India's Anand Wins Mexico Match

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Viswanathan Anand of India won the strongest tournament ever held in Mexico. Anand, the world's third-ranked player and the official World Chess Federation champion, scored an undefeated 4 1/2-1 1/2 in the Magistral tournament, which ended Tuesday in Merida, Yucatan.

Nigel Short of England took second prize at 3 1/2-2 1/2, a half-point ahead of 1999 chess federation champion Alexander Khalifman of Russia. Mexico's top grandmaster, Gilberto Hernandez, finished fourth at 1-5. Hernandez nearly defeated Anand in their first game.

This is the second year that Merida has hosted a double round robin featuring Hernandez and three elite visitors. Alexey Shirov of Spain won the 2000 edition of the tournament.

The true world champion, Vladimir Kramnik, shares the early lead in another prestigious double round robin in Astana, Kazakhstan. Kramnik and the man he dethroned, Garry Kasparov, have scores of 2 1/2- 1/2 after three of 10 rounds. Boris Gelfand (Israel) and Shirov are tied for third place with 1 1/2-1 1/2. Kasparov's Web site, www.kasparovchess.com, offers live coverage of the games.

LOCAL NEWS

There will be no Memorial Day Classic this year. The tournament, one of the largest in California since its inception in 1980, was canceled because the organizer could not rent a playing site for a reasonable price. Two smaller tournaments will try to fill the weekend's chess void.

Chess Palace, 4336 Katella Ave. in Los Alamitos, will conduct a five-round event on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on this tournament and many other Chess Palace events, call (562) 598-5099 or visit the Web site at http://www.chesspalace.com.

The Wilshire Chess Society will run its monthly tournament of 45-minute games on May 27. The tournament takes place in Community Room "C" on the third floor of the Westside Pavilion, Pico at Westwood in Los Angeles. Entrants should register at the site at 10:30 a.m.

The Just Play Chess tournament, a six-rounder on Friday evenings, begins June 1 at the La Habra Chess Club. The club meets at 7 p.m. Fridays in the Veterans Memorial Hall, Orange at Erna in La Habra. For more information, call Jerry Schain at (562) 691-2393 or Bob Goulet at (562) 947-6739.

Gregg Fritchle scored 5 1/2- 1/2 to win the Chesstosterone Checkup, a 23-player tournament at the La Palma Chess Club. Joe Hanley finished second at 4 1/2-1 1/2. Class prizes went to Leigh Hunt (best A), Bill Martino (best B), Harold Valery (best C), and John Balk (best D). The club begins a five-round tournament at 6 p.m. tonight in Central Park, 7821 Walker St. in La Palma.

TODAY'S GAMES

GM Shirov (Spain)--GM Kasparov (Russia), Astana 2001: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 The Scheveningen variation, a reliable form of the Sicilian Defense. 7 Be2 Fear or prudence? Shirov, the greatest expert on the piece sacrifice 7 g4!? e5 8 Nf5 g6 9 g5 gxf5 10 exf5, chooses not to risk it. Could his horrible record (at least 10 losses, without a single win) against Kasparov have warped his judgment? Qc7 8 0-0 b5 9 a4!? A middle course between the passive 9 f3?! and the unsound 9 f4?! b4 10 Na4 Nxe4. b4 10 Na2 Nxe4 11 c3!? Or 11 Nxb4 d5, equalizing. b3 Kasparov feared 11 . . . bxc3 12 Rc1 Bb7 13 Nxc3, when Black's development lags. 12 Qxb3 Be7 13 Bf3 Bb7 14 Qc2 Nf6 15 Bxb7 Qxb7 Once Black completes development, his central pawns assure him an advantage. White needs activity now. 16 b4 0-0 17 b5 Ng4 18 Bf4? Kasparov analyzed 18 Bd2 Rc8 19 Nb4 Bf6, followed by . . . Ng4-e5-c4. Probably White should keep the game unclear with 18 Nb4 Nxe3 19 fxe3. e5 19 Qe2 exd4! Simple and strong. White would not mind 19 . . . f5 20 h3. 20 Qxg4 axb5 Black's QR enters the fray, embarrassing White's Knight. 21 axb5 Qxb5 22 cxd4 Qc4 23 Rae1 Nc6 24 Nc1?! Kasparov recommended 24 Rc1 Qxd4 25 Rxc6 Rxa2 26 Qg3, writing "White is close to a draw." Qxd4 25 Ne2 Qa4 Dissuading White from 26 Ng3?? Ne5. 26 Qg3 Rfd8 27 Nc3 Qb3 White cannot blockade the d-pawn: 28 Rb1 Qc4 29 Rfd1 allows 29 . . . Ra3. 28 Re3 d5 29 Bh6 Bf8 30 Ne4 Black handles 30 Bg5 with 30 . . . d4! 31 Bxd8 dxe3. Qb2 31 Nc5?! White lasts much longer with 31 Bg5 dxe4 32 Bxd8, but the two pieces will eventually overpower his Rook. Bxc5 32 Rc3 Bxf2+! Pocketing a second pawn. 33 Rxf2 Ra1+ 34 Rf1 Qb6+ 35 Re3 Rxf1+ 36 Kxf1 Qd4 37 Qc7?! Qc4+, White Resigns.