsorship for the 2000 event. He said Chrysler-Benz as having stong interest.

The new champion said he played aggressively and wasn't afraid to take reasonable risks. He pointed out that he had more losses than any one in the tournament.

Khalifman also had more wins as he battled through seven matches, twice facing "win or go home" situations, on his way to the title. He upset Boris Gelfand of Israel, Judit Polgar of Hungary, American Gata Kamsky, and Akopian.

Garry Kasparov, the world's top ranked player, and Anatoly Karpov, whom Khalifman replaced as champ, did not participate here due to disputes with federation. Karpov was threatening to sue for the right to play Khalifman for the title.

Emmanuel Omuku, deputy director of the federation, said the organization will no longer bow to the whims of its champions. They will be expected to follow the same rules as other players if they wish to participate in future championships.

During the week, Laszlo Polgar, father of recently deposed women's world champion Zsuzsa Polgar, announced in Budapest that she would sue FIDE for removing her title. Polgar claims FIDE illegally rejected her request to postpone her title defense. She says she needed time after the birth of her first child in March.

Israel Gelfer, chairman of a FIDE committee, said: "This is nonsense. She was given every opportunity to defend. She did not want to play." He also said the federation would seed her into the second round of the first woman's knockout championship in 2000, but he doubts that she will play.